The Six Enemies Of The Mind

Throughout the world in literature about religious topics, we are finding that people are being tested. Recently I was watching a movie about Islam, which was particularly a national geographic production. It showed the Hajj. The Hajj means the pilgrimage to Mecca. One of the details in Hajj is that they stay there for quite a number of days, and at one point they go into the desert and camp out there, and remember that God then ordered Abraham that he should sacrifice his son. Three times he was tested by the devil, and he had moments of doubt, and they are reliving that testing by the devil. Then Abraham threw stones at the devil, and he chased him away with the stones.

So they all go - a millions of pilgrims, - 2 millions at a time, or more and they have these stone columns and they throw stones. They really get into it, I mean they get wild in throwing – it’s quite an occasion, and these pillars are quite large and there is a large open area of ring around them to catch all the stones. I guess they keep on using the same stones. So these pillars are also quite high and there are now modern walkways on different levels – so that people can go on 3 levels all at once and throw stones, so that the crowds can really get into it by chasing away the devil 3 times.

So we also experience something like that. We have the six enemies of the mind: kāma, krodha, mada, moha, bhaya, mātsarya and – these attacks of lust, greed, anger, madness, illusion and envy – these are the six enemies which reappear again and again – and attack the mind! At a time like that, it is more difficult to experience everything as inspiring and ever fresh. When one is under attack, then one experiences a little difficulty - spiritual life at that time becomes a struggle.

So that maybe the case if one is still to some extent a conditioned soul. One cannot say a fully conditioned soul but still a little bit influenced by the material energy, and then that material energy comes in the forms of these six enemies – and that is the case. So that maybe there, but one still has a deeper philosophical level, and a devotee at least must live within the philosophy – he must firmly fix himself in that philosophical understanding, and time and time again remind oneself that:
“Actually there is no cause, no cause for lamentation, and actually everything is surcharged with the mercy of Krishna and therefore everything is full of positive meaning – everything is really part of a wonderful scheme and we are constantly seeing. We can constantly recognise how things are going on by the wonderful arrangement of Krishna!”


So it’s very important to see everything as Krishna’s arrangement, and to recognise not only philosophically but also to actually see in practical circumstances - Krishna’s hand – and that meditation is required to kind of try to see Krishna in the circumstances!




(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, January 2011)

Latest Pics from Berlin!!!

Hare Krishna Everyone, enjoy the latest pics from Berlin - in ten minutes we are going to the aiprport and going to Radhadesh. There will be a big Kirtana festival with Maharaja, Sacinandana Maharaja and Madhava Prabhu.
This is my last part of my 6 month journey with Maharaja. Do stay tuned, I will be releasing many videos of lectures and kirtans that have been recorded onto the Blog.

Adventures In Iran - (too good to miss!!)

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty 2010

We think that we are in control but at one point when it gets very difficult we have to accept whatever the Lord desires.

I was in Iran and we were driving in a bus …well my visa for India was finished - I went to Nepal and at that time Maha Vishnu Swami was the temple president of the Kathmandu temple and he said “We have this bus and it has to be driven to Europe, would you mind going in the bus?”
“Yes I could go, I have done it before, and I know the way. Okay I will be part of the crew.”
Then we were supposed to take some passengers, some young westerners and try to make them into devotees on the way - that was the plan so we did it.

So, when we were in Iran, it was time when the Government had changed, there was a revolutionary army and when we drove through, there was a man with a beard, military uniform and a machine gun standing at the side of the road and he said: “Stop!”
So we stopped, he got on the bus and said we are going to the revolutionary head quarters - we said “Yes sir.”
We came there, there was a huge crowd, all with black cloths and turbans and it looked very uncomfortable and our friend with the machine gun said: “Get off the bus!”

We looked at the machine gun, we looked at the crowd and decided to get off!
We got off the bus and then the people made a path way into an army barracks and as we walked pass the crowd, the people started to hit us on the back and we ran in the courtyard and the solders were waiting for us and they said, “Line up against the wall!”

There my Krishna consciousness was tested, there I was chanting very carefully because they were Muslims and I didn’t want to agitate them.
So, with the mouth sort of closed I chanted but at the same time I didn’t have full faith in the Holy Name because I was slowly, very slowly, but surely going behind my neighbour…. So, I was chanting and going for material security. So, I did not become free from fear for four hours and I was in anxiety.

I was not just relying on Krishna - but one has to simply at one point when one comes in such a situation say: ‘Okay Krishna it is up to you whatever you want, whether I live or die it doesn’t really matter because I know that you are Bhakta Vatsala that you are always protecting your devotees and therefore there is nothing to fear, I know that the destiny of a devotee is always auspicious and that therefore no anxiety no cause for any anxiety because at one point this body has to be given up but then, the destination of a devotees will be a better destination so why worry about giving up the body why make such a issue about it?”
That is the understanding. Because ultimately the fear of death is always emerging again and again. But a devotee must gradually rise above…..

Devotee: what happened in Iran, how you all were released?

Maharaja : Well! We were standing against the wall with the machine guns on us in the hot sun and sweating for several reasons. Then at on point the solders started to take some people out of the line and inside the room ….and then they came for me!
They brought me inside a room were there was a chair, a table and a bright light and I knew what was coming, so as the interrogation started I forgot all my English and I spoke fluent Dutch, “very Dutch from Holland no English!”
I was very Dutch so after a few minutes they said “He is Dutch and he is from Holland”

That was good because they thought we were American spies so being Dutch was helpful, so they didn’t interrogate me but they sent me back ….in the line in front of the machine guns!
There was this German with us and I don’t know why he did it but he ran out of the line towards the solders and kicked a football that was lying in the courtyard and I thought that was it and we are dead now! - but as you can see I survived it.
The soldiers they became totally confused and started screaming and then the officers came from the office and then a big discussion and finally the officers said: “Get out! okay you can go!”

So we got into the bus and we drove away to the west and we came to Tapirs which is the most western part of Iran and there we had two flat tyres and we had to go to a workshop to get it fixed and again big trouble with an angry crowd who wanted to throw stones - that’s what they do in middle east!
It got really bad but somehow or other a soldier came this time and he escorted us out and we got into Turkey early in the morning and we were washing our hands at the side of the street and suddenly all the people started to run in the street and I also started to run in the street!

Then we went into a side lane and we heard a machine gun and bullets were flying everywhere and it turned out that some deserters from the army were living in the mountains and they had come to plunder the city! Lots of fun!
So, that’s the last time I drove through Iran, Turkey and all those countries!
I would do it again if Krishna really would want me to go or if the senior Vaishnavas would want me to, - otherwise I so decided these days that instead of going over land I go by flight….

So, there is the thing that we are relying on Krishna but there is the thing that we are not unnecessarily looking for difficulties and go swimming across a river filled with piranhas or something like that - that’s not Krishna Consciousness.
Krishna Consciousness does not mean that we close your eyes and cross the street, so we must use our brains. So, ten o’clock has come and I think that’s an auspicious time to take a late breakfast, I myself I am hungry and I don’t know about you - we meet again later for the Sunday programme. Thank you very much. Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty 2010

Last Leipzig Pics for Now

After a two week writing retreat in Leipzig, Maharaja bids farewell to the Leipzig devotees and begins his travels throughout Europe

Try for an extraordinary day

So, many times we are speaking about pure devotional service and it feels so far away from our condition but for us it is our goal, a goal that we are meditating upon everyday. In the morning when we rise we meditate upon this goal and that we will try to do better than yesterday - and then time moves along and it is already nine 0’clock and we are realising that 'so far after all it was not an extra ordinary day, I didn’t chant that well. I didn’t do so great so far.'

It's Not too late yet! At nine in the morning, still ample opportunity to make it a special day! What we could do to make it a special day today? Some special effort in hearing, chanting or in a particular devotional service. Like this, one must try!

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty 2010

Surrendering to Krsna

Surrendering to Krishna means that Krishna has given many directions. Surrendering to Krishna doesn’t just mean: thinking of Krishna, remembering Krishna…. Krishna…. Krishna. Seeing someone with a flute and a peacock feather – and you think - Krishna. No it means Krishna in total - Krishna with the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna with the instructions, Krishna who tells you what to do and what not to do – that's the problem with Krishna – He’s not only sweet and playing the flute, but He tells you what to do and what not to do. That’s why people rather have an impersonal God, which would be much easier because he doesn’t give any instructions – but Krishna He tells you;

“Do this and don’t do that. You can offer this to me, but you cannot offer that to me!”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, January 2011)

What security is there ?

We have so many false shelters.
My family gives me protection, fallible solders what kind of protection can they give us?
My money will protect me - and then you get some economical crises or suddenly your bank has gone bankrupted and you lose your money or it has no more value.
Like that what security is there in this world?
No security. Simply our only security is Krishna.

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty 2010)

"Krishna, As You Like"

Devotee: Maharaja, you mentioned that a devotee has to depend on Krishna for his happiness and sadness but I have heard sometimes from devotees that: ‘we must use our intelligence to protect ourselves and not put ourselves in situations where Krishna has to come to save us.”

Maharaja: I didn’t say that we should leave it up to Krishna whether we are going to be happy or not and we just sit around and just don’t do anything. One must work as though the result depends on us. We must accordingly use our intelligence to do the best in the given circumstances to please Krishna. We must work for Krishna to the best of our ability but in the end the result depends on Krishna and not on us. You never know that which seems easy is difficult and sometimes an impossible thing just works and we surprise ourselves: ‘How did I do that? It worked’
I have that experience all the time. We know that we depend on Krishna specially when difficult material situations comes and we can no longer do anything and we have no alternative then at that time we simply pray to Krishna, leave it to Krishna.
One level is “please, please Krishna protect me, please”
and the other level is “okay, as you desire”
Draupadi, she let go of her saree ‘alright, Hey Govinda! okay as you like’
So, at one point it has to come to that: ‘As you like!’

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty 2010)

For The Pure Devotee – Every Step Is Joyful

For the pure devotee, every step is joyful, even if he or she has to be in the heaviest material circumstances - it’s still joyful for the pure devotee. A conditioned devotee comes with all sincerity and feels great joy to be in the temple, but then in dealing with the material energy – there are moments when one is confronted with something which is very and extremely difficult, and something one finds particularly very difficult, because one is not advanced yet – then sometimes one loses this feeling of joyfulness, and that is the stage of struggle in spiritual life.

So then there comes the element of sacrifice, and then when one makes such a sacrifice over a prolonged period of time – and there is within the sacrifice is a deeper joy, satisfaction, and there are moments of struggle, but if one struggles like that, then one will emerge fully joyful!




(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, January 2011)

Yesterday's Pics!

Yesterday We went for a long walk in the cold!!

Krishna will have His residence in our mind

If anyone who acts exclusively for the pleasure of Krishna then one is in Vrindavan - then one’s mind has becomes Vrindavan and Krishna naturally has His residence in Vrindavan and then Krishna will have His residence in our mind.

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty 2010)

My Dear Molecules!

After all we have no true relationship with the body. We are simply within this material body but it happens to be so that certain molecules are within our body.
Yesterday most likely we had some rice, dal, sabji, some chutney, some sweets and so many things went into our body and some will also leave. But something will stay within our body…. You know what I am saying? Something will become the building blocks of the structure that is our body and in this way some of the molecules that we have consumed yesterday have become part of the molecules - that is our body.
Yesterday these molecules were found somewhere in the market place in Mumbai far away from us and we drive passed so many of such types of molecules and we don’t care about them so much but as soon as they become part of our body, "Oh! Then they are my dear molecules, these are dear to me.” ...

Old Habits Die Hard

Old habits die hard and if our old habits have been to serve Krishna, then that old age will only work for us. If you have gone for mangal aarti your whole life then in your old age you can’t stop, you just carry on. In your old age you just do what you did your whole life.


Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty 2010)

This is a pic of Dadu Prabhu who served with Maharaja for many years in Vrndavana. he was very popular with the devotees and served Krishna with his body for over 90 years!

Prabhupada took over my life!

Transcribed by Bhakta Jan
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Vrindavana 2010)

I first came to this movement here in Vrindavana in 1978. I had come reading Prabhupada's Gita and I had become convinced and therefore I was in the Himalayas deciding to go down to Vrindavana to join.
I was very happy to come to this temple because it was so overwhelmingly spiritual and while seeing the Deities, I felt: "I am in the Spiritual World."
Krishna's presence was overwhelming. Then I became involved in service and it was in that service, that I made my connection with Prabhupada.
Very quickly I got involved in different types of management and looking after the temple - in doing so I realised: "The more I take responsibility to fulfil Prabhupada's desire, the stronger my connection will be." ...

Live by Krsna’s desire

Taking shelter of Krsna means more than just putting tilak and it means more than putting neck beads. Initiation means more than 16 rounds and 4 regulative principles. It means to obey the rules of Krsna, to live by Krsna’s desire.

The Spiritual Master is the representative of Krsna and part of initiation is that one must follow the order of the Spiritual Master and that order is absolute. The order of the Spiritual Master cannot be different from the desire of Krsna. He may translate it into time, place and circumstance but he is simply repeating whatever standard Krsna has set.

Be careful in your dealings

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty 2010)

This is a very gruesome situation where a pious brahamana couple engaged in the activities of garbhadhana samskara are becoming harassed by a rakshasha who goes as far as eating the brahamana just at the time in the middle of this samskara - an awkward time and the most cruel and gruesome act has been performed by this king.
Back tracking in the chapter we find that it is due to the fact that he had offended Vaishista and he was been cursed by him and therefore the king became a rakshasha. The curse of such a powerful sage is so great that an otherwise qualified person can become degraded. Therefore one must be careful in dealing with saintly persons...

Are you convinced!?

Conviction cannot be based on intellectual understanding. Are we convinced that Krsna consciousness is true?

Yes, I am because it makes sense. But that’s just the beginning and it is a lot more than that. It has to be experienced in the heart. It must be really felt that Krsna consciousness is the most wonderful thing. That’s living on the cutting edge and spiritual life is about living on the cutting edge! It cannot become routine because as soon as it does then we get into trouble. We start to dry up and feel the austerity and the weight of spiritual life – the weight of the promises and the strictness because we are practicing in the spirit of routine.

But each time we apply ourselves to service and give it our best, that’s when we are on the cutting edge.

Then spiritual life becomes magic when we are inspired. So one has to conquer Krsna!

Kadamba Kanana Swami

21 December 2010

Cape Town, South Africa

Lord Nrshimadeva: Personification of soft-heartedness

Lord Nrshimadeva is the personification of soft-heartedness. That is particularly the manifestation of the Lord of soft-heartedness because why did he become roaring mad?? Out of his deep affection for Prahlada... out of deep affection for his devotee. So actually the external thing is His anger but the real thing is His deep love for His devotee. For me that is an important point in my relationship with Nrshimadeva that He came due to soft-heartedness - because then one can go beyond the fearsome... nails like thunderbolts and teeth like thunderbolts!

Kadamba Kanana Swami

20 December 2010

Cape Town, South Africa

Become cultured

Srimad Bhagavadam 7.8.34

Elderly men are supposed to be wise because they have been faced with life. An elderly person in spiritual life has become familiar with the process of devotional service therefore knows what to do and what not to do. He has tried to do the right thing and has encountered human limitations and has found that it is not just a matter of decision. We know that it is a culture. The essence of our culture is that we are chanting Hare Krsna and trying to develop good qualities and trying to control the lower qualities.

We try to commit more to qualities like tolerance, humility, gratitude and service attitude. Humility is related to gratitude and service attitude. So we try to cultivate these good qualities and understand them better, while fighting with the lower nature. Sometimes the lower nature comes out and we are confronted with our own envy. We are envious of others... we are unduly acting negative towards a person. We have to actively control it by not acting in an envious way and act in the opposite way. This is all part of the culture of overcoming the lower qualities and we chant Hare Krsna. Through that culture we hope to bring about a change and one day become pure devotees.

Kadamba Kanana Swami

20 December 2010

Cape Town, South Africa

Force?

The Spiritual Master is the representative of Krsna.
As a representative what power do you really have?
Krsna has the real power. He is omniscient He is omnipotent, He is all knowing, He is all powerful, He can do anything - and then His representative, what can His representative do?
Only so much or so little - The representative in a way can only desire.
The one thing the Spiritual Master can not do is "force!"
But, "if only he could- he would- for sure!" (laughter)

If it’s possible to force people in to Krsna Consciousness, Oh boy, we will have a field day, but it’s not like that! - It’s a voluntary process. The Spiritual Master really only desire - only desire that his disciples somehow or other take advantage: 'Just take advantage of this very rare opportunity'
It is what Srila Prabhupad used to say: 'You had so many life times and so many life times you did what you want, now please give this to me! Just give me one life time! Just one!'

Transcribed by Yamuna Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh 2010)

Krishna never leaves us!

Of course in the beginning we can hardly preceive Krishna. Where is Krishna? We are in the material world, we are adding Krishna to our life and little by little some Krishna is there. And then we are again caught up in the pushings of the senses. Our senses are pushing, our bodies are requiring and we are responding. We are making the arrangements. But then still Krishna is there. Even if sometimes we become so overwhelmed by the material energy, Krishna is there. He doesn’t go away. And then, even if temporarly He goes into the backround afterwards He is back, again and again.

Transcribed by Bhakta Jan
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Amsterdam 2010)

He might even kiss you!

One can focus on the meeting and pastimes of Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan, and there are of course many scriptures describing these pastimes, but because these pastimes resemble the love affairs between male and female in this world, they are not recommended for those who are affected by lust. The exchanges between Radha and Krishna, or Krishna and the gopis, are of that nature. But there's no lust, it is all full, selfless dedication.
How can we understand that?
How can we even discuss it in too much detail publicly?
A little bit we understand that it is there; we cannot go too deep.

But sometimes, Prabhupada said surprising things. In Mayapur, there's this young girl in the early days, and Prabhupada said,
"So, are you attracted to Krishna?"
She said, "Yeah! Yeah!"
Prabhupada said, "Krishna is a young boy,"
he then said:
"He might even kiss you!"
He just said it like that! She went all red and everything!
But these things are very difficult to understand, Krishna's loving affairs. So one has to be pure from lust to really understand.

Transcribed by Bhakta Frederick
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm, Jhulana-yatra, August 2010)

Whole world will leave home?

Student: If everybody gives up the material world and becomes devotees then how will this world be continuing?

Maharaja: Thank you very much for asking this classic question.
It is very easy because the whole world will serve Krishna, because becoming a devotee of Krishna doesn’t mean that we spend the whole day praying and just ring bells in the temple and all are becoming pujaris like that - No, it doesn’t mean like that, that we light some incense and lamp. It doesn’t matter you can be a devotee and stay outside, you don’t have to leave your home, you can be at home, but no meat, fish or eggs, no gambling, no intoxication, and no illicit sex…. we must somehow or other avoid them, then you can stay at home, keep on working and be a devotee of Krishna.
A farmer can stay on his farm and grow vegetables and in this way we are not proposing that the whole world will leave home but we are proposing that the whole world will leave sinful activity and takes up the process of glorifying Krishna by chanting Hare Krishna. So, can you do that?
If you stay regularly with the devotees you will get the strength to do it. By regularly coming to this temple you will be able to practise Krishna Consciousness at home and why don’t you do that?
That would be good!

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami 2005)

Is the soul punished or the body of the soul?

Devotee : You were explaining at the time of death the Yamaduttas takes the soul to Yamaraja and on the way the animals he had killed bite him, but the soul doesn’t have a body, so how?

Maharaja: First of all let me explain that there is a gross body which we can see right now made up of earth, water, fire, air and either and then there is a subtle body made up of mind, intelligence and false ego. So at the time of death not only the soul leaves the body but the subtle body also goes with it. So we are in the body of mind, so those animals are biting the body made of mind and therefore we can feel the pain but we don’t die, but if they bite the body made of flesh and bones. How much biting can we tolerate?
But in the mental body we can be bitten and experience pain unlimitedly without dying and that’s actually what is happening. What I am describing is found in the fifth canto of the Srimad Bhagvatam.

Devotee : is it the soul that is punished or the body of the soul.

Maharaja: The punishment in the hellish planets is taking place in the subtle body made up of mind, intelligence and false ego - that body is not given up. The planets of Yamaraj, or the other planets where hellish punishments are going on are all within the universe. So, we are not going out of the material realm, but we simply are within the subtle body experiencing these things. Then when we are becoming purified from them, then we can again come up and get another body.

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi

(Kadamba Kanana Swami 2005)

New Message Today From Maharaja

Kadamba Kanana Swami wrote this message, 4pm today, 17th January 2010:

"In the mid eighties, once a week we would all get on a bus and would go for Hari Nama in Delhi and other neighbouring cities.
Here we are in Agra, we have walked in to the Taj Mahal and started a Kirtana!
The Taj Mahal is of course a muslim monument, and it was a sensitive thing to do, but I thought it would be all right considering that it is also an international tourist place, so I thought the presence of all these tourist would protect us.
We went up around the Taj chanting Hare Krsna!
The photo is taken just at the base of the building.
After about 15 minutes the security came to stop the Kirtan, we went back out in to the city and carried on chanting for a few more hours. It was fun!"

(Maharaja is second from our left)

To Really Penetrate With Krishna Consciousness

We should not just look for a comfortable spiritual life. Or look for where there is nectar and sort of follow the music. Or just always be there in all the parties, and think, “I want to be there at the feet of every Swami, and catch every little bit of nectar and every little bit of juice and in this way I’m really going to make it.”

One devotee said to Prabhupada:
“ Prabhupada, I always want to stay at your feet!”

Prabhupada said: ” That is going to be very difficult, because my feet are always moving “.

How can you always sit at Prabhupada’s feet? He’s going here and there and everywhere. So Prabhupada certainly wanted his disciples to not just sit at his feet - that was obviously what he meant. He wanted them to be mature and to take responsibility to understand what we are really doing here! That we are transforming the entire world! That our business is to really penetrate with Krishna Consciousness from all levels of society, transform society, and make Krishna Consciousness more and more prominent until it floods the entire world! And Prabhupada wanted his men and women to be concerned about that!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, January 2011)

Pics from London Visit 2011

The London visit was a full steam ahead, busy as ever, ecstatic couple of days. Right now Maharaja is in Leipzig writing, writing and more writing!!

Do Not Worry If Maharaja Has Not Emailed You!

Maharaja is on an intense writing retreat here in Leipzig for couple of weeks.
Maharaja wanted to let the devotees know that:
"This is the reason why your emails are not being answered"

H A R E K R I S H N A !!!

So called knowledge

So due to our ignorance we are now being slaughtered in the dentist chair voluntarily - we go there on our own and let them mutilate our body! - because we have sunk into deep dark ignorance and we don’t even know which herb can actually cure the tooth –and there we go with all our progress in knowledge.
So this whole path of trying to scientifically develop more and more knowledge, will not bring us any progress.
We get a little knowledge and we lose a little knowledge. Therefore we stay with Prabhupada’s mathematics:
5 + 5 is 10,
2 +2 is 4
and everything plus Krishna is Vrndavavan

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2010, Croatia)

why keep on doing this?

Spiritual life can actually offer us all satisfaction without a doubt otherwise why would I still be here after thirty years - my father is a rich man, my family has plenty of cash and I could go back saying I have changed my mind, enough of this Hare Krishna now. Why don’t you give me some opportunities in the family business? of course I have to prove myself for a little while that I am straight now, but then you know, I could have gone on with every enjoyment - Then why keep on doing this?
because there is a higher taste, one can do it for a while just for show biz for a couple of months, maybe a year and put up a show - but how long can we live like that if there is no inspiration?

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2005)

the Yamaduttas are already waiting!

You may also put tilak, dhoti, kurta and kanti mala and everything but will it save you from death?
No, but it saves you from the fear of death because a devotee knows he is eternal and a devotee knows that Krishna is his well-wisher. So even if the time comes to give up the body, then he knows that the next destination is good -
but for the gunda (criminal) the Yamaduttas are already waiting! You have ten more seconds, we are sharpening our teeth and nails and we are ready for you!
At that time the Yamaduttas pull that sinful soul with ropes out of the body, drag him over a red hot road and along the that road are the animals which have been killed by that person ready to bite him with their teeth, scratch him with their claws and pierce him with their horns, it’s a long journey.
That’s the way to Yamaraj, and when you finally come to Yamaraj, He will decide what comes next. There is a variety of hellish planets where there are different things, boiling oil, squashed between stones and there are various other things that I will not tell you tonight...

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2005)

STRICTNESS but not FANATISM

Srimad Bhagavadam 7.8.34

Let’s be devotees but let’s not punish ourselves, “I am a failure, I am not humble!

I am a failure, I am not honest! I can’t chant properly, I am a failure...”

We punish ourselves and all our Krsna consciousness becomes black and gloomy because we have a standard and day-by-day we are failing that standard. Therefore I am a failure and so sinful...loser! My whole spiritual life is just stress.

We need not bring this type of mentality into Krsna consciousness. It is not required. We just pick up from we left off and go back to the standard. That’s the system of spiritual life.

I often stress the point of rising early because it gives us so much time for spiritual activity because the day is full of so much activity and passion, therefore it is nice to read and chant in the morning. I am recommending that one is strict in trying to rise early. But what does it mean to be strict with oneself??

Strictness means that when sometimes health is really bad or exhaustion goes into the red, at that stage it may be wise to say that I am resting. Strictness means that I should take shelter of the standard of rising early and no matter what happens, I will always go back to it. And at one stage it becomes a culture, a habit. Like for me, these days rising at 4 am I consider sleeping in. But there are different cultures. My point is that in spiritual life there is STRICTNESS but not FANATISM. Strictness in the mode of goodness. Spiritual life is joyful (BG 4.2).

Kadamba Kanana Swami

20 December 2010

Cape Town, South Africa

Krsna is our only shelter

Everyone needs shelter in this world. We know this very well. Today it was shelter from the heat and sometimes it is shelter from the cold. Shelter from dangers in the world – always SHELTER, SHELTER, SHELTER!

But where is our shelter other than at Krsna’s lotus feet. There is no other shelter. Everything else is illusory shelter. We feel secure when we lock the doors but then someone else also has the keys – so what security is there anyway. Real security and shelter is found in Krsna and that’s really the essence of spiritual life. When we are new in spiritual life then we think and feel that we are advancing. We feel things are changing; our lives are changing and we are getting serious. But after we have been involved for a longer period of time, we feel that we are not making any progress at all. Why is that??

In the beginning, the progress is very measurable. It is about how many principles you follow... how many rounds you are chanting? But later it is different because later it is about the state of purity of the heart and that‘s more difficult.

Throughout centuries, the culture of worship of Krsna has been existing in India. The worship has been preserved but what about the state of the heart? That is another matter. That you won’t get from culture alone. The culture contributes – within the culture the respect, worship and name of Krsna is there but the state of the heart is what Krsna is asking for at the end BG 18.66. To surrender unto Him. So this topic of surrender is a very big challenge to rise to. Now to say: It’s only Krsna!

Kadamba Kanana Swami

20 December 2010

Cape Town, South Africa

Friendship between Vaishnavas: Conquer the Heart

The family of vaishnavas is somehow or other our support. Prabhupada made this movement a very personal one. In the beginning, we overlook how important relationships are because we are not used to it. In the material world, when a relationship doesn’t work, you just cut it off and try another one.... then another one and another one.

Now I’m not talking just about friendships... so many friends came and went in our lives in the material world but spiritual relationships are very different. Spiritual friendships are different because devotees are very rare. Therefore devotees are precious and the relationship with the devotee is precious and once broken it is difficult to repair. Not like a broken pot that can be glued back together.

Therefore with devotees we can’t just afford the mentality that if it doesn’t work, get rid of this one and get another one! Because the day will come when we will need all the devotees. The day will come when we will very much depend on devotees because the vaishnavas are sustaining us in our spiritual life and without them it becomes so difficult. The day will come when all artificial behavior in our relationships will have to go because that cannot sustain us and time will test us. As they say: it all comes out in the wash! It means that sooner or later it has to get real.

In the beginning maybe one can have a Shakespearean performance of Krsna consciousness but at one point we need genuine relationships and genuine friendships. This is very important therefore we must be very careful to make sure we avoid unpleasant exchanges between devotees even for the sake of service. Sometimes it may be necessary that a devotee is not doing it proper and you have to straighten him out.

We sometimes have to chastise but it’s an unfortunate thing to do because in the course of it we may break a relationship. That’s just one thought that comes to my mind: friendship between vaishnavas. Friendship is not just by declaration, not just Facebook friends or face-value friends, friendship means more.

In the Caitanya Candrodaya Nataka, in the pastime just after Lord Caitanya takes sannyasa, Nityananda sends a message to Advaita Archarya that all the devotees are in separation that very soon Nityananda will arrange that somehow the Lord will come to his (Advaita Archarya’s) house. Advaita Archarya starts dancing and calls out: Nityananda, Nityananada! What a friend, he has conquered me!

And he keeps repeating that: What a friend, he has conquered me!

So there is a very deep lesson in there – that friendship is based on conquering on the heart. Actually all relationships are based on conquering the heart. We see that in our tradition parakiya rasa is the highest. Not the marital relationship but the extra-marital relationship of lovers, the forbidden relationship. That is the relationship between Radha and Krsna – stolen moments! Not of out obligation but by conquering each time again and again. In parakiya rasa Radharani has to each time conquer the relationship with Krsna and sometimes the other way around also. So this is the nature of true relationships: not take anyone’s affection for granted for a moment.

In our relationship with Krsna, one can never take Krsna for granted. The devotee may think, “Now I have got him.”

At one stage, one may come to the point of nistha and surrender saying: Krsna, I am Yours.

One really means it but as one becomes more advanced to the stage of bhava or asakti, the one says: Krsna, You are mine.

Kadamba Kanana Swami

21 December 2010

Cape Town, South Africa

Fantastic Video!

Just found this video on the web - check it out!

Kadamba Kanana Swami - 2K10 My Time to Shine from Harrow Jammin on Vimeo.

Well Wisher

So, if we become the servant of the Supreme Lord then we also become the well-wisher of all living beings. So, then there is no time to become bored as there are lots of living beings. Some of you are family men although it was advertised a programme for un-married boys but some of you must have sneaked in who actually have a whole family at home and I think there are some.
So, we are experiencing in this ways if you have to take care of a family, these is a lot of work, if you have ten, twelve kids you have no time to be bored. So, imaging you become the well-wisher of all living beings not only of all the residents of Mumbai but all living beings. No time to be bored, you will always be busy and it is very nice - actually if you are kind to others and you do good to others then you experience a change of heart.

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2005)

Who would want to live like that?

Why did he give up everything and became a brahmachari? What a thing to do at such a young age. He gives up the world and he chants, wakes up early in the morning when other people sleep. He is already awake, even in the winter he takes cold bath and he doesn’t even have his own bedroom. So, who would want to live like that? So, wouldn’t it become very boring at such a young age give up everything, no gambling, no intoxication, nothing...?

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2005)

Mr. Fish

There was a famous play of a Mr.Fish
The fish out of water, no matter what you give the fish:
a golden throne,
a bank account,
a credit card,
latest police sunglasses.

Whatever you give to the fish out of water, it will not work, until there is water -
then all the other things will be very much appreciated.
Once the fish is under water he will enjoy his sunglasses and everything, but above the water not so much.

So, this is our predicament that we are here in a place were fundamentally we cannot be satisfied. Therefore, boredom is nothing new to man, nothing new to animals, it has been existing since time immeorial.

Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2005)

Culture Helps!

Transcribed By Yamuna Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2009)

In this day and age of freedom we need to take responsibility ourselves. We have to set our own boundaries.
One way, it is said, to set the boundaries is through the culture.
One definition of culture is – it’s the way that one can express oneself in safe boundaries.
So, if we have more culture that will help us. That is all part of mood of goodness...