The Eve of the Sankirtan Marathon 11/25/12

                                                           Conference from Vrindavan.

Dear devotees,

Greetings from Sri Vrindavan Dham.

I am writing from the banks of the Yamuna, the daughter of the Sun God and sister of Yamaraj. Sri Yamuna Devi Ki Jay. My message today is intended for all devotees of the West (South America, Central America or Europe), who are entering the marathon in December.

Traditionally in the West it is believed that December is the month that will satisfy all your desires. This is due to the consumerist Christmas. For that reason, we have created the idea that December is a month of extreme consumerism. For example: the workers are given a bonus in their salary for the month, and so on. So, people do not care about how much they spend in the month of December. We can say that it is a bit more relaxed and more open to buy a Srila Prabhupada book, a conscious DVD, or to support the cause of Krishna Consciousness. I've done sankirtan for many years of my life, so I can say that this sankirtan process is a great mercy. Why? Because one does not look to people for some selfish reasons, but for the sole purpose of bringing these people to Krishna Consciousness and occupy them in service to God. In addition, one gives a product that is completely transcendental and linked to Krishna.

I'd like to leave a box of Vedic wisdom to every person in the world. That is my greatest desire, as this collection of Vedic tips has something for everyone. Vedic Culture is for everyone, there is nothing that someone can say:  I do not care for this or it's not important.

On the other hand, I would also give everyone okis, okis with the invitation to see our facilities and programs and to attend our centers. Okis with conscious messages that can help all those people who do not know where they can go and say: Look, these people practice bhakti yoga, have organic farms, and are interested in the good of people, etc... This is the awareness that I want to share with people. This is the awareness that I received from Srila Prabhupada and therefore transcendental competition of the Sankirtan Marathon of this December is the opportunity to lift the spirits of our preachers in all countries.

Today I just returned from Hrisikesh to Vrindavan, where we were attending a conference of the Green Pilgrimage Network (Green Pilgrimage Network or ecological). In this lecture we talked about doing a competition between the different cities of India affiliated to this network, which awards the greenest cities in different aspects: the cleanest city, the most aware city of caring for ecological values, etc ... All based on the spirit of serving the pilgrims who come to the city. This modest proposal was accepted by our organizers and also will be performed within the cities, as a competition of the temples within a city to see which is the most environmentally friendly. This is very important because these temples are guilty of improper cleaning standards and/or pollution. A very good conclusion of this meeting was to accept that the use of plastic in the temples is almost prehistoric should be banned anyway.

This conclusion was also accepted at the last meeting of the World Vaishnava Association (WVA), where the statement was made that no plastic article should be used in the festivals of the Gaudiya Math. Thus, many efforts are being made to preserve our Bhumi Ma, or Mother Earth. Well it's now or never when we can do it. So I was very happy to see in this meeting at Hrisikesh that there were so many temples interested in changing the consciousness of the pilgrims. There was much willingness to change. This change is a shift in consciousness and we must be fully part of this shift in consciousness.

In temples we cannot accept plastic bags or offerings having plastics. That is just being accepted here and has taken a long time to be seen as a necessity. That is a very positive step.

My dear devotees, I send a big hug for this New Year and I ask you to remain enthusiastic forever. I ask that you be determined to become stars in the sky and showing enthusiasm to demonstrate how beautiful it is to preach to the souls ... keeping with the constant desire to bring the mercy of Sri Krishna and Srila Prabhupada to every corner, every house ... So we must distribute the Bhagavad Gita and books of Srila Prabhupada massively in December; and all the materials that devotees and mothers of Seva work so hard on. Because there are not random materials, they are conscious materials, deeply linked to the beautiful Vedic Culture prepared by devotees as a service. A sankirtaneer has to speak thus:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. If you takethis book, I cannot guarantee anything, but I found the greatest beauty of life in this book. I don’t come to disturb or take money, no, that's not my job, I just want to share with you the most beautiful and wonderful thing that I received. Please read this book and see for yourselves what I speak. :)

Thus a sankirtaneer speaks with all soul, because he has a lot of fervor and believes what he is saying. I had a spiritual brother in Europe who did sankirtan and every time he spoke with someone he gave them a book and would say: Please do not reject me. It is the personal conviction that makes the sankirtaneer, since the sankirtaneer believes that every day is a new chance to proclaim everywhere the glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. One does sankirtan because he can preach and Krsna so mercifully manages the economy for the sankirtaneer. Thus, those who perform sankirtan are eager to give this Bhakti mission, this mission of Prabhupada, this mission of transcendental love everywhere.

When I was doing sankirtan I never felt obligated because Prabhupada said he was going to go to a temple where the most books were distributed and that was my meditation. And so, with much enthusiasm I would go do sankirtan and spent many hours distributing books outside the temple, only to taste that nectar. Sometimes you have to beg and plea but usually no one takes a book while the sankirtaneer fails to think that Krishna is the controller of everything and implores him to preach from the heart.

Please take this for your entire life and preach the glories of Sri Hari. And if this message is not convincing, then you yourselves go on the sankirtan experience and participate in the marathon in December. And make a united effort to free our spiritual family from the false ego so this mission become one of hearts without deviation, which only seeks to help others and where members of this family are known to be humble servants with the intent to please Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.  And all Vaishnavas found everywhere, they are our protectors and with all their love they have enabled us to aspire to one day become His devotees.

With this message I leave today. I sincerely hope that we can share a marathon month of December full of ecstasy and preaching. This time I will not be physically with you doing sankirtan, but from Vrindavan will be working on a marathon of different projects to accompany them. Then in January we will participate in an international meeting of Yoga in Bangalore, where we introduce the Inbound Yoga System and Network of Eco Yoga Villages. After that we will travel to Puri to receive the blessings of Sri Jagannath and then participate in the Maha Kumbha Mela in Allahabad, where we will have many opportunities to preach environmental awareness and protection of Mother Earth.

A hug from the heart to all of you, fighters of Truth.

Gouranga Radha Vraja Mohan, ki jay.

Srila Prabhupada ki jay

Your always well wisher,

Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti

Jay Srila Prabhupada from Radha Damodara Temple 11/18/12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM9oFM9FfEo&feature=g-all-u

Better to Seek Divine Love Together From Vrindavana 11/4/2012

Dear devotees, today from Vrinda Kunja we send the Vrinda family the Sunday Chat.

We are grateful for the presence of you all. We know that to come here from South America means a huge sacrifice ... because it is not easy to get here, one spends a lot of money. And the question is why do we spend so much money? It is for tanking ... filling the tank. Why do we go to Melas, why go to temples? Why open temples? Why travel to India? We are members of a monastic order who preach simple living and high thinking.

And our most essential philosophy is called association, because if I associate with Vaisnavas high I have the chance to develop a higher consciousness. That's the point, how batteries charge us to advance spiritually. My spiritual teacher brought us to India, imagine how far ... and here in Vrindavan and other parts of India, Srila Prabhupada organized learning institutes true divine love.

Today we invite you to read a chat, a message from my heart ... That means, of what I feel, what I feel you should all know. Practically, Vrinda family, the Vaishnavas in the world, try every day in being more solid in their service offered to humanity. We want to do something to make Srila Prabhupada happy. Devotees say: trying to steal a smile from Srila Prabhupada, that is what we are trying to do within Vrinda Family. That’s what we try to do with family Vrinda. However, in the modern world, we have to adapt to so many things ... and sometimes questions will be raised about what is to be done or not done.

For example: in India  a hand is not even given, they always greet with folded hands on the chest ... but today we read in Bhakti Ratnakar that devotees were giving hugs of friendship ... But, if you go to the West and someone gives you a hand and rejects it then that is something foreign. So Vaishnava culture is adapting to take this message to the world without losing its values. What are these values? To refrain from promoting or condoning illicit sex, for example ... sexual relations without the final intention of having children in a spiritual union are totally prohibited. Children require conscious parents. That's what they need and what children deserve.

Thus Srila Prabhupada left us many rules and regulations, he also gave us the instruction to adjust to the circumstances, and how things are adjusted is work of the Guru. The spiritual master is always thinking about how to occupy people in connection with Krishna. That's the Viashnava flexibility, we want to occupy people with Krishna, in any way possible ... and you who have come from so far are the best example, because you are already busy with a lot of experience of engaging people in Krishna Consciousness.

When we invite people to Srila Prabhupada's family, we always have to find new ways for the devotees to have a nice position in this society, occupying people with ideas of how to advance spiritually.

Yena tena prakarena manah krsne nivesayet

The bottom line of all things is that people become engaged in service to Sri Krishna, the other devotional details (rules and regulations) can be introduced gradually. In fact, our family has been very innovative in many ways. Although I would say, only semi-innovative ... because all the things that I have innovated are things that Prabhupada had innovated. Prabhupada did gurukulas and we're trying to do faith education. Prabhupada did GoShalas and we are trying to promote the protection of cows and animals with the Spoon Revolution. Prabhupada wanted to direct charity and we've begun working with House of Wisdom, which we plan to make many contributions to society with. Srila Prabhuapda and Sri Mahaprabhu have preached a message of nonsectarian and invested all and invited their energy into it. Srila Prabhupada often said to people: you do not have to change your religion, you just have to love God ...

And if you love God, you will be able to enter God's mercy. Srila Prabhupada also preached to scientists about the existence of God, proving that Darwin was wrong and that the soul is a substance at hand, because the materialist sees only matter and the matter ends there. So they think that matter has changed through coincidence and therefore they have nothing to be thankful for and all they end up thinking is, I have to make the most of this life. So Prabhupada was much attached to science and now with Oida we are trying to preach the same way and to clarify that the soul without faith is abandoned and lost.

So the soul and faith are elements, evidence of a spiritual existence. So, we're just trying to continue what Prabhupada began, only including some new tools. Because Darwinism, for example, never worked with psychology. Even Srila Prabhupada did many things that we have not been able to do yet, but Vrinda has also devoted much energy to present different topics with the conclusion of Krishna Consciousness in an introductory form. Then Vrinda family has been producing much introductory material for people to have a chance to get to Krsna Consciousness. So we have also tried to introduce Vaishnavism into the internet, through communication which goes beyond a tiny temple and its visitors. Today, using the Internet a temple can have followers in many parts, so there are many modern techniques through which we preach if we use them and achieve something wonderful.

So we must also engage professional people, because if there was nothing to do in these areas they would feel a little discouraged, but when they see that they can take their art to Krishna, then all can feel a little happy. The Vedic wisdom box, for example, is a product we did many years ago. Today, we have 163 titles ... and that box is perfect because you get the darshan of Radha Vrajesvara and can choose a title that interests you. No one can say that there is only one interest for him. And on one side of the brochure we are promoting our eco-villages.

Now I took a title called: The misfortunes. This explains the causes of the misfortunes in life ... the various problems and how to handle ... and how we can be happy despite the misfortunes that occur in one's life. All of that is written there. And so one can learn about different topics ... Then chose another issue: what does it mean to be a brahmana ... why are we brahmanas in the line of Sri Mahaprabhu, another issue: agro awareness, and how to grow organically. Sure, many of the titles are introductions and knowledge can be much more voluminous, but you have to start somewhere. Likewise, our life is full of surprises. And this collection of Vedic wisdom should be on every table in a house, every office, in every restaurant ... Another title I chose now is: reducing violence begins at home, another very important title because we all suffer violence. If someone does not find a guide for himself, then there is nothing. How to live healthily, and respect others ... so many things you can learn.

These sheets allow more people to enter the Vedic knowledge. The most important thing is we have the whole box and promotion is needed, it’s your turn. Sure, it may not be cheap, but it is very valuable. So, we have to work with lots of encouragement so that everyone can be benefited. I give you ideas, but now it's your turn to take these ideas and apply them. My idea was that when someone comes to the temple they are able to find a complete selection of titles on how and where to practice spiritual awareness. That's our job; it is what we are doing so that Srila Prabhupada is pleased with us. That's the message Krishna wants us to know. But the world needs access to this wisdom. If the world does not know, how it will grow on this path? So Srila Prabhupada came to teach us how to do things right.

Today is the disappearance day of Srila Narottam Das Thakur and we have heard many pastimes that melt the hard heart ... and one feels affected and think, how wonderful and I live in the world with these worries for material things. In other words, dear devotees, I'd like to present the great urgency of everything we've done, so people in different sites have access to everything that we are producing with the sweat from our brow and much sacrifice. So we all have to come together in something very valuable and just by joining together something can become powerful. Although sometimes we perceive that our work had no results, but the results are there.

For example, today I received a notice from a court case of Allahabad forbidding black water from reaching the Yamuna ... and the notice also says that we need to do an in-depth awareness because the very pilgrims are dirty. And that is a joy, a victory ... but do not forget: the struggle continues and we need all your support to make it work. And as the Vrinda family, we remain useful here. Thanks to Krishna we had some opportunities and we now have a very nice opportunity which was granted by the municipality to the family of helping hands, removing all waste buried in an illegal landfill in front of Tatiya Sthan ashram that is poisoning  Vrindavan and in this way I feel benefited and I am very pleased with this. Imagine the mayor is asking this of us, this is good if ... we are just waiting for permission to start with it. We're talking about minimum 2000 tractor trips to get it all.

And we will do it because it is a wonderful service, and if we can get one save one child of Vrindavana from getting sick, this practice has been so effective. And so you can restore this sacred lake and bird sanctuary. That is Vrindavna today, meeting with the mayor has had many fruits. On the other hand we are trying to finish the Gopinath Mandir gardens as well as trying with Chandi to clean the waters of Yamuna through a sand filter. It is always a lot of work and we will see how all this is coming out. In the coming days there will be many important moments, places to visit ... we have much to do.

The cleaning service is something that makes me very happy, even though it is very hard. Although everything is still very dirty. Do not forget that we are doing this to give an example and so that in the future they may have garbage collectors ... Let's see how many posters we have distributed in schools, temples ... we have done a lot of work to get these materials ... but our devotees here are very busy, so we have to put more effort. So I need you to think with me, act with me... help me. Help me carry these messages to schools, so that children become aware, because they are the one who will create not so nice conditions tomorrow.

That is a very special program of awareness in schools here. Will is power. Those of us who are here are here to work.... And Vrindavan is a small town. You can do many things ... not talking about a big city. I have said many times, we should not feel better because we clean than the dirty ... we should be grateful to those who get dirty and give us a chance to do service :)

Everyone of Vrinda I send the message to be generous and send monthly support for our service to employ qualified people to help us. Now we'll have to get heavy excavators to clean this lake ... that is something I accept because I have years of fighting against this illegal dump, and now I have the 

permission of the municipality to fix it and turn it into a park. [Many thanks to all of you who are preaching the glories of Vrindavan worldwide.]

When I came to Vrindavan I remember how nice Vrindavan is and all the work that is being done is completely wonderful.  Like today we went to the temple of the original deities of Srila Narottama Das Thakur it was very beautiful. Vrindavan is moving and this movement is Krishna consciousness. Here we will see wonderful things, but it is missing many details of organization. So the government does not take into account many details ... but the solutions are going to come, after a few years, Sri Vrindavan will have many improvements. And that is where we are, because thousands and millions of people in the world are going to come here and we have to receive them in the best way. This year is 30 years of Vraja Mandala parikram and I can say that Vrindavan is my home, though I do not deserve it ... because I've spent 30 kartiks or more and want to see my house, the house of my God, totally clean. I pray to see the Yamuna totally clean. That's a big job that requires a lot of people involved.

Right now we have to review the materials that we will carry to Kumbha Mela. So I need the support of all of you. The care for the environment is practical service to the Dhama ...the Dhama needs it.

We need to act consciously. So we ask the Vrinda Mission to be generous ... and consider that each of our churches exists by the mercy of Sri Vrindavan Dhama and by the mercy of Vrinda Devi. Here we have a very responsible management team to address it all. I send my love to Bolivia to continue helping this beautiful center of Radha Ramanji. I send my love to Peru, where Lord Jagannath and Radha Damodhar bless you all. I congratulate Priya Vrata prabhu for the wonderful interview he gave to the newspaper El Comercio  de Peru. I send my greetings to Varsana they are doing a very beautiful temple to Gauranga Radha Vrajesvara. I also send my love to Radha Shyamsundar in Uruguay with the pioneers who are out there preaching. (In Maldonado and Montevideo) I send my hugs to Brazil to Mahaprabhu Gandharvika Giridhari, and all centers of Brazil, to remember the sacred land of Vrindavan and preach the glories of the Dhama.

So temples only need to enthuse supportive friends. I send my greetings to Venezuela, to the Azulita where Radha and Govinda are and Gaura Nitai. Send my love to Ecuador, Radhika Gopinath and all the beautiful temples. Also in Chile, with very beautiful Chileans who have contributed their beautiful sannyasis and Radha Govindaji, Radha Vrindavan Candra and Radha Kunja Bihari. My heart to Radha Madan Mohan, in Argentina, where we have much to do with our Eco Yoga Park which was chosen as one of the most important places to visit by Lonely Planet. Also send my wishes to preach to the pioneers of Paraguay who worship Krishna and send the message of divine love.

To Radha Madhava in Mexico, the devotees in Guatemala with Rupa prabhu, who are doing pretty centers in Central America. To Brihat Vrati maharaj who is trying to break the ice in the center too. I send my love to the devotees in USA, Canada, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Europe, the Philippines ... So, we have a few places on earth where we have devotees who identify with our desire to serve. And we hope that all of you will join us in Vraja Mandal Parikrama, a full month to be together and to continue with eagerness to get ahead. Thanks for sharing this chat today and trying to get out of Maya together. Better then to seek divine love together.

A hug from the heart to deepen and better our service

Jay Srila Prabhupada!

Jaya Radha Vraja Mohan!

Jaya Srila Narottam Das Thakur.

Sri Imlitala from Vrindavana 11/11/12

Dear devotees
A hug from the heart.
Sri Vrindavan Dham ki jay.
Vraja Mandal Vrinda family parikram ki kay.

This month of Kartik is of deep meditation. How can I be better servant in this life? How many people am  I bringing happiness to with my actions and words? How many people resonate for you at this point in your spiritual life? How many people's hearts find refuge in yours? How do we feed the spirit of our soul in distributing the message of Mahaprabhu? Many important issues of life, it is time to evaluate ourselves and regain our votes. I want to serve better. Leading to serve better.

What sense is there in studying, pursuing a career in medicine, working hard, then you finish your studies and ultimately unable ton exert it or someone tells you: You know you can cure but you cannot exercise it? The purpose of schools is that you become a professional and can offer something to others. A school prepares its students to become teachers one day. And as a medical student he thinks: when will the day come so I can heal people. We are doctors of the soul.

Today we are visiting a beautiful place in Vrindavan. Imlitala Mandir. I hope that all who come to our spiritual family may know this place and its mystical transcendental love. Mahaprabhu was here. He is still present here. Sending his message of love. Mahprabhu came to this world to taste vipralambha rasa (transcendental mellow of separation). Over in Vamsi vat Krishna expanded to taste the rasa dance and so He can be with all the gopis. Sri Krishna took the form where each Gopi felt and thought that Krishna was with only them and no one else. Only Srimati Radharani  could see Krishna was not only with Her, but also with all the other gopis.

Then Radha felt: "What? My position is annulled because Krishna put me at the same level with the other gopis" and became angry. This is written by Srila Rupa Goswami in Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu. There is a sloka there that says love moves like a snake, zig zag. So Radharani was triggered by Krishna so she became angry and went to the other side of the Yamuna and began to mourn. And the tears of Radha came in abundance and formed the lake called Mana Sarovar, anger or sarovar.

In Mana Sarovar, while Radharani cried and thought of Krishna,  her color darkened to black. When Radharani left the Rasa Lila, Krishna continued dancing with the gopis another time, but the charm of the Rasa Lila left. And Krishna thought: oh, how is it that I feel the rasa as such? And then He realized that Radharani was not there. And he began to ask everyone in Vrindavan, all the gopis: Where is Radharani? but Radharani was nowhere to be found so He came to this place, Imlitala, where there is a tamarind tree and started Radha-nama.

When Krishna was singing the name of Radha in separation, He was so absorbed in her name,that His color changed from blackish to the golden luster of Radharani. The name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are identical. There is no difference between nama and nami. Sri Krishna taking the name and color of Srimati Radharani unsettled Radharani while she was at Maja Sarovar, she felt that. Radharani came to Imlitala and saw the Lord, but gold. And said, O Lord Who is this? My Krishna is different, how is this? What happened here?

Lalita sakhi, the dearest friend of Radharani said: No, he is Krishna. Look, He has the flute and peacock feather, just His color changed. He is the King of Thieves. So Radharani went to touch Krishna. And when She touched Him, the samadhi of Krishna disappeared.

So Radharani Krishna asked: Why did you take this color? And Krishna said:
Radharani loves me so much, what is this love (prema) of Radharani for me?  For others love Me, but Radha loves me more ...I want to taste this love. Thus the desire to taste this love that Radha feels for Him arose. Krishna was very angry, because he realized that Radha felt much love for him, but it is said that when you look through the eyes of the other you can perceive the true feelings of the other for you, rather than viewed from their own eyes.

Therefore, Sri Krishna took the color of Radharani and appeared in Kaliyuga as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. For that reason, only Imlitala Mahaprabhu came to for this reason to Imlitala to sing and remember everything of that pastime.

Before, once in Dvapara yuga, Radha passed through this same place where the same tamarind tree was and  there was a mature tamarind tree that made her slip. So, Radha became angry and cursed this tree, so in the entire area of ​​Braj there are no tamarind trees bearing fruit.

About 200 years ago, the king of Madya Pradesh came here and decided to build. There was a tree branch of Imlitala that interrupted the build. Then the king ordered to cut this branch. And by doing so blood started coming out of the tree. They were three days of non-stop bleeding. Because of this offense, the King's entire family left the world.

Thus, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj (disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur) proposed to take care of the site and many people were opposed to it. The people who lived in the house that the King had built, after cutting the branch, they also left their bodies. But Srila B.S. Goswami Maharaj said, I have no problem in using this site because it will be dedicated to the service of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The deities of the temple are Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and were worshiped by Srila Sanatan Goswami. Radha Gopinath deities were worshiped by Srila BS Goswami Maharaj. This temple is full of devotional art, a museum. All Imlitala arts narrate the wonderful pastimes of Mahaprabhu in different places. Thus the glorification will come to a finish of such a beautiful place and share this with the whole Vrinda family. May all your spiritual yearnings be fulfilled in this life.

Krishna gives us much more than we deserve, we are simply distracted and do not realize it. For example having the association of a single devotee in this life is a blessing and is a personal form of Krishna for your life. Imagine having the association of many devotees. With just the association of one devotee you can consider yourself  beyond lucky, super lucky. And if you're with a devotee now or close to you, you can do this: Thanks prabhu Thanks mother for being here or being around.

Can you believe that all the mercy of Krishna came into your life by having one Vaisnava close to you. And all Vaisnavas are worshipable, a walking altar. I am also very fortunate to have the association of all of you, you are my saviors. This Srila Sridhar Maharaj taught us. And these are the issues we meditate on these days. And I ask you to also share them with everyone in their temples. Increase our love for the devotees. That is the true understanding of love of Krishna because he loves his devotees. And one of them can get us out of this world. My prayers for all to keep fighting in Krishna consciousness.

If you have any questions you can send with Pancatattwa and these days I can assist you via email or skype. With all my affection from Vrindavan.

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jay.
Your always well wisher,
Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti.