Planet ISKCON

The post Daily Darshan: May 31st, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Many people will argue that without birth control, families will have a dozen or more children. Yet in societies where birth control isn’t practiced, the average number of children per family is six. Six children per family may seem too many for the earth, but the entire present world population could fit in France or in the state of Texas, with 1,500 square feet per person. We could feed ten times the present population on an American-style diet, and thirty times the population on a Japanese-style diet. (Colin Clark, Oxford University) All the world’s scriptures urge us to have many children, and describe children as a blessing. The only burden on the earth mentioned in the Vedic scriptures is that of a large population of sinful people who live lives of crime and deceit. The Lord, Sri Krishna, is unlimitedly wealthy and can easily provide adequately for all His obedient children. Harmful Side Effects Not only does birth control not solve the problems for which it claims to be the solution, but it has harmful side effects as well. Continue reading "Birth Control Myths
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Pre-Marital Questions.
Uttama devi dasi: This list of questions, in two sections is intended for couples to think about and discuss with each other as a means to reach understanding about each other’s expectations and desires. It will take some time to read and answer all these questions, so please undertake this when you are relaxed and have time.
Remember that this is just to help you become aware of many aspects of marriage and you may find that more questions will come up that are unique for you. Feel free to get in touch with any of the GVT members for premarital education. All the best!
Section I-Marriage, Family and Friends, Relationships, Children
MARRIAGE
What is your concept of marriage?
Have you been married before? What are you expectations of marriage?
Why have you chosen me as a potential spouse?
What is your understanding of a Krsna Conscious marriage?
What is the role of the husband?
What is the role of the wife?
After marriage, do you think that you are one to express romantic feelings verbally?
After marriage, do you think that you want to express affection in public?
When there is a dispute in your marriage, religious or otherwise, how should the conflict get resolved?
When do you think it is appropriate to initiate mediation in marriage?
If there are members of my family that are not devotees, that are of different race or culture, what type of relationship do you want to have with them?
If you have a Guru, what should be his/her role in the marriage?
What is your approach to sexual relationship and intimacy in the marriage?
FAMILY& FRIENDS
What is your relationship with your family?
What do you expect your relationship with the family of your spouse to be?
What do you expect your spouses relationship with your family to be?
Is there anyone in your family living with you now?
Are you planning to have anyone in your family live with you in the future?
If, for any reason, my relationship with your family turns sour, what should be done?
Who are your friends? (Identify at least three.)
How did you get to know them?
Why are they your friends?
What do you like most about them?
What will your relationship with them after marriage be?
Do you have friends of the opposite sex?
What is the level of your relationship with them now?
What will be the level of your relationship with them after marriage?
What type of relationship do you want your spouse to have with your friends?
What is your opinion of speaking other languages in home that I do not understand? (with friends or family)
RELATIONSHIPS
How do you express your admiration for someone that you know now?
How do you express your feelings to someone who has done a favor for you?
Do you like to write your feelings?
If you wrong someone, how do you apologize?
If someone has wronged you, how do you want (s)he to apologize to you?
How much time passes before you can forgive someone?
Do you use foul language at home? In public? With family?
Do your friends use foul language?
Does your family use foul language?
How do you express anger?
How do you expect your spouse to express anger?
What do you do when you are angry?
Define mental, verbal, emotional and physical abuse.
What would you do if you felt that you had been abused?
Who would you call for assistance if you were being abused?
CHILDREN
Do you want to have children? If not, how come?
To the best of your understanding, are you able to have children?
Do you want to have children in the first two years of marriage? If not, when?
Do you believe in abortion?
Do you have children now?
What is your relationship with your children now?
What is your relationship with their other parent?
What relationship do you expect your spouse to have with your children and their parent?
What is the best method(s) of raising children?
What is the best method(s) of disciplining children?
How were you raised?
How were you disciplined?
Do you believe in spanking children?
Under what circumstances?
Do you believe in public school for your children?
Do you believe in Krsna conscious school for your children?
Do you believe in home schooling for your children?
What type of relationship should your children have with non-devotee classmates/friends?
Would you send your children to visit their extended family if they lived in another state or country?
What type of relationship do you want your children to have with all their grandparents?
For the Section II (Regarding Goals, Religion, Entertainment & Leisure, Health, Finances) click here: http://goo.gl/G73sl3

Sri Caitanya inaugurated the sankirtana movement of the congregational chanting of the holy names of God. While living here in Nadia, He would travel from village to village, chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The mission of the Lord is always to deliver the fallen souls, and this chanting works powerfully to reawaken the natural love of God dormant in our hearts. Lord Caitanya, therefore, was fulfilling His mission of mercy simply by chanting and dancing. Later, after entering the renounced order, (sannyasa), Lord Caitanya traveled throughout the Indian subcontinent chanting the holy names and dancing in ecstatic love of God. The Lord's chanting would inspire others to chant and their chanting would inspire still others. In this way the sankirtana movement spread (and is continuing to spread) to every city, town, and village. Continue reading "A Prophecy Fulfilled
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Two Highlights From The Waikato (Waikato is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand).
Damodara Krsna Dasa: Recently, I went on a six-day stint in the Waikato.
I was in Hamilton East–in a small car park–and stopped an athletic lady. She happened to be Joelle King, the best women squash player for New Zealand.
After an injury, her ranking dropped from No. 4 in the world to 17th. Six months after her recovery, she is now up to 11th in the world. But she explained that she isn’t satisfied. Her sports psychologist suggested meditation to her, and there I was, holding the books that give the most authentic knowledge and the fullest inner satisfaction.
She happily gave $20 (US) and left with SSR, the Gita and Enough magazine.
Another day, I ventured over to Te Awamutu, and just before my day of sankirtana was finished I stopped a young man parking a scooter. He was originally from Arizona USA. I showed him the SSR & BGH and put them both in his hands.
I said, “A good donation for these is $30.” He looked at me and replied, “So if I give you $50, I can take these?”
We walked to the ATM. He withdrew $60, for which I gave him $10 change.
He mentioned he liked “fact books” so I gave him another book.
“All our books are fact books,” I said. “That’s for you.” And he happily gave the other $10.
Srila Prabhupada, ki jaya!
Your servant,
Damodara Krsna Dasa

Here are a few questions about Bhagavad Gita, with my replies.

The first questions I have are about chapter 10 – verse 7-8…

Why by comprehending krishnagod’s mystical nature, will we develop a devotional feeling towards him?

We may develop devotion to him after understanding his unique nature and position. It is not certain. Just like by hearing that someone is very amazing you may become more attracted to that person, or you may not. Most likely you will, but it is not certain.

why by understanding everything comes from him – are we attracted to devotion to him?

Everything that we love is an expansion of him. Realizing this causes intense love for him. Imagine if you learned that every song you ever loved came from the same artist. Imagine how much love you would feel for that artist.

How can you comprehend the incomprehensible through devotion, if that devotion doesn’t arise without comprehending the mysical nature?

This connundrum is explained in Gita directly. The initial knowledge of God needs only be cursory, brief and general. Then, through the relationship established by devotion it becomes incredibly direct, detailed and full. It is very similar to any ordinary relationship. You don’t need to know everything about a person in all detail before falling in love. You may simply hear a word or two about the person, or see them from afar, or even see a picture. But that small amount of initial knowledge inspires you to form a loving relationship and through that loving relationship you come to know everything about the person in intimate detail.

Another thing I struggle with is the last verse of chapter 16. As a person raised in modern culture, i don’t think i can accept vedic authority for the sake of being “vedic.” We who were not raised in vedic india – what does this principle of sacred-scripture mean to us?

This verse simply says that rules of self-discipline are essential for regulating and reasonably controlling the three undesirable qualities of lust, anger and greed. This is a universal principle, we don’t need to approach it as a cultural thing.

The Veda contain a very, very amazing and excellent collection of moral principles tailored for different people in different circumstances in different times of their life. If we learn them from a person who understands them, it will make no difference if we are Bengalis, Israelis, or Eskimos. It is not a cultural thing, but a real guru is required to make that clear.

And I know ancient scriptures have the tendency to be very uplifting and coherent at points and very crazy and nonsensical at other points. I cannot believe the vedas are any different

Śāstra seems confusing at times when we read them without the guidance of a true guru who has really understood their essence and details.

I cannot believe there is a “pure” scripture – beyond any fault and any level of short-sightedness

Śāstra on its own is insufficient, it requires guru; just as medicine is insufficient without a doctor.

what is the right approach for a person with my secular-rational mindset – to the concept of “vedic authority”?

Find a real guru of the śāstra you want to learn and learn it from that person. That is the right approach. Do not accept a person as a guru just because he or she looks like a guru, or has the title of a guru, or has people who think he or she is a guru. Use your critical intellect to discover the true guru who truly grasps the details and essence of the śāstra and strives to apply those to their life. Learn śāstra from such a person – at the very least from books written by such a person. Best would be in a real, personal teacher-student situation.

krishna is saying the only way to be free is by accepting scriptural authority so basically, unable to do so – i’m hopeless to ever really advance. what to do?

No. He says that the only way to be free from undesirable qualities is to regulate them. Then he adds that the Vedas are a very excellent source of regulation.

Vraja Kishor das

www.vrajakishor.com

May 31. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Psychedelic Congregation.
Prabhupada stepped out of his white shoes, sat down on a thin mat, faced his congregation, and indicated they could all be seated. He distributed several pairs of brass hand cymbals and briefly demonstrated the rhythm: one … two … three. He began playing – a startling, ringing sound. He began singing: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Now it was the audience’s turn. “Chant,” he told them. Some already knew, gradually the others caught on, and after a few rounds, all were chanting together.
Most of these young men and the few young women present had at one time or another embarked on the psychedelic voyage in search of a new world of expanded consciousness. Boldly and recklessly, they had entered the turbulent, forbidden waters of LSD, peyote, and magic mushrooms. Heedless of warnings, they had risked everything and done it. Yet there was merit in their valor, their eagerness to find the extra dimensions of the self, to get beyond ordinary existence – even if they didn’t know what the beyond was or whether they would ever return to the comfort of the ordinary. Nonetheless, whatever truth they had found, they remained unfulfilled, and whatever worlds they had reached, these young psychedelic voyagers had always returned to the Lower East Side. Now they were sampling the Hare Krishna mantra.
In their psychedelic ambitions to see the face of God, fantasies and visions of Hindu teachings, and the presumption that “IT” was all impersonal light, Prabhupada had encountered a similar group on the Bowery, and he knew this group wasn’t experiencing the mantra in the proper disciplined reverence and knowledge. But he let them chant in their own way. In time their submission to the spiritual sound, their purification, and their enlightenment and ecstasy in chanting and hearing Hare Krishna would come.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Psychedelic Congregation

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 January 2014, Durban, South Africa, Lecture) 

We can become free from personal motivation. It comes from sacrifice in devotional service; it cannot come from anything else. We just put our own ideas aside and do something, and over time we take responsibility for Prabhupada’s movement. We just volunteer and we become very flexible and we say yes to whatever the vaisnavas desire.

By Keshav Murari Das

Yes we are talking about Sunder hall of Hotel City Park Pitampura, where about 150 businessmen with family, who are contributing for ISKCON Rohini project gathered on Sunday, 29 May. Subject was to present progress report of ISKCON Rohini construction. In the this program HG Varah P ( CO-President Punjabi Bagh) perform kirtan. Then the Deep was ignited by HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj.

Rukmini Krishna P (Co-President Punjabi Bagh) briefed the audience about the contribution of ISKCON around the world followed by the presentation by HG Keshav Murari P (Temple president Rohini) on progress report of Rohini Project.

The beginning of Program was done by Chanting of Manglacharan by Mayapur Gurukul Boys. Project Chairman HG Ved Vyas P welcomed all the guests & Maharaj. HG Ved Vyas P mentioned that in future the temple will have Gift shop, Museum, Guest house, Large Temple hall with 3 altars SRi SRi Panchtatwa, Sri Sri Radha Madhav & Sri Sri Sita Ram Laxman Hanuman. HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj in his speech spoke about that how temples are serving & saving the humanity. He thanked them for contributing in Project. Later he presented every well wisher a beautiful gift of Krishna Art Book. Donors & visitors showed their interest & commitments for finalizing this project in next two years positively.

Sadhu Sanga Retreat 2016 (8 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: The Sadhu Sanga Retreat 2016, in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, is on! Just under 2,000 devotees from around the USA have registered and settled in for a special weekend of kirtan, kirtan and more kirtan.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/DOPNsa

By Kirtan Rasa Das

A few months after I started working with ISKCON Prison Ministry, I received a letter from an inmate which helped drive home to me the nature of this service and just how important it is.

“I only know what I read in your letters and Prabhupada’s books,” was part of his response to me, regarding my reply to a question he had posed. His words brought me a sudden, clearer understanding and. I’ve often since reminded myself of them.

Although I had some idea of the nature of this service when I began, this particular letter made me acutely aware of how isolated and cutoff these men and women can be and how critical is our role as one of their few, if not only, avenues of inquiry and discourse.

As a devotee, I’ve naturally come to understand association as a fundamental element of the bhakti-yoga process. I also have practical, personal experience of what it can be like to lack this association.

I first became aware of Krishna consciousness by coming across Srila Prabhupada’s books in a used bookstore. For years I carried around some very vague notions of Krishna and Bhagavad-Gita and had decided to pursue some deeper understanding. I eagerly began studying, but much of what I was reading remained impenetrable, as it was so far beyond the scope of anything I’d ever encountered. It would be several more years before I met devotees and it was only then that I began to gain some real clarity through inquiry and the give and take of realizations. Although I now understand that I already had the association of a pure devotee through Srila Prabhupada’s books, I understand that it is also through the day to day, incidental direct association with other devotees that we gradually gain the qualification to receive what Krishna is sending us. So when I read the inmate’s words it struck me that for this man, at least for the time being, I was it. This impressed upon me both the importance of being there and of getting it right.

It was not too long before this that I had even first become aware of ISKCON Prison Ministry (IPM). While taking prasadam with a friend at the Dallas temple, our conversation had somehow turned to the troubled state of our correctional systems in the United States. This subject had always been of interest to me but had been weighing particularly heavily on my mind because of some news articles and books I had recently read. When my friend mentioned the ISKCON Prison Ministry it was the first I’d heard of it and it was as if a light and turned on in my mind and I knew immediately that I must try to be part of it. As far as I can remember I’ve had a fascination and empathy for the incarcerated. Anytime I passed a correctional facility I would find myself haunted by thoughts and questions about the souls inside- who they were, how they must feel, and how they came to be there. Now the thought of transcendental knowledge being made available to them seemed like one of the rightest things I’d ever heard.

However well-prepared I may have felt this life-long fascination and empathy had made me for this service, dealing with these issues in theory and in reality are two very different things and I was soon to encounter some surprises. Among them was the unexpected strong emotions I quickly found welling up in me as I began to get deeper into correspondence with certain of the inmates. For instance, I encountered an overwhelming sense of anger and revulsion when I began corresponding with an inmate who had committed a particularly heinous crime. The man had gotten my contact information through another inmate and had written me out of the blue. I did a quick web search in an attempt to get some sense of who I was working with and quickly came across information about his crime and subsequent trial. At one point I found my hands literally shaking as I labored to write him back. Some part of me felt compelled to write “monster!” on the page and have done with it, but I worked my way through it and soldiered on. As much as writing him bothered me, moreover it bothered me that it bothered me (who am I to say who is or isn’t qualified to receive mercy? How solid is my own grasp of this philosophy if I’m seeing this man as anything other than another conditioned soul?). In struggling to deal with this, I found myself recalling one of Prabhupada’s lectures in which he likened preaching Krishna consciousness to a postman delivering a money order. Srila Prabhupada made the point that it is not the postman’s money (he may be penniless) and it is not the postman’s place to judge the worthiness of the recipient. It is the postman’s duty to deliver the money to whom it has been addressed exactly as he has been entrusted to. I no longer encounter the strong emotions I did early on but whenever I do experience some trouble I remind myself that I am only a postman.

(As a side note, this “monster” to whom I had so much trouble writing, has since become very dear to me. I’ve come to know him as a very sincere, steady and sweet devotee and I’ve actually found myself worrying if I go some time without hearing from him.)

Ultimately though, as big a lesson as these sorts of things have been, the bigger growth opportunities this service has given me personally have come simply from having the opportunity to witness over and over again the profound effect that this transcendental knowledge and process have, even in the most brutal and harsh of environments. As devotees we naturally come to possess some awareness of the power of the Absolute Truth but there is a keen perspective that can be gained by seeing it cast in stark relief to such a dark backdrop. I’ve come to liken it to the difference between seeing the light of a candle in broad daylight or in a cave. Same light, vastly different perspective. And I would have to say that of all the surprises I’ve encountered in this service, perhaps most surprising has been how much I have personally learned and grown through working with these inmates as we both struggle to gain understanding. I had no idea how much they had to teach me.

Kirtan Rasa lives in Arlington, Texas. If you would like to be a transcendental pen pal for the inmates, please contact him at: kirtanras108@gmail.com

NOTE:

This article is just a small part of IPM NEWS, our bi-monthly electronic newsletter. To read whole issues, please go to: http://www.iskconprisonministry.org/

If you wish to receive it in your mailbox, simply email me at iskconprisonministry@gmail.com with “SUBSCRIBE” in the subject line.

More excerpts of inmate letters and also their artwork are available on our website at: www.iskconprisonministry.org

You want to help?

OUR PRESSING NEED OF THE MOMENT: we are looking for mini japa malas (Neem, with 27 beads) for those prisons who won’t accept our normal size japa malas.

If you can help, please contact Mukunda Dasa or Bhakti-lata Dasi at:

iskconprisonministry@gmail.com

ISKCON Prison Ministry

3759 McCreary’s Ridge Road

NBU #46

Moundsville, WV 26041

The sound of “Svaha”s, and the crackling of Sri Agni, holy fire was carried by the breeze throughout Kalachandji Park.  The weather was just perfect as TKG Academy students, guided by His Grace Narottam Prabhu & His Grace Nityananda Chandra Prabhu, performed Sri Nrsimha Homa (fire sacrifice) on Friday morning, May 20, 2016.

New Devotee Marriage Service in UK.
A new marriage matching service for devotees has recently been launched in the UK as a combined effort between the former ISKCON Marriage Team UK and Sacred Ashram Team, who have joined together to become the Krishna Marriage Team and have amalgamated their databases together to provide a co­ordinated national service.
Current members of the new team are Visvambhara das and Jagannathesvari devi dasi, Gaura Kishore das and Saumya­radhika devi dasi, Sundarananda das and Kirti­radhika devi dasi, and Brijesh and Priya Vadhvania. Jagannathesvari described the team as follows: “We have now amalgamated a quality team of deeply committed and enthusiastic devotees, and I feel very grateful to be working with them.”
As part of the service, a new website has been launched to facilitate registration, but team members will continue to provide a private and confidential service, and devotees’ profiles will not be displayed in the public domain. Everyone who registers will get to choose either their own personal matchmaker, who will suggest possible matches for them, or a team of administrators who will share multiple profiles that they can choose from.
ISKCON UK GBC, Praghosa das, had this to say about the new website: “Knowing all the wonderful devotees involved with running krishnamarriage.com, I am very confident that this facility will be a fantastic resource for one and all finding the right marriage partner, and I wish all who use this resource the very best in finding their lifelong soulmate.”
The service is available for anyone who is chanting the Hare Krishna mantra on a daily basis and following religious principles, and who can provide 2 character references from senior ISKCON devotees, such as mentors or service authorities. As well as matchmaking services, the team will be developing training courses for marriage, and they also offer pre­ and post­marital counselling on request.
Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple President, Sruti­dharma das, had the following to say: “It’s very inspiring that our new team will help devotees in making this very important decision, in educating them after they are married, and counselling them whenever challenges arise.
This is a great offering for the 50th anniversary celebration to Srila Prabhupada.” Krishna Marriage Team members are currently based in Watford and London. Plans for expansion include inviting qualified couples from other ISKCON centres around the UK to join the team and represent devotees from their own communities. Bhaktivedanta Manor Managing Director, Gauri das, expressed his opinion as follows: “Marriage is the biggest decision and responsibility of our lives, and one in regard to which ISKCON has to provide more help. Therefore it is truly inspiring to see that the Krishna Marriage Team has come together and now launch this tremendous marriage networking facility.”
For further information about the service and team, as well as access to helpful resources for devotees changing ashram, please visit www.krishnamarriage.com

Star Wars or Ramayana? (3 min video)
Let Yogesvara prabhu walk you through some facts about it! This is an excerpt from his presentation, yesterday in Los Angeles, during the annual Prabhupada festival.
Watch it here: https://www.vibby.com/watch?vib=m1fr3TuCaW

MUMBAI: Gita Champions League (GCL), a popular national contest on Bhagwad Gita , has for the first time becomes global in 2016 by opening the competition to school children from all over the world.

GCL, an educational initiative of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), will now be open to children from schools all over the world to test their knowledge and understanding of Gita, an ISKCON press release said on Sunday.

In 2016, GCL contests are taking place in Australia, Mauritius, Kenya, South Africa and United States of America apart from Indian cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Nashik, Belgaum, Ujjain.

This year, around 8000 students from around 134 schools have participated in the contest in Mumbai. Taking inspiration from the competition in Mumbai, GCL contest is also happening in many other cities in India, the release added.

Recently, the GCL contest was held in Mauritius and Malaysia. It is slated to start in South Africa and USA also in 2016.

The spiritual leader of ISKCON, Radhanath Swami said, “GCL helps the school children to absorb the teachings of Bhagwad Gita. We have attempted to enrich the lives of children in a right manner so that it becomes a helping hand for them to learn self-discipline and imbibe within them a strong value system.”

The GCL contest in Mumbai started in 2010 and since then, every year the contest has touched the lives of thousands of students.

Till date, more than 138,000 students from around 1484 schools in various cities of the country have participated in this contest.

A unique feature Gita Championship League is that it attracts participation of students belonging to different religions, including Muslims, Christians and Hindus. More interestingly, many winners of this competition are drawn from various sections of the society and different religions.

Top Comment
We thank ISKCON for doing the work. Mukul Dave

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gita-contest-of-ISKCON-goes-global-in-2016/articleshow/52487348.cms?

By Acarya Dasa

Since the end of February this year our padayatra party enlisted a new member, Sahadev Dasa, a Russian devotee. We met him during our stay in Navadvipa where we spoke to him about the ‘All India Padayatra’. He was very interested and wanted to serve Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar and ever since then he has become one of us –a padayatri. This is his first time travelling around India and he is a perfect example of the mercy of Lord Caitanya. First, the Lord gave Sahadev Dasa His divine darsana in Mayapur and then slowly but surely He began pulling Him closer towards this mission. He has been with us now for three months and although he does speak a little English,he does not speak Hindi or Tamil. I am often asked how we communicate with this devotee and my response is, “Well, he does a lot of book distribution, how is that possible?”

We have realized that the people of Chennai do not respond when we address them in Hindi. So we have now begun to ask aTamil devotee to do all the announcements. This Tamil devotee actually taught Sahadev Dasa a few words in Tamil which he uses when he distributes books. This proves that a difference in language does not bar one from preaching the message of the Lord. We have seen how inspired people are by hearing a foreigner speak about the message of God. They may not listen to us but they are attracted to him. Whenever we ask Sahadev Dasa about how he does it, he responds by saying, “I just meditate on the lotus feet of Gaura Nitai and say, Oh merciful Lord please bless these souls. It works and people take a Bhagavad-gita.”

Anyone who walks on padayatra just once gets the unlimited mercy of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar. They are also blessed with many realizations which assists in creating a good foundation for spiritual advancement. When asked how he felt about his experience on padayatra thus far Sahadev Dasa said, “I feel my first tour to India is successful and I feel I am walking back to Godhead.” Sahadev Dasa always does whatever is asked of him and he is also a very good photographer. We therefore enjoy having him on padayatra. Whenever I think about communicating with Sahadev Dasa, I remember what my Gurudev, Lokanath Swami always says, “Unity of purpose and unity of vision.” It is because we are on the same mission that we can understand what’s going on in each other’s minds. My Guru Maharaj also described it with a nice Marathi phrase “eka hrdaya”. We all have the same purpose in our heart so things become easy.

Everyone should join in on this walk (padayatra) as Sahadev Dasa said “back to Godhead.”

Nitai Gaurasundar ki! Jai!

New Ekacakra Festival in Slovakia. Sri Sri Nitai Gaura Candra installation and Harinam (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna said “You chant! You Remember Me; at the same time, fight.” He did not say, “Simply fight” or “Simply chant.” Because in the material world that is not possible. Therefore we must chant and at the side time we have to work to continue this movement. The movement requires a lot of energy. (Lecture on Bhagavat-Gita, 16.4 Hawaii)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/xn9XbX

The post Bn. Nadia asks, what to think about while on sankirtana and B. Peter, what being detached from the results means appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Food For Life Mayapur: Bhaktivedanta Anna-Dan Complex to serve Gauranga prasadam. A daily free meal programme. (2 min video)
The Anna Dan Food for Life complex in Mayapur serves thousands of meals every week. Everything is done to the highest standards, from filtered water, to stainless everything, and very high standard of cleanliness.
To fulfil the desire of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that “No one should go hungry” his followers, well-wishers, supporters have started a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-religious charitable project to connect with humanity by a humble endeavour to distribute sumptuous-vegetarian-sanctified food (prasadam) wherever need for the needy. Our food is available for everyone without discrimination of caste and creed, as a symbol of mutual and global brotherhood. The food is free for everyone.
Prasadam Menue: Rice, Dal (Lentils), side item, Main seasonal sabji, Chutney or Dhai or Matha or Papad, Sweet
When: Daily 1.00pm
Where: “Bhaktivedanbta Anna-Dan Complex” at Mayapur.
How: Daily within 6am-6.30am we distribute coupon to individuals (first come first serve). No advance booking.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/4OkyEd

The post Daily Darshan: May 30th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Ratha Yatra 2016 (21.05.2016) s.Dnepr, Ukraine (35 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: In the material world, if one engages in chanting a material name, he will feel tired after chanting a few times. However, one can chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra all day and night and never feel tired. As chanting is increased, it will come out new and fresh. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.30.20 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Tg0Spc

Jala Krida Festival (Album with photos)
Sarila Vihara aka Jala Krida was celebrated in the serene Yamuna river at Govardhan Ecovillage.
Srila Prabhupada: By the grace of the Lord, if a devotee, at the time of death, can simply chant Hare Krishna, he immediately surpasses the great ocean of the material sky and enters into the spiritual sky. He never has to come back for repetition of birth and death. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.10.30 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/5OE3Vg

At Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, as Andrew Günsberg narrates, life guard Nicola Atherton rescues a Hare Krishna devotee. Then a blissful Hare Krishna chanting party ascends the life guard tower. ( 6 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/zXHN7b

Why Do I Wear Sari.
By Rambhoru devi dasi (wife of HG Prithu Dasa and a senior disciple of HDG Srila Prabhupada)
Recently in India I inquired from a Mohammedan gentleman why their women are ardently concealed behind a curtain of cloth, which often completely covers their faces? He replied, “If you have a valuable diamond, which to you is precious and dear, how will you keep it? Will you store it in an old cardboard box in the backyard rubbish heap? No, naturally, you will protect it by putting it safely and securely in a place where the untrustworthy can neither see it nor steal it. Our women are very important to us; they are the personality behind a happy household. We know that if they flaunt themselves in public, they will be mislead, and then the foundation of our society will be ruined.”
My mouth dropped open; I was speechless. The Muslims, like the Hare Krsnas, obviously have this question repeatedly asked to them by the “non-believers”, and this gentleman had a very poignant answer. He was not intimidated by the query, rather, he proudly made this presentation on behalf of the women in his community.
I have observed that ISKCON women more often are replacing the sari with other kinds of “more practical” attire. Many wear Punjabi suits, long skirts (or even short ones) dresses, moo-moo’s, jogging suits or shorts to putter around the house or go shopping. Often the only time a sari is worn is to come to the temple feast on Sundays. Even more often we see that the sari has been replaced by Western clothes in the name of “selling more books” or “collecting more laksmi.”
As a mother and an experienced frontline preacher, I can appreciate the points made for wearing western attire, particularly in a western country. Sometimes the sari may make us feel awkward, too cloistered, or separated from others. However, as my Muslim acquaintance indicated, we would be more inspired to wear devotional clothes if we have a proper understanding of its benefits.
Srila Prabhupada wanted the women in his movement to cover their bodies in a chaste way. Although in the beginning, while living in the temple, most ladies wore long skirts and blouses, his instruction was that the breasts should be covered twice. Therefore, some ladies wore sleeveless maternity smocks over a long sleeved shirt, and perhaps a scarf on her head. Srila Prabhupada, not satisfied with this attire, taught his spiritual daughters how to wear the sari. He also specified which wrap they should use.
Once while preaching in Gujarat, Srila Prabhupada saw two of his women disciples, Malati and Kausalya, wearing their saris wrapped like the Gujaratis. He became furious. “Where have you learned this? I did not teach you this?” Wanting his followers to represent the highest class in the social order and to set an example for the rest of the world to follow, he had taught his women followers to use the sari-wrap worn by Brahmins for temple service.
Srila Prabhupada mentions in the Caitanya Caritamrta that devotees can wear the attire of the materialists for preaching Krsna consciousness, especially while distributing books. However, Srila Prabhupada himself, although preaching, never changed his devotional dress to gain some supposed advantage. Rather, he taught us to turn apparent disadvantages into advantages.
Srila Prabhupada gave the example shown in a Charlie Chaplain movie where a young “bucking bronco” and his girlfriend were at a formal ballroom dance. When the man rose to dance, the long coattail of his tuxedo caught on the chair and ripped half way up his back. Unperturbed he gestured to his girl to wait while he proceeded to the men’s room, removed his jacket and ripped it all the way to the neck creating 2 long blackstreamers. Unabashed, he swept his dance partner up in a rigorous waltz, whirling in circles all over the ballroom floor. All eyes are focused on them, as they became the center of attention. Awed and dumbfounded, the by-standers admired the confidence of this enthusiastic dancer. One by one the other men on the ballroom floor retired to the men’s room. After a few moments they emerged with their coat tails ripped up to their necks. Srila Prabhupada commented that the devotees should be confident and enthusiastic like the dancer and then people will follow their example.
The intimidation a devotee feels while wearing devotional attire is often a projection of his insecurity at being a devotee. He doesn’t want to be confronted and defend Krsna’s message or movement from seeming discrepancies in the philosophy or adverse media propaganda. Such a devotee should analyze within himself why he joined Lord Caitanya’s movement.
As food prepared by materialists is contaminated by their consciousness and will infect one who eats it, similarly, clothes fashioned by persons catering to the whims of lusty people, will degrade our consciousness. Srila Prabhupada, therefore, encouraged cottage handloom industries, so that even a devotee’s physical necessities could be satisfied purely.
A Vaisnava should wear only pure fabrics, for example, cotton, wool or silk. Since synthetic fabrics are derivatives of plastic and will not absorb water, they are virtually impossible to clean. That “cleanliness is next to Godliness” encourages a devotee to surround himself with the purest environment possible. This protects him from the modes of passion and ignorance, which can bewilder his intelligence and keep him bound in this material world.
Several years ago, I discussed this issue with Arabian Muslim women in Kenya. I asked them “Why do you cover yourselves completely in such a hot and stuffy robe?” They replied, “The gaze of lust will make us dirty and we will become sick from it. Lust is a poison that attacks like a poison gas and affects our minds and makes us unclean.” ISKCON devotees understand that even while making an offering of food to the Supreme Lord, if the plate is not covered before being placed on the altar, it could be spoiled by the lusty glance of an animal, a child or an unqualified person. If a greedy person lusts over our food it becomes poisoned and we risk falling sick from eating it. So, like a plate of food, a woman might be seen as a sense object and should cover her body so as not to be the object of lust. In this way, she will remain pure for the Lord’s service.
A woman’s covering her body chastely in a sari is a declaration that because she is Krsna’s maidservant, she is not interested in capturing men by her material form. In that sense she is no longer a “devil in disguise”, someone out to capture the weak, but someone who is a well-wisher, a “mother” or one who cares for others. She especially becomes concerned about men’s spiritual life. She desires that they achieve the highest goal in life, to go back home, back to Godhead; that they not remain conditioned by material illusion, mesmerized by the decorations of her dead body.
The sari is not only a chaste covering for a woman’s body, protecting her from unwanted lusty gazes, but, it is also a “spiritual uniform.” Just as the policemen are identified by their uniform, the devotee’s dress identifies her as a person who can give spiritual instruction and shelter. Therefore, people should be able to identify the devotees as members of a spiritual institution.
I find that wearing a sari enhances my preaching. Practically each day I have to explain why I wear it. Wearing a sari helps me be a proper spiritual example and forces me to consider how my activities affect people who have faith that ISKCON devotees are sadhus.
One simple reason I continue to wear a sari is that I know it is pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. He was fond of saying “The dhoti makes thedevotee!” which indicates that wearing devotional clothes effects a spiritual transformation. Knowing that Srila Prabhupada is our ever well-wisher and eternal protector, to please him, I tolerate seeming inconveniences of wearing a sari.
To watch a video about how to wear a sari: http://goo.gl/EVOHBG

Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Malang, Indonesia (Album with photos)
Kavicandra Swami: Here is Lord Jagannath, along with His Brother and Sister. Traveled far through the crowded city to join the “Percussion Festival”. There were 5 hours of kirtan, book and prasadam distribution. One ton of sweet oranges were grabbed up by the population.
At the end of the pictures are those of the next day’s early morning Harinam at our local temple.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/rD4ZPe

May 30. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada’s Entrance.
The summer evening was warm, and in the storefront the back windows and front door were opened wide. Young men, several of them dressed in black denims and button-down sport shirts with broad, dull stripes, had left their worn sneakers by the front door and were now sitting on the floor. Most of them were from the Lower East Side; no one had to go to great trouble to come here. The little room was barren. No pictures, no furniture, no rug, not even a chair. Only a few plain straw mats. A single bulb hung from the ceiling in the center of the room. It was seven o’clock, and about a dozen people had gathered when the Swami suddenly opened the side door and entered the room.
He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and the saffron cloth that draped his torso left his arms and some of his chest bare. His complexion was smooth golden brown, and as they watched him, his head shaven, his ears long-lobed, and his aspect grave, he seemed like pictures they’d seen of the Buddha in meditation. He was old, yet erect in his posture, fresh and radiant. His forehead was decorated with the yellowish clay markings of the Vaisnavas. Prabhupada recognized big, bearded Howard and smiled. “You have brought your friends?”
“Yes,” Howard answered in his loud, resonant voice.
“Ah, very good.”
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Prabhupada’s Entrance

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 9.19.19)

This human life is very short and we have to be very careful that we do not waste the opportunity to go back to Godhead. In whatever we do, do what you have to BUT, do not, in any way, jeopardize the opportunity for going back to Godhead. That is the first priority in life. Whatever we do, that should never, in anyway, come in the second place for a moment. And for the rest, do what you have to do; that is up to you!

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The post Kunjabihari dd’s pictures of last weekend’s festival appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Iskcon UK, Bath Rathayatra 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “The essence of all Vedic knowledge—comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity, the Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods—is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Narada-pancharatra)
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Sri Sri Radhika Bansidhar in Nagar Untari - Garhwa, Jharkhand:
The beautiful murti of Sri Sri Radhika Bansidhar was established by a great devotee of Lord Krishna, the Queen of Garhwa (Jharkhand in India), Shivmaani Kunwar Dev in 1830s. The 32 Mann (1280 Kg) murti of Lord Bansidhar is made up of pure gold and was buried in Shiva Pahari of Garhwa for 120 years. The murti is found in Shubh Samvat 1885, when Dynasty of King Bhawani Singh. His wife Smt Shivmani Kunwar is devotee of the Lord Krishna. She was widow and not having any child. She was very kind and generous and devotee to the Lord Krishna. On the day of Janamashtmi (birth day of Lord Krishna) she was dreamed of the Lord and found him calling to come and get me to your place. When she woke up in the morning she called to the assistance and explain the whole story. A team of Karmakandi pundits, rajkarmachari and team of musical team proceeded to find the murti. When she reached that space, the same space appearing in the dream, digging work started taking place along with the citation of Vedic mantras. The head of the murti started appearing. After some time the whole murti came out. The murti is a symbol of artistic metal work of the era of Samvat 1761. Lord Krishna is situated on a lotus flower inbuilt on Sheshnag. In this murti He is appearing in a smiling face with flute. The height of the murti is 4 feet and weights approx. 1280 Kg. The other murti, besides Lord Krishna, His beloved Radha, is made of alloy of Astdhatu by the artists from Varanasi and is placed by Ms. Shivmani Kunwar
It is believed that this yellow metallic beautiful, attractive and artistic rare murti is not available anywhere else in this world.
The murti was earlier worshiped by the daughter of Aurangzeb and later by the daughter of the King of Singrauli. At that time, Srimati Radhika Ji was also present. During the reign of Ahmad Shah Durrani of Iran, Lord Krishna’s murti was separated from Srimati Radha Rani and hidden inside a hill (Shiva Pahari) in Garhwa district of Jharkhand by the followers of Shivaji. Radha Rani’s murti remained in Singrauli with the daughter of the King of Singrauli and later it was submerged with the fort in Rihand Dam. During summer, the part of the fort is still visible in Rihand Dam.
Presently, the murti of Sri Sri Bansidhar Radhika Ji is established in Nagar Untari of Garhwa district of Jharkhand and the murti of Radharani was created in Varanasi from the Asht Dhatu.
Yours Servant
Somendranatha Das (Disciple of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami)

Gradually he loses good faith, and finally stops to believe anyone and anything. Everywhere he sees only bad. No other choice is left for him, but to become a cynic, because he is not educated in the culture of Krishna consciousness. He knows not Bhagavad-gita. He does not know how to face such a load of badness. He at all does not know what to think about it. Therefore he joins the cynical attitude of a demon, "Everything is just bad and hopeless. Better I join the club of cynics and demons." Then he becomes full fledged demon too. But saintly person, devotee of Krishna sees same things, but puts no faith in them. He know that everything is wrong and temporary, and that positive option rests behind - the soul full of knowledge, unending spiritual bliss and almighty God with absolute will, tolerance and kindness. But cynic says something here too, "It is just your opinion." He does not see and does not waant to accept something better. He always leans towards worse. Vaisnava always chooses better option. Fly is always looking for stool and rotting, but bee is seeking nectar. That is about nature. There is the dividing line between cynic and skeptic. Cynic does not want to see anything first-rate. He lives out from doubting any good intentions and ultimately doubting motives of God and His very existence. Whereas skeptic is pessimistic about being happy in the material world. He has no faith for a slight enjoyment and happiness existing without God. Here is a short story and a piece of history to illustrate how the construct cynic came into terminology. In ancient Greece was one ascetic saint, who lived in the forest. Continue reading "Saint Cynic and modern cynics
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The post Daily Darshan: May 29th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Putting on Tilaka
In the Uttara-khanada of the Padma Purana, Lord Shiva says to Parvati that in the middle of the “V” of the Vaishnava tilaka mark there is a space and in that space reside Lakshmi and Narayana. Therefore, the body that is decorated with tilaka should be considered a temple of Lord Vishnu. The Padma Purana also states:
vama-parshve sthito brahma
dakshine cha sadashivaha
madhye vishnum vijaniyat
Tasman madhyam na lepayet
“On the left side of the tilaka Lord Brahma is situated, and on the right side is Sadashiva, but one should know that in the middle dwells Lord Vishnu. Therefore one should not smear the middle section.”
One should pour a little water into the palm of his left hand and rub gopi-chandana (mud from Dwaraka) into it. When making Tilaka the following mantra from the Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana:
lalate keshavam dhyayen
narayanam athodare
vaksha-sthale madhavam tu
govindam kantha-kupake
vishnum cha dakshine kukshau
bahau cha madhusudanam
trivikramam kandare tu
vamanam vama-parshvake
shridharam vama-bahau tu
hrishikesham cha kandhare
pristhe tu padma-nabham cha
katyam damodaram nyaset
tat prakshalana-toyam tu
vasudeveti murdhani
In accordance with the above mentioned mantra one should apply the gopi-chandana with the ball of the middle finger tip to make the tilaka marks on the twelve parts of the body. According to the Brahmanda Purana, one should not use the fingernail to make the space in the middle of the tilaka. One should place a thin damp cloth over the finger and make the space with that. Thus, when the tilaka is applied, the following mantras should be chanted:
The forehead–om keshavaya namaha
The belly–om narayanaya namaha
The chest–om madhavaya namaha
The throat–om govindaya namaha
The right side of the waist–om vishnave namaha
The right upper arm–om madhusudanaya namaha
The right shoulder–om trivikramaya namaha
The left side of the waist–om vamanaya namaha
The left upper arm–om shridharaya namaha
The left shoulder–om hrishikeshaya namaha
The upper back–om padmanabhaya namaha
The lower back–om damodaraya namaha
Finally, after washing one’s had, whatever water is left should be wiped on the top of the head in the region of the shikha (tuft of hair) with the mantra: om vasudevaya namaha.
In the Padma Purana it is stated:
nasadi-kesha-paryantam
urdhva-pundram sushobhanam
madhye chidra-samayuktam
tad vidyad dhari-mandiram
“That marking (of tilaka), which begins from the root of the nose and extends up to the hairline, which has a space in it and is very beautiful, is known as urdhva-pundra (tilaka). One should know it to be a temple of Lord Hari [Vishnu].” The Padma Purana also mentions that the tilaka marking should only extend three quarters of the way down the nose from the root of the nose, which is located between the eyebrows. The space in the middle of the tilaka should begin from between the eyebrows and extend up to the hairline. The marking on the nose and forehead should be connected. That is a perfect tilaka marking.
Read more: http://goo.gl/XjhYPu