Unlimited Fruits

People were living in a desert…well of course not in a desert - they lived in an oasis because you can’t live in a desert. They lived in an oasis. This oasis was the oasis of sense gratification and some enjoyment, but it was limited. It wasn’t fully satisfying.

A stranger came and spoke about the green land with unlimited fruits and rivers! And he brought some samples. That stranger convinced people to embark on a journey. Because if you want to go from the oasis of sense gratification to that green land than you have to travel to the desert. And at first you have to give up your sense gratification and go to the dry desert where the hot sun of lust is burning on your head! And its dry and not much….not much due, and it’s a long dry stretch.. until you finally get to another oasis. The second oasis is the oasis in the mode of goodness. That is where you begin to enjoy the spiritual life.

In the first oasis of sense gratification, we enjoy the material life. In the second oasis, we enjoy the spiritual life, and in the mode of goodness, but not good enough. Then still we have to go out and take austerity to give Krishna Consciousness to others. Then we gradually reach to the other side. So that dry stretch in our spiritual life can be overcome if we begin to follow our taste, and then whatever we gain – share that with others. If we don’t share it, than whatever we gain will again dry up! So again it will become dry!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami October 2010)

Govardhana Parikrama - Few Words By Maharaja

Kadamba Kanana Swami 29th October 2010:
"Early in the morning we left for Govardhan through dark bumpy back roads and started our Parikrama of Giriraja at Radha Kunda. Govardhana Parikrama is certainly a Yajna, an ecstatic one though!
We slotted into a steady pace and all along we were chanting the Holy Name whilst walking sometimes through soft Vrndavana sands and at other times the sharp rocks and thorns were blessing our feet!

Touched by Magic

Nothing is casual in Vrindavan. Everything is touched by magic. Because even the trees… the trees are waiting…waiting for Krsna. It is said that the kadamba trees are loaded up with flowers! Or fruit. The branches are so heavy that the trees are bowing down and in this way offering obeisances to Krsna.

It is described that Govardhana Hill is offering so many nice arrangements for Krsna! It is said that Govardhana Hill is always worshiping Krsna. And that there are beautiful campaka trees on the below of Govardhana Hill. And the trees are moving in the wind. As the trees are moving in the wind - they with their branches they are offering Aarti to Krsna.


(Kadamba Kanana Swami October 2010)

beyond what we can perceive

When we are here in the Holy Dham we can not perceive… there is a mystical aspect to Krishna’s mercy which goes beyond what we can perceive;
One example is Arjuna - Arjuna at the end of the battle of Kuruksetra was asked by Krishna to take his bow Gandhiva and get down from the chariot - and just as he got down from the chariot, right in front of his eyes the chariot caught on fire!
Arjuna was shocked: ‘The invincible chariot, the chariot I got from Agni - how can this chariot burn…Krishna!
Krishna , how can this chariot burn, this is impossible!
This chariot, how can it be consumed by fire, it has even survived brahmastras! Even brahmastras couldn’t touch this chariot and now it’s burning by fire, how can this be?!
How can it be?!”
Krishna said: ‘Oh my Dear Arjuna, throughout the battlefield of Kuruksetra all this time I was protecting this chariot.
It was not by the strength of the chariot that it didn’t burn.
It was by my protection”
Arjuna never knew that and all along there was Krishna ‘s protection - so undoubtedly there is Krishna’s mercy beyond what we can see!


(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27th October 2010, Vrndavana)

Vow to Fast?

Devotee’s question: You mentioned Dhruva Maharaja stopped eating, drinking and breathing - is it possible for us to take vows and if it is needed how much is needed?

Kadamba Kanana Swami: Yes there are vows in devotional service that one can take and such vows are being observed by Acharyas. On Ekadasis they were following quite strictly. It is said for example Srinivas Acharya
would sit with a group of devotees on Ekadasis and they would chant all day and all night non stop and they would tie there shikas with strings to the ceilings!

So one can take such vows. But the greatest vow is the vow to ‘Distribute Mercy’

So greater than fasting is somehow or other distributing the mercy everywhere – so that is
our focus. So if the fasting reinforces our ability to give out the mercy then it is alright but if the fasting diminishes that ability then:
“Eat and Eat and Eat!”

But if eating begins to diminsh our ability to distribute the mercy then:
“Fast and Fast and Fast!”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27th October 2010, Vrndavana)

Mercy to see Mercy!

Mercy of Krishna is available in so many ways, there is a tree with many many fruits and some fruits are hanging on the lower branches and are within our reach and we can actually by standing on our toes and stretching we can go for it and grab them.

In this way the transformation and the change of our heart is not just a matter of being a part of this movement of just somehow or other following the basic process-

yes we maybe be following the basic process, four regulative principles , sixteen rounds and devotional service and all blessings will come, but all of the blessings that will come are that we will:
become more aware of where the mercy is.

We become more aware and we begin to see that our eyes will be opened and part of that awareness is that we begin to realise that: “I have to go after it”
“ I will have to go after it and if I don’t go after it I cannot expect that it will just come”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27th October 2010, Vrndavana)

Staying in the Starting Blocks

We stay in the starting blocks, thinking:
‘I’m just getting ready - soon. Soon I’m going to do something serious, I’m getting ready for it”
But if we don’t start, it may never happen.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27th October 2010, Vrndavana)

Make That Commitment

Kadamba Kanana Swami gave an ecstatic talk this morning at Vrndavana and in the talk Maharaja inspired the devotees and gave everyone confidence to do something extraordinary for Krishna. Below are a couple of excerpts from the talk and more will be on the blog soon!

Kadamba Kanana Swami:
Here we find a description of Maharaja Uttanapada, who was extremely exalted, extremely pious and yet inspite of all his good qualities became excessively attached by enjoyment and paticularly favoured his younger beautiful queen - The result was that when she was behaving inappropriately in relationship to Dhruva (Dhruva wanted to join his brother who was seated on the lap of the King ,then Dhruva was denied by his stepmother and the king at that time didn’t object – afraid to lose the favour of his younger queen) -
So this is the nature of a man who has become controlled by the desires of material enjoyment. One should avoid it and avoid association of such man - If such qualities are within us we should rise above – we should put the interest of Krishna before any other interest...


We may have our material desires - material desires are so intricate and so deep and so subtle and others are gross. So these material desires are so strong that they may be present in a devotee even at very advanced stages of devotional service. But whatever may be - one must take a a vow to commit himself to the higher path of prescribed duty - devotional service.

So we are preparing and we have to make that commitment, commitment to the Lotus feet of the Spiritual master whose committed to pure devotional service to Krishna, and in that way we place devotional service before anything!

There is an interesting verse it says : “ Whether you have material desires or whether you don’t have material desires you should engage full force in pure devotional service”
So one might wonder how can one engage in pure devotional service if one has material desires; ‘Isn’t it that for pure devotional service one has to be free from material desires?”
– so what is meant by this?


It is meant that even if one is still under the influence of material desire that he should make a commitment to unflinchingly engage in the pure process of devotional service – it is devotional service that is pure. The purity is referring to devotional service – not that the devotee may be pure but is situated in pure devotional service and thus is protected from the lower nature.

Human nature is there and is used in the process of bhakti, human nature is not denied – that would be impersonalism, that would diminish our service because the Lord has empowered every devotee with particular talents and therefore they are to be used in the service of the Lord.
It is said that one should simply engage things in connection to the Supreme Lord – so we are not trying to supress our natures but express them within the culture of bhakti and in that way there is ample room and ample protection - therefore even if there are material desires, even within bhakti - if there are the ways to enjoy the senses and it is always connected to Krishna – that way even the sense enjoyment become purified – for example by taking Krishna Prasadam - Krishna Prasadam is transcendental but if we are not transcendental we may not take it in a transcendental way:
“You may be more interested in Cream than in Krishna! …”

So in this way initially we may be attracted by cream and eventually we will be more attracted to Krishna than our cream! That is the nature of taking prasadam.
So devotional service is a natural process but we simply have to make commitments.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27th October 2010, Vrndavana)

Transcendental Touchstones

Such deep absorption first of all in one's own spiritual practises, and then the enlightening from others comes natural. Otherwise it becomes very difficult. Otherwise we look at it like: “But how am I going to preach?”

So our aim in chanting – chanting privately. Our aim in hearing privately, is that we can gain inspiration to become (Sanskrit) – to become transcendental touchstones! Who somehow or other give people some Krsna. There are different ways to do it. Some people distribute prasadam at work. I know some devotees who are doing that regularly:

“ Oh I’ve baked this for everyone at work”.

They never tell them that its prasadam! They just do it. So, that’s an incognito way of spreading Krishna Consciousness. So many ways. Inadvertently leaving some books around. Lying around – by distributing them. Somehow or other there are ways we could do something. That is what will finally free us from selfishness – because otherwise it is so difficult to cut this knot between Krsna’s enjoyment and our personal enjoyment. And that knot is in the heart of all of us. Irregardless of our ashram, we are all struggling with this knot between Krsna’s enjoyment and our own personal enjoyment. Let us put more emphasis on Krsna’s enjoyment – because that will bring us to the tipping point of where the balance will go in Krsna’s favour!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami 26th September 2010)

Pics from Sydney, Australia!

...and the last batch of pics from Kadamba Kanana Maharaja's visit in Sydney, Australia

Vaikuntha Palace

Sadhana Retreat

Harinama with Deities

Initiation

Spiritual life- the focus

If we simply put spiritual life in the forefront then everything else will fall into place...
(KKSwami, September 2010, Pretoria, SA)

“ I will Not Accept Your Krsna As God!”

Such a vaisnava, may not have the top most love of God, but such a vaisnava says, “ For me in my life - Krsna first”. And such a vaisnava has great faith, and therefore, he can give faith. He can give it to people with no faith.

“How do you know that Krsna is God? I mean what’s the proof ?…Did you see him? And how do you know that even when you saw him, that you didn’t need some medical attention?”(laughter)

Like that…but all such questions – they melt like the snow melts in the sun. They melt in front of a devotee with firm faith. In the beginning all kinds of arguments:

“But how is it possible? But how can we be sure? What is your proof? No no…I will not accept your Krsna as God. How can I accept him? What is your proof?”


“Bhagavad Gita is my proof”.

“I’m not accepting your Bhagavad Gita! Why should I accept your Bhagavad Gita?”

“You should accept the Bhagavad Gita, because the Bhagavad Gita is very nice; Because the Bhagavad Gita can answer all your questions. The Bhagavad Gita you should accept, because it can free you from all the anxieties that you’ve had…for so many years; Because the Bhagavad Gita immediately makes you free from all anxieties; Because sometimes the Gita is called the Gita Upanisad. It is said that the first thing that this Gita Upanisad is teaching you, is that you are not the body. The second thing it is teaching you is that you are actually the spirit - Brahman. And then it’s teaching(Sanskrit) …the goal is to serve Krsna with love and devotion. And when you try that then you will find that Krsna is Bhagavan. Bhagavan the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You will find that God is not just an all pervading energy".


(Kadamba Kanana Swami 2nd September 2010)

Kartika Meditations 2

My vow for Kartika
So Kartika is the time to tighten up the loose screws of all the loose ends and to bring it back to the real standard. Kartika! This is our chance- one month! Only one month- of course after that month it becomes a habit! Habits are like that; that if you do something for one month then it’s easy to keep on doing it. So in this way we can take so much advantage- simple things. I thought my main objective is meditation in this month, to increase my remembrance of Krsna and to increase my service both in quantity and quality. And I thought especially I’ll focus on quality because quantity is not so easy. Already there is so much to do in a day, already such a hectic life, how much more can I physically manage? And I don’t want Kartika to become a total stress situation where I’m just doing these very intense vows, the kind of vows that drive me to the edge and that at the end of the month- if I make it till the end- I just hate Kartika and may be even Krsna! Not that, not that. So, no, I will not make it a month full of stress. Therefore I thought, no, this year I will not do something huge, I will not take one really big vow, I thought that I have a different strategy- I’ll take many little one’s! And also Krsna gave me some idea about chanting. I thought I’m going to chant extra rounds but I’m not going to fix it that every day I must chant so many extra rounds but I’ll just fix a number for the whole month and then I can adjust you know. Like, I’ll have my busy days and I’ll chant less and on days that I have the opportunity I’ll chant more and in this way it averages out. And in this way I’ll survive and I’m still chanting extra rounds. I thought it was a good idea! Really!

And then I thought, many small things…Yes, I’ll read something; I thought every night I will read 5 minutes something about Krsna, Krsna book- 5 minutes about Krsna a night. That’s nice. It’s not a big ‘wow wow’- big Kartika vow. But it’s one of those things that you know is nice but that you just get slack in these kind of things. You know that it is a nice thing to do, but you know…it’s just one thing that you don’t do! But I said, no in this month of Kartik I will do. So many such things…I will not tell you everything that I’m going to do but I told you this much just to kind of inspire everyone of how we can do something. It’s still early enough; after this lecture you can quickly jot down a few things that you’re going to do this month. Just a few things, like that. And if we do that, if we really do it…that’s the thing, you must do it. Don’t say, ‘I will do it’ and then don’t do it- do it, do it for that month! So such a change, you’ll be surprised! You’ll surprise yourself! Really! You’ll find that your Krsna consciousness would have so much increased just from one month like this practising in the month of Kartika.

Full transcsript

(KKSwami, October 2009, Durban, SA)

Question and Answer Session in Pretoria, South Africa 2010

There was a rush of questions asked after Maharaja finished the talk on:
'Heavy Karma in this material World'
The lecture was based on a cutting verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam and the verse explains heavy karma and problems in material relationships such as hate and revenge.
Below is the Srimad Bhagavatam verse and below that are the questions that were asked after the talk. Click read more to read the answers from Kadamba Kanana Swami.
Also, stay tuned ,the whole talk will be on the blog soon!


SB 9.19.9: Being very sorry, the he-goat, who was subservient to his wife, followed the she-goat on the road and tried his best to flatter her, but he could not pacify her.

SB 9.19.10: The she-goat went to the residence of a brāhmaṇa who was the maintainer of another she-goat, and that brāhmaṇa angrily cut off the he-goat's dangling testicles. But at the he-goat's request, the brāhmaṇa later rejoined them by the power of mystic yoga.


How to avoid karma and suffering?

What about motivational chanting?


Karma that comes after many years of chanting, is it material karma?

Why is there karma being taken on when feet are touched?

Do you need to be punished even if you have already learned your lesson?

Does the spiritual master at initiation also take a vow, to deliver the disciple no matter what?
...

Personal Attendent

In the Nectar of Devotion, it is mentioned that all service is based on principle of dasyam- the service attitude.
Dasyam can be divided into two types of servitorships; the one that is the general type of servitorship and the other is the mood of personal attendant.
If we serve Krsna in the general way then we think:
“Well, whatever is allowed in devotional service I will do that“
But the personal attendant says: ‘No! We can offer Krsna milk, water, lemon juice,.. but what is appropriate right now?“
According to the time of day, according to the season, according to the situation, different offering is appropriate. Personal attendant is always thinking what is Krsna’s need. He is not thinking just what is he allowed to do for Krsna.

We can just say:
“ Well, let's read the label! Is it bonifide?“

“Yes, it is bonified“
“Ok, let's have it!“

That is one approach...

The other approach is “Yes, but has it been cooked with love and devotion. Otherwise, has Krsna really accepted it?“

Krsna is not a machine. You just put everything that is vegetarian in front of Krsna, ring the bell:
“Ding, Ding“ ,
then come back in few minutes, clap your hands and there it is!!
No! We must become the personal attendants of Krsna . That is what is needed.

Transcribed by Savitri Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne 2009)

Being a Master of The Holy Name

In the chanting of Hare Krsna, there is no question of being a master.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that He was never the master of the Holy Name or the master in chanting the Holy Name, but rather He was always the servant of the Holy Name.
So it is not possible to master the art of chanting and to become expert in chanting the Holy Name.
There is no question that anyone is ever expert in chanting the Holy Name- it doesn’t arise. One can simply realize before the Holy Name that:
One is helpless,
One is incapable to properly make the offering of chanting,
One simply depends on the mercy of the Name.
Only in that mood of dependence.
Srila Prabhupada said depending like a child calling out to his mother, in that mood of dependence it is possible to actually chant the Holy Name.
So there’s no question of being a master of the Holy Name.
Thus humility and successful chanting are hand in hand.
Thus Lord Caitanya’s movement is depending on this principle of humility and we see it being emphasized throughout.

Transcribed by Savitri Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Germany 2009)

Riding on ecstasy

When we're in the middle of an ecstatic festival, who thinks of the four regulative principles?!
You just think:
"This is ecstasy!"
"This is amazing!" "This is a wonderful feast!"

Who's thinking like, "I'm not allowed to smoke, or drink, or even take coffee or tea!"

Nobody in the middle of an ecstatic event is thinking like that!!!
We're riding on ecstasy! So enthusiasm is what carries us!

Transcribed by Frederick Prabhu
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Sydney 2003)

Don't remain a crow!

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Pretoria, South Africa 2010)

Be generous to Krishna, give time, give our energy, give our intelligence, give our wealth, give our words to Krishna and chant.
It is simple as that and then everything will come, everything!
Prabhupada said: 'This movement turns crows into swans' ...

We Cannot Stop!

Once we’ve become attracted to Krsna. Then we begin to serve him. Then we taste the Krsna prasādam – and we cannot stop anymore. Once we have a taste for Kirtan – we have to do it again…and again….and just one more time. We just cannot stop! (Sanskrit) Krsna is irresistible - we have to worship him! Once you've tasted prasādam …other things are not the same anymore. A pizza with just a lot of cheese and a lot of olives and a lot of tomatoes is ok. But if it is not prasādam, then it’s not the same.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami 2nd September 2010)

Hare Krishna Souvenirs

Transcribed by Savitri Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Capetown, September 2010)

Srila Prabhupada, he once ordered his disciple Dhananjaya, one of his early intimate disciples, who was a householder - Srila Prabhupada liked him.
Dhananjaya was Scottish and Dhananjaya knew a lot about British history and Prabhupada also knew a lot about British history and they had these big exchanges about British history and there was really a lot of intimacy there. Dhananjaya is a treasure house of information about Srila Prabhupada so he said that: ‘Once in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada wanted him to do some business because he was a householder and he had to maintain a family.
So Prabhupada said, “Why don’t you start a business? You give an order here in Vrndavana for 50 sets of Deities of Gaura Nitai and these Deities, you export them to the West and give them to the book distributors.
The book distributors can take these Deities of Gaura Nitai and they can give them to people and they can just say to people who are a little interested, along with the book that they can take a set of the Deities - And we can explain that ‘these are just the Hare Krsna souvenir dolls!’”

Australia visit!

More pics from Australia, October 2010 visit! If you cannot view slideshow please click on the links below...

Krsna Fest

Interview and Seminar

Home Programs

Melbourne to Sydney

Ecstatic Symptoms

The story of the gunda named Govardhan, who went to the Bhagavatam lecture and he heard descriptions about how opulently Krsna was dressed with many jewels. He was very attracted to Krsna - especially, to Krsna’s jewels. So, he asked the speaker of the Bhagavatam:

“Where is this Krsna?”

And he got the answer: “Oh he stays in Vrindavan”.

So anyway, this criminal went looking for Krsna, and eventually found Krsna. And when he saws those jewels – he could hardly control himself! He had ecstatic symptoms – so many jewels!

He went to Krsna and he said: “Can you give me some of those jewels?”

Krsna said: “ Oh no, I’ll get into trouble with Mother Yasoda”.

But this decoy wouldn’t listen and he just started taking them and Krsna just let him. And at the end he had taken all of Krsna’s jewels! But he had been looking carefully to see where all those jewels were. In this way he had a very close darshan of Krsna. He checked out Krsna’s entire body to make sure that he didn’t miss one jewel. And when he had all the jewels, he had become so much attracted by Krsna that suddenly he said to Krsna:

“You know I have all your jewels here. Would it be alright if I dressed you with all these jewels?”(laughter).

And Krsna said: “Yes, of course”.

Then he dressed Krsna very nicely and decorated him with all his jewels. And in that evening when Krsna came home, Mother Yasoda said:

“But I didn’t decorate you like that.” (laughter)

(Sanskrit) Krsna is irresistible – you have to worship him! You cannot escape it. There’s always those who want to escape it. When the Harinama party comes to the street – they cover their ears (laughter). But that doesn’t help. We chant too loud. The name of Krsna will enter into their ears – and whether they want it or not.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami 2nd September 2010)

A vaisnava with a heart...

A vaisnava has to be someone with a heart. Not just someone who chants so many rounds or someone who chants so many slokas or one who is getting up really early when the whole world still sleeps- that's wonderful- but if that person, despite all these wonderful things doesn't have a heart, then he's not a complete vaisnava because a vaisnava has a heart. Well, I want to become like that. It's not so easy; it's something I strive for. It's not just automatic. And I want to share it with you so that you could maybe also say, 'yes, let us do that, let us try and brace this mood of vaisnavas...'

(KKSwami, 11 Sep 2010, Newcastle, SA)

The Result was Noticeable!

One year I was in Mayapur, and there was a one man, in his 60’s and he was dressed like Salvador Dali (laughter)
Same little beard and berie and everything. So he looked like a painter. Later on I found out that he was. We saw that he was chanting all the time. Some days I would get up early and I would be in the temple quite early, long before Mangal Aarti, and he was already there chanting! After Mangal Aarti he was chanting, and after the morning program he was chanting. You would see him in every aarti. Everyday there are 7 aartis that are offered to the deities in the temple. He was there in all the aartis the whole day, and in between he was just chanting! In the temple he was just chanting and chanting in the temple. So, I was watching him for a few days, and I was thinking:

“Who is this guy? ……Who is this?… Who can chant like this?”

So, I went to him and I said:

“Are you a demigod?” (laughter)

He said:

“Maybe” (laughter)

And it just remained a mystery! I was wondering:

“Where is he getting his strength? Where is he getting the strength to chant so many rounds?”

I was wondering. One day he finally told me the story. He said:

“ I saw that old man, and I saw him with his followers. And I knew that they were dangerous! So I kept a distance from them”.
But, we could see that even at a distance, Prabhupada entered into his heart! Because when he saw how much Srila Prabhupada worshiped Krsna – then he developed faith! And the result was noticeable. I mean he was chanting for the whole day from morning till night. Inconceivable, but possible by the mercy of the devotee. So, by the mercy of the devotee of Krsna, we can very quickly develop a taste to worship Krsna.





(Kadamba Kanana Swami 2nd September 2010)

We are lazy...

It is described how in spiritual life that everything is there; the desire trees of bhakti are producing unlimited fruits but there is only one thing- we have to pick the fruits! The mind feels, 'phew! So much work, so much work! It is too difficult, it is so high and even the lower branches...I have to stretch...' So laziness is a problem that we are experiencing in our spiritual practices. It is not that spiritual life is so difficult but it is that we are so lazy! When we are lazy everything is difficult- 'do I really have to move my leg and get up from the bed? It's so difficult! It's soooo heavy!' So we tend to make spiritual life in our mind more diificult than it is. But actually it's easy...

(KKSwami, 10 October 2010, Melbourne, Australia)

Kartika Meditation

When we offer a lamp to the deities we try to lock the deities in our heart. We follow the shape of the deity as we are waving our lamp and we are trying to lock the deity into our heart. As we are waving the lamp we are seeing the form, we are seeing the form, we are contemplating on the form of the deity and we pray that that form may be burned into our consciousness. That is our desire … because that will be our saving grace. All these activities will prevent us from becoming so distracted.

.

Kadamba Kanana Swami

9th October 2010, Melbourne, Australia

KKS in Syndey, Australia!

Kadamba Kanana Maharaja is currently in Sydney, Australia. Here is an inspiring report from last night's program:








Kadamba Kanana Swami exposes the power of chanting Sacred Mantra in our daily lives


October 13, 2010


By Antony brennan for Brihadmrdanga.com:

Last night, October 13th, 2010, H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami Maharaj appeared at Govindas in Sydney, Australia. On the menu was sacred chanting, and we took as much as was possible. At the end the sweat was beading on our smiling faces.

Kadamba Kanana Swami lead a soulful Kirtan with the chant OM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, and Govinda Jaya Jaya, Gopala Jaya Jaya, Radha Ramana Hari, Govinda Jaya Jaya. The room was in ecstasy meditating on the sounds of these divine words.

Maharaj then gave a talk about sacred space and how the environment has a significant impact on our minds and body. We should create a sacred space in our minds each day by chanting divine mantras, such as those we had just been using. He also dissected the meaning of the mantra Om Namho Bhagavate Vasudevaya in a number of ways, each inspiring us to take up chanting in our daily lives.
We heard that the chanting of sacred mantra can purify us as well as the environment in which we chant. We should chant in the morning as this will percolate throughout our activities for the whole day.

 

Kadamba Kanana Swami told us prior to coming to Krishna he was into rock music. He then proceeded to rock the room with the Mahamantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.We could not prevent ourselves from chanting with our minds and mouths and dancing with our bodies. A wonderful time was had by all!

my maya is more powerful than Krishna

We can be sadhus, we can be.

Don’t think:
'Oh! I cannot be a sadhu, I know myself'

This is false- we are fooling ourselves, this is not a fact.
We simply take shelter of Krishna and we can change.

'I cannot change'
'Yes we can.'
If you say:
'I know myself, I know myself and I cannot change.'

Then you are basically saying that:

"My maya is more powerful than Krishna"

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Pretoria, South Africa 2010)

Practice Makes Perfect

We have to practise then we can do so many things. That’s how it is: ‘What cannot be done in the beginning can be done later on.’
Sometimes sanyassa is compared to walking on a tight rope in the circus! At the top of the circus one is walking on the tight rope and there is no net.
“No net, can you do it?!”
Not just like that, it’s not the matter that:
“Hey can you do it?”
“Yes I can do it”
Practise, you first start on a low court 30cms above the ground and then you jump off and on- but after a while you got it and then it goes higher and higher until you can do it. So spiritual life is like that: What is so difficult now, will be easy tomorrow. It will be easy tomorrow so we fight our fight today and then we can fight bigger fights tomorrow.
That is the nature of devotional service and each service is preparation for the next bigger service.

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Pretoria, South Africa 2010)

Lord Chaitanya Dancing At Snana Yatra

Transcribed by Frederick Prabhu
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Sydney 2003)

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was dancing during Ratha Yatra and everyone had come to Puri to see the dancing of the Lord. Before Ratha Yatra, as we know, there is Snana Yatra. It is two weeks before and He comes out again at Ratha Yatra, and they paint Him meanwhile and things like this.

So, in Jagannatha Puri every year, Snana Yatra was going on, at the time of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also. At that time, the king was Maharaja Prataparudra.
Maharaja Prataparudra, he had, like kings used to have, a number of queens, queens that would used to sit during the Snana Yatra, the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha, in special viewing galleries. They're nice, they're royal galleries and everyone would sit there, and all the queens and etc.. would have a close up look...

Leaking Enthusiasm- Pump It Up, Pump it Up

Transcribed by Yamuna Devi Dasi
Kadamba Kanana Swami: I want to speak about the slow leaking car tyre of our enthusiasm in Krsna consciousness:

“How are you, Prabhu?”
” Totally burned out, I haven’t read for days.”
“Quick, quick bring a book - How do you feel now?”
“I already feel a lot better.”
“ Read more, read more.”
“ Yes, yes, I feel ok. Yes, yes I think I am ready again, yes!”

Impossible To Not Be Enthusiastic

I know someone; he never takes prasadam with the devotees. In fact some people wonder:
"does he eat?"
Right? One of those devotees. Somebody who everyone questions:
"Does he actually ever eat?”
“Has anybody ever seen him eating?"
Nobody had ever seen him eating. So the rumour goes that he doesn't eat.
But then two weeks ago, I happened to be in that temple and then I saw him walking with a bucket.
He had a bucket; plastic bucket, just walking with this bucket and then, somehow or other, he had to give me something… and I had a peek in the bucket.
On the bottom of the bucket, there was a whole big plate of maha-prasadam!
I caught him! I caught him, after all this time!
Taking prasadam after all and not admitting it - he's an addict like all of us, right?!
Acting as if he's totally oblivious, smuggling it into his room and whoofing the plate of maha-prasadam!
It's impossible to not become enthusiastic about prasadam!
Impossible to not be enthusiastic in Krsna consciousness!
Everyone becomes enthusiastic in Krsna consciousness, sooner or later!
So, this is what it's all about, and this is actually what Krsna consciousness is: Enthusiasm!

Transcribed by Frederick Prabhu
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Sydney 2003)

1008 excuses that we tell our mind

We are allowing our mind to produce all kind of excuses and that is the problem - so last night our Aatish brought up the point about there being many reasons why one cannot just surrender in Krishna Consciousness

And I said:
‘Why don’t you write a book with 1008 excuses for not being able to surrender!”

Everyone has 1008 excuses that we tell our own mind - We allow ourselves not just excuses to others but excuses to ourselves to justify it:
“I can’t do it for this and these reasons”
“I couldn’t do it in the past so logically I can’t do it in the present”
No, bogus because devotional service changes our condition. Devotional service changes the subtle body- it changes it. So because devotional service changes the subtle body you cannot say:
‘my mind, oh my mind!’

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Pretoria, South Africa 2010)

More Than Just Eating Cake

We must take shelter of our spiritual master. That is important. We must take shelter again and again otherwise we have no strength. Without taking shelter we will not be able to succeed in spiritual life, we will struggle. We will not be able to maintain our vows, or we will not be able to take vows without taking shelter. It is like that; it is crucial, it is the cutting edge.
If one wants to be on the cutting edge, that’s the only way that it will work - otherwise Krsna consciousness cannot take us very far and then we become a social club:

‘and it’s Sunday again and it’s so nice to be here! And we had such a nice birthday party last week and guess what…we’re going to do it today! Yeahhhh! There were three birthdays this week and therefore we are so happy... may you never take birth again!’ ...

Okay and you can have your cake and eat it too, but, ‘may you never take birth again’, it’s nice to sing the song but how to do it? It’s not so easy never to take birth again. And a slip in between the cup and the lip and before you know, another birth again! Hmmm…
So to never take birth again is more than just eating cake! It is really a matter of making a commitment of being brave, being very brave and to go before someone and to say:

‘I am…yours!’ It’s a scary thing to do. Very scary to become someone’s property- completely whatever such person says one must do! That is the nature of this guru-disciple relationship.

Transcribed by Savitri Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, S Africa Durban, September 2010)

Tastes Like Nectar

It is said that everyday, Srimati Radharani would be requested by Mother Yasoda, to come and cook. Because she had once pleased the sage Dhurvasa Muni, and she had received the benediction, that whatever she cooked, would taste like nectar, and that whoever ate it, would never be plagued by any disease or any other discomfort.

So therefore, Mother Yasoda wanted that Srimati Radharani would come, and she sends a golden palanquin, and Radharani was carried like that while maidservants were fanning her on the way. In this way the opulence of Vrindavan was not just ordinary.


(Kadamba Kanana Swami 2nd September 2010)

Abode of the Holy Name: Part Three: Hooked on the Holy Name

Ragunatha Das Goswami was the abode of the holy name. Always there, the holy name was inseperable from him. Anytime, Ragunatha Das Goswami could be found with the holy name. Where is the holy name? Where is the holy name? Oh, just go find Ragunatha Das Goswami. Theres the holy name, the abode of the holy name. See what it means, it’s amazing. Just a simple little statement, the abode of the holy name. I was just thinking about it, so many thoughts came. Of course we cannot just become like that but we can try, we can try to always chant. Here, there, everywhere, inbetween, chant! Chant the holy name.

.

We remember that in Prabhupada Lilamrita on one occasion there was a bead bag hanging on the door knob and Prabhupada said, “Whose beads are crying?” They were beads of the GBC and they were hanging on the door knob and Prabhupada said, “Whose beads are crying?” Yes, our beads are meant to be around our neck. They are meant to be with us. Not just when we are chanting the sixteen rounds that we keep those beads with us. No, they are meant to be with us, as much as possible.

Kadamba Kanana Swami
October 6th 2010, Melbourne, Austrailia

Acceptance Is The Beginning Of Becoming Fearless

Transcribed by Yamuna Devi Dasi

Kadamba Kanana Swami:

Mood of acceptance is beginning of becoming fearless. But in the West we never accept anything! Yes, yes, we worship God but, you know we make sure that we are dry and high. We make sure that everything is perfectly arranged -that we are insured, that everything is as safe as possible.

And like that we are making so many arrangements.

So, this dependence of Supreme Lord must be there...

...We see that Srila Prabhupada was saying that in His childhood there was cholera epidemic and people were dying like flies. And that solution to the whole thing was Harinam.

And when they every day had a lot of Harinam then the epidemic subsided!

So that was a totally different approach then Western approach.

And that is really what I’m talking about, the approach of the depending to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and take shelter of Him, and to see Him as main source of our protection.

That’s very different from the Western approach.

We are simply taking shelter of devotional service and then everything will be taking care of.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, August 2010, Finland)

Don't Give Up!

Transcribed by Frederick Prabhu
Kadamba Kanana Swami:

Prabhupada often uses the example of the glass of water which had a drop of ink inside and just keep on pouring water and eventually it will become clear - just pour more and more water and the ink will wash out and at one point you have clear water. So in that way we just keep on adding Krishna’s mercy to our life in whatever way we can get it - and gradually it will become pure -but we must take it. You cannot say that:

‘I cannot chant’
No, that will not do - we must chant because that’s where the mercy is.
You cannot say: ‘Oh! I can not follow, I can not follow.’
No, you must try to follow. Can not stop trying - There is no such thing as to stop trying ,even if in the past we were not successful that doesn’t mean in the present we cannot be successful, you see.

That is the thing, but the mind, the mind tricks us and says:
'Oh! I failed in the past so therefore I cannot do it.'
That’s not the fact, we failed once, that’s not a problem
It’s just like if I have to throw a ball in a hole at a distance, ok.. ‘10times wrong and 11 times bang! Done it!’

It’s not that it cannot be done just because 10 times it didn’t … I mean that game is called golf! That’s what it is all about getting the ball in the hole and you miss many times and eventually you get it in!
Done, so in the same way in devotional service Prabhupada said ‘Failure is the pillar of success’ which means don’t give up!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2010, Pretoria)