Travel Journal#6.12a: Brahmacari Convention

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 6, No.12a
By Krishna-kripa das
(June 2010, part two, section one)

Brahmacari Convention

(Sent from Opatija, Croatia, on July 27, 2010)

Prahladananda Swami:

At one point, I realized that the purpose of life was to come to higher stage of awareness.

I would go three times a week to argue with the devotees because I was convinced that hatha-yoga was the way to attain perfection.

Some of my friends joined Srila Prabhupada in 1966 when they heard about it in the Village Voice, but I never took it seriously.

The Buffalo temple was in an abandoned railway shack. In the beginning they did not have Bhagavad-gita but just a copy of the translation of Radhakrishnan’s verse 2.13. So three times a week I heard Bhurijana Prabhu explain about how we are not the body. I wondered if this was all there was to the philosophy. Then one day, I heard I was not the body, and I thought, “How profound! I am not this body!”

Once a friend and I were chanting on a bus, and we noticed everyone on the bus became friendly. We saw my friend’s family and they were arguing when we arrived, but when we chanted they became friendly. I thought, “This chanting is very powerful.” Worrying about what would happen if I stopped chanting, I decided to join the temple.

We just have to listen with perfect attention to attain perfection. That is the essence. Nothing else is required.

To chant with attention, we have to be absorbed in the holy name. Our conviction should carry our intelligence.

I asked Srila Prabhupada if it was alright when I am chanting to remember Krishna book. He replied, “No, you should just chant and hear the holy name. If remembrance of Krishna comes that is nice, but we should not try to artificially remember Krishna while we are chanting.”

Our problem is we think we are great, and the holy name is just some sound vibration.

Krishna may be there, but whether our heart is open to receive Him is another thing.

I can say from my experience that if you chant and hear the holy names, considering they are identical with the Lord, everything will gradually develop.

We cannot break into the spiritual world by our meditation: “Krishna may want me or not, but I am coming.”

Krishna is there. We are just trying to adjust our consciousness so we perceive Him. Just as radio waves are everywhere, but with a radio we can perceive them.

Kamsa was so much absorbed in thinking of the Lord that once when his wives approached him. He raised his sword, and angrily shouted, “Krishna and Balarama, You are dead!” They said, “We are not Krishna and Balarama, we are your wives!”

Our first business is to cry out to Krishna, but not in a complaining mood. We chant in a happy mood, but it is not possible to be completely happy in the material world. Try to get a sense of Krishna’s presence as you chant, and the more Krishna reveals Himself, the more you become happy feeling His presence.

Q: When you chant Hare Krishna, where does the sound come?

A: It comes from Krishna. Krishna is descending.

As long as we desire according to the modes, our consciousness is materially affected, but when we constantly desire according to Krishna, the spiritual master, and the succession of spiritual teachers, we become more conscious of Krishna.

Once I went with Srila Prabhupada to a monastery of monks who meditated on the holy name. Srila Prabhupada gave a lecture on the importance of hearing and chanting the holy name. He did not stress meditation.

At nistha, Krishna’s form spontaneously appears while we chant and is not seen as different from the holy name.

Having a little reverence for the holy name is nice. It is not that reverence is only for those Vaikuntha-vasis, the rejects from Goloka Vrndavana.

When the inspiration for sadhana comes from anything other than a natural attraction to service, it is vaidhi-bhakti.

Causes of deviation [numbered entries in the outline below] and what we can do about them [lettered entries below the numbers]:

1. Seeing women as sense objects.

  a. being respectful

  b. seeing them as matajis [mothers]

  c. understanding we are not enjoyers, Krishna is the enjoyer

  d. seeing their beauty as part of Krishna

2. Not making time for sadhana.

  a. write down a daily schedule

  b. have a devotee check in with you weekly.

3. Not having the desire for spiritual life.

  a. associating with those who have a desire.

  b. praying for the desire

  c. reflection and introspection.

4. Not serious about spiritual life.

  a. introspect

5. Lacking knowledge.

  a. reading books

  b. studying

  c. congregational chanting

  d. take bhakti-sastri course

  e. engaging in the nine items of bhakti

6. No conducive environment.

7. Commit offenses.

  a. serving devotees

  b. chant

  c. care and attention

  d. get feedback from seniors

  e. ask for feedback.

  f . cultivate friendship with other devotees

8. Previous attachments.

  a. chant more and more attentively

9. Thinking that you are doing things perfectly.

10. Bad association.

11. Over eating.

I joined the movement in 1968, and the first thing we called that ladies was gopis. Later we addressed them as mataji as Srila Prabhupada recommended and did himself.

Prahladananda Swami:

In one sampradaya they consult the horoscopes at the age of five and determine whether or not the brahmacari will take sannyasa in that life. Often they take sannyasa at the age of eight, and thus theirsannyasa rods are very short. Interestingly enough they have had only one or two cases of fall down in 800 years.

Q: (by Prahladananda Swami): You are a brahmacari guru and sometimes young women want initiation, with less than uttama-bhaktiaspirations. What do you do?

A: (by Krishna Ksetra Prabhu:)This is certainly true. There are even those disciples who announce their intention to marry me, which makes it difficult for them to understand it will not happen and for them to accept me as a guru instead of a husband. If I were a marriage arranger, I could do that service for them, but it is not my nature, so I advise them to find agrhastha to help them find a suitable husband.

Prahladananda Swami:

We have tendencies toward brahmacarya or grhastha life, but beyond that, there is the power of the holy name. If we take shelter of the holy name, whatever asrama one is in, one will be a brahmacari,and if one does not take shelter of the holy name, whatever asramaone is in, one will not be a brahmacari.

—–

?r?-n?rada uv?ca

brahmac?r? guru-kule

vasan d?nto guror hitam

?caran d?savan n?co

gurau sud??ha-sauh?da?

“N?rada Muni said: A student should practice completely controlling his senses. He should be submissive and should have an attitude of firm friendship for the spiritual master. With a great vow, the brahmac?r?

should live at the gurukula, only for the benefit of the guru.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.12.1)

the above excerpts from Krishna-kripa das journal can be read in its entirety on Krishnamonk.blogspot.com

with excerpts from

Bhakti Rasamrita Swami (on devotee relationships)

Bhakti Vijnana Swami (on the subtle body)

Krishna Ksetra Prabhu (on peace of mind)

Bhakti Caru Swami (on just offering this life to Krishna)

Prahladananda Swami (realizations)

Candramauli Swami (on association with women)

Jayadvaita Swami (questions and answers)

Panel Discussion on the Brahmacari Asrama

(With Prahladananda Swami, Yadunandana Swami, Bhakti Rasamrita Swami, Krishna Ksetra Prabhu, and Kripa Moya Prabhu)

Also posted on Brahmacarya.info

On Rama Navami, March 24, 2010, His Holiness Radhanath Swami
awarded sannyasa to HG Devamrita Prabhu.

There are four new ISKCON sannyasis this year:

Devamrita dasa: Bhakti Rasamrita Swami
Nitai Caitanya dasa: Nitai Caitanya Goswami
Makhanlal dasa: Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami
Siddharta dasa: Siddharta Swami

     We wish them all success in their preaching and their new ashrama.

Your servant,
Prahladananda Swami

Born from an idea by ISKCON guru Prahladananda Swami, the Convention aims to provide likeminded association and inspiration for brahmacharis, who were once the heart of spiritual life in temples, but are now few and far between.

From Dandavats.com

This year’s seminars:

Loving Relationships by H. H. Bhakti Rasamrita Swami

Going Deeper in Sadhana by H. H. Prahladananda Swami

Developing Intelligence in Spiritual Life by H. H. Bhakti Vijnana Goswami

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti by H. G. Krsna Ksetra Prabhu

Dealings with Women by H. H. Candramauli Swami

Anything Goes: Questions and Answers with H. H. Jayadvaita Swami

Considering Future Options by H. H. Yadunandana Swami (with panelists Krsna Ksetra Prabhu, H. G. Kripamoya Prabhu, and Bhakti Rasamrta Swami)

H. H. Bhakti Charu Swami gave a talk: “Just Give this One Life to Krishna”

H. H. Janananda Goswami helped inspire and facilitated the convention.

Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 4.26.25 Radhadesh 2010-03-17

Travel Journal#6.9b: Belgium and Holland

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 6, No. 9b
By Krishna-kripa das
(May 2010, part one, section two)
Belgium and Holland

(Sent from Munich, Germany, on June 1, 2010)

Insights from Lectures

Prahladananda Swami:  SB 04.27.27_Old Age Modern Choice_2010-05-01

“Here we find a glorification of old age. This is rare. Why is this? It is an impetus for spiritual life.

Some say reason comes with old age, but for some, old age comes by itself.

As new devotees we thought we were transcendental, so we did not worry what we ate or how much we ate. Then at age forty, we realized the importance of our body, and we started taking care of our health, and for some, it became a fulltime service.

On the way back from a doctor’s appointment, Srila Prabhupada saw a movie theatre with a film entitled, “Is There Sex After Death?” Srila Prabhupada spoke about it in his morning class. “Tell them they do not have to worry. There is sex in 8,400,000 species of life. If they know that, they would not have to worry.”

Researchers fed rats a breakfast cereal to test its nutrition value. The rats, however, ate the box and not the cereal.

People are eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, and in the past, they were eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, and I can predict, as an ISKCON astrologer, that in five billion years, people will be eating, sleeping, mating, and defending.

Srila Prabhupada said, “Do you see that tree?” I said, “Yes.” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Do you see the bird in the tree?” I didn’t, but I took his word for it. He then continued, “The bird knows tomorrow there will be worms to eat, and he has his female bird, so he has no anxiety. He knows everything will be taken care of. Why then are you in anxiety?”

Old age makes us more serious.

Srila Prabhupada said that there is a television in our heart whereby we can see the activities of the spiritual world. But unfortunately it is broken. Our movement is a transcendental TV repair movement.

Q (by Sacinandana Swami): I am intrigued by how Srila Prabhupada says the bird was carefree. I find as I age, I have more anxiety. Tell me about how the devotee is free from anxiety.

A: We are confident that we are going back to Godhead, so for us there is no anxiety. Without that transcendental realization, we can try to be peaceful, but that will not be substantial.”

Lilasuka Prabhu:

Hearing from Srila Prabhupada personally, Prahladananda Swami realized that what Srila Prabhupada spoke and what he wrote in his books is the same.

taken from Krishnamonk.blogspot.com

The following is an email message Balarama Prabhu received from His Holiness Prahladananda Swami regarding Maharaja’s reading program. Balarama Prabhu’s message is quoted by “>”.

================================================

Dear Balaram dasa,
Please accept my greetings and the blessings of Lord Sri Krishna. All
glories to Srila Prabhupada!

> Maharaja, I was emailing you regarding your reading program ,how you study
> Srila Prabhuapada’s books.How many hours a day do you study? How many of
> Prabhupadas books do you study in a year? etc. I am seeking Any
> information that will help me.

Thank you for your letter. My daily reading program is:

10 verses from the Bhagavada Gita. Sanskrit, translation, purport.
Reciting 1 chapter from the BG by memory.
1 chapter from the Nectar of Devotional
10 verses from the SB
1 chapter of the Krishna Book
25 verses from the Caitanya Caritamrta.

> I do not recall if you were mentioning it in one of your classes or if one
> of your disciple’s told me. I would really like to memorize krishna lila
> ,stories in general.So I was just seeking some advice,how to,some tips?

Practice regularly memorizing Krishna lila and review constantly what you
have memorized.

> Also a devotee was saying that reading keeps us philosophically fit in
> krishna consciousness ,why is this important? why is it important to read
> and deeply study Srila Prabhupada’s book’s? Also how do I get a deep
> attraction and taste for reading?

We are trying to see reality through the eyes of the scriptures so we
may perform pure devotional service in Krishna consciousness.

As we become purified, gradually taste and attraction will develop.
When that taste and attraction has not fully developed, we can read and
study to strengthen our intelligence and further our conviction and
practical service to our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, and Lord
Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission.

Hope all is well.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Prahladananda Swami

In a similar letter written to me Maharaja had stated

>.. what is the sequence that a
> devotee should read Srila Prabhupada’s books?  And if you don’t mind, what
> is your reading schedule? Thank you very much.

Generally we start with Bhagavad-gita, then NOD, then Srimad
Bhagavatam, then CC.

My reading schedule:
10 verses from Bhagavad-gita–Translation, Sanskrit, purport
Reciting one chapter of Bhagavad-gita from memory (sanskrit and English)
1 chapter NOD
10 verses SB
1 Chapter Krsna Book
25 verses from CC

+other books if I have time

Hope all is well
Your well-wisher,
Prahladananda Swami

Upon arriving in Melbourne, I went to the New Nandagram farm about 2 hours away and give a yoga seminar with lectures on Krishna consciousness to about 15-20 people.  As Kali-yuga progresses, we can only expect people to become more and more receptive to Krishna consciousness.

Tommorrow, I go to Sydney and to the project at Govinda Valley where I will give lectures to the devotees and teach them some yoga.  This year I passed my certification test for Iyengar yoga.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Prahladananda Swami

Thursday 31st, January 2009.
I awoke. It was the final day of the year so there was some means to celebrate, at least sentimentally. Prahladananda Swami gave a brilliant class. It was so witty and impacting that, at the end, everyone was speechless. The sweetness only continued when, after class, Mahavana gave me some honey coconut balls (one of my favourite)….

to read more click here