simple thoughts

Simple thoughts on vedic culture

The Problem of Finding Faults

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Mirror Mirror on the Wall please don’t reflect back my imperfections only show me my beauty; as they looked in the mirror nothing was reflected back.

Over the past few months I have been pondering the continuing condition found in the material world, that of fault finding and how easy it is to find faults in others whilst over looking the faults in ourselves. Indeed it is a point to ponder that there are 4 kinds of blasphemy to a vaisnava each of which include faults:

1. To find fault with a Vaisnava for his apparent low birth.
2. To blaspheme him for his previous faults.
3. To blaspheme him for his accidental fault.
4. To blaspheme him for the faults that are almost rectified.

(from Harinama Cintamani)

Indeed as we look into our own fault finding mirror we expect to see no faults for each time we come up with an argument a reason why it isn’t; reminding me of the biblical request to first remove the plank from your own eye before removing a straw in another’s.

Indeed the faults we or should I say “I” find is simply a reflection of my larger faults; which can be simply hidden away under the guise of niceness. Indeed Srila Prabhupada makes this point: We have got four faults in our conditional life: we commit mistake, we become illusioned, we cheat others, and our senses are imperfect. (Fiji, May 24, 1975)

It struck me we do this in analysing others service; we see the faults, the mistakes, the inadequacy but fail to see that actually the person is giving 100% given what they have and further more are trying with sincerity to serve others as best they can.
And whilst sat criticising doing little ourselves.

Putting the mirror in-front of ourselves and asking it to reveal what it sees from the beautiful to the ugly showing us the area’s that need to be worked on is indeed something we wish not to see, but is something as devotees we request.

No excuses taking full responsibility for what we find and further to that then setting about working on them turning what is ugly into something that becomes attractive to others; our rough qualities blasted away to finally reveal the diamond.

Casting off this it’s not my fault, well you have to understand or defensive well you have room to talk is difficult in this age of quarrel, shirking our responsibility to mere point scoring over others excusing our bad behaviour whilst judging others for theirs.
Sadly this criticising attitude is difficult to gain control off; indeed we use it as a crutch so that we can avoid our own failings and can feel better about our situation; but this hinders rather than helps progress.

And for me theirs a work in progress; I’ve made my way to the foot of the Hill and now look up ready to climb for unless this significant fault of fault finding is conquered then what is left? Offence done to those who are giving cent per cent in service and this is what we should see their beauty in service. I shall leave you with this one thought to ponder:

CC Adi-lila 8.62 Purport;

It is a qualification of a Vaisnava that he is adosa-darsi: he never sees others’ faults. Of course, every human being has both good qualities and faults. Therefore it is said, saj-jana gunam icchanti dosam icchanti pamarah: everyone has a combination of faults and glories. But a Vaisnava, a sober man, accepts only a man’s glories and not his faults, for flies seek sores whereas honeybees seek honey. Haridasa Pandita never found fault with a Vaisnava but considered only his good qualities.

Feeding the 5000

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Parasuram Das
Food for All (UK)

ishavasyam idam sarvam
yat kincha jagatyam jagat
tena tyaktena bhunjitha
ma gridhah kasya svid dhanam

Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one must not accept other things, knowing well to Whom they belong.

Within this planet Earth, there are so many living entities, all struggling hard for existance.They have forgotten that the supreme Isvara, manager, has organised enough resources for everyone to live on. But in this unfortunite times there is so much mismanagment that one third of the food produced in the West ends up in the rubbish dumps,polluting the environment.

With this in mind we have been involved in festivals called “Feed the 5,000″, {echoing Jesus and his miracles.} Good food is collected from the retailers, that would normally be dumped due to it being the wrong shape or colour or size or over produced.Then we get a group of volunteers together to chop and prepare it,

then the next morning the magic starts as the cookers are lit.

People are amazed to see the size of the pots,and to be honest these pots are small,we just bought 3 big pots in India that are 3 times bigger.

We shipped them from India and they should arrive soon.Funny story I went to the kitchen in Vrindavan and saw these massive pots, the head cook informed me that the pots were too big and they were sending them back to Agra to change them for smaller ones,that was it, it is what you call Krishnas arrangement.

So on the 12 th of May 2012 this festival took place in Bristol, great media coverage was there, I got to speak to the mayor, and the main thing 5,000 people got a delicious plate of prasad, and we had a great time, Hare Krishna!

Our great asset is that devotees know how to make delicious prasad on a massive scale,and if you don’t know how to cook big quanties, please contact us as the London Rathayatra festival is approaching again and we are do on the spot cookery lessons.

Your Servant Parasuram Das

Photos by Krishna Mayi dd

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Many years ago my own Guru Maharaja gave me a simple piece of instruction, to use my work in order to share the glories of Krishna and although over the years my work has changed my desire remains to fulfil that humble request.

By my own admission and pointed out correctly by some I’m not the most dynamic and lack the ability in many ways so I cherish moments like this. Returning to do a follow up on a small community group I visited last year and meeting a new group, both were not only warmly welcoming but also asked many interesting questions some of which took me by complete surprise.

Tuesdays Bridgend People first Group had asked me to speak to them on relationships and was a follow up visit. We looked at the five loving relationships we can have with Krishna and how this also relates to our relationship we have with others.

It is also nice to leave plenty of time for questions as personally I feel this opens things up much more and indeed so we discussed our relationship with animals, racism, community and family

During my last visit some wondered how cakes could be made without eggs so this visit I took cakes for the group which went down really well – prasadam always does.

And as the last question related to Kirtan we took the opportunity to sing and dance to the greatest song ever written the maha-mantra

For me it the main thing is that it is about building up friendships and was so nice to be welcomed back amongst inspiring people willing to not only listen but ask nice thought provoking questions.

The new group on Thursday was also part of Bridgend People First

It was an over-view of what it means to be a devotee of Krishna; this included small clips of London Ratha Yatra, the cows at Bhaktivadanta Manor (which was kindly filmed for me by the wonderful herds devotees their). The video’s bring a good talking point and makes every thing come more to life. Again I was impressed by the thoughtful questions of the group and their enthusiasm when we discussed a follow up visit.

So what’s next?
Well later on this year it is planned that the two groups will have a festival as both have heard about the amazing pastimes and how we celebrate them that this year near to the time of Diwali that we too will have a small festival of our own.
And if they bring as much enthusiasm as they do during each visit, it will be a great celebration; although they also liked Govardhana Puja so want both.
So my thoughts are already turning to what too cook, cake and sweets are definitely the front runners.

And my thoughts remain focused on my desire to serve and carry out the orders of my Guru Maharaja and how as devotees we can continue to form close ties with the community groups around us; and also that other devotees may be inspired to do the same.

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I was sent this amazing link to a lovely animated story of Lord Nrsinghadeva’s appearance; as we know it’s this weekend we celebrate this amazing event, it is a story that captivates many of the young people I work with.

Their is also a wonderful glorification of our founder Acharia HDG A.C. Bhaktivadanta Swami Prabhupad; who translated, shared and revealed all these wonderful pass times for us to enjoy and grow in the sense of wonder and loving devotion.

Hope as always you enjoy it is such a wonderful pass time

The Brahma Vaivarta Purana

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The Brahma Vaivarta Purana describe a conversation between Sri Krisna and Ganga devi. The glories of our Srila Prabhupad and his activities are predicted.

In this conversation. Please excuse Yourik, he was animated from a photo we took during “japa time” on the Ganga journey. It was ment to be a “spot the difference” or “before and after” photograph.

Your servant Parasuram das

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VICARU DAS
BHAKTIVEDANTA MANOR
UK

Conditional souls hover in dreams of such heavily ILLUSORY Pleasures but actually they do not relish any tangible happiness in such pleasures for this reason the enlightened person should endeavour only for the minimum necessities of life while in the world of names and being competent to perceive practically that all such endeavours are merely hard labour for nothing.
The great personality of Satyaloka Sri Brahma ji with great attention and concentration of the mind studied the vedas three times and ascertained that only attraction to Krishna is the highest perfection of life.

The supreme lord Krsna as Mahavisnu who in the beginning of the creation amplified the potent knowledge to Brahma from within his heart and inspired him with full knowledge of creation;
the lord said to Brahma it is I who was existed before creation, when there was nothing but myself, nor was there the material nature, the cause of the creation that which you see now, and after annihilation only I remain. Oh Brahma whatever appears to be of value if it is without relation to me has no reality, know it as my ILLUSORY energy that reflection which appears to be in darkness and after saying this to lord Brahma the Lord disappeared and than Brahma with folded hands began to re-create the universe, full with living entities, SB 2-10-12 One should definitely know that all material ingredients, generated activities, time, modes and the living entities who are meant to enjoy them exist by lords mercy only as soon as he does not care for them everything becomes non existent.

Lord Brahma heard two sounds TA, PA while he was in the vast water than he did meditation for one thousand Demigods years than after 1,000years of tapasya the supreme Lord was satisfied with Brahma than he manifested his abode Vaikuntha and himself when Brahma saw he was overwhelmed within his heart than the lord accepted Brahma worthy to create living beings, tahn lord shook hands with Brahma and I create this cosmos by such penance, I maintain by such energy and withdraw by same energy.

The spiritual creation of the lord is three quarter and material creation is only one quarter,HARI DHAMA, GOLOKA VRNDAVANA, NAVDVIP DHAMA, MATHURA DHAMA, DVARKA DHAMA, AYODHYA DHAMA , VAIKUNTHA DHAMA; MATERIAL WORLD, Mahavisnu, Mahesa dhama, Devi Dhama, Satyaloka , Muniloka, Swargaloka, Bhuvarloka, Antariksa, Bhurloka, Bila-Svarga than HELLS, Narak loka, than Lord Ananta Lying in Garbhodhaka Sagar. So compared to our earthly planet in Gods creation is just like a dot in a world map and inside this planet from centuries so many calamities came and gone by destroying so many parts of the world. They are as Natural disasters such as huge Storm, Tsunamis, Hurricane, Tornadoes, Typhoons, Limnic eruption, Earth quake, Heat wave, Floods Diseases, Millions die by varieties of diseases,

Thousands are killed in Warfare, Terrorists Terrorising some part of the world very often by using man made weapons, World War one and two; in Year 1138 about 230,000 people died in Syria by earth quake, in 1228 sea-flood in Netherlands 100,000 people, in 1290 100,000 people lost their life in China earth quake, in 1316 England Flood, in 1500 China 830,000 lives, in 1600 Shemakha 80,000 lives lost, in 1700 Iran 77,000 lives by earth quake, in 1800 Mississippi earth quake, then New Zealand earth quake every year for centuries, in 1864 China Flood 300,000 lives and India 70,000 lives by Flood, in 1900s Texas Hurricane so many lives lost, in year 1970 Pakistan earth quake 300,000lives, in 1999 Turkey 14,000 lives lost by earth quake even in 1912 The Famous Titanic sinking, the historical disaster which the American Scientists tried to discover the one hundred years of sunken Ship in 1996 they spent billions of Dollars to Manufacture this Machine which was connected to a ship, they explore the 1912 Titanic Ship which already decaying under the bottom of the sea they tried to bring some part of the ship and use that as historical event and in memories,The Haiti disaster, The great Tsunami in Indonesia, Tsunami in Japan, 1911 New York disaster, Wild Forest Fires in America, Great Volcanos around the globe, Famous Tsunamis, Famous Earth Quakes, Famous Tornadoes, Famous Floods, Famous Storms, and Hurricanes , Famous Land slides, Local Wars and Natural Disasters attacks.

What’s the cause of all these? The answer is the overloaded sins On Mother earth its unbearable so there comes Natural Disasters and Wars.

The small planet earth was given to us by Lord Brahma to live in Harmony and prepare for Eternal permanent life, but due to denying the existence of superior creator God and misusing the Nature in an exploitative behaviour showing cruelty towards other species of life such as Cow slaughter, any animal slaughter, abortions, gambling, drugs, adulteries; The Heavy Karma of this planet. Now its only small Tsunamis what’s in future only god knows but according to the ancient Vedic Knowledge there will be famine, droughts with no rain for years and general populace will be tortured by so many calamities. THE GLOBAL TERRONY IS ON ITS WAY , THE REMEDY IS ONLY ” THE”HOLY NAME”, No other Way, The material scientists are writing volumes of books on temporary ILLUSORY histories of this world for future generation, creating further network of MAYA which bewilders the unfortunate souls of this world in near future missing out the simple point NAM ASHRAYA Shelter of the Lords Holy Name.

After all the Planet which we are living in is a transformation of Dust in combination with Earth, water, fire, sky, air and as the shastras say do not put trust on these elements only utilise it for the creators pleasure and leave aside to seek out for eternal element, only by holy name we can escape the tsunami no other way no other way.

Thank You
Yours in Service

Classes From Bhaktivadanta Manor

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These are the recorded classes from my recent visit to Bhaktivadnata Manor, as always it’s inspiring and well worth taking the time to listen to:

HG Dayal Nitai Dasa (2).mp3

HG Gaur Gopal Das.mp3

HG Govinda Prabhu.mp3

HG Vishvambhara Das.mp3

During my visit one Bhakta Depak Prabhu gave me a copy of the recent classes given by HDG Mother Urmila Mataji and cn also be downloaded or listened to directly via these links:

Mother Urmila Yoga Ladder (1).mp3

Mother Urmila, Yoga Ladder (2).mp3

Mother Urmila Yoga Ladder (3).mp3

As always I pray that it meets with some approval and you enjoy them as much as I did.

Humble Prays to Divine Name

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VICARU DAS
BHAKTIVEDANTA MANOR
UK

Preparation for humble approach before Japa,

First, to Srila Gurudeva,
Please allow me and guide me in my japa so that I could chant purely without any offence in a very very humble and serving mood.

Second, to Srila Prabhupada,
Dear Srila Prabhupada please allow me and guide me so that I can focus my mind on the holy names during japa period, and remain steady in Krishna Consciousness outside japa period;

Dear Srila Prabhupada guide me so that I do not commit Nama apradha,/ Seva apradha /,Dhama apradha,/ Jiva apradha/
vaisnava apradha. and chant my japa with full attention with love and affection only for the purpose of serving the holy names

Third, to Sri, Guru Parampara,
Apply same prayers

Fourth, to Six Goswamis,

Fifth, to Srila Nama Acarya , Srila Haridas Thakur,

Sixth, to Sri, Panch Tattva,

Seventh, to Lord Nrsimgha Deva,

Eight, to Your, personal deity,[ eg],Radhe Syama, Radha Govinda, or Radha Gokulananda, or Nitai ,Goura Sundar,

Ninth, to Srimati Tulsi Devi,

Tenth, to Sri Harinam Prabhu,
Dear Harinam Prabhu please help me so that I can remain focused and fixed on the sound vibration during japa and will joyfully welcome the holy names to enter my heart. May I will blissfully chant Radha and Krishna names with my full attention and feel content making this the most important activity in my life chanting japa with feelings of love I will feel deeply satisfied; when chanting with focus and attention I will feel grateful as the holy names appears in my heart and dances on my tongue and will feel natured and supported when I chant the names of Radha and Krsna. I will happily chant with fullness of desire to connect deeply in my relationship with Radha and Krsna and will feel tranquil chanting and hearing one Mantra at a time and I will feel grateful as the sounds of Krishna’s names enters and stays in the sacred space of my heart and I will enthusiastically rise early in the morning being eager to chant the lords holy names.

Number Eleventh, is prayers to Siksastaka
[prayer no, three and four]

Than last is the Mind,
Dear mind, body , intelligence, senses and speech please remain focus and concentrate in inner spiritual development.

Dear mind and intelligence please do not think or meditate or contemplate on subtle sex or any gross contemplation please remain thinking and hearing the glories of the holy names throughout japa period as well as outside japa period. Please help me as I am desperate to serve in quality nama seva .

My last prayer again to Harima Prabhu,
Please Please block the path of Dus Naam apradha [Ten offences] so that I feel safe to serve you and now I began my japa

Focusing full heart and attention on the Transcendental sound vibration
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna……

HARE; –OH Radhe, please attract my mind and free me from material bondage

KRISHNA;–OH Krsna, please attract my mind by pulling it to you

HARE;- OH Radhe, captivate my heart by showing me your incomparable sweetness

KRISHNA; –OH Krsna, purify my mind with knowledge about devotional service given by your pure devotee

KRSNA; –OH Krsna, give me steadiness to appreciate your transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes

KRSNA; –OH Krsna, may I develop a taste for serving you

HARE; — OH Radhe , please make me qualified for your service

HARE; –OH Radhe, please make me eligible to relish your transcendental name, form , qualities and pastimes

HARE; –OH Radha, please instruct me how I can serve you

RAMA; –OH Krsna, let me hear of your intimate pastimes with your beloved Radharani

HARE; –OH Radhe, please reveal to me your pastimes with your beloved Madhava

RAMA; –OH Krsna, please reveal to me your pastimes with your beloved Srimati Radhika

RAMA; –OH Krsna, please engage me in remembering Your sweet name, form, qualities and pastimes

RAMA; –OH Krsna, please make me qualified for Your service

HARE; –OH Radhe, having accepted me as one of your maidservants, please enjoy me as You like

HARE; –OH Radhe, I beg You to be pleased with me

Meaning of the Maha Mantra from Hari Bhakti Vilas

thank you
yours in service

The importance of Friendship

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Observing and questioning, listening without commentating, learning from others, encouraging and being encouraged.

One thing I personally like doing is just sitting and watching observing the interactions that go on around me and how we can see not only what is the driving force but also the way we rely on others in almost all situations.

One thing that is true is that it doesn’t matter how sound the philosophy how pure the faith this is useless with out one vital ingredient loving friendships; if we wish to remain a devotee and focused on Service and Krishna there is a need to develop this side.
The other day I was in the shoe-room sorting out the incense and watched many of the senior devotees come in and how they greeted each other; the friendship went deep along with a quick catch-up and encouraging words.

How many of us would have made progress in spiritual life without this vital ingredient, indeed how can we talk about a personal relationship with Krishna without first addressing and developing close relationship’s with devotees.

From different cultural backgrounds, different parts of the world, different bodily types, even different languages seeing beyond these differences and seeing the reality of the spirit soul making amazing friendship’s that keep on growing; yes at times there is differences of opinions or thoughts that’s the nature of being under the modes of material nature but these friendship’s even surpass this.

It’s an interesting thought the moment we neglect this side of devotional life the harder it becomes, indeed we will soon fizzle out and leave; observing those senior devotees we see the true meaning of friendship looking over weaknesses and seeing strength understanding the struggles each one faces and showing the greatest compassion.

It goes deeper than this, a sounding board to speak to individuals who will when needed speak what we need to hear not what we want to hear; be their to offer direction and when needed advice to encourage when struggles are their to remain focused in service.

Over the years it has been these valuable friendships that have kept me on track in my journey of self-realization; from the early days when one mataji used to send amazing text messages short but powerful to the Phd prabhu who would engage me in his university preaching program and patiently listen to my incoherent waffling, to those special devotees found at Bhaktivadanta Manor who have patiently tolerated and guided me over the years; to the senior Prabhupada devotees who have either helped encourage directly or indirectly by their practical example.

It is these who simply keep me moving in a forward direction in service and making slow progress in devotional life; I pray one day that may be I could gain more association with devotees other than a few days each month. But then it was my own neglect of devotees that means I’m so far away from them most of the time these short interactions become the most valuable, you appreciate the devotees more when you are away from them.

But most importantly with out them it would be almost impossible to make progress in devotional life.

Here comes the Britviks

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Are we in to preaching and encouraging individuals to take up Krishna Consciousness or are we looking at hindering the preaching work and putting stumbling blocks in the way.

As a young devotee at my very first Rathayatra I was handed a magazine and instinctively took it after all it had Prabhupada written on it; the senior devotees were very swift indeed very protective as they wanted me to continue making progress in my own journey of self realization.

Years later again I came across this magazine and it would indeed at this early stage have caused confusion but also I was saddened that it’s main premise was to find fault rather than directing me to the teaching’s of Srila Prabhupada or helping me continue on my journey of self realization.

We see that it takes much planning and very sincere devotees to put on the various festivals all of which is designed to attract those lost spirit souls back to Krishna; allowing them to reconnect and take up this simply simple but some timed difficult path of devotion.
During a recent Hare Krishna Festival attended by some 50 individuals seeking Krishna they were meet outside by some 5 individuals who were fired up in their own magazine distribution; putting hindering blocks rather than encouraging words.

One of the members of the festival team has produced a small video to highlight that we are meant to no matter what our difference of views may be to direct spirit souls to Krishna and follow the orders of our spiritual master, it is designed to open up debate and discussion.

The closing lines are of significance if you feel that individuals are better served outside of ISKCON then start preaching by setting up your own festivals and book distribution and leave those within ISKCON to continue in peace.

So what’s your thoughts?

How important is it to make devotees?

For and on behalf of Food For All UK