The holly name: A river or an ocean?

H.H. Sacinandana Maharaja wrote a very recommended book about Japa Meditation entitled "Nectarean Ocean of the Holy Name". The holly name is like truly an ocean of nectar. By chanting it and meditating on it's sound we are striving towards that ocean, prying to harinama to reveal itself to us. There are obstacles in the way of meditation, thoughts that rise and come between us an the holly name. The practice of meditation is to take these obstacles away and reach the pure revelation of harinama.
How do we do that? How do we remove these obstacles? By chanting the holly name. The holly name shell eventually clear all obstacles just like a river is clearing away obstacles by it's stream. As it clears them, it flows better. As it flows, it clears them. So we should let the river of the holly name wash away the obstacles by our chanting. And so the river is flowing to the ocean, it's final goal.
So is the holly name like an ocean of like a river? In other words: is it the goal or is it simply the way to get to it? The answer is: it is both. The river is water. The ocean is also water. The holly name is the goal, being non different then the Lord himself. It is also the way to get to that goal, since the lord is the one who uplift us from the material entanglement. We chant the holly name in order to meditate better on it. Our goal is for harinama to reveal itself to us. We need to change our state of being for that to happen and we do that by chanting harinama, the holly name of the Lord.

A holly river in West-Bengal - India

Tips for better Japa meditation

When we practice Japa Meditation we mainly practice chanting without offences. The main offence we come across while meditating is inattentive chanting. Many people chant and everybody know about the offences and that chanting should not be a mechanical act but an act of devotional meditation on the holly name. When practicing meditation, I sometimes find it hard to keep my concentration on the sound of the holly name. The mind tends to run wild. How to restrain it? Here are a few tips I collected to help me:

* Srila Prabhupada said that when you chant the holly name it should me like a child calling his father to come and take him. We call Krishna to tale us away from our material entanglement.
* The Lord and his holly name are one. Therefore, when you chant the holly name you're in direct contact with the lord. If a respected personality was to be here in the room with you, were you not to give him all your attention? Would've you be distracted? In fact, that is the case when you practice the chanting of the holly name. Try to be aware of that.
* It is enough to say the holly name even once, with grate concentration, and reach the spiritual platform. Even once! So you should try it. And if you do not succeed, try again. And again and so on try to pronounce the holly name with concentration in your japa.
* If thoughts arise between you and the mantra, simply ask them "not now" and make them go away. They can wait. Your doing your meditation now.
* According to authority, during japa your thoughts should be on only one thing: a prayer to Harinama to reveal to reveal himself before you. I was told that if images of the deities, the devotees or holly places pops into your head while you're chanting, that is fine, but you should not make a special effort to think of anything but the sound of the holly name while chanting. A swami from West Bengal once told me he finds it good to think about Krishna-Lila while chanting.
* If possible, chant with others so you can hear them chanting. If not possible, you can play a recording of a senior devotee chanting and listen to it while you chant. (A recording of Srila Prabhupada chanting is available here: http://www.krishna.com/en/node/388)
* Try to clear enough time to sit down, relax and chant. Try not to stuff your rounds in free slots of time here and there during the day or chant while you do other things. Chanting 16 rounds should take an hour or an hour and 15 minutes of you're day. Think how much time people dedicate to mundane things such as watching television or shopping of things they don't need. Is it really impossible to dedicate some time a day for chanting?
* Try not to see chanting as a chore. See at as an attempt to find bliss. You practice chanting and when you do it correctly you find bliss. Practice so that your chanting will be more and more blissful.

May Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire

[This was poasted at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bodhayan/]

"O Govardhana, O king of mountains, (the best of Hari's servants), O hill whose nectarine name flows from the moonlike mouth of Sri Radha, O hill that the Vedas declare to be the tilaka marking of Vraja, please grant me a residence near to you." (Garga Samhita)

Giriraj's coming to Vraja:

Following the inquiry of Nanda Maharaj to his brother Upananda Prabhu, concerning the appearance of Giriraj Govardhan in Vrndavan, Upananda Prabhu related the story as told by Bhismadev (citing the Garga Samhita) to Maharaj Pandu, who had also asked the same question.
In Goloka Vrndavana Lord Sri Krsna informed Srimati Radharani that She should make ready for Their coming to this particular material universe to appear on the Earth planet to enact Their transcendental pastimes. Srimati Radharani replied that unless Vraja Dhama, the Yamuna and Govardhana Hill were present there, She would not come. Krsna assured His Beloved that Vraja Dhama, the Yamuna and Giriraj Govardhana had already made Their appearance on the Earth planet, and were awaiting Srimati's and Krsna's coming.
Thousands of years before this conversation, in the land of Salmali Dvipa, Dronacal's (a flying mountain) wife gave birth to a son named Govardhana. At the time of Govardhana's birth all the demigods appeared in the sky and showered flowers upon him. The great mountains, led by the Himalayas and Sumeru came, offering their respects and prayers, praising Govardhana for having descended from Goloka Vrndavana. They accepted Govardhan as their king, described Him as the "crown jewel of Vraja," and performed parikrama of Govardhana.
At the beginning of Satya Yuga, the great sage Pulastya Muni came to Salmali dvipa. Seeing the beautiful Govardhana covered with many lovely creepers, flowers, rivers, caves and chirping birds, Pulastya Muni felt that Govardhan was capable of giving liberation. He then went to meet Dronacal, who immediately offered his respects and inquired from the sage what service he could render. Pulastya Muni informed Dronacal that he was on pilgrimage to all of the holy places, his explaining that he resided in Kasi. He explained that although Kasi was so auspicious due to the presence of the Ganga flowing through the city, there were no hills possessed of such beauty present in the city. He asked Dronacal if he would give his son Govardhana to him so that he could bring Govardhana to Kasi, so that he could perform his tapasya sitting on top of the hill.
Dronacal did not want to give up Govardhana, and began crying in thoughts of possible separation from his son. Govardhana, not wanting to see Pulastya Muni become angry and curse his father, asked Pulastya Muni how he would be able to carry him all the way to Kasi. Pulastya Muni said he would carry him in his right hand. Govardhana agreed to go with the sage giving one condition; if the sage put him down anywhere during the course of the journey, he would not be able to lift him again. Pulastya Muni agreed, and left, carrying Govardhana in his right hand.
On his way to Kasi Pulastya Muni entered into Vraja, Govardhana's desiring to remain there. Govardhana then arranged for Pulastya Muni to feel the urgings of relieving himself, so Pulastya Muni attended to the call of nature, putting Govardhana down. When Pulastya Muni returned, he was unable to again lift Govardhana to any degree, despite the tremendous strength he was using to do so.
In great anger Pulastya Muni then cursed Govardhana that He would daily sink into the ground, the measurement of one mustard seed. When Govardhana first came to Vraja in the beginning of Satya Yuga, he was 64 miles long, 40 miles wide, and 16 miles high. It is explained that after 10,000 years of the Kali Yuga, Govardhana (and Yamuna Devi) will have completely disappeared.
After narrating the wonderful story of Govardhana's appearance, (another brother of Nanda Maharaj), Sunanda Prabhu informed Nanda Maharaja that as long as Govardhana Hill and the river Yamuna remained manifest, Kali Yuga would not take its full effect. Sunanda Prabhu also explained that anyone who is fortunate enough to hear the description of the appearance of Giriraj Govardhana would be freed from all sins.

Sri Govardhanastakam (Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur)

1. krsna prasadena samasta saila samrajyam apnoti ca vairino 'pi
sakrasya yah prapa balim sa saksad govardhano me disatam abhistam

May Govardhana Hill, which by Krsna's mercy became the king of all mountains and received the respectful tribute of its arch enemy Indra, fulfull my desire.

2. sva prestha hastambuja saukumarya sukhanubhuter ati bhumi vrtteh
mahendra vajrahatim apy ajanam govardhano me disatam abhistam

As it was held above the earth it became so filled with happiness by experiencing the softness of its beloved Krsna's lotus hand it did not even know it was being struck by Indra's thunderbolt. May Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire.

3. yatraiva krsno vrsabhanu putrya danam grhitum kalaham vitene
sruteh sprha yatra mahaty atah sri govardhano me disatam abhistam

Trying to collect a toll, Krsna quarrelled there with King Vrsabhanu's daughter. The personified Vedas yearn to listed to that quarrel. May Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire.

4. snatva sarah svasu samira hasti yatraiva nipadi paraga dhulih
alolayan khelati caru sa sri govardhano me disatam abhistam

Bathing in a nearby lake, the elephant of a pleasant breeze, covered with pollen of kadamba and other flowers, gracefully plays there. May Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire.

5. kasturikabhih sayitam kim atrety uham prabhoh svasya muhur vitanvan
naisargika sviya sila sugandhair govardhano me disatam abhistam

Does the sweet fragrance of Govardhana come from the musk deer who relax there, from the Lord who plays there, or is it Govardhana's own natural scent? May Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire.

6. vamsa pratidhvany anusara vartma didrksavo yatra harim harinyah
yantyo labhante na hi vismitah sa govardhano me disatam abhistam

Searching there for Lord Hari on the path of His flute music, the astonished deer do not find Him. May Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire.

7. yatraiva gangam anu navi radham arohya madhye tu nimagna naukah
krsno hi radhanugalo babhau sa govardhano me disatam abhistam

As the Divine Couple traveled on the Ganges there, the boat began to sink in the middle. Krsna was splendidly handsome as Radha clung to His neck. May Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire.

8. vina bhavet kim hari dasa varya padasrayam bhaktir atah srayami
yam eva saprema nijesayoh sri govardhano me disatam abhistam

Without taking shelter of the feet of the hill that is the best of Lord Hari's servants and full of love for the Divine King and Queen, how is it possible to attain pure devotional service? May Govardhana Hill fulfill my desire.

9. etat pathed yo hari asa varya mahanubhavastakam ardra cetah
sri radhika madhavayoh padabja dasyam sa vinded acirena saksat

May the reader of these eight verses glorifying Lord Hari's greatest servant, his heart melting with pure love, quickly attain direct service to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava.

Hare Krsnays, janhava dd @ buffalo, ny

Govinda Damodara Madhaveti Govinda Damodara Madhaveti

Inner light

It's Diwali (Kali-Puja, if you're in West-Bengal), the festival of lights. In India, it's probably the biggest holyday in the calendar, not to mention that in some years it tends to be celebrated within the proximity of the Muslim Eid-Ul-Fitr, the Christian Christmas and the Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah. In India they celebrate it with lights, fireworks and music. Right here I'm sitting in my apartment, all filled with candles, wondering if I'm the only one in Israel celebrating this holyday.
Diwali comes to celebrate many things, mainly the return of Rama to Ayodhaya. The lighting of candles are to show Rama the way. The festival of lights tends to appear in many cultures. As mentioned, the Jewish Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting candles for eight days, commemorating the miracle of the miracle of the container of oil. Of course, mysticism in both Hinduism and Judaism tends to give the lighting rituals a deeper meaning. And in both cases it's the same: victory of good over evil, light over darkness.
The lights we light in Diwali (or, for some, all through the Kartika month while chanting the Damodarastaka prayer) symbolize our inner light and it's victory over the darkness of ignorance and illusion. The self is eternal and spiritual. Matter is temporary. When the eternal identifies itself with the temporary, that is an illusion. Victory of light over the darkness of ignorance would be to revive our original spiritual identity, realizing I am not this body and accepting God into our hart. According to the Gita, God is already their in our hart. But we have to realize it and revive our relationship with him.
So in this symbolic ritual of lighting the Diwali lamp, we should show the way to Rama or Damudara (Krishna) into our harts and make our harts Ayodhaya or Vrindavan.

Durga Puja- A deep Insight!

(taken from mayapur.com)

By Shyamagopika dd on Mon, 2008-10-06 13:30.

While Durga puja is celebrated in pomp and splendor all over Bengal and other parts of the world, read through HG Jananivasa Prabhu’s wonderful class on the real meaning of Durga puja. Class was on the Bhagavad Gita verse 17.14, where Lord explains about the austerity of the body. In the purport, Prabhupada writes one should not do anything which is not sanctioned by the scriptural injunctions. Following is the transcription of the class on Durga puja.
As long as we are in this material world, it is understood that we are in prison and the head of this prison is Durga devi.As prisoners are given a particular type of uniform, similarly this body, the material body, be it an animal body, plant body or human body, but we have a material body means we have a uniform. This body is like uniform of the prisoners. As long as we have this body, we are under the realm of Durga devi , that means, we are all prisoners. As most of the prison uniforms have stripe marks, similarly, if we mark stripes i.e. tilak marks in this body, which is our uniform, and then we will be prisoners of Krishna and no more of Durga.
We should understand that Durga devi is working under the direction of Krsna. As, we see in Brahma Samhita,
sristi stithi pralaya sadhana saktirekachayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durgaicchanurupam api yasya ca cestate sagovindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
TRANSLATIONThe external potency Maya who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency, is worshiped by all people as Durga, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda in accordance with whose will Durga conducts herself.
So, she is not independent or the controller but simply she acts under the direction of the Supreme Lord just as shadow follows the substance.She has two sons-Ganesh and Kartikeya- represents mundane success and beauty and that’s why people who wish to be materially successful worship Ganesha. She is seen as standing along with lakshmi and saraswati who represents mundane knowledge and opulence. She carries 20 weapons in her arms, which represents various pious activities enjoined in Vedas. She holds a snake in her hand. This represents the beauty of destructive time. She tramples over the demon Mahisasura. This represents how she tramples over the vices in this world.When Jiva forgets eternal relationship with Krsna, he is put into Durga’s realm and the veil of Karma acts as the instrument for punishing rebellious jivas. Durga’s business is to punish all these rebellious jivas. This is not actually punishment. It is meant for reformation. When somebody is sent into prison, it is not really meant for punishment but for reformation. So, Durgadevi is also having a trident-the Trishul. Trishul represents the threefold material miseries-adhytamika, adibautika and adidaivika.miseries. Every moment in life and everyone without any exception suffers due to one, two or all the three of these miseries. So these miseries are not but trishul of Durga. She is constantly pricking up the jivas with her trishul. But the idea is to wake up the jiva and not punishing.
‘Why am I suffering so much in this material world? Why am I forced to be in womb, packed up for nine months, in the upside down position in darkness with worms biting me every moment?’There was a report in Australia two years ago, when a baby was born and he actually spoke-“No, not again!not again!”. The doctors were surprised and rushing towards the baby to know what is happening! (laughter)Anyway, Krsna reminds us the misery of this world- old age is coming, disease ,death and it’s always suffering! So, the living entity comes to the point, ‘Why am I suffering’! How can I find solution to this problem? Then he turns to Vedas, brahmanas and Guru to whom he can inquire.Sanatana Goswami, our sambandha guru, when he approached Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he inquired, ‘why am I suffering’? When someone asks this question, human life starts at this point. Then, Vedas and spiritual master can give us knowledge. You are not this body. You are the Soul. Soul is eternal, full of bliss and knowledge.Jiva asks,‘Why am I suffering in this material world? This is not my place and where is that situation where I can live my eternity, bliss and knowledge?’Then spiritual master says, it is not this material world, dear son,it is the spiritual world-back home back to Godhead where you originally belong to. There is no disease,old age and death.Guru Maharaj,'how can I get that?'Guru says,'Yes, you have to perform devotional service.'How can I perform devotional service?'Just Chant Hare Krishna and be happy'(Jai!)
Guru says chant Hare Krsna,be happy and go back to Godhead. So, this is the situation.
So, Durga devi, when that person becomes devotee of Krsna, she becomes so happy. Let me help him go back to Godhead.Then that personality who is keeping you here becomes instrument to help you transcend this material world. How? We have all the 33 crores of demigods and they are all present everywhere in the body controlling and she is their mother. When she is happy, seeing the jivas advancement in Krishna Consciousnees, she orders all the devatas to clear from the route. This is what she wants. She doesn’t want to keep anyone imprisoned in this world forever.
Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur once commented,'Durga Puja is not dancing for hindi songs, taking intoxication and having fun',as we see nowadays in puja pandals.Real Durga puja is to become a Krishna Bhakta. Then Durga will be really happy. But if we worship her in anyway we like, whimsically, Srila Prabhupada says they are fools. This body is her property. So,ultimately she is going to take over your body. So, they are worshipping her means they are worshipping their own death. So, they are fools.
We do not want to do Durga puja as fools but do Durga puja by becoming a Krsna bhakta!
Hare Krishna!

Srila Prabhupada ki jai!

Sri Bhagavad Gita ki jai!

Krishna in gold

The lord appears within the material world throughout history in order to deliver all from material existence, as Krishna himself mentions in the Gita: "In every age I myself appear to deliver the pious, destroy the wicked and reestablish the dharma" (Bhagavad-Gita 4.8). In each and every age the lord appears himself for the benefit of all. In many forms he may appear and in many colors.
5000 years ago he appeared in Vrindavan and Krishna was his name. Krishna means "all attractive", but it also means "black". That was the color he appeared in. That time was the end of the age of Dvapra and the beginning of the age of Kali. Now we are in the age of Kali, which began about 5000 years ago and should end in a few tens of thousands of years. This age is described in the Bhagavat-Purana as the aged of quarrel, where virtues quality in men is gradually decreasing, and making spiritual advancement very difficult. The Kali-Santarna Upanishad mentions that this age may be crossed over to enlightenment by uttering the name of the lord. It mentions: "The name of God, the name of God, the name of God alone, in the age of kali there is nothing else, nothing else, nothing else that will redeem you". So it is written in the Upanishad. And also, a mantra is mentioned of sixteen names (the Hare-Krishna Maha-Mantra) upon which meditation shell destroy all impurity. The scriptures also mention how Krishna appears in this age. And that image of Krishna in this age is Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
As mentioned, the lord appears in different ages in different colors. In the Bhagavad Purana is is mentioned that in the four ages he apperes in red, white, gold and black and that Krishna is the black one. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in the color of gold. The Bhagvatam, in its 11th canda, specifically mentions the Kali-age incarnation as "Krishna varnam svisakrishnam" - Krishna who is "a-krishna" - not black. It is also say that he shell spread the process of sankirtan-yagya. That is Shri Chaitanya. The reason for the appearance of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is twofold. The obvious reason is to teach the world sankirtan, uttering God's name for redemption. Indeed the lord moved from village to village and with his devotees spread the lord's name by singing it for all to hear. That is the process of sankirtan. As mentioned, by meditation on the names of the lord one achieves spiritual stability and destroys the many lusts which are enhanced in this age. So that is the obvious reason for the lord's appearance. But there is another.
The other reason for the lord's appearance as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is to himself taste the mode of his own devotee. And so, the lord appeared as a devotee and showed symptoms of one. The devotees of Lord Krishna try to develop the mood of devotion (bhakti) from the gopi girls of vrindavan. The main of all gopies is Shrimati Radharani who is always by Krisha's side. Krishna appears in black (of dark blue) and she appears in gold. So in her color and mode Mahaprabhu appeared.
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu chanted the names of God showing symptoms of ecstasy such as crying and falling down on the ground. When Krishna was about to appear in this age he told the gopies how he is about to chant the holly names and roll around on the ground. Radharani told him: "I won't allow you're body to roll around on the ground! I shell cover you!" And so Radharani, whose color is gold, covers Krishna in his appearance as Shri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu. The topmost spiritual platform is the complete selfless devotion of Radha and the gopies to Krishna. And this mood is reveled in Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is the combined incarnation of Krishna and Radharani.

Read more about this:
The Golden Volcano of Divine Love -by Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja

A warning

"If one, even once, blaspheme the name of my devotee, then my name shell destroy him rather then fulfill his desires." (Chaitanya Bhagavatam Madya-Lila 19.209)

*

yadi vaisnava-aparadha uthe hati mata

upade va chinde, tara sukhi’ yaya pata
"If the devotee commits an offense at the feet of a vaisnava while cultivating the creeper of devotional service in the material world, his offense is compared to a mad elephant that uproots the creeper and breaks it. In this way the leaves of the creeper are dried up." (Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 19.156)

*

"One offence is to blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives to preaching the glories of the holy name. This is a very important offence. If we criticize devotees who have actually dedicated their lives to spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world we cannot make any spiritual advancement." (Srila Prabhupada)

*

We should be always ready to offer respect to all, not only devotees, but everyone, everyone, because every living entity is originally a devotee of Krishna. Circumstantially, being covered by the coat of maya, he's playing like demon, but his original nature is a devotee of Krishna. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krsnera dasa. Everyone is eternally a servant of Krishna but, being influenced by maya, when he gets this body, given by maya -- Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah -- when he's conducted by the three gunas of maya, he thinks himself otherwise. He thinks himself independent of Krishna but, actually, nobody is independent of Krishna. (lecture, NOD October 23, 1972)

*

We advise everyone to address one another as Prabhu. Prabhu means master, so how the master should be disobeyed? Others, they are also pure devotees. All of my disciples are pure devotees. Anyone sincerely serving the spiritual master is a pure devotee. Do not try to make a faction; amongst ourselves one should respect others as Prabhu, master, one another. As soon as we distinguish, "Here is a pure devotee, here is a non-pure devotee", that means I am a nonsense. (letter to Tusta Krishna, December 14, 1972)

*

Yes, to call one another prabhu is all right, but not to become prabhu. To accept others as prabhu, and remain as servant is the idea. But, because somebody is calling you prabhu, one should not become a prabhu, and treat others as servants. In other words, everyone should feel himself as servant, and not think himself prabhu because he is being called prabhu. This will make the relationship congenial. (Letter to Himavati Devi Dasi, June 14, 1968)

(Find more on the subject here)

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Devotee 2: Devotees sometimes think, “This devotee is not really a vaisnava, he is only a neophyte, therefore if I think something bad of him it is all right.”

Gour Govinda Swami: Don’t hear such a thing.

Devotee 1: It is very difficult to not hear such talk.

Gour Govinda Swami: Do you think it is easy to get Krishna? It is very difficult and it is very easy. You think, “I will do all nonsense and I will get Krishna.” What is this? Day-dreaming! It is not so easy!

Devotee 2: So anyone could be a vaisnava.

Gour Govinda Swami: The jiva is vaisnava! jivera ‘svarupa’ haya krsnera ‘nitya-dasa’, the svarupa of the jiva is vaisnava. But we have no such vision. We cannot see, because we are such rascals, degraded fellows. We are blind. We have no proper vision. So how can we see the svarupa? We only see the outward, nasty things, the outer body. We have no vision to see. But every jiva is a servant of Krishna — jivera ‘svarupa’ haya krsnera ‘nitya-dasa’. That is what Mahaprabhu has said. But we cannot see it. A real sadhu, paramahamsa, pays respect to one and all. amani manada — Don’t demand respect for yourself, rather, pay respect to one and all. A sadhu doesn’t even disrespect an ant. He sees him as a jiva. You should know that before you offer respect to a sadhu, the sadhu has already paid respect to you in his mind. For practical dealings we have this consciousness of superior and inferior. But a sadhu offers respect to one and all. Seeing the jiva soul within, he doesn’t disrespect even an ant. (From "The Mad Elephant Offense" by Gopal-Ji pub)

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Krishna Swallows the Forest Fire

Glories of the Bhagavatam

[The following is part of a lecture given by H.H. Kavicandra Swami on March 9th 2008 at Mayapur Dham] http://www.mayapur.com/main/?q=node/801

Devananda Pandit, who was over in what is now Navadvipa, he was a teacher of Srimad Bhagavatam, so-called professor. Srivasa Pandit heard him speak. He heard Bhagavatam verses, and became overwhelmed with ecstasy. He started rolling on the ground, so the followers of this Devananda, they didn’t understand the Bhagavatam properly, so they threw Srivasa out as a disturbance and a serious whatever it was.

Later, Nimai, Lord Caitanya, was passing by. He just started shouting at Devananda Pandit, “You’re a rascal! You’re a fool! You don’t understand a word of Srimad-Bhagavatam! You’re just a disturbance to society!” Very loudly shouting outside his school.

Later, this Devananda saw a kirtan with Vakresvara Pandit. Vakresvar Pandit was a great devotee, and especially a great dancer. If you have read Caitanya-caritamrta, you know that he could dance for seventy-two hours. He was lamenting that no one could have kirtan for seventy-two hours. He was praying that some Gandharvas would come and he could dance. So when this Devananda, in spite of his dull-headedness, he saw Vakresvara Pandit dancing in ecstasy and chanting, he became attracted. Vakresvara would be sweating like anything. He would fall on the ground, get all muddy. Devananda started to help him. He would pick him up, wipe his face. He would stay behind him when he was dancing so if he fell over backwards, he would catch him. He would get on the ground, get dirty. Lord Nityananda used to do that for Lord Caitanya.

So he started hearing from Vakresvara Pandit and becoming attracted. Next time he saw Nimai, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he asked him, “What is the real meaning of Bhagavatam?”

Lord Caitanya told him, “It is all bhakti, only bhakti, and nothing else.” He took it and he became a great devotee.

Any house where the Bhagavatam is kept, there cannot be any inauspiciousness. Any house is protected by Srimad-Bhagavatam, but we want the entire set of Srimad-Bhagavatam in every house and then we want to get the people to somehow read the Srimad-Bhagavatam, not just keep it, although even keeping it is also good. People understand that about spiritual books.

Sometimes we tell people that they don’t have to read it because many people say, “I do not read. I do not want to read.” Tell them it has its own vibration. It will benefit you even if you do not read it, which is true because they will think about it. Eventually, someone will read it.

Even in Israel, I met a rabbi from the Kabala and he gave me their book. They have one set of books called Zohar, I think it is, big box of books written in Aramaic language that very few people can read, but he said that you do not have to read it. Its vibration will benefit your house. I was thinking we should remember that. But we want to follow up when people get books, we want to read them ourselves, so that we can explain these kind of things.

Selfish Love

The Rasa-Lila of Krishna and the Gopi girls of Vrindavan is said to be the greatest lila of the lord. In fact, in some sources it is referred to as "sarva-manoram" - "the most beautiful". This amorous pastime of the girls meeting krishna at night and performing a dance together is the aspiration of the devotee.

According to the vedic description, Bhagavan (God) is the center and Jiva (ourselves) is the servant. It might not seem to be this way some of the times since the Jiva's being covered up by false ego, false pride, which is materialism. Materialism is the seance of self centeredness while spiritualism is God centered relations. Yet the Jiva may choose whether to have devotion or pride. But God does not associate directly with matter. That is why if Jiva chooses to be in matter, God will vanish. As the Gita says in chapter 7, God is letting them go after whatever they want and even set the field for them to do so. If they want fame and fortune, so they shell have. But their relationship with him they shell not have, and therefor may not know true bliss. Until they will remember to look inside and seek their original relationship with him.
And that is the story of Rasa-Lila, as told in the 10th part of Srimad-Bhagvatam: When the girls were dancing with Krishna and this brought them supreme joy. During this dance, Krishna split into many images for dancing with the girls in Rasa-Mandala - the circle of love. This dance is eternally taking place in the spiritual world and also, even today, is said to be taken place every night in Vrindavan - India at a place called Seva-Kunja.
But then the girls started to feel proud. Out of the joy of the lila, they became absorbed in self pleasure, as sadly many spiritual aspirants do. We see them use yoga and meditation for being absorbed in the self centered joys of inner peace, and by that becoming self centered. This false interpretation is leading them downward. Yet even if we are told of this danger, it is easy to forget. An so did the Gopies who danced with Krishna, feeling pride.
But Bhagavan does not associate directly with matter, and therefor it was on that part that Krishna had suddenly vanished, leaving the girls tormented. They suffered so hard, missing Krishna. Together they acted his tales from memory and showed the same mode of separation the devotees show when crying in ecstasy. Then, they witnessed the footprints of lord Krishna, along with the footprints of another girl. "How special must she be" they said to each other "for he left us, yet did not leave her". They observed their footprints. At a certain point, her footprints stopped and he's continued. "He must have carried her in his arms!" they thought "and here is where he put her down, probably to pick some flowers".
Indeed lord Krishna was with one of the girls. And according to authorities, Radharani was her name. He stayed with her for she was the only one which did not let herself fall to the clutches of false pride. Yet then false pride began to rise as she suddenly noticed how special she was. And special indeed is Sri Radhika. She is the expansion of God's love, Haladini Shakti. From her splits all the Jivas. Special she is indeed and without her no one can reach him. And so, she felt proud, asking him to carry her in his arms as a servant. Krishna replied: "As you wish!" and then vanished from her sight, leaving her alone.
So is the temptation of pride within religion. Religion is not necessarily spiritual. Spirituality set it's center not around the self. Yet God supply his devotee all he needs, including material things, setting the field for his enjoyment. But if a devotee keeps praying for things for his own benefit, is that a God centered relationship or a self centered one? And in this way, he receives all he prayed for, for God provide the world as a father provide his children. And even if the Jivas wish is to forget God, so the field will be set for this act and so shell he receive. And be tormented until he realizes what is his original position.
And so the girls were lamenting the lost of Krishna, observing his lovely footprints. They thought of the joy they have lost and washed Krishna's footprint with their tears. And then a thought had came to their minds, and by that Krishna had re-appered to them. And this was the thought: "our beloved Krishna is walking barefoot on the ground! What if something will cut his foot?" A single unselfish thought, revolving upon the pleasure of the lord. And Krishna may not be harmed by none, for he is the supreme. He is the endless all providing lord of all there is. yet that is not how the devotee sees him. The devotee sees Krishna not as God but as a lover, a friend as equal, sometimes as a small child. But never as an endless impersonal thing. Only as a person. A person who accept our service. And as the Gopies only wish was to serve the lords feet, concerning his benefit, at that point the lord re-appered to them.
Some say such devotion is only a step before reaching the lord in his endless, impersonal features and that the devotee must in time abandon the devotion in order to reach the higher goal. But would that be true devotion? If you hold your lovers hand only for him to help you climb up a hill, in an intention to cast him away once you'll reach the top, is that loving devotion? If we agree that love and devotion is the way for spiritual elevation, then we must accept that the supreme goal it a state of eternal devotional relationship. Otherwise it isn't devotion at any part of the way. And if that is the supreme goal, there is in fact nothing higher.

Shiva as a girl

The sacred holiday of Shivaratri is celebrated to commemorate the saving of the world by Lord Shiva. Once, as the devas and demons were churning the nectar, a horrible side effect had accord: a sea of poison was produced, threatening to flood the universe. Lord Shiva then swallowed the poison, holding it in by wrapping a snake around his neck. And thus all was saved by Lord Shiva who consumed this grate trouble of the world, yet remained unharmed himself.

Who is Lord Shiva? Is he God or deva? Is his worship spiritual or or meant for material benefits? There might not be a simple answer to these questions, since it seems the answer to all of them is yes. He is God yet not. Or one might say: in the middle. Out of the two categories of persons we know of Vishnu-tatva, the personality of godhead, and Jiva-tatva, the servant. God only is Vishnu-tatva, along with his different forms and incarnations (avatara). And we, the living entities, as well as the Devas (the controllers of the universal forces) are all Jivas.
The material creation is manifested as Prakriti, the material energy, is being impregnated by God. Yet God is not associating with it personally. Therefore, Vishnu, God, manifest himself as Lord Shiva, the male principal that impregnates the female principal, known as Prakriti or Parvati. So what is Shiva? Is he Jiva-tatva or Vishnu-tatva? The answer: non of the above. Shiva is a third category of self, known as Shiva-tatva. Is he God or not? Well, is yogurt milk or not? Yogurt and milk are two different things, yet yogurt is milk. The same is the relation between Shiva and Vishnu.
Shiva is known as the greatest yogi (Maha-Yogi). He is being worshiped for material gain. Yet he has the power to deliver the living entities. from material bondage, for he is the greatest devotee of the lord within this universe. Lord Shiva also taken a part of Lord Krishna's greatest pastime, the Rasa-Lila, and by that, revealed his role:
In Vrindavan, Krishna and the Gopies, the village girls, were performing the amorous dance, the Rasa-Lila, a pastime of true love and devotion of the Gopies and Lord Krishna, to which the devotees of krishna aspire. Lord Shiva was very eager to join this pastime and so he entered the nearby lake of Kusum-Sarovar and went out in the form of a young Gopi girl. By that he was not only able to enter the pastimes of Krishna, he was also appointed the guardian standing at the entrance of these pastimes in this form of his as Gopesvara-Mahadeva.
In the spiritual world, the Rasa-Lila is performed in the inner cycle of Goloka and in the outer rims is Kailesh, the abode of Lord Shiva, guarding the entrance to the spiritual world. In order to reach the spiritual level, one must get rid of the urge for being self centered, as the Gopies in Rasa-Lila. One must take the mode of the Gopies who, by gazing and the footprints of Lord Krishna, thought not of their own pleasure, but worried about the bear feet of Krishna being harmed by blades of grass. Shiva, who in time of destruction destroy the whole universe with his dance of anger, has the power to destroy our vices and elevate us to the level of pure devotion. And by meditating on his image as Gopesvara-Mahadeve, as a Gopi girl, one should ask permission to enter the pastimes of Lord Krishna.

Kusum-Sarovar - Goverdhan - India

A Golden Stone Pot

Another comix of mine at ISKCON Desire Tree website, the story of A Golden Stone Pot by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.