On behalf of his Godbrothers and Sisters in Memory of Chaitanya Simha

14 November 2015. 76 years ago today, a boy named John was born in an insignificant bump in the road called Moose Hill, Ontario, in Canada. He grew up on a farm where his parents raised cows for slaughter. Later, he left home and travelled to Port Hardy, at the north end of Vancouver Island. He was into all kinds of intoxication,

But one day, a friend sent him Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita As It Is. After reading it, John

decided to go to Vancouver and spend his Christmas holidays at the Hare Krishna Temple on 16th and Burrard. He went out every day with another new bhakta, named Roger. John soon became known as Krishna John and was a popular sight on the corner of Georgia and Granville, happily distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and Spiritual Sky incense.

The tale unfolds that Srila Prabhupada heard about Krishna John in Vancouver and his architectural and engineering knowhow. He sent for him to come to Los Angeles and design an incense-making machine for Spiritual Sky incense factory. Pleased with the results, Srila Prabhupada asked him to stay and complete the L.A. temple construction for Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarakadish. He also designed and built the first Chakra in North America to grace the top of the temple, and Prabhupada was so pleased. During this time, he because first, and then brahmana initiated, and Srila Prabhupada gave our Krishna John the name of Caitanya Simha das.

One day, Srila Prabhupada called him to his room and told Caitanya Simha of a new building that had been purchased in New York City; a 13-story tall building, ISKCON's first big building in New York. Prabhupada was excited, just like a small child. It was an old nursing home, in bad repair, and needed to be completely rewired and new plumbing throughout, and so many major renovations had to be made. Caitanya was about to say that it would take a year to complete the transformation, when Srila Prabhupada said, "I am scheduled to be in New York in 6 weeks..." Caitanya Simha packed up his small family and moved to New York in the morning. 6 weeks later, Srila Prabhupada arrived on schedule, and the temple was finished.

From there Prabhupada sent him to Bhaktivedanta Manor for some reconstruction work, then to Bombay, to complete the construction of the Juhu Beach temple and the guest house and Prabhupada's living quarters. Then on to land which had been donated in Gujarat, where Caitanya started an ISKCON farm and built a temple, and a goshalla with 8 cows.

Once that project was up and running, Srila Prabhupada requested him to go to Hyderabad farm, a 600-acre project in South India which was in trouble. Caitanya rescued the farm, planted the land, developed cow protection, established the temple and Deity worship, all for Srila Prabhupada, his beloved guide and spiritual master. During that time, he heard that Srila Prabhupada was in Vrndavan, very ill and soon to be leaving his body. With no money and great difficulty, he travelled to Vrndavan in the hopes of seeing his master one more time. By the time he arrived, early in the evening, just days before Srila Prabhupada's departure, he was told that Prabhupada was no longer seeing any devotees. The doors were closed and he could not get in.

While he and his family were standing outside Srila Prabhupada's windows which overlooked a small garden, suddenly the heavy drapes were pulled aside and the French doors were opened, and they could take a last personal darshan of their beloved Srila Prabhupada. No one else was there. Later Bhavananda Prabhu told them that the doors and windows had been closed for many weeks, but suddenly Srila Prabhupada ordered them to be opened. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

Just days after Caitanya returned to Hyderabad Farm, Srila Prabhupada left for his nitya lila and returned to Krishna's lotus feet. Although many left, Caitanya understood that Srila Prabhupada remains always with us in his books, his vani, tapes, lectures, and the worldwide association of devotees. Srila Prabhupada is ever-present in his mission to follow in Lord Caitanya's footsteps and to distribute Krishna in the form of His Holy Name to every town and village around the globe. He kindly allows and encourages us to assist in this mission, and so Caitanya Simha Prabhu did just that, carrying on to assist in establishing temples and communities in Bangalore, Bhadrak, Bhubaneswar, and then to Sri Mayapur dham. He designed and built the beautiful fountain, which graced the front lawn of Mayapur for so many years. He helped with Srila Prabhupada's Samadhi and most recently with the TOVP, Srila Prabhupada's most ambitious project to date.

Today, Caitanya Simha Prabhu has left his body in Sri Mayapur dham, in the month of Kartik, after calling out to Srila Prabhupada. One of his last visitors was Bhakta Roger (for many years now His Grace Riddha Prabhu, his sankirtan buddy from Georgia and Granville days. What a full circle!

Caitanya Simha has always given his all to his beloved spiritual master. Prabhupada called him again and again and he did not ever hesitate to do whatever was asked of him. Now is the final great test, and he is ready and surrendered to go wherever Srila Prabhupada is calling him next...on to the next big project Prabhupada has waiting for him or right back Home to Godhead, whatever Prabhupada wants.

This is the amazing legacy that Srila Prabhupada has given us. When one small boy from Moose Hill, Ontario, with such a seemingly inauspicious beginning, can leave material life forever, and return finally to the spiritual world. This is the amazing gift that Srila Prabhupada has given each and every one of us. We have only to follow the example of Caitanya Simha Prabhu and surrender to Prabhupada's lotus feet.

Hare Krishna!
Written by
Racitambara devi dasi

Last night as I laid my head to the pillow, a red notification popped up on my phone. ‘Breaking News: Shootings and explosions in Paris’, it announced. The disaster had just happened, mere minutes earlier. There was very little information, just a handful of facts and speculations. I closed my eyes with a sigh and a prayer.

Earlier that evening at home we had sat around a live stream from Wembley Stadium of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dazzling welcome reception to the UK. There was a sparkling stream of dancers, a full symphonic orchestra, giant rangolis in national colours, and much general hoo-haa. Modi spoke from the podium on India’s bright future, painting a vision of a country energised by solar power and high speed trains.

Meanwhile in the press, hundreds, including a long list of British Asian intellectuals, called attention to the apparent breaches of human rights that have been carried out on Modi’s watch. One went so far as to say that India is now being ruled by a ‘Hindu Taliban’. Others accused Modi’s travels of being merely motivated by the potential of foreign investment, ‘rupee bonds’ and good publicity.

In the midst of these two isolated events – one a £2m spectacle of money and patriotic pride, the other a spectacle of violence and devastation, approximately 900m Hindus around the world have been celebrating the festival of Diwali. Popularly dubbed the ‘Festival of Lights’, it traditionally commemorates several sacred events, one of which is the triumphant return home of Lord Rama, having defeated the demonic King Ravana in battle. Therefore the popular statements get trotted out – ‘light in darkness; good over evil etc’

It’s a lovely sentiment, but sometimes feels no more than an excuse for fireworks, samosas and a good old party. As I got the news about Paris – just one of many atrocious things happening right now in the world – it felt more like darkness is only just beginning to show its’ full manifestation.

Now I have no great head for politics; nor a great depth of spiritual understanding, but it feels like there are an awful lot of question marks in the air. Why is terrorism becoming the fear of our modern times? How can the crimes against humanity that have embedded such hate in the hearts of many, be unwound, or forgiven? Is religion to blame for all of societies’ ills? Where did it all begin, and will there ever be a brighter future?

The situation of the world, the depth of misbehaviour and corruption is difficult to comprehend – almost like sitting right up close to a movie screen – trying to look at it all at once just makes your head hurt. For most of us it’s easier to pretend it’s not happening, until it touches our life in a personal way.

In these times it is difficult to say who is right. Like the children’s book – ‘Which came first, the chicken or the egg?’, pointing a finger at one event only forces you to acknowledge that it was a preceding one that caused it. If you have a clogged drain, disgusting as it may be, you need to go to the source of the problem and deal with it, other wise no amount of ‘Mr Muscle’ is going to stave off the rising water for very long.

So yes, we celebrate the Festival of Lights, but I can’t help but feel that the light needed in our times is not from a handful of hot sparklers, nor freshly installed solar powered lights. An inner light is required to illuminate each person’s vision; to enable us to view all with respect and humanity; to value the opportunity to love and serve rather than exploit.

Otherwise what hope is there for Modi’s vision of a ‘clean India’, or any other large scale solution? As long as the root cause is left unaddressed, the devastation will rage on.

Source: http://www.littleconch.com/blog/feeling-sober-on-a-saturday-morning

Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra is specifically mentioned in many Upanisads, such as the Kali-santarana Upanishad, where it is said: “After searching through al the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.40 Purport)

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=21505

Over the years I’ve found that sometimes that best way to understand the word’s of Srila Prabhupada is to have a practical experience that brings the simplicity of Krishna Consciousness home; making you appreciate the wealth of knowledge and the ability to put things into place.

So here goes.

Two days after my previous months visit to the Manor I was asked to put up a shower curtain & rail as they had knocked it down and were unable to put it back up themselves. Not a problem; however I had removed my shoes (this being one of a few client’s who upon entering their home I remove my shoes). Standing up on the bath to put the shower rail up I took a rather nasty tumble, yes socks and baths don’t go well.

It didn’t take long before the bruising came out and the whole left leg became an interesting shade and somewhat uncomfortable; it would be easy to feel down and despondent; however I was reminded of the words from Srila Prabhupada “if we cut our finger then the devotee understands that their karma should have been they lost the finger and see the cut as Krishna’s mercy.

Reflecting on the fall it should have been a lot worse, indeed it was definitely Sri Krishna’s mercy as without a shadow of a doubt several bone’s should have been broken. Looking at the bruising I could see how even though their was some adversity when you look at it in the light of the teaching’s from Srila Prabhupada the temporary nature and realization that thing’s could have been much worse makes the whole event appear much more trivial, indeed a great positive out of what could have been very negative.

I’m also reminded that Srila Prabhupada always reminded us of the need to put devotional life first, it’s easy to be sidetracked given how much material nature has to offer. So the other week I had an unexpected day off, the following day I was due to take my monthly trip to the temple so what to do?

As the opportunity was their to go early I decided best to take this up and enjoy an extra day with some amazing devotees; their was as always plenty to do along with the opportunity for association and also seeing the latest production by the Bhaktivadanta Players which was amazing.

On my return I was informed that several cars had been written off it happened on the night I had decided to visit the temple; if I hadn’t gone guess were my car would have been Yes right in the path.

Putting service first and taking the opportunity to have some amazing devotional service was indeed a wise move; reminding me that I should never dismiss or refuse the opportunity when it comes.

I was also reminded that Sri Krishna provides us with our needs not necessarily our wants and that humbleness means were happy with this simplicity; the car which I rely on is not the greatest but it meets the need and thankfully passed the MOT so all being well will be able to continue to whisk me from Wales to the temple in London each month.

But most of all it made me grateful for the knowledge Srila Prabhupada has given us all, it answers and solves the many problems and difficulties we face in material life; even though it may take many many years and lots of different experiences before we realize it.

Indradyumna Swami: Talavan is one of the 12 major forests of Vrindavan. Nestled in the paddy fields of Talavan is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Balarama, who killed the ass-demon Denakasura there. We enjoyed a wonderful day at Talavan having long kirtans and recounting the numerous pastimes that took place in that transcendental abode.

Watch Video Here: https://goo.gl/w2Z8g3

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=16922

A beautiful dancing rendition by Srimati Campakalata Devi Dasi and her team of the Yadi Prabhupada Na Hoita song written by HH Jayapataka Swami (9 min video)

Lyrics:

(1)
(yadi) prabhupada na haita tabe ki haita
(e) jivana bahita kise?
nitai-gaurera apara karuna ke dita sakala dese
If Srila Prabhupada had not come, what would have happened? How could we have passed our lives?
Who else would have distributed the unlimited mercy of Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga all over the world?

(2)
pascatyera yata papi duracari sunyavadi mayavadi
tadera uddara karibare mana hena kon dayanidhi
Which other compassionate person would have endeavoured to deliver the miscreants , sinful, impersonalistic and voidistic people in the West?

(3)
tadera nikate kon jana asi bilaita harinam
sabhya jiva rupe gadite tadera ke haita aguyan
Who else would have come to distribute Harinama to them? Who else would have come forward to transform them into civilized beings?

(4)
dese dese hari-vigraha seva arati ratri-dine
ratha yatradi mahotsava saba sikaita kon jane
Who else would have taught them how to worship the Deity form of Lord Hari day and night with arati-kirtana, and how to conduct the Ratha-yatra and
other grand festivals

(5)
gita-bhagavata caitanya carita premamrta rasasara
kata na sundara sarala kariya ke bujhaita ara
Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Caitanya-caritamrta contain the essence of the nectarean mellows of love of Godhead.
Who else would have explained these scriptures so clearly and beautifully?

(6)
kata kasta sahi prita mane rahi ke va dita harinam
ke dita modera puri vrndavana mayapura mata dham
Who else would have tolerated all difficulties, and distributed Harinama with a pleasant heart?
Who would have given us the dhamas such as Mayapur, Vrindavan and Jagannatha Puri?

(7)
parama mangala sricaitanya maha-prabhura siksa dhana
acare pracare sada amadere ke karita niyojana
The teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu constitute the greatest and most auspicious treasure.
Who else would have engaged us in constantly practicing and preaching it?

(8)
premakalpataru nitai-gaurera krpa kana labhibare
niravadhi jaya-pataka hrdaya tomare sarana kare
Sri Sri Nitai Gaura are desire trees of love of Godhead. Desiring a drop of Their mercy, Jayapataka’s heart incessantly takes shelter of Your Divine grace.

By Rsiraja Das

In two previous posts published on my blog [1] I explored the flaws in the materialist reduction of free will to rationality and discussed the use of free will in science. The second post concluded by arguing that every conscious experience involves choices, and these may be good or bad - depending on whether they are successful. This post extends the above arguments to incorporate our everyday notions about morality - i.e. good and bad - in the context of science. The key claim is that what we call a “working theory” is not just one that is compatible with all the observable facts, but also one that frees us from the consequences of the choices. A “non-working theory” is one that which creates consequences. The difference between a working and a non-working theory is called karma in Vedic philosophy, by which our false notions about reality bind us to the world.

From Philosophy to Science

The previous two posts argued for the inclusion of choices in our thinking about the world from a philosopher’s standpoint. They showed why the denial of free will is false because science depends upon free will in its method of fact and theory selection, since facts underdetermine theories and theories underdetermine facts.

This argument may be adequate for the philosopher of science, but not for the scientist who is looking to formulate a new theory of nature which can be empirically tested. If free will is real, then its presence must be empirically testable. What kinds of theories are needed to formulate such predictions? This post will try to fill that gap.

As argued in the earlier post, choices result in the selection and interpretation of facts. The standard scientific approach to this selection and interpretation is that it might produce a false theory if our selection and interpretation is flawed, but the fact that I possess a flawed theory of nature has no consequences other than my personal illusion. This position in science arises from the rejection of meanings in the natural world. That is, whether the glass is half-full or half-empty is not an objective fact about the world, and merely our interpretation. The theory I formulate about the world, therefore, also has no natural consequences other than my mind being under illusion.

The rejection of meanings in the world is itself an outcome of the mind-body duality in which all interpretations of the world are in the mind, but not in matter, and since science only measures material objects, this truth has no material consequences. I have separately shown why this separation is a problem in science - it results in incompleteness. For instance, if you are asked to describe the meaning in a book, and you respond by measuring the height, weight, and speed of the book, you will incompletely describe the book. Many books may have the same height, weight, and speed, and measurement of such properties will not decide the meaning. If, therefore, science relies on the measurement of physical properties and rejects meanings as being natural properties of the book, then it will also remain predictively incomplete. Common examples of such incompleteness are seen in the proliferation of randomness in probabilities in modern scientific theories - e.g. quantum theory and the theory of evolution.

Science and Meanings

The remedy for this flaw requires a revision to our notions about matter from being meaningless things to meaningful symbols. Whether the glass is half-full or half-empty is now an objective fact about the glass, not just our interpretation.

Clearly, now, since the meanings about the world are present in the world, the consequence of a false theory cannot merely be my mental illusion. Rather, a false theory must also have some material consequences - i.e. those that act on my body.

The key point is that the inclusion of choices in science depends on a revision to our materialist ideology by incorporating yet another category of matter - meaning.

In Vedic philosophy, these two categories of matter are called sthula (gross) and sukshma (subtle) matter. If science remains limited to sthula or gross matter, then choices can never be part of science, although they can be part of philosophy of science. Choices become part of science only when meanings themselves are viewed materially - although not the same kind of matter that science presently studies - because now the effects of choice (selection and interpretation) are also objective facts in matter (and not just in the mind).

Cause, Effect, and Consequence

When meanings are objectively in matter, then numerous questions about meanings - such as the aesthetic in some art, the form in some music, the meaning in a book, the economic value of an object, the goodness of action - will all be scientific questions rather than a matter of our social-cultural-national sensibilities.

It now becomes possible to distinguish between two kinds of causalities.

First, the interaction between material objects - which is traditionally modeled as a cause-effect relation - is now modeled differently as the interaction between meanings rather than as the interaction between things. This results in new kinds of laws that deal in addition and removal of meanings. For example, if you have a statement “I love you”, and you add the word “too” into it, the resulting meaning differs depending on whether the resulting statement is “I too love you” or “I love you too” (as one of many). If you were measuring the physical properties - e.g. mass - then the two additions would appear identical, and the physical theory will therefore incompletely explain the effect. The cause-effect relation with meanings can however be used to explain the difference between “I too love you” and “I love you too”, even though both statements have the same mass.

Second, since the addition of the word “too” creates two different meanings due to two kinds of choices, it is now possible to speak about the consequence of that choice, depending on whether the statement is true or false. Note that the question of truth arises only after the question of meaning has been settled. If the meaning itself is unknown, then the truth of that meaning cannot be judged. The cause-consequence relation therefore follows a semantic formulation of the cause-effect relation.

The cause-effect relation now deals in meanings, while the cause-consequence relation deals in truth. If the world is devoid of meanings, then the cause-effect relation is incompletely understood, and the cause-consequence relation simply cannot be comprehended. The shift from physical properties to meanings, therefore not only modifies the currently known laws of nature, but also inducts a new class of laws that were previously unforeseen. The latter represents the consequences of making a choice, and they apply to the person or individual who makes the choice.

The Law of Karma

The law of karma in Vedic philosophy (and indeed in numerous Eastern religious philosophies) is a moral law that judges a person’s actions. All judgments are based on whether an act is right or wrong, and these judgments are in turn based on comprehending the meanings of actions. For instance, before you can judge whether an act of shooting is right or wrong, you must first comprehend a physical sequence of events as “shooting”, which itself requires associating meanings with facts. If meanings are in our minds, then judgments too must be only in our minds, and not factual. However, when meanings become objective, then their judgments also become objective.

The law of karma is the objective and natural judgment of an action because nature is understood as meanings rather than physical things. Such a law has no place in current science because meanings are not objective. In a semantic science, however, meanings become objective, and hence their judgments are also objective. Now, it is possible to speak about cause-consequence relationship as natural laws.

While karma is often viewed as moral consequence, it is also a natural consequence although based not on the physical facts, not even based on the meanings of those facts, but on the judgment of whether those facts are true or false. It is noteworthy here to distinguish between facts and truths - both facts and truths exist, but not all existing things are true. E.g., falsities can also exist, and their existence doesn’t make them true.

Karma is simply the difference between the truth and the fact. This difference is objective and natural, and in Vedic philosophy, for every false action, a subtle material object is created which represents this difference between truth and fact. The living being (the individual who makes the original choices) is carried into new experiences due to this new kind of objective reality, which we can’t measure until it actually manifests into a result. In a sense, it exists, but it cannot be observed until it produces a result. If we deny its existence, then we cannot predict. But we cannot postulate its existence like the existence of a classical material object. Therefore, until this reality is converted into a phenomena, it exists as a possibility that would be fructified in the future.

The order in which this possibility is converted into a reality is a more complicated topic that I will not discuss here. For the interested reader, I have discussed this topic at length in Moral Materialism. This book also discusses the applications of this idea in the context of modern physics: specifically, the quantum probabilities can be understood as the potential for future results (measurement) created as a consequence of past actions (state preparation). The uniqueness of this view is that the quantum wavefunction is not probabilities although there are potentials. That is, if you have performed good actions, the result is definitely good, but it exists not as real objects, but as potentials to be fructified later. By rejecting probabilities we can complete the scientific description, without actually reducing it to a classical material world (it is noteworhty that many physicists today think that the quantum world becomes classical).

New Realities and Natural Laws

Skeptics often question the existence of the soul. The short answer to this challenge is that the existence of the soul can be scientifically proven through a new kind of scientific law that deals not in cause-effect but in cause-consequence relationships. As noted above, the former deals in meanings, while the latter in truths. Therefore, saying that “I love you too” may have one consequence if it is true, and another one if it is false.

The difference between these two utterances, therefore, cannot be modeled purely based upon the meaning of the statement (let alone the physical properties of the statement) but only based upon their truth. However, before this truth-based law can be formulated, the meaning-based laws must be understood.

The consequences of actions remain with the soul and carry that soul forward from one experience to another. Why some people have a good life, while others have a bad one, can be scientifically explained by the idea that these experiences are caused by a reality that cannot be observed until it manifests. Since it can be observed when it manifests, it must be supposed to exist. The only mystery is how it is created, and how it is destroyed. Karma is created only when our actions are false, and it is destroyed when its results have been reaped. The consequence, in effect, realizes the previous difference between truth and fact, thereby forcing you into a false state to counteract the falsity that you created previously. The law appears to be moral, but it is actually natural.

The scientific evidence for the existence of the soul is the law of karma. This law is two steps removed from current scientific laws which are laws of physical properties. Science must evolve to first incorporate meanings, and then truths. It is when science has taken these two steps, that choices would be seen as not only creating effects but also consequences for the actors. We will then see that these choices are free when they are true, but they bind us into consequences when they are false.

All that we consider mystical today can be scientific, although the concepts, laws, and theories underlying this mystique depends on a new way of thinking.

Empirical Success and Truth

The Vedic view about free will is that there is a soul which makes choices. The soul is transcendent and cannot be measured by material measurements; however, its presence can be detected by the consequences it creates on its own experiences. To validate these consequences, we need a law that makes accurate predictions, and this law is called the law of karma. It is as much a natural law as other laws in science, although it deals in truth conditions, and not meanings (or physical states).

The current denial of free will based on physical laws is flawed because these laws themselves were created by choices of fact selection and ordering. By recognizing these choices, we can update our philosophy of science to explicitly see the role of choices in the creation of scientific theories. However, only when science itself is modified to view meanings in matter can the real (consistent and complete) laws of cause-effect can be formulated. These laws will in turn indicate the cause-consequence laws, which will then present the scientific avenues to confirm a role for free will and the soul.

There can be numerous scientific theories that will appear to “work” upon a chosen set of facts and a chosen type of ordering scheme. But all these theories are not necessarily true, because there will be other theories that explain other facts in different ways, and the combination of these various theories will be logically inconsistent. An example of such theories is quantum theory, general relativity, and thermodynamics, which all “work” with limited set of facts, but they cannot be combined because combinations create logical contradictions. Such “working” theories are actually false, and would be replaced by a theory in future that is true - i.e, that is both consistent and complete.

In living by false theories, our choices are not just creating effects, but also consequences. We commonly see the effects of science - e.g., machines and technologies - but we don’t often understand their consequences - e.g. environmental, social, and cultural degradation. A new kind of science is needed that not only predicts the effects better than current science, but also frees us of the consequences of these choices.

[1] The previous posts on free will are called Do We Have Free Will? and What is Free Will, Really? You can read them on www.ashishdalela.com/blog

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=16951

Vaishnavanghri Sevaka das: For Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON) this year 2015 is very important as it marks the beginning of golden jubilee celebrations, which started from Jaladuta yatra in August 2015. Now the disappearance centennial of Srila Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja on November 22, 2015 (Utthana Ekadasi) will make the celebration more auspicious and successful. Srila Babaji Maharaja disappeared from this material world on November 17, 1915, which makes the disappearance day in 2015 as the disappearance centennial festival.

There are unlimited pastimes of Srila Babaji Maharaja, which are all carefully recorded for the benefit of present and future generations as guidance in non-duplicious devotional service. He occupies the 30th position in our disciplic succession as the initiating spiritual master of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja. The disappearance pastimes of Srila Babaji Maharaja are so astonishing that even common men will be taken by surprise. At his disappearance time heads of many mathas wanted to own the dead body for constructing a Samadhi as the means of constant fund collection. But, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Maharaja, who was not a Sannyasi at that time, but a celibate brahmachari, vehemently opposed their attempts. He boldly declared saying, “ I am the only disciple of Srila Babaji Maharaja. Though I am not a Sannyasi like you all, but a strict Celibate brahmachari. Only the one who is pure in character with complete renunciation can give Samadhi to Srila Babaji Maharaja. One who within last one year, or the last six months, three months, one month or at least within the last three days had not any illicit sex with a woman only can touch the spiritual body of Srila Babaji Maharaja. If anyone touches it without meeting this criterion, he will be ruined”. A skeptical police officer expressed his doubt upon hearing these words by saying, “what evidence can be sought for this?” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati confidently said “I will have faith in their words”. At that moment for the police officer’s surprise everyone turned away one by one, not able to touch the divine body of Srila Babaji Maharaja. Such are the powerful pastimes of Srila Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja.

Srila Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja strongly propagated non-duplicitous haribhajana with complete renunciation. He had only one disciple, who had one moon like disciple among many stars that is Srila Prabhupada. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the festivals of our eternally liberated acharyas for a rapid progress in spiritual journey, which enables us to contribute something to Srila Prabhupada’s Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON). So let’s individually and collectively pray for the mercy of Srila Babaji Maharaja for triumph of ISKCON in all fronts all over the world in coming years. 

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=16959

So the other day was Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day and although a little sombre is also a time to reflect and show gratitude for a life less ordinary, indeed non of us would be practitioners of bhakti if it hadn’t been through Srila Prabhupada’s service in fulfilling his guru maharajah’s wishes.

However my time wasn’t spent reading or watching Srila Prabhupada but watching closely clips and classes of my own Guru Maharaja HH Devamrita Swami; who has dedicated his life in serving Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

It was indeed hard for those disciples of Srila Prabhupada to comprehend their spiritual master leaving his body, and I have been meditating on the fact that at some stage in my devotional life the same difficulty and heartache will face me; yes one day my own beloved guru maharajah will leave his body.

So I watched closely trying to grasp and understand what has kept my own guru maharajah serving his beloved Guru Maharajah and how to serve so nicely despite many adversities; what is the key.

Firstly I noted love, for love motivates most of what we do and love for sri guru means even in absence one remains loyal.

But what I noted was that my Guru Maharajah is and remains totally convinced by the words and writing’s of Srila Prabhupada, that these words are enough to convince him that this is the solution to the problems each of us face here in material existence; and looking at how to enliven and enthuse others to read and learn from the books his guru maharaja Srila Prabhupada wrote.

Love and being completely convinced without a moments doubt.

If it wasn’t for this and his continuing enthusiasm to present to each and every one of us I wouldn’t be slowly growing in my own realisations in Krishna Consciousness.

So now as my guru maharajah simply follows and maximises the opportunity this human form of life provides to increase our dormant love of Krishna and sharing that with everyone he meets; may I too become this inspired and convinced to dedicate my own life fully in service to Sri Guru.

And as my guru maharajah followed the example of his guru maharajah Srila Prabhupada may I also learn and follow.

This was my thought’s yesterday I pray as always it makes sense, and as always welcome thought’s and corrections.

Hare Krishna

Source: http://david.deltaflow.com/?p=3284

The month of Kartik presents a special time of year when there is ample opportunity for spiritual reflection, growth and inspiration.  During this month, there are a multitude of festivals which help us to focus our lives in a very Krsna conscious fashion.

While most festivals involve grand celebrations, one special festival allows us an opportunity to reflect on the incredible life of Srila Prabhupada.  On Sunday, November 15, 2015, the Toronto Hare Krishna Temple marked Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day (the anniversary of his passing).

Festivities actually began at 11:30am with kirtan, a reading and the offering of flowers (puspanjali) to Srila Prabhupada.

Later on, during the evening Sunday Feast, the festival continued with a class by both Bhaktimarga Swami and Krsnadas Kaviraj das wherein they expanded on the incredible contributions that Srila Prabhupada made to our movement and world.  There was a very nice interactive element where the audience had a chance to share their realizations about Srila Prabhupada's contributions to the world.

The special Sunday Feast also featured the launch of the annual Srila Prabhupada Book Marathon!  During this time of year, known as the season of giving, Hare Krishna temples around the world make a focused effort to share and distribute as many of Srila Prabhupada's books as possible!

To help pump our community with enthusiasm, devotees welcomed our famous "Walking Bhagavad Gita" who helped explain all the exciting things that will be happening during the marathon.  One feature worth noting is the creative and unique "thermometer" which will help us see how we are doing on our goals for the marathon.  Each week, a cutout of Srila Prabhupada will be raised up a ladder towards the Jaladuta (the boat which he traveled on to America in 1965).  So, in essence, as we work towards our goal we will watch each week as Srila Prabhupada "climbs" the ladder and gets closer to the Jaladuta!

All in all, it was a special Sunday Feast where we had a chance to honour Srila Prabhupada and also get enthused about one his most dearest desires - sharing his books with the world!

Source: http://iskcontoronto.blogspot.in/2015/11/festival-report-srila-prabhupada.html

Caitanya Simha das, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and friend and well-wisher to so many devotees, left his body today in the early morning hours at Sri Mayapur dhama, on the disappearance day of Srila Prabhupada,( also happened to be his birthday) to continue his journey back home to Godhead. He started so many on their path, built temples and opened farm communities, worked on Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi and at present with TOVP. The funeral procession, attended by Mayapur Community devotees took place in the afternoon and his body was laid to rest on the banks of Ganges. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for saving this soul, for saving all of us.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=16937

“Once, in Detroit, a child started to make a noise while Srila Prabhupada was talking. The mother started to chastise the child and Srila Prabhupada said. ‘In vedic culture children cannot be punished.’ So, then the mother’s husband began to chastise her for having chastised the child. Srila Prabhupada said. ‘In vedic culture women cannot be punished.’  So, then the temple commander started to chastise the husband and Srila Prabhupada said. ‘In vedic culture brahmanas are not punished. Then he said that our society consists of children, women and brahmanas so no one can be punished.”

Source: http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=10403

PAMHO AGTSP
We have just received sad news from Vrindavan - His Holiness Gaur Krishna Das Goswami has left his body (17 th November 2015).

Born on 22nd January 1964 in Bihar India, His Holiness had recently got sanyasa initiation on the auspicious occasion of Aprara Ekadasi i.e. 14th May 2015 at Haridwar on the banks of holy river Ganga from His Holiness Radha Govinda Swami Maharaj.

His Holiness was known for giving beautiful Hindi Discourses on Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Bhagavad Gita and many other Seminars.

We will share more news as it comes.

You may watch his video discourses here

His beautiful audio lectures are available here 

Recently, ISKCON desire tree was involved in the process of constructing a website for him. The site is under development. You may visit and view the content - www.gkdgoswami.com

You may leave your comments here 

There was a subdued atmosphere in London on Saturday night, with fewer people on the streets and a visible police presence after the events in Paris the previous evening.

The devotees were out as usual though, in fact with an even larger sankirtan party than normal as we celebrated ahead of Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day the following day.

One lady stopped me, mentioned the diversity of our group, and commented about the positivity and happiness we were generating.  She contrasted it to the mood of the previous two days and said they
should put a clip of us on TV.  There were tears in her eyes; clearly she had been touched by the devotees and (unbeknown to her) the power of the maha mantra.

Sri Harinama Sankirtan Yajna Ki Jaya!
Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!
Nitai Gaura Premanande! Hari Haribol!

Photo Gallery

Dear Devotees,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

As you may know, the Congregational Development Ministry grants annual awards to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the development of our congregations in order to both  recognize the work they have done and inspire others.

An *Award *may be given to someone who has worked consistently over a long period of time (more than 5 years) for the cause of supporting congregational devotees or to someone who has made an outstanding contribution or instigated a novel program which has resulted in a stronger, more caring or larger community. 

A *Recognition* may be given to someone who has made a significant contribution although this has been implemented for a shorter period of time (2 to 5 years) than the Award category.

A *Merit *may be given to someone who made a significant contribution for a shorter period of time (from 0 to 2 years).

We would be very grateful if you provide us with the name and contact details of someone whose contribution should be recognized in the above mentioned ways. Since we give joint awards to married couples, please also indicate if the person is married.

Please use the section at the bottom of this letter to make your nomination. If you want to make more than one nomination, simply copy and paste the blanked information fields.

The Awards and Recognitions are presented at the *ISKCON  Congregational Development  Annual Award Ceremony* during the Gaura Purnima Festival in Sri Mayapur Dhama.

Thank you,
Your servant,
Manjulali M.S. dd

* Nominations for an award given by the Ministry of Congregational Development*
* Name of nominee:*
* Contact details (email):*
* Name of spouse:*
* Reason for nomination:*
* Number of Years doing this service:*
* From (Country):*

*.ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry*
*"Helping you to expand your Congregation"*

Phone number:  (91) 3472245619

Facebook page: Iskcon Congregation
Website:   www.iskconcongregation.com http://www.iskconcongregation.com
Kindly donate at: www.iskconcongregation.com/content/donate

Radhanath Swami: Terrorism is born of false ego. Strife and friction are caused when we understand only the letter of the religious law but ignore the spirit behind it. Unity and brotherhood of mankind can happen when we transcend the external differences and focus on the spiritual essence of all great traditions.
The essence of every religion is sincerity in cleansing our own hearts, and cultivating humility by honouring every living entity as a child of God. We must educate the youth about these universal principles which teach us to love God and love every
living being as a child of God. – Radhanath Swami

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=21559

By Urmila Devi Dasi

“MOTHER OF ALL LANGUAGES” (how Srila Prabhupada referred to Sanskrit on a morning walk, Bombay Nov 20, 1975)

The children stare at the chart of Sanskrit written in Devanagari letters, which literally means “the script of the demigods”.  “Uh ahh, i ee, oo ooh, ay igh, oh ow . . .,” they chant.

As the students recite the Sanskrit alphabet, I recall that Krishna tells Arjuna, “I am the letter ‘a’.”   That Sanskrit letter, combined (sandhi) with ‘u’ to form ‘o’ and joined with ‘m,’ is the pranava, or omkara, which is also Krishna.  This Sanskrit letter ‘a,’ pronounced like the ‘u’ in ‘bus,’ a simple sound of breath without the use of tongue or lips, is the beginning of all language. (letter Hayagriva 68-10-07).

Krishna speaks all languages and accepts prayers in any one of them. Still, Sanskrit, which is the language of His own abode and the planets of the demigods in this universe, is especially suitable for understanding and glorifying Him.

So, when we started a gurukula, we first looked for a Sanskrit teacher.  Over many years, we had several teachers who used varying methods, achieving mixed results.  I suppose we included Sanskrit in the gurukula simply because Prabhupada told us it was compulsory (letter Gopala Krsna 76-06-24).

Then we couldn’t find a teacher.  Reluctantly, with great doubt as to possible success, I surrendered to Krishna’s clear demand: to learn some Sanskrit and teach it myself.

Immediately I faced, internally, the scrutiny to which I subject all details of all subjects we teach to our students: why?  Why Sanskrit?

What is perhaps most obvious is that knowing some basic vocabulary and grammar makes it easier to memorize verses because the verses make sense rather than being a string of unintelligible sounds.  (lecture 73 SB in LA)  Why memorize at all? Memorization helps knowledge to be internalized rather than dependent on always having a book on hand to consult.  Without some Sanskrit knowledge, verses are very difficult to memorize, or even read.  We can remember them so much more easily if we understand what we memorize.  And just learning the Sanskrit and English translation separately isn’t the same as being able to think of the meaning as one says each Sanskrit word.

When we can understand what we memorize, appreciation of the scripture deepens.  (garden conversation London July 25, 1973).  Just as an expert literature teacher helps the students analyze each important phrase or word, those who know even a little Sanskrit can immerse themselves in a depth of understanding little guessed at by simply seeing the surface of meaning.  As Prabhupada wrote Satsvarupa Maharaja, “As you begin to study the Sanskrit words, in each word you will find a treasure house of different understanding.”

After memorizing and deeply studying many verses, one can firmly know what is and is not a bona fide interpretation and application of the scriptures. (room conversation London, Sept. 11, 1969)  We can easily see how not understanding the original language can lead to serious problems; For example, some Bibles have “food” translated as “meat” so that the hapless reader, ignorant of Aramaic and Greek, thinks that a particular Bible verse sanctions meat-eating.  In the same way, there are many translations of the Bhagavad-gita or Srimad Bhagavatam that distort and misrepresent the actual meaning.  With some grounding in the original language, Sanskrit, one will know where to place their faith and be able to help those who’ve been misguided by twisted understanding.

Those with such an education in Sanskrit can preach effectively on the basis of scripture. (room conversation, London, Sept. 11, 1969) Anyone, even if illiterate, can have firm individual faith in a bona fide guru and Krishna just by chanting Hare Krishna.  But at least some persons should be prepared to preach on the basis of an in-depth knowledge of sacred texts.  At least we should give all our children the opportunity to become so prepared, even though only some will take full advantage of that opportunity.

Those who attain expertise in Sanskrit can read all the Vedic literatures.  (lecture SB 76 in VRN)  There are many wonderful devotional works by great spiritual teachers, acharyas, that are gradually becoming available through the work of such experts.

What of persons like me who never become so expert?  What of a spiritual practitioner who can’t even memorize more than a handful of verses?  Does Sanskrit study benefit him or her?  Even those persons who have little interest or ability in language can at least learn how to pronounce Sanskrit properly. Prabhupada said (room conversation, Toronto, June 17, 1976) that he could judge the progress of our gurukula students by how nicely they could chant and pronounce Sanskrit verses.  He wrote Pradyumna (70-04-05) that proper pronunciation would “be a great help for me . . .(as it) will be another effect of transcendental sound vibration.” When we adults who’ve been raised in the West mispronounce Sanskrit, saying for example, “Bhai Bobbee” (brother and sister-in-law) instead of “Vaibhavi”  (a great, glorious personality) a knowledgeable person may smile in understanding. After all, a native English speaker tolerates a foreigner saying “dessert” instead of “desert.”  But those who are born and trained in Krishna consciousness have every reason to learn properly from the beginning, just as the children of immigrants to American generally speak flawless English.  This is such an elementary principle of our children’s education that Prabhupada considered an education without it “a useless waste of time.” (letter to Aksobhya 74-09-03)

Finally, our society of devotees, as well as society in general, will benefit if at least our children learn Sanskrit, even if we can’t study it as adults. Formerly, the language of the educated was Sanskrit, whatever the local dialect. (lecture CC 1967 in NY)  There is ample evidence that Sanskrit was once spoken throughout the whole world. (morning walk, Bombay, Nov 20, 1975)  Prabhupada suggested that Sanskrit be the national language of, at least, India, if not the whole world.  That common language, which is so much a part of culture, will help to break down the barriers of nationalism, bringing people to the understanding that Krishna is the proprietor.  That would be the real United Nations. (room conversation, Bhubaneswar, Jan. 29, 1977)  If at least among educated people, there is one language, Sanskrit, and one culture, Vedic, then there will be no disunion.  (lecture CC 1967 NY) To a very small extent, the few Sanskrit terms that are fully integrated into ISKCON terminology represent this unity of culture in our world-wide movement. How much more would this language unify us if we pronounced it properly and with understanding?

It is essential that we remember, when considering the study of any subject that will help our Krishna consciousness rather than being the study of Krishna consciousness directly, that all such study is a means to an end. We don’t want to encourage every spiritual seeker or every child to be a Sanskrit scholar any more than we expect every person to be an artist or accountant, both of which talents can certainly be used in Krishna’s service.  Nor do we want anyone to become a scholar for its own sake, playing with grammar and word meaning as an intellectual exercise.  It is our duty to give all our children the basic knowledge of Sanskrit, as much or more so than it is our duty to teach them basic math or geography.  And those of us who start the spiritual life as adults can use the format of Prabhupada’s books with the word-by-word translations and pronunciation guide to at least gain some rudimentary familiarity with this divine and perfect language so loved by the Lord and saintly persons.

a great on-line Sanskrit course

Three quotes from Prabhupada

Source: http://urmiladasi.com/sanskrit-the-mother-of-languages/