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Bhakti Yoga-Devotional Service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna

Bhakti Yoga-Devotional Service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna
Gopis performing Devotional Service to the Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna

I WILL DO IT!

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via Gouranga-Epistle Of Love by Maral Alimova on 9/9/11


-Why? Why? Why? I do not understand why to preach?
I see people, they seem to me happy with smiling faces. When I request them to chant the Holy Names they say that no time, no need…
            With these questions I started to disturb senior Devotees. They used to say to me that Lord Gouranga wants it, Srila Prabhupada wants it. Because of that we preach.
-         Why for people Krishna Consciousness? I see them they are really enjoying life even without it.
I lived in the hostel with 6 girls in one room and with more than 400 in whole hostel building. They used to wake up at 8 AM, stand in the line for the bathroom. Washed their faces, teeth, change their clothes into University uniform. And while doing all those things, they used to drink a cup of coffee along with 3-4 cookies.
From 8:30 till 13:00 they were in the classes. In the lunch time, go to the canteen again buy some biscuits, chocolates, tea for their lunch. From 14:00 till late evenings again classes. After school coming to the room they used to jump to their beds and take a nap for minimum 50 minutes.
It seems the late evenings only used to give them some pleasure. Girls all jointly used to go to the canteen for their dinner which consists of wheat noodles. After coming to the room they used to bring out all their food stuffs which they brought from their homes: cookies, candies, breads, butter, some more non vegetarian foods, turn on the computer for movies and sit together for hours and hours.
Consuming food;
Watching movies;
Sometimes discussing the movie;
This part of their daily sadhana used to last for 2-3 hours. After that they used to start to do their home works laying on their beds. And by nature's call they used to fell asleep along with books. In the morning, at 8:00 again the same "song".
 Witnessing this type of life style I used to ask them if they are happy. They used to say me that for 100%!
If they are happy for sure with this life, why we force them to chant the Holy Names?
-         Again and again please, tell me why? If I do not see the reason why should I say them to chant?
I think I made mad senior Devotees.
            One day, while doing my service in the Altar room I really became upset to myself and really needed the true answer to my question. Senior Devotee also started to answer with eagerness and now with strictness.
-         Please, you always inspire us to preach, but why? People are happy without the Holy Names. Plus Krishna is All Mighty! Why He Himself does not change peoples' hearts and make them to become His devotees???
At least he loudly, with serious voice told:
-         Because Krishna can not do only one thing! To glorify Himself.
When he told this, silence filled the big Altar room. His face became red, eyes started to become wet. Trying to stop his tears he widely opened his eyes. With his hand he touched his head as if he is embarrassed and does not know what to do.
            My heart junked.
-         Oh, dear Krishna! Yes, You are All Mighty but also very Modest! You are Personality and You have jewel like 64 qualities!


                                                           I will do it! My Lord!
Just let me take my sword!
Hardly tighten my belt, making ready my hands,
I am going to the fighting fields!
I will do it my Master!
To fulfill my Guru's order!
Warning! Get ready atheists!
Or those who are in impersonal illusions!
I will sharpen my sword,
My teeth will tremble.
Eyes will full with fire,
Because of anger to fight!
  Who blame that Krishna is not God?
Who still do not worship Him?
Who still crawling, closing eye?
Who still have desire to die?
Whose happiness is still meat?
Whose joy is still drugs?
Whose pleasure is still from girls?
Whose success still made of lie?
Eating meat you will be eaten,
Drinking you will be lost.
Having sex you will be destroyed,
Using drug you will get mad.
Existence their made of suffer,
But they've hope: soon ll be better!
Seeing these, Your heart cries my Lord,
But I will do it! I give my word!

No, no! Don't cry! Don't cry, please!
You can't tolerate, I know, material disease.
I will always try and fight!
Keeping eyes open whole day and night!
My horse will be the Song of God,
Orders of Devotees will be the right road.
I'll wear Vaishnava etiquette as a soldier set,
Holy Name is my sword! Very sharp to fight!
Sword will cut the nose of pride,
Eyes of anger, stomach of greed!
Destroy into ashes the cruel envy!
Lust will cry. But dare now to stand before me!
 My Lord! Dry up Your tears, don't cry!
This vision forces my heart to die.
Away push Your worries, stay fully blissful!
I'll do it! 'cause I've sword very powerful!
Whatever I got from You only,
Let serve to Your pleasure lonely!
Clap, clap my hand claps for You!
My soft voice and all the acts for You!
Tak tik taka taka tak
And I won't be able to stop!
Sound of Mridanga will make me dance,
For Your pleasure, that divine glance!
See! My long hands stay now up,
They are empty with no even a drop.
I'm patita with no any suitable words,
Oh Patita Pavana from now I'm fully Yours!

 
 

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MADHVACARYA

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via Padyavali Dasi's Facebook Notes by Padyavali Dasi on 10/6/11

TODAY IS THE APPEARANCE DAY OF SRILA MADHVACARYA:

 

Srila Madhvacarya is the principal acarya, or spiritual teacher, in in the Brahma-sampradaya, the Vaisnava disciplic line from which the Gaudiya sampradaya descends. He was born in Udupi, South India, in the early thirteenth century. At the age of five he took initiation and at the age of twelve left home to take sannyasa. Madhvacarya studied the Vedas under the compiler of the Vedas, Vyasadeva, in the Himalayas. Madhvacarya's Vedanta-sutra commentary Purnaprajna-bhasya establishes the doctrine known as Suddha-dvaita-vada. Madhva used his erudite scholarship to crush the Mayavada (impersonalistic) philosophy and establish devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Caitanya Mahāprabhu next arrived at Uḍupī, the place of Madhvācārya, where the philosophers known as Tattvavādīs resided. There He saw the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa and became mad with ecstasy. CC.Madhya 9.245 (Apperance)

 

 

Śrīpāda Madhvācārya took his birth near Uḍupī, which is situated in the South Kanara district of South India, just west of Sahyādri. This is the chief city of the South Kanara province and is near the city of Mangalore, which is situated to the south of Uḍupī. Near the city of Uḍupī is a place called Pājakā-kṣetra, where Madhvācārya took his birth in a Śivāllī-brāhmaṇa dynasty as the son of Madhyageha Bhaṭṭa, in the year 1040 Śakābda (A.D. 1118). According to some, he was born in the year 1160 Śakābda (A.D. 1238).

 

 

In his childhood Madhvācārya was known as Vāsudeva, and there are some wonderful stories surrounding him. It is said that once when his father had piled up many debts, Madhvācārya converted tamarind seeds into actual coins to pay them off. When he was five years old, he was offered the sacred thread. A demon named Maṇimān lived near his abode in the form of a snake, and at the age of five Madhvācārya killed that snake with the toe of his left foot. When his mother was very much disturbed, he would appear before her in one jump. He was a great scholar even in childhood, and although his father did not agree, he accepted sannyāsa at the age of twelve. Upon receiving sannyāsa from Acyuta Prekṣa, he received the name Pūrṇaprajña Tīrtha. After traveling all over India, he finally discussed scriptures with Vidyāśańkara, the exalted leader of Śṛńgeri-maṭha. Vidyāśańkara was actually diminished in the presence of Madhvācārya. Accompanied by Satya Tīrtha, Madhvācārya went to Badarikāśrama. It was there that he met Vyāsadeva and explained his commentary on the Bhagavad-gītā before him. Thus he became a great scholar by studying before Vyāsadeva.

 

 

By the time he came to the Ānanda-maṭha from Badarikāśrama, Madhvācārya had finished his commentary on the Bhagavad-gītā. His companion Satya Tīrtha wrote down the entire commentary. When Madhvācārya returned from Badarikāśrama, he went to Gañjāma, which is on the bank of the river Godāvarī. There he met with two learned scholars named Śobhana Bhaṭṭa and Svāmī Śastrī. Later these scholars became known in the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya as Padmanābha Tīrtha and Narahari Tīrtha. When he returned to Uḍupī, he would sometimes bathe in the ocean. On such an occasion he composed a prayer in five chapters. Once, while sitting beside the sea engrossed in meditation upon Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, he saw that a large boat containing goods for Dvārakā was in danger. He gave some signs by which the boat could approach the shore, and it was saved. The owners of the boat wanted to give him a present, and at the time Madhvācārya agreed to take some gopī-candana. He received a big lump of gopī-candana, and as it was being brought to him, it broke apart and revealed a large Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The Deity had a stick in one hand and a lump of food in the other. As soon as Madhvācārya received the Deity of Kṛṣṇa in this way, he composed a prayer. The Deity was so heavy that not even thirty people could lift it. Yet Madhvācārya personally brought this Deity to Uḍupī. Eight of Madhvācārya's sannyāsa disciples became directors of his eight monasteries. Worship of the Lord Kṛṣṇa Deity is still going on at Uḍupī according to the plans Madhvācārya established.

 

 

Madhvācārya then for the second time visited Badarikāśrama. While he was passing through Maharashtra, the local king was digging a big lake for the public benefit. As Madhvācārya passed through that area with his disciples, he was also obliged to help in the excavation. After some time, when Madhvācārya visited the king, he engaged the king in that work and departed with his disciples.

 

 

Often in the province of Gāńga-pradeśa there were fights between Hindus and Muslims. The Hindus were on one bank of the river, and the Muslims on the other. Due to the community tension, no boat was available for crossing the river. The Muslim soldiers were always stopping passengers on the other side, but Madhvācārya did not care for these soldiers. He crossed the river anyway, and when he met the soldiers on the other side, he was brought before the king. The Muslim king was so pleased with him that he wanted to give him a kingdom and some money, but Madhvācārya refused. While walking on the road, he was attacked by some dacoits, but by his bodily strength he killed them all. When his companion Satya Tīrtha was attacked by a tiger, Madhvācārya separated them by virtue of his great strength. When he met Vyāsadeva, he received from him the śalagrāma-śilā known as Aṣṭamūrti. After this, he summarized the Mahābhārata.

 

 

Madhvācārya's devotion to the Lord and his erudite scholarship became known throughout India. Consequently the owners of the Śṛńgeri-maṭha, established by Śańkarācārya, became a little perturbed. At that time the followers of Śańkarācārya were afraid of Madhvācārya's rising power, and they began to tease Madhvācārya's disciples in many ways. There was even an attempt to prove that the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya was not in line with Vedic principles. A person named Puṇḍarīka Purī, a follower of the Māyāvāda philosophy of Śańkarācārya, came before Madhvācārya to discuss the śastras. It is said that all of Madhvācārya's books were taken away, but later they were found with the help of King Jayasiḿha, ruler of Kumla. In discussion, Puṇḍarīka Purī was defeated by Madhvācārya. A great personality named Trivikramācārya, who was a resident of Viṣṇumańgala, became Madhvācārya's disciple, and his son later became Nārāyaṇācārya, the composer of Śrī Madhva-vijaya. After the death of Trivikramācārya, the younger brother of Nārāyaṇācārya took sannyāsa and later became known as Viṣṇu Tīrtha.

 

 

It was reputed that there was no limit to the bodily strength of Pūrṇaprajña, Madhvācārya. There was a person named Kaḍañjari who was famed for possessing the strength of thirty men. Madhvācārya placed the big toe of his foot upon the ground and asked the man to separate it from the ground, but the great strong man could not do so even after great effort. Śrīla Madhvācārya passed from this material world at the age of eighty while writing a commentary on the Aitareya Upaniṣad.

For further information about Madhvācārya, one should read Madhva-vijaya, by Nārāyaṇācārya.

 

 

The ācāryas of the Madhva-sampradāya established Uḍupī as the chief center, and the monastery there was known as Uttararāḍhī-maṭha. A list of the different centers of the Madhvācārya-sampradāya can be found at Uḍupī, and their maṭha commanders are:

(1) Viṣṇu Tīrtha (Śoda-maṭha), (2) Janārdana Tīrtha (Kṛṣṇapura-maṭha), (3) Vāmana Tīrtha (Kanura-maṭha), (4) Narasiḿha Tīrtha (Adamara-maṭha), (5) Upendra Tīrtha (Puttugī-maṭha), (6) Rāma Tīrtha (Śirura-maṭha), (7) Hṛṣīkeśa Tīrtha (Palimara-maṭha), and (8) Akṣobhya Tīrtha (Pejāvara-maṭha).

 

The disciplic succession of the Madhvācārya-sampradāya is as follows (the dates are those of birth in the Śakābda Era; for Christian era dates, add seventy-eight years:

(1) Haḿsa Paramātmā; (2) Caturmukha Brahmā; (3) Sanakādi; (4) Durvāsā; (5) Jñānanidhi; (6) Garuḍa-vāhana; (7) Kaivalya Tīrtha; (8) Jñāneśa Tīrtha; (9) Para Tīrtha; (10) Satyaprajña Tīrtha; (11) Prājña Tīrtha; (12) Acyuta Prekṣācārya Tīrtha; (13) Śrī Madhvācārya, 1040 Śaka; (14) Padmanābha, 1120; Narahari, 1127; Mādhava, 1136; and Akṣobhya 1159; (15) Jaya Tīrtha, 1167; (16) Vidyādhirāja, 1190; (17) Kavīndra, 1255; (18) Vāgīśa, 1261; (19) Rāmacandra, 1269; (20) Vidyānidhi, 1298; (21) Śrī Raghunātha, 1366; (22) Rayuvarya (who spoke with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu), 1424; (23) Raghūttama, 1471; (24) Vedavyāsa, 1517; (25) Vidyādhīśa, 1541; (26) Vedanidhi, 1553; (27) Satyavrata, 1557; (28) Satyanidhi, 1560; (29) Satyanātha, 1582; (30) Satyābhinava, 1595; (31) Satyapūrṇa, 1628; (32) Satyavijaya, 1648; (33) Satyapriya, 1659; (34) Satyabodha, 1666; (35) Satyasandha, 1705; (36) Satyavara, 1716; (37) Satyadharma, 1719; (38) Satyasańkalpa, 1752; (39) Satyasantuṣṭa, 1763; (40) Satyaparāyaṇa, 1763; (41) Satyakāma, 1785; (42) Satyeṣṭa, 1793; (43) Satyaparākrama, 1794; (44) Satyadhīra, 1801; (45) Satyadhīra Tīrtha, 1808.

 

 

After the sixteenth ācārya (Vidyādhirāja Tīrtha), there was another disciplic succession, including Rājendra Tīrtha, 1254; Vijayadhvaja; Puruṣottama; Subrahmaṇya; and Vyāsa Rāya, 1470-1520. The nineteenth ācārya, Rāmacandra Tīrtha, had another disciplic succession, including Vibudhendra, 1218; Jitāmitra, 1348; Raghunandana; Surendra; Vijendra; Sudhīndra; and Rāghavendra Tīrtha, 1545.

 

 

To date, in the Uḍupī monastery there are another fourteen Madhva-tīrtha sannyāsīs. As stated, Uḍupī is situated beside the sea in South Kanara, about thirty-six miles north of Mangalore.

Most of the information in this purport is available from the South Kānāḍā Manual and the Bombay Gazette

 


 
 

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A Life for 10 Rupees

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via Gouranga-Epistle Of Love by Maral Alimova on 10/4/11


      -         Das Rupai! Das Rupai!...
I was doing shopping buying necessary things. While was leaving the city Market the sides of the road were filled with women and men selling apples, sweet oranges, grapes, custard apples, pears…I could understand "Das Rupai" – ten Rupees and could see how they put 3-5 fruits jointly.
- Very nice!
            I bought, and then filled up the front basket of the bicycle with different fruits. Custard apples put on the top, because of their softness.
            At least left the market, but now the crowds of cars were moving here and there. I thought, I have to hurry up, because of that did not cross to the left side but continued my way to opposite coming cars.
Suddenly, two strong men were in the bike and they turned to the right side, right before my way. There was no time and not enough distance to stop. I cried: aaaaaaaaaaa…..!
Babaaaaah! Crashed!
Oh my God! Thanks God, I did not fall down. It was my fault but even though bike driver asked to excuse him. I moved forward being sure that there is any damage was in my cycle.
Still I had to go on the left side, but due to my laziness continued my way. Reached the place where two major roads meet each other. No lights! India is a country without any rules. FREEDOM!
Cars were coming from the right side road. I had to cross it. Did it! I did that so fast that found one pocket of fruits was missed. Stopping in the road side looked back. Saw a man in the bike showing me the white pocket of custard apples in the middle of the road. I decided to make stand my cycle, go and pick up fruit pocket. Just was going towards the fruits but found them already smashed flat to the road.
-         Oh how sad! I lost custard apples!
Leaving the idea to pick them up I moved forward. Then suddenly on the way I understood that on the place of those custard apples there would be my body. But Krishna saved my life. It says that for those who try to serve to Krishna the huge Ocean of material existence becomes as like water in the foot prints of a calf. On the place of being sad for some difficulties, loses we have to be grateful to Krishna. Krishna  as a protector gives the results of our horrible karma in the form of a bee bite or smashed custard apples for "Das Rupai".  


 
 

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So coming to Vrindavan!? - Good one to have.. Kind of checklist for you!!!

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via Gouranga-Epistle Of Love by Maral Alimova on 9/30/11


Coming to Vrindavan?!
We have to understand that the Holy Dham is controlled by Vrindavanehsvari. She won't let you to hurt its residents. She won't let you to continue your offenses even in the mind. Because you are very dear to Her. By putting you to difficult situations She will stop you from making offenses. And She wants you to have humble consciousness. She wants you to surrender to the will of Her Beloved Krishna.
We should have the next mood:
"My dear Krishna, I came here, now I and whatever I have belongs to You. If You want to destroy me or if You want to steal everything from me let it be so! I am Yours. I can not protect myself. Thus I'm trying to take full shelter in Your lotus feet. Please, protect me my mind from committing offenses!"
Here are some difficulties that might appear or the things which we have to do, to bring, not to do:
Monkeys
They are always interested with what you carry in the hands. When you buy fruits, look around and hide a fruit pocket.
Do not look to them and agitate them!
Be careful of your photo camera when you take their photo!
Be careful of your eye glasses if you use them! I do not know, but Monkeys adore to play with them.
Take care that your children while eating something won't be attacked by them. They may scratch the skin.
Example:
Once when we were doing parikrama around samadhis of Rupa Goswami at Radha Damodar Temple, suddenly we heard the voice of a lady: "RADHEEEE! RADHEE!"
This voice was full for fear and cry. We ran towards the sound. She was a foreign girl who was attacked by 2-3 monkeys. Then used to ran to her and catch her sari. She was shouting and somehow trying to protect herself. Then immediately some prabhus took stones and with strong voices put fear in the hearts of those monkeys, seeing big stones and hearing men's voice the left her.
Cleanliness
            Coconut water – drink directly from the coconut or else better to have your own plastic tube. Some people say that sometimes the sellers reuse the tubes.
Outside food – might be with onion, garlic, or not clean prepared what to say that it is not offered to Krishna.
Dust bins – mostly in India you can not find dust bins in every corner. Because of that sometimes people throw the plastics, wastages just to the street or from the window of a train. And if it is done by the visitor over 10 000 then the Holy Dham will become a dust bin.
Radha Kund – some devotees out of love to Srimati Radharani buy plastic bangles and offer them to Radha Kund. Please do not do that! She is happy to accept them in Her Deity form but not to the Kund.
Lalita Kund – some devotees feed the fishes, tortoises in Lalita Kund with puffed rice, grams. You can do it in the day time when fishes and tortoises are ready to accept your offering. But on the late evenings they go to sleep and won't eat. For whole night rice and gram spoil and whole the Kund will smell bad.
Shoes – to every Temple you have to enter with naked feet. You can not carry your shoes in your bag also. Only way is to leave them outside, as like do everyone. Because of that better come with simple shoes so that with calm mind to leave outside.
Wearing – it is better to wear Vaishnava clothes. With saris to cover belt and head will be seen very beautiful for ladies. It is for your own safety.
Timetable – here you have to be adjustable. At home we used to sleep on time, to wake on time, to chant on time, to eat on time…but in Yatras it may happen that we will go to sleep after 11 PM or eat lunch after 4 PM, or to have breakfast in the bus. Be ready! And accept everything as it is! Keep your mind calm and always try not to depend on external things.
Ear closers – sometimes we will chant on busses or while doing parikrama around Giri Govardhan where will be much sounded. It is better to have ear closers and chant, in order to hear your own japa properly.
Girls and boy – ah these girls and boys! Yes, it might be very good opportunity for upakurvana brahmacharis and brahmacharinis to meet their prince in a white horse or a princess like a barbi…please, beg you! If you use your mind in thoughts of that then do not blame that you did not progressed spiritually in that Yatra, and that you do not have taste for chanting.
Money, passport – usually Devotees carry small bags close to their belt under curtas for useful documents and money and other bigger bag is used for other daily needed things: water, gamchi… also it is not recommended to leave those things in your rooms.
Locks – bring or buy in India itself locks for your room. Extra protection.
Clothes – it is better to bring saris which are easy to wash and dry fast. There might be no enough space for drying in the rooms.
Eating – please, do not be too much attached for eating! The Yatra members will do their best in order the Prasadam will be served on time, but sometimes it might be not so. Surrender to Krishna All Controller and do not become aggressive and angry. If you do so, there is a big chance that you will catch cold, tonsillitis which will spoil your whole Yatra.
 Cold – better to have one pair of soaks and one warm chadar. In the mornings It will be very cold to sit or stand on the marble floor.
Death because of hunger – if it is going to be so, I saw how some Indian ladies brought with themselves dry fruits – raisins, an jeer, nuts…in times of real hunger you can have them. Notice: in India those things are costly or rarely found.
Sleepiness – it might happen that we will sleep after late 11 PM and wake up at 3 AM. It is better to wake up early in the morning and attend Mangala Arati, chant with Devotees and take some rest after lunch. At least we come to the Holy Place not to sleep but to use every moment for serving to Devotees and getting spiritual values.
Do not fight – usually Indian people are different. Rickshaw drivers seeing your skin may chart trice price. You also try to reduce the price but not with high voice or equaled eyebrows. Take it easy! If this does not work, go to another Rickshaw.
Rich or poor – even if you are king come with simple cloth, neat but simple. Otherwise you will be followed by numerous followers in the forms of beggars.
 Coins – it is better to have Indian paisa in your pocket. When you visit a Temple some paisa is given as a tradition.
Beggars – better to carry some dry Prasadam to give to beggars. If we give money some of them may buy tobacco or something like that and we will be the reason.
Booking rooms – it is highly recommended to book a room before even some months. On festival times they will charge trice price or even there won't be any place to stay in. but even thou you did not book prior, I saw in some houses you can rent a room. You have to walk and ask house owners if they you can rent a room.
Prasadam – if you are registered in a particular Yatra then they will take care of your Prasadam. If no, there are some solutions:
You may have Prasadam at Krishna Balaram Mandir. Breakfast 10:00, lunch nearly at 2-3 PM. If you find it spicy then you can buy 2 kg. gas cylinder  for nearly Rs. 1000 and cook yourself.
Sleeping bags – mostly visitors buy it directly in India in main market in New Delhi, but it is time consuming. Better to bring. You can use that in the trains or when you want to stay in cheaper dharmasalas.
To bring or to buy – anti mosquito lotion, light, gamchas, pen & notebook if you want to write, a book for reading…
  Ladies – please, be aware that you go out with someone, not alone, especially dark times!
We are coming to the Holy Place:
To serve to Devotees
To listen Bhagavatam
To attend mad Kirtans
To meet great Devotees
To forget everything and just to be emerged in the Holy Names
Not for much sleeping, not for much eating (may be Prasadam is not in rule)
Not for talking gossip
-----------
Dear Devotees, please forgive me if something is written un professionally, but I tired my best.
References: also please see Srila Prabhupda's books explaining the main offense which we can commit in the Holy Dhams.
Your servant,

 
 

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KKSblog.com - The Govinda Valley retreat in words


The Govinda Valley retreat in words

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 09:50 PM PDT

The following is a nice article, written by Smita Krsna Mataji, describing Kadamba Kanana Maharaja's seminar regarding faith, held on the first and second of October in Govinda Valley, Australia.

Kadamba Kanana Swami flew in to the harbour city of Sydney just in time for the scheduled retreat at beautiful Govinda Valley situated one hour south of Sydney in the bushland of Otford.

Maharaja opened the retreat with a kirtana on Friday night. He charged the whole atmosphere with the spiritual sound vibration. After an hour of kirtan, Maharaja gave a welcome talk and an overview of the whole retreat. He emphasised that the taste for spiritual life can be developed by the service to vaisanvas. After the short talk, devotees were served delicious prasadam and then everybody went to bed early, in anticipation to spend the weekend with other vaisnavas to gain deep insight of the confidential knowledge of Bhakti yoga as revealed by the Lord Himself.

On Saturday, Maharaja led mangala arti as well as guru puja for Srila Prabhupada. The kirtan went long and devotees danced and sang with full energy. The topic of the first class was establishing the authority of Srimad Bhagavatam. Maharaja began with the explanation of 'om namo bhagavate vasudevaya' whereby 'om' includes every aspect of the Lord and 'bhagavate', referring to 'Bhagavan', indicates that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the focus of Srimad Bhagavatam. Maharaja explained that the Vedic literature includes many aspects of our life and that this is the purpose of Srimad Bhagavatam, to give transcendental spiritual knowledge. He told the audience that Bhagavatam is the teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and therefore is highly essential. Maharaja also explained that the first verse of Srimad Bhagavatam establishes the teachings of our movement.

In the second class, Maharaja basically spoke about our faith in Srila Prabhupada.

The first day ended with the Vrindavan meditation with Maharaja singing sweet bhajans for Their Lordships in Their beautifully decorated altar.

On Sunday, after the mangala arti, devotees chanted their japa together in the association of Maharaja.

In the first class on Sunday, Maharaja explained faith in context with community that is in relation to people and not entity. He said that vaisnava culture has to be centered around Krishna and culture should be favourable for cultivation. The main points of discussion were Kanistha Adhikari, Madayama Adhikari and Uttama Adhikari explained with reference to the different stages of bhakti from sraddha to prema.

The second class on Sunday was focused on developing our relationship in spiritual life and about the 26 qualities of devotees. Maharaja explained that the depth of the faith directly reflects our relationship with each other. He said that if we make a relationship with the dhama, the vaisnava, the scriptures and the deities, then our roots will grow and through that our service will go deeper.

The final session of the retreat was focused on faith in dialogue, presenting, defending and explaining it. Kadamba Kanana Swami asked for volunteers from the audience and made a panel of speakers to ask them questions about philosophy, culture and real life situations. It was emphasised that when our knowledge is realised and when we experience conclusions of the scriptures then our faith becomes very strong and the eventually, at the stage of bhava, Krsna appears in the meditation. At this stage there is no question of believing or not,
but one can actually perceive Krsna.

The last part of the retreat was dedicated to discussing of Maharaja's book "Words of a Public Hermit" and Maharaja distributed this very book as gifts to all the devotees who took part in this retreat.

 

Please also view the pictures and listen to the lectures of this wonderful retreat.

Visiting Australia

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 09:40 PM PDT

After Kadamba Kanana Maharaja's stay in Capetown he went to Johannesburg, preparing to catch his flight to Austalia. He then eventually flew off to Sydney, Australia. Reaching there the next day he went straight on to Govinda Valley, a beautiful retreat center, situated directly on the coast in a town called Otford. There he gave an inspiring two-days seminar on the topic of faith.

On monday (03 Oct) he went to the Sydney temple, giving the evening Bhagavatam class. On the next two days he was busy giving the morning and evening classes and he also did a nice evening program at the Govinda's restaurant in Darling hurst, performing bhajanas and giving insights on the glories of Vrindavna Dhama.

On thursday morning Kadamba Kanana Swami held an initiation ceremony at the temple. He gave second initiation to one Mataji as well as first initiation to two Prabhus, calling them Nayanabhirama Dasa and Tusta Krsna Dasa. Enjoy the pictures!

If you would like to know more about the seminar regarding faith, please read this article and listen to the lectures. Enjoy!

If you cannot view the slideshow below, please visit flickr.

Faith – A seminar in Govinda Valley

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 09:36 PM PDT

Here are the recordings of Kadamba Kanana Maharaja's seminar entitled
'Faith', given on October 1 and 2 in Govinda Valley, Australia.

Please also view the article and the pictures of this seminar.

If you cannot listen to these lectures, you can click on each of the titles to download them.

 

Day one

Kadamba Kanana Swami: Faith  

Kadamba Kanana Swami: Faith II

Kadamba Kanana Swami: Faith III

 

Day two

Kadamba Kanana Swami: Faith IV

Kadamba Kanana Swami: Faith V

Kadamba Kanana Swami: Faith VI

Unwillingly chanting the holy name Part 2

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 01:00 PM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Helsinki, 2011)

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was experiencing anxiety, because he was considering that so many conditioned souls were just totally covered over, and acting very sinful. They were not interested in chanting the holy name:

"So then how can we deliver these?"

Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in anxiety about it. So then Haridasa Thakura first gave the example of a muslim who just called out:

"Hare Rama, Hare Rama."

And then he was speaking about Ajamila who at the end of his life was chanting the name of 'Narayana'. But not with any intention to chant the name of the Lord but just calling his son, who was named 'Narayana'. In this way Haridasa said:

"All these sinful men will be delivered. All these living beings are being delivered by some arrangement of the holy name!"

So we can understand that Krishna has manifested the holy name in these languages – that is Krishna's arrangement, that the holy name is somehow or other part of our languages. Like for example the Dutch word for window is 'ram'. We will always say 'ram'. Close that 'ram'……………..who will come to clean the 'ram'. Like this it comes again and again in our language and in every language such words are hidden!

That is not a coincidence, since that is the arrangement of Krishna!

Unwillingly chanting the holy name Part 1

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 11:42 AM PDT

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Helsinki, 2011)

It is said that the muslims and the Arabic culture, in their language when they call out:

"Hare Rama, Hare Rama".

It means, ' what misfortune, what a great misfortune'. So each time they are calling out:

"What misfortune, Hare Rama".

Meanwhile they are getting the greatest benefit. There is an old puranic story about such a yadahana who had been pierced from the tusk of a wild boar. The result was that he was thinking:

"How could this happen?"

Then he was calling out:

"Hare Rama, Hare Rama! What misfortune."

As a result because he was calling out 'Hare Rama Hare Rama' at the time of death, he went back to Godhead! There are so many amazing stories like that. I know one particular case where one boy was taking initiation, and his mother went for the ceremony. His father didn't go because he didn't want to miss the football on TV. So he was sitting in front of the TV, and when his wife came back, the father called out:

"So what's his new name?"

It was a name with Krishna, I think it was Atul Krishna, and he repeated the name…..just then he dropped dead, on the spot, after he had said the holy name!

So unwillingly the holy name is being chanted, and unknowingly the holy name is being chanted – with no intention to serve the Lord………..with no spiritual intention whatsoever, and yet the benefit is there. That is the nature!




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


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