Websites from the ISKCON Universe
As it outgrows its current facilities, the Mayapur Institute is beginning to build a new campus on ten acres at ISKCON’s headquarters in Mayapur, West Bengal. Manager Anantashesh Das says that the new campus for the Institute – which trains ISKCON devotees in the systematic study of Srila Prabhupada’s books – will be located fifteen minutes from Mayapur’s main ISKCON campus, in a serene and beautiful spot.
On June 15th, on the auspicious day of Ekadasi, construction began on a new temple complex in the city that probably needs it most: Las Vegas. It may come as a surprise to some that ISKCON has already had a strong presence in Sin City, Nevada for quite some time already, thanks to Polish devotee couple Surapala Das and Krishna Mayi Dasi, who started a center there from their home back in 2002.
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Kadamba Kanana Swami arrived at Prague airport on Thursday evening (30 June), travelling from Radhadesh. He spent some time at the temple in Lužce and the next day, he went to Kamenice nad Lipou where the summer camp took place. There were about 180 devotees at the camp already and the atmosphere was full of enthusiasm.
On the first evening, Maharaj gave the opening lecture together with Danavir Goswami and Bhakti Gauravani Goswami. In his lecture, Maharaj took us to Vrindavan! He said that the camp in itself is not transcendental but by the presence of devotees it changes, simply by hearing and chanting the holy name…
On Saturday, there was a seminar based on Caitanya Caritamrta. Maharaj also led wonderful kirtan and mentioned that we cannot reach love of God just by sadhana. Although there is no limit to what we can do in sadhana, we should come up to the point where we please Krsna such that he notices us. In the evening, there was another shared lecture by Kadamba Kanana Swami, Bhakti Gauravani Goswami and Bhakti Prabhava Swami.
In Sunday’s class, Maharaj pointed out that we must engage everything and everybody in Krsna’s service otherwise we will not satisfy our thirst for happiness and therefore we will remain unfulfilled. Another interesting comment was when Maharaj reminded us that a devotee does not care about the material energy – the devotee just looks at the material energy searching for opportunities to serve Krsna and there are ample of opportunities for service…
Later that day, there was intimate kirtan and lecture during the initiation of Bhaktin Kristyna whose name is now Kaveri devi dasi.
And after these wonderful days, it was a very sad moment as Maharaja’s left the camp on Monday afternoon (04 July). There was big kirtan and a crowd of devotees blocked the road as long as possible until finally they had to let him go as he travelled to Berlin…
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Quick Recipe - Healthy Moong Dal Dosa (1 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: If the wife is helpful in the spiritual progress of life, she is the best friend and philosopher. So in Krishna consciousness the wife is never a burden, but she is completely a counterpart. Letter to Vrindavan Candra, June 24, 1970
A visit to Srila Prabhupada’s apartment on Frederick street San Francisco (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The disciple’s duty is to be ready always to serve the spiritual master, at any cost. Los Angeles, June 23, 1972.
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Prasadam factory in Czech (Album with photos)
Damodara company, Nova Sadi, Czech
Srila Prabhupada: In the Vedic conceptio...
Hare Krishna devotee on the CNN (5 min video)
Nityananda Chandra das: Twice last week I was on CBS. CBS News contacted us and a...
Gita verse-by-verse podcast
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First American Transcendental Exhibition.
The Bhagavad-gita Museum of Los Angeles.
At the request of His Divine Grace A.C...
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada People have got no clear conception of God because they are sinful. But we can give the name, address and everything about God through this Krishna consciousness movement. We give them a clear conception, not just a vague idea, “God may be like this, God may be like that.” Here is a clear description of God: This is Krishna's actual description as described in the sastra. Syamasundara Krishna , or Muralidhara, is playing on His flute (venum kvanantam). His eyes are just like petals of the lotus flower. Barhavatamsa: there is a peacock feather on His head. He is so beautiful that His beauty can cut down the combined beauty of thousands of Cupids. Continue reading "Clear Conception of God
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Krishna Lunch begins serving its own organic produce.
Monday through Friday, hundreds of people gather on the Plaza of the Americas to stand in line for Krishna Lunch.
Krishna Lunch has begun featuring foods grown organically in a local garden, maintained by the group’s members.
In mid-Spring, Krishna devotees began planting a garden about 20 minutes north of UF’s campus, said Dhristadyumna “Dennis” Das, the 34-year-old temple commander for the Gainesville Krishna House.
The garden, located at 13700 U.S. Highway 441, had been empty for about eight years until the owner offered the land to Gainesville’s Hare Krishnas, Das said.
Das is known for serving beverages at Krishna Lunch, calling out the names of those who pass by.
Using the property, about three-fourths of an acre in size, the group has planted lettuce, kale, okra, zucchini, cucumber, eggplant and more, Das said.
“Most people don’t know where their food comes from,” Das said. “This is local and fresh.”
For a few weeks during Summer A, 70 to 90 percent of the lettuce served at Krishna Lunch was grown in the garden, Das said.
He said organic eggplants will soon be ready to be served with lunches every Tuesday until November.
Diners may not know where Krishna Lunch currently gets its produce, but that has not stopped some students.
“I trust them enough to know they have good ingredients,” said Aria Nguyen, an 18-year-old UF dietetics sophomore who said she eats Krishna Lunch every Wednesday.
Nguyen said she loves the healthy food options at Krishna Lunch, but that’s not why she enjoys the experience so much.
“The food is the whole reason I came, and I stayed for the people,” Nguyen said.
She said she hopes the garden expands and produces more fresh ingredients, as more students would be likely to eat Krishna Lunch.
“Krishna changed me,” she said. “I have a different view on food, the environment and animals now.”
Currently, the ingredients are delivered by Cheney Brothers and Taylor Farms, Das said.
He said the garden will not raise the price of Krishna Lunch. It may actually be cheaper to grow organic produce than to purchase it from a distributor.
Das said the hope is students will start to drive north to the garden to help grow the foods they will eventually eat.
Part of the Hare Krishnas philosophy is an agrarian and sustainable lifestyle, reflected in the farming, he said.
“Simple living, high thinking,” Das said. “Yeah, definitely quote that.”
Poem for Swamiji by Satsvarupa dasa Brahmacari
As I prepared last week to give a Sunday class in Hillsborough (video at the end of this blog), along with researching and thinking of the topic of levels of secrets (from the most mundane to the most sublime) I also contemplated the topic of speaking to others from our Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. The archetypal “class” is Maharaja Parikshit being instructed by Shri Shukadeva Goswami. Both of them have special qualifications being pure devotees of Krishna, and yet the whole class was fueled by the urgent necessity of Parikshit Maharaja, since he was cursed to die in seven days, and sought the best way to use his remaining time.
According to Shrila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur, of the three types of people benefited by talks about Krishna—the questioner, the hearer, and the speaker—the speaker is the most benefited. Never the less, without the ardent interest, fueled by an urgent necessity, to hear, the speaker won’t be as motivated to speak. In the Shrimad Bhagavatam, which records the conversation between these two great souls, Shukadeva frequently glorifies the questions of his student being enlivened at the opportunity to speak about that which he has such feelings for.
Therefore, as exemplified by this conversation, as well as in many scriptures including the Bhagavad-gita, both speaker and listener have responsibilities. For example, being advanced devotees with the urgency to speak and hear helps make the conversations an inspired one, and takes it to new heights of spirituality and insightfulness. While we may not be on the level of such high devotees, we can none the less be as reverential, attentive and prayerful as possible, whether we are speaker or listener, and be mindful of the sublimity of the process we are following.
Otherwise, out of our familiarity with the process of attending or giving a class, we may minimize its benefit and have a material vision of what it’s about. If we become complacent in our spiritual lives we may skip the class or think it is just for new people. However, if we truly realize our perilous situation in the material world and have an urgent necessity to make spiritual advancement we will do as much as possible to make spiritual progress.
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Sri Harinam Sankirtan Nectar: Sydney 21/07/16 (Album with photos)
Tonight Sydney’s streets resounded with the sound of the MAHAMANTRA
The chatri work continues to progress at the TOVP and across international borders as well. We have received images from Russia on the advancement of the work on the chatri kalash coverings.
Four of the large chatri kalash coverings are being manufactured in Russia. Each kalash is 3.5 meters high and has a diameter of 2.4 meters. When the work is complete the Russian technicians will personally install the titanium nitrate coverings on the chatri kalashes on the TOVP.
The first photograph shows the outer shell of the kalash covering. The second photograph gives a view of what the kalash covering looks like from the inside. The third image is a model that clearly shows where the covering piece seen in the photograph fits on the actual kalash structure. The next set of images reveal where we are currently in the construction process. Lastly, the final two images are models of what the chatri kalashes will look like when they are completed.
More good news will be reported as the work continues to evolve.
The post Chatri Kalash Coverings appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Remembering Krishna das Swami.
Can you please give us some of your childhood background?
I appeared in the town of Kapurthala in Punjab on 2nd June 1932. At a very young age I left my parent’s home and was raised by his maternal grandfather, a devout Vaishnava and a renowned astrologer. Under his personal guidance, I memorised the details of the “Ramayana” at the age of eleven, and a few years later, by the mercy of my Guru Maharaja, I memorised all the verses of Bhagavad Gita. Right from a young age I was raised as a missionary. At the age of 16, in the year 1949, I was initiated into the Vaishnava Sampradaya by His Holiness Tralochandev Maharaja.
When did you come to the West?
I studied at the Punjab University and after qualification joined the Civil Service Education Board, serving as the Headmaster in a Secondary school, teaching English, Hindi and Social Studies. I was ordered by my Spiritual Master to renounce my Civil Servant duties and embark on a journey to the west with the aim to preach Sanatana Dharma. Thus on 3rd April 1966, I left Bharat for the UK and started preaching in London.
How did you meet Srila Prabhupada?
As destiny would have it, one day some ISKCON devotees visited my residence and invited me to the temple in Bury Place. The Temple president kindly requested me to give regular classes, both in English and in Hindi on Sundays and festival days.
Then, during the historical 1973 London Ratha Yatra, when Srila Prabhupada graced the occasion, I had the divine opportunity to take darshan of Srila Prabhupada and later I had a personal meeting with Srila Prabhupada at Bhaktivedanta Manor. At that very first meeting Srila Prabhupada suggested that I renounce the grihasta ashram and take up Sannyasa. Although I was the eldest of seven sons, and also father of three sons, I renounced my family attachments when the sons were old enough and accepted Srila Prabhupada as my Sannyasa Guru.
Are you still travelling and preaching Krishna consciousness?
I had a quadruple heart bypass operation in 1986, but by the Lord’s grace, I had been constantly travelling and preaching the message of Sanatana Dharma all over the world, including countries such Bharat, Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Spain, Portugal, USA, Trinidad, Surinam, Grenada, Venezuela, Guyana, UK etc. Nowadays I mainly travel to South Africa, Mauritius and the UK, using Bharat as my base.
(In July 1987, the GBC appointed His Holiness Krishna Das Maharaj as an initiating Guru. Since then he has initiated over 400 disciples all over the world and is an inspiration to thousands of others.)
When did you first meet Srila Prabhupada?
My first face to face meeting with Srila Prabhupada was at Bhaktivedanta Manor after witnessing his incredible pastime at the famous 1973 London Rath Yatra where Srila Prabhupada danced along the whole route of the procession from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square.
Was that meeting important to you?
The meeting at Bhaktivedanta Manor was one of the most significant events of my life. I entered Srila Prabhupada’s room upstairs as a grihasta (living in household life) and a few hours later I left as a sannyasi (renounced order of life).
Wow. That is a big lifestyle change.
When I met Srila Prabhupada, he asked about my past. I explained that I was born in a Brahmin vaisnava family and had accepted initiation from a Vaisnava guru in 1950. Srila Prabhupada asked in what disciplic line was my guru. I answered the Brahma sampradaya and he was ecstatic and immediately requested me to help his movement. However he went further and asked me to accept sannyasa from himself. I was taken back by Srila Prabhupada’s bold preaching and after hours of discussion I was convinced.
However,I said that although I accept him as my siksa guru I would need the permission of my spiritual master before taking sannyasa.
After the meeting I wrote to my diksa guru informing of your extraordinary work and devotion. He immediately replied that I should assist Srila Prabhupada in every way possible and accept sannyasa from you. Since that amazing meeting at Bhaktivedanta Manor I accepted Srila Prabhupada as my siksa and sannyasa guru.
Exhibition Videos of ISKCON Mira Road (playlist of short clips) Exhibition done by kids of ISKCON Mira Road. This is an ISKCON 50th ...
By Chaitanya Charan Das Suppose we are driving to some destination and come to a fork. If we are unsure about which way to go, we will move slowly or not move at all. But even if we are sure, that conviction alone will not take us ahead – we need to drive ahead. A similar dynamic applies to our spiritual practice. Spiritual growth is essentially a journey of the heart from worldly objects to Krishna. Such a journey requires philosophical conviction. When we have to choose between some worldly object and Krishna, we may feel indecisive. The Bhagavad-gita is like a map, a guidebook to happiness. By studying it, we understand that Krishna is the source of everything (10.08) – thus, he is the source of the attractiveness of all worldly objects, including the one that is presently attracting us (10.41). So, by becoming devoted to him, we won’t lose the pleasure coming from that object; we will access the source of that pleasure and relish joy in its fullness. When we thus understand Krishna’s all-attractiveness, we feel convinced to choose him. But that conviction alone doesn’t take us to him – it aids us in redirecting our heart towards him and cultivating attraction for him. By practicing bhakti-yoga and investing whatever devotional emotion we have in Krishna, we gradually sense his reciprocation in the form of satisfaction and purification. This inspires us to further invest our emotion in him, thereby relishing his greater reciprocation. Continue reading "Bhakti is not just a choice of the head – it is also the calling of the heart
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By Sri Nandanandana dasa This is an important point, that humanity's search for happiness does not rely on catering to the needs of the body as much as it does on the realization of and attaining unity with God: O yogis, unite the soul with God and enjoy happiness. Always expand the delight of salvation [spiritual liberation]. Employ your acts of devotion, and arteries full of breath [prana], in the worship of God. Having thus purified the mind, sow the seed of knowledge in it through yoga. May we soon acquire the fruit of all yogas. May we, through God's grace, obtain the mature fruit of pure joy. Yogic functions act like sickles in allaying [cutting down] sufferings. May they be endowed with peace and prosperity. Practice union with God through them. (Atharva 3.17.2) However, who can actually attain this knowledge, this happiness and freedom from miseries through unity with God? Only a devotee, obviously, because without a receptive consciousness, a doubter remains cut off from the means of spiritual realization. A devotee alone beholds that Highest God, who lies hidden in the inmost recesses of the heart, in whom this whole universe remains in one form and fashion. From Him hath matter milked life and brought into existence many objects. The learned who know God, extol Him in a respectable way. (Atharva 2.1.1) Continue reading "The Vedas Say They MUST be Shared With Everyone
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Overcoming fault-finding tendency. Question: I have a “natural” tendancy to be very critical and hence find mistakes/faults in people. Most of the time, I find fault with people at the mental level and not necessarily express it. This habit also extends to devotees. I feel and know I am not supposed to do this. But, like I said, this has become a habit and I am finding it hard to relinquish it.
TOVP: Chatri Kalash Coverings (Album with photos) Ambarisa Das: The chatri work continues to progress at the the TOVP and across in...
Los Angeles City Hospital Patients Receive Prabhupada’s Mercy! By Krishna’s mercy, we have been very successful in continuing to place Srila Prabhupada’s books in the hospitals of the Los Angeles area. The last hospital that Sastra Dana has placed books in was the LAC-USC General Hospital. We called this hospital and offered a donation of books on yoga, philosophy and ancient Eastern culture (this is how we present our books to hospitals). The hospital representative expressed her eagerness to accept our donation. She was even happier to hear that we wanted to donate many Spanish books as the majority of their patients are Spanish-speaking. We asked what they would do with the books we would donate. First, we were told that the hospital has several buildings (the main building has 18 floors) and the books would be placed in all the buildings, and placed next to the patients beds. They added that some books would be placed on the tables in the waiting rooms and others would be gifted to patients. Upon hearing this, our hearts became excited with ecstatic emotions, but externally we remained calm. Then, we asked how many books they could accommodate in their large facility. The answer was, “As many as you can donate.” We decided to donate 1,000 books; half in English, and half in Spanish. On that very same day, we nearly emptied out our temples’ book storage room by taking out 1,000 books and delivering them to the hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital. we were greeted with the greatest of hospitality. The books were handed over to the hospital’s staff that are in charge of book donations. They took our contact address, phone number and email address. The staff said they would like to have us donate books on a regular basis. At this time we were thinking, “Krishna is this possible? It must be Your arrangement. We must have entered into the pastimes of the most merciful, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who desires to bring the light of spiritual knowledge to one and all.” Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki! Jay! This situation is similar to most other hospitals we have contacted so far, and they have all taken books. The hospitals have uniform, if not identical, arrangements for book donations. There are many more hospitals we still need to contact, therefore please keep your donations coming. These hospital patients, as well as Sastra Dana, depend upon your mercy. Thank you. Hare Krishna!
Harinama in Germany - Munich (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada: Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat: even a little devotional service can save one from the greatest danger. Devotional service, which begins with chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is so powerful that even if one falls down, he can be saved from all calamities if he somehow or other chants the holy name of the Lord. This is the extraordinary power of the Lord’s holy name. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.1.63 Purport). Find them here: https://goo.gl/ysYj8w
The post Daily Darshan: July 21st, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Vedic Wedding of Yulia & Rupa Vilasa (Album with photos) Here are some shots from Yulia & Rupa Vilasa’s beautiful Vedic Wedding in Dallas on Sunday. Please bless this sincere couple as they endeavor in devotional service together. Find them here: https://goo.gl/SGipHR
You are invited to submit your public offerings for Guru Maharaj’s Vyasa Puja. On 17th September 2016, Guru Maharaj will be in Ujjain for the Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival and at that time devotees there will also celebrate Guru Maharaj’s Vyasa Puja. The compiled offerings will be presented to Guru Maharaj and shared on BCS Istagosthi. […]
The post 71st Vyasapuja offering’s for Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.
While Kadamba Kanana Swami works on his masterpiece, Nimai created one of his own!
By Giriraj dasa My dear King, Bali Maharaj donated all his possessions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vämanadeva, but one should certainly not conclude that he achieved his great worldly opulence in bila-svarga as a result of his charitable disposition. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the source of life for all living entities, lives within everyone as the friendly Supersoul, and under His direction a living entity enjoys or suffers in the material world. Greatly appreciating the transcendental qualities of the Lord, Bali Maharaj offered everything at His lotus feet. His purpose, however, was not to gain anything material, but to become a pure devotee. For a pure devotee, the door of liberation is automatically opened. One should not think that Bali Maharaj was given so much material opulence merely because of his charity. When one becomes a pure devotee in love, he may also be blessed with a good material position by the will of the Supreme Lord. However, one should not mistakenly think that the material opulence of a devotee is the result of his devotional service. The real result of devotional service is the awakening of pure love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which continues under all circumstances. Continue reading "Devotees and opulence
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast
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When the Bombs Go Off
There are five full fledged temples in Bali. However, there are also regular home programs around the island where many visiting devotees give lectures.
Bhakta Sasha from Russia has been in Indonesia for many years and recently started having programs in his house. He invited other Russian devotees and a few neighbourhood friends to attend a lecture I gave.
