| The real problem Posted: 29 Aug 2011 09:19 PM PDT We may think that our biggest problem, our one obstacle on our spiritual path are material desires. That, we may feel, is the one thing that is making it a little difficult. We want to be devotees, we are attracted to Krsna but the problem is that we are not only attracted to Krsna but we are also attracted to Maya! And Srila Bhaktisiddhanta wrote this letter and said that Hiranyakasipu was looking everywhere and could not see Krsna anywhere, whereas Prahlada, wherever he looked, he saw Krsna. And we are in between! So that’s the situation, we are sometimes seeing Krsna, sometimes not seeing Krsna, sometimes seeing Maya and then we are attracted to both!  Therefore what sometimes causes doubt in us is that we are attracted to both and we feel that, ‘can I make it? Can I actually make it? And some people think, ‘it was a mistake that I took initiation. I shouldn’t have done it. I actually wasn’t ready for it and I realise that actually I cannot make it.’ But the truth of the matter is that no one can make it. It is only by Krsna’s mercy that one can overcome the material energy. Therefore material desire is not the issue, that’s not the problem, the problem is the offenses against the holy name because the process of devotional service is so powerful it will purify the material desires and if we just get absorbed in service, the material desires will go. They will gradually become less and less but if you commit offenses in chanting the holy name then you delay the material desires from going away. And not only that, we can create new anarthas…. (Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, April 2011, Radhadesh, Belgium) |   |
| Becoming free through hearing Posted: 29 Aug 2011 09:18 PM PDT 
The first chapter of the Antya lila of the Caitanya Caritamrta is dedicated to a drama of Rupa Gosvami and this is the Vidagdha-madhava. Ramananda Raya was interviewing Rupa Gosvami about the drama and Caitanya Mahaprabhu was listening. And Rupa Gosvami was explaining the opening verse. He was saying, “may the pastimes of Krsna reduce the miseries of this world and nullify all unwanted desires.” So the opening verse was very strong because this is our position, we are struggling with this- with material misery and unwanted desire. We all have this and Rupa Gosvami is beginning to offer us a solution in our life. And he’s pointing out that it is by hearing about Krsna that we will rise above the miseries of this world. It is by hearing about Krsna that we will become free of unwanted desires. (Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, August 2011, Spain) |  |
| The Potency of this Movement Posted: 29 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT (Kadamba Kanana Swami, Finland, 2011) 
Srila Prabhupada once gave an example about the microphone. He said:
"We don't really need a microphone. We are only using the microphone to purify the microphone maker." When I heard that it was like, 'someone pushed the button' and I was thinking: "Well if it's the microphone maker, then what about the maker of the seat? The one who made the wood for the floor? The one who made the lights on the ceiling? All the things we use….and so many things…..and if all these people are getting purified, than how great is the effect of this movement!" Just as I was thinking like that, I saw little devotee children riding on little tricycles, and I was thinking: "As they were riding on their tricycles, they were delivering the three worlds!" One might think that I was exaggerating, but no, they were devotee children. They're presence is auspicious! They are actually bringing auspiciousness wherever they go! So in this way we begin to see this movement more and more in all its potency!  |
| Protected: Vyasa puja book 2011 Posted: 29 Aug 2011 01:09 PM PDT |
| Invest now! Posted: 29 Aug 2011 03:46 AM PDT 
During the good times in spiritual life, it’s not the time to enjoy. No, when the good times are there it’s time to stock up, to store as much Krsna consciousness as we can, take real advantage because we are going to need it….we are going to need it when hell comes! Every little bit of investment in Krsna consciousness pays off… (Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, September 2011, Durban, SA)  |
| Only spiritual sound Posted: 29 Aug 2011 03:42 AM PDT  Our spiritual practice is from morning till night. From the moment we come into conscious in the morning it begins, even before we open our eyes already there is a duty immediately. And the first thing we do when we open our eyes is to offer obeisances, immediately. In the Hari Bhakti Vilasa it is said that one should remember the name of one’s worshipable deities, that one should offer prayers. Not that in the morning you quickly read the sms’s that might have come in over night or download mail before you brush your teeth or start mundane jokes. One of the principles in spiritual life is that we avoid mundane sound vibration in the mornings as much as possible. I personally try when I have the opportunity to just have no mundane sound at all for as long as possible- delay it, postpone it somehow or other. Don’t let it enter, no mundane sound. Only spiritual sound!
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| Empowerment Posted: 29 Aug 2011 03:31 AM PDT  Fruska Gauranga, Serbian Summer Camp
16.07.2011. … Now, the interesting part is the topic of empowerment. Nakula Brahmacari became empowered in an extraordinary way. But empowerment is a very important principle in our spiritual life, because improvement means that Krishna will give us power which goes beyond our own ability. See, for example, I am from Holland, it is a very flat country and very low. There is a lot of water around, and every field is just flat and it has water around it on four sides, little canals. So Dutch boys – they play with that. We all go and jump over the canals. Sometimes they are two meters wide, sometimes three, sometimes four… You know… It's a fun game. Everybody knows for himself what he can and cannot do. Three meters – ok, four meters – maybe, but five meters – no, not really! J So, like that, we calculate. And life is all about calculation! We calculate if we can cross the round before the car comes, we calculate what we can do with our money, we calculate how we can deal with people, and we calculate how much we can say to a certain person: to one a little more than to another one… Anyway, when the element of empowerment comes into our life it means that somehow all the calculations are no longer valid. And that I find very interesting. Because we always think: I am limited in this way, I can only do so much. And in our spiritual life we are fearful. We are afraid to just give up what we have… We all calculate like that: I will nicely renounce the things I didn't want any way, but somehow or other I'll engage all things that I want to in Krishna's service, of course. On my nice car I'll put a new number plate: 4 U Krishna (for you Krishna)… Like that, we are afraid to let go. And we are calculating little by little, we let go of a little and then we see: what mercy has Krishna given me now? And if He gives me some, then I'll let go of some more. And in this way we don't advance, in this way for years we just stay in same old position… Stay kanistha adhikari -those who have kamala sraddha, weak faith. Whereas the madhyama adhikari should put full faith in the instruction of Krishna and just believe: that is where happiness is to be found! Even if on the material plain it doesn't look logical, I'll put my faith in the scripture. And then Krishna will help. This element of empowerment is element where Krishna gives us strength. That would be available for such devotees. So empowerment begins for those who are ready to rely on Krishna. And then, of course, the more and more one relies on Krishna, the more Krishna will arrange…  |
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