fear and intelligence

The murderous acts towards innocent civilians in Mumbai have affected the whole world in many ways.  The most common effect is the promotion of fear.  Fear is an all-pervading component of human society. Actually all living entities are more or less controlled by fear. Animals in particular are constantly in a state of fear and rightfully so. At any moment the entity will become killed and eaten by a more powerful living entity. If you ever watch documentaries on the lives of animals (tigers, fish, birds, etc,) you will notice that there are four common elements of focus in these clips.   It is described in the Vedic literatures and obvious through observation that the extent of animals' intelligence is limited to fulfilling the four basic animal propensities. These propensities are eating, sleeping, mating and defending.  The intelligence of living entities is present in humans and animals in different degrees in order to direct their bodily sustaining activities.  The human’s intelligence, however, has a unique property. The human’s intelligence is capable of existential questioning. In other words the human is capable of asking “Who am I, where did I come from and what is my relation with the rest of the world?” Most importantly humans have the ability to practice a lifestyle so that the answers to these questions are fully realized. One of the natural byproducts of this realization is fearlessness.

    Scientists are amazed when newborn animals know what to do to insure safety or gather food. When sea turtles are born on the beach they immediately know that they must crawl back to the sea for safety. Two months or so after a kangaroo is conceived it must crawl from the bottom section of the mother to the safety of their mothers pouch half a meter up. In that pouch the young kangaroo stays in that pouch for many more months without leaving. How does this young entity know how to do this? How does the mother know that this must be done? The mothers and fathers of various species know how to make nests, procure food and defend itself from predators. How do the animals know how to do this? Where is that intelligence coming from?

  We can consider the explanation of intelligence as given in the vedic literatures and self-realized sages. Intelligence is defined as "the power to analyze things in their proper perspective." Based on the conclusion of the intelligence the mind initiates the senses and body into action. According to Vedic philosophy, intelligence is ultimately guided by the paramatma. In Sanskrit the word for an individual soul is atma and para means above or supreme. The paramatma is thus the Lord's personal expansion within the heart of every living entity. The paramatma accompanies every atma (individual soul) in its journey through different species of life.  According to our desires and karmic qualification the Lord directs our intelligence so that we may attempt to fulfill those desires. As stated earlier the intelligence given to the animals is limited to fulfilling the four bodily (eating. sleeping, mating, and defending.)  We can observe that those belonging to the human species have also used their intelligence to fulfill these four propensities. Since the intelligence provided to the human is remarkably more advanced than the intelligence offered to other species, the bodily needs are satisfied in a far more sophisticated manner. The atomic bomb (defending) and skyscraper buildings (sleeping, defending) are prime examples of this. Relatively noble advancements such as advanced medical care and mass communication are other examples of sophisticated application of human intelligence.

         Despite the advances in medical knowledge and technology there remains no solution to the basic problems of old age and death. There are also countless diseases that have not been conquered by medical application. On occasion when an antidote to a particular disease is discovered, a new and perhaps more deadly disease will likely take its place. The expectation of old age, disease and especially death are the root causes of human anxiety and fear. Anxiety is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “ painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill.” Fear is similarly defined as “an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.”  Disease and old age are the precursor to death. However, if we become diseased there is always the hope that we may return to a healthy state. Old age is a sobering stage as we are aware that death is just around the corner. Nonetheless in old age we are still in our bodies and may have developed valuable wisdom from life’s previous experiences. Death, however, is the point where our relationship with everything that we have accumulated and everyone that we have known in this life is permanently terminated. Your close friends and family will grieve because there is zero chance of being reunited in this world. The person undergoing the exit from his body is horrified by the unknown nature of his future existence after death. The dying living entity is forcefully taken out of his body and placed in a new situation. The ignorance of the passage of the atma after death increases this fear.

I

       Throughout  the Bhagavad Gita there are descriptions of the self realized person and his inherent qualities. One of those qualities is abhaya or fearlessness. How does the self realized person view those things which prompt fear and anxiety in most living entities? How does the intelligence and realization of the self realized soul understand his situation such that he is genuinely fearless? As opposed to increasing the sophistication of satisfying our bodily needs, the proper use of human intelligence is to arrive at the realization of ourselves as the eternal atma and to reestablish our relationship with the paramatma.  This indeed the primary function of the intelligence and the only path to genuine fearlessness.

 to be continued...

Also below are some links that contain a lecture given by Radhanatha Swami in Mumbai. The events hotel attacks) took place just a few minutes walk from the mandir. I would suggest that you listen to this class. OK?

The first link leads to the lectures given in November. The lecture that I am refering to is the last one on the list on this page (you can download from there).   The second link is a link is the page where you can listen to the lecture by the streaming method.

Nov 2008 Lectures

listen to streamin online

Harinam Express

Double Standard

A radio talk show had an animal rights advocate on their show. This lady was relaying a story of how she saved a dog from mistreatment. She said that the dog was tied to a pole with a leash that was only two feet long. The lady called the authorities and complained that this dog was being abused because of the short length of his leash. The police came and fined the owner of the dog and requested that the leash be extended to at least seven feet. The talk show host congratulated her for her efforts and then proceeded to ask the audience if there were any questions.

One man called in and said that he had a question for this lady. He asked " What did you have for lunch?" Startled by the seemingly irrelevant question she replied that she had eaten a hamburger for lunch. The man replied by saying that this is hypocritical because cows are also animals. Why should the dog be protected while large numbers of cows are systematically slaughtered for human consumption?

She said that dogs were meant to be pets while cows were meant for human consumption. The man asking the question told here that in some countries dogs are eaten while cows are protected! So why do you have this concocted standard where some animals are to be protected while others are allowed to be ruthlessly slaughtered?

Janmastami pilgrims

If you look at a graph describing how many pilgrims visit Mayapur throughout the year you will notice that most come between Kartika (Nov/Oct) and Gaura Purnima (Feb/March). The summer pilgrims are considerably less in number except for one obvious day near the end of August. Around the time Janmastami rolls around there are more visitors here than on even Gaura Purnima. Last night as I was walking from the grhastha area to Radha Madhava’s temple I felt like I was walking down some of the busiest streets in New York. Bike riding was not even a possibility due to the congestion.

It all started the day before when on my way to Navadwipa I noticed a steady stream of pilgrims walking down from the ghats to the temple. Most of them were obviously planning on staying the weekend since they were carrying duffel bags. It was a joyous scen watching all these pilgrims from around Bengal congregating in Mayapur. Even the boats from Navadwipa were filled to capacity with pilgrims. Many of the ladies would ululate as the boats left the dock across the Ganga for Mayapur. Most of these people are materially very poor but they really know how to capture the spirit of these Vaisnava festivals. Indeed the whole town of Navadwip was buzzing with transcendental excitement.

The next day during Mangala aratika there were thousands of devotees and pilgrims at the 4:30 am mangala aratika. It was a magical scene. Throughout the day there were dramas, bhajans, classes, prasadam (for those that did not fast) and a myriad of other transcendental activities. Gaura aratika in Mayapur is always full of spiritual energy and long kirtans but Janamastami night was spectacular. The entire temple was jumping and dancing as one of our best kirtan leaders led the kirtan. Although it was tremendously hot and humid our minds were more focused on the all pervading spiritual enthusiasm of the pilgrims and devotees. These types of experiences certainly edify one’s faith and realization in the process of sankirtan yajna.

After the Gaura aratika we went to our quarters to offer a new outfit to our Gaura-Nitai deities. My wife Guna Manjari has been working tirelessly trying to finish this outfit by Janmastami. SO my 6 year old son and my wife spent an hour or so decorating Gaura-Nitai and I must say we were all impressed by the result. Later the grand finale was at the temple during the final midnight aratika.

Testing...

Looking for a few spirit souls. You know the kind that are ecstatic but may or may not have been able to clearly feel it due to some kind of temporary covering. If you think that you might qualify then I have a favor to ask you. I am placing two videos here and I want you to attentively listen to both of them in succession without distractions. Please focus primarily on the sound vibration.

There is about twenty minutes of transcendental sound vibration here so make sure that you have that much time to spare. Please make sure that you listen to both attentitively.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

vande sri-krishna-caitanya-nityananda sahoditau
gauḍodaye puspavantau citrau sandau tamo-nadau

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krishna Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauda to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all. Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila 1.2

I have always appreciated the simple yet profound meaning of this verse. Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai are revealing an ecstasy and realization that already exists in our hearts. Just as the luminous orbs in our skies reveal our surroundings that would otherwise be covered by darkness, the two dancing avataras reveal our true ecstatic nature by their very presence in our life. Not only that, but the Supreme Lord in His form as Lord Nityananda falls to the ground on His knees and begs us to take this mercy. This is a far cry from the mood in our favorite story from English literature: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

gauranitaidas.com

service for everyone

Here is a short clip of my son, Balagopal, serving caranamrta to the pilgrims. He then jumps on my shoulders as we circumambulate the deities. He films the latter part so it is a bit shaky...
Just see how blissful the devotees are as they parade around the temple...

gauranitaidas.com

Mayapur Bound

Blogs have been few and far between since I have been in the States. My plan is to increase blogs upon returning to Mayapur and SMIS (Sri Mayapur International School). We will be leaving the States on the 29th of July and arrive in Kolkatta on the 30th. We spend a few glorious days in Kolkata before we finally arrive in Mayapur. While we certainly enjoy visiting family and friends here in Alachua and elsewhere we are anxious to return the simple life of sankirtan culture in Mayapur.



gauranitaidas.com

Born across the street from the center of the World.

Prakash is in the middle rear with the red jacket

I posted this a few months back with no response…so I am asking again…Thank you for reading.

For the last five years or so our school in Mayapur (SMIS) have had a very special student in our school. This boy, named Prakash, was born right across the street from the Yogapitha (the appearance place of Gauranga Mahaprabhu). His father helped build Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi and has performed many other services for the community. Prakash has had the opportunity to attend our school for the last five years only because of the financial sponsorship from a generous well wisher. He is a very bright student, well liked among the students and has a pleasant demeanor. Unfortunately, the sponsor is no longer able to continue the sponsorship. We are trying to find a sponsor or sponsors so that he continue his academic, social and spiritual education with us . If we do not find a sponsor soon then he will have to go elsewhere for his education. He has strong desire to stay here with his friends and well wishing teachers. So if you would like to do some service for one of Mayapur’s dhamabasi’s please let us know. The approximate fees are as follows (note-The immediate need is to provide for at least the day schooling $60/monthly; he desires to joing the ashram but the regular schooling finds is needed ASAP):

Monthly

Rs 2200/USD $60 day school fees

Rs 4400/USD $115 for ashrama (provides room and board, many extracurricular activities, good association and guidance)

If you would be willing to help with his tuition or would like more information please write to me at gaura.nitai.rns@gmail.com or you can contact the school directly at e-mail: smis@pamho.net Phone (03472) 245 363. Money can be sent any in number of ways: paypal, check in the mail, bank transfer etc, etc.

I have written a few articles about our school on my blog at gauranitaidas.com and the schools website is mayapurschool.com

inadequate analogies

In the Chaitanya Bhagavata, Sri Vrindavan das Thakura attempts to offer some analogies describing the glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The moon, Brihaspati and Kamadeva are all rejected as suitable comparisons to the Golden Avatara. Ultimately, Sri Vrindavan das Thakura concedes that the only appropriate comparison is Sri Gopal Himself.

This weekend I attended the 24 hr kirtan in New Vrindavan. From the very beginning of this festival I was trying to compare it to a previous experience only to come up with a blank. I also tried to compare it to some monumental occasions in secular or pop culture like (please forgive me) Woodstock, the advent of the internet, and so many other events. As you can guess the comparisons (at least those that were mundane) all came up short and extremely inadequate.

This 24 hr kirtan was an experience that one always looks forward to and, at least in mundane culture, never reaches. Anyone who is convinced that chanting the maha mantra in the association of sincere Vaisnavas is the best use of human energy should make every attempt to take part in a 24 hr kirtan.

While there were many ecstasies at this yajna there were also many challenges. My mind kept trying to remind me that there were so many other things that I could be doing. My mind would say "Ok you have chanted for several hours now why don't you give something else a try now. Maybe you could go for a walk in the park or you have not checked your email in over a week, why don't you do that?!" However because there were so many sincere Vaisnavas and extremely qualified and devotional singers all day and night we were able to follow our conviction to chant all day and night.

I am hoping that this (24hr kirtan) will become a common activity for our movement. I can see how bonding it is to sit together for hours on end and simply absorb ourselves in kirtan. There were people there that I have never seen or spoken a word to and yet I feel like I could trust them with my life.

So many things could be said about this experience. True realization, however, must accompanied by experience in order to truly be designated as realization. I am hoping that these 24 hr kirtan festivals will become a foundational experience for all of the sincere Vaisnavas in our movement. If you get a chance to attend another 24 hr kirtan yajna please do not hesitate to do whatever it takes to attend with full commitment and attention.

Here is a link to some of the soundbytes from last years 24hr program at NV. My favorites are the first one from Akincina Krishna and the last one by Madhava, but still, they are all worth listening to over and over...

My o my, how they are growing up!

There is a young Vaisnava here in Mayapur who is wholeheartedly taking advantage of his auspicious birth in a Vaishnava family. Ramacandra Kaviraj Prabhu is only 17 years old and yet he has already become qualified to take Brahman initiation. These days we generally do not see many people taking first what to speak of second initiation at such a young age. However by observing his character and determination to pursue pure devotional service Indradyumna Swami gave him first initiation at 15 years old and second initation at 17 years old. I remember this kartika when he had just come back to Mayapur from Vrindavan we ran into each other while walking to the temple. He was not in the mood of “showing off” his newfound spiritual birth and said nothing about it. However I noticed the thread around his neck and he very modestly admitted that he had just taken brahminical initiation. A month or so later he enrolled in the first deity worship school here in Mayapur (Mayapur Acadamy). As he progressed through the course he was engaged in experiential learning by daily offering camara to Panca Tattva. We were all very inspired to see such a young boy taking this brahminical lifestyle seriously. After receiving blessings from the Vaisnavas from Alachua he came to Mayapur in the beginning of 2007. Ever since then we have seen that due to his sincere endeavor Krishna is giving him glorious opportunities, clear intelligence and inspiration to move closer the goal. He will be leaving Mayapur in June to visit his family who are also very sincere devotees. Then in September he will go to continue his education at the spiritually oriented college in Europe, Bhaktivedanta College. Please give Ramachandra Kaviraja your blessings.

gauranitaidas.com

How to see the sun.

A fanciful landlord once became very anxious to see the sun in a new-moon night sky. The flattering sycophants of the landlord said, "When you, our lord, desires, it must be fulfilled. We should set up in this world such an exemplary deed so that everyone will glorify you and follow the same example."

Flattering thus, one of the sycophants brought in a huge lantern and held it up towards the sky, saying, "Look here, my lord, can you see the sun?"

Two other sycophants then pleaded, "The sun cannot be seen in such a little amount of light from one lantern. Let us arrange for ten thousand candles and power lighting."

So even that was arranged for, as the landlord desired. Some of the scientific-minded friends of the landlord made an attempt to show the sun to the landlord with the help of powerful electric lighting arrangement. But all such efforts made by the scientists concerned were simply in vain.

Then a considerate person who was present there explained to the landlord that he could never see the sun in the night even if all the electric lighting arrangements in the world were assembled together -it would simply be a wastage of power, money and time. So, he must wait till sunrise to see the sun. Only with the help of sunshine can one see the sun. The sun can never be seen with the help of any other artificial light.

Explanation

Similarly, every attempt of the scientists, archaeologists, and other people under illusion, to see and realize the eternal form of the transcendental Supreme Lord, full of bliss and knowledge, with the help of so-called mundane knowledge acquired through material senses and speculative reasoning, is only self-deceiving.

As the sun can never be seen in the night even with the help of hundreds of artificial lighting arrangements, similarly, the constitutional form of Lord Sri Hari and the spiritual master and the Vaisnavas is never visible through hundreds of attempts with the help of so-called mundane knowledge acquired by the material senses of the living entities.

As the sun is visible only in the sunlight, realization of the truly constitutional forms of Lord Sri Hari, guru or the Vaisnava, will only be possible under their mercy. The spiritual master can not be assessed through a slighted understanding. Any living being conditioned under illusionary mentality can not make a proper assessment of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Controller of illusion and of the real Vaisnava who is conversant with Krsna Consciousness.

by: Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada

gauranitaidas.com

Would you like to help Prakash?

(This is a post that I have placed on several other sites.)

For the last five years or so our school in Mayapur (SMIS) have had a very special student in our school. This boy, named Prakash, was born right across the street from the Yogapitha (the appearance place of Gauranga Mahaprabhu). His father helped build Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi and has performed many other services for the community. Prakash has had the opportunity to attend our school for the last five years only because of the financial sponsorship from a generous well wisher. He is a very bright student, well liked among the students and has a pleasant demeanor. Unfortunately, the sponsor is no longer able to continue the sponsorship. We are trying to find a sponsor or sponsors so that he continue his academic, social and spiritual education with us . If we do not find a sponsor soon then he will have to go elsewhere for his education. He has strong desire to stay here with his friends and well wishing teachers. So if you would like to do some service for one of Mayapur’s dhamabasi’s please let us know. The approximate fees are as follows:

Monthly

Rs 2200/USD $60 day school fees

Rs 4400/USD $115 for ashram (provides room and board, many extracurricular activities, good association and guidance)

If you would be willing to help with his tuition or would like more information please write to me at gaura.nitai.rns@gmail.com or you can contact the school directly at e-mail: smis@pamho.net Phone (03472) 245 363

I have written a few articles about our school on my blog at gauranitaidas.com and the schools website is mayapurschool.com

Pakka am

It is mango season in India!!! The mangoes that are available here are far better than the ones we get in the States. They do not have to be frozen and then shipped halfway across the world. I remember when I first gave a mango to my son a few years ago he would not have anything to do with it. Now it is a whole different story. Instead of asking for ice cream or cookies he asks for mango. They are also a lot cheaper here. I bought 20 mangoes for about 50 cents. In fact when we walk through the forest here on the bank of the Jalangi we run into mango trees all of the time. These trees are decorated with an abundance ripe mangoes. Actually many of the trees here give some kind of fruit or flower ( leechi, coconut trees, banana trees, jasmine, gardenia and many others) Everyday we offer Gaura-Nitai 15 or 20 mangoes and then distribute them to friends.

Once Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu planted a Mango seed here in Godrumadwipa. The tree grew immediately and contained fully ripe mangoes from the beginning. Not only that but these mangoes had no seed or skin. One mango from this tree would fully satisfy one materially and spiritually.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki jay!!!

gaura-nitaidas.com

MDBC and SMIS

Mayapura Dhama Broadcasting Center (MDBC)
Mayapur channel.
This is the link...http://youtube.com/Mayapurvision

For those of you who would like to view some glimpses of Mayapur life you will really appreciate this site.

I have imbedded a sample clip here. This clip is a short presentation of the school where I serve-Sri Mayapur International School (SMIS).



I guess while I am it I can say a few words about the school. It serves grades preschool through 12th Grade. Some of the students live in the ashram and others simply take the day school option. The campus is sattvic and always infused with educational and spiritual energy. One of the first things that I noticed when I started working here is how the older kids spontaneously have bhajan together during their breaks
I teach in the high school section of the school along with 5 or 6 other full time teachers. Additionally we have many local residents that come to share some of their knowledge and talents.
We use the prestigious Cambridge curriculum for the higher grades so that when they graduate they at least have an option to further their education at either a western university or the Bhaktivedanta College. The curriculum gives a lot of freedom for the teacher to deliver the content in a variety of fashions. We , of course, heavily stress the spiritual (vedic) view while delivering our lessons. We are also working with the Cambridge system to make our Bhakti Sastri curriculum officially part of the Cambridge system. While we do transmit basic facts and knowledge typical of high school curriculum, we primarily encourage kids to develop thinking skills, social skills and the ability to make mature informed decisions. It is our conviction that if the students are able to experience positive impressions early in their spiritual lives then they will be able to make mature choices about their spiritual and occupational lives in the future.

Personally this without a doubt the most satisfying service I have ever performed. The fact that we are able to daily serve these bright students gives us a sense of being a part of our spiritual preceptors' mission. By the way now that I have your attention, if you have ever had a desire to come and teach in this enchanting land of Mayapur and to serve the Vaisnava youth we are always looking for new teachers and facilitators to come on board. If you are interested please drop me a note at gaura.nitai.rns@gmail.com .Srila Prabhupada ki Jaya!


gauranitaidas.com

mayapurschool.com

http://youtube.com/Mayapurvision

wandering

Recently, I have been spending time wandering around the nine islands of Navadwipa on a bicycle. Sometimes I am able to convince friends or family to go and other times I go alone. While I haven’t the spiritual vision to see the full blown glory of the dhama I can at least theoretically understand the nature of this place by hearing from scriptures and other sadhus. On our adventures we encounter a variety of interesting landscapes, old temples and quaint villages. The villages are always filled with friendly and curious onlookers who often greet us with the standard “hare Krishna” or my favorite “Nitai Gaura Hari Bol!” Often times we will say Hare Krishna to the villagers only to find later that we were in a Muslim village. Even though they live life as Muslims they still excitedly reply “Hare Krishna!” The relations between these two faiths are very friendly throughout Nadia. After leaving villages we often encounter acres and acres of rice fields with raised dirt paths between them for passing. Sometimes right in the middle of nowhere we will come across a temple related Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes. One such place was the shrine indicating where the great Vaishnava Kholaveca Shridhara used to live. This is one of my favorite places to visit. The stories relating the relationship between Nimai and Sridhara are such sweet descriptions of transcendental relationships.

Other times we wander around the area and do not come across any obvious holy places. I would often remind myself that the simple fact that we are in Navadwipa Dhama is in itself spiritually uplifting. Just a few days ago a came across a verse confirming this conviction by Prabhodananda Saraswati:

Sakala-vibhava-saram sarva-dharmaika-saram sakal-bhajana-saram sakala-siddhayaika-saram sakala-mahima-saram vastu khan de navakhye sakal-madhurimambho-rasi-saram viharah

To wander through the nine islands of Sri Navadwipa-dhama is the essence of all opulences, the essence of all religious principles, the essence of all bhajana, the essence of all perfections, the essence of all glories and the essence of all kinds of oceans of sweetness

sankirtan devotee

There is a harinam party that goes out everyday throughout Mayapur. Some days they go to other islands of Navadwipa and others they stay in the Mayapur Chandrodaya complex. It is led by Sastra Prabhu, Kavi Karnapura and several other regulars. One unique regular is the devotee named Sankirtan. This devotee is not yet initiated nor is he even in a human body! He is a dog. Nonetheless without fail when the devotees go on harinam in the complex he accompanies the procession. When Radhanatha Swami was here speaking Gaura-Katha under the pandal he would also come and sit under the pandal. Some of the devotees that were not from Mayapur would try to chase him away but he inevitably returned. Even Radhanatha Swami noticed that this dog may be some special soul. There are several pastimes in the Sri Caitanya Mangala, Sri Caitanya Bhagavat and Sri Caitanya Caritamrta about Nimai giving ecstatic prema to dogs. Jaganatha das Babaji also spoke in favor of the “dogs of Navadwipa dham.”

Object of Meditation

In the Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu by Srila Rupa Goswami are some descriptions of the divine qualities of the Supreme Lord Krishna. As a neophyte Vaishnava sometimes I take for granted the fact that we have access (at least theoretically) to these qualitative descriptions. These qualities are revealed in order to give the devotees an understanding of the dynamic nature of the object of their worship. Indeed, when advanced Vaisnavas practice meditation they meditate on these qualities and the attractive activities that the Lord performs. The advanced Vaishnavas experience deep ecstatic symptoms upon hearing these descriptions. The more one becomes purified by offenseless chanting of the names of Krishna the more he can relish these qualities.

One interesting point about these qualities is that some of the qualities are minutely shared by spiritually advanced human beings. When we say that someone is godly it means that they are manifesting these qualities which originate in the Lord. The individual living entities can possess these qualities to a minute degree, however the Lord is the actual personification of these qualities. Some examples of these qualities are truthfulness, cleanliness, intolerance of another’s unhappiness, the power to control anger, self satisfaction, straightforwardness, steadiness of mind, control of sense organs, responsibility, equality, tolerance, equanimity, faithfulness, knowledge, absence of mundane sense enjoyment, leadership, chivalry, influence, serenity, kindheartedness, ingenuity, gentility, magnanimity, determination, perfection in all knowledge, joyfulness, fidelity, fame, pridelessness, eternal and a few more.

There are additional qualities that can exist in living entities that are more advanced beings. These beings are not minute living entities like us but are also not on the level of the Supreme Lord. The author cites Siva as belonging to this category. Some of these qualities are omniscience, forever young, always situated in His eternal form, and possessive of all mystic powers.

Next the qualities that exist only in the Supreme Lord in His grand form or as the person who the controller and creator. This list of consists of qualities that one would expect in God. Other living entities cannot at any time manifest these qualities. Some of these qualities are possession of inconceivable great energies, has a form which can exist over tens of millions of universes, the source of numerous avataras, and attracts self satisfied living entities. These qualities evoke worship in the mood of awe and reverence in the devotees.

The highest most advanced souls are attracted by these qualities but what attracts them more is the sweetness of His qualities as displayed as a cowherd boy in Vrindavan. These highly advanced souls rarely think of the majestic qualities like creating the universe, omniscience or as the supreme controller. Their natural attraction of these great souls is towards having sweet relations with the Lord as a personal friend, lover and even as a parent. Since the qualities of majesty in the Lord can hinder these sweet relations, the Lord often covers these majestic qualities from these advanced souls so that His advanced devotees can relate intimately with Him as young, beautiful cowherd boy in Vrindavan. The four qualities that manifest only in this sweet form of Krishna are: 1. He is a wave filled ocean of the most astonishing display of pastimes 2. He is surrounded by loving associates decorated with incomparably sweet prema (pure love) 3.He plays sweet notes on His flute which attract all the minds in the three worlds. 4. He astonishes all moving and non-moving entities with the beauty of His form to which there is no equal or superior.

When one’s heart becomes pure through the chanting of the Holy name of Krishna and receiving the blessing of the great souls, he can see this form of the Lord in His heart. Thus he can taste the nectar and bliss for which he has been hankering life after life.

Gaura Purnima

The other day one devotee asked me if I had ever been in Mayapur during the auspicious day of Gaura-Purnima. Although I have been to the Mayapur Gaura-Purnima Festival six times I have never been here for the actual day of Gaura Purnima. I would always leave a few days before Gaura-Purnima. When I would tell my friends that I was leaving before Gaura-Purnima they would often say “yes, Vrindavan is also a nice place to go for Gaura-Purnima.” I would inevitably reply “no, I am not going to Vrindavan. I am going to Mumbai for Gaura-Purnima” My friend would inevitably reply with a tone of disgust on hearing the name of Mumbai. "Mumbai...for Gaura-Purnime?!?"

The fact is that it is often easier to appreciate the Lord and His Holy abode while hearing from highly realized souls. Every year at the Chowpatty temple in Mumbai there is a grand multi day festival for Gaura-Purnima. Generally Radhanatha Swami would speak Gaura Katha for many hours on those days and then the kirtans were intense, ecstatic and long. I really felt close to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at these Mumbai festivals. The festival would culminate with a Gaura Aratika as the moon was rising. Totally ecstatic.

In any case we will spend our first Gaura-Purnima here in Mayapur and I am looking forward to it. I do feel the desire to go to Mumbai for the festival but I have no money to travel so the Lord has arranged for us to stay here in Mayapur. Oh well...I will have to stay in Mayapur for Gaura -Purnima!

Pictures of the new elephant...Laxmi Priya.

Here are some pictures of the new elephant here in Mayapur. She comes out daily. She is already comfortable around people (especially when they have food). She comes out on the Saturday procession but does not carry the deities yet.

Bhaktin Laxmi Priya

Today a new resident moved to Mayapur. Her name is Laxmi Priya and although she is not married she will not be staying in the bramacharini ashram. Since she eats about 150 pounds of food every day she will probably not be dining at any of the prasadam halls. Despite her hefty weight and wrinkles all of the bramacharis are anxious to do service for her.

After two years our Iskcon Mayapur has another ELEPHANT (hati)! She is eight years old and since elephants live to be up to 70 years old she is a mere youngster. Everyone misses Radha Madhava's old elephant Gulab Kali. So Laxmi Priya has come to perform Gulab Kali's old service of taking Radha Mdhava around the complex during the Saturday processions.

The kids were especially excited watching Laxmi Priya eat her breakfast of an entire Banana tree and then some.

I will put up some pictures as soon as I take some.

ELEPHANT HATI ELEPHANT HATI ELEPHANT

Laxmi Priya ki jai!

The new GBC

A few days ago we brought the entire school (Sri Mayapur International School-SMIS) to the GBC meetings. We entered the conference room with an exuberant kirtan led by Krishna das. Apparantly these meetings are a real austerity for the participants so the kirtan was a welcome relief to them. Since all 150 (or so) kids came the room was packed. The GBC members then rose from their chairs and offered them to the some of the younger kids. Anuttama Prabhu then gave a heartwarming address to the children. He encouraged the kids to take up leadership roles in our spiritual society. Many of the devotees there did not realize how large and diverse the International school in Mayapur had become. Needless to say they were greatly inspired by seeing all of the bright faced students. Lalita, the principal of the school then gave an informative talk to the GBC on the details of the school and plans for the future. Prasadam was then distributed to the kids and teachers.

United Nations

Our school is called the Sri Mayapur International School. The word "International" is certainly an appropriate description of
the identity of our school. Below are some flags representing the countries that my students are from. Keep in mind that this is only a representation of students in my classes. Other teachers here could add other flags to this collection. I will let you do the research to find the names of these countries.
















Srila Prabhupada used to say that our Krishna conscious society was the real United Nations. This is because the members perceive their own identities as purely spiritual beyond temporary designations. It is then possible to appreciate our temporary material differences while maintaining unity on a spiritual level. The problem with the official United Nations is that there are unlimited desires from many different parties but only limited resources to fulfill those desires. Countries and their citizens thus fight for their share of resources.
The properly situated spiritual ego however impels us to identify with our true selves as a substantial spiritual entity. Every living being has this in common and this is the true basis for equality. Every soul is composed of eternity, bliss, and knowledge and their are no material impediments to such a realization. The only impediment is the material ego which blinds us to our eternal identity. The commodity for which a spiritualist craves is the harmonious association with other devotees in a mood of glorifying Krishna through His holy names.

Here in Mayapur, especially during the Gaura Purnima season, there are people coming here from all over the world with a large variety of backgrounds (race, ethnicity, economic status, social status, tall short, etc.) They have come to benefit from and share the association of other spiritually minded souls. Indeed their is automatic bond between those people who have experienced a lifestyle molded around the glorification of the Lord. This bond is most apparent during the evening and morning programs when devotees come together to sing, dance and meditate on the spiritually potent names of the Lord.

Hare Krishna!
Gauranga!