Planet ISKCON

Pushpa Abhishek! Showering of flower petals on the deities of Radha Gopinath at Iskcon Chowpatty (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: All persons in this material world are suffering from material pains, and if one wants to get rid of them, he must associate with saintly persons, pure devotees of the Lord, and chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. That is the only auspicious way for materialistic persons. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.22.15 Purport)
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The Prime Minister of Mauritius’ son meets Iskcon’s Gopal Krishna Goswami accompanied by other ministers. (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Instead of actively taking part in politics, saintly persons should engage in the chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. By the grace of Lord Caitanya, by simply chanting this Hare Krishna maha-mantra, the general populace can derive all benefits without political implications. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.14.12 Purport)
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Temples can celebrate the 50th anniversary in 2016 by following six simple steps

By ISKCON 50 Global Office

The Global Office for the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON has called upon all ISKCON temples around the world to ’50-ise’ their regular festivals in 2016 by following a few simple steps.

“We need to take every opportunity to spread awareness about our 50th anniversary to the general public,” said Anuttama Das, GBC Minister for Communications, and a member of the International Executive Committee for the 50th Anniversary. “Our regular festivals such as Gaura Purnima, Rama Navami, Janmashtami, Ratha Yatra and Diwali offer us a big opportunity to put the 50th anniversary right out there in the public domain. Every temple should follow these steps to ‘50-ise’ their festivals, so that the world becomes aware of ISKCON’s achievements in the last 50 years.”

“There are six simple steps that every temple can follow to ‘50-ise’ their festivals,” explained Romapada Das, International Coordinator for the 50th Anniversary. “And we have created several resources for you to make your job simpler. Please follow these guidelines so that we can engage the maximum number of people around the world in the 50th Anniversary.”

The six steps released by the Global 50 Office for ‘50-ising’ regular ISKCON festivals are:

Download the ISKCON 50 logo from the ISKCON 50 website by clicking here. You should use the logo in all your invitations, posters, letterheads, banners, websites and media releases with our tagline ‘The joy of devotion’ and the legend ‘Celebrating 50 golden years’ prominently displayed
Print the official posters and banners of ISKCON 50 by downloading them from the ISKCON website by clicking here. These posters should be displayed prominently in your temple premises and the venue of your festivals
Distribute the special 50th Anniversary Magazine that will be released shortly, at your festivals. You can gift the magazine to VVIP guests on stage, while commemorating the 50th Anniversary
Screen the special films being produced for the 50th. A short 18-minute film will be ready by mid-February, while the longer one will be released two months later
Download scripts for the special 50th anniversary plays from the ISKCON 50 website by clicking here, and enact them on stage. These plays are about Srila Prabhupada’s historic journey to the West
Print and display the ISKCON 50 Exhibition panels, which are under production and should be available for downloading from our website from March 2016. These panels will chart the achievements of ISKCON in the last 50 years.

ISKCON centres are requested to write to Romapada Das, International Coordinator, 50th anniversary at romapada@iskcon50.org if they need any further information or support about the 50th anniversary.

Please like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/iskcon50

THINK 50! Act 50!

By Madhava Smullen

The Service Appreciation Ceremony – a semi-annual custom introduced in 2014 that honors those who have contributed years of service to the New Vrindaban village – was held for the third time at ISKCON New Vrindaban’s Community Hall on Sunday December 6^th, 2016.

Previous ceremonies honored the late Madhava Gosh and his wife Vidya, Kripamaya and his wife Krsna Bhava, Malati Devi, Navin-Shyam, Jamuna, and Kacey Orr for diverse services from GBC to board member to cow and garden care.

This time, around fifty people gathered to honor ECO-Vrindaban veteran farmhand Ray Kuderski, cook and mother Dharmakala Dasi, performer and author Sankirtan Das, and his wife Ruci, a longtime teacher at New Vrindaban.

Joint board member Chaitanya Mangala Das acted as MC for the event, which for the first time included slideshow presentations on each honoree’s life and achievements.

Each person was also presented with a cherrywood plaque thanking them for their decades of service in the development of the New Vrindaban community, on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra, and the Board of Directors of ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-Vrindaban.

Ray Kuderski – whose wife Kelli, son Michael, and sister-in-law Carol were all present – received his plaque from Ranaka Das, his boss and friend during his more than three decades of exceptional work with the cows and farming activities in New Vrindaban.

Born and raised in the Moundsville area, Ray didn’t have prior farm work experience, but learned on the job. He first began working with Ranaka in the Plough Department in 1983, which later merged with the Cow Care Department and eventually evolved into ECO-Vrindaban.

“For decades, it was mostly Ray and Ranaka doing everything,” says Chaitanya Mangala. “During the tougher times at New Vrindaban, when they had to look after 400 cows on a shoestring budget, they often had to put aside their own concerns and comfort to make sure the cows were cared for.”

The crowd laughed with fond familiarity when Chaitanya showed them a photo of Ray on his trusty John Deere tractor, commenting, “This is probably how you all recognize him.”

“Ray is known as a no-nonsense guy who does his work steadily without complaint year in and year out,” explains Chaitanya. “He’s been an amazing part of the fabric of New Vrindaban for so long. The place clearly wouldn’t be the same without him.”

True to form, when Ray was offered the chance to say a few words after his slideshow presentation, he declined with a self-effacing grin. But the crowd wouldn’t stay silent. One after the other, dozens got to their feet, praising Ray for his incredibly dedicated participation.

Next came Dharmakala Dasi, who has served New Vrindaban for more than four decades. After joining ISKCON in Maryland in 1972, Dharmakala was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1973 in New York, and began cooking for Krishna at the Henry Street temple there.

She moved to New Vrindaban in 1974, where she received 2^nd initiation in 1975 and began cooking for the Deities and devotees, a service she would continue for the next fifteen years.

Her opulent 4pm offering of elaborate cookies and cheese cake became legendary, as did the breadsticks, date nut bars, apple crisp and more she made for the devotees. Often spending eleven-hour days in the kitchen, Dharmakala still found time to raise her five children.

After stopping her work in the temple kitchen, she continued to bake cakes for weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries in New Vrindaban, a service she offers to this day. In 1995, she started her company “World’s Best Cookie,” which has sold over 500,000 handmade cookies.

Speaking about their mother, Dharmakala’s eldest son Suddha-Sattva and daughter Dinataruni appreciated how she had opened her home to their friends. “Our house was always packed with kids, and you’d feed them every day,” Suddha said. “That’s one of the ways you showed your love for devotees in the community.” Dharmakala’s son Vincent and daughter Sarasvati were also present.

In turn, the crowd then showered their love and appreciation on Dharmakala, mostly by enthusiastically yelling out the names of her different legendary preparations. Some reminisced about fighting over her offerings; others thanked her for the cakes she had made for them. ECO-V Board Chair Bhima Walker then presented her with her plaque.

“My friends are the reason I’m still living in New Vrindaban after all these years,” Dharmakala was quoted in an article that was read out. “We all built this place together. We’re like family.”

Finally, Sankirtan and Ruci were honored. The two met in college in 1968, joined the Chicago temple soon after, and were initiated in 1973. They arrived in New Vrindaban on the eve of Gaura Purnima 1976 in the dead of winter, showing them just how austere the place could get. But nothing could deter them from serving there for the next four decades.

As well as her service to Tulasi Devi, Ruci is most known for her nearly forty years of teaching preschool and elementary students at different New Vrindaban schools since 1978.

Today, she continues to teach at the Gopal’s Garden Homeschool Co-Op, established in 2007. There, she provides a balanced blend of standard academic subjects and Krishna conscious ones, including japa, kirtana, and Bhagavad-gita slokas. At the end of each school year, she produces an anthology of the students’ writings and illustrations.

Over the years, Ruci developed bonds with her students that have remained to this day. She often receives mail from early students – now with successful careers and their own families – who tell her what an impact her teaching had on their personal and professional lives.

At the service appreciation ceremony, three generations stood to thank Ruci for everything she had done. Pioneer New Vrindaban residents told her, “You were a shining light throughout New Vrindaban’s history. You never let us down.” Their children, now in their thirties and forties, appreciated all the benefits they had gotten from her classroom. And their children, still currently studying with Ruci, piped up and said, “I love being in Ruci’s class!”

Meanwhile her husband Sankirtan is known for braving austere conditions out at the Bahulaban “Pits” to cook breakfast every day for nearly fifteen years, including the famed “oatwater.”

He’s perhaps most praised, however, for developing the Brijabasi Players and for his hundreds of plays and skits from the late 1970s to this day.

One of his most fondly remembered productions was the sweet Nandulal, in which he played the blind saint Bilvamangala Thakur, who unknowingly encounters Krishna, played by the then 12-year-old Sesa Walker. Sankirtan recalled the play as one of his favorite experiences from over the years, praising the professionalism and commitment of his youthful co-star.

Sankirtan also collaborated for many years with Lokamangala Das, performing transcendental dramas around the U.S. These included the two-man magnum opus Mahabharat, which they toured for four years to colleges, temples and even Off Broadway in New York City.

Sankirtan is also an award-winning storyteller and author, winning the West Virginia Artist Fellowship Award in 2005 for his storytelling at schools and colleges, and a Next Generation Indie Book finalist award in 2014 for his book Mahabharat: The Eternal Quest.

Recently, Sankirtan has been taking his PowerPoint about the 50th Anniversary of Prabhupada’s arrival in the West to colleges. And his project “Holding Srila Prabhupada,” in which he takes photos of pilgrims holding a picture of the ISKCON Founder outside his home – where Prabhupada stayed in June 1976 – has given hundreds a deeper New Vrindaban pilgrimage experience.

After the presentation on Sankirtan’s life, many devotees stood to say how moved they were by his service. Advaitacarya Das recounted how Sankirtan had spent eight hours a day for two weeks helping his son Halavah Sofksy rehearse to try and get an acting scholarship. As a result, Halavah won the scholarship. Present himself, Halavah added, “It shows the level of generosity that you have. And so many others have similar stories to tell about you.”

Sankirtan and Ruci also have two adult children of their own. Their son Josh (Sanjaya) – who was present at the ceremony — is an attorney and helps edit Sankirtan’s writings. Their daughter Visnupriya is a senior product and graphic designer for a consulting firm, and has designed and illustrated Sankirtan’s books.

At the end of the ceremony, Ruci and Sankirtan were presented with their plaque by INV board member Keval Patel.

In his concluding statement, Chaitanya Mangala recited Verse 4 from Rupa Goswami’s Nectar of Instruction, which discusses the six “symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another.”

He also quoted the purport, where Srila Prabhupada writes: “Even in ordinary social activities, these six types of dealings between two loving friends are absolutely necessary,” and further clarifies, “The International Society for Krishna Consciousness has been established to facilitate these six kinds of loving exchanges between devotees.”

“We don’t often just walk up to people we know and tell them our open-hearted thoughts and appreciations,” says Chaitanya. “So it’s important that we create spaces to facilitate this kind of sharing. When people do things to support and appreciate each other, it’s catching. The recipient feels good and then does something nice for someone else, and it causes a ripple effect.”

To finish off the evening, everyone had the chance to mill about and socialize with each other as they tucked into a delectable Ekadasi cake baked by Lakshman Das.

Plans are in place to continue the Service Appreciation Ceremony at New Vrindaban twice a year, well into the future.

January 31. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Appreciating His Teachings.
Prabhupada can mediate between Krishna and the individual soul. For example, he explains how we can offer Krishna whatever we eat, and how the main ingredient in our offering is our devotion. Prabhupada comments, “If you offer something to Krishna: ‘Krishna, I have brought a very palatable dish for You to eat’ – no, Krishna will not take it. Nahamprakasah sarvasya yoga-maya-samavrtah. He is not exposed to everyone.”
There are different levels of understanding Prabhupada’s teachings. A newcomer will be amazed that Krishna will accept offerings of food. Someone who has been hearing and serving Prabhupada for more years will hear with added depth and richness. Such a person is trained to hear and consider more the subtleties of the philosophy. For example, Prabhupada quoted the verse “nahamprakasah” in the context of offering food to Krishna. The nahamprakasah verse tells us that Krishna places a curtain of maya between Himself and foolish persons. To quote that verse immediately after saying that Krishna accepts offerings made in devotion, produces an interesting contrast. Prabhupada’s point is that if we try to give Krishna something materially opulent to impress us, He will not accept it, because nahamprakasah sarvasya– Krishna puts a barrier between Himself and such fools.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

Appreciating His Teachings

The post Daily Darshan : January 31th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Vyenkata Bhatta lived at Sri Rangam and had a son named Gopal. When the boy came to offer his obeisances at the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu the Lord picked him up and very affectionately seated him in His lap. Mahaprabhu would call Gopal after He had finished His meal and offer His remnants to the boy. In this way He prepared him for the position of Acarya.

In Nepal, Gopala Bhatta bathed in the famous Kali-Gandaki River. Upon dipping his water-pot in the river, he was surprised to see several Shaligrama Shilas enter his pot. He dropped the shilas back into the river, but the shilas re-entered his pot when he refilled it.

After emptying and refilling his water-pot for the third time, Gopala Bhatta Goswami found twelve Shaligrama shilas sitting there. Thinking this must be the Lords mercy, he kept all the shilas and returned to Vrndavana.

In the evening after offering some bhoga and arotika to his Shalagram shilas, Gopala Bhatta put them to rest, covering them with a wicker basket. Late in the night, Gopala Bhatta took a little rest and then, in the early morning went to take bath in the Yamuna river.

Returning from his bath, he uncovered the Shalagramas in order to render the puja for Them, and saw amongst Them a Deity of Krishna playing the flute. There were now eleven shilas and this Deity. The “Damodara shila”, had manifested as the beautiful three-fold bending form of tri-bhangananda-krishna.

Floating in the ocean of ecstasy, he fell to the ground in order to offer his dandavats and then recited various prayers and hymns. This wonderful event of the appearance day of Radha Raman happened on the day after Sri Nrsimha Chaturdasi, and is celebrated on that day accordingly.

By Madhava Smullen

Village Council Meeting at Vyasasana and Lokadristi’s Home

Possibly the hottest topic at the Fall 2015 ISKCON New Vrindaban and Eco-Vrindaban Board Meetings, and certainly the one that drew the most interest, was the Community Dialog about a proposed new “Village Association.”

For decades, New Vrindaban residents have felt a need to be heard more by the ISKCON management and to have more influence on how their community is run.

So with a possible solution at hand, they were buzzing as they crowded into the Palace Lodge community hall after lunch on December 5th to learn more about it.

Longtime residents Nityodita Das and Advaitacharya Das guided the session, beginning with a half-hour Power Point presentation on the history and plan for the proposed Village Association.

The idea, they explained, has its roots in Srila Prabhupada’s 1973 statement, “We will establish a local self-governing village.” Varying attempts to make inroads towards this were made over the years, the most recent being the Advocacy Sanga — first launched in 2013.

Then, during the March 2015 board meetings, members of the INV and ECO-V boards themselves, led by Chaitanya Mangala and Jaya Krsna, encouraged the creation of an official Village Council, which would participate in the management of New Vrindaban from a broader “village” perspective.

Chaitanya Mangala Das introducing the New Vrindaban Village Association

To do this, volunteers began the process by first forming a Steering Committee of seven. These included Jaya Krsna and Ananga Manjari (representing INV), Mukunda (representing ECO-V); and Advaitacarya, Nityodita, Devala, and Vyasasana, representing long term residents and broader community interests.

Over the next six months, the Steering Committee conducted many meetings with different interest groups in the village of New Vrindaban to develop their proposal. They then organized three larger gatherings – increasing in attendance each time from 20, to 40, to 60 people — where they continued to tweak the “blueprint.”

The version presented at the December 5^th Community Dialog proposed a “New Vrindaban Village Association” made up of residents who would elect their chosen representatives to a “Village Council.”

The Village Council would then regularly meet with the ECO-V and INV boards and interact in a cooperative framework which is provisionally being called the “New Vrindaban Village Board.”

Advaitacharya and Nityodita explained that membership of the Village Association would be very open and inclusive, with the only requirement being that members must reside in the Ohio-Valley area.

Advaitacharya presenting New Vrindaban’s Boards including Eco-V, ISKCON New Vrindaban, and the Village Council.

“If you raise your hand and say, ‘I want to be a member,’ that qualifies you to be a member,” Advaita told the intrigued crowd.

The requirements to be a voting member aren’t much more restrictive: one need only be at least 18 years of age, an Ohio-Valley resident for at least one year, and attend at least one function of the Village Association per year.

In return, the Association aims to create a loving family environment among its members that helps to empower and assist devotees to live happily in and around New Vrindaban.

One priority will be to enhance fellowship and friendships amongst New Vrindaban villagers through regular spiritual and social group activities, such as men’s and women’s groups, youth groups, reading groups etc — a much-needed feature. Another will be to care for members by helping them understand housing options available and the land acquisition process, as well as by encouraging economic development through the establishment of local businesses.

And perhaps the most important facet will be to set up a system where concerns can be expressed, shared and addressed with action. This will help New Vrindaban residents feel cared for, and empower them with their desired participation in governing the village.

The system would likely see residents – soon to be members of the Village Association – address their concerns to their Village Council, who would then either handle the issue themselves or act as the go-between with ISKCON New Vrindaban or ECO-Vrindaban if it fell under the purview of either of those organizations.

The main difference would be a shift in expectations; not all the concerns of the Village would be funneled through ISKCON, allowing the temple – with its limited capacity – to act more as a spiritual center of the Village. This would reflect the fact that while residents and the two main non-profit organizations in New Vrindaban share many common concerns, there are some aspects that can be better handled in simultaneously cooperative and self-determined ways.

Nityodita explains the whole purpose of The Village Council during the Community Dialogue.

“We need to break out of the old mindset of trying to use the legal structure of a religious non-profit in ways it was never meant to be used,” says joint-board member Chaitanya Mangala. “The analogy I use: If I went to the town of Moundsville, and said, ‘We’re now going to funnel all city management decisions through a local Church,’ everybody would look at me with a puzzled face and ask, ‘What are you talking about?’ Clearly, it doesn’t make sense. But that’s exactly what we’ve been trying to do for decades in New Vrindaban.”

After Nityodita and Advaitacharya’s presentation, the floor was opened up to an hour-and-a-half of discussion, beginning with everyone in the room getting the chance to express their feelings about the idea.

Many long-term residents, including Advaita himself, felt somewhat guarded, having seen multiple similar attempts fail in the past. They expressed that they were reserving their full enthusiasm for when and if the idea succeeded.

“Personally, I had never intended to get involved in something like this again – I had been through it too many times,” says Advaita. “But this time it came from the leadership outwards, saying, ‘Yes, we recognize this problem, and we know it really needs to be addressed.’ It’s the first time I’ve ever seen that, and that makes me hopeful.”

Some residents wanted more clarification on how the new structure would work. Board and Steering Committee members explained that this is a new, learning experience for everyone, that every detail has not yet been figured out, and that the mechanics will naturally be established over time with members learning as they go.

Others were concerned that the new Village Council would not really be on an equal footing with the other boards or have enough power to make things happen. In response, Advaita pointed out that the key to successful results is working together with trust and a cooperative spirit – something Srila Prabhupada stressed many, many times.

The qualities of patience, determination, and enthusiasm (utsahan niscayad dhairyat) – which Tamohara Das cited in Saturday morning’s Srimad Bhagavatam class – were also repeated throughout the Community Dialog and the weekend in general, as necessary qualities to practice in order to be successful in such efforts.

Finally, Board and Steering Committee members emphasized that differing viewpoints are all right, and in fact expected, as long as everyone maintains an underlying assumption of goodwill, and continues to communicate and cooperate with the shared goal of doing the best they can for the devotees, Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.

Overall, the mood of the Community Dialog was one of optimism, with many comments like, “I’m feeling enthusiastic,” “I’m enlivened to see things get this far,” and “I hope it will be successful.”

The Dialog concluded with the Steering Committee asking who would be open to joining the Village Association, and receiving a near unanimous show of hands.

Next up, the Steering Committee is planning a local event to officially launch the Village Association. Invitiations will include a print-out of the Power Point presented at the Community Dialog, along with membership applications. The event will feature entertainment, kirtan, prasadam, and a chance to sign up to get involved in community interests and concerns.

“I see this as a positive step, to paraphrase Srila Prabhupada, ‘In the gradual development of New Vrindaban as a self-governing village,’” says Chaitanya Mangala. “The previous culture, where every decision had to go through the ISKCON New Vrindaban management structure, disempowered individuals and put a huge burden on a handful of people. Distributing that load and increasing individual empowerment is necessary and will be incredibly beneficial for both local residents and ISKCON management.”

Timesoar Bhagavatam class.

The post How service to devotees empowers Krsna appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Editor’s note: There are some points made in this below article that are not supported by our vaisnava siddhanta, so it is just as well that that was not the reason for us posting it!

Rather, our purpose was to show, not only division among the scientific / psychiatric world, but to show the strong challenge there is to the outright atheistic view as represented by the likes of Hawkins, Freud and Dawkins etc. It would have been truly remarkable if all points made in this article were in line with our siddhanta. So we request readers to focus on the positive in this piece, seeing the glass as half full as opposed to half empty.

The spiritual or eternal self is not the sensations which the soul experiences within and from the body. "yantra rudrani mayaya". What we directly experience is not actually the external hard physical material world, but a REPRESENTATION built by the mind, within the networks of the body's brain, nervous and glandular systems, life air, etc., but primarily the brain, of the occupied body, exactly like a person experiencing the holo-deck from Star Trek fame. Subject, also, to defects. When we meditate, if we are inclined to remember, we may wish to occasionally remember that we are the ability to sense, not exactly the sensations themselves, which are but the mere elements of the representative holodeck of the human brain. Continue reading "The Brain As Holodeck
→ Dandavats"

Sacinandana Swami’s Health Update.
By Krishna’s mercy I was discharged from hospital two days ago. This morning, I visited a local surgeon who changed my bandages and who checked if everything was alright. He had only good things to say about my condition and recommended that I take things easy and have ample rest. The body is still under shock, the cleansing organs need to eliminate all the toxins after the unusually long narcosis and many other medication. As expected I need to take pain-killers. Somehow I feel like an embryo who needs to build up all its organs. I am told that all this is perfectly normal and I am in good spirits. There is a little voice within me that even says: “Finally you have the time you always wanted for reading, reflecting and chanting.”
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/KZqCSu

By Urmila Devi Dasi

Our life depends on air, and when we recognize it as one of the energies of Krsna, it can remind us of Him.

Sweat gathers on my lower back, and my clothes stick to my skin. Then the leaves of nearby trees shiver to announce the coming relief of a breeze. I consider how the air I’m perceiving outside me also moves within me, and I think of how air carries smells, fills our lungs, nourishes our cells, flies our kites and airplanes, and presses with strong but unperceived force on our skin.
Thinking about air can easily remind us of Krsna, the Supreme Lord. Air is one of the Lord’s energies, as listed in scriptures such as the Bhagavad-gita and Brahma-samhita. When Arjuna sees Krsna’s universal form, he says, “You are air, fire, and water!” Krsna eternally exists as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, separate from His energies, but those energies, Vaisnava philosophers explain, should be considered identical with Krsna Himself. Any of His energies, therefore, can be an impetus for bhakti-yoga uniting with Him through devotional service.
The qualities of air can remind us of the Lord’s personal qualities. Some philosophers conclude that God is without qualities a formless, merely existent energy. Since God is complete, however, He must have a personality with qualities. Since He is the source of everything, everything must exist in Him in some way. Since we, God’s creation, have attributes, it is reasonable to conclude that our source also has qualities.

One of the most obvious qualities of the air is its subtlety. Although air is all around us, pushing on our body with a pressure of fifteen pounds per square inch (one kilogram per square centimeter), we are practically oblivious of it. We usually breathe unconsciously too, so subtle is the air moving in and out of our lungs. We see air only through its effects, such as when it moves branches and straw or carries smoke and water vapor.

Krsna too is almost imperceptible to a materially conditioned soul, visible only by His effects. We see His handiwork in a flower’s beauty or the predictability of the planets’ movements, but we do not see Him. The natural laws on which we base our math and science imply a lawmaker. But much of the nature of that lawmaker stays unknown.

Subtle air can move things that to our senses are far more substantial than air. Violent air in tornados and other storms can throw buildings afar and push wood splinters into metal. Similarly, with only the indiscernible movement of His will, Krsna can move, shape, change, and scatter everything we can perceive.

On the spiritual plane, the gentle gust of a whisper of His name, heard or spoken with merely a shadow of affection for Him, can move Him to dismantle a steel-framed heart, turning anger and lust into spiritual love.

Krsna and Air Everywhere

In our experience, air is everywhere, as is Krsna. And just as air carries other substances without mixing with them, so Krsna stays aloof and unaffected even though He is in the heart of every living being and within every atom. Air carries heavenly fragrances from flower gardens and putrid smells from rubbish heaps, but the air is neutral. Similarly, Krsna responds to our desires and actions yet remains unattached. If we act in violent and rancid ways, He carries us to lower planets. If we act in pious and fragrant ways, He carries us to heaven.
Air is the element we can do without for the shortest period. Our other bodily needs water, food, shelter, warmth have no value if we have no air. We certainly cannot think of meeting our social, mental, emotional, and intellectual needs without a constant supply of air.

Similarly, our relationship with Krsna is our primary need. Without a conscious, deliberate, and loving relationship with the Lord, nothing else gives us full satisfaction. How can we enjoy a delicious meal in the company of loving friends if we’re suffocating? Persons who entirely neglect their relationship with God, or put that relationship as anything but a top priority, find that the good and pleasurable things in their lives fail to give them the satisfaction they expect. While such people often try to adjust what and how they enjoy, they rarely consider that the real solution is as basic as breathing.

Furthermore, because Krsna is complete, making one’s relationship with Him the top priority brings automatic satisfaction of all other needs. One can then deal with the world from a position of inner peace and joy. A person in such a position has complete freedom, not dependent on anyone or anything for satisfaction.

Air provides oxygen for our digestion, bringing nourishment and health to our cells. Krsna says in the Gita that He joins with the outgoing and incoming air of life to digest our food. For souls who have fully given themselves to Him with love, He delivers all they need while maintaining what they have. He supplies the necessities for all others too, giving food and shelter even to lowly and poisonous creatures.

The movement of air seems to make plants and trees dance and forms attractive patterns in water and sand. Blowing air sculpts rock into works of art. We are reminded that Krsna’s movements are as graceful as a dance and that He likes to dress as if He is a dancing actor about to go on stage. His dancing with His pure devotees in the spiritual world is perfectly choreographed more graceful, soothing, complex, exciting, and intricate than the swirling waves of a stream whipped by the wind.

Air in Krsna’s Activities

In His form as Visnu, Krsna rides through the air standing on the back of the giant eagle Garuda. From there, He sometimes fights battles with demons, such as those in the great cosmic fight for a jug of nectar.

To create the material world, Krsna expands Himself into the gigantic form of Maha-Visnu, resting on the causal ocean. As the Lord breathes out, universes come from Him and gradually expand. When He breathes in, the universes gradually reenter His transcendent form. We are presently living in one of those universes, riding on the Lord’s breath.

When increasing materialism periodically covers spiritual knowledge, Krsna comes in various incarnations to set things right. One incarnation, Hayagriva, is a golden humanlike form with the head of a horse. The air He breathes from His divine nostrils is the sweet sounds of Vedic wisdom, given to Brahma, the first created being in the universe. Because any of Krsna’s senses can perform the action of any other sense, He can sing sweetly with puffs of air from His nose.

At the beginning of the universe, Brahma searched for knowledge of himself, his duty, and the nature of the cosmos. After meditating for thousands of years, he heard Krsna breathe in his heart. Krsna’s breath had flowed through His flute and transformed into the Gayatri mantra, which then came out of Brahma’s mouth as Vedic knowledge.

Everything in the spiritual world is conscious, including Lord Krsna’s flute, His constant companion and intimate devotee. Krsna blows on His flute to herd His cows. The music bewilders even expert musicians on heavenly planets and induces a contrary nature rivers flow backward, rocks melt, while animals and people become stunned in ecstasy. The great devotee Bhaktivinoda Êhakura, the father of Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master, wrote in Gitavali that Krsna abducts the mind of His devotees with the enchanting songs of His flute as well by His sweet bodily fragrance, which are both blowing in relentless waves upon the wind.

Many people ask how they can absorb their minds and hearts in the Supreme Lord, Krsna, while being busy in the world. Family, work, studies all seem to distract from the spiritual. But spiritual life can be as close as our every breath of air.

Harinama in Auckland, New Zealand (6 min video)
May Lord Chaitanya, the moon of Navadvipa, who is the king of dancers, appear splendidly in your heart. He appears like a sandalwood tree from the Malayan Hills. His smile is pure, and the edge of His garment is decorated in red. He is the full incarnation of Godhead, and He has descended to this world to perform jubilant transcendental pastimes as the greatest of devotees.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/N33AOX

Invitation for Bhumi Puja and Anana Sesa Installation.
For thousands of years sadhus have enriched the atmosphere surrounding sacred Govardhan Hill with their spiritual practices and realizations. We desire to offer the devotee community a retreat center on land we’ve acquired only 250 meters from Govardhan Hill. In Giriraja Govardhan’s sacred association, hearts can be soothed and spiritual desires fulfilled. Come and let Giriraja Govardhan work his wonders.
Read more: http://www.govardhancenter.com/

Caring For Cow Services At Iskcon Malaysia Farms.
Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the prime protector of brahminical culture and the cow. Without knowing and respecting these, one cannot realize the science of God, and without this knowledge, any welfare activities or humanitarian propaganda cannot be successful. (Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 4: Chapter 21, Text 38: PURPORT) The Vedic literatures repeatedly proclaim that for human beings to be happy the must care for animals, especially mother cows. ISKCON Malaysia has two farms. The first is a 20 acres’ farm specially to care for Dairy Cows and second, a 400 acres’ farm to care for retired cows and to cultivate orchards, vegetable farming with a simple facility to care for retired senior members. At both these farms cows and bulls are living a protected life until their natural death. Now you have the opportunity to help care for Sri Krishna’s most beloved animals – cows and bulls, the mother and father of humanity. To maintain our growing herd, we need your help. Adopt a cow and help make a difference.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/264Prw

New book: Krishna - Proofs Of Gods existence.
Foreword by Lokanatha Swami: Proof of God’s existence? Do we really need it? Do we require any proof for the existence of the Sun for example? However, a blind person may well question its existence. He may state, “I don’t believe in the existence of the Sun”. What is the value of such a statement by someone who is visibly challenged? There are so many others who are effectively seeing the Sun face to face in their existence and daily basking in its splendour. Similarly, the empiricists often demand “proof” of the existence of God, with questions such as, “Can you show me God?’. They also question the existence of God. Unfortunately, such questions seem to emerge with ever increasing frequency today by a growing number of people demanding convincing responses. There is therefore a compelling need for the presentation of authentic and authorised theistic concepts and ideologies in today’s scenario of growing atheism, as well as of unauthorised, misleading “scriptural ideas” that actually trace their genesis in the fertile minds and imaginations of many “religionists” and “philosophers”. The following anecdote illustrates how interpretations of truths and untruths can be experienced. Uncle Joe, a respectable middle-aged gentleman visits his friend John, who he has not met for some time now. Upon reaching his friend’s house, he presses the doorbell. He hears a patter of small feet running towards the door, and soon, finds himself face to face with John’s 5 year old son, Mark. “Yes? How can I help you uncle?”, asks Mark. Uncle Joe explains that he is a friend of his father, and would like to see him. Mark immediately runs inside and explains the situation to his father. However, John, in the midst of something, is not inclined to meet anyone, and so tells Mark to inform Uncle Joe that he is not at home. So, the innocent little Mark promptly returns and informs Uncle Joe, “My father said that ‘he is not at home’!” “Who told you?”, asks an incredulous Uncle Joe. “Yes, yes! My father himself told me”, repeats Mark. In much the same way, the atheists are deluded by God Himself, and this delusion leads to their lack of faith in His existence. All such instructions about remembrance, forgetfulness and the like emanate directly from God. As He Himself states, “I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” (Bhagavad Gita (15.15) So, here, Krsna (or God) directly states that all knowledge and remembrance as well as all ignorance and forgetfulness are His creations. In Bhagavad Gita, (16.8), He further states, “They (the atheists) say that this world is unreal, with no foundation, no God in control. They say it is produced of sex desire and has no cause other than lust.” No one is an eternal non-believer. Today’s cynical non-believer is tomorrow’s ardent believer and faithful follower. The world may be full of these non-believers today, but there are also many firm believers who have complete faith in and varying degrees of realisations of God’s existence. Such believers, or devotees of the Lord, rejoice in their experiences and naturally seek to share this wisdom with others. In this book, Proofs of God’s existence, co-authors Gauranga Premananda Dasa and Avadhuta Raya Dasa use indisputable and primordial texts to exemplify the existence of God. This endeavor is especially pleasing to the Lord, as it enables the reformation of the misguided and misdirected souls – His parts and parcels - to revive their original, pure and blissful relationship with the Lord, and thus achieve the perfection of human life. Gauranga Premananda Dasa and Avadhuta Raya Dasa were inspired by their personal experiences while preaching the glories of God and distributing authoritative literature. While preaching, they often came across questions relating to the very existence of God, and where there was an idea of God, these ideas were generally vague and nebulous, and at times, completely flawed. They therefore felt the need to address, in simple terms, the gaps in theistic understanding which are so rampant these days. This is but the first volume of an intended series of publications that they have planned. Their target is to present at least 1008 citations which they purport as Proof of God’s Existence. Writings on such sober and intense subject matter are encouraged as this enables the reader to open up his heart and mind to meaningful contemplation of the Supreme Lord. As is stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam (1.5.11), “That literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization.” The arguments presented in Proof of God’s Existence by the co-authors, are convincing and in line with the teachings and philosophy of the Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness (ISKCON), His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Proof of God’s existence is a timely contribution for both the believer and the non- believer. It includes elements of personal memoirs, spiritual vision, theology and faith building through insightful engagement with authentic Vedic literature. The chapters convey a practical commitment designed to compel believers to enhance their faith and to entice non believers into meaningful contemplation of God’s existence. My congratulations and best wishes on this publication and I pray that Srila Prabhupada may bless the authors and am certain that the Lord is pleased with their heartfelt effort.
HH Lokanath Swami Pandharpur,24 July, 2015
You can order at avadhutaraya@gmail.com

krsna’s Mathura & Dwaraka Pastimes Session 2( Ujjain @29.12.2015 )

January 39. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: The East Snowstorm. January 30, 1966. The East Coast was hit by severe blizzards, seven inches of snow fell on the City, with winds up to fifty miles an hour. The City of New York offered warm rooms and meals for people living in tenements without heat. JFK Airport was closed, as were train lines and roadways into the City. For the second time within eight days, a state of emergency was declared because of snow. As a lone individual, Srila Prabhupada could not do anything about the snow emergency, or the international warfare – he saw these as more symptoms of the age of Kali. Always there would be misery in the material world. But if he could bring Radha and Krishna to a building in New York … nothing was impossible for the Supreme Lord. Even in the midst of Kali-yuga, a golden age could appear, and people could get relief. If Americans could take to Krishna consciousness, the whole world would follow. Seeing through the eyes of the scriptures, Srila Prabhupada pushed on through the blizzard and pursued the thin trail for support for his Krishna conscious mission.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

The East Snowstorm

Yes, The Loft is still open for Yoga and Meditation on Auckland Anniversary (Monday 1 February 2016) & Waitangi Day (Monday 8 February 2016)! Also we have the Spirit Festival on Sundays from 5pm ($5 or $8 after 5.30pm) including dinner!

The post The Loft is open on Auckland Annv. & Waitangi Day appeared first on The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland.

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Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast

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The post Gita 09.07 – Repetition of discussion is meant for elevation of vision appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Celebrating ISKCON’s 50 Years (6 min video)
“The 50th Anniversary offers a once-in-a-life time opportunity that provides us a unique chance to get the public of every country in the world to recognise Prabhupada’s achievements and the growth and contribution of his society that changed the face of the planet,” said Anuttama Das, GBC Minister for Communications who is part of the International Executive Committee for the 50th Anniversary. “While celebrating this important milestone, we can also educate people about ISKCON and appreciate the contribution of devotees who have worked hard in the last 50 years to spread the Sankirtana movement.”
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/q3Dvmg

This phenomenal world or material world in which we are placed is complete in itself because the twenty-four elements of which this material universe is a temporary manifestation, according to Sankhya philosophy, are completely adjusted to produce complete resources which are necessary for the maintenance and subsistence of this universe. There is nothing extraneous, nor is there anything needed. (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) An understanding of God’s relationship with the world is essential for an informed response to contemporary scientific worldviews. Although there is copious literature dealing with this subject by Christian theologians, very little has been done from a Hindu perspective, with its different metaphysics. We will look at how Christian thinkers have dealt with the subject of non-physical influence and intervention in the world, and then what Hinduism has to offer the discussion. I hope to show that the theistic Sankhya of the Bhagavata Purana (Srimad-Bhagavatam) offers a rich metaphysics and conception of the self to enhance two divergent Christian theologies of nature. Continue reading "God and Science: Christian and Vaisnava Perspectives
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Vedic village in the mountains of the Caucasus. Reconstruction of the Temple (31 min video)
Amazing result of the loving cooperation of bhaktas, bhaktins and children who join their forces, skills and talents and offer a beautiful temple to Sri Sri Gaura-Ntai.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/QkM2MO

The names of Krishna are the repository of all happiness and the greatest wealth. If we chant properly, we will not experience material miseries, but we may experience what the materialist might mistake as misery: the spiritual joy of intense separation from Krishna. Since that joy comes from proper chanting, we might wonder how we can chant with attention and concentration, even if we are not yet pure devotees of Krishna. How can we control the mind? How can we keep ourselves from thinking of a million and one other things besides Krishna’s names? Chanting properly takes practice, and the first point is to approach the practice positively. When we approach the holy names negatively, we often think more about what we should not be doing rather than what we should be doing. It is said, “You can’t do a don’t.” So, instead of thinking: “Now I have to control my mind and not think of other things,” we can think, “Now I will concentrate on Krishna’s names, which are identical to Krishna. By concentrating on Krishna’s names, Krishna will give me full intelligence, and I will love Him more and more.” Continue reading "Finding the Nectar in Krishna’s Names
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Today we’re marking the life of a great saint in our tradition who lived 500 years ago. He was the son of a Sri Vaishnava brahmana, Venkata Bhatta, and was born in a village near the famous temple town of Sri Rangam.

It may be safe to say that deterioration of the global natural environment is today no longer a contested issue. All nations acknowledge pollution, salination, deforestation, desertification, depletion of the ozone layer, the prevalence of toxic waste dumps, and more, as tangible, problematic issues. What remains a contested issue, however, is the exact factors that underpin this ruining of the Earth’s splendor. Factors labeled as root causes include meat-eating, industrialization, economic instability, and ignorance of sustainable and energy-efficient agricultural practices. With such an array of opinions as to why the Earth’s good health has waned, it is easy to see why society struggles to pinpoint the best approaches to environmental care. As a Hare Krishna devotee, and as an environmentalist since my childhood, I decided to investigate the underlying causes of such degradation from the perspective of the Vedas. When the opportunity to do a research Ph.D. through the University of Tasmania in Australia became available, I decided to employ the concept of the three modes of material nature to investigate the quality of consciousness of environmental scientists. Continue reading "Global Environmental Management and the Vedic Triguna
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The post Preparing our hearts for the Hungarian book-distributors’ Mayapura-Vraja parikrama appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

A Rabbi was once asked to describe the difference between heaven and hell. By a wave of the hand he manifested a vision of hell; a group of hungry, emaciated men sitting at the dining table eagerly awaiting their lunch. The bowls of soup appeared. Problem was, their hands were shaped like unusually long spoons – as they attempted to eat they just couldn’t get the food into their mouth. It was agony! Nobody could eat. The rabbi then waved his other arm and manifested a vision of heaven. Interestingly, it was the same dinner table, the same cuisine and the same long spoon-shaped arms. In heaven, however, everyone seemed happy and healthy. As they began their meal, the secret was revealed. In heaven, everyone utilised their long spoons to feed the person opposite, and they were being fed in return. Perfect cooperation! He had graphically revealed the lesson: selflessness versus selfishness – that’s the difference between heaven and hell. In the urban jungle, survival of the fittest is the name of the game. Our happiness is often founded upon the exploitation, mistreatment and detriment of others. If we are winning, it usually means someone else is losing. Spiritual communities of bygone ages, however, were based upon diametrically opposed ideals. Cooperation, respect and genuine concern for others were the cardinal principles underpinning social intercourse. Sharing, after all, is caring. Wisdom teachers explain how one can decipher the degradation of such community: first you will have to buy food, then you will have to buy water, then you will have to buy air! Previously, these commodities were freely exchanged amongst everyone. Nowadays people make a small fortune from them. Selflessness even makes sense on a practical level. If every person in a community of 50 people is thinking about themselves, then everyone has one person looking after them. If we selflessly focus on others, however, then everyone has 49 caretakers! It may sound idealistic and utopian, but it really does work – for individual relationships, families, organisations and entire communities. The depth and quality of any interaction is based on the degree of selflessness employed. Until we change the ‘me’ to the ‘we,’ genuine relationships, inner fulfilment and deep spiritual experience will remain elusive. At every moment we are challenged to chip away at miserly selfishness, and become kind, open-hearted and generous souls.
Watch the video here: https://goo.gl/kw3m57