Colorful Krishnas have annual parade in Virginia

The large float winded its way through town and hundreds of people came out to cheer or even join in. They usually pick up people along the way who join the parade.

The Miami Ratha Yatra Parade marched through Coconut Grove Saturday afternoon, starting at the Hare Krishna temple at 3220 Virginia Street and ending at Peacock Park.

The yearly event there's lots of color and lots of colorful people.

Saturday's event at the park had lots of music, food, fashion and more and Sunday, it's all repeated again, minus parade, at the Cultural Center at 3220 Virginia Street where there is live music, food, drama, books and more. It's a 12 hour event -- 9 am to 9 pm. Admission is free.

Drumming in the park. Good times.

Temple In The Streets

Temple In The Streets

We roam the country with a collection of tents, Srila Prabhupada’s books and the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. We set the Festival in the Streets up in parks and on street corners and everywhere we make a difference. In this way we offer the ancient, yet fresh and completely relevant message of Krishna consciousness to all.

The Hare Krishna movement in its present form was established by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in India five hundred years ago. He revived the movement by taking Krishna consciousness on to the streets with his Sankirtana. Sankirtana means many people gathering together and chanting the holy name of God. In this age one mantra has been designated as the “maha-mantra” or great chant for deliverance. That maha-mantra is:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare HareHare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Although Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu desired the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra be spread all over the world He personally distributed it throughout the Indian sub-continent. It was not until His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada arrived in the USA at Boston Harbor in 1965 that the Hare Krishna mantra was transported to Western shores.

Srila Prabhupada moved to New York where he sat underneath a tree in Tompkins Square Park and chanted the Hare Krishna mantra and encouraged whoever took any interest in the chanting. In this way Srila Prabhupada attracted sincere followers and from these humble beginnings he created the worldwide International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

It is with the desire to reestablish this public street-based movement of Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada that Kuvalesaya das Viswakarma has spearheaded the formation of Temple in the Streets.

Srila Prabhupada so kindly interrupted his pleasant and simple life of seclusion in the holy land of Vrindavana, India, to go west to the USA. He was fulfilling the desire of his spiritual master who had a very strong desire to see this transcendental knowledge penetrate beyond the borders of India and saturate the Western world with the science of love of God.

After much contemplation on how to take up this mission and push it forward Temple in the Streets was born.

In an attempt to be consistent with the example of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, we have taken to the streets.

We roam the country with a collection of tents, Srila Prabhupada’s books and the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. We set the Festival in the Streets up in parks and on street corners and everywhere we make a difference. In this way we offer the ancient, yet fresh and completely relevant message of Krishna consciousness to all.

We have seen many movements and charities loose their direction and purpose when they find their energy has shifted to paying the necessary bills to maintain the institution. Therefore, to remain on the cutting-edge, intentionally we do not have a fixed residence or building to operate the temple from.

As odd as it may sound we are not trying to get followers to join us. We encourage you to take what you learn from the Temple in the Streets to your home, work, institutions, schools, communities and ultimately the world. Of course we like to keep in contact with people who have received value from our work.

We are looking to those people who are already passionate about the issues we face in this world: ecology, spirituality and sustainable living, to name a few, and who want to work cooperatively to create something which works on all levels for all beings. We want to give up our inherently harsh enforcement of false designations which result only in pain, suffering, bloodshed and illusion.

In the present age religion has failed to serve the need of the current civilization which is no longer controlled by a fear of eternal damnation. As such God has been give a bad name by the misdeeds of those who claim to represent him, promising liberation only at the time of death if your are a believer.

We make no such promises, our promise is that liberation is available now–not some day in the distant future. We can become liberated now by living life in relationship with God. We do not need to change our activities. Simply we have to change the purpose of our activities. We simply transfer our energy to serving and loving God, Krishna.

This knowledge is equally relevant to all, in whatever stage of existence one may be: young, middle aged or old; man, woman; black, white, yellow or brown skinned; Jewish, Christian, Muslim or Hindu. All these designations are irrelevant because this education pertains to the spiritual platform, the universal community we are already a part of. Service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna and his pure devotees and no other will provide the mature peace, harmony and prosperity the world is crying for.

It is my humble request and earnest invitation to you that you enquire with an open mind, “What is this Krishna consciousness movement?” Please look into your own life and the lives of those dear to you and take advantage of the timeless knowledge the Temple in the Streets is distributing. In this way we would like to serve you.

your servant
Kuvalesaya das Viswakarma

The foundation of our activates is the Srimad-Bhagavatam. I have provided the preface to this great literature.

Srimad-Bhagavatam
Preface
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

We must know the present need of human society. And what is that need? Human society is no longer bounded by geographical limits to particular countries or communities. Human society is broader than in the Middle Ages, and the world tendency is toward one state or one human society. The ideals of spiritual communism, according to Srimad-Bhagavatam, are based more or less on the oneness of the entire human society, nay, of the entire energy of living beings. The need is felt by great thinkers to make this a successful ideology. Srimad-Bagavatam will fill this need in human society. It begins, therefore, with an aphorism of Vedanta philosophy, janmady asya yatah, to establish the ideal of a common cause.

Human society, at the present moment, is not in the darkness of oblivion. It has made rapid progress in the fields of material comforts, education and economic development throughout the entire world. But there is a pinprick somewhere in the social body at large, and therefore there are large-scale quarrels, even over less important issues. There is need of a clue as to how humanity can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity with a common cause. Srimad-Bagavatam will fill this need, for it is a cultural presentation for the respiritualization of the entire human society.

Srimad-Bhagavatam should be introduced also in the schools and colleges, for it is recommended by great student-devotee Prahlada Maharaja in order to change the demoniac face of society.

kaumara acaret prajnodharman bhagavatan ihadurlabham manusam janmatad apy adhruvam artha-dam(Bhag. 7.6.1)

Disparity in human society is due to lack of principles in a godless civilization. There is God, or the Almighty One, from whom everything emanates, by whom everything is maintained and in whom everything is merged to rest. Material science has tried to find the ultimate source of creation very insufficiently, but it is a fact that there is one ultimate source of everything that be. This ultimate source is explained rationally and authoritatively in the beautiful Bhagavatam, or Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Srimad-Bhagavatam is the transcendental science not only for knowing the ultimate source of everything but also for knowing our relation with Him and our duty toward perfection of the human society on the basis of this perfect knowledge. It is powerful reading matter in the Sanskrit language, and it is now rendered into English elaborately so that simply by a careful reading one will know God perfectly well, so much so that the reader will be sufficiently educated to defend himself from the onslaught of atheists. Over and above this, the reader will be able to convert others to accepting God as a concrete principle.

Srimad-Bhagavatam begins with the definition of the ultimate source. It is a bona fide commentary on the Vedanta-sutra by the same author, Srila Vyasadeva, and gradually it develops into nine cantos up to the highest state of God realization. The only qualification one needs to study this great book of transcendental knowledge is to proceed step by step cautiously and not jump forward haphazardly as with an ordinary book. it should be gone through chapter by chapter, one after another. The reading matter is so arranged with the original Sanskrit text, its English transliteration, synonyms, translation and purports so that one is sure to become a God-realized soul at the end of finishing the first nine cantos.

The Tenth Canto is distinct from the first nine cantos because it deals directly with the transcendental activities of the personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. One will be unable to capture the effects of the Tenth Canto without going through the first nine cantos. The book is complete in twelve cantos, each independent, but it is good for all to read them in small installments one after another.

I must admit my frailties in presenting Srimad-Bhagavatam, but still I am hopeful of its good reception by the thinkers and leaders of society on the strength of the following statement of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.11):

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavoyasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty apinamany anantasya yaso ‘nkitani yacchrnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah

“On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, form and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a transcendental creation meant for bringing about a revolution in the impious life of a misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literature, even though irregularly composed, is heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.”

Om tat sat
A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami

if you are interested in reading the Srimad-Bhagavatam or any of the other literature on the science of Krishna Counsiousness the books are available at: www.krishnastore.com


Posted By: kuvalesaya-das-viswakarma

Prabhupada Speaks At Harvard University

 Harvard University

So this Krsna consciousness movement is not any sectarian movement. It is practically postgraduate movement of all religion. Any religion, they have got some idea of God. But here, we are explaining what is God, how great He is, how you can establish your relationship with Him. . .

[Lecture at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, Dec. 24th 1969]

Prabhupada: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I thank you very much for joining us in this evening of chanting together Hare Krsna. The sankirtana movement is a prescribed performance in this age. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Eleventh Canto, Ninth Chapter, 6th verse, there is a statement that,

krsna-varnam tvisa-krsnamsangopangastra-parsadamyajnair sankirtana-prayairyajanti hi su-medhasah

Su-medhasah, this Sanskrit word, means intelligent persons. Medhas. Medhas means brain substance, one who has got very good brain substance. The brain substance… According to psychology, there is difference of brain substance. Not the brain substance equally, of equal weight, in every man’s brain. You know, you are all educated students, psychology students. In our boyhood when we were a student in psychology class, Dr. Urquhart explained this brain substance. The man has got the highest brain substance—not all—up to sixty-four ounce. And woman has got the highest up to thirty-six or thirty-four. Of course, we are not discussing that point. Our movement is a spiritual movement, Krsna consciousness. That is beyond brain. Indriyani parany ahur indriyebhyah param manah, manasas tu para buddhir [Bg. 3.42]. So there are different platforms and status of consciousness. Bodily consciousness means sensual consciousness. Above that, there is mental consciousness, speculative, philosophical, poetic. Above that, intellectual consciousness. And Krsna consciousness—above intellectual consciousness.

So the recommendation is… That was a topic between Maharaja Nimi and great sages called nine sages, navayogindra. Nava means nine. Yogindra means mystic yogis. So they were talking, and Maharaja Nimi questioned the different incarnations in different ages. And Camasa Muni was replying. In that replying, he said that in the Kali-yuga, in this age… This age called Kali-yuga. This Kali-yuga has begun about five thousand years ago. So he said, “In the Kali-yuga the process of self-realization is sankirtana movement.” Sankirtana. Sankirtana means bahudha, bahubhir militva. When congregational chanting is done, that is called sankirtana. So in this age the sankirtana movement is recommended. There is no question of what is your religion, what is my religion.

Everyone can join in this sankirtana movement, without any discrimination. That is the recommendation. Yajnair sankirtana. This is also yajna, sacrifice. You are sacrificing some time, your valuable time, in joining with us to perform the sankirtana movement. That is a sacrifice. And sacrifice means to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yajna. Yajna is the name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, yajnarthat karma anyatra karma-bandhanah. Whatever you have to act, you have to act on the basis of pleasing the Supreme Lord.

In the Srimad-Bhagavata there is another verse, that,

atah pumbhir dvija-sresthavarnasrama-vibhagasahsvanusthitasya dharmasyasamsiddhir hari-tosanam[SB 1.2.13]

Sri Suta Gosvami is addressing the learned sages assembled in a place called Naimisaranya. That place is still existing in India, in northern India. It is very old place. Now the place is named Nimsar, but original name is Naimisaranya. So in that Naimisaranya meeting, the president, Suta Gosvami, addressed the brahmanas. He said, atah pumbhir dvija-srestha. Dvija-srestha means in that assembly the high-class brahmanas, very intelligent class of men, they assembled. So he addressed them, “My dear learned scholars, brahmanas, the duty of the human society,” atah pumbhir dvija-srestha varnasrama-vibhagasah… The duties are different according to different divisions of social order and spiritual order. That is Vedic civilization.

There are four kinds of social orders and four kinds of spiritual orders. The social orders are the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, the vaisyas, and the sudras; or the intellectual class of men… Brahmana means intellectual class of men—one who devotes his life only in studying Vedas and acquiring knowledge and distributing that. Every time, in every age, there is a class of men who are intellectual class. So this intellectual class of men is called brahmana. And the next class, the administrative class. Those who takes part in politics for administration of the state, government, they are called ksatriyas. The actual meaning of ksatriya is “one who protects a man from being hurt by others.” That is called ksatriya. That means, that is the business of the administrators, government. So brahmana, ksatriya, then vaisyas. Vaisyas means productive class who are interested in producing things for consumption by the people. Mercantile class, industrialists, they are called vaisyas. And the last class, fourth class, they are called sudras. Sudras means that they are neither intellectual, nor they’re administrator, nor industrial or mercantile, but they can serve others. That’s all.

So it is said that kalau sudra sambhava. In the modern age, people are being taught in the university to become sudra—neither brahmanas nor ksatriyas nor vaisyas, generally. Because after education, they will have to seek after some service. He becomes a great technologist, but unless he gets a good job, his whole education is spoiled. You see? So therefore, in the Vedic sastra it is said, in this age people are almost all sudras. Kalau sudra sambhava. So the president of that meeting, Suta Gosvami, said that it doesn’t matter whether one man is brahmana or a ksatriya or a vaisya or a sudra. This is social order. And then spiritual order: brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasa. Brahmacari means student, unmarried student, without any sex life. That is brahmacari. And then grhastha, householder. Those who are living with wife and children, they are called householder, grhastha. Then vanaprastha, the retired persons. And then sannyasa. After retirement, one dedicates his whole life for preaching work, preaching Krsna consciousness. That is sannyasa order. So this is…

These four divisions are in the spiritual order, and the other divisions are in the social order. Human society without these eight divisions—means social divisions and spiritual divisions—it is not called civilized. They must have. Therefore Suta Gosvami said, the social orders are there, and the spiritual orders are there, and each and every order, there are prescribed duties. The brahmanas, they are engaged in such and such things, the brahmacaris are engaged in such and such thing, the ksatriyas are engaged… There are different prescribed duties. Now Suta Gosvami says that varnasrama-vibhagasah. There are divisions of duties and divisions of social and spiritual order. That’s all right.

But how one can understand that by executing his duty, he’s going to the path of perfection? Everyone should be confident that whatever he is doing, he’s doing for the perfection of life. That should be the aim of. In the modern education system, not only education system, in every field of life, practically we do not know what is the ultimate goal of life. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. They do not know what is the goal of life. The goal of life is Visnu, or the Supreme Lord, or God. That one has to understand what is the Supreme Lord, what is Absolute Truth, “What is my relationship with Him and what is my duty towards Him?” These things are to be known, and one has to adjust his life in that way. So Suta Gosvami says, never mind in whatever order one may be situated, the perfection is samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13]. Atah varnasrama-vibhagasah dvija-srestha svanusthitasya dharmasya. One should try to test, “How my duties are being perfectly done?” That one has to see.

So that perfection is recommended, hari-tosanam: whether by your duty, by your action, the Supreme Lord is satisfied. Just like we want to satisfy… In the schools, colleges, we want to satisfy our professor, teachers, principal. Or as good citizen we want to satisfy our government or… Similarly, you have to satisfy somebody. That is the perfection. The highest perfection is to satisfy hari-tosanam. Hari means the Supreme Lord, and tosanam means satisfaction. Whether by your work and duties, discharging your duty, the Supreme Lord is satisfied—that is your perfection. But this is very rare thing. At the present moment practically nobody has any information what is his relationship with God or what is God. Practically, they are declaring “God is dead,” and “I am God, you are God, everyone is God.” These things are all… “There is void.” “There is no God,” “There is no control.” So, so many things are going on. That is the disease of this present age. And this movement is practically against this idea of godlessness, this Krsna consciousness movement. The whole idea of this Krsna consciousness movement is to fight against the idea of godlessness.

So the Bhagavad-gita is there. We are fighting in two ways. One way is that this chanting, Hare Krsna. Very simple thing. Everyone can join: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. By chanting this movement, by the vibration, gradually one’s heart, which is so contaminated that he is denying the existence of God, will be gradually simplified or clarified. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. Just like the mirror, when it is overcast with dust, you cannot see your face nicely. But if you clear the dust you can see clearly. Similarly, our, this disease, denial of God, or “God is dead,” “There is no God,” “I am God,” “You are God,” such kinds of conception is due to covering of material dust on the mirror of our heart. Ceto-darpana-marjanam. If you simply chant this transcendental vibration, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, you don’t require any qualification and you don’t require that you have to become intellectual man or an administrator or a productive man or… Never mind whatever you are. You be situated in your place, but you try to chant this Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. The result will be that your heart, the dust on the mirror of your heart, will be gradually cleansed. And when it is completely cleansed, then you will understand that you are not this body. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12].

All the problems of our life, whatever you may say, social, political, religious and whatever… There are so many problems. The whole material world is full of problems. These problems are compared just like blazing fire in the forest. Just like in the forest, there is fire, nobody can check. Although nobody goes to the forest to set fire, it takes automatically. Similarly, in this material existence of life, we do not want any problem, but problems are created. Just like automatically there is fire in the forest without our endeavor, similarly, material problems are created automatically by our dealings, by our behavior.

So if you chant this Hare Krsna mantra, the first result will be that you will understand your real constitutional position, for which many great mystics, sages and saints are meditating, “What I am?” That, I mean to say, procedure of spiritual realization will be the first installment, your profit. You’ll understand that aham brahmasmi, “I am not matter, I am spirit soul.” And as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, as soon as one is self-realized, that is called brahma-bhutah. Aham brahmasmi: “I am not this body, I am spirit soul. I am part and parcel of the Absolute Truth.” This realization is called Brahman realization. And as soon as you come to the platform of Brahman realization, then the result will be brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. You’ll be joyful. You’ll be free of all anxieties. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma. That is the sign. It is not that simply… I may advertise that I am self-realized, but my behavior will show whether I am self-realized or not.

Everything is stated in the Vedic literature, that a brahma-bhutah person, a self-realized person, the symptom of the self-realized person is that he is joyful. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. Without any anxieties. This materialistic life means full of anxiety always. And spiritual life means without this anxiety. Just the opposite. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma. And what is the symptom of being joyful? That is also stated: na socati na kanksati. There is no lamentation for loss, and there is no hankering for gain. Everyone in this material world is hankering after some gain. And if you have got some gain, if it is lost, then he’s lamenting, “Oh, I have lost so much.” So these two business… Hankering, when we do not possess, we hanker. And when we possess, it is lost. Because everything… The material waves are such that whatever we possess, we shall lose it. We have got this nice body, one day we have to lose it. Everything. You possess and lose, possess and lose. Therefore the…, punah punas car…, the same thing repeatedly: gaining and losing, and lamenting and hankering, lamenting and hankering. This is the position of material life.

So in the Bhagavad-gita it is said that brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. As soon as you come to that platform, prasanna, joyfulness, then samah sarvesu bhutesu. The next stage is that you look everyone on the same level. There is no distinction between black and white or the Indian or American or Russian or this and that. No. Panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18]. One who is actually learned, he sees everyone on the same level of spiritual understanding. So brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati samah sarvesu bhutesu. This is the stage of acquiring Krsna consciousness.

brahma-bhutah prasannatmana socati na kanksatisamah sarvesu bhutesumad-bhaktim labhate param[Bg. 18.54]

Then he comes to the standard of Krsna consciousness, or platform of Krsna consciousness, when he can begin his duties in transcendental lovings towards the Absolute Truth. And when we begin that activity, that spiritual activity, then we can understand, bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg. 18.55], what is God. These are the stages. We cannot understand by speculative method. God is unlimited, and we are very limited. Our knowledge is limited because our senses, the instruments by which we acquire knowledge, that is imperfect and limited. Just like my eyes. I cannot see perfectly. I cannot see the eyelid. I cannot see the distant place. Although I am very proud that “I want to see face to face,” but what you can see? What is your value of your instrument, seeing? That is imperfect. Therefore we cannot get perfect knowledge by these imperfect senses. By sense perception, by direct utilization of our senses, we cannot get perfect knowledge. The perfect knowledge you can get when your senses have been purified to the perfect order. Then you can see.

So that stage is brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. When you are on the brahma-bhutah, or spiritual, self-realization platform, then your senses are purified and you can see things in two perspectives. And at that stage, you can see God also. You can talk with God also. Just like in the Brahma-samhita it is stated, premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]. You have… Most of you know the yoga. The yoga system means to see the Supreme Person, or the Absolute Truth, or the Personality of Godhead, Visnu, within your heart. That is the perfection of yoga. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam… Dhyanavasthita, by meditation, one can see. So this perfectional stage can be achieved when you are in the brahma-bhutah stage, Brahman realization stage.

So Lord Caitanya said that if you chant this Hare Krsna mantra, the first installment of your gain will be that your heart, which is contaminated now with so many materialistic dust, it will be cleansed. And next stage will be bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. That means you’ll realize yourself that “I am not this matter, I am soul. And my relationship with God is this. God is like this.” And gradually, you will develop your love for God. You have got that love. Dormant love is there, but because we do not know what is God, because we do not see the beauty of God, because we do not know the mercy of God, therefore our love has been forced or placed in the dog. Instead of God, we have placed our love on dog. So we have to simply change. Our love is distributed in the matter in so many ways. That will not make me happy because I am not matter. I am a spirit soul. I have to transfer my love towards the Supreme Spirit, God, then I’ll be happy.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is a process by which you can transform your love from matter to God. That’s all. You have got love but you are being frustrated. You are being frustrated. You are being baffled. Your love is not placed in the proper place. Therefore we have to make our choice, “Where I shall place my love?” Then I’ll be satisfied. That is replied in the Srimad-Bhagavatam,

sa vai pumsam paro dharmoyato bhaktiradhoksajeahaituky apratihatayayatma suprasidati[SB 1.2.6]

Atma, self. Everyone is seeking after peacefulness, peacefulness of atma, or self. So this is the process recommended. Not recommended, it is the fact, that sa vai pumsam paro dharmo [SB 1.2.6]. In whatever occupation you are situated, doesn’t matter. You have to see simply whether by your occupation the Supreme Lord is satisfied, or your love for the Supreme Lord is increasing. That is the test of perfection. And when your love is increased in that way, adhoksaje ahaituki—ahaituki means without any cause, without any reason, and apratihata, without any impediment—then you’ll see yayatma suprasidati. Your atma is fully satisfied. Svamin krtartho ’smi. “My dear Lord, I am now fully satisfied. I have no more any demand.” The material world, material life, means simply demands, increasing the demands. That is the modern way of life, increasing artificial demand and being frustrated. That is our life. But if you want satisfaction, not frustration, not bafflement, then increase your love for God. And the process is very simple, recommended in this age. You haven’t got to perform any severe austerity, penance, or you have got to go to the forest or Himalayan mountain or you have to do this, that. Nothing. You be situated in your place, whatever you may be. But if you simply chant this mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, you will gradually develop.

Your first, the first installment will be that your heart will be cleansed of all material contamination. Then you’ll be situated on the brahma-bhutah stage. Oh, prasannatma! Oh, joyfulness! Without being joyful, you cannot understand what is God. If your mind is disturbed always, you cannot meditate, neither you can understand what is God, what you are. It is impossible. Therefore we have to accept any process which can make me joyful. That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. We have got… Simply we are not chanting by sentiment. We have got enough literature, philosophy, background. It is not that we are sentimentalist.

But this is a fact, that if you simply… You do not require to read all this literature. If you can, it is very good, but if you have no time, simply chant these sixteen words, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Make an experiment. We are not charging anything. We are not cheating you, that “Give me some fifty dollars or twenty dollars. I’ll give you some secret mantra.” No. It is open. You can take. Everyone can take. Everyone. We are chanting. You can chant with us and practice it, and there is no hard and fast rules and regulation. You can chant anyway, anywhere. Whether you are in the college, whether you’re on the street, whether you are sleeping, lying, or whatever, you can chant. Because God has given you this tongue and you can chant. And this Hare Krsna mantra, a dog or cat cannot chant although he has got the tongue. So you have got the facility. By God’s mercy you have got this facility to chant the holy name of God. If you think that Krsna is Indian God’s name, actually it is not Indian God’s name. Krsna never claims that He’s Indian or Hindu. Most of you have read Bhagavad-gita. He claims everyone as His son.

Not only human society—the animal society, bird society, the beast society, the plant society, the aquatic society, all. Sarva-yonisu. Sarva means all. Yoni, yoni means species of life. Everyone, all living entities, Krsna says. Krsna must be… If He is God, He must claim that, that “The material nature is their mother and I am their father.” So Krsna is for everyone. Not that… Don’t think that Krsna is for the Indian or for the Hindus. No. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna. This Krsna is for everyone. For the human being, for the animals—everyone. So if you think that Krsna is belonging to some particular country or religion, then you can chant your own way. If in your religion, in your scripture, there is any God’s name, you can chant that also. Our only propaganda is that you increase your love of God. And the simple process is to chant this Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. There is no charge for it. There is no loss on your part. There is no inconvenience on your part. At any moment, at any place. There is no restriction. So why don’t you take advantage of this great boon to the human society?

So this Krsna consciousness movement is not any sectarian movement. It is practically postgraduate movement of all religion. Any religion, they have got some idea of God. But here, we are explaining what is God, how great He is, how you can establish your relationship with Him. These things are there. So any religious person, or any person, without being religious, if anyone joins with us in this sankirtana movement, his life will be sublime. And our method is very simple. We place before you to judge and join with us. That is our request.
Thank you very much. (devotees offer obeisances) Any question? Yes?

Student (1): Apparently, there are two parts to this. The first, the kirtana singing and dancing, to some extent resembles the rock music that appears in the Western world within the last five years. Very notably the Beatles song last year, “Hey Jude,” in the second part, is very similar in tune to this. The second, which is quite remote, but there is a connection—your message is similar in some ways to the message of evangelical or fundamentalist teachers in Christianity, who are taking the name of Jesus Christ…

Prabhupada: That’s all right.

Student (1): …and excluding everything other than complete devotion to Christ. Would you comment on this?

Prabhupada: Yes. That’s very nice. We completely agree. We say that chant the holy name of God. The vibration, the sound which you chant, that must be the holy name of God. Then it is all right. It doesn’t matter what is the language. Language has nothing, no significance. But this word “Krsna,” we consider it is transcendental vibration because all great saints and acaryas, they chanted, especially Lord Caitanya. As I explained from Srimad-Bhagavatam, krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam [SB 11.5.32]. Krsna varna, krsna varnayati. Lord Caitanya was always chanting, “Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Krsna.” Therefore He is called krsna varnayati, krsna-varnam. Tvisakrsnam: by complexion He’s not black. Krsna was blackish, but Lord Caitanya, He was golden colored. So krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam: [SB 11.5.32] always associated by followers. Yajnair sankirtana, chanting and dancing with Krsna’s name. Yajanti hi su-medhasah: this form of the Lord should be worshiped by persons who are intelligent. So if you follow the method, evangelist, that is also very nice, or this method… The business should be that we must realize in this human form of life what is our relationship with God. If we fail to do that, then we are misusing this human form of life.

In the Garga Upanisad it is said, etad viditva ya prayati sa brahmana. Etad aviditva ya prayati sa krpana. Brahmana, brahmana means broadminded, liberal. So one who… Everyone will die. The cats and dogs and human being, everyone will die. But the Garga Upanisad says that if one dies after understanding the science of God, then he is perfect. He is brahmana. His life is broader, mahatma. And if one dies without understanding this, he is krpana. Krpana means miser. Miser means… Suppose if you have got millions of dollars. If you cannot utilize it, if you simply waste it, then you are krpana, miser. You do not know how to spend money. Similarly, we have got this body which is worth…, not millions—trillions and more than that, because we can realize in this life what is our relationship with God, what is God. We can understand. But if we don’t do that, simply we waste our time in sense gratification, then we are krpana, miser. We are losing our opportunity. So these things are there. So in whatever way you like, either this evangelistic way or this way or that way, try to understand what is God and what is your relationship with God and try to invoke your dormant love of God. Then your life will be perfect. That is our mission. If you have got your own method, that’s all right. You take it. Otherwise we are giving this method, very simple. You take it. Your life will be sublime. That is our request. Yes?

Student (2): …question you stated. If (we devote) time trying to figure out our relationship to God, perhaps that takes time away from trying to figure out our relationship with all men. And I think I would anticipate your answer, I think, upon the… You’re talking about atma, and if one clearly has perception of the reality of their own atma, he would also see others as himself. Right? And to know his self and his God through others. But that doesn’t really answer. It doesn’t mean we’ll be able to decrease that condition. A lot of people suffer in this world, and they suffer for pretty indefiable(?) reasons: economic exploitation, racists trying to put structures, militaristic powers. And it seems somehow we might be able to do something to attack those kinds of evils and suffering in the world, other than telling a man to chant Hare Krsna and the world will be solved.

Prabhupada: That is automatically solved. If you chant, if you come to this God consciousness, those things will be automatically solved. Just like if you get million dollars, then your fifty dollars’ business will be automatically solved.

Student (2): Yeah, I guess that you could believe that.

Prabhupada: Not believe. Is practical.

Student (2): And I think the reason I don’t believe that is because history has told me differently. History has told me that people who have managed to achieve freedom for themselves have not achieved it by doing something like chanting Hare Krsna. And I refer you to…

Prabhupada: You can show in the history there was chanting of Hare Krsna? Is there any history?

Student (2): I won’t say chanting only Hare Krsna, but give you a similar time and place.

Prabhupada: What is that similar time?

Student (2): Well, in Russia, in the nineteenth century, there were people who were religious, who traveled the countryside chanting the word “Jesus Christ.” It was quite prominent then. Tolstoy tells us about it. And I would assume that a similar kind of teaching was given. The only problem I see with that is that I don’t think it would solve the very basic human problems.

Prabhupada: So do you think that Russia has solved their questions? That their problems, all problems are solved?

Student (2): I would say that in 1917 the state of the Russian peasants was fundamentally better by the revolution.

Prabhupada: Well, the history will repeat itself again. It will be wars again. So do you think by adopting the Russian method, people have become very happy?

Student (2): No.

Prabhupada: Then? So we manufacture something. This material world is like that, problematic. That I have already explained. Just like the blazing fire. So the answer is given in the Bhagavad-gita, daivi hy esa gunamayi mama duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. In this material world the onslaught of the material nature is very, very severe. Nobody can surpass it. In some way or other it will come in a different form. The problem will not be solved. The problem can be solved, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te, when one surrenders unto God, Krsna. Then he can surpass this onslaught of material nature. So that is the real remedy. Unfortunately, people does not take that process. But if anyone accepts this process, his problems are solved. That is the fact. That is the fact.

But we do not expect that everyone can accept this process. But if anyone can accept this process, at least his personal problems will be solved. But it is the duty of such God conscious persons to distribute the message. If anyone likes, he can take, he can solve his problems. And if he does not take, that business is the own business. What can I do? But any material method, either this Russian method or American method or Indian method, anything, materialistic method, that cannot solve the material problems. That is a fact. If you want to solve all the problems, then you have to invoke your dormant love for God. That is the solution. There is no other solution. Yes.

Student (3): I was wondering how important the choice of words are to the chanting. And if, perhaps, if you just count to ten in your mind or out loud, I thought it might work just as well.

Satsvarupa: “Could you just count numbers and think about God and that would work just as well? Are the names important?”

Prabhupada: Count words?

Satsvarupa: Could you just count—one, two, three, four—and that would work just as well.

Prabhupada: Well, that is not possible, of course, but as soon as stop counting, you can chant. (laughter) That’s not difficult. Yes?

Student (4): What is consciousness?

Prabhupada: Consciousness is very difficult to understand? Now you are talking, and when you don’t talk, you lie down. People will say this man has become unconscious. So this is the distinction. When you are in full knowledge of things, that is consciousness. It is not difficult to understand. Sometimes teachers say to the student, “Do it conscientiously, with attention.” When our full attention is there, full absorption, full concentration of the mind, that is consciousness. And another way of consciousness is the feeling which is spread all over your body. Just like I pinch over your head or any part of your body, you feel—that is consciousness. But when this body is dead or when you are out of this body, if I chop up your body, there is no consciousness. That is the distinction between consciousness. Avinasi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idam tatam. In the Bhagavad-gita the consciousness is stated: avinasi. Avinasi means cannot, never dies. Always living. Avinasi tu tad viddhi. You just try to understand that thing without always living. What is that? Yena sarvam idam tatam—by which your whole body is spread by air(?). And anywhere of your body, that consciousness is spread. And that substance, consciousness, is always living. When you leave this body this consciousness goes to another body. Just like the air passes, the flavor the air carries from one garden to another place. Similarly, this consciousness will carry you to another body after your death. After you leave this body… Just like we are changing our consciousness also from childhood consciousness to boyhood, boyhood to youthhood, and the old age. The consciousness is carrying me although the body is changing. Similarly, when you change this body, the consciousness will carry you to another body. That consciousness is always living. It is never dead. [break] Because they don’t take it.

Student (5): Then why are we born without feeling.(?)

Prabhupada: That’s your independence. If you like you can take it. If you don’t like, you don’t take it. There are so many things. If you like, you take it; if you don’t like, you don’t take it. There is no enforcement. Every individual soul has got little independence. Not full independence. That can be used properly; that can be misused also. That depends on me. I am the master. So similarly… Just like the government. The government does not force anybody to go to the criminal department, neither government forces anybody to come to the university department. It is your individual liberty. You become criminal or a high standard scholar. [break] …has to make his choice. He has got the freedom. He may be Krsna conscious or he may be material conscious. If he’s material conscious, he’ll never be happy. If he becomes Krsna conscious, he’ll be always happy. Now it is up to you whether to accept this or that.


How would you say the chant in English?

Prabhupada: Chant in English?

Student (6): Yes. How would you say it in English?
Devotee: He wants a translation in English.

Prabhupada: So there are many boys. You can have the translation. We have got our translation in many literatures. In our paper, Back to Godhead, in many books. We have got many books. So translation is there. We are simply publishing so many English translation. So there is no scarcity of translation. Yes?

Student (7): Are you happy always in reflection?(?)

Prabhupada: What do you think? What do you think? I’m happy or not happy? What is your opinion? And if I say false, why do you believe? If I say falsely, “I am happy,” will you believe it? If I say falsely, “I am happy,” will you take it?

Student (7): That I don’t know.

Prabhupada: Yes?

Student (6): If I can rephrase that, if you were American, how would you say the chant? In other words, I know it has many translations, but what would it mean to you? How would you say it in English?

Prabhupada: English, the translation… What is that?

Jadurani: These words are Sanskrit. He wants to know if they were English what would they be?

Prabhupada: Well, proper names cannot be translated. You know that. Suppose if your name is John, and if I come from India I cannot translate into Indian language. I have to speak “John.” You see? Just like people say “Swami Bhaktivedanta.” Is there any translation, Bhaktivedanta Swami? Proper noun is never translated. That everyone knows. But the meaning can be translated. So we have got translation of the meaning, what is this Hare Krsna mantra means. But so far chanting is concerned, that if I call you, you are American boy, Mr. John, so I’ll have to call you Mr. John. I cannot translate into Sanskrit and call you. Yes?

Student (8): How important is your diet?

Prabhupada: Oh, that is a very important thing. If you read Dr. George Bernard Shaw’s book, You Are What You Eat, you see. So if you eat like human being, then you can increase your qualities of human being. If you eat like cats and dogs, you increase the quality of cats and dogs. That’s all. So we must have discrimination what to eat. That is there in the human world. Eating is there, but everything eatable. Even stool is eatable by a certain kind of animal, but that does not mean that stool has to be eaten by human being. Human being must have discretion what kind of food will be just suitable for my health, for my intelligence, for my brain. So these things are prescribed. If we eat things which are in goodness… They are prescribed in the Vedic literature that wheat, rice, sugar, milk product, vegetables, fruits, these things are in goodness. So if you want to increase your quality of goodness, that is required for God realization.

Unless you are situated in the quality of goodness, you cannot be promoted to the higher platform. So your eating should be arranged within this group: rice, wheat, sugar, milk product, vegetables, and fruits. In your country you have got enough nice grains, nice fruits, enough supply of milk, butter. So there is no question of accepting any other food. You can accept foodstuff within this group and become healthy and good brain, good conscience. You can engage yourself in God consciousness. That is possible. So therefore “Discrimination is the best part of valor.” We should discriminate what kind of food we should eat. We cannot eat anything and everything. That discrimination must be there. Yes?

Student (8): Would it not be better if intellectual (indistinct) and would it not be better for them to leave the father and devote their status, instead, to the Lord?(?)

Prabhupada: Of course, in the beginning I said that there is no question of changing your position. In whatever position you are, either you are a student or a lawyer or something else, you can chant Hare Krsna and realize yourself. We don’t recommend that you change your position. That is not our recommendation. But if you can (be) fully devoted in Krsna consciousness, that is very nice. But don’t do it whimsically. There will be a mature platform when you can do that. Just like I was a family man, I was living with my family. I have got my wife, sons, daughters, grandchildren. So in this old age I left them. So I’m not in difficulty although I am alone. I came in your country alone. That’s a long history. So that dependence on God, when you actually develop, then you can give up everything, depend only on God. But don’t do it by whimsically. No. That will not do. You stay in your position, realize yourself, then time will come when God will dictate you, “You can do…, become free from all obligation.” So please join with us in the kirtana. (kirtana) (end)

Jesse Jackson Gets Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-Gita!

A few days ago I was at Occupy Wall Street in New York City distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Jesse Jackson Gets Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-Gita!

All of a sudden a Black SUV with tinted out windows pulled up on the side of the road and a few men got out. One of them was a black man dressed in a nice suit. Within a few seconds the man dressed in the suit was surrounded by about 50 news people with television cameras and microphones all trying to get at him. I had no idea who he was, but I figured he must be someone important and should have Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-Gita. Since I was already holding a stack of Gitas on my chest I immediately pushed my way through the mob of news and television reporters to get to this (unknown to me) man. Just as I reached him (by Krishna’s arrangement) he stopped speaking. Seizing the moment, I took a Bhagavad-Gita off the stack I was holding and cut in, saying in a load voice, “Excuse me sir, these books are 5000 year old original texts about God, the soul, consciousness and the mind”. I asked if he would take one and read it. He said yes, and right at the instant he took the book all the reporters and television people pushed me aside, and started yelling questions at him. It was as if Krishna had orchestrated the whole thing and created a short window of opportunity for me to give him the book. It was kind of mystical. As I was being pushed away I manage to quickly grab my phone and take a picture of him holding the book. As you can see from the picture, he held Prabhupada’s Gita right in front of him as he was being interviewed and  filmed by the TV people. Who could ask for better advertising?!

After talking to the media for a few minutes, he got back in his car with Prabhupada’s Gita and drove off. As the crowd dissipated I asked one of the TV crew people, “Who was that man?” The TV guy I asked just burst out in a sarcastic laugh and yelled at me in an angry tone of voice, “Get out here! Are you joking?!” I explained to him, “No, I am serious, I am a monk. I have not watched television, radio or newspaper for the last 16 years. I don’t know anything but spiritual stuff.” As he turned to walk away the TV guy replied in disgust, “You mean you pushed me out of the way to get to Jesse Jackson and you don’t even know who he is?! I can’t believe you!”

In trying to find out who this man called Jesse Jackson is, I talked to some other bystanders that also could not believe I did not know who he was. I finally found out he is the founder of the Rainbow Coalition, ran for president, was voted “the most important black leader”, famous activist for black and minority rights,  and was a very close friend of Martin Luther King Jr.

California Senate opened with Hindu prayer for first time in - U.S.A

Sacramento, California, 29 August:
California State Senate here heard its first Hindu opening prayer on Monday in its 157 years history, when famous Hindu chaplain, Rajan Zed, recited Gayatri and other ancient Sanskrit mantras.

Starting with "Om", the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work, he read from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BCE. He also delivered from Brahadaranyakopnisad, Taittiriya Upanisad, and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), all ancient Hindu scriptures. He ended the prayer with last mantra of Rig-Veda, "samani va akutih", before concluding with "Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti", which he then translated as "Peace, Peace, Peace be unto all".Hindu Chaplain Rajan Zed starting with "Om", the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work, he read from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BCE.
Hindu Chaplain Rajan Zed starting with "Om", the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work, he read from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BCE.

Before starting the prayer, he sprinkled Gangajal (holy water from river Ganga in India) on the podium, which is traditional in Hindu worship.

Wearing saffron colored attire, a ruddraksh mala (rosary), and traditional sandalpaste tilak (religious mark) on the forehead, Zed, after reciting the original lines in Sanskrit, then read the English translation of the verses. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of all Indo-European languages. Full text of the prayer will be recorded in the Daily Journal of the Senate, which is a permanent public record.

Reverend Canon James D. Richardson, Chaplain of California State Senate, introduced Rajan Zed while Don Perata, Senate President pro Tem; Senator Christine Kehoe (San Jose) and Senator Elaine Alquist (San Diego) personally welcomed him. 

One of the paragraphs of this Hindu prayer read in Sanskrit was "Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrityor mamrtam gamaya", which was translated in English as "Lead me from the unreal to the Real, Lead me from darkness to Light, Lead me from death to immortality."

Zed was accompanied to the California Senate by his community volunteer wife Shipa Zed; son Navgeet Zed, recipient of Nevada Peacemaker of the Year award; and a group of other supporters, including Jassi Cheema, Paradhyeya Das, Chaitanya Dasi, etc., many of whom came out of town.

"This day of August 27, 2007, is an esteemed day for all Californians and momentous day for us when opening prayers from ancient Hindu scriptures are being read in this majestic hall of democracy," Zed remarked.

Rajan Zed, affiliated with World Congress of Faiths-London and listed in "Who's Who in America" 2006, volunteers as a chaplain in various hospitals, serves on various Boards of Directors, and is very active in interfaith dialogue. He created history on July 12 last when he opened the United States Senate session in Washington DC with Hindu prayer for the first time in its 218 years history. City of Reno issued him a proclamation and he received various honors from different organizations in this country and abroad.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has no datable beginning but some scholars put it around 3,000 BCE. It has no founder, no one authoritative figure, and no single prophet or holy book. One of its scriptures, Mahabharata, is the longest poem ever written, comprising over 100,000 couplets. Hinduism in North America was introduced in 1830s with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau studying Hindu scriptures like Upanisads and Bhagavad-Gita. Vivekananda made a strong impression at World's Parliament of Religion in Chicago in 1893 and he then founded Vedanta Society. Protap Chunder Mozoomdar of Brahmo Samaj delivered his first American address on September 02, 1883 in Concord, Massachusetts.

California ranks eighth in Gross Domestic Products in the world, higher than Canada, Spain, Russia, India, Australia, etc. California State Senate has 40 Senators, with each Senator representing 846, 791 Californians. Current Senate Chaplain Richardson, an Episcopal Priest, is the 47th chaplain since 1897, when this office began. Generally he offers the opening prayer but guest chaplains are also invited from time to time.

The prayers are offered to God on behalf of the Senate in recognition that our freedom and our abundance are gifts from God, according to Senate Chaplain Webpage.

WANT TO GO ON THE WHOLE VANS WARPED TOUR FOR FREE?

Now that I got your attention, here’s the deal:

For the last 10 years Prahlada-Nrsimha das has been going on The Vans Warped Tour distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books and it is wonderful! So many transcendental books are distributed to so many eager souls.

The Vans Warped Tour is an amazing traveling punk rock music festival that rocks out for a two month period daily (June 16 – August 5) and hits the majority of the states in the USA.

Okay get ready – heres where you come in!

We need a driver.

This is an amazing opportunity for anyone that loves Srila Prabhupada, likes to travel and wants to see the whole country and have a good time doing it! And most importantly would like to serve Srila Prabhupada’s sankirtana mission of transcendental book distribution.

All you have to do is drive the sankirtana van from event to event every day. All your food and other expenses will be provided for. You just have to drive. Sounds cool? Sounds like the opportunity of a life time? Just send an email to Puresoul108@gmail.com with a little info about your self and we will take it from there.

Hare Krishna!

Definitions of Yoga

Yoga

Yoga (Sanskrit: योग, "union of atman (individual Self) with paramåtma (Universal Self)") derived from the root yuj, "to join, to unite, to attach" — spiritual practices performed primarily as a means to enlightenment (or bodhi). Traditionally, Karma Yoga (through action), Bhakti Yoga (through devotion), jñåna-yoga (through knowledge), and dhyåna-yoga (through meditation) are considered the four main yogas. In the West, yoga has become associated with the asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga, popular as fitness exercises. Yoga has many other meaning. For example, in astronomy and astrology it refers to a conjunction (union) of planets.

Definitions of Yoga"Yoga is the control of the whirls of the mind (citta)."—Yoga-Sûtra (1.2)"Yoga is skill in [the performance of] actions."—Bhagavad-Gîtâ (2.50)"Yoga is ecstasy (samâdhi)."—Yoga-Bhâshya (1.1)"Yoga is said to be the oneness of breath, mind, and senses, and the abandonment of all states of existence."—Maitrî-Upanishad (6.25)"Yoga is the union of the individual psyche (jîva-âtman) with the transcendental Self (parama-âtman). —Yoga-Yâjnavalkya (1.44)"Yoga is said to be the unification of the web of dualities (dvandva-jâla)."—Yoga-Bîja (84)"Yoga is known as the disconnection (viyoga) of the connection (samyoga) with suffering."— Bhagavad-Gîtâ (6.23)"Yoga is said to be control."—Brahmânda-Purâna (2.3.10.115)"Yoga is the separation (viyoga) of the Self from the World-Ground (prakriti)."—Râja-Mârtanda (1.1)"Yoga is said to be the unity of exhalation and inhalation and of blood and semen, as well as the union of sun and moon and of the individual psyche with the transcendental Self."— Yoga-Shikhâ-Upanishad (1.68-69)"This they consider Yoga: the steady holding of the senses."—Katha-Upanishad(6.11)"Yoga is called balance (samatva)."—Bhagavad-Gîtâ (2.48)

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7 Principle YogaYoga is a profound tradition, which has a history of 5,000 or more years. Beginners are easily overwhelmed by the vastness and richness of Yoga's practice, philosophy, and literature. But there are a few underlying principles that, once grasped, provide easier access to all the numerous aspects of Yoga. Here are ten such fundamental principles.
Râja-Yoga is the “Royal Yoga” aiming at liberation through meditation, which is for practitioners who are capable of intense concentration—the eightfold path of Patanjali’s ashta-anga-yoga, also called “Classical Yoga”
Hatha-Yoga is the “Forceful Yoga” aiming at liberation through physical transformation
Jnâna-Yoga is the “Wisdom of Yoga” aiming at liberation through the steady application of higher wisdom that clearly discerns between the real and the unreal
Karma-Yoga is the “Action Yoga” aiming at liberation through self-transcending service
Bhakti-Yoga is the “Devotional Yoga” aiming at liberation through self-surrender in the face of the Divine
Tantra-Yoga is the “Continuity Yoga” aiming at liberation through ritual, visualization, subtle energy work, and the perception of the identity (or continuity) of the ordinary world and the transcendental Reality
Mantra-Yoga is the “Yoga of Potent Sound” aiming at liberation through the recitation (aloud or mental) of empowered sounds (such as om, hûm, ram, hare krishna, etc.)—often considered an aspect of Tantra-Yoga

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Branches or Types of Yoga
The following is a descriptive list of forty yogic approaches or features of the path. Not all of these form full-fledged branches or types of Yoga, but they represent at least emphases in diverse contexts. All of them are instructive insofar as they demonstrate the vast scope of Hindu Yoga.

Abhâva-Yoga
The unitive discipline of nonbeing, meaning the higher yogic practice of immersion into the Self without objective support such as mantras; a concept found in the Purânas; cf. Bhâva-Yoga

Adhyâtma-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the inner self; sometimes said to be the Yoga characteristic of the Upanishads

Agni-Yoga
The unitive discipline of fire, causing the awakening of the serpent power (kundalinî-shakti) through the joint action of mind (manas) and life force (prâna)

Ashtânga-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the eight limbs, i.e., Râja-Yoga or Pâtanjala-Yoga

Asparsha-Yoga
The unitive discipline of "noncontact," which is the nondualist Yoga propounded by Gaudapâda in his Mândûkya-Kârikâ; cf. Sparsha-Yoga

Bhakti-Yoga
The unitive discipline of love/devotion, as expounded, for instance, in the Bhagavad-Gîtâ, the Bhâgavata-Purâna, and numerous other scriptures of Shaivism and Vaishnavism

Buddhi-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the higher mind, first mentioned in the Bhagavad-Gîtâ

Dhyâna-Yoga
The unitive discipline of meditation

Ghatastha-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the "pot" (ghata), meaning the body; a synonym for Hatha-Yoga mentioned in the Gheranda-Samhitâ

Guru-Yoga
The unitive discipline relative to one's teacher

Hatha-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the force (meaning the serpent power or kundalinî-shakti); or forceful unitive discipline

Hiranyagarbha-Yoga
The unitive discipline of Hiranyagarbha ("Golden Germ"), who is considered the original founder of the Yoga tradition

Japa-Yoga
The unitive discipline of mantra recitation

Jnâna-Yoga
The unitive discipline of discriminating wisdom, which is the approach of the Upanishads

Karma-Yoga
The unitive discipline of self-transcending action, as first explicitly taught in the Bhagavad-Gîtâ

Kaula-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the Kaula school, a Tantric Yoga

Kriyâ-Yoga
The unitive discipline of ritual; also the combined practice of asceticism (tapas), study (svâdhyâya), and worship of the Lord (îshvara-pranidhâna) mentioned in the Yoga-Sûtra of Patanjali

Kundalinî-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the serpent power (kundalinî-shakti), which is fundamental to the Tantric tradition, including Hatha-Yoga

Lambikâ-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the "hanger," meaning the uvula, which is deliberately stimulated in this yogic approach to increase the flow of "nectar" (amrita) whose external aspect is saliva

Laya-Yoga
The unitive discipline of absorption or dissolution of the elements prior to their natural dissolution at death

Mahâ-Yoga
The great unitive discipline, a concept found in the Yoga-Shikhâ-Upanishad where it refers to the combined practice of Mantra-Yoga, Laya-Yoga, Hatha-Yoga, and Râja-Yoga

Mantra-Yoga
The unitive discipline of numinous sounds that help protect the mind, which has been a part of the Yoga tradition ever since Vedic times

Nâda-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the inner sound, a practice closely associated with original Hatha-Yoga

Pancadashânga-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the fifteen limbs (pancadasha-anga): (1) moral discipline (yama), (2) restraint (niyama), (3) renunciation (tyâga), (4) silence (mauna), (5) right place (desha), (6) right time (kâla), (7) posture (âsana), (8) root lock (mûla-bandha), (9) bodily equilibrium (deha-samya), (10) stability of vision (dhrik-sthiti), (11) control of the life force (prâna-samrodha), (12) sensory inhibition (pratyâhâra), (13) concentration (dhâranâ), (14) meditation upon the Self (âtma-dhyâna), and (15) ecstasy (samâdhi)

Pâshupata-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the Pâshupata sect, as expounded in some of the Purânas

Pâtanjala-Yoga
The unitive discipline of Patanjali, better known as Râja-Yoga or Yoga-Darshana

Pûrna-Yoga
The unitive discipline of wholeness or integration, which is the name of Sri Aurobindo's Yoga

Râja-Yoga
The royal unitive discipline, also called Pâtanjala-Yoga, Ashtânga-Yoga, or Râja-Yoga

Samâdhi-Yoga
The unitive discipline of ecstasy

Sâmkhya-Yoga
The unitive discipline of insight, which is the name of certain liberation teachings and schools referred to in the Mahâbhârata

Samnyâsa-Yoga
The unitive discipline of renunciation, which is contrasted against Karma-Yoga in the Bhagavad-Gîtâ

Samputa-Yoga
The unitive discipline of sexual congress (maithunâ) in Tantra-Yoga

Samrambha-Yoga
The unitive discipline of hatred, as mentioned in the Vishnu-Purâna, which illustrates the profound yogic principle that one becomes what one constantly contemplates (even if charged with negative emotions)

Saptânga-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the seven limbs (sapta-anga), also known as Sapta-Sâdhana in the Gheranda-Samhitâ: (1) six purificatory practices (shat-karma), (2) posture (âsana), (3) seal (mudrâ), (4) sensory inhibition (pratyâhâra), (5) breath control (prânâyâma), (6) meditation (dhyâna), and (7) ecstasy (samâdhi)
Shadanga-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the six limbs (shad-anga), as expounded in the Maitrâyanîya-Upanishad: (1) breath control (prânâyâma), (2) sensory inhibition (pratyâhâra), (3) meditation (dhyâna), (4) concentration (dhâranâ), (5) examination (tarka), and (6) ecstasy (samâdhi)

Siddha-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the adepts, a concept found in some of the Tantras

Sparsha-Yoga
The unitive discipline of contact; a Vedantic Yoga mentioned in the Shiva-Purâna, which combines mantra recitation with breath control; cf. Asparsha-Yoga

Tantra-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the Tantras, a kundalinî-based Yoga

Târaka-Yoga
The unitive discipline of the "deliverer" (târaka); a medieval Yoga based on light phenomena

Yantra-Yoga
The unitive discipline of focusing the mind upon geometric representations (yantra) of the cosmos.

Diwali - Festival of Lights

Diwali Pooja ( Worship )

Deepawali or Diwali is certainly the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It's the festival of lights (deep = light and avali = a row i.e., a row of lights) that's marked by four days of celebration, which literally illumines the country with its brilliance, and dazzles all with its joy. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is separated by a different tradition, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.

The Origin of Diwali

Historically, the origin of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali or 'Deepawali.' Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength. Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day. In Jainism, Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana. Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers.

School Students Celebrating '' Diwali '' 

These Four Days

Each day of Diwali has its own tale, legend and myth to tell. The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya, the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the tyrant Bali, and banished him to hell. Bali was allowed to return to earth once a year, to light millions of lamps to dispel the darkness and ignorance, and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It is on the third day of Deepawali — Kartika Shudda Padyami that Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj) and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.

The Significance of Lights & Firecrackers

All the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story to tell. The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with firecrackers is an expression of obeisance to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity. According to one belief, the sound of fire-crackers are an indication of the joy of the people living on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible reason has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the crackers kill a lot of insects and mosquitoes, found in plenty after the rains.

Diwali Celebrate '' Obama ''

The Tradition of Gambling

The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva, and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Diwali is associated with wealth and prosperity in many ways, and the festival of 'Dhanteras' ('dhan' = wealth; 'teras' = 13th) is celebrated two days before the festival of lights.

From Darkness Unto Light...

In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of South-Asian identities. If you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a diya, sit quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light and illuminate the soul.

More About Diwali

> The Spiritual Side of Diwali

> 10 Reasons to Celebrate Diwali

> Diwali Around the World

Radha Madhav Dham Trust For Seva: U.S.A & India

Radha Madhav Dham Trust For Seva: U.S.A & India

JKP Radha Madhav Dham & Seva Projects

Here in the U.S., through participation in interfaith outreach programs and the support of local charities, Radha Madhav Dham extends a helping hand to the Austin community. There are also many ways to get involved with seva right here at the ashram.

Sunday Lunch Prasad

Preapring Sunday Lunch Prasad

In the tradition of deity seva, the deities of Shree Radha Krishna in Radha Madhav Dham are offered freshly prepared bhog five times a day. You and your family can participate in this auspicious Temple seva by sponsoring and preparing Sunday lunch prasad.; Your meal is then offered to Radha Krishna and served to devotees at the Sunday community satsang. In addition, you will also be able to do arti in the main Temple during satsang.

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Vasant Panchami Festival

Indian girls wear bright yellow dresses during the Hindu spring festival Vasant Panchami.

Vasant Panchami is a famous festival that marks the end of the winter season and ushers in the springtime. Sarasvati is the Hindu goddess of the Vasant Panchami festival. Young girls wear bright yellow dresses and participate in the festivities. The color yellow holds a special meaning for this celebration as it signifies the brilliance of nature and the vibrancy of life. The whole place bursts with yellow during the festival.

People dress in yellow and they offer yellow flowers to others and to the gods and goddesses.  They also prepare and feast on a special pastry called kesar halwa or kesar halva, which is made from flour, sugar, nuts, and cardamom powder. This dish also includes saffron strands, which gives it a vibrant yellow color and mild fragrance.  During the Vasant Panchami festival, India’s crop fields are filled with the color yellow, as the yellow mustard flowers bloom at this time of the year. Pens, notebooks, and pencils are placed near the goddess Devi's feet to be blessed before they are used by students.

HISTORY
The celebration of the Vasant Panchami is centered on the Hindu goddess Sarasvati. Sarasvati is the goddess of wisdom. She embodies the different facets of learning such as the sciences, arts, crafts and skills.  She is said to be calm and collected. She is often pictured seated on a lotus or a peacock, wearing a white dress.

Symbols
The Goddess Sarasvati is the goddess of intellect and learning. She has four hands which symbolize ego, intellect, alertness and the mind. She carries a lotus and scriptures in two of her hands and she plays music on the veena (an instrument similar to a sitar) with her other two hands. She rides on a white swan. Her white dress is a symbol for purity. Her swan signifies that people should have the ability to discern the good from the bad.

The goddess Sarasvati, sitting on a lotus, symbolizes her wisdom.  She is also well-versed in the experience of truth.  When the goddess is seen sitting on a peacock, it is a reminder that a strong ego can be held back by wisdom.