Gita-jayanti.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of Krishna speaking Bhagavad-Gita, some 5,000 years ago. We will be celebrating Gita-jayanti at the temple on Sunday. You are very welcome to come and hear why Krishna spoke the Gita and the importance of His teachings for us today.

Although our Vaishnava tradition has many important literatures, the Gita is usually the first book which newcomers and devotees read to gain an understanding of the 'science of self-realisation'. As it was spoken (or rather sung!) in simple Sanskrit verses, devotees like to memorise key verses as an aid in the day-to-day practise of Krishna-consciousness.

Here are some favourite verses by Belfast devotees:

Shyama devi dasi

This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realisation, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed. B-G 9.2

This is one of my favourite verses. Having knowledge is a great treasure, it gives one freedom and this verse is saying that this knowledge is the king of education and the purest knowledge. I don't need to look elsewhere or to find out in a few years time that what I have learned is useless and has now been proven wrong by another theory or experiment. It is everlasting. It reassures me that to apply this knowledge in my life isn't a chore but a joyful experience.

***

Nitai-sachinandana das

(Arjuna said) The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it , I think, is more difficult than subduing the wind...(Krishna said)For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realisation is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by appropriate means is assured of success. That is My opinion. B-G 6.34&36

These are the verses which most often come to my mind. I see the truth of them every day. The mind is a powerful force, and by controlling it and using it for spiritual life instead of for sense-gratification we can become peaceful and spiritually strong.

***

Mayeshvara das

The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy. 18.61

I like to contemplate this verse; there's a lot in it. The description of the body as a machine is intriguing and I use it often when preaching, to illustrate the difference between spirit and matter.

More verses tomorrow...

Introducing Our New Temple President.

We are pleased to announce our new temple president, Gauranga das. As our previous manager, Japa-yajna, has moved with his family to England, Gauranga has kindly agreed to take over the helm, for the next year at least.

Gauranga - formerly Gurdip Singh - comes from a Seikh background and was born in Simla, India. He came to Krishna-consciousness twelve years ago, after reading some of Srila Prabhupada's books. He says:

"I was looking for God, but was only becoming more confused. In Prabhupada's books, I finally found a clear and convincing explanation of God. I came to visit the temple and found that the chanting made me more happy than I had ever been."

Six years later, Gauranga was accepted for initiation by his spiritual master and since then has been serving the temple in many ways with enthusiasm and hard work. One of Gauranga's most outstanding contributions has been the organisation of the first Ratha-yatra (Chariot festival) ever to be held in Belfast.

As temple president, Gauranga hopes to facilitate the needs of the devotees in their service to Krishna, to maintain the high standard of spiritual practice in the temple and to help new people to come to Krishna-consciousness. He sees himself as the humble servant of all the devotees and is depending on Krishna to help him in this service.

We offer Gauranga all our support and pray for Radha-Madhava's blessings and guidance as he takes up his new post.

New Leaflet.

Belfast Temple has a new leaflet! Designed by Lal-krishna das and Keshava dasi, the leaflet invites the public to the temple's two weekly open events: the Sunday programme, including Kirtan, Bhagavad-Gita, and Vegetarian Feast and the Wednesday Kirtan programme - an hour and a half of chanting or 'mantra meditation'.

We've printed 15,000 leaflets, and they are being distributed by various devotees around town. We hope they'll attract people to come and learn something of our great spiritual tradition.

If you'd like to help , by putting leaflets through letter-boxes in your neighbourhood, please contact us: e-mail hktemple@gmail.com or phone 02890 287590. 

In Search of God - But Where Was Krishna?

Did anyone here listen to the recent three-part series In Search of God on BBC Radio 4? News-presenter John Humphrys met with a leader from each of the Christian, Jewish and Islamic traditions and asked them to help him with his enquiries into the nature of God. Although I didn't hear the actual conversations which ensued, I caught this series being discussed on the Feedback programme afterwards.

It seems it was a roaring success! Mr Humphrys described himself as 'gobsmacked' at the response the series has received - almost all of it positive. As well as thousands of letters, there were e-mails and telephone messages from listeners all over the world who had appreciated or been inspired by these talks. It was good to hear that the topic of God is still of such interest to so many people, and that listeners were open-minded enough to appreciate the view-points of all three speakers, regardless of their faith. Theists, atheists and agnostics - all were among those who found food for thought here.

But although this is very encouraging, can we be surprised that Mr Humphrys failed to find God? After all, where was the representative from the most ancient monotheistic tradition of all - Hinduism?! Why did he choose three leaders from the Abrahamic religions, which are so similar in their understanding of God, and completely ignore the Eastern tradition with its very different perspectives and clearly defined philosophy of the soul, the difference between matter and spirit, the concepts of reincarnation and karma, of a God who is not a 'creator' but from whom everything emanates, who is 'ever fresh and youthful' and what's more plays a flute? Humph, Mr Humphrys!

It would have been wonderful to have had a representative of the Gaudiya-Vaishnava tradition on his programme to explain these points, especially a follower of Srila Prabhupada - who so expertly and thoroughly taught and wrote about them for a Western audience. Of course our pool of erudite Gaudiya representatives may not yet be as full as we would like. But I hope that in the future we can look forward to hearing articulate Gaudiya spokespersons on programmes such as this.

Some of us have written to the BBC to express our dissatisfaction about this. If you would like to do the same, you can write to them here and also listen to the series: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/feedback.shtml

Picture: God taking measurements for His creation - medieval.

Fragrance of the Earth.

Krishna says in Bhagavad-Gita:

"I am the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics."

Purport: Everything in the material
world has a certain flavour or fragrance, as the flavour and fragrance in a flower, or in the earth, in water, in fire, in air, etc. The uncontaminated flavour, the original flavour, which permeates everything, is Krishna.

From Bhagavad-Gita As It Is; His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

More Autumn Inspirations...

A reader sent in this autumn meditation of their own, inspired by a walk in the countryside. It's a nice example of how we can link everything we see and experience, to Krishna.

The bewitching autumn season reminds me of Krishna; His mischievous glances and enchanting smile. His dancing.

The spicy autumn scents of fallen leaves, newly-ploughed fields and ripe berries remind me that Krishna is the 'fragrance of the earth'.

The glowing sunshine on golden leaves and bright red berries, reminds me of the richness of Radha-Madhava's golden form; Their red lips and hands. The blackberries and elderberries are the colour of His dark, curly hair.

The soft mists and silver gossamer, remind me of Krishna's elusiveness: He only reveals Himself to pure and humble devotees. Even at the rasa-dance, He disappeared from the gopis and from Radharani, when they became too proud.

Autumn Meditations.

I wonder if you have read the chapter "Descriptions of Autumn" in Srimad Bhagavatam. Each verse is a description of autumn in Vrindavana, and each feature of the season is made into a poetic analogy; a reflection on life with a spiritual message.

Srila Prabhupada translated this chapter with explanations of the verses, for a trip he was planning to Japan in 1961. This was eventually published as a book "Light of the Bhagavata" with delicate water-colour paintings, by the Chinese artist Madame Yun-sheng Li. It's a charming book to read in these autumn months.

I thought you'd like to sample some excerpts...

In autumn all the reservoirs of water become enriched with growing lotuses. The muddy water again becomes normally clear and decorated, just as fallen, conditioned souls once more become spiritually enriched in devotional service.

Autumn cleared the sky of clouds, freed the animals from their crowded living quarters, cleaned the earth of it's covering of mud and purified the water, in the same way that loving service rendered to Lord Krishna frees us from all our troubles.

The clouds, having emptied themselves of all they possessed, shone forth with pure effulgence, just like peaceful sages who have given up all material desires.

The cows that followed the Lord within the forest moved slowly because of their heavy, milk-laden udders. But when the Lord called them by their specific names they at once became alert, and as they hastened toward Him their milk bags overflowed and poured milk on the ground because of affection for the Lord.