Humility Breeds Humility

HG Jayananda Prabhu turns negative to positive

"HG Jayananda Prabhu would always turn a weird situation into doing benefit for the other person. Like the Fisherman's Wharf episode, when the lobster-murder stand people threw hot and stinky fish water at the devotees' feet as they went by on harinama. I would have gotten into a fight with them, like yelling and shaking fists, but Jayananda Prabhu was in control of his senses and approached them with cookies and said, “Thanks for doing such a nice service of cleaning the sidewalk.” This genuinely affected them.

Similarly, he was always trying to give prasadam to others, like visitors of the temple, or taking out extra prasadam to the streets for the bums, and so forth. He was found to be cooking prasad for drunks in a bar. He was always asking wandering hippies to help with the carts, not just to get their labor, but to engage them in service for their benefit, knowing that even a little service brings transcendental eternal blessing."

Devotees in Halifax, Canada relish BCEC courses

H.H Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami, founder of Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC) spends most of his year travelling to various places all over the globe and teaching structured courses based on the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami. Since generally most yatras have a skeletal staff to maintain preaching in their local vicinity it is not possible to fly individuals abroad to study scripture. Hence BCEC teachers offer such study opportunities in various countries in collaboration with the local management of Iskcon centres.

Above attendees of Bhakti Sadacara course in Halifax, Canada, conducted by Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami from May 11th to May 15th, 2010.

Students' Comments:

"Precise and clear explantions. The flow of Srila Prabhupada's teachings wonderfully enter the heart" - Stefina Tukker, Halifax, Canada
"Good diversity kept our minds focused. The course positively helps to raise consciousness in the devotee community." - Damodara Gopala Dasa, Halifax, Canada

Mini Pearl Festival!

Sri Sri Nitai Saci-suta

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Sri Giri Govardhana

This is darsan of Their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai Gaura Hari currently being worship @ Iskcon in Johannesburg, South Africa - 16 May 2010, Sunday

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauda to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all." [Adi 1.3]

"Sangopangastra-parsadam further indicates that Lord Caitanya is Lord Krsna. His body is always decorated with ornaments of sandalwood and with sandalwood paste. By His superexcellent beauty He subdues all the people of the age. In other descents the Lord sometimes used weapons to defeat the demoniac, but in this age the Lord subdues them with His all-attractive figure as Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Jiva Gosvami explains that His beauty is His astra, or weapon, to subdue the demons. Because He is all-attractive, it is to be understood that all the demigods lived with Him as His companions. His acts were uncommon and His associates wonderful. When He propagated the sankirtana movement, He attracted many great scholars and acaryas, especially in Bengal and Orissa. Lord Caitanya is always accompanied by His best associates like Lord Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara and Srivasa." [SB 11.5.32]

Their Lordships Sri Sri Chota Nitai Gaura-Hari. ""Behold the great fortune of the devotee Kholaveca. Lord Brahma and Siva shed tears upon seeing his greatness. One cannot attain Lord Krsna by any amount of wealth, followers, or learning. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is controlled only by pure devotion. "Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had a very sincere devotee whose name was Kholaveca Sridhara and whose only business was to sell pots made of the skin of banana trees. Whatever income he had, he used fifty percent for the worship of mother Ganges, and with the other fifty percent he provided for his necessities. On the whole, he was so very poor that he lived in a cottage that had a broken roof with many holes in it. He could not afford brass utensils, and therefore he drank water from an iron pot. Nevertheless, he was a great devotee of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is a typical example of how a poor man with no material possessions can become a most exalted devotee of the Lord. The conclusion is that one cannot attain shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna or Sri Caitanya through material opulence; that shelter is attainable only by pure devotional service." [SB 5.19.7]

Lessons in Vaisnava care for me!

May service bring us closer!

It is all about the company you keep!

Towards strongether brotherhood and sisterhood!

Suryia and Roscoe live at the Tigers sanctuary in Myrtle Beach , South Carolina
The orangutan was in the rescue center and was not doing well. This old hound wandered in truly emaciated and the orangutan took to him the moment the dog arrived. He stayed with the hound night and day until he was well and during the process found a reason to live. They are now inseparable.

Give a little heart!

Strengthen our relationships

Emapthy!

Compassion!

"In short, a compassionate poor man may consider others' pains and pleasures with empathy. A poor man is seldom puffed up with false pride, and he may be freed from all kinds of infatuation. He may remain satisfied by whatever he gets for his maintenance by the grace of the Lord."[KB 10: The Deliverance of Nalakuvara and Manigriva]

Harinam Bliss in Johannesburg, South Africa

dharma pathe giya tumi loho harinam

tabe tumi anyere koriba paritran

jata saba dasyu cora dakiya aniya

dharma-pathe sabare laoyao tumi giya

"Embarking upon the path of dharma, chant the holy name of Lord Hari. Then you will also deliver others. Now please go and call as many thieves and criminals that you can; gathering them together, cause them to similarly adhere to the path of dharma." [Ref. VedaBase => Song 1]

3) Oh, seeing the miserable condition of the fallen souls of this world, Nitai has personally brought the holy name from the transcendental realm of Vraja! Oh, Lord Siva chants this holy name with his five mouths! This holy name is so sweet! Oh, Lord Brahma chants this holy name with his four mouths! This holy name is so sweet! Oh, Narada Muni chants this holy name while playing on his vina! This holy name is so sweet! Oh, just by the dim reflection of this holy name, the sinful Ajamila went to Vaikuntha! Bhaktivinoda therefore says, "Oh, continuously chanting this holy name, go at once to the divine realm of Vraja! This holy name is so sweet!" [This song is for singing while performing parikrama of Navadvipa-dham]

On Saturday, HG Lokanath Prabhu arranged our monthly harinam  in central Johannesburg. Here in South African there is a 'always remember soccer and never forget the worldcup' vibe. So harinam adds to the festivities. For us we pray that it will remain an eternal festival. The world cup buzz is temporary but the holy names is eternal. I took the opportunity to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books and one devotee had a ghee bucket full of mangal sweets that he distributed. Coming together for harinam creates an unparalleled joy in the hearts of the participants. Indeed the bliss is contagious as when we stop an each traffic light the crowd begin their tribal jigs and vuvuzelas are blown. God save Africa!! Jai Nitai!

HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami does BCEC Japa; kirtan and bhajan program at Iskcon Manila, Philippines

Over the last few years HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami has made frequent visits to Iskcon Manila, Philippines where he held various structured courses based on the teachings and books of Iskcon's founder acarya His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. As the founder and Co-international director of Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC) he travels extensively to various countries doing such courses thus inspiring the attendees to delve deeper into the studies and practice of the teaching of  His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

 
Maharaj serves prasad to the devotees.

The devotees attending the last Japa, kirtan and bhajan program with HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami recently at Iskcon Manilla were blissed out chanting and dancing. The exuberant devotees could hardly stay on the ground.

The presiding Deities at Iskcon Manila are seen in the above picture.

Above the devotee attending the program were inspired to continuously come together and chant in each others association. Many remarked that their japa will never be the same again.

The program continued over four days during which the devotees formed a great bond absorbing themselves in hearing and chanting.

Above the group picture shows that Srila Prabhupada did what no other could do. His teachings continue to make followers in this remote part of the world. Had it not been for him the sublime teachings of the Vedas would have been confined to India.