Divine Guidance
» The Fickle and Mad Mind
Under the guidance of our mind we may try many things, but that is not really bhakti. Our mind is always going this way and that way. The fickle and mad mind can do anything, but a good result will not always come from that. If we do good things then a good result will come to us, if we do not, then a bad result will come to us; such is our position. We will gain relief from the illusory environment only if in an exclusive way we try to follow our Gurudeva. ~ from Divine Guidance by Swami B.S. Govinda
» Help Comes From Above
Only when you really come in touch with the plane above maya can you fight against maya; only then will maya withdraw. We must have some shelter beyond maya from where we can fight with illusion. We are advised to take shelter of sadhus (saints) and shasrta (scriptures). Their help comes from above, and we must accept that help from the inner core of our hearts. ~ from Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» Slaves of the Truth
We are slaves of the truth. We are beggars for the pure current of truth that is constantly flowing: the fresh current. We are not charmed by any formality. I will bow down my head wherever I find the river of nectar coming down to me. When one is conscious that the Absolute Truth is descending to him from the highest domain, he will think, “I must surrender myself here.” ~ from Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» One with God?
A bona fide disciple must always remain fully awake to the fact that his highest spiritual fortune is but a gracious grant from the Absolute Lord, and not a matter of right to be demanded or fought out. Constitutionally, we are equipped only to be proper recipients of God’s favor. In this connection it should be clearly understood that an individual soul can never be substantially the same as the Absolute Person. Not even in his liberated or fully realized condition can an individual soul be one with Godhead. ~ From Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» Jiv Jago!
jiv jago, jiv jago gauracanda bole
kota nidra jao maya-pisacira kole!
Is this the clarion call or what? We are sleeping on the lap of Maya in ignorance but the clarion call is coming, "Wake up!" The Upanishads say, uttishata jagrata prapya varan nibodhata, "Wake up, arise and begin the search for Sri Krishna. Now is the time to get love for Krishna." The Upanishads, Bhaktivinode Thakur, the song of Krishna's flute; the gist of that sound, its wealth, is realized in connection with the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani. Krishna is only attracted to his Divine Potency. She is serving Krishna wholeheartedly and very extensively with her associates. She is known as Radharani. And Krishna is always and only thinking of her. - Swami B.S. Govinda
» Through His Devotees
The Maya-Sakti is very heavy for us because we are very tiny souls. She is always attracting us through her illusion. In one way, it is for our rectification, no doubt, but it is not a happy position for the conditioned souls. However, we will get relief from this environment if we try to know our position, and what is Krishna consciousness. If we do this, then by the mercy of Krishna and His devotee we will get strength to come out from the illusory environment, and, when we try, Krishna will help us. That assistance comes to us through His devotees. - Swami B.S. Govinda
» What is Krishna consciousness?
What is Krishna consciousness? Krishna consciousness means real love and beauty. Real love and beauty must predominate; not selfishness, or exploitation. Generally, whenever we see beauty, we think that beauty is to be exploited, but actually, beauty is the exploiter, beauty is the master, and beauty is the controlling principle. - Swami B.R. Sridhar
» Bhagavad-Gita (4.34)
“To understand transcendental knowledge, you must approach a self-realized soul, accept him as your spiritual master, and take initiation from him. Inquire submissively and render service unto him. Self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you, for they have seen the truth.”
Friday 29 December 2006
This is a video taken for Iskcon's archives by Barry Zuckerman (sorry I don't know his initiated name). This was taken three weeks before he left his body, leaving us all missing his physical presence so much. Rsabdev Prabhu means so much to so many of us that I hope all get a chance to download and view this video. Rsabdev Prabhu talks about meeting Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupada, the Descent of the Holy Name darshan of Srila Sridhar Maharaj made famous by the Iskcon tape series, and the need to hear from Sri Guru. I sat at Rsabdeva's feet on so many occasions and had the mercy of Guru flow through him to me that I am always thinking of how he said to be a proper receiver of Gurudeva's mercy, and not to waste time and take the Vaisnavas for granted. I ignored that best of all advice for too long but now with the mercy of the Vaisnavas I am trying to receive what is descending from above.
This is a 23 minute 41 MB file, I recommend you download it to your desktop then watch if you are on a slower connection. Quicktime 7 is required.
Wednesday 27 December 2006
There is a very nice model under glass in Soquel's Prasadam hall of the proposed new temple complex. Hasya Priya Prabhu had shown me plans years ago and I was really excited. Looking at the model now in three dimentions you can really get a good idea of the possibilities of the land in Soquel. My personal dream if for the ashram to have a cow providing milk to the kitchen. Srila Gurudeva has said Soquel reminds him of Govardhan, and that suggests to me the presence of at least one cow 
Tuesday 26 December 2006
Krishna Priya Devi does most of the Tulasi seva at the Soquel Seva Ashram, but was out of town visiting relatives over the holiday so I didn't get her picture. Srimati Tulasidevi looks so healthy and vibrant with her care! I did get to participate in Tulasi puja which I really miss from when I lived at the Soquel ashram. Tulasi was flowering her sweet pink flowers today and I happily snapped a picture.
Sunday 24 December 2006
I had to dig a bit at Veranda Views to find this, but it being cold here in California this picture of a cow at the Math makes me all warm inside Merry Christmas and my Dandavat Pranams to all the Devotees! Gurudeva ki jaya!
Thursday 21 December 2006
I visited Gurudeva's San Jose Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram last Saturday and snapped a picture of Mahaprabhu with my camera-phone. Even though the resolution is low Mahaprabhu is resplendid and shining, seemingly to me very pleased with the wonderful service of the devotees of the ashram. Kamal Krishna Prabhu visited from the Soquel ashram and gave a talk about the very nice preaching program he and other devotees in Soquel are doing at Cabrillo College.
If you can please visit Mahaprabhu soon:
Sri Caitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram
269 E. Saint James Street
San Jose
Ca 95112, U.S.A
Phone: (408) 288 6360 and (408) 287-6360
Thursday 21 December 2006
Jaya Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari!
All the pictures I have from that day are here. It was very special for me as I received new japa mala and renewed my commitment to my spiritual life.
Thursday 21 December 2006
I just thought this picture was beautiful (taken by Jamuna Priya Devi and posted on Veranda Views). Divya Shakti Devi is the first devotee from the Math that I knowingly met. She 'busted' me on a Grateful Dead parking lot, got a donation, and I got sukriti and a Lord Jaganath Smile sticker I still have one above my desk at work and think of her service and how she helped me on that day. Divya Shakti ki jaya!
Thursday 21 December 2006
The following pictures were taken shortly after Gurudeva returned from his World Tour last month. He is looking at the Nat Mandir of the temple built by his beloved Gurudeva Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. You can see more pictures from this day at
Veranda Views.
