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The post Should devotees who like each other but have incompatible horoscopes get married? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/2qZRdy

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.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/fCCS2D

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The post ​Are gurukulas the best way for education for devotees’ children? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/q7D9Nn

The post Wonderful anecdotes of inspiration appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

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)

The post Daily Darshan: April 20th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The power of Prasadam!
Kishori devi dasi: Prasadam means Krishna’s mercy, and is the remnants of something that has been prepared for the pleasure of Krishna with love and offered to Him for His enjoyment.
Because Krishna has tasted it or enjoyed it, prasadam is not a material thing - it becomes transcendental. Krishna and Krishna prasadam are non-different.
That means one can get the same benefits by honoring Krishna prasadam as one could get by being personally present with Krishna face- to-face.
Prasadam is so powerful and so wonderful. Srila Prabhupada called prasadam ‘the secret weapon’ and ISKCON is renowned for being a 'kitchen religion’ because prasadam is one of the main ways of linking with devotional service.
There is something wonderful about prasadam which is illustrated by this experience of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, related in the CC, Antya 16.108:115 Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said,
“These ingredients, such as sugar, camphor, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, butter, spices and licorice, are all material. Everyone has tasted these material substances before. However, in these ingredients there are extraordinary tastes and uncommon fragrances. Just taste them and see the difference in the experience. Apart from the taste, even the fragrance pleases the mind and makes one forget any other sweetness besides its own. "Therefore, it is to be understood that the spiritual nectar of Krishna’s lips has touched these ordinary ingredients and transferred to them all their spiritual qualities. A fragrance and taste that are uncommon and greatly enchanting and that make one forget all other experiences are attributes of Krishna’s lips. This prasadam has been made available only as a result of many pious activities. Now taste it with great faith and devotion.”
Loudly chanting the holy name of Hari, all of them tasted the prasadam. As they tasted it, their minds became mad in the ecstasy of love.“

Kamada Ekadashi, 17th April 2016, big gathering of devotees in Mayapur. (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: “I have brought medicine to awaken every living being from perpetual sleep. Please receive the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and awaken. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.13.9 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/bVnOMH

TOVP update (Album with photos)
Dear Prabhus,
Dandavat pranams. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We are happy to share with you the first pictures of the gold ribbons in Titanium Nitrate that are now being placed on the Chatris. Hare Krishna!
Your servant, Janesvari devi dasi
Find them here: https://goo.gl/53n2nF

Padayatra in Russia - 50 000 Holy Name’s friends (3 min video)
50 000 Russian people will hear the Holy Name in 50 towns and villages.
Read how you can help.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/mjNH96

April 20. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Michael Grant.
Michael Grant: I went up to him after his lecture in the loft. I had the same feeling I’d had on other occasions when I’d been to hear famous people in concerts. I was always interested in going by after concerts to see musicians and singers, just to meet them and see what they were like. I had a similar feeling after Swamiji spoke, so I went up and started talking. But the experience was different from the others in that he wasn’t in a hurry. He could talk to me, whereas with others all you could do was get in a few words. They were always more interested in something else. But he was a person who was actually showing some interest in me as a person, and I was so overwhelmed that I quickly ran out of things to say. I was surprised. Our meeting broke off on the basis of my not having anything further to say. It was just the opposite of so many other experiences where some performer would be hurrying off to do something else. This time, I was the one who couldn’t continue.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=7

———————————————-
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 9.178 – 194.

“Srila Prabhupada asked. ‘Why do we call this a temple and those houses ordinary residences?’ He said. ‘The difference is that here the center is Krishna and there the center is different forms of  sense gratification. The temple is spiritual because everything is engaged in the service of the Lord.’ Even the physical body when fully engaged in the service of the Lord becomes spiritual. When we engage in the service of the Lord material things become spiritual. And, to the contrary, if we want to use something spiritual that is meant for the service of the Lord—which is really everything that exists—then it becomes material. So, Ravana kidnapped Sita devi to enjoy her but he didn’t get the spiritual Sita he got the maya Sita.”

Rama-navami part 2, Los Angeles

Michael Grant

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 24 April 2014, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta Lecture)

Focus of purpose is what I was thinking about and that is what I would like you to think about. What is your purpose? I am not going to carry people and sort of micromanage their life. Of course, if you want to ask about material life, how to deal with it, I will try to answer. But whatever advice I give about material things, it is not necessarily absolute. When I give advice about scripture, Krsna’s or Prabhupad’s teachings, that is absolute. But for questions like, ‘Should I stay in this country? Should I stay in this ashram? Should I do this service or should I do that service?’

Then, ‘You told me to do this and it all went wrong!’

Yes, that could happen (laughter). I am telling you. If I give any material advice, it may all go wrong because, the material energy is a crocodile and I cannot control it either; it bites me also from time to time. It does! As much as you do, I also get beaten around by the material energy. Okay, when you are sixty-one years old, you surely got a few tricks up your sleeve and surely, I would be willing to share it with you…

To some people, I would say, ‘Why don’t you do this?’ But most of the time, people do not do what I say anyway! (laughter) That is my experience, you know. Most of the time when I tell them, ‘Why don’t you do this?’

‘Errr, well, I can’t!’

‘Ok, then what do you want to do?’

‘Well, this and that… Is that ok?’

‘Yes, it is ok…’

Most of the time, it becomes like that, that is the reality – most of us have strong desires of our own. In the beginning of spiritual life, we can do it. We can be strict and dedicate ourselves to following the process, authorities, the mission and so on. Some can do it for a whole life. But many, on the way, will find a desire to fill it in a more individual way and it is okay with me. Give individual shape to your life but with that you are responsible for the purity. As we create more space for an individual way of life, more responsibility is there. Someone in the ashram can be told, ‘Okay, time to get up, time to go out, time to eat…’  Ashram life means someone telling you what you should do with your time.

If we need more space – have all the space you want but, everything has a price tag attached to it. The more we interact with the material energy, the more that material energy will take over our consciousness. I am talking about the mind; the mind will start worrying about it when having to deal with it.

On the other hand, if you are in the renounced position, then you have to make sure that you are happy. When a renunciate is not happy in his renunciation, then he is in total danger. Because, what is there otherwise? In grhasta ashram, there is some material enjoyment but for the renunciate, there is not much. You can eat but how much can you eat?

So in conclusion, I think it is very important to have a focus, to have an idea what we are going to do and to not just let it happen.

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By Gaurangi Dasi

April 12, 2016 : I’m still in Mayapur, contacting devotees who are doing padayatra right now, preparing one, or seriously thinking about it.

During the 8 day 2016 ISKCON Leadership Sanga, we had a padayatra booth and held 3 padayatra seminars, which provided new contacts and padayatra organizers. In the display area, there were 2 giant displays of Padayatra worldwide. (See attached photos).

The 2016 Padayatra Newsletter is very attractive and innovative. Lokanath Swami liked it so much that he was thinking of printing an extra 1000 copies. Most were distributed here is Mayapur during the ILS (ISKCON Leadership Sanga) and the festival. It is not feasible to mail one to every temple, but I tried to make sure that most temples got one, provided I met representatives from that country. In any case you can download this issue, and previous ones, from the padayatra website (padayatra.com). Besides padayatra news, how to 50ize your padayatra and many special stories, there are also articles about the art of walking and teh best shoes to wear, the different kinds of walks you can do (Every temple can easily do a week-end padayatra), photos of dozens of carts and palenquins, a padayatra survey for the public, a padayatra poster for children to color, and articles about ecology and respecting the environnement. All very practical and down to earth information !

The count down till December 31st, 2016

The Padayatra Worldwide Ministry has pledged to organise at least 50 padayatras from Gaura Purnima 2014 to the end of 2016. To this day 27 padayatras have been done, 14 are planned and 9 remain to be organized. Please look at the attached detailed list. We are counting on all of you to help us reach the goal, which should be very easy with a week-end padayatra and combining World Holy Name Week with padayatra. You can even organise a One Day Padayatra, as they are doing in Detroit.

Opportunity to get useful feedback while doing the padayatra survey

As you’ll see in the 2016 Padayatra newsletter, the Czech devotees had very positive responses while doing the padayatra survey. Feedback and introspection are always beneficial, collectively and individually. So, don’t miss this opportunity to do this survery, whether or not you organize a padayatra (you can do this survey on harinama) : read the guidelines, translate the survey, and adapt it if necessary, make photocopies, approach the public, and get plenty of favorable contacts as a bonus.

Lokanath Swami and I are now finalizing the Padayatra Stories book, which will be printed by the end of July 2016. Please pray that we can reach our goal. I’m sure you’ll all be inspired to read this book, which is the continuation of the Caitanya –caritamrita. Maybe you’ll even contribute your own stories for future similar books. All devotees love stories, especially when they involve Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada, who are very much active in these padayatras.

The Padayatra Ministry is eager to hear from all of you

We will be glad to post your schedules, contacts, posters, articles, photos, films, etc on the Padayatra Website, and to print your adventures on the 2017 Padayatra Newsletter. The more devotees worldwide hear about your walk, the more they’ll want to help and participate. That’s why we need your schedules, contacts and itinerary NOW. Only 9 more months till the end of the year. Remember that you can have more than one padayatra in your country, unless it’s a regular annual walk.

Best wishes for a joyful, fun and dynamic year 2016 in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai !

In the « 50 padayatras » section of this website you ‘ll find the following :

– How to celebrate ISKCON 50the anniversary with padayatra

– Updated list of 50 padayatras

– Choose your padayatra (with guidelines for the Extended Week-end Padayatra)

– Basic padayatra report

– Article guideline

– Photo guideline

– Media sheet

– How to use the survey ?

– Padayatra Survey

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By Satyananda Krishna Das

Hare Krishna,

All Glories To Srila Prabhupada.

On 23rd March 2016 while the whole world was celebrating the most auspicious event in our calendar year Sri Gaura Purnima, one of the pioneer devotee of ISKCON Malaysia and a senior disciple of HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, His Grace Govinda Sevaka Das passed away from this world surrounded by Srila Prabupada’s Kirtan and devotee’s Japa at 10.02 am at the age of 72.

HG came in contact with one of Srila Prabhupada’s disciple HG Gopal Prabhu and started practising Krishna Consciousness while associating with Srila Prabhupada’s early soldiers in Malaysia. His Grace started his preaching during his younger days from 1960’s where he formed his own troop of Sankirtan Devotees and conducted congregational chanting frequently in nearby premises.HG got the opportunity to met Srila Prabhupada during Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Malaysia in the year of. By the force of his family HG got married with Leeleswary Devi Dasi (Leelawathy) and while maintaining his family life he lost contact with devotees due to career relocation. He came in contact with HG RamCharan Prabhu and he begin his preaching activities again and in the year of 1981 he organized the first Rathayatra in Malaysia at Sitiawan,Perak.And during his tenure in Sitiawan many large programs was organized successfully and many leading ISKCON Sanyasis visited the tiny town through his arrangements. In 1986 he became the victim of Mycenae Gravis disease which hospitalized him for a year.HG gradually recovered and continued his preaching activities as his capacity permits. In 1996 he left Sitiawan and came back to his home town Kulim and continued spreading the Krishna consciousness.

HG’s health condition deteriorated from early 2016 which gradually became worse until the last moment. The last word he mentioned while he was conscious was “NarasimhaDev” and he was in Intensive Care Unit for the following 48 hours before gradually leaving the body on Sri Gaura Purnima Day. During his time he has conducted many Yajna’s, Samskaras, Deity Installations, Established Preaching Centre’s, Organized Preaching activities, Organized Ratha Yatra’s, and many more. One of the highlights of his life is that he had made many successful devotees during his lifetime. In 2015 at the age of 71 he climbed the thirumala hill (Around 3500 steps) by foot and had a wonderful darshan of Lord Balaji.

Through our grief and separation right now from a wonderful Vaishnava , let us all take solace hoping that HG will be placed in Nitya Seva of the lord under the guidance of Srila Prabhupada.

“He reasons ill who tells that Vaishnavas die
When thou art living still in sound.
The Vaishnavas die to live and living try
To spread a holy life around!

(Bhaktivinod Thakur)

Satyananda Krishna Das (BVVNM)

Indian PM Sri Narendra Modi ji receives with reverence the Munificent Deity of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Srila Prabhupada: Our only request is that if you want happiness, if you want to prosper, make your life successful, you must read Bhagavad-gita thoroughly, as it is, as Krishna says. Don’t try to misinterpret. Bombay, April 2, 1974.