Planet ISKCON

The Swami’s Arrival Went Mostly Unnoticed

“One of the attributes that the spirit soul has that makes one unique and beautiful to Krishna is free will and the way you choose to use it. It is always yours and shows your relationship with Krishna. Free will gives meaning to love. Without free will you are a prisoner. Love means: I choose you—you are special to me. That also means I have the right to refuse you. If I choose you that makes the choosing more meaningful. It’s not that we are giving up our free will. But we approach a spiritual master and say. ‘I am confused please instruct me.'”

—Jivananda Dasa

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Intiation Introduction by Giriraj Swami
Intiation talk by Jivananda Dasa
Intiation talk by Sandamani Dasi
Intiation talk by Giriraj Swami
Name Giving Ceremony

By Daamodara Dhananjaya Das

Outreach – How to beget devotees from a Rathayatra During one of our meetings between GBC-SPN (Strategic Planning Network) Outreach Committee and the ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry, the subject matter of discussion was how to improve our outreach during the festivals that we celebrate in ISKCON. It has been observed that most of our festivals are successful in creating a majestic impression in the minds of the people, but fail to generate new devotees in a large number. In spite of so much time, labor, money and intelligence being used in each festival, we remain almost unproductive. Especially our Rathayatras are celebrated with a great pomp and circumstance, but they hardly yield any fruits in terms of new devotees. Hence, the GBC-SPN Outreach Committee, in collaboration with the Congregational Development Ministry, designed a process to generate contacts during the Rathayatras and thus, make them worth all the expenditure.

Before we get into the technical details, here are some practical examples of the process, successfully implemented at various places. The first implementation was at Mathura Rathayatra during the month of Kartik in the year 2015. A team of 15+ devotees was exclusively engaged in this sublime task to generate contacts. A database of approximately 400 new contacts was registered at the end of the celebration, which followed another dedicated outreach program, especially to cultivate these contacts, after around a month. ISKCON Ahmedabad implemented it twice during the Rathayatras, while celebrating the annual function, and produced a contacts database with approximately 500 entries. Very recently the same exercise was carried out with an improved modus operandi during the first ever Rathayatra at ISKCON Vapi – Gujarat, which yielded approximately 800 quality contacts to a team of 20 dedicated preachers, who carried out this mission. The feedback of the devotees who participated in this project, invariably has been extremely delightful and now this has turned out to be one of their favorite services to take. They were completely satisfied and were contented with the idea that they could be instrumental in bringing new souls to Krishna Consciousness. We, as a committee, will track their results and follow up for gathering their statistics, so as to report to the GBC.

Now let us understand the step by step procedure to implement the same:

1) Gather a team of preachers who are well conversant in the local language, with a
pleasing personality, who are humble and tolerant, clear in their basics and responsible,
as these could be (ideally – should be) the future mentors/counselors of the new
contacts that they would generate in the process. Please remember, better the
preachers – better the outcome. Hence, kindly do not underestimate this process and
please give this service a higher priority in your list.
2) Each preacher should have a separate dress code or something unique in their
appearance if possible and should carry a kit which has:
a) A handbag (Sankirtan bag)
b) A cap for protecting them from the heat (these could be uniquely colored caps, so as
to differentiate them from the others)
c) A pen and a writing support pad
d) An I-Card holder and a printed I-card with the heading such as ‘May I Assist You?’
e) Handouts / leaflets / handbills – with the information about the temple/center, the
programs being conducted during the weekdays, festivals, services, specialties,
Govindas, etc. (whatever you wish to project). Also, add basic information about our
philosophy and the importance of Sankirtan yagna, Mahamantra and so on.
f) Printed cards with the picture of the Deities on one side and the Mahamantra on the
other or some other gifts like small books, key rings, etc.
g) Small and decent packets of dry Mahaprasadam, with a print of Lord Jagannatha on
the packet, if feasible.
h) Printed forms with the following details: Name, Age, Gender, Occupation, Education,
Email, WhatsApp (mobile) number, Area of residence (full address in not required –
this is just to facilitate grouping according to the area they stay in) and what is he/she
interested in (list out various activities we usually have in our temple/center).
3) Have a meeting with the team on the previous day or whenever convenient and explain
to them the purpose and importance of the project. Handover the kits to them during
the same meeting, so that they are ready for the warfront beforehand and explain about
each and every item in the kit and their respective purpose.
4) How and when to start? As soon as the Rathayatra begins, the team should come in
action and should spread out in all the directions, walking alongside continuously with
the Ratha. Matajis can cover the matajis’ side and the prabhujis can approach the
prabhus (or as convenient). Begin very gently with a polished language, expressing
genuine love and concern and exhibiting the service attitude. With the like genders,
keeping your hand on their shoulders, handshaking and embracing will make them feel
completely at home.
5) Whom should they approach? Those who are well-dressed, look educated and refined,
interested in the subject, residents of aristocratic societies, big shops and showroom
owners, students, youth, parents of the school going children, principals or trustees of
the schools or collages that come one the way, etc. The other class of people can just be
given the handbills and prasaadam and can be invited verbally to the temple. The choice
is yours.
6) Create a small team of 2 members, responsible to supply the paraphernalia of the kit to
the preachers on the field, as and when required. Generally the team leader can take up
this responsibility, so as to know how the preachers are performing. A vehicle, ideally a
two wheeler, is inevitable for this purpose.
7) Don’t miss the prasadam pandal after completion of the Yatra, as many would have
come just for the prasadam. Sit beside them while they honor prasadam and note down
their details.
8) Ask the team members to write their names on each form for the purpose of
identification.
9) Finally, collect all the forms, prepare a database in an excel sheet and segregate
according to their educational level, age and the area of residence.
10) Create a follow-up team. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THIS
PROCESS. If you fail to follow them up and to keep the contacts alive, the complete
effort could be wasted. Ideally, the matajis who are soft-spoken and having
sophisticated language are the best for this purpose. You may contact us for further
training or complete guidance on the follow-up system.
11) Thereafter, arrange various step by step outreach and fundamental training
programs like Discover Your Self, The Gita Program, etc. and gradually get them to the
next level of interest and acceptance.
12) Finally, group them according to their age group, educational background or gender
and start a complete devotee training program like Bhakti-vriksha, Namahatta,
Counseling system, temple residents training, etc. according to your needs and
availability of the resources.

Before we conclude, here is another example of a successful Rathayatra Outreach, with some variations:

A festival at ISKCON Kolkata is the breeding ground of new contacts, whether it is Janmashtami or a Rathayatra. Usually a pandal is built with multiple area wise sections, so as to facilitate easy search of a Bhakti-vriksha (satsanga) program in the closest neighborhood of the visitor. As soon as the visitors enter a relevant section in the pandal, a team of devotees belonging to that area, engage them in some or the other spiritual activities like quiz or spiritual questions, award them some gifts and give Mahaprasadam and register their details, so as to follow up and invite them to the Bhakti-vriksha program going on in their area. Eventually, a huge database of contacts is generated at the end of the festival.

Hence, if you so desire, we can happily assist you at all levels, right from managing the Rathayatra Outreach Program up to the devotee training program, according to your requirements. For further assistance please send us an email at: djparajia@gmail.com or pancharatna@gmail.com

Please visit us at:

ISKCONOutreach.com and ISKCONCongregation.com

Thanking you in anticipation,

On behalf of the GBC-SPN Outreach Committee & the Congregational Development Ministry,

Your servant,

Daamodara Dhananjaya Das

Sadbhuja prabhu discusses the systematic procedure for the next stage of the embellishments for the TOVP with the architecture & design department in Pune.

The post Presentation From the TOVP Architecture and Design Department in Pune, India, with Sadbhuja Prabhu appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

O Krishna! In Your absence every moment lasts for years. The whole world seems so empty that my eyes are raining tears. When we no longer expect happiness from illusions, we naturally expect happiness from Krishna. Yet the ever-independent Krishna may or may not give it. Happiness accompanies Krishna, who comes and goes at His own sweet will. Very advanced devotees find ecstasy in separation from Krishna; beginners may struggle. Still, when Krishna leaves us, where else in creation can we turn? We must call out for Him. If fact, when we don’t feel Krishna’s presence it’s time to chant with extra determination and patience. Krishna accepts everyone, but He doesn’t collect casual devotees. He is testing our resolve. Though we experience Krishna through His holy names, we discover that He does not reveal Himself at our command. Who is this unreliable person? Do we still want Him? Continue reading "Japa And The Opening Heart
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NITAYOGA World peace yoga festival in Budapest (Album with photos)
1200 happy people together! :) Yoga, lectures, kirtan and prasadam!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/5E5nhR

Harinam Makes Every Soul Dance With Love Of Godhead!
On the 11th of April our party traveled to Paksi-tirtha also known as Tirukalukundram. Bhakivinod Thakur sings in the 3rd verse of ‘Suddha Bhakata Carana Renu’
se-saba sthana, heribo ami,
pranayi-bhakata-sange
Which translates as: ‘May I always visit all the holy places associated with the lila of Lord Caitanya and His devotees.’
We are all very fortunate to be on padayatra here in India because in this way during our travels we can take darsana of some of the tirthas visited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the acaryas. In this way we are not just traveling here and there –instead wherever we go we always try to hear more about the glories of the dhama from the dhama gurus.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/DfVPWu

Conversation.

The post Should we de-emphasize the importance of diksa-gurus appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The Radha-Madhava Deities in Mayapur: what are they made of?
“Jananivasa told me about a conversation he had had in the temple with a middle-aged Bengali guest who had asked him, “Are Radha-Madhava made of brass or gold?”
“Well, what are you made of?” Jananivasa replied.
After a pause, the gentleman answered, “Flesh and blood.”
Jananivasa told him, “As long as you think you’re made of flesh and blood, then you’ll think the Deity is made of one metal or another. But if you can understand that you’re not the body, that you’re spirit soul, and also that the soul is part and parcel of God, then you’ll understand that you’re of the same nature as Krishna.”
The man wasn’t sure that he had understood, so Jananivasa continued, “Do you accept that God is in your heart?”
“Yes.”
“So what’s He made of there, brass or gold?”
The man didn’t know.
“On the basis of the revealed scriptures,” Jananivasa said, “we can understand that God’s form is eternal and full of bliss and knowledge. That form, which is present in the heart of every living entity, is made of pure spirit, and that is what the Deity in the temple is also made of. You can’t see the Deity in your heart,” he explained as the gentleman nodded in agreement, “you don’t know who He is. So the Lord comes in a form you can see. Radha-Madhava appear to be material, but They are purely spiritual, and to the extent that you realize your nature is spiritual, to that extent you will understand that Krishna Himself is personally on the altar.”

Did you know about the “connective” beads and the “protective” beads? Watch this inspiring class by Brighupati prabhu given yesterday at the Iskcon Los Angeles temple and find out.
With many amazing book distribution stories which show how many people are waiting to be introduced to Lord Chaitanya’s movement!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/HIBIJq

Sankirtana Dasa, long time resident of New Vrindaban community, recently won a Storytelling World Resource Award for his dramatic storytelling CD Hanuman’s Quest. He is also a recipient of a WV Artist Fellowship Award, a National Endowment of the Arts Grant, an Ohio River Border Initiative Grant, and a Next Generation Indie Book Award for his Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest.

For many years Sankirtana had used his background in theater to write, act and direct Krishna Consciousness dramas. Today, he offers dramatic storytelling programs in a variety of venues. He is on the visiting artist rosters of the WV Division of Culture & History, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Artsbridge, and is a member of the WV Storytelling Guild. The following interview with Sankirtana Dasa was conducted by Abhay Charana Dasa at New Vrindaban Communications.

***

Q: What do want to accomplish with your cd’s and books?

SKd: I see my work as a bridge in presenting Krishna Consciousness to the general public. Through my storytelling programs, books, cds and slide shows, I want to do two things: present it in a way to inspire devotees and to make Krishna Consciousness interesting and relevant to people in general.

Q: You recently won a Storytelling World Resource Award for your CD Hanuman’s Quest. What did this mean to you?

SKd. I’ve been involved with the national storytelling community for 25 years now. At one time I was the West Virginia liaison for the National Storytelling Network. I’m also with the WV Storytelling Guild. So it’s certainly an honor to be recognized in the field of my peers. Besides the international storytelling community, the Storytelling World Resource Awards are also of great interest to teachers who use storytelling in the classroom. The Awards are a way of acknowledging important resources for these communities.

Q; You are also an award-winning writer and storyteller. Which do you identify with more?

SKd: Whether you’re focused on the written word or the spoken word, it’s all about storytelling. My background is in the performing arts. I enjoy being in front of people. But I also enjoy writing and the challenges it presents. I enjoy using whatever creativity I have in Krishna’s service. Basically we are all creative beings. People need to be encouraged to connect with that and use it in Krishna’s service.

Q: So what’s your secret about storytelling?

SKd: First of all, storytelling is a vital tool for anyone who wants to present Krishna Consciousness. Srimad Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, Ramayana – these books depict transcendental knowledge through stories and they are especially meant for us conditioned souls of the Kaliyuga. Basically, storytelling is about using words to create images and action. Images can impact people’s minds. Ideas and concepts only to a lesser extent. In Krishna Book, Prabhupada explains that we have a natural aptitude to hear stories through reading literature and seeing dramatic performances. When we redirect our hearing to Krishna’s pastimes we can more easily attain transcendence.

Q: Why do you think you won this award?

SKd: For one thing, the story of Hanuman is a fantastic, engaging story. And Hanuman is an endearing personality. Also, the musical background on the CD really compliments the storytelling, and I think that helped sway the judges’ decision. The exciting musical score is by Tommy Raga and Sada Ruchi. Sada Ruchi also did the recording and mixing. I am indebted to them.

Q: But what did you bring to the telling?

SKd: Krishna has kindly helped me develop a dramatic sensibility. The elements of tension and suspense; of creating a scene or character with a minimum amount of description; of pacing and moving the story along in a clear and concise way which the listener can easily grasp. These are all part of the storyteller’s, and the writer’s, craft.

Q: When did you know you had this talent?

SKd: Well, you didn’t really know. Uncertainty can be a compelling force. It keeps you on your toes. But just like a carpenter – you do have to know the tools of your craft. You have to work at it. You have to sweat. You have to piece it together. It’s both a craft and an art. And finally you have to pray that it all comes out right. Man proposes. God disposes.

Q: Do you have anything in the works you would like to share with us?

SKd: For the 50^th celebrations, both last year and this year, I’ve focused on taking my slide show Journey To The West: Why & How the Hare Krishna Movement Came to America to colleges and other venues. I’m also working on two new books. I have nothing to say about them at this point. Usually, I like to have a few things in the works that I can bounce back and forth to.

Q: Thank you for sharing your craft with us.

SKd: And you know, I want to offer more workshops and coaching sessions to pass this craft along to others. Thank you.

For more information on Sankirtana Dasa’s award-winning CD and book visit www.Mahabharata-Project.com

The post Daily Darshan: May 4th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

My path to yoga - an academic essay by Priscilla Black.
My Journey with wellness and yoga began 2 years ago. I was a social alcoholic, recently divorced and had just moved back to my hometown in Kentucky. I had been back home for about 6 months before I became pregnant. I lost the false sense of direction I had and knew that I needed to make changes. I was smoking about a pack a day and blacking out almost every night. As soon as I became pregnant I lost everything and anyone I thought was a friend. I made a decision to move to Dallas to live with my parents so that I could concentrate on the tiny human growing inside of me. I had no aspirations of keeping the child. I knew that I would give her up for adoption but still I wanted to make sure that I was the healthiest that I could be. I wanted Her to be healthy.
…I decided to attend a Wednesday program. I remember being nervous. Wondering, if anyone could sense my anxious energy. I was told that there was going to be kirtan. “What is Kirtan?” Kirtan is the chanting of the holy names of God. So I chanted. ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama. Rama Rama Hare Hare.’ Everyone in the room was so happy and blissful. So at peace. This felt right. I could sense that She was happy. After kirtan was a lecture. This lecture was about Bhakti Yoga. Bhakti yoga, like any other form of yoga, is a path to self-realization, to having an experience of oneness with everything. This is what I was longing for. This is what my soul needed. I took notes and listened more intently than I ever have. I learned this lifestyle of non-violence and self-realization and love. After this night at Kalachandji’s, I never left.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/wWruD3

Mark Your Calendars!
The Prabhupada Festival is just around the corner. Free for all to attend and to glorify His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the festival takes place over Memorial Day Weekend at the ISKCON Los Angeles Temple. Please visit www.PrabhupadaFestival.com for more info and discover ways you can participate in this year’s festivities. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

May 4. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Srila Prabhupada’s Mission on the Lower East Side.
Prabhupada had not made a study of the youth movement in America before moving to the Lower East Side. He had never even made specific plans to come here amid so many young people. But in the ten months since Calcutta he had been moved by force of circumstances, or, as he understood it, “by Krishna’s will,” from one place to another. On the order of his spiritual master he had come to America, and by Krsna’s will he had come to the Lower East Side. His mission here was the same as it had been on the Bowery or uptown or even in India. He was fixed in the order of his spiritual master and the Vedic view, a view that wasn’t going to be influenced by the radical changes of the 1960s. Now, if it so happened that these young people because of some change in the American cultural climate were to prove more receptive to him, then that would be welcome. And that would also be by Krishna’s will.
Actually, because of the ominous influence of the Kali millennium, this was historically the worst of times for spiritual cultivation – hippie revolution or not. And Srila Prabhupada was trying to transplant Vedic culture into a more alien ground than had any previous spiritual master. So he expected to find his work extremely difficult. Yet in this generally bad age, just prior to Prabhupada’s arrival on the Lower East Side, tremors of dissatisfaction and revolt against the Kali-yuga culture itself began vibrating through American society, sending waves of young people to wander the streets of New York’s Lower East Side in search of something beyond the ordinary life, looking for alternatives, seeking spiritual fulfillment. These young people, broken from their stereotyped materialistic backgrounds and drawn together now on New York’s Lower East Side, were the ones who were by chance or choice or destiny to become the congregation for the Swami’s storefront offerings of kirtana and spiritual guidance.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Srila Prabhupada’s Mission on the Lower East Side

Nitya-siddha

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ayur harati vai pumsam
udyann astam ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-ksano nita
uttama-sloka-vartaya

Translation: Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.

Purport: This verse indirectly confirms the greater importance of utilizing the human form of life to realize our lost relationship with the Supreme Lord by acceleration of devotional service. Time and tide wait for no man. So the time indicated by the sunrise and the sunset will be uselessly wasted if such time is not properly utilized for realizing identification of spiritual values. Even a fraction of the duration of life wasted cannot be compensated by any amount of gold. Human life is simply awarded to a living entity (jiva) so that he can realize his spiritual identity and his permanent source of happiness. A living being, especially the human being, is seeking happiness because happiness is the natural situation of the living entity. But he is vainly seeking happiness in the material atmosphere. A living being is constitutionally a spiritual spark of the complete whole, and his happiness can be perfectly perceived in spiritual activities. The Lord is the complete spirit whole, and His name, form, quality, pastimes, entourage and personality are all identical with Him. Once a person comes into contact with any one of the above-mentioned energies of the Lord through the proper channel of devotional service, the door to perfection is immediately opened. (SB 2.3.17)

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17, Sunday, Tuscon, AZ

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 January 2016, Drakensberg, South Africa, Lecture)

Remembrance of Krsna is the result of hearing and chanting. When you hear and chant, then automatically remembrance comes, sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23). This is the bhagavat vidhi, the path of glorifying the Supreme Lord. So this path of glorifying the Supreme Lord starts with hearing. In the initial stages, we do not fully remember what we hear; so many things we are not conscious of as we are not attentive. But at one point, we begin to consciously remember. It begins to happen where we actually begin to remember Krsna.

It is said that one can get benefit by associating with a pure devotee and then, one can borrow some of the ecstasy of that devotee. It is called chaya bhava. So we borrow ecstasy and this is an important thing to do. And you know how that goes… if you borrow something for a long time, it just becomes yours, you never give it back. Somehow this is what happens. When we associate with vaisnavas then not only are we hearing interesting things, not only are we getting some knowledge that we did not yet have; there is more – we are also borrowing some of their ecstasy and that makes a big difference!

“O Narada, I am not in Vaikuntha nor am I in the hearts of the yogis. I remain where My devotees glorify My name, form, qualities and transcendental pastimes.” (Padma Purana). How many of us are fortunate to have not just good friends, but close friends with whom we can phone at any time, and for no particular reason, than to simply share a Krishna conscious realization? To be able to say we are there, and there, with a balanced blend of service with shared association, practical and esoteric harmony, the benefits of real Krishna katha is the gel to unite on all fronts. (SB 4.22.19 purport) Continue reading "There, But Not There
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vidura uvaca

pitr-deva-manusyanam
ayuh param idam smrtam
paresam gatim acaksva
ye syuh kalpad bahir vidah

Vidura said: I now understand the life durations of the residents of the Pita planets and heavenly planets as well as that of the human beings. Now kindly inform me of the durations of life of those greatly learned living entities who are beyond the range of a kalpa.

Purport: The partial dissolution of the universe that takes place at the end of Brahma’s day does not affect all the planetary systems. The planets of highly learned living entities like the sages Sanaka and Bhrgu are not affected by the dissolutions of the millenniums. All the planets are of different types, and each is controlled by a different kala-cakra, or schedule of eternal time. The time of the earth planet is not applicable to other, more elevated planets. Therefore, Vidura herein inquires about the duration of life on other planets.

You see these temples that we are living in, they are not in Kali-yuga. So long as the devotees are taking shelter of Holy name. this is Satya in this room as soon as you go out it is Kali. Why? because everyone here is simply surcharging everything with the holy name of Krishna. As soon as we forget the name, we are in Kali-yuga. As long as we are remembering, we are in spiritual world. We are liberated. Srila Prabhupada used to tell us in the earliest days, that all my disciples are liberated. We were just looking at each other like, we are liberated..? (laughter) we had so many horrible desires in our minds. Some devotees they are not even following the 4 regulative principles. He said all my disciples are liberated. Devotees challenged Prabhupada, we don’t want to contradict you without thinking but we don’t feel liberated. He said the fact is that you are acting on the liberated stage. The fact is that you are chanting the holy names of the Lord regularly, and humbly serving your spiritual master, following 4 regulative principles, you are acting as the liberated souls. The only thing is you haven’t yet realized the position you are on. You are on liberated position, we haven’t realized it. But gradually by associating with the liberated position, pure devotional service you will realize it. Continue reading "Advent of Kali Yuga
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There are a number of things that bemuse me and makes me wonder either my own sanity of that of others; their seems to be either a disconnect or lack of joined up thinking; or the fact that if we did stop and ask questions it may lead to a need to rethink or reamend or worse abmit it may have flaws.

As I read an interesting article on the use of sadhna sheets the devotee gave a break down of responses and use whilst offering to take more devotees on; alls well and good.
Well until you break it down and look closely at the figures given, and the question arises why did a number fail to start to fill them in and why did a few stop after starting filling them in, cause unknown.
Somehow that appears to be an unsatisfactory answer was their an effort to find out why?

Then I get an e-mail on an upcoming event aimed at those who are in the Grihastha Ashram, adults only, no children allowed.
Hum if your in this ashram then there is a good posibility that their will be children, and given the temple size and pacilities a small cresh could have been provided; but no the parents have to either find a baby sitter or one has to miss out.
Is it me or is that a total disconnect.

Were obsessed with courses and forms but no real thought is given in either apart from how it’s important for us to boil the milk and finally fulfil Srila Prabhupada’s words; without not asking why Srila Prabhupada didn’t instigate them.

May be it’s the feeling that these forms and class room expectations will alienate individuals and Srila Prabhupada didn’t want people to be alianated, and that we will put more emphasis on them than actually connecting to the individual.

As a couple you would want to attend the Grihastha course together as a couple?
May your just not a form person, or that a form is a way to demotivate the individual.

But we have a crazy there is only one way, we have courses and forms ow and heres the bill.

Yes professional reciters of bhakti, we will only depart the knowledge if you pay.

Which brings me to a conclusion

What was Srila Prabhupad’s charges please present me with a list of his authorized charges in relation to courses for initiation

And as it sadly appears that there is greater interest in making money than inspiring the individual may be just send me a yearly subscription bill and marval at how much money the temple has.

Yes sadly I’m alianated and feel that the only thing ISKCON and the devotees are interested in is my wallet; which bemuses me as the first devotees I came across and associated with didn’t care for my wallet, forms or courses but cared about me and how to inspire me in bhakti.

And how I long for those days to return life was much simpler then

Brahma-samhita (5.50) “I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda. Ganesha always holds His lotus feet upon the pair of tumuli protruding from his elephant head in order to obtain power for his function of destroying all obstacles on the path of progress in the three worlds.” A devotee who is aspiring to obtain pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead may pray to Ganesha to remove all impediments on the path of spiritual progress. “Vinayaka (Ganesha) is effulgent like millions of suns. In all our matters, we pray to him to remove all our hurdles and impediments.” Continue reading "Remover of Obstacles
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NBS#36 Daksa, Sati and Lord Shiva - Part 2
Continuing from the previous issue, NBS # 36 covers the plight of Daksa and his associates who committed an offense at the lotus feet of Lord Shiva.
We pray that this issue brings some pleasure to the devotees of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
NBS # 36 Features: 1) What Caused Sati To Destroy Her Body?
His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
2) Virabhadra Beheads Daksa
Conversation between Maitreya and Vidura
3) Lord Shiva’s Mercy On Daksa
Sriman Purnaprajna Dasa
4) Re-birth Of Sati And Daksa
Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura
This issue can be viewed through these links:
ISSUU: http://issuu.com/nbsmag/docs/nbs_36
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/doc/311331475/NBS-36

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The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released.
KK Bindu #374 includes: Never before translated prayers to Gadadhar Pandit, and a story of Krishna and Arjuna talking with a wise jackal. In honor of the upcoming festival for the appearance of Srila Gadadhar Pandit this edition includes some special prayers to him. Contents of this edition includes:
* AVOID BEING MISLED – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks about the importance for devotees to know siddhanta.
* EVERYONE IS ELIGIBLE – Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada speaks about the universality of chanting the Lord’s names.
* KRISHNA CRUSHES THE DEVOTEE’S PRIDE – Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja tells a story about a corpse, a jackal, and Krishna and Arjuna.
* PRAYERS TO SRI GADADHAR PANDIT – A collection of various meditations and prayers, translated for the first time especially for this issue of Bindu.
It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu374

Harinama in Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure, a central park in Moscow (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on ones having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness one attracts the attention of Krishna. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 4.71 purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/1GPTm7