Vyasa Puja Offering 2010

Dear Srila Gurudeva

Please Accept My Humble Obeisance's

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

As I was reflecting on my Vyasa puja offering, I remembered your glorious passing in 2005 as the entire worldwide devotee community watched. You always quoted Srila Prabhupada in saying that one should leave gloriously like Bhishmadeva on the battlefield. You preached to the entire world sitting on a wheelchair with a body devastated by Cancer. Your message came at a time when the secular and devotee communities were focusing on what was missing in their lives. Back then and even now the focus of the world is on what is missing. This immense meditation on what's missing and a lack of gratitude for whatever has been provided only empowers hatred and forces some to engage in deviant acts.

Quoting you "We all know what we want and that could be relief from financial, physical or emotional distress, most do not want pure devotion. But that's exactly what we "need."

You exemplified the purport of Bhagavad Gita 9.22 where the Lord says "To those who worship me with exclusive devotion, meditating on my transcendental form- to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have." At any given time the Lord provides what we need for us to move on to the next level of Krishna consciousness. While it is natural to think that the Lord is referring to resources or auspicious developments, it is not very easy to accept inauspiciousness as also the exact circumstances we "need" to advance.

Your examples of immense gratitude in the face of such obvious pain are the greatest inspiration a disciple or well wisher could ever have. In retrospect, your pain was unfortunately what most of us needed for us to focus on the message of love. You taught us that aligning ourselves with the Parampara would empower us to transcend all material circumstances.

Matter can never impede spirit. At any given time our circumstances in life have the exact ingredients for us to make advancement. Be it adverse or favorable circumstances, we are always well taken care of. The profundity of this message is relevant today in 2010 in a world that passed through immense suffering due to a roll-back of resources or finances.

My humble realization is that at any given time every devotee, family, community and the movement as a whole has exactly what it "needs" to advance and move to the next level. This means that the resources have already been provided. We already have the exact dollar amount, devotees and infrastructure to experience love and share it with the world. We will be given whatever is needed for the next level when we fully employ everything in His service now.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that His name would be spread in every town and village. His omnipotent statement contains all the resources required for it to manifest. Any individual, family and community who develop a deep desire to fulfill the Lord's statement would never be bereft or lacking in anything. After all, the Lord is Svena or self-sufficient and His orders being non-different from Him carry the same potency.

I humbly beg for mercy to be able to focus 100% on being able to maintain an "Attitude of Gratitude" under all circumstances. Your pain has left deep samskaras in our hearts on what is possible. You have set the bar high but have provided the mercy for us to meet your standards. Nothing would please you more if your disciples and well-wishers follow in your foot steps and become exemplars themselves and become instruments.

Hoping to be the servant of Your servants

Sri Vrindavan das

New Jersey

Twelve Names of Lord Sri Nityananda Rama

This prayer when chanted with deep faith draws the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu who is the only means to approach Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There are many devotees who have made these prayers a daily practice and have experienced noticeable changes in their Krishna consciousness.

12 Names of the Moonlike Nityananda Prabhu by Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya

One who recites these 12 auspicious holy names of the moonlike Nityananda-candra everyday between 6 - 8.30 a.m. will become free from all difficulties, and attain all his most cherished desires. Very soon he will receive the mercy of Shri Caitanya-deva.

nityanando ´vadhutendur, vasudha-prana-vallabhah
jahnavi-jivita-patih, krishna-prema-pradah prabhu

Shri Nityananda Prabhu is the embodiment of eternal bliss. He is the moon of all avadhutas, and the beloved of the life-breath of Vasudha (his wife). Lord Nityananda is the husband enthusing Jahnavi with life. Nityananda Rama bestows ecstatic love for Krishna, and He is the Lord and Master of the devotees.

Padmavati-sutah shriman, shaci-nandana-purvajah
Bhavonmatto jagat-trata, rakta-gaura-kalevarah

Shri Nityananda is the dear son of Padmavati, and He is full of splendrous transcendental majesty. Nitai is the older brother of Shacimata´s son Nimai. Nityananda Avadhuta is maddened in overwhelming ecstatic emotions. Shri Nityananda Prabhu is the saviour of the universe. His complexion is golden tinged with red.

The twelve names found in the above prayer with meaning is as follows-

Sri Nityananda - Lord Nityananda Rama

Avadhutendur - Moon amongst the Avadhutas or One who is beyond rules and regulations

Vasudha Prana Vallabha - The beloved Who is dearer to Srimati Vasudha (His consort) than Her life-force (prana).

Jahnava Jivita Patih - He who enthuses Srimati Jahnava (His consort) to live

Krishna Prema Prada - The Bestower of Krishna Prema

Prabhu - The Lord and Master of all souls

Padmavati Sutah - The Son of Mother Padmavati

Sriman - The possessor of Sri Transcendental Majesty

Saci Nandana Purvajah - The older brother of Sriman Mahaprabhu (Saci Nandana)

Bhava Unmattah - One who is in Divya Mada or maddening ecstasy of Krishna Prema

Jagat Trattah - Savior of the whole world

Rakta Gaura Kalevaraha - One whose body is reddish golden

The need for Short-term Goals

A popular saying goes " A man without a goal is like a ship without a rudder." In the secular world there is immense emphasis on planning. We hear of plans spread over the short-term, medium-term and longer term. Planning for the future is not an alien concept be it for the individual, family, community or the country.

However, when it comes to managing progress in our spiritual life, we let things go. The same principles apply to both secular and spiritual goals. Milestones need to be set and experienced for us to manage this life long process.

We are now a few weeks away from the most auspicious appearance day of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. The actual tithi of the appearance day of the Lord and His associates carry immense potency. On such days, any seva carries manifold blessings. The Lord awaits to shower His blessings on sincere seekers who make a firm commitment to walk toward Him. Over the years we have seen participants in our Siksha programs make rapid progress after taking vows on chanting a fixed number of malas before the Deity and Vaishnavas held on the occassion of Sri Gaura Purnima. We believe that the attached discussions on goal setting would encourage the listener to come forward and take a firm step on Gaura Purnima 2010.

We have attached a class by Srila Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja on the topic of goal setting in Krishna consciousness. I gave a class on the same topic a few weeks ago in our Saturday Bhakti Vriksha gathering which is also attached.

Short Term Goals MP3 by Srila Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja

Goal setting for 2010 Mp3 by Sri Vrindavan dasa