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Unlocking a treasure box

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 16 January 2013, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.31.3)

One Prabhupada disciple, Uttamasloka, sent out a letter and somehow it came to me also. My name was on the list of receivers and I got it. So he was describing, how in his time when Srila Prabhupada came to one temple in Canada, somewhere in Toronto or somewhere – I forgot which one it was – he was the temple president and at that time, he instituted that they had six classes a day in the temple!

Six classes a day and they were studying all different books and then he told Srila Prabhupada about it. Srila Prabhupada said, "Oh! Oh! Very nice! Very nice!"

And then later, he went to St. Louis and he did the same thing and again Prabhupada heard about it and again Prabhupada said, "Very nice."

Of course, you know, six classes is a lot. Practically speaking, it becomes like a college, like an educational institution. But the amazing thing was that he did it in Chicago also and Chicago became the biggest book distribution temple. He said that in spite of so many classes they distributed the most books.

Alright, I am not making an issue of having six classes or advocating that here but I am just telling a story… that's all… I leave it for you to put it into a nice story box… keep it there… sometimes dust it off and look at it, "Wow! The things that devotees do!" You can look at it like that but the bottom line is that absorption is coming from some endeavour. That is the point! It's not like six classes is the point but the endeavour must be there. Endeavour to unlock the secret of Srimad Bhagavatam. The Bhagavatam is a treasure box but one has to unlock it.

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A common enemy

(Kadamba Kanana Swami,  20 January 2013, Radhadesh, Belguim, Caitanya Caritamtra 21.54)

The total manifestation of all the worlds and energies that exist are all providing for different living beings who have developed different mentalities. Just like the Padma Purana, an older edition is mentioning that in the age of Kali there will be four bonafide sampradayas. Modern editions of the Padma Purana don't show that verse. It has been edited out by someone but the four sampradayas are described as bonafide in the Padma Purana. They are bona-fide because they are all offering an eternal destination and in that way they are bona-fide. However, it doesn't mean that they all have the deepest understanding or the complete understanding of the absolute truth. Some of the bona-fide sampradayas do not have the proper understanding about Krsna. They don't understand that he is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. They have no idea that he is the 'ādi-puruṣam' and from him everything emanates!

Some within the bonafide sampradayas may think that Krsna is incarnation of Visnu, which is obviously not correct. We find sometimes other elements in some of these bonafide sampradayas which we do not accept. For example, Laxmi is referred to as 'jiva-tattva' in the Madhva sampradaya and that just knocks out a whole concept that the Lord has an eternal consort which makes rasa a little complicated, if you look at it. So some tattva, when there is a misunderstanding, can really be obstructive! Laxmi, a jiva but what about the Lord and his eternal consort? That is certainly a complication. So even within the four sampradayas, there are huge philosophical differences and certainly from our perspective.

On some details, they haven't got it right but it doesn't matter; we are not making a big issue about it. We are not declaring war on them for their misconceptions. We have a common enemy. It is like that at a time of war, you get what we call 'monster alliance' where countries come together to defend against a common enemy. So, we have a common enemy amongst these four sampradayas. Of course, every devotee is quite aware of who the common enemy is, it is the mayavadis. Our favourite pastime is targeting the mayavadis. We see that this is a tradition in our line that whenever the opportunity arises, we have another go at them! Because impersonalism is diametrically opposed to devotional service. Those who are adhered to the philosophy maya or illusion, they are basically saying that, 'Krsna is maya. His form is illusion. Goloka-Vrndavan is maya… that is illusion and devotional service is illusion as well.'

Well, then you have basically taken away everything that has any meaning to us. Those are the three things that have meanings to us – devotional service, spiritual world, and Krsna Himself!

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Reach out to others

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 8 December 2011, Durban South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 11.22.6)

Always thinking about ourselves is our biggest problem. We have to start preaching. Just like this temple; it is undoubtedly a very special place! I think that there is no temple quite like it in the entire world. It's a unique building; it really is. I mean inside, it is definitely dazzling or something like that. Let's say it's an inspired building - the architect was inspired by Krsna and the whole worship is very gorgeous and opulent.

But still, if the temple doesn't become the base from where the mercy goes out to the world then after a while, it becomes very dry. Even with all the opulence, with all the deity worship, with all the gorgeous arrangements and with all the festivals - it will become dry.

And Ratha Yatra, if it is just about us then that also becomes dry. If it's just about us having a good time then it will not satisfy the heart as long as we are concerned with having a good time. So, that is the key - to go beyond just enjoying our own parties and festivals!

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