(This article was written in 1956 by Sri Navinacandra Cakravarti, a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. There are many stories of Ekadasi in the Puranas, but most explain the material benefits and blessings one gets from observing Ekadasi. This article, based on the conversation between Srila Vyasadeva and Jaimini Rishi, gives the real spiritual reason for following the vow of Ekadasi as emphasized by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita and later by Srila Prabhupada.)

            Many devotees are very inquisitive about the appearance of Sri Ekadasi and about her special characteristics. Therefore I am presenting this description from the 14th chapter of the Padma Purana, from the section entitled “Kriya-sagara-sara”.

            Once the great sage Jaimini Rishi said to his spiritual master, “O Gurudeva! Previously, by your mercy, you described to me the history of the Ganga River, the benefits of worshiping Vishnu, the giving of grains in charity, the giving of water in charity, and the magnanimity of drinking water that has been used to wash the feet of the brahmanas. O best of sages, Sri Gurudeva, now, with great enthusiasm, I desire to hear of the benefits of fasting on Ekadasi and of the appearance of Ekadasi.”

            “O Gurudeva! When did Ekadasi take birth and from whom did she appear? What are the rules of fasting on the day of Ekadasi? Please describe the benefits of following this vow and when it should be followed. Who is the utmost worshipable presiding deity of Sri Ekadasi? What are the faults in not observing Ekadasi properly? Please bestow your mercy upon me and tell about these subjects, as you are the only personality able to do so.”

            Srila Vyasadeva, upon hearing this inquiry from Jaimini Rishi, became situated in transcendental bliss. “O brahmana sage Jaimini! The results of following Ekadasi can be perfectly described by the Supreme Lord, Narayana, because Sri Narayana is the only personality capable of describing them in full. But I will give a very brief description in answer to your question.”

            “At the beginning of the material creation, the Supreme Lord created the moving and non-moving living entities within this world made of five gross material elements. Simultaneously, for the purpose of punishing the evil human beings, He created a personality whose form was the embodiment of the worst kinds of sin (Papa-purusha). The different limbs of this personality were constructed of various sinful activities. His head was made of the sin of murdering a brahmana, his two eyes were the form of drinking intoxicants, his mouth was made from the sin of stealing gold, his ears were the form of the sin of having illicit connection with the spiritual master’s wife, his nose was of the sin of killing one’s wife, his arms the form of the sin of killing a cow, his neck was made of the sin of stealing accumulated wealth, his chest of the sin of abortion, his lower chest of the sin of having sex with another’s wife, his stomach of the sin of killings one’s relatives, his navel of the sin of killing those who are dependent on him, his waist of the sin of egotistical self-appraisal, his thighs of the sin of offending the guru, his genitals of the sin of selling one’s daughter, his buttocks of the sin of telling confidential matters, his feet of the sin of killing one’s father, and his hair was the form of all sorts of less severe sinful activities. In this way, a horrible personality embodying all sinful activities and vices was created. His bodily color is black, and his eyes are yellow. He inflicts extreme misery upon sinful persons.

            “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu, upon seeing this personality of sin began to think to Himself as follows: ‘I am the creator of the miseries and happiness for the living entities. I am their master because I have created this personality of sin, who gives distress to all dishonest, deceitful and sinful persons. Now I must create someone who will control this personality’. At this time Sri Bhagavan created the personality of Yamaraja and the different hellish planetary systems. Those living entities who are very sinful will be sent after death to Yamaraja, who will in turn, according to their sins, send them to an appropritate hellish region to suffer.

            “After these adjustments had been made, the Supreme Lord, who is the giver of distress and happiness to the living entities, went to the house of Yamaraja, with the help of Garuda, the king of birds. When Yamaraja saw that Lord Vishnu had arrived, he immediately washed His feet and made an offering unto Him. He then had Him sit upon a golden throne. The Supreme Lord Vishnu became seated upon the throne, whereupon He heard very loud crying sounds from the southern direction. He became surprised by this and inquired of Yamaraja, ‘From where is this loud crying coming?’

            “Yamaraja in reply said, ‘O Deva! The different living entities of the earthly planetary systems have fallen to the hellish regions. They are suffering extremely for their misdeeds. The horrible crying is because of suffering from the inflictions of their past bad actions.’

            “After hearing this the Supreme Lord Vishnu went to the hellish region to the south. When the inhabitants saw who had come they began to cry even louder. The heart of the Supreme Lord Vishnu became filled with compassion. Lord Vishnu thought to Himself, ‘I have created all this progeny, and it is because of Me that they are suffering.’”

            Vyasadeva continued: “O Jaimini, just listen to what the Supreme Lord did next. After the merciful Supreme Lord thought over what He had previously considered, He suddenly manifested from His own form the deity of the lunar day Ekadasi. Afterward, the different sinful living entities began to follow the vow of Ekadasi and were then elevated quickly to the abode of Vaikuntha. O my child Jaimini, therefore the lunar day of Ekadasi is the selfsame form of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, and the Supersoul within the heart of the living entities. Sri Ekadasi is the utmost pious activity and is situated as the head among all vows.

            “Following the ascension of Sri Ekadasi, that personality who is the form of sinful activity gradually saw the influence that she, Ekadasi, had. Thus, he approached Lord Vishnu with doubts in his heart and began offering many prayers, whereupon Lord Vishnu became very pleased and said, ‘I have become very pleased by your nice offerings. What boon is it that you want?’

            “The Papa-purusha replied, “I am Your created progeny, and it is through me that you wanted distress given to the living entities who are very sinful. But now, by the influence of Sri Ekadasi, I have become all but destroyed. O Prabhu! After I die all of Your parts and parcels who have accepted material bodies will become liberated and return to the abode of Vaikuntha (the spiritual domain). If this liberation of all living entities takes place, then who will carry on Your activities? There will be no one to enact the pastimes in the earthly planetary systems! O Keshava! If you want these eternal pastimes to carry on, then You please save me from the fear of Ekadasi. No type of pious activity can bind me. But Ekadasi only, being Your own manifested form, can impede me. Out of fear of Sri Ekadasi I have fled and taken shelter of men; animals; insects; hills; trees; moving and non-moving living entities; rivers; oceans; forests; heavenly, earthly and hellish planetary systems; demigods; and the Gandharvas. I cannot find a place where I can be free from the fear of Sri Ekadasi. O my Master! I am a product of Your creation, so therefore very mercifully direct me to a place where I can reside fearlessly.’”

            Vyasadeva then said to Jaimini, “After saying this, the embodiment of all sinful activities (Papa-purusha) fell down at the feet of the Supreme Lord Vishnu, who is the destroyer of all miseries and began to cry.

            “After this, Lord Vishnu, observing the condition of the Papa-purusha, with laughter began to speak thus: ‘O Papa-purusha, rise up! Don’t lament any longer. Just listen, and I’ll tell you where you can stay on the lunar day of Ekadasi. On the date of Sri Ekadasi, which is the benefactor of the three planetary systems, you can take shelter of foodstuffs in the form of grains. There is no reason to worry about this any more, because My form as Sri Ekadasi will no longer impede you.’ After giving direction to the Papa-purusha, the Supreme Lord Vishnu disappeared and the Papa-purusha returned to the performance of his own activities.

            “Therefore, those persons who are serious about the ultimate benefit of the soul will never eat grains on Ekadasi. According to the instructions of Lord Vishnu, every kind of sinful activity that can be found in the material world takes its residence in this place of (grains) foodstuff. Whoever follows Ekadasi is freed from all sins and never enters into the hellish regions. If one doesn’t follow Ekadasi because of illusion, he is still considered the utmost sinner. For every mouthful of grain that is eaten by a resident of the earthly region (on Ekadasi), one receives the effect of killing millions of brahmanas. It is definitely necessary that one give up eating grains on Ekadasi. I very strongly say again and again, ‘On Ekadasi, do not eat grains, do not eat grains, do not eat grains!’ Whether one be a kshatriya, vaishya, shudra, or of any family, he should follow the lunar day of Ekadasi. From this the perfection of varna and ashrama will be attained. Especially since if one (even) by trickery follows Ekadasi, all his sins become destroyed and he very easily attains the supreme goal, the abode of Vaikuntha.”

Additional Information

            From the above article and story we can understand that Ekadasi is a form of Lord Vishnu, and by observing the Ekadasi vow, it not only decreases the amount of sin (bad karma) we imbibe, but it also eats up sinful reactions to help pave our way back to the abode of Lord Vishnu, Vaikuntha. This is also why Ekadasi is called “The mother of devotion”. It helps remove the obstacles on our path of devotional service to the Lord.

            Ekadasi generally falls on the 11th day after the new moon, and the 11th day after the full moon. Eka means one and dasi is the feminine form of dasa, which means ten. Together it means eleven. Only occasionally may it fall on a different day. So it is on these days that devotees and devout Hindus will follow the vow of Ekadasi and not eat any beans or grains, or products with such substances in them. Thus, the diet is expected to be simple and plain as part of the mood of renunciation, and preferably only once in the day if possible. Other recommendations include that the food should be made of vegetables, fruit, water, milk products, nuts, sugar, and roots that are grown underground (except beet roots). Restrictions include spinach, eggplant, asafetida, and sea salt, but rock salt is alright.

            Since there are 12 months in a year, with two Ekadasis in each month, there are 24 Ekadasis in each year. Each Ekadasi has a name, that are Utpanna, Mokshada, Saphala, Putrada, Shat-tila, Jaya, Vijaya, Amalaki, Papamocani, Kamada, Varuthini, Mohini, Apara, Nirjala, Yogini, Padma (Devashayani), Kamika, Putrada, Aja, Parivartini, Indira, Papankusha, Rama, and Haribodhini (Devotthani). Occasionally there are two extra Ekadasis that happen in a lunar leap year, which are Padmini and Parama.

            Each Ekadasi day has particular benefits and blessings that one can attain by the performance of specific activities done on that day. By engaging in the extra study to learn what these are, one can derive even more benefit from each particular Ekadasi. Books devoted to Ekadasi are available that contain such information, so we will not include it here. However, reading the glories of each Ekadasi day, along with all the names of these days, will also achieve a similar goal of observing the Ekadasi vow. This also means that we are encouraged to increase our spiritual activities that day, which are centered around the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. Charity, especially to advanced devotees and preachers of the dharma, or directly engaging in activities of Krishna consciousness, Deity worship, chanting the purusha-sukta hymns, or other spiritual activities on Ekadasi are also highly recommended and brings great spiritual benefits to the performer.

            It is said that even if one mistakenly misses the observance of an Ekadasi, he or she may make up for it by observing it the very next day on Dvadasi, and then break one’s fast from grain on the next day, Trayodasi. One may also observe the special fast on Nirjala Ekadasi. This is also called Bhima Ekadasi. This is because the Pandava brother known as Bhima was so strong and had such a voracious appetite that he could not observe Ekadasis twice a month. He could not fast because he was too hungry. So Lord Krishna told him to merely observe one Ekadasi a year, which is the Nirjala Ekadasi. Nir jala means no water. So he had to observe at least one Ekadasi a year, and on that day he had to abstain from not only beans and grains, but from all foods, even water. So devotees who miss an Ekadasi day often observe a complete fast from all food and liquids on the Nirjala Ekadasi, which is usually sometime in June, and thus make up for whatever was missed. However, this is a very potent Ekadasi, so a complete fast on this day gives one who observes this many pious credits.

            Sometimes there is a day called Mahadvadasi. This is when Ekadasi is astronomically combined with Dvadasi, or the twelfth day of the full moon or new moon lunar cycle. This is called a pure Ekadasi and the observance is often started the evening before Mahadvadasi and through the next day with the basic Ekadasi fast.

            Breaking the Ekadasi fast on the next day with some foodstuffs made from grains is usually done two-and-a-half hours or shortly thereafter from the time of the sunrise.

            In the Caitanya-caritamrita (Adi-lila, 15-9-10), Sri Caitanya begs his mother to follow Ekadasi, as was expected of all His followers. And in the purport to this verse Srila Prabhupada explains that even though devotees eat food cooked for and offered to Lord Vishnu, prasada, which is spiritually potent and free from all karma, even on Ekadasi a devotee does not eat even maha-prasada that has grains in it, even though it can be saved for the next day.

            In this way, by the observance of the special Ekadasi day and its special fast, a person can accelerate their spiritual growth and awareness, and free themselves from negative karma that will only further bind them to the continuous rounds of birth and death.

Vratas - what to do / auterities: 
From Pancharatra Pradipa - Appendix 3

Notes on Ekadasi…

The Hari-bhakti-vilasa gives many rules for observing Ekadasi…, and these are discussed at length in Volume II of Pancharata-Pradipa. Here, however, we will mention only a few points concerning Ekadasi in relation to general standards of Deity worship in ISKCON:

Offering Grains to the Spiritual Master and Lord Caitanya

In a conversation, Srila Prabhupada said that grains should not be offered to either the spiritual master or Lord Caitanya and His associates on Ekadasi

Devotee: On Ekadasi, we can offer the Deity grains? 
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. But not guru. Ekadasi observed by jiva-tattva, not by Vishnu. We are fasting for clearing our material disease, but Radha-Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu . . . Caitanya Mahaprabhu also may not be offered grains because He is playing the part of a devotee. Only Radha-Krsna, Jagannatha can be offered grains. Otherwise, Guru-Gauranga, no. And the prasadam should not be taken by anyone. It should be kept for the next day. [Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, Tokyo, April 22, 1972]

If there is only one plate for all Deities and the main Deity is Krsna or Jagannatha, grains should be offered as on normal days. If the main Deities are Gaura-Nitai, offer only non-grain preparations.* It is best to replace the normally offered grain preparations with non-grain preparations so that there are the same number of preparations as on normal days. If, however, grain preparations are being cooked for Krsna or Jagannatha, it may be difficult to cook additional non-grain preparations for the spiritual master and Gaura-Nitai. In that case serve larger quantities of the non-grain preparations to the spiritual master and Gaura-Nitai, and prepare the offering plate for Krsna or Jagannatha as on normal days.

* If you are cooking for a restaurant where grains will be served on Ekadasi, you may offer the grains to Gaura-Nitai with the understanding that They will offer the bhoga to Krsna.

What Constitutes "Grains" on Ekadasi?

Srila Prabhupada specified foodgrains and beans (pulses) as foods that must be avoided on Ekadasi. One may use spices for cooking, although mustard seeds should be avoided.* You should not use powdered asafatoeda (hing), since it (generally) contains grains. Sesame seeds are also to be avoided, except on Satila Ekadasi, when they may be offered and eaten. 
Do not use any cooking ingredients that might be mixed with grains, such as ghee that has been used to fry puris, or spices touched by hands dusted with chapati flour.

There is absolutely NO doubt about what is NOT permissable to eat on Ekadasi. 
ANNA. However it is how you translate this word that makes the difference. I 
once again submit what Pradyumna Prabhu told me Srila Prabhupada told him many 
years ago. When asked by Pradyumna what we could eat Srila Prabhupada said 
"Fruits, Roots, Nuts, Milk". If you stick to these  types of foods you should 
be fine. Of course the sure way is to fast completely. Water of course can be 
taken. Except if you wish to do Nirjala. (Gaura Keshava dasa. 3rd Oct 1998. [Text 1740554 from COM]) 

* Someone who is very strictly observing Ekadasi should avoid all spices except pepper, rock salt and cumin. He should also eschew certain vegetables, such as tomatoes, cauliflower, eggplant, and leafy vegetables. Temple kitchens need not follow these strictures, since Srila Prabhupada did not establish them. Individual devotees may observe these rules if they choose, either making their own arrangements for cooking on Ekadasi, eating uncooked foods such as fruit, or observing full fasting. These arrangements should not interfere with the temple cooking schedule.

Mahaprasadam on Ekadasi:

On Ekadasi, strict followers of Vaishnava regulations avoid eating any mahaprasada from an offering that includes grains.. The shastra explains that the papa-purusha (sin personified) takes shelter in grains on Ekadasi, and therefore we avoid grains at all cost on that day, not even risking taking non-grain preparations of mahaprasada from an offering plate containing grains. Ekadasi mahaprasada  should be stored until the next day; if that is not possible it can be distributed to persons not strictly following Vaishnava regulations or to animals. In fact, mahaprasada maintains its purity on Ekadasi despite the presence of the papa-purusha, and therefore it will purify anyone who eats it. Nevertheless, the followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being strict followers of Vaishnava regulations, avoid mahaprasada on that day because their strict sadhana will be hampered by the presence of the papa-purusha.

Srila Prabhupad took peanuts and raisins, and mustard seeds, and sesame seeds on Ekadasi. The recipes he used for some preps are to be found in Yamuna's cookbook. Jagdish prabhu was personally shown how to make peanuts and raisins prep' for Prabhupad on Ekadasi by Prabhupad (Jagdish maharaj then, told me, JTCd that in Auckland 1992.)

Jet airways is not a “budget” carrier. Having run a successful travel business for almost two decades, we come across clients asking – “Is it safe to fly with them?” This is a type of question that comes up when someone is inclined to choose to fly with a “cheap” airlines. Almost always, our answer to such questions has been – “Nothing is safe in this world”! We also tell them how in the past many reputed airlines flights have crashed killing all passengers or having sudden technical glitches sending shivers down their spine.

Jet airways, a well-known name in India’s aviation industry, said in a statement:

Besides sympathy towards and prayers for those affected, here is a suggestion that may come handy while making a purchase: not all that is expensive is guaranteed to be safer. If this accident had to happen with some other cheapo carrier, there would have been propaganda how people should only fly with reputed airlines, how life is more important than money, and so on.

Needless to say we do not have any personal issue against Jet airways. The point is, “budget” carriers don’t always kill. At the same time it is also true that they don’t kill, but if they do, expensive carriers do it too. The same goes with other things like electronic gadgets, clothes, shoes, cars and so on. After all that is the nature of this world where, as mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam, difficulties are at every step.

As many as 127 passengers onboard a Jet Airways plane from New Delhi had a close shave after its main landing gear collapsed when it landed here.

All the passengers deplaned safely, Jet Airways said in a statement.

The incident resulted in the blocking of the main runway, forcing Mumbai authorities to shift flight operations to the secondary runway, sources said.

Jet Airways said its engineering team was working on towing away the Boeing 737 aircraft from the taxiway.

“Airways flight 9W 354 on landing in Mumbai reported a technical fault with the main landing gear. All 127 passengers have been safely disembarked,” the airline said. Jet Airways plane’s main landing gear collapses, close shave for 127 passengers | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

Source: http://mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/shocker-127-passengers-jet-airways-planes-main-landing-gear-collapses/

This is one of my favorite songs in the Vaisnava Songbook. This morning it became my meditation.

Vṛndāvana
by Narottama das Thakura

Vrndavan is a transcendental beautiful place. It is the spiritual sky, where everything is made of touchstone, which fulfills all desires. All the temples there are bedcked with costly jewels, In that far distant place is the River Yamuna, which is full of lotus flowers, In the midst of that throng of lotus flowers there is a golden boat, appearing like another big lotus flower, with eight petals, who are none but the eight chief gopis who always surround Radha and Krishna, In the surrounding petals there is a golden throne where the two transcendental lovers, namely Radha and Krishna are seated, but of all of them the governing Deity is Srimati Radharani. There is no comparison to Radharani’s beauty and the luster of Her transcendental body. The so-called beauty of the moon has fallen on the ground in the presence of Radharani’s beauty. In that assembly of Radha-Krishna and their principal associates there is a flood of laughing and joking as they address one another. Narottama das says that the eternal pastimes of Radha-Krishna from day to day are full of transcendental pleasure, Let us all remember them now and then and thus become happy even in this material world.

Full Song Lyrics

Vṛndāvana
by Narottama das Thakura

vṛndāvana ramya-sthāna dibya-cińtāmaṇi-dhāma
ratana mandira manohara
abṛta kālindī-nīre rāja-haḿsa keli kare
tāhe śobhe kanaka-kamal

vṛndāvana—Srī Vṛndāvana; ramya-sthāna—beautiful abode; divya— transcendental; cintāmaṇi-dhāma—full of gems; ratana—jewelled; mandira—temples; manohara—enchanting; abṛta—surrounded; kālindīnīre—the waters of Yamunā; rāja-haḿsa keli kare—the swans are sporting; tāhe śobhe—in that water; kanaka—golden; kamala—lotus;

Beautiful Vrndavana is filled with cintamani gems and many jewel palaces and temples. Many regal swans play in the waters of the Yamuna, and in those waters a splendid golden lotus flower grows.

tār madhye hema-pīṭha aṣṭa-dale beṣṭita
aṣṭa-dale pradhāna nāyika
tār madhye ratnāsane ba’si āchen dui-jane
śyāma-sańge sundarī rādhikā

tā’ra madhye—in the middle of that lotus; hema-pīṭha—golden altar; aṣṭa-dale beṣṭita—surrounded by eight petals; aṣṭa-dale—eight petals; pradhānā nāyikā—principal sakhīs; tā’ra madhye—in the midst of them; ratnāsane—on a golden throne; ba’si āchen—are seated; dui-jane—both of Them; śyāma-sańge—along with Syāmasundara; sundarī rādhikā— beautiful Srī Rādhikā;

In the middle of that lotus is a golden place surrounded by eight petals. On these eight petals the eight principal gopis reside, and in the centre Lord Syamasundara and beautiful Srimati Radharani sit on a jewel throne.

o-rūpa-lābaṇya-rāśi amiyā pariche khasi
hāsya-parihāsa-sambhāṣaṇe
narottama-dāsa koy nitya-līlā sukha-moy
sadāi sphurūk mora mane

o-rūpa-lābaṇya-rāśi—the beauty and sweetness; amiya pariche khasi—shower of nectar; hāsya—smiling; parihāsa— teasing; sambhāṣaṇe—conversing; narottama-dāsa—Narottama dāsa; kaya—says; nitya-līlā—eternal pastimes; sukha-maya—full of bliss; sadāi—always; sphurūka—manifest; mora mane—in my heart

The great beauty of the Divine couple and Their charming joking and laughter continually showers nectar everywhere. Narottama dasa says: I pray that these blissful eternal transcendental pastimes of the Divine Couple may be always manifest in my heart.

Purport found in the 1974 Edition of the “Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas”

Vrndavan is a transcendental beautiful place. It is the spiritual sky, where everything is made of touchstone, which fulfills all desires. All the temples there are bedcked with costly jewels, In that far distant place is the River Yamuna, which is full of lotus flowers, In the midst of that throng of lotus flowers there is a golden boat, appearing like another big lotus flower, with eight petals, who are none but the eight chief gopis who always surround Radha and Krishna, In the surrounding petals there is a golden throne where the two transcendental lovers, namely Radha and Krishna are seated, but of all of them the governing Deity is Srimati Radharani. There is no comparison to Radharani’s beauty and the luster of Her transcendental body. The so-called beauty of the moon has fallen on the ground in the presence of Radharani’s beauty. In that assembly of Radha-Krishna and their principal associates there is a flood of laughing and joking as they address one another. Narottama das says that the eternal pastimes of Radha-Krishna from day to day are full of transcendental pleasure, Let us all remember them now and then and thus become happy even in this material world

Source: http://theharekrishnamovement.org/2016/03/03/vrndavana-2/

As we were driving through West Bengal, I spotted a newly built house, with two words painted in large black letters across the entry portico – God Gift (written as spelled :). I imagined how every day the family would get this message as they arrived home and could not help but smile.

It also reminded me of a quote posted at one of the seminars at the ISKCON Leadership Sanga last week – Interrupt anxiety with gratitude. Anxiety is a given in most of our lives. It seeps in all over the place, in small and big ways, and triggers various reactions.

First is our effort to quell it. To run, hide, or avoid what is making us anxious. Cover it up and bury it deep within. We may also try to soothe anxiety with distraction, in both healthy and unhealthy ways.

Anxiety is connected to not being in control and especially where there is personal difficulty or failure, or the anticipation of that. From the moment we wake up, our mind can begin it’s tap tap tapping on the anxiety button. If and when that happens here’s a few things we can do.

Interrupt the anxious thoughts with grateful ones. it really does work magic. No matter what, there is always something to be grateful for. And even if our situation is very desperate, expressing gratitude for something can help us through.

Another anxiety interrupter is having a place to take shelter. With Krishna, the feeling of shelter is almost immediate. When we say Krisna’s name, we can feel strength, relief, solace, hope, and a knowing that all will be well. That’s why getting some japa meditation done first thing in the morning is one of the best ways to control the mind.

Anxiety will never be far from us as we interact with the world. Too much of it can wear us down, zap our energy, and make us chronically ill. We may feel obliged to be anxious, that we are not a good person if we don’t. Interrupt that thought, and anxiety in general, as often as you can. The nature of the soul is happiness. Lord knows, life doesn’t often match that, but still we should remember it and let gratitude and Krishna’s name bring it out.

Source: http://iskconofdc.org/interrupt-anxiety-with-gratitude/

This Sacred Sound retreat provides the opportunity to step out of the complexity of modern life and immerse oneself in the transcendental and uplifting world of Kirtan.

Set in the beautiful surrounds of Mount Warning, Sacred Sound offers hours of maha-mantra Kirtan with some of the best Kirtan artists in the world, inspirational sadhu sanga, sumptuous meals and a restorative time for sadhana.

When:

Easter Long Weekend
Friday 25th – Monday 28th March 2016

Where:

New Govardhana Farm – 525 Tyalgum Rd Murwillumbah NSW 2484

For bookings and more informations check out the event page

Recently, the office wing of the temple building and the apartment building II went through roof transformations. Yoder Amish Roofing Company began replacing the temple’s office wing roofing on Monday, February 29th, 2016 and replaced the apartment building II roofing on Tuesday, March 1st, 2016.

The crew of about 8-10 men stripped old shingles, laid new plywood, added top quality synthetic underlayment and finished with a layer of lifetime duration shingles onto the temple roof.

The new office wing roof.

Five beautiful Swiss Velux skylights were installed in the prasadam hallway.

Above, the roofing company stripped and replaced the metal panel roofing on the apartment building II.

The apartment building II roof is now complete.

Source: http://www.brijabasispirit.com/2016/03/03/new-roofs-on-temple-and-apartment-building-in-new-vrindaban/

Reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 chapter 19 ‘The Appearance of Sukadeva Goswami’, Text 12 

sukhopavistesv atha tesu bhuyah  krta-pranamah sva-cikirsitam yat vijñapayam asa vivikta-ceta  upasthito ’gre ’bhigrhita-panih 

Translation: “After all the rsis and others had seated themselves comfortably, the King, humbly standing before them with folded hands, told them of his decision to fast until death.” 

Hare Krishna! It is an honour and privilege to have the opportunity to speak something about Krishna in the assembly of Vaisnavas and here in Sri Mayapur Dhama. Before I begin therefore I beg the blessings and good wishes of all the assembled Vaisnavas and particularly my seniors, superiors who are present here in large numbers. With all of your blessings, I hope I can speak something that is meaningful and constructive. 

Because this is the last day of the ISKCON Leadership Sanga, in the last few days we have been hearing much about leadership. I was also asked to speak something in connection with leadership or the qualities of a leader. I thought I would focus on how a leader or anyone for that matter should consult authorities before taking important decisions in life. Important decisions in any sphere of activity, whether its one’s personal life, one’s family life, one’s temple activities, temple management, whatever it may be. There is a process for arriving at decisions, an authorised process. And here we see King Pariksit setting the example. He comes here in a very humble spirit with folded hands in front of the assembled Vaisnavas and asks them for their opinions on the decision that he has contemplated. Even though he has decided he wants to do that but he nevertheless wants to ask them is that right, is that the right thing I am doing. Of course King Pariksit was confronted with the mother of all decisions because when we confront death we have to take a decision on how we are going to do it, what should we think about, what should be worship, who should we remember at this time. So all of us are confronted with decisions, small decisions, big decisions, important decisions, not so important decisions, every day of our life. Right from the prasadam time, should I take one more chapati or not, we have to think - is it good for me is it not; right down to big decisions in life and all these devotees are taken by devotees in consideration of one thing and one thing alone - whether immediately or remotely or ultimately. And that is how is it going to affect my Krishna consciouness? How is it going to affect my service to Krishna? If I eat one more chapati am I going to fall asleep in my japa or whatever it is? We always think is it going to affect my health and then I wont be able to serve Krishna better. So we are always taking decisions all day long throughout our life and many of these decisions are not easy. I remember on one particular day two different devotees approached me, a couple of hours apart. One devotee said, ‘I want your advise. 

I am thinking of becoming a brahmacari but I am in doubt! I am not confident whether I can make it! It seems a risky decision, should I do it or should I not!’ Well I took him through a process for some time. And then after some hours I met another young man who came and said, ‘I want your advise. I am thinking of getting married but I am not sure will it work, will it not work! Its a risk!’ So being a brahmacari is a risk, being a grhastha is a risk. Actually everything in this material existence is a risk. Breathing is a risk especially when you go to major metropolitan cities where there is so much pollution. Certainly coming to Mayapur from Calcutta is a risk. 

Getting into a car, walking on the street, flying an airplane, doing anything in this material world is a risk. But what to do! We have to survive, so we have to take decisions. So we have to take decisions that are right. Right decisions means decisions according to guru, sadhu, sastra. According to what Krishna wants us to do! Of course that we say because we are devotees. Not everybody thinks like that because they may not be devotees. So if all the decisions that we have made in our life, some are good decisions, and some perhaps in retrospect we may imagine they are not such good decisions that we made. We may regret, we may lament about them. But I will ask you one question. 

And that question is common to every single of us sitting here in this room. What is the best decision that you ever made in your life? And that answer will be common to everyone of us here. What is that best decision that you made, ever made, and possibly ever could make? We became devotees! That is the best decision we could ever have made in our life. 

And that is the injunction of the scriptures - You must become a devotee of Krishna! There is that verse from the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu which Srila Prabhupada used to quote often, smeram bhangi-traya-paricitam saci-vistirna-drstim vamsi-nyastadhara-kisalayam ujjvalam candrakena govindakhyam hari-tanum itah kesi-tirthopakanthe ma preksisthas tava yadi sakhe bandhu-sange ’sti ran (1.2.gah239) This is one gopi telling another gopi, ‘My dear friend, if at all you value your material life, if you value all your relationships in this world, then beware. Don’t you dare go the banks of the Yamuna on the Kesi ghata, where there is that person called Govinda, who is standing there in a three-fold bending form, placing His flute to His lips and His face is shining, radiant in the light of the full moon and He is standing there with His sidelong glance, smiling very beautifully. Don't go there!’ So the acharyas have explained that this is an example of a literary ornament called a ‘vyaja stuti’ stuti means ‘to praise’.

So vyaja stuti is when you praise that which is to be condemned and you condemn that which is to be praised with the understanding that the audience is going to understand that. So it is meant for a certain caliber of audience. So Rupa Goswami here is saying or he is quoting the gopi’s as saying that actually you should be doing that, you must do that, it is an imperative. Imperative is something that doesn't give you a choice. So through the vyaja stuti you condemn something that actually you should be doing, thats the most admirable thing and desirable thing in life. So approaching Govinda is the primary decision of our life, the most important thing we could ever do in our life. Of course there will be others who will tell us, not in vyaja stuti but will tell us - Don’t go to Krishna! Don’t go to ISKCON! Don’t go to the devotees! But as Narada Muni says in the Seventh Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam when we get such advise then we should simply say, yes, yes yes but do what we have to do. In any case, so we become devotees and we may think, well you are saying that the best decision in life is to become a devotee and you’ve talked about risky decisions in life but it appears that becoming a devotee is also risky. What if one falls down from Krishna consciousness? Its a risk! There is a risk of failure. But of course Krishna has mentioned in the Second Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, nehabhikrama-naso ’sti pratyavayo na vidyate sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat (Bg 2.40) There is no loss, no diminution, in taking to Krishna consciousness. 

Even if there is a calamity one doesn't lose what one has gained in Krishna consciousness. And this is exactly what Narada Muni tells Vyasadeva in the First Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer bhajann apakvo ’tha patet tato yadi yatra kva vabhadram abhud amusya kim ko vartha apto ’bhajatam sva-dharmatah (SB 1.5.17) A very important verse for us, which would give us inspiration to go on in Krishna consciousness despite our struggles and failures that may come sometimes. And Narada Muni gives a very sage advise. He says for a person who has given up worldly responsibilities, the varnasrama dharma duties, sva-dharma tyaktva, means to give up, for what purpose, caranambujam harer, to accept the shelter of the lotus feet of Hari or Krishna, even if, yadi, yadii means if, not that necessarily that has to be, but even if there is some kind of a fall down in the process, what is the fault, yatra kva vabhadram abhud amusya kim, what is the fault, what is the loss even if one takes to Krishna consciousness having given up all sorts of material duties, and one fails, one falls down from the path, what is the loss? On the other hand, if one has not taken shelter of Krishna and one has achieved much on the material platform, what has one actually gained? Nothing, because all the things that we have gained materially will perish. Whereas what we have gained spiritually by taking to Krishna consciousness will endure for ever. 

Its like a spiritual bank account which keeps growing and you can never withdraw from it. You just keep adding and adding and adding till a time comes when that bank account becomes large enough for us to be transported to the spiritual kingdom of Krishna. So that said, alright its the most risk free activity that we can ever do, the best decision in life, but it is not enough to take a decision to become a devotee and become one. One has to continue to remain one till the end of life, till we attain complete success in life. And as we become devotees very soon we realise, its not just about me, its about others as well. We are in a preaching mission. 

When we become devotees we understand this is the best thing we have done and we must share it with others. So therein begins our responsibility for others. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said in the Caitanya Bhagavata when He talks to Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura, suno suno nityananda, suno haridas sarvatra amar ajna koroho prakash prati ghare ghare giya koro ei bhiksa bolo `krsna', bhajo krsna, koro krsna- siksa “Nityananda, Haridasa, please listen to Me. 

Go everywhere and broadcast My instruction.” What is My instruction? “Go to every home and request them to chant the names of Krishna, to worship Krishna and to accept the instructions of Krishna in their life.” So when we become devotees we understand its not just about me becoming a pure devotee, its equally about helping others to become pure devotes. And thats where the leadership question comes in. Therefore every devotee is a leader in that sense. Because ultimately what is a leader? There may be different definitions technically speaking of what a leader is, but the simplest definition of a leader is one who is in a capacity or a position to influence others. Very simple. It could be positively, it could be negatively, thats another thing. But we are in a position to influence the minds and activities of others. Whether its a parent for a child, or guru for a disciple, or a teacher, or a preacher to another person, we are all in a responsible position because now when we have become devotees we realise whatever decisions I take, there are repercussions that will be there not just for me but for others as well. So we are all leaders. So the choices we make, the decisions we make are going to have ramifications. 

So how do we make all these decisions? Making decisions of course is not easy many times and especially when it comes to tricky things, troublesome things, then its extremely, its a topic of anxiety, how should one do this, how should one do that, in trying to further the preaching mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Prabhupada’s house of ISKCON, there are many anxieties that may come. The decisions that we have to take from the smallest decisions to the biggest ones may be fraught with so many risks and consequences that we may have to consider. Let me cite a little example from the Ramayana and you may be surprised to know that I am quoting as an authority none other than Ravana. Ravana was a demon of course. He was a great scholar. Being a great scholar doesn't stop one from being a demon. One may be a great scholar and not a devotee of the Lord. One may be a great devotee and not apparently a scholar. So scholarship is not really the thing.

The point is to become a pure devotee. In Ravana’s case we see that he was scholarly in terms of many many scriptures. So when he was faced with the prospect of Lord Rama attacking Lanka with His army of monkeys and bears and Hanuman had already wrecked havoc in Lanka, and set fire to Lanka and Ravana had got some taste of what was to come, then he became nervous. Otherwise he was fearless. But now after Hanuman’s depravations in Lanka, he became a little nervous. And he called his raksasa friends, his ministers, his councillors and began to speak like a wise man. Now for the moment we will forget that it is Ravana speaking. Just take the content of his speech, ok! Now Ravana says, ‘My dear friends, it is said in the scriptures that one should never take important decisions without good counsel. Therefore you are my dear friends. I have called you to consult you about what should be the course of action now. You know that Rama is on the other side of the sea. 

And sooner or later He will get here. What should we do?’ And then he said, ‘there are three kinds of people in this world - superior, mediocre, and inferior - uttama, madhyama, kanistha.’ These three Sanskrit words we will hear many times in different contexts when different phenomena or examples are being analysed. ‘So the superior person is one who takes decisions especially before he is able to embark on a very important task, he consults superiors and friends who have a common interest. In accordance with the advise he receives, he proceeds with full energy depending on destiny for the result.’ 

This is the decision taken or the manner in which a course of action is decided by the superior person. ‘The mediocre person thinks over the matter himself or herself. Then considers things in the light of his intelligence and acts accordingly.’ ‘The inferior person, the kanistha, he has no faith in God,’ this is Ravana speaking, ‘he has no faith in God, he acts whimsically, he has no sense of duty, he doesn't have sense of judgement of what is beneficial and what is harmful and he embarks on a course of action saying, I will do it no matter what, without consulting anyone.’ So these are the three kinds of people in this world. 

And then Ravana goes on to say, ‘There are three kinds of advise. The first kind of advise is superior advise. Superior advise is that which is obtained by careful objective consideration of the circumstances, in accordance with religious principles. Mediocre advise is that which is given after heated discussion and which is more often than not based on self interest rather than religious principles. And the lowest form of advise, bad advise is that which is made out of a sense of false pride, or wanting to flatter somebody, without any consideration of the consequences of one’s actions.’ Very wise actually. 

So in one sense Ravana’s words have wisdom, if you just keep aside the fact that his heart was full of anarthas, that drove him to act the way he did. But if you just take this section that he is speaking on because he is quoting from the scripture, it makes sense, its very wise advise for all of us. And although Ravana doesn't say it but if we apply our mind from the principles of Bhagavad Gita we can see the three modes of nature here. So the superior person is acting in the mode of goodness, because he is very thoughtful, consults everybody, gets different opinions, understands things, see if they are in accordance with dharma or not and then proceeds after thoughtful consideration. A person in the mode of passion is generally proud. So out of his pride he thinks I can deal with it myself. I am intelligent enough, I am capable enough and even though he actually may be so, he may be intelligent and capable but that action may not be the wisest thing to do. Because although one may be intelligent, one is not perfect. So thats the person in the mode of passion. And as far as the mode of ignorance, yes, a person in the mode of ignorance doesn't believe in God, he doesn't have a sense of duty, acts whimsically, doesn't know whats beneficial, and whats not. If you just look at the Sixteenth Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, its exactly the description of a person with a demoniac tendency. And then what about the transcendental decisions which go beyond the three modes of nature. 

We put Krishna in the center and devotees in the center. So what applies to decisions in the mode of goodness now, will also apply for transcendence when we keep Krishna and the devotees. So we come together with the devotees and consult. Yes there is guru, sadhu and sastra but then there are times when we are not able to ascertain very clearly specifically what guru, sadhu, sastra would enjoin in a particular circumstance. That is when we need to sit together with the devotees, a churning process takes place which may sometimes not be very pleasant and something emerges by the collective wisdom of the devotees. 

Now one time in New Mayapur, France, probably in 1975, in a conversation, Srila Prabhupada was saying, ‘You must form..’ yeah I think it was in New Mayapur, ‘You must form a committee, a committee, and then take decisions.’ Sorry that was in New Vrindavana I think. In any case, Prabhupada said, ‘You must form a committee and take decisions.’ And then devotee protested ‘But Prabhupada that is democracy. You have criticised democracy so much by calling it demon crazy and so on. You have spoken about enlightened monarchy.’ And then Prabhupada gave a surprising answer. He said, ‘No, monarchy is out of date!’ Surprising! He said, ‘Monarchy is out of date!’ So although Prabhupada has said so much about monarchy in all his teachings, 

in his lectures and so on to give us the principles of leadership and how real leaders were and should be but he also recognised that in this age of Kali where would you find the right candidate to become a qualified monarch like King Yudhisthira or King Pariksit, very hard to find. So therefore collective decision making is the way to go , thats the process. So then he said, ‘Yes, you make a committee. You decide. If you have to live together, you have to work together.’ In this way Prabhupada emphasised the need for everyone coming together, making decisions together. Another point that comes up, the last point before I conclude. And this was in New Mayapur France. Somebody asked Prabhupada, he said, ‘Prabhupada you say that we should take decisions in our life with reference to authority. 

But what if we have to take decisions at a time when there is no authority available. Then Prabhupada said, ‘Krishna will give. He will give intuition.’ He used the ‘intuition’. He said, ‘If a devotee is really sincere, then Krishna from within will give the intuition, give the understanding’ and then he quoted the Bhagavad Gita verse from the Tenth Chapter, tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te (Bg 10.10) For one who is constantly devoted to Me and absorbed in service to Me, I give him the intelligence by which he can come to Me.’ So this is the principle. 

So the more Krishna conscious we become, the clearer our head becomes. The fog of indecision and confusion in the lower modes of nature get dissipated and the clear conclusions of Krishna consciousness emerge. So therefore we need to emphasise on our sadhana so that all of us become more and more Krishna conscious, come together, deliberate, do what is best for our individual and collective progress in Krishna consciousness and also for the furtherance of the Krishna consciousness movement by preaching. Thank you very much! Hare Krishna! I will just take one comment or question if any. Yes? Question: (audio indistinct) Maharaja: (repeats the question) The question is how does one understand whether it is our unwillingness to accept an authority or the absence of an authority especially in a multi inspirational scenario. Thats not very difficult. If there are authorities around, there are authorities around. So when there are senior devotees around or even contemporaries around, we can always consult them on the basis of guru, sadhu, sastra. Thank you very much! Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! Gaurapremande Hari Haribol!

tasmin kute ’hite naste  krtta-mule vanas-patau vitapa iva susyanti  visnu-prana divaukasah (SB 7.1.9) 

Translation: “When the root of a tree is cut and the tree falls down, its branches and twigs automatically dry up. Similarly, when I have killed this diplomatic Visnu, the demigods, for whom Lord Visnu is the life and soul, will lose the source of their life and wither away.” 

tavad yata bhuvam yuyam  brahma-ksatra-samedhitam sudayadhvam tapo-yajña-  svadhyaya-vrata-daninah (SB 7.1.10) 

Translation “While I am engaged in the business of killing Lord Visnu, go down to the planet earth, which is flourishing due to brahminical culture and a ksatriya government. These people engage in austerity, sacrifice, Vedic study, regulative vows, and charity. Destroy all the people thus engaged!”

Life is all about making plans. The demons have their plans, the devotees have their plans. At the end of Bhagavad Gita Krishna famously asks, 

sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (Bg 18.66) 

Abandoning all varieties of dhama can also be paraphrased as abandoning all plan making and accept Krishna’s plan. Material existence is all about an idea, a plan that conditioned souls have in their mind. They see opportunity, they see possibilities and therefore they make plans. When Krishna says, abandon all varieties of religion, this includes a request for us to shut down our plan making factory. (laughs) And that feels tough to us often. Shut down our plan making factory and accept Krishna’s plan. 

Hiranyakasipu is setting a plan into action. His demoniac associates will humbly take Hiranyakasipu’s order of devastation upon their heads and proceed to execute it. What is the root of this plan? Yudhisthira Maharaja enquired from Narada Muni, ‘Why such enmity between Hiranyakasipu and his own son Prahlada? Whats the cause of this?’ Narada Muni is explaining that because Visnu killed Hiranyakasipu’s brother Hiranyaksa, therefore by Prahlada’s siding with Visnu, he became such an enemy to his own father, that his father wanted to kill him. So at the root of this situation we have extreme envy and this envy will be more developed in the present chapter the verses. Hiranyakasipu had a vision for peace for himself. He is enraged that Visnu has killed his brother. He is vowing that I will personally kill Visnu and destroy the spiritual world. He is staring up into the sky as if he can see Vaikuntha. He is vowing I am going to finish off Vaikuntha. 

What is his peace formula? When I cut off the head of Visnu, and the blood of Visnu starts to run, this will please my brother and I shall also be pleased, I will be pacified. Our dilemma in material existence is that we always think that by our fulfilling material desires we will be pacified. We have this notion in our mind and it seems quite clear at times. All I have to do is seek my own happiness, seek my own pleasure and then I will be peaceful. Those who don’t get in the way of my seeking my own happiness, they are friends, even lovers. Those who interfere or impede my quest for happiness, they are known as enemies. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that actually love in the material world means, look you don’t interfere with my sense gratification, I love you! (laughs) You are a supporter of my sense gratification, I love you. This is Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s statement. (laughs) Hiranyakasipu not only had a plan for his achieving peace but he also had a plan how to destroy the earth. This is his version of watering the tree at the root and all the branches blossom. You know that verse in the Fourth Canto, we often quote, by giving the food to the stomach the whole body becomes energised. By watering the tree at the root all the branches blossom. Similarly by serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead everything is taken care of. Hiranyakasipu had his own version of that. Uproot, pull out the root and then the tree is finished. His main focus, his main strategy was on killing Visnu. At the same time however he had a secondary strategy and he is employing his demoniac associates to do the secondary strategy, which is go to earth and destroy all principles of spiritually progressive civilisation, especially brahminical culture and genuine ksatriya government. 

He particularly fingered those two components. What Hiranyakasipu is trying to do is destroy the traditional basis of human happiness. His strategy will go even to the extent of environmental terrorism. His associates are going to burn cities, farms, kill brahmanas, kill cows. The devastation was so great that even the demigods came to earth invisibly to see what is this calamity and what are we gong to do! We spoke about how Hiranyakasipu’s main plan is he himself would kill Visnu but he also as we said had a secondary plan. By destroying brahminical culture he felt the demigods would be weakened. And by the demigods being weakened automatically there will be a domino effect and that would also get back at Visnu. So he had a main plan and he had a secondary plan. Amidst all this mayhem and we shouldn't take this mayhem as something outlandish that well at least human beings today aren't this bad! Just consider, there is one particular nation in this world, I wont mention its name, although I happen to have taken birth there (laughs), it has proposed that for the upliftment of peace and the stability of the world, over the course of the next thirty years, 1 trillion dollars should be spent upgrading the nuclear arsenal, 1 trillion dollars! All for the sake of peace! Srila Prabhupada explains in Bhagavad Gita that this is demoniac. 

He declares straightforwardly these weapons are not for peace. We have to think twice about that because perhaps we have been brainwashed, the nuclear weapons are there to maintain world peace. Therefore the governments have to spend on this. Srila Prabhupada assures us they are not meant for peace! They are actually the result of envy against living entities. I live you die! and there is some strange perverse envious satisfaction in having the ability to annihilate other creatures. Envy has a different meaning in the sastra besides just one on one enviousness which is bad enough - You are rising up! I cant tolerate that! Your rise, whether its material or spiritual, we’ve got to do something to cut you down! Yes that is envy but there’s also the envy manifesting on a broad scale. So Srila Prabhupada instructs us in Srimad Bhagavatam that the demoniac governments actually are waging envy on a mass scale by making life practically impossible for spiritual development. In Bhagavad Gita Krishna speaks about those envious of the Supersoul within so much so they torture their own bodies. You have to really think about this to catch the perversion. We can perhaps see this more clearly in Kamsa’s response, once he took shelter of his demoniac advisers. You know that after Kamsa in the prison cell saw Durgadevi, he begged forgiveness so pathetically from Vasudeva and Devaki -Look destiny! I am not actually the killer! Its destiny that brings everyone their fate! And Vasudeva and Devaki they actually forgave him for killing so many of their babies! Sincerely they forgave him! At the same time we must remember they are ksatriya’s. So they are thinking, - Yes we wholeheartedly forgive you but guess what! The eighth child, its already been born! (laughs) You are dead man! We forgive you! At the same time they genuinely 100% forgave him. Its hard for us to understand how both these streaks can be accommodated. So Kamsa left them and reported to his advisers. We heard yesterday in the class by HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami, how Ravana had his advisers and he could give advise, about taking advise. So Kamsa also had his advisers and he presented the whole situation to them, what happened the day before. His advisers knew exactly what to do. It is plan making time. 

It is time for strategic planning - All right Kamsa, here is what we see as the situation. The demigods are always afraid of you, we all know that. You’ve smashed the demigods before and indeed in other sastra’s you have accounts of Kamsa defeating, at least temporarily, the demigods. The demigods, if they just hear you pull your bow string, they are afraid. They cant face you in battle, they run away. Even though they are defeated, by cowardice you dont attack them. You are so righteous! You follow the principles of battle - when the foe is afraid, when the foe has dropped the weapon, you are not supposed to attack such an incompetent foe - and you follow those guidelines, Kamsa! (laughs) But now is not the time for dharma! Now is not the time for religious principles! In fact Kamsa, because you’ve followed religious principles and not killing the demigods when they were afraid, therefore we have the situation we have today, in which the demigods have increased in their strength. 

Therefore the conclusion, the siddhanta is obvious. This is not the time for dharma. Now is the time to just unleash massive destruction. How does this destruction begin? First we obviously have to kill all children born around the ten past days. But that strategy is not completely effective. Why? Because you are dealing with Visnu. What is Visnu’s situation! He is hidden in everyone’s heart. You know the famous analysis. We don't have to worry about Shiva, he is out in the forest. We don’t have to worry about Brahma, he is performing severe austerities and penances. We actually don't have to worry ordinarily about Visnu because He is buried in the hearts of everyone and cant get out. But we do want to kill Him! The problem in killing Visnu is, His hiding in the heart. So therefore we have to adopt another tactic. What is another tactic! We kill the children, then we kill all the cows because the cows provide ghee for yajna and yajna’s are what brahmanas do. So we lill the cows, and we also then persecute saintly persons, persecute the brahmanas. Because they are responsible for the progressive elements of a spiritually focussed civilisation. 

By getting rid of the cows, the brahmanas and all that brahmanas stand for, Vedic knowledge, austerity, penances, by getting rid of all that, then you’ve got Visnu. Because Visnu is all bound up with all this good stuff! (laughs) So their strategy was a bit different from Hiranyakasipu’s. Remember Hiranyakasipu’s strategy was I am going to kill Visnu directly. Meanwhile demons you go destroy brahmana, ksatriya culture on the earth. And thats kind of a secondary strategy. But Kamsa’s advisers, their strategy was - You cant get your hands on Visnu, He is too slippery, He is hidden in the hearts! We have got to have a policy of attacking Him from another direction. When we finish off brahmana culture, the demigods are finished! And because all these are components of Visnu’s body, then Visnu will be dead! (laughs) Now we are thinking, these guys are quite extreme. Fortunately in the world today we have moderation, we have balance, we have equipoise. 

Actually there hasn't been wholesale slaughter for what 70 years now. Therefore certainly humanity has become progressive. 70 years ago also 50 million people died in a war. It hasn't happened yet. How great we are! But just consider this. There are 16000 nuclear weapons in the world. 94% of them are in the hands of the Americans and Russians, all governments of course that we can trust! (laughs) 100 and growing are in Pakistan and about a 100 are in India. In 10 years the number three nuclear power in the world will be a very trusted government - it will be Pakistan! So you might say, alright, if there is a nuclear exchange between Pakistan and India, it wont affect the rest of the world. Its just a local regional affair! No! Scientists have pointed out that if there are just 100 nuclear missiles launched, India launches 50, Pakistan launches 50, that is enough to bring about a climate change that recorded history has never seen. Whats a hundred when there are 16000 of such weapons. Yet somehow or other the human beings they have a sense of peace, advancement, modernity. Then when we hear about Kamsa and Hiranyakasipu, we say. ‘Oh! How extreme! How grotesque!’ Such maha demons have their plans. Actually everyone has a plan, how to enjoy, how to exploit the material world. 

The latest conception for materially progressive human beings is something called ‘sustainable happiness’ That means instead of the kind of endeavours of happiness that cause such obvious destruction, instead of that, you try for happiness that doesn't negatively affect other people, the environment or the coming generations. Young persons today, their future is going to be in a world that hasn't been recorded in the annals of history - rising sea levels, disappearing species, fresh water supplies becoming scarce. The material conception of sustainable happiness is that its not enough just to be materially happy in your own way, take into account other people, take into the environment, take into account even other species of life, understand interdependence. But that interdependence never goes as far as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In fact often it doesn’t go to even other species. Yet this is considered progressive. Whenever you make an endeavour for happiness, think how is this affecting other people, how is this affecting the environment, its a step in the right direction but the point of Srimad Bhagavatam is that as long as the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not in the equation your efforts are futile. This may seem a bit severe. 

Whats wrong with acting for progress even though such endeavours are disconnected. Can it be that such endeavours are illustrious and dignified on their own even though we admit they have no connection to the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Lets go at this issue from another angle, atma-tattva because later in this chapter Hiranyakasipu is going to give his lamenting associates, they are lamenting over the death of Hiranyaksa, he is going to give them profound knowledge of atma-tattva, we are not the body, we are spirit soul but he leaves it right there. He doesn't go any further. This presentation can be compared to mayavada philosophy which proclaims we all are spirit soul but thats it, it doesn't go any further. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains that the soul has no other propensity except to connect to the Supreme Soul. 

Once you talk about the soul, you must talk about the Supreme Soul. Material life means that that only propensity of the soul becomes dormant. Dormant and the energy of the soul comes out in a perverted way although the soul itself if never contaminated. Disconnection from Krishna is the problem. We cant just erase that, or push it to the side. How can there be sustainable happiness, how can there be genuine human progress when there is total disconnection from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We have our plans and Krishna has His plans. Everyone is making plans. There are demoniac plans, there are lila plans. Sometimes in Krishna’s pastimes the lila sakti, His pastime energy arranges things to such an extent that even Krishna is wondering - Whats going on! (laughs) We are not against plans.

But as bhakti yogis we always want to be aligned with Krishna’s plan. Thats Krishna’s message to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita - You shut down your plan making factory. You take My master plan! Dont worry about any reactions! I will take care of all that! One morning, actually the day before, Krishna decided no breakfast at home, lets have a picnic in the forest! The acharyas point out He made that plan the day before and the next morning He activated it by blowing on His bugle in such an inconceivably beautiful way. Hearing the sound of Krishna’s bugle countless cowherd boys amassed with countless calves. And they all headed to the forest. This was Krishna’s plan. Balarama wanted to come but Rohini actually forcibly kept Him at home for purificatory rituals. Sporting in the forest they came upon what would turn out to be Aghasura. The cowherd boys discussed amongst themselves, they consulted with each other, they took the advise of senior cowherd boys - What is this here? This looks like a natural scenic spot in Vrindavana meant for our pleasure. Others said - No! No! Some tried to run - This is a fierce snake with the bottom of his mouth on the ground, the top of his mouth high in the sky! They had a discussion. They assured the cowherd boys who were trying to run away - No! No! No! Lets come back and discuss! What was the conclusion? Actually it is a big snake and he wants to swallow us! What fun! (laughs) They looked over and they saw Krishna! They saw Krishna’s beautiful face and they knew exactly what to do! March right into the mouth of Aghasura because Krishna is here! How can any harm come to us! Krishna has already killed so many demons! Krishna will take care of us! And this is a way to have a pleasure pastime. Another pastime, if there is danger Krishna will save us! So lets enjoy with Krishna! They marched into Aghasura’s mouth clapping their hands, cheering loudly, showing we are courageous! (laughs) We have no fear! They even brought their calves along with them. By clapping hands the calves were moved along even though the calves were frightened! But still the boys were so enthusiastic, lets go! lets go! into the mouth! come on! (laughs) 

So Krishna is watching all this. He wants to stop it. Thats His plan! He knows whats going on! But He is momentarily stunned! What to do here? The boys are inside, the calves are inside the mouth of Aghasura. How do I kill Aghasura and at the same time protect the boys and calves? This is Krishna’s ecstasy in problem solving. If He is om purnam, perfect and complete, He also has to relish the joy of solving problems. So His pastime energy arranges that - Krishna, here is a problem and for your enjoyment don't come up with a solution right away! (laughs) This is the Supreme Enjoyer! This is perfect and complete enjoyment! So momentarily Krishna is stymied what to do. Can you say that Krishna, His will was thwarted, satya sankalpa sakti, whatever He wants He gets, but He couldn't stop the cowherd boys. Whats going on here? Krishna was trumped, His will was superseded by the cowherd boys desire to have pastimes because Krishna is conquered by His devotees. So Krishna’s plan was superseded by His foremost plan that He is always coming under the control of the pure love of His devotees. Everyone makes plans. We need to look at what our plan is, how does it harmonise, our personal life’s plan, how does it harmonise with Krishna’s pleasure. The non devotees have their plan. They meet, they strategise. 

I have heard, I have explained before maybe some years ago here in Mayapur, I have heard from world planners both in the academic world, part of think tanks managing the future of the world, I have heard it from political leaders who will admit, yes there is world syndicate for trying to push things a certain way. They had even told me, if you are smart enough to figure this out, become one of us. (laughs) Otherwise just enjoy your television, enjoy your sports and dont worry about it! (laughs) Many of them have explained to me, these are academics from Harvard and Yale that look, we used to be idealistic, we used to think that such syndicates were very unhealthy, unwholesome for the future of the world. But this is the way it works! What can we do! And again, if you are actually smart enough to figure out whats going on, then just become one of the controllers because someone has to be in control. So everyone is making their plans. The demons are making their plans, the devotees are making their plans. Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Nityananda, ‘Sripada, holy man, I have got a plan for You! Dont come to Jagannath Puri every year. I need someone to spread Krishna bhakti in Bengal. Except for You there is no one else who can do this task! You can do something even I cant do! You've already demonstrated that by not only saving the lives of Jagai and Madhai but You initiated their spiritual advancement! You, Nityananda Prabhu, can spread Krishna bhakti far and wide to everyone!’ And what was Nityananda’s response to this plan? ‘I am the body, You are the life! Both the body and the life are important. But of the two the life is most important! I will do whatever Your inconceivable sakti arranges for Me to do! I’ll follow Your plan!’ Similarly at the end of Bhagavad Gita Arjuna says to Krishna, I’ll follow Your plan. 

My illusion is gone, nasto mohah smrtir labdha, karisye vacanam tava (Bg 18.73). I’ll accept Your plan. The ultimate solution to a devotees dilemma of what, how to best please Krishna, what is the best way to serve Krishna, the ultimate solution is the guidance of the Lord in the heart. Hiranyakasipu was enraged that Visnu had given up His role of equanimity as Paramatma. He accepted that there is Paramatma, he accepted that Visnu is equal to all living entities including the demons but something happened. So remember Kamsa’s advisers problem was, as they saw it, the Lord is hidden in the heart. Hiranyakasipu’s problem, as he saw it, was that the Lord in the heart has become greedy for puja and therefore He has become inequitable, He has become unbalanced. And what is the proof of His lack of justice, even though generally He is equal? The proof is what you see right before you, He has become affected by the demigods just because they offer puja and then what do you see? He took the form of animal, need I say anything more! He is obviously under the influence of the material energy. Not only did He take the form of an animal but He took the form of a boar, the most lowest of creatures! It is obvious He is no longer fit to be Paramatma! (laughs) Plan making is the essence of human life. 

What are the plans for? If we do not have a plan how to go deeper in our spiritual life, which is ongoing process of our life time career, to increase our bhakti, if we dont have such a plan, we can be sure that the material energy, those who are under its influence, their plans will be wearing us down. There is no plateau in this world. This world is dynamic! The spiritual energy can uplift us and material energy can bring us down. Therefore as individuals, individual devotees, if we are going to be able to survive the ravages of demoniac plan making, if we are going to avoid feeling secure, peaceful, and stable in such a world, our only protection is to take shelter of Krishna’s plan and in our individual life try to continuously increase our spiritual potency. Our goal is that we can hear from Krishna what to do next, how to serve Him best. Srila Prabhupada would plainly declare when asked, how do you make decisions? He would say, Krishna tells me! Krishna tell me directly! teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ (Bg 10.10) Once we capture Krishna’s attention due to our service, Krishna promises, I will give you customised instructions! This is the solution to our dilemma of how to be spiritual in the material world, how to decide what gives Krishna the most pleasure, what gives Krishna the less pleasure. 

We must make plans but our plan is to surrender to Krishna’s plan. We want to shut down our plan making factory and we are begging Krishna - We want to accept Your plan! Thank you very much! Hare Krishna! Devotee: (audio inaudible) Maharaja: We don’t want to engage Krishna in our service therefore we take all necessary precautions as far as possible. Only then we are entitled to depend on Krishna. But we have to use whatever intelligence we have, how to respond to situations in such a way that Krishna’s purposes can be achieved. The cowherd boys, they are another level! (laughs) They know what they are doing! They are giving Krishna pleasure! There is no trace of selfishness when the cowherds they say - We’re just going to march into that mouth! We are going to have a good time! They are thinking Krishna is going to enjoy this! If we one day can approach that standard of purity how wonderful our life will be! Thank you very much! Hare Krishna!

Devotees in Moscow are focusing on staying connected to Srila Prabhupada and his vision as they celebrate ISKCON’s 50th and look toward the next 50 years.

They began their 2016 as they mean to go on, with the second annual “Our Prabhupada” festival. The first, in December 2014, saw Suresvara Das speaking about Srila Prabhupada as ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya.

At this year’s festival from January 15th to 20th at the ISKCON Moscow temple, hundreds of devotees learned about Srila Prabhupada as a person from Hari Sauri Das, who personally served him for sixteen months.

Hari Sauri gave his famous Living Bhagavatam seminar, discussing Prabhupada’s approach to different aspects of devotional service and life such as chanting, prasadam, cleanliness, health, and management. He showed how Srila Prabhupada applied the philosophy of Krishna consciousness in myriad practical ways, within a modern context.

“Hari Sauri Prabhu endeared us to Srila Prabhupada, presenting him as a loving, caring father to us all,” says Moscow ISKCON 50 coordinator Vrajarenu Das, who acted as translator for part of the seminar.

Next, from January 22nd to 24th, 400 devotees attended an ecstatic Kirtan Mela at ISKCON Moscow with B.B. Govinda Swami, Niranjana Swami, and local kirtaniyas like Saci-Suta Das, Abhay Chaitanya Das and Haridas Thakur Das.

Moscow devotees also plan to reach out to newcomers with Kirtan during ISKCON 50. Three hundred members of the public are expected for a Mantra Yoga event on April 23rd, where they’ll chant different mantras such as Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. They’ll then hear a talk on the effects of mantra meditation, followed by a long session of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra.

Moscow ISKCON 50 Coordinator Vrajarenu Das speaks

Previous Mantra Yoga events have featured speakers like Bhakti Vijnana Goswami, Bhaki Vaibhava Swami, and Russian ISKCON guru Chaitanya Charan Das; so while this April’s speakers haven’t been confirmed yet, they’re bound to be illustrious.

Two “Kirtan Moscow” events on April 30th and May 9th will follow at the temple, and is expected to draw relative newcomers who are taking the next step, and are specifically interested in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. The May event is also expected to draw 300 people.

ISKCON Moscow’s main ISKCON 50 festival will be held from June 18th to 26th, and will be an umbrella for several different events. It will kick off with a Vaishnavi Festival on the 18th and 19th, which will likely be attended by 200 to 250 local Moscow devotee women.

The special guest speaker will be Mondakini Dasi, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada from France. Mondakini was one of the earliest pioneers of Krishna consciousness in Russia, and was married to Russia’s first devotee Ananta Shanti Das. She remains strongly connected with the Russian ISKCON Community.

“We expect that she will invite two more female disciples of Srila Prabhupada to join her for the festival,” says organizer Ekanga Dasi. “They’ll talk about Prabhupada, and help audience members develop their personal relationships with him. There will also be classes on Prabhupada’s books, Deity worship, and cooking. The main purpose of the festival is Vaishnavi association, and I hope it will leave participants with a taste of communication and cooperation.”

The ISKCON 50festival will also include celebrations of the 45th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Moscow and the 24th anniversary of the installation of Sri Sri Dayal Nitai Saci Suta, the presiding Deities of ISKCON Moscow. Key Srila Prabhupada disciples will attend and tell stories of the early days.

“One major goal of the festival is to lay a proper foundation for succession,” says Vrajarenu. “We can see that Srila Prabhupada’s disciples are leaving us, and so we have to ensure that the new generations know what Prabhupada was like as a person, as a leader, as a loving father.”

As well as the festivals and events, there will be special seminars and publications for ISKCON’s 50th.

Already on Sunday February 28th, Vatsala Das, a brahmachari and well-known preacher in Moscow, gave a seminar on Prabhupada’s Seven Purposes of ISKCON, and how we can apply them today.

Niranjana Swami chants at the recent Moscow Kirtan Mela

The GBC foundational document “Srila Prabhupada: The Founder-Acarya of ISKCON” was also just printed in Russian.

The next issue of “Vaishnavism: Open Forum,” a journal for devotees who specialize in outreach to academics, sociologists, authorities and the media, will be dedicated to ISKCON 50.

Bhakti Vijnana Goswami is currently writing commentaries on a previously published document called “The Constitution of ISKCON,” which describes fourteen aims of ISKCON.

“Maharaja’s version will be published as a brochure for ISKCON devotees and newcomers,” says ISKCON Russia Communications Director Radha Damodara Das “And it will allow for a better understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s vision and ISKCON’s mission.”

Finally, a book entitled “Vaisnavas in the Socio-Cultural Context of Modern Russia,” intended for authorities and academics, will communicate to them ISKCON’s place in the world and in Russia today, and explain Srila Prabhupada’s mission, especially its social and moral aspects.

“We are planning on a number of conferences, round table discussions, and meetings on the subject,” says Radha Damodara.

Summing up the aims of Russia’s ISKCON 50 celebrations, Vrajarenu says, “Our society, ISKCON, is growing and changing, with new generations coming in. And it’s very important nowadays to help them understand Srila Prabhupada’s vision and keep that connection.”

If they do, ISKCON Russia has a bright future. Sixty million Bhagavad-gitas have been distributed in Russia over the years; today, there are tens of thousands of mostly native congregational devotees in Moscow alone; and with the work of innovative preachers, more and more intelligent youth are reading Prabhupada’s books and chanting the Holy Name. 

“I believe that Russia has a very huge potential for Krishna consciousness,” says Vrajarenu. “And ISKCON’s 50thanniversary is a great opportunity to meditate on the possibilities.”

“The next milestone is the 50th anniversary of ISKCON in Russia in five years,” he concludes. “And that, too, will be a very important date for our society here.”

Source: http://iskconnews.org/russian-iskcon-50-focuses-on-prabhupada-connection,5436/

Around fifteen ISKCON devotees brought the sound of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and the taste of sanctified vegetarian food to a huge anti-nuclear march in London on February 27th.

It was Britain’s biggest anti-nuclear march in a generation. Thousands of campaigners gathered from all over the world to protest the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons program, estimated to cost £41 billion. The money, they said, should be spent on education and the National Health Service instead.

“Books not Bombs,” read some placards, a sentiment ISKCON devotees could certainly get behind.

The march made its way from Marble Arch in Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, where protestors including Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke.

Volunteers from devotee-run charity Food For All kept marchers going by distributing 1,000 plates of a full prasadam feast, including rice, subji, pakoras, cake, and a drink. With Food-For-All’s trademark creativity, the sanctified vegetarian hot meals were served from rickshaws at the beginning, middle, and end of the march.

“People loved it!” enthuses Food For All director Parasurama Das in his lilting Irish accent. “The moment we set up, there was a long queue. Imagine, you’re on a long protest march, and there’s nothing to eat or drink. Everyone really appreciated it.”

Devotees also provided the soundtrack, elevating walkers’ spirits with kirtan. Brahmachari Dayal Mora Das, in his saffron robes, sang out a beautiful Hare Krishna tune in a clear voice. A Bhaktivedanta Manor farm volunteer played a full drum set from a wheeled float. Parasurama and Food For All volunteer Grant accompanied on ukulele and electric guitar. And a protestor joined in on his trumpet.

Parasurama stirs up a storm in 'the biggest pot in the Western world'

The whole combo, meanwhile, was broadcast over a powerful sound system. 

“We were the only people that put a full band together like that, and everyone was saying, ‘Gosh, you guys are really organized!’” says Parasurama. “They were just walking, but when we kicked off, people were joining in, and dancing. It was really cool!”

The devotees were featured chanting in the Channel 4 TV coverage of the event, and serving prasadam in the BBC coverage. 

At the end of the rally, they presented a letter to Jeremy Corbyn, the politician speaking out against the nuclear program. 

“We invited him to visit Food For All’s center Matchless Gifts, because he’s vegetarian, he knows about our efforts, and we are based in Islington, the part of London where he works,” says Parasurama.

A video of the event

A lot of people, in fact, know about Food For All’s efforts these days, and the charity is planning to reach out to even more soon. 

Parasurama and his crew currently feed around 1,000 homeless people and students in London every day, and will soon increase that number to 5,000 a day. They plan to ask London Mayor Boris Johnson to suppor the project, called “Feed the 5,000.”

Parasurama says he can cook all 5,000 meals at once in what he dubs “the biggest pot in the Western world,” a giant vessel that truly has to be seen to be believed.

But what’s most interesting about Food For All is that all of the fruit and veg it uses would otherwise be thrown away by supermarkets for being aesthetically unappealing, despite being perfectly good. 

This has put a prasadam charity run by devotees at the forefront of a new movement to stop waste. The cover story of March 2016’s National Geographic magazine, entitled “How ‘Ugly’ Fruits and Vegetables Can Help Solve World Hunger,” says that a third of the planet’s food goes to waste, often because of its looks – enough to feed two billion people.

And who is one of the people it cites as working to solve this problem? “Peter O’Grady, a Hare Krishna who runs a charity kitchen in London.”

Food For All is also becoming a favorite of activists, who often call asking for prasadam to be distributed at their demonstrations – the anti-trident rally was not the first, and won’t be the last.

On Saturday March 5th, for instance, the charity will cater A Million Women Rising, a march from Oxford Street to Trafalgar Square protesting domestic abuse, sexual assault and other violence against women. Parasurama will cook for the event, while all female devotees will serve the prasadam. 

“The people at these marches are conscientious, good, caring, thoughtful people, who are trying to make the world a better place,” says Parasurama. “We’re also trying to make the world a better place, through chanting and serving prasadam. So they’re great people to connect with. And they love Hare Krishnas!” 

Source: http://iskconnews.org/devotees-chant-serve-prasad-at-uk-anti-nuclear-rally,5437/

I Think the main ideas of Bhakti Rasamrita Sindu (without technicalities) are:

1) What is love?

2) How can you “practice” love?

3) How do you practice love? 

4) What are the inspirations to practice love? 

5) How is love experienced?

1) What is love? 

Love is an expression of affection.

Affection is the desire to make someone happy and prosperous.

Pure love is when that expression has no ulterior motive and is given top priority.

Topmost pure love is when that pure love finds the topmost beloved, Krishna – who is the root of all other beloved things.

2) How can you “practice” love?

Love can’t be manufactured. Nothing you do can “create” it, but you can do things to make your heart much more receptive to it, more capable of being an agent of it.

This is done by emulating the expressions of love. By emulating something, it gradually becomes more than an emulation. We gradually get a feel for it. It becomes a feeling, not just an action.

Our emulation has to gradually acquire more and more emotional content, more and more sincerity – that makes the heart fully receptive to love, and inspires the Goddess of Love, Sri Radha, to bless our hearts with her own presence.

3) How DO you practice love? 

You should have a guide, someone who understands and exemplifies love.

You should respect everyone and everything, lovingly.

You should live in a place nearby or connected with the beloved – like Vṛndāvana. Or you should make the place you live into a place connected with the beloved.

You should practice having a personal relationship with the beloved – by keeping an image of him and treating him like a person whom you can interact with, feeding him, etc.

You should become close with others who also love the beloved.

You should hear about the beloved in great detail – by studying Śrīmad Bhāgavatam very deeply and the explanations of it given by great lovers of Krishna.

You should sing about the beloved. Especially, you should sing the name of the beloved. 

4) What are the inspirations to practice love?

The inspiration to practice love may be your understanding that love is the most perfect law, the ultimate religion, the essence of all that is good. Additionally, the specific inspiration to practice love for Krishna is to understand that Krishna is the most perfect beloved, for he is the original person (the most fully qualified), and is the root of all other beloved things including one’s own self.

Another inspiration may be the beauty of love itself. When we become attracted to the specific beauty of love for Krishna, our inspiration to practice it becomes very passionate, and all of our practices become focused by the specifics of that inspiration.

5) How is love experienced?

The practice of love gradually purifies the practitioner from all things antithetical to it. Then it enters the purified core of your being like a divine Queen rising to her gentle and opulent throne. There it expands and consumes your entire being eternally in the thrilling bliss of an ecstatic divine love affair.

The foundation of this ecstasy is the type of affectionate relationship you have with the beloved, Krishna. It may merely be a lack of any selfishness, or it may be a desire to actively serve him, or it may admit no boundaries to how it strives for doing so – taking on a friendly character. It may even take a protective flavor, like the affection of a parent for a child. It may even escalate to the pinnacle of all affectionate relationship – the absolute intimacy, protection, service, and selflessness found in unabashed romantic passion.

The ecstasy of this divine relationship can be tasted when it is stimulated by the beloved or by things connected to the beloved, and then expressed in thoughtful and reflexive ways, and adorned with various thrilling emotions.

The experience of the ecstasy of divine love is the supreme happiness, and therefore is the soul’s supreme aspiration, the ultimate goal of life. It fulfills our every want and need through its selfless absorption in the beloved, Sri Krishna.

Vraja Kishor

Source: https://vicd108.wordpress.com/2016/03/03/technicality-free-the-essence-of-bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu/