Planet ISKCON

The post Gadadhar Pandit Abhisheka appeared first on Mayapur.com.

A video by Radha Mohan Das (UK).The explanations are based on the works of Sadaputa das (Dr Richard Thomson), and also, references from the research of Danavir Goswami.

The post May 5th evening Krsna Valley Bhajan appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

By Ekalavya Das Brahmachari

Harinam Sankirtan or the congregational chanting of the Holy Name, initiated and propagated by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, continues to be carried out throughout the world with great pomp and splendor. However, the Middle Eastern countries, being slightly sensitive towards religious matters and public display of devotion, had never before witnessed a performance of public Harinam. Despite different home programs and weekly satsangs being carried out in different parts of the region, respecting the religious views of the ruling Government, devotees were prohibited from doing so. But things seem to be taking a smooth turn as Bahrain witnesses the first public Harinam in the region. What a great way to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of ISKCON and provide a brilliant prelude to World Holy Name Week (July 28 – August 16, 2016)!!!

“This is the first time ever that we have been given permission by the honorable Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain to perform Harinam Sankirtan publically!” exclaimed Sridhari Madhav Das, the organizer of ISKCON Bahrain’s presence at the event called Bahrain for All, All for Bahrain. Held on Friday, April 29, 2016, from 4 pm to 10 pm, the event was sponsored and patronized by the office of Bahrain Prime Minister – His Highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Fifty thousand fortunate residents of Bahrain turned up for the festival and were in for a treat when two hundred and fifty members of ISKCON Bahrain took over the stage, fulfilling the prophesy of Lord Caitanya that the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra will be heard in every town and village of the world.

Bahrain, also called Balramdesh, is among the well-developed cities of the Middle East. From a spiritual perspective too, the devotees there are so warm and welcoming that I would rarely give up a chance to visit them. Seeing the invite for the event popping up in my email, excited me to attend, what was to be, the most memorable event of my lifetime.

On April 29^th, as the sun shone bright and strong, dancing on the water, a small group of devotees and I arrived at the venue to check the lighting and other arrangements. It was there that we met the Event Manager, Ms. Nivedita, who told us that we were free to dance on the stage, in front of the stage, and anywhere we wanted to. “You are free” she said with a smile. “But you only have fifteen minutes, you won’t have much time.” she warned.

Around 4 pm, Sridhari Madhav Das and I met the Master of Ceremonies, Wada Svar, a professional voiceover actor, and comedian who lives in Hollywood, California. Wada asked us how we wanted him to introduce us. We replied, “Just tell them that we are a spiritual and religious group from India that are practicing peace and unity through singing and dancing”.

The first group on the stage was a collection of “special needs” children in wheelchairs with their family members and teachers. They performed along with a song by the Beatles, “A Little Help from my Friends”. In my opinion, this was highly auspicious, as the Beatles had played a major role in the spreading of Krishna consciousness in the west during the 1960s and 1970s.

As the last notes of the Beatle’s song completed, the Master of Ceremonies began to introduce ISKCON Bahrain and invited us on stage. I was feeling so exhilarated that I practically ran up onto the stage. The people in the audience began to applaud and cheer.

Sridhari Madhav Prabhu had arranged for a slide with the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra to be displayed on the massive 50’ x 80’ hi tech LED display. I was worried that the display would be dim in the bright sunlight, but instead the high tech display boldly and clearly showed the Mahamantra in three languages – English, Sanskrit, and Arabic. I felt thrilled to see the Maha Mantra revealed to thousands of the public in the audience, probably 95% of which were seeing it for the first time.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

I began by expressing my gratitude to His Highness Prince Khalifa and the festival organizers. Then, I introduced our group to the audience. I explained that we are ISKCON Bahrain and that the Hare Krishna Mahamantra is a great song for peace and unity. I invited everyone to sing with us. I requested the audience to repeat after me, which many of them did, with confidence and enthusiasm.

It was the first time I wore a dhoti-kurta, draping an orange chadar over my shoulder, with a bold Vaishnava tilak on my forehead in public, and many of the other devotees in attendance were also in full vaishnava attire. We were about twenty male devotees on stage right with three mridangas (drums), some kartal players (small cymbals), two response singers with microphones and one devotee with a big pair of cymbals called wompers. On stage left were around twenty-five female devotees neatly arranged in five consecutive lines of five devotees per line. The younger girls and children were in the front dressed in colorful saris and gopi dresses. Two of them were responsive singers sharing a microphone. The age of the devotees on the stage were from four years old to forty plus.

Below the eight-foot high stage, on the ground directly in front of us, were two more groups of devotees of approximately one hundred in number. ISKCON Bahrain, like ISKCON itself, is a highly international blend. Devotees present represented India, Nepal, Srilanka, Pakisthan, Bangladesh, and The United States of America. States of India represented Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra, Telegana, Bihar, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, New Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Members of the public participating in the festival were amazed at the number of participants that we had, as well as the enthusiasm that we were manifesting. Most of the other groups had maximum twenty or thirty members whereas we had around two hundred and fifty.

The kirtan started slowly, and gradually built up. I was singing a traditional Bengali melody, and the instruments were also all traditional. As the kirtan began to build, the devotees seated in the audience rose and joined the dance.

The kirtan was building up with the volume and speed increasing by every beat. I could see groups of devotees dancing in the audience. Catching the hands of the local people and tourists, the devotees were bringing the newcomers into the kirtan.

All of a sudden, one of the members of the organizational staff came up behind me, and shouted in my ear, “Keep going!!! The next group is not ready yet. Keep going!!!” I was surprised – practically shocked. In retrospect, I think we were the only group of the thirty groups that performed that was allotted additional time. Later, I was informed that our kirtan lasted for more than twenty-three minutes. I felt unlimitedly blissful to hear that the kirtan could continue indefinitely longer.

Holding the wireless microphone in my hand, I jumped down from the eight-foot stage and entered into the group of devotees dancing below. I motioned to one of the devotees to put his hands on my shoulders. We formed a snake with each devotee putting his hands on the next devotees’ shoulders. We moved forward, along the barriers.

The feeling was joyous as we moved through the crowd. We were the focus of television cameras. Members of the audience were taking photos and videos. We went around the audience, and so far from the stage, that I could hear the echo from the stage with a time delay, so that I knew that we had to return closer, to keep the sound of the kirtan musical, tight and attractive to the audience. I gradually started to move back towards the stage.

I received the two minute warning from Sridhari Madhav Prabhu. As the kirtan came to an even higher climax, all the devotees on the stage and in the audience were exuberantly dancing. Hands rose high in the air. Jumping and leaping about, their feet barely touched the ground. I felt elated and jubilant. Seeing the wide eyes of the people in the audience, I was sure that most of them had never witnessed Harinam Sankirtan before. Their lives would never be the same.

As the last notes reverberated throughout the park, I appealed to the entire audience to chant along with us just one more time:

HARE KRISHNA! HARE KRISHNA!

KRISHNA KRISHNA! HARE HARE!

HARE RAMA! HARE RAMA!

RAMA RAMA! HARE HARE!

The audience chanted along with us and then gave a warm round of applause. I concluded by thanking His Highness Prince Khalifa and the organizers and urged everyone to visit our bookstall. Concluding the presentation by speaking about Harinam Sankirtan and the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, I felt that we had just made history.

The Master of Ceremonies, Wada Svar, a local Bahrani expressed his appreciation, and sang out a loud and enthusiastic “Haribol!” He asked Sridhari Madhav Prabhu to make an announcement about our prasadam stall, and book table. He then translated that into Arabic. Our group was the only group that received that special privilege of having information about their stall announced from the stage.

ISKCON Bahrain devotees were excited with faces bright and flushed. We were all speaking about the historical event, and basking in the glory of Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan movement. Everyone who was present expressed that his or her heart was touched by the experience.

Sridhari Madhav Prabhu met Mr. Amer Al Blooshi, IT head for the event. “Wow! You broke the stage!” he exclaimed

A large framed gentleman dressed in the traditional kandoora invited me into his tent. He handed me a book to sign, asking me to write a message for His Highness Prince Khalifa.

29 April 2016 Shaikh Khalifa Park , Hidd

Addressing his excellency and highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa,

On behalf of ISKCON Bahrain, I would like to express my deepest heartfelt gratitude to your highness and staff for providing this opportunity for:

Bahrain for All, and All for Bahrain

Festival

The world needs peace, unity, and a platform for all of us to gather together. This wonderful festival has shown us the joy and happiness of meeting our brothers and sisters from Bahrain in the mood of Unity in Diversity.

Our eternal gratitude to your highness.

Asalam walekum and Hare Krishna.

Ekalavya Das

ISKCON Bahrain

Sridhari Madhav Prabhu and I remained at the bookstall with a team of devotees for several hours meeting people, taking photos with them and answering their questions.

I would like to express my gratitude to H.H. Jayapataka Swami Maharaja and H.H. Bhakti Purusottama Swami, the GBCs of Bahrain, for encouraging and developing the presence of ISKCON in Bahrain. By their blessings, and inspiration, this wonderful event has taken place.

I would especially like to express my gratitude to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-acarya of ISKCON. Through his blessings and inspiration, the movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu continues to spread to every town and village of the world.

Srila Prabhupada wants the governments of the world to help support and sponsor Harinam Sankirtan events. This event, “Bahrain for All. All for Bahrain” is a breakthrough step in a divine direction.

I humbly request our readers to offer special thanks, blessings and prayers on behalf of our patron, Prime Minister Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, for facilitating and sponsoring the historical first Harinam Sankirtan event in the history of the Middle East. May he live long in peace.

Param Vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtanam!!!

Photos:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1021745557904120.1073741826.367050736706942&type=3

Video:

https://youtu.be/-LDc329TUMo

This is the link to the website of the event:

http://www.bahrain4all.com/

The post Celebrating Sri Gadadhara Pandita’s appearance day appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Daily Darshan: May 6th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

TOVP update.
Sadbhuja Das: Please check out how accurately & expertly our new CNC router can carve a chakra out of MDF (medium density fibre board).
This shows that this State-of-the-Art machine is capable to make any intricate, decorative designs we program it to do.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aEmnWP

By Braja Vilas das

Dear Devotees and TOVP Donors,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Greetings from Sridham Mayapur and blessings from Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, Sri Panchatattva and Lord Nrsimhadeva.

This Monday, May 9, is Akshaya Tritiya, one of the most important days in the Vedic calendar. Akshaya Tritiya is the appearance day of Lord Parasurama, and it is also the day that the Ganges descended to the earth. Most devotees know it as the beginning of Candana-yatra, but actually many of Lord Krishna’s other pastimes also took place on this day, specifically those which highlight Krishna’s generous and intimate reciprocation with his devotees.

The very word Akshaya means “that which never diminishes”. Any service or charity one performs on this day will be paid back many times over. On this day, Sudama gave the Lord a tiny portion of chipped rice and was rewarded with untold opulence. Draupadi was protected by Lord Krishna twice on this day, once when He provided her an unlimited sari at the dice game in return for a tiny piece of cloth, and later, when she needed to provide food for Durvasa muni, the Lord took a single grain from her pot and satisfied the hunger of all the sages.

“If the devotee offers something to the Lord, it acts for his own interest because whatever a devotee offers the Lord comes back in a quantity a million times greater than what was offered. One does not become a loser by giving to the Lord; one becomes a gainer by millions of times.”

(Krsna Book Ch. 81, The Brahmana Sudama Blessed by Lord Krishna)

Traditionally, this is the best day for starting important endeavors. Vyasadeva and Ganesa chose this day to start writing the great epic Mahabharata, for example, and every year construction of the huge Ratha carts in Puri also starts on this day.

ISKCON’s most important project at the present time is the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, so please consider taking advantage of this auspicious occasion by making a contribution on this day. And if you have already made a pledge but have not yet started making payments or need to restart your payments, this would be an ideal day to do so. As Prabhupada assures, you will be rewarded millions of times over.

You can find all the information you need to donate on our website:

https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

Yours in the Service of Sridham Mayapur,

Braja Vilas das

Global Fundraising Director

Chinese-Indian Vege Cultural Exchange Prog on 2/05/16 #ToDU (Album with photos)
A cultural exchange on vegetarian cooking and eating lifestyle was held at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Kanhaiya temple in Prai, Penang. (Monday, 2nd May 2016)
About 60 Chinese and 20 Indian members joined to exchange their vegetarian lifestyle and knowledge.
Mr. SK Wong the President of the Malaysia Youth Vegetarian Society was amongst the many who attended.
Miss Terese Chen from Taiwan who organizes the annual vegetarian cooking competition among world chefs was very impressed with the temple and the prasadam served to her. She encouraged the ISKCON devotees to also participate in the competition which is held annually at Taipei.
Chinese dishes were prepared by the Temple of Devotion & Understanding Chinese devotees while HG Simheswara Dasa prepared the Indian dishes.
HG Adi Kartri prabhu and his family members performed Kirtan entertaining the crowd.
Addresses were given by HG Simheswara Dasa, Mr Wong, HG Kalesa Dasa (co-president of TODU) and Mr Andy (president of Chinese Vegetarian Society of Penang).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/R0MCTe

Hailstorm claims 10 lives at Ujjain Kumbh, 100 injured.
Ujjain (MP): At least 10 people were killed and over 100 injured on Thursday after thunder, lightning and hailstorm wrecked makeshift tents erected at the Simhastha Kumbh area, triggering a stampede and burying pilgrims under mangled tin sheds and iron poles.
Deena Bandhu Das: WE ARE ALL OK, JUST A LITTLE DAMP! Yesterday heavy rains, hail , and wind hit the Kumbha Mela in Ujjain. The pics of our camp went out all over the media with the title 7 died and 100s injured, but we’re all ok in the ISKCON Camp. You can see our gate fell over, but if you look closely, you can see Srila Prabhupada on the left holding it up from falling over. The outside structure of the Full Dome Auditorium, but the inside is safe and equipment unharmed! Pray for us to continue our preaching efforts!
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/FtNLbI

Alachua Plans Intentional Community for Ages 55+.
Alachua, Florida is already home to the largest group of ISKCON members in North America, with some 500 congregational families. Now devotees are planning an intentional devotional community there for couples or singles aged 55 and over.
Prabhupada disciple Kirtiraja Das, who served as a GBC and regional secretary in the former Soviet Union before moving to Alachua with his family in 1991, is developing the project as its managing director.
The intentional community, dubbed “Bhaktivedanta Village,” will be set on a green, 25-acre wooded property on the southside of downtown Alachua that has already been procured by Ambarisa Das (Alfred Ford). Now Kirtiraja is looking for investors and residents to develop the property.
The project, which Kirtiraja calls “long overdue,” has already drawn a huge amount of interest. Within just three days of posting about it on his personal Facebook page, he received 105 serious inquiries from devotees all over the world; and more keep coming in.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/DA9TEv

Harinam Sankirtan in Cologne, Germany (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A devotee, either in danger or in happiness, constantly chants the Hare Krishna mantra. When he is in danger he is immediately relieved, and when he is in a position to see Lord Vishnu or His associates directly, by chanting this maha-mantra he can please the Lord. This is the absolute nature of the maha-mantra. Either in danger or in happiness, it can be chanted without limitation. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.12.21 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/drK01N

May 6. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Soul Eyes of Prabhupada.
One devotee wrote to me appreciating my poem about Srila Prabhupada’s gaze, Soul Eyes. He said, however, that he never saw Prabhupada’s eyes, and he considered it a great loss in his life. I consoled him and told him there were many wonderful photos to meditate on Prabhupada’s eyes and form. There’s also film footage of his moving body, an expressive feature. There’s also an oversize book of special photos called Srila Prabhupada Art Book, which one can spend hours gazing over Prabhupada’s beautiful body. Even when Prabhupada’s health diminished and his face became emaciated he maintained nobility in his features, and his face was very grave.
Devotees can also ease their separation by getting together and talking about his qualities and pastimes on occasions such as his appearance and disappearance days. Srila Prabhupada personally said, “If you want to know me, read my books.” So a devotee should not think he has lost out just because he was not present when Prabhupada was still alive in his physical presence here.
By the means available through vani (instruction in sound vibration), many second-generation disciples have developed relationships equal to and even greater than first-generation disciples.
Srila Prabhupada wrote in one letter explaining the principles of vapu and vani: “… Presence of the transcendental sound received from the spiritual master should be the guidance of life.” He also told us that we could place his picture on his sitting places and this would give us solace. The main factor in developing association with Prabhupada is attaining the stage of wanting to please him. He is still living and open to reciprocate with devotees who wish to serve him. This is accomplished in standard ways and by accepting him as one’s śikṣā guru or primary guru, and obeying his instructions regarding the rules and regulations. One also pleases Srila Prabhupada by taking up the preaching spirit and working in cooperation with others in the sankirtana movement. Prabhupada’s reciprocal gaze of “soul eyes” is still available to the earnest soul who yearns to please Prabhupada and comes before him in the available methods of service in separation.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Soul Eyes of Prabhupada

Written by Nandan

Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.18

The second day of the festivities and it was a bright but nippy morning. Guru Puja had just finished, the temple room was packed to overflowing and Maharaj strode in to give the morning class from the 7^th Canto. It was all about the mentality of Hiranyakashipu. Quite a macabre subject but Maharaj has an uncanny ability of making such topics shockingly pertinent for devotees. Initially he spoke from the demonic viewpoint – how Hiranyakashipu was not able to fully appreciate the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was such a powerful individual; yet so intimidating and nasty.

At that point Maharaj made it relevant by bringing Hiranyakashipu’s traits onto us. The demonic qualities are not something far removed but are actually within us. Hiranyakashipu may be the prototype but there is also the inner Hiranyakashipu.

The Rg Veda may say, “Let us look upon all with loving eyes.” But we look upon others with pride thinking, “Who does he think he is?” Maharaj put forward that we often think that lust our greatest main battle but actually it is envy which brings us down; all the way down to the animalistic platform. Always ready to fight! Envy can also be indirect like Maharaj’s famous story of the wolf verbally harassing the lamb just because the lamb was drinking water from the same river! There was nothing the lamb had which the wolf wanted but just his existence was enough to aggravate the wolf – envy on a deep, deep existential level. Maharaj then did a rib tickling impression of the wolf chastising the lamb. It was brilliant; the attitude, the deep voice, the ‘British villain’ accent. Even Maharaj’s natural aquiline features went perfectly with the impression.

Further elaboration on envy was to come. Envy is like who are you?! (In a challenging tone). Who are you to step into my house! Over my fence! And so on. Maharaj recalled how on sankirtan he approached someone who retorted, “Who are you! Who are you to even talk to me! I DON’T EVEN KNOW YOU!!” Maharaj quipped that the guy didn’t just have a fence around his house; he had a fence around his head!! It is interesting that Maharaj gave the example of hostile people cooped up in their closed homes surrounded by unwelcome fences. It seemed like a very Western European scenario. Being from Britain, I can identify with this mentality. And since Maharaj hails from the Netherlands, one gets the feeling that growing up there, he must have encountered a lot of this mentality – the mercenary culture of self-interest, being isolated from each other and hiding behind one’s physical and psychological fences.

But vaisnavas are different, a vaisnava has generosity; like Srila Prabhupada dealing with all those hippies, tolerantly, patiently and lovingly.  At this point Maharaj recalled his famous ‘chapatti story’ from his days as the manager of the Vrindavan restaurant. He was literally shoved into being the new manager. To spice things up, a bunch of rough, rugged and very hungry Vrajabasi villagers came bowling in, demanding a hundred or so chapattis – no airs, graces, politeness or patience. Just bring those chapattis!! Needless to say, the kitchen was like a pressure cooker. Maharaj admitted he got really pushed around by those villagers and inevitably he was passing that stress and aggro onto the kitchen staff. As if things couldn’t get any worse, the head chef finally delivered the coup de grace. Just when Maharaj was at breaking point, screaming out for the chapattis; the cook burst out of one of the kitchen cupboards and squared up to Maharaj with a big, fat grin. At the end of his thumb was a piece of moulded dough in the shape of a joker. He wiggled it at Maharaja, shaking his head and well… you know the rest!! No chapattis, no cook and some very hungry, rustic villagers. Haribol!! The devotees were in raptures from Maharaj’s narration. He has mentioned the incident so many times, but it never stops being hilarious even though it must have been nightmarish at the time.

Of course, that was many years ago and Maharaj reflected that whilst it was hard for him, he also did not behave like a human being in that situation. He was really pushing his staff and was so rigid and strict. One can’t be so rigid; one has to also be soft like chapatti dough, malleable in the hands of the vaisnavas, Maharaj recommended. This is another theme seen in Maharaj’s lectures and conversations over the last couple of years – this sense of reflection over one’s dealings, the need to be loving towards each other, appreciating the devotees and not blowing them out. Maharaj often brings up his own dealings from the past as a way for us to learn from, so history does not repeat itself.

No doubt, Maharaj was a ‘full on’ character back in the day. But we also should consider the social environment of the time, the pressure those devotees were under as well as the personal purification they were all going through. After so many years, it is wonderful Maharaj can subject himself to such self-examination and then reveal it for future generations to scrutinise!

The class continued with deep points made on various issues. As always there was pin drop silence. I’ve always loved Maharaj’s classes. That is what initially attracted me to Maharaj. But for some reason, the classes Maharaj has been giving this year seem to be on a whole new level. One can meditate on what Maharaj has said in this year’s classes endlessly. Although Maharaj prefers talking about the beautiful, sublime aspects of Krsna consciousness; even those classes where Maharaj has spoken about the unsavoury aspects of life such as our demonic consciousness have been terrific. This class was no different. The level of insight and profoundness Maharaj has on the human psyche is staggering.

Maharaj finished of the class saying that he had a late morning due to the previous night’s kirtans, so he needed some ‘me time’ to chant rounds for the initiations ceremony which took place later that day.

Alachua, Florida is already home to the largest group of ISKCON members in North America, with some 500 congregational families. Now devotees are planning an intentional devotional community there for couples or singles aged 55 and over. Prabhupada disciple Kirtiraja Das is developing the project as its managing director. He has worked as a realtor for the past twenty years, and like many of the senior devotees who have relocated to Alachua, he wants to downsize and simplify.

Appreciation only costs you a few words, but what it buys is priceless. When Dale Carnegie said to be appreciated is the greatest human need, those who paid attention found appreciation one of the greatest motivating forces known to man. Years of research has taught us this important lesson: if you don't pay people enough that they feel secure in life, you will get a small percentage of their creative abilities because they are worried about their future. So, it would seem logical that if those people were paid enough, you would tap into their full creative potential. The research shows this is not the case. What inspires people to give more, do more and be more is that they feel valued. Enthusiasm and productivity increase in relation to the appreciation people are given. Mother Teresa said the greatest hunger in the world is the hunger for love. Continue reading "Appreciation. What you appreciate in others, appreciates in you and your company
→ Dandavats"

Mistakes why we make them and how we can rectify them? To err is human … " so goes the saying. Safely we can add three more details to the list: tendency to fall under illusion, cheating propensity and imperfect senses. A conditioned soul is bound by these imperfections, but in this article I will focus on the tendency to commit mistakes. All of us make mistakes. Srila Prabhupada says that to make a mistake is not wrong, but to make a mistake and not learn from it, that is wrong. Continue reading "Rectifying Mistakes by Repentance
→ Dandavats"

As many of you know, Lord Caitanya is Krsna Himself in the role of a devotee. He is Krsna, but with the complexion and mood of Srimati Radharani. There are different purposes for the Lord's advent. The internal reason for Lord Caitanya's appearance was that He wanted to experience the glory of Srimati Radharani's love for Him, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She experiences the sweetness of His love for Her--which only She can experience. The external reason (not that it was any less significant) was to propagate the yuga-dharma, the recommended method for God realization in each particular age (yuga). To assist the Lord in His pastimes, four principal associates descended with Him--Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Srivasa Thakura, and Gadadhara Pandita. Together with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu they comprise the Panca-tattva. Continue reading "Sri Gadadhara Pandita
→ Dandavats"

A mother’s lesson in gratitude.
Radhanath Swami: When I was a little boy, my mother taught me a lesson. She always emphasized, more than anything else, the quality of gratitude. She told me, “If you are not grateful for whatever you have, you receive, you can never be happy. Because if you are not grateful, whatever you get, you expect something else, or you expect more, or you think that you deserved it. But when you are humble and grateful, then whatever comes to your life, the apparent fortune and misfortune, you can actually find happiness in that situation. We could actually be able to see the opportunity that there is to grow in that situation.”
On her birthday one year, I forgot all about it. So I ran to the backyard where my mother had her rose garden. She had exactly 6 rose bushes growing, because we had only a very small backyard; she grew the roses herself. And I took one of the roses, snapped it off, and ran to my mother. I gave her the rose and wished her a happy birthday.
She started to cry in joy. She was so happy that I gave her the rose, even though I stole it from her. She didn’t need it, but the fact that it was offered with affection melted her heart. And she told me, “It’s not the thing that counts; it’s the thought that counts.” Things could never bring any fulfillment to the heart. Only love brings fulfilment to the heart.

Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post The pointlessness of atheism appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The post Daily Darshan: May 5th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post When modern civilization collapses in future, should devotees have a Vedic alternative ready? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post What does Prabhupada’s statement about 50% of his mission being incomplete mean​? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Conversation in NVD.

The post The concept of butter and fire defines one of the constitutional aspects of Varnasrama appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Russia. (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Decorate the Deity as nicely as possible with nice flowers and dress. You will forget all other false beauty. Letter to Kirtanananda, October 22, 1968.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9gsgF4

Preaching program with BB Govinda Swami in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Sri Krishna Caitanya, who was outwardly very fair, with a complexion like molten gold, simultaneously manifested His eternal associates, opulences, expansions and incarnations. He preached the process of chanting Hare Krishna and those who are under His lotus feet are glorious. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.79 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/oF1Hbx

Presentation From the TOVP Architecture and Design Department in Pune, India, with Sadbhuja Prabhu (7 min video)
Sadbhuja prabhu discusses the systematic procedure for the next stage of the embellishments for the TOVP with the architecture & design department in Pune.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/2hbiiy

Always remember Krishna and never forget Him!
Srila Prabhupada: Pious activity is on the material platform, but chanting of the holy name of Krishna is completely on the spiritual plane. Therefore although pasandis do not understand this, pious activity can never compare to the chanting of the holy name. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.79 Purport)

Curious to see if I was an authentic Brit I recently attempted the Life in the Uk test that the government requires aspiring new British citizens to take. To my great relief I passed it with 90%, only falling down on a question of how long was the hundred years war. I can’t see many people knowing that it was actually 116 years nor indeed how relevant to being British that knowledge is. I would think it better to test prospective citizens on their ability to talk about the weather or perhaps on their queuing technique.

Although born in London, after coming to the spiritual path of Krishna consciousness I now believe that Britishness, Frenchness, Chineseness or any other such designation only pertains to the temporary body. According to Krishna who spoke the ancient Sanskrit text of Bhagavad-gita, we are eternal spiritual beings living in material bodies, and in that respect we are all the same.  Krishna even offers a little test of his own that we can all do to show the truth of this. Observe, he suggests, how the body changes quite radically from a baby to youth to old age, and yet you remain the same person. Now in my sixties I vividly see the truth of that wisdom. I don’t feel any different now to when I was thirty, but my aging body begs to differ. As Oscar Wilde once said, the problem with old age is not that you are old, but that you are young.

The unchanging self within the body is, I understand, who I really am and as Krishna explains this might take many forms in so many lifetimes. What is called British now will in due course become simply dust or ashes, and I will have moved on to who knows where. So instead of being British and proud, with my 90% pass mark, I am now simply trying my best to be a humble spirit soul.

Sankirtan on 3rd St Promenade, LA (Album with HR photos)
Devotees of New Dwaraka, Los Angeles temple, go out on harinam sankirtan every Friday night to the 3rd St Promenade in Santa Monica Beach. Photos taken April 29th, 2016.
Srila Prabhupada: One should never consider the chanting of the holy name of Godhead equal to pious activities like giving in charity to brahmanas or saintly persons, opening charitable educational institutions, distributing free food and so on. The results of pious activities do not equal the results of chanting the holy name of Krishna. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.79 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hTISfS

May 5. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: The Swami’s Arrival Went Mostly Unnoticed.
The Swami’s arrival went unnoticed. The neighbors said someone new had taken the gift shop next to the laundry. There was a strange picture in the window now but no one knew what to make of it. Some passers-by noticed a piece of paper announcing classes in Bhagavad-gita taped to the window. A few stopped to read it, but no one knew what to make of it. They didn’t know what Bhagavad-gita was, and the few who did thought, “Maybe a yoga bookstore or something.” The Puerto Ricans in the neighbourhood would look in the window at Harvey Cohen’s painting and then blankly walk away. The manager of the Mobil gas station next door couldn’t care less who had moved in – it just didn’t make any difference. The tombstone-sellers and undertakers across the street didn’t care. And for the drivers of the countless cars and trucks that passed by, Swamiji’s place didn’t even exist. But there were young people around who had been intrigued with the painting, who went up to the window to read the little piece of paper. Some of them even knew about the Bhagavad-gita, although the painting of Lord Caitanya and the dancers didn’t seem to fit. A few thought maybe they would attend Swami Bhaktivedanta’s classes and check out the scene.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8