Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Is there any relationship between telepathy and spirituality? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Nietzsche’s Desirer of desire – Wisdom on Wisdom 2 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Emerson’s Thought-stealing Ancients – Wisdom on Wisdom 1 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 11/27/2016

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

Participating Directors: Anuttama, Bhima (Chair), Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka and Sri Tulasi Manjari

Participating Advisors: Vraja

Participating Managers: Nitaicandra

Recording Secretary: Jamuna Jivani

1. Bahulaban Barn Community Center Proposal Update

Mukunda plans to consult Bhagavan for help in drafting a construction estimate.

2. Developing ECO-V’s Endowment

A subcommittee was formed to answer the questions needed to move forward in establishing the endowment. This subcommittee consists of Ranka, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Nitaicandra and Vraja. Chaitanya Mangala will contact the group separately in order to schedule a meeting.

3. Improving Communication between ECO-V and INV

Nitaicandra previously reported that there had been some miscommunications between managers of the two organizations, but more recently the lines of communication have improved and things are operating more smoothly.

4. Steering Committee/Village Council Update

A Village Council was successfully elected and they made a presentation during the November meetings. The new members are Bhagavan, Gaura Bhakta, Gaura Shakti, Giridhari, Lokadrsti, Nityananda and Vrindavan.

5. November Joint Board Weekend Meetings Recap

Chaitanya Mangala reported on some of the highlights of the meetings:

• The new Village Council was introduced during the “Community Dialogue.”
• H.H. Varsana Swami, Gopalasyapriya, Damodara, Pitambar and Amburish prabhus were honored with lifetime service appreciations.
• Advaita and Sudhanu cooked sweet rice over an open fire using protected dairy from New Vrindaban cows and Amburish’s classic recipe.

6. Spring 2017 Onsite Meetings

The spring meetings are scheduled to be held March 24-26, 2017.

7. Mukunda’s Monthly Report

Nitaicandra reported on Mukunda’s projects from the previous month:

• Mukunda completed a few projects on the temple barn, including building/hanging/insulating three sliding doors and insulating the upstairs door.
• He organized distribution of the “New Vrindaban” t-shirts for the on-site meetings.
• He helped oversee the election of the Village Council.

November is Mukunda’s last month working with ECO-V. The Board members expressed their appreciation for his service over the past two years. During the on-site meetings, he was given a plaque which reads, “On behalf of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra, the Board of Directors of ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-Vrindaban humbly present this plaque to Mukunda dasa and Bhakti-lata dasi in appreciation of two years of exceptional service in the development of New Vrindaban.”

8. Nitaicandra’s Monthly Report

Nitaicandra reported on the previous month’s projects:

• The cows and oxen at Nandagram have been separated from calves for the winter
• Caitanya Bhagavata will keep the oxen in shape throughout the winter by taking them on regular walks.
• The gardens at Nandagram are composted and turned in.
• Pippilada has finished the earth work necessary for the construction of a pit greenhouse at Nandagram.
• The saved seeds have been packaged and documented.
• The tractor work at Vidya’s flower gardens is complete.
• Nitaicandra plans to build a few single ox yokes and an ox cart over the winter.

9. Fall 2017 ISKCON North American Farm Conference

The 2017 North American Farm Conference will be held at New Vrindaban the weekend before Govardhana Puja. Sri Tulasi Manjari is currently working on a list of farmers to invite, making invitations and creating a list of workshops to offer.

10. Allocation of $70K Grant to ISKCON New Vrindaban

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to express its appreciation to INV for the negotiations Gopisa and Jaya Krsna made on behalf of ECO-V for the Williams Agreement.

RESOLVED: The ECO-V Board authorizes the following grants to ISKCON New Vrindaban: $40K for Prabhupada’s Palace kitchen remodeling and $30K for Vrindaban farm property renovations.

11. ECO-V 2017 Operating Budget

A subcommittee consisting of Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Nitaicandra, Ranaka and Sri Tulasi Manjari has been assembled to prepare an Operating Budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

For regular updates, visit the ECO-Vrindaban Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/ECOVrindaban

The Batam Devotees who did ratha yatra on December 11, 2016, was supported by Wajah Batam, a non-government organization in Batam, Indonesia. As Srila Prabhupada mentioned in his letter that “So all these variety shows will be so attractive with melodious musical sounds, and above all our good behavior and advanced Krishna consciousness will make this show very successful.” SPL to Haàsadüta, 4th March, 1968. A day before ratha yatra, in the field of Engku Putri field, the chariot team did preparation for the chariot. They worked tirelessly until midnight. Because of the rainfall, they skipped the work until the following morning. Arriving from Bali and Jakarta the devotees directly gave a hand to prepare the festival. They made garlands and assisted the chariot team to prepare the chariot. Continue reading "Jagannatha Ratha Yatra and Yoga Festival, Batam, Indonesia
→ Dandavats"

Iskcon Melbourne, Australia - Mega Kitchen Equipment Update (Album with photos)
Aniruddha Dasa: I was able to inspect kitchen progress on Friday with Greg, our project manager. I managed to get some shots. I’ve had such a busy weekend I couldn’t get them online till now. A lot of the equipment is in place. Not connected but you’ll get the idea.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Cv87Kn

Amazing video by the Russian devotees appealing for a Krishna Temple in Moscow ( min video)
According to the Vedas, God owns everything, not only in this universe but also in countless other universes, and in the spiritual world. But in Moscow, Krishna … has not home, has not a Temple. How so? In fact, here Krsna has already a beautiful, amazing Temple. Only time, and our efforts are separating us from it. By combining our efforts, thanks to the strong faith and friendship, we will be able to see it first hand and say, “Now, God has a house.” Please take part in the appearance of Krishna temple in Moscow!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/90ap96

Uncompromising

The post Daily Darshan: December 28,2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Like many people who engage in creative pursuits, I tend to have high expectations for my writing, which I have frequently expressed in blogs. I know, I know, I write about it too much, forgive me, but I think about it every day and whenever I write or teach.

As I chant and worship, I meditate and pray for uplifting spiritual power that flows through me in loving compassion and wisdom to be expressed through my speaking and writing. While I know it is there to some extent, I see being able to inspire people to take to spiritual practice, or devotees to revitalize their practice, as a natural outcome of sadhana, and personally, as a result of facing death. To me this is a win/win situation, good for me, and good for those who resonate with what I share. I will explain how knowing this about me may be of us to you--or why would I write it?

I share it because doing so inspires me by helping me keep my spiritual focus—when I write or chant I feel spiritually connected—with the prayer that you may also nurture high spiritual aspirations. For so many years I was busy in bhakti but didn't really have high spiritual aspiration as offered in our tradition, nor did I pray for them. I stalled accordingly and hope by this sharing that you will seek to understand the goal of bhakti and appreciate its value to pray for it with feeling. Ours is a path of grace--we endeavor or serve to attract grace.

So, what about you—what are your spiritual goals that you pine for, regardless of where you are on the spiritual path? Keeping this in mind and understanding its inestimable value is crucial for keeping on the path, not just casually, but with heart, for our whole lives—lest we give up in despair or hopelessness.

read more

"Srila Rupa Gosvami, after consulting various scriptures, has enumerated the transcendental qualities of the Lord as follows: (1) beautiful features of the entire body: (2) marked with all auspicious characteristics; (3) extremely pleasing: (4) effulgent; (5) strong; (6) ever-youthful; (7) wonderful linguist; (8) truthful; (9) talks pleasingly; (10) fluent; (11) highly learned: (12) highly intelligent; (13) a genius; (14) artistic; (15) extremely clever; (16) expert; (17) grateful; (18) firmly determined; (19) an expert judge of time and circumstances; (20) sees and speaks on the authority of Vedas, or scriptures; (21) pure; (22) self-controlled; (23) steadfast; (24) forbearing; (25) forgiving; (26) grave; (27) self-satisfied; (28) possessing equilibrium; (29) magnanimous; (30) religious: (3l) heroic; (32) compassionate: (33) respectful: (34) gentle; (35) liberal; (36) shy; (37) the protector of surrendered souls; (38) happy; (39) the well-wisher of devotees; (40) controlled by love; (4l) all-auspicious; (42) most powerful: (43) all-famous: (44) popular: (45) partial to devotees: (46) very attractive to all women; (47) all-worshipable; (48) all-opulent; (49) all-honorable; (50) the supreme controller. Continue reading "Qualities of Sri Krsna
→ Dandavats"

Power, such a seductive thing. It begins when we are infants and learn that a shrill cry can get you immediate attention. First we cry because we need something. Then we cry because we want something. Soon we cry just because we know we can. A younger, weaker sibling has to do what we tell them to - we borrow power from our strength. When the skinny girl finds her curves she realises that a look in the right direction and a casual flick of her hair can turn the biggest chunks of muscle into putty - she borrows power from her beauty. A frustrated father, worked to the grind by a condescending boss, lashes out at his wife and kids. Although he feels impotent at work, he claims power in the fact that he provides. Power games rule our lives. Continue reading "Power Does Not Corrupt the Divine
→ Dandavats"

Two albums of rare photos of Yamuna Devi from the beginning of the Hare Krishna movement. She is seen with her family, then with Srila Prabhupada, her early godbrothers and godsisters like Jayanananda Prabhu, Tamal Krishna Goswami, Vishnujana Swami, Mukunda Goswami, Malati Dasi, Guru Das, Hayagriva Das, talking with some celebrities like George Harrison and John Lennon, during the first Ratha Yatra in San Francisco, from her marriage, with a Godbrother of Srila Prabhupada and from her recent life before she left her body.

Read More...

Transcendental Greed.
There is one price that one must pay to get Krsna. That price is intense eagerness. This intense eagerness is called laulyam , “greed.”
In his Padyavali, Rupa Goswami has composed the following verse:
“Pure devotional service in Krsna consciousness cannot be had even by pious activity in hundreds and thousands of lives. It can be attained only by paying one price—that is, intense greed to obtain it. If bhakti is available somewhere, one must purchase it without delay.”

“Someone may say, ‘Oh, eagerness? I have eagerness.’ Ah-h-h… but it is not so easy. Janma-koti-sukrtair na labhyate: This eagerness cannot be achieved even by executing pious activities for millions of births. If you simply go on performing pious activities, still this eagerness is not available.

“So, this eagerness is a very important thing, but it can be awakened only by the association of devotees. Therefore we are giving everyone a chance to invoke that eagerness; then you’ll see God, face to face.” (JSD)
Vaisesika Das

My Cancer Diagnosis As Krishna’s Embrace.
It is often difficult to keep secrets, especially about one’s health, so after due consideration, I am publically sharing that after preliminary tests, secondary cancer has been discovered in a swollen lymph node in my neck. There is at least one more test in conventional medicine that could be performed—a PET or full body scan—to try to find the primary cancer. Unfortunately, I have found that just mentioning the word cancer freaks everyone out, as if this is a death sentence. However, this is not necessarily so. There are many alternative treatments with a high success rate—much better than the conventional radiation and Chemo. Although many who are reading this don’t know me personally, this could be your story just as easily, or it may already be, since in the USA, cancer strikes 1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women in their lifetime. In 2015, there will be an estimated 1,658,370 new cancer cases diagnosed and 589,430 cancer deaths in the US.

I don’t like to give anyone any pain or discomfort by telling them this news, but I bring it up as an educational experience for all of us and to document my travels through what may be a long journey of recovery. There is much to learn about what cancer is, what it means when it grows in the body, and what the best way to treat it is. We have found this the following site very helpful in our both our education about cancer and quest for the best treatment. http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/

At the same time, I do appreciate all the loving I am getting from my friends and families! I get the most amazing hugs and those looks of disbelief like I might disappear at any moment. If only we could all appreciate one another like this all the time!

My wife jokes that I may be partially attracting the cancer to feel such love and appreciation. Additionally, it may be a result of my daily prayers for spiritual advancement, and to gain facilities for sharing my spiritual life through writing and teaching. My friends and family are far more upset and worried than I am. In any case, I can honestly say, that “it’s all good.” Whatever happens I know it is for my ultimate spiritual benefit.

Although I don’t think it is my time to go, I have found this diagnosis an interesting meditation on death, and all the hankerings and desires in my heart. As is often my process, I take time to observe my thoughts and feelings from a 3rd person perspective, so I can learn as much as I can from my reactions or responses. Who do I really think I am—my conditioned story, or an eternal soul? How do I define myself? What are my attachments? How much do I consider myself a servant of God, or as an enjoyer of the world? Where is my faith? Where is my shelter? What is my relationship with the holy name? How much to I truly want the goal of pure devotion and love for Krishna and everything in relationship to his service? How much to I care about others? What am I willing to give, for the time I have left in my body?
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/exUqB1

GITA LIFE PROGRAM!! (Album with photos)
H.H.Bhakti Vinoda Swami conducting the Gita Life program in Sri Lanka.
Srila Prabhupada: The devotees of the Lord, while delivering speeches and describing the transcendental attributes of the Lord, do not think that they can do anything independently. They think that they can speak only what they are induced to speak by the Supreme Lord, the master of the senses… No one is free to act freely and independently, and as such, one should always seek the permission of the Lord to act or eat or speak, and by the blessing of the Lord everything done by a devotee is beyond the principles of the four defects typical of the conditioned soul.
SB 2.4.11 purp.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/gsIuyN

After the slow recovery of Kadamba Kanana Swami’s health, he commented during a room conversation that he is “sick of being sick” and he subsequently organized a full schedule of programs and parikramas around the Braj area. After the Bangladesh tour (story, recordings) and other shorter parikramas from past years, 2016 is the first year of many parikramas around the Vrindavan area. Maharaj used this opportunity to introduce devotees into the pastimes of Braj and simultaneously do some philosophical research for himself.

Here is a summary of posts on the Braj Parikrama 2016

• Vrindavan part 1 –  2 & 3 Nov
• Vrindavan part 2 – 4, 5 and 6 Nov
• Vrindavan part 3 – 7 & 9 Nov
• Vrindavan part 4 -11 & 13 Nov
• Vrindavan Parikrama photos
• Vrindavan Parikrama Audio recordings

And the whole Vrindavan & Parikrama schedule

2 Nov – Arrival in Vrindavan
3 Nov – Initiation ceremony for Keli Vrindavan dd, Srila Prabhupada’s house Bhajans
4 Nov – Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day festival
5 Nov – Start of Braj Parikrama 2016 – Kusum Sarovar, Uddhavkund
6 Nov – Yavat, Premsarovar
7 Nov – Varsana
8 Nov – Rest
9 Nov – Brahmananda Ghat
10 Nov – Canceled (Kamyvan)
11 Nov – Chirgat, Ramghat
12 Nov – Srimad Bhagavatam class 6.18.8 & rest
13 Nov – Unchagaon
14 Nov – Canceled (Vrindavan)
16 Nov – Bhajans at Srila Prabhupada’s house
20 Nov – Bhajans at the Govardhana Holy name retreat

Vrindavan, November 2016 – Part 1

Vrindavan, November 2016 – Part 2

Vrindavan, November 2016 – Part 3

Vrindavan, November – Part 4

Always New And Fresh (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today I took a few visiting devotees on the ultimate parikrama to Radha Kunda, Syama Kunda and Giri-Govardhan. It’s amazing how such parikramas, although performed hundreds or even thousands of times, are always new and fresh.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/SaUlJ1

Iskcon Latur Organizes A 3-Day Padayatra (Album with photos)
Sundarkrsna Dasa: Latur to Goroba Ter.
The devotees of Latur, Maharasthra, organized a three-day padayatra to celebrate ISKCON’s 50th anniversary. The padayatra took place from Latur to Ter started on October 24th and ended on October 26th. Latur is a city in the Marathwada region of Maharasthra and is popular with tourists for its historical monuments. Ter is a village located in the Osmanabad district about 50 kilometers away from Latur. The village was once home to Sant Gora Kumbhar (also known as Goroba) who was associated with the Bhakti movement and the Varkari sect[1] in Maharashtra. He was a potter by trade and a devotee of Lord Vitthal. The village is presently known as Goroba Ter. Gora Kumbhar and other saints also wrote and sung hundreds of abhangs (devotional poetry sung in praise of Lord Vitthal).

Inspiration

The padayatra was inspired by Lokanath Swami after he had spoken to us about doing one in our area. He was always sharing the experiences he had when he first started padayatra after being instructed by Srila Prabhupada. He also mentioned the ‘All India Padayatra’ as an example, and of course, whenever he spoke about that padayatra he would talk about Acarya Dasa. Lokanath Swami praised Acarya Dasa for leading the ‘All India Padayatra’ and told us to get ideas from him. So, being inspired by Lokanath Swami, we gained strength from his order much like the way trees and plants derive nourishment from the all-powerful sun.

Day 1, October 24th Murud Akola

Our small team of ISKCON Latur devotees made all the preparations for the padayatra. The procession consisted of a bullock cart carrying small deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra Maiya together with a photograph of Srila Prabhupada and 40 padayatris –also traveling with us was a vehicle carrying all our necessities.

We started the padayatra at the ISKCON Latur temple and walked to our first destination, Murud Akola, located 18 kilometers away. We walked, sang and danced the entire way and reached there that evening. Upon arriving we had sankirtana followed by a short lecture on the importance of harinam and taking up spiritual life. It was the month of kartikka, so we also sang the ‘Damodarastakam’ prayers with many of the local residents joining us in offering lamps to Lord Damodar, and since no program is complete without prasadam, we also distributed prasadam to everyone who attended. Finally, we made an announcement welcoming everyone to join us for mangal arati the next morning.

Day 2, 25 October Murud

We all gathered at 5.00 am for the morning program. We had mangal arati, nrishma arati, tulasi arati, sang the shiksatakam, recited the 10 offenses against chanting the holy names and paid our vaishnav pranams. We then set off at 6.00 am for Murud, about 20 kilometers away. As we neared Murud we did sankirtana and book distribution and when we arrived, that evening, we had another short lecture on ‘how the holy names can deliver us’. We even did a skit on Sant Gora Kumbhar followed by offering lamps to Lord Damodar and prasadam.

Day 3, 26th October Ter

On the last day of the padayatra after the morning program, we walked towards Ter the village of Gora Kumbhar located 17 kilometers away from Murud. It was ekadasi so once we reached Ter we took darsana of the temples there and then we had ekadashi prasadam. Afterward, we had sankirtana and ended with a short lecture on the character of Gorakumbhar..

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all the devotees who made this padayatra possible, the pujaris, the kitchen department and most importantly those who participated in the padayatra from start to finish. All the padayatris were enthusiastic and courageous and everyone enjoyed the culture-combining experience. It was wonderful when devotees shared their realizations including how padayatra means taking full shelter of the Lord. So, this padayatra had indeed brought us closer to the Lord and to our Gurudev. Our goal for the future is to plan an ISKCON Latur Food for Life program once a month, on ekadashi, in Ter. We pray that Lokanath Swami may kindly bless and empower is to serve him, for whatever we accomplish he has inspired us and empowered us to do .

[1] Varkari refers to ‘pligrim’, it is a religious movement within the bhakti spiritual tradition and is associated with Indian states of Maharashtra and northern Karnataka.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/JFCvEB

Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Talk show with Chaitanya Charan – Ecology & Spirituality appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Parikrama to Nandagram 21-12-16 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: I was very happy this day to bring my very first Temple President, Harer Nama Prabhu (ACBSP) on Parikrama to Nandagram and Vrinda Kunda. When I joined in Boulder, Colorado, Harer Nama Prabhu (in the photo) was the TP and now he’s in Vrindavan suffering from Parkinson’s. Please say a few prayers for him and now relish his visit to Ter Kadamba, Sanatan Goswami’s Bhajan Kutir, Pavana Sarovara, Nanda Bhavan, and Vrinda Kunda! Pics thanks to Vittalrukmini Das!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/8t2HNs

Naturally, self-assertive people will wonder about the mental condition of such a devotee. They will think he has no go, drive or self-belief, or is possibly depressed. A devotee’s deep sense of dependence on the Lord that can cause such helpless expressions is not easily understood by others. There may be situations where a devotee might casually say, “I’m not qualified, or I am fallen…” when his demeanor indicates otherwise. In other words, we can trivialise the “fallen” sentiment and make it sloppy. Continue reading "“I Am The Most Fallen”
→ Dandavats"

Exposed by the Swami

QUESTION: Can you please clarify which type of food can be offered to Krishna, and the correct procedure, so that Krishna accepts our offering and makes it as a Prasad for us.

The wording of your question reveals a very significant flaw in how you approach the whole subject, but first let me try to address the specifics of your question.

The essence of Krishna-worship is love, not ritual.

Please remember that there is more than one right way to do anything. Try to understand the essence of what is correct, then you won’t be baffled by the differences in the ways different people or groups apply that essence in specific circumstances.

The essence is bhakti. In Gītā (9.26), Krishna gives this as the essential qualifier of an offering that he likes to accept:

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्याप्रयचछति ।
तदहंभक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ।।

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

In this verse Krishna says three times that the essence of what he wants is love. First he says bhaktyā (“because of love” — bhaktyā prayacchati: “I accept it because of love.”). Second, he says he accepts it lovingly because it is offered with love, bhakti-upahṛta. Third, he says he accepts the offering from prayata-ātmana (“a pure hearted person” – which means a loving person, without the stains of selfishness). By stressing it three times, Krishna makes it very clear that the essence of what he wants to be offered is love. 

There are many, many ways to express love. The details are not essential and don’t need to be fixed and set in stone. Different people can do it differently, and different reccomendations are given to different individuals in different circumstances. If you worry too much about these details, you might forget the essence. The essence of Krishna-worship is love, not ritual.

As for what kind of food can be offered, Krishna doesn’t get very specific or exhaustive, showing that it is not as essential. He simply says “leaves (patra, you can read it as leafy vegetable, or as any vegetable), flowers (puṣpa, yes there are many flowers that can be eaten), fruits (phala), and water (toya).“

What is interesting is that all of these four have connotations in relation to love. A patra (leaf) is a “declaration” of the love or the “basis” of love, the relationship. The puṣpa (flower) is the symptom of love, like blushing, blinking, prespiring, etc. The phala (fruit) is the expression of love, like hugging, kissing, etc. The toya (water) is the solvency of ātma between lover and beloved, the flowing exchange of heart. This is an esoteric angle that further highlights how the essence of the whole exchange with Krishna is not some caloric content, it is love.

Feed Krishna because you want him to know that you love him and you are thinking of him. Don’t do it for any other reason.

Make it Prasadam

You said you want to do the offering correctly, “so that Krishna accepts our offering and makes it as a Prasad for us.” This shows that your main concern might not be what Krishna gets or experiences, but what you get or experience. This is a major problem. It spoils the entire thing. You have Krishna making something for you. You’ve turned the whole thing upside-down and backwards.

Don’t put food in front of a statue or picture of Krishna because you want it to magically transform into something that is “karma-free” and will give you liberation, super-purity, or the approval-stamp of a certified “bonafide follower”.

Feed Krishna because you want him to know that you love him and you are thinking of him. Don’t do it for any other reason.

Is God Hungry?

Don’t think, “He is not really hungry. He is God.” Why do you think God can’t be hungry? Flavor cannot be enjoyed well without hunger, so how can the Supreme Being, the Supreme Enjoyer, not have a voracious appetite!? Of course he can be hungry! He has more hunger than anyone! In fact, in this verse from Gita, he says, “I am voraciously hungry (aśnāmi) for the expressions of love (bhaktyupahṛta) from the pure hearted (prayatātmanaḥ).”

He is hungry for your love.

Vrajavāsīs are not concerned much with any rituals about food. In Vraja, food has one purpose: to delight Krishna. It accomplishes this purpose in two ways: directly and indirectly. Food directly delights Krishna when the Vrajavāsī’s feed him scrumptuous things. It indirectly delights Krishna when the Vrajavāsī’s eat it to increase their own health and beauty, so they can delight Krishna by playing with him energetically and enthusiastically. This is why it is very often said that “everything in Vraja is prasādam.” 

Tagged: prasadam

[Adapted from a FB blog from Dec. 22 2014] Every person has a story to tell, internal guidance to listen to, help to give, and wisdom to share. I write not because I think I am great or gifted, but because I am trying to listen, or put into words the feelings I'm impelled to write. I need to express myself to try to pay back the blessings I have been given. My prayer is that whoever may read my words will also be touched in some way, and we will all benefit. As we give so we receive.

Even though I am not always successful in my attempts to inspire, I know that if I keep making the endeavor, fueled by prayer, I can be of helpful service. Our emotions can guide us in particular contexts if we let them. For instance, for me, I have a strong feeling of discomfort if I don't do something I should—like writing.

When I close my eyes I feel like I am on the shore of a vast ocean of wisdom and my attempt to share it is like taking a thimble of water (my capacity to access it) and trying to put that into words by the power of grace. In general I just write and don't get writer's block even when working on a specific topic. I am confident that what I will be able to write about whatever topic I have chosen, though that may take some time. Still, not all my writing is inspired, and some of it is better than others. However, that is partially due to my not being in the correct state of mind, or being able to really listen with my heart and soul.

I used to primarily post quotes, verses, or parts of my guru's words on my FB page since I know that has value, and yet, I also realize that I need to have a platform to share—as they say—"my truth," or that which I am inspired by, or have understood from what I have read, heard or thought about.

read more

“Ultimately it’s the desire, not the desired, that we love.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

This statement seems counter-intuitive: alcoholics desire a drink, not the desire to drink.

Yet if a drink was all that they desired, taking it would satisfy them. But whatever satisfaction they feel is short-lived. Soon, the desire re-appears and goads them into drinking again and again and yet again.

We all have our specific forms of attachment, be they alcoholism or shopaholism or something else. In every such attachment, a track is formed in our consciousness between us and the desire for that object. And our thoughts and feelings move rapidly and frequently along that track, impelling us towards indulgence. Each such movement in our consciousness broadens and deepens the track till just being on it feels familiar and comfortable. Thereafter, whenever we feel burdened and seek relief, our thoughts immediately go down this track because it feels like home. Thus, we end up with the desire for the desire.

Indeed, alcoholics often tell their therapists that they don’t drink to get high – that was their initial purpose; now, they drink just to feel normal. Because desiring the desire feels normal, giving up addiction seems so difficult. Even if addicts somehow give up their addiction, they soon fall for something else because they need some avenue for relief – they need some track in their consciousness that feels like home.

So, Nietzsche was right in saying that we desire the desire. But he was wrong in using the word ultimately for describing our desire for desire. That’s our ultimate fate only as long as we are operating within a materialistic framework, as was Nietzsche. What is ultimate in the material realm is not ultimate in the spiritual realm.

Gita wisdom explains that we are at our core spiritual beings who are naturally pleasure-seeking. We are meant to find the highest pleasure at the spiritual level of reality. But when we are unaware of life’s spiritual side, our longing for pleasure gets misdirected towards various worldly things, eventually leading to attachments and addictions.

Ultimately, the human heart longs for God. He is revealed in the bhakti tradition to be the all-attractive supreme person, Krishna. Bhakti-yoga fulfills this longing efficaciously by giving us time-tested practices for connecting with him. These practices create tracks in our consciousness that lead to him. When we discipline ourselves to do these practices regularly, they provide us the comfort of the ultimate home – they invoke Krishna’s purifying, sublimating, fulfilling presence in our heart.

Interestingly, the theme of desiring desire is mentioned thousands of years before Nietzsche in the Bhagavad-gita (02.70). It uses the compound word kama-kami, the desirer of desire, to underscore our capacity to choose how we respond to what happens within our consciousness. When a desire comes into our consciousness, be it from our circumstances or our conditionings, we have the choice whether to desire that desire or to resist and reject it. If we refuse to become a desirer of desire, we take away its power to agitate us, thereby attaining peace.

Later, the same Gita (05.29) elaborates that we attain peace on coming to know Krishna as our greatest well-wisher. Knowing him thus naturally leads to our desiring an intimate relationship of love with him.

Thus, enduring peace comes not just by refusing to become a desirer of desire but also by choosing to become a desirer of the supremely desirable object: our eternal Lord.

The post The desirer of desire appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Conversation.

Devotees Got Talent?!
Since ISKCON´s first Ratha Yatra Festival in the summer of 1967 in San Francisco, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva and Subhadra devi, this festival has spread to many cities throughout the world.
We can’t give an exact number of how many cities celebrate this ancient, yet ever-fresh festival nowadays; however, it seems to be rapidly increasing year by year!
At the same time, it happens that several of the festival organizers around the world face a certain challenge every year: the stage program.

In certain areas of the world, you´ll find devotional talent-filled hotspots where there are a lot of different devotee musicians, artist, dancers, actors etc. Unfortunately, this is not the case for all areas, as there is quite a shortage of devotees in other areas, who are equipped to and would like to offer their devotion to the Lord on a stage in such a way. that it is also capturing the attention of the many guests.

We would like to offer ISKCON’s organizers and the different devotees around the world a platform where they can meet.

Join the transcendental casting show!

If you are a festival organizer looking for an artist you would like to invite to your local event or if you are an artist who is looking for an opportunity to engage his or her talents in the Lord’s service, then please join our group “Devotees Got Talent” on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1186442751450273/?fref=ts

Here you will have the opportunity to showcase your talents (i.e. in a YouTube video) to the Vaishnava world.

We sincerely hope that this small endeavor will enhance the many public presentations of Krishna consciousness around the world and support our many organizers and talented artists in their service.

ys. Syamacandra dasa & Sadasiva dasa

All India Padayatra: Book Marathon Fever – Rameshwaram
December 24, 2016 (Album with photos)
Acarya Dasa: After attending the Vraja Mandala parikrama during the month of kartika we were joined by two new padayatris, Bhakta Daniel, originally from America and Dayapar Dasa, originally from Europe. We are all very happy to have them with us and welcomed them with all our hearts in the service of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar and Srila Prabhupada. We are currently in Rameshwaram and will stay there for the next few days.
Doubly auspicious month
The month of December is very special since we celebrate two important events during this month. The first is the sannayasa anniversary of Lokanath Swami which took place on December 6th. The second is the Bhagavad-gita marathon. Bhagavad-gita now plays an important role in our lives because of our Guru Maharaja –it is he who gave us knowledge of sastra and helped us see its significance in our lives.

Seeking blessings
On December 6th, the day of Lokanath Swami’s 41st sannyasa anniversary we made a video call to congratulate him and to seek his blessings. He said to us, “I was instructed by my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, to start and carry on padayatra –and you all are helping me in my service. In fact, I would say, you all are doing my service.” He then gave a short talk on the glories of book distribution which inspired us all. We told him that we would distribute 5000 Bhagavad-gitas, and he responded by saying we should do more. He then raised his hands, blessing us all and said, “Keep going with your sankirtana, book distribution and prasadam distribution. I am very pleased with all your seva.” After taking these words to heart we continued with our services. We distribute books regularly but during this month we enhance our book distribution for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

Ramanathapuram
When we reached Ramanathapuram we organized a big pandal program almost like the programs we have during our Janmastami celebrations. We had sound systems in place, lighting everywhere and prasadam distribution. Sahastranam Dasa, a disciple of Bhakti Vikas Maharaja, helped us with accommodation and the program during our time there. The city of Ramanathapuram was mostly populated by people of the Muslim and Christian traditions –thankfully we did not face any problem while there. Our program started with sankirtana, followed by katha on Gita Mahatmya and ended with prasadam distribution to more than 600 people. The next morning we came across a man who had taken a Bhagavad-gita from us the day before, at the pandal program –he was sitting and reading the Gita with rapt attention. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! We distributed 165 Bhagavad-gitas and 358 small books.
Sleeping under trees
While travelling we reached a place where we could not find accommodation. So, all of us had to stay under a tree that day. It is by the mercy of Lokanath Swami, that our entire team was happy, still maintained their enthusiasm and continued with their seva despite our situation. After a six day stay in Rameshwaram we will continue on with our journey.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/MiBdpN

As part of ISKCON South London offering to Srila Prabhupada on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of ISKCON, we visited 72 schools in South London in 2016 and gave the message of Krishna consciousness to 15,350 children. The schools were mainly primary schools and included state comprehensive schools, private schools as well as faith schools. Schools invited us to give Diwali presentations generally during their assemblies Devotees would explain the reasons for the festival, how it is celebrated, illustrate the pastimes of Lord Ramachandra by performing the Ramayana drama and there was always the opportunity to chant the Mahamantra and get the children to also chant as well. Continue reading "Reaching out to the schools of South London
→ Dandavats"

Harinaam sankirtan at Gandhi Maidan, Gaya
ISKCON Gaya devotees performed a harinaam sankirtan at Magadh book fare, Gandhi Maida...

We at ISKCON's Deity Worship Ministry, are happy to present our annual report to the assembled vaisnavas. Education and training are the main tools of ISKCON Ministries to achieve their mandate. Our team is focused on developing and providing educational programs, such as the Mayapur Academy, on-site training programs, online training and resources, as well as publications and other resources. Continue reading "Deity Ministry Annual Report
→ Dandavats"

Once during a meditation session a teacher decided to do an experiment. As soon as all his pupils assembled and sat in an erect posture with closed eyes waiting for his instruction, the teacher said, “I have a special instruction for you all today. For next one hour during the meditation session no one should think about the red monkey.” And suddenly from nowhere the red monkeys came, attacked and conquered everyone’s mind. For the next one hour all the participants whose eyes were still closed were utterly miserable because while meditating today they were seeing nothing but red monkeys. They tried their best to empty their minds of the thoughts of the red monkeys but the red monkeys were in each and every corner of their mind - sometimes jumping, sometimes dancing, sometimes laughing and sometimes silently watching all the fun. Continue reading "When suddenly from nowhere the red monkeys came and conquered all
→ Dandavats"