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