Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Fiji Kirtana Mela 2018 (Album of photos) Srila Prabhupada: The…
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Fiji Kirtana Mela 2018 (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The purpose of pronouncing omkara is to address the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva (om namo bhagavate vasudevaya). And the purpose of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is the same. Hare: “O energy of the Lord!” Krishna: “ O Lord Krishna!” Hare: “O energy of the Lord!” Rama: “O Supreme Lord, O supreme enjoyer!” (Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.14.48 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/UwLU6x

On Friday evening 7 ladies went out door to door to distribute…
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On Friday evening 7 ladies went out door to door to distribute books in the Kingsbury area, UK.
We encountered people from different backgrounds, cultures, ages and races.
One such was an Iranian lady who was an author on yoga and self-help books. When we knocked on her door she was deeply engrossed in her writing but admitted that she was going through writer’s block. So, seeing the meditation books in our hands, she became really excited and said that these books will help her with her writing. She took 6 books, including Bhagavad Gita and was thoroughly fascinated by the contents of the Gita. She became even more excited when we told her that there was also a vegetarian book in the pack. She said that she’s been vegetarian for the last 6 months but finds it hard to explain to her family because she comes from a culture of heavy meat-eating. We will invite her to some yoga classes at the temple and the Sunday feast.
The photo is of a gentleman we met on the street, again very much interested in meditation and courses that we offer. He was so happy to receive our books. Hopefully we will see him at the Manor soon….

Vedic Wisdom from Srimad Bhagavatam 6.12.15 by HG Vaisesika…
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Vedic Wisdom from Srimad Bhagavatam 6.12.15 by HG Vaisesika prabhu at the Bhakti Center, 10th of June 2018, New York (video)
“One who knows that the three qualities — goodness, passion and ignorance — are not qualities of the soul but qualities of material nature, and who knows that the pure soul is simply an observer of the actions and reactions of these qualities, should be understood to be a liberated person. He is not bound by these qualities.”
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/mcu7oD

Who Am I – UID or SID
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Who Am I – UID or SID
Every living entity entrapped in this material world is wondering from one species to another, from one planet to another, from one enjoyment to another, from one body to another and from one bodily stage to another.
In this material universe, every living entity is covered with 24 components, which forms a body out of 8.4 million species. Soul, the unit part of a body is permanent and the 24 components, which forms a subtle and a gross body, changes from time to time.

The CEO of Avanti Schools in the UK gets an award. Excited to…
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The CEO of Avanti Schools in the UK gets an award.
Excited to announce Nitesh Gor, CEO of Avanti Schools Trust has just been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2018!
Navina Krishna das: “I feel humbled knowing all the great work that others within Avanti Schools Trust are doing to make it such a success. It’s wonderful having our work within Avanti being recognized in this way.”
The complete list: https://goo.gl/HZ2WSJ

KC program at Deepak HomeBase Series in New York
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Radhanath Swami Speaks at Deepak HomeBase Series in New York City.
On Tuesday, May 31, Radhanath Swami spoke as part of the Deepak HomeBase series of discussions at ABC Carpet & Home in New York City. More than an ordinary rug shop, ABC Carpet & Home is a seven-story design destination that aims to be “ a portal into collective creativity, integrating healing, education, theater, art, and interconnectivity”.

Better Than Kings! Vaisesika Dasa: At a meeting of ISKCON…
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Better Than Kings!
Vaisesika Dasa: At a meeting of ISKCON leaders in Los Angeles, my management guru, Rupanuga Dasa of Laguna Beach, California, emphasized the importance of looking out for devotees. He suggested that leaders should not only be aware of signs of discouragement in their comrades and community members, but they should also have a plan re-inspire them when they do see these signs.
His insights were based on the fact that those following the path of pure devotional service are not only rare, but they are also especially dear to Lord Krishna.
From a practical point of view, Rupanuga Prabhu also cited a couple of oft-repeated mantras from the world of business:
“It’s easier and cheaper to keep a customer than it is to make a new one.”
“Leaders should keep their eyes trained to see the potential in others.”
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of ISKCON, clearly applied all these principles in his dealings with the members of his fledgling spiritual society.
The following excerpt from a letter Srila Prabhupada wrote to a senior leader is a good example of this:
“The devotees of Krishna are the most exalted persons on this planet, better than kings, all of them, so we should always remember that and, like the bumblebee, always look for the nectar or the best qualities of a person.”
(Srila Prabhupada letter to Atreya Rsi; February 4, 1972)

12 Ways to Let People Make You Miserable. Mahatma das: The Gita…
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12 Ways to Let People Make You Miserable.
Mahatma das: The Gita says we can be expert at making ourselves miserable. Here are some ways we do this in relation to people. We:
1. Hate someone
2. Resent someone
3. Become angry with someone
4. Become envious of someone
5. Become jealous of someone
6. Criticize someone
7. Constantly complain about someone.
8. Expect someone to do something they can’t
9. Argue with someone who will never admit they are wrong
10. Try to change or control someone we can’t (or who doesn’t want us to)
11. Try to make someone unhappy or make their life miserable
12. Dwell on one or more of the above “someones.”
If this “someone” is a close friend, family member or spouse, the misery multiplies many times over.

ISKCON Communications Conference in Italy. Last week, ISKCON…
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ISKCON Communications Conference in Italy.
Last week, ISKCON Communications European (ICE) leaders and representatives from 17 Countries gathered in Prabhupada Desh just outside of Venice, Italy, to discuss and share their thoughts on some pressing issues such as women’s position in ISKCON, veganism, the changing world around us with social media and how to grab people’s attention on Facebook and Instagram. The Countries represented were: UK, Belgium, Holland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Russia and USA.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/2VQ5W9

A visit to Rajani Priya dasi (Rose Forkash) Giriraj Swami:…
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A visit to Rajani Priya dasi (Rose Forkash)
Giriraj Swami: Yesterday, Indradyumna Swami and I and all the other devotees staying at the ashram in Carpinteria visited Rajani Priya dasi (Rose Forkash), age 97, at her home. In the two hours we spent together, she enlivened us with stories of her experiences in Krishna consciousness, both during Srila Prabhupada’s presence and now, and Indradyumna Swami led a wonderful kirtan, which prompted her to say, “Beautiful. This is what we are meant to be hearing.”
More photos: https://goo.gl/85WTAh
You can find Indradyumna Swami’s kirtan and a few words from Rajani Priya at http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=12874

“Importance of Studying Srila Prabhupada’s Books”
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“Importance of Studying Srila Prabhupada’s Books”
BB Govinda Swami: At those meetings we discuss different topics and points for the development of our International Society for Krishna Consciousness. But there’s some of us who always feel like when we, older leaders of ISKCON come together it would be in our best interest if we would sit down together and we would just open Srila Prabhupada’s books and we would read Srila Prabhupada’s books together for two weeks straight. Or when we would stop reading Prabhupada’s books we just sit down and have kirtan for hours together.

Kitchen Cleanliness by Kurma Dasa
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Kitchen Cleanliness.
Kurma Dasa: Here’s an essay I wrote a while back.
While teaching Sanatana Gosvami, Lord Caitanya described twenty-six qualities of the Vaisnava. A devotee of Krsna, he said, is clean, suci. Everything about a devotee, inside and outside, should be clean – his mind, heart, intelligence, body, clothes, living place, place of work, place of worship, and his personal and business dealings.

The “Hare Krishnas”, are they crazy? Kadamba Kanana…
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The “Hare Krishnas”, are they crazy?
Kadamba Kanana Swami: All throughout history, people have tried to impress other people. Some men have been wearing high hats. Some ladies have been wearing high heels. In so many ways, people have tried to impress each other, generation after generation. Are we any different? It is the same thing again and again – this one has a beautiful T-shirt, that one a far-out tattoo, this one has very tight clothes, and so on. We are trying to impress everyone with the central focus being the body. It is said however that the happiness of the body is very limited. Many of us know that, but then again, maybe we don’t actually understand what that means. It seems that only a small part of us actually knows it.
Everyone is looking at us ‘Hare Krsnas’ and thinking that we are crazy. Maybe they are right, but then again we are having a good time being attracted to Krsna and knowing that Krsna is spiritual. We know that Krsna’s body is not material – it is never tired and it is not influenced by time. Krsna can eat unlimited food and he does not become fat. You never see Krsna running around the block, trying to stay fit. Krsna is always fresh! (laughter)

Rathayatra in Tallinn, Estonia’s capital (Album with…
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Rathayatra in Tallinn, Estonia’s capital (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna movement is also an incarnation of Krishna in the form of the holy name (name-rupe). Every one of us who is actually afraid of the asuric rulers and politicians must welcome this incarnation of Krishna. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.3.21 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/cugQQa

Krishna Lunch (8 min video)
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Krishna Lunch (8 min video)
Krishna Lunch is a delicious, all-you-can-eat vegetarian and vegan buffet that has been prepared and served daily by volunteers/devotees of the ISKCON of Gainesville since 1971, when Gargamuni Swami, the first Hare Krishna to come to Gainesville, began chanting and giving out food at the plaza to anybody who passed by him. Krishna Lunch is an extremely economical and nourishing alternative to most of the unhealthy food venues currently populating campus, providing unlimited servings of the day’s entrée, dessert, and refreshment to anyone.

*All India Padayatra NEWS.* (Album of photos) By Acarya…
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*All India Padayatra NEWS.* (Album of photos)
By Acarya Dasa.
On June 4 and 5, 2018, All India Padayatra travelled 13 Km from Belgaum to Nilaji via Samarth Nagar in Karnataka.
For the pleasure of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara, Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev we would like to announce the book distribution score of All India Padayatra on 4th and 5th June, 2018.
Mahabig Books – 186
Big Books – 09
Small Books – 127
Total Books – 322.
Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara ki jai…
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai…
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9rGFWh

Arabic book distribution in NY (Album with photos) Satyanarayan…
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Arabic book distribution in NY (Album with photos)
Satyanarayan das: Bringing a special transcendence to the iconic “New York state of mind”, the great Arabic book distributor Mahotsaha Dasa Brahmachari has already gone through two cases of Arabic Gitas, with more having just arrived so as not to interrupt this unending river of bliss! The fortunate souls seen here holding up their new books were visiting NYC from Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia….
Find them here: https://goo.gl/MBPPU4

The “mystic” ingredient in the sweet rice! “When I…
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The “mystic” ingredient in the sweet rice!
“When I got to the scene, [the lobby] it was a wonder. San Francisco was famous for its Sunday feast kirtans. After the feast, there was always a huge kirtan in the hallway. Why the hallway? I suppose there was no time to clear out the temple. But these hallway kirtans were wonders. When I got there, I saw Jayananda in the center, surrounded by 40 or 50 devotees, just going wild. The kartals and drums were like staccato transcendental machine guns annihilating every inch of maya for miles around. Jayananda was doing this dance, legs back and forth, twirling, going nuts, playing kartals like a madman, and everybody was equally mad, it was really powerful. I never saw such powerful energy, it was Krishna’s internal energy. Maybe the sweet-rice had a little something to do with it! Yeah, mix ecstatic prasadam with ecstatic dancing and chanting, and you’ll get a crowd of madmen/women there at the Frisco temple, every Sunday. It’ll happen every time.” JT vedaBase => Jayananda in powerful kirtan

‘Other scriptures’ and devotees.
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‘Other scriptures’ and devotees.
“One should have firm faith that he will achieve all success in life by following those scriptures that describe the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān. At the same time, one should avoid blaspheming other scriptures. One should rigidly control his mind, speech and bodily activities, always speak the truth, and bring the mind and senses under full control.”
(SB 11.3.26)