Monthly Archives: October 2013

Gauri Priya dasi leading New Vrindaban’s 24 Hour Kirtan – June 15th, 2013
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Video of Gauri Priya dasi leading New Vrindaban’s 24 Hour Kirtan – June 15th, 2013.

HALLOWEEN plans for you-
→ Krishna Lounge

This year Halloween falls on a Thursday- so we will be celebrating this transcendentally fun identity crisis by having an extra special NIGHT OF KIRTAN in our temple (right next door to the Krishna Lounge). Costumes are very much optional, and treats will be in great abundance. 6pm – 10pm Thursday, Oct.31st 1030 Grand Ave […]

TEXAS FAITH 112: What would Jesus Tweet?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

What would Jesus tweet? If Jesus were here today – or if Twitter had been an available app 2,000 years ago – would Jesus have used it as a communication tool to reach larger audiences? More broadly, would Jesus have used social media to spread his message? Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the Vatican’s media-savvy minister of culture, has suggested that Jesus “used tweets before anyone else.” What he meant was that Jesus made statements that were brief, punchy and full of meaning as a way of spreading his particular message of faith.

Elementary phrases like ‘Love one another’ would have fit within Twitter’s 140-character convention with room to spare for a hashtag. After all, Pope Francis has more than 3 million followers on Twitter. And presumably only the most steadfast Luddite would say that people of faith shouldn’t use every tool necessary to advance the faith. And this is likely true regardless of faith tradition – Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, whatever the spiritual expression of our lives.

But back to the original idea. How would Jesus have used Twitter? What would he have said in 140 characters? The Texas Faith panel considers the question and offers some provocative ideas about technology, faith and the modern world. (What if the Sermon on the Mount had been live-streamed? The clearing of the temple posted on YouTube?)

How would Jesus have viewed social media? What would Jesus tweet?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

Essential truth spoken concisely is true eloquence. – Vedic aphorism.


In spiritual life there is a principle called vairāgya, or renunciation. But this principle is often misunderstood. Many hold the idea that to give something up is renunciation. Such as, I give up my car, my guitar, my bank balance and so on. But this idea is seated in the notion that oneself is the owner of that item or activity that one is giving up. I give up my guitar because it is mine to give away. That is called phalgu vairāgya or false renunciation.

Yukta vairāgya, or practical renunciation, carries the idea that God is the owner and ultimate beneficiary of all things. Thus by using my guitar to sing the glories of God is the proper use of the guitar and my talent. Just as if one finds a wallet the right thing to is to return it back to the owner.

The wise devotee of the Lord learns how to use everything practically in the service of the Lord and at the same time is ever vigilant to maintain steady spiritual practice by avoiding those things that may impede it.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

SB 11.23.51 – Our sufferings are self-induced like one limb hurts another limb and must be self-rectified
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

November 10th Govardhana Puja preparations
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Every year my wife spends countless nights in preparation of the big day, Govardhana Puja.  Here are some photos & videos to enjoy!

 

Temples for Govardhan cake hill

and a few years earlier

The Most Important Point
→ Japa Group

“…the most important point is that everyone, especially the leaders, must always stick to the basic regulative practices that I have given, especially 16 rounds each day.”Letter to Hamsaduta18 May, 1973

The austerity of the mind
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2013, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.20.12) It is said that as long as Krsna was gracing the planet; everything was auspicious, opulent and widely available. But when Krsna left the planet then everything changed and not only did natural opulence disappear but dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.43). Dharma-jñānā also went with […]

Seek the Sky while Knowing The River
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

Author: 
Karnamrita Das

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed; work…

How Iskcon helps the deaf: The ISKCON Radha Krishna Deaf People Association
→ Dandavats.com

The ISKCON Radha Krishna Deaf People Association (RKDA) is a community of both deaf and fully hearing devotees who wish to help each other in their spiritual lives through practical study of Bhagavad-gita. We offer training to anyone who wishes to communicate in sign language. Read more ›

The Playground of God (Album 196 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Parikrama around Govardhan Hill reveals the natural beauty of Vrindavan and helps the pilgrim to awaken love for the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha Krsna. Our parikrama photographer, Ananta Vrindavan das, truly captures the spirit of Vraja in this album Read more ›

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevayaaaaaa by the Gopal Bhajan band (5 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

Gopal Bhajan Band – a phenomenon unique and extraordinary. Having been born yet when the Soviet system, the group soon became a pioneer of the aristocratic etnoroka prayer, for many years ahead of his own confession, and along with social consciousness Read more ›

Krsnananda asks how it is that Srimati Radharani is known through the kama-gayatri mantra
→ SivaramaSwami.com

The post Krsnananda asks how it is that Srimati Radharani is known through the kama-gayatri mantra appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

“Haveli”, a new space for religious activity in the Manor as the response to the overcrowding
→ Dandavats.com

Visitors are aware of the acute shortage of space at Bhaktivedanta Manor during all but the smallest of functions. The Haveli project aims to provide a purpose built hall to meet the worship, cultural and educational needs of Bhaktivedanta Manor’s congregation Read more ›

ISKCON Brampton is moving to a new location on Nov 2nd 2013!‏
→ ISKCON Scarborough

Hare Krishna!Please accept our humble obeisances!All glories to Srila Prabhupada!All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!ISKCON Brampton temple is moving from its current location to a new and bigger location on Saturday- Nov 2nd 2013.Wonderful progra…

BECOME A TRUSTED AUTHORITY
→ Gita Coaching

By Akrura dasa

"Thank you for your excellent e-book. I found many jewels inside."
– Sacinandana Swami

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A New Role

How To Become A Trusted Authority For Life?

What Do You Want To Show To People?

What Should People Feel About You?

It’s Our Original Nature – That’s Why We Want It

How Can People Get Confidence That They Can Be Successful?

*

"Becoming A Trusted Authority"

Vaishnavas as a worthy spiritual and cultural touch to the portrait of Krasnodar (Album 150 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Did you know that the Krasnodar recently named the most livable city in Russia? We offer you a diverse, full of enthusiasm and joy of life Krasnodar devotees Read more ›

Srila Prabhupada’s Vision for New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ISKCON New Vrindaban Vision Statement: Founded in 1968, Srila Prabhupada boldly envisions New Vrindaban as a sacred place known worldwide for Cow Protection, Self-Sufficiency, Holy Pilgrimage, Spiritual Education, and, above all, Loving Krishna.

Krishna’s Birth Chart, According to Viśvanātha Ṭhākur
→ The Enquirer

Reblogged from Vic DiCara’s Astrology: The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is the Purāṇa most completely dedicated to Krishna. It doesn’t give a …

Continue reading »

Leave Everything Aside
→ Japa Group

“The chanting and hearing is essence. Even when dealing with a practical problem, Srila Prabhupada was seeing it and soon speaking of it in absolute terms. Chanting especially promotes this: leave everything aside and chant the holy name. Then we can t…

The cow
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 7 November 2010, Vrndavana, India, Govardhan Puja Lecture) Namo brahmanya devaya go brahmana hitaya ca. Srila Prabhupada explained ‘go brahmana’, first the cows and then the brahmanas. So much importance is given to the cows by Krsna that even before worshipping the brahmanas, we worship the cows. In the Brahma Samhita, it […]

Subtleties of religion
→ Servant of the Servant

The scriptures such as the Puranas and Itihasas were written for mankind to follow the righteous path of Dharma free from vice thus gradually purifying one’s heart of material desires. Even in the Judeo-Christian traditions, there are codes of morality given for mankind.

Despite abundant instructions on truth, justice and spiritual values in the scriptures, still, more than any sphere of existence today – the religious sphere encompasses violence and hatred. Why? The conclusion we can come to is in the interpretation of religion and not with religion itself. When a man with imperfections study and speak from scriptures it will only manifest in imperfections. Imperfections in the extreme sense can result in fanaticism. Therefore it is imperative that we seek guidance from a perfect person who is free from doubt. illusion and envy.

During the Kurukshetra war, there was an incident where Karna completely vanquished King Yudhistira in battle.  Karna did not kill King Yudhistira because of his promise to Queen Kunti. Retreating to his tent, Yudhistira was given medical treatment. At this time, Arjuna and Krishna entered the tent to check for Yudhistira’s safety. Seeing Arjuna in the tent not avenging Karna made Yudhistira angry. He criticized Arjuna to give up his Gandiva and insulted him. As a kshatriya, insult is worse than death. Arjuna famous for keeping his vows had a vow that whoever tells him to give up his Gandiva will be killed. Seeing his predicament between fulfilling his vow and killing his brother, he turned to Krishna.

Krishna, in his response was shocked that Arjuna even considered killing his brother. Finally, Krishna had this to say to Arjuna about upholding religious vows “O Pārtha, your vow was made out of childishness. Now hear from me about the higher principles of religion….morality cannot be ascertained by logic, nor even in every case by a study of the scripture. One must seek the guidance of experienced and wise elders to learn its subtleties. All this I have heard from the ṛṣis, O Pārtha“

His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada is one such rsi or saintly person- If we submissively study his books, listen to his lectures and practice his instructions,  then we also will understand the subtleties of religion beyond logic and study of scripture.

Hare Krishna

The Appearance of Sri Radha Kunda, October 26, Goleta, California
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.36.11 – 16. “After purifying Himself by bathing, Lord Hari became quite arrogant and said, ‘I have produced a pond containing all the various holy places, whereas you gopis must never have executed any religious duties on this earth for the pleasure of Lord Brahma.’ Then Srimati Radharani […]

2013-10-28 Sunday night at the Coimbatore temple with Sivarama Swami (Album 34 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

The ISKCON Temple in Coimbatore is a well known pilgrimage centre located in the heart of the city. The ISKCON temple aims at spreading the science of Krishna consciousness with the help of Bhagavad Gita. Spread across an area of 20,000 sq ft, the temple has an array of beautiful deities belonging to Sri Radha Krishna, Sri Jagannath, Sri Baladev, Subhadra Devi and Sri Prabhupada Read more ›

The Real Success.
→ Matsya Avatar das adhikari

The  experiences of accomplishment that one can reach in her or his lifespan, sometimes can be conflicting with the self-image, possibly being the one of an unconfident person, a weak individual, too reliant on someone else’s opinions. If this self-image will not change, the outer accomplishment will be followed by inner troubles and unsteadiness. This is because the new higher equilibrium is such only when it is achieved with harmony and stability. To avoid this kind of situation one should conceive and support a self-image corresponding to what one would like to be and should be. If one will shape her or his personality in depth, then this person will be psychologically ready when an accomplishment or a better position will be achieved. Conversely, some individuals are afraid of their own success because they have not built yet an objective and positive self-image.
Powerful desires move things and alter reality. A person becomes what she or he craves to be. Egoistical ambitions do not lead to real accomplishment: the apparent success sooner or later will turn into calamity.
The immature management of resources and of desire’s energy produces derangement and deep emotional troubles. Any waste and any improper use of the above is the cause of personal failure.
Anything we have: objects, affections, talents, must be employed to reconnect ourselves to the deep divine matrix, the raison d’être and foundation of our existence. If we do not do this, as explained by Shrila Rupa Gosvami, one of the greatest Vedic Tradition Master, anything gets contaminated and turns into poison. 
The perfection of existence (yukta vairagya) can be archived if we are closely connected to the Istha Devata and place all our resources to its service. Ambarisha Maharaja was the sovereign of the world, in spite of this he was not ruling it for his own egoistic enjoyment, but as a tool to serve God.  In order to run suitably that function maturity and awareness were needed, because who has so much energy can do great good things, but, if one is not cautious and do not have uncontaminated motivation in the way this energy is used, can cause great damages and bring harm to himself and everybody nearby. 
The most valuable resources, never to be neglected and never to be abused, are our fellow human beings, with their desires for advancement, their wishes for good, their projects, with their search for self-realization. We should not dare to waste even the smallest bit of their energy, we have to support instead their convergence, channeling, and sublimation toward elevated motivations of real good and real success. Sublimation will be possible if we encourage for taking a solid commitment for spiritual activities, with an active and energetic service offered with awareness and dedication to our spiritual Master and the Istha Devata. According to one of the most important and recurrent Shrila Prabhupada’s statements: “Bhakti Yoga is not just an idle meditation”. Nor meditation means escaping from the world.
 Authentic meditation inspires and motivates actions in the world, and it is able to solve real problems, to disentangle knots that grew in the mind. Authentic meditation does not evade or remove practical problems: it resolves them. It is based on the consciousness of spiritual matrix of all things, and the understanding of the subtlest psychological phenomena: how minds get entangled or stuck, and how it is possible to jump-start them, reactivate them, and purify them.

The “Bliss Box” – Unboxing of the 2nd set of Nava-Vraja-Mahima (4 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

Each page of the book glimpse a different faces of Lord Krishna.It also reveals the true bonding between Lord Krishna and his devotees. This spiritual Knowledge creates a special place of Lord in every one’s heart Read more ›

Light damage in the Manor from the storm
→ Dandavats.com

Here’s a clear photo of the tree that fell on the front lawn at Bhaktivedanta Manor as the result of the storm Read more ›

Sunday night at the Coimbatore temple
→ SivaramaSwami.com

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjLvbqhx
The post Sunday night at the Coimbatore temple appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The appearance of Radha-kunda
→ SivaramaSwami.com

Sunday lecture at Coimbatore temple.
The post The appearance of Radha-kunda appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

HG Bhaktisuhrid Das Brahmacari
→ Mayapur.com

Disappearance Celebration of His Grace Bhaktisuhrid Das Brahmacari in Sridham Mayapur on 13 oct 2013 The appearance of a Vaishnava is auspicious and even his disappearance is also auspicious. The Vaisnavas are happy on the disappearance of a Vaishnava knowing that the departed Vaishnava soul is going back to Godhead and is happily engaged in […]

The post HG Bhaktisuhrid Das Brahmacari appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Mahavishnu Swami’s Facebook Wall 2013-10-28 10:02:03
→ Mahavishnu Swami

Mahavishnu Swami Lecture before Gothenburg Ratha Yatra – 8 July 2013www.youtube.comMahavishnu Swami gives a morning lecture during the morning programme at the Beach Camp before the Gothenburg Ratha Yatra. Scandinavian Ratha Yatra Tour 2013 Continue reading →

ISKCON Scarborough devotees go to 40 homes in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario to celebrate Kartik (Album 127 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

ISKCON Scarborough devotees go to different homes to narrate the Damodar Lila, Recite the Damodarastakam and perform arti for Lord Damodar during the Holy month of Kartik.

Every year during the 30 days of Kartik, over 40 homes in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada are visited by ISKCON Scarborough devotees. Read more ›