Spirtual Revolution in Estonia
My heart is dancing in an ocean of unlimited bliss to have received the follow preaching report from my disciple, Lila Suka Das, from Estonia:
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
This month I organized and led 10 Harinama Sankirtana Yajnas (on the streets of Tallinn and in other cities). Many devotees joined and gave very, very positive feedback. I also arranged traveling book distribution. And distributed books myself. On the 25th of September the Catholic Pope Francis was visiting Tallinn and he conducted a public holy mass on the freedom square in Tallinn downtown. Hundreds of people gathered. The event was well advertised and when I saw the advertisement, the very first thing that came to my mind was Harinama, we have to make Harinama. So when the event officially ended and the people started to leave from the square, we went with Harinama through the streets. The atmosphere was great, with hundreds of people smiling to us. We met groups of catholic priests who all seemed to like the chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna. I greeted them all and they greeted us in response. It was a great day to make Harinama Sankirtana.
A group of 50 high school students + 3 teachers visited our temple and heard about Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that we are souls and not these bodies. We chanted Hare Krishna maha-mantra together. We fed them with prasadam feast. I gave to the students Hare Krishna maha-mantra cards and invitations to our Sunday Program and encouraged them all to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in their lives.
I was invited by my friend, a school teacher, to two schools in South Estonia. She asked me to give 3 classes to the high school students about Krishna, Srila Prabhupada, the Vedas, the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and my life as a devotee of Krishna. We all chanted Hare Krishna maha-mantra together and all the children received maha-parasadam. I gave to the students Hare Krishna maha-mantra cards and invitations to our Sunday Program and encouraged them all to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in their lives. After the first lecture I felt that I do not need to rush but instead we should visit the teacher's room during the break. We went there and became acquinted with the teachers and gave them maha-prasadam. The teahcers found my visit and Krishna conscious lectures and activites very nice and now consider to invite me sometime to give some presentation about Krishna consciousness especially to the teachers in that school. I spoke to them that it is very important if we all cooperate together and try to do something very beneficial for the welfare of the children. On our way out of the school we met a gentleman who was very fascinated about me being a Hare Krishna brahmachari and we spoke about our philosophy briefly. He was very supportive to me as an individual who has chosen the path of Krishna bhakti. I asked him if he has 5 euros. He said, he sure does. I proposed him to take Srila Prabhupada's biography in estonian. I said he can read about our founder acharya and next time we can discuss our philosophy more. He gladly accepted the offer. Later I was told that he is the principal of the school.
On the next day in the other school in the city of Võru in South Estonia, I gave the remaining 2 classes. I asked the students to chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra in the kirtan and they all did. With one of the students playing a drum to accompany me with karatalas for the kirtan. They asked tons of questions from me. I answered every one of them. They gave feedback to their teacher that they liked the classes very much. We also visited the teacher's room in this school and many teachers got maha-prasadam and were deligthed by hearing about our Krishna conscious classes and visit to their school. I gave to the students Hare Krishna maha-mantra cards and invitations to our Sunday Program and encouraged them all to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in their lives.
This teacher has invited me to these schools before as well but this visit was very powerful and there was more connection with the students and the teachers. We discussed more opportunities for future classes and for special classes for the students covering some specific topics of our philosophy. We also discussed opportunities to give Krishna conscious presentations in the youth centres in the city.
In all these classes I directly explained that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that the human life is meant for realizing Krishna and our spiritual nature. I also spoke how God is one, and how religion is one: to love God or Krishna.
This teacher who is our friend is the sister of a lady who with his husband are also our friends and well wishers in South Estonia. They support us very much. We always stay in their home and I see that by staying there just for 3 days, they all become even more favorable for Krishna
consciousness. I see how much good effect has devotee association (not that I consider myself a special devotee). But that in principle if we preach and engage people in Krishna's service and deal with them personally and very friendly and not push them, then they become very inspired to help us more. I see that I need to be more active and friendly in the society and try more proactively to preach in schools and universities.
When I was in South Estonia I listened to the recording of your class entitled "The Need for Perfect Relationships". I now try to capitalize on making my relationship with you and with other devotees perfect. No more Maya. I also see how unlimitedly sweet are relationships in Krishna consciousness and that through manifesting such relationships with Krishna and with devotees and with the other souls we can attract the whole world to serve Krishna. Because as you stated in the lecture: the whole world is starving for love, for want of real relationships. And now I see that if we cultivate such pure relationships every single day then then naturally in due course of time the whole world will gradually join the Hare Krishna Movement.
On the divine appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura I was asked to speak about Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Eastern Estonia. I found your excellent class about him that you gave in the year 2012 in Vrindavan. You went into great details to explain the meaning of the Kabe Habe Bolo Sei Din Amar. I listened to it very carefully and practically spoke your words in my lecture. Your words emanate pure bhakti and I felt like speaking on topics way above my level. But I asked the devotees blessings that please pray that I can someday truly realize the meanings of this bhajan. I am so unqualified but somehow or other I am asked to give this message to you.
I also realized that by repeating your message to others I actually find myself starting to desire to come to pure bhakti. That is most enlivening. The heart changes.
In Eastern Estonia I saw a youth centre and went right in and spoke to one of the organizers there. He turned out to be a very nice man who cares for the children so that they would not get wasted on the streets. I told him that I give lectures to children about indian spiritual culture and I am on my way to South Estonia for school classes. I said that maybe we can do some program for the children here as well. He was enlivened and said that we need creative people. So I got his contact and wrote to him in detail what kind of lectures I can give for the children. I am waiting for his feedback.
I hope these direct preaching endeavors bring some happiness to you, my dear spiritual master. I have added some photos of the students visit to our temple to this email for your transcendental pleasure.
Now I am very determined to sincerely and regularly continue with chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra and begging for pure devotional service and organizing Harinama Sankirtana and preaching in all possible ways as much as possible. Please bless me so that I can develop and preach pure Krishna bhakti and be instrumental in making a solid bhakti revolution in Estonia as fast as possible. By making something practical
for that purpose at every moment. I want to finish with all my offences and be freed from all anarthas so that our preaching mission would have greater devotional impact for the eternal benefit of all the people in Estonia. I would be so happy to be able to serve in such capacity.
But I am so unqualified. And I want to throw away even the slightest traces of pride and with all humility continue chanting and preaching. Non stop. This is my only hope. I just want to humbly and in a stable way serve and preach.
Your eternal servant,
Lila-shuka Das
-------end of letter-----------
To have such a disciple is the special blessings of my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.
How should a working professional conduct himself for best (spiritual) results?
Regards,
Dhiraj
My Dear Dhiraj,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Punya means pious activities such as opening a charity hospital. If I open a charity hospital providing free medical care for so many thousands of people, then all of those people are karmically obliged to give me free medical care in the future. Therefore my reward is to come back to this material world, get sick, and get free medical care for as many lifetimes as it take for all these people I helped to pay back their karmic debt.
Akarma, means literally “no karma.” This refers to acts of devotion such as chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and studying the Bhagavad-gita. Such devotional activities not only do not create karma; they also liberate us from all previous karma, both pious and impious so that we can get out of the cycle of birth and death and return to our original home in the spiritual world.
A working professional should take shelter and initiation from a bona fide spiritual master to learn the art of how to transform all of his personal and professional activities into akarma so that upon leaving his present body he can return to his original home in the spiritual world where life is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss and all forms of material miseries are conspicuous by their absence.
I hope this meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic mood.
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
This month I organized and led 10 Harinama Sankirtana Yajnas (on the streets of Tallinn and in other cities). Many devotees joined and gave very, very positive feedback. I also arranged traveling book distribution. And distributed books myself. On the 25th of September the Catholic Pope Francis was visiting Tallinn and he conducted a public holy mass on the freedom square in Tallinn downtown. Hundreds of people gathered. The event was well advertised and when I saw the advertisement, the very first thing that came to my mind was Harinama, we have to make Harinama. So when the event officially ended and the people started to leave from the square, we went with Harinama through the streets. The atmosphere was great, with hundreds of people smiling to us. We met groups of catholic priests who all seemed to like the chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna. I greeted them all and they greeted us in response. It was a great day to make Harinama Sankirtana.
A group of 50 high school students + 3 teachers visited our temple and heard about Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that we are souls and not these bodies. We chanted Hare Krishna maha-mantra together. We fed them with prasadam feast. I gave to the students Hare Krishna maha-mantra cards and invitations to our Sunday Program and encouraged them all to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in their lives.
I was invited by my friend, a school teacher, to two schools in South Estonia. She asked me to give 3 classes to the high school students about Krishna, Srila Prabhupada, the Vedas, the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and my life as a devotee of Krishna. We all chanted Hare Krishna maha-mantra together and all the children received maha-parasadam. I gave to the students Hare Krishna maha-mantra cards and invitations to our Sunday Program and encouraged them all to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in their lives. After the first lecture I felt that I do not need to rush but instead we should visit the teacher's room during the break. We went there and became acquinted with the teachers and gave them maha-prasadam. The teahcers found my visit and Krishna conscious lectures and activites very nice and now consider to invite me sometime to give some presentation about Krishna consciousness especially to the teachers in that school. I spoke to them that it is very important if we all cooperate together and try to do something very beneficial for the welfare of the children. On our way out of the school we met a gentleman who was very fascinated about me being a Hare Krishna brahmachari and we spoke about our philosophy briefly. He was very supportive to me as an individual who has chosen the path of Krishna bhakti. I asked him if he has 5 euros. He said, he sure does. I proposed him to take Srila Prabhupada's biography in estonian. I said he can read about our founder acharya and next time we can discuss our philosophy more. He gladly accepted the offer. Later I was told that he is the principal of the school.
On the next day in the other school in the city of Võru in South Estonia, I gave the remaining 2 classes. I asked the students to chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra in the kirtan and they all did. With one of the students playing a drum to accompany me with karatalas for the kirtan. They asked tons of questions from me. I answered every one of them. They gave feedback to their teacher that they liked the classes very much. We also visited the teacher's room in this school and many teachers got maha-prasadam and were deligthed by hearing about our Krishna conscious classes and visit to their school. I gave to the students Hare Krishna maha-mantra cards and invitations to our Sunday Program and encouraged them all to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in their lives.
This teacher has invited me to these schools before as well but this visit was very powerful and there was more connection with the students and the teachers. We discussed more opportunities for future classes and for special classes for the students covering some specific topics of our philosophy. We also discussed opportunities to give Krishna conscious presentations in the youth centres in the city.
In all these classes I directly explained that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that the human life is meant for realizing Krishna and our spiritual nature. I also spoke how God is one, and how religion is one: to love God or Krishna.
This teacher who is our friend is the sister of a lady who with his husband are also our friends and well wishers in South Estonia. They support us very much. We always stay in their home and I see that by staying there just for 3 days, they all become even more favorable for Krishna
consciousness. I see how much good effect has devotee association (not that I consider myself a special devotee). But that in principle if we preach and engage people in Krishna's service and deal with them personally and very friendly and not push them, then they become very inspired to help us more. I see that I need to be more active and friendly in the society and try more proactively to preach in schools and universities.
When I was in South Estonia I listened to the recording of your class entitled "The Need for Perfect Relationships". I now try to capitalize on making my relationship with you and with other devotees perfect. No more Maya. I also see how unlimitedly sweet are relationships in Krishna consciousness and that through manifesting such relationships with Krishna and with devotees and with the other souls we can attract the whole world to serve Krishna. Because as you stated in the lecture: the whole world is starving for love, for want of real relationships. And now I see that if we cultivate such pure relationships every single day then then naturally in due course of time the whole world will gradually join the Hare Krishna Movement.
On the divine appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura I was asked to speak about Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Eastern Estonia. I found your excellent class about him that you gave in the year 2012 in Vrindavan. You went into great details to explain the meaning of the Kabe Habe Bolo Sei Din Amar. I listened to it very carefully and practically spoke your words in my lecture. Your words emanate pure bhakti and I felt like speaking on topics way above my level. But I asked the devotees blessings that please pray that I can someday truly realize the meanings of this bhajan. I am so unqualified but somehow or other I am asked to give this message to you.
I also realized that by repeating your message to others I actually find myself starting to desire to come to pure bhakti. That is most enlivening. The heart changes.
In Eastern Estonia I saw a youth centre and went right in and spoke to one of the organizers there. He turned out to be a very nice man who cares for the children so that they would not get wasted on the streets. I told him that I give lectures to children about indian spiritual culture and I am on my way to South Estonia for school classes. I said that maybe we can do some program for the children here as well. He was enlivened and said that we need creative people. So I got his contact and wrote to him in detail what kind of lectures I can give for the children. I am waiting for his feedback.
I hope these direct preaching endeavors bring some happiness to you, my dear spiritual master. I have added some photos of the students visit to our temple to this email for your transcendental pleasure.
Now I am very determined to sincerely and regularly continue with chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra and begging for pure devotional service and organizing Harinama Sankirtana and preaching in all possible ways as much as possible. Please bless me so that I can develop and preach pure Krishna bhakti and be instrumental in making a solid bhakti revolution in Estonia as fast as possible. By making something practical
for that purpose at every moment. I want to finish with all my offences and be freed from all anarthas so that our preaching mission would have greater devotional impact for the eternal benefit of all the people in Estonia. I would be so happy to be able to serve in such capacity.
But I am so unqualified. And I want to throw away even the slightest traces of pride and with all humility continue chanting and preaching. Non stop. This is my only hope. I just want to humbly and in a stable way serve and preach.
Your eternal servant,
Lila-shuka Das
-------end of letter-----------
To have such a disciple is the special blessings of my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.
Lila Shuka Das is Revolutionizing Estonia
Enlightening Lectures
Thoughtful Inspired Listeners
Teaching How Dance for Krishna
Feeding Them Prasadam (Sanctified Vegetarian Food)
Video for the Day
Watch this!
Answers According to Vedic Wisdom
Question: Difference Between Punya and Akarma?
Please enlighten us on the precise difference between punya (pious acts) and akarma (devotional acts.)How should a working professional conduct himself for best (spiritual) results?
Regards,
Dhiraj
Answer: Rebirth or Liberation
From: Sri Vrindavana Dhama, IndiaMy Dear Dhiraj,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Punya means pious activities such as opening a charity hospital. If I open a charity hospital providing free medical care for so many thousands of people, then all of those people are karmically obliged to give me free medical care in the future. Therefore my reward is to come back to this material world, get sick, and get free medical care for as many lifetimes as it take for all these people I helped to pay back their karmic debt.
Akarma, means literally “no karma.” This refers to acts of devotion such as chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and studying the Bhagavad-gita. Such devotional activities not only do not create karma; they also liberate us from all previous karma, both pious and impious so that we can get out of the cycle of birth and death and return to our original home in the spiritual world.
A working professional should take shelter and initiation from a bona fide spiritual master to learn the art of how to transform all of his personal and professional activities into akarma so that upon leaving his present body he can return to his original home in the spiritual world where life is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss and all forms of material miseries are conspicuous by their absence.
I hope this meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic mood.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Comments
Post a Comment