Monthly Archives: July 2015

Written by Bhakta Nandan Arrival, 30 June  So it looks like we are still not out of the woods yet with regards to Maharaj’s toothache (following on from Maharaj’s last visit to the UK). Thus Maharaj had to make this whistle stop visit to the UK to get further dental treatment. It really was a […]

Hare Krishna! Rotary International President’s Message
We in Rotary aspire to great deeds. We admire those who gave great gifts to humanity: Abraham Lincoln, who gave the gift of human dignity to the downtrodden; Mother Teresa, who gave the gift of compassion to the forgotten; Mahatma Gandhi, who gave the gift of peaceful change to the oppressed. Their very lives became gifts to the world. We can be inspired by their example. We can be inspired to ask, how can I, in the life that I live – without neglecting the responsibilities that are so dear to me – how can I, too, become a gift to the world? As I considered my theme, I thought of the lessons I have learned through my Hindu faith. I thought especially of the story of Sudama. Sudama was a poor child and a bosom friend of Krishna, who was born in a royal lineage as an avatar – an incarnation of the divine. As the two boys grow up, they drift apart, and while Krishna becomes a military leader and king of great repute, Sudama remains a humble villager.
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The post Daily Darshan – July 18th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Hare Krishna! The walls of the temple in DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA vibrated to the sounds of the holy name through a six-hour Kirtan Festival.
Rasa Keli Sowamber (15 years old) shares her experiences at the Kirtan Festival.
Vibrations of the kirtan rippled through the temple room long after the kirtaneers left. On the way home, I found myself humming some verses of the bhajans and even murmuring them in my sleep. We were reminded of the importance of the Holy Names because they still lingered on the tips of our tongues. Till this very night, I hear the bhajans repeatedly playing over in my head. I can’t turn it off even when I’m trying to fall asleep. This is not a bad thing at all – having Krishna dance on the tip of your tongue and in your mind endlessly!
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Photos from Vallabh Vidyanagar Rathayatra 2015 and other events of Iskcon Baroda
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Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.10.18-21 – HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu

Hare Krishna! In Memory of Kanai Thakur
Phalini Devi Dasi: Kanai Thakur dasa was beloved by all the devotees, and a siksha guru for many. He was so popular that if someone would mention his name in a crowd, immediately there would be smiles on all the faces of those who heard his name, and even laughter would bubble up from inside their hearts. Kanaiji was so Krsna conscious and so blissful that his enthusiasm for pure Krsna consciousness was infectious. From my own personal experience with Kanai Thakur, there is one quality I admired in him, and that was his chastity. Although he would generously give Krsna conscious advice to both men and women, toward us women he was always aloof and respectful, addressing us affectionately as “Maaaataaaa.”
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We continue our discussion of the cleansing of the heart, again from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Twelve, “The Cleansing of the Gundica Temple”: TEXT 135 ei-mata puradvara-age patha yata sakala sodhila, taha ke varnibe kata SYNONYMS ei-mata—in this way; pura-dvara—of the gateway of the temple; age—in front; patha yata—as many avenues; sakala—all; sodhila—were cleansed; taha—that; […]

“Chanting japa should be done early in the morning with full concentration preferably during the Brahma Muhurta time. Concentrate fully on the sound vibration of the mantra, pronouncing each name distinctly and gradually your speed in chanting will inc…

I posted an article yesterday about how the modern approach to guru-disciple relationship is inefficient, but the traditional approach – in which the guru accepts few disciples and gives them full attention – is much better. Many people responded by pointing to gurus who had thousands of disciples, and disciples who spent half a minute with their […]

Holy Name Meditation Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/Japa%20Prayers/2015%20meditations/07-15%20meditations/Dont%20let%20the%20mind%20drag%20you%20away%20from%20the%20tasty%20to%20the%20tasteless.mp3
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The post Don’t let the mind drag you away from the tasty to the tasteless appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

CC daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/07-15%20classes/CC%20daily%20168%20-%206.246-252%20-%20Devotees%20anticipates%20the%20Lords%20actions%20and%20serve%20him%20proactively.mp3 Download by “right-click and save content”

The post CC daily 168 – 6.246-252 – Devotees anticipate the Lord’s actions and serve him proactively appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Yesterday we held a wedding at our festival in the port town of Mrzezyno. With the Baltic Sea as a backdrop, Stanislav and Zlata from Moldova took their vows in a colorful ceremony attended by over 3,000 people. Srila Prabhupada writes in the Caitanya Caritamrta: “A devotee is always thinking of how to better serve […]

CC daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/07-15%20classes/Gita%2018.35%20-%20We%20dont%20lack%20determination%20-%20we%20lack%20direction%20for%20our%20determination.mp3 Download by “right-click and save content”

The post CC daily 167 – 6.245 – Recognizing spiritual position as more important that material position reflects devotional realization appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Talk Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/07-15%20classes/Gita%2018.35%20-%20We%20dont%20lack%20determination%20-%20we%20lack%20direction%20for%20our%20determination.mp3 Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Gita 18.35 – We don’t lack determination – we lack direction for our determination appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/07-15%20classes/Bhagavatam-daily%20270%20–%2011.13.3%20–%20Goodness%20helps%20us%20to%20best%20live%20in%20the%20ocean%20while%20bhakti%20takes%20us%20to%20the%20shore.mp3 Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Bhagavatam-daily 270 – 11.13.3 – Goodness helps us to best live in the ocean while bhakti takes us to the shore appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Talk Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/07-15%20classes/Defiance%20used%20in%20the%20service%20of%20devotion%20-%20Ramayana%20reflection.mp3 Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Defiance used in the service of devotion – Ramayana reflection appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/07-15%20classes/Bhagavatam-daily%20269%20–%2011.13.2%20–%20Dont%20reject%20the%20material%20-%20connect%20with%20the%20material%20that%20takes%20us%20to%20the%20transcendental.mp3 Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Bhagavatam-daily 269 – 11.13.2 – Dont reject the material – connect with the material that takes us to the transcendental appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Talk Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/07-15%20classes/Brahma%20Samhita%20-%20venum%20kvanantam%20-%20The%20creator%20adores%20his%20creator.mp3 Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Brahma Samhita 5.30 – venum kvanantam – The creator adores his creator appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/07-15%20classes/Bhagavatam-daily%20268%20–%2011.13.1%20–%20We%20need%20to%20come%20to%20goodness%20before%20acting%20in%20pure%20goodness.mp3 Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Bhagavatam-daily 268 – 11.13.1 – We need to come to goodness before acting in pure goodness appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Harinama in Vienna, Austria’s capital (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “For one who wants liberation from the fruitive reactions of material activities, the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, or glorification of the name, fame and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting eradicates the dirt from one’s heart completely.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.12).
See them here: https://goo.gl/FCiBte

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In the 16th century, Sri Chaitanya brought about social reform in India by propounding the joyful public chanting of Krishna’s holy names – Harinama Sankirtana — which inspired love of God and brought about peace. Today, tra…

Hare Krishna! Ramananda Samvada: The Perfect Conversation
Satyaraja Dasa: Everyone likes to converse with loved ones. There is nothing quite as satisfying as sitting back and spending time with like-minded souls, sharing thoughts, ideas, and intimate feelings. In spiritual life, too, there is nothing quite like conversation – a back-and-forth that deepens one’s knowledge of transcendence and increases the possibility of spiritual loving exchanges. Because dialogue is a fundamental form of communication and interaction, numerous texts from antiquity have used conversational structure as a literary device to convey deep truths. Religious works such as the Bible, Buddhist sutras, and Confucian texts partake of this method, and in philosophy Plato’s use of dialogue is particularly well known.
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And Gabor wants to know whether women being housekeepers means men do nothing at home?

The post Gaura Nitai says that since devotees are above varnasrama can’t they assume any kind of varna appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Netrotsava: Festival for the Eyes (6 min video)
‘Netrotsava’ – Festival for the Eyes, originally celebrated at Puri, Jagannath Temple in India is a sacred ritual performed before the Rath Yatra the Grand Festival of Chariots. To know more about this enchanting festival watch this beautiful video by HG Mathura Vasi Mataji.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/5lUwrU

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On July 12th 2015, Shriman Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria Indian Minister of Agriculture, during his official trip to Kenya, visited ISKCON Nairobi. The minister was received by temple president Umapati Das at the entrance, and some special …

Gundas (thugs) attacked a temple at the sacred birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s associates Vasudeva Datta and Mukunda Datta in Chittagong, Bangladesh in the middle of the night on July 8th, brutally injuring the ISKCON devotees who were staying there.
ISKCON’s Governing Body Commissioner for Bangladesh, Bhakti Purusottama Swami, sets the record straight. “This is not an attack by Muslims or terrorists,” he says. “The land of Vasudeva and Mukunda Datta’s birthplace was donated by the landlord to ISKCON. ISKCON devotees were staying there and doing puja. Land mafia wants this land, so they sent some gundas who attacked our devotee in the middle of the night.“ “The misunderstanding about this temple attack shows how careful we must be about forwarding or exaggerating things we pick up online,” adds ISKCON’s Communications Minister Anuttama Das. “In this age of instant communications, its easy to get the facts wrong, and inflame passions between people and communities.
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Meet the devotees of ISKCON Berkeley, California, US (10 min video)
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On Sunday, July 5th, at the last Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) presentation of the North American fundraising tour, the CHAD “Chapter a Day” children’s group of the Seattle, Washington, USA, temple pledged $11,000 (Silver Gratitude C…

“Let us be a gift to the World.”

Vaishnava wedding in Poland mesmerizes the public as it introduces them into the Vedic culture (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we held a wedding at our festival in the port town of Mrzezyno. With the Baltic Sea as a backdrop, Stanislav and Zlata from Moldova took their vows in a colorful ceremony attended by over 3,000 people. Srila Prabhupada writes in the Caitanya Caritamrta: “A devotee is always thinking of how to better serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and how to broadcast His name, fame and qualities throughout the world.” [ Madhya, 11.89 purport ] The wedding served as a perfect introduction to Vedic culture. The large crowd was mesmerized by the wedding as evidenced by their loud applause at each and every step of the ceremony. Another victory in Srila Prabhupada’s cultural conquest of the world!
See them here: https://goo.gl/lIGSf0

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For the sake of preaching in local area, Mayapur Local Preaching (MLP) conducted a Bhagavad-Gita competition among the people of Krishnanagar, Dhubulia and Dharmada. They were asked to read Bhagavad Gita and then answer 100 questions. Those who secured more than 80% marks were invited for the final round examination in Mayapur. The final round […]

The post Bhagavad Gita Competition appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Written by Vasudev Das New York and New Jersey  (27-28 June) Maharaj left Gita Nagari early on Saturday morning (27 June), because he had a preaching program scheduled at 26 2nd Ave in the evening. We reached New York around 4 pm. Maharaj stayed at the Bhakti Center on 1st Ave and he walked one […]

Hare Krishna! Money, Krishna, and Us
Vishakha Devi Dasi: How we value, acquire, use, and relate to money reflects our inner state of being. Krishna determines how much money each of us receives. It may appear accidental that one person is born into wealth and another into poverty, or that one person goes from rags to riches and another doesn’t, but Krishna’s law of karma destines these things. Srila Prabhupada says, “Everyone is thinking, ‘If I become greedy, I shall get more.’ That is not possible. You cannot get a farthing more than what you are destined.” (Lecture, October 3, 1973) And he writes, “It is not possible that simply by endeavors to accumulate more money a person will be able to do so, otherwise almost everyone would be on the same level of wealth. In reality everyone is earning and acquiring according to his predestined karma.”
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Hidden from view, the heads are attached to bodies that extend meters underground.

Gundas (thugs) attacked a temple at the sacred birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s associates Vasudeva Datta and Mukunda Datta in Chittagong, Bangladesh in the middle of the night on July 8th, brutally injuring the ISKCON devo…

Truth be known, my interest in “cool” was not a strong motivation. My quiet motto while travelling was that I was “looking for the place that was looking for me.”