​Can phala-shrutis be used to attract people looking for material benefits?
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Simply Wonderful – recipe (1 min video)
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Nanda-kiśora: What happens to a person if we just give him out on the street one Simply Wonderful or some prasādam, one piece of prasādam?
Prabhupāda: Oh, that is wonderful, simply wonderful. [laughter] [chuckles] He has not tasted such wonderful sweet in his life. Therefore you give him one simply wonderful, and because he’s eating that wonderful sweet, one day he’ll come to your temple and become wonderful.


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​When even after chanting we still have problems should we tell others chant and be happy?
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​Should we preach about the material benefits of bhakti given in scripture?
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ISKCON 50 releases three more ‘Inspiration Series’ videos
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Hare KrishnaBy ISKCON 50 Global Office

The new clips feature talks by Gopal Krishna Goswami, Bhaktivijnana Swami and Dina Sharana Devi Dasi, who discuss the importance of the 50th anniversary and encourage the worldwide community of devotees to participate enthusiastically in the celebrations around the globe. “Our first release on 13th had clips featuring Radhanatha Swami and Anuttama Dasa,” said Romapada Das, International Coordinator for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, who produced the series. “We have released five clips so far, and hope to continue to release at least twelve more clips over the next four weeks. We urge ISKCON leaders around the world to show these clips during regular Bhagavatam classes or any other festival to inspire devotees to become more active in their ISKCON 50 celebrations.” The Inspiration Series is a joint venture between ISKCON 50 Productions and ISKCON Desire Tree. Continue reading "ISKCON 50 releases three more ‘Inspiration Series’ videos
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Gita 10.35 – The beauty of music and nature manifest Krishna’s opulence
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Mahabharata; The Eternal Quest
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


The foreboding age of Kali approaches. A troubled dynasty hovers on the brink of destruction. An epic story from ancient India, Mahabharata reflects the passions and longings of the human spirit.

This highly acclaimed rendition offers a good literary read that can easily be studied in classrooms. "Fresh, fast-paced and cinematic! Andy Fraenkel's book captures the scope and breath of this great epic." Subhash Kak, PhD, Author & Professor (from his Foreword) "

As the 3rd anniversary of the publication of Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest approaches, I have finally made the book available on Amazon. During the last few years the book has gone out to both public and college libraries, is being used in college courses, by book discussion groups, and several  yoga studios have it available for sale as well. I have received hundreds of emails of appreciation.  For those who have read the book, I invite you to go to the following site and leave a comment. Thanks so very much for your encouragement and support.... 

https://www.amazon.com/Mahabharata-Eternal-Quest-Andy-Fraenkel/dp/0989607402/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469120010&sr=8-1&keywords=mahabharata+the+eternal+quest


The book is still available at  www.Mahabharata-Project.com  where you can also read an excerpt.


​If we shouldn’t identify with feelings, why are we told to identify with devotional feelings?
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​Are a laptop and a rainbow both brain signals and are so equally real?
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​Does matter acquire form only when there is observing consciousness?
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Should wives conduct themselves in a way that their husbands don’t look elsewhere?
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When children don’t have intention to practice bhakti, does giving them devotional samskaras help?
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New issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine. KK Bindu…
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New issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine.
KK Bindu #380 includes: A new translation from Sanatan Goswami on how initiated men and women are not sudras.
This edition includes: * CULTURAL BIRTH – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks about two types of birth. * THE ELIGIBILITY OF VAISHNAVAS – A fresh translation of Srila Sanatan Goswami?s Commentary on Hari-bhakti-vilasa. He speaks about how initiated Vaishnava men and women are not to be considered sudras. * HOW SHAMELESS I AM – Another fresh translation from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati’s Vrindavan-mahimamrtam (5.70). It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu380

Dangerous Kite Flying: Mundane and Transcendent Religion
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kite

 

Every year on January 14th comes the Spring Equinox. Known in India as Makara Sankranti, it is a holiday that is often accompanied by gusts of wind. One on occasion, a young prince was on the flat roof of his palace, hoping to take advantage of the strong breeze. In his hands was a brightly-coloured kite made of bamboo and paper. After a few attempts to launch it, the kite lifted into the sky, dipped a few times, then soared and twisted, edging slowly upwards. The young prince smiled with joy, and his gaze held fast to his kite, lifting higher and higher into the sky as he tugged on the string.

The roof of the palace was several floors up, and the prince was not looking around him as he moved, step by step, towards the edge of the roof. Despite being warned never to go up to the roof he had managed to escape the watchful eye of his nanny, and was there all by himself. Down in the street, a man passing by happened to hear the squeals of delight and looked upwards. Alarmed, he saw that the child, although enjoying himself, was only looking upwards to the kite and was about to walk off the edge. Surely he would now fall to his death?

Without thinking whether it was correct for him to raise his voice to a prince, the man shouted out a warning. At that very same moment, the palace nanny came onto the roof, looking towards the young prince, who was still laughing with joy. She was so absorbed in the prince’s laughter, she too could not see the imminent danger he was in. Hearing the loud shout from the street, yet not knowing the reason, she called back in response: “Hey you! Who are you to shout at this child? Do you not know that he is a prince? Know your place!”

Moral: The young prince is the materialistic enjoyer, looking up to the source of his pleasure yet unaware of the danger; the nanny is the religionist, protective yet interested in preserving the status quo of mundane happiness; and the man in the street is the guru. The guru sees the actual situation and, though he speaks strongly, he does so with the best intention. Both the materialist and the religionist may not thank him, but his message is the best.


Incorporation Week Celebrations in Chandigarh Attracts Thousands
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ISKCON's temple in the city of Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab and Haryana, celebrated ISKCON's incorporation as a week-long festival from 11th July to 17th July 2016. On 17th July, many senior devotees at ISKCON Chandigarh made gratitude offerings to Srila Prabhupada. This was followed by the staging of a special play released by the 50th Anniversary Committee, called 'Swamiji at sea'.

In Memory of HH Krishna Das Swami from the GBC Executive Committee
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Hare KrishnaBy the GBC EC

His Holiness Krishna Das Swami's life reads like a story from the scriptures, much like his glorious departure from this world. Born in a pious family, His Holiness was trained by his grandfather in devotional practices from his very childhood. Armed with a lifetime of encouragement in serving his dear Lord and the philosophical training to understand the essence of human life, Maharaja took initiation in the Brahma Sampradaya while simultaneously continuing with his academic studies. Years later, as a householder in London, Krishna Das Swami's life took a dramatic turn when he first met his dear spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Krishna Das Swami immediately surrendered himself to the lotus feet of His Divine Grace. What followed was a lifetime of extraordinary service all over the world, touching the hearts of many fortunate souls who dedicated themselves to the path of bhakti. Maharaja constantly traveled and preached Krishna Consciousness all over the world including India (or Bharat, as Maharaja would always properly refer to the land of his birth), England, Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Spain, Portugal, America, South America, the West Indies, and Europe. Maharaja met and discussed Krishna consciousness and vegetarianism with world leaders including Dr. Nelson Mandela. He also met with leaders of the Muslim community, sharing with them the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and developing affectionate interfaith relationships. Continue reading "In Memory of HH Krishna Das Swami from the GBC Executive Committee
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​If dharma is about principles, how does it differ from belief system?
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Are both people who chant simply out of piety and those who chant as sadhana at namabhasa level?
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​Does Krishna sometimes violate the other three legs of dharma but never violate mercy?
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​Does Krishna intervene in the system of karma or lets it act even on devotees?
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Qualities of the Best Human Beings – Spiritual merit, not wealth, distinguishes the most honored persons in Vedic society
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Srila Prabhupada: They simply think, “Where to get money?” They are third-class men, but at the present moment those who acquire money somehow or other are considered first-class men. It doesn’t matter what their qualification is. If they have acquired some money some way or other, then they are considered first-class men. This is a symptom of Kali-yuga, the current age of quarrel and hypocrisy. In Kali-yuga there is no honor for qualification. There is honor for money only.


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​Bhagavatam canto 6 study 2 – 6.1.28-68 Lust is not gender-specific – it troubles everyone
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​Bhakti Vaibhava class to brahmacharis at Govardhan Ecovillage, Wada Mumbai

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​Stimulate desired emotions through right setting
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​Bhagavatam class on 2.23-17-19 at Govardhan Eco-village, Wada, Mumbai

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“His Divine Grace” by Danavir Goswami. Patita Pavana…
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“His Divine Grace” by Danavir Goswami.
Patita Pavana Das: We love to read the biographies of the Founder-Acharya scribed by the devotees of the Krishna Consciousness Movement. Such writings are proof that there is an ever-present divine energy we know as the disciplic succession, an eternal current that has flowed down to us like the waterfalls along the rivulets of nectar on Chandra-loka. Shrila Prabhupada said, “Whenever someone comes into one of our temples, it means that Lord Krishna has brought that person by the hand.” And this truth is all the more visible when the pure devotee’s servants—having been brought by the hand of the Supreme Lord to become fixed at the lotus feet of the pure devotee—glorify the incredible deeds of their spiritual master. And the incoming tides of the ocean of written glorifications about His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada by his servants and by the servants of his servants—ISKCON’s surdurlabha mahatmas—are ever increasing.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Y0YQUW

“Ocean of Mercy” book release by Bhakti Charu Swami at Los Angeles
Bhakti Charu Swami

ISKCON Los Angeles just uploaded the video of HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja presenting his new book “Ocean of Mercy” on the evening of 27th July 2016. This book his Maharaj’s first book and is exclusively for glorifying Srila Prabhupada. Special feature: His Grace Kalachandji Prabhu, the editor of Maharaja’s book and brother of HH […]

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