​How can we make our intelligence like a mother for discipling the childish mind?
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​Three types of austerities – Gita 17.14-16 (Hindi)
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​Brahmachari class at ISKCON, Juhu

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What if science does something such as create life that spirituality says can’t be done?
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​If Krishna’s body is spiritual, how could Duryodhana see Krishna’s body?
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​If all paths lead to Krishna, then does a thief’s robbing take him to Krishna?
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Surrender is not just exalted sentiment but also practical action – Gita 18.66
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Can it be objectively proven that Sanatana dharma is the oldest religion?
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June 17. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. Satsvarupa…
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June 17. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Swamiji and the Boys.
When lunch was ready, Swamiji would wash his hands and mouth in the bathroom and come into the front room, his soft, pink-bottomed feet always bare, his saffron dhoti reaching down to his ankles. He would stand by the coffee table, which held the picture of Lord Caitanya and His associates, while his own associates stood around him against the walls. Keith would bring in a big tray of capātīs, stacked by the dozens, and place it on the floor before the altar table, along with pots of rice, dal and sabji. Swamiji would then recite the Bengali prayer for offering food to the Lord, and all present would follow him by bowing down, knees and head to the floor, and approximating the Bengali prayer one word at a time. While the steam and mixed aromas drifted up like an offering of incense before the picture of Lord Caitanya, the Swami’s followers bowed their heads to the wooden floor and mumbled the prayer.
Prabhupada then sat with his friends, eating the same prasadam as they, with the addition of a banana and a metal bowl full of hot milk. He would slice the banana by pushing it downward against the edge of the bowl, letting the slices fall into the hot milk.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=9

Kirtan In The Gobi Desert, Mongolia
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In 1996, several foreign ISKCON devotees who were visiting Mongolia, held kirtan in the streets of the capital, Ulaanbaatar. They were immediately caught and deported. For almost 20 years now the streets of the country have remained silent of the singing of Krishna's holy names. ISKCON's renewed status as a religious organization, however, now allows Indradyumna Swami and his group to sing freely everywhere with prior permission (A video by Ananta Vrindavan).

ISKCON Gears Up For Incorporation Day
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After years of planning for its 50th anniversary, and nearly six months of celebrations this year so far, ISKCON is now gearing up for its Golden Jubilee Incorporation Day on July 13th, 1966. And temples, centers, and individual devotees all over the world are getting ready to do something big for founder Srila Prabhupada, whom many feel they owe their lives to.

Tuesday, June 14th, 2016
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Tuesday, June 14th, 2016
Gary, Indiana

Down A Mulberry Trail

When I see a ripened mulberry tree, which is frequent enough, I do what my siblings and I did throught our orchard summer days.  I pluck at the fruit.  Some of the sweetened morsels stain my kurta(shirt).  Add that to the swirling formations of body-salt coming through from the sweat, and you come up with the copy of a cheap tie-dye job.  Despite all, I manage to, or try to, look neat and fresh on the job.  It’s always the reputation of your guru that’s at stake.  Never act or dress like a slob.

Incidentally, when I left the mulberry tree and beach, residential territory behind, I came closer to Gary, Indiana’s neighbourhoods.  I found it easy to befriend people.  One area, which was particularly socially-challenged, expressed its disposition like this:

I stepped over to a man, who was sitting in front of a barber shop.  We shook hands and I told him I’m walking to San Francisco.  Jim was his name.  I told Jim that this “hood” has a lot of people who walk.

“Hey, man,” says Jim, “when you’re on an overdose you won’t be driving a car.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.”  It hearkened a sad laughter.

I also came upon a police officer, a woman, who was parked at a boarded-up, old gas station, which was adjacent to an abandoned shop, at the intersection where a stop light is no longer functional.  I wanted to let her know what I’m doing and why I’m here.  I stood right by her squad car with her in it, forever.  She ignored me and kept at her computer.  I left.  I asked myself, “Is everything dysfunctional?”

May the Source be with you!

20 miles



Monday, June 13th, 2016
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Monday, June 13th, 2016
Dunes at Lake Michigan, Indiana

Walk, Don’t Run!

There were an array of trails I did sojourn-- on the lakeshore of Michigan City, along dunes of some magnitude, then along the Calumet Trail, populated by puddles, and finally a stretch alongside Highway 12.

However, ZIP! Off we go to South Bend, back to Notre Dame University to meet Father Jim Bracke.  Our discussion was both light and grave.  I asked him about Martin Luther, the defected priest.

“That the Ecumenical Council II addressed this and admitted mistakes were made.”

I also asked him about the letter of the law, or going literal on scriptures but not on the spirit.  He confirmed that the spirit was more important.

I was also happy to hear that a men’s movement, of sorts, had arisen among the Catholics, concerning men taking more responsibility.

He had seen our style of beads (japa) before.  I was not there to preach, of course.  What was our team to tell him?  We were there to share, and in that light we offered him a copy of “Bhagavad-Gita As It Is.”

Now on my way to a massage appointment in Chicago, a woman at an intersection where I had crossed stopped her car and asked,

“Hey, honey, do me a favour.  Give me $2.50”

I could not share, because I hadn’t anything on me.

“You see, I’m a monk. I have nothing on me!”

“Really?”  She drove off.

Now Tony, who’s 62, did a good massage.  Once in a while he comes around to the Hare Krishna Temple to wash pots. When clients ask him about the best work-out, he shares a few things as follows:

1)    Walk, don’t run!
2)    Clean the house!
3)    Do some gardening!
4)    Eat veggies and greens

He was elated to work on my cross-country body.

“Ankle bones are perfect. That’s rare!”

And lastly, he remarked, “Your bones are dense, strong. That’s because you’re walking.”

May the Source be with you!

14 miles

Sunday, June 12th, 2016
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Sunday, June 12th, 2016
Michigan City, Indiana

Hunted

Catching our initial glimpse of Lake Michigan, one of those grandiose great lakes, put an acceleration in our step speed.  Uttama and I had trekked through the last of serene-form country before entering into this-- a world of cottages and their big draw-- the lake itself.

Going west was our route.  Once we came upon the lake, it was our determination to follow the shoreline as much as possible.  Who wouldn’t?

When navigation was switched over, between Uttama and Gopal, it was Gopal who became my walking companion.  One cyclist told us, “You’ve got the lake’s wind on your back.”  And so it was, a rather breezy, dynamic, and a not-too-hot amigo, in the form of wind, giving us blessings.

Now, before that experience, Gopal and I were puttering around, searching for a safe passage way to a more favourable trail.  While dodging the poison ivy, I noticed a poisonous copperhead snake we were about to accidentally step on.  It was a baby snake, and was conveniently camouflaged by its natural colourings.  Because he was small in size we didn’t take him too seriously, but he did expand his hood in defense, resembling a small cobra.

Personally, I found the whole affair exhausting, so I was pleased to find a “poison ivy free” path to a nicely shaded bike trail that seemed to stretch on for miles-- because it did.

May the Source be with you!

18 miles

Questioning our ethos
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Our modern society, at least since my birth since the seventies, has operated based on the idea that we live only one life/birth. The Bhagavad Gita on the contrary was spoken by Krishna on the basis that life is not limited to one birth. If we really want to understand Bhagavad Gita then we have to broaden our definition of life. We simply cannot cram the ideology of Bhagavad Gita to our singular lifetime with all of its’ natural, social, cultural, religious and economic ethos. If we do that, our understanding of the Gita will be tremendously skewed to the point where we will be forced to remove the idea of a Supreme Being. In other words, our understanding will be impersonal and at best conceptual. However, to broaden our vision of life beyond one birth is not a small thing because it basically brings to question everything we hold sacred and vile.

Hare Krishna

The same message comes again and again…
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2016, Radhadesh, Belgium, Vyasa Puja Address)

sarva mahā-guṇa-gaṇa vaiṣṇava-śarīre

kṛṣṇa-bhakte kṛṣṇera guṇa sakali sañcāre (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 22.75)

It is said that all the good qualities of Krsna will manifest within the body of a vaisnava. This is the amazing nature of Krsna consciousness. Because by serving the spiritual master… whatever the qualities are of the spiritual master, whatever the goals are of the spiritual master, whatever is important to the spiritual master, all of these becomes important to the disciple. So in this way, automatically we develop these qualities.

VP_2016 (29)If honesty is something outstanding for our spiritual master and we serve our spiritual master, then honesty will develop in us also. If we see mercy and compassion in Krsna, then naturally mercy and compassion will be qualities of his devotees. In this way, the qualities of Krsna will manifest within the devotees and from one devotee to other devotees. Bhakti is spread from one devotee to another devotee. It is a devotee who can actually enlighten, can light up the fire of inspiration in our heart. Without the devotee, it is not possible to progress in spiritual life. Who will give us the inspiration to do so?

Reading the Bhagavad-gita just by ourselves is difficult. But when a devotee presents the Bhagavad-gita and when a devotee takes the message of the Bhagavad-gita sincerely, then we will also take it seriously and therefore, Srila Prabhupada´s Bhagavad-gita As It Is touches us. It is not just commentary per se because the purports are not always explaining the verses. Sometimes Prabhupada is just calling for surrender, page after page. When I read the Bhagavad-gita, I felt so challenged by Srila Prabhupada´s purports because I felt that he is basically saying, “If you are sincere, then you should accept these arguments – they are logical and they are systematic. So you have no reason not to accept them. And if you accept them, then you have to surrender your life, and if you don´t surrender your life, you are not sincere.”

This was the message I got from reading purport after purport in the Bhagavad-gita. It was in this way that Bhagavad-gita chiselled away at my heart, at my determination and sort of forced me to change, to change my life. What to say? So this same message comes again and again, to all of us…

Transcribed by Tattvavati dd

Laulyam Lalasamayi
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Hare KrishnaBy Mahatma das

Yes, association of the pure devotees and sadhus and chanting Hare Krishna are the most important practices. But the point is that if a sufficient level of intensity to become Krishna conscious is not there, no one would do the practice. Good food is healthy, but it’s only healthy if you can digest it. Our eagerness to be Krishna conscious is our digestive power. If one develops this laulyam, or excessive eagerness for meeting and serving the Lord in a particular way, that is the price to enter into the kingdom of God. Otherwise, there is no material calculation for the value of the ticket by which one can enter the kingdom of God. The only price for such entrance is this laulyam lalasamayi, or desire and great eagerness.” (Nectar of Devotion Chapter 9) Continue reading "Laulyam Lalasamayi
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A Little Girl Who Emptied Her Piggybank for a Krsna Book!…
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A Little Girl Who Emptied Her Piggybank for a Krsna Book!
Pravin Wakle Prabhu and his team of young Youth Forum devotees at ISKCON Chowpatty very enthusiastically distribute books after work. Pravin works at a software firm in Lower Parel. After work he and his devotee friends put up stalls at either D-mart or at some spiritual event happening around the Thane / New Mumbai area.
Here’s one of the heart-warming experiences he told us about.


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“Relative Worlds”: Rare booklet by Srila…
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“Relative Worlds”: Rare booklet by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s now available for online reading.
Bhaktivedanta Research Centre: Although our website is under development, there are already quite a few features that are ready. For example, you can read a scanned copy of an original publication of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s “Relative Worlds” using the KOHA system on our site. Try it and let us know what you think.
To read it click here: http://goo.gl/EMYNNK

Ganga Puja Celebrations in Mayapur. Ganga Dusshera is a famous…
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Ganga Puja Celebrations in Mayapur.
Ganga Dusshera is a famous festival celebrated on the occasion of her merciful descent to earth. A grand Ganga Puja was offered at Prabhupad ghat, highlight being the spectacular Ganga Arthi with big, bright lamps. Srimati Ganga Devi, seated on her carrier crocodile, decorated in a new Sari and many flower garlands, accepted the puja and offerings. Many senior vaisnavas spoke on the glories of Ganga Devi and the pastime of her appearance in the earthly planet. Lotuses and ghee lamps were distributed and all the devotees offered them to Mother Ganga. A Maha Arati was offered to Ganga Mata at 6pm. All the devotees took bath in the pure waters of Ganga devi and offered deep prayers with gratitude for her appearance in this material world.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Vh08LG

The Position of Dhruvaloka. Understanding Dhruvaloka – By His…
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The Position of Dhruvaloka.
Understanding Dhruvaloka - By His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Dhruvaloka, or the polestar, is the abode of Lord Vishnu within this material world. Upon it there is an ocean of milk, and within that ocean there is an island known as Shvetadvipa. It is clearly indicated that this planet is situated above the seven planetary systems of the r.s.is , and because this planet is Vishnuloka, it is worshiped by all other planetary systems. Although the polestar existed before its occupation by Dhruva Maharaja, it had no predominating deity. Dhruvaloka, our polestar, is the center for all other stars and solar systems, for all of them circle around Dhruvaloka just as a bull crushes grains by walking around and around a central pole. Dhruva wanted the best of all planets, and although it was a childish prayer, the Lord satisfied his demand. A small child may demand something from his father which his father has never given to anyone else, yet out of affection the father offers it to the child; similarly, this unique planet, Dhruvaloka, was offered to Maharaja Dhruva.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/5odl40

UK PM David Cameron getting Bhagavad Gita
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By Nrsimhananda das

Some devotees asked me if Cameron had received a copy of Bhagavad-gita since there was no video of him receiving it. A little perspective on PM Cameron’s visit to the Manor. This was his second time, the first in 2006 when he was leader of the conservative party. Krishna Dharma described his visit at that time, “Cameron could well become the next leader here in the UK. He heard the holy name, took prasadam, saw the deities and even had Lord Rama’s shoes placed on his head as he bowed before the altar. In 2010, the Prime Minister again personally encountered devotees at a Diwali celebration at 10 Downing Street, the official residence. He was given a Bhagavad-Gita and said, “I remember coming to Bhaktivedanta Manor and I enjoyed my visit immensely. Thank you. I shall keep this book in 10 Downing Street.”

Ten years after his first visit, he returned to the Manor where he in received the deluxe edition of Bhagavad-gita . I’m not sure how many “big book points” are awarded for each gigantic copy distributed. :) The Manor is not the only Hindu game in town, but the British head of state has chosen to highlight it. All glories to the staunch efforts of the leaders and congregation to spread the Holy Names around. Of course, the lure of honoring more Krishna prasadam probably was also a big factor in the PM’s decision to return to the Manor.

Read more: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=9055

Ganga Puja Celebrations
→ Mayapur.com

Ganga Dusshera is a famous festival celebrated on the occasion of her merciful descent to earth.  A grand Ganga Puja was offered at Prabhupad ghat, highlight being the spectacular Ganga Arthi with big, bright lamps.  Srimati Ganga Devi, seated on her carrier crocodile, decorated in a new Sari and many flower garlands, accepted the puja […]

The post Ganga Puja Celebrations appeared first on Mayapur.com.

ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Celebration ki jaya!
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Assembled Devotees of ISKCON:

In order to increase our collective awareness of the historic event of ISKCON’s founding in 1966, and to help our world wide society better remember the wonderful achievements of our Founder-Acarya, Srila Prabhupada, and his society, and upon the request of the ISKCON 50th Anniversary Committee…

The GBC Executive Committee hereby recommends that at all ISKCON temples, festivals, pujas, home programs, and other community events and functions throughout the world shall include the following glorification whenever the Prema-dvani prayers are chanted throughout each day:

‘ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Celebration ki jaya!’

This phrase should be included either in English, or the local languages, as appropriate, and should begin immediately and continue through December 31, 2016.

Signed:

Sesa das GBC Executive Committee Chairman

London At It’s Very Best! (5 min video) Indradyumna Swami:…
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London At It’s Very Best! (5 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: George Harrison’s gift of Bhaktivedanta Manor to the Hare Krishna Movement in 1973 has proven invaluable throughout the years. The success of the Manor reached a crescendo last weekend with a visit from the Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron. We felt fortunate to attend the festivities. We also visited ISKCON’s Radha Krishna Temple in downtown London. With Krishna in the center, and bright sunny weather throughout our visit, London was truly at it’s very best.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/imwIPN

​What is the difference between us and ghosts – why are they afraid of the holy name?
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