June | 2023 | The Hare Krishna Movement

Chanting Hare Krishna 24 hours A Day

28 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, chanting, Chanting Hare Krishna, Krsna Consciousness, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Maha-mantra, Mantra Meditation, Uncategorized Tags: chanting, chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Maha Mantra, mantra meditation

The nice thing about mantra meditation or chanting the maha mantra:

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

is that one can do it anywhere, any time. In a plane, train or automobile, sitting, walking, or standing on one’s head. I find myself chanting when I am working in my shop, cutting the lawn, taking a shower, working in the garden. Chanting always makes me feel better.

“…one should learn the art of chanting the Holy name of Krishna 24 hours a day and that alone is the remedy for all problems of material existence.” (from letter to Susan Beckman August 29th 1973)

Prabhupada: The chanting is a process of purification. Just like we use soap to cleanse the body, this is material, but the chanting is spiritual cleansing. The three stages of cleansing are first

(1) To clean the mirror of the mind. In the Bhagavad Gita it is said:

“The mind is the best friend and the worst enemy, for one who has learned to control the mind it is the best of friends but for one who has failed to do so it is the worst enemy.”

Due to long term association, the mind absorbed in material things has become contaminated, or dirty, the chanting process purifies the mind.

(2) Then the next stage, when the mind is cleansed one becomes free from the symptoms of material existence. Material existence means to be always hankering and lamenting. I must have a new automobile, I must have more money, I must have good wife, I must have this I must have that. Then when I have the thing, I lament, I have lost my wife, I have lost my money, I have lost my car, simply lamenting. So the second stage is to be free from this anxiety.

(3) The third stage is “He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto me.”

“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.”

Full Letter

Arsha Prayoga; The Case Against Book Changes

19 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, Book Changes, Locanananda das Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, book changes, Krishna, Locananda dasa, Srila Prabhupada

I have posted this article as well as other articles written by Locananda Prabhu before, but because of the significance and quality of the writing, we have decided to post it again.

Arsha Prayoga – Part One

by Locanananda Dasa

…For those who saw the Hare Krishna movement spread from city to city and from country to country, it was clear that the original version of Srila Prabhupada’s books was full of spiritual potency and did not require to be changed in any way for his words to act upon the hearts of the conditioned souls…

The question as to whether the writings of the acarya may or may not be revised by his disciples after his disappearance is answered by the rule of “arsa prayoga”. This principle states that one should not see mistakes in what the spiritual master has written or think that his writings may be changed to make them more effective or politically correct. To preserve his teachings in their originally published form is the way by which the acarya is honored, and to do otherwise is to dishonor him. That is the rule of “arsa prayoga”, a principle that devoted followers of a bona fide spiritual master must adhere to without deviation.

Disappearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

17 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Kabe Ha'be Bolo, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas Tags: bhaktivinoda, chanting Hare Krishna, kabe ha'be bolo, kirtan, krsna consciousness, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur

Today marks the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. We honor it with a half day fast followed by a nice vegetarian feast. We share with you one of my favorite songs composed by Srila Bhaktivinoda.

When, oh when, will that day be mine?
When my offenses ceasing,
taste for the name increasing,
when in my heart will your mercy shine?
When, oh when will that day be mine?

Lower than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree.
When will my mind attain this quality?
Respectful to all, not expecting their honour, then shall I taste the name’s nectar sublime.
When oh when will that day be mine?

How Merciful is Krishna

14 Jun 2023 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Lectures Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, Krsna, krsna consciousness, Srila Prabhupada

My wife shared this with me, a post she saw on Facebook. I thought it was rather funny.

The master may be a great millionaire, but still, he loves the dog so much that on the morning walk he takes his dog and the dog is passing urine… What, what business dog has got? To pass urine and stool and go this way and that way. But the master is attending. Similarly, God, or Kṛṣṇa, is so affectionate that we have come here in this material world simply to pass stool and urine, still He’s attending. Still, He’s attending. Just imagine what merciful is Kṛṣṇa. (Prabhupada lecture SB1.8.19 Māyāpura, September 29th 1974)

Mint Chutney Recipe (Pudina Chutney)

11 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Mint Chutney, Vegetarian Cooking, Vegetarian Recipies Tags: aids in digestion, Ancient times, Ayurvedic, detoxifying, doshas, Mint Chutney, pudina chutney, tridoshic

We have an abundance of fresh mint leaves just growing wild, outside our back door, here in West Virginia. And this morning I decided to try my hand at making some Mint Chutney. I went through a few of my favorite Indian cookbooks, and looked at a few recipes online. It seems like there are hundreds of variations to this basic recipe. But I chose one that I had all the ingredients to make, and we share it with you today.

If you plan on making a large batch (which I plan to do), the freezer is your friend. Otherwise if will keep fresh for a couple of days in the fridge.

Mint is a herb that has been used in Ayurvedic practices since Ancient Times. It is a healing herb that has some nutritional values and health benefits, especially when eaten fresh without cooking.

Mint leaves are said to be Tridoshic, meaning have the potential to balance all kinds of imbalances (doshas) in the body. They are calming, refreshing, detoxifying, and aids in digestion.

Use fresh green leaves that are vibrant in color, and avoid using the stalks and stems, as they can impart a bitter taste.

Adding a few teaspoons of lemon juice helps preserve the bright green color.

Recipe

Visnujana Swami

03 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Deena Bandhu das, Vishnujana Swami Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krishna, Krsna, krsna consciousness, Visnujana Swami

Visnujana Swami

by Deena Bandhu das

Today June 2 is the English calendar birthday of my very dear older Godbrother Vishnujana. When I first joined the temple they sent me to LA to get trained up. Vishnjana was the temple commander and I fondly remember being trained by him. We would spend hours on the streets those days chanting the Holy Name with him!

I learned so much from him especially about preaching. He would speak in such a way that child could understand and a scholar could understand. He made Krishna Consciousness so exciting! I remember someone asked what is that stuff on your forehead, a question that you stumble around dully trying to get them to understand. He said with a voice full of love, “This is a beautiful meditation that we perform in the morning where we take sacred clay and mark our bodies as a temple of God!”

Even now if I hear a recording of him, before even understanding that it is Vishnujana, my hairs stand on end. I miss him so much!

Vishnujana Swami: Vrindavana Ramya-Sthana

03 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, Vishnujana Swami, Vrndavana, YouTube Tags: chanting Hare Krishna, krsna consciousness, Srila Prabhupada, vishnujana swami, Vrindavana Ramya-sthana

Srila Prabhupada knowing Visnujana Swami’s talents asked him to make a melody for this song. The very next day Visnujana had this amazing melody with a very sweet spoken purport. It is a heart melting song that shows Visnujana Swami’s amazing love and devotion that inspired and still inspires so many. -Gauridas Pandita das

The Noble Tree

03 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Caitanya Mahaprabhu Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, benifical like trees, Caitanya Caritamrta, Krsna, tolerance, tolerant like a tree

6000 years old baobab tree in Senegal

I have been a woodworker almost my entire adult life, always admiring the beauty of wood, and enjoying the trees in nature. I have visited the Redwood forests in California, and the Douglas Fir forests in Oregon, but I have never seen a tree of this size or age. Truly awesome!

I am reminded of a verse from the Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 9.46, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

” ‘Just see how these trees are maintaining every living entity! Their birth is successful. Their behavior is just like that of great personalities, for anyone who asks anything from a tree never goes away disappointed.’ “

PURPORT

According to Vedic civilization, kṣatriyas are considered to be great personalities because if anyone goes to a ksatriya king to ask for charity, the king will never refuse. The trees are compared to those noble kṣatriyas because everyone derives all kinds of benefits from them-some people take fruit, others take flowers, others take leaves, others take twigs, and others even cut the tree, and yet the tree gives to everyone without hesitation.

Unnecessarily cutting trees without consideration is another example of human debauchery. The paper industry cuts many hundreds and thousands of trees for its mills, and with the paper so much rubbish literature is published for the whimsical satisfaction of human society. Unfortunately, although these industrialists are now happy in this life by dint of their industrial development, they do not know that they will incur the responsibility for killing these living entities who are in the forms of trees.

This verse, quoted from Śrīmad-Bhagavatam, was spoken by Lord Krishna to His friends when He was taking rest underneath a tree after His pastime of stealing the clothes of the gopīs (vastra-harana-lila). By quoting this verse, Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches us that we should be tolerant like trees and also beneficial like trees, which give everything to the needy persons who come underneath them. A needy person may derive many advantages from trees and also from many animals, but in modern civilization people have become so ungrateful that they exploit the trees and animals and kill them. These are some of the sinful activities of modern civilization.