(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Helsinki, Finland, 2011)

I was in the forest in Germany with two people, of whom one was saying:

'It was impossible to chant'.

And the other one was explaining how it took him six years to get to sixteen rounds….little by little. They were perfect for each other. I could have never preached to this person in the same way as he could, because I didn't take six years, since when I started to chanted I thought one round meant that you go up and down (with the japa bead), from the way they were explaining to me. It sounded as though one round meant that you have to go one way and then back the other way, which counts as one round. So I chanted 32 rounds! It took a few days before I realised:

"What is wrong with me? I cannot finish these rounds!"

But he had taken six years to gradually step by step get up to sixteen rounds. He was explaining it to the other boy who felt very encouraged by it! So there are different people that need to go at a different pace

Below is a link to the morning program given by Kadamba Kanana Swami earlier this year in Helsinki, Finland. Enjoy the nectar!!

Helsinki – Morning Program

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

I was once at a program with all these western people, and Bhakti Charu Maharaja was leading the program in Amsterdam. At one point he said to all these western people:

"And now fold your hands and now we are going to pray!"

In Europe, usually you would not say that to people………you have to be careful, by not saying the word 'pray' or the word 'God'….you don't say that too much since they do not like hearing it in the lecture. A little bit is okay but, not saying the word 'God' twenty times in a lecture. So Bhakti Charu Maharaja was sayng:

"Now everyone fold your hands".

Because he was an Indian Guru they did it! If I would have said it, then they would never have done it, but because he was Indian they just did it! And suddenly you see all these atheistic people praying! They have never prayed in their lives! So they are allergic to these things,

If you say the word 'God' a lot of the times, then they say:

"You are trying to convert me!"

So one has to be more careful, and we cannot be so direct by saying 'God' and 'pray' and all these words – that's why they like words like 'yoga' and 'meditation'. So instead of 'praying' you can say 'meditation', and instead of 'religion' you can say' yoga'.

If they are religious, then be a little alert, since the church has been very heavy on the people for a hundreds of years:

"You are going to hell if you don't do that! Pay your donations or you'll burn and burn!"

People have turned away from the churches and they are allergic from religion. It is not just that they are outright atheistic – it's the church that has made them into atheists with their heavy preaching. So they are allergic from religious words!

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

In the beginning I liked Krishna Consciousness. The deities were beautiful. The singing was very sacred – I liked it. Prashadam was attractive. I liked the books and I thought they were deep and profound, so I liked these things. The principles and all the duties I found them difficult – I found it to be a struggle, with so many duties and rules to follow.

Initially I struggled a bit by doing all that, but I had strong faith and I believed in it, so I decided:

"Okay, so I have to get serious about this".

I got very serious and then I was not able to go into deep meditation on Krishna, therefore I took responsibility for practical service. I could understand the difference between:

Sometimes doing service and taking responsibilities. I took responsibility and then the devotees gave me more and more responsibilities. In that my surrender was challenged again and again, because of these services I had to do all kinds of things that I would never have done. That I had to do just like everyone. For instance if you start a company then you have to surrender and maybe work till midnight. Everyone worked till five but since you had started the company, then you have to work till midnight, otherwise your company is finished…….. so you have to surrender now!

So if you take on the responsibility for Krishna, then you are forced to surrender. So within that surrender, the material desires have to go in the background. Overtime one finds that they are diminished, and then one can become very fixed in ones service and in wanting to surrender and so on.

Naturally, once you become very fixed in that type of service then the taste begins to come………more and more taste! And such taste goes deeper and deeper. Clearly then one develops a genuine and deeper attachment to Krishna – then Krishna becomes one's life and soul! What else is there when it's all:

'Krishna…Krishna………….Krishna, all day long!'

So that's the result and everyone will get there. It's not like it will happen to some and not to others. No! It's not like that!

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

In Kartika we will try for pure devotional service. In this month one can take vows to perform some special service! Because this month is the month of Srimati Radharani who is especially noticing this service that we render.

When she recommends us to Krishna, then Krishna will also be inclined towards us and she is very compassionate and soft hearted. Therefore, this month is especially a very favourable time to try and attract mercy!

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

There is a chance during this month to make a special advancement. Especially whoever goes to Vrindavan during the months of Kartika is very fortunate. It is said because in Vrindavan, during Kartika one can make many times more advancement under normal conditions – it's a thousand times more!

Therefore, being in Vrindavan during Kartika is very, very special. Not all of us have the opportunity or the time to just leave everything and go to Vrindavan for Kartika, but one can at least go in consciousness, because sometimes the acaryas – Srila Jiva Gosvami are pointing out that:

"Mathura is not a place, it's a state of consciousness"

So the consciousness of Mathura (or Vrindavan) is what really transports us there! Therefore we can also invoke that atmosphere from wherever we are, and in that way one can reside in Vrindavan by remembering Vrindavan, because remembrance on the spiritual platform is as good as being there, and we simply remember the spiritual world. So it is a month to meditate on Krishna!

This is a lecture on the topic of the month of Kartika, given by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami on the 11 October 2011 at a home program in Melbourne, Australia.

In the lecture Maharaja explains the importance and meaning of Kartika. He especially emphasises the immense benefit one can make in this month, simply by taking on vows, which then should be kept throughout the whole month.

To download the lecture, click here.