Planet ISKCON

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ISKCON Ratha Yatra in Zurich 2016, Switzerland (10 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is the root of everything. If He is ple...

Istanbul.

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“Padayatra helps devotees to present Krishna consciousness to people in a perfect way. We should try to appreciate people even if they are not favourable to our mission. This helps devotees to create (the) right attitude and environment towards people with the theoretical understanding that we are all part and parcel of Krishna. (In this way) genuine love towards people and other living beings can be attained.” Mitja, a new devotee joining padayatra for the second time said, “My original plan was to stay only a few days just to check but after (the) first morning lecture I decided to stay a few days more. I felt such a good energy among devotees that I stayed all 18 days. Being in devotees’ association is really mercy. My experience was (that) when (a) devotee smiles at you the day changes.” Padayatra revives the universal principal, “in giving you receive”. Devotees agree that padayatra is an excellent spiritual experience and worthwhile time spent in devotional service. Continue reading "Slovenia Padayatra
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Initiations at Iskcon of San Diego, CA, United States (Album with photos)
Photos taken at this evening’s Initiation ceremony. His Holiness Bhakti Sundar Goswami awarded diksha initiation to the devotees formerly known as Bhaktin Renee and Bhaktin Carolina,. These expert photos were shot by Sri Sri Radha Giridhari’s personal photographer, His Grace Purusa prabhu.
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The post Does chanting progress from uttering to hearing to visualizing Krishna’s form? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, built in 1791, is one of the best-known landmarks of Germany. Through it's existence it has often been a site for historic events. On July 30 it served as a prestigious backdrop for ISKCON Berlin's annual Ratha Yatra festival. Sacinandana Swami, of German origin, was so enlivened that ISKCON was allowed to hold Ratha Yatra in such a time-honored place, that he chanted and danced in great ecstasy throughout the day. Continue reading "Historic Berlin Ratha Yatra
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“To gain connection with God, we go to a place of worship,” said Yamuna Jivana Das, an event organizer. “One of the things this festival represents is that deities, instead of staying in temple, are taken out in public for the purpose of everyone and anyone being able to see them.” The holiday got its start in Orissa, India, according to the Krishna Balaram Temple of St. Louis. Organizers said Rath Yatra — or “Chariot Festival” — is now celebrated in cities all over the world. Lal Gopal Das, an organizer, said festivals in India can draw millions of people. “What we have is a little peanut compared to that,” he said of the celebration in West County. That didn’t mean participants in the local event were any less faithful. Even as devotees pulled the chariot down the road — uphill in certain areas — there was little sign of displeasure. Continue reading "Ratha Yatra celebrated on the streets of St. Louis County
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​Srimad Bhagavatam class on 1.9.22 at Govardhan Ecovillage, Wada, Mumbai

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Embryonic Journey (34 min audio)
Puspavan das: How does a spiritual movement begin? We will take a look at the Founder-Acarya a...

Harinama in Tel Aviv, Israel 30.07.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Fate can be changed by Krishna consciousness. Krishna says, “I shall give you protection from all the resultant action of your sinful life.” That is fate changed. When you surrender to Krishna, He takes charge of squaring up all your sinful activities and their reaction. Surrender to Krishna; then your fate is changed. Delhi, November 28, 1975.
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Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra Pushpabhishekam (Album with photos) New Vrindavan ISKCON temple - Palace of Gold
Srila Prabhupada: When we keep our association with Krishna every activity is proper and liberating, but if we should dissociate ourselves from the Lord’s Mercy then like a hand which is severed from the body we become ugly and useless. Letter to Hrisikesa, November 26, 1968.
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Preaching program in Osaka, Japan (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.
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Steve Tells Swamiji What He Read in Srimad-Bhagavatam

Written by Nandan 

Maharaj and his considerably tanned servant Nimai arrived at Luton airport, travelling from Italy, on a pleasant English Summer’s day! Present to receive them were Gurudas, Saurab and yours truly.

After a smooth 30 minute ride, we arrived at Krsna Kirtan Prabhu’s house in North West London. The lounge was spotless and minimalistic which only served to highlight the dazzling beauty of the Gaura Nitai deities positioned in the latter part of the through-lounge towards the garden. Everyone was in a chilled out mood and Maharaj made it clear that he needed to relax, so he can be fresh and ready for the Ratha Yatra celebrations tomorrow. In other words, no going out today!

As Maharaj was relaxing on his favourite chair in the lounge, all the devotees as usual sat on the carpet around Maharaj and everyone was catching up with each other. Gurudas then brought out his bead bag, unzipped it and started to show his brilliant portable sankirtan altar that he had been creating over the last 9 months. He enthusiastically described to Maharaj what the different components of the altar were and where he got them from. There was Krsna, a rose, a mace, a cow, silver Tulasi bead, a tub of maha from India which included dust from Govardhan and other such paraphernalia including a piece of sponge from Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur’s chair etc. There was also a flat round base of compressed crystal, a photo of Srila Prabhupada and a case lid with a picture of Mother Yasoda and Krsna. Each time Gurudas was describing the different things, Maharaj would instantly relate it to an aspect of Krsna. Once Gurudas brought out everything, he nicely arranged it into an artistic composition, so it looked like a mini altar. The overall effect was wonderful.

Gurudas revealed that he constructs this altar every morning before japa and chants before it. It helps him to stay fixed in one place and chant nicely. Now some may deem this whole enterprise to be rather eccentric but Maharaj was very encouraging about it and really appreciated it. He remarked how each aspect of the altar was relating to a certain aspect of Vrindavan and stated that this was part of Gurudas’ own personal bhajan.

Devotees were holding back from asking the next question (knowing how Maharaj feels about it) but eventually Saurab inquired about Maharaj’s health. Maharaj said that if he ever needed time to get away from it all, then he could always go and hide in Uddhava’s flat in Amsterdam and recharge for a few days. Of course, Amsterdam was a city that Maharaj knew very well.

Devotees then broached the prospect of astrology and special gemstones that could help with health issues. Maharaj was open to it but not overtly, his reasoning was; why not try it? And if it works… great; and if not, then leave it. He even acknowledged that he has a health ring made of hesanita ruby. Apparently it strengthens the good side of Rahu’s (a planet in Vedic astrology) influence and tempers the bad side. Maharaj again asserted that whilst astrology may have its merits. It shouldn’t be too deterministic in our lives. Sometimes we have to do the needful, regardless of whether it’s good for our karma or not. After all, devotional service takes precedence over karmic activities.

By this time of the afternoon, the sun was beaming and the devotees put up the parasol. By this time Maharaj was also ready for his lunch prasad so everyone shifted to sit under the parasol. In this regard Maharaj stated that the vegetables in England and other such northern countries have no flavour whatsoever. Whereas you go to Italy and everything is bursting with flavour. In fact Italy has certain celestial quality about it.

In the kitchen Nimai and Reena (who had recently arrived at the house) were setting up Maharaj’s lunch. The lunch was fantastic and the ingredients were grown organically in Reena’s back garden. Inspired by cooking for Maharaj this time, Reena then made a resolve to make a vegan ice cream for Maharaj using fresh coconut cream. Knowing full well how much Maharaj loves ice cream!!

Later on that day…

As the day went on, more devotees started trickling in to see Maharaj and it was time for some nectar from the scriptures…

Maharaj just opened up the Caitanya Caritamrita and started reading verses from it, commenting a bit on each one. He mentioned how different people can and should be engaged in whatever kind of service suits them best. People also have their various strengths and weaknesses. The point was made that it’s not that the class of men who can follow all kinds of rules and regulations is better, rather it is the service we render to Krsna, that determines whether we are better. There was the story where the devotees presented a person who had memorized all the Bhagavad-gita verses to Srila Prabhupada and he wasn’t very impressed. If you know only one verse, live by it; that is what really matters. So-called lip service is given little attention by the Caitanya Caritamrita or by Srila Prabhupada for that matter. It is enthusiasm that changes everything. Then we get a real taste for spiritual life!

Maharaj then expanded a very nice point. We need to read and learn about Krsna to get to know him. If we know someone and say that person’s name, naturally memories will come. If we have a connection to that person we will remember things about them. Similarly, the more we know Krsna, the more we can change. But, if we don’t know Krsna, how will we ever change?

HH Kadamba Kanana Maharaj ki Jai!

Gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Hare Krishna monks have finally moved into their new home after an explosion that destroyed their former temple six years ago. Thirty people escaped just before the Iskcon Temple in Leicester exploded on 3 September 2010. A Leicester family donated a former bank in Granby Street to Iskcon, and renovation work to the Grade II building has now been completed. The monks are taking residency on the upper floors. The space also includes a meditation area, kitchen, classrooms and offices. Continue reading "BBC: Exploded Iskcon Temple in Leicester is replaced
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Devotees at our Seattle temple have been working for months to organise the Ananda festival at a prominent park in Redmond Shire.

The festival spanned a 2 day weekend and it was estimated that nearly 14,000 people attended.

There were two main stages for performances, many prasadam booths and a big variety of book and other stalls.

Lord Nrisimhadeva’s mercy even on non-devotees
The mercy of Lord Nrisimhadeva at Mayapur is famous and I have an interesting story in brief.
I know a couple Ashok Ghosh and his wife Shila Ghosh from Kolkata, who married twelve years ago. Four years before when I met them, they shared their worries with me. Like other childless couples, who undertake treatments or throw faith in magical amulets, this young couple too were attracted to artificial means to have a baby. Incidentally, I suggested them to take shelter of Jagrata Nrsiimhadeve at ISKCON Mayapur. In the year 2006, Nrisimha Caturdasi day, the couple came too Mayapur and observed the Vrata seriously, approached the Lord, and paid their sincere offerings to Him with full surrender.
A year later, when I visited Calcutta, incidentally I met the couple and found them extremely happy. To my amazement, I saw carrying a small baby in the lap. I enquired who the child was? The couple narrated to me the blessings of Lord Nrisimhadeva upon them. This is a clear example of the Lord’s mercy upon anyone who takes shelter of Him. This is an instance, even a non-devotee has been blessed with His mercy. The Lord can bless anything to anyone if surrenders to Him and incidentally utters His holy name even once.
The ancients performed putrakameshthi yajna to invoke the divinities and bless the childless couple to have progeny. In kaliyuga, we short-lived humans forgot those tedious Vedic yajnas. In this disastrous age, surrendering to the God and uttering His holy names is the greatest sacrifice one can offer as Lord Caitanya instructed us through His divine Grace A. C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. As the Vishnupurana says, “Ten years of tapasya in sattya yuga equates to one year of tapasya in tertayuga, and it equates to one month of tapas in dvapayuga and it equates to just one day of tapasya in kaliyuga. Anyone who surrenders to the Lord and utters His holy name even once, the merciful Lord will bless him all his needs and at the end will offer him a chance to reach the Supreme Destination even the king of heaven Indra is ineligible to obtain. Therefore, let us always recite the mahamantra –
HARE KRSNA HARE KRSHNA KRSHNA KRSHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

Kurmakshetra.
Radhanath Swami: According the the Mahatmya of this place, it is described that Vedavyas was telling one great muni that this place of Kurmakshetra is very, very sacred and he told the story of this temple. There is a mountain called Shwetacala Parvat. And near that mountain lived a king. His name was Shweta Chakravarti, and his wife’s name was Vishnupriya. Vishnupriya was very chaste, very pure in heart, and had great devotion to Lord Krishna. On an Ekadasi day she was performing pooja in her temple room. At that time her husband had very great lusty desires. He went to her room to enjoy his lusty desires with his wife. So being a chaste woman she greeted him with great hospitality, had him sit on a golden throne. Then, she went back into her pooja room to continue her devotional service. She started to pray very helplessly to Vishnu, that today is Ekadashi, I have made vow that I will not engage in any type of sinful activity. I will completely immerse my mind only in devotional service. But my husband is approaching me with lusty desires. Please save me, please protect my vows to you on this holy Ekadashi day. This is a great lesson for any of you ladies whoever get put in this situation. The Lord always protects His devotees. As she prayed to Lord Vishnu, Kurmadeva who protects the stability and the foundation of devotee’s vows, He ordered Gangadevi that this king wants to violate the chastity of the vows of my devotee, go stop him. So Gangadevi appeared in the temple and then with a terrible, terrible violent current, she came flowing out of the temple room, and right after King Shweta Chakravarti. When he saw the river Ganges just flooding forward, rushing towards him, he became very frightened and ran away. He was running and running and running but everywhere he went, the Ganges was chasing after. He was running, running, but it was chasing after and finally he climbed to the top of the Shweta mountain. And there he asked his minister what’s happening? Why? His chief minister told him, that your wife is a very great devotee of Lord Vishnu, and you had lusty desires for her on Ekadashi. She prayed to Vishnu to save her, and Kurmadev, just to protect His devotee send the river Ganges, just to stop you. When the king heard this he felt so guilty, terrible, he was thinking that I am such a sinful person. He began to repent, but worse then that, he was thinking that I made an offense to my wife, and what kind of great devotee is she, that Lord Kurmadeva personally arranged to protect her? He decided, he had to perform great, great tapasya to purify himself from this offense. So he was repenting so much. He was just getting down on himself so bad, and finally he fell unconscious. Then Narada Muni appeared. Narada Muni said, “How can I serve you?” He said, “Please grant me a benediction, grant me the benediction that I can have darshan of the great deity of Kurmadeva.” So Narada Muni taught him a Kurma Mantra and sat on the shores of the ocean of the sea, and explained him the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness very nicely.
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People always want and need it.

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Dear Swami, If one has rejected God, will God still take him back? Yours, Miss Anita Keough. Srila Prabhupada: My dear Miss Keough, We are all here due to mistakes. Krishna only cares for our love. Dear Swami, Is it necessary to pursue all the different yogas in turn in order to reach the Ultimate? Yours truly, John The Srila Prabhupada: Dear Mr. The, You can walk the stairs to the top of the Empire State Building if you like. But the elevator is also there. Try chanting Hare Krishna. Dear Swami, Why do so many people neglect the Lord, if He is the center of everything? Thanks, Brendan Jones Srila Prabhupada: Dear Mr. Jones, Why do some men lie down on the Bowery Street? There is independence, and independence means one can choose wisely or foolishly. Ever your well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Continue reading "The Swami Responds
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During the summer we follow the rock concert tours. That is a very ecstatic experience. Vijay Prabhu is one of my inspirations for doing these concert tours. I think he might have been the one who gave me my first book at one of those concerts in the summer of 1994. I had gone to a "Grateful Dead" concert in Washington DC, and one of my friends had gotten a book from one of the devotees, the "Journey to Self Discovery." I borrowed that book from him. I had not met the devotees personally at that concert, but there was a big group of American fired up Sankirtan devotees there. I got this book, and from that book, even before even meeting devotees for several months, I started chanting Hare Krsna, and following the regulative principles. I became a vegaterian, and just got a lot of realizations about Krsna Consciousness, just from this one book. Gradually I came in contact with devotees near to where I was going to college. Eventually I joined. I have a lot of faith in these books, because although I hadn't met the devotees, just this one book had the complete formula for awakening Krsna Consciousness. This book contained everything needed for giving one a complete start in this process of devotional service, of going back home, back to Godhead. Continue reading "These books are complete in themselves to awaken Krsna Consciousness in the heart of the conditioned soul
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Never Alone!
ISKCON of DC: There is a beautiful story of Srila Prabhupada in 1966 sitting by himself on a bench in New York on a snowy, cold January morning. Another gentleman came and sat beside him and they began to talk. Perhaps feeling a bit sorry for Prabhupada, he asked him if he knew anyone in New York. Prabhupada held up his chanting beads and said, “I am never alone.”
Most of us will experience being alone at some point in our life. For some it’s an extended sense of loneliness. For others it’s now and then. Sometimes, ironically, it’s in times of success, or joyful gatherings, that we may feel most alone. At other times, loneliness strikes when we are ill, grieving, or failing in some way.
In truth we are always alone in the small space of our body and mind. No one can feel what we feel, or think what we think; efforts to be heard or understood often end in frustration. At times our greatest sense of loneliness and disconnect is when we wake up in the middle of the night and our mind is churning it’s endless river of thoughts. The world is asleep and we are wide awake and worried about something.
When we come to these moments of lucid and acute feelings of loneliness our beads can save us from spiraling into despair. Many things happen when we chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and this is one of them. We are reminded that Krishna is our friend and is always there. Not only are we not alone, but we can feel a sense of connection, a sense of comfort. Suddenly life seems bearable, manageable, and eventually, understandable.
This has been my experience many times. Chanting sets me on solid ground – even, and especially, in the middle of the night when my mind is busy convincing me otherwise. The nice thing about the mantra is you don’t have to think about what to say to God, what to ask for, what to pray – just chant. The mantra says it all. It is an eloquent request for shelter, for service, and for a chance to love and be loved.
In the dark hours of our life, find the mantra and allow it to find you. Hold it and be held. It is then we will experience what Prabhupada spoke of on that park bench – never feeling alone. That’s the big gift of this small exchange on a cold winters day in New York in 1966.

Life in the material world is difficult and challenging to everyone apparently to different degrees. While we may see in the world great misery and take some consolation that ours are much less, still, initially in the thick of our personal misery, we are still effected and challenged to keep our positivity. Can we use our distressful situation as a negative impetus for spiritual practice? In other words, human life is favorable for spiritual practice when we understand its glaring shortcomings and thus use them to our spiritual advantage. Prabhupada taught us to "make the best of a bad bargain."

Whether we are able to remain positive even amidst difficulties depends on our personality type, general attitude toward life, and spiritual development, which such small or large misery brings to light. We are called to improve ourselves through the crucible laboratory of suffering or pain. What does our reaction teach us about ourselves and the nature of the world we live in?

Yesterday began very early for me waking up at 11:30 PM unable to sleep with some stomach complications. I am still fine tuning my cancer recovery diet and overdid it with the evening meal. I wasn’t in pain, but just discomfort and angst at not being able to sleep and wondering how that might affect the next day. I made the best of it and read for a few hours.

I have been taking my temperature at different times and have noticed it varies at different times of the day. Perhaps it is the case with all vegetarians but my wife and I both have a low body temperature (what about you other vegetarians out there?) compared to what is considered to be “normal,” or 98.6—mine is usually 97.8 or so, though in the morning it can be as low as 96ish. However, in the middle of this stomach upset I had a fever and a temp of 100.

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Dublin Rathayatra 2016 (Album with photos)
Kurma das: Here’re some happy snaps from yesterday’s ecstatic 50th Anniversary Rathayatra parade around ‘Dublin Fair City’
Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Rebecca Moynihan speaks at the onset of the parade — at Merrion Square.
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Lionel in the Holy Name Monastery (4 min video)
Shri Harinam Mandir Traveling Temple - group of brahmacharis/monks in Tallinn, ...