Confessions of a Japa Retreat Junkie

by Mahatma Das

I admit it. I'm addicted. But it's not my fault. Really, I am innocent. I was simply asked to co-facilitate some japa retreats and workshops and I innocently accepted. And now I've become a japa retreat addict. I drop whatever I am doing and go to the next retreat or workshop. I simply can't control myself. My material life is dissolving, my attachments are fleeing left and right, I am loosing interest in material pleasure, and I just want to chant more and more. My addiction has taken control of my life!

Having the opportunity to be at three japa retreats and one japa workshop this year has been the greatest blessing. My japa has gone through some major transformations and is nourishing my Krishna consciousness in new and profound ways. Thus, I have many realizations from the retreat and I'd like to share them with you in hopes that they will be a boost to your japa.

The Holy Name is the Most Valuable Possession I Have

Without the holy name I would practically have no spiritual life, no real happiness, no intimacy with Krishna, no peace of mind, and no ability to control my senses. My entire relationship with Krishna, the most important relationship in my life, is revealed through His holy name. Without the holy name I would be lost, miserable, spiritually weak and destitute. Yet sometimes I treat this most valuable relationship as a botheration, something that gets in the way of me doing "more important" things or "more desirable" things. What helps me in these times is to remember that I get to chant, that I want to chant, that I love to chant (deep down inside). To think I have to chant reinforces the idea that chanting Krishna's lovely names is something I'd rather not be doing.

Bad Chanting Becomes the Norm

After chanting bad japa for extended periods of time, bad chanting starts to become my default setting. I then believe that due to the circumstances I am in this is the best I can do. Bad chanting thus reinforces itself with more bad chanting. And since bad chanting produces little or no nectar or realization, becoming Krishna conscious becomes more of a pie in the sky ideal than a possible reality. Chanting thus becomes totally a matter of duty and can easily become automatic, heartless, and robotic. Bad chanting reinforces the belief that my chanting can't or won't get much better. The real problem is that I believe this and I am ok with this.

Killing Some Time While Chanting

My mind derives great pleasure from thinking. So I have a problem when I chant because while I am chanting my mind goes pleasure hunting and wants to contemplate so many interesting thoughts and not listen to the holy name.. This happens most often when I am bored with chanting. It is sometimes really difficult to just hear the mantra because my mind says, "This is not interesting. Think of something interesting, like, what you are going to say in your next class, or how you are going to do this or that project in new creative ways." My mind resists just listening to me chant because it's always looking for something to ponder, something to do. And when it starts pondering some interesting thoughts, even though my lips keep moving with the mantra, I disconnect myself from my chanting and live in my little mental dream world. I realize I often do this when I am bored chanting in order to "kill some time" during japa and keep myself entertained. After all, just thinking of the mantra and nothing else can sometimes be torture for the mind.

Give It All I Got

To the degree that I give my all and all to my chanting, to that degree Krishna reciprocates and thus bhakti increases in my heart. As one popular song of the sixties said, "The love you give is equal to the love you take." What I put into my japa is what I get back. Devotion doesn't come back where devotion is not put out (garbage in, garbage out).

My daughter is learning to play violin and to inspire her we watched a virtuoso eleven year old violinist on You Tube. This eleven year old was so good we couldn't believe it. As I watched in disbelief I thought, "If I took my japa as seriously as this kid takes her violin, I would be completely Krishna conscious by now. The reality is that if I only give 50% of my energy to my japa, then 50% is going somewhere else. If I want to properly chant and hear the holy names and reap the results that the holy name can offer, I need to give all my energy to my japa (both physical and mental). If I really value my relationship with Krishna, I will do this. And doing this shows Krishna how important that relationship is to me.

I Have No Time to Chant

Most of us who are raising families are challenged to find two undisturbed hours a day to solely focus on our rounds. Yet many of the activities that take our time away from chanting are activities that we specifically have chosen to do. Afer the second retreat I thought that the reason I have so much on my plate that takes me away from chanting is simply because I don't like chanting enough. It's what Prabhupada calls the "self created burden." If I am finding it difficult to finish my rounds because of a lack of time, I am ultimately the one who chose to do all the activities that are getting in the way of my chanting. Even when I can't really avoid all the work and responsibilities, still I am the one who is organizing those activities in a way that chanting often takes a back seat to the other things I do.

The Mind is Like a Loud Truck

While I was chanting the other day, a truck drove by that was so loud that I couldn't even hear myself chant. As it got further away I could again hear the mantra coming out of my mouth. As this was happening I immediately thought that the truck is exactly like the mind. Sometimes the mind is so loud that I can't even hear myself chant. It just takes over and the maha mantra gets drowned out by the volume of my mind. When I think of controlling my mind, I think of turning down the volume on all of its chatter. Once that chatter stops, I can hear the maha mantra. When I constantly work on turning the volume down, eventually my mind starts to peacefully listen to the chanting.

The Acarya of Multi-Tasking Japa

Too often I chant like a robot. Maybe someday things will get so bad that we'll have japa robots and we can just put our beads in their hands and they will chant to a recording of our japa.

Although that sounds far fetched, I am like that robot. I have chanted Hare Krishna for so many years that I can do it my sleep, I can do it while driving, I can even do it while reading. I can do it while shopping, talking, sight seeing - you name it and I can do it and chant simultaneously. I am the acarya of multi-tasking japa. Chanting is so programmed into my cells that I can do it without even thinking about it. Someone might say, "Well that's good." No, it's horrible because I can do it without even being aware that I am doing it, what to speak of being aware that I am associating with Radha and Krishna. It's like someone shot Novocain in my heart and my heart has become numb and thus I am not feeling a thing while I chant.. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said the name is not lip deep, it is heart deep.

Chanting is Boring

When I commit offences to the Holy Name, chanting becomes boring. In this consciousness chanting is tasteless, troublesome, and outright uninteresting, and it's the last thing I want to do. Thus I do it only out of duty while my mind is totally disengaged from chanting. My mood is simply to get my rounds finished as soon as possible. This is a sign to me that my spiritual life is lacking. When I don't do something to correct this, the bad chanting creates a domino reaction of less Krishna consciousness in my life, which then produces more bad chanting, which continues to produce less Krishna consciousness, which produces more bad chanting. And this could lead to something even worse than bad chanting. It could lead to no chanting.

Give Yourself A Gift

Prabhupada said the highest realization is to save yourself. I have so often neglected to chant well that I sometimes feel like I am dying of thirst for the nectar of the name. On the 64 rounds day (at the retreat, one day is reserved for 64 rounds and a vow of silence) I was finally taking the time to give myself the nectar that I so desperately needed. But because I had dried up so much over the years and thus was so thirsty, no matter how much I drank the name I still was thirsting for more. By the 64th round my thirst was just starting to become satisfied. 64 rounds is the most wonderful gift I have ever given myself. At least I should give myself the gift of 16 good rounds every day.

Does the Holy Name Really Work?

Yes, the holy name does really work. Well, let me restate that: The holy name does really work if I chant the holy name the way the holy name is meant to be chanted. If I don't properly chant the holy name, then I start thinking the chanting can't really uproot my deepest anarthas. Because I am not experiencing Krishna while I chant, I lose faith in the value and power of the holy name. Going to the retreat and being facilitated to chant some really good rounds was a major faith builder. The holy name began to work on me more deeply than ever. It was real, vibrant, active, and dynamic, as compared to the usual dead mantras I chant. Dead mantras were producing a dead Mahatma Das. But the maha mantra is a living thing and when I chant a living mantra I get life.

It's All About a Relationship

Although chanting revives our relationship with Krishna, chanting is also our relationship with Krishna. We are there with Radha and Krishna while we chant. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said to welcome the holy name. Radha and Krishna come to me when I chant. Do I realize this when I chant? Do I welcome them and take care of them when they come? Do I worship them when they come? Or do I think, "Oh no, I still have six rounds left?" If I think this way, I simply take chanting as a process, a process that often I can't wait to end so I can get on to "more important" things.

Watering the Weeds Japa

Poor chanting can actually produce misery, guilt, unhappiness, frustration, boredom, lack of energy and a host of other negative emotions and experiences. When I chant bad japa it doesn't make me feel like I am a blissful spiritual being; it makes me feel defeated for not applying myself. It also makes me both upset with myself for failing to come closer to Krishna and guilty because I know my guru expects more of me and I could do better. It leaves me entering my day on a failed note. Wow! The very thing that is supposed to make me so happy when done properly has the potency to make me feel awful if not done well. Hopefully I can take this misery as a kick in the rear end and let it push me into chanting better rounds.

First Become Conscious, Then Become Krishna Conscious

It's amazing how many bad japa habits I have not confronted even though I know how much these habits hurt me. They exist, I see them destroying my good japa, yet I ignore them. They have a tendency to somehow camouflage themselves in a way that says, "I am here but don't worry about me." And I believe them and think, "Ok, I won't confront you. Why? Am I afraid it will be too difficult or too much work to change? I must think it's less painful to change than to suffer the consequences of bad japa? I was forced to become fully conscious of these habits, confront them and deal with them at the retreat. This was one of the best things I've ever done. If I didn't do this, I don't know how long these habits would have continued to undermine my potential for better japa.

What I Do Today Affects My Chanting Tomorrow

What I do when I am not chanting affects the quality of my rounds. For example, if I am critical of devotees (or even of non-devotees), it will be more difficult to chant good rounds. If my mind is engaged in activities from morning to night that have nothing to do with Krishna, my attraction to chanting the next day will diminish. However, if I make an effort to be as Krishna conscious as possible during the day, my rounds the next day are easier to chant and more relishable. My activities today are linked to the quality of my japa tomorrow. One devotee told me that if he goes out and gives people the maha mantra, his rounds are always better the next day.

All I Want

When it comes down to it, all I want is to chant well, feel Krishna's presence while I chant, relish the nectar of the name, and be a servant of the name. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says there is nothing else in the three worlds but the holy name. Krishna has shown this to me by allowing me to observe other devotees' transformations (at the retreats) through good chanting. As their chanting improved, their desires changed. As they relished the sweetness of Krishna, they wanted more of it and realized this is all they really want. When Krishna is kind enough to give a drop of the taste of the nectar for which we are always anxious, we realize how much we have in our life that is not giving us this nectar (amrita—deathless) and how much we have in our life that is actually producing death.

Talks With Dad

I once read a book in which a woman said that the walks she took with her dad when she was young were the most valuable moments in her life because she learned so much from him during those walks. I have always felt the same way about japa. My time with the holy name is the most valuable time of my day. Good chanting always gives me realization, strength, determination, and taste. Those two hours with the holy name is the most valuable time of my day, and to waste those two hours on bad japa is the greatest loss. Once I blow those two hours with bad rounds, that's it; I can't buy them back. Thus, I miss the opportunity to have Dad really and enlighten me that morning.

Krishna Enchants Me

When I chant well and am relishing Krishna's name, then Krishna's form, words, and pastimes all become more attractive to me. On the evening of the 64 rounds day, Dravida Prabhu recited poems while showing slides of Krishna. Those pictures, one's I've seen many times before, all of a sudden were especially attractive and alluring to me. And those poems, although I've read them before, enchanted my mind like never before. My senses became purified and thus everything about Krishna became more attractive. And the wonderful consequence of this is that everything not related to Krishna became less attracted to me.

That's Unacceptable

Bad chanting is unacceptable to me. I now have set the bar higher and when I go below the acceptable level, red flags go off in my mind. Poor chanting is not making me Krishna conscious, so I reject it. The consequences of poor chanting are so undesirable that simply being aware of those consequences gets me back on track. I have accepted unacceptable japa too often—and that's simply not acceptable any longer. If it is acceptable to me it means I am satisfied with poor chanting and not overly concerned about doing anything to improve. And if I am not concerned about improving my japa, it won't get better on its own.

Good Chanting Produces More Good Chanting

How do I know I have chanted good rounds? One of the best indicators for me is that when I finish my rounds I want to keep chanting because I am getting such a nice taste. If I am relieved to put my bead bag down after my last round, that's an indicator that my chanting is not being done properly. Good chanting always produces a taste to chant more. Prabhupada said sixteen rounds is the minimum; that constant chanting is the goal.

Exercise

Offer a prayer to the holy name that describes your aspirations to best serve the holy name, to go deeper into your relationship with the holy name. In order to help you with this exercise, I am including a prayer I wrote at the end of one of the retreats.

My Dear Holy Name,

Please allow me to taste Your nectar, to fully experience Your presence, to feel joy and enthusiasm when I meet You. Please allow me to become attracted to You, to always hanker for your association, and to never become tired of spending time with you. And please reveal how You are non-different from your form, qualities and pastimes—how You are fully present in your name.

I pray that someday I will have as much attraction to chanting Your name as I now have for material things. And I pray that this attraction will be such that others want to chant and relish Your name just by being in my presence.

I have two special last requests:

• Please allow me to feel affection for You when I chant Your name.
• Please allow my heart to melt (at least one time in my life) when I chant Your name.

For more information on japa Retreats (five days) and Workshops (weekends), the dates for upcoming events, or how to bring a retreat or workshop to your area, please contact me at mahat@aol.com.

After a heavy rain storm in Mayapur on Wednesday 3 September, devotees were surprised to see what looked like a flimsy inflatable catamaran – barely 12 feet long, open, with no covering against the sun – and five sun-burnt, tired but ecstatic happy devotees float through the main gate, having arrived after a month-long journey on Mother Ganga from Vrindavana.

I don't know if you have ever had the great fortune of meeting Ragatmika devi and Karnapur das, two very old and dear disciples of our Srila Prabhupada. Karnapur was the first TP of New Jersey ISKCON temple back in 1971, and has faithfully served as Prabhupada's accountant in several temples, mainly in Los Angeles.

Dr. Philip Weeks told me about the B12 crisis on my last visit to him. He had noticed that almost every devotee (practitioner of Krishna consciousness) who can to see him had a low level of the vitamin. An abrupt change in diet is probably to blame. Krishna consciousness automatically leads one to become vegetarian (as a pleasant positive side effect of the practice, not as an end in itself). However, if someone has been eating copious amounts of meat for generations and then suddenly stops their self-degrading practice, the body’s B12 supply may run dry.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that B12 is stored in the body for a long time. So, a person may be fine for 2-years of not getting enough of the vitamin and then they suddenly start getting really sick for seemingly no reason. Symptoms of B12 deficiency are listed on the following websites:

http://www.veganhealth.org/b12/sympt
http://www.b12patch.com/about-b12deficiency.html

The most common initial symptom is fatigue and depression (which indeed seems to be a common issues affecting many, many devotees).

So, what to do? First of all it is a good idea to go to a western doctor and have one’s blood tested (though watch out for the B12 analogues which might confuse a blood test - read about those here and here too). That will reveal if indeed there is a lack of B12 in the body. If this is the case the vitamin has to be replenished. However, taking supplements won’t really work, because B12 is very difficult to absorb into the body. It would take a long time of taking pills to replenish the body’s vitamin supplies. The only two options seem to be getting a B12 injection from a doctor, or using the following ingenious B12 patches:

http://www.b12patch.com/

Then, once the B12-levels are up again, they can be kept up by taking Engevita Nutritional Yeast (one of the few reliable vegan sources of B12).

One might ask how vegan cultures got their supply of B12 for thousands of years before B12 injections were invented. Well, for one, the people in those cultures are probably genetically predisposed to surviving with a less supply of B12 than us westerners. Then there is also dirt. That’s right: dirt! Surprising, dirt often contains some B12. Cow dung, for example, is very rich in the vitamin. Agricultural field used to be fertilized with cow dung, so a little bit of it would inevitably end up on people’s plates. Nowadays, however, with chemical fertilizers being the order of the day and food being super-clean and sterile, dirt can only rarely find its way into our digestion system. So, no B12 for us.

I recorded my conversation with Dr Phil on the topic. Please listen to it here (5 minutes):

If you remember, I mentioned that I’ve got a collection of vintage ISKCON vinyl and every Ekadasi, I’ll be posting and album for you to check out and download.

My first pick is really quite a treat. They’re from the Hare Krishna Records label (out of Germany, I believe). They feature Hamsadutta and (I think) Acyutananda Swami on some of the vocals and Himavati (I think) on others.

Hare Krishna Records also did at least four full length albums (of which I have three). I’ll post those eventually.

One think you’ve got to understand about early ISKCON records is that the vast majority of them were named “Hare Krsna Festival” making them damn near impossible to collect. The only way I was able to do it was to figure out the release numbers. The full length albums from Hare Krishna Records were 1001, 1002, etc. The 7″’s were 2001, 2002, etc.

How I’m going to do this is offer shoddy quality mp3 previews of three of the song. Take a listen to them and if you like them, download the zip file containing all of the songs and cover art. These mp3s are of much better quality.

Here we go!

Hare Krsna Festival (#2001)
1) Tulasi Prayer 3:52
2) Hare Krsna Kirtan 4:12

Both of the songs are sung by a mataji who I believe is Himavati, Hamsadutta’s wife. I could be wrong about this, but Hamsadutta had his hands in pretty much any recording released in Europe. Acyutananda did as well, of course. He’s all over the place - in Europe for the records and in the US for the cassettes. Incredible.

Tulasi Prayer is sweet and fully traditional (with addition of a harmonium). It starts slow and is steady throughout, leaving out the “yani kani ca papani…” at the end. It’s a great little song anyway and a nice introduction to the records.

Hare Krsna Kirtan, also sung by this same mataji, is a bit more upbeat. There are kartals, a mrdanga and harmonium. The song builds, faster and faster until its fade out. A splendid little record, this!

Hare Krsna Festival (#2002)
1) Vande Ham 5:00
2) Hare Krsna Kirtan 4:59

While both of the songs on #2001 were sung by a mataji, both of these are sung by male devotees. The record gives little information as to who sings what. It’s mostly a guessing game.

Vande Ham is slow and stirring. I believe it’s sung by Acyutananda Swami, but I could be mistaken. There’s a mrdanga in the left channel as kartals and a harmonium fill both. The vocals are mostly on the right. This is a really beautiful rendition of the song, which is why I think it’s Acyutananda.

Hare Krsna Kirtan sort of leaves a weird taste in my mouth. The devotee singing, who I think is Hamsadutta, really hogs up the kirtan. He’s loud and then when the assembled devotees are responding, he’s often singing “Haribol!” and “Chant the Holy Name!” over them. He does this throughout and seems to be saying “hey look at me!” Maybe this is why Srila Prabhupada told Hamsadutta to stop releasing so many records.

Hare Krsna Festival Amsterdam (#2003)
1) Vande Ham 3:55
2) Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna 3:15

If you notice, and maybe this is a coincidence, but the covers of the 7″’s get more and more focused on a certain devotee. On this one, both songs are sung by Hamsadutta, though a bit more subdued than on the last 7″.

Vande Ham is still nice and mellow. It’s not bad. But after hearing Acyutananda’s (I think) version on the last 7″, this almost seems unnecessary. I joined up in 1993 and I’m not sure that I’ve ever heard this song sung at any temple. Did they used to sing it a lot or was this an Acyutananda/Hamsadutta thing?

Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna, also sung by Hamsadutta, is a really sweet song, no matter who is at the helm. Hamsadutta hogs it a bit, but not enough to really ruin it. Himavati’s voice fills the response. I really like her vocals. This time, the main vocals are in the left channel, while the response is in the right. I love this song. There are better versions of it out there, but this will do in a pinch. It’ll be in my head all day. Yay!

-

Well folks, I hope you like my first offering. There will be more to come - I’ve got some pretty great stuff to share and I’m excited about it. If you’ve got any questions or comments or can’t figure out what to do to get these files, just let me know and I’ll try to help as much as I can.

Hare Krishna! And here’s me wishing you and yours a very Merry Ekadasi!
Haribol!

Click here to download all of the 7″’s in a zip file.(37MB)

Our October 2007 Care for Cows Newsletter has been posted. Please review it at your earliest convenience. Thanks for all your participation and support. I hope this finds you experiencing the happiness and inner satisfaction that accompanies cow protection.

Caitanya Ananda faced the challenge of his life last December. Doctors concluded that he has an incurable cancer, melanoma. Nothing could prevent the disease from being spread, neither the best western or ayurvedic remedies nor the natural herbs.

• Sets of Bhagavad Gita Wisdom Cards
• Radha-krishna Desk Calendars and Diaries for 2008
• Perfumed oils from Egypt
• New cotton Salwar Kameez
• Dolls and board games
• Framed pictures of Their Lordships Radha Vallabha plus more...

• The Hare Krishna Movement - Forty Years of Chant and Change. ed: Graham Dwyer and Richard J Cole (Radha Mohan Dasa)
• Hari Bhakti Vilasa by Sanatana Goswami (1 complete set only)
• and Bhanu Maharaja's translation of Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu

Nirguna was a dedicated preacher and we had the great fortune of spending a year with him here in Atlanta. He was engaged in college preaching and very active with students.

Twenty three enthusiastic boys and girls participated in the class. Here we are poised to commence the culinary adventure.

We cooked a magnificent feast:

“Vegetarian World Food”

Fragrant South Indian Hot & Sour Toor Dal Soup (Rasam) Seared Chili Panir Steaks Served with Sweet Potato Mash & Rocket Salad BBQ Asparagus Served with Balsamic-scented Semi-dried Tomato & Macadamia Pesto with Shaved Grana Padano Iranian Spicy Saffron Rice Stir-fry of Oven-roasted Cauliflowers with Sno-Peas and Cashews served with Fresh Crisp and Puffed Fried Wheat Breads (Poories) Hot, Sweet & Sour Eggplant Pickles Anise-scented Doughnuts in Fresh Berry-studded Yogurt (Malpoura)

Here's the gang seated for our entree, the delightfully rich and smoky BBQ Asparagus.

I am so seriously exhausted that I can't type any more for now. Tomorrow I have been invited to attend the Govinda's evening kirtan in their gorgeous 'temple space' downstairs. But for now, I'm saying goodbye to the 67 emails awaiting a reply, turning off my computer, and getting some rest.

Until we 'speak' again...

To revive the pilgrimage town's cleanliness, Friends of Vrindavan began its 'Clean Vrindavan' program in 1997. Since then they've tidied up every corner of the town and inspired several other initiatives to serve it's residents.

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From New York I with to New Goloka, North Carolina. The devotees there are very hospitable, and the forests are very nice. It is especially nice to be with my old friend Apurva Prabhu. We had a nce houseworming kirtan on Friday night. The devotees chanted blissfully for a few hours.
On Saturday we went to Sandy Ridge, NC, PRABHUPADA VILLAGE, for their fall festival. Many local people enjoyed the Bharat Natyam dances and the association of devotees. The prasadam was popular and many went home with the BHAGAVAD GITA AS IT IS. From there we drove to Atlanta. While at a gas stop in South Carolina one young boy asked if I was from India or a Hindu? He was soon to to India and by Lord Caitanya’s grace he got BHAGAVAD GITA AS IT IS.

ON Sunday we visited the new Swami Narayana temple. It is quite of feat of architecture to the tune of 35 million dollars, but I found it to be a rather boring museum. I found the kirtan at the temple to be much mor pleasing, since it was for the pleasure of SRI SRI GAURA NITAI. Srila Prabhupada especially liked the Dieties in Atlanta.

On Monday we drove to Tennesee for chiropractic treatment from Vijay Vishna Prabhu and staying a the Murari Sevaka temple. It is in a beautiful farming area and just waiting for more devotees to come and serve there. I will post pictures soon. We did not have good internet connections there so I am behind. Vijay Vishnu is an amazing chiropractor and also a sublime vaisnava gentleman. He and his wife Lalitha love to serve devotees.

During the day I wint around with Sikhi Prabhu visiting the Indians in the area. Most of the gas station cum convenience stores are owned by gujarati families who like to have devotees visit and who help to support the temple. Sikhi is friendly with most of the local people and has a few chanting.

We visited one Baptist Pastor who like HARE KRSNA. He asked us to eat at the church and we said that we were vegetarian. To our surprise he said “me too”. HE and many of his congregation are taking up that “Hallelujah Diet”, which is 85% raw food. The Christian pastor who started it bases it on the Bible Genesis 1.29. Now our friend is teaching this diet at his Baptist Church in Lynchberg, Tennesee. His church is a few hundred yards from the famous (infamous) Jack Daniels distillery. The whole are is full of cattle, pig and chicken farms so we were pleasantly surprised.

I will post some photos soon.

The concept of Organic farming can be traced to the Vedic period in India. Since time immemorial, in this land as old as the civilization itself, the essence has been to live in partnership with, rather than exploit, nature.

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This is my own personal process based on what I've heard from guru, sadhu, and sastra, along with my own realizations; it's not necessarily "the way," or "the only way." I've realized I must do the following to give a good class:

The first Hindu temple in Communist China is under development. The Chinese government has invited members of an Indian trust to design a replica of the grand Akshardham temple in Delhi.

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Meet these Russians currently visiting the city, and they pleasantly wish you "Hare Krishna ji". These Russians are associated with Iskcon, and are here to take part in the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra.

May cows stay in front of me; may cows stay behind me; may cows stay on both sides of me. May I always reside in the midst of cows.

- Hari Bhakti-vilas 16.252

From the Atma Centre in Istanbul…

Ma reggeli üzenet Isztambulból, vagyis Istenbuliból

I admit it. I'm addicted. But it's not my fault. Really, I am innocent. I was simply asked to co-facilitate some japa retreats and workshops and I innocently accepted. And now I've become a japa retreat addict. I drop whatever I am doing and go to the next retreat or workshop. I simply can't control myself. My material life is dissolving, my attachments are fleeing left and right, I am loosing interest in material pleasure, and I just want to chant more and more. My addiction has taken control of my life!

Having the opportunity to be at three japa retreats and one japa workshop this year has been the greatest blessing. My japa has gone through some major transformations and is nourishing my Krishna consciousness in new and profound ways. Thus, I have many realizations from the retreat and I'd like to share them with you in hopes that they will be a boost to your japa.

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Here is Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s blissful arti song. A vision of pure ecstasy.

GAURA ARTI

jaya jaya goracander aratiko sobha
jahnavi-tata-vane jaga-mana-lobha

All glories to Lord Gauranga’s greatly gorgeous arati.
Attracting all living beings, by the sacred Jahnavi.

Gaurange arotik sobha, jaga jana mana lobha (refrain)
Gauranga’s glorious arti, attracts all living entities

daksine nitai-cand, vame gadadhara
nikate advaita, srinivasa chatra-dhara

By his right side stands Nityananda, by his left is Gadadhara,
In front Advaita and Srivasa, holding an umbrella.

vosiyache goracand ratna-simhasane
arati korena brahma-adi deva-gane

On a golden throne of jewels sits the glorious Gaura,
While the devas offer worship headed by Lord Brahma.

narahari-adi kori’ camara dhulaya
sanjaya-mukunda-vasu-ghos-adi gaya

Narahari and companions cool the Lord with bright white fans
Mukunda, Sanjay and Vasu, sing the sweetest sankirtan.

sankha baje ghanta baje baje karatala
madhura mrdanga baje parama rasala

The sound of conch and karatalas, blends with bells and beating drums.
Making thus a melody, that most beautiful becomes.

Sankha baje ghanta baje, madhur madhur madhur baje (refrain)
Conch and karatal, drums and bells, how sweet is the sound that swells

bahu-koti candra jini’ vadana ujjvala
gala-dese vana-mala kore jhalamala

Gauranga’s brilliant beauty, conquers millions of moons
His garland of forest flowers shines like the proudest plumes

siva-suka-narada preme gada-gada
bhakativinoda dekhe gorara sampada

Shiva, Shuka and Narada, are all choked with ecstasy
Thus does Bhakativinoda, see Lord Gaura’s great glory

CAITANYA ANANDA PRABHU´S INTERVIEW

Caitanya Ananda faced the challenge of his life last December. Doctors concluded that he has an incurable cancer, melanoma. Nothing could prevent the disease from being spread, neither the best western or ayurvedic remedies nor the natural herbs. This interview has been done in June on a train from Mumbai to Mathura. Caitanya Ananda prabhu was already then in the terminal treatment.

I got my first Prabhupada’s book in 1994 in London, explains Caitanya Ananda prabhu on an express train through Gujarat. One friend of mine had heard about Hare Krishna mantra and he wanted to prove that this mantra did not work. We went to sing maha-mantra on the campus area of the University of Technology. Some years passed after that, and in 1999, I made a new year promise to follow the principles of bhakti yoga. I noticed that this process works really well.

I was convinced that we are not our bodies. I had many interesting discussions about these themes in my workplace. Anyway, I wanted to do more. I wanted to improve Krishna movement, and to spread Krishna consciousness. I felt that somebody was listening to me all the time. This Person was following what I was saying and wanting. One day, on a lunch hour, I met Janardan on the parking spot of Otaniemi. I wanted to buy all the books he had. He had only two sorts of books. I promised to pick up more books from the temple in the evening. I bought all books available. I also bought the Tulasi japa beads. I started to visit in the temple, give donations, and chant maha-mantra 16 rounds per day. With other members of the congregation, we also started to do Food For Life. We did it for couple of times. We went to the rock festivals where we distributed prasadam. I moved to the ashram.

When you compare what you expected, and what you received in terms of Krishna consciousness, is there some equivalence?

In the beginning, Krishna consciousness was a path for higher realization for me. I was convinced that this is the right path. At those times, it was important for me to debate these issues in my mind, and to understand them theoretically. A great surprise for me was the close interaction with God. This interaction was developed through the active devotional service. It was clearly manifested, that Krishna really is our most close and intimate friend.

The railway journey proceeds nicely. Mother Nartaki, one of the senior students of Srila Prabhupada, prepares evening meal for us. She offers prasadam with motherly warmth and care.

The main thing really is the personal interaction with Krishna, continues Caitanya Ananda while eating warm carrot soup. Environment is answering also our questions and doubts, he explains. It was an impressive experience about Krishna’s interaction, when the whole board of doctors walked to my treatment room (Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai). From the wet snowy market of Seinäjoki to this specific moment – all closer to Krishna. The Krishna conscious years of Caitanya Ananda prabhu can be crystallized in these sentences.

Among many other well-wishers, mother Laksmimoni also sent you a letter. Here is part of her message: “You got many people inspired about Krishna consciousness. You also inspired them to practice Krishna consciousness. And now your example is inspiring many people.” You have wanted to take Krishna consciousness as it is, I continue. Has it been difficult for you to take it on that way – with skin and coat?

Through training, it became clear to me, that there is a Higher Person behind everything. This Person also has a sense of humor, Caitanya Ananda tells smilingly. There were many different paths to choose, when I first time approached Krishna consciousness. I doubted all new and cheap paths. They were just full of empty promises. I did not trust them. Now I can see that many people, who were following those other paths, are not that active anymore. I started to write with Suhotra Maharaja, instead, and got the answers for my questions.

I repeat what Mother Nartaki said: “If the farewell parties are like the ones (in Bhaktivedanta Hospital), what kind of arriving parties there will be (in the spiritual world)!”

Your disease came as a full surprise for you at the end of the last year. I inquire.

The face expressions of the doctors were informative, when I first times visited in the Finnish hospital, Caitanya Ananda continues. The illness was serious, and this would mean changes in life. Western doctors were regrettable cautious to tell the truth. I understood, anyway, that everything was arranged by Krishna.

I have felt like being part of some movie. It has become clear to me that God is guiding everything. The final result will always be good. Even though, I have gone through some painful moments with this disease, the final result will be beautiful. We just need to have trust.

Krishna manifests Himself through bhaktas or devotees. Some neophyte devotees may seem to have only downing properties of Him. However, Krishna (and His mercy) can act also through the neophytes. Bhaktas really manifest Krishna’s caring and cherishing attributes. It really is an impressive feeling. That feeling can be experienced without any tragic setbacks. One just need to have a right attitude towards devotees, explains Caitanya Ananda prabhu about his main realizations of the last months.

In the West, we easily count everything in terms of profit, not as persons. Anyway, devotees have the same kind of potential as Krishna has. The attitude towards devotees should be honest and frank, according to the Vaishnava Etiquette.

What about Finnish sankirtana. How it can manage without your presence?

Well, Sankirtana movement is guided directly from the spiritual world. It is not even dependent on the physical presence of the devotees. Many great persons, like Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, have left sankirtana movement. As I told, I feel like being part of some movie. Superficially, it may seem that a good person has a bad end, but actually, everything goes really well. Krishna is not unthankful for the sacrifices that we have done. The final result will be perfectly fine.

What would you like to say for the beginners?

I have noticed two main pitfalls in the attitudes of the new generations. Phlegmaticism and apathy. The fire to reach other conditioned souls is often missing. We may get good results, and then think that we have a right to demand this and that. We may think that we do not need to work hard anymore. If one falls to those pitfalls, it is difficult to get up anymore. The guidance of others is taken capriciously.

The most important thing is to cultivate a proper attitude right from the beginning. We are not working for bolstering our ego. We are working for Krishna, as His instruments and servants. When Suhotra Maharaja was sick some years ago, we were doing a guru marathon. We were tired of travelling and staying up late at night. Despite this, for example, in Kankaanpää people just took without asking. It was not question of our instant well-being. Krishna was interacting to that attitude.

What has been the most difficult for you in terms of practicing Krishna consciousness?

Working hard, but not taking any results for oneself. Working with our own mistakes and weaknesses. Dirt from the heart needs to be purified with hard work. We are imperfect, which is against modern psychology. When we are consciously purifying ourselves, it gives a lot of energy to do sankirtana.

I still want to ask the last message for the Finnish yatra?

Thank you very much for the great support I have received from devotees – the temple personnel and the congregation. It has been nice to see how much compassion devotees have felt. It is important to develop stable understanding of Krishna consciousness. Without that, it is not possible to face all the challenges.

Caitanya Ananda prabhu left the material world in Vrindavana August 7, 2007 and thus returned back to Godhead according to all the authorities.

Tattvavada Das

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Like you may have heard, hg Caitanya Ananda prabhu left his body in Vrndavan the most glorious way. In the middle of Ayinda prabhus kirtan. His last words were Krishna Krishna Krishna...

I was with him there in Mumbay and Vrndavan in June and we had many conversations which are also recorded. The other article is one of his last interviews.

In general he was so gratefull that he got an opportunity to distribute books. He said that now he really realised how extremely valuable it was. He said that because of that yagna Krishna was resiprocating with him with overwelming love and affection.

" there is no-one more dear to Me than the one who..." was the main verse in His mind.

Missing his wonderfull association

Your servant Tattvavada das

IN MEMORIAM: CAITANYA ANANDA DAS

11th september 1976 – 7th august 2007

The last months of Caitanya Ananda prabhu were like his all other years of devotional service: full of dedication, enthusiasm, sharp intelligence, knowledge, behavior according to the Vaishnava etiquette, and disposition with deep faith and trust.

His severe disease was like a grinding process that was just increasing the brightness of the diamond. When preparing for his leaving, many people visited Caitanya Ananda to encourage him, or to say farewells. The strengthening was really manifested, as many visitors said. The visitors themselves received great amount of Krishna consciousness and encouragement from those moments.

Finally, the general practitioner of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital asked the last wishes of Caitanya Ananda. “I wish I could serve Lord Krishna also in the next life”, was his last wish. The whole board of doctors was warmly honoring Caitanya Ananda when we were taking the train from Mumbay to Vrindavana. They had seen many people to prepare for their leaving, but rarely anybody so in peace.

Arriving in Vrindavana was a great relief for Caitanya Ananda. Krishna’s loving interaction was clearly manifested everywhere, and he was deeply moved by that intimate interaction. “Now I really understand that it was useful to distribute all those books”, he crystallized with gratitude. The way from the market of Seinäjoki (general expression about the difficult distribution places used by the sankirtana devotees) to Vrindavana was short, said Caitanya Ananda with content when arriving in Vrindavana.

Doctors had said already in Finland that the disease had a genetic origin, and nothing could be done for it. The body of Caitanya Ananda continued towards its inevitable destination. But the same held true also in case of his soul. It became clear for the helpers that Caitanya Ananda was a person who did not consider himself as a temporary body, anymore. The continuous flow of helpers – doctors, caretakers, spiritual masters, and other supporters – enabled him to reach this ultimate goal of life. Caitanya Ananda prabhu was really thankful about the valuable help and support that he received in this difficult situation.

He told about his realization how Krishna keeps His promise in Bhagavad Gita: There is not any person dearer to Lord Krishna than the one who preaches His glory. All things happened were just supporting this notion. Everything was on His safety hands. Caitanya Ananda called this as a movie-like arrangement. This became clear for all of us helpers. We were just acting as intermediaries for the mercy of Krishna.

We really miss that great soul who gave Krishna consciousness to so many people through preaching and book distribution. His great example and his whole honorable departure are forming a great inspiration for all of us. They give us a model example about how to perfect the human life – even in a short time. Caitanya Ananda totaled seven years of active service in his lifetime for Lord Krishna.

As it is said, the best leave first, and by their grace we will also have our chances. The feeling of great longing is relieved thanks to our last discussion. In this discussion, Caitanya Ananda was telling about the arrangements after his leaving. I would have been willing to go and meet him once more in Vrindavana. Instead, he asked me to help his mother to Vrindavana after his departure. Finally, he still said to me with comfort and firm conviction: “Do not worry, we’ll meet for sure.”

Trustfully following his great footsteps, and waiting for that specific day,

Your servant, Tattvavada das

Sitapati Prabhu published this detailed instruction of how to prepare and give a good class as an attached MS-Word document on his blog, www.atmayogi.com, at this address. (Download the original word-doc. here.)

I've taken the liberty to publish it here, reformatted in HTML, with some minor editing which, in my opinion, makes it more readable and user-friendly. I hope Mahavan Prabhu, the author and head of the Parama Karuna Men's Ashram in Wellington, New Zealand, doesn't mind.

read more

HG Ajitananda prabhu (ACBSP) has sent in the following links to videos that glorify Srila Prabhupada’s unique position, and to some very nice Krishna conscious sites…

Yesterday I was checking the feeds at PlanetISKCON.com and came across an article entitled Scooter car Ratha Yatra Rally at Ludhiana. I guess some devotees had a scooter (and car and motorcycle) rally for Krishna! This is totally up my ally.

I mean, c’mon. Check out this pic:

Looks like a Vespa P series covered in flowers! Though I could be wrong about the make. There are somethings that make me think it’s not a P series. Yeah, but anyway… What a great idea!

Not covering your scoot in flowers, but a scooter rally for Krishna. Yeah, wouldn’t really work in the US. I only know of one other devotee scooterist.

But that did remind me of my horribly failed attempt to travel the country by scooter this past summer. Even before I was able to start, my scooter died and the store didn’t sell and I just couldn’t make it happen.

Now, however, I’ve got a more reliable scooter and a plan. A better plan. Want to hear it?

Ok, from May to about September, the Festival of India travels around the US and Canada, starting in the east (where I’ll be in May) and heading west (to where I want to be in September). I’d be insane not to try to follow it on my scooter.

The schedule changes each year, but the cluster of Ratha-yatras that happen on the east coast happen from the end of May through June and into July. That would be no problem at all. It would even allow me to come home from time to time. And then, right before the long jaunt west (this year it was from Toronto on July 14 & 15 to Calgary on July 21), I could finalize my packing and moving, get all my stuff together and ready to ship or haul out, vacate my apartment and hop on my Bajaj and ride out.

Now, how I’d make it (in this example) from Toronto to Calgary in less than a week on a scooter that rarely goes faster than 50mph is beyond me. 2100 miles is six days? Honestly, that’s impossible. Well, unlikely. So I’d probably have to miss a Rath here and there, but still…

Is this a good idea? I think it is! And hell, if I sell the store, it’s possible I’ll even have a new, faster scooter for this trip (thinking of the Vespa GTS 250 - it’s automatic, which I don’t like, but goes 76mph - however, it costs $6,000).

The 2008 Ratha Yatra schedule won’t be released until February or March, so I won’t really be able to plan this until then. I have a few other trips in the works, of course. But they may be null and void depending on which way the Festival of India goes. I’d like to do the south and south west. We’ll see if that happens.

Oh, and yes, I did just buy a scooter. A 2006 Bajaj, bringing my current herd to FOUR scooters. I don’t want four scooters, I want one. I love them all, but I don’t think I’ve found the right scooter for me. I’m hoping the Vespa GTS is “that one.”

[This is the Bajaj that I have now - one very similar to it, anyway.]

Click the icon on the right for details on the Vraja Project….and see below for sponsors.
Kattints a jobb oldalon lévő ikonra a Vraja Projekttel kapcsolatos részletekért.

I admit it. I’m addicted. But it’s not my fault. Really, I am innocent. I was simply asked to co-facilitate some japa retreats and workshops and I innocently accepted. And now I’ve become a japa retreat addict. I drop whatever I am doing and go to the next retreat or workshop.

As of Thursday evening, the large machine that was blocking the road for repairing the slip was removed, and it seems like all the pilings are installed.

While there may be other delays as they finish off the details, it might be easier to slip by than when the large tracked machine was there.

This, of course, is an unofficial opinion, but the worst of the road closure may be over.