PENSAMIENTO DEL DÍA: El cenit de la perfección espiritual Enviado desde Sofía, Bulgaria.
Hay muchos sistemas de elevar la conciencia que llevarán al practicante a grados variados de avance espiritual. Pero si alguien desea alcanzar la plataforma más elevada, el cenit de la perfección espiritual, debería prestar atención a las palabras del Señor Sri Krishna en elBhagavad-gita. El Señor revela en elBhagavad-gita 6.47que de todos los yogis o trascendentalistas, aquel que Lo sirve en amor puro está en el nivel más elevado de la perfección espiritual. Krishna agradece y corresponde a todas las variedades de trascendentalistas, pero Su misericordia especial es exclusivamente para aquellos trascendentalistas que son totalmente fieles a Él.
Me estoy preguntando que si Krishna es todo atractivo, ¿Cómo es que caemos del mundo espiritual? ¿Cómo podemos ser atraídos a un mundo de sufrimiento, vejez y enfermedad?
También, Krishna dice que una vez que estamos con Él en Su morada no regresamos.
Su sirviente humilde,
Pooja
Respuesta: Nuestra primera ocupación es regresar
Si alguien te dispara una flecha en tu pecho, ¿Cuál será tu primera ocupación? ¿Ver de dónde vino la flecha o sacártela?
Estás preguntando porque has caído a este mundo material, pero tu primera ocupación debería ser preguntar cómo regresar al mundo espiritual, no cómo caíste. Así que una vez que saques la flecha de tu pecho podrás luego investigar para ver de dónde vino, de manera similar una vez que regreses al mundo espiritual fácilmente verás como caíste de tal manera que no cometerás el mismo error de nuevo.
(durante la celebración de Nrisimha Chaturdasi) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ VISITE LA SECCIÓN:Curso de la Máxima Autorrealización -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja THE POND OF THE ANGER OF LOVE
Maan Sarovara, Vrndavana: October 14, 2003
Srila Maharaja at Maan Sarovara, 2003
[By the mercy of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga, 2010 Vraja Mandala Parikrama is going on smoothly. Today, the parikrama party went to Maan-sarovara, therefore we are sending out what Srila Maharaja spoke there in 2003:]
You should take acamana * [See endnote 1] from this pond, thinking it to be the very svarupa (form) of Srimati Radhika – and pray for Her mercy.* [See endnote 2] During rasa-lila, Srimati Radhika saw that, "Krsna is dancing with Me, but at the same time He is dancing with all the other gopis. He tells lies like, ‘I have given You My heart. You are My most beloved.' But now He is treating Me just like the others." She entered a sulky mood, a very angry mood, and at once began to weep. She left the rasa-mandala (the circle of the rasa dance) in Seva-kunja, crossed the Yamuna, and finally came to this lonely forest to hide Herself here.
Rasa stopped, because Sri Krsna began searching for Her – searching, searching, searching. When He finally found Her He saw that She was weeping, and that a large pond was created from Her tears. Thus, this place is called Maan Sarovara, the sarovara (pond) made from the maan (transcendental loving jealous anger) of Srimati Radhika.
Sri Krsna pacified Her here, although to pacify Her was very hard for Him. He took Her lotus feet upon His head, tried to appease Her in many ways, and He also took a vow: "From now onwards I will never do anything wrong. I accept that I have committed a mistake. I have offended you, but I promise that I will never do this in the future."
You can see how beautiful these forest kunjas are. There were millions of groves and kunjas here at that time. When Srimati Radhika or Sri Krsna were hiding themselves in any kunja, it was very difficult for them to discover where the other was hidden. At that time the trees were not like this. Now they are feeling separation for Srimati Radhika and Lord Krsna and are about to die. These trees know all the sweet pastimes of Srimati Radhika's hiding from Krsna, as well as all other such lilas, and now they cannot see these manifest in this world.
We have brought you all to see how beautiful these kunjas are. At that time these trees were straight and covered with lush creepers, though now they are lying down. No unauthorized person was able see through them, to see who was there or not. At that time the kunjas where so large that rasa-lila and all other related pastimes used to take place in them. Millions of gopis could fit in them. At that time Vrndavana forest was only forest. There were not many houses as there are today. According to the desire of Lord Krsna, the kunjas and land could expand and reduce in size. You are very lucky to come with me to very beautiful places like this one.
Previously we used to perform parikrama by foot. From Balevan we used to cross the Jamuna by boat, and then walk here by the shore of Jamuna in 20 – 30 minutes, and then we would return to Vrndavana. Now I cannot do so, but I want that one day you should also try to do parikrama by foot.
I brought you here to touch this place, and to touch the feet of these trees. These trees are exalted devotees. They previously saw the Lord's pastimes as trees, and now they are performing austerities in this form. One day they will have gopi forms, and at that time they will be able to enter rasa-lila and other such pastimes.
This scenery is so beautiful. If anyone has a camera he should take a picture of it. Birds are sitting here, and the water is very lovely and tasty. You are lucky to have come to this exalted holy place.
Now I request you all to take prasadam. Brahmacaris and sannyasis will sit here on one side and ladies will be on the other side. At once, without delay, please go and sit – because we do not have much time.
[* Endnote 1 – Acamana - a ritual of purification by which one takes bath by mantra and sips water three times. At the holy places one chants the acamana mantra, om kesavaya namah etc., and then prays to the particular pond or river or lake, "You have personally witnessed the pastimes of Radha and Krsna here, so you are qualified to manifest those pastimes in my heart. Please bestow your mercy upon me so that I may one day be qualified to see those pastimes. Please manifest in my heart what you have seen."
[*Endnote 2 – (We asked Pujyapad Madhava Maharaja what Srila Gurudeva may have said at any other time as to why, since both Maan Sarovara and Radha-kunda are both the svarupa of Srimati Radhika, Radha-kunda is superior. He replied, "The midday pastimes took place there at Sri Radha-kunda as well as many other pastimes which are not possible at Maan Sarovara or anywhere else. Therefore Radha-kunda is superior to any other kunda. Still, this place is so sacred and exalted, and is also the very form and identity of Srimati Radhika.
Friday 17 September 2010--Today we are heading out across Bulgaria for a Ratha Yatra festival being held this afternoon in Sliven, Bulgaria followed by one tomorrow in Burgas, Bulgaria. This is how the human society should be arranged to uplift the consciousness of the suffering human society. Every day there should be transcendental festivities going...
“Lalita Prasad Thakur, in his notes on his father’s life describes the Thakura's daily schedule while he was staying at Puri.
He was never idle, being always engaged in the service of the Lord. Between 7:30 and 8:00 PM he would go to bed. He would then rise just before 10:00 P.M., light his oil lamp and write books until 4:00 A.M. Then he would rest again for a maximum of half an hour. At 4:30 he would wash his hands and face, sit down and chant on his beads. He never showed his beads to anyone but would chant on them constantly, as time permitted. At 7:00 AM he answered all correspondence, at 7:30 A.M. he read various religious and philosophical works, and at 8:30 A.M. he received visitors, if there were any, or else he continued to read until 9:30. At that time he would walk back and fourth on the veranda of his house, contemplating different religious questions and solving them in his mind. Sometimes he would solve them aloud as if preaching to some unseen guest. He would rest briefly from 9:30-9:45 A.M., then take bath and breakfast, which usually consisted of half a quart of milk, two chapattis and some fruit.
At 9:55 A.M. the Thakura would don his uniform and leave for court in his carriage. As a magistrate he wore a coat and pants. On his neck were six strands of large tulsi beads. He was resolute in his court decisions and would decide a case immediately, not tolerating any humbug. He did his business and left. He shaved his head monthly and never cared what anyone thought of it.
The lawyers and Englishmen were astounded by the Thakura's capacity for work. At 10:00 A.M. court began. He would hear between thirty and fifty cases per day, yet he finished by 1:00 P.M. What took other magistrates a half-hour, he finished in five minutes. He took another two minutes to write the judgment in detail. Some of his British superiors became envious and tried to discourage him, but he was not affected. At 1:00 P.M. he went home, refreshed himself and then….
The shorter fellow is the owner of this hotel, Holiday Inn, in downtown San Diego. In the lobby of his hotel he keeps a Sastra Dana book-rack, just next to the display with brochures that are meant to help the hotel customers waste their human form of life in San Diego in a varieties of ways. By the kindness of this devotee, his customers now have a chance to pick up a book that will educate them about the rarity, value, and importance of human form of life.
It's the 'calm before the culinary storm' here at Base Camp K1. The tents are flapping in the wind, with no classes to teach until October; but then the stoves will be blasting for a twelve-in-a-row cooking marathon that will take out 2010 in a blaze of smoking woks.
Some of the upcoming classes are full, with waiting lists only; most still have a few vacancies. If you live in Australia, you still haven't been to a Kurma class, or you'd like to enjoy another, here's a list of what's available for the remainder of 2010.
Bhakti Yoga Cookery Retreat, Hare Krishna Valley, Bambra, Victoria, Saturday, Sunday 2,3 October 2010, A weekend of cooking, learning and eating! Bookings/enquiries call Veda 0405 577 453.
Govinda's, Darlinghurst, Sydney NSW, Two Morning Cookery Workshops, Saturday 16, Sunday 17 October 2010, Details and Bookings 02 9380 5155.
Mallacoota, Victoria, Hands-on Cookery Workshops, Saturday, Sunday 23, 24 October 2010, Enquiries and bookings 03 5158 0331.
Black Pearl Epicure Cookery School, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Evening Cookery Demonstration, Saturday 30 October 2010, enquiries and bookings 07 3257 2144.
The great souls go on chanting Hare Krishna and helping others around the world to take up the chanting because it is by chanting, more than any other practice, that one will be able to remember Krishna. And when we remember Krishna, we have achieved the goal of life. Remembering Krishna at the time of death assures one to join Him in the spiritual world. Forgetting Krishna is the greatest dilemma.
Message from Radhadesh Temple president, Hrdaya Chaitanya Prabhu (related to the Radhadesh visit of Vaisesika Prabhu) : Thank you Ramananda Raya prabhu for your comment.: > I have watched Vaisesika Prabhus presentation on Iskcon Television. THIS PRABHU IS AMAZING. He is most expert in >sankirtan bookdistribution, don’t miss this one ! This is what Badrinarayan [...]
(Note : by clicking on the pictures you can watch them enlarged) Sent By Her Grace Devahuti Dasi Dear Vaisnavas, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Gurumaharaja. I had the good fortune of being in Ujjain for Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival and Gurumaharaja’s Vyasapuja. Sadly, I will be [...]
Jigger & Jolly update: Last Saturday we headed out to the Cornwall Ag Fair. This was our second real venture away from the security of Debra’s Local Farm, requiring trailer transport. We were a little nervous with all of the people and activity, but the boys did pretty well, met a lot of new people and we learned some things about travelling with and careing for large animals on the road.
This led to my friend Gerri’s invitation to have Jigger & Jolly come to the 29th Annual Family Nature Day at White Memorial in Litchfield next Saturday, Sept. 25th. All involved think this would be the perfect next step, but we face the obstacle of no suitable truck and trailer transport.
So, anyone who lives in the area, has the facility for this and feels inspired to help provide this service, please contact me to make the arrangements. We will be very grateful.
Brown Swiss
Hercules & Zeus
If you do a Google image search for Brown Swiss, it is not long before you will come across these boys. Zeus & Hercules are 4 year old twins and exhibit two of the characteristics that I admire in this breed; they are very handsome and massive in size, more on that in a minute. Their story is a wonderful one and rather than try to describe it myself, I am going to offer several links for you to follow (click on anything below in highlight) to let the story unfold for you.
First, meet Kendra, Zeus & Hercules, her associates and assistants handlers. The organizational framework for the teams care and support is an impressive story in and of itself and you can follow those links for more, but be sure to click the little camera icon under the picture to view the nice slideshow presentation by Bethany Moore.
Kendra has put together a very nice newsletter that gives all the details on the boys’ training progression, goals and plans for the future. Especially inspirational is the section on Dakota, Shelby and Harold. And at the bottom, 1700 lbs…each!! and 16.2 hands at the shoulders, I make that about 5’4″… Wow!
The Brown Swiss Association teaches us that this dairy breed was developed in the northeast part of Switzerland and is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, breed of dairy cows.
So, best wishes for success to Zeus & Hercules and everyone making this possible in Oregon.
to invite a friend to the FNO list or remove yourself click here
Have a great weekend, in service to the Oxen,
Chuck
Chant
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare .
What's the point in talking nonsense? One's words may be simple, but they should be valuable. Every day your employer is printing so many newspapers. On Sunday, especially, the paper is so big that one can hardly carry it. But after reading it an hour, people throw it away. Here is this book, Bhagavad-gita, and people keep it and read it for a lifetime, and in this way it has been read for the past 5,000 years. Give such literature that will be taken and kept forever.
Srila Prabhupada, in an Interview with the New York Times -- September 2, 1972, New Vrindaban
Just a reminder of an earlier posting by a dear friend of mine Candidasa Dasa and his desire to start a webpage aimed at answering devotee questions and more importantly aspiring devotee questions. The internet is filled with many pages of useful information but what we see when it comes to basic questions about devotee [...]
From Namamrta by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
"By chanting one associates with the Lord directly:
"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is a sound (sabda) that is nondifferent from Krishna. The sound "Krishna" and the original Krishna are the same. When we chant Hare Krishna and dance, Krishna is also dancing with us. Of course we may say, "Well, I do not see Him," but why do we put so much stress on seeing? Why not hearing? Seeing, tasting, smelling, touching and hearing are all instruments for experience of knowledge. Why do we put such exclusive stress on seeing? A devotee does not wish to see Krishna; he is satisfied by simply hearing of Krishna. Seeing may eventually be there, but hearing should not be considered any less important. There are things which we hear but do not see—the wind may be whistling past our ears and we can hear it, but there's no possibility of seeing the wind. Since hearing is no less an important experience or valid one than seeing, we can hear Krishna and realize His presence through sound. Sri Krishna Himself says, 'I am not there in My abode, or in the heart of the meditating yogi, but when My pure devotees are singing.' We can feel the presence of Krishna as we actually make progress." (Raja-Vidya: The King of Knowledge)
There are many, many references in Namamrta to being in the presence of Krishna by hearing. The evidence is in scriptural slokas and anecdotal analogies. The analogy is given that one can be in the presence of a person by the telephone over a great distance. And there are many verses. All the benefit of Krishna's association, such as His affection, participation in His pastimes, hearing His instructions and learning from Him, appreciating His physical beauty, can all come about by hearing. Rukmini simply heard about Krishna and became so attracted and attached to Him that she decided she must marry Him. She did not see Him first. The sound vibration of the Hare Krishna mantra is a special formula to bring about Krishna's presence. Krishna has made Himself cheap by this method. Life is short, and we don't have time or ability to perform other methods. We should take advantage of coming into Krishna's presence through hearing the sound vibration. There is nothing lacking. It can be performed in any place and in any situation. Prabhupada used to proudly declare how even his beginning students were always in the association of Krishna wherever they went simply by their taking the holy names.
I slept all right and woke up about 1:00 A.M. I had no headache and chanted in an awake condition. But my consciousness was somewhat bleary. I could not focus to my full satisfaction. I could not attain speed. But nevertheless I had ample time to gain numerical strength and chant 16 rounds by 3:30. The Namamrta's assertion of coming into the association of Krishna was lacking for me because I did not do it with sufficient devotion. But the sound vibration is so powerful that Krishna was present in my imperfect chanting. I'm grateful that I performed the yajna within a decent time and without getting sleepy. I take assurance of the Namamrta's declaration that by sound vibration I come into the association of Krishna and come into His presence, and it does not depend on seeing Him.
It is difficult and uncertain to judge the quality of a japa session. You observe it and say, "I was bleary, I was not attentive," but this may be harsh and negative in estimation. You were making the effort and collecting the sound vibrations. Krishna says you come into His presence by the sabda. Prabhupada encouraged us not to be disappointed. He said the day would come. But after so much practice when still you feel yourself falling short, it is hard to be optimistic. We chant in a humble state of mind, thinking ourselves lower than a blade of grass, more tolerant than the tree.
One Hundred Prabhupada Poems, #31 That was a Hari Sauri poem, and I've got more of them. If Prabhupada liked to talk with him I should too. But he loved us all equally. He said some animals are fiercer than others, referring to Sudama Vipra and Siddha-Svarupa. In those years I distinguished myself by "leading" a group who collected reviews from professors and sold books at colleges. You say this disdainfully? Is your present scribbling something better? At the 1976 GBC meeting I retained the same GBC zone. What else did I do? Tried to stay out of harm's way. In 1977 I learned that I was not so prominent. I always recall in New York City I couldn't even fit into the car with the main leaders. Why bother to go on the walk at all? No, keep near your Guru Maharaja even when they ask him absurd questions, "Did you know, Prabhupada, that Andy Warhol and his gang eat human embryos?"
I knew the day would come when we all had to serve him in separation, and maybe I even looked forward to that because I knew it was my strength. Now I am also learning strength in keeping apart from squabbling and meetings. But more important than me and what I think on my own is whether an action is pleasing to him. Those who do it are actually number one Prabhupadanugas, and I should learn from them.
1. The writer's plight, his earnest attempt. It's a poem about that and what he has to go through, how he wants to live. The lines try to penetrate and give an honest portrait. But maybe I can make them clearer and not beat around the bush.
"When Arjuna was seemingly polluted by ignorance upon observing the soldiers and commanders before him on the battlefield, the Lord eradicated his ignorance by delivering transcendental knowledge. May His lotus feet always remain the object of my attraction."
Bhismadeva is recalling what happened on the abattlefield of Kuruksetra, Prabhupada points out that the military leaders, the ksatriyas, did not stay at home while the poor sdoldiers had to do the fighting. The generals led the battle, and it was on a designated battlefield, away from the populace of the innocent citizens. The citizens just paid tax to whoever was the victor. Arjuna is mentioned here as "polluted," but he was a personal friend of Krishna's and could never become polluted. He apparently became bewildered out of compassion and refused to fight just so Krishna could teach him—and through him the whole world in Bhagavad-gita—that the body is not the self and we have an enternal relationship with the Supreme Lord. Bhagavad-gita is a wonderful book of bhakti-yoga. Each time you read it carefully, you become more convinced that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And you gain realization and spiritual knowledge, especially loving surrender to Krishna. Krishna promises to take the surrendered soul out of the cycle of birth and death and bring him to His eternal, blissful abode. Bhisma prays on his deathbed of arrows to always be attracted to Krishna. His consciousness at his last hours assures him of attaining Krishna in the spiritual world in the specific form in which he worships Him. As followers of Lord Caitanya, we are encouraged to chant Hare Krishna and think of Krishna in His original form as a cowherd youth in Vraja, with Radha and the other Vrajavasis.
We had a wonderful Radhastami celebration. This is such a nice neighborhood with devotees living nearby. Devotees are also able to travel here easily by train, and some came from New York and Boston. We did the kirtana, lecturing and offering arati before Saci's Radha-Govinda Deities in his house, then we crossed the street to our house, where a sensational feast was prepared, mostly by Damodara and Baladeva. There was congenial conversation and association during the feast. I didn't have a headache and stayed for all parts of the program. As Baladeva described it, it was "a fun day." Our talk of Radharani came all from Prabhupada's books, and we were satisfied with that. I got to talk with Damodara and Yugala-kishore of Boston, took a walk and spoke intimately with Rama-raya, spoke with my Godsisters Mahamaya, Kaulini Mataji and with Keli-lalita. I spoke later with Krishna-kumari, a mother in our neighborhood, and with other neighbor-devotees. Krishna-kirtana-rasa was also present. There is nothing as nice as association of devotees.
which I spent in the good company of the devotees of Damodara-desh. Also that of my Mayapur-vasi compatriot, Sriman Atul Krsna prabhu, who arrived late in the night on the 14th.
Atul is in charge of the Mayapur Institute (for higher education and training) and is here to teach the Bhakti-sastri course for the next three weeks.
After a half day fast and an easy afternoon, we de-camped to a local hall at about 8.00PM that the devotees hire for their larger programs.
Its 3 stories and we were on the top floor. The hall soon filled up with about 250 devotees.
The program was simple but ecstatic. A beautiful mural was constructed depicting Radha and Krsna on a boat using the utsava murtis from our flat.
Small brass Deities were prepared for an abhisek
and Srivallabha prabhu lead everyone in singing several songs about the glories of Srimati Radharani.
After that Atul Krsna prabhu spoke very sweetly and succinctly about the transcendental nature of Srimati Radharani, and then finally I was asked to speak.
I chose to introduce my talk with one of my favorite verses:
radha-sammukha-samsaktim sakhi-sanga-nivasinim
tvam aham satatam vande madhavasraya-vigraham
“O spiritual master (Srila Prabhupada), I continually offer my obeisances unto you, who are always in the presence of Srimati Radharani and very much devoted to Her. You always reside in the association of Her confidantes, the gopis, and you are the loving abode of loving devotion to Krsna.”
It was a perfect lead into my narration of Srila Prabhupada’s pastimes on Radhastami day when I was travelling with him in 1976, and other things Srila Prabhupada said at different times during my tenure as his servant, particularly about Srimati Radharani’s culinary artistic expertise:
September 1st, 1976 New Delhi
Today is Radhastami. Srila Prabhupada observed the half-day fast along with the rest of us.
* * *
During the walk we noticed some men gathered around a roadside food stall eating bhel puris. Srila Prabhupada explained that the small, golf ball-sized snacks are filled with dal and are especially offered to Radha-Vallabha.
A new English devotee, Bhakta Robin, expressed his appreciation of Srila Prabhupada’s knowledge of cooking.
Prabhupada replied that right from his childhood, if somebody was preparing food, he would want to see how it was done.
Bhakta Robin observed that in India, it seems that most people can cook something, but in the West people are now practically helpless. “They buy everything it seems in packets, and you would not know how to prepare any food as much as just to cut the packet and pour it out, and even then they don’t even know how to put water into the pan.”
Prabhupada agreed with him. “They do not know how to eat on the whole. India knows how to eat. I have traveled all over the world, and this is my experience. Nobody knows how to eat. Only India. In every province they have got different dishes. Because the woman, they are trained up how to cook very nice. Woman is meant for that purpose, how to make nice palatable dishes. In Bengal there is a ceremony after marriage, bahu-bhata. The newly-married girl, she shall cook, and all the relatives, friends, are invited and they appreciate, ‘Yes, nice cook.’ Then she is accepted as member of the whole family.”
“And if not, Prabhupada?” Robin asked. “If her cooking is not…”
“Therefore she is trained up.”
“And if she’s not trained up?”
“She must be trained up,” Prabhupada replied, his tone indicating that there was no possibility of it being otherwise. “Just like Radharani, She was trained up in sixty-four arts. Do you think to captivate Krsna is easy thing? How much qualified She must have been so that Krsna was attracted.”
———————————————-
July 31 1976 New Mayapur France
(a meeting about the Gurukula)
Having found the verses, Harikesa read out 7.12.1 describing the principles of brahmacari life. Prabhupada then said that the boys and girls should therefore be separated, in order to learn how to control their senses. With a laugh he repeated Sarasvati, Syamasundara and Malati’s daughter, who once said, ‘We have no sex with women.’ “So, innocent, she does not know. That is, if they are kept separate, they remain innocent.”
He said girls should learn how to be faithful to their husbands and like Radharani they should learn the sixty-four arts, such as cooking and painting. “Then She could control Krsna.”
Bhagavan asked if the boys should learn to cook.
“Huh? I never said that,” Prabhupada said. “Why you are bringing that question? I said the girls should be. Cooking is not boy’s business. But cooking is not a very difficult art. If they want, the boys can do. There are so many, in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu it is stated, how Radharani was qualified. So these things should be taught to the girls. If the girls are taught to give service to the husband to the greatest satisfaction, there will be no disagreement.”
Another nice story that Prabhupada once told us but I didn’t get a chance to tell on the night is worth repeating here:
September 13 1976 – Vrndavana
“Perhaps you know that once upon a time Rupa Gosvami desired that ‘If I would get some nice foodstuff, I would have invited Sanatana Gosvami and cook some nice food.’ He desired like that. They were living in Vrndavana, here and there, under the shade of a tree. They had no stock, nothing. So one very beautiful girl came and offered rice, dal, ghee. She said, ‘Baba, we have got some festival.’ In this country they address saintly person as Baba. So she offered so many things, and he immediately invited Sanatana Gosvami — they were living separately. And Rupa Gosvami was very good cook also, so he prepared very nice preparation and offered to Sanatana Gosvami prasadam. So Sanatana Gosvami astonishingly inquired that ‘Where you got all these nice things in this forest?’ So he told the whole story, that ‘In the morning I desired, and in just a few hours time, little time, one very beautiful girl came and offered this ingredients.’
So after hearing the description of the beautiful girl, Sanatana Gosvami could understand that she was Radharani. So immediately he chastised Rupa Gosvami, that ‘You have taken service from Radharani. This is not good. We are trying to give service to Radharani, and you have taken service from Radharani.’
“So this is Vaisnava consideration. They are firmly determined not to bother Krsna with anything. Simply to serve Him. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam. Similarly, Krsna also finds opportunity when to serve His devotee. This is the reciprocation. The devotee wants to serve Krsna without any return, and Krsna also wants to serve devotee whenever there is opportunity. This is the transaction of love: not to take anything return.”
Yet although the Pandavas were such brilliant examples of surrender to Krsna, Prabhupada went on to tell us that here in Vrndavana there were devotees whose devotion went even beyond theirs. “The topmost surrendered devotees are the gopis. There is no more higher exalted devotees than the gopis. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended that the gopis, ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena ya kalpita. There is no better type of worshiping Krsna than the method by which gopis worship Krsna. Their love was so intense that they did not care for any family, any honor, or any prestige — nothing. That is the highest, topmost loving stage of Krsna. And Krsna also loved the gopis, so much so that Krsna asked them that ‘You cannot expect any return from Me for your ecstatic love. I cannot give you. It is beyond My power.’ So they purchased Krsna. And the topmost gopi is Radharani. So we should not consider these gopis’ dealings with Krsna as ordinary material dealings.”
Our meeting culminated in a very lively kirtana and arati, followed by a simple feast in honor of Srimati Radharani.
We, the ISKCON Sri Sri Jagannath Mandir's congregational devotees conducted a BV MAHASABHA in the month of March 2010. The main objective of this program which is conducted annually is an occasion for 'Team Building', for renewing the 'Vision' and in general to have 'Fun Time' together wherein the attendees being the entire hierarchy of BV leaders of our yatra consisting of Asst. Servant Leaders, Servant Leaders, Sector Servants, Circle Servants and the Program Director (HG Ravindra Nitai Das). Even the Temple President (HG Varada Krsna Das) and Vice President (HG Narahari Chaitanya Das) were part of this program. In short, this program is BV leaders annual retreat program and the Bhaktha Janas (group members) were not part of this program.
Today there is general apathy and neglect towards Cows because of gross lack of knowledge about her and her glories. Therefore, there is great need to reawaken this knowledge and spread it among people. People feel that maintaining cows after their milking period is burdensome because they don't know her full glories.
It's just like carrying a blank cheque may seem useless if we don't know what cheque is. Proper knowledge about cows is a great necessasity in today's world. In proper knowledge no one will like to neglect them and everyone will start caring for them as it was done in past.
As devotees of ISKCON we are trying to follow our Acharya Srila Prabhupada's instructions to follow varnashrma dharma in these program one part is cow protection so we are trying to serve gomata. Please join us by using go product in your daily life.
We at 'Go Mata Seva Trust (GoMataSeva.org) are committed to work on our dedicated mission of Cow Protection and avail people of cow products and of the knowledge of the importance ofthe cow to the world.
We serve and maintain a pure breed of 'GIR Cows' also called 'GIR Gaiya' which are purely nourished and well maintained here at our Goshala in the traditional Indian Vedic way. We are producing various pure medicines from the raw products such as Cow Urine, Cow Dung and Ghee, and trying to serve that to people to cure diseases.
Disciples and the devotees of Mayapur celebrated Vyasapuja celebrations of HH Bhakti Charu Swami. In the morning, we heard a video lecture by His Holiness on Brihad Bhagavatamrta. Maharaja’s godbrothers offered glorification of Maharaja, which was really a heart pouring one and gave us an insight on what a wonderful personality is HH Bhakti Charu Swami, who is so dear to Srila Prabhupada.
Get thee to the web site for Hare Krishna Canberra and download the audiofiles from the Radhastami Kirtans. Whilst you are there have a look at the slideshow of the photos from Janmastami.
The Bhakti Centre is on the Gold Coast at Surfers Paradise. These photos show the devotees and well wishers who gather there offering their love at Sri Radhastami.
In Berlin I was given a chance to give many classes. This was the second morning class that I gave, on Dhruva Maharaja. I chose to speak about the 3 modes of material nature and their relation to occupation (varna).
Four different steps you can take to improve the quality of your life and work:
1. You can do more of certain things. You can do more of the things that are of greater value to you and which bring you greater rewards and satisfaction.
2. You can do less of certain things. You can deliberately decide to reduce or discontinue activities or behaviors that are not as helpful as other activities or which can actually be hurtful to you in accomplishing the things you really want.
3. You can start to do things that you are not doing at all today. You can make new choices, learn new skills, begin new projects or activities or change the entire focus of your work or personal life.
4. You can stop doing certain things altogether. You can stand back and evaluate your life with new eyes. You can then make definite decisions to completely discontinue activities and behaviors that are no longer consistent with what you want and where you really want to go.
I set out at a dark 5:30 in the morning on the Johnny Miles trail in New Glasgow. Johnny Miles lived to be almost a century. He was a runner competing in the olympics in the 20's and 30's winning awards on behalf of Canada. He hailed from this area in Pictou County and so in his honour we have this great trail to take advantage of.
I also ventured through the town itself and made it past a foundry where men were hard at work. I somewhat startled a couple of workers. Remember, it's early, it's dark and it's a sleepy town; in other words it's rare to see a human walking.
I reached the home of our host to find the eight monks hard at work, chanting their japa on their meditation beads. We facilitated a sadhana and a talk based on the Teachings of Queen Kunti. Breakfast comprised of scrumptuous left-overs from the night before. I have no apprehensions about consuming portions of 'past' fiddles provided it is prasadam, blessed food.
We then set out for Halifax and a bursting day of sun. Our two new boys from Victoria, two brothers, Marshal and Kurt, were learning the art of book sales, which is special because these are books about spirituality.
The street called Spring Garden Road is the place and I saw that our monks who had returned after a summer's absence from Halifax were well received by the public. They have accomplished something wonderful here in warming people up to Krishna Consciousness. They know how to make friends.
The other component to today's success was the several hours of chanting to the beat of the drum and the clang of the kartals on Spring Garden. The public was charmed and so were the yellow jackets buzzing around us all afternoon.
Here's a saying: 'The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They make the best of everything.'
If I was ever put in a prison and my walking was restricted to the cell then that box would be my walking space. It would be a pace back and forth. The deck of the boat we had the pleasure to sleep in was a little like that. I paced back and forth for two hours as fog set in and went out in rhythm much like the stride of the tide. Who knows how many kilometers I set for that period? It was something left to speculate upon.
From the south of New Brunswick the Halifax monks and I ventured to yet another province for a set engagement in New Glasgow. It was the birthday celebration of Radharani, the Supreme Goddess, and the female aspect of God. At the home of Dr Vikram we were invited. Some local people came for a new experience of chanting, observing a new kind of clothes – our robes – and a very different taste and take on cuisine.
Nitai Ram, cooked up a traditional-as-possible plum chutney (as we are told, it's a Radharani favourite). But most of all in my judgment, the item relished the most was chanting. I kept the melody simple in order that all could follow. The message from the Gita was simple while the meal, an easy eight to ten course, was more elaborate.
It was great seeing people depart with Bhaktivedanta Book Trust material under their arms. Our little monastic army has proven effective for the first day of formal presentation. I'm looking forward to more.
Last Saturday the venue for devotional activities was the home of Subha Vilas, a dear godbrother of mine who staged an extended festival to honour Krishna's birthday in Toronto. Sunday I spent in a temple in Montreal. Monday was a visit and accommodation at the home of a monk's parents in Saint John NB, another province. Tuesday the Halifax monks and I spent the evening on a 25 footer boat at the coast of the Bay of Fundy, where you find the highest tides in the world.
The day was a rain-out but by 9 pm skies cleared giving way to piercing stars. A half moon beckoned us to come out of hiding below deck and to start some mantras. So we did finish the night at that placid bay where the only sound was the mantra and the audience was millions of luminaries above us.
The boys sang well and seemed to be soaring with their consciousness. I felt so at home in their company. I reflected on the wish that our guru Srila Prabhupada had; that his senior men should travel with the single men, the brahmacaris, and support their program of travelling the country and disseminating the philosophy of self-realization. Recalling this I felt less guilty about the gas burning of three vehicles to get us to the Maritimes.
Now, it was just a question of getting out of the vehicles, off the boat after a great rest and hoping the relentless rains of the season would stop.
There were ten of us monks spread within three vehicles headed to the Maritimes on the TransCanada Highway. Gasing up was my time for periodical trekking ahead. This eventually amounted to 9 kilometres on foot. The boys I'm travelling with are based out of Halifax and our mission is to do a blitz on maya through three of the Atlantic provinces.
Maya is in reference to the Vedic version of the devil, the delusion of our materialistic world. Call it 'a mission' if you want. We will, like a small army, lodge a serious attack armed with books, drums, harmonium, kartals (cymbals), mantras, and a message. As is obvious from the artillery in place that it will be a subtle but serious attack. We will be fiercely soft and hopefully effective.
It was a long ten hour haul that landed us finally in Saint John, New Brunswick, and the home of one of our monks' parents in suburbia. Nitai Ram, our head brahmacari (monk) who has been stationed in Halifax is the lucky son of terrific parents. At short notice the Poley family welcomed and accomodated the ten of us. Their home was our outpost for the evening before we ready ourselves for war.
But before arriving Nitai Ram had demonstrated in front of me one of his routine launches of attack. With all sincerity he approached the gas attendant and said, "we are a group of monks travelling around and we are leaving people with a book on yoga. Would you like to have one?"
"No!" he said in a most straightforward manner.
Determined as Nitai Ram is he will in the course of the next few days prove with his army how relentless he is in dealing with Maya.
As usual it is hard for me to wait for my driver to be prepared for a trip. I expressed to the person who was going to be behind the wheel, that I'll start walking.
"Pick me up. You'll see me. I swear I'll be the only monk on the road," I told Gaurachandra, our Hungarian-born devotee, who resides in the same ashram as myself.
I had no regrets about being the 'advanced party.' After the freak rainfall I relished sniffing in the aroma of late summer/fall foliage. Red berries of all sorts and kinds are recessed in green richness. This is what you see along Rosedale Valley Road and then further on past Brickworks on Bayview. It is a section of wild splendour in Toronto, a city known more for urban life than for its treasure of tucked away green.
After an hour and a half of great solitude Gaurachandra pulled up with his hatchback Toyota Echo to drive us through a rain-drenched day to Montreal. It is a pleasure always to walk into a temple room full of smiling faces from people who perhaps have had a hard week of maintenance monotony. Their visit to their temple is an anticipated stress reliever. And it is my responsibility at least this evening to offer some inspiration that they, the visitors, will hopefully carry to their contacts of the coming week.
What to speak on? I was given no topic so wing it I did. I quickly leafed through the pages of the Gita when my eyes landed on the chosen verse which was full of imagery. From Chapter three it describes different states of consciousness which are compared to fire covered by smoke, a mirror covered by dust and the embryo covered by the womb. These analogies illustrate the soul's state of deception from good to bad to worst.
I won't elaborate on the topic which would stretch out too much for my daily report but somehow or other the message flowed on how to overcome life's illusions. It begins and ends with chanting as suggested by our guru, Srila Prabhupada, in his explanation of this verse.
On September 18, 1965, His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada stepped off the ship Jaladutta onto American soil in Boston. The rest is history!
After Srila Prabhupada came to the US, within 12 years he was able to establish over a hundred temples and inspire thousands of followers and share with them the strength of the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra! Today, ISKCON has grown to a world wide confederation of over 400 centres around the world!
Starting this Friday, Sep 17th, ISKCON centres all over the world will celebrate the arrival of Srila Prabhupada in the West 45 years ago, the day that changed the life trajectory of millions all over the globe. The celebrations this year in ISKCON Toronto will be marked by 15 days of non-stop activity. We encourage you to make the most of this occassion, participate in the numerous activities, help organize them and most importantly - spread the word around!
Daily Highlights:- * Morning Conference Call readings from Sri Namamrta (book of the month) about the glories of the Holy Name - the perfect way to start your day!
Daily from 7:15-7:25am
Toll-free dial-in: 1-800-617-7801
Conference code: 6833446
(You don't need a security pin. Please press 1 after entering the Conference code)
* Japathon challenge to chant 45,000 rounds collectively
Enter the number of rounds you've chanted daily! Our collective target is to chant 45,000 rounds to celebrate the arrival of Srila Prabhupada in the West 45 years ago!
* 64+ Rounds Day - Chance to connect deeper with the holy name by chanting 64+ rounds in association of other devotees every Sunday!
Sept 19 and Sept 26 - 4am onwards
* Srila Prabhupada Movie Nights - Thursday Movie nights about Srila Prabhupada with popcorn and juice!
Sept 23 and Sept 30 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm
* Monthly Sankirtan Festival - Chance to share books, the holy name, cookies and a smile with Downtown Toronto! Sep 25th (Sat) - 9:00am - 2:00pm
* Double Decker Bus Harinama - For the second time in a row, the popular bus harinama is back! Enjoy the chance to do kirtan aboard a double decker bus as we drive around Toronto! With a modest fee of $25 for the upper level and $10 for the lower level, get your tickets fast!
Sept 25th (Sat) - 4:00pm - 8:00pm - Pre Registration is Required - Limited Seating!
* 12-hour Kirtan - An extremely grand way to cap off 15 days of fun and bliss with a 12-hour kirtan at the Hare Krishna Temple!
Oct. 2 (Sat) - 9:00am - 9:00pm
It is going to be busy 15 days but we hope to see you at these events! For more information please feel free to contact:
1965 September 17: "We are now in the Boston dockyard and the custom officers have issued the admittance permission. 36th day from starting from Calcutta Port. To-day we are expected to reach Boston Port U.S.A. in the morning - ACB." Jaladuta Diary :: 1965
1968 September 17: "Already he has wasted ten months time by his childish frivolities; sometimes preacher, sometimes guru, and sometimes so and so. So you will kindly give them clear indication that they should stop all these things, and work as directed without further delay." Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1968 September 17: "This means that he is canvassing to break them from our society and remain with him. He is another edition of B Maharaja, who has broken the poor Hrsikesa. It is clear also that this Maharaja is now trying to entice Jaya Govinda." Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1969 September 17:"The reception here was very nice. The BBC invited us for television on Tuesday night. We are expecting many engagements and it appears here that people are very interested in the Krishna Consciousness Movement." Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
1970 September 17: "In India, from the very moment we stepped down from the airplane, there is good propaganda work going on. We are sending out Sankirtana Party and it appears to be very successful. We have had many meetings and still we have got many engagements and the functions are going very nicely." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1970 September 17: "Regarding your opening a branch, I have got all my blessings upon you. Do it immediately. So far GBC, I do not think that is a great burden. I prefer to see you a great preacher and you may be relieved from that responsibility." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1970 September 17: "We are not concerned with a scholar who knows theoretically Caitanya Vaisnava Movement but we are interested with persons who are actually devotees who actually chant Hare Krsna Mahamantra and follow the regulative principles; Theoretical knowledge will not help us." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1970 September 17: "I hope the methodical way you are conducting our Temple will improve more and more and there may not be any more poisonous effects as it happened in the past. Kindly let me know at least once in a fortnight about your nice actions." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
THE FOLLOWING IS A SPECIAL PRABHUPADA KATHA GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CHARU SWAMI ON JULY 2010, AT ISKCON NEW YORK MANHATTEN Transcribers : Sacikumar Dasa, Shyama Mohini Dasi, Bhaktin Ramola, Ranga Radhika Dasi, Ramananda Raya Dasa Editing : Hemavati Radhika Dasi Welcome to the Sri Sri Radha-Murlidhara here at the Bhakti-centre. Thank you very [...]
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Photos by Ashmita Singh. 
