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[New post] How to Make a Mountain

How to Make a Mountain

by jahnavi

It's that time of year again. Today is Govardhan Puja, when we remember Sri Krishna's incredible lifting of a sacred mountain in Vrindavan. In the Vaishnava calendar there are so many festivals and as the years go by they stack on top of one another like layers of sediment. I imagine my life so far as a rock - each layer a testament to the moments that I spent thinking about Krishna - the thick, densely packed areas,  or not - those are the crumbling parts.

I can remember so many distinct Govardhan pujas - many spent in the soggy English October, inside a white marquee, huddling in front of blow heaters while we listened to narrations of the amazing story. As children one of our favourite parts of the day was the creation of 'the hill'. This is a giant mound of sweets, dressed to mimic Govardhan Hill - usually complete with ponds of honey, boulders made of milk sweets and bright green shredded coconut for grass. The hill would be covered with plastic animals - deer, birds and lots of cows. After everyone had performed the puja of walking around the hill three times, the sweets would start to be handed out, and along with them, the plastic animals. My toy cupboards at home were full of the most prized- the cows. My small herd grew each year, and I would eagerly look forward to e ach year's festival, when I would wait with hands outstretched as a priest plucked animals off the mound and dropped them into the reaching palms of all the kids.

So why build a hill of sweets? It's definitely fun, but deeper than that, it's just one way to remember the miraculous activities of Krishna, and help our love for him to grow. It's also a beautiful way to celebrate Govardhan Hill, also known as Giriraj - the king of mountains. In Krishna's world, everyone has personality - nothing is just stone, or just a tree. Everything is full of life, full of love, full of desire to serve. Giriraj is considered to be one of the greatest servants of Krishna, since he limitlessly gives the bounty of his forests, waterfalls, minerals and more to the villagers of Vrindavan.

Last year I spent Govardhan Puja in Vrindavan, where it is extra special, since the real Govardhan Hill is only miles away. In the central courtyard of the Krishna Balaram temple, I stood on a raised platform with six other girls, scooping handfuls of scorching, fragrant halava and pressing them onto the plastic covered frame of the hill. Our hands quickly became tender, burnt by the steam, and we slid about as the hot ghee oozed from the mound around our feet. In the meantime, raucous, joyful kirtan thundered away. The following week, I was staying at the foot of Govardhan itself. It was one of the most sacred, deep experiences of my life. Each day I would wake and watch the sun light pass over the rocky face of the hill, and after a day absorbed in chanting and hearing about Krishna, I would sit in a small grove of trees a nd listen to the night songs of the crickets. I never believed I would really feel that a hill was a person, but after seven days, I felt his deep presence, blessing all who came near him to pray.

At the end of my time there, I built a tiny house of stones. Some people do this to pray to Giriraj for a safe, happy home to live in, but I prayed that however long it took, I may one day live there in that sacred place. These days I stay in Manhattan on the 21st floor. Outside my windows the tops of towering buildings remind me of his ridges and peaks, and I realise that whether here or there, his blessings are near.

 

jahnavi | October 27, 2011 at 2:58 pm


--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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Hare Krishna: Bhisma Deva on the all-powerful Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa

Hare Krishna: Bhisma Deva on the all-powerful Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa: ‎.

‎"Bhismadeva said: Let me now invest my thinking, feeling and willing, which were so long engaged in different subjects and occupational duties, in the all-powerful Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He is always self-satisfied, but sometimes, being the leader of the devotees, He enjoys transcendental pleasure by descending on the material world, although from Him only the material world is created."
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Fwd: [New post] How to Make a Mountain



New post on The Little Conch

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How to Make a Mountain <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/how-to-make-a-mountain/>

by jahnavi <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/author/jahnavi/>

It's that time of year again. Today is Govardhan Puja, when we remember Sri Krishna's incredible lifting of a sacred mountain in Vrindavan. In the Vaishnava calendar there are so many festivals and as the years go by they stack on top of one another like layers of sediment. I imagine my life so far as a rock - each layer a testament to the moments that I spent thinking about Krishna - the thick, densely packed areas,  or not - those are the crumbling parts.

I can remember so many distinct Govardhan pujas - many spent in the soggy English October, inside a white marquee, huddling in front of blow heaters while we listened to narrations of the amazing story. As children one of our favourite parts of the day was the creation of 'the hill'. This is a giant mound of sweets, dressed to mimic Govardhan Hill - usually complete with ponds of honey, boulders made of milk sweets and bright green shredded coconut for grass. The hill would be covered with plastic animals - deer, birds and lots of cows. After everyone had performed the puja of walking around the hill three times, the sweets would start to be handed out, and along with them, the plastic animals. My toy cupboards at home were full of the most prized- the cows. My small herd grew each year, and I would eagerly look forward to e ach year's festival, when I would wait with hands outstretched as a priest plucked animals off the mound and dropped them into the reaching palms of all the kids.

So why build a hill of sweets? It's definitely fun, but deeper than that, it's just one way to remember the miraculous activities of Krishna, and help our love for him to grow. It's also a beautiful way to celebrate Govardhan Hill, also known as Giriraj - the king of mountains. In Krishna's world, everyone has personality - nothing is just stone, or just a tree. Everything is full of life, full of love, full of desire to serve. Giriraj is considered to be one of the greatest servants of Krishna, since he limitlessly gives the bounty of his forests, waterfalls, minerals and more to the villagers of Vrindavan.

Last year I spent Govardhan Puja in Vrindavan, where it is extra special, since the real Govardhan Hill is only miles away. In the central courtyard of the Krishna Balaram temple, I stood on a raised platform with six other girls, scooping handfuls of scorching, fragrant halava and pressing them onto the plastic covered frame of the hill. Our hands quickly became tender, burnt by the steam, and we slid about as the hot ghee oozed from the mound around our feet. In the meantime, raucous, joyful kirtan thundered away. The following week, I was staying at the foot of Govardhan itself. It was one of the most sacred, deep experiences of my life. Each day I would wake and watch the sun light pass over the rocky face of the hill, and after a day absorbed in chanting and hearing about Krishna, I would sit in a small grove of trees a nd listen to the night songs of the crickets. I never believed I would really feel that a hill was a person, but after seven days, I felt his deep presence, blessing all who came near him to pray.

At the end of my time there, I built a tiny house of stones. Some people do this to pray to Giriraj for a safe, happy home to live in, but I prayed that however long it took, I may one day live there in that sacred place. These days I stay in Manhattan on the 21st floor. Outside my windows the tops of towering buildings remind me of his ridges and peaks, and I realise that whether here or there, his blessings are near.

<http://jahnavi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/156851_481127769173_503069173_5637618_14368_n.jpg?w=500&h=670> <http://jahnavi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/156851_481127769173_503069173_5637618_14368_n.jpg>

<http://jahnavi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/165675_481129299173_503069173_5637647_6232788_n.jpg?w=500&h=670> <http://jahnavi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/165675_481129299173_503069173_5637647_6232788_n.jpg>

<http://jahnavi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/167275_493595024173_503069173_5858040_5586715_n.jpg?w=500&h=670> <http://jahnavi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/167275_493595024173_503069173_5858040_5586715_n.jpg>

<http://jahnavi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/162734_481129234173_503069173_5637646_3069007_n.jpg?w=500&h=670> <http://jahnavi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/162734_481129234173_503069173_5637646_3069007_n.jpg>

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jahnavi <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/author/jahnavi/> | October 27, 2011 at 2:58 pm | Tags: festival <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/?tag=festival>, giriraj <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/?tag=giriraj>, govardhan <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/?tag=govardhan>, moutain <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/?tag=moutain>, sacred <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/?tag=sacred> | Categories: Inspiration! <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/?cat=107>, Krishna Consciousness <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/?cat=1121468>, Photos <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/?cat=304>, Seasonal <http://jahnavi.wordpress.com/?cat=17354> | URL: http://wp.me/p1Fgd-cm

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--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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One can engage in all 9 devotional processes, or 8 or 7 or atleast in 1, and that will surely make one perfect [BG.11.44]

 
Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.11.44]
(Purport to 11.55 continued)

No work should be done by any man except in relationship to Krishna. This is called krishna-karma. One may be engaged in various activities, but one should not be attached to the result of his work; the result should be done only for Him. For example, one may be engaged in business, but to transform that activity into Krishna consciousness, one has to do business for Krishna. If Krishna is the proprietor of the business, then Krishna should enjoy the profit of the business. If a businessman is in possession of thousands and thousands of dollars, and if he has to offer all this to Krishna, he can do it. This is work for Krishna. Instead of constructing a big building for his sense gratification, he can construct a nice temple for Krishna, and he can install the Deity of Krishna and arrange for the Deity's service, as is outlined in the authorized books of devotional service. This is all krishna-karma. One should not be attached to the result of his work, but the result should be offered to Krishna, and one should accept as prasadam the remnants of offerings to Krishna. If one constructs a very big building for Krishna and installs the Deity of Krishna, one is not prohibited from living there, but it is understood that the proprietor of the building is Krishna. That is called Krishna consciousness. If, however, one is not able to construct a temple for Krishna, one can engage himself in cleansing the temple of Krishna; that is also krishna-karma. One can cultivate a garden. Anyone who has land—in India, at least, any poor man has a certain amount of land—can utilize that for Krishna by growing flowers to offer Him. One can sow tulasi plants, because tulasi leaves are very important and Krishna has recommended this in Bhagavad-gita. Patram pushpam phalam toyam. Krishna desires that one offer Him either a leaf, or a flower, or fruit, or a little water—and by such an offering He is satisfied. This leaf especially refers to the tulasi. So one can sow tulasi and pour water on the plant. Thus, even the poorest man can engage in the service of Krishna. These are some of the examples of how one can engage in working for Krishna.

 

The word mat-paramah refers to one who considers the association of Krishna in His supreme abode to be the highest perfection of life. Such a person does not wish to be elevated to the higher planets such as the moon or sun or heavenly planets, or even the highest planet of this universe, Brahmaloka. He has no attraction for that. He is only attracted to being transferred to the spiritual sky. And even in the spiritual sky he is not satisfied with merging into the glowing brahmajyoti effulgence, for he wants to enter the highest spiritual planet, namely Krishnaloka, Goloka Vrindavana. He has full knowledge of that planet, and therefore he is not interested in any other. As indicated by the word mad-bhaktah, he fully engages in devotional service, specifically in the nine processes of devotional engagement: hearing, chanting, remembering, worshiping, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering prayers, carrying out the orders of the Lord, making friends with Him, and surrendering everything to Him. One can engage in all nine devotional processes, or eight, or seven, or at least in one, and that will surely make one perfect.
 
Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 
--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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KKSblog.com - Taking on personal responsibility


Posted: 26 Oct 2011 03:10 PM PDT
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, October 2011)
In the gṛhastha-āśrama we cannot take full advantage of the temple – it's not possible. Temple devotees they live in the temple and there is a full program, whether they want it or not. For instance, with maṅgala-ārati sometimes they do not want it:
"I hope that there will be no maṅgala-ārati today."
But it goes on everyday, without fail! That is the nature of the temple. So therefore, in the temple there is so much push to help us to overcome our weakness.
In the gṛhastha-āśrama it is not so. In the gṛhastha-āśrama, one has to take personal responsibility. If a brahmacāri did not go to the maṅgala-ārati for a few days, then he will be chastised and pulled up:
"What's going on! Pull your socks up!! It cannot go like this! Understood? Or else sanctions will follow!"
But it's not like that for the gṛhasthas, since they have to do it……..it's difficult….very difficult, but together it becomes possible. So therefore, between the two of them, one must inspire the other, by setting an example:
'A competition of who can get up first…..who can get up the earliest – not who can get up the last! And the last one loses! The one who gets up first, wins for the day. Let's see who is going to win the next day'.
Like that, we must try and invest in our spiritual life!
Posted: 26 Oct 2011 03:02 PM PDT
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, October 2011)
The weekend is for Krishna. In the weekend we go to the temple as much as we can and partake in different things. In that way in the weekend we are free to be ourselves.
In the week, all right we have to play the game in our profession, and work life. The kids have to go to school, which is the same since we have to be part of the worldly side of life. But that isn't what we really want! We really want Krishna!



--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:
http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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Symphony - By Jahnavi Harrison

Symphony.

by jahnavi

I am writing without really knowing why. Sometimes writing is motivated by a new understanding, a 'realisation'. But what realisation do I have? You can realise something, as in understand it, but surely to truly realise something means to 'bring it into reality', to live it. So to truly have a realisation means to understand something and then apply it every day.

So what have I realised lately? In small ways, like gathering scraps and snippets and threads, I have begun to understand that the things I thought were important - security, companionship, money - are not as important as they seem. Sometimes it seems like we are all living a great misunderstanding. We need so little, and the smallest things are the greatest treasures. To sing, to love, to dance. To smile as we fall asleep and as we wake. We can choose to do these things, or choose not to.

I have begun to glimpse that life is like a symphony of beauty and pain in equal measures. The music plays on, and each of us must decide how to play. We can choose to play with grace and humility. We can choose to play in such a way as to always push ourselves beyond our perceived limits. We can choose that if we trip up on a few notes, we smile and play on, no problem. We can choose to look up from the safety of our sheet music at the conductor, and feel safety and guidance in the movement of his hands. We can choose to play alone, and sometimes that is how the music is supposed to go. But at other times we are surrounded by a full orchestra, and we can feel the joy of harmony, the thrill of delicious syncopation.

Or if we are feeling insecure, we can watch the hands and faces of our fellow musicians and feel strength in togetherness. We can sing a painful song together. Or we can even fall silent. In times when our voices will not sing and our hands will not play, we can just listen to the music that washes within and without, steady like a timeless tide.

 --
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com





 

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1who engages in My PureDevotionaService,1who works4Me,1who makes Me d Supreme Goal of his Life,1who is friendly2every LvingBeing,certainly comes2Me [BG.11.43]

Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.11.43]
 

TEXT 55:

mat-karma-krin mat-paramo
mad-bhaktah sanga-varjitah
nirvairah sarva-bhuteshu
yah sa mam eti pandava

 
TRANSLATION:

My dear Arjuna, he who engages in My pure devotional service, free from the contaminations of fruitive activities and mental speculation, he who works for Me, who makes Me the supreme goal of his life, and who is friendly to every living being—he certainly comes to Me.

 

PURPORT:

Anyone who wants to approach the supreme of all the Personalities of Godhead, on the Krishnaloka planet in the spiritual sky, and be intimately connected with the Supreme Personality, Krishna, must take this formula, as stated by the Supreme Himself. Therefore, this verse is considered to be the essence of Bhagavad-gita. The Bhagavad-gita is a book directed to the conditioned souls, who are engaged in the material world with the purpose of lording it over nature and who do not know of the real, spiritual life. The Bhagavad-gita is meant to show how one can understand his spiritual existence and his eternal relationship with the supreme spiritual personality and to teach one how to go back home, back to Godhead. Now here is the verse which clearly explains the process by which one can attain success in his spiritual activity: devotional service.

 

As far as work is concerned, one should transfer his energy entirely to Krishna conscious activities. As stated in the Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu (1.2.255),

 

anasaktasya vishayan
yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krishna-sambandhe
yuktam vairagyam ucyate

 
Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

 --
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:
http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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dineshkrishna108 sent you a video: "Corn Veggie Soup Recipe by Manjula Indian Vegetarian Cuisine"

YouTube help center | e-mail options | report spam

dineshkrishna108 has shared a video with you on YouTube:

Vegetable Sweet Corn Soup
View full recipe at http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2008/06/20/corn-vegetable-soup/

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups corn
1 medium tomato
About 1 cup finely chopped cabbage
8 to 10 string beans
1 small carrot
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon lemon juice (adjust to taste)
© 2011 YouTube, LLC
901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

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May that Lord Jagannatha become the object of my vision!

jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me - Jagannath Astaka Music Video - Shabda Hari Das : Krishna
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KKSblog.com - Refreshing our enthusiasm!



Refreshing our enthusiasm!

Posted: 24 Oct 2011 03:09 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, October 2011)


On just patience alone, how long can one function? We are not so strong in this age. In our determination, we do not have so much patience. Therefore, we need to refresh our enthusiasm! So for that we can do things:

We can make pilgrimages; we can go to Vrindavan; we'll go regularly to the temple; we are with devotees; we take the trouble to go on harinama and so on, because such things renew our enthusiasms!

Only Krishna gives Krishna-prema

Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:42 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, October 2011)


Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva can give so many benedictions, but they cannot give what Lord Vishnu can give, which is liberation from birth and death! Of course, Lord Vishnu cannot give what Lord Krishna can give – that is
Krishna-prema.

Therefore, we understand that demigods are to be respected but they cannot compare to Vishnu. We worship Lord Vishnu but our deity is Lord Krishna….especially, because Krishna….only Krishna can give us Krishna-prema – the love of God that exists in Goloka!





--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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On Care!!!

Please find the attached image!!!

--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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HH.Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Offering to Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja, 2011

Bhakti Vikäsa Swami




nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale
çrémate bhaktivedänta-sväminn iti nämine
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe



Srila Prabhupäda, only a fool would consider you anything less than a topmost perfect paramahaàsa, an ambassador from the spiritual world, a personal representative of Kåñëa. For one blessed with the eyes to see, everything about you evidences your extraordinary love for Kåñëa. As is profusely and lovingly described in this Vyäsa-püjä book, you are abundantly decorated with all the symptoms of a pure devotee.

Yet you defy the pathetic, disgusting stereotype of a saintly person who wears a dreamy smile and is perpetually “nice.” Your unfathomable love for Kåñëa is manifest not simply by talking of love, compassion, and other such exalted virtues, but more realistically in your down-to-earth, service-oriented example—which defies the listlessness of so-called premé-bhaktas, whose reputations rest on their narrating of gopé-léläs, bathing in Rädhä-kuëòa, and other such esoterica. You demonstrated in practice how a devotee who loves Kåñëa strives against all opposition to establish His glories in this world. You did not care for reputation; you simply wanted to serve the order of your guru. Anyone who reads your books can readily understand that you are not at all sentimental, vague, or wishy-washy. You are a natural, unaffected saint, not an actor dancing according to the expectations of mindless people. Indeed, your profound compassion for the rebellious jévas often manifested as extraordinarily forceful attacks upon their foolishness and rascaldom.

Among the many transcendental characteristics that distinguish you as the jagad-guru (Kåñëa’s selected emissary to this world), in my mind one towers above all: your unmitigated, uncompromisable commitment to defeat the enemies of your beloved Kåñëa. You especially targeted the nirviçeña-vädés, who attempt to belittle Kåñëa by denying that He is categorically superior, in every respect, to all other living beings (nirviçeña literally means “not special”), who claim latent or already attained parity with Kåñëa, and whose mystic-sounding ambiguities are extolled as realized spirituality by persons so overwhelmingly insincere as to be attracted to such charlatans.

Srila Prabhupäda, that you left Våndävana to contest Mäyäväda amid the nastiness of America is a more convincing testimony to your love for Kåñëa than had you stayed in Våndävana. Your praëäma-mantra, composed by yourself,



describes what you considered to be the essence of your mission: service to Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté (särasvate deve) on this plane (bhü-tale) by preaching the message of Caitanya Mahäprabhu (gaura-väëé) and thus saving (täriëe) the Western countries (päçcätya-deça) from impersonalism and voidism (nirviçeña-çünyaväda). Such extraordinary activities could be performed only by a devotee who is exceptionally dear to Kåñëa (kåñëa-preñöha).

In accord with your mission, and pertinent to the arena and ethos of your service, you emphasized and exemplified more the need to fight for Kåñëa than to discuss His räsa-lélä. For me, one particular anecdote (narrated by Hayagréva Däsa in The Hare Krishna Explosion) encapsulates your intense devotion to Kåñëa as manifested in véra-rasa.

In 1966, during one of your classes at 26 Second Avenue, after you had criticized Dr. Radhakrishnan’s comment that it is not to the personal Kåñëa that we must surrender but to “the unborn, beginningless, eternal who speaks through Kåñëa,” you added, “This Mäyävädé philosophy is worse than atheism.” Thereupon Keith, the Mott Street denim-clad “guru” (later initiated as Kértanänanda Däsa), launched a long spiel in defense of Dr. Radhakrishnan and Mäyäväda. He rambled on about the “Self and the One Mind,” quoting Çaìkara and Huang Po, Buddha and Christ, Spinoza and St. Paul, while you, “Swamiji,” sat on the dais, your complexion turning red. After Keith finally wound down, you asked him:

“So, you have understood what we have been saying—that Kåñëa is God?”

“Yes,” Keith says.

“And that worship is due God?”

“Yes,” Keith says.

Suddenly Swamiji, red and furious, stands up. “Then why do you want to take it away from Kåñëa?” he roars, shaking the small storefront. “It’s Kåñëa! It’s Kåñëa!” He slams his hand down on the lectern. “It’s no unborn within Kåñëa! It’s Kåñëa!” We all sit stunned, as if a lion had pounced on the dais. “Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is directly telling Arjuna, ‘To Me. Worship Me.’ And Dr. Radhakrishnan says that it is not to the person Kåñëa but to some void. Just see what a nonsense rascal! Do you want to worship some unborn void instead of Kåñëa? Kåñëa is the Absolute Truth. His body, mind, and self are absolute. And He says, ‘Think of Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me.’ And even Çaìkara says, bhaja govindaà, bhaja govindaà, bhaja govindam: ‘Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda. Your nonsense will not save you at death!’ And yet this rascal wants to take it away from Kåñëa. Do you want to follow such a rascal? Kåñëa says, ‘Worship Me.’ Do you not understand? Then why are you saying it is not to Kåñëa? Why? Why not to Kåñëa?” . . . .

(Next morning) “We are declaring war,” Swamiji says. “War on mäyä.”

Srila Prabhupäda, by declaring war in the storefront, you risked losing your fledgling flock, the only followers (if at that stage they could be considered followers) that you had after several months in America. But you could not brook Mäyäväda. And for that reason Kåñëa was to bless you most extraordinarily.

Srila Prabhupäda, please enlist me in your army, without an option to retire. I beg for the benediction to be eternally engaged in your mission. May I be prepared to go anywhere throughout the universe—tolerating the difficulties of heat, cold, hunger, thirst, unpopularity, persecution, or whatever the material energy may throw at me—always happy to follow your orders, knowing that by doing so, Kåñëa will be pleased, and that hence there is nothing better for me to do. Of course, words like these are easy to state yet difficult to fulfill. If I could actually pray in that way from within my heart and be unhesitatingly ready to do anything and everything to serve you under all circumstances, then I might qualify as your genuine servant.

Srila Prabhupäda, my words are insufficient to praise you or to in any way approximate a sufficient portrayal of your innumerable divine qualities. Even if I were millions of times more pure and intelligent, I could not sufficiently extol you, for your glories are immeasurable. Nonetheless, I offer this with love—which also is a gift that you nurtured within us. So kindly accept it. Please uplift me and bestow upon me the qualification to finally be accepted as your eternal servant.

The foolish

Bhakti Vikäsa Swami


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KKSblog.com - Spiritual strength and inspiration!


Spiritual strength and inspiration!

Posted: 23 Oct 2011 02:44 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, October 2011)


Please spend time in the temple, because you will find spiritual strength and inspiration there!

Morning is for auspiciousness

Posted: 23 Oct 2011 02:27 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, October 2011)


If we read Lord Krishna's daily activities in the Bhagavatam or the Krishna book (of when He was in Dwarika) then we would find out by reading that Krishna would avoid inauspicious influences in the morning. Krishna would try to see only auspicious things – like a cow, or hear only auspicious things. He would mediate and give to charity in the morning. The whole idea was that the morning was reserved for auspiciousness.

How different is the worldly lifestyle, where people drink a cup of coffee and place it on the top of the newspaper, which is on the table – like that and possibly smoke at the same time! Or maybe have some breakfast at the other corner of the paper, and in between the horrible news! So they have un-offered foodstuff and get sinful reactions in what they eat, and throw some intoxication on top…………….and meanwhile pollute the mind with the newspaper…………..and that's normal and all over in India…..that's everywhere. So that is their morning.

But for the devotee it is different. In the morning there is auspicious sound vibration, and in that way by hearing auspicious sounds, by reciting, by chanting every morning we are purified! And this is required because that will give us the strength to deal with the three modes of material nature!





--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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Out&In there's no place where You are not in!



The Supreme Lord is all pervading,existing everywhere,acting as a
witness for all our activities. In this world an object can be at one
place at a certain point of time but it cant be at two places at the
same time. But the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna is simultaneously present
in the Spiritual world as well as in the material world as a single
person. This aspect of the Lord can be understood only by devotees of
the Lord performing pure Devotional Service to Him.
To understand an object x,we need to study the features of the object.
Similarly to understand the Supreme we should also know the qualities
of the Lord.

In this way the devotees are never lose Krishna and Krishna never
loses His devotees. Krishna sees all our activities. He is within our
soul as well as outside the soul. There's no place where He's not
present.
When mother Yashoda,heard the complaints from Krsna's friends,she
decided to punish Him for His good.And so she asked Krsna if he had
eaten sand. Krsna lied and mother Yashoda, asked Him to open His
mouth. Krsna could not refuse opening His mouth because she would
scold.
When He opened the mouth,the Aishwarya shakti automatically worked to
show the whole Universe within His mouth. Even though Krsna can be
very affectionate with His devotees,He can also show His powers at
times and He doesnt have to even think about arranging all these.His
energies themselves are potent to carry out the pastimes.

So in this way,the Lord showed all that is outside within His mouth.
But mother Yashoda could also see all the planets,sun,mountains and
finally she herself seeing into the mouth of Krsna. How does The whole
Universe can be inside Krsna and How mother Yashoda could bear all
that when Krsna had all the universes within His mouth.This is
difficult to understand for the conditioned souls.But this is the
biggest difference between the soul and the Supreme Lord&this is why
the Lord is worshipable&the goal.

Arjuna was also shown the universal form but He lost the friendship
mood for a while after seeing the universal form&started offering His
respects. But mother Yashoda did not get affected to think that Krsna is Supreme Lord,because it will not allow her to enjoy the loving relation toKrsna. She thought that some demons are troubling or she is dreaming Universe to be in Krsna's mouth.

Notes from HH.Bhanu Swami Lecture SB&BG, Sunday Feast Chennai, 23rd, October 2011
--

Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com

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KKSblog.com - The body is a temple



The body is a temple

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 04:01 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, October 2011)


When we are marking the body with tilak in twelve different places, it is said that the meaning of the tilak is that the body is a temple. It is not only that the body is a temple – we are actually installing deities:

"Om Keśavāya namaḥ,"

And in twelve directions we are installing twelve deities of Visnu. So literally, the body is a temple, when we are wearing tilak.

So what auspiciousness is this movement offering to us?

Therefore, early in the morning when we rise we put tilak on. Even if we get up late, and we have five minutes only before we go to work, we can wear tilak for five minutes – that is auspicious. In other words we must try to fix ourselves in this new identity!

Krishna owns everything!

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 03:43 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia,October 2011)


Everything in this world belongs to Krishna, including our bodies, our children and all of our possessions. Therefore, everything is meant to be used for Krishna. Of course, we ourselves also need to live – we need a residence for shelter, we need to eat and so on, but we are doing that all on behalf of Krishna:

"yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo
mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ" (Bg3.13).

One should only eat 'yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ'- remnants that has been offered to the Lord! Only that which is left over from 'yajña', no other things a devotee will take! It is said that otherwise one will get involved in sinful reactions! Because whatever is the consciousness of the cook, will affect whatever he has eaten and subsequently it will affect our consciousness. Thus new material desires will be born! Therefore, we are careful in our eating, that in our house is Krishna's house! In that house we are only doing things that are favourable to Krishna!

Being active

Posted: 20 Oct 2011 10:27 AM PDT

It was the marathon and there was one devotee, whose name was Purusottama, he was so fired up that he would start sleep walking and in his sleep he started to distribute books! So he would shake you while you was sleeping and try to sell you a book! And the only way to go back to sleep right away was to buy it! You can understand…he won the marathon! There's no way to compete with somebody like that. But he got the mercy by being active. So devotional service is active, it's not passive. It's not just passively looking at how to receive the mercy. We become active and the more active one becomes the more mercy. And the more one becomes absorbed, then the smaller the material world becomes…


(Kadamba Kanana aharaja, October 2011, Melbourne, Australia)




--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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The Supreme Personality of Godhead can be seen only by His own revelation [BG.11.40]


Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.11.40] 

(Purport to 11.54 continued) 

One who has unflinching devotion for the Supreme Lord and is directed by the spiritual master, in whom he has similar unflinching faith, can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead by revelation. One cannot understand Krishna by mental speculation. For one who does not take personal training under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, it is impossible to even begin to understand Krishna. The word tu is specifically used here to indicate that no other process can be used, can be recommended, or can be successful in understanding Krishna.

 

The personal forms of Krishna, the two-handed form and the four-handed, are completely different from the temporary universal form shown to Arjuna. The four-handed form of Narayana and the two-handed form of Krishna are eternal and transcendental, whereas the universal form exhibited to Arjuna is temporary. The very word sudurdarsam, meaning "difficult to see," suggests that no one had seen that universal form. It also suggests that amongst the devotees there was no necessity of showing it. That form was exhibited by Krishna at the request of Arjuna so that in the future, when one represents himself as an incarnation of God, people can ask to see his universal form.

 

The word na, used repeatedly in the previous verse, indicates that one should not be very much proud of such credentials as an academic education in Vedic literature. One must take to the devotional service of Krishna. Only then can one attempt to write commentaries on Bhagavad-gita.

Krishna changes from the universal form to the four-handed form of Narayana and then to His own natural form of two hands. This indicates that the four-handed forms and other forms mentioned in Vedic literature are all emanations of the original two-handed Krishna. He is the origin of all emanations. Krishna is distinct even from these forms, what to speak of the impersonal conception. As far as the four-handed forms of Krishna are concerned, it is stated clearly that even the most identical four-handed form of Krishna (which is known as Maha-Vishnu, who is lying on the cosmic ocean and from whose breathing so many innumerable universes are passing out and entering) is also an expansion of the Supreme Lord. As stated in the Brahma-samhita (5.48),

 

yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya
jivanti loma-vila-ja jagad-anda-nathah
vishnur mahan sa iha yasya kala-visesho
govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami

 

"The Maha-Vishnu, into whom all the innumerable universes enter and from whom they come forth again simply by His breathing process, is a plenary expansion of Krishna. Therefore I worship Govinda, Krishna, the cause of all causes." Therefore one should conclusively worship the personal form of Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead who has eternal bliss and knowledge. He is the source of all forms of Vishnu, He is the source of all forms of incarnation, and He is the original Supreme Personality, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita.

Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 


--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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KKSblog.com - Stricter than strict



Stricter than strict

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 01:31 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Helsinki, Finland, 2011)


Vedic culture is sometimes very rigid in following rules and regulations. Especially nowadays, they do not even know why. The main reason why many Hindus are becoming Christians is because their elders are enforcing all these things, and they can't say why.

It's like stricter than strict………because India has been ruled by the smarta-brahmanas for a very long time. The smarta-brahmanas are particularly into following all rules and regulations. They have imposed upon society with so many rules and regulations. So everyone is just following someone:

" No…no…. no, you cannot drink like this! No…no…no you cannot do it at all!"

So there is excessive stress on following rules and regulations, in India due to thousands of years of smarta-brahmanas. So this excessive attachment to rules and regulations that is existing in India.

But on the other hand, in the vaisnava culture, we are also careful of maya. So there is strictness…..strictness is needed, because we are afraid of maya….so we are strict. So it is difficult to understand exactly the borderline….it takes time to understand in depth the distinction between vaisnava culture and vedic culture.

Making a commitment

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 01:18 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Helsinki, Finland, 2011)


A vaisnava must be honest even if that honesty is to his own disadvantage – he should not sacrifice it. He should publicly just maintain his honesty, and like that a vaisnava should stand for integrity. In the beginning devotional service is based on what you do, and as time is continuing it's not just what you are doing but also who you are, that is becoming important………more and more it becomes who you are! That we have to become saintly personalities!

It starts with commitments…………you have to make commitments. We have to start making commitments to certain things:

'Ok I am making a commitment to rise early, whether I am tired or not; I am making a commitment to be truthful; I am making a commitment to be tolerant; I am making a commitment to be clean.'

So gradually by making all these commitments, we are making a change, and in that way we are building our integrity!




--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com


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Radha Madhava Collection


 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Servant

Dinesh


--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com





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