Planet ISKCON

https://youtu.be/KWasmlWs4r4

The post A belated video of Book Distributors’ and Gurukulis’ NVD parikrama appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Victory! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Our first festival of the summer season in Chisinau, Moldova, was a grand success. Over 5,000 people attended. Our new theater entitled “Vrindavan” was greatly appreciated. The stunning costumes, the soundtrack and the professional acting had the entire audience mesmerized. Seeing so many people enjoying and appreciating Krsna conscious for the first time gave great satisfaction to all the devotees. Srila Prabhupada, we are pleased to offer you yet another victory in the sankirtan movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/5HjCyp

The post Daily Darshan: June 19th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Bhagavad Gita Class, Ch. 2 . v.13 given by 7 years old Radha Padma Devi dasi (8 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Always remember Krishna Who is your dear most friend and always serve Him just to please Him, and He will give you all intelligence how to be a first-class devotee. Letter to Mr. DDD, March 3, 1970.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/J7NdfO

Iskcon of Silicon Valley: Harinaam, June 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In this age, hearing is more important than thinking, because one’s thinking may be disturbed by mental agitation, but if one concentrates on hearing, he will be forced to associate with the sound vibration of Krishna. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.24.35)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/KGR3RQ

Harinama in Haifa, Israel, 18.06.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Those who are advanced and highly qualified and are interested in the essence of life know the good qualities of Kali-yuga. Such people worship the age of Kali because in this age, simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can advance in spiritual knowledge and thus attain life’s goal. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 11.5.36)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ilb4xk

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Three types of austerities – Gita 17.14-16 (Hindi) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

June 19. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Become Preachers.
Prabhupada is asking his hearers, who are only beginners in spiritual life, to become totally dedicated preachers of Krishna consciousness: “In the Bhagavad-gita, you will find that anyone who preaches the gospel of Bhagavad-gita to the people of the world is the most dear, the dearest person to Krishna. Therefore it is our duty to preach the principles of this Bhagavad-gita to make people Krishna conscious.” Prabhupada can’t wait to tell them – even if they aren’t ready. It’s too urgent. The world needs Krishna conscious preachers.
People are suffering for want of Krishna consciousness. Therefore, each and every one of us should be engaged in the preaching work of Krishna consciousness for the benefit of the whole world. Lord Caitanya, whose picture is in the front of our store, has very nicely preached the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. The Lord says, “Just take my orders, all of you, and become a spiritual master.” Lord Caitanya gives the order that in every country you go and preach Krishna consciousness. So if we take up this missionary work to preach Bhagavad-gita as it is, without interpretation, and without any material motives behind it – as it is – then Krishna says it shall be done. We should not have any attraction for worldly activities, otherwise we can’t have Krishna. But it doesn’t mean that we should be inimical to the people of the world. No, it is our duty to give them the highest instruction, that you become Krishna conscious.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=9

Become Preachers

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                                  May 2016                         6/17/2016


         For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this file contains
         the following North American results for the month of May:

                    North American Totals
                    Monthly Temples
                    Monthly Weekend Warriors etc.
                    Monthly Top 100 Individuals
                    Monthly Top 5
                    Cumulative Countries
                    Cumulative Temples
                    Cumulative Top 100 Individuals
                    Cumulative Top 5



   This file is best viewed and printed using a fixed pitch font. In WinCOM
   select Options, General, and change to Fixed pitch. In a word processor
   chose Edit, Select All, and select a fixed pitch font such as Courier.

                               All glories to your service,
                               Your servant, Mayapur Sasi dasa


   Scores received thru 06/17/2016




                 North American offering to Srila Prabhupada

         MahaBig   Big   Medium  Small   BTGs   Total   Total    %    Templ/
          Books   Books  Books   Books   Mags   Books   Points Change Devote
        --------------------------------------------------------------------
January  13132    7201    7126   17240   4382   49081   41798.20 +11% 23/ 88
February 13077   11031   11784   20907   5770   62569   48933.55 +39% 23/ 92
March    14063    6467    7115   20533   4835   53013   43798.05 +13% 19/ 64
April    16827   11372   10638   31013   6745   76595   58799.15  -9% 24/ 89
May      14337    9975    9055   30124   3924   67415   51104.30  -6% 23/ 81
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals   71436   46046   45718  119817  25656  308673  244433.25  +6% 30/149
                                                          (%)Change compared
                                                                to last year



                     North American Sankirtan Newsletter
                                ALL TEMPLES
                                  May 2016

                                      %    M-Big   Big  Medium  Small  BTGs
    Temples (size)           Points Change Books  Books  Books  Books  Mags
    _______________________________________________________________________

  1 Los Angeles (L)    US  18475.00* +27%   3840   4566*  4296  16204*  300
  2 RupanugaVedicColle US   8890.95   +6%   2787   2425    254*  2161* 2247
  3 Dallas (M)         US   3695.90*+639%   1778*    38     77    234    49
  4 TBB TSKP (MS)      US   2938.75  -28%    176   1366   1480   1923     0
  5 Silicon Valley(ISV US   2928.00  +53%   1239     12*     0   1752*    0
  6 Denver (M)         US   2288.55    0%    717    265    555   1037   528
  7 Toronto (S)        Can  2279.20*+209%    929*    98*   380*   532     2
  8 Baltimore (MS)     US   1646.25  -41%    722     15*   112*   465   150
  9 Gainesville (M)    US   1602.75  -48%    130    820    576    939     0
 10 Hillsborough, NC ( US   1150.15  +21%    470*    84     15    311   409
 11 New Talavan (S)    US    966.00  -17%    357     11    394    176*    0
 12 Laguna Beach (S)   US    768.75  -28%    318     25     96*   207    80
 13 New York Queens (S US    616.50   na     211      0     81    616     0
 14 New Orleans (S)    US    604.50  -25%     30      0    295   1588     0
 15 Hartford (MS)      US    410.90  +11%    151     49*    81     64    34
 16 Vancouver (S)      Can   353.00*+310%    125*    28*    81*   138*    0
 17 Sacramento/TYM (S) US    329.40   -8%    108     25    129*    90    14
 18 Miami (S)          US    327.25  -35%    111     15      0    335    21
 19 Atlanta (S)        US    321.00  -20%      0     84      0    948*    0
 20 Berkeley (S)       US    219.75  +44%     61*    32*    48    147    50
 21 Seattle (S)        US    134.75  -94%     38     12     58*    55*   40
 22 Montreal (S)       Can   116.50* +56%     31      3*    15*   176     0
 23 Arkadelphia (S)    US     40.50*+531%      8*     2*    32*    26*    0
                                    (%)Change compared        (*)New record
                                    to monthly average        for this year



                     North American Sankirtan Newsletter
                             WEEKEND WARRIORS ETC
                                  May 2016

                                      %    M-Big   Big  Medium  Small  BTGs
    Individuals or Group     Points Change Books  Books  Books  Books  Mags
    _______________________________________________________________________

  1 WW Team ISV Week Sil US  2928.00  +53%  1239     12*     0   1752*    0
  2 WW Toronto WW    Tor Can 1876.00*+447%   784*    79*   234*   448*    0
  3 WW Jiva Daya Mar Bal US  1446.25  -60%   622     15*   112*   465   150
  4 WW Dallas        Dal US   562.00*+253%   255*    22     30     60     0
  5 CP LA Sastra Dan LA  US   200.00  +43%     0      0    200    400*    0
  6 WW Seattle       Sea US   134.75   na     38     12     58     55    40
                                    (%)Change compared        (*)New record
                                    to monthly average        for this year




                     North American Sankirtan Newsletter
                             TOP 100 INDIVIDUALS
                                  May 2016

                                      %    M-Big   Big  Medium  Small  BTGs
    Individuals              Points Change Books  Books  Books  Books  Mags
    _______________________________________________________________________

  1 Bk Jay Khush     LA  US  4731.50* +39%  1125*  1134*   963*  3052  1030*
  2 NityanandaDallas Dal US  2880.00   na   1440      0      0      0     0
  3 Paramesvara d    RVC US  2478.65  -16%   753    688      2    545* 1474
  4 Ananda Kirtan d  LA  US  2149.75   -7%   699    270    146   1635     0
  5 Krishna Bhagavan RVC US  2100.65  -25%   699    545      1    495*  334
  6 Prema Sankirtan  LA  US  1518.75   -6%   333    613    193*   573     0
  7 Dharmaraja d     RVC US  1312.40   -2%   400    413      0    352   114*
  8 Bk Adhama        RVC US  1149.00   na    358    281    172    264     0
  9 Gauranga Prema d LA  US  1081.50  -25%   209    347    592     82     0
 10 Nidra dd         Den US  1013.50   +1%   359    174    158    170     0
 11 Ekasma d         LA  US   986.25*+179%   291*   169*    66    809*    0
 12 Bk Storm         LA  US   970.75  -48%   260    189    170    699    20
 13 Mohanasini dd    Tal US   938.50  -14%   357     11    394     66     0
 14 Dasya Prema d    RVC US   918.80  -19%   320    218     15    154*  148
 15 Raya Nitai d     TBB US   770.25  -16%    77    273    409    555     0
 16 Brajananda d     RVC US   688.45  -52%   202    225      0    187   127*
 17 Sacitanoy d      LA  US   661.25  +69%   144    303     16*   249     0
 18 Shastra-krt d    LA  US   652.50* +33%   170*     0      0   1250*    0
 19 Bk Carlos        TBB US   620.25  -33%     7    412*   229    319     0
 20 Krsna Kumar d    TBB US   556.50  +19%    92*    67    460    302     0
 21 Bk Karim         TBB US   505.25  -17%     0    296    226    385     0
 22 Madhava Puri d   TBB US   486.50   -1%     0    318*   156    362     0
 23 Sunanda d        NY  US   483.75   na    211      0     81     85     0
 24 Bn Karly         Gai US   422.75  -13%    46    113*   303    265     0
 25 Bk Alex          Gai US   386.50   na      7    196    202    302     0
 26 Bk Jonathon      Gai US   368.25*+999%     4*   333*     2    105*    0
 27 Madhukari d      Atl US   321.00  -48%     0     84      0    948*    0
 28 Prana Hari d     Den US   300.50   -4%   140      0      9     64     0
 29 Radha Krishna d  LA  US   284.40  -25%    70     77     76*   114     9
 30 Kalki d(2 Kimani Gai US   279.75  -63%    47    139     22    143*    0
 31 Drumila d        NO  US   273.00  -47%     8      0    195    638     0
 32 Bk Akshay        Hil US   270.75* +49%   104*    57*     0     23     0
 33 Visala d         Mia US   236.65  +27%    75*    10      0    301    14*
 34 Bhrgupati d      LA  US   232.50  -78%    54     74     44    114     0
 35 Vinoda Kovida d  Den US   226.50* +84%    83*    12     73*    48*    0
 36 Bk David         Rup US   213.25   na     53     55     23    143    50
 37 Sarvatarak d     NO  US   177.50*+121%     0      0      0    710*    0
 38 Ananda Murari d  Den US   168.25* +89%    49*    12*    98*    37*    0
 39 Amala Purana d   Den US   163.95  +39%    41     18     89*    65    32
 40 Cakri d Dallas   Dal US   158.40  -17%    61      0      0    126    49
 41 Bk Oscar         LA  US   129.75  -37%    42     21     37     25     0
 42 Govinda Datta d  LA  US   129.25  -21%    14      0    120*   165*    0
 43 Dinabandhu Guru  Ber US   118.10   -1%    22     23*    31    126    41
 44 Nanda Suno d     Den US   117.00  -39%    21     30     54     72     0
 45 Mahalaksmi dd    NY  US   102.50   na      0      0      0    410     0
 46 Lalita dd        Ber US   101.65*+205%    39*     9*    17     21     9
 47 Rohini Nandan d  NO  US    99.00  -21%     2      0     80*   220     0
 48 Aditya Narayan d Hil US    90.50  -61%    41      5      2     10     0
 49 Lilakara d       Mia US    89.60  -17%    36      4      0     34     7
 50 Sacidulal d      LA  US    88.75  -11%    38      0      0     35    40
 51 Bn Demi          Tor Can   73.35  -36%    32*     6*     3      7     1
 52 Bk Liam          Gai US    55.50   na     13     20      0     38     0
 53 Ananta Gopal d   NO  US    55.00  -45%    20      0     20     20     0
 54 Caitanya dd      Gai US    50.00  -76%    12      5     27     30     0
 55 Gopi Gita dd     LA  US    50.00  +97%     0      0     70*    60     0
 56 Karuna Dharini   LA  US    44.00  -15%    16      5      6     16     0
 57 Ramanuja d       Van Can   39.00*+192%     6*     4     18*    56*    0
 58 Kamalini dd      Hil US    35.95* +28%    10*     8*     6     17*    7*
 59 Samyaprasa d     Den US    35.50  -59%     4      6     17     52*    0
 60 Nitai Ram d      Van Can   33.50   na     15      2      3      0     0
 61 Banke Bihari dd  Van Can   33.00  +16%     4      1     30*    36     0
 62 Visnu Gada d     Van Can   31.75  +76%     1     21*    11*    13*    0
 63 Radharani dd     LA  US    29.75   +8%     0      0     10     99     0
 64 Bk Mike          Gai US    29.50   na      1     10     20     30     0
 65 Bk Sebastian     LA  US    28.25  -34%     0      3*     6     89     0
 66 Kaivalya dd      Tal US    27.50  -65%     0      0      0    110     0
 67 Arya Siddhanta d RVC US    18.25   na      2      0     18     21     0
 68 Dristadyumna d   Gai US    17.50   na      6      4      0      6     0
 69 Ram Rajya d      Den US    13.00   na      4      5      0      0     0
 70 Jagatpati d      Van Can   12.25  +15%     0      0     19     11     0
 71 Krishna Prasad d Gai US     5.00 -100%     0      0      0     20     0
 72 Syama dd         LA  US     4.35  -94%     1      1      1      3     1
 73 Krsna Sarana d   Den US     3.10   na      1      0      0      0    11
 74 Misra Bhagavan d Dal US     1.75   na      0      0      0      7     0
 75 Nartaka Gopal dd Mia US     1.00  -56%     0      1      0      0     0
                                    (%)Change compared        (*)New record
                                    to monthly average        for this year



                    North American Sankirtan Newsletter
                   MONTHLY TOP 5 TEMPLES AND INDIVIDUALS
                                  May 2016

     -------- Points --------             ----------- Points -----------
1 Los Angeles           18475.00     1 Bk Jay Khush        LA       4731.50
2 RupanugaVedicCollege   8890.95     2 NityanandaDallas    Dallas   2880.00
3 Dallas                 3695.90     3 Paramesvara d       RVC      2478.65
4 TBB TSKP               2938.75     4 Ananda Kirtan d     LA       2149.75
5 Silicon Valley(ISV)    2928.00     5 Krishna Bhagavan d  RVC      2100.65

     ----- (%)Increase ------             -------- (%)Increase ---------
1 Dallas                   +639%     1 Bk Jonathon         Gainesvil  +999%
2 Arkadelphia              +531%     2 Lalita dd           Berkeley   +205%
3 Vancouver                +310%     3 Ramanuja d          Vancouver  +192%
4 Toronto                  +209%     4 Ekasma d            LA         +179%
5 Montreal                  +56%     5 Sarvatarak d        New Orlea  +121%

     ---- Maha-Big Books ----             ------- Maha-Big Books -------
1 Los Angeles               3840     1 NityanandaDallas    Dallas      1440
2 RupanugaVedicCollege      2787     2 Bk Jay Khush        LA          1125
3 Dallas                    1778     3 Paramesvara d       RVC          753
4 Silicon Valley(ISV)       1239     4 Ananda Kirtan d     LA           699
5 Toronto                    929     5 Krishna Bhagavan d  RVC          699

     ------ Big Books -------             ---------- Big Books ---------
1 Los Angeles               4566     1 Bk Jay Khush        LA          1134
2 RupanugaVedicCollege      2425     2 Paramesvara d       RVC          688
3 TBB TSKP                  1366     3 Prema Sankirtan d   LA           613
4 Gainesville                820     4 Krishna Bhagavan d  RVC          545
5 Denver                     265     5 Dharmaraja d        RVC          413

     ----- Medium Books -----             -------- Medium Books --------
1 Los Angeles               4296     1 Bk Jay Khush        LA           963
2 TBB TSKP                  1480     2 Gauranga Prema dChinLA           592
3 Gainesville                576     3 Krsna Kumar d       TBB TSKP     460
4 Denver                     555     4 Raya Nitai d        TBB TSKP     409
5 New Talavan                394     5 Mohanasini dd       New Talav    394

     ----- Small Books ------             -------- Small Books ---------
1 Los Angeles              16204     1 Bk Jay Khush        LA          3052
2 RupanugaVedicCollege      2161     2 Ananda Kirtan d     LA          1635
3 TBB TSKP                  1923     3 Shastra-krt d       LA          1250
4 Silicon Valley(ISV)       1752     4 Madhukari d         Atlanta      948
5 New Orleans               1588     5 Ekasma d            LA           809

     ------ Magazines -------             --------- Magazines ----------
1 RupanugaVedicCollege      2247     1 Paramesvara d       RVC         1474
2 Denver                     528     2 Bk Jay Khush        LA          1030
3 Hillsborough, NC           409     3 Krishna Bhagavan d  RVC          334
4 Los Angeles                300     4 Dasya Prema d       RVC          148
5 Baltimore                  150     5 Brajananda d        RVC          127

     ------ Full Sets -------             --------- Full Sets ----------
1 Silicon Valley(ISV)         23     1 Nidra dd            Denver         7
2 Denver                      15     2 Bk Adhama           RVC            5
3 Hartford                     8     3 Bk Jay Khush        LA             2
4 Hillsborough, NC             5     4 Aditya Narayan d    Hillsboro      2
5 Baltimore                    5     5 Shastra-krt d       LA             1

     ----- BBT Payments -----             ------ Matajis - Points ------
1 Los Angeles              33266     1 Nidra dd            Denver   1013.50
2 Silicon Valley(ISV)      25000     2 Mohanasini dd       New Talav 938.50
3 TBB TSKP                 12137     3 Mahalaksmi dd       New York  102.50
4 RupanugaVedicCollege     11000     4 Lalita dd           Berkeley  101.65
5 Hillsborough, NC          4396     5 Gopi Gita dd        LA         50.00

     --- Bhaktas - Points ---             ----- Bhaktins - Points ------
1 Bk Jay Khush  LA       4731.50     1 Bn Karly            Gainesvil 422.75
2 Bk Adhama     RVC      1149.00     2 Bn Demi             Toronto    73.35
3 Bk Storm      LA        970.75     3                                 0.00
4 Bk Carlos     TBB TSKP  620.25     4                                 0.00
5 Bk Karim      TBB TSKP  505.25     5                                 0.00

    Veteran Men(20+yrs) Points            -Veteran Women(20+yrs) Points-
1 Prema Sankirt LA       1518.75     1 Nidra dd            Denver   1013.50
2 Sacitanoy d   LA        661.25     2 Mohanasini dd       New Talav 938.50
3 Sunanda d     New York  483.75     3 Lalita dd           Berkeley  101.65
4 Drumila d     New Orlea 273.00     4 Karuna Dharini dd   LA         44.00
5 Visala d      Miami     236.65     5 Kamalini dd         Hillsboro  35.95



                     North American Sankirtan Newsletter
                           COUNTRIES (CUMULATIVE)
                           January thru May, 2016

   Country                 %     Total  M-Big    Big   Medium   Small   BTGs
   (Temples)     Points  Change  Books  Books   Books   Books   Books   Mags
   _________________________________________________________________________

 1 USA (27)    238316.05   +7%  301146  69353   45719   44484  116043  25547
 2 Canada (3)    6117.20  -30%    7527   2083     327    1234    3774    109
                        (%)Change compared to Jan-May 2015



                     North American Sankirtan Newsletter
                            TEMPLES (CUMULATIVE)
                           January thru May, 2016

                                      %    M-Big   Big  Medium  Small  BTGs
    Temples (size)           Points Change Books  Books  Books  Books  Mags
    _______________________________________________________________________

  1 Los Angeles (L)    US  76457.90  +10%  17148  18517  18868  55536  3269
  2 RupanugaVedicColle US  42416.45  +37%  14267  10819    704   5665 12952
  3 TBB TSKP (MS)      US  19263.00 +136%   2154   7074* 10776   9964    20
  4 Baltimore (MS)     US  12716.55  +18%   5950     26    154   2589   663
  5 Denver (M)         US  11477.25   -8%   3671   1367   2339   5179  3040
  6 Gainesville (M)    US  10762.25  +28%   2677   3068   2722   3917     0
  7 Silicon Valley(ISV US  10572.75  -43%   4931     26      0   2739     0
  8 Chicago (S)        US   9238.65   +3%   2483   1749   1696   6045  1644*
  9 Seattle (S)        US   9085.75*  na    4378*   127    194    267   390
 10 Dallas (M)         US   5695.50  -23%   2430    354    392    998   360
 11 Toronto (S)        Can  5228.70  +18%   1858    253    965   2914    91
 12 Laguna Beach (S)   US   5053.50  +10%   2169    194    245   1302   735
 13 Hillsborough, NC ( US   4955.65 +107%   1401    429    194   5885  1564
 14 New Talavan (S)    US   4464.25  -38%   1673     47   1938    409     0
 15 New York Harinam ( US   3113.50  -32%    787    802    317   2316     0
 16 New Orleans (S)    US   3014.25  +26%    180      0   2014   6585    10*
 17 Hartford (MS)      US   1894.70 +202%    699    184    220    428   253*
 18 Miami (S)          US   1828.85   -5%    433    268    168*  2359    79
 19 Sacramento/TYM (S) US   1754.80   +5%    692     98    289*   496*   43*
 20 Farmington Hills,  US   1229.00*  na     509*     9*   404*     0     0
 21 San Diego (M)      US    905.25  +26%    184    244    359*   455     0
 22 Atlanta (S)        US    720.25  -83%     69    198      0   1537*    0
 23 Vancouver (S)      Can   697.50  -12%    194     69    248    406    18
 24 Berkeley (S)       US    677.45  -16%    139     90    240    551   517
 25 New York Queens (S US    616.50   na     211      0     81    616     0
 26 Krishna Culture (S US    248.35   na      77      6    113    125     6
 27 Montreal (S)       Can   191.00*  na      31*     5     21    454*    0
 28 St. Louis (S)      US     71.50  -85%     18     19     18     30     0
 29 Arkadelphia (S)    US     59.75 +409%     14      4     39*    33     0
 30 Texarkana (S)      US     22.45  -67%      9      0      0     17     2
 31 Boston (S)         US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 32 New York City (M)  US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 33 New Vrindavan (L)  US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 34 Honolulu (S)       US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 35 Washington D.C. (M US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 36 Detroit (S)        US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 37 BTG/Krishna.com (S US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 38 Philadelphia (M)   US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 39 Alachua (S)        US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 40 Portland (MS)      US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 41 New Jersey-Edison  US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 42 Tucson (S)         US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 43 New York 26 2nd Av US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 44 Murari Sevak (S)   US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 45 Ottawa (MS)        Can     0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 46 New Jersey-Towaco  US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 47 Houston (S)        US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 48 Columbus (S)       US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 49 Naperville (MS)    US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 50 Tampa Bay (S)      US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 51 Orlando (MS)       US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 52 San Francisco (MS) US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 53 Cintamani Dhama KY US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 54 Halifax (MS)       Can     0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 55 San Antonio (MS)   US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 56 Austin (MS)        US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 57 World Harinama Par US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 58 Calgary (MS)       Can     0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 59 Boise (MS)         US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 60 Tallahassee (MS)   US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 61 Winnipeg (MS)      Can     0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 62 Bhakti Lounge (Phi US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 63 Bhakti Lounge (Tor Can     0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 64 Gita-nagari (S)    US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 65 Ann Harbor (S)     US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 66 Saranagati Farm (M Can     0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 67 Santa Cruz (MS)    US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 68 Minneapolis (S)    US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 69 Hale Krishna Hawai US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 70 Santa Barbara (MS) US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 71 Spanish Fork KHQN  US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 72 Palm Beach (MS)    US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 73 Las Vegas (S)      US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 74 Carpinteria (MS)   US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 75 Birmingham(USA) (M US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 76 Albuquerque (MS)   US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 77 Louisville (MS)    US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 78 Naples (MS)        US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 79 Harrisburg (MS)    US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 80 Oklahoma City (MS) US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 81 Boulder (MS)       US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
 82 Phoenix(AZ) (MS)   US      0.00   na       0      0      0      0     0
                                    (%)Change compared       (*)Better than
                                       to Jan-May 2015            last year



                     North American Sankirtan Newsletter
                      TOP 100 INDIVIDUALS (CUMULATIVE)
                           January thru May, 2016

                                      %    M-Big   Big  Medium  Small  BTGs
    Individuals              Points Change Books  Books  Books  Books  Mags
    _______________________________________________________________________

  1 Bk Jay Khush     LA  US 14913.15  +31%  3908   2806   2611  11059* 2209*
  2 Ananda Kirtan d  LA  US 11368.60   +1%  3692   1583    783   7984*  141*
  3 Paramesvara d    RVC US 11352.65  +19%  3606   3023      6   1455  7509
  4 Krishna Bhagavan RVC US 10522.45 +116%  3584   2634      4   1381  3732
  5 Bk Storm         LA  US  8419.10 +106%  2382   1508   1684   4980*  601*
  6 Prema Sankirtan  LA  US  7998.25 +150%  1966   2586    672   4541    90*
  7 Gauranga Prema d LA  US  6832.00*  na   1299*  2049*  3814*  1112     0
  8 Dharmaraja d     RVC US  5349.20 +101%  1663   1728     42   1014   207
  9 Nidra dd         Den US  5009.00   +6%  1800    744    721   1218     0
 10 Brajananda d     RVC US  4955.65  +19%  1637   1451     88    657   224
 11 Gaur Sundar d    LA  US  4512.80 +245%  2092    222    148    122    23
 12 Raya Nitai d     TBB US  4438.00  -14%   363   1639*  3080   2132     0
 13 Bhrgupati d      LA  US  4388.20  -24%   883   1601    952   2166    37
 14 Dasya Prema d    RVC US  4329.60   +5%  1584    908    158    368   826
 15 Bk Carlos        TBB US  4307.00   na    517   1394*  2409   2698     0
 16 Mohanasini dd    New US  4199.25  -22%  1673     47   1463    299     0
 17 Deva Krsna d     RVC US  3984.90  -18%  1646    586      0    268   399*
 18 Krishna Prasad d Gai US  3276.75  +10%  1044    793    222   1139     0
 19 Bk Karim         TBB US  2931.00*  na    166*  1312*  1558*  2032     0
 20 NityanandaDallas Dal US  2880.00  -50%  1440      0      0      0     0
 21 Kalki d(2 Kimani Gai US  2566.75  -35%   680    927    382    355     0
 22 Krsna Kumar d    TBB US  2422.75   na    120   1231*  1303   1193    20
 23 Ekasma d         LA  US  2398.50  -50%   485    305   1527   1440*    0
 24 Bk Joey          TBB US  1996.75*  na    348*   507   1291*   593     0
 25 Madhava Puri d   TBB US  1954.75   na    222    810    966*   871     0
 26 Bn Karly         Gai US  1875.75*  na    337*   256*  1327*  1129*    0
 27 Sacitanoy d      LA  US  1833.00  -15%   413    822     20    700     0
 28 Drumila d        New US  1830.75   +4%    35*     0   1495   4053     0
 29 Radha Krishna d  LA  US  1795.30*  na    560*   359*   247*   758*   33*
 30 Shastra-krt d    LA  US  1633.50  -68%   468      0    180*  2430*    0
 31 Madhukari d      Atl US  1557.50*  na    466    201*    42*  1614*    0
 32 Prana Hari d     Den US  1555.20  -18%   620    129     41    658    12*
 33 Bk Adhama        RVC US  1149.00*+495%   358*   281    172    264*    0
 34 Aditya Narayan d Hil US  1013.50 +118%   358     42     18*   986*    0
 35 Bk Akshay        Hil US   996.00*  na    344*   203*    15*   390*    0
 36 Nanda Suno d     Den US   889.00   na    267    155    224    352     0
 37 Visala d         Mia US   793.65  +38%   226     51      6*  1143    19
 38 Bk Oscar         LA  US   750.75*  na    157*   175*   224*   599*    0
 39 Cakri d Dallas   Dal US   733.55   -5%   289      0      0    527   238
 40 Vinoda Kovida d  Den US   718.00   -4%   256     90    147    170     0
 41 Caitanya dd      Gai US   675.50  +19%   171    197    178    190     0
 42 Bk Himanshu      Chi US   640.50  -13%   120    193*   240*   350*    0
 43 Amala Purana d   Den US   636.70   na    190     66    235    280    32
 44 Prabhu Hari d    Mia US   598.00*+374%    73*   147*   160*   900*    0
 45 Abhimanyu d      Gai US   556.25*  na    196*    80*    54*   229*    0
 46 Parama Karuna d  Chi US   536.75  -73%   144    108    124    315     0
 47 Bn Demi          Tor Can  533.45  +70%    57     19     25   1537*   37
 48 Adi Karta d      Gai US   512.00*  na    143*   196*    40*    40*    0
 49 Bk Chang         SD  US   494.00   na    116    133    168*   180     0
 50 Sunanda d        NY  US   483.75   na    211      0     81     85     0
 51 Dinabandhu Guru  Ber US   475.45   -7%    78     70    169    467   482*
 52 Ananda Murari d  Den US   434.75  -36%   137     40    196     91     0
 53 Sarvatarak d     New US   418.50  +20%    20      0     41   1432     0
 54 Lilakara d       Mia US   414.35   -5%   132     65      1*   279    19
 55 Bk Jonathon      Gai US   394.00*  na      5*   349*    10*   120*    0
 56 Bk Alex          Gai US   386.50   na      7    196    202    302     0
 57 Samyaprasa d     Den US   385.00  -49%   114     57    140    120     0
 58 Bk Allen         TBB US   375.50*  na     21*   178*   127*   368*    0
 59 Ekatvam d        Gur US   357.00   na     18*    45    344    416     0
 60 Ananta Gopal d   New US   354.00   na    120      0    148    160     0
 61 Rohini Nandan d  New US   350.00  +33%     5*     0    240*   880     0
 62 Bhismadeva d     Dal US   313.75   na     98    111      1     25     0
 63 Govinda Datta d  LA  US   293.50*+939%    58*     0    200*   310*    0
 64 Sacidulal d      LA  US   289.00   na    120      0      0    180    40
 65 Bk Adam          RVC US   287.25*  na     92*    64*    54*    49*    0
 66 Kaivalya dd      New US   265.00*  na      0      0    475    110     0
 67 Karuna Dharini   LA  US   251.00  +82%    99     17     34     76     0
 68 Visva dd         Chi US   248.75  -56%    91     28     33     89     0
 69 Shankar Pandit d Chi US   241.50 +154%    50      0      0    566*    0
 70 Cakri d          Chi US   228.00   na      0    188*    80      0     0
 71 Bk Mikey         Gai US   218.00  -33%    54     32     80    152     0
 72 Bk David         Rup US   213.25   na     53     55     23    143    50
 73 Dvijamani Gaura  RVC US   209.25   -7%    36     81     96     33     0
 74 Syama dd         LA  US   208.60*+102%     1      1      1    568*  631*
 75 Lalita dd        Ber US   201.70   +8%    61     20     71     84    32
 76 Bk Sebastian     LA  US   200.75  -45%     0      9     27    713     0
 77 Harish Kumar d   Chi US   192.00*  na     96*     0      0      0     0
 78 Bk Joe B.        Chi US   184.00*  na     72*    40*     0      0     0
 79 Bk Mitch Rampp   Chi US   181.75   na     63     31     28     43     0
 80 Gopi Gita dd     LA  US   151.75   -4%     0      0    137    333     0
 81 Banke Bihari dd  Van Can  146.50  -35%    30     13     66    162*    0
 82 Babhru d         LA  US   145.75  -84%     6     63*    76    131     0
 83 Svavasa d        LA  US   144.00   na     72      0      0      0     0
 84 Bk Matsu         Den US   134.75*  na     44*    10*    46*    55*    0
 85 Jaya Gauranga d  Den US   121.25*  na     30*    48*     0     53*    0
 86 Radharani dd     LA  US   112.50*  na      3      0     56*   314*    0
 87 Bn Tessa         Gai US   102.50   -8%     0      0    170     70     0
 88 Mahalaksmi dd    NY  US   102.50   na      0      0      0    410     0
 89 Karuna Nidhi d   Chi US    96.25*+817%    40*     0      0     25   100
 90 Bn Autumn        Gai US    87.75  -12%    26      8     23     65*    0
 91 Visnu Gada d     Van Can   86.00  -38%     5     38     28     36    18*
 92 Gaura Candra d   Tor Can   83.25   -9%    39      0      5     11     0
 93 Ramanuja d       Van Can   79.00*  na     10     13     38*   108*    0
 94 Bk Marquis       SD  US    69.75*  na     11*    25*    29*    33*    0
 95 Shivani dd       Chi US    65.25 +110%     5     20*    12    117*    0
 96 Kamalini dd      Hil US    64.00  -24%    15     14     21     34    10
 97 Sridhar Syama d  Dal US    61.75*  na     15*    11*    26     31*    0
 98 Uttamananda d    Tor Can   58.00*  na     24*    10*     0      0     0
 99 NityanandaChandr Dal US    56.00*  na     28*     0      0      0     0
100 Bk Liam          Gai US    55.50   na     13     20      0     38     0
                                    (%)Change compared       (*)Better than
                                       to Jan-May 2015            last year



                    North American Sankirtan Newsletter
                 CUMULATIVE TOP 5 TEMPLES AND INDIVIDUALS
                           January thru May 2016

     ----- Points(Cum) ------             -------- Points(Cum) ---------
1 Los Angeles           76457.90     1 Bk Jay Khush       LA       14913.15
2 RupanugaVedicCollege  42416.45     2 Ananda Kirtan d    LA       11368.60
3 TBB TSKP              19263.00     3 Paramesvara d      RVC      11352.65
4 Baltimore             12716.55     4 Krishna Bhagavan d RVC      10522.45
5 Denver                11477.25     5 Bk Storm           LA        8419.10

     --- (%)Increase(Cum) ---             ------ (%)Increase(Cum) ------
1 Arkadelphia              +409%     1 Govinda Datta d     LA         +939%
2 Hartford                 +202%     2 Bk Adhama           RVC        +495%
3 TBB TSKP                 +136%     3 Prabhu Hari d       Miami      +374%
4 Hillsborough, NC         +107%     4 Gaur Sundar d       LA         +245%
5 RupanugaVedicCollege      +37%     5 Shankar Pandit d    Chicago    +154%

     -- Maha-Big Books(Cum) --            ----- Maha-Big Books(Cum) -----
1 Los Angeles              17148     1 Bk Jay Khush        LA          3908
2 RupanugaVedicCollege     14267     2 Ananda Kirtan d     LA          3692
3 Baltimore                 5950     3 Paramesvara d       RVC         3606
4 Silicon Valley(ISV)       4931     4 Krishna Bhagavan d  RVC         3584
5 Seattle                   4378     5 Bk Storm            LA          2382

     ---- Big Books(Cum) ----             ------- Big Books(Cum) -------
1 Los Angeles              18517     1 Paramesvara d       RVC         3023
2 RupanugaVedicCollege     10819     2 Bk Jay Khush        LA          2806
3 TBB TSKP                  7074     3 Krishna Bhagavan d  RVC         2634
4 Gainesville               3068     4 Prema Sankirtan d   LA          2586
5 Chicago                   1749     5 Gauranga Prema dChinLA          2049

     --- Medium Books(Cum) ---            ------ Medium Books(Cum) ------
1 Los Angeles              18868     1 Gauranga Prema dChinLA          3814
2 TBB TSKP                 10776     2 Raya Nitai d        TBB TSKP    3080
3 Gainesville               2722     3 Bk Jay Khush        LA          2611
4 Denver                    2339     4 Bk Carlos           TBB TSKP    2409
5 New Orleans               2014     5 Bk Storm            LA          1684

     --- Small Books(Cum) ---             ------ Small Books(Cum) ------
1 Los Angeles              55536     1 Bk Jay Khush        LA         11059
2 TBB TSKP                  9964     2 Ananda Kirtan d     LA          7984
3 New Orleans               6585     3 Bk Storm            LA          4980
4 Chicago                   6045     4 Prema Sankirtan d   LA          4541
5 Hillsborough, NC          5885     5 Drumila d           New Orlea   4053

     ---- Magazines(Cum) ----             ------- Magazines(Cum) -------
1 RupanugaVedicCollege     12952     1 Paramesvara d       RVC         7509
2 Los Angeles               3269     2 Krishna Bhagavan d  RVC         3732
3 Denver                    3040     3 Bk Jay Khush        LA          2209
4 Chicago                   1644     4 Dasya Prema d       RVC          826
5 Hillsborough, NC          1564     5 Syama dd            LA           631

     ---- Full Sets(Cum) ----             ------- Full Sets(Cum) -------
1 Baltimore                  114     1 Gaur Sundar d       LA            46
2 Silicon Valley(ISV)        113     2 Nidra dd            Denver        33
3 Los Angeles                 65     3 Aditya Narayan d    Hillsboro     20
4 Denver                      52     4 Bk Jay Khush        LA             6
5 Hartford                    38     5 Bk Adhama           RVC            5

     --- BBT Payments(Cum) ---            ---- Matajis - Points(Cum) ----
1 Los Angeles             130364     1 Nidra dd            Denver   5009.00
2 Silicon Valley(ISV)      57379     2 Mohanasini dd       New Tala 4199.25
3 TBB TSKP                 41708     3 Caitanya dd         Gainsvil  675.50
4 RupanugaVedicCollege     27357     4 Kaivalya dd         New Tala  265.00
5 Chicago                  26159     5 Karuna Dharini dd   LA        251.00

      Bhaktas - Points(Cum)               --- Bhaktins - Points(Cum) ---
1 Bk Jay Khush  LA       14913.1     1 Bn Karly            Gainesvil1875.75
2 Bk Storm      LA       8419.10     2 Bn Demi             Toronto   533.45
3 Bk Carlos     TBB TSKP 4307.00     3 Bn Tessa            Gainesvil 102.50
4 Bk Karim      TBB TSKP 2931.00     4 Bn Autumn           Gainesvil  87.75
5 Bk Joey       TBB TSKP 1996.75     5 Bn Christiana       Gainesvil  11.25

    Veteran Men(20+yrs) Points             Veteran Women(20+yrs) Points
1 Prema Sankirt LA       7998.25     1 Nidra dd            Denver   5009.00
2 Gaur Sundar d LA       4512.80     2 Mohanasini dd       New Talav4199.25
3 Bhrgupati d   LA       4388.20     3 Karuna Dharini dd   LA        251.00
4 Sacitanoy d   LA       1833.00     4 Lalita dd           Berkeley  201.70
5 Drumila d     New Orlea1830.75     5 Radharani dd        LA        112.50



                        HOW TO SEND IN SCORES

Monthly scores can still be sent the usual ways: fax, phone,
snail mail and e-mail. Please send them before the 7th of the
next month.

When sending scores by e-mail, please use the same basic format
as the printed scoresheet:


Temple: (Important!)       Month: (Important!)

                     (Enter BOOKS below--NOT points)
              SUB   M1   S1   H1   S2   H2   S3   H3   S4   H4   SETS
Temple totals   x    x   xx    x    x   xx    x   xx    x   xx      x
Top devotees:
Bk Mike         x    x    x    x    x    x    x    x    x    x      x
Krsna d         x    x    x    x    x    x    x    x   xx   xx      x
Radha dd       xx   xx    x         x    x        xx  xxx    x      x
etc.

Please...
  Try to limit each line to 80 characters maximum.
  You can omit the codes you don't use. You can start with H4 if you wish.
  Make sure the columns line up properly when viewed with a
     fixed pitch font.
  Use spaces (not tabs) between columns.
  Include your temple's name!
  Include the month the scores are for!
  Include temple totals for the month.
  List each month separately. Don't combine two or more months together.
  Don't just report Small, Big, Mahabig, etc.--->Use the codes S1,S2 etc.
     or make sure you specify hard or soft cover books
  Don't send every devotee's score. Just the top devotees who will
     have a chance to appear in the newsletter.
  Send scores to Mayapur@aol.com


              --- Please observe the Fair Play rules ---
        DEADLINE for scores is the 7th of the following month!

By Indradyumna Swami

Dear devotees everywhere: This evening we begin a 2 1/2 month summer festival tour. Myself and a team of 300 devotees will hold a festival every day of the week, except Mondays, from now until the beginning of September. It means over 50 festival programs, including the great Woodstock festival in early July where just under a million people are expected. We are beginning here in Moldova and moving to the Baltic Sea Coast in Poland next week. This is a herculean task and we beg your blessings, along with the blessings of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya, to be successful. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we may touch the hearts of literally hundreds of thousands of conditioned souls in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you! All glories to Sri Krsna Sankirtan!

Glasgow Students Chant and Dance with Harinama Ruci (6 min video)
Krishna-Kripa das: A group of students from Glasgow delighted in chanting and dancing with Harinama Ruci and the Soho Street devotees in Leicester Square in London. June 15, 2016.
Watch it here with many other notes, photos and videos: http://goo.gl/6GW13g

Kavicandra Swami: Welcome to Okinawa, Japan (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: The demigods are pleased when sacrifices are performed, just as prison officers are satisfied when the prisoners are turned into obedient subjects. Lord Caitanya, however, has recommended only one yajna, or sacrifice, called the sankirtana-yajna, the chanting of Hare Krishna, in which everyone can take part. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.6.20 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/uj2eHk

Unity in Diversity.
Suresvara Prabhu: When another GBC man wrote to inform Prabhupada of more dissension in the ranks, Prabhupada was philosophical: Material nature means dissension and disagreement… . But, for this Krishna consciousness movement its success will depend on agreement, even though there are varieties of engagements. In the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement.
Different individuals have different ways of engaging material nature in devotional service. The agreement that harmonizes the “varieties of engagements” is their shared purpose, to please Kṛṣṇa.
The materialist … cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep Krishna in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called unity in diversity.
To illustrate, Prabhupada sometimes gave the example of concentric circles.
No matter how many circles we draw, if they all share the same center, they never clash. In the same way, if pleasing Krishna is at the center of our intentions, we’ll be able to “agree to disagree” and continue working cooperatively to serve the Lord even when differences arise.
Prabhupada knew this would be an ongoing challenge:
I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight on account of diversity, then it is simply the material platform. Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement successful. (Letter, October 18, 1973)
On March 16, 1976, in the holy land of Sridham Mayapur, along the Ganges’s green expanse, dozens of young Americans have crowded into Prabhupāda’s room at ISKCON’s international headquarters. He thanks them for cooperating to profusely distribute his books for the benefit of suffering humanity.
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu – He is God Himself, Krishna Himself – He felt, alone, unable to do this task. He felt. So this is the position. You are cooperating; therefore I am getting the credit. Otherwise, alone what could I do? Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself wanted our cooperation. He is God, Krishna. And therefore cooperation is a very important thing … Nobody should think that, “I have got so great ability. I can do.” No. It is simply by cooperation we can do a very big thing. “United we stand, divided we fall.” Sankirtana. Sankirtana means many men combined together, chanting. That is sankirtana. Otherwise kirtana. Sankirtana means many, many combined together. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission.

Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books during the Woodford Festival (Australia)
Vijaya das: This festival attracts 60,000 people every year. It lasts six days, and people mostly just camp out the whole time, as we did. Ajita Prabhu (the president of New Govardhana) and his team of seventeen devotees were there to feed prasadam to the masses. They distributed thousands of plates of prasadam, and the people loved it.
Ajita arranged for a book booth right next to Govinda’s, our prasadam tent. I distributed from a table in this booth. The people were really receptive. The first day I spoke to a family consisting of a husband, his wife, and their ten-year-old son. The man was interested, and then I heard from the son: “I know the Bhagavad-gita. I’ve read all the translations to the verses, and now I’m going back to read the purports.” I was of course surprised and happy to hear of this young lad’s attraction to Krsna, so I gave him my e-mail address in case he had any questions. Then his father, seeing his son so impressed by the Gita, got one for himself, .
An hour later I again spoke to a father and son. I could see that the father was not into the book (he just wanted to go) but that the son was showing interest. So I gave my attention to him, and when I asked for a donation he said to his father: “I would like to read this. Can you get it for me?” The father then very reluctantly gave a donation, and the fortunate boy got the mercy.
Later I spoke to a man who was interested, but suddenly a lady came and grabbed his arm. As he was being dragged away he asked me to tell him more. I said, “How are you going to listen if she keeps dragging you away?” At that he yanked his arm away from her, and I told him some more about the book. Then he said, “But it’s so big, and I would have to carry the book around all day.” Then a man inside the booth said to him, “The benefit you will derive from reading the /Bhagavad-gita/ is much, much greater than the little inconvenience you’ll experience from carrying around such a storehouse of wisdom.” Upon hearing that, he decided to take it. I then thanked the man who provided the encouraging words. I learned that he’s a long-time friend of the movement.
Later a man came to the table and, before I could say a word, gave a nice donation for the /Bhagavad-gita/. He then went on to tell me that he’s a Christian minister and that he quite often uses the teachings of the /Gita/ in his sermons.
An hour later another Christian came by, one I’d spoken to earlier. He said he had some doubts about Christianity, such as how a merciful God could cast sinners into hell to burn forever. I said to him, “God is the most kind person and would never force anyone to suffer eternally, even if he’d committed the greatest sin. He may arrange for punishment, but He’ll always give the sinner another chance.” Then I explained about reincarnation and that this is how He gives us another chance. He said this made sense and took a /Bhagavad-gita/.
It was sooo nice to be out on book distribution again. What a breath of fresh air!
Your Servant,
Vijaya das

The post Remembering my good Kolkata friend the late Caitanya dasa appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Preaching programs in Michigan (Album with photos)
3 days program for The Journey Within Book Launch by HH Radhanath Swami in Canton Hindu Temple, Grosse Pointe War Memorial and in The Michigan Theater.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/69yGVD

Ramanya Das rises with the sun to reflect in the temple’s courtyard.

KRISTINA ORREGO/Alachua County Today

ALACHUA – It’s 4:30 a.m., and while the rest of the world is asleep, the Hare Krishna temple in Alachua is softly lit and gently buzzing.

Women wearing ornate saris and men in white, flowing dhoti and kurta remove their shoes before stepping onto sacred ground.

They enter, bowing their heads and prostrating their bodies in the direction of the statue of Srila Prabhupada, the pioneer of their movement that began 50 years ago.

Beads in hand and eyes closed, they’re chanting the names of God and uttering the Hare Krishna mantra. This is all part of their ritual to seek Krishna and ask him to bless them before going on with the rest of their day.

Then the sun comes up, and the singing in the temple becomes louder as they raise their voices in joyful and unabashed worship.

The Krishna temple in Alachua was built in 1995, but the movement has been a prevalent part of the community since the early 70s, according to Krishna Keshava Das, a temple manager.

He said over 400 families within a 20-mile radius are affiliated with the temple and congregate throughout the week or to observe special holidays, such as the birthdays of Lord Krishna and Lord Chaitanya.

Krishna followers also take part in a Sunday Feast Festival once a week, a tradition that started at the beginning of Prahbupada’s movement.

“Srila Prahbupada wanted everyone to come and sing the glories of the lord in ecstasy,” Das said. “And once a week they do that,”

Das said the temple also gives allowances to the two schools that are nearby on temple property — the Bhaktivedanta Academy and the Alachua Learning Academy.

The teachers at Bhaktivedanta teach standard academics while also incorporating lessons about Krishna, and the students at Alachua Learning Academy learn about Krishna during their afterschool program, he said.

Origins of the Hare Krishna/ISKCON Movement

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada founded the Hare Krishna movement, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness [ISKCON], in New York in 1966, according to Das.

It all started when Prabhupada was a young man living in India and he and a friend were invited to a talk given by a revered spiritual leader.Prahbupada was initially skeptical and didn’t want to go because would often witnessed similar figures doing abominable things at night, many of whom were people his father would invite to eat at their home on some occasions.

Nonetheless, his friend persuaded him and they went.

“The lecture had already begun [when they got there],” Das said. “And the saint stopped the lecture and he looked at the two boys and said ‘You two young men, you’re very intelligent. Why don’t you spread this message of the Lord in the western countries in English?”

Prabhupada responded by asking how it would be possible to spread Krishna’s message in the western world while India was still under British rule.

“And the answer he got was that this message is so important for the world and people are dying every day in want of it,” Das said.

So, Prahbupada made his way to New York, where gradually people heard him chanting and preaching in the parks, Das said. As more people began to hear the message, they began branching off to meet in separate places.

Since then, the Hare Krishna/ISKCON movement has proliferated to 500 major centers, temples and rural communities, nearly 100 affiliated vegetarian restaurants and millions of congregational members worldwide, according to the official ISKON website.

What They Believe

Krishna means the “all attractive person” in Sanskrit, a Hindu language, according to the Bhaktivedanta Trust International website.

In the Bhagavad-Gita, the Hindu Holy Scriptures, Krishna is God in the form of a 16-year-old boy with dark skin and bluish-black hair.

The book tells the story of this young man who attracts followers with his wisdom and charm.

Das explained that while the followers of Krishna believe in and worship the same God of Christianity or Islam, the movement differs from these because of the rich details about Krishna in the Gita that personify him, he said.

These details include where he lives – a beautiful Kingdom full of beautiful palaces made of valuable gems and wish-fulfilling trees, as described in the Gita – and what he does during the day.

“Every word is a song,” he said. “Every step is a dance.”

Conversely, Earth is considered a prison, where the aspects of the human experience, such as birth, disease, old age and ultimately, death are undesirable.

Followers of Krishna, therefore, strive to live a life of purity by chanting, meditating and doing bhakti-yoga every day in order to reach Krishna Consciousness, or an awareness and affection for Krishna.

Followers of Krishna adhere to four principles from the Gita: no meat eating, gambling, illicit sex or intoxication, Das said.

The consumption of animal meat erodes the compassion in people’s hearts that they are inherently born with, while gambling destroys truthfulness.

“When we eat [meat], it contaminates our hearts more and more,” Das said. “It destroys our compassion and destroys our mercy. We become now like an animal.”

On the other hand, illicit sex, or sex outside of marriage, destroys people’s cleanliness, as well as causing inevitable suffering in the long run, despite the temporary satisfaction.

Finally, he said intoxication destroys a person’s austerity, which could further contribute to society as a whole becoming a mess.

“If it’s very hot, we can handle it,” he said. “If it’s very cold, we can tolerate it, to a certain degree. As we lose our ability to become austere, then everything becomes a problem.”

He said the whole idea behind their philosophy is to become happy, which comes from the soul and is not derived from the outside world.

“Happiness doesn’t come from material things,” he said. “There’s temporary pleasure from material things… and they bring misery afterwards. So, real pleasure comes from the heart [and] when we are engaged in the service of the Lord.”

Ragat Mika

In the summer of 1971, Ragat Mika, who was formerly “Carol,” came home for the first time – except it was one she didn’t know she needed until she got there.

Mika grew up in Detroit, Michigan, one of 12 siblings in a Catholic household. Her father attended mass every morning before going to work.

Her sister became a nun, and as someone who was always seeking spiritual fulfillment, she decided to become one too, and joined the convent in Kalamazoo after graduating high school.

“[She thought] If God is one, and the message of God is absolute… Why should I put all my energy in to a teaching career that will bring people to become this religion as opposed to another religion?” she said.

“So, I thought, God is bigger than this, bigger than just one religion.”

She took some college courses, but decided to take an impromptu trip to New York to find herself and be exposed to the greatest number of religions and philosophies in one, she said.

She eventually landed a job as a typist at the United Nations and then worked for UNICEF. All the while, she continued on her spiritual quest – visiting different churches and bookstores to scour literature on various philosophies.

“I kind of turned my back on the Catholic Church,” she said. “But I still had this affinity for wanting God and connecting with God.”

She said she eventually stumbled upon a Krishna magazine called “Back to Godhead” and read an article that taught her about Krishna’s four basic tenets.

“I thought, ‘Wow, that really appealed to me,’” she said. “This is something substantial.”

She also remembers that on one particular Saturday, she was meditating in Prospect Park in Brooklyn with the hope of merging with the totality of spirit, she said.

Then, she became overwhelmed by an urgency she couldn’t assign a meaning to at the time.

“I thought, before I leave this world, I need to bring a message to summon my acquaintances,” she remembered. “I didn’t know what I was going to say [and] I didn’t have a concrete message for them. But I thought, I can’t just leave them behind.”

Shortly after, she met a Krishna devotee on the way to the subway and asked him if he knew where a Buddhist nunnery was located in New York.

He replied that he didn’t know where a Buddhist nunnery was, but he could say where Buddhism was.

“The Buddhists want to be liberated alone, whereas devotees of Krishna want to liberate others with them,” she said. “That was what really drew me.”

He then invited her to a Sunday feast at a temple on Henry Street.

She said when she got there, she arrived to find a lecture that spoke directly to her desire to spread a message to the people around her, and it brought her to tears.

“It just all started buzzing and waking me up,” she said. “Like this was really the truth.”

Then, she ate the Sunday feast for the first time; the appetite that overcame her was one that surpassed the physical. She said she couldn’t stop eating and had serving after serving.

A strict vegetarian at the time, mostly consuming a bland, microbiotic diet, she was ravenous for foods she had deprived herself of.

“Sweets and fried things and spicy things, it was all there,” she said. “Dairy, milk and cream – I don’t know, it was like I was just arriving home for home cooking after so many births and lifetimes.”

She said she stayed at the temple overnight, and the next day, she was out on Jones Beach, dressed in a sari and distributing “Back to Godhead” magazines with the devotees.

She now resides in Alachua with her family, and said she has dedicated herself serving her spiritual master, Prahbupada, by helping him in the publishing and distributing of his books.

And as the sun rises over the Krishna temple in Alachua, a melodious harmony resonates within its walls as devotees begin their day with worship.

Source: http://www.alachuatoday.com/news-featured/latest/3883-a-view-inside-hare-krishna

Three 40-foot high, colorfully-decorated Rathayatra carts hand-pulled by devotees and surrounded by thousands of chanting and dancing people —rolled down New York’s 5th Avenue June 11 to kickoff a national celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness better known as the Hare Krishna Movement.

The Rathayatra parade began at 12 P.M. at West 45th Street and 5th Avenue, and ended at Washington Square Park where it joined the “Hare Krishna Festival” for an afternoon of free vegetarian food; stage performances of classical Bharatanatyam dance; a one hour dramatic rendition of the Ramayana performed by an theater troupe from the England; and multiple booths about reincarnation, meditation, and yoga.
ISKCON’s founder Bhaktivedanta Swami, first came to New York City from India in September, 1965 to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna to the western world. “It’s very special for us to kick off the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON where he began right here in New York,” said Amrita Hari, spokeswoman for the Krishna society.

Bhaktivedanta Swami affectionately known as Srila Prabhupada, arrived alone in New York City at the age of 70 to fulfill his guru’s order to spread Vaishnava teachings to the English- speaking world. Prabhupada arrived in America with just $7 and several trunks of his translations and commentaries on ancient Sanskrit texts, the Bhagavata Purana.

After struggling for almost a year, the Swami attracted a core of followers among young American spiritual seekers of the 1960’s, and on July 13, 1966 he incorporated his fledgling community as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Despite its humble beginnings, over the past 50 years ISKCON has grown to a global community of over 600 temples, 110 vegetarian restaurants, and 65 farms and eco villages. The affiliated Bhaktivedanta Book Trust has sold 516 million books and magazines on Krishna consciousness, and Hare Krishna Food Relief programs feed a free vegetarian lunch to 1.2 million school children each day in India through its mid-day meals program in affiliation with the Indian government.

Celebrations later this year will include dozens of Rathayatra parades in cities worldwide including Washington, DC, Los Angeles, London, and Paris, and gala events at the Sydney Opera House, Washington, DC, and other major venues. In addition, an ISKCON sannyasi is walking across the United States to spread Lord Krishna’s message of devotion and the Bhagavadgita.

Source: http://www.newsindiatimes.com/nycs-5th-avenue-parade-launches-iskcons-50th-anniversary

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Preaching In Moldova (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Romania and Ukraine. With a population of only 3.5 million people it is one of the smallest countries in Europe. Yesterday, after a 24 hour bus ride, a team of 50 devotees from our upcoming summer festival tour in Poland arrived in Chisinau, the capitol of Moldova, for a week of festivals throughout the country. Our large 40 ton semi-trailer, which folds out into a large 12-meter stage, took three days to arrive in Moldova through Hungary and Romania. The Moldavian devotees have been active for months preparing the festivals, which begin tonight in a beautiful park in the center of Chisinau. We’ll be busy with practices and preparations up to the very last moment!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/D8Wpjp

June 18. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: “Take More”
Prabhupada’s open decree that everyone should eat as much prasadam as possible created a humorous mood and a family feeling. No one was allowed to simply sit, picking at his food, nibbling politely. They ate with a gusto Swamiji almost insisted upon. If he saw someone not eating heartily, he would call the person’s name and protest, “Why are you not eating? Take prasadam.” And he would laugh. “When I was coming to your country on the boat,” he said, “I thought, ‘How will the Americans ever eat this food?’ ” And as the boys pushed their plates forward for more, Keith would serve seconds – more rice, dal, capātīs and sabji.
After all, it was spiritual. You were supposed to eat a lot. It would purify you. It would free you from maya. Besides, it was good, delicious, spicy. This was better than American food. It was like chanting. It was far out. You got high from eating this food.
They ate with the right hand, Indian style. Keith and Howard had already learned this and had even tasted similar dishes, but as they told the Swami and a room full of believers, the food in India had never been this good.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=9

“Take More”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2016, Radhadesh, Belgium, Vyasa Puja Address)

Very recently, we have celebrated various appearance days of the different incarnations of the Lord. Most recently, it was of Lord Ramachandra, the embodiment of dharma. Each of our main books has an overriding theme. In the Bhagavad-gita, we find the dilemma of Arjuna. Arjuna who is somehow or other having a personal agenda and Krsna wants him to act according to his will and it takes the entire Gita for Arjuna to finally say, “Yes, I will do as you say.”

In the Ramayana, we find this endless dharma in so many ways. All these things become impressed upon us. We are living in this culture of worship. It is said that nānāvatāram akarod bhuvaneṣu kintu (Brahma-saṁhitā 5.39), in so many incarnations the Lord appear and in each of these incarnations the Lord performs pastimes.

Each of these incarnations, we remember every year and each year again we contemplate. So each year, there is one day that I read the Ramayana from morning to night. On every Rama Navami, somehow or other, I just read the Ramayana the whole day. I start as early as possible and I just go on and on, through the whole thing and when you get to this huge battle at the end then so many things are occurring there…

In different pastimes, we recall simple things. Just like when Lord Ramachandra and Sita were leaving Ayodhya to enter into the forest, they crossed a river. The king of the Nisadas, Guha, who was friends with Dasaratha, brought them across and when they were making a camp for the night then they saw all these bees drinking honey from so many flowers. The bees had drunk so much honey that they could not fly straight anymore. Then one bee came who was not affected, who had not been drinking from the all these different flowers and was not intoxicated by the honey, it was this bee who was bringing back home all the other bees. By themselves, they could not do it, they could not go home. So Lord Ramachandra pointed out, he said, “Just see, this one bee is taking all the others home,” comparing it to guru. Anyway Sita thought it was funny – drunken bees and everything; some relief also from all the stress after having been banned to the forest.

So this is the system that one who is not intoxicated with all the different types of material enjoyment, one who is not indulging, is able to turn to Krsna without deviation and is able to then bring others out of that intoxicated state. This is our system!

Transcribed by Tattvavati dd

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Bhagavad-gita 3.10 at a home program.

“‘In the Age of Kali, the sankirtana-yajna (the chanting of the names of God) is recommended by the Vedic scriptures, and this transcendental system was introduced by Lord Caitanya for the deliverance of all men in this age. Sankirtana-yajna and Krsna consciousness go well together. Lord Krsna in His devotional form (as Lord Caitanya) is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32) as follows, with special reference to the sankirtana-yajna:

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajñaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah

“In this Age of Kali, people who are endowed with suffcient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajna.” Other yajnas prescribed in the Vedic literatures are not easy to perform in this Age of Kali, but the sankirtana-yajna is easy and sublime for all purposes.'” (Bg 3.10 purport)

Bhagavad-gita 3.10, McClean Virginia

ISKCON Gears Up For Incorporation Day.
Some of the biggest plans later in the year include completing 50 Padayatras (foot pilgrimages) worldwide; 50 Hare Krishna festivals in the UK; and major VIP events in Cape Town, South Africa, Washington D.C., USA, and Delhi, India – the latter of which is expecting an audience of 50,000.
There will be major melas for youth and older second generation devotees too in New Vrindaban, West Virginia; Leicester, UK; and Johannesburg, South Africa. The New Vrindaban one, held this weekend, will explore the themes of celebrating family and building community; the UK one from September 1st to 4th will empower youth and connect them with Srila Prabhupada; and the Johannesburg one will also focus on community-building and kirtan.
And in Weisbaden, Germany on September 20th an Interfaith Summit will see delegates from different faith communities learning about Srila Prabhupada.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/QGcCkf

By Patita Pavana das

My Glorious Master is an excellent and well written history of an era of Krishna consciousness that would be lost to memory except for the few rare and valuable accounts scribed by far-sighted devotee-writers like Bhurijana. The author’s literary skill captures the reader’s interest in such a way that his journey into spirit is not only shared, but the reader becomes gradually Krishna-ized through the association. The book is rightly titled, for what greater glory can there be for a genuine spiritual master, than the absolute surrender of a sincere disciple? Therefore My Glorious Master is more than a great ride of spirited progress into devotional service. Indeed the author’s various guru-sevas—from driving a cab to laying bricks—represent “association in separation” with the glorious master at the highest level. As the author’s faith in his glorious master becomes strengthened, so does the reader’s. Continue reading "Woodstock Revisited – A review of Bhurijana das’ My Glorious Master
→ Dandavats"

I love to write and am doing my best to speak more. Regardless of how inspiring or insightful I may, or may not, be, if my words don’t inspire the audience or readers to take practical action, the benefit will be very brief. Have you ever been to a seminar, workshop, or class, or read a book, where you felt very inspired, only to have it fade because you didn’t put into practice what you heard? I know I have!

Many people know what their problems are, but are unwilling, or don’t believe it is possible for them, to do the difficult work of change and transformation. Or there may be too much secondary gain for staying the same, regardless of their unhappiness or dissatisfaction. We may wear our past wounds like a badge of honor, hoping to get sympathy strokes from others, as in “woe, is me.” Being creatures of habit the thought of change, even positive, beneficial change, is challenging for most people, even if they are currently miserable, and think they “should” change—maybe tomorrow, or that faraway place in the ocean, “Someday Isle.”

What we currently have, or are as a person, is a known reality, but if we change our situation or environment, that is unknown, and takes a leap of faith to embrace. However, we should know that leading a successful life in either the material or spiritual realm requires us to change for the better. As it is said, there isn’t much different between a rut and a grave—only two sides.

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