viernes, 18 de febrero de 2011

Kirtan Australia.com: The Lucknow Project-The Yoga of Chanting



PLANET ISKCON

 
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"Planet ISKCON" - 49 new articles

  1. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 18 February 2011--Drop of Water on a Lotus Leaf--and--How to Know If I Have Found My Guru?
  2. Vraja Kishor, JP: Who am I, What is my Role, Why?
  3. Kirtan Australia.com: The Lucknow Project-The Yoga of Chanting
  4. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gopa-Vrndesa Dasa
  5. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.13.5 Mirage In The Desert 2009-12-07
  6. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.11.5 How Covered, How Uncovered
  7. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.11.1 Not At All Experienced
  8. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.10.25 Don’t Offend Even The Little Devotees
  9. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.3.13 Super Highway Not So Super
  10. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.3.10 Rooting For Material Existence
  11. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.3.7 The Simple & Pure Love Of Krishna & His Devotees
  12. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.3.1-2 Knowing One’s Position
  13. Kurma dasa, AU: Dancin' in the Streets
  14. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 224
  15. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Poem, February 17
  16. Japa Group: Japa - Kirtan Retreat Part 6
  17. Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur Appearance Day!
  18. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
  19. Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Sri Krishna Madhuta Utsava
  20. ISKCON Brampton, Canada: Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur's Appearance Day - Friday, February 18, 2011
  21. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: there will be no social collapse as you have anticipated
  22. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: More Bliss...
  23. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Ratha Yatra Part 4
  24. David Haslam, UK: Who’s Krishna?
  25. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Quote of Guru Maharaja
  26. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Lord Nityananda's Appearance Day (February, 16, 2010)
  27. Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Oprah and 378 Staffers Go Vegan
  28. Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Dual Mind-Consciousness Paradigm
  29. Madri dd, South Africa: Just transcribed HH Radhanath Swami speaking on Sri Nityananda Trayodasi - 2011
  30. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  31. Dandavats.com: Live From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Radhanath Swami
  32. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  33. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  34. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO BE BEAUTIFUL?
  35. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Remembering Lord Nityananda upon arriving in Sridhama Mayapura
  36. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Pictures of the emerging Temple of Vedic Planetarium
  37. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  38. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  39. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  40. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  41. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  42. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: STANDARD FOR EDUCATION
  43. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: AN IDEAL HUSBAND AND WIFE
  44. Japa Group: Japa - Kirtan Retreat Part 5
  45. Atma Yoga, Brisbane, AU: Kirtan with Dave Stringer
  46. Gouranga TV: Parijata Kirtan
  47. Atma Yoga, Brisbane, AU: Kirtan
  48. Atma Yoga, Brisbane, AU: Soul Food
  49. Atma Yoga, Brisbane, AU: Yoga
  50. More Recent Articles
  51. Search Planet ISKCON
  52. Prior Mailing Archive

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 18 February 2011--Drop of Water on a Lotus Leaf--and--How to Know If I Have Found My Guru?

A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course(tm) Friday 18 February 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. Today's Thought: Drop of Water on a Lotus Leaf Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA Our situation in this material world is very precarious. Just as a drop of water on a lotus leaf can easily fall off at any time, we have no security in this material world. We can be vanquished by the all-powerful material energy within a second. But if we take complete shelter of Krishna, fully depending on Him, by His grace we will always be protected in all times, places, and circumstances. Therefore the great Vaisnava poet and philosopher, Govinda Das, has very nicely sung as follows: e dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana ithe ki che paratti re kamala-dala-jala, jvana talamala bhajah hari-pada nti re What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one's wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members? This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus leaf; therefore you should always serve and worship the divine feet of Lord Hari. http://www.backtohome.com/images/water_on_lotus_leaf.jpg If we heed these words of Govinda Das, we will no longer be afraid of the material energy. We will always feel safe in Krishna's shelter, even though we are in such a tottering, insecure, drop-of-water-on-a-lotus-leaf-like position within this material world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: How to Know If I Have Found My Guru? The majority of your articles talk about full surrender. This is possible for people who tasted the presence of their true guru. But I want to put my doubt humbly. How one can know that he has found his guru? Enlighten me. Rajesh Answer: 24 Hours Full Krishna Connection You can know that you have found your spiritual master when you find that person who teaches you how to be fully connected with Krishna 24 hours daily. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:

 
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Vraja Kishor, JP: Who am I, What is my Role, Why?

Arjuna statue at an intersection just outside ...

Image via Wikipedia

The Gita So Far

Chapter 1: Arjuna expresses that he wants to give up his normal duty.

Chapter 2: Kṛṣṇa stresses that we should never give up our duty, even when its immediate repercussions are painful and disturbing.

Arjuna contends that it is difficult to even know what one’s duty is, what to speak of carrying it out in the face of hardship. Kṛṣṇa will therefore spend the rest of the book elaborating on exactly what duty (dharma) really is, and how to stick to it regardless of the pleasure or pains it entails.

Chapter 3: (karma-yoga) It is my duty to play my natural role in the world, not to give up that role. All my desires become perfectly fulfilled when I carry out my obligation to properly play that role.

Chapter 4: (jñāna-miśra karma-yoga) Without deep self-knowledge it is impossible to know what my role is, and to properly play it when faced with temptation and despair. Self-knowledge comes as a blessing of the Superself, who ultimately is Kṛṣṇa, and most readily descends to us from him through a system of  “disciplic succession.”

Gaining true knowledge allows me to understand myself and the Superself, and thus find it possible to give up all selfish motivations and endeavors.

Chapter 5: (niṣkāma-karma-yoga) Arjuna wants to know if is it better to play an active role in the world (as Kṛṣṇa advised in Chapter 3) or to pursue the cultivation of philosophical knowledge (as Kṛṣṇa advised in Chapter 4)?

Kṛṣṇa answers that the best path is to combine both; I must apply self-knowledge to the way I play my role in the world. Thus I am able to carry out my natural responsibilities and duties without any personal agenda or motive, and without concern for the repercussions to my immediate pleasures or pains.

Chapter 6: (dhyāna-yoga) Playing my natural role in self-knowledge, as just described, eliminates the false-ego and thereby makes it feasible for me to cease my normal worldly duties and practice mystic meditation in seclusion. This meditation grants direct experience of the true self, as well as the Superself.

Chapter 7: (bhakti-yoga) Those who perceive the self and Superself realize their intimate relation to God and thereby develop deep feelings of devotion. Their duty is simply to share their loving feelings with Godhead. These devotional-spiritualists attain the highest goal.

Chapter 8: Arjuna wants to know, What is this “highest goal”? And what goals do other types of yogi-spiritualists attain?

Kṛṣṇa answers that others attain paradise, heavens, and relief from the burden of existence, but all these conditions are temporary. Only the devotional spiritualist attains the highest goal – eternal establishment in an intimate blissful relationship with Kṛṣṇa, the original soul of all souls, in his own eternal abode.

Chapter Nine So Far

Kṛṣṇa says, “Arjuna, I trust you entirely because you are my dear friend. So I will tell you all the most confidential secrets about how to be a devotional spiritualist and attain that supreme goal (1). What I am about to tell you is the knowledge of all knowledge! It is the secret of all secrets! These happy and imperishable secrets will purify you entirely and give you direct tangible experience of your true self and your duty in relation to me, the Superself! (2) Because I trust you and you trust me, you can understand these secrets. Others will have no idea what we are talking about. (3)”

Kṛṣṇa begins to reveal the secrets: “Everything in this world comes from me, and therefore I am a part of everything! But though I am a part of everything I am also beyond everything. (4) Everything you experience is my energy – but I am much more than just my energy! I am the source of all energy, a divine person beyond it all. (5) All of creation is effortlessly within me, like the blowing wind is in the firm and pure sky. (6)”

The Seventh Text of Chapter Nine

In this and the next few texts, Kṛṣṇa will explain how the universes unfold effortlessly within his energy.

सर्व-भ्ūत्āनि कौन्तेय प्रक्र्̣तिम्́ य्āन्ति म्āमिक्āम्
कल्प-क्स्̣अये पुनस् त्āनि कल्प्āदौ विस्र्̣ज्āम्य् अहम्

sarva-bhūtāni kaunteya
prakṛtiḿ yānti māmikām

kalpa-kṣaye punas tāni
kalpādau visṛjāmy aham

“O son of Kuntī [Arjuna], at the end of the millennium all material manifestations enter into My nature, and at the beginning of another millennium, by My potency, I create them again.”

How do the universes effortlessly exist within God’s energy? In a perpetually cyclic manner. All living beings in this world (sarva-bhūtāni) are God’s energy (prakṛti māmikām). At the beginning of a creative cycle (kalpa) all these beings effortlessly emerge (visṛjāmi) from God’s energy. At the end of that cycle, they re-enter it (yānti).

The great commentary of Viśvanātha Chakravarti explains that previously Kṛṣṇa said everything we can see in creation is within him like the wind is in the sky. Arjuna then asks, “What about when all these things we can see are destroyed? Are they still all within you – or have they vanished or gone outside you somehow?”

Kṛṣṇa replies in this text, saying, “When everything is destroyed it merely submerges into the matrix of my energy. I will later on recreate everything once again in exact detail. Thus no energy is lost and everything always remains within my energy.”

Our great teacher, A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī  Prabhupāda gives the following commentary on this text:

The creation, maintenance and annihilation of this material cosmic manifestation are completely dependent on the supreme will of the Personality of Godhead. “At the end of the millennium” means at the death of Brahmā. Brahmā lives for one hundred years, and his one day is calculated at 4,300,000,000 of our earthly years. His night is of the same duration. His month consists of thirty such days and nights, and his year of twelve months. After one hundred such years, when Brahmā dies, the devastation or annihilation takes place; this means that the energy manifested by the Supreme Lord is again wound up in Himself. Then again, when there is a need to manifest the cosmic world, it is done by His will. Bahu syām: “Although I am one, I shall become many.” This is the Vedic aphorism (Chāndogya Upaniṣad 6.2.3). He expands Himself in this material energy, and the whole cosmic manifestation again takes place.

Our Prabhupāda makes two main points in this commentary: (1) The duration of the creative cycle Kṛṣṇa is referring to, and (2) The reason why all this creation and energy exists in the first place.

While discussing the Eighth Chapter we elaborately covered the first point – coming to understand the duration of the universe to be approximately the equivalent of 311 trillion earth years.

The second point is a huge favorite of mine!

Prabhupāda quotes the Chā ndogya Upaniṣad to explain a wonderful question – “Why are we here? What is the point of all this stuff in creation?” The Upaniṣad reveals God’s motive in creating us and creating everything, saying eko bahu syām. This means,

First of all there was One unified being (eko)

That one being thought, “This is a shame, There is potential for bliss within me
But I am alone, and thus cannot express this potential bliss…

Therefore, I should become many!” (bahu syām).

This is one of my favorite pieces of Vedic wisdom for it entirely explains the meaning and purpose of life. If you are interested to learn more on this topic, I have an article that addresses it: http://www.vicdicara.com/prep_creation.php

 


 
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Kirtan Australia.com: The Lucknow Project-The Yoga of Chanting


Contact: Suzanne
Gold Coast Yoga Centre

37/2 Eighth Ave
Palm Beach  QLD  4221
Ph: 07 55 342 883
www.goldcoastyogacentre.com
email: yoga88@goldcoastyogacentre.com

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gopa-Vrndesa Dasa

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.30.39-43 - The instructions given by Krsna on the battlefield of Kuruksetra in the form of Bhagavad Gita can give relief to the aching heart.

 
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.13.5 Mirage In The Desert 2009-12-07

SB 05.13.05 Mirage In The Desert 2009-12-07 Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.5 Mirage In The Desert 2009-12-07 Los Angeles

 
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.11.5 How Covered, How Uncovered

SB 05.11.05 How Covered, How Uncovered 2009-11-03 Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 5.11.5 How Covered, How Uncovered 2009-11-03 Los Angeles

 
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.11.1 Not At All Experienced

SB 05.11.01 Not At All Experienced 2009-10-29 Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 5.11.1 Not At All Experienced 2009-10-29 Los Angeles

 
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.10.25 Don’t Offend Even The Little Devotees

SB 05.10.25 Don’t Offend Even The Little Devotees 2009-10-27 Lecture Srimad Bhagavatam 5.10.25 Don’t Offend Even The Little Devotees 2009-10-27 Los Angeles

 
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.3.13 Super Highway Not So Super

SB 05.03.13 Super Highway Not So Super 2009-04-22 Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 5.3.13 Super Highway Not So Super 2009-04-22 Los Angeles

 
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.3.10 Rooting For Material Existence

SB 05.03.10 Rooting For Material Existence 2009-04-18 Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 5.3.10 Rooting For Material Existence 2009-04-18 Los Angeles

 
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.3.7 The Simple & Pure Love Of Krishna & His Devotees

SB 05.03.07 The Simple & Pure Love Of Krishna & His Devotees 2009-04-15 Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 5.3.7 The Simple & Pure Love Of Krishna & His Devotees 2009-04-15 Los Angeles

 
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 5.3.1-2 Knowing One’s Position

SB 05.03.01-2 Knowing One’s Position 2009-04-10 Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 5.3.1-2 Knowing One’s Position 2009-04-10 Los Angeles

 
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Kurma dasa, AU: Dancin' in the Streets

rathayatra bliss 1:

Callin' out around the world Are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer's here and the time is right For dancin' in the streets

They're dancin' in Chicago Down in New Orleans Up in New York City And St Kilda too...

All we need is music, sweet music There'll be music everywhere There'll be swingin', swayin' and records playin' And dancin' in the streets

singin'in the street:

Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear Just as long as you are there So come on, every guy grab a drum Everywhere around the world There'll be dancin' They're dancin' in the street

This is an invitation Across the nation A chance for the folks to meet There'll be laughin' and singin' and music swingin' And dancin' in the streets...

(Apologies to Martha and the Vandellas for the slight change in the lyrics...)

 
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 224

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

8:01 A.M.

[EXPLANATION OF THIS CONTENT:
At present I am privately writing an autobiographical project. I cannot write it fast enough to print a section every day. Therefore, I am printing on this site a book called Every Day, Just Write. A book by the title Every Day, Just Write was already printed by me some ten years ago but it was a  heavily-edited version.  I am now printing the unedited version, which is fresh and new to the readers. I hope my readers will find it so. When I am finished with the autobiographical project, I will print that.]

Every Day, Just Write, Volume I: Welcome Home to the One Big Book of Your Life

November 21, 1996
2:30  P.M.

The free roll, easy motion of the writing with no special topic.

Damn it, I like it.
I also don’t even know what it is.
I suspect that Begging is a bit too structured for what I want now, for who I am.
I said to myself, “You may be living too much at ease these days. The japa vrata will tighten you up and the directed writing too. If you’re not on book distribution, at least do a japa increase. And if anyone reads this diary they will see that you are a serious devotee.” That’s pretentious—to write so someone later may be impressed by my “tapa-japa.” So I’ll leave a publishable book for the world.

I say better readers, closer ones, will like the non-pretentious flow.

But if you can improve your chanting, do it.

Separate to this is the breaking of freeze on my reading madhurya-lila. That too should be not artificial.
Sure, some force is required.  I do it to read Cc. and Bg. and K.B. Force a little, open the book, even if you don’t feel like it, and you’ll find you do like it.

At 4:00 P.M. Syamananda is coming to get me and bring me to the island for my darsana of Radha-Govinda. The lake strait is calm. It doesn’t look like rain. I ate a lot for Ekadasi. M. is fasting, I think.

Ahhh, ahhh, don’t be envious of anyone. Do your thing.

M. has been chasing down the mail package. He knows more than the courier people as to their tracking number and where the package is. He smiles and says they told him they would have it here tomorrow.

So my friend, I will ask Manu when he returns if he can install a gas heater in the shed. I don’t want to ask for too many things, but it will be a commitment to my writing and Bhagavad-gita reading. So I’ll ask.

4:20 P.M., Temple room.

You could sit here and draw a picture of Radha-Krishna, but how crude it would be. Whatever I write is also crude.

They are dressed in red and white, with silver, sewn-in designs. Radha’s dress has high neck and long apron-like affect over Her long flouncy skirt. Red cape overhead. Silver necklaces and crown. Silver tulasi leaf on Her palm blessing us. Laksmi-Narayana worship, they say. But They are Radha and Govinda.

Krishna has a buffalo horn that curves the same direction as His left hip, where it hangs. Long garland down to His ankles, almost; Hers is shorter.

His flute is long. Their lips are red. He’s black, She’s white; They are tall.

I am reading in Manah-siksa that Radha-Krishna worship is topmost of all. Note it. But you can’t jump to it. Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji says you have to practice austerity, no sense-grat, and do bhajana a long time. Be free of lust before you can hear of Radha-Krishna love, what to speak of directly serving Her sakhis in your own spiritual form.

I now write while devotees in this room chant japa. Ekadasi. Afternoon is darkening outside and inside too.

Island paths, beautiful copper tones, leaves piled, clear air, calm and cold. Go back soon for 5:00 gathering in your room before Srila Prabhupada.

A prayer before you leave:

“Dear Lord, if You like, keep me active these weeks in reading Srila Prabhupada and writing this way. Give me insights how to better serve You. O harinama, please let me pay attention and pray Hare Krishna mantra.

“I sit here and try to absorb Your beauty. It works. You are the center of Inis Rath. All is for You. I’m across the lake writing at Manu’s house for You. When I look at lake and island, trees, please let me be aware that Radha-Govinda are the jewel in the setting. They are the life of the devotees and object of all service done here.”

Red and white, Radha and Krishna dressed and allowing us Their darsana.

November 22, 1996
12:22 A.M.

You hesitate to write more or more openly, thinking yourself unworthy, thinking an outpouring would be of dirty things. Perhaps this is true.  but if you could get past the vomit of blood, as did Kaliya serpent  . . . the Lord would accept your offering as flowers. If you sincerely surrender through your brokenness and try to make sincere prayers.  These are actions too.
You may also hesitate to write because it does not appear to be preaching, although Srila Prabhupada so much wanted that. Here again you can turn your “idle” thoughts to wishes for spreading Krishna consciousness. You have come here to dance. Why cover yourself with a veil?
Oh, but I’m not a good dancer.
Dance anyway. You’ll learn.  Dancing will teach you, and the Lord in your heart.

“O Son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth–women, vaisyas, as well as sudras—can attain the supreme destination.” (Bg. 9.32)

“Sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu doyo koro more”
“My dear Lord, please be merciful to me. Who can be more merciful than Your Lordship in these three worlds? You appear as an incarnation just to reclaim the conditioned fallen souls, but I assure that you will not find a more fallen soul than me.”
–Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, Prarthana #39.

You mean you just write when there is no topic? Hear rain beginning. The starting up of some pang in the body in one place or another. The material body is a treasure house of miseries. Oh, but I’m feeling all right just now. Then use this time fully in the Lord’s service.

Read, not so deeply or present. You notice it go by. Lord Caitanya embraced Ramananda Raya when they met. Ramananda Raya stated that this was His mercy on a fallen person, although the Vedic injunctions forbid a sannyasi to do so. They agreed to meet to talk in private on Krishna-katha. Srila Prabhupada comments that talks of Krishna and the gopis should not be in public.

But can we read them in private and savor them? My writing is private, so I may tell what I do. But then you publish it, what is this?
Don’ bodder me, y’hear?

Click-tock, the clock goes slowly. Set for midnight now, I’m willing to let the alarm  go off as long as it doesn’t wake others. And it forces me to rise.

You dreamt but were not inclined to record it. In one dream you and maybe  Mandelesvara were present at a meeting of top politicians. President Clinton was notable for his absence. His wife spoke against the fact that Clinton was not present.  Reagan was present instead, a kind of coup. Reagan said he meditated several times a week, something like T.M. This was a great opportunity for me or Mandelesvara to say something about Krishna consciousness. But we didn’t. That’s what I recall now from the dream. Not preaching. We were lucky to be at such a meeting and lucky that Reagan introduced the topic of meditation, but we couldn’t capitalize on it. Oh Sam, bereft, ate a pie and then his right side ached a bit. His friends said, “I’m not (no longer) into nature-cure.” So they had to put up with it. Ma Grandma baked more pies, took care of grandchildren, but she still made it to the evening, to the Namamrta singing in guru’s cave, where they lit candles. Only three more nights of that.

When we returned home to Geaglum last night from our Inis Rath visit, the last daylight was turning the cows into silhouettes. Kaliya warned us not to come near. The sky was—cold and beautiful and last-lighting. But Kali greeted us, tail wagging, as we landed at the quay.

“Be careful, there is ice on the cement quay.” Put my hand on Syamananda’s back and stepped carefully out of the blue rowboat. I wanted to say that while it was happening, but did not have the presence of mind to do it when I reached the house. I knew it was precious but couldn’t convince myself it was worth writing down. Later I at least drew a picture of a man walking with a black cow in the background. Now I write it, but may be too late. Five minutes afterwards is best. Or while it actually happens.

 
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Poem, February 17

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

I asked Saci if he was
taking our car to the garage
this morning. He said yes, but
first he would go to the YMCA
“to work out on a stationary
bike to super-loud music.
It’s good, it’s an hour long.”

I told him I have an appointment
for a massage by T.J. at
9:00 A.M. He said, “That’s good—
to stretch the muscles and breathe deeply to the Tibetan-
mixed music. It hurts a bit,
but it’s therapeutic.

My soul is hidden behind
the almost sleepless night
and headache. He doesn’t
meditate on gopi-manjari
service to Radha, and he
wants to write about that.

Tell what he does do,
as the dirty snow lingers
on for a month now.

e.e. cummings writes so
strangely, I cannot
imitate it.

He is not plain and simple.
I am like an Amish
barn in a road leading
to Gita-nagari. I stay
in my room and inquire
what is the proactive deed
I should do to counteract
Ketu. Chanting and hearing
comes first.

 
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Japa Group: Japa - Kirtan Retreat Part 6

Sacinandana Swami now talks to the devotees about preparing for 64 rounds.


 
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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur Appearance Day!

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Jaya Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura, the embodiment of Krishna Prema. Every day in hundreds of temples around the world Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur's nectar filled prayers are sung to the presciding dieties and the assembled Vaisnavas. These songs express great love for Krishna and Gauranga and provide devotional inspiration.

What is very unique is that Srila Prabhupada not only made many of Narottama Dasa Thakur's song and part of our siddhanta but also reffered to the wording and meaning of these bhajans in many talks and lectures. So in this way we can understand the importance of Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur's wirtings and how they tugged at Srila Prabhupada's heart and perhaps drops of this nectar can pass on to today's assembled Vaisnavas reading this blog post.

Today we were reading through the "Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas" and in reading Savarana-sri-gaura-pada-padme Prarthana, there is a purport by Srila Prabhupada. In the last paragraph Srila Prabhupada states, 

After the six Gosvamis, the next acarya was Srinivasa Acarya. Actually, Narottama Dasa Thakura was in the disciplic succession after Srinivasa Acarya and was almost his contemporary, and Narottama Dasa's personal friend was Ramacandra Cakravarti. Therefore he prays, "I always desire the company of Ramacandra." He desires a devotee's company. The whole process is that we should always pray for the mercy of the superior acaryas and keep company with pure devotees. Then it will be easier for us to advance in Krsna consciousness and receive the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Krsna. This is the sum and substance of this song sung by Narottama Dasa Thakura.
 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

18/02/11
Their Lordships showcase Their rainbow set today with happy peacocks dancing amidst this joyful blast of colours.

All the while Srila Prabhupada seem to keep a watchful eye on the altar and nodding to the efforts of his followers to serve the Lord of Vraja and His divine associates.

Here is the darsana that Srila Prabhupada sees constantly, having his eyes fixed on the spiritual world.

 
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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Sri Krishna Madhuta Utsava

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Today in Navadvipa and accross Bengal Sri Krishna Madhura Utsava is being celebrated, the rasa dance of the Supreme Personality of Godehead. When we think of Krishna's Rasa lila we picture Vrindavan dham but Krishna is  omnipresent and today He is playing His flute and dancing with His Gopis in Navadvipa dham! O' merciful Krishna, Your celebrations are Sublime and many.
 
Please enjoy one of my favorites, Sakhi-vrnde Vijnapti which honours the pastimes of Radha Krishna. This also ties into the other auspicious event today which is the appearance day of the author of this bhajan...please see next post!  
 
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ISKCON Brampton, Canada: Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur's Appearance Day - Friday, February 18, 2011

On Fri Feb 18th @ 7pm we are celebrating Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur's appearance and Lord Varaha's appearance.

Narottam das Thakur

"Narottama Dasa Thakura was a lifelong brahmacari. He visited all the holy places and the was the best of pure devotees. On the banks of the Padmavati river, in the town of Gopalpura lived King Krsnanda Datta. His older brother was Purusottama Datta. The wealth and fame of these two brothers was beyond compare. King Krsnananda's son was Sri Santosa Datta. In the month of Magha, onthe day of sukla-pancami, Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura took his birth. Seeing many auspicious omens surrounding the birth of his son, Raja Krsnananda was very pleased, and gave lavishly in charity to the brahmanas. The brahmanas, seeing all the auspicious signs surrounding the child's birth, prophesied that the boy was a highly perfected soul and great personality, by whose influence many people would be delivered...for more please visit ISKCON BRAMPTON on Fri Feb 18th @ 7pm
 
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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: there will be no social collapse as you have anticipated

...there will be no collapse [i.e. world war and economic chaos in the near future] as you have anticipated. Everything will be adjusted by the grace of Krsna. From my own experience I have seen when first class rice was selling at 8np. per kg, and now that is being sold at Rs. 8. That means that it is 64 times higher, but still people are eating, and the man who lives in care of the footpath he is also eating. So the man in care of the foothpath, and the man on the 30th floor of the sky scraper, they are living and still the inflation is going on. Man-made laws cannot work any rupture in Krsna's plan. Better let us remain now under Krsna's shelter fully dependent, and we shall remain unaffected by all the man-made difficulties.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Hamsaduta: -- Bombay 1 December, 1974

For context, see Srila Prabhupada and His Disciples in Germany, ch. 15.

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: More Bliss...

harry



After Radha Carana Prabhu's masterpieces from the Ratha Yatra, here are those from Bhakta Harry.

Great slideshow!

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Ratha Yatra Part 4

ratha.4



That is the last batch from Radha Carana Prabhu's shots.

There is also a very good video of the parade.

 
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David Haslam, UK: Who’s Krishna?

Who’s Krishna? Presenting Mother Urmila’s books in a school assembly presents some challenges especially when it’s the first time the teachers have seen them; so it was interesting to see both the children’s and teachers reactions. So here is a couple of pictures of me in a recent school assembly, no one had seen anyone [...]

 
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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Quote of Guru Maharaja

Created by Kartik Agarwal Prabhu

 
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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Lord Nityananda's Appearance Day (February, 16, 2010)


 

 
 
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Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Oprah and 378 Staffers Go Vegan

No meat, no milk, no animal anything. Oprah and 378 Harpo staffers go vegan for one week.

Find out all about it here.


Filed under: Cows and Environment
 
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Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Dual Mind-Consciousness Paradigm

Traditional approach

The dividing line between the self and nonself is generally taken to be the skin, strongly implying that I am this body and nothing else. Of course, when a chunk of the body has vanished, as some unfortunate double amputees have experienced, one still feels one-self to be just as “present” and “here” as before, and not subjectively in the least. This logic could be carried forth easily enough until one arrives at solely the brain itself perceiving itself as “me” – because if a human head could be maintained with artificial head and the rest, it would reply “Here!”

<!--[if !supportLists]-->- <!--[endif]-->Robert Lanza MD Chief Scientist at Advanced Cell Technology; and Adjunct Professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Alternate approach

This has led some prominent researchers, such as the late Nobel-winning neuroscientist Sir John Eccles, to propose a dualist view of the problem, arguing that the human mind and consciousness may in fact constitute a separate, undiscovered entity apart from the brain

<!--[if !supportLists]-->- <!--[endif]-->Sir John Eccles – Neuroscientist and Nobel Prize winner

As you can see, these are two opposing views on the concept of mind/brain and consciousness. The traditional view holds the theory that the mind/brain and consciousness are inherently one (monist approach) thus tying the “self” to the brain where as the alternate view given by a Nobel Laureate and also supported by Karl Popper (Philosopher) say that mind/brain is separate from consciousness (dualist approach).

Both scientists use scientifically accepted methods to arrive at opposing conclusions. This is one example to elucidate the fact that modern scientific conclusions are relative to time, place, and person. It does not teach an “absolute” truth and is not intended to either. Therefore, if we want to understand the real purpose of life, then, we have to approach an absolute yet bonafide source.

The concept of the “self” is steeped in mystery yet Krishna proclaims with boldness that the spirit transcends death and obtains a new physical reality. It seems the Absolute and relative truths co-exist. The Vedic literatures claim that the individual person sees through the eyes, hears through the ears and feels through the skin. In other words, the “real” individual is not physical but spiritual. The external physical covering is a temporary reality. Majority of modern science and its laws are permutation and combination of this external physical covering.

The traditional approach defines “consciousness” based on the temporary nature of the physical body & mind. This definition cannot explain ghostly spirits or life-after death incidences or other paranormal behaviors frequently documented. The second definition, however, lends credence to the existence of a reality beyond the physical realm and hence can explain paranormal behavior.

There is growing body of research trying to prove the dual theory of mind and consciousness. Dr. Sam Parnia heads the inter-continental AWARE study conducted by leading doctors and neuro-scientists. More information can be found here. The AWARE research uses modern clinical and scientific methods to prove that consciousness surpasses physical death. There has been positive progress made in this regard.

In another place, the Late Dr.Ian Stevenson from the University of Virginia, School of Medicine pioneered research on the concept of “reincarnation”. Dr Stevenson used scientific methods to ascertain that reincarnation is indeed a fact and not myth. His work can be found here.

These studies and research only reinforce the words of Krishna spoken 5000 years ago thus giving credibility to Bhagavad Gita as a book of knowledge. What the scientists are trying to uncover in terms of the dual mind-consciousness paradigm has been dealt in detail 5000 years ago in the Bhagavad Gita. Studying it will help us understand the nature of consciousness and its concomitant factors.

Hare Krishna

 
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Madri dd, South Africa: Just transcribed HH Radhanath Swami speaking on Sri Nityananda Trayodasi - 2011

Live From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!


Date: February 16th, 2011

Topic: Appearance of Lord Nityananda

Speaker: HH Radhanath Swami

________________________________________________



HH Radhanath Swami: I am very grateful for this opportunity to be with all of you in the holy dham Sri Mayapur on the holy day of the appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. It appears that there is no verse selected so with your permission I will just talk in what time is allotted.



How Lord Nityananda Prabhu revealed the glories and the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is one of the most important truths that Gaudiya Vaisnava’s ardently worship. The first author of Lord Caitanya’s life was Sri Vrindavan dasa Thakura. He wrote Sri Caitanya Bhagavat. He was the last disciple of Lord Nityananda. He was given the order of Lord Nityananda Prabhu and with that order he became empowered to reveal Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the whole world.



It was Niyananda Prabhu who appeared in divine vision to order Sri Krishna dasa Kaviraja Goswami to leave his home forever and to go to Vrindavana and compose Caitanya-caritamrta. Krishna dasa Kaviraja Goswami gives credit to Nityananda Prabhu because it is he who is speaking through Krishna dasa Kaviraj Goswami with the mercy of Rupa Goswami and Raghunath Goswami to reveal Mahaprabhu’s life and teachings to the world. And Rupa and Sanatana Goswami when they went to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Ramakeli (the first meeting) they first approached Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Thakur Haridasa. It was Lord Nityananda Prabhu who personally brought them into the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.



They are our sambandha and abhideya acaryas. And our prayojana acarya Raghunatha dasa Goswami he tried to leave his home in Sri-krsnapura, Adi-saptagrama again and again to dedicate his life to Lord Caitanya but every time he was dragged back by force by his family members. Then he went to Panihati to see Lord Nityananda Prabhu offering his obeisances from a distance.



Sri Nityananda Prabhu was sitting under a beautiful banyan tree on the bank of the Ganges with His associates and he called Raghunatha, “You are a thief. You are hiding in a distant place. Your atonement is feed all of My devotees, everyone with cida dhahi, chipped rice in yogurt.” Raghunatha dasa Goswami took this very seriously. He bought practically every flake of chipped rice and all the yogurt not only in Panihati but also from the villages nearby. He soaked half in milk. He soaked all in milk and then he put half in yogurt and half in a combination of condensed milk and camphor, ghee and sugar. He gave everyone two clay pots and Nityananda Prabhu was so happy to see this.



Raghunath dasa Goswami brought such happiness to all the Vaisnavas and to all the people in general. He personally called Lord Caitanya to honor that feast with Him. In a divine spiritual body Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya went throughout the crowd taking some chipped rice and yogurt from each pot. Then Nityananda Prabhu gave all His personal remnants to Raghunath dasa Goswami. The next day Raghunatha dasa Goswami fell at the feet of Nityananda Prabhu and prayed that, “One cannot achieve the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu without the Your mercy. I beg You, please liberate me from the bondage of this material existence and give me the shelter of Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet.



Sri Nityananda Prabhu place His lotus feet on Raghunatha dasa Goswami’s head and He said, “Because you have pleased all the devotees and Lord Caitanya came I bless you.” Actually he first asked all the devotees to bless Raghunath dasa Goswami. “Because you have to render service to the devotees very soon you will be liberated from all material bondage and you will become Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s personal associate under the care of Swarup Damodara Goswami.



So our sambandha, abhideya and prayojana gurus were all brought to Lord Caitanya by Nityananda Prabhu. The two most prominent biographies of Caitanya Mahaprabhu were inspired or ordered by Sri Nityananda Prabhu. And our beloved Srila Prabhupada he established Lord Nityananda’s deity along with Lord Caitanya all over the world because he was so much in that spirit of compassion.



Nityananda Prabhu is guru-tattva. Narottama dasa Thakura prays:



vrajendra-nandana yei, saci-suta haila sei, balarama ha-ila nitai



That the son of Nanda appeared as the son of Saci and Balaram appeared as Nityananda Prabhu. Balaram is the original guru because He serves the Lord. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead always in the mood of serving Lord Krishna. He expands Himself as the dhama to provide a beautiful place for the Lord to have His pastimes. He manifests as the Lord’s shoes, the Lord’s bed, the Lord’s ornaments, the Lord’s clothing and in all of the various rasas of relationship He is prominent. He serves the Lord in these ways in santa rasa; dasya rasa; as a gopa in sakya rasa, the Lord’s friend; as His elder brother. Sometimes He takes the role of vatsalya rasa and expands Himself as Ananga Manjari, Srimati Radharanis younger sister in madhurya rasa. In this way Sri Nityananda Prabhu is enthusiastic to serve is all pervading.



As Balaram we know the pastime of Romaharsana Suta. Romaharsans Suta was sitting in a place as a spiritual leader in the presence of great sages, Naimasaranya. But when Balaram appeared Romaharsana Suta payed no attention. Lord Balaram understood that he has too much false pride. He spoke very angrily, “Although you Romaharsana Suta are directly a disciple of Vedavyasa. You have profoundly learned the Vedas, Itihasyas, the Puranas and all these scriptures from Him. Yet all your knowledge has not annihilated your false pride. Therefore I consider your knowledge of the scripture to be completely useless like an actor playing the role without any realization. I have come to liberate the world from cheaters like you.”



Then He picked up a piece of grass and touched that grass to Romaharsana Suta and Romaharsana was liberated. [Laughter from audience.] The sages said, “What are we going to do now?” [Laughter.] They said, “Just before You came we were going to bless him that he would live a long life! [Laughter from audience.] Balaram said, “Well if you like I can bring him back.” They said, “We know that You are the Supreme Lord. We can ask for You to bring him back!” Then the Lord atoned by removing Balvala who was disturbing their sacrifices and He said, “The father lives through the son.” So Balaram empowered Suta Goswami to speak to the sages.



As Lord Nityananda Prabhu that grass that He liberated Romaharsana with in a similar way He too grass between His teeth and here in Navadwip he went house to house, door to door, shop to shop. Grass in His teeth is an expression of totally humbling oneself before someone else, taking the grass they step on and putting it in your mouth. He would bow down, roll on the ground and beg people, “Please take the name of Krishna.” And if they refused, which most did he would kneel on His knees and beg them.



The Supreme Absolute Truth who is actually the source of Nrsimhadev; Varahadev, who is Balaram with the plough he started dragging the entire city of Hiranyakaspu [Hastinapura(?)] into the Ganges that had all the Kurus including Bhisma surrender to His Supreme power. That same Balaram is going to sinful ordinary people with straw in His teeth crying and begging them, “Take the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”



parama karuna, pahun dui jana, nitai-gauracandra



Locana dasa Thakura is saying that these two brothers are supremely merciful. They have given what nobody else has given freely. Locana dasa Thakura also wrote in another song that Nityananda Prabhu is never angry. He goes town to town, village to village giving ecstatic love for Krishna to everyone and anyone never considering their qualification or disqualification. All He asks is, “Just accept.”



The place that Srila Prabhupada went, the tolerance, the compassion, the humility in which he gave such wretched, sinful people an opportunity to attain life’s perfection. He truly was the embodiment of Lord Nityananda’s mercy. We can always … remember him and worship Him on His appearance day. There are many stories in the Vaisnava literatures.



Not far from here is a village called Udani (?) There was a marriage close to there, where Nityananda Prabhu’s wife Jahnavadevi along with Narottama dasa Thakur, Ramacandra Kaviraj and many other intimate associates of both Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya were present. …place after Nityananda Prabhu had already departed from the world Jahnavadevi invited everyone, “Let us go to Ekacakra, Nityananda Prabhu’s birthplace.” She had never been there before.



They all went together. Their hearts were overflowing with happiness just at the prospect of seeing this holy place. They had heard so much about it for so long. They were going down a simple lane that was shaded by Pipal trees with singing birds. They saw from a small distance a very old brahmana who was walking with a stick. He started coming towards them but then he sat under a tree. He was looking with wonder thinking, “Where are all these Vaisnavas coming here for?”



They all approached him and spontaneously bowed down. Then they asked, “We have heard so much about Ekacakra that it is a very prosperous town but it appears to be in total ruins. Do you know anything about the history?” The old brahmana sat down with Jahnava and Narottama and all of these devotees. Then he explained the history of Ekacakra.



He said, “At one time this was such a prosperous and affluent town with great scholars, great devotees of the Lord. And there was one astrologer. He was the best of all astrologers. He came to the conclusion that the Supreme Personality of Godhead Balaram will take birth in Ekacakra but I am so unfortunate that I will not live to see that most auspicious day.”



Then all the other astrologers and scholars came together and agreed that this is absolutely true. Lord Balarama will come here. Then this old brahmana said that was a very great scholar and saint of the name Bhoja. He was very influential in every way but he and his wife were very sad. Every time they would give birth to a child just after birth the child died. He performed much prayer and tapasya and ultimately a beautiful child was born to them. The named him Ojha. He became a very great scholar and a great devotee of Krishna. Because of his scholarship he was given the name Hadai Pandit. His father and mother arranged for him to marry a girl named Padmavati who was equal to him in every way.



A few days after the marriage Hadai Pandit’s mother and father died. He was struck with grief. As time went on the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared within the womb of Padmavati. Then on this day, the thirteenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Marg a beautiful child was born in Ekacakra. People from all over the town were coming to see the beauty of this child. Some said, “He is so beautiful. He is so soft like butter. His complexion is like gold. Everything about Him charms our hearts.”



The people of Ekacakra were coming day and night just to be with this child. Hadai Pandit was giving charity to everyone in every way he possibly could with the prayer of protecting his beloved boy.



The brahmana told Jahnavadevi that one time he was in serious distress, anxiety. So naturally he ran to the house of Hadai Pandit and Lord Nityananda Prabhu climbed up on his lap and immediately he became ecstatic. All of his distress vanished.



At the time of the name giving ceremony of Lord Nityananda some called Him Nityananda and some called Him Rama. As He crawled around His name was Nitai to the people of Ekacakra.



For His mother it was unbearable to separate Nitai from her lap even for a moment. And Hadai Pandit if he wasn’t looking at Nityananda Prabhu he was in great distress. As Nitai began to crawl and then began to walk His mother and father showered Him with the most intimate affection. His mother would anoint His body with oils that were very fragrant to cool Him but His body was cooler and more fragrant than the oils.



One day she put ornaments and beautiful dresses of silks on little Nitai and said, “Now play.” He said, “But you keep Me with you all the time. I have no friends to play with.” So from that day onwards they invited the little children of Ekacakra to play with Nitai. And there was only one game they played – enacting the pastimes of Krishna. Nitai was the actor, the director, the script writer and it was spontaneously. Everyday Nitai would dress them up according to their parts and make all kinds of props. Everything was so authentic.



When they wanted to do the birth of Krishna he called all His friends to meet Him at midnight! [Laughter.] All the little children made a replica of the prison of Kamsa and then they brought little baby Krishna across the Yamuna. There was a river there so they went across the river and brought Him to Gokul. They played. Usually Nityananda Prabhu would play the part of Krishna. One boy would be Putana, Trnavarta, Sakatasura. Nitai would play the role of Krishna stealing butter. And they really did very authentically. He would go into the houses of the people of Ekacakra and steal the butter. [Laughter.] Then another boy would bind Him up with ropes and He would knock down the two Arjuna trees. The played the killing of Bakasura, Aghasura, Vatsasura. They played the game of stealing the gopi’s clothes. He lifted Govardhan Hill. They killed Aristasura, Vyomasura ans when they played the lila of Akrura taking Krishna out of Vrindavan, Nityananda Prabhu played the part of a gopi and wept rivers and rivers of tears from His heart. Everyone watching was astonished.



He played the pastimes of Lord Krishna in Mathura and Dvaraka, in other avataras, of Vamanadev. Nityananda Prabhu personally played Nrsimhadev and one of His friends was Hiranyakasipu.



And in Rama lila in one pastime Nityananda played His own role as Laksman and another boy was Ravana and threw a lotus flower at Nitai’s chest representing the sakti-sila and Nityananda Prabhu fell to the ground. There was no heartbeat and no breath. The children did not know what to do. They were weeping and crying. Soon Hadai Pandit and Padmavati came running to the place. When all the other people of Ekacakra came Nityananda Prabhu appeared dead. They were all chanting God’s names and trying to mentally restore him but nothing worked.



Then somebody said, “He is playing these dramas as something very real. Did He say anything to any of you what to do for Him if it becomes like this?” One little boy said, “Yes. Yes. I forgot. I was so much in trauma. [Laughter.] He said if I fall down unconscious gather around Me and cry, which we are all doing. [Laughter.] But then have the boy playing Hanuman to get the medicine for Me.” [Laughter.]



One little boy said, “Yes. Yes. I am Hanuman.” [Laughter.] and he came running and the other little boys who were playing demons were trying to stop him. Then Hanuman went to the Himalayan Mountain and the little boy brought some herbs back and gave it to the doctor who put it in Nityananda’s nose and He opened His eyes and smiled.



He was only ever a small boy. Nobody told Him these pastimes. Somebody asked Him, “How do You know all of this?” he smiled and said, “These are My transcendental pastimes.” [Laughter.] But due to His yoga maya potency nobody could understand what He was talking. In this way He spent His youth.



When He was twelve years old, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared here in Navadvip and Lord Nityananda, this little boy roared in ecstasy. The whole universe shook. Nobody understood what was happening. And he was thinking, “How am I going to leave My home? My mission is to assist Lord Gauranga in His lilas, His mission of spreading the nama- sankirtana mission in all directions. How can I leave My mother and father? How can I leave the people of Ekacakra? They are so attached to Me they can’t live without a second of not seeing Me.



By His own mystic potency a sannyasi came to Ekacakra. He came right to the house of Hadai Pandit, who fed him Prasad, gave him a sitting place. And the two of them, Hadai Pandit and this sannyasi spoke about Krishna all night long. In the morning as the sannyasi was about to leave he said to Hadai Pandit I wanted to ask you for one thing.”



Then Hadai Pandit very enthusiastically from his heart said, “Anything you want I will give you.” He said, “I am travelling all over India to holy places and I have no brahmana assistant. Give me your lotus son, Nityananda Prabhu to travel with me.” It was like a massive thunderbolt striking the soft heart of Hadai Pandit. In his mind he was thinking, “He has asked me to give him my very life. I cannot tolerate even a moment not seeing my son. What can we do? If I give it to him, if I give my son I will die. If I don’t my whole life will be ruined for not serving a great soul.”



He was thinking of King Dasaratha when asked by Visvamitra Muni if e was willing to give Rama, his own life and soul to travel with him. Hadai Pandita went to Padmavati and told her what has happened and asked her opinion. She said, “Whatever you do I accept that.”



Hadai Pandit entrusted his little son to the sannyasi. And Nityananda Prabhu strangely showed total detachment as he walked away with this sannyasi. As soon as they left the house Hadai Pandit and Padmavati fell to the ground unconscious and as soon as the regained consciousness all they could do was weep and cry incessantly.



When the people of Ekacakra heard about this it was unbearable of them. They all ran looking for this sannyasi. Every person in Ekacakra decided that, “When I find this sannyasi I will fall at his feet and offer him all my sons. We will give him all the sons.” Because they all wanted Nityananda Prabhu more than their own children, more than their own lives. “Just give us Nityananda back.”



They went running in all directions but they could not find that sannyasi. For the next three months Hadai Pandit and Padmavati could not eat a morsel of food. They cried. They only thing that kept then alive, (and they didn’t even lose any weight) was their intense twenty-four hour attachment to Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Sometimes Hadai Pandit like a mad man would cry out, “Nitai! Nitai! Come and sit on my lap. I haven’t seen you for such a long time. Nitai, please let’s go to your favorite lake, Padmavati-kunda and let’s take bath together.”



At other times he would look around with tears in his eyes and he would cry out, “Nitai, I am seeing You again. Please let us take Prasad. Padmavati has made just Your favorite foods to eat. Come let’s eat together. Nitai the crops are just bearing about to give fruits. Let’s go walk through the fields together and see everything.” Sometimes he would call out to Padmavati, “Padmavati, look! Look down the road! It is Nitai! He is returning! The sannyasi is bringing Him home again! He is bringing him home again! Look! He is coming! He is coming!” And they looked down the road weeping, crying but He never came. Crying out the names of Nityananda Prabhu, Hadai Pandit and Padmavati left this world for the spiritual abode.



The brahmana told Jahnava and all the devotees that after Hadai Pandit and Padmavati left nobody could live in Ekacakra anymore. It was too painful. Nityananda’s little friends were constantly in tears and with broken hearts as were their parents. Ekacakra was practically deserted and had turned into ruins. And the brahmana said, “But I can’t leave. Even though this has happened years ago every day since Nityananda Prabhu left I go to all the places where He had His pastimes just waiting for Him to return and I pray only one prayer in my life, “Let me take birth life after life after life waiting for Nitai to return to Ekacakra. In every lifetime let me give up my body crying out the name Nitaicand!”



Then the brahmana fell to the ground weeping. Jahnava, Narottama dasa Thakura, Ramacandra Kaviraj and all these great associates of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu saw him, they all fell to the ground weeping, chanting the holy names of Lord Nityananda.



[Audience chant loudly] Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare



Then the brahmana told Jahnava that he would give them a tour but as he brought her to the house of Hadai Pandit which was crumbling and in shambles he could no longer control himself. He quietly left and Jahnava told the devotees, “Let him leave.”



That night it was dark. They all slept in the house. Jahnavadevi was thinking, “I never got to meet Hadai Pandit or Padmavati. I never got to be with Nityananda and His family here in Ekacakra.” She started crying and she was given a spiritual vision where the house was beautifully decorated, a very opulent place and there was Nityananda Prabhu and Padmavati and Hadai Pandit showering her with so much affection. Then the dream ended and she woke up crying again. Then she had another dream where on the bank of the river in Ekacakra in a beautiful garden there was a throne and Nityananda Prabhu was sitting with Jahnava and Vasudha on either side and He was offering such intimate expressions of affection to them through His words and His glances. All her desires were fulfilled.



Nityananda Prabhu after He left Ekacakra He went on pilgrimage to so many places with this sannyasi and eventually came to Vrindavan. During the pilgrimage He met Madhavendra Puri and accepted him as His guru, Lakmipati Tirtha and accepted him as a guru. In Vrindavan He waited.



After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came back to Navadvip from Gaya He began His sankirtana movement. The Lord was calling Nityananda from His heart and Nitai came to Navadvip to the house of Nandanacarya.



Oneday Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in ecstasy. He said, “A great personality has come here.” He told Srivas Thakura and Haridasa, “Go find Him. I had a dream last night. A chariot that can take anyone and everyone to the spiritual world, Goloka came right in front of My house. And on that chariot there was a very powerful personality. He had lotus eyes. He was very strong. He had blue garments. He carried a plough on His shoulder. There was a flag of a palm tree on that chariot. This person’s eyes were rolling as if He was intoxicated in ecstatic love. He had an earring on His left ear and as he was swinging back and forth he said again and again, ‘Is this the house of Nimai Pandit? Is this the house of Nimai Pandit?’ ”



Lord caitanya said, “I could understand that this was Lord Balaram Himself. I asked Him, ‘Who are You and what are You doing here? And this great personality said, ‘I am Your brother. Tomorrow We will get to know each other.’ Go find Him! Go find Him!”



Srivas Thakura and Haridas Thakur went to every house, to every shop, to every market place, to every bathing ghat in all of Navadvip and finally they came back and said, “We have searched everywhere for nine hours. We can’t find such a person!’ Lord Caitanya smiled and said, “Nityananda Prabhu is very mysterious.” Then he said, “I will take you.” And The Lord brought Them right to the house of Nandanacarya where Sri Nityananda Prabhu was sitting.



When Lord Caitanya and all the devotees first saw Him they bowed down. And when Lord Nityananda Prabhu saw Lord Caitanya, He became stunned. His eyes could not blink. He was drinking the beauty of Lord Gauranga with His eyes, tasting it with His tongue, smelling it with His nose, touching it with His arms. He was totally absorbed with Caitanya Mahprabhu like a statue. Lord Caitanya told Srivas, “Chant a verse.’ Srivas chanted a beautiful verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam describing Krishna standing in the pastoral grounds in the forest of Vrindavan. He had curly blackish hair encircling His moonlike face, beautiful lotus eyes. A blue flower over His ear! He had a wonderful flower garland on. He entered into the pastures of Vrindavan playing His flute.



When Nityananda Prabhu heard this He fell unconscious and when He finally came to consciousness He began rolling and roaring ecstatically with torrents of tears flowing from His eyes. Only Lord Caitanya could calm Him down.



Then on that historical moment Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda danced together in the ecstacy of kirtan. Sometimes They embraced. Sometimes They raised Their arms. Sometimes They touched each other’s feet. They connection of these two eternal associates, Krishna and Balaram have appeared again together in the land of Navadvip dancing and chanting. All the devotees raised their arms loudly chanting the Hare Krishna mantra.



[Audience chant loudly] Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

And now HH Sripad Jayapataka Swami Maharaj who for the past forty years has been spreading the glories of Lord Nityananda Prabhu and His very dear associate Srila Prabhupada all over the world will speak. Srila Jayapatak Swami Maharaj Ki Jai! Thank you very much. [Applause.]



[To receive Mayapurlive lectures by email, write to mayapurlive@pamho.net]

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 February 17: "While I am here let us take help from Krishna by honestly working for Him rather than on utopian theories. I can move everywhere without any tiresome feeling. I can stay one month in each centre and see things going in order."Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

 
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Dandavats.com: Live From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Radhanath Swami

By Radhanath Swami

I am very grateful for this opportunity to be with all of you in the holy dham Sri Mayapur on the holy day of the appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. It appears that there is no verse selected so with your permission I will just talk in what time is allotted

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 February 17: "Krishna Consciousness is unlimited because Krishna is unlimited so we do not know at which point the perfection is there. So transcendental activities are all perfection and still there is no perfect satisfaction."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 February 17: "There is some clashing between the police and our men and probably there will be a great agitation, then the whole world will know automatically the importance of this movement. Call me when you are established and I shall be very glad to visit."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO BE BEAUTIFUL?

Different personalities become beautiful by possessing different qualities.

Canakya Pandita says that the cuckoo bird, although very black, is beautiful because of its sweet voice.

Similarly, a woman becomes beautiful by her chastity and faithfulness to her husband, and an ugly person becomes beautiful when he becomes a learned scholar.

In the same way, brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras become beautiful by their qualities.

Brahmanas are beautiful when they are forgiving, ksatriyas when they are heroic and never retreat from fighting, vaisyas when they enrich cultural activities and protect cows, and sudras when they are faithful in the discharge of duties pleasing to their masters.

Thus everyone becomes beautiful by his special qualities.

And the special quality of the brahmana, as described here, is forgiveness.
***
The duty of a brahmana is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is illuminating like the sun. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is pleased with those who are forgiving.

Srimad Bhagavatam 9.15.40

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Remembering Lord Nityananda upon arriving in Sridhama Mayapura

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Pictures of the emerging Temple of Vedic Planetarium

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 February 17: "I have considered your thoughts on the matter of our printing press, and for the time, the matter is still pending. Regarding your reprinting of my letters, if it will not detract from your other important engagements you may do it."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 February 17: "It is brought to my attention that he has become deviated from the four basic principles given to all my students when initiated. He must be brought back to the standard immediately. I have not made any decision, but I would like you to discuss this amongst yourselves and send me your conclusion."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 February 17: "The value of accepting a bona fide Spiritual Master is more than we can calculate. It is not a mere formality. We must become free of all material desires and this can only be achieved by following a bona fide Spiritual Master."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 February 17: "Krishna will see that you are sincerely trying to follow the real process of Krishna Consciousness and He will give you all help. Don't try to manufacture some artificial process. The real process I have already given you. Now you simply have to follow it strictly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 February 17: "Prepare seven different dances from Caitanya Caritamrta and seven different dances from Krishna Book. When you come I shall give you personal direction. It will be very attractive. We can go all over with a party of dancers and perform these dances and distribute our books."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: STANDARD FOR EDUCATION

A learned man treats all women except his wife as his mother, looks on others' property as garbage in the street, and treats others as he would treat his own self.

These are the symptoms of a learned person as described by Canakya Pandita.

This should be the standard for education.

Education does not mean having academic degrees only.

One should execute what he has learned in his personal life.

Srimad Bhagavatam 4.16.17 Purport

 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: AN IDEAL HUSBAND AND WIFE

An ideal husband and wife are generally called Laksmi-Narayana to compare them to the Lord and the goddess of fortune, for it is significant that Laksmi-Narayana are forever happy as husband and wife.

A wife should always remain satisfied with her husband, and a husband should always remain satisfied with his wife.

In the Canakya-sloka, the moral instructions of Canakya Pandita, it is said that if a husband and wife are always satisfied with one another, then the goddess of fortune automatically comes.

In other words, where there is no disagreement between husband and wife, all material opulence is present, and good children are born.

Generally, according to Vedic civilization, the wife is trained to be satisfied in all conditions, and the husband, according to Vedic instruction, is required to please the wife with sufficient food, ornaments and clothing.

Then, if they are satisfied with their mutual dealings, good children are born.

In this way the entire world can become peaceful, but unfortunately in this age of Kali there are no ideal husbands and wives; therefore unwanted children are produced, and there is no peace and prosperity in the present-day world.

Srimad Bhagavatam 4.1.6 Purport

 
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Japa Group: Japa - Kirtan Retreat Part 5

The retreat continues with the lila at Surabhi kund.

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Atma Yoga, Brisbane, AU: Kirtan with Dave Stringer

On Thursday the 3rd of March at 8pm Dave Stringer will be  performing a wonderful night of kirtan at Atma Yoga.

“Stringer’s sound marries the transcendent mysticism of traditional Indian instruments with the exuberant, groove-oriented sensibility of American gospel, and he is regarded as one of the most gifted singers in the genre. Stringer, who is also an accomplished composer and multi-instrumentalist, has a special ability to bring people together and inspire them to sing. His work intends to create a modern and participatory theatrical experience out of the ancient traditions of kirtan and yoga, open to a multiplicity of interpretations, and accessible to all.”

Not to be missed!!!

Visit Atma Yoga, 1st floor, 99 Elizabeth Street Brisbane City or call Prema on 0450738971 to get your tickets.

$25 pre-paid or $30 on the door.

Visit davestringer.com for CD’s and more info about Dave.

 
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Gouranga TV: Parijata Kirtan

Parijata Kirtan

 
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Atma Yoga, Brisbane, AU: Kirtan

Kirtan is a consciousness-transforming and raising activity. Music, song and ancient Sanskrit mantras are used to bring everyone together in a beautiful experience of collective expression of the Divine. The mantras quiet the mind, the music frees the heart.

 
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Atma Yoga, Brisbane, AU: Soul Food

Food that has been offered to the Divine with love becomes sanctified (prasāda in Sanskrit, literally “mercy”); pure and purifying. Included with every evening class at Atma yoga we offer a delicious plate of vegetarian prasāda.

 
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Atma Yoga, Brisbane, AU: Yoga

An ancient spiritual practice of which there are many types, but all with the same goal: to connect the yogi with the Ultimate Source, the Absolute Truth. At Atma Yoga we practice yogāsanas (postures) and dhyāna (meditation) to purify the body and mind.

 
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