January 25. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
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January 25. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Appreciating the Mahatma.
Lord Krishna defines mahatma as one who is under the protection of the Divine nature. He is fully engaged in devotional service because he knows Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The mahatma is always engaged in chanting the glories of Krishna and worshiping Him with determination.
It is difficult to actually find a mahatma living in this world. This is Krishna’s opinion: vāsudevaḥsarvamiti / sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ. Therefore let us appreciate how rare Srila Prabhupada is, even by material calculation, Indian sannyasis were scarce in America in the 1960s. Vaisnava sannyasis were extremely rare. Yet the true rarity of Srila Prabhupada is that he is a pure devotee of Krishna. He left Vrindavana to give Krishna to others. That makes Prabhupada one among millions.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

Wednesday, January 20th, 2016
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2016
Miami, Florida

Leaving Miami

I gave one last class in Miamifor this trip, and from Canto 7 of text Bhagavatam we were discussing the response of a tyrant, Hiranyakashipu, regarding his son’s strong commitment to Vishnu. He was furious, and held his boy’s teachers, Shanta and Amarka, responsible for the perceived deviation. The teachers themselves could not comprehend how the enemy infiltrated into mind of Prahlad, the son. It became a mystery for them.

To analyze the situation, those who embrace the bodily concept of life and take to the lifestyle of lording it over the world, such as in the case of the tyrant Hiranya, there will always be defensiveness. Any different perspective on life will be viewed as a threat. If you don’t succumb to the dictator’s wishes, then you are clearly labeled as the enemy.

Hiranya epitomizes the false ego. Such persons always meet their doom. Bad karmadefinitely came his way. Hence, the message from the Bhagavatam is: Watch out for that false ego, which is a major hurdle on the spiritual path.

So now that we are talking about paths, I could not manage, time-wise, to hit a trail today because of air travel.

I’ve left the land of Florida, where 800 humans move to every day, and I left the Everglades, where pythons- unmanageable pests- are released every year by irresponsible owners.

I guess you could call them enemies of the environment. Yes, in this day and age, destroyers of our eco-enviros are the true sinners. How dare they upset the balance that nature provides! But I guess you could say we are all guilty of that.

As our plane ascends into the air, I look down at the roadway systems and the automobiles; the concrete jungle. Yes, we are all guilty; we are the enemy.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Tuesday, January 19th, 2016
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2016
Miami, Florida

Gator Glade

I learned a lot from visiting the Everglades National Park. I didn’t know that the male mosquito pollinates the local orchid. I was unaware that there is a water plant in the glades that consumes mosquito larvae. That makes it a carnivorous entity. I also didn’t know that at mating time, the bull alligator physically poses himself in a curved position, makes a call to lure the female, and when they meet, he pulls her down with her testing him to see if he succeeds at keeping her down, then she accepts the romance. Otherwise, she leaves with the attitude, ‘see you later, alligator’.

Yes, the walk and the ride by tram were both educational. Experience also confirmed for me after seeing, hearing, and some interaction with birds and animals (no, we didn’t get too close to the gators), that the creatures of the wild are easier to deal with than humans.

Back at the Miami Iskcon Centre, I saw a good side of humans, which was one of cooperation and enthusiasm. Basically, I was facilitating a group of Krishnafollowers in organizing sankirtan in three categories – food, book, and mantradistribution. This approach to devotional life is generally a morale booster. Everyone went home feeling fulfilled, renewed and hopeful at the prospect of increasing their devotional output.

My final adventure of the day was an encounter with the police. I was walking in the dark in a residential neighborhood near my host’s home when a police cab pulled over. The officer coming out asked what I was doing. I explained.

“I got a couple of calls, people here don’t see too many monks in orange robes.”

I explained, “I’m visiting, I’m from Canada.” I gave him my card.

Two more police cars came over after they received the report. The police just came over to say they wanted to see the walking monk. They were congenial, kind, although in the beginning of the urgent calls they received, it was likely a response to terroristic paranoia.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

 

Monday, January 18th, 2016
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Monday, January 18th, 2016
Miami, Florida

From the Park to Carlos

Tropical Park is a new place for my feet. I’ve never been here before. Being Martin Luther King Day, a good number of people took the day off and chose this location for walking their dog or engaging in a family picnic.

Funny though, many people are sporting coats. Odd for Floridians, unless they perceive that temperatures are low. Being a Canuck, I personally love the weather. To be frank, though, I wouldn’t dip into the ponds nearby. It’s still not warm enough.

Speaking of warmth, I met Carlos for a second time. He runs a health shop with a café. Fully vegetarian and fully fun, this facility is an attractive place that drew a few of us devotees, since we were dealing with an unplanned lunch. Why I say it’s attractive here is because of the incredible human skills that Carlos demonstrates. He and his team of employees (all male) really know how to please their customers. A hard worker, an incredible gifted man with jokes, Carlos has got it down.

It was my epiphany that it’s kind and caring personnel like this who win hearts. It is this kind of person that can have success anywhere, even when it comes to running a spiritual centre like a temple. I could see Carlos’s employees enjoying their work, that’s what makes a successful enterprise, when there’s leadership that enthuses everyone.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Sunday, January 17th, 2016
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Sunday, January 17th, 2016
Miami, Florida

With My Friends

In Houston I had paced back and forth in Abhay and Sukriti’s backyard. They were my hosts and I was thrilled to have access to a car free zone. The grass and ground, a little uneven in spots, was just ideal for pacing, and I liked the ambience for what I could see through the nighttime darkness. Bordering the suburban property is a pear tree – also papaya, pomegranate, peach, banana, and some other trees that I just couldn’t identify, lined the property. I saw them as my friends, with their leaves tossing in the night wind. They were doing what they were supposed to be doing and I felt I was doing what I was obliged to do, walking and chanting. It is their dharma to produce fruit (at least I could see the pomegranates forming on their parent tree), and it is my dharma to be doing something spiritual. Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, once wrote, “Humanity begins when Inquiring is awakened in the mind.” Well, I’ve been on my quest, it was 44 years ago that I began my quest, and I somehow or other landed with those interesting Hare Krishnas. No regrets.

I flew to Miami and met my host, Lee, a lawyer in South Miami. I then attended the Iskcon Miami Sunday Open House, on the corner of Virginia and Day in Coconut Grove. What a marvelous event it was. This is a great community that has been somewhat struggling in certain ways.

My visit was to encourage.

May the Source be with you!

9 km

Gita 09.03 – Bhakti harmonizes the temporary with the eternal
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Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast


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The post Gita 09.03 – Bhakti harmonizes the temporary with the eternal appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Saturday, January 16th, 2016
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Saturday, January 16th, 2016
Houston, Texas

Sweet 16?

I look at the date and the number 16 comes up twice. 16 strikes a common chord when we were asked to fill an assessment form on how meetings were conducted in the last few days. In my assessment I calculated that it’s a 16 hour day (much too much) which includes sadhana, the spiritual regiments of the day. This morning sadhana, from 4 AM to 9 AM, can be rigorous when you consider the battle that is to be taken in fighting off temptations, distractions, and mental offenses, requiring several additional hours to labour through. Then you have hours of presentations which requires hearing attentiveness in a sit down format.

We did have the joy of interactive team building ventures which require a bit of moving about from one end of the room to the next. For the most part, all is held in one room. Cumulatively, it gets nauseous doing little physical work for five days in a row.

Perhaps I sound like I’m complaining. A good monk would not stoop so low. Okay, so I’m a bad monk, but I’d like to suggest some change. In the five days here we covered too much territory, so much so that in the end, very little stays in the head. If topics discussed are more thematic and we deal with less issues, that might be a better option.

And you know, you can’t help talking to friends between meetings. That means meetings between meetings.

Dear God, what a good walk can do to balance all the table and chair discussions, and the information overload. I look forward to tomorrow when the meetings are over.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

 

Controlling the mind
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, November 2015, Vrindavan, India, Video interview)

CZ_13Jan2016 (6)The mind is always controlled by something. There is no question of us being able to control the mind. Therefore when we are dealing with Krsna more and more, all the time, then the mind becomes controlled by Krsna and if we are dealing with material things then the mind gets controlled by material things because the mind is always controlled by external things.

A Message from Krishnanandini Dasi (1 min video) HG…
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A Message from Krishnanandini Dasi (1 min video)
HG Krishnanandini Dasi is a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada and one of the co founders of the ISKCON Grihastha Vision Team. She is a a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE),and Co-Director of the Dasi-Ziyad Family Institute. In her message for women , she inspires them to give their all in service to Krishna no matter what impediments there might be before them.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/l1tRaL

Subhadra Dasi: Last week, we were going store to store to…
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Subhadra Dasi: Last week, we were going store to store to distribute Bhagavad Gitas, and there was a bar along the way that we also went in to.
One of the patrons there raised his eyebrows and said “Hare Krishnas? Hare Krishnas? I used to always see you guys at the airports. Where’ve you been?”
Vaisesika prabhu, not missing a beat replied: “Oh, we only go to bars, now.”
Everyone laughed and the guy said, “That was a good one!”

New Goloka Community School Presents Parent/Student Open House…
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New Goloka Community School Presents Parent/Student Open House with Special Guest HH Bir Krishna das Goswami.
Sunday, February 7th, 2016 2pm - 4pm.
Refreshment will be served. Please join us! All are welcome.
What: NGCS Open House
When: Sun, February 7th, 2016 2pm-4pm
Where: NGCS Little Red School House
1106 Dimmocks Mill Road,
Hillsborough, NC 28278
Right across from New Goloka Temple

Kavicandra Swami: With an effort to subdue my intensive fault…
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Kavicandra Swami: With an effort to subdue my intensive fault finding nature I decided to write something glorifying various god-siblings.
Ladies first, (my mother taught me that, trying to make me into a “southern gentleman”)
First Urmila Devi Dasi (Edith Best) comes to mind.
In spite of a ”privileged” childhood and substantial achievements in academia, she remains a very humble Vaishnava. She has earned a PHD in education and is one of the most sought after speakers in ISKCON, yet she enjoys cooking with her grandchildren and sharing the pleasures of that. She is keeping a low profile and showing a good example for other Matajis.
She has the confidence of some of our most respected sannyasi preachers who allow her to edit their commentaries on the “Manah Shiksa”, That project is her initiative.
I have only met one of her many grandchildren, Jahnu Best. He is very humble devotee who leaves his luxury home in Hawaii to serve on the Polish tour, which is an austere lifestyle. That is following in he grand mother’s footsteps. She also leaves the comfortable life with her big family in Hawaii for intensive traveling and preaching.

Unparallel beauty…in Mayapur for Krishna Pushya Abhishek…
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Unparallel beauty…in Mayapur for Krishna Pushya Abhishek (Album with 40 photos)
Sri Sri Radha Madhav Asta Sakhis Flower Dress 2016.
Mind blowing flower set for Sri Sri Radha Madhava this morning.
HG Jananivas Prabhu, head pujari for Sri Sri Radha Madhava, told me that several hundred devotees stayed up all night getting everything prepared for this incredible set.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/cnEQmB

Release of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam in Telugu Language – A Golden Jubilee Offering to Srila Prabhupada!
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By Vaishnavanghri Sevaka Das

By the unlimited mercy of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Guru Parampara ISKCON devotees of Telugu speaking land could offer Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam in Telugu (South Indian language) in the beginning of Golden Jubilee celebrations of ISKCON to the Founder Acharya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Four hundred years old Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam got manifested in English about 40 years back for the pleasure reading of people around the world by the divine mercy of Srila Prabhupada. The Telugu version of the same scripture appeared on Sankranti day (15th January 2016) the day of Lord Chaitanya accepting renounced order of life. Release of Telugu version in Tirupati, where Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu moved around for preaching purpose, is another significance of this event. Though the release function was planned for morning session, somehow the program got shifted to evening. This signifies another important point. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in this world in the evening, thus eliminating the dark world with the light of Krishna Consciousness. Since Chaitanya Charitamritam is non-different from Lord Chaitanya Himself, appearance of Telugu version of Chaitanya Charitamritam in the evening time indicated a great hope of wider spreading of Krishna Consciousness activities in Telugu speaking land. It is clearly mentioned in Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam that Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in this world to distribute the topmost mellow known as conjugal love to all people. Release of Telugu version by the lotus hands of Sri Radha Govinda and Ashta Sakhi at Tirupati ISKCON marked the real purpose of Chaitanya Charitamritam.

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu travelled longer distance in Telugu speaking land only. Instructions like “yare dekha tare kaha” were given in Telugu land only by Him. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur established foot prints of Lord Chaitanya at eight places during his life time. It is heartening to know that four out of those eight are located in Telugu speaking land. Lord Chaitanya met His most confidential associate Srila Ramananda Raya in Telugu land only. Discovery of Srikrishna Karnamritam book and defeating of Buddhist monk took place in Telugu land. In this way Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has shown special pastimes and special mercy in Telugu speaking land. Telugu version of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam also experienced the similar special mercy during its manifestation as under:

Lord Madanmohan is the hero of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam compiled by Srila Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami 400 years ago. The Telugu translation was also commenced under the shelter of Sri Radha Madan Mohan ISKCON Kharghar (Navi Mumbai, India).
Srila Prabhupada completed English commentary of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam in Mumbai on Sunday. Telugu translation also got completed in Mumbai on Sunday.
Entire typing work of Telugu version got completed on the 400th appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam.
ISKCON Kharghar celebrated 400th appearance day of Sri Chaitanaya Charitamritam in a big pandal.
Telugu version of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam was released on Sankranti day, the time of Lord Chaitanya accepting renounced order of life, in the land where Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu travelled.
During the release celebration 75 sets of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam in Telugu were distributed to eagerly awaiting devotees.
A special Telugu Bhagavaddarshan (BTG) magazine issue was released to commemorate the release of the Telugu version of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam.

All the Telugu speaking ISKCON devotees offered the release function of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam to Srila Prabhupada on the occasion of ISKCON Golden Jubilee celebrations. ISKCON Tirupati temple President HG Revati Raman Das enthusiastically arranged an elaborate and gorgeous function. A special feast was arranged for all devotees with items mentioned in Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam which were offered by Sri Advaitacharya to Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda. This gesture gave an opportunity to remember 500 years old pastimes of Lord Chaitanya. Chief Guest Sri GSR Krishna Murthy spoke about Lord Chaitanya. Another important guest Sri Hare Krishna Satpathy spoke about the greatest benediction offered by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. HG Revati Raman Prabhu gave the message of Lord Chaitanya’s eight verses. Translator and editor HG Vaishnavanghri Prabhu reminded all the devotees about the great responsibility given by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to the Telugu speaking people. A special cake was made in the form of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam book, thus giving delight to all devotees.

ISKCON Vijayawada temple President HG Rammurari Das, Ghana (South Africa) temple President HG Hanuman Das, ISKCON Narasarao Pet temple President HG Rupeshwar Chaitanya Das, Srimad Bhagavatam Editor Dr. Mudigonda Veereshalingam Garu, noted singer Sriman Dr. Venukapalli Tirupathiah Garu and many senior devotees added glory to the release function of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam. After cake cutting ceremony Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam sets were distributed to devotees. Later sumptuous feast was arranged for all devotees. All senior devotees took the opportunity to share happy moments by honoring prasadam with great delight. All the above events are captured and converted into a video for the pleasure viewing of all Vaishnavas all over the world. We request all Maharajas, Prabhus and Matajis to bless all the Telugu devotees to distribute Telugu version of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam profusely for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna!
About the author: Vaishnavanghri Sevaka das, Ph.D. (Translator and Editor – Telugu Language, The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust) is a disciple of H.H. Gopalkrishna Goswami Maharaja. He translated Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam into Telugu language. His translation work of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam just completed and got released. He translated entire story of Prabhupada Lilamrita for publishing in Bhagavaddarshan (Telugu version of BTG).

British Museum: Krishna in the garden of Assam. Meera Khurana,…
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British Museum: Krishna in the garden of Assam.
Meera Khurana, London: The Britsh Museum in London have a beautiful exhibition on called ‘Krishna in the garden of Assam’. It is a display of the ancient 'Vrindavan Vastra’ (Cloth of Vrindavan), made in Assam on tapestry in the late 17th century, depicting Lord Krishna’s pastimes in Vrindavan. The British Museum have owned this since 1905 (over 100 years) and it is finally on public display. It is thought to be the last surviving example of devotional Vaishnava textile art from Assam, made in the late 17th century. Made with woven silk, it is 30 feet long, displaying many of Lord Krishna’s pastimes from Vrindavan, including killing Bakasura, dancing on Kaliya, stealing of the Gopis clothes etc. The dasavatars (10 incarnations) and Garuda are also woven. Below sample shows Garuda. The exhibition is free and is open until 15 August 2016, in the British Museum, London. It is at the back of the Museum - go through the great courtyard, to the north staircase, climb up, past the Indian Gallery, climbing up to room 91. http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/krishna_in_the_garden_of_assam.aspx
The sample in the photo shows Garuda.

ISKCON Prison Ministry: Entering the New Year 2016!
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Entering the New Year 2016!

By Bhakti-lata Dasi

A month ago, I was in the kitchen, cleaning up after dinner—in the Prabhupada House where we stayed at the time—when there was a knock on the door. My husband answered the door and I heard,

“Is Bhakti-lata there?”

A polite young man entered and he told me,

“I know someone you know”

“Who?”

“Yogi.”

I thought for a second.

“Richard C.?”

“Yes!”

Yogi is the prison name of bhakta Richard (whom we now call Krishna Kirtan). The young man had been in prison with him for a short while. Now that

he was free, he wanted to meet me in person. We talked for a while. It was a very sweet encounter.

Each and every time I feel a little overwhelmed by my IPM service, Krsna arranges something like this to re-kindle my enthusiasm and let me know He wants me to keep going.

This meeting reinforced the fact that all the letters I receive are from real, live, breathing human beings, who need our support, guidance, and kindness. Each book we send often touches more than just one life, as books and magazines get passed around a great deal.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur said that the little mrdanga may be heard for one block, but the big mrdanga can be heard around the world.

The great resounding sound of the brhad mrdanga is indeed heard in many cells, cell dorms, hallways, chow halls” (cafeterias) and yards across United States and around the world.

The preaching activities of the prison ministry give an extraordinary opportunity to the inmates.

“Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17

Life is prison can be very dangerous. Not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well. It is said that environment is stronger than will, and in prison, good qualities are neither valued nor encouraged. It’s easy to lose hope in that setting. Days merge together into an eternity and years of incarceration can feel like kalpas, stretching endlessly into a night of hopelessness and boredom.

Krishna consciousness is the light that drives away the darkness, bringing knowledge, understanding, and freedom to whoever is open to receive them. And many inmates are. The sincere souls are waiting for this light and are overjoyed and grateful to receive it.

In the year 2015, some inmates were released, while some were imprisoned for the first time; some “old timers”, bhaktas for many years, have steadily progressed in their spiritual lives; newcomers have seen their life changed; inmates have given books and the holy name to their fellow prisoners; chapel programs have developed or grown…Krishna consciousness is alive and well in prisons all over.

I am deeply grateful for all the players involved in IPM; inmates, volunteers, chaplains, donors and well-wishers, and all who have and continue to support this leg of Lord Caitanya’s preaching movement.

As we enter 2016, I can only pray that more and more souls will come back to Prabhupada’s and Krishna’s lotus feet. Thank you with all my heart!

We are a good team and I am sure that Prabhupada is very pleased by our cooperation in Krishna’s service!

*****

Books distributed in 2015

Prabhupada’s Books total: 3,375

Breakdown:

Magazines (10 to 50 pages): 553

Small: 774

Medium: 254

Big: 139

Maha-Big: 1,655

BTGs: 1,874

Books by other devotee authors: 212

Tapes: 16

CDs: 564

DVDs: 31

MP3s: 30

Japa Mala Sets: 198

Neck Beads: 228

Incense packs: 30

GRAND TOTAL of all Books and BTGs in 2016: 5,461

Srila Prabhupada, ke! Jaya!!!

*****

The above is just a small part of the bi-monthly IPM NEWS, an electronic newsletter. To read the whole Jan/Feb 2016 issue, please go to:

http://www.iskconprisonministry.org/node/474

If you wish to receive it in your mailbox, simply email me at iskconprisonministry@gmail.com with “SUBSCRIBE” in the subject line.

More excerpts of inmate letters and also their artwork are available on our website at: www.iskconprisonministry.org

Would you like to help?

OUR PRESSING NEED OF THE MOMENT: we are looking for mini japa malas (the kind with 27 beads on it) for those prisons who won’t accept our normal size japa malas.

If you can help, please contact Mukunda Dasa or Bhakti-lata Dasi at:

iskconprisonministry@gmail.com

ISKCON Prison Ministry

3759 McCreary’s Ridge Road

NBU #46

Moundsville, WV 26041

January 24. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
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January 24. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada’s Expressions. It is possible to simultaneously cherish Prabhupada idioms while avoiding some of them in our lecturing and speaking. Some expressions were used by Prabhupada in a particular way, but are grammatically incorrect or archaic. Yet some devotees may see any criticism of ISKCON jargon as insulting to Srila Prabhupada when it is done in a cold-hearted way, without understanding the attachment we have for His Divine Grace and the way he speaks.
The solution to such perceived language misuse is not to eliminate strong teachings of surrender; neither will eliminating the strong preaching spirit help. We have to be sensitive and non-hypocritical. We should be “context sensitive,” speaking with awareness of time, place and persons. On the other hand, if we use ISKCON-speak in a way that is insensitive or unthinking, we may become offensive to our fellow devotees. Hackneyed speech can become a hackneyed way of thinking. We then fall into a habit of speaking without expressing our feelings or realization. We speak “the party line.” If I try to manipulate a fellow devotee by speaking officialese, it is offensive to the devotee and to the philosophy which I claim to represent. Devotees are repelled when they hear another devotee rattle off words which demand obedience and surrender to the highest ideal, although the speaker of those words is himself not following them. “Don’t be on the mental plain, prabhu. Prabhupada wants us to cooperate. Therefore, you should do what I say.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

Krsna Pusya Abhiseka
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Unknown-1images

Krsna Pusya abhiseka is a not very well known ceremony but wonderful nonetheless.

During the morning puja, or worship, the Deity or a salagrama is bathed in pure ghee. Srila Prabhupada once explained the festival this way: “Krishna was just a toy in the hands of the Gopis, so one day the Gopis decided that we shall decorate Him.

Pusyabhisheka means a ceremony to decorate the deity profusely with flowers, ornaments, cloths. After there should be lavish feasting and a procession through the streets, so that all the citizens should see how beautiful Krishna appears.

images-1Unknown

Gita 09.02 – Knowledge that gives the greatest power is the greatest knowledge
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Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast


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The post Gita 09.02 – Knowledge that gives the greatest power is the greatest knowledge appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Offerings with Love
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Hare KrishnaBy Mohini Radha Devi Dasi

Even a child can manifest symptoms of sincere devotion. About fourteen miles from Jagannatha’s temple stands the temple of a deity named Ålarnatha. Lord Brahma installed this four-armed deity in Satya-yuga, millions of years ago, and since then the worship has been the responsibility of certain brahmana families. Once, it was the responsibility of Sri Ketana, who had a son named Madhu. When Sri Ketana had to go out for several days to beg alms for the temple, he gave his son the service of offering meals to Ålarnatha. After the boy’s mother finished cooking, she gave the plate to Madhu and told him to offer it to Lord Ålarnatha. He did not know the proper offering procedure, but his father had instructed him to simply ask the Lord to take what was placed before Him. Madhu sat in front of the Lord, told Him that he didn’t know how to offer anything properly, and requested that He take the offering. Then Madhu went outside to play, so that the Lord could eat. Krishna is transcendental, and each of His senses can do the work of the others. He can eat with His eyes and leave His remnants behind as prasada, His mercy for the devotees. Madhu did not realize this, and thought that the Lord was supposed to eat everything on the plate. When he returned to the temple, he was surprised that the Lord’s meal seemed untouched. Afraid that his mother would be angry that the Lord did not accept the offering, Madhu offered the meal again. Continue reading "Offerings with Love
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A Russian expedition to Vrindavana
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Hare KrishnaBy Yadunandana das

On Friday, January the 4th in 1891, Hindus who were bathing in the sacred river Yamuna witnessed an amazing scene. A ship with the name of an unknown language approached. In the morning mist, surrounded by armed soldiers, a young light-skinned man in an officer’s jacket, looking, however, not belligerent came ashore. The stranger was the crown prince Nicholas, soon to be the future last Russian emperor. The small town of Vrindavan, 80 miles to the south of Delhi, was part of the journey of the crown prince, along with Mumbai, Delhi, Gwalior, Agra, Ellora, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kolkata and ?adras and Sri Rangam, up to the southern parts of the Indian subcontinent, from where he viewed the outline of Ceylon. The heir to the Russian throne liked Vrindavan. Nicholas found the town very similar to… Venice. From the travel notes made by Nicholas, one can assume that his familiarity with Vrindavan occurred in the place of Kesi Ghat, on the banks of river Yamuna. The royal guest was shown the temple of Madana Mohana. And one of the “interesting” churches, which he visited, might have been the Jugal Kishore temple. According to some assumptions, while visiting one of the temples, the crown prince received blessings from local elders to rule his kingdom. It rather might be a beautiful legend, though. Anyway, 125 years ago Nicholas II was the first Russian “discoverer” of Vrindavan. Continue reading "A Russian expedition to Vrindavana
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About Varnashrama College (8 min video) Bhakti Raghava Swami: In…
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About Varnashrama College (8 min video)
Bhakti Raghava Swami: In the Ninth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (9.10.51), commenting on the varnashrama structure in Lord Ramacandra’s ideal kingdom, Srila Prabhupada writes: “Among the four yugas [ages]—Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali—Kali-yuga is the worst, but if the process of varnashrama-dharma is introduced, even in this age of Kali, the situation of Satya- yuga can be invoked. The Hare Krishna movement, or Krishna consciousness movement, is meant for this purpose.” Srila Prabhupada means the original varnashrama, the social organization that can satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, because it provides for the spiritual advancement of all types of people.
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GM Seeds Ruin Sambandha with the two Mothers (Gomata and…
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GM Seeds Ruin Sambandha with the two Mothers (Gomata and Bhudevi)
Vrndavanlila Devi Dasi: Then Jananivas prabhu took over beginning with interesting stories from Mahabharat related to the conversation between Yudhistra and his brother Bheem, just when Kali has made his entry. In the course of narrating, prabhu told them about strange phenomenon that Kali purusa had seen and asked its explanation: Fencing is eating the crops- what does it mean and why? — leaders Cow has been seen eating her own calf. Its meaning and why? — abortion Whole elephant being able to pass through the eye of the needle but his tail getting stuck — Kaliyuga who do big scams will not be caught, but those who pay one small EMI are caught Pilgrims travelling. One big rock blocking the path. All healthy looking strong looking men are unable to remove it. But one thin man removes it with the help of one thin string. That rock turns to powder whenthrown.— its meaning. This thread is of Harinam in Kali. A man puts a few glasses of water but when he putsthe same water back it is much lesser instead of being equal – one father will take care of so many children but all the sons will not be able to take care of one father.
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Some interesting facts about cows! At first glance, cows might…
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Some interesting facts about cows!
At first glance, cows might seem to be simple animals, but they’re not! Cows are fascinating animals. For instance did you know that cows can smell something up to 6 miles away, or that cows can produce 125 lbs. of saliva in one day.
Here’s a list of interesting facts:
1 Cows are social animals, and they naturally form large herds. And like people, they will make friends and bond to some herd members, while avoiding others.
2 Cows are red-green colorblind. In a bullfight, its the waving of the cape that attracts the bull not the red color
3 A cow’s heart beats between 60 and 70 beats per minute.
4 Cows can hear lower and higher frequencies better than humans.
5 An average dairy cow weighs about 1,200 pounds.
6 A cow’s normal body temperature is 101.5°F.
7 The average cow chews at least 50 times per minute.
8 The typical cow stands up and sits down about 14 times a day. 9 An average cow has more than 40,000 jaw movements in a day.
10 Cows actually do not bite grass; instead they curl their tongue around it.
11 Cows have almost total 360-degree panoramic vision.
12 Cows have a single stomach, but four different digestive compartments.
13 Cows are pregnant for 9 months just like people
14 A dairy cow can produce 125 lbs. of saliva a day
15 Cows spend 8 hours per day eating, 8 hours chewing her cud (regurgitated, partially digested food), and 8 hours sleeping
16 You can lead a cow upstairs, but not downstairs. Cows knees can’t bend properly to walk downstairs.
17 Cows can’t vomit
18 The average cow drinks 30 to 50 gallons of water each day 19 Cows only have teeth on the bottom.
20 Cows have a great sense of smell. They can smell something up to 6 miles away.
21 A Holstein’s spots are like a fingerprint. No two cows have exactly the same pattern of black and white spots. They are all different
22 The average cow will eat about 100 lbs. of feed per day.