Planet ISKCON

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

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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.

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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.

New Film: Sri Sri Radha Giridhari Abhiseka. ISKCON Auckland 50th Celebrations (10 min video)
Prananatha das: For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and the world wide devotees, I’ve just released a new film,
shot in 4K, of the very rare occasion of Sri Sri Radha Giridhari’s abhiseka.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/mFSQ4B

ISKCON of Central New Jersey Deity Installation and Kirtan Mela 2016.
July 29 @ 6:30 pm - July 31 @ 9:00 pm
Join us for the most awaited event of 2016!
Sri Sri Jagannath Baladev and Subhadra Devi and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai Deity Installation (Murti Sthapana) and Kirtan and Cultural Festival
Join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON movement, With the Installation of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai and Jagannath Baladev & Subhadra!
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON movement, the temple ISKCON of Central New Jersey is pleased and very excited to announce that the installation of the deities – Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai & Jagannath Baladev & Subhadra and Kirtan Mela 2016! – will take place on Ekadasi Day– Saturday, July 30, 2016! The festivities will begin the day before – on Friday, July 29 – and will continue until 7pm on Sunday , July 31 Evening.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/2Kvopx

Giriraj Swami met with guests and received gifts from devotees in Mauritius on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima.

By Ranacora Dasa

An answer to the question: "Why is a good Christian like you worshiping a Hindu god?" People often ask me why I changed my faith from Christianity to worship of Krsna. They ask what made me give up Christianity. I am always quick to answer that I never "gave up" Christianity. The principal instruction Jesus gave was to love God, and I believe I can best do that by worshiping and serving Krsna. The Whole World in Krsna's Mouth What is it that makes Krsna more attractive or meaningful to me than the God of the Bible? Well, first of all, as a devotee of Krsna I believe in only one God. and He is the same Supreme Person whether He appears in the Vedic scriptures of India or the Bible of the West, although He may be known by different names. So by worshiping Krsna I don't reject the God of the Bible: I simply get to know Him from a different perspective. The Vedas teach that God appears many times in this world in different places and different ages. Each time He comes for the same reason: to reveal Himself to His lost children and to lead them back onto the right path. When Krsna came into this world five thousand years ago, in northern India, He showed the symptoms of God Himself. Krsna performed many supernatural feats and displayed many facets of His character, but He is best remembered for His childhood, as the darling son of Yasoda, playing in the forest of Vrndavana with His friends. Continue reading "What Attracts Me to Krsna?
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Ecstatic Harinam Sankirtan in London, UK (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us a nice weap...

By Acyuta Dasa

Srila Prabhupada often referred to bhakti-yoga as “the science of Krishna consciousness.” This was not his attempt to falsely confer a sense of empirical cachet upon a spiritual process, an area of knowledge that is, in the West anyway, largely considered to be too nebulous to warrant such distinction. Prabhupada was well aware of the antagonism that scientific circles sometimes have for their spiritual counterparts, as well as the condescension with which western societies frequently treat religious pursuits. However, he appropriated the epithet not to make reference to these tensions, but rather to indicate those similarities that the practice of bhakti-yoga legitimately shares with the process of scientific inquiry. It could be said that Srila Prabhupada presents in his books, and throughout his recorded lectures, a hypothesis of sorts: God exists, He is a person, and His name is Krishna. Prabhupada also provides a system of experimentation centered primarily on chanting Krishna’s holy names that, if followed diligently, allows the spiritual scientist the ability to personally confirm or deny that hypothesis based on observable evidence. Continue reading "The Science of Association
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By Bhakti Caitanya Swami

One day in late January, or perhaps early February, in 1973, a devotee named Caranaravindam das came into the main brahmacari room in the ISKCON temple at 7 Bury Place, London, and told us how he had just met an amazing devotee while he was preaching in East London, I think in an area named Forest Gate. The devotee was named Krishna das, and he was from India, and he did not know about the existence of ISKCON or Srila Prabhupada, but as soon as he saw our brahmacari he became extremely excited and inspired, and wanted to know where in London he could find our devotees and temple. Shortly after that Krishna das visited Bury Place and took part in the programmes. George Harrison had recently donated Bhaktivedanta Manor, and Srila Prabhupada spent some time there during that year. While Srila Prabhupada was staying in the Manor Krishna das met him and was deeply impressed by him. Prabhupada asked him about his background and if he was initiated, and Krishna das told him he was already initiated in the Brahma sampradaya, and Srila Prabhupada told him that he should join the temple, and that after some time he would give him sannyasa. Krishna das was deeply affected by the meeting, and would sometimes tell us about it. It was a life changing experience for him. Continue reading "In memory of His Holiness Krishna das Maharaja
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Edinburgh Hosts Hare Krishna Festivals.
There are two Hare Krishna festivals set to take place in Edinburgh this week to mark the 50th anniversary of the spiritual movement’s arrival in the West from India.
The movement, characterised by the bright and colourful dress, shaven heads and Hare Krishna chanting worn by those who are a part of it, defines itself as “a universal, non-sectarian message of love, simple living, service and above all – connecting the self with the original spiritual source, Krishna.”
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The events will be organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a world-wide organisation set up in the 1960s which today boasts 700 temples and centres around the globe.
The first of the festivals will take place on Saturday 23 July 2016 at 2pm. Beginning in The Meadows, there will be a large procession moving through towards the High Street down to Holyrood Park where there will be a free vegan feast beginning at 4pm.
Aditya Devi Dasi, the main organiser behind the event said: “This event commemorates the story of Lord Jagannath being paraded through the streets of Puri, east India. The huge processions accompanying the chariots play music, instruments, and devotional songs, including the infamous Hare Krishna mantra.
Here in Edinburgh we’ll be parading through the city with our chariot. Anyone is welcome to come along and take part in this auspicious occasion.”
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/WKtUw2

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For various reasons, we were delayed in bringing to you these recordings of Kadamba Kanana Swami captured during the months of April and May.

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India

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South Africa

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Deena Bandhu Das: Please join us in prayers for our very dear Godbrother Krishna Das Swami who just left this world a few minutes ago. He was on his way to Vrindavan, and after entering Vraja Bhumi, fully conscious and with devotees chanting in the vehicle, he peacefully departed.
He was born in Punjab and took diksa from Madhva Sampradaya. He was lamenting when he met Srila Prabhupada and knew his glories, that he couldn’t take diksa from him. So Prabhupada gave him sannyasa! Krishna Das Swami was very instrumental in preaching in UK, South Africa, and Mauritius. He even convinced the municipality in Mauritius to name the neighborhood of our Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir as Vrindavan!

Srila Prabhupada: “Write a letter to the Coca-Cola company and propose that they change the name of their drink to ‘Enjoy Hare Krishna’
Danavir Goswami: Prabhupada spoke to guests at the Sunday night programs. At the end of his lecture he asked if there were any questions, and one old lady cried out, "Why have you come so late?”
She was practically in tears that she had missed the opportunity to take to Krishna consciousness when she was younger. Prabhupada said, “Because you are so late.”
On another occasion, another old person asked the same question, and Prabhupada answered in a different way; He said, “Better late than never.”
Krishna sends the pure devotee when someone’s ready. If you’re not ready then Krishna won’t send.
Two ladies in their fifties asked if they could see Srila Prabhupada. I was the temple president, so I brought them to see him.
They were very respectful but didn’t know what to say. There was silence. Finally one of them said, “Swamiji, we have been meditating for the last twenty years.”
They thought that Prabhupada would be impressed, but he said, “What have you achieved by your meditation?”
The lady thought for a moment and said, “We have learned to become silent.” Prabhupada said, “Stones are silent for millions of years. To become silent is not a very great accomplishment.” That set the mood for that discussion.
There was a young Indian gentleman who had been staying in one of the temples and who said to Srila Prabhupada, “I’ve noticed that some of your disciples nod out in the morning when they are chanting japa. I would like to teach them yoga exercises so they won’t fall asleep.”
Prabhupada politely said, “Yes, yes. Sometimes they fall asleep, but they will learn and improve.”
He sidestepped the question, but the man insisted, “If you just give me your permission, I will teach them yoga.”
Prabhupada said, “No, it’s not required. Bhakti-yoga is—” The man became adamant. He said, “They are deficient. I must teach them.”

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PADAYATRA Lithuania 2016 (Album with 416 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Spiritual enlightenment is possible by the mercy of the spi...

Initiation Ceremony at Iskcon of Silicon Valley (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is t...

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“A kind request to all devotees to pray for the well-being of His Holiness Krsnadas Swami Maharaja. His material condition is such that the request is to kindly pray to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna for his safe journey back home, back to Godhead”
HH Krishna Das Swami is presently in ICU in Paras Hospital, Gurgaon and Maharaj’s health is deteriorating day by day with multi-organ failure.

Srila Prabhupada’s fingertips.
Throughout our lives, we benefit from the selfless gifts of our spiritual master. He teaches us things so essential that we forget that there was a time when we did not know them. He shapes us in ways so fundamental that we could not be called human without them. He gives us gifts so profound—protection, wisdom, love, and life itself—that there is no way to measure their value. He cleans up our mistakes, looks after us even when we want to avoid him, and speaks the truth even when we would rather not hear it.
Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

Gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Firm Reins on Fledging Bhakta

ISKCON of Soho St, London and Bhaktivedanta Manor have been setting the standard and celebrating ISKCON 50 in style this July – the month when in 1966 Srila Prabhupada incorporated his society. On Saturday July 2^nd, performing arts group “Something Spiritual” put on “Departing for the West,” a spectacular production depicting the life and struggles of Srila Prabhupada with a cast and crew of sixty-five young people at Harrow Arts Centre.

Today, Sri Guru-purnima, or Vyasa-purnima, is the divine disappearance day of Srila Sanatana Gosvami, the eldest of the Six Gosvamis of Vrndavana. The authorized poet Sri Kavi-karnapura, in his book Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka (9.34, 35, 38), quoted in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 24.348–350), tells how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu blessed Sanatana Gosvami with His specific mercy.

gaudendrasya sabha-vibhusana-manis tyaktva ya rddham sriyam
rupasyagraja esa eva tarunim vairagya-laksmim dadhe
antar-bhakti-rasena purna-hrdayo bahye ’vadhutakrtih
saivalaih pihitam maha-sara iva priti-pradas tad-vidam

“Srila Sanatana Gosvami, the elder brother of Srila Rupa Gosvami, was a most important minister in the government of Hussain Shah, the ruler of Bengal, and he was considered a most brilliant gem in that assembly. He possessed all the opulences of a royal position, but he gave up everything just to accept the youthful goddess of renunciation. Although he externally appeared to be a mendicant who had renounced everything, he was filled with the pleasure of devotional service within his heart. Thus he can be compared to a deep lake covered with moss. He was the object of pleasure for all the devotees who knew the science of devotional service.

tam sanatanam upagatam aksnor
drsta-matram atimatra-dayardrah
alilinga parighayata-dorbhyam
sanukampam atha campaka-gaurah

“As soon as Sanatana Gosvami arrived in front of Lord Caitanya, the Lord, seeing him, became merciful to him. The Lord, who has the complexion of a golden campaka flower, opened His arms and embraced him while expressing great affection.”

kalena vrndavana-keli-varta
lupteti tam khyapayitum visisya
krpamrtenabhisiseca devas
tatraiva rupam ca sanatanam ca

“In the course of time, the transcendental news of Krsna’s pastimes in Vrndavana was almost lost. To enunciate explicitly those transcendental pastimes, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu empowered Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami with the nectar of His mercy to carry out this work in Vrndavana.”

“Srila Sanatana Gosvami is the ideal spiritual master,” Srila Prabhupada explains, “for he delivers one the shelter of the lotus feet of Madana-mohana. Even though one may be unable to travel on the field of Vrndavana due to forgetfulness of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can get an adequate opportunity to stay in Vrndavana and derive all spiritual benefits by the mercy of Sanatana Gosvami.” (Cc Adi 1.47 purport)

On this auspicious occasion I pray to follow in the footsteps of Srila Sanatana Gosvami, that he may bless me with remembrance of Krishna and Vrndavana and the ability to share with others the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swam

About His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami
After visiting the ISKCON temple in Montreal, Canada in September of 1967, Gopal Krishna Goswami yearned to meet a Vaishnava guru and got the opportunity to meet Srila Prabhupada there in 1968. Gopal Krishna Goswami, originally from Delhi, India had a religious background and had great respect for sadhus or saints. The combination of his family background and his search for spiritual life led him to Srila Prabhupada and he accepted initiation from him in early 1969. Gopal Krishna Goswami has served as personal secretary to Srila Prabhupada at various times.
After graduating from Delhi University in 1964, Gopal Krishna Goswami studied business management in France under a French government scholarship. He also studied for some time at Sorbonne University in Paris. While pursuing business management at McGill University in Montreal, Gopal Krishna Goswami began contributing to ISKCON by financially assisting the Montreal temple. In December of 1974 he was made a GBC member by Srila Prabhupada and then transferred to India where he initially headed projects in Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Madras, Mayapur and Kanpur. His GBC responsibilities extended to other parts of Southeast Asia as well. Entrusted by Srila Prabhupada to visit the former Soviet Union in 1976 and 1977, Gopal Krishna Goswami acted as the representative of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust to promote the placement of Srila Prabhupada’s books at fairs and in libraries. He was very well received, as were the books he was presenting. Gopal Krishna Goswami has served extensively in BBT (as chairman and trustee) in India, arranging for translation of Srila Prabhupada’s books into various regional languages and their distribution far and wide. He continues to encourage BBT book distribution in his zones, especially in India.
In 1981 Gopal Krishna Goswami took sannyasa initiation and began to extend his travels to spread Krishna consciousness more widely in parts of the USA, Canada and eventually in parts of Africa. Currently, he is GBC of over thirty temples around the world and serves as an initiating spiritual master, with disciples in Russia, America, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Gopal Krishna Goswami played a leading role in inspiring and completing several large ISKCON temples, such as the Glory of India temple in New Delhi in 1998 (inaugurated by then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee) and the Radha Bankebihari temple in Nairobi.

We'll look forward in spending this evening with you and your loved ones.

As attendance at Woodstock Poland swells to over 700,000 people devotees go into action with Ratha Yatra, massive prasadam distribution, kirtan and discussions. Auspiciousness prevails everywhere.

The special guests of the 50th Anniversary events at ISKCON Auckland, New Zealad, were greeted with a traditional Maori greeting, followed by a Haka. Then they were all then invited to garland Srila Prabhupada.