​What is the best way for a beginner to start with mantra meditation?
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If our mind’s software is very corrupted, how can we handle it?
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​Consciousness, the subconscious and conscience – understanding and transforming our inner world
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​Congregation program at Sacramento, USA

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Analyzing Nanda-Vasudeva conversation – Destiny is never an excuse for neglecting duty
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​Bhagavam class at ISKCON, Los Angeles, USA

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Understanding the Bhagavatam’s chronological and conceptual flow
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​Bhagavam class at ISKCON, Laguna Beach, USA

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Secrets of Spiritual Gardeners
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Hare KrishnaBy Vaisesika Dasa

Spiritual Gardener is someone who first of all cultivates the garden of his own heart. He plants the right seeds, waters them nicely, and also takes out all the unwanted weeds. He also helps others to do the same. The creeper of devotional service, so nourished, gradually grows, and the devotee, acting as a gardener, goes on pouring the water of constant hearing and chanting. The creeper of devotional service gradually grows so high that it passes through the entire material universe and enters into the spiritual sky, growing still higher and higher until it reaches the planet Goloka Vrndavana. The devotee-gardener is in touch with the abode of the Lord even from the material plane by dint of performing devotional service to the Lord simply by hearing and chanting. Continue reading "Secrets of Spiritual Gardeners
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Bhagavad-gita’s commentary about contemporary issues
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Bhagavad-gita’s commentary about contemporary issues
Urmila Devi Dasi: So, yeah, I’m a US citizen, so, yeah, I watched some highlights of the presidential debate and read/watched some commentary. Here’s Krishna’s commentary, from Bhagavad-gita:
Bg 16.4; 7-18 - “Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance-these qualities belong to those of demoniac nature. Those who are demoniac do not know what is to be done and what is not to be done. Neither cleanliness nor proper behavior nor truth is found in them. They say that this world is unreal, with no foundation, no God in control. They say it is produced of sex desire and has no cause other than lust. Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world. Taking shelter of insatiable lust and absorbed in the conceit of pride and false prestige, the demoniac, thus illusioned, are always sworn to unclean work, attracted by the impermanent. They believe that to gratify the senses is the prime necessity of human civilization. Thus until the end of life their anxiety is immeasurable. Bound by a network of hundreds of thousands of desires and absorbed in lust and anger, they secure money by illegal means for sense gratification. The demoniac person thinks: "So much wealth do I have today, and I will gain more according to my schemes. So much is mine now, and it will increase in the future, more and more. He is my enemy, and I have killed him, and my other enemies will also be killed. I am the lord of everything. I am the enjoyer. I am perfect, powerful and happy. I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is none so powerful and happy as I am. I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give some charity, and thus I shall rejoice.” In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance. Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions, they become too strongly attached to sense enjoyment and fall down into hell. Self-complacent and always impudent, deluded by wealth and false prestige, they sometimes proudly perform sacrifices in name only, without following any rules or regulations. Bewildered by false ego, strength, pride, lust and anger, the demons become envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in their own bodies and in the bodies of others, and blaspheme against the real religion.“

Traveling Monk 2016-10-04 12:54:21
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После путешествия к Кайласу мы отправились на проповеднический тур в Монголию. В Монголии было чрезвычайно холодно, так что мне стало нездоровиться. Наша команда посоветовала мне вернуться во Вриндаван – отдохнуть и поправиться к Карттике, которая начнется через две недели. Вчера приехал во Вриндаван и чувствую себя намного лучше, здесь необычайно теплая погода для этого времени года. Как восстановлюсь – начну готовиться к своим лекциям на нашу Карттика-парикраму. Ожидается 300 преданных. Также работаю над главой дневника о нашей поездке на Кайлас. Ананта Вриндаван дас сейчас в Москве и готовит несколько видео об этом нашем путешествии. В самое скорое время они будут готовы. Множество благодарностей моему дорогому другу Бада Харидасу прабху, который взялся возглавить и очень успешно продолжает проповеднический тур по Монголии. На сегодня это все новости. Джая Шри Радхе!

After our trek to Mount Kailash in Tibet we journeyed to Mongolia for a preaching tour. It was very cold in Mongolia and as a result I fell ill. Our team recommended I return to Vrindavan to rest up and get better before Kartika starts in two weeks. I arrived in Vrindavan yesterday and am feeling much better in the unusually warm weather for Vrindavan at this time of year. As I recover I will begin preparing my lectures for our Kartika parikrama. 300 devotees are expected. I am also working on a diary chapter of our Kailash trip. Ananta Vrindavan das ( in Moscow now ) is preparing several videos of the Kailash journey. They should be ready shortly. Many thanks to my dear friend Bada Hari prabhu who has taken the lead and is continuing very successfully with the preaching tour around Mongolia. That’s all the news for now. Jaya Sri Radhe!

Yama Niyama das Brahmacari weights on the presidential elections…
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Yama Niyama das Brahmacari weights on the presidential elections (1 min video)
One of the deepest anarthas (dirty things in the heart) is to think that we can make this material world a better place by rearranging matter, whether by voting for a certain politician, political activism (as opposed to spiritual activism), arranging committees, commission, and councils, or taking some kind of self-help seminar. This is a clip from Yama Niyama das brahmacari (Ekendra das’s character) in a comedy bit performed at the Festival of Inspiration 2016.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/aEXoTL

AN INTERVIEW WITH DAMODARA DASA, A DEVOTEE FROM THE UK, WORKING AS A FREELANCE PERFORMANCE CONSULTANT IN AUSTRALIA
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AN INTERVIEW WITH DAMODARA DASA, A DEVOTEE FROM THE UK, WORKING AS A FREELANCE PERFORMANCE CONSULTANT IN AUSTRALIA Vani Seva: What are the three or four best things you have learned in the professional world that can help devotees succeed? Damodara dasa: I would say that most of what I have learned professionally are simply tools to aid general effectiveness - and they can be equally applied

Preaching program for children in Kiev, Ukraine (Album with…
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Preaching program for children in Kiev, Ukraine (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma (Supersoul) in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who relishes His messages, which are themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.2.17).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hS9653

How Can We Forget Krishna?
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Q: “Falling down” from the spiritual world is quite a strange idea, but if we never met Krishna how to explain our longing for Him? I feel,  everyone longs for Him only,  as nobody is happy here.

Longing for Krishna is actually a very rare thing that only the most advanced bhakti-sādhaka’s achieve. It is not something that everyone intrinsically has.

Krishna says that even to comprehend god at all is very rare (manuṣyānām sahasreṣu…). And he says that of all those few who do comprehend god, those who can conceive of god in a personal way are still more rare (vasudeva sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabha). Of all those who can conceive of god in a personal form, those who want to develop a devotional relationship with him are even still more rare (yoginām api sarveśaṁ…).

Explaining the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, Śrī Rūpa, in Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu, explains that longing for Krishna (āsakti) is the most advanced stage of sādhana.

So I do not agree that “everyone longs for Krishna.” Practically no one even knows what or who Krishna is, what to speak of has a real, sincere longing for him.

Q: Then what do we feel? What is that hole in the heart that cannot be filled by any amount of material sense gratification?

We are kṛṣner nitya-dāsa. This means that our very constitution is meant to experience Krishna. We are consciousness by nature (jñāna-mātra, svayaṁ-jyoti pratyag-dhāma), and consciousness always longs for an object worth being conscious of. Krishna is the supreme object and subject of consciousness (adhokṣaja, govinda, kṛṣṇa, etc). So we long to fulfill our constitutional potential, of experiencing the most deeply fulfilling object of consciousness. We do not exactly know what that object is. This is why we search around for a million things. But Krishna manifests the Veda to help us discover him, the true supreme object of consciousness (jñeya).

As you mentioned, the idea of leaving a relationship with Krishna is too odd. Because if we could leave it, it must not be fully satisfying and engrossing, therefore it must not after all be the param-jñeya (supreme objective of experience), and Krishna must not be “govinda” or “adhokṣaja” or “kṛṣṇa” etc. Therefore this concept is not acceptable. Śrī Jīva and the other founding ācāryas of Gauḍīya Vedānta clearly never present such a concept. They present the concept that we are anādi-bhagavād-ajñāna – we have never experienced Bhagavan – because we were instead fascinated by the qualities of māyā (yaya sammohita māyā) as a result of our unique and causeless individual nature and disposition.

We are generally happy with māyā except when we do not cooperate with her rules and come under the influence of negative karma. But this in itself provides a clue that this happiness is not perfect for us. Krishna provides the Veda to give us a way to know him and establish a real relationship with him, the Supreme Object of Love and Joy. (anarthopaśamam sākṣāt and the next verse).

Vraja Kishor dās (www.vrajakishor.com)


Tagged: fall of jiva

Recordings: July/August 2016
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Please find below recordings of lectures and kirtans by Kadamba Kanana Swami taken during July and August.

** Download ALL (617 MB)

New Vraja Mandala – Spain

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KKS_SPAIN_12August2016_NewVrajaMandala_Lecture_SB_12.13.23

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KKS_SPAIN_11August2016_NewVrajaMandala_Kirtan

Pandava Sena Retreat – Germany 

KKS_GER_03August2016_PandavaSenaRetreat_Kirtan_JayaRadhaMadhava

KKS_GER_03August2016_PandavaSenaRetreat_Intro_Lecture

*We are missing some recordings here as many files were damaged. 

England 

KKS_UK_31July2016_BoatFestival_Kirtan

KKS_UK_30July2016_HouseProgram_Lecture

KKS_UK_30July2016_HouseProgram_Kirtan

KKS_UK_30July2016_Initiation_Lecture

KKS_UK_30July2016_BhaktivedantaManor_CC_Adi_13.66

Swiss Retreat

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KKS_SWISS_SummerCamp_28July2016_Kirtan

 

Bhakti Charu Swami Gives A Bengali Talk At Sridham Mayapur Vyas Puja Celebrations
Bhakti Charu Swami

On 28th September 2016, Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja gave an amazing talk in Bengali at the weekly JSSS meeting in in Sri Dhama Mayapur. Since Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja was not physically present here in Sri Dhama Mayapur for his Vyasa Puja Ceremony, devotees of Mayapur presented him with a huge Vyasa Puja cake to welcome […]

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Amazing Mexico City Harinam, Mexico (Album with photos) Mexico…
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Amazing Mexico City Harinam, Mexico (Album with photos)
Mexico City is for sure one of the best places for Harinam Sankirtan in the world. Culturally the people are very open minded and they readily join in chanting and dancing and easily take books without any inhibitions. Even death personified is ready to join in Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sankirtan mission.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Rb59ZN

The Bhakti Tree
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Our Bhakti Tree Centre in Newcastle is going from strength to strength. Apart from catering for Newcastle University 3 days a week, it is also a fully fledged restaurant operating 5 days a week.

On top of that, there are 2 nights of kirtan/philosophy and one night of showing ISKCON movies followed by sumptuous prasadam.

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Videos, August 2016
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Please find below videos of Kadamba Kanana Swami captured in Slovenia during the month of August.

Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja, 2016

Read about these wonderful festivals.

KKS_26 August 2016_Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja_Kirtan. Watch YouTube video here.

KKS_26 August 2016_Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja_Guru Vandana. Watch YouTube video here.

KKS_26 August 2016_Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja_Address. Watch YouTube video here.

KKS_25 August 2016_Janmastami_Abhisek_Kirtan. Watch YouTube video here.

KKS_25 August 2016_Janmastami_Evening Lecture_SB 1.8.21. Watch YouTube video here.

KKS_25 August 2016_Janmastami_Short Kirtan before Lecture. Watch YouTube video here.

KKS_25 August 2016_Janmastami_Morning Lecture_SB 10.3.11. Watch YouTube video here.

KKS_24 August 2016_Morning Lecture_SB 10.1.3. Watch YouTube video here.

KKS_24 August 2016_Kirtan. Watch YouTube video here.

 

Thursday, September 29th, 2016
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Thursday, September 29th, 2016
Whitehorse, Yukon

Aurora Borealis

Mariann, who moved here from Vancouver sometime back, mentioned to Ananda and I on the Millennium Trail, that the Brand for Whitehorse is “Larger Than Life.”  That phrase seemed most  appropriate when Ananda and I viewed Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, before sun-up. It was purely by accident. Tourists come to Whitehorse with the sole intent of seeing an aspect of nature that is stunningly mystical, and yet they are often disappointed.  It’s by a fluke that the Lights even appear.  But we were lucky to see the whipping out of curved light-rays, moving about, appearing and disappearing, making snake moves and changing colours. “Awesome!” might be a word to describe this continuous display of surprise.

At noon, I presented “Tales From Trails” to a curious group at Yukon College.  Basically, it became a virtual ‘walk through Canada’ with the group, through the eyes and experience of a monk.

I also met Dan Curtis and staff at City Hall.  I was most inquisitive about his management experience and what it means to be a public servant as mayor.  He showed us the Chambers where his council meets and also where we had a good conversation at the round table.

The final visitation for the day was in the basement of the United Church.  It was Ananda who facilitated the discussion on “How to Love All Living Beings.”  Members of the United Church participated, along with Baha’i, Islam, Hindu, spiritualists, and Hare Krishnas.  I quoted from the Gita and offered a possible ‘take home’—Love Love and Hate Hate.

May the Source be with you!

12 km

Friday, September 30th, 2016
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Friday, September 30th, 2016
Whitehorse, Yukon

By the Kings of the Sky

Gillian was very gracious to have us do a presentation at the seniour’s home, Macaulay Lodge. I spoke about trail experiences on the various countries I’ve blazed across, not to mention the early one of this morning, on the top of a mountain where eagles and ravens are kings of the sky.

The follow-up to my talk was Ananda’s table demo, which was colourfully cultural for the seniors to witness. Marianne and I inserted the maha mantra.  It was a treat for them.

Whitehorse boasts of having seven-hundred kilometres of walking trails within the city limits, some of which are suited also for cross-country skiing and snow-mobiling.  A short section of the Great Trail (formerly Trans Canada Trail) was checked out by our team of three.  It is essential that I give at least an hour and a half to walking daily during my stay.  I’m getting spoiled by the food here and I must make the effort to burn calories.

On top of this, I’m getting generously loaded down by gifts, some of which require at least tasting.  Attention must be given to local, irresistible, edible products such as birch syrup, spruce tip jelly, and fireweed honey—all to be sampled.

Lillian Strauss, who has lived here in the Yukon for forty-seven years, has also been a spiritual person.  It’s great seeing her come to participate at the venues we attend.  Her affiliation with Bhagavad-gitaAs It Is teachings have inspired and elevated her.  It was a pleasure having her with us this night, at the more remote home of Harjit Bajwa, the place of sanga, evening chanting and Gita discussion.  More food.  OMG!

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Saturday, October 1st, 2016
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Saturday, October 1st, 2016
Whitehorse, Yukon

Treasures of the Day

I had an excellent, hour long discussion with the Honourable Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for the Yukon.  Along with Larry, who sipped on coffee with Ananda and Vaibhav (myself, on apple juice) at the Westmark Hotel.  I asked him about the Canadian political structure and his role in it, and in exchange he asked about Krishna Consciousness, our administration, and our truth.  “How old?  Beliefs? Where does it come from?”

It was really pleasant.

Food has been good.  Even though we are miles away from anywhere—very remote—all the diversity you want for tongue and belly seem to be here.  At the Punjabi household I’m staying at, it was aloo paratha for lunch.  I put greens in the centre of this potato roti with my own salad dressing on top, mixed in avocado and then rolled it like a wrap.  Even Anand, a traditionalist to the taste of Indian cuisine, enjoys my style of pleasing hunger.  That, and a special energy drink assembled by local Sikh gentlemen filled my ‘tank’.

More was to come in the form of speech output.  After being ‘tanked’, we had an engagement at the Canada Games Centre, Room 2, for “Tales from Trails.”  I left ample time for questions, which did pour out.  People were keen to know of monastic life.  My mention of suggesting that everyone in the room become more of a monk (or nun) as we mature in our years, seemed to very much resonate with them.  The notion of renunciation was becoming relevant.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

​Should we worry about spiritual problems such as inattentive chanting?
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​What is the most effective way to avoid getting mentally caught in problems?
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​How can we prevent our past conditionings from disturbing our present?
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​How can we avoid becoming depressed because of people who are regularly troublesome?
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​Seek not moments of bhakti – seek momentum in bhakti
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​Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Los Angeles, USA

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Congregational preaching
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Hare KrishnaBy HH Jayapataka Swami

"Make Homes Into Centers" Congregational development is an untapped field that presents new opportunities for all kinds of preachers,. It incorporates a systematic method for contacting and cultivating new devotees and engaging them in service. New people and potential devotees should, as far as possible, be brought into the loop, their details taken and follow-ups commissioned. As Srila Prabhupada said, we have to fan the fire and cause it to burn. Continue reading "Congregational preaching
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Videos: July 2016
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Please find below videos of Kadamba Kanana Swami captured during the month of July.

Italy – Sravanam Kirtanam Retreat

Read about Maharaj’s visit to Italy. Audio recordings are available here.

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KKS_Italy_VillaVrindavan_10July2016_Kirtan 

KKS_Italy_VillaVrindavan_09July2016_Lecture_Intro to Kirtan

KKS_Italy_VillaVrindavan_09July2016_Kirtan

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KKS_Italy_VillaVrindavan_08July2016_Spontaneous Kirtan

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KKS_Germany_Berlin_04July2016_Lecture

Czech – Summer Camp

Read about Kadamba Kanana Swami at the Czech Summer Camp. Audio recordings are available here.

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KKS_CZ_SummerCamp_03July2016_Lecture_Initiation_Ceremony

KKS_CZ_SummerCamp_02July2016_Lecture_Evening

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KKS_CZ_SummerCamp_02July2016_Kirtan before Lecture

KKS_CZ_SummerCamp_01July2016_Welcome Address