(reposted from 4-14-16)
I saw the grim reaper in my dream,
feeling no fear, I was curious to see him.
Coming near, he pointed his bony, pale hand toward me.
His other palm raised in blessing pose
where it was written, the number 65—my age!
Then with both hands, he pointed to the sky, and shrugged.
LAST NIGHT THE GRIM REAPER CAME FOR ME
Zen Master’s Home
→ travelingmonk.com
Last night we entertained the elite of Beijing in the home of a famous Zen Master. Charmed by our philosophy, our talented musicians and the holy names people were swept off their feet and chanted and danced in great happiness in the courtyard of that prestigious residence.
Sunday Love Feast – Special Guest – His Grace Rohini Priya prabhu.
→ ISKCON Brampton
Over 20 years he has not only been practising Krishna Conciousness but has been actively distributing the message of Bhagavad Gita to thousands of Engineering , Medical students and other professionals all over India.
He also travels widely to USA, UK and Canada and delivers various seminars on Krishna Conciousness.
Programs:
11:00am - 11:15am Tulsi Puja
11:15am - 11:30am Guru Puja
11:30am - 11:55am Aarti & Kirtan
11:55am - 12:00pm Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers
12:00pm - 1:00pm Vedic discourse
1:00pm - 1:30pm Closing Kirtan
1:30pm - 2:00pm Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast
Monthly sankirtan Festival(MSF)“One who has life can preach, and one who preaches gets life.”(Previous Acaryas)
Every member of ISKCON should have the opportunity to make advancement in Krishna consciousness by preaching.We encourage everyone to come out and participate and make Srila Prabhupada happy.
Please contact:
Rasaraj Dasa-rajrushika@yahoo.com/ 647.887.5736(Mississauga and Brampton regions)
Narahari Dev Dasa- naraharidev@gmail.com (
COMING UP AHEAD
Fasting For Kamada EkadasiFasting.....................on Sun Apr 17th,2016
Breakfast.................on Mon Apr 18th,2016 b/w 6.29am-11.01am
Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.By constantly ‘exercising’ our minds through regular japa we can train our senses to push the threshold of contentment.
English audio glorification of all Ekadasis is available here
Sunday SchoolTo register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.
Call:647.893.9363
The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. School
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).
Gift ShopOur boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your visit. It offers textiles, jewellery, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy
Video: Gaura Purnima Festivities
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
Fast Friends
→ travelingmonk.com
Yesterday we visited the famous Llama Temple in downtown Beijing. While there we met with several of the resident Buddhist monks and discussed philosophy and the similarities of our lifestyles. Later, the senior monk saw me praying to Lord Buddha at the main alter and inquired why I was doing so. I explained that we [...]
Blissful, Beautiful, Merciful Rama
Giriraj Swami
On Friday I will celebrate Sri Rama-navami at ISKCON-LA, with the procession, fire ceremony, puspanjali, and abhiseka beginning at 3:00, my talk at 5:30, arati and kirtana at 6:30, and the feast at 7:00. Please do join us, in person or through the Internet.
“Although the sight of Lord Ramacandra is naturally blissful, when He is with His beloved Janaki, with Laksmana, and with His best servant Hanuman, His beauty increases manyfold, and whoever sees Him becomes immersed in the most exceptional ecstasy. This picture of Lord Ramacandra together with Sita, Laksmana, and Hanuman depicts the Supreme Lord in His especially compassionate mood of reciprocating with His intimate servants.” (Sri Brhad-bhagavatamrta, 2.4.259 commentary)
Hare Krishna, Hare Rama.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
Sannyasa Ministry Request
→ Dandavats
By Bhakti Prabhava Swami
To expand ISKCON’s preaching mission Srila Prabhupada created sannyasis. Thus the Ministry for Sannyasa Service has established a website to provide information about potential sannyasis to the ISKCON community and to get feedback in order to help in the candidate’s training.
The website is: sannyasacandidates.com
The waiting list 2016 is available on: http://sannyasacandidates.com/?page_id=293
The site contains a page “Candidates,” directly accessible via the link:
http://sannyasacandidates.com/?page_id=170
On this page is the personal data and the devotional history of the Present sannyasa candidates.
If you know any of these candidates and would like to express something positive or negative pertaining to their candidacy to the Sannyasa Committee, please send us your comments via e-mail to our secretary
(Bhakti.Prabhava.Swami@gmail.com) or to His Holiness Prahladananda Swami (Prahladananda.Swami@pamho.net).
NASN March 2016 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
→ Dandavats
*
* * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
************************************************************************
N O R T H A M E R I C A N S A N K I R T A N N E W S L E T T E R
************************************************************************
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * *
*
March 2016 4/13/2016
For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this file contains
the following North American results for the month of March:
North American Totals
Monthly Temples
Monthly Weekend Warriors etc.
Monthly Top 100 Individuals
Monthly Top 5
Cumulative Countries
Cumulative Temples
Cumulative Top 100 Individuals
Cumulative Top 5
This file is best viewed and printed using a fixed pitch font. In WinCOM
select Options, General, and change to Fixed pitch. In a word processor
chose Edit, Select All, and select a fixed pitch font such as Courier.
All glories to your service,
Your servant, Mayapur Sasi dasa
Scores received thru 04/13/2016
North American offering to Srila Prabhupada
MahaBig Big Medium Small BTGs Total Total % Templ/
Books Books Books Books Mags Books Points Change Devote
--------------------------------------------------------------------
January 13086 7181 7058 17156 4382 48863 41631.20 +10% 22/ 86
February 13040 10977 11687 20764 5770 62238 48721.30 +39% 22/ 89
March 13836 6442 6969 20321 4824 52392 43187.55 +11% 18/ 62
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals 39962 24600 25714 58241 14976 163493 133540.05 +19% 28/124
(%)Change compared
to last year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
ALL TEMPLES
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Temples (size) Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Los Angeles (L) US 14653.50* +9% 3184 3654* 3424 11158* 1300*
2 Baltimore (MS) US 4243.00*+304% 2121* 0 2 0 0
3 TBB TSKP (MS) US 4187.25 0% 112 1959* 2365 3287* 0
4 Denver (M) US 2904.25* +40% 1026* 273 227 1051 2030*
5 Silicon Valley(ISV US 2531.50*+167% 1210* 1* 0 442* 0
6 Chicago (S) US 1916.95 +39% 622* 163 394* 1245* 17
7 Laguna Beach (S) US 1102.60 +25% 421 62 19 630* 316*
8 Sacramento/TYM (S) US 674.85*+182% 272* 41* 41 271* 16
9 Hillsborough, NC ( US 639.85 -5% 107 39 20* 1267* 601*
10 Dallas (M) US 564.85 +23% 181 73 132* 177 196*
11 Hartford (MS) US 464.35* +45% 179* 40* 14 115 42
12 Montreal TSKP (S) Can 74.50 na 0 2 6 278 0
13 San Diego (M) US 69.75 na 14 22 25 29 0
14 Vancouver (S) Can 50.50 -50% 5 4 35 76* 0
15 RupanugaVedicColle US 43.75 -100% 10 8 30 3 0
16 Arkadelphia (S) US 14.25*+338% 5* 2 4* 1 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
WEEKEND WARRIORS ETC
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals or Group Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 WW Baltimore Jiv Bal US 4243.00*+112% 2121* 0 2 0 0
2 WW Team ISV Week Sil US 2531.50*+167% 1210* 1* 0 442* 0
3 CP LA Sastra Dan LA US 256.00 na 0 40 432 0 0
4 WW Dallas Dal US 126.75 -17% 24 34* 67* 45 0
5 WW Arkadelphia W Ark US 14.25*+338% 5* 2 4* 1 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP 100 INDIVIDUALS
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Prema Sankirtan LA US 2063.75* +50% 485* 740* 193* 993 90
2 Bk Storm LA US 1901.65* +5% 539 336* 369 1037 439*
3 Bhrgupati d LA US 1801.50*+772% 353* 634* 405* 1036* 0
4 Nidra dd Den US 1297.25* +78% 512* 158* 62 337* 0
5 Gauranga Prema d LA US 1152.25* +29% 219* 366* 663* 67 0
6 Raya Nitai d TBB US 1142.75 +16% 10 543* 761 797* 0
7 Bk Carlos TBB US 911.75 -11% 31 399* 505 793* 0
8 Bk Karim TBB US 901.75*+125% 1 460* 507* 745* 0
9 Bk Joey TBB US 610.75* +24% 44 200* 451* 389* 0
10 Bk Oscar LA US 521.00*+999% 97* 127 161 478* 0
11 Parama Karuna d Chi US 470.50*+999% 121* 99* 124 270* 0
12 Radha Krishna d LA US 468.95* +55% 135* 115* 60* 209* 17*
13 Shastra-krt d LA US 448.50 na 128 0 180 410 0
14 Bk Allen TBB US 375.50 na 21 178 127 368 0
15 Prana Hari d Den US 256.75 -30% 100 18 0 155 0
16 Krsna Kumar d TBB US 244.75 -33% 5 179 14 195 0
17 Akshay Hil US 238.50*+155% 86* 35 12* 102* 0
18 Nanda Suno d Den US 198.75 -15% 59 43* 42 67 0
19 Bk Himanshu Chi US 180.00 -55% 48 24 120* 0 0
20 Cakri d Dallas Dal US 172.65 -32% 68 0 0 117 74*
21 Amala Purana d Den US 168.25 +21% 68* 0 34 61 0
22 Aditya Narayan d Hil US 152.25 -8% 61 3 12 85* 0
23 Svavasa d LA US 144.00 na 72 0 0 0 0
24 Shankar Pandit d Chi US 140.25*+576% 45* 0 0 201* 0
25 Ananda Kirtan d LA US 104.90 -97% 21 35 17 72 14
26 Vinoda Kovida d Den US 104.50 -18% 31 28* 6 46* 0
27 Bk Mitch Rampp Chi US 96.00*+999% 48* 0 0 0 0
28 Ananda Murari d Den US 88.50 -10% 28 11* 36 14 0
29 Bk Matsu Den US 80.25 na 29 6 20 25 0
30 Ekatvam d Gur US 75.00 -14% 0 0 80 140* 0
31 Samyaprasa d Den US 72.25 -26% 25 6 27 11 0
32 Shivani dd Chi US 65.25 na 5 20 12 117 0
33 Babhru d LA US 64.25 -21% 3* 25 40* 53 0
34 NityanandaChandr Dal US 56.00 na 28 0 0 0 0
35 Karuna Dharini LA US 54.50* +95% 19* 6* 10* 22* 0
36 Advaita Caran d Chi US 48.00 na 24 0 0 0 0
37 Dvijamani Gaura RVC US 43.75 -31% 10 8 30 3 0
38 Bk Chang SD US 41.50 na 12 10 10 10 0
39 Syama dd LA US 39.00 -18% 0 0 0 156* 0
40 Bk Sebastian LA US 27.75 -47% 0 0 4 103 0
41 Sridhar Syama d Dal US 27.75 na 6 6 12 15 0
42 Vaisnava Sevanan Chi US 20.85 na 4 4 7 21 1
43 Banke Bihari dd Van Can 18.50 -30% 4 0 8 26 0
44 Ramanuja d Van Can 18.00*+350% 1 2 8 40 0
45 Bk Sonny Chi US 14.50*+115% 3 2 2* 22 0
46 Radharani dd LA US 12.75 -64% 0 0 5 41 0
47 Tulasi Vallabha Den US 10.25 -33% 3 3* 0 5* 0
48 Gopi Gita dd LA US 10.00 -30% 0 0 0 40 0
49 Balaram d SD US 8.75 na 0 6 3 5 0
50 Bk Eric LA US 7.50 -98% 0 0 15 0 0
51 Jagatpati d Van Can 7.00 -53% 0 0 12 4 0
52 Arjuna Gopa d Chi US 6.00 na 3 0 0 0 0
53 Visnu Gada d Van Can 4.25 -89% 0 2 2 5 0
54 Haridham d Van Can 2.00 -91% 0 0 4 0 0
55 Ankit Vora Chi US 1.50 na 0 0 2 2 0
56 Tadiya dd Den US 0.75 -40% 0 0 0 3 0
57 Bk Peter Van Can 0.50 -60% 0 0 1 0 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
MONTHLY TOP 5 TEMPLES AND INDIVIDUALS
March 2016
-------- Points -------- ----------- Points -----------
1 Los Angeles 14653.50 1 Prema Sankirtan d LA 2063.75
2 Baltimore 4243.00 2 Bk Storm LA 1901.65
3 TBB TSKP 4187.25 3 Bhrgupati d LA 1801.50
4 Denver 2904.25 4 Nidra dd Denver 1297.25
5 Silicon Valley(ISV) 2531.50 5 Gauranga Prema dChinLA 1152.25
----- (%)Increase ------ -------- (%)Increase ---------
1 Arkadelphia +338% 1 Bk Oscar LA +999%
2 Baltimore +304% 2 Parama Karuna d Chicago +999%
3 Sacramento/TYM +182% 3 Bk Mitch Rampp Chicago +999%
4 Silicon Valley(ISV) +167% 4 Bhrgupati d LA +772%
5 Hartford +45% 5 Shankar Pandit d Chicago +576%
---- Maha-Big Books ---- ------- Maha-Big Books -------
1 Los Angeles 3184 1 Bk Storm LA 539
2 Baltimore 2121 2 Nidra dd Denver 512
3 Silicon Valley(ISV) 1210 3 Prema Sankirtan d LA 485
4 Denver 1026 4 Bhrgupati d LA 353
5 Chicago 622 5 Gauranga Prema dChinLA 219
------ Big Books ------- ---------- Big Books ---------
1 Los Angeles 3654 1 Prema Sankirtan d LA 740
2 TBB TSKP 1959 2 Bhrgupati d LA 634
3 Denver 273 3 Raya Nitai d TBB TSKP 543
4 Chicago 163 4 Bk Karim TBB TSKP 460
5 Dallas 73 5 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 399
----- Medium Books ----- -------- Medium Books --------
1 Los Angeles 3424 1 Raya Nitai d TBB TSKP 761
2 TBB TSKP 2365 2 Gauranga Prema dChinLA 663
3 Chicago 394 3 Bk Karim TBB TSKP 507
4 Denver 227 4 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 505
5 Dallas 132 5 Bk Joey TBB TSKP 451
----- Small Books ------ -------- Small Books ---------
1 Los Angeles 11158 1 Bk Storm LA 1037
2 TBB TSKP 3287 2 Bhrgupati d LA 1036
3 Hillsborough, NC 1267 3 Prema Sankirtan d LA 993
4 Chicago 1245 4 Raya Nitai d TBB TSKP 797
5 Denver 1051 5 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 793
------ Magazines ------- --------- Magazines ----------
1 Denver 2030 1 Bk Storm LA 439
2 Los Angeles 1300 2 Prema Sankirtan d LA 90
3 Hillsborough, NC 601 3 Cakri d Dallas Dallas 74
4 Laguna Beach 316 4 Radha Krishna d LA 17
5 Dallas 196 5 Ananda Kirtan d LA 14
------ Full Sets ------- --------- Full Sets ----------
1 Baltimore 48 1 Nidra dd Denver 11
2 Silicon Valley(ISV) 46 2 Aditya Narayan d Hillsboro 4
3 Denver 22 3 Svavasa d LA 4
4 Hartford 11 4 Shastra-krt d LA 1
5 Laguna Beach 8 5 NityanandaChandra d Dallas 1
----- BBT Payments ----- ------ Matajis - Points ------
1 Chicago 25539 1 Nidra dd Denver 1297.25
2 Los Angeles 20605 2 Shivani dd Chicago 65.25
3 TBB TSKP 5732 3 Karuna Dharini dd LA 54.50
4 Hillsborough, NC 4656 4 Syama dd LA 39.00
5 Denver 4341 5 Banke Bihari dd Vancouver 18.50
--- Bhaktas - Points --- ----- Bhaktins - Points ------
1 Bk Storm LA 1901.65 1 0.00
2 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 911.75 2 0.00
3 Bk Karim TBB TSKP 901.75 3 0.00
4 Bk Joey TBB TSKP 610.75 4 0.00
5 Bk Oscar LA 521.00 5 0.00
Veteran Men(20+yrs) Points -Veteran Women(20+yrs) Points-
1 Prema Sankirt LA 2063.75 1 Nidra dd Denver 1297.25
2 Bhrgupati d LA 1801.50 2 Karuna Dharini dd LA 54.50
3 Cakri d Dalla Dallas 172.65 3 Radharani dd LA 12.75
4 Svavasa d LA 144.00
5 Shankar Pandi Chicago 140.25
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
COUNTRIES (CUMULATIVE)
January thru March, 2016
Country % Total M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
(Temples) Points Change Books Books Books Books Books Mags
_________________________________________________________________________
1 USA (25) 131949.50 +24% 161505 39462 24475 25268 57382 14918
2 Canada (3) 1590.55 -72% 1988 500 125 446 859 58
(%)Change compared to Jan-Mar 2015
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
TEMPLES (CUMULATIVE)
January thru March, 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Temples (size) Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Los Angeles (L) US 41489.40 +27% 9628 9456 10420 29202 2669
2 RupanugaVedicColle US 21222.30 +48% 7434 5207 353 1376 6268
3 TBB TSKP (MS) US 12577.50 +598% 1549 4427 7252 5698 20
4 Seattle (S) US 8803.50* na 4290* 93 118 166 300
5 Denver (M) US 7048.95 0% 2234 798 1503 3305 2052
6 Gainesville (M) US 6954.75 +75% 1998 1725 1434 2067 0
7 Baltimore (MS) US 6344.60 +318% 3149 6 22 114 11
8 Chicago (S) US 4678.95 -3% 1297 871 775 2655 1627*
9 Silicon Valley(ISV US 4431.00 -47% 2125 2 0 716 0
10 New York Harinam ( US 3113.50 +51% 787 802 317 2316 0
11 Laguna Beach (S) US 2866.00 +48% 1185 153 120 910 555
12 New Talavan (S) US 2522.75 -54% 966 22 1032 211 0
13 Hillsborough, NC ( US 1982.20 +23% 476 221 47 2796 867
14 Dallas (M) US 1485.85 -66% 492 243 221 505 221
15 Toronto (S) Can 1263.05 -60% 452 93 316 381 40
16 Farmington Hills, US 1229.00* na 509* 9* 404* 0 0
17 New Orleans (S) US 1158.50 -44% 80 0 668 2658 0
18 Sacramento/TYM (S) US 1153.10 +49% 480 52 106 346 16
19 Miami (S) US 1150.85 -27% 213 221 167* 1623 58
20 Hartford (MS) US 1106.60 +568% 417 88 40 306 177*
21 Vancouver (S) Can 253.00 -43% 48 30 124 200 18
22 Krishna Culture (S US 248.35 na 77 6 113 125 6
23 Berkeley (S) US 219.60 -50% 37 30 108 218 71
24 Montreal TSKP (S) Can 74.50 na 0 2 6 278* 0
25 St. Louis (S) US 71.50 na 18 19 18 30 0
26 San Diego (M) US 69.75 -79% 14 22 25 29 0
27 Arkadelphia (S) US 17.50 +204% 6 2 5 4 0
28 Texarkana (S) US 3.50 -71% 1 0 0 6 0
29 Boston (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
30 New York City (M) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
31 New Vrindavan (L) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
32 Honolulu (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
33 Washington D.C. (M US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
34 Atlanta (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
35 Detroit (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
36 BTG/Krishna.com (S US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
37 Philadelphia (M) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
38 Alachua (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
39 Portland (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
40 New Jersey-Edison US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
41 Tucson (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
42 New York 26 2nd Av US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
43 Murari Sevak (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
44 Ottawa (MS) Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
45 New Jersey-Towaco US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
46 Houston (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
47 Columbus (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
48 New York Queens (S US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
49 Naperville (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
50 Tampa Bay (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
51 Orlando (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
52 San Francisco (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
53 Cintamani Dhama KY US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
54 Halifax (MS) Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
55 San Antonio (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
56 Austin (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
57 World Harinama Par US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
58 Calgary (MS) Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
59 Boise (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
60 Tallahassee (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
61 Winnipeg (MS) Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
62 Bhakti Lounge (Phi US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
63 Bhakti Lounge (Tor Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
64 Gita-nagari (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
65 Ann Harbor (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
66 Saranagati Farm (M Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
67 Santa Cruz (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
68 Minneapolis (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
69 Hale Krishna Hawai US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
70 Santa Barbara (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
71 Spanish Fork KHQN US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
72 Palm Beach (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
73 Las Vegas (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
74 Carpinteria (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
75 Birmingham(USA) (M US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
76 Albuquerque (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
77 Louisville (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
78 Naples (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
79 Harrisburg (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
80 Oklahoma City (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
81 Boulder (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
82 Phoenix(AZ) (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
(%)Change compared (*)Better than
to Jan-Mar 2015 last year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP 100 INDIVIDUALS (CUMULATIVE)
January thru March, 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Ananda Kirtan d LA US 6350.10 +21% 1965 979 530 4648 141*
2 Bk Jay Khush LA US 6273.20 +13% 1758 891 900 5560* 262
3 Bk Storm LA US 5511.85 +234% 1649 796 1160 3119* 581*
4 Krishna Bhagavan RVC US 5443.40 +138% 1910 1280 3 408 2399
5 Paramesvara d RVC US 5353.25 +14% 1731 1458 0 367 3415
6 Prema Sankirtan LA US 4812.75 +354% 1236 1367 304 3251 90*
7 Gaur Sundar d LA US 3401.10 na 1580 160 113 92 16
8 Deva Krsna d RVC US 3258.00 +28% 1326 542 0 256 0
9 Raya Nitai d TBB US 3118.25 +73% 223 1171 2356 1293 0
10 Bk Carlos TBB US 2963.25 na 407 812 1792 1765 0
11 Gauranga Prema d LA US 2943.75 na 463 928 1891 577 0
12 Nidra dd Den US 2758.75 +17% 982 353 462 843 0
13 Brajananda d RVC US 2471.25 +223% 845 714 85 99 0
14 Bk Carlos Gai US 2408.50 +41% 796 582 98 742 0
15 Mohanasini dd New US 2405.25 -55% 966 22 797 211 0
16 Dasya Prema d RVC US 2374.65 +28% 892 466 119 81 449
17 Bhrgupati d LA US 2214.50 -11% 473 755 428 1188 25
18 Dharmaraja d RVC US 2118.50 +62% 689 686 42 134 0
19 Bk Karim TBB US 1703.25 na 50* 861 962* 1045 0
20 Kalki d(2 Kimani Gai US 1664.25 +2% 483 574 182 133 0
21 Bk Joey TBB US 1592.75* na 272* 396 1037* 537 0
22 Bn Karly Gai US 1248.75* na 224* 114* 988* 771* 0
23 Radha Krishna d LA US 1072.30* na 335* 219* 113* 500* 18*
24 Madhava Puri d TBB US 1015.75 na 174 324 616 143 0
25 Sacitanoy d LA US 991.25 +48% 230 433 0 393 0
26 Prana Hari d Den US 990.45 -21% 374 115 17 471 12*
27 Krsna Kumar d TBB US 971.50 na 5 682 320 470 20
28 Madhukari d TBB US 837.25 -15% 397 3 42* 77 0
29 Bk Eric LA US 722.25 -66% 36 3 1181 227 0
30 Nanda Suno d Den US 668.75 na 218 103 139 241 0
31 Drumila d New US 604.00 -60% 10* 0 448 1440 0
32 Prabhu Hari d Mia US 598.00*+468% 73* 147* 160* 900* 0
33 Bk Himanshu Chi US 583.00 +65% 120 143 240* 320* 0
34 Abhimanyu d Gai US 556.25* na 196* 80* 54* 229* 0
35 Parama Karuna d Chi US 536.75 na 144 108 124 315 0
36 Bk Oscar LA US 526.25* na 99* 127* 161 483* 0
37 Adi Karta d Gai US 512.00* na 143* 196* 40* 40* 0
38 Caitanya dd Gai US 510.50 +56% 155 163 50 50 0
39 Aditya Narayan d Hil US 482.25 +84% 205 24 12 169 0
40 Shastra-krt d LA US 448.50 -84% 128 0 180* 410* 0
41 Amala Purana d Den US 445.50 na 145 44 125 196 0
42 Akshay Hil US 425.50* na 145* 77* 15* 204* 0
43 Cakri d Dallas Dal US 424.90 +1% 170 0 0 300 99
44 Bk Allen TBB US 375.50 na 21 178 127 368 0
45 Vinoda Kovida d Den US 359.25 -35% 128 55 59 75 0
46 Bhismadeva d Dal US 313.75 na 98 111 1 25 0
47 Visala d Mia US 309.00 -29% 82 21 6* 482 5
48 Samyaprasa d Den US 266.25 -33% 84 39 97 43 0
49 Ekatvam d Gur US 250.00 na 0 45 240 340 0
50 Cakri d Chi US 228.00 na 0 188* 80 0 0
51 Lilakara d Mia US 222.50 -39% 56 49 1* 204 12
52 Sarvatarak d New US 207.00 -6% 20 0 0 668 0
53 Sacidulal d LA US 200.25 na 82 0 0 145 0
54 Ananda Murari d Den US 186.75 -60% 59 22 79 29 0
55 Bk Joe B. Chi US 184.00* na 72* 40* 0 0 0
56 Dinabandhu Guru Ber US 182.85 -35% 31 25 86 187 61
57 Shankar Pandit d Chi US 181.75 +323% 50 0 0 327 0
58 Dvijamani Gaura RVC US 169.75 na 35 53 84 19 0
59 Govinda Datta d LA US 164.25*+481% 44* 0 80* 145* 0
60 Rohini Nandan d New US 150.00 -30% 0 0 80* 440 0
61 Babhru d LA US 145.75 na 6 63* 76 131 0
62 Svavasa d LA US 144.00 na 72 0 0 0 0
63 Ananta Gopal d New US 137.50 na 50 0 50 50 0
64 Bk Sebastian LA US 132.00 -32% 0 4 15 482 0
65 Jaya Gauranga d Den US 121.25* na 30* 48* 0 53* 0
66 Kaivalya dd New US 117.50 na 0 0 235 0 0
67 Karuna Dharini LA US 110.50 +47% 41 9 23 32 0
68 Bk Mitch Rampp Chi US 101.50 na 50 0 2 2 0
69 Karuna Nidhi d Chi US 96.25*+817% 40* 0 0 25 100
70 Syama dd LA US 86.75 -16% 0 0 0 295 130*
71 Gaura Candra d Tor Can 83.25 -9% 39 0 5 11 0
72 Radharani dd LA US 82.75* na 3 0 46 215* 0
73 Bk Matsu Den US 80.25 na 29 6 20 25 0
74 Banke Bihari dd Van Can 71.50 -40% 14 11 24 82 0
75 Visva dd Chi US 70.00 -73% 20 10 13 54 0
76 Shivani dd Chi US 65.25 +110% 5 20* 12 117* 0
77 Uttamananda d Tor Can 58.00* na 24* 10* 0 0 0
78 NityanandaChandr Dal US 56.00* na 28 0 0 0 0
79 Advaita Caran d Chi US 48.00*+380% 24 0 0 0 0
80 Haridham d Van Can 45.50* na 18* 0 19* 0 0
81 Bn Demi Tor Can 45.50 -52% 14 6 13 8 30
82 Visnu Gada d Van Can 44.50 -9% 3 14 10 18 18*
83 Bk Chang SD US 41.50 na 12 10 10 10 0
84 Bk Deano New US 40.00 -33% 0 0 80 0 0
85 Naimisaranya d Dal US 39.00* na 19* 1* 0 0 0
86 Gopi Gita dd LA US 38.75 -43% 0 0 20 115 0
87 Nikunja Bihari d Den US 38.25* na 0 3* 33* 75* 0
88 Bhargavi dd Chi US 38.00* na 10* 5* 14* 20* 10*
89 Jagatpati d Van Can 36.75 +96% 0 0 56 35 0
90 Lalita dd Ber US 36.45 -31% 6 5 22 31 7
91 Bk Sonny Chi US 28.00 na 3 2 3* 74 0
92 Sridhar Syama d Dal US 27.75 na 6* 6 12 15 0
93 Bk Jonathon Gai US 25.75* na 1* 16* 8* 15* 0
94 Tulasi Vallabha Den US 25.50* na 9* 5* 0 10* 0
95 Ramanuja d Van Can 22.00 0% 3 2 8 40* 0
96 Bk Nick Den US 21.75* na 2* 2* 16* 31* 0
97 Vaisnava Sevanan Chi US 20.85 na 4 4 7 21 1
98 Bn Tessa Gai US 20.00 -32% 0 0 10 60 0
99 Madhava d New US 20.00* na 0 0 10* 60* 0
100 Prajapati d Mia US 17.35 na 2 4 0 37 1*
(%)Change compared (*)Better than
to Jan-Mar 2015 last year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
CUMULATIVE TOP 5 TEMPLES AND INDIVIDUALS
January thru March 2016
----- Points(Cum) ------ -------- Points(Cum) ---------
1 Los Angeles 41489.40 1 Ananda Kirtan d LA 6350.10
2 RupanugaVedicCollege 21222.30 2 Bk Jay Khush LA 6273.20
3 TBB TSKP 12577.50 3 Bk Storm LA 5511.85
4 Seattle 8803.50 4 Krishna Bhagavan d RVC 5443.40
5 Denver 7048.95 5 Paramesvara d RVC 5353.25
--- (%)Increase(Cum) --- ------ (%)Increase(Cum) ------
1 TBB TSKP +598% 1 Karuna Nidhi d Chicago +817%
2 Hartford +568% 2 Govinda Datta d LA +481%
3 Baltimore +318% 3 Prabhu Hari d Miami +468%
4 Arkadelphia +204% 4 Prema Sankirtan d LA +354%
5 Gainesville +75% 5 Shankar Pandit d Chicago +323%
-- Maha-Big Books(Cum) -- ----- Maha-Big Books(Cum) -----
1 Los Angeles 9628 1 Ananda Kirtan d LA 1965
2 RupanugaVedicCollege 7434 2 Krishna Bhagavan d RVC 1910
3 Seattle 4290 3 Bk Jay Khush LA 1758
4 Baltimore 3149 4 Paramesvara d RVC 1731
5 Denver 2234 5 Bk Storm LA 1649
---- Big Books(Cum) ---- ------- Big Books(Cum) -------
1 Los Angeles 9456 1 Paramesvara d RVC 1458
2 RupanugaVedicCollege 5207 2 Prema Sankirtan d LA 1367
3 TBB TSKP 4427 3 Krishna Bhagavan d RVC 1280
4 Gainesville 1725 4 Raya Nitai d TBB TSKP 1171
5 Chicago 871 5 Ananda Kirtan d LA 979
--- Medium Books(Cum) --- ------ Medium Books(Cum) ------
1 Los Angeles 10420 1 Raya Nitai d TBB TSKP 2356
2 TBB TSKP 7252 2 Gauranga Prema dChinLA 1891
3 Denver 1503 3 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 1792
4 Gainesville 1434 4 Bk Eric LA 1181
5 New Talavan 1032 5 Bk Storm LA 1160
--- Small Books(Cum) --- ------ Small Books(Cum) ------
1 Los Angeles 29202 1 Bk Jay Khush LA 5560
2 TBB TSKP 5698 2 Ananda Kirtan d LA 4648
3 Denver 3305 3 Prema Sankirtan d LA 3251
4 Hillsborough, NC 2796 4 Bk Storm LA 3119
5 New Orleans 2658 5 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 1765
---- Magazines(Cum) ---- ------- Magazines(Cum) -------
1 RupanugaVedicCollege 6268 1 Paramesvara d RVC 3415
2 Los Angeles 2669 2 Krishna Bhagavan d RVC 2399
3 Denver 2052 3 Bk Storm LA 581
4 Chicago 1627 4 Dasya Prema d RVC 449
5 Hillsborough, NC 867 5 Bk Jay Khush LA 262
---- Full Sets(Cum) ---- ------- Full Sets(Cum) -------
1 Silicon Valley(ISV) 80 1 Gaur Sundar d LA 32
2 Baltimore 61 2 Nidra dd Denver 18
3 Los Angeles 43 3 Aditya Narayan d Hillsboro 14
4 Denver 29 4 Bk Jay Khush LA 4
5 Hartford 25 5 Svavasa d LA 4
--- BBT Payments(Cum) --- ---- Matajis - Points(Cum) ----
1 Los Angeles 66552 1 Nidra dd Denver 2758.75
2 Silicon Valley(ISV) 32379 2 Mohanasini dd New Tala 2405.25
3 Chicago 25539 3 Caitanya dd Gainsvil 510.50
4 TBB TSKP 20674 4 Kaivalya dd New Tala 117.50
5 Farmington Hills, MI 13690 5 Karuna Dharini dd LA 110.50
Bhaktas - Points(Cum) --- Bhaktins - Points(Cum) ---
1 Bk Jay Khush LA 6273.20 1 Bn Karly Gainesvil1248.75
2 Bk Storm LA 5511.85 2 Bn Demi Toronto 45.50
3 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 2963.25 3 Bn Tessa Gainesvil 20.00
4 Bk Carlos Gainesvil2408.50 4 Bn Jyoti Denver 3.00
5 Bk Karim TBB TSKP 1703.25 5 0.00
Veteran Men(20+yrs) Points Veteran Women(20+yrs) Points
1 Prema Sankirt LA 4812.75 1 Nidra dd Denver 2758.75
2 Gaur Sundar d LA 3401.10 2 Mohanasini dd New Talav2405.25
3 Bhrgupati d LA 2214.50 3 Karuna Dharini dd LA 110.50
4 Sacitanoy d LA 991.25 4 Radharani dd LA 82.75
5 Drumila d New Orlea 604.00 5 Lalita dd Berkeley 36.45
HOW TO SEND IN SCORES
Monthly scores can still be sent the usual ways: fax, phone,
snail mail and e-mail. Please send them before the 7th of the
next month.
When sending scores by e-mail, please use the same basic format
as the printed scoresheet:
Temple: (Important!) Month: (Important!)
(Enter BOOKS below--NOT points)
SUB M1 S1 H1 S2 H2 S3 H3 S4 H4 SETS
Temple totals x x xx x x xx x xx x xx x
Top devotees:
Bk Mike x x x x x x x x x x x
Krsna d x x x x x x x x xx xx x
Radha dd xx xx x x x xx xxx x x
etc.
Please...
Try to limit each line to 80 characters maximum.
You can omit the codes you don't use. You can start with H4 if you wish.
Make sure the columns line up properly when viewed with a
fixed pitch font.
Use spaces (not tabs) between columns.
Include your temple's name!
Include the month the scores are for!
Include temple totals for the month.
List each month separately. Don't combine two or more months together.
Don't just report Small, Big, Mahabig, etc.--->Use the codes S1,S2 etc.
or make sure you specify hard or soft cover books
Don't send every devotee's score. Just the top devotees who will
have a chance to appear in the newsletter.
Send scores to Mayapur@aol.com
--- Please observe the Fair Play rules ---
DEADLINE for scores is the 7th of the following month!
Why did Rama not consult Vashishtha when sending Sita away?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post Why did Rama not consult Vashishtha when sending Sita away? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
How can we infer that we are advancing spiritually?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post How can we infer that we are advancing spiritually? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
If Krishna is reciprocal, why does Shikshashtakam call for loving Krishna even if he neglects us?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post If Krishna is reciprocal, why does Shikshashtakam call for loving Krishna even if he neglects us? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Hidden Treasures in Vrindavan
→ ISKCON News
A video by Ananta Vrindavan.
Devotee-Run Health Center Delivers Natural Cures
→ ISKCON News
Nestled in the beautiful hill country of Bulgarian resort village Emona, and overlooking the Black Sea and Irakli beach, is Vita Rama Health Center. Every summer, the Mediterranean-style building becomes home to around 500 people, as they soak up the peaceful countryside and clean air, healing their bodies and spirits. The Center is becoming more and more popular with its claims – backed up by customer testimonies – that it can cure heartburn, herniated discs, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and even cancer.
Video coverage of St. Augustine Ratha Yatra
Festival of…
→ Dandavats
Video coverage of St. Augustine Ratha Yatra
Festival of Chariots, or Rathayatra, is an annual event celebrating Indian and Hindu culture. The festival was celebrated in St. Augustine on Saturday, April 9, 2016, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It featured two colorful parades, live entertainment, vegetarian food, dancing, art vendors, and more. The Festival of the Chariots, also known as Ratha Yatra, is a timeless festival, originating in the ancient city of Jagannatha Puri in India. Today, this festival, which celebrates an invitation to the Lord of the Universe to enter our hearts, is held in many major cities across the globe. Here in Florida there are 8 Ratha Yatras (Festival of the Chariots) hosted each year.
Residents and visitors viewed the vibrant Festival of Chariots parade in the downtown area from 10:30 a.m. to noon along King Street, beginning and ending at the Plaza de la Constitucion.
At 1 p.m., a walking procession called Harinam began along St. George Street, with colorfully-garbed participants singing and dancing as they proceed down to Cathedral Place and the Plaza, where a cultural program took place from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
In addition to the parades and other festivities, the festival featured a vegetarian feast highlighting Indian cuisine, music, a dramatic presentation, art vendors, a magic show, face painting, henna tattoos, and much more.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/dJ87Sm
Scenes of Gaura’s tirobhava ceremony
→ SivaramaSwami.com
The post Scenes of Gaura’s tirobhava ceremony appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Scenes from the altar in Krsna Valley
→ SivaramaSwami.com
The post Scenes from the altar in Krsna Valley appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Stone-Alive
→ Dandavats
By Abhijit Tolley Suppose for a moment this stone has life. It still has all the characteristics of a stone, but now it knows it exists. No matter how many trucks choose to run over it, it feels no pain. It is, after all, just a stone. And, just as befits a stone, it doesn’t feel joy when spring is right round the corner. Isn’t that a most coveted state of existence? Granted, there’s no exhilaration in life, but not a bad price to pay for escaping the agony of being crushed under the nonchalant tires of some nameless truck. Yes, the stone is happy to be alive! Wait! This does not sound right. Are we saying a stone’s life is better than ours? Suppose you go and open your heart to someone: “I have a problem. Why am I suffering like this?” and that someone replies: “Because you’re not dead.” This is not an answer that will fill your heart with happiness. Neither will such a stone hearted reply help you.Yet, there are many philosophers who say this-perhaps not as bluntly, but it is pretty much the essence of their philosophies. You are suffering, yes. Suffering is because of your desires. Put an end to your desires; do not rejoice for anything, and do not lament for anything. And so on. What they are suggesting, really, is that you must eventually (not immediately) develop the qualities of a stone. Continue reading "Stone-Alive
→ Dandavats"
Modern government? Their only business is how to collect tax and…
→ Dandavats
Modern government? Their only business is how to collect tax and divide it amongst the government servants!
Srila Prabhupada: So there are some remarkable points in this verse. Dasyu-prayesu rajasu. Rajasu means government. Raja, king, or government. So monarchy is now abolished practically all over the world. Now it is democratic government. So this so-called democratic government or Communist government, as they are going on, they will become rogues and thieves, dasyu-prayesu. All the rogues, thieves, plunderers, they will capture. Because it is by vote. So dasyu… Just like plunderers, rogues, they on the point of revolver, they take away your money, so they will take vote on the point of revolver. Actually, it is happening. In Korea it so happened, that sometimes the Communists are coming in power, and sometimes the capitalists coming in power, America and Russia. So poor people, as soon as there is Communist government, they are under the influence: “If you don’t do this, then you’ll be shot.” By force. The people do not know what is government generally. They want to live peacefully. They want a secure place. So that is not their business, modern government. Their only business is how to collect tax and divide it amongst the government servants. That’s all. SB 1.3.25 class
Don’t be attached to being detached
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Chowpatty
Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post Don’t be attached to being detached appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Do we need diksha guru – is shiksha guru enough?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post Do we need diksha guru – is shiksha guru enough? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
How to continue bhakti when we don’t have devotee association?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post How to continue bhakti when we don’t have devotee association? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Why did Rama not obey Vashishtha when asked to return to Ayodhya?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post Why did Rama not obey Vashishtha when asked to return to Ayodhya? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
If all devotees will go to Krishna, what benefit do more dedicated devotees get?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post If all devotees will go to Krishna, what benefit do more dedicated devotees get? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Is there a purpose for punishment?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post Is there a purpose for punishment? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
How do we know the difference between what feels good and what is actually spiritual?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post How do we know the difference between what feels good and what is actually spiritual? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Daily Darshan: April 14th, 2016
→ Mayapur.com
The post Daily Darshan: April 14th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
The Ramayana – A Summary
→ Dandavats
By Sri Nandanandana Das The childless Dasharatha was advised by his family priest Vashishtha to perform a fire sacrifice ceremony to seek the blessings of God for children. Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, decided to manifest himself as the eldest son of Dasharatha in order to kill Ravana. While performing the fire worship ceremony, a majestic figure rose from the sacrificial fire and handed to Dasharatha a bowl of rice pudding, saying, "God is pleased with you and has asked you to distribute this rice pudding (payasa) to your wives - they will soon bear your children." The king received the gift joyfully and distributed the payasa to his three queens, Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra. Kausalya, the eldest queen, gave birth to the eldest son Rama. Bharata, the second son was born to Kaikeyi and Sumitra gave birth to the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Rama's birthday is celebrated now as Ramanavami. Continue reading "The Ramayana – A Summary
→ Dandavats"
Preaching program in Kiev, Ukraine (Album with photos)
Srila…
→ Dandavats
Preaching program in Kiev, Ukraine (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 20.12)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/puDLwk
Salavation For Dummies.
Samapriya devi dasi: Riding around in a…
→ Dandavats
Salavation For Dummies.
Samapriya devi dasi: Riding around in a burnt out jaloppy,
fuming and leaking it’s all become sloppy
creaking and rattling tired and floppy,
maybe I should get a new shinning copy.
Do I really want to go through all this again?
There’s always problems from beginning to end.
Stand up for your rights your word to defend
and searching for someone on whom to depend.
We speak what we realize and it’s become clear
most of us lonely and covered with fear.
The time now is coming, the last act to appear
when we reap what we sow and become what we hear.
Make our lives simple what more can we do?
It’s passing us by as though time just flew.
But we have the answer the ultimate clue
on your knees to receive it, and it’s given to you.
Handed to us through disciplic succession
in one strand of beads, the final concession.
We must take it up as our only possession.
Salvation for Dummies in this age of deception.
Harinama in Athens, Greece (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada:…
→ Dandavats
Harinama in Athens, Greece (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Krishna, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 20.12)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/5cdC8o
Zen Master’s Home (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami:…
→ Dandavats
Zen Master’s Home (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Last night we entertained the elite of Beijing in the home of a famous Zen Master. Charmed by our philosophy, our talented musicians and the holy names people were swept off their feet and chanted and danced in great happiness in the courtyard of that prestigious residence.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Q3I4yV
April 14. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa…
→ Dandavats
April 14. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Sanskrit Lessons.
It was perhaps because of Carl’s interest in Sanskrit that Prabhupada began holding Sanskrit classes. Carl and David and a few others would spend hours learning Sanskrit under Prabhupada’s guidance. Using a chalkboard he found in the loft, Prabhupada taught the alphabet, and his students wrote their exercises in his notebooks. Prabhupada would look over their shoulders to see if they were writing correctly and he would review their pronunciation. His students were learning not simply Sanskrit, but the instructions of Bhagavad-gita. Each day he would give them a verse to copy in the Sanskrit alphabet (devanagari), transliterated into the Roman alphabet, and then translated word-for-word into English. But their interest in Sanskrit waned, and Prabhupada gradually gave up the daily classes to spend time working on his own translation of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
His new friends may have regarded these lessons as Sanskrit classes, but actually they were bhakti classes. He had not come to America as the ambassador of Sanskrit; his Guru Maharaj had ordered him to teach Krishna consciousness. But since he had found in Carl and some of his friends a desire to investigate Sanskrit, he encouraged it. As a youth, Lord Caitanya had also started a Sanskrit school with the real purpose of teaching love of Krishna. He would teach in such a way that every word meant Krishna, and once His students objected, He closed the school. Similarly, when Prabhupada found his students’ interest in Sanskrit was transitory, and since he himself had no mission on behalf of Sanskrit linguistics, he gave it up.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=7
ISKCON 50 Meditations: April 14, 2016
→ ISKCON News
Sanskrit Lessons
Duty, and its Relationship to Bhakti
→ The Enquirer
Duty… A dictionary defines it as a “moral or legal obligation or requirement.” A thesaurus lists synonyms like, “Responsibility, obligation, commitment.”
Essentially, “duty” means to do what is required of you.
What’s required of you?
That depends on who you are. If you are a student it’s your duty to study. If you are a parent its your duty to care for your children. If you are a driver, its your responsibility to get to the destination safely. Etc. Etc.
The specifics of Duty are different for everyone, the essence is the same – to do what is required of you, rather than doing whatever you might feel like doing at the moment.
The result of duty is to reduce selfishness, which is the basis of kāma, which is the primary effect of avidyā. So, following one’s duty gives rise to vidya (knowledge). Thus by following duty selflessly one gradually becomes qualified to more fully utilize the tools and techniques of jñāna-yoga (the yoga of knowledge/consciousness) such as study of philosophy and meditation upon the root of consciousness. By such meditation and study, one’s knowledge transforms into realization, and one is very likely to develop a sense of emotional attachment to the root of consciousness, paramātmā. Thus from jñāna-yoga, one can ascend to bhakti-yoga.
So duty is an initial precursor to bhakti and therefore everyone in society should be very warmly encouraged to adhere to their various duties under all circumstances.
Those who are at the stages of jñāna and bhakti already act only on the selfless platform, so there is no separate need to specifically encourage them to ordinary duties. Such people are rare, but they tend to perform ordinary duties anyway, to set the proper example for the masses.
Duty is the essence of dharma, morality. It therefore generates all the essential moral qualities such as humility, tolerance, forgiveness, nonviolence, compassion, etc. Jñāna- and bhakti-yogas, being successors to the duty-yoga, karma-yoga, generate these essential moral qualities even more deeply.
Vraja Kishor das
Tagged: Bhakti, Dharma, duty, karma, yoga-ladder
We Know the Center of a Circle by its Circumference
→ The Enquirer
This continues directly from the previous excerpt; We Do Not Eat Fruits Washed by Karmīs
Then we went to other European countries and everything was so different. The devotees were kind, generous, and helpful. The parents of the straightedge kids whose homes we sometimes stayed in didn’t seem so terrified by the “Hare Krishna sect.”
I remember sitting on the grassy hill of one of the Krishna farms somewhere out there in I-forget-where, twirling a dandelion flower between my fingers, wondering how Viṣṇupāda could be the leader here, were everyone was so sweet, and over there too, where everyone was so mean? I realized that the center of a circle is perceived through its circumference. Unless we are personally very close to someone, we only experience them through those who are close to him.
I imagined the fanatical book-distributing non-karmī-fruit-eaters from over there approaching their guru saying, “Shelter is coming, but is this punk rock bonafide?” I imagined their guru saying something relative to their mood. Something like, “Well, Prabhupāda stopped Viṣṇujana from doing the same thing…” Then, I could see them coming away with the conclusion, “Our guru says you are bogus.”
On the other hand I imagined the simple, down-to-earth people from over here approaching their guru saying, “What should we do to help Shelter when they come?” Responding to their mood, the same guru might say, “Bring them prasādam and see if you can coordinate some book distribution and harinām.”
I decided to suspend my previous judgement on Viṣṇupada’s character. Maybe he was who I initially thought he was, maybe he wasn’t. Until I got to know him and his surroundings, I couldn’t know for sure. And why should I be in any rush to find out? I should have better things to do.
Then I thought of Prabhupāda. He was so different at 26 2nd Avenue and during the very early years of ISKCON, when his circumference was so much smaller and women like Yamuna Devī, Mālatī, and Jadurāṇī were an important part of it. Later, the circumference so much larger and so very different, and he too seemed very different. I began to realize that what ISKCON accepted as “Prabhupāda’s Mood” was really only the mood of the circumference at a given point in time. Even what they saw as “Prabhupāda’s Teachings” was only the teaching they had managed to evoke from him, and was only what they had managed to comprehend of it.
This gave me some hope that I might be able to get close to Prabhupāda himself, without the circumference, if I studied his books carefully – especially the earlier ones.
– Excerpt from an early draft of
Train Wrecks and Transcendence: A Collision of Hardcore and Hare Krishna
Available May 2016By Vraja Kishor [VrajaKishor.com ]
Tagged: Hare Krishna, ISKCON, Prabhupada, visnupada
A drop of mercy
→ KKSBlog
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.12)
At one time, Krsna was establishing that he was the Supreme Lord and that all the various incarnations of the Lord were within him. So the gopis said, “If you are the origin of all the incarnations, then it means that Lord Ramachandra is also here. Lord Ramachandra had an army of monkeys that built a bridge across the ocean. We have monkeys here, we have a body of water. So can you please make a bridge for us?”
And Krsna arranged it. All the monkeys came down from the trees and all picked up stones. They wrote the name of Krsna on these stones and placed them on the water and they floated. Then the gopis walked over the bridge.
So all this is very nice. One who knows this story has a drop of mercy. So many drops of mercy we get from so many different personalities.
Rama Navami Festival is Coming This Friday!
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
Here is the events schedule at the Radha Vrindabana Chandra Temple. Please come and celebrate this auspicious event!
Harinama in Happy Japanese Island Okinawa, Japan (Album with…
→ Dandavats
Harinama in Happy Japanese Island Okinawa, Japan (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “The essence of all Vedic knowledge—comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity, the Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods—is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Narada-pancharatra)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/35uhi6
Krishna The God of Varieties
→ Dandavats
By Vamsi Vihari Dasa According to the Bhagavad-gita (15.1), this material world is a perverted reflection of the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. All varieties of this world exist in the spiritual world in its original pure form. If this material world, despite the inherent miseries of repeated birth and death, can appear so attractive to us, we can only imagine how attractive the spiritual world must be, which is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss. Therefore, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, regularly appears in this world to attract us and take us back to His blissful kingdom. At scheduled intervals He descends as various incarnations in different parts of the universe. At other times He remains in this world in the form of His Deity (archa-vigraha) whereby He accepts personal loving service from His devotees. In this article, we will see how Krishna in His Deity form appears in so many amazingly different ways on this earth just to show His special love for His devotees. Continue reading "Krishna The God of Varieties
→ Dandavats"
What Kind of listener am I?
The topmost listener is one who…
→ Dandavats
What Kind of listener am I?
The topmost listener is one who comes before the speaker with proper respect and is eager and expert in hearing of Krishna’s teachings and pastimes. He has rejected all mundane topics, has faith in the Supreme Lord, hears submissively, always contemplates the knowledge he has heard and likes to ask relevant questions. He is dear to Lord’s devotees.
There are listeners who are known as superiors.
Cataka bird : A cataka bird does not take water from any source other than the rain cloud. It eagerly waits for the swati constellation, because it only drinks the raindrops that fall during that constellation. It will rather die than drink any other types of water. One who does not hear any book other than the scriptures concerned with Krishna is called a cataka listener.
Swan : Just as the swan can extract milk from a mixture of milk and water, one who can extract the essential teachings while listening to various topics is called a swan listener.
Parrot : Just as a parrot can recite whatever it has been taught, one who is able to properly repeat the topics he has heard from his teacher and others is called a parrot listener.
Fish: Just as a fish that is situated in an ocean of condensed milk quietly drinks milk without even blinking its eyes, one who quietly listens with full focus and relishes what he hears is called a fish listener.
Some listeners are classified as inferior:
Wolf :Just as the cry of wolf frightens the deer attracted by the sweet sound of the flute in the forest, the foolish listener whose questions and comments are a source of frustration and pain to the other listeners is called a wolf listener.
Bhurunda bird: Just as the bhurunda bird that lives in the Himalayas tells everyone whatever it has heard without doing anything himself, one who repeats what he has heard to others but does not practice it himself is called a bhurunda listener.
Bull: Just a bull does not distinguish between eating sweet grapes or pungent oilcakes, the person who listens to everything without intelligence and discrimination is called a bull listener.
Camel : Just as the camel rejects the mango leaves to chew bitter neem leaves, one who listens to Krishna’s teachings and then eagerly listens to mundane topics is called a camel listener.
– Srila Vyasadeva, Srimad Bhagavat Mahatamya, Skanda Purana, verses 10.41.35-37