Websites from the ISKCON Universe
We would like to express our appreciation for Krsna Kumar prabhu and his family, who have left for some time, back to Europe for health and family reasons.
He was one of the main managers here at the TOVP, who worked with the electrical & plumbing consultants. It is a great loss for us to have them leave, and we hope that he will be back in the near future.
The post Appreciation for Krsna Kumar prabhu and His Family appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Prabhupada is Praiseworthy
Dear Community Members,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We would like to invite you to the New Vrindaban Village Association Inauguration Party on Saturday, March 26th, 2016 (5pm – 8pm). There will be great prasadam, great entertainment and great association, and the Village Association participants will receive a very special gift for becoming a member.The event will be held in the Community Hall, underneath the Palace Lodge. Please see the schedule below…..
Please come with your friends and family members. We very much look forward to your participation.
Thank you.
Your servant,
Vrindavan dasa
Dear Devotees,
Please Accept My Humble Obeisances,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
Saint Patrick’ parade London March 2016
It was a great opportunity to distribute Prasad, the Holy Name and Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Then chanted the Holy Names with all we had. It pleased St Patrick and Srila Prabhupada.
See you all next year!
Your Servant
Parasuram Das
Sponsor a Kalash
Offerings for Mahaprabhu 
NBS#33 Gaura Purnima Special Edition - Siksastakam.
On the most auspicious occasion of Sri Gaura Purnima, this issue is dedicated on the eight verses left behind by the most merciful Lord Gauranga!
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has given the benediction
“Those surrendered souls who read the Sri Siksastaka prayers, which are the nectarean words flowing from the mouth of the Supreme Lord Gauranga, with devotion, will certainly be attracted to the honey from Lord Chaitanya’s lotus feet, and like intoxicated bees, plunge into the lily-filled lake of krishna-prema.”
We pray that this issue brings some pleasure to the devotees of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
NBS # 33 Features:-
1) The Inconceivable Behavior Of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami
2) Lord Chaitanya’s Mission
His Divine Grace A .C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
3) Understanding Siksastakam
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura &
Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura
This issue can be viewed through these links:
ISSUU: http://issuu.com/nbsmag/docs/nbs_33
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/doc/305313239/NBS-33
HG Mahat Tattva Prabhu’s sannyasa name is HH Bhakti Anand Tirtha Swami Maharaj.
Srila Prabhupada: A spiritual master or leader should not be proud of his position; being always humbler than an ordinary common man, he should go on preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 17.31 Purport)
After the ecstatic Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama, devotees have returned to Mayapur. Today is Amalaki Ekadasi Vrata Mahotsav. We had a packed Mangla arthi and Darshan Arthi. There was special book distribution awards ceremony at 8 am where HH Jayapataka Swami encouraged our Sankirtan devotees and handed over the awards. Golden Jubilee Mela has been inaugurated […]
The post Gaura Purnima Golden Jubilee Celebrations Begins appeared first on Mayapur.com.
The post Daily Darshan : March 19th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Home kirtan program in Italy (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one wants success in practical yoga practice, it is advised that he take to the chanting of Hare Krishna and he will actually feel himself making progress. In Bhagavad-gita this practice of Krishna consciousness is prescribed as raja-vidya, or the king of all erudition. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.15.45 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/cS6BMb
Home kirtan program at Montclair, NJ, United States (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The demigods are pleased when sacrifices are performed, just as prison officers are satisfied when the prisoners are turned into obedient subjects. Lord Caitanya, however, has recommended only one yajna, or sacrifice, called the sankirtana-yajna, the chanting of Hare Krishna, in which everyone can take part. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.6.20 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tGKTYK
A Hip New Way to Preach - The Artwork of Adidev das.
Adideva das is known for his artistic contributions in the Krishna conscious community. Some of his sculptures include the dioramas in the Los Angeles and Detroit temples and the 3=D dioramas at the Festival of India. At New Raman Reti, our japa walk features his sculptures depicting the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita.
Srila Prabhupada encouraged him to work as an artist. Adideva prabhu describes his introduction to Krishna consciousness as making art. During his first meeting with Srila Prabhupada, he was asked to sculpt Panca Tattva. Srila Prabhupada took the sculpting work quite seriously and said that he wanted dioramas all over the world. Due to circumstances, funds for this project were frozen but Adideva prabhu’s preaching through art prevailed.
Read more: http://goo.gl/GX9ETx
This Land Of Love And Bliss (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today I am leaving beloved Vrindavan for a 6 week preaching tour of Australia, New Zealand and China. My heart is torn between staying and going, but go I must because it is the desire of my spiritual master to introduce others to Sri Vrindavan Dhama. This morning I visited Radha Kunda to bath and beg for mercy. If it is Srimati Radharani’s desire then one day I will again return to this land of love and bliss.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/TPWklH
Purushottam Nitai Das: He was so insignificant materially that no one cared about him. He was an unknown person living a life of penury. So, during the mahaprakash pastimes, when Lord Chaitanya told the devotees to bring Sridhar to him then all were amazed.
“Why is the Supreme Lord so concerned about him? And most importantly where could we find him?” The devotees were wondering.
“Go out and you will hear someone loudly chanting the holy names of the Lord. Follow the sound and you will come to the beautiful house of Sridhar.” Lord Chaitanya said.
Devotees immediately left and soon could hear the loud chanting of the Lord’s name. They followed the holy sound which took them to the house of Sridhar. It was a straw hut with so many holes in the roof, the floor was of mud. There was nothing worthy in the house except a rusted broken iron pot which contained little water.
When Sridhar saw the devotees he was overjoyed and when he heard that Lord Chaitanya wanted to see him he was overwhelmed with emotions.
He had a long association with the Supreme Lord. As a young boy the Lord would daily come to him to purchase banana products from him. Sridhar sold kola (banana) leaves, plants, stalks and plates and so was called Kolavecha Sridhar. The Lord used to have sweet loving exchange with his dear devotees. Sridhar was such a kind hearted person that he charged a very fair price for his products and whatever he earned fifty percent of it he used to spend in worshipping mother Ganges. But when Nimai Pandita would come to buy products from him then he would accuse Sridhar of charging exorbitant price. The argument about the price would go on for hours and finally the Lord would say I will not pay anything for the products and would just take it away or pay a very meagre amount much less than what Sridhar asked for. And the materially impoverished but spiritually nourished Sridhar could not say anything because he used to get captivated by the beauty of young Nimai.
During Krishna lila when a fruit selling lady saw Krishna then she offered the entire basket of fruits to Krishna without expecting any payment in return. She then immediately ran back home to bring more fruits for beautiful Krishna.
Nimai would often tell to Sridhar, “You just pretend to be poor, you have lots of wealth which you have hidden from all and a day will come when I will show your hidden treasure to the whole world.”
And today Lord Chaitanya had called him to show the world that how Sridhar’s opulence had no parallels in the whole world. As soon as Sridhar entered the house of Srivas Pandita where Lord Chaitanya was waiting for him, he became unconscious out of deep love.
Lord Chaitanya was very pleased to see his dear friend and he eagerly wanted to satisfy Sridhar’s all wishes today. And so he asked, “Tell me, what you want?” Sridhar remained quiet. Lord Chaitanya said, “If you want, I will give you the eight mystic powers or make you the king of an empire.” Sridhar did not say anything. He was too satisfied by being in the company of the beautiful Lord. But the Supreme Lord wasn’t satisfied; he thought he is not being able to satisfy Sridhar. It seemed that the Supreme Lord was ready to give anything to Sridhar today – even the throne of Indra or Brahma.
Unable to satisfy Sridhar, the Lord finally asked him what he wants. And Sridhar who was overjoyed with deep love said to the Lord, “I do not want anything from you. I just want YOU.” All the assembled devotees were struck with wonder seeing the extraordinary devotional qualities of Sridhar. Sridhar was echoing the mood which the Supreme Lord wants all his devotees to have:
“O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service birth after birth.” Siksastakam 4
Extremely pleased, the Supreme Lord granted pure devotional service to Sridhar which is very rarely achieved. Sridhar had no material wealth but had unparalleled spiritual wealth. Wealth of this ephemeral world does not accompany us when we leave this world. But if we have wealth of Krishna’s love in our heart then it remains with us for eternity bringing deep satisfaction and unlimited joy. Sridhar’s exemplary life shows what pure devotion is. In our spiritual journey we should look within and check if we are following the footsteps of Sridhar or not. If not then we should immediately go for course correction if we sincerely want love of Krishna.
(Purushottam Nitai Das is a member of congregation at Iskcon Kolkata. He blogs at http://krishnamagic.blogspot.co.uk/)
His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj gave very wonderful seminar on “Why Krishna came as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu” at ISKCON Mayapur on 2nd and 3rd March 2016. Please find two lectures: Part 1: Part 2:
The post Sravana Utsava 2016 – Mayapur appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.
On March 8th, 2016, there was the prize distribution ceremony in Mayapur for all sankirtan devotees. Mayapur has a very powerful team of about 100 fully dedicated book distributors. The occasion was celebrated in the divine presence of HH Jayapataka Swami, HH Gopal Krishna Goswami, HH Bhakti Purushottama Swami, HH Subhag Swami, HG Bashughosh Prabhu […]
The post The prize distribution ceremony of Mayapur Sankirtana appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.
Lecture by HH Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami at ISKCON Mayapur ON 2016-03-15
Sridham Mayapur is actually the centre of the universe you can say Kurushetra you can say other places but Sridham Mayapur is the real centre of the universe.
Reading from 7th canto chapter 2 text 16
TEXT 16
TRANSLATION
Thus disturbed again and again by the unnatural occurrences caused by the followers of Hiraṇyakaśipu, all the people had to cease the activities of Vedic culture. Not receiving the results of yajña, the demigods also became disturbed. They left their residential quarters in the heavenly planets and, unobserved by the demons, began wandering on the planet earth to see the disasters.
As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, the performance of yajña brings reciprocal good fortune for both the human beings and the demigods. When the performances of yajña were stopped by the disturbances of the demons, the demigods were naturally bereft of the results of yajña and hampered in executing their respective duties. Therefore they came down to the planet earth to see how people had become disturbed and to consider what to do.
LECTURE
This is very amazing because this here Bhagavad is describing what happened it thretha yuga, things were very nice in thretha yuga when comparison to now with kaliyuga. McDonalds, KFC, terrorism, rape and all these things, if you ask people, I do surveys I ask young people how do you like how the society today, fine. Really? So, you are ok with rape crime murder, abortion, terrorism, drought and tsunamis and the list gets longer and longer are you ok with this? Then they stop and think Oh!, umm may be you have a point. It may be its not paradise after all, you know in this kaliyuga. This is the age of darkness, the point is actually what this verse describing today not just thretha Yuga, disturbed again again by natural occurrences cause by the followers of Hiranyakashipu. Alright, so we don’t have a maha Hiranyakashipu fortunately, but we have thousands and thousands of mini Hiranyakashipus on the planet quite capable and empowered by Kali to wreak havoc isn’t it?
We are experiencing so much crooked politicians all over the world not just India. I mean bribery is very easy in India its little more sophisticated in United States, you know, give campaign contributions in United States. Corruption is going on all over the world. Prabhupada was Simha guru on this subject matter, pick on the head, because you know he was a not going spare corruption and deviation from pure dharma. That is where we are today also not receiving the results of the yajña the demigods are also being disturbed. So the demons are cause of disturbance and what’s going on in the planet today actually is a demoniac. A few million Hindus doing Kali puja, Shiva puja Ganesh puja that’s not enough to counteract the disaster of this age. Because this age only the holy name, Yuga dharma can do it. So everyone, (Maharaj makes everyone chant 3 times as follows)
harinama harinama harinama eva kevalam
kalau nastyeva nastyeva nastyeva gatir anyatha
In Vedic culture if you want to emphasis something, you say it 3 times so Mahaprabhu said, “nastyeva nastyeva nastyeva”, there is no other way, no other way, no other way. Other efforts will be half baked or partial or drop in the bucket can’t do very much. Only the Yuga dharma can save this situation. So the demigods are disturbed, but it is this Krishna Consciousness movement introduced by Srila Prabhupada is saving the planet. HariBol!!
Prabhupada has written in, I believe in “Chaitanya Charitamrita” this Krishna Consciousness movement will go down in history for saving the world from our abductors.” Anybody thinks that this world is not in the hands of abductors now please have your head examined. We are already in the hour of darkness, at moment wars breaking out all over the world, so much homelessness. It’s like people think United States is a paradise. There are at least more than 1 million homeless people in United States, in India they can’t imagine such a thing because United States is such a heavily planet, if we take out visa application to go to States, Indian and foreigners to go submit visa application to go to United states. Visa application says, right at the top of visa application says in bold lettering, “We presume that you are going to try to stay,” this is the fact. That is what it visa application says. Once you go to heavenly planet called United States they don’t know how much homelessness is there, people in United Sates that go to sleep without eating and so forth. These things are going on. So actually, I asked Srila Prabhupada personally, Srila Prabhupada, I said, United States is like a heavenly planet you know you, if you go to super market then everything is there. In US you could buy imported jams and jellies real fruits you know & packets good, packet, cereals, canned goods and very fresh produce from various place around the world. It’s like a paradise except the meat department. So I asked Prabhpada, it’s so much like a heavenly planet and so much opulence and all that but no yajña to support it. Of course I was thinking of the BG “yajno vai visnuh”, that you know, “annad bhavanti bhutani”, I was thinking of that sloka I dint spell it out to Srila Prabhupada, I didn’t have to say the verse he knew what l was talking about. There is always prosperity, but there is nothing to sustain it because this prosperity is sustained by yajña and there is no yajña. He said very ominously, it will not last very soon it will be finished.
So, what we see today in the modern world is the dying throes of modern civilisation, like if you kill an animal it shakes for a while before it finally dies, you know rather gruesome that’s where we are so called civilisation. Death rose and things are getting worse and worse, the economy collapses, the Euro was getting almost collapsed they put it together with cello tape. You know why, Do you know why the Goddess of Fortune allows the world economy to keep limping around, do you know why? Because of the sankritan movement, this Krishna Consciousness movement, this book distribution should go on, if we have no vehicles and no money, it will hamper our preaching it won’t go on. We are not so expert to go out barefoot on the street with what’s left of the books so on. And we want to print more and more books, we want to distribute, we want to do peaching.
Television media, see how ISKCON is using the media? So the Goddess of Fortune says these people are too simple I want to collapse the economy, yes, yes I know but just keep it going little longer, because, look see my devotee, see all the wonderful things they are doing like the 50th anniversary in Calcutta, historical event you know and whole of India watch on the television the world taking note of these things. So Krishna keeps it together with cello tape, its Krishna, who restored the Euros and not the bankers. Not a blade of grass moves without the sanction of Supreme Lord, if He wanted it to collapse it will collapse overnight, but no they managed to run here and there do some fancy dancing and pasted back together so the Euro is still going on in spite of so many bankrupt nations.
How do you call this progress, so many nations in Europe, United States are also bankrupt, but it is you know blind faith in people still have faith in US dollars. Wherever I go travelling, they want dollars if they can get it you know it’s a mythology. They worship the dollar. But anyways the point is, it’s going to come to end. What Srila Prbhupada said to me was, very soon it will come to an end. But I was so shaken up his statement I didn’t have the presence of mind to ask Srila Prabhupada what is very soon means. I asked the question 35 years ago, we see the symptoms of the world today of deterioration and collapse. The symptoms are there. Sixteenth chapter of BG makes this very clear just like Hiranyakashipu and his men were doing here, the demons are engaged in horrible unbeneficial works meant to destroy the world they get the sense gratification out of it, then they destroy the world in order to bring that above. So they won’t stop at anything, murder, drug dealing in other words, there was one big big international banker was financing drug smuggling he got caught but didn’t he get punished? No, put to jail? No But if somebody smoked one reefer, then they get 20 year in jail.
There is a story about a veteran you know war veteran he got 10 years of jail for smoking reefer or something. This is Kali Yuga, justice will be determined on how much money you have. You see, this is proven time and again, so this disturbance is going on. This Krishna Conscious movement is the only hope, there is no other hope everything is going down. Now the challenge we face is, clean our own house, because we are chanting Hare Krishna, because we stick our hand in bead bag, sincere devotees change 16 rounds, because we are trying to follow Prabhupada, those that are sincere, yet at the same time Krishna Conscious is not automatic it’s not mechanical. It is what you do in the name of Krishna, it is what you do in the name of Srila Prabhupada, that’s what counts. Not what is on paper? So there is two things Jñāna and Vijñāna. Generally we have more emphasis is on Jñāna than Vijñāna. Vijñāna. is the practical application, we have to execute the practical application of Srila Prabhupada teachings, the teachings of the Shastra, we have to live by it. We have breathe, we have to walk it, they say talk is cheap so talking is not enough, its breathing it, living by it, how we behave with others, how are we treating others as especially other devotees. It does not matter how many years you have been in this movement that is not how you measure advancement of Krishna Consciousness. supposing you have been a devotee for 30 years, Jai. You have got some Nistha, some steadiness but if your heart is hard then it’s a low grade Nishtha right? Yes no? May be nistha of the lowest quality if the heart, Srila Rupa Goswami says, steel framed. We see many 30 years of devotees have still steel framed heart, lacking compassion, lacking mercy lacking, lacking tolerance after practically 30 years of Krishna Consciousness. Lack of humility, puffed up, Doctor Frog, this is going on, Impersonalism,
I don’t know what is like in lady sector but amongst men I find ice-cold impersonalism even amongst senior devotees. You know, I joined the movement in 1967 took imitation in 1968, now I’m a Sanyasi of course these things are external, that’s right. But when I walk around many of my God brothers that I have known for decades, don’t even say Haribol. Don’t even do like this (folding hands) a mini pranam, ice cold where is the advancement? The real advancement in Krishna Consciousness means to become soft hearted. Isn’t it? Yes, no? If you are heard hearted, if you can’t even go like this, (pranam) when you see a Sanyasi the shastra says, you bow down and offer obeisance when you see an Sanyasi ,if you don’t you have to fast. I’m not making it up that’s what the shastra says. But if the sanyasi is going to walk around expecting that everyone is going to fall at neck and pay Dandavat pranams. It is not self-aggrandizement of the sanyasi, it is not the false-ego of the sanyasi, it is the culture it is genuine real civilization.
We have to do a reality check, what do you want to be in thirty years from now in your Krishna Consciousness? Do you want to be hard hearted? you want to be externally successful, you want to claim the corporate ladder and get a pat on the head with big big men is that what u want? Or do you actually want to go to Braj? If if you want to just claim the cooperate ladder you can do that, you can distinguish yourself with your service, you can work v hard , Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur said work now, Samadhi Later. That statement from Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur of course it’s very important that’s because he didn’t want his men to be lazy sit back and eat lots of prasadam, he didn’t like it when his sanyasis are overweight, No, he didn’t want his men to be lazy, just eat lots of prasadam, do little bhajans and say some sloka, eat some more prasadam take a nap etc. . He didn’t want that. So he said “Work now Samadhi later to prevent laziness” But is that all in all? It is been misinterpreted that famous statement by Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur has been misinterpreted. So the result is if you misinterpret that statement by Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur then you neglect inner development. Something that Aindra Prabhu constantly said, non-stop, stressed inner development in Krishna Consciousness.
If you don’t develop the inner nature, if you don’t become soft hearted you missed the whole point. We see devotees are sometimes cruel, See a dog kick it, and is that Krishna Consciousness? Is that what you know? Gaura Kishora Das babaji once he was taking Prasad and then there was a female dog moved in somewhere near his hut. So the 5 puppies came to his hut, they were to eat Prasad off his plate. So his servant was freaked out (enacting to shoo the dog), you know. He was freaking out. So Gaura Kishora Das babaji said, “Don’t do that they are dham vasis”, if you do that I will fast. Oh .also should we take example fro materialist, prakratha bhakta?
You can’t be thirty years devotee and still be a materialist if your heart is not soft, if you can pass another senior Vaishnava and you can’t even say Haribol, then your granthi is very strong. Granthi means the knot in the heart is very strong. Impersonalism, in so many ways, our movement was infected by impersonalism not exactly mayavadi philosophy but just coldness in dealings between certain levels of devotees, you know. This must be measured against what Shastra says. We are supposed to follow what the shastra says we are supposed to follow. If you study, I guess all of you to study the instructions of Vaishnava acharyas, Narottam Das Thakur, Srinivas Acharya. Their biographies are available, I have them I have a set of Biographies available in my computer drive, I can give it to you, Biographies of Vaishnava saints and study their dealings , not only our Prabhupada but previous acharyas sat goswamis. What is Vaishnava behaviour? We are supposed to know, we have to know the Vijñān, we have to know the practical applications for these teachings, how to apply this teachings otherwise what will happen is, I was watching at the ILS, ISKCON leadership Sanga, they were showing a film, the devotees going on in the streets and introducing people to Mahamantra for the first time, as a part of the 50th anniversary celebration. So they were getting people just to chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, happy, peace. People were laughing and smiling and ecstatic Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna ecstatic happy, you know they are chanting, they are brand new to Krishna Consciousness but they are chanting and they are very happy. You get it?, they are brand new to Krishna Consciousness. But sometimes, what is it, after 30 years you are not happy. (Enacting how they act)Urr urr, Chant to be happy prabhu, you know is it like that? Is that advancement in Krishna Consciousness? You will get what you want because Krishna Consciousness movement, the Shastra is teaching us.
Srila Prabhupada says the shastra is the desire tree. You will get what you want out of it. If you want to become a big man or big woman you can do that well what’s going on internally? Did we neglect their internal development then we will be going mechanically. I may have big big positon but what is the merit, if I’m hard hearted, I miss the point.
We have to take example from the acharyas read it please if you want to give me your pen drive, I have right here in my computer, life’s of Vaishnava acharyas. What are their sweet loving relationship always placing the topmost values on the other devotees without consideration, you understand? Yes? Without consideration of their position is he a big devotee oh! If he is famous or not famous, the real vaishanvas not make those considerations. Why shall we make those considerations? Those considerations are Prakrta-Bhakta, I don’t care if you have been chanting for 30 years, Prakrita-Bhakta, Kanishta adikari. Actually what we have in our movement is generally mixture between Kanishta and Madhyama. Kanishta can do what’s done in this movement. we have many mixture between kanishta and Madhyama who are preaching and doing all kinds of things. But the mixture between, not 100% madhyama. If they are preaching they must be madhyama, yes, but are they 100% Madhyama? I came across a very shocking statement by Srila Prabhupada, it shake me up. Srila Prabhupada said anyone who is attached to honour is Kanishta Adikari, I said oh my God!! I’ve been always thinking myself as Madhyama adikari, some sort, but not very high madhyama, and I can preach, and I can increase the faith in the hearts of devotees in one hour. I can do many things by mercy by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, what can I say that I’m free from desire, No? Yes ir no? So then I myself holding up the mirror because in the Bhagavad Gita Krishna says “the introspective sage”, so we have to hold up the mirror and look within ourselves where am I spiritually? Now we live in a world of demons and same things are still going in kaliyuga and getting worse and worse how come we reform the world unless we have compassion, tolerance and love? What will happen to thousands of innocent people we bring them to Krishna Consciousness? Chant and be happy they become ecstatic, they love chanting Hare Krishna, they get into the movement and then find out that some leaders are hard hearted. What is it going to do their faith, to find out some leaders are intolerant? What’s that going to do to their faith? Because everyone in this movement whether they are so called big devotee or whether they are officially Acharya or whether they are just passing out books, in any case, every single devotee must be “mini archarya”, why? Because we are representing Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. People cannot see Krishna, He is God, and He is unapproachable. His toenails cannot even be approached by yogis but Prabhupada is making available so, representing Krishna. All that they know about Krishna, is through devotee. That’s all I know whatever opinion they develop about Krishna is dependent on the quality of presentation made by the first devotee that they talked to. Isn’t it? Everyone has this experience, if you enliven them, inspire them, and get them going in chanting and get them going in reading & Srila Prabhupada books then that is called real preaching. They get favourably experience in Krishna Consciousness they will carry on, want more association like that you know? So our duty is non-stop, always representing Krishna, many acharyas. Never mind position if you sit on vyasasan, you are Acharya, not like that. You know some of you have a special position, that is very good but everyone must be mini Acharya, small Acharya by example. We have to teach Krishna Consciousness by our example. Then there will be ultimate Hare Krishna explosion when we are the movement is exploding, expanding but we want quality as well as quantity, Isn’t it? Yes? So we have to be very careful about institutional racism because you know there’s prathista. Prathista means positon, attachment, and that can that can strength the grumpier knot in the heart, you know, that can cause one to chant with the 10th offense. If you are attached to position, order and power and whatever then that 10th offense certainly is there, then they will be trouble. Then we see many of my God brothers, very very dedicated, but because of the 10th office hati-mata, the mad elephant offense against Vaishnavas they fell down. Some of the my greatest God brothers have most impressive results externally, a millions of books distributed thousands of devotees made, open so many temples built those that fell down why? Was Krishna unappreciative? Should we conclude Krishan didn’t appreciate their hard work and glorious accomplishment? No, hati-mata. Engage in every case, hati-mata, Vaishnava aparadha, puffed up, proud, prathista, it is a killer. So, we have to be careful, we have to think about the sloka in Bhagavad Gita, about introspective sage. We have to hold up the mirror and look inside, we have to give ourselves honest report card just like that. I conclude by reading this one of my favourite verse in Srimad Bhagavatam,
[SB 1.2.17]
srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrt satam
Sir Krishna who is Supreme Personality of Godhead is the paramatma who is in everyone’s heart and is benefactor of the truthful devotee. We may think, well, I don’t tell lies, no but it’s deeper than that. But we don’t have time to discuss. The truthful devotee cleanses the desire for natural material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages that means a little bit of Ruchi at least, which are themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted. So we have to truthful we have to hold up our mirror, what is my progress we have to give ourselves our own progress report, you see. Just not waiting until somebody else or a superior corrects us, we ourselves have to do constant self-evaluation then we can progress in the movement. Thank you very much.
KK Bindu #371, continuing three crucial points for making advancement from Vallabhacharya, plus more
The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released. This issue includes:
* THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS – Some personal instructions to disciples,
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
* The Reverse of “Radha” – A first-time ever translation speaking about the condition of Radha in separation from Krishna.
* WISDOM, PATIENCE AND SURRENDER Part Two – Another first time translation done especially for this issue of Bindu of some writings of Srila Vallabhacharya regarding three crucial points for making advancement on the path of devotion.
* POVERTY BY CHOICE – A fresh translation done for this issue of a verse by Srila Prabhodananda Saraswati Thakur.
It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu371
Dear devotees, this morning with a heavy heart we left the temple of Madana Gopal in Belpukur. The beautiful Madan Gopal was worshipped by Sachimata’s father. The worship has been going on for about 1.700 years. From there we entered Simantadvipa which corresponds to the process of hearing sravanam. Soon enough the first katha of […]
The post Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2016 (Day 7) appeared first on Mayapur.com.
ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 02/14/2016
Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes Simple Living, Cow Protection, Engaging Oxen, Local Agriculture, and above all, Loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.
Participating Directors: Anuttama, Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, and Sri Tulasi Manjari
Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna, Radha-Krishna
Participating Managers: Mukunda, Nitaicandra
Recording Secretary: Jamuna Jivani (partial attendance)
1. Vraja Johnson as Advisor
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to maintain a team of advisors.
RESOLVED: The Board designates Vraja (Meberg) Johnson as an Advisor for a one-year term.
2. ISKCON New Vrindaban Community Gardens
INV recently expressed a long-term vision to develop housing along the edge of the Community Garden space. The ECO-V Board has been made aware, generally agrees with the proposal and requests the specifics be addressed by the ECO-V and INV managers.
3. Kulimela 2016 Event Funding
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to support the promotion of the New Vrindaban village in the broader ISKCON community.
RESOLVED: The ECO-V Board grants $16,500 to the Kulimela Association in support of the upcoming festival to be held in New Vrindaban June 2016.
By His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada The so-called political leaders are busy making plans to advance the material prosperity of their nation, but factually these political leaders only want an exalted position for themselves. Due to their greed for material position, they falsely present themselves as leaders before the people and collect their votes, although they are completely under the grip of the laws of material nature. These are some of the faults of modern civilization. Without taking to God consciousness and accepting the authority of the Lord, the living entities become ultimately confused and frustrated in their planmaking attempts. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada about political leaders
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By Chaitanya dasa Avatars of Sri Krishna Bhagavan must: 1. Comply with predictions in authoritative scriptures 2. Display 32 auspicious markings on the body and feet 3. Have long arms that past the knees. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is 7 ft tall and also known as Sri Gauranga because he has the complexion of molten gold. He has auspicious markings on His body and His feet and his slender arms extend down to His knees which are further evidence that He is an avatar of the Supreme Lord. Continue reading "The Golden Avatar
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Nagar Sankirtan at Langkawi Island, Malaysia (Album with photos)
On the 14th of March, 30 devotees from ISKCON Sungai Petani conducted Nagar Sankirtan at Kuah, Langkawi accompanied by Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. 14 Bhagavad-Gita were distributed and hundreds of packet-prasadam were given out.
The residents were very receptive of the message of Lord Chaitanya. Everyone in the houses that we visited chanted the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.
In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of ISKCON, we humbly offer this service at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/gfrspT
March 19. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: On Love of Guru and Krishna.
I recently had a conversation with a friend who claimed that theoreticians estimate that the average person accomplishes only 10% of his promises, is open to only 10% of his emotions, and his heart is only 10% alive with love. If there is any truth in that, it isfrightening to consider that I will miss out on so much in life. I have the greatest fortune to be linked to the Supreme Lord and to his best devotees, but if I give only 10% of my love, that is the greatest misfortune.
Krishna consciousness is about love. It is the art and science of love, not just ordinary love, but Supreme love – love of God. Krishna loves us and He wants us to serve Him. “Offer me with devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit …” But I am not immersed in love. Therefore my relationship with Krishna takes place through my connection with my spiritual master. I need to learn how to love Srila Prabhupada. I still haven’t learned this lesson, but it is meant to help me learn the secrets of loving exchange with Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna.
Prabhupada acknowledged self-esteem as an important element of this relationship. We cannot become a surrendered servant by pounding ourselves into the ground like a wooden peg. And neither can another person pound us into loving surrender. I have to meet my needs. I need to serve my spiritual master. And I need to do it with self-knowledge. When I know how to love him, then he will teach me how to love Krishna. I am groping toward this end.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=6
On Love of Guru and Krishna
A few days back, on 10th March 2016 devotees gathered to honor the disappearance of HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj. Everybody took a small trip and gathered around a beautifully decorated samadhi of HH Tamal Krishna Goswami to offer flowers at his lotus feet. HH Bhakti Charu Maharaj then sang Je anilo prema dhana prayers […]
The post HH Tamal Krishna Goswami disappearance day lecture appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.
The powerful Mrdangas sounded like a giant heart beat perfectly following the rhythm of the Kirtan. The Holy Name was entering one ear and going straight to the heart, then entering from the other ear and again going straight to the heart, incredible powerful transcendental feeling. All devotees have been in bliss for the four […]
The post Mayapur Kirtan Mela 2016 appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.
On 21st Febrauary 2016, HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj graced Krishnanagar for an auditorium preaching program on the occasion of 50th anniversary of International society for Krishna Consciousness. A series of programs are organised by devotees worldwide to celebrate ISKCON’s golden anniversary. Thousands of local people attended the festival. The talk was given in Bengali by […]
The post ISKCON’s 50th anniversary program in Krishnanagar appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 October 2012, Govinda Valley, Australia, Lecture)
The Caitanya Caritamrta is our main book! It is the one book that gives us our particular identity as gaudiya vaisnavas. All vaisnavas basically accept the Bhagavad-gita. Many vaisnavas appreciate Srimad Bhagavatam. Of course, we give most importance to Srimad Bhagavatam but Caitanya Caritamrta is the particular book which combines the element of Krsna with mercy, that we depend on mercy. So it makes the whole picture complete because without that mercy, where would we be!? We are not so strong spiritually so very much we need this book. We read and learn Bhagavad-gita, we study Bhagavatam but finally, in Caitanya Caritamrta, we find our spiritual life in a complete sense. This is why the Caitanya Caritamrta is the most important of all books.
Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakur was once in Assam and near a river. Suddenly, an earth tremor occurred which was quite strong and it created a flash flood. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the whole area flooded and then Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakur spoke about the maha-pralaya which is the stage when the universe floods and gets destroyed but later it comes into being again.
He spoke about maha-pralaya and he said that when the final devastating flood comes, then what will you do? You will grab your valuables, right! You grab the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrta and you try to keep your head above water but when it gets too much… it gets too heavy… you can let the Bhagavad-gita go! Then you walk further with Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrta and he said if that gets too heavy, you can let the Bhagavatam go; put your whole arm around Caitanya Caritamrta. Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakur said that from this book everything can be restored!
Prabhupada said that it is due to Caitanya Caritamrta that we are unique. It is Caitanya Caritamrta which teaches us the unique features of our identity, of who we are as gaudiya vaisnavas. In other words, this is the book that tells us completely what we are doing! Not that I am speaking against the Bhagavad-gita because it includes Bhagavad-gita and it includes the Bhagavatam. So, we must study Bhagavad-gita but personally I make this book, the Caitanya Caritamrta, the object of my study!
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada has set a vision for devotees to “hunt for the rhinoceros” and to “think big”. His Divine Grace personally believed in engaging the leaders of society in Krishna Consciousness in order to set an example to the common populace. In pursuance of this vision, by the blessings of Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi and Srila Prabhupada, we received the rare opportunity of visiting the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi at his residence in New Delhi and gifting him a copy of the Special Edition Bhagavad Gita, printed in Italy. The Prime Minister liked this Special Gita and assured that he will keep it with him all his life.
HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja apprised the Prime Minister about the global preaching efforts of ISKCON, particularly the propagation of the priceless message of the Bhagavad Gita in most of the significant languages of the world. The Prime Minister was pleased to hear that the Bhagavad Gita is available in 81 languages of the world.
The Prime Minister was also presented with a copy of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is in Russian, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi and English. Maharaja also offered to have a copy of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is in all languages, kept in the Prime Minister’s Library; something which Srila Prabhupada would have been pleased to hear.
He also told him that ISKCON has over 650 temples across the world and more than 60 Goshalas. The Prime Minister mentioned twice or thrice during the meeting that ISKCON is doing good work.
Maharaja presented him with a photo of his visit to Moscow in October, 2001.He was pleased to see this photo, recollecting his Russia visit and the trip to the ISKCON Temple in Moscow.
The ISKCON team also utilized the opportunity to invite the Prime Minister as the Chief Guest for the major function we are planning for the ISKCON 50 celebrations -centered on the Joy of Devotion- in November. The Prime Minister mentioned that he needed some time for confirmation and did not commit, but was favorable to the idea. We are hoping for Krishna’s mercy that this possibility materializes.
It was particularly heartening to see the joyful and respectful manner in which the Prime Minister received the ISKCON team and spent nearly 15 minutes with us.
As soon as the meeting was over, Doordarshan, the National Television Channel of India started flashing the video coverage of the meeting. By afternoon, Twitter with several million followers of the Prime Minister, his YouTube Channel and the Prime Minister’s website Narendramodi.in- all flashed the following personal message: ” Touched to receive a copy of the Gita from Shri. Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja.”
This was the first ever time that a meeting with the Prime Minister of India has been featured so prominently and positively across media, particularly the wide reaching social media.Please find attached, the official photographs of this meeting.Many thanks.
Your servant
Vrajendranandan Das Director-ISKCON National Communications, New Delhi
By Nitya Kishor Dasi
Dear devotees, this morning with a heavy heart we left the temple of Madana Gopal in Belpukur.
The beautiful Madan Gopal was worshipped by Sachimata’s father. The worship has been going on for about 1.700 years. From there we entered Simantadvipa which corresponds to the process of hearing sravanam. Soon enough the first katha of the day was held under a huge banyan tree. It wasn’t just tall in size but it vigorously spread in all directions with branches which were almost as thick as the main trunk. It can only be compared to the tree Krishna describes in the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 15. That place is called Panca Vaktra, a name of Siva who possesses 5 mouths. In this connection Maha visnu swami led us in a truly ecstatic kirtan where he sang the following lines:
Brahma bole cathur mukhe Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Mahadeva panca mukhe Rama Rama Hare Hare
Next we had Guru Puja at the temple of Simantini Devi who is Paravati Devi after she placed the dust from Gauranga’s lotus feet upon the middle part of her head. That is called ‘simanta’. Because of this pastime this island is known as Simantadvipa.
Simantini devi and Lord Shiva ( a skit at Simantadvipa)
From there the Parikrama arrived at Chand Kazi’s Samadhi where the kirtan went on a different dimension, reminding one and all of the historical kirtan procession Lord Caitanya held from Srivasa Angan to the dwelling of the Kazi. This pastime was enacted in a drama directed by HG Pancaratna Prabhu assisted by the talented Delhi devotees. Soon we arrived at our campsite at Rajapur, Jagannatha Mandir which is non-different from Jagannatha Puri.
Hilarious skit at Cand Kazi’s samadhi, directed by HG Pancharatna prabhu
HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, Parikrama Chairman
Finally in the evening to complete our Parikrama experience we had a realization session where many devotees spoke up. They shared with the group how they have been transformed from day 1, how they loved the prasadam and how fortunate they felt to perform devotional service in the holy dhama in the company of so many wonderful vaishnavas.
To bless the occasion HH Jayapataka Swami arrived. After listening to most of the realizations, he addressed all the members with compassion, encouragement and gratitude.
On the 8th day (18th of March), we are going to see the sacred places in Antardvipa, the island of full surrender. It is interesting that a big part of ISKCON Mayapur complex is situated in Antardvipa. We are just 1km from Yoga Pitha. Those who come to Mayapur or live here are invited to practice the process of surrender; these are the blessings of this island. We are scheduled to reach ISKCON Mayapur campus tomorrow 9:00am where a Maha Milan (great meeting) will take place with all the parties meeting at the same time, which demands a lot of communication and organization from the leaders, securities, Parade commanders and Coordinators.
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