Planet ISKCON

By Urmila Devi Dasi

The individuality of the self is a central teaching in Vaisnava philosophy, but what is our practical understanding of this term? Individuality is present in all living beings on both a material and a spiritual level. This article translates how this concept needs to relate to education practices in ISKCON today. A good education system in Krsna consciousness must show respect for individuality, first by recognising differences as inherent and value-neutral. The failure either to recognise the existence of distinct personality types or to accept them as value-neutral lead to various problems to the development of an individual or a society, one of the most damaging of which is an understanding that spiritual perfection is an adjustment of material personality. Teachers must then learn to establish a rapport with students based on this understanding, and respect and adjust their teaching methods accordingly to give useful direction for vocation and spiritual service that will be in harmony with each individual's nature. We can then go beyond respecting individuality, to glorifying diversity as a means of pleasing the Lord.

The Gaudiya Vaisnava position on individuality. Continue reading "Respect for Individuality
→ Dandavats"

How the Bhaktivedanta Manor in the UK was found and bought.
Dhananjaya: By the end of 1972 nothing had happened. Prabhupada wrote to me, "Better to take the upper hand and begin very energetically attempting to get some place. Expending energy for Krishna, that is appreciated and not the actual result of our energy. But if there is lack of energy being devoted for some purpose, then everything will be delayed and possibly stopped. Better to seize the iron while the fire is hot, that my guru maharaj used to tell me." Prabhupada presumed that the iron was getting a little cold. Then in January of 1973, in a freezing cold, miserable British winter, we got information about a property called Piggot’s Manor in Letchmore Heath, 17 miles from central London. This was the one and only time I didn’t go as a devotee, with a shaved head, dhoti, tilak and kurta, but went disguised with trousers, coat and hat. The previous property George and I had looked at was an amazing health spa outside of the city of Oxford with an indoor heated swimming pool, a beautiful conservatory, saunas and mud baths and more than a hundred acres of land. The asking price was 330,000 pounds. After George saw that property he said, "This is a bit rich for you people, isn’t it? You’re supposed to be renunciants. Even I would have a hard time remaining Krishna conscious in this environment." Then we got the details on the Manor, which was being sold for 220,000 pounds—110,000 pounds cheaper than the previous property. This time George didn’t come but I phoned him from a pay phone in what is now the Manor temple room, and I described the details and the price. He said, "It’s a lot cheaper than the previous property. What do you think?" I said, "I think it’s a fabulous place." He said, "All right, I trust your judgement. I can’t come to see it because we’re having some meetings in Los Angeles with Allen Klein, our financial advisor, about selling the Apple Company." George gave me the names and phone numbers of legal people who could do the paper work to buy the property, and said, "Phone them up, tell them that you want to secure this property, and when the transaction is complete, I’ll come and see it." The paperwork took about six months. George had set up a foundation called the Material World Charitable Foundation. He said, "The profits from the Living In the Material World LP album will go towards paying for that property, but it’ll go through my foundation." And that’s what happened—the Material World Charitable Foundation paid for the property, and the agreement was that we would pay 10 pounds a year rent, which is called a peppercorn rent. It’s the absolute minimum that you can pay for a costly property. We acquired the Manor from a Scottish lady, Mrs. Ruffles, who was from Aberdeen, a city in northern Scotland. The story is that the Scots are quite mean, but even in Scotland, people from Aberdeen are called Aberdonians, and are considered extremely mean. Before we moved into the property, Mrs. Ruffles removed every single doorknob from every single door. She removed a pair of brass lion’s head doorknockers from the front doors to the house. She removed all the pelmets and siphoned off all the diesel fuel (for the central heating) from the tanks. Mrs. Ruffles took away all the coal for the fireplaces. When Prabhupada went on an inspection, there were a couple of doors we couldn’t open because there were no doorknobs or door handles or any way to open the doors, so we had to show him those rooms later on. When we showed him his quarters upstairs, with its huge living room, a huge old-fashioned bathroom and a comfortable bedroom, he was happy. He said, "Yes, this is a nice facility for the spiritual master." All this time the Deities that had been sent from India were in our temple sewing room. Generally when there’s a new temple project, first we get the land and house and then the Deities come. But in this situation, the Deities came one year before we acquired Bhaktivedanta Manor. When Prabhupada came in the summer of 1973, he asked me, "Where are the Deities that came to England in 1972?" I said, "They’re stored in Bury Place." Prabhupada said, "We will install those Deities in this property." And that’s what happened. On Janmastami Day of 1973, Srila Prabhupada installed the Deities and he named Them Sri Sri Radha-Gokulananda. He had intended to call the community New Gokula, and the bliss of Gokula is Radha-Gokulananda. One of the first things George did when he returned from Los Angeles was visit the Manor. We took him on a tour of all the rooms because by that time we’d gotten door handles and doorknobs and we showed him the gardens and the lake and all the other places. George was curious about everything. He liked the Manor and thought it was a good value for the money. Then Shyamasundar brought George to the temple room and said, "Wouldn’t some crystal chandeliers look great here?" George said, "Yeah, that would be really nice," and George bought a pair of beautiful chandeliers for 3,000 pounds—after he had just bought the Manor for us.

KK Bindu # 364, A first-time translation of a rare song, “The Real Meaning of Sevaka”, and more … The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released. This issue includes: * THE GOPIS’ LUST FOR KRISHNA – Reflections from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. * FIRM FAITH IN GURU – Instructions from from His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada: “A sincere disciple has the same devotion for his gurudeva that he has for the Supreme Lord. And he worships and serves him the same way. Those who do not serve their gurudeva this way fall from their position as a disciple.” * THE BRANCH AND THE MOON – An insightful analogy explained by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja, * THE REAL MEANING OF SEVAKA – A first time translation done for this issue OF Bindu from a little known book called “Manah Siksa”, by the poet Premananda Das.
It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu364

UK devotees distributed more than 20.000 Srila Prabhupada’s books, in just a few days, coming closer to the 100.000 goal set for this December marathon.
Sutapa das: As of Friday we have distributed 15,000 books! Yesterday, Saturday 5th Dec, we took it beyond the 20,000 mark. There are 100-150 devotees that went out - Sacred Street Party, Manor Harinam team, Bhakti Vriksa groups across London, Door to Door teams, Traveling sankirtan parties across the UK, and other book distributors.
Sankirtana Yajna ki Jaya!

A tiny amount of what was collected was broadcast on nationwide TV on Sunday prime time–minus the most violent images of slaughter, because the newscast is viewed by children. http://bit.ly/1LHonGG

The post Animal Rights activists have caused a national uproar in New Zealand by using hidden cameras at dairy farms and slaughterhouses appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Flooded With a population of 4.6 million affected due to floods caused by heavy rainfall, the city of Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu has been declared a National disaster zone by the Indian Government. With no power, food or water supply, life in Chennai has become close to impossible.

This is the first time in hundred years that Chennai is facing such heavy rainfall. The death toll is approximately 260 with more being discovered by the day. The Indian Army has been deployed to rescue people and supply necessities. The flood sure has caused financial loses. The Tamil Nadu Government has estimated the loses to be above 15,000 crore.

ISKCON Chennai has suffered immensely as well. Devotees have been shifted out of the temple with three devotees left in the temple campus to serve the presiding Radha Krishna deities. Temple vehicles, the Sankirtan shop, Govinda’s have incurred huge loses. Prayer is the need of the hour for the devotees and other people living at Chennai. More rain could make the situation even worse!

Jayapataka Swami, the GBC for Chennai has requested people to pray for Chennai and has been communicating with the leaders of ISKCON, Chennai. Devotees are also trying to provide food supply to more affected areas.

Temple president, Sumithra Krishna Das for ISKCON Chennai has appealed the following

Dear Devotees, well wishers & friends

Chennai has been declared as a national disaster zone and is witnessing it’s worst crisis in more than 100 years.

Part 1:

ISKCON Chennai is engaged in supplying daily meals to more 1500 flood displaced families sheltered in government schools. We want to expand that to more areas in Chennai and items like water, bedsheets etc. (For more details see the bottom of this message).

Our Food for Life bank account details are as follows:

Acc name ; ISKCON FOOD FOR LIFE
Acc no; 423010100035200
AXIS BANK
Branch ; NEELANGARAI/THIRUVANMIYUR
IFS code; UTIB0000423

Contact:
Mobile- Sukirti Madhavi DD: 9790710432 /Prassana Gopinath Das: 9840043330

Email: agd.iskcon@gmail.com

Part 2:

ISKCON Chennai TEMPLE has suffered heavy damages in the current flood situation.
Estimated losses to the temple are in the range of 25 million to 30 million rupees. (2.5 to 3 crores).

We request devotees to come forward & help for the same.

For your reference list of damages are listed down.

1. Temple structure repair and restoration
2. Water supply infrastructure including sump, pumps etc.
3. Electrical infrastructure including equipment
4. Temple premises cleaning and restoration
5. Brahmacari kitchen equipment
6. Kitchen store – all grains and grocery items completely spolied
6. Sannyasi ashram
5. Temple vehicles (fully submerged in flood water)
6. Temple gift shop and restaurant interiors are damaged.
7. Public Facilities – Bathroom & drinking facility.

Other damages are yet to be assessed.

TEMPLE ACCOUNT DETAILS:

Acc name ; ISKCON CONSTRUCTION
Acc no; 423010100026071
AXIS BANK
Branch ; NEELANGARAI/THIRUVANMIYUR
IFS code; UTIB0000423

Contact:
Mobile- Sukirti Madhavi DD: 9790710432 /Prassana Gopinath Das: 9840043330

Email: agd.iskcon@gmail.com

Written by,
Nanda Priya Nivedita dd

Last three photos courtesy BBC

Padayatra Odisha 2015 (Album with photos)
Gunacuda Dasi: Padayatra Odisha was started in 1992 by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami and has continued every year during Kartik. Here are some photos from this year’s Padayatra in Nayagarh district. There were around 40 from Iskcon Bhubaneswar, local Nama Hattas, England, Ghana and New Zealand.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/mn55HL

Ter Kadamba (8 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: After visiting Yavat, where Radharani lived for some time, we walked to Ter Kadamba, a sacred place where Rupa Goswami did bhajan 500 years ago. Mother Sitala spoke on the pastimes of Rupa Goswami and Bada Haridas prabhu led us in singing the glories of the Six Goswami’s. It was our final parikrama of Kartika, and one of the best as well.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/tTBggh

Waterfront Festival Mauritius.
Here again we are glad to announce the coming of the 8th Annual Hare Krishna Waterfront Festival to be held on the 11th to 13th December 2015.
In context of the celebrations of the 40th Anniversary of ISKCON in Mauritius this year’s festivities are more promising with Snan Yatra, Deep Utsav and an open Air Youth Concert along with a Maha Aarti of New Manasi Ganga. Lots of Senior and Special Guests will also be present.

Special Attractions:
Kids Corner
Questions and Answers
Vegetarian Snacks
Drama Dance
Cooking Demos
Mantra Rock Music
Fireworks

Invited Guests
His Holiness Bhakti Chaitanya Swami
His Holiness Kadamb Kanana Swami
His Holiness Lokanath Swami
His Holiness Navayogebdra Swami
His Holiness Dhira Damodara Swami
His Holiness Bhakti Anugraha Janardhan Maharaja
His Grace Mahatma Prabhu

Be part of the festival and experience the everlasting bliss.
Should you be keen to know more??. Should you be interested in any kind of help in support of the festival??. Or you are just excited to be part of the feel free to contact us.

Contact Persons in Mauritius.
Vrsabhanu Das: 57918835
Sundara Lala Das: 57772747
Your may also find the event updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/729384607192313/

December 6. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: When I hear people make mistakes while speaking about God, I try not to be puffed up. Just because we have received the best God conscious education from Srila Prabhupada, does not mean we should look down on others. Students at Harvard University or Oxford University may be better educated, but they spoil their treasure if they look down upon common people. Similarly, we do not want to be a snob in God consciousness, but appreciate what Srila Prabhupada has taught us.
I feel humbled sometimes when I see someone else’s faith in God. I also meet people who have more love for God than I do, even though they may not have received such a thorough education. I will never stop being grateful to Prabhupada, however, for giving me this education. In that sense, I am proud.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

Thank You for Educating Us in God Consciousness

Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Positive Thinking 10 – E of IDEA – Eternal love provides inexhaustible positivity appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The Sydney Opera House Event.
Damodara Pandit dasa: The Sydney Opera Event is an A-List ISKCON 50th Anniversary global event. We anticipate that many VIPs (government officials, actors, musicians, and so on) will attend. It will also be streamed globally and a commemorative DVD and CD will be produced.
The purpose of this event is to expand the global appreciation of Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON movement through a wonderful performance art event. We are looking at inviting ISKCON’S top performance artists to participate.
The evening will be a cultural gala evening, but all acts will fit into a narrative of the Hare Krishna Movement’s roots, inception, growth, achievements and future.
The event has the working title ‘Transcendental Journey: Krishna 50 years on’. The first draft of the storyboard has been completed by Deva Gaura Hari dasa and Damodara Pandit dasa. The story presents Srila Prabhupada’s departure from India and then backtracks to the movement’s source, including the Lord’s pastimes in Navadvipa, Jagannatha Puri and Vrindavana. Then the night will explore the Hare Krishna Movement, expanding in the west with scenes including 26 Second Avenue, Hippy Hill, women of bhakti and the second generation.
We believe it will be a fabulous night out. Get ready. Get excited!

Radha Kunda Seva: Alley to Three Goswami Samadhi (Album with photos)
Every day, hundreds, if not, thousands of people go through this alley because it is part of the Goswamis’ parikrama path. Although it is a public, highly traversed area, it is also regularly dirtied with all kinds of trash and filth, and people even do bathroom business here. The idea is that we can restore the walls enough to paint decorative murals of the pastimes of Krishna, both beautifying the alley, and re-enforcing the fact that it is not a place to litter and make dirty. At its current level of sponsorship, it is being cleaned once a day.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/gTQKxV

Harinama in Mexico (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When the transcendental vibration of Hare Krishna is sounded, even the trees, animals and insects benefit. Thus when one chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra loudly, he actually shows mercy to all living entities. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.13.19 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aIUsPz

The Bhaktivedanta Archives is pleased to offer two new releases: the VedaBase™ 2015.1 update and the original unedited audio of Śrīla Prabhupāda for the year 1972.

The 2015.1 VedaBase™ includes:

1) Updated audio transcripts for the year 1972
2) 23 New Prabhupāda Letters
3) 34 New Secretary Letters
4) Many Moons – Reflections on Departed Vaiṣṇavas by Giriraj Swami
5) This is My Heart,
6) Concepts of Reality,
7) Spiritual Journalism by Patita Pāvana Dāsa & Abhaya Mudra Dāsi

Download link for the VedaBase™ 2015.1 update
(If you already own the “Folio Views” VedaBase™ software version 2003.1, this update is free.)

Download link for the VedaBase™ 2015.1 Mac

The 1972 Original Unedited Audio
(258 hours, 413 audio files, 14 Gb)

Download link for free individual audio files [coming soon]

Available Original Audio Sets Arranged by DATE: *

1977 (237 hours, 387 audio files, 10 Gb)
1976 (340 hours, 703 audio files, 17 Gb)
1975 (315 hours, 563 audio files, 14 Gb)
1974 (250 hours, 439 audio files, 11 Gb)
1973 (252 hours, 418 audio files, 11 Gb)
1972 (258 hours, 413 audio files, 14 Gb)

Total: (1652 hours, 2923 audio files, 77 Gb)
[All audio MP3 files are accompanied by individual PDF text files.]

Available Original Audio Set Arranged by SUBJECT: *

· Arrivals
· Bhagavad-gita Lectures
· Bhavans Journal Questionnaire
· Brahma-samhita
· Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures
· Chantings and Dictations
· Conversations
· Darshans
· Departures
· Initiations
· Interviews
· Lectures
· Meetings
· Miscellaneous
· Nectar of Devotion
· Observances
· Srimad Bhagavatam Lectures
· Walks

Total: (1652 hours, 2923 audio files, 77 Gb)
[All audio MP3 files are accompanied by individual PDF text files.]

Have the 1972 original audio mailed to you for $50, including shipping and handling worldwide on an USB Flash Drive. All published years arranged by Date or by Subject for $75. Contact: info@prabhupada.com or go directly to our PayPal donation page: http://prabhupada.com/Donations/Donations.html

Technical assistance is provided via email only, not by phone. When contacting us about a particular problem, try to be as specific as possible. For example: state your Operating System, computer type, etc. Include screenshots to help clarify your issue. We normally reply the same day.

Questions for the Windows Platform: ekanatha@prabhupada.com
Questions for Mac Platform: nitya@prabhupada.com

Thank you.

The Bhaktivedanta Archives staff,
Parama-rūpa Dāsa
Nitya-tṛptā Devī Dāsī
Kula-priya Devī Dāsī
Ekanātha Dāsa

iOS users: The VedaBase™ 2015.1 version update will be available from the App store for the iPad and iPhone soon.

* Disclaimer

While we at the Bhaktivedanta Archives make every endeavor to release an accurate rendering of Srila Prabhupada’s legacy, we also know that when dealing with numerous poorly recorded, unlabeled and miss-labeled audio recordings there are in fact major challenges.

Based on the above we apologize for any inaccuracies that may have resulted through our endeavors under these unique circumstances.

We sincerely encourage anyone to submit verifiable corrections.

We thank you for your support and understanding in this matter.

Bhaktivedanta Archives Staff

Apparently some friends of mine think I am in denial by my expressed attitude in regard to my diagnosis. Maybe! While it is true that I don’t yet know the level of severity of my cancer, I don’t consider myself Pollyanna by any means. It is 2AM now, and I have a doctors appointment at 8:30 to have a PET scan which may reveal the primary cancer(s). Some may not believe me but I am feeling elated my whole experience so far, and consider my diagnosis one of the best things that have ever happened to me. Admittedly this is strange, but that is how I feel. It just seems auspicious, like an answer to my daily intense prayers for spiritual advancement and a way to better connect to others.

I am serious about doing everything I can to get better, and my wife and I are doing extensive research about possible protocols which have shown themselves effective in treating cancer. I looked it up on the Internet and for those who have a secondary cancer like mine, it’s thought that their primary cancer is at least stage three. Even if it turns out to be stage 4 or the worst possible stage or type of cancer, is my only response sadness, worry, or depression? I have encouraged everyone to pray for me, but not just to get better, but that this may be for my highest good and the highest good of everyone. That sounds like a pretty good outcome, whatever it looks like from the material perspective. Death (of the body) is certainly not the worst thing that could happen!

read more

Bhakti Tree preaching (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: Along with catering for the Veggie Club at the university, there are programs every Friday and Wednesday evening at the Bhakti Tree in Newcastle. Friday is especially popular, with people from the local area attending kirtan, talk and prasadam.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/IL44ib

The post Karisye vacanam tava appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

By Nirmala Krishna Das

Bhaktivedanta Gurukula & International School has been ranked 13th all over India in the “Boys Residential School” category and rated No.1 in Uttar Pradesh (UP) in the same category by the Education world, India school rankings 2015.

For the past seven years Education World has been publishing the annual Education World India School Rankings with C fore — the well-known Delhi-based market research and opinion polls agency. It rates and ranks over 800 of India’s most high-profile schools on 14 parameters — academic reputation, faculty competence, leadership quality, sports education, Safety & Hygiene, Co-Curricular Education etc.

The awards ceremony was held on September 26th 2015 at Vivanta Taj, New Delhi
We wish the staff of BGIS and students for this great success and continue in our service to provide value education to prepare fine citizens of the world, men of character & competence, who can lead and inspire others.

www.bgis.org

By Vrajendranandan Das

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus

Please My Humble Obeisance All Glories To Srila Prabhupada.

Dr Hamid Ansari, the Honorable Vice President of India paid floral tributes to Dr Rajendra Prasad the First President of India on the occasion of his 131st Birth Anniversary at the Parliament Annexe New Delhi on 3rd December 2015. This function organized by the Rajendra Chintan Samiti and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). We were also a part of the function.

This was a really great opportunity for us (ISKCON) to meet and build relationships with the many important personalities present on the occasion. Dr Yoganand Shashtri Minister in the former Delhi Government, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal Chief Whip BJP and Member of Parliament, Shri Ramakant Goswami Minister in the former Delhi Government and many other VVIP guests from different walks of life graced the function. Shri R K Sharma and Vijay Shankar Chaturvedi Vice president Rajendra Chintan Samiti warmly welcomed the Honorable Vice President of India and all the other guests.

In this recent time we have been concentrating on the interior and exterior finishing work on the TOVP. A lot of progress was made just in the past weeks.

GRC Workshop

Sadbhuja Prabhu congratulating Savya Sachi Prabhu on the opening of the GRC Workshop. All machinery, materials and devotees have moved to the new location, equipped with a gantry crane, office and big storage area, the GRC workshop is officially moving at full speed.
 
[See image gallery at tovp.org]

Sandstone

With no time to wait, the sandstone has arrived from Rajastan and already we have begun applying the Jali windows. This Pink Sandstone will frame the windows of the 2 base floors of the Planetarium and Nrshimha Dev wings.
 
[See image gallery at tovp.org]

Art work

Indra, the king of Suwarga Loka and the Demigods, bows down to the fierce form of Lord Nrshimha Dev. This murti will appear in the left wing of the temple, over-looking the Nrshimha Dev altar. In this pastime, as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam 7th canto, other demigods will be present offering their respects to the Lord. Led by Bhaskara Prabhu, the art team is creating the 7 feet (2.1 M) tall murtis in Ganga mud and straw. Once a model is created, the casting progress will commence to make the murtis. Next they will be colourfully painted.
 
[See image gallery at tovp.org]

Blue Marble

Bolivian blue marble is a very prestigious marble, only an expert can select a good batch. Sadbhuja Prabhu had to travel to Bolivia to pick the best quality marble. This splendid blue marble will be used for the altars of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Panchatattva and Guru Parampara. This is our last purchase of the Blue Marble from Bolivia.
 
[See image gallery at tovp.org]

The post Progression Report on Finishing Work appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Yet another Ratha Yatra Festival on Queen St, Auckland, New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One has to continue chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and preaching the chanting of this mantra because such preaching and chanting constitute the perfection of life. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.67 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/N4HBae

TOVP e-Newsletter #6 December 2015

Message from Radha Jivana, International Fundraising Director:

To establish Sridhama Mayapur, the audharya dhama, as the World Headquarters of the Hare Krishna Movement and bring it to the forefront and attention of the entire world, as well as to show our love and gratitude to Srila Prabhupada for this most rare benediction and gift he has given us in the form …

News/Announcements

The Beginning of a New Era A new phase in the temple construction has begun and some very important events have taken place. After a lot of work and research, the production of the GRC has finally started in our temporary workshop …

United Kingdom Tour The ToVP International team will be touring the UK from the 18th to the 30th of November 2015. Lord Nityananda foresaw the manifestation of a glorious temple in Mayapur …

TOVP Campaign Making Wonderful Progress Results are coming in from the TOVP tour that carried His Grace Jananivas Prabhu & Lord Nityananda’s holy paduka all over North America for four months earlier this year …

Construction

New Materials Teak wood is a naturally grown wood from Myanmar (previously Burma). This wood is known for its superb stability, good strength, easy workability, resistance to bugs …

TOVP Plumbing System Underway While in and of itself plumbing is not a glorious activity, when used in the Lord’s service it becomes a glorious detail to the TOVP project and an essential and important …

GRC Workshop Construction GRC is an abbreviation for glass fiber-reinforced concrete, the strongest and most environmentally retardant concrete in the world …

Art, Architecture and Design

The Making of the Acharyas The making of the acharya murtis is a procedure that requires several step. Step 1: First, a clay model of the acharya is made based on shastric descriptions …

Art Department in Action The amazing murtis pictured here are mockups of the 8 demigods that will overlook Lord Nrsimhadeva’s altar, offering prayers as described in Srimad Bhagavatam …

Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasasana Drawing The drawings for the construction of Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasasana have been completed and we can now get an idea of the grandeur and size of our Founder-Acharya’s seat.

Inspiration

Planetarium Chandelier Video The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is named as such because within its main dome it will house a 3-dimensional, moving model of the universe according to the Vedic scriptures …

Leaders Speak Out

His Holiness Bhakti Caitanya Swami Maharaja stresses that the TOVP Project is not only one of the most wonderful projects of all time, but will be ISKCON’s most significant offering to the world in Kali Yuga …

His Grace Mahatma prabhu Mahatma prabhu talks about the importance of Mayapur and the TOVP, answering questions about its effect on the world, its place in ISKCON, etc.

Fundraising

Jananivas Prabhu Speaks About the North American Tour HG Jananivas Das describes his experiences during the TOVP North American fundraising tour. Please watch and feel inspired to donate for the wonderful project …

Bhaktin Sakshi Donates Her Scholarship Bhaktin Sakshi from Delhi, India decides that the scholarship money she received from her college would best be spent on “higher education” by helping to build the TOVP to fulfill …

$1.5 Raised at H.H. Bhakti Caru Swami’s Vyasapuja The devotees in Surat, India celebrated 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in USA, along with the Vyasapuja of HH Bhakti Charu Maharaj. However the main theme of this convention …

History

Old and New Mayapur In the photo on the left you can see how ISKCON Mayapur looked in 1979. A big field of vegetables in front of the main gate was all that was there at that time. Now you can see the beautiful Temple …

Mayapur Book Download

The TOVP Team has published a book by the above name with selected excerpts about the spiritual power of this holiest of sacred places and the manifestation of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. E-book version can be downloaded by clicking the button below.

TOVP – Cinematic Aerial Footage, Mayapur Sep 2015

The most cinematic aerial footage of TOVP shot by Prananatha Das (Paul Tuffery) in September of 2015 in Mayapur, India.

Media Gallery

Photo and Video Archives

December 5. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Srila Prabhupada on Immortality: Srila Prabhupada spoke of immortality. He said people do not know how to become immortal, and this is the greatest blindness in Western civilization. They think they can attain lasting goals within the temporary material world, but that is impossible. Prabhupada said it was the mission of Lord Caitanya and Lord Krishna to teach immortality. If we can know why Krishna comes into the world, as taught by Lord Caitanya, we will become immortal (janmakarma ca me divyam). Immortality is inconceivable to us. It is not a topic that we have already mastered. It is the basis of everything. Although we may grasp it academically, what do we know of eternality? Who is thoroughly convinced that he is spirit soul? How nourishing it was, therefore, to hear this from Srila Prabhupada.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

Bhakti Vidyapurna Swami S.B.6.17.16-17 – Nov 29th 2015

A short documentary about the significance of taking Sannyas Vow in Vaishnava Tradition explained by the prominent spiritual leaders of ISKCON. The documentary focuses on the inner journey of HH Krishna Kshetra Swami when he decides to take Sannyasa Initiation which will be his final vow. The movie is dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada the Founder-acarya of ISKCON. Copyrights reserved. 2015

Prabhupada on Immortality

The point Prabhupada made in the purport to 4.2.31 is that Varṇāśrama is natural. It happens automatically whether you recognize it or not. The system is already in place, we “implement” it by being sensitive to it.

For example, the Bhagavatam describes that the four ashramas are followed in different ways by the four varnas. Each varna takes brahmacarya in a different context and to a different extent, for example. We should “impliment Varnāśrama dharma” by realizing this! Not by expected everyone to do everything the same way.

An intellectual philosopher can be encouraged to certain lifestyles, but it is disastrous to encourage a manual laborer in the same way.

Varṇāśrama is not about imposing rules and structures on society, it’s about understanding what naturally exists in society and learning how to relate to it accordingly. Essentially, its about not treating everyone as if they were the same as everyone else, learning to be sensitive to individuality.

A person with brahminical leaning doesn’t really need to be told “you have brahminical leaning” unless their leaning isn’t all that strong in the first place. A person with brahminical leaning will already involve themselves in education, writing, science, and religion. So “implementing varṇāśrama” is not really about imposing a division of labor. It’s about recognizing the divisions of labor that arise naturally, and treating individuals accordingly.

Varṇāśrama already has potency to purify human consciousness. We don’t have to “pin a tail on a donkey” by tacking on a “Supreme Personality of Godhead” footnote for each varṇa – the Supreme Personality of Godhead is already in there, naturally. Pṛthu explains in Canto 4 chapter 21 that selfless, responsible duty to family and society is ITSELF purifying and spiritual and leads directly to serving Viṣṇu.

Brahmins, for example, serve Viṣṇu by by doing their service to family and society – teaching, studying, performing rituals, etc. It’s NATURALLY service to Viṣṇu to perform your social duties responsibly. Bhakti-yoga is even better, far better than Varṇāśrama, but remember we are talking about a social system for the masses, not just for people who want to be Krishna-bhaktas. So Varṇāśrama doesn’t have to be artificially forced to mimic Karma-miśra bhakti. The whole point of Varṇāśrama is to help the people who are not yet past the threshold for bhakti-yoga.

Vraja Kishor das
www.vrajakishor.com

Tagged: Varnashrama, Varnasrama

Question: Is this true, the diksa guru should be your most inspiring, enlightening siksa guru?

I wouldn’t say “should be.” I would say “could be.”

Saying “should be” hangs on to a conception that still belittles the true importance of Śikṣa guru. It’s saying something like, “The best śikṣā guru is promoted to a higher level, a real guru, a dīkṣā guru.”

I don’t see it like that. The śikṣā gurus are the “real” gurus, just like the dīkṣā-guru.

Question: But the idea is that one should ideally not accept diksa from a guru unless that guru’s siksha is prominent in their life, isn’t it?

Not necessarily.

The dīkṣā guru doesn’t have to give significant śikṣā. The dīkṣā guru simply has to accept a disciple into a family of spiritual practitioners and authorize the disciple to represent that family (by wearing its marks, for example, and bearing it’s last-names) and engage in its practices (particularly, it’s mantras).

So, what is important in a dīkṣā guru is (a) that they truly represent the values of the spiritual family, and (b) are accepted universally by that family as being authorized to accept new members.

Vraja Kishor das

www.vrajakishor.com

Tagged: diksha guru, Guru, shiksha guru, siksa guru

In a conversation in Toronto in June 1976, a guest asked Srila Prabhupada about his translation, and Prabhupada replied, “It can be finished, but I have to look after this management. That is the difficulty.”

“I write in the night,” he explained. “I go to bed at half past ten, and I get up at half past twelve. Then I finish my chanting, if there is any balance, and then I begin dictating. And in the morning they take it and type it. So this Dictaphone is always with me, wherever I go, so my writing books is not stopped. Maybe [only a] few pages, but something is there daily. Little drops of water wear the stone. So in that way we have translated so many books. About fifty-four books are already published, besides the small booklets. Bhagavatam—about twenty-two volumes.”

Reading Srila Prabhupada’s words recently, I was struck by how hard Srila Prabhupada endeavored to give us his books, and I felt that we should reciprocate by studying them, distributing them, and discussing them, and also by writing—following his instructions and example, following in his footsteps.

—Giriraj Swami

About HG Uttam Anand Prabhu : 
His Grace Uttam Anand prabhu is a disciple of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami. Prabhu is in-house brahmachari at Toronto temple and  always eager to preach any part of the GTA.  Apart from his  services to Toronto Temple, he spends his time conducting educational and training courses.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 16 April 2014, Durban, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.34)

One should not display anger in front of the deities; one should not cry in front of the deities or bring his mundane sorrow. When one cries tears of ecstasy – that is another matter. Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to cry litres of tears in front of Lord Jagannatha but we should not bring our mundane sorrows to Krsna; we should not do that; it is not our business to do that. That is according to pāñcarātrikī – rules which purify our behaviour. It means that one has to learn to act according to dharma. This is a very big step; a big commitment. It is about commitment and it is about desire. It can be done, when we desire. It can be done when we say, “Let me just desire to change.” It is due to ignorance that we do not desire. It is due to ignorance that we still chase after foolish desires; that we still chase after material enjoyment and sense gratification. That is due to ignorance. Therefore we need to cultivate transcendental knowledge and thoroughly read. Everyone should read! Sometimes, someone comes to me and says, “Ah, I never used to read.”  It doesn’t matter, now read.

Remember, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu glorifying that brahmana who was illiterate and who could not read but he received the order of his spiritual master and he would sit there everyday, faithfully reading the book, although he couldn’t read a letter! People would laugh but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw that he was crying and he asked him, “Why you are crying?” He said, “I am crying because when I see this drawing, this painting of Krsna, being the chariot driver or Arjuna, his devotee, the Supreme Lord becoming the chariot driver of his devotee. The Lord as the servant of his devotee, that makes me cry!” Lord Caitanya said, “You are the greatest expert of the Gita.”  

Along with catering for the Veggie Club at the university, there are programs every Friday and Wednesday evening at the Bhakti Tree in Newcastle.

Friday is especially popular, with people from the local area attending kirtan, talk and prasadam.