Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Hare Krishna in the Movies - 186 Dollars to Freedom (2012)
7 brief clips from the movie when the name of Krishna is mentioned and an actor impersonates a devotee.
Srila Prabhupada: “As fire burns dry grass to ashes, so the holy name of the Lord, whether chanted knowingly or unknowingly, burns to ashes, without fail, all the reactions of one’s sinful activities. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.18)
Watch them here: https://goo.gl/PjmFX0
Cultural Festival and Pandal Decoration ISKCON Mumbai’s 50th Anniversary Celebration The Joy of Devotion Day 1 on 5th Feb 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat: even a little devotional service can save one from the greatest danger. Devotional service, which begins with chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is so powerful that even if one falls down, he can be saved from all calamities if he somehow or other chants the holy name of the Lord. This is the extraordinary power of the Lord’s holy name. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.1.63 Purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/uWKGvQ
Radha Kunda Seva - January 2016 Photos and Updates (Album with photos)
The crowds gathered in Radha Kunda on New Year’s Eve are a sure sign that the world is discovering the speciality of this most glorious holy place. It’s amazing, really, how many people are able to squeeze into this tiny town. And yet, what a perfect way to launch the New Year – by visiting Radha Kunda.
Even better… what a perfect way to spend each and every day - by serving in Radha Kunda!
The fog was late this year, but it finally showed up mid-month. There’s something so magical and mysterious about the fog, the way it closes in on you and isolates you from the world around you. The cleaning and prasadam distribution continued, each cleaner bustling about in his or her little fog bubble and each prasadam recipient emerging from their fog to join the happy prasadam bubble.
We conducted an informal survey of the widows to get a sense of what their needs are. When it comes to shelter, it is very important to them that they have their own independent housing situation. Most of them have a room that they can use for the remaining years of their life while paying a very minimal rent each month. Since they cannot afford gas for cooking and their rooms don’t have the ventilation to allow them to cook using cowdung, and since some are too elderly and feeble to cook for themselves, they are very grateful to receive a fresh, hot meal each day. The main lacking they expressed is medical care. For a while, we were providing medical care to one particularly old and invalid widow, Guru dasi. And we are finding out, as we suspected, that there is a larger need for medical care among the widows in general.
We are also always thinking of ways to engage the widows who are able in some service. A good number of them are already involved in cleaning and prasadam distribution, and the most recent idea is to set up those who will with book tables selling books on the practice of Bhakti Yoga by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. We already have a widow who is eager to take up this service and we should be launching this project soon.
Meanwhile, we are going ahead and sharing the finished plans for the kitchen and asramas with you. We are waiting for government approval at which point, as soon as the funds are in, we will be ready for construction!
We are so grateful for your blessings and support. Jai Jai Sri Radheeeee, Shyam!
Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com.
Your servants, Mayapurcandra dasa, Campakalata Devi dasi, Padma Gopi Devi dasi, and Urmila Devi Dasi.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/G1YEis
Priyavrata das: Food for Life Global is requesting donations to buy a mobile kitchen for our affiliate in Serbia to distribute more than 60,000 vegan meals over the next 6 months to feed refugees seeking asylum in Serbia.
“We are already serving as the main source of food to many refugees pouring through this country, but we could be so much more effective if we could feed them on the spot,” explained Moksha Rupi, head chef for FFL Serbia.
The alarming living conditions of refugees coming to Eastern Europe
Since the beginning of 2015, more than 350,000 migrants and refugees have arrived at European borders with unaccompanied children and vulnerable families making up thousands of them. At the risk of their own lives, these men and women flee the war in the Middle East in the hope of offering a better life and a hopeful future to their children.
Seeing images of boats capsize on the Mediterranean coast and the distress of migrants trying to reach Europe, we all wonder what we can do to help. Refugee families need everything from a shelter to warm clothes, medical and psycho-social support. But the first basic need they experience is the lack of food that is suitable for their journey.
To read the rest of the article click here: http://www.ffl.org/9421/crowdfunding-campaign-launched-to-acquire-mobile-kitchen-for-ffl-serbia/
Prior to leaving South Africa, Kadamba Kanana Swami did programs in Durban and Johannesburg. Here are all the audio recordings for you.
Download ALL.
KKS_SA_DBN_08January2016_SSRR_Lecture_SB_1.18.20
KKS_SA_DBN_08January2016_NJP_Evening_Lecture_SB_10.86.52
KKS_SA_DBN_09January2016_PMB_Home_Program_Kirtan
KKS_SA_DBN_09January2016_PMB_Home_Program_Lecture
KKS_SA_JHB_10January2016_Lenasia_Kirtan
KKS_SA_JHB_10January2016_Lenasia_Lecture_SB_1.1.4
KKS_SA_JHB_10January2016_Midrand_Kirtan
KKS_SA_JHB_10January2016_Midrand_Lecture
Yatra to Vetapalem.
Vetapalem is a big village and very soon transforming into a town. This village is known for hundreds of acres of cashew farms. It is one of the biggest exporter of cashew in Andhra Pradesh. The population is dominated by vaisya community. This village is also famous for cultural activities, especially theatre. There are many famous drama artists and poets from this place. Another prominent thing in this place is a huge library, interestingly this library was established in the pre-independence era in 1918, it has remained a private, family-maintained library–a rare institution of its kind in Andhra Pradesh and perhaps in India. It is one of the foremost research oriented libraries of Andhra Pradesh. This library founded by Late V.V.Shreshti in 1918 has the rare privilege and good fortune of its foundation stone being laid by MK Gandhi ji in 1929. In 1935, Babu Rajendra Prasad visited the Library and acclaimed it. The buildings were opened by Seth Jamnalal Bajaj and Shri Tanguturi Prakasam. Also a whole set of Srila Prabhupada books are available in this library. Successive Chief Ministers and great scholars visited the library and paid encomia.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/zrphZ0
“Our Family Business” set to release at ILS Meetings, Mayapur, February 2016. It’s finally here! The launch of the highly anticipated BBT publication of Our Family Business The Great Art of Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s Books. And the timing couldn’t be better, as ISKCON’s leaders from around the world gather in Mayapur to kick off the 50th anniversary celebration of the incorporation of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness by its Founder Acarya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It’s as if Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself wrote the script for this release. “Our Family Business” gives us a never beforeseen glimpse into the spontaneous beginnings of ISKCON and how Srila Prabhupada’s plan from the get go was to unleash the explosion of a worldwide spiritual revolution through the mass distribution of his books. The author, His Grace Vaisesika Dasa, gives us this rare glimpse into ISKCON’s history from the unique perspective of one who has been distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books continuously for more than 40 years. He has thoroughly researched those books as well and employed his own innovative style to artfully narrate the development of ISKCON through the heartwarming, exhilarating, and life changing adventures of book distributors throughout the world. He offers firsthand insights into the service of distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books and authoritatively describes Srila Prabhupada’s vision of book distribution as “literary kirtana” perfectly linked to the yuga dharma. He goes on to deeply analyze how book distribution is high sadhana that instills a taste for hearing and chanting about Krishna and delivers powerful spiritual realizations. In this very readable book, His Grace Vaisesika Dasa discusses how all services devotees do are actually a part of the family business of distributing transcendental knowledge through the written word and how book distribution benefits distributors, the devotional community, and all those who receive Srila Prabhupada’s books. He also reveals simple and vital secrets to improving and perfecting one’s daily sädhana. He details the famous “Four Laws of Book Distribution” – proven principles guaranteed to improve and increase your book distribution – as well as practical ways to involve your whole congregation in book distribution while making it fun and easy! Several senior disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada have given glowing reviews of . Our Family Business . . His Holiness Jayapataka Swami says, “It’s surely a must-have.” His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami strongly recommends the book to those who distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books, those who want to distribute books but don’t feel inspired enough, and those who have never distributed books. His Holiness Radhanath Swami says he can “feel the contagious spirit of gratitude and compassion that springs from the heart of Vaisesika Dasa” on every page. “ . Our Family Business . is a great milestone in the history of the Hare Krishna movement,” says His Holiness Indradyumna Swami. Our Family Business . will be officially released on 24th February 2016 at the ISKCON Leadership Sanga meetings in Mayapur. For further information about the book, and to place orders in bulk or retail, please check out the website . www.ourfamilybusiness.us . For latest updates on the book, photos, blurbs, reviews and videos, Like the Facebook page . https://www.facebook.com/OurFamilyBusiness/www.ourfamilybusiness.us . For latest updates on the book, photos, blurbs, reviews and videos, Like the Facebook page . https://www.facebook.com/OurFamilyBusiness/ , or follow @BrihatMridanga on Twitter. All questions and clarifications can be directed to brihatmridanga@gmail.com.
Brief video introduction of the book placed at https://vimeo.com/153455522
Premanjana das S.B.7.1.11 – Jan 30th 2016
QUESTION 1: What are the proper conceptions of the Name for persons who are just beginning to chant (i.e. those who are without attachment to Krishna in any particular rasa, but with a desire to somehow or other obtain such an attachment)?
Everyone has some “sambandha” with Krishna, and everyone should invoke his name in the context of that sambandha.
Sambandha means “bond” or “relationship.” Sambandha-jñāna (“knowledge of ones relationship to Krishna”) includes both the abstract and specific aspects of that relationship. The abstract aspects are much more relevant to the beginner, whose comprehension of Krishna is still abstract and somewhat vague. The specific aspects become more relevant as the practitioner clarifies his or her heart and soul through study and application of the mantra.
The abstract aspect of sambandha-jñāna is to know Krishna as the threefold manifest advaya-jñāna-tattva – the ultimate root of all beings and all things, including one’s very own self. Even the newest begginer to bhakti-yoga can be directly instructed about this philosophy. As they begin to comprehend this sambandha, their chanting of Krishna’s name naturally imbibes the sense of calling to the root of all reality, calling to the root and sustainence of one’s very own self.
“You are the root and essence of all the is real.”
“You are the root and essence of my very self.”
These conceptions of relationship to Krishna are pertinent and appropriate to every sādhaka, no matter how neophyte or advanced. But for the neophyte, this is all there is. For the advanced there is this and much more.
QUESTION 2: What are some possible conceptions after the appearance of greed in the heart for a specific relationship with Krishna?
In our quest for sambandha-jñāna we must hear about advaya-jñāna-tattva not only as the essence of everything (brahman), not only as the root of everyone and everything (paramātmā), but also as the delightful epitome of life itself – the Supreme Person (bhagavan). Then, hearing about Bhagavan in more detail from the śāstra, through the guidence of sādhu-guru, we will fairly soon find some details or aspects of Bhagavan that really “speak to” us, that “click” with us, and truly attract our heart and attention uncommonly and undeniably. This is the beginning of a rati-bija (seed of affection), described as laulya or lobha (longing and wanting, or “greed”).
If this never happens, we develop a bija for śānta-rati which is directed upon Paramātmā. If it does not happen with any specificity, but only as a general attraction, then we develop bija for service in general, dāsya-rati, directed upon Nārāyaṇa
In most cases, by attentively and thoughtfully hearing Srimad Bhagavatam from sādhu-guru, the attraction should gradually develop increasing specificity. Once we notice a spark of specific interest, we must enthusiastically fan that spark into flame – by hearing more and more about that topic of interest.
The more we recognize this spontaneous, undeniable interest in us for particular qualities of Krishna that express themselves in particular līlā with particupar parikara (associates), the more our sambandha develops some specificity, and moves away from the general, abstract sambandha characteristic of the yogi-bhaktas of śānta-rasa and the aśwarya-bhaktas of dāsya-rasa.
As specificity develops, the sādhaka would invoke Krishna’s name with increasingly specific subjective feeling. Somewhat generic examples include… “O Krishna my master,” or “O Krishna my friend,” “O Krishna my son,” “O Krishna my darling lover.”
With more clarity, one always hankers to keep Krishna with the devotee whose affection one cherishes. So for example, instead of “O Krishna my darling lover,” It could become “O Krishna our darling lover.” Or, “O Krishna, Rādhā’s darling lover.”
Each name in the mahāmantra takes an appropriate context relative to the chanter’s sambandha. For example, to one whose sambandha is mādhurya/ujjvala (Romantic), Hare means something like, “O Krishna’s enchanting beloved Rādhā.” Krishna means something like, “O Rādhā’s all-attractive beloved.” Rāma means something like, “O Radha’s delight/delighter.”
QUESTION 3: I’ve heard some devotees quote Aindra prabhu in saying that in the beggining one can conceive of the Name to be Gaura-Nitai.
“In the beginning” means in the beginning of the Kīrtan or initial batch of japa “rounds,” to evoke the presence of Sri Caitanya and his principle associates. He did not mean “in the beginning stages,” so far as I understand.
In Gauḍīya tradition, Kīrtan is performed for their pleasure, and it begins by inviting them to participate and dance in the kīrtan. This is usually done with specific songs and mantras. For example, in ISKCON and many similar Gaḍīya branches it is customary to chant “śrī kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda…” before chanting “hare kṛṣṇa, hare kṛṣṇa…”
Aindra’s specific service, however, was to perform akhaṇḍa-nāma-kīrtan – 24 hour “unbroken” kīrtan of Krishna-nām. The Gauḍīya tradition is that akhaṇḍa kīrtan is purely hare kṛṣṇa mahāmantra unmixed with any other mantra – which even excludes śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya… Aindra’s unique service (coupled with his unique depth of practice) gave him a special realization about the viability of using the Hare Krishna mahāmantra to invoke the blessings and presence of Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu and his principle associates.
His understanding, as far as I understand it:
Gadādhara Prabhu is one form of Rādhārānī in Gaura-līlā. So the name “Hare” (which primarily invokes Rādhārānī) can invoke Gadādhara. Mahāprabhu is Krishna in Gaura-līlā. So the name “Krishna” can invoke Him. Thus, “hare kṛṣṇa, hare kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa, hare hare” can be sung with the sambandha of relationp to Gaura-līlā, to the effect of invoking “gadai gaura, gadai gaura, gaura gaura, gadai gadai.”
In Gaura-līlā Rādhārānī also appears as Mahāprabhu’s mood. Hence “Hare” can also represent Mahāprabhu’s mood. Balarāma appears as Nityānanda Prabhu in Gaura-līlā, hence “Rāma” can be used to refer to Nitai. Thus, “hare rāma, hare rāma, rāma rāma, hare hare” invokes “gaura nitai, gaura nitai, nitai nitai, gaura gaura.”
Vraja Kishor dās
Hearing from Srila Prabhupada
February 9. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Hearing from Srila Prabhupada.
We are reading in Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta how Srila Prabhupada met with his guru only a few times, but every meeting he did have with him was of great significance to Srila Prabhupada. The first time they met on the roof in Ultadanga, in Calcutta, Prabhupada was impressed. His whole life was changed. They met again at Kosi in Vrindavan. At that time, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati noted that Prabhupada was hearing very attentively. Then they had other meetings, including one at Radha-kunda, where his guru maharaj told him, “If you ever get money, print books.” Prabhupada is the perfect example of one who made the utmost of his meetings with his spiritual master. There were no tape recorders in those days (although there were books). A meeting was very important to Prabhupada, as well as his letter exchanges with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.
We can also meet Srila Prabhupada, even now, by hearing from him in an open and loving way. The receptive disciple is compared to a fertile woman becoming pregnant by her association with her husband. The spiritual master can impregnate the receptive soul with bhakti-lata-bija, the seed of devotion. Individual speaking and meeting can have such an effect.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5
One theme for my journey West, which includes my whole cancer journey to date, and entire life when looked at with a spiritual eye, is a statement used by HH Bhakti-tirtha Maharaja that he learned from his very spiritual mother: “I am blessed by the best and I am praying to pass all my tests!” May we all adopt this vision to view our lives in the most positive light!
After arriving in San Diego a friend picked me up at the airport. He took me to the US-Mexico border, since it is quicker to walk into Tijuana, than to drive. I will stay with him overnight upon my return to San Diego. Having not seen one another for many years we enjoyed catching up on our respective lives. He prepared some Prasad according to my diet and I was so grateful. Krishna’s prasadam (sanctified food)is life giving in all circumstances, but under certain conditions we may appreciate this fact more. For me, after a long flight and only eating nuts, it was like breathing in new life. What can I say? I relished it and felt blessed!
After a long drought the heavy rains I saw were welcome, though even in a normal year, they’re rare for Southern California. As a result there was a good deal of flooding—too much of a good thing! Fortunately the rain let up for a while as I walked over the border into Customs. As I walked I did my best to take in the scene. There were lots of people wandering around and it was very commercial. I was struggling a bit since my bags were quite heavy. In addition to my checked suitcase, my carry-on bag was overloaded, as was my computer bag. Space in the two large bags was full of organic vegetables, grains, instant organic meals, and cooking utensils for the 6 day stay at the clinic, and for my trips north. Believe me, I will travel much lighter next time I visit here!
After checking into Customs, I made my way to the cab stand for the short trip to the clinic. Tijuana reminds me of a
New book: Brahma Samhita translated by Bhanu Swami.
Urmila Devi Dasi: This translation of Brahma Samhita by Bhanu Swami is very easy to read and understand. The book also contains Jiva Goswami’s commentaries and is fully illustrated in a modernized Kerala style.
Here’s where to purchase: http://us.srivaikuntaenterprises.in/index.php…
or visit the website http://www.srivaikuntaenterprises.in/shop/, click on the icon for ONLY INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS on the left corner, and select Brahma Samhita from Bhanu Swami book list.
Nice inside photos here: https://goo.gl/cRcuq8
By Gauragopala dasa I remember the amazing story of a boy who went into an old Cathedral in Melbourne on February 18th 1972 to desperately pray to God within his own heart and within the Church for guidance and direction, crying out within, ‘Oh my Lord, please show me the way’. He had entered that church in a totally helpless condition, prayed, and begged to God to ‘please’ show him the way. He felt totally useless and lost in this world and believed no one on the planet has any real understanding of Spiritual life. He had experienced so many from Christianity, TM, Yogananda, Kahlil Gibran, Mere Baba, and Timothy Leary to Lennon. But something was missing. What could he do? Who could he turn too as a ‘personal’ guide? He tried so many paths, realizing he was not enlightened enough to just accept God in the heart as his only Guru and guide, he needed someone to be there embodied right in front of him. He new so many people were already his Guru’s or teacher by showing him so many tasks from day to day in different fields, but there was still something missing, he never had a initiating Spiritual Mater. Continue reading "Can Krishna and Guru be found within one’s heart?
→ Dandavats"
By Sajjanasraya dasa
We can do great things, and I heard that if we want to accomplish great things we have to start with apparently small things, look at the details, concentrate on the essential, so we can go deep into the path of Bhakti. We should feel it is the most important thing in our life and put all of our heart and intelligence into developing our love for the Lord and giving it to others. We need to become friendly and compassionate at all levels. Becoming a happy, mature, advanced devotee, filled with compassion for others, is the best way to expand the Krishna consciousness movement. It is the attitude we have that is important and sometimes we can preach nicely even without ‘preaching’.
Some snapshots from life in the temple come to my mind: We are in the temple and this morning is Haridas Thakur appearence day. After Tulasi puja and in few minutes will be japa time. “Some announcement?” “Yes! Today it is a very special day, a great, great devotee appeared for our benefit…this morning let’s try to chant with all our attention, let’s put all our gratitude, love and attention on our japa…”
I have to go to cook, the kitchen is spotlessly clean and neat. We know we have to cook for the Sunday feast and it must be a very, very good feast, nothing ordinary. The head cook also reminds us that we have to try our best to satisfy Krishna, put our skill, our attention in the cooking and be concentrated. The food we cook will go to the spiritual world, Krishna, Sri Radha, the gopis, the cowherds boy will taste our preparations, and then all devotees and guests will taste it, we have to cook with love….. let’s pray, let’s try our best!…
Before harinam we check our dress and our motivation. We are going in the town center so the harinam should be nicely done. The devotees are advised to dress in simple clean and (ironed) dhotis and saris. We give our full attention to the Holy name.
An Istha ghosti is a wonderful opportunity to understand the hearts of the devotee. We express our feelings, and give suggestions to improve our divine service and to increase our sense of belonging in our devotional community.
The essence of everything is serving and doing things for Krishna with love, attention, care, respect, concentration and helping others to know their best friend. If people are ready to listen we can tell them directly about Him. Those who aren’t ready to hear directly about Krishna will be influenced by kindness of the devotees. Our outreach to others can take many forms.
We can feed poor and rich people prasadam, provide medical care, help people out of the ruins of an earthquake or a Tsunami. We can console the sick or help a person after a car crash (even if he is a butcher!). We can open Krishna conscious hospitals or schools up to university level. We can publish magazines and daily newspapers and hold conferences.
Apart from big projects, we can help others with little acts of kindness like giving a warm greeting to someone or helping an old lady cross a street. We can be kind and friendly to our neighbours. All this will help keep our hearts open and loving. Once Bhaktisiddhanta Sarswati Thakura chastised his disciple for not giving some donation to a beggar and said such neglect would make his heart hard. Our loving, giving and compassionate attitude will help us and others will be attracted to our good behaviour. This will allow them to be more open to hear the most important news we have to give them– the words that will help them to be free for ever from all kind suffering and death, words that can help them to go to our real home to be happy for ever. So before telling them the good news, good behaviour must be there. Obviously we can not ‘preach’ and being dishonest, rude, fanatic, indifferent or proud. Behaving in those way we become ridiculous and inefficient. Once in sankirtan a person told me: “You know, sometimes religious people ‘love the universe’, they developed cosmic love, universal love, they say ‘we are all brothers’ but then they fight all day with the neighbour next door…” During a famous meeting made mainly by sankirtan devotees Srila Prabhupada praised them for their service of distributing his books. Then one devotee said: “Srila Prabhupada what pleases you most?” It seemed that the devotee asked that question because he was sure of the answer, he thought that Srila Prabhupada would have said something like ‘that you distribute my books’, but instead Srila Prabhupada said “That you become pure devotees…” Srila Prabhupada also said that “a devotee is a gentleman” So giving others books of knowledge it is important because there people can find so many informations and inspiration, but then people needs living examples of purity to follow- sankirtan, I think, is not only giving others Srila Prabhupada’s books. That it is an aspect of sankirtan, others can be being expert in reading and explaining them, welcoming people at the temple, creating there a friendly and pure atmosphere, taking care of new people, make them pure devotees.
By Suhotra Swami Sometimes devotees they find themselves in some situation, which they think is hopeless. They are struggling, struggling, struggling and they seem to make no progress and then they start to think: “Oh, what is the use.” And then they wonder they just give everything up, give up Krishna consciousness, go back home to mama, what’s the use. Once there were two frogs who by accident fell into a pot of milk. So after struggling to keep afloat for some time one frog gave up hope: “Oh, it’s useless.” And just drowned down and was dead. But the other frog was more determined and he kept kicking and kicking and kicking despite the hopeless situation. Now, by doing all this kicking again and again and again because it was fresh milk, just came from the cow, the milk turned to butter. Then the frog could stand on the hard butter and jumped out. The moral is that we should always be determined in our efforts to serve Krishna and never give up. Even if it seems hopeless just keep kicking. Continue reading "Stories told by Srila Prabhupada
→ Dandavats"
The Drakensberg Retreat took place from from 03-07 January. Please find audio recordings below.
Download ALL.
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_03January2016_Introductory_Kirtan
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_03January2016_Introductory_Lecture_The_two_realities
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_03January2016_End_Kirtan
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_04January2016_Morning_Lecture
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_04January2016_Afternoon_Kirtan
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_04January2016_Afternoon_Lecture_Priti_Sandarbha
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_05January2016_Morning_Kirtan
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_05January2016_Morning_Lecture_Types_of_devotees
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_05January2016_Evening_Lecture_Types_of_devotees
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_06January2016_Morning_Gurupuja_Kirtan
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_06January2016_Morning_Lecture
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_06January2016_Evening_Kirtan
KKS_SA_Drakensberg_07January2016_Morning_Final_Lecture
Pictures of the ISKCON Radha Rasabihari Mandir, Juhu, Bombay, Rathayatra.
Srila Prabhupada: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us a nice weapon for this age. The narayanastra, or weapon to drive away maya, is the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra in pursuance of the associates of Lord Caitanya, such as Advaita Prabhu, Nityanada, Gadadhara and Srivasa. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.11.1 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9eeq1J
They came in through the open window!
Tribhuvannatha Das: A devotee named Jeremy was with us on our Festival tour of East & Central Africa. Jeremy is more of a congregational member of ISKCON and is just starting to understand the commitment that there is in Krsna Consciousness. He caught malaria and had to come back early. Upon his return I spoke to him on the phone. I mentioned how he should be careful not to fall down from the process of KC. Two weeks later he was back to his ‘old ways’ but still a devotee - not as strict as before though.
He’d been out with his girlfriend, and while admiring some waterfalls in the mountains of Wicklow, Ireland, he slipped and fell 60 ft down the side of the mountain - lucky for him he chanted at the top of his voice Krsna! Krsna! as he went tumbling down the side of the mountain, the bushes slowed his pace, but then over the edge… another 160 ft sheer drop to death!
He screamed “Krsna” and suddenly he stopped… 'smack’ he had landed on the only rock jutting out from the side of the mountain. He was damaged - broken pelvis, leg, etc. but still alive. The rock had an unusual inward curve, just the right size to cushion his body. If it had been a normal rock he would have simply bounced off it, to his death! The rescue team said that they could not believe his fortune. Ten others before him had fallen from the same spot, nine died, one crippled. Then in hospital (where he is making a full recovery) in comes Michael who has just fallen off a crane. His head hit a steel girder on the way down (his luck was he had a hard hat on), the whole top of his head, peeled like an orange. Miraculously his heavy coat had got caught on the way down and saved his life. He came over to see Jerry - by this time in his life he has gone from been one of the most debauched personality to almost a saint, even setting up his own alter at the hospital! He had heard that Jerry was a 'Hare Krsna’ and was intrigued to meet him. After some conversation Jerry complained about the 'nightmares’ he was getting. “Nightmares!” says Michael. “I was attacked by five horrible-looking monsters that came in through the window. They said they had come to get me.” (While in intensive care Michael was 'dead’ three times, in the same night). He described them in detail. He was so frightened at their appearance that he threw a chair at the window, four nurses had to restrain him! They had come to get him, he even mentioned that one appeared to have a rope. “They came back again, and said they were coming to get me very soon. "Was it just a nightmare?” asked Jerry. “No!” said Michael, “these guys were as real as you or me… These guys were very real!”
The post Explosions next door and other Vraja adventures appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
The post Daily Darshan: February 8th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post Gita 09.17 – Krishna is the sustainer of our sustainers appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Iskcon Pune to hold 500 Harinamas and distribute 500,000 of Srila Prabhupada’s books in one year for ISKCON’s 50th this year!
That’s exactly what ISKCON of Pune in Maharashtra, India is doing as they ambitiously set out to 50th-ize the year 2016. And much, much more besides: the plan is to set higher-than-usual goals for all of Pune’s outreach efforts in multiples of five or fifty. GBCs Radhanath Swami and Gopal Krishna Goswami, as well as supporter Lokanath Swami, are the inspiration behind the plan. Radheshyam Das – temple president at Pune for the past twenty years – is leading the charge. Meanwhile ISKCON Pune’s two temples, 200 full-time celibate monks, and 1,000 congregational families will jump into action to make it a memorable year in celebration of ISKCON’s 1966 incorporation.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/v05Jip
Bhakti-Vriksha - Caring for ISKCON devotees – the important ratio.
Kripamoya das: Many, many moons ago, way back in the last century, when the ISKCON movement was just becoming established as ‘a confederation of centres, farms, schools and restaurants’ and anybody who was anybody lived in a temple, the temple president was the natural person to care for the spiritual lives of the devotees.
The president was the appointed head of the community, the spiritual supervisor of standards of worship and practise, and often the chief inspiration behind the preaching too. It was a very responsible position – and it still is. Along with the ‘temple commander’ the president engaged the members of local ISKCON in all the activities necessary to support a spiritual community and to prosper in their own spiritual lives.
Of course, it wasn’t just the temple president who cared for the devotees, but it was he who bore the responsibility to ensure it was done. And you could always get to talk to him if you needed to.
Back then – if my memory of the 1970s serves me correctly – the average size of an ISKCON community was around 15. Older devotees sometimes refer to those days as when ‘the movement had a real family atmosphere.’ The 1-15 ratio – spiritual head to resident members – was actually a very powerful factor in the ‘family atmosphere’ that devotees still talk about.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/W5zyNY
Answer Podcast:
Download by “right-click and save”
The post If human will is strengthened by connection with divine will how do nondevotees sometimes have great determination? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast:
Download by “right-click and save”
The post If Indra got the reaction of brahma-hatya for killing Vritrasura, why didnt Rama, for killing Ravana? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Pandal program of ISKCON Mumbai’s 50th Anniversary Celebration The Joy of Devotion Day 1 on 5th Feb 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us a nice weapon for this age. The narayanastra, or weapon to drive away maya, is the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra in pursuance of the associates of Lord Caitanya, such as Advaita Prabhu, Nityanada, Gadadhara and Srivasa. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.11.1 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/SDn7dS
Harinama in Melbourne, Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Spiritual enlightenment is possible by the mercy of the spiritual energy of the Lord. The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is first addressed to the spiritual energy of the Lord, Hare. This spiritual energy acts when a living entity fully surrenders and accepts his position as an eternal servitor. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.9.6 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/jQtTXZ
On the afternoon of 4th February, 2016, HH Radhanath Maharaja visited ISKCON desire tree (IDT).
A treasury of memory
He first came to the flat where I do video recordings – I think of it as my digital bhajan kutir. When he saw a picture of Srila Prabhupada in the studio, he immediately said, “This is from New Vrindavan. It was in 1972, Kirtananada Maharaja was near Prabhupada and I was there too, standing where you are.” He pointed to where I was standing. Looking closely at the picture and then at me, he said, “No, I was not that close. I was where Vaishnava Seva Prabhu is.” He pointed to a spot a couple of feet away. Maharaja gazed at the picture for several long moments – it was clear that he was in a different world.
As I was observing Maharaja, another similar incident flashed through my mind. A few months ago when I had met Giriraja Maharaja in America, I had given him my book Prabhupada: The moments that made the movement. On seeing some of the pictures of Srila Prabhupada in that book, He too had become momentarily lost in devotional absorption.
It struck me that Srila Prabhupada’s disciples have a treasury that we his grand-disciples don’t. They have such rich memories of Prabhupada, something that we can relish only as long as they are still with us on this planet. After that, we will be bereaved of that great treasure of personal memories of the person who has changed the course of Vaishnava history.
As Maharaja turned to leave, he again turned back to the picture and said to me, “I helped make that vyasasana which Prabhupada was sitting on. It was 1972, and I was not even initiated – I hadn’t even shaved my hair. But I got to help in making that vyasasana, and Prabhupada sat on it every day when he gave class. After that, it was taken to the bramachari ashram and used there for many years.”
As we left the flat, Maharaja asked me about my realizations from my US visit. As we had just started speaking, we reached the IDT office, and our discussion was cut short.
“Even I am inspired by Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s dedication”
IDT office is actually the same as Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s home. He has taken two adjacent flats and merged them into an improvised office. He is a respected surgeon, Dr Bimal Shah, specializing in laproscopic surgery and heading the Department of Laproscopic Surgery at the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mira Road, Mumbai. His wife Dr Kshama Shah (Kalindi Mataji) is chief anesthesiologist at the same hospital. Both of them stay in just one room and his father stays in another room. He keeps a guest room for visiting devotees, usually those who want to recuperate after treatment at the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. The rest of the home is used as workspace for over a dozen employees.
From this inconspicuous base has issued a gigantic digital outreach of Krishna’s message. Iskcondesiretree.com has 23.000 members and over 11,000 unique daily visitors. The reach is spread further through over 70 sites and over 100 apps. From audio.iskcondesiretree.com, 7000 audio files are downloaded daily. And IDT’s youtube channel is viewed for 120,000 minutes daily.
Maharaj entered IDT office and sat on a sofa. Vaishnava Seva Prabhu outlined briefly the history of IDT starting with how decades ago he had been doing audio recording of Maharaja’s classes and handling the tape ministry, library and sound system in Radha Gopinath temple. Maharaja nodded and, speaking to everyone, appreciated Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s commitment and versatility, saying that he is not just a high-class surgeon, but also an architect – he designed and oversaw the building of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. Maharaja turning to Vaishnava Seva Prabhu said that we discussed what color the building should be and what kind of windows we should have. Maharaja appreciated him, saying that it’s amazing that he is able to do so much in twenty-four hours.
Vaishnava Seva Prabhu, pointing to his wife, said, “Due credit for whatever I have done goes to my better half too.” Maharaja nodded and smilingly said, “I was going to say that, but I was waiting for you to say that. It is more appropriate if you acknowledge that rather than I tell you that.”
As everyone laughed, Kalindi Mataji humbly said, “Maharaja, this is what I can do; I cannot preach like other Matajis, but I can do this small service.” Maharaja replied, “This is not a small service; it is a huge service.”
During his subsequent talk addressed to everyone assembled there, Maharaja said, “All over the world people tell me that they get lectures from ISKCON desire tree. I travel all over the world spending so much time and energy, but I can’t reach as many people with all that traveling as you can reach just by pressing a few buttons.”
After a moment’s thought, he added, “Even what I speak can’t reach as many people by my traveling as it can by your pressing a few buttons – you are all doing a very valuable service.”
Thereafter, Maharaja aptly and insightfully expanded on the name ISKCON desire tree. Sometimes, some names become so integrated into our functional vocabulary that we overlook their transcendental import. That’s what had happened to me with respect to the name ISKCON desire tree, I realized while hearing Maharaja’s talk. Maharaja spoke, “Every tree begins with a tiny seed, and as it is nourished, it grows and finally gives fruits. ISKCON desire tree started as a small seed in the recording space at Radha Gopinath temple, and from that seed now it has grown so big that it is giving thousands of fruits, millions of fruits, unlimited fruits, to people all over the world.”
After speaking for a few minutes, he brought his talk to a beautiful conclusion: “Lord Chaitanya when he was in Varanasi said that he had so many fruits of love of God to distribute, but had only two hands to distribute them, so he needed helping hands. All of you are his helping hands, assisting Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada in distributing those fruits.”
When his talk ended, I mentioned to Maharaj, “Vaishnava Seva P is not just funding and facilitating IDT – he is also pioneering it. Whenever any new technological initiative comes up, he is in the forefront, learning it himself first, then teaching it to his staff. That’s how he diversified from audios to videos and recently to mobile apps. He works all day as a surgeon and late into the night for IDT. He is so dedicated that although I am a brahmachari, I am inspired by his dedication.” Maharaja smiled and replied, “I am a sannyasi and I too am inspired by his dedication.”
After Maharaja’s talk, when Vaishnava Seva Prabhu was leading Maharaja to a small video studio inside his house, I mentioned to Maharaja that I had recorded 75 lectures on the Mahabharata here. Intrigued, Maharaja said, “75 lectures?” and followed Vaishnava Seva Prabhu inside. On seeing the four tiny rooms, Maharaja turned to me and asked, “Where did you record those 75 classes?” When Vaishnava Seva Prabhu pointed to the place, Maharaja immediately realized that the room was too small for anyone else to be sitting with the camera. So he asked me, “You sit alone in front of a camera and speak?” When I nodded, Maharaja said, half-jokingly, “I can’t speak in front of a camera; I become speechless. You are sitting in one small room and are reaching out to so many people.”
When Maharaja was leaving, he remembered and asked me about my US trip. But his secretary had earlier told me that Maharaj had to go for another meeting. So I told Maharaj that as I didn’t want to delay him, I would work out with his secretary the time for a meeting later. Maharaj nodded, embraced me and said, “You are doing such amazing service. I am proud of you.”
Affection beyond affliction
While Maharaja’s words were certainly memorable for me, the most revealing and edifying part of his visit was his conversation with Vaishnava Seva P’s father (I will refer to him as Mr Shah). He is afflicted with dementia, and has periods of lucidity that alternate with phases of incoherence. Maharaja’s visit was a period of lucidity, though there were a few moments of incoherence in between. Yet Maharaja treated him with respect and attention throughout.
After seeing IDT, when Maharaja was about to leave, Mr Shah suddenly spoke out loud, “I once fought with you.” As several of the devotees gasped at the outburst, Maharaja turned around, peered at Mr Shah and returned to his seat. Mr Shah continued, “I had a verbal fight with you when he (pointing to Vaishnava Seva P) left me to go to you. Do you remember?” Maharaja replied, “Yes, I remember. That was a natural expression of your affection for your son. So I respected it.” After a pause, Maharaja added, “I didn’t agree with it, but I respected it.”
Mr Shah then reminisced several defining incidents in his life, including the time when he had a bypass surgery. At that time, Maharaj, Mr Mafatlal (Krishna Chandra Prabhu) and Mr Desai (Srinathaji Prabhu) had come to see him in the hospital. Vaishnava Seva Prabhu, who was giving us a running commentary to his father’s recollections, elaborated, “Those visits changed his attitude – he started feeling that devotees really cared for him.”
After a brief pause, Mr Shah told Maharaja, “Although I fought with you once, now I like you. You know why?” Maharaja remained silent and shook his head slightly. Pointing towards his son, Mr Shah said, “Because you changed him.”
After mentioning a few other incidents, Mr Shah suddenly said, “My memory is very sharp. Be careful.” Maharaja replied with gravity in his voice and joviality on his face: “Yes, I will be very careful.”
After a few moments of silence, Mr Shah said, “I am a Jain, but I appreciate Vaishnavism.” Maharaja nodded, “Therefore, you are a Vaishnava, and he (pointing to Vaishnava Seva P) is Vaishnava Seva. I am proud of the way he is taking care of you.”
While Mr Shah was speaking, intelligibly but disconnectedly, jumping from one incident to another, Maharaja gave him his full attention, as if he had all the time in the world. Finally, Vaishnava Seva Prabhu mentioned discreetly to his father that Maharaja had to leave. After his father nodded, Vaishnava Seva Prabhu intimated to Maharaja. Maharaja got up, went to Mr Shah, gave him another tight, long embrace and said, “I am honored to spend time with you.”
I had known that Maharaja always values relationship more than projects. It’s not that he undervalues projects – the many projects that he has inspired are testimony to his commitment to offering doing wonderful projects in Srila Prabhupada’s service. But he keeps relationships at an appropriately high priority. This became evident when he said, “I am proud of your son for the way he is taking care of you.” I found it sobering that Maharaja didn’t say, “I am proud of him for pioneering IDT.” IDT might seem to be a far more special and glorious project than taking care of one’s ailing father, and Maharaja is definitely pleased with the IDT service, as was evident from his earlier talk. But Maharaja’s statements underscored that while doing big things in Krishna’s service, we shouldn’t neglect the ordinary things that define us as human beings and as devotees.
Maharaja has won the hearts of thousands, if not millions, all over the world because of his capacity to connect at the level of the heart with people. That is not a skill we get genetically or learn by some self-help training. We can form heart-to-heart connections with others only when we have genuine respect and concern for them. And Maharaja has always had that in abundance, even from his pre-devotional days.
I remembered an incident during his spiritual search. A sadhu had served spicy khichadi to Maharaja (then Richard Slavin). Although the chili in it was burning him from within, he not only finished all of that khichadi but also accepted a second helping when offered – just to not hurt the feelings of that sadhu.
I also remembered how, during a Pune yatra many years ago, HH Devamrita Maharaja had said, “What amazes me about Radhanatha Maharaja is his ability to maintain so many loving relationships.” I gained a deeper understanding of that appreciation when I meditated how Maharaj had so affectionately and respectfully connected with a person whose affliction would have normally made anything beyond basic greeting difficult.
Vaishnavas are desire trees. Advanced Vaishnavas such as Radhanatha Maharaj are like giant desire trees. I felt grateful to have had the opportunity to behold the lila of a giant desire tree blessing ISKCON desire tree.
The post A giant desire tree blesses ISKCON desire tree appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Please pray for H. H. Vedavyas Priya Swami. He had an emergent cardiac bypass surgery couple days back and is still in ICU. Maharaj is conscious and conversing but he is still in ICU.
Please pray for Maharaj so he recuperates faster. Maharaj is a wonderful Vaishnava who from ICU has been distributing Bhagavad Gita to the staff at the hospital. If anyone of you would like to contribute any donation towards his medical bills, please contact Nila Madhava Prabhu on 443-255-9609. Thank You!
29.01.2016 H.G.Denabhandhu Prabhu_disappr: Ramachandra kaviraj
February 8. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Dissolving the “Illusory Prabhupada”
We have to be patient with ourselves as we serve Prabhupada. It is natural to select certain instructions that we think fit our situations and our personalities. When we try to relate to the spiritual master as preachers, we even encourage newcomers to find something in Prabhupada’s teachings which they can follow wholeheartedly. We just have to be careful not to present a watered down version of what Prabhupada is teaching. Until we are pure, there will always be some trace of compromise in our ability to follow, but we should always seek to increase our surrender and to know internally who our spiritual master is and what he wants from us. Even if there is some trace of illusion in ourselves, ultimately, there is nothing illusory about Prabhupada.
A duality can sometimes exist between Prabhupada as he is and one’s conception of Prabhupada as we want him to be. (There are many “Prabhupada saids” floating around our movement – how often do we hear “Prabhupada said” offered by someone trying to end an argument?) Therefore, it is good for us to expose ourselves to the “real” Prabhupada as he wrote letters to people, as long as we carefully understand the context from which he is speaking. Exposing ourselves to Prabhupada’s books and letters replaces any imagined idea of Prabhupada with the real person. A search for the real Prabhupada has to be in a sensitive and ongoing way.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5
Dissolving the “Illusory Prabhupada”
The Veda presents four goals of life. The first is kāma – “pleasure.” This is the root of every goal, for everyone – from insects to gods.
More evolved people, however, don’t just focus on immediate pleasure, they try to insure that they can also enjoy tomorrow. This is the second goal, artha – “wealth.” The purpose of which is to make pleasure sustainable.
Still more evolved people don’t just try to earn wealth, they try to protect it. Eventually they realize that the most effective way to do that is to create a cooperative society where people respect one another’s property and rights. This is the third goal of life, dharma – “morality.”
Very evolved people who pursue pleasure through moral wealth eventually come to realize a few things: (1) the rules of morality are often impositions, they want more freedom, (2) they get tired making money, they need a break, (3) their concept of pleasure seems flawed. Thus, people eventually evolve to desire the fourth goal of life, mokṣa – “liberation.”
The Veda lauds mokṣa as the highest goal of life because liberation is the most refined pleasure, mokṣa is the most refined kāma. It is so because it frees pleasure from being dependent on external objects and situations, and by so doing, frees us from all sources of pain and suffering. Without pain and suffering, we can experience an existence that is carefree, peaceful and tranquil, unbounded, and effortless to maintain.
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s school, however, brings out a fifth goal from the Veda – one which Vyāsa makes particularly clear in his book dedicated to it: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. This goal points out that pleasure is not merely freedom from suffering. Within the purely conscious self accessed by a liberated soul, one can discover the Superself; the root of oneself, and the root of everything – Krishna. Discovering this all-important and all-attractive entity, one falls in love!
It is not the love of an external object. It is love for the root of one’s own being! Since the object of love is not extrinsic to one’s own conscious being, it does not have the flaws of external kāma, flaws which demand money (artha) and laws (dharma). It is love built on the freedom and enlightenment of liberation (mokṣa) – but without mokṣa’s shortcoming of merely being tranquil, and not being passionate and thrilling. Love is superior to freedom, because the thrilling pleasure of love vastly outclasses the peaceful pleasure of freedom!
Thus prema truly is the supreme goal of life, the “fifth goal” of the Veda.
This blog of mine has been pretty neglected for the past few years. It's time to resurrect, re-boot, and restore it to past glory.
Deltaflow is now upgraded it to the latest version of SilverStripe, is running the shiny new blog module. Plus, I've implemented some useful little features, like the recent comments view on the left and automatic cross-posting to Facebook and Twitter.
I plan on writing a lot more blog posts, so watch this space.
This blog of mine has been pretty neglected for the past few years. It's time to resurrect, re-boot, and restore it to past glory.
Deltaflow is now upgraded it to the latest version of SilverStripe, is running the shiny new blog module. Plus, I've implemented some useful little features, like the recent comments view on the left and automatic cross-posting to Facebook and Twitter.
I plan on writing a lot more blog posts, so watch this space.
Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post Gita 09.16 – See beyond the technical to the transcendental appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.