Category Archives: Philosophy

George Harrison, a true seeker visiting Vrindavan

What Should One Do in Holy Dham?

A visit to a holy place doesn’t only mean visiting temples, site seeing or taking a bath in a sacred river. The purpose of visiting holy dham is not sense enjoyment.

Holy Dham is Not Sense Enjoyment

Holy Dham is Not Sense Enjoyment

In fact one should observe sense restrain and undergo austerities.

Many Walk Bare Feet in Dham

Many Walk Bare Feet in Dham

The foremost representative of Lord Krsna’s Vedic culture in modern times is His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada (1896-1977), the founder acharya of International Society for Krishna consciousness. He has instructed that if one visits a holy place, he should search out the devotees residing there. He should take lessons from them and try to apply such instructions in his day to day practical life.

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Holy places are not just for taking photos and videos. They are meant for drawing inspiration and to connect to the divine. Its a place to reestablish ones’ lost connection with the Lord or Krishna – the all attractive one. Strengthening the connection to the divine in one’s day to day life is the success of visiting the holy dham

George Harrison, a true seeker visiting Vrindavan

George Harrison, a true seeker visiting Vrindavan

Etiquette in Holy Places

Vaishnava Etiquette in Holy Places

"Coming to pilgrimage means to come where the sadhus are. I am here, so why is everyone going elsewhere?" "You cannot see Vrndavana with visaya, or material spirit. The test is how much you have conquered over eating, sleeping and mating. Don't think you can just come to Vrndavana and become a Goswami!" Lilamrta V, p. 193
 
01. We come to a holy place to become purified, to develop our Krsna consciousness.
02. It is important not only to maintain a submissive, humble attitude with other ISKCON devotees but with all the residents of the Dhama. (We should be especially mindful of this in "mundane" dealings e.g. arranging transport, shopping).
03. To actually be in the Dhama means to be in the association of devotees, to hear from senior Vaisnavas and serve them. We cannot see a holy place with visaya (material spirit). We are reliant on the mercy of the Vaisnavas.
04. We must maintain Srila Prabhupada's good name by being clean in all our dealings. (This includes everything from eating to changing money).
05. We must be aware that Govardhana Hill, Radha and Syama Kunda etc. are Supremely transcendental personalities. If we desire to take Their darsana we must do so in proper consciousness.
06. Animals are also residents of the Dhama. We should neither befriend them nor make them our enemies. It is best to maintain a neutral position.
07. It is important to come to the Dhama in a service mood rather than an enjoying mood. Then our visit will be successful.
 
Quotes from Srila Prabhupada
Dhama Considerations (neophytes are not recommended to go for seeking solitude) The association of devotees is the only solace for our existence. New York might have been a little busier than Boston, but so long as it is under the guidance of an experienced devotee, the affairs in both cases are all right. The tendency for solitude is a kind of reaction on our past material activities, but solitude is not very good for a neophyte. …The best thing therefore is not to seek solitude in the beginning, but remain in the midst of pure devotees so that even there is attack of Maya, their association will protect us. If you are, however, always busy in the matter of preaching work, that is very nice. But to remain alone in a solitary place for a new man is not advisable.
 
Vrndavana is of course very impressive for devotional service, but that also is not advisable to remain alone. I am trying to get a nice place at Vrndavana and when the place is there, I shall personally be present with some devotees, and appreciate the atmosphere in Vrndavana. So long we are engaged in devotional service with proper guidance, certainly we are always in transcendental position, and transcendental position is unlimited. It doesn't matter whether you are in Vrindavana or USA. But still, of course, Vrndavana atmosphere is very sweet. But so long as we have not completely freed our material attachment, even Vrndavana residence becomes uncongenial. Just like in the case of Kirtananda, it was so happened. …Our sound position is always being engaged in service of Krsna, that is positive standing.
SP letter to Yadunandana (March 26, 1968)

Learn the Etiquettes
In the holy dhama, if one of my disciples drinks from a jug and contaminates that jug, everyone will notice it. Don't be criticized for this uncleanliness or I will be criticized. It is the duty of the disciples to follow these etiquette habits very austerely." [refer this also to "How to serve and honor prasadam"] 
Lilamrta V, p. 17

Don't Drink into mag

All Animals are Residents of the Dhama (Dogs, Hogs, Monkeys)
Not Disturbing The Dogs
Once in Vrndavana, the devotees tried to chase away a few stray dogs by throwing stones and yelling, but Prabhupada stopped them, "Leave them alone," he said, and he began throwing prasada from his plate to the dogs. Lilamrta V, p. 25
 
The Monkeys
Neither be their friend or their enemies, if you make friends with them, they will simply be nuisance. If you become their enemies, they will become very vindictive. Just maintain a neutral position. Lilamrta V, p. 42

Behaviour in Dhama

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has listed ten offenses against the holy dhama that we must carefully avoid in order to be fully benefitted from our visit to or residence in the holy dhama.

  • To disrespect one’s spiritual master who reveals the dhama to the disciple
  • To think that the holy dhama is temporary.
  • To commit violence towards any of the residents of the holy dhama or to any of the pilgrims who come there, or to think that they are ordinary people. Srila Prabhupada writes: “All the inhabitants of Vrindavana are Vaisnavas. They are all auspicious because somehow or other they always chant the holy name of Krishna” (C.C.Adi 5.232, purport).
  • To perform mundane activities while living in the holy dhama.
  • To utilize the dhama for personal economic development by commercializing deity worship and sankirtana in the holy dhama.
  • To think that the holy dhama belongs to a mundane country or province, such as Bengal; to think that the Lord’s dhama is equal to a place connected with some demigod, or to attempt to measure the area of the holy dhama.
  • To commit sinful acts while residing in the holy dhama
  • To consider Vrindavana-dhama as different from Navadvipa-dhama.
  • To blaspheme the sastras that assert the glorious position of the holy dhama.
  • To be faithless and think that the glories of the dhama are imaginary.

Srila Prabhupada explained that the results of all devotional activities performed in the holy dhama are magnified a thousand times. Therefore, one can make rapid advancement if one lives offenselessly in the holy dhama. But if we commit offenses, the results of those offenses are also magnified one thousand times. Therefore, one is advised to carefully avoid committing any offenses in the holy dhama.