---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Dr Satish Gosain (Sri Krishna Hari Das)" <sri.krishna.hari@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:10:57 +0530
Subject: Sriman-Mahaprabhor-Asta-Kaliya-Lila
To:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Saci Gaurasundara Das . <sachin.kguptaa@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 2:56 PM
Subject: Sriman-Mahaprabhor-Asta-Kaliya-Lila
To:

AUSPICIOUS PRAYERS FOR REMEMBERING THE
EIGHT-FOLD DAILY PASTIMES OF
SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU

*by Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura*

THE GLORIES OF THE LORD'S DAILY PASTIMES

*1. sri-gauranga-mahaprabhos-caranayor ya kesa-sesadibhih*
*
sevagamyataya sva-bhakta-vihita sanyair-yaya labhyate
tam tan-manasikim smrtim prathayitum bhavyam sada sattamair
naumi pratyahikam tadiya-caritam sriman-navadvipa-jam
*

Devotional service to the lotus feet of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu is far
beyond the perception of Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Lord Sesa-naga and the
rest; but it is continually indulged in by the Lord's own devotees, and it
is always available to other souls as well. Now I will begin my description
of the process of manasi-seva (service to the Lord executed within the
mind). This process is fit for continuous remembrance by the most virtuous
sages. Therefore I offer my most respectful obeisances to the eternal daily
life and pastimes of the Lord born in Navadvipa.

BRIEF CODES DESCRIBING HIS DAILY SCHEDULE

*2. ratryante sayanotthitah sura-sarit-snato vabhau yah prage*
*
purvahne sva-ganair-lasaty upavane-tair-bhati madhyahnake
yah puryam-aparahnake nija-grhe sayam grhe 'thangane
srivasasya nisamukhe nisi vasan gaurah sa no raksatu
*

At the end of night (before sunrise), Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gets up
from His bed, stretches His body, talks with His wife and washes His face;
(2) in the morning, He is massaged with oil and bathes in the celestial
Ganges river, then worships Lord Vishnu; (3) in the forenoon period, He
enjoys discussing topics about Lord Krishna with His devotees during visits
to their homes; (4) at midday, He enjoys pastimes in the gardens on the bank
of the Ganges; (5) in the afternoon, He wanders about the town of Navadvipa,
sporting with all the residents; (6) at dusk, he returns home to worship
Lord Vishnu and perform other rituals; (7) in the evening, He goes with His
associates to the courtyard of Srivasa Pandita to chant the holy names and
dance in ecstasy; (8) and at night, He returns home to go to sleep. May this
Lord Gaura protect us all.

PERIOD 1 (3:36 - 6:00 A.M.) : PASTIMES AT THE END OF THE NIGHT

*3. ratryante pika-kukkutadi-ninadam strutva sva-talpotthitah*
*
sri-visnu-priyaya samam rasa-katham sambhasya santosya tam
gatva 'nyatra dharasanopari vasan svad-bhih sudhautanano
yo matradi-bhir-iksito 'ti-muditas tam gauram-adhyemy-aham
*

At the end of the night, upon hearing the pleasant sounds made by many birds
such as the cuckoos, the roosters, and others, Sri Gaura arises from His
bed. With His wife, Sri Vishnu Priya, He discusses many topics concerning
the transcendental mellows of Their mutual loving affairs, and thus They
become very pleased. Then He gets up and goes to another room, wherein He
sits upon a raised sitting place and is assisted by His devotees in washing
His lotus face with nicely scented water. Thereafter, He very happily visits
His mother, Sri Saci Devi, as well as other friends and relatives in the
home. I meditate thus on the daily pastimes of Sri Gaura-sundara.

PERIOD 2 (6:00-8:24 A.M.) : MORNING PASTIMES

*4. pratah svah sariti sva-parsada-vrtah snatva prasun-adi-bhis*
*
tam sampujya grhita-caru-vasanah srak-candan-alankrtah
krtva visnu-samarcan-adi sa-gano bhuktv-annam-acamya ca
dvitram canya-grhe sukam svapiti yas tam gauram-adhyemy-aham
*

In the morning, after sunrise, the Lord goes with His associates to bathe in
the Ganges river. While bathing, they also worship mother Ganges by offering
flowers, incense, and other presentations. After this, they come onto the
bank of the river, where He is dressed with exquisite cloth and decorated
with fresh flower garlands, sandalwood paste and other ornaments. Then they
all return to His home in order to perform opulent worship of Lord Vishnu,
as well as other rituals, after which they partake of the foodstuffs which
were offered to Lord Vishnu. After washing His hands and mouth, Lord Gaura
goes into another room to rest very happily for awhile. I meditate thus on
the daily pastimes of Sri Gaura-hari.

PERIOD 3 (8:24-10:48) : FORENOON PASTIMES

*5. purvahne sayanotthitah su-payasa praksalya vaktr-ambujam*
*
bhaktaih sri-hari-nama-kirtana-paraih sarddham svayam kirtayan
bhaktanam bhavane 'pi ca sva-bhavane kridan-nrnam vardhayaty-
anandam pura-vasinam ya urudha tam gauram-adhyemy-aham
*

Upon the arrival of the forenoon period, the Lord gets up from His nap and
stretches His body. Then he washes His lotus face with sweetly scented
water. Meeting with His devotees, who are all very fond of chanting Sri
Hari-nama-kirtana, He personally tastes and relishes the chanting of the
holy names. Thus He sports, sometimes in the homes of various devotees, and
sometimes in His own home. It this way, He increases the ecstatic pleasure
of all the townspeople to limitless heights. I meditate thus on the daily
pastimes of Sri Gaura-chandra.

PERIOD 4 (10:48 A.M. - 3:36 P.M.) : MIDDAY PASTIMES

*6. madhyahne saha taih sva-parsada-ganaih samkirtayad-bhir-bhrsam*
*
sadvaitendu-gadadharah kila saha-srilavadhuta-prabhuh
arame mrdu-marutaih sisiritair-bhrnga-dvijair-nadite
svam vrnda-vipinam smaran bhrahmati yas tam gauram-adhyemy-aham
*

During the midday period, Lord Caitanya continues to enjoy the performance
of intensely enthusiastic chanting and dancing, surrounded by His own dear
devotees such as the moon-like Advaita Acarya, Gadadhara Pandita, and the
divine madman Srila Nityananda Prabhu. Afterwards, they all wander
throughout the gardens and groves on the bank of the Ganges, where they
enjoy the sweet cooling breezes from the river. Hearing the pleasant sounds
of the bumblebees in those gardens, the Lord remembers His own ecstatic
pastimes of Radha and Krishna as they are occurring simultaneously in His
own forest of Vrndavana. I meditate thus on the daily pastimes of Sri
Gauranga.

PERIOD 5 (3:36-6:00 P.M.) : AFTERNOON PASTIMES

*7. yah sriman-aparahnake saha-ganais tais-tadrsaih premavams-*
*
ta-drksu svayam apyalam tri-jagatam sarmani vistarayan
aramattata eti paura-janata-caksus-cakorodupo
matra dvari-mudeksito nija-grham tam gauram-adhyemy-aham
*

During the splendidly beautiful afternoon period, the Lord and His devotees
become equally maddened in ecstatic love, and being ornamented like this,
they expand every-increasing ripples of auspicious benefit for all the three
worlds. In this mood, they leave the gardens and travel back toward His
home. On the way, they satisfy the eyes of all the townspeople, just as the
moon satisfies the cakora bird with its moonbeams. Reaching home, the Lord
is lavished with loving attentions by His mother. I thus meditate on the
daily pastimes of Gaura.

PERIOD 6 (6:00-8:24) : SUNSET PASTIMES

*8. yas-tri-srotasi sayam-apta-nivahaih snatva pradipali-bhih*
*
puspadyais ca samarcitah kalita-sat-pattambarah srag-dharah
visnos-tat-samay-arcanam ca krtavan dipali-bhis taih samam
bhuktv-annani su-vitikam api tatha tam gauram-adhyemy-aham
*

At dusk, the Lord bathes with His dear friends in the river Ganges, who
flows in three parts. They devoutly worship the Ganges by offering ghee
lamps, flowers, and other articles. Afterwards, the Lord puts on fresh
silken clothes and is adorned with flower garlands and other decorations.
Then, He worships Lord Vishnu by performing the evening arati ceremony,
offering ghee lamps and other articles. Afterwards, He and His friends
partake of the foodstuffs and betal nuts that were offered to Lord Vishnu. I
thus meditate on the daily pastimes of Lord Gaura.

PERIOD 7 (8:24-10:48 P.M.) : EVENING PASTIMES

*9. yah srivasa-grhe pradosa-samaye hy-advaita-candradi-bhih*
*
sarvair-bhakta-ganaih samam hari-katha-piyusam-asvadayan
premananda-samakulas-catula-dhih samkirtane-lampatah
kartum kirtanam-urdhvam-udyama-paras tam gauram-adhyemy-aham
*

In the evening time, the Lord goes to the home of Srivasa Pandita,
accompanied by Srila Advaita-chandra and other dear associates. Meeting with
the multitude of His devotees, He tastes and relishes the nectar of topics
concerning Lord Hari, and His mind becomes most agitated with the ecstasies
of pure love of Godhead. Then, becoming very lustful to relish the
congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, He orchestrates the
performance of intensely jubilant sankirtana which attains the summit of
passionate glorification of the holy names. I thus meditate on the daily
pastimes of Sri Gaura-sundara.

PERIOD 8 (10:48 P.M. - 3:36 A.M.) : MIDNIGHT PASTIMES

*10. srivas-angana avrto nija-ganaih sarddham prabhu-bhyam natann-*
*
uccais-tala-mrdanga-vadana-parair gayad-bhir-ullasayan
bhramyan srila-gadadharena sahito naktam vibhaty-adbhutam
svagare sayanalaye svapiti yas tam gauram-adhyemy-aham
*

Continuing well into the night, the Lord dances and dances in the courtyard
of Srivasa, surrounded by His most intimate devotees. His most ecstatic sing
is accompanied by His devotees who are expert in playing rhythms loudly on
the mridanga drums. He wanders and dances with Sri Gadadhara Prabhu in the
most astonishinng way, througout the night, until just before dawn. Then He
returns to His own home, where retires to His bedchamber and falls asleep
with His wife. I thus meditate on the daily pastimes of Sri Gaura-nataraja.

THE BENEFIT OF RECITING THIS PRAYER

*11. sri-gauranga-vidhoh sva-dhamani navadvipe 'sta-kalodbhavam*
*
bhavyam bhavya-janena gokula-vidhor-lila-smrter-aditah
lilam dyotayad-etad-atra dasakam prityanvito yah pathet
tam prinati sadaiva yah karunaya tam gauram-adhyemy-aham
*

Sri Gauranga, the Moon over Navadvipa, is manifest in His own abode during
eight periods of each day and every day. His pastimes should be remembered
by meditative devotees before they remember the pastimes of Sri Krishna, the
Moon over Gokula. If someone lovingly reads or recites the Lord's eternal
daily pastimes as they are illuminated in the ten verses of this prayer,
then the Lord is immensely pleased with that person, by His own merciful
compassion. I thus meditate on the daily pastimes of Sri Gaurachandra.

*Reprinted with permission from Krsna Prema Vani magazine, Vol. 2, No. 2,
March, 1995. Copyright Hari Nama Mission, Badger, California.* *

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
*

**
*

To serve the feet of the acaryas in association of the devotees is my
desire birth after birth

Your Humble Servent :-Saci Gaurasundara Das

Chant:Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,Hare Rama Hare
Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.& be Happy

To unsubscribe these mails send a email to: sachin.kguptaa@gmail.com

*

--
Yours Servant

Sri Krishna Hari Das
(Dr Satish Gosain MBBS DNB i Med)
Congregational Preacher, ISKCON, Delhi, NCR & Gurgaon.
Dr Bharti Nursing Home, B-30 hari Nagar, New Delhi 110064
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--
Yours
Dinesh

Fwd: Sriman-Mahaprabhor-Asta-Kaliya-Lila

Glimpse of Sri Krishna Caitanya's Pastimes!

1who desires2b free frm all miseries must hear abt,glorify&also
remember d SupremeLordKrsna,who is d Supersoul,d Controller&d Saviour
from all miseries-SB#2.1.5

Happy or Hippy?

In today's world,when v talk d truth people kick us but if v cheat by
some word jugglery,v will be welcomed.People have almost gotten crazy
dat they dont
know wat is real good4d self.There
was a girl with a bone tied around her neck.When asked,she says it's
fashion.industrialization creates only crazy hippies as in d west.

--
Yours
Dinesh

Gotten Crazy???

The Duty Must Be There!

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 19/02/11

First in Krishna Consciousness there is a duty, which must be there. There are so many duties – duties to the spiritual master, duties to principles of purity, duties according to the scriptures, duties given to us by the arcaryas. It governs everything - the time we rise and the duty must be there first. If duty is not in place, then there is something hollow, and then there is the vacuum in our spiritual life. When there is such a vacuum, than our bhakti cannot really grow. For sometime, it may look like that bhakti grows very nicely, but if there is a vacuum remaining in our duty, then all that bhakti that emerges so nicely – will at one point just collapse! So the duty must be there!


(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm, February 2011)

The Duty Must Be There!

We Have To Make it Meaningful

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 20/02/11

Once upon a time, I was travelling around the world and I came to a particular town where the City was located on the coast. I went to the local temple and the temple president wasn't there, so I asked where he was. They said:

"Oh, he went to the beach"

I said, "Okay".

They said, " Three days ago?"

"Three days ago?"

"Yes - three days ago, and he never returned."

So, being from the Netherlands and having a thing with the sea, I naturally took advantage of the situation, to go to the beach. I went there, and yes I saw him, and he was sitting in front of the ocean – staring out over the water. Well, I sat down next to him and didn't say anything. After about fifteen or twenty minutes, I said to him:

"Nice view isnt it?"

Well, you know from one thing gradually another and we wound up with a whole conversation. Then he started to reveal his heart – and what it was…what it really was – there were was a question that hit him which was:
"Who am I? Reeeaaally?"

That question had come into his mind and that question remained in his mind for three days now. So you could say it was an acute identity crisis, which happens in this world. Some people indeed suffer from an identity crisis, and it also happens to devotees who at one point just after years of practise of actually following devotional standards of going through the sashtras, as outlined by Srila Rupa Goswami, and seriously engaging in hearing, chanting and cultivating devotional service - some people get this identity crisis: 'Why? What is it?' Because, all along they were in a Shakespearian production. They were somewhere on stage acting out a role, but somehow or another it didn't really hit home – it didn't really connect to their feelings. Yes that can happen. This particular case was a little extreme. I do not think that there are many such stories of people going to the beach from Krishna Consciousness – not that, but others are showing the same symptoms but through another degree, but still wondering: "Who am I really?"


So with Krishna Consciousness, if we really want it to happen for us, then we have to make it meaningful. Meaningful – first of all for Krishna, because we are doing everything for Krishna, and Krishna also means the spiritual master – because he is the representative of Krishna!


(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm, February 2011)

We Have To Make it Meaningful

Another ISKCON !

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Jan) on 21/02/11

We are in the material world and we cannot understand what happens, when someone leaves the material world, we cannot see where a person goes. The most difficult thing, when someone leaves this planet is that they go from our sight, if we could only see where they are for a moment, than it would be so much easier, than it would be much easier to accept.

In Kartika we heard a story during some remembrances about Srila Prabhupada and there was a grhasta couple and the wife somehow or other died and then the husband was very upset and very alone and then that night in a dream Prabhupada came and Prabhupada said:
"Would you like to talk to your wife?" 
He said: "Yes, yes!" And then he heard her voice. He couldn't see her but he heard her voice and she said that:"Everything is all right here, it's very nice. Jayananda is here, Visnujana is here, George Harrison is here also! And Prabhupada is here and everything is very nice." 

So from that story it seemed, that what Prabhupada used to say, that there is another ISKCON in the spiritual world, that there really is another ISKCON in the spiritual world and that everybody is there and so on... no more politics - maybe a little bit, but transcendental. So don't worry. Anyway, so that is all very nice. So after hearing that he felt very relieved from his sadness. And thought:
"Oh everything is fine, now I know she's all right, everything O.K." And he felt a lot better.

So there is no doubt, there is no doubt that for a devotee the future is very auspicious.

Another ISKCON !

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Mathajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.

Recently I was going through the diary which contained my conversations with our beloved Gurudev, HDG Mahavishnu Gosvami Maharaj. I seek the permission of the devotees to allow me to share an excerpt from one of the conversations. I will try and list down the points which I had taken down on my note book. We had noted this conversation down in point form. In this mail we have tried to put together all the points in paragraphs for ease of reading, as such the sentences may not be flowing as it should be. Kindly forgive us.

During one phone conversation, I had asked Maharaj that despite having the desire to preach and do more in devotional service, I was not able to push myself to practically execute that desire due to some form of inertia. The answer that Maharaj gave proved the type of unique transcendental experience he had in dealing with any matter put in front of him.

Maharaj said, "The motive must be very clear. Why do we want to preach and do more in seva? A sincere road sweeper is better than a fake transcendentalist. Please remember this. Have the desire, but don't worry too much about it. The time will come when these desires will be fulfilled, a time when you will be free to spend more time with such things. The word inertia is very nice. Even though desire is there we cannot do. This inertia is because of contact with modes. Our activities are not controlled thats why the modes are always fighting with each other within us. The desire to do the seva is in the mode of goodness, the inertia is there because passion and ignorance are fighting with goodness. Until the activities are controlled the inertia will always keep the desire dormant.

You should not get into these things artificially. The inertia also is naturally there because you are artificially trying to get into these things. Just be sincere. Try to squeeze sadhana in your daily life. As you fit your sadhana in, then your day becomes full. Don't make time for unnecessary things. Even if sense gratification must be present, please keep it very minimal and in that also four regulative principles must be maintained. The best way to enjoy is to stick to these principles. As the day is full with your work and sadhana then your senses are not exposed to matter. The reason for inertia and lethargy is our senses and mind being are exposed to matter in the modes. This matter drains our energy. This matter is the unnecessary activities. If our activities dwell around work, sadhana and regulated sense gratification then our senses are in-line to come and grasp the spiritual topics. It may be difficult to maintain this routine but we must try. In this routine we can experience happiness in the modes of goodness. And being satisfied and happy like this we can slowly free ourselves from the attachments. Like this, freedom is achieved to execute the desire to preach and perform more seva. Just be sincere in your day to day life. Remember Krishna sincerely. Just remember Him. Does it take so much effort to remember? It is not a show. In your own time just remember Him. Where is the difficulty?

Look at our Prabhupada, the structure of his life - how he gradually moved with desire to preach, how he conducted his activities. Eventually he was free to convert the whole world. Every soul is unique. Understand your position and conduct your activities according to the instructions of Bhagavatam. Be honest, remember Krishna intensely in all your activities, don't hanker and you will have your freedom to preach. This I guarantee."

Maharaj ended off with a very interesting point with regards to preaching, "We should not lose our self in the fire of preaching. Exhaustion for preachers is very bad. We should look fresh and bright to everyone who comes in front of us. That is devotee. If we preach to the extent that we are completely lost, what is the point? Preaching should not be done for sense gratification. Preaching is a must, but regulated life is also needed. These things we must understand practically."

My master made it so clear to me as always. If I ever go wrong in this life I only have myself to blame. Prabhus and Mathajis, please kindly keep us in your prayers. All glories to Gurudev.

I will end this post with a jewel from Srila Gurudev which HG Devakinandan prabhu had shared with us. It is very much related to what Maharaj was trying to emphasize in the above conversation. Maharaj said, "One requires unlimited patience to create favourable circumstances to liberate oneself from material sense gratification."

Thankyou very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Madan Mohan das,
Singapore.

How to Execute the Desire to Preach?

Digest 345: March 15th, 2011. Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja
You are invited to send your questions to His Holiness Romapada Swami at
iskcondcr@gmail.com with the word "Question" included in the subject line or
submit your question at http://www.romapadaswami.com/?q=feedback/Question.

Dhruva Maharaja and our material motivations
````````````````````````````````````````
721) How did Dhruva Maharaja get purified, even though he had a material
motivation/desire (of getting the highest kingdom) in following Narada's
instructions? Does it mean that we should follow the Spiritual Master's
instructions even if our motivation to follow them is material? Will this
eventually purify our material desire? And how do we see it in the light of
Bhagavatam (1.2.6) which emphasizes ahaituki bhakti?

Answer: Having material desires itself does not bar one from approaching
Krishna. Srimad Bhagavatam emphasizes:

       akamah sarva -kamo va
       moksa kama udara-dhih
       tivrena bhakti-yogena
       yajeta purusam param (SB 2.3.10)

Whether one is desireless, or full of material desires, or desirous of
liberation, in any case an intelligent person should engage in
*tivra-bhakti*. "Tivra" indicates great force, like that of concentrated
sun-rays. By the force of such tivra-bhakti, executed under proper guidance,
material desires are purified.

SB 1.2.6 is a description of the *process* by which one can attain to the
stage of ahaituki-bhakti, even if one may not possess it at the outset. Such
a process is described as the best religion; it alone can bring full
satisfaction. What is that process? That is elaborated in subsequent verses
in SB 1.2.12-22. The process is, with single-pointed attention, hear about,
glorify, remember and worship the Supreme Lord. It begins with hearing and
serving the mahats or great souls. (Verse 16) By that endeavor, ignorance,
passion, lust, greed etc are destroyed almost to nil, and irrevocable
devotion is established.

Dhruva Maharaja's success lay in meticulously applying this process -- as a
result, he attained ahaituki-bhakti.

While Dhruva's example is highly encouraging for all beginning devotees, we
should also carefully observe *how* Dhruva Maharaja executed the
instructions given to him.

  - Dhruva was very sincere in his purpose -- not merely to achieve the
greatest kingdom, but to do so *ONLY by pleasing Vishnu*. He requested
Narada to give him an "honest" path to achieve his goal. (SB 4.8.37)
  - He was willing to sacrifice anything and undergo any difficulty to
please Vishnu. He was not looking for any other material means or short-cut
to fulfill his desire by hook or by crook.
  - He strictly followed all the directions of Narada with great enthusiasm
and determination, without compromise, without considering personal
convenience or inconvenience.

This tivra-bhakti purified him. Please study Srila Prabhupada's purport to
SB 4.8.72.

Materially motivated persons generally go to some demigod, or some
influential personality within this world, or rely on some material method
to quickly achieve their desires.

       kanksantah karmanam siddhim
        yajanta iha devatah
       ksipram hi manus e loke
       siddhir bhavati karma-ja

Krishna can easily and quickly fulfill all desires, in fact it is He who
fulfills everyone's desires - directly or through many agents. (nityo
nityanam cetanas cetananam eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman). But those who
are too materially attached are reluctant to approach Krishna directly,
because they know that Krishna will only fulfill the desires after purifying
them of those desires! Although bhakti is very easy and simple, because of
strong attachments, they would rather prefer to adopt much more troublesome
austerities within this world to achieve their desires. But a sincere soul
like Dhruva, even if they desire material gain, is determined to accept it
only if Krsna offers it, without depending on any other means. This honest,
non-duplicitous devotion attracts Krsna's attention.

The presence of material desire does not, or should not, hinder our taking
shelter of a spiritual master. We should honestly admit our heart before the
spiritual master, seek his direction, and then sincerely follow it, without
worrying about success or failure, or in other words, fully confident of
success.

A sincere disciple humbly admits that he is bound up by hundreds of desires,
which is all the more reason why he is dependent the special mercy and
instructions of spiritual master. This is the mood in which Devahuti
approaches Kapila: "I am sick of the disturbance cause by my material
desires and have fallen into the abyss of ignorance. You are my
transcendental eye, you are the ax that cuts the material existence..." Note
that the purpose of approaching the spiritual master is to become free from
these desires; or at least, to fulfill them ONLY by pleasing Krishna,
whatever it entails. The not-so-sincere position is to approach a saintly
person with the idea that he will give blessings by which all my troubles
will be easily removed, all my wishes will magically come true, so I can
continue to enjoy life happily ever after, independent of Krishna!

Having material desires itself does not bar one from approaching Krishna

Choosing our influences for our sacred space

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (aatish) on 8/03/11

We can choose what influences we allow to enter into our consciousness.
We can declare our consciousness as a sacred space:

"This consciousness is something that I declare a sacred space and within this consciousness I'll try and bring in influences that are uplifting, that are giving me strength and that are adding to my happiness"


Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Sydney 2010)

Choosing our influences for our sacred space

Change is Now!

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 13/03/11

Change is now! We must discipline ourselves, but it is difficult - so let us take shelter of devotional service, that is our hope! And we see that those devotees who are serious about taking on some service in Prabhupada's movement, they become transformed overtime. They are the ones that overtime somehow or another begin to change. The devotees who are half hearted and half baked potatoes – time for half baked service – they never quite make it. They are the flaky ones!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)

Change is Now!

Purity Is The Force And Not Intellectualism!

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 15/03/11

The best is to simply glorify Krishna, that's what Prabhupada did. He didn't care about such things – where he was or who the audience was. He would just glorify Krishna and as it came, and that is the essence, because purity is the force and not intellectualism, if we are trying to cater for the audience. Prabhupada said:

"In our preaching we are not trying to please the audience - we are trying to please Krishna, and that is an important point".

We are faithful to pleasing Krishna. We are not trying to present ourselves in such as way that the audience will be so pleased. No, if we in our speech we are trying to please Krishna than automatically people will be attracted, because the purity will be there – That's a guarantee! So simply please Krishna, and the more we will become faithful towards Krishna. Therefore, it is important to absorb the words of Krishna - just absorb and keep very close to them.

You can see that Prabhupada in his preaching is very chaste and that he is using so many examples directly from the scripture. He uses metaphors – very much scriptural, because we can understand that Prabhupada throughout his life must have been in close contact with the scripture, considering that he took Sanayas relatively very late – it's not that he started learning the scripture at that time and read it for the first time. No, he must have studied it earlier when the mind was more fresh and when he could remember, because in old age the memory goes, unless one has over prolonged period of time had absorbed the knowledge. So our business is Bhagavad Gita every day, and if you missed yesterday than you have to read the double today! So everyday there is some connection.


(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)

Purity Is The Force And Not Intellectualism!

A Glorious End jahnavi | March 15, 2011 at 11:47 pm | Tags: cremation, death, funeral, kirtan, Krishna | Categories: Inspiration!, Krishna Consciousness | URL: http://wp.me/p1Fgd-af

Some days remain etched within the mind forever. I think yesterday was one I will never forget.

I've only attended a few funerals in my life. None have been for people I was particularly close to, but all were moving in their own way. I'm sure everyone remembers the first time they saw a dead body - that strange twist of fear and morbid fascination and loss. I always felt so uncomfortable at the outpouring of emotion. As a teenager, I felt confused at what I was supposed to do. Should I try and cry, even if I don't feel it? Would people appreciate it if I try and be lighthearted? Am I supposed to comfort people, or do they want to be left alone?

Yesterday's ceremony was perhaps one of the most cathartic, moving experiences I've ever had. Close to eight hundred people gathered at the North London crematorium to pay last respects. One hundred and fifty crowded the small, sunlit chapel, whilst the remainder watched outside on TV screens. I sat with a few friends in a corner behind the plinth where the coffin would eventually sit. We were there with harmonium, kartals, mridanga, flute and violin to lead the major portion of the ceremony - continuous kirtan. Several family members gave beautiful speeches, glorifying the unique qualities of their father, uncle and brother. They spoke of his generous, unfailingly open heart and his humility. His desire to serve others and his lighthearted, loving nature were celebrated by so many. From my vantage point at the front of the room, I could see heads nodding as they spoke, each a moving testament to the truth of their words. The time line of his life was recited. It almost felt as if we walked through a gallery, examining images and memories, and fragments of a life, mapping his journey up to the present moment. It can be sobering to hear a life summarised. One life seems so short - a fluttering rush of days and months, like a moth falling towards a flame. But even a short life is glorious when lived with integrity and substance.

After speeches the front and back doors were thrown open, the March wind gusting in with the shafts of sunlight. A non stop line of people passed through, holding flower petals which they placed at his feet as a sign of respect. The kirtan began, and the sound carried up to the high ceiling. Watching every person pass, I was captivated by the range of emotions on each face. So many kinds of tears - of love, of pain and loss, of joy. Some were overwhelmed and wept uncontrollably, whilst others looked on his face with a steady gaze and peaceful heart. Children passed, looking dazed or distressed, and teenagers, trying to control emotions they never expected. Old friends, colleagues, saffron clad monks. Perhaps the worst to see were his parents, saying goodbye to a cherished son. They lovingly touched his face and walked away from the coffin with faltering steps. I sat watching, singing and playing my violin - trying to stay present to my task but finding tears streaming down my face at unexpected moments. They dripped down my nose, falling all over my violin. I looked over at my friends to see them crying too. My dear friend sang with her eyes closed, only pausing once in two continuous hours because emotion overwhelmed her.

Despite so many tears, as the ceremony drew closer to the end, an indescribable feeling of joy began to rise within the room. Voices called with such love and focus. The sound was heavenly in a rare way. With an irresistible rise and fall, the mridanga drum picked up tempo, and a few men began to dance. They stood beside the coffin, gazing at their old friend with such love, arms raised, swaying and stepping in time. More joined in and soon almost everyone was standing and moving to the beat - even those looking on from the rear balcony. I wondered if it was disrespectful to dance at a funeral? It certainly seemed incongruous in the white walled, Victorian chapel. But no one cared - in those last moments, all sounds were of loving prayer - every tear stained face decorated with a smile.

Then silence fell, and my Dad recited the final prayers from the ancient Upanishads. 'Let this temporary body be burnt to ashes, and let the air of life be merged with the totality of air. Now, O my Lord, please remember all my sacrifices, and because You are the ultimate beneficiary, please remember all that I have done for You.' We repeated the words together, speaking one final prayer that described the glory of kirtan as the garden-like oasis for the weary soul. Then with the press of a button, it was all over. Vacuums were quickly whipped out to clean away the petals and everyone was ushered out.

May we all lead lives rich with love and service, that flower in such a glorious end.

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What is DevotionalService(or BhaktiYoga)?
If 1offers Me,a fruit,leaf,water,flower with devotion,I accept.I can b
known as I am only by DevotionalService-LordKrsna,BG.Any activity dat
is favorable4Krsna,without any motive4attaining knowledge or any
fruitive results4d self is called Bhakti(Dev.Service)-NOD

--
Yours
Dinesh

Devotional Service is d only means!

2Ctrl d senses by physical yoga,1has2leave home,ctrl breath&completely
free d mind from sex desire in a lonely place&eat only
roots&fruits.This yogic practice has been rejected by Arjuna
himself,5000yrs ago as impractical.DevotionalService2Krsna(BhaktiYoga)
is d simplest means
recommended by LordKrsna,BG.

--
Yours
Dinesh

Shoot the roots!

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