By Tate Blanchard Protests took place Thursday and may have paid for those wanting to protect sacred grounds. The case had just wrapped up before 5 P.M. involving the Rover Pipeline in Federal Court according to an attorney for Rover Pipeline, LLC, William Wilmoth with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. There were a number of parties in attendance in Federal Court with concerns about where the Pipeline would be located as it makes its way through the Ohio Valley. Wilmoth said, the last group to be addressed in the last minutes was the Hare Krishna group and Rover had agreed to re-engineer and re-located their plans for the pipeline in a way that will not interfere with the Krishna sacred grounds. That is something Wilmoth said his clients take very seriously and they never want to disrupt any grounds that are sacred to anyone. Continue reading "Rover Pipeline, LLC Reaches Agreement with Hare Krishna Community
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By Bhakti Vijnana Goswami Bondage of karma. Karma bandana. Karma bandana is the problematic reactions in our lives. Unless we drastically change these reactions, by the means of hearing and chanting, unless we change this, we cannot claim that we are free and safe and that our salvation is guaranteed. If our reaction is the same for good or bad, if I'm really late and in a bad mood or really put down by certain circumstances or even the slightest provocations from material nature, then it basically means that there is something wrong in my practice of Krishna Consciousness. In other words, I am not really chanting and hearing offenselessly. Therefore, the promised effects of sravanam kirtana do not take place. That is the only explanation. Continue reading "From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – Srimad Bhagavatam class, February 24, 2017
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By Navadwip Mandal Parikrama devotees Today Parikrama had one very special program: Harinam sankirtan through the streets of Navadviapa town. This Nagar sankirtan was led by HG Agnideva Prabhu, who made the sound of mridangas, kartalas, and gongs accompany the vibration of the Maha mantra throughout Navadvipa. The Dham vasis became so joyful that their glory was partially revealed to us pilgrims. The glory that they are not ordiinary sales men or house wives but very dear devotees of Lord Caitanya. After Harinam Agnideva Prabhu led us on what Srila Prabhupada said was his favorite bhajan :" Hari Hari biphale". As he started this bhajan everyone and everything seemed to stop. Either manager, sannyasi or child, every single member left aside all anxieties and dovetailed their full attention to that Bhajan. We were very fortunate to have the association of such an empowered kirtanya. Continue reading "Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama- day 3
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Devotees travelled from all over New Zealand and some from Australia for the reopening of the Christchurch temple, which previously had to be pulled down because of the earthquake six years ago.
The morning was celebrated with the installation of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai with abhiseka, kirtan, fire yajna and aroti. The devotees were then served a grand feast and in the evening there was discourse, aroti and more prasadam.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 September 2014, Durban, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.10.4)
We are all in a material situation and I sum it up as, “Sometimes you are on top of the elephant and at other times, the elephant is on top of you!” That is material life, it is not going to always be easy but we must protect our spiritual life and try to do something to stand up for Krsna consciousness.
Nothing is easy; therefore first we have to work on our own conviction. We have to understand why we are doing this. The better you understand this, the more convinced you are.
I like the story of Karna. He was accepted as a disciple by Parasurama who had asked him before if he was a ksatriya. Everyone had told Karna that he was not a ksatriya so he said, “No, I am not a ksatriya.” So he was accepted by Parasurama and served him very nicely and he learnt all the astras and celestial weapons. Then, one day, Parmasurama was so pleased and was resting with his head on the lap of his disciple when an insect stung Karna in the leg. He did not want to disturb his spiritual master so with great determination, he managed to stay calm. Even though the pain was excruciating, he tolerated it and did not move. The spiritual master slept nicely but when he woke up, he saw the blood and asked what had happened. Then Karna explained that the insect had stung him in the leg. Then Parasurama smelt a ksatriya, he said, “How could you tolerate… How could you tolerate such pain? No one can tolerate such pain, except for a ksatriya!”
So, I like that point because it shows that in a moment, the tolerance of a ksatriya is stronger than a brahmana but in the long-term, the tolerance of a brahmana is stronger! But why? Because the tolerance of a ksatriya is based on determination, “I shall do it…” but how long can you say that… one day, one week, one month, one year, ten years, twenty years? It is difficult. But the brahmana, his tolerance is based on knowledge and because it is based on knowledge, therefore his conviction is stronger because he sees that he has no other alternative, “What else can I do? I know it is hard to be a devotee; I know it is a struggle but what else is there to do? There is nothing else; there is no alternative!”
There are going to be a lot of tears and smiles in Christchurch, New Zealand from March 3rd to 5th. During what’s set to be an emotional three-day festival, devotees will see their brand new temple open after their old one was destroyed in a devastating 2011 earthquake. And they’ll see their beloved deities, Nitai Gaurachandra, reappear after being smashed to pieces in the disaster. Devotees first purchased Bealy Manor in 1983, and opened it as a temple in January 1986.
Christchurch Hare Krishna Centre, New Zealand opening 2nd March, almost ready (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one is in full Krsna consciousness and his life is devoted to the Lord’s transcendental service, he is perfect. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bg 11.33
Find them here: https://goo.gl/dTnJsT
By SRR Sacred India A Sacred Exchange. The Sacred India Gallery is an ISKCON-affiliated community arts space in the scenic Swan Valley region of Western Australia. In a beautiful cross-cultural exchange, the gallery recently hosted Dr Anne Aly MP for a guided gallery tour. Dr Aly is the first Muslim woman elected to the Australian Federal Parliament. Fascinated by the artistic installations on display, Dr Aly asked many insightful questions about spiritual India and the Hare Krishna tradition. Dr Aly was accompanied on her tour by Jagattarini dasi (Sacred India Artistic Director), and Sri Radha Raman das (Tours and Events). Continue reading "Australian MP Dr Anne Aly Visits The Sacred India Gallery
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On our 2nd day of Parikrama we further explored the land of Godrumadvipa visiting the Holy places such as Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s house and Naimisharanya. First of all we came to Gaura daha which is nondifferent from Kaliya Daha in Vrindavan. For the surprise of the devotees HH Bhakti Purushottama Swami related two wonderful lilas of Kaliya’s […]
The post Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama-Day2 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
After a long year we are again able to walk through the holy landscape of Navadvipa Dhama while singing, dancing and feasting in the company of a variety of exalted vaishnavas. Gaura Bhakta vrinda ki jay!There are about 1400 devotees in the International party this year. Out of them 800 devotees are camping. Parikrama is […]
The post Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama – Day 1 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Mayapur Kirtan Mela 2017 (Album with photos)
Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommends, kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ: one should go on chanting the glories of the Lord twenty-four hours a day. SB 7.9.46, Translation and Purport
Find them here: https://goo.gl/T1HR25
A Little Sunshine!
All it takes is a shaft of sunshine to flood our room and voila! we feel better already. Here’s a great quote that speaks to that:
“If the sun can penetrate within your room, cannot Krishna penetrate within your heart and room and every corner? He is so useless? He’s everywhere, but you have to realize, how He is everywhere.” - Srila Prabhupada
When we look at our growing relationship with Krishna so much of it is linked to the ‘sunshine’ experiences of personal spiritual disciplines. These happen in scheduled and unscheduled ways. The scheduled ones are those daily/ weekly practices that we put on our calendar which are recommended in sastra (Vedic scriptures) - a commitment to a number of mantras chanted, books read, or services offered. It also includes prayers, financial contributions, good conversations with friends and mentors, and quiet reflection.
While such personal discipline is one of the five key ways we grow towards trust in Krishna, they can sometimes be challenging. Life can be full, busy, interrupted, and feel like a never ending list of ‘to-do’s’. If our sadhana (spiritual practices) becomes another to-do, we have a problem. If our chanting stresses us out, our time with Krishna is forced, or giving money creates fear or even bitterness - we really have a problem. We lock down the very thing that can lift us up.
We need to look out for that. We need to create times and environments that really work for us on an individual basis. This may change as our life changes, but the commitment to sadhana should not. A nice definition of spiritual discipline or austerity is finding our best time of the day or week and giving that time to Krishna. We’ll be at our best and what we give will be our best.
A personal discipline means something you commit to again and again to gain a result. The result we are looking for is our faith growing to be ‘unflinching trust in something sublime’. We are building our spiritual muscles so we become strong enough to trust, and thus to love Krishna. That’s the sunshine we want to be shining through the windows of our heart and enlightening our soul, our very self. That’s the place we want to be.
Devotee means...
Vaiṣṇava devotee means give me simply a place to lay down, little prasādam, whatever little service you have got please give me, that's all. -Śrīla Prabhupāda's Letter to: Gurudāsa, Yamunā — Bombay 19 December, 1972
Devotee means he is able to tolerate all kinds of discomfort and whims of the material nature, and because he is so much absorbed in serving Kṛṣṇa, he takes no time to become angry or take offense with others or find out some fault. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Letter to: Haṁsadūta — Ahmedabad 10 December, 1972
Devotee means very liberal and kind to everyone, always gentleman under all kinds of conditions of life. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Letter to: Haṁsadūta — Ahmedabad 10 December, 1972
Devotee means one should be firmly convinced of his being the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Letter to: Mr. Kair — Los Angeles 8 July, 1969
So to become devotee means to do the best service to the family. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay
A devotee means he knows everything. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s room Conversation with Professor Francois Chenique -- August 5, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)
Devotee means the first sign will be happy, brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā [Bg. 18.54]. If he's not prasannātmā, he's a rascal. He has not entered even devotional life. He's outside. That is the test.-Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- April 24, 1976, Melbourne
Devotee means tattva-darśī. He has seen the real truth. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- March 25, 1976, Delhi
Devotee means who follows Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- March 25, 1976, Delhi
Devotee means sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. He is above these material laws. That is devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- March 25, 1976, Delhi
Devotee means brahmacārī. Pure devotee means brahmacārī. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. He has no other desire. That is brahmacārī. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- November 3, 1975, Bombay
Devotee means serious devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Conversation with Professor Hopkins -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia
Devotee means he has no sense gratification. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Room Conversation with Tripurāri -- March 2, 1975, Atlanta
Devotee means one who has taken shelter of Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- June 13, 1974, Paris
Devotee means he does not know anything better than Kṛṣṇa, that's all. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Room Conversation -- November 4, 1973, Delhi
The devotee means who is always pleasing Kṛṣṇa. He has no other business. That is devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Māyāpura
Devotee means to hear about Kṛṣṇa, to chant the glories of Kṛṣṇa, to think of Kṛṣṇa, to offer fruits and flowers to Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Departure Address -- Los Angeles, July 15, 1974
Devotee means to become fully qualified with all the noble qualities. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.119-121 -- New York, November 24, 1966
Devotee means he must be sinless.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.1 -- Madras, January 2, 1976
Devotee, means he is prepared to do anything for God. That is pure devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.5.22-30 -- London, September 8, 1971
Devotee means not with four hands or four legs, no. The hands, legs are the same. But his mode of thinking different. That's all. That is devotee. Devotee does not depend on the country, color or religion or circumstance. Devotee means the mind. Anyone who is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, he is devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.50 -- Detroit, June 16, 1976
Devotee means he's not blind.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam1.7.40 -- Vṛndāvana, October 1, 1976
Devotee means he does not ask anything from God.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam1.3.7 -- Los Angeles, September 13, 1972
A devotee means who is abiding by the laws given by God. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam1.1.2 -- London, August 17, 1971
Devotee means complete spiritual. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.2, Bombay, March 22, 1974
Devotee means he is firmly convinced about his relationship with God.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.1-6 -- Los Angeles, January 3, 1969
Devotee means servant—not paid servant—but servant by affection. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.1 -- Delhi, November 10, 1971
Devotee means he can act anything and everything for the Lord. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.1 -- Montreal, August 24, 1968
Devotee means one who has engaged his senses cent percent for the service of the Lord, he is devotee, pure devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 3.6-10 -- Los Angeles, December 23, 1968
Devotee means although he is very, very powerful, he never thinks that "I am powerful." He thinks that "I am acting simply by the order of the powerful." -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 2.15 -- London, August 21, 1973
Devotee means to finish all miserable conditions of materialistic life. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.12.46
By Giriraj dasa There are three things that are inconceivable: the position of Lord Siva, hladini sakti, and, yes, guru-tattva. Among all the spiritual personalities the position of Lord Siva is unique. I used to worship lord Shiva. After coming into Krishna consciousness I still retain a special corner in my heart for lord Shiva and now when I read and hear more lectures from senior devotees about him, the fog of ignorance over his exact position unfolds layer by layer, year by year. Continue reading "Unique position of Lord Siva
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By Visnu Murti dasa In the ecstatic mission to bring Srila Prabhupada teachings to the forefront; our volunteers have frequently connected with me to express their realizations & breakthroughs in their spiritual lives while performing their services for Vanipedia. It is their experiences and insights that have actively nurtured our convictions in driving Vanipedia's growth through the years. We wish to thank them for their inspired contribution for the advancement of Srila Prabhupada's vani on the internet on such a grand scale. Continue reading "Vanipedia is celebrating 10 years in the service of the devotee community worldwide
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By Navadwip Mandal Parikrama devotees He reminded us that Srila Prabhupada's purports are his spiritual ecstasies. Reading and hearing is non different, therefore we get the direct association of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada simply by reading the Bhagavatam daily. He concluded his speech: " First you come to the Dhama and serve it properly. Then what happens? You will get sadhu sanga: the association of devotees who want to chant and hear the pure glories of Gauranga . So what is our goal ? Krishna Prema. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said: 'First serve the Dhama, then being purified... chant the Nama.... chant and hear the name purely, then you get Krishna Kama, pure devotional service in love of God.'" Continue reading "Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama- Day 2
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First Ratha Yatra Of Natal - Brazil (Album with photos)
Radha Gopali devi dasi: Here in Brazil we have a very famous festival that is called “Carnaval”
So we decided to make the first Ratha Yatra in the middle of this Carnaval.
It was last Saturday February 25.
It was very very nice….we built 3 cars…Jaganatha, Baladeva and Subhadra,
another one with Goura & Nitai and the other with Radha and Krishna.
More than 5.000 thousand people chanted the Maha mantra HARE KRISHNA!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/0gEK2C
By Devamrita Swami Remember, right before Prabhupada’s departure he said something very extraordinary, because devotees were concerned, they have the big concern, how they would know what to do after Prabhupada’s disappearance in this world. I’ll speak in the context of what previous speakers have informed you that during our sanyasi GBC guru Sanga, so many senior Vaishnavas brought up the point that reading Srila Prabhupada’s book. How we get tremendous renaissance when reading Prabhupada’s books. So, if you recall right before Prabhupada’s departure, the devotees asked, they went in anxiety totally justified how do we know what to do, how do we know how to make the right decisions after your departure. Srila Prabhupada. And he responded very interesting, very interestingly he said come together read my books and discuss them everything will become clear and how to proceed in the future? So we should remember that. Try it because at first our material intelligence will tell us, Look I have got many practical consideration, logistical considerations strategic consideration to make. Just get in together with Vaishnavas, opening Prabhupada’s books, reading them and discussing them, the way forward is with all my practicalities in the material world, they all will become clear, we should try it. We need a renaissance in this approach, then we can evaluate the results. Let’s take this instruction of Srila Prabhupada deeply into our hearts. Continue reading "From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – Srimad Bhagavatam class, February 22, 2017
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We’ll be going on a hike to Three Sisters Falls on March 5th, 2017, Sunday.
Meet up at the Krishna Lounge on Sunday, March 5th, at 9:30am, or at the Three Sisters Falls trailhead at 11am.
Krishna Lounge address is 1036 Grand Ave., San Diego, CA 92109.
Three Sisters Falls trailhead is located at the following coordinates: 32°59’04.3″N 116°40’37.9″W. You can use these coordinates with your GPS or Google Maps. Click HERE to get driving directions in Google Maps.
Rides: If you need a ride, please text or call me at 858-366-5704.
The trail is about four miles long, two miles each way. However, please note that hiking back we will be mostly going uphill which makes this hike somewhat challenging. In one point we will need to climb a ten feet high rock with the help of a rope. This is, by the way, not as difficult as it sounds. See images below.
We recommend that you bring a hat to keep your head from direct exposure to sun. Please bring at least a gallon of drinking water. I never used it, but many like to wear sunscreen. You may also bring something to snack on.
If you have any questions, feel free to text or call me at 858-366-5704.
Three Sisters Falls
Three Sisters Falls
This is the section where we will need to use rope to climb this rock.
Mantra dancing Prague (3 min music video)
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, kirtana and prasada will appeal to even the uneducated. We have means to preach to both the educated and uneducated, the sinful and the pious–dhiradhira-jana-priyau. Letter to Dvarakesa: 76-09-29
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/CLkrtq
A new, shining temple after the earthquake brought everything down in Christchurch Hare Krishna Centre, New Zealand (Album with phot...
Vaiṣṇava devotee means give me simply a place to lay down, little prasādam, whatever little service you have got please give me, that's all. -Śrīla Prabhupāda's Letter to: Gurudāsa, Yamunā — Bombay 19 December, 1972
Devotee means he is able to tolerate all kinds of discomfort and whims of the material nature, and because he is so much absorbed in serving Kṛṣṇa, he takes no time to become angry or take offense with others or find out some fault. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Letter to: Haṁsadūta — Ahmedabad 10 December, 1972
Devotee means very liberal and kind to everyone, always gentleman under all kinds of conditions of life. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Letter to: Haṁsadūta — Ahmedabad 10 December, 1972
Devotee means one should be firmly convinced of his being the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Letter to: Mr. Kair — Los Angeles 8 July, 1969
So to become devotee means to do the best service to the family. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay
A devotee means he knows everything. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s room Conversation with Professor Francois Chenique -- August 5, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)
Devotee means the first sign will be happy, brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā [Bg. 18.54]. If he's not prasannātmā, he's a rascal. He has not entered even devotional life. He's outside. That is the test.-Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- April 24, 1976, Melbourne
Devotee means tattva-darśī. He has seen the real truth. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- March 25, 1976, Delhi
Devotee means who follows Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- March 25, 1976, Delhi
Devotee means sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. He is above these material laws. That is devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- March 25, 1976, Delhi
Devotee means brahmacārī. Pure devotee means brahmacārī. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. He has no other desire. That is brahmacārī. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- November 3, 1975, Bombay
Devotee means serious devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Conversation with Professor Hopkins -- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia
Devotee means he has no sense gratification. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Room Conversation with Tripurāri -- March 2, 1975, Atlanta
Devotee means one who has taken shelter of Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk -- June 13, 1974, Paris
Devotee means he does not know anything better than Kṛṣṇa, that's all. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Room Conversation -- November 4, 1973, Delhi
The devotee means who is always pleasing Kṛṣṇa. He has no other business. That is devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Māyāpura
Devotee means to hear about Kṛṣṇa, to chant the glories of Kṛṣṇa, to think of Kṛṣṇa, to offer fruits and flowers to Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Departure Address -- Los Angeles, July 15, 1974
Devotee means to become fully qualified with all the noble qualities. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.119-121 -- New York, November 24, 1966
Devotee means he must be sinless.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.1 -- Madras, January 2, 1976
Devotee, means he is prepared to do anything for God. That is pure devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.5.22-30 -- London, September 8, 1971
Devotee means not with four hands or four legs, no. The hands, legs are the same. But his mode of thinking different. That's all. That is devotee. Devotee does not depend on the country, color or religion or circumstance. Devotee means the mind. Anyone who is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, he is devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.50 -- Detroit, June 16, 1976
Devotee means he's not blind.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam1.7.40 -- Vṛndāvana, October 1, 1976
Devotee means he does not ask anything from God.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam1.3.7 -- Los Angeles, September 13, 1972
A devotee means who is abiding by the laws given by God. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam1.1.2 -- London, August 17, 1971
Devotee means complete spiritual. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.2, Bombay, March 22, 1974
Devotee means he is firmly convinced about his relationship with God.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.1-6 -- Los Angeles, January 3, 1969
Devotee means servant—not paid servant—but servant by affection. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.1 -- Delhi, November 10, 1971
Devotee means he can act anything and everything for the Lord. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.1 -- Montreal, August 24, 1968
Devotee means one who has engaged his senses cent percent for the service of the Lord, he is devotee, pure devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 3.6-10 -- Los Angeles, December 23, 1968
Devotee means although he is very, very powerful, he never thinks that "I am powerful." He thinks that "I am acting simply by the order of the powerful." -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 2.15 -- London, August 21, 1973
Devotee means to finish all miserable conditions of materialistic life. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.12.46
Hare Krishna
Mayapur, India
A Day of Lightness
In many ways every day is the same. The sun rises gloriously over the eastern direction. It is a clear and round redness and moves ever so subtly. A perfect example of levitation—you can find in the sun. At least it looks like the sun is the perfect yogi.
Most mornings display layers of fog. As a group of us were ambling along, with coriander fields on both sides of our trail, we were frivolously doing limbo under the lowest layers of mist. We cleared that bar of fog quite easily.
Limbo, we could do. Levitate, we could not.
Devananda is a Bengali pujari (priest) who served in our Toronto temple some years back. He returned to his homeland and built up a business and a house, and now we have found ourselves in his simple tiny, but charming, home. What a feast he cooked up for us! We were in a light mood after that meal and consequently posed ourselves into a service mood. We formed a massage circle and went to it, hoping to assist in digestion.
I reflected on the night before, when the kirtan mela (chanting festival) was in full swing. The Pancha Tattva Hall, the venue, was just packed with enthusiastic youths engaged in surrender to the mantra. The body was in motion, as in dance. The mouth was fully sounding out that mantra. The mind was absorbed in abandonment to the service.
When I jumped into the circle of dancers, it excited the guys that an old geezer like myself would join them.
May the Source be with you!
7 km
Mayapur, India
A Book on Monks
I am thoroughly enjoying reading Yadunandana Swami’s book, Sannyasis in Modernity. Yadunandana is a monk from Spain and has done a scholarly look at the history of monastics in the Hare Krishna society. In Chapter One he opens with the foundational elements of his research.
“A prominent characteristic of the early twenty-first century is the rapid worldwide growth of secularization. Many accept humanistic values and material development as top priorities in life. Although many people identify with a religious community or denomination, tendencies toward spirituality and religious practices are decreasing in favour of more ‘tangible’ goals like economic development and worldly pleasures. Then again, practitioners and communities of religious and spiritual traditions are endeavouring to maintain and promote their core values by expressing them in ways adapted to the present socio-cultural context…
“In this study I examine how ISKCON members live the ancient practice of sannyasain a social environment that promotes values opposing this practice. The etymological meaning of sannyasa is ‘complete renunciation.’ Sannyasa is the last of four life stages followed by practitioners of Hinduism. It was traditionally practiced by mature elderly men with a lifelong monastic inclination…
“There are two types of ISKCON monks, brahmacaris (celibate students) and sannyasis (mature renouncers).”
Published by SANKIRTANA BOOKS. It’s a good read.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
Mayapur, India
Satisfy the Self
Due to limited access to international ground-breaking news, I have few details on the incident. It was indeed sad news to hear. It reminds me of the passing of the Peace Pilgrim who died from a head-on collision when being transported to a program. This woman who referred to herself as the Peace Pilgrim had walked tens of thousands of miles through the U.S. and Canada. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Pilgrim
Meanwhile, here in not-so-peaceful Mayapur, the motor-bike culture persists. Noise and speed are the culprits that threaten a sattvic(calm) environment. Fortunately, someone by the name of Tara heads up the transport department and he sounds very positive about tackling the monsters. Hopefully by next year some positive progress can be made.
Peace comes from hearing something soothing. I cannot credit myself for any reassuring words. I can only function as a parrot and repeat the message that ignites progressive action. I was invited to the Chaitanya Bhavan to speak to a Spanish group on a famous verse from the book “Bhagavatam.” From the first Canto, the verse reads like this: “The supreme occupation for all humanity is that by which people can obtain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self” (SB 1.2.6).
May the Source be with you!
4 km
