Here are some notes on sravama-dasa from NOI 8 from Gokulananda Das!

Regarding the references,

In Bhakti Sandarbha anuccheda 278 JG elaborates on the five stages of smaranam. In case you need them, I have the Bhakti Sandarbha translations by Satya Nārāyana Dāsa and H.H. Bhanu Svāmī in pdf format.

In your lecture, you mentioned that this topic shwos up in the works of Bhaktivinoda Thākura. I checked it up; there are elaborate explanations in Jaiva Dharma, chapter 40 and Harināma Cintamani, chapter 16.

FYI, Śivarama Svāmi wrote a synthesis on these stages in his Nava Vraja Mahima 8.36 (Introduction to Māha Mantra).

Ys,

Gokulānanda dāsa

His Grace Krsna loka Das sent the following:

Radha Kundastakam,

 by Raghunath das Goswami 

(1)

vṛṣabha-danuja-nāśān narma-dharmokti-rańgair

nikhila-nija-sakhībhir yat sva-hastena pūrṇam

prakaṭitam api vṛndāraṇya-rājñā pramodais

tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

(2)

vraja-bhuvi mura-śatroḥ preyasīnāḿ nikāmair

asulabham api tūrṇaḿ prema-kalpa-drumaḿ tam

janayati hṛdi bhūmau snātur uccair priyaḿ yat

tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

(3)

agha-ripur api yatnād atra devyāḥ prasāda-

prasara-kṛta-katākṣa-prāpti-kāmaḥ prakāmam

anusarati yad ucaaiḥ snāna-sevānubandhais

tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

(4)

vraja-bhuvana-sudhāḿśoḥ prema-bhūmir nikāmaḿ

vraja-madhura-kiśorī-mauli-ratna-priyeva

paricitam api nāmnā yā ca tenaiva tasyās

tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

(5)

api jana iha kaścid yasya sevā-prasādaiḥ

praṇaya-sura-latā syāt tasya goṣṭhendra-sūnoḥ

sapadi kila mad-īśā-dāsya-puṣpa-praśasyā

tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

(6)

taṭa-madhura-nikuñjaḥ klpta-nāmāna uccair

nija-parijana-vargaiḥ samvibhajyāśritas taiḥ

madhukara-ruta-ramyā yasya rājanti kāmyās

tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

(7)

taṭa-bhuvi vara-vedyāḿ yasya narmāti-hṛdyāḿ

madhura-madhura-vārtāḿ goṣṭha-candrasya bhańgyā

praṭhayati mitha īśā prāṇa-sakhyālibhiḥ sā

tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

(8)

anudinam ati-rańgaiḥ prema-mattāli-sańghair

vara-sarasija-gandhair hāri-vāri-prapūrṇe

viharata iha yasmin dam-patī tau pramattau

tad ati-surabhi rādhā-kuṇḍam evāśrayo me

(9)

avikalam ati devyāś cāru kuṇḍāṣṭakaḿ yaḥ

paripaṭhati tadīyollāsi-dāsyārpitātmā

aciram iha śarīre darśayaty eva tasmai

madhu-ripur ati-modaiḥ śliṣyamāṇāḿ priyāḿ tām

Translation

(1) May very fragrant Radha'-kunda, which, prodded by the gopis' many joking words after Vrsabhasura's death, the king of Vrndavana forest happily built and filled with His own hand, be my shelter.

(2) May very dear and fragrant Radha-kunda, which, for one who bathes in it immediately creates in the land of the heart a desire tree of pure love rare even among the gopibeloveds of Lord Krishna in Vraja, be my shelter.

(3) May very dear and fragrant Radha-kunda, where, yearning to attain the merciful sidelong glance of His queen, Lord Krishna diligently follows Her bathing attendants, be my shelter.

(4) May very fragrant Radha'-kunda, which is named after a girl who is a realm of love for He who is the moon of Vraja, a girl who is like the most precious jewel in the crown of the sweet girls of Vraja, be my shelter.

(5) The mercy obtained by serving Radha'-kunda makes the celestial vine of pure love for the prince of Vraja, which is famous for bearing the flowers of service to my queen, sprout. May that very fragrant Radha'-kunda be my shelter.

(6) May very fragrant Radha-kunda, on the shores of which are many splendid and charming forest groves filled with the sweet sounds of bumblebees and each named after one of Sri Radha's friends, be my shelter.

(7) May very fragrant Radha-kunda, on the shore of which, in a pleasant courtyard Queen Radha and Her friends sweetly joke with Lord Krishna, the moon of Vraja, be my shelter.

(8) May very fragrant Radha-kunda, where the passionate divine couple daily plays with Their passionate friends in the charming lotus-scented water, be my shelter.

(9) To one who is completely dedicated to Queen Radha's service and who happily reads these eight beautiful verses describing Her lake, even in this present body Lord Krishna shows His beloved as he happily embraces Her.

Financial Report DTC-UT Spain

Hare Krsna

PAMHO

AGTSP

All glorie To Hanumatpreska Swami

Thank you Guru Dev for engage us in service and for your association to my whole family Vrsabhanu Nandini and Hari vamsi Dhari. Thank you for inviting us to this adventure of being part of this beautiful choir to glorify Radha Krsna and serve in Srila Prabhupada's sankirtan. At this moment we are editing the main film of the trip to Spain DTC UT SPAIN since we will make several more with everything that has been recorded.

Thanks to all the devotees who have helped us to be able to do this service in the best way.

We have had our own 4K camera and thanks to Raul Zeballos (Film Director) giving us his own 4K camera we have been able to film with 2 cameras. It was necessary, the purchase of other equipment, lights, external drives, accessories and a computer capable of editing 4k.

The maintenance expenses, basically food and some medicines I have not registered in the Expenses (I don't remember).

Also the mobility expenses were donated by Jayanta Prabhu as a donation to NIOS

We also don't know about the lodging expense, but we do know that we will donate a promotional video for the NuevaVrajamandala Farm as help for the lodging.

thank you

your servant Ambarisa M DAs

HpS/ASA - AgtSP. Thank you all for your association and help in so many ways.

We still have a previous post with this title.

We did not open it because we see that we only have a limited amount of energy for information management each day e.g. Accounts, Disciple Lists etc.

We should be able to post all your notes to NIOS Treasurer soon.

Incomes

Cash given by Prabhu Abhiram -------------------------------------------------------------u$4400

[Buenos Aires Temple (Argentina)]

Cash given by Hanumatpresaka Swami----------------------------------------------------u$2000

[Nuevavraja Mandala (Spain)]

Total Cash income-----------------------------------------------------------------------------u$6400

 Expenses in Spain

Equipment expenses and gifts for HPS guests in Spain (paid with the money (Laxmi) given by HPS and ATD)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------u$6,365,668

ASA - That is six million dollars?

Ticket expenses--------------------------------------------------------------------------------u$ 5081

US equipment Expenses----------------------------------------------------------------------u$ 1577.44

 TOTAL COST, Expenses------------------------------------------------------------------------u$ 13058.44

ASA - That is thirteen thousand dollars??

Does not make sense! Maybe we can talk about it on the phone!

Thank you.

+ lodging (?)

Expenses in detail

+Plane ticket X3 (Ambarisa das, Vrsabhanu nandini Dd and Hari vamsi dhari) ---------u$5081

+Microphone x2, disk x4, photometer. --------------------------------------------------------u$1,577.14

+Lights x3 and batteries ------------------------------------------------------------------------u$447.6

+Support and clamping star for tripod -------------------------------------------------------u$ 96

+MacBook Pro 14 64 gb ram computer --------------------------------------------------------u$ 5578

+External hard drive 10tb ----------------------------------------------------------------------u$208,068

+Guest gifts (sketch books) ---------------------------------------------------------------------u$36

+Living expenses (I don't know how much I have spent on food)-------------------------- (?)

+New Vraja Mandala lodging expense (Expenses?) + Nuevavrajamandala

promotional video.------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (?)

+Mobility payment Prabhu Jayanta (donation to Nios)-------------------------------------- (?)

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[11/1, 6:41 PM] ABC Prabhu, Swami or Mataji wrote: Jaya Mahārāja 

My obeisances. Jaya Srila Prabhupada 

I found out today via Gadadhara Gosai that you will be coming to Mexico in March. Wonderful for us, most welcome expectations. Had I known that you were in the Vrndavana area I would have tried to come and see you. I left Vrndavana three days ago as I am meeting with the some India leaders about their incensed feelings about Vaisnavi Diksa Gurus. 

My Sankirtan could be better but for my remaining two and fraction years as an ISKCON active committee member I doubt it will improve much, until that’s over with, still trying!

Your servant, ABC Swami, Prabhu, Mataji

[11/2, 10:34 AM] HPSwami - Prof. HHR: Thank you so much. 

Personally we don't like the term 'Vaisnavi'. It seems to have been introduced a few years ago and it seems to be offensive, like putting a material designation on the Vaisnava.

Kind of like 'atma' and 'atmi'.

We looked at the Vedabase.io for the term and it gives maybe twenty-five citations in books.

Like 18 of those are references to the Goddess Kali.

So if we say someone in ISKCON is a great ´Vaisnavi´, we cringe because the general reference would be 'She is a big Mayadevi´

😳

Then it mentions the prostitute who tried to seduce Hari Das Thakura became a Vaisnavi.

Then Diti who wanted to kill her sisters children became a Vaisnavi.

Smt. Indira Gandhi should become a Vaisnavi.

Srila Prabhupada's very esteemed sister (who was cooking food that was maybe too strong for him) was a Vaisnavi.

🙂

Yet, it says that Sikhi Mahiti's sister, who was one of Lord Caitanya's 4-1/2 most intimate associates was a Vaisnavi!

💪💪💪

So, we see real contrast in using the term, seems you can be calling the Mataji everything from a witch to the most elevated Vaisnava in creation.

🤔

What do you think?

We don't mind our personal perspectives being circulated and discussed, because we are certainly open for hearing the personal reflections of others. We know that our personal opinions are not always right.

Hare Krsna Gurudev Dandavat Pranam 

I have two thing to check with you.

1. A backup japa mala for me. Want to have another Japa mala as a backup mala from you. Is it possible? Yes, then I will purchase another japa mala and give to you for japa and collect after that.

HpS - No, as far as we know only one set of initiated beads.

Of course, after sixteen rounds we can chant on any kind of counter.

If you lose those, then we can hold the whole mess in our hands and chant one maha-mantra. Prabhupada says that his chanting on a set of replacments for a lost set is not necessary.

I would put in front of his picture and pray.

2. My mother is doing japa for last 17-18 years. She does 20 rounds per day. 30 rounds on ekadashi. Follow all rules, cook and offer prasadam to lord, she already read SB, BG. She is a daily reader of SB at day time. Padma puran at night time.

I wanted her to get initiation from a vaisanava parampara. 

I know there are ISKCON rules and procedures for initiation. Still am checking with you. Is it possible to get initiation from you.

She is a pious soul. She trust lord a lot. Worshipping lord for last 40+ years without fail. Am not saying this because she is my mother. Am saying because she is dedicated, witnessed her last 40 yeas.

Whatever you say will accept without any bad feelings.

Please help me to know your comments.

HpS - As you describe the situation, Yes. Certainly.

Of course, just as with Jiva Goswami Das, we need approval of the administrative side of ISKCON also.

Letter from Temple President.

In any case Krsna knows what she is doing!

Yatri from Lokannatha Swami's Vraja Mandala Parikrama try to understand how Rama lila, one million years ago plus, can appear in Mathura in Dvapara yuga.

ASA answered:

Everything starts in Goloka, no? Even if it occurred in the "past" it is starting in the "present" in Goloka.

One Radha tells Krsna: Today we are going to play like Sita and Lord Rama. I will be Sita, and Sridama (Her big brother) will be Ravana. He will kidnap me an hide me and you will play Rama and all the boys will play the Monkeys and try to find "Sita"!

It is so much fun that they expand Themselves as Sita and Rama and play the lila eternally.

O.K.\?