(10/10/15) Spiritual Guru.

Speaker - Nikunja Radha Mataji
Where - RIT
When 10/10/15


Quoted her spiritual master - Radhanath Maharaj

"In this age, people love things and use people. We need to love people and use things."

Spoke about Prabhupada from Prabhupada Lilamrita by Satswaroop Das Goswami.

Prabhupada on Jaladuta

The atlantic ocean was calm. Krishna was making sure Prabhupad was safe.
Captain's wife asked if Prabhupada can go back to India so that they can have a safe trip back. :-)
2 heart attacks in the ship.
Prabhupad had the faith that Krishna was bringing him for a purpose.

Beautiful poem.

Several years after Śrīla Prabhupāda first arrived in America, a disciple discovered the diary he had kept during his passage from India on the steamship Jaladuta. Inside was a poem, handwritten in Bengali, that Śrīla Prabhupāda had written on board the ship just after it had arrived in Boston harbor. The poem beautifully captures Śrīla Prabhupāda’s first impressions of Western civilization and reveals his heartfelt determination to change the consciousness of America.

My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me.

But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place?

Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Vāsudeva. I do not know how they will be able to understand it.

But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible, because You are the most expert mystic.

How will they understand the mellows of devotional service? O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message.

All living entities have become under the control of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they can also be released from the clutches of illusion.

I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore if You so desire their deliverance, then only will they be able to understand Your message.

The words of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are Your incarnation, and if a sober person repeatedly receives them with submissive aural reception, then he will be able to understand Your message.

It is said in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.17–21): “Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramātmā [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who relishes His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted. By regularly hearing the Bhāgavatamand rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. At the time loving service is established in the heart, the modes of passion [rajas] and ignorance [tamas], and lust and desire [kāma] disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness and he becomes happy. Thus established in the mode of goodness, the man rejuvenated by loving service to the Lord gains liberation from material association [mukti] and comes to know scientifically of the Personality of Godhead. Thus the knots of the heart and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions [karma] is terminated when one sees the self as master.”

He will become liberated from the influence of the modes of ignorance and passion and thus all inauspicious things accumulated in the core of the heart will disappear.

How will I make them understand this message of Kṛṣṇaconsciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified, and the most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own.

Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought me here to speak about You. Now, my Lord, it is up to You to make me a success or failure as You like.

O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message, so if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable for their understanding.

Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts they will certainly feel engladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life.

O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance. O Lord, make me dance as You like.

I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now, if You like, You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.

Signed—the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,
on board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier,
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
dated 18th of September, 1965

Realizations from book distribution
1) Teenager who knew George Harrison
2) Elderly couple who didnt have a bagawat gita walked towards Mataji when she sincerely prayed to Prabhupada for his mercy.

Shiksha Gura, Diksha Guru.

We can have many siksha gurus in our lives, all those devotees who impart us knowledge about KC are our siksha gurus, but generally, there is one prominent siksha guru, who takes responsibility for helping us go ahead in Krsna consciousness.

Diksha guru can be only one and the relationship between diksha guru and a disciple is eternal.Diksha guru formally initiates a person into the sampradaya and takes responsibility of taking the disciple back to Godhead and the disciple goes back if he sincerely follows the spiritual master. After initiation, the disciple should be ready to give his/her life for the sake of service to BONAFIDE spiritual master. Ofcourse, the guru gives instructions according to level of the disciple but from disciple side, he/she should be ready for this. There are lots of lectures available by senior devotees, Srila Prabhupada on this subject.
                                                    

(8/22/15) Overcoming Fear & Insecurity

Speaker: Shubvilas Govind das
When: August 22nd, 2015, Saturday at 5PM.
Where: Skalny Room, Religious Center, RIT

Link to presentation

(8/8/15) His Divine Grace A.C Bakthi Vedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Where : Skalny Room
When  : August 8th, 5PM
Speaker: Ishvar Govind das.

(8/29/15) Balram Jayanthi

Where: Skalny Room
When: August 22, Sunday @ 5PM.
Speaker : Ishvar Govind das.

Lord Balarama appearance day

Today is the very auspicious day, Lord Balarama appearance day,

We are welcome who has come for the first time because today is the best day to begin spiritual life, by Lord Balarama`s mercy.

To understand who is Lord Balarama we should understand who is Lord Krishna, because this is the same person.

BG.9.11

Lecture.

Today we are going to speak about Lord Balarama. Everyone will Lord Balarama`s mercy

because its his desire.

Balarama means “splendid and powerful”.  Bala means, “Strength”, He gives spiritual strength

He gives us strength to understand difference between spiritual and material nature.

Balarama is the first bodily expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna's transcendental pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual world and is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master. Rama means spiritual bliss, and Balarama has this huge desire to serve Sri Krishna, that all of the attributes in spiritual world is the Balarama manifestations (extensions)

He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He Himself helps in the pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in four other forms called the catur-vyuha (four armed) forms known as Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Anirudha. He serves Sri Krishna in various ways. In all the forms He tastes the transcendental bliss of serving Krishna. No one can approach Krishna without first getting the mercy of Baladeva.

When Baladeva appeared as the seventh child in the womb of Devaki, she could understand that this was a divine child and this made her all the more concerned about His safety. Even Kamsa could sense His potency and he became fearful, thinking he may have been tricked by the prophecy that he will be slain only by the eight child of Devaki. At this time Krishna instructed Yogamaya, His internal potency, to transfer the unborn child from the womb of Devaki to that of Rohini, one of the other wives of Vasudeva, who was hiding from Kamsa in the house of Nanda Maharaja in Gokul

He could not speak and move as a normal child, and none could help him. Than astrologer advised Rohini to hold Him near by the hurt, and it helped. He began playing and laughing, but when Rohinh take him away he became unmovable  again. Why it happpend? because He felt his eternal brother Krishna, and he was in that condition before Krishna was born.

So we feel the same happiness when we become closer to God.

God is one

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are both one and the same identity. They differ only in form. Krishna always appears with a dark complexion like a bluish rain cloud, Balarama is fair. Balarama assists in Lord Krishna's transcendental pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual world and is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master, because he is the most closet to the Lord and can give qualification to be Krishna`s friend.

Balarama is the same person as Sri Krishna, same Purusha but he is in a mood of Krishna sevananda, like a prakriti. - gives enjoyment

Adi guru because he is the supreme Lord but in a mood of prakriti, and he plants the seed of bhakti to all living being (Krishnera nitya)dasa)

There is no Krishna without Balaram, He cannot be a Purusha. We are prakriti but want to be purusha,

Krishna gives us knowledge and Balarama gives us strength to understand and follow the spiritual life - mood of service - prakriti

Balarama also appeared as Lord Ramachandra's brother Laksmana, and as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's brother Nityananda.

When we worship to Balaram, he purifies our hurt from three main decices:

1.    Lust

2.    self interest

3.    desire for fame

Story in context

Balarama kills Pralambasura

Once when Krishna and Balarama were playing with the cowherd boys, a demon named Pralamba entered their midst, disguised as a cowherd boy. Understanding the invincible potency of Krishna, he instead decided to abduct Balarama. At the end of the game, as the losing party he was supposed to carry Balarama on his shoulders. Carrying the Lord on his shoulders he ran swiftly, but Balarama realizing the true identity of demon began to make himself heavier and heavier. Unable to bear the weight, the demon assumed his original form which was like a huge dark effulgent cloud, decorated with golden ornaments. Balarama then bought His fist down the head of the demon splitting it into two and causing him to give up his life.

The same demon Pralamba is hiding as our friend in our mind, and we cannot see lust, self interest and desire for fame, until Lord Balarama will appear them in our hurt. So by his march we can identify  lust, self interest and desire for fame as our enemies and get rid of them.

SP explained that in time of danger we need to chant Rama`s name, which is Balaram, because he can destroy all of the danger.

Balarama slays Dhenukasura

Dhenukasura was a powerful demon who had assumed the form of an ass. With his demon friends he was occupying Talavana, one of the twelve forests of Vrindavana. Out of fear of these demons no one could approach Talavana and enjoy the numerous flowers and fruits in the forest. Balarama, induced by His cowherd friends, entered the forest desiring to kill the demons. He began shaking the fruit trees, making a big noise. Dhenuka, furious at the intrusion, attacked Balarama with his rear legs, but Balarama easily picked him up by his legs and whirled him around until he died. As the other demon friends of Dhenuka rushed to attack, Krishna and Balarama picked them up and threw them on trees, killing them. Soon the forest was free of all demons, and it appeared that the bent trees were being directed by Balarama to pay obeisances to Krishna.

Dhenu is a demon of lust, he  wanted to enjoy Talavan forest very selfishness, an

Balarama kills him and gives everyone to enjoy, because he serves Krishna, and it means he serves His Devotees.

SP gives us knowledle about Balaram, and teaches us when we serve our guru baed on Krishna`s order Balarama gives us stranth. .  Поэтому Господа Балараму называют "Доуджи" (senior brother,  who cares about youngest ).

He does not like disputes and conflicts among friends,

He didn`t take any part on Kuruksetra, when Kuru dinasty were fiting.  he went to pilgramige. We can see and strenth goes away from people who disputes. Therefore there is no threth and no thurt in conflicts.When we begin argue Balarama leaves.

Srimati Radharami gives us service for Krishna if we qualified and Balaram gives us  that qualification.

Entering Vraja Rasa

“If anyone wants to attain the lotus feet of Sri-Sri Radha ­Krsna, and be able to taste and fully relish Their pastimes, one must first approach the lotus feet of Lord Balarama or Lord Nityananda. This is a mandatory prerequisite for only by receiving Their mercy can this realisation be possible.

“Because Lord Nityananda and Lord Balarama are non-different, the goswamis confirm that by getting Lord Nityananda’s mercy one becomes eligible to receive the ecstatic prema of Sri Radha and Krsna in Vraja. Lord Balarama and Lord Nityananda do not accept any offenses whatsoever and are so merciful that by simply worshipping Lord Nityananda one is automatically worshipping and pleasing Lord Balarama. It is described that Lord Nityananda and Lord Balarama are the friends of the most fallen and wretched.

Just as it is not possible to enter Lord Caitanya’s service without the mercy of Lord Nityananda, it is impossible to enter into Vraja rasa without the mercy of Lord Balarama, who is non-different from Lord Nityananda” (SVMP).

(8/16/15) Getting Eyes to See God

Where : Skalny Room (Center for Religious Life), RIT
When  : Sunday, 16th August, 5PM
Speaker: Shubvilas Govind das.

Link to presentation

(9/5/15) Janmashtami Celebration.

Where : Skalny Room
When: 9/5/15 5PM-7PM
Speaker: Shubvilas Govind Das

Link to the presentation.

(9/12/15) Opulance of Krishna

When:5PM - 8 PM, Saturday, 9/12/15

Where: Skalny Hall, Religious Center, RIT.

Speaker: Viswanath Prasad

Kirtan : Ishvar Govind das.


Link to presentation

Bhagavad Gita 10.8

aham sarvasya prabhavo

mattah sarvam pravartate

iti matva bhajante mam

budha bhava-samanvitah

aham — I; sarvasya — of all; prabhavah — the source of generation; mattah — from Me; sarvam — everything; pravartate — emanates; iti — thus; matva — knowing; bhajante — become devoted; mam — unto Me; budhah — the learned; bhava-samanvitah — with great attention.

Translation

I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.

Krishna is Bhagavan, all Opulent. He processes the 6 opulence in full.

1. Beauty (Sriya)
2. Strength (Virya)
3. Knowledge(Jnana)
4. Wealth (Aishwarya)
5. Fame (Yash)
6. Vairagya (Renunciation)

1. Beauty (Sriya)

•Literature on Krishna’s beauty.

•Krishna is just a sweet little boy.

•Krishna manifests in the particular way of Relationship.

•Krishna is the Subject and devotees heart is Shelter

Beauty manifested in Vatsalya Ras.

•Vatsarya Rasa rup ( less than 5 years) – Yesoda and elder Gopis.

•Relationship with parents is Intense and focused.

•First time Yasodamai  saw Krishna

•Every single aspects of Krishna fills her heart with love, Krishna endears everyone.

•Hair is curly, bluish black, teeth are shining out like pearls, effulgent body.

•Krisna is so naughty and innocent.

Beauty manifested in Sakya Ras.

•Paupanda age - Age 5 – 10

•Kaishora rup – youthful form

•Day time ras

•Gopas sees Krishna as an adventurous & mischievous child.

Cows also accept Krishna in Sakya Ras

Beauty manifested in madhurya Ras.

•Relationship with Gopis

•10 – 15 year old.

•Krishna can expand time.

•Rasalila – 1 Brahma day.

•Krishna returning from forest

•Govardan Lila

2. Strength (Virya)

•Omnipotence - Omni / Amen ,  derived from Om. Meaning all/powerful/potent.

•That which is illusory and temporary someone thinks

•AUM – A – Krishna, U – Radharani , M – Jiva ( Jiva go swami)

•Omnipotent – all potencies

•Energy – Agencies through which the Supreme Lord Acts

•Vishvaroop – Overwhelming. Arjuna Transferred his emotion from astonishment to fear.  Krishna makes Yasoda forgets the 2 times she saw Vishvaroop.

•Antharanga Shakti , Bahiranga Shakti and Tatasta Shakti ( marginal energy)

3.Knowledge(Jnana)

Omniscience – Krishna knows everything in a systematic level

Science comes from word scia know is a systematic way

Krishna has all knowledge. Directly and indirectly.

•Bheeshma’s 5 arrows

•Jaidrada

Hiding his omniscience to enhance pastime by his own sweet will.

•Searching for butter

•Salva attacks Dwaraka

•Searching for Radha rani

4.Wealth (Aishwarya)

•Material sense

•16108 palaces  - Dwaraka lila

•Prabhupada when he left established 108 temples.( now 600)

•Wealth of Beauty and love in Vrindhavan

•Vrindavan is so great. Vraj raj – 1 dust particle is so valuable.

•Whole world calls Krishna’s names hey Govinda, hey Gopala – revered

•In Vraj, You are a coward – sakya ras, unfaithful Casanova – Gopis.

•The love without any aishwarya (Story Krishna asked jewels from Gopis

•Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says accept me your servant as salary as Krishna prem. 
•Real wealth is remembering Krishna always.•Mundane wealth makes our heart agitated but Krishna’s love makes the heart nourished.•Krishna gives devotees what they need and not what they want.•Henry Ford’s grandson – Where is he now? ( Alfred Ford - Ambarish Prabhu)

•Every one who does not have Krishna prem is poverty stricken

5. Fame (Yash)

•Krishna’s fame was so wide spread = waiting to get darshan.

•Krishna’s fame is so great. Yamuna hearing Krisha’s blemishless pastimes. Became white like milk.

•Krishna’s glory cannot be entirely eradicated. Vyaj-stuthi

•Explicit envy – Aeithists you can talk for him, talk against him, cannot talk without Him.

•Laws of Nature = as if they are God. Omniscient. Laws of nature acts according to circumstances.

•4 headed Brahma

•All of us have the desire to become famous. Madhav Puri used his fame in the service of the Lord.

6.Vairagya (Renunciation)

 •Renunciation – no one is attracted to renunciation but they are attracted to fruit of renunciation

•Krishna is atma ram ( peaceful inspite of anything happening in the material world )

•Jivas having Free will shows – shows God’s renunciation

•If omniponipotence is the only opulence of Krishna, we wont have free will.

•Boss – Micromanage or microcontrol, Ppl don’t grow and don’t get better. Responsible renunciation – renunciation that enables us to grow

•Prabhupada’s  story on Book Distribution.

•Krishna charioteer / messenger for Pandavas

•Let Arjuna take all the glory for winning the war

•Let Yudhishtra become the emperor of the world

•Willing to give up his vow to protect Arjuna.

•Leave the Gopis during Raas lila

Conclusion.

•7th Opulance – Bhakta vatsalya – supreme faith of Krishna

•Vrajbhasis - Loving Krishna as a person not for his opulence.

•Krishna subordinates all his opulence for Bhakta Vatsalya.

•When we change our hear to accept Krishna as Bhagavan.

•Believe “Krishna, YOU are Everything for me”. Then we become Bhagyawan. ( Very fortunate soul)