Krishna's welcoming soul

"O friend, I have been carefully holding this storehouse of rasa for you. You alone have rights to it. Rejecting Me, you fell under spell of My energy of illusion. Continuosly I have shown great regard for you. As you have attained this by your own efforts, I am extremely pleased. Serve My everfresh pleasurable form and play with Me in an endless ocean of bliss. For My sake, you have cut all chains of material attachment. I will never be able to repay the depths of the love you have shown. Be naturally satisfied in your service."

(Sri Caitanya Siksamrita, concluding words)

Flower garments

In Mayapur on the occasion of Pushya Abisheka Purnima Sri Sri Radha-Madhava were offered a flower garment. A lot of flower patterns, flower crown, flower bracelets... They look gorgeous!!!

More on www.mayapur.com

Noble suffering

World is more and more crazy and people are every day more illusioned. Kali yuga is progressing rapidly by each our breath... Few days ago I got an email - another petition. Usually I immediately delate such things but this one caught my attention. It was about an european campaing for the welfare of animals. Definitely I am interesed in welfare of all living entities, including souls in an animal body.

I was reading it and could not belive my eyes. I am quoting from the web site where this project is presented (www.8hours.eu) : "For a long time, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, concerned citizens and politicians have argued that something has to be done. Animals for slaughter should never be transported for more than eight hours."

It's soooooo ironic. Animals should not be transported more than 8 hours but they can be killed afterwards? They want to show their compassion to the animals by providing them better, more confortable last ride? They will give them a "noble suffering"? Well I think animals are not so much concerned about a long drive but for sure they are concerned what comes after the drive.

I am so happy that Srila Prabhupada gave us proper understanding and clear intelligence. "In modern human society, spiritual knowledge is neglected, and cow killing is encouraged. It is to be understood, then, that human society is advancing in the wrong direction and is clearing the path to its own condemnation. A civilization which guides the citizens to become animals in their next lives is certainly not a human civilization. The present human civilization is, of course, grossly misled by the modes of passion and ignorance. It is a very dangerous age, and all nations should take care to provide the easiest process, Krishna consciousness, to save humanity from the greatest danger."
Real cow protection ki jay!

On the street

Last weekend of Srila Prabhupada's marathon I spend in the temple. Each day I joined harinam group and spent time distributing cookies on freezing cold streets of Ljubljana.

It's such an irony that people in general think about us how poor we are that we have to sing and sell books in such an extreme weather conditions. But in fact we are doing the austerity for their benefit, their welfare (and of course also our purification :)) because we know that they are actually poor in spirit and we feel compassion for them. Looking from a material point of view we look odd and crazy but from spiritual - Krishna appreciates so much each and every minute spend on freezing cold chanting His names.

Harinam group is continuting with going on the streets and distributing mercy. They are really amazing. Every day. Day by day. Whenenever I'm not too mental I try to go along with them. On one Sunday morning I joined them again. It was sooo sooo cold but warm from inside. One photographer from magazine Mladina made this photo which turned one quite nice....

O my dear Krishna! Please ever dwell in the temple of my heart. I shall sing songs about You for Your pleasure and You will be pleased. Please accept my devotion, love, flower garland and chandan which I have brought, for You are my life and death. This is my offering at Your worshipable feet.

Sitting harinam in downtown

After two weeks of lying in bed, drinking tee and trying out all possible ayurvedic medicines I needed some action. As everyday also yesterday devotees went for harinam to the center of Ljubljana. Usually on Sundays there is 'second hand market' on the streets. Crowds of people are coming. The best thing to do before going to the 'battlefield' is to pray to Krishna and chant rounds nicley... On sundayfeast lecture Vasudeva Datta Prabhu shared wonderful thought with us. If you ignore Krishna while calling for Him then also while going on harinam or sankirtan people will agnore you in the same way. On the other hand if you give Him your full attention also people will be interested in what you are and what you are presenting. If I would hear this before :)

Well, with Manjari Svarupa we were working on this before our departure...

Madhavi lila showered blessing upon us
This looks like a nice spot to be at
I wonder where is the rest of the group?!
They've finnaly arrived... including little Gadai and his mother

New paraphernalia for sitting harinams - small chairs

Musicians

Technical support

and wannabe dancers :)
Time for spiritual weapon - coconut cookies

Anyone who is willing gets the mercy

even Santa Claus

Bhaktin Karmen with other kind of weapon

For some of people the spiritual spark started sparkling again after many many many lives

and one lady after receiving SF invitaton she came for program. Preaching ki jay!

All glories to all harinam sankirtan devotees!

Photo session with Lord Jagannatha

Some time ago I asked my dear friend Betka to make one service for the Lord. Since her young age she's been sewing and tailoring her garments. I suggested her to use her talent and do outfits for my Sri sri Nitai Nadia Bihari. She did it. Then I requested to do same for Jagannatha, Baladeva and lady Subadra. And she did it again. What a wonderful service! Last time we met she brought me the new outfits.

For last Ekadasi, Krishna Balaram dasi put the new outfits on our Master. I promised to Betka that I will send her photos so that she can have virtual darshan of Jagannatha in the new dresses. :) Since I don't have a camera on my own and my health is still not good I asked Kamala Manjari to take photo of the deities. In two days she's leaving Slovenia for New year's holidays. I begged her to do before she leaves. She could not do it immediately so she asked me to remind her again. My passionate nature could not wait any longer. But what to do?! Practicing patience...

In the evening before going to bed I was reading from Bhurijan's book about Srila Prabhupada. Then I turn off the light. I heared some sounds which were coming from the near by room. If you live with 10 other devotees that is quite normal thing. I get up and with all possible humility I asked them to be quiet since I am trying to fall asleep. What do I see? A huge professional camera in bh. Rok's lap. This was the subject of their conversation. He took few photos and I also tried to take few. Really it was the best camera I ever hold in my hands. Beautiful photos.

After few minutes I return back to my room hoping I can finaly have some rest. After lying in bed for few minutes I see the situation that Krishna arranged. Few hours before I was begging for a camera and just now Lord of the universe send professional camera (worth of 5000 EUR). Again I got up and run to Rok with proposal that we have small photo session with our deites. Of course he immediately agreed. Since we already put deities to sleep we awaken Them and had an evening photo session. The following is the result. I hope you will enjoy in Lord's beauties.

Setting up the scene

Sri sri Nitai Nadia Bihari

Jay Nitai

Lord Gauranga

Lord Jagannatha

Sri Balarama

Lady Subhadra

Hiding behind the veil

Dressing: Krsna Balarama dasi

Styling: Bhn. Betka

Photography: Bh. Rok

Song about Srila Prabhupada

I WONDER

( written by HG Laxmimoni Pr.)

If Srila Prabhupada visited you,
Maybe just for a day or two.
and came by unexpectedly,
I wonder what you'd do.
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room,
To such an honored guest,
And all the food you'd offer,
Would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring him,
you're glad to have him there,
That serving him within your home,
Is a joy beyond compare.
BUT If you saw him coming,
Would you meet him at the door,
With arms outstretched to welcome,
this honored visitor?
OR ...
Would you have to change your clothes
Before you let him in ?
Or hide some magazines
And put the Gita where they'd been ?
Would you watch those mundane movies,
upon your TV set ?
Would you have to answer e mail while
he was taking rest?
Would you run to turn your music off,
before it reached his ears ?
and put telok on your forehead
Or bind or shave your hairs ?
Would you hide away your gameboy,
-- take your posters off the wall ?
Would you have to hide the dvds,
you just bought at the mall ?
AND, I wonder ...
If Prabhupada spent A day or two with you, Would you go right on doing The things you always do ?
Would you go right on saying
The things you always say ?
Would life for you continue
As it does from day to day ?
Would you gossip with your partner
about devotees' faults ?
Would you have to re-cook dinner
Without the garlic salt.

Would you put kunti on your neck
And have to find your japa beads?
And wake up in the morning before the
Sun peeks through the trees.
Would you sing the songs you always sing And read the books you read ?
And let him know the things on which
your mind and spirit feed ?
Would Prabhupada be invited
Everywhere you planed to go ?
Or, would you, maybe, change your plans, Just for a day or so ?
Would you be glad to have him meet
your very closest friends?
Or, would you hope they'd stay away
Until his visit ends?
Would you be glad to have him stay
Forever on and on?
OR ...
Would you sigh with great relief,
When finally he had gone ?
It might be interesting to know
The things that you would do
If Srila Prabhupada, or the Lord,
came to spend some time with you.