Author Archives: Dandavats.com

March 30. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. Satsvarupa…
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March 30. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: No One Has Seen a Picture of Krishna
Prabhupada is speaking: We should always remember that He is God. He is all-powerful. In strength, no one could conquer Him. In beauty – as far as beauty is concerned – when He was on the battlefield … Have any of you seen a picture of Krishna? Have any of you ever seen Krishna? Oh … no?
Prahbupada’s voice fades as he pauses, looking out at his audience. No one has ever seen Krishna. None of them have the slightest previous knowledge of Lord Krishna. In India, hundreds of millions worship Lord Krishna daily as the eternal form of all beauty and truth, and view His graceful form in sculpture, painting and dance. His philosophical teachings in Bhagavad-gita are all famous. And Prabhupada is His intimate emissary. Yet the ladies and gentlemen in Room 307 look back at the Swami blankly.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=6

Let’s progress firmly in Krishna consciousness. Giriraj…
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Let’s progress firmly in Krishna consciousness.
Giriraj Das: I was hearing a lecture by HH Bhakti Vidyapurna Swami on the same topic and Maharaj explained these three terms in a simpler way as well the relation between them.
Sambandha : attraction, what draws the mind.
Prayojana : attachment.
Both the above are moods, they create feelings but there is no activity.
Abhidheya : This is the actual expression of the above two.
So we become attracted towards Krishna and then due to that attraction we become attached to Krishna and then we want to do something. The real meaning comes with service.
We say mind has three functions: thinking, feeling and willing.
If something is attractive we think about it, if we are not attracted then we won’t think about it. Feeling is when we get attached to it. Then..willing.. we actually do something about it. So we see Krishna, we become attracted to Krishna then we become attached to Krishna and then we finally want to serve Krishna.
So it is in abhidheya that we understand the knowledge, contemplate on it and then practice that knowledge. It is application. How we are related to Krishna and what we want to achieve, what is it’s purpose.
Abhidheya is the most important and critical part among the three and I am sharing some nectar, which I heard in last few months, on how we, as aspiring devotees, can traverse this wonderful and exciting journey, making it more enriching and less painful (for us and those around us!)
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/xaIBf3

50 km walk in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya for the 50th…
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50 km walk in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya for the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON!
To get the special mercy of Lord Caitanya ISKCON Kanya Kumari is organising a padayatra covering the 5 places He visited during His tour of South India . We seek your blessings and also request you to kindly join us and bring as many devotees as possible.
In the Kanyakumari District Lord Caitanya visited these five places, as mentioned in Caitanya Caritamrita ( 2.9.225 to 229) :
1. Kanyakumari – Bhagavathiamman temple
2. Suchindrum – Sthanumalayan temple.
3. Tovalai – Subramaniya Swami temple
4. Bhootapandi – Bhoothalinga Swami temple
5. Thiruvattar – Adikesava temple
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/rqN1l2

March 29. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. Satsvarupa…
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March 29. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Exploring His Western Audience.
Sometimes his mood is light, and he commiserates with his fellow New Yorkers, chuckling about the difficulties they share: “Suppose there is a heavy snowfall, the whole New York City is flooded with snow, and you are all put into inconvenience. That is a sort of suffering, but you have no control over it.” Sometimes he praises Dr. Mishra’s students for having learned so nicely from their teacher: “Now, what Dr. Mishra is teaching is very nice. He is teaching that first of all you must know, ‘Who am I?’ That is very good, but that ‘Who am I?’ can be known from Bhagavad-gita also – ‘I am not this body.’” And sometimes a guest suddenly speaks out with an irrelevant question, and the Swami patiently tries to consider it.
Yet behind his tolerance, Prabhupada’s mood is always one of urgency. Sometimes he talks quickly, and one senses his desire to establish Krishna consciousness in the West as soon as possible. He has no followers, only a few books, no temples, and he openly states that he is racing against time: “I am an old man. I could leave at any time.” So, behind the full delivery of Krishna conscious philosophy is an anxiety, an almost desperate desire to convince at least one soul to take up Krishna consciousness immediately.
Now the constrained situations of Butler and the Ananda Ashram and Dr. Mishra are behind him, he is free to speak about the Absolute Truth in full. Throughout his life he has prepared for this, yet he is still discovering the best ways to present Krishna, exploring his Western audience, testing their reactions.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=6

Open Day at the Bhaktivedanta Manor (2 min video) Srila…
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Open Day at the Bhaktivedanta Manor (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: “If one only chants, with some slight faith, the holy names of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, then very quickly he is cleansed of all offences. Thus as soon as he chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, he feels the ecstasy of love for God.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.31)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/kIe0is

Harinama in Israel (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada: “As a…
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Harinama in Israel (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ANhYCc

March 28. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. Satsvarupa…
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March 28. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: “But If the Disciple is In Ignorance …”
Prabhupada is speaking on the qualifications of a spiritual master and a disciple:
Suppose you accept the wrong person as a spiritual master and he guides you wrongly. Then your whole life is spoiled. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make one’s life perfect. That is the relationship between spiritual master and disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility, both for the disciple and the spiritual master. … Yes?
Student: But if the disciple is in ignorance before …
Prabhupada: Yes. (Prabhupada acknowledges a serious question. It is for answering questions like this – from “disciples in ignorance” – that he has left retirement in India and come to America.)
Student: … how does he know which master to choose? – Because he doesn’t have the knowledge to make a wise decision.
Prabhupada: Yes. So, the first thing is that one should be searching after a spiritual master, just as you search after some school, you must at least have some preliminary knowledge of what a school is. You can’t search for a school and go to a cloth shop. If you are so ignorant that you do not know what is a school and what is a cloth shop, then it is very difficult for you. You must know, at least, what a school is. So that knowledge is like this:
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=6

Launch of Monks in Manhattan—the Novel. Rupa-vilasa dasa:…
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Launch of Monks in Manhattan—the Novel.
Rupa-vilasa dasa: Jnanagamya Dasa (John J. Partin) is/was my oldest friend. He was an artist and writer of immense creativity, enthusiasm, and talent. Monks in Manhattan started out as a screenplay and went through a number of incarnations as such. In the final year or two before his departure, he turned the screenplay into an entertaining novel about a somewhat fanatical devotee who falls in love with an heiress. This extraordinary novel is filled with humor, romance, and philosophy. Jnanagamya would not object (if he were still with us) to my saying that this book is bizarre, preachy, original, funny, and strange. It is, by turns, unusual, hysterical, wonderful, and highly entertaining. Very few novels have been produced by contemporary members of the Hare Krishna devotee community, and certainly none with the ambition, scope, humor, and philosophical depth of this one. Only he would even consider writing what is essentially a Krishna conscious romantic comedy. It is being brought out as an e-novel, available through Amazon.com. Please purchase a copy at the very reasonable price of $2.99 and be entertained and enlightened by a devotee sold out to Srila Prabhupada. This was the final effort by the eccentric and kind artist/designer/builder/writer before he passed away in Mayapura, India, on February 17, 2015. He is sorely missed by all who loved him and whose lives were touched by him.
(Jnanagamya Prabhu’s birth, April 2, 1947)
Read more: http://monksinmanhattan.com/

Sacred Sound Kirtan Retreat (7 min video) Indradyumna Swami:…
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Sacred Sound Kirtan Retreat (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Video coverage of the blissful Sacred Sound Kirtan Retreat at New Govardhan in Australia. Devotees came from all over the country to chant and dance together in one of ISKCON’s largest communities nestled in the beautiful green rolling hills of New South Wales.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/P52ZLw

Bharat’s Cultural Conquest: New Short Film on Srila…
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Bharat’s Cultural Conquest: New Short Film on Srila Prabhupada (7 min video)
– New FULL HD film on Srila Prabhupada
– Launch on Pune Youth Festival 2016 in front of 20000 Youth.
– Film by ISKCON Pune, in Association with Hare Krishna Media
– Film made by Hare Krishna Media
– English Language
– 7 Mins.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/1xq9vr

March 27. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. Satsvarupa…
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March 27. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: One is Free to Regard His Talks As He Likes.
Although his audience may be momentarily enamored by what appears to be a description of Indian social customs, a careful listener can grasp the greater context of Prabhupada’s speech: everyone must accept a spiritual master. It’s a heavy topic for a casual audience. What is the need of taking a spiritual master? Isn’t this just for India? But he says, “Everyone should have a spiritual master.” What is a spiritual master, anyway? Maybe he means that accepting a spiritual master is just another cultural item from Hinduism, like the sacred thread, or the part in a woman’s hair, or the widow’s dress. The audience can easily regard the discussion as a kind of cultural exposition, just as one comfortably watches a film about the living habits of people in a foreign land, although one has no intention of adapting those habits as one’s own. The Swami is wearing one of those threads on his body, but that’s for Hindus, and it doesn’t mean that Americans should wear them. But these Hindu beliefs are interesting.
Actually, Prabhupada has no motive but to present the Absolute Truth as he has heard it in disciplic succession. But if anyone in that railroad car-shaped room were to ask himself, “Should I surrender to a spiritual master?” he would be confronted by the existential presence of a genuine guru. One is free to regard his talk as one likes.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=6

Evening Program on Holi : 24-03-2016 (Album with photos) Srila…
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Evening Program on Holi : 24-03-2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: To the sincere devotee, this ocean of maya is easily crossed by the cool breeze of Krishna’s Grace. This is our business, to submit to Krishna’s desire to have us back with Him in the eternal sky of Krishna Loka. Letter to Syamasundara, November 24, 1968.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/yxxzSz

Vanifun Crossword Puzzles. We hope you enjoy solving these…
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Vanifun Crossword Puzzles.
We hope you enjoy solving these online interactive crossword puzzles which are made from phrases and words (English and Sanskrit) as used by Srila Prabhupada.
The goal of these puzzles is to expand your English and Sanskrit vocabulary and to come closer to Srila Prabhupada’s teachings by using the Vaniquotes website to find the answer to the clues.
This puzzle is made up of words and phrases (English and Sanskrit) used by Srila Prabhupada. (Some English words have American spelling.)
Click on the first clue to highlight where to type your answer in the crossword and start typing from the yellow square.
Solve it online here: http://goo.gl/ABu3W6

The so-called husbands, political leaders and guardians.There…
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The so-called husbands, political leaders and guardians.
There are many people all over the world—indeed, throughout the universe—who claim for some time that they are husbands, political leaders or guardians, but in due course of time the Supreme Lord desires their removal from their posts, and their careers are immediately finished. Therefore those who are actually learned and advanced in spiritual life do not accept any leader, husband or maintainer other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Revival of Regular Harinama at New Govardhana, Australia. In a…
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Revival of Regular Harinama at New Govardhana, Australia.
In a nutshell, if devotees love Hari Nama and want to please Srila Prabhupada by sharing Lord Caitanya’s mercy, a sojourn on New Govardhana farm in Australia may be just what they have been looking for. Due to the many social changes that ISKCON has undergone over the decades, and the fact that there are much fewer temple devotees than there were in the past, these days most temples don’t have the man-power to hold all-day Hari Nama sankirtan parties, every day of the week. Garuda Das is determined to change this, at least here at New Govardhana. With his small but dedicated kirtan party visiting cities, towns, villages and festivals throughout northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland, local devotees are becoming inspired and the lives of thousands of people who encounter them are being transformed, as they associate with Krishna, appearing as His holy names, and receive Srila Prabhupada’s books. Everyone is welcome to take part, and to experience the fun and magic of this very wonderful sankirtan party.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/v2P9CE

Hare Krishna At The Bhakti Center | New York City (2 min…
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Hare Krishna At The Bhakti Center | New York City (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: There is only one guru—Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So those who simply repeat His words, they also become guru. But of course a guru never thinks himself as being God. He only thinks of himself as the servant of the servant of the servant. Letter to Mr. & Mrs. Bhatia, November 23, 1075.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/g5N8dV

March 26. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. Satsvarupa…
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March 26. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: “Don’t Turn Your Attention, Just Hear”
Outside the closed windows of the Room 307, the late winter night had fallen. Prabhupada’s words are punctuated with the muted sounds of car horns and occasional sirens from the street, and sometimes the startling chords of a lonely fog horn on the Hudson. Although bare, the room is warm. Prabhupada is speaking on the second chapter of Bhagavad-gita.
Now Arjuna is perplexed. He is perplexed about whether to fight or not to fight. After seeing in front of him his relatives, with whom he was to fight, he was perplexed. And there was some argument with Krishna.
Now here is a point: Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead….
Prabhupada’s voice is earnest, persuading. Sometimes his speech becomes high-pitched and breaks with urgency. His cultured British diction bears a heavy, Bengali accent.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=6

Toronto’s Hare Krishna Temple – Festival Report – Gaura…
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Toronto’s Hare Krishna Temple – Festival Report – Gaura Purnima 2016 (Album with photos)
Picutres by Sahil Srivastava and Subhadra devi dasi
On a rainy, full moon Tuesday evening in March, devotees from Toronto’s Hare Krishna community gathered to celebrate the advent of one of the most merciful forms of Lord Krishna – Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu! A packed temple, filled with reveling devotees exploded with colours, kirtan and the aroma of a delectable vegetarian feast.
The evening began with kirtan (musical chanting) and continued with a class by Krsnadas Kaviraj das wherein he lovingly expounded on the appearance of Chaitanya over 500 years ago. He then weaved a beautiful picture of a famous pastime (story) of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wherein He danced through the Jarikanda Forest, singing and dancing and the animals accompanied Him in the chanting and dancing as well.
In seamless fashion, the next part of the program featured a parade of smiling children dancing their way into the Temple Hall, both costumed and face-painted as tigers, monkeys, rabbits, butterflies and foxes. They were led by an actor playing the role of Chaitanya amidst joyful kirtan. Once glance at the audience was enough to prove that all hearts were melted instantaneously as the smiling children reenacted this most glorious story of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu!
As the costumed-kids settled in, the grand abhisheka took over. The abhisheka was a special “bathing ceremony” wherein small Deities of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda were lovingly bathed in various items like yogurt, milk, honey and more! The walls resounded with kirtan as colourful lights illuminated the Temple Hall.
A final kirtan (arati) was followed by a giant feast served for anyone and everyone! Spiritually contented, the community of devotees made their way home with memories of a very special evening dancing in the forest of their minds!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/6W5kjF

“The way to get kids nowadays into the Mahabharata is to turn it…
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“The way to get kids nowadays into the Mahabharata is to turn it into a game!”
Imagine if you could fight as the great warrior Arjuna, launching an attack with your Gandiva bow? And imagine if your friend, taking on the role of Karna, could counter-attack with his own bow, Vijay?
Now you both can!
Learn how to do this here: http://goo.gl/qW11Uj

Is the past a good place to learn from? Devotees and religious…
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Is the past a good place to learn from?
Devotees and religious people in general are sometimes under the impression that now they are special and will be protected from difficulties or intense problems or suffering having tasted a new joy and fulfillment in dedication to serve God and others. While there are many places which say that those who have dedicated their lives for spiritual advancement have their suffering reduced, we never the less still have to deal with our physical body and mind, and what the Vedas refer to as current Age of Kali, which is full quarrel, hypocrisy, garbage, and an exploitative mentality. We also read how great devotees suffer in their service and from just living in the world. Do we really want to avoid problems, or are problems the answer to a mediocre, or ho-hum life?
I heard Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, the father of positive thinking, and prolific author, speak about someone who came to him complaining about all his problems and difficulties, which he thought were ruining his peace and distracting him from a Godly life. So Rev Peale, heard him out, and told him he knew a place where the residents had no problems at all, and asked him if he would like to visit them, to which he received an enthusiastic “Of course.” They got into Norman’s car and drove in silence for 20 minutes and then pulled into a long driveway. Getting out of the car they began to walk, and the Reverend pointed to all the tombstones, and told his amazed friend, “These people have no material problems. Material problems are a sign of life. If I have no problems I pray to God, ‘Don’t you trust me? Please give me some good problems that I can solve for your glory.”
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/IlOvHx