One blow!

Vedic culture is a culture of very gradual progress. Srila Prabhupada was often times using the example of a goldsmith, who with a fine little hammer is shaping an ornament, he said that is Vedic culture, a very refined system of purifying its members of society, very gradually little by little and then trying to bring a proper shape of conduct and character within a person. Unlike the Age of Kali, where such preliminary pre-requisites were not fulfilled and everyone is totally out of shape but the Sankirtan movement, Srila prabhupada compared it to the hammer of a blacksmith who with one blow,(one basic boff), kind of reshapes anything, irregardless where it is at. So that’s a little bit our process; it’s not gradual it is very revolutionary, it’s quite strong, its drastic, the way we are undergoing reformation...

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27 April 2010, Radhadesh, Belgium)

Chanting like a microwave...ping!

"But somehow or ther we are lazy, by nature lazy. Do I really have put my hand all the way in that bead bag? Lift those heavy beads? Move them through my fingers. Do I really have to move my hands? All these things....the mind is lamenting, the mind is dragging its feet, the mind is holding us back and somehow or other we don't do it. We chant like a microwave oven: 16 rounds "ping"! Finished! Finished! Done. Just like that switch off. Automatic switch off at 16. The electricity cuts off. Finished, finished my chanting. No more. That is the most ecstatic moment!

Kadamba Kanana Swami, 31 Dec 2009, Sankirtan Festival,Germany

Krsna, Krsna...

23 May 2010, Japa Talks

Kadamba Kanana Swami

Krsna is so simple, so thoroughly honest and pure. There is no pretense, no duplicity on His side! As for us if only we could go before Him with an open and simple heart, with no hidden agenda for personal sense enjoyment.Then we could chant His name in pure love and with great ecstasy.
But material desires, stubbornly remain and mostly we struggle with sometimes a light beam of inspiration, like sudden sun rays in an otherwise mostly clouded sky. But Prabhupada gave us practical devotional service, pots to be washed, Deities to be cared for and gradually we can become purified and our chanting will improve with time...

Report

Latest Report from Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 May 2010

Now we are in Nrsimha ksetra, Germany at the lotus feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva waiting for the celebrations of Nrsimha Caturdasi tomorrow. That will be really nice. Nrsimhadeva is taking all the obstacles from the heart sarva vighna vinasana, then we can become absorbed in devotional service.

UK visit - a report from Sutapa das

On Saturday 15th May, maharaj flew in from Sweden and landed at Heathrow airport. A long car journey through the London traffic took us to the heart of the city to Soho temple. Maharaj went straight into the evening Bhagavad-gita class. He talked about the different levels of faith, all the way from the faith of the materialists, to the pure topmost faith of the gopi’s. After the enlivening talk, we went straight into the world famous London Saturday night harinam. Around 50 devotees danced and chanted through the bustling evening crowds (see video) as maharaj led a powerful kirtan. Sunday morning he gave the Caitanya Caritamrta class at Soho temple and explained the intricacies and dangers of mayavada philosophy. There was a really good Q&A session which got everyone thinking on a deeper level about what mayavada really is and how it actually relates to us.

After a one hour rest (!) we drove to Leicester where he arrived just in time for the Sunday program. Maharaj gave another great class, this time on the 6 enemies (lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion, madness) and how we rid ourselves of them through surrender to Krishna. By this time maharaj was feeling quite exhausted but nevertheless led an ecstatic Gaura Arati kirtan. Maharaj then met many of the Leicester devotees after the program, and they requested he return again very soon!

Monday morning maharaj left for Oxford to spend some time with Gopinathacarya prabhu and the devotees there. He stayed there for 3 days. I went on Thursday morning to pick maharaj up and take him to the manor, and he told me about the last few days. He explained about how he spent time reading and chanting, and flicking through different books that were at the house. He was reading about different kinds of monks and as we came down to London, maharaj was reflecting on how we have to create a spiritual space within our lives to go deep into our sacred teachings. We are so engaged in multitasking and different activities that we often neglect to make quality time for spiritual contemplation and deep study. This all came out in the morning class at the manor where maharaj talked about the ‘Hiranyakasipou civilisation’ we are living in, and how even devotees can become entangled in that. Hari Sauri prabhu was there and mentioned some Prabhupada pastimes relating to the class, and also thanked maharaj for making very interesting and important points. Maharaj then went to meet Jayadvaita Swami who had also just arrived in the UK.

On Friday morning Kadamba Kanana maharaj left for Germany – another round of ratha yatra’s and festivals...

Getting ready for Nrismhadeva's Birthday

Live and kicking from the Simhachalam Farm, Maharaja attends the Sunday Feast (25 may 2010) and gave a nice class which you can see here below.
Cannot see the video? http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7193732



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Hope is essential

As long as there is hope, then we can keep on going. This is a nice message because it is a fact that to keep going in our spiritual life is not the easiest thing. We have our wonderful experiences at times and we have our struggle. To remain dedicated in spiritual life and to remain always strong and to remain always serious is very difficult. To never forget that the only thing that really matters is Krsna, service to Krsna, is difficult. So easy to also pursue some other desires by the side, invest some energy there and develop some attachments.
So we have to maintain hope that in spite of our struggle, in spite of our lack of qualification, that we still somehow or other get the mercy. That hope is essential. It's true - we don't have to be super devotees, we don't have to be amazing devotees to get the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, House Programme, South Africa 2009 )

Sadhu - one who cuts

Narada Muni- when he was cursed by Daksha, the whole thing rested on a misunderstanding, because Narada is a total well wisher of all living beings. He was a well wisher of Daksha: He was a well wisher of Daksha’s son. But Daksha’s son, one way or another unfortunately couldn’t see it. He didn’t see it at that time.

That was a misfortune, because really such preachers, as Narada- and those who are following in the footsteps of Narada, are not just preachers of philosophy - They are not just merely preachers who are establishing the truth based on the scripture and cutting through Maya- although sadhus sometimes were translated as one who cuts, but it must be understood, that although there maybe some cutting here and there – that underneath it all: is love!

There is love, that is to be understood: That such sages are full of love: Full of compassion. Therefore, even their apparently cutting remarks at times or actions at times are also a manifestation of their love. In that way it must be seen as a positive and in a positive light.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami ,04/2010)

Some more Vyasa-puja & Queensday memories

Here are 2 slideshows from the Vyasapuja and Queensday festival.

Vyasa-puja Festival.

Can't see this slideshow? Click here


Queensday pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/sacisuta108/Koninginnedag2010#

Can't see this slideshow? Click here

Pics by Samira & Raymond from Rotterdam, Netherlands

Leicester 16th May 2010 Sunday Lecture [pt3] !!

'oh dear, it's rough, it's tough!'

The more we find out about Krsna, the more amazing Krsna is. So to become Krsna Conscious is not just, well:

'I have to give up all these things that I have become used to - no more tea, no more coffee, and the cakes..well, you have to be super careful! Besides everything else and oh my God, not this! Oh dear, oh dear, it's rough, it's tough, can I give it all up? Oh, Krsna consciousness is all about giving up.'

No, Krsna Consciousness is all about exploring the unlimited qualities of Krsna and the unlimited possibilities of serving Krsna!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, South Africa 08-04-2009 )

When we desire, the Lord will reciprocate

It is our desire that makes us transcend the limitations of the material world. When a devotee strongly desires, then somehow or the other, it becomes possible.
It is many times said that by the mercy of Mahaprabhu, the lame can cross mountains, the blind can see the lumininaries in the sky, the dumb can recite eloquent poetry and so on. It begins with desire.
When we desire, the Lord will reciprocate. So partially, the devotee is doing incredible things on the strength of desire

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, South Africa 08-04-2009 )

Srimad Bhagavatam!

When Krsna left for his transcendental abode all religious principles and knowledge also went with Him. And that was the situation. (Sanskrit) And therefore in this age of Kali, all vision was lost! This means all understanding of the truth, of what is the goal of life: or how to conduct oneself in life was lost.
But it will again re-emerge by the sound from the Srimad Bhagavatam.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami , Radhadesh 04/2010)

Advantage of Old Age

(Kadamba Kanana Swami ,04/2010)

Another advantage of old age is actually that one has so much knowledge: Knowledge from experience: Knowledge from a lifetime of association with the scripture, and applying that knowledge. And therefore it is natural that one has peace of mind....

Soho Jumping

The devotees in London are jumping all over again!
If you cannot see this video then go here : http://vimeo.com/11900877

Leicester 16th May 2010 Sunday Lecture [pt2] !!

“A declaration of no faith in sex”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami ,04/2010)

It takes some practice and some willpower to just detach from the mind and to leave it. It can be done when one has no faith. Like one of my favourites, is the statement of: “A declaration of no faith in sex”
I like that because sex is ringing at our doorbell, from time to time, and it’s back again- just when you thought that it was all over, there it is again sexual agitation:
“ I’m back!” (laughter!)

Leicester 16th May 2010 Sunday Lecture [pt1] !!

personal agenda?

(Kadamba Kanana Swami,
South Africa 08-04-2009 )

(Sanskrit) One must allow Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to enter into the innermost chambers of the heart. I really like this verse and I'm thinking of the heart as a palace with many chambers. And little by little, we are opening doors. Of course, we have our public doors, our public moods for everyone to see, but slowly, we are opening more doors for Krsna. But what are we keeping locked in our inner chamber? What personal agenda are we still holding on to, separate from service to Krsna?"

Time gradually forces us to rely on Krishna!

Time gradually forces us to rely on Krishna! We can no longer rely on our reflexes: We can no longer rely on our wit, as our memory is fading day by day.
One man with a T-shirt- an old man with a T-shirt- I met him in Johannesburg airport, some years ago. And it said: ‘Done it all. Seen it all. Heard it all. But can’t remember it all!’ Yes, a great T-shirt!
He said, “You like it? I designed it myself”
Which made it even more authentic, you know. Yes so in this way, old age is certainly a factor in the life of a Vaishnava. But it works favourable!
Where as for the materialists, it is just limiting him further and further and diminishing all his means to happiness!
But for the devotee it brings him to the one pointed root of just relying on Krsna! and taking shelter of Krsna, realising that it is Krsna who provides.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami , Radhadesh 04/2010)

only think of Krsna

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned from Gaya after His initiation, He had become a devotee. It is said that the Lord had first stopped on the way and was chanting the Gayatri Mantra, and as He was chanting the Gopal Mantra, He had the darshan of Gopal and then Gopal disappeared. So this was a great shock and from that moment on, He was overwhelmed by separation and when He came back He could only think of Krsna. We remember that He was teaching His students sanskrit grammar and that He explained every word, every word to mean Krsna. Nothing but Krsna.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami , Radhadesh 04/2010)

Little Vacation

I first joined in the Vrndavana temple, but stayed for a short time, because I had to go back to Europe: visas: tickets and everything else, and then after sometime I moved again into the Amsterdam temple; and in the Amsterdam temple in those days it was a well oiled sankirtana machine and there was only one question, how much? And it wasn’t like how much Krishna praying- It was like “how much?” So I found that impersonal.

Spirit of being together is important

It should be possible, among disciples of the spiritual master, that there are positive relationships. It should be possible that amongst them there is a mood where everyone is trying to accept the other, everyone is trying to help the other, it should be possible. Because, after all, this would be pleasing to our spiritual master.
So yes, a spirit of being together is important, and not because we have to, because it is a sort of scriptural requirement, but rather: genuinely.
That would be most wonderful

(Kadamba Kanana Swami , Radhadesh 04/2010)

Getting The Mercy!

I got a lot of mercy this lifetime, from a lot of, lot of vaishnavas. Who, for example- Brahmananda stood on my hand! That was a lot of mercy. I’ll never forget that! That that has made quite an impression!
That was in the year that the murti of Srila Prabhupada was being installed. For Srila Praubhupada Samadhi day they had made a big arrangement, for bathing the murti; and they had built a special table for it. But somehow or another, they had made a miscalculation. They put some support bars rest at the legs and as a result the drum that was planned to go under the table to catch all the bathing substances didn’t fit! And it was found out last minute!
So what to do! I volunteered and said, ”No worries, I have a team! We’ll go under there with buckets and we’ll do it!”
So I remember that abisheik very well. It’s a very big deity of Srila Prauphada, and we caught some in the buckets! But I also got the full abhishek! And I still remember the honey and there was also co dung! Lots of it, and the cow urine and all the other bathing substances, and I got it all!
Then there was a few hundred litre of Yamuna water, which I also remember; and then, yes at the time many vaishnava’s kicked me, as I was under the table - and Brahmananda stood on my hand! Which of course was a great blessing because he’s very dear to Srila Prabhupada.
So I got it - I got the mercy in SO MANY WAYS!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami , Radhadesh 04/2010)

HH Kadamba Kanana Swami visits Stockholm!

Here are links to all recordings and to photo albums from HH Kadamba Kanana Swami's latest visit to Stockholm.

11th of May Maharaja gave evening class (+ bhajan)at HKC in Stockolm

Click here if you cannot view the slideshow



12th of May we had Bhagavatam class at Körsnäs and evening class (+ bhajan) at HKC

Click here if you cannot view the slideshow

13th of May we had Bhagavatam class at Körsnäs Gård. This day was a public holiday in Sweden and we had a nice program at New Brahmakunda in Stockholm. Among other things Maharaja taught us how to sing in canon :-)

Click here if you cannot view the slideshow

Here is a link to short video from this program



14th of May we had Bhagavatam class and program (bhajan and lecture) at Ugrasena's home.

Click here if you cannot view the slideshow

15th of May Maharaja gave Bhagavatam class before he left for England.

Click here if you cannot see the slideshow

I hope to have more to report in near future!

More Queensday photos from our German Reporter Gauranga

Here is another batch of nice photos from Queensday.
If you cannot see the slideshow (for example on your iphone or facebook) then click this link.



These photos were taken by Gauranga from Germany.

Special address to the Vyasa-puja ceremony in Radhadesh

During the Vyasa-puja festival Maharaja gave a nice speech in answer to our service and offerings.


Comments

The guru-disciple is a mystical thing, because it's part of a system that is revealed by Krsna in the scriptures and personally blessed by Him. In practical life it's also about a relationship based on love and affection and what we share is our desire to make more and more spiritual advancement. So that makes a Vyasa puja an inspiring experience a festival of purity. I want to thank all of you for coming to Radhadesh and participating in the festival. To me it was a meaningful exchange, a purification and I realize that it is actually important to observe this tradition of Vyasa Puja. Beforehand I had my moments of hesitation, should I really have such a big celebration for my birthday? But then I thought, well at least we will all be going to Amsterdam for Queensday. The whole year I travel around the world to meet devotees in so many countries, but I rarely do anything for the country of my birth, so by once a year bringing so many people from all these countries back to Queensday in Amsterdam, is in a way paying of my debt. Thank you all, very much for coming.

Satsvarupa Maharaja wrote in his book 'Remembering Srila Prabhupada'


You didn't want a book about you.  "Give us volumes of books about Krsna", you said. Finally in your last days you assented - we may do it if it is spiritual.

This year you made an actual book with offerings and at first I felt a bit embarrassed, a book about me, but then I realized it's not a book about me, but a book about you and me with Krsna in the centre. I thank you so much for that. The most wonderful thing is that you all share your heart and also bring up some points in our exchanges that have made a deep impression upon you. This makes it a pleasure to read. Here are just a few samples, I couldn't include more, although many more of your words were very meaningful;

"You teach me to be positive. Yes, we can do it, we all can reach Krsna. You teach me that I should not be taken so seriously, but the one who should be taken serious is Krsna."

"Please bless me that your lotus feet be my only shelter and my eyes be fixed upon them and never look in maya's direction, let the effulgence of your lotus feet make me blind, because this is the only guarantee that I
will not look in maya's direction."

"I want you to be a sadhu - not to become one - but to be one."

"I am a demanding spiritual master, because I want you to become a pure devotee. Not that I am pressurizing you to push yourself in the mode of passion, but I want you to build a spiritual life. I want you to think of the components and combine them intelligently, around hearing, chanting,worshipping and so on; to think about what to accept and what to avoid."

"I wonder - Guru is always here and always been. Sometimes seen. sometimes not seen...our part is only to accept an outreached hand..."

"I have no taste for Krsna book, nor any burning desire to learn more about Him but when I see how much you 're attracted to Him then I wonder, who is Krsna? What sort of person must He be that he has purchased you like that?"

"In Mayapur last year, someone asked You; 'What is the thing You like to see the most in your disciples. Your answer;" That they take shelter! shelter in Krsna, the holy name, the process of Krsna consciousness, sadhana, cleanliness, tilaka..."

During a memorial celebration of Bhakti Tirtha Swami, someone glorified his disciples as "strikingly real". You remarked after the ceremony tht you would like your disciples to be like that, very real people."

Thank you very much for your dedication, may Krsna bless with transcendental love for Him.

Yours as the servant of the servant of Srila Prabhupada.

Japa Kirtan Retreat, Radhadesh

Following the Vyasa Puja Festival, a Japa Kirtan Retreat with HH Sacinandana Swami took place at Radhadesh. Day 4 of the retreat was dedicated to a nama-yajna, where devotees were engaged in 4 hours of continuous bhajan/kirtan. The first 3 hours were calm and melodious until HH Kadamba Kanana Swami made his first appearance at the retreat. After a short introduction on japa meditation (transcript below), he had the crowd dancing within minutes and crying out “we want more” after an hour.

As you are having your retreat, I was also having my own retreat because lately life has been so busy. So I had a retreat by myself which was also nice.

Yesterday morning, I was meditating while chanting that we are never by ourselves. Krsna is always present and very much so. Sometimes we experience the gap between us and Krsna and how through chanting we are somehow or other trying to bridge that gap.

But yesterday, I got into the meditation that Krsna is here. He is very much here. And now let me just really chant my rounds in that way, offering them very directly to Krsna. Krsna is very directly present right here before me and knows everything about me and I am simply making my humble offering.

Today, I was thinking that’s all good and well, but that’s the same thing Uddhava told the gopis, “Krsna is here. He is always present!”

They were not overly impressed by that. They were saying, “Yeah that’s fine but where is Krsna?”

So today, I chanted in that mood: where is He, where is Krsna?

And of course, I think before one can really get into that mood of separation in chanting, one has to come to the point of experiencing the presence of Krsna. And very much focus on how much Krsna is actually present.

Because somehow or other, we are not seeing, we are forgetting. We think that Krsna is far away and we feel left alone… we feel alone with our struggle, but actually Krsna presence is there.

However, the Holy Name can attract Krsna to reveal Himself more to us and that is the wonderful experience of chanting. Pure devotional service is described as sri krsna akasani – that which can attract Krsna. So through our chanting we hope to attract the grace of Krsna and with that I want to begin chanting.

Audio recording will be uploaded soon

Kadamba Kanana Swami

6 May 2010

Parasurama & Friends Enliven Amsterdam Queensday

The awesome group of devotees from the UK, headed by Parasurama Prabhu, ventured by van from England to the orange city of Amsterdam for the Queensday. They brought 10 devotees + a huge bicycle that holds a real drumkit. See how that looks in this video below. If you can't see this video then click this link:
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11619033



We like to thank Parasurama and his devotee friends for visiting Amsterdam Queensday and we hope they will visit us again next year for Queensday...

More & more videos from Queensday

The juice keeps flowing, and so are the videos from Queensday.
These are recorded by Michel Prabhu from Holland. (www.haribol.nl)
Unfortunately the sound quality is really bad. So watch at your own risk ;-)

Vicas Vacas-pati Prabhu sings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAaTZzPzuyg
On the Museum Square
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwnIimXzn5U

Sacinananda Swami joins the parade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5cYrSnddow
And more singing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py4lcLH0Xd0
And more Kadamba Kanana Swami
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJLHJkHi02I

Tick Tock...

...for a vaishnava time is not at all an issue. Rather, time only works in ones favour because with time, one goes deeper and deeper in ones devotional service ,with time ones attachment to Krsna becomes deeper and time works in our favour because time forces us to take shelter of Krsna...

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 28 April 2010, Radhdesh, Belgium)

Faithfully repeating...

We of course are not on the level of Narada...when we preach, the strength of our preaching is by faithfully repeating …just like Hari Sauri prabhu, Srila Prabhupada’s personal servant, at one point mentioned that he wanted to go out preaching and Prabhupada said, "Preach, what will you preach? What will you preach?" He said, "I am preaching… I am preaching. What can you preach? But if you faithfully repeat whatever you have heard than you can preach..."

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 April 2010, Radhadesh, Belgium)

Take advantage this one lifetime

A spiritual master can really only desire. Only desire that his disciples somehow or other, take advantage!

Just take advantage of this very rare opportunity!

That is why Srila Prabhupada used to say:,
”You’ve had so many lifetimes, and so many lifetimes- you did what you want. Now please just give this one to me! Just give me one lifetime! Just one! You’ve already had so many, so just give me one”

So that Prabhupada was humbly requesting

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh 04/2010)

unhappy when others are happy - envy

Envy cannot be engaged in the service of Krsna.

Envy has to be given up. Envy is where we take pleasure like this:
We are happy when someone else is unhappy and we are unhappy when someone else is happy.

We are unhappy when someone else is glorified.

That we have to conquer. We have to change ourselves to give respect to everyone.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, 05/04/2010)

God - Far Away?

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, 05/04/2010)

There are many people, who are all over the world, who are all adhering to some religion and they are all worshiping God!
They’ll be speaking now about intimacy and about getting close … like I was one day preparing a seminar on the topic of prayer- So I had researched different things on prayer; also looking a little bit on the internet of course to see if I could find something general on prayer:
Then I found that one Christian priest, he said: ‘Whenever I pray, I realise how far away I am from God’...

Pics, images and photos - Vyasa-puja 2010

Here is another batch of super excellent photos from the Vyasapuja. They are all made by Gopal Engelberger from Simhachalam, Germany. (see him in action on the bench making photos !!)

Here are some examples, but check out this link to see all photos

Holding onto our material things

This is why we go slow in our spiritual advancement -

We hold onto our material things and tell Krishna:
‘Please give me some higher experience?’

But Krishna says ‘ FIRST SURRENDER!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, 04/04/2010)

Krishna - Far Away?

The idea behind the Gayatri Mantra is to see Krishna behind everything.

That’s the first meditation, the Gayatri Mantra step by step, meditation on the Supreme Lord.

The first step of the meditation, is to appreciate, that Krishna is behind everything!

So we see everywhere, all of Krishna and this is how we are trained to see - to see from the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Wherever we look we see Krishna - Then how can we ever think that Krishna is far away!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, 05/04/2010)

The Burning Question...

In America they have a festival called "The Burning Man". So in one sense we are all burning man, we are all burning in this question, 'When, oh when, are we finally, finally going to get serious???' That is the question. And we better get there before we reach the end! It is risky too, it is risky to drag ones feet....

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 28 April 2010, Radhadesh, Belgium)

Krsna is here!

Latest on Japa Talks

4 May 2010


Krsna is here! He is present right now, also while I am chanting! ......My dear Krsna, May I offer you this chanting of your holy name? I am one of your foolish servants.May I offer you my day? May I offer you my life? Simply spreading your glories everywhere...

Control the tongue

Sriptures are saying is that what one should control his eating. Not just eat anything and everything; not just eat unlimited quantities. We sing everyday before taking lunch. We sing a prayer! (Sanskrit). It is one of the favourite prayers of the devotees. They like that ONE! The translation reads that the senses are the network of past leading to death. Hmm …is that your favourite song?!
The senses are the network of past leading to death! And of all the senses, the tongue is most ferocious! And most difficult to control!
But by the mercy of Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda -it becomes possible to control the tongue! So that the tongue is very difficult to control. What goes in- and what goes in has this effect. Yes !! So scriptures recommend that we control the tongue!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, 04/04/2010)

New Batch of Videos

More dancing on the Dam

Can't see this video? Go here

Vraja Krsna Singing in Radhadesh

Can't see this video? Go here

Traditional Ceremony in the Temple

Can't see this video? Go here

fight on the strength of love

So as devotees, we are mixed. We are people with mixed feelings. We have feelings of attraction towards Krsna, and we have feelings of attraction towards the material energy. We have divisions in our bodies as much as anyone else and therefore every devotee has within himself a dilemma. Therefore sometimes spiritual life is described to be a war on Maya, in other words, a fight - a fight with ourselves. That's not so easy, to fight this fight, but when you fight this fight on the strength on knowledge, on the strength of deeper understanding of the long-term benefits of following spiritual principles, ..alright this gives some relief, but it is still difficult. Because on knowledge, how long can you fight? Ultimately, we have to fight on the strength of love. We must love our spiritual activities. If we love Krsna Consciousness, then we will never be defeated!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, 04/04/2010)

The Real Family

Krsna and His devotees they are our real family. There is no doubt about it!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, 05/04/2010)

Change Your Life!

Everyone has a certain amount of happiness and a certain amount of distress and it's dependent on your karma. By our work, we cannot change the happiness we get. We work so hard, you can work as much as you like, still not happy.

But karma can change by pious activity, so in that way, you can do something about your destiny and you can improve it. But there's different types of piety. Material piety will give you material benefit, but piety related to Krsna, that is another thing.

That is the kind of piety that can change your life!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, 04/04/2010)

Queensday videos 2010

Here are the first batch of videos from Queensday. If you have any videos then please put them on youtube and send us the link. Facebook users should visit the blog to see the videos.

Jaya Jaya Prabhupada

Can't see this video? Go here

On the Dam in Amsterdam

Can't see this video? Go here

Sacinandana Swami starting the kirtan

Can't see this video? Go here

Vidya-vacas pati Prabhu doing his thing

Can't see this video? Go here

On the Museum Square

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Initiations in Radhadesh During Vyasa-puja

Here is a short video of the Initiation ceremony in Radhadesh during the Vyasa-puja Festival. Here Bhn Laura will get her spiritual name Campakalata devi dasi.

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Vyasapuja and Queensday 2010 - A First Glimpse

The Vyasa-puja festival is behind us and the muscles still hurt from the jumping and dancing during the Crazy Queensday celebration in Amsterdam. It was a Super Duper Deep Spiritual Party enjoyed by everyone.

The day before
On the 28th of April the most of the devotees arrived from Czech, Sweden, South Africa, Australia, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and others. The afternoon was spend with a short disciple meeting to plan the next vyasapuja day.
Later that evening we enjoyed a the cultural program with theater, drama, dance, music and a real fire show. The theater was a play with a theme from the movie Matrix, where a devotee could choose between the blue pill (not offered food) or the red pill (offered food). Another drama was about the "old style" book distribution that was practised in the past. It was an enlivening program and everybody like it a lot. Here is the play on video.


The big day
The next day, 29 april, the Vyasa-puja festival began with the traditional morning program in the temple. After the morning program maharaja gave a class on the Srimad Bhagavatam 4.27.25. It was a wonderful class dealing with our position to serve the vaisnava's and how we should be thankful to those who served us in our lives. Later on the theme of the class would be mentioned again during the reading of the offerings from the devotees.
Listen to the class :

At 10:30 the festival started with devotees expressing their relationship and dealings with Kadamba Kanana Swami and read their offerings. Sutapa and Aatish made a wonderful vyasa-puja book that included at least 100 offerings and they presented it to Maharaja. Afterwards the devotees offered flowers and gifts to maharaja and performed the gaura arati ceremony. After the program a big huge prasadam feast was served to all visitors.The prasadam feast had 15 courses and every dish was superbly prepared by the super cooks Parama Karuna, Pradyumna and Madhu kanta.

Initiations
But there was no time to rest after the feast because the next program already was started at 17:30. The temple room was packed with devotees who came to witness the initiation ceremony. 16 devotees would receive their 1st and 2nd initiation by Kadamba Kanana Swami. All 16 devotees got a new spiritual name during the ceremony. Here are some that i remember : Hari Bhakti devi dasi, Champakalata devi dasi, Keli Lalita, Gaura Karuna, Madhu Pandit, and lots more. See a short video from the initations. Go there

After this busy day we got some well needed rest because of......

CRAZY QUEENSDAY

Yes also this year it happened again. The MEGA HUGE SUPER DUPER HARINAM. The well famous Harinam planned by Kadamba Kanana Swami to give some spiritual vibrations to the people and visitors in the city of Amsterdam during the birthday / holiday of the Queen of Holland. Every year the city is packed with people that want to party. And we were there also with almost 200 !!! devotees. Two big buses plus lots of other vans and cars came from Radhadesh to join the fun and commence the spiritual harinam procession.

Amsterdam was already trying to enjoy the material pleasures early in the morning as we moved through amsterdam in our big procession. We visited all the main streets of amsterdam and danced and sang like crazies. We were THE attraction of the Amsterdam Queensday. Nobody was having such a big group that performed so well and choreographed. Sacinandana Swami also graced the procession with his presence and he was struck with awe from the party sight  of Amsterdam. He said that by doing Harinam you cannot go wrong. It was a lovely thought. 

After the first part of the procession that began at 10:00 and lasted till 16:00, we took a break at the temple campsite that was set up in the middle of the party centre of Amsterdam. Everybody was thirsty and hungry from the 6 hours dancing. At the campsite the very professional and really funny music group from the UK leaded by Parasurama prabhu was stealing the show. Can you image a "bakfiets" (dutch word for a bike with an attached hatchet" with a whole drumkit on it PLUS a huge guy playing the drums? And on the bike was Parasurama playing his little guitar with a big amplifier on his back? And jumping around was a bass player strumming the chords on his bass? I could also not picture it, but they were there. It was amazing. They really fitted in the party atmosphere of Amsterdam. I sincerely hope they will join us again next year.

After 17 o clock the second part of the harinam began. Parasurama and his crazy bakfiets was tagging along and with his huge soundsystem we were heard everywhere. We dove into the well known Vondelpark and entertained the park visitors. Every year the park is reserved to children activities during Queensday and after that was finished we arrived there and gave all our last energy that we had. We had to hurry a bit because the buses back to Radhadesh were about the leave and we still were quite some distance from the temple. So Maharaja walked in front and guided us quickly back home, back to bushead. ;-)

Around 19:15 the buses arrived at the temple and the visiting devotees disappeared again in the bus and back to Radhadesh. Saying goodbye was a struggle because, how do you say personally goodbye to at least 150 devotees ??? When the buses left for Radhadesh we all chilled out and let our feet get a well deserved rest. Amsterdam plummeted itself in the late hours party when i biked home again.  All was well, we saved at least some people with our spiritual vibrations.

So what is your plan for 30 april 2011 ????

See a nice slideshow of this event