Posted by Giriraj dasa on January 3, 2014 at 6:22pm
Hare Krishna.29th Dec, UjjainLast evening as a wonderful evening came to an end with an ecstatic Kirtan by Guru Maharaj, an ever merciful Atma Prabhu called me and Baljinder Prabhu to Guru Maharaj’s quarter. At first I thought he has called us for Guru Maharaj’s Maha Maha Prasadam , couldn’t think that he is taking us for Guru Maharaj’s darshan.So when we entered straight into Guru Maharaj’s room I was tongue tied. For many seconds I didn’t know what to speak and then I hurriedly blurted out how happy I am being in the retreat and in the association of so many senior devotees and thanked him.Later Atma Prabhu rightly chided me on keeping quite and told me he will next time he will first ask me whether I wish to meet Guru Maharaj. I was felt ashamed as I realised that I didn’t have the greed to always be eager to pay my obeisances and thank Guru Maharaj for his cause less mercy every moment of my low life.Later in the evening I tried to analyse why I do I get tongue tied in front of Guru Maharaj and even in front of other sanyasis and Prabhujis. The answer which came from my heart was because I don’t serve. I realise that whenever Guru Maharaj look at me I feel as if he is asking ” Yes, how are you serving ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada ?” And I have no place to hide my face and hence I get tongue tied.I pray at the feet of all devotees to somehow use a worthless and selfish person like me in their service.I also promised myself that somehow I will pray and beg to Srila Prabhupada to give me intelligence to serve Guru Maharaj.Look at the cause less mercy of devotees that at 9.30 pm a devotee knocked on my door and then came inside and explained that he has made a complete folio of Guru Maharaj’s transcripted lectures and wanted to know how can it be used. Another merciful devotee told him to contact me and see how can this be used in Guru Maharaj’s transcription service, for which I took responsibility some months back and could not do justice to it. I didn’t know how to thank this devotee enough. I took the data from him in his pen drive and resolved to serve Guru Maharaj in transcription service from next week itself.I realised that whenever I prayed with my heart to devotees they respond faster than the speed of light.All glories to Guru Maharaj.All glories to Srila Prabhupada
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 22, 2013 at 1:36pm
Hare Krishna23rd December 2012This blogs are from my last year's diary.While speaking to HG Rukmini Krishna Prabhuji today I discussed with him my current status where I am trying to study only Bhagavad Gita and have stopped reading all other books. The same instructions came from Guru Maharaj telling me that it is a step in the right direction. Guru Maharaj also wrote that NOD instructs us not to read too many books. Better to read one book at a time.Prabhuji nobbed in affirmation and told me to follow it diligently and instructed me to just concentrate on reading Srila Prabhupada's books, BG, SB and Krishna book, and that will be good enough. I will try to follow these instruction.I was reading too many books and each new one I would pick a deeper topic and after some days won't have the discipline to stop any of them so I would end up not finishing even one of them and always hankering for more.The realisation to read only one book came as jolt in the right time. The shocker came when Guru Maharaj gave a very short Bhagavatam class at Radha Niwas few weeks back. The verse he picked up was SB 7.2.222nitya ātmāvyayaḥ śuddhaḥ sarvagaḥ sarva-vit paraḥdhatte 'sāv ātmano lińgaḿ māyayā visṛjan guṇānTRANSLATIONThe spirit soul, the living entity, has no death, for he is eternal and inexhaustible. Being free from material contamination, he can go anywhere in the material or spiritual worlds. He is fully aware and completely different from the material body, but because of being misled by misuse of his slight independence, he is obliged to accept subtle and gross bodies created by the material energy and thus be subjected to so-called material happiness and distress. Therefore, no one should lament for the passing of the spirit soul from the body.I was shocked to know that Hiraṇyakaśipu knew all these details about soul and still behaved with so much animosity towards Lord. Guru Maharaj explained that as Hiraṇyakaśipu is speaking this verse we can clearly see that he has the correct knowledge but what is missing is `Surrender' and without surrender all knowledge comes to a naught. Guru Maharaja's words stuck somewhere deep inside me. I realised that all this knowledge I am trying to gain is no good. All my hankering for collecting books, reading deeper topics by previous acharayas suddenly fizzled out. I realised that I have to work towards surrender to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna first. I realised that I have to first read and study only Srila Prabhupada's books and rest all can come later.I also realised that I am just reading these books and not studying them. In fact Guru Maharaj scolded me in his first Teleconference on SB ( it was recorded and sent to many devotees to my initial embarrassment, listen to all his recorded teleconf on SB @ https://docs.google.com/folderview?id=0BwMhsEhAKOdybndTblpIUHF4QlE ). It was only many months later that I was listening to the same recording that I realised that Guru Maharaj was showering his mercy on me by instructing me to first read Bhagavad Gita properly rather than jumping on to the higher books. Guru instructs us, but look at me, I am so fallen that even simple English also I could understand only months later. During the teleconference Q&A, at that time, I thought ` Guru Maharaj ji does not know how many times I have read Bhagavad Gita in the past and with what dedication I have read all the small books by Srila Prabhupada. But of course I was, and remain, a foolish person of first degree.Lesson for me : Please listen to EACH word of Guru with utmost attention and follow what Guru's instructions without measuring it with my own poor intelligence and mind. If I follow even the so called simple instructions I will progress rapidly in Krishna Consciousness.I will follow them.2013 status : I have fallen in love with simple yet deep purports of Bhagavad Gita, every week HG Vidur Priya Prabhuji teaches us something new from the same verses, I have fallen more in love with Srimad Bhagavatam ( reading canto 3 ) and fallen head over heels in love with Sri Chaitanaya Charitamrita. I read other books but mostly to get clarity on subjects where I get stuck or keen to read a particular topic in greater detail, which is more often. However my hankering to collect books show no sign of slowing down.All glories to Srila Prabhupada.All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 20, 2013 at 1:48pm
Hare Krishna20th Decemberphotovrindayai tulasi-devyaipriyayai keshavasya chakrishna-bhakti-prade devisatyavatyai namo namahaI offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Krsna and possess the highest truth.As I started my spiritual journey one part where, mercifully, the faith established early, was with Tulasi Maharani. Before coming into Krishna Consciousness I had seen Tulasi being worshiped at many homes and I understood that she was special and a `holy plant' but nothing more. I also saw her worshiped mainly by the ladies of the house. I would not have offered her water more than 10 times in my whole early life.As my spiritual journey began one of the first thing to attract me was Tulasi Maharani. I guess it started from the wonderful morning Tulasi arti in all ISKCON temples. I could not help but get attracted by the devotional mood of the devotees when they worship her. I knew she was special.I started wearing Kanthi Mala within first few months of coming to ISKCON and that helped me a lot, which I realised much later. It is so purifying to have her next to my vocal cord. Somehow I always wore Kanthi mala close to neck. I remember I was conscious and felt a little shy of wearing her but with in days I would hope everyone could see it and ask me about it !It was Mukul Prabhu who told me to worship Tulasi and I started doing it diligently. My bonding with her was immediate, I would clean each leaf carefully and took care of her. Similarly, when I would go to Vrindavan , I would circumambulate Tulasi outside Balram Hall almost every time.Another event which happened at the start of my journey was that I attended the Tulasi- Shailgram marriage at Vrinda Devi's temple. It was unplanned but when I heard that there was a bus going from Krishna Balram temple for the same, I hopped on. It was a a wonderful experience attending the complete marriage, I actually felt like one of the `barati', many a times I think that my spiritual journey got a kick start after I attended this ceremony.In the past there were many times, specially in winter, when Tulasi will shed the leaves in winter and I would worry how to ensure that she remains healthy. Whenever I would go out of station, I would ask my wife if she is offering water to Tulasi. She used to be quite amused at my behaviour. I didn't know much on how to take proper care of her.I clicked the above picture today morning. In last 1 year Tulasi continues to grow in our home and shower her mercy on us.Few months back I saw a Tulasi outside a big showroom, growing so much and without any care, all her branches were hanging down almost touching the ground. I felt so pained that I picked her up and brought her home in the car. I later called up the showroom and told them what I did, why I did and told them that I could return if they took care of her. Their manager said sorry and he allowed me to keep her with me. She is the second from the left in the above picture.It was Sumeet Prabhu who told told me one day that how one senior devotee told him not to sing/recite Tulasi arti in a big hurry in the morning. I shamefully realised that I don't even offer Tulasi any arti at home. So I started offering Tulasi Maharani obeisances every morning and singing her arti. The no. of Tulasi started growing more and more. She would grow up in the next plant, she came as a gift from a Bhagavad Gita seminar and so on. As you can see in the picture, and there are more, she is spreading her mercy on our home, blessing us by her presence.This year I asked some devotees, read some websites, and took extra care not to give her too much water in the winter and she seems happy. ( http://www.deityworship.com/?page_id=13 )I pray to Tulasi Maharai to continue to shower her mercy on all the devotees and bless us so that we can understand and appreciate the deep meaning of her Arti. I also seek her forgiveness for all my past offenses towards her. I beg her daily to give me Krishna Prema.All glories to Tulasi Maharani.Sri Tulasi Kirtananamo namaha tulasi krishna-preyasiradha-krishna-seva pabo ei abhilashije tomara sharana loy, tara vanchha purna hoykripa kori' koro tare brindavana-basimor ei abhilash, bilas kunje dio vasnayane heribo sada jugala-rupa-rashiei nivedana dharo, sakhir anugata koroseva-adhikara diye koro nija dasidina krishna-dase koy, ei jena mora hoysri-radha-govinda-preme sada jena bhasiPlease visit www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com for my blog with the pictures.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 19, 2013 at 7:11pm
Hare Krishna.18th DecemberSumeet Prabhu always speak very highly about HG Amogh Lila Prabhu. He comes to his home twice a month for home program from Sri Radha Parthasarathi temple, Delhi. I never got the chance to listen to Prabhuji and in the past whenever invited I somehow could not make it. So when the invite came for today evening I ensured that I was there.It was a pleasure to hear him. He has a natural talent for humour. Almost everyone was in splits listening to Prabhuji's one liners and stories laced with humour. With each anecdote he drove his point home with ease. Here are some examplesIf we do our `marzi' then no mercy' !`Samsung' or `Sadhu Sangh' ( when a devotee's phone rang during the lecture)LG : Life is goofed upSurrender - `sir dey apna under'From children to teenagers to adults everyone relished Prabhuji's lecture, no doubt everyone wanted the lecture to go on and on.He stressed a very important point during our discussion on challenges of being in management in ISKCON. He said that a Vaishnava is the one who is happy to see another Vaishnava. This is something I do not follow and I pray and hope to try to follow this instruction. He also said that when for some reason we do not get along with another devotee then we should serve that particular devotee in awe and reverence, what a wonderful solution, thank you Prabhuji.Here is another gem by prabhuji: His formula to save ourselves from falling down for name, fame & women,`na dhanam na janam na sundarim', we should always think thatFame is for Guru, wealth is for Vishnu and women are for Krishna !Here is another one.Someone ask a devotee `Prabhuji I want to become humble ?'1. first stage of humbleness : Join ISKCON and you will become humble.2. Second stage of humbleness : Join ISKCON and in ISKCON join the management and you will become more humble.3. Third stage of humbleness: Join ISKCON and in ISKCON join the management and in management become the service incharge and you will become must humble.Prabhuji quoted Radhanath Maharaj where Maharaj said that the progress of a devotee in his devotional journey could be gauged by seeing how happy that person is in his devotional journey. By that yard stick Prabhuji is miles ahead of all of us in his Sadhna Bhakti !I am sure Srila Prabhupda is smiling in Goloka looking down and seeing what a wonderful, dedicated and intelligent set of grand children are now taking ISKCON to the next level, helping fulfill MahaPrabhu's statement "My holy name will be chanted in every town and village”All glories to HG Amogh Lila Prabhuji.All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 19, 2013 at 3:42pm
Hare Krishna19th DecemberSumeet Prabhu sent me the below blog of HH Kadamba Kanana Swami today morning.`Choose your suffering'(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.2-7)Through celibacy, can we get love of God? You can be celibate for a hundred lifetimes, do you think that will give you love of God? No, it is devotional service that will give us love of God!“I am married to a devotee!” Do you think that will give you love of God? No, you yourself will have to be a devotee as well. You will have to do devotional service. It is not automatic. Even a lion has to go out and chase for breakfast. It’s not that the deer runs into the mouth of the lion… So, we have to do something in devotional service and that is what counts. Ashram issues are not so important, it’s only external. In one or the another, you are going to have to take some tapasya (austerity),tapo divyam putraka yena sattvamsuddhyed yasmad brahma saukhyam tv anantam (SB 5.5.1)That is life in the material world, no matter what you do, there is tapasya. You decide which tapasya you like better; that’s what it is all about – the tapasya of being married or the tapasya of being alone. You decide as both have tapasya. Material life has that element of tapasya, of some austerity. Inevitably so, no one can avoid it – it is basically the design of the material world therefore Lord Rshabdev pointed this out to his one hundred sons – this human form of life is not meant for sense gratification; it is not going to work. Therefore we shouldn’t be too particular about how we live but some things have to be a little suitable.Krsna consciousness, bhakti, is not denying us this basic comforts. That is for the impersonalists. For them, everything in this material world is only maya. There is only maya in all directions therefore whatever they use has to be minimized… but we just use it for sustaining our Krsna consciousness, so sleep well – nice and warm and cosy, so that we can do devotional service – there is nothing wrong with that. Therefore we do not have to sleep on the hardest bed that we can find and use only a bed-sheet in the winter, no blanket!I knew a devotee who never wore a kurta in winter, in Vrindavan. It was very cold and he was only wearing a lungi. You know, he lasted for fifteen years and then he got sick. What is the benefit of these things!? Great austerities – fasting, fasting, fasting… “I fast every ekadasi and dvadasi as well, for the last twenty-four years!”Fine, you can do it for twenty-four lifetimes more and do you think you will make any more progress towards going back to the spiritual world with all your fasting!? Not really.So, it is not by austerity that we will attain Krsna! Although, austerity is highlighted by Lord Rshabdev in the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, austerity in itself is not one of the limbs of bhakti. Renunciation and austerity are not limbs of bhakti. They don’t give you devotional service.( Read this and other wonderful articles by Maharaj at http://www.kksblog.com )In fact I had read this a blog just a few days back and carried on as usual.Surprisingly I was reading the below verse today morning and was contemplating on it, when I received the above mail.nāyaṁ sukhāpo bhagavāndehināṁ gopikā-sutaḥjñānināṁ cātma-bhūtānāṁyathā bhakti-matām iha"'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to those devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.'This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21) is spoken by Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī. It appears within a passage in which he glorifies mother Yaśodā and other devotees of Kṛṣṇa by describing how they can subjugate Him with their love.Then as the forwarded mail came from Sumeet prabhu, I read Maharaj's last para with concentration, and the above verse again, praying that I get the message and, mercifully, I got it. It took a devotee to drill the message of a sanyasi in my thick and poor brain.Guru Maharaj often says that in this kali yuga the 4 regulative principles itself are our austerity. And too many austerities make us remain on the bodily platform. Of course, to understand it properly and then practice it in our Sadhna Bhakti at that level is not easy for us.But the message to me was clear that it is our spontaneous love for Krishna which will make us progress in our devotional service and the austerities won't help me much.Thank you so much Sumeet Prabhu for helping me absorb this message by sending this timely mail from HH Kadamba Kanana Swami today morning.All glories to the wonderful devotees in ISKCON.All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 17, 2013 at 3:23pm
Hare Krishna.DCF 1.017th decemberI always used to wonder why do we mostly describe Krishna having three potencies. Yes, Krishna explains in Bhagavad Gita that he has three energies but somehow I always used to wonder why only three. It is also true that that He has unlimited energies and they are only divided in three main energies. But again three !!I was reading Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita today morning and I got a beautiful explanationSri Ramananda Raya describes it in cc m 8.154sac-cid-ānanda-maya kṛṣṇera svarūpaataeva svarūpa-śakti haya tina rūpa"Originally Lord Kṛṣṇa is sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1], the transcendental form of eternity, bliss and knowledge; therefore His personal potency, the internal potency, has three different forms.Verse 155 connects it with the three main energies.ānandāṁśe 'hlādinī', sad-aṁśe 'sandhinī'cid-aṁśe 'samvit', yāre jñāna kari' māni"Hlādinī is His aspect of bliss; sandhinī, of eternal existence; and samvit, of cognizance, which is also accepted as knowledge.My silly question got evaporated in no time. The key was sac-cid-ānanda.When I started reading reading Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita few months on my i pad it was an eye opener for me, for the extensive detail about each topic I wanted to read more. First I thought let me finish reading Srimad Bhagavatam and then I will read these topics but my interest got better of me and I would read them on my ipad atleast once a week. I also asked HG Rukmini Krishna Prabhu who gave me permission to read it without stopping my regular reading of Srimad Bhagavatam.I brought Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita book set from Vrindavan during Kartika. After moving into the new apartment though I had kept them in the bookshelves but I didn't open their cling film packing. I don't know what came over me last evening and I opened all the books from their film. Priti, my wife, told me not to open as they will get dirty with dust. I told myself that if they are open I, or someone else, will read them and I didn't bring them home to keep them as show pieces. I also remembered how Pooja mataji told me to read Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita while Guru Maharaj was having Lunch Prasadam at their home few weeks back. I felt nervous but still it was a very good feeling to read the great scripture to Guru Maharaj. In a strange manner the books seemed to be getting suffocated in their cling films. I ripped open all the cling films from both Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita and Srimad Bhagavatam set.Somehow I got up extra early today morning and had spare time, the answers I got while reading Sri Chaitanya Charitamrit were amazing. And I still read on my ipad. While writing the above lines I was wondering what happened today morning and how did I get so many realisations. I wrote 8 Q&A like above on my ipad from just two verses. And I realised that the mercy came via opening the great scripture and they let their potential out while calmly sitting in the book shelves. I realise how these scriptures are non different from the spiritual potency of the Lord and can communicate with us.All glories to Sri Chiatanya Charitamrita.All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 16, 2013 at 1:04pm
Hare Krishna.15th December.Yesterday at Bhagavat Gita class with HG Vidur Priya Prabhuji proved to be extra beneficial for me. We were at chapter two and verse 17 of Bhagavad Gita. He asked everyone now that we all know what is the size the soul, can we tell what is the shape of the soul ? I never thought Soul could have any shape at that small a size and this questions never crossed my mind. Someone answered it should be circular as it is a perfect shape, someone else suggested it cant have a shape or it is just a light source, etc.. It was Pawan Prabhu who came close the answer and suggested a link with our spiritual self. Then prabhuji clarified that the shape of our soul is exactly as our Spiritual self, Sidh swaroop. Due to wrong consciousness or contamination it gets shrunk to the size described in scriptures, 1/10000 part of the tip of the hair. He further explained that when we begin our sadhna bhakti and the consciousness starts getting purified our gross and subtle body start becoming spiritualised.Another important point he empahsised was that bhakti is all about right consciousness. The externals do not matter so much. He gave the example that when a person dies he gets the body depending upon what was his consciousness at the time of death. Now if someone puts a leave of tulsi leave or ganga jal in the mouth of that person then again that person may die thinking of the pious benefit Tulsi leave has or in a case of a devotee who shows gratitude and remember the service Tulasi Maharani does for Radha Krishna and though both person die with Tulsi leave in their mouth, the results would vary drastically depending upon the consciousness of each person.He stressed the need for right consciousness in whatever activity we do in our lives especially in our sadhna bhakti. He added that is the reason Srila Prabhupada named our society as International Society of Krishna Consciousness.We learn something every time we read a verse of Bhagavad Gita. It is a delight to see how effortlessly Prabhuji teaches us each verse so that everyone understands even the subtle points.All glories to HG Vidur Priya Prabhuji.All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 14, 2013 at 4:24pm
Hare Krishna.26th October 2013SB01LI had gone to to take darshan of HG Rukmini Krishna Prabhuji few days back at Punjabi Bagh temple, he had been away for a long time. During our conversation I asked Prabhuji that I have completed reading the 2nd Canto and now looking to start 3rd Canto with his permission, he was happy and gave me the go ahead. I then enquired that do I really need to buy the whole set or I can read with pocket Vedas on my ipad. My concern was making space for so many volumes at home. By some senior devotee's mercy I could get 2nd Canto as a single volume earlier and for the 3rd canto I had to buy the full set now.Rukmini Prabhuji asked me how do I read Srimad Bhagavatam at home ? I told him that in the evening after doing arti I read atleast 1 verse daily. He asked me how do I treat the book, I replied that I have kept it in a book shelf next to altar and I touch it with my head before reading it and also speak verses glorifying Srimad Bhagavatam before I start reading it. He then asked me how do I read books on my ipad ? I told, rather sheepishly, that I read on it sitting on a recliner most of the time and many a times before going to sleep. Praabhuji then added that can you see the difference, do you ever touch your ipad on head before reading on it ! He further added that everyone has their own preferences but he believes that the book Bhagavatam is personal and reading on ipad not so.Of course he was right, I could suddenly see how high I hold the Book Bhagavatam. I never accord the same to the electronic ipad while reading on it. I had my answer.So today morning the full set of Book Bhagavatam blessed our home.idam bhagavatam namapuranam brahma-sammitamuttama-sloka-caritamcakara bhagavan rsihnihsreyasaya lokasyadhanyam svasty-ayanam mahatThis Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is compiled by Srila Vyasadevaa, the incarnation of God. It is meant for the ultimate good of all people, and it is all-successful, all-blissful and all-perfect. (Bhag 2.1.8)krsne sva-dhamopagatedharma-jnanadibhih sahakalau nasta-drsam esapuranarko 'dhunoditahThis Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana. (Bhag 1.3.43)All glories to HG Rukmini Krishna Prabhuji.All glories to Srimad Bhagavatam.All glories to Sri Guru and sri Gauranga.Quotes-by-Srila-Prabhupada-on-Glory-of-Srimad-BhagavatamKindly visit http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com for blog with pictures
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 14, 2013 at 4:23pm
Hare Krishna.14th DecemberEveryday I realise more and more how and why association of devotees is so important for a sadhak.I also realise that whatever baby steps I have taken in spiritual journey are directly due to the mercy and association of devotees. From receiving Bhagavad Gita from Mukul Prabhu and starting my spiritual journey till yesterday chanting of Bhagavad Gita verses at Gurgaon centre is all due to causeless mercy of devotees. My own endeavour is nil rather in negative only.Today morning I received a beautifully written mail from Anand Prabhu. In a very sweet way he taught me to how to reciprocate with my devotee brothers & sisters. After reading his mail I realise how self centered I am. When we receive praise from devotees we all handle it differently. For me, though, I outwardly may say that this is not me and this is all due to mercy of Guru and Guru paramapara but his mail showed me that rather than progressing in my spiritual journey I am still standing there, not unlike a car which has all its wheels resting on wheel jacks, the driver is pushing accelerator to full, the tires are moving, there is lot of smoke from the silencer and the car is making a lot of noise but the car still standing at the same point.I am so grateful that somehow and due to some good fortune I have landed in association of devotees, who always try to guide me properly, they show me the right way and they have only good of everyone in their heart. My complete lack of progress is entirely due to my own lack of interest, intelligence and realisations.I again write the same prayer by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, which I quoted on 11th December, and pray at the feet of devotees to remain merciful on me. I also pray at the lotus feet of all the devotees to bless me that I can imbibe the meaning of this prayer in my heart rather than just focusing on its lyrics.ohe! vaishnava thhâkura, doyâra sâgara,e dâse korunâ kori'diyâ pada-châyâ, s'odho he âmâya,tomâra carana dhoriO venerable Vaisnava, o ocean of mercybe merciful unto your servant.Give me the shade of your lotus feet and purify me.I hold on to your lotus feet.chaya vega domi', chaya dosha s'odhichaya guna deho' dâsechaya sat-sanga, deho' he âmâre,bosechi sangera âs'eTeach me to control my six passions,rectify my six faults,bestow upon me the six qualities, and offer me,the six kinds of the holy associationAll glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 12, 2013 at 11:00am
Hare Krishna.
11th December.
Pawan Prabhu came to my home on Sunday for the weekly Bhagavad Gita class and had two packets with him. When everyone had left he unwrapped them and showed me two beautiful pictures of Sri Radha Shyamsundar and Sri Krishna Balram. He brought them as a present for our new apartment. I was looking forward to welcome Them at home for many months.
We have a new altar at home now and a small laminated picture of Sri Radha Shyamsundar, which was in the earlier altar, did not fit in the new altar. I missed them but kept on deliberating on what size, which pose, what texture will look best in the new altar and so on. The result was no Radha Shyamsundar ! By the mercy of Pawan Prabhu I not only got Them but Krishna Balaram as well. Now Radha Shyamsundar majestically adorn one wall in the study. My chanting improved drastically from next day morning onwards, not just the next day. Sitting in front of Them I feel as if a channel from Vrindavan has come straight into my study room, where I chant in the morning. It is an unbelievable feeling. I feel so happy, so proud that They have come to bless us all in the new home.
In my earlier apartment I didn't have a single full length pictures of my Lords. Rather I would daily download Their new picture on my computer from internet and adore their beauty every morning. Due to some malfunctioning in the computer that too stopped since last 2 months.
I called up Pawan Prabhu yesterday and thanked him profusely for this mercy. He was of course very polite about it but I know it was his and Pooja mataji's mercy on us. It is true that devotee can shower more mercy than the Lord. I was hankering for Them for so long but didn't have the `adhikar' to invite Their Lordships at home, but now by the mercy of a Vaishanava I got the benediction of their constant Darshan at home.
ohe! vaishnava thhâkura, doyâra sâgara, e dâse korunâ kori' diyâ pada-châyâ, s'odho he âmâya, tomâra carana dhori
O venerable Vaisnava, o ocean of mercy be merciful unto your servant. Give me the shade of your lotus feet and purify me. I hold on to your lotus feet.
Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 11, 2013 at 6:48pm
Hare Krishna.14th November.The day before I heard my wife snapping at her favorite maid. I was surprised at her tone as my wife treats this poor maid very well, sometimes too well resulting in humour laden satires from my daughter and my own self. Anyway, I found it was a small money matter, that inspite of receiving many goodies she still asked my wife something very petty which surprised my wife and hence her sharp tone. I remember she told her` How dare you ask such a thing from me.' I told her that all her efforts to shower her love on maids since last 10 years have resulted in a naught. Every time she feels let down, a little hurt and then forgets it till the same result from next one. She is somehow born with a gift to shower affection on poor people. In a way she teaches rest of us in the family to have a large heart.This latest incident made me think. I later told her `I always tell you that you are misusing your wonderful affection'. She scoffed at me initially but absorbed the point I made.I remember below lines from Srila PrabhupdaThe love is there. It is reserved for Krsna, but due to our foolishness, we are distributing that love in so many ways, up to the dog. This is called illusion. We do not know where to apply love. If you see, all these words is touched with the word kama, kama. Kama means lust. There is no question of love. And love ... Prema and kama is described in Caitanya-caritamrta. What is prema and what is kama. Atmendriya-priti-vancha tara bali kama. Kama. What is lust? Atmendriya-priti, to satisfy one's own senses. Therefore, atmendriya-priti-vancha. Everyone is trying to satisfy her own senses. That is kama. Lust. And then, what is prema? Krsnendriya-priti-iccha dhare prema nama. When the same propensity is transferred for satisfying Krsna's senses... just like gopis.Today, we are actually doing a business in the name of love - you give me this and I will give you that and if one stops giving it then it's a good bye. A pure trade deal. atmendriya-priti-vanca, always trying to satisfy our own senses and calling it love.This very word love, prema, is specially reserved for Krsna. Prema pum-artho mahan. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's preaching, that the highest perfection of life is to evoke one's dormant love for Krsna. (Srila Prabupada)All such daily instances tell us that we really do not know where to apply our Love. When we apply our love with Krishna in the center then automatically we will love everyone else too. Srila Prabhupada gave the example that if we love a tree then we would automatically love all its leaves, its fruits, its branches, its twigs, everything. That is the secret of achieving real love, even in the material world.All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 11, 2013 at 11:04am
Hare Krishna.Let me share one of the best and fastest way to get clarity on complicated shastric topics as well as questions we face everyday in our lives. I have not read such superfast and repeated clarity and realisations than by listening to the daily audio podcasts by HG Chaitanya Charan Das Prabhuji. He runs www.thespiritualscientist.com which has hundreds of Q & A on a variety of topics, questions which arise in our heart and again many more that we may feel shy to ask from senior devotees for various reasons. Few questions by devotees itself are worthy of mention as they open our eyes that why didn't I get this question in my heart reading the same verse. Lastly many of the general headings of the comments by Prabhuji itself are worthy of high praise, e.g,Fear not that life may end; fear that life may never beginSB 01.15.08 – Our calls to Krishna may not break the wall that separates us but they show him we want the wall broken.SB 11.07.31 – Use the intelligence to realize our need for Krishna, not to exhibit our knowledge about Krishna06.28 – The purpose of discipline is not to torture ourselves, but to transcend ourselves06.18 – Be not self-conscious; be conscious of the self11.26 – Confront reality before reality confronts us18.61 – Krishna is not doing things to us; he is doing things for usSubscribers to his website receive a mail every morning which has on average contain 1 general topic based on scriptures and 3-4 Q & A as audio podcast. His answers are on average for 6-7 minutes long and very precise, like a precision fired bullet.If I list the no. of times I have got clarity from his answers and my realisations after listening to his audio podcast then I will have to write a blog almost every single day. Prabhu ji is a very blessed soul and has has special mercy of his Guru and Srila Prabhupada.I am sharing some of the recent gems by Prabhuji.Is there any actual difference between Brahman Paramatma and Bhagavan, or is it just a matter of perception?Is love of God available to followers of non-Vedic systems?If Krishna is God, how could he have been killed by a hunter’s arrow?As the Lord plays the part of a human being in his pastimes, doesn’t it imply that there’s a higher feature of the Lord beyond the part he plays in his pastimes?What does crying for Krishna, as Srila Prabhupada recommends, mean practically?Is the Absolute Truth like water that appears liquid to the impersonalists and solid to the personalists?There is a long list I can write. Some answers are so good both in their clarity and realisation that I listen to those 9 minute audio up to 20 times wishing that my polluted mind can absorb every single word by Prabhuji. I am listening to the reply of top questions mentioned above since last two days.In my opinion any devotee who is intellectually inclined should subscribe to his mailers and get enriched by his Audio podcasts.I read Prabhuji's profile on the his website and found that among many other things1. He is editor of Back to Godhead magazine.2. He is a member of ISKCON's Shastric Adivsory Council (SAC), which offers counsel on scriptural matters to the highest administrative body of ISKCON, the Governing Body Commission (GBC).3. He has written over 500 articles till now and is the author of eight books.5. He is an electronics engineer and secured 2350 out of 2400 in the GRE exam, bagging the top rank in Maharashtra.6. He is the author of the world's only Gita-daily feature, wherein he writes daily a 300-word inspirational reflection on a verse from the Bhagavad-Gita. www.gitadaily.com7. He is the course teacher of Bhakti Shastri course through mail, http://bhakticourses.com. All videos of the course are available free for everyone to download to learn.It is indeed a very long list of accomplishments.I pray to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna to bless Prabhuji so that he can continue to enrich and enlighten people from all walks of life and spread the glories of ISKCON, the unique mission of Srila Prabhupada, all over the world.All glories to HG Chaitanya Charan Das.All glories to Srila Prabhupada.All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.Please visit www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com for blog with pictures
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 11, 2013 at 11:00am
Hare Krishna.
28th November.
I went to Punjabi Bagh temple and reached around 9 am to meet HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj and follow his desire to meet Mukul Prabhu.
When I reached the temple Maharaj was giving the lecture with the emphasis on Book distribution and that marathon had started and we all need to pull ourselves to meet the target for this year. It was the same message has last year and yet every word felt charged up with a transcendental potency. The temple was completely packed inside and outside too devotees covered almost all the verandah. I was surprised that a very comfortable sitting place was vacant and as I sat down I realised why no one else was sitting there. There was no view of Maharaj from there ! That’s why this space was empty. As I looked around for a better area to sit I realised that devotees had already taken up most of the places from where Maharaj could be seen and heard. I looked around for a second and then thought that instead of moving around and disturbing everyone in the process let me sit at this place only and hear with concentration.
Here is the shot from my phone from where I was sitting in the temple, I was sitting on the raised platform behind these folding glass door. I will share now why I took this picture.
photo
1. My first realsiation : As I sat listing to Maharaj I realised that my concentration was almost 100%, near perfect. I realised that it was so because I knew I can’t see Maharaj and hence I tuned my concentration to full so that I don’t miss a single word. In fact after few minutes it was as if I am seeing him through my ears. I can’t explain it but I saw no difference in whether I could see Maharaj or not. I realised the importance of Shravanam or listening with concentration and that if I listen with concentration then I could be with the speaker irrespective of whether the speaker is front of me or not.
2. Second realisation : Twenty five minutes into the lecture another magic happened. I could see suddenly see Maharaj through the glass. Why I could not see Maharaj earlier was due to angle of the glass and reflections of devotees sitting outside. Now suddenly due to some change in angle of the devotees or sunlight or some other reason I could see Maharaj clearly with no one between us. I rubbed my eyes thinking am I imagining him but the image stayed, I was so very happy to see him, as if I have won some jackpot just by seeing him or I am seeing him from the first time or someone who is very far suddenly comes so near. His visual went away after 10-15 seconds and it was back to reflections of devotees in the glass. I was agitated, I missed seeing him so directly in front of me. I tried to see him again but no matter how frustrated I felt or how much I shifted my sitting posture and stance or try to squint my eyes I could not see him. His vision was gone. I had no other option but to go back again to listening to Maharaj with rapt attention but now with a added bonus of this unique experience of having see him through the glass. It was different then when I was seeing him before I could see him. He was there and yet not there, a unique feeling which I can’t describe due to my poor vocabulary.
I later realised that this is how, of course on an altogether different level, Narad ji would have felt when he first saw Lord Krishna and then how he would have felt as Lord went away from Narad ji’s vision (SB 1.6.19). I could never understand this feeling when I read this verse almost an year back but today I could experience it ! Of course my level of realisation and taste is too small yet I know this unique feeling now.
All glories to the never ending mercy of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj.
Later I took darshan of Maharaj and introduced Mukul Prabhu to him as the person who introduced me to Krishna Consciousness. Maharaj commented that he should have given my example during the class today that how by just getting copy of Bhagavad Gita changed my life. He then turned to Mukul and told him that he wanted to meet him and thank him and then he said he is thankful to him to give a copy of Bhagavad Gita to me.
I had assumed that Maharaj wanted to meet Mukul Prabhu to probably push him for book distribution or engage him in some other service as I had told Maharaj how he is a financial expert and also a very good devotee who has turned almost all his clients into devotees. But Maharaj just said thank you to him. At first I thought, that’s it ! nothing else ? No instructions or request ? After ten seconds I was completely bowled over by Maharaj’s humble attitude in desiring to thank an unknown person who changed an unknown materialist’s person life.
From the bottom of my heart I wish I can cry at Maharaj’s lotus feet and rub my eyes at the soil under his shoes so that I can get 0.0001% of his humbleness and simplicity of heart. I met HG Karuna Prabhu outside the temple for few minutes and shared with him that how I feel as if slapped again and again as I see what is the benchmark senior devotees like Maharaj set for us. I pray that whenever I think I have now become humbled I should remember Maharaj.
I pray and hope that some day I am able to serve Maharaj in a capacity which he likes. I am head over heels in love with Maharaj.
All glories to HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj.
All glories to the ever merciful and softhearted Gaudia Vaishanavas.
All glories to the wonderful Krishna Balram temple where I get so many realisations.
Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 9, 2013 at 7:11pm
Hare Krishna.I called up HG Rukmini Prabhu on the last day of Kartik and Prabhuji instructed me to attend a new seminar which was to begin on at Punjabi Bagh temple 0n 20th Nov. When I got the details later I found out that it was a 8 day course and my first reaction was to cancel it as renovation of new apartment were at the last stage, I did not help much and it was wife who single-handedly manged everything, then I kept on travelling to Vrindavan during Kartik. so due to guilt feeling my first hunch was to excuse myself and then better sense prevailed and i joined for the course. I know from the past that whenever I have listened to HG Rukmini Prabhuji I have only gained in my spiritual journey. The course was to be conducted by HH Brhad Bhagavat Maharaja, whom I respect a lot.I missed the first day as I got stuck in the traffic and got too delayed to enter the seminar knowing Maharaj well.As a bonus I got a call from Subir Prabhu, he and Gaurav Prabhu too joined the seminar and they were excited about their first day experience, so now I had their company too. I went with them on the second day to get their association. Both of them are very nice devotees and anyone would appreciate their enthusiasm for learning more, working in Gurgaon then going to Punjabi Bagh and then back to their homes in East Delhi.Back to seminar. From the second day and till day eight it was pure nectar. It is so nice to see ISKCON as an organisation growing and confronting issues it faces from both outside and more importantly within. One can see that ISKCON is benefiting from a tremendous talent pool of new wave of devotees. I am told that this seminar may become compulsory for any one who wish to get initiated and after attending it I firmly agree to it.I will try to write a summary of the 8 day summary of the seminar. I have the full booklet of the course with me, with notes, please feel free to ask for the same via courier or collect it if you stay near Gurgaon.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 9, 2013 at 7:00pm
Hare Krishna.
25th November.
I got a call in the evening from HG Achyut Hari Prabhu ji that HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj will be visiting Gurgaon tomorrow and he may visit my home !! Hari Bol ! I could not believe my good fortune. I shared the same with HG Rukmini Prabhuji after the seminar, he too was surprised and very happy for me. I told him for me `he may come’ has done the job and as far I am concerned he has come.
26th November
I was waiting for the confirmation and also tried to push the labour to clean the living room as we were still a week away from shifting in the new apartment. Finally HG Achyut Hari Prabhu ji called up and confirmed that Maharaj will be visiting my home around 5.30pm before his lecture at the centre. My happiness knew no bounds, I thanked Prabhuji profusely and then came home early from office to arrange for everything. The apartment was in a mess as it was in the final stage of handover but by Krishna’s grace we could clean the living room and make space for few devotees to sit comfortably. We decorated the entrance with diyas and flowers, it was another Diwali for me.
Maharaj came around 6 pm and I just melted in his presence as I could not believe my good fortune of hosting him. I paid thousand obeisances to HG Vidur Priya Prabhuji for arranging it. Maharaj came upstairs in our new apartment and blessed it with his lotus feet. He spent close to 35 minutes with us, some senior devotees too came for his darshan. He asked about my spiritual journey and how I came in Krishna consciousness and he desired to meet Mukul Prabhu who first introduced me to Krishna Consciousness. Maharaj said that he will be in Punjabi Bagh temple on 28th and I promised to come with Mukul Prabhu if is in town. He then asked everyone to push for the Gurgaon temple as the construction was to be started soon. He was so polite and gentle and caring and humble, I can go on and on.
Maharaj then wanted to use the restroom and we hurriedly ripped open the packing for him to use it. Now our home is purified with double mercy as Maharaj used the first facility at our new home.
I gathered enough courage to request Maharaj if I can wash his lotus feet. Maharaj replied that he normally does not allow it. I requested Maharaj that `this’ is not `normal’ for me and he most mercifully agreed. We washed Maharaj’s lotus feet. It was the first time that I washed any sanyasi’s feet and was very nervous from inside. I prayed to Srila Prabhupada and for me with this opportunity I washed the feet of whole Gaudia Vaishanava Guru parampara.
Maharaj left for the centre around 6.10 after taking darshan of our deities in the current home.I then followed hurriedly to the Gurgaon centre. The centre was decked up beautifully and devotees danced to welcome Maharaj. Maharaj sang Jai Radha Madhava again and again and it was blissful to hear maharaj singing Kirtan. Maharaj spoke on the verse from CC madhya 22.128
I don’t think I have ever heard a simpler and easier explanation of this verse. I am sure everyone sitting in the packed hall would have absorbed something from maharaj’s lecture. Maharaj spoke for a long time and by the time he finished it was already close to 9.30pm. Then another magic happened, as Maharaj left the Kirtan started playing again. HG Asit Prabhu started dancing first and within 5 minutes the whole temple danced and danced. It was as if Maharaj’s mere presence spread gold dust over everyone. It was transcendental atmosphere and it was an effort for the team in charge of serving to lay down the mats.
We had delicious prasadam and I came back home flying in the air, as I still could not fully absorb Maharaj’s visit to my humble home. What can we call this other than causeless mercy of a pure Vaishanava on a street urchin.
Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 5, 2013 at 4:49pm
Hare Krishna.Gopal-Krishna-Goswami-MaharajToday I wish to write about one of the most senior and respected leader of ISKCON HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj.During my initial days I heard Maharaj’s name often. I also had the good fortune to attend some of his lectures at Punjabi Bagh. I had no idea about Maharaj’s stature and just knew that whenever he was at Punjabi Bagh Temple, there was always more activity and extra enthusiasm in the devotees. But then the same was the case when some other senior Sanyasi would come to the temple. I knew he was special but how special I didn’t know. I found his lectures very simple, yet he had a special potency with which he will drill that simple message deep and he came across has a very humble and sincere sanyasi. That was my initial perception.As I progressed a little in my spiritual journey and saw Maharaj, my respect for him grew by each day. Everytime I would see him, I would somehow try to get his attention in a polite manner. I would see Maharaj at Vrindavan, often at the mangal arti. As I heard more about him from other sanyasis and Guru Mahraj my respect and greed to meet him grew every day. Last year I was fortunate to receive a small gift from Maharaj, along with many others devotees, for service during the Book distribution Marathon, as HG Rukmini Prabhuji called me and introduced Maharaj to me, he told me that he would like to speak to me. Few months later I got a chance to meet for few minutes at Punjabi Bagh temple. I still hanker for a personal meeting with Maharaj but no such chance came as whenever I saw him he was always surrounded with devotees and I knew I stand no where among those much senior and sincere devotees to catch his attention.Then one the day before Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance Day I saw Maharaj twice. First as I carried the Palanquin carrying Srila Prabhupada, Maharaj walked right in front of me for some time. The the same day as I was assisting in serving lunch to senior devotees int he Balram hall, in walked maharaj. I was so happy just to see him walking in. He took prasadam, very light, I tried to offer some vegetables and then some sweets but did not took anything, but for me I had served Maharaj.I saw him many times during Kartik at Vrindavan. As strange it may sound but every time I see Maharaj my hankering to meet him personally grows and I like him more and more at a personal level, without actually knowing him I seem to develop faith and relationship with Maharaj.I also hear with awe as Sumeet Prabhu would explain me regularly his meetings with maharaj, he seem to meet him every other month with ease, his family is very close to Maharaj. While we were speaking about various sanyasis and glorifying them, we again came back to discuss HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj. We remembered how HH Janananda Maharaj glorified him the other day at Vrindavan, when we went to meet him. He said sanyasis like Gopal Krishna Goswami, Bhakti Charu Maharaj, Jayapataka Maharaj, Radha Nath Swami are all pure and special souls and without special mercy of Srila Prabhupada they can’t do what they are achieving. He specially glorified Maharaj as he handles all the tricky challenges in Russia, is in change of all the big temples being constructed, still does strong Sadhna Bhakti and deity worship.I remember HG Rukmini Prabhuji telling us early this year in one of the lectures that when asked what is Maharaj’s secret, Maharaj replied` Strong morning Program’ ! A simple statement which underlines Maharaj.Sumeet Prabhu told me a very interesting incident. When his father was not initiated, he helped maharaj to get a bank loan sanctioned from IOB where he used to work. During one of the later meetings Maharaj glorified his father, thanked him and folded his hands as a matter of respect. Later his brother told Maharaj that he should not have done so much respect as it was their duty to serve in this spiritual movement. Maharaj replied that there were many reasons why he did it1. His father has not surrendered to Maharaj, only the son.2. His father was an elder person in age and therefore must be respected as per material world norms3. He helped in Prabhupad’s mission which is the savior of mankind; such people who help in this process should be profusely thanked4. By showing etiquette of folding hands, it creates softness in heart and respect for ISKCON.What not we can learn from such devotees in humility and Vaishanava etiquette. I thought that I uselessly read books and try to find how to become when I can listen to Maharaj’s pastimes and learn directly from his behavior.Few weeks back I found courage to request HG Vidur Priya Prabhuji to please request Maharaj to visit my new apartment and bless it with his lotus feet. Sumeet Prabhu told me that it is very difficult because Maharaj has a very busy schedule and also as Maharaj has thousands of disciples in Delhi/ NCR so it becomes difficult to please each disciple so he meets everyone at local temple only. Logical, but my mind hankers for his mercy. Some day I may get lucky. And as a bonus the hankering keeps Maharaj in my thoughts.I will try to please Maharaj by trying to serve devotees at Gurgaon and Punjabi Bagh temple with whatever little efforts I can do.HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj Ki Jai.All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 5, 2013 at 4:48pm
Hare Krishna.14th NovemberI left for Vrindavan in the afternoon with three other devotees. We reached just when Guru maharaj’s seminar was going on in the Balram Hall. It was wonderful to listen to Krishna’s Vrindavan Lila’s from Guru Maharaj. This seminar was for 5 days and culminated on 17th evening with description of Vrindavan in the spiritual world.Later I took darshan of Guru Maharaj at his apartment with other devotees. Guru Maharaj always emphasizes on staying under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet and ISKCON. Every time I hear his message my resolve to serve ISKCON becomes stronger.I was also pleasantly surprised to meet HG Mahadevi Dasi here. She had come to meet guru Maharaj to pre pone his seminar by half an hour, which he graciously agreed. Her presence makes me feel so good. She also told me that there may be some rooms available at the hotel next to MVT, I got the last room and the problem of where to stay was solved in 5 minutes. Hari Bol.15th NovemberI attended the mangal Arti and did my rounds at Srila Prabhupada’s quarters. I found some devotees went for govardhan parikarma today morning and I felt sad I wanted to go for one in Kartika. My consolation was circumambulation of Govardhan mountain devotees made in the temple complex last monday.I attended a wonderful seminar by HG Sarvabhauma Prabhuji on Damodar Leela. It is always so nice to hear him and he enchanted everyone with his katha.Guru Maharaj’s seminar started at 4.3o and he again took us to the land of Vrindvan with interesting stories and anecdotes about Krishna’s pastimes in Vrindavan.I was most pleased to know that devotees from Ujjain were going for Govardhan Parikarma tomorrow morning, I requested them to take me with them and they heartily agreed.16th NovemberThe temple for choc o block at 4.30am, there was hardly space to even enter the compound. I squeezed in took darshana and left. We left for Govardhna Parikarma around 5 am and it was nice to be in a bus load of devotees. I had the good company of HG Radhapad Prabhuji from Ujjain during the initial yatra. After many solo parikarma’s I was back with devotees.I hurt my foot within half an hour into Parikarma and foolishly looked for a Dr. or chemist as it opened the top layer of the skin and pained, I was also worried for the infection walking next 5 hours with an open wound. I lost all the devotees, as they went ahead, and could not find any chemist as well that that early hour of the day.I paid my obeisances to Girirah Maharaj and started another solo parikarma ! After sometime I got hold of my pain and could concentrate on being present in the most holy Govardhan mountain. Early morning parikarma always works best for me. There were occasional blaring loudspeakers selling their wares but on the whole it was peaceful and enriching for my body as well as soul.I thought about my little injury and realised the following1. As an aspiring Vaishanava I should not have walked over a pile of garbage which got me injured. I will not take short cuts and always walk on the clean route.2. I realise that my consciousness was not pure before starting the parikarma. Inspite of feeling great somewhere deep I still had the feeling of achieving another Parikarma rather than feeling truly humbled and acknowledging that I have got mercy to be able to offer my respects to Govardhan.I pray to Sri Giri Govardhan that I do not forget these lessons.Giriraj Maharaj Ki jai !govardhan-parikrama-vrindavan-india+1152_13222851559-tpfil02aw-29568We were back in Vrindavan around 2 pm. I got my bandage done at Bhaktivedanta hospital, very quick, and cheap, Rs 50 for bandage and Rs15 for the tetanus shot.I kept a fast for the parikarma day and felt bad that I did not keep the last 5 days of Kartika. I attended HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj’s seminar at 4.30pm, how I wish that Maharaj should speak 2 hours each in the morning as well as afternoon. It was wonderful katha and Q & A.Then came back to take darshan of guru maharaj at his apartment and meet devotees.While coning out I met HG Saranga Prabhuji, who told me to come continue my fast till tomorrow afternoon and then join for a feast at Maharaj's apartment , devotees were to open the 5 days fast between 11.45 and 12.15pm. Hari Bol.17th NovemberI attended the Mangal arti, took darshan of my beautiful Lord. I did my rounds at Prabhupada’s quarters. We had wonderful morning Kirtan by HH Lokanath swami maharaj before the Guru Puja. Then attended morning Bhagavatam class by Hh Bhakti Charu Swami maharaj, its so much learning for me when I see Maharaj starting the class by asking everyone if they are feeling too cold and did everyone is sitting on the carpet. He is always caring for the audience. The class was wonderful and so were later his signature Q & A session.I later sat in the well maintained park in MVT to complete my rounds and almost dozed off in the sunny weather!I went to attend the feast at Maharaj’s apartment with Sumeet Prabhu and his family at 12 noon. It was surely a feast for the brahmacharis wo had kept the 5 day Bhishm panchak fast. I was just a freeloader. The food was simply delicious and there were so many dishes. I just about manage to finish my first servings with some effort. Guru Maharaj then came and asked almost everyone on how are they doing and encouraged us to eat more.Maharaj took a small session/class with students in the afternoon. Sitting there I realised how Maharaj started by asking them how was their trip to Vrindavan, who all came for the first time and then slowly took them into higher topics and that too with a such an ease. Its an art Maharaj knows , he always asks questions relevant to the audience and then still gives them a message in a very easy to understand manner.I then rushed to meet HH Jananand Maharaj. I read about him in the mails HG Chitralekha devi dasi sends on her google group. Sumeet Prabhu serves him very well and due to his mercy I could meet maharaj. He was staying at ISKCON Goshala. As I went around looking for his room, I realised how good the aura around the goshala was. It was very peaceful, almost a farm like ambience. I took darshan of Maharaj he came across as a very gentle and simple soul. One can not help but admire how Srila Prabhupada touched each of his disciple and turned each of them into such devotees with different mood of serving their Guru and ISKCON.I would love to stay in Goshala next time.Janananda-Maharaj-portrait-It was then time for the last class of the seminar by HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj was taking in the Balram Hall. He took us to the transcendental journey of the spiritual world and virtually summarised Sanatana goswami’s Sri Brihad Bhagavatamrita in one and a half hour. As Gopa Kumar from one `loka’ to another we could understand the hierarchy of each loka. We also saw how with a simple heart, right mantra and outright eagerness to meet Krishna Gopa Kumar finally receives the mercy of the lord and join Him in His eternal pastimes in Goloka Vrindavan.I was sitting on the bench inside the hall due to my injured foot, and as I looked out of the window during the class, I saw the now familiar smiling face of HG Mahadevi Dasi ! Hari Bol. She smiled and left.After the seminar many devotees left for their homes and I too had planned for the same but changed my prog for Monday as I could an opportunity to serve Maharaj.As Maharaj’s lecture was going I heard the sound of another sweet nectar, I knew it was Sachinandan Maharaj’s kirtan, suddenly there was a big desire, rather sort of cry, to see Sacinandan Maharaja and attend his retreat. The kirtan stopped after sometime.As I was going back to the my room I saw HH Sachinandan maharaj going towards temple from the Krishna Hall. Hari Bol. I paid my obeisances immediately.After I came back to the temple and as I entered from the side door I could hear HH Sachinandan Maharaj was singing the kirtan. My joy knew no bounds. In my sudden spiritually uplifting mood the first thing I did was to buy the Chaitanya Charitamit book set. I bought the packet with me and then sat in the temple complex. Soon I was deep into the Kirtan by maharaj. He sang with deep feelings. I sang with my full voice and could connect with Lord. The Kirtan continued till 10 pm. It was so so wonderful to hear him. I had attended Maharaj’s retreat last year and over the period of time I lost most the instructions but in 10 minutes each word came back to me. Totally immersed, those were transcendental 2 hours for me. Thank you so much Maharaj.safe_image.phpHH Sachinandan Maharaj Ki jai !18th NovemberI did not attend the mangal arti as I woke up late. Hurriedly went to do japa at Prabupada quarters. As I entered, I got the darshan of HH Sachinandan maharaj again as he too was chanting his rounds there.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on December 5, 2013 at 4:35pm
Hare Krishna.9th NovemberI was back in Vrindavan on Saturday afternoon, thanks to Atma Prabhu for inspiring me to come back and Deepak Handa Prabhu for giving me a ride, conclusion always listen to devotees.In the afternoon I met Nand Maharaj Prabhu in the temple compound. He wanted to know if I had any questions to ask him. I had requested Sumeet Prabhu yesterday that I wanted to meet him. I wanted to hear him speak about Krishna consciousness. I somehow mumbled some questions and comments about how I still get angry when I am in the material world and help me in this regard. Prabhuji told me to learn to be humble and never forget that I am a vaisnava. He added that it doesn’t mean that we let people take advantage of our humility but our behaviour should be that of a vaishanva. He spoke about four `S’Sidhanta : Principle, we are eternal servant of Lord.Sadhna : 4 regulative principles and minimum 16 rounds of chanting.Service: Serving local temple and devotees to the best of our ability.Sadachar : Our behaviour. He mentioned that this is one of the most difficult one to adhere, we can achieve it only by long and careful practice. He told me an interesting story about Lord Krishna and karna about our natural instinct.Later in the evening I requested Mukunda Priya Prabhu to help in preaching and increasing the congregation in Gurgaon. He gave me very practical advise. We then attended Guru Maharaj’s class at his apartment roof, another good session and association of exalted devotees from across the world.In the evening I could get association of Atma prabhu for dinner at MVT, it was nice to hear him at leisure as he is always busy serving Guru Maharaj.Sunday : I attended Samadhi arti and Mangal Arti in the morning. After Guru Puja I rushed to `Goshala’ where Guru Maharaj was taking a special class on the occasion of Gopashtami. But before that a special mention for the unique gopa dress worn by Radharani today. I always wonder why she dresses as Gopa on Gopashtami. She looked most beautiful. This is the special day when Krishna graduated from herding calves to herding the cows. It is one of the two days in a year when we can get Radharani’s `charan darshan’.1459659_691719154172779_1021596211_nI went to ISKCON `Goshala’ for the first time ever. It was clean and decent size. It felt nice to be among cows on Gopashtami. As I reached there, some devotees were feeding special laddoos to cows, I too bought a small bucket and for first time fed anything to cows. They virtually snatched the laddoos from my hand, after my initial hesitation I became comfortable feeding them. They pushed each other to eat them.Then the procession came from the temple. HH Bhakto Charu Swami Maharaj first fed laddoos to many cows, worshiped them and then gave an excellent lecture on Gopashtami.photo 1 photo 2In the lecture Maharaj explained that on this day Krishna passed the childhood age known as kaumara and stepped into the age of pauganda, from the sixth year up to the tenth year. This particular ceremony was meant only for men and boys but Radharani wanted to join the celebrations. One of her friends then suggested that she looks just like Subal and then they called Subal and She exchanged clothes with him. She then went to attend the ceremony dressed as a gopa. Hence she is dressed as a gopa on this day in all ISKCON temples and we can see her lotus feet as gopas walk bare feet. So the mystery for Radharani unique dress got solved for me. Maharaj also spoke on other very sweet pastimes of Krishna like when Mother Yashoda wanted Krishna to wear sandals while herding cows but He refused . Similarly how a worried and affectionate mother Yashoda instructed Krishna’s friends to always remain close to him, “Balram…you stay in front of Krishna, Subal you stay behind, Sridam and Sudama you stay on Krishna’s sides.” And how the cows refuse to move till Sri Krishna came in front of them. Very fulfilling lecture.After the ceremony I came back to the temple,took darshan again of Their Lordships. I slept for some time during the day and then I was informed that Hh Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj will be giving a class for the Braja mandal parikarma at Chirghat. I missed the bus but by Lord’s mercy Pawan Prabhu and Pooja mataji reached just in time from Gurgaon and we went straight on a long & bumpy ride deep inside the villages, I had never ventured in this interior region of Braja, the villagers here spoke a very different dialect.Maharaj spoke about different Rasa, `shaant’, `dasya’, `Sakhya’ , Vatsalaya and `madhurya’ and how they are so unique and only in Vrindavan can we get access to play with the supreme personality of Godhead with such loving exchanges. He sang melodious kirtan. We then took a round of the place where Krishna stole gopi’s clothes. There was a very old Kadamamba tree and a temple for katyani Devi. We all paid our obeisances there.photo 4we reached back around 6pm and attended Kirtan at temple. Then Maharaj met us all at his MVT apartment. It was a very good Q & A session. Many devotees asked personal questions and Maharaj replied them back with clarity. He spoke strongly about staying in ISKCON and under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada.Later, I said goodbye to dear Mukunda Priya Prabhu, they were leaving next day to Surat. It was my lucky night as Atma Prabhu invited me for dinner, Maharaj’s maharaprasadam. Hari Bol !I came back to the apartment of Deepak Handa Prabhu around 9.30pm, we talked for sometime and then slept. We left next day early morning at 4.45am back to Gurgaon.Please visit http://www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com for the blog with pictures.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on November 11, 2013 at 4:25pm
Hare Krishna.1461269_10202471943906080_1453083083_nI met a very gentle soul while going with Srila Prabhupada around Vrindavan. She was walking beside the Palanquin. She was full of energy and almost always running in front and side of the Palanquin. After some time as she was holding the side of the Palanquin I requested her that we are all are carrying Srila Prabhupa and she should not exert herself. Her reply stumped me, she said `I just want to be close to my spiritual master'. After sometime it became warm and she instructed us to remove the shawl from Srila Prabhupada's deity, not agreeing when someone merely pushed it back. One could see the love and affection she had from her spiritual master. She kept on clicking pictures at all the times. At one time she pointed to a painting of `Hanuman' on a shop facade. Everyone looked up but we could not get the context. Then she added `he is blessing Prabhupada'.1391882_10202472044348591_2020453040_nI could not resist asking her name and contact no.. She is HG Mahadevi Dasi, disciple of Srila Prabupada and now based in Vrindavan dham.As luck would have it, I met her again at Govinda after the procession, she was there with her friends for breakfast. She was kind enough to gave us her association for almost half an hour, she has so much love for Srila Prabhupada and as a result she has a very soft and tender heart. I pray one day my heart could be 10% as soft as hers.We again crossed in the evening inside MVT. I told her that I would bother her again and would like to hear pastimes of Srila Prabhupada with her. She replied `Srila Prabhupada is still here and guides us all'. Jai Jai.General perception is that Indians are more emotional but Mataji smashed my perception with her deep felt love for Srila Prabhupda and I wonder, with a tinge of envy, what love and affection these devotees received from Srila Prabhupda which they still carry so passionately in their soft hearts.Please read the same blog at www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com with pictures.All glories to HG Mahadevi Dasi.All glories to Srila Prabhupda.
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Posted by Giriraj dasa on November 11, 2013 at 3:05pm
Hare Krishna.4th NovemberIt was wonderful to have Guru Maharaj at our home on the Diwali eve, nothing but causeless mercy. I slept late on 3rd night but we all got up early to leave for Vrindavan with Guru Maharaj.As usual Guru Maharaj was up and running early morning. We had a wonderful Q & A Session with Guru Maharaj clearing so many doubts of devotees. We left around 7.50am and were in Vrindavan Dham by 11am. Guru Mahraj entered the gates of MVT to a tumultuous welcome by the devotees. We later took darshan of Their Lordships, they looked more gorgeous and affectionate than ever, as always.Entering MVTThe next 3 day were spent as if I was on a different plane altogether.We, me and Sumeet Prabhu, started with darshan of Guru Mahraj at his apartment, then it was time for the Govardhan Puja, the temple compound was decked up beautifully. We watched the beautiful annnakut preparations and so many Bhoga offerings to Sri Giriraj. We took the parikarma and were blessed with prasadam after almost every round. There was festivity all around.Giriraj Maharaj ki jai !1457599_10202442336805921_394315919_n 1455087_10202442383887098_763020507_nI later met wonderful devotees from Surat, also HG Nanda Maharaj Das from Chandigarh, then I had lunch prasadam at Guru Maharaj’s apartment. Guru Maharaj met everyone again in the evening. Later we went to listen to HH Radhanath Maharaj at Fugla Ashram. I saw Maharaj for the first time but it seemed I had seen him many a times, of course, watching so many of his videos earlier. He spoke with so much `bhava’ about Krishna’s pastimes and specially Govardhan Lila. Later Radhanath Maharaj did Kirtan and then Guru Maharaj sang Damodar Ashtakam, the whole complex danced with spiritual potency. We bought some CDs of Maharaj’s lectures. Sumeet Prabhu pushed me closer to where HH Radhanath Maharaj was walking abck after his lecture, as he stopped in front of us we both touched the soil touched by his lotus feet.HH Radhanath Maharaj Ki Jai !Tuesday : Had the good fortune to attend Mangal Arti, Mangal Arti darshan are always special for me, I can’t pick a finger on the reason but there is something special about Mangal Arti darshan. I did my rounds in the temple and later at Prabupada’s house. Among many other things, HG Sankarshan Das Adhikari taught me two special instructions1. To attend samadhi Arti whenever possible2. To chant my rounds at Srila Prabhupada’s house.Both these instructions have helped me a lot.Evening was very special as I went to meet HH Radha Govind maharaj. His apartment was so simple, like his ownself. I paid my obeisances and told him how much I love him and hear his lectures every day since last 4 months, he has changed me. He heard me patiently, nobbed and I got prasadam from his hands. I would definitely go and meet him again and again and again.HH Radha Goving Maharaj ki Jai !In the evening Guru maharaj first gave an excellent on his pastimes with Srila Prabhupada’s at Vrindavan, and later in the evening he made the whole temple dance with his melodious kirtan from 7pm-8pm. I was filled to the core with spiritual energy.Wednesday : I attended Srila Prabupada’s arti and the mangal arti. Later I met Gaurav Prabhu after a long gap, it was so good to meet him, he is progressing very well in his sadhna bhakti. We both missed association of Subir Prabhu.There was an excellent morning Bhagavatam lecture at an early time of 6am by H.G Badrinarayan Prabhu. Then it was a occasion to take Srila Prabhupada to all the six Goswami temples in Vrindavan. By the mercy of Lord, I got the service to carry Srila Prabhupada’s in his Palanquin. I felt very close to Srila Prabhupada, I was carrying my grandfather all around. Then HH Gopal Krishna Goswami maharaj came and to put a cherry on the cake Guru Maharaj did sankirtan till Radha Damodar temple, My day was made, indeed one of my best days in Vrindavan Dham. Many people paid obeisances to Srila Prabhupada on our way. Thank you so much Srila Prabhupada for allowing me to participate in your procession.1466259_10202471982347041_1103142887_n576582_10202471955706375_927749278_nI met a very gentle soul in the procession and I will write about her separately.After reaching back I got the good association of Vineet Prabhu and later Murari prabhu, both from Jaipur. Is is always a pleasure to meet both of them, they are knowledgeable, humble and very affectionate.In the evening we had darshan of Guru Maharaj and then Guru Maharaj sang Gopi Geet to a packed house Balaram House. I left the same evening back to Gurgaon with a heavy heart. Who would wish to leave Vrindavan in kartik and the association of so many devotees.please read the blog at www.forthepleasureoflordkrishna.com with pictures.Kartik maas ki Jai !Vrindavan Dham Ki Jai !Srila Prabhupada ki Jai !
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