Overcoming obstacles 4 – Let intelligence be your minister, not your master – part 2
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[Seminar in Alachua Learning Center, Alachua, USA]

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Overcoming obstacles 3 – Let intelligence be your minister, not your master – part 1
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[Seminar in Alachua Learning Center, Alachua, USA]

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From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – Srimad Bhagavatam class, February 23, 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Jayapataka Swami

What other avatar thinks how to deliver all the souls? I mean they come into universe, they kill the demons but actually, to think how to get every man, woman and child, how to get everybody all people Krishna Conscious. Where is the other incarnation that have so much mercy. Even as 24 years, he was a grahasta he thought logicians, argumentative students mayavadis, all these people are somehow avoiding me, avoiding my mercy so there he took sanyas. And with that he got all the others. In fact, he went to Banaras, there Kasi Misra and Chandrasekar, Chandrasekar was considered like a sudra. They ate Prasad at the house of Kasi Misra but they stayed at the house of Chandrasekar. But they both approached him. But they couldn’t tolerate hearing all the mayavadi sanyasi criticising Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya, on the way back stopped at Banaras. And then he devised a plan, to liberate the sanyasis. So, a brahmana came and invited for prasadam, he said I have invited all the sanyasis of Banaras. I know that you don’t come, you don’t mix with other sanyasi, but I am begging you, just have mercy on me please come. So, Lord Caitanya agreed. He went and he saw all the mayavadi sanyasis were there, he went by the doorway and washed his feet he offered his obeisance and sat down by the dirty foot water in front of all the brahmanas. Continue reading "From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – Srimad Bhagavatam class, February 23, 2017
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Overcoming obstacles 2 – Focus not on rejecting desire, but on selecting desire – part 2
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Overcoming obstacles 1 – Focus not on rejecting desire, but on selecting desire – part 1
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For Iskcon100 and further only by studying Srila Prabhupada’s books and living your life accordingly
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Hare KrishnaBy Romapada Swami

During our GBC meetings in Mayapur, a consistent theme has arisen about the succession issue. After a study of several religious organizations which succeeded in continuing their missions over the years, it was concluded that only if the intents of the Founder Acarya are understood by the consequent generations of devotees Iskcon will be successful in spreading Lord Chaitanya's movement for many years in the future. This can be accomplished only by a regular study of Srila Prabhupada's books and recordings and not just for an intellectual understanding but for transformational purposes. Continue reading "For Iskcon100 and further only by studying Srila Prabhupada’s books and living your life accordingly
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Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All (formerly the ACHARYA film)
- TOVP.org

Here is the most recent newsletter from INNER VOICE Productions, the film company of Yadubara das and Visakha devi dasi, and the current status of their groundbreaking new film, Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All, formerly titled ACHARYA.

Dear Devotees and Friends,
It’s time for an update on Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All. (On our website, the name is still Acharya but it will be changed next month once we begin our marketing campaign.)

The Inner Voice Productions team has been hard at work at Alpha Dogs, a post-production lab in Los Angeles, creating all the finishing touches on the film: color balancing each scene, audio sweetening and mixing, graphics, animation, etc. This will continue for the next few weeks to ensure the film meets the highest production value and cinematic quality.

Currently, we are developing our film’s marketing materials, which includes working with a graphic artist to create posters, handouts, etc. These marketing materials will be the promotional tools placed in prominent public places: store windows, at kirtan festivals, in yoga studios, in newspaper ads and online. Hare Krishna will be seen everywhere!

On February 1, we hired the film distribution company Abramorama for our North American marketing and distribution. Instead of the traditional way of film distribution where a company buys your film outright, we have chosen to hire a company for a few reasons: 1. the filmmaker retains all the film rights, 2. the production company receives much more revenue from box 
office ticket sales, online streaming, TV and DVD sales, 3. the filmmaker controls the marketing campaign and release strategy. We believe this distribution strategy will ensure that Srila Prabhupada’s life story is shared in the broadest possible way and that maximum profits go back into projects that spread his message for years to come.

We feel honored to have Abramorama onboard. They are an industry leader in the focused, personalized form of film distribution, and provide an invaluable, alternative distribution option to independent filmmakers. They have successfully distributed films such as Eight Days A Week (Ron Howard’s film on the Beatles), Awake: The Life of Yogananda, Miss Sharon Jones!, and The C Word.

For their services, we do require substantial upfront funds to cover costs. Through your generous contributions, we do have enough funds to finish the film and are now collecting donations to fund marketing and distribution through Abramorama.

If you are again inspired to help, please visit our crowd-funding campaign at: https://www.generosity.com/fundraising/acharya-marketing-and-theatrical-distribution

Special thanks to those who have already donated for marketing and distribution on our generosity.com website!

As it stands now, we will definitely premier the film for a one week run in June at a theater in New York City. Then, depending on how much funds are raised, marketing and distribution will continue through the summer to potentially hundreds of movie screens throughout North America (and eventually the world). We are confident that devotees worldwide will rally to the cause and help to take Srila Prabhupada on another tour of the country where he first started his Hare Krishna Movement. The benefit the public will receive is inestimable.

If you would like to volunteer to help, please email us at: *protected email*

We would greatly appreciate you sharing our crowd-funding link with as many family and friends as possible!

Thank you very much for your continued support and encouragement!

Yours in service,

The Hare Krishna! Team
Yadubara das, Visakha dasi, Lauren Ross, Krishna Sanchez & Jessica Heinrich

Film Website: http://www.acharyathemovie.com/

Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/mpN60N8jPxo
Acharya Preview Clip: https://youtu.be/–ocjcB3Vg8

To make a donation please use the link above or mail a check made out to INNER VOICE Productions to the address below. INNER VOICE Productions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

Copyright © 2017 Inner Voice Productions Inc., All rights reserved.
Thank you for your support! Stay tuned for updates.

Our mailing address is:

Inner Voice Productions Inc.
13505 NW 146th Avenue
Alachua, FL 32615

The post Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All (formerly the ACHARYA film) appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

373. Pride
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In a world characterised by the feverish need to succeed, it’s not that difficult to see the growth of pride in one’s character. The dictionary defines pride as follows:

noun
a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of one’s close associates, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.

When one is intoxicated with one’s material or even spiritual achievements, the next phase is a fall down. This is because, to be the centre of power or the ultimate controller or enjoyer is a difficult position for the conditioned living entity to manage. This is something only the Supreme Lord can manage well without being contaminated. When we are proud, we strongly identify with our false ego & our body. We imagine us to be better than anyone else and stronger than all those around us. This leads one to thrive on the accolades & recognition from others, eventually making one unfit to receive any feedbacks or constructive criticisms on one’s deficiencies. Surely, a dangerous position to be in.

In yesterday’s Srimad Bhagavatam class, Abhishek prabhu covered the story of King Nahusa from Canto 9, Chapter 18, Verse 03 – 05.

In summary, King Nahusa was given the opportunity to rule heaven in the absence of Lord Indra (original king of heaven). However, the new king became proud of his powerful position and went after the wife of Lord Indra. In order to protect the queen and also punish the king for his pride, the powerful sages who were present in the court hatched a plot to have him cursed. As a part of the plan, the queen requested the new king to come see her in a palanquin  but carried by powerful sages. The proud king intoxicated with his desire to enjoy the queen did not realise the offence he was about to commit. The sages or brahmins are not to undertake such tasks and meant to be worshipped at all times due to their full-time endeavour to immerse in the thoughts of God. The king was blind to his folly and arranged for such a ride to happen ? In the slow ride on the palanquin, the king got impatient and prodded one of the sages with his foot – a great insult!

220px-fall_of_nahusha_from_heaven

He was immediately cursed to became a snake on the earthly planets but was eventually delivered from his low position when he came in contact with the Pandavas. That’s another story.

Basically, you don’t want to offend a devotee or get cursed by one either. If you do, the only way out is to repent, do a lot of service to the devotees and earn their forgiveness. As we all know, the Lord tolerates any insult directed towards Him but he does not do so when it’s directed towards a devotee.

Both the Lord and material nature are very strict and does not tolerate pride especially towards those in the position of a power. A leader has to be incredibly humble and understand that the power invested in him is a mercy of the Lord. That power and the humility that goes with it, is meant to attract the mercy of the Supreme Lord which can then be passed on to the followers, he/she govern. All the followers in turn will also become humble and will not be proud of their own efforts or be envious of the rulers. This is the way to have a just and peaceful society. That is true success.

In conclusion, we must actively keep a watch out for what we think, say and do and remove any elements of pride. This must be a daily effort. Always remember – Pride Hath A Fall.

 


Gita 13.13 That which grants the immortal is the most vital knowable
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Praying on Maha-Sivaratri
Giriraj Swami

Today, Sivaratri Sri Gopisvara Mahadeva Sivaratri 2017here, we did special worship of our deity of Gopisvara Mahadeva, gifted to us by His Holiness Indradyumna Swami. We prayed to Gopisvara,

vrndavanavani-pate jaya soma soma-maule
  sanaka-sanandana-sanatana-naradedya
gopisvara vraja-vilasi-yuganghri-padme
prema prayaccha nirupadhi namo namaste

“O gatekeeper of Vrindavan! O Soma, all glories to you! O you whose forehead is decorated with the moon (soma), and who is worshipable to the sages headed by Sanaka, Sanandana, and Narada! O Gopisvara! Desiring that you bestow upon me pure love for the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, who perform joyous pastimes in Vraja-dhama, I offer my obeisances unto you again and again.” (Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, Sankalpa-kalpadruma 103)

Lord Siva is in charge of false ego, so I prayed to him to free me from mine and to establish me in my constitutional position of eternal service to Sri Sri Gandhavika-Giridhari and Their divine servants. And I wish the same for all of you.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Thursday, February 23rd, 2017
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Mayapur, India

Heating Up

I still don my socks in the morning.  At 4 a.m., stone-tiled floors are nippy on the feet at that hour, despite the current rise of temperature during the day.  At 12 noon they come off.  At Maha-Sringha’s home some of our Canadian devotees, as well as Russian, along with Bengali brahmacaris, warmly (in more ways than one) sat in kirtan.  It was a jam session, in some ways, with guitar and saxophone.  It was marvelous—musicians playing the maha-mantra.

Still more heated up, came the kirtan mela (chanting festival) which I led from 4 to 5 p.m.  Here we incorporated traditional mrdunga drum and kartals (hand cymbals,) along with gong and harmonium, to invoke a beautiful form of praising Krishna.  Dancing—I insisted upon—so we had the entire hall of people moving to steps of devotion.

It’s great when we all work and move together.  That’s called co-operation.

I have been rather strict with diet, a low purine one, which means low in protein.

“Now, just add some barley to your eating.  It’s the major source of B12, which is lacking in many vegetarians,” said one Ayur-veda doctor.

We did have meals between exuberant chanting sessions—a way to burn up cells that consumption brings.

“Work now, Samadhi later,” our guru, Srila Prabhupada used to say.  Samadhimeans “chill-out” in a most spiritual way.

Behave.

May the Source be with you!


5 km

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017
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Mayapur, India 

Just Like the Sparks


On this last day of our AGM I was asked to read this passage from a lecture by our guru, Srila Prabhupada, recorded on Feb. 22/1967, fifty years ago in San Francisco:

“So as soon as we are separated, that is our conditional state.  How we are separated?  Just like the sparks of the fire, as soon as he's come out of the fire and falls down on the ground, it loses its illumination immediately.  Immediately.  That illuminating spark which was dancing with the fire, as soon as falls down, it becomes black, charcoal.  It is just like carbon.  So [a]long with the fire, it is just like, as good as fire, illuminating.

“So our position is like that.  We are sparks, energy.  As from the energy of the fire, there are so many dancing, similarly, we are all sparks of the Supreme Lord.  But as soon as we come out of the fire, as soon as we want to become independent of the Supreme Absolute Truth, that spiritual energy becomes almost extinguished.  It is never to be extinguished, but it appears, it appears.  Just like fire covered with ashes.  So again, when ashes are removed, the fire comes.

“So our position is like that.  We are now covered by the ash of this material energy and, as soon as this will be removed...  The removal process is Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa—ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam (CC Antya 20.12), cleansing process.  As soon as we are completely cleansed, we are as good, I mean, as illuminating as Kṛṣṇa.

“So this is the process.  We shall study again tomorrow.  Thank you very much.”

May the Source be with you!


6 km

Tuesday, February 21st, 2017
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Mayapur, India

Like Henry the Eighth?


Bhavananda mentioned to me, “I heard you had gout.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Henry the Eighth had gout.”

“Oh, please don’t compare me to that monster.”

“Yes, he was a monster.  At one point he only ate meat.”

“But please, don’t compare me to him.”

It’s Bhavananda’s usual way of teasing, having fun, and putting a spark into your day.

That brief exchange put light in the morning.  It was in the morning that I had also attended the Sridham Mayapura International School (SMIS) for their opening day.  On their campus, a full four hours was given to drama presentations by the various grades of students.  They were adorable, from pre-schoolers to teens.

I also wanted to report the beautiful tribute made to the late Jagajivan, an inspiration to many of the Krishna pioneers of South America.  He was always lively and upbeat, and offering a moderating influence when the atmosphere was heavy with emotions.  He died last fall from the effects of a stroke.  Isn’t it good to know that the spirit persists?

Today was the final day of our performance of “Mr. Puri.”  That’s the sixth showing to a capacity four hundred crowd, each time.  Mind you, so many people told  us they’ve come two, three or four times.

“Best production ever,” says Bhakta Priya, the widow of Jagajivan.

Thank you for that remark and all the best to you.

May the Source be with you!


7 km

Travel Journal#13.3: North Florida
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Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 13, No. 3
By Krishna-kripa das
(February 2017, part one)
North and Central Florida
(Sent from Gainesville, Florida, on February 25, 2017)

Where I Went and What I Did

I spent the first week of February in Tallahassee, chanting at Florida State University during the week and at Lake Ella on the weekend. About nine devotees from Gainesville’s Krishna House came up to Tallahassee for First Friday, an art walk where Nama Kirtan Prabhu distributes a Krishna Dinner, and it was great to be chanting with a lot of devotees again. February 8 was Nityananda Prabhu’s Appearance Day, and my sister, Karen, and her partner, Victor, came to visit me in Gainesville and Alachua, and they got lots of prasadam and met some nice devotees. We went to Ichetucknee Springs the next day as they like the outdoors. Friday I chanted at Krishna Lunch midday and with the Alachua devotees in the afternoon.

Then I gave a talk called “Blissful Traveling” for the Friday night program at Krishna House, showing harinama videos from different parts of the world. 
On Sunday, devotees from Gainesville’s Krishna House and Jacksonville’s Bhakti House chanted in Ocala National Forest at the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering for six hours, also distributing prasadam and books. The next three days I chanted with Krishna Club students at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. I also attended the Monday evening program at the Jacksonville Bhakti House, and I chanted with Youssef and Richie at the Jacksonville Beach Art Walk on Tuesday.

I have a nice quote by Srila Prabhupada about the importance of the association of spiritually minded people. I share an excerpt from Satsvarupa dasa Goswami’s Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name. I share notes on lectures by Mother Madhumati, Caitanya Carana Prabhu, Ekayani Devi Dasi, Abhimanyu Prabhu, and Bhakta Hanan.

Thanks to Nama Kirtan Prabhu of ISKCON Tallahassee for donating to my travel expenses there. Thanks to Lovelesh Prabhu of Jacksonville for his kind donation.

Thanks to Victor for the nice picture of Karen with Radharani’s garland. Appreciating Radharani’s mercy on my sister, over ninety of my Facebook friends liked that picture. My posts are rarely so popular!

Itinerary

February 25: Sacred Sounds @ USF, Tampa
February 26–28: Gainesville Krishna House
March 1: Jacksonville Art Walk
March 2: USF, Tampa
March 3: First Friday, Tallahassee
March 4–April 8: North and Central Florida campuses
April 9–11: Washington, D.C.
April 12: Albany
April 13: New York City
April 14–September 5: Europe

Harinamas at Florida State University

I chanted on the Landis Green behind the main Florida State University library for three hours each day, distributing free vegan, gluten-free cookies, and trying to interest people in Srila Prabhupada’s books, our Krishna Lunch program at FSU, and our local temple programs.

One young lady said she really enjoyed hearing my singing whenever she passes by Landis Green, and she said that she should stop and ask what it is about when she has free time. I gave her a flyer for the Krishna Lunch and the Sunday Feast. Although I almost never do so, I said, “My name is Krishna-kripa. What is yours?”
She said, “My name is Reema. I teach Arabic here.”

After taking a gluten-free vegan oatmeal cookie from my table, one young lady returned three minutes later saying, “I just had to come back and tell you how good that cookie was!” 


I always try to use the best ingredients, and I pray to Radharani to empower me to make cookies that please Her beloved Krishna. Another person said the cookies were “awesome!”

A couple ladies stopped by at different times and said they had often seen me singing on the green and they wondered what it was all about. That just reminded me about how important it is that devotees go out in public and represent Krishna in order to create an interest in Him.

Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day

Several devotees who do not sing every day at Krishna Lunch, came out especially to sing in celebratation of Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day:

Here Purusartha Prabhu chants (https://youtu.be/dKgi5G7aIvI):


Here Radha Govinda Prabhu chants (https://youtu.be/qmtdmXSgd-Q):


Here Tulasirani Devi Dasi chants (https://youtu.be/3mVxT6_5ZT0):


My sister, Karen, and her partner, Victor, on a Florida vacation from the New York winter came to visit on Nityananda’s Appearance Day. I suggested that would be a good day because it always seems there is extra mercy for everyone on the festival days. While eating Krishna Lunch spaghetti with the devotees, they got to hear Tulasirani Devi Dasi tell the amazing story of Lord Nityananda’s delivering Jagai and Madhai from their lives as debauchees. Victor was reading a novel about a Jewish saint, and as Tulasirani was from a Jewish background she was interested to hear about it. Tulasirani gave Victor a copy of The Journey Home by her guru, Radhanath Swami, and before Victor left the next day he gave Tulasirani the book about the Jewish saint, although he hadn’t finished reading it. Karen and Victor also visited our harinama at the Farmers Market and attended the festival for Lord Nityananda in Alachua. They met lots of nice devotees, including Sukhada Devi, who had met Karen when she visited seventeen years ago. 

Sukhada gave her the garland worn by Radharani on Nityananda’s Appearance Day.

Here Tulasirani Devi Dasi leads the Krishna House devotees in chanting Hare Krishna at the Gainesville Farmers Market on Lord Nityananda's Appearance Day (https://youtu.be/vCOPirHWzeI):


The Nityananda feast was wonderful, and Karen, Victor, and I all liked it. I was happy there was plenty of sweet rice.

Ichetucknee Springs



Ichetucknee Springs is a popular spring to visit for the Hare Krishna devotees in Alachua. I had thought of visiting Payne’s Prairie State Park, which was more on our way, as Karen and Victor, as well as myself, were southbound the day after the Nityananda festival, but when Karen and Victor had heard from Sukhada Devi that her son had seen manatees at Ichetucknee, they developed a desire to go there. Sukhada’s son, Ramananda Raya, was our guide, and he was very knowledgable about the springs and he got on well with Victor. They went for a swim together, while Karen and I floated down the river in our kayaks, wondering where they were. I had hoped to visit the springs in the morning and go to Tampa with Ramiya Prabhu in the afternoon, but I realized at the pace we were moving that would be impossible, and the frustration of my desire to chant at University of South Florida colored the rest of the day for me. 


Still the springs was very beautiful and peaceful. 


We used Ramananda Raya’s three inflatable kayaks and rented one more. 

I saw more turtles than I ever have had before. They apparently take great pleasure in sunning themselves on the logs that fall into the river. Everybody besides me enjoyed a swim.


Here Karen swims at one of the deeper springs that feed the Ichetucknee River, which is said to be 72° F (about 22° C) all year.

Govinda’s in Gainesville

Karen, Victor, and I all went to Govinda’s in Gainesville for dinner. We all got the buffet, and we were satisfied with it. There was plenty of variety, and everything was good, especially the soup. Thus my relatives got plenty of prasadam during their visit, something that Srila Prabhupada considered essential.

Chanting at the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering

Devotees from Alachua and Gainesville have been visiting the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering in Ocala National Forest for decades. At least once in the mid-1990s, New Vrindavan devotees also came. At least a couple of people from that Rainbow Gathering have become Hare Krishna devotees. Now there are more alcholics and druggies than spiritual seekers, and some people do not go there anymore for that reason. Still we find people happy to encounter Krishna music, Krishna food, and Krishna literature both for the first time and once again. This year was better than last as we had more devotees, and we had more positive interactions. Altogether, we had nine devotees from Krishna House, six devotees from Jacksonville, and one former Krishna House resident who was traveling through.

Coconut, here talking with Tulasirani Devi Dasi, participated in the chanting for over 3½ hours, though never having encountered it before!

 Tulasirani Devi Dasi really has a taste for talking with people.

 We served sabji, halava, and salad.

This person, after having gotten some prasadam, chose some spiritual literature.

Megan, holding her son, was happy to encounter the devotees again. She told me that once Adikarta Prabhu did a program at her house, and she said, “I owe that man my life!”
One girl wanted to take a picture of her stuffed monkey, so Abhimanyu put it on our drum, and we posed for this picture.

One vehicle we passed on harinama had many slogans on its rear door. One my mother used to always say prompted me to take the photo, “We’re all in this together.” Many are consistent with Hare Krishna philosophy or practice like “LOVE>FEAR” and “PLANT SEEDS & SING SONGS.” 

See Krishna House devotees chanting Hare Krishna and distributing spiritual literature and food at the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering (https://youtu.be/tiTPlKMlIMQ):


Armed with musical instruments, a box of books, and a bucket of halava, Hare Krishna devotees from Gainesville’s Krishna House walk through the woods and by a lake sharing Krishna music, literature, and food with attendees (https://youtu.be/aN0Sdngs5K0):


Here Amrita Keli Devi Dasi, Hare Krishna chaplain at the University of North Florida, leads the chanting of Hare Krishna, as devotees from Gainesville and Jacksonville share Krishna consciousness with Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering (https://youtu.be/n8kRrituYcs):


Jacksonville Bhakti House Monday Evening Program

Every Monday at the Jacksonville Bhakti House is a evening program with prasadam, kirtana, and a spiritual discussion.

Realizations of attendees on prayer and deity worship:

Laura: Prayer even works if you do not believe in it.

Kira: Through prayer I find I refine my desires until I focus on what I really want.

Amrita Keli Devi Dasi: When I was first attending Krishna House in Gainesville, for six months I did not even notice the altar. As I began chanting and developed devotion, it became noticeable to me.

I worried when I began the Deity bathing, “Oh, this is going to take hours!” But when I am done, I feel blissful, and if I was feeling sick, I feel better.

In junior high school, I was a vehement atheist, but I wanted to find the truth. I prayed to God, “If you exist, I am willing to admit I am wrong. If you exist, I want you to come into my life.” After that I immediately felt there was a presence around me as I was walking down the street.

Richie: I realize the Deities set the atmosphere for the whole house. People like the atmosphere here, and I tell them, “It’s the Deities.”

Youssef: I agree you do not have to believe in God to start making prayers. I started making prayers before I really believed in God. Can you really improve yourself the way you want by yourself? Prayer is really special, whether you believe in God or not. It can really help your self-improvement.

Jarel: Although I consider myself an agnostic, I enjoyed making the halava, and I liked to participate in the ritual of making the offering.

Krishna-kripa das: I found although I had no attraction to deity worship, when I did it out of a sense of duty, I noticed when I went on vacation and left it behind, when I returned, I was eager to get back on the altar with the deities. Just as we all have become attached to kirtana and prasadam, the spiritual chanting and food, although we formerly knew nothing about them, in the same way you can find yourself becoming attached to deity worship because all these devotional activities are natural for the soul, and we are all souls.

My favorite prayer, which I have offered regularly every day for some segments of my life and which I still offer frequently is: “My Lord, I know that young girls have natural affection for young boys, and that young boys have natural affection for young girls. I am praying at Your lotus feet that my mind may become attracted unto You in the same spontaneous way.” (Padma Purana, quoted in The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 9)

Although we had two kirtanas before discussing prayer and deity worship and having prasadam, the youthful attendees were excited to have two more afterward, and most of the people stayed for them. What was striking for me is to see the expressions of absorption on the faces of the chanters.

Here Laura chants Hare Krishna at the Jacksonville Bhakti House Monday evening program (https://youtu.be/bznFrNk3SII):


Here Amrita Keli Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at the Jacksonville Bhakti House Monday evening program (https://youtu.be/TbSvmB97l5c):


I am sorry the video is so dark. My camera does not work well in the dim light, and many places, unfortunately for me, devotees like to chant kirtana in dim light, and I did not want to disturb them by turning on the light.

Harinamas at University of North Florida in Jacksonville

I felt grateful that Youssef was willing to chant with me the whole three hours on Monday, Amrita Keli chanted with me on Tuesday, and Kira on Wednesday, so I had someone to chant with each day at University of North Florida in the grassy area between the Student Union and the lake. In addition, Richie came part of the time on Monday, and Youssef came part of the time on Tuesday and Wednesday. As usual we saw old friends and made new ones.

Here is some video of Youssef chanting Hare Krishna with Amrita Keli on Tuesday and with Kira on Wednesday (https://youtu.be/LvqapbamXs8):


While waiting at the campus bus stop near the library, I saw a man, perhaps forty or fifty years old, wearing a spotlessly white dhoti and a blue kurta. He looked just like a Hare Krishna devotee. He saw me wearing yogi pants and a kurta, and he saw my harmonium, but he did not say anything to me. I figured he was from another group, and I thought of a question I could ask him to find out. I decided to say, “Are you some kind of spiritual practitioner?” He explained that he was a Buddhist and that he was a student. I mentioned I had a friend at the Interfaith Center and asked if dealt with that organization, but he said he was too busy studying. I told him that my sister taught mindfulness, a Buddhist practice, but that I was a Hare Krishna. I could see he was not interested in talking so I left it at that. I never saw a Buddhist student wearing a dhoti before.    

Jacksonville Beach Art Walk

In January when I learned from the Jacksonville devotees about the Jacksonville Beach Art Walk, a new event they chanted at, I immediately developed a desire to attend and tentatively added it to my schedule. That happens the second Tuesday of each month.

One man we met remembered eating prasadam on the University of Florida campus in 1971, the year the Krishna Lunch program began. He recalled that they served a potato salad dish on Monday and that they distributed Bhagavad-gitas. His pleasant Krishna memories inspired him to donate two dollars, but he did not take a book, thinking he already knew about Krishna.

One rather drunk lady who was paired with a fairly sober guy was attracted to interact with the devotees. Richie went through the mantra two words at a time with her, and she tried chanting it for a while. She also did quite a bit of dancing. She wanted us to play while she sang some mundane love songs, but I was not into it. She had a nice voice, and I recommended that she sing devotional songs about God. At one point she was fascinated with the harmonium, leaning too close to the poor brahmacari, who was playing it and who had to smell the alcohol on her breath. Youssef encouraged her to dance, and she left the harmonium player alone. The guy she was with read the entire “On Chanting Hare Krishna” while she was interacting with the kirtana party, and according to Richie, he seemed to understand it. As he goes to University of North Florida, he may well come to the Krishna Club meetings there.

One friendly lady donated a candle for Youssef to use to heat the mrdanga head to improve its sound.

Youssef distributed some books and pamphets while we chanted.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.9.11:

“Transcendental devotional service cannot be complete and cannot be relishable without the association of devotees. We have therefore established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Anyone who is trying to be aloof from this Krishna Consciousness Society and yet engage in Krishna consciousness is living in a great hallucination, for this is not possible.”

Satsvarupa dasa Goswami:

From Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name:

“How will it take place that the ordinary, struggling japa will evolve into awareness of Krishna’s presence in His form, qualities, and names? What does Srila Prabhupada say? He says it will happen. There is no doubt about it. Krishna will reveal Himself; Krishna will teach us if we follow the guru’s order with full faith.

“Srila Prabhupada should be confidently accepted as a great authority for faith and realization of the holy name. He did what no one else dared, and what many Vaisnavas hardly dreamed of—brought the chanting of Hare Krishna mantra to mlecchas and yavanas who had never even heard of Krishna before. And Srila Prabhupada convinced us to chant with love, to enjoy kirtana, and to join and work with him in founding the Hare Krishna movement. No one could spread the chanting of the holy name so widely and deeply unless he was empowered by Krishna (krishna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana).

“So let me chant because he told me to. Never doubt. And wait for the day to come when Krishna will appear and say, ‘I am like this.’”

Mother Madhumati:

The yogis sit with half-closed eyes but not completely closed, as we sometimes see in Bhagavatam class.

The Indian answer is yes and no, moving the head sort of like this. [She moves her head in such a way that she indicates neither clearly yes or no.]

All Nityananda is saying is, “Have faith in the holy name and all perfection will be achieved.”

Nityananda is freely giving the holy name. Sometimes when someone gives us something for free, we do not value it.

Just by hearing of the activities of Lord Caitanya’s associates we become purified, what to speak of if we actually follow them.

Next time you clean the temple room at Krishna House, you can meditate on the pastime of Lord Caitanya cleansing the Gundica temple. Actually we should always meditate on Krishna’s pastimes when we do our services.

“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu washed and cleansed the temple in great jubilation, chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna all the time.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 12.85) We should also follow Lord Caitanya in always chanting Hare Krishna as we serve.

When you are chanting Hare Krishna and doing service, there is no grudge.

Caitanya Carana Prabhu:

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said:

1.    One who thinks this world is in need of reformation is himself in need of reformation.

2.    We see faults in others because we are honeycombed with faults ourselves.

Seeing the suffering in the material world people conclude God does not exist or God does not care. Because God is omnipotent, if He has not reduced the suffering, they think it means He does not care.

Walking away from a situation is different than running away from a situation.

Ekayani Devi Devi:

We see people in society who appear to have good qualities but they are not steady in these qualities, and when their senses go out of control, they can do things that are not good. Thus, it is said one that who is not devoted to God has no good qualities because he cannot act steadily in a good way.

Krishna steals the butter and the clothes of the gopis. He also stole the parijata tree for Satyabhama.

Krishna is always making arrangements to fulfill everyone’s desires. Kishor was serving Krishna Lunch, and he said he was so bored just lifting the prasadam and putting it on the plates and that he was a more active person. Not more than ten minutes later, a thief ran off with the cash box, and Kishor ran after him.

The brahmanas work best without an authority structure or under anarchy, the ksatriyas thrive in monarchy, the vaisyas work best with capitalism, and sudras prefer communism, where they work and get their necessities. If anyone of these four social structures predominates, some people will not be happy, because all four classes of people exist in society.

Lord Caitanya’s pastimes are the sweetest because they are of Krishna who has come to experience the joy of devotion to Krishna.

Abhimanyu Prabhu:

Even though Suruci, Dhruva’s stepmother, offended Dhruva before he became a pure devotee, she still had to die untimely as a reaction to the offense. Thus we have to take care not to offend someone who may become a pure devotee of God in the future.

The ksatriyas would appreciate the prowess of fighters on the opposing side.

The weapon Lord Narayana has made for us is the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and it can dissipate so many illusory distractions to our spiritual life.

Q: If the holy name is completely pure why does it matter who is chanting it?
Comment by me: Although the holy name is pure, because the holy name is Krishna Himself, He reciprocates with the surrender of the chanter, and so the demoniac may attain liberation from the holy name, but they do not attain the perfection of love of God that a pure devotee would.

Hanan Prabhu:

The madhya-lila of Lord Caitanya is known as the acarya-lila because He is teaching religious principles by His example especially at this time in His life.

At Krishna Lunch there was a controversy between devotees in which different devotees were criticizing each other. I told them they were ruining their spiritual lives by criticizing each other and they should stop, and I said I would be happy to discuss with them the details later.

It is said that Krishna’s mercy is especially present in Vrindavan in its dust and in the Yamuna River, His mercy is present in Mayapur in the kirtana, and in Jagannatha Puri in the prasada of Lord Jagannatha.

Even if a field is full of stool and there is only one flower, a bumblebee will seek the flower.

I went to take the Bhaktisastri course in New Vrindaban, and it was advertised that Radhanath Swami was going to teach. As it turned out, he was present, but he did not teach. Once Radhanath Swami was coming down the path opposite to us, and he spoke to my wife, who had sometimes cooked for him. He asked how we were doing. I expressed how the flyer had said he was going to be teaching Bhaktisastri, and he said that he was not planning to do that. I said that I was going to tell the devotee lady who had organized it.
Radhanath Swami interjected, “You are not going to tell her anything because she is doing her best.”
I replied, “Yes, Maharaja.”

-----

This is the third verse of the “Siksastaka” of Lord Caitanya in which he reveals the proper mentality in which to chant Hare Krishna. Reflecting on my lack of humility and tolerance, it is no wonder it is not easy for me to chant always. This verse is a reminder of what work I have left to do. Srila Prabhupada said this verse is the formula for attaining krishna-prema, love of God.

trṇad api su-nicena
taror iva sahisnuna
amanina mana-dena
kirtaniyah sada harih

 “[Lord Caitanya said:] ‘One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.’” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya 20.21)


Asses All
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By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The politician or, what is called, leaders, andha, they will promise you that "You will be happy in this way. You give me vote, and I shall bring heaven for you, and let me become minister. That is... You simply wait, and as soon as I become a minister and president, I will give you such and such benefit." Continue reading "Asses All
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What’s the higher consciousness? How to awaken that Consciousness?
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Hare KrishnaBy Radhanath Swami

Life is a journey. A quest of fulfillment, for seeking pleasure. Some people find that pleasure in wealth, in glory, or other material comforts of life. We are all seeking happiness, but it is within ourselves. If the fish swam deeper in life, it won’t have been bothered by the hawk. But it swam just around life. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Krsna says: A person who has peace within, who is self-realized in consciousness is very deep, like an ocean. The deeper you go in the ocean, the calmer it becomes. The more it becomes unaffected by the storms swirling on the surface .so, one who goes deeper realizes the self. Bhagavad-Gita tells what it to be above it is. Bhagavad-Gita explains different levels of realizations. Continue reading "What’s the higher consciousness? How to awaken that Consciousness?
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Krishna Lunch (Album with photos) “When I eat Krishna…
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Krishna Lunch (Album with photos)
“When I eat Krishna Lunch, I feel that my soul is being healed!” ~Lissette
Lissette is our regular Krishna Luncher! She went to UF and had Krishna Lunch in Gainesville. Now she is a Masters student at UMD and enjoys Krishna lunch here!
We love having you Lissette and thanks for all your support and help
Find them here: https://goo.gl/wbFfaJ

Srila Prabhupada and the children.“I may inform you that…
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Srila Prabhupada and the children.
I may inform you that all our children born of the Krishna conscious parents, they are welcome and I want hundreds of children like that. Because in future we expect to change the face of the whole world, because child is the father of man. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 21, 1968) So take care of these children. If you can make one child Krishna conscious, it is a great service. Krishna will be very pleased. So, so many children will come. (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, New Vrindaban, June 22, 1969) If we are able to make a whole generation of our children into fine Krishna Conscious preachers, that will be the glory of our movement and the glory of your country as well. But if we neglect somehow or other and if we lose even one Vaisnava, that is very great loss. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, June 20, 1972) Just like this child. She has taken birth having Vaisnava father and mother. So she must have been a Vaisnavi or a Vaisnava in her previous life. Because this is an opportunity from the All our children, those who are born of a Vaisnava father, mother, they are very, very fortunate. From the very beginning of life, they are hearing Hare Krishna maha-mantra. They are associating with Vaisnava, chanting, dancing. Imitation or fact, it doesnt matter. So they are very, very fortunate children. (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Vrindavan, March 13, 1974) Please take care of your children and make them perfectly Krishna Conscious. That is very great service. If by your endeavor one or two souls who come under your protection become liberated in this life, that is a great transcendental service to the Lord. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, Septemer 30, 1969) I think that your child is very nice, and Krishna has given him a great opportunity to perfect himself in spiritual life because He has placed him under the care of a mother who is a sincere devotee. Try to help him grow up peacefully in Krishna Consciousness, and Krishna will certainly smile upon you for your efforts. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 19, 1969) So you are very fortunate. Krishna has blessed you with a very good devotee son. Take care of your son, and take care of Krishna and you will be happy. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, March 14, 1970) Gurukula is our most important project. If the children are given a Krishna Conscious education from early childhood then there is great hope for the future of the world. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 27, 1973) Regarding your question should force be used on children, no, there shall be no forcing the children to do anything. Child should not be forced. This is all nonsense. Who has devised these things? If we want them to become great devotees, then we must educate the children with love, not in a negative way. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 10, 1972) Now I am concerned that the Gurukula experiment should come out nicely. These children are the future hope of our Society, so it is a very important matter how we are training them in Krishna consciousness from the very childhood. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, April 11, 1973) Forcing will not make me agree. But if there is love, oh, I shall gladly do it. That is bhakti, that is Krishna Consciousness. So similarly, if we train children by developing and encouraging their propensity to love Krishna, then we shall be successful in educating them to the topmost standard. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 18, 1972) If they are not spoiled by an artificial standard of sense gratification at an early age, children will turn out very nicely as sober citizens, because they have learned the real meaning of life. If they are trained to accept that austerity is very enjoyable then they will not be spoiled. So you organize everything in such a way that we can deliver these souls back to Krishnathis is our real work. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 25, 1971) To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/Je5gmm

Can our material identity be spiritualized – which dharma spiritualises it?
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Anwser Podcast


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From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – Srimad Bhagavatam class, February 19, 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Tamohara Das

The relationships, which are based upon bhakti, which means love, a loving relationship, but love is also manifesting through service. A nice quote that I like is that there was an author, a poet named Kahlil Gibran, he was some kind of mystic from the mid east area, maybe he was from Lebanon. He wrote this book called The Prophet which was very popular in my days among my generation of counter culturists. He had these little statements that were very profound. This is one that I thought was cool but I had no idea what it meant until I became a devotee. Then it became crystal clear. He said that "work is love made visible." Isn't that it? Work, or service, is the outward, visible manifestation of love. There's not a lot of meaning if you say I love you, I love you, but I don't want to do anything for you. I love you but don't ask me to do anything, don't ask me to do any service. That's not really love, is it? Love and service are intertwined. They are together. It's not abstract or theoretical. We call bhakti devotional service. Not devotional sentiment or devotional idea or theory. It's devotional service. So bhakti means love and service to Krishna and His devotees. Of course, we always have to remember that that service to Krishna goes through guru, through the spiritual master, who is the recipient of the service that goes to Krishna. Continue reading "From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – Srimad Bhagavatam class, February 19, 2017
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Gita 13.12 Knowledge means to what is the most important to know
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Gita verse-by-verse Podcast


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Winter Arati and Joyful Cows
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On the auspicious day of Lord Nityananda's appearance we offered arati to the cows. Instead of offering treats also, we let the rescued calves out of their barn for the first time. We also opened the gates for the rest of the herd to let them onto another pasture so they would be getting new grass to eat. Although it is winter there is still some nibbles to eat.

On the way to the new pasture the herd had the opportunity to meet the new rescued calves for the first time. The babies had been in the barn and the cows had been restricted to the pasture where they could not access the barn area.

All the cows were very happy and continue to be happy with new energetic friends, a change of scenery and new nibbles.

Harinama in Puri (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada: You have…
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Harinama in Puri (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: You have asked me for suggestions of what to say to different persons on Sankirtana Party, but there is no specific saying to any person. Whatever we say we say to everyone. It doesn’t matter what is his age. Krishna Consciousness teaching does not depend on the age. It is the eternal platform of the soul. This is the meaning of transcendental; that is is beyond any consideration of material qualifications such as age or intelligence. Just like thunder in the sky does not need any explanation to any old person or to a young child, similarly, the transcendental sound vibration of Hare Krishna and preaching of Bhagavad-gita philosophy will act on everyone, regardless of whether or not they are understanding at first. When preaching you only repeat what you have heard from the disciplic succession and this will act. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Prahladananda – Tittenhurst 5 October, 1969
Find them here: https://goo.gl/eiSFS3

Ignorance in the guise of literary embellishment
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When a person speaks about spiritual subject matter, normally the statements are conjectural and ambiguous. It is somewhat poetic and meant to be uncertain.

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given to you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer. - Rainer Maria Rilke

Now, I think I understand what the quote says but still the quote wants me thinking about it more. This is because the author expresses a vague subject vaguely. Mundane scholars do not admit to themselves and to others that they actually do not know what lies beyond!

Srila Prabhupada is different. Srila Prabhupada is self-realized. Srila Prabhupada is an expert in spiritual truths. Therefore, when he speaks there is no ambiguity indicating his gravity. One example is a statement by Prabhupada in his purport to Bhagavad Gita chapter 1 text 1. He says “It (referring to Bhagavad Gita) is the perfect theistic science because it is directly spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa”. One philosophy teacher simply could not digest this categorical statement because he was not used to accuracy and perfection in his field of philosophy. 

While it is highly refined to applaud subtle messages expressed in poetic language, it is still more refined to accept language (poetic or otherwise) that expresses the truth without duality. The underlying message is more important than literary embellishments for it will set us free!

Hare Krishna

Vaishnava Tattoo Subculture Grows in North America
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Today, a new Krishna conscious subculture seems to be growing out of the tattoo scene in North America, particularly in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Devotee tattoo artists – or “tattooers” as they’re more commonly known in the biz – are inking incredible devotional art, sharing their Bhagavad-gita based perspective on life with customers, getting together for kirtan, and even chanting at yoga studios. And more and more of them are springing up everywhere.

Dharma
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We live in a noisy world, and, in the midst of it, struggle to hear the heart. Ironically, tuning into our inner calling is where the real journey begins, otherwise we may well be careering down a no-through road. Happy and fulfilled people utilize wisdom and guidance to accurately understand what makes them tick. Its a simple but neglected principle of life.