Author Archives: Dandavats.com

ISKCON Nepal organized Seminar at Galaxy Public School, Gyaneswar, Kathmandu for around 600 Students of Grade 7, 8, 9 and 10 (Album …Read More…

Pray! who, me?
As aspiring devotees we should know that it is spiritual ‘best practice’ to make prayers an important part of our daily sadhana.
Of course, we are aware (but are we conscious of it?) that prayer, vandanam, is part of nine limbs of bhakti and even following a single limb perfectly can help us reach our final goal. We should also know that each pranam mantra which we speak is a prayer to Krishna, Deity, Acharaya & Guru. Being aware of the importance of power of prayers, Srila Prabhupada very much ingrained them into daily program of our society. In fact reading and meditating on our daily temple prayer’s translation alone is a most purifying and uplifting experience.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/Xs1IGj

Discipline. Discipline is the suppression of base desires, and is usually understood to be synonymous with self-control restraint and control.
If you are eager to advance in devotional service and to experience spiritual bliss, look to discipline.
Brahma, the first, and most intelligent being in the universe was advised by Sarasvati to engage in spiritual discipline by chanting the Krsna mantra. Brahma did this diligently for a long time, until Krsna was pleased with him and showed him the spiritual world.
The word discipline is related to the word disciple. “Disciple,” comes from Latin, discipulus, which means, “learner.”

And the word discipline itself derives from the Latin, disciplina, which means, “knowledge.”

It is clear that to learn, one must practice discipline.

To advance our spiritual knowledge, Krsna recommends that we submit ourselves to a spiritual master, accept training, and agree to strictly obey the disciplines he or she prescribes for us.

In the Gita, Krsna says, “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.” (Bg. 4.34)

By carefully applying the rules my teacher gives me, I move forward. But it is I who accept and apply them. No one else can do this for me.

However, one who voluntarily applies these prescribed spiritual disciplines is soon blessed with the mercy of the Lord.

In Gita Krsna says, “But a person free from all attachment and aversion and able to control his senses through regulative principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord.” (Bg. 2.64)

The beginning stage of devotional service is called vaidhi bhakti, “regulated bhakti.” During this stage, I must willingly accept whatever discipline is given by the spiritual master and scripture.

In Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada writes thus about Vaidhi bhakti, “One has to follow these different regulative principles by the order of the spiritual master or on the strength of authoritative scriptures, and there can be no question of refusal. That is called, vaidhi, or regulated.” (NOD Pp. 21-22)

But, happily, this is not difficult because the practices of bhakti are never dry or unnecessarily austere. Rather, they are juicy and blissful.

For example, chanting Hare Krsna, visiting the temple to observe the arti, associating with devotees, visiting the holy dhama, honoring prasadam, hearing Srimad-bhagavatam, worshiping the Deity, and so on, are all are joyfully performed because they keep one in touch with Krsna, the reservoir of all pleasure.

There are also prohibitive austerities. For instance, the “four regulative principles” which are to give up gambling, meat eating, intoxication, and illicit sex. Observing these vows keeps one situated in the mode of goodness, the mode that empowers one to discriminate between matter and spirit. Practicing bhakti without abstaining from the four sinful behaviors is compared to trying to light a fire while pouring water on it.

But, as I vigilantly practice the bhakti disciplines, my sinful desires are burned up and the natural devotion for Krsna within my heart is awakened.

When bhakti awakens, a spontaneous desire to serve Krsna springs forth, leading one to the next stage of bhakti, devotional service in ecstasy.

In the beginning however, I must follow the rules and disciplines, even when I don’t feel like doing so. Such discipline – along with the mercy of guru and Krsna – transport one to the higher stages of devotion.

Even in an ordinary sense, there are benefits to self-discipline. Psychologist, Nathaniel Brandon, mentions one such benefit, which he calls, “your reputation with yourself.” He says, “we build up or pull down our reputation with ourselves with everything we do or fail to do.” (ETF, Tracy, p. 72)

In other words, the more I voluntarily accept beneficial disciplines, the better I feel about myself. And, incidentally, the better I feel about my self, the more I will feel empowered to practice discipline. Discipline creates an upward spiral of improvement.

One way to adopt the self-discipline habit is to start with small disciplines that you’re sure you can handle. As you taste the rewards of performing these small disciplines, you’ll be encouraged to increase them. Furthermore, the disciplines you accept in one area of your life, will positively affect the disciplines in all other areas of your life.

The best and most important discipline of all is the chanting of the holy names of Krsna.

Arrange time to chant every day and listen carefully to the mantra. Also, stay fixed in chanting a regulated number of rounds of japa every day.

Regular chanting of the holy names will not only make all other disciplines easier, it will – as the following verses express – infuse the chanter with spiritual strength and bring him or her to the perfection of life.

“Let the all-auspicious glories of the holy name, which benedicts the entire universe, be victorious. Just as when the sun rises, it dispels the ocean of darkness. In the same way, when the holy name has only slightly risen within one’s heart, all one’s sins are completely destroyed.” (Padyavali 16)

“Oh King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the way of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.” (Bhag. 2.1.11)
Vaisesika Das

Christmas Festival 2016 in San Diego, USA (Album with 98 photos)
New Govardhana Annual Prasadam Festival and 6 Hour Kirtan-On …Read More…

The Residents of Varsana (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we visited Varsana, the eternal residence of Srimati…Read More…

TOVP Updates – By Sadbhuja Das.
View of the Demigods.
This is a panoramic view of the demigods on top of the first floor …Read More…

Iskcon Melbourne, Australia – Mega Kitchen Equipment Update (Album with photos)
Aniruddha Dasa: I was able to inspect kitchen progress on Friday with Greg, our project manager. I managed to get some shots. I’ve had such a busy weekend I couldn’t get them online till now. A lot of the equipment is in place. Not connected but you’ll get the idea.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Cv87Kn

Amazing video by the Russian devotees appealing for a Krishna Temple in Moscow ( min video)
According to the Vedas, God owns everything, not only in this universe but also in countless other universes, and in the spiritual world. But in Moscow, Krishna … has not home, has not a Temple. How so? In fact, here Krsna has already a beautiful, amazing Temple. Only time, and our efforts are separating us from it. By combining our efforts, thanks to the strong faith and friendship, we will be able to see it first hand and say, “Now, God has a house.” Please take part in the appearance of Krishna temple in Moscow!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/90ap96

Two albums of rare photos of Yamuna Devi from the beginning of the Hare Krishna movement. She is seen with her family, then with Srila Prabhupada, her early godbrothers and godsisters like Jayanananda Prabhu, Tamal Krishna Goswami, Vishnujana Swami, Mu…

Transcendental Greed.
There is one price that one must pay to get Krsna. That price is intense eagerness. This intense eagerness is called laulyam , “greed.”
In his Padyavali, Rupa Goswami has composed the following verse:
“Pure devotional service in Krsna consciousness cannot be had even by pious activity in hundreds and thousands of lives. It can be attained only by paying one price—that is, intense greed to obtain it. If bhakti is available somewhere, one must purchase it without delay.”

Here Rupa Goswami says that one must have intense greed to obtain Krsna. But he also says that one cannot get it even by performing pious activities for hundreds and thousands of lives.

In the following conversation recorded in Journey of Self Discovery (JSD), Srila Prabhupada gives the secret for obtaining this spiritual greed:

“Someone may say, ‘Oh, eagerness? I have eagerness.’ Ah-h-h… but it is not so easy. Janma-koti-sukrtair na labhyate: This eagerness cannot be achieved even by executing pious activities for millions of births. If you simply go on performing pious activities, still this eagerness is not available.

“So, this eagerness is a very important thing, but it can be awakened only by the association of devotees. Therefore we are giving everyone a chance to invoke that eagerness; then you’ll see God, face to face.” (JSD)
Vaisesika Das

My Cancer Diagnosis As Krishna’s Embrace.
It is often difficult to keep secrets, especially about one’s health, so after due consideration, I am publically sharing that after preliminary tests, secondary cancer has been discovered in a swollen lymph node in my neck. There is at least one more test in conventional medicine that could be performed—a PET or full body scan—to try to find the primary cancer. Unfortunately, I have found that just mentioning the word cancer freaks everyone out, as if this is a death sentence. However, this is not necessarily so. There are many alternative treatments with a high success rate—much better than the conventional radiation and Chemo. Although many who are reading this don’t know me personally, this could be your story just as easily, or it may already be, since in the USA, cancer strikes 1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women in their lifetime. In 2015, there will be an estimated 1,658,370 new cancer cases diagnosed and 589,430 cancer deaths in the US.

I don’t like to give anyone any pain or discomfort by telling them this news, but I bring it up as an educational experience for all of us and to document my travels through what may be a long journey of recovery. There is much to learn about what cancer is, what it means when it grows in the body, and what the best way to treat it is. We have found this the following site very helpful in our both our education about cancer and quest for the best treatment. http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/

At the same time, I do appreciate all the loving I am getting from my friends and families! I get the most amazing hugs and those looks of disbelief like I might disappear at any moment. If only we could all appreciate one another like this all the time!

My wife jokes that I may be partially attracting the cancer to feel such love and appreciation. Additionally, it may be a result of my daily prayers for spiritual advancement, and to gain facilities for sharing my spiritual life through writing and teaching. My friends and family are far more upset and worried than I am. In any case, I can honestly say, that “it’s all good.” Whatever happens I know it is for my ultimate spiritual benefit.

Although I don’t think it is my time to go, I have found this diagnosis an interesting meditation on death, and all the hankerings and desires in my heart. As is often my process, I take time to observe my thoughts and feelings from a 3rd person perspective, so I can learn as much as I can from my reactions or responses. Who do I really think I am—my conditioned story, or an eternal soul? How do I define myself? What are my attachments? How much do I consider myself a servant of God, or as an enjoyer of the world? Where is my faith? Where is my shelter? What is my relationship with the holy name? How much to I truly want the goal of pure devotion and love for Krishna and everything in relationship to his service? How much to I care about others? What am I willing to give, for the time I have left in my body?
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/exUqB1

GITA LIFE PROGRAM!! (Album with photos)
H.H.Bhakti Vinoda Swami conducting the Gita Life program in Sri Lanka.
Srila Prabhupada: The devotees of the Lord, while delivering speeches and describing the transcendental attributes of the Lord, do not think that they can do anything independently. They think that they can speak only what they are induced to speak by the Supreme Lord, the master of the senses… No one is free to act freely and independently, and as such, one should always seek the permission of the Lord to act or eat or speak, and by the blessing of the Lord everything done by a devotee is beyond the principles of the four defects typical of the conditioned soul.
SB 2.4.11 purp.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/gsIuyN

Always New And Fresh (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today I took a few visiting devotees on the ultimate parikrama to Radha Kunda, Syama Kunda and Giri-Govardhan. It’s amazing how such parikramas, although performed hundreds or even thousands of times, are always new and fresh.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/SaUlJ1

Iskcon Latur Organizes A 3-Day Padayatra (Album with photos)
Sundarkrsna Dasa: Latur to Goroba Ter.
The devotees of Latur, Maharasthra, organized a three-day padayatra to celebrate ISKCON’s 50th anniversary. The padayatra took place from Latur to Ter started on October 24th and ended on October 26th. Latur is a city in the Marathwada region of Maharasthra and is popular with tourists for its historical monuments. Ter is a village located in the Osmanabad district about 50 kilometers away from Latur. The village was once home to Sant Gora Kumbhar (also known as Goroba) who was associated with the Bhakti movement and the Varkari sect[1] in Maharashtra. He was a potter by trade and a devotee of Lord Vitthal. The village is presently known as Goroba Ter. Gora Kumbhar and other saints also wrote and sung hundreds of abhangs (devotional poetry sung in praise of Lord Vitthal).

Inspiration

The padayatra was inspired by Lokanath Swami after he had spoken to us about doing one in our area. He was always sharing the experiences he had when he first started padayatra after being instructed by Srila Prabhupada. He also mentioned the ‘All India Padayatra’ as an example, and of course, whenever he spoke about that padayatra he would talk about Acarya Dasa. Lokanath Swami praised Acarya Dasa for leading the ‘All India Padayatra’ and told us to get ideas from him. So, being inspired by Lokanath Swami, we gained strength from his order much like the way trees and plants derive nourishment from the all-powerful sun.

Day 1, October 24th Murud Akola

Our small team of ISKCON Latur devotees made all the preparations for the padayatra. The procession consisted of a bullock cart carrying small deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra Maiya together with a photograph of Srila Prabhupada and 40 padayatris –also traveling with us was a vehicle carrying all our necessities.

We started the padayatra at the ISKCON Latur temple and walked to our first destination, Murud Akola, located 18 kilometers away. We walked, sang and danced the entire way and reached there that evening. Upon arriving we had sankirtana followed by a short lecture on the importance of harinam and taking up spiritual life. It was the month of kartikka, so we also sang the ‘Damodarastakam’ prayers with many of the local residents joining us in offering lamps to Lord Damodar, and since no program is complete without prasadam, we also distributed prasadam to everyone who attended. Finally, we made an announcement welcoming everyone to join us for mangal arati the next morning.

Day 2, 25 October Murud

We all gathered at 5.00 am for the morning program. We had mangal arati, nrishma arati, tulasi arati, sang the shiksatakam, recited the 10 offenses against chanting the holy names and paid our vaishnav pranams. We then set off at 6.00 am for Murud, about 20 kilometers away. As we neared Murud we did sankirtana and book distribution and when we arrived, that evening, we had another short lecture on ‘how the holy names can deliver us’. We even did a skit on Sant Gora Kumbhar followed by offering lamps to Lord Damodar and prasadam.

Day 3, 26th October Ter

On the last day of the padayatra after the morning program, we walked towards Ter the village of Gora Kumbhar located 17 kilometers away from Murud. It was ekadasi so once we reached Ter we took darsana of the temples there and then we had ekadashi prasadam. Afterward, we had sankirtana and ended with a short lecture on the character of Gorakumbhar..

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all the devotees who made this padayatra possible, the pujaris, the kitchen department and most importantly those who participated in the padayatra from start to finish. All the padayatris were enthusiastic and courageous and everyone enjoyed the culture-combining experience. It was wonderful when devotees shared their realizations including how padayatra means taking full shelter of the Lord. So, this padayatra had indeed brought us closer to the Lord and to our Gurudev. Our goal for the future is to plan an ISKCON Latur Food for Life program once a month, on ekadashi, in Ter. We pray that Lokanath Swami may kindly bless and empower is to serve him, for whatever we accomplish he has inspired us and empowered us to do .

[1] Varkari refers to ‘pligrim’, it is a religious movement within the bhakti spiritual tradition and is associated with Indian states of Maharashtra and northern Karnataka.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/JFCvEB

Parikrama to Nandagram 21-12-16 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: I was very happy this day to bring my very first Temple President, Harer Nama Prabhu (ACBSP) on Parikrama to Nandagram and Vrinda Kunda. When I joined in Boulder, Colorado, Harer Nama Prabhu (in the photo) was the TP and now he’s in Vrindavan suffering from Parkinson’s. Please say a few prayers for him and now relish his visit to Ter Kadamba, Sanatan Goswami’s Bhajan Kutir, Pavana Sarovara, Nanda Bhavan, and Vrinda Kunda! Pics thanks to Vittalrukmini Das!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/8t2HNs

Devotees Got Talent?!
Since ISKCON´s first Ratha Yatra Festival in the summer of 1967 in San Francisco, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva and Subhadra devi, this festival has spread to many cities throughout the world.
We can’t give an exact number of how many cities celebrate this ancient, yet ever-fresh festival nowadays; however, it seems to be rapidly increasing year by year!
At the same time, it happens that several of the festival organizers around the world face a certain challenge every year: the stage program.

In certain areas of the world, you´ll find devotional talent-filled hotspots where there are a lot of different devotee musicians, artist, dancers, actors etc. Unfortunately, this is not the case for all areas, as there is quite a shortage of devotees in other areas, who are equipped to and would like to offer their devotion to the Lord on a stage in such a way. that it is also capturing the attention of the many guests.

We would like to offer ISKCON’s organizers and the different devotees around the world a platform where they can meet.

Join the transcendental casting show!

If you are a festival organizer looking for an artist you would like to invite to your local event or if you are an artist who is looking for an opportunity to engage his or her talents in the Lord’s service, then please join our group “Devotees Got Talent” on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1186442751450273/?fref=ts

Here you will have the opportunity to showcase your talents (i.e. in a YouTube video) to the Vaishnava world.

We sincerely hope that this small endeavor will enhance the many public presentations of Krishna consciousness around the world and support our many organizers and talented artists in their service.

ys. Syamacandra dasa & Sadasiva dasa

All India Padayatra: Book Marathon Fever – Rameshwaram
December 24, 2016 (Album with photos)
Acarya Dasa: After attending the Vraja Mandala parikrama during the month of kartika we were joined by two new padayatris, Bhakta Daniel, originally from America and Dayapar Dasa, originally from Europe. We are all very happy to have them with us and welcomed them with all our hearts in the service of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar and Srila Prabhupada. We are currently in Rameshwaram and will stay there for the next few days.
Doubly auspicious month
The month of December is very special since we celebrate two important events during this month. The first is the sannayasa anniversary of Lokanath Swami which took place on December 6th. The second is the Bhagavad-gita marathon. Bhagavad-gita now plays an important role in our lives because of our Guru Maharaja –it is he who gave us knowledge of sastra and helped us see its significance in our lives.

Seeking blessings
On December 6th, the day of Lokanath Swami’s 41st sannyasa anniversary we made a video call to congratulate him and to seek his blessings. He said to us, “I was instructed by my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, to start and carry on padayatra –and you all are helping me in my service. In fact, I would say, you all are doing my service.” He then gave a short talk on the glories of book distribution which inspired us all. We told him that we would distribute 5000 Bhagavad-gitas, and he responded by saying we should do more. He then raised his hands, blessing us all and said, “Keep going with your sankirtana, book distribution and prasadam distribution. I am very pleased with all your seva.” After taking these words to heart we continued with our services. We distribute books regularly but during this month we enhance our book distribution for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

Ramanathapuram
When we reached Ramanathapuram we organized a big pandal program almost like the programs we have during our Janmastami celebrations. We had sound systems in place, lighting everywhere and prasadam distribution. Sahastranam Dasa, a disciple of Bhakti Vikas Maharaja, helped us with accommodation and the program during our time there. The city of Ramanathapuram was mostly populated by people of the Muslim and Christian traditions –thankfully we did not face any problem while there. Our program started with sankirtana, followed by katha on Gita Mahatmya and ended with prasadam distribution to more than 600 people. The next morning we came across a man who had taken a Bhagavad-gita from us the day before, at the pandal program –he was sitting and reading the Gita with rapt attention. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! We distributed 165 Bhagavad-gitas and 358 small books.
Sleeping under trees
While travelling we reached a place where we could not find accommodation. So, all of us had to stay under a tree that day. It is by the mercy of Lokanath Swami, that our entire team was happy, still maintained their enthusiasm and continued with their seva despite our situation. After a six day stay in Rameshwaram we will continue on with our journey.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/MiBdpN

Harinaam sankirtan at Gandhi Maidan, Gaya
ISKCON Gaya devotees performed a harinaam sankirtan at Magadh book fare, Gandhi Maida…Read More…

ISKCON Parsippany Temple, New Jersey (Album with photos)
A beautiful celebration was held at the site of our new upcoming ISKCON Parsippany Temple. The new 3.25 acre plot sits at the heart of Parsippany NJ (rated by Forbes this year as one of the top …

Christmas Eve Harinama at Surfers Paradise, Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Nobody should think that “Now I have learned everything. I can surpass everyone. I have become above all rules and regulation. Now I have become paramahamsa.” This is rascaldom. Everyone should always think, “I am fool number one.” Therefore the endeavor will go on, to become perfect. If we think that “Now I have become perfect, paramahamsa,” then the spiritual regulative principles will never be followed, and you will fall down. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.43 – London, July 30, 1973
Find them here: https://goo.gl/VR6uFg

Kolkata TV Station hosts the devotees for a popular show (Album with photos)
We were shooting for a TV program in Kolkata yesterday. Wonderful devotees, awesome studio, great experience and opportunity to spread Krsna’s divine names through TV channel. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Hare Krsna!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/h42aDx

Here is the famous Christmas carol Carol of Bells melody with 4 part harmony Maha mantra (1 min video)
“The devotees of the Supreme Lord, or the persons who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, are called santas, and they are always in …

UK marathon reaches 110,000 books distributed so far while 52,500 more books have been distributed in Hungary!
Initial count shows the Hungarian congregation and full-time distributors distributed around 52,500 books for the marathon.
Sutapa Das: The 200k effort ended yesterday. Today is the day of rest. We have now reached 110,000 registered books… but fear not, there are many scores still to come in.
Thank you to everyone. It is amazing… how these books travel to every corner of the country, touching people’s hearts and changing their life… whether they realize it or not. My words don’t count for much, but here Srila Prabhupada, in his incredible humility, beautifully expresses his “deepest appreciation” for you all:
“I could never have thought it was possible to distribute so many of our literatures. Therefore I can understand it is simply Krsna’s blessing us for your sincerely working on His behalf. Actually, that is the secret of my success, not that personally I have done anything wonderful, but that because those who are helping me are sincere, they have done the work, that is the reason for our success all over the world where others have failed. A little sincerity is very difficult thing in this age of hypocrisy and bluff, but I am so fortunate that Krsna has sent me all of you nice boys and girls who are sincerely working. Please convey to all of them my deepest appreciation.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter 1973)

You are *hear*! (4 min video)
On the map that tracks your spiritual progress, there is a marker labeled: “You are hear.”
According to Jiva Goswami, our desire to hear about Krsna is exactly equal to our level of spiritual advancement.
The first Sunday in December Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna so exuberantly at the Union Square subway station that several people danced in a very lively way. December 4, 2016.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/3UoHA8

Harinam and book distribution @ Sindhu beach, Bali, 24.12.2016 (Album with photos)
Kavicandra Swami: Books are the best Christm…Read More…

Harinam Bliss, Hare Krishna Taipei, Taiwan, ISKCON (Album with photos)
Amazing eyes: A tender serious heart is reaching to Krishna closer and closer!
This little girl stared at our Harinama amazingly focused, incredibly sober and attentively listening to our singing Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra.
She was so incredibly focused that her eyes didn’t move at all.
I suddenly noticed her being firmly standing there, I went to pass the flyer to her father, telling him that we are singing (chanting) the Hare-Krishna Maha-Mantra. And he immediately reading it out loud to her daughter the Hare-Krishna Maha-Mantra.

For, usually, most of the people will just ignore our passing the message. When there are parents with their kids pass by, often they ignore us, or the parents or the kids do so.

It’s hardly seen that the parents would seriously give us attention and even passed it on to their kid-s.

This little girl’s father gently took it so seriously.
After I told him the mantra, he immediately read it out loud to her.
She seriously kept on hearing her father’s voice of reading out the complete Hare-Krishna Maha-Mantra, meanwhile with her eyes openly staring at devotees’ singing and dancing. And her mother stayed with them aside.

This is really so amazing!

Once the Sound-vibration of Hare-Krishna Maha-Mantra really enters one’s heart through one’s ears, then Krishna immediately starts reciprocating with this sincere person.

Her eyes penetrating my heart deeply !
I strongly feel that she is a devotee!

Sooner or later, when the time is ripen, she will come to see Krishna eagerly !

I am so rejuvenated by encountering such strong, determining vision of eye-sight from this girl.
Her eye sight just press into my heart deeply !
I am sure Krishna is paving the way for her that she will find Him in her very very near future !

I sincerely wish that she and her parents come to Krishna closer and closer, sooner and sooner ~

This is a very special gift that Krishna gives me on X’Mas !
I am so blessed to meet such a special serious soul !

Jaya ~
All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga ~
All glories to Srila Prabhupada ~
All glories to all the Vaisnavas ~
Hari Hari Bol ~
Hare Krishna ~
Find them here: https://goo.gl/LOY9DR

Official update about the mega-movie “Acharya”
Dec. 20, 2016
Dear Devotees and Friends,
Greetings and Hare Krishna!
Our team is in the final completion stage of the 90 minute documentary film Acharya on the life of Srila Prabhupada. By Krishna’s grace, we have the funds to finish the film. Thanks to those donors who came forward with their support and especially the anonymous donor who matched donations up to $60,000!
The big news is, we have a distributor who wants to represent our film for distribution in movie theaters in the US and Canada. The company is Abramorama in NYC and recently represented Eight Days a Week, a film on the Beatles by director Ron Howard. Abramorama’s CEO wrote me this after seeing our latest edit:

I watched your film. I think it’s terrific: consistently smart and interesting. I’m certain there’s an audience for it even beyond the core.

Abramorama was highly recommended by our Hollywood production advisors, Peter Rader and Paola di Florio who used the company to distribute their film Awake on the life of Yogananda. They did very well with the theatrical release of their film and knowing the scope of our Movement, feel our film will see even wider distribution.

We are very fortunate to have interest from such a high-end distributor. Abramorama only takes 20 films a year and puts their full energy into each and every one of them.

The distributors have given us contract which includes an all-inclusive package which covers theater bookings, a mass marketing campaign, social media awareness, and everything a professional theatrical release requires. We are planning for a June, 2017 release for six months in theaters across the USA and Canada. Then afterwards, an international release.

In summary, we have a very real opportunity of seeing Srila Prabhupada’s life story and glorious achievements come to the forefront of popular culture throughout North America. Even if mildly successful, the effect will be an increased understanding of Srila Prabhupada, his mission and his representatives, and an increase in temple and festival attendance and book distribution.

However, for this scenario to unfold, we need the help of everyone who will benefit: every initiated devotee, aspiring devotees, congregational members and supporters. Let us cooperate together, through the most popular medium of film, to glorify Srila Prabhupada in gratitude for his great gifts to us and to the world. The opportunity is now to make preparations for release this summer.

Kindly donate from your heart to help kick-start the marketing and distribution campaign for 2017. For tax deductible donations in America, please visit the following link: http://www.acharyathemovie.com/donate/

Those who would like to actively take part in our marketing and distribution campaign can write to: acharya@innervoiceproductions.com

Thank you very much for your continued support and encouragement.

Yours in service,

Yadubara das and Visakha dasi – Producers/Directors – Inner Voice Productions
www.acharyathemovie.com

ISKCON Auckland NZ: Harinama Sankirtana (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: I am very glad to learn also that you are feeling joy while chanting the mantra Hare Krishna. Yes, it is exactly like this. If anyone chants this mantra in good faith and in simple understanding, then surely this transcendental vibration will act immediately in spiritual bliss. Please therefore continue to chant this mantra as many times as possible throughout the day and night. I do not think there is any inconvenience or loss on your part if you do so all the time. Even when you are walking, you can softly chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, or even when you are on the bus going to somewhere you can also chant. When you are working with your hands you can also chant and when you are resting or going to take rest you can also chant. Even in your toilet room while taking bath you can also chant. In this way there is no limitation or restriction for chanting this Holy Name of God, Krishna, and His Energy, Hara. In doing this business there is no loss, but there is very great gain which is transcendental realization. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Minoru, Kenji – Los Angeles 22 April, 1970
Find them here: https://goo.gl/w91crC

Vrindavan 2016 (Album with photos)
Vedavyasapriya Swami: Day trip to Ter Kadamba, Nandagaon, the Bhajan Sthali of Srila Rupa Go…Read More…

TOVP: Flag test.
Sadbhuja Das: We are testing the light flag to see the effect. Because the Chakra will be coated by gold plating.
We want to see how it will work by the constant wind up there. And today’s test was very successful. Because there is no wind at the bottom (ground level), but on the top there is some wind affect. So this flag won’t affect the gold.

Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue 390.
Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to Jawaharlal Nehru, 20 January 1952: In the old days, life was not so much conditional and encumbered. The simple problems were then the problems of bread, clothing and shelter, which were solved by the simplest process. By agriculture they used to solve the bread, clothing and shelter problems, and industrialization was unknown to them. Thus they had no idea of living in big palatial buildings at the cost of sacrificing the boon of humanity. They were satisfied to live in cottages, and yet they were perfectly intelligent. Even the famous Chanakya Pandit, who was the Prime Minister of India during the reign of Chandragupta, used to live in a cottage and draw no salary from the state. Such simple habits did not deteriorate his high intelligence and dignity, and as such he had compiled many useful literatures which are still read by millions for social and political guidance. Thus the simplicity of brahminical culture was an ideal to the subordinate members of the society, and in the deductive way the subordinate orders, namely the the ksatriyas , the vaisyas and the sudras, would follow the instruction of the cultured Brahmins. Such ways of approaching the truth are always simple, plain, and perhaps the most perfect. In the old days even a politician Brahmin like Chanakya would say: A really cultured, learned fellow is far above a politician because a politician is honored by the votes of his countrymen while a cultured and learned fellow is honored everywhere all over the world. So we say that Rabindranath and Gandhi were never dependent on the votes of their countrymen but they were honored all over the world for their cultural contribution. The same Chanakya Pandit defined the standard of learning. The standard of learning had to be testified by its result and not by the manner of university degrees. He said that one who looks upon all women except one’s married wife as mothers, all other’s wealth as pebbles on the street, and all living beings as one’s own self, is a really learned fellow. He never stressed on the point of how many grammars, rhetorics or other books of knowledge that one might have gone through or how many doctorates of different universities one might have been decorated with.
This issue can be downloaded at the following link:
https://archive.org/details/bindu390

Food for Life distribution in Tompkins Square Park, New York City (Album with photos)
“We are satisfied living in the forest of Vrindavan….” today’s Food for Life – Tompkins Square Park program with special guest help from family members visiting for the holidays and Bhakti Center devotees.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/0fxPKu

Congregational members in UK distribute almost 40.000 of Srila Prabhupada’s books for the marathon (Album with photos)
Sutapa Das: Planting the Seeds
“Don’t judge each day simply by the harvests that you reap, but also by the seeds that you plant”
Bhakti Vriksa Manor are going from strength to strength… they’re empowered gardeners in the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! They have distributed nearly 40,000 books in this marathon so far, and still have some transcendental tricks lined up Reaching out on the streets, door-to-door, holding Gita Programmes, meeting shop owners, and finding ingenious new ways to connect with people. They know the art of planting the seeds and harvesting the crop! Inspired vaisnavas indeed. Thank you so much.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/BbGupN

The Best Exercise is Walking.
Lots of walking is good for your health.
Walk away from maya when she invites you to play wi…Read More…

Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s chief disciples, the Six Goswamis, set goals!
About this, Srinivasa Acarya writes:
Sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih … “The Six Goswamis performed their daily sadhana in a scheduled manner, carefully counting their chanting, bowing down, and so on.”
Srila Prabhupada calls the Goswami’s measured approach: “Maintaining a numerical strength.”
Those who are serious about spiritual advancement may take advantage of this technique by setting daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals for their spiritual lives.
Once you set a goal and you write it down, you’ll see that your mind immediately begins working to attain it. It’s like magic.
Here are a few practical tips on setting goals.

1. Decide what you want and write it down.

2. Make your goals SMART:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely
3. Write your goals in present tense and make them positive:

“I read the entire SB in the next five years.”

4. Break large goals in smaller tasks.

Example– Ask: “How many pages a day must I read to finish the SB in one year, two years, etc?”

5. Create accountability by sharing your goals with others you trust.

6. Make your list of goals visible and review it often.

“Where attention goes, energy flows.”

7. Stay on course: regularly assess and celebrate your progress.

8. If needed, adjust your goals to make them realistic and exciting.

(This means, you may have to adjust them up or down …)

9. Categorize your goals:

Spiritual
Family
Professional
Health, fitness
Etc.
10. Use various time frames:

One minute, hour, day, week. Thirty Day, One year, Five year, Ten year, Lifetime, Etc.
Of all the tips listed above, the first is most important: “Decide what you want and write it down.” Doing this transfers your goal from the subtle level of thought, to the grosser level of ink on paper. From there it will continue to manifest outwardly. (Especially if you purposely work at it.)

Begin today by sitting quietly with a pen and paper. Meditate on elements of your spiritual practice and life that you’d like to improve; think of what you’d like to attain, and transform your aspirations into written goals. Don’t worry if they seem to be very small or humble goals. Remember, “Drops a day wear the stone away.” “Inch by inch, it’s a cinch.”

After writing down even one new goal, you’ll be off to a fresh start in your spiritual life and you’ll feel a new sense of animation.

Hare Krsna!

Quotes to note:

“Disturbance is due to want of an ultimate goal, and when one is certain that Krsna is the enjoyer, proprietor and friend of everyone and everything, then one can, with a steady mind, bring about peace” (Srila Prabhupada; Bhagavada-gita As It Is, 2.66, Purport).

“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” (Alice in Wonderland)

“Goals are potent.” (Will McCoy)
Vaisesika Dasa

Blissful Arabic book distribution in the subways of New York City! (Album with photos)
From the streets of London, to the beaches of California, to the subways of NYC – more specifically, throughout the USA, Canada, UK, eight countries in Europe, Australia, and even in India – book distributors worldwide are relishing the truly unique nectar of Arabic book distribution. They are directly tasting the very special mercy that Srila Prabhupada specifically declared just for Arabic book distribution, and once tasting it they don’t seem to want it to stop!
Wherever there are universities, tourist places, and major city streets, faithful Arabic-speakers are literally reaching out for answers now, often desperately (due to the backlash they are experiencing now in today’s world). This makes it *very easy* to distribute now, more than at any other previous time since book distribution began!
The Arabic books are now stocked at the BBT’s worldwide. The distribution is easy, truly blissful, fun, and it awards the book distributors with the greatest mercy possible, as directly expressed by Srila Prabhupada per his own words in Vrndavana 1976.
Plus, as an ancillary benefit: It Could Change The World…!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/3jcXDi

Harinama at Surfers Paradise – Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When there is krsna-kirtana, people, all classes of people, become very much pleased, and they join. As soon as your kirtana will be pure sankirtana, not artificial, not professional… There are many professional dancer. That will not attract. But even if you do not know the art of dancing, if you simply dance in ecstasy for Krsna’s love, that will be appreciated by everyone. That will be appreciated by everyone. Krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana-parau. These are the art. —From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on The Nectar of Devotion – January 8, 1973, BombayFind them here: https://goo.gl/lRVsBl

A Warm December In Vrindavan (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Vrindavan is enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures this …Read More…

Help for Reaching out “Your Ever Well Wisher”
This year being the 50th Anniversary since the establishment of ISKCON, and the occasion of the glorious December Book Marathon, Pandava Sena have set ourselves a target of distributing 10,000 of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Austerity as a stepping stone.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: Austerity in itself is not a limb of bhakti. Bhakti has sixty-four limbs; this means that there are sixty-four types of activities which give us bhakti but austerity is not amongst them.
However, austerity is glorified in the scripture that by performing sacrifice, by giving in charity and by engaging in austerity even saintly men are being purified. So in this sense, austerity is held in high esteem in the scripture. It is also said, nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke, kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye, tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam, suddhyed yasmad brahma-saukhyam tv anantam (Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.1). This is where Maharaj Rsabhadeva is speaking to his one hundred sons and instructing them about spiritual life. He says that this human form of life is not meant for sense gratification; this human form of life is meant for penances and austerities so that one may reach the transcendental state of happiness which is beyond the three modes of material nature.

Like this, austerity is glorified in the scripture but austerity is a preliminary – austerity gives us strength to practice bhakti but austerity in itself is not spiritual. A lack of austerity may make us weak in our determination. So a certain amount of austerity is required as a preliminarily activity to get some basic determination because in the initial stages of devotional service we are acting in the mode of goodness; we are not yet transcendental; we are in a transcendental process but we ourselves are not transcendental. Therefore we are trying to fix ourselves in the mode of goodness. This is the interim stage of devotional service. Then, as we get more and more advanced, eventually we will come to a transcendental stage.