Classes and Bhajans

One's devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) overendeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4) Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krishna consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements.

Gopal das sang a very beautiful Guru Puja kirtan at Tamal Krishna Goswami's Vyas Puja celebration in Houston.

Houston, TX
2008-06-22

I arrived part-way through the offerings, so don't have them all.  These are many offerings to Tamal Krishna Goswami on his Vyas Puja in Houston.  The full content is a bit long (2hrs, 30min) -- you can watch it in multiple sittings.  All the offerings are incredible. 

Houston, TX
2008-06-22

The evening before Tamal Krishna Goswami's Vyas Puja, we got together and sang bhajans.  This recording includes a bhajan by Gopi Gita dasi and then Anish.  

Houston, TX
2008-06-21

Just before Tamal Krishna Goswami left, he had given a series of lectures on the Nectar of Instruction.  These were given in Mayapur India with devotees visiting from Taiwan and China.  A devotee is also translating into Mandarin.  There are a total of 7 lectures.

TEXT 1 TRANSLATION

A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world.

Download: 2002-03-XX - Lecture - Tamal Krishna Goswami - Nectar of Instruction - Text 1.mp3

The Spring/Summer Sunday School session ended and we had a graduation ceremony at the temple.

Dallas, TX
2008-06-08

Lecture given by Caru Prabhu (president of the Utah temple) on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14 Text 4.  He presented a lecture that had a father's day theme since the day was Father's day.

TRANSLATION

It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.

PURPORT

In this verse it is clearly explained that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the original father of all living entities. The living entities are combinations of the material nature and the spiritual nature. Such living entities are seen not only on this planet but on every planet, even on the highest, where Brahma is situated. Everywhere there are living entities; within the earth there are living entities, even within water and within fire. All these appearances are due to the mother, material nature, and Krishna's seed-giving process. The purport is that the material world is impregnated with living entities, who come out in various forms at the time of creation according to their past deeds.

Dallas, TX
2008-06-15

The temple president of the Utah temple, Caru Prabhu, lectures on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 7, Chapter 10, Text 39.  Some of the topics covered in this lecture: some of Lord Krishna's pastimes, the Dasa Avatar, and some comparisons with Christianity.  

TRANSLATION

Not only Sisupala and Dantavakra but also many, many other kings who acted as enemies of Krishna attained salvation at the time of death. Because they thought of the Lord, they received spiritual bodies and forms the same as His, just as worms captured by a black drone obtain the same type of body as the drone.

Dallas, TX
2008-06-15

Click "Continue reading..." below for the full verse and purport.

Lecture given by Gunagrahi dasa Goswami on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 7, Chapter 10, Texts 36-38.  The video starts with about 2min 30sec of the end of Guru Puja kirtan.  The lecture covers preaching in ways that attract people to Krishna Consciousness.  Some devotees share their initial reaction to meeting the devotees for the first time.

The audio of the other speakers is a bit quiet.  I did my best to increase the volume, but it is still hard to hear.  You may wish to listen with headphones to hear those sections better.

TRANSLATION

Being cursed by the brahmanas, the same two associates took birth again as Kumbhakarna and the ten-headed Ravana. These two Rakshasas were killed by Lord Ramacandra's extraordinary power.

TRANSLATION

Pierced by the arrows of Lord Ramacandra, both Kumbhakarna and Ravana lay on the ground and left their bodies, fully absorbed in thought of the Lord, just as they had in their previous births as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu.

TRANSLATION

They both took birth again in human society as Sisupala and Dantavakra and continued in the same enmity toward the Lord. It is they who merged into the body of the Lord in your presence.

Dallas, TX
2008-06-13

Click "Continue reading..." below to read the full verse and purport.

Lecture given by Nityananda Prabhu on Canto 7, Chapter 10, Texts 34 and 35.  He stresses the dangers of offending the Vaishnava (devotee of the Lord) and the importance of love of God.

TRANSLATION

O King Yudhishthira, after all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, were properly worshiped by Prahlada Maharaja, they offered Prahlada their utmost benedictions and then returned to their respective abodes.

TRANSLATION

Thus the two associates of Lord Vishnu who had become Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu, the sons of Diti, were both killed. By illusion they had thought that the Supreme Lord, who is situated in everyone's heart, was their enemy.

Dallas, TX
2008-06-12

Click "Continue reading..." below to read the full verse and purport.

Dallas, TX
2008-06-07

Houston and Dallas Gurukulis singing bhajans at the Dallas temple.  Hari das leads this set of Hare Krishna bhajans.

Dallas, TX
2008-06-04

Houston and Dallas Gurukulis singing bhajans at the Dallas temple.  Anish leads this set of Hare Krishna bhajans.

Dallas, TX
2008-06-04

We visited New Talavan for a couple of days.  One night the gurukulis got together and sang bhajans.  This is a sampling of those bhajans.

New Talavan, MS
2008-05-25

Krishna Priya dasi is a visiting poet and artist.  She spoke at today's Sunday Feast lecture about her life's story and how she took shelter of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.  To find out more about Krishna Priya dasi, you can go to her website at www.supersoul.com/krishna.

I couldn't place my mic in an optimal location, so the quality isn't as good as usual.

Dallas, TX
2008-06-01