Vrindavana Travelogue - Day 01

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my obeisances!!! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. This is my first travelogue.

This trip of Sri Vrindavana-dham was one of the most memorable trips I had. Totally engaged in the services at the temple and the college, I was little feeling myself to go out somewhere for a little break of course for spiritual rejuvenation. But it was really hard for me to believe that this place is going to be Sri Dham Vrindavana. After attending the glorious celebrations of Sri Vamana Dvadashi at ISKCON, Bangalore, I was ready for Vrindavana on the next day itself. Who knew that I would go to the transcendental land of Krishna that too with such a short notice (I actually got to know a day before)?

20-09-2010: I reached Delhi on Monday afternoon. And rushed to ISBT Kashmiri Gate to catch a bus to Vrindavana. Unfortunately we got to know that there are no buses available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate. So, we immediately hurried to ISBT Kale Khan. There we got into the bus to Agra. Pl do remember this that the buses to Agra are available from ISBT Kale Khan only. We need to get down on the way at Chatikara Bypass. And from there take an auto to Govardhana Chauraha. Moon was up in the sky shining brightly among the stars and the scintillating drops of rain when we reached Vrindavana. It was almost 8 pm and Srimati Radharani's Chathi festival celebrations were already concluded. Nonetheless we sat for the feast which obviously had many delicacies such as kachauri, matar panir sabji, rice and varieties of sweets. We honored prasadam to our soul's satisfaction and retired for the day to get ready for next day's program. It was still raining.

Spiritual Rays

Sri Shyamsundar

Sri Shyamsundar - My first best shot of Sri Shyamsundar in the year 2007. Shot during my trip in March 2007.

Life without Krishna

Life without Krishna is like empty room

Life without Krishna is like empty tummy for days

Life without Krishna is like lost in the jungle middle of nowhere

Life without Krishna is like no job and no money

Life without Krishna is like car without engine

Life without Krishna is like sleeping in darkness without any hope to get out from it

Life without Krishna is like lost soul looking and searching for our own address

Life without Krishna is like no life just living and living

LIFE WITH KRISHNA IS LIKE;

Driving Ahead

Suppose I am driving a very nice car, but I am simply absorbed in the machine only. I have forgotten my destination, where I have to go, and I am busy studying the car. What is the use? You may be driving a good car, but you must know how to reach your destination. That is your main business. Knowing how the car works is secondary. Your main business is knowing how to utilize the car so you can reach your destination. That is intelligence.

So, we have fallen into this material condition, and we are occupying various forms. As long as we are in the bodily concept—thinking "I am this 'car'"—that is ignorance. What is wanted is to think, "I am not this body. I am spirit soul, and I have to utilize this body to go to my destination—the spiritual world—where I can meet the supreme spirit, God, and live in His association." Human life is meant for understanding what the Supreme Lord is, where He lives, what He does, and what our relationship with Him is. To seek to understand these things is called inquiry into the Absolute Truth. That is actual education.

ISKCON Vs. ISKCON Bangalore

ISKCON vs. ISKCON Bangalore

BY: GADADHAR DASA

Sep 07, 2010 — DALLAS, TEXAS, USA (SUN) — Rama Das Brahmacari, in his article, "The Answer to India's Problems?" raises a series of questions:

Question 1: So how is he different from the ISKCON that he is fighting against??

Answer: The simple answer is, judge by the results as listed below for ISKCON vs. ISKCON Bangalore.

ISKCON has the following Record of Destruction:

(1) More than 90% of Srila Prabhupada's disciples were driven away or left discouraged.
(2) Thousands of disciples of self-proclaimed and rubber-stamped gurus came and have gone away.
(3) BTG distribution has gone down from ONE MILLION a MONTH in 1975 to almost nothing now.
(4) Distribution of Books, Prasadam, and Hari Nama have come to a near halt.
(5) Temples in North America, Western Europe, Australia, Latin America, and Africa have become empty or have disappeared.
(6) Child Protection Office had a list of more than 200 abusers/molesters and more than 1,000 abused/molested children, but not much has been done to abusers.
(7) More than half a dozen murders.

ISKCON Bangalore has following Record of Construction:

(1) Largest Distributor of Srila Prabhupada's Books in the world.
(2) Largest Distributor of Prasadam in the world - to more than 1.2 Million school children daily.
(3) Established more than 15 temples in a decade.

Question 2: A full belly and a Government education is the answer to India's problems?

Answer: No, it is not. Distribution of Harinama, Prasadam, and Books to change consciousness of masses is the solution. So judge ISKCON Bangalore by the above listed record.

Question 3: What about making a public statement that glorifies Srila Prabhupada and Vedic education?

Answer: Distribution of Prasadam and Books by ISKCON Bangalore is making Srila Prabhupada most famous and respected in India.

Comment: "To me, this Madhu Pandit is building his own empire and his own ISKCON, and he is using Srila Prabhupada's and ISKCON's name to do it.

Reply: Corrupt ISKCON leaders have brought tremendous disrepute to the name and fame of Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON on all continents. I am here in Dallas, Texas, USA and people are not taking Srila Prabhupada's books even when I give them free? ISKCON Bangalore is rebuilding the reputation of Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON.

Question 4: Why do we always have to corrupt everything and ruin Srila Prabhupada's mission????

Answer: When you read Akshaya Patra related material keep in mind that we are dealing with "Government and politics".

Let us not put ISKCON and ISKCON Bangalore in the same category.

Wishing All of You Well,
yhs- Gadahdar dasa

September 2010

Steps to Vaikuntha

These steps lead to the abode of Sri Pavana Narasimha. Photographed in in Jan of the yr 2007