Art and Yoga retreat in India

"Join us for an 11-day retreat in the heart of Mystic India."

 These days we will explore the essence of what is Yoga. Vrindavan is an ancient temple-town with over 5000 temples and ashrams where the locals and pilgrims share a timeless faith in Universal Divinity. Since thousands of years the area has been revered as place for healing and deepening ones own spirituality. Still today students of sanskrit from various Yoga philosophy schools come here for purification and to celebrate their diversity in unity. Our retreat is no exception to that purpose as we embark on a journey within with arts and yoga as our vessel and tool. Our purpose with this retreat is not tourism but rather to share with you an insight into one of the few living ancient cultures of this world.

price: 800 euro
 27 february - 10 March

A memorable moment

An incredible moment of healing at Standing Rock: Hundreds of veterans ask Native elders for forgiveness.

"We fought you. We took your land. We signed treaties that we broke. We stole minerals from your sacred hills. We blasted the faces of our presidents onto your sacred mountain... We didn’t respect you, we polluted your Earth, we’ve hurt you in so many ways but we’ve come to say that we are sorry. We are at your service and we beg for your forgiveness." -Wes Clark, Jr.

Satsang with Srila B.V. Atulananda Acharya Maharaj – 28 and 30 December

The 27th to the 31st December Nimaihuset is visited by Srila B.V. Atulananda Acharya Maharaj, disciple of Srila Prabhupada and one of the two acharyas of Vrinda Mission (the other being our Gurudeva Srila B.A. Paramadvaiti Maharaj). He is in Europe for a short tour, normally stationed in South America, and we are very excited to invite you to satsang – twice! – with this great vaishnava and fantastic person. 

 

Two evenings:

Wednesday the 28th December 18.00

Friday the 30th December 18.00

The program includes bhajans and lecture, 

and afterwards a nice vegetarian feast meal will be served.
All free of charge.

Don't miss this rare opportunity!

Warm welcome!

Awaken (Ananda Shanti)

Some fine conscious electronic music by our Godbrother Ananda Shanti prabhu from Berlin/Canary Islands.

2:25: "That's what religion, that's what spirituality, that what yoga, that's what true human culture is meant to do – awaken the Divinity that is within us. And to be an instrument of that Divinity." (Radhanath Swami)

Srila BA Paramadvaiti Maharaj:

 

"Deep yoga, inbound yoga – there you find your priorities."

"The Srimad Bhagavatam is telling us about the perfection of the yoga system. What is that perfection of yoga? That which removes all the illusion in our life and establishes us in a healthy and wholesome way."

"What is the essence of all this? This is really the most important question to ask."

"The Inbound Yoga System is giving us a chance to become a member of that group of people who want to become instruments of Divine Love."

"We have to also understand that of all the yogas, the most ecstatic execution of communion is when we pray to the Holy Name [chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra]: when we invoke the presence of Ishvara in our life to become an instrument of His. No yoga exercise is comparable to that. Even if you do the most incredible and difficult yoga exercises, it has nothing to do with that intensive conclusion and dedication: My Lord, let me be an instrument of Your love."

From The Perfection of yoga (Srila B.A. Paramadvaiti Maharaj)

/Sevananda das

Christmas Tables 2016!

The tradition from 2007 for our friends and friends of them continues!

Welcome to our vegetarian (mostly vegan) Christmas Tables!

Thursday 15th December, 15-22

and Sunday 18th December, 13-22

To book, please phone: 031-405 108, or mail: nimai.arts@gmail.com

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We look forward to seeing you all again! 

Dance and chant the divine names!

Love divine

Sri Radhastami celebration

On Saturday the 10th September we celebrate Sri Radhastami, 

the appearance day of Srimati Radharani.

Sri Radhe, the Queen of Vrindavana, is the female part of 
the Divine Couple – the Absolute, forever divided
for the purpose of love.

We celebrate this very special appearance day with kirtan, class by Brahma-Samhita prabhu, arati, and afterwards some fine prasadam, with extra focus on plums in different forms, Her favorite, from our own donated plum tree.

The celebration begins at 17.

(The real Sri Radhastami is on Friday 9th and we will celebrate this day too in a small and intimate manner at 18.)

Warm welcome!

Sri Krishna Janmastami!

 

On Saturday the 27th August we celebrate Sri Krishna Janmastami, the appearance day 5000 years ago of The Original Person, The Spiritual Sun, the last word of the Absolute Truth, Sri Krishna, 
paying a visit in the material world, to clear up a little, 
speak the Bhagavad Gita, and play.

There will be kirtan (congregational singing of the Holy Names), 

lecture about Sri Krishna by Brahma-Samhita Prabhu,  

abisheka (Deity-bathing), arati (Deity greeting), 

and lots of Krishna-prasadam – sanctified vegetarian food.
The celebration begins at 17.

Warm welcome!

Balarama Jayanti Celebration – Saturday 20 Aug

True renunciation

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

My beloved devotees, I hope you are very well in your respective services.

I want to tell you that sending a weekly message to the whole community has been my habit during the last 15 years. However, this year we have left it in one way or another. This is a new attempt to get back to sending the Sunday chat to share with each one of you.

There are three things that one must never give up in one's spiritual practice. That is: tapa (austerity), yagna (sacrifice) and dana (charity). Austerity is something basic to realize in the era of Kali-yuga. Srila Prabhupada also called it ”simple living with high thinking”. Sacrifice is expressed as chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord; may it be in the form of japa, in kirtan at meetings, in conferences or even writing about the glories of the Lord. Charity refers to making temples with such a beautiful atmosphere that people do not want to leave and go back to material existence where we all come from. Places full of sadhu-sangha.

All what is realized in the company of the sadhus or the devotees, is profound and beneficial purification. The sadhu-sangha is full of rasa, full of taste and appreciation for others. There may even be people for whom we do not have a natural appreciation in the world, but then they suddenly transform into recipients of a special mercy. As it is said in the prayer: ”Lord, please grant me Your mercy when I deserve it the less, because that is when I need it the most.” In this way we can constantly maintain the wish to encourage all those who are around, which includes members as well as non-members of the spiritual community.

In the same way that we have to learn to know the action in non-action, we have to learn the concept of disregard/unattachment in attachment. This means that since they have a material body, the devotees who search disregard, they constantly have to be in contact with the material energy. This is inevitable. Thus, the devotees have to keep temples and centres open in a practical and efficient way so that people can learn more about spirituality. They have to participate in campaigns to resolve unfavourable ecological situations that can affect the beings around them. They have to take care of their health and respective bodies to be in perfect conditions when they share the message of Sri Krishna to the world. They have to maintain their families happy and healthy. They have to become excellent professionals in the fields that Srila Prabhupada defined that the devotees must enter in action, etc.

Sometimes one can feel a strong impulse to renounce all material attachments and run away from them, but in that case the true renunciation becomes the act of fulfilling one's duties and responsibilities. Because it is through this accomplishment that one qualifies for transcendence. As soon as one abandons one's independence and takes refuge under the protection of a vaishnava, the very vaishnava gives you responsibilities to protect that only can be carried out with mature criteria and individual judgement. Such a responsible and careful attitude is totally healthy for spiritual advancement of those who have become inspired by the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.

I beg you to reflect upon these topics and share with the members of your community and families.

Jay Srila Prabhupada!

All my love from Ecuador.

Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti

translation

Manah Shiksha Devi Dasi

The tent: Moving around on the transcendental plane

It's interesting how the perception of the tent-jobs has changed as we get faster and faster. It's service to the Temple/Guru/Krishna, and with the increasing ease and ensuing joy for service, so the reciprocation – spiritual ecstasy – has increased. And we have reached new levels. 

In the beginning it was slow and heavy: it took around 4 hours to put the tent up, and down – always faster – around 2. As increasing skills, speed, ease and tent job-ecstasy took us to a higher level, the experience was that in comparison to the previous, we were so fast putting it up that it felt like we were taking it down. And on reaching the next level, it was dreamlike. One job was so fast and ecstatic that it was like it never happened.

Now it's beyond time. It's eternal. The feeling is that there is no putting it up or taking it down, it's always there – transcendental, just either manifest or unmanifest. And we just move around on this transcendental plane in an Eternal Now collecting donations to the Temple in beautiful gardens.

 Unmanifest.

  Manifest.

Unmanifest. 


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Photos from Stenkullen by Mattias Tempsch

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Previous posts about the tent:

Start of tent season

Another lovely day

Inverted time record

And another lovely day  

Something like a dream 

Vallda. Another perfect day  

Another temporary temple cat  

Like it never happened

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Natures Hidden Teachers - The Personalities Of Trees

Tree Hugging And Spiritual Activism

"One of the most important women on the planet"

And the peoples she refers to in this talk...

Nimaihuset 10 years-celebration!

Water is liquid extacy

Natures Hidden Teachers - The Personalities Of Trees

Ravīndra-svarūpa: The plants have more consciousness, manifest consciousness, than aquatics?

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Ravīndra-svarūpa: That plants and grass, they are more conscious than aquatics.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is also mentioned in the Bhāgavata, about different animals, how they are conscious, developed.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: In the Bhāgavata, in the later chapters, Śrīla Prabhupāda? Not up to the present Fourth Canto that...

Prabhupāda: Fourth Canto there is, how one animal is more conscious than the other.

Ravīndra-svarūpa: Yes.

Devotee: Prabhupāda, did you say that trees have the ability to see and hear in the Bhāgavatam?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Birch / Björk (Betula)

  If the Oak is king of the forest then the Birch is certainly Queen, especially here in Sweden. With her beautiful silver bark and flowing branches the Birch is obviously feminine in character.

She is amongst the first of trees to colonise new ground and she can withstand many extremes of temperature showing us the resilience and primary importance of the feminine aspect. As the ice-caps left northern Europe and Scandinavia at the end of the last ice-age Birch was quick to take root.

She moves us with her grace and beauty and helps us to glimpse the world of emotion that is ever present just under the surface of our perception of reality. Birches power time is in the early Spring when the first strings of life emerge after the cold dark winter. She carries us into summer where she matures into the fullest expression scattering thousands of tiny seeds on the winds. Birches sap rises early in Spring, surging in response to the returning sun.

Duality needs a trinity to unite eternaly

our 2 problems in life

diversity without unity.  Hers and his blind competition to dominate over this and that.
All from divorce to ugly war

unity without diversity is the black field behind the eyelids of the indifferent salvationists
 desiring private peace

in caves they try to hide themselfes from birth, death old age and disease

unity presupposes a diversity that has been unified

diversity presupposes a unity that has been divided

The heart of unity is diversity

and vise versa

Wise are those individuals

whose hearts are one with our source persona

Unwise are those averse to our center source

thrown away from the fountain emanation

by some magical centrifugal force

the further away we deviate from the center

the further away we shall be separated from each other

subjective duality without loves shelter

is the many in the circumference that lost memory of the one center

here is the world of the upside-down life story

we are born and grow only to die

where all drama has a certain finale tragedy

Searching to resolve conflicting duality, we pray and contemplate simple divine mathematics 

Duality needs a trinity to unite eternaly

Uni is 1 and div is 2

1+2 = 3

equation 3 is pure love that needs both 1 and 2 to truly come to be

This love story never ends and brings to all delight!

before the beginning, before time! love before the first sight!

we are all children of their love

Deep bluish black and golden bright

Krishna gestures towards the forest and speak to his friends:

"Have a look at these great blessed trees, who live only for the welfare of others, themselves facing the severity of stormy winds, heavy showers, heat and snow, all the while protecting us from them. The birth of trees is the most blessed in the world, as they contribute unreservedly to the well-being of all creatures. Just as no needy person ever returns disappointed from the house of a benevolent individual, similarly do these trees do for those who approach them for shelter. All of their many parts - leaves, flowers, fruits, shadow, roots, bark, wood and fragrance, are useful to others… A tree does not withdraw its cooling shade even from the one who has come to cut it.”(Bhagavata Purana 10.22.32 - 35)

Natures Hidden Teachers - The Personalities Of Trees

   “One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly”. (Sri Siksastakam; Text 3).

Oak / Ek (Quercus)

     According to wikipedia there are over 600 species of Oak worldwide. Here we are focusing particularly on the white oak (Quercus Alba) of northern europe. This Oak is majestic and stands tall in the fields and forests. The oldest oaks in europe are estimated to be 2000 years old and can grow to massive girths, much like the tree pictured above. The Oak is old and wise.

The very epitome of selfless love, the Oak tree can host a whole microcosm of beings. In Britain more than 250+ species of insect have been found living on one Oak tree, not to mention the countless fungus and microbes that live life around the great root system. That’s an impressive collection of beings living their lives connected to the Oak Tree. Imagine trying to support 200 children on a daily basis! Even if the majority of insects gnaw, chew and bore into its trunk the king of trees still provides shelter for all these creatures without complaint. It is said the parent can find joy in the mischievous actions of the children.

Word peace formula:

1. Do not take yourself too seriously.
2. Do not think that your interests have more value than the needs of others.
3. Realize that Earth provides enough to satisfy everyone’s need.
4. Realize that the one source who has generated your and other’s existence is favourably disposed towards all of us.
5. Realize that if we can find a common comprehension ground in regards to the originator of our existence and we are willing to manifest an atitude of gratefulness, then it should be possible to mediate and find an appropriate solution to the situations that we face.
6. As long as you put yourself at the center and see someone who is interfering with your interests as an opponent, you will feel that you should fight, and then, peace will be out of sight.
7. If you are willing to place other’s interest in a common center, even though those needs are representing a different need than yours, you will be able to harmonize with love and tolerance between the participants.

http://worldpeacetherapy.com/

Natures Hidden Teachers

The Personalities Of Trees. 

     We all know the story. In this modern age we are faced with increasing problems caused by our rapid consumption of the planet's resources and our disconnected and impersonal relationship to this place we call home.

      You don’t need to go far to see the immediate effects of this; discarded plastics, city smogs, noise and light pollution and this is just our immediate environment. What to mention of the bigger problems that maybe don’t affect us directly; deforestation, fracking, war and poverty on an ever increasing scale. But these things do affect us, sooner or later the emerging crisis on this Earth will touch each and everyone of us.

   More and more people are turning towards the different spiritual and ancestral cultures, the mystic traditions of the world, to rediscover ways of living which are more holistic and friendly in  approach to Mother Nature than the current paradigm currently allows.

    More and more people are trying to find where we lost the thread of our sanity in relation to each other and the Earth.

    One of the models for sustainable and holistic living that has been held up in recent years is the image of the tree. Completely in tune with its environment the humble tree never moves very far from the spot it takes root. It never takes more than it needs and  it gives back to the very environment in which it lives. Rather than degrading its surroundings it improves and even beautifies it.

Sorry

This photo was taken in the ecological village sactuary of Varshana in Colombia, during  the meeting of the mystics as they formed the United Nations of the Spirit.

Spiritual knowledge, what is that?

Q: So you have a guru, what does it mean?

A: A guru is a teacher who gives spiritual knowledge.

Q: "Spiritual knowledge", what is that supposed to mean?

A: Let me put it this way. Have you ever truly felt compassion for someone? Or truly felt gratitude? Or been awestruck by the beauty of nature? When you feel these things, you have a basic awareness of the sanctity of life. But this awareness can grow into something much greater, like a tree grows from a seed. The sense of sanctity can come from the background into the foreground. It can enter your life like a rising sun. It will cause you to re-evaluate your old habits, and put your current sense of knowledge into perspective. You can't know these things before a guru crosses your path, but he will do so when you are ready.

United Nations of the Spirit

In the native tounge of all humankind nature is mother

always adressed as the fair gender

all earthlings recieve her abundant care, so tender.

When the various forms our earth mother gives birth to

Illuminates bright in the light of wisdom shining trough hearts, transparent and pure

Then nature truly speak her heart to us on our common mother tounge.

In the shining rays of sages extatic poetry, trees will truly grow tall above us, as our revered teachers of fortitude and generousity.

Shrubbs, and grass will show us what means true humility

Her many forms forever expanding in aestetic limitless detail, inconceavably find themselfes in perfect composition within the golden frame of her all embracing love.

Earths wise elders, from cultures so diverse, dress the same naked wisdom in ever new garments, 

with threads of faith and trust they knitt a multicoloured tapestry

Earth adornes herself, preparing for a grand wedding 

yet dark and cold are the winter of ages, when humankind lost their kindness and with it, their humanity

Mother shed tears of compassion as she beholds her many poor children devoid of the wealth of simplicity,

The earths wise then saw their beloved Mothers need 

the eternal ice melting, once mighty rivers dying

chemical pollution and genetic engeneering of seed

Leaders of the great nations unite to trade,  unable to see, as if blind

As an answer to earth Mothers silent prayer, a gathering of mystics took place

in the highlands of the Andees

Attended by Chiefs of all tribes, Mammos, Shamans and  Brahmins, all of earths diverse wise

The elder brothers of our great world family

In the light of translation these great seers could see. The essence of all of earth ancestral wisdom

unconditional love, to be

Oh what a joyous celebration of faith!, a golden marriage within, of love and wisdom. Of unity and diversity!

And so from the Kiwa in Varshana, the sacred sanctuary of our great mothers heart. The united nations of the spirit formed, inviting the whole world to be a part

Nature recieves the suns arrival in hemisphere, with joyous youthful spring

flowers blossom, revealing earths concealed feelings, aromas carried by the soft breeze , truly intoxicating!

Why the Lord has a human form

Nobody wants to invite a huge cosmic manifestation into the house, it would not fit!
-- Brahma-samhita das

In other words; although the human form seems limited in time and space, these limitations make it very suitable for loving exchanges. The Lord may appear in a human body outside your house, just so you can invite Him in for tea. There is no question of inviting the all-pervading form which is already inside the house and has already tasted your cookies, that exchange would be meaningless.

The human body is quite awkward for a spirit soul; it has so many needs, even learning to walk on two legs is awkward for the baby. But all these needs enable us to serve each other, sacrificing our own needs to fulfil another's, and this makes our existence beautiful. All these limitations enable us to strive for something, just as there would be no union without separation. The human form is not perfect for attaining peace, but it is perfect for serving and being served. Is it therefore surprising that the Lord appears in this form, to love and be loved?

Subal's and Padma's wedding

A sweet video from the Vedic wedding of Subal and Padma on the Swedish mela, made by Siddhanta prabhu.

Chanting the names of the Lord

Pictures from the Swedish Mela 2016

Swedish yatra with Gurumaharaj (middle back)

 

The purpose of Kali Yuga

Excerpt from morning class during Gurumaharaj's visit to Nimaihuset on 8 May 2016.

Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti: Any questions?

Satyavrata Muni das: Yes... I wonder what is the point of the Kali Yuga? Am I allowed to ask that question?

Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti: Ah... what is the point of Kali Yuga? I love this question, because, it obliges us to be self-critical. Sva... kalāv asmin yuge janāḥ mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ. This is one of the first verses in the Bhagavatam, explains the need of the Kali Yuga. He says, the Kali Yuga has come, in a way, to wake up those who are the laziest, the less intelligent, the less sincere, who have gotten the invitation of Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and they still linger on, full of this materialistic "I want to get this and that", and they become so divided over everything, so, we need to get them the Kali Yuga atmosphere to hopefully wake them up. It's not exactly a charming reason, no? It means, there is another way, Prabhupad used to say, "Either you learn by hearing or you learn by suffering, and some people don't even learn when the suffering comes". Then they get another chance. First of all, at the pralaya, destruction, time of destruction, you get a resting time in Mahavishnu. And then you come back, and again the cycle starts. Because regardless of our stupidity God loves us, but He doesn't want to take away our free participation. And another thing I must add there, as I see a certain vibration going through your eyes, and that is, don't question the good intention of the divine towards us. Don't do that, don't allow your mind to do that, because if you do that, it's like, here we are, little stupid say say "God, could you please come on this chair, this is the accusation, accused chair, now we gonna bring... Hey, prosecutor, could you please present the case against him?" (laughter) And you, seat yourself on the judge seat. "Now listen, now my lord I will check you out", no? This Gurumaharaj says you should not do. It doesn't belong to us, this position of questioning the good intentions of the Creator towards us. It destroys something with us, it creates a kind of, artificial pride. And this artificial pride, by the way is very popular because those who deny the existence of God, they not only put Him on the accusation chair, they already deleted Him, as "the accused doesn't exist". (laughs)

Mighty as thunder, yet shy

An offering to the Lotusfeet of Srila Gurudeva Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Maharaj

Your days turns into its pages
The life story of the Lord of all life is breathing and alive with you!

He surprises you and you surprise Him aswell
Just like Raya Ramananda, unaware what he was about to tell

In times of seperation you ornament fortunate dasis, sheltered by Vishnupriya devi, with pleasing qualities
Tutoring them in for the full moon ring dance, turning time into longing preperation.

Empowered by the Lord like his friend, Hero Arjuna
You bring relief to our earth mother
Unifying all brothers, Bhaktas, mamos and munis alike, the worlds diverse wise.
Shredding asunder with sharp arrows of truth all heavy lies.
Mighty as thunder, yet shy


As faiths first friend in confidence console her with expert grace
The whole world heals in her maternal embrace

Compassion food

The duty of the sane

Prabhupada had had an acquaintance in Allahabad who was only fifty years old when he was on his deathbed. The man had desperately implored the doctor to let him live four more years so he could execute his unfinished plans.

"What can the doctor do?" Prabhupada asked. "That is not possible, sir. You must get out!"

To the devotees' amusement, he then described the misery a child experiences when he has to go to school.

At least I was like that," Srila Prabhupada said and laughed. "I never wanted to go to school. And my father was very kind. He said, 'So why are you not going to school?' I would say, 'I will go tomorrow.' He would say, 'All right.' But my mother was very careful. Perhaps, if my mother would not have been a little strict, I would not have gotten any education. My father was very lenient. So she used to force me. One man would take me to school. Actually, children do not want to go to school; they want to play. Against their will, they have to go to school.

"So, you study life. From the beginning of this body, within the womb of the mother, it is simply troublesome. Against my will, so many distresses are there. Then as you grow, the distresses grow and grow."

He described how miseries disturb us constantly, and Srila Prabhupada said that a sane man's duty is to stop accepting a material body.

"Now realize that you are changing your condition of distress and happiness, being forced to accept some kind of gross and subtle body. That is the cause of your pains and pleasures. And if you get out of this gross and subtle body and remain in your original, spiritual body, then you are free from these pains and pleasures."

facing the problem

As if disconnecting our eternal self from the complex psychological software program of mind and biomachinery hardware of our physical body was not enough. Now we have another layer to deal with. Well... for that matter, matter itself is not our problem, but our self projecting its own value into it to such extreme that we missidentify ourselves with it.