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Nov 30, 2009

Mumbai 26/11: "Where Was God?"

Mumbai 26/11: "Where Was God?"

By Vineet Chander



On 26/11 last year, India witnessed one of the biggest acts of urban terrorism unparalled in the annals of history. South Mumbai was successfully targetted by 10 odd terrorists and the siege continued for about 60 hours.
At some point during the Mumbai terror attacks, somewhere between the first shot fired on November 26, 2008 and the tragic end on November 29, 2008, the Mumbai police officially declared a state of emergency. In the heart of downtown Mumbai, mere walking distance from where some of the worst carnage took place (and where one of the terrorists was gunned down by Indian military commandos), the Radha-Gopinath temple was ordered closed by government order. Within that temple, His Holiness Radhanath Swami spoke to a group of shaken followers and friends -- a collection of monks, businessmen, homemakers, simple laborers -- about how to understand the tragic events surrounding them. Below is a transcript of excerpts from that exchange, light edited for style and content.

Q: We are taught that God is sarva-jna, the knower of all things, and that He is Bhagavan, all powerful. But where was God when the terrorists were attacking? Why did He allowthis to happen? Why didn't he stop this?

A: At times like this, it is natural that many doubts and questions will emerge in our minds. What kind of God is this that allows innocent people to be slaughtered? Maybe God isn't good, or maybe He is good but not all that powerful - there's nothing he can do about these things, so who really need him? Or maybe, there's no god at all. It is natural to feel such things; even if we weren't directly affected, a devotee is softhearted and cannot bear to see others suffering. At the same time, we can also turn to the knowledge that philosophy provides to try to put things in perspective. Philosophy is very important to maintain a strong foundation for our devotion. Especially when storms come, either personally or around us, we need to have a strong foundation. If you build a house on a strong foundation, no storm can knock it down. But if we build it on sand, any storm can demolish and destroy it. So, our faith and devotion is very much in need of a strong solid philosophical foundation to withstand onslaughts of this world. So how do we understand this philosophically? Did God sanction these attacks? Well, in one sense, yes, not even a blade of grass can move without God's sanction. But it is sanction in the sense that God gives freewill. He tells us - through the sacred texts, through the teachings of great saints, through our own conscience and morality - what to do and what not to do, but then gives us the freewill to do or not to do. That is the sanction. In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna tells us what is the demoniac nature, what is the mentality of someone who exploits and hurts others. And he forbids us from acting in that way. But still he gives us freewill; it doesn't mean that he wants us to exploit and hurt others. He wants us to choose for ourselves, how to love and serve others rather than hurt and harm them. So when one human being commits an aparadha (offense) to another - yes, by giving us freewill, God sanctions it. But we should not think that this is what the Lord wants. God gives us a choice at every moment, and sometimes human beings make a mess of things. We are sanctioned by the Lord, ultimately we are responsible for our own actions, for our own choices. We should not think that God was the cause of this terror attack; that's not what sanction means. Bhagavan gives the sanction by which we can choose to love God, to hate God, to reject God, to dedicate our lives to prove that God doesn't exist, to do great harm in God's name. We have freewill to do it. At the nd of the Gita, Krishna says: "I've told you everything, now you can follow or not..." God wants us to love him and to love all his parts and parcels, all beings, but he will not force us to. Force is not love. He wants for us to make the choice freely.But in every situation, he is there for us. Even if someone does something wrong, he is there for them if they turn to him. I truly believe that he was there for the victims. Of course we don't know, but we can consider that many of the people who were killed in these attacks, in the intensity of that traumatic situation could have become so God conscious that they gave up their bodies thinking of God and were liberated. So some of them, perhaps many, could have given up their lives thinking of God and been liberated.But I do not think we can give a simple answer. The more one understands, the more things make sense, and to really understand takes time. It takes hearing and questioning and discussing.

Q: The terrorists also claimed to be doing God's will. How can we understand this?

A: Real religion is not a sectarian concept. The Bhagavata Purnana gives a very nice, very broadminded definition of religion: "The supreme occupation for all humanity is loving devotion, and such service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted." Whatever religion teaches people to actually love God, that is good. Ultimately, this is not a sectarian concern. It is not a matter of what family you happened to be born into or what you were taught as a child. Those things are important too, but ultimately real religious principles transcend them. Real religion doesn't mean saying "I am a Hindu," or a Muslim, or a Christian, or a Jew, or a Sikh, or a Zoroastrian; it means humbly serving in a spirit of love and devotion. This is what all religion is meant to teach us.But when, envy, and ego, pride, anger, greed - when these enemies become prominent in our heart, then we even interpret our religion to fulfill their dictations. So we do not hate any religion, we hate the enemies within ourselves.And the world should unite - those who want to apply God's will to their life - but we should know that God's will is never to harm or exploit or destroy innocent lives. God's will is to show compassion. When love of God is applied to the world, it manifests as compassion.

Q: As aspiring devotees of God, how do we understand the different emotions that we are feeling right now?

A: It is not a disqualification to be affected it is natural; anyone would be affected. It is not that as devotees we have to be devoid of human emotions. But we can also learn to see these feelings in relation to our spiritual life. These feelings can exist on many levels. For instance, we might be experiencing anger. We can channel this anger. We can be angry at injustice, at the root causes of terrorism and evil acts like this. In the Ramayana, Hanuman was not thinking "I'm transcendental so let Ravana do his thing." No. But his anger was not based on frustration and tremendous amounts of false ego like terrorists and others. He used his anger to help others and to fight injustices.We can also feel compassion for all those who suffered. We should do all that we can, internally and through our words or actions. We can make a tangible difference; however big or small, Krishna sees our sincerity and reciprocates.Finally, we can see this tragedy and understand and experience a deep sense of urgency. One of the qualities of my guru, Srila Prabhupada, that deeply struck me was his sense of urgency. I had heard so many saintly people speaking very deep philosophy, so many nice social and religious thoughts, but Prabhupada had the most intense sense of urgency to benefit the world and for each individual person he came in co0ntact with. He was not just asking us, he was begging us, pleading with us, because he saw our condition and condition of world: "Take this Krishna consciousness and share it with others." When he said it, it was so deep, so real, so urgent. He was feeling the suffering, seeing how people were victimized. In the Gita, Krishna tells us that this material world is a place of misery. From the highest to the lowest, from penthouse apartments to slums, they are all places of misery. Not inconvenience or pain; he says misery. Why? Misery is a very intense is deep graphic experience. Because the material world is the realm in which people are simply trying to exploit one another. God gives all the freewill, and practically our whole history is a history of misusing that freewill to kill one another. Look at Europe--a history of wars after war, suffering and exploitation. Plagues, disease, earthquakes, droughts. Hitler--6 million Jews, 2 million others... all just innocent civilians. They were tortured and murdered. And so many more that suffered among their family and friends. Just 60 years ago. Not very long ago. And Stalin--20 million people estimated, civilians, tortured and died. In of course, in America - in India, so many of us think, so many think, let me just go to America and be happy - the same history or exploiting the natives, exploiting others. So yes, we should feel a sense of urgency to help people rise above the enemies of lust, anger, envy, greed, illusion. These are the real terrorists within the heart, driving us all to misuse our freewill and exploiting and killing others. And devotees of God are like commandos, trying to free the soul who is like a hostage of the enemies of anarthas, the exploitative tendencies within the heart. This is compassion, real compassion. Whether we die in a terrorist attack or die in a hospital bed or die in a car accident: we all have to die, and quite soon. The only way to permanently make material world a better place is by pursuing spiritual realization and helping others to do so. This is the greatest need, and we should feel the greatest urgency to do it.

Nov 26, 2009

Dieties of Iskcon Silicon Valley -- My first video




My first video creation ...for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan

When Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami wanted to write in glorification of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu he started out by going to the temple of Radha Madan Mohan and praying to Them.

jayatam suratau pangor
mama manda mater gati
mat sarvasva padam bojau
radha madana mohanou

"Glory to the all merciful Radha and Madan Mohan. I am lame and ill advised, yet They are my directors and Their lotus feet are everything to me."
Srila Prabhupad said:

"Worship of Madan-Mohan is on the platform of reestablishing our forgotten relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the beginning of our spiritual life we must worship Madan-Mohan so that He may attract us and nullify our attachment for material sense gratification. This relationship with Madan-Mohan is necessary for neophyte devotees. "

Now please let me pray like Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami that I may glorify these all merciful Lords through this blog.

Nov 25, 2009

book distribution experience (MSF of 20000)

1) I met a Christian woman in her mid age & she started asking me what does faith means to you ? do you believe that Jesus died for you ?according to my understanding of christian faith i answered her.She accepted my answers.She started saying about her testimony in experience of God & was crying while saying this.i encouraged her & said that you are blessed by Jesus to have your broken heart mended by him.Please continue in your faith.She then asked what is your concept of God , i showed her Krsnas photo & said he is revealed as God in Vedic scriptures.She was reluctant to accept the books.She appreciated our efforts & prayed to God that " I give Vipul to the blue sky & white sky ........." & then i felt happy that some one unknowningly said the highest prayers for me ie to be with the blue Krishna & white Balaram.!At last she took one book & i gave me her prayer booklet.

2) Gaur Krishna , baby of Kishore pr & Praveena mataji was in need of milk & Praveena mataji was here distributing books , she was about to leave for her son ,and she got a phone call from her mother-in-law that we have arranged milk for him ,no need to worry. Praveena mataji said "now i shall do one more hour of book distribution" Her great enthusiasm for service inspires me a lotAnd like HG Vaisesika Pr says " Krishna takes care of his sankirtan devotees "in this case his future sankirtan devotee (gaur krishna) too.!!

Nov 24, 2009

Why to accept a Guru ? -- by HG Vaisesika Pr,president of ISV




A good lawyer knows the LAW
A great lawyer knows the JUDGE

Similarly the laws of this material world in where we are caught in the cycle of
birth & death , we need an expert lawyer who knows the mind of the creater of these laws ie God ie Krishna
A guru is such a person who knows Krishna & knows how to get out of this cycle of birth & death.
Gita 4.34
"tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaḿ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

TRANSLATION

Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.

Purport by HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabupada.

The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from the Lord Himself.No one can be a bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciple. No one can be spiritually realized by manufacturing his own process, as is the fashion of the foolish pretenders. The Bhāgavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmaḿ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding. In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. Not only should one hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.

Nov 20, 2009

Bear & man EATING fight



The Mahabharata therefore says:
ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam cha,
samanyam etad pashubhir naranam
dharmo hi tesham adhiko vishesho,
dharmena hina pashubhih samanah

“The activities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending are
common in animals and human beings. The human beings are
considered superior only when they inquire about the Absolute Truth,
otherwise they are considered as good as animals.”
Majority of human beings are wasting their time in useless activities
imitating animals. People organize competitions to award one who
can eat maximum number of bananas or gulabjamuns. But can we
compete with an elephant in eating? Can we compete with an eagle in
seeing objects miles away? Can we compete with a dog in smelling
and detecting thieves? Can we imitate a pigeon who can have sex a
dozen times in one hour? Can we compete with a kangaroo in high
jump? Can we compete with a horse in atheletics? If we are proud of
producing offspring, a dog can beget dozens of puppies and a
mosquito can produce thousands of offspring.
Animals are better than humans in the aforementioned activities. In
fact, these abilities are in-built in their system by the arrangement of
God. If it is so, what is the special ability awarded in a human body?
If we are proud of social organization, even honey bees have a
complex social set up where worker bees go for collecting honey
(and they never go on strike like their human counterparts!) while the
drones take care of the queen who begets offspring

Only in human life are we endowed with the intelligence to inquire,
“What happens after death? What is the actual destination of my
life?” This is called ‘brahma jijnasa’, enquiring about oneself and
God. The first aphorism of the Vedanta sutra says: athato brahma
jijnasa “Now that you have achieved a human body, you should
inquire about the Absolute Truth.”
The human body is compared to a solid boat, which can help one
cross the ocean of the material world and take one to the kingdom of
God. The Vedic scriptures are compared to favourable breezes. The
spiritual master is compared to an expert captain who can monitor the
boat and take it to the desired destination. A human being who does
not take advantage of this opportunity for achieving unending
spiritual bliss is cheating himself and is a killer of his own soul

............. Abstract from Discover your self book BY VOICE pune



Nov 16, 2009

Lord Caintanya Mahaprabhu ,,,, our TRUE friend

Song Name: Jiv Jago Jiv Jago
Official Name: Arunodaya Kirtana Song 2
Author: Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Book Name: Gitavali
Language: Bengali

LYRICS
(1)
jīv jāgo, jīv jāgo, gauracānda bole
kota nidrā jāo māyā-piśācīra kole

(2)
bhajibo boliyā ese saḿsāra-bhitare
bhuliyā rohile tumi avidyāra bhare

(3)
tomāre loite āmi hoinu avatāra
āmi binā bandhu āra ke āche tomāra

(4)
enechi auṣadhi māyā nāśibāro lāgi'
hari-nāma mahā-mantra lao tumi māgi'

(5)
bhakativinoda prabhu-caraṇe pariyā
sei hari-nāma-mantra loilo māgiyā

TRANSLATION
1) Lord Gaurānga is calling, "Wake up, sleeping souls! Wake up, sleeping souls! How long will you sleep in the lap of the witch called Māyā?

2) You have forgotten the way of devotional service and are lost in the world of birth and death.

3) I have descended just to save you; other than Myself you have no friend in this world.

4) I have brought the medicine that will wipe out the disease of illusion from which you are suffering. Take this mahā-mantra-Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare."

5) Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura says: "I fall at the Lord's feet, having taken this mahā-mantra."


Commentary :
This song explains Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is our true friend
I came across some quotes on true friendship & below they are
Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” Albert Camus quotes (French Novelist, Essayist and Playwright, 1957 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1913-1960)
----Lord Caitanya is Paramatma himself & he is seated in ones heart beside the soul .
At the time of death we take new bodies & he comes with us to sits next to us in every body .So isn't he our TRUE friend.?

A friend is a hand that is always holding yours, no matter how close or far apart you may be. A friend is someone who is always there and will always, always care. A friend is a feeling of forever in the heart.”
---Everyon
e ,near dear ,friends,enemies shall leave us for various reasons like miscommunication,misunderstanding,difference in opinions,fights ,ego clash or the final separation death but Caitanya mahaprabhu as paramatma shall never even after death he shall follow.Isn't he our TRUE friend?

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.
---We have forgotten the song in our heart ie the longing to serve Krishna & Radharani ie nothing but the Hare Krishna mahamantra & he has come with this GOLOK premdhana to make our remind of our personal Song . Isn't he out TRUE friend ?

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” Walter Winchell quotes
---In our great desperation,disgust& disappointments it is only the Hare krishna mahamantra which walks in to illuminate & give us joy . if Caitanya mahaprabhu had not sung loudly & spread it what would be our Hope ? Isn't he our TRUE friend ?

I wonder people ,philosophers are writing the true definitions of TRUE friend but how shall they come to know about the TRUE friend Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu ?
We need to spread him as fast as we can for the whole world is moving towards great cataclysm of Spiritual suicide.

& i ask & beg to be a part of the team of Spiritual Warriors lead by Srila Prabhupad to spread the movement of Lord Caitanya in every town & village.

Nov 9, 2009

Kasturi Tilakam



kasturi tilakam lalata patate vakshasthale kausthubham
naasaagre varmouktikam karatale venum kare kankanam
sarvaange harichandanam sulalitam kanthecha mukthavali
gopastree pariveshthito vijayate gopala chudaamani
vijayate gopala chudaamani


O Sri Krishna ! The Kasturi (Musk) Tilak, a red ritual mark decorates your forehead and the Kaustubha jewel ornaments your chest

The Nava mouktika, a pearl ornament on your nose, your fingertips graced by a flute, while your wrist is ornamented with a bracelet.

O Sri Hari! Your entire body is bedecked with fragrant sandalwood paste, your neck has a beautiful garland

Bhaja Govindam prayers



Please my mind worship Govind
Everything else can wait but search for Krishna within heart cannot wait

Prayers of Pingala




very inspiring & very revealing

11.8.30
pingalovaca
aho me moha-vitatim
pasyatavijitatmanah
ya kantad asatah kamam
kamaye yena balisa

The prostitute Pingala said: Just see how greatly illusioned I am! Because I cannot control my mind, just like a fool I desire lusty pleasure from an insignificant man.

11.8.31
santam samipe ramanam rati-pradam
vitta-pradam nityam imam vihaya
akama-dam duhkha-bhayadhi-soka-
moha-pradam tuccham aham bhaje jna

I am such a fool that I have given up the service of that person who, being eternally situated within my heart, is actually most dear to me. That most dear one is the Lord of the universe, who is the bestower of real love and happiness and the source of all prosperity. Although He is in my own heart, I have completely neglected Him. Instead I have ignorantly served insignificant men who can never satisfy my real desires and who have simply brought me unhappiness, fear, anxiety, lamentation and illusion.

11.8.37
nunam me bhagavan prito
vishnuh kenapi karmana
nirvedo yam durasaya
yan me jatah sukhavahah

Although I most stubbornly hoped to enjoy the material world, somehow or other detachment has arisen in my heart, and it is making me very happy. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, must be pleased with me. Without even knowing it, I must have performed some activity satisfying to Him.

11.8.38
maivam syur manda-bhagyayah
klesa nirveda-hetavah
yenanubandham nirhritya
purushah samam ricchati

A person who has developed detachment can give up the bondage of material society, friendship and love, and a person who undergoes great suffering gradually becomes, out of hopelessness, detached and indifferent to the material world. Thus, due to my great suffering, such detachment awoke in my heart; yet how could I have undergone such merciful suffering if I were actually unfortunate? Therefore, I am in fact fortunate and have received the mercy of the Lord. He must somehow or other be pleased with me.

11.8.39
tenopakritam adaya
sirasa gramya-sangatah
tyaktva durasah saranam
vrajami tam adhisvaram

With devotion I accept the great benefit that the Lord has bestowed upon me. Having given up my sinful desires for ordinary sense gratification, I now take shelter of Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

11.8.40
santushta sraddadhaty etad
yatha-labhena jivati
viharamy amunaivaham
atmana ramanena vai

I am now completely satisfied, and I have full faith in the Lords mercy. Therefore I will maintain myself with whatever comes of its own accord. I shall enjoy life with only the Lord, because He is the real source of love and happiness.

(Translation from Srimad-bhagavatam, courtesy of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.)

Nov 5, 2009

Holiday turns in to a nightmare



A cruise ship caught in a storm

A holiday turns in to a nightmare ... thats the real situation living in this world
There is danger at every step

How can i have hope for happiness in this world ?? its nature is duality !
So i take shelter of the son of Nanda Maharaj & take the association of pure souls & cross over the ocean of birth & death as enunciated in the beautiful poem below

Song Name: Bhaja Hu Re Mana
Author: Govinda Dasa Kaviraja

LYRICS:
(1)
bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re
durlabha mānava-janama sat-sańge
taroho e bhava-sindhu re

(2)
śīta ātapa bāta bariṣaṇa
e dina jāminī jāgi re
biphale sevinu kṛpaṇa durajana
capala sukha-laba lāgi' re

(3)
e dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana
ithe ki āche paratīti re
kamala-dala-jala, jīvana ṭalamala
bhajahū hari-pada nīti re

(4)
śravaṇa, kīrtana, smaraṇa, vandana,
pāda-sevana, dāsya re
pūjana, sakhī-jana, ātma-nivedana
govinda-dāsa-abhilāṣa re

TRANSLATION
1) O mind just worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one fearless. Having obtained this rare human birth, cross over this ocean of worldly existence through the association of saintly persons.

2) Both in the day and at night I remain sleepless, suffering the pains of the heat and cold, the wind and the rain. For a fraction of flickering happiness I have uselessly served wicked and miserly men.

3) What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one's wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members? This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal; therefore you should always serve and worship the divine feet of Lord Hari.

4) It is the desire and great longing of Govinda Dasa to engage himself in the nine processes of bhakti, namely hearing the glories of Lord Hari and chanting those glories, constantly remembering Him and offering prayers to Him, serving the Lord's lotus feet, serving the Supreme Lord as a servant, worshiping Him with flowers and incense and so forth, serving Him as a friend, and completely offering the Lord one's very self.

Mayapur Dham memories

I had a great experience at my first Mayapur Yatra for last 2 weeks.
It was a life changing experience

After nearly hearing 100-120 lectures on gaurlila for last one year it was thrilling to be
at the exact locations where the pastimes took place.As i visited each place all pastimes
related to that place whirled in my mind & instant prayers came to my heart.

I was amazed & grateful that there exists a place where all your desires can be fullfilled.
My burning heart finally felt solace at Mayapur .
I helped in the prasadam serving team whenever possible(4500 devotees were in yatra!!) & kept singing Vaishnava songs in our long travels to places

I had some great mercy bestowed on me at dham , some are as follows.
--- got to cook for Prabhupad dissapperance day in earthen pots on traditional fire stove (some 1400 offerings were offered on that day)
--- got to personally serve , my Gurumaharaj HH Radhanath Mah ( a mercy planned by Lord Jaganath . I was praying for it)
--- i was chanting at Srivas angan & my mind just filled with all pastimes of Lord Caitanya & i felt happiness & gratitude to chant in the very courtyard that Lord Caitanya displayed Maha bhava.Suddenly the pujari at the temple came to me & invited me to honor the raj bhoga prasad of Srivas Angan I was surprised Why me ?? ,with a grateful heart i accepted the prasad which consisted of the rice & read pumpkin & yellow pumkin sabji & sweet rice & dal & makhan (for the first time i Iiked the makhan & its softness & tasty feature confirmed me why krishna likes it so much ?)
--- At Murari Guptas house the pujari gave me sweet rice prasad Again i thought WHY me ??

The Dham truly stands to its glory.It was so nice to practice KCON without any distress from mind & senses & materialistic people.
I cried with great feeling when i left Dham.