Mittwoch, 23. Februar 2011

Kurukshetra Inbound School Of Yoga on the Yoga Expo this weekend!



This weekend in Berlin there will be an Yoga Expo with many different gropus of people presenting yoga,aurveda,counscious life,bio products and more.There will be also Sacinandana Swami from ISKCON giving lectures and concerts with the sacred mantras.
More info for the Yoga Expo you can find here:  http://yogaexpo.de/ 
We will be happy to share with you our experience afterwords.




Dienstag, 22. Februar 2011

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura: The Lion Guru




Today is the appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.He is the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabupada and he is the Guru Dev of our beloved Guru Maharaj Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Swami..In this way we are celebrating today the birthday of our grand-grand father :)




The son of Srila Bhaktivonod Thakur....Pure devotees.



Jaya Vaishnava Thakura Ki Jay!

Mittwoch, 16. Februar 2011

Jaya Nitai



The pastime with Lord Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda with their meeting with Jadai and Madai shows us the unlimited mercy of The Lord.So we have to try to see realistic our position and when we feel bad with someone and feeding up our ego,pride,feeling for justice.....that actualy this is not the reason why we are here.Love is above justice.Even if we are right in a curten situation,the not corect atetude of behaivior will never winn the divine love for which we are all longing.





trinad api sunichena
taror api sahishnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih

Who is humble than a blade of grass,more tolerant than a tree and who give all honnor to others without to desire it for himslef is always qualified to chant the holly name of The Lord.


Guru Deva said in a lecture yesterday something like-I am happy that you bring people in the temple,me mysefl i live in the temple many years,but better than to bring people to the temple is to make the all world a temple.This is the movement of Sankirtana,the loving mood of Nitai and Gauranga.





Sri Nityananda´s appearance day



 The lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one, but of millions of moons !!!!!.




Who is more mercyful than Nityananda?




Lord Nityananda opened a marketplace for the holly name...All you have to give is your false ego,pride,material desires,lust,anger,envy.....


 Lord Niytananda is not different than Lord Balaram.



Jaya Nitai jaya Gour!






Srila Guru Maharaj Ki Jay!We can see his message from today directly from Vrindavan on this link:



Soon we will share little material from the Nityananda appearance day from Kuruksehtra ashram!



 Jaya Nitai!

Nityananda Trayodasi KI JAY


Dienstag, 15. Februar 2011

Appearance of Lord Varahadeva


Painting of Varahadeva from 1790


Varaha (in Sanskrit : वराह
is the third Avatar of Krsna, in the form of a Boar. He appeared in order to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to have lasted for a thousand years, which the former finally won. Varaha carried the Earth out of the ocean between his tusks and restored it to its place in the universe. Vishnu married Prithvi (Bhudevi) in this avatar.
Varaha is depicted in art as either purely animal or as being anthropomorphic, having a boar's head on a man's body. In the latter form he has four arms, two of which hold the wheel and conch-shell while the other two hold a mace, sword or lotus or make a gesture (or "mudra") of blessing. The Earth is held between the boar's tusks.
The avatar symbolizes the resurrection of the Earth from a pralaya(deluge) and the establishment of a new kalpa (cosmic cycle).


The Lord always shows his mercy



Varaha Shila



Lord Varaha

The Lord comes in his different forms always with the reason to help us.He has a great power.
As Lord Varaha took the Earth up to save her,we have to wake up from this material world and elevate our counsciousness for to save us.Our only shelter.

Donnerstag, 10. Februar 2011

Advaita Acarya appearance day






Today is the appearance day of Sri Advaita Acarya.His example of a real prayer shows us how mercyful is Krsna with us and that if we pray from the deepest part of our heart and cry for him he will come in one way or another.







 



Mittwoch, 9. Februar 2011

WELCOME to Sri Nityananda´s appearance day


Little part from the Vishnu Priya and The prayer day in Berlin


Yesterday we had a nice Vishnu Priya festival,being part from The World Prayer Day for the holly water on Mother Earth too.Starting with bhajan......


Jay Lalita d.d. gave a nice lecture about Vishnu Priya and other female examples in the Vaishnava tradition.


Unfortunately we had a technical problem so we could not make photos and videos from the pick moments,arati,kirtan and a lot of dancing which was there...but then with a few people we countinued singing till almost midnight....so we can share at least part of that with you.And such a pitty we couldn´t also share photos from the delicios prasadam ..mmmm...




Mainly spirit souls came this life to the lands of Bulgaria and Germany prayed together for the holly water.It was an international prayer...




And this is an improvised video conected to the topic.....
All the holly waters Ki JAY!!!!
Vishnu Priya Devi Ki Jay!!!




Dienstag, 8. Februar 2011

Message from Gurumaharaj about the kirtan day



Dear Kirtaniyas and friends.
Radhe Syam. My respects and dandavats to all
We apologize for the short notice of this world Kirtan.
It was the last chance and it just came to our notice that the Vasant Panchami festival had attracted outstanding bhajaniyas to perform. Vineet Narayan had requested me to organize a big program in Brahma Kunda for this event and Man Mohan Parik from the Hindustan Today newspaper requested me to renew the efforts of the global Kirtan which Krishna Devata didi (KD) had so wonderfully organized the year before.
So in last minute we tried to get at least some Kirtangroups to join in> I promise the next time in Kartik we do it well anounced and in the biggest ever style.
The day will be in the beginning of Kartik 23rd of October on Rama Ekadasi. We will do the Kirtan again at the Yamuna front side like in the first time.
It may be reported that the initial motivation of the World Kirtan and prayer day was to stop the bridge which was being build inside the Yamuna against the better interest of the Heritage and health of Vrindavan. The bridge construction was actually stopped aftefr the combined effort of many prayers and petions, court case, ASI interventionetc. And it seems that this half moon bridge project will be cancelled all together. But let us pray again. Last year we did not anounce the bridge issue as a reason of the World Kirtan to not make it a political event. The world crisis of water and polution is nevertheless a real concern and our Kirtan shall really be heard everywhere. with a solid message.
So let us join tomorrow if we can and already prepare for the Kartik World Prayer and Kirtan day.
many details will be anounced for that event here on the page and on the facebook.
Yours in greatfullness and love for Sri Ganga and Yamuna and all holy waters which give life to all.
Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti

Montag, 7. Februar 2011

The Vasanta Panchami Festival and a world prayer for the water



Let´s all unite our prayer to the all holly water on Mother Earth!Also on this special day of appearance of Vishnu Priya Devi and Sarasvati Puja ,let´s remember this big importance of the water and pray for all of it!Specialy for special rivers like Yamuna,Ganges and many others for the different people around the world.
Please,if you want to take part register yourself on this page:  http://worldprayerandkirtanday.com/?p=9



Samstag, 5. Februar 2011

Message from Paramadvaiti Swami for the 8th of Feb - world prayer for the holly water

 
 Paramadvaiti Swami in a holly ceremony,river Ganges,Mayapur,India


Dear devotees of Sri Sri Radha Krishna and the Holy Rivers,
This year our spring festival at the 8th of February called Vasanta Panchami will be celebrated in Vrindavan in the Brahmakunda with a full day Kirtan festival.
It is not well organized like last year, but we want to invite you all to also chant in your different locations to once again pray for expanded consciousness and care for the holy rivers.
They are in a state of calamaty together with oceans, lakes, forests and groundwaters around the world. Unless man starts to change his habits quite radically, the problem will only become bigger and bigger. So let us pray and meditate what real appreciation for sacred water means in our life.
Through the sacred sound of prayer, mantras and Kirtan we can all invite a new year of more awareness, more gratefullness for what we have and more compassion for all those who do not have such a treasure such as clean refreshing waters, and what to speak of sacred waters.
Please report your kirtan on the world prayer and kirtan day page.
In love to all brothers and sisters in the world.
Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti
 
 
 Radha Kunda,,India

 
Kushumsarovar,Vraja Mandal,India

 
 Brahmana praying in the holly Ganges,India
 
 
 
 On a trip in the Yamuna river,Vrindavan,India
 
 
The Seven Rila Lakes,Rila mountain,Bulgaria



Let´s pray together for the holly waters.It is on the appearance day of Vishnu Priya Devi.In Berlin we will have a small festival with a lot of bhakan and kirtan,singing and praying ,suporting the cause.


Freitag, 4. Februar 2011

Vishnu Priya Fest




Deutsch:

Dienstag 08.02.2011

Srimati Vishnupriya Devis Erscheinungstag

17.00 Uhr Bhajan

18.00 Uhr Vortag (wer ist Visnupriya)

19.00 Uhr Arati (Altarzeremonie)

danach Prasad (vegetarisches Festessen)



WILLKOMMEN!!!


English:
Tuesday 08.02.2011

Srimati Vishnupriya Devis Appearance day

17.00 h  Bhajan(Mantra singing)

18.00 h Lecture(who is Visnupriya)

19.00 h Arati (Altar ceremony)

Then Prasad (vegetarian dinner)



WELCOME!!!

Mittwoch, 2. Februar 2011

Kurukshetra program February


Kurukshetra program February

This month we have the mercy to celebrate a lot of vaishnava festivals with which we remember many saintly personalities.Starting from 08.02-Vishnu Priya´s appearance day,10.02-Sri Advaiti Acharya´s appearance day,16.02-Appearance day of Lord Nityananda,18.02-Appearance day of Narottam Dasa Thakura,22.02-Appearance day of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura...All the festivals will be celebrated in Kuruskehtra ashram,except the Appearance day of Narottam Dasa Thakura(18.02)-in Vrinda Kunja ashram,Kopenhagenerstr.34,13407,Berlin.

Also we are happy with our new project from Goloka Bihari das(Holger Voigt),every wednesday-17.00-19.00 .
Goloka gives a lecture every wednesday evening,19,30-20,30 as well.
Also we are kindly inviting you to a bhajan evening every friday 19,30.-21,00.

Angira Muni das countinues with the wonderful counscious moovie evenings every monday,19,30-21.00.

Patita Pavana Das started a new book of Walther Eidlitz,every tuesday-19,30-20,30.

Julyan Yatra das started again to share the work of Bhaktisiddantha and his magazine "The Harmonist",every thursday-19,30-20,30.

Prema Kishor das gives Sadhu sanga every saturday evening 19,30-20,30.

For all interested in Hatha Yoga:
every thursday classes with Gauramrita d.d.,18.45-20.00
every wednesday we have a new teacher-Petra,-19.30-21.00

More for the Bharatnatyam dancing art you can learn every tuesday evening from Varshanarani d.d.
And harmonium lessons you can have every tuesday,also from 18.00-19.00 from Draupadi d.d.

WELCOME!!!

Dienstag, 1. Februar 2011

Lecture from BR Swami Maharaj

 
 
We were talking about the essence of devotee life. There was one instance, where Srila sridhara Maharaj revealed it. It was on an ekadasi day and some disciples of Srila Prabhupada came to visit him. They performed kirtan at noon, so when the kirtan finished Sridhara Maharaja invited them to take prasada. One of them, a sannyasi, said: "Actually Maharaja, I'm observing full fast on ekadasi. I've been doing this for almost 20 years. This is my vow." He was about to reject but then in the next moment he realized that he can not disobey the superior order. He said: "Yes Maharaja, I have done this fasting for so long time and it is my vow, but as you are requesting me to take prasada, I will take." Upon hearing this Srila Sridhar Maharaj was very happy. He commented at that time: "Yes, he understood the essence of vaishnavism". So this is the essence of vaishnavism, to be obedient to superior agent. To be obedient to the guru in the first place and from this obedience, everything else will show. We will be able to adjust all other aspects of life to this. Because we need this mercy, guru kripa, vaisnava kripa, to be able to function in this world. Otherwise we can not maintain ourselves. We can not be brahmacaris, grhastas, vanaprastas or sannyasis. We can't fullfill the mission of life if we don't have the mercy. The Srimad Bhagavatam actually says that Kali Yuga means that brahmacaris will not be clean (will maintain impropper relationships), not actual brahmacaris. Grhastas who are generelly supposed to work hard and mantain their family and support the other members of the society, will be beggars and try to live easily without too much work, asking money from the government or however. The vanaprasthas will live in the village. Vanaprasta actually means forest dweller, but they will be living in the village, enjoying their previous comforts. This is attachment to comfort instead of tapasya. And the sannyasis will be greedy for wealth, instead of renouncing. This is the opinion of the Srimad Bhagavatam regarding brahmacaris, grhastas, vanaprastas and sannyasis of kali yuga. Kali yuga means that we are not in a good standing. This is our situation. But if we have at least some little bit of sincere desire in the heart and we somehow by the arrangement of the supreme Lord come in contact with a genuine spiritual master, a representative of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, then some hope is there. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami is glorifying the devotees of Mahaprabhu, offering his obeisances unto them, who are like wells of spiritual inspiration, from whom a current of love and mercy is flowing to the desertlike hearts of the people of kali yuga. This current can save us. It can wake us up. It can give us a chance to give it a try and it can make us perfect. And this perfection is in the purpose, the sincerity of purpose. Humility of the heart, knowing that we can fail at any moment. And if failing, we get up and aproach the vaisnavas with more sincerity and pray to them that they help us to move on. 


We are all in the same boat of constant failures, so no one should jugde the others becuase of their mistakes. Rather we should glorify the others becuase of their sincere effort to continue the struggle. And the sincere effort is to realise one' mistakes and not blaming others. Realise the mistakes and develop a more determined approach to our practice. More humble attitude in the service, more dandavats and more nice and kind words of encouragment to others. It works like this. So all this is the duty of a disciple. As Gurudeva says it is a natural symptom of a member of a spiritual congregation to be preoccupied with the well being of the others. He says further that the indifference towards others is just a symptom of impersonalism and material egotism, of being preoccupied only with oneself, one's own spiritual advancment and peace is imperosnalism. and material egotism is to be preoccupied with one's own gain and profit. Both are egotism. One is gross material, and the other apparently spiritual. This is in a practical field, not so much philosophy. But at the same time, we have to understand the things properly. Taking care for others wellbeing is not just sentimentalism. In the words of Bhaktivinod Thakura, sentimentalism is atheism. We have to know what is the real benefit for us. We have to be determined to follow it with heart and soul. In other words, we have to be surrendered to the teaching of Guru and Gauranga. Then we can also be preoccupied with the wellbeing of others. This will empower us. We just have to connect everyone and everything with the service of our spiritual master. We have to come to the understanding that we are neither enjoyers, propriators or controllers. The guru is. And we can help others with our proper behaviour, proper representation of the teachings of the spiritual master. We should be very careful not to become indepedent. Because if we are independent, how can we preach a proper relationship to the Guru? We need benedictions for everything. As Sridhara Swami, the famous commentator of the Srimad Bhagavatam, said that a service must be offered first and accepted. Then it is service. Of course there is a level of something called spontaneous service, but this is elevated. In general terms, it will only be our speculation, impulses from our karma and jnana inclinations. Even if we become brahmanas or sannyasis, or whatsoever in a way opposed to what the Srimad Bhagavatam said, what we mentioned above as kali yuga, even if we dare to thin that we can be something, nothing is won, only lost. We might think that we know it better than the Bhagavatam, than the guru, than the vaisnavas. Mahaprabhu said, I am not a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra, neither brahmacary, grhasta, vanaprasta or sannyasi. I'm only aspiring to be a servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord of the gopis. This is our line. Servant of the servant of the servant.

Servant of Krishna is not a very elevated concept. Servant of the servant is more close. It means servant of the guru. But it's not compete. We have to be servants of the servants of the servants. Then Krishna and Guru will be pleased. This is the final defeat of the ego. Because serving Krishna, I may be so proud that I consider myself to not need a Guru. Serving the Guru I may still be so proud and so not being able to serve the vaisnavas. The goal is to serve the vaisnavas at every step, in accordance with the teachings of the guru and the previous acaryas. Then the ego will be finished. As Gurudeva said, we read the last two times, you have to see every devotee around you as a unique opportunty to serve a vaishnava. Unique and most valuable. So we have to be happy with this, then we will be disciples. We will be aspiring vaishnavas. Becoming proud in the name of serving Krishna or the Guru will only make us more crazy. So we are serving the vaisnavas in their efforts to serve the Guru. And we are serving them sometimes in their effort to continue, to pass a difficult moment. Humility should be put always above all. Pride is our enemy. Mahaprabhu said, humbly chant, be humble, tolerant, respectful, do not ask respect and chant. All this should be there, these qualities and the chanting. And the area where we are practicing the qualities are in our service in the association of the devotees. This is a big task. But we have to continue with determination, knowing that mercy can solve everything. We have to feel like addicts for this divine mercy. Being eager to catch and preserve it in any way possible.

So in this way, I would say we can stop here.

//Bhakti Raksaka Swami