Planet ISKCON

Dynamic Preacher on the Streets of New York

Some of the Indonesian devotees thought that it would be a good idea to have an ISKCON Leadership Sanga in Bali. Many had been to Mayapur and were enthused by the ILS there.

The event was organised and experienced speakers from various countries came to give seminars on topics like: “Srila Prabhupada – the great communicator,” “Management in ISKCON,” “Deity Worship,” etc.

Kavicandra Maharaja and I, as GBCs for the area, opened the event and participated in the activities.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2016, Durban, South Africa, Sunday Lecture at NJP)

Life after life, we are adding more building blocks of karma, and more and more, we are adding to our material identity, that material destiny which will bind us deeply into so many complexities. So, we find everything difficult. “Do I really have to rise early in the morning? Oh! Just open my eyes! Ah! Lift a finger! Oh, do I have to WORK? All these things, and so few holidays! Do I have to go through all of this?”

Yes, we have to, because it is part of the karmic jail sentence that we are experiencing in the material world. The Vedic point of the view is that the material world is like a jail, a fort, where we are captured against our will. 

But Srila Prabhupada describes an interesting phenomenon. He said there is a bird that has been kept in a cage for a long time, and one day you carry out the cage to the open field. You open the door of the cage and say to the bird, “You are free to go!” So the bird flies around in the sky for a little while, in a few circles enjoying the freedom, only to fly right back down into the cage. The door is still open, but the bird goes back into the cage, because it is comfy. Everything is there – you know what I mean… your lettuce leaf and other things you get as a bird, your seeds and everything else are all in the cage. Thus we voluntarily go back into our imprisonment.

By Drutakarma Dasa

King Prthu and Queen Arci ascended to the spiritual world, Vaikuntha, in spiritual airplanes. They ascended in spiritual bodies, their material bodies having been consumed by the fire of the funeral pyre. The sage Maitreya, narrating this history in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, said, "Any person who describes the great characteristics of King Prthu with faith and determination whether he reads of them himself or helps others to hear of them is certain to attain the very planet Maharaja Prthu attained. In other words, such a person also returns home to the Vaikuntha planets, back to Godhead." Continue reading "First Among Kings
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By Dvarakadhisa Devi Dasi

PRAYER, OR vandanam, is the sixth of the nine processes of devotional service. An intensely personal process, it may also be the most universal, for prayers fill the traditions of religions and cultures of the world, creating our most ancient ties and our most common language. Scriptures are filled with prayers that become our friends and companions for life. Nearly everyone has felt the comfort of a childhood prayer, or the companionable stir of belonging when familiar prayers are quoted. Prayer is often the very first way children learn about God. Parents teach their children simple prayers for bedtime or mealtimes. These early prayers teach children much about the way to approach the Lord. There are simple prayers of gratitude, prayers for the welfare of loved ones, and, of course, prayers for some coveted desire to be fulfilled. Childhood prayers often express fear of the wicked or of God's wrath. They set up theological principles, such as eternal heaven and hell, that shape the behavior of entire cultures. Continue reading "Turning to Prayer
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By Pratik Mohapatra

Ratha Jatra of Lord Jagannath being one of the largest religious festivals of India, is not just limited to its borders but also hugely celebrated outside India. Iconic cities like San Francisco, London, Los Angeles, Tokyo and even the remote corners of Russia celebrate Ratha Jatra in its full glory. By tracing some of the best Ratha Jatra celebrations held across the world, we can deduce that Lord Jagannath is undoubtedly the supreme Lord of the Universe! Continue reading "10 Iconic Places Outside India Where Ratha Yatra Is Celebrated
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For a preacher, there are four things:

īśvare tad-adhīneṣu
bāliśeṣu dviṣatsu ca
prema-maitrī-kṛpopekṣā
yaḥ karoti sa madhyamaḥ -SB 11.2.46

When in the lower stage of devotional service, he cannot become preacher. When he's in a little upper, second stage, he can become preacher. So preacher has to see four things. First of all God, īśvara, and tad-adhīneṣu, and those who are devotee. God, His devotees, and bāliśa, innocent, he does not know anything about... So three = God, devotee, and the innocent. And dviṣat, and envious, atheist class. He has to see four things, and he has to deal with four persons differently.

1. With God, īśvare prema: how to advance my love for God, these dealings. 
2. Prema-maitrī: and to the devotees, we have to make friendship with them. Prema-maitrī. 
3. And to the innocent, we have to preach, kṛpā: "Oh, here is an innocent person. He does not know; he's eager to learn." There teaching is required. Teaching, you cannot teach God or you cannot teach God's devotee. But you can teach only the innocent. 
4. And those who are dviṣat, atheist, upekṣā, don't go there, save yourself. These are the four things. So when one is not open to hear, then don't bother yourself. That requires very strong preacher to convince the atheist class, provided he is reasonable also. If he's stubborn, obstinate, then it is also very difficult. 

But preaching is meant, innocent; that one who is actually sincere but he does not know what is God, what is my relationship with God, there is necessity of preaching. Not to the envious or those who are already advanced, or to God.

- Lecture July 5 1976, Washington DC, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.100 by Srila Prabhupada

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Harinama in Bologna, Italy (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: As far as possible, therefore, the devotees in the Krishna con...

“The Walking Monk”: Swami Embarks on Transnational Walk Across the USA to Commemorate 50th Anniversary of the Hare Krishna Tradition.
Urvashi Verma: Chicago, Il: Bhaktimarga Swami, a 63 year old Canadian born monk has embarked on a transnational walk of 3,000 miles across the United States from New York City to San Francisco to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the coming of the Hare Krishna Tradition to the West and to promote a more green style of living in America.
Swami who has arrived in Chicago, Il on June 11 has traversed open plains, highways, and landmarks. For the general public, Bhaktimarga Swami is best known as “the walking monk”. To share his message of peace and gratitude he has already crossed Canada four times covering over 17,000 miles on foot.
The Swami is walking to draw attention to the contributions of his own spiritual teacher, or guru, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada arrived in the USA 50 years ago, on September 17, 1965. He came practically penniless from India at the age of 70 on the order of his teacher to promote God consciousness, or devotional bhakti-yoga, to the English-speaking world.
“In the broader sense I’m walking to honor all our teachers,” Swami says. “Our teachers open the doors to the world for us, and to other worlds as well. I hope to remind us all how grateful we should be to those who give us knowledge, especially knowledge about our inner potential, ” he says.
Each day Swami, donned in monastic orange garb and his favorite crocs he walks 20 miles each day along path chartered by his companion assistant Gopala and returns to the same spot where he left the next day to complete another 20 miles.
Source: http://goo.gl/0f4xMy

The post Conversation with Adi-guru on spontaneous devotion appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

50 HOURS OF KIRTAN IN HONOR OF 50-YEARS ISKCON
Simhachalam, Germany, Aug.11 - Aug.14, 2016.
We are very happy to invite you again to this kirtan event in Germany. In the mood of Srila Prabhupada, we are trying to organize a kirtan to change the vibration on this planet, and in that way strengthen our own devotion. The whole festival will be centered on singing the Maha-mantra. Throughout the day we will have different kirtan parties performing and bringing you to a deep personal experience in the chanting. There will be a nice, spacious temple room, and areas where devotees can discuss their experiences, meet the gurus and enjoy the atmosphere of the festival. We did our all to invite the best kirtan leaders to celebrate this festival with us. All of them are well known for their unique kirtan style. The whole 50 hours, they will lift us up to the transcendental platform.
Those who have already confirmed their participation:
HH Sacinandana Swami, HH Bhakti Vaibhava Swami, HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, HG Prithu Prabhu, HG Vayasaki Prabhu, HG Aditi Dukha Prabhu, HG Dina Sharana Mataji, HG Sarvatma Prabhu
Please check our website regularly for additional information. Thank you for considering attending this 6th Kirtan Mela festival in Germany. We hope you will join us in a happy mood this summer in Simhachalam. Please register as soon as possible on our website http://www.kirtan-mela-germany.de/index.php/en/ (see “Registration” option), the number of participants is limited.

Iskcon Salem Rathayatra 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna movement is present in every millennium of Lord Brahma’s life, and the holy name is chanted in all the higher planetary systems, including Brahmaloka and Candraloka, not to speak of Gandharvaloka and Apsaroloka. The sankirtana movement that was started in this world five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is therefore not a new movement. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 2.7.15 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/x88Jqc

Stoked Govindas Surfers Paradise has won best buffet on the Gold Coast. Unheard of for Vegan restaurants to win…
Here are some reviews:
Junglechick: This place is just incredible. I got the all-you-can-eat just so I could try everything and go back for my favourites! The kofta balls are sooooo good. The staff were wonderful and it’s got a great atmosphere. I’d 100% recommend it!!
Rico: I used to visit the previous Govindas in the Paradise Centre when they were vegetarian. They had excellent vegan food then, but for a long time it wasn’t always plentiful, until the owner started to see the light.
Since they went vegan last year, Hallelujah! - things are much brighter.
Take your pick from their buffet, which includes a separate salad bar. Hot dishes change, but go from vegetable curries and creamy potato bake to the staple kofta balls.
Eating in - that’s what i always do when i’m here - you can get a plate of food for $10 or an unlimited plate - that is, with all the refills you want - for $15. Incredible value!
Sadly, this is the only vegan place in glittering Surfers Paradise. But it’s definitely not a case of “Well, go there because there’s no other choice.”
The food is fresh, the staff are usually friendly, and the cost is low. Really, it’s a fantastic deal in Paradise!
EmmaBarr: The food in this restaurant is absolutely amazing and so delicious. Even my meat eating boyfriend loved it and was happy to go back numerous times. There is such good variety in the buffet and it is all delicious and unbelievably good value for money. I couldn’t recommend this place enough for vegans.
Kiwi Wannabe: Being both a vegan and a food lover, this place was a culinary paradise. At $12.90 for an all you can eat buffet, you can’t go wrong. I thought places like this only existed in my dreams ;-) Half of our group were meat eaters and they loved it too.
Terrific array of hot and cold options as well as desserts in case you have room left. The staff were friendly and you could tell they really enjoy what they do. It’s just too bad we were visiting otherwise we’d come here all the time!
ChelseaHollins: I’m a pretty slim female and I think I continue to amaze staff/friends at how many times I can go back and refill my plate. It is just so good, it’s really hard to leave. Very cheap, the tofu salad is just amazing and I usually find salads boring.
Potato bake/Kofas/Pasta bake= yum! There’s not one thing there I wouldn’t happily fill my plate with. Their ginger juices are really amazing and have made my sore throats disappear in the matter of an hour.
Only bad thing about this place is they offer non-vegan lasso drinks (based on yogurt). Would be really great if they did this vegan, not just because I would buy it, but because I restrain from supporting non-veganism is anyway possible. But other than that it is just.. wow.
Read more reviews here: https://goo.gl/lzATOx
and here: https://goo.gl/p3mFUY
Their Facabook page: https://www.facebook.com/GovindasSurfersParadise/

The post Ratha Yatra 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

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Rathayatra in Novi Sad, Serbia (Album with photos)
A wonderful surprise. A large-ish city with *lots* of people on a Wednesday night…. evidently there is a huge music festival there which starts tomorrow. So much fun!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/7jD8i5

On 6th July, on 3 beautiful chariots Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi were ready to leave Rajapur, and come to Mayapur. At 2pm the Lords were ready on the chariots and accepted Maha-arati and offerings form the devotees and special guests. In Baladeva’s Chariot Srila Prabhupada was also seated and in Subhadra Devi’s chariot […]

The post Lord Jagannath Has Arrived! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

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Ratha Yatra in Copenhagen 2016 (Album with photos)
Thank you so much to everybody who participated, helped out and volunteered...

July 7. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Preserving Uniqueness: NYC’s Prabhupada Museum.
Prabhupada’s appearance is important for all people in the world. Therefore, his museum is important. New York City is the right place for it.
When I was in Assisi, I saw many tour groups. We overheard one of the monks describing the paintings of Giotto depicting the life of Saint Francis: “This picture showed that in the 13th century, the Church was somewhat corrupt, but Francis came to give it new life … “Similarly, ISKCON devotees can guide visitors throughout Prabhupada’s museum. Although we do not have art masterpieces like those by Giotto, the humble Prabhupada artefacts evoke the appearance of the pure devotee. It is one of the functions of a Prabhupadanuga to explain the history of Prabhupada and his movement.
Everything is there, right down to the handprints on the page, preserved under museum glass. Although you cannot see the pure devotee unless you have a spiritual eye, you get the general idea when you visit the museum. No one can walk out of there and say, “I don’t think Prabhupada existed,” or, “Prabhupada probably came here as a rich man with patronage.” No one can make up such speculations, because the history of his poverty and aloneness is here.
There is a museum for Elvis Presley which has his motorcycle in a glass case, but preserving the artefacts of an ordinary man does not make him glorious. People cry when they remember Elvis, but how does that help them achieve the purpose of a human life? In the Prabhupada museum, the same techniques are used, but with a different effect.
Take for example, this picture of Krishna and Yasoda, painted in 1966 under Prabhupada’s direction. It is crude, and yet I can worship Krishna by looking at the picture. Here is a picture of Lord Caitanya dancing in sankirtana. It is the painting that Prabhupada put in the window of his first temple. He mentioned it in his lectures. It produces a kind of trance.
You look at the documents – memos signed by Prabhupada, photos from that time. His spoon, eyeglasses and dictaphone are placed in a case with an official label under it. Prabhupada wore these clothes. That canvas sign with the Hare Krishna mantra written on it was done under Prabhupada’s direction. We brought it onto the streets when we performed harinama. Here in Prabhupada’s handwriting is the list of rules and regulations for initiated devotees.
Here is Prabhupada using his dictaphone. Here is Prabhupada patting a devotee on the head. The museum tells us the story of Prabhupada’s kindness in coming here. (Vaisnavas say the only reason that one should ever leave Vrindavana is to preach. Prabhupada preached. All his activities were a sacrifice for preaching, and that is what is pictured in the museum.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=10

Preserving Uniqueness: NYC’s Prabhupada Museum

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 April 2016, Radhadesh, Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.14-16)

It is said sometimes that anger is the younger brother of lust. First, there is our desire to control. We want a world according to our desires and if people interfere with that then we become angry!

But it is not that people just interfere because you have to see Krsna behind it. So devotees accept, “Alright, so Krsna did not want this for me. Krsna has another plan for me. This is not destined to be.” One has to accept being an instrument of Krsna!

This is difficult. I know it is difficult. Tell me all about it. I find it very difficult also. But, when everything goes wrong, and you are sort of standing on shaky legs then we say, “Okay Krsna, I’m yours!” This is sort of how it is.

In Full Swing (7 min video)
Our summer festival tour on the Baltic Sea coast in Poland is in full swing. Three hundred devotees...

By Abhishek Joshi

The process took 3-4 months including script writing and reviewing, soundtrack making, casting, promoting, rehearsing, organising, and many of the team members had sleepless nights just so that they could deliver an offering of real value as a tribute. Something Spiritual began at the end of 2015 with a goal of bringing together people who have amazing talents and engaging them in the service of something bigger than themselves - in the service of Krishna. So far, they have put on 4 small plays, launched a music album, and have reached a milestone with this production. There were many senior members and devotees of ISKCON and Bhaktivedanta Manor who were present to give their blessings at the show. HG Jananivas Prabhu said that "the play just got better and better." HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami said "I have seen many dramas before, and I have also seen many dramas about Srila Prabhupada. But this was probably the best drama I have seen on Prabhupada so far." Continue reading "“Something Spiritual” – Srila Prabhupada Production
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Iskcon Los Angeles - New Dvaraka - Initiation ceremony 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The chanting of the holy nam...

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya Bhagavata on the occasion of Gundica Marjana and the disappearance of Sri Gadadhara Pandita and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

“After taking darshan of Lord Jagannatha with great bliss, Lord Nityananda went to see Gadadhara Pandit at Tota Gopintha temple. Gadadhara and Nityananda loved each other very much. There, seeing the three-fold bending form of Gopinath, Lord Nityananda cried incessant tears of joy. Hearing of Nitai’s arrival Gadadhara Pandit stopped reciting Srimad-Bhagavatam and immediately ran to greet the Lord.” (Sri Caitanya Bhagavata Antya 6)

“This is another feature of Gadadhara Pandit—he is very learned and he loved to recite Srimad-Bhagavatam. Lord Caitanya would hear him recite Srimad-Bhagavatam and heard the pastimes of Dhruva Maharaja and Prahlada Maharaja hundreds of times.” — Giriraj Swami

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Kirtan lead by Sarvatma dasa
Je Anilo Prema Dvana lead by Sarvama dasa
Talk by Giriraj Swami
Nrsimha Prayers lead by Giriraj Swami

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45th Sri Jagannath Rathyatra,ISKCON Kolkata (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Kr...

Rath Yatra festival begins in Puri.
Bhubaneswar: The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings began on Wednesday amidst a congregation of lakhs of devotees in Puri.
Lakhs of people have converged to have a glimpse of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on the Bada Danda (Grand Road). They will travel to Gundicha temple on three giant wooden chariots to be pulled by the devotees.
A multi-layered security system has been put in place to keep a strict vigil on the movement of people and traffic management as the district administration expects around 10 lakh devotees during the nine-day annual chariot festival, said Director General of Police K. B. Singh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday wished the nation on the occasion of the Rath Yatra.
“On the occasion of Rath Yatra, my warmest greetings to you all. May Lord Jagannath continue to shower his blessings on everyone,” Modi tweeted.
“May the blessings of Lord Jagannath lead to development of villages, well-being of poor and farmers and take India to new heights of progress,” he added.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion of the Rath Yatra.
“Heartfelt greetings on this joyous and most auspicious occasion of #RathaJatra. Jai Jagannath!,” Patnaik tweeted.
The Rath Yatra is an annual celebration, marking the journey of the deities from the 12th century Jagannath Temple in the chariots to the temple of Devi Gundicha, their aunt.
The celebration ends nine days later with Bahuda Yatra or return journey to their temple, which will take place on July 14.
The rituals relating to the festival started early on Wednesday morning. The Pahandi of the deities began around 10 a.m. and was completed by 2 p.m.
After the deities are placed on their respective chariots, Puri King Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb will perform Chhera Panhara on the chariots.
After the departure of Gajapati, the chariot pulling would begin, said Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief Suresh Mohapatra.
Live coverage: http://odishatv.in/otv-live-tv/