Websites from the ISKCON Universe
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
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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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 20th 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
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.)
By Gauranga Dasa Why only Krishna? Typically in Indian homes of Hindu families you see a whole bunch of gods on the altar. All are same, they say. But it is not like that. If you take group photo of Microsoft employees with Bill Gates and show it to a villager in India, and ask who is who, what will he say? “Everyone is the same, everyone is okay.” He cannot detect the difference, because he doesn’t have any information. Similarly if you take pictures of so many gods and put Krishna in the middle and say they are all same, is that correct? No, there is a difference. And who knows the difference? Only one who has some idea about that field. To get spiritual knowledge you have to get into this field, and take the time and effort to understand deeply. We cannot afford to have a layman’s attitude in spirituality and still hope to understand all the answers clearly. Continue reading "Whom to Worship?
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April 9, 2016.
With the aim of keeping devotees informed about the progress of the TOVP literally right at their fingertips, the new free TOVP App gives everyone access to features such as news updates, links to the website, photos, YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, TOVP social wall, and even a donation link. Future links will include the up-and-coming TOVP online store.
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ISKCON-Delhi - Govinda Restaurant Inauguration : 30-04-2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna says that his devotee is never vanquished. Therefore all the disciples practicing Krishna consciousness should obediently follow the regulative principles and remain fixed in chanting the holy name of the Lord. Then there need be no fear. Otherwise, one’s position is very dangerous, especially in this Kali-yuga. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.1.58 Purport)
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ISKCON Auckland NZ: 40th-anniversary Ratha-yatra (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The process of chanting the holy name of the Lord is always superbly effective, but it is especially effective in this age of Kali. All the great authorities of bhakti-yoga recommend the devotional process beginning with the chanting of the holy name of Krishna (tan-nama-grahanadibhih). (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.1.21 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/GArudl
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By the blessings of all of you My ‘little boy’ now is a full-fledged Vaisnava Brahmin, a servant of the servants of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. I can’t ask for more.
Prahlad Nrsmha Das Adhikari: In my way to Sridham Mayapur for the graduation of Sri Paramahansa Goura from Gurukul, he has been since 6 years old under the guidance and care of Srila Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami and his dear disciples. Sri Goura presently is the Head Boy in the Gurukula, he is graduating as a student and becoming a teacher. He loves his service, so will remain as a full-time Brahmin and part of the Team. I am eternally in debt with Maharaj and his disciples for shaping the Spiritual life of Sri Goura his strength in sadhana and determination to serve the mission of Guru and Gouranga is an example for me and for many.
Please extend your blessings to this wonderful devotee!
The 2nd Vaisnava Film Awards Festival (4 of 4) (17 min video)
Seventeen golden Nityananda Awards were granted to recipients of special achievements and lifetime achievements, in an exciting 90 minutes ceremony, on the stage of Mayapur Festival’s main entertainments pandal. Ground-breaking new videos were shown, each before it’s respective producer/director was honored by this rare event’s formal recognition. No doubt this 2nd Award’s Festival is setting a trend that is likely to perdure and grow in popularity in ISKCON. So is the wish of organiser Nrsimhananda Das of Iskcon Television, who was assisted this year by Vasudeva Das, of BhakTV and VANDE (Vaisnava Arts For A New Devotional Era). The Awards Night was filmed by Subuddhi Ray Das, and edited with the original HD clips by Vasudeva Das.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/wEcfY8
Initiation Ceremony and Cultural Program at Radhadesh, Belgium (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One should be a devotee and surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna. This surrendering process is also very easy. Even a child can perform it. One must always simply think of Krishna by chanting Hare Krishna. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.226.37 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/VBV8iq
ISKCON Auckland NZ: 40th-anniversary boat festival (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This Krishna consciousness movement insists that everyone take to this path by adopting the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The preachers of Krishna consciousness go from door to door to inform people how they can be relieved from the miserable conditions of material life. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.14.39 Purport)
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ISKCON-Delhi - 7th Boat Festival : 30-04-2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A devotee always thinks of the Lord continuously. While chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, the words Krishna and Hare immediately remind him of all the Lord’s activities. Since his entire life is engaged n the service of the Lord, a devotee cannot forget the Lord at any time. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.1.6 Purport)
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May 1. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Swamiji Moves.
Now it was time to move the Swami into his new place. A few friends who were on hand accompanied the Swami over to the Bowery loft. Maybe they weren’t prepared to become his surrendered disciples, but contributing toward the first month’s rent and volunteering a few hours of work to help set up his place were exactly the kinds of things they could do very willingly.
At the loft, they all gathered up portions of the Swami’s belongings, and then they started out on foot up Bowery. It was like a safari, a caravan of half a dozen men loaded with Prabhupada’s things. Michael carried the heavy Roberts reel-to-reel, and even the swami carried two suitcases. They did everything so quickly that it wasn’t until they were well on their way and Mike’s arm began to ache that he realized, “Why didn’t we bring a car?”
It was the end of June, and a hazy summer sun poured its heat down into the Bowery jungle. Starting and stopping, the strange safari, stretching for over a block, slowly trekked along. Prabhupada struggled with his suitcases, past the seemingly unending row of restaurant supply shops and lamp stores between Grand, Broome, and Spring streets. Sometimes he paused and rested, setting his suitcases down. He was finally moving from the Bowery. His electrician friend on Seventy-second Street would have been relieved, although perhaps he would have disapproved of the Second Avenue address also. At least he was finished residing on Skid Row. He walked on, past the homeless men outside the Salvation Army shelter, past the open-door taverns, stopping at streetlights, standing alongside total strangers, keeping an eye on the progress of his procession of friends who struggled along behind him.
The Bowery artists and musicians saw him as “highly evolved.” They felt that the spirit was moving him and were eager to help him set up his own place so that he could do his valuable spiritual thing and spread it to others. He was depending on them for help, yet they knew he was “on a higher level”; he was his own protector, or as he said, God protected him.
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Swamiji Moves
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23.
“We are not the saviors, but we can give people the process by which they can save themselves. The process is to surrender to Krishna and engage in devotional service. That will relieve us from the suffering from our falsely trying to be God. It is subtle, but trying to help others can be another manifestation of that misconception. We are not the best friend—but we can be the best friend if we tell others that Krishna is their best friend. And then we can be peaceful.”
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By Lakshman das Srila Prabhupada often said, "Vrindavan is my residence, Bombay is my office, and Mayapur is where I worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Bombay (Mumbai) is where he incorporated the main branch of ISKCON and other branches in India are believed to be legally bound to it. Srila Prabhupada's Samadhi is located in Vrindavan besides the beautiful Krishna-Balaram temple he built. As the predecessor Acaryas envisioned, Srila Prabhupada built a wonderful temple at the flushing meadows of Navadvipa, Mayapur to worship Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the glorious presence of Radhakrishna at the birthplace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and later made it as the international headquarters of ISKCON. Srila Prabhupad spread the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya and with his blessings established 108 majestic Temples world-wide and circum-ambulated the world fourteen times praising the glories of Lord. Continue reading "The incorporation of ISKCON in New York
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By Sri Nandanandana dasa In this way, we can begin to understand that devotional service ultimately brings us to the level of being able to see Lord Krishna directly. It is by this method that numerous other saintly sages and yogis have come to be able to directly see the Lord. The point to remember is that the more spiritual we become, the more we can perceive that which is spiritual. The more purified our consciousness is, or the higher the vibrational level upon which our consciousness functions, the more we can see and enter into that higher level of existence or reality. It awakens our transcendental senses that exist within us. So the process of continued service to Krishna and His devotees will bring about the purification which will allow us to enter into Krishna’s domain, even within this very lifetime, if we are fortunate enough. Continue reading "The Secret of Bhakti-yoga
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