Monthly Archives: August 2015

The final days of our summer festival tour on the Baltic Sea coast in Poland were bittersweet. While tasting the nectar of sharing our good fortune with others, we knew it would only last a few days more. Now the drums, accordians and kartalas have gone silent. The loud chanting of Krsna’s sweet holy names […]

It’s the cornerstone and when the cornerstone is strong, then everything else is strong. The answer lies within our bead bag….our Japa is always going to be the answer.

(To know more about this Duet, click here.)Art by Rukmini PoddarArt & Words Duet: Day 2EscapeAll day I wash pots, scrub floors, and cook for a family who sneers at me when I walk through a room. I change diapers and sing lullabies for a pair of twi…

We are so excited for this new school year – to see what’s in our classroom and meet our new friends. We happily explore new materials, and learn much more than ABCs and 123! Here Kanai […]

Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna in popular culture
From Wikipedia : Contributions to popular culture involving direct reference to the Hare Krishna mantra, or the Hare Krishna movement include the following. 1 In music 1.1 Beatles influence 1.2 Music 1.3 St… Read more ›

Perfectly Standardized Several months ago I was speaking to a number of faith leaders one was excited about his congregational growth, “we have a wonderful Filipino congregation it’s simply wonderful to preach to a full congregation we have had to put on extra service though” Being inquisitive I asked for more detail had the congregation […]

http://bbc.in/1LsHqaN
The post The value of a university degree appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Early morning drone flight at Mayapur. (Album with photos)
The TOVP is nearing the stage of receiving the enormous Kalash.
See them here: https://goo.gl/THNsnl Read more ›

From Ranjith A U Nair Prabhu

During our course of ISO, we discussed about 3 levels of devotees. In NOI also we are re-visting the same topic in more depth. Can we consider Krishna devotees outside ISKCON, who does’nt yet have knowledge about our paramapra and teachings (say they are chanting some mantra of Krishna and maybe reading other versions of BG/SB) as neophyte devotees? As per the discussion in ISO the qualities of those devotees match that of a neophyte.

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/Are%20Krishna%20bhaktas%20outside%20ISKCON%20at%20the%20neophyte%20stage.mp3
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The post Are Krishna bhaktas outside ISKCON at the neophyte stage? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

From Praveen Nayak Prabhu
Prabhuji – In NOD Chapter 7 in the section Observing fasting on Ekadashi it is said “The basic principle is not just to fast, but to increase one’s faith and love for Govinda, or Kṛṣṇa.”

Could you please explain – How would doing fast increase ones faith and love for Krishna ?

Answer Podcast
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/How%20does%20fasting%20on%20Ekadashi%20increase%20our%20love%20for%20Krishna.mp3
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The post How does fasting on Ekadashi increase our love for Krishna? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

From Ankur Sharma Prabhu
Srila Prabhupada says in the purport of verse 4.14, “Anyone who is fully conversant with all the intricacies of this law of karma, or fruitive activities, does not become affected by the results of his activities.” Similarly thing is said in 4.9.
How can simply knowing something free one from the bondage of karma?

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/How%20can%20knowledge%20alone%20free%20us%20from%20karmic%20bondage%20as%20Gita%204.14%20says.mp3
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The post How can knowledge alone free us from karmic bondage, as Gita 4.14 says? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

From Ankur Sharma Prabhu
Srila Prabhupada says in the purport of verse 4.13, “as Kṛṣṇa is transcendental to this system of the four divisions of human society, a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is also transcendental to all divisions of human society”
a) What is the implication of someone is transcendental to all divisions of human society?
b) How could someone who is still contaminated by the modes be considered transcendental to social divisions? Should this not apply only to the paramhamsas (other than Krsna, of course)?

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/Is%20a%20person%20in%20Krishna%20consciousness%20transcendental%20to%20varnashrama.mp3
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The post Is a person in Krishna consciousness transcendental to varnashrama? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

From Vandana Goel Mataji
Verse three of NOI say the attitude while performing Bhakti should contain
ENTHUSIASM ….PATIENCE….AND CONFIDENCE
my question is having enthusiasm and patience simultaneously are two contradictory things why has a devotee been advised to have these two contradictory features simultaneously??

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/How%20can%20we%20develop%20the%20contradictory%20qualities%20of%20enthusiasm%20and%20patience.mp3
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The post How can we develop the contradictory qualities of enthusiasm and patience? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

From Promila Chitkara Mataji
Arjuna had all the rare accomplishments (e.g. winning boons from Shiva, entering heaven etc) because of the difficult austerities he performed before the war. He lived in forests to perform those austerities, fought wars etc. Then, why did he say he could control the wind but not the mind? He did control his mind otherwise he wouldn’t be able to do what he did. Moreover, he wouldn’t be Gudakesha if he had no control over mind.
Is this because the Gita was spoken for us and not so much for him?
Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/When%20Arjuna%20had%20enough%20mind%20control%20to%20perform%20great%20austerities,%20why%20does%20he%20say%20that%20he%20cant%20control%20the%20mind.mp3
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The post When Arjuna had enough mind control to perform great austerities, why does he say that he can’t control the mind? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

From Sunil Prabhu
In Bhagavat Gita 1.32-35 Arjuna says that he doesn’t want to fight even in exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth and What pleasure he will derive from killing?
Later in 2.8 he says “I will not be able to dispel it even if I win a prosperous unrivaled kingdom on earth with sovereignty like the demigods in heaven”
In both statements, Arjuna is saying he doesn’t see any benefit in fighting; in another sense he can’t find solution for his grief. What is difference in Arjuna’s state of consciousness in reference to rejecting the kingdom, apart from the fact that he has accepted Krsna as Spiritual master in 2.7.

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/How%20has%20surrender%20in%20Gita%202.7%20changed%20Arjunas%20consciousness%20when%20he%20expresses%20the%20same%20sentiment%20in%201.35%20and%202.8.mp3
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The post How has surrender in Gita 2.7 changed Arjuna’s consciousness when he expresses the same sentiment in 1.35 and 2.8? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Varnasrama series.
The post The transition we will have to make to come to Varnasram appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Hare Krishna! The Art and Mechanics of Inspiration
“Everything should be done on the basis of love. Strictness is not very good. The students should act automatically, out of love. That is wanted. [However,] Superficially, strictness may be necessary—some material laws or basic principles—and if they don’t follow they’ll be reprimanded. But they should develop the idea of love. Sometimes you have to [force], but even so, the basic principle should be love. Sometimes, out of love, a father must force his son to do something; that does not mean the father is the enemy of the son. [If the teacher or preacher has not yet cultivated love:] In the meantime our regulated living will teach. Either with your son, your disciple, or your student, you should always strictly enforce the rules. Don’t be lenient. Out of love, shall we let our disciples and sons go to hell? That is foolishness.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1243

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Hare Krishna! On Conceiving the Inconceivable – Some Principles in Understanding the Origin of the Conditioned Soul
Ravindra Svarupa dasa: We conditioned souls are originally Krishna conscious living entities, but owing to a desire to be independent of God and to be the Supreme ourselves, we have fallen from our original position and become covered by maya (illusion), who provides us with false identities of gross and subtle matter. By the grace of Krishna and His pure devotees we fallen souls can regain our original Krishna consciousness and in so doing go back to Godhead. This simple dramatic narrative tells the story of who we are, where we came from, how we fell, and how we can be restored. Srila Prabhupada tells us this story, and so do the previous acharyas and the scriptures. This story is the profoundest truth about ourselves, and there is no fault in it. Yet the story becomes complicated when we discover (from the identical infallible sources) that the souls in the spiritual world are nitya-siddha, eternally or perpetually liberated souls, and that no one falls from the spiritual world.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19289

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Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir of Iskcon Vrindavana featured on History channel (Network 18) today (23-8-2015) evening. (3 min video)
History TV18 (formerly known as The History Channel) is a pan-Indian television channel broadcasting programmes relate… Read more ›

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/When%20Krishna%20calls%20as%20divine%20the%20vision%20for%20seeing%20the%20Universal%20Form,%20why%20does%20Vishvanatha%20Chakravarti%20call%20it%20a%20downgrade%20of%20vision.mp3
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The post When Krishna calls as divine the vision for seeing the Universal Form, why does Vishvanatha Chakravarti call it a downgrade of vision? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/When%20Arjuna%20was%20already%20able%20to%20see%20Krishnas%20intimate%20form%20why%20did%20Krishna%20have%20to%20give%20him%20divine%20vision%20to%20see%20the%20Universal%20Form.mp3
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The post When Arjuna was already able to see Krishna’s intimate form why did Krishna have to give him divine vision to see the Universal Form? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/How%20was%20Sanjay%20able%20to%20see%20the%20Universal%20Form%20without%20being%20given%20special%20eyes%20by%20Krishna.mp3
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The post How was Sanjay able to see the Universal Form without being given special eyes by Krishna? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/Does%20the%20fact%20that%20religious%20knowledge%20doesnt%20grow%20like%20scientific%20knowledge%20prove%20its%20irrelevance.mp3
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The post Does the fact that religious knowledge doesn’t grow like scientific knowledge prove its irrelevance? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/CCD%20QA/2015%20QA/08-15%20QA/Do%20the%20differences%20in%20various%20religions%20conceptions%20of%20God%20prove%20his%20non-existence.mp3
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The post Do the differences in various religions’ conceptions of God prove his non-existence? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Ratha Yatra in Soweto, South Africa Read more ›

Chaitanya Charitamrita daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/08-15%20classes/CC%20daily%20206%20-%207.39-41%20-%20Understand%20the%20CV%20needed%20to%20be%20the%20Lords%20servant.mp3
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The post CC daily 206 – 7.39-41 – Understand the CV needed to be the Lord’s servant appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

ISKCON New Govardhan Sringar Darshan on 17 Aug 2015

Chaitanya Charitamrita daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/08-15%20classes/CC%20daily%20205%20-%207.36-38%20-%20Ensure%20that%20the%20Lords%20service%20is%20done%20even%20if%20we%20cant%20do%20it%20ourselves.mp3
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The post CC daily 205 – 7.36-38 – Ensure that the Lord’s service is done, even if we can’t do it ourselves appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

An album of many old, new and rare photos of Jayapataka Swami.
Jayapataka Swami is a Vaishnava swami and a religious leader for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He is a senior disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
See th… Read more ›

Bhagavtam-daily Podcast:

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/audio/ccd%20classes/desiretree/2015%20classes/08-15%20classes/Bhagavatam-daily%20310%20%e2%80%93%2011.14.2%20%e2%80%93%20Diversity%20of%20paths%20accomodates%20variety%20of%20desires.mp3
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The post Bhagavatam-daily 310 – 11.14.2 – Diversity of paths accommodates variety of desires appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

UK, Southall Ratha Yatra – 23 Aug 2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Practicing the yoga system of exercise and breath control is very difficult for a person in this age, and therefore Lord Caitanya recommended, kirtaniyah sada harih: one shoul… Read more ›

Huge Harinama in Madrid, the capital city of Spain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: For a devotee, liberation is no problem at all. The impersonalists undergo severe penances and austerities to attain mukti, but the bhakta, simply by engaging hims… Read more ›

Iskcon Mayapur Devotees On Zee Bangla Tv Show (13 min video)
This video clip is an excerpt from Prarthana Special episode of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa of Zee Bangla TV show. This is the 33rd episode of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa performed on August 12th, 2015. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa which is Bengal’s best platform for music, rightly put as ‘Sangeet er shera mancha. It is the most popular and respected musical Reality Show of Bengal. In this special prayer episode Tulika Mondal and Gangadhar Mondal sing Krishna Kirtan together with the ISKCON Mayapur Devotees.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/jrLPiF

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Sometimes art begs for written words. Sometime written words beg for art. My friend Rukmini and I have teamed up for an 8-day challenge: when I write, she will share art. When she shares art, I will write.For the first four days, Rukmini will first off…

Bracebridge, Ontario

May the Source be with you!