Planet ISKCON

Huge, highly successful London Rathayatra 2016 (Album with photos)
Lively, multiple, kirtans during the parade, large participa...

By Srigarbha das

With over ten thousand people taking part, this year was the biggest ever Ratha Yatra held aa Netrakona, Bangladesh. Jagannath Vallabh Temple, ISKCON Netrakona celebrated its 6th Jagannath Ratha Yatra festival from the 6th till 14th of July with grand success. Around 8 years back this centre started with only three brahmacharis- Jayram Das, Tulasi Das and Anantadev Das, simply distributing Srila Prabhupada books. No facilities for accommodation, practically going hungry at times having nothing to eat or surviving for days on puffed rice and boiled potatoes. By their hard work and beacse of their firm faith in Srila Prabhupada words and strict adherence to the instructions of their Spiritual Master Srila Subhag Swami, today the Jagannath Vallabha temple has over 35 enthusiastic brahmacharis serving full time, a moderate temple hall with a sitting capacity of 100 or more, a kitchen that can serve more than ten thousand plates of maha prasadam at a time last but not the least, a contingent of sincere and simple hearted devotees which keeps the very temple bubbling with life. Continue reading "6th Jagannatha Ratha Yatra in Netrakona, Bangladesh
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By Dharmatma Das

It takes an incredible effort to cook for 16,000. Parasuram prabhu and a stellar crew have been doing this faithfully for over 12 years. Titiksu prabhu expertly procures the required donations and Parasuram goes about assembling the massive amounts of ingredients. Vonunteers beging cutting up, frying, steaming and roasting on Saturday and the heavy duty cooking done by Para, Acintya Rupa and Arjuna prabhus begins at midnight. Ony the best for Lord Jagannath's Feast; Ghee, cream, Panir, and first class fruits and vegetables. Over one ton of Prasadam offered to Their Lordships.They were served, Rice, Halavah, Curd/Chickpea Subji, Srikand and Fruit Juice. Quite remarkable down to the loading, transporting and serving the huge crowd. It was a pleasure serving with these dedicated devotees. There were many other devotees working equally as hard taking care of so many other aspects of this wonderful Festival. All glories to them all... Continue reading "Unsung Heroes of the London Rathayatra
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By Zayani Bhatt

As a continuation of the celebration of Incorporation Day – the day Srila Prabhupada received the certificate stating that ISKCON was officially incorporated – and the 50th year anniversary of ISKCON, Bhaktivedanta Manor held the grand opening ceremony of the Srila Prabhupada garden to honour the spiritual leader and founder of ISKCON along with his disciples. Devotees from across the country and many of Srila Prabhupada’s direct disciples from around the world, gathered on the 16th of July 2016, for a day dedicated to expressing gratitude to Prabhupada, for making the perilous journey to the west, and changing the lives of people for generations to come. Continue reading "50th Anniversary Garden Opening and Dedication to Srila Prabhupada and his Disciples
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast

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The post ​Gita 10.23 – The heavenly treasurer’s treasure comes from the supreme appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Dressing for Prabhupada’s Pleasure

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, October 2014, Mayapur, India, Siksastakam Seminar: Verses 1&2, Part 1)

I have a story of my spiritual master, Jayadvaita Swami. He comes up with good titles of seminars and he came up with the title: The hopes and horrors of household life. Even before the seminar, there was a storm of discussion and people were saying all kinds of things, “The hopes and horrors of household life – what does he know about it? He has never been married. Why doesn’t he speak of the hopes and horrors of sannyasa!” There were all kinds of comments going around. So it was a good title as it got people going even before the seminar started.

I was supposed to go to the first session but I got stuck in traffic somewhere, so I was late and I missed it. I just arrived as people came out of the room. There was someone else who had also missed it and he asked another devotee, “So, how was it?”

The devotee said, “Oh, it was all theoretical, just quotes from the scriptures!” I thought that was such an amazing statement, really, because when the quotes from the scriptures are just theoretical it means that you are not following the scripture! I mean, when you live by the scripture, it is not theoretical anymore, then it becomes realised and it becomes very relevant… as simple as that!

Ratha Yatra in Barcelona, Spain (Album with photos)
It was an amazing experience to participate in the Ratha Yatra of Barcelon...

Polish tour Brhat mrdanga is heard in Los Angeles!
While distributing books at the Los Angeles airport I approached a man who said he was from Poland. When I showed him the Bhagavad Gita he said, “I know that book, when I was in Poland last year at a concert called,"Woodstock” I saw it at the Hare Krsna site. I wanted it because it seemed very interesting, but I didn’t have any money. But now I do, so can I give you a donation for it?“
I said, "Alright, if you insist” :-)
your servant, Vijaya das
P.S. All we have to do is get some books, go out with some sincerity and we’ll find people that want Prabhupada’s books.

Rathayatras in Bali (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: The celebration of Rathayatra in ISKCON is popular all over the world. In...

Conversation.

The post Remembrances of ISKCON Montreal appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

By Kalasamvara Das

Dignitaries and well-wishers spent the afternoon at the local hare Krsna temple as part of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON movement receiving the mercy of the Deities, placing Garlands and performing the abhiseka of Srila Prabhupada. They all spoke with great Enthusiasm about being in the Association of devotees and expressed how we have something very special, something they don't find at other programs they attend. They appreciated the spiritual contribution ISKCON has made through the distribution of spiritual knowledge in the form of Bhagavad Gita and the millions of people feed world wide. Dignitaries attendance: Mr Sanjiv Kohli- Indian high commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy NZ Race relations commissioner, Hon Phil Goff, and Mr Bakshi members of Parliament, Hon Mayor, Cheryi Mai, Vinoda Kumar- President of the Hindu Council and Trustee of Chinmaya Mission, Dr.Kanthibhai Patel, And members from the New Zealand Police Force, and their wives. Continue reading "ISKCON Auckland NZ: 50th years on!
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By Radhanath Swami

I was born and raised in the United States, and I saw all around me so much wealth, so much luxury, such nice telephone system and road systems, and televisions and everything else, and I saw so much power, but to myself and so many people of my generation it was so hollow, it was so shallow, because you see greed could never satisfy the heart. Bhagavad-Gita tells that greed is like fire, the more you feed it, the hungrier and more it needs. When people are trampling on each other, exploiting each other due to greed, ‘Do I want to be a part of this?’ And then I heard of verse, that in many ways is the essence of the Bible, it was spoken by a great personality of Jewish descent who founded Christianity, Jesus Christ, and to me this statement is what a Christian is, what is Jew is, with what a religious person is. And I just saw that it was so rare all around me. The verse is – what profit of a man who gains the whole world but loses his eternal soul? That’s what I saw happening, and it’s happening today more than ever, even in the name of God. I was seeking my soul. I was seeking a meaning and purpose in life that would make whatever I did of actual value. Children in so many parts of the world, if we don’t give them a meaning, a spiritual purpose to live for, then they are so vulnerable to greed, to arrogance, to exploitation. Continue reading "Conscious Leadership seminar at BSE Event
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Preaching program in Vienna, Austria (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We take a newspaper and read what the politician say...

Initiation ceremonies at Pandharpur (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In this Age of Kali, the process of worshiping Krishn...

The Strange Story of Usika Das.
Swarup das (ACBSP): This story is from my memoirs (that I’ve been trying to consolidate into a book for the past few years).
I met Usika at the Henry Street, Brooklyn temple in ‘71. At the time his name was Ezekiel. He was initiated and given the name Usika in July of that year when Srila Prabhupada came to Brooklyn. Unlike just about all of us who were in our 20’s .. Usika was either just south or north of 50. He was crotchety, moody, cynical and impatient when it came to his dealings with “you young people” as he called us. He had strong convictions in the philosophy and had a deep and sincere reverence for Srila Prabhupada.

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By Ananda Murti Devi Dasi

It may be known by now how many Ratha-yatra festivals are being conducted every year in different countries and cities spanning across continents, of the world. It is really impressive though to get, even a little glimpse of them, through this gallery, of what it really means! One can only imagine how many hours, days and weeks of preparations and expense all these festivals needed for their realization, with the sole motive of pleasing Srila Prabhupada and spreading the glories of Lord Jagannath and the Sankirtana movement! Really a miracle considering it is Kali yuga! Continue reading "A gallery of photos from Iskcon Ratha-yatras all over the world
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ISKCON 50 celebrations in Coventry.
Anuragi Devi Dasi: On Wednesday 13th July, devotees at ISKCON Coventry devotees came toget...

Gita verse-by-verse podcast

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The post ​Gita 10.22 – God’s opulence pervades and sustains all life everywhere appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The Historical Prabhupada

15 miles

The celebration of Rathayatra in ISKCON is popular all over the world. In Indonesia there are more than 20 Jagannatha Rathayatras in areas of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sulawesi and Kalimantan.

I was able to attend 3 Rathayatra festivals when I was in Bali last. Two of them were in the area of our local temples and the third in Denpasar where we had three chariots and thousands of devotees attend.

He’s a Trip Monk!
From the News Tribune an article appeared, authored by Ben Hohenstatt in the city of La Salle, Illinois.
He’s a Trip Monk
If you saw a man with a shaved head in orange robes in the Illinois Valley Thursday that wasn’t an oddly dressed flagger.
A walking journey from New York to San Francisco took Bhaktimarga Swami “The Walking Monk”, a Hare Krishna monk originally from Canada, through Ottawa, Peru and La Salle Friday.
“I’ve been to Chicago, but I’ve never been here,” he said. “We’ve met a lot of nice people…There’s a lot of sweet people…People in the Midwest carry some good values”
In the past, he has crossed Canada four times and walked across Guyana, Ireland, Israel, the Fiji islands and Trinidad and featured in documentaries.
Swami said this walk was to promote physical and spiritual health as well as to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada incorporating the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
“The walk is to encourage people to have a workout and a work-in,” the 63-year-old monk said.
Around 11 a.m. Thursday, he stopped to eat mangoes and cherries in Pulaski Park in La Salle. Swami said his day’s walk began in Ottawa around 5 a.m.
Despite covering dozens of miles a day in weather that is “almost never perfect”, encountering bears and schlepping through the Appalachians and downtown Gary, Ind., Swami said sometimes it can be tough to pause his journey.
“It gets to the point sometimes where it’s hard to stop,” he said.
Swami said he would follow U.S. 6 toward Peru before continuing west toward Davenport, Iowa, and he will be excited to continue westward and cross the Mississippi River.
“I might swim it,” he said. “We’ll see if I can swim it.”
He said he thinks he will be able to make it to the middle of Nebraska before other commitments will cause him to put his walk on hold before being resumed next year.
“Next year, I’m hoping to finish walking to San Francisco
Swami said during his cross-country trek he expects to wear out about four pairs of shoes and several robes, which become faded from sunlight.
While marathon walking, he said he encounters people, wildlife and all manner of weather and tries to engage with his surroundings.
However, the rhythm and repetition of walking also makes it easy to get lost in thought.
“It’s an everyday experience,” he said. “You are very much present, but you’re also someplace else; it’s a great time to dream. Your feet are on the ground, and you’re head definitely isn’t in the clouds.”
Thanks Ben!
May the Source be with you!

#1 book distributor in North America hits a record!
Jaya Chaitanya Das distributes over 9,000 pieces of literature last month (June 2016) with a 72% increase! Here are the final scores and figures:
book points: 6399.00* +72%
maha-big:1258*
big:1976*
medium: 1440*
small: 4664*
magazines: 210
All glories to Srila Prabhupada’s mission to distribute these books to the masses and awaken Spiritual consciousness throughout the world! All glories to the Sankirtan army!

In the build-up to the London Ratha Yatra festival which takes place this Sunday, 17 July 2016, Kadamba Kanana Swami will give a special morning class at Bhaktivedanta Manor focusing on the significance of the occasion. 

Watch live via Mayapur TV or Manor Media starting at 07:30 am (GMT +1).

Devaki dd: Deepen your relationship with the holy name - in japa as well as in kirtan!

Their Lordships too wear designer clothing!
VRINDAVAN: If you thought designer dresses and clothes are for mortals only, you are mistaken, as there are designers who toil throughout the year to make our revered deities look their very best.
In the holy city of Vrindavan, at the Chandrodaya Temple, a group of six people, led by 35-year-old Sangini Indulekha, a management graduate who did a course in fashion designing only to pursue her passion to “serve the lord”, design clothes for the murtis of Kirshna and Radha. These clothes and dresses are sent to temples under the Hare Krishna movement, which are part of Iskcon, across the world and sometimes a single dress can cost as much Rs one lakh.
Attires of the deities have also undergone a sea change over the years - from usage of simple colours and attractive beads to stylish cuts with applique work (needlework technique in which patterns are created by the attaching smaller pieces of fabric to a larger piece of contrasting colour or texture) with Zardosi Aari embroidery. The clothes are now designed to make Their “Lordships” stand out and look more appealing to the devotees at first sight.
Talking to us, Sangini said many decades ago, the styles were very simple and in “braj shaili” (style) where only simple silk with some pearls, thread work and flowery embroidery were used. She said later the Mughal concept took over where the use of velvet fabric, with thread work depicting domes and monuments became common.
In the 70s, the styles took a slight western turn, and the traditional braj shaili was experimented with the use of Kora and dapka embroidery. Sangini said the present day trend is to use of large varieties of bright coloured fabrics - pure silk, satin, tissue and shimmer- with applique work and stylish cuts.
Sangini said presently two styles of embroidery, Zardosi and Aari, are in vogue and various styles of stitches, including chall zamki, zigzag, fashavuda and pipalgray, are used to make the clothes attractive.
She said while the deities have a set of 50 dresses, which are changed every day, five special occasion dresses are designed every year for festivals. She said a normal dress for a three and a half feet deity idol takes about three weeks and special occasion ones, which have heavy work, can take over a month to design and stitch.
She said these dresses cost anything between Rs 45,000-75,000 and are sold to other temples, after including costs of material, design and labour.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/En3an8

Krishna Institute: What does it really mean to advance in Krishna consciousness?

Indonesia Adds Local Flavor to ISKCON 50 Festivities.
During its ISKCON 50 festivities this month, Indonesia added some rich l...

By Mayapur Sasi dasa

For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of June 2016. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5 Continue reading "NASN June 2016 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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Preaching program in New Mayapur, Ukraine (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Just work in such a way that God may see you.” This is the Krishna consciousness movement. Everyone is busy to see God. Of course, it is not so easy to see God. But a devotee is not busy to see God, but he wants God to see him. Bombay, May 12, 197
Find them here: https://goo.gl/U05RkR

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By Chaitanya Charan das

Forgiveness involves our cultivating virtue independent of the other person, whereas trust is our reciprocation conditional to that person’s cultivating virtue. By carefully understanding the difference between the two, we can transform unfortunate episodes in our relationships into spiritual growth opportunities at least for ourselves – and possibly even for the other person. We needn’t make our forgiveness conditional to the other person’s seeking it, but we should certainly make our trust conditional to that person’s earning it by sustained improved behavior. Conveying our forgiveness helps that person avoid the pitfall of self-justification, and holding back our trust avoids the pitfall of that person remaining oblivious to the past wrongdoing. Forgiving a person certainly doesn’t mean that we let the other person continue the hurting behavior; that would be masochism and there’s nothing laudable or spiritual about masochism. At the same time, it needs to be stressed that there’s nothing intrinsically laudable or spiritual about cultivating and actualizing revenge fantasies. So, we need to find that balanced course of action which allows both us and the other person to grow spiritually. Continue reading "Is forgiveness practical?
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The dream of a book distributor realized!
Recently while distributing in the Wicker Park district of Chicago I had some very nice interactions. The first encounter exhibited timing. I parked my jeep that had some for sale signs on it and seeing some police officers there I asked them some questions about a city ordinance that forbids sale signs on cars. After discussing with them I walked back to the vehicle and there was a man there looking at the for sale sign. Then after telling him about the car I proceeded to heap the Bhagavad-gitas into my arms and the bag of Perfection of Yoga around my shoulder.

Woodstock Full On (7 min video)
As attendance at Woodstock Poland swells to over 700,000 people devotees go into action with Ra...