My M.O.

I've stopped living, or at least trying to. There's nothing really to do.

I have my wonderful spiritual master, who is in the prime of his service. I have the great fortune to have the opportunity to serve him, somehow, if I try harder, I could be of better service.

He asked me to settle down, prepare for my future, get educated, marry and don't worry.

I love my family, I love all my friends, I love ISKCON and the devotees who give their lives to serving, and who make my life worth living.

At the same time I see dire futures for the world, violence, poverty, destruction, hellish conditions, war, and great struggles.

I see the mission Srila Prabhuapda has given us to accomplish, to make a boat for souls to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death to reach the oasis of Krishna's lotus feet.

I hope to reach Them someday too.

I can't see how to invest in the workings of the world in which I've grown up. Every path to progress is like trying to get cozy in a room on the titanic, knowing it's on it's way down.

The lifeboats are there, but not enough for everyone, so save who you can. Try to give Krishna to as many people as possible, but some people just won't accept, so give the Holy Names, some prasadam if possible, a smile or a kind word. Blessings are to be given.

I see that I'll do a few more years of service, going here and there all around the world, helping start the changes to help save the world in it's hours of need to come.

Kirtan in great festivals and gatherings, preaching Srimad Bhagavatam, making beautiful temples and helping communities grow. Present in dynamic and wonderful ways the art of Krishna Consciousness, and help establish a society based on devotional service, preserving the essence of Srila Prabhupada's mood and desire.

My role is to be outside the normal workings of things, and to help connect the dots before the lines are drawn. Tracing the lines Krishna shows me through my feelings, trusting my heart, as Radhanath Swami so kindly told me to do so long ago.

We come in this world to serve, and by serving we can learn to love, and in that love, live. Without it, life is a tragedy.

Always give, and don't expect, that's been the biggest lesson so far. I don't know if I look forward to the rest of them, but here I am, existing, so they must be on their way. I just pray that Krishna gives me the fortitude to grow gracefully into the servant and soul He knows me to be.

He's been with me all along, knowing my every thought, word and deed. He hasn't let me down, although I have let Him down countless times.

But I will not stop trying, because I can't, it's my eternal nature.

I just don't know where to go from here.

I am looking out across an ocean, I can go anywhere, but all places are just the same. Nowhere to go, nowhere to stand, nothing left, or to lose.

I could play piano. I could learn guitar. I could sing songs of love both near and far. I could write a movie, make it big and in 3D, I could help establish a new world, which is strong, and spiritually free.

I could do so many things, that would be wonderful to tell, but where I fit in all of them, I don't know so well.

My motivation to move forward has stopped and so have I. I don't mean to be lazy, but I have no will to try.

I'll keep moving onwards, but my heart is missing me. I will need to find him if I'm ever to be free.

I think I saw him running after... her... you know the one... but since then I haven't seen him, I think he's come undone.

So I wait around and wonder, what's to become of me from here. What I thought would end me, has come and past a year.

I'd like to go and find him, so I can live again, give him to my Guru, at least I'll know it then, that my life has been completed, having served till my very last.

I love you all and wish a life that's eminently blessed.

I'll keep on waiting, keep on doing whatever comes my way, only Krishna knows what's coming, so I'll continue to pray:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

Ekadasi, Gita Jayanti, Harinama, Ki-jaya!

This morning I posted this on Facebook, feeling somewhat frustrated and disillusioned about the level of activity I've been engaged in... after looking through 1,000's of FB friend suggestions and how we gauge who to friend or not, and what and why we post what we do:

"There are so many people, and so many mindsets, so many things to do. What will my actions today accomplish? Try to achieve a mental state of happiness through adjustment of circumstances? The execution of duty is always a source of satisfaction, when done for Krishna. Today is Gita Jayanti, the day the Bhagavad-Gita was spoken. Today will be done for His pleasure: Chant, serve, & surrender my fate to His Destiny."

And here is the result!

"Yes was a good day. Went to the temple, bought 2 Bhagavad-Gita's from Hari Prasad Prabhu, chanted 6 chapters, Divyambara Mataji cooked excellent Ekadasi prasadam for her Gurudeva Krishna-Ksetra Prabhu's Vyasa Puja, (then I ended up taking a nap in the ashrama - a decadant opulence) chanted chapter 7 and then did some sweet kirtan with Ananda Vidya Prabhu and an intimate group of devotees for Sri Sri Radha Murlidhara, then took my little Aindra Harmonium on the subway ride home, serenading NYC.

I just started singing on the 2nd ave platform, and I met a successful documentary producer Gary Krane PhD who felt that political action was the only way to change the world. But he liked the chanting. We talked for a while and I told him about the dual action of spiritual activism and social activism, and how they're both part of the same thing. We were engaged in talking and I missed my stop, so I got off to go back to catch my connecting train.

At the platform a nice lady came and stood nearby and appreciated the chanting.

Once on the train that same documentary guy showed up! He sat next to me and I told him this chanting is our kind of activism :) Change hearts.

I changed trains again and on the next platform was an accordion player, so I played along with him for a while. He appreciated the company. I gave a little donation I had kept in my pocket for just such an occasion.

At the next stop there was an old african-american man with an amazing voice singing "My Girl" by the Temptations, along to an instrumental accompaniment track on a sound system he had.

One nice guy was standing nearby appreciating his singing. Once the train came, we ended up talking on the subway. He was saying that in a different time or circumstance that old man could have been famous.

I said that the measure of our success isn't so much in the appreciation others give us, but in how we are satisfied within ourselves. We each have our own innate gifts and when we're aligned to them, that's our love, our beauty, our satisfaction.

We got to talking and I asked if he knew about Krishna, he said yes and mentioned the Bhagavad-Gita. I told him I had an extra one, and he gratefully received it.

After getting off the last train a nice guy who got off at the same stop as me, was appreciating the chanting. I was telling him how the opportunity to give is itself a gift.

We started up the stairs and there was a man trying to take an office chair up, but it was falling apart, so we each lent a hand and carried it up for him. The opportunity was serendipitous.

He spoke with me for a bit and I invited him to kirtan at the temple and the Bhakti Cafe.

Just another transcendental day in the service of Krishna! any day could be like this, by just allowing Krishna to permeate our lives.

Indradyumna Swami said in his Diary of a Traveling Monk, that NYC is the Harinama capital of the world. You can tell how well cooked a pot of rice is by sampling a few grains.

So judging by the few exchanges I had today, the people of this city are quite open for receiving the great gift of the Hare Krishna maha mantra, which by giving gives us the greatest satisfaction.

The Avanti Brahmin

I posted my last picture and asked for subjects to draw. My friend Vrajendra Kumar Prabhu recommended I do the Avanti Brahmana, which is synchronistic as I've been bumping into the 11th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam as the Uddhava Gita recently.

Here's the story: http://vedabase.net/sb/11/23/en

And here's my little sketch:


So nice to see how Krishna manifests himself through my insignificant efforts. So sublime, so simple, so sweet and intimately personal.

If I never did another thing other than draw Krishna's lotus face all day every day for the rest of eternity it wouldn't matter. This is what I aspire for.

Back to the old drawing board

It's been a good long while since I've done any drawing etc.

Whipped this up today waiting for stuff to download.

I'll start doodling more to get my skills up and eventually start doing concept art work for a project my friends and I are working on: The Vedic Universe Compendium, which details all the people, places, things with facts and figures from the Vedas, to serve as a resource to create all manner of media.

(:

Srila Prabhupada wanted his artist devotees to do 6-12 drawings a day! So let's get sketching!

This was done in Autodesk Sketchbook, with a little photoshopping to make it look organic.

If you are an artist, get a mac, get a wacom intuos tablet (6x8 is good), autodesk sketchbook, and photoshop. Your imagination now has no limits.

3rd Days the Charm

So I missed a few days, been uber busy.

I scheduled an interview with Radhanath Swami for his website, to post short answer clips to important questions people ask.

He's coming to DC for Kumari Priya's wedding. That should be very nice.

I'm trying to schedule my days, and stick to it, so hopefully by Krsna and Guru's mercy I can make some measured progress.

Dear Gurudeva,

I'm simply grateful for all the opportunities you give me to serve. I hope to make you happy, and to become strong, to support and serve so many devotees.

I'm finding I have much further to go in my love for Krsna, that I'm accustomed to speak my own purports, and do what I think is best, without first becoming strongly aligned to your teachings.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami said a leader first should be, before saying anything.

I'm praying to be your humble obedient, regulated, sincere, pure, and happily balanced servant.

Thank you for today, and tomorrow, and forever more.

your servant,
Rasikananda dasa

Every day, Just write.

This is the first of what I hope to be a daily offering to my Spiritual Master, His Holiness Radhanath Swami.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami would write without fail a daily letter to Srila Prabhupada, as an account of his life's activities, his struggles and his triumphs.

I want to go deeper into my relationship with my Gurudeva, and also with Krsna, and everyone else, by being more accountable, and more in awareness of my dependance on Their mercy.



Dearest Gurudeva,

So often I think that my default mode of consiousness under the muddy cloud of the three modes of material nature, goodness (rarely), passion (mostly) and ignorance (more frequent than either) is "just fine".

I forget how far astray I can drift if I'm not battling the current of time which is sweeping my life away at every moment, towards the waterfall of death, where the weight of my heart with either pull me under for another go, or lift me out of the need for another boat, like this human body. Please instill within me the great hope you carry as a fully surrendered servant of the Lord, detached from all worldly desires for profit, adoration or distinction.

I pray to be as humble as a blade of grass, due to feeling the greatness of the gift of devotional service, eager to give that gift to everyone, and to avoid their resistance - to serve them with all graciousness and care - on a real, soul-level of respect and love. Like you efortlessly do.

I aspire to be more tolerant than a tree, to be so filled with Krsna Consciousness, that no matter what sort of difficulties threaten to tear down my life or all the things I could hope to achieve, I will be happy to accept them as a miniscule token of my own past misdeeds, all the while happily singing the glories of the Lord and His devotees. Thank you Gurudeva for opening the way to the Spiritual Realm wherein all anxiety is left far far away, in this insignificant little puff of the material creation.

Yesterday was hard, but by your grace I pulled through.

I woke up at 6:00 and went to Greeting of the Deities, and Guru Puja. I was asked to read Caitanya Caritamrita, after singing the Sad-Goswami Astaka.

I was grateful for the opportunity to relish the pastimes of Lord Caitanya, delivering Prakasananda Saraswati and the Mayavadi Sanyassi's. The Lord is so kind to even the most fallen offenders. I pray that He also is kind to me, who is more fallen than anyone due to neglect of the greatest of all gifts I've been repeatedly given.

I hope and pray to somehow become grateful.

I spent the rest of the day with Jvala and Mahakirti and family. My Mata just arrived in DC from her travels to Detroit and points East.

It's nice to have family around. Sometimes I forget, and become overwhelmed with having to "perform, produce, procure", so when I'm with them I can relax a little, and not have to translate myself to anyone, I just can be "me" with nothing to prove or gain.

We went to a nice Yogini Healer, Marian, who sold me some Chlorella, to help me detox my sick body. I was praying for some help, and Krsna kindly delivered. I have now to practice it, take it seriously, follow through...

Next we went to Gauravani's and hung out with Vrinda and the girls.

I acted upon past wisdom and hid in the back yard and nicely chanted my japa. I was glad for the chance to have a peaceful quiet setting where I could try to go deeper in my relationship with Krsna.

I had a nice visualization of Krsna and Balarama sitting taking lunch with Their cowherd boy friends, surrounded by all the previous Acarya's, Like Narrotama Dasa Thakura, Srinivasa Acarya, Syamananda Goswami, Rupa and Sanatan, Gopal Bhatta Goswami, Jiva Goswami, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, Jagannatha Dasa Goswami, Bhaktivinode Thakura, Gaura Kishore Das Babaji, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada, Bhakti Tirtha Swami, Tamal Krishna Goswami, Suhotra Swami, and You, and all my devotee friends and family.

I felt so protected, so ensured, that I could make it, that I belonged, that I had a home, and that I was loved. I very much needed that. I don't know if I felt fully that way until just now, but I'm grateful for the causeless mercy which has descended into my life by the blessings and mercy of all these great souls.

I hope and pray to be of some service to them, and make them proud of me, if I can give all respect, love, honor, and service to everyone, not expecting anything in return.

I feel that Krsna won't allow me to get by with anything less. I've prayed for pure unalloyed, unmotivated, uninterrupted devotional service, and for Him to not allow me to get away with anything less, and so He's very kindly but firmly delivering what I had prayed for so ardently.

I hope to be free from the clouds which block my vision of the splendor of the path I've been given.

Right now I tend to be preoccupied with the stones, thorns, bugs, cold, and lonliness I feel walking down this road... but like Parikrama in the mornings in Vrindavana, if I'm full of wonder at my great fortune to be in the Holy Dhama, and am aware of the great love resident in every particle of dust there, remebering the pastimes of the Lord, then all these seeming disturbances will be augments to my journey, increasing my rememberance, and dependance on the sweetness of the Lord's interactions with my every thought word and deed.

I have so much to do, and so little time.

I've taken on so many responsibilities, I don't know how I'll be able to fulfill them all, but I'm trying, and hoping and praying for some solution to help me be able to execute all the wonderful service opportunities that have come my way.

Too much of a good thing, is a burden of greatness.

I'll try to work on interview questions for your father, and get your website strategy underway.

I should go now for morning program, and spend nice time to chant attentively, like I promised you I would, every day, attentively chant at least 16 rounds of the Maha Mantra, and follow the four regulative principles, like you believed I would.

Now I have to believe I can, and with full faith in your mercy, stive forward, for today is a new chance to connect deeper with you, so that I'll never have to say Goodbye.

I love you Gurudeva. Thank you for your infinite kindness upon me. Please always keep me in your warm loving embrace, and take me with you wherever you go, like you said you wanted to.

I'm your loyal dog, even if I'm disobedient and a weakling so often. I'm trying to learn new tricks before I'm too old to know how.

sincerely,
your eternal servant,
Rasikananda dasa

Building Foundations

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws be expanded, and interpreted in his favour in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings. In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness. If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”

- Henry David Thoreau


My life is in my heart

I love to love, and live to give

My way to pray is to give my heart away

Surrender complete, otherwise i'm simply a cheat

there is no end to the kindness of a true friend

i long to be whole, for it's the right of my soul

but something deep down inside is still trying to hide

I don't know what it is, or where it came from

it haunts me and keeps me alone

I try to let go, to cheer up, to move on

I bury it in joy, and festivals, 24hr Kirtan

My heart feels torn in two, and there's nothing I can do

But ache from inside, and try not to cry

I thought that I would be free

If I were just to be "me"

and let the world go by, going deeper inside

maybe i'm facing my roots

the dark strong cords

which have kept me here

in this material world

those feelings of pain

that bring constant rain

on the sunny parade

of every days charade

I don't know who I am

I can't find my soul

I don't have a heart

Something somebody stole

I chose to give it away

Now I have to take it back

but I dont want to have it

I want someone to want take a crack

at opening this shell

which is my little private hell

where no light of love shines

on this little world of mine

I wish Krishna would save me

He said that He would

I don't know what to do

To make Him pleased for good

I try to work very hard

Because He said that's better

but even more than that I should love Him

I need to do more than just write a letter

So I'm trying my best

to get this weight off my chest

I'm facing my demons

and controlling my passions

I'm going early to bed

I'm struggling hard to be early to rise

I'm hoping and praying to at least become wise

I'm chanting my rounds

Trying to be immersed in divine sounds

I'm trying to manage my time

So that I can give more of what's mine

And have a wonderful life

to share with a wonderful wife

but for me that's so hard

because I have nothing but heart

I have hopes and I have prayers

and I have dreams of how to get there

I'm working as fast as I can

to be what they say is a "real man"

I dont know what to be, but anyone other than me

I just put out my heart, and from there make a start

to give every ounce of my care, to bring something to share

and offer it to the Lord, Who is so kind to those

who feel themselves humble and meek, and selfless service only seek

so I feel that this pain, is the price to finally gain

the goal of my heart... a beautiful new start

at the life I've always wished to lead

where every act is a gift of thought, word and deed.

I don't know if I'll get there

but for God's sake, I'll try

I may get there broken

I'll most certainly cry

But by that time comes

I'll have come completely undone

and fall flat in the hands

of the Lord's perfect plans

to bring me back to his land

where we'll be happy again.

Thank you Krishna.

I'm trying to be patient.

I'm in dire need of Your love and mercy.

I don't know how to go on.

I can't stop trying.

But I can't keep going.

Please send some help.

I don't know what else to do.

your loving and trying to be humble servant,
Rasikananda dasa

Getting there

The gap between where I am now and where I know my heart belongs is closing somewhat.

That's really really good, because I really need it.

I don't think anybody reads this blog of mine anymore, but I write for my own edification.

It's 11:11pm (my lucky all-auspicious number) and I should go to bed to carry on my success's, but I just wanted to say that I have hope that this could lead to something.

Something like a life in the mode of Goodness.

Sleep early. Rise Early. Chant nicely. Work nicely. Life becomes sweet.

I regret having had to come through so many impurities to get here, and having subjected so many people to my struggles along the way. To think it's all over is laughable, but I hope to minimize my self-conscious befoolments by being genuinely humble and not just prentending to be (which leads to embarrassing situations, which if I were really humble, wouldn't be embarrassing)....

Anyways, now you know why I don't write so often.

It takes a good darn long time for me to make some tangible progress to write about.

Otherwise it's all lamentable what I've got to say.

I feel like there's so many wonderful things going on, and I'm doing lots of them, and there's worlds on the balance, and we're going to save them, but while doing so, everything seems to rest on my ability to control my senses and mind and focus on hearing and chanting nicely.

Good realization.

Now to realize it.. off to bed!

Jaya Jagannatha

Reciprocation of a Green Mango

“Gratitude is not just saying the words ‘thank you’. Real gratitude means reciprocation, even if it is at a great cost to oneself.” – Radhanath Swami

Talk is cheap.

I'm full of it.

Waiting for action is my greatest hope and at the same time, shame.

How unlimitedly fortunate am I? To have this body, to have the association of Vaisnavas, to have loving family, to have such a loving Spiritual Master, and to have the opportunity of devotional service.

But how unlimitedly unfortunate I am. I throw it all away, for nothing.

Lamentation is a feature of an attached mind. The mind hankers, laments, and pushes free-will under the control of the modes of ignorance, passion and even goodness.

The cost of freedom is the choice to have it.

Action is the result of choice.

Choice is based on good intelligence, which is awakened in association of those who are pure in heart.

That association is a gift of love.

That love gives hope to choose, but choice must come from love already possessed.

If I possess no love, then choosing to act despite it's absence is the cost to obtain a portion of love from the reservoir of love, Srimati Radharani.

When love is obtained, if delivered to Krsna, it is ever increasingly renewed. Therein lies real reciprocation.

If it is neglected or directed elsewhere it becomes distorted and acts in reverse.

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yatho bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati

(SB 1:2:6)


"The supreme occupation (dharma) for all humanity is that by which man can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be causeless and uninterrupted, to completely satisfy the self."

As I find myself in adverse conditions, my only recourse of action is to give, on hope of love, devotional service, to those who hold Krsna in their hearts.

This is the only sane course of action.

I am very frail, and am unfit for any such task, but there is no other choice. I must try again, and again, and forever onward, for there is no rest in the shadow of illusion. Neither is there rest in the light of transcendence. The difference is in the nature of action, and under what conditions I choose to act.

As I take steps over vacant spaces of doubt, fear, uncertainty, I follow the hope of loving service, which guides me up the staircase of surrender, where my hardened un-ripe heart is matured into a softened juicy fruit for the pleasure of the Lord and His devotees.

The endeavor of a Mango is simply to remain attached to the tree.

Similarly, my effort is simply to remain in the company of stalwart Vaisnavas, and to reciprocate their gifts of loving compassion on me through personal sacrifice.

Srila Prabhupada said that this life is an austerity, who's benefit we may not reap until we leave this world, much like those observing Caturmasya do not experience the benefits until they return to their normal routine life.

This is the cost of freedom. This is the cost of my soul. This is who I am.

Our austerity is to be enthusiastic, for in reality, that's all that ever exists: Sat, Cit, Ananda, Everything's Ecstatic!

Dear Krsna

Oh sweet Krsna

Thank You for being there for me. I feel your sweetness and can taste your Holy Names as I get closer to You on my string of tulasi beads. I notice that "Oh, I'm tasting something sweet, I must be getting closer to the Krsna bead", and sure enough, a few moments later my fingers are tickled by your curling fuzzy tassle hair.

You're so there, directly present in so many ways. Yet I still think you're far away, distant.

Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong directions.

My heart is breaking, apart at the seams.. holding it together is patience, hard earned but steady now, at least I don't fall apart so quickly these days.

Sweet surrender is seducing my soul, to see You, to love You, to know You, to hold Your lotus feet to my head... I'm simply a fool Krsna.

I've been seeking shelter in this world... projects, places, beautiful people... they all reflect something wonderful, some manifestation of Your glories... but it's all temporary isn't it?

That's why you have denied me shelter in those things, they change, go away, fall apart after a time. Repeatedly You tell me to stop trying to find shelter in this world, it's durasraya "Bad Shelter" and to take shelter in Your pure loving devotional service.

It's so nice actually. You're inviting me to enter into Your most intimate association, "Don't settle for less" You tell me when you steal away my next scheme to stick around in Maya.

Oh and how You're so right, but I'm so scared. I want to turn towards You, to give up this mad chase after illusion after illusion... "but there's just this one more chance..." I keep saying... Yes Krsna I'll surrender, but you know, there's this one other avenue I can pursue that might work so I won't have to surrender all the way, right to You exactly. I can be safe somewhere over here, where i can get what I want, some cozy snugly sappy existence of what? Sense gratification? What good does that do me?

Been there, done that a billion times over. Useless waste of time. But somehow the illusion continues, and the cycle prevails, and on I go.

What makes the difference between those who keep going, and those who stop and surrender?
Do I have to wait for it to come "naturally" like some sort of spiritual maturity point that just reveals itself as it manifests?

I suppose that's it. But how long do I have to wait? And what relationship does it have to what I'm doing now? Is it just linked to my chanting? Is that it? If I chant attentively and with sincere intention, along with performing devotional service selflessly, that should be enough right? Please devotees, help them out, encourage them, but I have to do more.

I have to be exemplary. Stand up against my fallbacks... laziness, fear, lust, pride, illusion.

What does it take to be strong? A strong purpose, to fight for who I know I am, myself... who I forget most of the time...

Who am I? Really? I love me, and I love You, and I love everyone else because they're all special parts of You really, it's all so amazingly beautiful when I even begin to think about it, me being a little part of You. So intimately nice, perfect, complete, totally in love. Can't get much more than that.

I want someone who is like You, who can show me how to love You, who I can love as I should You, selflessly, thoroughly, with all my heart and soul. That's for You only I suppose. Anyone else is only to the degree they are connected with You.

I suppose that's not a problem. My Spiritual Master is just like You. He's fully empowered by You and gives You to me and others as freely as You would do Yourself.

I forget sometimes and take him for granted. I treat him like an ordinary person. I really shouldn't do that, and I wish I knew how to stop. Stop thinking that I know anything. Stop thinking that I'm special. As soon as I think I'm special then I'm the exact opposite, I'm completely insignificant. Which is actually the case.

Especially since I'm not chanting my rounds as attentively and steadily as I should. I'm writing all this instead of chanting, and therefore I'm being an irresponsible disciple, and therefore I'm not having any taste in my chanting due to offenses to my Guru. There's my problem. I'm offending my Spiritual Master, therefore I have no taste for chanting, therefore I'm falling apart in my heart and I just want to break down and sob the rest of my life.

No good that will do. Better to chant. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, over and over, surrender to Guru's instructions... chant from the heart, be real he said, just be simple, surrender my heart and hear. Krsna will reveal Himself when He is pleased with me. And He won't be pleased if I don't really try, and really give myself, and try to give the best of myself.

I have no courage, I'm so afraid. I'm cowering in pity and guilt and sorrow, for what? For choosing to be away from You Krsna. For shunning Your causeless mercy and coming here to be selfish.

Please help me. Guide me, show me the way, light my path with the light of Your love and allow me to help others find the way back to You.

Thank You for your infinite patience with me.

Effortless Humility

Krsna is the protector of the cows, who are completely dependent on Him to provide everything they need to survive, the grass, the land, the sun, the water, their masters, and each other. All they can do to give back, is to give their love in the form of their milk, their byproducts, their work, and their affection. Such a small price to pay for having such a wonderful Loving Master.

I was sitting down yesterday to engage in the ritual of American eating, getting a big plate of dinner on a TV tray and watching something for entertainment.

I've been exposed to too much information on how skewed and distortedly disturbing the news and basically everything else produced from consumeristic culture really is, so I saw vol.5 of "Following Srila Prabhupada: A Chronological Series" and popped it in.

I had the great opportunity to help Yadubara Prabhu design the series, so it has a special place in my memory and heart.

While watching it one devotee was remarking how Srila Prabhupada said, "Real humility is knowing that there is no other shelter than Krsna. When one knows that in the entire material world, nothing can give us any shelter, not our friends, our families, our husbands or wives, our bank balance, our education, our social positions, nothing can help us, except taking shelter of Krsna, who is the proprietor and controller of everything, then only can we be truly humble."

That rung so true for me.

I've been seeking shelter in so many places, in so many circumstances, in so many people, places, and projects, leaving surrendering to Krsna as my last resort. Knowing that praying to Krsna for material things is foolish, I would pray that "My dear Lord, I only want your pure devotional service. Please only give me unalloyed unmotivated uninterrupted loving devotional service to Your lotus feet through the mercy of the servant of the servant of your millions of servants. But I have this desire, so if you like, please help me."

Krsna has so kindly allowed me to explore every option for shelter to the full capacity and has very nicely shown the dead end of each and every option. There's a little sign saying "You have reached the dead end. Surrender to Krsna is your only option left." But then I would turn around and go down the next alley way to see if that might work, but no, it wouldn't and again I would engage in the same insane ritual, looking for some way out of distress through the pathways of material channels.

So, having explored the vast reaches of outer space and inner space and coming full circle, I'm back where I started, with Krsna saying "Here I am, come on and love me. You can do that without restriction, nobody can tell you no, nothing can stop you, there's no prerequisite qualification, just chant my Holy Names, love Me, serve Me, be kind to others, and give up looking for shelter elsewhere."

I've been trying to implement all of the above, but that last part, giving up all other shelters, has been my biggest hangup.

I'm just convinced that, I can have my unalloyed shelter in Krsna, and still get a little protection from the material circumstances. You know, have your cake and eat it too.

Well, it just doesn't work that way. Only fools attempt the same thing over and over and over again expecting new results, and well, I certainly qualify.

"When will it all end?" I ask Krsna. "When will this burning fire of material existence be extinguished? I keep putting fuel in it, but it just won't go out!"

I'm good for a laugh I expect, but not too many knowers of the truth think I'm good for much else, until I figure out that what I'm doing isn't the right way to go about doing things.

So now I'm here, trying to chant, trying to keep my mind off hankering for some material shelter, and trying to find it in the service of the Lord.

That's my only option, my only solution, and the trouble it takes to persevere in this endeavor is the price I have to pay for all the misdeeds of my past millenia of sinful life in the material world, investing my life in faulty shelters. It's a habit I ought to kick. So there's no time like the present.

The price to look up is the cost of not looking down.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

(:

Happy Humbly Hari Hari'ing

A long overdue update

It's been just over a year since my last update to this blog.

I'm travelling now with Manu and crew on the Hare Krishna Youth Bus Tour.

We're in Atlanta, our first stop where we've been readying our
performances for the summer festival circuit as well as getting to
know everyone.

I have many reasons for coming. I've always felt most at home at our
Hare Krishna festivals, singing and dancing and putting on
performances. It's when I most feel alive.

The kids participating in these festivals are the real motivation and
inspiration for all the work that I'm doing and the interests I have
in the areas of media and public relations, social development, ISKCON
management, festival outreach, cultural presentations, etc.

They are the most talented, intelligent and beautiful people I know,
and it's really the most valueable thing I can think of to do, is to
attempt to assist them in their efforts to live by this culture of
devotion and help it flourish in their daily lives.

Krsna is reciprocating so much it's miraculous. I've been receiving so
many miracles in my life the past month that I can say for certain
that there is a wonderful plan in store for all of us.

A gentleman called the temple, and I randomly answered the phone. It
turns out he works with artists like Anushka Shankar and other
classical indian artists who are contemporaries of George Harrison. He
wants to organize a tour with the Hare Krishna's, and has been meeting
with me to help brainstorm the effort.

I'm not sure where things will go or how it will unfold, but I'm just
hoping and praying that somehow or other I can be an instrument to
help these gurukuli's present their beautiful hearts expressions,
through their music, dance, theater, talks, and interactions with the
world.

When we stick our neck out for Krsna, He promises to carry what we
lack and preserve what we have.

So in this way I'm putting my everything on this boat and going with
it full steam ahead. Crash or Fly, it's up to Krsna.

(:

I'll be posting as often as possible. I have a new camera now, so I'll
be posting images/movies soon.

Sometimes I'm confused about certain circumstances... but Krsna has
never let me down. I've always been given an opportunity to render
some devotional service, which brings new life to any rainy evening.

I sincerely pray to be of real genuine service to these Vaisnava's, my
Spiritual Master, and Srila Prabhupada. I'm depending wholly on their
mercy for success, and have no doubts that it will come to pass in a
most extraordinary way.

(: See I told you everything's ecstatic!

--
"This is love. And if God accepts your offerings, then what more do
you want? He becomes your most intimate friend. If you make God your
intimate friend, then there is nothing wanted. You'll be fulfilled.
You'll find that "I have got everything." And if we become convinced
that Krsna is my protector, then how much happy and peaceful we will
be. Offer something. Just be in love with Him. Then just see how much
peaceful you feel. How much tranquility you feel and how you are
protected by Krsna, how you avoid insufficiency, how you become pure,
and how you make progress in spiritual life." - His Divine Grace Srila
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Radha Madhava's new name is...

Dear Devotees, Friends and Family

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
Guru, Gauranga, and all of you!!

Thank you all so much for your wonderful blessings and kind
encouragements. By your grace I am feeling very happy and safe knowing
I have such loving supports in my life.

I regret that I am short on time, but I wanted to write a small update
before too long.

On Monday May 29th in New Vrindavana by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada
and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda I was initiated
into the illustrious Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya by His Holiness
Radhanath Swami Maharaja.

After vowing to follow the four regulative principles: no illicit sex,
no gambling, no intoxication and no meat eating, along with the vow to
attentively chant a minimum of 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha
mantra and to serve as the humble servant of the servant of Srila
Prabhupada's ISKCON, I received the new name Rasikananda dasa!!!

I was actually quite stunned when I heard my new name. I'm slowing
getting accustomed to it.

Radhanath Maharaja had me touch the feet and get blessings from my
parents and all my family members before he would initiate me. It was
quite a lovely and sweet exchange.

I am feeling very happy and peaceful. Safe to know I am in the care of
my loving master.

I don't have any pictures or videos to share yet, but I'll send out
links to some as soon as I receive them.

Also I would like to announce that I will be transferring to a new
email address:
rasikananda@gmail.com

Kindly update your address books. (:

I look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Currently I'm in Alachua visiting my brother Mrkanda and will be in DC
on June 3rd for Radhanath Swami's visit. I'll be at Kulimela in New
Vrindavan after that. Hopefully I will see you there!

Thank you again for your love and prayers. Please bless me that I can
stay chaste to my vows and to always honor all living beings as
representatives of my Spiritual Master.

Wishing you all the best,
I beg to remain
your servant,
Rasikananda dasa

--
"This is love. And if God accepts your offerings, then what more do
you want? He becomes your most intimate friend. If you make God your
intimate friend, then there is nothing wanted. You'll be fulfilled.
You'll find that "I have got everything." And if we become convinced
that Krsna is my protector, then how much happy and peaceful we will
be. Offer something. Just be in love with Him. Then just see how much
peaceful you feel. How much tranquility you feel and how you are
protected by Krsna, how you avoid insufficiency, how you become pure,
and how you make progress in spiritual life." - Srila Prabhupada

Radha Madhava Initiation Announcement

Dear Devotees, Friends and Family,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
Guru, Gauranga, and all the devotees!

I've just received confirmation that I have been accepted to receive
initiation from His Holiness Radhanath Swami this coming Monday May
29th in New Vrindavan!

I apologize for the late notice, but I didn't want to say anything
until it was confirmed.

I humbly beg for your kind blessings upon this foolish servant of
yours. Please pray that I can somehow become useful and pleasing to my
Spiritual Master and the devotees.

Thank you so much for your loving care, guidance and support. I don't
know how to repay my debt. (Please let me know if you have any ideas
or anything you want me to do for you. :)

The only reason I'm receiving such causeless mercy is due to the
merciful assosciation and priceless gifts to me of your selfless
friendship and devotion.

I know that I am actually quite unfit to be accepting such a
responsibility, and so it is essential to me to receive your heartfelt
blessings that I can follow purely the instructions and example of my
Spiritual Master and follow in the footsteps of the great devotees.
Without the blessings of the devotees there is no hope of ever
achieving the favor of Guru and Krsna.

If anyone is interested in coming or would like to know more
information, please write me and I will happily answer any of your
questions.

There will be a number of other devotees also receiving initiation
like Bhakta Eli and Bhakta Keith and 30 others. Please send your
blessings on their behalf also.

Thank you again for your kind support.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to His Holiness Radhanath
Swami! All glories to all the devotees!

your aspiring servant,
Bhakta Radha Madhava dasa

(I'll write later with news from the ceremony along with photos and
the auspicious new name Maharaja will bestow upon me.)

--
"This is love. And if God accepts your offerings, then what more do
you want? He becomes your most intimate friend. If you make God your
intimate friend, then there is nothing wanted. You'll be fulfilled.
You'll find that "I have got everything." And if we become convinced
that Krsna is my protector, then how much happy and peaceful we will
be. Offer something. Just be in love with Him. Then just see how much
peaceful you feel. How much tranquility you feel and how you are
protected by Krsna, how you avoid insufficiency, how you become pure,
and how you make progress in spiritual life." - Srila Prabhupada

Winding up and letting go

Dear Friends, Family and exhalted Devotees!

Please accept my humble obesiances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
Guru, Gauranga, and all the Vaisnavas!

This is the last email I'll be sending from my 5 month stay here in
Chowpatty Mumbai.
I'll be leaving tomorrow morning with about 2,000 other devotees on
South India Yatra with H.H. Radhanath Maharaja.

I can definately say that this has been the most transformational
experience of my life.

I came here with high ambitions to accomplish many things, and as
Krsna is all-knowing He has fulfilled all my desires by thwarting all
my plans and giving me His causeless mercy, leaving no other options
but to fully surrender to the instructions of my Gurudeva and the
Vaisnavas.

Independance means to suffer anxiety and distraction, ever having to
face that deep down feeling that there's something I still have to do,
something I'm forgetting, something that's missing.

When I am caught up in my own schemes on how to be happy in this
world, I'm perpetually miserable. But here I have been given the
greatest gift: Freedom. Freedom to surrender my heart in loving
service to my Spiritual Master. Being under his watchful gaze,
receiving his affection and chastisement, getting ever pushed to do
more, go further, more intensely. This is real peace of mind, to know
I'm not just a stray dog, but that I have a loving master, who is
always protecting me.

During my stay I initially enrolled in the Bhaktivedanta Academy for
Culture and Education, which held classes every weekend. They gave
wonderful classes on comparitive religion, Nectar of Devotion,
Overcoming Anger, etc.

I was given the mandate by Govinda Prabhu to fast from
computer-related service, which I sincerely adhered to.

But after a few weeks, due to festivals etc. the BACE schedule was interrupted.

Radhanatha Maharaja was to arrive soon, and the Govinda's restaurant
was supposed by be ready to open by Radhasthami. They needed to design
the menu, and as I had spoken to Gauranga Prabhu in the USA about
doing it, he engaged me in that service as the ultimate managing
authority here at that time.

After a month of no computer service I was blissful to get back into
my element. After finishing the Menus and overseeing their printing
and binding etc. I was asked to design the front awning and signboard
for the restaurant, as well as provide artwork to temporarily decorate
the walls inside.

This service has kept me busy the duration of my stay. After designing
everything, I have had to oversee its production from start to finish,
managing workers and materials, schedules and budgets, all the while
learning how to give up procrastination and inattentiveness to details
in my service.

During this time I also took up assisting Yadubara Prabhu and the
devotees at ISKCON Cinema with some of their projects.

I've just barely finished them all today, and now I have to run to
pack for my trip.

I don't know if I've done what I've been supposed to, but I have had
to face many internal struggles and attachments which I never would
have thought I even had, let alone needed to face.

But Krsna has His plans, and knows exactly what we each need to
experience in order for us to come closer to Him.

During my services I've had much interaction with Radhanath Maharaja,
having to approve all my plans by him, and get his guidance and
direction. But Maharaja doesn't just stop there, he has been teaching
me how to treat other devotees, how to be responsible, how to have
integrity, and how to be sincere.

I can only thank the devotees who have encouraged me and tolerated my
foolishness. I've only been given the assosciation of Radhanath
Maharaja and the chance to stay here in Chowpatty due to my connection
to all of you who are so dear to the devotees.

Please forgive me for writing too much and saying too little, but I'm
afraid I have to summarize this summary by saying that if there's
anything I've learned here it's that to take the assosciation and
guidance of the devotees is the only way to find shelter and hapiness
in this world. It's only by their mercy that you get the mercy of
Guru, who gives the mercy of the entire Parampara, showering the
Nectar of devotional service to the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha
Gopinatha.

Wishing you all the best,
I beg to remain,
your humble beggar,
Radha Madhava dasa

PS: Here is a link to photos of the opening of the Govinda's Signboard
by Radhanath Maharaja.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radhamadhava/

--
"This is love. And if God accepts your offerings, then what more do
you want? He becomes your most intimate friend. If you make God your
intimate friend, then there is nothing wanted. You'll be fulfilled.
You'll find that "I have got everything." And if we become convinced
that Krsna is my protector, then how much happy and peaceful we will
be. Offer something. Just be in love with Him. Then just see how much
peaceful you feel. How much tranquility you feel and how you are
protected by Krsna, how you avoid insufficiency, how you become pure,
and how you make progress in spiritual life." - Srila Prabhupada

Go to Gopinatha

Fallen soul
growing old
trapped in mold
thinking gold

give it up
it's just the modes
been there before
it comes and goes

but don't suffer throes
take shelter of your heros

it takes a moment
of sincere movement
to seek the shelter
of the Glorious Master

I'm so shameful
I'm not even bashful
that I present myself bofore Him

Serve His servants
is the only entrance
into His gorgeous presence

"I'm too fallen" is Maya's callin'
pick up the Holy Names

Chant Jai Sri Radhe! Jai Sri Shyam!
Chant Girivaradhari all day long!

Radhe Gopinatha! Radha Gopinatha! Gauranga Nityananda! Gopa Gopinatha!
Sri Gopal! Sri Gopal! Hey Nandananda! Yasoda Dulal!

Life is never dull. If you keep it full
of constant rememberance of He who makes you whirl

You need to hear more, to read more, to study
keep your mind busy so it wont steer you nutty

Been through all sorts of stages
of life, up and down
could write pages and pages
of how I've done it wrong

But one thing is right, and that's all that matters
Causeless mercy shines bright - the darkness it shatters

Don't fear it, don't hide, it won't hurt a bit
you'll lose absolutly everything which is giving you sh*t

this material world is so full of sorrow
it makes you and breaks you like there's no tomorrow

it's sweet in the thought but that's not what counts
it rapes you and chains you and tells you you're caught

but becoming free happens so easily
by truthfully calling the names of Hari

Nitai! Nitai! Nityananda my Lord!
My only shelter is your solemn word

To save the most fallen
of them I am one

Protect me and guide me
brinig me to the son

Of Nanda Yasoda
Jagannatha Misra, Saci

Sri Krishna Chaitanya
Gauranga Hari

I have nothing to offer
but my dry empty heart

full of piles and piles
it won't come apart

Please send in the rains
of Your holy names

And wash away all of the hard encrusted grains
of dirt and grime and rust and time

and there in that place erect a most auspicious shrine
wherein You can take rest and live nicely within,

served by showers of nectar which you're relishing

let me somehow or other
surrender to you
give up whatever
is holding me to
this network of senses, the mind and the rest
this cloakwork of ego, a straightsuit at best

I'm a dangerous criminal, a god-awful thief
ready to steal and plunder whatever gives me grief

mistaking that which is temporary
for my eternal shelter
thinking my body is my true well-wisher
that which my senses draw to their touch
is readily brining me closer to death

Please! Please! I BEG YOU!
Let me not lose this life!
Let me completely surrender
let me not do it twice

I have only a short time
before I'll be forced to go

Let me stay in the shelter of my Gurudeva's shadow
Please let me serve him, and please him no end.
Let me be humble an insignificant hand
who helps carry his mission throughout the land
brining souls who are fallen back to You again

I'm weak and I'm lowly, afraid and I'm hungry
I have nowhere to turn, but somehow please help me

I know I'm not worthy, but that You don't consider
You're the greatest of the greatest, but You only see that others
are special and wonderful and you only take the best
not caring for all the filth in the darkness

I cannot stop praying, for the moment I stop
I'll be captivated by Maya and turn and will drop
the security line, which is pulling me forward
back to Godhead, back to service, back to the mercy up top

Because I am thinking that "I am this mind"
never satiated always thinking
maybe next time
but no, not next time, you won't get enough
your sincerity is flowing, but you've said 'nuff stuff

Keep praying and chanting, and let the devotees guide you
take shelter and Maya will skelter if you stay close enough

Gauranga! Nitai! Nrsimha! Ki Jai! Srila Prabhupada, please
keep me from offending these, exhalted devotees whose mercy
I desperately need to seize

Please forgive me again, for carrying on
It'll save me one day, by singing along
with Your high Holy Names which are expertly sung
by poets and saints and the whole creation

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Gurudeva please save me. You're my only hope.

Inspiration to write for love

How Krsna loves me is shown by His causeless mercy in the form of many
tests for me to pass through.

So so many tests, but each one brings me closer and closer to being a
truly selfless servant, able to relish the ambrosial nectar of the
fathomless gratitude which inundates my heart for the inconceivably
wonderful ways Krsna sends His love and protection to me.

I am an utter fool. Always falling down, getting lost, messing up...
but yet with each mistake, due to the grace of those wonderful
devotees who have shared the gifts of their hearts with me, I am drawn
to pick myself up, dust myself off, and keep on going, always seeking
to go deeper into my heart and open wide it's doors to giving and
receiving the love which resides there, eternally exchanging between
my Lord, myself, and His loving servants.

I only wish to be an instrument of His will, surrendering my own for
His pleasure. What is the value of selfish gain? It simply sears the
heart and makes it hard and cold, unable to feel from so many scars.
The mind becomes a large cancerous tumor, only seeking it's own
unlimited gain at the expense of all else.

But even though these enemies may appear unconquerable, my Lord with
the slightest gesture of His eyebrows provides complete protection and
immunity to their onslaughts.

I have experienced this recently, with the glorious and
heart-wrenching passing of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja, my
greatest hero.

I can't express in words what I feel, but tears flow down my cheeks as
I remember his love and caring guidance. His examplary life serves as
a barometer for my own, how can I follow his example, how can I
dedicate my life, how can I go deeper, further, wider, more
intensely..

Unlimited sacrifice, dying to live. Whatever it takes, at all costs,
be a selfless servant. Offer love, become love in action, let it flow
through you with every thought word and deed and you will experience
it more and more as you enable yourself to be a channel for the
unlimited Divine love of the Lord for each and every living being.

I constantly regret my failure to act on this principle at different
times in my life. Each moment serves as a moment of death, for with
each moment comes the opportunity to relinquish the old and accept the
new.

To share with others this knowledge, these exchanges, this love is the
highest good and the most valuable contribution in this world.

Simply surrender, despite all seeming difficulties, blocks,
challenges, disappointments, fears, setbacks, anarthas, bad habits,
old ruts, overwhelmed senses and mind, tired body and soul.

Simply cry out for Divine love to carry you wherever you need to be
taken in order to come to the next level. Help is always available
from within our own hearts, we simply have to quiet our own inner
voices to hear His gentle song.

And with that song as our guide, we make our movements in this world
as an elegant articulate dance upon the venomous heads of illusion,
madness, lust, envy, greed, pride, and even Kali himself.

"Just keep yourself in Krsna Consciousness. Kali will not be able to
touch you." - Srila Prabhupada

Grab hold and hang on for dear life. Grab your beads, wrap your mind
around the mantra, let it wear away all the dust, dirt and debris
clogging your consciousness.
Open the Bhagavatam, let it's light dispell all shadows of illusion
and moroseness from your eyes and heart. Grab the feet of the
devotees, they will lead you on the safe and easy path following the
decorated footprints of Sri Hari to His eternal abode.

All these are the means of salvation for one burning in the fire of
worldliness and illusion.

Just find someone to share your heart and mind with. Confide in them,
and ask their blessings and guidance, and take the next step from
there. Krsna will act through them to bring you safely home.

You never have to be confused or lost. Simply ask for answers and they
will be given to you. We are not able to do it on our own.

You cannot give what you don't have, you cannot help others if you
cannot help yourself.

Even the best vehicle needs to be refueled regularly, don't deplete
your reserves thinking you can do more on your own. Be humble, accept
the assistance of those God has sent to help you. In whatever form
they appear, sometimes as friends, sometimes as seeming enemies, take
every opportunity to learn and grow to further your spiritual quest
ever onwards.

Today I received a wonderful blessing in the form of His Holiness
Indradyumna Swami's diary, expressing his constant writing, and how
Krsna is directing him to continue despite seeming difficulties.

Taking his inspiration, I am writing these thoughts with the express
desire to continue writing, for my own purification, as well as the
opportunity to share with others my innermost heart, with the aim of
encouraging them to reveal their own in their own unique way.

Each and every living being has it's unique flavor of personal service
which they render to Krsna, and Krsna desires to relish that flavor at
all times. Due to our diseased condition that service has been
interrupted and it is the highest welfare work to revive that service
in our own lives as well as in the lives of others. It is the life of
all transcendental knowledge, it increases the ocean of transcendental
bliss and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are
always anxious. This is the Sankirtana movment of the holy names.

Come on aboard! This trains a movin'! Dance the death defying drumbeat
which carries the universe as it sways in rapture.

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu first performed public Sankirtana on His
march to the home of the Kazi, the whole universal form was present
dancing in ecstatic love.

To this awesome form, I offer my respectful obeisances. Gaura
nata-raja, the Golden King of Dance conquers all directions by His
peerless grace beauty and power. May that Lord Jagannatha who is the
master of all creation be pleased upon me and always remain within my
mind heart and eyes.

Anyways, with all that, I just want to be a simple humble Vaisnava, or
at least be in the associaiton of such great souls, who remind me of
my higher nature, and who lead me ever onward down that path of true
love and friendship.

All glories to Lord Gauranga and Nityananda! All glories to Srila
Prabhupada! All glories to Srila Gurudeva! All glories to the
Vaisnavas!

--
"This is love. And if God accepts your offerings, then what more do
you want? He becomes your most intimate friend. If you make God your
intimate friend, then there is nothing wanted. You'll be fulfilled.
You'll find that "I have got everything." And if we become convinced
that Krsna is my protector, then how much happy and peaceful we will
be. Offer something. Just be in love with Him. Then just see how much
peaceful you feel. How much tranquility you feel and how you are
protected by Krsna, how you avoid insufficiency, how you become pure,
and how you make progress in spiritual life." - Srila Prabhupada

Invitation to Kulimela 2006, June 14-18, New Vrindavan. Please relay this onwards.

Invitation to Kulimela 2006, New Vrindavan, June 14-18

www.kulimela.com

Please forward this email to EVERYONE you know, used to know, and
think you should know. Help make this our biggest even of the decade.
In order to accomplish this we need to begin planning now, so please
register and relay.

Who should come to Kulimela?

We hope that you will come, along with everyone you know. This is an
international invitation to all youth, Second Generation, Kulis,
Gurukulis, Vaishnava Youth, Alumni, Childhood friends, Partners,
Friends, the connected, and the disconnected to attend a grand
festival of inspiration and renewal.

Kulimela is for all youth (and former youth) from Russia , India,
Canada, Thailand , England, Germany, USA , and every other nation in
between. Re-establishing old bonds and forging new connections will
unite a thriving international community of friends who can help and
inspire one another.

We welcome anyone who is or was a youth in this movement, whether
religious, ritvik, Iskcon, a Narayan Maharaj disciple, or completely
uninterested in religion. Respect for each other, and the location,
should allow us to be open without being challenging or demanding.

What is Kulimela?

Kulimela 2006 will be 5 days of workshops, seminars, feasting,
dancing, music, games, and theatre. Kulimela will be what we as a
community choose to make of it. Together we can develop this project
into a true representation of who we are and where we are heading. We
want you to tell us what you would like to learn or present.

Many have already have come forward and shown their interest in
presenting a variety of workshops; from parenting and business plan
workshops, to devotional workshops, and community development. What
would you suggest?

We are looking for actors, musicians, yoga practitioners, doctors,
lawyers, producers, temple management, bhaktas, mothers,
psychologists, researchers, businessmen, hospitality providers, men
and women on the pick and any others. We want to know what you are
doing, and how we can help one another.

We have focused the seminar conferences on 4 areas:

Spiritual & Community development

Business & Career

Arts & Entertainment

Medicine & Health

Attend for purely material reasons, purely spiritual reasons, or a
balance between.

Where and when is Kulimela?

Kulimela will be held in New Vrindavan from the 14-18 of June, 2006.
(the week immediately following NY Rathayatra. We have a good
support structure there and a wonderful facility. Manu's buses will
help in the transportation. We will continue to work on
transportation plans.

What do you need to do for Kulimela?

Register - Relay - Rejoice

Register: Let us know you are interested, and how you would like to
attend, as reps, delegates, workshop hosts, or artists.

Relay: Tell as many others about this as you can. Help us make it a
truly global and truly astonishing event. This is not about
religion, this is about us. Get the word out, especially to your
disconnected and old friends and see if we can all help inspire one
another.

Rejoice: start making your plans now, so you are certain you can make it.

We are looking for your help! We need representatives to help spread
the word, organize travel, answer questions and give us support. We
need entertainers who are interested in performing as singers, actors,
dancers, and whatever else your specialty might be. We need workshop
hosts who have some knowledge to share. We need sponsors willing to
help support our endeavour. We need delegates to attend.

Please register now at www.kulimela.com or contact one of our key
contacts, so that we can sufficiently organize this event and ensure
it develops to its full potential.

Why are we doing Kulimela?

We want to know what inspires you. We want to know how you have
balanced the material and spiritual aspects of your life. We want to
know about your success, and your attempted success.

Individually we don't have all the answers, but together we can share
our example. We strongly believe that our coming together will help us
to empower one another and assist us in defining and achieving our
dreams and aspirations.

Our incentive comes from knowing that most of us differentiate
ourselves from the wider population in one way or another. We may
look and talk and act like the society around us (or some few of us
may not), yet, for better or for worse, we know with certainty that
some quality distinguishes us.

For some of us that difference comes from pain and abuse, and we want
to connect here as friends and encourage one another.

For others that difference comes from having knowledge of Krishna, or
however we see God, and that knowledge changes how we look at
ourselves and those around us.

Whatever the reason, we want to share that experience and help
identify ourselves with more than our difference. Kulimela is about
looking forward not back.

Who are we?

The vision of an event of this nature has been developing and
circulating among many of us for some time. Bala Keilman and Kapila
Monet have now harnessed this energy and have created the Kulimela
project in order too see this vision progress. They have called on
many of their more experienced friends for guidance and assistance.
Our strongest affiliation is our friendships and we are very grateful
to all the many friends we have not listed, who are providing their
full support.

Although we are grateful for the assistance from members of the ISKCON
community, this is an event by us, for us, and about us.
Key Contacts
Baladeva Keilman - London and Amsterdam, Europe
Kapila Monet - London, UK and Sharanagati , Canada
Bhima Sena - New Vrindavan - USA
Govinda Ghosh - Vancouver, Canada
Executive Members
Gaura Vani, Washington D.C. - USA
Giri Santillan - Alachua, Florida, USA
Govinda Syer - Alachua, Florida, USA
Kar Delaney - Sharanagati, Canada
Krishna Das- San Francisco
Manu - Alachua, Florida , USA

Encouraged and Supported by:
Malati - New Vrindavan, USA
Gopal Bhatta
Radhanath Swami - New Vrindavan, USA

All Glories to:
Srila Prabhupada

www.kulimela.com

Sincerely,

Kulimela Executive Committee

--
"This is love. And if God accepts your offerings, then what more do
you want? He becomes your most intimate friend. If you make God your
intimate friend, then there is nothing wanted. You'll be fulfilled.
You'll find that "I have got everything." And if we become convinced
that Krsna is my protector, then how much happy and peaceful we will
be. Offer something. Just be in love with Him. Then just see how much
peaceful you feel. How much tranquility you feel and how you are
protected by Krsna, how you avoid insufficiency, how you become pure,
and how you make progress in spiritual life." - Srila Prabhupada

Have a Transcendental New Year!

To all my dear friends,

Here is a wonderful lecture given by His Holiness Radhanatha Maharaja
on new year's eve in Radha Gopinatha temple, Chowpatty.

Very nectarean and powerful.

Please read to your full satisfaction, after which you may truly have
a happy new year!

(:

with love,
your humble servant,
Radha Madhava dasa



Lecture Transcript (by Premnidhi Prabhu)

I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to everyone this evening.
Certainly there are many alternatives of much variety of how to spend
new year's eve. You have all chosen to come to begin the new year by
offering your hearts in the loving service of Sri Radha Gopinath by
hearing their message and chanting their names in the association of
wonderful spiritually minded people.

The title of this evening's discussion is "NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION"
chosen by His Grace (H.G.) Gauranga Prabhu. (Chorus): Hari Bol!. And
as the puppet on the strings of his order, I will try to speak
something.

Traditionally throughout the ages amongst powerful people the New Year
coming is a time of reflection. Reflection in terms of, Questions,
what have I done during the past year? What have I achieved? What are
my strengths and weaknesses? And where am I today? And in the coming
year what do I wish to do? We know, what are my priorities that I will
hold sacred and valuable in my life?

The Bhagavatam declares, that with each rising and setting of the sun,
a person is one day closer to death, except those who take pleasure in
hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord, for them every rising
and setting of the sun is one day closer to eternal life. In the 11th
chapter of Sri Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells when he reveals His
universal form to Arjuna, "Time I am, controlling everything within
material nature, devouring ultimately all living beings." Time is the
energy of God himself within material existence. Time is one of the
five subjects that is emphasized within Bhagavad Gita, time is
activating the entire material creation.

It is described when Krishna, he creates the Maha-tattva, which is the
potential material creation, which is like a cloud in the spiritual
sky, and then by his own will he creates 24 material elements, the
three modes of nature – Goodness, Passion and Ignorance and then he
glances upon it, and through his glance he activates the three modes
of nature with the power of time, and then all phenomena and all
species of life are created.

So time is so important, so sacred, it is the manifestation of God
himself, and how we utilize our time will determine the value of our
lives. When a new year comes, it is a very-very suitable time to
really contemplate and make plans, make resolutions of what are the
priorities that I am going to pursue, because a moment wasted cannot
be brought back with all the wealth in Brahma's creation. There is
nothing so precious as time.

Vishnu Purana, this text explains very-very succinctly that there is
no greater tragedy in all of creation than for a human being, who has
this rare, special human birth to waste their time in forgetfulness of
God. But unfortunately material nature is created by the Supreme
Personality of Godhead in such a way, to give all the inhabitants free
will and Maya or the illusory energy is there to facilitate the
desires we may have that are contrary to the will of God.

Maya is very powerful, very-very powerful. How the material energy
distracts us moment after moment from the real treasure that every
soul is longing to achieve. Srila Prabhupada quotes that, "A miserly
person is one who attains this human life, and dies without realizing
God, dies like the animals. Human life is the junction in which we can
actually make the choice and make perfect our existence, realize the
true identity of the self and the unlimited treasure of happiness that
we are meant to experience in relation to God. But Maya Devi, the
illusory energy creates a whole system with so many various intricate
networks to distract our attention, to think that we can be happy
through temporary material enjoyment.

Govinda das prays …kamala dala jala jivana tala mala… That is the
nature of all the acquisitions that we may achieve in this world, it
is like a single drop of water and a leaf of a louts flower. It is
there for a moment and when it slips into oblivion, that is the nature
of our wealth, our body, our prestige, all our abilities, our friends
and family members. These connections and relationships are
extinguished by the power of time. But yet we put so much of our
life's energy in perusing the mirages created by Maya.

What is the nature of a mirage? It looks like water which will quench
our thirst. And we work so hard to achieve it and when we finally come
to that reservoir, all we get is a mouthful of hot, dry sand. Krishna
explains in Gita, Bhoktaram yajna tapasam… if we actually want to
achieve real peace, it's not difficult. 3 things are required to
understand and live by the principles, that Krishna is supreme
proprietor of everything that exists and everything is ultimately
meant for his enjoyment, why because we are his eternal servants and
Krishna is the ever will wishing friend of everyone. By following his
instruction, by hearing his glories, by chanting his names, by living
in harmony with his will we can achieve the ultimate perfection. If we
simply have faith in these 3 principles, we can achieve everlasting
peace.

But trying to create peace in a world where people are living
untruthful to the real nature, is impossible. Janayas moho. The basic
principle of all suffering is declared in Srimad Bhagavatam, that to
think that I am this body and those things in connection to the body
are mine, in this condition we want to Lord over the material nature.
We think that we are the controller and it becomes such a fever, that
we become mad, mad with the fever trying to enjoy, trying to control,
trying to be proprietor.

The Gita declares, Kamesa… it is this Kama, the passion to selfishly
enjoy, which is the all devouring sinful enemy, and when it's not
gratified, it transforms into wrath. In the age of Kali we see so much
passion and so much wrath, therefore Kali Yuga is not a safe place.
Padam padam… there is danger at every step. Devotees are para dukha
dukhi, the nature of a devotee is, other people's suffering is our
suffering. We see since time immemorial great sages of all traditions,
they are willing to undergo all difficulties and pains and even
sometimes death to help relieve common people form their sufferings.
And how much suffering is in this world and why and what can we do
about it?

I would like to discuss this subject briefly this evening. A great
catastrophe has come upon the world. This earthquake that took place
off the coast of Indonesia and the tidal waves that were created, has
killed according to the count now approximately 120 thousand people.
Millions and millions of people are homeless with nothing, they have
lost family members and loved ones, friends, they have no property,
they have no food, massive injuries with very little relief. It's
devastating. When a devotee hears of this, how can we not weep to feel
the sufferings of so many people?

Bhaktivedanta hospital, most of the leaders have gone near Kanyakumari
trying to do their part, helping those people and we are so very
grateful for them, it will not be an easy job for them. Let us also
try to understand from scriptural point of view why these calamities
come upon human society and cause so much sorrow and suffering.

Repeatedly in the scriptures, it describes how the Lord appears, Yada
yada hi Dharmasya … again and again to establish religion (Dharma) and
to annihilate irreligion. In the 10th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam one
example is the earth took the form of a cow to approach Brahma and
ultimately Krishna because the earth was overburdened, overburdened
with the people who were acting improperly.

What is the nature of this burden of the earth? There are two kinds of
burden. There is the burden of the beast which is unbearable and there
is the burden of love which the is the source of great pleasure just
like a mother. When a mother holds her child on her lap, even when the
child is grown up, child is heavy, it's a burden, but the mother feels
extreme pleasure by the weight of that child. Similarly when a
businessman has lots of wealth, that wealth is heavy but he gets
happiness. When great personalities take responsibilities to help
others selflessly, that is a burden.

We were hearing about His Holiness Niranjan Swami Maharaja, he has
such a massive burden upon him, dealing with so many difficult
situations, difficult places but because it's a burden of love it's
the source of great pleasure for him and all the people that he has
relationships with.

The earth is declared to be our mother. The earth is not just a dead
sphere that is there for human society to exploit and abuse. The earth
is living. It is creating so much life, let us say she is creating so
much life and since time immemorial in all parts of the world earth is
addressed as mother, Ahama Bija … Krishna declared, I am the seed
giving father of all living beings. It is as the mother nourishes
everything from the child, similarly mother earth is giving us all our
nourishment, she is providing everything. She has provided our bodies
and she is providing everything to sustain our body, everything to
enjoy.

How do we reciprocate with gifts of mother earth? That is an all
important question to ask. The mother is meant to be respected and
protected and when mother earth is properly protected, she provides
everything for everyone. But when she is exploited, abused and
practically raped by human society, there will be reactions, massive
reactions. We are warned about it constantly ecologically, socially,
spiritually at every level it only makes sense.

Several hundred years ago, the white men from Europe came to what we
now call north America and literally stole all the land from the
native American Indians and actually most of the Indians were willing
to cooperate, they just wanted some fairness even though it was all
theirs before. But when they saw how wreckless these Europeans were in
just killing animals, deforesting the forest and just plundering...
this was 100s of years ago before technology. One of the great Indian
chiefs Seattle of whom Seattle Washington was named after. He made a
famous statement, he wrote a letter to the president of the United
States, Andrew Jackson and he said to the President of the united
states that the earth is your mother and you must respect her or she
is going to react violently against you. The earth is the bed that you
have to sleep on, if you pollute it you are going to have to sleep and
live in that mess.

And look at the world today even from a scientific ecological point of
view there has to be reactions when we abuse the earth the way we are
doing today what to speak of the Spiritual Karmic consideration we are
drilling the earth for oil we are deforesting massive-massive natural
forests of the earth which are absolutely required for every living
being's survival. Now if some of these things are done for normal
purposes then that's a burden of love that the earth accepts but when
it's based on greed when it's based on ego, when it's based on
insensitivity and disrespect for the mother there is going to be
violent reactions. We are dumping mass deadly chemicals in the waters.

Years ago in the north sea practically every fish was murdered killed
washing to the shore even where I lived as a little boy at lake
Michigan there were mountains of dead fish because they were dumping
so much pollution in the lake and were polluting the air, prolifically
polluting the air, the ozone breaking down, by putting radiation,
nuclear wastes, all sorts of poison within the earth, massive deadly
chemicals, killing the top soil of the earth.

How do you expect the earth to respond when all over the word they are
testing nuclear bombs on her surface? Massive-massive military
marching upon her, taking her plush fields to grow and harvest
intoxication that cause people to go mad and abuse their bodies and
abuse others. Endless blood of innocent animals soaking the earth,
slaughter simply to satisfy the palate of human society. Millions and
millions and millions of abortions every year, our mother earth's own
children being killed within womb, illicit sex, gambling.

From ecological point of view, if you are exploiting the oil, if you
are polluting, if you are blowing up bombs, and from karma point of
the view, you are exploiting the resources of earth with greed, ego,
there must be a reaction, there must be repeated reaction. It is to be
expected Dharma means the laws of God. If you do not follow the laws
of the state, there is going to be reaction. And when it happens on
massive level, there is massive reactions.

Srila Prabhupada describes so nicely that the laws of the state, there
is laws of nature, and according to the laws of nature, for every
action there is equal corresponding reaction. Look at the irreligion
that is taking place in the age of kali, and this is the universal
principle, every devotee who is a servant of God, through all of time
have come to teach us to follow this simple, basic laws of God
according to time, place and circumstance. Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha,
Lord Caitanya, they all came to teach the basic principles, we must
follow the laws of God. But in this age of Kali, people out of their
sentiments, and on the basis of their of egoism they can concoct all
speculative ideas and justify horribly breaking the laws of God in the
name of religion. According to my religion it is a holy thing to cut
your throat. Look at what is happening in the world today, terrorism,
hatred so many concoctions, therefore Krishna tells in Gita, Sarva
Dharman parityajya … That abandon all these varieties of religion and
just surrender to me, that is what every great saintly person has
taught.

Jesus said, "I have not come to do away with the laws, I have to
fulfill them. Just surrender to God. This world is a place where you
have to suffer. He said this world is a bridge, cross over it but
don't be attached to build a house upon it. And that is what all the
great sages have said. The devoted servants of the Lord come to this
world to give us shelter and that is the purpose of this Krishna
consciousness movement.

Prabhupada said we are not here to convert, we are here to enlighten
people, to live in harmony with the laws of God, to bathe in harmony
with the will of the earth that is sublime as everything. Vidyavanay
sampanne. This is the nature of the devotee that they are kind,
compassionate and merciful to everyone. They see every living being
with equal vision whether they are a brahmana, a sudra, a cow, an
elephant, a dog or a dog eater(chandala). He sees or she sees with
equal vision. Why? Because he sees within every heart is the spirit
soul, part of God, my brother, my sister. Trinad api sunicena… to be
humble like a blade of grass, tolerant like a tree, eager to offer all
respect to others and expect none in return. These are the qualities
of one whose heart is pure and thus we can always chant the names of
the Lord.

We have seen the devastating effect of the tidal waves. Massive
exploitation, massive abuse of the earth are always reactive and so
many people have to suffer. When will human society learn. We must
live in harmony with the will of mother earth and with the will of the
Lord if we want peace and happiness within this world.

I was just thinking that when you commit an offense to a Vaishnava, or
when you commit sinful activities, the reaction is very much similar
to the earthquake that we have seen last Sunday. I read a statement by
a very great authority on the subject of the earthquakes from
California. We are authorities because any day a massive earthquake
could come in California and according to very-very senior geologist
he told me, the longer it takes for the earthquake to come the more
devastating it will be. And it's the wealthiest state of America in
fact Hollywood is there, which you may think is the perverted
reflection of bollywood. They don't think like that, everyone has
their own opinion. So this authority was explaining that when there is
an earthquake under the ocean, miles and miles down, you can't see it
happening, and that quaking of earth creates massive tidal wave, he
reported when the tidal wave is traveling over the sea, it is
practically impossible to see it even with modern satellites you just
cannot see it. These tidal waves were moving at over 500 miles an hour
from over 1,500 miles and nobody could see that anything was
happening. You only see the tidal wave when it crashes to the shore,
then it manifests its full fury of devastation.

So similarly people carelessly, they commit sinful activities,
individually and collectively. When there is massive collective
activities, that are plundering, exploiting and destabilizing the
earth planet, there is going to be massive response. But we think we
get away with it, we don't see any reaction coming, we can go on year
after year after year after year after year, the tidal wave is coming
at its speed and you don't even know until it comes to the shore of
our life, and devastation. And that's the way Vaishnava aparadha is,
it's like the tidal waves. You commit offenses to others due to egoism
and disrespect. You hurt other people's heart due to inconsiderate
behavior for whatever reason, it's like an earthquake to your
spiritual life and the reactions are on its way, but we think nothing
is happening and we go on making offenses, go on committing sinful
acts but then ultimately that tidal wave is going to reach the shore
of the present moment and cause spiritual devastation, like the mad
elephant, and all the efforts we made to create our spiritual assets
on the shore of life are just washed away, devastated by the tidal
wave of our own reactions.

So there is a great lesson both collectively and individually that we
must be very careful to take very-very seriously. But Krishna is so
kind, yada yada hi dharmasya… in order to remove the burden of the
earth, the Lord has descended again and again and again out of his
causeless mercy, but who is taking his words seriously? The Lord
descended and spoke the Bhagavad Gita and in other parts of the world
the Lord sent his representatives to speak the truth, but how many
people take it seriously? We are just trying to build our treasures in
this temporary world and in the process committing so many offenses,
it's a big problem.

When Krishna appeared, mother earth herself came before him, very
symbolic. When Krishna entered Mathura, there was a hunchback woman
named Trivarka also known as Kubja and Trivarka was actually an
expansion of Satyabhama. Or let us explain it systematically,
Satyabhama is a goddess of fortune, the eternal consort of the Lord.
Her expansion is Prithvi which is mother earth or Bhumi. Bhumi is the
consort of Lord. Has anyone of you been to Tirupati? In Tirupati,
according to tradition before you go to see Balaji, you are supposed
to first offer your prayers and worship to Bhumi Varaha, that is the
tradition. Bhumidevi and Varaha. Varaha is Vishnu himself, the Lord
and Bhu devi is his consort, mother earth. So this Prithvi manifested
herself as Kubja. Now Kubja, she was walking down the street with
very-very fragrant, fine, expensive oils.

Kamsa was taking all of her oils for his own demoniac purposes, yes,
Kamsa was not only a powerful Asura, he very much represents the
egoistic minds sets – "I and Mine" without regard for the laws of God
or nature. So yes, Kubja was being utilized in the service of Kamsa
and because of that association she was a hunchback in a very ugly
form. But Krishna saw her, a hunchback is a great burden, yes, can you
imagine what a burden it is? You can't stand up straight, there is
weight upon you, there is big burden on you.

So mother earth as Kubja was walking like a hunchback under the order
of Kamsa taking the fine oils to him. Krishna saw her and said,"O
beautiful lady:" She wasn't beautiful, nobody else thought that she
was beautiful but Krishna saw the beauty within her, ultimately
Krishna sees the beauty within every living being. We are all
Sacidananda, we are all eternal, we are all his loving servants.
Krishna said – O beautiful woman, please give me your scented oils and
Kubja was delighted even though she had to go completely against the
order of Kamsa, all the oils that he was expecting, she offered to
Krishna and Balarama. Hari Bol! Krishna anointed and she anointed
their bodies with these oils and Krishna was so happy with her that he
put both of his feet on her two feet and then with his two index
fingers, he put them under her chin and pulled up and she became
straight, her hunchback disappeared and she became most beautiful
woman, I am not going to describe her beauty. She was absolutely
beautiful. And not only that but Krishna actually awakened conjugal
feelings of love – Madhurya Rasa within her heart and she pulled
Krishna's Dhoti and Krishna turned around, his friends were there and
he promised I will come to your home later. So Vishvanatha Chakravarti
Thakur, our beloved acaryas explain it in this way that this is
Krishna's mission to remove the burden from mother earth, to remove
her from the miseries of the weight of so many people plundering,
raping, abusing and committing sinful activities upon her.

What is our right? We divided up the earth and call it our own, with
no regard to God, but Krishna comes to remove that burden and to
remove it from any individual who takes shelter of him. Kavi Kalen
nama … in the age of kali Krishna has descended within the sound of
his Holy Name. Golokera prema dana Hari nama sankirtana. From Goloka
Vrindavan the holy name has descended, as an avatar to remove the
burden of the earth to anyone who takes shelter of Krishna in his
name. nama cintamani …that name is absolutely non-different from
Krishna in his cintamani, it will fulfill all our innermost desires.

Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is the yuga avatar came to
promote this chanting of the holy names for the purpose of bringing
actual peace and happiness in peoples' hearts and if people do not
have peace and happiness in their hearts, how will they spread it
within the world? Peace on earth begins with you, anybody could talk
about it, anyone can make demonstrations about it but if you do not
clean your heart and find real love for yourself, then what are you
really going to do substantially for this planet and for the world? He
allows us to be true instrument of Gods love in our every act and our
every word and our every thought.

That is what the world needs, compassionate beings who are by their
examples and by their efforts actually trying to live in harmony with
gods love. Is there any greater need within human society? If we are
not a part of the solution then we are a part of the problem. There is
no in between. So Krishna has so kindly descended in his name, to
attract our heart to his love to his past times to reestablish the
true principles of religion, love and devotion to the Supreme and love
and compassion to all living beings. That is religion. That is the
constitutional nature of the soul.

When love of God is directed towards others in this world it manifests
as compassion to annihilate irreligion and all the miscreants within
us. For this reason the Lord has appeared in his name. Thus Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu called to all of us Jiva Jago Jiva Jago Gaura
chander…bole Lord Caitanya is calling wake up wake up wake up
spiritually you are in a deep state of sleep on the lap of Maya wake
up. Chant the names of the Lord and be happy, be free, spread the
transcendental vibration! Mother earth feels such deep pleasure and
rejuvenation when the devotees are dancing upon her surface loudly
chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama
Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

Dina … the power of the holy name has been proven. Even Jagai and
Madhai were delivered to the highest platform of pure love. They were
murderers, rapists, thieves. They burnt peoples houses
indiscriminately. They were drunkards. Can you imagine if they had the
technologies of the 21st century? All they had were their hands and
some clubs and they were causing absolute havoc. Can you imagine if
they had bombs and guns and computers? They would be the terrorists of
all terrorists, they would be hiding in the caves of Afghanistan, no
actually they would be probably ruling the world, but the name of the
Lord is so powerful that it cleansed their hearts and it made them a
humble compassionate instrument only considering the welfare of
others.

Srila Prabhupada, our beloved Guru Maharaja, he saw the condition of
Kali Yuga. He warned us so many times that the direction the human
society is taking, creating so many artificial ways of plundering the
earth, it is going to have massive reactions. We should try to do our
parts to help the people to understand they are not going to be happy
by all these artificial attempts. Happiness does not come from
accumulation of power and wealth, happiness can only come when the
soul is united with God, and acts with love toward other living
beings, there is no other true happiness.

Srila Prabhupada, on Jaladuta arrived in New York City, which is the
capital of so much materialism, with all respect to Americans. Illicit
sex, intoxication, gambling, meat eating are just the normal way of
the life, even for practically children. Yes, and it's getting worse
and worse. He came to such a civilization alone. What did he have? He
had faith in the order of his Guru who told him to spread the message
of Lord Caitanya throughout the world in the English language. He only
had 40 Rupees and he did not know a single person and he was 70 years
old, and just a few days before he had three heart attacks. He had
faith in Guru and complete faith in the power of Krishna's name to
transform peoples' hearts and he had a box of books which explained
the real problems of life and how to solve them individually, socially
and collectively. It is by the gift of his compassion that we have
this opportunity to discuss these subjects on this occasion of new
year's eve.

It is traditional that on new year's eve people make resolutions.
Prabhupada once explained "Resolution, revolution, dissolution and no
solution." That's the nature of most new year's resolutions. But what
should we really pray for on this special day, the juncture between
2004 and 2005? Sometimes I'm behind in the times. I am not going to go
into details of proofs and evidences of this statement.

Krishna explains in Gita … My devotees are always chanting my holy
names and endeavoring in great determination. If we want to make
spiritual progress Tirthavrita, vows of determination are absolutely
essential. A few days ago was Christmas so we were quoting Lord Jesus
few times, he said either you be hot or cold but if you are lukewarm I
will spit you out. Hare Krishna. Very honest statement. We must have
determination because Maya Devi is trying to trap us at every step.
Material energy is just trying to just take away the moments of our
precious human life, moment after moment.

Without vows of determination we don't really go anywhere. Today it is
so fanciful that the people who preach so called religion they
accumulate millions of followers because they tell what they want to
hear, you don't have to change your lives, you don't have to struggle
or strive you just chant the mantra or do some breath control or give
me some money, and you will be liberated just do this one little
thing. Just do this meditation and you will be alright you don't have
to change your lifestyle. But where in any scripture in the world it
is found whether one is a Buddhist, or a Jain or a Zoroastrian or a
Hare Krishna - Sanatana Dharma, Christian and Muslim its rejected in
every scripture by every saint. Jesus said, the narrow path is the
path to the kingdom of God, the narrow path is whether strict, whether
it takes determination and it's very difficult, the wide path leads to
suffering and destruction. And Krishna tell in Gita there is no
question of yoga without controlling mind and senses.

Tani Sarven … Krishna says you must fix your consciousness upon me and
restrain the senses from doing the things that are not favorable to
advancement of spirituality. Only in Kali Yuga could people such
propaganda that I will be liberated. I can just go on doing everything
if I just do little meditation or little breath control or little
mantra or give some donation to someone and get some blessing. There
must determination Dhrida Vrata. Material existence is like a river
flowing downstream, its leading to the ocean of birth and death and
bondage. We have to swim upstream and that takes determination, that
takes effort.

Are we sincere that is the question. That is the question. Are we
actually sincere, do we really want something substantial? Or are we
just going to flow down the stream doing some meditation and think
that we might be little peaceful, but we are still flowing downstream.
So new year is a time resolution which is the time to introspectively
question what do I really want in life? And to make resolutions of
determination to help us to achieve our goal. Its very important.

When devotees take initiation they take vows because actually to take
things to take seriously vows are very- very powerful that help us. So
what type of determined resolution should we take on this day? We can
inspect in which way we are cheating or which ways are we dishonest to
humanity and to God and to Vaishnavas? In which ways am I lazy from
doing the right thing, in which ways am I habituated in doing the
wrong things? In which ways am I allowing the association of the
material energy to steal my consciousness away from me? And to take
seriously and make, may be not necessarily vows but resolutions in our
lives to be determined, to give up our bad habits, to give, to try, to
really make effort to overcome our weaknesses, to increase our
enthusiasm to do the right things. To be honest, to be truthful, to be
compassionate and kind to others, to offer all respect, to be humble.

Actually if we just make one resolution, we will attain life's
perfection. Trinad Api Sunicena… just try to be humble like blade of
grass, tolerant like the tree, to offer all respect to others and to
really sincerely make efforts from our hearts to take shelter of the
holy names. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare
Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

There are three essential principles on the path of Bhakti, to worship
the Lord in his Avatar in the age of Kali by chanting his Holy names,
by sincerely from our hearts lovingly serving the Vaishnavas, and by
being a compassionate, well wisher of all living beings. And what is
separating us from following these principles? That we should try to
resolve to overcome even little by little let us try to move in the
right direction and in the assembly of the devotees to pray at the
lotus feet of Radha Gopinatha, let me always remember you, help me to
follow that path in which I can always remember you and never forget
you. Help me to overcome my weaknesses and my laziness so that I can
be the real servant of the Vaishnavas and a compassionate instrument
within this world. That we increase the sincerity in which we hear
your glories, read Srila Prabhupada's books and chant the names of the
Lord. If we pray for these things, Krishna will hear our prayer, if we
are sincere. Ananyas Cintayanta … Krishna will give us all help.

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, actually Lochan das Thakur said about
Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda : Parma Karuna Parama … ananda
kanda. That these two brothers have come to teach the Yuga Dharma
which is revealed in the Holy scriptures. And the process they give is
simply joyful, chanting, dancing, tasting Prasad, it's a wonderful
process. But to follow it properly there must be determination, accept
what is favorable and reject what is unfavorable for devotional
service. And if we just make that sincere effort. Man Mana Bhava Mad
Bhakto . Just try to think of me always, become my devotee, offer
homage unto me, worship me, Krishna promises – "You will come to me
without fail."

So on this wonderful occasion where we have come together let us
consider these resolutions because we don't know what wave of material
existence may come upon us at any moment, we shouldn't waste time,
it's a tragedy. If the waves of material existence crash upon us and
we lose our life without loving God, we've lost everything and we
don't want anyone to have to suffer that, that is a devotee. So let us
on this day sincerely pray with sincere hearts for all those who were
killed by this great catastrophe and let us pray with very sincere
hearts for the well being, physical, emotional and spiritual well
beings for all those who are suffering through catastrophe, and let us
pray for all living beings on earth whose consciousness has been
flooded by the tidal wave of illusion and are wasting their lives and
let us pray sincerely that we can actually help them as the servant of
the servant of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna in spreading the
glories of the holy name. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

New year is also a time traditionally to become intoxicated. Yes? It
is the nature of the soul to be intoxicated, so much intoxication.
Trinkard Prabhu and myself are from Chicago. During 1920s and 30s the
US government made a law called prohibition against all alcoholic
beverages. Yes. And that's when the gangsters, they knew that everyone
wanted to get intoxicated so they were bootlegging, they were making
illegal alcohol and profusely selling it. Everyone had more alcohol
than the if the government made it legal. That's why ultimately the
government made it legal, and taxed on it so that they can make money
off it. People want to be intoxicated. I was speaking to someone from
high society in Bombay and they told me at these high class
aristocratic parties, practically everybody has a glass of alcohol in
their hands and they are just walking all night with glasses of
alcohol in their hands. I have never been, I may never be – I pray!
But I am told that people want to become intoxicated. Where does the
desire come from? Because the nature of the soul is to get intoxicated
in ecstatic love which is born of receiving the mercy of Krishna – the
intoxication of love of God is eternal – it will never come down – no
hangovers! And that love of God Prabhupada is distributing all over
the world. So tonight we will take the supreme nectar of the most
powerful of all intoxicants – the holy names – Hare Krishna Hare
Krishna …and when drinking this intoxicant in the association of the
society of devotees, it becomes very ecstatic. Thank you very much.

At this time,we will like to invite HH Niranjana Swami Maharaja to
kindly speak to us.

………statement of Prabhupada that he made exactly 30 years back here in
Bombay. Are you interested to hear this? In Bombay December 31st 1974,
because I got mixed up in dates it is actually 31 years ago. No , 30
years ago…yes. Exactly 30 years ago! This is Srila Prabhupada's new
year eve message to us. Srila Prabhupada ki jai! "In Vrindavan,
everyone is overwhelmed with love of Krishna. When they cannot find
Krishna they become mad, although they do not know that Krishna is
God. This is pure love. Without any knowledge of the supreme powerful
almighty – no contamination, pure love."

HG Trnakarta Prabhu : ….They should see how Srila Prabhupada came to
save such fallen people like my ancestors.

HH Radhanatha Swami Maharaja : No you are utilizing your family's
propensity to distribute the nectar of the Holy Names.

HG Trnakarta Prabhu : Everybody's gonna hopefully make transcendental
resolutions for 2005. So, you have such a wonderful congregation at
Chowpatty – maybe one small resolution would be to bring as many
people here as possible, who have never been to Prabhupada's temple,
to the lotus feet of Srila Radhanatha Maharaja.

Like the Bhagavatam said "A turban with jewels that has not bowed down
before the Lord or hands that have not served deities in devotional
service are like dead hands. So, it is a fact that everybody is. We
are right on the verge of this Tsunami wave of Maya coming at us. So,
it's like a fire there's a great fire burning in Kali Yuga- so we have
to bring as many people as possible to the lotus feet of Srila
Prabhupada.

So, I think that will be a fantastic resolution to try to bring as
many people here as possible and also to teach people to make their
homes temples which is just as important or goes hand in hand. We were
fortunate that Srila Prabhupada came to America & gave us Krishna. We
didn't know about the demigods. So many different gods they worship
here in India, so we have to make people understand what Krishna says
in the Bhagavad Gita – Aham sarvasya prabhavo…." That he is the source
of all the spiritual and material worlds, that he is the Lord, the
creator of all & we have to surrender our lives to him.

So, this is a great opportunity for all of us to make this year a
wonderful year of preaching Krishna's glories & helping people come to
the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada. Because, actually, we are trying
to enjoy so much in this life.

My mother lives in a place called Las Vegas. Srila Radhanatha Swami
Maharaja was talking about the mirage in the desert. When you get
closer then you think you're gonna get some relief but all you get is
a mouthful of sand. So, when Maharaja was speaking about the mirage, I
was thinking about Las Vegas, because there is a one big hotel in Las
Vegas called Mirage. Anybody who knows about Las Vegas, it is the same
as the higher ups of Bombay. Everybody has a drink in their hands &
there is millions & millions & millions of people that go to Las Vegas
just for this purpose. So, it epitomizes Kali Yuga because I have been
there. My mother lives there so I have to go visit her sometimes. So I
see all the crazy things that go on there. So amazing! You take some
innocent young boy from India, & just drop him off in the middle of
Las Vegas, he will be so bewildered. All you hear are slot machines go
ding, ding, ding! People going crazy & smoking & drinking & that's
what it's all about. So, basically in Kali Yuga that's what everybody
is after. So, somehow or another, make this resolution that you have
to bring as many people as possible to Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet.
That will be a great accomplishment. Hare Krishna!

HH RNS: Our beloved Kirtana singer Niranjana Swami Maharaja is going
to intoxicate us. Lord Caitanya explained. Sri Caitanya Bhagavat –
when the devotees raise their arms in Kirtana – raise your arms please
- we are actually generating the mercy of the Holy Name throughout the
universal creation. Just like – you have seen antennas? – they
generate various waves- so the arms serve like antennas & the devotion
& the love of our hearts as we are chanting the Holy Names spreads
throughout the universe like the air-waves. So, everyone please rise.

Hari bol!


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