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Kurmakshetra.By H. H. Radhanath Swami

According the the Mahatmya of this place, it is described that Vedavyas was telling one great muni that this place of Kurmakshetra is very, very sacred and he told the story of this temple. There is a mountain called Shwetacala Parvat. And near that mountain lived a king. His name was Shweta Chakravarti, and his wife’s name was Vishnupriya. Vishnupriya was very chaste, very pure in heart, and had great devotion to Lord Krishna. On an Ekadasi day she was performing pooja in her temple room. At that time her husband had very great lusty desires. He went to her room to enjoy his lusty desires with his wife. So being a chaste woman she greeted him with great hospitality, had him sit on a golden throne. Then, she went back into her pooja room to continue her devotional service. She started to pray very helplessly to Vishnu, that today is Ekadashi, I have made vow that I will not engage in any type of sinful activity. I will completely immerse my mind only in devotional service. But my husband is approaching me with lusty desires. Please save me, please protect my vows to you on this holy Ekadashi day. This is a great lesson for any of you ladies whoever get put in this situation. The Lord always protects His devotees. As she prayed to Lord Vishnu, Kurmadeva who protects the stability and the foundation of devotee’s vows, He ordered Gangadevi that this king wants to violate the chastity of the vows of my devotee, go stop him. So Gangadevi appeared in the temple and then with a terrible, terrible violent current, she came flowing out of the temple room, and right after King Shweta Chakravarti. When he saw the river Ganges just flooding forward, rushing towards him, he became very frightened and ran away. He was running and running and running but everywhere he went, the Ganges was chasing after. He was running, running, but it was chasing after and finally he climbed to the top of the Shweta mountain. And there he asked his minister what’s happening? Why? His chief minister told him, that your wife is a very great devotee of Lord Vishnu, and you had lusty desires for her on Ekadashi. She prayed to Vishnu to save her, and Kurmadev, just to protect His devotee send the river Ganges, just to stop you. When the king heard this he felt so guilty, terrible, he was thinking that I am such a sinful person. He began to repent, but worse then that, he was thinking that I made an offense to my wife, and what kind of great devotee is she, that Lord Kurmadeva personally arranged to protect her? He decided, he had to perform great, great tapasya to purify himself from this offense. So he was repenting so much. He was just getting down on himself so bad, and finally he fell unconscious. Then Narada Muni appeared. Narada Muni said, “How can I serve you?” He said, “Please grant me a benediction, grant me the benediction that I can have darshan of the great deity of Kurmadeva.” So Narada Muni taught him a Kurma Mantra and sat on the shores of the ocean of the sea, and explained him the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness very nicely.

As he was chanting this Mantra Lord Shiva appeared and then he was even more encouraged. So he came to a place called Chakratirtha which is in the area of Kurmakshetra, and there Shweta Chakravarti for 300 years stood on one toe with his arms raised. Then during the summer, he stood in the center of a burning hot fire. In the rainy season, he stood in the rains and the cold. Then he started sitting on knives for a long time. Finally his body was so completely exhausted because of this tapasya that he fell down. At that point Narada Muni saw, how serious he was, because Narada Muni was standing next to him. And he prayed to Lord Vishnu: “Please come and give him your darshan.”

Upon the request of Narada Muni, this great king received the holy darshan of Lord Kurmadeva, who stood before him with four arms. They went to one Rishi’s house together, Narada Muni, Kurmadev and the king. And the rishi was so happy, “Because of you King I am getting the darshan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” So the king was getting so many auspicious blessings. They came to this place. Actually the king was still was so tired, and they were climbing this high mountain. Kurmadeva was so pleased by the king’s endeavours to try to serve Him and please Him that He chanted the mantra ‘Om’ and immediately the mountain became flat. They came to Chakratirtha and the king said, “I want to make a nice kund to bathe in.” The kund is very close by here, and with His chakra Kurmadev made a beautiful kund.

From the place where the chakra entered the ground, Mahalaxmi came out. Mahalaxmi said to the Lord, “What are You doing in this crazy world where people are so sinful, addicted to intoxications and so many materialistic activities? What are You doing here?” Then the Supreme Personality of Godhead said, “Wherever my devotees are serving me I want to be with them. My life is to give favour to My devotees.” So it is a beautiful story that Kurmadev appeared here, on this place.

And Narada Muni and the king decided that they wanted to have installation for the Kurma deity. So they went to Bramhaloka, because the king asked, “Do you know the Mantras to install the deity of Kurma?” and Narada said, ” Lord Bramha knows the mantra. Let us go.” So they went to the abode of Lord Brahma and Lord Bramha said, “I will come down and I will personally install this deity.” And while he came, Lord Shiva came, Lord Indra came, Vayu came, Agnidev came, Surya came. All the principal gods, they all came to this place and Lord Brahma performed the glorious installation ceremony of Sri Kurmadev and from that time this has been one of the great holy places of pilgrimage for Vaishnavas.

In fact Sripad Ramanujacharya, he visited Jagannath Puri. And when he saw the way the pujaris were worshipping the deity, he was thinking that it was not correct. He explained to them what are the rules and regulations according to Pancaratrika Vidhi. They were doing different Tantra-Mantra-Yantras and other traditional ways. So that night after he instructed them, Lord Jagannath appeared to Ramanujacharya in his dream, right there in Puri and told him, “I am very satisfied with the love and devotion in which my pujaris are worshipping Me. I don’t want you to change it.” And therefore that night Lord Jagannath personally threw Ramanujacharya to Kurmakshetra. But according to Bhakti Vinod Thakur, first He threw him to Navadvipa. He was thrown to Navadvip and there he had darshan of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave him very wonderful darshan and instructions of how to go on with the particular devotional service of establishing the Vishishta Dvaita philosophy, Siddhanta. In this way Jagannath took him from Puri to Navadvip, and then to Kurmakshetra.

So when Ramanujacharya woke up, here he was in front of the deity of Kurmadev. He thought, it was the deity of Shiva because you have all seen the darshan; He would look like a Shivalingam. When Ramanujacharya was thinking, he was Lord Shiva in great gravity of devotion, he began to fast. But then he recognised that there was a head and a tail, little feet. It was Kurmadev. It was Vishnu. So he established very gorgeous worship of the deity, and sent his own disciples and followers here to maintain a very high standard of worship, to this very day. When Ramanujacharya was here, he installed next to the deity of Kurmadev, you saw the deity of Sridevi and Bhudevi.

When Sripad Madhvacharya came here in his pilgrimage he worshiped Kurmadeva and he installed these deities of Sita Ram inside. And Sripad Shankaracharya when he came here to worship the deity, he also installed a deity of Sudarshan Chakra. And when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came here, He also installed the congregational chanting of the Holy Names, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare. The supreme most accessible deity, in this age of Kali-yuga. So we are very, very grateful and fortunate to be here today.

(from www. narasimhalila. com / deitypastimes. html)

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=8616

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Seattle temple Ananda Festival

Devotees at our Seattle temple have been working for months to organise the Ananda festival at a prominent park in Redmond Shire.

The festival spanned a 2 day weekend and it was estimated that nearly 14,000 people attended.

There were two main stages for performances, many prasadam booths and a big variety of book and other stalls.

Source:http://www.ramaiswami.com/seattle-temple-ananda-festival/

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Forgive!

"We brahmanas are worshipable by others only due to our quality of forgiveness. It is through this quality of forgiveness that Lord Brahma has achieved the post of master of the entire universe. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Hari, the remover of obstacles, becomes pleased with those who are forgiving. Forgiveness is illuminating like the sun, and cultivation of this quality is the brahmana’s duty.”

- Srimad Bhagavatam 9.15.39 - 41


You think you have forgiven and forgotten and then the bad taste in your mouth creeps in along with all the memories of unpleasantness and distress. Brahmana? 

Source:http://walksatdawn.blogspot.in/2009/11/forgive.html

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PULL

Yes, PULL! 


That is the feeling I got after I woke up from this evening's nap. I am about to drive a few ungodly hours to the divine ISV (Iskcon Silicon Valley, or Iskcon Sankirtan Village, as I prefer to call it) and get the association of the great souls who live there. Krsna reminds me through that "pull" from within, that the reason for visiting holy places is not to just see the place, but to hear from the sadhus who live there, associate with them, aspire to BE like them; less one still remains a cow or an ass. 

I am pulled from within to BE a devotee of Krsna, and not just go through the emotional joy ride of the "look" of a devotee. You know, that feeling one gets when the dhottis fits just right today, and the chaddar hangs quite well, even as you're dancing in kirtan bliss. I guess it can be applied to saris too, but I wouldn't know much about that in this life time. I did wear a sari for a play, it was worn as a dhotti, and felt quit nice and flowy..... (ok, back to the pull)



When there is proper hearing in the association of devotees, and especially a point that is made again and again, there just must, at least for me I'll speak, be contemplation. Contemplation must be followed by a resolve, a desire to act! This is where one's romantic love story turns into ________ (insert your super hero of choice) and one is faced with wild adventures.

The journey within is far more action packed than the hour, or four, depending on if you watched the extended version, of your Lord of the Rings, Harry Porter, or Temple of Doom. That person who looks so effulgent outside is now faced with the dark road inside. Envy, pride, madness, you name it, they're there to greet you! And the king of the castle, that eternal enemy known as Dr. Evil, wrong screenplay, that eternal enemy known as LUST, is there hiding in the very fabric of your existence. When you thought your had him down by tight sadhana, he popped up in the form of the desire from profit, fame and distinction. So day by day you fight. You dicide that " I want to go back to Krsna, and serve him." Serve him? I guess so. So my lofty idea of wanting to be a cowherd boy or a gopi, or Father Yasoda has to be based on service? PHEW... pause....

Yes, the person I am most envious of and most lusty towards is that person named Krsna, that spy who loves me, that guy who unlike my most beloved wife, son, daughter, friend or whoever, will do anything for me. He'll even sit there with me in the bathroom during my cleaning moments. Actually without his help I wouldn't know what to clean, or where to clean. He even accompanies the worm in that cleansed substance that was just dropped off at the pool; I mean seriously, has your other half fulfilled that part in the "for better or worse" clause?

So why am I envious of such a person? Because I want to be like him, equal to him, I want to BE him. And all I seem to do over the years, or lifetimes, is to make blunders and show how I'll never be him, because he is One without a Second. 

So with humility and a resolution to free myself from all this dust accumulated for years on end, I decide to go with the pull, to be a devotee, and not just look like one. To sing for Krsna's pleasure, and not to hear myself thinking that I am singing so nicely. To give Krsna to others and step out of the way, less I contiminate them with my own god project, which wouldn't work anyways since they're on a god project journey of their own.

To finish this rambling, we have embarked on this journey back to sanity, and when Krsna comes in, everyone else, even that lust guy, has to pack up and leave. They all become squatters, and Krsna needs the whole heart, all four chambers, to himself..and you. But like before, he is always there with us at every step. He carries what we lack, and preserves what we have, and he knows how deep we really want to go. He'll take us no further if we don't want it.

This is Krsna. Wonderful Krsna. 

"O son of Maharaja Nanda (Krsna), I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet."

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Every year on January 14th comes the Spring Equinox. Known in India as Makara Sankranti, it is a holiday that is often accompanied by gusts of wind. One on occasion, a young prince was on the flat roof of his palace, hoping to take advantage of the strong breeze. In his hands was a brightly-coloured kite made of bamboo and paper. After a few attempts to launch it, the kite lifted into the sky, dipped a few times, then soared and twisted, edging slowly upwards. The young prince smiled with joy, and his gaze held fast to his kite, lifting higher and higher into the sky as he tugged on the string.

The roof of the palace was several floors up, and the prince was not looking around him as he moved, step by step, towards the edge of the roof. Despite being warned never to go up to the roof he had managed to escape the watchful eye of his nanny, and was there all by himself. Down in the street, a man passing by happened to hear the squeals of delight and looked upwards. Alarmed, he saw that the child, although enjoying himself, was only looking upwards to the kite and was about to walk off the edge. Surely he would now fall to his death?

Without thinking whether it was correct for him to raise his voice to a prince, the man shouted out a warning. At that very same moment, the palace nanny came onto the roof, looking towards the young prince, who was still laughing with joy. She was so absorbed in the prince’s laughter, she too could not see the imminent danger he was in. Hearing the loud shout from the street, yet not knowing the reason, she called back in response: “Hey you! Who are you to shout at this child? Do you not know that he is a prince? Know your place!”

Moral: The young prince is the materialistic enjoyer, looking up to the source of his pleasure yet unaware of the danger; the nanny is the religionist, protective yet interested in preserving the status quo of mundane happiness; and the man in the street is the guru. The guru sees the actual situation and, though he speaks strongly, he does so with the best intention. Both the materialist and the religionist may not thank him, but his message is the best.

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Hare Krishna monks have finally moved into their new home after an explosion that destroyed their former temple six years ago.

Thirty people escaped just before the Iskcon Temple in Leicester exploded on 3 September 2010.

A Leicester family donated a former bank in Granby Street to Iskcon, and renovation work to the Grade II building has now been completed.

The monks are taking residency on the upper floors.

The space also includes a meditation area, kitchen, classrooms and offices.

Temple president Pradyumna Dasa said: “We’re very happy to have reached this milestone in the special year of Iskcon’s 50th anniversary.

“Since the gas blast in 2010, this journey has been a miracle to a dream.

“We are indebted to everyone who has supported the development of this project.”

The explosion was caused by a leaking gas cylinder that had been used for cooking.

Firefighter Bill Smith said it was “a miracle” no-one was killed.
Man ‘no doubt saved lives’

“The person who disconnected the cylinder realised the danger of the gas leaking. He ran out and got everybody to run over to the other side of the road,” the fire fighter said at the time.

“Within 30 seconds there was a large explosion. He has no doubt saved the lives of many people with his actions.”

The Iskcon community has met at various community centres and halls around the city since the explosion.

The new building on Granby Street was acquired in 2014, and the community has been meeting in the main hall there but without heating or kitchen facilities.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-36935851

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Lord Nrisimhadeva’s mercy even on non-devotees
The mercy of Lord Nrisimhadeva at Mayapur is famous and I have an interesting story in brief.
I know a couple Ashok Ghosh and his wife Shila Ghosh from Kolkata, who married twelve years ago. Four years before when I met them, they shared their worries with me. Like other childless couples, who undertake treatments or throw faith in magical amulets, this young couple too were attracted to artificial means to have a baby. Incidentally, I suggested them to take shelter of Jagrata Nrsiimhadeve at ISKCON Mayapur. In the year 2006, Nrisimha Caturdasi day, the couple came too Mayapur and observed the Vrata seriously, approached the Lord, and paid their sincere offerings to Him with full surrender.
A year later, when I visited Calcutta, incidentally I met the couple and found them extremely happy. To my amazement, I saw carrying a small baby in the lap. I enquired who the child was? The couple narrated to me the blessings of Lord Nrisimhadeva upon them. This is a clear example of the Lord’s mercy upon anyone who takes shelter of Him. This is an instance, even a non-devotee has been blessed with His mercy. The Lord can bless anything to anyone if surrenders to Him and incidentally utters His holy name even once.
The ancients performed putrakameshthi yajna to invoke the divinities and bless the childless couple to have progeny. In kaliyuga, we short-lived humans forgot those tedious Vedic yajnas. In this disastrous age, surrendering to the God and uttering His holy names is the greatest sacrifice one can offer as Lord Caitanya instructed us through His divine Grace A. C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. As the Vishnupurana says, “Ten years of tapasya in sattya yuga equates to one year of tapasya in tertayuga, and it equates to one month of tapas in dvapayuga and it equates to just one day of tapasya in kaliyuga. Anyone who surrenders to the Lord and utters His holy name even once, the merciful Lord will bless him all his needs and at the end will offer him a chance to reach the Supreme Destination even the king of heaven Indra is ineligible to obtain. Therefore, let us always recite the mahamantra –
HARE KRSNA HARE KRSHNA KRSHNA KRSHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

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The Swami Responds

From Back to Godhead

Dear Swami Bhaktivedanta,
I’ve read that your Krishna Consciousness is a non-sectarian science of the soul. How is it, then, that you follow some particular concept of God Krishna rather than a more universal concept, such as the One, or the All-Pervading Light? I like your movement very much, but I do feel this to be a clear contradiction in your philosophy. Yours truly,
Owen Darcy

My dear Mr. Darcy,
Thank you for your interest, and for your question also. I assure you that Krishna is not a concept: He is the Supreme, Original Person. Everything that exists is His energy, and He is the sole Energetic. He pervades His energy because He has complete and limitless control over it. All that exists, then, is of Him, from Him, possessed, pervaded and maintained by Him therefore He is the One, All-Pervading, and the Resting Ground of the Universes. But He is more even than this. He is thus held to be an Individual: the Whole is more than the sum of the parts. This omnipotence is called the Lord’s simultaneously one and different Nature.

Dear Swami,
I have always read that self-realization can only be attained by cutting oneself off from human society. Do you agree with this? Thank you,
Jereld Penne

Dear Mr. Penne,
No, I don’t agree. In India also this was long held to be true but my Spiritual Master, Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati taught that one can use the implements of modern civilization for the service of the Lord, and thus attain to the highest perfection. This was his great contribution. In the Bhagavad Gita, as well, Lord Sri Krishna says that he who preaches the message of God to his fellow men is the most dear devotee (Chaps. XVIII, verse 68). One must, of course, be among one’s fellow men in order to do this.

Dear Swami,
Is Krishna really Nirvana?
Thank you,
William Guttenroth

Dear Mr. Guttenroth,
Nirvana is the negation of material life; Krishna is the positive joy of spiritual existence.

Dear Swami,
Your philosophy states that the soul or Self is eternal, and that God, the Supreme Self, is also eternal. If this is so, then how is God to be considered the Creator ?
Sincerely,
Mary Welch

Dear Miss Welch,
Creator means the Source, and creation means the emanation from that Source. The Creator and the creation are both eternal but the creation depends upon the Creator, and not vice versa. It is like the sun and the sunlight. They are always together, but the sun is supreme and independent, while the sunlight is subordinate. Still, they are not separable, as we are eternally inseparable from God.
Ever your well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Dear Swami Bhaktivedanta,
As simply as possible, could you tell me what the real essence of your message is? I find all philosophers to be long on wind but short on solid meaning. Please try to be clear. Thank you.
John M. Taylor

Dear Mr. Taylor,
I shall try: My message is that humankind can find real not theoretical or abstract peace and happiness only through association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And this association is established most quickly and easily through the congregational chanting of the Lord’s Holy Names. My followers and I sing the Maha Mantra Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. However, other authorized Names, such as Jehovah, Jesus Christ and Allah are quite acceptable, as God has a limitless supply of Personal Names. I hope this is lucid, and further hope you will take up this practice of Kirtan, or singing the Lord’s Names.

Dear Swami,
Who is Narada Muni? When you say on your record album cover that he’s a spaceman, do you mean that he uses a flying saucer?
Yours truly,
Marjorie Sherman

Dear Miss Sherman,
Narada is one of the principal saints mentioned in Vedic literature. As stated on the record cover it was he who delivered the Maha Mantra to Earth. Narada Muni doesn’t use a flying saucer, because his body is completely spiritual, and therefore has no limitation in material time or space.

Dear Swami,
If God loves us, why doesn’t He stop warfare?
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Arthur

Dear Miss Arthur,
The Lord presents Mankind with all means of understanding His Fatherhood, and our brotherhood toward one another. But He doesn’t impinge upon the minute quantity of independence that we have. If we choose to ignore Him, He permits us. Greed treachery and warfare are natural results of this ignorance. As for the major horror of war, death: that is merely an illusion. The living entities are by constitution eternal, in spite of material appearances. But great suffering is undeniably there, due to our unfortunate ignorance .

Dear Swami,
Are there any esoteric principles in Krishna Consciousness, revealed only to advanced students?
Thank you,
Ben Ordway

Dear Mr. Ordway,
Why not take up Krishna Consciousness and see?
Ever your well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Dear Swami Bhaktivedanta,
Could you please explain the Vedic concept of Universal Time? It seems to me that this is a bewilderingly complex system of thought.
Yours truly,
Henry Langdon

Dear Mr. Langdon,
Universal Time is no more complex than the relationship of a second to a minute to an hour to a day. History is divided into series of four Yugas, or sub-Ages. Each complete series is 4,200,000 years long. One thousand of such complete ages make one day of Brahma. Brahma is the creator of this Universe, and his life span is co-equal to it. Brahma’s day is a thousand ages, and his night is also a thousand ages. And Brahma lives one hundred years. Thus, we can calculate the duration of this universe at something over three hundred billion years. I hope this answers your question.

Dear Swami,
How long does it take to attain perfection in Krishna Consciousness? Thank you, Walter Arden

Dear Mr. Arden,
One second is more than enough. The perfection of Krishna Consciousness is found in complete surrender unto the Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. If you are capable of such surrender, then don’t delay even one more heartbeat. The Maha (Hare Krishna) Mantra will help you to be able to surrender, by giving you direct experience of the Lord’s presence. By thus understanding His Beauty, Kindness and other Attributes, you will realize the value of His association, and will at once surrender for His sake.
Dear Swami Bhaktivedanta,
Is it necessary to have a spiritual master in order to achieve Krishna Consciousness? Or is the chant alone enough?
Sincerely,
Helen Lee

Dear Miss Lee,
Chanting will put you directly in touch with the Source Krishna Himself. But the spiritual master is Krishna’s direct representative, and he too is of incalculable value for your spiritual progress.

Dear Swamiji,
Why was this material world created, if God truly loves us?
Yours,
N. Ogden

My dear N. Ogden,
Do you think the government builds its prisons in hopes that they’ll be filled? But there is a need. As the criminal must be removed from moral society, so the living entities who reject God must leave the spiritual realm, where all adore Him.

Dear Swami,
You say that unalloyed service to the Lord is the purest devotion. But how can we always put faith in Krishna’s mercy, and at the same time never ask Him for anything?
Thank you,
Marie Moskowitz

Dear Miss Moskowitz,
We need never ask for the Lord’s mercy. It is given us freely and abundantly at all times. Even the atheist enjoys it. But what we must have is God’s loving service, if we are to know true happiness. Make this loving service the object of your every prayer, and see the result yourself.

Dear Swamiji,
What’s wrong with pleasure?
D. T. Mervin

Dear D. T. Mervin,
Until you serve Krishna, you cannot know what pleasure is.

Dear Swami,
If one has rejected God, will God still take him back?
Yours,
Miss Anita Keough

My dear Miss Keough,
We are all here due to mistakes. Krishna only cares for our love.

Dear Swami,
Is it necessary to pursue all the different yogas in turn in order to reach the Ultimate?
Yours truly,
John The

Dear Mr. The,
You can walk the stairs to the top of the Empire State Building if you like. But the elevator is also there. Try chanting Hare Krishna.

Dear Swami,
Why do so many people neglect the Lord, if He is the center of everything?
Thanks,
Brendan Jones

Dear Mr. Jones,
Why do some men lie down on the Bowery Street? There is independence, and independence means one can choose wisely or foolishly.
Ever your well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

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Leisure Pleasure

lei·sure: : freedom provided by the cessation of activities; especially: time free from work or duties

I have been missing this little noun for eons now. Finally I've caught a hold of this elusive little thing today - today being a holiday for Eid. This is such an interesting definition of leisure. Are we ever free from activity? The very nature of the soul is to be active so where do you draw the line between activities that count as work and activities that count as pleasure? When we engage in activies of pleasure, it becomes leisure.

In yesterday's program, Yadav prabhu made such beautiful points. He mentioned that one of the Radha raman pujaris from Vrindavan once said that, "Krishna gives himself to us in our old age, if we give him our youth".

And then I realized how I'm slowly crossing this stage of 'youth'. After my wedding in December, my day is just going to get busier. I will have officially become an adult with so many responsibilities to juggle. How to juggle? How do I immerse myself in the Lord's name, pastimes, service with a household to take care of? How am I going to give my youth to Krishna, when I am struggling with paperwork, phonecalls etc from dawn to dusk?

Well, here is where I get lucky :) Even though the world seems to get too big to handle, my day seems filled with meangingless phonecalls and paperwork - offering all this to Krishna makes it seem so much lighter at the end of the day. Leisure? Well, who needs it when you are blissful in your busy day anyway. Trick is to link my meaningless paperwork to Krishna.......well not so successful sometimes, but I'm getting there. It's going to get easier to do this when I have a half hour of kirtan together with family to look forward to. Or 15 minutes of Bhagavatam reading. And really, the light at the end of the tunnel - Mayapur.

Thank you Nitai. For everything. :)

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Atma Nivedana

A devotee once told me,
" We offer so many services to Krishna......we offer him garlands, we make prasad and offer it, we offer our kirtans, our bhajans yet in the process of offering him all these services, we forget to offer him ourselves! "
Krishna accepts anything offered with love but all he is really looking for is YOU. And that is the hardest thing to offer. The false ego of me, mine never lets us actually do this. Every activity we do, each and every step and action we take in our lives, from bathing, eating, studying.....everything is geared towards one goal......satisfy the self.

We can classify every action as geared towards
1) Sense pleasure
2) Intelligence & Mind pleasure
3) False ego pleasure

Think about it....every small thing we do can be classified under these things. Even devotional service. When I make garlands, it satisfies my senses to see the beautiful flowers, satisfies my intelligence to arrange it in a pattern, and finally satisfies my ego when somebody says, 'oh what a beautiful garland you've made!'. Even though, I'm making it for Krishna, this tinge of ego pleasure never goes away. I would say that ego pleasure is the hardest to overcome. Whatever service we do, the sense of the self doing it hardly goes away....
(I am of course talking about common neophyte devotees like me and not elevated souls where can see actual 'selfless service')

Now you can argue that if even devotional service is performed to satisfy the material senses and ego then why do it? Well.....the only answer I have for this is to ask you to actually spend a day doing service. Yes, my ego is being satisfied, my intelligence is being satisfied when I listen to a good lecture or read sound philosophy, my senses are being satisfied when I listen to beautiful, heartmoving kirtans and bhajans.......yet, at the end of the day, when I go home....when I get a moment to ponder on my pleasure and enjoyment, I realize, this pleasure is something much much deeper.......it is the pleasure of the satisfaction of the soul....:)

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What a Wonderful World

We took a morning walk along Lake Ontario and these were some thoughts running through my head... 

I like beaches, fresh ocean, well, lake air, Wine Bottle from a dark nights rendezvous, McDonald's bags, 1, 2 few, many- all over. Cigarette butts, tissues, newspapers, coffee cups, other things monks shouldn't mention by name, etc. 
 "This is a place of Pilgrimage you know, Srila Prabhupada walked here in the Summer of 75 when he visited Toronto."
How advanced we've become, few years later. If the Mayans, or the Aryans do come back, what would they think of us? We've  redefined ruins. Back then, they left ruins we still flock to see today.
But why, I ask myself? Why?
Well, my self started to say, we've done it to ourselves. We've created a culture of packaging; no matter how significant or insignificant the product, just package it nicely and you'll make money :)   :)    :)

But I promise you you won't be satisfied with the 3.0 version, so I'll make you a 3.1 version next season. And the package, throw it away- wherever. Caution, its hot, take it for a nice walk along the ocean shore; and when you're done, just throw it somewhere, the Government will clean it up.

So we go on day after day enjoying what we think might be the best drink, smoke, night of our lives, and when we're through, still lacking inner satisfaction, throw the package down.
'Xcuse me sir, I a monk-- " aw shut it, we don't wanna hear that God crap. We want equal rights for everone"
Well, then how about that seagull? you just dropped your cig butt and he thought it was food, so he just dove and chucked it right in. Oh, and that bag you just threw out after emptying your evening snack number 15 carried a nice scent with it, so the cow came and at the bag. Yup. Ate the bag. Now the doctors say lots of cows in Krsna's holy land are suffering from junk, like plastic bags and cups in their stomachs. Sounds cuddly.

But what if you did stop for a minute and looked around and see whats going down? What if you could live more peacefully without all the noise? Maybe in your own little house on the prairie and not in your pigeon hole apartment in the city?   How bout that?

So yah, as I walked this morning, my alter ego, super monk wanted to burst out and smash everything and everyone, but deeper inside me is a place that still needs cleaning too, so I'll just keep working on me, working on you working on we :)

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THIS IS SADHU LIFE

Many people I meet express their most difficult problem- too little time to actually relish, or absorb themselves in life. When you wake up the rush starts- class, work, cram!
Here's a small experience that I relish here in India and hope to really inspire people with in the near future. Do few things diligently, consciously and properly. 
An example of my schedule in the last few months:
3:00 am wake up (shower, dress, chant japa, mangala arati, class.)
9:00 am wash laundry, eat.
10:30 bhakti sastri class (lunch also)
3:00 pm  one hour nap
4:30 study
6:30 return clean and folded laundry
7- 8: socialize
8:30 give massage
9:30 bed
as this happens, I perceive how the mind becomes calm. When the mind is calm, thinking about deeper topics is possible. Most people are interested in Spiritual life, but their 

external world is a bit in disarray  and so a war between outside and inside leaves on between a rock and a hard place.
 I suggest association of people who do what challenges you most. So if you're trying to be more spiritual and its difficult, associate with spiritual people.
There's so much to learn in spirituality, but our very minds stop us.

After a few days in Mayapur, my Spiritual Teacher asked me how I was doing, so I explaind my schedule and he was very encouraging. He said, “ that is sadhu (spiritual) life; doing 
the same thing over and over will steady the mind, when the mind is steady then one can proceed nicely in Krsna Consciousness”
Plus, you'll find you have so much time because everything starts to have its place and quality 
tatata tatata tatata tatata tatata- steady

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A City Bigger Than Athens?

A City Bigger than Athens? Sandeep Mishra, Aug 7, 2010,

Just outside Bhubaneswar, around 2,000 years ago, stood one of old India’s biggest cities. When they chanced upon Sisupalgarh, excavators could only gape in astonishment at its modern ways  Sisupalgarh sounds like a happening settlement by historic standards: a sprawling urban settlement that housed 20,000-25,000 people, street-linking gateways, pillared meeting halls, water storage systems and disposable vessels for daily use.

In one of the richest hauls for archaeologists in the country in recent times, a 12-member Indo-American expert team discovered the remains of a city from the early historic period in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar two years ago. 

The team, comprising representatives from Deccan College, Pune, and the University of California, in collaboration with the ASI, had conducted surface excavations at the fortified site first reported by Prof B Lal in 1948. Fresh excavation was restarted in 2005 to learn more about this mystery city. A large quantity of debris, including household pottery and terracotta ornaments, were discovered during the exercise.  Enthused over the findings, the head archaeologist of the excavation, Monica L Smith from the University of California, had then told TOI: “This is the most visible standing architectural monument discovered in the country so far. It is a huge city existing about 2,000 years ago.” The pillars were possibly part of a gigantic structure and used for public gatherings.

According to an archaeologist from Deccan College, Pune, R K Mohanty, a city could be known from its walls. “When it has such well-built walls and such a big expanse, it means it was a very important city,” he says. Explaining the importance of the ancient city, Mohanaty says Sisupalgarh has four gateways and could have housed a large number of people (compare this to the 10,000 Athens could manage). From photographs taken through geophysical research methods, the team had found that a huge urban setup, a much larger area than could possibly be excavated, had existed at the site. “The findings were mind-boggling. The lifestyle of the people then could be more advanced than present-day life,” Smith had said. “Potteries found are polished and have ownership marks. The huge number of cups and bowls suggest people then practiced a use and throw system.”  It is hard to say what sent Sisupalgarh into terminal decline. The data and findings when they will be made available to scholars could lead to a conclusive answer.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6270354.cms?prtpage=1

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By Ananda Vidya das

Hare Krsna Prabhus. I distribute books in the United States, mainly traveling in a van. I am from New Vrindavan. There is not so much in that direct area, and so we travel a lot. During the school year, we go to college campuses. During the summer we follow the rock concert tours. That is a very ecstatic experience. Vijay Prabhu is one of my inspirations for doing these concert tours. I think he might have been the one who gave me my first book at one of those concerts in the summer of 1994. I had gone to a “Grateful Dead” concert in Washington DC, and one of my friends had gotten a book from one of the devotees, the “Journey to Self Discovery.” I borrowed that book from him. I had not met the devotees personally at that concert, but there was a big group of American fired up Sankirtan devotees there. I got this book, and from that book, even before even meeting devotees for several months, I started chanting Hare Krsna, and following the regulative principles. I became a vegaterian, and just got a lot of realizations about Krsna Consciousness, just from this one book. Gradually I came in contact with devotees near to where I was going to college. Eventually I joined. I have a lot of faith in these books, because although I hadn’t met the devotees, just this one book had the complete formula for awakening Krsna Consciousness. This book contained everything needed for giving one a complete start in this process of devotional service, of going back home, back to Godhead.

Of course, the books stress that one should associate with devotees. That is the next step. The point I am trying to make is that these books are complete in themselves to awaken Krsna Consciousness in the heart of the conditioned soul and lead him back to Godhead. Just like myself, I just had the book. But the books stress association with devotees. So I understood that I had to seek out the association of devotees. I met them at New Vrindavan, where His Holiness Danavir Maharaja, my spiritual master, was conducting the bhakta program. After 3 months, he recommended that I try book distribution. He had arranged for a couple of vans to come to the temple and take out a few devotees who graduated from the bhakta program. So I have been doing this for the last 10 years. It’s been my life. I’m really inspired, especially on these concert tours, because that is where I got my first book.

The last few years we’ve been following a particular tour called the “VANS WARP TOUR,’ which is a punk-rock festival in America. It is practically the most popular and successful music tour that I know of. There are different tours in America, like the “Ozzy fest,” or the “Lulla Pullooza,” which is an alternative rock tour, and there is this “VANS WARP tour,” which is the most successful. Last A few years back, one senior book distributor, Atmanivedana Prabhu, made contact with the head organizer of the tour. He made friends with him, and the man gave him legal permission to go inside these concerts with passes and be allowed to distribute books and collect donations without any problem. It has been a tradition ever since. Atmanivedana Prabhu did it for a few years, and passed it on to other sankirtan devotees. We’ve been doing it for the last 3 years. We have full access inside or outside the concert venue.

It is a very nice opportunity to distribute lots books to the best candidates, to people who are really open to something new, something spiritual. These kids at these rock concerts are totally ready. They have given up the normal way of thinking. They are pretty much sick of mainstream culture. They’ve given it up. They’re ready for something new. So they’re the best candidates.

The kids start coming in to the concert area before noon, at 10 or 11, depending on the venue. The devotees work the parking lot as they come in. As the cars park, the devotees approach them at the car window and distribute the books to them right there in their cars. Then you can also go inside the venue and work there until 9pm, amidst the blaringly loud music. It is a marathon. It is austere as well, the blazing hot sun in different parts of the country like Las Vegas, Nevada, or California, or Florida, where it gets quite hot in the summer. There is also a lot of driving. Everyday is a new city. We have to drive 6 hours, maybe 10 hours, every day, to get to the next show. It is really an intense program, one show after another. But we really feel that it is Lord Caitanya’s arrangement, because it brings together all the sweetest kids from one geographical area in one location. People from out in the country, small towns, they all come to this one city to see their favorite bands to play. It is one the biggest events for them during the entire summer. We feel it is Lord Caitanya’s arrangement to bring all these nice people in one place at one time to get the books. So we really try to give it all our energy and not miss the opportunity to reach as many people as we can.

During the school year, we distribute books in the colleges. That’s a bit more satvic, a bit more regulated. There is no staying up late and driving long hours. We have a regulated program. We chant all our rounds in the morning, and then we have a morning program, a Bhagavatam class where we listen to a lecture on CD, and then we go out for 6 or 7 hours on the campus. We meet the kids one on one. Sometimes we go door to door in the dormitories where the students stay. On the weekends we go to the shopping malls. This is one of my favorite engagements, because in these shopping centers people are in a good mood. Sometimes on the college campus the students may be stressed or worried about their exams and may be rushing to their respective classes. But in the malls, people are in a good mood. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they are hanging out with their friends, shopping, and it is indoor also, so you don’t have to worry about the weather. There is the element of adventure as well, of danger, because you have to be undercover; the security guards are there. You have to pretend to be shopping. You’re there with your shopping bag from whatever store, and you put books in that shopping bag, and as you walk around as if you were shopping, you stop persons and show them the books. There is this element of suspense or danger that you are going to get caught. Most the time it is very light when they catch you. They don’t put you in jail or anything like that. They don’t even give you a ticket. They just ask you to stop. They say, “You can continue shopping in this mall, but don’t pass out anymore books, okay?” So it is very innocent. There is no major danger. But there is this element of being undercover, and that is kind of fun. The kids take a lot of books.

I would like to say that I am as liberal as, for example, Krsna Balarama Prabhu from Moscow, whom Vijay Prabhu was glorifying for his approaching every person walking by. However, on the other hand, we are more selective than him in approaching people. We try to look for those individuals who appear to be more open-minded. We really go for those who look like they would be good candidates for reading the books. But of course we are always surprised; people who we would never imagine take books; older people take books. Krsna sends all types of people.

So this is our program in New Vrindavan. We travel in vans all year long. We practically live in our van. We come back to the temple from time to time to get more books or go to festivals or take a little break. But mostly we live in our van; it is our life.

I have a few experiences that I wrote down recently. I’ll just read a couple of them which I found interesting.

This first particular experience took place in a Wallmart in Youngstown, Maryland. Does anyone know what a “Wallmart” is? It is the biggest chain of supermarkets, or ‘superstores,’ in America. They are big, successful stores. We work their parking lot sometimes, or inside also. I met two guys, and one of them told me he had gotten a ‘Journey to Self Discovery’ before. I continued showing his friend, and I asked if the one who had gotten it had read it. I asked, “Did you read it?” He replied, ‘Yeah; I read the whole thing.” He took the book and told his friend, “Look, I’ll show you a cool picture.” He turned to the picture depicting bad karma, wherein a man and the cow have switched faces, and the ax is coming down. He opened to that picture and told his friend, “This is the picture which made me become a vegetarian!”

Another time, I met Adam at the Sunday feast at the Detroit temple. He was one of the musicians in one of the bands in the WARP tour. His friend had gotten a “Dharma, the Way of Transcendence” from me at one of the shows. I had given it to him, knowing that he was interested in Eastern philosophy. He read it in one day. The next day, at the Atlanta show, he went out walking around with the intention of finding more books. I stopped him and he bought Bhagavad Gita. Later he bought Krsna Book part 1 from Bhakta Keith, one of our other distributors, at the Virginia Beach show. He really got into reading. Just recently he visited the Detroit temple and met Purusa Sukta, a nice brahmacari, and told his story. He has been coming every week and has been chanting one round of japa. He is doing substitute teaching, and has been bringing two of his 12 year old students to the temple.

This story is interesting: I met one boy on a college campus in Michigan. He showed some interest in the books. When he saw Srila Prabhupada’s pictures, he said, “I’ve seen that guy!” I said, “You saw this person in person?” He replied, ‘Yes; during a school trip to Florence, Italy, last year. There was a Hare Krsna parade. I joined in and I danced with them for 4 hours. I followed them back to the temple. And that guy, Srila Prabhupada, was sitting there, sitting completely still the whole time. He didn’t move the whole time. He didn’t even get up to use the bathroom.’ That boy was completely convinced that Srila Prabhupada was alive. I explained to him that Srila Prabhupada had passed away and that it was his statue that he had seen, but that according to the understanding of our tradition, Srila Prabhupada was present in his murti form. We talked a little more and he gave 5 dollars for a “Journey to self discovery.”

Lately we’ve been distributing the Srimad Bhagavatam. So we distribute individual parts. Some of the books are a little challenging to sell, but they are so attractive, and therefore people miraculously buy them. Since Krsna is non-different from the Bhagavatam, Krsna is all-attractive, and so His books are also all-attractive. For example, the 5th canto has the pictures of the hellish planets. The 7th canto also has the picture of Lord Nrisimhadeva destroying the armies of demons. But still people are attracted and buy the books. I’ll read a couple of more stories:

“I approached a group of 3 young people shopping in the mal, a lady and 2 guys. I showed them the Srimad Bhagavatam canto 7 with the picture of Lord Nrsimhadeva with thousands of arms, ferociously ripping apart the army of Hiranyakasipu. The soldiers were bleeding and screaming in horror. One of them was being thrown through the air by one of the Lord’s mighty arms. I said, ‘It’s for stress.” They thought for a second, and then the lady pulled out a twenty dollar bill and gave it to me.

In Florida, during the December marathon, I was showing a group of young people the 5th canto, and explaining briefly to them, and I asked for a donation. The guy with the book in his hand seemed slightly interested, but still he was apprehensive. I said, “It’s got some cool artwork; I’ll show you.’

I opened the book to the pictures of the hellish planets, the one which shows, in one picture, a young boy torturing an insect, and in the other picture showing a man being eaten alive by various creatures, including a lion. The guy looked at the picture and said, “Wao, he’s really eating him! I’ll give a donation for that!” He pulled out a five dollar bill and gave a donation.

So these books are all-attractive. We should not be afraid that there might be something in the books that might put the people off or might seem a little too extreme for them. We should have full faith in Srila Prabhupada that he knew exactly what he was doing. Srila Prabhupada was translating these books every day in the morning hours, giving his purports with the mood of reaching out to the public. And who is a better preacher than Srila Prabhupada? He knew exactly what he was doing. He said, “I did not write these books; Krsna actually wrote these books.” So we know that if we just present the books as they are and try to attract the people to the books as best we can and explain to them as much as they are able to take, and just glorify the books, then people will be attracted and will buy them.

It is amazing how it is really a miracle how even one book is distributed, especially in America. This may be different in India, because they know the Bhagavad Gita; they are a little familiar. But in America, it is a miracle that one person gives a donation to buy these books. Because what are they doing? They are giving money that they have to engage in sense gratification for the purchase of a book that will basically chastise them. Indeed, the books are telling them that they are doing everything wrong and that they should give up their bad habits and that they should completely change their lives. If they knew what they are getting, they probably would not give a donation. But because the books are attractive, Krsna is all-attractive, so many people are inspired, and they experience the bliss of Krsna Consciousness right there on the street, right there in the shopping mall. Why? Because they are associating with the devotees, they are surrendering to the devotee, they are giving a donation, they are doing devotional service right there, and they are getting Krsna, as if they are coming in front of the Deity in the temple and giving a donation or offering obeisances. It is just as potent. Just as Krsna is non-different from his Deity form, Krsna is just as non-different from His books. People are coming in contact with Krsna directly.

Book distribution is such a direct way to preach. A conditioned soul is completely wrapped up in ignorance; he couldn’t be further away from Krsna if he tried. He is completely in the ignorance of material illusion, and suddenly Krsna is right there before him. All of a sudden he has the opportunity to associate with a devotee, to please a devotee. Actually, I had a realization that this meeting with the devotee will help them to understand the books. Indeed, it is stated in so many places that without the mercy of a devotee, one cannot understand Krsna, one cannot understand this philosophy. So by pleasing the Sankirtan devotee, just by being nice to him and surrendering to what he says and giving a donation to him and just making friends with that devotee and pleasing him, Krsna is pleased, and therefore he will be able to actually understand the book.

It is a wonderful mission Srila Prabhupada has given us. In this age, not so many people are coming to the temples. The temples are there; that is also one of the aspects of the preaching. But so many people will never come to the temple. So what to do? We bring Krsna to them; we bring the temple to them. We practically force them. Just like it is said about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in the 11th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam:

Tyaktva su-dustyaja-surepsita-rajya-laksmin
Dharmistha arya-vacasa yad agad aranyam
Maya-mrgam dayitayepsitam anvadhavad
Vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam.

[“O Maha-purusa, I worship Your lotus feet. You gave up the association of the goddess of fortune and all her opulence, which is most difficult to renounce and is hankered after by even the great demigods. Being the most faithful follower of the path of religion, You thus left for the forest in obedience to a brähmana’s curse. Out of sheer mercifulness You chased after the fallen conditioned souls, who are always in pursuit of the false enjoyment of illusion, and at the same time engaged in searching out Your own desired object, Lord Syamasundara.”] [11.5.34]

This verse explains that He gave up the company of the goddess of fortune, referring to his wife Visnupriya, His happy home, He gave it up. Out of His great mercy, daya, He is running after the conditioned souls to give them love of Krsna. So that is practically what the Sankirtan movement is; we are running after the conditioned souls. We are not even waiting for them to come. We are practically forcing them. We are practically bringing them to the point where all they have to do is reach in their wallet and give a donation and they’ve made the connection. We stop them as aggressively as we are. We get them to stop. They are so busy, going to the office, or trying to get to their next college class, or they are trying to busily get to the place where they are going. We stop them and we engage them in some quick conversation, we make friends with them, we show them the books. The book is right there in their hand. We give our whole mantra, and we leave it at the point, “Now please give a donation.” And practically that is all they have to do.

We cannot force them. As the saying goes in America, “you can lead a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink.’ The same principle; we do everything, we arrange the whole situation for this conditioned soul to connect with Krsna. But that one point, that is his free-will; he can decide whether to surrender to Krsna or not.

This mission is really the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda. It is said that in order to get the mercy of Radha and Krsna, one has to approach Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But to get the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one has to get the mercy of Lord Nityananda. And one step further, Srila Prabhupada said that in order to get the mercy of Lord Nityananda, one has to approach Jagai and Madhai. That is the mood. We are approaching the Jagais and Madhais in the mood of being representatives of Lord Nityananda, on the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,

“Yare dekha tare kaha Krsna upadesa, ama ajnaya guru haya ei desa.”

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “On MY order, you go out and become guru by presenting the upadesa, the instructions, the Krsna upadesa, the instructions of Krsna, which means Bhagavad Gita, Krsna’s personal instructions, and Srimad Bhagavatam, which is instructions by Krsna as well as about Krsna and devotional service by Krsna’s devotees. But it is all absolute, Krsna upadesa, and this is the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He said, “On My order, you become a guru, and you save all the people of your land, of your place.”

So He gave that order also to Nityananda and Haridas Thakura. One day He told them, “Now you go out and go door to door, and just as you are begging alms, like mendicants, you don’t ask for anything except that they chant the Names of Krsna. This is the alms that you should beg.” So they took the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It was difficult; the pious people naturally fell at Their feet. They would ask them to chant, and the pious people would naturally take it, “Yes, yes; we will do. We will do; we will chant.”

But the rascals, they would blaspheme them and criticize them and throw things at them and try to get them in trouble in different ways. So They had to face so many problems also. But because it was the order of Lord Caitanya, they had to do it. Nityananda Prabhu was explaining that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is giving orders as if He was some king, “Where do we see that a sadhu is giving such orders?” He continued, “But if we disregard this order, then we are finished; we must follow His order. But if we do follow His order, this is our situation.”

Nityananda Prabhu and Haridas Thakura were running away from Jagai and Madhai when Lord Nityananda Prabhu said this, after the rogues were infuriated. They were running for their lives. Nityananda was explaining, while running away, “if we don’t follow Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s order, then we are finished, because we have to follow; we are His eternal servants. But if we do, the present situation is the result: we get so many problems.”

But the problems are the mercy. That is why Krsna says, “Na ca tasman manusyesu kascid me priya kritamah.”

Krsna says, “The preachers are the most dear to Me.” Why? Because it is a risk. They are risking so many pains. There are so many austerities they have to undergo, out of compassion, titiksava karunikah. They are tolerating so many problematic situations to give mercy. And therefore Krsna is so pleased with those who take up this mission. Therefore all of you who are pleasing Lord Caitanya in this way, in this Holy place today, please give me your mercy and pray for me that I can continue this service myself, and that we can all continue and please the Lord and go back to Godhead. Thank you very much.

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Lord Krishna Lives on Q Street

It was Tuesday October 30th 1973 when the Washington Post ran this headline, “Lord Krishna Lives on Q Street”. The article went on to describe the installation ceremony of the Deities of Radha Madan Mohan in small rented house on Q street.

How many people have loved and served these divine forms over the last 40 years? How many have risen early to open the temple, how many have chanted Krishna’s name, how many have made garlands and offered incense. How many have cooked sweets, cleaned pots, mopped floors. How many have planted roses, built fences, painted buildings, welcomed guests. How many have fed the cows, emptied the garbage, cleaned after the floods, repaired the lights. How many have given monetary support, brought goods, sponsored programs. How many have distributed books, chanted on the streets, held huge festivals.

How many have come before the altars, open their hearts and received shelter, love, and faith?

The list can go on and on. The past 40 years is like a path filled with flower petals, representing everyones service,  large and small. When Madan Mohan came to DC the revolution began. The revolution to challenge the ordinary, to challenge the meaningless, to stop the exploitation of animals and humans, to end poverty, to end misery, and to ultimately break the cycle of birth and death and reawaken pure love. The revolution of consciousness.

We have come a long way and achieved much. We know the next 40 years will be filled with more great souls and many hands. 40 is a good age to be – old enough to have learned wisdom, and young enough to have strong and bold energy. We pray that the next 40 years sees us become a relevant and meaningful part of the lives of many and a strong and heard voice in making the world a better place for all.

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Almond Essence

When I arrived at the Temple at 4am, I found a single almond placed before each altar.  I wondered at the context of the offering, the thoughts of who offered it and how they came to place a single almond there. Everything has a story.

It also reminded me of how my mother would have me peel the almonds that she had soaking all night. I loved that job of removing the skin to reveal the white beauty beneath.  The practice of bhakti is a similar thing – it’s to reveal the nature and beauty of the soul that is there. We understand the soul exists because life indicates the presence of the soul. The goal of our life is to uncover our real soul, and in bhakti-yoga we find it in relationship with Krishna.

 

Almond Essence

 

Will my skin covered almond soul be beautiful when

I am separated from this role-play material life?

When some kind soul lifts me gently

From the soaking waters of my sadhana

And says – Now you are ready, let us begin

And slowly peels away the ‘I and mine’ mood

The outside me in the pushing and pulling world

And softly reveals the pure and personal spirit soul

Dazzling in its origin, glorious in its essence

In relationship with Krishna.

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Food for Change

I was so grateful this week to receive my first delivery of ahimsa milk. As I watched the pure white liquid beauty come to a boil I reflected how we in the line of Bhakti are so pained by the wholesale slaughter of cows and other animals for food. That so much violence is inflicted on innocent creatures is an indication of the low level of  consciousness in society at large. Ahimsa means “non-violence”; the cows are not sent to slaughter after they stop giving milk. They are loved, cared for and protected until the end of their natural life.

So I was grateful to have truly ahimsa milk, and in that mood offered the milk to Krishna before taking my first sip. It’s a way of offering sincere thanks, of saying grace. After the offering the food is called prasadam – which means  blessing or grace. When we offer our food to Krishna first, the food changes. Not so much externally – although some find that prasadam does actually taste differently – but subtly, spiritually. By the offering, the karmic reactions accrued in the gathering and cooking of the food are removed.

Prasadam represents the exchange of love. The offering is a way of expressing love, and receiving love. Then, when we share it with others, it’s a way of giving love.  Prabhupada said once – “Prasadam means foodstuffs which is offered to Krishna first. This is civilization. If you say, “Why should I offer?” that is uncivilized. It is gratefulness. If you offer to Kṛṣṇa, then you are conscious that these foodstuffs, these grains, these fruits, these flowers, this milk, it is given by Kṛṣṇa.”

Being a vegetarian is an essential first step for spiritual life. It means you are taking a stand for compassion, for a healthier you, and an ecologically balanced planet. A good start.  The next step is to practice offering that food to the Supreme. Krishna says in the Gita, “If one offers me, with love and devotion, a leaf, flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” By the offering we are taken to the next level of our evolution as human being, our development of a deeper knowledge and experience of transcendence,  and of our identity as spirit soul.

Only prasadam, or grace, can do that. So offer it up! Offer it with your heart and then eat with gratitude to your full satisfaction. And be happy in knowing that this simple act of offering and eating can bring about profound change – for ourselves, others and this great but troubled world we live in.

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Readers of Harry Potter everywhere will fondly recall J.K. Rowling’s memorable opening sentence: “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”[i] We all try so hard to be normal. We spend much of our time trying to fit-in; wearing everyone else’s clothes, listening to everyone else’s music, hanging out at everyone else’s favorite spots, ad nauseam. Let’s face it, there’s an obsessively-conformist, magically-numb mugglein us all. Being different, even a little odd, is a nightmare of Dursleyian proportions that most of us know (and fear) all too well. The magical world, however, has no room for such muggle-mindedness, and neither does the world of yoga.

The Harry Potter series starts off with a dreary glimpse into the life of the Dursleys—muggles of a caliber that “didn’t approve of imagination.”[ii] For a children’s book, this first chapter is a penetrating commentary on the existentially-paralyzing monotony of a modern, mundane existence, to which both J.K. Rowling and yoga wisdom offer us an alternative.

Most muggles are satisfied to believe that what they cannot see does not exist. In a society where everyone is conditioned to turn a blind eye to things mysterious and inexplicable, in the name of “rationality” and the search for “progress,” is it any wonder that all that is magical about life remains largely invisible to the consumption-frenzied and overstimulated masses? But witches and wizards, as well as yogis, are keenly aware of a world beyond the veil of anti-muggle charms and maya (the Sanskrit term for an illusory attribution of permanence to the temporary things of our world.) Daring to stray down the road less traveled, both yogis and magicians, seek out a realm beyond the ordinary and the visible, and strive to reach the fullest potential of the awakened, magical self.

Witches and wizards rise above the rigmarole of daily life through magic, and yogis transcend it through mysticism. What a witch achieves through magical blood, a yogini achieves through meditation. What for a wizard is a spell or a curse, for a yogi is a mantra or a siddhi (mystic perfection). Witches and wizards employ wands to conduct magic, whereas yoga practitioners use meditation beads. For every magical creature in Harry’s world, there is a mystical being in the yogic universe. For every divination teacher like Professor Trelawney, there is a fraud astrologer in the garb of a yogi… the parallels and comparisons between the world of yoga and the world of magic abound. But every Potter fan knows that what makes the books magical is hardly a product of charms and potions. Love is at the heart of Rowling’s epic, and this too the books share with the philosophy of yoga.

A POSTER FROM THE THE FIRST MOVIE IN THE HARRY POTTER SERIES

Rowling has peered into her own heart and found what lies at the core of all hearts: a desire to love and be loved. The whole-heartedly loving and trusting relationships that Harry builds with Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, and Dumbledore, lie at the core of the books. And it is these heartfelt connections that keep us going back to them over and over again. Those who have entered into the mysteries of the yoga teachings have discovered that yoga is a process of preparing the heart for exactly such relationships. Cultivating such meaningful connections and a deep sense of belonging—not only with other yogis but with all of reality—is an essential theme of mystical yoga practice.

Arguably the most influential person in Harry’s life is Albus Dumbledore, his teacher, guide, and inspiration. Dumbledore’s role in Harry’s life is very similar to the role of a guru in the life of a yogi. A guru is a teacher of yogic wisdom who belongs to a lineage of teachers who have dedicated their lives to passing on the ways and secrets of yoga to their students. The relationship of a guru and a disciple mirrors Harry’s connection with Dumbledore. It is one based not simply on learning, but on love and trust. There comes a time in the life of every yogi when they must embark on a search for their true guru, their very own Dumbledore.

HARRY AND VOLDEMORT AS DEPICTED IN THE FINAL MOVIE OF THE SERIES.

In one sense, the Harry Potter saga begins and ends with unconditional love and an act of selfless sacrifice—first his mother’s and then his own—which empowers Harry to vanquish Voldemort. Even in this magical struggle for victory against the dark arts, we find a yogic parallel. As Harry had to defeat Voldemort, every yoga practitioner must overcome the tyranny of maya—the root of the dark arts and the veil of selfish desire that corrupts and contorts a clear vision of reality. And like it was for Harry, only an all-embracing, selfless love can free a yogi from the darkness of maya and uplift them into an enlightened vision of reality.

These parallels between the world of magic and the world of yoga are neither arbitrary nor coincidental. Harry Potter’s world has captivated so many millions around the world, for the same reasons that make the world of yoga so fascinating. Harry Potter, like all great fiction, is not an escape from the real world, but like the mirror of Erised, a clear lens into the deepest desires of the human heart—the final frontier of yogic thought. My understanding of yoga wisdom has benefitted greatly from growing up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, while yoga wisdom itself has empowered me not to lose touch with the magic in our own worlds, even after the Harry Potter series has come to an end.

So, dear friends and Potter fans everywhere, when will you finally bid farewell to muggledom and enter the magical world of yoga wisdom?

Source:http://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/the-yoga-of-harry-potter-your-last-day-as-a-muggle_us_579bd430e4b07066ba1eb3b4

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Colombia is joining the ISKCON 50 celebrations, which are taking place all around the world. Srila Prabhupada came to the United States in 1966 with the mission of delivering the most valuable possession to the Western culture. Srila Prabhupada eventually came to inspire a whole generation. A generation full of youth, full of vigor, full of hope, full of new ideas; these persons became the ISKCON that Srila Prabhupada envisioned.

50 years later, sitting under the same tree, Srila Prabhupada's followers from around the world gathered in New York to celebrate with chanting, dancing and eating prasadam.

In the same spirit, the Colombian devotees want to join in on this spiritual vibration and association of those who share the spiritual inspiration from his divine grace.

This celebration will be from the 6th to 12th of September in the city of Cali, Colombia. 

During this week we will have different programs and activities in which both the devotees and the general public can participate. 

A group of Colombian devotees.

On Thursday, September 8th there will be an ISKCON 50 celebration at Centro Cultural De Cali.

On Friday, September 9th there will be a Radhastami Festival in the Temple of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai - La Buitrera.

On Saturday, September 10th there will be a special, large-scale public event entitled as  'DISCOVERING INDIA - INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL' will be held at Parque del Ingenio in Cali.

On Sunday, September 11th there will be a picnic and a Harinam at the Pance River. 

On Monday, September 12th, there will be a farewell lunch and Kirtan Workshop by famous kirtaniya Madhava Das and his companions. The event will take place at the Sri Sri Gaura Nitai Temple - La Buitrera in Cali, Colombia.


Source:http://iskconnews.org/50th-anniversary-celebration-at-iskcon-colombia,5710/

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Incorporation of ISKCON

Today marks the auspicious 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s incorporation of ISKCON New York, in 1966. To honor this special day we have re-posted a very nice article which appeared yesterday on the Sampradaya Sun entitled “Incorporation of ISKCON”, we have posted the “Certificate on Incorporation”, as well as a very timely verse and purport from the Srimad Bhagavatam. Some of the purport follows…

…A devotee is equipoised. He sees everyone on the same transcendental platform. A devotee knows that although a conditioned soul has a particular type of body according to his past fruitive activities, factually everyone is part of the Supreme Lord. A devotee sees all living entities with spiritual vision and does not discriminate on the platform of the bodily concept of life. Such qualities develop only in the association of devotees. Without the association of devotees, one cannot advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore, we have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Factually, whoever lives in this society automatically develops Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Devotees are dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is only dear to devotees. On this platform only can one make progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Persons in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotees of the Lord, can please everyone, as is evident in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. (from purport SB 4.12.37)

ISKCON 50th anniversary

Incorporation of ISKCON

Jul 26, 2016 — CANADA (SUN) — July 27th is the observance day of the auspicious anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s incorporation of ISKCON New York, in 1966.

In 1966, Srila Prabhupada began chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra under a tree in New York’s Tompkins Square Park, thereby inaugurating the western advance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s glorious Sankirtana movement. On July 13th, 1966 Srila Prabhupada incorporated ISKCON New York, and in Autumn of 1966 he established the ISKCON Press, which clearly demonstrated his emphasis on the importance of publishing and distributing his authorized books. Since that time, many millions of his books have been distributed throughout the world, translated into many different languages.

“We shall call our society I.S.K.C.O.N.”, Srila Prabhupada said with great pleasure when he first coined the acronym for the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. ‘Krishna Consciousness’ was Srila Prabhupada’s rendering of a phrase from Srila Rupa Goswami’s Padyavali:

krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita
“To be absorbed in the mellow taste
of executing devotional service to Krsna’.”

“He had initiated the legal work of incorporation that spring, while still living on the Bowery, but even before its legal beginning, he had been talking about his “International Society for Krishna Consciousness”, and so it had appeared in letters to India and in “The Village Voice” (newspaper). A friend had suggested a title that would sound more familiar to Westerners “International society for God Consciousness”. But ‘God’ was a vague term, whereas ‘Krishna’ was exact and scientific; ‘God Consciousness’ was spiritually weaker, less personal. And if Westerners didn’t know or understand that Krishna was God, then the ‘International Society for Krishna Consciousness’ would tell them, by spreading His glories ‘in every town and village’.

“Your Ever Well-wisher”, page 45-47

Within ISKCON’s Articles of Incorporation, Srila Prabhupada included seven points quite similar to those presented in his prospectus for The League of Devotees, which he founded in Jhansi, India in 1954.

Seven Purposes of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
(a) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of the values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

(b) To propagate a consciousness of Krishna, as it is revealed in the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.

(c) To bring the members of the society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, thus to develop the idea within the members, and humanity at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the Quality of Godhead (Sri Krishna).

(d) To teach and encourage the ‘sankirtan’ movement, congregational chanting of the Holy Names of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

(e) To erect for the members and for society at large, a Holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna.

(f) To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.

(g) With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.

More than ten years after the date of his ISKCON New York Incorporation, Srila Prabhupada was still emphasizing the meaning and intention behind his society’s name. During an evening darshan in Tehran, Srila Prabhupada said:

“If you want to know Krsna, then you have to know from the persons who are dealing with Krsna. That’s all. They have no other business. Our Krsna consciousness movement means we are dealing with Krsna. That’s all. We’re writing books, so many books for Krsna. We are preaching and going country to country. We simple deal with Krsna. Therefore the movement is known as “Krsna consciousness.” Somebody suggested “Why don’t you write ‘God consciousness’?” No, if I say “God consciousness,” they’ll bring so many gods. It is very simple. If we take it seriously, then benefit is there. But if we hesitate, it is our misfortune.”

Text pasted from Sampradaya Sun

iskcon

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, INC.

(Pursuant to the Religious Corporation Law of the State of New York)
We, the undersigned, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the Religious Corporation Law of the State of New York, do hereby make, subscribe and acknowledge this certificate as follows:
FIRST: The name of the corporation shall be INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, INC.
SECOND: The purposes for which the corporation is organized are:
(a) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.
(b) To propagate a consciousness of Krishna as it is revealed in the Bhagawat Gita and Srimad Bhagawatam.
(c) To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, and thus to develop the idea, within the members, and humanity, at largo, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).
(d), To teach and encourage the Samkirtan movement congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
To erect for the members, and for society at large, a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna.
(f) To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.
(g) With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.
THIRD: The corporation shall have the power, either directly or indirectly, either alone or in conjunction or cooperation with others, to do any and all lawful acts and things and to engage in any and all lawful activities which may be necessary, useful, suitable, desirable, or proper for the furtherance, accomplishment, fostering, or attainment of any or all of the purposes for which the corporation is organized, and to aid or assist other organizations whose activities are such as to further, accomplish, foster, or attain any of such purposes. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the corporation shall exercise only such powers as are in furtherance of the exempt purposes of organizations set forth in Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and its Regulations as the same now exist or as they may be hereafter amended from time to time.
FOURTH: The corporation is not organized for profit, and no part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, no member shall be entitled to any distribution or division of its remaining property or its proceeds, and the balance of all money and other property received by the corporation from any source, after the payment of all debts and obligations of the corporation, shall be used or distributed, subject to the order of the Supreme Court of the State of New York as provided by law, exclusively for purposes within those set forth in Article SECOND of this certificate and within the intendment of Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and its Regulations as the same now exist or as they may be hereafter amended from time to time.
FIFTH: The operations of the corporation are to be conducted principally within the State of New York.
SIXTH: The principal place of worship of this Society is intended to be located at No. 26 Second Avenue in the City, County and State of New York.
SEVENTH: The number of trustees of the Society shall be nine.
EIGHTH: The names and addresses of the trustees until the first annual meeting of the corporation are as follows:
NAME ADDRESS
MICHAEL GRANT 110 Bowery, New York, N. Y.
JAN OSLUND 110 Bowery, New York,.N. Y.
JAMES S. GREENE 324 East 6th Street, New York, N. Y.
The names and addresses of the trustees until the second annual meeting of the corporation are as follows:
NAME ADDRESS
PAUL GARDINER 38 East 76th Street, New York, N. Y.
DONALD W. CHAPDELAINE 26 Second Avenue, New York, N. Y.
RAYMOND MARAIS 26 Second Avenue, New York, N. Y.
The names and addresses of the trustees until the third annual meeting of the corporation are as follows:
NAME ADDRESS
KARL YEARGENS 218 Centre Street, New York, N. Y.
RAPHAEL BALSAM 26 Second Avenue, New York, N. Y.
ROBERT LEFKOWITZ 1847 49th Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
NINTH: The first annual meeting for the annual election of trustees shall be held on July 6, 1967, at 7:00 P.M. at No. 26 Second Avenue, in the City, County and State of New York.
TENTH: The matters set forth in paragraphs FIRST through EIGHTH of this certificate were determined at a meeting held for that purpose pursuant to Section 192 of the Religious Corporation Law on July 6, 1966 at No. 26 Second Avenue in the City, County and State of New York. Said meeting was held pursuant to due written notice as provided in Section 191 of the Religious Corporation Law.
ELEVENTH: All of the subscribers to this certificate are of full age and all are members in good and regular standing of the church seeking incorporation through the filing of this certificate by admission with full membership therein in accordance with the rules and regulations thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF we have made, subscribed, and acknowledged this certificate of incorporation this 13th day of July, 1966.
[signed:] A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Carol Bekar, Raymond Marais
STATE OF NEW ‘YORK) SS:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK)
On the 13th day of July, 1966 before me personally came A. C. BHAKTIVEDANTA, SWAMI, RAYMOND MARAIS and CAROL BEKAR to me known and known to me to be the individuals described in and who executed the foregoing certificate of incorporation and they severally acknowledged to me that they severally executed the same.
STEVEN J. GOLDSMITH
NOTARY PUBLIC, STATE OF NEW YORK
NO. 81-1489875
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires March 30, 1967
STATE OF NEW YORK )
SS:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
STEVEN J. GOLDSMITH, being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he maintains an office for the practice of law at Two Park Avenue, Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York; that he is the attorney for the subscribers to the annexed certificate of incorporation of INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, INC.; that he has made diligent search of the records of the Clerk of the County of New York, and as revealed by such search, that no prior corporation with the same or similar name as INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, INC. has filed a certificate of incorporation in New York County. [handwritten:] The undersigned affirms this made under penalty of perjury.
[signed:] Steven J. Goldsmith

Text pasted from; Prabhupada Books

Tomskins Square Park

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Canto Four, Chapter 12, Text 37

śāntāḥ sama-dṛśaḥ śuddhāḥ
sarva-bhūtānurañjanāḥ
yānty añjasācyuta-padam
acyuta-priya-bāndhavāḥ

śāntāḥ—peaceful; sama-dṛśaḥ—equipoised; śuddhāḥ—cleansed, purified; sarva—all; bhūta—living entities; anurañjanāḥ—pleasing; yānti—go; añjasā—easily; acyuta—of the Lord; padam—to the abode; acyuta-priya—with devotees of the Lord; bāndhavāḥ—friends.
TRANSLATION

Persons who are peaceful, equipoised, cleansed and purified, and who know the art of pleasing all other living entities, keep friendship only with devotees of the Lord; they alone can very easily achieve the perfection of going back home, back to Godhead.

PURPORT

The description of this verse fully indicates that only devotees are eligible to enter into the kingdom of Godhead. The first point stated is that devotees are peaceful, for they have no demands for their personal sense gratification. They are simply dedicated to the service of the Lord. Karmīs cannot be peaceful because they have immense demands for sense gratification. As for jñānīs, they cannot be peaceful because they are too busy trying to attain liberation or merge into the existence of the Supreme. Similarly, yogīs are also restless to get mystic power. But a devotee is peaceful because he is fully surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thinks of himself as completely helpless; just as a child feels complete peace in depending on the parent, so a devotee is completely peaceful, for he depends on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

A devotee is equipoised. He sees everyone on the same transcendental platform. A devotee knows that although a conditioned soul has a particular type of body according to his past fruitive activities, factually everyone is part of the Supreme Lord. A devotee sees all living entities with spiritual vision and does not discriminate on the platform of the bodily concept of life. Such qualities develop only in the association of devotees. Without the association of devotees, one cannot advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore, we have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Factually, whoever lives in this society automatically develops Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Devotees are dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is only dear to devotees. On this platform only can one make progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Persons in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotees of the Lord, can please everyone, as is evident in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We invite everyone, without discrimination; we request everyone to sit down and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and take as much prasāda as we can supply, and thus everyone is pleased with us. This is the qualification. Sarva-bhūtānurañjanāḥ. As for purification, no one can be more pure than devotees. Anyone who once utters the name of Viṣṇu immediately becomes purified, inside and outside (yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣam). Since a devotee constantly chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, no contamination of the material world can touch him. He is, therefore, actually purified. Muci haya śuci haya yadi kṛṣṇa bhaje. It is said that even a cobbler or person born in the family of a cobbler can be elevated to the position of a brāhmaṇa (śuci) if he takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Any person who is purely Kṛṣṇa conscious and who engages in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is the purest in the whole universe.

Source:https://theharekrishnamovement.org/2016/07/27/iskcon-incorporated-in-new-york-city-1966/

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