People have such a hard time understanding Vrindavana Krishna!

Even if they figure out that the specificity of paramātmā is more infinite than the indefinite abstraction of brahman, they still have to figure the mystery of bhagavan: that the specific personhood and form of divinity does not exist merely for our sake, but has it’s own intrinsic desire and purpose that we are meant to participate in.

Even if they sort all that out, and comprehend bhāgavan, they will still have to figure out why unabashed intimacy with pure beauty (madhurya) expresses spiritual bliss (ānanda) more fully than awestruck reverence for absolute majesty (aiśvarya). 

Even if they comprehend madhurya-bhagavan Krishna, they will still have to figure out that the oneness of romantic intimacy (śṛṇgara-ujjvala-mādhurya – which causes God to be a teenage boy and us to be teenage girls), expresses more concentrated ānanda than mere friendship, or even the heart melting affection of motherhood (sakhya or vatsalya – which causes Krishna to be our peer, or even our baby).

Even if they sort all that out and comprehend the Romantic Divinity, Śrī Krishna, they still have not grasped Vrindavana Krishna. They still have to comprehend that romantic love expressed with the all devouring intensity of lust (kāmarūpa) expresses more intense ānanda than love which obeys norms, and stays within boundaries (dharmarūpa). To comprehend Vrindavana Krishna, they will not only have to be able to grasp this, but to take it to its ultimate extreme: realizing that the apex of Divine Bliss will manifest in forms which resemble what we conceive of as scandalous and adulturous affairs (parakīya) rather than lawfully wedded (or even mildly adventurous) nuptual bliss (svakīya).

Oh God… It’s a long way from brahman to braja, indeed!

The fullest perception of the Absolute Original Consciousness is a gorgeous heartbreaker engulfed in endless waves of coordinated multitutdes of mind-bendingly beautiful and mind-bogglingly talented mistresses of erotic bliss.

But, if we can put aside all our preconceptions and all our emotional and intellectual baggage, and just look at the above with fresh eyes, it does make perfect sense: the fullest perception of the Absolute Original Consciousness is a gorgeous heartbreaker engulfed in endless waves of coordinated multitutdes of mind-bendingly beautiful and mind-bogglingly talented mistresses of erotic bliss.

Ladies and (well… just ladies)… I introduce to you…. Śrī Krishna! The real one, behind all the closed doors and closed curtains. Vrindavana Bihari.

Objection!

Objection: Krishna says he doesn’t break the codes of dharma because whatever great people do, common people immitate!

Reply: Yes, but first of all he says that in Bhagavad-Gītā as a grown man, a kṣatrīya, and a king. When he was a kid living as a vaiṣya in a farmer’s villiage, he was not yet a “great man” of that sort, he was just a teenager. In Vraja, as a Kishor (teen) has no need to set any example for common people to follow.

Vraja Vrindavana is where Krishna gets to be himself. Elsewhere he is doing things for our sake, dharma-samsthāpana and so on (establishing morality, etc). But God’s existence is not limited to how he guides and helps and serves us (in fact, that is closer to a paramātmā conception than a bhagavān conception). God has his own life! And we can participate in it! We can serve, and help, and even guide and protect and delight him! The venue for this existence manifests in Vaikuṇṭha, and most fully in Vraja Goloka Vrindavana. There, and especially in Vraja, he isn’t busy setting examples – he is just being himself and sharing the feast of Supreme Bliss.

Śruti śāstra, with its oft-repeated and paraphrased “so kāmayata bahu syām prajāyata” phrase and several other key statements, describes the Absolute Consciousness as this Vraja Kishor Krishna, enjoying unabashed bliss in its most intense, “lusty” form.

We have a hard time understanding Vrindavana Krishna’s kāma-līlā because of our own experiences with lust. We experience it as something extremely selfish, and we assume that our experience of lust is accurate. However, we are avidya-baddha (bound by lack of knowledge) and our experiences are therefore more or less inaccurate. An accurate perception of Krishna’s “lust” is possible, but not easy. A) We have to be willing to have it. Not just willing, but wanting, really wanting. B) We have to find someone who has it and can explain to us how they obtained that from the ultimate source of accurate perception, śāstra. Only then can we too hope to directly see the indescribable beauty and dharma of Rādhā Krishna Parakīya Prema – the “lusty love” between Radha and Krishna.

What we will see is that, even in Vrindavana, Krishna is setting the right example.

The Bhāgavatam opens with “oṁ namo bhāgavate vāsudevāya” – explaining that Krishna is Vāsudeva, the Original Consciousness. It immediately follows this by, “janmādyasya yatā” – explaining śruti’s “kāmayata” point: that everything in existence manifests as a result of the perceptual hunger of this Original Consciousness; “unvayad itarataś cārtheṣu abhijñā” – explaining that everything comes from him and exists for the sake of manifesting his bliss. Everything is from him and for him.

Therefore there is no such thing as “parakīya” in a literal sense!

Rādhā and the Gopīs of Vrindavana are Krishna’s sva-māyā, svayaṁ prakṛti, svarūpa-śakti. They are inseparable components of Krishna himself! There is no literal truth to the concept of them being “unmarried.”

The parakīya-bhāva is a bhāva! A mood! A sense! The husbands of Radha and so on are abhiman (“big ideas”) only. Parakīya is the form that everything takes, to allow the Divine Bliss of the Original Consciousness to manifest its all-devouring, all-consuming, all-conquering nature to the fullest, most radical, wild, unrestrained extreme. It is the form of gopī-prema, but the tattva of gopī-prema is svakīya. More than any husband or wife we have ever experienced, they are eternally, constitutionally, inseparably married.

The example he sets, therefore, is that we should enjoy only what is constitutionally ours to enjoy. This is conformant with all dharma-śāstra.

If we are sincere, we will find that nothing is constitutionally ours to enjoy. Our proprietorship is never more than conditional. So what Krishna’s example is really showing is the example of what everyone really wants: unrestrained, unmitigated trilling bliss. And it is showing us how we can get it: not by trying to enjoy it as a proprietor, but by participating as something that belongs constitutionally to Krishna, the root of our very existence.

This is what Bhāgavatam and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are meant to show us: That we too  can also become a part of that most exquisitely blissful love.

Vraja Kishor dās

www.vrajakishor.com

Please hear the book distribution podcast by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj :

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His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj came to Kolkata on 8th December 2016. Maharaj gave seminar in Bengali on “Teachings of Lord Chaitanya” for thousands of devotees from 9th December to 11th December. On 12th, Maharaj awarded initiation in the family of Srila Prabhupada to...

The post Bhakti Charu Swami’s Visit To Kolkata appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

Sri Lanka parliamentarians get the Bhagavad-gita (Album with photos)
ISKCON 50th Anniversary.
Bhagavad Gita was distribute...

On our final day in Sri Rangam we visited many historic sites, culminating in a special darsan of the famous Rangunath deity. We also took darsan of Jagannatha deities said to be carved and installed in Sri Rangam by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself. Though our visit to Sri Rangam was short, our hearts were completely satisfied.

“Все те места, где мой Господь Гаурасундара, развлекаясь, побывал,
в компании дорогих мне преданных посещу и я”.

[ из “Шаранагати” Шрилы Бхактивиноды Тхакура ]

Фотоальбом на FB : Where Lord Caitanya Traveled

It’s Easier To Distribute Five Cases Of Bhagavad Gita’s Than To Distribute Only Five Books In The Streets!
AN AUDIO SEMINAR BY H.H. BHAKTI MADHURYA GOVINDA GOSWAMI
Who would believe that is easier to distribute five cases of Bhagavad Gitas (160) or even ten cases (320) than selling five or ten Gitas in the streets. Some prabhus work very hard all day long for ten hours and are happy if they can sell 32 Gitas. In this audio seminar, however, you will learn how to distribute cases of Gitas very easily. You will also learn professional techniques taught by the world’s top sales trainers, as to how to overcome objections, the biggest hurdle facing any sales person.
In a word, you are taking pledges for cases of Gitas with friends, family, work associates, businesses, fellow students, and any acquaintances you may know who you can approach for interest in distributing Gitas. You may say “I already did that years ago. Now I have exhausted all my resources for contacts.” This might be one of the first objections your mind creates before you even talk to anyone! Overcoming this and other objections will be discussed below.
The first point is “the power of positive thinking.” A famous theologian by the name of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale wrote a book in 1952 entitled “The Power of Positive Thinking.” It is good reading even for devotees, for the man was a genuine theist—not a Mayavadi or covered atheist. This book is so famous it is still studied all over the world as a treatise on how to be successful through positive thinking. You can match this with Srila Prabhupad’s statement, “Impossible is a word in a fools dictionary”; or the U.S. Army slogan, “Be all you can be.” So success of any kind begins with the right attitude. If a book distributor approaches anyone with a presumption, “oh, they’ll never take a book,” then, since this is the possibility you created, maybe they won’t; or conversely, perhaps you will be pleasantly surprised and they will take a book happily! “Never say never!” So attitude and depending on Krishna is everything. So many of the world’s top ISKCON book distributors had the experience of “bad days” when they would stop many people who would curtly say “not interested!” After many hours of this, the distributor might get somewhat discouraged and pray, “Oh Krishna, please send me just one sincere soul”. Not long after, the distributor would stop someone who not only expressed an interest in the book, but gave a hundred dollar (now it would be $200) donation!
That’s all very fine, but where does success in sales actually begin, next to attitude?
The answer is the all important phrase, “building value.” This is taught by professional sales trainers. For example, a real estate sales person might say to their client, “actually, this house is worth on the market two million dollars, but since you are my special client, I can offer it to you for a limited time only for only $800,000 which is not available to the general public! This is called “building value”, and the “take away close,” for you are stating the offer will end soon. This “close,” or technique for closing a sale, is used daily in television advertising for building value. Building value, then, is essential in selling Srila Prabhupad’s books also. In the seminar, I describe a dramatized scenario in which a very sinful man is saved from hell simply by seeing one of Srila Prabhupad’s books for only a moment! This anecdote can be told to people to enthuse them of the value of Prabhupad’s books. This works well for Indians who already believe in Yamaraj, judgment, etc, but many westerners also believe in some kind of judgment, or at least bad karma or varieties of inauspiciousness, or varieties of bad luck that one may otherwise have to encounter.
Some people will object by saying, “I already have Bhagavad Gita.” Many devotees might then more or less wilt, saying, “Oh, o.k. I thought I would just run it by you anyways,” and they might limp away like a sad puppy thinking, “Well, at least I tried.” But is that the only answer? Not at all! You then say, “You already have the Gita? That’s great! This means you truly know the value of the Gita! Wouldn’t it (a power phrase used in professional sales) be wonderful to share that value with others?” What are they supposed to say? “No, it wouldn’t,” but that wouldn’t look good, would it? Certainly not. People are controlled by “looking good” and “looking bad,” so from being confident that they have stopped you cold by saying they already have the book, they are now disarmed because you weren’t supposed to say “that’s great.” You were supposed to give up and they would “win.” So you have started overcoming their objection with THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING—suddenly transforming an unfavorable response into a favorable situation where you are back in control.
SELLING CASES OF BOOKS EASIER THAN SELLING A FEW IN THE STREETS? HOW?
But what about selling cases of books as easier than selling only one or three on the streets? Isn’t that a “pipe dream”—a mere wishful thinking fantasy? The answer is in selling cases of books in people’s homes, clubs, social gatherings, etc, by taking pledges at a Bhakta vriksa groups, as well as other such gatherings, or to individuals who are a little favorable to Krishna consciousness. You can be ready to answer any objections they may have. When you say “since you are already expressing your appreciation for Bhagavad Gita, can I put you down as pledging (pledging is the key word. You may not always be collecting cash or checks on the spot) for five cases?” “ Five cases of books? You’ve got to be joking!” they say in dismay. You then say, “Have you considered sharing this wealth of knowledge with others?” In India this is called “shastra dan,” or the auspicious giving away of sacred books, especially at this time of year surrounding “Gita Jayanti,” or the advent day of Bhagavad Gita in December. When they object—“five cases of Gita’s? Get real! What would I ever do with them?” You reply, “Give them to friends, relatives, work associates, etc.” They may say “I gave Gita to those people years ago!” undaunted, you reply “That’s great!” Again, you weren’t supposed to say that in their script. “But all their friends, family etc don’t have Gita. They can give it to them!” Some will actually pledge the five cases on the spot! Don’t think it’s impossible! For those who object, you then say, “I understand. I’ll put you down for four cases.” If they won’t take so many cases, keep counting down and try to get them to commit. If they still won’t pledge, then say, “O.k, one case (32 Gitas). By this time, they will be relieved that you have reduced the number in your demand! “One case, Anil” (or john, or whoever you are talking to). “I know you can handle that!” You say this smiling, with full confidence. Feeling they’re getting off easy, they may take a case of Gitas. That’s 32 books in half an hour that you might have sweated all day long on the streets to sell with great endeavor. “Dream on, you might say. This is not realistic. It can’t be done, or at least I can’t do it.” Before you reach this faulty presumption, please consider that in one evening I took pledges for 30 cases of books in one hour at a Bhakta Vriksa group! That’s 960 books in one hour! This is a true story. Not bad for starters, and the best news is that you can do it also. After all, even five cases in an evening (160 books) is a great victory! It’s very doable. How long would it take you to match that in the streets? You can also enlist the participation of so many Bhakta Vriksa members, friends, etc in getting sponsors for cases to be distributed to institutions. Many people who won’t give a penny for Krishna will happily sponsor this type of charity, because charity to schools, orphanages, etc, is within their value structure.
THE CLINCHER (THE FINAL INFORMATION NEEDED TO CLOSE SO MANY SALES OF CASES OF BOOKS):
The final word on how to convince anyone to sponsor so many cases of books is to supply them with a venue as to how they can distribute the books or cause others to distribute. They can sponsor (the key word) for hospitals, schools, colleges, libraries, jails, orphanages, etc. Many such institutions are very grateful to get the books, especially in India.
BUT WHAT ABOUT JAILS? ARE PRISONERS REALLY GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN GITA’S?
Actually, ISKCON has a long, distinguished history of jail ministries all over the world. It is therefore a fact that prisoners are very good “customers.” Please hear the following true story: Some years ago I was invited to go to a jail program in Mumbai during Gita Jayanti month. I wasn’t enthusiastic. My mind painted a picture of hands reaching through bars to get the books and maybe some prasad. Since I was asked so nicely, however, I agreed to go. I was massively shocked to see the actual situation. The devotees had set up a pandal stage in the jail plaza. There were many cases of Gitas on the stage because the thoughtful devotees had also brought Gitas in Hindi, Parsi, Tamil, Islamic, and other languages. There were about 150 prisoners in an assembly there. The devotees held kirtan. There were also Muslims and Christians there who were stiff as steel—“Why am I being forced to attend this Hindu program?” After about an hour of kirtan, even the Muslims and Christians were swaying and clapping to the beat and some were even chanting! The whole aura of the prisoners went from dark fog to light just from the power of the Holy Name! This is the future of our movement!
The head jailer, the mayor of Mumbai, as well as the Sheriff of Mumbai, the chief police officer for the entire city, all spoke, taking up the theme, “This is the greatest of all books” (the same theme brought forward by India’s prime minister, Mr. Modi, when he speaks to heads of state and gives them Bhagavad Gita, then declaring, “This is the greatest gift I could possibly give you!)” The jail program VIP’s added, “If you take this book, you will never be back to this jail again!” In the mean time, the media cameras rolled and the Bhagavad Gita was literally in the spotlight! After this, the Gita distribution began to long queues of prisoners eager to get the books! Soon, however, it became clear that the devotees had not brought enough books! As the stack of books on the stage became less and less, the prisoners became restless, and some even began to fight over getting the Gita! The guards had to chill them down. In this way, we see that jails are a great venue for Gita distribution.
Students are also eager to get the books. Once I was asked to give a pep rally for Bhagavad Gitas at a Delhi high school. A huge advantage in India is that a school principal or an educational institution deans will often happily call a school assembly for promotion of Gita. We have distributed thousands of Gitas this way, and the best news is that it is a “turn over” market because the students are always changing. In the case of my high school engagement, I was selling the Gitas, not giving them away for free. I used a secular approach, knowing that they had been polluted to some degree by the burgeoning secularization and westernization in India. “Scripture” is a buzz word that triggers negativity in many people, so I stay away from it. I stressed “This Bhagavad Gita is the most famous book in the world” (a true statement, because the bible has been around for less than 2,000 years, whereas the Gita has been on the planet for 3,000 years longer! It is widely read round the world even in addition to ISKCON’s book distribution.) So I said “This is India’s greatest classic! “ Classic” is a power word that distracts from prejudicial conceptions of scripture. This term should be utilized when presenting Gita, especially to any Indians. “It is your heritage, the root of your culture, the pride of India”—all secular talk. “It is on par with Homer’s Illiad, Socrates, Plato, and the other famous Greek authors.” So did it work? There were 400 students at the assembly. More than 100 of them bought Gitas on the spot in only half an hour, with their lunch money, pocket change—whatever, but they bought the Gita! That’s a whopping ¼ of the whole assembly! The devotees I was with were caught off guard. They didn’t think I would sell so many, so in a panic, they had to send a speeding car back to the temple to get more books! Yes, this is a true story.
So here you have it—the introduction to the “Sell Bhagavad Gita by the cases” seminar. The seminar(s) are 1.5 hours long, but I assure you they are both entertaining and enlightening.
Respectfully submitted,
Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami (ACBSP), formerly Makhanlal Das
Link to the lectures:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3n-kbzKS_QfblF4eWJpNUZ4MFE
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3n-kbzKS_Qfbmx3MUI5SzJDbTQ
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3n-kbzKS_QfVmR1aURmbkRsNTQ

Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education - VIHE (Album with photos)
All the recordings from the Govardhan Retreat (and the Holy Name Retreat), thanks to Mahabhagavata Prabhu, Devaprastha Prabhu and other kind souls, are now available for download at
http://vihe.org/audio_lectures.html
Just open the page, scroll down to the line saying:
“HH Sacinandana Swami, HG Bhurijan Prabhu, HG Jagattarini Mataji Seminars on Holy name, Bhagavatam and Dhama”
then click on the “Retreats” to unfold the separate years, then click on 2016 and click to listen or right-click to download the recordings.
Your servants at VIHE
Find them here: https://goo.gl/NycpbZ

50 PADAYATRAS FROM GAURA PURNIMA 2014 TO THE END OF 2016
December 13, 2016: ONLY TWO MORE PADAYATRAS TO REACH OUR GOAL OF 50 BY THE END OF 2016! We may even do more. Stay tuned, and even better, add your own to the list. One day walks are accepted.
Padayatras on the road all year long: 2
1- Padayatra India: on the road since Sept 1984; led by Acarya Dasa since September 2009
2- Andhra Pradesh/Telangana (India): on the road since the end of 2012; led by Visnuswami Dasa
Annual padayatras: 11
1- Odisha (India) : ISKCON Bhubaneswar’s annual walk since 1992

2- Tukarama Dindi from Dehu to Pandharpur via Pune (Maharashtra, India): an annual 18 day 250 km walk organised since 1996 by ISKCON Pune

3- Aravade Dindi from Aravade to Pandharpur (Maharashtra, India): an annual 7 day 110km walk organised since 2001 by ISKCON Aravade

4- Solapur Dindi from Solapur to Pandharpur (Maharashtra, India): an annual 4 day 70km walk organised since 2006 by ISKCON Solapur

5- Vraja Mandala Padayatra : Organised every year in Vrindavana by Parasurama Dasa during the month of Karttik.

6- Czech Republic : annual walk started by Rajaram Das in 1993, now led by Muni Priya Das and his son Nrsimha Caitanya Das since 2007

7- Slovenia : annual walk since 2001, led by Lalita Govinda Dasa since 2002

8- Mauritius: annual walk since 1984, now led by Ayodyanatha Dasa

9- Guyana: annual walk organised by ISKCON Georgetown

10- South Africa: annual padayatra near Durban; organised by Bhakta Vinod, his wife Sadhana Shakti Devi Dasi and team since 2012

11- Lithuania: annual Padayatra/Ratha-yatra; organised since 1995, led by Ananda Gaurangi Devi Dasi since 2013

Padayatras done since Gaura Purnima 2014: 32

1- Maharashtra Dindi (Spring 2014 ) :a 64 day dindi from Kolhapur to Nasik to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Lord Caitanya’s travels through Maharashtra, India ; organised by ISKCON temples and preaching centers in Maharashtra

2- Tamil Nadu (India): a 2 week padayatra organised in April 2014 by Prasanna Shyam Dasa and team

3- Canada: Fourth solo trek across Canada (May 24 to June 29, 2014) by Bhaktimarga Swami

4- New Zealand: Since February 2014 four short padayatras led by Yasodulal Dasa

5- Russia: June to September 2014 and summer 2015 padayatras organised by Narada Dasa

6- Suriname: July 7, 2014 padayatra organised by Govinda Madhava Syam Dasa and team

7- France: July 2015: Solo 190 km walk by Devarshi Dasa, from Angers to New Mayapur

8- New Zealand: In July 2015 Yasodadulal Dasa embarked on a one year solo padayatra with a wagon pulled by a horse. A few months ago he let the wagon behind and leads a real sadhu life, totally depending on Krsna.

9- Hungary: September 2015 (one week) by Bhakta Peter

10- Bhaktimarga Swami: September 20 to November 10, 2015, he walked 962 miles (1548 kms) from Boston to New York to Butler, Pennsylvania

11- Gujarat (Ahmedabad): the one day trial walk (November 29th) was followed by the « Week Walking Festival » (WWF) in January 2016. Organised by Murali Mohan Dasa

12- Goa: Nov 27 to Dec 3, 2015: one week walk from Dudhsagar to Miramar Beach (77 Kms)

13- Tamil Nadu, from Sri Rangam to Kumbakonaman (February 2015) . Organised by Prasanna Shyam Dasa

14- Zambia, Easter week-end March 2016; organised by Jaya Govinda Dasa

15- Detroit : May 14th2016 : 5h annual walk across the city, organised by Jambavan Dasa and ISKCON Detroit

16- England: May 30th- June 3rd, from Hastings to Brighton (South). organised by Parasurama Dasa and Dayal Mora Dasa

17– Russia : May 12 to August 15, organised by Narada Dasa. Walk in the Ural region, the Central region, and then South Russia. After Moscow there will be bullock cart padayatra through some villages.

18- USA, New York to San Francisco, by Bhaktimarga Swami : started May 11th 2016

19-Sweden: July 1 to 8; organised by Chandrabhaga Dasi

20- La Réunion (Island near Mauritius in the Indian Ocean): July 15 to 17; organised by Nrsimha Tirtha Dasa from Mauritius and the Apreva association (from St Pierre in La Réunion)

21- La Réunion: July 23; mini –padayatra ( 5 hours) organised by Rama Gopal Dasa, Doyalu Radha Dasi and team

22- Iceland: July 28 to August 5; organised by Chandrabhaga Dasi

23– France (near New Mayapur farm): August 1 to 5; organised by Sundar Gopal Dasa

24- Malaysia: August 14th mini –padayatra ( 2 hour procession , radio interviews, prasadam and book distribution) at Mayapur Baru,Iskcon Teluk Intan.

25- South Africa (around Johannesburg): September 2016 , by Nama Hatta group headed by Padmanabha Dasa

26-Slovakia: August 27 to 29. Oxcart padayatra organized by Yasomati dasi

27– Bolivia: First walk, organized by Nayana Manjari Dasi and friends

28- Bolivia: Second walk, organized by Nayana Manjari Dasi and friends

29- Fiji: Done by Yasodadulal Dasa

30- ISKCON Noida : by Krsna Bhakta Dasa and team.

October 2016: walk from Noida/Delhi to Vrindavan, with the arrival coinciding with the beginning of the Vraja-mandala Parikrama.

31- France (Dijon): mini padayatra organized by Gaurangi Dasi and Rama Gopala Dasa

32–South Africa: 18 day walk done by Narottama Dasa and another devotee from Johannesburg to Durban (700km)

33-Latur, Maharashtra (India): a group of 40 ISKCON Latur devotees walked an 8km padayatra on October 24 from Latur to Ter.

34-England: Five day bullock cart padayatra from Hastings to Brighton , organised by Parasurama Dasa and Dayal Mora Dasa

35- Gujarat (Ahmedabad): mini one day walk (November 27th), organised by Murali Mohan Dasa

Planned : 7

1– Tamil Nadu (Kanya Kumari): planned by Vikrama Govinda Dasa

2- South Africa: 2 week padayatra near Port Elizabeth, planned by Svetadvipa Dasa

3- Mayapur to Kolkata: planned by Istadeva Dasa and Mayapur devotees

4- Mangalore (Karnataka): planned by Mangalore congregational devotees

5- Manipal to Udupi (Karnataka): planned by Bhakta Kishan and local devotees

6- Vallab Vidyanagar to Dakor (Gujarat): planned by ISKCON Vallab Vidyanagar

7- Karnataka: planned by Giridhari Shyam Dasa and Dauji Balaram Dasa

Total ( December 3, 2016)

Padayatras on the road all year long (in India) 2

Annual padayatras 11

Padayatras done since Gaura Purnima 2014 35

Total done 48

Left to be done 2

Other walks planned 7

Giving in charity.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: Giving charity to devotees is important because by doing so we can somehow overcome our deeply rooted material attachment. We must learn to give than rather than to take, just like Jayananda did.
Jayananda was Prabhupada’s dear disciple who had done so many wonderful things. He joined in San Francisco and Jayananda was ten years older than everybody else and he had a profession; he was driving a taxi and making good money. So Jayananda would buy the devotees clothes and whatever else they needed.

For himself, he would not buy anything; he would not spend money on himself, he would buy clothes from the Salvation Army; a pair of pants for one dollar or something like that, because he did not want to spend money on himself.

Once the devotees told him, “You have to buy some decent clothes! You cannot just buy these one dollar pants any longer!” and they sent him to a shop and when he put on some pants and he saw the price, he thought “God, how can I spend so much money on myself? I can’t do it!” So he just put the new pants over his old pants and tried to walk out of the shop but he got caught.

Anyway a few weeks later he was in court and he explained the whole story to the judge – how he was a monk and how he has given his whole life and how they forced him and he just couldn’t tolerate spending so much money…

And the way he explained it was so sincere that the shop security who had arrested him and was there as a witness said, “Your Honour, I will pay for these pants!” and in that way, he did not get convicted. Jayananada was such a devotee who gave himself completely.

Giving in charity means really giving ourselves in charity. Giving things in charity, giving the fruits of our labour in charity is one thing but still the greater gift is to give ourselves in charity, to dedicate our life to the wellbeing of others and not be so concerned with what is going to become of me, “If I become the servant of everyone else then there will be no time left for me to do my things!” The highest and greatest act is to give ourselves…

Steadiness in spiritual life.
Srimad-bhagavatam, (verses 1.2.17-18), describes the progressive stages leading to steadiness in devotional practice:
1. Unsteady practice of devotional service (anistha bhajana kriya).
2. The gradual cleansing of inauspicious elements in a devotee’s heart (anartha-nivrtti).
3. The attainment of steadiness in devotional service (nistha-bhajana-kriya).
One advances through these stages of devotional service by regularly hearing and chanting in the association of devotees.
One might ask, if I’m not steady now, how can I regularly hear and chant?
Solving this conundrum begins with my awareness that unsteadiness is an unhealthy, undesirable condition of life. Next, I must cultivate my desire to recover. (Note: Cultivate means “to improve or develop something usually by study or education.”)

A patient suffering from a disease must realize that she’s sick, should desire to get well, and should consult a physician, agreeing to dutifully take the medicine and diet her doctor prescribes.

Similarly, when I’m troubled by the symptoms of unsteadiness in practicing devotional service, I must admit my unhealthy and abnormal condition. Next, I must approach a devotee physician, the bona fide spiritual master, and follow the guru’s instructions.

As I take my daily dose of hearing and chanting, prescribed by the spiritual master and the scripture, the troubling symptoms of unsteadiness subside and my spiritual health gradually returns.

It is important to remember that it’s natural to be unsteady when beginning any discipline: learning to ride a bicycle, play the piano, or taking our first steps as a baby, all begin with unsteady practice. The process of Krsna consciousness is very powerful and works without fail for those who stick with it, tolerating the initial unsteady stage, anistha-bhajana kriya. The rewards of persistence are great.

Srimad-bhagavatam 1.2.19 lists the symptoms of one who has attained steadiness, nistha:

“As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature’s modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy.”

One who attains steadiness also becomes self-intelligent (due to a purified intellect) and is fully determined to make progress in spiritual life.

No matter what condition I am in now, I can rise to this standard of spiritual life by practice and mercy.

Srimad-bhagavatam assures us that as we hear and chant, Krsna, our best friend within our heart, sees our effort and personally helps us to advance.

Steadiness in devotional service is a noble platform from which one can advance to the highly coveted stages of devotional service: taste (ruci), attachement (asakti), spiritual emotion (bhava), and so on.

Make steadiness your goal. Take your daily medicine. Come to spiritual health and experience joy.
Vaisesika Dasa

Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books during December Marathon 2016 in the Chech Republic (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This routine work, such as chanting, speaking, rising early, cleaning, cooking and offering prasadam, arati, reading books–these activities are the backbone of our Society, and if we practice them nicely in a regulative manner, then our whole program will be successful. If we become slack or neglect these things, then everything else we may try will fail. So it is very important that you keep your standards very high in these activities, then your preaching will be strong. Preaching is our real business, preaching and distributing books. If your preaching work is strong, then your management of temple affairs will also become automatically very strong. (From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Patita Uddharana - Delhi 8 December 1971)
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Now we can follow the Global Economic model and hear the comprehensive reports and opinions on Capitalistic health it has now become apparent that the capitalistic model is on the cusp of failing and disappearing. It’s not that an economic model that has been conceived by man will last forever as long as we maintain its veracity. All things created by man are imperfect, transient and liable to fail. And today in 2016 the Capitalistic model has reached its zenith and now is on the way down and out. It does not come as any surprise for devotees that man-made processes and systems have a limited capacity and lifetime. Capitalism is created, approximately 250 years ago, its maintained for some time and then its self-destroyed. Continue reading "Natural Economy replaces Capitalism
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 13 March 2007, Nectar of Instruction Lecture)

Giving charity to devotees is important because by doing so we can somehow overcome our deep rooted material attachment. We must learn to give than rather than to take, just like Jayananda did.

Jayananda was Prabhupada’s dear disciple who had done so many wonderful things. He joined in San Francisco and Jayananda was ten years older than everybody else and he had a profession; he was driving a taxi and making good money. So Jayananda would buy the devotees clothes and whatever else they needed.

For himself, he would not buy anything; he would not spend money on himself, he would buy clothes from the Salvation Army; a pair of pants for one dollar or something like that, because he did not want to spend money on himself.

Once the devotees told him, “You have to buy some decent clothes! You cannot just buy these one dollar pants any longer!” and they sent him to a shop and when he put on some pants and he saw the price, he thought “God, how can I spend so much money on myself? I can’t do it!” So he just put the new pants over his old pants and tried to walk out of the shop but he got caught.

Anyway a few weeks later he was in court and he explained the whole story to the judge – how he was a monk and how he has given his whole life and how they forced him and he just couldn’t tolerate spending so much money…

And the way he explained it was so sincere that the shop security who had arrested him and was there as a witness said, “Your Honour, I will pay for these pants!” and in that way, he did not get convicted. Jayananada was such a devotee who gave himself completely.

Giving in charity means really giving ourselves in charity. Giving things in charity, giving the fruits of our labour in charity is one thing but still the greater gift is to give ourselves in charity, to dedicate our life to the wellbeing of others and not be so concerned with what is going to become of me, “If I become the servant of everyone else then there will be no time left for me to do my things!” The highest and greatest act is to give ourselves…

It is worthwhile mentioning over here, that a cell, which is the basic constituent of a human body, has a definite life span, and once a particular cell dies, it is replaced by another. In this way, it is believed that over a span of 7 years, all the cells that constitute the physical body of a person, are completely replaced by new ones. So in effect, a person receives a new body in every 7 years. Now if someone identifies himself with his own body, then he should be considered dead in the next seven years, as he gets physically replaced, or should we say, it is he who is replaced.Hence going by this school of thought, a person should be considered a completely different individual, after a span of seven years. And the new individual, seven years older, would be a different person with different sets of qualities, nature, acumen and consciousness who would have nothing to do with the person who he had just replaced. Going further on this, a person shouldn’t be sentenced to prison for any crime, for more than seven years, as it would implicate a different individual to suffer for the misdeeds he has not committed (it was committed by someone he has replaced). Another implication of this philosophy, might be the inclusion of an expiry date of seven years ,to the academic degrees. So Doctors, engineers,singers,etc need to prove their qualification periodically at a gap of seven years, as the new person might not be born as qualified as the person he had replaced. Continue reading "Spirituality – Why and What???
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America, and the world, sorely needs these types of examples more than ever. But warriors have to be leaders and courageous and generous, all at the same time. It’s not easy. The responsibilities of a warrior/leader are brought in sharp focus in the ancient epic Mahabharata. I think Mahabharata is one of the most valuable stories for healing and for seekers of spiritual wisdom in our time. The story is about five warrior brothers - the Pandavas - and their common wife struggling to stand up to tyranny and at the same time keep their humanity. There’s a monumental battle that takes place. One of the most important things for them is to abide in the Dharma, to live with integrity. They strive to live in the courage, justice and humility that is required of them. But just like the rift in our nation, the Pandavas don't always see eye to eye. They have their contentious moments, but they work through it. This is the very task set before us today. Mitakuye Oyasin. Continue reading "Standing Rock: The American Kumbh Mela
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The Whorl at the Center of the Lotus

Five thousand years ago, on the battlefield of Kuruksetra, the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna, delivered the most confidential and topmost knowledge of devotional service in the form of the Bhagavad-gita to His dear-most devotee Arjuna and to humanity at large.

The anniversary of this wonderful occasion is celebrated all over the world, especially in ISKCON temples.

The devotees in Bali, at each of the five main temples, recite slokas from Bhagavad-gita all day ending with classes, kirtan and prasadam.

We have to sort out the negotiable differences from the non-negotiable differences. Otherwise we will spend all our energy debating and arguing debates and arguments that don’t really need to be debated and argued.

For example, we can waste days, months and years trying to prove the earth is flat, thinking that we are championing the Bhāgavata conception, but if we looked more carefully we might see that the Bhāgavatam describes the earth in many ways: sometimes flat, sometimes round, sometimes globular, sometimes personified as a cow or a goddess.

We can argue against evolution, or we can read Kapila’s description of the origin of the universe and see how it is devoid of life for hundreds of trillions of years while elemental evolution gradually, very gradually, unfolds without any direct intelligent intervention except the remote dormant karmas of the jīvas suspended within paramātmā. And that the creator (Brahmā) designed the various species in four consecutive phases.

We can spill blood trying to prove that humans existed since the dawn of time, or we can read Bhāgavatam more carefully and see that they just didn’t exist at all for quite a long time, until Brahmā figured out how to make sexual reproduction work with a limited genetic pool. And we can also read more carefully and see how the definition of units of time are completely mind-boggling and can come up with vastly different sums depending on how they are calculated.

We can, for example, claim the universe is only the size of the solar system, or we can accept that a “universe” is a solar system and then move on.

We can claim that Bhāgavatam is unscientific because it doesn’t mention electrons, and we can claim that modern science is heretical because it doesn’t mention Prajāpati Dakṣa or a universal lotus — or we can realize that these are just DETAILS, and we can’t expect two very different specialties to describe exactly the same fine details in one anothers specialized fields.

We can realize that Bhāgavatam and moden Pratyakṣa (observation) are broadly but thoroughly reconcilable, or we can stick to conspiracy-theory-esque crusade to prove that what we see with our eyes simply doesn’t exist at all – a doomed crusade for all but the most insane.

We have to sort out the negotiable from the non-negotiable, and focus our argumentation on the non-negotiable.

What is non-negotiable is the mechanistic presumption that the universe has no purpose; that meaning and consciousness are just strange byproducts of something which isn’t event meant to exist or have any purpose at all. This is the truly absurd proposition of modern philosophy and science, which lovers of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam should set their intellectual weapons against.

The rest can be negotiated. Indeed it SHOULD be negotiated, since the entire purpose of approaching śāstra is to cause our own pratyakṣa (direct experience) to become one with it.

Vraja Kishor

www.vrajakishor.com

Waving the white flag of surrender.
By misfortune, I wandered into the forest of material enjoyment where I was captured, imprisoned, bound down by the unbreakable cords of material nature, and sentenced to hard labor.
In illusion, I accepted my captors as my allies and friends; my sentence to the drudgery of hard work as a benediction; and my selection of foot shackles – gold, copper, or iron - as a sign of my free choice.
In the Gita, Krsna deems this prison life, duratyaya, “impossible to overcome.” And the avanti brahmana of Srimad-bhagavatam calls it duranta, “insurmountable.”
Since a time immemorial, for better or for worse, I accepted this prison as my home. But, by some unimaginable good fortune and by hearing the words of my divine master, my spiritual intelligence awakened.

Srila Prabhupada writes:

“The need of the spirit soul is that he wants to get out of the limited sphere of material bondage and fulfill his desire for complete freedom. He wants to get out of the covered walls of the greater universe. He wants to see the free light and the spirit. That complete freedom is achieved when he meets the complete spirit, the Personality of Godhead.” (SB 1.2.8; purport)

Because of Srila Prabhupada’s compassion for me, what had been unthinkable before has now become my preoccupation: I want to serve Krsna, only. I want to go back to Godhead.

Srila Prabhupada sailed to America bringing with him the Trojan Horse of devotional service, releasing Krsna’s powerful armies - headed by the holy name – onto her shores. Now the forces have multiplied and are storming the world, breaking down prison walls everywhere.

Ignoring Krsna, I built a strong barricade of ignorance around my heart. Now it must come down.

Waving the white flag of surrender, I beseech Krsna and His armies to come quickly to smash these prison walls and accept me back into His family of loving servants.

Taking shelter of the great Acaryas, today I pray:

“My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But Your servant Narada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service?” (SB 7.9.28)

“O my Lord, as powerful as fire, O omnipotent one, now I offer You all obeisances, falling on the ground at Your feet. O my Lord, please lead me on the right path to reach You, and since You know all that I have done in the past, please free me from the reactions to my past sins so that there will be no hindrance to my progress.” (Sri Isopanisad Mantra 18)
Vaisesika Dasa

Book distribution is sankirtana. Kirtana means "glorification" and sam means "complete." Glorification of Krsna is complete when many devotees participate. Also, complete glorification means glorifying not only Krsna's name but also His form, His qualities, His pastimes, His entourage, His paraphernalia--everything related to Him. Distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books is complete glorification of Krsna because Srila Prabhupada's books glorify Krsna fully--His name, form, qualities, pastimes, and so on. Who worships Lord Caitanya by sankirtana? Those who are highly intelligent. Of course, sometimes someone might not be so intelligent--he might just be fortunate. Here I am not referring to you, but to myself, as I am about to explain how I was engaged in sankirtana. Continue reading "A Book Marathon Message
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What is the point of happiness if it doesn’t last forever? What is the key to everlasting happiness? Srimad Bhagavatam, the ripened fruit of Vedic knowledge, offers us a solution: “Any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation.” The guru gives knowledge of real happiness. Since the founding of ISKCON fifty years ago, over 75 000 disciples have been initiated within ISKCON, beginning their spiritual journey to eternal, everincreasing happiness. Srila Prabhupada initiated over five thousand disciples from 1966 until he left this world in 1977. Since then, in keeping with the Vaishnava tradition and Srila Prabhupada's teachings, his disciples began to accept disciples of their own, continuing the disciplic succession: “One who is now the disciple is the next spiritual master.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.43, purport) Continue reading "The Unbroken Chain
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Chaitanya and His Companions (pdf document)
Published by the University of Kolkatta 1917.
Pages: 358
Download it from...

Harinama and Bhagavad-gita distribution during Gita Jayanti day in Kiev, Ukraine (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Arjuna says that “I’ll not fight. I’ll not fight with my relatives and brothers for the sake of achieving some kingdom. No, no, no.” Now, for the ordinary man it appears to be: “Oh, Arjuna is very nice man, nonviolent. He’s giving up everything for the sake of his relatives. Oh, what a nice man he is.” This is ordinary calculation. But what Krsna says? “You are fool, damn fool number one.” You see? And that we have already discussed. Asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase: [Bg. 2.11] “My dear Arjuna, you are talking like very learned man, but you are number fool one.” Yes. This is the, I mean to say, reward given. “You are, you are declining to fight? This is your nonsensical.” Now, just see. The things which are estimated in the public eyes very nice, very good, that is condemned by God. Condemned by God. We have got so many examples and experiences life that what is eulogized by some of our friends, it is condemned by others. So whole thing, our perfection of any act, that should be certified by the Supreme Lord. Dharmah svanusthitah pumsam… [SB 1.2.8]. Svanusthitasya dharmasya samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13]. Hari-tosanam. We have to see it, “Whether the Supreme Consciousness is pleased with my, this action.” So Arjuna’s action was not approved, not approved by Lord Krsna. But the same Arjuna, he fought at the last. After hearing the instruction of Bhagavad-gita, he engaged himself in the fight. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.55-58 – New York, April 15, 1966
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Bhoomi Puja in Vacoas-Phoenix also known as French: Villes Jumelles, is a town in Mauritius, located in the Plaines Wilhems District (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If you want to remain unhappy by your whims, then God cannot help you. But you have got the independence. Hrdayananda: So Prabhupada, if some people say, “Well, I have no free will,” that means that they are actually lazy. Prabhupada: Yes. You have got free will, but must utilize it properly. That is free will. Free will means to utilize it properly. Svarupa Damodara: Sometimes Krsna interferes in the free will? Prabhupada: Yes. That is Krsna’s special favor. Because by your free will you are going to hell. If Krsna interferes, that is Krsna’s special favor. Just like a child is going to touch fire by free will, and father, “Eh, don’t do it.” That is his special favor. Svarupa Damodara: But it’s called causeless mercy. Prabhupada: Causeless mercy. His mercy is already there, but we are denying the mercy. That is the defect of material existence. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk – Los Angeles, December 4, 1973
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Installation of Srila Prabhupada’s Deity at Fond Du Sac ISKCON Center, Mauritius (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the beginning, a conditioned soul is bereft of Krsna consciousness and is always morose in his material activities. Later, by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes inquisitive to know the Absolute Truth. In this way one begins to engage in the transcendental service of the Lord. Next, by the Lord’s grace all misconceptions are vanquished and the heart is cleansed of all material dirt. It is only then that the pleasure of transcendental bliss is awakened. By the Lord’s mercy one is completely convinced of the value of devotional service. When one can see the pastimes of the Lord everywhere, he is firmly situated in transcendental bliss. Such a devotee is relieved of all kinds of material desires, and he preaches the glories of the Lord all over the world. These Krsna conscious activities separate him from material activities and the desire for liberation, for at every step the devotee feels himself connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although such a devotee may sometimes be involved in household life, he is untouched by material existence due to his constant engagement in devotional service. Thus everyone is advised to take shelter of devotional service to become happy and liberated. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Madhya 10.119
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Reaching the venue I was myself very pessimist to what I was told for that area of the country is known for its tensions and occasional law and order issues with the lawbreakers. Few officers here and there roaming around, a quick zap to my mobile and it was still early. While slowly the hall began to fill up HH Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami also came accompanied by HG Ganga Prasad Prabhu the Nigerian Temple President. Today was not a casual program but was a unique one. Light Kirtan was goin on while HG Balabradra Prabhu, our organizer was fine tuning everything before the official launch. Gathered were around 100 police officers from the Mauritius Police Force, especially those from the Metropolitan Squad and Line Barracks. HH Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami was invited to give a talk on Social Degradation during the Spiritual Week Campaign organized by the Police force. Continue reading "ISKCON devotees hold a program with the Police Officers in Mauritius
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Iskcon devotees organize three day ‘Gita Jayanti Utsav’
KOLKATA: The devotees of Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Mayapur organized a three-day 'Gita Jayanti Utsav’ from December 8 to 10, at the Gita Bhavan complex in the temple campus, informed spokesperson Laxmi Govinda Das. The aim of the Utsav was to spread the message of Bhagavad Gita to all sections of society. Swami Srila Prabhupada, the founder of Iskcon said, “ the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita constitutes of a great science, and each and every living entity has to hear it for his own interest”. As per his instructions, Gita Jayanti festival is celebrated in all 650 centers across the world. The function included congregational chanting by devotees who took out a procession at Mayapur on December 9. The same day there was a seminar on the importance and relevance of practicing the teachings of Gita and how it can be a harbinger of harmony in the world.

It is believed that on December 10, 5000 years back, Lord Sri Krishna uttered the instructions of Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra. A complete recitation of all the 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita was done followed by a performance of the yajna for global peace.

Experts from various disciplines and senior devotees presented their viewpoint before the audience and an interactive session was scheduled.
Source: https://goo.gl/24X7gP

Marlon Brando and Srila Prabhupada’s books (10 min video)
Drumila das describes his sankirtan experience when meeting the famous actor, Marlon Brando.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/MWk2S1

The post Daily Darshan:Dec12,2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

What Is He Thinking?