There is a Magic in Tragic

We run away from tragic. Tragedies are the last things we want in our life. We feel we are the worst hit people in the world, we curse God, we curse the situations but as we talk to people, as we get closer to them, as they open their heart to us, we get to know that life presents each of us with different degrees of tragedies and traumas, no one is spared.

Someone is going through relationship problems, someone is sweating for daily bread, someone is sweating for more money, someone is going through health issues. We might feel that our present tragic moments are more tougher to cross over than that of others but as we peep deeply in others life, we start feeling that we are in much better position than them. Hospitals and Crematorium grounds are the best examples to get to know ourselves properly. This world is a suffering place – this cant be realized at malls or theatres and even at home. When we see the patients in hospitals suffering, when we see the dead bodies being taken to the crematorium ground, that instantly takes us to the mood of self-realization – Who am I and what I am really doing, what's happening now and what will happen next.

The same realization is achieved when one deeply jumps into the scriptural injunctions presented by Bhagvad-Gita, Srimad Bhagvatam. Every word and sentence of scriptures like Bhagvad-Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam make us realize the futility of material world and prosperity of spiritual world. When we get to know how the great souls went through material sufferings and still remain attached to the devotional path, then that give us inspiration. Thus tragic moments in life work like magic for soul and it creates the ground for further interaction of soul with Supersoul through the life saving manuals like Bhagvad Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam. 

By Ashish Kumar

ICC Bangalore

www.iccmitra.blogspot.in

DUPLICITY IN SIMPLICITY

In the complex world of today, where things are so complex, personalities are so complex, relationships are so complex, there is complexity involved even in simplicity. One might pose as simple but there might be lots of complex things going inside him and a person might seem complex but he may be simple by heart. Its very easy to pose as simple but be simple.

What do we mean by Simplicity. It means to be being outwardly rich, being materially opulent, being materially well off but in spite of that being humble, down to earth. In short Simplicity is to have everything outwardly but still feel grounded. There are many examples where we find the people to be in good command of their material prosperity but still very humble by heart. These kinds of people instantly win the heart of others. People get attracted by these personalities not because of their opulence but because of their humility and simplicity. Showing off simplicity may not last long. If the personality is complex, its very difficult to be simple at heart and a day comes when our mask of simplicity sheds off. 

In Krishna Consciousness simplicity means accepting that we are servant of Krishna and also servant of devotees of Krishna. Simplicity means keeping the meaning of servitude in all respects and in all circumstances. Servitor-ship is the underlying principle of devotional service and in the complexity of material world, we will surely be forgetting that but circumstances and situations in our devotional life will keep us reminding that we are meant to be servants and not the masters or controllers. Till the time, we understand this principle our simplicity is nothing short of duplicity but the association of those who are dedicated to the mission, those who are ever enthusiastic, those who are simple both inwardly and outwardly, can take us out of these duplicitous nature.

By Ashish Kumar

Bhumi Pujan at ICC Bangalore

 

"Temple means a shelter for spiritual education. People should come, they should learn what is spiritual life, what is God, what is my relationship with God.. That is a temple.”-- Srila Prahhupada
As an offering for ISKCON 50 Years, for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, Guru & Gauranga, Srila Prabhupada and for the entire devotee community "BHUMI POOJA" at ISKCON Cultural Centre, Kumaraswamy Layout, South Bangalore there was performed on Sunday, 1st January 2017
The Bhumi Puja for the new Temple which will boast of two auditorium for cultural activities was performed in the holy presence of Chief Guest His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaj (Member of ISKCON Governing Body Commission and Initiating Guru). The event was marked by HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj addressing a strong presence of 2000 devotees including eminent residents of the local area. The event witnessed blissful Harinam Sankirtan and sumptuous Maha Prasadam for all the devotees. The bhumi pujan marks a major milestone in the journey of upcoming new structure of ISKCON Cultural Centre in Bangalore and is the consistent efforts of New Temple Project Team under the leadership of Hg Narahari Chaitaniya Das, who is the Project Director and the Temple President of ISKCON Cultural Centre.
The new structure with built-up area of 22000 sq. ft with already existing building of 13000 sq. ft will completely manifest in next 3 to 4 Years of time and is expected to utilize 10 Crore of Lakshmi in construction. Let us pray, this Center will continue serving the Lotus feats of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and become an instrument, serving Vaishnava community in times to come.

By Premadata Gaur Das

FEAR OF LOSING

Have you ever noticed a bird eating the grains that are spread on street roads. Is it peacefully eating with its beaks ? No, it is in constant anxiety - anxiety of falling prey to someone, anxiety of losing its part of diet. It is continuously turning its head left and right, up and down to avoid the awful situation. Not only the bird and beasts, even we as human beings suffer from this ailment of being fearful.

We have the tendency to acquire something big and once we get that, we develop fear of losing the same. Getting the things in this world needs some effort, perseverance but the success of achieving comes along with the fear of losing. Bollywood stars have fear of losing their glamor, sport stars have fear of losing their hold on people's heart, business people have fear of losing their richness, young people have fear of getting wrinkles, old people have fear of losing everything which they have accumulated all through their life, small children have fear of losing their toys, boys have fear of losing their girl friends, girls have fear of losing their charms, whole world is living under the fear.

Why do we have fear - fear develops when we attach ourselves to what we possess. When we know that what we possess is actually not ours, then there is no fear of losing it. The process of Krishna Consciousness takes us away from these fears. Krishna Consciousness helps us to know our real position – that we are not the proprietor of anything that we possess but we are just a care taker. Krishna Consciousness is to give us the feeling of gratefulness for what we have achieved in life and to take us out of material hankerings and lamentations.

By Ashish kumar

Krishna's plans are ACCIDENTAL

Seemingly, same Saturday morning as usual but little different as he was going out with his family members to another devotee's house. That day on 05^th Nov 2016, Krishna had some different plans for him and his family. He left his house at about 11.00 am in the morning in recently bought Hyundai i20 car and started driving through the heavy traffic area of Bangalore. Within an hour he found himself in the mess of a situation where his car was totally toppled, and he and his family members were lying upside down in the toppled car.

Mr Prateek Sanwal ( Initiated name - HG Premadata Gaur Das ), his wife Mrs Deepti Sanwal and son Yash, experienced an almost fatal accidental shock when a truck directly hit his car at a signal and the accident involved the serial hitting of 6 more cars. The car toppled on the footpath breaking the railings of the footpath. The car suffered heavy losses and it was almost a total loss ( in insurance parlance ), it got all around scratches and dents. The car bore all the brunt leaving the entire family physically unharmed . They made their way through one of the door of toppled car. Seeing the condition of toppled car, even a policeman got surprised and said – “How did you all survive?”

When Krishna plans, he plans in an scrutinizingly appealing way, the accident was followed by some hectic schedules for him. He had to run to police stations, to insurance companies to get his claims but Krishna protected him by not disrupting his service. He continues to serve as the Sunday Feast Co-ordinator and as Head of IT department at ISKCON Convention Centre, Benguluru with the same enthusiasm. He recalls - “ Before accident, while driving car, I was thinking about my particular service. The accident could have been fatal but Krishna protected all of us because we are involved in his service. “

Krishna's promise to Arjuna that – “ My devotees never perish” has come true once again.

But this story is an eye-opener for us stressing the fact that Krishna's plans are accidental and we can be subjected to his plans at any time. So its better to keep our finger crossed and serve enthusiastically and keep faith that the reaction of our past karmas get drastically reduced when we are dealing directly with Krishna and his devotees in a positive manner.

By Ashish Kumar

Everything starts with LOVE ALL

Two tennis players meet in the tennis court to claim the trophy. Public is ready to start cheering their favourite players. Umpire takes his position, players are set to start the game and here it starts with LOVE ALL. 

All games start with LOVE ALL, the game of life too starts with love all. We love everyone and that’s the formula to be loved by everyone. Everyone is hankering for that true love from others. In the absence of love from fellow beings we exchange love from pet animals.

vidya-vinaya-sampanne
brahmane gavi hastini
suni caiva sva-pake ca
panditah sama-darsinah

Bhagvad Gita, Chapter 5, verse 18 explains that a learned person has equal vision for a brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog eater. In the learned person’s eyes they are all equal, he has love for all, he has liking for everyone as he sees them as God’s representative. Learned person doesn’t differentiate on the basis of external appearance.

The feeling of love brings bondage and so if one has to love God, then he has to show compassion and love to all living beings, there is no short cut available. People want love and the best way to show them love is to take care of them. Krishna Consciousness is all about caring for each other because at the end, its our love for each other that matters not the love for our own self.

By Ashish Kumar

Hearing others - is not easy

Speech is one of the most common method of communication. We like to talk, we like to put forward our thoughts, we like to share our internal dialogues. We like to be heard, we want people to pay attention to us. But when we are obsessed with the thought of being heard always then its very difficult for us to hear from others. 

Krishna Consciousness is more about hearing than speaking. Its about hearing Hari Kirtan, its about hearing Harikatha, Its about hearing others glories, its about hearing our own faults and acting upon them. We may relish hearing some instructions from senior devotees, we may even like hearing something from friends and fellow devotees but its too tough to make ourselves ready to hear from junior devotees.

If we are ready to hear the acceptable facts of Krishna Consciousness from all available sources, then that's the true sign of advancement on the path of devotional service. That's why, to have a taste for hearing is very good but if we have a real taste for hearing then we will not mind hearing krishna katha even from our juniors who are properly following in the foot steps of Guru Parampara. 

By Ashish Kumar

Yeh Dil Maange More

  

Last week I happened to go for book distribution near a bus stand. It was not very crowded place. It was getting dark and thus fast food restaurants were getting filled with people. While I was holding books and roaming around, a middle aged, lean man, slightly drunkard approaches me and asks me in an impatient manner – where is the wine shop here?

He was already too drunk to go to wine shop again but he was getting strength from his inner desire and that was fuelling him to have more of this nectarine toxic.  This man has already had enough but still he is not satisfied, he wants to have more, he wants to taste more, he is so determined to have one more time that even his unbalanced condition could not stop his urge to have more.

Like a drunkard man, we all have opportunities to taste nectarine Holy name, but our laziness and no taste for holy name keeps us  away from having any attachment with holy name. A drunkard is never satisfied, he wants to taste more, similarly we should not get satisfied by our sevas, not be complacent by our seva and this will improve the quality of our present seva and get us more sevas and that’s the ultimate aim of life – to get into the circle of devotional service of the Lord. 

By Ashish Kumar