martes, 14 de septiembre de 2010

Krishna Talk 111 - Sri Lalita-devi and Srimati Radharani

Krishna Talk 111 - Sri Lalita-devi and Srimati Radharani
by Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaja

View online:
http://www.gosai.com/writings/sri-lalita-devi-and-srimati-radharani

(On the auspicious occasion of Lalita-saptami and Sri Radhastami, we present
the following extract from the book 'Follow The Angels' by Srila Sridhara
Deva Gosvami Maharaja)

Svarupa-damodara is the constant companion of Mahaprabhu in Puri. He is a
scholar of the highest class and also a very good singer. Without
consideration of his elevated social position, he will perform the simplest
service. Svarupa-damodara is there always, everywhere with Mahaprabhu. When
Mahaprabhu was lost, the devotees inquired after Him the whole night and
Svarupa-damodara was there with a lantern, moving along the seashore, looking
for Him. In krsna-lila Svarupa-damodara is Lalita-devi.

yam kam api vraja-kule vrsabhanu-jayah
preksya sva-paksa-padavim anurudhyamanam
sadyas tad ista-ghananena krtarthayantim
devim gunaih su-lalitam lalitam namami

"I offer my respects to charming and virtuous Lalita-devi. If Lalita meets
any person in Vraja and perceives that they are favorable towards Srimati
Radharani, she immediately requests Radharani to accept that person in Her
camp. Radharani obeys Lalita and fulfills the desires of such a fortunate
person." (Lalita-pranama Stotra 7)

Whoever Lalita-devi meets in Vraja-dhama, she requests them to join her own
party. And when they come, "Yes, come with me." At once she is giving
admission. "Come! Join the service of Radharani." She is canvassing to
look after the interests of Radharani. Such intense attention to the service
of Radharani is never found anywhere else. Lalita-devi sometimes even
chastises Krsna boldly. She takes risks by reproaching Krsna, "You do not
know the dignity of my Mistress."
Sometimes Radharani feels ashamed within Her mind. She thinks, "What does
He say about Me?" Lalita-devi replies, "This shame is very bad. You just
sit quietly. You do not know Your own interest. I know what is Your interest,
Your position. I cannot tolerate that Your dignity should be minimized in any
way, ever." That is the spirit of Lalita-devi. Rupa Gosvami has composed
one stanza:

radha-mukunda-pada-sambhava-gharma-bindu-
nirmanchanopakarani-krta-deha-laksam
uttunga-sauhrda-visesa-bharat pragalbham
devim gunaih su-lalitam lalitam namami

"I offer respects to charming and virtuous Lalita-devi, who worships the
perspiration from Sri Sri Radha-Mukunda's feet, and who, out of great love,
is very bold and agressive." (Lalita-pranama Stotra 1)

Rupa Gosvami has composed a song in praise of Lalita-devi – how she is, the
first attendant of Radharani. Radha-mukunda-pada-sambhava-gharma –
Lalita-devi is a little aggressive in nature, pushing and meddling in the
affairs which are connected with Sri Radha and Krsna. She interferes with
anything and everything in connection with Radha and Krsna, thinking that the
affairs connecting Them are her responsibility. She is very aggressive in
nature and also intolerant. But Rupa Gosvami has justified her character.
How?
Radha-mukunda-pada-sambhava-gharma-bindu-nirmanchanopakarani-krta-deha-laksam.
What is the high standard of her love and sacrifice for Radha and Krsna? He
says that if she finds even a drop of sweat on the foot of either Radharani
or Krsna, she will come as if with millions of bodies. With such eagerness
she will jump to remove that drop of sweat. Lalita-devi feels such affection
for the Divine Couple.

At the source of her aggression and interference in the affairs of Radha and
Krsna we find a great and deep affection. This justifies all her activities
as the leader accepted by the associates of Radha-Krsna. She always veers
towards that Couple with such a standard. She can't tolerate a drop of
sweat on the foot of the Divine Damsel. On that level she works, as if with
millions of bodies she wants to correct it, to remove that drop of sweat. She
can't tolerate any trouble, not the least trouble.
Uttunga-sauhrda-visesa-bharat pragalbham – she is very aggressive and
talkative, and goes forward to do anything and everything as if she is mad
with leadership. But at the source is her great concern for Them. This
justification is there.

Sometimes she chastises Radharani Herself, "You do not know how to behave
with Krsna. I will teach You what to do. Don't make Yourself available to
Krsna so cheaply. You must be careful of Your own dignity." Though a little
younger, still Lalita takes the position as caretaker of Radharani, always
first to look after the cause of Radharani, to espouse the cause of
Radharani. And she is always thinking herself responsible for all the affairs
concerning Them.
Sometimes she goes to chastise Krsna also, "You don't know the dignified
position, what dignified love my friend has towards You. You undermine that.
I cannot allow it.

From our mundane plane of experience it is not an understandable thing. We
are creatures of the plane of lust. Although similar, the difference between
the two is great. One is the perverted reflection of the other, the opposite.
One is prema, the highest sacrifice, and the other is this lust, gross sense
pleasure. It is like the North Pole and the South Pole, the distance is like
that; just the opposite.

We are mad with this lust, but such madness is only perverted. In the
original position it is a noble thing. It is self-forgetfulness, sacrifice,
reckless sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Prime Cause, the Autocrat
whose extent cannot be calculated. It is noble. Such intensity can never by
calculated, it cannot come into our calculation here in this plane.
Renunciation, liberation, salvation, these are only the negative aspect of
lust. But the positive life, the life of sacrifice, the acme is found only
there.

Lalita-devi thinks herself the guardian of Radharani. "I am Her guardian, I
cannot allow anyone to minimize this great divine love and sacrifice of
Radharani." Lalita-devi stands as guarantor, even to Krsna, what to speak
of other ordinary persons. To Krsna this is most valuable and rare; such is
Radharani's sacrifice in love, the highest intensity and utmost dignity.

It is unthinkable, unknown and unknowable. We may only conjecture as to this
ideal. But if we think that we have obtained that position, if we think that
we are the masters of that ideal, then it is finished; we have obtained
something else. It is such an inconceivable thing, it is adhoksaja. It can
never be caught by any force of our mind, or intelligence; avan manasa
gocara. Its existence transcends our mental speculation and logical
considerations. But still it exists. And Lalita-devi is of that special
temperament; she has a unique importance in the lila of Krsna, as the
guardian of the lila.

There are other friends of Radharani. Some are neutral towards Krsna and
Radharani, some are a little partial towards Krsna, but Lalita-devi is
cent-percent partial towards Radharani's cause. This is Lalita-devi. Her
birthday, the day of her appearance, is just before that of Radharani.

 

We are told that Radharani was found floating in a lotus. Her father,
Vrsabhanu Raja, was childless. He was a gopa chief, the cowherd king, the
chief cow-keeper. But he did not have any children. Then one day he found a
beautiful girl in a lotus flower on the lake. He found Her and took Her home.
The girl was very beautiful, perfect, but Her eyes did not open.

Vrsabhanu Raja had a friendship with Nanda Maharaja. Through Nanda Maharaja,
Yasoda heard that her friend Kirtida, the wife of Vrsabhanu Raja, had found a
girl of exquisite beauty in a lake somewhere, but She was blind. She went to
visit her, to congratulate Kirtida. Going there, Yasoda took Krsna with her.
The ladies were talking and Krsna went up to this beautiful girl. Suddenly
She opened Her eyes and saw the boy Krsna first. The story is told like that:
when She first opened Her eyes, Radharani saw Krsna. This is lila, eternal
incidents, events which are repeated in a particular way, like a drama. One
drama is repeated many times in the eternal quarter. By Krsna's will, some
glimpse comes to the current mundane brahmanda as an exhibition, to attract
the people of this age. It was in that way. First it was the children's
union, interchanging their vision.

Afterwards Vrsabhanu Raja came and his queen Kirtida began to nurture the
baby girl until She was grown up. Vrsabhanudadhi nava sasi lekhe lalita-sakhi
guna ramita visakhe. Vrsabhanu-udadhi – Rupa Gosvami describes that the
family of Vrsabhanu is compared to the milk ocean and from this, the moon has
arisen as Radharani. So beautiful a comparison: as the moon, Srimati
Radharani has come from the ocean of Vrsabhanu's fortune. The fortune of
Vrsabhanu is compared with the ocean, and from there sprung up
Vrsabhanu-nandini Sri Radhika.

Gradually, Radharani grew up and the time came to marry. The marriage was
performed ostentatiously. There are different angles of vision about Her
marriage. Some say that one day Lord Brahma married Radha and Krsna in a
jungle. Some say that They were married according to social customs. In
different kalpas, various versions are known.

But Mahaprabhu accepted parakiya to be the highest attainment. They are not
married, but each other's heart did not know anyone else as Their lover.
Their hearts automatic connection was full. It is not chance coincidence, but
rather fulfilled a necessity. Free love, recklessly crossing the directions
and the influence of society and the scriptures, crossing the conceptions of
religious sentiment, taking so much risk for the union with Krsna, this holds
the highest position.

There are two very fine points here. One is that it is very rarely possible,
it is very hard to get that favorable situation. Another is that at this
stage one is taking the greatest risk possible, without caring for anything.
This is given the supreme-most position, parakiya-madhurya-rasa. In
madhurya-rasa these parakiya circumstances are necessary to increase the rasa
to its fullest and most intense capacity.

The highest intensity can be produced by such artificial dearth. If we hide
the rice or wheat underground to create a shortage of food, then food becomes
very valuable. So also the dearth, the rareness, the impossibility of union
has been created in parakiya-rasa. To facilitate this relationship, such
adjustment is necessary between the two, among the Divine Couple. They are
crossing all sort of conceptions of religious sentiments. This is the highest
limit. There is no consideration of anything when They meet. At all cost, at
all risk They are going to serve each other. The intensity becomes as high as
possible. It is managed by Yogamaya to raise it to the highest level.
Yogamaya manages in such a way that the union will be most fruitful and
pleasing. It is necessary to manage in such a way to maximize Their pleasure.

In vatsalya-rasa, Yasoda is arranging everything, but child Krsna does not
find satisfaction there. He is satisfied only in stealing foodstuffs. Yasoda
has reserved the very finest stock to feed her child, but He is not satisfied
with this. He wants to stealthily take and to feed others also. There He
finds great satisfaction. He does not find satisfaction in the ordinary
state. His mother is calling, "Come, my boy, take Your seat here. I have
kept many valuable dishes for You. I am serving all these things. You please
take." Ordinarily Krsna does not find pleasure there; He can't relish it.
So stealthily He will go and snatch things and throw them to the monkeys or
to some other boys. That is His boyish nature. His satisfaction does not come
in the ordinary way.

In vatsalya-rasa the Lord is showing autocracy, the autocratic nature of
exacting affection from the environment. And autocratic nature is also there
extracting the highest form of love from the consort group, in madhurya-rasa.
We are to understand all these things in a scientific way.

Everything belongs to Krsna. Yasoda prepares everything for satisfying Krsna,
to make Him eat, to feed Him. But He is not satisfied to take in that way.
Everything belongs to Him; He is the enjoyer of everything, the Absolute. But
still, aher iva gatih premnah svabhava – just as a snake naturally moves in
a crooked way, so the crooked movement of the waves of love is natural. We
are to approach it in this way. If we understand these relationships step by
step in a scientific way, then we'll be able to answer any questions that
may generally come. "What is the ideal of God, that He is a debauchee? He
is stealing! How can such things be adjusted with the ideal of the holiness
of God?"

Generally people will come and attack in this way. But they forget that they
cannot understand; they cannot follow that first this must be understood from
the plane of sacrifice, not from the plane of enjoyment or exploitation. It
is beyond renunciation and sacrifice; it is dedication. He is the owner and
consumer of anything and everything. He can take it in any way. Everything is
for Him. And no one has been given a position to comment on this. It is
eternal and irresistible; it is the flow of the divine plane. The highest
fundamental flow, the flow of the fundamental plane is of such nature. There
is no question of morality, because there is not a second party present
there. He is the only party. His movement is such. None may question. It is
such by nature.

We have come to rebuke God, but who are we? What is our position that we have
become jealous of His activities, which are advaya-jnana, Absolute? We are
culprits, nirmatsaranam satam. In the beginning Veda-Vyasa says, "What I am
going to say here is not meant for malicious people, for the jealous. Such
foolish, jealous and malicious people have no entrance into this ¬ of Krsna,
which I will describe. Only the sympathetic, the innocent, those who
understand His position, what He is, only they may enter." He cannot be
questioned. If we question the Absolute movement, then He is wrong. But the
absolute lila can never be wrong. It is causeless and irresistible. It is the
sweetest and the purest.

And we, jealous contrarians, will we rebuke Him? We are culpable and are to
be punished for that. The universal wave is such. He is the Autocrat.
Everything is for Him. He is for Himself. He is not accountable to any
person, nor is He required to give explanations to anyone. If that were to be
the case, then His absolute characteristic would be compromised. The absolute
wave is such; it cares for none.

We are represented there. If we can appreciate this, we can have entrance
there. In this way we can have a taste of that finest quality of sweetness.
We are allowed. If we can adjust, if we do away with all jealousy and
maliciousness, we will find in our hearts that it is of the nature of the
Absolute sweetness. And then we will be considered bonafide participants in
that lila. We will find that we will attain the highest ecstasy in our
hearts. We are to prepare ourselves for the absolute lila.

This is what is necessary for us. We must be open to receive the Absolute
wave of sweetness that comes to us; try to understand. Through the divine
agent we can prepare ourselves to find this plane of sweetness. This is the
background of the lila of Radha-Krsna. Srimad Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu gave this for us, such a beautiful thing. We must be selfless to
the extreme. This is the standard of selflessness, self-effacement,
self-forgetfulness, self-surrendering. Then we will be able to participate.
The universe, the characteristic, the movement, the sweetness of the Absolute
wave, the wave of sweetness Absolute, that is irresistible. It can never be
opposed by any force. The ultimate existence of the reality is of such
nature. It is not equipoised; it is dynamic. The ecstasy, the happiness is
dynamic, and its movement is in such a way.

We can participate if we simply remove all our selfishness, crookedness, and
jealous temperament. Then we will be considered fit to connect with that most
fundamental wave of Absolute sweetness. This is the background of
Radha-Govinda lila. We must prepare ourselves in such a way if we wish to
approach that highest plane of divinity. This is Vrndavana, the
characteristic of Vrndavana. Mahaprabhu and the acaryas, Bhaktivinoda Thakura
and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura came with this fact to give it to the
world.

 

 

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Food For Life - Mauritius

Karunika dasi: Pere Lavale(18 September 1803 - 9 September 1864) was a Roman Catholic priest and missionary to Mauritius. He lived amongst the emancipated slaves, learnt their language and devoted himself wholeheartedly to their moral and spiritual upliftment.

[pensamiento-del-dia:857] Nuestra única posesión

Lunes, 13 de septiembre del 2010

PENSAMIENTO DEL DÍA: Nuestra única posesión
 
Enviado desde Londres, Inglaterra.
 

El último sábado 11 de septiembre del 2010, mientras volábamos desde Austin a Dallas para tomar nuestro vuelo a Londres, hubo alguna duda si lo haríamos a tiempo o no. Para empezar tuvimos una conexión apretada con Dallas. Y luego encima de eso nuestro vuelo de Austin fue retrasado por otros 40 minutos. Esto nos dejó con la posibilidad real de perder nuestro vuelo a Londres. Lo que lo hizo aun más angustioso fue que después de aterrizar en Dallas tuvimos que transferirnos desde la terminal A a la terminal D para tomar nuestro vuelo a Londres.  

Cuando esas dificultades llegan solo hay tantas cosas que podemos hacer para contrarrestarlas. Tenemos que hacer todo lo posible de nuestro lado y luego depender de Krishna para el resto. Entonces hice todo lo que pude. Llamé a las Aerolíneas Americanas y conseguimos su garantía que habría espacio disponible para que se nos reserven los pasajes en un vuelo más tarde si perdíamos nuestro vuelo. Mientras aterrizábamos en Dallas la realización que se me mostró a través de mi cerebro fue que solo hay una cosa que poseemos verdaderamente, y esa es nuestra conciencia de Krishna. Nada puede llevárselo de nosotros. Este pensamiento me dio una gran paz. Si tienes a Krishna, lo tienes todo. Cualquiera otra cosa que podamos pensar que poseemos será arrancada de nosotros tarde o temprano por la rueda inexorable del tiempo.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari


RESPUESTAS DE ACUERDO A LA VERSIÓN VÉDICA:

Pregunta: ¿Cómo ganar la máxima realización? 
 

Gurudeva, 

Deseo saber qué tenemos que hacer para ganar la realización máxima. Deseo saber los métodos para alcanzar esto. Realmente deseo practicar esto. Espero que usted me guíe. Soy un hombre hindú de Bhután. 

Pulami

Respuesta: Siempre estar consciente de Krishna
 

El simple método para alcanzar la perfección espiritual es dado por el Señor Sri Krishna en el Bhagavad-gita como sigue: 
 
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī mām
̇ namaskuru
mām evais
̣yasi yuktvaivam
ātmānam
̇ mat-parāyaṇaḥ
 
"Siempre ocupa la mente en pensar en Mí, vuélvete devoto Mío,
ofréceme reverencias y adórame a Mí. Estando completamente
absorto en Mí, es seguro que vendrás a Mí".

Bhagavad-gita 9.34 
 
Desde el momento que te despiertas en la mañana hasta el momento que te vas a descansar en la noche siempre recuerda a Krishna. La siguiente página web te dará consejos prácticos sobre como hacer esto: 
 
 
Sankarshan Das Adhikari

 

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Traducción del inglés por cortesía de:

Wilmer Alberto Estrada Morales

Sullana-Piura-Perú

 

Redacción y gramática revisadas por:

Caitanyadeva das

San José, Costa Rica

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ceremonia de iniciación en Lituania

(durante la celebración de Nrisimha Chaturdasi)
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VISITE LA SECCIÓN:       Curso de la Máxima Autorrealización
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Esta semana -

Clase del Bhagavad-gita: Lección 132

    "TU AMIGO O TU ENEMIGO"

http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/Espanol/Curso/LeccionBG132.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nuevo nombre del sitio de Sankarshan Das  Adhikari en Español

www.regresoacasa.com

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nuevo libro sobre Su Gracia Sriman
Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Por Devadeva Das

http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/Espanol/SDA_Libro_DdD.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLASES CON TRADUCCIÓN AL ESPAÑOL

Las clases que Srila Sankarshan ha dado en Perú  y México

están disponibles en el enlace siguiente:

http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/Espanol/Clases.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

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Kurma dasa, AU: Sanjana's Saffron & Lemon Srikhand Cheesecake

saffron_cheesecake_2.jpg:

Sanjana is a great cook with a great food blog. I often link to her site, and she to mine. A culinary give-and-take, if you wish.

I dropped by the other day and noticed a great re-do of my cheesecake recipe from my first cookbook 'Great Vegetarian Dishes'. That book is enjoying it's 20th birthday right now. Happy Birthday GVD!! Maybe I'll make this cheesecake to celebrate.

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Australian News: The Ratha Yatra that started them all…on video

Over the summer, devotees all over the world celebrate the ancient festival Rathayatra, by pulling chariots carrying Lord Krishna and his brother and sister—in their Deity forms as Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra—down the streets of their city.

But there's never a good time to stop meditating on Jagannath, considered the most merciful form of God. And as Rathayatra season comes to a close, devotees can immerse themselves in the one that started them all in ISKCON film-maker Vasudeva Dasa's new English language version of his little-seen 1992 classic, Pulling Krishna Home.

Premiered this July 17th at ISKCON's headquarters in Mayapur, India and simultaneously on the web at Mayapur.tv, this in-depth documentary about the 1990 Rathayatra parade in Puri, Orissa, was first released only in French, Vasudeva's native tongue.

But soon after its release, Vasudeva left film-making for sixteen years, only returning to the service in 2008 when he was encouraged by Mayapur devotees.

After making two brand new documetnaries—No Suffering on Safari, about a spiritual safari in Bangladesh, and Within Ten Miles of Mayapur, about ISKCON Mayapur's charity work in local villages—he turned his attention back to his old film.

Read the rest of this story at : http://news.iskcon.com

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Radhastami 2010

radha

Just a kind a reminder that we are celebrating Srimati Radharani's Appearance day tomorrow as per the timings on the poster.

You can still come today and tomorrow morning to help out with the preparations.

Also after Guru Puja, at around 7.30am tomorrow, Veda Vyasa Priya Maharaja will be giving Diksha initiation to 4 aspirants.

So it is a full day of bliss not to be missed!
And 'Happy Lalita Sasti' for today!

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Australian News: 24 HOUR KIRTAN @ NEW GOKULA: Update your diary now

Clear a spot in your diary for this event: Time October 2 at 6:00pm – October 3 at 6:00pm

Location New Gokula Farm, Lewis Lane Millfield NSW

On the final day of World Holy Name Festival, coinciding with HG Aindra Prabhu's 108 hour memorial Kirtan, we will be holding a Maha 24 Hour Kirtan at New Gokula Farm. The event is also held over a long weekend and in uni/school spring holidays

Check out the webs ite for more details.

Here’s the facebook page

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Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Bhajan - Gopi Gita dasi - Hare Krishna

Gopi Gita dasi singing a Hare Krishna bhajan.

Dallas, TX
2010-02-13


Download: 2010-02-13 - 2 - Home Program - Gopi Gita dasi - Hare Krishna.mp3
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Sita-pati dasa, AU: Yoga Mantras

I close my Tuesday and Thursday morning yoga classes at Fusion Hot Yoga with these mantras:

om ajnana timirandhasya
jnananjana salakaya
caksur un militam yena
tasmai sri guruve namah

om sat-cit-ananda para brahma
purusottama paramatma
sri bhagavati sameta
sri bhagavate namah

Hari Om Tat Sat

The nature of this world is of darkness; but just as the Sun brings illumination to this world, may our lives be illuminated by divine light, filled with love, compassion, and mercy; and may we achieve self-realization in this lifetime.
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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Most beautiful: Radha

(Narayana is more beautiful than Laksmi, Krsna is more beautiful than Narayana, and Radha...)

The beauty of the Lord [Narayana] was so enchanting that it could not be sufficiently described. The goddess of fortune is supposed to be the most beautiful sight within the spiritual and material creations of the Lord; she has a sense of being the most beautiful, yet her beauty was defeated when the Lord appeared. In other words, the beauty of the goddess of fortune is secondary in the presence of the Lord. In the words of Vaisnava poets, it is said that the Lord's beauty is so enchanting that it defeats hundreds of thousands of Cupids. He is therefore called Madana-mohana. It is also described that the Lord sometimes becomes mad after the beauty of Radharani. Poets describe that under those circumstances, although Lord Krsna is Madana-mohana, He becomes Madana-daha, or enchanted by the beauty of Radharani. Actually the Lord's beauty is superexcellent, surpassing even the beauty of Laksmi in Vaikuntha. The devotees of the Lord in the Vaikuntha planets want to see the Lord as the most beautiful, but the devotees in Gokula or Krsnaloka want to see Radharani as more beautiful than Krsna.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 3.15.42

A pre-Radhastami meditation

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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: From Ranjit Prabhu, my Godbother

Congratulations and thanks on the publication of Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava. It is a monumental work and without doubt the culmination of years of intense study, research and meditation. On reading it I finally understand our Srila Prabhupada's words that he did not understand much of what Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was saying. I had always kind of doubted that, thinking that it was some kind of humility in the presence of the guru or something of that nature. Similarly, I was thinking that the statement "He was a Vaikuntha man," was also some kind of formulaic praise for the guru. On reading this it amazes me that our Srila Prabhupada did not deviate in the slightest in instituting the format of ISKCON. He knew exactly what to do and how to do it, following in the footsteps of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. It gives reality to our Srila Prabhupada's claim that he simply was passing on what he had learnt from his guru. There is much more I can say...

I have no doubt that this book will set the standard for understanding a crucial time in Gaudiya Vaisnava history.

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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: ISKCON Ujjain Seminar 2010 Day 3

Ujjain update 13th September, 2010 Sent in by His Grace Mukunda Prabhu In the morning class Guru Maharaj elaborated on the aspect of daina or humility as the first step to saranagati. He instructed us to cultivate the quality of daina by considering oneself as being the greatest sinner and giving innumerable pain to other [...]

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 70

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

September 13th, 3:33 A.M.

Namamrta by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:

“Chanting Hare Krishna frees one from the bodily concept of life:

"[Ajamila said]: Simply because I chanted the holy name of the Lord in the association of devotees, my heart is now becoming purified. Therefore I shall not fall victim again to the false lures of material sense gratification. Now that I have become fixed in the Absolute Truth, henceforward I shall not identify myself with the body. I shall give up false conceptions of "I" and "mine" and fix my mind on the lotus feet of Krishna.

"How a living entity becomes a victim of the material condition is lucidly explained in this verse. The beginning is to misidentify the body as oneself. Therefore Bhagavad-gita begins with the spiritual instruction that one is not the body but is within the body. This consciousness can be possible only if one chants the holy name of Krishna, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and always keeps oneself in the association of devotees. This is the secret of success. Therefore we stress that one should chant the holy name of the Lord and keep oneself free from the contaminations of this material world, especially the contaminations of lusty desires for illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication and gambling. With determination, one should follow these principles and thus be saved from the miserable condition of material existence. The first necessity is to become freed from the bodily conception of life." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.38)

When Prabhupada was discussing Western philosophers he noted that a prominent philosopher, Thomas Huxley, was proud of being an Englishman. This means even big philosophers and scientist are under the impression that they are their bodies. This misconception is the strongest impediment, and it must be removed. It is not easily obtainable, but it is made very easy by the mercy of Krishna and Lord Caitanya through the process of chanting Hare Krishna. One identifies oneself, if you ask him who he is, as a man or a woman or black or white or American or Indian or Englishman. But today you may think you are an Englishman because you were born in England, but in your next life you may not take your birth in England; it may be in China, or Russia, or in some other country. Or you may not get this human form of body. Today you are a nationalist, you are a great follower of your country, but tomorrow if you stay in your country you may be a cow being taken to the slaughterhouse. The whole world is moving under the false egoism of "I" and "mine," but the factual effect of chanting the holy name is to become free from such misconceptions. Caitanya has written param vijayate sri krishna sankirtanam: "All glories to Sri Krishna sankirtana!" Why is it so glorious? That has also been explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ceto darpana marjanam: by the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one's heart is cleansed. One gives up the idea that his self is the body. As we regularly chant Hare Krishna we keep the mirror of our mind cleansed, and we stay fixed in our spiritual identity.

Today I woke at one o'clock in the morning with a clear head. I did my chanting in a decent condition. I went through all the mantras with soft attention to the syllables and finished sixteen rounds before 3:30 A.M. I kept my mind on the chanting and didn't think of other things. It takes an effort to concentrate, but if you try you can keep your mind fixed on the Hare Krishna mantras and not allow other discursive thoughts to intrude. The early morning peace in my room was helpful, and I cruised through the quota at a good pace. I'm grateful for a good session.

"I am not this body."
Chanting Hare Krishna
brings you to this place.
"I am spirit soul"
is the result of japa.
You situate yourself as
the servant of the spiritual
Lord, beyond the concept
of "American, old man."
When I chant I'm something
else, a particle of
spirit and my mind
is cleansed of dirt.
You can do it if you
say the names attentively
and pray to Nama
Prabhu for self-realization:
"I am Krishna's and
Krishna is mine."
It is a high understanding
but possible
in the yajna of harinama.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Prabhupada Smaranam

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

One Hundred Prabhupada Poems, #27

Last morning here in German temple,
some devotees who live here get to
see His Divine Grace in this dim-lit
kirtana hall every morning, as they also do in
Gita Nagari or Denver or Bhaktivedanta Manor.
But I move on. So I take extra
fond looks this morning,
at you, Srila Prabhupada.

During samsara prayers I glanced at you,
keeping the women out of my
peripheral vision,
and even during Nrsimha worship
I peeked over to see you.
Then while I recited the Tulasi prayer,
I looked from the green plant over
to our spiritual father and best friend,
and I sensed a connection. How else
can we aspire to be the maidservant
of Vrnda in the groves of Vrndavana
except when we serve the pure
devotee, Srila Prabhupada?

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Poem from Under Dark Stars

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

1.
This one was written
in New York with thoughts
of moving and wondering
what Krishna would drag me
through. The friends are kind.
In the meantime you
continue to listen
to your music.

2.
Here is the poem:
“He can do it. Must be
humble and admit the truth
and keep going as long
as he has a little shelter
from loved ones.
This is the kind of music
I like. Yes, you can bring
the Sufi healer here.

“Now ‘the opener’ is over. It's another
song I wrote to. I'll go up and
sing with the Vaisnavas now.
They said they wouldn't kick me out.

“But I may go somewhere else.
Never know what Krishna has in store.
He may want no more
writing and publishing, He may want
the perpetual right eye and drag
you through the mud more and more.

“I'll keep playing ‘the opener’ and learning how to pray to
God, Lord, Krishna."

read more from SDGonline - daily updates Viraha Bhavan journal 

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Free Write

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

I turned at random to Srimad-Bhagavatam First Canto, Second Chapter, verse 6: "The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted in order to completely satisfy the self."

This is the answer to the first question asked by the sages at Naimisaranya. They wanted to know the summary or most essential part of the vast Vedic literatures. It is the path of renunciation of material pleasures and the taking up of devotional service to Krishna. "The relation of the servant and the served is the most congenial form of intimacy." One can taste it in the preliminary stage as soon as he takes it up. We are meant to serve Krishna. It is our dharma or constitutional nature. Just as the nature of sugar is sweetness, the nature of the living being is to render service. Everyone is serving someone; even the king or president is serving the people. But we are unhappy because we are not serving in the most satisfactory way. The perfection of service is to serve Krishna, the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. By false ego we think that we are the center of existence or that we should be served. Or we may have an extended concept of service and think the family or nation or humanity should be served. But the perfection of service is to the Supreme. Service to Krishna in the regulated stage brings out dormant love of God in the stage of ecstasy.

Prabhupada engaged us in active devotional service beginning with chanting Hare Krishna and hearing Bhagavad-gita. Gradually he added more and more active service. Love of God is not passive meditation but engaging all the senses in service. There are nine principle methods of service, sravanam-kirtanam vishnu smaranam, etc., and one who engages in them is considered the most learned person in the world. It does not depend on high or low birth but simply performing of service under the direction of the spiritual master.

Laksmana Reddy, number 81, defensive tackle, had his own rooting section as his family and friends attended the Little Kids' football game. They don't keep score in these games but unofficially, the Dutchmen beat Laksmana's team, and Laksmana didn't get a chance to make any outstanding plays. Various boys got hurt and lay on the ground for a while until they got up and limped off the field, to applause. Each team had a squad of little-girl cheerleaders. The Dutchmen's cheer began, "We may be small…" The boys' helmets were so big they looked like astronauts, and they wore big shoulderpads also. A volunteer dad made a play-by-play broadcast over the loudspeaker, which made the game more interesting: “The Wildcats are on third down with twelve yards to go, and they really have their work cut out for them against the Dutchmen's tight defense…" Before the game started, we faced the American flag while they played the national anthem.

Things

I am waiting for our friends
to join us for lunch.
I hope it won't be awkward,
and I'll think of something to say.
"Just be yourself," but who is that?
The man in the New York Yankees hat?

Saci said it would rain today
all day, but it is 12:20 P.M.
and it is not raining.
The Yankees lost again. The
ace reliever hit the batter.

Soon our friends will be
here for lunch. We are
having pancakes and omelette
and potatoes. Our two friends
are ladies who live in the neighborhood.
We are all celibates.
We probably won't talk about
Krishna or maybe I could
think of something. We have been
reading of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You
could say something about Him.

I'm a little nervous, but there is
nothing to worry about. I
am an old man and can
do what I want. I am
well behaved. We can talk
about the pancakes and
the football game the kids
played. We can avoid painful
things. We should avoid painful
things and try to be kind to
one another. Oh, I hope I
won't be dull. I'm usually
too quiet. I have nothing to say.
But I'll have to think of
something. Ask them if
they read your journal
and poems. Do you dare?

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Maddy Jean-claude Durr, New Govardhana, AU: A Class about Vedic Geography and the Varnasrama Safety Net (Given in Berlin)

In Berlin I was given a chance to give many classes. This was the first morning class that I gave, on Dhruva Maharaja.  I chose two main topics: Vedic geographical history and the safety net of Varnasrama society.

 

Your servant, Madhavendra Puri Dasa.

 

[http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/a-class-about-vedic-geography-and-the-varnasrama-safety-net-berlin-2010]

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Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1965 September 13: "Today is the 32nd day of our journey from Calcutta. After midnight the lurching decreased and I felt relief. In the morning I cooked 'Bati-chachari.' It appeared to be delicious and I was able to take some food."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1965

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1965 September 13: "Lord Krishna has taken charge of the ship. The captain tells that they had never such calmness of the Atlantic. If Atlantic would have shown its usual face I would have died. Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion Lord Sri Krishna. There is a Bengali poem made by me today in this connection, Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krsna."
Jalduta Diary :: 1965

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 September 13: "So far the questions raised by your father, to understand God one must be purified. In contaminated state one cannot expect to understand the Absolute Truth. Our Krishna Consciousness movement is for bringing one to purified consciousness where one can understand Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 September 13: "Regarding the four Sannyasis, I am requesting them to not preach anything which may hamper the growth of our Society. Please try to help these boys and advise them on my behalf not to waste time in such fruitless endeavor."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 September 13: "Now go on teaching in this school and distributing our literatures and try to recruit some local men. For relying upon devotees from outside to come that is not very practical business. It is better to recruit some local men and train them to do the work."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 September 13: "When I came to Vrindaban for short periods I would stay at Radha Damodara Temple. I was staying in two rooms upstairs then one of the Goswamis asked me if I would like to stay in the two rooms below. The rooms were given to me on verbal lease for life."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 September 13: "Before opening a temple it must be considered a hundred times, and after opening it cannot be closed. The temple must be re-opened. 'One who considers the Deity to be stone and the Spiritual Master to be an ordinary human is possessed of hellish intelligence.'"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 September 13: "Continue as you are doing and by the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu you will be very successful. It is by His order that we are carrying this message all over the world. Now I am coming there and shall see you then."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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New Vrndavan, USA: New Vrindaban Hosts Radhastami Festival

When people visit New Vrindaban for the first time, they often ask, "Who is that girl with Krishna?" Her name is Radha and she is the queen of Vrindaban. On Wednesday, September 15, New Vrindaban Community will celebrate Radhastami, which is Radha's Appearance Day or birthday. All events are free and open to the public.

The story of Radha's appearance is one of the most beautiful stories in the ancient Vedic scriptures. According to the Vedas, around 5,000 years ago, King Vrishabhanu was taking his morning bath in the holy Yamuna River. Just then, a beautiful baby girl floated by lying on a lotus blossom. King Vrishabhanu embraced the infant and carried her off to his queen, Kirtida. When Kirtida saw this magnificent child, she showered little Radha with unrelenting affection.

Radha's spiritual Vrindaban is a place of enormous wealth. The ladies of Vrindaban have wardrobes filled with the finest silks, and jewelry chests filled with precious gems. Nonetheless, Radha's favorite ornaments are the necklaces and crowns that Krishna makes for her out of wild flowers.

"Because Radha is so fond of flowers, we often make a special outfit on Radhastami made entirely from flowers," said Malati Dasi, one of the GBCs in New Vrindaban. Last year, the dressmaking team glue-gunned nearly 2,500 flowers – mostly chrysanthemums – onto a stiff cotton fabric, which they used for dressing Radha and Krishna. Other flower varieties include orchids, marigolds and daisies, along with assorted greenery for contrast.

Decorating with flowers is one of the 64 traditional Vedic arts. The art of creating flower dresses and jewelry was nearly lost, however, until it was revived by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). "Srila Prabhupada introduced this art to the western world. ISKCON in India, however, has taken it to another level by importing exquisite flowers from around the world to make flower garments and earrings for Radha and Krishna."

This year, New Vrindaban is in suspense, wondering whether Radha and Krishna will again be dressed in flower garments, or whether the new special-ordered silk outfit from India will arrive in time for Radhastami. "The outfit from India is absolutely gorgeous. It is made from a white silk brocade with an exquisite red decorative detail," explained Malati. "One of the local devotees is an expert at jewelry-making, so she will make matching necklaces and chokers.

"Radhastami is a feast for the eyes. I invite our neighbors to visit New Vrindaban and catch a glimpse of mystic India," said Malati. "There is a lot happening during this early fall festival which begs everyone to join in the fun!"

Here is the schedule of events for Radhastami:

5:30 pm Traditional bhajans (hymns from ancient India)
6:00 pm Narration on Radha's appearance
7:00 pm Everyone has the opportunity to offer to Radha and Krishna incense sticks, small hand made lamps, flowers, hearts, balloons. There will be dancing and singing.
8:00 pm Free vegetarian feast

For more information about this free public festival, call (304) 843-1600 or visit www.NewVrindaban.com. New Vrindaban Community is located south of Moundsville – Wheeling, off Route 250.

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Gauranga Kishore das,USA: Krishna: History or Myth


Krishna: History or Myth from Saraswati Films on Vimeo.



I got the link to this video forwarded to me and it sounded interesting so I thought I would check it out, and while I would say that it lacks a certain degree of academic integrity and thoroughness that one might hope for in an investigative piece like this, it is nevertheless a decent summary the main pieces of evidence that lend strength to certain Vedic accounts as being at least somewhat historical in nature.

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Kirtans in Oxford, UK: Kirtan This Sunday

We have a young Irish kirtaniya to start us off into a new season of Kirtan Experience. Gaura Hari lives with his Polish wife near London and has many years of kirtan experience under his belt, having toured extensively in Poland, Australia and India with various chanting parties. I've known Gaura since he was six, but haven't seen him for years, so am curious to see what all this chanting has done for him! Gaura is bringing some kirtaniya friends with him and we look forward to chanting with them all this Sunday, 19th September. Hope you can make it too!

In Nambour, Australia.

Gaura Hari absorbed in chanting bliss - Melbourne, Australia
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Australian News: His Holiness Kadamba-Kanana Swami in SYDNEY.

His Holiness Kadamba-Kanana Swami in Sydney 12th – 22nd October 2010

Kadamba Kanana Swami started his spiritual life in Vrndavana, the Holy land of Krishna and immediately felt he found his home. He became a disciple of HH Jayadvaita Swami.

He joined ISKCON in 1978 shortly after Srila Prabhupada’s departure from this world and served in Vrndavana from ’78 to ’84 in various types of management.

After a one year break from India in Australia he returned to India this time to take charge of the construction of Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi in Mayapura and remained there from ’85 to ’90.

He liked the pioneering spirit of working in India and above all he liked to stay in the Holy Dhama.

In 1990 he became the Temple President of the Krsna Balarama temple in Vrndavana and remained in that position untill ’95.

After that he began to travel and preach around the world and in 1997 he received sannyasa.

These days besides preaching in Europe, South Africa, India and Australia, he still has some involvement in supervision of the Vrndavana temple.

For more details read the Sydney Temple Newsletter


Follow this link to the web site of HH Kadamba-Kanana Swami


See an interview from PAMHO live at last year

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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sunday, September 12, 2010


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Australian News: Aindra Das: Kirtan Insights

Photo by NilaMadhava Vikas.

By Dhanurdhara Swami:(originally posted at Bhakticollective.com) The following is an interview with Sripad Aindra das made in 2009 for the forthcoming book Kirtan Meditations – The Mood and Technique of Bhakti Kirtan compiled by Dhanurdhara Swami and Akincana Krishna dasa. Due to the unexpected loss of this great soul I decided to release his interview quite before the editing has been finished. More can be read at wavesofdevotion.com. I hope it gives some pleasure and solace to the congregation of the devotees feeling the loss of this great soul. Dhanurdhara Swami

Chanting with purity

Harinam-sankirtan means to loudly chant the holy name for the benefit of others. We should seriously consider to what extent we are benefiting others, and also to what extent we are benefiting ourselves. There is apparent kirtan and real kirtan. Only sankirtan where the pure name is chanted is real sankirtan. If someone is making offenses to the name, simply articulating the syllables "Hare Krishna," that is not real sankirtan. One must thus carefully consider the offenses to be avoided in the matter of chanting.

Can you talk about the different types of chanting?

There is bhukti-nama, offensive chanting, which results in material gain; there is mukti-nama, shadow chanting, which results in liberation, and there is prema-nama, pure chanting, which results in prema-bhakti, pure love of Godhead.

Bhukti-nama means offensive chanting. By chanting offensively, you can benefit others only by increasing their material piety. Bhaktivinoda Thakura therefore states that a pure devotee should not participate in kirtan led by offenders to the holy name. Who are those offenders? Those who do kirtan for ulterior motives–who chant for money, or to augment their sex appeal, or do it for name and fame. Such chanting can at best result in material gratification.

Originally published at Bhakticollective.com, read the rest you won’t regret it!

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Vrndadevi asks: How does one get his/her spirital form?

Could you please explain how this works, after a long time, when/if we finally attain the spiritual world? And Rahul Gupta wants advice on developing a community by the Ujjain temple complex.

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Dandavats.com: Food For Life - Mauritius

Karunika dasi: Pere Lavale(18 September 1803 - 9 September 1864) was a Roman Catholic priest and missionary to Mauritius. He lived amongst the emancipated slaves, learnt their language and devoted himself wholeheartedly to their moral and spiritual upliftment.

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