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Feeding pride

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, Belgium, January 2012) Lecture: SB. 5.9.4

It is very interesting how we have such bachelors in our movement (and in the world) who are in a way renounced. But it is not renunciation linked to cultivating Krishna Consciousness. It's simply renunciation out of convenience – out of avoiding the trouble….of having to deal with material energy. That kind of renunciation is not valuable….there is not much advantage to that, because by avoiding trouble, you'll just get another kind of trouble!

Just like, there is an example of Diogenes who lived in a rain barrel with ripped clothes, and Plato lived in a mansion, which contained silk and cushions. One day Diogenes just ran through a pool of muddy water, and with his muddy feet, ran into the house of Plato and jumped over all the silk and cushions! And he called out:

"I'm just stamping. I am jumping on the pride of Plato!"

So Plato replied:

"With the same pride!"

So it's a classic in the Greek tradition. So yes, that it is a fact that renunciation is another way of feeding pride. So what's a point of being a bachelor? But the real point is, if we are living in an environment where we keep material things out as much as possible, and we bring in as much spiritual influence as we can, then we are speaking of āśrama………… āśrama is a renounced condition of life. We must live in a āśrama and we must give shape to our āśrama, at least to a point where we are liberated!

When we are liberated souls then it doesn't matter where we live, but as long as we are not liberated then we should live in an āśrama, and make that āśrama a sacred environment – fill it with remembrances of the Supreme Lord and objects of purification, then that will strengthen us, and from that platform we can engage in our sādhana and get deeply absorbed. From that platform we are strong to deal with the material world, otherwise it is dangerous. So a āśrama is important!

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Dishonour is worse than death!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, Belgium, January 2012) Lecture: SB. 5.9.4

It is said in the Bhagavad-Gita that dishonour is worse than death! So one who has fallen down, such as a sannyāsī – who gives up his sannyāsa, and takes again into the household life, is described as a 'vantasi'– a vomit eater! He is eating what he has vomited! So with something like that in the scriptures – then how are you going to walk around with your little baby on your arm after that? It is a little hard after that, because deep at the back of the mind, one remembers very well that:

"I am in a position where I really shouldn't be, according to the scriptures."

Srila Prabhupada gave the license, which supersedes everything. So it takes great humility to do that…. great humility. One who falls down is due to misfortune. Such a person in great humility must take shelter, and ultimately that means to take shelter of Prabhupada! Because Srila Prabhupada brought us the Srimad Bhagavatam, and he brought us the tradition…and then he added his mercy from his personal instructions and so on.

As in the Bhagavatam, Lord Caitnaya had added His mercy and then Prabhupada added his mercy too. So take shelter of Prabhupada's concessions with great humility – that's the only option! If someone cannot do that fully, then you still cannot walk away. It will still (from the inside) work on him. You can never walk away!

When we speak of vows – I have a point on vows where, one should take the vows and protect them. It's like putting a post in the ground – you have to anchor it, and put some strings on there to make sure that it doesn't fall over…you must anchor your vows with supportive activities, but then one must take these vows and we must plant them, just like the pearls of Krishna (like the story of Krishna and the pearls). If we plant these vows, then so many nice things can come from them! So we really must make something out of these vows. If we don't, and if we neglect the vows, then the same vows will never leave us and they will beat our heart!

So yes, even with the concession, the sannyāsa vow is so heavy that even if one takes through to the concession and gets married again, it will still beat their heart! So that is a heavy thing to do!

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Singing the Pastimes

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Calamity is a Benediction

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Ornament of a Saintly Person

SB 4.6.48: My dear lord, if in some places materialists, who are already bewildered by the insurmountable illusory energy of the Supreme Godhead, sometimes commit offenses, a saintly person, with compassion, does not take this seriously. Knowing that they commit offenses because they are overpowered by the illusory energy, he does not show his prowess to counteract them.

PURPORT

It is said that the beauty of a tapasvī, or saintly person, is forgiveness. There are many instances in the spiritual history of the world in which many saintly persons, although unnecessarily harassed, did not take action, although they could have done so. Parīkṣit Mahārāja, for example, was unnecessarily cursed by a brāhmaṇa boy, and this was very much regretted by the boy's father, but Parīkṣit Mahārāja accepted the curse and agreed to die within a week as the brāhmaṇa boy desired. Parīkṣit Mahārāja was the emperor and was full in power both spiritually and materially, but out of compassion and out of respect for the brāhmaṇa community, he did not counteract the action of the brāhmaṇa boy but agreed to die within seven days. Because it was desired by Kṛṣṇa that Parīkṣit Mahārāja agree to the punishment so that the instruction of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam would thus be revealed to the world, Parīkṣit Mahārāja was advised not to take action. A Vaiṣṇava is personally tolerant for the benefit of others. When he does not show his prowess, this does not mean that he is lacking in strength; rather, it indicates that he is tolerant for the welfare of the entire human society.

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The Exclusive Shelter for everyone

Srimad Bhagavatam 4.7.28: The members of the assembly addressed the Lord: O exclusive shelter for all who are situated in troubled life, in this formidable fort of conditional existence the time element, like a snake, is always looking for an opportunity to strike. This world is full of ditches of so-called distress and happiness, and there are many ferocious animals always ready to attack. The fire of lamentation is always blazing, and the mirage of false happiness is always alluring, but one has no shelter from them. Thus foolish persons live in the cycle of birth and death, always overburdened in discharging their so-called duties, and we do not know when they will accept the shelter of Your lotus feet.

PURPORT

Persons who are not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness are living a very precarious life, as described in this verse, but all these circumstantial conditions are due to forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant to give relief to all these bewildered and distressed persons; therefore it is the greatest relief work for all human society, and the workers thereof are the greatest well-wishers, for they follow in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, who is the greatest friend to all living entities.

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Remedy to be free from Material Hankerings

Srimad Bhagavatam 4.7.30

Lord Śiva said to Lord Narayana: My dear Lord, my mind and consciousness are always fixed on Your lotus feet, which, as the source of all benediction and the fulfillment of all desires, are worshiped by all liberated great sages because Your lotus feet are worthy of worship. With my mind fixed on Your lotus feet, I am no longer disturbed by persons who blaspheme me, claiming that my activities are not purified. I do not mind their accusations, and I excuse them out of compassion, just as You exhibit compassion toward all living entities.

PURPORT

Lord Śiva expresses herein his regret at having been angry and having disturbed the sacrificial activities of Dakṣa. King Dakṣa had insulted him in many ways, and thus he had become angry and had frustrated the entire sacrificial ceremony. Later, when he was pleased, the yajña performances were reinstituted, and therefore he regretted his activities. Now he says that because his mind is fixed on the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, he is no longer disturbed by the ordinary critics of his way of life. From this statement by Lord Śiva it is understood that as long as one is on the material platform one is affected by the three modes of material nature. As soon as one is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, however, one is no longer affected by such material activities. One should therefore always be fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, busy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. It is guaranteed that such a devotee will never be affected by the actions and reactions of the three modes of material nature. This fact is also corroborated in Bhagavad-gītā: anyone who is fixed in the transcendental service of the Lord has surpassed all the material qualities and is situated in the status of Brahman realization, in which one is not afflicted by hankering for material objects.

The recommendation of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is that one should always be Kṛṣṇa conscious and should never forget his transcendental relationship with the Lord. This program has to be followed strictly by everyone. From the statement of Lord Śiva it is understood that he was always in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and thus he remained free from material affliction. The only remedy, therefore, is to continue Kṛṣṇa consciousness rigidly, in order to get out of the contamination of the material modes.

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Vasanta Pancami Darshan of Sri Radha Madhava

Vasant Panchami is a famous festival that marks the end of the winter season and ushers in the springtime. The color yellow holds a special meaning for this celebration as it signifies the brilliance of nature and the vibrancy of life. The whole place bursts with yellow during the festival. During Vasant Panchami, the advent of spring is felt in the air as the season undergoes change. New leaves and blossoms appear in the trees with the promise of new life and hope.

Vasanta Pancami marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated in a great splendor. Many types of bright yellow flowers were offered to the Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. Following in the footsteps of the Vrajvasis, Krsna's lotusform was painted with special designs and a special arati was performed for the Lorsdships. Srimati Radharani & Astasakhis appeared as blossoming flowers wearing glowing yellow garments and bright yellow flowers. Their transcendental unlimited sweet forms were smeared with turmeric paste. All the deities had flower bracelets, armlets, necklaces and crown decorations. The altar was decorated with yellow marigolds, orchids, roses, sunflowers and beautiful vases.

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Activities of the Lord are beyond Mental Speculation

When Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared just like a six- or seven-year-old boy in Vṛndāvana, He was approached by the residents there. There were torrents of rain, and the Lord saved the residents of Vṛndāvana by lifting Govardhana Hill and resting it on the little finger of His left hand for seven days. This uncommon feature of the Lord should convince even materialistic persons who want to speculate to the limit of their material senses. The activities of the Lord are pleasing to experimental vision also, but impersonalists will not believe in His identity because they study the personality of the Lord by comparing their personality to His. Because men in this material world cannot lift a hill, they do not believe that the Lord can lift one. They accept the statements of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to be allegorical, and they try to interpret them in their own way. But factually the Lord lifted the hill in the presence of all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, as corroborated by great ācāryas and authors like Vyāsadeva and Nārada. Everything about the Lord — His activities, pastimes and uncommon features — should be accepted as is, and in this way, even in our present condition, we can understand the Lord.

- Srimad Bhagavatam 4.7.32 Purport

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HEART AND FAITH

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TRUSTWORTHINESS IN ISKCON

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BE CAREFUL

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Kirtana Mela in Mayapur

"The holy name was bouncing of the walls continuously. At night it continued in our dreams and at times I woke up and just started kirtana. It bounced against the wall of our false ego, making cracks and gradually breaking it. In the Caitanya Bhagavata it is described how Lord Nityananda engaged a group of young boys for one month in continuous kirtana. They didn't even stop to eat or sleep and at the end the boys in their ecstasy ripped entire trees out of the ground. During the Kirtana Mela, sometimes the kirtanas were wild and intense, other times mellow and meditative, an ocean of so many rasas, so many different types of taste. Some danced the whole week…."
Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, "First Kirtan Mela- 2011″

From the 22nd – 25th of February the second Kirtan Mela will be organised by Sacinandana Maharaja. This time it will not be in Germany, but in Sri Dhama Mayapur, India!

Even though Kadamba Kanana Maharaja initially planned to take part in the Kirtana Mela, he now decided not to do so.

Still, for all the devotees who will go there, we wish a lot of inspiration and taste for chanting the holy name.

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In the mood of Jaḍa Bharata

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, Belgium, January 2012) Lecture: SB. 5.9.4

Jaḍa Bharata was extremely careful about getting involved with the material energy, and we can see to the extreme….to a point where he was not even caring about his basic hygiene, and those kind of things. So he was socially very aloof. He didn't care for his material comfort. A little later it comes up in the chapter that the father who was affectionate towards him, tried to care for him but later, the father died, and then the brothers had to take care of him. They felt that it was a great burden, and they would just give him burnt rice which was at the bottom of the pot – some black rice!

So it was a very brotherly relationship. That was going on but Jaḍa Bharata didn't complain. He ate the burnt black rice. He just accepted that. He was extremely tolerant, and extremely determined. He had gotten this extraordinary determination by remembering his previous lives, which gave him an extraordinary motivation to be so determined!

Of course, this story is depicted in the Srimad Bhagavatam, so that we can share Jaḍa Bharata's situation and we can also gain determination from that same pastime to also be aloof from the material energy! At the same time though, many of us (at least) in the sixties and the seventies would have made Jaḍa Bharata a hero! In the hippie era Jaḍa Bharata would have been like a real prototype of a super hippie, in a sense that he did exactly even more than like what we would have done ideally. For example, like many others who slept on cardboard boxes on the street, and I'm sure that so many people did these things, whilst travelling, without any money. Living without money was a big thing. We would be in Greece and live off the tomatoes and grapes that were growing in the orchards. Or Italy was good for growing peaches. So life was going on in this way, but eating only peaches for one week is kind of purifying the system – a peach fast. People do such things for health. We did it out of that same spirit of Jaḍa Bharata, because the mood was, that we don't want to get entangled!

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The body is a dead matter

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, Belgium, January 2012) Lecture: SB. 5.9.4

Jaḍa Bharata himself, who indeed had a fear of the material energy. This fear of the material energy, is described in the Bhagavad Gita,

'sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trāyate mahato bhayāt' (Bg2.40)

It is described as the greatest type of fear, and the greatest danger – to basically fall back down into the material world. There maybe so many dangers considered, but this is the one danger – that a devotee must be really alert of. Sometime ago I was contemplating on the world, and so many times I have been in traffic…..and suddenly an ambulance appeared with flashing lights….and all the cars sort of squeeze to the side as the ambulance flies by. Because it is a matter of life and death! A matter of life and death – that's like a crucial point. The crucial point in this world (in the view of the materialist) is the matter of life and death. But the truth of the matter is that it's not at all the crucial point.

To Srila Prabhupada, death means that you are going to sleep for seven months, and then you wake up again….in the long term to resume your activity. Or Prabhupada would say to Dr Durckheim in Germany:

"The body is just made of dead matter. It was never alive in the first place! Where is the question of death? It is the soul that is alive…the soul that cannot be destroyed.

'nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi' (Bg2.23)

And it is the soul that moves that dead matter around in some way and it makes it act as though it was alive. But it is as dead as can be, all along."

It's a fact, that actually fear of death (and at the matter of life and death) is the essential crux of life, then it gets really serious – well that is not serious at all! But falling back down into the material energy, is when it gets very serious! Because then it is a matter of unlimited birth in the material world!

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Spiritual World and Material World

SB 4.3.15: The great sage Maitreya said: Lord Śiva, the deliverer of the hill Kailāsa, having thus been addressed by his dear wife, replied smilingly, although at the same time he remembered the malicious, heart-piercing speeches delivered by Dakṣa before the guardians of the universal affairs.

PURPORT

When Lord Śiva heard from his wife about Dakṣa, the psychological effect was that he immediately remembered the strong words spoken against him in the assembly of the guardians of the universe, and, remembering those words, he was sorry at heart, although to please his wife he smiled. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that a liberated person is always in mental equilibrium in both the distress and the happiness of this material world. Therefore the question may now be raised why a liberated personality like Lord Śiva was so unhappy because of the words of Dakṣa. The answer is given by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. Lord Śiva is ātmārāma, or situated in complete self-realization, but because he is the incarnation in charge of the material mode of ignorance, tamo-guṇa, he is sometimes affected by the pleasure and pain of the material world. The difference between the pleasure and pain of this material world and that of the spiritual world is that in the spiritual world the effect is qualitatively absolute. Therefore one may feel sorry in the absolute world, but the manifestation of so-called pain is always full of bliss. For instance, once Lord Kṛṣṇa, in His childhood, was chastised by His mother, Yaśodā, and Lord Kṛṣṇa cried. But although He shed tears from His eyes, this is not to be considered a reaction of the mode of ignorance, for the incident was full of transcendental pleasure. When Kṛṣṇa was playing in so many ways, sometimes it appeared that He caused distress to the gopīs, but actually such dealings were full of transcendental bliss. That is the difference between the material and spiritual worlds.

The spiritual world, where everything is pure, is pervertedly reflected in this material world. Since everything in the spiritual world is absolute, in the spiritual varieties of apparent pleasure and pain there is no perception other than eternal bliss, whereas in the material world, because everything is contaminated by the modes of material nature, there are feelings of pleasure and pain. Therefore because Lord Śiva, although a fully self-realized person, was in charge of the material mode of ignorance, he felt sorrow.

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Value of Krishna

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If there's something that I like and Krishna does not like, I hate that. Whereas if there's anything that Krishna likes I too like that-Srimati Radhika

(Similarly the enemies of Krishna are enemies for His devotees and the enemies of devotees are enemies of Krishna. Because of the Love between Krishna and His devotees)

Sri Rukmini-If you are not prepared to accept me and save me from my marriage to Sisupala. I dont bother and I will perform penances

 for one hundred lives until I attain You. That's the determination we should have.

Intense Greed that I am prepared to anything to get shelter at Krishna's Lotus feet is what it takes. Maya says why do you waste your time. Lets watch TV. 

Why do you waste time? become this become that. A pure devotee says I will do anything to get Krishna.

Acceptance of the Lord as one's guardian or master. By constitution, We are servants, we are not masters. Whether you are a 

devotee or someone you have to serve someone. you want to serve Ravan? you want to serve Krishna?

Self surrender. No reservation no holding back. A good mother will do anything for the child. Mother's have full self surrender to the children.

 Best example is gopis. When the gopis where approached, Narada muni went to Brahmins and said Krishna has head ache. The only thing

 that cures Him is the dust of your feet. You are joking and if we do that we will goto hell.

And then Narada muni went to Gopis, and said the only thing that cures is dust from your feet. The brahmins only thought of themselves 

but the Gopis are always thinking of Krishna's pleasure.

Humiltiy means I am nothing more and nothing less..but an insignificant eternal servant of the Krishna. Thats humility. 

Our designations here are just some roles.

Find those who are meek and humble. if you associate with them you will be happy and successful.