disciple - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-28T12:42:02Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/discipleEarly Prabhupada Disciple Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami Passes Awayhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/early-prabhupada-disciple-bhakti-madhurya-govinda-goswami-passes-2020-11-17T13:02:29.000Z2020-11-17T13:02:29.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8174535683,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="8174535683?profile=RESIZE_584x" />By Rukmini Krishna Das</strong></p>
<p>With deep sorrow, we would like to communicate to the global devotee community the departure of His Holiness Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami Maharaja at around 6.00 AM on the 14th of November, 2020 due to a second cardiac arrest and complications arising out his surgery for cervical spondylitis and a cardiac arrest. He had been unwell for quite a long time. He was COVID-negative, when last tested a couple of days before being shifted from the hospital to the ISKCON Punjabi Bagh temple where he had been based out of for nearly fifteen years. An ICU environment with full-time attendants had been replicated in his room and Srila Prabhupada’s japa was going on.<br /> <br /> Recently his spinal cord condition had worsened and three weeks back on Maharaja’s own preference, he was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital, New Delh for a critical surgery. The doctors had however warned us that there is a high probability of Maharaja being paralysed in the event of a surgery, even if successful, and so we ought to weigh both options and then decide.</p>
<p>His Holiness Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami Maharaja was initiated by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada as Makhanlal Das in October 1968. He was one of Srila Prabhupada’s original 100 disciples, and started one of ISKCON’s first university preaching programs at the University of San Francisco, California. Later, he continued his university preaching at his alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley. He opened the ISKCON temple in Berkeley, California in 1969, and has managed several ISKCON centers in the U.S.</p>
<p>Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami received sannyasa initiation in 2010, and has been based out of the ISKCON Punjabi Bagh Temple in West Delhi, rendering invaluable services and inspiring the devotees there. He was known for his energetic traveling and preaching in India and other parts of Asia, despite his advancing age and deteriorating health; and for his deep attachment to his Jagannatha and Nila Madhava deities Whom he carried everywhere. </p>
<p>We request your intense prayers to one of Srila Prabhupada’s dear disciples by praying to Lord Narasimhadeva and your respective local deities, that if They so desire, Maharaja may continue his eternal service to Srila Prabhupada as desired by him.<br /> <br /> Your servants,<br /> Rukmini Krishna Das (Temple President, ISKCON Punjabi Bagh)<br /> Dr. Krishna Priya Das, Rishi Kumara Das and the Health Care team<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/early-prabhupada-disciple-bhakti-madhurya-govinda-goswami-passes-away,7600/">https://iskconnews.org/early-prabhupada-disciple-bhakti-madhurya-govinda-goswami-passes-away,7600/</a></p></div>Srila Prabhupada’s Beloved Disciple Jasomatinandan Dashttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/srila-prabhupada-s-beloved-disciple-jasomatinandan-das2020-10-24T10:30:00.000Z2020-10-24T10:30:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8071886852,RESIZE_192X{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="8071886852?profile=RESIZE_192X" width="184" />Today Srila Prabhupadas beloved disciple, my dear godbrother, Jasomatinandan Das left his body in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, due to COVID-19. He is Srila Prabhupada’s eternal servant, and he will continue his service at Prabhupada’s lotus feet.</p>
<p>On a morning walk on Juhu Beach, Srila Prabhupada asked Dr. Patel why he was coming daily.</p>
<p>“I don’t know,” Dr. Patel replied. “I have got some . . .”</p>
<p>“We don’t pay you any fee.”</p>
<p>“I feel some sort of attachment to you. That is why I come. I don’t understand why I am attracted to you specially. I don’t understand. I have been thinking about it. I am very much thinking there must be some purva-janma, something from the past life. I don’t know. No sadhu has been able to attract me as much as you have. Not even temples have attracted me, to tell the truth.”</p>
<p>And Jasomatinandan Prabhu chimed in, “There is no sadhu except Prabhupada,” which exemplified his absolute dedication and devotion to Srila Prabhupada.</p>
<p>His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada’s beloved disciple Jasomatinandan Das ki jaya!</p>
<p>Their humble, eternal servant,<br /> Giriraj Swami<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://girirajswami.com/blog/?p=16469">https://girirajswami.com/blog/?p=16469</a></p></div>All glories to His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja by Gopal Krishna Goswamihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/all-glories-to-his-holiness-bhakti-charu-swami-maharaja-by-gopal-2020-07-12T11:19:35.000Z2020-07-12T11:19:35.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://i.imgur.com/JrLi81g.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="300" alt="JrLi81g.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></p>
<p>Dear disciples of Bhakti Charu Maharaja:</p>
<p>Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.</p>
<p>Bhakti Charu Maharaja participated in the ISKCON Bureau meeting on May 25th, after which he left for Bombay and flew to America. Unfortunately, Maharaja fell ill in America and departed from this planet on July 4th. This was a very auspicious day. It was the first day of Caturmasya, the disappearance day of Sanatana Goswami and also Guru Purnima. This was a most auspicious departure for a very special Vaisnava, although painful for everyone. The community of devotees worldwide was shocked when they heard of Maharaja’s departure.He was willing to go to any lengths to serve Prabhupada’s mission by his exemplary behavior and determination.</p>
<p>Maharaja was very fortunate as he received first and second initiation in a single ceremony and sannyasa on Gaura Purnima in 1977. Srila Prabhupada gave him the monumental assignment of translating his books into Bengali.</p>
<p>Maharaja took this assignment very seriously. I believe he used to wake up at night and continue translating till morning. For Prabhupada’s pleasure he built a beautiful temple in Ujjain in just ten months. This is one of ISKCON’s most beautiful temples and speaks volumes about Bhakti Charu Swami’s dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s mission. He had a burning desire to make Prabhupada’s achievements well-known around the world. With immense struggle and persistence, he was able to convince even India’s premier and practically lone TV channel at that time, to telecast the ‘Abaya Caran’ series for a whole year. These are only a few of his unlimited achievements.</p>
<p>I first met Bhakti Charu Swami in Vrindavan in late 1976 when Prabhupada’s physical health condition was deteriorating. Bhakti Charu Swami was one of the members of the team that was ably serving Srila Prabhupada at that time.</p>
<p>He was fortunate to render personal service to Srila Prabhupada by massaging him, cooking for him, etc.</p>
<p>He was very gentle by nature and kind in his dealings with everyone. We shared a cordial relationship. He liked serving the Vaisnavas and would regularly invite me and other Vaisnavas for prasadam. He was a scholarly Vaisnava and a good orator. His absence is a great, irreparable and painful loss to our world-wide ISKCON movement.</p>
<p>As we all know, death is inevitable. Maharaja’s disciples will undoubtedly be aggrieved beyond words. We must remember Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on Guru-tattva at this moment. Prabhupada had explained several times that the guru is present in two forms – Vapu and Vani. Prabhupada had also explained that Vani is more important than Vapu. With regards to his own spiritual master, Prabhupada remarks in his dedication in the first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam – “He lives forever by his divine instructions and the follower lives with him”.</p>
<p>From the Bhaktivedanta Purports we read, “However, the disciple and spiritual master are never separated because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the spiritual master. This is called the association of vani (words).</p>
<p>Physical presence is called vapuh. As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the spiritual master. (SB 4.28.47 purport)</p>
<p>Thakur Bhaktivinode writes,</p>
<p>He reasons ill who says that Vaisnavas die When thou art living still in Sound!</p>
<p>The Vaisnavas die to live and living try To spread the holy life around!</p>
<p>By meditating on these words, every disciple and follower of Bhakti Caru Swami may strengthen his/her commitment to his instructions -Vani- and remain fixed in Krishna consciousness just as he himself was surrendered to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.</p>
<p>Srila Prabhupada built a house in which the whole world could live in. I often tell devotees that ISKCON is a joint family. In a joint family; the parents, children and grand-children all live in one house. When the father passes away, the uncles, aunts and cousins look after the aggrieved family.</p>
<p>I am certain that all the senior members of our society and devotees will gladly extend their association and guidance to Maharaja’s disciples and followers. Prabhupada wanted all of us to stay under the ISKCON umbrella.</p>
<p>Bhakti Caru Swami always wanted all his disciples to stay in ISKCON. He would often quote Prabhupada’s statement that ‘your love for me will be shown by how you co-operate with each other’.</p>
<p>Devotee care is a very important element in our society and I am sure that in this most disturbing moment in the spiritual lives of many of Bhakti Caru Swami’s disciples, the entire network of Senior Vaisnavas will not only pray for their spiritual safety and progress, but will also be available to them for all assistance in meeting their spiritual needs.</p>
<p>He had also served twice as the Chairman of the GBC body and will always be remembered for his sincere surrender to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.</p>
<p>Bhakti Caru Swami will also be fondly remembered for his transcendental qualities and humility. All the devotees of our movement must try and imbibe from his life the innumerable devotional qualities exhibited by him.</p>
<p>All glories to His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja!</p>
<p>I pray this meets you all well.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=87371">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=87371</a></p></div>Srila Prabhupada Personifies Devotee Carehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/srila-prabhupada-personifies-devotee-care2020-07-10T12:02:22.000Z2020-07-10T12:02:22.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://i.imgur.com/P26t171.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="400" alt="P26t171.jpg?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></p>
<p>Let us hear about “Srila Prabhupada Personifies Devotee Care” from a very close and a dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada, HH Giriraj Swami. He is being interviewed by HG Gauranga Das.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> <iframe style="border:none;overflow:hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgbcspt%2Fvideos%2F1383801198488958%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>About Giriraj Swami</p>
<p>Giriraj Swami was born Glenn Phillip Teton, the only son of a respected Chicago attorney and judge. In March 1969, while a student at Brandeis University, he met His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), from whom young Glenn said he learned more in one brief exchange than in his many years of academic education.</p>
<p>After graduating cum laude from Brandeis University, he became an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada receiving the spiritual name Giriraj Das. Giriraj Das quickly became a leading member of ISKCON-Boston and was soon given the opportunity to go to India with Srila Prabhupada where he helped establish his spiritual master’s mission.</p>
<p>In 1972 Giriraj Das was appointed president of ISKCON Mumbai and a trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Since then, he has made many significant contributions to Srila Prabhupada’s mission, most notably overseeing the development of Hare Krishna Land in Juhu, Mumbai.</p>
<p>He was instrumental in the acquisition and development of the Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Govardhana and led the development of the Kirtan Ashram for women, the Bhaktivedanta Hospice, and the Vrindavan Institute of Palliative Care, all in Vrindavan. Through his efforts, Giriraj Swami has become renowned for his austerities, loyalty and dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s mission, his ability to raise funds and cultivate important members of society, and his care for devotees around the world.</p>
<p>In the year following Srila Prabhupada’s departure in 1977, Giriraj Das was awarded the renounced order of life and appointed president of ISKCON’s board of trustees in India. From 1982-2000 he served as a member of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission. In that capacity he oversaw ISKCON’s activities in Mumbai, Mauritius, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.</p>
<p>Giriraj Swami has also taught at the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education and continues to lecture and to give presentations at japa retreats and workshops around the world.</p>
<p>Presently based in Southern California, Giriraj Swami now focuses on writing, one of the main personal instructions that he received from Srila Prabhupada. Giriraj Swami is the author of Watering the Seed and Many Moons and is working on several other publications, including books about death and dying in the Vedic tradition, his search for a spiritual master and his early days in the Boston temple, his travels with Srila Prabhupada in India and Srila Prabhupada’s monumental efforts in Mumbai, and Vaishnava holy days.<br /> <br /> Source: <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=87279">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=87279</a></p></div>Spiritual Connection: Understanding the Dynamics of Guru-disciple Relationshiphttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/spiritual-connection-understanding-the-dynamics-of-guru-disciple-2019-11-11T11:49:57.000Z2019-11-11T11:49:57.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_byline" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2019/11-Nov/bdd1_slideshow.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2019/11-Nov/bdd1_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" alt="bdd1_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By Madhusudana Visnu Das</strong></div>
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<p style="text-align:justify;">A New Book by Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami 'Spiritual Connection: Understanding the Dynamics of Guru-disciple Relationship' discusses the following important topics: </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Who is a Guru?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Why do I need a Living Guru?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Why am I not satisfied in my relationship with my Guru?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">How to internalize the sacred Guru-disciple relationship?</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">How to be a Progressive Disciple? </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Spiritual Connection” answers the above and many more questions with much depth and clarity. Presented in a very simple and lucid manner, this book is a collection of various case-studies taken from Vedic literatures such as Srimad-bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrita, Mahabharata and Ramayana. Herein, the subject of Guru-disciple relationship is explored, explained and churned into valuable lessons to help all the levels of spiritual seekers— from novice and seasoned—to have their spiritual connection established, enhanced or rejuvenated. </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://iskconnews.org/media/images/2019/11-Nov/bdd2.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/images/2019/11-Nov/bdd2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400" alt="bdd2.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Some of the reviews for the book are: </p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;">“I recommend that every serious practitioner of bhakti must acquire and absorb the teachings of this book.” — Gopal Krishna Goswami</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami has covered a very important topic from many angles. Many will find inspiration and vision on how to deal with the Guru-disciple relationship.” — Kadamba Kanana Swami </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“It is a book one would love to read and re-read again and again, because the essence of the practice of bhakti is beautifully described in the pages of this book.” — Srivas Das </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“This book is rich with insights for anyone trying to walk the path of devotion. I recommend diving in it without delay.” — Bhakti Narasimha Swami </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“It is a brilliant book. It has helped me understand my weaknesses and gave me considerable hope in reviving my relationship with my Gurus.” — Sanatana Caitanya Das</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“The author, a disciple of the legendary Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaja, has done a true miracle with this book and its topic of Guru-disciple relationship.” — Pulastya Muni Das </p>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The book's author Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami is an initiating guru and travelling sannyasi. He has been serving in ISKCON since 1982. He is a member of ISKCON SABHA, a teacher of various Shastric courses at VIHE (Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education) and MI (Mayapur Institute) and also he travels widely across the globe preaching the pure teachings of Krsna Consciousness in countries in Africa, in Brazil, India and Mauritius.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">To get a copy of the book (in India as well as Internationally), please write to: <a>sanga@bddswami.org</a>,</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">or contact through WhatsApp at +91 99873 18251.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/spiritual-connection-understanding-the-dynamics-of-guru-disciple-relationship,7151/">https://iskconnews.org/spiritual-connection-understanding-the-dynamics-of-guru-disciple-relationship,7151/</a></p>
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