When I showed Kadamba Kanana Swami this transcript from this year's Janmastami talk, Maharaja wanted to add some extra words for the reader. Below is the transcript and below that is the extra words Maharaja has added on.The pictures in the post are the latest pics from Melbourne, Australia. We arrived at Melbourne yesterday (October 3rd) at 6.30 am after 22hours of travelling on the plane. Straightaway the devotees picked us up and before I could even unpack my bags, Kadamba Kanana Swami freshened up, greeted the devotees, sang ecstatic kirtan and began to give a talk on the importance of good japa.
Then Kadamba Kanana Swami went for a Japa walk with a couple of devotees along the beach and encouraged the devotees to be more fixed in their services. After coming back to the temple Maharaja then gave the Sunday Feast Lecture!
After all that, Maharaja spent time discussing topics with the devotees and then, only then finally took rest!
stay tuned for latest transcripts from Mebourne and enjoy the pics!
Transcribed by Savitri Devi Dasi(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Initiation talk, Janmastami 2010, Croatia)
The spiritual master is our friend
It is said that the relationship with the spiritual master should be also be personal. He is not only the official representative of the parampara and of Krsna. He is not only the external
manifestation of Supersoul but he is also our friend. So, this friendship means, that here is someone we can trust. And that is important because then we can take shelter. Otherwise, we always smile and whenever the spiritual master comes and asks:“How are You?“
We'll say: “Everything is very nice, very nice...“
But the truth of the matter is that we are struggling. The truth of the matter is that it is not easy. Because it takes endeavour to become a pure devotee. And therefore we must trust and we must take shelter. We must be honest, that is what is needed.
Kadamba Kanana Swami's extra words for the reader:
Below are some extra words that I added later when I saw this transcript which was made by Savitri from Sarajevo from the talk, that I gave at the time of her initiation.I never go to Sarajevo, because how many places can I go to? But there is an old
friend of mine there, Mahaprabhu dasa, who used to head up a preaching centre in the centre of Copenhagen, and I would do programs there from time to time. I have fond memories of those programs.These days Mahaprabhu is trying to develop a community
project- something like a spiritual village- for householder devotees in the Sarajevo area, which is his hometown. Savitri is playing a very, active role in developing this project.I like Savitri because she has a positive attitude, she has an inner strength, to keep on working on the good things, whether the situation is easy or difficult. She grew up during the war in Sarajevo, and saw many heavy situations, but she kept her positive outlook in life.
She works and chants Hare krsna and doesn't complain and in her free time she works hard with a lot of enthusiasm on the development of the new project. Sometimes she travelled thirty hours on the bus to come and see me.These are the kind of qualities in her, that purchase
me.A vaisnava is the friend of the living beings, so I am meditating on this and trying to be in that mood towards others, but friendship has still has other levels - namely that:
by our sincere endeavours in devotional service, we conquer the heart of the vaisnavas, then friendship becomes more meaningful day by day.
Your servant, Kadamba Kanana Swami
