Planet ISKCON

Bhagavatam Class

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A Vaishnavi artist passed away. Here is some of her Krishna conscious art.
Jahnavi Devi Dasi: Janaki-Devi Dasi passed away on Wednesday evening in Belgium, after an unexpectedly rapid acceleration of cancer. I didn’t know her well, but we had several conversations in the last couple of years in which I found her to be so warm, open, honest, and sincere. She had given me her album to listen to some time back, but I had not done so straight away, and as life goes, I forgot about it. On Tuesday I had been asked to lead kirtan at ISKCON London in her honour, and on the way there I finally dug out her music to listen to. Tears rolled down my face as I heard the sincere emotion and heartfelt honesty in her lyrics. I have never been into rock music much, but it moved me because of her devotion. She really just wanted to ‘sing for Krishna’, as she said, and you can hear it. Each track has it’s own special quality but I particularly love the last one…take a listen, and offer a prayer in your heart for this Vaishnavi as she continues her journey onward.
To listen: http://goo.gl/tRGnxx

You have a complaint? You better be ready to make a solution!
Prabhupada didn’t appreciate criticism unless we had a positive correction. Otherwise it’s better to shut up.
Trivikram Swami: I heard from Prabhupada’s secretary, Upendra, that the devotees in Japan had been thrown out of the country and that our Society was in jeopardy there.
This disturbed me, as I had spent three years in Japan. I felt that the devotees there, headed by Gurukripa and Yasodanandana, were in a passionate mood to collect money.
They didn’t care about registering the Society and keeping it in good standing. In my disturbed mood I went into Prabhupada’s room. Prabhupada was alone.
I blurted out, “I knew this was going to happen.” Prabhupada looked at me as if to say, “Who is this aborigine coming into my room?”
I said, “We’re being thrown out of Japan, and we have Radha Krishna Deities there.” Prabhupada was saddened and said soberly, “I did not want this to happen. All right, you can go back.”
I was shocked. I thought, “Oh God, what have I done? I opened my mouth, and now I have to go back to Japan. I didn’t want to do that.”
That was the way Prabhupada dealt. If you had an objection or a complaint, you’d better be ready to make a solution.
You couldn’t lodge a complaint without being ready to put your neck on the line. The next day I told Prabhupada, “I am willing to go back if that’s what you want.”
Prabhupada sent me to Japan with another devotee, and we kept the center open and maintained the Deity worship. I was the pujari.
This was a good lesson. It’s easy to criticize, but Prabhupada didn’t appreciate criticism unless we had a positive correction. Otherwise it’s better to shut up.
I was deputed to drive Prabhupada from the airport to the temple, and while I drove, I adamantly talked about my experience with him in London and I asked him if I could give him massages while he was here.
There were three devotees in the back, including the GBC, who were quiet. Prabhupada was also quiet. I was the only one talking.
I heard that Prabhupada had just gone to Russia, and I said, “You were in Russia, Prabhupada?”
Prabhupada said, “Yes,” but he didn’t get into a conversation with me. He didn’t want to become my buddy and start jibber jabbering with me like an equal.
Everybody in the back laughed, because Prabhupada was clearly telling me to cool it, to shut up, and let him talk as he saw fit.
Prabhupada was saying, “Don’t pump me with questions.” Although Prabhupada was humble, he was also straightforward. He would go right to the point. He wasn’t embarrassed to be blunt and personal.
In Bombay in 1976, Srila Prabhupada had an animated discussion with a yogi. Somehow the talk came to the point of the spiritual master, and then I got into the conversation.
I said, “Yes, this is the basic point. We have to accept a spiritual master.” I thought that this man should accept Prabhupada as his spiritual master.
Prabhupada immediately picked up on it and looked at me as if to say, “Shut up, get out of this conversation, it’s over your head, don’t be lecturing to this guy.”
Prabhupada said that with his eyes. He didn’t say all those words, but I could understand that that was his purport.
The yogi was an advanced person, Prabhupada had a relationship with him, and Prabhupada didn’t want me to be telling him anything. That was a nice lesson for me.
Another time Prabhupada was talking with an important person in Bombay, when there was a lull in the conversation and I said something.
Prabhupada looked at me as if to say, “Now what are you doing?” But I quoted a verse that was appropriate to Prabhupada’s point about how we should be eager, even greedy, for Krishna consciousness.
When Prabhupada saw that I was contributing something, he immediately took it and continued his animated preaching.
So we could speak when Prabhupada was preaching, but we’d better be sure that we understood the mood he was in. Otherwise, if we changed the subject, Prabhupada could become disturbed.
A similar thing happened on a morning walk in Vrindavan in 1974. Prabhupada had been speaking, and I said, “This reminds me of a teacher that I had when I was in the university, Srila Prabhupada.”
Prabhupada looked at me with a look that said, “This better be a good story.”
Prabhupada and everybody else stopped walking, and I told the story of my big philosophy teacher who changed his philosophy when he became sick.
Prabhupada had been sick at the time, and when I said that, Prabhupada laughed. He said, “We are not changing our philosophy because we become sick.”
He appreciated my story, but when I said things that were inappropriate, Prabhupada wouldn’t hesitate to chastise me.
In the last days, when Prabhupada was confined to his bed, I said something inappropriate, and Prabhupada showed displeasure.
Prabhupada was talking about the doctor that was coming from Calcutta and was asking his secretary, Tamal Krishna Maharaj, questions.
At the end of that, Prabhupada changed the subject. He said, “So has he left yet?” I thought that Prabhupada was talking about the doctor, so I said, “Yes, he’s already left.”
The whole room was quiet. Prabhupada looked at me and said, “Who do you think I meant?” I started backpedaling. I said, “I guess I was speculating, Prabhupada.”
Prabhupada said, “Who do you think I meant?” He wouldn’t let me off. He kept pushing, and I said, “I was talking about the doctor.”
Prabhupada didn’t say anything but turned on his bed and gave me a cold shoulder. It went right to my heart.
Prabhupada didn’t say a word, but with a slight gesture I felt, “Oh, boy, what have I done? I’ve disturbed the spiritual master in these days when he is not well.”
Then Tamal Krishna Maharaj said, “Who were you referring to, Srila Prabhupada?”
Prabhupada said, “My son,” because his son had been in Vrindavan and was due to leave. Then they started talking in that way.
To me, Prabhupada’s most striking quality was his ability to encourage everyone. He didn’t flatter, but somehow he’d get people to sacrifice for Krishna, to sacrifice for their own good, for spiritual life.
Prabhupada was expert at seeing a little good quality and fanning it to make it grow. This wonderful ability was the most extraordinary thing about Prabhupada.
The first impression that Prabhupada gave was that “He sees the best in me,” and this attracted so many people.
Later on, of course, he may correct you, but that was out of love. You always had the feeling that Prabhupada was your well-wisher.
A teacher, an ordinary person, even parents, might be a little envious or have some motive, but not Prabhupada.
His compassion was his most impressive qualification. And it is still present. And we need it. Without his mercy, what is our position?
—Trivikram Swami

Devotees in Florence, Italy, donate a copy of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita in Hindi to Vandana Shiva.
May 29th, in Florence (Italy), on the occasion of the European premiere of the documentary movie “SEED The Untold Story”, some Italian devotees farmers from ISKCON SVC met Vandana Shiva, founder of Navdanya, eminent Indian scholar, degree in quantum physics, world-renowned environmental activist, as well as winner of the prestigious Right Livelihood Award (alternative Nobel prize).
The reason for the meeting was to invite her to the 9th European Farm Conference that will be held on September 20-21-22 in Villa Vrindavana. The devotees donated her a copy of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita in Hindi and some wonderful Maha Prasada from Sri Sri Radha Vrajasundara.
Vandana Siva accepted the gifts with great enthusiasm and promised to send an intervention through a video message to show during the conference.
In the photo Vandana Shiva and us. Hare Krishna.
Your servants
Gunagrahi das
Rukmini devi dasi

This year saw the Sadhu Sanga Retreat, the biggest ISKCON kirtan event in North America, continue its remarkable growth while offering up something special for ISKCON’s 50^th anniversary.  It immerses participants in the Holy Name from morning till night, with an ever-expanding list of senior Vaishnavas guiding them in developing a deeper taste. From an attendance of just 400 when it launched in 2011, this year’s event drew an incredible 1,800.

Muslim organizations and activists across the US have spoken out against the shooting, explicitly calling it a hate crime.

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​Youth meeting at ISKCON, Juhu

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​Brahmachari class at ISKCON, Juhu

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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

A seeming lack of reciprocation and intervention can discourage even the most devout spiritualist. Where is God when you need Him?!

In celebration of ISKCON's 50th Anniversary, the Executive Commitee of ISKCON's Governing Commission reccommends all ISKCON centers all over the world to include 'ISKCON's 50th Anniversary Celebration ki jaya!' in their daily prayers.

"Never let compliments go to your head, and never let criticism get into your heart." An inspirational video by Ghanashyam Das.

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).

Swamiji and the Boys

After years of planning for its 50^th anniversary, and nearly six months of celebrations this year so far, ISKCON is now gearing up for its Golden Jubilee Incorporation Day on July 13^th, 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.

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

(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.

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

By 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!
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 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

Its in Hungarian but you can understand the storyline.
https://youtu.be/D66NtwYFjyA

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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 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

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

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: 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