Mayapur, West Bengal, the birthplace of Lord Caitanya. It’s a very special and beautiful place, lush and green and filled with pilgrims and kirtan. Starting at 3.30am every day a devotee ringing a bell will walk through the large guest ashrams and call us to life. This poem is for him.

The Bell Ringer of Mayapur

The bell ringer of Mayapur
Banishes the night
His bell grows from soft to loud
As it reaches my door
‘Jiva jago! Jiva jago!
Awake awake spirit soul
Do not sleep in the lap
Of the witch called maya.

For yet another day has come
As will another tomorrow
I will leave behind yesterday
It is over now and cannot be returned

The bell ringer calls forth the future
Rise up and prepare yourself
Be ready to come before the sun
The earth and others
Prepare the balance needed
to live both sides
being strong, yet dependent
knowing, yet not
listening to speak
seeing with heart

The bell ringer has come
To take you to another day
Go happily with light step
For it cannot be another way
And you cannot hide forever.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/the-bell-ringer-of-mayapur/

I open the door to the early morning air. It’s 4am and all is quiet. I pull my beads out of their bag and find the starting point. Deep breath. Short prayer of respect to my teacher, another short prayer to the giver of this chanting meditation, Sri Caitanya. Then I begin my daily walk of 16 rounds.

The dark night sky welcomes me.  Most of the world sleeps.  My mind also sleeps, thankfully.  Thoughts of yesterday and later today have not begun to line up for attention.  It’s just me and Krishna.

The morning walk starts the night before.  If we want to be serious about our meditation practice, our morning spiritual workout, we have to get to bed reasonably early. We have to plan to want to be there, to show up with as much energy as possible. If, as it is said in the teachings, that this mantra has the power to purify the mind so we can perceive the self within, then we owe it to ourselves to give it our best attention. If we are tired we will not last.

The mantra walk can be done sitting or walking.  Once you get into a few rounds a rhythm will start. If walking watch out for distractions along the route.  Walking up and down the same stretch can minimize that. Walking in a quiet park on along a river is wonderful. Sitting under a tree is powerful.

If you can’t make the whole 16 rounds in one sitting, then it is good to do it in blocks of 4. That takes about a half hour.  Again, like any activity, the best result will come from attentiveness. Try to keep your focus on the sound of the name.  In the words of Srila Prabhupada – “Try to hear yourself chant sincerely.” The transcendental sound vibration will do the rest.

Add a daily walk to your schedule. At home, at the office, or join us here at the Temple in the early morning. It’s an exercise that will have a positive impact on your whole life.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/the-daily-walk/

I remember well the first time I received the Bhagavad-gita. Someone gave it to me as a gift, and I was ready for it. I thought it the most practical and common sense book I had ever read. It confirmed a lot of my suspicions about the material world – there had to be more than this life of birth and death, there had to be answers for the unfairness that I saw everywhere, the concept of many lives, the broader details of the world and the universe, and the understanding of consciousness being the presence of the soul – ‘I think, therefore I am.’

I couldn’t put the book down. It turned my sense of self on it’s head. I was not this body carrying around a light called a soul, I was the soul, carrying around this body, in all it’s shapes and sizes.

For me, reading the Gita for the first time was like meeting an old friend, someone I had known before. There was immediate connection and understanding, a big ‘Aha’ moment. I felt freer than I had ever felt in my life. I loved the world and everyone in it. I felt connected and detached – at the same time!

It’s been thirty two years since I got my first Gita and my love for it has not waned. It’s at times so complex and deep that I feel I am in way over my head, and then so simple and direct that I marvel at it’s audacity. Death is as simple as changing your clothes. Get it?

The Bhagavad-gita, like all sacred books, has secrets and insights for us all, hidden in its pages. One has to approach it with an open mind and a sincere desire for something different. The Gita can change your level of thinking and experience of the world. If you let it.

Check out our Gita Marathon page or join me in my Gita Walk…

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/my-first-book/

When I arrived at the homeless shelter for men in Rockville there was no shortage of hands to help me carry the hot, freshly cooked prasadam supper into the building. The men, of various ages and backgrounds, were grateful and thanked me many times. We had cooked for one hundred.

As I drove away I felt light-hearted and happy. I had taken time to help others in need. I was also grateful  – that I am not homeless, that I have the opportunity to serve, and that I am part of movement that actively cares about the welfare of others.

The supper not only addressed the mens immediate need to eat, but because it was prasadam it had the power to affect their consciousness. We call it the yoga of eating. Yoga, a sanskrit word, means to ‘link up’. By eating food that has been cooked and offered with love to Krishna, the soul is nourished, the mind is cleansed, and one is connected to the source of all existence. That connection brings real and lasting change.

These men without a home also reminded me of our existential homelessness. As souls we are temporarily housed in various bodies and we travel lifetime after lifetime in search of happiness. Between birth and death we have a temporary sojourn in this world. Whether housed in a mansion in Potomac or a hut in shanty town, death, the great equalizer, will move us on. Where then is our true home?

It is said that home is where the heart is – but that is also temporary if the heart is linked to things material. Only with the heart connected to Krishna will we find our true home, that place beyond the temporary nature of this world. Until then we are as homeless as those I met in the shelter in Rockville.

Remembering this can be an impetus to serious spiritual practice, to deepen our relationship with Krishna. When that happens our surroundings in the material world won’t matter. Our destiny may have us live in large or small homes, or even to live without a home – we won’t be bothered. We will have found ourselves in the heart of the bhakti practice, in love. We will be home.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/without-a-home/

We wait for trains, planes and summer rains
we wait in line all the time,
we hold our breath and wait for the score
we wait as a loved one moves to breathing no more
We wait wondering what it’s all about
this life between birth and death and throughout
We wait as we chant for the ego to lift
We wait as we serve for love as the gift
We wait before judging, trusting the good
we wait for grace, knowing we should
Too often we wait till the end of our life
to question the craziness, question the strife
too often we panic when waiting is there
don’t run, wait, and all will be clear
Waiting for Krishna makes everything sweet
no matter how trying the obstacles we meet
never give up, wait with cool head
chant and serve with love it’s said
For one day this existential wait will end
this feeling of not being at home,
of not being complete,
of being bound in time, hands and feet
Wait for the time to come to be free
That wait, is where our waiting should be.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/waiting/

Srila Prabhupada: If a devotee once utters the holy name of the Lord, or if it penetrates his mind or enters his ear, which is the channel of aural reception, that holy name will certainly deliver him from material bondage, whether vibrated properly or improperly, with correct or incorrect grammar, or properly joined or vibrated in separate parts. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.60)

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=29890

Annual Radha-Krishna Boat Festival and Family Picnic at Mission Bay, San Diego

New Govardhana Family Picnic 2016
Srila Prabhupada: Worship of the Lord, whose name is like the sun, for just as a slight appearance of the sun dissipates the darkness of night, so a slight appearance of the holy name of Krishna can drive away all the darkness of ignorance that arises in the heart due to greatly sinful activities performed in previous lives. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.62) 
Find them here: https://goo.gl/C1fp3U

Interviewer: Do you think most of the Hare Krishna members will participate in the election in November? Do you think they will register and vote?
Prabhupada: Personally I never give votes.
Interviewer: Will they follow your example and not vote?
Prabhupada: I do not know, but our principle is that I vote for this man or that man if there is some spiritual benefit. That is our point. (Interview with the religion editor of the Associated Press in New York, 16 July 1976)
I have never given vote. Since we have got this sva-raj, Indian independence, as soon as the vote question comes up, I go away. I think, “Why shall I give this nonsense person my vote? None of them are liked by me.” So I avoid it. I don’t believe in it.
(Room Conversation in Bombay, 8 January 1977)

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=29898

Villa Vrindavan, in Italy, almost looks too old to have a future, but the humble devotees there are confident it will. ISKCON’s oldest building probably, the villa is four centuries old. Naturally, not everything works. A sunken semicircular fountain does not spout. The front roof nobly displays a stopped clock; the bell over it no longer chimes times. When devotees moved in with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, putting their faith in the Lord’s names and graces they named the hundred-and-twenty-acre estate after India’s transcendent village where Krishna enacted a humanlike childhood. How and why is the project now moving ahead?

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Before I pick up my beads to do my chanting meditation, I have 3 points of focus – I’m not this body, God is a person, and I have a relationship with Him.

I’m not this body is one of my favorite meditations. I like to sit quietly and hold my body still. I am the observer. I am conscious of my hands, my breath, my thoughts. I remember – yesterday, years ago, minutes ago. I think ahead – tomorrow, old age, the next hour. When I remember I am not this body I feel relief, more complete, and a real sense of freedom.

My second meditation, another favorite, is that God is a person. Although I heard this from a very young age in Catholicism, it wasn’t until I studied the path of Bhakti yoga that it made more sense to me. Krishna, the Sanskrit name for God, makes the idea of a personal God very attractive. The source of all life has to be credibly incredible. When I meditate on the premise that God is a person, I sense His presence, I sense protection, grounding, connection and belonging.

My third meditation is another, another favorite. Here my meditation is that I have a relationship with Krishna. When I hold still, slow down, or rise early I reflect on this. What does this relationship look like? Is it one of fear or love or both? How do I present myself? What do I ask for, or not? What does Krishna ask of me? What does the best, most complete form of this relationship look like?

When I pick up my beads and begin to chant the mantra, I am facing into that relationship. My 3 meditations have brought me here. Now I connect. Throughout the chanting I find myself returning to them in different ways. I chant with a longing to return to the spiritual world, a desire to engage in service, and a wish to develop affection and love for Krishna.

I also ask not to blow it – that I don’t lean too much on spiritual rules that my emotions are tied, or fall too much on the human side that I don’t touch transcendence. I pray for balance – that my humanity can nurture my spirit and that my spirit reminds me to be a better person, and a better human.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/3-meditations/

Vaiyasaki das: On our way back driving through the Himalayas, we passed an apiary with beehives, and, knowing that Prabhupada was in Vrindavan, we thought, “Wow, wouldn’t that be great to get Prabhupada some real Himalayan honey?”
We got a big bottle. Jagadish was Prabhupada’s secretary at that time, and he knew Satyanarayan and me, so he arranged for Prabhupada to see us.
We went into Prabhupada’s room when Prabhupada was sitting with Gopal Krishna and speaking to an Indian gentleman. When we came in he turned around and said, “Here are two very nice boys.”
We sat down, and Jagadish introduced us. Satyanarayan explained that we were in the Library Party and had been preaching in Kashmir.
Prabhupada was very pleased that we were distributing his books. When he heard we were in Kashmir, he opened his eyes really wide and said,
“Ah, Kashmir. I went to Kashmir. Do you remember when you come over the crest of the hill and you see the Kashmir valley?” We said, “Yes, Prabhupada, we saw it.”
He said, “Yes, I distributed my books there.” Then I said,
“Srila Prabhupada, I met that gentleman. He bought your first three volumes from you, and now he has taken the whole set, a standing order.”
Srila Prabhupada was reminiscing about that and spoke about the importance of preaching.
After five or ten minutes, just before we left, he looked me right in the eye and said, “So, wherever you go and whoever you meet, just tell them about Krishna, and in that way, by Lord Chaitanya’s order, become a guru.”
That left a big impression on me, because he was looking right at me. When I left I thought, “Wow, if I don’t tell people about Krishna, I’m in total maya. This is my mission.”
We gave Prabhupada the bottle of honey, which he graciously accepted. Later Palika, who was Prabhupada’s cook, told us that every morning Prabhupada had a little bit of that honey with his breakfast.
It was wonderful to travel with Srila Prabhupada in an airplane. The first time Srila Prabhupada went to Australia to bring the Deities there, Vegavan prabhu was with him, carrying one of the Deities.
They brought their lunch with them, and after the plane took off they unpacked it, Srila Prabhupada served it, and everyone took prasadam.
When they had finished, Prabhupada rinsed his mouth and washed his hands. Then he started cleaning his front teeth with a toothpick.
Vegavan thought, “Oh, you have to clean your mouth after you eat,” and he pulled out a toothbrush and toothpaste from his bag.
Prabhupada said, “What you are doing?” Vegavan said, “I’m going to brush my teeth, Srila Prabhupada.”
Prabhupada said, “That you do before you take prasad. After prasad, you use a toothpick, because the little pieces in your mouth are also prasadam.”
Ever since then, I’ve always picked my teeth with a toothpick after prasadam.
Gargamuni told Srila Prabhupada that two men on the Library Party were distributing Prabhupada’s books to the universities in Indonesia, a Muslim country.
At that time, other devotees, like Padmapani and Tribhuvanath, were also in Muslim countries.
Prabhupada was pleased that devotees were going to preach in the Muslim countries, and he told Gargamuni, “I put on my head the dust from the feet of whoever preaches in the Muslim countries.”
When we heard that, we were in ecstasy. That was wonderful. After Indonesia, we went on to the libraries in Java and then Bali.
It was in Bali that I found out that Prabhupada had left the planet.
That morning I was ready to go to a college for distribution, when I thought I would call our secretary, Aravindaksi devi in Jakarta, to find out how things were going and if books were being sent out and so on.
She said, “Have you heard the news?” I said, “No, what?” She said, “You didn’t know?” I said, “I didn’t know.”
She said, “I just heard from the devotees in Singapore that Prabhupada left the planet.” I was shocked. I hung up the phone.
I didn’t know what to do, but I thought Prabhupada would want me to go and preach in this college, so I drove there. It was at the other end of Bali.
I arrived at the college, met the librarian, and got two standing orders. As I came out, I met the Minister of Culture in Jakarta, who we had met about a month earlier trying to distribute the books to the library in the Cultural Ministry.
He said to me, “Have you heard about your Guru Maharaj?” I said, “Yes, I did. Thank you.”
I was amazed that even in a little town in Bali, everybody knew that Prabhupada had left the planet.
After that I met Satyanarayan, who hadn’t heard. I had to break the news to him. Immediately he broke down and sobbed uncontrollably, crying and crying.
I realized that I was stonehearted. I hadn’t broken down and sobbed. I was sad, and tears came to my eyes, but I saw that Satyanarayan had so much love for Prabhupada, and I respected him for that.
I felt, “If only I could have such a relationship with Prabhupada; if only I could have felt that.”
—Vaiyasaki
Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint” 
by Siddhanta das
www.prabhupadamemories.com 

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=29920

Uddhava is very broadly described in our scriptures. Uddhava was a devotee of the Lord from his childhood. Advanced souls get the chance to take birth in a devotee family; the liberated soul never forgets Krsna. Vidura is actually Yamaraj who had been cursed to be born as a sudra. When Vidura met Uddhava and inquired about Krsna, Uddhava would get overwhelmed.

Uddhava mentioned that Krsna had just left Vrindavan recently and is in Mathura. He had already killed the elephant and popped-out Chanura’s eyes. Krsna had “accidentally” killed Kamsa too! He wanted to kick-off Kamsa’s crown but Kamsa died from falling. Then they forced Krsna to become the ruler of Mathura.

Nanda Maharaj asked Krsna to come home to Vrindavan. Krsna told him that the Yadus would insist that he stay and not leave again thus Krsna wanted to send a messenger to Vrindavan. Uddhava was the only suitable one to send as a messenger as they were best friends.

Uddhava and Krsna had a secret language because Uddhava spoke such a difficult language that only Krsna could understand. Uddhava spoke the Bhagavatam in 100 000 verses in the heavenly planets. In the heavenly planets, the level of Vedic knowledge exceeds ours. Bhaktivinoda Thakur explained that only 6% of Vedic culture was existing and many years have passed since he said that.

But ultimately, we don’t depend so much on all other scripture because we have the essence in the Srimad Bhagavatam therefore we are not missing out. Almost all that is inauspicious in the heart will be destroyed by reading the Bhagavatam. But why not ALL inauspiciousness? There is one complication which is that as one gets learned, one may get proud! Pride is the one thing that will not be removed by reading Bhagavatam BUT when we chant japa, pride is destroyed!

In kirtan one may still get really proud, “I’m feeling bhava or ruci!” but while chanting japa no one feelsbhava. (Laughter!) We realize that we do not have taste yet as we do not chant in ecstasy. Therefore, we need the mercy of vaisnavas!

So why was Uddhava chosen as the messenger? He was well learned because he was educated by Brihaspati and Uddhava looked almost the same as Krsna, especially from a distance. When Uddhava got to Vrindavan and said to the gopis, “Krsna is everywhere, why are you lamenting?” he was able to generate some faith in the gopis because Uddhava looked so much like Krsna, and because he knew Krsna’s heart.

Uddhava was the most intimate associate of Krsna outside of Vrindavan. Rohini is in the Vrindavan and Dvaraka pastimes, and so is Balarama, therefore Krsna got them to bless Uddhava because if one wants to go to Vraja one needs the blessings of one who has access. One cannot go to Vrindavan by mundane transport. Uddhava saw Krsna in every tree on the way to Vrindavan – uddipan, how things remind us of Krsna.

Krsna is all pervading but so what, the residents of Vrindavan still want personal exchange. They do not care about philosophy; only personal association matters to them. Uddhava could not understand the mood of the residents of Vrindavan.

Back to Vidura now. Vidura saw that Uddhava as an extraordinary devotee. Krsna was supposed to meet Duryodhan to discuss and try to avoid the war. He was invited to the big palace but he stayed at Vidura’s place because he could not stay at the place of one who was envious of the Pandava’s. How exalted Uddhava and Vidura are! And how far away we are… Uddhava was praying to be a blade of grass at Kusum Sarovar. We consider Uddhava as a prototype and we follow in his footsteps. 

Source:https://www.kksblog.com/2016/07/the-uddhava-lecture/

Throughout 2016, our international Hare Krishna movement has been celebrating our 50th anniversary.  While the teachings of our Hare Krishna culture have existed for thousands of years, the modern "Hare Krishna movement" was incorporated in 1966.  Grand celebrations have been taking place all around the world!

Wednesday, July 27, 2016 marks the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON's incorporation, as calculated by the lunar calendar model.  We invite you to join us for small celebrations at our temple from 6:30pm onwards.

There will be readings, appreciations, sharing of realizations, prasadam, and hopefully more!  Please also see what is going on in ISKCON around the world - to commemorate this 50 year anniversary by visiting http://iskcon50.org/  

Source:http://iskcontoronto.blogspot.in/2016/07/small-iskcon50-celebrations-july-27-2016.html

As I write this it is snowing yet again. It’s early morning and along with the silence of the snow I can hear birds sing. It’s as if they are trying to bravely hold on, waiting for spring to fully arrive. Today they are my heroes.

There is an analogy that compares the soul to a bird in a cage, the body being the cage. If we just take care of the cage and neglect to feed the bird, then the bird will die. Similarly, our soul will “die” if we don’t nourish it. As the Bible says, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

The early morning song birds also reminded me of the story of a sparrow and her determination. She laid her eggs on the beach, but the tide came in and took them away. She asked the ocean to return her eggs, but he laughed at her. “All right,” the small sparrow said as she stood at the edge of the vast ocean. “I will dry you up, drop by drop, until I find my eggs.”

And so she began, one drop at a time, to empty the ocean. She worked day after day and because of her determination she caught the attention of the great bird carrier of Vishnu, Garuda. He came to the side of the ocean and talked to the tiny sparrow. He then turned to the ocean and with a booming voice told the water to return the eggs at once lest he will take up the sparrow’s task. The ocean got the message and immediately returned the eggs.

The lesson here? Be determined to do the right thing, even if it seems impossible. By that endeavor alone help will come – often in the most unexpected ways.

As I watch the snow fall, and hear the birds sing, I see and feel the hand of Krishna. Life will be difficult and all we can do is respond as best we can. Keep singing and keep moving in the right direction. Help is always there and will come at the right time and in its own way. Just keep the doors of trust, faith, and love open.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/hearing-the-birds-sing/

In a humble attempt to glorify Srila Prabhupada and the ISKCON movement on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee, ISKCON, Navi Mumbai with the auspicious blessings of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja and encouraging direction of the temple President, HG Sura Das Prabhu celebrated a week long festival. The festival was graced by the keen presence of HH Amiya Vilas Swami Maharaja. Wholeheartedly detailing and serving under the guidance of the HG Vaishnavanghri Sevak Prabhu (the Director of Bhaktivedanta College of Vedic Education, Navi Mumbai), the devotees of Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji celebrated a seven day long festival making the atmosphere spiritually surcharging.

Remembering the pre-eminent Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who signed off his communications with “your ever well-wisher”, and the movement he started, which is working under the direct supervision of Srila Rupa Goswami, the weeklong festival started on the day when Srila Prabhupada signed the deed in New York, USA i.e. on Monday, July 11, 2016 and culminated on July 17, 2016. The festival actually took a voyage of the memoirs of the 50 glorious years of ISKCON’s journey making all feel the real pride in sharing the joy of devotion.

Programs during the ISKCON Incorporation week celebrations

The seven mornings were primarily filled with readings from the Jaladuta diary and Prabhupada Lilamrita. The festival commenced with the first morning discourse on “the voyage to the USA”. Subsequently each day reviewed the chronicles of Srila Prabhupada’s life and that of the movement. The second morning’s discourse glorified the importance of Srila Prabhupada’s commitment and endeavours to fulfill the two orders of his spiritual master, viz. preaching to the English speaking World and Printing books. The third morning’s discourse discussed the accounts of ISKCON’s incorporation. The fourth morning’s discourse elaborated about the memories of the starting of the Jagannath Ratha yatra. Glorifying the one of the munificent and widely reaching acts of Srila Prabhupada of touring the Globe 13 times, the fourth morning’s discourse actually helped to visualize the compassion of a pure devotee and hardships that he took for the benefit of the humanity. Srila Prabhupada’s vision to establish the World headquarters at Mayapur, a home for the whole world in Vrindavan and Mumbai as his office was visited on the fifth morning discourse. Additionally, laying the foundational principle, “books are the basis”, the establishment and services offered by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) were glorified. Standing on the foundation of “purity is the force” and having in the veins the principle that “preaching is the essence”, the seventh morning’s discourse talked about the recapitulated the life of Prabhupada from his childhood to delivering of innumerable souls in this material world.

Glimpse of the celebrations

The evenings were filled with bhajans, kirtans, dance performances, dramas on the life and teachings of Srila Prabhupada. Singing the heart-melting bhajans of Srila Prabhupada, wherein he cries out to the Lord to make him dance as He likes and when he acknowledges the mercy of Krishna, were the highlights of one of the evenings. Children from the Nimai’s Bhakti School took special encouragement and demonstrated an unparallel enthusiasm by presenting two dramas. One was on how Srila Prabhupada established ISKCON and second one on the seven purposes. It was so very invigorating to visit the seven purposes for which we are serving. Two special dance performances were offered to Srila Prabhupada. One was a classical dance performance, Bharatnatyam, on glorification of Srila Prabhupada and the other was a dance performance on “Yadi Prabhupada na hoito”, expressing the gratitude towards Prabhupada.

Expression of gratitude to Srila Prabhupada and to ISKCON was given the central attention in this festival. Each day, different devotees were offering their gratitude. This consisted of offerings by the resident devotees, senior devotees, Matajis, various congregations and especially by children. Special ghee lamps (deep dana) were offered to Srila Prabhupada on the concluding evening of the festival. A special japa card was also released on this day. Devotees offered flower bouquets to Srila Prabhupada on the incorporation day and the gratitude day.

Sri Krishna Prasadam distribution was profusely distributed everyday. Each evening, after the program and kirtan, specially made “Love cookies” and full prasadam were distributed to all. A special attraction of the festival was the offering of two special cakes, one on the incorporation day – Golden Jubilee Cake and two Gratitude Day Cakes on the gratitude day with engraving “To our dear Srila Prabhupada with gratitude”.

All these celebrations were performed under the most auspicious blessings of their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. We request all Maharajas, Vaishnavas and Vaishnavis to share this joyful article with everyone. Hare Krihna!

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=29861

Our beloved Pashupati Prabhvi (ACBSP), known for many years as an exemplar of care and compassion, has just been in a terrible car accident. She was not at fault and sustained injuries including 12 broken ribs; a fractured collar bone, hip and pelvis; and a collapsed lung. 

Pashupati has thrived through painful physical challenges for many years and has demonstrated such care and compassion for many. In spite of her own health challenges, she was known for driving community members in need to doctors appointments, cooking for others, connecting people to support and caring for all those who know her. 

Her husband, Chaturatma Prabhu (ACBSP), works full-time. In addition to adjustments that will have to be made to grant him time to care for Pashupati through this challenging stage, they will face steep medical fees to foster her complex recovery.

So many of us have expressed a desire to assist them at this challenging time. Here is a simple way. They will benefit greatly from our loving support. Please donate what you can *today* to help them through this initial stage. Every bit will help. Our goal is $10,000 by July 31, 2016. **All donations go directly to Chaturatma Prabhu (Charles Henderson).** Thank you!!!

Source:https://www.gofundme.com/2g6tfvg

The tussle between “freewill” and “destiny” has been primordial. There is one famous Greek play titled “Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles. The main character Oedipus has the tragic destiny of marrying his own mother revealed to him by the soothsayer. Shaken by the revelation, he decides to escape his fate by leaving his royal parents and his kingdom, but ironically the more he tries to give a slip, nearer he gets to the prediction. Finally the fate takes the better of him. He later learns of the commission of the most heinous sin – marrying his own mother and having even children from her. He relinquishes his kingship, blinds himself and moves from one place to another as he repents for the sin from which he had in fact tried to save himself. He is forsaken and alone but he makes himself adorable by the manner in which he reacts to his destiny. His desire to purge, do prayashchit for his inadvertently committed sin brings out the beauty in his character, he rises to such a height that from being one who is scoffed at by everybody, whose presence had once caused epidemics, death, draught in his country; later turns to a harbinger of good times, his death is said to bring good luck to the place where he would leave his body.

It beautifully brings forth the beauty and significant role of “freewill” in our lives. Bhagavad-gita explains the wonderful attributes of the soul besides the minuteness of soul. It is just one ten-thousandth part of the upper portion of the hair point in size.* The minute “freewill” of this super-micro soul has created so much of furore that there are 14 planetary systems and countless universes, and further sub- and sub to sub-systems to place everybody according to their “freewill”! So wonderful is freewill! This differentiating factor from non-living beings can make a heaven of hell or hell of heaven. It is therefore important that we learn to exercise it judiciously. It is because of this we are separated from the Lord. Though we are suffering because of misuse of freewill and are sentenced to serve our prison term in the bhuloka. At the same time bhuloka is also karmabhoomi, where we have the possibility of decision making (thus freewill) and accordingly designing the future body and destiny.

Freewill has been a subject which has attracted the attention of philosophers, spiritualists and scientists (especially neuroscientists, psychologists and physicists) alike. There are a few scientists (for instance Nobel Laureate Gerard who gave a theory suggesting predetermined status of behavior of particles and thus ourselves) who believe in non-existence of freewill and claim that they can predict each and every move of every studied individual with greatest accuracy*. Their perception reduces one to mere robots without any emotions and free will. A few non-atheists also find it confusing to see freewill in the face of the Lord being considered as “sarva karna karnam” (the cause of all causes – BS 5.1). Let us try to study it.

However before I try to do so, I consider it important to confess that I am neither a philosopher, nor a spiritualist nor even a scientist. I am a mere practicing devotee who had been struggling to understand it till some time ago. Freewill can be compared to free periods that we had in our student days. As a child in the school, every class was given one or two free periods besides other regular periods for teaching Maths, Science, English, Hindi or other such subjects. In the free periods the students were free to do anything, they could play, draw, study, sleep, read in the library or anything that they wanted to do. Though this was a free period and one was free to pursue their interests, yet at the same time it entailed a few implicit understandings:

– The duration of free period and its very presence is because the authorities have gracefully chosen to give us so

– It has to be exercised within the restrains of rules of the school and of general decorum

– Free period can be used according to one’s temperament, it can be used or even abused

Free will is no different. It does exist and comes in measures as given by the Lord. If He does not wish to give us free will and freedom to exercise it, there is no possibility of we having it.

Swedish man (3): Is there free will?

Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Just like you are sitting here. If you don’t like, you can go away. That’s your free will. There is free will.

Free will exists, but how much? -Only as much as the Lord wants us to have. The conversation between Srila Prabhupada and Syamasundara prabhu is worth reading:

Syamasundara: Does the hydrogen molecule have an independent desire?

Prabhupada: No, but within the hydrogen atom, there is Krishna; therefore it is combining. Not this hydrogen atom as matter is combining, but because Krishna is within that hydrogen atom existing. He knows that by combination this thing will come about, that will come out, that will come out…

Syamasundara: But the individual soul has a little independence to choose?

Prabhupada: No, no.

Syamasundara: Has no independence?

Prabhupada: No. The individual soul does not. In Bhagavad-gita it says that anumanta, individual soul, wants to do something and Krishna gives orders. Man proposes and God disposes.

Syamasundara: So we have no free will?

Prabhupada: No. Without sanction of Krishna we cannot do anything. Therefore He is the ultimate cause.

Syamasundara: But I thought you had been saying that we have a little independence.

Prabhupada: That independence that Krishna wants me to do something but I want to deny it. But unless Krishna sanctions, you cannot do that also.

… So far as we get information, our knowledge is from the Vedic information, andantara-stha paramanu: Krishna is within, the Paramatma. It does not say the soul is within, the Paramatma.

So, how much control do we have over our free will? — We have only as much free period (free will) as much as the school authorities (the Supreme Lord) will allow or sanction. Even within the allowable limits, when we exercise it, we need to follow the law of the school (nature). One cannot violate them. Misuse of free period or abuse of freewill is followed by misery of punishment by the respective executive and judiciary authorities.

Devotee (4): Prabhupada, we’re in this material world, in this human body, we’re having to work with this intelligence, with mind, material things. So there is a group of philosophers that say that actually because we’re a product, our mind, the way we’re thinking now is a product of our upbringing and our past, that actually we have no free will, but we’re forced to think and act in a certain way.

Prabhupada: Then that you have to admit that you are conditioned by some authority. When you are put into jail, you cannot act independently. You have to act according to the jail superintendent’s order.

… Devotee (4): So he admits he’s conditioned, but still, there’s no free will. He says, “Yeah, so I’m in the prison. I’m imprisoned. I’m conditioned.”

Prabhupada: No, no, no. Free will… Just like a man commits theft by his free will. But when he is put into jail, then no more free will. He has to act according to the jail superintendent. But his beginning of jail life is free will. Nobody asked him that “You go to jail.” But why he has come? He knows also that “When I am put into jail, I will lose all my freedom.” He knows that. Still, he comes. Why does he come? He knows that. That is called ajnana. Mudha. That is called mudha. He knows; still, he does. [Ref. VedaBase> Morning Walk – 14 July 14, 1975, Philadelphia]

There is another discussion reinforcing the same thought:

Prabhupada: Yes, freedom. Our present condition is not freedom. We are completely under the laws, te ‘pi svatantra rudhani vardhya (?). They are tied up by the ropes of material nature, hands and legs, and still they are thinking, “I am free.” That is illusion. Nobody is free. Daivi hy esha guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. We are seeking freedom but nobody is free. Nobody is free. Prakriteh kriyamanani [Bg. 3.27], they are pulled by the ear, “Do this.” Prakriteh. You have to do this.

Syamasundara: He says that the free will, which creates itself or realizes itself is the truest of all realities.

Prabhupada: Yes. So if by free will if you choose to surrender to Krishna then you’ll get your real free will, freedom. Otherwise you are under the clutches of maya. Daivihy esha guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. You cannot surpass the stringent laws of material nature, that is not…

So, working within the stringent laws of nature, one can misuse the gift of free will and bind himself in the vicious circle of death-birth-death. In the Bhagavad-gita (5.13) the Lord says that He is not the cause of anyone’s particular work, nor the authority, nor the result of such work–but that all these come out of the various modes of nature. Thus, all acts performed by the living entity-except those with transcendental results-are self-created engagements arising from an abuse of the freewill, and therefore such acts or engagements are never to be considered as if the works and the results were somehow ordained by the almighty Godhead. Such works are all material and are therefore conditioned and directed by the modes of nature. The Personality of Godhead dissociates Himself from such works.

One cannot be without work, how can we work without getting entangled in the karmic reaction of that work? If we surrender all our actions or work to Him, we can but how do we do it? Conditioned with the three modes of nature or gunas, how can one take the right decision? If the freewill is so dangerous, should we repress it altogether? How should the freewill be used that it does not prove self-injurious due to our ignorance?

Though we are suffering in this material body because of our earlier misuse of free will; yet it is His causeless mercy that the Lord has not abandoned us. Keen on bringing us back to Him, even in this situation He has given us the way out, an escape route from this prison house. He has given us free will, but He has also given the instructions to use it properly to return to Him. Prabhupada explained it beautifully:

“I am now talking to you the most confidential words.” (Sarva-guhyatamam) “You stop your so-called freewill. Just surrender to Me.” This is the most confidential. “If you surrender to Me, that is good for you. But if you go on keeping your free will you’ll not be happy.” There is also free will. When you come to the platform of Krishna consciousness you serve Krishna with freewill, not that you become a stone. There is freewill. Just like our devotees they are dressing Krishna nicely, is there no freewill? They are cooking for Krishna. Is there no freewill? The freewill is there. The Mayavadi philosopher says, the Buddha philosopher says, that “Stop this freewill, and then you become happy.” But our proposition is not to stop freewill but purify freewill. Purify. Not stop these eyes. Just if it is suffering from cataract, cure that cataract. Keep the eyes. And their proposition, “Get out these eyes and throw it. Then there will be no more seeing what is right and wrong.” That is their proposition. Nirvisesha-vadi. Nirvisesha means no specialty, no varieties. That is nirvisesha. And sunya, zero. When it is zero, then there is no question of right and wrong. So our philosophy is not that. There is no zero, and there is no variety. We don’t say. There is, but its purified varieties. Tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Nirmalam means purified. So our process is to purify everything.”

Our job is therefore to purify our freewill and thus dovetail our freewill with His Supreme will – Easier said than done.

sadrisam ceshtate svasyah / prakriter jnanavan api

prakritim yanti bhutani / nigrahah kim karishyati [Bg 3.33] [Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows the nature he has acquired from the three modes. What can repression accomplish?]

Repression fails and dovetailing is difficult, bordering on impossibility? How do we do that while being puppets in the deft hands of mayadevi and her tools of three gunas? She keeps us in the prison house using the trident of three gunas? It is very difficult to transcend the gunas. This concern was expressed by Arjuna himself to the Lord and He even agreed to it, but He gave a solution to that too. Even while working within gunas, using freewill according to one’s gunas, one has the option of coming out. One needs to be just what one is. Just perform one’s duty according to one’s nature or “svabhava” – according to one’s varna and guna – or simply following the principles of daiva varnasrama – “svabhava-niyatam karma / kurvan napnoti kilbi sham” [Bg. 18.47]. It is worth noting that the system of varnasrama, has been created by Him and is thus perfect. catur-varnyam maya shrishtam / guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13] Simply by performing one’s karma within the varnasrama set up ensures that our freewill is not abused.

The Lord is so merciful! He has created varnasrama for us. For the soul who has abused the freewill. For the soul which is just one-thousandth of the hair tip in size. Being His creation to protect the erring; varnasrama is in complete congruence with the Supreme will and is thus capable of giving one an opportunity to make the best of our human life within the limitation of svabhava and gunas. The set up varnasrama ensures that one is on the path of gradual spiritual evolution without resorting to “unnatural” methods of achieving transcendence. Hare Krishna!

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=10647

It is not desirable to worship out of fear… out of fear of the Lord or out of fear of reactions that may come. To be God-fearing is not advertised as a great ideal in our Krsna consciousness movement. Rather our aim is to serve Krsna out of love – to appreciate how Krsna is kind, how Krsna is merciful and how Krsna cares about all living beings. Not only are we concerned with our own little lives but we are concerned with the welfare of the world as a whole so let us see if we can contribute something to that. We remain connected to the greater plan of the Supreme Lord – we live a life of devotion, and we also care for the welfare of all other living beings so that they may also come to devotional service.

Source:https://www.kksblog.com/2016/07/to-serve-krsna-out-of-love/ ;

Tonight Sydney’s streets resounded with the sound of the MAHAMANTRA

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama Rama, Hare Hare!

Sixteen devotees joined us on the streets to participate in the dharma for this age. The bliss and energy from chanting the Holy Names was palpable. It is such a fun activity.

The city was crowded with people today and many of them felt compelled to sing and dance with us. The sound of Harinam Sankirtan is like nectar for the ears, it pours in and attracts the heart.

Bella, who came last week, for the dancing and chanting was back with us again. It is wonderful, and inspiring to see someone attracted like that.

Ranjan, Vraja and Nesh were on the front lines distributing books. They were able to find homes for 10 book this evening. They say books are like spiritual time bombs. People take then home, some read them and some put them aside then one day they pick them up and they say: “Why didn’t I read this earlier? I need to find out more about this. “

We are continuing our program every week so please accept our invitation and join us whenever you can. Every Thursday we are chanting in the streets of Sydney. Do everyone a favour, and do yourself a favour, please come along and see for yourself what happens. Make a plan now to come at least once. See you next Thursday.

Sri Harinam Sankirtan Ki Jaya.

Source:https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1209769265740066&id=684968818220116

We celebrate the passing of time
With a fearless ignorance
Like the beating of the heart
The seconds move forward in rhythm
and birth and death and birth
come and go around us

We are caged in time like a bird
We make our peace with it
Disguise it, hoping the sense of something
Beyond time will go away
So that we can enjoy
Hoping the gray hairs will look like silver
The sagging skin will be ignored

We are caught in time
Like a dog on a leash
Belonging to someone
Loyal and tail wagging
Waiting for a bone to enjoy

Time eats us all
Like a hungry giant
That none will escape
No matter what wealth
Or cleverness we have
Time is the dread of death
Time is the darkness at the end of the day
Time is the heart that beats no more
Our heart, at some point in time

The sages walked to the forest
To live outside time
To watch the soul watch time
Bound by a body and network of senses
It is caught in the story of its many lives
An insignificant one among millions

Krishna is the hand that pulls us
Out of this time and into another
One that does not have a start or finish
The time I feel when I close my eyes
Hear my breath, sense myself in
That big space of the present moment
When I hear the sound of His Name
That point of connection
To life outside the cage
That sense of time beyond time
That sense of connected self
Free, beautiful, and other worldly

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/timeless-time/