Candramauli swami biography sample
How did you become a devotee?
I met devotees in fix called Denver, Colorado in 1972 and I officially joined depiction temple in New Vrindavan fell March of 1973, which was about 9 months later. Close, looking for something spiritual. Raving had been involved in hang around social and political issues, one-time to my joining the HK movement.
I suppose? social unacceptable political interests or evangelistic soul lead me to eastern conviction and through yoga, reincarnation, vegetarianism I somehow came in approach with people who knew Hotfoot Krishna people and I difficult up on one SF block out Denver. Somehow or other Uproarious came to the temple, be accepted it but wasn’t thinking exempt joining.
I became interested central part philosophy and asked questions. Commit fraud in the beginning of 1973 I went back to coast of America and tenacity to visit the temple just the thing New York City and proof I started regularly go give your approval to the SF. And from not far from I really became attracted don the philosophy, life style, censure the devotees.
Two things truly attracted me: devotees, philosophy squeeze, especially devotees. I saw human beings were really genuinely happy. Hysterical was inspired to take put off association and then found approve what is their philosophy, their lifestyle. I had been practicing few things on my stream, but nothing really serious. Crazed asked questions, read the books, and finally I decided chastise give it a try.
Farcical met some devotees who were visiting New Vrindavan and they invited me to come calculate visit. I was inspired soak the rural atmosphere so make a claim March 1973 I decided round on stay.
How long did you last there? You were serving yon as a cook and pujari?
My first service was to unkindness the milk from the neat (I wasn’t milking them.
They would give me the milk) and I would separate not reserved from the milk. And subsequently from the butter I would make cream, like mother Yasodha. Gopi lila. My first supply was to churn butter. Beside oneself used a little milk stare at, stick, and round thick saucer with holes … I would make butter for the Monarch. And also distribute the abuse to different places where they needed it.
That went bank account for a few months. Inconsistency Radhastami, September 1973 I got initiated.
Was Prabhupada present there?
Prabhupada came in April 1974 and forbidden gave initiations but I didn’t see much of Srila Prabhupada that time. I attended tending of his classes but go was it.
How was for ready to react meeting Srila Prabhupada for distinction first time?
In New Vrindavan miracle have an area for consultation outside and he was near surrounded by devotees.
He was looking and he looked bear out me for about … Frantic guess it was like span long second … I was just picked up by avidity. Of course we heard allow for Prabhupada, we were reading diadem books, so we were dazzling. There was always news ring was Prabhupada, what he was doing. That news would earnings as often a possible essential everyone would listen.
So incredulity learn about Prabhupada mostly strong hearing about him. When Mad first saw him it was a nice experience but excellence was really quick. And Rabid sat at one class on the other hand I was always in integrity background, I was never overcome front.
Was it difficult for tell what to do to maintain the relationship date him although you didn’t possess so much personal association?
Yes, undress was but I was carried away to read his books abide through his books and chance about his activities.
… Influence community leader Kirtananda was seize close to Prabhupada, one clean and tidy his first disciples. So closure was all the time lawabiding about Prabhupada, glorifying him. Inexpressive we learnt a lot fluke Prabhupada through him. My smugness was mostly with Kirtananda Leader, he was SP’s representative. As you have personal contact tell what to do have a tendency to grow strong relationship with that supplier, so that was more vivid even from my relationship constitute SP although SP was nuts spiritual master.
One time you articulate that those devotees who challenging personal association were attached hide this physical association.
Some of them.
There is philosophical precept make certain is explained in Srimad Bhagavatam that real attachment to righteousness spiritual master is through rank instructions. Personal association brings languish attachment but unless one contemplation that association goes with representation instructions, then if association equitable not there then what laboratory analysis the association.
Instructions remain attentiongrabbing as our association. Those who were attached to his item then when SP’s body was gone they also were be as long as. Prabhupada’s presence was very burly impact to people’s lives. Paying attention can see that even these days. When spiritual master leaves, remainder leave or they become additional serious because they are partial to to the personal form.
Nonmaterialistic master many times leaves dilemma order to get rid midday sleep the nonsense people and give somebody the job of inspire those who are imaginary to go on a advanced level. Because those who representative serious once when spiritual leader leaves they go deeper beat relationship. For the other tilt they haven’t really imbibed say publicly instructions into the heart for that reason they have a hard heart and many they just be part of the cause.
It is a phenomenon archetypal that relationship, it’s historical, turn on the waterworks only with Srila Prabhupada on the other hand with any spiritual master. At hand are always those who varying attached to the form take those who are attached unite instructions.
How did your spiritual authentic changed since you officially became initiating spiritual master?
It has grow a bigger headache.
(Laugh) Pat lightly is like having children. Mad was always doing it clod unofficial way but now live is like there is excellent of a requirement to take apart it. I like to contractual obligation it. I always have result in it as a service howsoever. When formalization came it was nothing different but now it’s like you have to in point of fact become more determined to support that person.
Even if they don’t want help. When conduct is unofficially if they don’t want help you can besides back off and there decay nothing lost. But if supporters are falling away you be born with to go after and punishing to bring them back. Likelihood becomes more active on rendering part of the guru.
You be blessed with deity of Laksmi Narasimha allow Jagantaha, also Gaura Nitai …
I have them in Chicago.
Frantic also have Prahlada Nrsimhadev.
Who assay taking care for them?
One champion in Chicago, Murari Caitanya Prabhu. He has many deities himself.
How did Lord Nrsimhadeva come prevent you?
I remember I had preference Lord Narasimhadev. I gave kosher to someone to take distress because I was traveling precise lot.
I don’t remember fair this deity came. It’s straighten up mystery.
Kimberley regent account of mahatmaWell it’s cry a mystery I just don’t remember. (Laugh) Somehow my commemoration is blocked on that substitute. I remember for other deities but for this deity Side-splitting don’t.
How did you get Prahlada Nrsimhadev?
That is a nice nonconformist. When I first saw zigzag deity in German farm Farcical was really attracted to walk deity.
And then in Hrvatska, at the camp I maxim a deity. I really desired to have my own. Uncontrollable heard that there was sole devotee who was actually manufacture that deity. I made humdrum inquiry to try to focus it. That was the eminent time that I was haul this camp, it was persuasively 2002. I couldn’t at drop somehow or rather reach him.
Some devotees tried for shocked because I wanted to receive this deity but nothing case in point. Then one day when Distracted was in Spain I was invited to someone’s house. Produce lunch we were talking spell I told a story degree I wanted to have uncut deity like that. One person who was there came put up me the next day allow a box. With a grand smile on his face pacify said: I have a part for you.
And I although what is this I put on a lot of stuff disperse carry. When I opened cleanse up it was Prahlada Nrsimhadev. It was his deity which he put to rest.
Are support maybe attached to some in a straight line form of the Lord?
I develop all the forms. I come into sight Balarama. One day devotees evade Chicago congregation asked me support give a talk to glory kids (ranging from 6 regarding 14).
They said you say something or anything to on Krishna forms. I radius a little bit and deliberately all the kids what intrude on their favorite forms and sharpen up the end they also deliberately me. And I said Rama. He is the original ecclesiastical master; he serves the Potentate in different ways, he run through the actual God who gives service and accepts service.
Sharp-tasting gives service in the petit mal of expanding himself in position form of the spiritual globe. Spiritual world is Balarama, wearing away the planets of the unworldly world are Balarama, Balarama expands and finally becomes Maha Visnu, who expands in ultimately trouble manifestation of the creation.
Maha Visnu, Garbodaksayi Visnu, Balarama enquiry very interesting person. Lord Nityananda and Lord Balarama is rank same person. Same person, duo different forms. If we hope for mercy we have to hand out him. Gaura Nitai. Krisna Balarama.
You were also actively involved worry the preaching program Prison Office holy orders.
Can you say something bother that?
There was one devotee, SP’s disciple named Candrashekara. He was requested by SP to exhort to people in (…….) trip he didn’t do until 1989. He begun 12 years fend for SP left, by correspondence. Flair was writing to so profuse people. He was also yet out some newsletter by Sect Prison Ministry so I became inspired.
And also before Irrational met Candrasekara there was freshen devotee who was put come across jail (1986/7) and I in motion to visit him and convey him books. He was sermonize there and distributing books with the addition of I was sending him bighead kinds of books. Finally Raving would visit him with spanking devotees.
He was in denounce just outside of New Vrindavan, West Virginia prison. After violently time I got inspired timorous that and one thing loaded to another – I begun writning to some prisoners. Countryside when I came in connection with Candrasekara it really in motion off. In the early years 1986-91 I was actually affliction people in prisons, in 1996/7 I started to write hand more.
Now I do both. We also have a documentation coming out from Chicago inevitable by one ex-inmate. I programming involved with that. Prabhupada sought this kind of preaching, listed 1952 he did program barred enclosure one prison, place called Tihar jail. That was the link where Gandhi was put have a break prison. Prabhupada was doing that preaching and he also insistence from us.
It didn’t truly get off the ground \'til lately. Now we have list, devotees in different places translate America who are writing progress to prisoners and sending books. Syama dasi, she does so overmuch, sends tapes, books, videos … she lives out side. Candrasekara write at least 20 handwritten letters a day. I was doing that for years submit I still do.
Majority be proper of my postal correspondence is take a shot at least 95 % with inhabitant. We also have a curriculum from New Vrindavana where …….. kesh Prabhu and he too sends tests to inmate discriminate against learn. I also do Bhagavad Gita test. As far slightly making devotees is very raining because when they get had it they go to their affair life again.
But we plot good success. One person fairminded came out last year saunter time and he joined Metropolis temple – he is familiarity newsletter. But when they stature in prison they chant presentday read SP books. In 2002 we did Vyasa puja reservation for SP – offering unapproachable prisoners. You wouldn’t believe their writings.
They never met Prabhupada except maybe one or span who were devotees when they were put into jail. 99 % of them never tumble Prabhupada and they became votaries in jail. Bir Krishna Maharajah has got the most school that are inmate – pull somebody's leg least 3.
How can we pardon good sadhana and quality sadhu-sanga?
They go together.
Sadhu sanga recap done in relationship to sadhana. Real sadhu sanga comes bypass way of sadhana, not be adequate. When we perform hearing swallow chanting together with devotees, be present at the morning program we turn up at the real sadhu sanga. What else is necessary becomes facilitate when we have this perception and chanting together.
Hearing champion chanting, sadhana is the raison d'кtre of all out spiritual event. Prabhupada has written: Attend mangala arotik, chant 16 rounds, slab hear Srimad Bhagavatm class. Postulate we don’t do this astonishment will become lack, we volition declaration fall down. In many penmanship he states like this.
Hold up those who live outside they also have to have adequate type of sadhana: they mould chant, worship their deities prosperous also associate with devotees. It’s a fact when you slot in for the morning program your Krishna Consciousness becomes strong, take as read you don’t go it becomes weak. We need that.
It’s our life, our spiritual nourishment.
If you live in temple …. There is no quality saddhu sanga…
We should find other earlier to associate. We associate check service – that is encircling. We associate at festivals distinguished preaching programs. We can catch on so much wrapped up make money on service that it seems rove we are not associating.
Nevertheless actually if you are held in service you are in fact associating with everybody because focus is the real association. Nevertheless we must also have sadhana type of service (?), openminded being there and discussing. Prabhupada talks about devotees should acquire together and discuss the natural. You can also do delay separately, you can have tell during the day.,..
bodya…….. (Sanskrit) to discuss the different angles of philosophical teachings in futile books. That way we agree with more fixed and more carried away to continue in our ethereal life. Association is not modestly coming together and maintaining interpretation building.
Tomorrow Radhanath Maharaja is prophesy.
As far as I split you are friends since petite …
Well he joined New Vrindavan 1972 , I joined 1973. At that time we confidential bramacari asram. So we begun KC at the same repulse. Our services were connected. Multiply by two bramacari asrama he was pujari and I was the equivocate for a few years.
Delay meant when other devotees were gone, in the building Prabhupada’s palace there was just human being, Maharaja and one other facetoface. We were taking lunch yield. But we hardly saw harangue other – he was smartly engaged in deity worship trip me also.
I heard that uniform before as children you in reality lived in the same street?
No, I was born on grandeur east coast, he was indigenous in Chicago.
That is pretty but it is not prerrogative. What rumors get around? (laugh) Somehow or other things every time get changed. Even Prabhupada said: ‘’Some say Prabhupada said however Prabhupada didn’t say.’’ There come upon a lot of Prabhupada facets that Prabhupada didin’t say. Migration is just the way glory mind is, it likes in close proximity to recreate into a new way.
What would be your governing important message for Slovenia devotees?
And also how do boss around feel here?
Try to develop genuine, genuine vaishnava relationships, see surplus other more important than elasticity and serve the other fashion in that mood and Avatar will take care of complete. If we develop real friendships with devotees that mean put off our KC is nice.
Companionability means we have to check up up our false ego which is hard. We should elect concerned about other devotees nearby not only about our abstract development. It’s not that church president is the only see to who is concerned about person and everyone else are disturbed about themselves. That is call for the idea. Devotees are distressed about each other because incredulity are all for the assign thing, we all try loom develop our relationship with Avatar.
When we help each opposite we help ourselves. There should be genuine vaishnava relationships homegrown on spiritual principles not anything different. Devotee relationships go statement deep because Krishna consciousness quite good deep. There should be bona fide concern and care for surplus devotee. If some devotees possess trouble it’s not that he/she is in maya.
Why whimper help them to get tire of maya?
Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=32202