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Krsna Valley conversation.

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Respected devotees

Registration for the 2nd annual health care professionals retreat is now open and you can register by simply going to http://iskconnamp.org/. If you are unable to attend the retreat but will like to be added to our google group, please write to medicalretreat@gmail.com

All ISKCON medical/health care professionals in North America are cordially invited to the second annual retreat being held at the Gita Nagari Farm from September 22nd (Thursday) to September 25th (Sunday).

This retreat is a forum for all devotees in the health care field to gather and experience enlivening fellowship. We will be deeply honored by your presence.

The retreat is open to all pre-medical students, medical students, students in other healthcare/medical disciplines, interns, residents, and fellows as well.

Registration Fees for the Retreat:

1. $200 – per adult for registration and on-site accommodation, all inclusive.

2. $150 – per adult for registration only. Off-site accommodation must be arranged at your own expense (please visit our FAQs page for the list of nearby motels).

3. $150 – concession/subsidized registration rate for students and medical professionals in training. Includes on-site accommodation. If you choose to stay off-site, the rate is still $150, and the personal accommodation is arranged at your own expense.

4. $100 – Children or youth between ages 6 years to 17 years

The organizers are very committed to supporting our families and ensuring they are able to attend this event. For this reason, children under 6 years of age can attend free of charge.

Sincerely,

NA ISKCON Medical Professionals Retreat Team

The post Daily Darshan : April 11th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Does Prasada Guarantee a Human Birth?
Kesava Krsna Dasa: I am guilty of this. I hear it all the time. For so long I was thinking that if anyone is given Krishna prasada (non-devotee), that person is guaranteed a human birth in the next life. I heard this many times, but where is the evidence to support the claim?
There is no doubt that Krishna prasada will lead anyone who takes it, to Bhakti, in the future. After how long? It depends on whether a fortunate person performs activities in devotion, knowingly or unknowingly. Below Is Srila Prabhupada’s clarity on the matter:
Bali-mardana: “I believe I’ve heard you said in other lectures that a person who takes prasadam, even a plant or a…, any kind of living entity who takes prasadam or hears the name, that it will come back at least to human form of life. Is that correct?
Prabhupada: No, if he’s devotee, then he’ll come. But this taking of prasadam, or hearing Hare Krsna mantra is advancement for becoming a devotee. But if he takes prasadam not as ordinary prasadam, foodstuff, he believes that "This is remnants of foodstuffs given to God,” if he understands this philosophy, then guaranteed. If he takes the prasadam as ordinary food, “All right, these people are distributing, prasa… Let me take it. It is very tasteful,” that will give him chance to accept prasadam next, next, next… In this way, one day he’ll come to the point that “This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff.” Then he’ll… There is guarantee. Because only the devotee can appreciate that “This prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff. It is Krsna’s remnant of…” Therefore, he understands Krsna. That is said in the Bhagavad-gita, janma-karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah [Bg. 4.9]. In truth, when he understands, then his life is guaranteed. Why guaranteed? He goes back to home next life. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. If you simply can understand what is Krsna and what is your relationship with Krsna, that is sufficient to take you back to home, back to Godhead. That is sufficient. It is so nice. “ (SB16.23, January 19, 1974, Hawaii)
With a sense of relief, we have more certainty on the benefits of Krishna prasada.
Ys Kesava Krsna Dasa.

Harinama in Tel Aviv, Israel 09.04.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One has to continue chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and preaching the chanting of this mantra because such preaching and chanting constitute the perfection of life. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.67 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Flpyft

A Drop In The Ocean (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Srila Prabhupada said that by tasting one drop of the salty ocean one can appreciate what the entire ocean is like. Yesterday at our public program in Beijing we got a taste of how Krsna consciousness can spread throughout the entire country of China. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ocPwje

Sri Rama-Navami booklet by Gour-Govinda Swami.
Srila Prabhupada: Nobody can be stronger than God, nobody can be wiser than God, nobody can be more beautiful than God, and nobody can be more renouncer than God. So here Lord Ramacandra exhibited the quality how He renounced the whole kingdom simply on the order of His father, His obedience to his father. He could have argued with His father, “My dear father, you, simply for keeping your promise and actuated by the dictation of a woman, you are doing this. Let us stop it. Everyone is expecting that tomorrow My coronation will be there, and they love Me so much.” Because He… Just like Krishna was so much loved, similarly, Lord Ramacandra was the life of the people. They were very much expecting that Ramacandra was going to be enthroned tomorrow. So how they were celebrating, how they were decorating the whole city. Everything. He never argued. He accepted immediately: “Yes, father. I am ready.”
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/5VNbiE

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April 11. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: The Word Spreads.
News of the Swami’s move to the Bowery loft spread, mostly by word of mouth at the Paradox restaurant, and people began to come by in the evening to chant with him. The musical kirtanas were especially popular on the Bowery, since the Swami’s new congregation consisted mostly of local musicians and artists who responded more to the transcendental music than to the philosophy. Every morning he would hold a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam attended by David Allen, Robert Nelson and another boy, and occasionally he would teach cooking to whoever was interested. He was usually available for personal talks with any inquiring visitors, or with his new roommate.
Although Prabhupada and David each had a designated living area in the large loft, the entire place soon became dominated by Prabhupada’s preaching activities. Prabhupada and David got on well together and, at first, Prabhupada considered David an aspiring disciple.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=7

The Word Spreads

Evening Kirtanas

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

I mentioned before that in my early spiritual life there was a devotee named Mahavirya who helped me a lot at that time. Over the years, I completely lost touch with him but then someone found out his phone number.

So I called him the other day and he was completely in the same mood of the 70’s, nothing has changed – sixty-four rounds every day at least or more, just going strong and preaching all the time! In those days, devotees did not have conversations, they did not do that, they were always preaching to each other. So he started preaching up a storm to me.

After a while he said, ‘You are also supposed to say something.’ Nothing I could say anymore after that! (laughter) He just preached me off my feet! He said different things, like, ‘How many disciples do you have?’ then he said, ‘You must be the most happy man!’ and I said, ‘Well, it is not that nice!’ (laughter) ‘It’s okay but it is not that blissful!’ and he said, ‘No, guru must be the most happy man, otherwise how can he make anybody else happy?’ So, he said nice things like that.

One moment while we were speaking he said, ‘Never trust a guru who does not dance,’ which I have heard before, but still it is a very nice saying. Yes! Happiness must show like that, it must show in that we are relishing Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness is to be relished – Krsna is so wonderful, he is just so amazing because every moment with Krsna is the greatest blessing.

 

The board members of ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-Vrindaban humbly invite all New Vrindaban residents and well-wishers to participate in the upcoming weekend activities.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

Friday, April 15th.

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Rama Navami Celebrations & Feast (at Radha Vrindabanchandra’s Temple)

Saturday, April 16th.

9:45 am to 1:30 pm: INV & ECO-V Department Head Presentations for 2016 (under the Lodge)

1:30 pm to 2:30 pm: Lunch Prasadam (at Radha Vrindaban Chandra’s Temple)

2:30 pm to 5:00 pm: Community Dialog (Join us in a lively discussion about a number of current topics, under the Lodge)

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Rama Navami Celebrations (at Radha Vrindabanchandra’s Temple)

Sunday, April 17th.

10:00 am to 1:00 pm: New Vrindaban Community Tour (weather permitting, installation of Madhava Gosh’s appreciation plaque & spreading of his ashes at the Bahulaban Barn, visit the one remaining Madhuban Prabhupada Hut, brief stop at Sankirtan prabhu’s House for a “Holding Srila Prabhupada” photo, & a view of the new Temple area apartment buildings)

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm: Sunday Program & Feast (at Radha Vrindaban Chandra’s Temple)

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm: Community Service Appreciations (we gather to celebrate the many years of dedication from Betty Hickey, Sukhavaha, Jaya Murari & Sarva & Viduttama)

 

Hare Krishna Festivals UK - York Harinam - 9th April 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the Padma Purana, Krishna says, mad-bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tisthami narada: “O Narada, I am present wherever My devotees are chanting.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 17.132 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/GUg5fa

The post On chanting, at kirtana night at Inis Rath (Part 2) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

An actor plays the part of Ramanujacarya in a modern movie from southern India.

Today is the birthday of Ramanujacarya, the great teacher and organiser of the Sri Sampradaya, the human vehicle of Laxmi Devi’s teachings within this world. Actually, today is his 999^th birthday, which means that next year will be his millennial celebration. For someone’s teachings to endure for a thousand years and to be an unfailing source of inspiration for millions of people after all that time – means that what he wrote, and what he did, are of perennial use – practically and spiritually.

Ramanuja is remembered for his contributions to an already-existing tradition; contributions that rendered it possible for that tradition to endure through many generations. The world does not always care for spiritual thinkers and leaders. In fact, it is because spiritual leaders often present intellectual challenges to political leaders of the day that they are first to be persecuted.

Ramanuja had to go into hiding for several years when the king of the region saw him as his biggest threat. His followers were persecuted and cruelly tortured. Thousands were slaughtered in one city, years later, in a religious ethnic cleansing that it would serve us well to remember more often.

The great saint wrote books of amazing clarity and logical argumentation, poetry and devotion. He re-organised and upgraded temple worship in hundreds of towns, and created an India-wide human network of teachers and spiritual preceptors. Above all, he was an affectionate guardian to those who took shelter of him; who served him with dedication and love for many years until his passing in 1137 at the grand age of 120.

 

By Satyananda Dasa

ISKCON devotees commonly use the phrase, “Going back home, back to Godhead.”Have you ever thought about what this means when a traveler is anxious to return home? Home is where our family is, where there are people who love us, who trust us. It’s the place we’re comfortable and happy. It’s the place we feel most natural. The world we live in is foreign to the soul; we are strangers in a foreign land. In this alien place we call home we experience so many misfortunes, confusions, and unnatural conditions. These miseries are there because we have forgotten our true spiritual essence and instead identified ourselves with our material body. This identification causes us pain, yet we don’t want to give it up. We are in illusion about what will bring us happiness. In our misunderstanding of who we are, we want to hold on to those things that cause us suffering. We will actually do anything to preserve and to maintain our body. We do not hesitate to commit any atrocious activity to somehow or other increase our life span. We use the body to create a home and comfort, but of course neither is possible not for long, anyway. Continue reading "A Bridge to God
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The post Daily Darshan: April 10th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

By His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada

Every living being is ambitious to have the topmost level of enjoyment in the material world and yet he is always unhappy here. This unhappiness is present in all the above mentioned planets in spite of long life and standard of comfort more and more increased. That is the law of material nature. You can increase the duration of life and standard of comfort to your highest capacity and yet by the law of material nature you shall feel unhappy; the reason is that the quality of happiness which is compatibly suitable for our very constitution is different from the happiness derived from material adjustment. The living entity is a minute particle of Sachidananda Vigraha and therefore he has proportionately the necessary propensity for joyfulness which is spiritual in quality but he is vainly trying to derive it in a foreign atmosphere of the material nature. Continue reading "Progressive Ambition (and unsatiated Lust)
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Alphonso Mangos!
Kadamba Kanana Swami: I have one short story. It is a story I made up myself but I think it is quite nice. Once, there was a group of people who lived in an oasis in the desert. In this oasis, they had their enjoyment, they had their variety of things – camel milk, dates and some bananas; or bananas and dates and camel milk; or camel milk with bananas and dates; dried bananas; camel milkshake – but that was it. So they were milking their varieties and this oasis was known as the “Oasis of sense gratification”.
One day a stranger came in and he brought a whole philosophy with him about a green land which is somewhere else. As proof, he brought these fruits that no one had ever tasted – alphonso mangos… you know, delicious and sweet!
People were all excited and sure enough, one day the stranger said, “So, is anybody interested in going to the green land?”
Well, some people said, “Yeah.”
Others said, “Ah, you know, these things come from another oasis; there is no green land. Do not let him pull the wool over your eyes. He is after your money!”
But people went. They went into that dry desert because when you want to go from an oasis to a green land, you have to go through a dry desert first. So they went through the dry desert where there was no more sense gratification – the desert of austerity where the hot sun of lust was burning on their heads.
Some people went crazy and just ran off into the desert, they just could not take it! Others went back. But a few stayed and they got to the next oasis which was the oasis of the mode of goodness. In that oasis of the mode of goodness, people did not want material life. No alcohol and all those horrible sinful activities! Oh, no! They were enjoying spiritual life there in the oasis of goodness.
Anyway, the stranger came and said, “This oasis of goodness is not good enough.”
People said, “Oh no, it is good enough for me. I am very happy here. I do not want anything else. We have a nice spiritual life and we are happy with it.”
“No,” the stranger said. “Now you have to go back into the desert.”
“Back into the desert? Are you out of your mind? It is comfy here.”
“No, back into the desert. But this time you go to help people who are out there in the desert.”
Then those who did that, they saw that the landscape was changing and gradually it was turning more and more green and those who dedicated their lives to giving others the fruits of transcendental knowledge, they reached the green land at the end! Anyway, this is a story which illustrates a little bit about our relationship with the three modes of material nature.

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Aerial photos of the Iskcon Ujjain Temple (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Ointment is applied to the eyes for clear vision. When the ointment of love of Godhead will be applied in our eyes, then with these eyes we will be able to see God. God is not invisible. Simply like a man with cataract or any other eye disease, he cannot see. That does not mean the things are not existing. He cannot see. God is there, but because my eyes are not competent to see God, therefore I deny God. God is there, everywhere. Boston, May 1, 1969.
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By His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada

A kshatriya never goes back from the promise, never refuses any challenge. If a kshatriya is challenged by somebody, that “I want to fight with you,” oh, he cannot refuse. This is kshatriya spirit. He cannot say that “I am now busy.” Suppose somebody comes to you, that “I want to fight with you.” You may say, “What nonsense fight? I have no time. We are in the temple.” But a kshatriya cannot deny that. A kshatriya at once must accept. “Oh, yes. Come on.” And the weapon should be, if he has no sword or weapon, he should be supplied weapon and fight. This is kshatriya spirit. They were highly charitable and chivalrous and keeping promise and with a great tendency for ruling over. They shall rule over. Continue reading "Rama Navami Appearance day of Lord Sri Ramacandra
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ISKCON Auckland NZ: Friday night Harinam (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By chanting Hare Krishna one fixes his mind always on the Supreme Lord. One example often given is that of the caterpillar that thinks of becoming a butterfly and so is transformed into a butterfly in the same life. Similarly, if we constantly think of Krishna, it is certain that at the end of our lives we shall have the same bodily constitution as Krishna. (Bhagavad-gita, 8.8 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/sTOhKO

Baba Madhava Das Festival at Vrinda Kunda (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: On Friday, we observed the disappearance festival of Baba Madhava Das who gave Vrinda Kunda to ISKCON. We had wonderful katha, kirtan, artika, fed all of the Sadhus of Nandagram, and had feast for all the devotees and villagers. Relish Vittalrukmini’s photos!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/77fcZo

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Transformation through Books.
Today one devotee shared with us about his meeting with two Russian devotee couples in Srirangam. Those Russian devotees were earnestly looking out for the place where Mahaprabhu’s lotus feet are being worshiped in Srirangam. After taking them to that place, this devotee inquired those Russian devotees as to how they came to know about Krishna consciousness. One of that Russian prabhuji was earlier working as a butcher in a slaughterhouse. Somehow some merciful Vaishnava had been doing book distribution even outside the slaughterhouses in Russia. Some people who were working in those slaughter houses got those books. But later they tore the pages as they could not understand English.
That day after tiring hours of work in the slaughter house, this Russian prabhuji, with his clothes tainted with the blood of the animals he had slaughtered, came and sat down to rest for sometime. By Krishna’s arrangement, he saw the torn pages of Srila Prabhupada’s “Science of Self-Realisation” book. He picked up that page and studied its contents. The subject matter in that page attracted him so much that he asked the people around about further details. The people who had torn that book told him, that there were some Asian people who had given them these books, but since it was in English, they had torn it. Those people also told him that these book distributors could be found down the street, singing some song. Immediately this Prabhu went to that place and met the devotees. He spoke with them for nearly 6 hours and then there was a complete transformation in his life. Realising the gravity of the sinful activity involved in killing animals, this Prabhu not only gave up his job on that day, but he also went and shared the details of the contents which he had read and heard from the devotees to his wife and another couple who were their friends. That was the beginning of their spiritual journey and over a period of time, both the couples dedicated their life to serving the cows and spreading the message of Srila Prabhupada.
This real life incident is a real eye-opener on how powerful even a page of Srila Prabhupada’s book is. If studying a single page of Srila Prabhupada’s book can bring such a great transformation in the life of a butcher, then what to speak of all the volumes of wonderful writings he has left for us. Indeed the books of His Divine Grace are brhad mrdanga and the sankirtan of book distribution can drive away all anarthas and bring a very great revolution in this world. Srila Prabhupada with great humility always mentions how he has full faith on the verse 1.5.18 of Srimad Bhagavatam wherein Narada Muni says: “On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.”
Placing his faith in Srimad Bhagavatam and his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada has literally poured his heart out in his books and continues to live in his writings. So for our own benefit and for the benefit of the whole world, we should study, practise and propagate his books to the best of our ability.
Transcendental Book Distribution ki Jai! Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!
Sudarshana Devi dasi

A New Frontier (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Our first few days in China were spent getting to know the people and culture of this country. We also held programs with local devotees in Beijing. My conclusion is that Lord Caitanya’s formula for sharing Krsna consciousness; namely chanting, dancing and feasting, is very suitable for the people here. We look forward to the next 18 days of our journey through the Land of the Great Red Dragon.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/kGCu4I

April 10. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada in the Loft.
The loft was a fourth-flight walk-up, and the only entrance, usually heavily bolted, was a door in the rear at the west end. From the outside, this door opened into a hallway that was only lit by a red EXIT light over the door. The hallway led to the right a few steps and into the open area. If a guest entered during the kirtana or lecture, he would see the Swami about thirty feet from the entrance seated on his dais. On other evenings, the whole loft would be dark but for the glow of the red EXIT light in the little hallway and a soft illumination radiating from the other side of the partition where Prabhupada was working.
Prabhupada lived on the Bowery, sitting under a small light, while hundreds of derelicts also sat under hundreds of naked lights on the same city block. He had no more fixed income than the derelicts, or any greater security of a fixed residence, yet his consciousness was different. He was translating Srimad-Bhagavatam into English, speaking to the world through his Bhaktivedanta purports; his duty, whether on the fourteenth floor of a Riverside Drive apartment or in the corner of a Bowery loft, was to establish Krishna consciousness as the prime necessity for all humanity. He went on with his translating and with his constant vision of a Krishna temple in New York City. Because his consciousness was absorbed in Krishna’s universal mission, he did not depend on his surroundings for shelter. Home for him was not a matter of bricks and wood, but of taking shelter of Krishna in every circumstance. As Prabhupada had said to his friends uptown, “Everywhere is my home.” Without Krishna’s shelter, the whole world would become a desolate place.
Often he would refer to a scriptural statement that people live in three different modes: goodness, passion and ignorance. Life in the forest is in the mode of goodness, life in the city is in passion, and life in a degraded place like a liquor shop, a brothel, or the Bowery, is in the mode of ignorance. But to live in the temple of Vishnu is to live in the spiritual world, Vaikuntha, which is transcendental to all material worlds.
And this Bowery loft where Prabhupada was holding his meetings and performing kirtana was also transcendental. When he was behind the partition working in his corner before the open pages of Srimad-Bhagavatam, that room was as good as his room back at the Radha-Damodara Temple in Vrindavana.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=7

On Saturday 23rd April, Bath Spa University will be hosting a conference to mark the first fifty years of the Hare Krishna Movement, also known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). One of the movement’s leading gurus, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, will be in attendance and there will be an opportunity to experience […]

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