Kalachandji Katha: Kalachandji Katha 8-17-10

Wednesday, August 18th - Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Thursday, August 19th: Pavirtopana Ekadasi (fast from grains and beans). Break the fast the following morning between 9:47 - 11:18.

Thursday, August 19th - Tuesday, August 24th: Jhulan Yatra

Saturday, August 21st: Parenting Workshop with H.G. Ananda Vrindavanesvari dasi

Upcoming

Wednesday, September 1st: Sri Krishna Janmastami

Thursday, September 2nd: Appearance of Srila Prabhupada

From Srila Prabhupada: So they were preparing just to satisfy the demigod Indra, because he was supposed to... Not supposed. Actually he supplies rains sufficiently. Without rains you cannot have successful agriculture. So they were preparing that sacrifice. So this preparation was being observed by Krsna and Balarama. Krsna is the youngest, and Balarama is the eldest. Balarama is son of Rohini, and Krsna is son of Devaki. Both these ladies, Rohini and Devaki, they were wives of Vasudeva, Krsna's father. So Balarama was born of Rohini, and Krsna was born of Devaki. Devaki-nandana-gopala. So Devaki-nandana. So They were not very... There was not much difference of Their age, say one year or two years, like that. So Balarama was eldest brother. They were playing together, and this is an incidence when Balarama was about eight years old and Krsna was about seven years old. -- "Keeping Cows - Real Riches," New York, November 4, 1966

Read and hear the entire lecture

His Holiness Radhanath Swami - Lessons from the Ganges - Part II

The following series are excepts from the book, "The Journey Home." which shares

Radhanath Swami's journey filled with bizarre characters, mystical experiences, and dangerous adventures.

I was free, or so I thought. Now all I had to do was swim across Yamuna's mild current. But that meant challenging the mighty current of the Ganges head on. No matter how hard I swam, Mother Ganges kept forcing me back toward the quicksand. Exhaustion was threatening to overtake me. I could no longer fight against the current. I toiled feverishly, but still I was moving backwards. My arms were fatigued almost to the point of paralysis; still I strained to keep body and soul engaged in a battle I was not winning. My destination was so distant that I could barely see it. Struggling for survival, I prayed. Suddenly, hope appeared. About two hundred feet ahead, a small fishing boat passed. There on the deck stood a shriveled man with a white beard wearing a red turban. Still chopping against the current, I screamed out to him again and again for help. Will he hear him? I continued crying out for help as his strength faded. Finally, that man spotted me. Smiling, the man waved my hand in a forward direction. Then, still smiling, the man glided right past me, leaving me to drown.

Involuntarily swallowing more and more water, I now lost all hope. Even as my hopes died, I thought, It is better to drown in a holy river than suffocate in that quicksand. The same Ganges who, in Rishikesh, had taught me so many precious lessons and nourished me as a mother, to whom I offered my egotism in the form of his harmonica, and whose song awakened my soul, to her I now offered my life. Prayer was the only thing I had left. Then something wonderful happened. Submerged under water, on the verge of death, a beautiful song awakened in my heart: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Just as the Ganges first revealed this mantra to me, she was revealing it again at the hour of my greatest need. Silently reciting this mantra, I resigned myself to die in a holy place. The mantra brought me into a state of peace beyond fear. Then, like the rising sun, a thought appeared in my mind. I thought, Why did that fisherman wave his hand forward? What did it mean? Suddenly, I understood. The man was saying, "Do not fight against Mother Ganges. Go across her current by swimming with the current of the Yamuna." In my passion to survive, I'd not thought of that. That fisherman's wave saved his life. As I was carried across the Ganges, I was seized by worry once more. I had left my passport and whatever little I carried alone on the other side of the river's bank. Now I was swimming in the opposite direction. Then I started thinking "Would my things be there when I returned?" And then it occurred to me. Why brood over such a trifle? I started contemplating. Moments before, death was threatening my life and with only the passport of God's Names I crossed over and was saved. Hours later, when I made it back to the other shore where I had left my things, evening was beginning to fall and hundreds of people were scrambling to take a bath. My belongings sat in their midst, unmolested. Surrounded by the noisy crowds, I sat on the sandy bank. In the morning, I thought:

The sand scorched me like blazing fire, and later, was greedy to devour me. But now the same sand is cool and soft and gives me shelter. Like sand, a person influenced by circumstances can become viciously envious or affectionately kind. Our company and surroundings have a crucial effect on our consciousness. How important it is to be an instrument to bring out the inherent good of each other rather than the worst. So much wisdom is being whispered through every grain of sand if only I have ears to hear. As the soft sand glided through his fingers, I pondered my life and death struggle in the current of Mother Ganges. An affectionate mother may, at times, deal harshly with her child to impress a lesson that will not be easily forgotten. What was I to learn from today's ordeal? Perhaps we cannot always succeed by directly opposing a powerful force. I thought of the many trials I had faced on his path. If we do, our efforts will drown in failure. It is like swimming against the Ganges' current. In such circumstances, it might be more effective to find a path of less resistance to accomplish the desired end indirectly. The summer sun was fading below the horizon and I recalled how earlier that day he witnessed a hawk rip an unsuspecting fish out of its home, the river.

A little later, with no warning, the talons of fate had me Swami gasping for dear life, in the same river. Today, I reflected, the Lord has given me a startling glimpse of how far I am from my goal. It was not an easy lesson to learn. And hopefully it will not be easily forgotten. I took a deep breath and looked up into the sky, there, far above all the smaller winging birds, I saw a hawk, with the confidence of an emperor, gliding effortlessly into the twilight.

Thursday, August 19th - Tuesday, August 24th: Jhulan Yatra

We will be celebrating the Jhulan Yatra, Radha and Krishna's Swing Festival every morning at 7:30 a.m. Additionally, there will be a chance to swing the Deities on Sunday, August 22nd during the Sunday Feast.

Tuesday, August 24th: Appearance of Lord Balarama

We will be celebrating the Appearance of Lord Balarama, Krishna's older brother. Details of festival to be announced soom.

Saturday, August 21st: Parenting Workshop with H.G. Ananda Vrindavanesvari

In the Temple room from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Topics to be covered:

Developing soul qualities in children Solidarity Rhythm replaces Strength (the power of routine) Freedom from Choice Repetition Boundaries

Thank you to Kalachandji's Community
Many, many thanks to Mother Chandravali, Vidya Vadhu dasi, Rangavati dasi and Ratna Radhika dasi, Devahuti dasi & Lavangalatika dasi for painting Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji, Sri Sri Radha Govinda & Sri Sri Gaura Nitai last week.

Pre Janmastami Community Programs
Starting at 7:00 pm Kirtan, Discussing Sri Krsna's 64 Qualities and light prasadam (snack) Wed. 8/25 - Santosh Prabhu's Thur. 8/26 - Manjuali & Nityananda's Fri. 8/27 - Rasakeli & Rasaraj's Sat. 8/28 - Sanjay Singhania's Mon. 8/30 - Sri Rangavati's Tues. 8/31 - Temple room Exact addresses of homes to follow.

Recipe Corner

Tabouleh Salad

WHEAT SOAKING TIME: 1 1/2 hours
PREPARATION TIME: 10 minutes
YIELD: enough for 6 persons

250g fine bulgur wheat

1/2 teaspoon yellow asafoetida powder

at least 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

3 cups finely chopped parsley

3 tablespoons fresh mint

2 teaspoons sumac (optional)

1 cup seeded, unpeeled cucumber, diced into 1cm cubes

2 medium tomatoes, diced

Soak the bulgur wheat for 1 1/2 hours in warm water. Drain it and squeeze out the moisture. Dry it further by spreading it on a cloth and patting it dry.