namahatta.org - Congregational Development Ministry

by Kripamoya das

Many years ago, on the day after Christmas Day (that's called Boxing Day here in Britain) I was invited to the home of Walter Schwartz, the religions correspondent of the Guardian newspaper. Amongst other things he told me: "I don't like religions with lists." I feel an apology to Walter coming on - and to anyone like him - as I present yet another useful list.

Did you hear the story of the man who rode his tricycle up to the gates of our Mayapur, West Bengal temple to sell ice cream? He had one of those tricycles you see a lot in India—the ones with a refrigerated box on the back. There's nothing sells quite like ice cream on a hot day. Only he wasn't selling ice cream at all.

In relation to the recent GBC announcement about H.H. Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, Bhakta Eric asks: What exactly is a retired sannyasi?, among other questions.

These are good questions, because the terminology and idea of "retired sannyasi" and "retired diksa guru" have been introduced without much discussion or philosophical explanation.

I was just reading some articles on Sampradaya Sun.

Content-wise, this time I saw an article involving Gita-Govinda, who was the brahmacari commander when I first arrived in Peru and got married to Madre Graciela while I was there; Virabahu prabhu, whom I met in his capacity as co-GBC of the zone; and Daru Krishna prabhu, a legendary figure, the remnants of whose empire I inherited (stewarding it on behalf of Srila Prabhupada).

by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Second Chapter of "The Science of Self Realization"

om ajnana-timirandhasya
jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri-gurave namah

"I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my guru, my spiritual master, opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him."

The word ajnana means "ignorance" or "darkness." If all the lights in this room immediately went out, we would not be able to tell where we or others are sitting. Everything would become confused. Similarly, we are all in darkness in this material world, which is a world of tamas. Tamas or timira means "darkness." This material world is dark, and therefore it needs sunlight or moonlight for illumination. However, there is another world, a spiritual world, that is beyond this darkness.

The recent departure of Balabhadra Dasa from ISKCON, and the account of the circumstances leading up to his departure, will no doubt prompt some of my newer readers to ask the obvious question: “How could this possibly happen?”

How is it that a man who was has been a Vaishnava for more than thirty years, a spiritual leader, acknowledged by all as a guru—how could such a man fall prey to sensuality, anger, and corruption?

by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

We have taken upon ourselves the responsibility of welcoming this grave charge. All the audience have accepted ordinary seats, I alone have been provided with a lofty seat. All are being told in effect 'Do have a look at a big animal from the Zoo-gardens. What arrogance! So foolish! So wicked! Have you ever seen such a big brute? Garlands of flowers have been put round his neck! What laudations! What bombastic long-drawn, and hyperbolic adjectives! And how complacently too he is listening to the praise of his own achievements, how intently, and with his own ears! He also evidently feels delighted in mind! Is he not acting in plain violation of the teaching of Mahaprabhu? Can such a big brute, so selfish and insolent, be ever reclaimed from brutishness?'

I happen to be one of the greatest of fools. No one offers me good advice on account of my arrogance. Inasmuch as nobody condescends to instruct me I placed my case before Mahaprabhu Himself. The thought occurred to me that I would make over the charge of myself to Him and see what He would advise me to do. Then Shri Chaitanyadeva said to me:

"Whom-so-ever thou meet'st, instruct him regarding Krishna, By My command being Guru deliver this land; In this thou wilt not be obstructed by the current of the world; Thou wilt have My company once again at this place." In these verses is to be found the proper explanation of the apparent inconsistency noticed above.

Once, when the great saint Ramanujacarya (1017-1137) was narrating this particular story, he suddenly noticed that many members of his audience were standing up and leaving. Noticing their troubled expressions, he enquired as to what was their concern that they should leave his discussion. “By hearing Lord Rama’s associates describe Vibhisana’s disqualifications,” they said, “we think that we shall never attain Lord Rama’s company for we also have these disqualifications. The sincerity required before one can gain the company of Rama, means that we will not attain His eternal company at the end of our lives.” Ramanuja replied with great concern, “My dear friends, please come back, sit down and be peaceful. I shall personally speak on your behalf to Rama. I shall take you all with me at the end of your lives and thus be your guarantee of salvation.”