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Everyone must have desires, abhilasa
Friday evening Vrndavana kirtana with parikrama devotees
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Bhagvad-Gita As It is Audio Now available on Iphone/Android…
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Bhagvad-Gita As It is Audio Now available on Iphone/Android Mixcloud App.
Bhagavad-Gita As It is audio is now available for free to listen on iphone and android using Mixcloud App. This is narrated by Titiksava Karunika Das (San Diego, CA) . It has powerful and live voice with dramatic background music. This complete project was produced by Kamlesh Patel(Irvine, CA) . He has been working hard to make teaching of Bhagavad-Gita easily available to everyone. Audio track pictures were provided by Bhismadeva dasa (Dallas, TX) who runs http://hoofprintmedia.com/. The goal is to make the Bhagavad-Gita audio easily accessible to everyone so it reaches many and benefits them. Please share it on your social media and raise awareness. Here is the link to the complete audio chapter by chapter. https://www.mixcloud.com/bhagavad-gita/
Daily Darshan: January 6th, 2016
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TOVP update (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: As the finishing…
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TOVP update (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: As the finishing work goes on, new different items come to life.
Lately we have been concentrating on the Chatris.
First we added the GRC ribs, then the blue tiles. And now we are preparing the Kailash.
Even though they may appear very small when admiring the entire TOVP, these chatris are very big and 8.2 feet tall (2.5 M).
The GRC factory is now producing the kailash, and before being fixed they will be coated in titanium nitride to get a gold effect.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/KCpiuY
The Process of Dying. At the moment of death the following…
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The Process of Dying.
Process of Dying
At the moment of death the following things take place. If the person is impious and quite sinful, the messengers of Yamaraja, called the Yamadutas, fierce, horrible looking persons with twisted features, copper red flaming hairs that stand on end, black in complexion and frightening to behold, appear at the deathbed of the person in question and drag him forcibly from his body with ropes and chains. This scene so frightens the person that he literally dies of fright. They then pack up the subtle body of the person in a bag, where they take the soul, now covered only by the subtle body of mind, intelligence and false ego, to the abode of Yamaraja for judgement. He is taken over long stretches of hot, dry sands, and along the way he is insulted in various ways by other horrible creatures and bitten by dogs. He is suffering terribly on this journey and he wishes it would end.
(The movie "Ghost" presented a world that included ghosts, psychic powers, Yamaduta-like evil spirits, and an effulgent heavenly realm. See also the real-life stories below.)
However, when it does end he is taken before Yamaraja, the fierce demigod in charge of death and punishing the sinful. He is forced to accept a position of suffering according to his sins in one of the hells which exist at the bottom of the universe, just above the Garbhodaka Ocean. In this hellish region called the Naraka, there are approximately 27 hellish places.
As an example of this a person who has engaged in the slaughter and eating of other innocent animals will enter into Krimibhojana, wherein he will exist as a worm who is eating the tail of another worm as that worm is eating his tail. There are many such hells just according to the crimes committed. One may find the complete description in the last chapters of the 5th canto of the SB.
After such intense and horrible forms of suffering the living being is thrown again into the lower species of life just suited according to his sinful desires in his human life.
However, most persons are not quite that sinful and therefore they may expect a more normal departure from the body. At the time of death, death is denoted as the moment when the spirit soul departs from the material gross body. At that time the soul, covered by the subtle body of mind, intelligence and false ego, leaves the body. The subtle body always travels with the soul wherever he goes within this material world and therefore the living entity has a continuity of material experience throughout his different lifetimes.
Death may come from a variety of causes, but when it actually happens the first thing that a person experiences is total blackness. All is dark, but this lasts only for a moment. The Supersoul, situated right next to the soul, illuminates a hole which appears to the soul to be a light at the end of a tunnel. In fact the darkness which appears is the body but now that it is dead it is devoid of consciousness and now we are seeing it from the inside for the first time.
There are some 118 different passageways through which one might depart from the body. One may only go through one of these at the time of death. These passageways are called nadis, or channels of consciousness. According to Garuda Purana 1.67 death occurs when both main (spine) nadis, Ida and Pingala, are at work. Under normal conditions they switch. One might understand them to be the major nerve channels of channels of energy flow within the body, but the exact medical synonym is not available to us at this time. In any case one will depart from one of these nadis to his next destination. We do know that one who departs from the anus or genital goes to the lower regions, wherein one who departs from the upper portion of the body goes to the higher regions. Those who depart from the top of their skulls, from the hole known as the brahma randhra, the place where the three bones in the skull meet, will attain the regions of Brahman.
The Supersoul illuminates only one of these passageways according to the karma of the soul. He selects the passageway just according to the previous activities of the living entity and as soon as it is illuminated the soul naturally wants to move towards the light. As soon as he is out of the body, he feels relieved of the burden of the material frame and starts to move, naturally drawn towards his next form. At that time he will experience the world from the point of view of the subtle body and will see things much clearer than they are seen through the present body. Just try to imagine how much more beautiful the world must be when seen through spiritual eyes!
He then enters into the womb of a new mother as it is being impregnated by the father and awaits the time until the new body develops itself sufficiently to maintain consciousness. When the embryo is about seven months of age it is sufficiently developed to support consciousness and the baby awakens in his new body and immediately moves, sometimes kicking the mother from within in a vain attempt to get out of the horrible entanglement that he has found himself in.
If he is pious, this horrible condition of having the arms and legs jammed into the chest as one is bent over in the foetal position, causes the soul to pray to the Lord as follows, "O Lord, this condition is terrible. Please save me from this situation and get me out of this womb immediately and I promise to serve You in this lifetime for sure." However, as soon as he takes his birth he becomes too much attached to all the attention and service being rendered him by mother and family members and he forgets all about serving the Lord and falls totally into maya again.
Avoid the process of rebirth, it is not auspicious in any way.
Harinama under the snow in Moscow, Russia (5 min video)
Srila…
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Harinama under the snow in Moscow, Russia (5 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: The materialist thinks that persons engaged in Krishna consciousness are crazy fellows wasting time by chanting Hare Krishna, but actually he does not know that he himself is in the darkest region of craziness because of accepting his body as permanent. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.28.10 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/7M15Y3
4 cookery seminars with Kurma das at Zurich (Album with…
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4 cookery seminars with Kurma das at Zurich (Album with photos)
Padma Purana: “A person who honors the prasada and regularly eats it, not exactly in front of the Deity, along with caranamrita [the water offered to the lotus feet of the Lord, which is mixed with seeds of the tulasé tree], immediately can achieve the results of pious activities which are obtained through ten thousand performances of sacrificial rites.”
Find them here: https://goo.gl/fd3nI1
February 6. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
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February 6. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada’s Intolerance of Maya.
Srila Prabhupada was especially uncompromising in his condemnation of materialistic activities. He used strong language to describe people who are devoid of the inclination for spiritual life, calling them dogs, hogs, camels, and asses. He also referred to them as rascals. He called the leaders of the countries cheaters. He said they were all going to hell for their impious activities. By any standard, this was harsh criticism.
Srila Prabhupada also protested against the government. He did it in a non sectarian way, favoring neither the communists nor the capitalists. According to the scriptures, he said, any political leader in this age is bound to be the lowest kind of man. And, in a sense, he protested against the material bonds that held families together. When his young disciples joined him, he created friction between ISKCON and the parents of the devotees. The anti-cult movement became prominent and made ISKCON one of its main targets. But Prabhupada was willing to put himself and his followers on the firing line for the sake of spreading Krishna consciousness.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5
ISKCON Mayapur Deity Darshan on 31th Jan 2016
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ISKCON Mayapur Deity Darshan on 31th Jan 2016
ISKCON 50 Meditations: February 6, 2016
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H.H.Bhaktimarga Swami Maharaj will be at ISKCON Scarborough coming Sunday!
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Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
H.H.Bhaktimarga Swami Maharaj will be joining us at ISKCON Scarborough coming Sunday- 7th Feb 2016
Program starts at 10.30 am with the Tulasi arti, Guru Puja followed by a class by Maharaj followed by Arti at 12 noon. Sumptuous prasadam (sanctified food) will be served at 12.30 pm.
More information on Maharaj:
Born in 1952 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, Bhaktimarga Swami (formerly John Peter Vis) adopted the monastic lifestyle of the Hare Krishna order in 1973. Globally known for his “Canwalk” marathons, he achieved the remarkable feat of walking across the entire length of Canada from the west to east coast in 1996 which was detailed in the National Film Board of Canada’s documentary, “The Longest Road”. Bhaktimarga Swami repeated the feat again in 2003 (this time from east to west), and yet again a third time (west to east) in 2007.
The Walking Monk completed his FOURTH trek across Canada in the summer of 2014 (Canwalk 4) which began in the spring of 2012. With this "friend-raiser", he is once again promoted pilgrimage and a more car-free, care-free lifestyle. In addition to Canada he has also walked across the countries of Ireland, Israel, Fiji Islands, Mauritius, Trinidad and Guyana.
In addition to marathon walking and administrative duties, Bhaktimarga Swami is an instructor of Bhakti Yoga (devotion to the Divine) and mantra meditation. He is also a playwright, producer and director of live avant garde “morality theatre”, whose captivating works based on tales from ancient India are performed regularly across the globe. In his productions, The Walking Monk regularly engages youth from the global communities he visits in this “enter-lightenment” designed to uplift the spirit.
A warm invitation goes out to you and your family to join us on this day to associate with this senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada.
ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7
Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com
website:
www.iskconscarborough.com
Gita 09.14 – See devotion not in ecstasy but in dedication
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Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
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Thursday evening Vrndavana kirtana with parikrama devotees
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Success Through Association, January 29, Gainesville, Florida
Giriraj Swami
krsna-bhakti-janma-mula haya ‘sadhu-sanga’
krsna-prema janme, tenho punah mukhya anga
“The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.” (Cc Madhya 22.83)
bhavapavargo bhramato yada bhavej
janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samagamah
sat-sangamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau
paravarese tvayi jayate ratih
“O my Lord! O infallible Supreme Person! When a person wandering throughout the universes becomes eligible for liberation from material existence, he gets an opportunity to associate with devotees. When he associates with devotees, his attraction for You is awakened. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead — the highest goal of the topmost devotees, and the Lord of the universe.” (SB 10.51.53, Cc Madhya 22.84)
ata atyantikam ksemam
prcchamo bhavato ’naghah
samsare ’smin ksanardho ’pi
sat-sangah sevadhir nrnam
“O devotees! O you who are free from all sins! Let me inquire from you about that which is supremely auspicious for all living entities. Association with a pure devotee for even half a moment in this material world is the greatest treasure for human society.” (SB 11.2.30, Cc Madhya 22.85)
Giriraj Swami: “All of us are extremely fortunate to have come to this place where we can get the association of devotees. Here our inclination toward spiritual life will be encouraged supported. And only in spiritual life—Krishna consciousness—will we get actual happiness and satisfaction. Mundane association will reinforce the illusion that you are the body and that by getting material things you will be happy. In any endeavor, including spiritual life, we need support to be successful.”
1.29.2016, Success Through Association of Devotees, Gainesville
Doubt and Certainty In Krishna Consciousness
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'How can I be certain that what you are telling me is true?' Every thinking person asks, and is asked, this question. Vedic philosophy arrives at certitude through pramana, which refers to sources of knowledge that are held to be valid. In the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya, the school of Vedic knowledge that ISKCON represents, there are three pramanas: pratyaksa (direct perception), anumana (logical argument) and sabda (authoritative testimony). Of these, sabda is imperative, while pratyaksa and anumana are supportive. Therefore, when a devotee of Krsna is asked about the certainty of his beliefs he usually answers by quoting authority: guru (the spiritual master), sastra (the Vedic scriptures) and sadhu (other devotees respected for their realisation of the teachings of guru and sastra). Continue reading "Doubt and Certainty In Krishna Consciousness
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Special Guests : Sunday Love Feast with Srila Prabhupada’s disciples – His Grace Garuda Dasa and His Grace Drupad Dasa
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About HG Garuda Prabhu and Drupad Prabhu:
Both are senior Prabhupada disciples, who joined Iskcon in early 70's. Garuda prabhu is an excellent cook and supported Maharaj Bhaktimarga Swami on his first walk across Canada in 1996. He was on his bicycle all through Maharaj's walk.
Drupad prabhu joined KC while in fourth year of his degree in Urban planning at Ryerson Polytechnic. He went on preaching in Sudbury and guess who he bumped into, John Vis. A student in Arts college at Sudbury who will join KC and go on to take Sanyasa. We know that person as Bhaktimarga Swami today.
Both are devout family men and warriors of the movement Srila Prabhupada started.

11:30 - 11:55 Aarti & Kirtan
11.55 - 12.00 Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers
12.00 - 1:00 Vedic discourse
1:00 - 1:30 Closing Kirtan
1.30 - 2.00 Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast

The chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His Energy to give protection to the conditioned soul.japa, when performed with focus and attention, can subdue the agitating effects of one’s mind and senses. The senses, of which the mind is also one, are constantly being stimulated by the external world - by gross and subtle matter.
If you have not chanted before, and would like to participate in this program, we will be very happy to show how you can do this.
All welcome. We’ll loan you a set of Beads!
Town Hall Meeting
On Feb 13,10am-11am in Main Temple Hall
We are very pleased and excited to announce that ISKCON Brampton will be hosting our first Town Hall meeting on Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. This will present an opportunity for our dynamic congregation to come forward and express their suggestions. The topic of discussion would be buying or leasing of new location. This is very important decision and we encourage and appreciate suggestions from each and every member of our congregation. Please accept this as a warm invitation for you to come and attend our meeting. We will host such meetings every three months to increase communication between the temple management and our dear congregation.
(ISKCON Brampton Temple Council)

“One who has life can preach, and one who preaches gets life.”(Previous Acaryas)
Every member of ISKCON should have the opportunity to make advancement in Krishna consciousness by preaching.We encourage everyone to come out and participate and make Srila Prabhupada happy.
Please contact:
Rasaraj Dasa-rajrushika@yahoo.com/ 647.887.5736(Mississauga and Brampton regions)
Narahari Dev Dasa- naraharidev@gmail.com (
COMING UP AHEAD

Fasting For Bhaimi Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Thu Feb 18,2016
Breakfast................. on Fri Feb 19,2016 b/w 7.11am-10.44am
Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.By constantly ‘exercising’ our minds through regular japa we can train our senses to push the threshold of contentment.


Celebration on Sat, Feb 20,11am-2pm
Lord Nityananda, whose name literally means, “eternally blissful” is the eternal companion of Lord Chaitanya and both are worshipped together as are Krishna and Balaram. In the same way that Lord Balaram is considered the original spiritual master, so is Lord Nityananda.
**Details of the program will posted when we get closer to the event**

To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.
Call:647.893.9363
The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. School
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).

Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your visit. It offers textiles, jewellery, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy
Famous Iranian actress visits New Govardhana.
Kisori Devi Dasi: …
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Famous Iranian actress visits New Govardhana.
Kisori Devi Dasi: An internationally famous, multi award-winning Iranian actress recently visited New Govardhana along with an Australian-award winning film-maker, Faramarz-alKahder. Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, one of the most significant actresses of Iranian cinema, came to Brisbane in early December to attend an award ceremony. Fellow Iranian Faramarz, who now lives in Australia, decided to show Fatemeh the sights. He contacted his friends Mandakini devi dasi and Aravinda dasa, who are involved in the film industry, and have known Faramarz for 10 years. Fatemeh, nicknamed Simin, along with being a famous actress, is an activist in Iran for the preservation of culture and has spiritual and charitable inclinations. She carries around in her handbag a dainty little trinket box which has a cover picture of Radha-Krsna and is broad-minded about spiritualism. She is also very well-known in India and has rubbed shoulders with the Dalai Lama and the Iranian President. After having a lovely prasadam meal at Mandakini and Aravinda’s home, they visited New Govardhana and she was enchanted by it. Kirtana was going on inside the temple and they absorbed the peaceful atmosphere. Simin expressed a strong desire to return to New Govardhana and plans to return and rent a cabin on the farm for a few weeks. Movies Simin has starred in include, Here Without Me, Nabat, Tales and The Blue-Veiled.
Teaching in Taiwan
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By Mandakini devi dasi
Preaching Krishna Consciousness in a largely atheistic, impersonal and demigod worshiping society who shun organised religion is a special skill. Devotees in the province of Taiwan are yielding positive results with a well- established and easily digestible approach.
The pioneers in this field have determined that success will surely reach the inner core of the population with the regular distribution of lunch boxes, spiritual books and Harinama. However, particularly by offering Hatha-yoga classes, the devotees experience a high success rate and respectful reciprocation with the people. Divya Purusha dasa also makes tangible devotional inroads in this area by offering popular courses on Astrology twice a year.
Several yoga classes each week take place at the largest Iskcon centre in the country, which is located in Taichung. The practice is followed by melodious call and response Hare Krishna mantra meditation. Many participants move on to more involvement in spiritual life.
Presiding Deities Sri Sri Gaura Nitai oversee a group of enthusiastic devotees in a large, well-maintained fourth floor area of an office building which includes an impressive restaurant space.
The highlight of our trip to Taiwan was the visit to the local prison to minister to the convicts. One of the devotees, Payee (who spent a month at New Govardhana one year ago) works in the hospital there dispensing medicine.
Six hundred shaven-headed, grey-clad men filed into a huge auditorium and listened intently as dynamic temple president Jahnava devi dasi expertly delivered her very wise system of preaching, ‘in like a needle and out like a plough’. She was accompanied by Niranjana Maharajah and local devotees who soon had the inmates clapping and chanting.
Taiwanese devotees are most kind and welcoming and are always keen to hear philosophical discourses from overseas visitors.
Taiwan temple authorities are considering a group tour for at least 10 devotees to visit New Govardhana in the not too distant future. We look forward to their spirited association and offer them a very warm welcome.
ISKCON Ekachakra Temple Opening – February 14
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Devotees Feast Eyes on New Prabhupad and Gita Books
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The Museum of Sacred Art (MOSA) in Radhadesh, Belgium, has just published two lusciously illustrated books for devotees to feast their eyes on: “Illuminations from the Bhagavad-gita” and “Prabhupada Meditations.” The Gita-book is the fourth edition of the classic 1980 work by artist Kim Waters and Chris Murray, after the original by Harper and Row, and two in the 1990s and 2000s by Mandala.
Iskcon devotee saves man from drowning in the river.
‘I AM…
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Iskcon devotee saves man from drowning in the river.
‘I AM NOT A HERO, BUT I’m happy I was able to help somebody.’ Brave Filip Čargonja jumped into the river Sava and rescued a man who wanted to commit suicide.
(Translated automatically)
I’d like to talk to this man, I hope you will take advantage of a second chance for life, says Philip Čargonja, from Rijeka living in Zagreb
I sat on the stairs along the Sava. I put the glasses, drank in the sun and meditated. Suddenly I heard a 'plop’.
I thought someone threw garbage into the water. The bridge is noted laughing girl, but there was no panic and I thought someone was playing. But in the middle of the riverbed saw my leg to be fidgety. It was an older guy in a black suit, who did not bother to swim. I told him 'Come on, man, swim! Enough kidding! ’ I encouraged him, and when I realized that there is no intention to swim, passed me the creeps. His head is no longer out on the surface - recalled the rescue Filip Čargonja (34), from Rijeka to Zagreb address, filmography and a member of the Hare Krishna movement, which is January 27, around 15.50 hours bravely jumped into the cold river and rescued the man planned to kill himself. Since the river carried the man, so the Čargonja moved along the edge, and when he reached for his cell phone from confusion failed to think of the number of emergency. Seconds seemed to him like an eternity, a blessing in disguise is that the river is man dragged to his side of the coast.
There wife and son
- I was hoping I’d catch him at the railway bridge. But Sava was fast but is still floating. I took the bag, ran into the water to his waist and grabbed her arms to suit. His head was blue. I have not managed to completely get away because the big man and the coast is steep. I’m banging his chest, gave him mouth-to-mouth, but in vain. Clogged his nose and blew air is to breath. I held his tongue 15-20 minutes that is not choked and cried walkers on the bank to call an ambulance - recalled more Čargonja your venture. Soon came the doctors of the ambulance, the police, or the wife and son of the unfortunate man, a former defense attorney.
Life is precious
Čargonja is not considered a hero.
- I am pleased that I helped someone. At home they took me to the police because I was wet. His wife did not know what to think when she saw my wet clothes after I came home. And with this man I’d like to talk. I know that life can be so difficult that you can not see out, but I hope that this man take advantage of a second chance at life and realize how precious life is and a great opportunity for the development of the soul - concludes brave and humble Čargonja.
Source: http://goo.gl/QtRRAV
Official ‘Well-Being’ Statistics Show Religious People Are Happier Than Atheists
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Pope Claims All Religions Worship Same God
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Michael Snyder reports, A new video has just been released in which Pope Francis very clearly expresses his belief that all of the major religions are different paths to the same God. He says that while people from various global faiths may be “seeking God or meeting God in different ways” that it is important to keep in mind that “we are all children of God”.
C.C. White: “Soul Kirtan!” The Maha Mantra (Reggae Style)
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Bhakta Anton and Vrsabhanu dasa ask who one should accept as guru if one’s siksa guru doesn’t give diksa
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And why only devotees who chant suddha-nama are worthy of service.
The post Bhakta Anton and Vrsabhanu dasa ask who one should accept as guru if one’s siksa guru doesn’t give diksa appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Bhakti Without Borders Producers to Attend Grammys.
Four people…
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Bhakti Without Borders Producers to Attend Grammys.
Four people are set to represent Bhakti Without Borders, only the third kirtan album ever to be nominated for a Grammy, at the 58th annual Grammy Awards on February 15th. Main artist Madi Das – who duets on the album with eleven Vaishnavi co-vocalists – and producer Dave Stringer will attend as the Grammy nominees. They will be joined by KMA record label representatives Chaitanya Mangala and Kamal Vyas. With the exception of Stringer, who is a well-known kirtan artist outside of ISKCON, all are second generation Hare Krishna devotees. The award ceremony will be held at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, and will be televised live at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT on CBS. It will also be streamed online at live.grammy.com or through the GRAMMY Live app.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/qlc5iV
Bhakti Without Borders Producers to Attend Grammys
→ ISKCON News

Four people are set to represent Bhakti Without Borders, only the third kirtan album ever to be nominated for a Grammy, at the 58th annual Grammy Awards on February 15th. Main artist Madi Das – who duets on the album with eleven Vaishnavi co-vocalists – and producer Dave Stringer will attend as the Grammy nominees.
Italy Launches ISKCON 50 Celebrations in Rome
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Italy’s ISKCON 50th anniversary celebrations commenced on November 25th, 2015 with the planting of a sacred Banyan tree in the historical garden of Piazza Vittorio in Rome. The Bhaktivedanta Cultural and Educational Library donated the tree to the city of Rome on the occasion, which was auspicious as it was also the 500th anniversary of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s arrival in Vrindavana.
School to Work Program.
Damodara Pandit dasa: This year the…
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School to Work Program.
Damodara Pandit dasa: This year the Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula (Hare Krishna School in Australia) began a Careers Program for the Year 9 students. The program aims to provide direction and focus for senior students as they begin the transition from school to work. During term 4, 2015 the year 9 students had three lessons which introduced basic vocational foundations. Students were involved in discussions and presentations about the various types of vocations. The aim was to introduce a balanced vision for the students which combined spiritual wisdom with the dharmic and practical outlook needed for transitioning into responsible adult life. We had a few exemplary members of the community visit the class and present their own work-life / careers. All students completed an online vocational inventory or careers test. The results of these tests provide a basic understanding of the types of vocation students may be inclined towards. After completing the test all students had a personal consultation with our careers adviser about their personal direction. This information is compiled for future reference and follows up when choosing vocational educational training (VET) courses, work experience and academic pathways. The students were also guided in developing their own personal resumes. These resumes can be used by the students if they wish to seek holiday or after school work and will be expanded as students develop more skills and experience. The year 9 class also had a careers excursion where they visited the Kingscliff TAFE. The students had a personalised tour of the TAFE during their annual open day on November 19, 2015. Especially notable was the talks in the construction workshop, the motor mechanical workshop and the IT/design classroom. The partnership with the TAFE opens a number of VET and careers options for our students. Design workshop at Kingscliff TAFE. More here: http://www.krishnaschool.org/
Daily Darshan : February 5th, 2016
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Harinama in Mount Maunganui, New Zeland (Album with photos)…
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Harinama in Mount Maunganui, New Zeland (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the Age of Kali, there is no religious principle except chanting Krishna’s name. It has been ascertained from all the scriptures that Krishna’s holy name is the essence of all mantras. (Renunciation Through Wisdom, 5.1 Purport)
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The Antiquity of Vedic civilization
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The Vedas are compared to a desire tree because they contain all things knowable by man. They deal with mundane necessities as well as spiritual realization. The Vedas contain regulated principles of knowledge covering social, political, religious, economic, military, medicinal, chemical, physical, metaphysical subject matter and above all specific directions for spiritual realization. The real essence of Vedic literatures can be categorized into three headings: Sambandha: Understanding the answers to the questions, "Who am I? Who is God? What is my relation with God?" Abhideya: The process of reviving our relationship with God Prayojana: The mature result: attainment of love of God. Continue reading "The Antiquity of Vedic civilization
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Back To Godhead magazine Reaching Prison Inmates.
Hardik…
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Back To Godhead magazine Reaching Prison Inmates.
Hardik Kaswala: I am a second-generation Indian-American devotee. I was born in Gujarat state and raised in Atlanta. I have been in prison for almost 3½ years and have about 3½ years to go, unless I am paroled earlier.
I cannot express in words what BTG means to me and what impact this magazine has had on people’s lives in prison. There are so many testimonials of “BTG-lila” in prisons that I could give you. Here are just a few:
Once, a South American inmate started chanting and dancing when he saw my BTG and found out that I am a devotee. The other Latino inmates smiled and listened attentively as he told us how his old girlfriend in his native Uruguay was a devotee, how he went to the temple, ate prasada, etc. He told me, “You have a real good culture, real good religion.”
Another time, at another prison, another Latino inmate saw the BTG in my hands and immediately started chanting Hare Krishna and dancing in ecstasy. I hadn’t mentioned a thing, and we hadn’t even introduced ourselves to each other. He told me how he used to go to the Laguna Beach temple, how nice the devotees were, how he liked the programs and the food. He immediately took the BTG. Srila Prabhupada’s BTG has a transcendental life of its own.
Another time, I was moved into an open dorm, where I knew only one person out of eighty or so inmates. I had the BTG issue of Shri Pancha-tattva in Mayapur and another issue, which had His Holiness Shridhara Swami’s life story. I hadn’t even set my mattress and belongings down when a crowd of people immediately started picking up and looking through the BTGs, saying they wanted to read them. They felt a spontaneous attraction.
It seems that no matter what religion, viewpoint, opinions, background, experiences, culture, or knowledge a person has, there is something for everybody in BTG. I want to thank you and the staff Vaishnavas for writing and producing such an excellent, interesting, spiritually entertaining, and enlightening magazine.
Hardik Kaswala. Calhoun State Prison, Morgan, Georgia
Sponsorship List for the Inauguration of New temple at Ekachakra Dham
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I would like to sponsor to support INAUGURATION OF NEW TEMPLE & DEITY INSTALLTION CEREMONY PRASADAM SEVA 51 Devotee ——————————- 7650/- 100 Devotee ——————————- 15,000/- ABHISEK & YAGNA Temple Decoration ————————- 150,001/- Deity Garland for 8 Deities ————— 15,001/- Chandan ——10 kg ————————- 70,001/- Ghee ———100kg ————————- 40001/- Honey——–150kg————————— 45001/- Milk ———-360kg————————— 15001/- Yoghurt […]
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February 5. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
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February 5. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Discouragement from Singhania. February 5, 1966.
Discouragement came to the plans Prabhupada had formed around the promise of support by Badampat Singhania through Dvaraka-vala, who wrote to express his dissatisfaction with the Seventy-second Street building:
“I am afraid that I cannot agree with your suggestion that you should buy a small house and erect something on top of it. Unfortunately, such a kind of proposal will not suit me. The temple must be a small one, but it must be constructed properly. I quite agree that you cannot spend a lot of money at present, but within the amount the government may sanction, you should build something according to the architecture of Indian temples. Then only will we be able to create some impression on the American people. This is all that I can write to you in this connection. I am grateful for you taking the trouble of writing me.”
Prabhupada did not take this letter as final. He maintained hope that Sri Badampat Singhania would still give money for the temple, if only the transfer of money could be arranged. He continued writing his godbrothers and other devotees, asking them to try to secure the government sanction. He maintained his same aspirations, even though his sole prospective donor had rejected his scheme of a cakra and dome atop a conventional two-storey building.
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Bhakti Vidyapurna Swami S.B.7.1.12 – Jan 31st 2016
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Bhakti Vidyapurna Swami S.B.7.1.12 – Jan 31st 2016
The Loft is closed on Monday 8 Feb
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Sorry, the loft is closed on Waitangi day, Monday 8th February 2016.
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Harmony in Contradiction
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Because I speak in my own words, what I say often seems brand new or different than what you’ve heard before. I like this because it encourages people to think.
Sometimes what I say may seem different than what you’ve heard Śrīla Prabhupāda say.
I consider myself a grateful follower of Śrīla Prabhupāda, so I don’t intentionally say or teach anything that contradicts him. But, depending on your current idea of what Śrīla Prabhupāda said on a given subject, you may sometimes have to be willing to do a lot of thinking with an unbiased mind if you want to see that harmony for yourself.
You may well find this unnecessary, after all I am no one’s “guru,” but if so, I humbly request that you not express an un-investigated judgement of my supposed disharmony with Śrīla Prabhupāda. Just leave me as “undecided” and turn your attention to something more essential.
I humbly request that you not express an un-investigated judgement of my supposed disharmony with Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Even if you find it unnecessary to discover the harmony between my words and Prabhupāda’s, you will certainly find it necessary to discover the harmony between his words and his other words – because, like every guru, he often says things that appear to point in contrary directions.
To discover harmony in apparent contradictions, we have to abandon the safety blanket of rushing to conclusions based on isolated quotes.
If you survey everything Prabhupāda said, in the context of when, where, why, and how he said it, and the context of his behavior and character – you will surely come to profoundly deep conclusions about his teachings. I think you would then find complex harmony in all his words and deeds, and (if you care to) would also discover how what I say is in service to and harmony with Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Vraja Kishor
Tagged: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, contradiction, harmony, Prabhupada, textual interpretation
