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Why We Hear.
Sacinandana Swami: “There is no death” wrote Herman Hesse, “only fear of death. But that can be cured.”
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, King Pariksit who was cursed to die within seven days asked his exalted spiritual master Sukadeva Goswami about overcoming the fear of death. Sukadeva gave a very practical answer in which he explained how one can transcend material consciousness and become fixed in god consciousness.
5th Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Chaukhutia, Uttarakhand.
Govind das: Deva-bhoomi or land of the demigods, otherwise known as Uttarakhand in North India, is indeed a place worth visting and what more can be said when Lord Jagannath Himself is present there with His enthusiastic devotees. It is the common belief that within the vast tract of land known as Deva-Bhoomi, Chaukhutia, located in Almora district, was the place where the demigods resided for this is a valley lying between lush green hills of the lower Himalayas and divided by the meandering Ram-Ganga river and at times you get to touch the clouds that comes down occasionally in the cool early mornings.
Lord Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi has taken shelter at the Prayageshwar temple in Bhatkot Village where They reside in the company of Lord Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and, of course, Hanumanji. Devotees arrived on 29th August and stayed at the humble accommodation at Prayageshwar temple. Clear and refreshing mountain stream water quenched the thirst of the devotees, of course mineral water too was provided, and the same stream served the purpose for other necessities as well…cooking and bathing. Living in tune with nature is what would describe the surrounding areas. Strolling beside the Ram-Ganga early in the morning with the japa beads in your hands, hearing the water flow through the pebbles at the river bed, the eagle staring down at you sitting atop the pine tree, the group of monkeys patrolling the hill slopes, the small schoolkids waiting for their school buses calling out to you saying ‘hare Krishna’, …makes you feel that there is something special about this place.
2nd September, as a prelude to the Ratha Yatra festival we had a school program at Disha Convent School, Chaukhutia. Ramanuja Das gave a short lecture for the seven hundred students (primary till 12th) on importance of values and character, how one can be a scientist and a spiritualist as well and that how as students today they have inherited the legacy to become responsible leaders tomorrow. Examples citing Prabhupada, Eisntein, how God can be perceived in all that we observe…helped in interacting with the students. A small quiz was conducted by Sitakanta das and winners were given Srila Prabhupada books as prizes. Interestingly all the students, including the ones in primary sections, began to dance happily when the devotees began singing hare Krishna mahamantra. Indeed Srila Prabhupada is definitely correct when he mentioned that, “this chanting of Hare Krishna is so nice that even a child can take part.” The program was made complete by the distribution of halava mahaprasad. The teachers requested our devotees to visit their school and interact with the students more frequently. Later few students expressed that during the program what they liked best was the chanting and dancing.
3rd September, devotees started preparing sweet items for the ‘chhapan bhoga’ or the traditional fifty six items preparation to be offered on the day next for the ratha yatra, the cooking continued till the next day with the savoury items. A nagar sankirtan was also carried out in the market place of Chaukhotia. Many guest from the village and nearby areas came to take part in the festivities, devotees performed kirtan and also gave a lecture on pastimes of Lord Jagannath. There was a bhandara or feast arranged for the guests where all visitors took prasadam.
4th September, devotees chanted their rounds after mangal arti, some decorated the chariot with flowers, some dressed the dieties, and some were still engaged in cooking varieties of items. Morning was sunny with a dark patch of cloud hanging in the sky. At 12.30 pm the raj bhog was offered to Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra after which the deities took Their place on the chariot. The chief guest Mr. Madan Bisht, MLA of Chaukhutia was offered prasadam cloth offered to the deities and all the honoured guest proceeded to break the coconut for auspiciousness of the event. After arti was offered and prasadam for distribution was arranged on the chariot, all the visitors began to pull the chariot with devotees leading a fired up kirtan. The ratha yatra started from Prayageshwar temple going through Chandi khet and Chaukhutia market and finishing at Agneri temple where a huge feast for all the visitor was arranged. Hundreds of people followed the chariot and many more watched from their homes and from atop buildings. Prasadam was distributed all throughout the way. Just as the ratha yatra came to the Agneri temple rain started and it rained so heavily as if it had waited so long for this particular moment. 108 books were distributed…28 maha big books including Bhagavad-gita and Krishna book. Around two thousand or more visitors took prasadam at the Bhandara. Within that rain the deities were brought back to the temple. Interestingly there was no umbrella to cover the deities and devotees ran about to borrow an umbrella. One person gave his umbrella and by so doing…even without his knowledge he did the most wonderful service of protecting the Lord of the Universe from the unexpected downpour. Truly Jagannath had come out on His chariot to bless even those who would not come to see Him or make them lend Him their umbrellas.
Evening approached with a sense of triumph having seen the chariot festival of the Lord of the Universe, the village ladies coming back to their homes with huge pile of grasses for the cows, smoke rising from each of the houses on the hill slopes, the Ram-Ganga flowing down singing its own songs now imbued with a taste from the devotees’ kirtan….and everybody else sharing what they felt at the festival. As devotees laughed and shared happy instances of the festival Lord Jagannath also smiled as He went to take rest for the night with His elder brother and Sister. Next day after a sumptuous bath in the Ram Ganga river devotees parted from Chaukhotia with happy hearts and fond memories with a desire to return back to this small village marked with the Ram-ganga and flanked by the mountains…truly known as Deva-Bhoomi. Driving upon the cliffs and the passing through the clouds devotees passed through the Corbett National Park as they went on towards their next destinations…expressing their heartfelt gratitude to Srila Prabhupada who had so nicely brought Lord Jagannath from the sea shores of Puri to the mountains of the Himalayas. We sincerely thank all the devotees, friends and well-wishers for their support and kind prayers due to which we have been able to conduct this ratha yatra festival as a humble offering unto the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada and all our previous acaryas….we pray to remain so engaged always in their loving service. Jai Jagannath! Jai Srila Prabhupada!
For pictures please go to: https://goo.gl/hHnlar
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Vision of Eternity.
Sutapa das: On 13th July 1966, exactly 50 years ago today, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. It was a humble beginning with a grand vision.
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
I often look at your photos and wonder what you were seeing. What does the world look like through the lens of a pure devotee? What is the vision of someone whose eyes are anointed with the salve of love? What must it be like to perceive the presence of Krishna at every moment? Every aspect of your deep spiritual vision captures my imagination.
You arrived in a foreign land as an elderly and penniless mendicant, to compassionately offer people a message completely contrary to the sex, drugs and rock-n-roll they were accustomed to. You never saw impossibility or impracticality, but saw an undeniable order from your spiritual master. Thus you came.
You wandered into a New York park, sat cross-legged and closed-eyed, chanting from the core of your heart, as bemused onlookers stood on in complete amazement. You never saw danger, awkwardness or rejection, but saw the irresistible power of the holy name that would penetrate their heart. Thus you chanted.
You triumphantly founded an International Society with a worldwide manifesto, though living in a decrepit storefront in the Lower East Side, in the company of a handful of fledgling followers. You never saw obstacles or limits, but saw the inevitable and unstoppable prediction of providence. Thus you thought big.
You made your disciples into pioneering preachers, gurus, sannyasis and powerful leaders, sending them in all directions, despite their troubled backgrounds and internal struggles. You never saw weakness or shortcomings, but saw sincerity, devotion and a spark of potential to fan. Thus you empowered and encouraged.
You met with colossal success, making the Hare Krishna a household word, while thousands waited on your every instruction, ready to surrender their life to please you. You never saw it as your ability, purity or power, but saw everything as a product of Krishna’s divine grace and mystic potency. Thus your glory expanded.
I don’t have such vision, and can’t imagine that I ever will. Nevertheless, by meditating on you, I hope I’ll get a glimpse of what you see. I often stop and consider, “what would Prabhupada do?” I’ll keep that mantra central to my life, as I navigate the chaos of the world and try to do my little bit for your glorious mission. Thanks for displaying the vision of eternity. Thanks for making my life a purposeful, exciting, transcendental adventure. I can never repay you.
Srimati Radharani: a mirror which reflects the qualities of Krsna.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: I like the comparison, of the love of Srimati Radharani to a mirror which reflects the qualities of Krsna – as she discovers more and more qualities of Krsna, her love is just responding to those qualities. In this way, the love of Srimati Radharani is eternally growing. This explains the nature of love in the spiritual world and how one is increasing in one’s devotional service and one’s devotional experience eternally. Krsna becomes captured by this love which increases his experience of love; so that exchange eternally continues.
(See pictures)
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Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (SB 10.30.34) says, in the context of romance, that men are pathetic (dainya) and women are wicked (durātmā). Even more surprisingly, it says that Krishna and Rādhā display (darśayan) the same traits! This is a difficult statement to understand, but is extremely profound. First lets understand why men are “pathetic” and women “wicked misers.” Then let’s ask why Rādhā and Krishna would actually like that dynamic and display it themselves.
Men are Pathetic
In romance, men are pathetic because they are so hungry for what the woman possesses. It makes them extremely weak and manipulable, and makes them do humiliating, “pathetic” things in the attempt to convince a woman that she should give him what he so desperately wants.
Women are Wicked
In romance, women are “wicked” (“miserly” – not magnanimous or compassionate) because although they posses everything the man needs to end his pathetic condition, they withhold it and refuse him. In fact they taunt the man to want it even more, but keep it out of his reach and make him belittle himself for even the smallest morsels of what he seeks.
And the Supreme Man and Woman…?
Now let’s ask the more baffling question: Why would Rādhā and Krishna themselves enjoy this male/female dynamic.
The verse itself explains (with words like ātma-rata, and ātmarāma) the key distinction between the actions (karma) of self-ignorant entities and the play (līlā) of pure consciousness: Ignorant entities act out of need. Perfect consciousness, on the other hand, acts out of joy. Ignorant men and women do what they do because they are empty inside and believe they can fill that emptiness by acquiring better things and better situations. They dedicate their unique strengths only to achieving this goal.
The male strength is muscle and ambition, with which he boldly contests with others to win the objects he desires. How pathetic indeed that he is conquered by delicate creatures with no muscle at all!
The female strength is beauty and subtlety. With these she can control even the male muscle and thus be the superior gender (with not only her beauty and wit, but also the male muscle and ambition working for her interests).
In the realm of pure consciousness, however, neither masculinity nor femininity has any emptiness, or need to fill. There is only joy to express.
The joy (hlādinī) of the Absolute Consciousness (advaya-jñāna) exists in the form of the most desirable and enchanting woman, the Supreme Woman, Śrī Rādhā. Krishna expresses and experiences his own joy by celebrating and experiencing her. To celebrate her, he manifests the “pathetic” male dynamic by humbling himself before her and begging for her compassion to quench his “burning lusts.” Rādhā in turn, does not easily give Krishna what he wants. She withholds compassion for Krishna’s desires, and thus displays the quality of “wickedness” and “miserliness.” Why does she do this? Because things which come easy and cheaply are not valued as dearly as things that require great effort and high price. Rādhā increases Krishna’s appetite for the joy that she embodies by withholding it in just the right measure. She gives just enough, then taks away, leads on, smiles, but then frowns, looks at him, but then looks away, teasing, taunting, heightening his appreciation for her. Breadcrumb by breadcrumb.
This “miserliness” is an expression of her joyful devotion. Those who do not know much about the art of romance may not get it, but those who have some grasp of the art form understand this truth right away. It is her joy to increase Krishna’s appetite, and thus increase and extend his eventual enjoyment of the “meal”!
Everyday romance has the same shape as Rādhā and Krishna’s romance, because everyday romance is a product of the same “stuff” that Rādhā and Krishna’s romance is a product of: consciousness. Everyday romance, however, is a product of consciousness in ignorance, while Rādhā and Krishna’s romance is a product of consciousness in perfect joy (brahma-nirvāna). Therefore everyday romance is literally a contest between the pathetic and the wicked. Rādhā and Krishna’s romance, however, is an ever-expanding, ever-intensifying expression of divine joy, which utilizes the vehicles of begging and witholding as the means to effect that ever intensifying expansion.
– Vraja Kishor
By Bhurijana dasa In Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.24), Narada Muni explains to Srila Vyasadeva how he attained, through the mercy of the Vaisnavas, an exalted spiritual position: Although they were impartial by nature, those followers of the Vedanta blessed me with their causeless mercy. As far as I was concerned, I was self- controlled and had no attachment for sports, even though I was a boy. In addition, I was not naughty, and I did not speak more than required. Srila Prabhupada: In the system of varnasrama-dharma, which is the beginning of actual human life, small boys after five years of age are sent to become brahmacari at the guru's asrama, where these things are systematically taught to boys, be they king's sons or sons of ordinary citizens. The training was compulsory not only to create good citizens of state, but also to prepare the boys' future life for spiritual realization. Continue reading "Discipline: A Prerequisite to Krishna Consciousness
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 September 2012, Durban, South Africa, Radhastami Lecture)
Mother Yasoda wants only the best for her son so she grows very special grass which is fed to very special cows who then produce very special milk. Then early in the morning, she calls for Srimati Radharani. Srimati Radharani, at that time, is staying with her in-laws in the village of Yavat, some two kilometers away from Nandagrama, a little further from Varsana where her parents, Vrsabhanu and Kirtida, are still living.
Srimati Radharani, from the house of her in-laws, is brought to the house of Yasoda in the morning. Although Jatila, her mother-in-law, is not so eager to let her go, she is forced to do so by her elders. The elders were saying, ‘How can you disobey the queen of Vrndavana?’ And mother Yasoda wants Srimati Radharani to cook for Krsna because Srimati Radharani had pleased Durvasa Muni once and she got the benediction that whatever she cooks will provide long life to whoever eats it plus it will taste like nectar! So mother Yasoda is very eager that Krsna will get a long life because like any mother, she is always worried. That is the nature of mothers, they always need something to worry about; something can possibly go wrong and mother Yasoda is not any different. So she is reciting all kinds of different mantras on the body of Krsna and in different ways, trying to protect him from all possible dangers and she wants him to have a long life. Therefore, she insists that Radharani has to cook for Krsna.
So early in the morning, Srimati Radharani leaves home, carried in a palanquin by various gopi servants, who are carrying her along the pathway, fanning her and transporting her to the house of Yasoda. Rohini has already started the fire early in the morning and started some preparations and is cooking away when Radharani arrives. Then Radharani begins to prepare so many of Krsna’s favourite preparations! She is very expert in making various sweet preps like kheer and rasagula for the pleasure of Krsna, who is very fond of such sweets. That is the nature of Krsna and Radharani is there every day.
Early in the morning, Krsna rises and the very first thing that Krsna does, even before bathing, is to milk the cows because the udders of the cows are full in the morning and they cannot wait so that must be done first.
Then when Krsna takes his bath, it is a festival because the gopis are assisting in the bathing as well as the cowherd boys. In that way, the spiritual world resembles the deity worship which we are performing here in this world. Behind the altar, there is a whole crew of devotees who are preparing things for the worship of Krsna. So in the same way, that is going on also. The dressing of Krsna is done by many in the spiritual world. Krsna is not dressing himself.
By Radha Kunda Dasi Radha's lake is named after Her because, like Radha, it pleases all the transcendental senses of Krsna. Krsna's eyes enjoy seeing Radha-kunda. Krsna's nose relishes the smell of Radha-kunda's waters and its lotus flowers. The touch of radha-kunda's cool water pleases Krsna's body. The sounds of the singing birds and buzzing bees satisfy Krsna's ears. Krsna's tongue enjoys tasting the ambrosial water of Radha-kunda. Radha-kunda is named after Sri Radha because it has the same power that She has to attract and enchant Sri Krsna. This is confirmed in the Caitanya-caritamrta, adi 4.95: 'Krsna enchants the whole world, but Srimati Radhika enchants even Him. Therefore, Radha is the Supreme Goddess.' Chanting Radha's name and bathing in Radha-kunda both attract Krsna as confirmed by sri Narottama das Thakura: 'O brother! If you sing Krsna's name, you will attain the lotus feet of Sri Radhika, if you chant Radha's name, you will attain Krsnacandra.' Continue reading "Radhasthami Mahotsavah
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By Dravida dasa This is my English rendition of the Sri Radhikastaka from the Govinda-lilamrta, by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja. Her gold complexion steals the pride of golden lotus tinged with red. Her fragrance mocks the scent of lotus bloom with saffron powder spread. Her skill in satisfying Sri Hari is perfect and complete . . . May Radhika bestow on me the service of Her lotus feet. Her wondrous silken garments shame the splendor rubies can display. She is a blooming garden where the bee of Krishna loves to play. She worships Surya every day so She and Madhava can meet . . . May Radhika bestow on me the service of Her lotus feet. Continue reading "Sri Radhikastaka
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Dear Devotees and TOVP Donors,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On this most auspicious occasion of the appearance day of Srimati Radharani, we at the TOVP would like to extend our best wishes to all of you. We hope that on this day everyone can receive Her blessings, which are needed to attract Lord Krishna’s mercy. Srila Prabhupada wrote the song ‘Krishna Tava Punya Habe Bhai’ in his Jaladuta diary, where he explained:
“O, brothers! The Supreme Lord Krishna will bestow virtue upon you — but He will do this only when Srimati Radharani first becomes pleased with you. This I surely declare to you.”
Krishna Tava Punya Habe Bhai from Jaladuta Diary by Srila Prabhupada
From the very beginning of his preaching in 1966, Srila Prabhupada told us that Radharani is the best devotee of Krishna because She loves Him the most. He told us not to approach Krishna directly, but that if we prayed to Radharani, she could recommend us to Krishna, and then Krishna would be obliged to give us His shelter. This is the secret behind the power of the Maha-mantra.
As the internal pleasure potency of Lord Krishna, Radharani’s position is of paramount importance to anyone who also wants to please Krishna. Srila Prabhupada did not often speak in public about Radharani, but he did describe Her relationship with Krishna fully in his books such as the Krishna Book, Chaitanya-caritamrta, and the Nectar of Devotion. As he explained in the Nectar of Devotion,
“To perform devotional service means to follow in the footsteps of Radharani… Devotional service is directly under the control of Radharani.”
Nectar of Devotion 1
“Krishna attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts Krishna. The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Radharani.”
Nectar of Devotion 16
As followers of Lord Chaitanya, the infinite ecstatic love shared between Radha and Krishna is the basis for our entire theology. As Radharani was always absorbed in feelings of separation from Krishna, Lord Chaitanya descended to relish and distribute this same topmost treasure to us conditioned souls.
“The process of devotional service taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His disciplic succession is how to feel separation from Krishna. That is Radharani’s position, always feeling the separation… The more you feel separation from Krishna, you should understand that you are advancing. Don’t try to see Krishna artificially. Be advanced in separation feeling, and then it will be perfect.”
Radhastami Lecture, London, August 29, 1971
Once when Krishna was enjoying with another gopi called Viraja, Radharani personally created a beautiful garden designed to attract Krishna back to Her. She filled it with varieties of beautiful animals and flowers, and ordered the auspicious Ganga and Yamuna rivers to arrive there as well. Springtime and Cupid resided there permanently. She then played a beautiful melody on a flute to call Krishna.
When Krishna arrived He was overcome by His love for Radharani. He promised Her that He would always stay there with Her, and that all the holy places would reside there. He named the garden Navadvipa. Thus, it was no coincidence that Lord Chaitanya chose to break open the storehouse of Krishna-prema from Mayapur.
If we can please Radharani, especially on Her appearance day, our further progress in devotional service is guaranteed. Today is thus an extremely good day to make a contribution towards Radha-Madhava’s new home, which will greatly increase their worship in this most intimate place.
So this is our philosophy, to please Krishna through Radharani, and just today is the auspicious day of Radharani’s appearance. So we should offer puspanjali and pray to Radharani that ”Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Your Krishna. Krishna is Yours.” Krishna is not independent. Krishna is Radharani’s property. So you have to approach Krishna through Radharani. That is, today is the auspicious day. Worship Radharani very nicely and be happy.
Radhastami Lecture, London, September 5, 1973
Yours in the Service of Sridham Mayapur,
Braja Vilas das
Global Fundraising Director
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The Holy Name Festival in Spain had been a lot of fun and Kadamba Kanana Swami enjoyed it, however it was also intense and he felt the need to take a few days off and not do any programs. So we flew from Madrid to Split, Croatia where we landed in a tiny propeller plane (15 August). During our flight, from our window, we could see the 1000 islands of Croatia. We were nicely received at the airport and Matsya drove us to the apartment where we spent the next few days. The village was called “Razanj” which translates into “barbecue”. It was very peaceful and Maharaj regained some strength from spending some quiet time there. Our apartment was located just above the water so whenever we felt like it, we could just walk down in a minute and go for a swim.
It happened to be my birthday while we were there and Yasasvini made a raw cake and Malika Malati brought non-sugar ice-cream for Maharaj. Dharma-setu also visited and Tridasha stayed with us for the whole stay and cooked all of Maharaj’s meals every day. He also rented the place for us and helped us a lot throughout our stay in Croatia!
After staying in Split, we drove to Zadar which is officially the number one tourist town in all of Europe. On the first evening (18 August), Maharaj was invited as the special guest for a program in the city center. Since it was Lord Balarama’s appearance day, Maharaj spoke about different pastimes in honour of him. In full detail, Maharaj told the stories of Pralambasura and Dhenukasura being killed by Lord Balarama. He explained that these demons represent bad qualities, for example Pralambasura is symbolic of lust, and Maharaj said that we have to “kill the Pralambasura in ourselves”. Similarly, Dhenukasura is representative of greed; he was consumed by material things and therefore he had to take the form of an ass. Maharaj emphasized that we should free ourselves from all unnecessary material things in order to rise above the platform of an ass. Maharaj also mentioned the word “saint” many times in his lecture and concluded by saying, “Today’s lesson is to become a saintly servant who gives his life to others.”
The next morning Maharaj gave another class at the house where we stayed. About thirty devotees attended so it was like in a temple. We went for a walk afterwards along the beach on a path that is called “karma”. When we came back, we found the house full with people once again. More than fifty pizzas were prepared for the big pizza party that was about to start and Maharaj was impressed and said that he never saw anyone make so many pizzas in such a short time!
Tridasha drove us to Split and he and Dharma-setu stayed with us at the house of a really friendly old lady. She made sure we had everything we needed and even cooked for Maharaj herself. Maharaj told us that he spent six months in Split, some 45 years ago. Many things had changed of course but Maharaj still recognised some things and showed us where he used to live. We had one evening program in Split which was well attended and Maharaj got everybody to dance in a very wild kirtan.
The next day we took a plane to Zagreb and then drove to the temple which is located a bit outside the city. We spent two days there and Maharaj did the whole Sunday program as well as initiated a new disciple, Krishnaleka dd – haribol!
From the temple, Gudakesh drove us to his house which is close to Croatia/Slovenia border, and we stayed two nights. We decided to go for a walk on one of the days so the devotees took us to a special healing place in the forest. There was a natural spring which was supposed have several benefits for health and good looks if you drank the water. Around the spring there were twenty-two healing spots and Maharaj happened to stand at the point which is supposed to heal any problems with eyesight. So Maharaj made a gesture of throwing his glasses away as if he didn’t need them anymore. There was one local woman though and when she saw it she told us that we shouldn’t make fun of the place or otherwise we would get bad reactions!
A lot of devotees live around the area there so when we had the evening program in Lendava. The room was packed and the mood was really good and once again the kirtan became ecstatic and Maharaj sang for a very long time. In the lecture that night, Maharaj mainly spoke about lust in all its forms. He gave many examples, told stories and gave dramatic performances throughout the class! The videos of that evening’s program are shared below. On 24 August, we travelled to Ljubljana for the celebration of Janmastami. Visit Flickr to see more photos.
Kirtan in Lendava, Croatia – 23 August 2016
Lecture (CC Adi 7.20) in Lendava, Croatia – 23 August 2016
THE MIRACLE OF FORGIVENESS: Much has been written in spiritually themed literature, Vedic scriptures and Prabhupada's translations, and personal growth/self-help books about forgiveness. As a young person and devotee I had no idea how important forgiveness could be. It was only after years of introspection and prayer that I personally understood how important it was for me to forgive important persons in my life and myself.
The topic came up in my reading of the last few days, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts about it. I have done much work with forgiveness—with my parents, for how I was raised, and for myself, for my many personal failings and what I should or should not have done. I looked at all my significant relationships in as much honesty as possible, and also considered that I may have some anger toward Krishna, and my guru, Shrila Prabhupada.
I did find some anger toward Prabhupada and I had a long talk with him to uncover it, and let it go. I have written somewhere about my, in contemporary terms, gestalt type conversation with him. Whatever it may be called, to me it was a very real talk before the Prabhupada murti in Berkeley almost 30 years ago. Before him, I shared and examined my anger and doubts, and I received a simple though compellingly powerful answer to my angst with his physical disappearance.
By Bhaktirasa dasa For some time now I have been concerned for the freedoms and safeties of my fellow Hare Krsna devotees in Bangladesh, who are trying to exist peacefully in a socio-political context which is extremely fractious, volatile and imminently inflammatory. I have become aware of isolated incidents of extreme physical attacks on individual priests and small gatherings during their worship practices. Such attacks have been enacted by thugs portraying themselves as Islamic extremist fundamentalists. A few of the recent fatalities perpetrated on Bangladeshi Hindu priests in this style have made the mainstream media. I understand that legal actions and convictions have often not followed such incidents due to fears and biases within and political pressures upon, the enforcement and judiciary systems. In some respects I am reluctant to put this out since the last thing I want is to contribute to any generic anti-muslim rhetorics or non-specific media fuelled anti-muslim paranoia. Since, however, I accept the following as a factual situation, with innocent lives in immediate jeopardy I have decided it over-rides my misgivings. Please take a few moments to read this candid report which I received this morning. Continue reading "Difficult times for our devotees in Bangladesh
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The Auspicious Qualities of Srimati Radharani.
Samapriya devi dasi: The eternal constitutional nature of the living entity is pure love and devotion to Krsna. The origin of this pure unconditional love is the pleasure giving potency hladini shakti, Srimati Radharani. Though hidden deep within the heart of the Lord, She manifests Herself as Krsna’s eternal consort. Only She can completely satisfy and attract the all attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead by Her unsurpassable pure love, which is called mahabhava.
Srimati Radharani is the compassionate nature of the Lord and She is represented by the spiritual master. One cannot approach Her directly but must go through the spiritual master, who is Her most confidential servant. Therefore I offer my humble obeisances to my spiritual master His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. By his mercy only can I approach the Divine Couple Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. The mercy of the spiritual master is delivered through his divine instructions. I pray these instructions be carved into my heart as an emblem of service to his lotus feet.
Srimati Radharani is an ocean of divine qualities and She brings pleasure to the Lord in an infinite variety of ways. So captivating is Her love for Him, that Lord Krsna appeared, also as a hidden incarnation, to taste that special love which belongs to Her alone.
“Desiring to understand the glory of Rādhārāṇī’s love, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appeared from the womb of Śrīmatī Śacī-devī, as the moon appeared from the ocean.” (CC Adi lila 1.6)
Everything about Srimati Radharani is attractive to Krsna. She is the topmost devotee of the Lord. By studying Her transcendental qualities, and cultivating a desire to serve Her, one can begin to understand how to become a devotee. Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead desired to know Her profound mood, and thus appeared as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Lord Caitanya is our Istadeva. Anything we hear about the ultimate goal of human life, pure love of God, originates in Him. Lord Caitanya is immersed in the mood of Srimati Radharani and by serving Him one can taste a particle of Her divine qualities and love for Krsna.
Obeisances to the transcendental qualities of Srimati Radharani.
Oh, Srimati Radharani, epitome of sweet,
I pray to Your kindness for shelter at Your feet.
You are freshly youthful, with a fragrance sublime,
and Your restless eyes search for that cowherd divine.
You light up the worlds with Your smile so bright,
Your impeccable speech is a blissful delight.
Auspicious lines marking Your face, hands and feet,
with Your meek humble nature all pride You defeat.
Your singing and joking is transcendental play,
in performing Your duties there is never delay.
You are shy and calm yet cunning and grave,
and the path to Vrndavana You respectfully pave.
In Goloka You are the reservoir of loving exchange,
accepting whatever Your friends may arrange.
You’re controlled by their love, which is deep as the sea,
and famous as the most submissive devotee.
Affectionate to Your elders chief damsel of Vraja,
wearing Your qualities, like a gem-studded corsage.
By Your love You control the Lord’s tender heart
as He changes His color and yearns for Your part.
All glories to the auspicious qualities of Srimati Radhrani. I pray to meditate upon them and thus become their servant.
Kids - Srimad Bhagavatam Sloka and Kirtan Recitation from ISKCON Mira Road (Playlist of brief videos)
Srila Prabhupada: This li...
By Bhurijana Dasa We have all learned our native language and most of our attitudes, values, and social behavior without having had any systematic instruction. In fact, the examples we have seen have influenced us more powerfully than the verbal instructions we have received. With this in mind, we can consider that any behavior a teacher exhibits constitutes teaching; teaching does not only take place while deliberately instructing students. Teaching by example goes on at all times. This places great pressure on teachers to live up to their ideals. If students observe discrepancies between what is demanded and what is actually allowed, they will behave according to what is allowed. For example, students will obey the teacher for the first few days if they are told to do their seat work quietly and on their own. If it gradually becomes clear, however, that the teacher does not intervene in any way when students do not work quietly or when they copy from one another, they will see that the teacher does not mean what he says. They will often become disobedient. This points again to the need for teachers to be aware that the only requirement for teaching to take place is that a student sees behavior modeled before him. Continue reading "Teaching by Example
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Prabhupada, “It’s very easy to be critical, but to find the good is rare.”
Aniruddha: I had an ecstatic experience at the wonderful San Francisco Ratha-yatra, and I wrote Prabhupada a letter about what I felt.
Prabhupada answered, “The car festival was very simple. After all, it is a car with four wheels, but it attracted the people so enthusiastically because there was His Lordship, Jagannatha.
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada This song was sung by Rupa Gosvami. He is the real person, actual person, to understand Radha and Krsna. So he says, "All glories to Radharani." radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. "She's so dear to Krsna." Krsna, everyone is trying to love Krsna, but Krsna is trying to love somebody. Now how great She is. Just try to understand. Everyone, the whole world, the whole universe, all living entities, they are trying to love Krsna. Krsna-prema. Lord Caitanya describes, prema-pumartho mahan. And Rupa Gosvami described that "You are distributing krsna-prema." So krsna-prema is so valuable, but Krsna is after Radharani. Just see how Radharani is great. Just try to understand the greatness of Radharani. Therefore She is so great, and we have to offer our respect. Radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. How She is? Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite. Taruni, taruni means young girls. You'll see the pictures, they are all young girls. But of all the young girls, She is the most beautiful. She is enchanting to the young girls also. She is so beautiful. Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite, damodara-rati-vardhana-vese. And She always dresses Herself so nicely that Damodara, Krsna, becomes attracted by Her beauty. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese. And She is the only lovable object of Krsna, and She is the "Queen of Vrndavan." This "Queen of Vrndavan" you'll find in Vrndavan, if you go to Vrndavan, everyone is worshiping Radharani. Rani means queen. They are always speaking, "Jaya Radhe!" Radharani. All the devotees in Vrndavan, they are worshiper of Radharani. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese, vrsabhanu-dadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe. And She appeared as the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and Her companion, Lalita-sakhi and Visakha-sakhi, and the devotees. So on behalf of the pure devotees of Krsna, Rupa Gosvami is praying, karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite. "Oh, my worshipable Radharani, You are full of mercy. So I am begging of Your mercy because You are so merciful, very easily You offer, bestow Your mercy. So I am begging Your mercy." Continue reading "Srimati Radharani’s Appearance Day Lecture
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Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Question: Why do you please think that God has only one supreme or topmost form in your religion and this is the form of Krishna, when there have been great holy people and saints who worshiped God not in the form of Krishna. So will all others not go to God, or will they go to a God in the form they can comprehend? It’s very confusing.
Romapada Swami answers: It is not a personal, sectarian opinion that we claim the form of Krishna to be topmost, nor does Krishna belongs to any particular religious denomination. Krishna Himself declares that His form, that particular two-handed form which He exhibits before Arjuna is the topmost, there being nothing superior to it, (BG.7.7, B.G.11.52, B.G.11.53, and B.G.11.54) which indicates that all other forms are also included in this form. Similar conclusions are given in different scriptures such as Srimad Bhagavatam and Brahma Samhita, and vaishnavas accept this as such. This does not mean that His other forms are less important in a mundane sense of comparison. The Supreme Lord has unlimited forms, all of which are equally Absolute, and those who worship any of the bona fide forms of the Lord, as revealed in authorized scriptures, will attain Him in that particular form. Indeed there are many great saintly devotees, even within the Vedic tradition, who have worshiped Him in other forms, (including the Fish, Boar, Narasimha and Rama etc) according to their inner mood of devotion, and they attained the spiritual planet where the Lord presides in that particular form. All these devotees are equally respected, with no mundane envy or distinctions of superior or inferior, although often these devotees themselves speak of the superlative glories of the Lord in His original feature of Krishna.
Workshop at Krishna Institute, Alachua, USA
Shikshashtakam 1 Overview and flow of the ashtakam
Shikshashtakam 2 Text 1 The mind as a window, a TV screen and a mirror
Shikshashtakam 3 Text 1 The flower metaphor for the blossoming of consciousness
Shikshashtakam 4 Text 1 From the partial nectar to the complete nectar
Shikshashtakam 5 Text 2 The mysterious non-difference of Krishna and his holy name
Shikshashtakam 6 Text 3 Humility means to not let our ego interfere with our purpose
Shikshashtakam 7 Text 3 Tolerance means to call off our war with reality
Shikshashtakam 8 Text 4 Let your bhakti be Krishna-centered, not renunciation-centered
Shikshashtakam 9 Text 5 The subtle interplay of endeavor and grace in bhakti
Shikshashtakam 10 Text 6 Curb sentimentality but cherish sentiments
Shikshashtakam 11 Text 7 Treasure devotional memories to propel your devotion
Shikshashtakam 12 Text 8 Radharani manifests the highest summit of love
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