Planet ISKCON

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, ...

The devotees in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, have come up with one of the most innovative book distribution techniques I've seen. They go to a school and arrange with the principal to speak to all the teachers, sometimes thirty or forty of them. The devotees explain the glories of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and because the teachers are all educated and Sri Lanka is steeped in Vedic culture, they understand the book's value. Wherever the devotees go they have great success-sometimes every teacher will take a set. I'm sure Srila Prabhupada is very pleased with this effort. It's being organized by Srutakirti Dasa, the number four book distributor in the world, with 6,012 book points. And due largely to this ambitious program to sell full Bhagavatam sets, the Batticaloa yatra, though a "maha" small temple (very small), is now the number nine temple in the world! But they're maha-big with devotion and the desire to distribute Prabhupada's books. Another surprise is that we've received a score from Bogota, Columbia. I don't remember ever seeing them in the newsletter before, but they now have a prominent position in South America, being the number three temple on that continent, with 1,480 book points. We hope to see more book scores from Bogota. Continue reading "WSN June 2016 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Festival Ratha Yatra in Prague, Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: People should be given the chance to hear...

Jagannath Ratha Yatra Kathmandu Nepal 28th July 2016 (Album with 856 photos)
33rd Annual Jagannath Ratha Yatra was celebrated in Kathmandu Nepal on 28th July 2016 on the auspicious day of “The Incorporation of ISKCON in New York”
It had been 50 years of Foundation of ISKCON.
The Festival was celebrated with the divine presence of His Holiness Mahavishnu Swami Maharaj, HG Patri Prabhu and all the devotees.
Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal came as a chief Guest.
About 10,000 devotees and other local people took part in this Festivla of Chariots from all over the Nepal.
Dear Lordship Jagannath along with Brother Baladeva and Sister Subhadra were pulled in three Chariots for the 1st in Nepal.
Jaya Jagannath Swami.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/UKeLBS

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​Bhakti Vaibhav class for brahmacharis at Govardhan Eco-village, Wada, Mumbai

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​Bhagavatam class on 3.23.20-21 at Govardhan Eco-village, Wada, Mumbai

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Bruce Talks with Swamiji About Freud

Discover how the ancient jewels of yoga wisdom can be used to uplift, inspire and empower us in all aspects of life. Every talk is followed by dinner and desert. Only $8.

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Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu engaged expert vaisnavas in the spreading of Krishna consciousness. Srila Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis were examples. If any of us have the same level of material competence as they – or more - and we perform devotional service as they did, literarily and strategically, then what will the gulf of differences be between theirs and our services rendered? One obvious difference will be the live sphurtis revealed within their hearts of Vraja-lila, recorded in their writings. Another is their level of empowerment granted by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. How does this empowerment come about? What is that base? We all have an equal opportunity to be empowered, if that is what we want: “The Supreme personality of Godhead is not partial to some and neutral to others. One can actually draw the attention of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by service. Then one is further empowered by the Lord to act in such a way that everyone can appreciate his service. (CC Antya 1.197 purport) Continue reading "A Question Of Empowerment
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When I joined the Hare Krsna movement was when I began to understand how cleanliness is not just next to, but is Godliness. First week in the asram we learned that two important things that maintained a brahmanical lifestyle are cleanliness and punctuality. And Srila Prabhupada wanted that for all his followers. So my first thoughts were that (a). these people have standards, and (b) my mom won't mind me living with them when she sees how clean and timely they are. We're advised to clean the heart so that Krsna can come and live in there. In fact Lord Caitanya's advertises the Hare Krsna mantra as ceto darpana marjanam- the best way to clean the heart. Srila Prabhupada even tells us in letter that Krsna will not like an offering if its from a not clean kitchen. When a place is clean, the mind somewhat lets you off the hook and doesn't give much trouble. Continue reading "A humble proposal
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Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk.
Krishna-kripa Das: There were some so happy with the experience of chanting and dancing they would give a “thumbs up” gesture, say “I love you guys,” or would even embrace the devotees. People have always appreciated and expressed their appreciation, but this year it seemed like two or three times more usual.
Sometimes whole families would dance together in our tent.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/ech33H

50th Anniversary Celebration at ISKCON Colombia.
Colombia is joining the ISKCON 50 celebrations, which are taking place all around the world. Srila Prabhupada came to the United States in 1966 with the mission of delivering the most valuable possession to the Western culture. Srila Prabhupada eventually came to inspire a whole generation. A generation full of youth, full of vigor, full of hope, full of new ideas; these persons became the ISKCON that Srila Prabhupada envisioned.
50 years later, sitting under the same tree, Srila Prabhupada’s followers from around the world gathered in New York to celebrate with chanting, dancing and eating prasadam.
In the same spirit, the Colombian devotees want to join in on this spiritual vibration and association of those who share the spiritual inspiration from his divine grace.
This celebration will be from the 6th to 12th of September in the city of Cali, Colombia.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/iGIOq6

Scholar by day, Yogi by night: The Yoga of Harry Potter & Your Last Day as a Muggle.
As Harry had to defeat Voldemort, every yoga practitioner must overcome the tyranny of maya—the root of the dark arts and the veil of selfish desire that corrupts and contorts a clear vision of reality. And like it was for Harry, only an all-embracing, selfless love can free a yogi from the darkness of maya and uplift them into an enlightened vision of reality.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/x6IkFQ

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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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Nityam Bhagavata-sevaya #42 The Divine Qualities of Maharaja Prithu
This issue covers the divine qualities of Maharaja Prithu, ...

ISKCON Auckland NZ: World holy name week (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Our relationship with Krishna, the Supreme Pers...

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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The Show Must Go On (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: There’s the famous saying, “Rain or shine, the show must go on.” Well, we ‘went on’ and prayed that Lord Caitanya would bless our efforts, despite the torrential downpour at yesterday’s festival!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/eqkR0a

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Swamiji Corrects Steve

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