It’s always wonderful to be back in LA. The beautiful deities of Radha Krishna at the New Dwarka temple are called Rukmini Dvarkadisha, and I grew up with Them. In fact, in that very temple, my mother offered me to Krishna when I was a baby.

We got together on a Wednesday night with a lot of our friends, and it was so uplifting! Energetically, we were zooming through the universe.  Friends from all over were dancing and singing. Everyone was touched. A special treat was that I got to sing with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Madi Brinkman, who is not only an amazing writer and producer of plays and films but is also, and more importantly to me, an amazing singer and kirtaniya.

Gaura Vani

Listen to the entire Kirtan!

To listen, click on the links below then press play. To download, Right Click on the word “Download” and select “Save As…” from the menu. Having trouble downloading? Read our Help Section.

• 01 Gaura Vani and Madi - Hare Krishna (48)
• 02 Gaura Vani and Madi - Nrsimha Prayers (25)
• 03 Gaura Vani and Madi - Hare Krishna (20)

How well do you acknowledge Krishna's presence through the day? We may need to work on that! Here are some ideas. There is a difference between when I'm alone and when I'm in the presence of another person.

Prana dasa: Hare Krishna School in Auckland has a position vacant for a qualified and motivated devotee educator. Our school is a Primary school catering for students up to 12 years of age. We have a current school roll of 86 students and is rapidly increasing in size.

Click here to check out a short film called "Eating Mercifully" by the Humane Society of the United States, which details some enlightened Christian perspectives on factory farming

It would be great if devotees could also produce such a piece in the near-future.

The chanting of the holy name resonates in your mind and comes out your mouth. You pay attention to the quality, that each mantra is uttered clearly, each syllable pronounced and heard. You try as usual for reciprocation with the Divine Couple. Have faith that They are hearing you and are pleased with your recitation. This is the most important part of your day. “Of all the orders of the spiritual master, the order to chant sixteen rounds is essential.”

Taken from Bhajana Kutir #101

"For japa to really be done with feeling, you have to call out to Krishna. Cry like a child calling for its mother. One gets so occupied with the accumulation of the rounds and the proper enunciation that he leaves out the most important part, the feeling. The feeling must be at the center of the exercise in order for the japa to be complete. One has to have faith in reciprocation with Radha and Krishna, faith that the holy names are Krishna Himself and Radha Herself. Otherwise, you are just chanting the outer syllables of the name and not chanting offenselessly. Suddha-nama is a rare, advanced stage. We have to be patient with our chanting and hearing clearly, making the sounds audibly and keeping the mind fixed on the utterance of the words themselves."

Taken from Bhajana Kutir #99

Shyam Kishor das singing a Hare Krishna bhajan. Dallas, TX 2009-04-04

Here's a video and a recording from last night's kirtan.

The kirtan is one of my mash-ups. It's constructed from a song I really liked in the 80's, a tune from Jai Uttal, and a song that was always playing on the bus when I lived in Perú. This take was a bit of a practice for tonight's Sunday Feast. Since the album isn't out yet peeps don't have the opportunity to thrash it on their iPods, and so they're learning the phrasing and melody by the old school method - trial and error and listening and repeating live. Vraj was also working out the bass line as we went. He came up with some funky stuff.

I'll record tonight's kirtan too, and we'll see how they compare.

• Radha-ramana-hari (mp3, 15MB, 10:41)

Enjoy!

-Sitapati "The only thing liberal about me is my use of the T-pain effect" das

Danielle Richards, a junior majoring in humanities, recalls attending last year's Llama Festival in Spanish Fork. A poster of the event still hangs on her wall and serves as a reminder of memories attached to the event.

Those teachings coming from the Srimad Bhagavatam, which are full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord, are overflowing with transcendental words meant for bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilization. Such transcendental........................ ================================================================== Thought...

PRISON ANGUISH

TRUMBULL, OHIO

My dear spiritual pal, Akilananda from Salem, Ohio, came to the Cleveland Airport to pick me up and drive me for an hour to a Correctional Services Centre. The two of us had planned to meet Aaron Catlin (now Arjuna) who is serving time in prison.

While in the waiting room a young woman came next to me to ask who we were.

“Hare Krishna!” and so I explained.

“When did you join?” She asked after introducing herself by the name ‘Liz’.
Akilananda answered “In 71”.

I asked Liz, “Where were you at that time?”

“My mother wasn’t even born then,” she laughed out her words.

We then got to talking about reincarnation which she firmly believed in. In fact she admitted that at times she feels very connected to snakes and that she herself was in the body of one.

Another woman waiting to be escorted to see her inmate friend was also curious about us. Within a dialogue with her she expressed that prisoners are often feeling guilty about what they had done and believe that God will not embrace them.

“But that is not the fact!” I said.

She concurred, “Yes I believe that God does come close to them.”
Our meeting with Arjuna went well. I was happy to hear him say that it was Krishna’s mercy that he’s in prison. “Everything is for a reason,” was his mood. “Good stuff, Arjuna!”

Outside of the prison I had taken a walk in the area surprised to see some abandoned homes which were in good shape.

Our evening brought us to Prabhupada Manor in Cleveland where we discussed about anxiety, some of which inmates experience a lot.

“Anxiety you can receive but anxiety you must not give.”

5 KM

WHY WE STRUGGLE!

TORONTO, ONTARIO

Some days can be taxing trying to sort out issues that may arise within communication at home base or in the province or the country. In addition to my regular activity of raising consciousness to various parts of the world I have as part of my portfolio, a spiritual supervisory responsibility over the Canadian centers of ISKCON. People are what they are whether spiritual or secular, by nature, they are people.

Disagreement is such a signature for the age in which we live. Stalemates are across the board in human society. One time a film producer, David Schultz, asked me, “You have conflicts within your community?”

“Of course, we all are under the influence of human nature”, I said.

“Now that’s the perfect answer”, Dave said.

From the stand point of the Gita, Krishna speaks about desire and hate that causes the soul’s stay in the material world to begin with. He also relays to Arjuna the influence of the three gunas upon the soul, they being goodness, restlessness and inertia. Elsewhere He speaks of our struggle with the six senses including the mind.
Conclusion: there is a lot that each and every one of us carries on our shoulders, karmically speaking.

For today’s walking excursion Dustin and Nitai accompanied me near the Brick Works trail. We trekked through some tight spots, deliberately. We choose some steep sections where branches and vines were held onto for dear life.
We are suckers for adventure.

9 Km

THE BIG BURP

TUESDAY JUNE 9/09,

TORONTO, ONTARIO

He walked a good five KM to meet me at the temple only to take on another seven KM with me down the ravine by the Brick Works and then as we departed he tackled another five KM back to his home. It had been a while since he had put his hand in a bead bag fingering the beads made of neem wood while chanting the Maha mantra.

Once a monk now a journalist, Baladev did extremely well at keeping up a walking pace with me and focusing on hearing the sound vibration of transcendence. The only thing that interrupted his chanting was this long loud burp he let out. “Ahhh! The sound of satisfaction perhaps!” I blurted out. “You ate well?” I asked him. A smile!

I did proceed on to say that since we just had made a bit of a climb on the trail which tends to go up and down a certain part of his machinery got activated which doesn’t normally. I suggested that some trapped gas got mobilized upon stretching a lazy inactivated part of his body.

According to Ayurveda practice there are five major airs in the body and then some minor ones which move in different directions within our bodily frame. Sometimes they vent from above or behind. I was happy about the burp and so was he. The volume of this burp was a sign of released air. It didn’t seem to scare the squirrels so it was harmless.

So that’s what happens when you walk. There may be gaseous dynamics from above or behind but it’s a healthy sound apart from the mantra.

7 KM for me. 17 for Baladev.

DOVETAIL

TORONTO, ONTARIO

It was not an ordinary day at the temple. There were several international guests with us and included in the list a musician with a golden voice. Strumming his guitar was Atmaram, a Spanish devotee, who travels the globe doing the yoga circuit. What was arranged was a mini concert for Atmaram in the peaceful atmosphere of the temple. Although traditional mantras and bhajans were sung the more European contemporary stringed guitar was the instrument used to create tempo and rhythm as support to tamboura, sitar or vina. Such fusion of east and west can be most palatable to the ear.

Dovetailing is the word used by our guru, Srila Prabhupada, to describe the utilization of skills, talent, ability, wit, resources, etc. in the service of God. Wherever your strengths lie there is this golden opportunity to use them as an offering – a service.

For the Sunday open house program this principle of dovetailing was well channeled not only by Atmaram but also Keshav Sharma whose youthful enthusiasm and personal communication skills are applied as the mc of the event. Devotees who are inclined to perform pulled off a great drama. And it’s not for me to judge but if something is amiss in the program for instance our guest speaker was late, late, late and hence I volunteered to do the spontaneous thing standing in for him. Somehow I respond to spontaneity well and so I find myself in such circumstances. Perhaps that’s a skill and a way of dovetailing.

After our drama presentation of “The Witness” our actors were so pumped up with excitement that the only way of calming down was walking and so a spriteful walk became the method to escort one of our female brahmacarinis to the bus station for the midnight run back to Montreal. I got a chance, like so many, to dovetail a strong propensity in me – walking – once again.

10 Km

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.9.26 - Increase spiritual desires or else material desires will increase; there is no neutral point.

I will be blogging @ sabjimata.blogspot.com from here on out.

Yes, I’ll write more poems. You’ve just got to pick your subject. Something in your Krishna conscious life. My life is confined to my bhajana-kutir, the moods of japa, the books we read, the lectures of Prabhupada, any memories you find. For example, I remember the Radha-Krishna paintings of six years ago. You took your time and mixed your paints and made your shapes. There was always some distortion—a shoulder misplaced, four fingers instead of five, a color in the wrong place—but the overall effects were sweet. I remember living in Wicklow...

Satsvarupa dasa Goswami -June 13

[...] I want to thank You for the basics of sending me Srila Prabhupada as my spirtual master. There is no greater gift than that. I have been reading statements that unless one serves the dust of the lotus feet of the spiritual master, there is no way he can reach You. So You have given me this chance in this lifetime, and I have tried my best to take advantage of it. Srila Prabhupada is my savior, and You are my ultimate savior for sending me this connection. And through my spiritual master, You have given me the basic instructions for the practice of bhakti yoga. Only by bhakti yoga can You be attained. You have given me the chanting of the holy names, which I have practiced for over forty years, and You have given me Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam to study. I have a basic comprehension of these books, and I am very grateful for these books and also Caitanya-caritamrta and The Nectar of Devotion. I want to thank you for the association of the many devotees whom I have shared my life with since the age of twenty-six. Ever since I walked into the storefront, I have met young men whom I practiced alongside of in carrying out Your orders. They have been my brothers, and I have also served with sisters and the fellowship of devotees. They are too many to mention who have helped me, and You have helped me to share with them knowledge of Krishna consciousness. You have also given me the duties of a spiritual master, and I have tried to help disciples to come to You. I have made mistakes, and I feel remorse for them. I beg Your forgiveness. I beg forgiveness through my spiritual master and unto Your Lordship. As I understand the philosophy, there is no need for separate atonement or prayascitta for my wrongs. I have picked myself up from my wrongs and have gone on with my devotional service, and this is sufficient for removing the sinful activities. I hope it has worked this way. I will end this prayer here, thanking You for my very life. I do not have a life except for what You have given me. You give this life to every living being, but in the case of devotees, You give them a special life, a chance to serve You and approach Your lotus feet. I thank You for all the years and hours You have given me to serve You, and I hope that I will meet up with You in future lives, and eventually attain Your service in the spiritual world. Thank you very much.

from #101→

I have been pondering on the thought of tolerance and compassion. Every morning we say about being compassionate for the fallen conditioned soul and then more tolerant than a tree. But do we actually really mean it? Do we actually put it into practice? There was a very interesting question asked as to who is responsible if a devotee [...]

Sunday Feast lecture by Guruprasad Swami on the Gundica Marjana pastime. 

Dallas, TX
2009-04-19

Download: 2009-04-19 - Guruprasad Swami - Sunday Feast - Lecture - Gundica Marjana.mp3

He lectured on the verse that everyone, where they are sarvakama, moksakama, or niskama should worship the Personality of Godhead. Hearing Srila Prabhupada’s voice is different from reading his books, and it’s a special treat. It’s very personal. It’s as if he’s present in the room. He gives examples and anecdotes not always found in his books and gives you the medium of hearing his sound vibration.

June 12, 2:15 A.M.

I woke up at 9:30 P.M. last night with a headache. I took medication, and the headache eventually went away. But I stayed up all night listening to a terrific wind and rain storm that continued for hours. I finally got up at 2:00 A.M. and went to the bathroom. Now I am ready to call Narayana up and to start my japa. I’m afraid I’ll be sleepy, since I didn’t sleep during the night.

3:37 A.M.

Early-morning japa log

About the third round, I woke up and realized what I was supposed to be doing. I started concentrating on the rounds. My speed was slow—sometimes eight minutes, sometimes twelve and a half minutes. Only with the very last round did I come down to a speedy five minutes, eight seconds. I was whispering, but audibly. My mind was fixed on the chanting of the rounds and not wandering to other things, not much. Glancing at the Deities of Radha-Govinda gave me a boost. Every day, They look more beautiful. I have done eight rounds. I’m aware of its importance. I chant mechanically but with feeling, too. The numerical strength is the most important thing. Numbers and speed and enunciation. I put it all together. It’s a decent yajna.

Japa essay

Chanting japa with a clear head is a great gift. I was able to do it, unaware of pain. The time went by slowly, although I was pushing. Japa must be an intense endeavor. It is not a laid-back thing. As you chant, you simultaneously brush out of the thoughts, like using a hand brush and a dustpan. You keep your mind clean. As for thinking of the pastimes of Radha and Krishna, I have not reached that stage. I am a mantra chanter. I am trying to avoid the ten offenses in chanting. On one level, I’m doing it pretty well, but not going further. I don’t blaspheme devotees, I don’t consider the names of the demigods as equal or independent of the name Krishna. I don’t doubt the scriptures, I don’t take the chanting as exaggeration or make an interpretation of it. I chant with attention. I don’t commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting. I don’t consider the chanting a material act of piety. I don’t teach the chanting of the holy names to faithless persons. I don’t chant for material benefits. I try to avoid these basic offenses. But I don’t cry out to Krishna and Radha, “Please let me serve You.” I don’t dwell on Their sweet pastimes. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has made a reversal of the ten offenses and taken them all in a positive way. As an example, instead of the first offense being, “Don’t blaspheme devotees,” he says you should always be happy when you see the devotees. I haven’t achieved all his positive reversals. I don’t chant fully from the heart. I don’t manifest any bodily symptoms of ecstasy. So I still chant out of duty, not spontaneity. Don’t be disappointed, but don’t think you have reached the stage of bhava. Keep chanting like a workhorse. Giddyup.

You chant with joy

sometimes.

Somtimes it’s work.

Sometimes you drowse.

You’re just a jerk.

Sometimes you love it,

sometimes you’re spaced.

You’re not consistent,

you lake a pace.

Oh pitiful chanter,

when will you reach the grace

of ecstatic mantras

in the footsteps of the acharyas,

who have won this race?

When will you chant

with happy face?

6:41 A.M.

It rained all night, and there are puddles in the parking lot. The sky is overcast. All three of us have some sickness. We joke that we’re like the three wounded fellows in the picture, “The Spirit of ’76.” Dattatreya has the flu, I’ve got my headaches and constipation, and Narayana has his back problem. But we keep in good spirits. Narayana has been baking some tarts. We read outloud at dinnertime. In the Brhad-bhagavatamrta, in Satyaloka, the scriptures personified have been having an argument. Srimad-Bhagavatam didn’t even want to hear the impersonal arguments, and he covered his ears and walked away. He upholds that just by chanting mantras to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can gain perfection. Some of the Upanishads argue in favor of liberation. Of course, the Srimad-Bhagavatam’s opinion is definitive and confidential. Gopa-kumara is convinced in favor of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Yesterday I listened to lectures of Srila Prabhupada, something I haven’t done in a long time. I listened to two lectures. It was wonderful hearing him speak, and I intend to keep up the practice. He lectured on the verse that everyone, where they are sarvakama, moksakama, or niskama should worship the Personality of Godhead. Hearing Srila Prabhupada’s voice is different from reading his books, and it’s a special treat. It’s very personal. It’s as if he’s present in the room. He gives examples and anecdotes not always found in his books and gives you the medium of hearing his sound vibration. It’s better than watching television.

My headaches are coming more frequently, and it’s a dilemma. I lose hours every day. It shapes my life to that of an invalid. But fortunately I have enough time to write my journal and chant good rounds. This seems to be the extent of the service I can do for now.

8:30 A.M.

“Oleo.” This is a jazz song composed by Sonny Rollins. I don’t know the meaning of “oleo.” It reminds you of the word ole!, shouted by Flemenco dancers or Mexican dancers, an ejaculation of enthusiasm. The Vaisnavas use the words, “Hari bol!” Prabhupada once said this was a shortcut to the Hare Krishna mantra. “Bol” means “chant” or “sing,” and Hari is the name of the Lord. So “Hari bol” means “chant the name of the Lord.” Miles Davis plays it upbeat on muted trumpet, and Coltrane plays the melody behind him. “Hari bol!” has got much more meaning than “oleo.” Let’s rename the tune. Call it, “Hari Bol!” Then you’ve got an offering to Krishna, wailing “Hari bol!” to the Lord. Coltrane really plays it nice, fast and hard, calling on the Lord. After improvisations, they go back to the head. Hari bol.

“It Could Happen to You.” A person could fall in love if he’s not careful. “Hide your heart from sight, lock your dreams at night, it could happen to you.” It happened to him. It happened to Radha and Krishna. They met each other, and it happened to Them. All they did was wonder what it would be like, and it happened to Them. All they did was wonder how it would be, and it happened to Them. “Keep an eye on spring, run when church bells ring, it could happen to you.” They were just an innocent cowherd boy and an innocent cowherd girl, but They fell in love at first sight. You could be walking down the street and see the sankirtana party chanting, and all of a sudden it could happen to you. You’d be chanting too. Or just walk into the storefront and see Swamiji speaking. Better be careful, or it could happen to you. You could become a disciple. If you’re not careful, you could be swept up into spiritual life. All it takes is a little piety and a little good luck and being at the right place at the right time. Just hear the mahamantra. It could happen to you.

“Woody’n You.” This is dedicated to Woody Herman. It’s written by Dizzy Gillespie. Wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t you take to spiritual life if you could? It’s the easiest thing. Wouldn’t you serve the spiritual master if you could? Wouldn’t you go back to Godhead if there really was such a place? A place of eternity, knowledge and bliss? You say you don’t believe there is, but if there really was such a place, wouldn’t you go there? Yes, you would. Wouldn’t you take a little prasadam? Wouldn’t you follow the Jagannatha cart down the street and see His big eyes? Wouldn’t you like to be happy, and not just for a few minutes or a few years? Wouldn’t you like to be eternally blessed? Wouldn’t you like to be embraced by the most handsome of all male personalities? Wouldn’t you like to serve Srimati Radharani? You don’t know about these things because you don’t know Krishna consciousness, but wouldn’t you like it if you could find out? Please come to a class and hear just one lecture. Just chant with us one time. Wouldn’t you like to be free of troubles? Wouldn’t you like to be free of birth and death and disease and old age? All that’s possible in bhakti yoga. Give it a chance. Wouldn’t you like to be free of hassles? Wouldn’t you like to go to the kingdom of God? Just try it. It’s very easy. All you have to do is chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Wouldn’t you give it a chance?

“Scrapple From the Apple.” This is a Charlie Parker tune. The apple is the Big Apple, New York City. That was Swamiji’s first place. He came to the Big Apple and opened a temple at 26 2nd Avenue. That’s still the place for Krishna consciousness. He said New York was very dear to him because he started there and they treated him well, the first bunch who came. I was one of them. I’m so happy to have been there. Swamiji was our father and our guide, our guru. We started in the Apple with ISKCON in July of 1966. Keith Jarrett’s playing it here on his piano. A simple jazz tune. Krishna consciousness was like that in ’66, a simple jazz tune. We came and joined. Swamiji was our master. We walked the streets of the Lower East Side with him and went to Tompkins Square Park and held our first kirtanas. Crowds gathered around us and looked on at the odd sight. Prabhupada played the one-headed drum in the Big Apple. Frank Sinatra sang that if you could make it in New York City, you could make it anywhere. And so Prabhupada made it in New York City, and then went on to San Francisco. But first, New York. It will always be first, New York. That’s the memory. Those were happy days. Swamiji had only twelve men and very little money. But he was strong and virile and happy, and he lectured three nights a week. Had a half-hour kirtana, which he led himself, and we sang the response. Sometimes we cried when we got high on the kirtana. He said it was all right. We didn’t know very much, but we knew that we loved him, and we took what he said as truth. He told us about Krishna and the Bhagavad-gita. I went with him once to Chambers Street in the Big Apple to see a lawyer, and we came back together on the bus. I pulled the buzzer one stop too early, and he said, “No, it’s the next stop.” He knew New York better than I did. Keith Jarrett is swinging it nicely, “The Scrapple of the Apple.” Taking it lightly and fast. His drummer, too. Jazzmen in New York City used to play riffs of Hare Krishna in that first year. All we had was a scrapple of the Apple, just a little movement. That was the beginning. It all started there. And then it grew. New York City was the first.

10:30 A.M.

My Dear Lord Krishna...

I write to You as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You are standing on the altar, arms upraised, Your feet in a dancing position. To Your left stands Nityananda, Your eternal brother and comrade in arms in a sankirtana army of Navadvipa. You both rose simultaneously like the sun and moon in Gauda to spread the chanting of the mahamantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. You are thus the most magnanimous avataras to appear on earth. The distribution of the Hare Krishna mantra is the kindest act performed by God in this age of Kali, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy. The chanting of Hare Krishna frees sinful persons from the reactions to their sins and inspires them with love of God. It is very easy to perform and can be done without following any hard and fast rules.

So I thank You for coming for distributing the mahamantra and the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. The names of God are as good as God Himself. By chanting, one cleanses his heart of dust accumulated for many lifetimes. Lord Caitanya asked Nityananda Rama and Haridasa Thakura to go door to door and ask people to chant the mahamantra. This preaching order still stands, and thousands of followers of Lord Caitanya are working to spread the chanting of the mahamantra. In 1965, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada took the mahamantra out of India and formed a world religion through the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Prabhupada’s work made a quantum leap of Lord Caitanya’s mission. The mahamantra is a household word, and people continue to join in all the countries of the world.

I pray that I may take shelter in Lord Caitanya’s movement and contribute to its spreading. One can take shelter of Lord Caitanya by chanting the holy names. This can be done by private prayer (japa) and public, congregational singing (kirtana). The chanting must be done in a prayerful state of mind, with no personal motivation. I must chant as an act of service to You, Lord, calling Your names while asking to serve You. You have written eight prayers, called the Siksastakam, which contain the essential instructions on how to chant the names. In the third prayer, You state, “One should chant the holy names in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than a tree and ready to offer all respects to others without expecting respect for himself. In such a state of mind, one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.” This indicates the importance of humility in the behavior of a follower of Lord Caitanya. I should not think I am better than others just because I am chanting. Yet, while acting humbly, I should boldly act to spread the movement of chanting Hare Krishna. I pray that You give me this courage and balance.

from #100→

Our show at The Shala was an intimate gathering of about fifty people, but all fifty of them had a smile plastered on their faces throughout the entire show. When our enthusiastic friend and fan, Dennis, stood up and began dancing, his energy was infectious. Suddenly, everyone was dancing, and I thought for a minute that the floor was bending like the fabric on a trampoline.

Eventually, everyone sat down again (whew!) and Ananta lead a sweet, slow bhajan. It was so sweet, in fact, that it inspired Acyuta to dedicate her next song to her older brother, Ananta, who, she said, “taught me everything that I know about kirtan.”

Unfortunately due to a recorder malfunction we only have the last part of this amazing kirtan.

Listen to the entire Kirtan!

To listen, click on the links below then press play. To download, Right Click on the word “Download” and select “Save As…” from the menu. Having trouble downloading? Read our Help Section.

• 01 Ananta Govinda - Radhe Govinda (76)
• 02 Acyuta Gopi - Hare Krishna (54)

By Rita Gupta

Bhagavatananda says that assisting the dying is helping him “cash in on the blessings” he received from one of Srila Prabhupada’s departed disciples, Tribhuvanatha dasa.

Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free e-magazine from ISKCON’s Gopaljiu Publications in Bubhaneshwar, India, has just entered its ninth year of circulation and sent its 200th issue to an ever-growing list of subscribers. A search for the magazine’s origins take us back to 1977. When ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada visited Bhubaneshwar for the last time, he instructed its spiritual leader, Gour Govinda Swami, to not only reach out to outsiders, but also to inspire and teach those who were already devotees.

Gaura Krishna das, TP ISKCON Aravade: Dear devotees, we here at ISKCON Aravade are happy to write you with a small report on what has happened here since the grand opening in February 2009

ISKCON devotees in India are continuing to help clean and restore the adjacent sacred lakes Radha-Kunda and Shyama Kunda, assisting a project that began in early May. The project is part of an ongoing effort by locals and the Indian Government to maintain Braja, the holy land in India where Lord Krishna was born, and is the first time Radha and Shyama Kundas have been cleaned since 1987.

YPT, a recent youth outreach training course at ISKCON Pune, India proved a grand success, with 68 senior devotees taking Level 1 from April 19th to 22nd, and 58 taking Level 2 from April 23rd to 26th. The courses taught self-purification and practical youth outreach strategies, emphasizing the importance of balancing service and spiritual practices to achieve enduring success.

Shyama Priya Dasi, the driving force behind ISKCON’s Prison Ministry, passed away on April 16, 2009 in Gainesville, Florida, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. As her son, daughters, daughter-in-law, and many loving devotee friends sat close by her bed and chanted the names of God, they reflected on her exemplary life.

HYDERABAD: The human mind is not fully prepared to embrace modernity and technological advancements associated with it, claimed Sahadeva Dasa, the president of Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) in Hyderabad on Monday. Discussing the growing instances of student suicides, depression among professionals and martial discord, Dasa claimed that increased loneliness, coupled with overshooting personal goals and use of intoxicants are some of the prime reasons behind urban psychological and lifestyle related diseases.

So...I am no longer prostituting out my cooking. The store link has been removed from the sidebar. These days, I only do it for love! With nothing to sell, no jars of jam up my apron sleeves or any interest in being perceived as mildly amusing (well....I am an eighth English) I blog before you this proposition: should I shutter up the Sabjimata blog, letting it accumulate cyber cob-webs like my previous tell all endeavors? Or should I just blog on through this, opening up the web pages of Sabjimata to whatever I feast or fancy?

During his inaugural address, US President Obama identified greed as a major cause of the current recession. Whose greed? It’s easy to point the finger at the US mortgage brokers. Certainly they were greedy, but how much harm could they alone have done? Not much. They capitalized on the greed of ordinary Americans for unaffordable homes. Ultimately, if we are honest with ourselves and if we want to help solve the problem, we have to point the finger to ourselves.

Millvina Dean died on Sunday, May 31, 2009. CNN.com reports that Dean, who was 97 years old, was the last known Titanic survivor. The Titanic sank in the North Atlantic in the early hours April 15, 1912 after striking an iceberg. I question whether in fact Ms. Dean was the last survivor. Yes, Ms. Dean may have been the last person alive who traveled on that fateful maiden voyage of the Titanic. However, she was not the last survivor in the sense that there are countless remaining victims of the Titanic. I refer to victims who are trapped in a co-dependent and abusive relationship with technology, a relationship which is epitomized by the history of the Titanic. Hopefully one day these victims will become survivors.

By the Administrator of "Struggling Devotees"

We are hoping to start (if Krsna desires) a new website to be called "FOR STRUGGLING DEVOTEES - for Vaishnavas struggling with sexual issues."

By Basu Ghosh Das

On the auspicious day of "Jyesth purnima" (the full moon day in the month of "Jyesth", which fell on Sunday, June 7, 2009, ISKCON Baroda celebrated "snan-yatra", the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadradevi.

I am an eighteen-year-old college student on the verge of starting my adult life. And as American capitalist culture never lets me forget, central to adulthood is the career I choose. Everything I have been taught in school has been entirely in preparation for this choice. The various pressures are seemingly insurmountable- whether they are parental, financial, or personal.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.9.24-25 - All other types of intoxication are like salt and pepper compared to intoxication of bodily conception.


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It's with great pleasure that we, ISKCON Amsterdam, are hereby extending to you our heartfelt invitation to this year's Ratha Yatra Festival in Amsterdam (Holland) on Sunday the 19th of July 2009. As many of you probably know, Amsterdam enjoys worldwide fame. The preaching potential out here is tremendous!

September 2 -11, 2009 are the dates for World Holy Name Week 2009. The World Holy Name Week website is now operational. www.worldholynameweek.org and www.whnw.org This year, our theme is, “Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Sannyasa”.

If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.

If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.

Eating a curry once or twice a week could help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, a US researcher suggests. The key ingredient is curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric. Curcumin appears to prevent the spread of amyloid protein plaques - thought to cause dementia - in the brain.

TIRUPATI: Karnataka tourism minister and Bellary mine baron Gali Janardhan Reddy will probably be better known for something else: with an offering of a diamond-studded crown worth US$8.8 million crore, he became the biggest donor to Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati since the Vijayanagara kings 400 years ago.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The debate over the so-called Aryan invasion of India was at the core of an international conference, “The Sindhu-Sarasvati Valley Civilization: A Reappraisal,” held Feb. 21 and 21 at Loyola Marymount University here.

Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 8, Chapter 6, Text 20 by Guruprasad Swami. Dallas, TX 2009-04-18 TRANSLATION O demigods, fulfilling one’s own interests is so important that one may even have…

More on the Queen's Birthday sadhana retreat from Manoj Prabhu:


"Before the first class on Saturday, one needs to wake up. And this was tough...By the time I could get some sleep, it was 11:20pm ! And at sharp 3am, I got up. Oh Krishna…it was tough...By 4am, I was out of the cottage into the dark forest of New Nandagram. Walking up the gravel road, lit only by a faint moonlight, I made my way to the temple room. Few other devotees from my cottage and others were also making their way. Looked like no one wanted to miss the morning prayers before the much anticipated class began."

Manoj Prabhu reports on last weekend's sadhana retreat:


"...It was fantastic ! While many of my friends and work mates decided to stay at home to enjoy the long weekend break (Monday was a public holiday here) and also to avoid the harsh weather reported (rain, heavy cold winds) , I decided to venture out. I would be spending 3 days with 120 odd Melbourne devotees, His Grace Bhurijana prabhu and HG Jagattarini mataji at the New Nandagram farm of ISKCON Melbourne temple."

OAK BROOK, Ill. — Six days a week, in fair weather and foul, two-dozen door-to-door salesmen, all of whom live clustered together in an apartment complex in this suburb west of Chicago, pile into S.U.V.’s and cars and head into the big city, bent on sales of home security systems. And on Sunday, their one day off, they drive together to the nearest house of worship of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Malati devi dasi: The annual vaishnavi retreat will begin friday Oct. 2nd through Sunday Oct. 4th in New Vrindaban. It is for women and by women and both women and children are welcome.

Parsada dd: Please avail of this wonderful service and support educational projects of Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School, Vrindavan. For the first time, directly from Vrindavan! An exceptional offer for temples all around the world!

By Ram Prasad das

This announcement is intended for all devotees, so that you can put "World Holy Names Week" on your calendar. We will do everything we can to make World Holy Names Week successful at your temple as well as globally.

In this material world stars and especially super stars are very adored by the people in general. They like to hear about and discuss the activities of their famous heroes. But they do not realize that the most famous, most heroic person in all existence is Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is worshipped and adored by countless...

The past Sunday we celebrated the Snan Yatra- The Appearance Day of sorts;of Lord Jagannath. I love festivals related to Lord Jagannath and Giriraja because there is no austerity of fasting involved. No growling tummies, dizzy heads and cranky tempers to deal with. So, Jaganntha has His annual bath in full public view and then promptly falls sick. Firstly he reciprocates with the sincere desire

Blackened skies thundered above, causing the ground to rumble. The ocean opened above everyone's head and millions of gallons washed the city. A forecast 100F was shot down by the power of the storm. Yesterday we were showered by the torrential glories of His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami. Devotees flew in from different parts of the world in order to honor this great personality. Some devotees were visiting from Houston, some from England and even several devotees from Australia. His Holiness Lokanatha Swami, His Holiness Rtadhvaja Swami, and His Holiness Giriraja Swami also attended to share their memories of their dear godbrother.

By the mercy of the great devotees the fire of material existance is drenched by the torrents of mercy.

In contrast to yesterday's Tamal (blue-black) sky, today a golden colored haze enshrined the temple's domes as the entire sky was lit by a bright Gaura (golden yellow).

1967 June 14 : "I think we can continue our centers in rented houses without endeavoring more for our own house. Rather we may train up boys for preaching work and send them back to all the parts of the world to preach this gospel."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1968 June 14 : "Whatever I am trying to bestow upon you all is the gift of Lord Krishna directly - I am just doing the work of a bearer. There is nothing of my personal contribution and I ask your mercy that I may do it without deviation."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 June 14 : "Many of the American girls and boys are very qualified to take up this sublime movement. We simply have to instruct them nicely, and surely many will understand that here is such a nice thing - they must take to it."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1972 June 14 : "So far attending pujas at the houses of the Hindus, we can hold our kirtana but we should not take prasadam there. If they insist then we can take fruits and milk and offer them to Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 June 14 : "So we must be prepared to fight. We cannot stop this movement. It is a fight against Maya. So Maya may sometimes cause casualties in our camp. We must only thank Krsna and seriously dedicate everything for Him."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 June 14: "We have to be patient. Like a woman who becomes married; if she immediately desires to have a child, that is not possible. But after due time, because she is with her husband, she will have child."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 June 14: "Because you are my very intimate friend from college life, I wish that you may retire from family life and live in one of our so many centers wherever you like, and preach the cult of Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1966 June 13 :
"Dasami. Today somebody paid in the basket $100.00. In the morning class there was some discussion on friendship & discipleship. In the evening there was meeting. The attendance was nine only. At night Karl remained with us."
Prabhupa Journal :: 1966

1968 June 13 : "I have sent one letter to Miss Rose, try to keep friendship with her. Everyone has dormant love for Krishna and we have to give one possible chance to awaken it. I think if you flatter her a little more, she will come."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 June 13: "Your chanting may not be stopped; it does not matter where you chant. For chanting there are no hard and fast rules, so if you are absent for chanting Hare Krsna somewhere else, it is as good as chanting in the temple."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1972 June 13 : "We are only able to perform tapasya if we have got knowledge. So first thing is to become knowledgeable in Krishna Consciousness, then the tapasya or voluntary life of austerity will result automatically."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 June 13 : "The children should always be instructed by taking advantage of their playful mood and teaching them to play Krsna games like become cowherd boys, cows, or peacocks, and always think of Krsna by playing."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 June 13 : "The difficulty is, unless we have legal possession of the land, how can we get municipal sanction for the construction? But if he gives us legal right to construct the temple, we can then immediately get sanction."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 June 13: "He said you are not following the regulative principles. I do not know why you should do like that. Anyway, if there are any discrepancies in that way I hope you will rectify it. If you so desire you can see me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 June 13: "If our books are translated into Japanese, it will be a great help to us and to you also because it will be another opportunity for printing books. So, if you can arrange for this then it will give me great pleasure."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 5, No. 3
By Krishna-kripa das 
(February 2009, part one)
Gainesville, Tallahassee
(Sent from Leipzig, Germany, on 6/12/09)

Highlights

First Friday

Sri Prahlada Chants on Campus

Insight from Hridayananda Dasa Goswami, Indradyumna Swami, Jayadvaita Swami, Aindra Prabhu, and Other Devotees
Tamohara Prabhu: On Devotional Relationships

Where I Was and What I Was Doing

The first half of February meant chanting at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, and going to Tallahassee for harinamas and the festival for Lord Nityananda. It was a special month because Indradyumna Swami and Sri Prahlada visited Alachua, and Sri Prahlada chanted with us on the UF campus, to the delight of both the devotees and the students. Param Gati Swami also visited us for a couple weeks in Gainesville. In Tallahassee, Sivam and I chanted at a new event for us, First Friday, and found it a great opportunity to give many nice people a chance to hear Krishna’s holy name.

First Friday

An abandoned industrial park in Tallahassee’s Railroad Square was transformed into a colony of art galleries, and on the first Friday of the month, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., they have an open house, and people leisurely stroll from one gallery to another. Daru Brahma Prabhu, who runs the Krishna Lunch at Florida State University and who serves daily a hundred students, finds First Friday to be a chance to distribute prasadam (spiritual food) to a wider audience. He is assisted by Ramayana Prabhu and Rafael, who serve out, as well as set up tables and chairs on the grass for the guests to eat at. Also taking advantage of the many people strolling around Railroad Square is Garuda Prabhu, whose Peace on Earth Yoga Center occupies a building in that area. Garuda teaches hatha yoga for free Monday thru Thursday, and had spiritual programs on Saturday and Sundays, during the day, a more ecumenical one on Saturday, and a more Krishna centered one on Sunday. 

Sivam and I chanted at First Friday in February, March, and April. We had different nice experiences. I met Jena at Garuda’s center, and she ended up attending many future harinama. There we also met her friend, Ashley, who came on one harinama at the Lake Ella park. Sometimes Alex, an FSU student who received a Gita from Ananda Vidya Prabhu, and who is taking a serious interest in Krishna consciousness would come and play his guitar. Jena would also come. Once a lady and her husband listened to one Hare Krishna melody till the end and asked us to play another, staying to hear. Other person gave us a $12 donation. Sometimes children would dance in front of us as their parents waited in line for prasadam. All and all, it was a pleasant atmosphere to share Krishna sound with a mostly appreciative crowd devoid of negativity. I look forward to returning to Tallahassee for First Fridays whenever I am in northern Florida, and sharing the Hare Krishna mantra with others.

Sri Prahlada Chants on Campus

When Sri Prahlada chanted during the lunch serve out on the campus, many more devotees came than usual. Jaya Sita came and played her cello. The combination of Sri Prahlada, Jaya Sita, and the large number of devotees attracted more attention than usual, and several people stopped to see and hear, and became inquistive.

All the devotees were very enlivened. I hope Sri Prahlada can come out at least two times during his next visit.

Insight from Lectures

Hridayananda Dasa Goswami (2/5/09):

King Pariksit is glorified by how he treated those above him and those subordinate to him, and by his character.

We do endeavor, but we depend on Krishna, as Krishna recommends in Bhagavada-gita 8.7, “Remember Me and fight.”

Krishna is the Supreme Personality of  Personal Trainer and our life is filled with different exercise machines, and Krishna engages us with different ones. We chant Hare Krishna, and Krishna accepts us into a personal program. If we are running into difficulties and do not pass a test, Krishna administers the test again.

From our perspective, Pariksit was bitten by a snake bird and passed away, but for him it was a promotion.

To maintain material attachments means to ignore the fact that they are our enemies (Bg. 3.39).

We have to seriously take care of our spiritual life, and we also have to take care of everyone’s spiritual life. If you see everyone as spiritual soul, you will understand they are our family members, and we should encourage them.

We should think of our mission as dialog and not monolog.

Q: What is the best thing I can do for my grandfather who is dying?

A: I would just pray for his spiritual progress. It was Krishna’s arrangement that he had a Vaishnava daughter who would pray for him.

[To hear the entire lecture visit this link: http://acharyadeva-nectar.pbworks.com/The-Purpose-of-Trouble]

Indradyumna Swami:

Srila Prabhupada once told the German devotees, “If there is no disturbance, there is no preaching.”

A brahmana who performed rituals for material benefit, blasphemed Narottama Dasa Thakura for preaching as appeared in kayastha family. Goddess Durga appeared in a dream and told the brahmana he would get leprosy, which he did. Narottama Dasa Thakura mercifully placed his feet on the man’s head and told him to dance in an ecstatic kirtana that lasted all night. During the kirtana, the symptoms of leprosy left the man, and he fell at the lotus feet of Narottama Dasa Thakura, begging for initiation. Narottama Dasa Thakura embraced him and gave him initiation.

You cannot be compassionate if you have material desires because you will become envious of the material success of the people you are supposed to be delivering.

All too often we are busy as a bee with the affairs of this world, yet self-realization is our real business. Thus there must be a class of renounced persons to remind people that before they die they must learn they are souls, Krishna is God, and we have an intimate relationship with Him.

Sadhus spend full time on self-realization and share their realization with others, and society would maintain them, feeling gratitude. Sadhus are so satisfied they need just the bare necessities.

One sadhu begged from Lord Nityananda’s parents to have Nityananda to be his brahmacari assistant. Seeing Nitai’s mother crying from the loss of her son, the sadhu gave her a Deity of Muralidhara, saying, “If you worship Him nicely, you will see your son’s face in the Deity.”

Param-gati Swami:

The Vaishnava has no enemies in that he has no one that he thinks badly of in his heart, but some people many think of a Vaishnava as an enemy.

Q: What do we do if our mind creates impediments?

A: Staying in the association of devotees can help us.

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, (from his journal, Vrindavana 7):

In Dhanurdhara Swami's book he interviews Aindra dāsa, who said as follows: “My experiences is that chanting is not a matter of simple endeavoring to articulate some syllables. Actually, such chanting is not really chanting. Chanting looks like chanting, but actually chanting is Krishna dancing by His own sweet will. He is making His Divine descent from Goloka dhama and dancing on our tongues. The holy name is a beautiful sweetest-of-all-sweetest cowherd boy. He is a cowherd boy, a beautiful blue cowherd boy, handsome and completely captivating to the heart. By the mercy of Hare, Radha, our hearts have become undeniably intensely enchanted by the sweetness of that little cowherd boy Krishna, and because we have become enchanted by Him—and He is aware of that, naturally—He will not leave us alone. Again and again and again He pastures on our tongues, by forcing His way into our consciousness, dancing on our tongues.”

Jayādvaita Mahārāja is a down-to-earth guy. When I told him Bhūrijana and I were discussing whether it was better to go next life to be with Prabhupāda where he was preaching in the material world or to join with Krishna in His pastimes in the spiritual world, Maharaja replied: ‘I’d take whatever I could get.’”

Chaturatma Prabhu:

When the Deity is worshiped in the householders’ home, the household gradually comes to understand the Lord is the actual proprietor.

If the senses are uncontrolled, there is no intelligence.

Kalakantha Prabhu:

We have to be aware that in our attempts to preach we may be trying to validate our choice to accept Krishna consciousness by convincing others to also accept it.

Q: How can we be humble when we understand we are one of a few fortunate people in devotional service?

A: The advanced devotees feel so low for having left Krishna.

If you ask people questions about their philosophy of life, after a while, they will run out of things to say. Then you can present Krishna consciousness.

Sri Prahlada Prabhu:

A real friend tells the truth for one’s benefit. Vibhisana said, “It is rare to find a friend who will tell us the truth for our benefit. But rarer is to find someone who will listen to it.”

We experience pain simply because of our false identification with our body and this world.

When Krishna told Dhrtarastra before the war that the fight could be avoided if he gave the Pandavas their rightful kingdom, Dhrtarastra told Krishna what He said was true, but he was so attached that Krishna’s illuminating remark was like a flash of lightening in the sky.

At the end of life we want to be in a space where we can give up sense gratification as a matter of realization not artificially.

Mother Ali Krishna:

Missing observing the Lord’s festivals is like forgetting your mom’s birthday. 

Circumambulating the Lord is a way of putting the Lord in the center of our lives.

By bowing down in the temple we touch the dust of the feet of the Vaishnavas.

Kelly:

Sometimes people say with outrage, “How can you say someone is put in a suffering condition because of their past acts?” I reply to them by asking, “Is it more reasonable to think the Lord whimsically puts one person in a good situation and another in a bad one?”

Trey: 

Bhakti cannot be checked by material circumstances nor is it caused by material things. By taking shelter of people who have bhakti, we develop bhakti.

Tamohara Prabhu on devotional relationships, especially marriage:

There is a way of wanting the best for someone but still accepting them as they are, and at the same time, maintaining our own spiritual standards.

The biggest problem is a difference in enthusiasm because the two partners.

One must help the other get through the low points.

We should always start out thinking of the marriage as a lifetime commitment. Not that I will try this person, and if it doesn’t work out then I’ll try someone else.

It is helpful to have a mentor who is a senior grhastha.

Changing circumstances or changing partners will not help. We have to change ourselves.

Sharing deeply in a devotional way can keep a relationship together. Other differences and problems will seem minor.

We must keep a sense of service to our partner. Because our family members are Vaishnavas, we must not be too familiar. Avoid offending them. Look for opportunities to serve them.

Be discriminating in the beginning before making a commitment, and when you do make a commitment stick with it.

I never recommend that a devotee marry a nondevotee.

There is a continuum between lust and love for God.

---

tasmad ekena manasa
bhagavan satvatam patih
srotavyah kirtitavyas ca
dhyeyah pujyas ca nityada

Therefore, with one-pointed attention, one should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the Personality of Godhead, who is the protector of the devotees. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.14)

Hare Krishna. ISKCON’s Child Protection Office is under assault by a small group of influential devotees who claim that it is biased against the accused. I find their accusations hard to believe. Several articles are appearing on the Sampradaya Sun and on Chakra.

The first article, titled “Snake Oil, Scapegoats, and the Hare Krishnas: The CPO’s Use of Bogus Science,” appeared on Sampradaya Sun over the weekend. I wanted to get a response out ASAP, so I wrote a letter to Rocana Prabhu that was published under the title, “CPO Official Decision on Vakresvara Pandit.”

A few days later I submitted a more thorough article titled “In Support of the Child Protection Office.” That article is copied below, with the related documents included for download:

——
Hare Krishna. Following up after my initial article countering Visnugada Prabhu’s misleading and incorrect facts related to the guilty verdict in the child molestation case against Vakresvara Pandit Prabhu, a few critical points are herein presented supporting the Child Protection Office’s verdicts in this case. But first we must briefly revisit Visnugada’s dreadful proposal to disempower the CPO.

Visnugada says:

“I also believe they didn’t understand the fact that in the US, as in many other countries, the functions of the CPO are, for the most part, already being carried out by civil authorities. Our position was it was unnecessary and legally unwise for the CPO to try to duplicate those functions.”

It is common knowledge that well over 500 former gurukula children in ISKCON are reported to have been beaten, raped, and/or abused in other abominable ways. Does anyone know how many perpetrators have faced criminal prosecution? I heard one relatively unknown “devotee” went to jail for child abuse. Maybe there were more that I have not heard of, but one thing is for certain: ISKCON is not famous for reporting criminal deviants to the police. On the contrary, we keep hearing of this or that rapist who gets moved to another temple or another country where the same activities are perpetuated. Visnugada’s proposal is to make ISKCON a haven for child abusers, as if it’s not bad enough.

He continues:

“In fact, in the Vakresvara case, the civil authorities did investigate at the time of the alleged offense and concluded there was no case to pursue.”

As I mentioned in my previous article, that statement is blatantly false. This was an issue of several counts of statutory rape over nearly a year. The child reported it when she was an adult several years after the alleged sexual encounters. The Texas State Police did not purse it because neither of the persons involved lived in Texas when it was reported, it had been years since the alleged crimes. These were good enough reasons for the police not to investigate. However it’s natural and right that ISKCON should be more concerned about alleged rapists in our community posing as devotees.

Visnugada complains:

“In the Vakresvara Pandit case, instead of weighing the actual evidence, the judges were directed instead to use a junk science method, the SCAN-View Questionnaire.”

I have not been privileged to read the entire case file, but I have carefully scrutinized key documents that have been made available and discussed the facts with both CPO Directors. The Official Decision describes the testimonies of the accused and the alleged victim with comparisons of the consistencies and other analyses of their reliability, including the employment of a “renowned expert in forensic written content analysis” who stated that the accuser’s testimony showed traits highly consistent with truthfulness. The Official Decision also mentions a questionnaire analyzed by the same expert, who found that Vakresvara’s responses indicated deception. Questioning a complainant and the accused can hardly be considered irregular.

The document goes on to describe several inconsistencies in the accused’s testimony. According to the Official Decision, these contradictions, verified by expert analysis, coupled with a consistent presentation of facts by the alleged victim, formed substantial basis for determining guilt.

Visnugada says,

“We found people whose testimony could have exonerated Vakresvara weren’t even interviewed, despite the CPO having been informed.”

What is the meaning of this vague claim? The accuser reported, “We did have sex around seven or eight times” over the course of about a year while she was 13 and 14 years old. Whose testimony could have alleviated Vakresvara’s self-incrimination? It’s easy to imagine how they would try. I know of a few big sannyasi gurus on the GBC who would say “He didn’t do it” and expect the CPO to beg their forgiveness. What ISKCON devotee would go against them? Anyone familiar with ISKCON knows the social effect that the resultant accusations of ‘Vaisnava aparadha’ would have. Who would be willing to call the sannyasi-guru-GBCs liars when they’re sticking up for their old buddy? I challenged some of these “gurus” a few years ago after they rolled out the red carpet for Vakresvara at my local temple, and the gurus’ many disciples were absolutely brutal.

I’ve also had several devotees contact me to say that Vakresvara was undoubtedly having sex with this child, that the nature of their relationship was too obvious to hide among the devotees in the area at that time. I’ve heard this from some devotees whom I did not know at all, others whom I knew somewhat over the Internet, and also from my trusted personal friends. None said they were interviewed by the CPO, and I don’t see why they should have been. The primary witnesses for these “bedroom” activities would naturally be the complainant and the accused, and it makes sense for a proper investigation to have been focused on these two individuals.

As stated in the appeal verdict:

“xi. There is no evidence that the original panels of judges neglected any statements that directly or indirectly project doubt, or remove doubt, concerning the character of the claimant or the defendant.

xii. A number of statements have been made to the effect that the original panel of judges neglected to consider certain pieces of evidence. However there is no proof for such a statement and such an accusation appears to be based solely on the fact that a guilty verdict was given to the defendant.”

Visnugada undermines the credibility of his “professional opinion” with this declaration:

“In my professional opinion, the CPO has never properly investigated the possibility that Vakresvara Pandita and others may have been falsely accused.”

The first investigation into this question went from December 4, 2000, to July 26, 2002, and resulted in a guilty verdict. (Apparently “properly” can only mean a not-guilty verdict in Visnugada’s opinion, though I can’t help but wonder about the nature of his relationship with Vakresvara Pandit if he presumes to know about Vakresvara’s sex life with such certainty.) Vakresvara Pandit had an attorney, Sesa Prabhu, who was presumably competent to raise any relevant issues in his defense. The complainant was not represented by an attorney, so it’s rather ridiculous to suggest that Vakresvara was disadvantaged by anything other than guilt.

After the original determination of Vakresvara Pandit’s guilt, an appeal was filed on his behalf and the matter was decided on June 8, 2005. The Defense made numerous claims attempting to undermine the finding of guilt, but the appeal judges found each of them to be without merit and upheld the original decision.

As stated in the appeal verdict:

“The appeal judges found no evidence supporting the claims that there was prejudicial treatment of Vakresvara Pandit das in the initial hearing of this case.”

Here it should be noted that this was after resignation of the CPO Director under whose authority the initial finding of guilt was made, so this was an entirely new CPO that ultimately determined the original CPO judges had made no mistake in this case.

In fact, the only findings the Appeals Judges determined in Vakresvara Pandit’s favor was to say that the rectification plan was too severe, based on the fact that the original judges failed to consider that it was a case of “consensual sex with a minor.” As it turned out, the Appeals Judges were in error on this point, as they had failed to realize that there is no such thing as “consensual sex with a minor.” Nowhere in the United States is a thirteen-year-old child legally able to give consent to sex. That is why it’s commonly called “statutory rape.” As Tamohara Prabhu (CPO, GBC) wrote to me on July 19, 2005:

“You are correct regarding ‘consensual sex with a minor’. Another devotee lawyer pointed this out, that there is no such thing as consent, as a minor is assumed to not have the maturity to give consent. I will change this wording in the decision, as it is legally incorrect.”

Bear in mind we’re talking about a 40-year old man repeatedly having sex with a 13-year young girl.

The appeal judges had also failed to consider the fact that Vakresvara Pandit had been in violation of his rectification plan the entire time of his supposed restrictions, even to the point of being Temple President of Puerto Rico, in gross contradiction of the Official Decision, during which time he was also found guilty of additional offenses resulting in another official decision against him. Following the original appeal verdict, the CPO was shown these facts and thereby forced to revise their ruling accordingly.

That devotees are still calling for this man to be exonerated, presenting their own twisted facts, is astonishing and reeks of corruption. If not for ISKCON’s shameful history of child abuse, it would be beyond belief.

The relevant documents are attached (in “Word” format). Hare Krishna.

Official Decision in the Case of Vakresvara Pandit das - July 26, 2002 (0)………….
Official Decision on the Appeal Case of Vakresvara Pandit das - June 8, 2005 (0)………….
Note of Clarification in the Sentencing of the Appeals Judges' Official Decision of Vakresvara Pandit das (0)………….

Sincerely, your servant,
Pandu das

IT’S THE PROJECT THAT COUNTS

SATURDAY JUNE 6/09, TORONTO, ONTARIO

Many great moments of truth arise when I find myself conducting a play practice such as a session today on working out details for the drama “The Witness.” A person who I handpicked for a part ended up not being fit for the role. He was relieved when I suggested he consider another minor role. Initially I was reluctant to say something to him fearing he might feel rejected. Perhaps I would even hurt his ego. All went well after his internal tension and mine subsided and the truth of one’s niche was revealed.

Some actors are less co-operative and don’t take to direction as well as others. That’s normal in any facet of life or any sector of society. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you repeat an instruction the recipient is able but not willing to take the direction. These become great dramatical moments and they can be spontaneously explosive, rarely though in a devotional atmosphere. It has happened.

When it does your cast can freeze during such fireworks which are both special effects. You get both the animate and inanimate going on at the same time.

At such times the art of patience has its chance to manifest and when the dust settles one may be given the opportunity to unfreeze uneasiness and activate again what you are set out to do – to perform. After all, the show must go on!

The jumping into the rehearsal again, engaging in the project is what cures all. It’s the project that must prevail over ego, the mission that overrides everything. It’s not the actor but the entire cast that counts.

10 Km

Dustin The Monk

Thunder Bay, Ontario

It was Dustin's birthday. He's one of our Halifax boys. He was employed serving drinks in a bar. He knew how to mix drinks but know he found out about mixing Krishna into his life. He shaved off his hair to be a monk. When you are Twenty one and still single you still have time to take in adventure. Since joining several months ago he has traveled with another young monk to certain regions of the States stopping at temples. In many ways he was becoming a man for all seasons by learning various devotional arts, the songs, philosophy, musical instruments.

When as a boy Krishna attended His school and learned sixty-four arts. For Him such skills began early in His life. In the case of Dustin it takes a greater amount of time to learn due to the compounded karma accumulated over lifetimes. Our desires bury us into dullness of consciousness. Like Dustin we are all ensnared by the illusions of the world.

At least Dustin was smart enough to pull out of the shadowy pursuits of this world. He is a bright young man and we are fortunate to have him in our troupe of performers at this weekends Yogafest. He is a great actor and dancer and picks up on things quickly especially in the area of co-operation and willingness to serve.

In the Gita it is said "yesam tu anta gatam papam..." If you have done something virtuous in the previous existence then that will bear fruit for the next existence especially in the conviction to move on in your spiritual life.

I believe this applies to Dustin.

Happy Birthday Dustin.

9 Km

I had insisted that our group of resident men and women in the ashram take a crash course in hospitality. Sometimes you hear complaints from the public who visit for darshan (viewing the image of Krishna) or from those who wish to learn about Krishna Consciousness. They complain about an inadequate greeting or no greeting at all.

I had observed that some of our renunciants got either very busy with their services and therefore do not tend to the needs of the public who appear either in person or by phone sufficiently. Some of our monks living in temples tend to be very hermit oriented which ends up not being very compatible when your temple or ashram is frequently visited. Another factor to consider was the aging factor where in the case of our ashram in Toronto, one resident monk is in his seventies, one in his sixties and somewhat handicapped while others are moving up in their fifties. Most of our young monks are in Halifax. It is actually hard to pick from our selection a front receptionist.

So these are some of the services at hand.

Fortunately, our community is rich with bright-faced youth who have a good report in public communication. Perhaps we have hit on something there.

One of our ladies in her early thirties, Nitai Priya, who recently moved here from Vancouver, is a trained receptionist. She put together what we needed, a crash course called ‘Hospitality 108’. Over a few days starting yesterday, our in-dwelling monks are participating in an interactive and fun program to better be able to take care of public needs.

That’s a relief! Let’s see if reception improves.

6 Km

One morning Genghis Khan, the great king and warrior, rode out into the woods to have a day's sport. Many of his friends were with him. They rode out gayly, carrying their bows and arrows. Behind them came the servants with the hounds.

It was a merry hunting party. The woods rang with their shouts and laughter. They expected to carry much game home in the evening.

On the king's wrist sat his favorite hawk, for in those days hawks were trained to hunt. At a word from their masters they would fly high up into the air, and look around for prey. If they chanced to see a deer or a rabbit, they would swoop down upon it swift as any arrow.

All day long Genghis Khan and his huntsmen rode through the woods. But they did not find as much game as they expected.

Toward evening they started for home. The king had often ridden through the woods, and he knew all the paths. So while the rest of the party took the nearest way, he went by a longer road through a valley between two mountains.

The day had been warm, and the king was very thirsty. His pet hawk left his wrist and flown away. It would be sure to find its way home.

The king rode slowly along. He had once seen a spring of clear water near this pathway. If he could only find it now! But the hot days of summer had dried up all the mountain brooks.

At last, to his joy, he saw some water trickling down over the edge of a rock. He knew that there was a spring farther up. In the wet season, a swift stream of water always poured down here; but now it came only one drop at a time.

The king leaped from his horse. He took a little silver cup from his hunting bag. He held it so as to catch the slowly falling drops.

It took a long time to fill the cup; and the king was so thirsty that he could hardly wait. At last it was nearly full. He put the cup to his lips, and was about to drink.

All at once there was a whirring sound in the air, and the cup was knocked from his hands. The water was all spilled upon the ground.

The king looked up to see who had done this thing. It was his pet hawk.

The hawk flew back and forth a few times, and then alighted among the rocks by the spring.

The king picked up the cup, and again held it to catch the trickling drops.

This time he did not wait so long. When the cup was half full, he lifted it toward his mouth. But before it had touched his lips, the hawk swooped down again, and knocked it from his hands.

And now the king began to grow angry. He tried again, and for the third time the hawk kept him from drinking.

The king was now very angry indeed.

"How do you dare to act so?" he cried. "If I had you in my hands, I would wring your neck!"

Then he filled his cup again. But before he tried to drink, he drew his sword.

"Now, Sir Hawk," he said, "that is the last time."

He had hardly spoken before the hawk swooped down and knocked the cup from his hand. But the king was looking for this. With a quick sweep of the sword he struck the bird as it passed.

The next moment the poor hawk lay bleeding and dying at its master's feet.

"That is what you get for your pains," said Genghis Khan. But when he looked for his cup, he found that it had fallen between two rocks, where he could not reach it.

"At any rate, I will have a drink from that spring," he said to himself.

With that he began to climb the steep bank to the place from which the water trickled. It was hard work, and the higher he climbed, the thirstier he became.

At last he reached the place. There indeed was a pool of water; but what was that lying in the pool, and almost filling it? It was a huge, dead snake of the most poisonous kind.

The king stopped. He forgot his thirst. He thought only of the poor dead bird lying on the ground below him.

"The hawk saved my life!" he cried, "and how did I repay him? He was my best friend, and I have killed him." He clambered down the bank. He took the bird up gently, and laid it in his hunting bag. Then he mounted his horse and rode swiftly home. He said to himself,

"I have learned a sad lesson today, and that is, never to do anything in anger."

Today is a holiday here in my city so I am not working, I woke up at about 5:30am....later than usual but it was so nice because I could see all the boys including my son Uddhava who arrived this week. Imagine on Monday I received two unexpected gifts, one is my son and the other is the Tulasi devi seeds with a manual for caring specially sent from the Vrindavan Temple.

As part of the Yoga Journal Conference, Shiva Rea gave a Flow Yoga class titled “Rasa: The Yoga of Liberating Love.”  We accompanied her with some kirtan, drumming and, thanks to MC Yogi, a little bit of rap.

Later, we played a deep, mellow kirtan during a free community yoga class given by Ashley Turner. Then, we quickly packed up to get ready for our evening show at The Shala.

Listen to the entire Kirtan!

To listen, click on the links below then press play. To download, Right Click on the word “Download” and select “Save As…” from the menu. Having trouble downloading? Read our Help Section.

• 01 Gaura Vani - Mantra (31)
• 02 Gaura Vani - Jaya Radha Madhava (20)
• 03 Acyuta Gopi - Jaya Radhe (24)
• 04 Gaura Vani - Rama Bolo (15)
• 05 Instrumental (15)
• 06 Gaura Vani - Hey Gopal (17)
• 07 AshleyTurner - Gayatri Mantra (17)
• 08 Gaura Vani - Sita Ram (27)
• 09 Gaura Vani - Govindam (21)

This excerpt is from my Vyasa Puja offering made last year. It recalls that Srila Prabhupada's guru saw him as, among many other things, a talented writer: "In fact, according to your official biography, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta saw this as proof that you knew the mind of your master. You were in ecstasy when you heard this. Your gurudeva showed this couplet to many guests and ordered that whatever you wrote should be published in his journal, the Harmonist."
This is the phrase (couplet):
"Absolute is sentient,
Thou hast proved,
Impersonal calamity

read more

As a regular ongoing process to spread Krishna Consciousness, H H Vaisesika Dasa And His Entourage Took The Legacy Of Srila Prabhupada to Down Town Palo Alto The Harinam Sankirtan . They chanted Ha…

The example was given that Brahma and Siva are great experts in all affairs, but when they hear the sound of Krishna’s flute, they become confused. We also read in The Nectar of Devotion about the gopis’ attachment to Krishna. When Krishna is away in the forest tending the cows, the gopis feel His absence painfully, and a moment seems like twelve years. Then when Krishna comes home in the evening and the gopis see Him pass by, they become angry with Lord Brahma for constructing eyes with eyelids. They call Brahma a dunce because the blinking of their eyes obstructs their constant seeing of Krishna.

Satsvarupa dasa Goswami - June 11, 2:17 A.M.

Another peaceful night. I woke early again, at 2:00 A.M. Called for Narayana. My head was clear after yesterday’s long headaches.

3:37 A.M.

Early-morning japa log

I chanted my first three rounds without a stopwatch. Then I used a stopwatch, and it came out to 12 minutes, 42 seconds! The next round took 12 minutes, 47 seconds. I didn’t panic because I was up early, and the first three rounds seemed speedy. Besides, even the slow rounds were comfortable, and I was chanting and hearing nicely. But after that, my stopwatch count went down to 5 minutes for three rounds in a row. The eight rounds were chanted in a decent time except toward the end, when I was rushing. I was paying attention to the sounds of the syllables, Hare, Krishna, and Rama. I was satisfied that I was hearing without being distracted by other thoughts. I was chanting audibly, too. Radha-Govinda looked very beautiful in Their yellow, golden, red and green outfits. Narayana had placed Them very nicely on the altar, and I must thank him for it. He did all the Deity worship without any interruption to my chanting. We seem to get along all right. He’ll be back at 5:00 A.M. for bathroom duties. Now I have time to write the japa essay and time left over to chant more rounds. The chanting was somewhat mechanical, but at least it was clear and efficient.

Japa essay

For japa to really be done with feeling, you have to call out to Krishna. Cry like a child calling for its mother. One gets so occupied with the accumulation of the rounds and the proper enunciation that he leaves out the most important part, the feeling. The feeling must be at the center of the exercise in order for the japa to be complete. One has to have faith in reciprocation with Radha and Krishna, faith that the holy names are Krishna Himself and Radha Herself. Otherwise, you are just chanting the outer syllables of the name and not chanting offenselessly. Suddha-nama is a rare, advanced stage. We have to be patient with our chanting and hearing clearly, making the sounds audibly and keeping the mind fixed on the utterance of the words themselves. From this stage, we can go to the upper stage, but we should not wait forever to inject the emotion into the chanting, to chant from the heart with the call. “When will the day come when my offenses ceasing, taste for the holy name increasing, when oh when will that day be mine?” The taste for Hare Krishna comes when you cry out to Krishna to please hear you and please let your stony heart be softened by emotions of bhava. So many years of chanting, and we are waiting for that day to come. Therefore, we should pray while we chant and not be content to merely rattle the names off clearly. We should pray in the mood of Lord Caitanya, as expressed in the Siksastakam: “Oh my Lord, I am Your eternal servitor, but somehow I have fallen into this ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean and fix me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet.” “One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street. One should offer respects to others without expecting respect for oneself. In such a state of mind, one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.” All of Siksastakam is rich with guidance for proper chanting.

Without feeling, the center is missing,

like the hole in the center of a doughnut.

We must fill it up

with tears in the eyes

and feelings of separation.

Dear Lord, I am tired of chanting like a machine

instead of a human being.

Please fix my sight

at the lotus feet of the holy names

and let my heart finally melt

with devotion.

I cannot do it by myself,

but with a drop of Your mercy,

my chanting will turn out successful.

6:46 A.M.

It’s a foggy day. Nothing special on my mind. Bodily troubles occupy the mind. Where is the space to think about Krishna? This morning in my japa essay, I wrote that feeling must be present when you chant. When you write, feeling must be present also, You pray to Krishna in the afternoon. In this morning’s slot, I talk about the beach and odds and ends that come to the mind. Now I am constipated and I have to think about that. To think of Krishna, I go to His pastimes and the Vedic philosophy. Things that my Godbrothers have said in their lectures. Conversations of krsna-katha.

Yesterday at lunch, we talked about the ghastly rasa. Narayana joked that Dattatreya was performing his puja of Gaura-Nitai in a ghastly rasa because Dattatreya mentioned that sometimes the flowers smelled like urine. This brought up the question, “What is the ghastly rasa?” I said when Nrsimhadeva tore apart Hiryankasipu and put his intestines around His neck, that was an example of ghastly rasa. We looked it up in The Nectar of Devotion. An example was given of a man who was a great debauchee and an expert womanizer. Later, he became a devotee, and the mere sight of a woman made him disgusted. Symptoms of ghastly rasa were given as contorting of the face, twitching, and spitting. Yamunacharya is the great example of a former king who enjoyed with women, but once he became a devotee, when he just thought of sex, his mouth turned and he wanted to spit.

We also read from The Nectar of Devotion about Krishna’s flute. The example was given that Brahma and Siva are great experts in all affairs, but when they hear the sound of Krishna’s flute, they become confused. We also read in The Nectar of Devotion about the gopis’ attachment to Krishna. When Krishna is away in the forest tending the cows, the gopis feel His absence painfully, and a moment seems like twelve years. Then when Krishna comes home in the evening and the gopis see Him pass by, they become angry with Lord Brahma for constructing eyes with eyelids. They call Brahma a dunce because the blinking of their eyes obstructs their constant seeing of Krishna.

In our natural conversations, we don’t speak much of Radha and Krishna, and so our opportunities come when we read out loud from the books.

8:30 A.M.

“If I Were a Bell.” Ask me how do I feel now that we’re together. Well, sir, all I can say is if I were a bell, I’d be ringing. If he were a lamp, he’d light. If he were a banner, he’d wave. If he were a gate, he’d be swinging. If he were a watch, he’d be popping his springs. If he were a bell, he’d go “ding dong ding dong ding.” If he were a bridge, he’d be burning. If he were a duck, he’d quack. If he were a goose, he’d be cooked. If he were a salad, he’d be splashing his dressing, and if he were a bell, he’d go “ding dong ding dong ding.” That’s a description of a love affair. Pretty wild. How does it compare with Krishna and Radha? He’s doing all those things. He’s ringing like a bell. He’s swinging like a gate, and he’s going over the moon. Miles Davis plays the introduction melody on muted trumpet, and John Coltrane comes soaring in with his cry and his inimitable way. Krishna and Radha behave in ways that can’t be captured by popular songs, with all their extravagant words. The popular song is just a pale reflection of what They do and how They feel. He’s certainly ringing like a bell and waving like a banner. They are feeling emotions that cannot be captured, even by the jazz musicians, who are making a nice enough tune out of it. Red Garland’s chords on the piano swing a nice enough tune, but there’s no comparison to how Krishna swings, so that’s all we can say. There’s just no comparison to the bell ringing of “If I Were a Bell” and the rasa dance.

“You’re My Everything.” This is a song that Krishna sings to Radharani, and She sings to Him. You’re my everything. You’re my life’s breath, you’re my yearning, you’re my happiness, but sometimes you’re my sadness. I don’t exist without you. Miles plays it as a ballad with a muted trumpet, and it’s nice enough. You’re my everything. What a beautiful sentiment, and it can only be upheld by Radha and Krishna. Other people have reservations and motivations. They hold back. They can’t give everything. But the Divine Couple give everything to each other. In this world, there is only a refleection of it. Maybe in rare moments, it exists for a little while that somebody thinks someone else is everything to them. But then later, it sours, it changes, it grows old, it gets stale. In the spiritual world, it’s eternally fresh and always true. Krishna is everything to Radharani, and Radharani is everything to Krishna, always and forever.

“I Could Write a Book.” I’ve written many books, so if they ask me, I could write a book. I’d like to write a book about Radha and Krishna, but I’m not qualified. There is a book, though—Srimad-Bhagavatam. And there are books by the Six Goswamis that tell about the way Radha and Krishna walk and whisper and look. It tells how they met in a way that the world will never forget. The simple secret of the plot is just to tell them that they love each other a lot. Then the world discovers, as the book ends, how to make two lovers of friends. If they ask me, I could write a book about my days in Krishna consciousness. My struggles. It wouldn’t be so wonderful, but it would be true. And I’m writing that book. It’s telling how I chant and how I hear and how I try to serve my spiritual master. As the book ends, I’m not sure how I wind up. I try to approach the two lovers in the spiritual world. The end of my book will have to be discovered at the end of my life. The simple plot is that I struggled a lot. But fortunately, I met my spiritual master, and I’ll never forget that. He taught me all about Krishna and Bhagavad-gita. And so I’ve written some books about my adventures in Krishna consciousness, and I hope to write some more. But the best books have already been written, and we can just read them. They tell about the way the Divine Couple walk and whisper and look and how They love each other a lot. The world should discover that wonderful book called Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the books by the Goswamis. Then they’ll learn what’s meant to be learned in this world. They’re the best books, and other writers have not written any books that measure up to it. So if they ask you to write a book, read Srimad-Bhagavatam first.

“You’ve Changed.” This is a ballad by Keith Jarrett. It’s a sad song. You’ve changed. You’re not the same anymore. You’re not the way you were when I loved you. Radharani felt this way when She met Krishna at Kuruksetra. He wasn’t the cowherd boy She loved in Vraja. He was now surrounded by soldiers and elephants and ministers. She wanted Him back in Vrndavana. You’ve changed, Krishna, you’re not the cowherd boy we loved. Sometimes we get disappointed in devotees who’ve changed, who’ve left Krishna consciousness and have no more interest in Krishna. That’s a sadness, too. Why did they go away? What was it about them that made them leave? Who’s fault is it? You’ve changed. I don’t see the same look in your eyes. I can’t talk with you about Krishna anymore. You’re a different human being. Gary Peacock plays a very sad, conversational bass solo to emphasize the mood of this piece. Don’t you remember chanting together? Don’t you remember the hopes of going to krsna-loka? Now you’re interested in another “ism.” You’re going to school now. You’ve got a new job. You’re embroiled in family life. Or you’ve just... changed. You’re not interested anymore in what I’m interested in. Our rapport is gone. You even look different. You dress differently. You talk differently. We can’t make it together anymore. We’ve gone our separate ways. But maybe in the future, things will change again. I’m hoping for that. Youv’e changed once, you could change again. Radharani hoped that about Krishna, that He wouldn’t stay in Kuruksetra, that He’d come back to Vrndavana and change again so She wouldn’t have to remain sad and mournful. It wasn’t that He’d changed so much, it was that the place changed. If He could just go back to Vraja, then He’d change again. When someone changes like that, the bottom drops out, and it’s just very sad.

11:50 A.M.

My Dear Lord Krishna...

I pray to You to get to know You better. You can be known only by devotional service. I wish to attain bhakti. By praising You, I may please You. You are like a person of this world; You like to be praised. You like sincere adoration. But it must be sincere. I must prove my love for You by unmotivated acts.

This prayer has been interrupted for over an hour by a headache. Because of these daily headaches, I am not able to go out and preach and lecture and travel. So I have to please You by introverted methods of writing and chanting at home. It is possible for me to please You in this way. But I must be sincere. Between my headaches, I get spaces of time when I am clear, and in those spaces, I can write to You or I can chant my rounds. I have a little space now, so I am writing to You.

You lifted Govardhana Hill and held it on the pinky of Your left hand for seven days. You thus thwarted Indra, who tried to destroy the residents of Vrndavana, because You stopped the Indra yajna. You are praiseworthy for this act by all the residents of Vrndavana and by all living entities.

You drove the Kaliya serpent away from the Yamuna when he was poisoning it. It was so poisoned that even if a bird flew over the Yamuna, he would die from the poison. And cows who drank the water from the Yamuna would die also. Of course, any human being who went into the water would die. So You dove into the Yamuna and faced that serpent. He became very angry with You and tried to attack You with his thousands of hoods. You jumped up on him and began dancing on his hoods, smashing them with Your feet. You turned it into a wonderful dance art. Before You did that, however, you played with the serpent and allowed him to catch You in his coils. This frightened all the residents of Vrndavana, who thought that You would die. When You saw that they were too anxious, You broke the grip of the serpent and began dancing upon his hoods. He began to vomit and bleed and admitted his defeat to You. He came to understand that You were the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he obeyed Your instructions. You told him to leave the Yamuna with his wives and children and never come back. You told him You would give him protection from Garuda so that he would not be eaten by the bird-devotee of the Lord. For this act, You are praiseworthy by all the Vrajavasis and all the devotees of the world.

You satisfied all the gopis of Vrndavana who wanted You as their husband. You danced with them in the rasa dance on an autumn evening. You expanded Yourself and danced between each gopi so that they thought they were with You alone. This is the most wonderful of Your pastimes. You played amorously with all of the gopis in the rasa dance and then strolled with them to the Yamuna and had water sports. You disappeared from their midst to create even greater love on their parts for You by separation. Then You joined them again and spoke words of consolation and love to them. For this, You are praiseworthy to all the gopis and all the residents of Vrndavana and all devotees of the world.

You drove the chariot of Arjuna on the battlefield of Kuruksetra. At the beginning of the fight, Arjuna lost his heart for fighting and said he would not fight. You spoke to him the entire Bhagavad-gita to convince him to fight, and You taught him and the whole world the science of Krishna. You taught bhakti yoga as the highest truth and said that no one could attain You except through devotional service. Then You convinced Arjuna to fight, and with great enthusiasm, he went forward with You guiding him on the chariot. You taught him tricks for killing his various enemies, and he came out triumphant. For Your guiding Arjuna on the battlefield and for Your teaching the Bhagavad-gita, You are praiseworthy to everyone for all time.

In the Tenth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sukadeva Goswami taught Maharaja Pariksit all about Your pastimes. The Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam is the greatest contribution to the world, for it tells us about the Personlity of Godhead in His humanlike form. Especially precious are the pastimes in Vraja, in Krishna’s boyhood and youth, but also His pastimes are told when He left for Mathura and lived in Dvaraka. All these Tenth Canto pastimes are glorious and prove You praiseworthy by all the worlds. Sukadeva Goswami is also praiseworthy for telling them.

You are praiseworthy for Your invitation to all jivas that they can come and join You and live in the spiritual world. They only have to give up their sinful activities and take to devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. You appeared in the age of Kali as a pure devotee, Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya is Krishna Himself appearing as a devotee of Krishna. Lord Caitanya adopted the mood of Radharani and demonstrated separation from Krishna. You are praiseworthy for Your appearance as Lord Caitanya and teaching the world vipralambha, separation from Krishna. And You are praiseworthy for spreading the sankirtana movement in the form of Lord Caitanya and His followers. Thus by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra—Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare—and following the rules and regulations of vaidhi bhakti, a neophyte devotee can raise himself to the platform of krsna-prema and go and join You in the spiritual world. For giving all jivas this opportunity, You are praiseworthy.

I praise You for giving me also this chance to qualify myself to go back to Godhead in one of these lifetimes. I may be hampered by my physical ailments, but I am able to chant and hear and thus fulfill a satisfying life of Krishna consciousness. I praise You for giving me this opportunity, even though I am physically handicapped. Please let me go on praising You in my prayers and daily japa writings and other reflections. Let me improve in my japa. I praise You sincerely because You are very great and compassionate. You want me to get to know You better, and You are giving me an opportunity to do so. I am trying to spread compassion to others by writing about You and spreading the good word. Please accept this service of mine as nonduplicitous and do with me as You wish in this lifetime and the next. I bow at Your feet and at the feet of all the devotees who are working on Your behalf..

from #99→

1966 June 12:
"Navami. Today the eating of the members took place. I cooked 12 different items and all present more than sixteen ladies and gentlemen ate with great pleasure. The introduction was alright. It was all Grace of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 June 12: "From India this paper has been brought to America, with this hope. I am waiting for the day when Back to Godhead will take the shape of Life Magazine in the matter of its popularity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968javascript:void(0)

1969 June 12: "You write to say you are too much strained in various ways, but by your such activities, Krishna will be very much pleased. I think because Krishna is pleased, therefore you have got at last a very nice place."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1971 June 12: "So we have to adjust things. Everything is important. Not that we have to do something at the expense of something else. I cannot say from here what is to be given preference. That depends on your management capacity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 June 12: "I want that the GBC leave the management of the centers to the local presidents and concentrate themselves upon preaching work. They should be constantly traveling to see how the students are learning."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1974 June 12: "It is better to stop. You say you plan to run for U.S. Congress. But for this, you can draw no money from the society. So your plan is utopian. Better concentrate on developing the brahminical qualities in the devotees there."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1973 June 12: "So, everything is going on so nicely there. So many books are being distributed. There are good prospects for a new temple. You are going to introduce three Rathas this year. This is all very pleasing to me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1972 June 12: "In addition, the GBC men will open new centers, distribute literature, and they should always be traveling with a sankirtana party to accompany them. There is no difference between the Sannyasi duty and the GBC duty."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Clip of Guruprasad Swami leading an ecstatic Sunday Feast Kirtan.

Dallas, TX
2009-04-19

Download: 2009-04-19 - Guruprasad Swami - Sunday Feast - Kirtan.mp3

1966 June 12:
"Navami. Today the eating of the members took place. I cooked 12 different items and all present more than sixteen ladies and gentlemen ate with great pleasure. The introduction was alright. It was all Grace of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 June 12: "From India this paper has been brought to America, with this hope. I am waiting for the day when Back to Godhead will take the shape of Life Magazine in the matter of its popularity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968javascript:void(0)

1969 June 12: "You write to say you are too much strained in various ways, but by your such activities, Krishna will be very much pleased. I think because Krishna is pleased, therefore you have got at last a very nice place."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1971 June 12: "So we have to adjust things. Everything is important. Not that we have to do something at the expense of something else. I cannot say from here what is to be given preference. That depends on your management capacity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 June 12: "I want that the GBC leave the management of the centers to the local presidents and concentrate themselves upon preaching work. They should be constantly traveling to see how the students are learning."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 June 12: "In addition, the GBC men will open new centers, distribute literature, and they should always be traveling with a sankirtana party to accompany them. There is no difference between the Sannyasi duty and the GBC duty."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972