Planet ISKCON

The Sannyasa Ministry offers the following opportunities to support Srila Prabhupada's mission in the training and selection of candidates for sannyasa.
The following services are open:
1. Secretary
2. Assistant Secretary
Please find the job description and requirements posted below. If you cannot fulfill all the duties listed, it is possible that you could be part of a team where the responsibilities are shared.
If you are interested please write and email to Bhakti Prabhava Swami, who will send you an application form.
Hoping this meets you in the best of health.
On behalf of the Sannyasa Ministry,
Prahladananda Swami
Minister of Sannyasa Services
SECRETARY FOR THE MINISTRY OF SANNYASA
Responsible for:
1) The communication with sannyasa applicants, sannyasa candidates, senior devotees and the members of the Sannyasa Committee and the TASC (Team for Assessment of Sannyasa Candidates)
2) The coordination of the functioning of various committees (mission committee, newsletter committee, budget committee, etc.); reports to the Ministry and the TASC
3) Coordination with assistant secretaries and regional representatives
4) Screening and processing applications for sannyasa
5) Organising and facilitating conference calls with the TASC and committees
6) Website maintenance
7) Updating files/database
8) Attending meetings during the GBC AGM
9) Taking minutes during conference calls
Skills/Experience:
A good command of the English language
Knowledge of, and practical experience with Microsoft Word, Excel
Proficient in email communication
Experience in website management (in particular Wordpress)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR THE MINISTRY OF SANNYASA
Responsible for:
1) The communication with sannyasa candidates
2) Collection of data from sannyasa candidates (preaching itineraries/travel records/ contacts of visited ISKCON centres)
3) Sending requests for evaluation of sannyasa candidates to senior devotees, recommending GBCs, mentors, proposed sannyasa gurus, etc.
4) Collecting feedback reports and prepare them for discussion with the TASC (Team for Assessment of Sannyasa Candidates) members during weekly conference calls.
5) Sending reminders to Sannyasa Candidates with regard to their duties.
6) Performing various administrative tasks in assistance of the TASC
Skills/Experience:
A good command of the English language
Knowledge of, and practical experience with Microsoft Word, Excel
Experience with Internet communications

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Dear TOVP Donors and Well-Wishers,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

dadati pratigrhnati
guhyam akhyati prcchati
bhunkte bhojayate caiva
sad-vidham priti-laksanam

Offering gifts and accepting gifts, revealing one’s mind in confidence and inquiring confidentially, accepting prasada and offering prasada – these are the six symptoms of love shared by devotees.

Nectar of Instruction, Text 4

Our policy at the TOVP fundraising department has always been based on these instructions from Rupa Goswami’s Upadesamrta. Asking for your hard-earned money is a sensitive task no matter how worthy the purpose, but as we ask from our hearts with love, so you are also giving from yours in the same way. We also do our best to reciprocate with appropriate gifts and offerings. We try to be as forthright and honest in revealing our plans, finances and construction updates, as you are to us when inquiring about various matters. Just as many of you fed us sumptuously during our tours around the world, we are mailing maha-prasadam to many of our donors and if we ever have the opportunity, we will certainly feed you with prasadam in Mayapur.

In order to further the above purposes, and with Ambarisa prabhu’s full approval and inspiration, we have formed a TOVP communications team at our Mayapur office, staffed by several initiated and dedicated devotees. In order to reach devotees in different countries throughout the world, they will be actively making calls around the clock. In the years to come they will serve many functions in improving our service both to you and to the TOVP, such as:

1. Inspiring devotees around the world about this project
2. Providing you with construction updates
3. Helping you arrange your donations
4. Informing you of special events related to the TOVP
5. Maintaining and updating our donor database
6. Raising awareness and answering general questions about the TOVP

In this way we will feel like a worldwide team, all working together for a common purpose in the construction of the TOVP. As Srila Prabhupada said, “Your love for me will be shown by how well you cooperate together.” This effort will be an offering of service to him in this spirit, and we pray that everyone involved will receive his blessings. We hope you will look forward to hearing from us as much as we look forward to speaking to you. This loving reciprocation will enhance our Krishna consciousness and forward march back to Godhead.

If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me at the email address below.

Your servant,

Braja Vilas das
Global Fundraising Director
*protected email*

The post Keeping in Touch. Expanding Our Outreach appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

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During the Bangladesh ISIS attack on a café frequently visited by foreigners, which is in the headlines of the world media, an ISKCON devotee was attacked in the district of Satkhira, 300 km from Dhaka, on the border of India. A devotee Bhavasindhu Dasa Adhikari had just finished his bath at the local center and was preparing for the Mangal Aarti at 4:15 am when the temple was stormed by three individuals bearing sharp weapons like machetes

Please Give me Something more!
Shastra Krit Dasa: Yesterday in Parammatta Sydney one gentle westernised Indian lady came to me while i was on book distribution and said “I want to buy a set of Srimad Bhagavatam.” I almost fell on the ground in shock. I couldn’t believe someone wants a set while I’m struggling to sell even one book.
Then I asked how she knew about the Srimad Bhagavatam. She said I gave her the book “Science of Self-Realization” last month. She read it cover to cover and she loved it. Believe it or not she was a born again Christian before reading the SSR. Now she is a vegetarian, chanting Hare Krishna, came to our Parramatta Saturday feast and took her set of SB (against the will of her still born again Christian husband). She even changed her son’s name from Joshua to Arjuna.
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Radhanatha Swami's new book "The Journey Within" has been listed as a New York Times best seller on the "Religion, Spirituality and Faith" list. 

Preaching program in Israel (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra is specifically mentioned in many Upanisads, such as the Kali-santarana Upanishad, where it is said: “After searching through al the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.40 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/LkpKrA

6 TIPS FOR GIVING A CLASS
A friend recently wrote me who is giving Bhagavatam class for the first time asking me for some tips. It’s a very, very big subject, there are volumes of books and courses devoted to this topic.
After some consideration I wrote him the following 6 points that I feel are essential. There are many, many other things to consider, but I think these will be helpful for anyone who has to give class.
=============
1) PREPARE: Please, please, please prepare ahead of time, take notes if necessary. Some devotees like to use scraps of paper to remind them of essential points. Often times when I’m going to give a class I’ll read the verse a few days ahead of time and immediately note down any ideas that come to me. Over the following days I read it a few times and often think about it, noting down any ideas I may have. It’s true that Srila Prabhupada wanted devotees to be able to speak spontaneously. That will come easier after much study and practice. In the mean time it is good (both for yourself and for the listeners) for you to prepare.
2) HAVE A MESSAGE: Read the verse and purport ahead of time and see what it says to *you*. Say something that is relevant and helpful for the listeners. The most important element of speech (and writing) is that you have a message. Best is if it is something so important to you that it is burning in your heart. When you have a clear message that is important to you, people will be interested to hear.
3) MAKE A STRUCTURED PRESENTATION: When you are preparing, make a structure, with an introduction that will catch their attention, then develop the subject in a systematic way until you get to your conclusion.
4) RELAX AND RESPECT YOUR LISTENERS: Relax and talk to your friends as if you were having a discussion. Even if you are terrified, *fake* that you are calm (after a few minutes you may convince yourself that everything is okay). There is nothing worse than someone who is stiff and speaking “at” the listeners. Be honest. Be yourself. You are with friends. Don’t treat your listeners like children, treat them as thoughtful mature devotees, and don’t speak to them the same way you do the non-devotees (again these are your FRIENDS). You can even beg them for their blessings (highly recommended) and explain that this is the first time you have done this. Ask them for their tolerance and help, but don’t whine and appear weak and useless. If you appear too nervous (even if you are) they may feel subtly annoyed and think, “If he is so nervous and has nothing to say, then why is he taking our time.” RESPECT THEM.
5) QUOTE SASTRA AND ACARYAS: Very important: Repeat what you have heard from your Guru Maharaja, sastra, and the previous acaryas in your own words. They will bless you if you do, and the listeners will be pleased. You are representing Srila Prabhupada and the movement of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. We should speak in a way that will be a good reflection on them.
6) DON’T THINK IT BELONGS TO YOU: It’s not your message. It belongs to guru, Krishna and our previous acaryas, we are just humble instruments. Giving class, like offering aratika is a service. I often give an example in this regard: Imagine a pujari doing the aratika for Sri Sri Radha Madhava in ISKCON Mayapur on Gaura Purnima day. If the pujari opens the kirtans, looks at the thousands of devotees gathered there and thinks, “They all came to see me!” Then that pujari is a rascal. He is doing a humble service on behalf of his guru and the assembled Vaishnavas. Similarly, giving class is a service to Hari, Guru, and the Vaishnavas. It is not for our mundane fame and false prestige.
Ys
Madhavananda das GGS

National Geographic has created a new documentary movie about Lord Jagannath. It will be shown July the 4th.
Here is the 1 min....

He’s a trip monk!
Ben Hohenstatt: 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 Bhaktiredanta Swami Prabhupreda 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.”
Source: http://goo.gl/JmeeJH

July 2. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Satsvarupa Brahmacari Caitanya-caritamrta, Morning Lecture Notes 1966.
The Absolute Truth is one, but seen differently according to a person’s capacity. There are three aspects of the Absolute Truth. One is Brahman, which is like the rays of the sun. (After the lecture, we devotees discussed what he said, and there was confusion and disagreement about the word that sounds like Brahma. So we asked Swamiji in his room. He made it clear. There are three words that sound alike. I think I’ve got them right. Brahma is the name of the demigod, Lord Brahma. Brahman is the impersonal feature of the Absolute, the rays. And a brahmin is the higher class person who knows the Vedas.)
Someone may say the sun is just fire, but it is a planet containing varieties of life. Vedic literature says every planet has variegated life. On the sun, the fiery element is prominent. The living entities are made of fire.
The original effulgence is from Krishna. That Brahman effulgence contains all the spiritual planets. We cannot study even a millionth of His energy. It is futile to deny Krishna because we cannot estimate His energies.
The Brahman effulgence is without transcendental bliss. It is the eternal aspect. Peaceful santa-rasa. Krishna says I’ve described in a nutshell some of My potencies, but you can know by one part of My energy I sustain all the universes; and I’m in the hearts of all living entities.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=10

Satsvarupa Brahmacari Caitanya-caritamrta, Morning Lecture Notes 1966

HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj gave seminar on “Krishna’s pastimes outside Vrindavan” at Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish Temple, New Dwarka, Los Angeles from 27th June to 30th June 2016. Please watch the video lectures of the seminar at:

The post Seminar by Bhakti Charu Swami at Los Angeles appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

HH Bhakti Charu Swami leads segment 14 (6pm-7pm) of the 24 hour kirtan in New Vrindaban, WV. Please watch the Kirtan video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-m2jPHLxsg

The post Bhakti Charu Swami at New Vrindavan Kirtan Mela 2016 appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj gave Sunday love feast class at Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish Temple, Los Angeles on 26th June 2016. Please watch video lecture at  

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Yesterday I had another PET or full body scan. I rose around my usual time but had to be especially focused on finishing my morning duties before I had to leave at 7: 15 AM. Thus I chanted my japa, or my morning meditation on the names of God, first thing, read for a few minutes, and jumped into the shower. Donning devotional attire and tilak I went downstairs to wake the Deities with official prayers, and then offering my prayers for the day and my life—to offer it for the best service possible and to benefit as many people as possible.

I began my morning worship of my shilas and all our Deities. Preparing their breakfast and then offering my Lords their bath, arotik, and food offering, I removed the worship paraphernalia and offering trays from the altar and washed everything. I packed up what was now Prasad, or sanctified food, since I had to fast from food and drink. Then I packed all the herbal remedies, potions and pills, and changed into my regular dress. I packed my computer, iPod for listening to lectures, and books to read and distribute. Saying goodbye to my wife and making my last prayers to our Deities that they may accompany and guide me, I was out the door and on the road, on time.

Driving can be a time for listening to lectures and contemplate what I hear, and also a time for deep thought about my life, and life and death in general. We are bombarded with reminders of the four fold miseries (re-birth, old age, disease, and death) on the Net and throughout our day. I am supposed to be happy that the US Air-force killed 250 ISIS fighters, and sad with the unfortunate death of 50 persons at a night club in Florida.

What about all the bugs my car kills on my windshield or grill, or the many animals or “roadkill” splattered on the side or in the middle of the road? Down the road GMO corn is grown, while the bee, song bird and frog populations are diminishing as Roundup poisons go into the groundwater and forests are made into paper. Problems are everywhere.

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Govardhana Trail in New Govardhana, Australia.
Kishori devi dasi: Lying across two states – Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in India – there is a mystical mountain called ‘Govardhana’. Govardhana is located in the middle of a forest called Vrindavana, the birthplace of the Lord, Sri Krishna. This mountain is considered sacred and non-different from Krishna Himself.
Nowadays there are still some pockets of the Vrindavana forest remaining and although Govardhana has reduced in size externally and is now more of a hill, it still remains lushly green. Here, in Eungella, the Hare Krishna Community is called ‘New Govardhana’, named after this sacred Govardhana in India.
A member of the community at New Govardhana, Maha-mantra dasa has taken up the task of creating a replica of Govardhana at the farm.
Braj Gauranga dasa provided initial funding for the excavation works five years ago, setting Maha-mantra off to a good start.
So far Indian-style bathing steps have been built, lakes dug out and filled, trees planted, a small hill created, with a beautifully painted pavilion built, as well as many shady shelters along the walking path.
Maha-mantra is working towards landscaped gardens and displaying impressive statues and dioramas depicting various pastimes that occurred at Govardhana in India more than 5000 years ago.
He aims to create a wonderful meditative space that everyone can appreciate, both members of the Hare Krishna community as well as guests and visitors

Sew armor and mace. Step by step tutorial.
So the process. I describe the creation of armor for Arjuna, then the costume of Lor...

The post Daily Darshan: July 1st, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

NBS # 40: The Ecstatic Dancing Of Lord Chaitanya.
With the upcoming Jagannatha Rath Yatra Festival, this special issue covers Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s ecstatic dancing in the mood of Srimati Radharani during the Rath Yatra Festival.
We pray that this issue brings some pleasure to the devotees of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
NBS # 40 Features:-
1) Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is nondifferent from Srimati Radharani
His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
2) The Cart Festival
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
3) Ecstatic Dancing Of Lord Chaitanya
Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Goswami
4) Transcendental Competition Between Lord Jagannatha And Lord Chaitanya
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur
This issue can be viewed through these links:
ISSUU: http://issuu.com/nbsmag/docs/nbs_40
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/doc/317203923/NBS-40

“Worship of Radha-Krishna Deities is the ultimate pinnacle of Deity worship, and it must be done with the utmost caution and attention to every detail of giving opulent service. I am not recommending more temples to install Radha-Krishna Deities until I have become more convinced that they can properly manage. At least five to ten persons must be engaged full time to worship Radha-Krishna properly, and for any small temple especially that is a detrimental factor to maintaining the highest standard in other temple activities besides, because there are not enough men. You may worship Lord Jagannatha, or if you like to install Gaura-Gauranga, Gaura-Nitai, or simply Gaura Deity, He is also very liberal and will forgive and tolerate any service offered to Him even by Jagai and Madhai.” Srila Prabhupada letter to Gunagrahi July 3, 1972

Will Isopanisad change his mind?
Recently, while I was distributing in Ljubljana (Slovenia), I approached a man and offered him an Isopanisad.
I asked him, “What’s your name?”
“My name is Mrtu.”
“Interesting. It sounds like a Sanskrit word. This books tells about higher consciousness and unlocks inner happiness.”
He asked, “How do you feel about the theory of evolution?”
“There is no observable evidence,” I said, “so I don’t accept it as being true. It’s no more than a theory and will never be more than a theory.”
“I agree. And what about creation? How did all of this come about?”
“God is known as satya sankalpa, which means that whatever He wants, happens by His arrangement. There is an immense intelligence behind the creation — it’s not started by chance or the Big Bang.”
He mentioned that he’s a lawyer and speaks nine languages. I was impressed.
So I told him, “You’re very intelligent, and on top of that you have good energy. I want you to read this book. It will reveal to you things you’ve never thought of. We just ask for a donation.”
He said, “I’ll give you a donation, but keep the book.”
“No, no, more important than the donation is that you take the book,”
I said. He took the book and gave a donation, but what’s interesting is that as he gave me a donation he said, “I’ve never believed in God and never will.”
Hopefully the Isopanisad will change his frame of mind.
Your servant,
Vijaya Dasa

Istanbul Q/A.

The post Eternal relationship with guru appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

ISKCON was formed by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada who is a perfect student of such literatures. So where is the fault? The fault lies in me, in my heart. Not in ISKCON. Look at it closely, whatever faults are found in ISKCON some are ones that I myself brought into it. Of course, ISKCON was formed so that any man or woman suffering from the pangs of material life can come and learn to free themselves from such troubles. But the troubles and problems I find in ISKCON are not ISKCON's, they are mine. Within ISKCON I will find the perfect yoga system for self realization as taught by numerous saints and sages of the past. I will also find that all of its members, though sincere in their desires, are not perfect, but neither am I. As we enter ISKCON we bring with a bundle of problems with us, which, get dealt out to those devotees around us. I may be a pure spirit soul but I am a pure spirit soul who is conditioned by material nature. Continue reading "Where is the fault in ISKCON?
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It was a hot, muggy day in lower Manhattan during the month of May 1966. I pedalled to 26 Second Avenue where I met the Swami, a friend named Carl and the rental agent, Paul Gardiner, a short, chunky man who was wearing blue denim trousers and a white, short-sleeved t-shirt. We hired the storefront at 26 Second Avenue for $100 per month and a first-storey flat in the same building for $85 per month. The storefront soon became a temple, and the Swami lectured there every day. By October he was hosting philosophical discussions in his small flat. On 13 July 1966 I signed a paper that became the Swami’s first corporation. It was called The International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON. I didn’t really think it very important at the time and really didn’t care. I thought that whatever the Swami wanted was okay. Continue reading "ISKCON Begins!
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Sivarama Swami talks about his personal experience as a refugee fleeing Hungary in 1956, about his recent encounters with Syrian refugees in Budapest, and about the ancient Indian scriptures' teachings of how to treat people who are "different" from us. The video's timeliness is reinforced again by the increasing xenophobia in the wake of Brexit, Britan's leaving the European Union. A video by Karuna Productions.