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Chanting in between words

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21st November 2012, Cape Town, South Africa)

We hear about some of the acaryas and what amazing personalities there were. For years, we heard about Srila Prabhupada's god-brother, Akincana Krsna Das Babaji. He was the only disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura who was given 'babaji' by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. Well, the babajis are really meant to get involved in bhajan while the sannyasis preach. When you are preaching you don't always have time for bhajan; that is a fact!

But the babajis they withdraw from preaching and get absorbed in bhajan. Somehow or other, I never met Akincana Krsna Das Babaji. But then this time (while in India), somehow I got a tape, a recording of a conversation between Prabhupada and Akincana Krsna Das Babaji. And it was very interesting because on this tape, there was a conversation going on and Akincana Krsna Das Babaji was just constantly chanting Hare Krsna and in between he would speak words. He would say something like:

'Well, they want to… Krsna Krsna… to go to such and such place… Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna.'

He was chanting in between words, at all times, just putting in the maha-mantra constantly. It was impressive and he was very impressive. I had heard before that he was always chanting but then, on the tape you could hear how he was always chanting, even in between speaking.

That day, it was easier to chant kartik rounds… by just hearing someone like that who is so absorbed in chanting, then immediately my chanting also became surcharged with energy!

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From moment to moment

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21st November 2012, Cape Town, South Africa)

Spiritual life is interesting because we are meant to surrender and come to a point where we commit for a lifetime. But how can we commit for a lifetime when we don't know what a lifetime is going to do to us? A lifetime comes with endless surprises! How can we see over a lifetime? So, how can one think: 'I'm going to give my life, is it realistic?'

Yes, we think we are going to give our life and then we can only deal with it from moment to moment. So, this moment is for Krsna, 'All right got this one in.'

The next moment is also for Krsna and each time again, we have to choose for Krsna. Of course, sometimes we choose a little more for Krsna and at other times a little less. Sometimes, we choose for Krsna whole-heartedly with enthusiasm and at other times we choose for Krsna routinely, with a half-hearted attempt. But even with a half-hearted attempt, at least we choose for Krsna. Of course with a half-hearted attempt, it is like opening the window on a cold-stormy-rainy Cape Town day – you're going to get some water inside, that's for sure.

So, a half-hearted attempt is a bit like that, you're going to get wet anyway and then later on, we have to mop it all up. Hare Krsna, Krsna, Krsna… Struggle, struggle again, until everything gets a little dry and then we get more inspired. So like this, it is not free of struggle but that mercy is very much there and around us and entering into our life more and more, and the relationship with that mercy is deepening  with time. And even if we cannot do everything, it does not matter, the mercy just enters into our life!

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Remembering Krsna – part 1

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21st November 2012, Cape Town, South Africa)

I have very little capacity when it comes to sādhana-bhakti or devotional service in practice. My capacity is not very great.

That is of course not uncommon because after all:

'prāyeṇālpāyuṣaḥ sabhya
kalāv asmin yuge janāḥ
mandāḥ sumanda-matayo
manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ,' (SB 1.1.10)

It says that in the age of Kali, everyone's capacity is very small and everyone is always disturbed. So I'm trying not to be. I'm trying to absorb myself in thoughts of Krsna and in remembering that Krsna is the Supreme Lord. I'm trying to remember that the material world is not really important. I'm trying to remember that whatever happens here is very secondary. So, all the so-called ups and downs in life, I'm trying to remember that they are actually very insignificant. The real thing is the spiritual world and whatever goes on in my relationship with Krsna is what I'm trying to remember. Sometimes better, sometimes worse, sometimes I'm remembering with great relish and great inspiration. Sometimes I'm remembering while the waves of material existence are tossing me around, I'm still remembering but also feeling the intensity of the waves of the material life, and in this way, I'm remembering Krsna at different points in time.

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On blindly following tradition

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 15 September 2012, Pretoria, South Africa, Initiation lecture)

There is a story which I like to tell. It is about a marriage ceremony and during the marriage ceremony everything was arranged perfectly. You know how people get into their marriages. It was this big thing and everything was there at the last minute. And then… suddenly… believe it or not… a black cat (appeared)… oh my God… black of all colours… a black cat… bad luck… inauspicious! So, what to do?

It was at the very last minute. So, the lady who was actually supervising the whole arrangement, the mother of the bride, she just grabbed an empty basket which was used for flowers and put it on top of that cat. And the cat was under basket for the whole ceremony and didn't meow once! Everything went fine. It was a great ceremony.

Thirty years later, it was the brides turn to arrange for the marriage of her own daughter. She made all the arrangements and everything, and then the last inspection… and then, oh my God… we forgot one thing… WE NEED A BLACK CAT! Then they quickly brought a black cat and put it under a basket. Since that time, in every ritual there is a black cat!

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A simple sign of life

By Kadamba Kanana Swami 

Ayurveda

There's not much going on externally. It's a health retreat. Confined by bodily limitations. So there are no travels, no programs but rest, some exercise, diet and lots of ayurvedic medicine – better than steroids though.

But Krsna is always there. Prabhupada was describing how the devotees had become transformed into jubilant, dancing peacocks. What a nice statement! The spiritual world is on our mind…

Today, no walk outside. There was a huge thunderstorm at 11 am and since then it has been raining the whole day. It doesn't matter; I'll chant indoors.

Govindam adi purusam

I am not productive at the moment but I am hearing various tapes and chanting Hare Krsna. I am worshipping Govinda, the primeval Lord, who kindly lives with me.

Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami

Please maintain me as Your servant.

A meeting with Dr. Robert Charles Powell

Last week Dr. Robert Charles Powell came and visited Durban. He has studied the care program of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai and came to see the hospice in Durban. I found in Dr. Powell, a pleasant gentleman of very sharp intelligence. We had an enlivening discussion. Dr. Powell is interested in starting an educational program to train Hindu Chaplains. Chaplains are providing pastoral care; counseling services in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, assisted living, clinics, industries, schools, prisons and so on.  At this point, there are thousands of chaplains in the world from Christian or Jewish backgrounds and maybe five from a Hindu background.

Devotees with a bachelor degree would be eligible to enter in to the chaplaincy program. It would offer an opportunity for devotees to make a professional career and maintain their devotional identity. I am very interested in this project and think some devotees with the appropriate nature will find a very good engagement in this. The Radhadesh College students may also take note of the program. Ravindra Svarupa is in regular contact with Dr. Powell.  I would like to find some devotees in South Africa from an African background, who are interested in the program. I think that would be a real asset to our movement in South Africa.

Conquering the heart

Tamal Krsna Maharaja used to keep this picture in his house in Vrndavana. Prabhupada is so blissful and Tamal Krsna Maharaja is taken aback by the power of that happiness.

Devotional service is susukham kartum avyayam, joyfully performed.

And then the rain of flowers showered by the devotees is a symptom of love and respect. That loving exchange is the basis of Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement. Prabhupada gave so many wonderful gifts of devotional service and the devotees took up that devotional service with so much sincerity.

Last summer in Radhadesh, Bhakti Caru Maharaja came. He told us about the final months with Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavan, when his health was not good.  At one point, Prabhupada asked Bhakti Caru Maharaja for some orange juice.  After ten minutes or so Prabhupada's bell was ringing intensely. It was clear that he urgently wanted the attention of the servant. So Bhakti Caru Maharaja quickly went in and Prabhupada was fuming. "I asked you to make orange juice and how long does it have to take?" he exclaimed. Bhakti Caru Maharaja made excuses, but nothing could satisfy Srila Prabhupada, who called him incompetent and finally sent Maharaja away. Bhakti Caru Maharaja immediately made orange juice and brought it to Srila Prabhupada, who only became more angry and chastised him again. "Take it away," he said, "I don't want it anymore!"   Bhakti Caru Maharaja however tolerated all the chastisement and admitted that he deserved it. But he didn't let it discourage him. He simply offered Prabhupada the orange juice again and said, "Please take it. It is good for your health."  Prabhupada had previously showered Bhakti Caru Maharaja with so much mercy and love, that he had purchased him and therefore he was able to tolerate all the chastisement.  When Bhakti Caru Maharaja endured the burning flames of Prabhupada's angry words and even when Prabhupada told him to go away with his orange juice, he didn't go, but offered the orange juice to him again on the pretext of his health. This purchased the heart of Srila Prabhupada, who accepted the orange juice and said, "Sometimes in my old age I get a little grumpy."

In this way, in spiritual or loving exchanges one must mutually conquer the heart.

Books! Books! Books!

The devotees are out on the Book distribution marathon.

Have a look on you tube: Book Distribution – HG Vaisesika Prabhu – 7th Gosvami 101

There are several other longer videos as well. One is showing him in action in Boston on July 4th. Yesterday, I watched it with great pleasure.

I hope that more devotees will go out just for a day or on the weekends. It all makes a difference to the people out there and for us in coming closer to Krsna.

You can also check www.distributebooks.com and also www.iskconbookdistribution.com

If you can't distribute books, then buy books and give them away or leave one in the doctors waiting room!

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