A video by http://www.thevedicway.org
“Simple Living High Thinking”: Homemade Natural Paint
→ ISKCON News
“Simple Living High Thinking”: Homemade Natural Paint
Throwdown with Fear
→ Seed of Devotion
Just beyond the pools of light, the wall of black began and continued on for eternity. Fanged wolves and slithering snakes lurked just beyond my vision.
At night in my room when the night swallowed up the world, just outside the window could be a thief. A murderer could be tiptoeing just beyond the bushes, a curved knife in hand.
The dark.
The dark - fear would strike my heart and course through my veins when I needed to go to sleep at night, or dash through a dark patch from one building to another, or walk through the woods on a moonless night. Horror movies and news stories had taught me that the greatest fear was not some twisted monster, but an evil-hearted human. Someone who killed without reason, someone with hatred in his or her heart.
So my fear grew and grew beyond my childhood, and as I got older, the scheme of just WHO was waiting out there in the darkness became even more twisted and terrifying.
One night when I was fifteen, I had to run an errand from one building to another. My destination was down the hill, through a lawn, beyond a row of trees. A sea of total and complete pitch black stood between me and my goal. I had no flashlight. I had to go. Now.
My heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
I took a deep breath.
I ran.
I ran down the hill, past the trees, and suddenly I halted and knelt down on the grass and fell over my legs, my arms outstretched in some kind of strange obeisance. I took deep breaths, the scent of grass filling my nostrils. The world seemed to whirl unsteadily beneath me.
I'm fed up with you, fear of the dark.
So sick of you.
I'm done.
I sang the Nrisimhadeva Prayers in my mind, which call out to the Lord for protection in body and heart from evil.
I lay there, the seconds growing to minutes. The breeze rustled by and caused the banana leaves to chatter and murmur. Crickets hummed. The wind sighed. The grass was cool beneath my fingers, arms, body.
No one attacked me.
Ummmm....
Duh.
And if anyone DID, I was still protected, for even if my body was hurt, my spirit never would be.
In one breath, I rose to my feet and dusted off the blades of grass stuck to my palms. I looked around at the pitch black, determined where I needed to go, and strode in that direction.
I never feared the dark again.
Even when I went to a haunted house for Halloween. Kind of a bummer.
At night in my room when the night swallowed up the world, just outside the window could be a thief. A murderer could be tiptoeing just beyond the bushes, a curved knife in hand.
The dark.
The dark - fear would strike my heart and course through my veins when I needed to go to sleep at night, or dash through a dark patch from one building to another, or walk through the woods on a moonless night. Horror movies and news stories had taught me that the greatest fear was not some twisted monster, but an evil-hearted human. Someone who killed without reason, someone with hatred in his or her heart.
So my fear grew and grew beyond my childhood, and as I got older, the scheme of just WHO was waiting out there in the darkness became even more twisted and terrifying.
One night when I was fifteen, I had to run an errand from one building to another. My destination was down the hill, through a lawn, beyond a row of trees. A sea of total and complete pitch black stood between me and my goal. I had no flashlight. I had to go. Now.
My heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
I took a deep breath.
I ran.
I ran down the hill, past the trees, and suddenly I halted and knelt down on the grass and fell over my legs, my arms outstretched in some kind of strange obeisance. I took deep breaths, the scent of grass filling my nostrils. The world seemed to whirl unsteadily beneath me.
I'm fed up with you, fear of the dark.
So sick of you.
I'm done.
I sang the Nrisimhadeva Prayers in my mind, which call out to the Lord for protection in body and heart from evil.
I lay there, the seconds growing to minutes. The breeze rustled by and caused the banana leaves to chatter and murmur. Crickets hummed. The wind sighed. The grass was cool beneath my fingers, arms, body.
No one attacked me.
Ummmm....
Duh.
And if anyone DID, I was still protected, for even if my body was hurt, my spirit never would be.
In one breath, I rose to my feet and dusted off the blades of grass stuck to my palms. I looked around at the pitch black, determined where I needed to go, and strode in that direction.
I never feared the dark again.
Even when I went to a haunted house for Halloween. Kind of a bummer.
Prabhupada and ISKCON’s First Cow Kaliya
→ ISKCON News
There’s no doubt that protecting cows was very close to Srila Prabhupada’s heart. In a series of Back to Godhead magazine articles in the mid 1950s, he was already envisioning a community where residents lived a simple life and protected cows. Soon after registering ISKCON in New York in 1966, he began requesting his disciples to start a rural community, asking them to call it “ISKCON-Nagari or New Vrindaban.”
The Hidden Treasures of Braj
→ ISKCON News
A video by Ananta Vrindavan dasa.
Daily Darshan : December 30th, 2015
→ Mayapur.com
The post Daily Darshan : December 30th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
ISKCON 50 Meditations: December 31, 2015
→ ISKCON News
Becoming Attached to Prabhupada
Friday, December 25th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk
Friday, December 25th, 2015
Toronto, Ontario
Christ/Krishna
After my AM walk, I sat down for mantra chanting along with a modest showing of people in the temple. We then did discuss about the birth of Jesus and compared notes to the birth ofKrishna . We observed some parallels.
The events surrounding bothKrishna and Christ’s birth involved much intrigue during the political climate of the time:
1) - Christ: He appeared during the time of the corrupt King Herod.
-Krishna : He appeared when there was the corrupt King Kamsa
Toronto, Ontario
Christ/Krishna
After my AM walk, I sat down for mantra chanting along with a modest showing of people in the temple. We then did discuss about the birth of Jesus and compared notes to the birth of
The events surrounding both
1) - Christ: He appeared during the time of the corrupt King Herod.
-
2) - Christ: During His time there was an order that all male children be killed.
- Krishna: All ofKrishna ’s male siblings were killed before his birth.
3) - Christ: Born in a barn in amidst cows.
-Krishna : After His birth He was transferred to a household where he mingled with the cows as he grew.
4) - Christ: His parents fled, and at birth, baby Jesus was hidden.
-Krishna : After His birth, he was taken for hiding to the countryside.
5) - Christ: It is believed He was born at midnight.
-Krishna : He was born at midnight.
6) - The sound of Christ very much resembles the name ofKrishna , which has a variation to the word Krista.
The above was our simple analysis. We also observed a similarity in the disposition of both Christ andKrishna . They both held in their character a sense of peace, yet they were known to exhibit anger at times when necessary.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
- Krishna: All of
3) - Christ: Born in a barn in amidst cows.
-
4) - Christ: His parents fled, and at birth, baby Jesus was hidden.
-
5) - Christ: It is believed He was born at midnight.
-
6) - The sound of Christ very much resembles the name of
The above was our simple analysis. We also observed a similarity in the disposition of both Christ and
May the Source be with you!
5 km
Thursday, December 24th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk
Thursday, December 24th, 2015
Toronto , Ontario
At Christmas Eve
What do a bunch ofKrishna monks and followers do on Christmas Eve?
They chant!
A group of us were invited to the city’s oldest Hindu community centre, the Hindu Prarthana Samaj nearHigh Park
Prominent, also, was the Siva Lingam, the deity of creative potency. It was difficult for me to discern whether Siva’s manifestation of prowess was joyful at the sound, but judging by the current company, the lingam must have also been elated.
When I entered the room at 6:40 PM I could hear my Bengali friend, Ajamil, singing. As usual, he excites people with his special kind of 'spunk.' Then, Pradyumna fromMontreal
May the Source be with you!
5 km
At Christmas Eve
What do a bunch of
They chant!
A group of us were invited to the city’s oldest Hindu community centre, the Hindu Prarthana Samaj near
Prominent, also, was the Siva Lingam, the deity of creative potency. It was difficult for me to discern whether Siva’s manifestation of prowess was joyful at the sound, but judging by the current company, the lingam must have also been elated.
When I entered the room at 6:40 PM I could hear my Bengali friend, Ajamil, singing. As usual, he excites people with his special kind of 'spunk.' Then, Pradyumna from
May the Source be with you!
5 km
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
→ The Walking Monk
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Toronto , Ontario
Through Fog
Some devotees came up fromMontreal
We did our footing, practically, throughRosedale , and through what appeared like a mystical mist. We were chanting softly. Only periodically would we stop or interrupt the chanting.
Tina, who was with us, fell a little behind. Compared to the others, her legs are more tiny. “Tiny Tina”, I thought. Another cause for laughter, but I really had to hold it inside because I didn’t want to disturb. This brahma muhurta hour, the hour at which we’re walking, is very sacred. It is the time before the passions of the day spill out.
And what about this time of the year? It’s rather messy, I would say. You know, that time before Christmas when maddened motorists and shoppers do the squeeze? There’s the squeezing-out of time, the squeezing-out of space, and the squeezing-out of the budget. Peace isn’t coming as it should.
“Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men (and women).” The Earth is tense with threat of terrorism looming in the air. It’s not a laughing matter, rather, it’s one of concern.
Christmas, for a long time, had not been my favorite time of the year. I recall that before becoming a monk, I became quite disappointed with all the commercialism which puts a lot of haze (fog) into the lives of people.
No offense to Jesus, I adore him.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
Through Fog
Some devotees came up from
We did our footing, practically, through
Tina, who was with us, fell a little behind. Compared to the others, her legs are more tiny. “Tiny Tina”, I thought. Another cause for laughter, but I really had to hold it inside because I didn’t want to disturb. This brahma muhurta hour, the hour at which we’re walking, is very sacred. It is the time before the passions of the day spill out.
And what about this time of the year? It’s rather messy, I would say. You know, that time before Christmas when maddened motorists and shoppers do the squeeze? There’s the squeezing-out of time, the squeezing-out of space, and the squeezing-out of the budget. Peace isn’t coming as it should.
“Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men (and women).” The Earth is tense with threat of terrorism looming in the air. It’s not a laughing matter, rather, it’s one of concern.
Christmas, for a long time, had not been my favorite time of the year. I recall that before becoming a monk, I became quite disappointed with all the commercialism which puts a lot of haze (fog) into the lives of people.
No offense to Jesus, I adore him.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2015
→ The Walking Monk
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2015
Vancouver , Canada
Not Walking Again
I had this blissful stopover in Vancouver Vancouver India
With the boys we took some precious moments to look at travel plans for the coming months. I'm happy, except for not being able to walk today. Only airport corridors provided some of that after I departed. On flight to Toronto New Delhi , in southern Ontario
Apply the policy of stick it out, and something will become of you. I am well aware that adjusting our sales is necessary, and that our energies sometimes need re-channeling. The pain point is that the energy or the 'drive', if you will, that we have should always be directed to the positive, to that which sustains - the Source.
May the Source be with you!
0 km
Monday, December 21st, 2015
→ The Walking Monk
Monday, December 21st, 2015
Honolulu , Hawaii
May the Source be with you!
We Can All Be Pilgrims
With it being my last day on the island in Hawaii before going back to Canada
To begin, the Vaishnava/Krishna community had been really great to me, providing me with a room on the second floor of the temple; a room with a cross ventilation that welcomed the comfortable ocean breeziness, and sometimes storminess. Special preps were made for me, although I'm fine with the regular fare served. My stolen Oofos shoes were replaced with a new pair of Crocs. Devotees went out of their way to please.
I was very satisfactorily engaged in giving classes, mostly in the morning. I spoke, from the Bhagavatam, a section on King Vena- a corrupted dictator- and how progressive sages united to dispose of him through "high sounding words" (mantras). Those sages acted swiftly and also expressed the concern about the residual effects of the monarch's loss by seeking a successor. Basically, the topics dealt with, "how do you address both practicality and spirituality in the aftermath of disaster?"
My visit wrapped up with a kirtan at Waikiki Beach Krishna 'caroling.' Literature on Krishna was also being passed out. People were receptive.
When I did make the final goodbyes to Gurudev, who sponsored me, and others who saw me off at the airport, one fellow behind me in the security lineup said, "I saw you on the highway by the North Shore
May the Source be with you!
5 km
“Шри Таттва-сандарбха” о Хари-наме
→ Traveling Monk
“Это правда, что мантра с именами Бога действенна, только если получена от истинного представителя Бога в ученической преемственности – и при должно проведенной инициации. Также правда, что в прежние времена, опасаясь неблаготворных последствий оскорблений Хари-намы, обычно лишь те, кто уже были очищены, поклонялись именам Кришны и Его внутренней энергии. Потому в особенности Харе Кришна мантра почти не упоминается в открытую в шрути или смрити. Однако в наш век Чайтанья Махапрабху пошел на особую уступку, что-то вроде автоматической неформальной инициации для каждого – сказав всем мужчинам, женщинам и детям Вселенной воспевать Харе Кришна Маха-мантру. При этом Он согласился принимать на Себя последствия наших оскорблений Хари-намы, если мы воспеваем согласно Его указанию. Поэтому люди этого века и могут воспевать маха-мантру и ощутимо прогрессировать духовно еще до того, как станут вполне уполномоченными посредством формального посвящения в воспевание мантры”.
[ “Шри Таттва-сандарбха” Шрилы Дживы Госвами, текст 15, комментарий. Translated from the original Sanskrit, with the author’s Sarva-samvadini commentary, by Gopiparanadhana Dasa. Giriraja Publishing ]
“It is true that a mantra with names of God is effective only when received from a bone fide representative of God in disciplic succession through proper initiation. It is also true that in previous ages, out of fear of the adverse effects of offenses against hari-nama, generally only those who were already purified worshiped the names of Krsna and His internal potency. Therefore the Hare Krsna mantra in particular is almost never mentioned openly in sruti or smrti. Nevertheless, in the current age Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given a special concession, a kind of automatic or informal initiation to everyone, by ordering every man, woman and child in the universe to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. In doing so, He has offered to take on His own head the reactions of our offenses against hari-nama when we chant according to His order. Thus even before being fully empowered by formal initiation to chant the mantra, persons of this age can chant the maha-mantra and make tangible spiritual advancement. ”
Gita 08.06 – Our emotional disposition becomes our physical position
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post Gita 08.06 – Our emotional disposition becomes our physical position appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
ISKCON Scarborough- Recently uploaded videos
→ ISKCON Scarborough
Lotus Room
→ Ramai Swami
Saturday night kirtans have moved from the Lotus Room in Sydney to Govindas Asrama nearby.
This is because the restaurant is so crowded that both the regular customers and those from the kirtans could not fit in at the same time.
Nevertheless, the program goes on nicely with beautiful kirtan and sumptuous prasadam.
Super dynamic and happy kirtan! (4 min video)
Indradyumna Swami:…
→ Dandavats
Super dynamic and happy kirtan! (4 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: This is the ecstatic kirtan that concluded our Festival of Chariots in Durban over the Easter weekend. Madhava prabhu at his best!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/AdWvaL
China Art Museum Exhibits MOSA’s Sacred Art Collection.
Asia’s…
→ Dandavats
China Art Museum Exhibits MOSA’s Sacred Art Collection.
Asia’s largest museum, the China Art Museum in Shanghai, has dedicated its entire tenth floor to Forms of Devotion, a collection of sacred art from Belgium’s Museum of Sacred Art (MOSA). The exhibit, which opened on November 6th and is on display until February 21st 2016, is part of the “Celebrating India in Shanghai” program put on by the China Shanghai International Arts Festival. It is drawing over 30,000 visitors daily. It features 430 works of art from some of India and the world’s most prominent visual artists. All are inspired by religious, cultural and social visions of India, and rendered in the spirit of devotion and the betterment of humanity.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/HHXYhn
Tulsi Gabbard Responds to ISKCON Bangladesh Attack
→ ISKCON News
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii – the first Hindu congresswoman in America – has requested Marcia Bernicat, the U.S. Ambassador in Bangladesh, to visit an ISKCON temple there that recently withstood a terrorist attack. She also urged the ambassador to put pressure on the Bangladeshi government to prosecute the attackers.
*** NEW YEAR CELEBRATION *** Grand Kirtan and Appreciation Dinner night on 31st 2015 – From 7:30pm to Midnight
→ ISKCON Brampton
The program will begin at 7.30pm and includes Aarti, kirtan, Devotee appreciation, New Year's Grand Countdown Kirtan,dance and a vegetarian feast.
Please join us for an evening filled with devotion, joy and happiness.
Program
(Grand Kirtan Night)
7.30 - 7.45 pm Guru Puja
7.45 - 7.50 pm Nrsingadeva Prayer - Sunday school girls
7.50 - 8.00 pm Welcome Announcement
8.00 - 8.45 pm Appreciation Dinner
8.45 - 9.10 pm Keynotes and Vote of Thanks
9.10- 10.00pm Appreciation Speech by devotees
10.00- 11:00pm Sunday School
11.00- 12.00am Countdown Kirtan
12.00- 12.20am Maha Kirtan 2016
(Grand Kirtan Night)
7.30 - 7.45 pm Guru Puja
7.45 - 7.50 pm Nrsingadeva Prayer - Sunday school girls
7.50 - 8.00 pm Welcome Announcement
8.00 - 8.45 pm Appreciation Dinner
8.45 - 9.10 pm Keynotes and Vote of Thanks
9.10- 10.00pm Appreciation Speech by devotees
10.00- 11:00pm Sunday School
11.00- 12.00am Countdown Kirtan
12.00- 12.20am Maha Kirtan 2016
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy
Bhagavad Gita stresses bhakti over other paths
→ Servant of the Servant
Some people argue that Prabhupada misinterpreted Bhagavad Gita in the sense that the verses are translated to suit bhakti. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna speaks about karma, gnana, yoga and bhakti and hence all paths are as good as other paths. This is their argument. But such criticisms are indications that people read Bhagavad Gita for other purposes and not for surrendering to Krishna.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, Krishna speaks similar Gita to Uddhava entitled Uddhava Gita. There, Uddhava asks Krishna this very type of question. Uddhava asks that dear Krishna you have referenced many paths, which is the ultimate one? Krishna clearly says that bhakti is the ultimate path. Krishna continues to Uddhava that I speak so many other things besides just bhakti to cater to the different needs of the people. Keep in mind, as Supreme Being, it is the desire of Krishna to attract all souls and not just who are disposed towards bhakti. So the only way to do that is to offer different platforms from where one can elevate one’s self from that platform to bhakti.
If we carefully read the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, Krishna uses superlative degree whenever He talks about bhakti. He does not use superlative degree when Krishna speaks about karma or gnana or yoga. This is an indication that not all paths are the same and negates the common man’s criticism. If we stress on one point versus the other means not all points are equal. Similarly Krishna stresses that only through bhakti (none other) can one reach Him. Now if all paths were equal He could have said by any path one can reach me but He does not thus clearly placing bhakti above karma, gnana and yoga.
If the speaker of a book is meant to be the central figure of the book thus attracting everyone to the central figure, then it is clear as daylight that Krishna is the central figure of Bhagavad Gita and He wants all those who read Bhagavad Gita to be attracted to Him and He also says that I am attracted fully "only" through bhakti. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada as the translator staying true to the central figure of Bhagavad Gita Krishna through out the entire eighteen chapters focuses on bhakti as the essential ingredient to access that central figure Krishna.
If, however, we “do not” want to approach the central figure of Bhagavad Gita (i.e. Krishna) and we have ulterior motives, then other paths will seem attractive to us. However, those who read Bhagavad Gita with an open mind keeping aside material considerations and selfish motivations, will surely recognize that bhakti to Krishna is the ultimate path and through bhakti only can one solve man’s timeless problem of struggle for existence in this material world.
note: bhakti here refers to pure bhakti (not mixed)
Hare Krishna
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, Krishna speaks similar Gita to Uddhava entitled Uddhava Gita. There, Uddhava asks Krishna this very type of question. Uddhava asks that dear Krishna you have referenced many paths, which is the ultimate one? Krishna clearly says that bhakti is the ultimate path. Krishna continues to Uddhava that I speak so many other things besides just bhakti to cater to the different needs of the people. Keep in mind, as Supreme Being, it is the desire of Krishna to attract all souls and not just who are disposed towards bhakti. So the only way to do that is to offer different platforms from where one can elevate one’s self from that platform to bhakti.
If we carefully read the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, Krishna uses superlative degree whenever He talks about bhakti. He does not use superlative degree when Krishna speaks about karma or gnana or yoga. This is an indication that not all paths are the same and negates the common man’s criticism. If we stress on one point versus the other means not all points are equal. Similarly Krishna stresses that only through bhakti (none other) can one reach Him. Now if all paths were equal He could have said by any path one can reach me but He does not thus clearly placing bhakti above karma, gnana and yoga.
If the speaker of a book is meant to be the central figure of the book thus attracting everyone to the central figure, then it is clear as daylight that Krishna is the central figure of Bhagavad Gita and He wants all those who read Bhagavad Gita to be attracted to Him and He also says that I am attracted fully "only" through bhakti. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada as the translator staying true to the central figure of Bhagavad Gita Krishna through out the entire eighteen chapters focuses on bhakti as the essential ingredient to access that central figure Krishna.
If, however, we “do not” want to approach the central figure of Bhagavad Gita (i.e. Krishna) and we have ulterior motives, then other paths will seem attractive to us. However, those who read Bhagavad Gita with an open mind keeping aside material considerations and selfish motivations, will surely recognize that bhakti to Krishna is the ultimate path and through bhakti only can one solve man’s timeless problem of struggle for existence in this material world.
note: bhakti here refers to pure bhakti (not mixed)
Hare Krishna
Iskcon Tribal Care Initiative – This is Us (17 min…
→ Dandavats
Iskcon Tribal Care Initiative - This is Us (17 min video)
“ISKCON Tribal Care Initiative” is an initiative of the International society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to care for the tribal people in India. At this stage the initiative is focusing on Northeast and East India states. ISKCON Tribal Care will extend care in five different areas: Spiritual care Emotional care Educational care Healthcare Social care.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Vo0eLu
A new year to look forward to
→ KKSBlog
Another year has passed by! Life moves on, our bodies got older but our soul got wiser! And KKSBlog supplied you with a steady dose of spiritual tidbits from Kadamba Kanana Swami and Jayadvaita Swami – uplifting stories, intriguing classes and controversial quotes. Kadamba Kanana Swami not only rocks his bhajans but also this blog!!!
Our Team & Readers
Of course, Kadamba Kanana Swami is supplying most of the content but we have our steady team that prepares it and puts it online. We like to thank our core team for filling another year with memorable posts and giving their time and energy to KKSBlog. Thank you to Ragalekha, our stalwart editor, and our rock solid transcribers: Harsarani dd, Ananda Vrindavan dd, Naimisaranya dd and Amrtavani dd. Also a big shout out to our amazing Nandan Prabhu for his enlivening stories of Kadamba Kanana Swami’s travels!
And last but certainly not least we have you, our readers, to thank for visiting, appreciating and commenting. We are being ‘followed’ everywhere and some articles even appeared on www.dandavats.com!!
Stats & Figures 2015
What would be another end of year without statistics & figures? The proof is in the pudding, so here are the facts.
Lots of visitors
See a trend here??? We are hitting almost 60 000 visitors this year! Compare that to the 46 000 that we got last year. Nice! Now we need more comments 
Where are you coming from?
It looks like India won this year, with the United Kingdom as a close second. South Africa was dethroned from its number 1 position this year but they managed to increase views from 18288 to 18742. Of course, there were many more countries battling, as you can see on the image. Only a few countries are still grey!
So, what did you like to read?
Some posts stir our emotions and heat up the comments section more then other articles! As you can see from the TOP 10 most visited posts in 2015, certain topics are quite popular. Relationships, sex and family life are like fuel on a fire, blazing up the views on these articles. But it is not only controversy that rules the views. Memorable articles like the post on Brahmananda Prabhu make KKSBlog a wonderful source of insights into the life of Kadamba Kanana Swami and others.
So what did you like to read in 2015? Check out the stats below!
Top 10 Posts… and counting down
09. Relationships ARE complicated
08. Kirtan standards by Jayadvaita Swami
04. A happy ending
02. Farewell Brahmananda Prabhu
01. Astrological compatibility
Enough material to fill a complete year!
That’s right! We have 3563 posts on KKSBlog and since 2012, we got 356 000 views with 116 747 visitors. And 20 January 2015 had the most visitors in one day! Incredible and in all of that, the peak on Monday at 5 pm :-)))
Sales & Donations
In 2014, we added the online shop with CD’s, USB drives and other media. Up until 2014, KKSBlog had been collecting funds to cover the yearly costs. The shop was started to help raise funds to cover the expenses. Here are the results:
2015
Incoming: € 1039
Total costs: € 1202
The highest costs were:
Website hosting: € 232.6
Website software: € 481.22
Paypal fees: € 49
Bandcamp fees: € 31
2014
Incoming: € 1842
Total Costs: € 1621
The highest costs were:
Website hosting: € 288.99
Website software: € 377.62
Website security: € 643.74
Paypal fees: € 39
Bandcamp fees: € 39
In 2014, we made some money but that was spent in 2015 so we are playing even, but just barely. If you like KKSBlog and you want to support us, then send your Christmas bonus to us…
(Visit our support page for other payment options and financial reports)
Forwarding to 2016
Every year, I (Uddhava) make promises to add more content, to improve this & that. And it looks like I tend to repeat myself every year. So my sincere apologies for not upholding my promises. Luckily our steady team is covering me! If you missed a lot, no worries mate! Visit the archives. Find all articles with classes or dive into the controversy immediately.
Read our latest daily newsletter or the weekly edition. Not joined up yet? Click here!!
Have a great year!!!
Renunciation through Devotion
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By Dwaipayan De What exactly is renunciation? In the Bhagavad-gita (6.1-2) Krishna gives His definition: “One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who lights no fire and performs no duty. What is called renunciation you should know to be the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the Supreme, O son of Pandu, for one can never become a yogi unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification.” According to this definition, a renunciate is not simply someone who gives up external duties. A renunciate is one who gives up all personal, selfish interests, while at the same time working for God’s interest. Continue reading "Renunciation through Devotion
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Harinama in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada:…
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Harinama in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one chants the holy name of God-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-eventually he will see Krishna’s form, realize Krishna’s qualities, and remember Krishna’s pastimes. That is the effect of the pure chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. (A Second Chance, 16)
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VIHE Holy Name Retreat – The wonders of chanting japa under guidance
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By Prema Sindhu Gauranga dasa
From November 29 to December 4, around 200 devotees eagerly gathered in Govardhan for the 10th annual VIHE Holy Name Retreat–all the way from South and North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, Russia, Israel, India, and even China. Giriraj Govardhan, “Haridas varya,” the topmost among the devotees of Lord Krishna is the perfect spiritual abode to retreat from the relentless material anxieties and reconnect with our spiritual selves. His Holiness Sacinandana Swami and His Grace Bhurijana Prabhu are offering this inspiring Holy Name Retreat every year to help devotees progress on to another level in the chanting of Japa.
The opening ceremony of the retreat started on the rooftop of an ashram overlooking the gracious form of Giri Govardhana bathed in the soft rays of the afternoon sun. The teachers, joined by
Her Grace Jagattarini Devi, pointed out our rare good fortune as we sat near Govardhana, who is a “mountain of blessings,” and chanted the holy names in the best devotional mood at our command. The teachers promised the devotees that the Holy name Retreat would be experience-oriented and that the participants could expect to have breakthrough experiences and deep revelations; as the retreat is designed to help remove obstacles, they would experience a positive transformation in their chanting. “This is the land of Krishna!Expect miracles to happen” warned His Holiness Sacinandana Swami in his introductory speech–thus setting the pace for a heart-transforming, miraculous atmosphere, which overwhelmed the devotees throughout the week.
Bhurijana Prabhu and Sacinandana Maharaja, both known for their sincere endeavors in bhakti, took the devotees on the boat of the holy name, invoking good winds through their profound insights into the art of chanting. Bhurijana Prabhu set the mood of sincerity and proper intention as he took everybody through a spiritual journey with Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s ’Songs of Saranagati’, while Sacinandana Swami opened the treasure box of tips and guidelines based on Sri Harinam Cintamani during his workshop ‘Chanting under the guidance of Srila Haridasa Thakura.’
It was emphasized in the sessions that we must have the mood of a servant while chanting the Holy names. Giriraja Himself takes pleasure in serving the devotees. Similarly we should serve the Holy Name to make Krishna happy. While chanting, we should maintain focus, and when the mind wanders, we should bring it back to the simple goal of being with Krishna in the form of the Maha Mantra. These simple instructions took on a new meaning in the association of our expert guides and of the sincere devotees all gathered for the same purpose of getting closer to Krsna. While chanting, we cannot keep our false ego aside unless Krishna helps us. We should pray to Krsna in the form of the Holy Name to allow us to get closer to Him. Begging help from Guru, Gauranga, the previous Acaryas, and the Vaisnavas, it seemed we were able to touch Krishna by hearing His Holy Names.
The retreat included a day reserved exclusively for getting drowned in ecstatic kirtana. Prestigious kirtaniyas such as His Holiness Sacinandana Swami, His Holiness Bhakti Bringa Govinda Swami,
His Holiness Indradyumna Swami, His Grace Bada Haridas Prabhu and His Grace Ekavira Prabhu led melodious and meditative kirtans that immersed everyone in the bliss of the nectarean ocean of the holy names of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada has given us so many jewels in Krishna consciousness that it is impossible to count them all, but the jewel of the association of devotees is right there at the top. The experience of the potency of chanting in the association of so many wonderful senior devotees – all at one place – was so profound… Each kirtana drove us deeper and deeper into setting our focus on the holy names. The various kirtanas gave an opportunity for all devotees to get some taste for the holy names, and the
awe-inspiring classes of His Holiness Sacinandana Swami’s and His Grace Bhurijana Prabhu’s set the mood for devotees to cry out for the holy names like never before. The pouring rains that suddenly caught us unprepared at Surabhi Kunda at the very beginning of the kirtan day and the cold Vrindavana winter weather that ensued could not dampen the enthusiastic spirit of the gathered devotees—just like that of the Vrajavasis who took shelter of Giriraja five thousand years earlier.
With yet another day of intense hearing and workshops, His Grace Bhurijana Prabhu continued his session on ‘Songs of Saranagati’, leading us to understand that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura had put the complete essence of all the scriptures in these songs. Saranagati means ‘turning toward Krishna’, just like the cowherd boys took complete shelter of Krishna during the forest fire. His Holiness Sacinandana Swami’s experience-oriented chanting workshop enlightened the devotees with a prayerful mood for chanting inspired from various prayers by Vaisnava Acaryas. We learnt to chant with body, mind and a prayerful heart.
The retreat also took us to Ter Kadamba – the place so dear to the hearts of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, where Srila Rupa Goswami composed His Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, handed down to us by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada as The Nectar of Devotion. At that most holy place we got the opportunity to chant 64 rounds in the cooling shade of Srila Rupa Goswami’s bhajana kutira. With the many guidelines given to us by our teachers, we were equipped to go deep into chanting japa.
Chanting with advanced devotees helps us call out to the Lord with sincere faith and desire and that, in turn, changes us from deep within the core of our heart, transforming our abstract faith into something more physical and tangible. As every part of your body is engaged in the chanting, something miraculous happens. For that short span of time, everything around us fades away. The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra attracts the mind, cools the senses, and fills the heart with love of the Supreme. Just chanting out loud on our own gives us a chance to taste the Holy Names and enjoy the relief and calm it brings, but doing so under expert guidance can bring about amazing results.
In this way, with a week of deep spiritual discussions, workshops on mantra chanting, meditation, and prayer, the hearts of the participants transformed whilst the Holy Name became the focal point of the week. It was very enthusing and inspiring to be able to focus only on the spiritual needs of the soul by consciously aiming to plug out of the material world and plug into a new dimension of reality – the reality of the soul in its relationship with Krishna. This relationship is easily established through chanting the holy names in the association of sincere spiritual seekers in the sacred land of Vraja, where unconditional mercy is shed from all sides on one who genuinely tries to connect to Radha and Krishna.
We humbly offer all these experiences and our gratitude at the lotus feet of His Holiness Sacinandana Swami and His Grace Bhurijana Prabhu, who have inspired retreats such as these to sprout all over the world for the devotees to come together and deepen their appreciation and love of Sri Nama Prabhu.
About the author:
Premasindhu Gauranga das is a disciple of H.H. Jayapataka Swami. He came in touch with ISKCON in Pune in 2007 and joined full-time in ISKCON Juhu in 2010 where he served the BBT for 4 years. He now serves at the VIHE.
Balaram asks whether the books of the acharyas are in the spiritual world
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The Supreme Person
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In its most recent survey on the subject of God, the National Centre for Social Research found that some ninety percent of us claim to be believers. One in five even said they had no doubts about God’s existence. Such statistics are perhaps surprising, given that education today tends to steer us toward more atheistic notions such as the’ Big Bang’ and evolution. Surprising also in the face of the widely touted suggestion that religion is the cause of most conflicts, a suggestion seemingly reinforced by the ferocity of some of the more fundamentalist believers seen of late. Plainly, in spite of everything, faith in the divine is an enduring feature of the human mindset.
Although by its very definition belief in the supramundane cannot be proven by normal scientific methods or logic, for the faithful there are compelling enough reasons to accept God’s existence as fact. Many of the principal arguments were put forward by the Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas, who himself had borrowed from the Greeks (who in turn are said to have borrowed from India).
These arguments included the famous “argument by design”, which argues that things within this world tend toward certain goals and, like an arrow shot by an archer, must therefore have a designer who set those goals. Another shade of this argument is that anything we see in this world that exhibits complexity has been designed and indeed made by an intelligent person. A motor car, for example, will never come about by the chance combination material elements, it requires an intelligent manufacturer. Similarly the highly complex bio-system we see all around us could not have created itself.
Then there is the “original cause” argument, which argues that since we see nothing in existence that does not have a prior cause, it makes sense to assume that there must have been a first cause, i.e. God. Or the “goodness” argument, which posits that as we see relative degrees of goodness in this world, it is reasonable to say that there is a supreme good or God. And so on.
Srila Prabhupada also gave a number of arguments for God’s existence, such as realising that we are bound within a system of universal laws – e.g. we must grow old and die – and as we have no experience of any laws without lawmakers and upholders, we can reasonably assume there is a supreme lawmaker. He also pointed out that we have a propensity to love, that we are always trying to find somewhere to repose that love, and that there must therefore be an ultimate repository for all love in the form of God.
In the end, though, Vedic knowledge tells us that arguments are insufficient, and indeed we will find refutations of all the above from various philosophers. Therefore if we want to ascertain God’s existence beyond any doubt we must follow a spiritual process. We can then gain personal experience, which the Bhagavad-gita calls “direct perception” of God.
IS GOD A PERSON?
What then is God’s nature? What are we looking for in our spiritual practise? After all, unless we know the destination of a journey, how will we know when we have arrived? We must have some confirmation that our experience is genuine and not just some hallucination, as atheists will be quick to suggest.
There are widely varying concepts of the Supreme Being. While many people may speak of God, it is by no means certain that they are thinking of the same thing. For example, Einstein often referred to God, but this was not the omnipotent and omniscient person generally accepted by theistic believers. His was more of a pantheistic idea that followed from philosophers such as Spinoza, who suggested that God “reveals himself in the harmony of all being.”
Einstein and Spinoza’s grasping at some concept of God is not uncommon. Naturally as we try to contemplate the infinity of all existence our minds are baffled. This has led some people to suggest that God cannot be understood or conceived of in any way at all. But if we are following a spiritual path with God as our goal, then we must have some concept of that God.
One idea we frequently encounter is that God is an impersonal energy. This theory holds that everything has always existed as some spiritual, formless energy, and the totality of this energy is what we call God. This suggestion is often accompanied by the belief that our conception of form and individual personality is an illusion that has to be dispelled, whereupon we will realise our divine nature as a part of the supreme, formless ‘One’. This view has increased in acceptance in recent years, often forming the basis of New Age beliefs. Today there are many yoga and meditation groups that will speak about reaching a level of universal consciousness where we see ourselves as God.
Followers of various traditions have apparently propagated this view. Here for example is a quote from the Christian mystic Meister Eckhart, “I must become God, and God must become me, so completely, that we share the same ‘I’ eternally. Our truest ‘I’ is God.”
Another great Christian, Maximus the Confessor, taught, “The whole man should become wholly God.”
The renowned Islamic mystic Munsar al-Hallaj was famous for saying, “I am the truth! I am God.” The Jewish theologian Philo Judaeus also said, “He who thinks God has any quality and is not the one, injures not God but himself.”
Indian philosophy has long had a school of thought subscribing to this view. Its most famous proponent was the eighth century mystic Sankara. He instructed his followers that any concept of the self as something different from the absolute is an illusion. Sankara taught that we should cultivate the spiritual vision of “you are that,” always understanding that everything we see, including ourselves, is a part of the Supreme Spirit, or Brahman as it is called in Sanskrit.
While Vedic theology accepts that we are all a part of Brahman, it denies that we are in any way its totality, or God. This ought to be obvious with a little thought. Prabhupada told a story of one Indian Swami who claimed that he was God, but who one day had a toothache and had to visit the dentist. “If he is God then where is his supreme power?” asked Prabhupada. “Can God be forced to suffer?”
Another point is that if we are supreme then how have we come under illusion in the first place? That makes illusion more powerful than us, calling into question our so-called supremacy. Furthermore, how can there be an impersonal existence independent of a person? Only a person can be impersonal. If a person turns his back on us he is being impersonal. Can impersonality stand alone, bereft of a person?
The Bhagavad-gita unequivocally declares God to be a person from whom everything has emanated. “I am the source of all things, material and spiritual.” It discounts the suggestion that some impersonal existence lies beyond a personal God by stating the opposite. “The less intelligent think that I was impersonal before and have now assumed this personality. Due to their flawed understanding they do not know my higher nature as the imperishable Supreme Person.”
The Vedas say that God does have an impersonal aspect that can be realised by yoga practice, but it is said to be the “glowing bodily effulgence” of a personal God, and this is Brahman. Seeing this is only the first stage of God realisation, which goes much further, to the point of realising God’s personality.
Perhaps it is God’s effulgence to which mystics sometimes refer when they speak of our oneness with God, as the souls are of the same divine energy as this effulgence.
The Unmoved Mover
Another idea of God, not far removed from the impersonal conception, is that he is supremely aloof. This was held by the Ancient Greeks, most notably Aristotle, who posited the existence of an “Unmoved Mover”, a God who was the first cause of everything, but who existed in a state of perfect stillness. Aristotle’s God could not act without compromising his perfection and thus his supreme position. From this great being, nevertheless, all things including us have emanated.
For Aristotle, God was indifferent and possibly even unaware of the material creation, which has simply sprung from him as a necessary effect of his existence. Man is effectively set loose within the world, with an innate attraction to God that will eventually draw him back to his divine source. Man’s duty, according to Aristotle, is to purify his intellect and thus become immortal and divine.
Why all this should happen, one is only left to guess. Aristotle offers no insight into God’s pure mind, probably because he ascribes to God no thinking process, as to him this implies change and undermines God’s supreme unchangeable perfection. The ancient Greeks used the word apatheia, which needs no translation, to describe God’s attitude toward the creation. For them God was serene, impassable and invulnerable. No feelings could move him; he was beyond all emotion.
This kind of thinking leads ultimately to atheism, for what use is a God who is not interested in our plight, or worse, doesn’t even know of it? We therefore find in more recent times the French philosopher Diderot saying, “Whether God exists or does not exist, he has come to rank among the most sublime and useless truths.”
Diderot was not an atheist in that he declared a belief in God, but he could not understand God’s relevance to the world. It seemed to him that matter and the world were moving independently, that God took no part in it. Like the Ancient Greeks before him, he felt that the only way to account for the miserable condition of the world was to somehow make God apart from it all.
Similar thinking is found today even in mainstream religious thought in the idea that the universe has been created by God ex nihilo, out of nothing. It is somehow made separate from God, who then retires to a safe distance and lets us get on with it. Again, he is aloof and even apathetic, which once more is seen as being the only way to explain suffering and God’s apparent lack of intervention.
For Vedic theists the question of suffering is answered by the concept of karma, of our receiving the natural consequences of our own freely chosen acts. But one could still question God’s involvement. Where is he and does he care about what is happening to us?
SUPERSOUL
This brings us to the second level of God realisation in Vedic theology, known as the Paramatma or Supersoul. This is an expansion of God who is found in the heart of every living being and also within every atom of the creation. It is the all-pervasive aspect of the Supreme, but in a personal form rather than impersonal energy.
The Bhagavad-gita describes the Supersoul as the “overseer and permitter” within this world. In other words, he is witnessing all our deeds and is awarding us the results. He gives us free will to act, but within the constraints of our karma for past acts. It is also said that he is the source of knowledge, remembrance and forgetfulness. He is thus in complete control of all living beings, but the Vedas emphasise that he never interferes with our free will. However, if we commit sinful acts he naturally obliges us to accept the result. He also ensures we get the results of our more pious acts, but we tend to have less issues with this side of things.
It is said that God as the Supersoul resides in the heart, right next to the soul, and is aware of the soul’s desires in the same way that a person “smells the aroma of a flower.” He thus reciprocates with our desires in accordance with what we deserve. And when he detects in us a desire to know him rather than to pursue material pleasures, he brings us closer to him. He will direct us to spiritual teachings or a spiritual master, which are also said to be “external manifestations” of the Supersoul. In this way he is always making himself and the path to liberation available. It is up to us to make the right choice, but he is always ready. There is no question of him being aloof and apathetic.
The Bhagavad-gita explains it as follows, “I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.” Srila Prabhupada also explains further, “The Lord, as the Supersoul, guides the living entities who are conditioned by the physical atmosphere. He gives the living entity the intelligence with which to improve his position so that he may return home, back to Godhead, or if he does not want to go back to Godhead, the Lord gives him the intelligence with which to improve his material position.”
And this brings us to the third and final level of God realisation, referred to by Prabhupada as “Godhead”. This is known as Bhagavan, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
RELATING WITH GOD
Bhagavan is the “last word” in God realisation in Vedic theology. This is God’s original, personal form. The word Bhagavan means “one who possesses all opulence” and Vedic scriptures say this means Krishna. The Bhagavad-gita says he is the source of everything, material and spiritual.
The three levels or phases of God realisation are compared to seeing a hill from a distance and then going closer. At first when we are far away it may seem like a cloud. Then as we get closer we see that it is in fact a hill. And when we get closer still we see a village on the hill with different buildings and activities going on. In the same way our first understanding of God is his Brahman feature, then the Paramatma, and finally Bhagavan. They are all the same reality, but perceived differently by different observers according to their level of realisation.
Bhagavan or Krishna is thus the highest level of understanding. He is described as the cause of all causes, the “one without a second”, the creator, maintainer and destroyer of everything. His nature is knowledge, eternity and bliss, a nature that we as parts of him also share. He is also described as the “reservoir of pleasure”, and this pleasure is fully realised when we become conscious of him.
Followers of all traditions have described the ecstasy of God realisation. The Christian mystic Thomas Traherne, said in his Centuries of Meditations, “All appeared new, and strange at first, inexpressibly rare and delightful and beautiful…my entrance into the world was saluted and surrounded with innumerable joys. My knowledge was divine… Everything was at rest, free and immortal.” The Sufi Al-Junayd spoke of a “wondrous and ecstatic grace,” and the thirteenth century Franciscan hermit Angela of Foligno wrote, “I beheld in all things naught but the divine power, in a manner assuredly indescribable…the whole world is full of God!”
The highest ecstasy is realised at the level of Bhagavan, when one awakens a loving relationship with God. According to the Bhagavad-gita it is the supreme goal of yoga practise. Krishna says, “Of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in me, thinks of me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to me is the most intimately united with me in yoga and is the highest of all.”
Throughout many Vedic texts Krishna is repeatedly declared to be the Supreme Person from whom everything emanates. He is found in the eternal spiritual world, where he is forever enjoying loving pastimes with his devotees. The supreme goal of yoga is therefore to enter those pastimes, relating with God in one of four main moods: as either his servant, friend, parent or conjugal lover.
DIVINE ENERGY
Krishna has many energies or potencies, which have three main categories. The first is his “internal energy”, which manifests as the spiritual world and his most confidential associates who always reside there. Chief among these is Radharani, who is Krishna’s eternal consort. She is the female aspect of the Supreme, and from her come many other consorts who are known as “gopis”, Krishna’s unmarried lovers, and as his married queens. The internal energy is also known as Yogamaya, a female personality who brings us closer to Krishna when we try to serve him.
His second energy is the “marginal potency”, which consists of the innumerable jivas or souls. We are called marginal as we can come under the influence of either the internal energy or the third of Krishna’s potencies, the external energy known as mahamaya. This is the material world and indeed the illusion of being the material body, separate and independent of God. Such is the condition we find ourselves in right now, and Krishna therefore acts in various ways to bring us into his association, as mentioned above. The name Krishna actually means ‘all-attractive’ and by coming to this world he reveals that attractiveness in order to draw us toward him.
Simply by hearing about Krishna and his divine pastimes from authorised scriptures such as the Vedas we can become attracted to him. There is no other way of gaining knowledge about God. He is beyond the material senses and the philosophers are correct when they say he cannot be encompassed by thought. Certainly no process of speculation will arrive at perfect knowledge of God, but he can reveal himself to us if he chooses, and we accept the Vedas as such revelation.
Ultimately God is a person who wants to be known and loved by us all. Those who have approached him say that he is the most wonderful personality, the one for whom we are all searching, unlimitedly qualified with all transcendental attributes. We get a glimpse of this by studying texts such as the Bhagavad-gita, but if we want to fully appreciate his greatness then we must follow the process it describes.
And the result? In Srila Prabhupada’s words, “Your life will be sublime.”
Gita Jayanti at Bhaktivedanta Manor
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By Zayani Bhatt
Hundreds of devotees from far and wide congregated at Bhativedanta Manor for a recitation of the Bhagavat Gita by the temple’s Managing Director HG Gauri Das and insightful commentary by His Holiness Sivarama Swami on Sunday 20th December.
The devotional and ardent recitation of the Holy Scripture and a Gita yagna was to celebrate Gita Jayanti; the day Lord Shri Krishna spoke the Bhagavat Gita 5154 years ago.
His holiness Sivarama Swami summarised each chapter in a beautiful, clear and succinct manner, communicating the core knowledge withheld in each, after which Gauri Das, along with the audience, read the Sanskrit shlokas of the chapter. As the temple president, Srutidharma Das explained; “Sivarama Swami’s presence today is auspicious because he started the first Gita Jayanti at the Manor in 1996 when there were just over 100 devotees present and today there are over 700 people in the temple with another 400 watching online on Mayapur TV.”
Indeed the atmosphere was reverential and excited as Sivarama Swami encouraged listeners to bring the teachings of the Gita into their lives. He explained that “Higher than reading the Gita, is understanding the Gita. Higher than understanding the Gita is living the Gita and higher than living the Gita is giving the Gita.” Endeavouring to do so, the temple set a target of distributing 100,000 books as a part of Srila Prabhupada’s book distribution month. All the assembled devotees were thrilled to hear Srutidharma Prabhu announce that they had already reached 75,000 books.
The Gita is now the second most distributed book in the world.
ISKCON Malaysia Sastra Dana & Anna Dana Program 2015
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By Bhaktin Sanglisha JGS
“One thing more, if we are successful in this program then my dream mission of life to spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world will be fulfilled. I wish to speak on the great philosophy of Bhagavata Dharma at least once in a week on television, so if arrangement is made by you for this, then you will be doing the highest service for Krishna.” (Srila Prabhupad’s letter to Karadhara – Bombay 22 March, 1972)
During the month of Damodara, the Food For Life Society Malaysia and Bhaktivedanta Books Trading Sdn. Bhd jointly organised a famous project in Malaysia, the Sastra Dana and Anna Dana (food and books distribution) program. Multi racial volunteers and devotees around Kuala Lumpur and Klang joined the team and felt the joy of giving. Despite their busy schedule and hazy weather, the team has successfully distributed Srila Prabhupada’s books and Krishna prasadam to 11 schools, 1 college and other locations. The students offered ghee lights to Lord Damodara too.
Our grand total in Malaysia: Krishna prasadam to 55422 people, 2575 Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 8920 literature of different categories and 1 set of Srimad Bhagavatam.
Dear all, we present to you the official video “The Matchless Gift” embedded below.
For more information, log in to our official Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/sastradanaannadana
World Harinama Map
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By Lila-shuka das
This project was made with the sole purpose of inspiring all devotees to perform more Harinama Sankirtana.
In addition, this project shows the activity of Harinama Sankirtana around the world.
When you enter the website ( www.harinammap.com ) you can see the world map and the menu.
The Map shows the activity of Harinama Sankirtana around the world.
The Menu gives you some features of how to use the map.
You can see 3 filters there… 1) By status 2) By team 3) By devotee
By status:
Upcoming – this shows upcoming Harinamas
Old – this shows past Harinamas
By team:
Choose any team and you will see their activity
By devotee:
Particular devotee who puts Harinamas to the map on behalf of Yatra, team or temple.
Choose any and you will see his/their yatra activity.
In order to prevent chaos on the map, we don’t give for everyone rights to add Harinamas. We only give this to a person who we know as a responsible person for Harinamas in his city, yatra, team etc. By choosing any devotee from the list you can see which Harinamas he has put on the website.
Colors of the circles on the map
Color is going from red to blue (red, reddish, orange, yellow, green, and blue) with different tones
Red – this place is very active in making Harinamas (fired up)
Blue – long time there wasn’t any Harinamas here
From red to blue the color means the intensity of activity in a particluar place. Orange color means medium intensity in making Harinamas.
Numbers in the circles:
Number shows how many Harinamas were performed in that particular place.
Menu in the left:
Example 1.10.2015 – this is is the date of Harinama
[11:00] – time when the Harinama will be performed, according to the time of the place where it will take placeUnder date and time is mentioned the place where it is performed (Example: London, England)
ALL HARINAMS – Harinamas added by devotees
*MY HARINAMS – here you can add Harinamas and view your added Harinamas
* field for Admins, Moderators, Teams
We hope this project all the devotees around the world will find useful.
Your servants in Sri Harinam Mandir
He Gopinatha – Chakrini Devi Dasi
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A Vedic devotional bhakti art slide show featuring animated graphic artwork depicting the transcendental pastimes of The Supreme Personality Of Godhead Bhagavan Sri Krishna and His eternal Consort Srimati Radharani and the Gopis, The Cowherd Maidens of Vrindavana, The video is set to the prayer "Gopinath" from Kalyana-kalpataru composed by Vaisnava Acharya Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and performed by Chakrini Devi Dasi.
December 30. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By…
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December 30. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
I like to converse with Srila Prabhupada. I pray to him, along with Krishna. I say their names; I go through Prabhupada to Krishna. The talking is also a form of heart-to-heart talk. I speak, and then I listen to them. Again they are together. Krishna speaks directly in the Bhagavad-gita. He says, “One who understands Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is the knower of everything. He therefore engages in My full devotional service.” And after Lord Krishna speaks, Prabhupada elaborates and explains to me what Sri Krishna means. After hearing from them, I speak some more to my masters. I tell them what I am trying to do, where I am at. I ask for help. I express my thanks to them and feel my loving connection to them. I think that this kind of communication is far more important than too much thinking about Prabhupada (rather than being with him.) After all, I am not an academic of Srila Prabhupada. I am a devotee. Conversing with Srila Prabhupada is a form of meditation that can be done on a daily basis. As we face new predicaments, there is always new need to express ourselves to our guides. I try not to speak only at a pragmatic need, but to enter a loving exchange. I accompany my prayers with action. At the end of the day, I give thanks for the service connection that I have enjoyed during the day and the ways in which Prabhupada and Krishna came and touched me – as well as the ways that I failed them.
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Daily Darshan : December 30th, 2015
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Open Heart
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Tonight the weight of the world settled on my shoulders.
I walked out of yoga class heavy, burdened. The class was lovely, but whenever I take a yoga class the physical moves seem to open up the metaphysical heart.
So when my heart opened, the burden settled in.
I felt overwhelmed by certain painful conditioning while growing up - the state of my fragmented family, how my insecurities and dysfunction affect my professional, personal, and spiritual life. Fear of perpetuating a painful legacy for myself and my family.
I looked for music to soothe my heart. I came across a deeply Christian song, about how Lord Jesus Christ shed blood to save our souls. The song soared and enveloped me with softness and power.
I drove down to the shore and watched the sun set upon the ocean in a blaze of fire. I felt as though the burden was lifting from my heart because the Lord was carrying that burden for me. What love. What amazing love.
We all carry our burdens, we all carry our "crosses." How amazing that our Lord is so loving, so kind, so gentle, that when we simply turn to Him with open hands and a soft heart, He is so willing to carry our burdens. He heals our hearts, makes us whole, allows the impossible to become possible.
I do not have the answer. I do not believe my burden is gone forever. But I had an experience this evening that the load can be made lighter, and my heart will be made stronger. May I forever turn to my beloved Lord for grace and healing.
And next time I go to yoga class and my heart opens, may a river of joy come flooding out.
20.12.2015_H.H.Veda vyasa Priya Swami
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20.12.2015_H.H.Veda vyasa Priya Swami
ISKCON 50 Meditations: December 30, 2015
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Conversing With Srila Prabhupada
The Glories of the Holy Name, December 27, Houston
Giriraj Swami
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.11 as part of Holy Name Week in Houston.
“God helps those who help themselves. Srila Prabhupada said that in the context of the life of a devotee, the meaning of the saying -‘God helps those who help themselves’ is that the devotee puts himself in the presence of transcendental sound. That is how you help yourself. And, the other thing we can do to get Lord Caitanya’s mercy is to spread the chanting.”
Gita 08.05 – Our choice at the junction determines our destination
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Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast
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Positive Thinking 30 – Faith reveals the integrated beyond the fragmented
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Podcast
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New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit 2015-12-29 18:30:51
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