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Kurma dasa, AU: The Soul
H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Prabhupada Smaranam |
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, October 5th, 2010
Never Roam
Toronto, Ontario
The massive fallen over tree had a yellow slip lain partly upon its trunk. Nirguna, Patrick and I maneuvered under the massive chunk. I picked up the slip to note it was a parking ticket. Indeed the tree was parked. It was there to stay. The slip gave us a laugh.
And speaking of "slip", that is what I did. The path in that ravine was wet and became the perfect setting for losing one's balance. So I ended up being a chocolate looking mess. No problem there in the underpopulated ravine, until it was time to hit the residential areas and having to cross busy Yonge Street. Freshly moistened leaves became my wash cloth and the air became my towel. Any embarrassing smudges on my robes would be hidden by the strategic placement of the bodies with me. Patrick was to walk by my right side, and Nirguna to my rear. It's all an adventure which never ceases.
Upon returning back to the temple/ashram, I discovered that my keys were missing. They must have dropped on the path I now call "slippery" when I fell. So a search party went out including a couple, Nick and Moni, to hunt for the missing chain of keys. Rains came to make it "adventure plus". Still no keys. Time passed by so quickly, with darkness slowly setting in. We gave up the search and headed back to the temple for a party--a birthday party. Mine.
I guess that was one of the reasons for the walk in the first place, despite the light challenges that mud provides. I needed quiet before the attention would come in so forcefully. And that attention was on behalf of our guru, Srila Prabhupada.
I put closure to this long day by reading a poem of appreciation from Jaganath Puri Dham. His chorus line ended with "faith that will surely never roam." How interesting is that concept. We roam on muddy or dry land, but our faith should never roam.
7KM
H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Thursday, September 30th, 2010
AGM, Fire
Wakefield, Quebec
As owner Todd stoked the fire by the rustic mantel, I asked him which wood is the best.
“The most dense is oak, then maple. Beech is good, and birch- although it looks nice, gives less of a long lasting flame,” he said confidently.
I asked him that having known that the soft woods consume quickly. The warmth was emanating from the fire place on this damp night as fellow devotees watched with delight the magic of dancing flames. We were revving up by chilling out for our very own AGM for Canada.
In a figure of speaking, there would be no serious fires to put out at the meetings, which is a calming relief. We can reserve time for visionary and strategic work. I guess you could say that we were relishing the calm before the brainstorms of tomorrow by the fire. It will be the largest anticipated attendance (30 plus people) since our inception of national regional get-togethers.
Our location this year is a homey place in the countryside and as you enter the ponderosa-like property you see the signs RB and BB. Hmmm! BB stands for Bed and Breakfast, maybe. RB could be Rhythm and Blues. No, of course not! Consequently, we will chant each morning together for the coming three days and we will primarily discuss hoping to implement good action plans.
On further inspection, I realized I read the sign wrong. It was P and R, and R and R. This confirms the imperfect senses. How deficient we are. I presume that’s why our guru, Srila Prabhupada, wanted us to produce with collective intelligence. It’s a better check and balance.
I’m looking forward to the next day for the collaboration as we sip away the evening on tea (Subuddhi’s home brew), and as the dancing fire crackles away the fatigue hits from the five hour drive here. I did fit in some walking through a valley, cemetery and busy street before embarking on the drive to Wakefield. On the way up we spoke about the bed bug epidemic in North America. So the night ended with the mantra “Good night! Sleep tight! And hopefully there’s none of them that bite!”
8 KM
Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Kirtan at Laya Yoga in Brasilia
Last weekend we were invited to perform kirtan at the Laya Yoga school in Brasilia, as part of their offer to help us raise funds for Pandavas Paradise. The event was the finale of their “Week of the Divine Mother”, in honor of Sri Lakshmidevi.
Many of our local ISKCON devotees joined in for the fun, playing, singing, dancing or just helping out by selling books and distributing flyers to the guests.
Three of us lead the kirtan.
First Sadhu Sanga Prabhu, the music teacher to many members of our congregation…
followed by me.
Then my wife, Carana Renu, beautifully singing Bajahu Re Mana, followed by the Hare Krishna mantra.
At the request of the owner, I spoke to the guests about our campaign to raise money to rebuild our burnt-down Shanti guest house. She suggested I use a bowl to get the donations! It was kind of funny… but it worked!
I also gave one of my books to their leader, who had flown in just for the closing ceremony, a lady from another important city in Brasil, Belo Horizonte. She’s the “acharya” of Laya Yoga in Brazil. The next day she wrote to me:
“I liked very much the content covered and the way in which the book was written. I found your writing very acessible and a pleasure to read, without distorting the teachings of Yoga. I wish you happinness and success in your work of spreading the teachings of Yoga.”
By the end of the almost three hours of kirtan, the devotees were deep in the bliss of the holy names, dancing, singing and laughing!
Click here to see more pictures of the event.
Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: How Maya Can Spoil Everything
...if we fall down in following the regulative principles such as rising before four, chanting 16 rounds, like that, if these things are not strictly observed then maya will enter and spoil everything.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Madhumangala — Hyderabad 18 November, 1972
H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 93
3:29 A.M.
Namamrta by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
‘One must not sin with the intention of chanting Hare Krishna to neutralize the reactions:
“The chanting of the holy name is so auspicious that it can free everyone from the reactions of sinful activities. One should not conclude that one may continue to sin with the intention of chanting Hare Krishna to neutralize the reactions. Rather, one should be very careful to be free from all sins and never think of counteracting sinful activities by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, for this is another offense. If by chance a devotee accidentally performs some sinful activity, the Lord will excuse him, but one should not intentionally perform sinful acts.” (Bhag. 6.3.31, purp.)
This is a perverted form of chanting. It is taking the chanting as a black kind of art. Chanting is to clear sins, but one should not commit sins and to think that one can get release from them by chanting. Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih: the Lord’s holy name certainly has the potency to neutralize all sinful activities, but if one repeatedly and intentionally commits sins while chanting the holy name, he is most condemned. Prabhupada used to speak against the proposition that the person would commit sinful activities for a week and then go one day to a temple or church and admit his sinful activities so that he can be washed off sins and again begin his sinning. This is most nonsensical and offensive, and it is not accepted by the author of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. A person should be ashamed of his sinful activities and not use the chanting as the means to eradicate them and then go on sinning. It is not admitted in devotional service that one can repeatedly commit sinful activities and clear them up. It is sinister. Chanting will give one the power to not commit the sins again and one has to chant in that spirit. An accidental committing of sins is forgiven, but it is a completely different concept than deliberately thinking that chanting can counteract repeated sins. One should be very careful not to use the chanting as the counteraction to sin before taking initiation one promises to have no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling and no meat-eating, and this vow should strictly be followed. Then one will be clean. If one keeps oneself clean in this way and always engages in devotional service his life will be a success.
I rose this morning about 1:30 A.M. with a clear head. But my chanting went very slowly. I was struggling with drowsiness. In two hours of chanting I completed twelve rounds, and not even that. It is frustrating to chant so slowly and with the lack of keen attention. The exercise of chanting is not profound and is neglectful. At least one is up early and is making the effort but one wants to do better than that.
Committing sins
on the strength of chanting is a grievous
offense, the worst abuse.
I think I’m free of
this condemnation. But
there are other anarthas,
my chanting too slowly
and without alertness.
You may excuse yourself
and say it’s a physical
condition. But it must
be overcome. Keeping
awake is an attitude,
a fight in which you
must succeed. It comes
from lethargy and lack
of devotion. You can
overcome it with
share determination and
the blessings of harinama.
Kurma dasa, AU: Krishna Valley Bhakti Yoga Retreat October 2010
Our second Bhakti Yoga Cookery Retreat for 2010 is over. It was even better than the first one. Spring is here in Australia, and the favourable weather added an extra lightness to the 2-day event. Here's our crew, in the well-equipped farm kitchen.
Veda Priya (kneeling, far left) and husband Keshava (standing second from right) are full-time residents on the farm. Assisted by Manigriva (at the back, in yellow) and Gandiva (in white hat, back, fifth from right), they co-ordinate the day-to-day running of the farm.
For those of you that haven't heard of this event, Krishna Valley is in country Victoria, surrounded by State Forest. And if you don't know your geography, the 200 acres of beautiful rolling countryside is a couple hours outside of Melbourne, Australia.
The yoga of cooking is the theme of the retreat. There's lots to learn, lots to eat, and great company. Here's Jacqui, sister-in-law of Keshava, Lauren and her mother Lynn.
Many retreats are held here, such as a Vedic Astrology retreat next week wih Bhanu Swami. Great accomodation facilities make it a real haven. And did I mention the spiritual food?
Places are already being booked for the next Krishna Valley Bhakti Yoga Retreat in 2011, so don't delay if you want to come. Here's the details:
Bhakti Yoga Cookery Retreat, Hare Krishna Valley, Bambra, Victoria, Saturday, Sunday 2,3 April 2011, A weekend of cooking, learning and eating!, Bookings/enquiries call Veda 0405 577 453.
H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 93
3:29 A.M.
Namamrta by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
‘One must not sin with the intention of chanting Hare Krishna to neutralize the reactions:
“The chanting of the holy name is so auspicious that it can free everyone from the reactions of sinful activities. One should not conclude that one may continue to sin with the intention of chanting Hare Krishna to neutralize the reactions. Rather, one should be very careful to be free from all sins and never think of counteracting sinful activities by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, for this is another offense. If by chance a devotee accidentally performs some sinful activity, the Lord will excuse him, but one should not intentionally perform sinful acts.” (Bhag. 6.3.31, purp.)
This is a perverted form of chanting. It is taking the chanting as a black kind of art. Chanting is to clear sins, but one should not commit sins and to think that one can get release from them by chanting. Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih: the Lord’s holy name certainly has the potency to neutralize all sinful activities, but if one repeatedly and intentionally commits sins while chanting the holy name, he is most condemned. Prabhupada used to speak against the proposition that the person would commit sinful activities for a weak and then go one day to a temple or church and admit his sinful activities so that he can be washed off sins and again begin his sinning. This is most nonsensical and offensive, and it is not accepted by the author of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. A person should be ashamed of his sinful activities and not use the chanting as the means to eradicate them and then go on sinning. It is not admitted in devotional service that one can repeatedly commit sinful activities and clear them up. It is sinister. Chanting will give one the power to not commit the sins again and one has to chant in that spirit. An accidental committing of sins is forgiven, but it is a completely different concept than deliberately thinking that chanting can counteract repeated sins. One should be very careful not to use the chanting as the counteraction to sin before taking initiation one promises to have no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling and no meat-eating, and this vow should strictly be followed. Then one will be clean. If one keeps oneself clean in this way and always engages in devotional service his life will be a success.
I rose this morning about 1:30 A.M. with a clear head. But my chanting went very slowly. I was struggling with drowsiness. In two hours of chanting I completed twelve rounds, and not even that. It is frustrating to chant so slowly and with the lack of keen attention. The exercise of chanting is not profound and is neglectful. At least one is up early and is making the effort but one wants to do better than that.
Committing sins
on the strength of chanting is a grievous
offense, the worst abuse.
I think I’m free of
this condemnation. But
there are other anarthas
my chanting too slowly
and without alertness.
You may excuse yourself
and say it’s a physical
condition. But it must
be overcome. Keeping
awake is an attitude,
a fight in which you
must succeed. It comes
from lethargy and lack
of devotion. You can
overcome it with
share determination and
the blessings of harinama.
H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Prabhupada Smaranam
One Hundred Prabhupada Poems, #50
Prabhupada, I am in Wicklow, I went
on a walk, I am your disciple.
You know me, I heard they found a diary
you kept from January to July 1966;
it was a day-timer. They said I am mentioned
as giving a donation. Maybe it was
the $400, my savings
I was gonna use to go to some “green place”
I had in mind, Canadian island where I thought
I’d find peace and write for
maybe six months before coming back
to New York City.
Now by your grace I have
as much of green places
and writing as I desire.
But the goal of devotional service is different
nothing is done for karmic gain
or knowledge for its own sake
without practical purpose.
Practical means you love Krishna
and He is pleased with you.
You do it by serving His servant.
H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Monk’s Dream
A monk had a dream
that he was purified and
was qualified to return
to Goloka Vrndavana. He
anticipated meeting his
spiritual master as Brijbasi
who would lead him in
intimate service to Radha.
But when he woke from
the dream he sadly discovered
he was still incomplete.
He had material attachments
and dirty things in his mind.
After weeping tears of regret
he composed himself
and set to work on
self-improvement. He
took out his beads
and began to finger
them diligently. He
prayed for service.
He took up his master’s
instructions to be pure
in habits and to
preach Lord Caitanya’s mission.
He went out on harinama and
distributed books. He wrote
from his creative self
based on the sastra.
He controlled his tongue
away from prajalpa and
spoke of Krishna with his
devotee friends and innocent
nondevotees.
He controlled his eating and didn’t
associate loosely with women. The next
time he dreamed he
again saw himself as
purified. It was a happy
dream, but he woke
back in a conditioned
state, still with
anarthas and offenses
against the holy names.
The monk felt let down
and told himself: “I don’t
want to have these false
dreams of going to Goloka.”
He straw in his waking
hours to be a standard qualified
sadhaka. Gradually, the dreams of attaining back to Godhead
stopped occurring, and he dreamed
of seeing his guru in a material
world, purifying himself to
work hard with devotion.
He felt better about these dreams,
thinking that they were more realistic
and they spired him to serve
with vigor.
Occasionally he read of Krishna and Radha
in Vrndavana and relished the
rasas. It seems to him
the perfection of devotional service.
But he restrained himself from
thinking he was already there.
There was so much work to
do on Krishna’s behalf in this world,
he concentrated on his service
and went on chanting and hearing.
H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Free Write
I turned at random to Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto One, Chapter 19, verse 2:
“King Pariksit thought: Due to my neglecting the injunctions of the Supreme Lord I must certainly expect some difficulty to overcome me in the near future. I now desire without reservation that the calamity come now, for in this way I may be freed of the sinful action and not commit such an offense again.” Maharaja Pariksit was repentant for committing an offence to a faultless brahmana. He expects he will receive punishment. He desires wholeheartedly that the calamity come right now. In this way he will be free from the sinful reaction and he will commit any sins in the future. He also does not want the sinful reactions to fall on his family members but he wants to receive it alone. Generally, a person’s personal misconduct affects all his family members. But Maharaja Pariksit wanted to suffer alone and counteract his sins so that his family descendants would not have to suffer. This is how the responsible devotee thinks. Similarly, his family members shared good effects of his service to the Lord. “A devotee son in the family is the greatest book or blessing of the Lord. “
Maharaja Pariksit was so powerful that he could have counteracted the curse of the young, untrained brahmana boy, Srngi. But he was pious that he accepted the curse upon himself. This also brought about his immediate detachment from all material affairs and it brought upon the occasion that he will spend the last seven days of his life in constant hearing of Srimad-Bhagavatam from the perfect sage and devotee, Sukadeva Goswami. This made Maharaja Pariksit perfect for going back to Godhead.
I’m in Viraha Bhavan, writing a poem about a devotee who dreamt he went back to Godhead but then woke to discover he did not had the adhikara. He determined to stop dreaming of attaining Goloka and work for his spiritual master’s mission in the world. It was not a great poem but it had a simple point. Everyday I will beg the muse for some simple lines of poetry to share with my readers. I also share what we are reading in Srila Prabhupada’s books and Caitanya Bhagavata. Rama Raya mentioned today that Srila Prabhupada said 90% of the eternal spirit souls are safely with Krishna in the spiritual world of eternity bliss and knowledge. Only small percentages are fallen and rotating in the species of life in the world of temporality and misery. Krishna wants all souls to come back to Him, back to Godhead. Those compassionate souls who work in this world and try to convert sinners to saintly persons are very much appreciated by the Lord. There are ever willing to give up their liberated status to work in the preaching mission in the material world. They are guaranteed to go back to Godhead, but they prefer to go the Lord’s missionary work. They come from the spiritual world to save sinners. I’m living in the material world and I’m not working fully in preaching actions. Just today I had a migraine headache and had to take Summatriptim pills. I managed to do some writing in-between headaches but I can’t live the active life of a lecturer and travelling sannyasi. How will Krishna judge me? I have done some active service earlier in my life but now I’m slowed down. I would like to back to the spiritual world, but I think I lack the qualification, krsna-prema. I want to please my spiritual master and serve him in my next life, but if I could do it with him in Goloka…
It is up to guru and Krishna where they send me next. I want to accept it without regret and continue my devotional service, as they place me. I don’t want to be a phony or a hypocrite. But I need the strength to be brave.
H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: ISKCON Ujjain update 6th October, 2010
Article sent by His Grace Mukunda Prabhu The rain clouds have left Ujjain and the sun is shining brightly with the temperature in the afternoon touching 35*C while in the early morning it is a little chilly. Since my last post on 24th September we have had several groups visiting our temple, one group of [...]
Japa Group: Glorification Of The Holy Name
To think that glorification of the holy name is an exaggeration or to interpret the glories of the holy name are offenses against the holy name.
From Namamrta by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Akrura das, Gita Coaching: CHOICE
99% - happiness is a personal choice.
1% - it is circumstances or other people.
Akrura das, Gita Coaching: TAKE SANNYASA AT ANY TIME
It is not that one has to accept sannyasa in ripe old age like me, seventy years or seventy-five years. Not that. Caitanya Mahaprabhu set up the example, that for Krsna's service one can take sannyasa at any time. So He did it by His personal example. ... That Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave up His opulent family life. When He was... He took sannyasa. At that time, His wife was only sixteen years old, and He had His affectionate mother, Sacidevi, very old. Nobody was to take care of him, her. But still, He took sannyasa for giving mercy to the poor human society in this age.
- Srila Prabhupada, The Nectar of Devotion, Vrndavana, October 21, 1972
Akrura das, Gita Coaching: SOLUTION FOR ALL FEAR
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.15
apannah samsrtim ghoram
yan-nama vivaso grnan
tatah sadyo vimucyeta
yad bibheti svayam bhayam
Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Krsna, which is feared by fear personified.
PURPORT
Vasudeva, or Lord Krsna, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, is the supreme controller of everything. There is no one in creation who is not afraid of the rage of the Almighty. Great asuras like Ravana, Hiranyakasipu, Kamsa, and others who were very powerful living entities were all killed by the Personality of Godhead. And the almighty Vasudeva has empowered His name with the powers of His personal Self. Everything is related to Him, and everything has its identity in Him. It is stated herein that the name of Krsna is feared even by fear personified. This indicates that the name of Krsna is nondifferent from Krsna. Therefore, the name of Krsna is as powerful as Lord Krsna Himself. There is no difference at all. Anyone, therefore, can take advantage of the holy names of Lord Sri Krsna even in the midst of greatest dangers. The transcendental name of Krsna, even though uttered unconsciously or by force of circumstances, can help one obtain freedom from the hurdle of birth and death.
Dandavats.com: First Jagannath temple made out of….Lego!
Vikram Chakilam: Last Sunday afternoon kids were playing with Lego blocks and I suggested and guided them to build a Krishna temple, the result is the photos you can see in this gallery...
