Planet ISKCON

In addition to attempting to help others, one of the reason I continue to write is to better understand myself. Looking at my basic desires and insecurities, I ask why? Why do I want to love so much and have others love me? It seems obsessive. Ah, the quest to be understood as I am, and to fully understand others as they are—and of course, to fully understand myself and encourage others to understand themselves as well. Self-introspection and awareness are essential.

On one level, perhaps the deepest level is the spiritual desire for total love, connection, and oneness with our “Maker” as they say, or our “Source,” “Creator,” etc., etc., or more personally on my path of bhakti, to Krishna with his Radha, or Chaitanya and Nitai, and all their energies, and associates, like my gurus and previous acharyas.

I understand the purpose of the false ego (though I don’t much like it) as a protective mechanism for souls who want to enjoy and exploit the material world and think of themselves as separate and independent—all in their own way and to varying degrees. By nature our sense in a material body and mind is to feel incomplete and in need and this fuels our search for love and fullness, and thus our continual attempt to do this, birth after birth, in countless different forms and circumstances until we learn that souls can only be happy outside the confines of matter.

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 October 2015, Chowpatty, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.69.41)

Question: It happens, especially in household life, that the desires for sense gratification are many times taking over our focus, although we try to keep Krsna in the center. Years are inevitably going by and those desires are still not being completely wiped off, despite our practices. In that situation, what should a devotee do to increase the process of becoming thoroughly Krsna conscious?

In all the ashrams, material desires are there. Only when one has fully awakened his attachment to Krsna, do material desires go away – not any earlier. So it is really about awaking our attachment to Krsna, and it is something we just do not allow ourselves to do. It is almost as if we ourselves are consciously the obstacles. It is as if we are saying to ourselves, ‘No, we will not appreciate Krsna because we are going to spend time with our material desires!’ These material desires, they are so strong, these material desires are always on our mind and we systematically think about them, every second of the day and we do not think of Krsna! You may chant sixteen rounds but not think of Krsna! You may read but you sleep at the same time – you do not think of Krsna and do not remember Krsna!

It looks like this is what we have been doing all this time! Sometimes I give the example of the mind (singing Govindam tune), ‘Govindam, adi purusam… what will be for breakfast today!?’ to show how the mind is absent and how we are so distracted in our spiritual life, out of habit. So let us become more conscious of what we are doing, let us appreciate more. We can actually start appreciating Krsna a bit more and make a habit out of that. It does make a difference, it really helps. So many wonderful things have happened and are happening in our lives and we should contemplate on those nice things and practice saying it.

‘The deities are looking so nice, what a nice darshan, such a nice dress, who designed it? And who dressed the deities? Who made the garlands? And all the other arrangements are actually so nice!’  

One just has to stop being negative and rather be positive and recognize the positive by saying it. The more we make habit out of that then we simply realize that there is so much taste. And if we do not practice this, we will find that all this time, we were externally doing everything but not tasting it, because we were simply inattentive to Krsna, inattentive to appreciating things. In this way, all that we could see is, ‘Struggle, struggle… material desires! Oh, so much struggle with the never-ending material desires!’

Material desires. Let us analyze it – what is there, what is it? What is so good in the material world? A new phone… is it that good? Not really! A new wife… better than the old one?  No, it is still the same. So we must consciously appreciate all the good things we have and the more we do so, the more these material desires will begin to look insignificant. If we are negative towards spiritual life, it means we are not appreciative enough, so we should be more appreciative of all the wonderful things in Krsna consciousness – that is the cure.

Sakhi’s Graduation (Album with photos)
Congrats to the latest Bhaktivedanta Academy Gurukula graduate, Sakhi Caran Raya Prabhu. He now heads up the most important service in Mayapur: the mahaprasadam department. Maharaja told me to make sure to get a good photo—someday this will be his “before” picture.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/lk7ieB

Cure for the Chronic Disease of Fault finding by HG Gaur Gopal das (video)
Is fault finding really that bad or really that detrimental to our spiritual lives? Srila Prabhupada describes it as a sinful activity. “Those who are committing sins like illicit sex, fault-finding, and unjustified violence rarely attain spiritual knowledge or realization. Sinful activities deepen the dark gloom of ignorance, while pious activities bring the light of transcendental knowledge into one’s life.” Srila Prabhupada Puts Fault Finding Right Up There With Illicit Sex And Unjustified Violence (Meat Eating).
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Csb7OZ

There are many ways to study the Bhagavad-gita. Recently, devotees have considered the Gita from the point of view of what essential values/principles Krishna teaches in this sacred book. They chose six key points: 1. Dharma (right action) 2. Sama Darshana (equal vision) 3. amanitva (humility) 4. iccha (choice/desire) 5. Ahimsa (without cruelty) 6. Priti (affection)

Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast

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Most Inspired! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The holy town of Udupi lies on the Arabian Sea in the South Indian state of Karnataka. The town is famous as a place of pilgrimage because of the temple Sri Krishna Matha. This temple was founded by Srila Madhvacharya (A.D. 1238 -1317), one of the greatest saints, philosophers, and religious reformers of India. Udupi is said to have attained the status of Vaikuntha, the kingdom of God, because the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the form of a Deity ( Udupi Krishna ) came and stayed there in response to the desire of His pure devotee, Srila Madhvacharya. The worship of Udupi Krishna is still going on after many centuries in a very elaborate way. Yesterday myself and Bada Haridas prabhu visited Sri Krishna Math and took darshan of Udupi Krishna. We came away most inspired!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/05zrZM

Vedic Cosmology: Integrating God and Physics.
One of the strongest points of tension that often comes up in cosmology between science and religion is the age of the universe. Some interpretations of the Bible calculate it to be about 6,000 years old, while the most recent calculation according to the Lambda-CDM concordance model is 13.8 billion years. The Vedic literatures see the manifestation and eventual destruction of the universe, like most events in nature, as a periodic occurrence and give it in trillions of years.

By Vani Devi Dasi

Four years ago I got a phone call at three in the morning. Minutes later I couldn’t control my tears and the only thing I knew to do was to take shelter of Panca Tattva. Standing in front of their Lordships in a daze the tears came again as I felt your absence. My heart hurt, my heart still hurts. Your love for Krsna, Prabhupada, and all of us met no bounds, and a moment with you was like a hundred as time stood still and I couldn’t take my eyes from you. Your love was real, your spiritual vision was real, your taste for the holy name was real, your Bhakti was real, your loyalty to Prabhupada was real, and sitting at your feet experiencing all this I couldn’t move, completely overwhelmed.

But Aunty, four years later and I feel your absence less and less because my memories of you are ever strong. Whatever glimpses of taste you gave me burn ever encouraging in my heart, glimpses of a goal I one day desire to reach. I feel you present in my japa and kirtan. I feel you present in my relationship with my spiritual master, as your instructions guided me and your presence with Gurudev and I during those special moments completed my spiritual family. I feel your presence when I cook, you said to me:

“I’m so glad you are already tasting the Radharani Cooking Zone. Just gives me so much happiness to hear this.”

I will never forget those words when I’m in the kitchen, as I try to apply the principles of cooking for Krishna that you taught me.
I know you are with me and I pray the rest of my life can be lived in service to you. I love you Aunty Yamuna, how I wish I could sit at your feet again and hear you speak, but I am nonetheless overwhelmed with gratitude for the moments we’ve had together. As you once wrote to me: “Because we are separated by miles means nothing, for we are always together in heart.”
Aunty, even now I know we are connected in our hearts.

How I regret my foolishness and ignorance in your presence, the time I forgot to reply to your email, and that day I couldn’t go to Ambika Kalna with you, please please forgive me Aunty.
My love for you only increases every day. Please continue to guide and protect me by keeping me at your feet and enveloped in your strong intense embrace.
Your servant,
Vani dd

Nityam Bhagavata-sevaya#27. The Marriage of Kardama and Devahuti.
Dear Devotees, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga! After the special issues on Radha Kund and Govardhana for the first anniversary of the NBS e-magazine, we are resuming to the topics of Srimad Bhagavatams Third Canto. In this issue, the Supreme Lord is arranging the marriage of Kardama and Devahuti. Additionally, a fresh translation from the Mahabharata, in regard to the conversation between Draupadi and Satyabhama, is done for this issue. We pray this issue brings some pleasure to the devotees of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. NBS # 27 Features: 1) Kardama Muni Glorifies The Supreme Lord Sri Maitreya Rishi 2) Lord Arranges For Kardama Muni’s Marriage Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakur 3) Lord Fulfills His Devotees Desires His Divine Grace A .C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 4) Kardama Accepts Devahuti Sri Maitreya Rishi 5) Service Attitude of Devahuti Sripad Vallabhacharya 6) How Should a Wife Serve Her Husband? Conversation between Draupadi and Satyabhama.
This issue can be viewed here: https://www.scribd.com/doc/293763987/NBS-27

The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine, # 365, was just released. Devotional alliteration, a look at an aspect of the science of Sanskrit devotional poetry, plus more … This issue includes: * HEALTH COMES FIRST – Instructions to a disciple from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. * DEVOTIONAL ALLITERATION – A special article compiled especially for this issue of Bindu. From time immemorial, Sanskrit poets have been using a variety of alankaras, literary ornaments, to decorate their poetry. One commonly used ornament is anuprasa. The closest English equivalent for this term is “alliteration”, or the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. Anuprasa has been frequently employed by various Gaudiya acaryas in their prayers to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. This article provides a brief perusal of the use of anuprasa in their writings with many things translated for the first time. It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu365

By Vrajendranandan Das

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Recently, we had a big networking opportunity as ISKCON was officially invited to attend the birth day celebration event of Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, who turned 81 on Dec 11th, 2015.

The august gathering witnessed presence of many matteraties, including the Prime Minister and other dignitaries from far flung areas of the country. .As a gesture of mercy and blessing, we gave Mahaprasad of Shri Shri Radhaparth Sarthi and Pushp Guchcha of Lord Narshimha deva to the president which he warmly received and reciprocated with delight and appreciation.

For ISKCON, he has been supportive and largely appreciative of our initiatives. Occasions such as these help us mark our presence amongst those who matter. And by Srila Prabhupada’s grace we get recognized as a peaceful organization focused on spreading the Holy name.

December 21. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
In the first year in New York before he started ISKCON, Prabhupada’s life was full of risk and adventure. His coming to America was itself a risk. We can’t imagine what it was like for Prabhupada to be without money in a foreign country and yet to dare to present Krishna consciousness. If at any point he had gone back to India, after the robbery in his room on 70th Street, or on any of those Scindia return voyages, or after he had to leave the Bowery when Mr. Paul went crazy – if at any point he had gone back, then we would never have been born. Sometimes he had to abandon the strict regulations of sannyasa in order to stay and do the more important work of spreading Krishna consciousness. When he stayed in Carl Yeargen’s apartment, he had to keep his food in the same refrigerator where Carl kept cat food.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

His Risks on Krishna’s Behalf

Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast

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Sunday feast lecture at Radha Gopinath temple

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Krsi goraksya vanijya. Krsi means ploughing or agriculture and goraksya, cow protection. These are the staples of society, this is what people live on. All living entities subsist on grains. So the ksatriyas may direct and instruct people, the brahmanas may perform their yajnas, but if they don't eat then giving shelter or instruction is not going to work. That eating is therefore the most essential aspect of life and this is why the vaisyas and their assistants, the sudras, are so integral that the other castes think that they are the most important people, because it is actually they who are feeding. Of course the vaisyas think that the brahmanas are the most important because they are taking the result of their work and offering it back to the Lord. Srila Prabhupada said that this very common type of exchange was there but the responsibility of this goraksya, is it the duty of just some people? Some very very exclusive people? Is it the responsibility of all vaisyas, or is it for all grhastas or all devotees? Continue reading "What Are You Doing for Cow Protection?
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Gift a Van. Get the mercy of a million books!
Please help us to buy 2 new sankirtan vans and to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books in Germany.
Dear Devotees and Friends, approaching ISKCON’s 50th anniversary in 2016, we have one very special goal in mind: distributing ONE MILLION Shrila Prabhupada’s books from Simhachalam, our Prahlada Laksmi Narasimhadeva’s temple in Germany. And you could easily be part of it! Simhachalam temple is not only well known for the first Narasimha deity installed in the West, but also for its amazing distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Since 1987 till November this year devotees have distributed around 918 000 books from Simhachalam temple!
For two years now our book distribution is on the rise. In 2014 our three sankirtan teams distributed almost 50,000 books! Also the number of our book distributors is increasing now.
Unfortunately two of our three vans were not willing to be part of Prabhupada’s mission any longer and broke down several times during this year. Some of our book distributors had to spent more time repairing the engines than being active in the book distribution.
Read the entire article here: https://goo.gl/wahoIn

Radha Golokananda’s Boat Festival 2015 (6 min video)
Devotees in ISKCON Mauritius annually organize this beautiful boat festival for the pleasure of Radha Golokananda and Their devotees.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/udwDRw

$4.6 Million Endowed for New Hindu Studies Program in Berkeley, California.
Ajay Shingal – a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur – said in a press statement announcing the endowment: “I have two kids, they don’t go to the temple without us. I truly believe if we want these temples to survive, our kids have to be very grounded in their religion through education.”
“To me the biggest contribution one can make is the gift of education; I truly believe that the institution we are forming at GTU will be transformative in its impact,” said Shingal, who serves on the Board of Trustees of the Dharma Civilization Foundation.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/VTnVJM

Mexico City! (Store in a Mall!) Centro comercial Santa Fe.
Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

Odana Sashti Festival In Rajapur.
Being in Mayapur and very close to Rajapur, home of Lord Jaganath, Baladeva and Subadhra, we all jumped in a car and went to take part of the festivities that were organized for the very sweet pastime of Odana sashti. This yearly Rajapur festival is a rare opportunity for the devotees to all sit in front of Lord Jaganath and listen to some of his very delightful pastimes this year told by HG Jananivas prabhu.
The weather in Mayapur is very pleasing at that time which gives a break from the intense heat that devotees usually have to tolerate, so it makes it easy and cozy for everyone to join the festivities and peacefully enjoy the narratives of the sweet pastimes. Odana sashti being the first day of winter, all the Mayapur Deities are from that day onward, dresses in winter clothes.
Lord Jaganath,Baladeva and Subadhra, receive special treatment as they are given new starched cloth and beautiful handmade new mukut pieces. Young Mayapur devotees worked hard to shape 26 new mukut pieces to share between Lord Jaganath and his brother Lord Balaram and Subadhra was prowdly wearing a new splendid crown also made with love by young devotee girls. This tradition helps the devotees remember the pastime of Lord Jaganath and his great devotee, Pundarika Vidyanidhi, who once became critical of the Lord’s servants.
“Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi, a close associate of Lord Chaitanya’s, once upon seeing that the Deities were being offered starched garments, became critical towards the servants of Lord Jagannatha. When Pundarika was thus speaking in this way, Svarupa Damodara tried to explain that the characteristics of the Supreme Lord are beyond the jurisdiction of worldly etiquette, and encouraged Pundarika not relinquish his critical thoughts. Svarup Damodara’s advice fell on deaf ears, so Lord Jagannatha and Balarama enacted the pastime of appearing to Pundarika in a dream that evening and slapping him on his cheeks nonstop, leaving him with red marks on his face. Thus Jagannath destroyed the sinful mentality of criticizing the behavior of the Supreme Lord’s servants by his supreme mercy.”
In the forenoon, sweet graceful Kirtan was lead by HG Narahari Nityananda prabhu which brought about a soft but still festive mood that was ideal for that auspicious day.
And of course the festivities ended with a Prasadam feast which was appreciated and relished by hundreds of pilgrims and devotees.
Lord Jaganath,Baladev and Subadhra Ki Jay

Harinama in the Islands of mercy, Fiji (Album with photos)
Ecstatic Celebration of Prabhupada’s 50th Anniversary of coming to the Western World.
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna chant is called the maha-mantra, the great, exalted mantra above all other Vedic mantras, because simply chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra brings so many beneficial effects. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.1.17 Purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/SxjhMK

In the Ramayana, Rama was chasing the golden deer and realizing that it was a demon in disguise, He shot it down. The demon died calling out to Sita and Lakshmana mimicking the voice of Rama. Sita panicked while Lakshmana remained calm. When Lakshmana didn’t budge even an inch to help his brother, Sita insulted him, mercilessly assassinating his character. Though hurt very deeply, Lakshmana paused to ponder over the sudden change of conduct and vocabulary of his sister-in-law. A moment of thinking gave him clarity that her concern for Rama was taking the shape of hateful words simply to instigate him to take timely action. Keeping his screaming ego encaged within the framework of logical thinking, Lakshmana decided to focus on her concern for Rama rather than on her hatred expressed towards him. Words of hate are usually a desperate call for attention towards a hurt heart. Exhibition of anger in such situations is due to a rise in insecurity levels. Holding hatred in the heart is like holding super-toxic acids in a flimsy bag. Very soon they will corrode your peace of mind. Continue reading "Qualitative upgradation through forgiveness
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As I cleaned Srila Prabhupada’s rooms, I noticed the clothesline in the kitchen was still there, but not much else, except my memories and the sense of his presence. Then, unexpectedly, I saw a small Indian print on the counter. Picking it up, I saw that it was Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Sri Gadadhara, and Srivasa, also known as the Pancha-Tattva. "Five Truths in One." I was charmed by the unique composition of the figures and surrounding architecture; as well as the delicate lines and bright colors; and most importantly, the devotional mood of the transcendental picture. A few years later, I had the good fortune to reside at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in England, which had been donated by George Harrison. Srila Prabhupada lived at the Manor for most of that summer of 1973, as well as attended the successful Rathayatra in London. While Srila Prabhupada was at the Manor, I worked on a large 4 by 5 foot oil painting of the Pancha-Tattva. Who would have ever guessed that the little print from the small storefront on 2nd Avenue would manifest as a large painting housed in the elegant Bhaktivedanta Manor in Great Britain, presented as a gift to His Divine Grace and his devotees. Continue reading "Bhaktivedanta Manor Pancha-Tattva Painting
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December 20. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Prabhupada meditation transcends time and place, although it can happen in any time and place. He can be with you even in a hot cubbyhole in a cheap hotel. When he does come to you, your place becomes transcendental. Rupa Gosvami has stated that everything can be used in the service of Krishna. Even the botheration of travel can evoke a fond meditation. Whatever our ongoing situation, we can always dovetail it with Prabhupada meditation of one sort or another. Give respects to the memories of Swamiji. Just hold them in your mind, worship his lotus feet. You do not have to be a radio broadcaster telling everyone about it. It is a moment of remembrance for you. For your own benefit. Appreciate that you were there; worship the minutes and hours. “Prabhupada, I loved you. I do love you. I appreciate the Krishna consciousness that you have brought. I want to be carried out of this material world; please save me. Please let me remember that I am your menial sisya who learns from you, practices Vaisnavism under your direction.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

The European Sankirtan Festival in Simhachalam, Germany will take place from Wednesday, 30 December to Sunday, 03 January. This festival recognizes and honours the effort of those devotees who participated in book distribution during the month of December from all over Central Europe. We are happy to announce that Kadamba Kanana Swami will be attending as well on 30 and 31 December! Be part of this wonderful event of enlivening kirtans, seminars and sadhusanga. See the following newsletter for more information.

Continuing The Legacy