Govinda Swami. From my heart I would like to thank all my friends for the condolences and kind words you have expressed on behalf of my Mom

23 ч. назад

From my heart I would like to thank all my friends for the condolences and kind words you have expressed on behalf of my Mom.

As I have mentioned before, she appreciated Srila Prabhupada because he gave me a positive alternative in life, and, she loved every devotee she ever met.

When I was with her 1.5 years ago when she was very ill, I gave her my altar picture of Radhe Shyam in Vrindavan along with Their silver water cup. I asked her to daily refill their cup and give them a flower. She kept the picture by her seat and told me that she and my sister always did that small service.

And every time I spoke to her she would tell me to always thank the devotees who prayed for her at that time.

Last night Jayapataka Swami Maharaja offered his kirtan in memory of my Mom and asked he to sing with him. He even got up from his wheel chair and was dancing.

This morning I was asked to sing kirtan during the Maha Abhisek.

As I chanted each mantra I was asking the Pancha Tattwa to take my Mom straight to Their lotus feet.

When Lokanatha Maharaja sang I was standing on the side to catch some air. But there I was also praying for Mahaprabhu and His divine associates to bless my Mom.

And then when Sivarama Swami sang he asked me to sing along, and then also, I was quite intensely praying for the Pancha Tattwa's mercy for my Mom... Please let her go to your lotus feet.

So again, thank you very much for your blessings and prayers.

Vaisnava Kripa is most powerful. The prayers of those devoted to God surely work miracles.

I am sure that with your kind blessings my Mom will peacefully tread the path back to Krishna.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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5 марта

Leaving Mayapur.

Here everything was wonderful except the disgustingly horrible service provided by Gauranga Travel Service.

Their cars are the quality of vehicles used to transport pigs in civilised countries.

If you ever visit Mayapur be sure you never fall for the temptation to use Gauranga Travels.

5 марта

The veritable piece of stool that Gauranga Travel Agency in Mayapur reckons to be a car has broken down just after the turn onto the main road.

Again... Never Trust Gauranga Travel Agency In Mayapur!!

5 марта

This was Sraddha and Ravindra Swarup's experience with Gauranga Travel;

We also had a wild ride to Kolkata last week due to Gauranga Travels. Our guy kept going more than 100km/h, even though we repeatedly insisted that he slow down. He made a lot of other drivers angry, he hit a bicyclist while speeding through a village (thankfully he was OK), and he stopped five times to try to get his spare tire fixed. Unfortunately, the "complimentary" taxi service from Gauranga Travels was not worth the risk and terror.

5 марта

Travelling the Noida Expressway to Vraja. I think we are the only car on the super highway.

Vast green Vraja on either side of the road.

Giving me some peace after today's Bengali nightmare, and, the super hustle and noise of Mayapur.

5 марта

Just passed a herd of Nilgai in a wheat field.

Yes, back home.

5 марта

Passed Durvasa Muni's Ášram at Pani Ghat, crossed the Yamuna, now on the parikrama.

Soon to stretch out on the ground and thank Radhe Shyam for once again letting this sinful soul to come home.

5 марта

Reached home, driven safe and sound by Aman, from Raman's Taxi service in Vrindavan.

When any of you come across to Vrindavan there are basically three ways to drive down to Vrindavan.

1. Through Gurgaon on the Sohna Road.

It's nice, but can get congested getting out from the Gurgaon Highway to Sohna. Plus, there are many speed breakers on the way.
It's like getting your back side busted without getting in a fight.

That road brings you just up to Palwal and then you continue on the national highway.

2. The national highway.

Areas of that are being widened and repaired so it gets slow.

Getting out through Faridabad, Badarpur, etc is always jammed and nerve wrenching.

And It has basically become an ugly sprawling industrial park all along the way up to Chhata in Vraja.

3. The Noida Super Highway.. Yamuna Expressway.

Head from the airport to Duala Kuan, right on the inner ring road, carry on direction Asram, straight to Noida, then exit for the expressway.

It's a beautiful highway, just about like any highway you would see in Europe or the USA. Three lanes on either side of the highway, and hardly any traffic because it is a toll road.

Vast green fields line either side of the highway and you exit at VRINDAVAN.

Get off travel about 2 KM to the Yamuna Bridge at Pani Ghat, cross, go left at the parikrama road, and in 10 minutes you are at Krishna Balaram Mandir.

Isvara Prabhu has warned that there may be bandits on the highway in the night. I'll check up with the temple management and you you a head's up on that.

There are many car agents in Vraja. I don't know if the temple runs any vehicles. If they do I'll give you a heads up on that as well.

I have used Raman's Taxis for many years.

Raman is a straight arrow who is honest and strives to give good service. His drivers are pretty good.

Problem is that he doesn't have a wide variety of cars. I think he has an Innova, maybe a few of those Chevvie things, and a smaller Manza.

But he has a few new 12 seater Tempo Travellers... a Mercedes Van made in India, for groups.

My two favourite drivers are Rohit and Aman. They are both very safe conscientious drivers.

I generally ask for Aman as he can understand, and speak, English quite good.

Anyhow, if you want to book in advance, please contact Raman on +919897192201

I have another friend who I've known since his gurukula days in Vrindavan, named Gopinatha Bhadra.

Gopinatha is a real loveable guy and I've heard he has a good car also. You can get Gopinath on +919756995895

Even though I've been in Vrindavan for ages.. I'm not a commission agent

I don't get free rides or favours from these guys. They are just good
and I want you to have a good experience in Vrindavan.

And since India is the biggest Democracy in the whole wide world, if anyone else has good dependable drivers, cars, and tips to share with people on getting to Vrindavan please feel free to share it right here.

So everyone will have their best Vrindavan Experience.

5 марта · отредактировано

21:21 in Vraja.

Cold wind blowing, wind chimes on the back porch having been sweetly singing non-stop, monkey chatter non-stop, also non-stop chatter at Baba's asrama as the bhaktas wash the pots, the Bakul Tree in the courtyard, where we sit to sing kirtan, keeps swaying with the wind.

There were no, I mean no.. not one, monkey in Mayapur. There never has been. Occasionally a langur tribe moves through but they are always peaceful and graceful.

No red-butts in Mayapur.

That must be one of the elements of "Gaura Kripa"

But even being back here with the furry freaks I am very happy.

I may get riled up about these guys, but I personally knew the Adi Monkeys of Raman Reti. I knew their grandparents.

When I cooked here in 1977 there were only 2 monkeys that came around at that time. That was Mr. and Mrs. Scarface.

Well, I gave him that name because we installed an exhaust fan at the kitchen that had the force of Fokker propeller airplane.

One day that mighty fan was spinning high speed and the blades were a blur. Old Scarface didn't figure this out before he stuck his face in it as he tried to enter the kitchen on one of his raids.

Oh God!!

He howled and howled and came out looking like Frankenstein on a bad-hair day.

During that period I had a bad habit of stealing bananas from the kitchen store room because I my relationship with those two Simian Grandsire.

So I'd nick a whack of bananas, and take them to my room to feed Mr. and Mrs. Scarface.

Actually, she was quite pretty for a monkey.

I'd call out... "Scaaaaaaar Faaaaace.... Scaaaaaar Faaaaace" and sure enough he and his Mizzes would pitch up.

Then I lived in guest house room number 7. Thats where Deena Bandhu Baba lives now. There was a terrible Brahma Rakshasha that lived in that room but we'll tell his story another time.

I'd sit-down on the sidewalk outside my room with a stack of bananas.
I'd pick one up and say, "Scarface, buddy.. come take a banana."

He's saunter up, start the snarling, aggressive, growling stuff,
and then I'd put the banana down and sternly say,

"Shut-up you ugly old monkey, sit here and act like a gentleman, or you won't get a banana."

And lo and behold, he and his pretty girl would sit right in front of me, as peaceful as anything, as I peeled each banana and handed to them.

So I knew the great, great, grandparents of all of this current generation of freaks.

Sure, the qualities of these guys have surely diminished from those of Scarface, but gosh, there's hope for everyone.

But to make my story short I'm in Vraja.

It's night, it's beautiful, it's raining, it will get colder tonight, but never-the-less, I'm back in Vraja.

I can never figure out why Radhe Shyam let me keep coming back here. But They are so ceaselessly kind, and, we are here only by Their Grace.

And I'm ready for sleep.

My now-late, but always great Mom used to ask me,

"Baby, where are you.. In Vrindavan?"

When I tell her, "Honey, I'm home."

She'd say, "Baby, you're gonna sleep real good tonight, because a man sleeps best on his own bed at home."

And with that,

Good Night To All From Vrindavan!!

Hare Krishna!!

Radhe Shyam!!

8 марта с помощью iPhoto

So the Rādhārāṇī, the personal energy, His energy's also personal. So mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ. If we take shelter of His external energy, where forgetfulness, Kṛṣṇa, is very prominent, then we become far and far away from Kṛṣṇa. But if we take shelter of the internal energy of Kṛṣṇa, Rādhārāṇī, because She's directly serving Kṛṣṇa.

Just like in Vṛndāvana, they always speak of Rādhārāṇī because they have taken shelter of Rādhārāṇī to approach Kṛṣṇa very easily. Daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ. The facility of Vṛndāvana is that you take shelter of Rādhārāṇī directly and She will help you to approach Kṛṣṇa very soon. This is the idea of coming to Vṛndāvana.

Вчера

My morning thoughts...

e dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana
ithe ki āche paratīti re
kamala-dala-jala, jīvana ṭalamala
bhajahū hari-pada nīti re

What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one's wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members? This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal; therefore you should always serve and worship the divine feet of Lord Hari.

Вчера · отредактировано

Tchaikovsky to the rescue.

Piano concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23

It's not maha-mantra but it sure has it's own feel good effect.

I can only rationalise it with a story which I heard, and I think, had confirmed by a friend who lives at Govardhan.

Prabhupada boarded the plane, sat in his seat, picked up the headphones, placed them on, and listened to Indian classical for some time.

Naturally, his assistants were very amazed that His Divine Grace was listening to "Karmic" music.

After some time he peacefully removed his headphones, replaced them. smiled at his worried assistants, and said:

"Yes, this is maya... but it's very nice maya."

Thanks Pyotr... needed a boost this morning.

9 марта

I just learned a lesson as I am stretched out trying to have an afternoon rest and listening to cacophony from the MVT construction site.

The lesson;

Never get the Indian woman on the construction team upset.

The result is high speed, high octave, screeching which is constantly based around someone's sister, bhen, and someone's mother, Mata.

And I think they must both be related to the poor fellow who is the construction in charge.

10 марта

You cannot change your destiny as that is fixed.

But, you can change your consciousness through the activities of sadhana bhakti.

10 марта

What is the symptom of love? The symptom, the prime symptom, most important symptom of love is that the devotee wants to see that his Lord's name, fame, etc. become widespread. He wants to see that "My Lord's name be known everywhere." This is love. If I love somebody, I want to see that his glories are spread all over the world. And Kṛṣṇa also says in the Bhagavad-gītā, na ca tasmāt manuṣyeṣu kaścit me priya-kṛttamaḥ, anyone who preaches His glory, nobody is dearer to Him than that person.

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13 марта

SB 8.5.23, Purport:

Chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is potent always, but it is especially potent in this age of Kali. Therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī, while instructing Mahārāja Parīkṣit, stressed this chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.

kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann
asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ
kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya
mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet

"My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom." (SB 12.3.51)

Those who have accepted the task of spreading the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness should take this opportunity to deliver people very easily from the clutches of material existence.

13 марта

So there is hope, that mighty stick which we lean upon, from birth...
till the fire of death.

A friend sent this to me:

Fear not. By your love for sankirtana and the dust of Vrndavana, Lord Caitanya will do everything for you. Rejoice.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nataka:

I have one request, I think material piety, economic development and sense-gratification worthless and insignificant. I don't want impersonal liberation. I only want that in the next life I may have the association of Your devotees.

Shri Chaitanya: So be it. I will go to Vrndavana and there I will accept you as My associates and with My sweet pastimes I will fill your hearts with bliss. To you who have faith in Vrndavana I will give splendid spiritual forms like My own. That is what I will do for you.

Those of you whose hearts are bound to Me in this form of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, even if your rasas are friendship or servitude to Shri Shri Radha-Madhava or Lord Dvarakadhisa, or if your rasas are friendship or servitude to any of My other incarnations, I will make into My eternally liberated associates in Goloka Vrndavana.

14 марта

As it is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, the first-class yogi is he who always thinks of Kṛṣṇa within himself.

yoginām api sarveṣāṁ
mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā
śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ
sa me yuktatamo mataḥ
[Bg. 6.47]

That is first-class yogi.

So you are thinking of Kṛṣṇa by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa because the more you practice, immediately with your chanting, the name, the form, the quality, the pastimes, everything will be revealed.

As we go on cleansing our dirty heart by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and as we chant faultless, offenseless harer nāma, Kṛṣṇa reveals. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ [Brs. 1.2.234].

By service attitude, if you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra without any offense, then Kṛṣṇa will reveal Himself.

You cannot try to see Kṛṣṇa by your speculation or yogic practice.

If you simply submissively, surrendering yourself, chant His holy name... There is no difference between Kṛṣṇa's name and Kṛṣṇa. Abhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.133].

People generally ask that what is the meaning of chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. We explain, you know, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra means immediately, directly associating with Kṛṣṇa. One has to approach Kṛṣṇa by yogic practice or mental speculation for many, many births. Bahūnāṁ janmanām ante [Bg. 7.19]. They can come to the conclusion that "Here is Kṛṣṇa." Vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti.

But if you take to this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra without any offense, then immediately you contact Kṛṣṇa. You save so much time. Why should you wait for many, many births?

That is the gift of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. It is in the śāstra. Caitanya Mahāprabhu does not give you anything which is not in the śāstra.

He's ācārya, although He's God Himself. He can make śāstra. Whatever He does, whatever He speaks, that is śāstra.

But still, because He's playing the part of ācārya, He immediately gives Vedic evidences. That is the way of ācārya.

14 марта

This is another thing that Prabhupada said this morning;

You cannot handle Kṛṣṇa by your whims. Let you be handled by the Kṛṣṇa's whims. Then you'll be successful. Then... My Guru Mahārāja used to say that "Don't try to see Kṛṣṇa; do something so that Kṛṣṇa may see you." That is wanted. If Kṛṣṇa, if you can draw little attention of Kṛṣṇa, yat kāruṇya-katākṣa-vaibhavavatām, katākṣa-vaibhavavatām... Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī says... If you somehow or other you can draw little attention of Kṛṣṇa, your life is successful. Immediately. And how you can draw? Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg. 18.55]. Simply by serving Kṛṣṇa. Take service, take to service of Kṛṣṇa, as it is ordered by the spiritual master. Because spiritual master is the representative of Kṛṣṇa. We cannot approach Kṛṣṇa directly. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **. If you have bona fide spiritual master, representative of Kṛṣṇa, it is also not very difficult. Everyone can become representative of Kṛṣṇa. How? If you simply carry the message of Kṛṣṇa without any adulteration. That's all.

Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā [Cc. Madhya 7.128], "You become a spiritual master under My order." So if you carry out the order of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Kṛṣṇa, then you become guru. Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā. Unfortunately, we do not wish to carry out order of the ācāryas. We manufacture our own ways. We have got practical experience how a great institution was lost by whimsical ways. Without carrying out the order of the spiritual master, they manufactured something and the whole thing was lost. Therefore Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura stresses very much on the words of the spiritual master. Vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana [Bg. 2.41]. If you stick to the order of spiritual master, then, without caring for your own convenience or inconvenience, then you become perfect.

14 марта

SB 12.3.43 — O King, in the Age of Kali people’s intelligence will be diverted by atheism, and they will almost never offer sacrifice to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme spiritual master of the universe. Although the great personalities who control the three worlds all bow down to the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, the petty and miserable human beings of this age will not do so.

SB 12.3.44 — Terrified, about to die, a man collapses on his bed. Although his voice is faltering and he is hardly conscious of what he is saying, if he utters the holy name of the Supreme Lord he can be freed from the reaction of his fruitive work and achieve the supreme destination. But still people in the Age of Kali will not worship the Supreme Lord.

SB 12.3.45 — In the Kali-yuga, objects, places and even individual personalities are all polluted. The almighty Personality of Godhead, however, can remove all such contamination from the life of one who fixes the Lord within his mind.

SB 12.3.46 — If a person hears about, glorifies, meditates upon, worships or simply offers great respect to the Supreme Lord, who is situated within the heart, the Lord will remove from his mind the contamination accumulated during many thousands of lifetimes.

SB 12.3.47 — Just as fire applied to gold removes any discoloration caused by traces of other metals, Lord Viṣṇu within the heart purifies the minds of the yogīs.

14 марта

Had a very nice day with Sivarama Swami being back home in Vrindavan.

Morning japa, sipping warm morning drinks, doing puja.. the flowers are nicer in Mayapur, nice light lunch, afternoon snoozing, me reading, him writing, and concluding the day on the veranda with hot milk, bananas, and a few extraordinary sweets made by the devotees from Hungary.

I'm very happy that he has returned to his home in Vraja.

The monkeys have been over-mischievous.. I guess they really trying their best to put on an irritating show for Maharaja.

Question:

Do any of my Facebook friends have 3 big pythons, 5 mature leopards, and a great white shark, that I could borrow to strategically post around the property to snap up a few of these "over intelligent rodents?"

If so, send me a private message and I'll arrange for the transport.

22:00... Good night to all from Vrindavan.

15 марта · отредактировано

Attended the 04:30 claw, maul, bump, shove, and push session, otherwise know as Mangala Aratik with north Indians.

Bengal is a completely different culture. You can be in the temple with thousands of Bengalis and no one will touch you.

Here there is a total lack of culture and civility. Any will plough right into you and think nothing of it.

Well, at least I saw Gaura Nitai, Krishna Balaram, and Radhe Shyam.

I should just shut up and count my blessings.

15 марта

Red Alert!! Red Alert!!

HH Sivarama Swami has lapsed into a state of temporary insanity.

He has announced that he wants to go play Holi at Banke Bihari.

15 марта

Govinda Swami expresses his mood in one way which is often lighthearted.. maybe not so deeply sobering.

For those who need a double-espresso shot of soberness...
please give the following a good listen:

http://www.sivaramaswami.com/en/2014/03/14/entering-vrndavana-asked-one-passengers-arent-sometimes-ashamed-indian/