Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Philadelphia Ratha Yatra 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By prasadam distribution you will do service to the Lord, and the public will be pleased upon you as well. Gradually increase the number of guests, and don’t deny anyone. Continue in this way. Whatever is there, distribute equally – it may not be very sumptuous, but no one should be denied an equal portion. Letter to Giriraja, April 12, 1972.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/mgZTa7

Mothers and Kids.
It is an odd development of the modern world that being excessively anxious about our children is considered a virtue. We consider ourselves good parents if we make life easy for them, reward them for the smallest achievement, and are anxious for their safety and well being at all times.
There is, however, a hidden message in all of this anxious attention and it’s not good. As a teacher and school principal for 20 years, I saw all kinds of kids and all kinds of parents. For those who had confidence in their child, their child did great. Those who worried, who expressed that worry regularly, who tried to ‘fix’ every challenge the child had – their children had a weak sense of self. The hidden message was clear – “My parents are worried because they think I am not competent, I’m not capable.”
Being a mother is not easy. But it’s not that hard either. It is said that if a child has a self-assured and guiding adult in their life, they will grow up to be self-assured and self-guiding adults. Mothering means being there, but also not being there. It is patience, it is trusting that the child will figure it out, and it is watching from a distance as they do so.
There are many aspects to good mothering, but this one is key. We have to give our children the skills and emotional strength to make it through life by letting them experience and learn through real life. And that means letting them experience their own struggles. If we smother them, if we overly fret and protect, then we extinguish the fire of trust and competence. It’s a fine line, but we need to have the maturity and wisdom to make the call.
This famous poem can also inspire us be the balanced and stable parents our children need us to be:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
– On Children by Kahlil Gibran

Book Distribution ki.. Jaya!
Ghanashyam Govinda das: Michael had received many books from our book distributors in the past. Fi…Read More…

Huge Sadhu-sanga mega-festival in Krasnodar region, Tuapse district, Dzhubga, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Hearing the vibration of Hare Krishna automatically reminds one of Krishna’s pastimes. Both of them arise simultaneously in the mind when one is sincerely chanting. You cannot make any distinction between listening to the sound and thinking of the pastimes. But the process is to hear, and then Krishna’s pastimes, form, qualities, etc. will automatically come to mind. That is very nice. Letter to Satsvarupa, April 10, 1969.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/yEvNfU

The Passing of Gopana Daksa devi dasi
Niranjana Swami: This morning (Wed, 2016-09-14) I received news that one of my early disciples, formerly from Ukraine, Gopana Daksa devi dasi, left this world in Vrndavana at 15:15, yesterday, September 13, 2016. She was a very serious and sincere disciple, who always displayed great determination in her spiritual life since the day I first met her in the early 1990’s. She relocated to Vrndavana many years ago, and for years, every year she would send me the results of her book distribution efforts. She had great faith in the holy name and in distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books.
In April of this year, when I was first informed about Gopana Daksa devi dasi’s declining health, she sent the following message to me through another devotee in Vrndavana:
“When she gets easier, she thinks that she should go on sankirtana, but for her it became difficult to do because it takes a lot of energy and efforts. Therefore Gopana daksha mataji is asking your permission to suspend sankirtana service for the while. Also she asks your blessings for a quick recovery. Please accept her humble obeisances.”
Despite the fact that her hemoglobin count was seriously low, that she had already had several blood transfusions, that she had to spend so much time in the hospital, and that the possibility of having leukemia was lurking in the background while waiting for test results, Gopana Daksha was still asking permission if she could temporarily suspend book distribution. She was that much determined.
For her sincere efforts in devotional service, Krsna blessed her with the opportunity to leave her body in Vrndavana, in full consciousness, calling out Krsna’s name with her final breath. We pray for her smooth journey back home, to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara.
Hare Krsna

The team of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium is touring Cape Town, South Africa for the purpose of achieving support for the completion of the construction work. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra says, “My dear Lord Krishna, my dear Lord Rama, O energy of the Lord, Hare, kindly engage me in your service.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.69 Purport)

Prayers…
Sutapa das: One of my fellow monks is an extremely prayerful person. He has regular stories of the reciprocation and interaction that comes from conversing with God. Though inspired, I personally find it difficult to pray. It usually feels unnatural and artificial; probably a combination of my impersonal character, hard-heartedness, lack of faith, and general life philosophy of “work hard and be practical.” Someone, however, recently offered me an interesting antidote – “pray for other people” they said. Whether a friend, family member, work colleague, or even a stranger you meet for the first time, just stop for a few moments and sincerely pray for something that will help them in their life. I began to try. Unconventional as it sounded, I could immediately appreciate the power of this approach on many levels:
Personal level – Rather than being critical, judgmental or aloof, we evolve into selfless agents of positive change. Since prayer invokes divine intervention, we are not simply observers of the world, but can make a difference, even to people we have very little physical contact with. In such moments of noble prayer, we rise beyond self-absorption and forget our own difficulties.
Relationship level – Taking the time to deeply contemplate someone’s life transforms our relationship with them. We learn to see beyond the external chaos, appreciating that everyone is a pure soul trying to break free from material entanglement. Prayer helps one to connect with people on a deeper level.
Social level – When a group of people form, each one sincerely wanting the others to excel, it creates a unique spiritual energy. That unity, fellowship and genuine warmth helps them to achieve their goals and transform the world. Prayer brings people together.
It reminded me of how Swami Prabhupada would sign off his correspondence with “your ever well-wisher.” His prayer was completely selfless; a natural consequence of his incredible compassion and concern for all. Saintly persons are said to feel another’s pain as their own (para dukha dukhi). Just as we spontaneously attend to any ailment in our body, they are spontaneously impelled to relieve the suffering of the general populace. Even if we fall short of that pure stage, we can still institute the process of selfless prayer as a vehicle to developing deeper sensitivity, which is so integral to spiritual advancement. After all, we find ourselves by thinking of others. Try it out this week – take a few quality moments to sincerely pray for the wellbeing of someone else. And if you’re finding it difficult to identify someone, you could always slip in a good word for this struggling soul. 🙂

Titikshava Karunika Das – Hare Krishna Kirtans With A Rock Twist on NNN ( video – inteview)
NANO NEWS NETWORK -NNN MEDIA
I…Read More…

In every city and village! (Album with photos)
Kavicandra Swami: I just finished a trip to and around West Africa.. First Lagos for a few festivals, then to Benin City. There, every day was harinam with many blissful children coming along. Then to Port Harcourt and after that Enugu.
Then back to Lagos for Krsna Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day.. I was lucky that Indian consulate gave me a quick one year multiple entry visa.
Then to Abidjan, Ivory Coast.. There the harinam is amazing since large crowds of local children dance and chant with us.. From there to Lome, Togo. Harinam there was also very blissful. Then to Accra, Ghana. That is our biggest community in the area so there is much happening there.. From there I went to Nkawkaw (COCO) and Kumasi, then back to Accra.
I wish more devotees would visit these countries. I posted a few pictures along the way. here are some better ones.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Xcb1F8

ISKCON Fiji Singatoka: When love takes over (Album with photos)
Kalasamvara Das: We have found another real testament to ISKCO…Read More…

51st anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in Boston,USA (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The mantra delivers the conditioned soul from his bondage; so simply by chanting the mantra Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, one can gain deliverance from any condition. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.42 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/zJuBG7

New Heights for New Mayapura, France! (Photo Album)
This summer’s festivities and celebrations 2016.
7 Days of Padayatra, Harinam and new heights of book distribution for New Mayapura, Janmastami Celebrations and more!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/uzZVbU

A difficult to forget panir in Hare Krishna Valley, Australia (Album with photos)
Aniruddha Dasa: I went to the farm on Monday for a meeting with some representatives from the Surf Coast Shire. Here’s some shots from milking time. We had fresh panir from Lady’s milk at lunch time which I still haven’t forgotten.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/MogcPE

ISKCON Ministry Of Educational Development – Standards for Awarding the Bhaktivedanta Degree.
Any ISKCON center can apply for recognition by the Board of Examinations as a Bhakti Vedanta degree-awarding center provided the center certifies that it will conduct its program according to the minimum standards specified below. The application must be accompanied by a description of the planned program that includes the following information as a minimum:
• The devotee community to be served. (From where, as a general rule, the enrolled students will come.) • The language of instruction. • The time frame of the course. (How many weeks or months of instruction, how it will be broken into modules, how it will be interspersed with breaks, how much total time from the beginning to the end of the course, and the various attendance options that will be offered to the students, if any.) • The instructor(s) and their qualification. • The administrator and his/her qualification. • Physical location(s) where the students will attend. • The admission, instructional, assessment, and other methods and policies to be followed by the center that meet the requirements spelled out below in this standard. (This document does not include standards for online courses or distance learning. Such standards will be spelt out in a separate document at a later date). I. Admission Individual centers shall have their own admission policies and procedures for admitting a candidate for the Bhakti Vedanta degree. Such policies shall require, at a minimum, that all candidates meet the following requirements: 1. The prospective candidate must • be second initiated, and • have a Bhakti-sastri degree, and • have a Bhakti Vaibhava degree or should have been assessed as successful in the completion of an approved Bhakti Vaibhava program, awaiting formal issue of the degree. 2. The candidate must be recommended by an ISKCON authority who knows the candidate well, certifying that the candidate is engaged favourably in the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu for at least the previous six years, with a past record of regular participation in direct preaching activities. 3. The candidate must have successfully completed the VTE Teacher Training courses (TTC 1 and 2) or a recognized professional teaching / training course before enrolment. II. Learning Outcomes to be Assessed: a. Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the philosophy contained in SrimadBhagavatam Cantos I to XII. b. Knowledge and memorization of at least one hundred verses found in SrimadBhagavatam Cantos I to XII. c. Expertise as a Bhagavatam speaker and preacher. d. Evaluative skills, wisdom and maturity reflecting principles consistent with Srimad Bhagavatam. e. Personal behavior that reflects the principles and values found in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
III. Course Assessment In order to ensure a basic minimum standard and at the same time allow a degree of flexibility, approved centres may establish their own assessment policies within the following boundaries:
To read the rest and download the pdf: https://goo.gl/yI9PvU

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka by Krishna-kripa Das.
Excerpt: The samosas were very tasty. They also had rice and sabji, raita, pasta salad, halava, and coconuts balls in three flavors.
As part of our scheduled program there was a question and answer session with a senior devotee who could not make it that day. I had figured they would just ask another senior devotee to do it, but they announced they would just continue chanting. I had already left the stage, thinking the chanting was over, so I decided to use the bathroom before returning for more kirtana. Before I could return to the stage one couple asked if I would answer some questions for them. They asked the meaning of Hare, Rama, and Krishna, and about the relationship between Hinduism and Hare Krishna. I explained the three names mean the spiritual energy of God, God, who is the source of all pleasure, and God, who is all-attractive, respectively. I explained we are a group within Hinduism that stresses the worship of Krishna. Although many gods are worshiped within Hinduism, the Bhagavad-gita stresses the worship of the Supreme Lord, Krishna, alone. I explained Srila Prabhupada’s analogy that you do not have to give money to the different ministers in the government for defense, education, health, etc. You simply pay your tax to the central government, and it is all distributed. In the same way, we do not need to worship the sun god, the moon god, the rain god, etc. We just have to worship the Supreme Lord. They recognized I had been coming for many years. I explained there is a lot of joy in the chanting, and we like to share it with others. As they were from Prague, I gave them an invitation to our temple and restaurant there, which they were happy to receive. I was glad to answer their questions, especially as I thought the question and answers session was a good idea, and it should not have been skipped.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/Ev288O

Protect our rounds.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: Our purpose is fixed and we should not let obstructing circumstances to block us permanently. Somehow or other, we must find a way to fulfill our purpose which is to chant sixteen rounds and to follow four regulative principles. This is our first austerity, to chant these rounds and to follow the principles.
But we also need support. It is not just a matter of the right frame of mind. It is also a matter of favourable conditions so that it becomes feasible and possible. One must protect our rounds. One must put other undesirable things out of one’s life and then focus on our japa, otherwise it is not going to happen. One cannot just think, “I’ll see how far I get today,” then there is a good chance that it will not work. So chanting sixteen rounds is about making an arrangement to chant sixteen rounds. That planning is actually so important!
It is not all about the mood and getting absorbed. That comes after. If the arrangement is wrong then how can you get absorbed? First the arrangement has to be in place then stage two comes, “How to get absorbed?” I find that the one thing which helps me is to read a little bit. It is not that we just get up and are immediately in the mood, “Okay, let’s get these rounds done! I’m up so let me quickly get stuck in then it is over,”
That is one way of chanting but another way is where we say, “Okay, I’ll read for five or ten minutes.” And I read until I come across something that strikes me and then I start chanting and that gives me some energy to get into the mood. Then the mood starts happening. Like that there are impetuses. Ālambham is there, the impetuses in spiritual life that help us to awaken our attraction for Krsna.

Krishna’s Cuisine Trucks.
My wife, Kunkumangi, & I are both chefs of Kalachandji’s Restaurant & Palace. ( The ISKCON Temple of Dallas, Texas )
We’ve been catering events for years and have recently built a custom trailer for distributing prasadam at concerts, festivals, and colleges.
Over the last year, we’ve catered 20 concerts with our trailer and the results have been wonderful!
Visiting Dallas, HG Caru Prabhu and his good wife, Mother Vaibhavi, the founders of “Festival of Colors USA” saw our Krishna’s Cuisine Trailer and gave us a call to build one for them which you see photographed by Bhisma Prabhu .
Inspired by our well-wishers and friends, we would like to offer to build these trailers for the assembled devotees.
As pictured, we can manufacture such a trailer for $55 to $65,000 ( depending on options ) in 3-4 months.
We could also produce less expensive models depending on your project.
Please feel to contact us @ 972-921-8746 / krishnascuisine108@gmail.com
Hoping this announcement finds all of the devotees and your families in the best of health and blissful Krishna Consciousness!
Ys, Narottamananda das & Kunkumangi dd
To see more photos of the internal facilities: https://goo.gl/zgPfdh

ISKCON 50 years Celebration: Invitation for Mathura Rath Yatra.
We would like to cordially invite you for the occasion of Sri Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra on 17th October,2016 (Monday) in Mathura Dham. It is located about 11 kilometers, a short bus or auto-rickshaw ride from Vrindavan Dham.
ISKCON Vrindavan (Namhatta) is organizing this grand Rath Yatra festival in Mathura to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ISKCON. The event co-ordinates with the 2016 Braja Mandal Parikrama with the parikrama devotees gathering in Mathura that very day to attend the festivals. We are expecting more than 500 foreign devotees from different countries and 4000 ISKCON devotees from various parts of India.
We offer this open invitation and humbly request devotees to participate in this Rath Yatra. We want your kind and auspicious presence to grace the occasion.
Last year’s Rathayatra featured His Holiness Gopal Krsna Maharaj and His Holiness Lokantha Maharaj. They commented they have been to so many Rathayatra festivals but found it remarkable to bear witness to such a warm hearted reception of the Lord. They said never before in their lives have they seen so many flowers. In an image reminiscent of Krsna Book, the roads were rivers of petals as the local residents rained flowers from the buildings. Such was the devotion of the residents of Mathura that even the local students of Muslim colleges greeted the Lord with handfuls of flowers.
Numerous locals spontaneously set up welcome stalls to offer refreshments to all in participation and also bhoga offerings bedecked with rangoli decorations. The transcendental prasadam of Lord Jaganatha was distributed to all living entities in attendance.
News reporters were delighted to offer coverage of the event. It was a wonderful preaching opportunity for the many devotees of the Lord from many parts of the world leading and participating in kirtan. So large was the event that there was four separate kirtan parties with sound systems. Afterwards there was a cultural presentation of dance, drama and lectures by His Holiness Gopal Krsna Maharaj, His Holiness Lokantha Maharaj, His Holiness Nava Yogendra Maharaj, His Holiness Subhag Maharaj, His Grace Dina Bandhu Prabu (ACBSP), His Holiness Bhakti Anugrah Janardhan Maharaj, His Holiness Bhakti Asraya Vaisnava Maharaj, His Holiness Probodananda Saraswati Maharaj and a special appearance by Phuldol Maharaj (head of Catur Sampradaya)
Lecture on SB 6.1.15 – London, August 3, 1971: : Yes, this is meant for the devotees of the Kṛṣṇa, or those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But with the Kṛṣṇa consciousness people, others also can take the advantage. But if anyone sincerely sees the Ratha-yātrā festival and understands how Kṛṣṇa visited Kurukṣetra along with His brother and sister, that is very nice. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
This year’s Rath yatra promises to offer the same unique experience. Please take advantage of this opportunity to pull the Rath Cart of the Lord in a land rich with the spiritual heritage of the Lord’s devotional service.

The influence of the devotees on American culture is clearly shown in this mid-1980’s TV Guide ad for an ABC channel 7 news report by Dr. William Rader called ‘Krishna’s Kids’.
The ad’s illustration was based on an iconic painting by American painter Norman Rockwell for the cover of the June 4, 1921 issue of the Saturday Evening Post.(https://goo.gl/yPkDlb)

Prabhupada Memorial Festival in Iskcon Ujjain.
This year is very special for ISKCON devotees, being the 50th anniversary of ISKCON’s incorporation in 1966. At ISKCON Ujjain, a grand festival was celebrated on this occasion from 12th September – 18th September, 2016.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/rA2s2J

How to avoid feeling negative about people who criticize harshly?
(Do you remember Sisupala?)
A spiritual scientist (Chait…Read More…

Iskcon of Silicon Valley – Kids Ratha-yatra and Harinaam – Sep 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Vedic scriptures say: “Even if one distributes ten million cows in charity during an eclipse of the sun, lives at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuma for millions of years, or gives a mountain of gold in sacrifice to the brahmanas, he does not earn one hundredth part of the merit derived from chanting Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.79 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/5nNbNC

Feeding 5,000 in Belfast (2 min video)
Parasuram das: Nice program in Belfast, we had a few Harinams and brought bhoga to the i…Read More…

Harinama Tel Aviv 16.09.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One should never consider the chanting of the holy name of …Read More…

Gaura Purnima 2017 Festival Schedule.
With great pleasure, we invite worldwide devotees to take part in the Gaura Purnima Fest…Read More…

Preaching programs in Split and Zagreb in Croatia (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Many devotees from Croatia come on pari…Read More…

Harinam in Chicago, USA (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra is specifically mentioned in many Upanisads, such as the Kali-santarana Upanishad, where it is said: “After searching through al the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.40 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vcpiVh

Jagajivan prabhu ACBSP in critical condition.
Bhakta Priya Devi Dasi: Dear devotees and friends, I urgently need your prayers! …Read More…

Vaishnava Compassion.
“A natural human sentiment, compassion finds its highest expression in the works of devotees of the Lord. The tenderness of the heart experienced toward Krishna is known as bhakti. All other jivas are servants of Krishna. When one experiences tenderness of heart toward them, it is known as daya, compassion. Therefore, compassion is included within bhakti.” Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Jaiva Dharma, p. 179

ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Rath Yatra Attracts Thousands In Chicago.
Urvashi Verma: More than 2,000 people gathered for the Rath Yatra festival Sept. 17 at the Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago as part of the national kickoff celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, better known as the Hare Krishna Movement.
Prior to the advent of ISKCON movement Jagannath and the “Ratha Yatra” were relatively unknown in the West. However, after its founding, A. C. Bhaktivedanta, founder of ISKCON popularized the festival when he selected Jagannath as one of the chosen forms of Krishna, installing an idol of Jagannath in ISKCON temples around the world. Today the “Ratha Yatra” festival is celebrated by ISKCON in many cities in the West where they are popular attractions.
The yatra, or the parade, which started from Clark and Adams streets, featured a colorful 40-foot chariot decorated with thousands of flowers, with “Lord Jagannath” the presiding deity of the festival placed in the center.
Hundreds of devotees, pulled the chariot by hand across large city blocks, dancing, playing drums and cymbals and euphorically chanting the mantra “Hare Krishna Hare Rama.” It was an eye-catching spectacle as many Chicagoans watched the procession and took to their phones to capture pictures.
The yatra concluded in Daley Plaza where religious ceremonies were performed by Romapada Swami and included arti, and food offering of 56 items to Lord Jagannath prior to the commencement of a free fun-filled afternoon for families which included a spectacular kirtan, devotional singing performance by Gauravani Buchwald; classical Odisi by Sigma, and performances by Natya Dance Theater depicting the stories of Sri Krishna.
Romapada Swami, member of governing body commission of ISKCON and Chicago area dignitaries – Clerk of Cook County, Dorothy Brown, Chicago 49th District Alderman Joe Moore, and Chicago philanthropist and trustee of FIA Chicago Iftekar Shareef, spoke about the impact of the “Hare Krishna” movement in the their state, district and personal lives.
Romapada Swami talked to Desi Talk Chicago in an interview about ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary and the organization’s vast growth and goals for the next 50 years.
“Two things are very important to highlight, when an organization endures for 50 years, at least here in America, it is taken as We are here to stay because often times after a great personality establishes an organization and passes away, things change. Here in ISKCON there is still a continuation and growth. For us the 50th anniversary is a time for celebration and communication.
The communication part is the “Rath Yatra” which is a message of the mercy of Lord Jagannath for everybody. Just like in celebrations in Puri, our founder very much wanted this Rath Yatra all over the world so that people can experience his mercy and so here we are; we need to celebrate the mercy of Lord Jagannath being given to millions across the world, ” said Romapada.
“There are areas of the world where ISKCON is expanding explosively and when an organization expands so vastly, my personal concern as a leader is making sure we are maintaining the purity of the principles and teachings through the Bhagavad Gita and teachings of Prabhupada and then surely everything will be fine” commented Romapada.
The Daley center was surrounded by booths providing information on topics such as Sri Krishna, ISCKON vegetarianism, reincarnation, meditation, yoga, handicrafts, idols of worship, and henna application. There was also an activity center, especially for children where they could make arts and crafts related to Sri Krishna.
“ Although I am not a member of ISKCON I wanted to bring my children to see and learn all about our culture, and it was great fun for them, I hope that this will make them more inclined to learn about our culture and religion ” shared one of the attendees.
The 50th anniversary celebrations will continue later this year with Rath Yatra parades in cities worldwide, including San Francisco, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, London, and Paris, and gala events at the Sydney Opera House, European Parliament, and other major venues.
Source: https://goo.gl/771TZ2

Chanting Hare Krishna and the original problem.
Sacinandana Swami: As practitioners that chant the holy name we all know how difficult it is to connect the mind with the holy name because by definition, the mind is only able to grasp material things. The mind can think of holidays at the beach or any other material subject. It is especially attracted to think about how to increase one’s wealth and how to engage in sexual activities. These are things we can easily think about because the mind is shaped like this. It wraps itself around money and the opposite sex very easily; it’s made like this, it’s a perfect material match. but the mind has great difficulty to stay with Krishna. Since we have come to the world, this is our problem: we have turned our back to Kåñëa, and this bahir-mukha, being outwardly faced, especially manifests when we try to chant the holy names. In other words, our basic envy of god, our feeling ill at ease with the lord manifests to a very obvious degree when we chant the holy name.

Don’t Starve your Mantras!
One of the highlights for me at the recent Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat was an instruction on mantra meditation. It was spoken by Sacinandana Swami in reference to the Gayatri Mantras that are chanted when one receives advanced initiation in the practice of Bhakti Yoga, but it’s a guide that can be applied to any mantra meditation practice: “Don’t starve your mantras”
Our devotional yoga involves the chanting of many mantras, the main one being the Hare Krishna mantra. A successful chanting practice needs both regulation and attention. When we neglect either of those, the mantra becomes weak and has little or no impact in our efforts for transcendence.
When we skip days in our practice, sometimes chanting, sometimes not, we are starving our mantras. When we chant mindlessly, just getting the prescribed number of mantras done, without attention or emotion, we are starving our mantras.
When we starve the mantras they leave us.
They will also come back to us, to our life, when we give them time and attention. The mantras themselves don’t need anything, they are transcendental sound vibrations, but will not work without our participation. If we chant with committed regulation, and chant with deliberate attention, they have the potency to shift our lives to higher ways of thinking and being. The sound purifies, frees our mind from misery and reawakens our original love for Krishna. This is their magic, the gift they give to us.
So don’t starve your mantras. Give them the time and attention then need, which is really the time and attention you need.

An Ocean of Gaura Premamrta-krpa” – An elaboration on Srila Rupa Goswami’s Sri Upadesamrta.
This wonderful book in two volumes has been compiled by H.G. Srimati Mataji (Vrindavana) and her team.
HG Srimati Mataji is a senior renounced Vaishnavi, who after serving for 18 years in Sri Mayapur dhama has now settled in Vrindavan since last 3 years.
She recently compiled a wonderful book based on Srila Prabhupada and previous acharyas which she dedicated to 50 years of ISKCON.
You can download it, as pdf files, here: https://goo.gl/ZcqsaI

Hare Krishna in Wales, UK (15 min video)
A new documentary video about Govinda’s restaurant in Swansea.
This film shows the Hare Krishna temple with Govinda’s restaurant in Swansea, and Cafe Atma in Cardiff, Wales. Some of the local devotees.speak about their experiences.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/RQvg1j

5th Annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Bloomington.
Damodarananda Das: We celebrated our 5th Festival of Chariots on Sept 18 in Bl…Read More…

Srila Prabhupada arrives in the USA, 1965.
Tomorrow marks the anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the U.S.A. in 1965.
Several years after Srila Prabhupada first arrived in America, a disciple discovered the diary he had kept during hi…

Ilford Rathayatra, UK – 18th September 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If the surface of the globe is overflooded wi…Read More…

The Glories of Srimad Bhagavatam (video)
A seminar by HG Radhika Raman Prabhu given In Iskcon Silicon Valley.
The Srimad Bhagavatam is the very essence of all the Vedanta literature, a cultural presentation for the re-spiritualization of the entire human society.
“This Srimad Bhagavatam is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krishna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Srimad Bhagavatam.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.43)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/7Bhg20

How the Bhaktivedanta Manor used to be.
This is a fascinating photo taken around 1870, on the grounds of Bhaktivedanta Manor. T…Read More…

EVERYBODY SHOULD JOIN THE SANKIRTAN PARTY ASAP!
Ramesvara dasa: I remember my first morning walk with Srila Prabhupada. It was when he came to New Dwarka in 1973, and I remember I had just written the sankirtan scores for the day before. I asked Karandar to give it to Srila Prabhupada, which he did. Prabhupada wrote back a handwritten note saying, “Thank you boys and girls. I give you so much thanks, because you are helping me serve my guru maharaj. Surely he will give his blessings, pour his blessings thousand times more than me on you, and that is my satisfaction.” And then he wrote “n.b.”, note below: “Everyone should join the sankirtan party as soon as possible.”