His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami Health Update
Dear Friends
I spoke with Maharaja this morning. In general, he is not doing badly but is fatigued and needs more rest. We need to be patient and continue praying.
More so than ever, I have been reflecting and praying like all of you that since coming in contact with Maharaja, it feels like a relationship built from a previous life where I was rescued and then in this lifetime, I feel saved and sheltered yet again. How can we repay the debt to the spiritual master?
On a note of COVID safety, the German government has placed the ISKCON Simhachalam farm in isolation, which is a reminder that we need to be safe – sanitize, social distance, and wear a mask.
Your servant
Vibhu Caitanya Das
Travel Light for Kartik
By Ananda Vrindavaneswari
We are about to begin a journey into the month of Kartik (Oct 31st to Nov 30th), a month that can sweeten and deepen our relationship with Krishna if we choose to take advantage of it.
My suggestion for this month is to “travel light” so we can be more available and present in our bhakti meditation practice. We do this by both “giving up” and “taking on.”
Giving up can include reducing or doing without favorite things like sweets, favorite dishes, eating less in general, giving up or reducing social media or media in general, being frugal, etc. It also could include giving up criticizing others, needing to be right, envy in general, or other such goings-on. In other words, un-complicate our minds and practice being satisfied and happy with less!
The minute we stop doing something we love to do (or have a habit of doing) we will have a huge desire to do it. So part of this work of Kartik vows is to recognize the urge – to eat, to win, to watch – and not give in.
This takes determination. And because we are doing it as an offering to Krishna, it becomes a sweet austerity.
So overall do less and in this way travel light for the month. Yes – it is only for one month but for some of us who are not natural yogis, one month can feel like a long time. So hang in there.
The secret is in taking on – take on an extra japa round or two, a commitment to daily study, some seva at the temple. You can show up and say “I have an hour. Give me something to do!” Take on helping others, having conversations that matter, going for a walk in nature, saying yes to difficulty when you want to say no!
It’s the intention that counts and a month dedicated to gaining spiritual weight – a healthy internal spirit.
To travel light also means don’t take on vows or austerities that become a big burden on you or your family. Better to keep it small and do it with intention and loving absorption every day. There is nothing worse than vows that wear us down or make us bitter.
The best part of the month is the invitation to offer a lamp to Krishna every day, and sing the Damodarastakam prayer, which tells the story of Krishna as a young boy stealing butter. Even if we do nothing else, if we do this, the blessings of Kartik will bestow upon us all kinds of spiritual grace.
Kartik Lamp Offerings
31 October – 30 November
Daily 6pm-7:30pm
Week Ahead
Friday 30 October
7:30am Class by His Holiness Bhakti Caitanya Swami
Saturday 31 October
Kartik Purnima
Disappearance Anniversary of Murari Gupta
7:30am Class by His Holiness Rama Govinda Swami
1st Night of Kartik ONLINE Festival @7:30pm
with Bhakti Caitanya Swami
Join Zoom Meeting here
or
Meeting ID: 851 0790 0841
Passcode: Damodara
Sunday 1 November
7:30am Class by Bhakti Caitanya Swami
New Jagannath Puri Temple Love Feast @11am
Registration compulsory.
Call Arati on 071 672 8417 or here
Monday 2 November
7:30am Class
11:00am Instagram Live with His Grace Vibhu Caitanya Das
Tuesday 3 November
7:30am Class by Rama Govinda Swami
Wednesday 4 November
7:30am Class by Bhakti Caitanya Swami
Thursday 5 November
7:30am Class by Rama Govinda Swami
Reminders
Govinda’s Pop-up Takeaway & Radhanath’s Gifts Pop-up Store
Monday-Friday 11am-3pm
CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS
(Pop-up Stores will be open on Wednesday 11 October)
Saturday & Sunday 10am-1pm
Govinda’s WhatsApp 078 849 4291
Strict COVID-19 safety protocols MUST be followed.
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