Archive for September, 2007
Monday, September 24th, 2007
Confessions of a Prasadam Addict: Section 4
( Fourth in a series of six continuing articles (Sections) as taken from the Brijabasi Spirit from the 1970s, written by Taru dasa, For the previous Sections, look for Adi-Brijabasi Spirit under Categories.)
The Agony and the Ecstasy
In this material world everyone needs something to look forward to because generally no one is satisfied with […]
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Monday, September 24th, 2007
Wife and Husband
A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position.
As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, “Relatives of yours?”
“Yep,” the wife replied, “in-laws.”
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Sunday, September 23rd, 2007
Prabhupada’s Soccer Skills
Srila Prabhupada Writes In a Letter to Krsna Das, on September 9, 1972
“You mentioned that your pathway has become filled with stumbling blocks, but there are no stumbling blocks. I can kick out all those stumbling blocks immediately, provided you accept my guidance. With one stroke of my kick I can kick out all stumbling […]
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Sunday, September 23rd, 2007
Italian Photo Journal
Welcome to Tuscany. The first thing you see as you exit the airplane.
Have you ever seen such a chill airport?
Maharaj walking with Matsya Avatar Prabhu.
Nitai Gaura Premanande Sankirtan Truck, this thing is amazing, inside is a beautiful temple and there is a large tent and stage that connects to the side of the truck. 
Srimati Radharani’s Lotus Feet, Villa Vrindavan, Radhastami
Shri Shri Radha Vraja Sundar, Villa Vrindavan, Radhastami
The highlight of my visit to Italy, wild Italian grapes.
View From the back of the temple in Villa Vrindaban
Sunrise view from Villa Vrindavan
Italian country side.
Chocolat, devotee owned authentic italian gelateria (ice cream shop)
Tota Gopinath Prabhu, the proprietor of the establishment.
You’ll have to come to India to experience bonafide Gelato prasadam.
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Saturday, September 22nd, 2007
A few Anecdotes
Sunday night at the Manor
Just after I finished blogging Maharaj walked in. He came over and gave me hug. Skype was open on my comuputer so he started looking at my list of contacts. He saw Tamohar Prabhu’s name there. He asked me if I was in contact with him regularly, I said no just for a little while when he was more involved in what was going on in New Vrindaban. Then Maharaj said, did you know his daughter took intiation when I was in Alachua. Being the idiot that I am, I said, “Yes Maharaj, I was there.” Then Maharaj remembered that I was in Alachua. Then I said “I should not have been there. I am like a mosquito following you everywhere you go, disturbing you.” He said “No, you should be everywhere, you are my pride and joy.” I can’t believe how insecure I can be around Maharaj, it is always nice to get such reassurances.
On the way from the airport to the first program at Purandar Misra Prabhu and Saci Devi’s house
The Italian devotees put me in the same car as Maharaj as we drove to Purandar Misra Prabhu’s house. I protested but everything was rushed and I didn’t have time to figure anything else out so I surrendered. It ended up being very sweet Maharaj was in a relaxed mood and he started asking me about how I liked the programs in London, he asked about how my parents were doing and about how the brahmacaris in New Vrindaban were doing. I again mentioned that Govinda Prabhu suggested that I come to Italy for Radhastami. Maharaj very matter of factly said, “Govinda would never tell a brahmacari to attend a wedding. The reason I came to Italy was to attend the wedding of Matsyavatar Prabhu’s daughter.” He called me out, it would have been more honest for me to say that I wanted to be with you in Italy than to try to say that Govinda Prabhu told me to come here. I did ask him and he did sugest that it would be a good a idea but it was really my idea. Despite the chastisement it was still nice to speak with Maharaj, when you are not around Maharaj it can be easy to forget how personal he is. The whole ride Maharaj was in such a relaxed joking mood, Purandar Misra Prabhu is an older italian gentleman, he is very simple devotee. Maharaj was relating to him in such a simple way that he would be able to appreciate, telling him how beautiful Italy is, at one point Purandar Misra Prabhu was looking at a piece of paper with some phone numbers and trying to make calls on his cell phone while driving, Maharaj took the piece of paper from him and told him that he was confiscating it. The whole time Maharaj was laughing.
The morning after Radhastami in Villa Vrindaban
I left in the middle of Bhagavatam class today to use the bathroom and on my way to the bathroom I passed by the kitchen and I could here the class through the speakers, so instead of going back into class I just stayed outside basking in the warmth of the Italian sun and listening through the speakers.
In the afternoon Maharaj saw me and came over and gave me a hug and asked me “Is your health alright?” He noticed I left in the middle of class and wanted to be sure nothing was wrong. I explainded to him that I was listening outside through a speaker, of course I left out the fact that I was being lazy by not coming back in side and just chillin in the sun, then he said did you hear the question that was asked, that was of course the one thing I didn’t hear, he caught me. It was actually a really funny question, the lecture was about cleanliness and one of the mothers asked “How do I keep my house clean when I live with a bear (her husband) and two monkeys (her teenage boys).” Maharaj was just asking because it was such a funny question but Krishna inspired him to catch me. I told him that physically I was fine but I was just mentally sick. he laughed and said that no problem as long as you are physically ok.” It was a joke, he does take mental illness seriously, but it was also as if he was saying just get off the mental platform.
ps. Here’s a link to a lecture that Maharaj gave at the Manor.
http://www.gokulananda.co.uk/?q=node/77
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Saturday, September 22nd, 2007
“Ndakuvura” by Oliver Mtukudzi
Call the mother of my children. I am hurt.
I was injured while training the ox.
I thought that this young ox would be like its elders
And yet it ignored its elders’ good examples.
I used to admire it as it fed in the pastures.
Thinking that in the future we would harness it.
Hoping that it will do the […]
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Friday, September 21st, 2007
Treatment Hiatus
I went to my appointment with the Hepotologist and he verified my conclusion that the interferon treatment isn’t working so we are stopping it.
He said that there is still a 5-10% chance it might succeed, but quality of life issues make continuing not a good choice. We are going to stop for three months, […]
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Friday, September 21st, 2007
The Post Modern Times
Who says philosophy has to be boring?
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Thursday, September 20th, 2007
Vaishnavi Retreat Schedule
Friday, Oct. 5
11:00 - 11:30………..Opener
11:15 - 11:30………..Break
11:45 - 1:15……………Session 1 - Gopi Mata…………”Peaceful Body, Peaceful Mind ” (Yoga)
…..Session 2 - Rasa […]
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Thursday, September 20th, 2007
Reflections from Italy
At a disciples meeeting in Alachua, someone asked Maharaj how to develop a relationship with him in the absence of physical association. Maharaj of course anwered the question very nicely and then he asked Mother Mahavisnu Priya to speak. She spoke very beautifully and then she said something which was one of those things that was so startling that it stays with you. She expained to us that after Prabhupada left the planet physically she felt it was easier to connect with him.
As Maharaj said last night, “The spiritual world would be a boring place if it was not filled with unlimited contradictions.”
In the physical presence of the guru there is a tendency to confuse personal association or attention with love. The love of the pure devotee is that they are our eternal well wisher, nothing can ever change that fact, that is eteranlly true in their physical presence or in the absence of their physical association.
Physical association is quite rare, when we do have it, it is short lived and it can never really satisfy because the soul has the desire to be eternally connected with Krishna and all of the eternal associates. To experience that true satisfaction that we are all hankering for we must connect on the deepest level through constant absorption in Krishna consciousness.
Yamuna Devi has been trying to teach me this since we met. Because it is always so wonderful to be with her and the times I have shared in her association are some of my most memorable experiences, but we inevitable always have to part after what seems like a very brief time and I never know when if ever I we will meet again on the physical level.
When I found out that I was going to be going to Govardhan I wrote to Yamuna Prabhu to seek her blessing and I also expressed some sadness that will not see her this year and most probably not in nxt few years, and of course that means that we may not meet again at in this physical realm. She replied, “Physical company is not so important. When we do the same activities, we are packed up together, making progress to return Back to Godhead.” She has given me similar instructions many times.
When I was last there she told us a story about he relationship with Srila Prabhupada. She explained that one time in India, during the Kumbh Mela, Srila Prabhupada was giving a series of lectures on the Ajamila story, and at this point no one had ever heard this section of Bhagavatam yet.
She was sitting next to Prabhupada listening very attentively. Then one sanyasis told her to sit at the back of the pandal with all the other ladies (guests). She was very sad because she understood that things were changing in ISKCON and she would no longer have the same physically close relationship with Srila Prabhupada that she cherished so much.
After a few days of listening from the back of the audience Srila Prabhupada asked her, “You don’t like to hear me anymore?” This ofcourse broke her heart. She explained to Srila Prabhupada that she loved to hear from him but was told by one of his sanyasis disciples to sit in the back.
It was a sad moment for both of them because they both knew that things were changing and they sad that they would not relish each other company.
Then she asked Srila Prabhupada, “How much association did you have with your guru maharaj?”
“There was never a moment that we were apart.”
“But how much physical association did you have?”
“Not very much. There were some disciples who had a lot of physical association but they were like mosquitos in the lap of the king.”
Lately I’ve been feeling like a mosquito in the lap of the king.
Maharaj’s personal association is something that I have not had much of over the past three years. This year has really been the exception. One naturally always wants to feel close to the spiritual master but after getting so much association this year I am more convinced than ever that the only meaningful connection is through service. So I guess this trip has been very good in that it seems to be a final preparation to begin my studies in Govardhana.
I know that if I just take shelter of Govardhana he will fulfill all my hearts innermost desires.
As far as the details of Maharaj’s visit here I think I’m too far behind to catch up, Radhastami was beautiful, Maharaj’s Radhastami lecture was incredible, Shri Shri Radha Vraja Sundar are gorgeous, Villa Vrindavan is amazing, so many sweet devotees from all over Italy and Europe (Germany, Romania, Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia), what more can I say, everyday I’ve gotten to play mrdanga for Maharaj which is one of my favorite services.
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Thursday, September 20th, 2007
The Resurgency
1968 September 4 : “It is not very difficult to open a center. You can remain in any apartment as husband and wife, and invite persons there to hear your chanting and topics, that is our center, and let it be gradually improved.”
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
Currently , ISKCON is in a holding pattern in the […]
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Wednesday, September 19th, 2007
Radharani Newsletter
by Sacimata
Dear Devotees of New Vrindaban,
PAMHO. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! Happy Radhastami! Recently there have been a few changes with the Radharani Club and the sewing department. Since, Mother Kunjabiharini left, the Radharani Club purchased the new Radhastami outfit from the taylors in Vrindaban. We are eagerly awaiting their arrival, and praying they reach […]
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Wednesday, September 19th, 2007
Laddhu Katha
I write the following assuming you have read:
The Prasadam Addict Section 3
To put this into perspective — there used to be a large dichotomy between the regular prasadam and the maha. Anymore, they are almost the same, but in the old days, the regular prasadam was much more austere […]
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Wednesday, September 19th, 2007
Radhastami Lecture by Srila Prabhupada
Now today is our Radhastami ceremony. I must speak now something about Radharani, and then I shall go up, reach my apartment at twelve. In the meantime, you can observe the ceremonies. So, so far Radharani, Radharani, today is the birthday of Srimati Radharani. Radharani is the pleasure potency of Krishna. Krishna is the Supreme Brahman. Just try to understand. Krishna is the Supreme Brahman. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. So when param brahma wants to enjoy… That enjoying spirit is there in the param brahma. Otherwise we cannot have this enjoying spirit. Because we are part and parcel, therefore we have got that enjoying spirit; but that is materially contaminated. But the fact is there, because Krishna, He is enjoying, this enjoying spirit we have got also, but I do not know how to enjoy. We are trying to enjoy in the matter, in the dull matter. That is spiritual. So brahman, brahman sukhanubhutya. People are trying to feel what is brahma-sukha, pleasure of brahmanubhava. That is not material pleasure. So many yogis, they have given up their family life, their kingdom, and meditating to achieve that Brahman pleasure. Actually, the idea is Brahman pleasure. So many brahmacaris, so many sannyasis, they are trying to achieve that Brahman pleasure, and in order to achieve that Brahman pleasure they are neglecting, they are kicking off all this material pleasure. Do you think that Brahman pleasure is ordinary, this material pleasure? To achieve a portion of Brahman pleasure, if they are kicking off all this material pleasure… Don’t talk of ourselves. We are ordinary men. In the history we have got instances, that of Bharata Maharaja. Bharata Maharaja, under whose name this planet is called Bharatavarsa. That Bharata Maharaja was the emperor of the whole world. And as emperor he had his beautiful wife, young children. But at the age of twenty-four years, just young man, he gave up everything. All right. This is very old story, of course, but you know Lord Buddha. He was also a prince. He was also prince, not ordinary man, and he was ksatriya, and he was always enjoying with beautiful women. That is the palace pleasure accustomed in every, in Oriental countries, that in the palace there are many beautiful girls, they’re always dancing and giving pleasure to the kings and the prince. So Lord Buddha was also in such pleasure, but he gave up everything and began to meditate.
There are many hundreds of instances in Indian history that to realize the Brahman pleasure they gave up everything. They gave up everything. That is the way. Tapasya means voluntarily accepting something severe for realizing the supreme pleasure. That is called tapasya. So if, for tasting a little Brahman pleasure, all materialistic pleasures are to be given up, do you think that the Supreme Brahman, Lord Krishna, is enjoying this material pleasure? Is it very reasonable? This Krishna, He’s enjoying laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam [Bs. 5.29]. Hundreds and thousands of goddess of fortune are engaged in His service. Do you think these laksmis are material women? How Krishna can take pleasure in the material women? No. This is mistake. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih [Bs. 5.37]. In the Brahma-samhita you’ll find that He expands His ananda-cinmaya-rasa, the mellow of transcendental pleasure potency. And these gopis are expansion of His pleasure potency. And Radharani is the center. Radharani is the center. So Radharani is not.. Don’t take that Radharani is an ordinary woman like we have our wife or sister or mother. No. She is the pleasure potency. And the birth of Radharani was not from the womb of any human being She was found by her father in the field. While father was plowing, he saw one little nice child is lying there, and he had no children, so he caught it and presented to the queen, “Oh, here we have got a very nice child.” “How you got?” “Oh, in the field.” Just see. Radharani’s janma is like that. So this janma is today and Radha, this name is sometimes not found in Bhagavata. So the atheistic class of men protest this Radharani’s name is not in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. How this name came, Radharani? But they do not know how to see it. There is anayaradhyate. There are many gopis, but there is mention that by this particular gopi He is served more pleasingly. Krishna accepts this gopi’s service more gladly Anayaradhyate. Aradhyate. This aradhate, this word, aradhyate means worshiping. From this word aradhyate, Radha has come. But Radha’s name are there in other Puranas. So this is the origin.
So Radha, so Radha and Krishna. Krishna is the enjoyer and He wants to enjoy. So He’s the Supreme Brahman. He cannot enjoy anything, atmarama, He can enjoy it in Himself. Therefore Radharani is the expansion of His pleasure potency. Krishna hasn’t got to seek external things for His pleasure. No. He is in Himself full, atmarama. So Radharani is expansion of Krishna. Krishna is the energetic, and Radharani is the energy. Just like energy and energetic, you cannot separate. Fire and the heat you cannot separate. Wherever there is fire there is heat, and wherever there is heat there is fire. Similarly, wherever there is Krishna there is Radha. And wherever there is Radha there is Krishna. They are inseparable. But He is enjoying. So Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has described this intricate philosophy of Radha and Krishna in one verse, very nice verse. Radha krishna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktir asmad ekatmanav api bhuvi pura deha-bhedam gatau tau [Cc. Adi 1.5]. So Radha and Krishna is the one Supreme, but in order to enjoy, They have divided into two. Again Lord Chaitanya joined the two into one. Chaitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna. That one means Krishna in the ecstasy of Radha. Sometimes Krishna is in ecstasy of Radha. Sometimes Radha is in ecstasy of Krishna. This is going on. But the whole thing is Radha and Krishna means the one, the Supreme.
So Radha-Krishna philosophy is a very great philosophy. It is to be understood in the liberated stage. Radha-Krishna philosophy is not to be understood in the conditioned stage. But when we worship Radha-Krishna in our conditional stage, actually we worship Laksmi-Narayana. You have seen that picture, this viddhi-marg and raga-marg. Radha-Krishna worship is on the platform of pure love, and Laksmi-Narayana worship is on the regulative principles. So long we do not develop our pure love, we have to worship on the regulative principles. One has to become a brahmachari, one has to become a sannyasi, one has to perform the worship in this way, in the morning he has to rise, he has to offer. So many rules and regulations. There are at least sixty-four rules and regulations. So we shall introduce them gradually as you develop. So in the viddhi-marg, when you have no love for God or Krishna, we have to follow the regulative principles and automatically…, there is practice. When practicing. Just like you practice this mridanga playing. In the beginning it is not in order, but when you become well versed in the practice, the sound will come so nice. Similarly, when we are engaged by regulative principles in the worship of Radha-Krishna, that is called viddhi-marg. And actually when you are on the love platform, then that is called raga-marg. So without viddhi-marg, if anyone wants to learn the raga-marg immediately, that is foolishness. That is foolishness. Nobody can pass M.A. examination without going through the regulative principles of primary schools and colleges. So therefore I do not, I mean to say, indulge in the discussions of Radha and Krishna so easily. Rather go on with the regulative principle at the present moment. Gradually, as you become purified, as you become on the transcendental platform, you’ll understand what is Radha-Krishna. Don’t try to understand Radha-Krishna very quickly. It is a very big subject. If we want to understand Radha-Krishna very quickly, then there will be so many prakrita-sahajiyas. In India there are prakrita-sahajiya. Just like Radha-Krishna dancing. Radha-Krishna has become a plaything. The painting Radha-Krishna, Krishna is kissing Radha, Radha is kissing. These are all nonsense. Radha-Krishna philosophy has to be understood by the liberated person, not by the conditioned soul. So we shall await for the fortunate moment when we are liberated, then we shall understand radha-krishna-pranaya-vikrtir. Because Krishna and Radha, They are not on the material field. Try to understand. This is Jiva Gosvami’s analysis, that Krishna is the Supreme Brahman. The Supreme Brahman cannot accept anything material. So Radha is not in the material field.
Now there is a very nice song. I shall sing if you can play on the harmonium. Yes. This is a Rupa Gosvami’s song. (sings)
radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite
gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite
damodara-rati-vardhana-vese
hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese
vrsabhanu-dadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe
lalita-sakhi guna-ramita-visakhe
karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite
sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite
radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite
This song was sung by Rupa Gosvami. He is the real person, actual person, to understand Radha and Krishna. So he says, “All glories to Radharani.” Radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. “She’s so dear to Krishna.” Krishna, everyone is trying to love Krishna, but Krishna is trying to love somebody. Now how great She is. Just try to understand. Everyone, the whole world, the whole universe, all living entities, they are trying to love Krishna. Krishna-prem. Lord Chaitanya describes, prema-pumartho mahan. And Rupa Gosvami described that “You are distributing krishna-prem.” So krishna-prem is so valuable, but Krishna is after Radharani. Just see how Radharani is great. Just try to understand the greatness of Radharani. Therefore She is so great, and we have to offer our respect. Radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. How She is? Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite. Taruni, taruni means young girls. You’ll see the pictures, they are all young girls. But of all the young girls, She is the most beautiful. She is enchanting to the young girls also. She is so beautiful. Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite. Damodara-rati-vardhana-vese. And She always dresses Her so nicely that Damodara, Krishna, becomes attracted by Her beauty. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese. And She is the only lovable object of Krishna, and She is the queen of Vrndavan. This queen of Vrndavan… You’ll find in Vrndavan, if you go to Vrndavan, everyone is worshiping Radharani. Rani means queen. They are always speaking, “Jaya Radhe!” Radharani. All the devotees in Vrndavan, they are worshiper of Radharani. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese. Vrsabhanu-dadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe. And She appeared as the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and Her companion, Lalita-sakhi and Visakha-sakhi, and the devotees… So on behalf of the pure devotees of Krishna, Rupa Gosvami is praying, karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite. “Oh, my worshipable Radharani, You are full of mercy So I am begging of Your mercy because You are so merciful, very easily You offer, bestow Your mercy. So I am begging Your mercy.” Karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite, sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite. Now somebody may say, “Oh, you are so great, learned scholar, you are so great saintly person, and you are begging mercy from an ordinary girl? How is that?” Therefore Rupa Gosvami says, “Oh, this is not ordinary girl.” Sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite. “This girl’s description is possible to be made by great saintly persons like Sanaka-Sanatana. She is not ordinary.”
So the lesson is that we should not treat Radharani as ordinary girl, or Krishna as ordinary man. They are the Supreme Absolute Truth. But in the Absolute Truth, there is the pleasure potency, and that is exhibited in the dealings of Radha and Krishna. And Radha’s expansion all the gopis, and Krishna is the Supreme Lord.
Thank you very much. Chant Hare Krishna. You can chant? Can you chant? Janardana? All right, you can chant. What is that? No, I have explained that one sloka from this Rama-carita-manasa. Chant Hare Krishna (end)
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Tuesday, September 18th, 2007
The 2007 Detroit Ratha-Yatra
A photographic peek into the 2007 Detroit Ratha-Yatra, held this past Sunday, September 16, complete with The Festival of India, live at Belle Isle.
Sri-Sri Radha Kunjibihari, ISKCON Detroit, always welcoming me home….
The “Motor City Mahajana” Bharata Prabhu, basking in the glow..
Sriman Joe “JoeDasa” Swift Prabhu, working the crowds for the pleasure of Lord Jagannath
ECSTASY!
HG Yugal Kishore Prabhu was the MVP (Most Valuable Prabhu) of the Parade. His dancing lifted all to newer and better heights, way above the ugly industrial landscapes of Metro Detroit. Traveling with him, watching him always preach with such vigor and realization, seeing the way devotees respect and confide in him, I feel very privileged to be his preferred driver, sometimes-humble servant, and very good friend
Shashi, our very good friend from ISKCON Toronto, gets ready to entertain the guests and scare the kids in his role as Kamsa in HH Bhakti-Marg Swami’s wonderful bit of theater “Tenth Canto”
