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

Simhastha Kumbh Ujjain - 2016 (Album with 63 photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: The Babas at Simhasta Kumbha Mela Ujjain! On one side of the Kshipra River are all the Vaishnava Sadhus and the other side are the Shaivaites. Today, Vittalrukmini wandered on both sides of the river and took pics of the Sadhus we see at Kumbha Mela!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/P1LrMz

The post Daily Darshan: May 3rd, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Until We Meet Again (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: This morning we went on parikrama all the way around the sacred town of Vrindavan. After many years of circumambulating this holy abode many of the places, as well as the Vrajavasis who live here, are familiar to me. Tonight I leave for Russia, but I will carry Vrindavan within my heart wherever I go in service to my spiritual master.
“I wander over this earth meditating on Her, who is a moon shining in the rasa-dance arena, who is a host of bright lamps in Vrsabhanu’s palace, and who is the central jewel in the necklace of Goloka.”
sri rasa rangasya vikasa candrika
dipavalir ya vrsabhanu mandire
goloka cuda mani kantha bhusanam
dhyatvaparam tam bhuvi paryatamy aham
[ Narada Muni, Garga Samhita 1.8.12 ]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/j96Tff

A-Z of Things Unseen: Y is for Yamuna (5 min audio)
The Yamuna is one of the many rivers in India that are sacred to Hindus. On its banks lies the city of Vrindavan, believed to be the birthplace of the Lord Krishna.
Shaunaka Rishi Das from the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies has visited the Yamuna many times over several decades. In this edition of the A-Z of Things Unseen, he recalls some key moments of spiritual awakening and growth which he experienced on the banks of the sacred river.
Among them is a challenge thrown out by an old man during his first ever bath in the Yamuna with a group of devotees from Ireland. Other seminal experiences include a close encounter with a snake, and the insights Shaunaka gained after he scattered his wife’s ashes in the sacred river: rather than him returning his wife to Krishna, he realized, she had been his all along and only shared her husband’s life “as a loan” from God. With that insight came acceptance of her death.
The A-Z of Things Unseen is an eclectic mix of voices from different faiths (as well as some doubters), each tackling a concept of their choice from a personal perspective.
Listen to it here: http://goo.gl/w3Ely4

Dates: Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June 2016

Invitation to participate by HG Dayal Mora dasa, ISKCON-London Brahmacari Ashram Leader

The inspiration behind the Padayatra

Padayatra is an excellent way to reach the public and show that the Hare Krishna’s really practice what they preach. As a mobile Temple, Padayatra simultaneously preaches Harinama Sankirtana, book distribution, prasadam distribution, deity worship, cow protection and the lifestyle of “simple living and high thinking” in harmony with nature and the supreme will of Krishna.

I became inspired about putting on this Padayatra for the 50th year of ISKCON after learning about how HG Parasurama dasa performs Padayatra every year in Vraja during Kartik. I was fortunate enough to travel with him last year and worked alongside him for the month of Kartik whereby we circumambulated the whole of Vraja with oxcart, distributing tonnes of prasadam and thousands of books.

I was very inspired by the positive impact of this style of preaching and realised how important it is to perform a Padayatra for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada in this landmark year. It’s a fact that Srila Prabhupada called for millions of oxcarts to perform Padayatra all over the world and it was our Founder-Acharya’s wish also to do parikrama around Govardhana Hill on an oxcart.

In light of these instructions, Lokanatha Swami has called for 50 Padayatra’s worldwide this year for the 50th Anniversary, and so this event would contribute as one of those 50. It is a great opportunity to gain the blessings and recognition of the international ISKCON community for the UK’s progressive preaching spirit.

A Pilgrimage for Peace
We have named this Padayatra “A Pilgrimage for Peace”. We will be emphasising the theme of cow protection, self-sufficiency, a simple way of life in tune with nature and the will of the Lord, and love for all living entities. We hope to attract the attention of the local media and in this way reach out to countless people through this event. The use of the bullocks will attract so many people, especially children, maximising our impact upon the public.

Itinerary – everyone is welcome to join us!
The planned route is from Hastings to Brighton via Eastbourne which is a sum total of under 40 miles which will be walked by us over a period of 5 days which averages out at 8 miles a day with a maximum of 10 miles in any one day.

We will begin the walk on Monday 30th May and finish in Brighton on Friday 3rd June.

The weather at this time of year is usually very mild, with Brighton having a decent climate by UK standards.

The walking will be from the morning at 10am after the morning rush and we will be going at a pace suitable for everyone, including the bullocks. There is no hurry as the proposed daily distance is easily covered at a leisurely pace. Even if we walk at only 3 miles an hour with an hour break for lunch the distance will be covered in the afternoon without any difficulty.

The land across the coast is mostly flat between Hastings and Eastbourne and the winding and gently sloping hills which we will encounter between Eastbourne and Brighton will not present any problem for the bullocks.

We will have a core team of 8 to 10 full-time devotees with us with experience in this kind of outdoor lifestyle, and three, most notably Parasurama, with specific expertise in oxcart Padayatra.

Everyone is welcome to come and walk with us during the days and join in.

The mind traps us materially and trips us spiritually.
Chaitanya Charan Das: We like our job one day and detest it the next day; we feel excited about our devotional activities sometimes and bored at other times.
Why does our mind oscillate like this?
Because it has learnt from experience that the charm of worldly objects doesn’t last for long.
This lesson can help us realize that no material object can ever offer us lasting satisfaction. However, the mind evades this realization by imagining that the past worldly objects were not enjoyable because something was wrong in the practical details. “I don’t like my job because my boss is lousy.” Due to this blunder of judgment, the mind keeps us entrapped at the material level with the futile hope that we will become happy if we just get the next worldly object alluring us from round the corner.
More damagingly, the mind doesn’t let us stay fixed when we do contact the one object that can offer lasting satisfaction: Krishna. He is eternal and eternally enchanting. Yet due to its default oscillatory habit, the mind imagines that the charm of Krishna will also not last long. So it starts looking for something externally new in devotional service without going deep into the remembrance of Krishna. The mind thus causes us to look here and there and everywhere –except straight towards Krishna. No wonder that we frequently trip on our devotional path, and thereby suffer unnecessary slips and falls.
If we strengthen our intelligence by deep deliberation on the nature of the mind, then the Bhagavad-gita (03.43) assures us that we won’t fall for its traps and trips.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03 Text 43
“Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence [Krishna consciousness] and thus – by spiritual strength – conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.”

May 3. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: The Lower East Side in the 1960s.
By the summer of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival at 26 Second Avenue, the first front in the great youth rebellion of the sixties had already entered the Lower East Side. Here they were free – free to live in simple poverty and express themselves through art, music, drugs and sex. The talk was of spiritual searching. LSD and marijuana were the keys opening new realms of awareness. Notions about Eastern cultures and Eastern religions were in vogue. Through drugs, yoga, brotherhood, or just by being free – somehow they would attain enlightenment. Everyone was being free – somehow they would attain enlightenment. Everyone was supposed to keep an open mind and develop his own cosmic philosophy by direct experience and drug-expanded consciousness, blended with his own eclectic readings. And if their lives appeared aimless, at least they had dropped out of a pointless game where the player sells his soul for material goods and in this way supports a system that is already rotten.
So it was that in 1966 thousands of young people were walking the streets of the Lower East Side, not simply intoxicated or crazy (though they often were), but in search of life’s ultimate answers, in complete disregard of “the establishment” and the day-to-day life pursued by millions of “straight” Americans.
That the prosperous land of America could breed so many discontented youths surprised Prabhupada. Of course, it also further proved that material well-being, the hallmark of American life, couldn’t make people happy. Prabhupada did not see the unhappiness around him in terms of the immediate social, political, economic and cultural causes. Neither slum conditions nor youth rebellions were the all-important realities. These were mere symptoms of a universal unhappiness to which the only cure was Krishna consciousness. He sympathized with the miseries of everyone, but he saw the universal solution.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Govindas Restaurant at the Adelaide temple has been operating for around 7 or 8 years. In the beginning they opened just a couple of evenings a week and customer numbers were small.

Govindas is now open four evenings a week and the average is about 60 customers a night. Mostly, they are westerners who come to get a sumptuous meal for a very reasonable price.

The Lower East Side in the 1960s

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 March, Durban, South Africa, Lecture at House Program)

Jiva Goswami states in his Bhakti Sandarbha that Vrindavan is a state of consciousness. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta once said that there is an intimate correlation between nama (the holy name) and dhama (the holy land). He said that it is only within the dhama that the nama fully manifests. Of course, where there is nama, dhama becomes manifest, but dhama means ‘the state of consciousness of Vrindavan’.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “My mind is like Vrindavan.” He said that for most people, the mind and the heart is the same; whatever they desire that is where the mind will be. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was speaking in the mood of Radharani to Krsna and he said, “But in my case, my mind is Vrindavan and since you like Vrindavan, please place your footsteps there, in my mind.” Vrindavan is that place which is cent per cent dedicated to the pleasure of Krsna. Everything in Vrindavan is simply an arrangement for the pleasure of Krsna. So by chanting, gradually our mind will become purified and gradually, Golokera prema-dhana, the entire wealth of Goloka will manifest in our mind. And we will become like the walking dhama; wherever we are, we will be in Vrindavan and we can transform places into Vrindavan as Prabhupada did.

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23.

“In order to make our theoretical knowledge realized we should repeat the knowledge. It’s a very simple process in a way, but when you repeat something you get realization of what you are saying. One of Srila Prabhupada’s early disciples had read that the moon was created by the churning of the ocean of milk—which seemed fantastic. She asked Srila Prabhupada, ‘What does that mean?’ Srila Prabhupada said, ‘Just repeat. The moon was churned from the ocean of milk.’ Then he asked her, ‘Again repeat it. And again repeat it.’ So she repeated it several times. And then he said. ‘Now do you understand?’ And she said, ‘Yes. The moon was churned from the ocean of milk.’ So by repeating our knowledge—by repeating what we have heard—we get realization.”

Sunday Kirtan, Phoenix, AZ
Sunday Talk, Phoenix, AZ

The other day I sat in one of the mandatory supervision, it’s more a paperwork exercise but is a requirement of those who oversee health care here in Wales. From a personal point of view it’s a pointless exercise and simply wastes my time as only a first class idiot would wait till an enforced mandatory meeting to bring up concerns especially in regard to patient care and work practices.

So one of the questions that has to be covered is what do you feel you’ve achieved since the last supervision? My answer stopped the conversation with a puzzled look, your joking? No! My answer had been frank, “Not telling you to shove the job”. And yes I did get it written down on the form so yes it will be discussed in three months time which is the required time between each supervised practice.

Would I wait three months to raise an issue?

Yes that’s also one of the questions, surely if it was an issue who in their right mind would wait till a supervision date? A point I make each and every supervision have I called you or discussed any concerns because if there is one you will certainly know about it.

For me there are forms, and there are forms; useful forms and forms for those who simply like forms; some forms are open to abuse simply by design. The real point of the supervision form is to show how happy we all are and that client care is being met, mandatory course work done, act.

One question always however baffles me and I give the same stock answer, “Don’t ask me I don’t know!” The question is simply along the lines of are your client’s happy with the standard of care provision you are giving? Of course I can give the correct answer “yes because….” but in reality I could believe I’m giving the best and meeting all the needs of my clients when they could be in anxiety or stressed because the reality is more that they feel I’m not, too aggressive or uncaring. The fact they miss me when I’m off would suggest otherwise, maybe?

For me it would be better to feed back to me the feeling’s of those who receive health care provision from me, and if there is a problem this allows a more informative discussion; it could also highlight a need for training within a particular area, or even suitability in doing the job.

However the reality is that no one wants to hear any negativity, especially if directed at them; however sometimes these hard discussions can prove more productive; surrounding oneself with people who always agrees with you does massage the false ego. Yes I am the BEST and well you know it!

However I would be crazy to think that all supervision’s are like mine, there are those who will wait until supervision to bring up any concerns, the form at the end of being filled out will be different and the approach by the employer matching the individual. It’s an art to know how to deal with people as the needs are much different depending on the individual, and their perspective; my contempt for the form is born out by my answers and glazed look in my eye.

This appreciation of the individual also goes into care provision, some are compliant to the changes needed given their condition; some are non-compliant. Some accept that they have a condition and others remain in denial. So the approach has to be individualized, out-patient and follow up is never the same even if the condition is. There is also further people skills needed when working out in the community given that your in the person’s own home and personal space, especially if your dealing with a client who remains nu-compliant in medication, diet, exercise act.

This for me reminds me of how we should approach those who take up the path of bhakti, each has their own baggage, their own needs and desires along with approach. It’s easy to try to deal with each person as a collective but we see from Srila Prabhupada that outside of his requirements of his disciples to follow the four regulative principles and 16 rounds of japa, but then we see a more personal side understanding and encouraging his disciples allowing them to explore and expand.

It’s an art, means we need to take more time and develop a personal relationship with the person, this is good mentorship, the student understands the spiritual master and the spiritual master understands the student. We cannot develop a personal relationship with Sri Krishna without developing a personal relationship with devotee’s and we should encourage each one to shine.

Compliance in health care takes time, sometimes it’s instant other times it takes years, you learn how to take the person on an individual journey; this is an art learnt over many years working in health care and is something new members of the care team need to learn and it does. Otherwise frustration at all the time spent on individuals who continue to relapse due to the individuals situation.

We see relapse in those who start on the path of bhakti, old habits die hard and when problems arise it’s easy to return to a default setting; the line of least resistance normally absorbing oneself in material happiness rather than spiritual bliss. Being a good mentor means we accept that this is the way it goes, keep the door open, not condemn and encourage the individual to stick with it.

Relapse is expected in health care provisions, due to a variety of situations, the same as some fall down from a spiritual path is to be expected. But if we have developed a very personal relationship and developed trust then we can help over time rectify assist and help the individual.

So during the mandatory supervision they make sure for me it’s quick and takes up as little of my time, but know if I call into the office unexpectedly then some time is needed as this is when important. And when interviewing me for the job I told them my weakness is unnecessary forms and bureaucracy something they remain aware of.

So for me one of the greatest assets is studying Srila Prabhupada and the way he dealt with his disciples, this is the way we should deal with those who take up the path of bhakti; but I’ve personally found it helpful in my dealings with others in my health care job.

In conclusion I remain always humbled by what can be learnt about oneself, others and how to truly mentor and help others within Srila Prabhupada’s actions and words; if we look, study and learn.

As we say to student nurses they will learn once in practice how to deal with others, it cannot be learnt in a class room; how to develop and encourage many in bhakti cannot be learnt doing this or that course but from our dealings with others and learning from well positioned seniors who’s selflessness simply inspires.

Hare Krishna.

Narayanpur (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Not far from the Ujjain Kumbha Mela is the forest where Krishna and Sudama were lost collecting wood for Sandipani Muni! Vittalrukmini takes us there with his wonderful pics!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/OtAv7d

https://flic.kr/s/aHskz81fHs

The post Scenes from Marfino to the deer and duck in the back yard appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Daily Darshan: May 2nd, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Temple of Vedic Planetarium - May 2016 TOVP construction updates (Album with photos)
We are happy to share these beautiful new pictures showcasing various parts of the construction. Photos taken by the talented Aradhya Gauranga Dasa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/uaTRSo

By ISKCON Coimbatore

“I want to see my disciples all over the world introduce two items , opening Radha Krishna temples and Rath Yatra festivals” (Srila Prabhupada , Founder Acharya of ISKCON, in His letter to Bakta Das,11 October 1973).

Indeed with the only intention of fulfiling Srila Prabhupad’s this desire, devotees of ISKCON Coimbatore have been earnestly endeavouring to dedicate two achivements at His Lotus feet in this 50th Golden Jubilee year of ISKCON.

The first one is the grand celebration of the First Annual Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath at Ooty and the second one is the successful beginning of excavation of land for their new temple project , of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna at ISKCON, Pelamedu,Coimbatore.

When Lord Jagannath decided to visit the Queen of Hill Stations, Ooty, He directed the devotees from within to arrange for a grand rath yatra. Residents and tourists at Ooty , attracted by the Rath Yatra posters were inquisitive to see the Lord who had a unique form quite unfamiliar to them . The scene was all set to pull the ratha of the Lord through the main streets of the town. Great care was taken in arranging for prasadam ,accomodation and other facilities for the devotees.

And the day arrived!

Following the inauguration of the festival by the auspicious presence of HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami ( Temple President, ISKCON ,Coimbatore) and other dignitary invitees, Lord Jagannath along with His elder brother Baladeva and sister Shubhadra Devi,dressed in grand outfits, seated on a wonderfully decorated ratha , came out on the major streets of Ooty amidst roaring kirtan and dance by devotees. When mere onlookers of the procession received Lord Jagannath’s mercy through his big red lotus eyes and broad smile, what to speak of those who lovingly pulled the ratha, sang and danced for His pleasure? The hills echoed the Mahamantra and transcendental ecstacy filled everyones heart.

The deities were given a glorious reception, after the Rathyatra at Srinivasa Kalyana mandapam, followed by Gaura arati, spiritual discourse by HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami and sumptuous prasadam feast. Devotees, with their hearts filled with love for Lord Jagannath, vowed to come back year after year to make this festival a grand event.

By Hari Narayana das

Kapuas, a regency in central Borneo is a beautiful city located on the bank of the ‘Simpang Tiga’ river which in turn joins three other rivers; Murung Kapuas, Kapuas, and the shore of Javanese ocean. The capital city, Kuala Kapuas is said to look somewhat like Manasi Ganga in Vrindavan. This city was originally built as a port to connect roadways in Borneo. There are a few devotees who live in Kapuas. Since there is not that much active preaching in Kapaus, devotees had become a little unenthusiastic. The heartfelt prayers of the devotees was answered very soon however in the form of a grand Ratha Yatra celebration in Kaula Kapuas, the first ever in area. Under the banner of the Government festival, ‘Indonesian Record for Creativity’, devotees managed to hold the Ratha Yatra celebration.

“In the modern age this Krishna consciousness movement, Hare Krishna movement, was started by Lord Caitanya, and this Ratha-Yatra is part of this movement. Therefore we have introduced this Ratha-yäträ festival in our society. And the boys and the girls, they are taking it very nicely, and it will go on. Srila Prabhupada’s Lecture San Francisco, July 4, 1970.

On his last visit to Kaupas in 2015, HH Subhag Swami Maharaj had requested local devotee, Candra Pati das to try to arrange a Ratha Yatra festival for the Lord’s pleasure. Candra Pati was always looking for an opportunity to arise and when he heard that the ‘Record for Creativity’ festival was approaching, he grabbed the occasion with open arms. The festival involves 5000 traditional dance students performing in the public and many more cultural acts. The proposal that the devotees could join in this program was immediately accepted and preparations started to begin from that very day!

A few days before the festival, devotees brought the Lord and His chariot from Palangka Raya to Kapuas, a 5 hour journey! The chariot team also arrived early to assemble and decorate the Ratha. The day before the event, devotees from all over Bali assembled in Kapaus and lent a helping hand in last minute preparations. Sastra Dhana was performed along with a lecture at the local Hindu students. In the evening a live class by phone was given by Subhag Maharaj which fired up all the devotees for the next days.

On the day of the festival, devotees gathered near the local sports center along with the Ratha. Colourful flowers and rambutan fruit added a special touch to the chariot’s decoration. Many onlookers stopped to take pictures being amazed by the extraordinary scene. Kirtan and bhajans were led whilst Prasad was distributed. An arati ceremony was then performed and coconuts were smashed on the ground to remove any inauspiciousness. The chariot was then pulled in front of the famous ‘Panunjung Tarung’ fields of Kapuas, the starting point of the ‘Indonesian Record for Creativity’ festival.

After a traditional dance performance by the 5000 scouts, the Mayor of Kapuas, Mr Ir Ben Brahim Bahat officially inaugurated the festival. The Ratha Yatra committee garlanded him and gave him a copy of the Bhagavad Gita which was warmly received. The Mayor and his staff then started pulling the chariot and the festival was underway. As is the case with most VIP guests in Ratha Yatra, they pull the chariot for a while then leave to attend their other functions. In this Ratha Yatra however, the Mayor requested if it was possible for him to go up on the chariot. The devotees couldn’t say no, so the Mayor along with all his staff went on the chariot’s platform. Along with the kirtan, Balinese instrumentalists and a marching band from Junior High School of Basarang accompanied the procession.

“So this is good sign that they welcome Jagannatha” SPL to Riddha dasa, 15th June, 1976

The end point of the parade was the Mayor’s residence. The Mayor’s good wife welcomed the devotees by serving them water and cake. She also interacted with the devotees and expressed her gratitude for them arranging this program.

“Please accept my blessings. For so long I have wanted to have Ratha-yatra in New York and now at long last you have helped me fulfill this long-cherished dream. The Ratha carts were very strong and attractive and I thank you and all of your assistants for working so hard to prepare such nice carts. May Krsna bless you all for your sincere service that you may all go on making more and more advancement in Krsna consciousness…..”(SPL to Jayananda dasa, 19th July, 1976)

We offer our obeisances to HH Kavichandra Swami and HH Ramai Swami, the GBCs of Indonesia, for their support and guidance to always look for new avenues for sankirtan. Our humble obeisances to HH Subhag Swami for always reminding us of the importance of the Sankirtan movement of Mahaprabu and inspiring us with the dedication of Sriman Jayananda Prabhu, for bringing us closer to Srila Prabhupada and keeping us united in family of ISKCON. Our gratitude to Karabhajan prabhu for helping to arrange all the requirements of the festival and taking care of the devotees. We thank Dina Darini dasi for her kind donation of one ton of fruits that were distributed. Finally we would like to thank all the devotees who participated and made the Ratha Yatra festival a success.

Click below to see more photos:

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Harinama in the park of Stromovka, Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One may live in a cave, in a cottage beside a river, in a palace or in a big city like New York or London. In any case, a devotee can follow the instructions of his spiritual master and engage in devotional service by watering the tulasi plant and chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 24.261)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/mGt2sB

Conversation with NVD guests.

The post How to always think of Krsna appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Conference with Istanbul devotees.

The post 18th Chapter of the Gita appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The Mayor of Hertsmere auditions for the part of Hanuman, during last month’s Ramanavami festival….:-)
Hertsmere is a local government district and borough in Hertfordshire, England. This is where the Bhaktivedanta Manor is situated.

“Ask a monk” (4 min video)
Ter Kadamba Das presents his “Ask a monk” new video channel, website and project.
Ter Kadamba Das: Some of you have asked about the questions I received. Here are a few of the more entertaining ones (paraphrasing of cause):
Atheist: When will I die?
Monk: Any moment now, because whenever an old person looks back on his life, he always thinks it went by in a moment, so regardless of how long it will be, compared to eternity, it will still only be a moment. Therefore you should enquire about your real identity now, instead of wasting time with external things.
Teenage boy with flashy sunglasses: Will I ever find love again?
Monk: You are made of love, that is what you are, so you don’t need to find it, it is already there. The reason you are not in touch with it, is because you are focusing on these external things you see around you. When we focus your energy on making other people happy, then love will naturally flow through us uninterrupted. But if you are thinking of beautiful girls, then that is not love but lust. The two are not the same, and they are mutually exclusive.
Well dressed elderly man: What can you tell me about the stock-market?
I can tell you that whether you win or lose has nothing to do with how happy you will be. You have rich people who are happy and rich people who are miserable. You also have poor people who are happy and poor people who are miserable. These things are not related.
Well dressed elderly man: What a sophisticated answer.
Elderly lady: What do you ask a monk?
Monk: Okay, I guess that is also a question… You can ask him anything. Like what is the meaning of life? You see, many people think the meaning of life is something beyond our reach, but it is actually very simple. If we stop being selfish and devote our life to God, then our lives are meaningful. Now, devoting our lives to God means devoting our lives to Gods creation, because that is how He manifests, so basically just make sure that everything you do, you do for the benefit of others. Then you will be happy for the rest of your life, and it is completely free of charge.
Man: What is the northern most town in the world?
Monk: Since our perception of this world is illusory, the question is equivalent to asking how many drops of water there are in a mirage. Since it doesn’t really exist, the question is superfluous. If something should be said to exist, then it must be eternal. Consciousness is eternal, not these temporary forms of matter we see around us, so we should focus our attention on that. (He then told me about “Longyearbyen”, which is a town on the island of Svalbart north of Norway. He happened to live there).
Woman: Who will win the world cup in football?
Monk: Nobody. Those who are engaged in the world cup are chasing after a temporary result. Everybody knows it will be taken away from them again, so in the end they will all lose. Monks only work for spiritual results because spiritual results are eternal. Anything material is temporary and therefore not worth the effort.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Xjnl3b

Podcast

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By Niranjana Swami

Daily Sadhana Sheet Update

I would like to briefly share my impression of the way the “Daily Sadhana Sheet” has been used since it was first made available about five months ago.

Currently, thirty-three devotees have their own “Daily Sadhana Sheet” online. Of those thirty-three devotees, twenty-seven of them are providing daily statistics, two of them started to fill out statistics but stopped completely shortly after they started, four of them never started at all for reasons unknown, and fortunately, only one of them seems to be using it for reasons other than keeping records of one’s daily sadhana practices.

In addition, approximately ten devotees had an account but their account was removed because it was not being used.

My purpose for providing this facility was manifold:

1) to give devotees struggling with sadhana the opportunity to become more accountable for their sadhana practices,

2) to give devotees struggling with sadhana the opportunity to keep a record of their own performance in order to better see for themselves where they are lacking and where they need to improve,

3) to encourage devotees who either were or currently are struggling to come up to the prescribed standards, to maintain steadiness… even if it’s to a lesser standard,

4) to encourage devotees to increase whenever they feel they have the strength and commitment to do so,

5) to encourage devotees with their sadhana in general, simply by providing this extra facility for accountability,

6) to give initiated devotees a private venue to disclose that they are not able to maintain his/her vow to chant sixteen rounds daily,

7) to help initiated devotees better deal with any possible guilt they may have for their inability to maintain their sixteen rounds,

8) to help devotees feel a closer connection between their sadhana and their service to their spiritual master(s),

9) and to show that I understand the struggles devotees encounter with their japa, especially devotees who are not living either in, or near to a temple.

There are probably, even more, reasons I could give, but for now, these are the ones which seem most important to me.

Since I regularly review all of these sadhana sheets and because I plan to continue to do so, then naturally I cannot open this facility up to hundreds of devotees. To do so would create the risk of being unable to monitor everyone’s sheet.

However, I am encouraged by the fact that devotees are taking advantage of this facility and naturally I am also encouraged when I get reports of how this facility has encouraged them as well.

Therefore, I am now ready to open this facility up to more devotees.

Without knowing how many new accounts will be requested, I will not set a limit yet. But everyone who signs up should know that it’s unlikely that all requests will be promptly fulfilled. It may take time before there is an opening for all who have requested.

Previously the following were the five conditions which had to be met before requesting a daily sadhana sheet:

1) Struggling with sadhana (unable to maintain vow of 16 rounds/daily)
2) There must be a strong desire to gradually improve.
3) Must be honest with his/her entries
4) Must make entries every day
5) Must not use the daily sadhana sheet for anything other than reporting daily sadhana

All of the above still apply, especially #5. If anyone is found to be using their daily sadhana sheet for anything other than for reporting one’s daily sadhana, the administrator has been instructed to close their account without notice.

However, I am ready to adjust the first condition (#1) and will now also allow devotees who are chanting 16 rounds daily, to request a sadhana sheet if it encourages them to do so.

More here: http://sadhana.niranjanaswami.org/blog-english/

Are women less intelligent than men?

Men and women are not identical. The differences between them are the basis by which they legitimately tend to play different roles and have different responsibilities in the world.

First, we can speak in generalities about these differences from the perspective of what modern studies have shown, particularly as it pertains to the topic at hand, intelligence. Then we can consider how Vedic statements treat the subject. Finally we can ask how this pertains to statements from the founder of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada.

Current View

Current psychology recognizes that intelligence is multifaceted. Women excel at some facets of intelligence and men excel at others. Men deviate from the average IQ more widely than women, thus the rare cases of extreme stupidity and genius are found more often among males.

The male nature is more goal-oriented, thus they make decisions with more finality and confidence. They also have far greater musculature. These two factors (not intellect) account for why males have almost always been dominant gender in political and military leadership capacities.

Women are more emotional, but it does not indicate that they are irrational. They simply have more perceptive acuity than men, which extends into the emotional realm. Their intellect is less goal-driven, more contemplative and sometimes more intuitive.

Vedic Opinion

Vedic Śāstra does not support the conclusion that women are less intelligent than men. A definitive statement that women are less intelligent than men would be strongest if it occurred in context: in a section of śāstra comparing women and men. At the very least, it should have a clear, direct statement that “women are less intelligent than men.”

Let us look at a few contentious quotes from the pinnacles of Vedic Literature, Mahābhārata’s Bhagavad Gītā and the Brahma-sūtra’s elaboration, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and evaluate whether such quotes meet the above criteria.

Kunti, “We Women” – ŚB 1.8.20

One statement from Queen Kuntī is sometimes cited as evidence that Vedic culture considers women less intelligent than men. This statement, however, does not appear in a section concerned with a comparison between men and women, nor does it even have a direct statement regarding intelligence. Therefore it must be dismissed.

The statement is the third verse in her very poetic outpouring of petition to Krishna. In the first verse she said, “You are beyond perception.” (alakṣya) The second continues, saying, “A curtain of delusion covers our eyes, making them incapable of perceiving you, Adhokṣaja.”

The verse in question then says,

tathā paramahaṁsānāṁ munīnām amalātmanām
bhakti-yoga-vidhānārthaṁ kathaṁ paśyema hi striyaḥ

“Thus (tathā) only the greatest swans amongst scholars (paramahaṁsānāṁ munīnām) who are not covered by that curtain of delusion (amalātmanā) can see you through the conduit of devotion (bhakti-yoga-vidhānārtha). How surprising that we ladies see you now! (kathaṁ paśyema hi striyaḥ)”

It is unfounded to consider this a comparison between men and women. It is a comparison between paramahaṁsa and regular people.

One may ask, “Is it a comparison between paramahaṁsa and women?”

Yes, but this does not imply that women cannot also be paramahaṁsa. Such a conclusion would contradict the well-established siddhānta that anyone can become perfect in bhakti and attain the highest spiritual realizations (paramahaṁsa).

One may ask, “Why does she say striyaḥ (women) and not lokāḥ (ordinary people)?”

Quite likely because she is a woman.

One may ask, “Why does she say striyaḥ (plural) and not strīḥ (singular)?”

There are three complimentary reasons:

(A) In Sanskrit “we” is often used for “I.”

(B) Similarly, people often talks from the perspective of being the member of a group.

(C) She was speaking to Krishna via addressing the women who surrounded her. [1.8.45 indicates that she was standing with other women.]

Śrīla Viśvanātha’s comment indicates that she is speaking on the basis of being a member of a group.

One may say, “The point of her identification with women as a group is because women are less intelligent. That is why she expresses surprise that she can see Krishna.”

Nothing in the verse or anything surrounding it suggests that Kuntī is talking about comparing her intelligence with the intelligence of paramahaṁsa munīs. Kuntī devī identifies the outstanding trait of paramahaṁsa munī (distinguishing him or her from the more common munī) as their devotion (bhakti) not their intellect. She has said so explicitly, by describing the paramahaṁsa munī as bhakti-yoga-vidhānārtha.

Sūta, “Fools” – ŚB 1.4.25

A statement made by Śrī Sūta is sometimes cited as evidence that Vedic culture considers women less intelligent than men.

strī-śūdra-dvijabandhūnāṁ trayī na śruti-gocarā
karma-śreyasi mūḍhānāṁ śreya evaṁ bhaved iha
iti bhāratam ākhyānaṁ kṛpayā muninā kṛtam

“Women, Laborers, and the so-called educated classes cannot grasp the three Vedas.  These fools therefore certainly could not comprehend what was in their best interest, what they should strive for. This is why the Muni [Vyāsa] compiled the Tale of Bhārata [Mahābhārata].”

Again the context here is not to compare men and women, it is to explain why Vyāsa compiled the Mahābhārata and, subsequently, the Bhāgavatam.

The verse does call some people “fools” (mūḍha), indicating that someone is “less intelligent” than someone else. But it does not say that women are less intelligent than men. Specifically it says that women (strī), laborers (śūdra) and the so-called educated classes (dvija-bandhu) are fools.

Thus the verse does not support the claim that women are more foolish than men. It supports the idea that women and men are more foolish then they need to be to understand the Veda effectively.

One may ask, “Does this mean that there are some men who are intelligent enough, but never any women?”

A few verses prior to this (17-18), Sūta stated that all people in this age (kali-yuga) are bereft of potency and are dvija (“educated”) in name only (dvija- bandhu). The phrase kalau śūdra sambhavāḥ confirms this. Thus the verse actually means that everyone in kali-yuga is unintelligent.

One may ask, “Why are women mentioned distinctly?”

Strī literally means expanders, procreators. It indicates women in the role of mothers. Other words can indicate women in other ways, nārīnām, for example. These statements group people according to their primary duties. Mothers have certain duties, so they are listed as a group when mentioning the other groups of duties, such as laborers, farmers, governors, and priests.

One may ask, “Does this indicate that women are not educated in Vedic culture?”

No. Women who were educated formally performed the various duties for which they were educated. For more information, please examine the resources cited on this article.

Krishna, “Lower Birth” – Gītā 9.32

Some cite a statement of Krishna in Gītā as evidence that Vedic culture held women to be of lower birth, and therefore inferior to and less intelligent than men.

māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ
striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim

“Pātha, if someone turns to me he can certainly attain the supreme destination, even if he might be from a sinful family, or a woman, or a merchant, or a laborer.”

Again, the context here is not a comparison of women and men, nor is there a direct statement that women are less intelligent than men.

The obvious thrust of the verse is that everyone can attain the supreme spiritual perfection through bhakti-yoga. Even those who are not qualified for other paths of yoga — those with a sinful family background (pāpa-yonaya), those who are mothers/ women (striya), those who are money-minded (vaiśya), and those who are simpletons (śūdra).

One may ask, “Does this statement show that it is sinful to be born as a woman?”

No. It is not a statement that it is sinful to be born as a woman – pāpa-yonaya is a distinct group of people outside the Vedic culture.

We must note that there is no mention of intelligence in this verse.

Krishna, “Among Women I am Intelligence” Gītā 10.34

Though we could not find a clear, direct statement that women are less intelligent than men, we can easily find a very clear and very direct statement that Krishna considers women to epitomize intelligence.

kīrtiḥ śrīr vāk ca nārīṇāṁ smṛtir medhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā

“Among women I am the goddess Kīriti – the epitome of venerable reputation, Śrī – the epitome of beauty and opulence, Vāk – the epitome of excellent speech, Smṛti – the epitome of memory and contemplation, Medhā – the epitome of intelligence, Dhṛti – the epitome of forbearance, and Kṣamā – the epitome of forgiveness.”

The goddesses Sarasvatī, Vāk, Medhā, and Smṛti epitomize the highest standards of education, verbal excellence, intellect, and contemplation respectively. Krishna associates these qualities not just with the goddesses but with their facsimiles, human females (nārīṇām).

Indeed the important Vedic mantra like Gāyatrī and even the Vedas themselves are personified in female form.

Gopīs and Rādhārānī

It is also quite conspicuous that Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas consider females to be the most perfected and accomplished spiritualists. This refers, of course, to the gopīs and their epitome, Śrīmatī Rādhārānī – who have unparalleled expertise in all the 64 departments of education, and who are the supreme vedāntists.

It may be argued that the gopīs are not ordinary women, but they are women nonetheless. It is very difficult to explain why the most educated, expert and qualified spiritual beings would appear in a form even resembling women, if women are truly inferior and less intelligent.

A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda

Although it seems clear that it is not to be a Vedic conclusion that women are less intelligent, ISKCON’s founder, Śrīla Prabhupāda made many statements describing women as less intelligent. This poses a problem because a bonafide guru must represent the conclusions of śāstra.

The problem can be addressed in five ways.

1) We may decide not to place our faith in Śrīla Prabhupāda and look for a guru who does not present opinions that are not obviously in harmony with the śāstra.

2) We may identify his statements on female intelligence and inferiority as a semantic misunderstanding, and try to adjust the meaning of his words so that they do not contradict the Vedic conclusions.

3) We may accommodate that it is acceptable to see the guru as someone who speaks with authority on certain areas of expertise, but not as an absolute authority on all conceivable areas. We could then trace Prabhupāda’s statements about women to semi-Vedic sources like the misogynist political strategist Cāṇakya, to cultural sources such as his early 20^th century British education at Scottish Churches College, and to his own subjective experience of women and marriage, which has been documented as being unpleasant.

4) We may decide that a guru is an absolute authority independent of Vedic śāstra, whose statements about the nature of things supersedes the statements of śāstra. But this results in the guru and his or her followers falling outside the orthodox Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava umbrella, for a core Gauḍīya tenant is that śāstra (particularly the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam) is the ultimate authority to which everyone, including gurus, must conform.

5) We may decide that our analysis of the Veda is wrong. This is difficult when the evidence is as simple as it is, and when many scholars and accomplished devotees concur with our analysis.

6) We may decide that our analysis of the Veda is incomplete: The statements defining women as less intelligent than men are elsewhere, we simply don’t know them yet. This is difficult for a Gauḍīya because we conclude that everything important in the Veda is within the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, which though lengthy is not impossible to thoroughly research. So it is hard to entertain the idea of a secret statement hiding somewhere, unknown to us.

However should such evidence arise, we should then examine it with systemic intelligence and criteria: It must be from an actual Veda, ideally from Gītā or Bhāgavatam. It should ideally appear in a context relevant to the topic of comparing males and females, and it should at least contain a direct statement that women are less intelligent. Until this evidence is established, it would be hasty to embrace this fifth option.

Vraja Kishor dāsa

www.vrajakishor.com

Divine Intervention.
Sutapa Das: On recent travels around the country I met a lady who expressed frustration in her attempts to find God. She told me her story: two years of spiritual travels, countless nights of prayer, careful scriptural exploration and persistent introspection, but still no sign! “Will I ever find Him?” she asked. “I’m beginning to question whether He even exists.” What to speak of the ‘searchers,’ even the faithful often doubt that their Supreme friend is actually alive and active. A seeming lack of reciprocation and intervention can discourage even the most devout spiritualist. Where is God when you need Him?!
While desiring a divine audience, we’d do well to bear the following in mind:
Action – internal yearning should be accompanied by external endeavour. When the man made a diligent daily prayer to win the lottery, God was more than willing to acquiesce – if only he actually went out and bought a ticket. Thus, it could also be that God wants to see a practical demonstration of our eagerness to see Him. What are we willing to sacrifice and what tangible efforts will we make to search Him out?
Reaction – we are not dealing with a cosmic order supplier, but with a person. As persons, we don’t mechanize our reciprocation, but rather operate on the basis of feelings and inspiration. Thus, one cannot force open the doors to see God, but simply engage themselves with enthusiasm and determination. We should eagerly anticipate a divine audience, but simultaneously be willing to patiently wait.
Perception – maybe God has already intervened in our life, but not in the way we were expecting. Often times we don’t see things as they are, but rather we see things as we are. When we carry stereotyped perceptions of how God should deal with us, we leave little room to witness how He is expertly working on a bigger and better plan that will satisfy our needs and desires.
The ability to witness the wonders of God is the unique gift of the most advanced spirituality in existence. The Bhagavad-gita doesn’t simply deliver a philosophy which convinces one to believe in God, but actually equips one with the tools and techniques to dynamically perceive Him at every moment.

Photos from ISKCON-London’s grand reopening (Album with 40 HR photos)
The ISKCON-London Radha-Krishna Temple re-opened to the public on1st May after being closed for refurbishment. With best wishes, Hare Krishna, David.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/4Bxn60

Children Program Pictures at ISKCON Mira Road (Album with photos)
Today ISKCON Mira Road organised Children Exhibition. More than 300 students participated and approximately more than 125 projects were displayed and more than 300 coloring books were distributed. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/j6avAs

May 2. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Moving Into His New Apartment.
Overlooking the courtyard from the rear building of 26 Second Avenue was Prabhupada’s second floor apartment, where he would now live, work, and worship. With help from his Bowery friends, he had cleaned and settled into his new home. In the back room – his office – he had placed against one wall a thin cushion with an elephant-print cover and, in front of the cushion, his unpainted metal suitcase served as a desk. He had set his typewriter on the desk with his papers and books on either side. This became his work area. His manuscripts bundled in saffron cloth, his stock of Srimad-Bhagavatams, and his few personal effects he kept in the closet opposite his desk. On the wall above his sitting place he hung an Indian calendar print of Lord Krishna. (Krishna, as a youth, was playing on His flute with a cow close behind Him. Lord Krishna was standing on the planet Earth, which curved like the top of a small hill beneath His feet.) There were two windows on the east wall and the dappled morning sunlight filtering in through the fire escape fell across the floor.
The next room was bare except for a fancy coffee table, which became Prabhupada’s altar. Here he placed a framed picture of Lord Caitanya and His associates. On the wall he hung an Indian calendar print of four-armed Lord Visnu and Ananta Sesa, the celestial snake. And, as in the Bowery loft, he put up a clothesline.
Both rooms were freshly painted and the floors were clean hardwood parquet. The bathroom was clean and serviceable, as was the narrow furnished kitchen. Prabhupada would sometimes stand by the kitchen window gazing beyond the courtyard wall. He had moved here without any prospects of paying the next month’s rent.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Moving Into His New Apartment

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 May 2015, Cronulla, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.35)

We need some happiness in Krsna consciousness. A little happiness helps; it makes life easier so we need some friends. As the Hare Krsna movement became bigger, it lost some of its original spirit of being like a family, of being like a group of friends and instead, became a society and the members of the society sort of became like colleagues.

The mood between colleagues is very different to that between family or friends. With colleagues it is like, “You know, get it together. I mean, pull up your socks. I mean, you are holding us back. You are disturbing the functioning of this whole thing and if you don´t get it together, we will replace you!” To a colleague, this kind of mood exists.

Whereas with family, what can we do!? Even if your brother is half-cracked, what can you do… still he is your brother. This is the nature of family relationships. So we need family relationships, not colleague relationships. And it is very important that we have these friendships and personal relationships.

The quickest way to become a devotee is by trying to help others to become devotees. That is the quickest way because it attracts the most mercy of Krsna. So one who preaches is very smart as he gets extra mercy of Krsna. One who takes difficulty for Krsna, to bring Krsna consciousness to people who are not so easily accessible gets extra mercy. It is easy when you preach only to the Indian community. It is somewhat easy because they have some culture. But jail preaching, for example, is a little more tough.

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23.

“In other words, Lord Krishna is the property of His pure, unconditional devotees, and as such only the devotees can deliver Krishna to another devotee; Krishna is never obtainable directly. Lord Caitanya therefore designated Himself as gopi-bharatuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah, or “the most obedient servant of the servants of the Lord, who maintains the gopi damsels at Vrindavan.” A pure devotee therefore never approaches the Lord directly, but tries to please the servant of the Lord’s servants, and thus the Lord becomes pleased, and only then can the devotee relish the taste of the tulasi leaves stuck to His lotus feet. In the Brahma-samhita it is said that the Lord is never to be found by becoming a great scholar of the Vedic literatures, but He is very easily approachable through His pure devotee. In Vrindavan all the pure devotees pray for the mercy of Srimati Radharani, the pleasure potency of Lord Krishna. Srimati Radharani is a tenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme whole, resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly feminine nature. Therefore, the mercy of Radharani is available very readily to the sincere devotees, and once She recommends such a devotee to Lord Krishna, the Lord at once accepts the devotee’s admittance into His association. The conclusion is, therefore, that one should be more serious about seeking the mercy of the devotee than that of the Lord directly, and by one’s doing so (by the good will of the devotee) the natural attraction for the service of the Lord will be revived.” (SB 2.3 23 purport.)

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23, Scottsdale, AZ