Included are pictures of the university, house and temple-programs held by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami in Capetown.If you cannot view the slideshow below then please visit flickr
31 March 2011
Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
The devotee said: “Oh no, I don’t want to go! Because I don’t like austerity.”
“That’s all right,” Krishna said, “you don’t have to do anything! All you have to do is write books, and I will do the rest.”
That devotee was Srila Prabhupada.
Transcribed by Bhakta Jan
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, Pringle Bay, Western Cape, South Africa, March 2011)
The temple is a railwaystation
It’s not about the temple!
“But I thought when I would join the temple that everything would be really just wonderful, and I thought that basically we would be in the spiritual world.”
No, no, no. The temple is the railway station. There you board the train to the spiritual world. It’s not that it’s already the spiritual world.
It is the station and well you know, you say: “I’m not getting on board of that train! I’m not! I‘m not getting on board of this train!”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t like the station!”
That’s ridiculous. That’s crazy, right?
“I’m not getting on board of that train, because I don’t like the station!”
That’s stupid, because the train is going to get you out of that station!
Transcribed by Bhakta Jan
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, Cape Town, South Africa, March 2011)
30 March 2011
Ready to approach anyone and everyone
Devotional service works for everybody, it always works and it never fails to act. As soon as one somehow or the other connects to devotional service one becomes purified.
Srila Prabhupada has this great conviction and on the strength of that he was ready to approach anyone and everyone - he wasn’t considering who is qualified and who is not qualified because he had this strong faith.
Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm 2011)
29 March 2011
A Play of Nectar on the Tongue!
There is one kind of sweet rice which is known as the amrta keli. Keli means it’s playing - it is like a play of nectar on the tongue – amrita is nectar – amrta keli ….Do you know how to make sweet rice? Maybe you don’t but I will tell you:It is said that the perfect mix of rice sugar and milk – is one to sixteen – one rice two sugars and sixteen milk. Some people when they make sweet rice, they put the rice in and they boil it. When the rice is sort of cooked, “sweet rice hogaya! Baaniya!”. Then put some almond flakes in there and there you have it. Let it cool down and then serve it out, but then the rice is at the bottom and the milk is at the top. That is useless! That’s not sweet rice! That’s milk with rice!
Real sweet rice means that you have to stir! You are there and you are stirring and stirring and when the milk is on the fire – then do not leave it alone, not even for a second! Stay there and stir and stir and keep stirring it up. In this way we are stirring and stirring and gradually the natural water in the milk begins to evaporate and it becomes thicker. The rice is cooked and the two begins sort of merge into one substance, where you cannot separate the rice from the milk – it has become one! Now don’t keep stirring and stirring and make it thick like rice pudding, since it still needs to be liquid, but one substance –that’s called sweet rice.
But, that’s not amrta keli. In amrta keli, what you need to do is when it gets to the perfect substance then you add more milk and then you boil it down again and you keep on stirring… you stir more…and then at one point the rice just begins to dissolve and you cannot see the difference anymore between the rice and the rest of the substance – it has become one paste - this is amrta keli!
You can get that only in one place in the world. Mainly in Yamuna where the deity is known as a Khira Joyti Gopinath or the deity that stole the kheer. So that must be a good sweet rice – even the deities were stealing it! He stole it for his devotee – Madhavanda Puri. When Madhavanda Puri got the pot of that sweet rice – he ate the sweet rice and after that he also ate the pot! Seriously – everyday he broke it, and he ate a little piece of the clay pot. So,if the Lord has stolen it you, than that is the right mood.Anyway, that is what we require. We have to make our spiritual life ‘amrta keli’ - so we have to make it more thick and we have to boil it down even more. First the quantity, such as - more time with the devotees, more servers, more chanting, more kirtan. Then improve the quality - try to become a real servant! Try and really bow down to the dust of the feet of the vaishnavas! In that way we can gradually get the taste – that’s the trick. So it’s not cheap! It’s not a matter of walking in and walking out, it’s not instant – but this is what we want!In this world nowadays people have instant coffee and everything - instant enlightenment:
“ I have already been chanting for 3 days and still no prem – I think it does not work!”
No! One has to stir and stir – and make it thick and rich! And fill ones life with worship of Krsna!
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Chowpatty, 11th December 2010)
28 March 2011
Eternal servants
And that is how a devotee becomes like a lamp in a windless place, a lamp that doesn’t flicker. Because once that knowledge is there, once that conviction is strong and firm then nothing can change our position, nothing in the world can affect that position.
Transcribed by Bhakta Jan
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, Cape Town, South Africa, March 2011)
Back to South Africa
The first two days were spent with devotees in Pringle Bay, a beach town near Hermanus. Thereafter Maharaja gave a series of seminars at the Bhakti Yoga Society Student Retreat held at the Cape Town temple. His presentations focused on creating Sacred Space, simple living and internal reflections.
The week continued with the Sunday Feast lecture, university preaching and house programs.
If you cannot view the slideshow below then please visit flickr
What is the greatest challenge?
There are many challenges that we are facing in spiritual life. And if we ask ourselves: “What is the biggest challenge that we are facing in spiritual life?” If you really think about it, most people would say: “Material desires! If only I could become free from my material desires then it would be easy – I could fly in Krishna consciousness because I have a taste for Krishna consciousness. But, I have these material desires and if only I was free from these material desires.”
Therefore it seems that the biggest obstacle in spiritual life is our material desires.
But that is not at all the conclusion of the scriptures. The conclusion of the scriptures has a totally different angle on the matter. The scriptures are saying that th-e biggest problem is not material desires because material desires are doomed, they can’t survive.
The one thing that is a problem in spiritual life are offences. Offences made against the Name and against the Vaishnavas. Disrespect for the Name and disrespect for the Vaishnavas. Disrespect for the deities and disrespect for the scriptures. This kind of attitude can cause a delay in spiritual progress. Therefore this is our biggest problem.
This kind of attitude can bring out a tax of material desires which otherwise will automatically diminish. And therefore, this attitude of serving the Vaishnavas and treating the Vaishnavas with the greatest respect is actually the solution in our spiritual life. It will take us to the point where we will begin to experience taste.Transcribed by Bhakta Jan
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, Brisbane, Australia, March 2011)
27 March 2011
Even Krsna cannot break it
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, "I will hear from that person, who has bound Krsna with such a strong bond of love in his heart, that even Krsna Himself cannot break it." Let's fix ourselves in commitment to a principle, let's fix ourselves is some service, let's fix ourselves in commitment to chanting Hare Krsna and then maintain it..... and then fix ourselves in more of the same and more and more...and never take a step backwards. Just follow in the footsteps of the great devotees, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Padyavali 74). Then one day, we will obtain that unbreakable love...
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2011, South Africa)
26 March 2011
I Just Can't Do It
Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm 2011)
Knowledge can increase our eagerness in devotional service. The more knowledge we develop about the potency of the Holy Name, the potency of devotional service, the more eager we will be to perform and to take advantage because then we realise that it is not impossible. Although emotionally at present spiritual life seems too difficult: ‘It is nice, it is good, it is the truth, but it is too difficult.”
This tendency to think that :’Yes I believe in Krishna Consciousness, I believe in bhakti yoga, I believe that it is the truth but I don’t believe in myself, I don’t believe that I can do it” - this is the more subtle form of faithlessness.
People that say “I don’t have faith in devotional service” - we can say that is unfortunate but if we just study the arguments and logic, then many of us can accept it - Why would God not be ever fresh?
Why would He not be all powerful?
Why would He not be all knowing?
Why would He not be all famous?
Why would He not be a person?
When everywhere there is a person and everywhere there is a personality then why not Him, if He is the origin. Shouldn’t the creation reflect the nature of the creator logically speaking?
Like that one can hear the logical argument and accept the system of belief of Krishna Consciousness and it makes sense and it gives a complete picture but then what?
We have no self confidence:
‘I have never been successful in my life’
‘I know my limitations’
‘I just can’t do it’
‘I have already tried and I couldn’t do it.’
‘I tried following the four regulative principles but I couldn’t do it and therefore it is too difficult for me so maybe I go and do hata yoga.’
Totally missing the point that success is not measured whether we can follow the four regulative principles or not - in the pre stages we may not be able to follow the four regulative principles that doesn’t matter, we simply keep trying. Prabhupada often said that failure is the pillar of success just like it is natural for a child to walk but it takes a certain amount of effort like in the beginning the child will fall and fall and fall again and again and again until one day he will walk.
'He is not answering my emails!'
Transcribed by Yamuna Devi Dasi(Kadamba Kanana Swami 2011)
I was in one temple and they had a big office full of computers and all these devotees were typing these letters.
Suddenly, I was thinking:” Are they writing these letters to us.!!!”
Then I got thirty mails after breakfast!”
And then they complain:” He is not answering my emails!”
I always say: “If I don’t answer your email then that’s very good. Because then there is the good chance that I’m actually chanting my rounds and reading Srimad Bhagavatam”
When I answer all my emails very faithfully then you should doubt about my chanting because it is not humanly possible to answer to all those emails.
25 March 2011
Give The Senses A Positive Experience
Transcribed by Annie(Kadamba Kanana Swami
March 2011, Melbourne)
Spiritual life is based on austerity. What is this austerity? Does it mean we have to try and do great austerities? No, it's basically the control of the senses. That is the austerity. Not to give in to the pushings of the senses. Lower animals like dogs and hogs, they don't control the senses. but human beings must have a culture of controlling the senses and only engaging them in positive activity. We can be saved from the network of death from the senses if we are taking shelter of prasadam. That is the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda. So sense control means not only saying no, but also to give the senses a positive experience.
24 March 2011
12Hour non-stop Mantra Magic
Kadamba Kanana Swami is 'down under' and was participating in the 12h Kirtan Marathon in Melbourne, Australia. You can view a 12 min summary of this below. If you cannot view the video then visit youtube.
It sounds like they had lots of fun over there and Maharaja is, as usual, rocking the room.
So what's the problem ?
Spiritual life immediately leads to fearlessness. Leaving it up to Krsna. Trusting in Krsna. Krsna will protect us. Krsna will take care of us. Krsna is not going to forsake us. Krsna is surely going to give us an auspicious destination, so what's the problem? Everything's fine, and He will decide when and where and how and this and that.
Transcribed by Annie
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2011, Melbourne)
23 March 2011
Looking for Glorification?
Humility is a quality that is difficult to develop, but at least a vaishnava can take a humble position - by giving respect and credit to others and by not taking any credit himself. So for example, if we did some service and someone says:“Who did it?”
It is not up to us to say, “ I did it!”
No! We should keep our own achievements private by not looking for glorification. Of course when the vaishnavas force us then we in a somewhat embarrassed state will accept glorification, but that this is not something we are looking for – since we are trying to avoid it. It’s not easy at all, but that is our approach.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
Krishna’s Amazing Assembly House
It is said that Lord Krishna in Dwarika had an amazing assembly house. In that assembly house the material influence was not there. No one would die! - as long as they were in that place. No one would get ill! – as long as they were in that place. That was the place where Krishna was giving darshan.(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
Kali Yuga, deeply rooted within us
Kaliyuga is deeply rooted within us. It's not the Government. It's not the multi-nationals. It's not Bill Gates. It's not all these kinds of things. It's not the ruthless politicians who are the enemy. We have this sign in the zoo:"This way to the Dangerous Animals"
and then you go to the lions, the tigers, the crocodiles, and then there's a sign:
"To the Most Dangerous Animal!"
Then you go around the corner, and there's a mirror waiting for you!
That's Us! The most dangerous animal! We are our own worst enemy!
We are the most influenced by Kaliyuga. If it wasn't within us, then how could we be influenced by it?
Transcribed by Annie
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne 2011)
22 March 2011
I have to get up from my bed, please help me!
A Vaishnava is prepared that anything can happen in this material world, whatever can go wrong will go wrong. It is possible, so we are not surprised- Of course, it can happen, but we have nothing to do with the material world because the material world doesn’t relate to the soul it relates to the body. So it doesn’t actually deal with our true existence - that we can remember. Alright, still we might not be able to transcend suffering - it is wonderful to speak such kind of philosophy that we are not effected by the material world... until we get excruciating pain and then there is a limit to how much one can just forget the pain. But if we become more and more absorbed in transcendence then we can rise above and Prabhupada showed this extraordinary tolerance in this regard. But even if one cannot tolerate the material pain or suffering at least we take shelter of Krishna, then even the material pain or suffering becomes an impetus to turn to Krishna. I saw someone was making a list of things that causes anxiety in this world and the list sort of started with crowds, rats, and then it said causes of anxiety ...everything. I always remember that. One can get into anxiety about everything that is the material world. Alright if you have such a mind that you get into anxiety of everything then at least let it be an impetus to turn to Krishna."Krishna save me." Then pray the whole day."Oh! Krishna save me, Oh! Krishna only you can save me" "Krishna I have to cross the street please help me" "Oh! Krishna please help me, I have to get up from bed please help me." "Oh! Krishna, Krishna!!" So at least by taking shelter of Krishna we can also remember Him and then one day we can rise above the anxiety and then one day no more anxiety... "Oh! Krishna.. what was that anxiety about?" - You just forget and it just becomes: "Oh! Krishna" ... and you forget what comes next! If we always say: "Oh! Krishna please protect me. Oh! Krishna please help me. Oh! Krishna please make sure...." "Oh! Krishna, Oh! Krishna ..." and then one day we say "Oh! Krishna "and then "...what was that I was praying" We just forget and remember Krishna. So this is the nature, when we turn to Krishna for material purpose ...whether we approach Krishna for pure devotional service without material desires or whether we approach Krishna with some material desires ...as long as we take shelter of Krishna then everything will become auspicious.Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm 2011)
21 March 2011
Higher Standard Of Purity!
We see that Sadhus traditionally, would use their own lota and tiffin and wash it themselves with clay and so on – because it has to be pure. There are different types of plates in terms of purity. It is said that if you eat off a clay plate or porcelain plate, that is fine, but after eating from it, you have to throw it away! So there is no dish washing involved - no way of washing any dishes when you are serving from porcelain plates – those we just throw away!“Yes but that’s porcelain!”
It doesn’t matter, since it is permanently contaminated. Therefore, you cannot actually eat again and again from a porcelain plate. In the modern world you just say:
“Hallelujah!” And keep on eating, but we should know – we should not just keep on eating without knowing. Therefore, metal plates are better. So they can use stainless steel or better - bell metal – that’s a higher level. Or better still use a silver plate - Brahmananda used to have a silver plate – we used to keep Deities on the silver plate and sometimes serve silver plates, but supposedly still more pure than the silver plate is the marble plate! A marble plate with marble cups and everything – that’s an even higher standard of purity! – but more pure than that is a leaf! Actually a leaf from a tree, and it’s like a lotus leaf or a banana leaf – that’s the best! That’s is first class and the most cultured – either that or a golden plate – you can choose! Either eat from a banana leaf or a golden plate!
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
Lord Caitanya is the most important!
This day is more important than Janmastami.
“Oh, what is going on? What can we speak here? Can we hear this?”
This day, Gaura Purnima is more important than Janmastami, because it is the mercy of Lord Gauranga that makes it all possible. Without Lord Caitanya's mercy, we will never make it! We will never make it!
Not with all our devotion - which is very meagre in this age of Kali;
Not with all our learning - which is very poor in this age of Kali;
Not with all our intelligence - which is almost non-existent in this age of Kali;
- would we ever have an opportunity to actually develop pure devotional service.
But by the mercy of Lord Caitanya it is possible.
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, Sydney, Australia, March, 2011)
20 March 2011
To Gradually Refine
We have to become active and alert. There are so many things that we just do not know. There is so much to learn, because in Krishna Consciousness we really go into details – everything has to be done proper. It begins with big things, but then with smaller things and it has to be done proper – like sit properly, eat properly, talk properly. One can recognise a saintly person from how he sits, walks and speaks and so on.So many injunctions in Krishna Consciousness. Alright we begin with major ones but we must refine it. We must gradually refine – just like the initiations are doing that to us. The first initiation means to connect - to establish our sambandha with Krishna. Sambandha means ‘alright I belong to Krishna’. That is what goes on in the first initiation, but in the second initiation we must start to behave more and more according to the directions of the scriptures!
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
Not Yet Fulfilled
Whatever we do in this world, we work so hard, we try so many things, and still not satisfied. We got so much and yet, still not quite enough. Somehow or other still some feeling of emptiness remains, no matter what we have done so far, no matter what we have attained.
Of course, I was discussing with someone, that in the beginning even in Krishna consciousness some emptiness remains within the heart. Because even in the beginning we are not able to go deep and penetrate in our devotional service. The heart is still full of material desire and the dust is still there, although the cleansing is going on, we are not really wholeheartedly serving Krishna.
O.K. we are chanting a little, we are doing some service. But at this stage, not yet absorbed - therefore not yet fulfilled - Although we are getting inspiration for that service, something - some taste is there, so we are carry on, waiting to see what more will come.
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, Brisbane, Australia, March 2011)
Bird goes out and then straight back in the cage
The only thing that has meaning is service to Krishna and everything else is totally empty and totally leads to nothing, no progress - Like Prabhupada when he was in New York he was imitating the sound of the cars and saying that they are travelling at neck breaking speed but they are not making any progress, they are not going anywhere. So the whole world going so fast but not really going anywhere - just staying in the material energy, staying in the cage but not going anywhere.
Prabhupada said: we have a bird in the cage we take the cage and we put it out in the field and the bird goes out and straight back into the cage - that’s also us- we have that opportunity to engage in devotional service but we don’t really want it as we know this cage and it is a comfortable cage and there are nice things to eat and different levels to sit in the cage so we like to stay in our cage -
Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm 2011)
Sydney Ratha Yatra
These are nice pictures of the Ratha Yatra in Sydney CBD. The procession went from Hyde Park to Darling Harbour. It was one and a half hours of ecstatic Kirtana and dancing throughout the way. On the arrival there was a big Arati for Lord Jagannatha.If you cannot view the slideshow below then please visit flickr
19 March 2011
Visiting Govinda Valley
Govinda Valley is a beautiful area surrounded by untouched nature, which is close to Sydney and the devotees there celebrated an early Goura Purnima festival.
Kadamba Kanana Swami gave a class on bases of the Caitanya Caritamrita and sang the Goura Arati.
If you cannot view the slideshow below then please visit flickr
18 March 2011
Never Stop Doing Devotional Service.
If we have bad qualities, what can we do? We can work on it, but they don't go away automatically. We will try and develop better personal qualities, but whatever we are, however fallen we are, at least do devotional service. That's the key! Never stop doing devotional service. As much as possible, engage in devotional service, because that service will purify us. It is that by the process of bhakti, all the anarthas will be erased from the heart.
There are two ways to rectify fallen qualities. One is by making a conscious endeavour and trying to rectify ourselves, and the other is simply by engaging in devotional service and that devotional service will purify us. And of the two, engaging in devotional service is the most potent - That's the powerful way of transformation of rising above fallen qualities.
So let's just do a lots of devotional service.
Transcribed by Anisha
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
We Must Change Now!
Change! Change now! Change means now! Yes, I will change, I promise you. I will change tomorrow.
No, not tomorrow! Change is now!
OK, after the class.
No! Now! In the middle of the class - right now! Change means now! If we really change, it's now. No postponement. Just completely now - that's the only way to make change.
As soon as you put change off and say, I'm not ready yet, but tomorrow..... then tomorrow, you're still not be ready. So we must change now.
But it is difficult, so let us take shelter of devotional service - that's our only hope.
Transcribed by Anisha
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
"the people are so horrible and degraded"
It is not our business to be against this, against that .. it is our business to be FOR KRSNA, and for Krsna means no meat, because Krsna doesn't accept meat. But we are not singling out so many things, that we are against this, against that...No! Prabhupada said that we are FOR KRSNA. Our standard is simply the desire of Krsna. What Krsna desires, and that is Bhagavad Gita, where He makes His desires clear. So when we are dealing with the Kaliyuga we cannot just spend all our time saying:
how horrible people are,
how degraded people are,
how corrupted people are and so on. If we talked the whole day about how bad Kaliyuga is, how will we talk about how wonderful Krsna is? You become what you deal with. That's very dangerous. In this world, if you deal with politicians, you become a politician. And therefore we should simply focus on our own business. And that is the strength of our movement. We are simply going to glorify Krsna - everywhere and always, at home and outdoors.
Transcribed by Anisha
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
The Domino effect
That Golden Age that is meant to come, it will come through us. It's not that we have to say: 'Oh, when will the Golden Age come? Oh, when will it come?'
No, we ARE the Golden Age. It's us and how fast it will come depends on how fast we will make it happen. As simple as that!
Depends on how fast we will get into it, and then others will become influenced by us, and in that way it will be like a domino effect, - it will just spread - Krsna Consciousness.
Ultimately Krsna Consciousness spreads from person to person. When Lord Caitanya gave Nityananda the instruction to preach in Bengal, He told him, "Go door to door, to every house, door to door" because Krsna Consciousness is meant to spread from person to person. That's when it really spreads.
Transcribed by Anisha
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
17 March 2011
12 Hour Kirtana in Melbourne
If you cannot view the slideshow below then please visit flickr
Here are also some links to more nice pictures of Kadamba Kanana Swamis stay in Melbourne:
Slideshow melbourne 1
Slideshow Melbourne 2
16 March 2011
Brisbane
Kadamba Kanana Swami spent the last three days in Brisbane, where he gave Bhagavatam classes in the morning and classes about the Caitanya Caritamrita in the evening. The stay was calm, but Kadamba Kanana Swamis lectures still were powerful and extatic.If you cannot view the slideshow below then please visit flickr
15 March 2011
Purity Is The Force And Not Intellectualism!
The best is to simply glorify Krishna, that’s what Prabhupada did. He didn’t care about such things – where he was or who the audience was. He would just glorify Krishna and as it came, and that is the essence, because purity is the force and not intellectualism, if we are trying to cater for the audience. Prabhupada said:“In our preaching we are not trying to please the audience - we are trying to please Krishna, and that is an important point”.
We are faithful to pleasing Krishna. We are not trying to present ourselves in such as way that the audience will be so pleased. No, if we in our speech we are trying to please Krishna than automatically people will be attracted, because the purity will be there – That’s a guarantee! So simply please Krishna, and the more we will become faithful towards Krishna. Therefore, it is important to absorb the words of Krishna - just absorb and keep very close to them.
You can see that Prabhupada in his preaching is very chaste and that he is using so many examples directly from the scripture. He uses metaphors – very much scriptural, because we can understand that Prabhupada throughout his life must have been in close contact with the scripture, considering that he took Sanayas relatively very late – it’s not that he started learning the scripture at that time and read it for the first time. No, he must have studied it earlier when the mind was more fresh and when he could remember, because in old age the memory goes, unless one has over prolonged period of time had absorbed the knowledge. So our business is Bhagavad Gita every day, and if you missed yesterday than you have to read the double today! So everyday there is some connection.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
Whatever Krishna Desires
In one of the first ‘Back To Godhead’ – on the front page there was a picture of a butcher, who was attacking a cow with an axe. Prabhupada said:
“What is this?”
“Well…it’s an article against meat eating”.
So Prabhupada said:
“We are not against anything. We are for Krishna. So, it is not our business to be against this and against that! No, it is our business to be for Krishna, and for Krishna means no meat, because Krishna doesn’t accept meat.”
But we are not singling out so many things – we are against this, and against that. No Prabhupada said: “We are for Krishna”. Our standard is simply for the desire of Krishna. Whatever Krishna desires, and that is in the Bhagavad Gita, where he makes his desires clear!
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
14 March 2011
Saturday and Sunday class- Melbourne
Here's the link to the Srimad Bhagavatam classes on Saturday and Sunday in Melbourne:
Chant Sixty Four Rounds?
When the PanchaTattva came into this world, they broke the lock on the storehouse of love of God – premānanda. They went inside – they drank to their full satisfaction and then they began to distribute that, but previously it remained locked! So, in other yugas although the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra was there – still it was very difficult to attain Krishna prem, through that chanting, but now by the edit mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that is very easily attained (Sanskrit) and very quickly results are obtained in this with the help of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, difficult things become easy. That is our saving grace, but even that seems to be difficult. Even if we see what Lord Caitnaya is giving – even that is not easy - chant the Hare Krishna is very difficult. Apparently six four rounds from the Caitanya Bhagavad as a reference Lord Caitanya was invited by different Brahmanas and he said:“I will not accept any offerings from anyone who is not a lakhpati “.
A lakh pati is those who have hundred thousands rupees in those days, an incredible fortune. So nobody could do that. Then he explained what he meant with the lakhpati- that a lakhpati means one who is chanting sixty four rounds. So, that is where the standard of sixty four rounds has its roots and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura wasn’t exactly demanding it from everyone, but he was saying:
“ If you don’t chant sixty four rounds, then you are fallen”.
In the Gaudīya Math they recommended to chant a minimum of four. We still see some who have come from the Gaudīya Math and started initiating people who do four rounds and it cause a riot in the West, and how can they initiate those who do four rounds?
‘Well are you getting it cheaper? The same goods cheaper next door?’
‘ Hey! Wait a minute I am not going to pay four times as much! Hey, I am buying it for four rounds!’
Well No! It is not necessarily that we are buying the same product. At four rounds were Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s minimum - and at four round what are you purchasing? At least the connection - the connection with sampradāya and gradual purification, but when Srila Prabhupada brought down the sixty four rounds that Caitanya Mahaprabhu desired, then he lowered the threshold of Lord Caitanya’s mercy. We are getting the same mercy that was available for sixty four at sixteen by Prabhupada’s arrangement and by Prabhupada’s prayer!
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
Change is Now!
Change is now! We must discipline ourselves, but it is difficult - so let us take shelter of devotional service, that is our hope! And we see that those devotees who are serious about taking on some service in Prabhupada’s movement, they become transformed overtime. They are the ones that overtime somehow or another begin to change. The devotees who are half hearted and half baked potatoes – time for half baked service – they never quite make it. They are the flaky ones! (Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, March 2011)
12 March 2011
Serving the Spiritual Master
As soon as we start to treat any little seva for our spiritual master as ordinary, then we are guilty of 'gurusu nadamatir' – to think that the spiritual master is an ordinary man. It is described like that.So this is the issue, we must be very careful in all our dealings. - especially in serving the spiritual master.
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, Danberra, Australia, March 2011)
Initation ceremony in Melbourne
On wednesdey morning (09.02.) there was an initiation ceremony in the Melbourne temple. One Mataji received second initiation and three devotees became first initiated: Gaurakishore Dasa, his son Harinamananda Dasa and a mataji, with the new name Maha Lakshmi Devi Dasi. HH Kadamba Kanana Swami gave a wonderful lecture to inspire the devotees, which you can view in a post below.
Melbourne Class and Krishna-Feast in Crossways
Wednesday night Kadamba Kanana Swami went to a program in the Crossways restaurant in Melbourne. After the lecture Kadamba Kanana Swami let a mind-blowing Kirtana.
In addition there are some pictures of the classes given by him in Melbourne temple.
11 March 2011
Moment of Greatest Ecstasy
Prabhupada had brought a few things from India. He had brought a trunk with Srimad Bhagavatam except he had it printed in India and he also brought some hand bills – leaflets that were handouts for the general public. It showed the picture of Prabhupada and the maha mantra with al little bit of an explanation. In that picture Prabhupada looked utterly serious. The corners of his mouth totally pointing downwards and in this way Prabhupada looked very very grave. Yadhurani the first female disciple was a painter and therefore she looked at such things like expressions and colours. So immediately she said:“Oh…oh you must have been very sad at that time?”
Prabhupada said:
“No, this was my moment of greatest ecstasy!”
(Kadamba Kanana Swami Stockholm February 2011)
That's Krishna!
The Lord has a mission, the mission to deliver all the conditioned souls.But more important for the Lord than the mission to deliver all the conditioned souls is to satisfy one Devotee.
Satisfying one Devotee is more important than delivering all the conditions souls in the whole universe! That’s Krishna!
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, Sydney, Australia, March 2011)
10 March 2011
09 March 2011
The Ocean of Transcendental Nectar!
The greatest ecstasy of the whole thing is that we are going to flood Bengal in the transcendental mercy of Lord Caitanya, and they are all sunk in total ignorance. They are somehow or another are just living a miserly life by having a few little material things, and they try to squeeze a little drop of enjoyment here, and a little drop of enjoyment there. They try to avoid this suffering and that suffering, and it is all so catty and small time. Little do they know about the ocean of the transcendental nectar and we are bringing it to them! Therefore, that whole kirtan party went all the way from Puri to Bengal was even more ecstatic than just chanting the holy name.The element of bringing up others by somehow or another expanding the ocean of transcendental love. Everywhere there are beings who are unlimited in the material world - who are separated from their constitutional position of devotional service to the Supreme Lord, and if these living beings can be reconnected with the Supreme Lord – that will so much increase the already unlimited bliss of the Supreme Lord!
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm, February 2011)
Initiation lecture
Download initiation lecture given by Kadamba Kanana Maharaja yesterday, 9 March, in Australia:
08 March 2011
Choosing our influences for our sacred space
We can choose what influences we allow to enter into our consciousness.
We can declare our consciousness as a sacred space:
"This consciousness is something that I declare a sacred space and within this consciousness I’ll try and bring in influences that are uplifting, that are giving me strength and that are adding to my happiness"
Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Sydney 2010)
Ashram
Ashram is very secondary, ashram is simply a comfortable position from where we serve Krishna, ashram is never the goal. It is a platform from where we serve Krishna and it is nothing in itself.
Ashram in itself is not successful; it is not how perfectly one follows the ashram …. Sometimes we make too much out of ashram and then when we start taking pride in the ashram …but then watch out for the Puran Mustika Bhava the mouse principle -
It is because one might easily slip so we take shelter of ashram to serve Krishna.
It is the service to Krishna that is the saving grace and it is service to Krishna that can turn the relationship between man and woman into a sacred space and help to go forward towards the spiritual world.
Transcribed by Madhumati Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Sydney 2010)
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