The epic Ramayana, the great heroic story of King Rama, returns again and again to the point of keeping one’s word – even though doing so seems to bring pain and heartbreak.

It starts with Rama’s father, the ruling King, being bound to a promise which results in the exile of his son Rama.

Rama, of course, honors his father’s word and leaves for the forest – even though the whole kingdom beseeches him to not do so. Bharat, Rama’s youngest brother was asked to rule in his stead. He refused to be called “King”. Instead he placed Rama’s shoes on the throne, and took a vow to live a life of austerity until Rama’s return. Which he did.

Our character is expressed in how we keep our word as much as the actual activity itself. Even in small things we need to be careful. We may say to our daughter, “I’ll be home at 6pm to read with you,” and we arrive home at 7. We may still read together, but if repeatedly done the hidden message she receives is that she is not so important; other people or activities come before her. Her level of trust diminishes.

Giving our word is a strong stance. Making a promise is a deep commitment, and taking a vow is serious. We shouldn’t take them unless we are sure we can keep them. A commitment extracts a price and we are bound to it. When we honor it we are protected, and we grow wise and deep within the lines we have drawn for ourselves. When we don’t we are blown about like a riven cloud, subjected to the whims of our mind and senses.

If one is in danger, then one can break his promise or go back on his word. Even Krishna did that on the battlefield when Arjuna was in danger of being vanquished. He told both parties he would not take up arms, but he did on one occasion, being driven by love for his devotee. Later He told Arjuna to ‘Declare it boldly, my devotee will never perish” (Gita, 9:31). Krishna thought someone may not trust Him after he broke His promise on the battlefield. Yet He wanted to make sure His statement was taken seriously. So he had Arjuna make the declaration since Arjuna was famous as a man of his word.

Keeping our word is the scaffolding upon which we build relationships. It is the bank account of trust into which we make deposits. It is our saving grace when times are dark and difficult – holding ourselves to our commitment is the light that will see us through. Give words, promises, and vows wisely and sparingly, and honor them carefully. It is what will be remembered about you when all else is long gone.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/keeping-our-word/

There are lessons to be learned from all sources. In the Bhagavad-gita Krishna uses the humble tortoise to illustrate sense control: “One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness.”

Here are some other lessons we can learn from a tortoise:

1. Slow and steady

Yesterday is gone and we yet don’t have tomorrow. We only have today and really only this moment. I like to call this “everyday eternal.” As the mind pulls us to the past of what was, or the future of what could be, our daily practice of focused Krishna meditation brings us to the now. If we do that steadily every day, with the patience and determination of a slow and steady tortoise, then as our external life moves along it’s destined path towards old age and death, our transcendental life will move towards it’s destination – experiencing the complete and ultimate expression of love.

2. Withdraw

When life gets too much – withdraw. As the tortoise pulls in it’s limbs when in danger, pull yourself back into a quiet space when you feel overwhelmed.  Even better, practice retreating everyday to that most precious internal space of connecting with Krishna – whether through chanting, or singing, or reading about Him. Don’t wait until life is too stressful to do it – treat yourself to the benefits of withdrawing daily, and you will feel the difference.

3. Carry our Home

A turtle carries his home on his back. As the saying goes, “home is where the heart is.” What are you carrying in your heart?  Welcome Krishna into your heart space –  with Him there you will find it easy to keep a happy, open, generous, forgiving, and letting go heart.

4. Be Lean-able

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam story of Krishna’s incarnation as Kurma, the tortoise’s back provided the support needed to hold up a mountain. Be strong for others. Let them lean on you when they need to. To be strong in body and mind is a gift. Share it willingly and be a supporting part in another’s success. We truly become our best when we are helping others serve Krishna – and that’s the secret of pleasing Krishna as well.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/4-lessons-from-the-tortoise/

Karma marks upon my skin

like a story growing old

Like the rings to count on a felled tree

I am lined and scarred

Memories from the cuts and bruises

on the outside me

The one that hits against the earth

and wind and fire and others.

Karma marks upon my heart

of things I want but don’t get

and things I get but don’t desire

The  marks on a heart broken by pain

stretched by sadness, lost in loneliness.

The marks on a bursting heart of happiness

that has everything and

yet still feels dissatisfied.

Karma marks upon my life

Remind me of where I’ve been and where I am

Like marks upon the prison wall

I am counting the days

To when I shall walk out a free man

From this earth and body

Which is sometimes heaven

But mostly hell

Karma marks upon my skin

Speak to me your words of wisdom

Push me to the right shelter

So the work of pain bears the sweet fruits

of transcendence.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/karma-marks/

There was a great storm today

 the shyam blue clouds gathered

 and soon drenched all

 even the ocean

 who needs no rain

 but rain it did

 upon the waves

 the Vedas say

 this is love

 pure love, Krishna’s love

 it doesn’t decide

 who needs it or not

 the cloudburst will open

 upon us all

 soak it in

 it’s water the body is most made of

 and love no less.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/love-like-rain/

Every morning at 7.45am, before breakfast, we have a philosophy class.  It’s such a delight to sit together, read ancient wisdom books, and discuss.  Henry David Thoreau said it well – “In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonical philosophy of the Bhagavad-Gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seems puny and trivial.”

On Mondays, we listen to a recorded class by Srila Prabhupada (there are over 2,000) and afterwards reflect on what parts of the lecture stood out for each of us.

This week it was a talk from a lecture he gave in France in 1975. Here’s what struck  me –   “If we simply become aware of this fact that “I am not this body, I am spirit soul. I am living within this body,” then immediately we become liberated from this material world.  This can be understood by any sane man without any study of philosophy, simply by common sense. The simple philosophy is that the child is now possessing a small body, then he will possess a bigger body, then another fully adult body. In this way the child is there, the body is changing, that’s a fact. And the body changes so long the soul is there. Therefore, the conclusion should be the body and the soul, they are different. It is a very simple truth…”

A very simple truth – that we are not these bodies, we are a spirit soul living in the body.  How wonderful!

Prabhupada continues – “If I say to the dog that “You are not this body, you are spirit soul, you are eternal,” he has no power to understand. A human being can understand. The human has the capacity. So we are trying to educate all people, all nations of the world to understand this one verse. Na jayate mriyate va kadacin. If he simply understands this one verse, he immediately becomes liberated. And actually, human life is meant for understanding this philosophy or this truth. Then one’s life is successful.”

Just one verse.

na jayate mriyate va kadacin

nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah

ajo nityah sasvato ‘yam purano

na hanyate hanyamane sarire

“For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” Bhagavad-gita 2.20

This is our verse of the week. Post it all over the house, read it again and again, and meditate on it deeply. Memorize it. Think of it in the car, on the train, in the hospital, at the stove, in a meeting or wherever. It’s a lifeline to sanity, and ticket to another place. It’s a shelter from a stormy mind or an anxious heart. This gift of ‘a very simple truth’ in ‘just one verse’ can change our life. Take it.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/a-very-simple-truth/

For the majority of my devotional life, Krishna has arranged it so that I’ve never had a devotional community to tap into as a regular daily function. I started off living in Wilmington, DE whereby ISKCON Philly was about an hour drive. This was the closest proximity I’ve ever lived to an active temple. Unfortunately, He made it so that I would be relocating to Maine only after attending the Sunday Feast 3-4 times.

My next situation took me to Portland or rather Cape Elizabeth, Maine. In this set up I was about 2-2.5 hours from the closest temple, ISKCON Boston. Fortunately, He connected me with a lovely devotee family up in Brunswick (Mother Hare Krsna dasi, of cow-protection/varnashrama dharma fame & her lovely children Maha & Asto), as well as, some other nice devotees sprinkled around the state. We would have programs every month or so & eventually I convinced some of the lovely Boston devotees to come up & join in on the fun. Even HH Candramauli Swami came to my home once & blessed us with his association.

Krishna also arranged that at one point I could go to the temple & stay there for 3-4 days out of the week when I did not have work or school which kept me alive spiritually. In addition to this I always had the incredible fortune of having regular e-mail & even phone contact with my beloved spiritual master, His Grace Sriman Sankarshan das Adhikari.

When I was just starting off in Krishna consciousness, I read a lot. Every night I would read for at least a good hour. I was fanatical about not ingesting any non-Krishna conscious media (music, films, books,  etc) except that which was required for my schooling. I would be listening to lectures or kirtans for hours on end while in my studio (as a painting major) & always be engaged in distributing Krishna prasad to my studio mates.

I didn’t have much association so , I made my own.

After finishing up my BFA in Maine, I decided to move down to Austin, TX in order to be in closer physical proximity to my Spiritual Master. Soon after moving down here, my Guru Maharaj’s traveling schedule began to pick up, keeping him in Austin for less & less time each year. While he’s away, we maintain regular Sunday feast programs & try to have some celebration for most major festivals as far as is practical. Yet the facility for daily association is not so great in his absence. That being the case I find myself figuratively back in the same boat I came from, little to no regular daily association.

After struggling to keep my head above water for the past five years, I somewhat spontaneously stumbled back into that habit which kept me afloat; namely the regular reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books & almost constantly hearing bhajans/kirtan or lectures. Recently, I’ve been doing online Bhakti Sastri courses through Bhaktivedanta College, as well as, attempting to read HH Bhakti Vikas Maharaj’s Ramayan & a bit of Srimad-Bhagavatam each day. Though I’m not as strict as I once was about the non-devotional media I ingest, the potency of this wonderful Vaishnava literature seems to outweigh all else & at least keeps my nose above the waves.

That brought me to the simple yet profound conclusion that:

Srila Prabhupada is fully present in his books & various recordings.

So my humble suggestion is that if you find yourself with little to no devotee association or your mind is disturbed by the various politics present within our society, simply go back to the basis of our movement, Srila Prabhupada. Absolutely no harm can come from developing a deeper relationship with Srila Prabhupada & trying our best to understand his mood, mission & what is factually pleasing to Him. After all, our spiritual life depends on this as we can’t even discern right from wrong within ISKCON without having a concrete understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

Source:https://strugglingsadhaka.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/srila-prabhupada-lives-in-his-books/

Of course the dying always make us stop
those dying and those left behind
stuck in a time frozen into itself
as the everyday world disappears
and we are at once pushed into the present
and all that facing an ebbing life brings.

Life totters like a drop of water on a lotus flower
sparkling in it’s beauty while present
and then gone, in an instant
gone forever in that form it took
but not gone completely
the soul begins a new journey and we ask
where do we come from and
where do we go?
destiny is not arbitrary; we have a part to play
where we are now and what we do
makes the path ahead
who does not want to be free
from the chains of destiny that bind us
as this young man, a freedom lover,
is now bound to the hospital bed with tubes
and life keeping machines.

It’s a stark world we live in, merciless in it’s karmic clock
and we idle away the time thinking it will never happen to us
we are fools that live half lives
we need to wake up and sing another song
we need to let the caged bird fly
to know thyself in the quiet moments of lost love
and seek shelter within
we need to speak to the Lord in heart
and listen
for the wise are awake to the movements of the soul
and life is not lived until death has been around.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/life-and-death/

I heard an interesting Ted Talk the other day. It was called Rewilding the World and the speaker shared what happened when wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. To the surprise of many, everything began to get better. Grasslands blossomed, trees strengthened, butterflies and bees came back, the rivers stayed their course. It turns out the the wolves were a very important part of the eco-balance needed to keep everything flourishing. One obvious impact was the ability of the wolves to keep the deer in check, both in numbers and location. This one equation alone influenced the life and landscape of the whole park.

So too in our lives. We may be drying up, dragging along, depleting ourselves in so many unseen ways because we are out of balance. What and where are our missing wolves? We tend to live safely and keep everything in the comfort zone. What wild spiritual practice can we introduce to bring our life back into balance so it can flourish in all areas?

Well, we are in luck! Kartik is here (starts tomorrow, Friday 18th) and this is the month when devotees take vows to do something (or not do something) for Krishna that is hard, challenging, and stretching for their spiritual practice. It may be that we rise early to chant extra rounds, that we give up sweets, that we come to the Temple more often, that we volunteer to serve in places and ways we usually avoid. It may be that we turn off the TV, that we promise to read 10 verses of the Gita every day, or that we share and give more that we usually do.

Kartik is a perfect time to bring some spiritual wildness into our lives. Each one of us is different and each one knows what we should do. But do something! Otherwise we may end up like this quote – “If you cover yourself with the blanket of material comforts, you will fall asleep spiritually.” Bring on the wolves – so our hearts can beat stronger, our lives can be richer, and the landscape of our consciousness can blossom with pure love for Krishna.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/rewilding-your-spiritual-life/

Albert Einstein once said, “I think the most important question facing humanity is, ‘Is the universe a friendly place?’ This is the first and most basic question people must answer for themselves.”

“Yes”, a lover of Krishna would answer, the universe is a friendly place, because Krishna, the source of the universe, tells us in the Bhagavad-gita that he is a friend to all.

According to the Vedas, the material world (millions of universes) is a small corner of the much larger existence which is spiritual. We are part of this spiritual plane, but our corner is covered by a cloud of material energy which covers our spiritual nature and catches us in the cycle of birth and death. Therefore, from our material perspective, the universe (and our own personal life, a sort of mini-universe) can get mighty unfriendly at times as it is a cocktail of the modes of goodness, passion, and ignorance. These modes that play with our senses, minds, and false ego can influence people to act in sad, violent, angry, uncaring, and truly evil ways. We thus experience an unfriendly universe.

When life gets overwhelming–and it surely will at times–Krishna calls us to lean on him. When it’s hard to carry all that is happening around us, to try to figure it out–to be the rugged individualist who saves the day, to be a mother with young children, a middle aged man with no future, a young woman who is ready to give up–lean on Krishna.

When the mad dog of the mind won’t stop barking, when the lethargy in the heart won’t stop dragging you down, when you are feeling so lonely and alone, unworthy and unloved – remember you have a friend, a dear most friend, in Krishna.

A friend never gives up on us, no matter what we are going through or what we do. Krishna is like that. He was a friend to Arjuna on the battlefield. He helped Arjuna face his challenge, stood by him, and supported him in his fight.

We don’t have to prove ourselves to Krishna, showing HIm that we are some marvelous, great, pure, saintly person. That’s not the point. The point is to lean on Krishna, come under his shelter, accept his friendship. He will guide us as we make our way through the sojourn of this life. He gives us permission to stop worrying. He tells He will take care of us. He says, “Do not fear”.

Life is never easy. It’s a struggle as long as we are in our body. Having Krishna as a friend, makes it doable. We can make it to the end in one piece, with trust, confidence, and a joyful sense of belonging, of being loved, and being a part of something big.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/grateful-to-lean/

What do we do with this body when we know we are not the body? How do we view this thing that we have loved and not loved, that has given us pleasure and pain, profit and loss? What do we do with our personality that we have built up around the body?

The Bhakti Sastras (wisdom books of devotion) teach that the soul is covered by the body, the soul being our real self and the body a temporary covering. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just unzip our body and material persona and fling it aside? But we can’t. Neither can our new found realizations stop the body from feeling emotions, hunger, pain and so on. It’s the same machine, affected by the same triggers, and powerful in its hold on us.

Bhakti yoga presents us the problem—we are caught in the body—and a solution…how to get out. And it is surprisingly simple. Make our body an ally on our spiritual journey. By using our body to perform devotional service a transformation happens.

Next week we will explore this topic more deeply and I will share three ways to lovingly accept who we are in this life and how, despite our imperfect body, we are perfectly equipped to achieve spiritual success.

In the meantime ask yourself—How can my material body touch, inform, or help my spiritual self?

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/this-body-or-not/

It is taught in the Vedas that when entering a sacred space one should offer respects. One can fully place himself on the ground in what is called ‘dandavats’ (danda means stick or rod in Sanksrit), or bow on hands and knees or simply bow from the waist with hands folded. It’s an expression of humility and a step away from our material ego. It’s the right entry if we hope to receive what hides beneath the ordinary looking surface.

I’m presently in one such sacred place – Mayapur. It’s located in the lush countryside of West Bengal and on the banks of the Ganges. Here is the birthplace of Lord Caitanya who started the kirtan movement. What was once a village is now a burgeoning metropolis for Krishna Bhakti. As I look out my window I see a huge crane lowering a slab onto the roof of the new Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. In construction, it’s going to be the largest Temple dedicated to Krishna in the world.

A major sacred place like this can be very busy as lots of people come to visit. How can I find myself in all this noise and movement? How can I have a spiritual experience – feeling some loving emotion towards Krishna? I found three places that do just that:

• Chanting call and response kirtan in the early hours with over 3,000 people in the Temple room. This is an awesome experience. My heart soars along with the voices and rhythms.
• Japa meditation in the Samadhi. This is a beautiful circular prayer space with the most incredible spiritual atmosphere around 5am.
• Drinking a daab (fresh coconut water). Nothing directly spiritual about that but daabs never cease to amaze me! Drinking the cool sweet water from the freshly opened coconut is an ode to Krishna’s wondrous material nature.

Thank you, Mayapur, for the gifts of Krishna consciousness that you generously offer. I am one pilgrim among many but you have made me feel at home.

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/being-in-a-sacred-place/

Krishna’s mercy, we have been very successful in continuing to place Srila Prabhupada’s books in the hospitals of the Los Angeles area. The last hospital that Sastra Dana has placed books in was the LAC-USC General Hospital. We called this hospital and offered a donation of books on yoga, philosophy and ancient Eastern culture (this is how we present our books to hospitals). The hospital representative expressed her eagerness to accept our donation. She was even happier to hear that we wanted to donate many Spanish books as the majority of their patients are Spanish-speaking. We asked what they would do with the books we would donate. First, we were told that the hospital has several buildings (the main building has 18 floors) and the books would be placed in all the buildings, and placed next to the patients beds. They added that some books would be placed on the tables in the waiting rooms and others would be gifted to patients. Upon hearing this, our hearts became excited with ecstatic emotions, but externally we remained calm. Then, we asked how many books they could accommodate in their large facility. The answer was, “As many as you can donate.” We decided to donate 1,000 books; half in English, and half in Spanish. On that very same day, we nearly emptied out our temples’ book storage room by taking out 1,000 books and delivering them to the hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital. we were greeted with the greatest of hospitality. The books were handed over to the hospital’s staff that are in charge of book donations. They took our contact address, phone number and email address. The staff said they would like to have us donate books on a regular basis. At this time we were thinking, “Krishna is this possible? It must be Your arrangement. We must have entered into the pastimes of the most merciful, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who desires to bring the light of spiritual knowledge to one and all.” Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki! Jay! This situation is similar to most other hospitals we have contacted so far, and they have all taken books. The hospitals have uniform, if not identical, arrangements for book donations. There are many more hospitals we still need to contact, therefore please keep your donations coming. These hospital patients, as well as Sastra Dana, depend upon your mercy. Thank you. Hare Krishna!

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=29733

Question: I have a “natural” tendancy to be very critical and hence find mistakes/faults in people. Most of the time, I find fault with people at the mental level and not necessarily express it. This habit also extends to devotees. I feel and know I am not supposed to do this. But, like I said, this has become a habit and I am finding it hard to relinquish it. In this whole process, I know I am wrong and hence I am always upset with my behavior (but this happens as a reflex action and not able to control my mind). Please advise me as to what I should do and how I should stop this habit of mine! I feel this will hamper my devotional process and that Guru and Krishna will not be happy with me.

Romapada Swami:

There is a very simple and sure solution recommended to overcome fault-finding tendency -- deliberately cultivate the opposite habit! Search out and heartily appreciate the genuine good qualities in others, particularly in relation to how these qualities are the gift of Guru and Krishna, and are to be used in their service.

You can begin by making a very deliberate & conscious effort, as a daily exercise, of acknowledging and appreciating good qualities in devotees, and whenever circumstances allow, verbally expressing such appreciation and praise. Even better are opportunities to offer heartfelt service to devotees in a humble mood, and while offering such service doing so as a meditation and expression of appreciation of specific good qualities you find in them - such genuine service to vaishnavas can soften the heart and purge all critical mentality. You can also seek out the association of those who themselves have such a quality of genuine appreciation for others and serve in their company.

As you practice appreciating others, rather than arbitrarily praising some independent traits, it would be much beneficial to try to identify in what way Krishna's descending mercy is flowing into & transforming these devotees' lives and how they are making sincere efforts according to their capacity to take shelter of Krishna and His devotees. It is by this one good quality -- "krsna-eka-sharana" - that a devotee in time develops all desirable qualities, whereas it is concluded that a non-devotee has no good qualities whatsoever, because he is hovering on the mental plane. (Cf BG 1.28 purport)

Ultimately, we are interested neither in criticizing so-called bad qualities nor in praising mundane good qualities. Krishna decorates His faithful devotees with transcendental good qualities and by appreciating His devotees we are actually praising the manifestation of His mercy. You will find that even if there may be some factual, minor discrepancies in devotees, these become insignificant in comparison to the more significant factor of how their original nature is unfolding in relationship with Krishna, just like the black spots on the moon become insignificant in comparison to the flood of cooling illumination it provides.

Another very helpful meditation you can cultivate is to learn to see through the eyes of scriptures what the praiseworthy qualities in a devotee are. You can repeatedly study relevant sections from the Bhagavad-Gita or Srimad Bhagavatam where Krishna glorifies those engaged in His devotional service and how very dear they are to Him. E.g see BG 7.16-18, 9.14,15,22, 9.29-34. By regularly meditating on these passages, we can cultivate very deep respect and appreciation for the actual position of devotees beyond the external, circumstantial and temporary characteristics that we generally tend to focus on and instead appreciate their essential characteristic of taking shelter in Krishna.

By developing this spiritual vision, it can then also be extended to those who are not devotees; rather than being disturbed by their faults, we can learn to see the root cause of their difficulties viz. their disconnection from God and thus develop compassion for them.

Moreover, remind yourself of the fact that devotional service rendered sincerely is *SO* powerful that it can wipe out all discrepancies, in us and in others.

The process of devotional service is very powerful and by adopting the right means and applying oneself to them, lifetimes of habits and conditioning can be easily overcome. Have trust in this fact and with enthusiasm take up these positive steps. When we are actively cultivating the positive, there is no room for the negative; and the converse is also true! You are recognizing what is wrong and why it is wrong and you also feel genuine regret, but now do not dwell on it and let yourself be defeated by negative thoughts of frustration or anger towards yourself or how you are displeasing Guru and Krishna. Instead take up the positive and liberating process of rectification -- this will be most pleasing to them and attract their descending mercy which will further fill your heart with deeper appreciation of the glories of vaishnavas.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=29737

Remembering Krishna das Swami.
Can you please give us some of your childhood background?
I appeared in the town of Kapurthala in Punjab on 2nd June 1932. At a very young age I left my parent’s home and was raised by his maternal grandfather, a devout Vaishnava and a renowned astrologer. Under his personal guidance, I memorised the details of the “Ramayana” at the age of eleven, and a few years later, by the mercy of my Guru Maharaja, I memorised all the verses of Bhagavad Gita. Right from a young age I was raised as a missionary. At the age of 16, in the year 1949, I was initiated into the Vaishnava Sampradaya by His Holiness Tralochandev Maharaja.
When did you come to the West?
I studied at the Punjab University and after qualification joined the Civil Service Education Board, serving as the Headmaster in a Secondary school, teaching English, Hindi and Social Studies. I was ordered by my Spiritual Master to renounce my Civil Servant duties and embark on a journey to the west with the aim to preach Sanatana Dharma. Thus on 3rd April 1966, I left Bharat for the UK and started preaching in London.
How did you meet Srila Prabhupada?
As destiny would have it, one day some ISKCON devotees visited my residence and invited me to the temple in Bury Place. The Temple president kindly requested me to give regular classes, both in English and in Hindi on Sundays and festival days.
Then, during the historical 1973 London Ratha Yatra, when Srila Prabhupada graced the occasion, I had the divine opportunity to take darshan of Srila Prabhupada and later I had a personal meeting with Srila Prabhupada at Bhaktivedanta Manor. At that very first meeting Srila Prabhupada suggested that I renounce the grihasta ashram and take up Sannyasa. Although I was the eldest of seven sons, and also father of three sons, I renounced my family attachments when the sons were old enough and accepted Srila Prabhupada as my Sannyasa Guru.
Are you still travelling and preaching Krishna consciousness?
I had a quadruple heart bypass operation in 1986, but by the Lord’s grace, I had been constantly travelling and preaching the message of Sanatana Dharma all over the world, including countries such Bharat, Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Spain, Portugal, USA, Trinidad, Surinam, Grenada, Venezuela, Guyana, UK etc. Nowadays I mainly travel to South Africa, Mauritius and the UK, using Bharat as my base.
(In July 1987, the GBC appointed His Holiness Krishna Das Maharaj as an initiating Guru. Since then he has initiated over 400 disciples all over the world and is an inspiration to thousands of others.)
When did you first meet Srila Prabhupada?
My first face to face meeting with Srila Prabhupada was at Bhaktivedanta Manor after witnessing his incredible pastime at the famous 1973 London Rath Yatra where Srila Prabhupada danced along the whole route of the procession from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square.
Was that meeting important to you?
The meeting at Bhaktivedanta Manor was one of the most significant events of my life. I entered Srila Prabhupada’s room upstairs as a grihasta (living in household life) and a few hours later I left as a sannyasi (renounced order of life).
Wow. That is a big lifestyle change.
When I met Srila Prabhupada, he asked about my past. I explained that I was born in a Brahmin vaisnava family and had accepted initiation from a Vaisnava guru in 1950. Srila Prabhupada asked in what disciplic line was my guru. I answered the Brahma sampradaya and he was ecstatic and immediately requested me to help his movement. However he went further and asked me to accept sannyasa from himself. I was taken back by Srila Prabhupada’s bold preaching and after hours of discussion I was convinced.
However,I said that although I accept him as my siksa guru I would need the permission of my spiritual master before taking sannyasa.
After the meeting I wrote to my diksa guru informing of your extraordinary work and devotion. He immediately replied that I should assist Srila Prabhupada in every way possible and accept sannyasa from you. Since that amazing meeting at Bhaktivedanta Manor I accepted Srila Prabhupada as my siksa and sannyasa guru.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=29748

The chatri work continues to progress at the TOVP and across international borders as well. We have received images from Russia on the advancement of the work on the chatri kalash coverings.

Four of the large chatri kalash coverings are being manufactured in Russia. Each kalash is 3.5 meters high and has a diameter of 2.4 meters. When the work is complete the Russian technicians will personally install the titanium nitrate coverings on the chatri kalashes on the TOVP.

The first photograph shows the outer shell of the kalash covering. The second photograph gives a view of what the kalash covering looks like from the inside. The third image is a model that clearly shows where the covering piece seen in the photograph fits on the actual kalash structure. The next image reveals where we are currently in the construction process. Lastly, the final two images are models of what the chatri kalashes will look like when they are completed.

More good news will be reported as the work continues to evolve.

Source:https://tovp.org/construction/chatri-kalash-coverings/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chatri-kalash-coverings

There is a lot of sound pollution in the air these days. Sadly it’s pouring out of the mouths of top leadership and into every possible media vein that exists. How did we fall into the trap of thinking we can win by putting others down? By being angry, hateful, and accusatory? That the only reason we should vote for someone is because they are telling us how bad the other person is?

Their words and mood affects us all, and it’s embarrassing and depressing to watch. To clear your head, to find relief and a bit of hope, we suggest a daily bath in inspirational devotional literature – the bhakti sastra.

One translation of the sanskrit word sastra means weapon. Being spiritual is another way to fight, and we would say a better way. The reading and studying of spirituality and philosophy is also called darshan. Srila Prabhupada said, “Philosophy means to see intelligently, darsana. The translation of darsana means philosophy. Darsana means seeing. Philosophy means to see the actual fact.”

This brings to mind another well known quote by Martin Luther King, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness – only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate – only love can do that.” Where do we get light? Where can we find the sounds of love to drown out the shrill rhetoric of fear and contempt?

We have to return to the teachings. We have to go everyday to the places that tell us we are more than this. And that we have to be more than this, to rise above these lower modes of passion and ignorance, and take a stand for intelligence, for wisdom, for unity within diversity.

Over the next few months we are going to be inundated with energies of competition, conflict, one-up-manship, crass talk, arrogance, and success built on others failures. A grey and cloudy forecast of toxic waste that will hang around our minds for a long time. We’ll need to create some bright spots for ourselves. We’ll need to clear the air in our own heads and hearts.

We can do that by letting the good books shine in our life. Take them off the shelf, open them up and read 10 pages a day. Just that much can turn things around. Try it and see.

Here are a couple of quotes to inspire our reading:

Do not try to save the whole world or do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life… ~ Martha Postlewaite

This Bhagavata Purana is a brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krishna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.  ~ Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.43

Source:http://iskconofdc.org/clearing-the-air/

As I prepared last week to give a Sunday class in Hillsborough (video at the end of this blog), along with researching and thinking of the topic of levels of secrets (from the most mundane to the most sublime) I also contemplated the topic of speaking to others from our Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. The archetypal “class” is Maharaja Parikshit being instructed by Shri Shukadeva Goswami. Both of them have special qualifications being pure devotees of Krishna, and yet the whole class was fueled by the urgent necessity of Parikshit Maharaja, since he was cursed to die in seven days, and sought the best way to use his remaining time.

According to Shrila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur, of the three types of people benefited by talks about Krishna—the questioner, the hearer, and the speaker—the speaker is the most benefited. Never the less, without the ardent interest, fueled by an urgent necessity to hear, the speaker won’t be as motivated to speak. In the Shrimad Bhagavatam, which records the conversation between these two great souls, Shukadeva frequently glorifies the questions of his student being enlivened at the opportunity to speak about that which he has such feelings for.

Therefore, as exemplified by this conversation, as well as in many scriptures including the Bhagavad-gita, both speaker and listener have responsibilities. For example, being advanced devotees with the urgency to speak and hear helps make the conversations an inspired one, and takes it to new heights of spirituality and insightfulness. While we may not be on the level of such high devotees, we can none the less be as reverential, attentive and prayerful as possible, whether we are speaker or listener, and be mindful of the sublimity of the process we are following.

Otherwise, out of our familiarity with the process of attending or giving a class, we may minimize its benefit and have a material vision of what it’s about. If we become complacent in our spiritual lives we may skip the class or think it is just for new people. However, if we truly realize our perilous situation in the material world and have an urgent necessity to make spiritual advancement we will do as much as possible to make spiritual progress.

Attitude and intention make a huge difference in any endeavor, and we may examine both in regards to attending or giving a class. Although we may know the Krishna conscious philosophy we are still required to keep a beginners mind and realize that due to the deep esoteric and inconceivable nature of the subject, we are recommended to always consider ourselves a student.

When we speak, even if we are a great scholar, we are encouraged to remember the lives of our gurus and superior acharyas along with Shri Krishna Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda whose mercy we are living on and whose blessings are required to properly represent our tradition. We sit on a high seat not because we are great, but because of the greatness of the tradition we represent and the sacred wisdom we are meant to share.

I frequently examine my intentions and attitudes in my life as a devotee and pray for the proper foundation in all my endeavors. Considering my situation in facing my possible death, I have often written and thought about how important my necessity must be to make spiritual advancement in order to speak well, and how meaningful Prabhupada’s statement that we need to keep death in front of us is.

Much of my writing and speaking since my cancer diagnosis eight months ago has been fueled by my desire to use my remaining time in the best possible way, which to me means being as serious as possible in my spiritual practices and prayers, and in encouraging devotees in their devotional lives by sharing my experience on the path of bhakti.

While I admit to falling short of my highest ideals in speaking, I am still praying to do my best, and praying frequently that I may properly honor our tradition, and be able to convey what is most essential and practical for calling our spiritual progress. That will be good for me, and all who may hear. By the grace of Prabhupada, my gurus and Gaura and Nitai, and the listeners, my practice in speaking will take me to perfection someday, or some lifetime. I am honored to make the attempt and thank all those who have allowed me to speak. I share these pictures in that spirit of gratitude.

I gave a class on Sunday in Hillsborough with the topic of secrets, ordinary, confidential, and most confidential (see my last blog on that topic), from which two of the pictures in this blog were taken. As is often the case the preparation is always enlivening, though what I speak is never as complete as what I prepare. So many points I didn't make. Still, I was able to keep my basic game plan and I felt connected to the audience and was able to look at everyone (used to be very difficult) and speak with conviction and, for the most part, from my heart. It is a great privilege to be able to speak, and it is both humbling and enlivening if I can feel "in the zone" so to speak.

Much prayer was behind my speaking, for the last week and during that day, so if there was any success, it is all mercy from above, from Guru and Gauranga, and Radha Gokulananda, the predominating Deities of that temple. Speaking isn't just about sharing information but as far as possible sharing one's feeling for what one presents. Here is the video of the class. A few technical difficulties occurred because I forget one part of the tripod and had to improvise. All in all, it worked with a table and some books to lift up the camera.
Here is the YouTube link for the one hour class:

Source:http://www.krishna.com/blog/2016/07/21/giving-class

Monday through Friday, hundreds of people gather on the Plaza of the Americas to stand in line for Krishna Lunch.
Krishna Lunch has begun featuring foods grown organically in a local garden, maintained by the group’s members.
In mid-Spring, Krishna devotees began planting a garden about 20 minutes north of UF’s campus, said Dhristadyumna “Dennis” Das, the 34-year-old temple commander for the Gainesville Krishna House.
The garden, located at 13700 U.S. Highway 441, had been empty for about eight years until the owner offered the land to Gainesville’s Hare Krishnas, Das said.
Das is known for serving beverages at Krishna Lunch, calling out the names of those who pass by.
Using the property, about three-fourths of an acre in size, the group has planted lettuce, kale, okra, zucchini, cucumber, eggplant and more, Das said.
“Most people don’t know where their food comes from,” Das said. “This is local and fresh.”
For a few weeks during Summer A, 70 to 90 percent of the lettuce served at Krishna Lunch was grown in the garden, Das said.
He said organic eggplants will soon be ready to be served with lunches every Tuesday until November.
Diners may not know where Krishna Lunch currently gets its produce, but that has not stopped some students.
“I trust them enough to know they have good ingredients,” said Aria Nguyen, an 18-year-old UF dietetics sophomore who said she eats Krishna Lunch every Wednesday.
Nguyen said she loves the healthy food options at Krishna Lunch, but that’s not why she enjoys the experience so much.
“The food is the whole reason I came, and I stayed for the people,” Nguyen said.
She said she hopes the garden expands and produces more fresh ingredients, as more students would be likely to eat Krishna Lunch.
“Krishna changed me,” she said. “I have a different view on food, the environment and animals now.”
Currently, the ingredients are delivered by Cheney Brothers and Taylor Farms, Das said.
He said the garden will not raise the price of Krishna Lunch. It may actually be cheaper to grow organic produce than to purchase it from a distributor.
Das said the hope is students will start to drive north to the garden to help grow the foods they will eventually eat.
Part of the Hare Krishnas philosophy is an agrarian and sustainable lifestyle, reflected in the farming, he said.
“Simple living, high thinking,” Das said. “Yeah, definitely quote that.”

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=29758

By developing genuine devotional qualities, one’s understand of God becomes clear and perfectarjuna uvacasenayor ubhayor madhyeratham sthapaya me ‘cyutayavad etan nirikse ‘hamyoddhu-kaman avasthitankair maya saha yoddhavyamasmin rana-samudyame

“Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see who is present here, who is desirous of fighting, and with whom I must contend in this great battle attempt.”

Arjuna wanted to see with whom he had to fight. He had no desire to fight. He was fighting unwillingly. Although he is a ksatriya and his duty was to kill, especially on behalf of Krishna , hewas not eager to kill anyone, because he was a Vaisnava.
One reason why Krishna comes to this world is to give protection to His devotees (paritranaya sadhunam). Sadhu means a devotee, not someone who wears saffron dress and smokes bidi’s.The sastras explain the qualities of a sadhu:

titiksavah karunikah suhrdah sarva-dehinam ajata-satravah santah sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah (Bhagavatam 3.25.21)

Sadhu is titiksava – he tolerates all kinds of miserable conditions; he is never disturbed. Yasmin sthito na duhkhena gurunapi vicalyate (Gita 6.20-23): “Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty.” A sadhu, who has got the shelter of Krishna , even if he is placed in the most dangerous condition, is never disturbed. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. His father put him in so many dangerous conditions; he even gave him poison. Prahlada knew it was poison, but he thought, “Father is giving me poison. Who can check?All right, let me drink. If Krishna likes, He will save me.” This is the position of sadhu: in all circumstances, he is tolerant.

Although a sadhu is titiksavah, or undisturbed, he is karunikah, merciful to others. Just like Jesus Christ. While being crucified, he was praying: “God, these people do not know what they are doing. Please excuse them.” This is sadhu. They are suffering for want of God consciousness, Krishna consciousness. So even up to the point of death, he is trying to preach Krishna consciousness. “Let the people be benefited. What is this material body? Even if I am killed – actually my body will be killed, not me – that is alright.” This is sadhu: He is tolerant and merciful at the same time.

A person who is disturbed cannot do any beneficial work to any others: “No, I am very much disturbed. Don’t talk with me.” But a sadhu goes on benefiting the people in general. He does not just do mundane humanitarian work, which cares only for humans, but serves all kinds of living entities (suhrdam sarva-bhutanam).

One rascal has manufactured this idea of daridra-narayana, or Narayana in the form of a poor human being. He says the poor man has become Narayana, but he does not mind killing and feeding on the goat-Narayana. We are not talking of this kind of sadhu. A real sadhu will not allow any kind of killing.

In the Christian religion, one of the injunctions is “Thou shalt not kill.” But today Christians are managing some of the biggest slaughter houses in the world. What kind of Christianity is this? It has become very difficult to find out a true Christian, although they claim, “We are Christians.”

A real sadhu does not allow any killing. Animals are living entities, so how can we say they have no soul? All the symptoms of possessing the soul that are found in humans are found in animals too. A man also eats, the animal also eats; the man sleeps, the animal also sleeps; the man enjoys sex life, the animals also enjoy sex life; the man defends, the animals also defend. What is the missing thing in an animal that makes us think they have no soul?

The Christians have now changed the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” to “Thou shalt not murder,” because the term murder applies to only human beings. But Lord Jesus Christ never said like that. The commandment “Thou shalt not kill” applies to both humans and animals – and even trees. You cannot unnecessarily kill anyone.

Krishna consciousness means to become kind to everyone. Therefore we say, “No meateating.” We take only Krishna prasadam. As God, Krishna can eat anything, but still He recommends, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati (Gita 9.26). Why? Because we have to take Krishna’s prasada, so He is recommending, “These things you can offer Me.” So that is our food. As devotees of Krishna , we are meant for eating the remnants of foodstuff offered to Krishna .

If you want to conquer the tongue, then you fix up your mind that you shall not take anything that is not offered to Krishna . Tara madhye jihva ati lobha maya sudurmati. Tongue (jihva) is the bitterest enemy of the living being. It is always dragging us: “Give me this wine immediately. Give me tea immediately. Give me this cigarette immediately. Give me this meat.” If we stick to eating Krishna -prasada, then naturally the unwanted things will stop.

So if all human beings become vegetarians – not just vegetarians, but eaters of the Krishna’s prasada – all these liquor shops, slaughterhouses and brothels will be closed. This is Krishna consciousness movement. We want to close these nonsense places of sinful life: brothels, illegitimate sense gratification, gambling dens and prostitution. If we are embarrassed with this sinful life, there is no possibility of becoming again acyuta. We remain cyuta, or fallen.

Some rascal philosophers preach, “Oh, religion has nothing to do with your eating. You can eat anything you like, and still you become a religious man.” This is all nonsense. Nobody can become religious if he is attracted to sinful activities. You must stop sinful activities. That is the first condition. Otherwise you cannot understand what God is.

People have got no clear conception of God because they are sinful. But we can give the name, address and everything about God through this Krishna consciousness movement. We give them a clear conception, not just a vague idea, “God may be like this, God may be like that.” 
Here is a clear description of God:
venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksambarhavatamsam asitambuda-sundaraìgam kandarpa-koti-kamaniyavisesa- sobham govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami (Brahma-samhita 5.30)

This is not the imaginary description of Krishna by some poet. This is Krishna’s actual description as described in the sastra. Syamasundara Krishna , or Muralidhara, is playing on His flute (venum kvanantam). Aravindadalayataksam: His eyes are just like petals of the lotus flower. Barhavatamsa: there is a peacock feather on His head. Kandarpakoti- kamaniya-visesa-sobham: He is so beautiful that His beauty can cut down the combined beauty of thousands of Cupids.

When God, Krishna , came on this planet, His features matched this description. This painting of Krishna is not an artist’s imagination. This is exactly how Krishna looks. Here is the form of the Lord, His name, His activities – a clear conception of God. A real sadhu knows what God is. He does not imagine, “God must be like this, God may be like this, He must be a very old man.” You cannot create God by imagination. God is God – always.

God never falls from His original position. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (7.7), mattah parataram nanyat: “There is no more superior authority than Me.” That is God. isvarah paramah Krishnah (Brahma-samhita 5.1). isvarah means controller, and paramah means supreme. And who is that? Krishna .Therefore He is Acyuta, the Infallible. He keeps His position and never falls down. We are all fallen souls because we have given up our position of serving Acyuta.

Consider the example of a finger in a body. Its business is to serve the body. The finger can pick up a rasagulla and keep it here; it cannot eat or enjoy it on its own. Similarly, we cannot eat directly as long as we are separated from Krishna . That is our diseased condition. We have to therefore offer everything to Krishna . When Krishna eats, and if we eat the remnants, we become energized. When the finger puts the rasagulla inside the mouth, it goes into the stomach, and the finger immediately becomes reddish; in other words, the finger enjoys by getting nourishment. Not only the finger, but the eyes, legs and the entire body enjoys, because the energy is distributed. Similarly we cannot be energized by eating directly; we must eat Krishna’s prasada. This is the principle. Jivera svarupa haya nitya Krishna dasa (Cc. Madhya 20.108-109): “Every individual soul is eternally a servitor of Krishna .”

By serving Krishna , we remain in our Acyuta position. If we refuse to serve Krishna , that is vicyuta, or fallen condition. By practicing Krishna consciousness, we belong to the acyuta-gotra. Gotra is the family tradition. According to Vedic civilization, everybody has got a gotra. Gotra means “of the same family of åsis.” So we have to reclaim our acyuta-gotra, by becoming a part of Krishna’s family. In our fallen state, we have forgotten that we belong to the family of Krishna . Krishna is not alone; Eko bahu syam: He wants to enjoy with everyone.

So we are all family members of Krishna , not just void. This voidism is another rascaldom. Krishna is the most powerful and opulent person, so why should He be alone? Have you seen any powerful opulent person staying alone? Any rich man, any powerful man, any king, any lord – he has got so many associates. Similarly Krishna is never alone. Therefore you will see that Krishna is always with someone – Krishna with the gopis, Krishna with the cowherds boys, Krishna with Arjuna. Krishna is never alone.

Arjuna knows all these things because he is a devotee. Therefore he is specifically addressing Krishna as Acyuta.

Thank you very much.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=29755

The Bhagavad-gita Museum of Los Angeles.
At the request of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1973, a group of his disciples traveled to India to learn the ancient method of clay working. After careful study, the artists returned to the United States to apply their ancient craft along with state-of-the-art electronics to create eleven stunning dioramas displayed in the Bhagavad-gita Museum. Opened to the public in 1977, those who have passed through the doors of the museum have rarely left unchanged. The initiated as well as the newcomer have been treated with an aural/visual delight, enlightening all in a 45-minute lesson in the topmost of transcendental knowledge.

Source:http://www.bgmuseum.com/