By Visakha Dasi

In each of its twelve cantos, Srimad-Bhagavatam, the “flawless ripened fruit of all Vedic scriptures,” tells of miracles and mysticism, of the esoteric and extraterrestrial. We hear a cow, bull, elephant, monkey, and bird speaking deep philosophy. We learn of the four-headed creator who sits atop a lotus flower, of a magnificent aerial mansion, and of a five-year-old who pushes down half the earth with his toe and makes demigods suffocate. We learn of people giving birth to tens of thousands of children, of people with a thousand heads or arms, of an ocean of milk that is churned by demigods and demons using a snake for a rope. We are also given detailed information about this extraordinary universe we live in. For example, from the Fifth Canto (16.16–17):

“On the lower slopes of Mandara Mountain is a mango tree named Devacuta. It is 1,100 yojanas [8,800 feet] high. Mangoes as big as mountain peaks and as sweet as nectar fall from the top of this tree for the enjoyment of the denizens of heaven. When all those solid fruits fall from such a height, they break, and the sweet, fragrant juice within them flows out and becomes increasingly more fragrant as it mixes with other scents. That juice cascades from the mountain in waterfalls and becomes a river called Arunoda, which flows pleasantly through the eastern side of Ilavrta.”

What is a pragmatic, logical, scientific mind to do with such information? Shall we see the whole body of work as mythology? Or glean its essential spiritual truths and leave aside the fantastic aspects as entertainment used to convey those truths? Or shall we suspend our disbelief and accept all the texts of Bhagavatam as they are?

None of these options are in the spirit of the Srimad-Bhagavatam itself—that is, the spirit of unalloyed submission and devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. This spirit is not the suspension of disbelief but the suspension of pride, for without pridelessness the Srimad-Bhagavatam, as well as all the Vedas, will remain a great mystery. In other words, readers who enter the spirit of the Srimad-Bhagavatam do not suspect any aspect of its message; rather, they question their own qualification and ability to receive that message purely.

Besides being genuinely humble, mature students of the Srimad-Bhagavatam are detached from this alluring material world and know their spiritual identity, their purpose in life, and the limitations the material body and mind may impose on spirit. Rather than “naive,” these saints are highly evolved human beings with unrivaled critical and analytical insights. Srila Prabhupada writes, “The bestial civilization of eating, sleeping, fearing, and sense-gratifying has misled modern man into forgetting how powerful a soul he has. As we have already described, the soul is a spiritual spark many, many times more illuminating, dazzling, and powerful than the sun, moon, or electricity. Human life is spoiled when man does not realize his real identity with his soul.” (Cc., Adi 1.5.22, purport)

But what of the Bhagavatam’s amazing descriptions and pastimes? Continuing the above purport Srila Prabhupada explains: “…Each and every planet has its particular atmosphere, and if one wants to travel to any particular planet within the material universe, one has to adapt his material body to the climatic condition of that planet. For instance, if one wants to go from India to Europe, where the climatic condition is different, one has to change his dress accordingly. Similarly, a complete change of body is necessary if one wants to go to the transcendental planets of Vaikuntha. However, if one wants to go to the higher material planets, he can keep his finer dress of mind, intelligence, and ego, but has to leave his gross dress (body) made of earth, water, fire, etc.”

Devoted readers of the Srimad-Bhagavatam are not literalists in the sense that they expect to taste the mango juice waters of the Arunoda River, at least not in their present state. They take it that this place exists as it is described, but it is on a platform that they cannot directly experience; the text is explicit—not figurative—but it describes a dimension unknown to us.

What we can presently perceive is limited by the nature of our body. Since our body is made of gross material elements (earth, water, air, and so on) we directly perceive only gross material sense objects. However, in other parts of the material creation only subtle energies (mind, intelligence, etc.), which are imperceptible to us, exist. On that plane one could uproot trees and use them to bridge a river or one could leap across an ocean just for fun.

If we allow it, Srimad-Bhagavatam will transport us beyond the limits of the tiny part of the creation we inhabit. It will revive our sense of wonder, of mystery and of discovery because the Supreme Person revealed in its texts is a sportive, imaginative youth who can pulverize preconceptions. Krishna is adhoksaja, beyond the measurement of our senses. He is atarka, beyond the reach of logic and argument. He is avan manasa gocara, beyond the range of the mundane mind, words and imagination. He is acintya, beyond our estimation. In a word, He is inconceivable. And He is inconceivably attractive and funny and adventurous (He says vyavasayo ’smi—“I am adventure,” Bhagavad-gita 10.36). He can do anything—and what He does is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam. For example, “Lord Krishna, who is Vishnu Himself, picked up Govardhana Hill with one hand and held it aloft just as easily as a child holds up a mushroom.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.25.19)

Krishna’s miracles are also all around us, from the precise workings of living cells to the movements of the galaxies. But because in this dark age of quarrel and hypocrisy our strength, duration of life, memory, intelligence, and imagination are as depleted as the earth we inhabit and the food that it produces, we view the descriptions of Srimad-Bhagavatam as “mythology” and those who are devoted to and enlivened by them as “naive literalists.” As a result this unparalleled scripture remains inaccessible.

“Srimad-Bhagavatam is the spotless Purana. It is most dear to the Vaishnavas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahamsas. This Bhagavatam reveals the means for becoming free from all material work, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge, renunciation, and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion, becomes completely liberated.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.13.18)

Source: http://goo.gl/p3puLQ

A new sannyasi for Iskcon: HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Swami!
Shaktyavesha Avatara Dasa: HG Utama Sloka Prabhu has just received a sannyasi initiation from HH Indradyumana Swami in the presence of numerous elevated Vaishnavas and guests. (And his new name is) HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Maharaja ki Jaya!
Thank you, dear Uttama Sloka, for guiding, helping and supporting over the years! Wish you complete success with your ‘Spiritual Untied Nations’ project and service to Srila Prabhupada!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ml0EZl

In a very nice and beautiful morning the devotees left the campsite at Hari Hara Ksetra and headed to Gauradaha.

Gauradaha is a very special place and the pastime which took place there is described by Jagadananda Pandita in his book Prema Vivarta. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda prabhu, Jagadananda Pandita and other associates of the Lord were peforming Harinama sankirtan in this place, where there is a lake. Daha means lake. In this lake a crocodile was living and it was delivered by Gauranga Mahaprabhu. The crocodile had been cursed by Durvasa Muni to live as a crocodile in that lake for 4 yugas. Anyone who hears this pastime becomes free from brahma-sapa, the curse of a Brahmana.

HH Jayapataka Swami joined International group also in Gaura daha, his speech made everybody chant the name of Gauranga many times and very loudly, we see in the face of the devotees that they were begging for Gauranga’s mercy.

HH Bhakti Dhira Damodara Maharaja was explaining how it is important to chant japa without any distraction, he said “Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura affirmed that those who chant japa without full attention like talking, checking emails, having meetings, managing etc are influenced by pramada, or madness”. Maharaj said “We are known as the Hare Krsnas, because we chant Hare Krsna, but the day has 24 hours and how many hours are we supposed to chant? Only 2 hours and the rest of the time what do we do?”.  The devotees were listening to him with full attention. We are very fortunate to have HH Bhakti Dhira Damodar Maharaj on Parikram because he always sets a very serious and deep mood for chanting in the devotees minds, and everybody becomes happy when he is present, everybody becomes powerful, with the mind under control.

After an ecstatic gurupuja and a delicious breakfast we continued walking towards Surabhi Kunja, the first namahatta in Bengal, inaugurated by “Koda Nitai” the magnanimous Nitai. We had drama, Katha, and bhajan sang by HG Sulocana prabhu, our kitan party leader.

Not so far from Surabhi Kunja is the house of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and another ISKCON Jagannath Temple,  very well taken care by Srila Prabhupada’s nephew Sankarshan prabhu.

For further information please research our website: navadvipaparikrama.com

Source: http://www.navadvipaparikrama.com/parikrama-2016-day-2/

Avoiding improper behavior while residing in a holy place.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has listed ten offenses against the holy dhama that we must carefully avoid in order to be fully benefitted from our visit to or residence in the holy dhama.
To disrespect one’s spiritual master who reveals the dhama to the disciple
To think that the holy dhama is temporary.
To commit violence towards any of the residents of the holy dhama or to any of the pilgrims who come there, or to think that they are ordinary people. Srila Prabhupada writes: “All the inhabitants of Vrindavana are Vaisnavas. They are all auspicious because somehow or other they always chant the holy name of Krishna” (C.C.Adi 5.232, purport).
To perform mundane activities while living in the holy dhama.
To utilize the dhama for personal economic development by commercializing deity worship and sankirtana in the holy dhama.
To think that the holy dhama belongs to a mundane country or province, such as Bengal; to think that the Lord’s dhama is equal to a place connected with some demigod, or to attempt to measure the area of the holy dhama.
To commit sinful acts while residing in the holy dhama
To consider Vrindavana-dhama as different from Navadvipa-dhama.
To blaspheme the sastras that assert the glorious position of the holy dhama.
To be faithless and think that the glories of the dhama are imaginary.
Srila Prabhupada explained that the results of all devotional activities performed in the holy dhama are magnified a thousand times. Therefore, one can make rapid advancement if one lives offenselessly in the holy dhama. But if we commit offenses, the results of those offenses are also magnified one thousand times. Therefore, one is advised to carefully avoid committing any offenses in the holy dhama.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19689

After 4 days of wonderful Sravana Utsava festival, blisfull and an amazing 5 days of Kirtan Mela, the devotees finally left the temple room and the boundaries of ISKCON Mayapur campus. For what? To make connections with the old Kalpa Vrikshas trees, the birds, the land, the dhamvasis, having prasada in a open air and sharing the holy name around in the most sacred land of Sri Navadvipa Dham.

“I want you to go to China.”
Tamal Krishna Goswami: Our Radha Damodar party was quite energetic. By the time a year was over, forty percent of the total BBT proceeds came from our party. But we were creating quite a bit of disturbance because some brahmacharis were leaving their temples, wanting to be with the sannyasis, and the sannyasis were saying, “It’s better for the brahmacharis to be with us than to be under these grihastha temple presidents.”
So, by the time we went to India, we brought with us ninety brahmacharis. The Radha Damodar party had the whole third floor of the lotus building. We were riding the crest waves of success.
The Christmas marathon had been a heavy competition between Jayatirtha in California and the Radha Damodar party. Ramesvara kept on asking me, “How much are you going to give to the book fund?”
I said, “I’m going to send you a blank check. Put it in your safe and whatever the amount Jayatirtha gives, add ten thousand and deposit it and it will clear at the end of the month.” I was very determined to defeat them.
By the end of the 1975 Christmas marathon, the Radha Damodar Party gave one hundred ninety-five thousand dollars to the book fund. We did a quarter of a million Back to Godhead’s and sixty thousand big books. It was a massive thing.
But people were getting agitated. In Mayapur, all the temple presidents complained to Prabhupada. I was sitting in the room and Prabhupada was looking at me. When everybody left I kept sitting there because I thought, “I’d better talk to Prabhupada alone.”
Prabhupada looked at me and I said, “I don’t know what to do. Maybe I should go to China or something.” To go to China was like going to the moon. It was said like that. Anyway, I walked out.
The next morning, right in the middle of arati, Prabhupada’s servant tapped me and said, “Prabhupada wants to see you.” I said, “I’m not going.” I meant, “I’m not going up to see him, and I’m not going to China.”
Finally I had to go to Prabhupada. Prabhupada said, “I want you to go to China.” I said, “China? The Radha Damodar Party—I have to be there.” He said, “No, I want you to go to China,” and he walked out to go to the bathroom, brush his teeth, and freshen up for his walk.
He came back and put on tilak. He said, “I want you to go to China.” I started to give excuses, that “If I go to China, what’s going to happen to the Party?” Prabhupada said, “Don’t worry about the Party.”
His bottom lip started to quiver. His hand was shaking. He said, “Don’t worry about the Party.” I said, “But this is an important service.” He said,
“Then I take that service away from you. You have no other service to do now. Either you go to China, or you sit in Mayapur and chant Hare Krishna. There’s nothing else for you to do.”
Gurukripa was sitting behind me, and he said, “I’ll go to China.” Prabhupada said, “No, he must go to China.” I was sitting there going, “Oh.” Then I suddenly realized, “Wait a moment, the Radha Damodar Party is meant for Prabhupada’s pleasure, and if by going to China Prabhupada will be pleased, my life is made.”
So I immediately looked at Prabhupada and said, “Okay, I’m ready to go.” Prabhupada beamed. We went upstairs, because Prabhupada would walk around and around on the roof.
He announced, “Tamal Krishna Maharaj is going to China.” Everybody went, “Jai, hari bol!” Prabhupada turned this heavy situation into a glorious act. He was so expert. He never said too much about the whole thing.
He never said to me, “People are complaining about you,” or this or that. He found a way to correct the entire situation and open up something wonderful for Krishna. He found a way to turn what appeared to be a negative situation into a positive event.
—Tamal Krishna Goswami
Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint”
by Siddhanta das www.prabhupadamemories.com

By Karnamrita dasa

The concept that we are not our bodies is considered a preliminary basic understanding for devotees, yet this conception has proved not so easy to put into practice. We can all look within ourself and at our communities and society and contemplate how our failure to realize this truth is the cause of many of our disagreements and heated debates. Lets look at the basics of our embodiment.

The soul takes on a material body and mind, with an ego that says, “This is me.” The false ego (“false” because we have a real spiritual identity beyond physical forms) or our material “I” defines itself by what it thinks it possesses–what is mine, our “mys”. This “my-ness” is the basis of all problems the soul faces in the material world, including our problems in dealing with other persons, or souls also conditioned by “my-ness”. It is interesting how “my-ness” sounds like minus, since our material conceptions of identity can only exist if our spiritual identity is forgotten (the soul minus its true eternal identity is a forgetful soul habituated to living under the conditions or laws of matter.)

If someone lists who they are, on say a dating site, we would likely get a list of “mys” describing the body and mind. For instance, “I am a Christian—“southern Baptist”—attractive young white man, medium build with blue eyes and brown hair. I am fun loving athletic person who regularly plays tennis and goes to baseball games. I also love to watch adventure and romance movies, go hiking in nature, and attend folk dancing events.” That is one level of my-ness, the condition of our body, and our mental preferences, or likes and dislikes. All my-ness is what the soul thinks it possesses—though most people think those possessions are just them—who they are. In counseling situations when some negative trait is brought up to a client, one response is, “That is just the way I am.”

Extensions of our body are also considered who we are, or at least part of who we are—like our parents, siblings, or if we are married, our spouse and children. Those things are a big part of who we think we are even if we hate our parents, siblings or our “ex”—which then are a negative attachment or aversion. Devotees are also affected by these things, which tells us why so many have attended our workshops on “Giving up Resentment.”

Then there are the things everyone would accept are possessions. With these, we decorate our bodies, house them, and move them around. These include our clothes, jewelry, and type of living facility like house or apartment, furniture, vehicles, etc.

Our conditioning is in generally thinking of the identity of others in terms of their external body or internal temperament or preferences. These are all their “mys” by which we define then, as we look through our own “my-ness” lens. We perceive them in terms of our own conditioning, and thus we like or dislike them, or are attracted or repulsed etc. We often don’t like those qualities or faults in others that we have ourself.(atmavan manyate jagat)

In material consciousness, we perceive that our existence in the body (who we think we are) is threatened by non-existence through disease, natural calamities of so many varieties or ways we may meet cruel death. In order to prevent—at least temporarily—our demise we are busy working to create structures of safety and security and possessions to make our body and mind as comfortable and safe as possible. In other words, we think we have to add things on to our life to be happy. However, as long as our happiness is based on things that are temporary (which don’t endure)—possessions or material relationships—we are bound to be disappointed and frustrated.

Real spiritual life is about giving up the unessential and accepting the essential—those things which foster our spiritual life are to be accepted, those things which hamper or complicate our spiritual life are to let go of. Out with the old, and in with the new—of course our “old” material conditioning is actually new for the soul, while our apparently “new” spiritual consciousness is eternal and primal.

Experience has taught us that giving up of the non-essential and temporary has to be done according to our realization, and there are many things of the world which can be dovetailed with the purpose of the Lord. “Utility is the principle” Prabhupada taught us, so we don’t have to be a naked yogi to be spiritual (which we would see as false renunciation), but we make the endeavor to see everything in relationship to Krishna.

The Vedas encourage renunciation of material life, by acceptance of spiritual life, or experiencing a higher taste. Unless we have some distance from something by non-attachment, we can’t see it objectively. That is one view of what the expression, “Can’t see the forest for the trees” means—we only see a small picture and not the bigger one we may not like. If we are materially attached to some type of behavior or organizational understanding we can’t see it objectively if, for instance, if it needs to be given up. Likewise our attachment for another person may blind us to their bad qualities or behavior. In a broad sense if we see the material world as meant for our enjoyment (attachment) then we may become angry when we hear devotees decrying it through Krishna’s words as a temporary place of misery.

The world speaks to us according to our worldview. The Gita (4.11) tells us that God manifests to us–or not–by our level of interest in him. Everyone is reciprocated with by Krishna according to their understanding, and given their faith by him as well—no one is independent, though by illusion everyone in material consciousness takes credit for their perspective.

Thus to the atheist Krishna gives him his arguments, or those who believe God is impersonal energy are given that partial understanding. Those who think everything is ultimately a void (the Buddhist who “a-voids” God) become convinced by his agency, as well as those who want to see Nature as God, or conceive there many gods
(the pantheist), or have faith in a so-called reasonable scientific perspective, or his devotee who sees Krishna as his friend and love of their life—everyone is dependent, albeit unconsciously on Krishna for faith in their understanding. In general faith comes from Krishna’s mode of goodness, which is coming from him. Krishna is all good, and doesn’t force himself on anyone, yet he is especially inclined to help his pure devotee.

I mentioned in my last poem the famous verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam that calls our attention to a material thing very prominent in everyone’s life—the sun. We are taught by that verse that whenever we see the sunrise, its movement and setting, our life is decreasing. The physical body is “it” for the materialist, so they only think they have this one shot at living. However, for one who uses his or her life for spiritual advancement, their spiritual life is increasing—progress is being made for the attaining the supreme eternal atmosphere of the spiritual world, Goloka Vrindavana (Krishna’s abode).

In fact, when our goal is spiritual life or to attain Krishna, the whole world changes in appearance—from one of selfish sense enjoyment (material my-ness ) to a life of selfless service to Krishna and others in relationship to that service. Then the world will speak differently to us. For instance when Lord Chaitanya (the incarnation for the age of Kali, who taught the ideal of how to live as a devotee) looked at the trees they spoke to him: you should learn to be tolerant like we are—and when he looked at the grass they also spoke to him: be humble like we are!

The 11th Canto of the Bhagavatam gives us the narration of the avadhuta brahmana who due to his intense spiritual desire was able to take lessons for his spiritual life from the world, seeing 24 shiksa or instructing gurus. The highest devotee sees Krishna everywhere, and everyone and everything as his teacher. Here is a brief summary given at the beginning of that description in the 8th chapter of the first 9 of his shiksa gurus:

“Lord Krsna told Uddhava how the avadhuta brahmana explained to Maharaja Yadu the instructions he had received from nine of his gurus, beginning with the python.

“The instruction the avadhuta brahmana received from the python is that an intelligent person should cultivate a mentality of detachment and should maintain his body by accepting whatever comes of its own accord or is easily obtained. In this way, he should remain always engaged in the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even if no food is available, the person who wants to engage fully in the Lord’s worship should not beg; rather, he should understand this to be the arrangement of providence, thinking, “Whatever enjoyment is destined for me will automatically come, and thus I should not uselessly waste the remaining duration of my life in worrying about such things.” If he does not get any food, he should simply remain lying like the python and patiently fix his mind in meditation upon the Supreme Lord.

“The instruction the avadhuta brahmana received from the ocean is that the mind of the sage who is devoted to the Personality of Godhead appears very clear and grave, just like the still ocean waters. The ocean does not overflow during the rainy season, when all the flooded rivers discharge their waters into it, nor does it dry up during the hot season, when the rivers fail to supply it. Similarly, the sage does not become elated when he achieves desirable things, nor does he become distressed in their absence.

“The instruction of the moth is that just as he becomes enticed by the fire and gives up his life, the fool who cannot control his senses becomes enchanted by the forms of women decorated with gold ornaments and fine clothing. Chasing after these embodiments of the divine illusory energy of the Lord, he loses his life untimely and falls down into the most horrible hell.

“There are two kinds of bees, the bumblebee and the honeybee. The instruction learned from the bumblebee is that a sage should collect only small amounts of food from many different households and thus day after day practice the occupation of madhukari for maintaining his existence. A sage should also collect the essential truths from all scriptures, be they great or insignificant. The instruction received from the second insect, the honeybee, is that a mendicant sannyasi should not save the food he begs for the sake of having it later that night or the next day, because if he does so, then just like the greedy honeybee he will be destroyed along with his hoard.

“From the elephant the avadhuta brahmana received the following instruction. Male elephants are tricked by hunters into moving toward captive female elephants, whereupon they fall into the hunters’ ditch and are captured. Similarly, the man who becomes attached to the form of woman falls down into the deep well of material life and is destroyed.

“The instruction received from the honey thief is that just as he steals the honey collected with great effort by the honeybee, a person in the renounced order of life has the privilege of enjoying before anyone else the food and other valuable things purchased by the hard-earned money of the householders.

“The instruction from the deer is that just as he becomes confused upon hearing the song of the hunter’s flute and loses his life, so also does any person who becomes attracted to mundane music and song uselessly waste his life.

“The instruction learned from the fish is that because he comes under the sway of attachment to the sense of taste, he is caught on the baited fishhook and must die. Similarly, an unintelligent person who is victimized by his insatiable tongue will also end up losing his life.

“There was once a prostitute named Pingala in the city of Videha, and from her the avadhuta learned another lesson. One day she dressed herself in very attractive clothing and ornaments and was waiting from sunset until midnight for a customer. She waited in great anticipation, but as the time passed her mind became very uneasy. No man came to see her, and in disgust she finally became renounced, giving up her hankering for the arrival of a suitor. Thereafter she engaged herself in thinking only of the Supreme Lord, Hari, and her mind achieved the supreme platform of peace. The instruction received from her is that hopes for sense gratification are the root cause of all suffering. Therefore, only one who has given up such hankering can fix himself in meditation upon the Personality of Godhead and achieve transcendental peace.”

Therefore, if we sincerely want to be Krishna conscious the whole world can help us if we are open to learn in good spiritual association. Although this brahman or saintly devotee appeared alone, he was always seeing spiritually, feeling the presence of the Lord, and thus the world was never a hindrance to his bhakti. The process of bhakti is meant to enable us to solve all the apparent problems of life by solving the real problem of realizing our eternal self, occupation or service, and the love of our life, the divine couple, Shri Radha and Krishna. The process of Krishna consciousness or bhakti-yoga is for realizing this truth, and devotee communities and relationships are meant to foster that quest. As our godbrothers and sisters are increasingly teaching us– life is short, so if we act on our spiritual necessity we really know everything that is necessary to be known for success in life and we will not be caught up in material upheavals or petty quarrels. Death or the fear of death has a way of putting everything in perspective about what is really important and essential!

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19552

Sri Sri Radha Madhav Mandir, ISKCON Kanpur, is celebrating ISKCON 50, on 9th April 2016 for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. We are organizing a Mega Youth festival named “Xpression: A Festival of Gratitude”.
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/iskconkanpur/
To watch the promo video click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSYvRRG2SaM

Written by Gandharvika dd

Dear Devotees, family and well wishers,

After hearing from the radiologist regarding the increase ofthe cancer from the last MRI to this present one, and taking into consideration the increase of pain and discomfort Maharaja has been feeling, mainly in the right hip, he has decided to combine hormone therapy with his naturoterapic regime. He did not want to take the chance of becoming increasingly debilitated by only continuing his present course and has opted fortolerating the side effects of hormone therapy.

After discussing the MRI results further with the doctors it was discovered that that the size of the tumor had increased by 1 cm in periphery and the involvement of cancer in the pelvic area has increased by 40% on the right hand side and 25% in total. It is affecting only the ischium bone currently which makes up 25% of the pelvic area. 

The rest remains in good condition.

This is what is causing the most discomfort and pain for Maharaja, making it difficult for him to move. For this reason he will begin with the hormone therapy, which is often effective in reducing the growth of tumors and stopping the spread of prostate cancer. He will receive an injection every 3 months. It will take a few weeks before Maharaja will see results.

Fortunately, there has been no increase or spreading of the cancer to any other areas of the body or where the cancer is presently, such as the lungs and lymphnodes.

Maharaja is in good consciousness and receiving association of senior devotees daily. He is very grateful for all the love and support being expressed worldwide.

Your servant,
Gandharvika devi dasi

-------------------------
Actualizacion #6
Bangalore, India 
Escrito por Gandharvika dd

Queridos devotos, familiares y simpatizantes,

después de escuchar al radiólogo en relación con el aumento del cáncer de la última resonancia magnética para el presente, y teniendo en consideración el incremento del dolor y el malestar que Maharaja ha estado sintiendo, sobre todo en la cadera derecha, ha decidido combinar la terapia hormonal con su régimen de Naturoterapia.

No quiere correr el riesgo de estar cada vez más debilitado por continuar con su curso actual y ha optado por tolerar los efectos secundarios de la terapia hormonal.

Después de discutir los resultados de la MRI aún más con los médicos se descubrió que que el tamaño del tumor había aumentado en un 1 cm de periferia y la implicación del cáncer en el área pélvica se ha incrementado en un 40% en el lado derecho y un 25% en total . Actualmente está afectando sólo al hueso isquión que constituye el 25% del área de la pelvis. El resto se mantiene en buenas condiciones.

Esto es lo que está causando más molestias y dolor Maharaja, haciendo difícil que se mueva. Por esta razón comenzará con la terapia hormonal, que es a menudo eficaz en la reducción del crecimiento de tumores y para detener la propagación del cáncer de próstata. Él recibirá una inyección cada 3 meses. Llevará un par de semanas antes de que Maharaja vea resultados.

Afortunadamente, no ha habido ningún aumento o propagación del cáncer a otras áreas del cuerpo o desde donde el cáncer está en la actualidad, tales como los pulmones y ganglios linfáticos. Maharaja está en buena conciencia y la recibiendo la asociación diaria de devotos mayores. Él está muy agradecido por todo el amor y apoyo que es expresado en todo el mundo.
Su sirviente,
Gandharvika devi dasi

Source: https://www.facebook.com/Gunagrahigoswamihealth/posts/1738241439743579

By Mahatma das

Recently I was at a program in Tennessee in which a devotee said that environment is more powerful than willpower. He later told me how his environment at work was not at all conducive for Krsna conscious. He felt he could be Krsna conscious at home, but not at work.

After speaking with him I thought about his point further and considered it to be an important topic to address. So we’ll talk about environment versus willpower, and how this relates to the workplace.

What’s the Ideal Environment
Let’s start with the good news: we can be Krsna conscious anywhere.

And here’s the bad news: there really isn’t an ideal environment for being Krsna consciousness.

I hear you saying, “How can you say that?” What about the temple, what about Vrndavana and Mayapura, what about a Rathayatra Festival?”

Yes, those would seem to be ideal environments for developing Krsna consciousness. But let me ask you a question: Does everyone who goes to Vrndavana, or a temple, or to a Rathayatra become Krsna conscious? Most people do, but one can even fall into maya in the Lord’s personal presence.

The panacea of the age is the maha-mantra. It is the yuga dharma, it is the best way to be Krsna conscious. Does everyone who chants Hare Krsna become Krsna conscious? The impersonalists don’t. They chant to become one with Krsna. And I would be embarrassed to tell you how many rounds I have chanted in my life and not even thought of Krsna while His name was continually coming from my lips.

“Well,” you say, “at least you are chanting and that will protect you from maya.” If Krsna is there in His name and my mind is off somewhere in maya land, the reality is that somehow or other I am not thinking of Krsna.

And that’s not ideal.

Lord Caitanya had a servant named Kala Krsnadas, who while traveling with the Lord was lured away by gypsies. If traveling with Lord Caitanya isn’t an “ideal” environment, I don’t know what is. It doesn’t get much better than that. But even in that “ideal” environment we still have the choice to forget Krsna.

Environment is Not Everything
We have the exact opposite situation with Prahlada Maharaja. He was born into an environment that was probably way less conducive to being Krsna conscious than you or I will ever be in. He had an atheist father who had him trained to be an atheist by teachers who were atheists in schools run by atheists (I guess it must have been called Asurakula). Yet he remained completely Krsna conscious. So although environment has an effect on you and me, environment alone doesn’t determine how Krsna conscious we will or won’t be.

So what determines that?

You do.

Check Your Beliefs
Have you ever felt that you can’t really be Krsna conscious at work or in a particular situation? If so, look to see if this idea is based on the belief that to be Krsna conscious I need the “proper” or “ideal” environment. If this is your belief and work doesn’t fall into what you consider the “proper” environment, you are likely resigned to the fact that your day at work is not going to be a very Krsna conscious experience.

If this is how you feel, your beliefs need to change in order that your day at work can be more Krsna conscious.

Let me ask you another question: If you think you can’t be Krsna conscious at work, what do you think the chances of you being Krsna at work are? Pretty easy to answer, right? When you say “I can’t,” you pretty much limit the possibility of anything else happening.

If you think that way, I would assume you don’t really try to be Krsna conscious at work because, as you already know, you can’t. As soon as you say, “I can only be Krsna consciousness in a particular environment, a favorable environment, you create a self-fulfilling prophecy and limit your ability to always think of Krsna.

Be open to the possibility that you can be more Krsna consciousness than you might think while being in an environment that is not “ideal,” or in an environment that is even “hostile.” In other words, you can be more Krsna conscious at work than you think.

Do You See What I See?
When I used to distribute books, one of the things that inspired me most was to see everyone as devotees, devotees who had somehow forgotten they were devotees. I would see the little spark of a devotee in them, the spark that was buried under lifetimes of ignorance. As long as I saw that spark, I would relate to them in a much more Krsna conscious way than I normally would.

I’d like you to try this. Tomorrow when you go to work (if you don’t work you can do this when you go out) see everyone as a devotee, a devotee who simply has forgotten that they are a devotee. If you have this vision it is going to change your whole day because when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

A variation of this is to practice seeing everyone as a spiritual being, or to practice seeing Krsna in the heart of everyone at work. Don’t see man, woman, white or black. If you see everyone as a soul, if you see Krsna in everyone and in everything, you’ll be Krsna conscious at every moment. Krsna is everywhere, even in the screen you are staring at right now. Prabhupada said that when you see Krsna everywhere, you will be completely Krsna conscious just by seeing.

Another day you could make an effort to observe how the modes of nature are working. When someone is angry, for example, you can envision that person as a puppet being pulled by the mode of passion (read Bhagavad-gita Chapter Fourteen). When I distributed books and someone became upset with me for offering them a book, Krsna often allowed me to see things exactly this way. I never felt hurt or thought that this is a bad person; I just thought the mode of passion is helplessly forcing this person to become angry. I also felt sorry for them thinking how miserable this person must be to become so easily upset.

Everyday you could take some aspect of Krsna consciousness, like the examples mentioned above, and try to see the world from that perspective. If you can see like that, seeing through eyes of sastra, you can have a completely Krsna conscious day at work.

Rise to the Challenge
The workplace can offer us the opportunity to practice qualities such as tolerance, discipline, forgiveness, kindness, empathy, etc. You might want to consider how an advanced devotee would act if he or she were working at your job and was subjected to the problems and stresses that you go through.

What’s For Lunch?
What else could you do? You could distribute prasadam. Bring a few extra things for your co-workers to eat at lunch, something that you think they would especially like. This will give you an opportunity to explain why you are vegetarian and what prasadam is (and get them addicted to prasadam). You could also bring flowers, garlands, or scents from your altar or the temple.

Give Krsna, Get Krsna
Prabhupada said that one of the best ways to be Krsna consciousness is to give Krsna to others. He once wrote me and said that the more we give Krsna consciousness, the more we become Krsna conscious. This idea is explained in the Caitanya Caritamrita. There is it is said that when you give Krsna, you get Krsna.

In 1970 I was traveling and distributing books and this was the first time big books were ever distributed in large quantities in Iskcon. We wrote Srila Prabhupada with the news and he replied, “….. this is the symptom of an advanced devotee; he takes every opportunity to spread Krsna consciousness.” Prabhupada also used to say that you should strain your brain to spread Krsna consciousness. Why not discover what opportunities exist at work to give people Krsna consciousness? Christians all over the world do this. Why shouldn’t we?

Some More Ideas
Here are a few more things you might want to try if you believe the atmosphere at work lends itself to these suggestions.

Every week you could print out a verse or a saying from sastra and put it somewhere on your desk that is visible to others (perhaps frame it too). This might stir up some interest and cause people to ask you questions about your beliefs. You can do the same thing with Krsna conscious desk calendars that have a different quote for every day of the year. If dress code allows, you can do this with a Krsna conscious t-shirt. If you own your own business, you can have pictures of Krsna and Krsna conscious sayings on the wall.

Another thing that will help you be Krsna conscious at work is that you can pray to Krsna for the people at your work place. For example, you can pray that they become open to Krsna consciousness. And if you see that happening, you can take advantage of the opportunity to introduce spiritual topics and even invite them to participate in some Krsna conscious programs.

Ultimately the best way to help people become Krsna conscious is to be Krsna conscious yourself. People are usually more impressed by who you are and what you do than what you say. If people see that there is something different or special about you, they are going to want to know your secret. When they find out your secret, it might spark interest and faith in Krsna consciousness. So your behavior, your qualities, your dealing with others, is an essential aspect of your “preaching” at work.

Obviously there are many other ways to interest people in Krsna and it’s not the purpose of this newsletter to come up with a long list. I brought up the above examples just to get your juices flowing – to get you thinking about what you might be able to do in your workplace, and to realize there are more opportunities to be Krsna conscious at work than you might think.

You Don’t Win the Game on the Court
Ultimately, being Krsna consciousness in the workplace is highly dependent on what you do when you are not a work, just as the success of an athlete is dependent on their practice before the competition. The more Krsna conscious activity you do when you are not at work, the greater the chance you have of being Krsna conscious at work.

Heaven or hell is a state of consciousness. You have control over whether you work in heaven or you work in hell.

Devotee Owned Businesses

The purpose of this article is not to discount the reality that many of us work in environments that can make it a challenge to be Krsna conscious. Ideally it would be best to work in devotee owned businesses and thus work in the association of other devotees. I always encourage devotees so inclined to develop businesses and companies that can employ other devotees.

I also encourage all devotees (especially those who have successful businesses or well paying jobs) to direct money beyond their regular donations into projects that they have a special connection with or attraction for; or even to develop their own preaching projects. When your work is directly connected to supporting something that is dear to your heart, it creates an inspiring connection between your work and devotional service.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19610

Sankirtana is for everyone!
Titiksu dasa: I would like to share one story from the UK about some non devotees doing book distribution.
In Rochester, we have an ISKCON charity shop. Many charities raise funds in the UK by renting a shop and selling old clothing and other items donated by the public. Its traditional that people wanting to do something to help charities volunteer their time to help in these shops, and in Rochester they have volunteers like this. They are not devotees and not even vegetarians or anything. During the Marathon, Mukunda put a book table outside the shop and had these volunteers man it. He had written on some cards a few lines about the different books so they could tell interested people. If anyone was more seriously interested they were to be directed to Mukunda. In this way books were going out and the volunteers were getting very happy! Soon the most popular job in the charity shop was manning the book table. He couldn’t get them to stop.
This proves the point that anyone can be engaged in SKP, even non-devotees!
Your servant, Titiksu dasa

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19608

Dear Vaisnavas, friends, my family and all,

I want to express my gratitude to all of you for your kindness, your prayers and good wishes in this trying time. It has been about a month since I was diagnosed with a tumor in the rectum. In two operations, the cancer affected areas have been removed. Initially doctors were recommending a follow up treatment of chemo and radiation combined. I must say that I had great difficulty in my mind to surrender to such a hellish treatment, which may destroy cancer and the rest of the body as well and I decided not to do it and instead rely on Krsna and natural treatment. Yesterday I met with the doctors and in conclusion, they gave their blessings for this, providing that I submit myself to regular check ups which I will do. There is obviously a risk that cancer will come back once it has started, but we leave that up to Krsna.

Meanwhile I feel greatly relieved and more close to my heart following a natural path and investing in my own Krsna consciousness and sharing it through writing. Now I need six more weeks of recovery from the operations and one more procedure to improve the urine flow.

Then I can try to resume a ” normal” life. I am planning to take it easy, listen more to the body and travel less, stay longer in one place, follow a health regime and focus on writing.

I can’t just pick up from where I left off. There will be many events and  programs that I was scheduled to attend, I may attend some and others not. It has to do with my own energy levels, preserving them and letting them dictate what to do and what not. I have been on a recovery program before, so I am familiar with it. Please forgive me if I can’t be available as much as before. It is easy to get swept up in stream of activity, but that is not what I need.

Meanwhile I am looking forward to meeting many of you personally somewhere at some given point in time. You are all wonderful people, I am living by your prayers and kindness.

Once again,
Thank you very much
Your friend and servant,
Kadamba Kanana Swami

Source: https://www.kksblog.com/2016/03/42730/

Download the audio for this lecture here:

http://www.mayapurtvarchives.com/p/downloads-2016.html

From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir

Date: March 4th 2016

Speaker: HH Badri Narayan Maharaj

Subject: S.B.7.2.11

TEXT 11

viṣṇur dvija-kriyā-mūlo

yajño dharmamayaḥ pumān

devarṣi-pitṛ-bhūtānāṁ

dharmasya ca parāyaṇam

TRANSLATION

The basic principle of brahminical culture is to satisfy Lord Viṣṇu, the personification of sacrificial and ritualistic ceremonies. Lord Viṣṇu is the personified reservoir of all religious principles, and He is the shelter of all the demigods, the great pitās, and the people in general. When the brāhmaṇas are killed, no one will exist to encourage the kṣatriyas to perform yajñas, and thus the demigods, not being appeased by yajña, will automatically die.

PURPORT

Since Viṣṇu is the central point of brahminical culture, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s plan was to kill Viṣṇu, for if Viṣṇu were killed, naturally the brahminical culture would also be lost. With brahminical culture lost, yajña would no longer be performed, and for want of yajña the regular distribution of rainfall would cease (yajñād bhavati parjanyaḥ [Bg. 3.14]). Thus there would be disturbances all over the world, and naturally the demigods would be defeated. From this verse we get a clear indication of how human society is disturbed when the Vedic Āryan civilization is killed and the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies performed by the brāhmaṇas are stopped. Kalau śūdra–sambhavaḥ: because the population of the modern world consists mostly of śūdras, the brahminical culture is now lost and is extremely difficult to reestablish in a proper way. Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, which will revive brahminical culture very easily.

harer nāma harer nāma

harer nāmaiva kevalam

kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva

nāsty eva gatir anyathā

[Adi 17.21]

Because of the increment in demoniac population, people have lost brahminical culture. Nor is there a kṣatriyagovernment. Instead, the government is a democracy in which any śūdra can be voted into taking up the governmental reigns and capture the power to rule. Because of the poisonous effects of Kali–yuga, the śāstra (Bhāg. 12.2.13) says, dasyu–prāyeṣu rājasu: the government will adopt the policies of dasyus, or plunderers. Thus there will be no instructions from the brāhmaṇas, and even if there are brahminical instructions, there will be no kṣatriya rulers who can follow them. Aside from Satya–yuga, even formerly, in the days when demons were flourishing, Hiraṇyakaśipu planned to destroy the brahminical culture and the kṣatriya government and thus create chaos all over the world. Although in Satya–yuga this plan was very difficult to execute, in Kali–yuga, which is full of śūdras and demons, the brahminical culture is lost and can be revived only by the chanting of the mahā–mantra. Therefore theKṛṣṇa consciousness movement, or the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, has been inaugurated to revive brahminical culture very easily so that people may become happy and peaceful in this life and prepare for elevation in the next. In this regard, Śrīla Madhvācārya quotes this verse from the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa:

vipra-yajñādi-mūlaṁ tu

harir ity āsuraṁ matam

harir eva hi sarvasya

mūlaṁ samyaṅ mato nṛpa

“O King, the demons think that Hari, Lord Viṣṇu, exists because of the brāhmaṇas and yajña, but factually Hari is the cause of everything including the brāhmaṇas and yajña.” Therefore, through the popularizing of hari–kīrtana, or thesaṅkīrtana movement, the brahminical culture and kṣatriya government will automatically come back, and people will be extremely happy.

Before we start, I’d like to ask for some blessings. I am a relatively new sannyasi. I am often introduced with the term “Your Holiness.” The only way that I can accept that is with a little changing of the spelling, that I am full of holes. Because I am full of anarthas and holes like swiss cheese, I just ask for your blessings. Please, can I say something useful and pleasing to you. Then our time together will be well spent.

I also apologize to the translators, wherever you are. I speak quickly and I wish you all good luck. I will try and go slowly but we are all either blessed or cursed by our particular natures.

I was listening some time ago to a lecture by Srila Prabhupada from1969 in New York. He is speaking from Bhagavad Gita. He is talking about the cycle or the wheel of life. Those are Prabhupada’s actual words – cycle or wheel of life. He is saying that you offer sacrifice so that you please the demigods, the demigods provide rain therefore you get grains and everybody is happy. Prabhupada says it is the wheel or chakra of dharma and the wheel is meant to turn.

Here we see Krishna’s arrangement for this world. There is a wheel of dharma. Everyone has their role to play. They push it and the wheel turns. Everyone is happy.

Prabhupada is talking about how they are all sudras. So, how is this world going on? Socrates says to know thyself and to thine own self be true. We should first know what our position is. Who am I? What’s going on in this world? It’s what makes a man different from an animal. We are looking for the cause of all causes and of course, we have found the cause of all causes that makes that wheel turn. They are also looking for the cause of all causes. Prabhupada that because they are sudras, fools, they have so many ideas.

I heard another tape where Prabhupada was using the word adrista. He says that there is no such thing as the word accident in the Vedic scriptures. They use instead the word adrista which means that there is cause but we don’t see it. We don’t know it.

People are stumbling along without knowing why this wheel is turning and where they fit in it. They are searching it out in their own way. As Prabhupada says here in the purport, everyone is born sudra. The basic common sense is lost.

My mother, who has passed away now, she went to the doctor. She had some condition so they gave her a pill for it. The pill had a side effect which caused headaches. The doctor said to not worry, they have a pill for that. Now she was on two pills. That caused another side effect, so, they gave her another pill. Now she was on three pills. Finally she got up to five pills. She told the doctor that this was depressing. The doctor said they have a pill for that. My mother said, “We’re out of here. We’re finding another doctor!”

They are looking for the cause of causes but all they are doing is compounding the problem because they do not know the root.

One of my favorites, I couldn’t make this stuff up if I wanted to, go home and google “dark matter.” Do you know what dark matter is? In order to hold the cosmos together it should do one of two things, according to the understanding of physics. It could either completely spin out or it could implode on itself. The reason that it stays where it is is because of certain gravitation forces, pushes and pulls, that hold everything in place. We know that it’s Balaram, but they have their speculative idea. The problem is that gravity is created by mass. To get the right gravitational pull there needs to be a certain amount of mass. They can’t find it. It’s called dark matter. To make all of their equations fit together and explain creation, there is over 90% of matter in the universe that they cannot find.

Suppose that I open Badrinarayan Swami’s Convenience Store, Best and Cheapest. You come on in and buy something. Suppose that you give me a hundred dollars to buy a ten dollar item. I say thank you very much, jaya, and close the cash register. You will say hey, where is my change? I’ll say no, no, it’s there. They are just dark dollars.

It’s laughable, but that is the cornerstone of astrophysics, dark matter. One devotee told me a joke: dark matter, anti-matter, it doesn’t matter. They are completely in a fog.

Prabhupada was with a man once who was talking about the missing link. I was actually there at that time. Prabhupada replied that the missing link is my foot in your face. Only Prabhupada could say that. He said later on that I can say this but you cannot. He said that an old man can go anywhere and say anything.

I was listening to another tape and there is a man talking about creating life. Prabhupada said, fine, prove it. They make so many unfounded claims and nobody calls them on it. Prabhupada was brave. He called them on it. If you say you can create life, fine.

Prabhupada said if you take a car and the car runs out of gas then you put gas in it. It’s a simple thing. If you fix the wire then the machine works.

Prabhupada said take plastic and make an egg shape. Fill it full of chemicals and see if you can produce a chicken. Prabhupada told the man to sit on it and see if he can produce a chicken.

What do you say when somebody says that to you? About evolution, Prabhupada said, what evolution? You’re still monkeys. Actually, your ancestors may be monkeys, but my ancestors are the great Vedic sages.

One of my favorites, again, you can google it, is Parks Observatory in Australia. They have one of those giant telescopes. NASA uses it to trace things. It’s one of the best in the world. For seventeen years they have been printing scientific papers where they say that they have found what must be two dark stars colliding. It’s either a red dwarf star being born or two dark stars colliding. For seventeen years there have been accolades and clapping. Do you know what it turned out to be? The microwave oven in the staff kitchen. That’s what they had been recording. If you put something in there for two and a half minutes and they open the door a little early the bell would ring. Something would burst, and that’s what they were recording. Cal Tech, MIT, IIT – oh yes. But it was a microwave oven.

So, they are groping. They don’t know what is going on. And people just buy it.

The fact of the matter which is being described here is that the universe is finely tuned. It is designed by Krishna. It is a machine, a wheel of dharma, which is meant to turn according to the principles which Krishna has given. That’s how the whole thing works.

The wheel is turning but, surprise of surprises, it’s not turning our way. We’re trying to get in there and turn it the other way, but this is the way that it works. It is the only way that it works.

In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna was telling Arjuna to fight but he kept saying no. He had his own idea. Prabhupada would take terms and turn them in a different way. Prabhupada said that the whole purpose of the Bhagavad Gita was to get Arjuna to say yes to Krishna, to turn Arjuna from a “no” man to a “yes” man. In America we have this saying that someone is a “yes” man. But Srila Prabhupada heard it in a different way.

We have a choice. We can try and dominate this material nature. We have this archetype example of Hiranyakasipu of someone trying to control things, that everything is under my control and goes my way. Or, we can recognize that our actual position is as a small cog in the machine and that it goes Krishna’s way. We can try and control or we can try and cooperate.

The theme of this talk is the wisdom of surrender. We have these top graduates at IIT and Cal Tech, but what they have is not actually intelligence.

In the first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam it’s talking about the first step in God realization. It is that recognition that I am dependent, that I am not the controller. I could get struck by lightening. Anything could happen. One of the top attorneys in San Diego was on his way to court and he fell in a manhole and was killed. Somebody had left the lid off.

Another man was walking in El Cajon, which means “the box” in Spanish. He was happily walking down the road and was hit by a lime green bowling ball. It fell out of the sky, hit him in the chest, and killed him. Anyone want to ask where the lime green bowling ball came from? A man was flying to a bowling competition in Las Vegas. The engine failed in his airplane. He was trying to throw weight out of the plane and so he threw his bowling ball out. Anybody here expect to get hit by a bowling ball today? Of course, you are in the holy dhama so it may be an auspicious thing.

Govinda das says that like a drop of water on a lotus leaf tottering, that’s our actual position.

The first step in God realization is to recognize that we are dependent, that the universe is going on by design. We all know that wherever you see order, patterns, symmetry, there is intelligence behind it. And behind intelligence is a person. That is our universal experience. It is the universal experience since time immemorial. Yet, in Kali Yuga, they scratch their heads and say no, no.

One man from MIT, I think his name is Steven Goul, he said that the universe is the original free lunch. Everything came from nothing. We’re supposed to swallow this stuff?

The Vedic view being mentioned here is to see how everything is going on by Krishna’s design, how we are actually dependent. That dependence is not a weak willed, oppression. They say “mother earth,” it’s a loving sense of indebtedness and gratitude. Gratitude without reciprocation is meaningless. Like when Prabhupada gives the example: Prabhu, can you get me a glass of water? The devotee says, jaya, prabhu, and doesn’t move. The guy says, you know I’m really getting thirsty here, can you get me some water? And the response is jaya, prabhu.

What is the proof that you heard me? What is the proof of hearing? Action. It’s meant to make the wheel turn, something is supposed to happen.

Here we have Hiranyakasipu. What is his reaction? His reaction is revenge, anger, devastation, rage against the universe.

Prabhupada was in Detroit in 1975 or 76. He was sitting out in the garden afternoon. Everything was designed to bloom in the spring. Prabhupada gave it the name Devasadan Mandir, place of the demigods. Everything was in bloom, purple and yellow, it’s just beautiful. Prabhupada is sitting out in the garden and there is this canal that comes off of the Detroit river. It has caught on fire three times and took four days to put out. People would go out on there boat. This man was out on his boat and he couldn’t have been very far from Srila Prabhupada. He got up in his boat and he started shouting. He said I know you Hare Krishna people. You’ve got those big houses. You’ve got those big festivals. You’re always feasting. He was going on and on like this. He was furious. When he ran out of steam Srila Prabhupada said yes, come and join. The guy completely blew a gasket. He didn’t expect that. Prabhupada did not deny it at all.

One newspaper reporter asked Prabhupada one time what do you do for recreation. Prabhupada said what? Our whole movement is recreation. My father used to joke with me that I retired at seventeen and a half when I joined the Hare Krishna movement. We work hard for Krishna but ours is a labor of love. It’s a different type of thing. It’s not a burden but a labor of love.

The wisdom of surrender begins with the recognition of our actual position. I was at the drug store, chemist shop. I was buying something. I was there with the cashier. There was someone trying to get out. They were pushing on the door with difficulty. The cashier said it says pull. Oh, ok, and they got out. We’re like that. We’re hammering against the door pushing. But it doesn’t work that way, my friends. Just give it a pull and it will work just fine.

We just follow Krishna’s instructions. We are part and parcel of Krishna, servants of Krishna. Everything will come.

Again, talking about Hiranyakasipu, Prabhupada says in one lecture that we have a little Hiranyakasipu inside our heart, all of us. I know that certainly I do. You’re all saintly, but, certainly me.

We are all trying desperately to control events. Prabhupada calls it the childlike innocence of bhakti. It’s one of those great sutras by Prabhupada. It’s not childish as in foolish or uneducated, but the childlike innocence of bhakti.

Someone was asking about astrology saying I’m in a Venus period. We’ve all heard that before. Prabhupada says that with one kick, Krishna can kick ten thousand Rahu planets. What happened when Krishna appeared? All the planets aligned themselves despite their natural alignment. They all readjusted themselves.

For the devotee who surrenders to Krishna with that childlike innocence of bhakti, Krishna arranges things. We are under Krishna’s shelter. We cannot control events. I’m sixty-three years old and believe me, I have learned that. At forty or thirty it may not have gotten through yet, but by the time you are my age, you know.

What can we control? We can’t control events so what can we control. We can control how we respond to events. We can’t control the event, but we can rage like Hiranyakasipu, we can try to manipulate everything. I think it’s Dylan Thomas who says do not go gently into that long good night. He’s talking about getting old and then dying. Do not go gently into that long, dark, night, but rage, rage, rage against the dimming of the light. Well, you can rage until hell freezes over but the light is going out, my friend.

We’re talking about control. We’re trying to surrender. Ok, I’m surrendering to Krishna, why doesn’t He answer my prayers? We accept that God is all powerful. We would not want to argue that God is not all powerful, by definition. Anyone deny that or want to argue it? Have a crack at it, go ahead. That God is not all merciful? There are cornerstone principles. There are many more, but He is all powerful and all merciful.

Now, I’m offering a prayer, whether by lighting a candle or tying a cloth or sending up a prayer flag. God’s not answering. If He’s all powerful then that means that He could answer it if He wanted to. Why doesn’t He if He’s all merciful? If He’s all powerful then He has the ability, and if He’s all merciful then He has the kind, Karuna heart. Why doesn’t He do it? Guess what? Maybe He knows what’s best for us.

I wanted to be an astronaut. I wanted to be a fireman. I wanted to be President of the United States. Thank heaven that didn’t work out.

You’re all great souls who took birth to serve Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission, but I thought it was a bright idea to come to this material world. Do you want to talk about original foolishness? We thought it was a great idea to come to this world. Everything after that is just downhill. We made such a huge and stupid mistake. Then we think we are going to make a right idea? What we are asking for, what we want, what we think we need, what do we know?

We should simply think, let me serve Krishna. Let me engage in Krishna’s devotional service. If He doesn’t answer my prayers, there is a good reason for it.

On one tape, Prabhupada says that he had just taken sannyasa. He was in Vrindavan, and he was gored by a bull. He said I was thinking, I’ve surrendered to You. I’m here in Vrindavan. I’m trying to preach. Why has this happened? Prabhupada says that later on he understood. He doesn’t say why, only that later on he understood.

We’ve all had that experience. We thought something was great and we didn’t get it. But it worked out for the better. Krishna is playing the long game. We’re playing the short game. I got a scratch, I itch it. Stimulus, response. We may be a little more sophisticated but basically it’s stimulus, response.

Krishna has the long game. He’s trying to deliver us from this material world. He’s trying to purify our hearts. He’s trying to pull us out of this place.

What if it’s true? Just think about it for a minute. Everything we read, beautiful, sweet Krishna and wonderful pastimes.

I was there in LA. Prabhupada said that everything here in this world is a struggle. Does anyone want to doubt that? Just stand up, a muscle could pop, you could fall over, make a garland and you could stick yourself in the thumb. Where do we start? I live in San Diego. We have earth quakes, tidal waves, drive by shootings, and fires. But, there is always a sea breeze blowing. But it’s not such a nice place.

There is a saying that the best laid plans of mice and men do oft go astray.

Hirayakasipu has his plan to control and dominate as the archetype conditioned soul raging against how the wheel of the universe is turning. Krishna has got him on both ends of the spectrum. It’s very far out if you think about it.

Sometimes somebody will be proud like me, but I have no reason, no qualification for being proud. If you look at Hirayakasipu, he actually had some reasons to be proud. He was no “slow” as they say in America. If he raised his eyebrow, all of the demigods would be trembling. He was a powerful person. How does Krishna deal with it?

First of all, on the micro end of the spectrum, his own sweet little son, Prahlad, was five years old. What can they do? They are completely dependent. I ran away from home once and I asked my father if he would give me a ride to the corner so I could run away. He had to take me in his car. He pinned a note on me. He let me out on the corner and said, you’re old enough. It’s very good that you’ve made this decision, don’t forget to write. I made it about half a block. My father followed at a short distance to keep an eye on me. He pulled up next to me and said, so how’s it going? How is independent life? I jumped into the car and never ran away again until I joined the Hare Krishna movement.

Krishna is like that, He gives us our independence but He’s there at every moment just waiting for the lightbulb to go on.

So Hirayakasipu is completely defeated by Prahlad in every way. Everyone is afraid of him and Prahlad says, my dear best of the demons, he’s completely unafraid. On the other end of the spectrum, could Hirayakasipu have possibly calculated that Lord Nrsimhadeva was going to pop out of that pillar, half man, half lion, with all of the benedictions fulfilled? Nails that are not living and not dead, a door step that is not inside or outside, all of the fine print was masked. He was looking at this huge abhutanashringa, his mane touching the sky. He was stunned. On the small side and the big side, Prahlad Maharaj and Hirayakasipu, he was completely defeated. We’re not even in the game, not even in that league.

We should cooperate rather than try and dominate.

There is a GBC man, I don’t want to embarrass him, and a GBC meeting. He told me this story personally. There was a decision that he didn’t like. I know that may be shocking but it happens sometimes. Your temple president, your husband, your wife, we all make decisions that may bother us a bit. He wasn’t happy. He went to Prabhupada and was telling him all of the reasons that he wasn’t happy. And Prabhupada said, that’s alright. Whatever you’ve decided, like the Pandavas, you execute. They argued. Bhima and Arjuna wanted to fight. Yudisthira was counseling right time, right place, right circumstance. Prabhupada said that whatever has been decided, you just follow. If there is some mistake, Krishna will fix it, He will adjust. The devotee bowed down but he was thinking yeah, but how long is that going to take? You know how the mind runs. When he came up, Prabhupada slammed his hand down and said, but not in your time, in His time.

We have a duty to fix inequities, injustices. It’s not that we think spiritual does not mean moral. I’m not talking about mode of goodness, but a strain of ethics. If you throw a rock into a pond there are concentric circles that go out. The spiritual plane includes morality, ethics, kindness, and all of those factors. It has to or it’s hollow. It’s faux spiritualism.

No doubt that we have a duty to speak up and do the best that we can, to right inequities. I’m not saying that. If my tooth is rotting in my head I don’t say ok, well, I guess that’s Krishna’s arrangement and just accept it. Prabhupada said that devotees are fearless but they are not fools. We have intelligence so we should use it.

In the ultimate issue we just accept, alright Krishna, You’ll take care of it in Your time. Either You will take care of it and it will be adjusted. We all want to see it in our own lifetime. I want to see justice done. We have had so many difficulties in life. Where do you want to start?

When you’re all back to Godhead are you going to complain that, three lives ago you broke up my marriage and my husband ran off with another person, in that car accident I really banged up my knee. All of it fits together.

If you look at the Pandavas, Prabhupada said they were being hunted in the forest like animals when they were in the banishment. Those are Prabhupada’s exact words – hunted in the forest like animals. They were fleeing here and there for their lives. Yet, we find in this ashram they met one rishi and helped him with this and that. He gave them a benediction, here’s a certain weapon. When Yudisthira was here he gave good advice to a king and the king said if you ever need anything you just call me. If you look in the Mahabharat and put all of the pieces together then you can see how Krishna was simply preparing them for success on the battlefield of Kuruksetra.

Of course, everything ultimately depends on Krishna. Krishna is preparing us for success at the time of death. That’s all that matters, ante narayana smriti, what happens at the time of death. Door number one or door number two, do I pick the small potatoes or do I surrender to Krishna? Do I remember Krishna?

If we understand what the nature of the game is, the activity, let me remember Krishna at the time of death and go back home back to godhead, then what it takes to get there will be a minor issue.

The Bhagavatam is full of compare and contrast. It’s full of both success stories and the archetype fools. Shakespeare could never touch it. It’s full, it’s just wonderful. Here we have right in front of us in this section of the Bhagavatam Prahlad Maharaj, innocent and defenseless. Then you have someone so powerful who, when he moves his eyebrows, the demigods are afraid. Yet, that small boy is completely fearless and completely victorious so much so that that small boy delivers the father. It’s an amazing thing.

I was thinking in the same way that you have the Pandavas and the Kurus. By all material calculations the Kurus should have completely defeated them. Yet they became completely successful. You have Amarish and Durvasa Muni. Durvas Muni went all the way to the spiritual world. He pulls out one hair and a big demon comes up. Ambarish just folds his hands. Yet we have Durvasa Muni ultimately falling down at the feet of Ambarish saying please forgive me. Ambarish’s response was that if I have done anything pious and have any good credit then you please take it.

I was thinking about Srila Prabhupada. Everything was against it. I remember the mantra: dogs run free so why can’t we? That was a mantra. Of course the thought never hit that maybe I’m not a dog. The fact of the matter is that Srila Prabhupada was completely against the social current. The nation was being torn apart over the Vietnam war. Everyone under forty was saying don’t do it, stop.

Prabhupada was speaking from Bhagavad Gita. It’s an amazing thing if you think about it. We could just go down the line. Everyone wanted to grow their hair and Prabhupada was saying shave up. It’s exactly cross currents. They asked Prabhupada, why did you come to America? Prabhpuada said that one of his godbrothers had gone to London and failed. Another brother went to Scandinavia and he failed. Another one went to Germany and he failed. Prabhupada said in his own sweet humility, well, if I’m going to fail, at least let me fail in a new place. We know that Prabhupada is a great bhakta, a great general. He knew if you turn America, you turn the world. It worked, against all odds.

That wisdom of surrender to just surrender to Krishna message, words, and what he’s doing in my life, let me surrender to that. That is actual wisdom. You can rage, rage, rage against the dimming of the light. You can rage against the machine. Your cold fingers will be torn away. Sans hair, sans teeth, sans everything – we are stripped of everything.

When you go into the Vatican there is a skull. The skull is the first thing that greets you. It says you are what I once was. I am what you will become. That’s pretty heavy. The skull is right there. You are what I once was, happy with my little camera and my shorts with a tour guide. I was also happy once skipping along the lane. But now I am what you will become.

When I first met the devotees, Sukadeva, I can never repay him, I thought I was a golden boy kissed by the gods. I was living in Laguna Beach where the sea breeze is always blowing. If I just stayed on the conveyor belt, if I didn’t jump off, everything was going to be just great. I was talking to Sukadeva and he was saying that this world is suffering. I said maybe for you. There is a bumper sticker that you see in America that says those who say money can’t buy happiness don’t know where to shop. I was thinking yeah, maybe you’re a good will willy who can’t get it together but I’m having a great time. Sensing that arrogance, the last thing he said to me as he turned away was that you know, there’s one thing about this world, no body gets out alive. It kept rattling around in my head. Have you ever seen those buildings where they blow out the linch pins and the whole thing collapses? It blew out my whole world view. Everything collapsed.

They have everything in America, everything foolish. They have dog races with greyhounds. It’s a particular type of dog, sleek and thin with a long pointed nose. They can run as fast as a cheetah. They have these dog races, especially in Miami. But they have them in southern California, too. They take a wounded or dead rabbit and they wave it in front of the dogs. They smell the blood and they get super agitated. They have a little metal fake rabbit that’s on the track that takes off and the dogs all race after it as fast as they can. They race around the track but they never get the rabbit. What happens every now and then get a dog who says, wait a minute, what am I running for? I’m never going to get this thing. Why? I’m knocking myself out and I’m just going to come back to the same spot and have to do it tomorrow. I’m done. I’m out of here. I quit. They literally get dogs who won’t run. They just stop. And once they get like that, they’re done. You can never retrieve them because the light went on. Why am I knocking myself out for nothing?

When are we going to have the brains of a dog? I’ve done it. I’ve been up to Brahma. I’ve been to Indraloka. I’ve done it again and again and it’s the same story. What have I got to show for it? Someday the light goes on and we say wait a minute. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. How many times have we been fooled? When are we going to wake up?

That’s the message of Bhagavatam, the wisdom of surrender. Just surrender to Krishna and get out of the game.

Here’s a joke. A man makes a deal with the devil, a faustian deal. The man says look, you give me everything I want in this life, and then I’ll go to hell. But in this life, whatever I want, wherever I look, everything is under my control, everything surrenders to me. Whatever I want, I get, women, wealth, fame, I get it all. Then, when I die, I’ll go to hell. So the devil says ok, no problem.

It’s working, he’s president of the United States, wins a Nobel Peace Prize, married and divorced fifteen times. Everybody does exactly what he wants and surrenders to his will. After a while, it becomes quite boring. After boring it begins to wear on him and becomes irritating. After irritation it actually becomes horrible. It becomes so frustrating that he says to the devil come take me now, I’m ready to go to hell. The devil says what do you mean, go? You’re already there.

Without that sense of service, devotion, and love for Krishna, you can get everything you want and it will not make us happy. That’s not the way the wheel turns. It’s not the way that we’re made. We’re standing in front of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it is so nice that even Krishna, the controller of all things comes to play the role of a devotee. He wants to see what Radharani is tasting, what is that service mood. What is she experiencing? She’s enjoying more than me.

Fine. Get whatever you want and become Hiranyakasipu with no Prahlad and no Lord Nrsimhadeva and ultimately, it becomes hell.

The last line of the purport, closing sutra, says that you popularize hari kirtan, brahminical culture, the ksatriya government will automatically be revived and the people will become extremely happy. That’s what’s in this simple chanting of the holy name, putting on festivals, distributing books, giving them divya jnana, giving them Krishna prasadam. With that one simple act of popularizing the sankirtana movement what happens? Brahmincal culture, ksyatria government falls into place, and the people become extremely happy.

Jayadvaita Swami told me once that he was in New York City at JFK airport. He was changing some money. Have you seen that fiftieth anniversary magazine? It’s great, I would join that movement. When you look at it, it’s all of the festivals, prasadam, deities, temple, philosophy, it’s just fantastic. You look at it and think, wow!

Jayadvaita Swami was at JFK changing some money. A typical New Yorker looks up at him dressed like a nice sannyasi and says, that’s what I like about you people. You are what you pretend to be. It’s an American thing. She meant to say that you are what you’re supposed to be.

Look at that magazine. That’s the potential that’s in this movement. That’s what the world is crying for. If there was a baby here just crying, we would go on for sometime. But if the baby is in distress, you’ll think, where is the mother? Where is the father? How can we help? You can’t tolerate it.

In San Diego they spent millions of dollars renovating the downtown. It was like $300 million dollars. It was a cesspool. They renovated the thing. The problem is that they didn’t make a plan for what to do with the homeless people who were there. So you go downtown and you’re having your $300 dinner of fermented grape juice and bones and feathers and dried beasts. Then you’ve got some homeless guy pressing his nose on the window so it’s kind of hard to get into the mood. It spoils the whole thing. You walk out of the store with your thousand dollar cashmere coat and there’s a guy lying in the gutter. It really spoils the vibe.

They called in a blue-ribbon commission, the best city planners around the world. They spent six months preparing the plan. The heart of the solution, which was announced with great fanfare, was for the shop keepers and the restaurant owners was to put up curtains. Put up curtains. That way, you can enjoy the meal and you won’t see the man who is dying in the gutter. If you don’t see it, it’s not there, don’t worry about it.

We are not meant to be like that. We know what’s wrong. We know the cause and the solution. We have the sweetest medicine. To take it is not bitter, it’s not difficult. Who can’t eat? Prabhupada says anyone here have a problem taking prasadam?

Let us close on this note. I’m speaking to myself, don’t worry. Rather than trying to be in the mood of Hiranyakasipu to control and dominate, to rage against the machine, we should have the wisdom of surrender to see which way the wheel is turning. Find our place. It’s doesn’t matter where you fit in that wheel, but fit in the wheel of the sankirtan mission. Put your shoulder to the wheel and push it forward. Let us become that Hare Krishna movement that is in that fiftieth anniversary magazine. The world is crying and waiting for us. The time is now.

Thank you very much.

Hare Krishna.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19619