Tattva-viveka
Balarama/Janmastami Festival
Syamasundara - August 11, 2009 4:27 am
Well, greetings from Audarya!
GM in his immense generosity decided to fly the two of us to Audarya for the festival, so, like two sea turtles (that scripture says raise their babies "in meditation") we left Madhuvan in the care of Juan, and took its heart, Rama and Govinda, along with us for people to have an encore darsana.
It's been already so blissful so far. We arrived on Fri night and spent the night at Agni and Ratna's. There we found out much to our pleasure that the two services GS and I were hoping to get (decorating the altar and dressing the deities) had already been assigned to us without our knowledge; so that added to the magic, at least from a personal point of view.
The temple now has a nice railing all around and fancy garden tables and umbrellas. The place is exploding with fruit, berries, herbs and vegetables, let alone the milk from Prema and Kama Dhenu.
So we had the first official morning talk yesterday on the official Balaram Purnima. It was about Krsna becoming of age, or at least wanting some slack from his parents and developing interest in the gopis. The verse itself was about Krsna glorifying Balarama.
A lot of points were very expertly raised, but they will be best appreciated in the recording. The talk was so imbibed with passion for sakhya bhava that I remember feeling a little embarrassed at first, as if GM was letting out too many secrets. Then I started to imagine what certain devotees would say to that, or how they would argue, and I am referring to all those who gave a hard time to GM and Babhru for O my Friend, specially a certain lady, and toward the end of the class I felt more like: "In your face!"
From today and until Janmastami the talks will be from the 4th chapter of BG, about the concept of avatara. The attendance is about 30. In the morning Tulasi devi dances with us during the Tulasi kirtan, which is really something. I know it's due to the floor, but I don't remember noticing it before.
I don't know if it's been like this for a while, but now the retreat have a slightly different feel, meaning that for the devotees, and from a devotional point of view anything goes, as far as we have our classes and kirtan, but since there are always a few guests (for example one brought by Agni and one by Hari Bhakti) the retreat has more of a standard feel, with hikes to waterfalls, yoga classes in the mornings, pic nics, etc.
Well, once again, once the report has been written, it doesn't sound like much, so I guess I'll post a picture of the altar, so everybody will have something to meditate on for the whole week.
http://tattvaviveka.ipbhost.com/style_imag.../attach_add.png
http://tattvaviveka.ipbhost.com/style_imag.../attach_add.png
Gaura-Vijaya Das - August 11, 2009 10:01 am
Well, greetings from Audarya!
GM in his immense generosity decided to fly the two of us to Audarya for the festival, so, like two sea turtles (that scripture says raise their babies "in meditation") we left Madhuvan in the care of Juan, and took its heart, Rama and Govinda, along with us for people to have an encore darsana.
It's been already so blissful so far. We arrived on Fri night and spent the night at Agni and Ratna's. There we found out much to our pleasure that the two services GS and I were hoping to get (decorating the altar and dressing the deities) had already been assigned to us without our knowledge; so that added to the magic, at least from a personal point of view.
The temple now has a nice railing all around and fancy garden tables and umbrellas. The place is exploding with fruit, berries, herbs and vegetables, let alone the milk from Prema and Kama Dhenu.
So we had the first official morning talk yesterday on the official Balaram Purnima. It was about Krsna becoming of age, or at least wanting some slack from his parents and developing interest in the gopis. The verse itself was about Krsna glorifying Balarama.
A lot of points were very expertly raised, but they will be best appreciated in the recording. The talk was so imbibed with passion for sakhya bhava that I remember feeling a little embarrassed at first, as if GM was letting out too many secrets. Then I started to imagine what certain devotees would say to that, or how they would argue, and I am referring to all those who gave a hard time to GM and Babhru for O my Friend, specially a certain lady, and toward the end of the class I felt more like: "In your face!"
From today and until Janmastami the talks will be from the 4th chapter of BG, about the concept of avatara. The attendance is about 30. In the morning Tulasi devi dances with us during the Tulasi kirtan, which is really something. I know it's due to the floor, but I don't remember noticing it before.
I don't know if it's been like this for a while, but now the retreat have a slightly different feel, meaning that for the devotees, and from a devotional point of view anything goes, as far as we have our classes and kirtan, but since there are always a few guests (for example one brought by Agni and one by Hari Bhakti) the retreat has more of a standard feel, with hikes to waterfalls, yoga classes in the mornings, pic nics, etc.
Well, once again, once the report has been written, it doesn't sound like much, so I guess I'll post a picture of the altar, so everybody will have something to meditate on for the whole week.
http://tattvaviveka.ipbhost.com/style_imag.../attach_add.png
http://tattvaviveka.ipbhost.com/style_imag.../attach_add.png
Will Braja not return from Poland?
Braja-sundari Dasi - August 11, 2009 11:52 am
Will Braja not return from Poland?
Of course I`m coming back! 
Bijaya Kumara Das - August 13, 2009 7:19 am
Steven at the Indian Creek Inn has 4 rooms available he can be reached at 707 895 3861 or cell 707 295 6327
friday must be out by 7 am and okay to be back in at noon because tree fallers will be there at 7am to finish work.
Bijaya Kumara Das - August 13, 2009 2:27 pm
Now there are 5 rooms available.
We will not be able to attend but thanks for the invite.
Maybe a skype live session or ytube ?
Braja-sundari Dasi - August 13, 2009 9:03 pm
Now there are 5 rooms available.
We will not be able to attend but thanks for the invite.
Maybe a skype live session or ytube ?
just try that link at the proper times: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/swami-darshan
Bijaya Kumara Das - August 13, 2009 9:55 pm
just try that link at the proper times: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/swami-darshan
thank you but the session this morning on ustream is not there
Braja-sundari Dasi - August 13, 2009 10:41 pm
thank you but the session this morning on ustream is not there
This one was lost due to electricity problem
Gandiva Dasi - August 13, 2009 11:31 pm
This one was lost due to electricity problem
Bijaya Kumara Das - August 14, 2009 12:21 am
you can view it, some how it is on there but no live stream yet 5 20 pm
Gaura-Vijaya Das - August 20, 2009 4:15 am
you can view it, some how it is on there but no live stream yet 5 20 pm
I cannot play thevideos again. Is it not possible to view the lectures again.
Braja-sundari Dasi - August 20, 2009 7:55 am
I cannot play thevideos again. Is it not possible to view the lectures again.
Which one doesn`t work? I just tried Prabhupada`s avirbhava and everything was OK
Gaura-Vijaya Das - August 20, 2009 10:16 am
Which one doesn`t work? I just tried Prabhupada`s avirbhava and everything was OK
It plays for 2-3 minutes and then suddenly stops. I dont know why.
Gandiva Dasi - August 20, 2009 2:49 pm
It plays for 2-3 minutes and then suddenly stops. I dont know why.
Yes for me too.
Madan Gopal Das - August 20, 2009 3:59 pm
It is working for me, but I have had similar problems before which have had something to do with having my "Flash" plugin up to date. To see if this is the problem, try watching another video on another site like youtube or cnn or something. If you have the same problem, it is not the ustream site, but probably something with your browser plugin.
I am so NOT a techy, so good luck! This is just what I've figured out through trial and error before.
Nitaisundara Das - August 20, 2009 7:50 pm
The problem witht he videos is probably from the recordings. I was cooking and managing the webcast but a few times when the class ended the recordings just kept going on and on because I forgot and/or was busy. I do not know of any way to then edit the recordings so I did not save those ones that had (for example) kids playing around on the camera and what not. Also there were some times where other people shut off the recording without knowing to save them properly first.
And lastly, there was one talk where the electricity went out about 15 minutes before it ended, so I lost that one too.
The moral of the story? Try to watch live I guess. Next time hopefully we will have a better system down.
Syama Gopala Dasa - August 20, 2009 8:58 pm
no the recordings are okay, you can click the time frame to go anywhere. it is just getting them to play. Will try to download them.
Braja-sundari Dasi - August 21, 2009 4:04 pm
I`m just playing Prabhupada avirbhava now. the problem occured in the beginning but I just ignored it and video resumed after about 1-2 seconds. Maybe it has something to do with internet speed...