Happy Krsna Janmastami!
Adharam Madhuram Vadanam:(1)adharam madhuram vadanam madhuramnayanam madhuram hasitam madhuramhrdayam madhuram gamanam madhurammadhuradi-pater akhilam madhuram(2)vacanam madhuram caritam madhuramvasanam madhuram valitam madhuramcalitam madhuram bhramitam madhurammadhuradi-pater akhilam madhuram(3)venur madhuro renur madhurahpanir-madhurah padau madhuraunrtyam madhuram sakhyam madhurammadhuradi-pater akhilam madhuram(4)gitam madhuram pitam madhurambhuktam madhuram suptam madhuramrupam madhuram tilakam madhurammadhuradi-pater akhilam madhuram(5)karanam madhuram taranam madhuramharanam madhuram ramanam madhuramvamitam madhuram samitam madhurammadhuradi-pater akhilam madhuram(6)gunja madhura mala madhurayamuna madhura vici madhurasalilam madhuram kamalam madhurammadhuradi-pater akhilam madhuram(7)gopi madhura lila madhurayuktam madhuram bhuktam madhuramhrstam madhuram sistam madhurammadhuradi-pater akhilam madhuram(8)gopa madhura gavo madhurasastir madhura srstir madhuradalitam madhuram phalitam madhurammadhuradi-pater akhilam madhuramTranslation:1) His lips are sweet, His face is sweet. His eyes are sweet, His smile is sweet. His heart is sweet, His walk issweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.2) His words are sweet, His character is sweet. His garments are sweet, His navel is sweet. His movement is sweet,His wanderings are sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.3) His flute is sweet, His dust is sweet. His hands are sweet, His feet are sweet. His dancing is sweet, His friendship is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.4) His singing is sweet, His yellow dress is sweet. His eating is sweet, His sleeping is sweet. His form is sweet,His tilaka is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.5) His activities are sweet, His liberation is sweet. His thieving is sweet, His loving sports are sweet. His offerings are sweet, His peacefulness is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.6) His gunja-mala is sweet, His flower-garland is sweet. Is Yamuna is sweet, His ripples are sweet. His water issweet, His lotuses are sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.7) His Gopis are sweet, His pastimes are sweet. His meeting is sweet, His food is sweet. His happiness is sweet, His etiquette is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.8) His cowherd boys are sweet, His cows are sweet. His herding-stick is sweet, His creation is sweet. His tramplingis sweet, His fruitfulness is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.
Lost in Material Energy
~by Ananda Vrindavan deviSometimes I get lost in material energyI find pockets to hide inWhen the intensity of life becomes too muchFacing my own shortcomingsMy lack of faith, honesty, and loveFacing uncertaintyFacing othersFacing the road aheadSometimes I get lost in the worldNeeding a quiet place to breathNeeding the sun on my sideThe wind at my backThe mind under my feetSometimes I get lost and ISit by the side of the bhakti roadWondering, questioning, restingAnd always,EverytimeA word comes throughA message I need to seeSomething I hear that fixes me upHelps me stand upWith affection for my small selfAnd my efforts to serveAnd more affection for othersAnd their efforts to serveAnd to make it to the endIn one piece.
Oración para que Balarama brinde protección
Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa ha escrito esta canción "Goloka Dhamadhipatih Paresvarah". El nombre oficial de esta canción es Balabhadra Stotra Kavaca; Canto 8 Capítulo 12 Versículo 4 al 13. Esta canción está tomada del libro Garga Samhita. Esta kavaca del Señor Balarama es la mejor de las armaduras. Aquí se glorifica al Señor Balarama, el hermano mayor del Señor Krishna. (1)goloka-dhamadhipatih paresvarahparesu mam patu pavitra-kirtanahbhu-mandalam sarsapavad vilaksyateyan-murdhni mam patu sa bhumi-mandale (2)senasu mam raksatu sira-paniryuddhe sada raksatu mam hali cadurgesu cavyan musali sada mamvanesu sańkarsana adi-devah (3)kalindaja-vega-haro jalesunilambaro raksatu mam sadagnauvayau ca ramo 'vatu khe balas camaharnave 'nanta-vapuh sada mam (4)sri-vasudevo 'vatu parvatesusahasra-sirsa ca maha-vivaderogesu mam raksatu rauhineyomam kama-palo 'vatu va vipatsu (5)kamat sada raksatu dhenukarihkrodhat sada mam dvivida-praharilobhat sada raksatu balvalarirmohat sada mam kila magadharih (6)pratah sada raksatu vrsni-dhuryahprahne sada mam mathura-purendrahmadhyandine gopa-sakhah prapatusvarat parahne 'vatu mam sadaiva (7)sayam phanindro ‘vatu mam sadaivaparat paro raksatu mam pradosepurne nisithe ca duranta-viryahpratyusa-kale 'vatu mam sadaiva (8)vidiksu mam raksatu revati-patirdiksu pralambarir adho yadudvahahurdhvam sada mam balabhadra arattatha samantad baladeva eva hi (9)antah sadavyat purusottamo bahirnagendra-lilo 'vatu mam maha-balahsadantaratma ca vasan harih svayamprapatu purnah paramesvaro mahan (10)devasuranam bhaya-nasanam cahutasanam papa-cayendhananamvinasanam vighna-ghatasya viddhisiddhasanam varma-varam balasya (1) Que el Señor Balarama, que es el maestro de Goloka, que es el controlador supremo de todos los controladores y cuya fama es impecable, me proteja. Que el Señor Balarama, quien sobre Su cabeza sostiene la tierra como si fuera una sola semilla de mostaza, me proteja en este mundo. (2) Que el Señor Balarama me proteja cuando esté rodeado por muchos ejércitos. Que el Señor Balarama, que sostiene un arado, me proteja siempre en la batalla. Que el Señor Balarama, que tiene un club, siempre me proteja en muchas fortalezas. Que el Señor Balarama, la Suprema Personalidad de Dios, me proteja en el bosque. (3) Que el Señor Balarama, que viste ropas azules y detuvo el Yamuna, siempre me proteja en el fuego. Que el Señor Balarama me proteja del viento. Que el Señor Balarama me proteja en el cielo. Que el Señor Balarama, quien es el Señor Ananta mismo, siempre me proteja en el gran océano. (4) Que el Señor Balarama, que es el hijo de Vasudeva, me proteja en las montañas. Que el Señor Balarama, que tiene mil cabezas, me proteja en las grandes disputas. Que el Señor Balarama, que es el hijo de Rohini, me proteja de las enfermedades. Que el Señor Balarama, que satisface los deseos, me proteja de las catástrofes. (5) Que el Señor Balarama, que es el enemigo de Dhenukasura, siempre me proteja de la lujuria. Que el señor Balarama, que mató a Dvivida, me proteja siempre de la ira. Que el Señor Balarama, que es el enemigo de Balvala, me proteja siempre de la codicia. Que el Señor Balarama, que es el enemigo de Jarasandha, siempre me proteja de la ilusión. (6) Que el Señor Balarama, que es el mejor de los Vrsnis, siempre me proteja al amanecer. Que el Señor Balarama, que es el rey de la ciudad de Mathura, me proteja siempre por la mañana. Que el Señor Balarama, que es el amigo de los gopas, me proteja siempre al mediodía. Que el Señor Balarama, que es sumamente independiente, me proteja siempre por la tarde. (7) Que el Señor Balarama, que es el rey de las serpientes, me proteja siempre al atardecer. Que el Señor Balarama, que es más grande que el más grande, siempre me proteja por la noche. Que el Señor Balarama, cuyo poder es invencible, me proteja siempre en medio de la noche. Que el Señor Balarama siempre me proteja en cada amanecer. (8) Que el Señor Balarama, quien es el maestro de Revati, me proteja de todas las direcciones. Que el Señor Balarama, que es el enemigo de Pralamba, me proteja de todas las direcciones. Que el Señor Balarama, que es el mejor de los Yadavas, me proteja desde abajo. Que el Señor Balarama siempre me proteja desde arriba. Que el Señor Balarama me proteja de cerca y de lejos. Que el Señor Balarama me proteja en todas partes. (9) Que el Señor Balarama, que es la Suprema Personalidad de Dios, me proteja siempre desde dentro. Que el poderoso Señor Balarama, que disfruta de los pasatiempos como el rey de las serpientes, me proteja desde afuera. Que el Señor Balarama, que es la Suprema Personalidad de Dios, la Superalma que reside en el corazón de todos, me proteja siempre. (10) Por favor, sepan que esta kavaca del Señor Balarama es la mejor de las armaduras. Destruye los miedos de los semidioses y demonios. Es un fuego ardiente que quema el combustible de una multitud de pecados. Es la muerte de una multitud de obstáculos. Es la morada de la perfección espiritual.
Prayer for Balarama to Give One Protection
(1)goloka-dhamadhipatih paresvarahparesu mam patu pavitra-kirtanahbhu-mandalam sarsapavad vilaksyateyan-murdhni mam patu sa bhumi-mandale(2)senasu mam raksatu sira-paniryuddhe sada raksatu mam hali cadurgesu cavyan musali sada mamvanesu sańkarsana adi-devah(3)kalindaja-vega-haro jalesunilambaro raksatu mam sadagnauvayau ca ramo ‘vatu khe balas camaharnave ‘nanta-vapuh sada mam(4)sri-vasudevo ‘vatu parvatesusahasra-sirsa ca maha-vivaderogesu mam raksatu rauhineyomam kama-palo ‘vatu va vipatsu(5)kamat sada raksatu dhenukarihkrodhat sada mam dvivida-praharilobhat sada raksatu balvalarirmohat sada mam kila magadharih(6)pratah sada raksatu vrsni-dhuryahprahne sada mam mathura-purendrahmadhyandine gopa-sakhah prapatusvarat parahne ‘vatu mam sadaiva(7)sayam phanindro ‘vatu mam sadaivaparat paro raksatu mam pradosepurne nisithe ca duranta-viryahpratyusa-kale ‘vatu mam sadaiva(8)vidiksu mam raksatu revati-patirdiksu pralambarir adho yadudvahahurdhvam sada mam balabhadra arattatha samantad baladeva Eva hi(9)antah sadavyat purusottamo bahirnagendra-lilo ‘vatu mam maha-balahsadantaratma ca vasan harih svayamprapatu purnah paramesvaro mahan(10)devasuranam bhaya-nasanam cahutasanam papa-cayendhananamvinasanam vighna-ghatasya viddhisiddhasanam varma-varam balasya(1) May Lord Balarama, who is the master of Goloka, who is the supreme controller of all controllers, and whose fame is spotless, protect me. May Lord Balarama, who on His head holds the earth as if it were a single mustard seed, protect me in this world.(2) May Lord Balarama protect me when I am surrounded by many armies. May Lord Balarama, who holds a plow, always protect me in battle. May Lord Balarama, who holds a club, always protect me in many fortresses. May Lord Balarama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect me in the forest.(3) May Lord Balarama, who wears blue garments and who stopped the Yamuna, always protect me in fire. May Lord Balarama protect me in the wind. May Lord Balarama protect me in thesky. May Lord Balarama, who is Lord Ananta Himself, always protect me in the great ocean.(4) May Lord Balarama, who is Vasudeva’s son, protect me on mountains. May Lord Balarama, who has a thousand heads, protect me in great disputes. May Lord Balarama, who is Rohini’s son, protect me from diseases. May Lord Balarama, who fulfills desires, protect me from catastrophes.(5) May Lord Balarama, who is the enemy of Dhenukasura, always protect me from lust. May Lord Balarama, who killed Dvivida, always protect me from anger. May Lord Balarama, who is the enemy of Balvala, always protect me from greed. May Lord Balarama, who is the enemy of Jarasandha, always protect me from illusion.(6) May Lord Balarama, who is the best of the Vrsnis, always protect me at sunrise. May Lord Balarama, who is the king of Mathura’ City, always protect me in the morning. May Lord Balarama, who is the friend of the gopas, always protect me at midday. May Lord Balarama, who is supremely independent, always protect me in the afternoon.(7) May Lord Balarama, who is the king of serpents, always protect me at sunset. May Lord Balarama, who is greater than the greatest, always protect me in the evening. May Lord Balarama, whose power is invincible, always protect me in the middle of the night. May Lord Balarama always protect me at every sunrise.(8) May Lord Balarama, who is the master of Revati, protect me from every direction. May Lord Balarama, who is the enemy of Pralamba, protect me from every direction. May Lord Balarama, who is the best of the Yadavas, protect me from below. May Lord Balarama always protect me from above. May Lord Balarama protect me from near and far. May Lord Balarama protect me everywhere.(9) May Lord Balarama, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, always protect me from within. May powerful Lord Balarama, who enjoys pastimes as the king of serpents, protect me from without. May Lord Balarama, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul residing in everyone’s heart, always protect me.(10) Please know that this kavaca of Lord Balarama is the best of armors. It destroys the fears of the demigods and demons. It is a blazing fire that burns up the fuel of a host of sins. It is the death of a host of obstacles. It is the abode of spiritual perfection.Self Care as Soul Care
Riqueza o pobreza?
~ por Rukmini Walker Cuando pensamos en la riqueza y la pobreza, muchas cosas parecen depender de si vivimos en una mentalidad de escasez; o una conciencia de abundancia, que hay suficiente en el mundo para todos.Gandhi dijo una vez que el mundo tiene suficiente para las necesidades de todos, pero no para la codicia de todos. Parece tan cierto ... ¿Pero por qué es eso? ¿Por qué eso parece resonar como cierto?¿Existe algún tipo de Superconciencia que está (o quizás, Quién está ...) haciendo un registro ? ¿O calcular si estoy consumiendo demasiada energía, ocupando demasiado espacio, acumulando posesiones o propiedades, o quizás incluso comiendo demasiado helado?¿Realmente importa? Si obtengo lo que tengo honestamente, si no estoy robando las posesiones que he adquirido, si no estoy dañando a nadie al disfrutar de las cosas que tengo, ¿realmente importa si vivo en una casa más grande que la de otra persona? , o conduzco un auto más caro, o tomo unas lujosas vacaciones, o como lo que me plazca?Hay otro dicho que a menudo se atribuye a Gandhi, pero que en realidad fue dicho por una santa estadounidense llamada St. Elizabeth Seton. Dijo que debemos vivir simplemente., para que otros puedan simplemente vivir.Parece haber una resonancia entre quienes intentan mirar hacia adentro tanto desde el Este como desde el Oeste.Aquellos que intentan vivir una vida más consciente, sienten una interconectividad y conexión entre nuestras vidas individuales y las vidas de otros en el mundo.¿Es posible crear una armonía más universal mediante nuestros esfuerzos proactivos conscientes de tomar menos y dar más? ¿Podemos incluso obtener alguna satisfacción innata simplemente tratando de vivir más simplemente en gratitud y esforzándonos por vivir con menos codicia y acumulación?Leemos mucho sobre el desequilibrio ecológico de la tierra debido a la extracción excesiva de petróleo, el uso irresponsable del agua y la sobreproducción de varias industrias. Hemos visto durante esta pandemia de Covid que cuando las fábricas cerraron por algún tiempo, la calidad del aire en las ciudades contaminadas se hizo clara por un tiempo, y la vida silvestre y la vida vegetal nunca antes vista comenzaron a vagar libremente y crecer espléndidamente una vez más solo por una ligera reducción de nuestra huella humana.Si volvemos a girar hacia el este y miramos hacia la antigua sabiduría de los Upanisads, podemos escuchar una voz que nos suena asombrosamente profética en nuestras vidas en este momento. Sri Isopanisad expresa esta sabiduría holística y armoniosa en su Mantra Uno:“Todo lo animado o inanimado que está dentro del universo está controlado y es propiedad del Señor. Por lo tanto, se deben aceptar solo aquellas cosas necesarias para uno mismo, que se apartan como cuota de uno, y no se deben aceptar otras cosas, sabiendo bien a quién pertenecen ".¿Quién es el verdadero propietario y controlador de todas las cosas? Si llego aquí con las manos vacías y me voy con las manos vacías, ¿hay alguien o algo más grande que yo que poseyera todas las cosas antes de que yo llegara a la escena y por toda la eternidad?Durante el apogeo de la pandemia, leí una historia escrita por una mujer portuguesa que había perdido trágicamente a su padre por culpa de Covid. Escribió sobre cómo su padre había sido billonario y tenía una inmensa riqueza en el banco. Pero mientras se estaba muriendo y jadeando por aire, que es gratis para todos en todas partes. Sus billones en el banco no pudieron salvarlo… ¿Puede alguno de nosotros comprar algunos momentos más de vida, o algunas respiraciones más de oxígeno con el dinero que tenemos en el banco?Sri Isopanisad nos pide que redirigamos nuestra conciencia y nuestra energía hacia una vida de sencillez y gratitud.De hecho, si tomo más de lo que necesito, sin reconocer al verdadero dueño de una cosa, ¿es realmente mío para usarlo o usarlo incorrectamente como me plazca? ¿Quién es el verdadero dueño de la tierra, el agua y todas las cosas de este mundo antes de que yo llegara aquí y después de que me vaya? 
Todo lo mejor,Rukmini Walker
Wealth or Poverty?
~by Rukmini Walker
**To watch or listen to the video recording of this reading, please click on this link: or on the image below.**
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When we think of wealth and poverty so much seems to hinge on whether we live in a mentality of scarcity; or a consciousness of abundance, that there is enough in the world for everyone.Gandhi once said that the world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed. It seems so true… But why is that? Why does that seem to resonate as true?Is there some kind of Super Consciousness out there that is (or perhaps, Who is…) keeping track? Or calculating whether I’m consuming too much energy, taking up too much space, hoarding possessions or property, or perhaps even eating too much ice cream? Does it really matter? If I come by what I have honestly, if I’m not stealing the possessions I’ve acquired, if I’m not harming anyone by enjoying the things I have, does it really matter if I live in a bigger house than someone else, or drive a more expensive car, or take lavish holidays, or eat what I please?There’s another saying that’s often attributed to Gandhi, but was actually spoken by an American woman saint named St. Elizabeth Seton. She said that we should live simply, so that others may simply live.There seems to be a resonance between those who try to face inward both from the East and the West.Those who try to live a more conscious life, feel an interconnectivity, and connection between our individual lives and the lives of others in the world. Is it possible to create more universal harmony by our conscious proactive efforts to take less, and give more? Can we even gain some innate satisfaction by just trying to live more simply in gratitude, and endeavoring to live with less greed and accumulation?We read so much about the earth’s ecological imbalance due to too much drilling of oil, irresponsible water use and over-production by various industries. We’ve seen during this Covid pandemic that when factories shut down for some time, the air quality in polluted cities became clear for awhile, and previously unseen wildlife and plant life began to roam freely and grow lavishly once again just by a slight reduction of our human footprint. If we again turn east and look toward the ancient wisdom of the Upanisads, we can hear a voice that sounds amazingly prescient to us in our lives right now. Sri Isopanisad speaks this holistic harmonious wisdom in its Mantra One:
"Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for oneself, which are set aside as one’s quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong."
Who is the real owner and controller of all things? If I come here empty-handed and leave empty-handed, is there someone or something greater than me who possessed all things before I arrived on the scene and for all eternity?During the height of the pandemic, I read a story written by a Portuguese woman who had tragically lost her father to Covid. She wrote about how her father had been a billionaire and had immense wealth in the bank. But as he was dying, and gasping for air, which is free to everyone everywhere. His billions in the bank could not save him… Can any of us purchase a few more moments of life, or a few more breaths of oxygen with the money we have in the bank? Sri Isopanisad asks us to redirect our consciousness and our energy toward a life of simplicity and gratitude. In fact, if I take more than I need, without recognizing the true owner of a thing, is it really mine to use or misuse as I please? Who is the true owner of the earth, the water, and all things of this world before I arrived here, and after I’m gone?All the best,Rukmini Walker[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b4Q4pKmQM4[/embed]
Finding Presence
Kitchen Religion ~ Lessons from cooking for Srila Prabhupada
On July 25, Urban Devi Ladies Sanga hosted Srutirupa Devi Dasi who shared her experiences and lessons learned from cooking for Srila Prabhupada. To listen to a recording of this inspiring talk, please Click here to access the class.
All the best,Rukmini Walker
Urban Devi is a monthly interactive women’s discussion circle that seeks to make spirituality accessible to women in the 21st century. Each session focuses on a theme based on topics that are of importance to women and will offer insight and practical applications from the practice of Bhakti Yoga.
As Long as I have Shade
~by Ananda Vrindavan devi dasi
As long as I have shade
With the sound of the holy name
I can bear the hot sun
Of my mind beating down on me
Of fears firing my imagination
Of my uncertain sense of self
As long as I have shade
Next to the rhythm of sacred sound
I can sit with the hot sun
Of misidentification
Denial, blame, justification
And not believe any of it
As long as I have shade
Beneath the clearing mantra
I can accept the hot sun
Of inevitability
Of death and dying
Of Illness and pain
The slow movements of time
And my insignificance
As long as I have shade
Deep within Krishna’s life
I can be happy with less
Cope with more
Welcome all heat
As a chance to grow
To my original true self
And my long lost love for Him
Be in Love
~by Fr. Richard Rohr~
"The central practice in Franciscan mysticism is that we must remain in love. Only when we are eager to love can we see love and goodness in the world around us. We must ourselves remain in peace, and then we will find peace over there. Remain in beauty and we will honor beauty everywhere. this concept of remaining or abiding moves all religion everywhere out of esoteric realms of doctrinal outer space where it has been lost for too long. there is no secret moral command for knowing or pleasing God, or what some call "salvation," beyond becoming a loving person in mind, heart, body and soul. Then you will see what you need to see. Jesus did not say, "Be right." Jesus said, "Be in love." -- Fr. Richard Rohr
Estar enamorado
~ por el P. Richard Rohr ~"La práctica central en el misticismo franciscano es que debemos permanecer enamorados. Solo cuando estamos ansiosos por amar podemos ver el amor y la bondad en el mundo que nos rodea. Debemos permanecer en paz, y entonces encontraremos la paz allí. Permanezca en la belleza y honraremos la belleza en todas partes.Este concepto de permanecer o permanecer mueve a toda la religión en todas partes fuera de los reinos esotéricos del espacio exterior doctrinal donde se ha perdido durante demasiado tiempo. No hay un mandato moral secreto para conocer o agradar a Dios, o lo que algunos llaman "salvación", más allá de convertirse en una persona amorosa en mente, corazón, cuerpo y alma.Entonces verás lo que necesitas ver. Jesús no dijo: "Ten razón". Jesús dijo: "Enamorate".
Seva significa establecer una relación
~de una conferencia de Sacinandana Swami, el 15 de agosto de 2020, en Goloka-dhama, Alemania~Cuando le das tu tiempo, cuerpo y mente a Krsna, no es que le estés haciendo un favor a Krsna, "Estoy haciendo algo para Tu beneficio". ¡No! No necesita nada. Lo tiene todo. Se trata de que realmente corrijas tu olvido y tu ilusión. Este es un secreto maravilloso del bhakti. La palabra seva significa "acercarse", "establecer una relación". También puede significar cantar el santo nombre, hablar de Krsna, adorar a la deidad en el altar, ofrecer oraciones a Krsna; el seva tiene nueve expresiones típicas. Pero siempre hay que hacerlo con esta idea: “No estoy renunciando al mundo, ni intento disfrutarlo. Estoy tratando de actuar en mi relación eterna contigo, mi Señor ”. Y el resultado es el sentimiento de pertenencia a Krsna, mamatva. Rupa Goswmai describe en su Bhaktirasmrta-sindhu que este sentimiento es la base del bhakti: "Te pertenezco, eres mío y tenemos una experiencia".
Seva Means to Establish a Relationship
~from a lecture by Sacinandana Swami, on August 15, 2020, in Goloka-dhama, Germany~
When you give your time, body and mind to Krsna it’s not that you are doing Krsna a favor, “I’m doing something for Your benefit.” No! He doesn’t need anything. He has everything. It is about you actually correcting your forgetfulness and illusion. This is a very wonderful secret in bhakti. The word seva means ‘to come close’, ‘to establish a relationship’. It can also mean to chant the holy name, to talk about Krsna, to worship the deity on the altar, to offer prayers to Krsna – seva has nine typical expressions. But it is always to be done with this idea: “I’m not renouncing the world, nor am I trying to enjoy it. I am trying to act in my eternal relationship with You my Lord.” And the result is the feeling of belonging to Krsna, mamatva. Rupa Goswmai describes in his Bhaktirasmrta-sindhu that this feeling is the foundation of bhakti: “I belong to you, You are mine and we have an experience.”
Understanding and Overcoming Challenges and Obstacles in Our Devotional Lives
To listen to a recording of this special class, Please click on this link or on the image below.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2m1cWm0YLI[/embed]
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Class by HG Rukmini Devi @ IFAST DC
~presented by Rukmini Walker
On June 19, 2021, Rukmini Devi dasi presented a special class on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to Institute For Applied Spiritual Technology Inc, (IFAST) in Washington, DC. To listen to the recording fo this class, please click on the following link - https://www.facebook.com/bt.housedc/videos/4027672150686972
Rukmini is a dynamic and powerful personality and senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada. She is an artist, expert at creating beauty in all she touches. She is a well of wisdom and is very conversant in the knowledge of Krishna Bhakti. She has served in many capacities over the years as a pujari, preacher and spiritual activist. Rukmini writes, teaches, and leads workshops and retreats internationally. Founder of the Urban Devi collective, based out of the Bhakti Center in New York City, she is a member of the board of directors, and is an inspiration too so many. Rukmini is also a member of Sabha – a thirty person international committee that advises the GBC of ISKCON.The Birdsong of the Holy Name
~by Ananda Vrindavan devi
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Let me listen to my rounds
The quiet calling of Your name
As I listen to the birds
Called by the dawn
To sing their songs of life
Let me listen with stillness
To the birdsong of Your name
It too signals the presence of
The rising of the sun in my heart
It too calls me to sing and be awake
I pray to listen with quietness
To each and every mantra
A full hearing with body and mind
As I move each bead to let
The sound wrap around me
And leave the world outside
Hare Krishna Africa w/Rukmini Walker - SB.1.8.31
On June 7, 2021, Hare Krishna Africa hosted Rukmini Walker for a special class on the Srimad 1.8.31. To listen to the recording, please click on the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CifBixam8CQ
ŚB 1.8.31
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
Cicadas
**To listen to an audio recording of this blog, please click on the play button in the bar below.
[audio m4a="http://www.urbandevi.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/9711-Skyhill-Way-4.m4a"][/audio]
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~by Rukmini Walker
“For everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1
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I live in suburban Washington, DC. Every seventeen years in this area, around this time, a cousin of the cricket, called a cicada, emerges from below the ground by the billions.
About two inches long, they have black and green bodies, orange veins on their wings, red bulging eyes, and six legs. Above ground, they live for only a few weeks. They mate and then die. An organ on their bodies allows them to amplify the noise they make. Their collective sound can be so deafening, that if you stand near them for some time, it can damage your eardrums. If there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven, what is the purpose of a creature like a cicada? In the rhythm and harmony of all existence, they prune the trees, aerate the soil, and once they die, their bodies are a source of nitrogen for growing trees. But really, they are a mystery.And what is my purpose? Is it also a mystery? Am I meant to live and die with little purpose like an insect?My time here is also finite. Now that I’ve surfaced in this awakened human form, can I offer my finite time, my finite love to align with the infinite? Can I align with that beloved Supreme Person, Lord Sri Krsna, Who is the source of all creatures great and small?All the best,Rukmini Walker
Cigarras
~ por Rukmini Walker----
“Para todo, hay una temporada y un tiempo
para todo propósito debajo del cielo ".
Eclesiastés 3: 1
Vivo en los suburbios de Washington, DC. Cada diecisiete años en esta área, alrededor de esta época, una prima del grillo, llamada cigarra, emerge de debajo del suelo por miles de millones.Alrededor de dos pulgadas de larga, tienen cuerpos negros y verdes, venas anaranjadas en sus alas, ojos rojos saltones y seis patas. En la superficie, viven solo unas pocas semanas. Se aparean y luego mueren.Un órgano en sus cuerpos les permite amplificar el ruido que hacen. Su sonido colectivo puede ser tan ensordecedor, que si te paras cerca de ellas durante algún tiempo, puede dañarte los tímpanos.Si hay una temporada y un tiempo para cada propósito debajo del cielo, ¿cuál es el propósito de una criatura como una cigarra? Con el ritmo y la armonía de toda la existencia, podan los árboles, airean el suelo y, una vez que mueren, sus cuerpos son una fuente de nitrógeno para los árboles en crecimiento. Pero en realidad, son un misterio.Y cual es mi proposito ¿También es un misterio? ¿Estoy destinada a vivir y morir con poco propósito como un insecto?Mi tiempo aquí también es finito. Ahora que he emergido en esta forma humana despierta, ¿puedo ofrecer mi tiempo finito, mi amor finito para alinearme con el infinito? ¿Puedo alinearme con esa amada Persona Suprema, el Señor Sri Krsna, quien es la fuente de todas las criaturas grandes y pequeñas? Todo lo mejor,Rukmini Walker