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56 KM PADAYATRA IN TOGO, WEST AFRICA: from tear gas to tears of love (Album with photos)
By Bhakti Carudesna Swami
A party of 50 devotees assembled at the ISKCON Lomé temple
On December 17th 2016, ISKCON devotees of Lomé, a small town in a small country (Togo has about 6 million people), held a small but ecstatic padayatra for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. Several devotees from three other West African countries had joined the 45 devotee Togo team: three from Ghana (Yuga Prabhu, chairman of the West African Executive Council Board, Bhaktin Emma and Bhakta Abraham), one from the Republic of Benin (Bhakta Guillaume) and myself from Ivory Coast.

We started the walk in Aflao, at the border with Ghana, and ended it at Hilaconji, at the border with the Republic of Benin. Since Togo is a French speaking country, we had made a large banner indicating that this “Marche pour la Paix” (Peace walk) was done to celebrate ISKCON’ 5Oth anniversary.

Our procession consisted of two vehicles and two motocycles. We walked through the villages of devotees (except the driver) with our large banner. One vehicle was carrying devotees and the prasadam and the other one devotees, books and the mrdangas; the two motorcycles were carrying the rest of the devotees. For our procession, since it was our first padayatra in the country, we started in a small way, just to avoid too many complications with getting police permissions in different cities. Public processions are not banned in Togo- we don’t need permissions for harinama- but it depends on the political situation. It would have taken too much time to get permission for a program like padayatra and sometimes the police even refuses the permission, especially when it involves people from different countries, which was our case. We started in front of the Lomé temple with the blessings of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Govinda Madhava, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Sri Sri Jaganath Baladev and Subhadra.

A bitter beginning

All the devotees gathered in Aflao at 11 am in front of a fuel station. Someone took a group picture with the banner and the kirtana began to warm up. Quickly people started gathering around us; it was not new for them as they are used to our harinamas in that area. But after only 5 or 10 minutes of chanting, a police vehicle came to park near us. Suddenly, the policemen started shooting tear gas in the air from their guns. Panic everywhere! The kirtana immediately stopped. Nobody had time to find out what was going on. Children were crying and running to their mothers. We all quickly managed to enter our vehicles and moved far from that area. Later on we came to know that the shooting of tear gas was not for us; the police was chasing an illicit seller of gasoline. “Ok, no problem! But what to do next?” we asked ourselves. After a small discussion, when we saw that the children were not panicking or afraid any longer, we decided to drive a bit far from the area of the incident to start our padayatra.

A joyful festival of chanting, dancing and book distribution

When we got to some village or town, everybody got down from the vehicles, except the drivers of course, and we walked for harinama and book distribution without stopping. We thus crossed many villages, and we could say that we walked half the distance , about 28kms.

We thus arrived at Baguida, the port area, around 12.30 pm. While the brahmanas were chanting their gayatri, the women were busy giving some prasadam to children and the devotees. This was followed by an energetic kirtana, which left everyone satisfied, happy and confident.“Togo Padayatra ki!!!! Jaya !!! “, we all shouted with great enthusiasm. On the way people were greeting the devotees, some in their cars stopped to see what was going on. On many occasions a good number of people came to join us to dance in the kirtana. There was no special media coverage of the event. We distributed a lot of bread and juice prasadam. This padayatra was a festival of book distribution: 246 big books, 38 medium books and 20 small books. We thus crossed 12 villages and a few big towns, among which were Avepozo, Yesuvito, and Agbadrafor.

One gentleman we will never forget

After walking while doing harinama through one village, when we almost got to the end of it, we all entered our vehicles to move to the next village. From a distance one gentleman had seen us distributing books, and he was expecting us to stop at the place he was sitting with some friends under a big tree. As we did not stop, he started to ran after us, shouting, “Please, who are you? Where do come from? What are you doing? What books do you have in your hands?” We reluctantly stopped because we were late for the next town. But after we listened to that gentleman, we all realized that he was really a very sincere soul. He was looking for people like us and the types of books we had. He bought many books and chanted the Hare Krishna maha mantra with us without any difficulty. We did not regret for having stopped for him, he really was a nice gentleman.

A joyful end with an unexpected and blissful reception

We finally arrived at Hilaconji around 6h30 pm. A tumultuous and dynamic kirtana brought joy to the devotees and the people in the area. Some custom officers joined the chanting and dancing and some police officers bought books. We were happy to have made it. We forgot the tear gas, it was now time for tears of love. Before leaving the Benin border and going back to the Lomé temple Bhakta Godson, the best book distributor of the party, organized an emergency reception at his nearby house and treated the party to coconut water, fruits and soft drinks.

Enthused by this first experience, we are planning to organize a padayatra every year, and a bigger one also.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/15UiQJ

Music by Gadabhrit Das (Gabor Gaspar), song performed by Anjavati DasiRead More…

ISKCON NZ Auckland. Friday night Harinam. (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This is Krsna consciousness. You have to act by the desires of Krsna. That is the proper use of your senses. You cannot use for your purpose. Anything… Just like you are working in some establishment. Anything in that establishment, you can use for the proprietor’s business. You cannot use it. Just like in hospital there are blankets. It is written there, “Hospital Property.” So long you are in the hospital, you can use it. But you cannot take it outside. Then you are criminal. Similarly, everything… Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God, and you can use it for the service of God. Tena tyaktena bhunjitha ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam. This is the instruction, Vedic instruction. You can use it as prasadam, but everything should be offered to the Supreme. Yajnarthe karmanah loko ‘yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]. If you do not do that, if you engage yourself always in good activities, as the karmis they do, and earn money and use it for your own sense gratification, that is papa. yajna-sistasinah santo mucyante sarva-kilbisaih bhunjate te tv agham papa ye pacanty atma-karanat [Bg. 3.13] Those who are cooking in the kitchen very palatable dishes for satisfying the tongue, they are simply eating sinful things. Ye pacanty atma-karanat. So therefore, if we become sinful every moment, how we can become happy? It is not possible. If you want to become happy, you have to become pious. And the standard of piety is to become Krsna conscious, devotee of Krsna. That is the highest perfection of life. Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.28 – January 5, 1975, Bombay
Find them here: https://goo.gl/n19gRx

A Time When Gainesville Airport Was Puskar Prabhu’s Art Museum (2000)
Srila Prabhupada: The best policy to control the mind is to desire how to spread Krsna consciousness. This is the best. Kamah krsna-karmarpane. Narottama dasa Thakura has said that you cannot be free from desire. That is not possible. This is useless attempt. They say that “You become desireless.” No, that is not possible. How can I…? If I become desireless, I become dead. So long I am living entity, I must desire. I cannot check it. Therefore kama means desire. So at the present moment, we are desiring how to become happy in this material world, how to acquire so much money, how to acquire this, how to acquire this, how to get this, how to get that. This is kama. So this brain taxation, if you engage in Krsna’s service – how to spread Krsna consciousness, how to convince people about Krsna, how to take them to the Krsna’s desire, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66] – and in this way, if you go on making plan for spreading Krsna consciousness, then your mind is controlled. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.27 – January 4, 1975, Bombay

Alien Identities in the Vedic Hindu scriptures (22 min video)
Radha Mohan Das: The purpose of the presentations is to ultimately explore the Srimad Bhagavatam’s paradigm of a universe teeming with life, as well as discuss works such as the Vaimanika Sastra and the Samaranga Sutradhara.
Within Alien Identities, I draw parallels between modern UFO related phenomena and the ancient world – – Presenting the astronomical and anthropological aspects of scriptures in the Vedic tradition, in an accessible way that can be appreciated by devotees and also enthusiasts on the related subjects.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/IjffaO

Preaching program in Kiev (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If, by good fortune, one who has fallen into the ocean of material existence renders service to the pure devotees of the Supreme Lord, who are freed from all material desires, the Lord will deliver him, out of His causeless mercy. Simply by rendering service to the spiritual master and other advanced devotees, one surely receives the mercy of the Lord. It is a well-known fact that the Lord is more mercifully inclined toward those who consider themselves devotees of His devotees than those who claim to be His direct devotees. (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada’s commentary on SB 11.17.44)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/R9VchK

VIP Tour in Sacred India Gallery, Australia (2 min video)
Rita Saffioti MLA Member for West Swan in the Western Australian Parl…Read More…

Recipe – Til ki chikki (7 min video)
Sesame Seeds (Til)
Sugar (Sakkar)
Cardamom (Elaichi) Powder
Watch it here: …Read More…

Indians and Bhagavad Gita Make The History. Wherever Lord Krishna and Arjuna are present, Victory is there!
As if leading Microsoft (Mr. Sundar Pichai), Google (Mr. Satya Nadella), Mastercard (Mr. Ajaypal Banga) and many others Giant companies is not enough, Indians are leading in each and every field in US. This year has been a significant benchmark for success of Indians in American Politics as well. American Politics impacts the entire world in the most unique and powerful way. In the recent elections in the United States, history was made. A fivefold growth of prominent politicians of Indo-American origin has been observed and more have won lesser significant posts such as mayor, school board, county council etc.

To celebrate this success, Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist and philanthropist M. R. Rangaswami came with a brilliant concept – Indiaspora Inauguration gala. Diaspora means – the dispersion of any people from their original homeland. Indiaspora – is a congregation of Indians in the United States. The Indiaspora Inauguration gala is a bipartisan event to celebrate the success and significance of the Indian-American community, to welcome in the new administration and strengthen relationships with existing administration! A successful press conference preceded the gala. TV Asia, Diya News, India Bazaar, India West and many other prominent media channels attended it.

Congressman Joe Crowley, a former Co-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus, in his address to the Indiaspora gala, said this kind of success is phenomenal. Congressman Ami Bera, a third-time elect, addressed saying “What is remarkable that in one generation our community has done so much.” Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard lighted the first candle at the gala, followed by all other dignitaries. Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii has been the very first person to take the oath on a Gita in the United States in January 2009. Gabbard is the first ever Hindu to be elected to the US Congress. Her appreciation for Bhagavad Gita is a noteworthy topic across the internet.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/YgCKLu

Bhaktivedanta Research Center Participates in International Open Access Week.
BRC was pleased to have the opportunity to participate in Open Access Week this year from the 24-30 of October. Open Access Week is an event whose purpose is to bring awareness to the potential applications and benefits of Open Access to scholarship and research throughout the world.

BRC’s participation is in line with our commitment to preservation and dissemination, Offering our digitized material freely to the public domain. The Open Access Movement supports the idea that research should be freely accessible online, at no cost to anyone.This free exchange of ideas facilitates more rapid advances in research of many kinds.

In only seven days, BRC scanned 2681 pages from 15 rare books and uploaded them, a truly amazing feat made possible to the dedication and commitment of our Head Librarian, Angelo Pugliese (Acyuta Dasa,) and L2C2 Technologies Consultant, Indranil Das Gupta.

Saturday Night Harinama in London (2 min video)
(London 7th January, 2017)
Giridhari Prabhu leading an ecstatic kirtan in …Read More…

Beautiful Sri Radharaman.
Srila Prabhupada: O my merciful Lord Caitanya, may the nectarean Ganges waters of Your transcendental activities flow on the surface of my desertlike tongue. Beautifying these waters are the lotus flowers of singing, dancing and loud chanting of Krsna’s holy name, which are the pleasure abodes of unalloyed devotees. These devotees are compared to swans, ducks and bees. The river’s flowing produces a melodious sound that gladdens their ears. Cc Adi 2.2 text

Prabhupada said, “What’s done is done. You tell him that he should come back.”
Sukhada: An Indian life member who was a nurse was explaining to Srila Prabhupada how she had a nice life, a life in the mode of goodness.
Prabhupada told her that the material world was like a boil and that blowing on a boil won’t get rid of it. It needs to be lanced.
Similarly, we need to get out of this material world by lancing our material desires and by chanting Hare Krishna.
Prabhupada was very heavy but very expert at preaching.
As Prabhupada was leaving he stopped in front of Malati and asked her, “How is Shyamasundar?”
Malati said, “Oh, Prabhupada, he is having difficulty. He’s gone off and is doing different things.”
She was in anxiety, and Prabhupada was surprised and very concerned, almost hurt.
Prabhupada said, “He is engaged in so much monkey business. What’s done is done. Tell him he should come back.”
Three times Prabhupada said to her, “What’s done is done. You tell him that he should come back.”
I felt Prabhupada’s overwhelming sense of compassion in how he was really concerned about his devotees and how he wanted them to be happy and comfortable in spiritual life.
On the way back from visiting the holy places in Vrindavan, the women’s bus broke down.
We weren’t concerned. We were feeling very protected. But later we heard that Srila Prabhupada was worried about us.
He kept asking, “Where are the women? Where are the women?”
Prabhupada didn’t go to sleep until we returned.
Prabhupada also said that he was worried that the women would not be protected after he left the planet.
I thought it was significant how Prabhupada was so concerned and worried about the fate of the women when he was gone. It touched my heart.
Once an Indian gentleman waited for the right time and then gave Prabhupada a large donation.
Prabhupada thanked him, then got out his keys, opened his drawer, put the donation inside the drawer, locked the drawer, and went on with what he had been doing.
It impressed me that part of spirituality is taking care of everything in a practical way. Prabhupada was careful with money.
—Sukhada
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Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint”
by Siddhanta das

Discipleship.
Varsana Swami: The efforts, austerities, and practices involved with the acceptance as a disciple do not end with initiation. Rather they begin, in a formal sense, at that point. Whatever outer challenges or inner demons we have, will be overcome by Krishna’s grace for those who persevere in their vows. It is only those who quit who will suffer defeat.
Even as the connection and dependency between the words “disciple” and “discipline” are obvious, some devotees tend to be more attentive to the fruits than the root. Disconnected from her root, the bhakti-lata will wither. However much we may balk or resist the concept, it is discipline that forms the soul of vaidhi-bhakti and reveals the heart of raganuga-bhakti in due course of time.

Discipline applies to four levels of spiritual development, each successively deeper and subtler: body, mind, words, and emotions. Herein lies the comparison of the outcome of a disciple’s life in contrast to the undisciplined one.

Disciplined life Undisciplined life
Character development Controlled and enslaved by emotions
Choosing the right course, though it may be challenging Going with the easy, convenient, and comfortable route
Setting priorities Following moods
Practicing selflessness Pursuing selfishness
Service attitude Enjoying propensity
Seeking solutions Making excuses
Driven from within Influenced from without
Walking the talk Lip service alone
Overcoming obstacles Procrastinating or quitting
Satisfied with necessities Addicted to niceties
Focused on the goal Whining along the way
Yearning to hear the master say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Content with the approval of worldly souls
Approaching the dawn of suddha-nama Lingering in the shadows of nama-abhasa
Honoring the rules and regulations which award and protect our freedom Whimsical freedom which means spiritual bondage
Committed relationships Uncommitted partners
Fixed on the long-term goal, graduating from the school of material life Distracted by diplomas awarded by worldly institutions
Firm in commitment Swayed by feelings
Awakening of spiritual sentiments Lingering of mundane feelings
Fixed in the self Drifting with circumstance
The hope which looks upward Despair which turns downward
Faith which leads forward Prevailing uncertainty due to circumstantial influences
The humility worthy of a servant of Krishna, acknowledges that discipline alone is inadequate to elevate us substantially in spiritual life. Rather, discipline attracts grace and protects it in its tender growth as it reaches for the sky and blossoms into love of God.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/N1Y2Yr

Hare Krishna Kirtan by Titiksava Karunika Das (6 min video)
By chanting Krishna’s Holy Name, one cleanses all the dust from the mirror of one’s consciousness.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/cra6Eb

Ayurveda The Science of Life – About Curd (8 min video)
by Dr NanaSaheb Memane.
Srila Prabhupada: Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised His disciples never to eat palatable food, never to talk about village topics and never to read ordinary novels, poems and newspapers. One may ask, “How is it that in the modern age these Europeans and Americans of the Krsna consciousness movement do not take interest in newspapers?” Newspapers are very popular in the West. Each day the papers are published in three or four editions, and they are all selling. However, these American boys and girls who have come to Krsna consciousness have stopped reading newspapers. They do not know what is happening from day to day, and it does not matter. All of this is a waste of time. It is better that they read literatures like Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Why waste one’s valuable time? >>> Ref. VedaBase => TLK Vs 12
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/wkLaao

MY service.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: Our favourite song which we chant so happily, “Sarīra abidyā-jāl, joḍendriya tāhe kāl, jīve phele viṣaya-sāgore, tā’ra madhye jihwā ati, lobhamoy sudurmati,” translates to, “The senses are a network leading to death and of all the senses the tongue is the most voracious to control…” It sounds quite intense actually but by the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, by engaging the tongue in transcendental activities of glorifying Krsna and tasting Krsna prasad, suddenly everything changes – our whole destiny changes. Thus it is the tongue which changes our destiny!
A big ship, heavy with so many tons of steel, is moving along and changing direction by means of a tiny piece of metal called the rudder. In the same way, the tongue can change the destiny of our entire existence so somehow we must engage that tongue and if we engage the tongue in connection with Krsna then very quickly we become attached to Krsna. This is the nature of Krsna consciousness, paraḿ dṛṣṭvā nivartate (Bhagavad-gita 2.59), that we will develop a higher taste. One cannot serve Krsna without developing attachment.

In the beginning when we start, we may find things a bit austere but after a while we think, “This is my service and I am not going to stop my service. This is my connection to Krsna!” In Krsna consciousness there is philosophy but the actual connection to Krsna is by service – whatever little thing we do. After some time, one becomes possessive about it, “It is MY service.” We become protective of our service because attachment develops. This is the nature of devotional service that attachment to Krsna naturally develops therefore, Krsna consciousness is not difficult to follow!

Management vs Theology – a new challenge.
Kripamoya Das: Any human endeavor requires good management. Any organization of a certain size – and some say over 150 members – requires a different system of management from that of its beginnings. But when good management dominates theology, and spiritual vitality, and moderates religious practice, and we choose a religious leader on the basis of how good a manager he is, then the very purposes for which the organization was founded are threatened.

This year is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s challenge to the Church of his day. He thought it needed reform and he wrote his suggestions as a list. A contemporary list of suggested reforms for bishops of the Church of England, all 95 of them, has been published and makes interesting reading. It’s a long piece, but it can be ‘translated’ for the organization or movement of your choice.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/Y4Rx3X

Sharne Mataji- A loving tribute!
From The GBC Ministry for Cow Protection:
It is with great sadness that we have been informed that yesterday Sharne mataji left this world while in Sri Vrndavana Dham on a mission to serve.Her example was a real asset to our movement and her departure from this world is indeed a great loss for us. Like many vaishnavas her services were unknown to many but certainaly very known to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.I used to see her every time I visited the Goshala in Sri Mayapur, she was always very blissful, free from criticism, and free from personal gain.Many good qualities for a Vaishnava.
The GBC ministry for cow protection and agriculture offer our obeisances to her departure in the holy Dham to the shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Krsna,

All glories to her sincere devotional service, and her service attitute.

Your servant,

Kalakantha das

From Vrindavan Street Cow Seva

Street Cow Seva – Monday 9 January

A dear member of our Street Seva Team, SHARNE Teudt from Australia, on the auspicious day of Ekadashi, left her body in Vrindavan Holy Dham. We can’t explain how wonderful soul she is, and how we are honored to get her association.

She came here from Mayapur to serve the cows and to treat the sick ones using homeopathy.

Her life was completely dedicated to loving Krsna ‘s cows. We are really missing her but we trust that Radharani has accepted her in eternal service of Krsna’s cows in Goloka.Thank you Sharne your life and selfless service Are an inspiration to all of us.

Love Krsna’s cows ( she always signed off with this phrase )Love u…All Blessing to you.

Pada-sevanam devi dasi & the miracle of Nrsimha worship.
This amazing story is about a saint named Mataji Pada Sevanam, from Baku, Azerbaijan (Caucasus, former part of the USSR), who re-established devotional service to Lord Nrsimhadeva and changed the hearts of many devotees due to her limitless love to Krishna, fearlessness, and determination. (From a lecture by A.C. Bhagavatamrita Keshava Swami. Barnaul, Russia December 18, 2016)
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/y0yTfX

Tendecy to retaliate and Compare.
Question: 1) I have a tendency to retaliate if someone says something bad to me. I have heard in a lecture that ‘If you retaliate you may please yourself but If you do not retaliate you please Krsna’. However I am not able to practically apply it in my Life. Please suggest dome practical ways to overcome this tendency.
2) I have a tendency to compare myself with others. If I see someone in a materially better condition I feel depressed. This tendency is automatic and I am not able to overcome it. Please help me.
Romapada Swami: 1) There is no hard and fast rule as to WHEN one should act strongly when one is offended/wronged vs. simply tolerating it.
Retaliation is actually not the correct way to react to someone’s bad behavior towards us even though it is not our fault. In fact Lord Krsna instructs us in BG 2.14 that one should tolerate duality, knowing the manifestations of duality to be illusory.
There are examples from the scriptures to show us how great personalities responded/reacted to when faced with such situations.
a) Vidura went to pilgrimage without getting disturbed after being insulted by Duryodhana and did not retaliate/oppose, did not get disturbed and did not try to correct the situation. SB 1.13.9
b) Similarly, in Dvaraka Krishna was wrongly defamed and criticized by Satrajit. Krishna showed us what to do: He stood by the truth, and the truth proved Him to be faultless.
c) There are many examples of our acaryas remaining totally humble in the face of undue criticism springing from envy or ignorance. Listen to the last day of the Vrndavan Yatra to hear the description of Jayadev Goswami’s response to serve physical harm done to him by dacoits. Feeling the Lord’s protection, we can easily forgive aggressors.
The key to know what to do in different circumstances is to remain in a humble service mood. Then only will we be receivers of direct prompts from Krishna as to how to best serve him in different circumstances.
Some further scriptural references:
Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 17.27
“A devotee engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord should practice forbearance like that of a tree. Even if rebuked or chastised, he should not say anything to others to retaliate.”
b) Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 17.28
“For even if one cuts a tree, it never protests, and even if it is drying up and dying, it does not ask anyone for water.” PURPORT this practice of forbearance (taror iva sahisnuna) is very difficult, but when one actually engages in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, the quality of forbearance automatically develops. A person advanced in spiritual consciousness through the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra need not practice to develop it separately, for a devotee develops all good qualities simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra regularly.
2) Comparison with Others: You have very honestly put forth your feelings. In the material world everyone who comes to enjoy himself or lord it over material nature is envious of others. This envy is also found in the personality of the King of heaven, Indra so what to speak of conditioned soul like us.
Since no one in this material world can tolerate another’s advancement, everyone in the material world is called matsara, envious. If somebody is in some way greater than us, we are envious. “Oh, how has he progressed so much? How come he has more than I have? I also want the same as he has or even more.” This is the disease of the material world—envy. And indirectly culminates in our being envious of the Supreme Lord, Krishna who is the source and proprietor of everything.
In Krsna consciousness, however, if someone excels another person, the devotee who is excelled thinks how fortunate the other person is to be advancing in devotional service. Such non envy is typical of Vaikuntha.
Below are some of the practical ways that may help you to avoid the situation you are facing :
1. Chanting fixed number of rounds of the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra regularly and sincerely, in a humble mood and striving to take full shelter of Krsna. Simply by chanting Hare Krsna, Lord Caitanya has said the heart will become cleansed of all the dirty things accumulated in the heart.
2. Reading/hearing from the scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam regularly and systematically. Please refer to SB 9.11.23, SB 11.29.15 where this instruction is given.
3. Associating and serving the devotees, attending the temple programs on regular basis.

The essence of all advice.
In our backyard garden, we installed an automatic watering system invented in Israel. Hoses run underground throughout the garden and, extending from them, smaller tubes tipped with color-coded nozzles terminate near the roots of each plant. The color-coded nozzles deliver a specific amount of water appropriate for each plant.
With this automatic “drip system” in place my plants thrive. They always get the water they need even as I keep up with other duties in my life.
In a similar way, expert spiritual gardens install drip systems in their bhakti gardens, making sure that they systematically get “sravanadi jal,” the nourishing waters of hearing and chanting about Krsna regularly, every day.

In the Upadesamrta, Srila Rupa Goswami recommends that we organize our daily lives around methodically hearing and chanting:

“The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one’s full time—twenty-four hours a day—in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord’s divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one’s tongue and mind …” (NOI 8)

To take advantage of Rupa Goswami’s advice, progressive bhakti gardeners take the time to custom design their hearing and chanting watering systems.

Some keep diaries of their daily progress while others meticulously plan their hearing and chanting schedules far in advance. Some daily read a set number of verses, chapters, pages, or astakams. Others like to perform their practices at the same times each day.

When a devotee’s hearing and chanting becomes an unshakable, daily habit, she can be sure that her watering system is nicely in place.

Bhakti gardeners who use a hearing and chanting drip system soon get intimate knowledge of sastra, gain spiritual strength, develop unwavering faith and become invaluable sources of shelter for others.

Have you installed a spiritual drip system in your bhakti garden?
Vaisesika Das

The Village Of Yogamaya-Devi (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Bandi-Anandi is a small village near Gokula in Sri Vrindavan Dhama. At the end of the village is a beautiful temple of Yogamaya devi, who is worshiped in two forms as Bandi-devi and Anandi-devi. When Krsna appeared in Kamsa’s jailhouse, His potency that caused the jail to be unlocked and Vasudeva’s shackles to fall was Bandi-devi. Anandi-devi put all the guards to sleep. By her potency, Vasudeva was able to carry baby Krsna to Gokula without being detected. After taking darshan of these two forms of Yogamaya we walked around the village. Our presence created quite a sensation as everyone came out to see us and greet us as well. The inhabitants of Bandi-Anandi are very special people. To really understand Vrindavan one must visit the more remote villages and associate with the wonderful Vraja-vasis who live there!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/8gPMgY

Distributing Books in Foreign Languages (Video)
Satyanarayan Dasa (head of BBT Far East, Middle East):
What magnifies the importance of this special book distribution, especially in these Far Eastern and Middle Eastern languages, is what happens to these books after they are received. We are just seeing the beginnings of their long and remarkable journey here. These fortunate tourists and university students become emotionally moved by seeing and obtaining these literatures translated into their own beloved mother tongue. And because the books are also being offered to them by such sincere and caring book distributors., these two factors inspire them to take the books back home with them, to their home countries, and share them eagerly among their family and friends.

This is most significant, especially when dealing with the Arabic language and the Middle East. As we well know, each of these transcendental literatures (seeds) contain immense spiritual power. Through this exciting sankirtana method, where we can reach the tourists and students when they visit the West, the books wind up being spread widely across the Middle East and the Far East. Tens of thousands of books have been distributed like this, into difficult areas often impossible for us to personally travel to. And by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy, those numbers may increase into the 100,000’s soon.

Who knows what divine, inconceivable and globe-changing magic the Supreme Lord may soon create from all of these transcendental seeds, as they begin to sprout…
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/V9Z2eE

Dignitaries Celebrate ISKCON50 at Hungarian Gala.
As part of the event there was an exhibition of pictures and photographs, with a special work of art – a mosaic of 400 small photos depicting a portrait of Srila Prabhupada. On their arrival our guests were greeted with artifacts representing stages in Srila Prabhupada’s life: a typewriter, a recorder, books, a 1944 BTG magazine, handwritten letters and a packed suitcase containing the exact contents of Prabhupada’s 1965 suitcase on the Jaladhuta ship. The captions provided thematic and chronological information about Prabhupada’s life and contemporary events in world history. This parallel of worldly and spiritual history highlighted the horror of Kali-yuga contrasting it with the wonderful activities of Prabhupada and ISKCON.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/JHlMMn

A man is on trial in Russia — for talking about yoga!
Washingtonpost: What they’re really doing however, is making it practically illegal to speak publicly about anything pertaining to spirituality or religion unless you’ve registered with authorities as a representative of an approved missionary group.
Since the laws have passed, officials have invoked the law to bizarrely crack down on seemingly benign situations. In August, for example, a Hare Krishna devotee nearly went to jail when he was arrested after talking to two people on a street corner about his faith, the Moscow Times reports.

The newspaper added that last month, police ordered employees of the Salvation Army to burn dozens of Bibles because they weren’t labeled properly.

Ugai’s situation, however, might be the most random because he wasn’t proselytizing about a religion, but an activity.

“I am concerned about the complete arbitrariness of this law, which can lead to the persecution of my many fellow citizens who practice yoga and study Indian philosophy,” Ugai wrote in his blog. “There are signs that there’s a campaign unfolding against an entire culture … The level of delusion is clearly off the charts.”
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/QQRQ2m

HG Murari Hari Prabhu ACBSP suffered a stroke in Mayapur and was taken to a Kolkata hospital where his condition is stable and he is…Read More…

(Photo caption) It’s cold at the Mayapur goshala.
Srila Prabhupada: In India, “Oh, Vasudeva, we know everything of Vasudeva,” “Hare Krsna, oh, What you can teach? We know everything.” This is the Indian disease. Because familiarity breeds contempt. Because Indians are familiar with the name of Vasudeva, with the name of Hare Krsna, they think… Just like in Europe and American cities these boys and girls, they go for sankirtana, and the Indian people, they say, “Oh, we know everything about it. We have now come here to learn how to eat meat, how to drink wine.” This is the condition. And the leaders, they are also leading in that way: “Give up this Vedic culture. Throw away.” The leaders say openly that “Throw away your sastras in the water. No more sastra. Now you take to industry, technology, if you want to become happy just like the Americans, like the Europeans.” So the leaders, such leaders have been described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, andha. Andha means blind. They do not know how to lead people, what is the aim of life. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.26 – January 3, 1975, Bombay

Sri Harinam Sankirtan Nectar – Sydney CBD 05/01/17 (Album with photos)
Hare Krishna and Welcome to 2017.
This transcendental vibration by chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is the sublime method for reviving our Krishna consciousness.
As living spiritual souls we are all originally Krishna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter since time immemorial, our consciousness is now polluted by the material atmosphere.

Krishna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind. This consciousness is the original energy of the living entity. When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived.

So for this first Sydney Harinam Program in the new year HH Janananda Swami took the microphone and showered the transcendental vibration of the Mahamantra around the city.

it was a true Mahaharinam.

Throughout the evening eighty devotees came to participate in the Yuga Dharma of chanting the names of Radha and Krishna

Beginning at Town Hall we took our usual route to Pitt Street Mall, returning via George Street to Woolworths.

The city crowd was excited to see so many devotees dancing and singing. It is always a very attractive sight and gets much attention.

Please come along next week and keep the new year going with a Harinam explosion in the center of Sydney. Every Thursday we are chanting in the streets of Sydney. See you next Thursday.

Sri Harinam Sankirtan ki jaya.

Chant
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
And Be Happy …
Find them here: https://goo.gl/7BT0t8

ISKCON UK Annual General Meeting 2017 (Album with photos)
Hare Krishna Festivals UK were invited along to the ISKCON UK AGM last Sunday in Bushey (Hertfordshire) to present the team’s statistics for the 50th Anniversary Year. What a record-breaking year it was! Tribhuvanatha ki Jai! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tlDWFI

Mahabhagavat Katha in Pune.
ISKCON Pune has been playing host to the annual Bhagavat Saptah presented by HH Lokanath Swami for 15 consecutive years now! The katha is held during the last week of the calendar year, and was held between 27th December 2016 through 2nd January 2017; in the largest auditorium in Pune city.
On this, the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON, HH Lokanath Swami dedicated the entire katha to the person bhagavat – HDG Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, as his final offering of the year. The katha was based primarily on content from Srila Prabhupada’s Lilamrita. The presentation this year was a brilliantly conceived and delivered audio-visual experience, with HH Lokanath Swami’s katha being interspersed with several pertinent audio and video clips.

The katha was attended by approximately 3000 – 5000 people daily, and was viewed online by upwards of 10000 people daily – this includes the telecast on Facebook and on mayapur.tv. Mayapur.tv in turn relayed this through their cable network in which they have a subscriber base of nearly 2 million home viewers!

In attendance were HG Mukunda Datta Prabhu and HG Sikhi Mahiti Prabhu; both disciples of Srila Prabhupada, as well as HH Ram Govinda Swami and many stalwart devotees. Besides these distinguished devotees, the katha was also attended by many local dignitaries. An international troupe of devotees from 10 different countries also regaled the audience with their ecstatic kirtans and cultural programs. HH Lokanath Swami led the kirtan to ring in the New Year, and thousands of devotees were spellbound and danced and participated in the kirtan beyond 1 am on 1st January!

HH Lokanath Swami presented the katha in a very seamless manner. On the first day, there was a discussion of Srila Prabhupada’s glorification as Mahabhagavat. The second day’s topic was “Lifetime in Preparation”, followed by “ISKCON around the World and in India” on the 3rd day. The 4th day was dedicated to personal reminiscences by HH Lokanath Swami, as well as of other disciples of Srila Prabhupada. On the 5th day, the topic was “Challenges and Struggles of Srila Prabhupada”, followed by “Srila Prabhupada and Caitanya Mahaprabhu” on day 6, and finally rounded off with “Teachings of Srila Prabhupada” on the 7th day.

The katha is an excellent platform for distribution of the transcendental literature published by Srila Prabhupada. The event saw 223 sets of Srimad Bhagavatam, 50 sets of Caitanya Caritamrita and 30 Bhagavad Gita – As It Is and 119 sets of Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita being distributed! Besides these, 256 Braja Mandal Darshan books were also distributed.

Besides books, around 30000 plates of full prasadam were distributed, the highlight being Srila Prabhupada’s favourite kachoris on the final day. The event also has preaching stalls set up, which enable new bhaktas to commence their spiritual journey. Many dozens of new bhaktas – especially youth – join ISKCON through this event every year. 100’s of guests chanted at least one round in these stalls, and also registered for various courses like Discover Yourself conducted by ISKCON Pune.

In conclusion, this was a truly memorable event, and many thousands of devotees were left with their hearts filled with appreciation of and love for HDG Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Sadhu Sanga event in County Wicklow (a region south of Dublin in the east of Ireland.)
Kurma Dasa: Some of my friends at our fi…Read More…

“Krishna’s Cuisine” (Album with photos)
The Festival of Colors USA 2017 Tour will offer sumptuous prasadam dishes prepared in our own State of the Art 29 foot “Krishna’s Cuisine”
Find them here: https://goo.gl/HmOTUa

Bhumi Pujan Ceremony at Iskcon Cultural Centre Bangalore (Album with photos)
Premadata Gaur Das: “Temple means a shelter for spiritual education. People should come, they should learn what is spiritual life, what is God, what is my relationship with God.. That is a temple.”– Srila Prahhupada
As an offering for ISKCON 50 Years, for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, Guru & Gauranga, Srila Prabhupada and for the entire devotee community “BHUMI POOJA” at ISKCON Cultural Centre, Kumaraswamy Layout, South Bangalore there was performed on Sunday, 1st January 2017.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/TwNA8r

Cultural program in Iskcon Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: … you see so many pictures of Krsna. Krsna is playing with His cowherd boys; Krsna dancing with His girlfriends, gopis; Krsna is stealing butter; Krsna is doing so many – simply happiness, simply happiness. You won’t find Krsna is morose and sitting or crying. (laughter) Even if He is killing some demon, very laughingly, as easy job. You see? So either He is killing or dancing, He is happy. So we are giving this information of happiness, the topmost happiness >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.23 – Los Angeles, September 28,
Find them here: https://goo.gl/3QF8uy

A Year In Review (10 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada we present a review of our service for …Read More…

Harinama in Christchurch, New Zealand (Album with photos)
We visited a village market in Ohoka, and upmarket shopping area in …Read More…

Saturday Maha Harinama Sankirtan in London dedicated to a local ailing disciple of Srila Prabhupada (Album with photos)
Bhakta …Read More…

Harinama at Surfers Paradise (Queensland’s Gold Coast in eastern Australia) – 08 January 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: …not everyone wants to serve Him. Everyone wants to become God, imitator. Imitation. Therefore they say, “Why Krsna shall be alone God? I am God.” You are God. That’s all right. But you are not the Supreme God. Why you forget that? You may be a God at home of your wife, but when you go to your office, you are not god; your master is god. He directs you to do something; you have to do it. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.15 – London, July 15, 1973
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ZfHsVZ

One time an Iskcon devotee met an older guru of the Sankaracarya sampradaya (impersonalists).
Being respectful the devotee offered his pranams, as the etiquette is. The guru started giving him advice and initially said that he should read the Bhagav…