2007 - New Years Resolution/The Revolution Continues

Hare Krishna Everyone!

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Just over three weeks into the year of 2007, we are now at a good point to gauge as to whether we have kept to our New Years resolutions or not.....so have we? Even if we have I think this is the right time where as a group we can add something special to our independent spiritual lives, that will benefit us all as a family!

In 2007, we as members of ISKCON Pandava Sena are going to have more commitment to becoming Krishna Consciousness and more enthusiasm to giving Krishna Consciousness!

1) 'We should always remember that our body is not for sense gratification; it is for Krishna’s service only. And to render very good sound service to Krishna we should not neglect the upkeep of the body.'

2) 'If by the tongue you chant Hare Krishna mantra, and by the tongue you taste prasadam, you will be perfect, simply by executing these two things.'

3) 'We should learn to forget and forgive minor incidents because whenever there are two men in a place, there is always some misunderstanding.'

Quotes from his divine grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Before embarking on our Krishna Consciousness journey in 2007 I would like us to read these three quotes. Srila Prabhupada always stressed the importance of health, sadhna and service, in that order. The quotes I have chosen are in relationship to this order. In this year of 2007 it will be wonderful if we can all work together to serve Krishna in all these areas of health, sadhna and service!

1) The first quote relates directly to health. Often, as devotees we forget we need to take care of our material body. We are busy, enthusiastic doing service however we forget that the body we are in requires good maintenance through a good balance between exercise and rest. Without our health it will be very difficult to focus strongly on our sadhna. We have all been ill at one point or another and know how helpless and reliant on others we become. Luckily in Iskcon we have several Ayurvedic doctors who can give us good advice based on our personal diet and condition. So, we must take care of our health to the best of our ability so we can focus on our sadhna.

2) Sadhna includes: chanting of the holy name; hearing the holy name; hearing about Krishna and his past times in classes; reading about Krishna; attending of morning programs; and eating prashadam. Sadhna is the most important part of our spiritual life, it is our spiritual fuel and energy. There is an analogy that relates to this aspect of our lives. When we have a car full of fuel, we are able to drive it everywhere we want to do service! In this example the car represents us. However, once the fuel runs out, no matter how physically fit or how determined and enthusiastic the car is it is not possible for it to move until it is re-fuelled. The fuel in this example represents our Sadhna. The analogy shows we must have good Sadhna so that our enthu and drive to serve Srila Prabhupad and Krishna can be fulfilled effectively. Our Sadhna is our spiritual fuel, it is what allows us to be engaged in service in the right mood and with the right attitude. Without it, eventually we will run out of energy.

3 ) We have now looked at examples on both health and sadhna. The final aspect of our lives to look at is service. We are constantly trying to be enaged in devotional service. It is important to know what mood we are doing service in and how we are co-operating with other devotees around us to do the service. During the visit of His Holiness Radhanath Swami he gave a very POWERFUL class on Leadership in relation to service. In this class HH Radhanath Swami gave some of the most valuable instructions on how we can make our service more devotional, focussed and effective. I am going to share with you a few of these that I felt we can all apply and practice.

First of all HH Radhanath Swami explained the difference between 'High' and 'Low' service. Often we feel that a service that has more responsibility is higher service, however he explained that 'High' service is service that his done in a humble state and a 'Low' service is service that his done with pride and ego. Often in service we see it is difficult to get along with everyone around us, or that if something goes wrong we get distracted and feel less confident. HH Radhanath Swami explained we must 'accept headaches for the mission'. HH Radhanath Swami also explained we must have the 'willingness to adjust and put the higher principle above the current passion'. As Srila Prabhupada has said above we have to learn to tolerate. He understood that mistakes will always occur however devotee's of the lord live with Vaishnava qualities, no expectations. HH Radhanath Swami explained we should all be striving for the qualities of tolerance, humility, sincerity and forgiveness.

Here are a few more quotes from his classes that I believe we can meditate upon that can better our service:

'Don't worry what people think of you, the way they treat you. Worry about the way you think of people, you treat people.'

'Come to SERVE! Don't come to BE served.'

'If you are criticising people in a lower social, economic or Krishna conscious position YOU HAVE MISSED THE POINT'.

'Accept HEADACHES for the mission'

'Leaders must COMMAND respect not DEMAND respect'

I read this particular quote below, from His Divine Grace, A,C, Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada and felt, we are so fortunate. We must take this opportunity to try and perfect our health, sadhna and service. Sometimes we forget what we have, we're so lucky because we're constantly reminded by Krishna, Srila Prabhupad and all the devotees around us!

'Everyone is being controlled by God, but a devotee is so exalted that Krishna says, “I wish to be controlled by you.” This is Krishna’s position.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!

2006 - The Round Up

2006 was a great year for IPS and a great example of the variety of opportunities there are to be engaged in devotional service. IPS were thorougly engaged in creating innovative projects of their own and supporting the Manor during festival times!

Here is a quick round up:

We made good use of the colours we organised for the Holi festival. The infamous picture of UV comes to mind [if you have seen the video/presentation]. People from all over came to see the bonfire and chuck colours at each other.

Upton Centre [home of East London Jamming] was re-decorated by the devotees - loads of hard work to make the hall look great! The numbers keep growing, a record of 210 when His Holiness Sivarama Swami graced us with his presence.

We went on our summer trip to New Mayapur! We were so so soo fortunate to have the
presence of His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami - MIND BLOWING KIRTAN, His Holiness Paramgati Swami - ETERNALLY SMILING, Her Grace Urmila Mataji - WHO IS IN TOWN AS WE SPEAK and His Grace Gauri Prabhu - WHO IS ALSO IN TOWN-funnily enough!

When we returned we celebrated the beautiful festival of JANMASHTAMI! We took over both the VRINDAVAN FOREST and the 'LOST' tent [can't think of a better name]. The Vrindavan forest displayed 21 stunning past times of the lord! The Lost play was appreciated and praised by all who saw! The actors, setting and directing was excellent! All of IPS were heavily engaged into the production and organising of both areas!

From HAVS [I've never known what that stands for] to VICTORIA HALL. Harrow Jamming moved to a new and larger hall. The new hall has already been blessed with the presence of several senior devotees and we keep attracting the new people - keep up the good work!

Dussera witnessed the burning of a much more fierce, muscular RAVAN! An excellently directed play with a new cast. At one point we did not want to burn RAVAN he looked that good! PS devotees were constantly enagaged in the constructing of RAVAN and rehearsing for the play!

The Diwali program in East was moving and truely inspiring! Sandeep Prabhu, Naveen Krishna Prabhu and Bhutabhavana Prabhu blessed us with their words that touched all our hearts! The fireworks were DISPLAY FIREWORKS not DOMESTIC FIREWORKS - no more needs to be said on that! Everyone had a great time!

The Christmas programme was a good laugh as devotees took to acting, singing, dancing..........being papp'd..................and we got to reminisce about the beautiful Deities in New Mayapur! An article on the event was published in the Asian Voice along with pictures of devotees dressed up in funny costumes!

IPS was blessed and glorified by several senior devotees. His Holiness Radhanath Maharaj said Pandava Sena is a 'Spiritually satisfying group of people'.

The importance of looking back at what we have accomplished through the mercy of senior devotees and Srila Prabhupad as it helps us realise we are very fortunate to be engaged in devotional service and in the association of so many other devotees. It also makes us realise that we can do great things in this way and keep expanding Lord Caitanya's family!

With this mood it would be nice if all of us, in the next year can commit ourselves a little more to our family and be inspired to better every festival, programme, Jamming and expand into new areas and projects! Let us together further build Srila Prabhupad's army and focus, responsibly and enthusiastically on Lord Caitanya's mission!

Thank you to all the Pandava Sena devotees who have been engaged in service in 2006 and welcome to those who are new, do not worry, we have enough room for everyone!

IPS New Years Eve Extravaganza

Hare Krishna!

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupad!

First of all I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Yes yes I know it's a little late but I hope you had a good one!

New years Eve is by far the most extravagantly celebrated night around the world! This year, ISKCON Pandava Sena decided it should be no different for the devotees as we took over Bhaktivedanta Manor...ONCE AGAIN!

Devotees got there early to help with the decoration of the temple room. Thank you very much to both Kanchan Mataji and Toni Prabhu for being so eager to help and co-ordinate. Moving the ladder in and out of the crowds that had gathered early and experimenting with the balloon net all added to the fun as we awaited the evening's party!

The evening began with a 'Youth Interactive' programme facilitated by Sandeep Prabhu. Sandeep, as usual, connected great with the youth audience, got them involved in group activities/discussions and inspired them all to write out a Krishna Conscious New Year's Resolution and sign up to IPS - HARIBOL! A few of them have even attended Jammings! Thank you to Sandeep Prabhu for facilitating such a fun and informative event for the youth.

The night was energised by Powerful Kirtan as several PS devotees sang and played their hearts out for the happiness of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda and Srila Prabhupad! Thank you to Vijay Prabhu for co-ordinating and organising such wonderful kirtan and thank you to all the devotees who sang and played, for creating such a fascinating energy - The crowds could not stay static for long and were soon jumping and dancing ecstatically to the holy name!

Halfway through the night we took a break to be blessed by the words of His Grace Shruti Dharma Prabhu and once again Sandeep Prabhu! Shruti Dharma Prabhu and Sandeep Prabhu addressed the whole congregation speaking on the importance of Krishna Consciousness in the modern world today and how we are so fortunate to be a part of this revolutionary and unique movement! The talks were very well received as devotees were seated all the way out into the reception room where we had the live link set-up due to demand! Thank you so much to Shruti Dharma Prabhu for his constant support towards Pandava Sena and his words that I am sure have brought us valuable realisations. Thank you once again to Sandeep Prabhu who continues to inspire and encourage us.

Kirtans were then enjoyed throughout the night as devotees chanted the names of the Lord! Five minutes before 12.00 we closed the curtains. The kirtans got louder and more powerful, everyone wanting to once again see the beautiful Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda! The curtains opened and there was an explosion of confetti, balloons and bubbles. Yes, bubbles were all around the altar! The supporting nets were cut as a sky of balloons rained onto the devotees. We would like to thank the Manor for allowing us to open the Deity curtains at 12.00 which allowed us to see their Lordships the first in the New Year!

Dilraj Prabhu was the drive behind the event. He was the one to come up with the initial ideas for the entertainment and programmes for the evening. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dilraj Prabhu for his enthusiasm to make the New Years Eve event so special for all of us who were there.

I would also like to thank all the PS devotees that came on the evening to support and be a part of the New Years Eve programme. Without you the programme would not have been this successful! Thank you for dancing, co-ordinating, preaching, cleaning - EVERYONE had a part to play!

This event represented the strength and unity of ISKCON Pandava Sena! Together we were able to touch the hearts of hundreds of people, by encouraging them to dance and chant the holy name we were all engaged in the service of Srila Prabhupad and Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda! We should go into 2007, the new year with this mood to serve collectively and enthusiastically! We should continue to inspire our friends in PS and continue to attract others to the process as we have experienced the happiness it brings. Together with the mercy of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda and Srila Prabhupad we are capable of great things. The decision of whether or not to open the curtains at midnight went all the way to ISKCON GBC!

We are all very fortunate and blessed to be part of such a dynamic youth group that has so much potential! We must all stay enthused for Srila Prabupad and the mission, we have a lot to do, but it is possible!

If you have any ideas for future events or would like to make any suggestions or comments please feel free to contact me. I hope to be engaged in your service very soon!

Hare Krishna

Your aspiring servant

J