A new sankirtan initative has started in the Benelux, in a devotee friendly way. With no pressure and based on fun, the monthly festival of Sankirtan Saturday was created. It started on the weekend of Oct. 8th and 9th. Some factors were: language barriers (the books are in Dutch, French, and English) and devotees feeling scared to go. Ninety percent of them never have done sankirtana.
Posters flooded the castle walls of Radhadesh: Sankirtana Saturday.
On Friday morning, Partha-sarathi gave the Bhagavatam class, juicy and full of sankirtana sanitations for the soul. He brought out the sankirtana strength again, by holding a Friday evening sankirtana seminar.
We all caught some good rest, to be ready for the next day's operation. We met outside the castle. The troops arrived, one at a time. A couple of the youth came: Manoj and Lalita. Srila Prabhupada's mission is gradually changing hands. We had seventeen devotees, and a boot (trunk) full of books.
We crossed the border into Holland and found a mall in the middle of Maastricht, where we parked our two vans underground. We split into teams.
Partha and I were already teamed, and we also had our books ready, so we almost ran off the scene. The other devotees caught up, and we all packed into the elevator, a bit worried that we had overloaded it. It was a beautiful sunny day, and church bells were ringing.
Partha and I wandered around and stopped stray young people. Partha mostly capitalized on the stress of the material world. It's normally difficult for people to admit they are suffering, but it is a powerful thing.
We constantly swept through the area, checking on the other distributors. We made sure that they were focused and having fun. Everyone was having a great time, and many books were going out.
Partha stopped a cancer patient; he was in his early twenties and seemed to be a nice guy. He wasn't inclined to take the book, but Partha insisted: "Just take it as a gift." Partha kind offer touched the young man's heart. He now was so enthusiastic to have the book that he gave both of us a hug. His fate might have been sealed, but Krishna was not going to let his life go in vain.
The seventeen devotees distributed 264 books, and felt fired up to do more at the next sankirtana festival. The book distributors and the public had a great experience feeling the flow of Srila Prabhupada's mercy.
Interview of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta by Mr. Willion Henri Jan Vandor Stok of Batavia Q: -- Your Holiness, kindly enlighten me about the different aspects of human pursuits.
A: -- In India as in Europe we find people holding different views, but here we have attempted to classify them into three divisions. One class of people are seekers of fruits of their action. Another class wish to annihilate their individuality. And the third class want, in their true selves as absolute infintesimals, to be in touch with the Absolute Infinity, rejecting all non-absolute features. We belong to the third party.
The seekers of fruits by means of their actions are called Karmakandins in the Sanskrit language. The Christian way of thinking about life is included in Karmakanda. In India we have also that sort of idea, that a person is to be judged by his action. He gets something in return as a reward for his pious deeds. Virtue and piety are the main principles that are wanted by such doers. Most people understand this common view, which holds that what I do will be either rewarded or reprimanded. We think that we should live a pious life in order that we may be rewarded in our next life with all sorts of enjoyments. We have got subtle bodies in which we are rewarded or punished. That body is not exactly similar to the ordinary gross body, the mortal coil which we see here. Egyptians thought that they have but one life and that they should have no occasions to bear future lives. But persons who subscribe to the theory of metempsychosis think that they will have future lives when they can make up for the nefarious acts done both in their present lives and in their past lives, and receive grace from the great dispenser of justice. They are fruit-seekers. They want to gratify their senses.
There are persons who hanker after knowledge. They went [sic] to secure knowledge by the empiric method. To them annihilation is the final goal. They think they should merge in the Integer, the Absolute, and that all the undesirable situations of this world will end with this merging. In that case observer, observation and observed, these three situations are eliminated. When all the activities of the senses such as hearing, tasting, smelling, seeing and touching will cease, the observer, observation and the observed will mix up together and there will be no occasion for knowing, willing or feeling. All volitional, cogitational and emotional activities should cease, because they have given us a bitter experience; and so, according to the empiricists, in order to make an end of them, it would be better for us not to think of anything which will respond to our senses. This idea is formulated by theorists like pantheists, agnostics, and sceptics. These people think that they will be able to secure happiness by destroying their identify.
The third view is the theistic view. We believe that there is a Personality of God-head and that we are persons. We want our troublous situations to be eliminated and wish to reach a peaceful position where we can freely move and have everything, whatever we are in need of; and this has resulted in directing us to the Absolute Who is represented as a Personality. In the Absolute Personality we find three features: He is Ever-existent, He is ever full of knowledge and He is the Fountain-head of unceasing bliss. In Him there is no factor of time, no factor of ignorance. In Him there is no discrepancy, no defect, no inadequacy, nothing of the kind. In our conception of God, we hold He is the Emporium of all bliss, all knowledge, and no acts of nescience or ignorance are to be associated with Him, and we should not seek after any fruit for our worldly purpose, leaving Him aside. He need not give us anything. We are to serve Him as servitors, He being the only Lord. In this world we find that hundreds of absolute infinitesimals trouble themselves with the undesirable elements of these phenomena. If the undesirable elements are simply driven out, eliminated, then a desirable position can be had. But in the ordinary conception of heaven, we find that it is meant for our purpose, to get our wishes for enjoyment fulfilled, for our enjoyment apart from the enjoyment of the Absolute. The enjoyment of the Absolute is full, whereas our enjoyment is liable to be involved in some troubles. All these miserable situations should be avoided for the purpose of safety, for our peace. The eternal peace can only come if we are at all eager to engage ourselves in the service of the Lord, I mean, the Personality of God-head. God has got spiritual eyes, spiritual ears, spiritual nose, spiritual tongue, spiritual skin and spiritual mind; not material things like us. Our senses are made up of material things and there is no such element in God. God is the Emporium of all desirable elements. He is found to be eternally Existing, He is full of knowledge, He is Omniscient and He is All-blissful. He delegates His power to certain absolute infinitesimals, or, in other words, the absolute infinitesimals are endowed with such potencies which enable them to transact affairs with the Eternal Authority. Ordinarily we are placed in a region where all sorts of imperfections and undesirable situations are prominent, and we require that our bitter experience should devise some means to get rid of these unpleasant situations; the painful propensities must be kicked out from our activities. We should be prepared for the stage where we can realise our own real selves. We should not trouble ourselves here engaging ourselves in amusements and other things. It is necessary that some prudent, preparatory measures should be adopted during this life, that we should acquire the discretion to judge what is really desirable and making a thorough study of the revealed scriptures which have come to us, find out how we could ameliorate our conditions and give up the passionate desires that are engrossing such people as are busy with annihilating themselves or with fruit-seeking endeavours.
The third party is known as Bhaktas or devotees who possess Bhakti which is the vehicular agent to carry us to the Absolute. It will act as the tie uniting the Personality of the Lord and our personalities. Our persons should be united with the Personality of God, and that Personality of God-head is purely spiritual and has no mundane reference. If we wish to know Him by any mundane reference that would be like trying to send rays from the retina to the sun. Just as we receive rays emanating from the self-luminous disc of the sun, so by the mercy of the Supreme Lord we will be able to know what He is, and after learning this, we will engage ourselves for His purpose. We will have nothing else to do in this world. We have got the only purpose of associating ourselves with the Spirit, with the Over-soul. When we leave this mortal coil, we will be engaged in some occupation or other, but we should not think that in the subtle bodies we will continue these conditions and have our enjoyment. This enjoyment is temporary and in the long run becomes the cause of binding us to grosser coils. But if we have any mind to engage ourselves with the Eternity, with All-knowledge, and One Who is devoid of ignorance and full of incessant Bliss, we must respond to His call, we should be participating with the Absolute and not with the non-absolute environment here. Our phenomenal existence is not at all sympathetic to our highest aspiration. Our so-called relatives show that they are very kind to us, but in the end we find that they too wish to draw something from us and at best have only some wordly motive. They are not kind to us in the best sense. We should not be dissuaded by their influence. We should have a stern will to give up all our passionate enjoying habits, as well as the inclination for self-annihilation which the empricists {sic] seek. The desire for annihilation as well as the tendency for enjoyment are to be sacrificed at the altar of devotion. They do wrong things. They enjoy instead of serving, and we want that we should be set free from all these wrong ideas of the speculative people of the world. We are aware of the history of civilisation for the last ten thousand years and we expect that when the world shall have run for some ten thousand years more some new troubles will arise and the human race will be destroyed by some influence which we cannot foretell now. So, the Absolute is to be enquired into, what He is, whether He is a human being, or whether He belongs to the lower creation, or whether He is of a stony character; whether the Absolute is neuter, masculine or feminine. Let us strive to acquaint ourselves with all these ideas and thoughts about the next world and the Absolute: whether the region of the Absolute has all sorts of manifestive phases, whether these phases are agreeable and free from invasion of wrong thoughts. So, if we want to wash off all our wrong conceptions we will have to surrender to the Absolute Infinity and then we shall be in touch with Him. We will have the opportunity of dove-tailing ourselves with Him and no other ideas and thoughts should dissuade us from having touch with the Absolute. If we can secure the tendency of love for the Absolute, we will be attracted by Him. He Himself is Love. We have no loving tendency, whereas He is full of love. We should try to meet the merciful strain by which He wants to attract us to Him, to His region where there is no defect, no disagreeable feature, no ignorance and no undesirable situation. We should go back there. We do not carry our bones and flesh there. The proprietor of these bones and flesh is to go there, leaving here all these dirty appurtenances for the enjoyment of jackals and dogs and those creatures of the lower creation who have no devotional motive at all, who do not want to come in touch with the Absolute Infinity.
Most of the people of the globe are very busy with getting fruits, gratifying their senses by attending cinemas, driving motorcars and they are quite indifferent about serving those who can guide them to the Absolute region. All the undesirable situations which impeded our course are to be eliminated. The enjoying and empirical activities are obstructing our ways and we should try to drive them off. We should want that we should be in touch only with the Absolute. As devotees, we are always in touch with Him and never dissociated from Him. We want to serve Him. We want to regain our position. We need not pass our time just as ordinary people do. We should submit to the heaven-sent messenger and follow his dictations. Our philosophies and empirical knowledge will be of no use to us. Our devotion should not be directed towards dogs, horses, men and women and other object of worldly phenomena. We need not serve such things. We should be determined to come in touch with the Absolute Who is very different from the non-absolute phenomena. Any person or thing that serves the Personality of God, should be treated in a friendly manner. And if any persons or thing proves hostile in the cause of His service, we should leave that off. We should not try to understand the spiritual plane from the material standpoint.
Q: -- What do you understand by spiritual land?
A: -- By Spiritual world we mean where we can have association with the spirit. The Absolute reserves the right of not being exposed to human senses. The human senses are all prisoners. They are all blind fellows. They cannot see Him. Rather they indulge in wrong ideas and give trouble to the people. The word "God" has been created by man. The direction is quite right, but what men produce in their factory is wrong. The people are engaged in non-absolute propaganda. This should cease.
Q: -- Those who work for the welfare of the people, are they not good?
A: -- Some people try to be good in order to enjoy a peaceful life. They are friendly to others to get their help in return, and in most cases the aim is worldly contentment.
Q: -- How should we know the will of God?
A: -- We are absolute infinitesimals and He is Absolute Infinity. If we are sincere and submit to Him, we will come in touch with Him, and know His Will. There are self-sufficient people who think they can, by their empirical knowledge, know everything. But the Absolute cannot be known by our empirical knowledge. This attempt would be like sending rays from the retina to the sun to know what the sun is. We should have nothing to do with the agnostics and Karmakandins of this world. They will try to dissuade us from having an aptitude for devotion. The devotees are the most intelligent people. We should await the day when the Merciful Lord will send His messenger to give us that cessation of all connections with the world which we call death. We shall then be able to live the life of devotees. Our selection of friends should be among the devotees. The agnostics and karmakandins will only lead us to trouble. The devotees are the only prudent and judicious people. The path of devotion is the shortest and easiest way. It is better that whatever we have gathered in this world, we should leave aside. We want to disown everything that is deemed to be quite suitable to persons who are busy with mundane affairs. We should consider ourselves lower than the blade of grass. We have now secured some non-absolute things which are quite inefficacious for our purpose. We should simply submit to the instructions of the devotees whose only occupation is to come in touch with the Absolute.
Q: -- What do you think of the yogis?
A: -- We do not subscribe to the principle of yoga. The Yogis think that they should have some-thing for their own. They have no eternal purpose. The Indian yogis think that when they come in touch with the Absolute, they will be restored to their original position and they will have nothing to do later on. They simply want emancipation from all troubles. The yogi thinks that when his duties are finished he will be able to pass his time in indulgence. So indulgence is the ultimate object of a yogi. And for this they strive for emancipation from the bonds of karma. The devotees are first class yogis, but they care very little for emancipation. They do not require these things. A devotee would be more happy to abide by the decision of Providence instead of throwing off the troublous situation he has been put into. The Yogis are inclined to have some personal motive, because, they require peace for themselves. They do not want to engage themselves in the service of the Lord, but they try to get something for their own. If a yogi is at all successful in his endeavours to come in contact with the Absolute, He shows his stony aspect at that time. The yogis think that God should be represented as a neuter thing, that no idea of sex should disturb their mind. The yogis want to reach kaivalya of "Iswara-sayujya" and "Brahma-Sayujya". They want to be made into God, like the slave Altamsh who usurped the throne of his masters. These are wrong ideas. The yogis are never successful in their attempts and we should not adopt the principles of a yogi. In paradise all sorts of enjoyments are supplied. But who is the enjoyer? He is a poor man who has got all sorts of bitter experience in this world.
It is better for us not to be agnostics, yogis, karmakandins and empiricists.
The Supreme Lord disclosed before the people the true system of devotion. There was no party who could claim a better system. The karmakandins and jnanins gave up their established ideas and thoughts, they all submitted to the true and loving wishes of the supreme Authority Whom we want to seek. The Supreme Authority is to be served and not the things which are hostile to the Supreme Authority.
What should be the Supreme Authority? What is He? Should the word "it" serve for indicating the Absolute? Or should the predominating aspect be addressed as 'he' and the predominated aspect as 'she'? The followers of the Old Testament like to apply "it" to God and want that God should be neuter, and that no personal forms should be attributed to Him, in order to differentiate Him from the phenomenal existence. Some people say that if only the subjective aspect is ascribed to God-head then the subjective [sic] aspect of God-head is neglected. We require that God-head should comprise both subjective and objective aspects. There must be some objects for the subject otherwise the subjectivity cannot stand. When we talk of some relationship, the reciprocating portion should never to neglected. In theism we find that the predominating part should reciprocate the predominated parts; these two parts should comprise the Whole thing, otherwise the Plenary is divided into two, or is divided into three.
Here in this world we find various relationships like that between husband and wife, between master and servant, between friend and friend and between children and parents. In the transcendental region the Supreme Lord is the only object of these relationships. He is the only Husband, the only Master, the only friend and the only Child. There is also the neutral relationship with God-head. So in all we find there are five kinds of relationships we can have with the Supreme Lord. In the New Testament God is described as God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Ghost; but they neglect the five relationships mentioned above. Service of God in these five relationships has been given to mankind by Shri Krishna Chaitanya. Service is the only function of the soul. We ignore the body when we are busy with the service of the Lord.
Q: -- Why do you require service?
A: -- Of all the occupations the best one is to attend to the service of the Absolute. Man wants to lord it over the phenomena, but in the long run he becomes a slave of the phenomena. For instance, there are people who wish to enjoy smoking and intoxicating liqueurs, but ultimately they become slaves of those habits. We devotees do not want our entities to be absorbed in the Integer, we want to adopt the process of devotion and have some permanent engagement. We should examine what we really are. Are we the external frame, the emporium of sense or the mind? If we analyse, we find that these are foreign elements incorporated into us. In order to get rid of al this dirt, the only course left to us is devotion which is service, service fully filtered and unalloyed.
Q: -- Do you know the Absolute gradually or at once?
A: -- The knowledge of the Absolute can be had all at once, there is no factor of time and space. If we are at all intent on knowing Him, we must have some sort of objective reference for His subjective activity. Now we are busy with worldly affairs; we think we are men and women. Instead of doing so, we should be serving Him, and when He participates with our pure selves, we will be set free from all the tempting influence of the different things of Nature. We want that we should go back. Like a shooting star, we have strayed out of the range of His attraction. Like a comet, we are journeying without cessation. Our eternal condition is that we are absolute infinitesimals, and as such, we should dove-tail with the Absolute Infinity. The function between Him and us is love. He is the Lover. If He loves us, we will be taken back. If He has an apathetic tendency towards us it is because we are averse to Him; and we will be undergoing 84 millions of births and deaths, again and again. It would be judicious for us that we should go back to the Absolute Infinity, and that all our engagement should be with Him, and not with anybody else.
We had a nice experience distributing books on Janmastami -- in Varna, a city in Bulgaria. Just for two hours, before cooking for the festival, we went on sankirtana, door to door.
In one office a lady just looked at the Srimad-Bhagavatam and said, "Wow, it is the Srimad-Bhagavatam. I love to read the Bhagavad-gita."
I offered her three volumes and explained that we have six more.
"Please, please bring them also."
I ran to the caravan and brought them. She was so HAPPY. She gave a nice donation, and I explained that this was the very auspicious birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. I invited her to the festival, but she was very busy that day.
A few days later, Padmamalini Dasi met a man from a Muslim family who had the Bhagavad-gita. After reading it, he began using a mala to chant the maha-mantra. Every day he chants four or five rounds, and he has been doing this a few years. He also very happily took nine volumes of the Bhagavatam.
Bhakti Bhavan for Women, Located at New Raman Reti in Alachua Florida, is now offering a Bhakti Sastri Course
Ladies, now is your chance to take part in a new study opportunity. Explore Bhagavad Gita, Sri Isopanisad, Nectar of Devotion, and Nectar of Instruction in the association of many serious devotees. Classes are exciting and interactive and will provide you with practical knowledge, important skills, and deep lasting spiritual values to enhance your Krsna Consciousness. Senior Vaishnavis who have taught in Sri Dhama Mayapur, as well as other international venues, will be your tutors.
Classes will begin the 15th of November 2010 at Bhakti Bhavan. There are six modules, three 6 chapter modules of Bhagavad Gita and one module each of Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction and Sri Isopanisad. The Bhagavad Gita class is scheduled for 10:00-11:30 a.m., followed by a second class period from 12:00 -1:30 p.m. for one of the other books. There will be no weekend classes.
Attend an inspiring morning program, and take advantage of opportunities for Hari Nama as well as temple seva to the most beautiful Sri Sri Radhe Shyama, Sri Sri Krsna Balaram and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai in order to charge your spiritual batteries.
The fee for the full two and a half months of ashram residence and course attendance is $550.00. There are several options for prasadam including temple prasadam for $50 per month. Those who want to attend classes but reside outside of Bhakti Bhavan Women’s ashram, or who want to study only one or two of the books can discuss various options with Laxmimoni dasi.
Please contact us as soon as possible to obtain a registration form. Applications should be received before the 23 of October. This will allow us to properly prepare for the number of devotees we will be serving.
Please note: there is limited space in the ashram and in the classroom, so contact us soon.
We are looking forward to hearing from you! Classes begin in a little more than one month! Please feel free to tell your friends.
Your servants, Laxmimoni dasi and the devotees at Bhakti Bhavan for Women
For information call 386 462 2528 or write LMDD@pamho.net
Some time back I was sitting behind a book table in Sydney. Not so many people were checking out the table, but by Krsna's grace I was stopping a few and some books were going out. Then a derelict stopped and started looking at the books. He asked how much the hardback Bhagavad-gita was. When I told him, he walked away, and I didn't think I'd see him again. But he soon returned, and after perusing the books he miraculously pulled out a fifty-dollar bill for the Gita and told me to keep the change! So I gave him an Ever Well-Wisher, a Krsna book, and an SSR as well.
Later that day I moved to the next suburb and set up. I usually try to have some prasadam to give out -- either bliss balls, nuts and raisins, or halava. This time I had a pot of halava. Another derelict came by (a bit intoxicated) and asked me to give him a free book since he had no money. He told me how previously I had given him an Ever Well-Wisher for a small donation and he was in the middle of reading it -- but he had lost it. So he just grabbed an Ever Well-Wisher off the table and started walking away. I told him he couldn't take it for free but if he came back with some change I would give it to him.
After some time he came back stating he still had no money and took the same book off the table. I said, "Listen, I can't give you the book, but take some halava." He loved the halava, consuming about six cups! Just then an Indian gentleman stopped and showed a lot of interest. He ended up buying some books and Krsna posters for a big donation. I told him this other guy really wanted a book but had no money. I asked him if he could throw in some extra change for the other guy. He was glad to do that, he said, and he pulled out a handful of coins and dropped them into the donation bucket. Then the derelict happily walked away with the Ever Well-Wisher, intoxicated on Krsna prasadam!
One late Friday afternoon we received a call from Reverend Ntombe, the leader of one of the Methodist churches in Pretoria. He said, "I was told you are from a society that is giving books to libraries. Could you donate some books for our church library?" The reverend went on to explain that he was starting a library for his church's congregation and wanted as many quality books as possible. That sounded like a really nice thing for a religious leader to do.
He explained that a member of his congregation is a librarian in one of the community libraries where we had earlier donated books, and that he had gotten our number from her. That was truly inspiring to hear: in her own way this librarian was helping Srila Prabhupada's book distribution. Hari Bol!
But still we had some doubts: Had the reverend seen the books? Did he know that we were Hare Krishnas? We knew that usually Christians are not inclined to take our books, what to speak of a reverend?!
Sensing our concern, he assured us: I want my congregation to learn about all religions -- Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. All paths lead to the same God. The only difference is that we Christians believe that Jesus is the only way, while other religions have their own path."
We took the opportunity to present a brief summary of Vaisnavism, explaining that the books are based on the Vedic teachings from India, which are thousands of years old, and that they had been translated into English by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and that they encompass the essence of the teachings of all paths D namely, love of Godhead. His enthusiasm remained intact, and so, thinking that this must be Srila Prabhupada's arrangement, we decided to go for it.
We arranged a time and place to meet the reverend near his church. He was quite warm and welcoming, and when we handed him the Medium Set of books -- the /Bhagavad-gita/, Krsna Book, Science of Self-Realization, and ten to fifteen small books -- he smiled gratefully and said, "Hare Krishna. I am grateful for these books. They will benefit our congregation, and I will also read them."
A week later we called the reverend to follow up. He said that though he hadn't had a chance to read the books yet, they were being catalogued and would soon be put on the library shelves. His last words were "If you have more such books, please bring them." Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!
Your servants, Bhakta Hemant & Bhaktin Aditi ISKCON Pretoria, South Africa
The whole world’s eyes are upon Ayodhya verdict that will there be a Mosque or Temple in Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama. Some derive pleasure, some enjoy personal benefits, and some cries but then some feels the world would be better off without RELIGION. Their sentiments can be understood considering that the modern times have seen large scale violence in the name of religion. But is religion dispensable? It is insane to say this, lets think, WHY…?
Religion is not the only cause of violence:
The last century witnessed people fighting over practically every issue, including nationalism, regionalism, language, even sports. Most of the wars in recent times and throughout history at large have been fought due to greed for wealth and power. Religion is just used as a convenient spacegoat by the powers that be to conceal their grossly materialistic motivations.If religion had been the singular cause of violence, then the countries where atheism was the national ideal should have been free from violence?
No religion means invitation to global disaster?
At a global level the rejection of religion leads to a setting, wherein ethics, morality, selflessness, love all become utterly meaningless. Although the anti-religionist may feebly urge use to “be good”, such an appeal falls on deaf ears.” If the goal of life is to enjoy and i am here for who knows how long and there is no life after death, then why wait? JUST ENJOY. Beg, borrow, steal or even kill but ENJOY.” Thus making religion dispensable is tantamount to courting global disaster.
Purpose of religion is to revive love:
The vedic texts of ancient India give an understanding of religion, which is quite different from the common understanding. Also every one of us knows that the fundamental need of the individual is love; everyone wants to love and be loved. But in the irreligious society or in the materialistic conception of life, there can be no such thing as real love. People put up a facade of love for another person as long as they get sensual pleasure from that person. When that stops, they dispose of their object of love (?) just as they would dispose of a dysfunctional TV or Microwave oven. But the vedic text explains that the loving relationship exists eternally in the highest realm called the spiritual world. If some fortunate being learns to love the supreme then he deserves to be loved by everyone just as by watering the root of a tree all the leaves, twigs, branches, flowers and fruits are nourished.
Religion, the only solution to modern tantamount:
Religion means to love God. We have created Christian, Hindu and Muhammadan religions but when we come to a religion without designations, in which we don’t think we are Hindus or Christians or Muhammadans, and then we can speak of pure religion, or bhakti. But present day problem all over the world is people love not God but their name, fame and position. Religion is meant to revive their forgotten love for God. Not only the Christians, but also the Hindus, the Muhammadans, and all others are guilty. They have rubber stamped themselves “Christian”, “Hindu”,Muhammadan”, but they do not obey God. That is the problem.
Srila Prabhupada the founder acharya of International National Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) says that, “If we just chant the holy names everything will be perfect.” He said that he didn’t go to west to teach but to request to please chant the names of God. He says further that, “God has millions and millions of names and because there is no difference between God’s name and God Himself, each one of these names has the same potency as God.” Therefore, even if you simply chant the name of God found in your own scriptures, you will attain the spiritual platform. Human life is meant for self realisation- to learn how to love God. That is the actual beauty of man. Whether you discharge this duty as a Hindu, a Christian, or a Muhammadan it doesn’t matter - but discharge it!”
Read more…Sevak
I loved reading the article “For those who love Cows,” which i do very much.The report was complete and comprehensive.It looked as if the article was well presented and covered just about all the components about Cow protection.So for me the question still stands , “Why doesn't Cow protection work in Iskcon?” Perhaps you may not agree with the premise that the question alludes to.Perhaps you think Cow protection is alive and well and living in Iskcon. My answer is that you would be wrong. Cow protection in Iskcon is more akin to a Cow protection show or Cow protection zoo.In Iskcon the Cows are looked after well.They have all facility and in some places great Cow sheds where they live.Great amounts of attention is assigned to looking after them and there are many viewing visitors,so why do i think it does not work. Cow protection like many other subjects can not exist on its own.Lets say we built a really fantastic Aeroplane or Train.The plane is superb,magnificent,excellent,inside there are really comfortable seats with loads of room for each passenger.There is first class Prasadam served throughout the plane ,its got enough room to stretch your legs,and there is a choice of Videos to watch about Srila Prabhupada,Iskcon,Temples etc.The engines are quiet,what more do we want? How does an Aeroplane exist and function as a plane /Before it can get into the air it has to take off down the runway controlled by the pilots. This is why Cow protection does not work in Iskcon. There is no runway and no pilots for the plane so it is stationary,it cant move,so even though it looks like a plane it cant function as a plane. In Iskcon even though the Cow protection programmes look like Cow protection they cant function like Cow protection because they are not integrated into a bigger organism. All the points in the article “For those who love Cows” were correct.Just like the example of the aeroplane but the missing point was how does Cow protection function.In what dynamics does Cow protection need to function as an integrated component of the whole picture.Thats what has always been missing in Iskcon. Where are the dependants and infrastructure of Cow protection in Iskcon? They dont exist. Unless we start getting to grips with the definition of what Cow protection is in its most practical and pragmatic form,and unless we understand how Cow protection is just an integrated part of a bigger,holistic,picture then our Cow protection programme will never be anymore than descriptive words on a page and a well maintained and loved Cow protection show/zoo. Its no good to us having really amazing facilities of Cow sheds and milking parlours and draught machines for Bullocks unless we marry them up to what they are for.Its like having a plane with no runway and no pilots. When we start to understand how cow protection works,what dynamics it has to be surrounded by and used for then we can engage Cow protection in a practical way to illustrate how to Farm and produce Food without killing the animals.If we just get donators to pay for the Cows upkeep then we have demonstrated nothing but Cow protection zoos. What do we need for Cow protection to work properly. 1. Community dynamics. 2 Symbiosis of that Community on Cows and Land. 3 Cows and Bulls and Land. 4 Economy based on all these . Then there is a hope that Cow protection and Community will exist as an integrated economy based on symbiosis.This is where Cow protection exists in its most manifest form,because the Cows also want to be part of the Community.To make it work the humans have to change their lifestyles to depend on the Cows and land in economic symbiosis with each other otherwise how do you depend on the Cow? Its up to the managers of Iskcon Cow protection programmes to get to grips with this most important programme of Iskcon’s so there is enough Milk and produce for all of Iskcon not just a select few members of Iskcon that reside in the Institutions of Iskcon. Iskcon members also exist outside of the Temples and who is catering for their needs.This is where Iskcon can bring ALL the members of Iskcon together by creating the proper Community dynamics to facilitate Cow protection.With this seed planted then the internal economy of Iskcon is assured and the Iskcon branded products can be marketed world wide. Gokula’s Non-Violent Dairy Products-implementing service,jobs and opportunity for all the devotees working together in the mode of goodness.Retail outlets,Garden Centres,On line sales etc.Made by devotees from Non-Violent Dairy produce for devotees,the ever expanding dynamic of business based on Cows and Land secures the future economically,socially medically,politically and spiritually for ALL the members of Iskcon.This is what our goal is all about.This is what Cow protection is all about.
I mentioned that I would write about living longer in the present body. In order to understand this topic one has to understand the larger topic of how the material energy affects the bodies and minds of devotees, whether or not they are aware of it, or even in denial of it.
If we had the siddhis that yogis have, such as laghima, becoming light enough to float on a sunbeam, or mahima, becoming very big or heavy—and I am not talking about getting fat—or prapti, being able to reach out and grab something from a distant locale, we could definitely ignore certain aspects of the material nature. But since we don't have these siddhis, it behooves us to be aware of how the material nature affects our bodies.
It is amazing to me how devotees are oftentimes in denial of this: in our diet, sleeping habits, use of spiritual paraphernalia, eating habits, safety procedures, etc. There are certain laws of nature (of course Krishna is the Supreme law giver who has made these laws).
There is the law of gravity for example. Whether you are a devotee or not, if you jump from a twenty story building you will end up on the ground with a splat. There are some notable exceptions to this though, such as the yogis I mentioned previously and special devotees like Prahlad Maharaja, who was thrown off a cliff and saved by the Lord.
But I assure you, if you try this, Krishna will not catch you. You will wake up in a brand new body with the same problems and lack of Krishna consciousness that you have in this life, with the additional bad karma of killing yourself. Don't do or try it!
There is a story that one time devotees were driving all night long and got into a car accident where several devotees died. Prabhupada was asked whether or not this was Krishna's mercy, and he replied that it was not Krishna's mercy, rather it was the devotees' foolishness and they would have to take birth again. Then Prabhupada gave the order that devotees should not be driving more than 1 hour after their normal bed time.
I am here in New Orleans and about a year and half ago we had devotees who were driving all night long, coming back from Los Angeles after the Ratha-yatra. They had a disastrous accident in Texas, the result of which was that one devotee passed away, two devotees were severely injured, and the rest lightly injured. Those who were severely injured and the devotee who passed away were not wearing seat belts. Had they been wearing seat belts they wouldn't have been so badly injured, or we would not have had the death of that one devotee.
Many times I have been in cars with devotees and I have been told by them that seat belts are maya and that we should depend on Krishna. My reply is that Krishna has given us seat belts and the intelligence to use them. If we don't use them we are in one sense rejecting Krishna—the facility and intelligence He has given us.
Prabhupada tells the story of a man who was a great devotee of God and always dependent on His protection. One day there was a big flood, the water was rising and threatening to engulf his home. A boat with the rescue squad came by and he was invited to jump in. He refused and told them that God was protecting him. Then the waters rose higher and higher, and the man was forced to take shelter on the roof of his house. A helicopter came by, lowered a rope so that he could grab it and be taken to safety. He refused again, stating that the Lord was his only protection. Finally the waters rose so high that the many was left without any place to stand and he was washed out to sea where he died.
After his death, his soul went to God and asked Him: "Why didn't you save me? You promised in the Gita that you would always protect me, and that I should not fear." God replied: "You fool! Didn't you see the boat and helicopter I sent to save you?"
The point is that God has given us plenty of facility—intelligence, strength, knowledge, etc—for understanding how to live in this material world. We should use these facilities to take care of this body which belongs to Krishna.
Now comes the controversial part where I attempt to explain how many of our habits (that we confuse with Krishna consciousness) or activities may be harming us, or at least not contributing to our health.
Let's take eating for example. Most of us were brought up in Krishna consciousness eating tons of halvah, sweet rice, fried foods, etc. We thought: "It's prasadam, so how can it be bad for our bodies?" Well, I got news for you: a saturated fat or sugar, even if it offered to Krishna, has the same affect on our arteries, kidneys, liver, etc., that a saturated fat has when it is not offered to Krishna.
This may be a radical statement, but it is true. Ask any devotee who is suffering from high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, whether it is true or not. Ask an ayurvedic physician about saturated fat, high sugar diet, and see what he says. He will advise you to avoid this type of diet. Even in the face of all this evidence we may deny reality.
Another example is most of the kirtans that we have in our ISKCON temples and programs. We think that because we are chanting the holy name no ear damage will occur, even the sound level is high enough to freak out a regular disco club customer.
Now we have many devotees with tinnitus (constant ringing of the ears) or partial deafness. As we know, the ears are the most important sense in Krishna consciousness, so we need to keep them functioning properly.
I now carry a decibel (sound level) meter with me and have seen that it a rare kirtan in ISKCON that falls within the safe level (below 90 dB) or is softer than the sound of a jet taking off from 50 ft away.
Another example is that we ignore the fact that the byproducts of combustion (incense, etc.) may cause cancer or lung disease even if it is spiritual combustion or even if the ingredients are completely natural and organic.
Interestingly enough, we oftentimes ignore even ayurvedic injunctions in the name of religion—but the Ayurveda has been given to us by Krishna.
For example one Ayurvedic injunction is that one should wait at least six hours between heavy meals. Nowadays in ISKCON (it wasn't like that in the early days) devotees will load up on a super heavy meal for breakfast (that is usually eaten too late due to a much too long morning program), then eat lunch four hours later (10 AM to 2 PM is four hours for you non-mathematicians).
There are many other examples of devotees ignoring reality such as sleeping habits, safety habits, etc., but my intention is not to attack those things that are near and dear to you (habits that you may have confused with Krishna consciousness), but to help you understand how to live longer in the present body so that you can serve Krishna and Prabhupada with more energy for a longer period of time.
I state these things simply out of a desire to serve the Vaisnavas. It pains me to see devotees unnecessarily suffering or leaving their bodies. I have seen too many of my fellow devotees succumb to illnesses that could have been prevented by lifestyle adjustments.
So, please do not be in denial of reality in the name of religion.
I am not going to prescribe a diet or lifestyle for you, but I am going to advise you to do some research into Ayurveda and common sense nutrition. Don't do things because "that's the way we always did things," or, "that's the way I was taught to do things."
A number of years ago my health was declining because of improper lifestyle habits. My diet was full of saturated fats—I loved cheese on everything and also foods fried in ghee—tons of salt, etc. I got a wake-up call when I collapsed one day with heart pain. (It wasn't an attack but some indication.) I had high blood pressure: 180/108—an auspicious number!.
I refused to take medication but chose to change my lifestyle: no salt, more exercise, even some sports, more rest. I was able to reduce my BP to 118/76 which is completely normal and even great for a person of my age.
About two years ago, when I was suffering from some allergic reactions, I decided to reduce the saturated fat (fried foods, pan fried foods, heated oil, cheese, paneer) in my diet. Now the reactions are gone and my body feels ten years younger.
I am not saying that my lifestyle is the ideal for everyone, nor am I prescribing it for you. I know this body is temporary, but it does belong to Krishna and Prabhupada, not me, therefore I have to take care of it nicely as a service
Read more…Sevak
While speaking earlier this week with a boy who's recently taken up bhakti-yoga, I realized how important purity and Vaisnava character are for distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and inspiring people to take up devotional service.
The boy was named Anchal. He had recently come to New Zealand from India, supposedly to further his studies but actually to meet his guru. He related to me how four months after his arrival here he had met a brahmacari distributing books on the street in Auckland. He had thought to himself, "If this person is really spiritual, a lover of God, then even if I provoke him he will surely be very patient and display his saintly character." Anchal described how he had tried to provoke the devotee this way and that way, but the devotee remained very patient with him and never lost his cool. Anchal was so impressed with the brahmacari that he thought, "I've never met anyone so wonderful in my life!" This despite the fact that Anchal is from India, the land of spiritual culture. Soon thereafter Anchal met Devamrta Swami, and during their first meeting he accepted him as his guru. Anchal is now chanting 16 rounds.
Good character is the most important factor in distributing Krsna consciousness -- more than our joking ability, our hairstyle, the spot we're given to distribute in, some new sankirtan lines, etc. We don't know the future of those we meet on Sankirtan, and so we should always display the highest Vaisnava behavior, even if someone tries to provoke us.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, Sri Guru and Gauranga.
I received this inspirational story recently and would like to explain a little bit with some of the relevant instructions from Srimad Bhagavatam.
When Yudhishtira Maharaj was ruling this planet, Bhima used to help in solving problems of people, hence people whoever has any questions/problems would come to Bhima and ask him for help. One day, one citizen came and told Bhima that he noticed a strange thing that day that his fence is moving into other’s place and he is wondering why it happened like that. Bhima can help if a demon is troubling but not these kind of puzzles so he asked him to approach Yudhishtira Maharaj.
On the same day, another citizen came and told that he came across a strange thing that he had a big pot with full of water, he poured that water into small pots then he poured back from the small pots to big pot but surprisingly only half is filling into that big pot. Bhima not knowing what to say, he asked them also to contact Yudhishtira Maharaj. Another person came to Bhima and said that he saw a strange thing that a big elephant is passing through from a needle hole but surprisingly its tail got stuck in that hole. Bhima again referred him to Yudhishtira Maharaj.
Another person came and said that he saw big rock in the street and big big personalities are not able to move but a sadhu came and by waving his Sannyasa danda, it moved. Bhima thinking that it’s bad day for him and all are coming with these strange questions which he can’t help, so he referred them to Yudhishtira Maharaj.
They all went to Maharaj Yudhishtira and asked about these questions, then Yudhishtira Maharaj said that, all these qualities shows that kali yuga is coming and he explained thus:
1.The first symptom is one of the citizen’s fence is moving into other’s area shows that people are interested in what other’s have and feel unhappy why they don’t have, then think a way to acquire them either hook or crook.
The greed to possess is unlimited in us, especially due to the effect of Kali yuga too. The nature and power of greed is very nicely mentioned in SB 7.15.20:
*kaamasyaantam hi kshut-trdbhyaam / krodhasyaitat phalodayaat jano yaati na lobhasya / jitvaa bhuktvaa disho bhuvah *
"*The strong bodily desires and needs of a person disturbed by hunger and thirst are certainly satisfied when he eats. Similarly, if one becomes very angry, that anger is satisfied by chastisement and its reaction. But as for greed, even if a greedy person has conquered all the directions of the world or has enjoyed everything in the world, still he will not be satisfied.*"
And the wonderful effect of being self-satisfied is mentioned in SB 7.15.17:
"*For a person who has suitable shoes on his feet, there is no danger even when he walks on pebbles and thorns. For him, everything is auspicious. Similarly, for one who is always self-satisfied there is no distress; indeed, he feels happiness everywhere.*"
So it is very important to be self-content with whatever we obtain by the grace of the Lord.
2. The second symptom is the big pot with full of water when it is poured into small pots and pour back into big pot, he noticed half only, which means that one can only expect 50% love/affection/help from others compared what you did to the same person.
In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 3.30.13 - Lord Kapila very nicely explains the condition of a what happens to a materialistic person, (who is 100% absorbed in serving his family through out his life) -
*Seeing him unable to support them, his wife and others do not treat him with the same respect as before, even as miserly farmers do not accord the same treatment to their old and worn-out oxen.*
3. The third symptom is big elephant is going through a needle but the tail is stuck, it means that people are ready to spend a huge chunk of their income/strength/resource for the sense satisfaction of their family, friends and love (Personal sense gratification) but when it comes to Bhagavan and Bhagavatha seva they are not ready to spend a little bit also. Our miserly nature is very nicely described by Prahlad Maharaj in verse 7.6.10 of Srimad Bhagavatam
"*Money is so dear that one conceives of money as being sweeter than honey. Therefore, who can give up the desire to accumulate money, especially in household life? Thieves, professional servants [soldiers] and merchants try to acquire money even by risking their very dear lives.*" No matter how much ever we accumulate, we cannot take even a single penny along with us when we leave. So we should whole-heartedly use atleast some percentage of our income in service of Lord.
4. The fourth symptom is, big rock not moved by persons who are having lot of strength but a sadhu moved that rock just by waving his danda, which means that one can get rid of all their unlimited sins, just by performing Namasankirtanam (Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare).
Though there are so many faults in this kaliyuga, the good thing is, just by chanting the holy names of the lord, one can get up to the highest benefit of liberation as mentioned in SB 12.3.51:
*kaler dosha-nidhe rajann / asti hy eko mahan gunah kirtanad eva krsnasya / mukta-sangah param vrajet *
"*My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the name of Lord Sri Krishna, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.*"
Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada
Hari Hari Please accept my humble obeisance...All glories to Srila Prabhupada...
Dear devotees, it is almost a month passed since Harinam tour finished so now we would like to come out with some interesting data and make conclusions. This year we had the largest and "craziest" Harinam tour so far. Such a venture in this area no one has even tried to do and we also thought at the beginning that we started „to bite too much of a cake“, but somehow we all managed with Krishna's grace ...
In this article I would like to mention the numbers, amazing numbers. So, the whole tour lasted about 2 months, beginning with the first harinam on 29/06/2010 in Otocac and finished in Sibenik on 01/09/2010. We divided the tour into three phases, between which we had a rest for a couple of days. We played in 57 cities located in 7 states, and performed 84 Harinams. A total of about 20 devotees from 3 continents traveled in these two months, of which three are Srila Prabhupada disciples. 50 more devotees joined at least one Harinam. The auditorium which saw us in these two months is around 500.000 people - half a million. We passed over a whopping 10.000 km - which is almost as far as from Karlovac to India and back... Between the outermost points where we played, Trieste (Italy) and Gevgelija (Macedonia - on the border with Greece), is a distance of about 1.600 km. Wherever we played we had a permit, and it should have been obtained in five different languages (Italian, Slovenian, Albanian, Macedonian and Croatian) one of which is the Cyrillic (Macedonian).
The journey home back from Skopje to Karlovac lasted for a three days. The first day we traveled from Skopje to Dubrovnik, we started the journey at 01:30 pm and we arrived at the destination at 03:30 am – 14hours journey. These roads that we have seen in Albania probably no more exist anywhere in Europe, and it is hard to even call it the road. The second day we had 7 hours of traveling from Dubrovnik to Sibenik, and on the third day 5 more hours to Karlovac. Than we had a vacation of a 7days.
We have distributed 300-400 CD's with spiritual music, 200 Srila Prabhupadas books in 7 languages - Croatian, Slovenian, German, English, Italian, Albanian and Macedonian, 80 magazines in Albanian, 20 DVDs, 1500-2000 tulasi necklaces and bracelets, and around 1000 packages of incense sticks. In several cities in Slovenia and Montenegro (for the first time) we had a public distribution of prasadam where we distributed hundreds of cookies. We were using the 5 types of monetary currencies - Euro, Kuna (CRO), Mark (BiH), Lek (ALB), and Denar (MAK).The last part of the tour was especially difficult, because apart from the long exhausting trip, every couple of days we were in another country with another currency, and another exchange rates, so this was all difficult to match and to follow everything. And even bigger experience was the money exchange on the way out, especially in the "muddy" Albania and Macedonia.
We never thought we get to those numbers...
What can I say now as a conclusion? Definitely it was an unforgettable and invaluable experience to go to the new cities and new countries and spread the movement of Mahaprabhu. There was one Mataji who provided us with accommodation and told us that staying a few days with Harinam group was "the most beautiful thing it happened to her this summer and the best entertainment", and one devotee who joined us for a few days said: "What is more beautiful than this?" Some things really cutt into your heart when you see that some people are with such an expectation waiting for a year for us to come again to their city because they do not have a society of devotees throughout the year. Or others who provide you with such an enormous gratitude and with tears in their eyes thank you for giving them the answers that they have so long waited for and "saved their lives". In those moments you realize how powerful the Mahamantra is and how important it is that we sing it and expand as often we can ...
It happened in many situations that you fully depend on Krishna. In two countries where we were, there is no devotees - it means we do not know where we will sleep and what we will eat ... and then we finished Harinam at 23:00 h and where now? When Krishna saves you in such a situation - than your faith increases...and when Krishna saves you in so many situations your faith increases soooo much..
In Budva in Montenegro we entered into an auto camp after midnight and in the morning went to the reception. Lady who owns the camp gave us all free when she heard what we do, thanked because we came to her and said we must come next year ... Then you understand that Krishna was constantly with us and inspired people to get involved - amazing! The next day we played in another town in Montenegro, but due to some problems we had to change the plan completely and then again the same - we do not know where to go and how – but again super arrangements happened - even finer sleeping at better place... And all that in the Montenegro, where they say there is a strong Orthodox church - we had a totally different experience.
The highlight of all was the departure to the former dictatorial communist country, now the only Muslim-dominated country in Europe - Albania. The highlight of the whole tour we've been waiting for two months - India in a small - there are so many similarities with India and Albania. Certain parts of the country are developed as now in London and another are as back in time 150 years ago. Such are their roads also - some parts are as the German highway and some as before the invention of automobiles. There we were forced to eat karmi bread - some of us for the first time in the last 10 years - but what could we do, there was no other. The awareness was very high and "fired up" - partly because of the great severities, partly because of the great Grace. You have the feeling that even if you drink whiskey it would not disturb consciousness in these times of revolution. You are protected by the Lord Chaitanya completely.
Personally I could not believe some scenes in Albania... People are wondering what is that what we do, and I not philosophized too much, said YOGA, and they ask "What is yoga? Yogurt? "And I call one of our devotee - yoga teacher to show a few asanas, but they are still in wonder watching and talking "statue, statue" – they thought that he shows them a variety of well-known statue in the world. They had no idea what yoga should be. Then we just told them, "You know - the Himalayas" and they still look in wonder.Never heard of the Himalayas. Among them there were some students also. I did not know that there are people in Europe who are not familiar with that concepts. Our hosts where we slept at the end of our departure from their home was nothing clear and did not even realize what it is what we do. But they embraced Krishna and Srila Prabhupadas photos and journals. Simple people, too simple...
In addition we have seen all sorts of categories of people, we have met and seen many yatras and quite different devotees and came to the same conclusion that we want to share with you and which I consider quite important for the successful spread of our movement. We noticed that in our society, among most of us members, in general, there is space for improvement in two things: Abhay - fearlessness and Sraddha – higher faith in power and the glory of the Holy Name. How big is our faith - so much the holy name reveals to us, and it is so strong, so powerful (and often our faith does not follow that). Srila Prabhupada had both of those things in such a large volume - and so he expanded the movement throughout the world. Devotees said to us that we are too crazy and that what we do is too dangerous, but we had no dangerous situation - totally different experience. Fearful eyes are big, says Croatian saying – I am not saying that we should be foolish and thoughtless, but ... Often we have unnecessary fear and hesitate, and Krishna is just waiting for us to go ahead and to give us whatever we need and want.
IF WE COULD ONLY BE AWARE THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AND THAT EVERYTHING IS AVAILABLE - ALL MERCY IS HERE. FREQUENTLY WE LIMIT OURSELVES AND DO NOT ALLOW GRACE TO FLOW, WE CREATE THE OBSTACLES WHICH IN FACT ARE NOT EXISTING. I thought about it often on the tour – if we develop these two things in a larger scope - where would be the end of our preaching?
The following year, devotees call us to go even further, on the tour to the new countries. We do not know what will happen next year, but there is a chance to go even further - to Kosovo, Greece and Bulgaria - this year we were close to all these countries. Who knows what is the plan of Nitay Gauracandra?
And I, insignificant devotee, I am happy and thankful to the Lord Chaitanya, who has allowed us to go in these 7 countries, some for the first time, represent and take part in his movement - such an honor. Also thanks to Srila Prabhupada, who was so kindly when lowered the standards and allowed us mlecchas and yavanas to become the part of the "ceiling" of human existence and of the transcendental aristocratic families of Rupa and Sanatana. We should be happy and honored that we can take a part in it.
Thanks to your blessings and prayers and continue to work it for us.
All galleries of pictures and reports from the tour you can see on our web site www.avadhuta.hr / index-php.eng ... Or directly galleries (for pictures) http://avadhuta.hr/galleries.php or texts reports from Harinam - http://www.avadhuta.hr/yatra_news.php. ; ! See you next year ... Whoever wants to go with us on a new journey and a new adventure may contact us in advance ...
Param Vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtan
PS Candramauli swami wants to finance book and DVD about our Harinam preaching in the last 7 years for inspiration of devotees .. so, maybe this book will be out - soon - somewhere...
Your servant Mohana das Sri Sri Nitai Gauracandra mandir Tudmanovo setaliste 5 47000 Karlovac,Croatia 00385 47 600 601 www.avadhuta.hr
