If we are to be detached from results, how can we motivate ourselves for our work?
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Should we feel guilty about some immoral desires that are unconnected with our waking desires?
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If we have to go against our family members to practice bhakti, is the inner bad feeling conscience or pseudo-conscience?
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If we tolerate the spikes of desires, won’t those repressed desires return more forcefully in future?
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Washington to Host Two Major ISKCON 50 Events
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The capital city of the United States will host two major events over the next month celebrating in style and en masse the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON and the power of chanting God’s names to change the world. On September 13, in the Presidential Ballroom of the Capital Hilton Hotel three hundred people will gather for a formal ISKCON 50 Gala Evening. Picking up right where the Gala ends—with kirtan—on Saturday October 8th, the celebration will move just a mile away to the foot of Washington’s famed Lincoln Memorial.

TOVP Chairman’s Quarterly Report – September 2016
- TOVP.org

Dear Devotees, Donors, and Well-wishers,

Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I want to share with you the latest news from the TOVP project in Sridham Mayapur.

Construction continues to move forward with emphasis on the completion of the kalash and finishing work on the domes by the end of the year. The design and execution continue to be refined, and pink sandstone and sky blue tiles enhance their beauty as work progresses daily. Once finished and the domes are capped we will begin the interior finishing work .

Fundraising continues unabated worldwide and the new office in the United States is now fully operational and meeting with enthusiastic response. Our second tour in South Africa is scheduled for September with Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s divine lotus shoes and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s sitari (helmet) from the Mayapur Chandodaya Mandir, accompanied by His Grace Jananivas prabhu. Braja Vilas prabhu and Ambarisa prabhu with Svaha devi dasi will also join in the campaign. We are also planning several tours in India in the remaining months of this year and into 2017 which include Gujarat and South India. Our presence at His Holiness Gopal Krishna Maharaja’s recent Vyasa Puja celebration met with enthusiastic support and we raised over $350,000. Many of these devotees have already donated to the TOVP but were inspired to give again. Many thanks to them and to all our worldwide donors.

This temple continues to amaze visitors and will be a watershed event in the history of the Krishna consciousness movement. As His Grace Ravindra Svarupa prabhu writes in his brilliant treatise Revealing the Heart of ISKCON,

“When, by our cooperative efforts worldwide, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is completed at the heart of ISKCON, all of its associated centers everywhere will become more fully manifest as entranceways to the spiritual world. This will be a major achievement—a crowning achievement—of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s project, following Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, of “the respiritualization of the entire human society,” empowering the whole world to “convert the illusory consciousness into Brahman.”

Let us all push forward together to assist in manifesting this most divine accomplishment in the service of Guru and Gauranga. Thank you all for being a part of this glorious endeavor. We will continue to bring you exciting updates throughout the years ahead.

Your humble servant,
Ambarisa das

The post TOVP Chairman’s Quarterly Report – September 2016 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Sunday, September 4th, 2016
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Sunday, September 4th, 2016
Montreal, Quebec

Long Day

We’ve all been on some sort of marathon, while having a party at the same time.  Krishna devotees have come to partake in an extension of the “Joy of Devotion” retreat.  Held on the premises of ISKCON  Montreal, you meet people from Alberta, Ontario, Quebec of course, and even the Big Apple, New York.

The retreat is about hearing and chanting and special guests—Gurudas, Malati, Suresvar and Srutirupa–—all telling their personal memories of our guru, Srila Prabhupada.  Gordon is one newcomer to bhakti-yoga and his marathon is the pots.  It’s a lot of cleaning, and he appears to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

So starting from 4:30 am, for chanting, until 8:30 pm, many people have been going strong with only minor breaks in between.  It goes without saying that a big veggie prasadam feast marks the festive day’s end.

As most readers of this blog know, I’m habituated to a genuine wind-down at the end of the day.  With a small contingent, we walked and chanted, soaked our feet in a municipal fountain, and secured a final refreshment, an aloe vera drink, before retiring for the night.

Upon reflection on these festive hours, what personally struck us as prominent, were the explosive kirtans of the early evening, and a slide presentation, by Malati, to do with the involvement of our guru’s female students in his service to Krishna.  He was definitely inclusive when it came to their participation, sharing in all the activities of their spiritual brothers, including sitting and teaching from the Vedic texts.  It is important that we see beyond gender and recognize qualification.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Saturday, September 3rd, 2016
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Saturday, September 3rd, 2016
Montreal, Quebec

Full Circle

After a grand day at Complex Desjardins for a second consecutive day, and after happily hearing Patrick Bernard sing and play out the maha-mantra from the stage, I decided on my usual form of wind-down.  I would walk back to the ashram on Pie IXBlvd.

That meant, once I left the main entrance of the mall, I turned right on Rue Sainte-Catherine O.  It also meant meeting the three modes of nature—goodness, passion and ignorance, and not necessarily in that order.  I now left what seemed like the spiritual world.

Let’s say, that from that entrance, in a relatively central core of the city, a large volume of passion (rajas is the Sanskrit term) can hit you in the face.  There’s traffic and people bustling. Not but a few blocks from there continuing westbound, where streets are pedestrian-free, at the Gay Village, there is another brand of passion.  And so Brhat, who comes here with chanting parties quite regularly, said of the area, “The people respond here very well.”  Considering that it’s night now, that also stokes up the rajas power a bit more.  Folks dress-up here in a rather non monk-like way.

Finally, I come to more quiet quarters.  Montreal is known for its many magnificent churches, and you do pass the occasional one.  Ahhh!  Here I have a feeling of meekness as I view their towering stature.  I also realize much devotion has been rendered in such territory.  I’ve touched goodness (sattva).

Further on, and the neighbourhood opens up to an ignorance element (tamas).  Prostitutes stand at corners until clients appear.  Drugs, alcohol and depression join hands together.  This is apparent in general in speaking about this neighbourhood.  I wish I could do something.

After a sojourn, I turn a corner at Pie IX and land myself in transcendence.  Yes, here is the ashram and the temple.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

Friday, September 2nd, 2016
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Friday, September 2nd, 2016
Montreal, Quebec

The Joy of Devotion

What a venue!  What a catch!  What a blessing!

The managers of ISKCON Montreal had secured a section of Complex Desjardins, a large shopping mall  in the downtown, connected on the lower floor by the prestigious Place Des Arts.  There, in the centre of the complex, were thousands of commuters, corporate passers-by, and shoppers, who could all catch a glimpse—if not a browse or a sit-down—of the show and displays, smartly presented under the theme “Journey to the Heart of India.”

The seating could hold two hundred at capacity.  Displays were on topics such as Mantra-Yoga, Eco Village, Reincarnation and more.  Books on display—pertaining to these subjects—were sold as well.  All were neatly presented.  One of the co-ordinators of the mall, perhaps a type of maître d’, saw to the arrangements.  This meticulous woman, with an eye for the aesthetic, came around at set-up time to see to proper presentation, whether it meant selecting a chic table cloth with which to drape over a display table, lining up chairs displaced, or arranging for a dolly to be removed from the area.  Details!  Details!

In other words, she was determined to go to great lengths to be sophisticated.  And she succeeded.

The stage performances were superb—classical vinawith tabla, drum sessions, Bharat-Natyam dance and excellent kirtan—as well as speakers extolling the glories of bhakti-yoga, which is at the heart of Vedic culture rooted in India.  Audiences turned over constantly in the ten-hour period of the presentations.

I was impressed.  Good show!  Good hearts!  The applause was the benchmark of its success.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Why We Hear. Sacinandana Swami
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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.

Thursday, September 1st, 2016
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Thursday, September 1st, 2016
Hastings, Ontario

Clearing/Cleaning

Another monk made his way to the area for a short stint at Govardhan Farms.  Bhakti Svarup Chaitanya Swami hails from Lithuania, where four country projects are underway.  He spends time with Russian congregants, and audiences in Toronto and Montreal, every year.  He is very amicable.

I asked him if he has the same vegetation as we do in Canada—for instance, the maple tree.  When Nick was twenty feet up in the air, sawing dead limbs off a blue spruce—after quite a climb—Bhakti Svarup Chaitanya Swami mentioned that Lithuania has similar needle trees, and also some type of maple.

We all admired Nick’s contribution to tidy up  the farm.  The eaves trough has yet to be tackled.  It’s full of plant growth.  It seems that every channel that exists, when not cleared, needs unblocking.  Even our personal body, referred to as “the city of nine gates” in the sacred text Bhagavad-gita—two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, the anus and genitals—requires a thorough cleanse when we rise in the morning.  Such is the way of a yogi.

One more thing that was cleared up was the confirmation of the date for our presentation, “Tales from Trails.”  Skye, our landlady, took me to the nearby Civic Centre where we will speak to the local folks on September 20th at 7:30 pm.

On the lower level of the building, we came upon a group of contented ladies knitting away.  They gave the semblance of yogis in meditation—peaceful and serene.

May the Source be with you!

10 km

Wednesday, August 31st, 2016
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Wednesday, August 31st, 2016
Hastings, Ontario

Beyond Organic

Nick and I decided to hug the Trent River by walking along its edge, and heading to Govardhan Farms;  that included taking to a stretch of mean forest where every sticky object in the “bur” category clung to clothes and leg hair.  Yes, I’ve been going to “work,” so to speak, in pants and shirt.  The traditional dhoti isn't always suitable in all environments.

The work I’m referring to is the weeding, once again.  Fil assigned me to the okra patch where tall weeds abound.  No problem.  I prefer using hands over hoe, and just yanking the guys out.  While Brihat is further down the garden finishing his rows of peppers, I have the frivolous company of kittens.  At several weeks old, the three of them are playful.  They lie down right next to the weed needing to go.  They take my hands as toys.  Unaware that work needs to be done, they become a happy nuisance.  Mind you, I don’t feel alone.  How can I?  Even the plants have life force.  They are living creatures.  Working with plants is therapeutic.

Fil takes pride in the fact that the harvest of his veggies are in the “beyond organic” classification.  This he justifies by the rationale that some organic food in the market is started with the use of pesticides.  Fil uses neem oil to address bugs.

Since being here, we three visitors are enjoying the delicious produce.  One major reason for our stay here is to endorse the natural ways of agriculture and gardening.  This approach is a mandate, culturally set by our guru who envisioned a better quality of life.

May the Source be with you!

9 km

Tuesday, August 30th, 2016
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Tuesday, August 30th, 2016
Hastings, Ontario

Get the Weeds Out

Our guesthouse is located on Front Street across from the noble Trent River.  The name of the place is “The Doors” and its owner’s surname is Morrison (no connection to the iconic Jim).  Skye is her first name, and she has accommodated Brhat, Nick and myself in a charmer of a space, in a building erected in 1860 (that’s old for Canada).

Skye spends seven months of the year in her native Canada, and the balance in India, which makes it a perfect fit for we three who have our hearts in spiritual India much of the time.  We love chatting with her about our shared time in the land of Bharat—a name for Mother India in a more ancient context.

We three monks spent some hours at Govardhan Farms, located on Friendly Acres Road.  We were committed to walking there—a good eight kilometres.  Once we arrived at the farm, we took to some mantrameditation with owners Fil and Sukayanti, then breakfast, and finally on to physical work.  Nick executed inside labour, chopping the day’s harvested tomatoes and then putting his hands to baking and cooking, while Brhat and I went weeding.  Brhat tackled the pepper patch while I got into the late-planted kale.

I found the pulling out of weeds to be a new form of yoga stretching—to the right, the left and forward.  Much of the activity was employed with a hoe.  The manual pulling of weeds was more effective than hoeing, which tends to rarely remove the weeds by the root.  The hoe also facilitated leaning.

It was fulfilling, an achievement; a good feeling after having tackled four lengthy rows of undesirable plants that challenge and choke the desirable ones.  I felt like it was pulling lust, anger and greed out of my heart.

May the Source be with you!

8 km

5th Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Chaukhutia, Uttarakhand. Govind…
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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

Vision of Eternity. Sutapa das: On 13th July 1966, exactly 50…
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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
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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.

Men are Pathetic. Women are Wicked. And Rādhā Krishna…?
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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

www.vrajakishor.com


Tagged: Men and Women, Radha Krishna, Romance

Discipline: A Prerequisite to Krishna Consciousness
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Hare KrishnaBy 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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The excellent cook
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 September 2012, Durban, South Africa, Radhastami Lecture)

radharani

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.

KrishnabathingtimeSo 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.

Radhasthami Mahotsavah
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Hare KrishnaBy 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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Sri Radhikastaka
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Hare KrishnaBy 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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Happy Radhastami From the TOVP Team
- TOVP.org

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
*protected email*

The post Happy Radhastami From the TOVP Team appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Do we experience higher spiritual states through the intelligence?
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