KKSblog.com - It’s up to us

It’s up to us
Venus and Mars again
The story of Sākṣi-gopāla
Srimad Bhagavatam classes in Cape Town

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 08:04 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, 28 December 2011, Pretoria, SA) We are incredibly close to the time of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the whole world is touched by the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which is present everywhere but people don't see it because the influence of Kali is very present…The pressure of the Age of Kali is very strong. As soon as we step out of the gate it's another world, as everyone knows! Of course we bring with us, in that world, whatever mercy we have received. The mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu comes through our life and then it's up to us to do something with it. Some don't do so much but still they have the mercy and they keep it. Some are not looking after the mercy so well then the mercy may become a little bit dry but it's still there and is still not gone. But those who are really taking it and making something out of it and are really trying to take advantage of it, then their spiritual life starts flourishing. It's an individual thing….everyone has his own relationship with Krsna. Some are going to stay in this material world for another 100 000 lives and some are going to go back this life! It's up to the individual to decide where he wants to be…

Venus and Mars again

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 01:37 PM PST

Kadamba Kanana Swami
(22 December 2011, Cape Town, South Africa)

Srimad Bhagavatam 7.14.3-4

Affection and relationships should be there in our life. But of course, they shouldn't lead to illicit sex. That is the bottom line. As you know, accidents do happen. That is the nature of the senses and the mind, that where there is attachment to such sense gratification, somehow or other, when men and women come together… you just don't know how it happened! Somehow or other, it happened… and everybody could see it coming and could understand it's going to happen if you go on like this… because that natural attraction is there.

Srimad Bhagavatam has the butter and fire analogy where men are butter and women are fire. And when the butter comes near the fire, it melts… it always melts! Bramacharis are basically trying to keep the butter in the fridge so that it doesn't melt quickly so they have a whole fridge system there within their saffron cloth and bramachari practises.

Ladies in spiritual life are covering the fire. That's why they cover their heads and wear sarees which cover the body more than modern clothing. So they are trying to cover the fire.

We are not trying to blame anybody, like throw the blame on the women that they are mayadevis. The poor men are the victims and those women are nothing but trouble makers. That is a somewhat biased and wrong understanding of what the Vedic literatures are saying. However, the illusory power of the female body is very strong undoubtedly. They have this power of attraction more than males. Although males may be attractive still the male body is not as charming as the female body.

In spiritual life, we recognise that the beauty of a female body has a danger connected to it. A danger to entangle spirit souls, both men and women. The women themselves are also falling victim to their own beauty… it gives a certain power and it's kind of addictive and difficult to stop it. So devotees realise this and therefore keep a certain amount of reservation.

The story of Sākṣi-gopāla

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Mayapur, November 2011) Lecture – Caitanya-caritamrta Part 4

The story of Sākṣi-gopāla. An ancient story about a deity in Vrindavan, which was acting as a witness between the elderly brāhmaṇa and a younger brāhmaṇa. In Vrindavan, the younger brāhmaṇa served the elderly brāhmaṇa, very nicely and so he said:

"I want you to marry my daughter".

But the elderly brāhmaṇa was rich and the younger brāhmaṇa was quite poor. The poor young brāhmaṇa said:

"Your family are not going to accept me, and they are not going to like it".

"I can do whatever I want! I am the head of the family and if I say that I want to give my daughter to you, then I will give my daughter to you and no one can change that!"

The younger brāhmaṇa said:

"Well, all right, but I want a witness. So why don't you say it in front of the deity of Gopāla?"

"No problem".

He said it in front of the deity of Gopāla. So Gopāla was a witness. Later, they went back to his village which was the on the other side of India, near Puri. There the family threw a tantrum and his wife said;

"If you marry off my daughter to that boy then I will commit suicide!"

It was a big thing and the son said:

"Yes we will all commit suicide!"

It was getting too much, and he didn't know what to do, so he said:

"Well, what can I do? I made a promise."

So the son took over and said:

"Don't worry. Just say that you don't remember".

When the young brāhmaṇa who claimed for the promise, had come to get married, the elder brāhmaṇa said that he didn't remember. So the young brāhmaṇa brought all the villagers and there was a big discussion, and then the eldest son started to say:

"This rascal! He harassed my father. He robbed him whilst he was in Vrindavan, and he gave him dhustura, and now my father cannot remember anything".

So his father was saying:

"I cannot remember….I cannot remember".

The villagers became all confused. Then the young brāhmaṇa said:

"But I have a witness".

"Okay. You have a witness. So who is your witness?"

"The deity is my witness. Gopāla – I will bring Him."

So the son of the elder brāhmaṇa said:

"Yes you go and bring Him.”

So the young brāhmaṇa went home, stood before the deity, and was speaking to the deity, by telling Him that He should come, since he needs Him as the witness. So the deity said:

"But I am a deity, so how can I walk?"

"If you can talk, then you can walk".

So Krishna agreed to walk behind him and said:

"Everyday you cook some rice for Me and you will hear that I am behind you by the tinkling of my ankle bells. But if you turn around…and if you look at me, then I will not go further and will stop on that spot".

They walked until they came to the village of where they lived, and suddenly he could not hear any ankle bells. So he thought that the deity had left and looked over his shoulder and the deity just stayed there.

Then the deity said:

"I'm not going any further. Now call all the villagers, and say that your witness has come".

Everybody came and they all saw the miracle……the old brāhmaṇa also confirmed it, and then there was a happy ending. Anyway, Jayadvaita Maharaja would say:

"An unhappy ending".

The young brāhmaṇa got his bride and the whole family was united and together they worshiped the deity!

Srimad Bhagavatam classes in Cape Town

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 12:18 PM PST

Here are five classes on the Srimad Bhagavatam (7.13.46 – 7.14.5), given by His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami from the 19-23 December 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa.

These verses were taken from the chapters The behaviour of a perfect person and Ideal family life respectively. It dealt with the topic of varanashrama while stressing the superiority of Krsna conciousness at every stage of life.

To download the classes just click on each title.

SB.7.13.46