Planet ISKCON

In 1965, a 69 year-old spiritual teacher from India arrives in the West and settles among the hippies of New York’s Lower East Side. From a tiny storefront, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami starts a revolution of consciousness influencing tens of thousands in the US and worldwide. But what happens to his spiritual movement after their charismatic leader’s passing? Will it survive? Will it change? Can an ancient Eastern religious tradition be relevant in the modern 21st century? In celebration of the upcoming Gaura Purnima festival, a new documentary short has now been released online and is available to share worldwide.  

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Alachua devotee meets Hawaii Congressional Representative Tulsi Gabbard. (Album with photos)
It was great meeting Tulasi and Bernie Sanders today in Gainesville, Florida. Gave Maha sweets. Here is Tulasi with garland. Hopefully Tulasi Gabbard and Bernie enjoyed sweets a lot. It was a great rally. Also passed on yesterday’s Maha cookies to many volunteers.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/w6xtPD

Morning SB class 10 July 2015 Vrindavan in English by HH Lokanath Swami

Beautiful photos from above of the devotees in Mayapur’s Navadvipa Parikrama (Album with photos)
Prananatha Das: Today the Navadwip Mandala Parikrama visited Saranga Murari’s Sripat (house) and Vasudeva Datta’s Deity, Mamgachi: The birth place of Vrindavana dasa Thakura, Arka-Tila: Nondifferent from Surya-kunda and Mahatpura.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/cOHZJo

A new sannyasi for Iskcon.
Dear devotees,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
It is with great joy that we announce that HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami
will be awarding sannyasa to HG Mahat Tattva Prabhu on the auspicious day of Ekadasi, Saturday, 19 March 2016 at ISKCON Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. Mahat Tattva Prabhu will be the first devotee to receive the renounced order of life from Maharaja.
Srila Prabhupada: Any devotee who has developed genuine love for Krishna can also explain the truth about Krishna because Krishna helps such sincere devotee seated in his heart. Delhi, September 20, 1967.

An initiation ceremony in Mayapura (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: An initiation ceremony in Mayapura through the eye of one of ISKCON’s most famous photographers, Ananta Vrindavan dasa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/eER1ld

By Nitya Kishor Dasi

Dear devotees today Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama moved from the wonderful island of Jahnudvipa to Modadrumadvipa which corresponds to the process of dasyam, servitorship.

Before introducing today’s events we’d like to share how last evening H.G. Rajendranandana Prabhu enlightened everybody.

The topic of the lecture was: Lord Caitanya gives his mercy to the most fallen. He said: “When Krishna manifested His pastimes only very few people, His eternal associates recognized Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He wasn’t sharing love of Himself. As Srila Prabhupada says Lord Krishna demanded that we surrender unto Him. Lord Caitanya is different. He is in the mood of the highest devotee Srimati Radharani. His mercy is a bottomless ocean; even a drop of it can drown the entire world. But are we experiencing it? Why not? If we sleep through our devotional life, how do we expect to make considerable progress? We must realize how we are suffering, how we are helpless. And sincerely pray. Lord Caitanya has given us the most powerful prayer the maha mantra. This is what we should pray for here in Jahnudvipa…

This morning the main stop was at Mamgachi, Srila Vrindavana das Thakur’s birthplace. We heard from His Holiness Bhakti Purusottama Swami (Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Coordinator) that Modadrumadvipa is the most beautiful island of Navadvipa filled with an abundance of trees. In Treta Yuga Lord Ramachandra came here during His exile with Sita devi and Lakshmana. At that time Lord Rama revealed to Sita Thakurani about His appearance as Gauranga . He says: “When I appear here again in the Kali Yuga I will take sannyasa, thus making my mother and my wife cry in separation.” Sita said: “If you know you are going to take sannyasa then why will you marry? Why will you be so cruel to your wife?” No one was prepared for what Lord Ramachandra responded:” By their own efforts my devotees attain me, but it is by my special mercy that they temporarily or apparently loose me. Even higher than service in union with me, is service in separation from me. Therefore to give them the highest pleasures I make my devotees cry for me” This is what Lord Caitanya came to give.

Later on, at the end of the day about 12 Srila Prabhupada disciples who were walking with us, disclosed to our group the sweetest memories of their first days in ISKCON. There were: HH Bhakti V.V.Narasimha Swami, HH Maha Vishnu Swami, HH Kavichandra Swami, HG Sauri Prabhu, HG Paranjana Prabhu, HG Sikhi Mahiti Prabhu, HG Tribhaga Ananda Prabhu, HG Padmalocana Prabhu, HG Jananivas Prabhu, HG Pankajanghri Prabhu, HG Surabhi Mataji, HG Srikama Mataji .

HG Pankajanghri: “I came to Mayapur and what happened was that Jananivas kidnaped me and I have been assisting him ever since.”

HG Janinavas Prabhu:” I had been in India for around 1 year when I met the devotees in the Puri Ratha Yatra. I met one Australian bhakta who answered all my questions so nicely. I asked “Why do you only chant Krishna’s names? What about Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva?” He answered “We chant Krishna’s name because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” I was so touched by that answer. In moments I purchased a back to Godhead for 2 rupees, and after a few steps somebody wanted to buy it from me, so I sold it. 3 days later I joined the temple. Just see the power of book distribution”.

The Katha was delivered under a huge banyam tree, and from there the party moved through the beautiful landscape of Sri Navadvipa Dhama till Pratapnagar, again we stayed in ISKCON’s own land. Pratapnagar is such a Paradise, very nearby the Ganges shore; many devotees went to take bath in the Ganges after reaching the Camp.

Today’s evening class will be given by HH Bhakti Vigna Vinas Narasimha Swami Maharaj. He is one of our speakers coordinator, he stays in the camp and he comes every year for Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama, his speech is always full of spiritual strength, Maharaj speaks fluent Chinese and he brings a lot of devotees from his preaching field (China) to Parikrama.

Tomorrow morning we are leaving Pratapnagar by boat. This is Parikrama lifestyle and because of that some devotees just asking themselves ‘why should we stop, let’s just move forward with kirtan, prasada and katha in the association of wonderful devotees’. In this ways our desires becomes purified, and our eagerness to serve Krsna increases more and more.

March 16. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: The Perfect Disciple.
Srila Prabhupada told us many things about his relationship with his spiritual master. One time, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura reprimanded him when it appeared that Srila Prabhupada had diverted his attention from his Guru Maharaja’s lecture. When they first met, Srila Prabhupada debated with Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati about India’s independence. Prabhupada told us, “I liked being defeated by my spiritual master.” He dreamt of his spiritual master, too, mostly the same serious dream, in which Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati told Srila Prabhupada to take sannyāsa.
His spiritual master praised him highly on a number of occasions for his attentive hearing, and for his poetry and prose writings. He said, “Whatever he writes, publish it.” When Srila Prabhupada’s godbrothers asked Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati to make Srila Prabhupada the president of the Bombay Temple, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “It is better that he lives outside your company. He will do everything himself. You do not have to recommend him.”
After their first meeting, Srila Prabhupada had to travel away on business, but he often thought fondly of his spiritual master. Of course, they had some personal meetings in which important things were conveyed to our Srila Prabhupada, especially his Guru Maharaja’s order, “If you ever get money, print books.” Then, near the end of his Guru Maharaja’s life, they exchanged letters. Srila Prabhupada asked, “How may I serve you?” And his spiritual master replied, “You can explain in English our thoughts and arguments. This will do much good to yourself as well as to your audience. I have every hope that you can turn yourself into a very good English preacher if you serve the mission.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=6

The Perfect Disciple

QUESTION: If one knows the essence of the sastras, is one exempted from reading difficult portions of the sastras which are very philosophical? Like we at least know theoretically the conclusion of sastras that we are not the body but a spirit soul, a part and parcel of Krishna and as a part, its our duty and nature to love and serve the whole, Krishna. Basically this is the entire philosophy and conclusions of sastras, so why read and acquire more knowledge?

Every morning I relish hearing Damodara Dasa’s rendering of Srila Prabhupada’s translation of Sri Caitanya-catitamrta. Today I heard Madhya-lila Chapter 23, “Life’s Ultimate Goal,” which includes the list of Srimati Radharani’s twenty-five principal transcendental qualities—one of which is “full of mercy” (karuna-purna). When I heard “full of mercy,” I thought, “This is my only hope: ‘full of mercy’—Srimati Radharani is full of mercy.”

Jaya Sri Radhe!

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

The words “Kuli Mela” literally mean “celebrate community!” in Sanskrit. And the tenth anniversary of the very first Kuli Mela – coming back to New Vrindaban from June 15^th to 19^th --will do exactly that. With its main themes of “celebrating family” and “building community,” the festival will bring around 1,000 people from the first, second, and third generations of ISKCON together.

A video by Devamrita Swami.

UK Youth Mela to Empower ISKCON Youth in Europe.
Around 300 youth aged 15 to 35 from all over Europe are expected to attend Youth Mela in Leicester, UK from September 1st to 4th this year.
The convention, organized by the Pandava Sena and ISKCON Europe Youth Ministry, aims to empower youth throughout ISKCON Europe and connect them with Srila Prabhupada.
“The event is inspired by the International Leadership Sanga in Mayapur, and Kulimela worldwide,” says Kumari Kunti Dasi, who is coordinating with her husband Visvambhara Caitanya Das. “So we’re hoping to have a flavor of both.”
“We really believe that the greatest input our generation can offer ISKCON is cooperation – cooperation in the effort to please Srila Prabhupada and his mission. Empowering the youth to find their place and service is a missing piece to our movement.”
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/DkgKgB

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Pilgrimage to Mayapur (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If death takes place, let it take here. There is nothing to be said new. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not, it doesn’t matter. As Krishna is living eternally, similarly, living being also lives eternally. But “One who has done service to the Lord lives forever.” So you have been taught to serve Krishna, and with Krishna we’ll live eternally. Our life is eternal. A temporary disappearance of this body doesn’t matter. Body is meant for disappearance. So live forever by serving Krishna. Vrndavan, May 17, 1977.
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Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 12, No. 4
By Krishna-kripa das
(February 2016)
Preaching in North Florida, New York City, Dublin
(Sent from Rishikesh on March 15, 2016)
Wealth is not a source of pleasure but a source of entanglement and anxiety.
One of the King Louis’s of France, was so completely disgusted with the falsity of palace life, he and some of his intimate friends would sometimes leave the palace and dress themselves as cow herds, and milk the cows and sport in the fields.
There is one song where Bhaktivinoda Thakura prays he would rather take birth as an insect in the house of a devotee than Lord Brahma. Why? If you take birth as an insect in the home of a devotee, that devotee will give you protection. He will not call the exterminator.
Lord Caitanya describes world of birth and death to be like an ocean because if you are drowning in a ocean, you have to be pulled out by someone. Similarly, we need Krishna to pull us out of samsara [the ocean of birth and death].
Srila Prabhupada said the love of a mother for her child is the closest thing to the unconditional love of the pure soul for God.
Srila Prabhupada said we should call out when we chant like a baby calling out for its mother.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/jB0zTb

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Sri Vrindavan Dham, March 15, 2016

Dear Devotees,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We are heartily inviting all serious students to this year’s VIHE Bhakti-sastri course. The Bhakti-sastri course is a systematic study of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Prabhupada wanted all of us to deeply study his books, so that we could become better preachers and teachers, and, very importantly, achieve a clear understanding and application of the beautiful science of devotional service. Shri Vrindavan Dham mercifully provides a unique environment to enhance one’s taste and appreciation for the treasures of the direct path of bhakti.

This year the English Bhakti-sastri course in Vrindavan is scheduled to take place from July 2, 2016 to Nov 3, 2016.

Requirements for the course: Good sadhana, brahminical tendencies, voluntary service, proficiency in English and a 2 recommendation/character sketch, one from your spiritual master and from a senior devotee who knows you well. Assessment criteria include attendance and personal conduct.

Assessment : Essays and closed book exams accompanied by exemplary conduct and sadhana.

Admissions close on : June 1, 2016.

Teachers:

Bhagavad Gita-

H.H. Bhakti Dhira Damodar Swami

H.G. Laxmimoni devi dasi

H.G. Sarvabhauma das

H.G. Kamal Lochan das

H.G. Praneshwar das

H.G. Adi Purush das

Nectar of Devotion-

H.G. Adi Purush das

Nectar of Instruction-

H.G. Aniruddha das

H.G. Anuradha devi dasi

Isopanishad-

H.G. Prashanta devi dasi

Deity Worship-

H.G. Mukunda Datta das.

Sanskrit Pronunciation-

To be announced

For more detailed information please contact:

E-mail: vihe.courses.admissions@pamho.net; Web site: http://vihe.org

Phone: +917060690226 (Damodarashtak das)

Please kindly post this information on your temple board and tell your friends. Thank you!

Your servants at the VIHE

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Sridhar Swami’s Samadhi Dedication.
Giriraj Swami: My dear brother Sridhar Swami Maharaja,
I feel so much separation today. What can I say? Now Mrs. Singhal, Srila Prabhupada’s beloved daughter and our affectionate mother, has also left us here. Somehow her departure has served to awaken my feelings of separation from you, from His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami, and ultimately from our Srila Prabhupada.

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It was soon after Shrila Prabhupada departed for Vaikuntha—just about the time Hare Krishna Land was opened in early 1978—that a terrible riot erupted outside the front gate of the Juhu property. India is a volatile country and such riots often involving dozens of deaths are an all too common event there. The riot began when an illegal squatter on the property assaulted and verbally abused a hot-headed chokidar, or temple gatekeeper. In the ensuing brawl, the squatter met his end through a blow from another chokidar. With a man lying dead, a scuffle was now transformed into a riot wherein an incensed crowd converged around the property hurling rocks. Fortunately the riff-raff remained outside on the street, but the devotees had to take shelter for their lives. The riot did not involve even one single ISKCON devotee, neither Indian nor foreign—only local Indians participated in the melee. Nevertheless, six foreign devotees would be arrested and tried for murder in its aftermath. The senior devotee of those “Bombay Six” was Shridhar Swami, and the other accused devotees were thankful to have his stalwart example of surrender to Shrila Prabhupada and the holy name. Continue reading "In the Dungeon With Shridhar Swami
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