domingo, 24 de octubre de 2010

Ekendra das, Alachua, USA: I Used To Travel A Lot



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  1. Ekendra das, Alachua, USA: I Used To Travel A Lot
  2. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: More pictures of Kadamba Kanana Swami's visit
  3. Bhakti Lata, Alachua, USA: The Midnight Writer
  4. Japa Group: Sins Tremble In Fear
  5. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: to understand Krishna fully
  6. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 110
  7. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: One Hundred Prabhupada Poems
  8. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Failure to Understand
  9. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Free Write
  10. David Haslam, UK: Dealing with and writing about childhood trauma
  11. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: PERSONAL GUIDANCE
  12. Dandavats.com: It's Kartika, Damn It!
  13. Dandavats.com: Service Opportunity at Radha kunda & Syama-kunda
  14. Dandavats.com: World Holy Name 2010
  15. Dandavats.com: Report & Photos Of World Holy Name Week-2010 At Najafgarh
  16. Dandavats.com: Aindra Prabhu name plate
  17. Dandavats.com: The Truth About Land Use in the United States
  18. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Evening bhajana on Oct 22nd
  19. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Preparing for the month of kartika and remembering Krsna's rasayatra
  20. ISKCON News.com: The New Bill Clinton: Fit, Lean And … Vegan?
  21. ISKCON News.com: CNN: Bill Clinton Became Vegan
  22. Japa Group: It Was Good To Be Alert
  23. Gouranga TV: Bhajan – Prahladananda Swami – Nrshimhadev Prayers
  24. H.H. Sivarama Swami
  25. More Recent Articles
  26. Search Planet ISKCON

Ekendra das, Alachua, USA: I Used To Travel A Lot

I used to travel a lot. I was in a band, and we toured the USA all the time. We went to India, went all over Europe. I always dreaded going back "home," which was the Philadelphia Hare Krishna temple. I liked the feeling of being unglued from the Earth, as if we were living on some upper, mobile stratus of the Earth's atmosphere. We lived like clouds, above it all, showering down good vibrations on the territorially bound.

Now, once I've spent a couple of weeks in one place, the idea of going anywhere strikes me as attractive as having an unnecessary tooth extraction. Yet my wife and I have lived in (let me count them now, gimme a second) at least twenty-three different places since we got together.

The more moved-in you are, the harder it is to move out. Right now, for example, we're packing to go to India, simultaneously moving out of our latest housesit. The actual work isn't that hard, but the finality of removing every trace of your existence is harder than if, say, we had just packed for a single overnight in a hotel. It's like dying, or leaving one body for another. Once you're gone, you can't go back. It's harsh, from one point of view. Makes me crave some kind of continuity.

Then I received a revelation today: "the more stuff you have to deal with, the more anxiety you have to go through." I thought, "yeah! that's right! Look at these wandering mendicants who take everything they need in a single suitcase. And they're always traveling. What a life. Why should I subject myself to unnecessary anxiety? That's the key! Get rid of everything!"

As usual, I had a counter-realization, with my wife's help. Arjuna once lost all inclination to fight a war, and frankly told Krishna "I don't want to fight. Better I just go to the forest and meditate." Krishna wasn't in favor of the idea. "No. Better you carry out your duty and think of Me. That's how you'll achieve perfection, not simply by 'giving up' your duties."

I felt better about life for the rest of the day. It's true—all the stuff I'm doing right now isn't my own idea of a good time. I'm trying, to one degree or another, to cooperate with the plans and directions of the Supreme Controller of the Universe. His plans always work out. Mine? Not. And what am I, anyway? Just a tiny spark of Krishna's infinite energy.

Now all I have to do is keep reminding myself of that while I'm in India, separated from my MacBook, hot water on demand, nicely paved roads, and Charmin.

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: More pictures of Kadamba Kanana Swami's visit

kks2

Interview and 'Sacred Space' Seminar slideshow

Home Programs slideshow

From Melbourne to Sydney slideshow

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Bhakti Lata, Alachua, USA: The Midnight Writer

6 minutes to midnight.

Now 5.

The moments at this time of night feel so deep, so quiet, like a lake that reflects the sky in a vast mirror.

As of late, my life runs like a clock, and the gears of my life fit together so that I go from one place to the next, one class to the next, one assignment to the next... tick, tick, tick... click, click, click... sometimes the pace speeds up to dizzy whirls, and I can barely find a moment to steady myself and catch my breath.

But right now, it's 2 minutes to midnight, and while I watch the clock, there's no ticks, no clicks. Time right now just feels like that vast lake, all the moments of eternity at rest beneath the mirror.

These midnight moments bring out my soft words and poetry. All day long I write hard prose that brims with knives of citations and theses. But now, there's no professor to please, no manuscript to submit, and it's just me seeking solace in words.

These are moments when the world is asleep. I get to find a glimpse of peace, like watching shadows pass over the moon, and listening to rhythm of my breath as I dream.

Midnight.

Good night.

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Japa Group: Sins Tremble In Fear


O Supreme Personality of Godhead, when someone desires to chant Your holy name, sins tremble in fear, the glory of material illusion faints unconscious, Yamaraja's scribe Citragupta becomes happy and gazes at the chanter's toenails with awe and reverence, and Lord Brahma prepares madhu-parka to worship him. O Lord, what more can we say than this?

Padyavali Verse 20
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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: to understand Krishna fully

Devotees often ask me about the value of seeing "Krishna cartoons." My non-enthusiasm for them appears to be supported by the following quotation from Srila Prabhupada:

I do not care very much for these filmings because by presenting Krishna in this way it makes it something like fantasy. It is better to have people to read my Krishna books what I have written so that they can understand Krishna fully.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Caruhasa -- Vrindaban 20 August, 1974

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 110

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

From Namamrta by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:

"One must chant in humility:

"[Queen Kunti to Lord Krishna]: My Lord, Your Lordship can easily be approached, but only by those who are materially exhausted. One who is on the path of [material] progress, trying to improve himself with respectable parentage, great opulence, high education and bodily beauty, cannot approach You with sincere feeling.

"Being materially advanced means taking birth in an aristocratic family and possessing great wealth, an education and attractive personal beauty. All materialistic men are mad after possessing all these material opulences, and this is known as the advancement of material civilization. But the result is that by possessing all these material assets one becomes artificially puffed up, intoxicated by such temporary possessions. Consequently, such materially puffed up persons are incapable of uttering the holy name of the Lord by addressing Him feelingly, "O Govinda, O Krishna." It is said in the sastras that by once uttering the holy name of the Lord, the sinner gets rid of a quantity of sins that he is unable to commit. Such is the power of uttering the holy name of the Lord. There is not the least exaggeration in this statement. Actually the Lord's holy name has such powerful potency. But there is a quality to such utterances also. It depends on the quality of feeling. A helpless man can feelingly utter the holy name of the Lord, whereas a man who utters the same holy name in great material satisfaction cannot be so sincere. A materially puffed up person may utter the holy name of the Lord occasionally, but he is incapable of uttering the holy name in quality."

If one is interested in advancing in chanting Hare Krishna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises that "one should be humbler than the grass and more tolerant than the trees. One should not be proud of his intelligence but should give all respect to others. In this way one can chant Hare Krishna offenselessly." This is the most famous of all statements about humility in chanting.

A Vaisnava is always tolerant and submissive like trees and grass. He tolerates insults offered by others because he is simply interested in chanting the holy name of the Lord without being disturbed. Success in chanting the holy name depends fully on humility.

Haridasa Thakura was once insulted in the company of others, and he said to the assembly of scholars, "All of you may now go to your homes. May Lord Krishna bestow His blessings on you all. Do not be sorry because of my being insulted." From these statements by Haridasa Thakura it is understood that a pure devotee never takes anyone's insults seriously. This is the teaching of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

I was up at midnight and began my chanting. After eight rounds I developed a headache and had to take medicine. It did not impede my chanting, however. I chanted quickly, with attention on accumulating the rounds. I could not go further than that. But I was satisfied to complete the sixteen rounds in two hours. They were not negligent japa rounds but chanted with attention to the syllables "Hare," "Krishna" and "Rama." I have to accept my present standard and be satisfied with that. Further advancement will come if I concentrate better and if I receive Krishna's mercy.

What is chanting in
humility? It's like
dainya, feeling yourself
unworthy, feeling yourself
lower than a blade of grass.
He is tolerant, even
toward his own low
standard of chanting but
goes on with determination.
No one or no thing can
disturb him because he
is as tolerant as a tree.
Lord Caitanya has taught
the humble standard of
chanting and said if one
chants like this, he can
go on without stopping
and will reach offenseless
japa.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: One Hundred Prabhupada Poems

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

#67

I was in many, many photos with you…
I sat before you young and fumbling.
Took my place as a yajnic priest with your permission.
I strode beside you through the corridor
of Logan Airport with dozens of your beaming disciples
escorting you to the departure gate.
You are always venerable in these pictures,
and the undisputed leader. Not "old"
in any bad sense.

There's a photo of you on Juhu Beach
where a gentleman blocks your path
so he can touch your feet.
You laugh and touch his head.

There is one picture where you look at me
disgustedly.
I thought of keeping it but put it back
in the storage trunk.
Maybe I had made some Mayavadi
argument, and you were
cutting it down, not that you were
disgusted with me personally.
I thought the picture might not be cheerful enough
for when I will flip through them
while traveling in our van.

It is not a small thing to have your spiritual master
displeased with you,
but it happens. Even Lord Brahma
displeased Krishna.
Brahma begged, "You know I am Your servant,
so please overlook my arrogance.
As the mother is not offended
by the baby's moving in her womb
please don't be angry with me,
Your eternal offspring."

So many nice connections come to mind
when I review these photos
and so I want to keep them, even
that disgusted one.
If you were annoyed with me,
it was another sign of your love.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Failure to Understand

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My multi-faceted headache went down after taking
many medications, and now
I'm free to write a poem.
I feel a slight remaining
twinge in the right eye, so
I have to be careful I
don't get too worked up
in the handwriting and the
digging within myself
for praise of Krishna.

I read a verse today
taken at random from
Srimad-Bhagavatam which said
we should give up the
stereotyped activities of
eating, sleeping, mating and defending.
I couldn't understand it, and
I didn't write about it. I
just skirted around my inability to comprehend.
I mean, how can you
go without eating, sleeping
and defending? (Mating
I can see.)

The verse said we should
chant and hear about Krishna.
That was perfectly clear.
But not the giving up of
"stereotyped" principles.
It said in order to enjoy
material activities, you have
to follow social conventions,
but a devotee boldly gives them up
and takes shelter under the umbrella
of the lotus feet of Krishna.

I just copied what it said in the purport,
that following the stereotyped activities brings samsara
and that is like a terrible
fire. The only way the
fire can be put out is
by the mercy of the spiritual master.

But I don't know how
you can do without
eating, sleeping and defending.
It's said you shouldn't
associate with people who
follow these social conventions.

Maybe it refers to some Vedic
rituals that you are supposed
to perform before you eat, sleep
and defend, I don't know.
Maybe a devotee is free
of those conventions, like for
example, he can be free of marriage.

Of course you can sleep and
eat in a Krishna conscious way by
resting for Krishna and eating
only His sacred remnants. And mating can be done
for raising Krishna conscious progeny.

I'll take it that way
and not be stumped.
Take it that the
"stereotyped" people are
sense-gratifiers who
don't chant and hear.

A devotee minimizes his
material necessities and fulfills them
in practice of Krishna consciousness,
like not sleeping
too much and eating only Krishna
prasadam, and depending on
Krishna for defense.

I guess I understand it after
all, and just have to
take information from the general siddhanta
and clear up what seems
like a puzzle.  Sometimes
you have to read in-
between the lines.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Free Write

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

I turned at random to Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 3, Chapter 21, verse 17: "However, persons who have given up stereotyped worldly affairs and the beastly followers of these affairs, and who have taken shelter of the umbrella of Your lotus feet by drinking the intoxicating nectar of Your qualities and activities in discussions with one another, can be freed from the primary necessities of the material body."

The stereotyped worldly affairs are the principles of animal life: sleeping, eating,  mating and defending. Those who engage in Krishna consciousness give up the stereotyped activities of the material world and are freed from social conventions. One has to act in terms of Vedic injunctions to enjoy material life, but those who take to devotional service are not afraid of the regulations of the material world. They take to that shelter which is like an umbrella against the sun of repeated birth and death.

Constant transmigration is the cause of suffering in material existence. Even if you perform good work and take birth in a nice condition, the process under which birth and death takes place is like a terrible fire. The fire (compared to a forest fire) can be extinguished only when there is a constant downpour of water from a cloud. The cloud is compared to the mercy of the spiritual master. One has to take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, not the way the impersonalist indulges, but in chanting and hearing the activities of the Lord. One should give up the association of those who are following, in a polished way, the life of the animals, without reference to devotional service. Only by drinking the nectar of chanting and hearing the pastimes of the Lord can one forget the intoxication of material existence.

Lord Caitanya drank from the cracked iron pot of Sridhara Kolaveca. Lord Krishna does not accept food or drink from an expensive receptacle if it is not offered with devotion. He accepted the humble food from Yudhisthira when he was in exile. He accepts from people who are devotees of Krishna and who are interested in devotion, not in opulent offerings. We should be careful to put devotion into our offerings to the Lord. Not rocket offerings, just simple offerings of a leaf or fruit or water when done in devotion. Of course if one has the means, then he should make luxuriant offerings to Krishna. But Krishna doesn't accept offerings of slaughtered animals.

Advaitacarya asked Lord Caitanya to show Him the universal form as He had shown Arjuna in ancient days. Lord Caitanya manifested a form in which all the universes and time and space were revealed. Advaitacarya saw the demons entering the flaming mouths of the universal form. Meanwhile, Lord Nityananda was wandering in Nadiya. Being all-knowing, Lord Nityananda was aware that Lord Caitanya was revealing the universal form. He rushed to Srinivasa's house and entered and saw the universal form. Only Advaitacarya and Lord Nityananda could see the form; others could not. These two great devotees began offering prayers to the Lord, but eventually They fell to arguing. Advaitacarya said Lord Nityananda was not a genuine sannyasi. He said no one knows who Lord Nityananda actually is, who were His parents, and what was His caste. He accused Nityananda of being a beggar and a good-for-nothing. L0rd Nityananda argued back that Advaitacarya was just a sense-enjoying householder. Whoever takes sides in this argument is doomed and is a blasphemer. A pure devotee knows that Advaitacarya and Lord Nityananda are one in purity of spirit and devotion to Lord Caitanya. Advaitacarya and Lord Nityananda rolled on the ground in ecstasy after seeing the universal form displayed by Lord Caitanya. They had seen what Lord Brahma cannot see.

What more is there to say and do? No one should misunderstand the arguments between Advaitacarya and Lord Nityananda, or the arguments between Advaitacarya and Gadadhara Pandita. If one hears these pastimes, it is inevitable that he will one day see Lord Caitanya face to face. When Advaitacarya and Lord Nityananda were arguing, Advaitacarya took off His clothes in defiance. He then threatened to hit Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda said that if Advaitacarya dared to hit Him, Lord Nityananda would punch Him. He called Advaitacarya "an old brahmana," and said, "I am paramahamsa, and You are just a fallen householder." Lord Nityananda threatened that He would do great harm to Advaitacarya. But then They calmed down and embraced. They realized they were in the presence of Their worshipable Lord Caitanya. All the devotees began harinama sankirtana. Advaitacarya sang and danced for six hours. Then the devotees asked Him to stop because they were fatigued. Advaitacarya went to bathe in the Ganges. Lord Caitanya wanted to bathe indoors. A chaste woman named Dukhi brought many pots of water for Lord Caitanya and lined them up. He asked her why she was named "Dukhi" (which means sad). He said she was so fortunate to render service and that her right name should be Sukhi, or glad. All the devotees chanted and called her "Sukhi." These pastimes of Lord Caitanya are endless and charming; no one can tell them all.

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David Haslam, UK: Dealing with and writing about childhood trauma

I've been asked by several people to share more about my childhood, my thoughts and feeling and how this has effected me in one way or another over the years. Although I have written some small thoughts I've avoided writing too much or in to great a detail for in some ways I think it's [...]

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: PERSONAL GUIDANCE

Personal guidance is a process which helps you to go from where you are to where you want to be. It is a personal improvement and achievement process that helps us achieve what we want in a Krishna conscious way.

Apart from assisting you in going from where you are to where you want to be, your personal guide provides you with personal support, committed to your development and success. He or she looks more into your strengths than weaknesses. A personal guide is not blind. He can see that you have some blindspots or improvement areas, but he will be focusing more on your strengths and building upon them.

Then he will help you clarify where you are in your life, help you open up possibilities, focus on what you want to achieve, learn new ways of doing things and discover new value and purpose in your life.

A personal guide will question your current ideas, your current beliefs and ways of thinking that prevent you from moving forward. Essentially this means looking into internal obstacles to what you want to achieve. He will help you become more self aware and more responsible, take 100% responsibility for your life, or even better, 108% responsibility for your life! Then he will help you release your potential.

We have a lot of potential that we are not using very much. Somehow it is covered and our spiritual potential is especially not being utilised. A personal guide will aid you to uncover and eliminate destructive behavioural and thinking patterns in your life, in a supportive, caring and inspirational environment.

So personal guidance is simply a process that is meant to help you succeed.

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Dandavats.com: It's Kartika, Damn It!

By Tulasi-Priya dasi

This is the time of year when the efforts we make in spiritual life—our sadhana, our devotions, our prayers, our study of sastra, our kirtana, and our service—reap extra rewards, far, far out of proportion to what we might expect in ordinary hours. Of course, it's all causeless mercy anyway; it's not as if we usually punch some bhakti-yoga time-clock and God hands out our weekly paycheck

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Dandavats.com: Service Opportunity at Radha kunda & Syama-kunda

By New Vrindaban Communications

Following the disappearances of Lord Caitanya and Svarupa Damodara, Srila Raghunath dasa Goswami was so crushed that he decided to commit suicide. "Raghunath dasa planned to jump from the top of Govardhan Hill," said Varsana Swami

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Dandavats.com: World Holy Name 2010

Ekalavya Das: We are extending the deadline to add reports for one more week. Please upload your reports by Oct 29, 2010

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Dandavats.com: Report & Photos Of World Holy Name Week-2010 At Najafgarh

By Nityananda Ram das

On the occasion of World Holy Name Fest-2010, the Devotees at ISKCON Najafgarh, New Delhi (India) have organized Holy Name Seminar, Pandal Programme as well as HariNaam Shobha Yatra (Procession) very enthusiastically in and around Najafgarh

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Dandavats.com: Aindra Prabhu name plate

Yudhistir Govinda Das: Aindra Prabhu's nameplate at ISKCON Krishna Balaram Mandir. Two nameplates have been engraved. One in English and Hindi

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Dandavats.com: The Truth About Land Use in the United States

Sarva Rasa dasa: By far the greatest impact on the American landscape comes not from urbanization but rather from agriculture. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farming and ranching are responsible for 68 percent of all species endangerment in the United States

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Evening bhajana on Oct 22nd

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Preparing for the month of kartika and remembering Krsna's rasayatra

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ISKCON News.com: The New Bill Clinton: Fit, Lean And … Vegan?

By Julie Rooney for Indiana Public Media on 4 Oct 2010

Thanks to Clinton's popularity and public presence, he may serve as a powerful rallying point for widespread awareness of the benefits of whole foods.


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ISKCON News.com: CNN: Bill Clinton Became Vegan

Once a notorious fan of burgers, junk food and other standards of the American Diet, Bill Clinton has recently become a poster child of sorts for whole foods. Although he occasionally eats fish, Clinton has traded his processed sugars and packaged foods for a plant based diet in the wake of serious concerns raised in February about his heart's health.


If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.
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Japa Group: It Was Good To Be Alert


At first they were slow but I pulled out of that slough and began chanting rapidly. It was good. My consciousness was concentrated on the accumulation of the rounds and I chanted all sixteen by 3:30. It was good to be alert and to keep my mind off other things while chanting the Hare Krishna mantras.

Viraha Bhavan #106
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Gouranga TV: Bhajan – Prahladananda Swami – Nrshimhadev Prayers

Bhajan – Prahladananda Swami – Nrshimhadev Prayers

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H.H. Sivarama Swami

In the month of Kartika one should worship Lord Damodara and daily recite the prayer known as Damodarastaka, which has been spoken by the sage Satyavrata and which attracts Lord Damodara.

- Hari-bhakti-vilasa 2.16.198

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