My Blog

Krishna's Infants and our new baby Visakha Anjali

NityanandaRam — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:17:09 GMT

<div>Srila Prabhupada has stated that our original position is that of surrender to Krishna. This position of surrender is not a forced dependence but rather natural. Srila Prabhupada gives the following example;<blockquote> Prabhupāda: No, that is only a change of color. But the principle of surrender is there. Whether you surrender to monarchy, democracy, aristocracy, or dictatorship, you have to surrender; that is a fact. Without surrender there is no life. It is not possible. So we are educating people to surrender to the Supreme, wherefrom you get all protection, just as Kṛṣṇa says (sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]). No one can say, "No, I am not surrendered to anyone." Not a single person. The difference is where he surrenders. The ultimate surrendering object is Kṛṣṇa. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.19) Kṛṣṇa says, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate: "After surrendering to so many things birth after birth, when one is factually wise he surrenders unto Me." Vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ: "Such a mahātmā is very rare." Prof. Kotovsky: But at the same time it seems to me that surrender is to be accompanied by revolt. The history of mankind has proved that mankind has developed only by revolt against some kind of surrender. In the medieval age there was the French Revolution. It was revolt against surrender. But this revolution itself was surrender to the rank and file of the people. You are agreed? Śrīla Prabhupāda: Yes. Prof. Kotovsky: So it is not enough to come to a full stop. Surrender is to be accompanied with revolt against some and surrender to other people. Śrīla Prabhupāda: But the surrender will be fully stopped when it is surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Prof. Kotovsky: Ah, ah. Śrīla Prabhupāda: That is full stop—no more surrender. Any other surrender you have to change by revolution. But when you come to Kṛṣṇa, then it is sufficient. You are satisfied. I'll give you an example: a child is crying, and people move him from one lap to another. Oh, he does not stop. But as soon as the baby comes to the lap of his mother... Prof. Kotovsky: It stops. Śrīla Prabhupāda: Yes, full satisfaction। So this surrender, these changes, will go on in different categories। But the sum total of all this surrender is surrender to māyā. Therefore, in the Bhagavad-gītā it is said that this surrender, neglecting Kṛṣṇa, is all māyā. Either you surrender to this or to that, but final surrender is surrender to Kṛṣṇa; then you will be happy. The process of surrender is there, but surrender to Kṛṣṇa keeps one quite satisfied, transcendentally." <span style="font-style: italic;">Science of Self-Realization,</span> Chapter 6, Spiritual Communism </blockquote> My wife and I just recently are now getting experience of this position of full dependence with the birth of our first born child. On the auspicious appearance day of Sri Advaita Acharya, February 13th 2008 at 7:29pm, our daughter, Visakha Anjali, was born.<img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/nityanandaram/BabyVisakha/IMG_6419.jpg" /> Krishna Consciousness is so wonderful that it affords everyone at all opportunities for spiritual emancipation. Krishna teaches in the in Bhagavad Gita (BG 9.26) that one can do everything in the mood that the Lord is the supreme benefactor. Even up to the point of sex life, Krishna states in the Gita (BG 7.11) that if one performs sex life with Krishna as the benefactor, that is to say, that one has sex with the intention of training that soul in the service of the Lord then such sex life is service in of itself. Bhakti yoga, loving service to Lord, does not require one to give up his position of a married householder, nor does it require one to be poverty stricken. Rather the requirement is that all acts should be done for Krishna alone. For such a devotee, Krishna states, will receive all transcendental protection (BG 9.31)<img style="width: 646px; height: 484px;" src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/nityanandaram/BabyVisakha/IMG_6410.jpg" /><img style="width: 682px; height: 510px;" src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/nityanandaram/BabyVisakha/IMG_6411.jpg" /> Our little daughter of 5lbs 4oz was born amongst doctors who love to partake in prasadam at the temple’s restaurant, Kalachandji’s, here in Dallas. The auspicious appearance day of Advaita Acharya was not the only auspicious accordance along with prasadam loving doctors. The pediatrician at the hospital, one of the Kalachandji’s prasadam lovers, had even visited our home in October. Her 16 year old daughter, who comes to the restaurant with her, wanted to dress as Krishna for Halloween. She asked for our assistance so we invited her over, showed her how to put on her chiffon yellow dhoti and also gave her tips on accessories.<img style="width: 699px; height: 523px;" src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/nityanandaram/BabyVisakha/IMG_6405.jpg" /> Our plan was to have her born at the wonderful midwifery clinic next to the hospital, but as the joke goes, “How to make Krishna laugh?…. ….. just tell Him your plans.”<img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/nityanandaram/BabyVisakha/IMG_6406.jpg" /> When we went to the midwifery clinic for a check up the doctor's there said that they should do a natural induction due to my wife's recent high blood pressure (a reaction some women get during pregnancy) Our baby was due on the 21st so she would not be premature. Noticing some other complications the doctor's at the Birthing Center questioned if she could do a natural birth and thus they sent her over to the hospital next door to get further test. At the hospital more complications arose and therefore the doctors told her that a C-section was a must. After the short operation little baby Visakha came out looking all around and crying a little. She was then weighted, checked and then she was handed over to us. <img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/nityanandaram/BabyVisakha/IMG_6338.jpg" /><img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/nityanandaram/BabyVisakha/IMG_6339.jpg" /> </div>Since then she has not left us other than just some brief check ups. She is breastfeeding nicely and has a very calm and sweet nature. She does not fuss or cry unnecessarily. She is however utter dependent on us, naturally. This is our natural relationship with Krishna. It has also been suggested by the Acaryas that we approach the Lord in this mood, that of total utter dependence. The Lord along with His feminine counter part cannot ignore the cries of a surrendered dependent soul. Thus the best process for spiritual progress is the chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. <img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/nityanandaram/BabyVisakha/IMG_6350.jpg" /> After a day in hospital my wife, Krishna Mangala DD, discovered the root of these chain of events. Earlier this year while in Mayapur at the wonderful Jagannatha Temple my wife prayed for several different things in presence of the famous Kalpa Vriksha Tree, wish-fulfilling tree. One item that she prayed for is that she prayed that one young 18 year old devotee, who made some small mistakes in his life, would not go to prison. Miraculously this devotee was called a few days before he was supposed to go and was told that he did not have to go, he could not understand why. Another item that she prayed for is that after returning from India she wished to quickly get pregnant with a very Krishna Conscious child. And the last item she prayed for is she wished that the delivery would not be painful. Little did she know that she would be not be experiencing any pain during the delivery due to having a C-section. Today we will leaving the hospital to return home. We both very happy for we have a nice opportunity to raise a healthy child in a Krishna Conscious environment with Krishna Conscious education. Hare Krishna Your humble servants, Nityananda Chandra Das Krishna Mangala Devi Dasi & Visakha Anjali Devi Dasi

It is understood from vedas that the bliss of enlightenment

NityanandaRam — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 05:59:09 GMT

multiplied millions upon millions of times does not touch even a drop of the bliss one gets in serving the Supreme root Lord Krishna in Love and devotion. Enlightenment can take one but Love takes two, and between these two the Lord and the soul there is a competition of Love which is ever increasing. Anandam buddhi vardanam ever increasing bliss

New York Ratha Yatra are you going???!!!!!

NityanandaRam — Mon, 29 May 2006 22:17:15 GMT

www.festivalofindia.org ki Jaya www.krishna.com/festivals/

Kalachandji's!!!!!!!

NityanandaRam — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:04:30 GMT

We are all getting ready for the Dallas Ratha Yatra. With the help of these new devotees and the blessing of the Lord we are able to have a huge festival. It will be held at the 'Taste of Addison' festival wherein about 100,000 will be attending. Hare Krishna Your servant, Nityananda Ram Das

Vrindavan is so wonderful!!

NityanandaRam — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 16:43:15 GMT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu of Vrindavan

Going to India

NityanandaRam — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 15:37:54 GMT

It looks like my wife and I are getting the Supreme blessing of going to the holy dhama. We plan to first visit Vrindavan and then Mayapur, both are so wonderful. These places are the two most recent places that the Lord has incarnated. Mayapur the Lord appeared just 500 years ago as Lord Caitanya and exhibited his munificence. In Vrindavan the Lord appeared 5000 and exhibited his sweetness. Madurai pater akhilam madhuram. Everything is sweet about the emperor of Sweetness. Please pray to Srimate Radharani, the feminine aspect of God to grant us tiny souls entrance to this holy abode. Thank you. This will be my wife's first trip there. Hare Krishna Your servant, Nityananda Ram Das

Wednesday Feast Class

NityanandaRam — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:54:54 GMT

Urjesvat gave a very nice class last night at the Wednesday feast. He always has nice Prabhupada stories since he had so much opportunities to be with him. Amala Kirtan's bhajan was simply amazing. I have not heard anyone who can play the harmonium so nicely. Urjesvat Prabhu gave class on this verse of the Bhagavad Gita Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 6.5 uddhared ātmanātmānaḿ nātmānam avasādayet ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ SYNONYMS uddharet — one must deliver; ātmanā — by the mind; ātmānam — the conditioned soul; na — never; ātmānam — the conditioned soul; avasādayet — put into degradation; ātmā — mind; eva — certainly; hi — indeed; ātmanaḥ — of the conditioned soul; bandhuḥ — friend; ātmā — mind; eva — certainly; ripuḥ — enemy; ātmanaḥ — of the conditioned soul. TRANSLATION One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well. PURPORT The word ātmā denotes body, mind and soul — depending upon different circumstances. In the yoga system, the mind and the conditioned soul are especially important. Since the mind is the central point of yoga practice, ātmā refers here to the mind. The purpose of the yoga system is to control the mind and to draw it away from attachment to sense objects. It is stressed herein that the mind must be so trained that it can deliver the conditioned soul from the mire of nescience. In material existence one is subjected to the influence of the mind and the senses. In fact, the pure soul is entangled in the material world because the mind is involved with the false ego, which desires to lord it over material nature. Therefore, the mind should be trained so that it will not be attracted by the glitter of material nature, and in this way the conditioned soul may be saved. One should not degrade oneself by attraction to sense objects. The more one is attracted by sense objects, the more one becomes entangled in material existence. The best way to disentangle oneself is to always engage the mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The word hi is used for emphasizing this point, i.e., that one must do this. It is also said: mana eva manuṣyāṇāḿ kāraṇaḿ bandha-mokṣayoḥ bandhāya viṣayāsańgo muktyai nirviṣayaḿ manaḥ "For man, mind is the cause of bondage and mind is the cause of liberation. Mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage, and mind detached from the sense objects is the cause of liberation." (Amṛta-bindu Upaniṣad 2) Therefore, the mind which is always engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the cause of supreme liberation. here are some of the notes that I took from the class: "the mind is like a elephant, a wild and untrained elephant is surely dangerous where as a tame and trained elephant is very useful. One must train the mind and not be controlled by the mind and thus make the best use of it." "But how to control the powerful mind, the mind is so powerful it can induce on to think one as friend and the other as enemy, so Srila Prabhupada gave us and inundation 9 processes of controlling the mind. The foremost and most powerful is chanting the holy names of God Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" After the very nice class we had a very nice feast of butternut squash and pumkin subji, rice spiced with mustard seeds, and spinage and eggplant subji. There was also a very nice nectar and sweet halava. Hare Krishna your servant Nityananda Ram Das

Markata Vairagya-the renunciation of a monkey

NityanandaRam — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 23:22:49 GMT

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 16.238 markaṭa-vairāgya nā kara loka dekhā?ā yathā-yogya viṣaya bhu?ja' anāsakta ha?ā SYNONYMS markaṭa-vairāgya — monkey renunciation; nā kara — do not do; loka — to the people; dekhā?ā — showing off; yathā-yogya — as it is befitting; viṣaya — material things; bhu?ja' — enjoy; anāsakta — without attachment; ha?ā — being. TRANSLATION "You should not make yourself a showbottle devotee and become a false renunciant. For the time being, enjoy the material world in a befitting way and do not become attached to it." PURPORT The word markaṭa-vairāgya, indicating false renunciation, is very important in this verse. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, in commenting on this word, points out that monkeys make an external show of renunciation by not accepting clothing and by living naked in the forest. In this way they consider themselves renunciants, but actually they are very busy enjoying sense gratification with dozens of female monkeys. Such renunciation is called markaṭa-vairāgya — the renunciation of a monkey. One cannot be really renounced until one actually becomes disgusted with material activity and sees it as a stumbling block to spiritual advancement. Renunciation should not be phalgu, temporary, but should exist throughout one's life. Temporary renunciation, or monkey renunciation, is like the renunciation one feels at a cremation ground. When a man takes a dead body to the crematorium, he sometimes thinks, "This is the final end of the body. Why am I working so hard day and night?" Such sentiments naturally arise in the mind of any man who goes to a crematorial ghāṭa. However, as soon as he returns from the cremation grounds, he again engages in material activity for sense enjoyment. This is called śmaśāna-vairāgya, or markaṭa-vairāgya. In order to render service to the Lord, one may accept necessary things. If one lives in this way, he may actually become renounced. In the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.108), it is said: yāvatā syāt sva-nirvāhaḥ svī-kuryāt tāvad artha-vit ādhikye nyūnatāyāḿ ca cyavate paramārthataḥ "The bare necessities of life must be accepted, but one should not superfluously increase his necessities. Nor should they be unnecessarily decreased. One should simply accept what is necessary to help one advance spiritually." In his Durgama-sańgamanī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī comments that the word sva-nirvāhaḥ actually means sva-sva-bhakti-nirvāhaḥ. The experienced devotee will accept only those material things that will help him render service to the Lord. In the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.256), markaṭa-vairāgya, or phalgu-vairāgya, is explained as follows: prāpa?cikatayā buddhyā hari-sambandhi-vastunaḥ mumukṣubhiḥ parityāgo vairāgyaḿ phalgu kathyate "When persons eager to achieve liberation renounce things related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, thinking them to be material, their renunciation is called incomplete." Whatever is favorable for the rendering of service to the Lord should be accepted and should not be rejected as a material thing. Yukta-vairāgya, or befitting renunciation, is thus explained: anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayu?jataḥ nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yuktaḿ vairāgyam ucyate "Things should be accepted for the Lord's service and not for one's personal sense gratification. If one accepts something without attachment and accepts it because it is related to Kṛṣṇa, one's renunciation is called yukta-vairāgya." Since Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute Truth, whatever is accepted for His service is also the Absolute Truth. The word markaṭa-vairāgya is used by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to indicate so-called Vaiṣṇavas who dress themselves in loincloths trying to imitate Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Such people carry a bead bag and chant, but at heart they are always thinking about getting women and money. Unknown to others, these markaṭa-vairāgīs maintain women but externally present themselves as renunciants. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very much opposed to these markaṭa-vairāgīs, or pseudo Vaiṣṇavas.

So we finally go to Dallas Radha Kalachandji Dhama

NityanandaRam — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 17:18:15 GMT

It is so amazingly nice here. I know I don't deserve it but Krishna has give my wife and I the opportunity to serve at the wonderful temple here in Dallas. The devotees here are so amazing, it is such a beautiful community. I'll keep you posted. Hare Krishna Your humble servant, Nityananda Ram Das

Photos photos new photos

NityanandaRam — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 07:35:14 GMT

I posted some new (old) photos in my profile if you like to check them out, Haribol ys nrd

Chanting

NityanandaRam — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 18:04:06 GMT

It is very nice to chant in the morning, every morning I wake up and take a shower, that is for cleansing by external body, but by chanting the lords names I can cleanse myself internally, my consciousness. This morning I made sure that Krishna's names were the first words out of my mouth and it was quite ecstatic.