miércoles, 27 de octubre de 2010

H.H. Jayadvaita Swami: Book changes: History really does back the BBT



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  1. H.H. Jayadvaita Swami: Book changes: History really does back the BBT
  2. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 27 October 2010--A Subscriber Who Dropped Out--and--Your Free Will Teaching Is Nonsense.
  3. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhakta Prabhu
  4. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: ASK NEW QUESTIONS
  5. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: INQUIRY COACH
  6. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: SARANAGATI DAY 3 BY H.H. BHAKTI CARU SWAMI – ISKCON UJJAIN SEPTEMBER 14TH 2010.
  7. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Gayatri Mantra not so important
  8. Kurma dasa, AU: The Juice of Life
  9. Dandavats.com: Call to all Devotee-Scholars!!!
  10. Dandavats.com: Radhadesh Mellows 2011
  11. Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group
  12. Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: KuliMela 2006 - Up Draft - You Don't Know - 5/14
  13. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 113
  14. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: One Hundred Prabhupada Poems
  15. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Calling to Krishna
  16. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Free Write
  17. Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: "I" am BIGGER!
  18. H.H. Sivarama Swami
  19. H.H. Sivarama Swami: The glories of chanting Hare Krsna
  20. H.H. Sivarama Swami: We have no time to waste because we have so little time to become Krsna conscious
  21. Mayapur Online: VIP visits Mayapur
  22. Australian News: Auspicious Festival at New Gokula: Come along for your eternal spiritual benefit.
  23. H.H. Sivarama Swami
  24. ISKCON News.com: Purnacandra Goswami Is On Life Support In Moscow
  25. Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Solving Climate Change Is A Psychological Challenge-Some Solutions
  26. Maddy Jean-claude Durr, New Govardhana, AU: Running Off To Rotterdam (Belgium/Holland)
  27. ISKCON Brisbane, AU: Transcendental Visit
  28. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: More Sydney Pictures
  29. Kurma dasa, AU: Mallacoota Meanderings
  30. Gouranga TV: KuliMela 2006 – Lotus Eyes – Dance
  31. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  32. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  33. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  34. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  35. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  36. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  37. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  38. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  39. Krishna-kripa das, Mayapura: Travel Journal#6.16: Trutnov, Wroclaw, Cologne
  40. More Recent Articles
  41. Search Planet ISKCON

H.H. Jayadvaita Swami: Book changes: History really does back the BBT

It’s a persistent image: Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles in December of 1968, working side by side with Hayagriva Prabhu, carefully putting the finishing touches on Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Govinda Dasi was personally serving Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles at the time, and she is sure this is what she saw. And even if Srila Prabhupada wrote two weeks later that what he was working on with Hayagriva was the Bhagavatam, then they must have been working on both books—the Bhagavatam and the Gita.
But a careful look at the history shows that this is out of the question.
Why? Because even though Hayagriva worked on the Gita manuscript until October of 1967, by November of ’67 he was off the job and Srila Prabhupada handed over the task of finishing the Gita to another editor, Rayarama Dasa (Raymond Marais). When Hayagriva came to Los Angeles in December of 1968, that first Gita—the abridged Macmillan edition—had already been published. And work on the next edition—the unabridged—didn’t begin until 1970.
What Hayagriva was editing in December of 1968 was Srimad-Bhagavatam.
And so the image of Srila Prabhupada sitting with Hayagriva in December of 1968 carefully going over every verse of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, seeing to the finishing touches, is a persistent image of something that never took place.
That’s the truth. Here’s the timeline. See for yourself.
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 27 October 2010--A Subscriber Who Dropped Out--and--Your Free Will Teaching Is Nonsense.

Recently we were very sad to lose one of our subscribers when he dropped out of our course. He stated his reason for leaving as follows: "I have gained all knowledge and don't want anymore." What he does not realize is that those who are full in knowledge become so much in love with God that all they want to do is hear and chant about Him twenty-hours...
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhakta Prabhu

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.26.8 : Strong determination is needed to stay in life long devotional service.
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: ASK NEW QUESTIONS

You can get new answers only if you start asking new questions.

If you continue asking "Why they are not perfect?", you will continue wasting time and torturing your mind.

If you start asking "How can I make a difference?", you will start focusing on positive future instead of negative past or present.

Create a few powerful daily questions that will help you focus on most important areas of your life, write them down, and use them as an inspiration and guidelines for your daily service or work.
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: INQUIRY COACH

There is a new trend in coaching set up by the Inquiry Institute (inquiryinstitute.com).

Coaches usually say, "We have questions, you have answers."

In this new trend instead of a coach asking expert questions, client himself finds his own best questions and, of course, his answers, and the Inquiry Coach facilitates the process.

It is called Q-Storming, or finding your own best questions to help you succeed.

I used to do a similar thing with few of my clients.

Before a session I would ask them what questions they want me to ask them in a session and they would email them to me in advance.

In a session I would ask those questions, and some sub-questions if needed, which would help them think deeply about their issues.

These were some of the best coaching sessions I had.
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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: SARANAGATI DAY 3 BY H.H. BHAKTI CARU SWAMI – ISKCON UJJAIN SEPTEMBER 14TH 2010.

Transcription and Editing  :  Bhakta Nimesh, Bhaktin Ramola, Sacikumara Dasa, Haripriya Dasi, Ashim Krishna Dasa, Ramananda Raya Dasa So, going back to our Sharanagati, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to teach us the process of sharanagati, do you remember the first line, or first four lines of the song that we sang, the first day? How [...]
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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Gayatri Mantra not so important

So far Gayatri Mantra is concerned, of course it it not such an important thing. The main thing is to chant Hare Krishna but you can consult with the GBC Jayatirtha and get his recommendation. The Hare Krishna mantra is sufficient for becoming Krishna Conscious.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Bahurupa -- Bombay 22 November, 1974
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Kurma dasa, AU: The Juice of Life

Here's some fresh greens from my garden, and some words of wisdom from the ulimate gardeners handbook.
spinach still life:
gam avisya ca bhutani dharayamy aham ojasa pusnami causadhih sarvah somo bhutva rasatmakah
"I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables."
(Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 15: The Yoga of the Supreme Person, verse 13)

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Dandavats.com: Call to all Devotee-Scholars!!!

By Pusta Krishna das
This is a call to action to all of our Godbrothers and Godsisters with advanced degrees which we can dovetail in the service of Srila Prabhupada. The main purposes of this program are as follows: First and foremost, we must encourage engagement in devotional service from our scholars
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Dandavats.com: Radhadesh Mellows 2011

Dinadayal dasa: It is our honour to re-invite everyone for a new edition of the Radhadesh Mellows Kirtan festival. On the weekend of January the 29th and 30th 2011, we will once again celebrate vibrantly over 24 hours of kirtan with hundreds of devotees
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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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Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: KuliMela 2006 - Up Draft - You Don't Know - 5/14

Up Draft performing "You Don't Know" at the 2006 KuliMela in New Vrindavan.
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 113

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates
3:40 A.M.
Namamrta by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
‘One must become a servant of the holy name’

“In the spiritual world the Absolute is always Absoute; the name, form, quality and pastimes of the Absolute are all as good as the Absolute Himself. As such, one is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If he considers himself an eternal servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the holy name to the world. One who chants in this spirit, without offenses, is certainly elevated to the platform of understanding that the holy name and the Personality of Godhead are identical. To associate with the holy name and chant the holy name is to associate with the Personality of Godhead directly. In Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu it is clearly said: The holy name becomes manifest when one engages in the service of the holy name. This service in a submissive attitude begins with ones tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau: one must engage his tongue in the service of the holy name. Our Krishna consciousness movement is based on this principle. We try to engage all the members of the Krishna consciousness movement in the service of the holy name.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 8.16)
It may sound as if one is a butler or a slave of the holy name. But it is not like that, not a material designation. One serves heart and soul starting with his tongue and engaging his whole self as a servant of the holy name. When chanting japa one should think “I am serving the holy name.” And Prabhupada says the meaning of the prayer is “Oh Hare, Oh Krishna, please engage me in Your service.” The mechanics of chanting the maha-mantra are mechanics of service. Prabhupada states it clearly in this purport—one is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considers himself an eternal servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the holy name to the world.” The act of chanting is service and the act of distributing the name is further service as a preacher of the holy name. Unless one serves the holy name in thoughtful chanting he cannot distribute it.
We speak of
”spiritual master” but
he’s actually a spiritual
servant. One is not a
master of the holy name
but a submissive servant.
It sounds odd to say the
service begins with the tongue
but it is actually so: jihva
dau, you move your tongue
to utter harinama
and do the beginning of your service.
Krishna has arranged it this
way because of its ease
and simplicity. Just
speak “Krishna,” and you
will be on your way
to royal service to the
Supreme. Nothing more
complicated is required.
The sound vibration,
made with service
emotion, captures
Krishna’s love. You
serve Him strongly
in this way.
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: One Hundred Prabhupada Poems

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates
Prabhupada
# 70
While talking to a roomful of devotees yesterday
I discovered
that Srila Prabhupada was a perfect psychologist.
He assured us that we were fortunate and happy.
We have given up sinful life and
attained Krishna consciousness
so no one should despondant.
But Prabhupada also made it clear
we are not Vaisnavas
but servants of the Vaisnavas.
A pure devotee is very rare.
He was expert and did it subtly
so no one noticed how—
giving us confidence and humilty at the same time.
And what he gave we accepted.
In arguing for Krishna
he’d take any side
to prove the truth, to defeat the Lord’s opponents.
Prabhupada said the devotees
may call the nondevotees
by ornamented names like vimukti manina,
“those who think they have become liberated.”
But Krishna is superior and so he tells it plain,
they are mu∂has, asses.
Prabhupada did that too, like father and guru.
I’m remembering him
and collecting my appreciations.
He’d prefer to see me battling like him,
but if all I can do is discover
some of his expert ways and admire them,
he will accept that too as a kind of service.
But if you admire him, you really ought to preach.
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Calling to Krishna

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates
A poem about Krishna has to
come from the scriptures.
You can’t make up something
like He’s in the doctor’s waiting
room with you flipping through
the pages of News Week.
Krishna does the things we are
told He did in Krsna book
or Caitanya Caritamrta. I
hear them, “pastimes” they are
called, and I write them
down in my free write section.
I tell how He covered Vijaya’s
mouth and told him never
to repeat the secrets of the
revelation he’d been given.
Or I describe the tattva,
the siddhanta of the science
of bhakti-yoga from the
Nectar of Devotion.
Yet—you can
say He’s in the doctor’s
waiting office too.
Because He’s everywhere
especially to the observant
prayer maker.
Prabhupada used to see
handsome buildings and think
they could be purchased—
or donated—as temples
for Krishna. He saw
workers in Hamburg drinking
beer in the morning and
felt the absence of Krishna
consciousness as a tragic
disgusting phenomena.
He wanted his disciples
to distribute books and
the holy names to every
town and village and
get the professors to
write favorable reviews of
his books.
Krishna does the things it says
He does in scriptures and
with a mother’s hands He
prepares a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich for her child’s
school lunch.
He’s even in the workings of
the drug pushers and thugs
because nothing can happen
without Him. Of course it’s
His material energy that creates
the illusions of sense gratification.
His aloof from that. He’s personally
involved only in
pure devotional service with
His devotees. I’d like to
be there, cavorting and
exchanging in the spiritual sky.
But I have to work myself
through this maya! Will You
help me, Lord? Will You
inspire me to break the bonds
of illusion.
I want to find You
in earnest in my daily life
and in Your scriptural revelation
with surrender to Your will.
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Free Write

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates
I turned at random to Canto 3, Chapter 23, text 55: “Association for sense gratification is certainly the path of bondage. But the same type of association, performed with a saintly person, leads to the path of liberation, even if performed without knowledge.”
The association with a saintly person in any way brings the same result. Lord Krishna met many living entities and some treated Him as an enemy and some treated Him as an agent for sense gratification. It is generally said that the gopis were attracted to Krishna for sense gratification, yet they became the first class devotees of the Lord. Kamsa and other demons were related to Krishna as enemies. But whether they associated with Krishna as enemies or for sense gratification or as pure devotees, they all got liberation. Even if one does not know who He is, the results are the same. Association with a pure devotee also results in liberation just as whether one goes to fire knowingly or unknowingly, the fire will make one warm. Devahuti expressed her gratefulness, for although she wanted to associate with Kardama Muni for sense gratification because he was spiritually great she was sure to be liberated by his benediction.
Lord Caitanya decided to take sannyasa. He took Lord Nityananda aside and told Him. When Lord Nityananda pictured Lord Caitanya with a shaven head and without His beautiful long hair, He fainted. When He recovered He said I know You will do whatever You decide. But You should first tell all Your associates. Lord Caitanya agreed to. As He told each of His dear companions that He would leave Navadvipa and wander from place to place begging, they fainted in grief. They especially could not bear the thought that He would shave His hair. Some of them advised Him not to do it. They said there is nothing in the Vedas that says you have to take sannyasa. You can perform sankirtana as a grhastha. When Your widowed mother hears this, she will not be able to live. But Lord Caitanya remained firm in His determination. His mother was grief stricken. She said Your brother has gone, and my husband has gone to Vaikuntha. If I cannot see You I will die. Lord Caitanya told His mother confidential secrets. He said, you are my mother eternally. In my previous incarnations you appeared as Prsni, Devahuti, Kausalya and Devaki. When I appear you are always My mother. These words somewhat pacified Saci. He also told His friends that He would never leave them. They would always be with Him through the process of harinama-sankirtana and by Deity worship. Mother Saci felt the profoundest sorrow. Lord Caitanya went ahead with His plans to take sannyasa. The effective incident had been when the students criticized Him for chanting “Gopi.” He told Lord Nityananda, My mission is to save all the sinners, but they are prepared to beat Me. If I take sannyasa and beg at the homes of those who would beat Me, they will treat Me with respect. No one beats a sannyasi. It is for this reason I am going to shave My head and become a mendicant.
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Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: "I" am BIGGER!


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H.H. Sivarama Swami

In all circumstances one should try to develop love of Godhead, and that will solve all contending problems.
- Srila Prabhupada
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: The glories of chanting Hare Krsna

Holy name weekend.
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: We have no time to waste because we have so little time to become Krsna conscious


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Mayapur Online: VIP visits Mayapur


Recently, Shri Rakesh Kumar Tandon, the Managing Director of IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) visited Sri dham Mayapur along with his family. He was accompanied by Mr. Amalan Kumar Biswas, IRTS, Group General Manager of eastern region. He enthusiastically took part in Sandhya Arti and Mangala Arti. HG Jananivasa prabhu welcomed him by offering Sri Radha-Madhava Maha garland during Mangala Arti. He visited the Gurukula and was very much appreciative of the vedic way of learning.
read more
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Australian News: Auspicious Festival at New Gokula: Come along for your eternal spiritual benefit.


The auspicious festival of Govardhan Puja is being celebrated here at New Gokula Farm this November on the weekend of the 6th & 7th.
Here is your opportunity to celebrate Lord Krishna’s pastimes and to support cow protection in a realistic way.
There will be special opportunities during the celebrations to serve the cows on Saturday with cow brushing, milking, and more.
Saturday evening will be spent savouring the Holy Name with bhajans led by ISKCON youth.
On sunday the traditional worship of Govardhan Hill will be performed, starting at 10.30 am. There will be a parikram (procession) to the goshal (dairy) with chota Radha Gokulananda, and also around the main compound with some spontaneous lila (pastime) performances.
Special guests His Grace Pratapana prabhu and also HG Viraj Krsna prabhu will offer enlightening insights as the festival unfolds.
There will be lavish worship of Gomata & Govardhan led by our pujari Sriman Narada Krsna Das, and the grand Govardhan feast will follow the celebration.
Please take this once a year opportunity to get special blessings from Lord Sri Krsna to honour his dear-most cows and bulls, and to show your support for establishing in a solid way, in Australia, Srila Prabhupada’s vision of cow protection.
Thank you, we hope to see you here during the festival.
Your Servants at New Gokula
See the web site for more and more
Share this story your way:PrintFacebookTwitterGoogle BookmarksStumbleUponYahoo! Buzzdel.icio.usDiggLiveMySpacePDF
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H.H. Sivarama Swami

For someone to actually stay engaged in Krsna’s service is very rare. The living entity is practically helpless under the sway of maya’s power and can only cry out to Krsna for help. But we have to pray at every moment that the power of maya does not disturb us.
- Srila Prabhupada
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ISKCON News.com: Purnacandra Goswami Is On Life Support In Moscow


By ISKCON News Service for www.niranjanaswami.net on 25 Oct 2011
Purnacandra Goswami has been in the hospital for several days in Moscow. He is in intensive care, unconscious, on life support.
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Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Solving Climate Change Is A Psychological Challenge-Some Solutions

From David Ropeik at the Huffington Post
Anyone who takes seriously the threat of climate change might wonder why we are having trouble adopting solutions. Why is concern about it broad (though it goes up and down with the vagaries of weather and politics) but thin? Majorities consistently think climate change is real and we ought to do something, but only thin minorities say they are actual doing something themselves, or would accept changes that might cost them anything. Given the profound harms climate change is sure to cause, why aren't we more worried?
The usual explanations include poor communication by scientists or environmentalists or the news media, purposeful obfuscation by selfish economic interests, or the way the issue has been polarized politically. May I suggest that the problem is much deeper. It's a matter of how the human animal has learned to detect and respond to risk. Our risk perception system hasn't evolved to cope with the complex long-term threats involved in the unsustainable way we're living on the planet. It evolved to deal with simpler dangers, like wolves and bad guys with clubs and the dark. We may understand the modern risk choices we face intellectually, but the human response to risk is not just about the facts. It's a mix of facts and feelings, reason and gut reaction, and the huge threats posed by climate change and deforestation and all the other manifestations of our unsustainable ways just don't ring the emotional alarm bells of a system that evolved to deal with simpler, more immediate dangers. Moving forward on climate chance is a psychological challenge as much as it is technical or economic.
The good news is, knowing how risk perception psychology works -- and science knows a lot about that -- can help. First of all, just knowing that risk perception relies on affect more than fact can help us realize that as much as our fears might feel right, they can get us into trouble. If we're too afraid, or, as in the case of climate change not afraid enough, the result, what I call the perception gap, can be a risk all by itself. Then, knowing specifically why our fears sometimes don't reflect the facts about a given risk can help protect us from the dangers our misperceptions can create. As Italian philosopher Nicola Abbagnano put it, "Reason itself is fallible, and this fallibility must find a place in our logic."
In previous posts here and elsewhere, I've explained a bit about some of the subconscious emotional/instinctive filters the risk perception system uses to figure out threats like climate change:
• Optimism Bias -- we think the future will turn out rosier than it usually does.
• Is the risk abstract or personalized? -- Personalized is scarier, abstract less so.
• Do we think it could affect us personally? -- If so, we worry more. If not, we worry less.
• Cultural Cognition -- We choose positions that confirm the general view of the tribes with which we most strongly associate, to strengthen that tribe's prominence, because as our tribe's chances go, so go ours.
So here is one example of how to use that knowledge. Can you name one way climate change will seriously, negatively, impact you in the next ten years? Most people can't. Well, if you don't think it will happen to you, your concern will remain relatively shallow. You don't feel threatened, so you're not likely to change your behavior, or push governments and businesses to make the changes necessary to deal with the threat.
So try to think of the risk in personal terms. Ask yourself about what climate might do to you. What would more frequent heats waves or cold spells or floods or storms or other extreme weather do to your life? What will changed patterns of precipitation do to your local water supply? How would you feel if scientists are right about the spread of some exotic diseases into your neighborhood? How about a reduced supply and increased price of some of the foods you like? Just engage in the mental exercise of reducing the abstract, intellectual, distant, global issue of climate change, to the realities and specifics of your daily life in your home and neighborhood and town. That's where you live. That's the level your risk perception system is set to respond to. Don't think globally. Think, and feel, locally, and put things in terms relevant to your health and safety.
Will this change how you think? Probably not much. There are a lot of influences on our affective response to risk and the "Can it happen to me" factor is only one. But thinking about climate change this way starts to cast the facts of the issue in the emotional language relevant to your survival system. And that, far more than science and statistics and Academy Award-winning movies or PowerPoint presentations, is likely to inform your feelings and your behavior.
This is one tiny example of how we can apply the wisdom science has given us about how the psychology of risk perception to the challenge of making healthier choices. There are many more, including several suggestions for how policy makers can use these insights, in chapter 5 "Closing The Perception Gap' in How Risky Is It, Really? Why Our Fears Don't Always Match the Facts. A lengthy excerpt of that chapter is available free online. We can not undo the affective/emotional/instinctive way we perceive risk, but we can use what we've learned about that system to make healthier choices for ourselves, and society.
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Maddy Jean-claude Durr, New Govardhana, AU: Running Off To Rotterdam (Belgium/Holland)


HH Yadunandana Swami approached me after a session of Bhakti Sastri.  He was going to take a small kirtana crew to Holland and was wondering if I might be interested.  I was already booked to do a preaching program on the Friday and I was stacked with essays but I knew not to turn down a preaching opportunity, especially when requested by an exalted Vaisnava sannyasi.  I knew there was limited spaces in the car so I suggested to only include me if there wasn’t another preference.
I overhead Maharaja, sitting with some of the College boys at lunch, giving the weekend rundown.  Finally it came to the Saturday; we were having a weekend class (because we had exerted ourselves on the Friday).  HH Yadunandana Swami informed me that one of the musicians (Romano) was having second thoughts.  It was looking like I might have a slot in the gig.  I told Maharaja that I would be ready and waiting but not attached, simply happy to be on standby.
I sat with the group for breakfast on the Sunday.  It seemed, at the last moment, Krsangi Mataji had been employed and I was not going to be involved.  I sat in the Bhakti Sastri room, catching up on some reading for my Bhakti Vaibhava course.  HH Yadunandana Swami came barging in with the whole crew.  It turned out that they now had a car with more seats than they bargained for.  “So do you want to come?” they asked.  “Yes” I said, “but when are you leaving?”  “Right now” they replied.  I looked down at my screen, in a moment of hesitation, but then quickly slammed it shut.  “Let’s roll” I replied.
The weather was bitter cold and we quickly huddled into the car.  The draft was beating us down, as we continually had last minute conversations through the windows.  There was a problem with the oil level in the car.  We couldn’t figure out what to do.  No one in the village had oil (typical) and we didn’t want to risk burning out the motor.  When the hustle and bustle finally reached a climax, we decided to change vehicle.  Nimai rushed off and quickly brought back the new vehicle.  We all piled in and cranked up the heater.  The car was even smaller, so we were even more snug, but we were off nonetheless.
It was a long drive to Rotterdam.  We idly talked about how Holland had stolen land from the sea (they dammed it up) and whatever other divine subject matter that floated into the either.  It was amazing to see how man worked with nature, whether appropriately or inappropriately, seeing Krsna’s hand in the beauty of both.  We arrived, after the long drive, at a little yoga centre.  It was nice venue and it seemed well organized.  We had a quick look around, making ourselves familiar with the environment.
Nimai was a little anxious to do some shopping; he was off to India in a week’s time so he needed a few last minute necessities.  I decided I would tag along.  At first, I thought we were walking, so I called along Krsna Dasa and Manoj.  We strolled ahead, waiting for Nimai, and then Nimai rocked up with the car.  We hopped in the back and were off.  It turned out that our shopping venture was going to be more than a local limbo but a whole long and lengthy adventure.  It was coming tight to the starting time of our performance and we were still in the hectic haze.  We were caught in city central and needed an exit strategy.  We realized that we were going to be late and that we better head back before our resident Swami considers our whereabouts.  It was red light after red light but there was nothing we could do.  We prayed and drove as quickly (and as safely) as we could.
We returned, thankful that Krsangi had headed up the first kirtana.  We slotted into the scene, as she played on the melodic kirtana.  Soon she passed the harmonium and microphone to Krsna Dasa and he belted out another band of bhajana.
HH Yadunandana led Jaya Radha Madhava and gave a class, introducing the audience to the Srimad Bhagavatam.  His topic was “Narrations of Death and Eternal Life”, telling different stories from the Bhagavatam, highlighting people who were physically dying but attaining eternal spiritual life.  It was a very theistic and deep class, showing that Maharaja had judged the audience to be of a thoughtful and appreciative inclination.
The next Arati went on, while Nimai and I returned to our previous shopping mission.  I collapsed in the back seat, exhausted from the weekend madness, and Nimai took us for a ride.  Nimai parked in a strange place (the type of park you only get away with when you have a passenger in the car) and he left me while he sussed out his shopping situation.  Nimai crossed the road and almost instantaneously a police van pulled up.  The police lady looked in the car very enthusiastically.  I ducked my head up from the back seat and she instantly seemed to loose interest.  Nimai returned and we rushed back to the program.  I related what happened while he had gone and we laughed about it as we drove along.
We returned in time for Nrsimha prayers.  Krsangi Mataji was leading the prayers and the boys were busting out mrdanga beats.  Soon enough, they lined us out on mats and served the Prasadam.  The devotees carefully served each preparation, ensuring we were all well looked after.  Everything was first class and the guests were well satisfied.
There was a lot of quick mingling by the end of the night, talking with devotees and guests.  We were on the rush but we still wanted the guests to make the most out of the program.  Emails and business cards were exchanged; I gave over my card to Bhakta Michel - the head honcho.  I told Michel that I would write a nice article on the event on my blog.
We headed out, trying not to forget any of our belongings.  We entangled ourselves in the streets of Rotterdam before HH Yadunandana Swami realized that we had misplaced our volume of Bhagavatam back at the centre (we tried not to leave anything behind but it was inevitable).  The GPS device tried to find us a route back but it kept leading us astray.  Nimai, at the helm, soon invented a way and we were back at the yoga centre.  Manoj made the runner and picked up the King of Books.  We headed off, for real this time, back to the Castle.  I kept the devotees awake by sharing horror stories of Australian wildlife with the group, delving into just some of the 8,400,000 species of this creation.  We were very content after a very nice program, doing our part in sharing Bhagavatam and the holy name with the conditioned souls of Holland.

Read original post: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/2010/10/26/running-off-to-rotterdam ]

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ISKCON Brisbane, AU: Transcendental Visit


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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: More Sydney Pictures

kks3

These are the last sets of pictures from Kadamba Kanana Swami's Sydney Tour.

- The Vaikuntha Palace slideshow
- The Deities on Harinama slideshow
- Initiation at Govinda Valley slideshow

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Kurma dasa, AU: Mallacoota Meanderings

Tucked away on a beautiful inlet in far-east Gippsland is Mallacoota, a popular year-round coastal destination that enjoys Victoria's warmest winter temperatures and cool ocean breezes in summer. Our double-header Mallacoota cookery workshops were held back-to-back last weekend.
a little less conversation and a bit more action:
I flew in on a tiny propeller plane, giving me some impressive views.

a little less conversation and a bit more action:
Poories for lunch: a special treat.
a little less conversation and a bit more action:
Matar Panir galore! I was never one to undercook.
a little less conversation and a bit more action:
Here's our group from Saturday's workshop. Special thanks to Tracy, (standing top row, far right, stripy blue apron, and husband Dean seated with red t-shirt, for making the weekend a reality.
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Gouranga TV: KuliMela 2006 – Lotus Eyes – Dance

KuliMela 2006 – Lotus Eyes – Dance

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 October 21: "To feel separation from the Spiritual Master is very good position. That means one who is in pure love with Krishna and His Representative, Spiritual Master, he thinks always of Them. And this thinking process is Krishna consciousness."Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 October 21: "You are now three. One can play mrdanga and two can play cymbals and chant nicely. We are more or less concerned for preaching. It does not matter even if we have got a temple or not, but if the preaching work goes on that is a great satisfaction."Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 October 21: "So far crying for Krishna is concerned, as we go on chanting Hare Krishna, in the pure status, we shall be on the loving platform and at that time, we shall feel the greatest separation from the Lord. These are all transcendental existential understandings."Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 October 21: "In separation one relishes the loving relationship more tasty. So don't be disappointed that you are separated from me, I am also always thinking of you. And I am always expecting your letters that you have opened a center and how you are working very nicely."Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 October 21: "If we can sell some copies of our publications, books and literature, and we can maintain our establishment, somehow, we shall think it is a great success. We don't want anything more. Neither we want any big bank balance."Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 October 21: "Thank you very much for writing me. I am very poor and I have nothing to return for your loving service, but I can simply pray to Krishna for your gradual advancement in Krishna Consciousness. And that is the best blessing we can have in this material existence."Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 October 21: "Girls or boys lecturing doesn't make any difference. Either may deliver lecture. We have no such distinction of bodily designations, male or female. Anyone following in this line of disciplic succession, can deliver lecture."Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 October 21: "Ice cream purchased from the market may not be offered. We must offer to Krishna only first class prepared foodstuff made at home. We shall try to avoid as far as possible offering to Krishna goods purchased from the market."Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
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Krishna-kripa das, Mayapura: Travel Journal#6.16: Trutnov, Wroclaw, Cologne


Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 6, No. 16
By Krishna-kripa das
(August 2010, part two)
Czech Woodstock, Wroclaw Ratha-yatra, Cologne Harinama
(Sent from Stuyvesant, New York, on September 30, 2010)
Highlights
Trutnov Open Air Festival (Czech Woodstock) 2010 Wroclaw Ratha-yatra 2010 Harinama in Cologne
Insights from Navina Nirada Prabhu

Itinerary
Dhruva Prabhu suggested I include my itinerary for upcoming travel:
September 30-October 1: Stuyvesant, New York
October 2: 12-hour Kirtana, Manhattan
October 3: 1:30-4:30 p.m., harinama at Tompkins Square Park
October 4-5: Bhakti Center, Manhattan
October 5, evening: Sacinandana Swami program, Manhattan
October 6-8: Philadelphia
October 8, 7 p.m., Harinama, South Street, Philly
October 9-11: Albany, New York
October 12: Manhattan
October 13: 12:30- 3:30 p.m. Harinama, Univ. of North Florida, Jacksonville
October 13-20: Gainesville
October 15: Gainesville Ratha-yatra
October 16: chanting at the U.F. Homecoming game
October 20-November 17: Tucson
November 17-November 30: Gainesville
Where I Went and What I Did

We left Leipzig by train on August 19 to attend Trutnov, a Czech rock concert where the Hare Krishnas have a camp with lots of spiritual music and food, and the blessings of the Trutnov organizer, Martin, who puts Lord Jagannatha’s smiling face on the all the festival ads, wristbands, the main stage itself, and even the plastic beer mugs. After Trutnov we went to Mother Isvari’s place near Rybnik, Poland, to recover from Trutnov, and celebrate Lord Balarama’s appearance day with a nama-hatta program. On August 26, we attended the second annual Wroclaw Ratha-yatra, then spent one day in Wroclaw and one day on the Poland farm. Then we went to Warsaw, for their Balarama festival, during the Sunday feast. Tribhuvanesvara Prabhu led great kirtana, and the feast was very satisfying. On August 30, we started by train to London, stopping in Berlin for dinner, and Cologne, for a day, to do harinama. Then we ended up in Brussels for the evening of August 31.

Trutnov Open Air Festival (Czech Woodstock) August 19-22, 2010
The first day, I saw three people from previous years. It seemed more people chanted this time than previously. People even stood on benches dancing with upraised arms, a new development. The first night, we tried to stop the kirtana twice, but people wanted us to keep going. We finally ended at 2:10 a.m. Once I counted seven people happily chanting along at 1:00 a.m.


Other days we stayed up even later, once ending at 5:00 a.m. There were always people ready to hear, sing, and dance, until the end. The picture above was taken at 3:20 a.m.



We did Ratha-yatra from the school we stay at, to the downtown area, and then back up the hill to the Trutnov site. Some people pulled the cart, and others sang and danced. Two girls who must have spent half their time in our tent joined our return Ratha-yatra, back to the school that was our base. On that return Ratha-yatra, some people even lay down flat on the street before Lord Jagannatha

When Prabhupada disciple, Jay Gurudeva Das, did Hare Krishna chanting with electric guitar and synthesizer, one very large, jovial, young man who obviously had a lot of beer, jumped up on the stage and tried to chant into the microphone. He attracted a lot of attention. He had a good voice, but because he had so much beer he messed up the mantra a lot, although we showed him a couple mantra cards. Jay Gurudeva was good at letting him do his thing but not steal the show. Although Jay Gurudeva had just sung many of the same tunes as last year which had gotten many people dancing, this year for the first hour, practically no one danced but me. Not even those who I had seen dancing and chanting the night before would dance, not even when I tried to encourage them. But when this man spontaneously came up on the stage, he attracted people’s attention, and then thirty people got up and danced with enthusiasm.
[Click here to see Facebook movie showing about the above.]




Prithu Prabhu gave one of the best lectures I heard him ever gave. He talked about the body, subtle body, and soul. He talked about experiences he had of astral travel as well as a near-death experience. So as to relate to the young crowd, he talked about how he was the first person in his town to have dredlocks when he was a kid, and how he distributed drugs in one area in Germany as a youth. After telling about the subtle body, he introduced the soul and transmigration. He used a large plate, small plate, bowl, cup, and spoon, to visually represent the body, mind, intelligence, false ego, and soul. At the end, he recommended the people buy one of Srila Prabhupada’s introductory books.

 
One girl who liked Prithu Prabhu’s lectures bought the book he recommended. She, like many, came by at least three times a day to see and hear what was happening at our Krishna camp. Punya Palaka Prabhu found her blog where she described her experience: “I go to check the Krishna camp. I exactly knew that. There, in the Krishna camp, “it” all is and “it” is so strong. I’m still not sure what “it” is, but I’ve got the time to find out. I spent there less than an hour, but I got hit by the end of a lecture by one sympathetic, English speaking man. And it was a hit at the right spot. Then for some half an hour they were singing their Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,

 
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare . . . And it was magic.” She mentioned that she liked that I took the trouble to explain some of the Bengali bhajanas that one devotees band was singing, and she learned that Krishna is one although having many names. She also described how some of us came off the stage with our instruments and sang while they were setting the stage for the next band. In conclusion, the girl wrote, “Actually, all the time I was moving between booths and the Krishna camp. And I just realized that regardless the situation, I feel always fine down there. They have brought buckets of energy in all of their mantras. And you won’t find anyone uncongenial or displeasing there . . . simply a wonderful group of people with wonderful energy.” If you know Czech or want to translate the whole article with Google, the links are Day 2 and Day 3.

 
One girl, who had come last year with two friends, came this year with some other friends, stopping by at least a couple times.

 
Our presentation this year was better in that we had mantra cards to give to all that wanted them, and we set up a booth for questions and answers, instead of informally answering people’s questions, so many more people took advantage of that opportunity.

 
In the morning the day after, one man and woman came up to Punya Palaka Prabhu, our Krishna Camp organizer, saying, “Your Hare Krishna Camp is a refuge for many of the participants. When they feel down they come to regain their energy—instead of some energy drinks, Hare Krishna Camp is better!” The man had been coming for years, and he was also among the group of some thirty who kept chanting and dancing by themselves on Friday night while we were setting up the stage for the band performance to come. . . . Both he and the lady said they had been bringing their friends and all of them had agreed, it was refreshing to join the chanting and dancing . . .”

 
After Trutnov, as Dhruva Prabhu and I were riding the train to our next destination, I could see at the rate we were going, we would miss our connection, so I searched for the conductor. I found two conductors but neither spoke English. I asked the four young people standing around if any of them knew English and would translate. One young man agreed. During their interaction with me, one his friends chanted his recollection of the Hare Krishna mantra, with a few words out of order, recognizing me to be a devotee. Thus when I thanked the man for his translation service, I gave him a mantra card as a present. The young man said with a smile, “Hare Krishna—that was the best song at the whole Trutnov festival!” And then he asked if I could sing the mantra one time for them, and I did, and then I asked them to sing it one time for me, and we chanted a couple more times, engaging a few more young people in the next carriage in hearing. The man’s comment was impressive to me, although a hundred bands had played on four stages at Trutnov, he considered Hare Krishna to be the best song at the whole event, and he wanted to hear it again.

 
Later when we got off that train, I decided to play harmonium and chant on the platform, down the whole length of the train and back, and I got a lot of smiles of appreciation, and I recognized some of the people who had attended our Krishna camp. I passed a few remaining mantra cards to the smiling people through the train windows. The conductors did not complain.

 
It was nice as always to see people happily connecting with Krishna through kirtana, prasadam, and the association of the devotees. For more pictures with descriptive captions, click here.
Wroclaw Ratha-yatra 2010

There are six YouTube videos one devotee, with the user name Arkadiusz108, uploaded about the Wroclaw Ratha-yatra. The first is below:



Here are links to the others: Video 2, Video 3, Video 4, Video 5, and Video 6.
After their first Ratha-yatra last year, the Wroclaw devotees performed number two this year. The authorities delayed approving their application until all the weekends were taken, and so the Ratha-yatra was on Thursday. There were fewer devotees there than last year, but plenty of guests. The stage show had more variety this year, and a greater number and variety of people watched it. Many were eager to take the temple invitations I was passing out. The prasadam was better and lasted longer. Bravo! During the parade one girl who had danced in our kirtana tent at Woodstock recognized me. She was happy to encounter the devotees again. And I gave her the invitation to our local temple and invited her to the Ratha-yatra stage show.

 
Harinama in Cologne

 
Dhruva Prabhu is always up for visiting a new temple, so we stopped in Cologne as we traveled by train from Poland to London. At mangala-arati, there were only Dhruva and I, and MahaLaxmi, who we had met on the Netherlands padayatra. There are few temple devotees there, and even though it was one of their standard harinama days, we could not find local devotees to go. Fortunately MahaLaxmi, who was also traveling through Cologne and who has a nice voice, was eager to go out, so we chanted for almost three hours in a downtown market section. Once we came upon a very ornately decorated cathedral dating back hundreds of years ago, and we sat down on the steps nearby. One group of children from Spain enjoyed listening to us for a while. There were many people in the market section and near the cathedral, and we passed out invitations to the local temple. Now that I have seen what a nice venue they have for harinama, I will definitely go back. While returning to the temple, we chanted on the metro, but we saw some metro police, so we got off at the next stop and waited for the next train, so we were able to continue chanting the whole way back.

 

 
Insight from Lectures

 

 
Navina Nirada Prabhu:
Prayers are meant to worship the Lord not fulfilling our own desires.
One who asks the Lord for what he is already giving is less intelligent and even ungrateful.

Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati Thakura spoke for three months on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.1 at Radha-kunda.
Our words will lose meaning if we do not act as we say.
We repeat what we have heard and what we have realized. If we speak what we have heard but not yet realized, it will not be as effective
It is so noisy on the battlefield that the soldier touches his charioteer with his feet, either on the left or right to direct him. Thus the charioteer position that Lord Krishna accepted in relationship to Arjuna is a very menial one, but Krishna accepted it out of love for His friend.

Intelligence is measured by the extent one is willing to surrender to the Lord’s desire.
Many times you can go up to people and say, “This is a book about Krishna. You have heard of Krishna?”
Lord Nityananda has some kirtanas that went for months without disturbed by other things.
Lord Caitanya touched Prakasananda Sarasvati’s heart but humbly sitting where the people washed their feet. And so Prakasananda Sarasvati offered some service, thereby getting unknowing piety. Lord Caitanya furthermore explained out he was chanting the holy name because his guru found Him to fallen to study Vedanta.
Trnad api sunicena… is the access code which unlocks the holy names and other instructions for chanting.
Although we are only one of seven billion people on earth, still Krishna loves us.
To get people lower their defenses, we have to lower our defenses. But if we lower our defenses, we worry that someone may take advantage of us. But if Krishna is there to protect us, what do we need to worry about?
If Lord Caitanya gave sankirtana and prasadam for this masses but just spoke philosophy to the intelligent, why do we distribute these books? Because people are so unfortunate they are not willing to chant and take prasadam. They books are sankirtana in hard copy.
Unless you lead a virtuous life (the mode of goodness) you cannot taste real happiness.
Book distribution depends on four things:
1. Strong sadhana so you have some spiritual realization.
2. Having the books.
3. The more you show, the more you sell.
4. Organize.
We are not using holy name as a washing detergent to get free from sins but to serve the Lord.
Krishna protects his devotee’s vows. So let’s vow to take Krishna consciousness seriously.

If you care about others, you share with them. Srila Prabhupada came from the most exalted place, Vrndavana, to the most degraded place, the Bowery, to share the spiritual truth he had.
The Jews wear that little cap to remember that there is always something divine above them.
I ask the people, “Are you a rock star or a regular loser?”
Or else, I ask, “Which one of you is the smart one?”
Or else, I say, “This is for all the nice people. Are you nice?”
Krishna doesn’t need anything but our love.
One of the last people of the day was not so interested. Then she asked, “Does this book say anything about Kali-yuga?” I gave her a Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and said, “This is about the person who really saves the day in Kali-yuga.” She took the book.
-----
pātrāpātra-vicāra nāhi, nāhi sthānāsthāna

yei yāńhā pāya, tāńhā kare prema-dāna

"In distributing love of Godhead, Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates did not consider who was a fit candidate and who was not, nor where such distribution should or should not take place. They made no conditions. Wherever they got the opportunity, the members of the Pañca-tattva distributed love of Godhead. (Caitanya Caritāmrita, Ādi 7.23)
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