Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Humility, best Vaishnava quality?
Humble: “having or showing a modest or low estimation of one’s own importance.” (Apple Dictionary)
“Humility means that one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others.” (Srila Prabhupada, Bg. 13.8, purport)
“The only humility that is really ours is not that which we try to show before God in prayer, but that which we carry with us in our daily conduct.” –Andrew Murray
“God descends to the humble as waters flow down from the hills into the valleys.” –Tikhon

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura made a blueprint for a marketplace of the holy name called the “Nama Hatta.” He designed a system through which people all over the world might not only take up the chanting of the holy names, but also learn the philosophy behind the chanting.

In drawing the plans for this sacred marketplace, Srila Bhaktivinoda listed various positions like, Chief Trader, Broker, and numerous kinds of salespeople.

He also gave himself a position: the sweeper of the marketplace.

Srila Bhaktivinoda’s illustrious son, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said, “I am but one straw in the broom of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the sweeper.”

To chant the holy names with feeling, I must cultivate such humility, feeling myself to be lowly, bereft of qualification, and dependent on the mercy of Krsna and His devotees.

Lord Caitanya taught that a person who maintains a humble state mind could go on chanting the names of the Lord without stoppage.
Vaisesika Dasa

“Acharya” the mega movie about Srila Prabhupada, near completion.
Yadubara and Visakha’s film “Hare Krishna” (“Acharya” film renamed) will be previewed at Iskcon Alachua’s Govinda’s Restaurant on Thursday Dec. 22, 2016, starting at 6:00 pm.
RELEASE UPDATE: Production on Acharya is projected to continue into 2016 with the aim to complete post-production on the film by December 2016. Upon completion, the plan is to enter the film onto the film festivals’ circuit, aiming primarily for a North American premiere in 2017, before hopefully seeing it travel around the world.

After premiering, the film will then be open to theatrical distribution. We also have plans for a grassroots distribution campaign, where global communities will host screenings of the film in their locality. Towards the latter half of 2017/2018, the film will be available on DVD or as an online download. The film also has exciting broadcast opportunities on television, especially in India and Europe.

Our Facebook and You tube site traffic already denotes a captive audience for the film. To give an indication of just a fraction of those figures, our Facebook page has over 48,000 likes and our two preview trailers together have had over 55,000 views.
Read more: http://www.acharyathemovie.com

Beautiful Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir in Vrindavana (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the beginning, a conditioned soul is bereft of Krsna consciousness and is always morose in his material activities. Later, by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes inquisitive to know the Absolute Truth. In this way one begins to engage in the transcendental service of the Lord. Next, by the Lord’s grace all misconceptions are vanquished and the heart is cleansed of all material dirt. It is only then that the pleasure of transcendental bliss is awakened. By the Lord’s mercy one is completely convinced of the value of devotional service. When one can see the pastimes of the Lord everywhere, he is firmly situated in transcendental bliss. Such a devotee is relieved of all kinds of material desires, and he preaches the glories of the Lord all over the world. These Krsna conscious activities separate him from material activities and the desire for liberation, for at every step the devotee feels himself connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although such a devotee may sometimes be involved in household life, he is untouched by material existence due to his constant engagement in devotional service. Thus everyone is advised to take shelter of devotional service to become happy and liberated. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Madhya 10.119
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vn4grF

ISKCON Auckland NZ: Rathyatra festival 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: His [the Supreme Lord’s] existence can be realized by one who has the single qualification of submissiveness and who thereby becomes a surrendered soul. The development of submissiveness is the cause of proportionate spiritual realization, by which one can ultimately meet the Supreme Lord in person, as a man meets another man face to face. [Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 1.55 purport]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/NT5dxJ

Harinama in a freezing Moscow (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This is Vedic civilization, not to waste a single moment of life for useless attempt. That is Vedic civilization. Every moment should be utilized. Especially for the human being, it’s so valuable. And they are finding out sporting, swimming and surfing — simply all programs of wasting time, especially in the Western countries. How much they have invented, I see only and laugh. The elderly men of your age, of course, maybe my age also, they are swimming and surfing. (Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk, November 11, 1975)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vuhg39

Introducing “Aquafaba”
Citraka dasa: One more useful vegetarian and vegan ingredient, discovered recently, for rendering Krishna’s cuisine more attractive.
Aquafaba is the name for the cooking liquid of beans and other legumes like chickpeas. You may know it as the typically discarded liquid found in retail cans and boxes of beans, or as the liquid left over from cooking your own.
To give you a brief glimpse of what you can do with aquafaba, here are just a few vegan recipes you can make:

Raw: Fluffs, whips, nice creams, and drink and pie toppings
Baked: Meringues, macarons, and pavlovas
Confectionery: nougat, marshmallows, fudge and icing
Savory: cakes, waffles, cookies, mayo, burgers, cheese, butter, breads, etc
It is all very simple, you do not need any particular kitchen tool or uncommon ingredient. It is cheap and easily available.
It DOES NOT taste like the beans of its origin. It doesn’t require much time for its preparation. I think Iskcon temples, restaurants, and vaishnava families will benefit by implementing its use. And of course it is healthy.
To learn more about it: http://aquafaba.com/faq.html
Articles in the media about it: http://aquafaba.com/news.html
Community with tons of recipes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/372343816286624/
Video-tutorials: https://goo.gl/nHkaqD
Or just google “Aquafaba”

How to Chant and Meditate Better.
As we move towards the end of the year we should be thinking how to do better in 2017. Endings are a natural time to reset, to take a good look at where we are and where we want to be. As chanting japa (mantra meditation) is one of the key ways we develop our relationship with Krishna the following excerpt by HH Sacinandana Swami shares some ways to be more focused and move to deeper levels of meditation in our chanting:
“At the very least, try to chant without external interruptions. Attach your mind to the Divine Names, one by one as They move over your tongue. To be attentive, you must be present ‘in the here and now’ – relentlessly. Practice it! Bind your mind to the ‘naked now’ – weld it to the Name, which is right now! Seize the present Name.

To be attentive and present you must be patient. Endure your inner dryness that always pushes your thoughts into seeking relief in the ‘oasis’ of past or future possibilities. There is no past or future; they are only figments of the mind. Krishna will be watching all this from a hidden place. He is especially interested to see where you will run for relief in those dull moments of dryness. Convince Him that you know that only he can truly relieve you, and then He will come out of hiding. He will respond to you in the heart when the time is right.

Meanwhile, be happy to stay in His presence. No matter how much you try to quiet your mind, thoughts are bound to disturb the peace, eventually. It is similar to the blue cloudless sky; eventually clouds are sure to form and roam across its vastness. There is no need to battle the mind in the hopeless effort to annihilate distracting thoughts. Let the impersonalist yogis try to fight the mind; they will find out that it will not work. Our strategy is positive. Instead of trying to empty the mind of what is bad, let us fill it with what is good: the Names.

If you fight the mind it will only get more strength from your attention. Attentive chanting is simply to lay aside our thoughts. It is not a savage fight of furious repression. It is a soft, beautiful, persistent act of engaging the thoughts within the Holy Name. Look up! Turn to the Lord! Ask for help with the expression of a joyful child turning to its mother. Then you will see the spiritual world unfold, not by your own power but by the power of the Name.

Above all, stay conscious of the people you are addressing – the ones named by the names. Then you can chant with a devotional mood and an inner attitude of worship, making the effort to please the Divine Couple by calling on Their names.”
Ananda Vrindavanesvari Devi Dasi

Roundtable “Bhagavad-gita, in the context of Hinduism and united world” (Album with photos)
Bhagavad-gita in the context of Hinduism and one world MOSCOW TEMPLE
Find them here: https://goo.gl/lev2y0

Let Srimad-Bhagavatam cleanse your heart from the dust of material association, such as lust, anger and hankering.
Srimad-Bhagavatam is an unlimited source of spiritual knowledge and association. In his purport to SB 1.5.11, Srila Prabhupada notes that Narada Muni has personally appeared in the chapter!
This means by reading Srimad-Bhagavatam we actually associate with the Lord and His great devotees.
Those who develop an appreciation for the teachings and prayers of various great devotees in the Srimad-Bhagavatam become enlightened and enlivened, and there is so much one can choose from.

For example, in Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.5.1-27 Rsabhadeva imparts His teachings to His one hundred illustrious sons. Rsabhadeva’s teachings are extremely practical and memorable. For instance, in verse three, Rsabhadeva tells His sons how householders should balance their family and spiritual duties.

Another vital section of Srimad-Bhagavatam is the first canto, second chapter called Divinity and Divine Service. The thirty-four verses that make up this chapter clearly explicate the science of bhakti and give encouraging advice about how to make progress.

Discover (or rediscover) the magic of carefully reading and studying the prayers and teachings given by the great souls and Avataras who appear within the pages of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Even if you only take a few minutes to scrutinize one small section of Srimad-Bhagavatam, you’ll feel new impetus for your spiritual practice; you’ll gain priceless spiritual insight; your questions will be answered and your doubts will be dissipated.

Lord Caitanya was particularly fond of hearing the sections of Srimad-Bhagavatam about Prahlada Maharaja and Dhruva Maharaja.

Some of my favorite sections are (but not at all limited to):

Divinity and Divine Service
The Prayers of Queen Kunti
All the teachings of the Nava Yogendras
Prahalada’s prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva
Lord Brahma’s prayers (10 th canto, chapter 14)
Find, mark and regularly read your favorite sections of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Doing so will awaken love for Krsna in your heart.

“The sound incarnation of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Soul [i.e. Srimad-Bhagavatam], enters into the heart of a self-realized devotee, sits on the lotus flower of his loving relationship, and thus cleanses the dust of material association, such as lust, anger and hankering. Thus it acts like autumnal rains upon pools of muddy water.” (SB 2.8.5)
Vaisesika Dasa

New, huge kitchen equipment arrives for Iskcon Melbourne, Australia (Album with photos)
Aniruddha Dasa: Along with the solar i…Read More…

Where Lord Caitanya Traveled (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: On our final day in Sri Rangam we visited many historic sites, culminating in a special darshan of the famous Ranganath deity. We also took darshan of Jagannatha deities said to be carved and installed in Sri Rangam by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself. Though our visit to Sri Rangam was short, our hearts were completely satisfied.
“All those places where my Lord Gaura Sundara traveled for pastimes I will visit in the company of loving devotees.” [ From Saranagati, by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur ]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/wgrXDR

Las Vegas Vantage Convention (Album with photos)
Last week MotelGita participated in Las Vegas Vantage convention. Many corpor…Read More…

Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books dressed as Santa Claus.
Drumila das: 1rst time was in San Francisco. I had never been out on Sankirtan before, I was only three months in the movement. A brahmacari named Hrdayagovinda dressed me up in a Santa suit, and put me on the streets of San Francisco, where I was immediately mobbed by about 15 kids attacking me, literally for the candy canes that I started to hand out. I started running and had to ditch them inside a building. I was petrified. Somehow I mustered up the determination to keep going and I became a damn good Santa at the end of it all. I probably did about three years total, tours of Santa.
There was one Officer Small a sheriff who didn’t like us Hare Krishnas. This was back in the early 80s in Laguna Beach. There was one unincorporated city, that he patrolled. And he ran us out of there on more than one occasion. One Christmas a devotee named Krsna Kirtana and I were going door to door as Santas in his area, passing out candy canes and asking for donations. Someone called the authorities, and Officer Small showed up in his sheriff’s car. He put us in the backseat and said he was going to arrest us, but Amerendra Dasa who was our lawyer at the time had given us paperwork saying to the effect that we were legal to solicit donations in unincorporated areas. We had that paperwork and handed it to him saying he couldn’t arrest us. I told him to call his supervisor. We both watched in the backseat of his car, as a forlorn look appeared on his face when he was told by his superior officer, that in fact, he would have to let us go. To say the least, he was extremely disappointed, as he had his heart set on taking us in.
One time Krsna Kirtana and I, dressed as Santa’s were soliciting donations inside a drugstore (my bright idea), in a strip mall. The manager of the store walked down one isle, to see me, a large Santa with a big red bucket outstretched, and a lady, her arm hovering over it to place a five dollar bill there. The manager was furious and outraged and shocked to find me and his story collecting donations. He had me come up to the front counter, and on the way-in counter, the other Santa Claus! He was even more dismayed! He had us stand near him at the checkout stand while he audibly called his friend who is a law-enforcement officer. Yeah ask him if he could send a squad car down to pick us up. I looked at the other Santa Claus, and lean towards him, and in a soft voice, I said to him, “Santa, Exit… stage left, when I say go.” GO!!!! We ran towards the front doors of the store, and bolted for the parking lot, me from going with my keys while running there and candy canes falling out of my box. The manager was rather heavy-set, he must’ve been about 300 pounds. It was quite comical to see him running towards the front door, and then seeing the two doors, violently swing open crash into them. He was yelling, “Come back here! As he was trying to chase after us.” By this time, I had started the engine, and through the car in reverse, making skidmarks. And then I threw it in drive, and screeched out of there, us laughing merrily all the way!
Krsna Kīrtana and I used to go into bars together dressed at Santa’s, and I would walk up to grown men, pinch their cheeks, and ask them if they been a good boy this year. They would say, “Yes ”, and I would say, “Look what Santa’s brought you this year!” Placing the candy cane in their hand. I would proceed then, to ask them for a donation, telling them to ‘pitch-in!’ to my big red bucket full of candy canes and dollar bills. We would then proceed, to dance arm in arm the other Santa and I, all the while boisterously chanting Gaura Nitai and Nitai Goura to various famous Christmas melodies. Sometimes we would do this, before we went around asking for donations. I never had so much fun!
One Christmas I was going door to door as Santa Claus. I came across a butcher shop, which was very busy during rush hour. There must’ve been a line of about 15 people. I started from the back and was asking each person to place a donation in my bucket. I was quite successful! Just then the owner, an elderly Korean woman came up, and started yelling at me, saying, “Who are you!” It was quite surreal, and it startled everyone in the store, who all became very quiet. I would definitely put on the spot, and at first didn’t know what to do. But then I gathered my wits, and I looked at her, and said, “Why don’t you recognize me? I’m Santa Claus!” Clearly frustrated, she inquired again, even more intensely, yelling, “No! Who are you!?” I said innocently, “Why I’m Santa. Don’t you recognize me?!” Then I scolded her in my deep, thick Santa voice, shaking my finger at her, saying “Why, Santa can tell that you haven’t been a good girl this year!!!” The whole butcher shop, all of its patrons were laughing hysterically to see the fun. And most of them had already given a donation anyway by the time she discovered me. I really felt that day, that I was part of Lord Caitanya’s pastime of saving the most fallen souls. In a butcher shop of all places! And how he had save me that day.

As objectively as I can say this, I was a damn good Santa! I had the deep voice down, the long flowing white beard, and a big jolly belly cause I would stuff a big pillow in my suit.
Well, I had been going door to door all day long, and it was starting to get dark, and most all the shops were closing up for the day. So I thought I’d just do one more and go home. Well I went into this florist shop, and no one was at the front counter, so in a very deep Santa voice I said, “HELLO THERE!!! Is anybody home?!!” No sound. Then again I said, “HELLO!! Is anybody here?!”
From the back of the shop I could hear, growing louder and louder, a scampering, scratching sound, produced by the nails of an animal as he slid across the floor( about 10 ft.)all excited. It was a little hairy dog!! Then I heard a loud, sweet and simultaneously scolding voice coming from the back of the room yelling, “Krsna! Krsna!”
A young 16 yr. old girl came out, and I exclaimed (in my deep Santa voice),“ OH!!! What did you say little girl?” In a very calm, and mellow sweet voice she said “Krishna.” I said “Oh! (in a very deep Jolly voice full of surprise), and why did you name your dog Krsna?” (the whole time keeping in character as Santa) She thought for a moment and said, “I just liked the sound of it.” “And how long have you had this little dog?”, I said. She said, “Since he was a little puppy 5 yrs. ago.” I said, “And you’ve been calling him Krishna, all this time?” She said, “Yes.”
Then I said, “Well, do you know anything about Krishna?” She looked thoughtful and said, “No.” I pulled out a Hard bound Yoga for the Modern Age and as I handed it to her, in my deep Santa voice, I said,“ Here…this book, will tell you ALL about Krishna!” She was very grateful, and I remember clearly her giving a 5 dollar donation( although I don’t remember exactly at what juncture). Cool story huh? How fortunate was that dog, and that little girl!!
In the photo there is Kurma prabhu, the famous cook, dressed as Santa and ready for Sankirtana.

Sri Lanka parliamentarians get the Bhagavad-gita (Album with photos)
ISKCON 50th Anniversary.
Bhagavad Gita was distribute…Read More…

It’s Easier To Distribute Five Cases Of Bhagavad Gita’s Than To Distribute Only Five Books In The Streets!
AN AUDIO SEMINAR BY H.H. BHAKTI MADHURYA GOVINDA GOSWAMI
Who would believe that is easier to distribute five cases of Bhagavad Gitas (160) or even ten cases (320) than selling five or ten Gitas in the streets. Some prabhus work very hard all day long for ten hours and are happy if they can sell 32 Gitas. In this audio seminar, however, you will learn how to distribute cases of Gitas very easily. You will also learn professional techniques taught by the world’s top sales trainers, as to how to overcome objections, the biggest hurdle facing any sales person.
In a word, you are taking pledges for cases of Gitas with friends, family, work associates, businesses, fellow students, and any acquaintances you may know who you can approach for interest in distributing Gitas. You may say “I already did that years ago. Now I have exhausted all my resources for contacts.” This might be one of the first objections your mind creates before you even talk to anyone! Overcoming this and other objections will be discussed below.
The first point is “the power of positive thinking.” A famous theologian by the name of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale wrote a book in 1952 entitled “The Power of Positive Thinking.” It is good reading even for devotees, for the man was a genuine theist—not a Mayavadi or covered atheist. This book is so famous it is still studied all over the world as a treatise on how to be successful through positive thinking. You can match this with Srila Prabhupad’s statement, “Impossible is a word in a fools dictionary”; or the U.S. Army slogan, “Be all you can be.” So success of any kind begins with the right attitude. If a book distributor approaches anyone with a presumption, “oh, they’ll never take a book,” then, since this is the possibility you created, maybe they won’t; or conversely, perhaps you will be pleasantly surprised and they will take a book happily! “Never say never!” So attitude and depending on Krishna is everything. So many of the world’s top ISKCON book distributors had the experience of “bad days” when they would stop many people who would curtly say “not interested!” After many hours of this, the distributor might get somewhat discouraged and pray, “Oh Krishna, please send me just one sincere soul”. Not long after, the distributor would stop someone who not only expressed an interest in the book, but gave a hundred dollar (now it would be $200) donation!
That’s all very fine, but where does success in sales actually begin, next to attitude?
The answer is the all important phrase, “building value.” This is taught by professional sales trainers. For example, a real estate sales person might say to their client, “actually, this house is worth on the market two million dollars, but since you are my special client, I can offer it to you for a limited time only for only $800,000 which is not available to the general public! This is called “building value”, and the “take away close,” for you are stating the offer will end soon. This “close,” or technique for closing a sale, is used daily in television advertising for building value. Building value, then, is essential in selling Srila Prabhupad’s books also. In the seminar, I describe a dramatized scenario in which a very sinful man is saved from hell simply by seeing one of Srila Prabhupad’s books for only a moment! This anecdote can be told to people to enthuse them of the value of Prabhupad’s books. This works well for Indians who already believe in Yamaraj, judgment, etc, but many westerners also believe in some kind of judgment, or at least bad karma or varieties of inauspiciousness, or varieties of bad luck that one may otherwise have to encounter.
Some people will object by saying, “I already have Bhagavad Gita.” Many devotees might then more or less wilt, saying, “Oh, o.k. I thought I would just run it by you anyways,” and they might limp away like a sad puppy thinking, “Well, at least I tried.” But is that the only answer? Not at all! You then say, “You already have the Gita? That’s great! This means you truly know the value of the Gita! Wouldn’t it (a power phrase used in professional sales) be wonderful to share that value with others?” What are they supposed to say? “No, it wouldn’t,” but that wouldn’t look good, would it? Certainly not. People are controlled by “looking good” and “looking bad,” so from being confident that they have stopped you cold by saying they already have the book, they are now disarmed because you weren’t supposed to say “that’s great.” You were supposed to give up and they would “win.” So you have started overcoming their objection with THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING—suddenly transforming an unfavorable response into a favorable situation where you are back in control.
SELLING CASES OF BOOKS EASIER THAN SELLING A FEW IN THE STREETS? HOW?
But what about selling cases of books as easier than selling only one or three on the streets? Isn’t that a “pipe dream”—a mere wishful thinking fantasy? The answer is in selling cases of books in people’s homes, clubs, social gatherings, etc, by taking pledges at a Bhakta vriksa groups, as well as other such gatherings, or to individuals who are a little favorable to Krishna consciousness. You can be ready to answer any objections they may have. When you say “since you are already expressing your appreciation for Bhagavad Gita, can I put you down as pledging (pledging is the key word. You may not always be collecting cash or checks on the spot) for five cases?” “ Five cases of books? You’ve got to be joking!” they say in dismay. You then say, “Have you considered sharing this wealth of knowledge with others?” In India this is called “shastra dan,” or the auspicious giving away of sacred books, especially at this time of year surrounding “Gita Jayanti,” or the advent day of Bhagavad Gita in December. When they object—“five cases of Gita’s? Get real! What would I ever do with them?” You reply, “Give them to friends, relatives, work associates, etc.” They may say “I gave Gita to those people years ago!” undaunted, you reply “That’s great!” Again, you weren’t supposed to say that in their script. “But all their friends, family etc don’t have Gita. They can give it to them!” Some will actually pledge the five cases on the spot! Don’t think it’s impossible! For those who object, you then say, “I understand. I’ll put you down for four cases.” If they won’t take so many cases, keep counting down and try to get them to commit. If they still won’t pledge, then say, “O.k, one case (32 Gitas). By this time, they will be relieved that you have reduced the number in your demand! “One case, Anil” (or john, or whoever you are talking to). “I know you can handle that!” You say this smiling, with full confidence. Feeling they’re getting off easy, they may take a case of Gitas. That’s 32 books in half an hour that you might have sweated all day long on the streets to sell with great endeavor. “Dream on, you might say. This is not realistic. It can’t be done, or at least I can’t do it.” Before you reach this faulty presumption, please consider that in one evening I took pledges for 30 cases of books in one hour at a Bhakta Vriksa group! That’s 960 books in one hour! This is a true story. Not bad for starters, and the best news is that you can do it also. After all, even five cases in an evening (160 books) is a great victory! It’s very doable. How long would it take you to match that in the streets? You can also enlist the participation of so many Bhakta Vriksa members, friends, etc in getting sponsors for cases to be distributed to institutions. Many people who won’t give a penny for Krishna will happily sponsor this type of charity, because charity to schools, orphanages, etc, is within their value structure.
THE CLINCHER (THE FINAL INFORMATION NEEDED TO CLOSE SO MANY SALES OF CASES OF BOOKS):
The final word on how to convince anyone to sponsor so many cases of books is to supply them with a venue as to how they can distribute the books or cause others to distribute. They can sponsor (the key word) for hospitals, schools, colleges, libraries, jails, orphanages, etc. Many such institutions are very grateful to get the books, especially in India.
BUT WHAT ABOUT JAILS? ARE PRISONERS REALLY GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN GITA’S?
Actually, ISKCON has a long, distinguished history of jail ministries all over the world. It is therefore a fact that prisoners are very good “customers.” Please hear the following true story: Some years ago I was invited to go to a jail program in Mumbai during Gita Jayanti month. I wasn’t enthusiastic. My mind painted a picture of hands reaching through bars to get the books and maybe some prasad. Since I was asked so nicely, however, I agreed to go. I was massively shocked to see the actual situation. The devotees had set up a pandal stage in the jail plaza. There were many cases of Gitas on the stage because the thoughtful devotees had also brought Gitas in Hindi, Parsi, Tamil, Islamic, and other languages. There were about 150 prisoners in an assembly there. The devotees held kirtan. There were also Muslims and Christians there who were stiff as steel—“Why am I being forced to attend this Hindu program?” After about an hour of kirtan, even the Muslims and Christians were swaying and clapping to the beat and some were even chanting! The whole aura of the prisoners went from dark fog to light just from the power of the Holy Name! This is the future of our movement!
The head jailer, the mayor of Mumbai, as well as the Sheriff of Mumbai, the chief police officer for the entire city, all spoke, taking up the theme, “This is the greatest of all books” (the same theme brought forward by India’s prime minister, Mr. Modi, when he speaks to heads of state and gives them Bhagavad Gita, then declaring, “This is the greatest gift I could possibly give you!)” The jail program VIP’s added, “If you take this book, you will never be back to this jail again!” In the mean time, the media cameras rolled and the Bhagavad Gita was literally in the spotlight! After this, the Gita distribution began to long queues of prisoners eager to get the books! Soon, however, it became clear that the devotees had not brought enough books! As the stack of books on the stage became less and less, the prisoners became restless, and some even began to fight over getting the Gita! The guards had to chill them down. In this way, we see that jails are a great venue for Gita distribution.
Students are also eager to get the books. Once I was asked to give a pep rally for Bhagavad Gitas at a Delhi high school. A huge advantage in India is that a school principal or an educational institution deans will often happily call a school assembly for promotion of Gita. We have distributed thousands of Gitas this way, and the best news is that it is a “turn over” market because the students are always changing. In the case of my high school engagement, I was selling the Gitas, not giving them away for free. I used a secular approach, knowing that they had been polluted to some degree by the burgeoning secularization and westernization in India. “Scripture” is a buzz word that triggers negativity in many people, so I stay away from it. I stressed “This Bhagavad Gita is the most famous book in the world” (a true statement, because the bible has been around for less than 2,000 years, whereas the Gita has been on the planet for 3,000 years longer! It is widely read round the world even in addition to ISKCON’s book distribution.) So I said “This is India’s greatest classic! “ Classic” is a power word that distracts from prejudicial conceptions of scripture. This term should be utilized when presenting Gita, especially to any Indians. “It is your heritage, the root of your culture, the pride of India”—all secular talk. “It is on par with Homer’s Illiad, Socrates, Plato, and the other famous Greek authors.” So did it work? There were 400 students at the assembly. More than 100 of them bought Gitas on the spot in only half an hour, with their lunch money, pocket change—whatever, but they bought the Gita! That’s a whopping ¼ of the whole assembly! The devotees I was with were caught off guard. They didn’t think I would sell so many, so in a panic, they had to send a speeding car back to the temple to get more books! Yes, this is a true story.
So here you have it—the introduction to the “Sell Bhagavad Gita by the cases” seminar. The seminar(s) are 1.5 hours long, but I assure you they are both entertaining and enlightening.
Respectfully submitted,
Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami (ACBSP), formerly Makhanlal Das
Link to the lectures:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3n-kbzKS_QfblF4eWJpNUZ4MFE
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3n-kbzKS_Qfbmx3MUI5SzJDbTQ
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3n-kbzKS_QfVmR1aURmbkRsNTQ

Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education – VIHE (Album with photos)
All the recordings from the Govardhan Retreat (and the Holy Name Retreat), thanks to Mahabhagavata Prabhu, Devaprastha Prabhu and other kind souls, are now available for download at
http://vihe.org/audio_lectures.html
Just open the page, scroll down to the line saying:
“HH Sacinandana Swami, HG Bhurijan Prabhu, HG Jagattarini Mataji Seminars on Holy name, Bhagavatam and Dhama”
then click on the “Retreats” to unfold the separate years, then click on 2016 and click to listen or right-click to download the recordings.
Your servants at VIHE
Find them here: https://goo.gl/NycpbZ

50 PADAYATRAS FROM GAURA PURNIMA 2014 TO THE END OF 2016
December 13, 2016: ONLY TWO MORE PADAYATRAS TO REACH OUR GOAL OF 50 BY THE END OF 2016! We may even do more. Stay tuned, and even better, add your own to the list. One day walks are accepted.
Padayatras on the road all year long: 2
1- Padayatra India: on the road since Sept 1984; led by Acarya Dasa since September 2009
2- Andhra Pradesh/Telangana (India): on the road since the end of 2012; led by Visnuswami Dasa
Annual padayatras: 11
1- Odisha (India) : ISKCON Bhubaneswar’s annual walk since 1992

2- Tukarama Dindi from Dehu to Pandharpur via Pune (Maharashtra, India): an annual 18 day 250 km walk organised since 1996 by ISKCON Pune

3- Aravade Dindi from Aravade to Pandharpur (Maharashtra, India): an annual 7 day 110km walk organised since 2001 by ISKCON Aravade

4- Solapur Dindi from Solapur to Pandharpur (Maharashtra, India): an annual 4 day 70km walk organised since 2006 by ISKCON Solapur

5- Vraja Mandala Padayatra : Organised every year in Vrindavana by Parasurama Dasa during the month of Karttik.

6- Czech Republic : annual walk started by Rajaram Das in 1993, now led by Muni Priya Das and his son Nrsimha Caitanya Das since 2007

7- Slovenia : annual walk since 2001, led by Lalita Govinda Dasa since 2002

8- Mauritius: annual walk since 1984, now led by Ayodyanatha Dasa

9- Guyana: annual walk organised by ISKCON Georgetown

10- South Africa: annual padayatra near Durban; organised by Bhakta Vinod, his wife Sadhana Shakti Devi Dasi and team since 2012

11- Lithuania: annual Padayatra/Ratha-yatra; organised since 1995, led by Ananda Gaurangi Devi Dasi since 2013

Padayatras done since Gaura Purnima 2014: 32

1- Maharashtra Dindi (Spring 2014 ) :a 64 day dindi from Kolhapur to Nasik to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Lord Caitanya’s travels through Maharashtra, India ; organised by ISKCON temples and preaching centers in Maharashtra

2- Tamil Nadu (India): a 2 week padayatra organised in April 2014 by Prasanna Shyam Dasa and team

3- Canada: Fourth solo trek across Canada (May 24 to June 29, 2014) by Bhaktimarga Swami

4- New Zealand: Since February 2014 four short padayatras led by Yasodulal Dasa

5- Russia: June to September 2014 and summer 2015 padayatras organised by Narada Dasa

6- Suriname: July 7, 2014 padayatra organised by Govinda Madhava Syam Dasa and team

7- France: July 2015: Solo 190 km walk by Devarshi Dasa, from Angers to New Mayapur

8- New Zealand: In July 2015 Yasodadulal Dasa embarked on a one year solo padayatra with a wagon pulled by a horse. A few months ago he let the wagon behind and leads a real sadhu life, totally depending on Krsna.

9- Hungary: September 2015 (one week) by Bhakta Peter

10- Bhaktimarga Swami: September 20 to November 10, 2015, he walked 962 miles (1548 kms) from Boston to New York to Butler, Pennsylvania

11- Gujarat (Ahmedabad): the one day trial walk (November 29th) was followed by the « Week Walking Festival » (WWF) in January 2016. Organised by Murali Mohan Dasa

12- Goa: Nov 27 to Dec 3, 2015: one week walk from Dudhsagar to Miramar Beach (77 Kms)

13- Tamil Nadu, from Sri Rangam to Kumbakonaman (February 2015) . Organised by Prasanna Shyam Dasa

14- Zambia, Easter week-end March 2016; organised by Jaya Govinda Dasa

15- Detroit : May 14th2016 : 5h annual walk across the city, organised by Jambavan Dasa and ISKCON Detroit

16- England: May 30th- June 3rd, from Hastings to Brighton (South). organised by Parasurama Dasa and Dayal Mora Dasa

17– Russia : May 12 to August 15, organised by Narada Dasa. Walk in the Ural region, the Central region, and then South Russia. After Moscow there will be bullock cart padayatra through some villages.

18- USA, New York to San Francisco, by Bhaktimarga Swami : started May 11th 2016

19-Sweden: July 1 to 8; organised by Chandrabhaga Dasi

20- La Réunion (Island near Mauritius in the Indian Ocean): July 15 to 17; organised by Nrsimha Tirtha Dasa from Mauritius and the Apreva association (from St Pierre in La Réunion)

21- La Réunion: July 23; mini –padayatra ( 5 hours) organised by Rama Gopal Dasa, Doyalu Radha Dasi and team

22- Iceland: July 28 to August 5; organised by Chandrabhaga Dasi

23– France (near New Mayapur farm): August 1 to 5; organised by Sundar Gopal Dasa

24- Malaysia: August 14th mini –padayatra ( 2 hour procession , radio interviews, prasadam and book distribution) at Mayapur Baru,Iskcon Teluk Intan.

25- South Africa (around Johannesburg): September 2016 , by Nama Hatta group headed by Padmanabha Dasa

26-Slovakia: August 27 to 29. Oxcart padayatra organized by Yasomati dasi

27– Bolivia: First walk, organized by Nayana Manjari Dasi and friends

28- Bolivia: Second walk, organized by Nayana Manjari Dasi and friends

29- Fiji: Done by Yasodadulal Dasa

30- ISKCON Noida : by Krsna Bhakta Dasa and team.

October 2016: walk from Noida/Delhi to Vrindavan, with the arrival coinciding with the beginning of the Vraja-mandala Parikrama.

31- France (Dijon): mini padayatra organized by Gaurangi Dasi and Rama Gopala Dasa

32–South Africa: 18 day walk done by Narottama Dasa and another devotee from Johannesburg to Durban (700km)

33-Latur, Maharashtra (India): a group of 40 ISKCON Latur devotees walked an 8km padayatra on October 24 from Latur to Ter.

34-England: Five day bullock cart padayatra from Hastings to Brighton , organised by Parasurama Dasa and Dayal Mora Dasa

35- Gujarat (Ahmedabad): mini one day walk (November 27th), organised by Murali Mohan Dasa

Planned : 7

1– Tamil Nadu (Kanya Kumari): planned by Vikrama Govinda Dasa

2- South Africa: 2 week padayatra near Port Elizabeth, planned by Svetadvipa Dasa

3- Mayapur to Kolkata: planned by Istadeva Dasa and Mayapur devotees

4- Mangalore (Karnataka): planned by Mangalore congregational devotees

5- Manipal to Udupi (Karnataka): planned by Bhakta Kishan and local devotees

6- Vallab Vidyanagar to Dakor (Gujarat): planned by ISKCON Vallab Vidyanagar

7- Karnataka: planned by Giridhari Shyam Dasa and Dauji Balaram Dasa

Total ( December 3, 2016)

Padayatras on the road all year long (in India) 2

Annual padayatras 11

Padayatras done since Gaura Purnima 2014 35

Total done 48

Left to be done 2

Other walks planned 7

Giving in charity.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: Giving charity to devotees is important because by doing so we can somehow overcome our deeply rooted material attachment. We must learn to give than rather than to take, just like Jayananda did.
Jayananda was Prabhupada’s dear disciple who had done so many wonderful things. He joined in San Francisco and Jayananda was ten years older than everybody else and he had a profession; he was driving a taxi and making good money. So Jayananda would buy the devotees clothes and whatever else they needed.

For himself, he would not buy anything; he would not spend money on himself, he would buy clothes from the Salvation Army; a pair of pants for one dollar or something like that, because he did not want to spend money on himself.

Once the devotees told him, “You have to buy some decent clothes! You cannot just buy these one dollar pants any longer!” and they sent him to a shop and when he put on some pants and he saw the price, he thought “God, how can I spend so much money on myself? I can’t do it!” So he just put the new pants over his old pants and tried to walk out of the shop but he got caught.

Anyway a few weeks later he was in court and he explained the whole story to the judge – how he was a monk and how he has given his whole life and how they forced him and he just couldn’t tolerate spending so much money…

And the way he explained it was so sincere that the shop security who had arrested him and was there as a witness said, “Your Honour, I will pay for these pants!” and in that way, he did not get convicted. Jayananada was such a devotee who gave himself completely.

Giving in charity means really giving ourselves in charity. Giving things in charity, giving the fruits of our labour in charity is one thing but still the greater gift is to give ourselves in charity, to dedicate our life to the wellbeing of others and not be so concerned with what is going to become of me, “If I become the servant of everyone else then there will be no time left for me to do my things!” The highest and greatest act is to give ourselves…

Steadiness in spiritual life.
Srimad-bhagavatam, (verses 1.2.17-18), describes the progressive stages leading to steadiness in devotional practice:
1. Unsteady practice of devotional service (anistha bhajana kriya).
2. The gradual cleansing of inauspicious elements in a devotee’s heart (anartha-nivrtti).
3. The attainment of steadiness in devotional service (nistha-bhajana-kriya).
One advances through these stages of devotional service by regularly hearing and chanting in the association of devotees.
One might ask, if I’m not steady now, how can I regularly hear and chant?
Solving this conundrum begins with my awareness that unsteadiness is an unhealthy, undesirable condition of life. Next, I must cultivate my desire to recover. (Note: Cultivate means “to improve or develop something usually by study or education.”)

A patient suffering from a disease must realize that she’s sick, should desire to get well, and should consult a physician, agreeing to dutifully take the medicine and diet her doctor prescribes.

Similarly, when I’m troubled by the symptoms of unsteadiness in practicing devotional service, I must admit my unhealthy and abnormal condition. Next, I must approach a devotee physician, the bona fide spiritual master, and follow the guru’s instructions.

As I take my daily dose of hearing and chanting, prescribed by the spiritual master and the scripture, the troubling symptoms of unsteadiness subside and my spiritual health gradually returns.

It is important to remember that it’s natural to be unsteady when beginning any discipline: learning to ride a bicycle, play the piano, or taking our first steps as a baby, all begin with unsteady practice. The process of Krsna consciousness is very powerful and works without fail for those who stick with it, tolerating the initial unsteady stage, anistha-bhajana kriya. The rewards of persistence are great.

Srimad-bhagavatam 1.2.19 lists the symptoms of one who has attained steadiness, nistha:

“As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature’s modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy.”

One who attains steadiness also becomes self-intelligent (due to a purified intellect) and is fully determined to make progress in spiritual life.

No matter what condition I am in now, I can rise to this standard of spiritual life by practice and mercy.

Srimad-bhagavatam assures us that as we hear and chant, Krsna, our best friend within our heart, sees our effort and personally helps us to advance.

Steadiness in devotional service is a noble platform from which one can advance to the highly coveted stages of devotional service: taste (ruci), attachement (asakti), spiritual emotion (bhava), and so on.

Make steadiness your goal. Take your daily medicine. Come to spiritual health and experience joy.
Vaisesika Dasa

Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books during December Marathon 2016 in the Chech Republic (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This routine work, such as chanting, speaking, rising early, cleaning, cooking and offering prasadam, arati, reading books–these activities are the backbone of our Society, and if we practice them nicely in a regulative manner, then our whole program will be successful. If we become slack or neglect these things, then everything else we may try will fail. So it is very important that you keep your standards very high in these activities, then your preaching will be strong. Preaching is our real business, preaching and distributing books. If your preaching work is strong, then your management of temple affairs will also become automatically very strong. (From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Patita Uddharana – Delhi 8 December 1971)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/k6xjpU

Waving the white flag of surrender.
By misfortune, I wandered into the forest of material enjoyment where I was captured, imprisoned, bound down by the unbreakable cords of material nature, and sentenced to hard labor.
In illusion, I accepted my captors as my allies and friends; my sentence to the drudgery of hard work as a benediction; and my selection of foot shackles – gold, copper, or iron – as a sign of my free choice.
In the Gita, Krsna deems this prison life, duratyaya, “impossible to overcome.” And the avanti brahmana of Srimad-bhagavatam calls it duranta, “insurmountable.”
Since a time immemorial, for better or for worse, I accepted this prison as my home. But, by some unimaginable good fortune and by hearing the words of my divine master, my spiritual intelligence awakened.

Srila Prabhupada writes:

“The need of the spirit soul is that he wants to get out of the limited sphere of material bondage and fulfill his desire for complete freedom. He wants to get out of the covered walls of the greater universe. He wants to see the free light and the spirit. That complete freedom is achieved when he meets the complete spirit, the Personality of Godhead.” (SB 1.2.8; purport)

Because of Srila Prabhupada’s compassion for me, what had been unthinkable before has now become my preoccupation: I want to serve Krsna, only. I want to go back to Godhead.

Srila Prabhupada sailed to America bringing with him the Trojan Horse of devotional service, releasing Krsna’s powerful armies – headed by the holy name – onto her shores. Now the forces have multiplied and are storming the world, breaking down prison walls everywhere.

Ignoring Krsna, I built a strong barricade of ignorance around my heart. Now it must come down.

Waving the white flag of surrender, I beseech Krsna and His armies to come quickly to smash these prison walls and accept me back into His family of loving servants.

Taking shelter of the great Acaryas, today I pray:

“My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But Your servant Narada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service?” (SB 7.9.28)

“O my Lord, as powerful as fire, O omnipotent one, now I offer You all obeisances, falling on the ground at Your feet. O my Lord, please lead me on the right path to reach You, and since You know all that I have done in the past, please free me from the reactions to my past sins so that there will be no hindrance to my progress.” (Sri Isopanisad Mantra 18)
Vaisesika Dasa

Chaitanya and His Companions (pdf document)
Published by the University of Kolkatta 1917.
Pages: 358
Download it from…Read More…

Harinama and Bhagavad-gita distribution during Gita Jayanti day in Kiev, Ukraine (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Arjuna says that “I’ll not fight. I’ll not fight with my relatives and brothers for the sake of achieving some kingdom. No, no, no.” Now, for the ordinary man it appears to be: “Oh, Arjuna is very nice man, nonviolent. He’s giving up everything for the sake of his relatives. Oh, what a nice man he is.” This is ordinary calculation. But what Krsna says? “You are fool, damn fool number one.” You see? And that we have already discussed. Asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase: [Bg. 2.11] “My dear Arjuna, you are talking like very learned man, but you are number fool one.” Yes. This is the, I mean to say, reward given. “You are, you are declining to fight? This is your nonsensical.” Now, just see. The things which are estimated in the public eyes very nice, very good, that is condemned by God. Condemned by God. We have got so many examples and experiences life that what is eulogized by some of our friends, it is condemned by others. So whole thing, our perfection of any act, that should be certified by the Supreme Lord. Dharmah svanusthitah pumsam… [SB 1.2.8]. Svanusthitasya dharmasya samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13]. Hari-tosanam. We have to see it, “Whether the Supreme Consciousness is pleased with my, this action.” So Arjuna’s action was not approved, not approved by Lord Krsna. But the same Arjuna, he fought at the last. After hearing the instruction of Bhagavad-gita, he engaged himself in the fight. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.55-58 – New York, April 15, 1966
Find them here: https://goo.gl/QJvVvZ

Bhoomi Puja in Vacoas-Phoenix also known as French: Villes Jumelles, is a town in Mauritius, located in the Plaines Wilhems District (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If you want to remain unhappy by your whims, then God cannot help you. But you have got the independence. Hrdayananda: So Prabhupada, if some people say, “Well, I have no free will,” that means that they are actually lazy. Prabhupada: Yes. You have got free will, but must utilize it properly. That is free will. Free will means to utilize it properly. Svarupa Damodara: Sometimes Krsna interferes in the free will? Prabhupada: Yes. That is Krsna’s special favor. Because by your free will you are going to hell. If Krsna interferes, that is Krsna’s special favor. Just like a child is going to touch fire by free will, and father, “Eh, don’t do it.” That is his special favor. Svarupa Damodara: But it’s called causeless mercy. Prabhupada: Causeless mercy. His mercy is already there, but we are denying the mercy. That is the defect of material existence. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk – Los Angeles, December 4, 1973
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Wsp7Mv

Installation of Srila Prabhupada’s Deity at Fond Du Sac ISKCON Center, Mauritius (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the beginning, a conditioned soul is bereft of Krsna consciousness and is always morose in his material activities. Later, by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes inquisitive to know the Absolute Truth. In this way one begins to engage in the transcendental service of the Lord. Next, by the Lord’s grace all misconceptions are vanquished and the heart is cleansed of all material dirt. It is only then that the pleasure of transcendental bliss is awakened. By the Lord’s mercy one is completely convinced of the value of devotional service. When one can see the pastimes of the Lord everywhere, he is firmly situated in transcendental bliss. Such a devotee is relieved of all kinds of material desires, and he preaches the glories of the Lord all over the world. These Krsna conscious activities separate him from material activities and the desire for liberation, for at every step the devotee feels himself connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although such a devotee may sometimes be involved in household life, he is untouched by material existence due to his constant engagement in devotional service. Thus everyone is advised to take shelter of devotional service to become happy and liberated. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Madhya 10.119
Find them here: https://goo.gl/dgo0Ap

Iskcon devotees organize three day ‘Gita Jayanti Utsav’
KOLKATA: The devotees of Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Mayapur organized a three-day ‘Gita Jayanti Utsav’ from December 8 to 10, at the Gita Bhavan complex in the temple campus, informed spokesperson Laxmi Govinda Das.

The aim of the Utsav was to spread the message of Bhagavad Gita to all sections of society. Swami Srila Prabhupada, the founder of Iskcon said, “ the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita constitutes of a great science, and each and every living entity has to hear it for his own interest”. As per his instructions, Gita Jayanti festival is celebrated in all 650 centers across the world.

The function included congregational chanting by devotees who took out a procession at Mayapur on December 9. The same day there was a seminar on the importance and relevance of practicing the teachings of Gita and how it can be a harbinger of harmony in the world.

It is believed that on December 10, 5000 years back, Lord Sri Krishna uttered the instructions of Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra. A complete recitation of all the 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita was done followed by a performance of the yajna for global peace.

Experts from various disciplines and senior devotees presented their viewpoint before the audience and an interactive session was scheduled.
Source: https://goo.gl/24X7gP

Marlon Brando and Srila Prabhupada’s books (10 min video)
Drumila das describes his sankirtan experience when meeting the famous actor, Marlon Brando.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/MWk2S1

Choiceful!
I heard this word spoken recently by a smart young man and though he had made it up. I loved the word, love made up words in general, so I didn’t mind. Choiceful is a juicy one, bursting with energy and life, inviting us to consider our options like a freshly cut orange with lots of sections.
It turns out it’s not made up … it’s a real word that describes ‘having an inability to make decisive choices’ or ‘having, providing, or furnishing with many choices’. And it also turns out that it describes the nature of the soul very well – we are in essence choiceful beings.
This dates back to our existential reality. Although we are connected to Krishna, the personal source of our life and our consciousness, we are also independent. That’s because life is about relationship and relationship is about choice. If we don’t have free will, the ability and the freedom to choose, then there is no meaning to love or the loving exchanges that relationships bring. Without free will, love is not love.

Think about if for a moment. If Krishna is the supreme owner and controller of us all, and He forces us to love him, how would we feel about that? Force might bring fear and thus compliance, but it never brings love. Krishna, thankfully, is only interested in love and especially the kind that comes from the heart, from the individual, from the deep pockets of our own souls. The best relationships in our life are the ones that are connected to loving and being loved. The same applies to divine love.

Choicefulness means we can also turn our back and not love Krishna. We can love others – things and people, gods and demigods, animal and plants. We can love everything. Krishna doesn’t mind – He’s got plenty of loving going on in His life. But the great spiritual teachers in the line of bhakti tell us that there will always be a pinch in our heart, a vacancy within, a restlessness of ‘still haven’t found what I’m looking for’ until we connect with the one source of everything.

If we do decide to rekindle that relationship, we will find unlimited choiceful ways to love Krishna and to express that love. We will enter a spiritual realm and marvel at the ways others choicefully love Krishna. We will see that the choicefulness within bhakti yoga shines a bright warm light into all areas of our life and our independence and sense of freedom open up to us in big and beautiful ways.
Ananda Vrindavaneswari Dasi

SANKIRTAN THE SCHOOL OF CRYING FOR KRSNA!
Winter Marathon 2016: The biggest marathon in recorded history! The Ultimate Celebrat…Read More…

The tongue, a hard working sense.
My tongue works hard all day, every day. He is one of my hardest working senses. He sits near the top of all the other senses, acting as a leader, setting an example for the rest of them.
If I let my tongue loose, allowing him to do as he pleases, the rest of my senses soon also become unruly.
The Padma Purana advises, “Discipline the tongue by giving him transcendental service and very soon you will see Krsna.”
The best services for the tongue are:
• repeating the maha-mantra

• speaking about Krsna’s pastimes and instructions

• honoring Krsna prasadam.

Service means, “The action of helping or doing work for someone.”

The word service derives from Latin, servitium, “slave.”

A slave is one who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.

My tongue and all my other senses belong to Krsna.

One way or the other, my tongue is a slave. If he doesn’t obey Krsna and instead obeys the urges of lust, anger, and jealousy, he is corrupted.

“One who has not listened to the messages about the prowess and marvelous acts of the Personality of Godhead and has not sung or chanted loudly the worthy songs about the Lord is to be considered to possess earholes like the holes of snakes and a tongue like the tongue of a frog.” (SB 2.3.29)

On the other hand, when my tongue serves Krsna, repeating His names, he becomes noble and is praised throughout the scriptures.

“Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Aryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required.” (3.33.7)

“Devotees whose tongues are decorated always with prayers to Lord Krsna are always given respect even by the great saintly persons and sages, and such devotees are actually worshipable by the demigods’” (Quote from Skanda purarna given in NOD 9)

My tongue is Krsna’s property. Every day, I must carefully engage him in chanting japa, teaching him to follow Krsna, his true master. When I do so, not only does my tongue become satisfied, so also do all my other senses who follow his lead.

The maha-mantra means, “Oh Krsna, oh, my master, please engage me in your service.”
Vaisesika Dasa

The mayor of Auckland joined our Ratha Yatra parade up Queen St. on the weekend. (Album with photos)
Phil Goff: I celebrated R…Read More…

An Ancient Temple Renovated (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: When Sri Rangam was invaded by Muslim conquerors in the early 13th century almost the entire Vaisnava population was exterminated. Only 750 devotees managed to escape and create a small village some distance from Sri Rangam. There they established a beautiful deity looking much like their beloved Rangunath, who was hidden during the Muslim invasion. Through the centuries the village and it’s temple fell into disrepair until a few years ago, when Murali Bhattar, a priest in the Sri Rangam temple, renovated the temple and began the worship of the deity again. Today we visited that small village. The deity was gorgeous. On the way back to Sri Rangam we stopped by another important temple. Vedic culture is still prominent in South India.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/YwnPwg

December Marathon Book Distribution – ISKCON NEPAL (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: …always trying to render some service to the Lord. How? Priti-purvakam: “with love and faith.” Not that “Oh, I have to do it? All right, let me do.” No. “Oh, I have to do it? Let me do it nicely.” Unless there is love, you cannot do it nicely, any matter. In the material world also, unless you have got some attachment for something, you cannot act it very nicely. Just like a musician. Because one has got a good attachment for music, he tries to perform it very perfectly. So love is the basis. Similarly, when you serve Krsna, if you have no love for Krsna, you cannot serve Him very nicely. And Krsna also does not accept your service if it is not done in great love and affection. That is the basic principle. Krsna does not require your service. He is self-sufficient. He has got many servants anywhere and everywhere. So Krsna does not require our service. It is our interest. If we render service to Krsna, then we become happy. That is the profit. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.39 – London, September 12, 1973
Find them here: https://goo.gl/KXkObZ

A huge “army” of transcendental soldiers go out in the streets of Nepal to distribute the Bhagavad-gita books during Gita Jayanti day (1 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: One who is engaged in devotional service has not the least fear in material existence. This is because the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Supersoul and friend of everyone. One who knows this secret is actually educated, and one thus educated can become the spiritual master of the world. One who is an actually bona fide spiritual master, representative of Krsna, is not different from Krsna. SB 4.29.51 text
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/kT4JIU

Bhakti bias?
Question: Why does it seem that Srila Prabhupada’s translations, word for word renditions and purports all seem to point only to Bhakti?
Answer: Srila Prabhupada’s purpose in presenting the Bhagavad gita As It Is, was to bring out Krsna’s ultimate conclusion of the Gita. This is the meaning of “As It Is.”
Some have speculated that in the Gita Krsna presents many paths and that any one of them is as good as another. However, Krsna clearly presents Bhakti as yoga’s summit even when He explains other processes like Karma Yoga and Dhyana Yoga to Arjuna.

In fact, all such processes are meant to bring one to surrender to the Lord in loving devotional service. The more one advances in devotional service, the more one is considered by Krsna to be advanced in yoga.

At the end of the sixth chapter in which Krsna has explained the arduous process of astanga yoga and meditation, He says:

Yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yutatamo matah

“And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me- he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is my opinion.” Bg. 6.47

The root word, “bhaj,” from the word, “bhajate” in this verse is especially used to indicate our eternal loving service to the Supreme. In other words, the highest yogi is the one who has
awakened Bhakti.

Again, in chapter eight, Attaining the Supreme, Krsna tells Arjuna about how yogis prepare to leave their bodies by fixing their life airs between their eyebrows, closing their senses to outside
perception while uttering Omkara. But, He then tells Arjuna that one who simply thinks of Him, (ananya-cetah satatm … Bg. 8.14) and who worships Him in unalloyed Bhakti, devotional
service, (bhaktya-labhyas tv ananyaya … Bg. 8.22), does not have to attend to all the other processes he has mentioned. Krsna says in the last verse of chapter eight that one who does
Bhakti, is not bereft of the results attained by practicing any other path. In other words, one who practices devotional service automatically attains the results of the various other yogic processes. In fact, to the degree that any process contains Bhakti, to that degree it is successful.

Indicating this, Krsna says in the final chapter of Gita, verse 18.55, “Bhaktya mam abhijananti
yavan yas casmi tattvatah …
“One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional
service …”
Krsna’s statements about bhakti as the highest quality of spiritual practice pervade the Gita. Just as an expert geologist uncovers diamonds in an ordinary looking field, Srila Prabhupada has
brought forth Krsna’s conclusions about Bhakti throughout the Gita.
Those eager to gain a deeper understanding of Krsna’s statements about Bhakti can crossreference their studies of the Gita with the Srimad Bhagavatam, the natural commentary on the Vendanta Sutras.
For example, in the eleventh canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Krsna gives detailed teachings about Bhakti to His great devotee Uddhava. Great devotional scholars relish this section of the
Bhagavatam and call it the “Uddhava Gita.” In this dialog, Krsna gives even more details about His preference for Bhakti. For instance, in verse 11.14.20, 21, Krsna tells Uddhava:

na sadhayati mam yogo na sankhyam dharma uddhava
na svadhyayas tapas tyago yatha bhaktir mamorjita

TRANSLATION
“My dear Uddhava, the unalloyed devotional service rendered to Me by My devotees brings Me under their control. I cannot be thus controlled by those engaged in mystic yoga, Säìkhya philosophy, pious work, Vedic study, austerity or renunciation.”

bhaktyaham ekaya grahyaù sraddhayatma priyaù satam
bhaktiù punati man-niñöha sva-pakan api sambhavat

“Only by practicing unalloyed devotional service with full faith in Me can one obtain Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I am naturally dear to My devotees, who take Me as the only goal of their loving service. By engaging in such pure devotional service, even the dog-eaters can purify themselves from the contamination of their low birth.”

Besides these statements, there are thousands of other references to Bhakti’s supremacy throughout the sastra. A serious student of the vaisnava cannon will come to understand how Srila Prabhupada’s apparent “Bhakti bias” in his translations and purports of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is actually illuminate Krsna’s very purpose for speaking the Gita.

As Krsna says Himself, in verse 18.65 in the final chapter of Bhagavad gita: “Man mana bhava mad-bhakto … Always think of Me and become my devotee …”

Vaisesika Das

ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village Won the Aqua Excellence Award 2016 in the X World Aqua Congress Author.
ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village (GEV, www.ecovillage.org.in) is a 100 acre sustainable farming community and retreat center, based near Mumbai, India. ISKCON GEV’s intention is conserve natural resources and propagate community living forms based on the cardinal principles of Vedas. ISKCON GEV is home to self-sufficient community of over 160 members, including 25 families, 60 resident monks and 50 students
Every year the Aqua Foundation Group organizes the World Aqua Congress (WAC) on a theme related to environment and invites excerpts of papers from speakers from all over India. During the X World Aqua Congress, this year, ISKCON GEV was awarded with the prestigious Aqua Excellence Award in the category of ‘Protection of the Quality and Supply of Freshwater Resources’. Nimailila Das, Chief Sustainability Officer, GEV received this award from Mrs. Sunita Narain, Director General of Center for Science and Environment (CSE) and Editor, Down to Earth Magazine. The Award Ceremony was conducted during the Inaugural Session of X World Aqua Congress, centered on the theme of ‘’Water: Smart Solutions for Growing India’’on the 24th November 2016 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The conference was attended by various corporate heads, Government authorities, university professors, NGOs etc.
The “Aqua Excellence Awards” are the highest awards given by Aqua Foundation to its members, stakeholders and contributors in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the field of water, environment, energy, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, planetary sciences, pollution control and sustainability solutions. Aqua Foundation honors, in each WAC, individual / nominees of corporate members who have made a mark in their respective fields of expertise or have made a significant contribution towards Humanity

Basic Ekadasi Dough.
Ekadasi is a fast from all grains, beans and legumes. It is a great one-day detox fast. On Ekadasi people often complain that they don’t feel full or, “I just wish I could have a slice of bread…” This grain- and gluten-free recipe will allow you to make pizzas, kachoris, wraps, and rotis on Ekadasi. Your Ekadasi will never be the same!
Ingredients:
1 cup grain- and gluten-free flour
1tsp salt
½ cup boiling water
1 Tbsp ghee (oil for Vegan)
Mix all ingredients together and knead for 1 – 2
minutes to make medium soft dough.
Nikunja Seva Dasi

Govardhan Eco Village Receive 5 Star Ratings From UK’s Premiere Zero Waste Recognition Scheme.
ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village (GEV, www.ecovillage.org.in) a 100 acre sustainable farming community and retreat center, based near Mumbai, India received the 5 star ratings for its Symbiotic Recycling Model for Sustainable Habitats, from the Investors in Zero Waste, The UK’s premier zero waste recognition scheme, at a special ceremony on 8th December 2016 at Glaziers Hall, London. Radha Mohan Prabhu from the Bhaktivedanta Manor, on behalf of ISKCON GEV, received this award from the hands of Ben Wright, a Political Correspondent for the BBC, and the CEOs of Helistrat and WasteCare.

As a result of receiving the 5 star ratings, Govardhan Eco Village automatically entered into the Zero Waste Platinum Award category at the annual Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management offering a further opportunity to be acknowledged as a leader in working towards a zero waste economy.

Set up in 2010, the Zero Waste Recognition Scheme has over 500 members and prides itself on being the premier recognition scheme for businesses and organizations that are committed to increasing the amount of waste they reduce, reuse and recycle/recover whilst improving the environmental awareness of their staff

GEV is a farm community spread over a scenic landscape of 90 acres at Galtare, Wada situated 110 km North of Mumbai, India. Since its inception in the year 2003, Govardhan Eco Village has made steady progress in Organic farming, Cow protection, Education, Rural development, Alternative energy, Eco friendly constructions and Sustainable living. GEV illustrates ‘Simple Living & High Thinking’ – a principle which is so succinct, yet profound, and formed the basis of life in the bygone age of wisdom.

The Super Soul Does It Again!
Recently I was distributing books door to door in Gisborne, New Zealand.
I knocked on one door and had the great fortune to meet Caleb (see attached photo), a very pleasant middle aged gentleman and committed Christian. As a successful musician, one of the ways he serves is to glorify God though music at Christian gatherings all around the world. Still, I could understand from his respectful and friendly demeanor that he was open to receiving one of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Utilizing the clever presentation HG Vijay Prabhu kindly shared with us (that Prabhupada’s books provide strong arguments with which to defeat atheism and are therefore relevant to all theists) I confidently showed him Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1. Fortunately, Caleb deeply appreciated the truth and beauty of SB and was very eager to take a copy. When I asked him for a donation, a wry smile came to his face.
Popping back into his house, he returned a moment later with a nice donation. Then he explained: “Normally I never keep cash. However, when I was driving back home earlier today, I felt compelled to stop at an ATM to withdraw this money. At the time I did not know what the money would be used for, but I could understand that God was directing me and that the reason would become apparent in due course. So when you asked for a donation everything made sense.” As Krishna explains in Bhagavad Gita, 18.14, the Supersoul is the ultimate factor of action. By participating in Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan movement we can perceive this and increase our faith in Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Your aspiring servant,
Caitanya Vihara das

Rescued Bull Calves Safe at ISCOWP (7 min video)
These two bull calves were rescued from a dairy a week ago. They will be prote…Read More…