Aashishs Blog

I just found this video on the internet and it shows the amazing preaching work that Drutakarma Prabhu is doing in Russia. If you don't know him, he is the author of some ground-breaking books such as Forbidden Archaeology, which challenges Darwin's Theory of Evolution. That book has since become an underground classic.

"Sometimes we do not appreciate being happy outside and free, and we complain about this and that situation, or we are happy that someone is creating some small problems for us and so on.  I promise you that if once, even for a short time, you have to stay behind iron doors, where there is nothing except dirty and dark walls, then as soon as you come out you will appreciate wherever you live, even if it is an old apartment or an uncomfortable environment.  You will surely appreciate the open sky and the singing of the birds, your broken chair and rusted bicycle, the old car and the job that pays less than you want.

Sometimes in the many years since I have been free from jail I have noticed that even devotees of Krishna can start to get attached to material things, which actually bring us only a little  happiness and lots of troubles.  Humans always want more and more from this material world than we actually need.  It is impossible to satisfy out heart's desire or the senses which are more powerful than a fire, ready to burn all surroundings just to satisfy the tiny temporary and actually useless desires.  When we complain about the situation we are in, Krishna teaches us a good lesson, by placing us temporarily in a worse situation; so that we will appreciate the gift we had just a week or month ago.  Then we understand the most important thing in life which I think is that this material world is a place of miseries and that the only solution to our problems is fully surrendering to Krishna."

Salted Bread, A true story, Gagik Buniatyan, pp144 - 145
Religious Persecution in the former USSR

...and I am back! I have been too busy as of late to do any blogging. I have several amazing videos to share, including a couple videos (and maybe an mp3), of His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami doing bhajans and harinama through Amsterdam. Also on the list are videos and photos from my Hungary Retreat for His Holiness Sivarama Swami's 2008 Vyasa Puja Day (which was amazing!), so watch this space....

This video below is from the Gaura Purnima Harinama - I just love that tune!!! The video is in Divx Format and is High Quality. You can see the video full screen by clicking on that button to the left of that 'X' button which is on the right.

Get the DivX Web Player for Windows or Mac.

I have finally uploaded this video I took of a ISKCON Pandava Sena Maha Jamming Event at Bhaktivedanta Manor. It was Kirtans for many hours, and the Temple Room was completely packed! His Holiness Sivarama Swami comes for only a short time in a year, so these events are extra special, watch the video by clicking on the button below. The video is in Divx Format and is High Quality. You would need to see the video full screen to see it clearly as the Temple Room was dark, so click on that button to the left of that 'X' button which is on the right.

Get the DivX Web Player for Windows or Mac.

Today was the glorious apparance day of Nityananda Prabhu, and we had celebrated with an amazing harinama with His Grace Jayadeva Prabhu (after a full feast!). I must say, the harinama was amazing, he was singing beautifully and he projected the holy names out clearly and it really did have an impact, as you shall see in the video.

Towards the ending, we enter the McDonalds Restaurant on our way back - that was the last place I would ever have gone, the smell of beef was in the air! During that time, I had remembered that His Holiness Radhnatha Swami said you could even go to Hell just for walking in McDonalds because there is so much karma involved, but I had then remembered that for a Vaishnava, Heaven and Hell are the same.

This video is in Divx Format, as that is what my LG Viewty Camera records in and converting into anything else is too long. It is an amazing quality video so you can't miss this one, don't forget that you can switch to full screen viewing by clicking on the button next to the 'X' button at the right side of the video player toolbar.

Click play to start playing the video in a popup window, may take a little time to start streaming depending on your internet connection.

Once, near the peaceful village of Vrndavana, the transcendental place where Krsna manifested His pastimes on earth, there lived a scholarly brahmana (priest) and servant of Krsna. Opposite his home, there lived a prostitute.

As a daily observance, the brahmana would sit in his doorway and recite the Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, then cook offering for the Deities in the Temple, his cooking abilities were famous throughout the land. Meanwhile, across the street, the prostitute would tend to her business.

Here is another video of His Grace Madhava Prabhu singing bhajans (along with His Holiness Sivarama Swami) at Bhaktivedanta Manor. Last January was an amazing month, ehh? Watch it below.

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Well! What can I say!! I was there when His Holiness Sivarama Swami was doing bhajans at Bhaktivedanta Manor, and it was truly amazing, watch for yourself! As usual, the temple was completely packed out as everyone knows that this is an event not to be missed! (You have already missed out for Sillions of lifetimes!!!)

It was dark, so my camera had a slight difficulty with the quality, and my finger covers the lens for a very short time, pardon me! You have to handle these small devices very carefully!!!

Get the DivX Web Player for Windows or Mac.

Madhava Prabhu is simply amazing!!! You can feel the depth of his devotion from his singing, and that affects everyone who is participating.....the mrdangas are played beautifully here.

Get the DivX Web Player for Windows or
Mac.

This next video is a lecture by His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami on the manifestation of Lord Chaitanyas Mercy through Sankirtan - this video is very interesting and very funny as Maharaja talks about his own adventures in Sankirtan and the lengths that devotees are willing to go to deliver Lord Chaitanyas mercy!

Get the DivX Web Player for Windows or Mac.

Hiya Folks! I'm back on the blogging scene after a short disappearance! There are many videos that I wanted to share with you but due to soooooo many upload problems (google Videos fault) I couldn't post anything for a long while, but that's now sorted out.

The first video is this amazing Harinama with His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami in London. One of the very first videos I had posted on my blog was a harinama by His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami and that was amazing and this is certainly no different! Maharaja comes for only a short time in the UK, but when he does come, you do not want to miss out.

Get the DivX Web Player for Windows or Mac.

I am watching Memories of Srila Prabhupada DVD Part 18, and there His Grace Pushkar Prabhu says that in one morning walk, sometimes Prabhupada would throw out a challenge out or his disciples would throw a challenge to Prabhupada and thus a debate would ensue. Srila Prabhupada was a Master of Parry, a master of the quick repost. So, in one morning walk, sometimes Prabhupadas would throw out a challenge out or his disciples would throw a challenge to Prabhupada and thus a debate would ensue.

One Devotee Says to Prabhupada, "Well, I think sex is spiritual, what do you say to that?"

Prabhupada quickly replied, "Ohhh, thats a Dogs philosophy. Are you a dog?"

Another Devotee would say, "I understand you are Alan Ginsburgs Guru?".

Prabhupada would then quickly reply, "I am nobodys guru, I am everyones servant".

So, Srila Prabhupada would be able to come very quickly like that in responding to challenges. Just one of the many facets of Srila Prabhupada that I would like to share.

New Years Eve/Day Harinama (chanting & dancing) through London was such an amazing experience! London was completely packed out and there were actually a lot of people in the Harinama procession. His Grace Parasurama Prabhu led the Harinama for most of the time, and he was absolutely amazing! Words, unfortunately, do not do justice, hence that's why there is a video for you to see and 1 photo to expand and view (it was dark and so most of the photos were no good).

Here is a short video of the harinama, so that you can see how it was. It was taken on my new mobile phone, the LG Viewty, so the video quality is a lot better than my old mobile. This is the first new years eve/day Harinama through London that I have been on, and I will certainly be coming next year!

In his lecture this morning Prabhupada vividly described how the covering power of maya (Illusion) influences a person's sense of enjoyment. He explained that in Burma they have a drink called naphi. People keep special pots into which they place dead bodies of animals, which are then left to decompose. Later, after some years, the fluids are drained and bottled to be drunk at festivals.

When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's men opened a center in Rangoon, they cooked puris in ghee. The neighboring people actually complained about the "horrible smell."

Source: A Transcendental Diary, Volume 1 - November 1975 - April 1976, TD 1-9: Sri Dhama Mayapur, February 29th, 1976

Today, I was at Soho Temple - it was Govardhana Puja today. The temple was very nicely decorated, and the deities were stunning in their beautiful outfits. As usual, the feast was really nice.....but it ended up too much! I had to stuff all the sweets in my cup and attempt to get up! His Grace Devadeva Prabhu sang the kirtans and I was literally swept away with his melody that I had never heard before. He is literally crying out for their Lordships in so much pain and separation.

For a fraction of a moment the holy names seemed to come alive and touch me a little bit with its transcendental attractiveness - it is beyond words! I just realised that nothing in the material world can ever compare to the Holy Names, and the Holy Names is like a never-ending ocean of bliss. You then start to wonder why souls deviate from Devotional Service, if it is so pleasurable. My mind is saying that it is all down to the origin of the soul, but that's another controversy that is not worth getting into! Silly Mind!

Below is a lovely video clip from my mobile phone. Please watch: