Happy Janmashtami!
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Hare KrishnaBy Girish Sarin

Cymbals, damru drums, bherries, and big drums vibrated auspicious sounds in specific melodies. A celestial concert of precise poetical meters, proper rhythms, and metrical compositions suddenly manifested there. The musical ensemble inspired the society girls to sing and dance in mirth and merriment. Though not good singers, by the will of the Lord they sang with great virtuoso. Their wonderful songs filled Nanda Maharaja's heart with joy. The combined vibrations of brahmanas' chanting Vedic hymns, the recitation of Puranic lore, and the panegyrists' prayers trans­formed the ethers into sabda brahman. The joy of Krishna's birth celebration taxed the drains of Nanda's capital city as they swelled to the brim with milk, yogurt, and other auspicious liquids. Soon rivers of this nectar flooded the streets of the town and permeated the entire atmosphere with a sweet fragrance. Disguising them­selves as birds, the demigods descended to Vrajapura to happily drink the flood of nectar. The Vrajavasis decorated their cows with gold and jeweled ornaments. Then in great excitement they smeared them with oil, fresh butter, and turmeric paste. Beholding Krishna in their hearts, these fortunate cows looked like the essence of the earth's auspiciousness. The whole world resounded with their jubilant bellowing. Continue reading "Happy Janmashtami!
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Happy Janmastami
→ Mayapur.com

Janmastami greetings from Mayapur! Janmastami is celebrated as a “Mahotsava” or a grand festival, as on Janmastami day, Lord Sri Krishna appeared to annihilate the miscreants and to establish dharma and very mercifully, Srila Prabhupada also appeared on the day next to Janmastami, Nandotsava, to annihilate the desire for sense gratification and establish Krishna Consciousness […]

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Sadhu Sanga Sunday
→ Ramai Swami

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The idea for “Sadhu Sanga Sunday” was conveyed by HH Mukunda Maharaja to Pratapana as a follow up to the Sydney Opera House program.

It was held at the Arts Centre in Darlinghurst that was decades ago a local prison. Of course, now it is renovated to a beautiful venue.

The day went very well with special guests, HH Mukunda Maharaja, Bhakti Caru Maharaja, Syamsundara das, Malati dasi and I sitting on stage sharing remembrances of past association with Srila Prabhupada.

The evening was was a wonderful experience of kirtana and dance.

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Janmastami
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 17 August 2014, Goloka-dhama, Germany, Janmastami, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.41.6-10)  

Krsna_yashodaWe remember the pastime of when Krsna first came to Mathura and he met a garland-maker, Sudama, who offered Krsna many nice garlands, sandalwood and other things. That garland-maker actually used go to Vrindavan regularly to collect flowers, so he had previously met Krsna and made offerings to Krsna with flowers, so that garland-maker was already recognized by Krsna as a devotee. At the end, he adorned Krsna and Balarama with beautiful garlands and they looked very beautiful. Then the two Lords offered to the surrendered Sudama, who was bowing before them, whatever benediction he desired. Sudama asked the Lord for unshakable devotion – devotion that could not be destroyed by anything. Then he asked the Lord for friendship with the Lord’s devotees and for transcendental compassion for all living beings. So this garland-maker was very intelligent. What would we ask for if we would suddenly, unexpectedly meet Krsna? What would we ask? It would not be so easy, ‘Well, Krsna, okay, give me love of God!’  But we can see the example of Sudama who was thinking much deeper about the matter than we are. Love of God is very good but Sudama asked to be given unshakable devotion, as he knew maya is very strong and did not want be affected by anything. Unshakable devotion means love of God!

This is very nice – this garland-maker who seems to be, in a way, a background personality; there is not a whole chapter in Srimad Bhagavatam dedicated to the garland-maker who offered some garlands to Krsna. But just see how profound his thinking is and how important unshakable devotion is, how important friendship with the devotees of the Lord are and how important transcendental compassion for all living beings is.

To approach Krsna we require blessings. Janmastami is an opportunity to approach Krsna and to really enter into Krsna’s reality. We are going to spend time remembering various pastimes of Krsna over the next few days and all these activities are actually taking us into Vrindavan because it is through remembering the activities of Krsna that we are getting entrance; as Jiva Gosvami explains, Vrindavan is a state of consciousness. So we are looking for blessings just as Sudama received benedictions from the Lord and asked for the unshakable devotion.  Like this, we are gradually preparing ourselves so may we all be blessed by such a meditation of Sudama.

krsna_paintingThe fact is that by committing ourselves to Krsna, by focusing, by giving ourselves, by making offerings to Krsna – even if only for a day: chanting, cooking, hearing, intensely focusing on Krsna the entire day – then we will find that our relationship with Krsna has become so much nourished and strengthened that we realize that this Janmastami is not just a festival where we get enlivened by the association of devotees and a wonderful program until the next enlivening festival. No, we actually realize that if we really make a commitment to focus on Krsna, to really get serious, just for a day, then this Janmastami makes a permanent change in our spiritual life. We are permanently coming closer to Krsna, so in this way, each Janmastami is another step closer to Krsna.

Janmastami is particularly meant for us as it is an opportunity to connect in a very serious way with Krsna and in service to him, because then it will be a great source of strength that will benedict us in our spiritual life. We build on that and then we surrender again and in this way we build up our spiritual strength.

Scriptures recommend performing of naimitika kriya – exceptional devotion practice, or special spiritual activity during special occasions that brings new life and that we bring back to our everyday routine devotional practices of nitya kriya. So doing something special on this Janmastami can renew our everyday practice, bring new life and at the same time because we have for one day functioned on a higher level of surrender than usual, we have come one step closer to making that permanent and that has the lasting effect. With this meditation we can begin our Janmastami celebration and get ready to come before Krsna. We are anticipating with great eagerness Krsna’s appearance day and hope everyone will have a wonderful Janmastami, Janmastami that will make all the difference!

National Geographic Channel highlights ISKCON Kitchen
→ The Vaishnava Voice

I went to the Bhaktivedanta Manor this afternoon. It was a hot summer’s day for England, but a team of dedicated volunteers were underneath a marquee surrounded by chopping tables and hot gas stoves, preparing food for the 30,000 pilgrims that will be arriving on Thursday for Lord Krishna’s birthday. Just last month our teams prepared hot meals for 17,000 in Trafalgar Square. In Glastonbury the Hare Krishna tent fed 15,000 hungry mouths over the festival, and the same team prepare 900 meals daily for the homeless and hungry students.

Besides singing and dancing in public places, or distributing books, giving out blessed food or prasadam is the activity for which ISKCON is known. Today, 50 years after it started, that essential activity of cooking in large quantities has been raised to a fine art. It takes some feat of organisation to prepare food for thousands of people but it seems to be one thing that ISKCON does well.

Here’s how the National Geographic Channel picked up on one such ‘mega-kitchen’ this week:


Village Association Liaison Selected
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

New Vrindaban - Sudha Krsna Prabhu

Dear devotees,­­­­

The Steering Committee is happy to announce it has selected Sudha Krsna prabhu as the liaison for the Village Association. The committee took this decision after publicly advertizing the position for 10 days, and after duly considering all submitted applications.

We hope this will be a first of many effective ways for your future elected representatives, the Village Council members, to hear your ideas and concerns, as well as for you to be regularly updated with relevant information.

Strengthening our community means to increase our communication and to discover ways to help each other.

What follows is a brief Bio of Sudha Krsna prabhu:

My name is Sudha Krishna das. Many devotees know me as “SD” or Sanatan Dharma das. I joined ISKCON in the summer of 1981 in Toronto, Canada and moved to New Vrndaban in the mid 1980’s where I served until the late 1990’s. In 1999, I received diksha from Srila Govinda Maharaja who has inspired my faith in Srila Prabhupada from the day I met him.

After leaving New Vrndaban with my former wife, Lila Avatar d.d., I attempted to be successful in business and relationships for close to 20 years. But after repeated failed attempts and having learned many valuable lessons, I contacted Jaya Murari Prabhu who reminded me of the importance of sadhu sanga, living in the holy tirtha, and taking only Krishna Prasdam.

I therefore recently came back in New Vrndaban with every intention of staying. I feel immensely grateful to be back and my foremost desire is to be of service to all devotees, past, present and future.

While away from New Vrndaban, I have acquired a decent amount of experience in the fields of human services, as a drug and alcohol counselor, in non-profit management, as a caregiver for the elderly suffering from dementia, and as a professional salesman.

Now back to New Vrindaban for less than two weeks, I have already been blessed with various opportunities for service. One that I am highly looking forward to is as a Village Association Liaison. I find it exciting and inspiring to be building bridges amongst community members and being instrumental at communicating with, and informing devotees without personal agenda.

I currently have been provided an office space in the Wellness Center where from I can speak with devotees confidentially.

I feel I can be a productive member of the community as well as a responsible and confidential Village Association Liaison. I look forward to connecting with all of you in the near future.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity,

Your servant,

Sudha Krsna das

Sudhakrsnadas@gmail.com

​Gita 11.15 – Arjuna’s vision encompasses the whole universe from top to bottom
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast


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Sunday, August 14th, 2016
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Sunday, August 14th, 2016
Toronto, Ontario

Those Who Came Forward

I’m back in my home-base, but still keeping up my daily walking,while fingering through my beads numbering 108, and moving my upper and lower lips--as well as my tongue--to utter the name of Krishna.  Whenever I travel, these mechanical, mental and spiritual outputs are there.

I re-connected with Yonge St., the strip from Bloor to Dundas, known for its characters.

Near Dundas, a Caucasian young person, with hair pulled back to form a bun, came up to me and began talking in a rather incoherent way.

“Are you on drugs?”  I asked him.  Indeed he was, as he expressed so in a non-confessional way.  For him, that’s his life.  I mentioned to him to do himself a favour and pull out of it.  “Then life can begin.”

Our conversation got cut short when another fellow, this time an Indian--who was obviously also ‘on something’--addressed me with, “Hare Krishna!”  He said it several times and continued with words that made no sense.  Still, he was zealous and maintained a smile for the reason, I guess, that he’s talking to a sadhu, of sorts.  I indicated that I had to proceed, although I perceived he was liking the attention.

A young Black chap then came to stand in front of me, and in a facetious way, bowed at the waist respectfully, demonstrating some kind of reverence.  I took the gesture to not be coming from the heart, so I didn’t take him too seriously.

As I said, “Characters!”  But I wouldn’t put them down entirely.  They were the ones who came forward, out of all the pedestrians on Yonge St.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Saturday, August 13th, 2016
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Saturday, August 13th, 2016
Pelee Island, Ontario

Ways of Nature

It is astounding to see the ways of nature.

Yesterday, we witnessed an entity in the form of a catfish exiting the water.  This morning, the reverse occurred.  It was not a catfish, but rather a large black water snake who slithered from the trees in front of us, moved over the sand, and slipped into the shallow shore waters of Lake Erie.  It then disappeared into the depths of the fresh water.

We were also terribly humbled by biting stable-flies.  Nature came on then with another of her forces.  After a dry spell, running a month in duration, a near-drought in Ontario, Ohio, and the surrounding vicinity, was dispelled.  Rains and rainbows made their visitations.  On our return journey to Toronto, I delighted in reading from “Memories,” recollections from devotees about our dear guru, Srila Prabhupada, as those welcoming rains came down with a passion.

Every journey, especially an auto-driven one, needs its breaks.  I suggested to our crew, “Let’s check out one of my favorite locations on the planet—Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”  With me were Nimai-Nitai, originally from India, Elona from Latvia, and Katrina from Russia.  They were not aware of the historical significance of this place.

As a person on foot--or one who most often likes to be--I have the opportunity to learn of past tragedies and victories.  Historicalplaques and places are everywhere.  Check out the Underground Railway, Josiah Henson, and Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Friday, August 12th, 2016
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Friday, August 12th, 2016
Pelee Island, Ontario

Driven!

He had whiskers and was no more than a foot in length.  He was tanned and wiggling his way along, moving by will and not wave.  It was time for him to go.  Providence had told him so.  He had had the lake as his habitat for ‘who knows how long’ and now he was beach-bound. 

A group of us, in retreat on the island’s east-side, were ready to indulge in prasadam, a sacred picnic, when we saw this catfish coming our way.  At first glance, I thought “Is he hungry?” as he ignored the kids a-splash all around him, and ‘bee-lined’ his way to dry sand.

He was determined to hit air, to lie on that sand, die, and hence--end a cycle.  The water kept pulling him in, in small lapping waves, but he fought to remove himself from the H2O, and succeeded.  He keeled over and did what I’ve seen massive carps do when they’re aged.  They exit from the water and camp at the beach, passing away in seconds or maybe minutes.  For this catfish, it was about two minutes.

What’s next for him?  A new body awaiting his spirit?

He was pulled by nature, and behind that, a divine power.  Perhaps it was the same power which compelled those people coming from the winery, to dance with us at our dusk kirtan.  We wrapped up the day by the dock with not a swim, but with receiving a wondrous wind while I led that timeless mantra and produced a tal on the drum.

I was surprised at the zealousness shown by the folks who sang and danced.  But then after their sips and swigs of grape-juice-gone-WOW, it’s understandable.  We devotees from Ohio, Michigan and Ontario, were inspired to see the full-on participation.

Everyone, everything, is driven by divine force.

May the Source be with you!

1 km

Thursday, August 11th, 2016
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Thursday, August 11th, 2016
Pelee Island, Ontario

Back to Kilometres

I showed my birth certificate at the Sandusky, Ohio ferry terminal, ascended and sat in the top, outside level of the boat, destined for a small retreat at Pelee Island.  I was surprised to see the swift response by the Afro-American devotee couple, Avadhuta and Agnihotra, to come and join me after my invite just hours before.

We sailed under myriad-blue-toned clouds, caught a breeze from Lake Erie’s kindness, and chatted with the couple.  Once settling ourselves after docking, we drove in their van around the entire island, measuring its distance.  It is 23 kilometres riding the coastal roads. That was great!

We stopped in at an outdoor café for a custom-made, vegetarian pizza (no other option).  We were pleased to meet the cook, Riki, a devotee of nature who had met members of our crew last year.  She has been reading the “Bhagavad-gita,” Krishna’s divine words.  She is the wife of Matthew--who has to work on the mainland--and is the mother of Camilia, age nine.  She teaches yoga, by the way, to some of the residents on this island which has a population of 125 in the winter (expanded in the summer).

Truly it’s great to be in a place where there are no billboards and no lamp-posts.  You can see the stars in the sky, and  tonightin particular  was unique, because you could maximizeyour  meteor-gazing.  I bumped into a couple and scared them to death with my presence in the dark.  They had counted over one hundred meteors shooting in the sky.

May the Source be with you!

12 km

Tuesday, August 9th, 2016
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Tuesday, August 9th, 2016
Chicago, Illinois

Now That This Half Is Over

About the sweetest thing I experienced from this stretch of the U.S. walk was to receive a letter from my spiritual brother, who’s also a monk—Jayadvaita Swami.  The words were encouraging.

“Well, you’re doing the healthiest thing in the world and making a valuable spiritual contribution by your example.  Happy walking and happy chanting.”

I’ve calculated to have just completed 1,232 miles or 1982.7 kilometres from Butler, Pennsylvania to Seward, Nebraska.  There’s another 1,594 miles to go to make it to San Francisco.  For now, I’ll hold it as a dream until I return, in the spring of 2017, to exercise the second half of the U.S.A.

It was today that I sat for nine hours in a meeting, with minor breaks at different times.  The feet hardly did any work.  It’s awkward, and it doesn’t make for great sleeping conditions in the night.

At 6:30 p.m. Praharana, a godsister from Canada, and I, delivered a talk on youth empowerment.  Some of the highlights were “when we became renunciates we were young,” (average age of people joining in the early 70’s was anywhere from 18-24), and “take responsibility when you’re young.”  And finally, we spoke about Krishna appearing ‘young’ in His pastimes.  His childhood and youth are to be adored.

May the Source be with you!

0 miles

Wednesday, August 10th, 2016
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Wednesday, August 10th, 2016
Cleveland, Ohio

Returning Things

Now that the walk is put to rest for the time being, it is a matter of tidying up and putting away, or giving away (as gifts) some of the items that were part and parcel of our paraphernalia meant for the travels.

At an evening sanga (gathering), I gave away some literature for good reading, a stockpile we had left over after sales.  The group in Cleveland was really fanciful by the offer of Steven Rosen’s book “Christ and Krishna.”  Rosen is one of my favourite authors and the book is excellent.  As I was passing them out, I received donations, against the printing costs anyways.

One of the items we were to return back to its owner, with whole-hearted obligation and appreciation, was the Honda van which we named Vamana.  Rene is a true sweet-heart for lending it to us over this period of two and a half months.  We wanted to return it in as mint a condition as possible.  This entailed internal and external cleansing.  Mandala did a great job with that.  A rear window was replaced by us after someone had bashed that area and snuck inside while we were parked in Des Moines, one night.  We also  gassed up, and Mandala and I went to the Lube Shop for an oil change.

This last item was a good experience in terms of the thorough, friendly nature in which the auto crew handled themselves.  As said, they were friendly, and concise.  And quick!  I was inspired. 

“Now this is the way a spiritual organization can be managed,” I thought.  And if I could add, the tone of empathy in dealing with clients/congregants/seekers could be added.

May the Source be with you!

0 miles



Monday, August 8th, 2016
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Monday, August 8th, 2016
Princeton, Illinois

A Few Steps, A Few Memories

Our team of Gopal, Mandala and myself, set out on our return journey.  We were headed east in our Toyota van which we named Vamana, a name for an avatar meaning “the one who makes great strides”.  We spanned the states of Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois, arriving at destination Chicago for a day’s stay, before continuing.  Oh, how we shook our heads in disbelief, wondering how these hundreds of miles were just recently covered on foot.

We took a break at Princeton for our two drivers to catch a nap, and I took the opportunity to walk east on 6.  It was time to reminisce on recent doings. I thought about the beautiful people who had hosted us and organized sangas, or gatherings of devotion.  They rarely get a swami coming to town; so while our pedestrian troupe (the three of us) were around, they milked us like a contented cow, with questions and requests for mantras. Their children, too, loved to listen to the wisdom and pastimes of Krishna. How gracious they all were!

At the edge of Princeton, where I walked, is the old homestead of abolitionist, Owen Lovejoy, who fought for the liberty of slaves. This was also the stomping grounds of President Ronald Reagan. I’ve come upon birthplaces of other celebs, besides U.S. Presidents, on this walk, like actors John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart. Illustrious company, I suppose.

At the side of one corn field waited two young ladies, cousins, who stopped to meet and offer me water. They called me a “celebrity.”  That’s a far cry. Maybe a “celebrant.”
This walk isfor 50 years of Hare Krishna in America.

May the Source be with you!

3 miles

Have you met Srila Prabhupada?
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 18 August 2014, Krišnův dvůr, Czech Republic, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.43)

SP_smiling

In 1977, I started to take interest in Krsna consciousness but then, in the same year, one after the other, both my parents died. So it was such a family drama. I just had to put everything aside and deal with that situation. So, I joined in 1978.

It would sound, at least to me, it would sound very ridiculous to say that I never met Prabhupada because I know more about Prabhupada than I do about my own biological father and Prabhupada has completely taken control of my life. How can I say I never met him? It does not make sense. I met him in service. I met him in mercy from his followers. So, all of you can also have a direct relationship with Srila Prabhupada. If you think I am speculating then Prabhupada himself said that by reading the books of Rupa Goswami, you can directly associate to Srila Rupa Goswami. Still today, everyone can have a relationship with Prabhupada and still today, everyone must have a relationship with Prabhupada – not to the exclusion of our own spiritual masters but that relationship must be there, nonetheless, with Prabhupada.

So let us find out more and more who was Srila Prabhupada, who is Srila Prabhupada, what did he desire, what did he say, and once we have studied all the instructions then let us not make the mistake to become proud and think, “I know!” Let us remain humble and ready to hear from others what Srila Prabhupada really wanted. All of that will be our saving grace!

Appearance day of HDG Srila Prabhupada
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From Prabhupada Lilamrta

An excerpt from the Prabhupada Lilamrta about Srila Prabhupada's mother, Srimati Rajani Devi. Abhay’s mother, Rajani, was thirty years old when he was born. Like her husband, she came from a long-established Gaudiya Vaisnava family. She was darker-skinned than her husband, and whereas his disposition was cool, hers tended to be fiery. Abhay saw his mother and father living together peacefully; no deep marital conflict or complicated dissatisfaction ever threatened home. Rajani was chaste and religious-minded, a model housewife in the traditional Vedic sense, dedicated to caring for her husband and children. Abhay observed his mother’s simple and touching attempts to insure, by prayers, by vows, and even by rituals, that he continue to live. Continue reading "Appearance day of HDG Srila Prabhupada
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How to Celebrate Janmashtami
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How to Celebrate Janmashtami.
Janmashtami commemorates the earthly appearance of Krishna, who is described in India’s sacred writings as God Himself. One of the biggest religious festivals in the world, it is celebrated by nine hundred and thirty million people around the world–and two million in the US alone. To devotees, it’s Christmas and New Year’s in one, a day of deep spiritual renewal and celebration that effectively finishes an old year and begins a fresh one.
But why Janmashtami, you may ask? What’s so special about Krishna, as opposed to any other form of God? It’s His personable-ness. He reciprocates in unique, personal ways with every devotee who offers Him love—He is the most adorable, mischievous son, the most romantic lover, the most compassionate friend. And on Janmashtami, devotees celebrate Krishna in all of these aspects. For just as Krishna reciprocates individually with His relatives and confidantes, he responds to the distinct feelings and desires held most deeply in the heart of every single worshipper.
So remember that whatever way you worship Krishna on Janmashtami, He will reciprocate with you accordingly. It’s a meditation that makes for an extremely rewarding devotional experience.
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Don’t be so confidently pessimistic
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Recently a devotee told me that he had been fighting against a particular conditioning for a long time and was repeatedly relapsing into it despite having made many resolutions to give it up. He had become so disheartened that he said, “Maybe I should just stop practicing bhakti. What is the use of all my practicing and preaching if I can’t overcome such a basic anartha? And I have tried and failed so many times that I am sure I will never be able to give this up.”

“I don’t think you have a right to be so confidently pessimistic,” I told him. “To claim that something will never happen is to claim that even Krishna doesn’t have the power to make it happen.”
“But Srila Prabhupada says that even Krishna can’t help us if we are not determined,” he said despairingly. “And I can no longer be determined because I have lost my confidence.”

I reassured him. “You haven’t lost your confidence – you have just misplaced it. Instead of placing your confidence in Krishna, you are placing it in your conditioning. And that is making you confidently pessimistic. Instead if you place it in Krishna, you can become confidently optimistic.”

“But what is the basis for optimism when I am not able to overcome such a basic conditioning?”

“Don’t judge the progress of your bhakti only by your success in overcoming a particular conditioning. Bhakti practice is meant to increase our attraction to Krishna. And every single bhakti activity we do, it increases that attraction, even if infinitesimally. And that attraction will eventually erase our attraction to worldly things. Some conditionings may be very deep-rooted and may take time to go away. No matter how long our conditionings last, they can’t stop our bhakti practice – they can only interrupt it.

“And for resuming it after the interruption, we can base our optimism on Krishna’s unfailing love for us. He doesn’t disqualify us from bhakti practice, no matter what happens, as he indicates in Gita (09.30-31). The essential message of those verses is that we don’t have the power to do anything that can make Krishna stop loving us. Nothing we do can make Krishna as the Supersoul leave our heart and abandon us. Krishna waits for us because he is confident that one day we will turn towards him.”

I concluded, “Krishna has maintained his confidence in us despite not having much result to show. Why then should we give up our confidence in him just because we don’t have a particular result to show? If he has maintained his confidence in us for so many lifetimes, why can’t we maintain our confidence in him for this one lifetime?”

The post Don’t be so confidently pessimistic appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How can we draw lessons from scripture – should we stick only to lessons given by acharyas?
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Answer Podcast


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Why Krsna Comes To This World
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By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Lord Krishna: "One who knows the transcendental nature of My advent and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode." Therefore Krsna says, “Just try to learn about the transcendental nature of My advent and activities.” The advent of Krsna it is a very important thing. We should try to understand Krsna, why He makes His advent, why He comes down to this material world, what His business is, what His activities are. If we simply try to understand Krsna, then what will be the result? The result will be tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so’rjuna: we will get immortality. The aim of life is amrtatvaya kalpate, to achieve immortality. So today, on the advent of Krsna, we shall try to understand the philosophy of Krsna. Continue reading "Why Krsna Comes To This World
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​How can Vishvanatha Chakravarti say that scriptural verses are grammatically inaccurate?
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Answer Podcast


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How to respond to scholars who consider abstract principles more important than bhakti specifics?
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Answer Podcast


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Krishna comes to conquer our hearts
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Hare KrishnaBy Purushottam Nitai Das

“Anyone and everyone can become God.” This philosophy is propagated by certain so called spiritual preachers. In order to mislead the gullible people they assert that by chanting certain mantras or doing certain types of meditation one becomes God. But Krishna did not chant any mantra nor he did any sort of meditation to become God. He was always God. And the moment he appeared in this world he had all the qualities of God. All the Vedic books very clearly tell that Krishna is the Supreme God. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28 states, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam, Lord Sri Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead. Brahma Samhita too says, “ishvarah paramah krishnah” i.e. Krishna is the Supreme Lord. Krishna’s appearance and pastimes totally debunks this myth that anyone can become God. Krishna appears to establish religious principles to ensure that we, his children, by following those principles ameliorate our life and achieve everlasting happiness. Continue reading "Krishna comes to conquer our hearts
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ISKCON’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Opera House
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The International Society for Krishna Consciousness celebrated its 50th anniversary with a spectacular show titled ‘Transcendental Journey: Hare Krishna Celebrating 50 years’ at the iconic Sydney Opera House on Saturday August 20th, 2016. The show presented the cultural history, inception, development and achievements of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON. The story was told through traditional Indian dance, […]

“Up the Ladder” by Dana-keli Devi Dasi. Krsna-Kumari…
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“Up the Ladder” by Dana-keli Devi Dasi.
Krsna-Kumari Devi Dasi: I would like to announce the birth of a wonderfully inspiring book written by a new Vaishnavi, Donna Lee, who was initiated Dana-keli Devi Dasi in May of this year by His Holiness Giriraj Swami. She has written the story of her 68-year adventure coming to Prabhupada’s movement. We often hear about climbing the ladder of spiritual growth through all the levels of disciplines. Here is a personal account of such a journey, and all done in one lifetime. Ever wondered what it might be like to slowly climb from one rung to the next and embody all the meaningful teachings along the way? Here it is! From this personal triumph, we can see that it is never too late to come to the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.
This beautiful little book is a great treasure for any new person and should be kept handy in any FOLK meeting place, KC restaurant, gift shop, library or Festival event. Replete with moving quotes and lively narrative; you won’t be able to put it down. Do you always target young people when you preach? Think again! There are millions of receptive mature individuals who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and who are now in their own 60’s and 70’s, and finally realizing that they have not yet fulfilled the dreams they were once searching for as Hippies and flower children. Many of them are professionals, like Dana-keli Devi, who have much to share in the way of life lessons and experience as well as love, joy, and enthusiasm which doesn’t fade. Lord Krishna is ready to rescue them all. You just need to find them, and this book is a finely-tuned homing device.
How many ladies in the movement are sharing their life, heart, and struggles along the path with us all? Very few, and yet we Dasis are just as much in need of inspiring role-models as our brother Dasas. This new book, as well as this new author, have much to share and many more experiences to unfold into your waiting hands. Whether you need inspiration, confirmation, revelation or an invitation—enter here with eagerness, and you will not be disappointed:
Up the Ladder by Donna Lee - Sanctuary Publishing on Amazon.com: https://goo.gl/Lfztwh

Successful West African Preaching Tour (3 reports) AUGUST 1 TO…
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Successful West African Preaching Tour (3 reports)
AUGUST 1 TO 14, 2016 – REPORT ON IVORY COAST VISIT
HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami: My first stop on the West Africa tour was in the Ivory Coast. HH Bhakti Carudesna Maharaja was on hand to receive me at the airport in the capital city of Abidjan. The first thing that comes to ones notice is the country’s National Flag. It has the exact same colors as that of the Indian National Flag, Green, White and Orange. I shared with Maharaja how in the last elections in India, the now newly elected Prime Ministry, Sri Narendra Modi, had given a fresh interpretation of the color meaning: green refers to organic farming, orange refers to sadhus or spiritual life and white refers to cows who give us wholesome and nutritious milk.
Read more about it here: http://goo.gl/e4QAcZ
REPORT ON GHANA VISIT
HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami: I was pleasantly surprised to see the domed structured temple that immediately reminds one of India’s traditional temples. We first took darshan of HH Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja’s Puspa Samadhi close to the entrance of the temple. Maharaja was very instrumental in opening up the preaching all over West Africa and brought many people to Krishna consciousness. We then took darshan of the presiding Deities, Sri Sri Radha Govinda, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai and Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva and Subhadra. The temple room is large and easily can accommodate 400 to 500 devotees.
Read more about it here: http://goo.gl/Lefx8Y
REPORT ON TOGO TOUR
HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami: Togo is the smallest of all the West African countries having as capital TOME. I visited the devotees here accompanied with HH Bhakti Carudesna Maharaja after having toured our projects in the Ivory Coast and Ghana. Maharaja travels regularly to these countries as he actually oversees the seven French-speaking countries of West Africa. The devotees serving in Tome have been blessed to have their own property that is also quite centrally located. This was made possible by the kind donation of some of the local Indian community supporters. The temple President is Madana Gopal prabhu and he personally looks after the Deity worship assisted with another long-standing devotee, Atma Tattva prabhu who is the National Secretary for ISKCON Togo. The temple has presiding Deities of Sri Sri Radha Govinda-Madhava, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai and Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. Devotees have a weekly Food for Life program serving about 100 guests, in addition to having Harinam three times a week in the streets of Lome.
Read more about it here: http://goo.gl/Zcckpc