29 November 2011

KKSblog.com - We must give ourselves with our heart!

KKSblog.com - We must give ourselves with our heart!

We must give ourselves with our heart!

Posted: 28 Nov 2011 03:53 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, Belgium, 2011) Lecture – BG.15.3-4

I have a story about Andre who lived in Amsterdam. Andre was an unusual person, because he was bold. When other people were holding back, Andre didn't. Andre went to see the director of the biggest chain store (the big multi storey warehouses that are all over the country). He went and said to the director:

"In your book department, you do not have any books by A.C. Bhaktivedenta Swami Prabhupada. That's not correct. You should have them!"

And the director said:

"You know, you are bold! No one has ever walked into my office like that! I like you. I'll take them!"

And he put all the books …..full set of Prabhupada's books on the shelf of the chain store".

He was bold. He got himself from the society… a house for 'food for life', and like that Andre was extraordinary, but he had another side – his dark side. He was a little weak on the regulative principles and was living in Amsterdam, which is not a very safe place if you are having difficulties of that nature.

So I heard at one point, when I was in India, that Andre got AIDS. I happened to be coming through to Netherlands, and they told me:

"He's very ill now, and that these were his last days and if you wish, you can go to see him."

So I went to see him in a special clinic. When I was there, he coughed a ball of mucus…the size of the tennis ball came out! I couldn't believe it! Then he said:

"I like your singing."

So I said:

"Thank you very much.”

He said:

"Can you sing on my funeral?"

I didn't know what I to say. I could say no, but I was thinking that it was best to get out! I was thinking:

"Do I have to stay here? I was meant to leave in three days".

Anyway he did leave his body very quickly, and I did make it for the funeral. It was an amphitheatre, and on the stage there was a box. So they asked me to start the kirtan. But before that someone had read out a letter, that Andre had written, which said:

"So all of you are my friends. You all think that I am dead, but you are wrong! I'm still alive and I'm still around. All of you are my friends, and all of you are very different, since you have all come from very different backgrounds. But for today for my sake, I want you to all appreciate each other. Now in a few moments, some of the Hare Krishna movement will come forward and will start to sing the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, and I want all of you to sing along…..and not a little bit, but from the heart! Afterwards, there will be a feast served in my honour at the temple and you are all invited!"

So that was all read. So they started singing….and really got into it, and there was this big lady who started to sing in an operatic style! Of all the things….god not like that! The kirtan ended in twenty five minutes, and we got the signal to stop as per our agreement. As I stopped, they played 'Govinda' on tape and then the box sunk into the stage and below the stage they burn the box! The people cracked….they cracked. When the tune 'Govinda' was heard, they fell into each other's arms and they emotionally just cracked. After that one said:

"We never went to a funeral like that!"

Actually Andre had forgotten to mention that in his last days, he got initiated by P.D. Govinda Maharaja….just as a last thing and that was when he became Madhan Gopal…..so Madhan Gopal Ki Jay!

Yes, I always thought that he struggled, but he really did something at the same time, and it really did attract the mercy. Of course, it is best not to struggle and to just take shelter, and one who faithfully takes shelter is doing a great thing. But still we cannot become complacent. We must give ourselves with our heart and do something…do something….especially us!

No credit of our own

Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:50 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, Belgium, 2011) Lecture – BG.15.3-4

We should never think that, 'I'm special' since that's when the danger comes in…as soon as we start to think that we are special, then we are a good prey for life. We should understand that one should always remember that:

"I am where I am, not by any credit of my own……………..".

I would have never taken to Krishna Consciousness if Srila Prabhupada wouldn't have gone to the West. First of all, we are simply a product of business, and without him we would have been totally lost! And this movement and so on, it is through that, that we are getting the mercy. So we remember it like that, and then we can take shelter of Krishna.

Any success we cannot claim it as we like, since it is simply Krishna who gave it! Because it is like that in the material world, where many times success kind of happens by accident….how many times did it happen for me:

“Wow it worked”.

It wasn't an accident that it worked. It wasn't like:

"Great expertise….I knew what I was doing".

That is what we show off to the world, but most of the times somehow or other it worked by Krishna's mercy…somehow or other by the grace of the vaisnavas!

Caitanya Caritamrita seminar in Mayapur Part I

Posted: 28 Nov 2011 12:34 AM PST

These are the first four of a total of thirteen lectures of Kadamba Kanana Maharaja’s seminar about the Caitanya Caritamrita, given from the 7th to the 23rd of November 2011 in Mayapur, India.

In this course, Maharaja explains the book from different angles, while approaching it through overviews of personalities, pictures, quotes and slokas.

You can click on each title to download the lectures.

CC-Seminar Part I

CC-Seminar Part II

CC-Seminar Part III

CC-Seminar Part IV

28 November 2011

KKSblog.com - Chandigarh and Panchakula Ratha Yatra

KKSblog.com - Chandigarh and Panchakula Ratha Yatra

Chandigarh and Panchakula Ratha Yatra

Posted: 27 Nov 2011 07:23 AM PST

Tucked away in Punjab, the city of Chandigarh was set ablaze with two back to back Ratha Yatra's this weekend. Kadamaba Kanana Swami arrived from Mayapur on the eve of the first Ratha Yatra. He walked straight into an evening program at the home of our gracious host for this leg of the tour, Madan Mohan Prabhu. After a warm reception Maharaja launched into an animated hindi class and vibrant kirtan.

On the morning of the initial Ratha Yatra we got first darshan of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, presiding Deities of Chandigarh at the local temple – They definitely have a distinct Vrndavana flavour reminding us of Krsna's sacred dham, now geographically much closer. Maharaja gave the morning class. He spoke on the humility of Vidura as the essential mood of the devotee expressed in the Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu and dainya baudika. He emphasised how by serving the devotees we can come closer to Krsna just in the way King Pratraparudra was able to gain the association of Lord Caitanya by serving Ramananda Roy even though initially the Lord bluntly refused to see him.

Just after midday Chandigarh came alive as the Lord of the universe mounted His chariot. An impressive array of guest speakers included Gopal Krsna Maharaja, Vedavyasa Priya Swami, Navayogendra Maharja, Prabodananda Maharaja and others. A unique feature of this Ratha Yatra is that every few kilometres the chariot stops allowing people to climb up the chariot and make offerings to Jagannatha and thus getting an eye level darshan of the Deities. Thus the chariot procession went on till late night flooding the streets with the mercy of Lord Jaggantha. The next day was but a nectar replay, this time in a nearby city of Panchakula.

Can’t view the slideshow? Visit flickr!

New temple project in Mayapur

Posted: 26 Nov 2011 10:16 PM PST

Here is an interesting slide show depicting the tour of Jayadvaita Swami and Kadamba Kanana Swami through the new temple project in Sri Mayapur Dhama. Enjoy the pictures!

If you cannot view the slideshow below, just visit flickr!

 

 

27 November 2011

KKSblog.com - The beauty of the spiritual world part 2

KKSblog.com - The beauty of the spiritual world part 2

The beauty of the spiritual world part 2

Posted: 26 Nov 2011 12:23 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, Belgium, 2011) Lecture – BG.15.3-4

Anyone who is below the platform of the love of God is kind of living a ghostly existence…..a reduced existence. An existence of being a shadow of one's true self. When we come to the material world then gradually we become covered over, and the finer, deeper spiritual sentence of selfless love is disappearing! And all that we display in this world is the dim reflection of the original spiritual love, and here the love is very selfish:

"What am I getting in this relationship of love?"

Whereas in the spiritual world we are seeing complete selflessness, and we see complete dedication for the welfare of other! We see that all the devotees are just giving everything, and sacrificing everything for the pleasure of Krishna! So the spiritual world has many wonderful qualities and therefore is very attractive!

The beauty of the spiritual world part 1

Posted: 26 Nov 2011 11:41 AM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, Belgium, 2011) Lecture – BG.15.3-4

Krishna is extremely beautiful. It is a kind of beauty that reflects this purity. Generally speaking, beauty suggests purity. Even in the story of Putana who was a witch. Putana disguised herself as an extremely beautiful….almost like a goddess, and she just could do anything! She was so beautiful that everyone said:

"Oh, she must be a great personality!"

So even in this world, we associate beauty with a noble character. Of course, we see that Dasaratha got a little bit disillusioned with his beautiful Kaikeyi. Although she was beautiful on the outside, but she showed some envy in her character, that he was not expecting and it broke his heart.

So in the material world beauty is not always representing purity! But in the spiritual world it does, and therefore the beauty of the spiritual world is of another nature. So when we see Krishna's whole appearance, it is extremely beautiful and at the same time it is reflecting His noble character. It's different then the cold beauty of some sort of professional blonde who is being paid for endless photos and posing with different smiles and it looks like, she's seen it all, done it all, and heard it all and knows it all…..and lost her innocence.

So in Krishna there is innocence and there is purity, because there is no hidden agenda in Krishna's character. Krishna is a pure well wisher of all living beings, and His only interest is the wellbeing of all!

26 November 2011

KKSblog.com - The relationship of trust

KKSblog.com - The relationship of trust

The relationship of trust

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 03:07 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Leicester, UK, May 2011) Initiation Lecture

The spiritual master is also our friend. So if we get an instruction from the spiritual master which is difficult to follow, then we should reveal our mind to the spiritual master. We should not go before the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master asks:

"How are you?"

And you smile and say:

"Yes, I'm very well".

And meanwhile we are struggling….no we should reveal our mind and take shelter, because the spiritual master can always change his instruction – he can adjust it. Some instructions cannot be changed, then he will explain all of this:

"This cannot be changed….not three and a half principles but four! "

That must be there. There are no loopholes. It's fixed and carved in stone, like a straight line – that is there. So there is an intimate relationship….the relationship of trust, and that is important!

Burning the material desires

Posted: 25 Nov 2011 02:40 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Leicester, UK, May 2011) Initiation Lecture

It is said that when a log of wood is burning in fire, then are you going to make a big thing about the quality of the wood?

"No, I think there are cracks in this wood! And there's a hole there, yes look at that!"

Who cares about that! So the material desires are already burning in the fire, but if we make offenses against the holy name, then we are pouring water on the log, and then the burning of our material desires will be slowed down, and then the whole process will be slowed down. And ultimately we will not be able to approach Krishna.

Krishna is merciful, but Krishna is the Supreme Pure, and if we want to go before Krishna, then we must be pure!

25 November 2011

KKSblog.com - His prayers is with us!

KKSblog.com - His prayers is with us!

His prayers is with us!

Posted: 24 Nov 2011 02:36 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Leicester, UK, May 2011) Initiation Lecture

What the spiritual master really wants is that his disciples mature and not just wait for the spiritual master to bring the water, but that they learn to go to the well themselves! That's what he wants. Naturally, it is the same for the parent – okay when the child is very small, then you bring them everything, but at one point you want the child to grow up and get to the point of starting to bring it in by themselves. So spiritual life is exactly the same. It is exactly like that!

In the beginning, yes the spiritual master will nourish the disciple, like a bird who is taking care of its young, and you can see these birds flying up and down……and bringing more……..and the little birds just sits there with their mouths open…and that's it.

It is said that, one type of spiritual master is taking care of his disciples, like the bird taking care of its young. Another type of spiritual master is taking care of his disciples like a fish is taking care of its young. The fish is swimming in the water and is not really feeding its young in the same way as the bird. But the fish is keeping an eye (the fish has big eyes)…..so the fish is keeping an eye on the young and if there is any danger then suddenly that big fish will be there. So that is another level, not that we spoon feed the disciple, but there is supervision.

Finally, there is the third model, which is the model of the tortoise. The tortoise is laying its eggs in the sand. When the season is warm, the heat of the sun, heats up that sand and the eggs will come to the point where they break and the young little turtles come out in that way. So the turtle is just taking care of its young by meditation. So sometimes the spiritual master will take care of his disciples by meditation. Sometimes the disciples will say:

"Oh, I haven't seen my spiritual master for such a long time. He didn't send me any emails, and he didn't even reply to my last three emails. Oh, I don't think I have much of a relationship!”

No…no, the meditation is always there…his prayer is always there. He is always our well wisher, but how many emails can any human being answer? Even with a thousand arms, one could still not answer all the emails that one receives! These days it is impossible! So in this way, we understand that the spiritual master is our ever well wisher! He is always with us, because his prayer is with us!

Inspiring the devotees

Posted: 24 Nov 2011 02:06 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Leicester, UK, May 2011) Initiation Lecture

Srila Prabhupada tirelessly travelled around the world. In eleven years, he went fourteen times around the world! At one point Srila Prabhupada was in New York, and he had a cold whilst being there. And one can hear it in the lectures! One can hear that Prabhupada has a real cold and the devotees were saying:

"Oh Srila Prabhupada, just stay here for a few days".

And Prabhupada said:

"No I have to go to London, in England."

They said:

"Don't go, just stay here!"

And Prabhupada said:

"No, I have to go".

"Srila Prabhupada, It's not important, just stay here!"

Prabhupada said:

"Oh, it is not important. If I don't go, then who will maintain these devotees in their spiritual life? If I don't travel around the world, then who will maintain all these devotees in their spiritual life?"

So Srila Prabhupada indeed was travelling tirelessly in his old age to keep his devotees inspired! So the spiritual master is certainly having that purpose in mind, to somehow or other inspire his disciples…………..So the spiritual master (as Prabhupada did) is travelling around the world to support his disciples and inspire them!

24 November 2011

KKSblog.com - The rope of transcendental knowledge

KKSblog.com - The rope of transcendental knowledge

The rope of transcendental knowledge

Posted: 23 Nov 2011 02:50 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Leicester, UK, May 2011) Initiation Lecture

It is the time to make a commitment. A commitment to the truth…..a commitment to reality. For so many lifetimes we have been committed to illusions. For so many lifetimes we have chased false dreams. For so many times we have searched for happiness here and there…..and everywhere…..and what did we get? Each time again, we thought for a moment:

"Yes…yes…yes….success….success!"

And then it didn't work. Then again it slipped out of our hands before we knew….and then again we suffered, then we suddenly realise:

"What have I done?"

But again we tried again and again we tried to enjoy this illusory energy. Today we make a commitment. A commitment to hold on to the rope of transcendental knowledge! To firmly hold on to this rope, and no matter what happens, to never leave! To never ever leave for a moment this shelter of this transcendental rasas. We know that our spiritual master is fixed at the Lotus Feet of Krishna.

It is said that the etymological meaning of the word 'guru' is heavy. Not that the guru is a heavy personality who will chastise us – sometimes he will, but the heaviness of the guru is described as:

"The guru is fixed at the Lotus Feet of Krishna and he is so heavy that you cannot move him from that position! He will always be there."

Therefore, whenever we turn to our spiritual master, we turn to Krishna, and thus we always again turn to our spiritual master because he will reconnect us with Krishna……….because our connection is feeble and weak. Yes, with the rope of transcendental knowledge, we are holding on but with a weak grip and so many times it is slipping from our hands! Then…then what will we do?

Taking on responsibility

Posted: 23 Nov 2011 02:00 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Leicester, UK, May 2011) Initiation Lecture

It is described that the spiritual master is the mercy manifestation of Krishna. He is particularly present in our life at all times to direct us! In this way a disciple must always be sure to be in the care of the spiritual master. At the same time a spiritual master is not always present in every situation, at least not in his personal form. The spiritual master will not always be there to answer our questions about anything and everything:

"Should I go left? Or right? What should I do now?"

He is not taking away our responsibility. We ourselves our responsible. We are responsible to act appropriately according to the scriptures….according to the directions of the sadhus. And we need to ourselves realise that we must take shelter! We are looking at the spiritual master for inspiration and enthusiasm in spiritual life!

23 November 2011

KKSblog.com - Two weeks in Mayapur

KKSblog.com - Two weeks in Mayapur

Two weeks in Mayapur

Posted: 22 Nov 2011 09:29 PM PST

The last two weeks Kadamba Kanana Maharaja spent in Sridhama Mayapur, Westbengal, India. Maharaja basically spent his stay with teaching. In the mornings, for a total of ten days, he taught the Bhaktirasamrita Sindhu part of the Bhakti Sastri course, which was translated by Srila Prabhupada as “The Nectar of Devotion“. This course covers the first 19 chapters, and Maharaja expertly guided the students through the different aspects of this book.

In the evenings Maharaja gave a course on the Caitanya Caritamrita. In this course he explained the book from different angles, while approaching it through an overview, through personalities, pictures, quotes and slokas.

Also, on one day, Jayadvaita Maharaja and Kadamba Kanana Maharaja organized a big lunch for all the present Prabhupada disciples. It was a very nice occasion, and all the honoured guests highly appreciated the prasadam.

Additionally, on the weekends Kadamba Kanana Maharaja took out groups of devotees on parikrama. The first Saturday we went on a huge Harinama, which took us from the Yogapita to Srivasangan further to the Caitanya Matha. There was harinama all the way through and Maharaja, supported by the power-kirtaneers from South Africa got everyone to dance in ecstacy.

The next weekend then we went with boats, starting from the Prabhupada Gata, to Mamgachi. There we visited Vrindavana Dasa Thakura’s birthplace. Maharaja gave a little lecture, in which he mainly read from the Caitanya Bhagavata, which was composed by that very Vrindavana Dasa, and than continued to the next destination with Kirtana, led by him, Hare Krsna Prabhu and others.
That next destination was the place where Vasudeva Datta’s original deities, Sri Sri Madan Gopal, reside. There, after a short talk about Vasudeva Datta’s glories and compassion, all the devotees were happy to take the wonderful prasadam, which was served on that very place.
After a delicious feast we than eventually went back to Mayapur, performing Sankirtana Yajna all the way home.

Last Sunday Maharaja had a little homeprogram at the house of Samba Prabhu and Sacidevi. After a beautiful kirtana, performed by Markandeya Prabhu, Maharaja gave a short talk about the amazing qualities of Krsna. The program ended with wonderful prasadam.
Enjoy the pictures!

If you can’t view the slideshow, just visit flickr!

To act enthusiastic!

Posted: 22 Nov 2011 02:36 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Helsinki, Finland, 2011) Lecture – Nama Tattva Part IV

Jayananda and Vishnujan, were legendary devotees, and with their enthusiasm, they could do amazing things! It is said that in the kirtan, Vishnujan was just something else. He could just go through the whole day with full enthusiasm, and this enthusiasm never stops….for eight hours a day!

One day someone asked him:

"Vishnujan, how is it that you are always enthusiastic?"

He said:

"I'm not always enthusiastic, but I just act enthusiastic, then the devotees become enthusiastic, and that makes me enthusiastic".

So this is nice. This is a nice example of how we make each other enthusiastic in devotional service!

Nama Tattva Lecture – part V

Posted: 22 Nov 2011 02:22 PM PST

Dear Devotees,

Below is a media file to download, containing Part V
of the Nama Tattva lecture given by Kadamba Kanana Swami earlier this year in Helsinki, Finland. This lecture is based on the Srimad Bhagavatam, verse 55, from chapter 2 of the 11th canto.

Helsinki – Nama Tattva V S.B. 11.2.55
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