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By Sraddhadevi dasi
February 15-17th
During the last three days of the Annual General Meeting of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission, GBC members gave presentations on new publications and the status of various projects.
Anuttama Prabhu, representing the GBC’s Guru Services Committee, reported on the Guru Seminars and Guru Retreats program. These programs allow devotees who are serving as initiating or instructing gurus to associate with one another and share their experiences serving Srila Prabhupada in the role of guru. The Guru Seminars and Retreats also aim to enhance skills in counseling disciples and caring for one’s own physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Members of the GBC, including Bhakti Marga Swami, Bhakti Chaitanya Swami, Prahladananda Swami, and Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu, who attended the Guru Retreat in Ujjain last October related their experiences. They all expressed enthusiasm and thanks for having such a wonderful retreat last year and strongly urged others to attend future Guru Seminars or Retreats. A Guru Seminar and Retreat will be held in Tirupati next October before the GBC meetings in Juhu, Bombay.
The Guru Services Committee also presented the progress made on developing a seminar for disciples. The idea of such a course is to educate devotees before they receive initiation on the theological, institutional, and practical issues pertaining to discipleship. Some topics include the special position Srila Prabhupada plays in ISKCON as the Founder-Acarya, a theological understanding of Guru-tattva, issues of etiquette between guru and disciple, understanding the initiation ceremony, and the qualifications of a disciple and a guru. Over the course of this year a committee will continue to develop curriculum for this course.
Following the Guru Services Committee, ISKCON’s Minister of Education, Sesa Prabhu, updated the GBC Body on the current educational institutions within ISKCON. He reported that the Bhaktivedanta College in Budapest currently has 200 students and offers two Bachelor Degree programs. Bhaktivedanta College in Radhadesh is also growing with 30 full-time students and is looking toward offering degrees in management as well as theology.
Sesa Prabhu also presented to the GBC Body profiles of various religious educational institutions that maintain lifestyle values similar to those of ISKCON. He pointed out that Amrita University, founded by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math in 1994, now has over 13,000 students and 13 university departments. Likewise, Maharishi University of Management in Iowa started off slow, but now has 1,200 students. Maharishi University has seen a 125% student growth rate in the last five years. Moreover, Brigham Young University, a successful Mormon university in Utah has an enrollment of more than 30,000 students. Brigham Young University lists “purity” as a requirement for graduation and funds 70% of student tuition through church tithing.
After presenting these examples, Sesa Prabhu urged that ISKCON look toward the future and put additional energy into further developing our own educational programs. Everyone was in agreement. A directional straw vote was taken, and unanimously the GBC decided to place strong emphasis on the development of education within ISKCON.
Kaunteya Prabhu on behalf of ISKCON’s Congregational Development Ministry presented two new publications to the GBC. The first book, Holy Jail, is a compilation by Candramauli Swami on the activities and stories of ISKCON’s Prison Ministry. In the thirty years that the ISKCON Prison Ministry has been in operation, hundred of lives of inmates have changed due to the practice of Krishna consciousness and the support received by devotees. For more information on the ISKCON Prison Ministry, please visit www. ipm. bbnow. org.
The second title presented by Kaunteya Prabhu is an English translation of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Sri Godruma Kalpatavi (The Desire-tree Grove of Godruma.) Sri Godruma Kalpatavi was originally a newsletter produced in Bengal 120 years ago by Bhaktivinoda Thakura to guide leaders and members in his preaching movement. The topics discussed are very practical issues often faced by those with families and careers who also want to fully engage in practicing and preaching Krishna consciousness. Jayapataka Swami felt the Godruma Kalpatavi to be so relevant to lives of devotee today that he translated the text and inspired the current publication. For more information on the Godruma Kalpatavi, please visit www. namahatta. org.
The GBC meetings concluded with words of praise and a standing ovation for this year’s GBC Chairman, Romapada Maharaja. Several GBC members expressed their gratitude toward Romapada Maharaja for putting so much time, effort, and care into chairing the GBC. Over the course of the year, he addressed many difficult issues and diligently offered support to ISKCON programs and leaders throughout the world. Many GBC members felt that Romapada Maharaja raised the bar and set a new standard for the position of GBC Chairman.
The GBC Body also welcomed the new GBC Chairman, Madhusevita Prabhu, as well as Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu and Bhakti Caitanya Swami as members of the incoming GBC Executive Committee.
After twelve days of meetings, members of the GBC appeared satisfied with the amount of work accomplished during the 2010 Annual General Meeting. The GBC will meet again next October at the ISKCON Juhu temple in Bombay.
"Dandavats" - 7 new articles
- What is Dharma?
- Bhagavat Satram @ Kochi, Kerala
- LORD JAGANNATH RATHAYATRA in Canberra on 20 MARCH 2010
- Upcoming Kuli Mela festival
- Six Verses on Surrender
- 24 Hour Kirtan in New Govardhana, Australia
- New Book Releases
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By Bhakti Raghava Swami
Modern day occupations connected with factory, industry and all kinds of recently invented hard technologies, have deviated mankind from his more natural occupations connected with land, cows, nature, and God.
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By HH Bhakti Raghava Swami
Introduction
One of the great Indian saintly persons of the 20th century, Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakura, Founder-Acärya of the well-known Gaudiya Math all over India and spiritual preceptor of yet another well renowned spiritual leader, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acärya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness [ISKCON], has given humanity a new dimension and deeper insight to the term religion when he explained that “philosophy without religion is mere speculation” while “religion without philosophy is but sentimentalism which sometimes leads to fanaticism”. According to Vedic scriptures, in particular Srimad Bhagavad-géta and Srimad-Bhagavätam, religion cannot be man-made. “Actually, the principles of religion can only be laid down by the Lord Himself. Dharmaà tu säkñäd bhagavat-praëétam (SB, 6.3.19). No one can manufacture a religious principle by imperfect speculation. One must follow in the footsteps of great authorities like Brahmä, Çiva, Närada, Manu, the Kumäras, Kapila, Prahläda, Bhéñma, Çukadeva Gosvämé, Yamaräja, Janaka, and Bali Mahäräja.” [BG, 4.16, Purport].
By observation, we can see that over the centuries, the term “religion” has remained either a source of great inspiration for some, thus helping to bring peace and harmony in society, or has been a source of great anxiety for others; thus bringing disunity and disparity among individuals, communities and nations. This is largely because of man-made religious systems which are rampant in the present Age of Kali- the age of quarrel and misunderstanding. For most people, religion remains somewhat abstract, nebulous and difficult to define. However, religion can best be understood and defined when we consider the Sanskrit term “dharma”, an essential word in the Vedic literatures. Indeed, without understanding what is dharma in its deepest sense, even practicing devotees will tend to misjudge what is religion and what is not religion.
The beginning of this understanding comes when we master the ABCs of spiritual life. Without receiving this basic knowledge, it will remain very difficult for most people to understand what religion is. It will also remain impossible for people to put into practice the actual meaning of dharma. The five basic truths about religion or dharma are summarized in the perennial teachings of the Bhagavad-géta as 1) isvara [God, the controller], 2) jivätma [the spirit soul], 3) prakriti [the material nature], 4) käla [the time factor] and 5) karma [reaction to good or evil deeds]. Of these, the first four are eternal principles while the fifth one, karma, is temporary.
Religion as Dharma
Religion is generally defined and understood as some spiritual belief which is based on faith. We have observed that people sometimes change their faith, from being a Christian to becoming a Muslim, or from being a Hindu and becoming a Christian, etc. Dharma, on the other hand, refers to something which does not change because it is based on facts and reality which is further supported by philosophy and confirmed by scriptures, not simply by some belief which can change. Dharma refers to the original nature or character of something or someone. We can easily understand that all things have their natural characteristics which cannot be changed. For example sugar is sweet, that is its dharma. The moment sugar is no longer sweet, it cannot be called sugar. It may be white and looking very much like sugar, but if it has a different taste, it may likely be salt. If we take any object, it has a particular characteristic and that particular unchangeable characteristic is called its dharma. Similarly, we find that human beings have a natural character which is common to all human beings; by nature everyone has a propensity to love and to serve. Therefore, service is the common and universal dharma of all human beings; either service to the family, community or nation, but generally service to our own self. Dharma is thus known to be something common and universal to all living entities.
Religion is One
Because we are first and foremost spirit souls, aham brahmasmi, different than our physical or mental body, our first and superior nature is spiritual. Therefore, religion in its true sense refers to the natural identify and natural character of all spirit souls and is thus meant to be a common concept for all concerned. When we have that understanding, we can more easily accept the fact that religion, in its highest and purest expression, is one and universal. Due to lack of this understanding, we have created artificial differences between religious beliefs calling one group Christian, another Hindu, another Buddhist, etc. But since the spirit soul is of the same nature in all forms of life and at all times, the religion is also meant to be the same. Understanding and acting on the platform of our eternal identify as eternal spirit souls is the real religion.
Dharma as Dual in Nature, Spiritual, and Material
While dharma in its pure and highest expression in the spiritual realm generally refers to the duty or characteristic of the spirit soul, dharma in the material realm takes on a second meaning or dimension that of the natural and standard material duties of conditioned or embodied souls. Not only does one become a proper follower of dharma by awakening ones spiritual consciousness, Krishna consciousness, but also by acting according to the principles of material dharma. In the same way the spirit soul can best be situated and thus experience full happiness by acting on the natural platform of his eternal spiritual nature, i.e., of service to Lord Krishna. The conditioned soul in the material world can experience happiness by being situated on the platform of natural occupation [varnas] and in its natural spiritual divisions [asramas] as defined in the God-made system of varnasrama dharma:
cätur-varëyaà mayä såñöaà guëa-karma-vibhägaçaù
tasya kartäram api mäà viddhy akartäram avyayam
“According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me. And although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the nondoer, being unchangeable.” [BG, 4.13]
Religion as Bhagavat Dharma and Varnasrama Dharma
Unless we understand both levels of dharma, 1) bhagavat dharma, refers to the duties of the spirit soul, i.e., pure devotional service to Lord Hari or Krishna, and 2) varnasrama dharma, refers to the duties of conditioned soul, i.e., standard and ideal activities connected with the body, we will not be able to properly discharge our spiritual and material duties. Religion in its fullest sense means acting properly both on the spiritual and material platform. To understand that dharma has a dual nature is easier than to understand that religion has two features- spiritual and material. Since religion is generally connected exclusively with spiritual activity, all material activities are generally regarded as not falling in the category of religion. To be religious means to practice some spiritual activity such as going to the church or mosque, synagogue, temple or wat. Religion is generally more closely connected with rituals and prayers which are often performed at specific times of the day and at particular places. However, the Vedic literatures teach us something else. Within the context of varnasrama dharma, guidelines are given to address both the material and the spiritual natures. We have our material duties called varnasrama dharma as well as our spiritual duties known as bhagavat dharma; we thus have our material religious duties as well as our spiritual religious duties.
Modern Day Deviations from Dharma
Modern day occupations connected with factory, industry and all kinds of recently invented hard technologies, have deviated mankind from his more natural occupations connected with land, cows, nature, and God. Modern day lifestyle in urban cities has also diverted mankind from his more natural and simplified living condition, within an agrarian based environment. This has brought about unprecedented imbalances in nature, in social conduct, and in mental outlook on life; resulting in increased disparities and anomalies at all levels. For those who understand the dual nature of dharma, the present way of modern life based on consumerism, competition for material acquisition and material well-being is but a major deviation from dharma. We need to clearly understand this. The remedy lies not in making adjustments through legislation, but in returning to the natural way of life- both materially and spiritually, as defined in our standard scriptures and as advocated by all the great spiritual leaders.
Dharma as Standard for Material and Spiritual Duties
In the same way that we can more easily understand that dharma is meant to cater to the duties and activities of both the body and soul, similarly, religion is also meant to cater to the duties and activities of the body and soul. Peace and harmony can only come when we are able to synchronize both levels of religion or both levels of dharma. When we deviate from the standard norm, as is the case in modern day society, we create what is called “varna sankara”, unwanted and unplanned population which makes for a chaotic society and where people are engaged in abominable activities called “ugra karma”. In a situation of “varna sankara” and “ugra karma” no one can be happy and satisfied because both the material and spiritual duties of persons are neglected. To rectify this chaotic condition, one must acquire proper knowledge so that one can begin to discriminate and not remain on the platform of sentimentalism and mental speculation. Our sastras give us clear understanding of our duties at both levels, one being devotional service to the Lord through devotional activities [bhagavat dharma] and the other being adhering to the principles of varna and asrama [varnasrama dharma]. Unless we take this up, there is no possibility of peace and happiness in this present chaotic world or in the next world.
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The author can be contacted at: bhakti.raghava.swami@pamho.net
By Bhakti Vinoda Swami
On December 19th 2009, the twenty seventh annual "Bhagavata Satram" (gathering of devotees of the Bhagavat Mahapurana, also known as the Srimad Bhagavatam) the largest such gathering in South India, was held at Kochi, (also known as "Cochin"), Kerala.
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By Bhakti Vinoda Swami [edited by Basu Ghosh Das]
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/basughoshdas1/Bhagavata_SatramCochinKerala
On December 19th 2009, the twenty seventh annual “Bhagavata Satram” (gathering of devotees of the Bhagavat Mahapurana, also known as the Srimad Bhagavatam) the largest such gathering in South India, was held at Kochi, (also known as “Cochin”), Kerala.
Kochi is sixty kilometers from Kalady, the birthplace of the ancient monistic philosopher, Adi Shankaracharya. Leading religious luminaries and exponents of the Bhagavata Mahapurana were invited to speak at the event, which lasted for ten days.
More than a lakh of people attended the function daily, and they represented various schools of Indian philosophical thought. For the most part, followers of Adi Shankara’s philosophical tradition were present on the dias on all the days.
In view of the popularity of the monistic philosophy in one of it’s traditional strongholds in the State of Kerala, the fact that H. H. Bhakti Vinoda Swami, Zonal Secretary for ISKCON in Kerala and Western Tamil Nadu, was invited to deliver the inaugural address (”anugraha prabhashanam”) at the Satram seemed surprising!
At the inaugural function, he was seated on the dais with eminent Spiritual personalities such as H. H. Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji, of the Udupi Sri Pejawar Math, “Bhagavata Hamsa” Sri Shankaran Namboodiri , famous throughout Kerala known for having performed more than a thousand “Bhagavata Saptahas”
(the recitation of the entire eighteen thousand verse Srimad Bhagavatam), Ms. Prema Pandurangan, also a well known exponent of “Bhagavat” story telling, and Indian Government Minister P. C. Thomas, who represents a constituency in Kerala in India’s Parliament.
In his inaugural speech, H. H. Bhakti Vinod Swami discoursed on the ideology of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Mahaprabhu’s explanation of the secrets of the Bhagavatam, while quoting from the purports of Srila Prabhupad. He explained that the Bhagavatam teaches that of all the vedic Deities, only Lord Krishna needs to be worshipped. The “jivas”, (living entities) are part and parcels of Lord Krishna and, as such, they can never be God. He further pointed out from Mahaprabhu’s teachings that the devotion of the gopis of Vrindavan to Lord Krishna is the highest form of bhakti. The Srimad Bhagavatam itself is the pramana for this understanding, Swamiji explained.
Hence the Srimad Bhagavatam is the supreme scripture and, and Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who translated the Srimad Bhagavatam into English, was the greatest preacher of the Bhagavatam, having inspired the translation and publishing of Srimad Bhagavatam into more than thirty six languages, both in India as well as all over the world.
He further explained that harinam sankirtan is synonymous with the Bhagavatam, is the practical process for this age of kali, and the ISKCON movement is dedicated to promoting this all over the world. Swamiji also announced the publication of the Malayalam edition of the Srimad Bhagavatam with the next few months.
Thereafter, H. H. Vishveshvara Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math, Udupi, spoke briefly about the need for spreading the Hindu tradition. Sri Shankaran Namboodiri, a famous religious personality in Kerala, said that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s formula of Sankirtan is the essence of the Bhagavatam and should be spread widely.
Besides H. H. Bhakti Vinoda Swami’s inaugural speech, ISKCON of Kerala devotees organized an impressive book stall in the program venue and distributed books and preached to large gathering of visitors daily.
Home » Bhagavat Satram @ Kochi, Kerala Ranganath das: By the mercy of Lord Jagannatha, ISKCON Canberra temple will be celebrating Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra in Canberra on Saturday, 20th March starting at 10:30AM. This year, we will be blessed by the kind association of His Holiness Ramai Swami, and the outstation devotees who will be participating in this Maha-Harinam for the pleasure of the Lord.
Bhakta Michel: The Organizing Team for the New Mayapur Kulimela is happy to officially announce the date and place for this second european reunion after the successful gathering which took place in Radhadesh Belgium in 2008.
Pusta Krishna das: Written by and Spoken by His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad to Pusta Krishna das in reciprocation for receiving a poem from him on the occasion of the 1971 Appearance Day Celebration in Bombay, India of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Sita-pati das: Come to chant the Holy Names in at the 24 hour kirtan at New Govardhana, NSW, on the weekend of March 26-27, 2010. Special guests include Madhava and Sri Prahlada, and bhakti kirtaniyas from New Govardhana and around Australia.
Seva Priya (dd) JPS (Cong. Dev. Ministry, Mayapur - IN): Hot off the printing press and appearing in Sri Mayapur Dham this festival time are two new books.
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Comments • [comment feed]
“Some topics include the special position Srila Prabhupada plays in ISKCON as the Founder-Acarya, a theological understanding of Guru-tattva, issues of etiquette between guru and disciple, understanding the initiation ceremony, and the qualifications of a disciple and a guru. Over the course of this year a committee will continue to develop curriculum for this course.”
These seminars sound interesting and I wonder if they could be made available (in some modified form?) for the general devotees, perhaps in the VIHE or MIHE programs or also in some of the other educational programs we have.
At ISV a couple weeks ago we had some mini-courses on Vaisnava etiquette, temple etiquette, Vaisnava dancing, cooking and better japa. These specialized classes are useful, separate and apart from the regular Bhagavatam and Gita classes. They remind me more of the “bhakta program” idea of providing devotees with basic skills and training in addition to the daily dose of Krishna-katha medicine injected in the ears during regular temple functions.
Particularly these issues about the theology of guru-tattva, etiquette between guru and disciple, the initiation ceremony, and qualifications of guru and disciple are important foundational topics for our training.
Having a more solid foundation in these aspects of our philosophy and practices might have helped us better to avoid some of the political frictions and fractions (or factions) that arose after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance. We should get a firm understanding of these issues through a broader, deeper study of Srila Prabhupada’s books and the insights of advanced devotees on these subjects.
I think as a society we may have at times displayed an over-dependence on the qualifications and “personality” of the initiating gurus, rather than on the process by which the qualified disciples, obeying the pure instructions of the initiating and instructing gurus, progress through bhajana-kriya and anartha-nivrtti to become steady, serious, pure vaisnavas.
Sometimes Srila Prabhupada made strong statements against accepting a guru as a “fashion” without actually doing the work required to be transformed into a twice-born, spiritual person, and I think this is partly what he was talking about.
ISKCON is a society for spreading the bona-fide instructions through parampara by which people can be factually transformed into pure devotees.