I heard the news last night just before taking rest that Yamuna has left this world. I dreamt about it and woke up with it. She was one of Srila Prabhupada’s most intimate and early disciples, an example of total dedication to him. One of the pioneers of this movement. Now her grace has left this world. She led Kirtana and Prabhupada was immensely pleased with her Govindam prayer, he ordered that it must be played every day in every temple. She learned how Prabhupada cooked and then more and more became an expert in Vedic cooking and became known through her award winning cook books.
Quickly browsing to the letters that Prabhupada wrote to Gurudasa her husband, “I have great regard for her”, and to Yamuna directly,” I have full faith in you.”
Yamuna was on the team that first went to London, this is from her memories;
“By the enthusiasm that Srila Prabhupada had given us in Montreal we were able to make contact with George Harrison, who was a member of the Beatles at the time. And he was such a pleasant person to be with. He so much appreciated the Hare Krishna mantra that he immediately said, “Lets make a 45 record.” So we cut a record and he was very pleased with it.He did a little background music on it and it was released and Apple organized tours for us. We went to Germany and France and had television coverage.
And in this way the London Times, the Sunday Times, wanted to do a feature on us. And we were able to send the report back to Srila Prabhupada with the headlines,
“Krishna consciousness startles London.”
Sila Prabhupada was her life and soul and I am sure that she is now with him and again a devotee has left this world, who can not be replaced. May her example give us the inspiration to dedicate our life to Srila Prabhupada.
Watch Her Grace Yamuna Dasi sing ‘Govindam Adi Purusham’ Click here (Click on the pictures to discover the Treasure House Of India’s Spiritual Wisdom as presented by ISKCON Founder Acharya Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada)
Srila Prabhupada's everyday vocabulary was full of words like fool, rascal, demon, mudha, and nonsense. Interestingly, Christians trying to convert Hindus have the tactic of disclaiming Srila Prabhupada by referring to his use of sharp language. ''How can a person who calls others 'fools' and 'rascals' be saintly?'' they posit.
In the backdrop of the present sad controversy over the banning of the Bhagavad-gita in Russia, we present Lord Krishna’s side of the story. His take on the controversy is presented as a song based on poetic translations of four important Gita verses that express its message of love. The song comprises a chorus English verse and English renditions of those four verses followed by their Sanskrit originals.
All glories to Srimati Yamuna Devi Dasi and her immense contribution to Srila Prabhupada's movement. She will be remembered every morning as we take darshan of the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Krishna. No words can glorify her enough nor adequately describe today's loss to the devotee community at large.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Mayapur, November 2011) Lecture – Caitanya-caritamrta Part 2
“Anything religious, or irreligious, which is not pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord is sinful!”
As stated by Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami. When you hear things like that then you think that he is a fundamentalist. Some might say that he is a bit on the fundamentalistic side every once in a while. But no, it is not at all about fundamentalism. Fundamentalism is a type of reductionism – it is a type of trying to simplify the diversity of arguments and reasons in an entire paradigm to just a limited number of elements, and therefore everything is made to be black and white – it is either good or bad.
But that is not what Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami was doing. When I read the verse:
“Anything religious, or irreligious, which is not pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord is sinful!” Then I take that as a symptom of Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami’s ecstasy…. I think that he is in ecstasy! He is in ecstasy about devotional service and that anything that is not devotional service, then it is useless! What do we benefit from it? All right we are religious, but it is not devotional service. So we are acting according to pious standards and so on. We pray and give to the poor, but we are not serving the Lord. So what is the point?
1968 December 20: "This accredited university course is a very nice breakthrough for Lord Caitanya's movement in the West. Lord Caitanya will give you the intelligence from within to successfully execute this important project. Perhaps the more intelligent will also decide to join you and help you. "
1969 December 20: "If we keep ourselves purely on the standard of Lord Caitanya's order, then chanting by us of the Holy Names of Krishna will descend as powerfully as He acted during the time of Jagai and Madhai."
1969 December 20: "I have learned the story of the delivering of the Berkeley Jagai-Madhais. Although it is surprising, yet it is possible to happen in this Krishna Consciousness Movement."
1972 December 20: "It is your qualification for pleasing your Spiritual Master. That idea has become prominent for all of you, it is bigger than maya's idea, therefore maya cannot interfere to make you quarrel."
1972 December 20: "So Krishna appreciates very much when His devotee becomes attached to Him. If there is some discrepancy anywhere it is to be supposed that the persons in charge are not very much attached to Krishna."
1974 December 20: "Because the message of Lord Krsna is being spoken, this Movement is going all over the world. I am like a peon carrying the message and the message, being perfect, it will be appreciated in every part of the universe."
1974 December 20: "So far others, unfortunately they cannot give any faultless message. Nobody is greater than Bhagavan, Krsna. If we take Krsna's message we will be benefited - otherwise not."
1974 December 20: "When one associates with one who is in illusion or who is mislead, naturally he will also become influenced by that illusion. So we must pray to Krsna to protect us from such bad association."
Maddy (Madhavi) has finally come home! She arrived Saturday, December 17. Thanks to Judy Gross for initiating the rescue of Madhavi and all her work in finalizing the needed tests to cross the border and arranging for transport. Also, thanks to the Champaka Mala and Ananda Subramanian for naming her and all the ISCOWP members that gave to saving Madhavi and providing for her continued care.
Upon meeting Madhavi, we could understand what Judy was saying when she wrote that Madhavi needed a break. Her milk bag was huge and her hips bony, her tail was cut off and she walked gingerly as if she didn't get much exercise. Judy was telling me that one of the three cows she saved was a milking cow too. Her hips filled out and her bag shrunk when she was dried up. So, we have hopes for Madhavi to become strong and healthy and happy. Unlike our cows, she has no winter coat yet from being inside all the time. We are keeping the barn doors closed so she doesn't get cold. Next year she should have a winter coat as she will be outside a lot and will have time to acclimate to the winter weather.
Madhavi came from a kinder dairy than most and still one can see the suffering for the cow in the business of commercial milk. If you haven't already, please read the current issue of the ISCOWP News in pdf file online whose articles address the issue of "Blood Milk vs Ahimsa Milk" and" Is Your Milk Ahimsa Milk?
You can see a photo album of Madhavi coming home HERE.
You can see a short video of Madhavi entering the barn HERE.
Another short video of Madhavi heading for the feed aisle HERE.
Judy helping Madhavi settle in.
"Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for opening your home (well, barn - LOL) to Maddy! I was thrilled to see how wonderfully your cows are cared for. I knew I was leaving her in very good hands - the BEST! Love to you all.' Judy
Dhananjaya performing artik to Madhavi to officiate her name changing and to honor those ISCOWP members who gave to save and maintain Madhavi.
"To me the position of Mother Cow is so beautiful and merciful. Maddy/Madhavi has come from a very intense and thankless life of a commercial dairy cow. She was not really seen as anything but a serial number to be measured in gallons of milk and dollars and cents. It is so nice to see her have the life she deserves as a wonderful Krsna Dasi. Because she is so merciful she naturally takes to her service of reminding us of Krsna and His pastimes with His lovely cows. Thank you Madhavi!" Dhananjaya
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Mayapur, November 2011) Lecture – Caitanya-caritamrta Part 2
In the New Yorker cartoon magazine, there is a really good cartoon, which was on the cover of the magazine. The cartoon shows three ladies sitting on a park bench. A Muslim lady who is completely covered (all we see is her eyes) since she is wearing a purdah. And then a nun on the other side of the bench who is only showing her face – everything else is covered. So you just see the face and the eyes. In the middle there is lady sitting with a bikini on, and she is wearing big black sunshades! Isn’t that good….that’s really far out!
So this shows how immediately, when chastity is gone and one gets into the bodily concept of life, then the fear is there and one has to hide the eyes! So she hid her eyes, which I thought was very interesting!
The Art of Bhakti Yoga includes cooking for God. Great yogi-cooks have prepared an astonishing array of amazing dishes in temples for countless millenia, and attained the Perfection of Yoga by infusing their cookery with Bhakti-love.
To give you an idea of the unlimited scope of this, the photo above is a temple somewhere in India with an array of 3008 different vegetarian dishes offered for a special feast day.
Of course, the Bhakti process is qualitative, not quantitative; yet if one can combine quality and quantity, the results can be truly stunning.
I think this is a very appropriate time to share this with you. Yamuna Devi, who passed away yesterday, compiled (and cooked!) this astonishing 108-course lunch menu a few years back. I am unsure of the details where and when exactly, but it is surely an amazing kitchen-yoga of love.
Yamuna Devi's Lunchtime Raja Bhoga Lunch Offering of 108 Varieties.
1 - Cauliflower pakora with besan batter and nigella seeds,
2 - Spinach leaf pakora with besan batter and almond bits,
3 - Shredded cabbage and carrot with besan batter with lots of fresh ginger,
4 - Panir pakori - cubed panir first dipped in podina chutney and then in thickish besan batter with crushed coriander seed,
5 - Panir tomato pakora - thick slices panir sandwiched between cherry tomato slices in besan masala batter,
6 - Assorted mixed hot chili pakori,
7 - Srila Prabhupada's 1967 recipe for cauliflower and pea samosa,
I hope your week has been nice and your chanting powerful. Today we lost a wonderful devotee, Yamuna devi who was so special to Srila Prabhupada and also to us as a great cook and singer....who doesn't remember her cooking books and her voice singing - such precious gifts to our lives. She maybe cooking with Srimate Radharani, helping to serve Lord Krsna somehow.
Another important topic we have to remember is that we should always be prepared to die, always chanting and being connected to the Lord so when this time comes we just accept and know we will be serving the Lord everywhere....nothing will change and it will be a very smooth experience. I fear death, because I still need to develop a stronger faith in chanting and the process, but I know the importance of chanting all the time.
Hope your week of chanting is peaceful and joyful.
Check out this video of Govindas at Burleigh, every word of it is the truth, the food is fresh and fantastic. When you are in the area do not miss it, you will not be disappointed.
Alexandria, VA (December 19, 2011) – The Constitutional Court of Hungary today struck down a
repressive religion law that would have deregistered over 300 religious organizations and established an onerous and arbitrary re-registration system.
“THE INSTITUTE on Religion and Public Policy congratulates the Constitutional Court of Hungary for upholding rule of law and protecting minority rights,” stated Joseph K. Grieboski, Founder and Chairman of the Board of THE INSTITUTE on Religion and Public Policy. “Having been the leading voice of opposition to this law since its introduction, THE INSTITUTE celebrates the Court’s standing against discrimination of religious groups.”
The bill would have deregistered all but 14 of the 362 registered religious organizations in Hungary and established a minimum membership requirement of 1,000 persons and a twenty-year existence requirement to register. Furthermore, the law would have required a 2/3 vote by Parliament for a religious organization to re-register in Hungary.
In THE INSTITUTE’S opinion, the religion law would have created the most burdensome registration system in the entire OSCE region while codifying systematic discrimination of religious minorities. The religion law was completely inconsistent with fundamental human rights as it contravenes the principles of equality and non-discrimination.
The Fidesz Party has already stated to the media that it intends to reintroduce the law before December 30 for passage.
“We call upon the Government of Hungary and Prime Minister Viktor Orban to uphold the decision of the Court, maintain rule of law, recognize the inherent flaws in the religion law, and not introduce another version of the law that does not resolve the egregious violations of human rights that exist in the text as prepared,” concluded Mr. Grieboski.
* * *
Representatives of ISKCON Hungary have informed ISKCON News that on Wednesday, December 21st, the Hungarian Government will implement a new religious law, that will be discussed and voted on by the end of the year. According to one of the governmental party leaders, since the Constitutional Court`s decision was based on formalities rather then content, they are not planning to make major changes to the content of the previous law, which will stand as before.
All Glories to Her Service, All Glories, All Glories, All Glories
Legendary Yamuna dasi who lived a life of perfection, dear most dasi of Srila Prabhupada – with that voice that rings in the hearts of millions daily invoking love toward Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, compelling and calling us to move swiftly now toward transcendence, who’s unprecedented artistic expertise in the science of devotional cuisine was the catalyst creating an explosion in the modern universe of vegetarian cooking, who as scrib in the art, have supported (and saved!) unlimited feasts and festivities, thank you for your exemplary life lead with inspiration, dignity and grace. If somehow to follow one grain of sand in your footsteps…well done, well done…
Mohini Cox
Hare Krishna Respected Vaishnavas: With immense sorrow and deep regret, I beg to report the departure of Her Grace Yamuna devi dasi, premier disciple of Srila Prabhupada, known for her deeply spiritual qualities and connection with His Divine Grace, for her glorious offering of the Govindam prayers that we hear and chant daily, for her love of pure kirtan, for her ecstatic award winning cook books which were infused with spiritual anecdotes, for greatly inspiring and encouraging the younger generation of ISKCON devotees in their KC, on this morning of Saphala Ekadasi, in her Melborne Beach Florida ashram-kutir which she shared with her dearest friend and companion in devotional service, Dinatarine. I cannot even begin to describe this profound loss. Since poor health has been giving her so much pain and suffering there can be little doubt that Krishna gently called her back to His loving shelter. Nonetheless, please offer your loving prayers on her behalf.
I am immensely grateful that I was able to spend the auspicious occasion of Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati’s Thakur’s Disappearance in her association last Wednesday.
From Niti-sastras: Sayings of Canakya and Hitopadesa as Quoted by Srila Prabhupada
“Translation: There are two kinds of envious living entities, the snake and the man-snake, or the man habituated to snake-like qualities. Of the two, the man-snake is more dangerous because while a serpent can be subdued by mantra or herbs, the man-snake cannot be subdued.
“Commentary: This sloka points out the ugliness of human envy and how it can consume a person to such an extent that it is impossible to control. An envious person attacks even the most wonderful and saintly persons he meets. Reading this sloka makes me resolve not to become a victim of envy. I pray to Lord Nsringhadeva to please enter my heart and destroy my anarthas, particularly my envy. I want to seriously practice Krishna consciousness and become free of this disease.
“Using the example of the example of the snake, Srila Prabhupada explains that the cruel and the envious are the first to suffer. In the forest fire, all the animals try to escape, but because snakes crawl on the ground and the dry leaves quickly catch fire, they are the first to die. ‘Similarly, when there is a catastrophe in the world, persons who are like snakes, cruel and envious, suffer first.’
“Srila Prabhupada characterized a snake as a creature that would bite other living entities without provocation. ‘Why is a snake called so cruel? Because unnecessarily they bite. If somebody commits offense unto you, if you bite me, that is reasonable. But if I have no fault, still you are biting me. Vrscika, scorpion, snake, they do that without any offense.’ No one has to become a snake’s enemy; snakes are everyone’s enemy by nature.
“An envious man is more dangerous than a snake. A human being has developed consciousness. If he uses his consciousness to practice envy and jealousy, there is no way to change his heart. Although in India snake charmers can control snakes by music or mantra, there’s no way to control a snake-like man. ‘A person who has become jealous and envious cannot be controlled either by mantra or by bribe or this or that.’
“Even the devotees are not spared from the bite of an envious person. Nondevotees often appear civilized. ‘Here is a very nice, educated man. He is very nice.’ But we say, ‘No!’ Because he has no Krishna consciousness, he is as dangerous as if he is an ordinary man.
“Srila Prabhupada refers us to another Canakya sloka: ‘If you give good advice, a person will become angry.’ And he also cited the example of Jesus Christ: ‘Jesus Christ was crucified by some envious persons. Even the Roman judge denied that this man should not be .… there is no fault. Because they were envious, they were persistent, “Yes, he should be crucified.”’
“In a similar context, the Srimad-Bhagavatam compares the nondevotees to poisonous snakes. On the contrary, even though full of all opulence and material prosperity, any householder’s house where the devotees are never allowed to come in, and where there is no water for washing their feet, is to be considered a tree in which all venomous serpents live.
“Srila Prabhupada himself experienced this envy against a sadhu. ‘We are preaching Krishna consciousness. So what is our fault? That we are trying to teach people—“no illicit sex, no gambling, no meat-eating, no intoxication,” but they take it otherwise. They take: ‘it is very dangerous … ’ No fault, but still faultfinding and giving us trouble.
“In the face of envy, a sadhu tolerates. That is one of his ornaments. A sadhu is merciful, tolerant and a friend to all. Therefore, the preacher is favored by Krishna.
“Sadhus also strictly follow the principles of nonviolence. They don’t want to kill even an ant. Srila Prabhiupada describes how he was therefore surprised when his Guru Maharaja ordered a snake killed:
“‘Long ago, in the year 1933, in this Caitanya Matha, there was a big snake that came out of my front. I was taking bath, so everyone was looking what to do. Guru Maharaja was on the upstairs. He immediately ordered, ‘Kill him.’ So it was killed. At that time, 1933, I was a newcomer. I thought, ‘How is that? Guru Maharaja ordered a snake to be killed.’ I was a little surprised. But later on, when I saw this verse [in Srimad Bhagavatam] I was very glad. Modeta sadhur api vrscika sarpa-hatya. It had remained a doubt, “How Guru Maharaja ordered a snake to be killed?” But when I read this verse I was very much pleased, that these creatures, or creatures like the snake, should not be shown any mercy.’
“What Srila Prabhupada refers to is a statement in the Seventh Canto by Prahlada Maharaja (SB 7.9.14) after Lord Nsrimhadeva killed Prahlada’s father Hiranyakasipu. At that time Prahlada Maharaja said,
‘My Lord Nsrimhadeva, please, therefore, cease your anger now that my father, the great demon Hiranyakasipu, has been killed. Since even saintly persons take pleasure in the killing of a scorpion or snake, all the worlds have achieved great satisfaction because of the death of this demon. Now they are confident of their happiness and they will always remember Your auspicious incarnation in order to be free from fear.’”
Yamuna Devi, passed away in Florida yesterday, 20 December local time.
Yamuna inspired me with her wonderful cooking, her inspirational cookbooks and her pure hearted devotion to our beloved Srila Prabhupada and his mission. May she attain the kitchens of Srimati Radharani.
Please absorb yourself in remembering her by hearing her wonderful singing and watching this video. Hare Krishna.
We host Events occassionally for the Local Community. The programs are posted on this page for coming up Festivals or Events.
Vaiyasaki Das 21-12-2011 - BCGC
Vaiyasaki Das 22-12-2011 - BBSLSC
Vaiyasaki Das 23-12-2011 - DURRUMBLE
Vaiyasaki Das 27-12-2011 - PYMC
Jhulan Yatra Festival 10-08-2011
Lord Balaram's Appearance Day 13-08-2011
Janmastami Invitation 20-08-2011
Vyasa Puja Invitation 24-08-2011
Sri Radhastami 03-09-2011
Bhaktivinoda Thakur's Appearance Day 10-09-2011
Haribhakti Dey 22-10-2011
The Mayapuris
Mayapuris Tour 2011 - 26-10-2011 (BCGC)
Mayapuris Tour 2011 & Diwali Celebration - 27-10-2011 (BBSLSC)
Mayapuris Tour 2011 - Peace Yoga 30-10-2011
Govardhan Puja 29-10-2011
Damodara Masa 2011
ANNOUNCEMENT:Bhakti Centre Gold Coast presents Vaiyasaki Das and Kirtan Explosion on the Gold Coast from 21st Dec to 27th Dec at various locations. Please see program details for full information. All Welcome!
Ranaka recently rescued two Brown Swiss heifers from an auction in Wisconsin. Although they may have had a nice life as milk cows, in the end they would have been sent to slaughterhouse once they became economically nonviable.
Now that they are in New Vrindaban there is a commitment that they, and their calves, will be allowed to live out their natural life span. The funds for the purchase were contributed by a donor.
The donor has requested the following 2 names: Anjali Soma… means gift offering; nectar of immortality & Asha Soma means ray of hope, nectar of immortality.
Anjali Soma & Asha Soma are very gentle and were able to be lead with a halter to the barn. Both will be a real asset to the herd.
Here they are being unloaded from the trailer that brought them across country to their new home.
Article By Nitaisevini Devi Dasi – ISKCON Visakhapatnam (Click on the pictures to discover the Treasure House Of India’s Spiritual Wisdom as presented by ISKCON Founder Acharya Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada) All glories to Srila Prabhupad! All glories to Bhagvad Gita! Definitely they won’t be able to ban Bhagavad-Gita in Russia, but the [...]
(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, 20 December 2011, Cape Town, SA)
Sex life is not something which comes forth the soul but that it is simply imposed upon us by the body. Of course when one comes to that age then it goes on. I remember my father had a joke book and most of them were stupid but there was one joke and it was about an old man. So they asked him, ‘what are you thinking about?’ and he said, ‘sex!’ and they said, ‘even at your age?’ and he said, ‘I’m always thinking about sex…’ My father thought it was a joke and I thought it was serious! It’s a serious case and there is an element of truth in it that even in old age the thought of sex life remains. When we speak about the train of thought then the image of the train of thought is that one thought is connected to another and so on…and the large coach on that train is inevitably sex life if you go down all the coaches. That is the tendency in material life. So it is very strong and very deep and very much at the roots of our existence. Some may deny that and say, ‘naah, that’s not at all true actually’ but they are simply not aware of how much they are controlled by sex life. Brahmananda was also bringing this up to Prabhupada and is saying how a foolish professor at university and that once Brahmananda had written an essay about how people are inherently, deep down driven by spiritual interest. And this foolish professor couldn’t see it and gave a low mark for the essay because he said, ‘no, everything in this world is driven by sex.’ ‘Just see,’ Brahmananda was trying to say to Prabhupada, ‘just see how foolish these karmis are…’ and Prabhupada said, ‘your professor was right!’ Prabhupada had his way of exposing things! Hayagriva had a picture of a girl in wallet, who was his previous girl friend and he said to Prabhupada that he was still attached to her and then he showed Prabhupada the picture and Prabhupada said, ‘Oh, she’s not very beautiful!’ And like that, all attachment was finished, just like that!
Kirtan pioneer Vaiyasaki Das will hold three events on the Gold Coast:
Wednesday 21st December6.30pm – Bhakti Centre Gold Coast
Thursday 22nd December6.00pm – Broadbeach Surf Life Saving Club
Friday 23rd December6.00pm – Durrumble Hall
Tuesday 27th December6.30pm – Peace Yoga Centre, Burleigh Heads
VAIYASAKI DAS:
Internationally recognized for his musical abilities to perform the ancient art form of Kirtan & Bhajan, Vaiyasaki Das provides a rare opportunity to experience a taste of authentic devotional music from the Vedic tradition.
Though born in London, England, Vaiyasaki Das came of age in Winnipeg, Canada. After many years in the music business – and a personal search for the divine — he is now one of the premier singers on the kirtan circuit. Starting out as a rock and blues guitarist with a penchant for singing, his taste for Indian culture came at an early age. By 1970, he found himself back in London and enamored by Krishna devotion. Soon, in 1973, he was committed to the path of devotion, or bhakti-yoga, and, just two years later, he received formal initiation from His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.On his Guru’s request he journeyed to India in 1975, both for personal purification and to proclaim the renaissance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s bhakti movement. He travelled the entire subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, serving the mission of bhakti-yoga.By 1978, he arrived in Bangladesh, where he imbibed the culture through his pores, becoming fluent in Bengali and learning the ways of the local people. On a boat trip down the Meghna River, he chanced upon a local kirtan band on their way to a festival. Deciding to follow these happy minstrels and their soulful kirtan music, he would also attend that same festival, changing his life forever. It was there that he discovered the ancient Bengali art of raga-kirtan, which touched his soul in the deepest possible way. Never before had he heard such angelic singing, and he resolved to use his own considerable vocal talents to spread this technique around the world. He returned to London with his own style of kirtan, a blend of ancient Bengali and modern contemporary music.
His first album was released in 1982 followed by numerous CDs, which are now considered seminal in the yoga/kirtan/world music universe.
Today Vaiyasaki Das is a much sought-after performer, conducting workshops, doing concerts, and leading yoga festivals and retreats worldwide. Sharing his heart through music and chanting is the basis of his life. He has delighted audiences and taught Bhakti-yoga in 64 countries with people from all walks of life and cultures, and performs his music with a mission to uplift the consciousness of the planet.
His considerable knowledge of the vast repertoire of Indian bhajans and kirtans has provided the foundation for a new generation of artists, in the flourishing genre of music for yoga and mantra meditation.
Vaiyasaki Das’s CDs include: The Way of Love, Charana Kamal, Kirtan Rasa, Hari-Nam-Ananda, Transcendence, Vrindavan Chandra, Chaitanya Chandra, Ratha-Yatra USA, The Turning Point, Best of Vaiyasaki, Sri Krishna Divya Nam -the beautiful divine name, & Kirtan Explosion -high energy kirtans.
(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, 11 December 2011, Durban, SA)
No one can become sinless on his own. One cannot decide that, ‘from today on I will be sinless.’ It doesn’t work like that. One might temporarily give up some sinful activities, like on the 1st of January, people have all these good promises like, ‘I’ll stop smoking, I’ll stop this…and I’ll start…’ so many things. But on the 2nd of January it gets tough and if you make it to the 3rd then you’re doing extremely good! So it is like that. Some people are extremely determined and they can give up some sinful activities. Someone can say, ‘I’ll stop smoking…’ and then smoke the last and then finished! Very determined, but all this is not durable. Just by a good decision, good intentions and so on, one cannot become sinless. It won’t work. Well many of us might of thought of many things we could do to become sinless. But the only real way to become sinless is to engage in constant devotional service. That’s the only way to become sinless- to hear about Krsna, to glorify Krsna, to serve Krsna in some way or another- all the time! As we increase that devotional service, all the sinfulness is pushed out of our life, permanently!
Nitaisevini Devi Dasi: Definitely they won't be able to ban Gita, but the good part is that last few days Srila Prabhupads name, Bhagvad gita and ISKCON is in all the newspapers and Media channels. The regional Telugu channels in Andhra Pradesh are continuously telecasting this news with more and more details about our temples, activities, Srila prabhupad and our comments on it where we are getting opportunity to preach. In one sense it is advantage for us, all over the world our gita sale will multiply
Dhruva Maharaja dasa: When an author writes a book, the title reveals its contents. This is how an author informs his readers what topics he's written about. Sri Isopanisad was one of the first books Srila Prabhupada translated after arriving in the United States, and he explained the title means "knowledge which brings one closer to the Supreme."
In a statement released on December 20th, Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said that the Government of India has taken up the Bhagavad Gita controversy with the highest levels of Russian government, and hopes for a resolution.
With so much access to information in our time, especially with sites such as Wikileaks, it’s much easier to get the dirty truth about people who are in the high-ups. It seems quite fitting that many are protesting and rising up against government leaders whom are exploiting their powerful positions and taking advantage of the materially less fortunate.
Yeah okay, but we shouldn’t automatically conclude that it’s only the rich and powerful who are corrupt and pull out our darts and start firing. Let’s think about this more carefully.
It’s animal instinct that drives every single one of us towards our individual survival. And in that struggle of life, if we become a little materially secure, then it’s another animal instinct to sit around and enjoy the luxury and abundance that material nature has to offer. Thus, in that stage of existence, greed could awaken and completely envelop us and our previously good intentions.
Please don’t get me wrong, a corporate pig who gives himself a multi-million tax-exempted bonus at the expense of hard-working, despondent, tax-paying, and economically-hobbled citizens certainly must be considered a criminal.
But let’s take this from another angle…
How many would be able to withstand the temptation to also act grossly selfish in such an extremely financially powerful position?
It may be easy to be poor and become envious, but what if you were placed in a multi-billion dollar position?
The nature of luxury is to supply a constant fuel to the fire of sensual greed. Once you taste a fragment of that sensation which powers your mind’s every whimsical desire, it becomes more addictive than any drug you can imagine.
No longer do the things that money can buy give you the rush, but the increase of money in the bank itself. It’s like the feeling of finally being able to unleash your ultimate potential, a state far beyond the fears of mere survival and physical comfort. With each multi-million dollar transaction, you feel the butterflies in the stomach multiplying with exhilarating anticipation. You are finally becoming a GOD among men! Man’s ultimate materialistic desire to control nature is actually happening!
The money now represents an ability to express your freedom to desire, and also the means to achieve those desires. The more wealth you have, the more complete you feel as a person. You start feeling obligated to serve it, as it gives you new life and sustains the man-made illusion which composes your very soul.
But, back to middle class America…
Maybe, our personal karma dealt the cards and landed us in not quite an affluent position. You must truly ask yourself that if you are given the position of a multibillion dollar seat, do you have what it takes to withstand the insane pressure of the lower human impulse to burst out in a self-gratifying gross display of human greed?
By taking an introspective, honest look at ourselves, we will recognize that we are not made of “pure saintly qualities”. It’s doubtful if we had the seat of someone like J.P. Morgan that we would be the Mother Teresa of Economics. The impure human mind can dictate some really bizarre selfish desires if given the opportunity.
An extremely wise personality once said:
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone [at Wall Street].”
The truth is it’s not really a question of rich and poor. No political mandate is going to solve the real problem. The real problem is not a political or economic one.
It is an internal one, a psychological one, and philosophical and ethical one. It’s a problem of selfishness and greed. The problem is an immoral weakness of heart.
The solution is that we need a system of education that frees people from envy, greed, and moral weakness.
Let there be class differences, but let those leaders learn the art of integrity in a pleasing pursuit of selfless happiness. Such pursuit, in order to actually work, must be defined by an awesome and grand spiritual vision that includes the well-being of every living being.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada, the great world socio-spiritual visionary encapsulates these ideas in a commentary to the great Vedic text known as Srimad Bhagavatam:
“The struggle for existence is our attempt to counteract the onslaught of material nature. This struggle creates enmity in society, and consequently society is filled with envious people. One person is envious of another, and this is the way of the material world. The Krishna consciousness movement aims at creating an atmosphere of non-envy. Of course it is not possible for everyone to become Krishna conscious, but the Krishna consciousness movement can create an exemplary society wherein there is no envy.”
- Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.11
Unless we undergo an internal shift in consciousness contributing to a collective effort of higher spiritual goals, humanity will be destined to live in a society of cheaters and the cheated, crippled by our inability to properly address the true problems, greed and envy.
With immense sorrow and deep regret, I beg to report the departure of Her Grace Yamuna devi dasi, premier disciple of Srila Prabhupada, known for her deeply spiritual qualities and connection with His Divine Grace, for her glorious offering of the Govindam prayers that we hear and chant daily, for her love of pure kirtan, for her ecstatic award winning cook books which were infused with spiritual anecdotes, for greatly inspiring and encouraging the younger generation of ISKCON devotees in their KC, on this morning of Saphala Ekadasi, in her Melborne Beach Florida ashram-kutir which she shared with her dearest friend and companion in devotional service, Dinatarine
The Constitutional Court of Hungary today struck down a repressive religion law that would have deregistered over 300 religious organizations and established an onerous and arbitrary re-registration system.
New Delhi: India on Tuesday described a complaint about the Bhagvad Gita in Russia as patently absurd. The government also promised Parliament that it was taking the controversy seriously and was closely monitoring the case. But the BJP is not satisfied and has even asked the government to declare the sacred scripture as a national book
Toronto's Hare Krishna community was deeply saddened to hear the news that Yamuna devi dasi, a legendary devotee in our international ISKCON family, passed away in Florida this morning.
Yamuna devi dasi was one of the first women to join ISKCON, helping to open the San Francisco centre in 1967 and the London centre later on. One of her first services was to assist Srila Prabhupada in cooking, and she had become one of the foremost experts on Vedic cooking.
Also famous for her singing voice, Yamuna devi dasi's voice can be heard as the lead vocalist in the famous "Govindam" prayers that are played in all 400+ Hare Krishna centres around the world every morning.
We invite devotees to post their comments of gratitude and sympathy.
In our Hare Krishna (Vedic) culture, it is customary to sing a traditional bengali song (bhajan) for the passing away of devotees of Krishna. The name of the bhajan is Je Anilo Prema Dhana (seen below).
If you missed the Mayapuris on their recent Australian tour here is a taste of the magic they brought us. The Mayapuris are life-long practitioners of Bhakti, they play, dance and present the deeper meaning of the sacred Mantras they chant. Having studied and performed with the greatest kirtaniyas of the world, The Mayapuris share with us the depth of their knowledge and experience.
Forum 18 an organisation who support the right to freedom of religion and who aim to ensure that threats and actions against religious freedom are truthfully reported as quickly as possible across the world report in depth on the banning of the Gita. It seems the Gita is not the only book in the sights of arussian prosecutors.
Russian state censorship increasingly extended nationwide in November to cover Jehovah’s Witness websites – and possibly also Hare Krishna sms announcements, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. A Prosecutor’s Office official claimed to Forum 18 that blocking the websites “isn’t about freedom of conscience or censorship – it’s about restricting access to extremist materials.” Also, four more Jehovah’s Witness publications have been banned nationwide by being added to the Federal List of Extremist Materials. Meanwhile, attempts to ban the Russian translation of a key book for Hare Krishna devotees – the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is – have been delayed. The reason is a delay for an unknown length of time in producing an “expert analysis” before the case can resume. Elsewhere, on 22 December an appeal is due to be heard after the second trial of Jehovah’s Witness Aleksandr Kalistratov on “extremism” charges. Also facing “extremism” charges is a Muslim reader of the works of theologian Said Nursi, Ilham Merazhov. He is challenging the search of his home and the launching of a criminal case against him.
Russian state censorship of religious literature is now extending to websites – and possibly also to Hare Krishna sms announcements, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. Some religious books – especially Russian-language translations of works of the late Turkish Muslim theologian Said Nursi and many Jehovah’s Witness publications – have long been banned as “extremist”, but Jehovah’s Witness websites nationwide are now being blocked for carrying copies of their works. “In many of Russia’s cities our websites have been blocked by many providers since early and mid-November,” Grigory Martynov of the Jehovah’s Witnesses told Forum 18 from St Petersburg on 1 December. Meanwhile, attempts to ban the Russian translation of a key book for Hare Krishna devotees – the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is – have been delayed. One of the court-appointed “experts” refused to tell Forum 18 why their analysis had not reached the Tomsk court by the 1 December deadline.
The Bhagavad Gita trial in Russia is the trial of the Russian edition of Bhagavad Gita As It Is initiated in June 2011 by the state prosecutor's office in Tomsk, Russia on charges of religious extremism
Yesterday Jeeturaaj, famous RJ in Mumbai sent me text message asking about ban of Bhagavad Gita in Russia. After sending him the petition Email which was sent by GBC EC body to all temple presidents, he came forward to take phone call interview of someone from Russia
I’ve been writing about my impressions after associating with various devotees, especially in the last three months when I was traveling through Mexico, the United States and India. Today I want to talk about Hridayananda Maharaj.
Hridayananda Maharaj came to Brazil as a sannyasi back in ‘74, while Prabhupada was still with us. The few devotees around at that time were inexperienced and none had been initiated. Maharaj came to our country to attend to a request that was made through a letter to Prabhupada, signed by Aradhya and myself.
He landed in Rio de Janeiro, but soon went to Salvador. It was there that he first met with devotees in Brazil. From that moment onward, his relationship with our country was noted for his great interest in the institutional development of Srila Prabhupada’s mission and every devotee. He always looked for even the slightest tendency of leadership in senior devotees and encouraged everyone to take responsibility.
Time passed, everything grew, everyone matured, and new panoramas compatible with the current times arose.
I spent the month of October with Hridayananda Maharaj in California. The three weeks I spent with him were very interesting and culminated in the celebration of the disappearance of Prabhupada one day and Maharaj’s 63rd birthday the next day.
It was the month of Kartika and together we performed daily puja to Yasoda-Damodara singing the Damodarastaka. Every day Maharaj commented on the meaning of the song and the most notable words. Everything was nectar to me.
Our sadhana was very simple. The altar in Hridayananda Maharaj’s house is composed of pictures on the wall. We would sing bhajans and even kirtans to Tulasi. It was all very fun, and he was dressed in a kurta and lungi, as if in a temple … Every night Maharaj would read the Bhagavad-gita in the traditional form of a lecture for which I was the only one there to listen. I, of course, took the opportunity to ask a thousand questions.
At the three sandhyas of the day he would invite me to leave the house and go to the nearby gardens or parks to chant Gayatri. At each sandhya, a different place according to the sun’s position. Each place more beautiful and inspiring…
Although it may not be easily perceived from a distance, in intimacy it becomes clear that Maharaj is a very methodical person, who likes to sit in the same place to chant japa, in the same chair for meals, and in his kitchen and bedroom the furniture and utensils are arranged in a very practical and functional way … and always the same. To interact with him in the kitchen I had to learn to do things his way. For me it was not difficult, because for years I have not gone into a kitchen, and therefore I didn’t arrive with my own, personal ways of doing what was necessary. I quickly learned to wash pots, make popcorn and sandwiches and keep everything clean and tidy.
Hridayananda Maharaj lives in the style of a sadhu. He lives alone, receives few visitors, and is always absorbed in his writing and his communications with other intellectual devotees around the world, and when the opportunity arises, preaches vigorously. At the moment, he cooks for himself, cleans, washes his clothes, shops, takes the trash out… in other words, he does everything himself with no help. This is an important phase in his intellectual life. This is how he’s found it best to do his writing.
The apartment that he moved into a short time before I got there is located in a non-gated condominium. Maybe this is common in the United States, but in Brazil I have never seen a condominium with centralized administration in an open area like that. It seems that the violence in that region is negligible. For us Brazilians, who live in a climate of great urban and rural violence, it is difficult to understand their context and to just relax and enjoy the surroundings. In Brazil we have already lost our privacy and there are cameras everywhere, electrified fences, ostensible private security … For me, these days with him were a very interesting experience even in regards to this type of observation.
Maharaj’s literary work is going well. He is currently revising his text and adjusting some ideas after a careful evaluation by professionals. He has made a vow to remain in the same place until he’s finished the book he’s working on.
His apartment is in a small town near Los Angeles, called Camarillo. The condo, near California State University, lies at the base of a valley surrounded by an environmentally preserved area. The block he lives in is next to a gravel path that runs alongside a large mountain. He calls this the parikrama path. The mountain vegetation is typical of this semi-arid region and there are many rocks. A group of them forms the shape of an elephant head, which he calls Ganesha. Passing by it, he always bows his head in reverence and good humor. In this same block, a little after “Ganesha”, you can see, in one house, on the window sill, a sculpture of a chariot drawn by four horses, with a chariot driver and a passenger. This is the duo Arjuna and Partha Sarathi. The house belongs to an Indian devotee couple who are university professors and disciples of Radhanatha Swami. They are educated and cordial people who greatly admire Hridayananda Maharaj. While I was there, we did some programs in their home, which included excellent prasada.
My private conversations with Hridayananda Maharaj led me to hours and hours of reflection. He is a member of the GBC Hermeneutics committee, and is often called upon to do video conferences with devotees from all over the world who preach to academics. His preaching has reached a range of people often neglected in our missionary activities. The effect of this can already be perceived and it seems that as the Hare Krishna movement becomes more integrated with society at large these effects will become even more apparent.
While I was there he gave two important video conferences. One in English, on “The Failures of Atheism”, organized by devotees from Hawaii, and one in Spanish, for a philosophy course at a university in Mexico.
I think the high point of our conversations was his analysis of the meaning of the song “Gaurangera Duti Pada” by Narottam Das Thakur. Talking to him about my imminent trip to India, I told him that I would visit Jagannatha Puri for the first time. That reminded him of his time in Puri years ago and he told me that India has a “special charm” and that while there he would sing this song meditating on Caitanya and Nityananda. I told him that it was the song I most liked hearing him sing and that I still had a very old recording of it on cassette. Not having a harmonium to hand, he created a piano accompaniment for it, and from that day on, I was “rewarded” with a daily, private performance of this beautiful song.
Hridayananda Maharaj’s association is very desirable for any devotee who aspires to preach Krsna consciousness understanding the basis of material entanglement of modern man. His current vision goes far beyond what he has written and published in recent years.
He has no plans to come to Brazil in the near future. He told me he sees how mature Brazilian devotees have become and feels that both he and us Brazilians are going through interesting phases in the construction of something significant for Prabhupada.
I was welcomed into his home with great distinction and warmth. He is a gentleman and a devotee whose internal level of Krishna consciousness is very difficult to find in this day and age.
THE FOLLOWING LECTURE ON SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, CANTO 1, CHAPTER 15, THE PANDAVAS RETIRE TIMELY, TEXT 34, WAS GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CARU SWAMI ON 2 JULY 2006, ISKCON UJJAIN INDIA. Transcription : Her Grace Shyamangi Radhika Dasi Editing : Her Grace Hemavati Radhika Dasi Audio-reference : click here (Click on the pictures to discover the [...]
This a video of the Damodarastakam prayers sung by Vishwambar Prabhu at 07:00 pm during the 12hr Kirtan we recently had with the Mayapuris. It is followed by Aniruddha Prabhu leading on the Maha Mantra.
In a midnight statement, Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin criticised his countrymen from the Siberian city of Tomsk who have sought a ban on the Bhagwat Gita. Hours earlier, a Russian court allowed the Russian human rights panel to place its views on the Bhagwat Gita and minorities rights.
Mr. Kadakin described those who had filed the case as “madmen”, regretted that it was being heard in the university city of Tomsk famous for its secularism and religious tolerance and reiterated the secular credentials of Russia [the Interior Minister is a practicing Muslim].
The two developments ought to cap disquiet over here on the possibility of the Bhagwat Gita being included as extremist literature by the Russian Home Ministry but Indians in Moscow feel New Delhi should take up the issue of building a temple, a demand being pursued by the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), of mainly Russian believers.
The Russian envoy said he considered it “categorically inadmissible when any holy scripture is taken to the courts. For all believers these texts are sacred.” He seemed to agree with the ISKCON’s criticism that the Persecutor’s office requested testimony not from well-known experts of Hinduism from Moscow, but from some unknown experts from Kemerovo State University.
A second term Ambassador whose first diplomatic posting was to India in 1971 and who for years taught about India on the side during his stint at the Russian foreign office in Moscow, Mr. Kadakin said the Bhagavad Gita along with holy scriptures of other faiths was a great source of wisdom for the people of India and the world. “Russia, as it is known to anyone, is a secular and democratic country where all religions enjoy equal respect. Even more applicable it is to the holy scriptures of various faiths — whether it is the Bible, the Holy Quran, Torah, Avesta and, of course, Bhagavad-Gita — the great source of wisdom for the people of India and the world,’’ he assured.
Photos Sent By His Grace Subhananda Dasa For all pictures : click here (Click on the pictures to discover the Treasure House Of India’s Spiritual Wisdom as presented by ISKCON Founder Acharya A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada)
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, residing in His own realm, Goloka, with Rādhā, resembling His own spiritual figure, the embodiment of the ecstatic potency possessed of the sixty-four artistic activities, in the company of Her confidantes [sakhīs], embodiments of the extensions of Her bodily form, permeated and vitalized by His ever-blissful spiritual rasa."
(Sri Brahma samhita 5.37)
Out of Their limitless compassion Sri Radha and Sri Govinda have accepted to reside in Melbourne and grant us Their ever-fresh darsana.
(Click on the pictures to discover the Treasure House Of India’s Spiritual Wisdom as presented by ISKCON Founder Acharya A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada) Photos Sent By His Grace Mukunda Dasa All pictures : click here
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Tuesday 20 December 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. (Click on photo to see a larger image.) Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. For Transcendental Association Connect With Other Members of this Course. Join this Conference: http://groups.google.com/group/sda_students Help Popularize Our Message By Liking Today's Thought on Facebook: Today's Thought: Death is Sitting on Your Head at Every Moment uploaded from Pretoria, South Africa What is the difference between a materialist and and a transcendentalist? The materialist thinks that he will live forever, and the transcendentalist knows that he can die at any moment. The real fact is that death is sitting on your head at every moment and can take you at any time even when you least expect it. Therefore the wise man lives every moment in full Krishna consciousness knowing full well it could be his last moment. He never forgets that Krishna is his only shelter and his only protection from this dangerous, all-devouring ocean of birth and death. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Initiation Lecture Pretoria, South Africa--18 December 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Pretoria_Initiaion.JPG Blissful New Initiates: Dwarkadish Das and Madhava Das (left to right) http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Pretoria_Initiates.JPG Initiation Fire Sacrifice Ceremony (Fire Yajna) http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Pretoria_Yajna.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why Bhagavad-gita is Opposed? Please accept my obeisances! Why is it that this Bhagavad-gita knowledge, which is the highest of all wisdom, is opposed in highly developed countries such as we see in the recent court base in Russia to ban the Bhagavad-gita? Where else does the Bhagavad-gita get opposition? Why do we accept the validity of Christ's teachings while many of the conventional Christians don't accept the science of the Bhagavad-gita? Regards Siva Answer: The Fools Want to Remain Fools In a world society where the status quo is ignorance, it is natural that there will strong opposition to knowledge. One time I was arrested and put in jail for 36 hours for distributing this sublime knowledge of Krishna in Leesburg, Florida USA. The Vedas teach a universal understanding of religion, that anyone who becomes a pure devotee of God is a first class religionist, no matter what religion system he may be following. Unfortunately not all religious people are fortunate to have this universal understanding of religion. They think that one can reach God only by belonging to a particular religious sect. Such fools are ignorant that religion is one, to become a pure lover of God. There is no such thing as this religion and that religion. Religion is one, to become a pure lover of God. In this connection it is important to always remember that while God has given us religion, the science of giving our loving service to Him, it is man who has invented so many religions based on the selfish concept of taking service from God instead of giving service to God. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. 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Article Sent By His Grace Dhananjaya Krishna Das. Vice Chairman-North India. ISKCON Food Relief (Click on the pictures to discover the Treasure House Of India’s Spiritual Wisdom as presented by ISKCON Founder Acharya A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada) Lok Sabha Storm as Russian court decides whether to ban Bhagavad Gita NDTV Correspondent/Agencies, Updated: December 19, [...]
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