Seva Ashram News of the Vaishnava Seva Society

Srila Janardan Maharaj in China

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Hasyapriya Das | 0 Comments

During the month of October 2012, Srila Janardan Maharaj travelled to China to visit with Yudhamnayu Prabhu Seva Vikram and the Chinese devotees. Accompanied by Shatrugna Prabhu, they went to Chongqing and Shenzhen, where they were warmly greeted by the Chinese devotees. Here are some pictures from that tour. View photos…

Shraddhaanjali – Kathak Dance Concert Benefitting Vaishnava Seva Society

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Hasyapriya Das | 0 Comments

Purchase tickets now for a beautiful concert of classical Indian dancing in the Kathak tradition presented by Sangita Nandy’s Kathak Kala Vihar Dance School. The whole family, including your children, will enjoy this wonderful dance concert. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity! This is a benefit concert and all proceeds will be donated to the Vaishnava Seva Society.

Legendary Kathak maestro Nrityashiromani Guru Bandana Sen – “It feels great to see our rich cultural heritage being passed on with such enthusiasm to the younger generation, even though they are not in India.”Learn more…

Invitation to Srila Acharya Maharaj’s Appearance Day

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

Please join the devotees in Soquel and San Jose on Tuesday October 16th for the grand celebration of the Appearance festival of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Acharya and Sevaite, Sri Srimad Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj. Vidura Krishna Prabhu will lead the Soquel program and there will be sumptuous feasts at both festivals. View invitation…

All Glories to “Sri Guru and His Grace”

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Bhakti Lalita Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

Bhakti Lalita Devi Dasi highlights the necessity of reading Sri Guru and His Grace every day, for the benefit of our own spiritual progress. “Whether it’s a time of separation from Sri Guru, a time to get a proper introduction or perspective on guru-tattva, time for a reality check or to assess and reconceive everything what we thought we knew and subsequently broaden our vision — the time has come again for Sri Guru and His Grace”. Read full article…

Fossilism vs Subjective Evolution

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Vrinda Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

Srila Sridhar Maharaj explains, “Darwin has given the theory of evolution— Fossilism. Vedanta has given subjective evolution. In Darwin’s theory of objective evolution, matter evolves consciousness. The object exists first, and by its development, life is coming, consciousness is coming— from stone. That is objective evolution. But an object is a relative term; without the subject, an object cannot stand. The subject is the primary substance. Whatever is to be felt is only an idea in the subjective ocean.” Read full article…

The Exclusive Search for Krishna is a Reward of Its Own

Posted on September 29, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

Srila Sridhar Maharaj comments on the last verse of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sri Sikshastakam: “What is in the process that we should adopt for eternity? We are to wait for eternity and we may or may not get anything, and still we want that. What is that? Only if you can understand that there is such beauty in the way of the search and that to search for Sri Krishna is the highest beauty above all else. The exclusive search for Krishna is a reward of its own. Virtue is a reward of its own.” Read full article…

The Appearance of Bhakti Vinod Thakur

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

In honor of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur’s appearance day I am linking to last year’s article on GaudiyaDarshan.com, which includes a verse from Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj’s Sri Laghu-chandrika-bhasya and some excerpts from a Bengali article of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj about this holy day. Read full article…

Also there is an English translation of a Bengali article prepared by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj from his lecture at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Dham Nabadwip on September 29, 1955. Read full article…

The Appearance of Sri Vamanadev

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

Srila Janardan Maharaj recounts the pastimes of Bali Maharaj and Sri Vamanadev to illustrate the meaning of yukta vairagya, proper renunciation as well as sharanagati, surrender. Sri Vamanadev is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who appears to be a brahmin, bramachari dwarf. This is just a nine minute clip from a Sunday Feast lecture that pertains to the pastimes of Sri Vamandev. Listen to lecture…

This Week: Appearance of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur and Much More

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

This is a very special week. Please join the devotees in Santa Cruz on Thursday for the Appearance of both Lord Vamandev and Srila Jiva Goswami, Friday for the Appearance of Srila Sachidananda Bhakti Vinod Thakur, and Saturday for Srila Haridas Thakur’s Disapperance. For information about the programs in San Jose, please call the San Jose Seva Ashram: (408) 288-6360. View invitation…

Photos from Salt Lake City part 2: Sankirtan Downtown, the Mormon Temple, and the Fire Sacrifice

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

After Saturday’s hike everyone went downtown for more nagarsankirtan on the streets of Salt Lake City. There are also photos here of the Mormon temple’s beautiful visitors’ center, and of the fire sacrifice. View photos…

Invitation to Sri Lalita Saptami and Sri Radhastami Festivals

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

Please join us for the very auspicious celebrations of Sri Lalita Saptami, the appearance day of Srimati Lalita Devi on Saturday September 22nd and Sri Radhastami, the holy appearance day of Srimati Radharani on Sunday September 23rd. View invitation…

Bhakti Lalita Devi Dasi’s Lecture on Lalita Saptami in 2011

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Bhakti Lalita Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

“It’s a very exclusive day that we observe with care and attention. Some cautiousness…. We take our Gurudev’s lotus feet on our head and try to remember the glories he shared with us and pray not to make any offense in the attempt…. In Gurudev’s language she is the chief super-guardian of the service and the pastimes of Radha and Govinda.” Listen to lecture…

Report on Srila B.P. Janardan Maharaj’s Trip to Portland, Oregon

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Rama Chandra Das | 0 Comments

My dandavat pranams to all the devotees who participated and helped with the Oregon programs. I would like to especially thank Srila B.P. Janardan Maharaj who came and blessed us with his holy association and sweet mercy. He gave so much nourishment to the devotees here in Oregon… View photos…

Science and Religion -Introduction

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Vrinda Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

In this introduction for the new series of articles on science and religion Rohini Devi Dasi presents the need to explore the field where these two meet. Read full article…

Sunday Feast Lecture–120826 Bhakti is With Our Senses Serving Krishna

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

Pusta Krishna Prabhu’s recently gave a beautiful lecture at the Sunday Feast. He said, “Krishna is giving so much love and as Srila Govinda Maharaj would say, the bhakta is depositing it in Krishna. He is not keeping it in the pocket because the liberated soul is not an enjoyer, the liberated soul is a servant–but not the way we think of service in this world, as being oppressive. In that [spiritual] world it is the most liberating eternal connection.” Listen to lecture…

A few photos of Janmastami in the Park

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

Vidura Krishna Prabhu organized last weekend’s second annual public program at Ponderosa Park in Sunnyvale, California. New guests came as well as many members of our local community. View photos…

Photos from Salt Lake City part 1: Sankirtan in the Park and Hiking in the Forest

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Braja Mohini Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

The weekend-long festival last month in Salt Lake City was wonderful. Here are some more pictures. On Friday there was a very nice public program in the park near the temple. Several guests came and were very much inspired and enlivened to hear from Srila B.P. Janardan Maharaj and Srila B.K. Ashram Maharaj. Read full article…

Bhakti Yoga Experience in Portland, Oregon with Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Rama Chandra Das | 0 Comments

I am very happy to announce that Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj will be in Portland, Oregon next weekend. If you are able to, please take advantage of this great opportunity to have his holy association. View invitation…

Janardan Maharaj’s Lecture at Ponderosa Park in Sunnyvale, California

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

“Everything about Krishna is eternal. Before our eyes He appears and disappears, but actually Krishna is existing eternally. For that matter, so are we. The living entity is always existing…. Of all the living entities who are nitya there is one who is supreme, nityo nityanam. Chetanash chetananam, and we are conscious but our consciousness is limited. In Bhagavad-gita it is said that we are kshetrajna; we have consciousness of this body. But the Lord is conscious of all living entities. Therefore He says, “I am maintaining all these living entities in this world and everywhere.” The Lord is maintaining everyone.” Listen to lecture…

Divine Service, Bhakti Yoga

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Sushila Devi Dasi | 0 Comments

Srila Govinda Maharaj explains in Affectionate Guidance: “Karmma and seva, action and divine service, are identical from the external perspective. Bhakti-yoga and karmma-yoga are the same apart from one thing—and that is the inner mood of the practitioner. The inner intention is the all-important, differentiating factor.” Read full article…