Planet ISKCON

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Our false ego prevents us from looking at our own faults. It makes it difficult for us to acknowledge our faults and therefore, instead of being introspective, we see those faults in others. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, “Because I am myself honeycombed with faults, I see the faults of others”. If you spot it, you have got it. In the realm of psychology it is said that if something about someone really bothers you, it’s usually because you have that fault. Of course, we usually don’t accept or acknowledge this. This is a powerful way to understand ourselves better. Say “Thank you!” One executive coach that works with very successful people teaches them to be open to feedback. He says that they when receiving feedback they must not use the words, “But”, “No”, and “However.” They should just say “Thank you!” Continue reading "Humility and Faultfinding
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It’s raining a lot during this Jagannath Ratha-yatra (1 min video)
But still, devotees are amazing at Bangkok Thailand!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/yqiWfh

Texas is known for being big in everything. Well, now, Dallas is doing big in book distribution: No. 3 in the USA for May. The temple had a great month with 3,695 book points: an increase of 824%. The temple president, Nityananda Prabhu, is enthusiastic to distribute full sets of Srila Prabhupada's books, and this is where most of the book points are coming from. He's a great example of an ISKCON leader. While in Slovenia, I had the honor of distributing books with a veteran book distributor, Prahladananda Swami. In two years he'll celebrate his own golden jubilee; in other words, he's been distributing Srila Prabhupada's books for the past forty-eight years. While in Ljubljana, he approached someone he thought would be favorable, and she was and she got the mercy. You'll see from the attached photo why he knew she would be favorable. Continue reading "WSN May 2016 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Giriraj Swami: Today Hema Malini, the famed performer from India, visited the ISKCON Los Angeles temple, and I was reminded of when she and I were together on the stage of the ISKCON auditorium in Juhu, Mumbai. It was December, during the book-distribution marathon, and after the performance I asked the audience to come forward to purchase sets of Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya-caritamra, for concessional rates. The response was slow, so I leaned over and asked her if I could announce that she would autograph one book from each set, and she kindly agreed. After the announcement, people jumped out of their seats and rushed toward the stage, standing in long queues to get their sets of Srila Prabhupada’s books. And I thought, “This is the proper use of her name and fame—to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books.”

Today Hema Malini, the famed performer from India, visited the ISKCON Los Angeles temple, and I was reminded of when she and I were together on the stage of the ISKCON auditorium in Juhu, Mumbai. It was December, during the book-distribution marathon, and after the performance I asked the audience to come forward to purchase sets of Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya-caritamra, for concessional rates. The response was slow, so I leaned over and asked her if I could announce that she would autograph one book from each set, and she kindly agreed. After the announcement, people jumped out of their seats and rushed toward the stage, standing in long queues to get their sets of Srila Prabhupada’s books. And I thought, “This is the proper use of her name and fame—to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books.”

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 05/15/2016

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

Participating Directors: Anuttama, Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka and Sri Tulasi Manjari.

Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna, Radha-Krishna, Vraja

Participating Managers: Mukunda, Nitaicandra

Recording Secretary: Jamuna Jivani

1. Designate Remaining “Project” Topics to ECO-V Managers

Jamuna Jivani will compile a list of ECO-V’s projects list for everyone to review and the managers can discuss in their regular Thursday meetings.

2. External Grant Request: ISKCON Alachua

The Board indicated it is not currently funding additional external grants. Chaitanya Mangala will respond to Mukhya prabhu’s request and inform her.

3. Kripamaya’s Sabbatical Request

In anticipation of the opening of his upcoming Ramayana musical work, Kripamaya has requested a three-month sabbatical from June to August. The Board has agreed to this request with the stipulation that he be available should an additional Director be necessary to constitute a quorum for a vote.

4. Mukunda’s Monthly Report

Mukunda reported on the previous month’s projects:

• Working with, and engaging Krsna Nama prabhu part-time in various hands-on projects.
• Repaired the gates at the flower garden.
• Repaired some fencing at Nandagram and Bahulaban
• In the process of providing and taking inventory of the needed equipment to our various service locations.
• Helped with some of the logistics for Festival of Inspiration and Kuli Mela ‘16.
• Continuing to act as Chair of the Steering Committee meetings and help with the recent Village Association expansion.

Anticipated projects for the upcoming month:

• Clean and organize the area outside of the milking goshala
• Build a fence for Dharma the bull
• Continue to prepare sites to be used for upcoming festivals

5. Nitaicandra’s Monthly Report

Nitaicandra reported on the previous month’s projects:

• Ordered ox yokes (should be ready soon)
• Planted potatoes with Ranaka and Ray
• Started summer vegetable and flower seeds indoors about three weeks ago. Caitanya Bhagavat was caring for them.
• Cows have been moved to Bahulaban. Caitanya Bhagavat is caring for them.
• Tilled and planted a cover crop in community garden
• Krsnanama prabhu composted and mulched about 75% of our young trees in Madhuban.
• Mukunda and Krsnanama prabhus have been helping with the clean-up of the community garden
• A half dozen or so devotees claimed garden space in the Community Garden
• Strawberries arrived
• Vidya and Julie planted out flower starts in the teaching garden and her gardens.
• Meeting held at the Goshala to discuss how to best serve the cows, cow herds and guests. We came up with a plan to improve the overall appearance and ease of use, including moving the dung pile, improving drainage, adding gravel to road and parking area, and painting.

Anticipated projects for the upcoming month:

• Covering young fruit trees for cicada protection
• Planting out early seeds
• Plant strawberries
• Plant starts (tomatoes, eggplant, okra, peppers, herbs, etc.)
• Heavy mulching
• On-going maintenance
• As soon as the ox yokes arrive, we will kick start the ox program and resume training.

6. Monthly Team ECO-V Meetings

Ranaka, Mukunda and Nitaicandra are establishing monthly meetings for those involved in ECO-V projects with the intention of increasing camaraderie and cooperation between team members.

7. ECO-V’s Involvement in Kulimela 2016

For the upcoming Kulimela Festival, ECO-V plans to:

• Prepare sites to be used, including moving stones from the stage area, making the sites look presentable, building a fence and removing trees
• Offer tours of various locations with cows and gardens
• If possible, offer demos or workshops

8. Upstairs Bahulaban Barn Community Center Proposal Update

The Board has determined that in order to proceed with any plans for usage, first they must investigate possible health code requirements and have an evaluation made by a structural engineer. The Board asked Mukunda and Ranaka to work on those two issues and report their findings.

9. Village Association Liaison  – Service Description & Funding Request

The Board had a brief discussion on the topic, but due to time constraints, agreed to wait until the next meeting for further discussion.

10. Funding for Dump Trailer

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to invest in equipment to support its ongoing farming-related projects.

RESOLVED: The Board approves up to $10,250 for the purchase of a dump trailer.

June 27. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Remembering the Early Exchanges with Swamiji.
If the spiritual world is the real goal, then why do I keep going back to that infinitesimal span of time – the 1966 days? Prabhupada’s lila was so sweet then, and it was also a special time for me, the time when he lifted me out of the cycle of birth and death. I cannot help remembering it now. That remembrance reinforces my conviction not to fall back into material life. I am not clear yet, I am surrounded by temptations. I have not completed the process. My material desires can still attract me, especially if I forget how implicated in the material world I was before I met Prabhupada. But I gratefully remember those days in 1966, the first days of my spiritual life and the first days of Prabhupada’s mission in the West, by falling on my knees and thanking him.
I remember in the very early days when Swamiji started looking for a new building in New York City. We didn’t get one, and we had to stay at 26 Second Avenue. But there were adventures connected with the search. One time, we saw a place on the second floor somewhere that required a lot of work. The room was filled with lumber and was very dirty. After we checked it out, we went back to 26 Second Avenue and sat with Swamiji in his room. Swamiji turned to me and asked, “Mr. Secretary, what did you think of the place?” I gave my opinion, feeling important because of the way Prabhupada had addressed me. I was touched that he asked my opinion.
Why do I ever forget these little exchanges? Why don’t I always remember them and know that Prabhupada loves me, that my real relationship with him consists of typing for him, writing for him, always being his affectionate servant?
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=9

Remembering the Early Exchanges with Swamiji

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 September 2016, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Initiation Lecture)

When we speak about the third offence to the holy name, we speak about disobeying the orders of the spiritual master. But let us think about it in a different way – instead of disobeying orders, one can talk to the spiritual master. The spiritual master can always change the instruction if it can be changed. If the order is unchangeable then he can help us by giving us inspiration to carry on. So really, if the order is too difficult, then one must simply take shelter.

But if somehow, one disobeys the order of the spiritual master, even then we still turn to the spiritual master because the spiritual master is our best friend and therefore he cannot be surprised, in terms of our behavior, it is not possible. If that happens, the spiritual master will very patiently say, ‘Alright, you broke everything, what to do… Let’s pick up the pieces and let’s put your spiritual life back together.’

So he is not going to condemn us for whatever we have done, for whatever mistake we have made. No! He will simply say, ‘Okay, now we have to deal with this.’  Of course, sometimes one gets entangled very much. I remember someone got entangled in a drug habit after initiation. Then the spiritual master said, ‘Well, we have a problem here! It’s going to take some time and it won’t be easy to solve it, but anyway we are in this together.’  In that way, the spiritual master is always with us.

Three stories from distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Tulasi Devi Dasi: I tried to speak to one man who quickly said, “No. No time! I said, "No time? What’s your job”? “Drug salesman”. “Really, what’s the biggest selling product”? “Maalox (for ulcers). "No time? You better take time to read this book or you’ll gave to take Maalox like everyone else”. He then said, “You’re right”. And quickly took a book and gave a donation.
I was speaking to a simple farmer who didn’t want a book but somehow in our conversation it came out that all his friends are dying of cancer, left and right. We were speaking about death and getting more serious about why we’re here. He then revealed to me that one real close friend of his had two months to live – cancer in the liver. And he told me that he wouldn’t want to be told that he had only two months to live. So I said, “I would! "Then I showed him the inside cover of S.B of Pariksit Maharaj how he only had seven days to live and that it was a blessing, a big warning for us to get serious in our spiritual life and forget everything else. Whew! What a benediction it would be!”
He completely changed, lit up and said, “Yes, your right! And took a book to find out more.
Boy, Baptist. "No, against my beliefs. I’m satisfied with blind faith.” I said, “No, we need philosophy. Just like Jimmy Swaggert, he also has blind faith. But he’s still on the 10th class spiritual platform with no philosophy. We should progress with philosophy and devotion, if we act on that blind faith, then God becomes pleased and gives us deeper realization, then it is no longer useless blind faith. Then we do more of what the Lord wants and He gives us more realization. So these books are filled with all kinds of knowledge of those progressing through the different stages of spiritual life”.
He then said, “That makes sense”, and took the highest philosophy of Krsna consciousness in the form of one of Prabhupada’s books.
Your Servant,
Tulasi Devi Dasi

Mathura: Police lays out plan to prevent cow smuggling.
Mathura district administration today chalked out a plan to foil cow smuggling, a day after a truck was set ablaze and the National Highway 2 blocked by residents of Chaumuhan area here after the vehicle was found carrying carcasses of 30 cows.
“The district has been divided into four sectors. Thorough checking would be done at every entry point,” district police chief Babloo Kumar said.
Asked about yesterday’s incident, he said police will soon find out who had brought the cows, how and from where were they being transported and from where the cattle were purchased.
The district has been divided into four sectors and thorough checking would be done at every entry point, says district police chief Babloo Kumar.
Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/mathura-police-lays-out-plan-to-prevent-cow-smuggling-2872304/

ISKCON Auckland New Zealand: Harinam sankirtana (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “If one only chants, with some slight faith, the holy names of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, then very quickly he is cleansed of all offences. Thus as soon as he chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, he feels the ecstasy of love for God.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.31)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/CMZ2m5

Traveling Kirtan Experience.
Photos from the Traveling Kirtan Experience bus tour in North America, May 21-June 27, 2016.
...

Why the millennial craze for chanting is the new clubbing.
As Glastonbury comes to a close, festivals now are all about returning to their spiritual roots.
As you read this, Glastonbury-goers will be raising themselves from their tents, fuzzy from too many ciders after watching Adele last night. But forget the hangover bacon butty — the twenty-something hedonist crowd will be heading instead to the West Holts field to do some kirtan, call-and-response chanting based on ancient Indian texts, to clear their heads.
Friday night in London, and it’s a similar story. At the fortnightly candlelit kirtan at Mantra Lounge in Covent Garden, among the 100-strong crowd swaying rhythmically to the brass cymbals and chants of Radha Govinda, are blissed-out millennials, kicking off the weekend with…
Source: http://goo.gl/qkespC

Rathayatra in Poland (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/qP9FLl

Conversation in Istanbul.

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Istanbul.

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People generally pray for material benefits: “O God, give us our daily bread. Give me nice position. Give me nice wife, nice following or this or victory,” so on, so on, so on, simply for material enjoyment. My Guru Mahäräja used to say that if we pray to God for all these nonsense things, it is just like a man goes to a king and the king says, “Whatever you want you can ask from me,” and if the man says, “Kindly give me a pinch of ashes.” It is like that. If we ask from God for some material benefit, it means that I am asking from a king a pinch of ashes. When king says that “You ask whatever you want,” he can say, “So give me half the kingdom.” That should be the prayer. And why a pinch of ash? Similarly, it is our foolishness. When we ask for bread, “O God, give us our daily bread,” that means I am asking. The bread is already there. Why for you? For everyone, for all living entities, the bread is already there given by God. Eko yo bahünäà vidadhäti kämän. The elephant is not going to the church for praying, “Give me food.” He is supplied in the jungle food. A tiger is supplied food. Even ant is supplied food within the hole. Who is going to supply food there? How they are eating? How they are living? How they are begetting children? The same thing is there. Ähära-nidrä-bhaya-maithuna—everything is there in the ant, in the elephant. Who is supplying their necessities? Continue reading "Our prayers to Krishna
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Lord Gauranga’s Mercy Flows in Yaddugudem Village.
Yaddugudem in Telugu has an interesting meaning. Yaddu implies bull and gudem is village, therefore the village of bull. Within two hours the devotees entered the village. One 61-years old Sri Ram temple appeared right at the entrance of the village. It also marked the center of all village activities! It was interesting to know that the villagers still followed the practice of assembling in the temple to sing the glories of Sri Ram in padyams every Ekadasi. The village could be considered as one of the cleanest that they had ever visited during their Yatra. It was also the greenest village. Their spiritual inclination was showing in everything – in their daily activities. Later the devotees also realized that the village was completely vegetarian, with a few stray cases of meat eating appearing in the newer generation. This was a pleasant surprise for the devotees, especially in the Telangana region. Jananivas prabhu compared it to Prahlad maharaj’s appearance in the clan of demons.
As the villagers realized the arrival of Yatra devotees, they gave a hearty welcome to all of them right at the entrance of their village, Sri Ram temple! They personally washed every devotee’s feet with water and welcomed them. After sweet exchanges, the program moved forward. Bhakta Paramdham had well coordinated every activity with necessary ground work. Haridas prabhu offered the bhoga to the deities of Sri Ram for distribution. Thereafter the Yatra team walked to a community hall, which was slated to be the venue of the program. As the devotees reached there, they could see eager faces of children, women and other villagers. One beautiful gomata was also there, waiting for the performance of her ceremonious worship.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/95zkfj

Chatris are elevated dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indian architecture. They are commonly used to depict the elements of dignity and honor in architecture. The word chatri means “canopy” or “umbrella.” The word chatri is also used to refer to the small pavilions that mark the corners and roof of entrance of a major building. They are widely used in palaces or in forts. They originated in Rajasthani architecture and were used as memorials for kings and royalty. These pavilions are purely decorative and announce the caliber and wealth of the owner. The TOVP is a physical expression of the Perfection of our Gaudiya Vaishnava Philosophy. Thus, chatris are the ideal structural symbols of spiritual opulence to decorate our rooftop. ISKCON is an international society with the focused intention of uniting all Peoples under one umbrella with one common cause. Hence, this creative fusion of various spiritual cultural elements is easily perceived in the architecture of our chatris. Continue reading "TOVP: The Progression of the Chatri Artisan Work Continues
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For distribution to the general public 1 tons of oranges arrived, sponsored by Dina Dharini mataji, which was offered to the Lord. Balinese and bharata natyam dances were performed by the devotee girls to open the ceremony. Speech was given by the leader of Malang Hindu Parisad, that he really appreciated the festival. Short class about the origin of ratha yatra was given by HH Kavicandra Swami Maharaj. A recorded lecture from HH Subhag Swami Maharaj covering Jagannatha’s pastimes, Prabhupada’s instructions and personal sadhana to remain fixed up in Krsna Consciousness was translated by Sachi Putra prabhu. Continue reading "Lord Jagannath welcomed by Cultural Carnival and Ramadhan in Jogjakarta, Indonesia
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The Chinese government has outlined a plan to reduce its citizens’ meat consumption by 50%, in a move that climate campaigners hope will provide major heft in the effort to avoid runaway global warming.

Chinese health officials are urging the nation’s 1.3 billion citizens to cut their meat consumption in half to prevent heart disease, diabetes and other diet-related illnesses. Director James Cameron and movie star/former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger think that's a great idea, and are starring in a series of PSAs to spread the word in the U.S.

"Our loyalty also lies with India, this being the country that accepted us almost 2,500 years ago, and one of the only countries in the world which never persecuted the Jews in all these years,” Mr. Samuel said.

June 26. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Signing In the Incorporation.
Prabhupada is lecturing.
Mr. Goldsmith, wearing slacks and a shirt and tie, sits on the floor near the door, listening earnestly to the lecture, despite the distracting noises from the neighbourhood. Prabhupada has been explaining how scholars mislead innocent people with nondevotional interpretations of the Bhagavad-gita, and now, in recognition of the attorney’s respectable presence, and as if to catch Mr. Goldsmith’s attention better, he introduces him into the subject of the talk.
I will give you a practical example of how things are misinterpreted. Just like our president, Mr. Goldsmith, he knows that expert lawyers, by interpretation, can do so many things. When I was in Calcutta, there was a rent tax passed by the government, and some expert lawyer changed the whole thing by his interpretation. The government had to re-enact a whole law because their purpose was foiled by the interpretation of this lawyer. So we are not out for foiling the purpose of Krishna, for which the Bhagavad-gita was spoken. But unauthorized persons are trying to foil the purpose of Krishna. Therefore, that is unauthorized.
All right, Mr. Goldsmith, you can ask anything.
Mr. Goldsmith stands, and to the surprise of the people gathered, he makes a short announcement asking for signers on an incorporation document for the Swami’s new religious movement.
Prabhupada: They are present here. You can take the addresses now.
Mr. Goldsmith: I can take them now, yes.
Prabhupada: Yes, you can. Bill, you can give your address. And Raphael, you can give yours. And Don … Roy … Mr. Greene.
As the meeting breaks up, those called on to sign as trustees come forward, standing around in the little storefront, waiting to leaf cursorily through the pages the lawyer has produced from his thin attaché, and to sign as he directs. Yet not a soul among them is committed to Krishna consciousness.
Mr. Goldsmith meets his quota of signers – a handful of sympathizers with enough reverence toward the Swami to want to help him. The first trustees, who will hold office for a year, “until the first annual meeting of the corporation,” are Michael Grant (who puts down his name and address without ever reading the document), Mike’s girlfriend, Jan, and James Greene. No one seriously intends to undertake any formal duties as trustee of the religious society, but they are happy to help the Swami by signing his fledging society into legal existence.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=9

Signing In the Incorporation

Kadamba Kanana Swami: Recently, I received this photo. It was a school excursion. We went out for a day on a boat tour through the city of Amsterdam. I was 14 years old. Later on that day, we also went to the zoo. Recently via the internet, I got in touch with my biology teacher of those days, named Martin van Haagen. He posted this school photo. His message was entitled, “Fifty years ago.” That is a long time indeed. We are writing to each other at the moment and it’s a pleasant exchange. Martin hasn’t told me yet how old he is at the moment, but I would expect he is somewhere around 80. He was curious to know what had become of me and was surprised to find out that I had become a Swami. He thought that I was reserved and introvert in those days, and he thought that maybe I would have achieved something in sport. Well, there is no doubt that I was fit in those days and good at sports. I used to sail and play tennis and football, but then music took over and eventually spiritual life!