Planet ISKCON

A hip hop song by Gaura Klein to celebrate ISKCON 50th anniversary and Srila Prabhupada.

Stories can change your life. Stories define what we believe in and how we navigate life. This article really sums it up well. A video by Jay Shetty (Ghanashyam Das).

A video featuring an ISKCON monk in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Villa Vrindavana Experience (4 min video)
Villa Vrindavana lies on the rolling Tuscan hills of Chianti, in the district of San Casciano Val di Pesa, not far from Florence. The central building was built during the Renaissance and it is surrounded by a large Italian garden and by a park of mostly wooded land spreading out over about 90 acres. The villa was built in the sixteenth century as a residence for noble people. It was designed by the famous architects of that time. Some important personalities lived and stayed here, including Niccolò Machiavelli. After being passed from owner to owner several times, at the beginning of the nineteenth century the historic building became part of the heritage of the Fenzi family, who were important Florentine magnates. They renovated the building and enriched the garden with rare and exotic plants from around the world. During the World War II, the villa was the headquarters of the troops who were fighting in the area and it was also a scene for some clashes. After a long period of decline and neglect, in 1979 Villa Fenzi was taken over by ISKCON, which renamed it after the eternal abode of Krishna. Since then it has been called Villa Vrindavana. Villa Vrindavan Firenze Garden At the beginning Villa Vrindavana hosted a community structure with a mostly monastic vocation, but then the spread in society of the Hare Krishna movement made it open its doors to the public and its social activities. Today Villa Vrindavana is a spiritual place, a point of reference and a seat of worship for a growing number of people. Besides its magnificent Temple Room, Villa Vrindavana also offers large multipurpose rooms where conferences, seminars, courses, and workshops are run. Recently, a large part of the premises has been completely refurbished and today there are a dozen of rooms for guests attending courses and activities, or participating in spiritual retreats organised in the villa.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/9jrrxi

Devaki Devi Dasi: Our this year’s Convention at Rup Sanatan Smriti Tirtha was especially vibrant. Around 4500 practicing devotees assembled from all corners of Bangladesh to attend this transcendental Sravan Kirtan Mela, which began on the 17th of February and concluded on the 20th evening.

We welcomed HH Lokanath Maharaja, HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja, HH Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja, HG Nitai Priya Prabhu (the wonderful kirtaniya from Ghana), and HG Akincana Krsna Prabhu who is also becoming more and more known for his amazing kirtans, and his good wife. HH Jaya Pataka Maharaja was also expected to attend, but unfortunately he could not participate due to health reasons.

My inspiration to help arrange for such events is the purport of Madya 3, 203, where Srila Prabhupada expresses the following: “If one has the proper means and wealth, he should occasionally invite the devotees of Lord Caitanya who are engaged in preaching all over the world and hold a festival at home simply by distributing prasadam and talking about Krsna during the day and holding congregational chanting for at least three hours in the evening. This procedure must be adopted in all centers of the Krsna consciousness movement.”

We were spending three days swimming in an ocean of nectar, hearing wonderful seminars during the day, and chanting the holy name in the evenings. The devotees were so determined to absorb themselves in the transcendental atmosphere, that they did not even perceive the external inconveniences which were there due to hosting such a large crowd of devotees in very simple facilities. Nowhere else in the world are devotees so eager to hear and chant in the association of sadhus, that they joyfully accept even to most simple and austere conditions without complaining! This is their good fortune, which qualifies them to receive so much mercy…..

Every single morning Their Lordships Sri Sri Gaur Nitai, Radha Madana Mohan and Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra were so gorgeously dressed. The pujaris were endeavoring with devotion and must have been directly inspired by the Lord Himself, which transfered us to Goloka Vrindavan.

As usual I played the role of the hosting mother, overseeing the entire arrangement and welcoming all the devotees and respected sadhus, and trying my best to serve them and tend to their needs. The VIP prasadam was out of this world – such large and unique variety of dishes prepared with love and devotion, and offered to Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohan. The lunch consisted of around 35 to 40 preparations – simply incredible! And each and every dish was so extraordinary and unique in its taste and flavor. Here in Bangladesh we can understand what Srila Prabhupada meant when he said: “The Bengalis are the only ones who know how to eat…!”

The atmosphere was so light and jolly, and everybody was transported to a higher level of happiness.

We concluded the transcendental gathering celebrating Lord Nitayananda’s appearance, with the festivities of Nityananda Katha, abhishek accompanied by sweet kirtans lead by HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja, followed by a sumptious feast. And in the evening we lost ourselves in wonderful kirtan.

At the closing ceremony I offered a little gift to our sadhus in order to conclude the loving exchange. I had been pondering what we could offer to them: something practical, and something typical Bangladeshi. Of course, Bangladesh is famous for its good mrdangas, but such a gift would most likely be more of a burden than of any use. And HH Lokanath Maharaja laughingly agreed with this! Bangladesh is also known to have the best moskito nets. But again, also this idea was not so appealing. I opted for the third idea: Bangladesh is famous for having the best gamchas in the world! Long lasting due to the good quality, and nice colors and designs. So I offered to all our honorable guests a set of gamchas, and especially to HH Lokanath Maharaja and HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja I expressed the hope that every morning while taking bath they may remember us devotees in Bangladesh, and thus we would surely occupy a tiny little corner within their hearts, which will give us hope that they will visit us once again in the near future….! Needless to say, their hearts were charmed, and the assembled devotees were amused. HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja exclaimed to the full audience: “Devaki Mataji is the mother of Bangladesh….! And it’s so nice to have a mother, isn’t it…?!” In his closing words HH Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja stated: “Our Guru Maharaja has given us Diksa, and Devaki Mataji is making sure that our bhakti lata receives nourishment….” I couldn’t help but remembering the example of a family: the father is the official head of the family. But who runs the show? It’s the mother, who makes sure everyone is cared for…..

Our honorable guests also received a good quality woolen chadar which gave more weight to our humble gift, showing our gratitude for their uplifting and nourishing association.

On the 21st of February many of us took the journey overland to Mayapur…..

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Catherine Ghosh: For the first time ever, two women initiated into the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya published a popular book that emphasizes the bhakti tenets in two of the world’s most revered yoga texts: the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras.

Last month, Krishna Kanta Dasi (Catehrine Ghosh) and Braja Sevaki Dasi (Braja Sorensen) released Yoga in the Gita: Krishna and Patanjali—The Bhakti Dimension, with Golden Dragonfly Press. The book illuminates parallels between these two texts in a practical, philosophically rich and entertaining manner, while adhering to the interpretations given to the original Sanskrit texts by ancient yoga tradition itself.

Yoga and the Gita became an Amazon bestseller in its category in the first week! The bookemerged from a series of online articles that Krishna Kanta and Braja Sevaki published in a blog of the same name that they started in 2012 under the prompting of Bob Weisenberg, former yoga editor of Elephant Journal; a popular online magazine. The Yoga in the Gita blog generated hundreds of thousands of views due to a grateful readership of primarily yoga teachers, yoga practitioners, bhaktas and bhaktins. It was due to the repeated requests of the blog’s fans that the book was eventually born.

While yoga studios around the world require that their teachers-in-training study the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras before becoming officially certified yoga teachers, they often resort to translations of these texts that obscure the valuable bhakti yoga insights originally found in these texts.

Seeking to fill this gap in yoga circles, Krishna Kanta and Braja Sevaki drew from two essential gaudiya translations in their work: Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami and Bhagavad Gita: The Beloved Lord’s Secret Love Song, by Graham M. Schweig, also known as Garuda Das, whose work on bhakti theology was authorized by his guru, A. C Bhaktivedanta Swami.

Yoga in the Gita is written in a casual, refreshing style, and designed to broaden the reader’s definition of yoga to incorporate everything from one’s relationship with oneself, with one’s body, and with others, to the relationship one has with the environment and, most essentially, to the Divine: Sri Krishna. In fact, the chapters are delightfully linked by this thread of nourishing our love for Krishna in everything we do.

Krishna Kanta’s and Braja Sevaki’s book accomplishes this with modern and often humorous approaches to self-development, while offering inspirations for living a yogic lifestyle in the 21^st century. Divided into three sections, the book makes for a pleasant read: The first is dedicated to the ten definitions of yoga that Krishna gives in the Bhagavad Gita. The second section, Foundations of Yoga, offers an innovative treatment of the yamas and niyamas. The third and last section, Entering an Internal Practice, covers the last six limbs in Patanjali’s astanga yoga system.

In a today’s world where the physical aspect of yoga is over emphasized, Yoga in the Gita promises to elevate the readers’ understanding of yoga as so much more than just body postures and exercises. It is a refreshing and unique look at what yoga is from a bhakti perspective, and how it touches all of us, in so many aspects of our lives.

For a peek into Yoga in the Gita, we invite you visit the Yoga in the Gita Facebook page, and watch the book’s trailer at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mTeJZWzWS8

LIVING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE AND OUR SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITY: Living spiritual practice means that we experience how Krishna consciousness works in our personal lives. It means knowing what we’re inspired by, and that we’re able to both determine and admit where we fall short—otherwise, how can we be helped? Then we have to believe, or pray to develop the faith, that we can change for the better—because we aren’t our past or poor opinion of ourselves—and are valuable and lovable as souls—spiritual positive self-esteem.

Knowing that we need help and encouragement, and being willing to ask—and pray—for it, is a big step in a successful and joyful life. As it is commonly said, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” We need to gradually take 100 % responsibility for our lives and yet be open to Krishna’s guidance and see the results of our endeavors as feedback. We both endeavor and pray. We act as if everything depends on us, while knowing that everything depends on the Lord’s mercy.

Our spiritual responsibility is to act with, or pray to act with, faith, devotion, determination, and confidence without attachment to the results, which we know come from Krishna. Practice with prayer makes perfect. Whatever results come we see as, and offer to, Krishna—if we do so we obtain, in Krishna’s words, “unadulterated peace” [BG 5.12]. “In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.” [BG 18.57]

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On Thursday, April 14th, in conjunction with the auspicious appearance day of Lord Ramachandra, the new U.S. TOVP office celebrated its Grand Opening in Gainesville, Florida. The new office is located in a house donated exclusively for TOVP use by Ambarisa prabhu and will serve as the communications and fundraising headquarters. The celebration also coincides with the formation of the new U.S. non-profit, TOVP Foundation Inc., whose Chairman is Sesa das, also the newly appointed Chairman of the GBC.

The function was attended by several local senior devotees including Sesa das, Alachua Temple President, Mukhya devi dasi, Kirtiraja das, Ramanya das, and several others, along with Ambarisa and Svaha prabhus and TOVP Director of Development and Fundraising, Vraja Vilas das, who came all the way from Mayapur to help organize the opening of the new office.

The Grand Opening schedule included kirtan and greeting of devotees, Sankalpa and Rakshabandhan, a full fire yajna, Purnahuti, coconut breaking, official ribbon cutting and prasadam. These auspicious yajnas were performed for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, the previous acharyas and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to invoke their blessings and mercy for the successful execution of the TOVP seva not only in the U.S. but all over the world.

It is imperative that within the next several years all ISKCON devotees focus on this project and make it their personal sankalpa to see that the TOVP Grand Opening scheduled for Gaur Purnima 2022 is achieved. For such an important and historic endeavor as this we will individually and collectively be benefited, and will also witness the remarkable effects the TOVP will have on the peoples of the entire world.

“If you build this temple Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur will personally come and take you back to Godhead” – Srila Prabhupada

“This temple is already built. If you don’t do the work someone else will come and take the credit. So you do it and get the credit” – Srila Prabhupada

Please view the video and photos of the event included with this article. For further information about donating in the U.S. or to re-start your previously made pledge go to:

Donate

April 21. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada Liked to Take Walks.
Prabhupada liked to take walks. From his doorstep at 94 Bowery he would see directly across the street the Fulton Hotel, a five-storey flophouse. Surrounding him were other lower Manhattan lodging houses whose tenants wandered the sidewalks from early morning until dark. An occasional flock of pigeons would stir and fly from one rooftop to the next, or descend to the street. Traffic was heavy. The Bowery was part of a truck route to and from Brooklyn by way of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.
The Bowery sloped gently downhill toward the north. Prabhupada could see signboards, a few scraggly Manhattan trees, and streetlights and traffic signals as far up as Fourth Street. He could see Con Edison with its prominent clock tower, and (if there were no clouds) the top of the Empire State Building on Thirty-fourth Street.
He would walk alone in the morning through the Bowery neighborhood. The month of May that year saw more frequent rains than was normal, and Prabhupada carried an umbrella. Sometimes he walked in the rain. He was not always alone; sometimes he walked with one of his new friends and talked. Sometimes he shopped. Bitter melon, dal, hing, chickpea flour and other specialty foods common in Indian vegetarian cuisine were available in Chinatown’s nearby markets. On leaving the loft, he would walk south a few steps to the corner of Bowery and Hester Street. Turning right on Hester, he would immediately be in Chinatown where the shops, markets, and even the Manhattan Savings Bank were identified by signs lettered in Chinese. Sometimes he would walk one block further south to Canal Street with its Central Asian Food Market and many other streetside fruit and vegetable markets. In the early morning the sidewalks were almost deserted, but as the shops began to open for business the streets became crowded with local workers, shopkeepers, tourists and aimless derelicts. The winding streets of Chinatown were lined with hundreds of small stores. Parked cars lined both sides of the street.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=7

 

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April 22 – May 21 The celebration of Kumbh Mela takes place at the four sacred places as per the position of Sun and Jupiter in different zodiac signs. Poorna Kumbh is held at Ujjain once in every 12 years when the zodiac sign Scorpio (Vrishchik Rashi) indicates the presence of Jupiter and Sun. Ujjain is located […]

The post ISKCON Kumbha Mela Ujjain 2016 appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

Prabhupada Liked to Take Walks

This analysis by Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, supporting the statements of Śrī Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, depicts the position of the present so-called Hindu religion, which, being predominantly conducted by the Māyāvāda philosophy, has become a hodgepodge institution of various concocted ideas. Māyāvādīs greatly fear the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and accuse it of spoiling the Hindu religion because it accepts people from all parts of the world and all religious sects and scientifically engages them in the daiva-varṇāśrama-dharma. As we have explained several times, however, we find no such word as “Hindu” in the Vedic literature. The word most probably came from Afghanistan, a predominantly Muslim country, and originally referred to a pass in Afghanistan known as Hindukush, which is still a part of a trade route between India and various Muslim countries.

- CC Adi Lila 12.73 Purport by Srila Prabhupada

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 September 2013, Johannesburg, South Africa, Home Program)

If we do not have any trust in devotees to guide us, inevitably we will do our own thing. But then how will we proceed? That is why there is a structure. It is not that the guru-disciple relationship is left up to us as individuals; there is an etiquette. So that etiquette tells us certain things which must be done and that sort of limits our independence. So when we do not trust then the etiquette will make up for it.

If we cannot serve with love and trust then at least, we have to serve with more reverence, which is part of respect and that is part of the etiquette. But eventually, we become indebted because our spiritual master will make arrangements for us to improve our life and bring us to increase our Krsna consciousness. When that happens then we become indebted. So then gradually, this etiquette changes into trust.

Lord Balarama enjoyed His springtime rasa dance with His cowherd girlfriends. Also, at this time, it is the anniversary of Sri Krishna Vasanta Rasa, the Lord’s springtime rasa lila pastime. Sri Krishna Vasanta rasa takes place on Vaisakha purnima, which is also the time Balarama performs His springtime rasa dance with the gopis.

“In order to keep the gopis in Vrndavana satisfied, Lord Balarama stayed there continually for two months, namely the months of Caitra and Vaisakha. For those two months he kept himself among the gopis and he passed every night with them in the forest of Vrndavana in order to satisfy their desire for conjugal love. Thus Balarama also enjoyed the rasa dance with the gopis during those two months.” (Krsna Book II p.78)

By New Vrindaban Communications and Devotee Care Team

Caregiving is an integral part of family life and often has the spouse or parent putting his or her needs on the back burner. Many New Vrindaban devotees have played the role of caregivers and have never been recognized for all their efforts.

We would like to acknowledge these devotees, beginning with Mother Vidya, who was Madhava Gosh Prabhu’s caregiver for over ten years while he was in various stages of disease and deterioration. To care for someone over such a long period of time takes great patience and strength of character.

Mother Vidya has also quietly played a role of keeping in touch with devotees who have left New Vrindaban. This has all been done without compensation or acknowledgment. This shows a true caregivers heart of generosity.

Triyadisha devi also spent the last few years giving care to Vidura Prabhu, while his body slowly dwindled away. She was an ever-faithful companion who never crossed him, though it was sometimes challenging to watch him suffer in silence. At the very end, though not tech savvy, she managed to turn on Srila Prabhupada’s voice, and supported her husband to his very last breath being an example of true servitorship.

Another stalwart in caregiving, Manasa Ganga devi actually had a job caring for the disabled and handicapped over 15 years ago. Around the same time, she also cared for Mother Adhara devi, New Vrindaban’s head seamstress, who had a form of dementia – where she forgot everything except Krsna. To this day, Manasa Ganga is still actively and considerately supporting devotees, listening to their concerns and calming their anxieties.

Advaitacarya Prabhu and his wife Madri devi cared for Maha Yoga, who was institutionalized most of his life. Advaita and Madri took it upon themselves to visit Maha Yoga in Pittsburgh, provide special prasadam, and listen to him talk about Krsna until he recently left his body. They considered it their honor and privilege to have his association.

Lalita Gopi devi is a caregiver who goes above and beyond the call of duty. For over ten years she has assisted Pradyumna Prabhu and Rukmavati devi in caring for their children. She has also cooked for Jaya Murari Prabhu and Varsana Maharaja for years until her other duties consumed her time. Recently, as apartment manager, she put her heart and soul into cleaning up all around the apartments for the pleasure of the devotees. Her over-the-top determination shows a heart of compassion.

Other caregivers include, Lila Suka devi, who is always trying to help others. She has spent many hours assisting Lila, along with Jayasri devi and Gopa, by providing meals and transportation. Gopa has spent many hours sitting and listening to Lila. Behind the scenes these devotees offer their time and energy in caring for others.

Over the years, Patrick and Dharmakala devi have served Jaya Murari Prabhu by doing laundry, delivering meals, giving rides to town and calling or visiting him on a regular basis. These kinds of services give a shut-in devotee the sense that they are valuable gems.

Along with the disciples of Varsana Maharaj, Madri devi, Gaura Shakti’s wife, has continually been a support by organizing meals and cooking for Maharaja. Many other devotees have provided a large variety of services to assure proper health care and healing for Maharaj.

Although the majority of caregivers have been women, Gopisha Prabhu has offered heating pads and special oils to help the soar muscles, of many an ailing devotee. He was also a support for both Madhava Gosh and Vidya, especially in the last few years.

Jasoda Gokularani devi has come from Los Angeles offering caregiving to Sikhi Mahiti, Madhava Gosh and Triyadisha. Her experience in this field has proved very helpful in giving proper and respectful care to devotees.

More recently in late January of this year, Sacimata underwent a hip replacement surgery. While at home recuperating, she had a stark realization of what it feels like to be bedridden. In this mood, she researched various support systems in town and worked to connect devotees to the Senior Center as well as requesting Das and Vrsni from Pittsburgh to install a Lifeline for Mother Sikhi Mahiti. Her aim was to help alleviate the various concerns experienced by devotees living alone and needing extra care.

Sacimata thus was inspired to initiate a new Extended Devotee Care Program in order to facilitate the needs of devotees in New Vrindaban. She and her daughter, Nityananda dasi, will be available by telephone and can assist devotees in receiving their proper care. Sacimata hopes that other community members will also be inspired to care for one another. You can reach Sacimata or Nityananda dasi at their home number, 304-845-1199.

There are many other New Vrindaban devotees who have been involved in giving care. If we wrote the whole list, it would probably include almost every devotee. Most of these community members have helped out of the kindness of their hearts. We cannot thank them enough.

Over the last two years there has been a real shift in the community’s perspective on devotee care, both individually and collectively. The Prabhupada’s House, used as the New Vrindaban Wellness Center, has been refurbished and is now designed to provide proactive and preventative health care and educational programs. This past weekend world famous caregivers Ekavira prabhu and Vraja Lila devi initiated new beginnings by conducting a japa workshop at the Wellness Center for the spiritual well being of all attendees.

Devotee care is also one of the four main areas of focus for the newly formed Village Association. There is a lot of excitement and energy to bring forth new relationships and to create a truly loving, caring family community.

We are ever grateful to Srila Prabhupada who showed by his example the need to compassionately care for the devotees by being das das anudas.

A Devotional Model for Health & Financial Self-Sufficiency

Part I:

Healthy Devotees, Happy Devotees

AUSADHAM – “I am the healing herb”

Free healthcare program by using Krishna’s natural remedies.

Krishna’s Medicine – Self-Healthcare for devotees

Our greatest assets – devotees

Our health has a crucial influence on a quality of our daily life and efficiency in our devotional service. The reality however is that devotees are often deprived of a proper and consistent healthcare due to either lack of resources or proper knowledge, or simply the cost is beyond their means.

How can we on the practical note take care of devotees’ need for a proper healthcare? Are there any preventive measures devotees can practice daily in the comforts of our homes? How can we provide devotees with affordable or even better, a free healthcare program?

Jayapataka Swami beautifully summarized during the ISKCON Leadership Sanga held in Mayapur in 2014: “ISKCON needs to be a caring organization that provides a family atmosphere based on love and trust, just as Srila Prabhupada instructed. The GBC Devotee Care Committee wants to provide the spiritual, mental, emotional, social, and physical care each ISKCON member deserves as a part and parcel of Lord Krishna.

“How can leaders carry this forward on a personal and institutional level? How can we create devotees who are encouraged, inspired, happy, and empowered to make spiritual advancement and expand Srila Prabhupada’s mission? How can we extend that care so devotees can remain committed to their spiritual lives? The Devotee Care Committee defines success in this regard as the creation and maintenance of a strong, happy, and loving Vaishnava community and a society that recognizes that the devotees themselves are its real assets.”

Krishna – the source of ultimate remedy

Srila Prabhupada’s desire was that our ISKCON society becomes self-sufficient as he has mentioned: “The first necessity is that you should be self-sufficient. That is God’s arrangement.” [Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk, Mauritius, Oct.2 1975 ]

Self-sufficiency refers to all aspects of our lives, including healthcare. Rising costs of doctor’s visits and medications unable many devotees to properly care for themselves and their loved ones. At the same time we have become very dependent in our healthcare on modern, synthetic, often too fast, too much, and with many side effects solutions instead of relying more on cures that are in tune with our body building blocks and organic nature.

In the USA, the current condition of public healthcare has led many to seek alternatives. Economic hardships as well as a massive rise in costs for medical treatments have driven many persons, especially families with young children, to seek more cost-effective ways to meet their healthcare needs. This tendency has steadily grown for many years, shown by a report that there have been more visits to alternative healthcare providers than to conventional medical practitioners every year since 1991 (source)

In that scenario, what would be that ultimate remedy for devotees?

Lord Krishna has mentioned in Bhagavad-gita 9.16, “svadhāham aham ausadham” – “I am the healing herb.”

As we know in the past the remedies derived from fresh herbs were sufficient in themselves for treating maladies and improving one’s health. However, due to environmental degradation, soil depletion, and many similar factors, it is necessary to extract the healing potency from thousands of herbs to experience the same remedial force they were originally instilled with.

Essential oils are nothing else like aromatic compounds carefully extracted from the healing plants and herbs. Thus they are 50-70 times more powerful than dry herbs. Being pure extract, the essential oils have incredible power to heal, invigorate, and revive the body and mind; an experience easily available to those who try them. Through careful extraction processes the aromatic compounds of dozens of seeds, barks, roots, flowers, and herbs are harnessed into powerful elixirs for healing the body and mind.

Essential oils have a remarkable symbiotic relationship with the human body and brain. Being organic substances, essential oils are readily assimilated and metabolized by the body much like food nutrients. Rather than causing the disturbances that many foreign substances inflict on the body, essential oils have shown to have powerful healing effects both in contemporary studies and ancient history (provide source). Evidence shows that essential oils have been used as far back as 2,500 BCE, with references to their use both in the Abrahamic texts and the Vedic literature (see Krishna’s entering Dwaraka). In bygone ages the medicinal, therapeutic and spiritual applications for essential oils such as Frankincense, Myrrh, and Sandalwood were well-known. With the reevaluation of modern medicine has come a booming interest in holistic approaches to healthcare and a rediscovery of the profound effects of essential oils.

Essential oils are revolutionizing millions of people’s approach to healthcare, especially in the West. Families and the average individual are not the only ones taking advantage of this shift but also a growing number of allopathic medical practitioners and researchers. To date over 30,000 scientific articles in some of the world’s top medical journals have been published. (source) As the research mounts, more within the medical profession are implementing essential oils into their hospitals and clinics.

In this way the essential oils are used for a wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. They can be used as single oil at a time or in complex blends. They are comforting and soothing to children and loved ones. They can be applied directly to the skin, inhaled, diffused into the air, and taken internally. They are effective without dangerous side effects and the risk of addiction.

The Ausadham Team

The Ausadham team was established to help every devotee to discover or rather rediscover Krishna’s natural remedies: herbs, in an easy to use form of essential oils.

The rediscovery of these organic healing techniques will provide an alternative to the controversial allopathic model of medicine, thus bringing holistic approaches to wellness into every home. A proliferation of sustainable models of health care, based on what Krishna created for us, will not only impact our bodily vitality but will also provide an opportunity for users to turn their attention back to the real source of healing – the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada once commented in a newspaper interview, “…physical life, so you must keep yourself fit to execute Krishna consciousness. It is not our desire that you become sick and you cannot chant… our purpose is to chant and we require the physical necessities just to keep ourselves fit…” [New York, July 4, 1976]

By promoting a safe and effective self-care alternative we are helping others not only achieve relief of symptoms but achieve long-term management of health problems.

There are many essential oils available on a market today. Most of them however are synthetic. Those which are pure are still not made equal. The goal of AUSADHAM team is to provide devotees with the access to the highest quality and the purest essential oils available on the market today. These oils are sourced from plants grown and harvested in their natural habitat. Srila Prabhupada often repeated this well-known maxim: “purity is the power.” The state of the art testing procedures made it possible to maintain the unadulterated, original nature of essential oils, and thus guarantee their quality, safety, and efficacy. With great excitement and enthusiasm we are ready to share these superior quality essential oils with others.

Having been blessed by great sadhus and senior Vaishnavas who use these essential oils with great satisfaction, the Ausadham team would like to encourage all devotees to take advantage of them and improve their health.

The goal of Ausadham team is not only to facilitate a medicinal revolution but also to provide an excellent model for individuals in supplementing or replacing their income, contributing even more to devotees’ self-sufficiency. Thus born out of the Ausadham team is the department called Varna Prosperity Network. This initiative is meant to provide the perfect home-based, sattvic business opportunity to all in need. Simple economics shows the potential – the products we promote are highly in demand, they are affordable, and they are incredibly effective. Sharing them is simple, exciting, and rewarding.

The mission of Varna prosperity Network is described in details in the second part of this article.

In conclusion our desire is to see every devotee happy, healthy, and prosperous. Thus we invite you and encourage you to join the Ausadham team. We offer educational seminars, mentoring, and private consultations. For more information, please contact us directly at:

Our contact info is:

Krishnamayi & Surapala

(702) 324-7882

surapala@pamho.net

We hope that by facilitating devotees and offering them this wonderful opportunity we will contribute to 50 anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON institution and celebrate significant improvement on social issues within our society for Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure and benefit of all ISKCON devotees.

We are looking forward for your blessings that our mission becomes successful.

Your valuable feedback that can improve our performance is very much appreciated.

A Devotional Model for Health & Financial Self-Sufficiency

By Surapala dasa

Part II: Varna Prosperity Network – Financial Self-Sufficiency in ISKCON

The need for a change

Since 1980 I have been a member of our continually growing ISKCON family. In these few decades I have experienced difficult moments and joyful years alike. There have been times when I have been warned by other devotees for my own protection and times when I have received a helping hand while in need. In our Krishna conscious society, we alert each other about situations which may cause harm and we are also enthusiastic to share what may benefit us all. As members of ISKCON, it is our duty to help each other in a mood of love and trust. In this spirit I am writing this article about an amazing opportunity which I am considering to be Krishna’s causeless mercy – a gift which is my duty to share.

As a householder myself I have seen ISKCON shift from a residential model with most devotees living in the temples, to where we are now. Some estimates by senior devotees claim that 95% of our society now lives congregationally. Observing this change one must consider the necessity to introduce various aspects of the varnasrama project for the proper function and future prosperity of our society. Now is the time to carefully invest our energies in beneficial change, thus securing that our philosophy remains not only a part of our life but our way of life.

Bhakti yoga is the art of using whatever is available in loving devotional service to Krishna, the Supreme Source. As Srila Prabhupada said, “Our mission is to dovetail everything in the service of Krishna because everything belongs to Krishna.”[Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Gargamuni, Los Angeles, Nov. 22, 1968]

As the science of Krishna consciousness becomes more integrated in our lifestyle, the more our capacity for engagement in Krishna’s service increases. Our occupation, relationships, and assets all become tools for serving Lord Krishna’s interests. Of course, He is supplying us all the necessities for a peaceful and prosperous life. Knowing Krishna to be the ultimate proprietor, we can express our gratitude to Him by utilizing everything in our capacity in His service. As we practice the art of dovetailing everything for Krishna’s service, we are more able to taste the internal peace and joy which comes from sacrificing for His pleasure.

Srila Prabhupada on Wealth: Degradation or Elevation?

Is it a qualification of a devotee to be poor, always battling anxiety about finances?

“Material opulence can be the cause of degradation and also the cause of elevation, according to the purposes for which it is used. If opulence is used for sense gratification it is the cause of degradation, and if used for the service of the Lord it is the cause of elevation.” [Krishna Book Ch.82]

Srila Prabhupada also mentioned, “When a common man becomes opulent, he forgets God; but the more opulent a devotee becomes by the grace of the Lord, the more he becomes attached to the service of the Lord.”[CC.Ad.13.79]

“The only difference is that in materialism one works for sense gratification. The same work, however, can be performed for the satisfaction of Krishna, and that is spiritual activity. If one has sufficient money, he can help in building an office or temple for propagating Krishna consciousness. Or he can help with publications. There are various fields of activity, and one should be interested in such activities. If one cannot sacrifice the results of his activities, the same person can still sacrifice some percentage to propagate Krishna consciousness. This voluntary service to the cause of Krishna consciousness will help one to rise to a higher state of love for God, whereupon one becomes perfect.” [Bg.12.10]

It’s apparent from these quotes that improving personal finances can benefit a devotee by allowing him to sponsor different ISKCON preaching projects or contribute to spiritual initiatives like daiva varnasrama or devotees social welfare, all with ease and free from anxiety.

“Social structure – as originally designed by the Supreme Lord – is meant to provide material welfare and spiritual progress for all members of society. It is this original social structure, varnasrama dharma, sometimes known as daiva varnasrama, which Srila Prabhupada wanted his followers to establish for the benefit of people all over the world.” [“Speaking about Varnasrama” Vol.1]

Varna Prosperity Network – Financial Self-Sufficiency in ISKCON

Today there are many projects in ISKCON which require more financial support, even though an amazing amount of fundraising is in place every day. What if ISKCON devotees united as one in Srila Prabhupada’s family work together? Could we imagine developing an economic network meant to bring prosperity to all members of our society in a Krishna conscious environment – all the while supporting various projects and spreading Krishna’s glories? Is it possible to envision a model where families have enough funds to maintain themselves and offer what is extra to support Lord Caitanya’s mission, even fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s desire to adhere to the dadati principle?

“Whatever one’s income, fifty percent should be spent on behalf of Krishna and His devotees, and this will fulfill the demands of dadäti.” [NI 4]

With the growth of our movement around the world, there is no question of Srila Prahupada’s statement,“We require millions of dollars for developing…” [Srila Prabhupada’s conversation with devotees, New Vrindavan, June 9, 1969] An endless supply of ideas for pleasing Lord Caitanya are manifesting in hundreds of countries, but how to finance all of them? How to help our family households peacefully maintain themselves at the same time?

As ISKCON devotees, the leaders of the Ausadham team are fortunate to have the opportunity to help develop a social-welfare network which can supply natural healthcare and financial stability for devotees. As is the culture among devotees, we want to help each other. Srila Prabhupada once wrote to a disciple, “Now, when we live together, somebody may fall ill. Now, find some future main source of income for our institution…” [SP letter to Brahmananda, San Francisco, Mar. 23, 1969]

Thus born out of the Ausadham team is the department called Varna Prosperity Network (VPN) providing an excellent model for individuals in supplementing or replacing their income. This VPN initiative is meant to provide the perfect home-based, sattvic business opportunity to all in need. Simple economics shows the potential – the products we promote are highly in demand, they are affordable, and they are incredibly effective. Sharing them is simple, exciting, and rewarding.

As members of Srila Prabhupada’s international family, there is no one else who deserves a support system like this than devotees. Srila Prabhupada has given the world the most sublime opportunity – to assist him in the mission of spreading Lord Krishna’s glories. By helping all conditioned souls come back to their original, constitutional positions as eternal servants of God we have a chance to really bring bliss to the world. Those great souls who are contributing to this mission should be provided with only the best. This is the mission of Varna Prosperity Network.

Another aspect of Krishna conscious opportunity involved in this business is outreach. Members of the Ausadham have established a Natural Healing Department in their suburban preaching center; a department which is gaining popularity. Many new people are attracted by educational workshops offered and by developing friendly relationships with such people they quickly become interested in the other activities of the center. Although a young department at the center, the success of attracting several new devotees through this venue is incredibly exciting.

As a concluding message the team would like to ask all devotees who have ever considered using natural medicine, have a passion to share Krishna consciousness with others, and would be interested in supplementing or replacing their income – we offer you an opportunity to change your life and others!

The success of all members and the greater mission of Srila Prabhupada’s movement is the top priority. By enthusiastically providing support, mentoring and tools for growth, Ausadham team will help each devotee achieve their goals. Thus in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON, together we can make a humble offering to educate, facilitate, and push forward the improvement of our society for Lord Krishna’s satisfaction.

For more information on free educational seminars offered on natural medicine, financial self-sufficiency, and more please contact us. We are more than happy to answer questions about any of the above topics.

Our contact info is:

Krishnamayi & Surapala

(702) 324-7882

surapala@pamho.net

Harinam in the Land of rising Sun, Osaka, Japan (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: O Hari-nama! The tips of the toes of Your lotus feet are constantly being worshiped by the glowing radiance emanating from the string of gems know as the Upanisads, the crown jewels of all the Vedas. You are eternally adored by liberated souls such as Narada and Sukadeva. On Hari-nama! I take complete shelter of You. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 4.71 Purport)
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Talk at Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai
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A Visit To Qufu - The Hometown Of Confucius (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The other day we took a 3-hour ‘Bullet Train’ to Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, the famous Chinese philosopher and teacher. We stayed at the Confucius Institute, a small university where students study and practice the teachings of Confucius. During two days we gave a seminar comparing Vedic teachings with those of Confucius. At the end of each class we held a rousing kirtan with the students in which they would dance in great ecstasy. Our team also did kirtan in a nearby village where the local people spontaneously joined us in chanting and dancing.The holy names are all attractive and continue to flood the Land of the Great Red Dragon!
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Hindu: The Most Misinterpreted Term.
It’s possible that the colonial British people would have, either mistakenly or with some intention, grossly brought the vast majority of the non-Christian and non-Muslim natives under one umbrella – the Hindus – thus, converting a national unifying enthno-geographic identity of the Indians to a communal one.
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By Matsyavatara Dasa

The biblical tradition tells about angels and demons existing before the world, before the creation of man. These two sets of archetypes (the archetype of light represented by the angels headed by Michael, and the archetype of darkness represented by the demons headed by Lucifer) come in direct conflict and immediately engage in a cosmic war between the forces of good and the forces of evil. The Bible explains that Lucifer (literally his name means “the bearer of light”) was originally created by God as the most glorious of angels: he was a protecting cherub and God awarded him with goods and beauty. But Lucifer proudly aspired to become similar to God, and the pride and corruption of his heart led him to his fall as Satan, a Hebrew term meaning “the opponent”. Once humans are created, the furious battles between the titanic forces which represent the good and the titanic forces which represent the evil, is already running. As the myth reports, these two different energetic fields have their cosmic value and have always been present in the human psyche. Let’s translate in modern psychological terms the ancient language of myth and its symbols: angels are the luminous archetypes of the good and demons the dark archetypes of the evil, but both represent functions of the personality. Continue reading "Forces of light and forces of darkness in the Bible and the Vedas
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Prabhupada Ghat To Accommodate Millions Of Pilgrims In Pandharpur Dhama.
An offering to Srila Prabhupada for ISKCON Jubilee.
ISKCON Pandharpur, under the leadership of Lokanath Swami, took the initiative of constructing a ghat on the eastern bank of the Chandrabhaga, right down the temple property.
Srila Prabhupada Ghat is situated on the Eastern bank of river Chandrabhaga. The ghat under development is 270 mtrs long & 90 mtrs wide. The different salient features of the Ghat are as follows Chandrabhaga Mandir Interaction Space for Bhajan & Kirtan Deepmal Toran (Arch ways) Tree Plantation & Landscaping Stage Pavilion Utility Rooms
Read more: http://www.pandharpurdham.org/index.php

Advaita – The Partial Truth.
Rsiraja Das: Many people who look at Vedic philosophy in current times, understand it as Advaita, which is an interpretation of Vedanta, that claims that the ultimately reality is a singular, unified existence called Brahman, from which the world is produced, and the world is māyā or illusion. The Brahman is equated with consciousness, although how consciousness comes under illusion is a contentious issue since the time of Śaṅkarācārya who first propounded Advaita but did not provide a clear explanation of the fall into illusion. Subsequent interpretations of Vedanta have tried to address these problems, but the Advaita philosophers blithely ignore them. This post discusses the problems in Advaita, how they have been addressed by subsequent interpretations of Vedanta and what these interpretations mean for the understanding of Vedanta itself. Finally, the post discusses how a proper understanding of Vedanta changes the nature of science.
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By Govinda dasa

Parasurama Prabhu, who runs the Food For All centre in London, grew up in Ireland at a time when it was considered very strange to be anything other than a Catholic. In fact, he never met anyone from a different religion until he was eighteen, when he met a protestant.

The story of how he joined the Hare Krishnas is interesting. In 1983, when he was eighteen, he seriously prayed to the Virgin Mary to reveal to him the absolute truth. Being a lay missionary for many years, he repeated a verse from the Bible:

“Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will [rescue me and] set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]? ” Romans 7:24

While praying this way, something extraordinary happened; the statue of the Virgin Mary lit up the room with her effulgence. Parasurama felt both shock and hope at that moment.

The next day while walking down Grafton Street in Dublin, he received a copy of Chant and be Happy from a devotee. He knew there was a connection, it was the answer to his prayer.

Parasurama: “One funny thing happened at the time. I was looking for the absolute truth but when it came I felt like it was too difficult to join the Hare Krishnas. It was on the same level as joining the SAS (Special Air Service), a very extreme lifestyle. So after a few days in the Dublin temple I returned to my home town, Newbridge. Everything was pale and pointless. I knew I had to do it, but I said to myself out loud, “Why do I have to do it, why can’t this idiot do it!”, and pointed to a random guy on the street. I then moved to a farm community and low and behold that same guy I had pointed to entered the temple with a shaved head, and said Haribol to me!”

Two years later Parasurama’s sister, Mahamantra dasi, joined the Hare Krishnas aswell. As they came from a family of pious Catholics there was resistance from relatives, and so it was a difficult time for their mother. One of her relatives told her that her children were going to hell and that she was going to hell too for not guiding her children properly. She prayed to the Virgin Mary for a sign to assure her that Parasurama and Mahamantra were doing the right thing.

Shortly thereafter, a stranger came up to Parasurama’s mother in the street and started talking to her. She explained that while she had been praying she had received a message from the Virgin Mary. The message was for Parasurama’s mother. It was, “Don’t worry, I am looking after your son and daughter.”

So that is the story of how the Virgin Mary arranged for Parasurama to become devotee.

“Regarding the Christian’s Trinity, I believe it is called God, the Holy Ghost, and the son. Person in Krishna Consciousness accepts this by the name Visnu, Paramatma, and Jiva. God is a Person, the holy spirit or the supersoul is a person, and the living entity is also a person. Also, Mary is the representation of the energy of God. Either as internal energy Radharani or as external energy Durga, the energy of Godhead can be considered the mother of the living entities. ” (Prabhupada letter to Sivananda, 19th April, 1968)

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