Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Until We Meet Again (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: This morning we went on parikrama all the way around the sacred town of Vrindavan. After many years of circumambulating this holy abode many of the places, as well as the Vrajavasis who live here, are familiar to me. Tonight I leave for Russia, but I will carry Vrindavan within my heart wherever I go in service to my spiritual master.
“I wander over this earth meditating on Her, who is a moon shining in the rasa-dance arena, who is a host of bright lamps in Vrsabhanu’s palace, and who is the central jewel in the necklace of Goloka.”
sri rasa rangasya vikasa candrika
dipavalir ya vrsabhanu mandire
goloka cuda mani kantha bhusanam
dhyatvaparam tam bhuvi paryatamy aham
[ Narada Muni, Garga Samhita 1.8.12 ]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/j96Tff

A-Z of Things Unseen: Y is for Yamuna (5 min audio)
The Yamuna is one of the many rivers in India that are sacred to Hindus. On its banks lies the city of Vrindavan, believed to be the birthplace of the Lord Krishna.
Shaunaka Rishi Das from the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies has visited the Yamuna many times over several decades. In this edition of the A-Z of Things Unseen, he recalls some key moments of spiritual awakening and growth which he experienced on the banks of the sacred river.
Among them is a challenge thrown out by an old man during his first ever bath in the Yamuna with a group of devotees from Ireland. Other seminal experiences include a close encounter with a snake, and the insights Shaunaka gained after he scattered his wife’s ashes in the sacred river: rather than him returning his wife to Krishna, he realized, she had been his all along and only shared her husband’s life “as a loan” from God. With that insight came acceptance of her death.
The A-Z of Things Unseen is an eclectic mix of voices from different faiths (as well as some doubters), each tackling a concept of their choice from a personal perspective.
Listen to it here: http://goo.gl/w3Ely4

The mind traps us materially and trips us spiritually.
Chaitanya Charan Das: We like our job one day and detest it the next day; we feel excited about our devotional activities sometimes and bored at other times.
Why does our mind oscillate like this?
Because it has learnt from experience that the charm of worldly objects doesn’t last for long.
This lesson can help us realize that no material object can ever offer us lasting satisfaction. However, the mind evades this realization by imagining that the past worldly objects were not enjoyable because something was wrong in the practical details. “I don’t like my job because my boss is lousy.” Due to this blunder of judgment, the mind keeps us entrapped at the material level with the futile hope that we will become happy if we just get the next worldly object alluring us from round the corner.
More damagingly, the mind doesn’t let us stay fixed when we do contact the one object that can offer lasting satisfaction: Krishna. He is eternal and eternally enchanting. Yet due to its default oscillatory habit, the mind imagines that the charm of Krishna will also not last long. So it starts looking for something externally new in devotional service without going deep into the remembrance of Krishna. The mind thus causes us to look here and there and everywhere –except straight towards Krishna. No wonder that we frequently trip on our devotional path, and thereby suffer unnecessary slips and falls.
If we strengthen our intelligence by deep deliberation on the nature of the mind, then the Bhagavad-gita (03.43) assures us that we won’t fall for its traps and trips.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03 Text 43
“Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence [Krishna consciousness] and thus – by spiritual strength – conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.”

May 3. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: The Lower East Side in the 1960s.
By the summer of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival at 26 Second Avenue, the first front in the great youth rebellion of the sixties had already entered the Lower East Side. Here they were free – free to live in simple poverty and express themselves through art, music, drugs and sex. The talk was of spiritual searching. LSD and marijuana were the keys opening new realms of awareness. Notions about Eastern cultures and Eastern religions were in vogue. Through drugs, yoga, brotherhood, or just by being free – somehow they would attain enlightenment. Everyone was being free – somehow they would attain enlightenment. Everyone was supposed to keep an open mind and develop his own cosmic philosophy by direct experience and drug-expanded consciousness, blended with his own eclectic readings. And if their lives appeared aimless, at least they had dropped out of a pointless game where the player sells his soul for material goods and in this way supports a system that is already rotten.
So it was that in 1966 thousands of young people were walking the streets of the Lower East Side, not simply intoxicated or crazy (though they often were), but in search of life’s ultimate answers, in complete disregard of “the establishment” and the day-to-day life pursued by millions of “straight” Americans.
That the prosperous land of America could breed so many discontented youths surprised Prabhupada. Of course, it also further proved that material well-being, the hallmark of American life, couldn’t make people happy. Prabhupada did not see the unhappiness around him in terms of the immediate social, political, economic and cultural causes. Neither slum conditions nor youth rebellions were the all-important realities. These were mere symptoms of a universal unhappiness to which the only cure was Krishna consciousness. He sympathized with the miseries of everyone, but he saw the universal solution.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Narayanpur (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Not far from the Ujjain Kumbha Mela is the forest where Krishna and Sudama we…

Temple of Vedic Planetarium – May 2016 TOVP construction updates (Album with photos)
We are happy to share these beautiful new…

Harinama in the park of Stromovka, Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One may live in a cave, in a cottage be…

The Mayor of Hertsmere auditions for the part of Hanuman, during last month’s Ramanavami festival….:-)
Hertsmere is a local government district and borough in Hertfordshire, England. This is where the Bhaktivedanta Manor is situated.

“Ask a monk” (4 min video)
Ter Kadamba Das presents his “Ask a monk” new video channel, website and project.
Ter Kadamba Das: Some of you have asked about the questions I received. Here are a few of the more entertaining ones (paraphrasing of cause):
Atheist: When will I die?
Monk: Any moment now, because whenever an old person looks back on his life, he always thinks it went by in a moment, so regardless of how long it will be, compared to eternity, it will still only be a moment. Therefore you should enquire about your real identity now, instead of wasting time with external things.
Teenage boy with flashy sunglasses: Will I ever find love again?
Monk: You are made of love, that is what you are, so you don’t need to find it, it is already there. The reason you are not in touch with it, is because you are focusing on these external things you see around you. When we focus your energy on making other people happy, then love will naturally flow through us uninterrupted. But if you are thinking of beautiful girls, then that is not love but lust. The two are not the same, and they are mutually exclusive.
Well dressed elderly man: What can you tell me about the stock-market?
I can tell you that whether you win or lose has nothing to do with how happy you will be. You have rich people who are happy and rich people who are miserable. You also have poor people who are happy and poor people who are miserable. These things are not related.
Well dressed elderly man: What a sophisticated answer.
Elderly lady: What do you ask a monk?
Monk: Okay, I guess that is also a question… You can ask him anything. Like what is the meaning of life? You see, many people think the meaning of life is something beyond our reach, but it is actually very simple. If we stop being selfish and devote our life to God, then our lives are meaningful. Now, devoting our lives to God means devoting our lives to Gods creation, because that is how He manifests, so basically just make sure that everything you do, you do for the benefit of others. Then you will be happy for the rest of your life, and it is completely free of charge.
Man: What is the northern most town in the world?
Monk: Since our perception of this world is illusory, the question is equivalent to asking how many drops of water there are in a mirage. Since it doesn’t really exist, the question is superfluous. If something should be said to exist, then it must be eternal. Consciousness is eternal, not these temporary forms of matter we see around us, so we should focus our attention on that. (He then told me about “Longyearbyen”, which is a town on the island of Svalbart north of Norway. He happened to live there).
Woman: Who will win the world cup in football?
Monk: Nobody. Those who are engaged in the world cup are chasing after a temporary result. Everybody knows it will be taken away from them again, so in the end they will all lose. Monks only work for spiritual results because spiritual results are eternal. Anything material is temporary and therefore not worth the effort.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Xjnl3b

Divine Intervention.
Sutapa Das: On recent travels around the country I met a lady who expressed frustration in her attempts to find God. She told me her story: two years of spiritual travels, countless nights of prayer, careful scriptural exploration and persistent introspection, but still no sign! “Will I ever find Him?” she asked. “I’m beginning to question whether He even exists.” What to speak of the ‘searchers,’ even the faithful often doubt that their Supreme friend is actually alive and active. A seeming lack of reciprocation and intervention can discourage even the most devout spiritualist. Where is God when you need Him?!
While desiring a divine audience, we’d do well to bear the following in mind:
Action – internal yearning should be accompanied by external endeavour. When the man made a diligent daily prayer to win the lottery, God was more than willing to acquiesce – if only he actually went out and bought a ticket. Thus, it could also be that God wants to see a practical demonstration of our eagerness to see Him. What are we willing to sacrifice and what tangible efforts will we make to search Him out?
Reaction – we are not dealing with a cosmic order supplier, but with a person. As persons, we don’t mechanize our reciprocation, but rather operate on the basis of feelings and inspiration. Thus, one cannot force open the doors to see God, but simply engage themselves with enthusiasm and determination. We should eagerly anticipate a divine audience, but simultaneously be willing to patiently wait.
Perception – maybe God has already intervened in our life, but not in the way we were expecting. Often times we don’t see things as they are, but rather we see things as we are. When we carry stereotyped perceptions of how God should deal with us, we leave little room to witness how He is expertly working on a bigger and better plan that will satisfy our needs and desires.
The ability to witness the wonders of God is the unique gift of the most advanced spirituality in existence. The Bhagavad-gita doesn’t simply deliver a philosophy which convinces one to believe in God, but actually equips one with the tools and techniques to dynamically perceive Him at every moment.

Photos from ISKCON-London’s grand reopening (Album with 40 HR photos)
The ISKCON-London Radha-Krishna Temple re-opened to the public on1st May after being closed for refurbishment. With best wishes, Hare Krishna, David.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/4Bxn60

Children Program Pictures at ISKCON Mira Road (Album with photos)
Today ISKCON Mira Road organised Children Exhibition. More t…

May 2. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Moving Into His New Apartment.
Overlooking the courtyard from the rear building of 26 Second Avenue was Prabhupada’s second floor apartment, where he would now live, work, and worship. With help from his Bowery friends, he had cleaned and settled into his new home. In the back room – his office – he had placed against one wall a thin cushion with an elephant-print cover and, in front of the cushion, his unpainted metal suitcase served as a desk. He had set his typewriter on the desk with his papers and books on either side. This became his work area. His manuscripts bundled in saffron cloth, his stock of Srimad-Bhagavatams, and his few personal effects he kept in the closet opposite his desk. On the wall above his sitting place he hung an Indian calendar print of Lord Krishna. (Krishna, as a youth, was playing on His flute with a cow close behind Him. Lord Krishna was standing on the planet Earth, which curved like the top of a small hill beneath His feet.) There were two windows on the east wall and the dappled morning sunlight filtering in through the fire escape fell across the floor.
The next room was bare except for a fancy coffee table, which became Prabhupada’s altar. Here he placed a framed picture of Lord Caitanya and His associates. On the wall he hung an Indian calendar print of four-armed Lord Visnu and Ananta Sesa, the celestial snake. And, as in the Bowery loft, he put up a clothesline.
Both rooms were freshly painted and the floors were clean hardwood parquet. The bathroom was clean and serviceable, as was the narrow furnished kitchen. Prabhupada would sometimes stand by the kitchen window gazing beyond the courtyard wall. He had moved here without any prospects of paying the next month’s rent.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

ISKCON-Delhi – Govinda Restaurant Inauguration : 30-04-2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna says that his devotee is never vanquished. Therefore all the disciples practicing Krishna consciousness should obediently follow the regulative principles and remain fixed in chanting the holy name of the Lord. Then there need be no fear. Otherwise, one’s position is very dangerous, especially in this Kali-yuga. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.1.58 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aooNFM

ISKCON Auckland NZ: 40th-anniversary Ratha-yatra (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The process of chanting the holy name o…

By the blessings of all of you My ‘little boy’ now is a full-fledged Vaisnava Brahmin, a servant of the servants of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. I can’t ask for more.
Prahlad Nrsmha Das Adhikari: In my way to Sridham Mayapur for the graduation of Sri Paramahansa Goura from Gurukul, he has been since 6 years old under the guidance and care of Srila Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami and his dear disciples. Sri Goura presently is the Head Boy in the Gurukula, he is graduating as a student and becoming a teacher. He loves his service, so will remain as a full-time Brahmin and part of the Team. I am eternally in debt with Maharaj and his disciples for shaping the Spiritual life of Sri Goura his strength in sadhana and determination to serve the mission of Guru and Gouranga is an example for me and for many.
Please extend your blessings to this wonderful devotee!

The 2nd Vaisnava Film Awards Festival (4 of 4) (17 min video)
Seventeen golden Nityananda Awards were granted to recipients of special achievements and lifetime achievements, in an exciting 90 minutes ceremony, on the stage of Mayapur Festival’s main entertainments pandal. Ground-breaking new videos were shown, each before it’s respective producer/director was honored by this rare event’s formal recognition. No doubt this 2nd Award’s Festival is setting a trend that is likely to perdure and grow in popularity in ISKCON. So is the wish of organiser Nrsimhananda Das of Iskcon Television, who was assisted this year by Vasudeva Das, of BhakTV and VANDE (Vaisnava Arts For A New Devotional Era). The Awards Night was filmed by Subuddhi Ray Das, and edited with the original HD clips by Vasudeva Das.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/wEcfY8

Initiation Ceremony and Cultural Program at Radhadesh, Belgium (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One should be a devotee an…

ISKCON Auckland NZ: 40th-anniversary boat festival (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This Krishna consciousness movement i…

ISKCON-Delhi – 7th Boat Festival : 30-04-2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A devotee always thinks of the Lord continuously. While chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, the words Krishna and Hare immediately remind him of all the Lord’s activities. Since his entire life is engaged n the service of the Lord, a devotee cannot forget the Lord at any time. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.1.6 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/uvtPXb

May 1. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Swamiji Moves.
Now it was time to move the Swami into his new place. A few friends who were on hand accompanied the Swami over to the Bowery loft. Maybe they weren’t prepared to become his surrendered disciples, but contributing toward the first month’s rent and volunteering a few hours of work to help set up his place were exactly the kinds of things they could do very willingly.
At the loft, they all gathered up portions of the Swami’s belongings, and then they started out on foot up Bowery. It was like a safari, a caravan of half a dozen men loaded with Prabhupada’s things. Michael carried the heavy Roberts reel-to-reel, and even the swami carried two suitcases. They did everything so quickly that it wasn’t until they were well on their way and Mike’s arm began to ache that he realized, “Why didn’t we bring a car?”
It was the end of June, and a hazy summer sun poured its heat down into the Bowery jungle. Starting and stopping, the strange safari, stretching for over a block, slowly trekked along. Prabhupada struggled with his suitcases, past the seemingly unending row of restaurant supply shops and lamp stores between Grand, Broome, and Spring streets. Sometimes he paused and rested, setting his suitcases down. He was finally moving from the Bowery. His electrician friend on Seventy-second Street would have been relieved, although perhaps he would have disapproved of the Second Avenue address also. At least he was finished residing on Skid Row. He walked on, past the homeless men outside the Salvation Army shelter, past the open-door taverns, stopping at streetlights, standing alongside total strangers, keeping an eye on the progress of his procession of friends who struggled along behind him.
The Bowery artists and musicians saw him as “highly evolved.” They felt that the spirit was moving him and were eager to help him set up his own place so that he could do his valuable spiritual thing and spread it to others. He was depending on them for help, yet they knew he was “on a higher level”; he was his own protector, or as he said, God protected him.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Translated Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Lalita Prasad Thakur (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s son)
National Hotel, Red park, Moscow, Russia
21st June, 1971.
My dear uncle Prabhupada Lalita Prasad Thakur,
Kindly accept my humble obeisance to your lotus feet. At present I am staying at the above mentioned hotel in Moscow, Room No. 356. With me there are two American disciples.
Here the preaching subject will be 1. Vedic Conception of Communism, 2. Knowledge derived from authoritative tradition, 3. Scientific classless society. Now with your blessing in this severely atheistic country the teachings of Sriman Mahaprabhu will be preached.
Here many local and foreigner girls and boys have visited. I advise them to do the Bhajana of the Lord. A few boys of this place have become very much impressed after listening to our Harinama. They want to join us. But the laws of this country are so tough that they cannot go against them. Here discussions are going on to meet many reputable professors and there will be the arrangement of lecture in the Indian Embassy. You bless me.
From here I will go to Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London etc. This is the first time I came to Moscow. If you want to write to me, send it to this address—3764 Watseka Avenue.
Yours affectionately, Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami
(from Bhaktivedanta Research Centre’s Birnagar Collection)

Experiencing happiness within devotional service: Is that considered selfish?
Question: Experiencing happiness within devotional service: Is that considered selfish? I get so much happiness with devotional service. However, I fear that if it is a selfish desire rather sincere motivation to please Krsna. How can I differentiate and improve where I am not focusing on my happiness, but rather making Krsna happy?
Answer by Romapada Swami: Feeling happiness in relation to Krishna is good! As you mature in Krishna consciousness, however, gradually and deliberately shift your attention away from viewing yourself at the center; instead become ever-increasingly aware of the reality that Krishna is at the center of our exchange with Him, that’s all.
In fact, Krishna is the only Enjoyer or Master; others are to be enjoyed by Him. He is Purusa, we are prakrti. We are His servants, per our constitutional position. When we are situated in our loving relationship with Krishna, we experience a sublime quality of happiness — we experience being connected with Krishna’s happiness! He is enjoying, and we experience His happiness through the medium of His devotional service.
Devotional service means trying to please the Lord. It is meant to give Krishna happiness, not to give happiness to ourselves. Devotional service means activities performed for the pleasure of Lord Krishna, with devotion, and ultimately not mixed with any desire for personal pleasure.
[NOD Chapter 1] “In the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya it is stated that Prahlada Maharaja, a great devotee of the Lord, prayed to Narsimhadeva (the half-lion, half-man incarnation), as follows: ‘My dear Lord, I repeatedly pray unto Your lotus feet that I may simply be stronger in devotional service. I simply pray that my Krsna consciousness may be more strong and steady, because happiness derived out of Krsna consciousness and devotional service is so powerful that with it one can have all the other perfections of religiousness, economic development, sense gratification and even the attainment of liberation from material existence.’ Actually, a pure devotee does not aspire after any of these perfections because the happiness derived from devotional service in Krsna consciousness is so transcendental and so unlimited that no other happiness can be compared with it. It is said that even one drop of happiness in Krsna consciousness stands beyond comparison with an ocean of happiness derived from any other activity. Thus, any person who has developed even a little quantity of pure devotional service can very easily kick out all the other kinds of happiness derived from religiousness, economic development, sense gratification and liberation.“
Below are some of the following few ways to practically apply and understand whether the happiness experienced is for own satisfaction or for the satisfaction of the Lord:
1. We can check our internal consciousness when we experience happiness (i.e. introspect). Ask yourself “Is this experience based on a selfish motivation, e.g. derived from an activity that we love to do, or perhaps an activity which will put us in the forefront, making us more noticeable thus helping us to gain appreciation from others?”
2. Do we do the activity only when we are noticed by others, and when there is nobody to see us we are little easy going and not do it with the same care and sincerity? [Supersoul is the witness of our motives and our consistency, so best to be self-honest in this regard!]
3. Inconsistency in service as well as service mood in general is a sign of being materially dependent or with mixed motives; real devotion, and in turn real happiness, is not created or interrupted by circumstance. See SB 1.2.6
4. It is always good to check with the Spiritual Master.

Hare Krishna Culture Growing In Cuba! (Album with photos)
For the last several months, one of our dear Canadian brahmacaris (renunciate monks) has been in Cuba helping to share our wonderful Hare Krishna culture! Below is a (slightly edited) report given by Hayagriva das along with some amazing pictures:
Our Cuban journey is now finished. We were very privileged to be able to share Krishna Consciousness in Cuba. A few things we really appreciated about the Cubans is that they are very warm people, they are kindhearted and have quite a natural service attitude.
We were able to do harinama (outdoor chanting and dancing) regularly, we organized around 40 programs, six retreats and distributed over 100 of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
One story: we were chanting in the “Plaza Central” in La Habana when one young girl (who had autism) came to us and started to dance ecstatically, smiling, with our Harinama Party. Her mother (in tears) came to us afterwards and shared that she never saw her daughter so happy in a very long time. Usually, her daughter is very introverted and neutral. Definitely, her soul was awakened by the irresistibly sweet sound of the kirtan!
We really hope that you can one day visit the Cuban devotees. After all, we are the International Society for Krishna Consciousness!
Your servant
Hayagriva dasa
Find them here: http://goo.gl/vwuJ6N

Visit of Budapest Accredited Diplomats to Krishna Valley, Hungary.
On the 50th anniversary of ISKCON, the Hungarian devotees m…

Harinama in Norwich, UK (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Narada Muni, citing a practical example from his own life, establ…

Keisha Castle-Hughes and her Hollywood team gets the mercy!
Drumila Dasa: It was either earlier today, or yesterday, when I was driving alone in my van and an old movie from 2002 popped into my mind. It was one of the most spiritual and uplifting movies that I ever saw, without it containing Krishna Conscious subject matter. A young 13-year-old ‘Keisha Castle-Hughes http://www.keishacastlehughes.com/ ‘was it’s star, and was later nominated for an Academy award in the ‘Best Actress’ category. The movie itself ‘The Whale Rider’ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_Rider won an astounding 32 out of 33 wins for major film awards. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298228/awards?mode=desktop
I was thinking, about how her amazing acting made me cry. How I should let a few of my devotee friends know about it. This happened just this morning while driving in my car or perhaps it was yesterday.
So today while collecting laxmi for ‘Food for Life’ and distributing books, I happened upon a group of about eight people. Three of them went ahead, five of them stopped to hear me. I had a great time with all of them. I had a special rasa (relationship) with the dark-haired girl with the Jaganatha hat. Something about her stood out to me. By this time the other three came back to see what was going on.
After finishing up with my presentation, and handing everyone books, one of them, Jackline, a girl, said a wonderful thing to me. She said, “You’re a very special person, who brings a lot of joy to people’s lives.’
I thanked her for such a nice complement.
Then I asked all of them if they would like to take a picture, holding their books? I told them that I would put them on my Facebook page. They all agreed. First though I wanted to get all of their names. Actually in my mind I almost rejected the idea, because there were so many of them. But then I decided I would get each individual name. Here comes the fun part.
I had actually asked the dark-haired girl with the Jagannatha hat, where she was from, as I thought I heard an Australian accent earlier. She said she came from New Zealand. I did a funny impersonation of a New Zealand person’s accent to her and she laughed. Anyway as I went down the line of persons, I finally came to her and asked her what her name was. She said it was Keisha. I spontaneously said, “There was an actress from New Zealand named Keisha who starred in the movie called ‘The Whale Rider.’ All her friends immediately with hand gestures motioned towards her direction, indicated that this was her, the actress who starred in the movie ‘The Whale Rider!’
I couldn’t believe it. I burst out saying you are Keisha?! You’re her!? Sure enough, as I looked at her I recognized her. It made sense to because three of the other people in the group were actors and actresses. Long story short, Keisha got every book I had, three different ones in all, and her friends said she is really into subject matter like this, so those books were perfect for her. Notice, she picked the Jagganatha hat also!
The man named Jimmy donated on everyone’s behalf. He is the cameraman. The other girl with a black hat is their physical therapist, massage person.
Another cool thing, was that Jackline made me autograph a book (‘Bhakti Yoga: The Art of Eternal Love’ authored by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) signed by me Drumila Dasa, saying, “To Cameron Crowe, a little gift from New Orleans from Drumila Dasa.
Cameron Crowe is one of the biggest directors in Hollywood. He has done such films as ‘Almost Famous’ with Kate Hudson, and ‘Jerry Maguire’ with Tom Cruise, and ‘Vanilla Sky’ with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. He has also won an ‘Acadamy Award’ for Best Director. So she is going directly give him the book signed by me. It was her idea!
Jackline told me they’re shooting a new Series for ‘Showtime’ called ‘Roddies’ which comes out in June. It’s directed by Cameron Crowe.
Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

April 30. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: They Find a New Place at Twenty-six Second Avenue.
Mike felt obligated. He was good at getting things done and he wanted to do this for the Swami. So the next day he went to The Village Voice, got the first newspaper off the press, looked through the classified ads until he found a suitable prospect, and phoned the landlord. It was a storefront on Second Avenue, and an agent, Mr. Gardiner, agreed to meet them there. Carl and the Swami also agreed to come.
Mr. Gardiner and Mike were the first to arrive. Mike noted the unusual hand-painted sign – Matchless Gifts – above the front window. It was a holdover, Mr. Gardiner explained, from when the place had been a nostalgic-gift shop. Mike proceeded to describe the Swami as a spiritual leader from India, an important author and Sanskrit scholar. The rental agent seemed receptive. As soon as Prabhupada and Carl arrived and everyone had been congenially introduced, Mr. Gardiner showed them the small storefront. Prabhupada, Carl, and Mike carefully considered its possibilities. It was empty, plain and dark – the electricity had not been turned on – and it needed repainting. It would be good for meetings, but not for the Swami’s residence. But at $125 a month it seemed promising. Then Mr. Gardiner revealed a small, second-floor apartment just across the rear courtyard, directly behind the storefront. Another $71 a month and the Swami could live there, although first Mr. Gardiner would have to repaint it. The total rent would come to $196, and Carl, Mike and the others would pitch in.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=7

Harinama in Auckland, New Zealand, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of SriSri Gaura Nitai and Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balad…

ISKCON Vapi Rath Yatra 2016 – with elephants and camels (Album with 615 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The names of the Lord and the Lord are non-different. So Lord Krishna’s instructions to Arjuna to “remember Me” and Lord Caitanya’s injunction to “always chant the names of Lord Krishna” are the same instruction. (Bhagavad-gita, Introduction)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/YtrKIS

Kumbha Mela: an amazing festival of Harinam and Prasad Distribution! (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Blissful Harinama S…

Academic Conference at Harvard Highlights ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary.
Over the weekend of April 22nd to 24th, more than thirty scholars met at Harvard University’s Center for the Study of World Religions to talk about the growth, impact, and challenges of ISKCON since its inception in July 1966. Participants included some of the earliest scholars ever to study the Hare Krishna Movement, such as retired professors Thomas J. Hopkins and Larry Shinn, as well as the retired head of the British Council of Churches’ Committee on Interfaith, Kenneth Cracknell. Also in attendance were scholars who are themselves practitioners of bhakti-yoga and members of ISKCON, including Ravi M. Gupta, William Deadwyler, and Edith Best.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/aQnQAy

Chaitanya Charitamrita, which is said to be written by Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami’s own hand. Relish these beautiful photos taken by the BRC Manuscripts Mission Team on a recent visit to Jhamatpur, the birthplace of Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami, (author of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita.)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Zxvn7n

Harinama in Arbat Street, in the historical centre of Moscow (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: I do not know how much nectar the two syllables “Krs-na” have produced. When the holy name of Krishna is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 4.71 purport, Vidagdha-Madhava 1.12)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/JQQ1n3

Jhansi Ratha Yatra (Album with photos)
All glories unto Jhansi. The city where Srila Prabhupada made his first attempt to create a society of devotees which he later on did: ISKCON. In Jhansi Srila Prabhupada started “ The League of Devotees”. In Jhansi Srila Prabhupada initiated his first disciple Acarya Prabhuakar Das who was around not long go.
It was a wonderful Ratha yatra. It is worth going every year.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/fSMFpD

Kingsday 2016 Harinama, Amsterdam, Holland (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all…

Ecstatic Harinam during King’s day celebration in Amsterdam, Holland. Probably the world’s largest street chanting party! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: All glories to the all-blissful holy name of Sri Krishna, which causes the devotee to give up all conventional religious duties, meditation and worship. When somehow or other uttered even once by a living entity, the holy name awards him liberation. The holy name of Krishna is the highest nectar. It is my very life and my only treasure. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 4.71 purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hU0dfY

April 29. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Asking Michael Grant for Help.
A week passed, and no one had found a suitable place for the Swami. One day Prabhupada suggested that he and Carl take a walk up to Michael Grant’s place and ask him to help.
Mike: I was awakened one morning very early, and Carl was on the phone saying, “Swamiji and I were just taking a walk, and we thought we’d come up and see you.” I said, “But it’s too early in the morning.” And he said, “Well, Swamiji wants to see you.” They were very near by, just down the street, so I had to quickly get dressed, and by the time I got to the door they were there.
I was totally unprepared, but invited them up. The television had been on from the previous night, and there were some cartoons on. The Swami sat between Carl and me on the couch. I was keeping a pet cat, and the cat jumped up on Swamiji’s lap, and he abruptly knocked it off onto the floor. We began to talk, but Swamiji glanced over at the cartoons on the television set and said, “This is nonsense.” Suddenly I realized that the television was on and that it was nonsense, and I got up very quickly saying, “Why, yes, it is nonsense,” and turned it off.
As Prabhupada talked, he tried to impress on Mike how difficult it was for him to live with Carl and Eva, and Mike listened. But was the Swami so sure he couldn’t go back to the Bowery loft and live with David Allen? Except for that one incident, it had been a nice setup, hadn’t it? Prabhupada explained that David had become a madman from too much LSD. He was dangerous. Mike gave the Swami a half-incredulous look – David Allen, dangerous? Prabhupada then told a story: “There’s an old saying in India that you get yourself a spiritual master, you sit opposite him, you learn everything from him that you can, then you kill him, you move his body to one side, and then you sit in his place, and you become the guru.” As Prabhupada spoke, Mike began to feel that David was dangerous, so he didn’t ask for any more details.
Mike could see that Swamiji was appealing to him for help, and as they all sat together on the couch, Mike and Carl quietly nodded in agreement. The Swami was looking at Mike, and Mike was trying to think.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=7

Remnants of Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj’s sandals.
Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was born in a Nadiya family of physicians at the village of Jhamatpur, within the district of Barddhaman, near Naihati. His father was Sri Bhagiratha, and his mother was Sri Sunanda. He had a younger brother named Syama das. The deity of Gaura-Nityananda installed by Sri Kaviraja Gosvami is still being worshiped there. It appears that his family line is no more. More information about the early life of Sri Kaviraja is available in a book called Ananda-ratnavali.
Read more: http://goo.gl/hGTTx2

Harinama in Moscow (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: For a devotee, liberation is no problem at all. The impersonalists und…