In Memoriam 2016 - new video by Siddhanta prabhu about the departed sons and daughters of His Divine Grace. (20 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: You have asked if it is true that the Spiritual Master remains in the material universe until all of His disciples are transferred to the Spiritual Sky. The answer is yes, this is the rule. Therefore, every student should be very much careful not to commit any offense that will be detrimental to this promotion to the Spiritual Kingdom, and thereby the Spiritual Master has to incarnate again to deliver him. This sort of mentality will be a kind of offense to the Spiritual Master. Anyone who defies and therefore disconnects the relationship with the Spiritual Master can hardly expect the assistance of the Spiritual Master life after life. Letter to Jayapataka, July 11, 1969.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/tw9ID7 
Source:http://m.dandavats.com/?p=21635

My name is Nadia. I am 13yrs old, live in Zurich, Switzerland, and love cows! 
My earliest and happiest memories are of coming to Kurma Rupa Prabhu’s Care for Cows with my mother Mahapuri dasi when we visited Vrindavan and the Krsna Balaram Temple, usually twice a year. 
Once in the month of Kartik 2009, along with my mother and some friends, I was at Care for Cows with Kurma Rupa prabhu. We were petting the sick and injured cows, when a poor elderly lady walked into the ghosala carrying a tiny calf. She asked if he could take her calf as she was poor and unable to look after her. Kurma Rupa prabhu agreed. One of our friends decided to adopt her and named her Champaka Lata. Since that time we have taken over her sponsorship. 
When I first saw Champaka Lata I felt such love and just wanted to hold and cuddle this sweet little calf. Every day I would beg my mother to bring me to the Care for Cows to spend hours embracing Champi (my name for her). She would lay her head on my chest while I petted and brushed her. Years passed and our bond grew and grew. 
In September, 2012 Champi gave birth to a beautiful calf, Sarika. Upon our arrival back in Vrindavan we caught a rickshaw over to Care for Cows, Kiki Nagla. Champi ran to my mother and started pushing and licking her. Champi placed her head on my mother’s lap when she sat down and tears were flowing from Champi’s eyes. Soon all of us including, Keshi Nisudan and our friends were crying tears of affection. Keshi prabhu said she was crying with the joy at becoming a mother. Now she is a mother of a second child, a bull called Kurma Rupa. 
Champi gives me so much warmth and love that every second spent with her is filled with great happiness and strength. When I grow up I want to be a Veterinarian and serve the holy cows of Vrindavan. I know I have to study very hard. 
Thank you to all the staff of Care For Cows for always making us so welcome and for taking such good care of Champi and all her friends.
Source:http://m.dandavats.com/?p=21641

“The human society should recognize the importance of the cow and the bull and thus give all protection to these important animals, following in the footsteps of Mahārāja Parīkṣit. For protecting the cows and brahminical culture, the Lord, who is very kind to the cow and the brāhmaṇas (go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya), will be pleased with us and will bestow upon us real peace.”

— SB 1.17.9, Purport; Srila Prabhupada

On 16 May 2016, the city of New Delhi hosted an unprecedented event at the prestigious Vigyan Bhavan. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries have organized a first-of-its-kind day-long national conference on ‘Gaushalas’ (cowsheds). Three technical sessions were held to discuss the following issues –

1. how to increase the milk productivity of Indian cows,

2. making provision for feed, fodder and ancillary requirements for Indian cows, and

3. management of cows in the post-productive phase.

The Indian Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working on modalities to bring in a new law to combat illegal cow transport and slaughtering. Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Radha Mohan Singh (Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare) called for restrictions on killings saying even in old age cows can be financially viable. He also said that “cow hostels and sanctuaries are being established across the country, and five new veterinary colleges have been set up to take care of old and ailing cows.”

The Om Sri Surabhi Campaign (2015 – 2027) under the ISKCON Ministry for Cow Protection (India) and ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry (IDVM-India), ties in well with these developments. A team comprised of Sri Rama Dasa, Gour Gopal Dasa, Rajaram Dasa, and Avadhut Chandra Dasa attended this conference to make relationships with like-minded experts working on cow protection to pursue the expertise for setting up healthy gaushalas and spiritual communities centered on cow protection, while pursuing governmental projects such as the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. The Om Sri Surabhi Campaign leaders are working with these experts to assist devotees in cow protection through increasing their understanding of the schemes and projects available with the Government of India. Through further initiatives in this direction, we continue marching towards Srila Prabhupada’s vision for cow protection to offer viable examples of cultural and spiritual living to modern India and the world, in general.

For further information, please write to us at info@srisurabhi.org or visit www.srisurabhi.org andwww.iskconvarnasrama.com.

When spring comes we always get excited like most of the people. But reason our excitement is about trip to New Vraja Dham, Hungary. Every year we take Turkish devotees twice to New Vraja Dham festivals. With total of 10 devotees we went to New Vraja Dham for Nrsimha Caturdasi and HH Sivarama Swami Maharaja’s Vyasa Puja Festival. Festivals are always wonderful to be a part and always meant to do more sravanam, kirtanam and smaranam. Our devotees took part in kitchen services and chanted and danced in front of Sri Sri Radha Shyama for hours. Actually, the most important part of the festival for us was the initiation ceremony that took place on Nrsimha Caturdasi day. Our 3 devotees Bhakta Nezih, Bhakta Kaan and Bhaktin Gultekin took harinam initiation from HH Sivarama Maharaja and committed their lives in the service of Guru and Gauranga. Their new names are Nanda Kumar das, Krishna Candra das and Gaura Prema devi dasi. Nanda Kumar Prabhu and Krishna Candra Prabhu are brothers by birth and they are the youngest initiated members of our congregation. It is very encouraging to see development of our Turkish Congregation. Iskcon Turkey is expanding. Slowly but surely! It gives more strength and inspiration to do more & more services.

Your servant, Nrsimha Krsna das 

Source:http://m.dandavats.com/?p=21575

Prabhupada wanted every temple should have farm and goshala around 50 km a way. Srila Prabhupada personaly has started some of this farm like New Vrindavan, etc. We all understand that all disire of pure devotees it will happen because it is non diferent than Krishna disire.

The 12 years of OM Sri Surabhi Campaign is bring us to the higher mood of Srila Prabhupada plan for the above mission. Surabhi Campaign since last year been continues to promote of the Glories of the Cows and traying to incourage the devotee to be more involve in Cow Protection.

Resently by Krishna mercy and Prabhupada mercy we have a chance to visit Hong Kong and conduct some various program related to the Campaign, and few other program. We had four seminars in diferent scedule time, one is about ISKCON four movement and Surabhi Campaign, Best Practice ISKCON where Maharaja introduce about the farm project all around the world, and on the other day we also have peace inter faith dialoge.

One very inspiring program that we visited one local goshala where they have 150 cows, bulls, and calves, the owner is one chinese leady who love cows very much. So we become to relise actualy there is cow protection movement been going on not to far from our temple, same is in Cambodia, Thailand, and many other places, because although those people may not yet be devotees, but due to their natural love that inspire them to protect the cow. As how all living atities naturly is to love Krishna and by daily seeing the Krishna form, name and pastime we will review our pure love to Him. It similar naturaly we will develope love to cow if we live with them and be friend to them.

Both Brahmana and cow are Krishna’s very dear friend. And without them sociaty is in the danger condition. We may seen how nowdays people in general are unhappy. The life is so compicated, people are always in worry, because no guidance of bonafide brahmana, and actualy we can not having brahmana if we dont have cows, thats way prabhupada wanted us to open goshala. Prabhupada said now we need cow, we need milk for the devotees. Maharaja said if we not care cow, how Krishna will care about us. This is known as 50 persen of Prabhupada mission that un phinish yet, and Prabhupada gave his instruction at the end of His Lila in this word about Varnasrama dharma wich mean related to Cow Protection and Farm Comunities.

Whe greatly tanks to this chinese leady although she not join the Hare Krishna Movement yet but she already protecting 150 cows and bull, and in Cambodia there are one person who did similar, also in Thailand and Kalimantan, Indonesia. So this thingwe should learn from them.

Please visit our website www.srisurabhi.org for more information related to the campaign.

Thanks
Your servant
Gunaavatara das 

Source:http://m.dandavats.com/?p=21581

Sangeeta Rasa DD: Ratha Yatra time is coming. I prepared some devotional kids craft activity for Ratha Yatra time.
Find them here in high resolution: https://goo.gl/2K2N9y
https://goo.gl/PPuUy6
https://goo.gl/umWQkw
https://goo.gl/7jZ4Qr
https://goo.gl/kTKFD8 

Source:http://m.dandavats.com/?p=21579

Annual European ISKCON Communications Seminar
A team of devotees from Bhaktivedanta Manor and ISKCON-London attended the annual European ISKCON Communications Seminars, this year in Villa Vrindavan Temple in Italy. Devotees from across Europe attended.

Source:http://m.dandavats.com/?p=21583

Giriraj Swami read and spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam7.6.1, as part of the ISKCON-Houston Sunday School graduation program.

” ‘Prahlada Maharaja said: One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life—in other words, from the tender age of childhood—to practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements. The human body is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other bodies, it is meaningful because in human life one can perform devotional service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give one complete perfection.’ (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.1)

“In this verse and purport Prahlada Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada give a complete program for human life and a complete program for human society. Unfortunately, at the present moment, most people are under the influence of the modes of passion and ignorance with hardly a touch of the mode of goodness. In other words, people are living almost like animals. Dharmena hina pasubhih samanah—without dharma, without spiritual life, humans are on the level of animals (Hitopadesa). This has created a very serious situation, and consequently people are suffering terribly. They themselves are suffering, and they cause others to suffer.” 

Source:http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=11059

Five hundred years ago in the district of Puri, in the village of Bentapur adjacent to Brahmagiri Alalnath, there lived a great devotee named Bhavananda Raya.
Bhavananda had five sons, the eldest of which was Ramananda.
Descendants of this family-line are known as Choudhury Pattanayaka.
It is said that Lord Caitanya visited the birth-place of Ramananda in Alalnath every year.

Ramananda was the Governor of East and West Godavari and a minister of King Prataparudra.
A great statesman of that period, Ramananda was also a poet and a scholar.
When Bhavananda met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord embraced him and said, “Formerly you appeared as Pandu, and your five sons appeared as the five Pandavas.”
The five sons of Bhavananda Raya were Ramananda Raya, Pattanayaka Gopinatha, Kalanidhi, Sudhanidhi and Nayaka Vaninatha.

The Gauraganoddesadipika (120-124) states that Ramananda Raya was Arjuna in his past incarnation.
He is also considered to have been an incarnation of the gopi Lalita, although in the opinion of others he was an incarnation of Visakha devi.
He was a most confidential devotee of Lord Caitanya.
Lord Caitanya said, “Although I am a sannyasi, My mind is sometimes perturbed when I see a woman.
But Ramananda Raya is greater than Me, for he is always undisturbed, even when he touches a woman.”

Only Ramananda Raya was able to act in this way, no one should imitate him.
Unfortunately there are rascals who imitate the activities of Ramananda Raya.

In Lord Caitanya’s final pastimes, both Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara were always engaged in reciting suitable verses from Srimad Bhagavatam to pacify the Lord in His ecstatic feelings of separation from Krsna.
When Lord Caitanya was about to leave for South India, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya advised him to meet Ramananda Raya for he declared that there was no devotee as advanced in understanding the conjugal love of Krsna and the gopis.

While touring South India Lord Caitanya met Ramananda on the bank of the Godavari.
There they had a long discourse in which the Lord took the role of a student and Ramananda Raya instructed the Lord.
Lord Caitanya concluded these discourses by saying, “My dear Ramananda Raya, both you and I are madmen, and therefore we met intimately, on an equal level.”
Lord Caitanya advised Ramananda Raya to resign from his government post and come back to Jagannatha Puri to live with Him.
It was Ramananda Raya who tactfully arranged a meeting between Lord Caitanya and King Prataparudra of Orissa.
Ramananda Raya was present when the Lord performed water-sports after the Rathayatra festival.

Lord Caitanya considered Ramananda Raya and Sanatana Gosvami to be equal in their renunciation, for although Ramananda Raya was a grhasta engaged in government service and Sanatana Gosvami was in the renounced order of complete detachment from material activities, they were both servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and kept Krsna in the center of all their activities.
Ramananda Raya was one of the three and a half personalities with whom Lord Caitanya discussed most confidential topics of Krsna consciousness.

Lord Caitanya advised Pradyumna Misra to learn the science of Krsna from Ramananda Raya.
As Subala always assisted Krsna in His dealing with Radharani in Krsnalila, so Ramananda Raya assisted Lord Caitanya in His feelings of separation from Krsna.
Ramananda Raya was the author of Jagannatha-vallabha-nataka.

In Iswar dasa’s Caitanya Bhagavata (ed. A.B. Mohanty, Utkal University) a comprehensive description is given of Lord Caitanya’s relationship with Ramananda Raya.
After hearing Ramananda Raya speak about the essence of premabhakti, Lord Caitanya, with tears in His eyes and overwhelmed with emotion, warmly embraced Ramananda.

In the Gurbhaktigita of Acyutananda dasa (Utkal University Vol. 3, Chapter XLIX P. 176) the author describes Ramananda as Visakha, which is supported by Svarupavarnana (ms. of Rupa Gosvami preserved in Utkal University Library, Catalogue no. O.L. 382 ) and Caitanyaganoddesa (ms. of Sadasiva Kaviraja, preserved in Orissa State Museum).

Lord Caitanya’s discourses with Raya Ramananda are fully described in CC.
First of all, Srila Ramananda Raya enunciated the system of the varnasrama institution.
He recited various verses about karmarpana, stating that everything should be dedicated to the Lord.
He then spoke of detached action, knowledge mixed with devotional service, and finally the spontaneous loving service of the Lord.
After hearing Srila Ramananda Raya recite some verses, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the principle of pure devotional service devoid of all the kinds of speculation.
After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Raya to explain the higher platform of devotional service.
Then Srila Ramananda Raya explained unalloyed devotional service, love of Godhead, serving the Lord with pure servitude as well as in fraternity and parental love.
Finally he spoke of serving the Lord in conjugal love.
He then spoke of how conjugal love can be developed in various ways.
This conjugal love attains its highest perfection in Srimati Radharani’s love for Krsna.
He next described the position of Srimati Radharani and the transcendental mellows of love of God.
Srila Ramananda Raya then recited one verse of his own concerning the platform of ecstatic vision, technically called prem-vilasa-vivarta.
Srila Ramananda Raya also explained that all stages of conjugal love can be attained through the mercy of the residents of Vrndavana, especially by the mercy of the gopis.
All these subject matters were thus vividly described.
(BMO. P. 91-92)

The meeting of Lord Caitanya and Sri Ramananda Raya is further described in GPC.
After bathing in the River Godavari, the Lord walked a little distance from the bathing place and engaged in chanting the holy name of Krsna.
At that time, accompanied by the sounds of music, Ramananda Raya came there mounted on a palanquin to take his bath.
Many brahmanas, following the Vedic principles, accompanied Ramananda Raya.
According to the Vedic rituals, Ramananda Raya took his bath and offered oblations to his forefathers.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could understand that the person who had come to bathe in the river was Ramananda Raya.
The Lord wanted so much to meet him that His mind immediately began running after him.
Although the Lord was running after him mentally, He patiently remained sitting.
Ramananda Raya, seeing the wonderful sannyasi, then came to see Him.
Srila Ramananda Raya then saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as brilliant as a hundred suns.
The Lord was covered by a saffron garment.
He was large in body and very strongly built, and His eyes were like lotus petals.
When Ramananda Raya saw the wonderful sannyasi, he was struck with wonder.
He went to Him and immediately offered his respectful obeisances, falling down like a rod.
The Lord stood up and asked Ramananda Raya to arise and chant the holy name of Krsna.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then inquired whether he was Ramananda Raya, and he replied, “Yes I am Your very low servant, and I belong to the sudra community.”
The Lord then embraced him very firmly.
Indeed, both the master and the servant almost lost consciousness due to ecstatic love.

After composing themselves, they sat down and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya has spoken of your good qualities, and he has made a great endeavor to convince Me to meet you.
Indeed I have come here just to meet you.
It is very good that even without making an effort I have gotten your interview here.”
Ramananda Raya replied, “Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya thinks of me as his servant.
Even in my absence he is very careful to do me good.
By his mercy I have received Your interview here.
Consequently I consider that today I have become a successful human being.
I can see that You have bestowed special mercy upon Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.
Therefore You have touched me, although I am untouchable.
This is due only to his love for You.
You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana Himself, and I am only a government servant interested in materialistic activities.
Indeed, I am the lowest amongst men of the fourth caste.
You do not fear the Vedic injunctions stating that You should not associate with a sudra.
You were not contemptuous of my touch, although in the Vedas You are forbidden to associate with sudras.

At this time a brahmana Vaisnava came and invited the Lord for lunch, and after arranging to meet Ramananda Raya again later the Lord departed.
After finishing His evening bath, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sat down and waited for Ramananda Raya to come.
Then Ramananda Raya, accompanied by one servant, came to meet Him.
He offered his respectful obeisances, and the Lord embraced him.
Then they both began to discuss Krsna in a secluded place for the entire night.
Again the next evening Sri Ramananda Raya visited Mahaprabhu and paid obeisances.

Mahaprabhu fondly embraced him and began questioning him as follows :

Q:What is the best education among all kinds of learning?
A:Devotion for Krsna is by far the best learning.

Q:What is the achievement of a living being?
A:The best glory is to take the post of servant of Sri Radha and Krsna.

Q:What is the best religion for a living being?
A:Love for Sri Radha-Govinda is the best religion.

Q:Which creature suffers the most?
A:A devotee who is suffering due to separation from the Lord.

Q:Who is the most liberated person?
A:One who loves Krsna is the most renounced person.

Q:Which is the best song?
A:Songs about the pastimes of Radha and Krsna.

Q:What is the greatest well-being for a living entity?
A:The association of Krsna’s devotees.

Q:What is the only thing to remember?
A:Krsna’s name, beauty and qualities.

Q:What is the only object of meditation?
A:The lotus feet of Radha Govinda.

Q:Which is the best place for a living entity to reside?
A:The place where Krsna’s pastimes are performed.

Q:What is the best thing to hear?
A:The loving pastimes of Radha-Govinda

Q:What is the only subject matter for a living entity to sing?
A:The name of Radha Govinda.

Q:What is the fate of a person who has worldly desires and of a man who desires liberation?
A:Animate body, and celestial body.

Q:What are the characteristics of a devotee and of a knowledgeable person?
A:A so-called intelligent person, who is like a crow, eats the fruits of wisdom from the bitter Nim tree, whereas the devotee is a cuckoo who drinks the nectar of love.

Gradually Ramananda Raya could understand the position of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and when the Lord exhibited His real form, Ramananda Raya fell unconscious.
The Lord then requested Ramananda Raya, “Now there is no confidential activity unknown to you.
Keep all these talks a secret.
Please do not expose them anywhere and everywhere.
Since My activities appear to be like those of a madman, people may take them lightly and laugh.
Indeed, I am a madman, and you are also a madman.
Therefore both of us are on the same platform.”

The next day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu begged Ramananda Raya to give Him permission to leave, and at the time of farewell the Lord gave him the following orders:
“Give up all material engagements and come to Jagannatha Puri.
I will return there very soon after finishing My tour and pilgrimage.
The two of us shall remain together at Jagannatha Puri and happily pass our time discussing Krsna.”

Later, with the permission of King Prataparudra, Ramananda Raya went to Puri.
Sri Svarupa Damodara was the dear-most friend of Sri Ramananda Raya.
Having written dramas on the pastimes of Krsna, Ramananda had them performed before Sri Jagannatha deva by the Devadasis of the temple.
Sri Ramananda Raya died after the disappearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Bhagavad-gita makes it very clear – we should not waste our time in trying to control the material energy and make it more and more favourable for our stay in the material world. Rather, we should understand that our stay in the material world is temporary and therefore, whatever use we make of the material energy, let it be minimized and let us keep it simple so that we have ample opportunity to focus on the real roots of our existence, focus on Krsna – the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

So one must cut this tree of samsara (of material existence), this asvattham, this banyan tree that offers us no tomorrow, with the weapon of detachment. Detachment is necessary in this world. Of course, detachment is not easily developed. The Vedic model is given of phalgu vairagya. If you go to the state of Bihar, you can visit Gaya, and there is the Phalguna River. I visited there. It is just a dry river bed but that is not all there is to it because if you dig a little, about thirty centimetres below, you will find water. It is an underground river. So phalgu vairagya is depicting the underground desires which remain when we are trying to be detached, when we are trying to turn away from the material world but still, we must persevere to become free of them.  

Source:https://www.kksblog.com/2016/05/keep-it-simple/

Ramananda Raya’s Disappearance Day, part one
A Talk by Giriraj Swami
May 25, 2008
Houston

Today is the disappearance day of one of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s most confidential associates, Sri Ramananda Raya. Lord Caitanya is Krsna Himself in the mood of Srimati Radharani, with Her bodily luster. Thus Lord Caitanya is the combined form of Radha and Krsna (sri-krsna-caitanya radha-krsna nahe anya). And in krsna-lila Ramananda Raya is the gopi Visakha, one of the most confidential associates of both Srimati Radharani and Krsna. Spiritually, Visakha enjoyed a very intimate relationship with both Sri Krsna and Sri Radha.

In His later years, after He toured South India, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu retired to Jagannatha Puri, and He experienced intense separation from Krsna, just like Srimati Radharani did after Krsna left Vrndavana. In that ecstatic mood of separation, He would confide in two very close associates–Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, who in krsna-lila is the gopi Lalita, and Sri Ramananda Raya.

Today we shall read about the first meeting between Lord Caitanya and Ramananda Raya. Lord Caitanya was just beginning His tour of South India. When He arrived in Jagannatha Puri from Navadvipa after taking sannyasa, He went straight to the Jagannatha temple, and as soon as He saw Lord Jagannatha He fainted in ecstasy. He had been in the mood of searching for Krsna, and when He saw Jagannatha He felt that He had found His Lord, for whom He was searching, and fell into a deep ecstatic trance. Eventually, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, the chief appointed pandita in the court of the king, Maharaja Prataparudra, removed Sri Caitanya to his home, and there they had some discussions. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was about to depart on His tour of South India, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya suggested that He meet and speak with Ramananda Raya, a most learned scholar and expert in the transcendental mellows of devotional service (bhakti-rasa).

Eventually Lord Caitanya and Ramananada Raya met on the banks of the Godavari. Their meeting is vividly described in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. After their initial meeting they decided to meet again in the evening to discuss confidential topics of Krsna. Their discussions, called ramananda-samvada, contain all the truths of Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy
(siddhanta) and, with Lord Caitanya’s instructions to Rupa Gosvami
(rupa-siksa) and His instructions to Sanatana Gosvami (sanatana-siksa), are most important for understanding Vaisnava siddhanta, both rasa and tattva.

We shall read from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Eight: “Talks Between the Lord and Ramananda Raya.”

TEXT 1

sancarya ramabhidha-bhakta-meghe sva-bhakti-siddhanta-cayamrtani gaurabdhir etair amuna vitirnais taj-jnatva-ratnalayatam prayati

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is known as Gauranga, is the reservoir of all conclusive knowledge in devotional service. He empowered Sri Ramananda Raya, who may be likened to a cloud of devotional service. This cloud was filled with all the conclusive purports of devotional service and was empowered by the ocean to spread this water over the sea of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself. Thus the ocean of Caitanya Mahaprabhu became filled with the jewels of the knowledge of pure devotional service.

COMMENT by Giriraj Swami

In this discussion between Ramananda Raya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Caitanya took the position of the student, or questioner, and Ramananda Raya was obliged to take the position of the teacher, or respondent. Ramananda Raya was hesitant, because apart from Caitanya Mahaprabhu being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in terms of the Vedic social system He was a brahmana and a sannyasi, whereas Ramananda Raya, although a most learned scholar and exalted devotee, was a grhastha and was considered a sudra. So it was awkward for him to instruct Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but Mahaprabhu told him, kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya: it doesn’t matter whether one is a brahmana, a sudra, a sannyasi, or whatever; yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‘guru’ haya: anyone who knows the science of Krsna is a guru.

We shall read from the beginning of their discussion.

TEXT 56

namaskara kaila raya, prabhu kaila alingane dui jane krsna-katha kaya rahah-sthane

TRANSLATION

Ramananda Raya approached Lord Sri Caitanya and offered his respectful obeisances, and the Lord embraced him. Then they began to discuss Krsna in a secluded place.

TEXT 57

prabhu kahe,–“pada sloka sadhyera nirnaya” raya kahe,–“sva-dharmacarane visnu-bhakti haya”

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Ramananda Raya to recite a verse from the revealed scriptures concerning the ultimate goal of life.

Ramananda replied, “If one executes the prescribed duties of his social position, he awakens his original Krsna consciousness.

COMMENT

The original word in the text is sadhya–“the goal of life,” “that which is to be achieved.” Sadhana is the means by which we achieve the goal. Lord Caitanya asked Ramananda Raya to say something about sadhya, the ultimate goal of life, and Ramananda Raya replied by citing different verses.

First, Ramananda Raya quoted a verse from the Visnu Purana:

TEXT 58

varnasramacara-vata purusena parah puman visnur aradhyate pantha nanyat tat-tosa-karanam

TRANSLATION

“‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varna and asrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One must be situated in the institution of the four varnas and asramas.'”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

This is a quotation from the Visnu Purana (3.8.9). As stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, “The purport is that one can realize life’s perfection simply by satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” This is also confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.13):

atah pumbhir dvija-srestha varnasrama-vibhagasah sv-anusthitasya dharmasya samsiddhir hari-tosanam

“O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one’s own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead.”

COMMENT

The goal of all of our activities should be to please Krsna, and in the verse quoted by Ramananda Raya, executing one’s duties according to one’s varna and asrama is recommended. Prabhupada often said that varnasrama-dharma is the beginning of human life. Dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah: without dharma, men are on the level of animals. Why? Because dharma, religious principles, or varnasrama-dharma, occupational duties, regulate the activities of the living being. Without being regulated a person is just like an animal. An animal eats whatever he wants, sleeps whenever he wants for as long as he can, has sex with whomever he wants whenever he can, and defends himself, arranges some shelter for himself, however he can. Even if a man engages his superior, human intelligence in these same activities, he is no better than an animal.

The human being may eat on a nice plate on a nice table, and the animal may eat on the floor of the jungle, but the animal enjoys his eating as much as the human being. The human may sleep on a nice mattress in a nice house, and the animal may sleep on the ground, but when asleep the animal doesn’t know he is sleeping on the ground or the human that he is sleeping on a mattress. Sleeping is the same, and in fact the human’s sleep might be more disturbed than the animal’s, because he has so many worries and anxieties and causes of depression. And the animal might defend himself with his teeth and claws, and the human with sophisticated weapons of mass destruction, but it is the same principle–defending.

Eating, sleeping, mating, and defending are common to human beings and animals. What distinguishes a human from an animal is dharma, following religious principles to become God conscious. Otherwise, there is no difference.

ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca samanyam etat pasubhir naranam dharmo hi tesam adhiko viseso dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah

“Both animals and men share the activities of eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. But the special property of the humans is that they are able to engage in spiritual life. Therefore without spiritual life, humans are on the level of animals.” (Hitopadesa)

Now, one might question, “You mean to say that all the big leaders of the world–the presidents and prime ministers and scientists and Nobel Prize laureates–if they are not Krsna conscious, God conscious, they are no better than animals?” Srimad-Bhagavatam says that they are just bigger animals. In the jungle the small animals all fear the big animals–respect the big animals–and the Bhagavatam says that those who never engage in krsna-katha, who never hear the glories of the Lord, are just small animals who praise the bigger ones. That’s all.

sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh na yat-karna-pathopeto jatu nama gadagrajah

“Men who are like dogs, hogs, camels, and asses praise those men who never listen to the transcendental pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna, the deliverer from evils.” (SB 2.3.19)

So, dharma is the beginning of human life, and one should execute one’s duties in varnasrama-dharma for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord, Visnu. By that process one advances to the goal of life.

Here, Ramananda Raya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are discussing krsna-katha. And after hearing this verse, what does Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu say?

TEXT 59

prabhu kahe,–“eho bahya, age kaha ara” raya kahe, “krsne karmarpana–sarva-sadhya-sara”

TRANSLATION

The Lord replied, “This is external. You had better tell Me of some other means.”

Ramananda replied, “To offer the results of one’s activities to Krsna is the essence of all perfection.”

COMMENT

Varnasrama-dharma is required, but following the regulations of varnasrama-dharma does not necessarily mean that one will be Krsna conscious. One can follow the rules and regulations, but if one is not in the mood of offering the results of one’s work to Krsna, he will not be Krsna conscious–directly Krsna conscious.

Ramananda Raya next quoted a verse from the Bhagavad-gita (9.27):

TEXT 60

yat karosi yad asnasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam

TRANSLATION

“‘O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering to Me.'”

COMMENT

Here we are going a step further. One still works according to one’s position in the varnasrama system, but one offers the results of one’s work to Krsna, as Krsna advises in the Bhagavad-gita. That is definitely a further development. And what does Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu say?

TEXT 61

prabhu kahe,–“eho bahya, age kaha ara” raya kahe,–“svadharma-tyaga, ei sadhya-sara”

TRANSLATION

“This is also external,” Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said. “Please proceed and speak further on this matter.”

Ramananda Raya replied, “To give up one’s occupational duties in the varnasrama system is the essence of perfection.”

COMMENT

Ramananda Raya cited two verses in support of this proposal, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu responded:

TEXT 64

prabhu kahe,–“eho bahya, age kaha ara” raya kahe, “jnana-misra bhakti–sadhya-sara”

TRANSLATION

After hearing Ramananda Raya speak in this way, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Go ahead and say something more.”

Ramananda Raya then replied, “Devotional service mixed with empiric knowledge is the essence of perfection.”

COMMENT

To offer the fruits of one’s work to Krsna is good, but even then one might be attached to one’s work. To give up one’s position in varnasrama-dharma is better because it shows more detachment. But even if one has detachment, one may not have knowledge. So Ramananda Raya went further, including knowledge as part of the means, with reference to a verse from the Bhagavad-gita
(18.54).

And what did Lord Caitanya say? “Eho bahya, age kaha ara.” He wanted Ramanandaya Raya to go further. And Ramananda Raya responded.

TEXT 66

prabhu kahe, “eho bahya, age kaha ara” raya kahe,–“jnana-sunya bhakti–sadhya-sara”

TRANSLATION

After hearing this, the Lord, as usual, rejected it, . . .

COMMENT

He rejected devotional service mixed with empiric knowledge (jnana-misra bhakti).

TRANSLATION (continued)

. . . considering it to be external devotional service mixed with knowledge. He again asked Ramananda Raya to speak further, and Ramananda Raya replied, “Pure devotional service without any touch of speculative knowledge is the essence of perfection.”

COMMENT

Ramananda Raya then quoted an important verse from the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.3):

TEXT 67

jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva jivanti san-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhir ye prayaso ‘jita jito ‘py asi tais tri-lokyam

TRANSLATION

Ramananda Raya continued, “[Lord Brahma said:] ‘My dear Lord, those devotees who have thrown away the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth and have therefore abandoned discussing empiric philosophical truths should hear from self-realized devotees about Your holy name, form, pastimes, and qualities. They should follow the principles of devotional service and remain free from illicit sex, gambling, intoxication, and animal slaughter. Surrendering themselves fully with body, words, and mind, they can live in any asrama or social status. Indeed, You are conquered by such persons, although You are always unconquerable.'”

COMMENT

Then Lord Caitanya said, eho haya, “This is it!”–not eho bahya, “This is external.” But even then He added, age kaha ara: “Please speak further.”

TEXT 68

prabhu kahe, “eho haya, age kaha ara” raya kahe, “prema-bhakti–sarva-sadhya-sara”

TRANSLATION

At this point, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, “This is all right, but still you can speak more on the subject.”

Ramananda Raya then replied, “Ecstatic love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the essence of all perfection.”

COMMENT

In the purport Srila Prabhupada says, “In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura summarizes the conversation up to this point, where Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu says to Ramananda Raya, eho haya, age kaha ara: ‘This is the process accepted in devotional service, but there is something more than this. Therefore please explain what is beyond.'”

The point is that although the verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam describes the process of pure devotional service, in the neophyte stage devotional activities may sometimes appear impure; there may appear to be some material taint in one’s devotional activities. Therefore, although Lord Caitanya said, “You have come to this point of pure devotional service, which I accept as the goal of life and simultaneously the means to achieve the goal,” He also said, “Go further,” because He wanted to make sure that we come to the goal, prema-bhakti.

Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.3.31) says, bhaktya sanjataya bhaktya: bhakti comes from bhakti. We have come to the point of bhakti, pure bhakti, but bhaktya sanjataya bhaktya–prema-bhakti, or sadhya-bhakti, comes from sadhana-bhakti. Sadhana-bhakti will lead to the goal, but one must stick to the process. If one does stick to the process, he will reach the goal, prema-bhakti.

Now we shall discuss the process of pure devotional service described in the verse cited by Sri Ramananda Raya, because that is a process that each and every one of us can and should follow. It is feasible for every one of us. We shall discuss each word, because each word is important.

Jnane here means “for speculative knowledge.” Speculative knowledge almost always leads to an imperfect, impersonal conclusion. Prayasam means “unnecessary endeavor”–it is unnecessary. And udapasya means “giving up completely.” The endeavor for speculative knowledge has absolutely no value for a devotee and should be given up completely. Namantah. In his synonyms, Srila Prabhupada writes, “completely surrendering.” More literally, namanta is translated as “offering obeisances.” Obeisances are an indication of submission and surrender. Once, Srila Prabhupada paraphrased these words: “You should give up the bad habit of speculation and just become submissive.”

San-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam. Bhavadiya-vartam means “discussions related to You [Krsna],” and san-mukharitam means “from the mouths of pure devotees [sat].” We should hear the messages of Godhead from the mouths of truthful devotees, not from professional reciters.

In India there are many professional reciters, and some also tour. Although they may be very popular, hearing from them will not help. People go to them to be entertained, or they may feel that they are performing some pious activity. But what result do they want from such piety? Often they just want to be happy in the material world.

Srila Prabhupada spoke of one Bhagavata reciter who would tell his audience, “Srimad-Bhagavatam teaches that you should be happy in family life.” Now, the Bhagavatam is filled with stories of devotees who left their families to realize God, beginning with the speaker of the Bhagavatam, Sukadeva Gosvami. He did not remain at home long enough even to have his sacred-thread or other ceremonies. He just walked out of the house, and his father, Srila Vyasadeva, the literary incarnation of Godhead, went running after him into the forest, calling for him, but all he heard was the echoing of his voice in the trees.

yam pravrajantam anupetam apeta-krtyam dvaipayano viraha-katara ajuhava putreti tan-mayataya taravo ‘bhinedus tam sarva-bhuta-hrdayam munim anato ‘smi

“Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto that great sage [Sukadeva Gosvami] who can enter the hearts of all. When he went away to take up the renounced order of life [sannyasa], leaving home without undergoing reformation by the sacred thread or the ceremonies observed by the higher castes, his father, Vyasadeva, fearing separation from him, cried out, ‘O my son!’ Indeed, only the trees, which were absorbed in the same feelings of separation, echoed in response to the begrieved father.” (SB 1.2.2)

Sukadeva Gosvami was gone. So, from the very beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam we hear the histories of great devotees who left hearth and home to realize God. All five Pandavas left for the Himalayas. And Maharaja Pariksit gave up his family and kingdom to sit on the bank of the Ganges and hear Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Why did the professional reciter claim that the Bhagavatam teaches that you should remain happy in family life? Prabhupada said that he wanted to get donations from the householders, so he wanted to say something that would please them. Sadhu means “to cut.” We have to hear from the mouths of sadhus
(san-mukharitam). Then it will be effective. Srila Prabhupada said–and I saw it myself when I visited a large Bhagavata-saptaha–that immediately after the recitation, everything is as it was. People do not change. After the recitation people light up their cigarettes and talk about what a nice katha they heard. This kind of katha–Bhagavata-saptaha or whatever–will not help. Sanatana Gosvami says, avaisnava-mukhodgirnam putam hari-kathamrtam sravanam naiva kartavyam: one should not hear talks about Krsna from a non-Vaisnava. San-mukharitam–one should hear from pure devotees, self-realized souls.

Sthane sthitah means “remaining in their position.” It doesn’t matter if one is a grhastha. One can remain a grhastha–he need not become a sannyasi. That is not the point. One can remain in his position in the varnasrama system (although in natural course one may change his position), because pure devotional service is transcendental. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam. It is not limited by any material condition; it cannot be covered by karma or jnana or anything else. It is transcendental. So you can stay in your position, but you must follow the process described here.

In his translation Srila Prabhupada writes, “You should completely follow the principles of devotional service and remain free from illicit sex, gambling, intoxication, and animal slaughter.” Now, we don’t find these words in the Sanskrit. There are different types of translation, which have different names in Sanskrit. In one kind of translation one puts a bit of the purport into the translation, and that is what Srila Prabhupada did here. And I really appreciate it, because one can take this phrase sthane sthitah, “you remain in your position,” to mean, “Oh, I am fine as I am. I was getting worried for a while, but I can stay in my position and do everything the same.” Srila Prabhupada, perhaps anticipating such a response from some readers, qualified the phrase right in the translation. He did not take any chances that a reader would harbor any misconceptions going into the purport, but in the translation itself he says, “Yes, you can remain in your position, but you must follow the process of devotional service and refrain from illicit sex; gambling (and speculating); intoxicants, including tea, coffee, and cigarettes; and eating meat, fish, or eggs.”

If you do that, you can stay in your position and become Krsna conscious. That is the beauty of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement, the beauty of the bhakti cult, that one can remain in one’s position and execute devotional service in Krsna consciousness. A grhastha can become a pure devotee, and a sannyasi can become a pure devotee. Anyone can become a pure devotee if he or she follows the process. And anyone can follow. So it is very easy. One can remain in his or her position and simply follow. Jivanti means that a devotee who always hears about Krsna will go back home, back to Godhead. He or she must simply follow the regulative principles and remain alive in Krsna consciousness by hearing and chanting about Krsna.

Tanu-van-manobhih. Tanu means “body,” vak means “words,” and mana means “mind.” Our acaryas have explained how these words can relate to other words in the text. The basic meaning is that one should surrender fully, with body, words, and mind, to the topics of Krsna spoken by self-realized souls. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti says that one should offer all respects and obeisances (namantah) with one’s body, words, and mind. With one’s body one can offer obeisances to the Bhagavatam, to the speaker of the Bhagavatam, and to the holy place in which the Bhagavatam is recited. With one’s words one can glorify the Bhagavatam and the speakers of the Bhagavatam, and one can repeat the message and narrations of Krsna. And with one’s mind one can feel reverence for and take pleasure in the topics of Krsna, and one can remember the instructions and pastimes of Krsna. Thus one can be fully engaged with one’s body, words, and mind–not that with our body we sit in the krsna-katha but with our mind we are somewhere else, calculating how much money we have in the bank and if we have enough to make the next payments. It is possible that one’s body could be in the krsna-katha but one’s words or mind could be somewhere else. But if we always engage everything (tanu-van-manobhih), our whole being, in krsna-katha, in Krsna consciousness, that is pure devotional service.

And what is the result? Ye prayaso ‘jita jito ‘py asi tais tri-lokyam. One of Krsna’s names is Ajita, “unconquerable.” Even though Krsna cannot be conquered by any means, He can be conquered by pure devotees who follow this process. That is the conclusion. In other words, they will come to the stage of prema-bhakti, because Krsna is conquered only by prema, the pure love of His devotees.

Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains tanu-van-manobhih (“by body, words, and mind”) in relation to conquering Krsna, who is unconquerable, in three ways. He says that nondevotees can never conquer Krsna. They cannot conquer Him by their physical strength (like Hiranyakasipu), by their verbal expertise, or by their mental power. Despite all their endeavors, the Absolute Truth remains beyond their grasp. But devotees, by engaging fully in devotional service, become perfect in Krsna consciousness, and thus they can conquer Him. Then they can touch His lotus feet with their hands, they can call Him to come with their words, and simply by thinking of Him they can gain His direct audience within their minds.

His Holiness Rtadhvaja Swami told me about a dream he had. In his dream he was chanting Hare Krsna, and Krsna appeared. As we say, and as scripture tells us: nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya-rasa-vigrahah purnah suddho nitya-mukto ‘bhinnatvan nama-naminoh–the name of Krsna and Krsna Himself are the same. So, in his dream he was chanting Hare Krsna and Krsna appeared. And in his dream he thought, “Oh, it’s true!” This is an example of how Krsna can be conquered by one’s words. If we chant Hare Krsna purely, Krsna comes. He appears. And the pure devotee, the self-realized soul, if he just thinks of Krsna, Krsna appears in his mind–or in person. He remains by the side of His devotee.

Sanatana Gosvami further explains these words in relation to Krsna, that Krsna’s body is conquered because He always remains by the side of His pure devotee, His words are conquered because He always sings the praises of His devotees, and His mind is conquered because He always thinks of His pure devotees. One can completely conquer Krsna by pure devotional service.

In the discussion between Lord Caitanya and Ramananada Raya, this verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam marks the beginning of pure devotional service. But the discussion goes further. Lord Caitanya keeps saying, age kaha ara: “Speak more; go further.” Then we come to vaidhi-bhakti and raganuga-bhakti, and then to santa-rasa, dasya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vatsalya-rasa, and madhurya-rasa. In madhurya-rasa there are many gopis, and among them Srimati Radharani is the foremost. And Srimati Radharani Herself has various developments of ecstatic feelings, culminating in prema-vilasa-vivarta, the height of ecstatic love in separation. When Ramananda Raya came to that point, Caitanya Mahaprabhu covered his mouth with His hand. He said, “This is the limit of the goal of life. Only by your mercy have I come to understand it.”

At the end of their discussions, Ramananda Raya said to Lord Caitanya, “At first I saw You as a sannyasi, but now I see You as Syamasundara, the cowherd boy, and now I see you with a golden luster. Please explain the reason.” Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was playing the part of a devotee, and for a devotee to be addressed as Krsna or even considered on the same level as Krsna is anathema. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, “You are an advanced devotee, and an advanced devotee–a maha-bhagavata–sees Krsna everywhere.”

sthavara-jangama dekhe, na dekhe tara murti sarvatra haya nija ista-deva-sphurti

“The maha-bhagavata, the advanced devotee, certainly sees everything mobile and immobile, but he does not exactly see their forms. Rather, everywhere he immediately sees manifest the form of the Supreme Lord.” (Cc Madhya 8.274) Then Mahaprabhu quoted a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam that describes the maha-bhagavata, that he doesn’t exactly see the forms of the material world but sees Krsna manifest everywhere.

sarva-bhutesu yah pasyed bhagavad-bhavam atmanah bhutani bhagavaty atmany esa bhagavatottamah

“A person advanced in devotional service sees within everything the soul of souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. Consequently he always sees the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of all causes and understands that all things are situated in Him.” (SB 11.2.45, quoted as Cc Madhya 8.275)

Ramananda Raya replied, “Please give up these serious talks. Do not try to conceal Your real form. I know who You are.” Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, out of His causeless mercy, revealed His combined form of Radha and Krsna
(rasaraja and mahabhava). We have a relief on the wall of the temple here that shows Ramananda Raya witnessing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu manifesting His form as Radha and Krsna. And Ramananda Raya became overwhelmed with transcendental bliss. There are some esoteric explanations of this pastime, in which Caitanya Mahaprabhu revealed the confidential truth of His identity–sri-krsna-caitanya radha-krsna nahe anya. On occasion He would manifest Himself, but He would always say, “Do not disclose this fact to anyone,” because He was playing the part of a devotee and wanted to maintain His role as a devotee, to fulfill His purpose to show by example how to be a devotee and practice pure devotional service.

Especially in Kali-yuga, people are so fallen and prone to become imitation gods or accept imitation gods that the Lord as Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu hid His identity. He was a channa-avatara, a “concealed incarnation,” as mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Srila Prabhupada told the story of a man in Calcutta who could imitate the barking of different types of dogs. He would hold programs in halls and sell tickets, and people would come to hear his demonstrations. Srila Prabhupada remarked that people would pay money to hear the imitation dog but that real dogs were barking in the street yet no one paid them heed. Similarly, the real God–Krsna–is there, but nobody cares. Yet if some imitation God comes, they flock. Get on a plane and go. Jump in a car and go. That is Kali-yuga.

That is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s identity as Radha and Krsna was revealed only to certain select devotees such as Ramananda Raya, and it is by their mercy and by the mercy of Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, who wrote Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, and by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, who translated and presented it to us in a most appropriate way, through parampara, that we are able to enter into these transcendental mysteries and have the opportunity to realize the most confidential service of Radha and Krsna–by their mercy, following in their footsteps.
 
Source:http://m.dandavats.com/?p=21599

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Above, Madhuha dasa inspecting the first panel in the new exhibit.

Bhakta Cory Feres, from Halifax, Nova Scotia cutting the shaped & finished Poplar framing materials.

Cory screwing the precisely-fitted frames together. After the frames were assembled, the steel corner peices that attach to the supporting poles were screwed on.

All Festival of India's exhibits: The Illustrated Bhagavad-Gita; The Science of Reincarnation; Vegetarianism--The Higher Taste; Who Is Prabhupada; and Transcendental Art, are all designed to be 'marketing tools' for Srila Prabhupada's transcendental books. Festival of India's exhibits have been helping devotees distribute Srila Prabhupada's books since 1979. Hare Krishna.

Please be sure to checkout this new Bhagavad-Gita exhibit at the next Festival of India you participate in. 

Source:http://www.festivalofindia.org/?q=node/347

A brand new single-volume biography of ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada, created to be marketed and accessible to the general public, was launched in New York City on May 19th.

The book, “Swami in a Strange Land: How Krishna Came to the West,” comes from publisher Mandala and author Joshua M. Greene (Yogesvara Das), a Prabhupada disciple, scholar and author of many books including George Harrison biography “Here Comes the Sun.”

It’s a lively, evocative telling of Prabhupada’s extraordinary life and the sacrifices he made to bring his spiritual message to humanity, illustrated with beautiful images of Prabhupada and his movement. Sure to appeal to devotees as well, it has been officially championed by the ISKCON 50th anniversary committee.

Its launch took place at the renowned Jivamukti Yoga School on Broadway, whose co-founder Sharon Gannon has a deep appreciation for Bhakti-yoga.

The School has also been home to Yogesvara’s Gita Wisdom classes for the past decade, in which he uses Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

“Because Prabhupada didn’t teach physical yoga, he isn’t usually included amongst famous yoga teachers,” Yogesvara says. “But more recently, people are starting to understand that the postures are not yoga – they’re the doorway to the yoga practice. And what yoga does is prepare us for the experience of opening our hearts – to a relationship with Krishna, with divinity. That’s a message Prabhupada clearly wanted people to understand, through his books like ‘The Perfection of Yoga.’ So having the book launch at Jivamukti was very natural.”

The cover of Swami in a Strange Land

The Swami in a Strange Land launch began with an invitation-only dinner at 6:30pm in the Jivamukti Café. About forty-five people attended, including Jivamukti founders Sharon Gannon and David Life, and Yogesvara’s family. Mostly, however, the audience was comprised of regulars from his Gita Wisdom classes, which Yogesvara says are a very close-knit group who share deeply from their minds and hearts.

Yogesvara’s presentation after the dinner at 8pm was a Powerpoint presenting Srila Prabhupada as the embodiment of “The Hero Journey” – a talk he has given already at several ISKCON temples.

It draws from the work of mythologist Joseph Campbell, who traveled the world studying the great myths and legends of many cultures, and found that all followed a similar template: The hero leaves ordinary life, and embarks on a road of adventure, where he encounters trials. If he’s able to overcome this great adversity, there’s an opportunity to achieve treasure, and then give that treasure back to society.

The parallels with Srila Prabhupada’s life are obvious. “He had to go through the trials of family who did not share his convictions; a failing business; extreme poverty; derision; every imagineable setback,” Yogesvara says. “Then he made that journey on the Jaladuta  steamship, suffering two heart attacks, to cross the threshold into a new and strange world, where he shared his treasure of spiritual knowledge.”

One of the aims of Yogesvara’s presentation, and the book, was to explain that the Hero Journey is not just reserved for the great names of history, but is for every one of us. As Joseph Campbell put it in a 1980s TV interview, all of our lives’ are a series of decisions, and how we choose affects the world around us. So Yogesvara invited his audience to take Prabhupada’s story as a call to action.

“Prabhupada’s story is not just some detached third party account of someone else’s life,” he says. “We’re all involved. Prabhupada made sacrifices so that we could understand what a real guru is; what the real journey is; and what the rewards of that journey can be.”

The author with Srila Prabhupada

Another of Yogesvara’s aims in the presentation, and the book, was not just to present Srila Prabhupada as a Shaktyavesha Avatar, or empowered representative of God, but also to “humanize” him for people.

“I remember, from my own experiences with him, that we loved Prabhupada, because he was the warmest, most caring person we’d ever met in our lives,” he says. “So those of us who were privileged to know him in those early days have a responsibility to communicate that part of his nature to others.”

After the presentation, attendees purchased copies of Swami in a Strange Land and lined up to have them signed by Yogesvara. Some had read it already, and said that while they had heard of Prabhupada before, it really helped them to understand his message. Others said it cast a light on how yoga culture grew in America, and what the complementary spiritual flipside to the physical yoga practice was.

“Prabhupada filled in the pieces of the spiritual puzzle that other yoga teachers didn’t,” Yogesvara says. “He answered the questions: ‘If you perfect your yoga, if you dedicate yourself to a spiritual life, how is the world different for you? What happens? Where does it take you? What do you see that you’re not seeing now?’ And he was able to describe personal divinity in a way that people had never heard before. He was able to avoid all of those biases that people have against religion. And that’s his absolute brilliance.”

With Swami in a Strange Land now available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and in general bookstores, Yogesvara is continuing to promote it. The book is being released in Italian, Indian, and Russian editions, and Yogesvara will next talk about it during a keynote speech for ISKCON London’s main 50th anniversary event in July.

“It was such a highlight for me that the 50th anniversary committee saw fit to endorse the book as the official biography of Srila Prabhupada, for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary,” he says.

He’s glad to get this opportunity to do something big for Srila Prabhupada.

“Prabhupada deserves great attention, and we have to try to achieve that for him,” he concludes.

http://www.amazon.com/Swami-Strange-Land-C-Bhaktivedanta/dp/1608876446 

Source:http://iskconnews.org/new-prabhupada-biography-gets-new-york-launch,5594/

‘One who has a little faith in Bhagavad-gita should learnBhagavad-gita from a devotee, because in the beginning of the Fourth Chapter it is stated clearly that Bhagavad-gitacan be understood only by devotees; no one else can perfectly understand the purpose of Bhagavad-gita. One should therefore learn Bhagavad-gita from a devotee of Krsna, not from mental speculators. This is a sign of faith.’ (Bg 8.28 purport)

“Adau sraddha—The first stage in devotional service is sraddha, or faith. Without sraddha one cannot make any progress in devotional service. Or, one cannot even begin in devotional service. Here Srila Prabhupada emphasizes that faith means faith in the devotional scriptures and in the devotees who explain them and apply them in their lives. And that faith is described in the verse we just read—just by engaging in devotional service one need not engage in other activities separately but one gets the result of  all the other processes just by engaging in devotional service. That is faith, and that is the beginning of Krishna consciousness. Advancement in Krishna consciousness really means development of faith.” 

Source:http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=11069

It is true that there is that inner animal within us. The animal that we hide. The animal that lives behind the saintly expressions on our faces. There is this animal and we have chained him up in regulative principles by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy but he wants to break loose. That inner animal which lives within and he OR SHE wants to break loose and waits for opportunities!

I like this theme. I found it somewhere in a magazine, a lady writer picked up on it. She had this bag of special chips and she was like really lusting over the chips in her mind for a long time, and was waiting for an opportunity to sort of like get into it and stuff them in her mouth. So when no one was around, she attacked it, ripped it open and just like packed it in… and then someone came!

Now we can easily translate that into a mangal aarti sweet. You know, you get caught just as you secretly stuff it in your face. For a moment, you give some room to lusty desires by taking shelter of prasadam. It is good to take shelter of prasadam but you feel embarrassed when you get caught with a mouthful and you try to inconspicuously swallow it, as if everybody does not know what you doing since everybody you know does it too!

The point I am making is that it shows that we are indeed a combination of the modes of material nature and that indeed all these pushings of the senses are within us and we are controlling them with good behaviour. We say the right words, “Jaya… nectar… bliss.” Whatever words are there in the jargon, we say them and we dress in a particular sort of way… We are experts in projecting an image but internally it is still raging – there is still a volcano. There are still so many influences pulling us in so many directions. And therefore there is still a little bit of Kamsa in us… still a little bit of Putana and still a little bit of all these demoniac personalities.
Source:https://www.kksblog.com/2016/05/the-demon-within/

This year marks the 25th Annual Prabhupada Festival. The Prabhupada Festival was founded as a venue for all followers, newcomers, and interested persons to come together, learn about, and glorify His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and his accomplishments.
Held every Memorial Day Weekend since 1992, the festival has always been free of charge and open for all who wish to glorify and learn about His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The Los Angeles Temple, designated as ISKCON World Headquarters by His Divine Grace, is the location; and this festival has emerged as one of the largest festivals held there.
The festival includes special talks and remembrances from senior disciples, glorious kirtans, six sumptuous feasts, an annual boat festival, Maha Harinam, original artistic performances, representatives from diverse preaching projects as well as a variety of Vaishnava vendors.
If you have never attended the Prabhupada Festival, we enthusiastically invite you to attend; and if you have come before, we warmly invite you to attend again. This festival gets better every year and it is not to be missed! We look forward to seeing you. Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!
More info here: http://prabhupadafestival.com/ 

The following blog was one of my very early ones I posted in 2007, which I included in my book, Give to Live. I post it again because of my thinking this morning on the importance of seeing our life--with its many ups an downs--in the best light possible. This is true even as we strive to improve and may still feel bad about the mistakes of the past. Part of the spiritual and human journey is feeling our life has value, and in making the best use of it, even as we have to cut the karmic cords that bind us through forgiveness, acceptance, and prayer.

I share with you here four quotes from people glorifying the telling of our personal stories (and then comment on the general idea) from the introduction to the "4th course of Chicken Soup for the Soul" series (copyright 1997 Jack Canfield). If you like, you can call it "Chickpea Soup for the Soul."

"Everybody is a story. When I was a child, people sat around kitchen tables and told their stories. We don't do that so much anymore. Sitting around the table telling stories is not just a way of passing time. It is the way the wisdom gets passed along. The stuff that helps us live a life worth remembering. Despite the awesome powers of technology many of us still do not live very well. We need to listen to each others stories once again." Rachel Naomi Remen

"Everyone has a story. No matter what we do for a living, how much we have in our bank account or what the color of our skin is, we have a story. Each of us has a story, whether it is visible to the eye or it is locked inside of us. We are encouraged to believe that our past, our circumstances, both physical and emotional, and our experiences are our story. Out mental picture of our life's story encompasses what we perceive to be true about ourselves and our possibilities.

"The life one is born in is not necessarily our destiny. All of us have the power to rewrite our story, to recast the drama of our lives and to redirect the actions of the main character, ourselves. The outcome of our lives are determined mainly by our responses to each event. Do we choose to be a hero or victim in our lives' drama?"

"Good stories, like the best mentors in our lives, are door openers. They are unique experiences containing insights tied to emotional triggers that get our attention and stay in our memories. These stories can free us from being bound to decisions of the past and open us to understanding ourselves and the opportunities that are there before us. A really good story allows us to recognize the choices that are open to us and see new alternatives we might never have seen before. It can give us permission to try (or at least to consider trying) a new path."

Whatever our life has been, it has led to this point, and today, we have the opportunity to improve our lives and build on all that has gone before. I have previously mentioned that took a particular hospice training where we would help persons do a "life review" in order to make peace with their past and unplug from unresolved issues or experiences through forgiveness, seeking amends, and cutting cords. We could call this process, as did HH Bhaktitirtha Swami, "Die before Dying.

If you are unfamiliar with the idea of the "life review" at death, it is mentioned in the near-death experience literature, as well as in Hindu and Buddhist texts. At death, or in a "near death" experience, we see our whole life flash before us, and we are given the opportunity to evaluate it.

However, we don't have to wait till we are dying. We can do a life review now. Part of what I teach is that everyone should spend time going over every part of their lives in order to come to peace with the past through prayer, forgiveness, letting go, compassion, and acceptance. Ideally we are cutting the karmic cords that bind us to persons, places, or things.

From my perspective cutting of karmic cords is part of our spiritual work, Our formal bhakti practices can help us with this endeavor, and underscores the importance of chanting japa, sadhu sanga, hearing scripture, and praying to discover and let go of whatever is slowing our spiritual growth. This is one meaning of "The Lord helps those who help themselves." Although we can't do this work without Divine help, we still have to ask for assistance and be willing to take the necessary steps of action as we are guided.

Source:http://www.krishna.com/blog/2016/05/26/everyones-story-and-life-journey-important-learn-and-cutting-karmic-cords

Bhaktivedanta Academy Alumni Page

“Hare Krishna,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. I would just like to tell my humble story and experiences in gurukul, and my great gratitude for His Holiness Śrīla Bhaktividya Purna Swami and all the teachers of the Bhaktivedanta Academy of Mayapur.

I was born in 1995, and by Krishna’s mercy in a family of exemplary vaisnavas. My father is Śrīman Prahlad Nrisimha Prabhu, my mother is Śrīmati Manorupa Mataji, and my brother Śrīnam Vanamali Krishna Dāsa. I was brought up in New Talavan, America, until the age of 5 when my studies were going to begin. Then we moved to Mayapur and joined the Bhaktivedanta gurukul. My father became a teacher there and I stayed there for six months until the Bhaktivedanta Academy finally reopened in September 2001. My brother and I both joined and I have been there ever since. My experiences in gurukul are definitely the highlights of my life, and the teachers, namely Śrī Madhava Gauranga Prabhu, Priti Vardhana Prabhu, Śrī Radhe Mataji, Vagisha Prabhu, Subeksana Prabhu, and many others, are so dear to me, some of them I see just like my parents. They have cared for and looked after me so perfectly ever since I was 6, and still do. My brother left the gurukul in the end of 2007. I was so happy in the school that I still wanted to stay and continue my studies. It was really just the best — my friends are all like brothers to me, and still are; with them even the hardest services were fun.

In 2009 I left the school in the beginning of my teens, wanting to go and try something else. With my parents and brother we moved to Ecuador and started a new life there, trying to preach to our relatives and many, many families and friends there. We would put up great festivals on Gaura Purnima, Nrisimha Caturdāsai, Janmasthami, ect. We would even make excuses to do programs like birthdays, full moons, ekadāsais, weddings, anything that would bring people to come listen, chant and take prasad. We would get easy around 50 people, and serve them all prasad. It was really ecstatic. But due to my laziness, my studying was not doing too well; I was doing an online course and would get extra tuitions here and there. But being 13 and really not wanting to study it was difficult to focus. After a whole year and a half my father decided that although the preaching was going good and we were making quite a community, it was important that my brother and I first finish our studies and be properly rooted in Krishna consciousness before attempting to do anything else. But then the question was if the gurukul would allow me to rejoin after being a whole year away. My father said we should at least try and if not, then I would join the Śrī Mayapur international school and get my high school diploma. We sold everything: the car, TV, fridge, ect. Even the Xbox 360, which was the latest one at the time, and moved back to Mayapur.

We arrived the day before Janmasthami 2010 in the night, and the next day took part with the gurukul boys in the preparation for the festival. I felt so at home and like family that I told my father, “I need to go back. I won’t go anywhere else.” He picked up the phone and called Madhava Gauranga Prabhu. He told Mahasay (a way of addressing your teacher with great respect) of my request, and Mahasay simply said, “Yeah of course, send him over with his bags.” Within an hour I was on my way to school, completely overjoyed. I never regret leaving though, because it really made me realize what I had and not take gurukula for granted. I made a decision to really try my best and give it all I had. I joined back as a completely new student and worked my way through the levels and in 2013 took initiation from His Holiness Indradyumna Swami. I then started to help with teaching and also in the management of the boys, under the guidance of the senior teachers and deans of the Academy. In December 2015 my dear Mother moved to Mayapur to leave her body due to so many diseases, one of them being cancer. I was destroyed and really torn at heart. But the teachers and boys of the school were my greatest strength. I was told by my teachers to go and serve my mother in her last days and to really try to learn from her and get her association. It was by far the greatest experience of a lifetime. I saw my mother day in and day out, twenty four hours a day, staring death in the face, but at the same time she was in complete bliss. We had kirtan for her 8 hours a day and there were so many senior sannyasis and Prabhupāda disciples, so many devotees and well-wishers constantly there. On one day my mother called my father over and said to him, “It’s amazing that even though you took me to every paradise this world has to offer, and gave me every desirable thing, you still managed to keep the best for last.” She was happier than I have ever seen her. She kept on saying to me to please stay in Mayapur and serve. She stayed on the verge of death for two whole months and then on the 16th of February 2015 my mother left this world at 4:45 AM during mangal arti, and by Krishna’s mercy I was allowed to sing for her during this most auspicious moment. That day I sang for 8 hours straight with so many mixed feelings in my heart. But over all I just so proud to be connected to such a great group of Vaiṣṇavas.

After some time my father left Mayapur to go preach again and my brother too. I was in gurukula, and can’t find the words to express the love that I felt from my teachers and friends. I will be forever grateful. My mother’s passing had such a great impression on me; I really wanted to do more for Śrīla Prabhupāda and for the school. I took my responsibilities and service up with so much more determination and with so much faith in the Lord and his service.

On the 4th of May, 2016, I graduated from the school and now along with my two good friends Baladev Śrīman dāsa and Krishna Caitanya dāsa we are helping as trainee principals and headmasters of the Academy. I hope that I may be a servant of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission and be an instrument in the gurukula educational system we all know was so dear to him. In conclusion, my experience of gurukula was by far the greatest thing I could have ever imagined. I love my gurukula, my life, so much that now even though I graduated, and could go where I like — and ‘experience’ the world — I really want to stay and serve in the gurukula. I want to help others, and to make sure that their experience of gurukula will top even mine. When I think back it fills me with pride to say that I really lived such a life. The relationships I made will last a lifetime, and my memories I hope will too. Of course, there were ups and downs; being six in the ashram is no walk in the park. But thinking back I wouldn’t have changed my past for that of a prince. For it made me what I am today, and although I’m not much, I really do want to serve and I ask for your blessings.

Your servant, Śrī Paramahamsa Gaura dāsa 

Source:http://m.dandavats.com/?p=21619

Sankirtana Dasa, long time resident of New Vrindaban community, recently won a Storytelling World Resource Award for his dramatic storytelling CD Hanuman’s Quest. He is also a recipient of  a WV Artist Fellowship Award,  a National Endowment of the Arts Grant,  an Ohio River Border Initiative Grant, and a Next Generation Indie Book Award for his Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest.  

For many years Sankirtana had used his background in theater to write, act and direct Krishna Consciousness dramas.  Today, he offers dramatic storytelling programs in a variety of venues. He is on the  visiting artist  rosters of the  WV Division of Culture & History, the Greater Columbus Arts Council,  Artsbridge, and is  a member of  the WV Storytelling Guild. The following interview with Sankirtana Dasa was conducted by Abhay Charana Dasa at New Vrindaban Communications.

***

Q: What do want to accomplish with your cd’s and books?

SKd: I see my work as a bridge in presenting Krishna Consciousness to the general public. Through my storytelling programs, books, cds and slide shows, I want to do two things: present it in a way to inspire devotees and to make Krishna Consciousness interesting and relevant to people in general.

Q: You recently won a Storytelling World Resource Award for your CD Hanuman’s Quest. What did this mean to you?

SKd. I’ve been involved with the national storytelling community for 25 years now. At one time I was the West Virginia liaison for the National Storytelling Network. I’m also with the WV Storytelling Guild. So it’s certainly an honor to be recognized in the field of my peers.  Besides the international storytelling community, theStorytelling World Resource Awards are also of great interest to teachers who use storytelling in the classroom.  The Awards are a way of acknowledging  important resources for these communities.

Q; You are also an award-winning writer and storyteller. Which do you identify with more?

SKd: Whether you’re focused on the written word or the spoken word, it’s all about storytelling. My background is in the performing arts. I enjoy being in front of people. But I also  enjoy writing and the challenges it presents. I enjoy using whatever creativity I have in Krishna’s service. Basically we are all creative beings. People need to be encouraged to connect with that and use it in Krishna’s service.

Q: So what's your secret about storytelling?     

SKd:  First of all, storytelling is a vital tool for anyone who wants to present Krishna Consciousness. Srimad Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, Ramayana – these books depict transcendental knowledge through  stories and they are especially meant for us conditioned souls of the Kaliyuga.  Basically, storytelling is about using words to create images and action. Images can impact people's minds. Ideas and concepts only to a lesser extent.   InKrishna Book, Prabhupada explains that we have a natural aptitude to hear stories through reading literature and seeing dramatic performances. When we redirect our hearing to Krishna’s pastimes we can more easily attain transcendence.

Q: Why do you think you won this award?     

SKd:  For one thing, the story of Hanuman is a fantastic, engaging story.  And Hanuman is an endearing personality.  Also, the musical background on the CD really compliments the storytelling, and I think that  helped sway the judges' decision.   The exciting musical score is by Tommy Raga and Sada Ruchi. Sada Ruchi also did the recording and mixing. I am indebted to them. 

Q: But what did you bring to the telling?

SKd: Krishna has kindly helped me develop a dramatic sensibility. The elements of tension and suspense; of creating a scene or character with a minimum amount of description; of pacing and moving the story along in a clear and concise way which the listener can easily grasp. These are all part of the storyteller's, and  the writer's, craft. 

Sankirtana Das' storytelling performance at University of Cincinnati

Q: When did you know you had this talent?

SKd: Well, you didn't really know. Uncertainty can be a compelling force. It keeps you on your toes. But just like a carpenter - you do have to know the tools of your craft. You have to work at it. You have to sweat. You have to piece it together. It's both a craft and an art. And finally you have to pray that it all comes out right. Man proposes. God disposes. 

Q: Do you have anything in the works you would like to share with us?

SKd: For the 50th celebrations,  both last year and this year, I’ve focused on taking my slide show Journey To The West: Why & How the Hare Krishna Movement Came to America to colleges and other venues.  I’m also working on two new books. I have nothing to say about them at this point. Usually, I like to have a few things in the works that I can bounce back and forth to.

Q: Thank you for sharing your craft with us.

SKd: And you know, I want to offer more workshops and coaching sessions to pass this craft along to others. Thank you.

For more information on Sankirtana Dasa’s award-winning  CD and book visit  www.Mahabharata-Project.com 

Source:http://iskconnews.org/hanumans-quest-cd-wins-international-award,5595/