Planet ISKCON

By Parvati devi dasi

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Once again, I wish to extend my thanks to so many of you who were inspired to come forward this year to help build up the Samadhi Maintenance Fund Fixed Deposit as well as the working account. We are halfway to the $200,000 goal. It is certainly Krishna’s blessing to have so much international participation in this wonderful service in Vrndavana Dhama. How can we ever pay our debt to Srila Prabhupada?

**So far:

1- We were finally able to install the “Changing Bodies” Diorama upstairs in the Museum complete with timed lights in the heart regions of the figures. Videos we took may be available with ITV Vrndavan, which will be up-graded soon. We were the first super event on the list of celebrations for Vrndavan Temple’s 40th Anniversary Festival. At the Diorama inauguration, on Vasant Panchami, Janardana Swami spoke very enthusiastically and laughed, “Now we have a Museum!” Bhima das spoke of the brilliant preaching to be done by these displays, citing the example of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur’s Theosophical Diorama Display in Calcutta. Dioramas are so impactive; you don’t even have to know how to read the explicit descriptions to grasp the philosophy. Narahari das revealed that as soon as he saw a similar diorama in Juhu, he immediately headed for the book table for as many books as he could carry and became a full time devotee. Bhaktisiddhanta das, the original inventor of this diorama, noted that Srila Prabhupada wanted Diorama Museums in every temple because of the preaching potential. He is presently helping to organize the dioramas for the Mayapur planetarium. 4 are exactly the same dioramas previously approved (out of a total of 6) by the VEB for our Museum downstairs, before
(I’m sad to say) it was decided to continue with the mall. The diorama figures were donated by Jitarati das and the basic photo digitals were provided by Bangalore and modified to expand the message. Then we added a few perfect verses in steel signage on the platform. The very real looking artificial grass they all stand on was probably from Malaysia. Anyone who wants a copy of the digitals to make their own presentation for their temple is welcome to contact me. Really, every temple should have one of these.

2. WE REARRANGED PART OF THE TIMELINE displaced by the diorama up there. Later, we’ll catalogue what the maha photos are if anyone wants to give a token donation for them. We put Hindi translations of the framed English descriptions of the timeline photo display, steel plate nameplates for the Deities’ case, and also steel plate descriptions of the parampara on the pillars in front of them. Very handsome. We also replaced the kitchri of pictures ahead of you as you enter, with a huge 7′ x 7′ colorful picture of the ecstatic sankirtan party of the Panca Tattva, above the Six Goswamis and framed flex descriptions of the Yuga Dharma, Panca Tattva and the Sad Goswamis. The sun shines brilliantly onto this display most of the afternoon. Very effulgent.

3. We fixed a bunch of damaged carved marble and construction errors and replaced the curtains with beautiful maroon velvet.

4. A NEW SLIDING DOOR mechanism was installed for the Samadhi altar. Works a lot easier than the other one.

5. Vrndavan das (president of the Surat Temple) did a beautiful service by gold-plating various frames on the doors of the altar and baseboard under the inside all around the altar under the doors on the inside too.

6. Gardens: We had a wonderful monsoon and growing-season this year. So we were able to plant a lot of Night Queen (very fragrant at night and early morning) and Mehendi, which also has very fragrant flowers. They are growing prolifically, aren’t attractive to the monkeys, and will cover the boundary area on the roadside. Soon as they become available we will plant some more seasonal flowers that should last through Kartik and add a little color. We got a donation of 500 Freesia bulbs, which should bloom by Gaura Purnima.

7. Original entrance pillars to the Samadhi front gate on the boundary were re-clad with the carved marble we salvaged when the municipality had us move the boundary back. It’s simply beautiful.

8. The ladies kirtan group seems to be growing more and more popular. Visitors love sitting and chanting with them for Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure. Now they have started an afternoon session.

9. The Museum was meant for preaching. Although there were so many obstacles, we have steadily broadened our Free Temple Tour Program. It has diversified in amazing directions.

There are many arms on this body of campus preaching. We have an expanding Japa programme upstairs in the Samadhi, headed by MADHUSHRESTHA DAS, daily engaging hundreds of visitors in chanting a round of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, the mantra of deliverance for the Age of Kali. You may remember BHAKTISIDDHANTA prabhu’s classic diorama reliefs upstairs in the Samadhi, which exhibit the pastimes of Srila Prabhupada with reference to the Samsara Prayers. Now there is a new exhibit of 39 Parampara Acaryas in the arches above Prabhupada’s altar, with appropriate descriptions of our Brahma Madhava Gaudiya Sampradaya on the upstairs parikrama walls. So there is a lot preaching the first floor and book distribution going on. There is limited space, but freedom of movement.

The results speak for themselves-ever-increasing. They need more volunteers to cover the time after 7 pm. So many people; so few preachers to meet them. Some individual devotees make their own hours and take groups on tours of the Samadhi, the diorama, Prabhupada’s House and the temple, or just pick a spot and preach to people coming in, like DEVANANDA PANDIT DAS, who continually takes out tours around Vrndavan/Braj, and Char Dham, among other places. That man has a variety of other preaching projects including Vedic special cooking classes using clay pots and cow dung as fuel. One of our Free Temple Tours ladies, VRNDAVANI DASI, meets people in the evenings coming for Samadhi darshan and gets them all to chant Hare Krishna-and they are so happy someone took the trouble to welcome them personally, beaming with smiles. Free brochures in Hindi and English are handed out to all.

Recently, a man from Punjab requested the Bhishma Dept. for the honor of sponsoring the printing of 25,000 of those. They finished, and we reprinted 30,000 more. CAITANYA CHAKRAVARTI DAS from the pujari department also organizes wonderful home programs in his spare time PERSONAL CONTACT PREACHING is very effective and very rewarding spiritually. It is the essence. It is a nice first impression for the pilgrims, as Peter Burwash would say-more interactive than standing behind shop table waiting for people to take out their wallets. Since the inauguration of the Changing Bodies Diorama upstairs in the Museum side, the NAMA HATTA preachers have organized 4-6 devotees to draw visitors upstairs, preach to them with the fabulous preaching tools of a diorama and the Movement’s time-line, sell more books and get them down to their office to become active participants in our process with lectures. It’s very exciting preaching. This is organized by RADHA SHYAMSUNDAR DAS (longtime prolific preacher) AND GOURANGA DAS (one of our stars from the humble beginnings of the Free Temple Tours). We hope the rest of the brahmacari ashram and community members catch this infection.

If everyone in the brahmacari ashram volunteered at least one hour of their time daily to this rewarding type of preaching, the ecstasy is unimaginable. When YOU visit Vrndavana, jump into this ocean of mercy yourself! The traveling kirtan program, headed by SARANGA DAS is invited to places all over the country, travels and distributes Hare Nama and so many books. They need to have a little more communication with the temple management, though, to refine the process and let us all share the enthusiasm of their preaching. The Rural Development Team has diversified into village self-sufficiency preaching, bus book distribution, medical and nutritional programs, khadi type products and more. INDRANEELAMANI DAS heads up this admirable program, in his spare time, in addition to his other services growing the Temples flowers and running the Bakery/Sweet shops which support a substantial portion of our Temple’s Finances, despite the inadequate facility it has. Who can estimate what he could do with the proper facility?

**Next few months we would be happy to accept inspired donations to cover the costs of the following projects: 1- Cover the costs of the Diorama ($6,000) . 2- The upstairs Museum photos of the Panchatattva and other signage ($200) 3- New fans ($300). 4- $3000 for the paramapara Deities glass house and signage 5- First floor Samadhi arch framed parampara acarya photos and description signage ($1000) 6- Garden development ($500)

**We always need (prices keep increasing): o $2,000 per month for cleaning, painting, general maintenance, gardening, etc. o $1,000 per year for continual stone polishing of the marble exterior and interior o $1,500 per year for up-grading exhibits o $1,500 per year for up-grading Prabhupada’s altar o $2,000 per year repairing damages caused by traffic, weather, pollution, age, etc.

**ANNUAL INCOME** from Sept.2014-Sept. 2015 1. The Vrndavana Samadhi Maintenance Fund now has about Rs.92,00,000 on Fixed Deposit, which gives 9% interest. These donations perpetually serve Srila Prabhupada with the interest. We now have the annual minimum costs, which don’t cover most special projects or repair costs. 2. Many devotees donated for special projects anonymously this year. We had one anonymous donor who donated Rs.90,000, and another over a lakh. 3. Hundi donations were Rs.5,200,029, double of last year. 4. Our larger donations mainly came from our Jagat Priya and Mandapa prabhus (ACBSP) from Australia, Vishnu Murti das’s wife Rohini devi dasi (donated in honor of her husband, former chairman of Mombasa Temple), Srivallabha das and the Dubai community; Prassannatma das, Tyaga Caitanya das from Malayasia, HH Kesava Bharati Swami HH Subhag Swami, and HH Dhanudhara Swami. Many others gave various amounts for which we thank you all for your generosity and commitment to our Founder-acarya’s working account and Fixed Deposits as well as specified projects. 5. Total donations: General Donation Rs. 6 lakhs Hundi Collection Rs. 5.3 laks Interest on FD Rs. 8 laks

**INCOME NEEDED** **WHAT YOU CAN DO**

We aim to build up a Fixed Deposit of $200,000 to use the interest for expenses in addition to the donations for new projects. This will cover inevitable costs and give an increased cushion for future surprises in the aging structure. Srila Prabhupada’s Vrndavana Samadhi Maintenance Fund needs you now! All participation is welcome. No donation is too large or too small. Please choose a convenient method for your personal service to Prabhupada’s Samadhi Mandir: 1. Annual commitments to the Fixed Deposit presently vary from $108, $501 to $1,001. 2. One-time donations as above. 3. Substantial donations to any of the above on-going projects for the working account. 4. We have a lot of leftover marble now situated in a pile near the Goshala entrance. If you know someone with a project, tell them to take a look. Or if you just want a piece for a souvenir, take something and give from the heart to the Samadhi Hundi, unless you want a receipt. 5. We also have pewter German Silver) medallions for a donation of Rs.1,000, varieties of Maha velvet curtains and bolsters and carved teak originally meant for the arch behind the Deity; retired photo blowups. They will be available at the different Deity Maha-tables during festivals, or just contact me. 6. We also have stone tiles, originally from the front of Srila Prabhupada’s house, and also some from the veranda and steps between Prabhupada’s room and kitchen at the Radha Damodar Temple. His Divine Grace would have walked on them thousands of times. For that, you have to meet me personally and name your price.

**HOW TO HELP** Whether you wish to give to the Vrndavana Samadhi Fixed Deposit, or to some specific project of the Samadhi, contact me please
(parvati.acbsp@pamho.net) here in Vrndavana. I will let you know the easiest and least complicated way to send your donation, and will be very happy to answer any other questions you may have. There is probably one of our reliable representatives near you who can carry your generous donations directly to Vrndavana. Recently, the temple changed some accounts to Axis Bank Ltd. So some of the old information listed on previous Newsletters and all our 5,000 brochures is now updated as follows: o Samadhi rupee donations for sending money locally or abroad: o To ISKCON Vrndavana, SBI ac#10684301765, IFC code: DSBIN0016533 o Foreign donations to AXIS Bank A/c #910000100-145-5239 Swft code: AXISINBB086 I FSC code: UTIB0000794

o On-line donation iskconvrindavan..com click option of online donation

o US Tax exemption: www.vedic-cf.org

Try not to send foreign checks. They take forever to process. However you do it, communicate it to me so I know to look for it in case of technical delays. Easiest is to wire to our bank, send cash directly, or even an international money order with some reliable person. To insure appropriate handling, address your envelope to Samadhi Maintenance Fund, attention Parvati devi dasi WITH A COVERING LETTER. You can also e-mail me. Please state your name, address and the purpose of the donation, so proper documentation can be made and receipts can be sent along with special gifts. Kindly specify that your donation is for the Samadhi, either a special Samadhi project, for the Samadhi Fixed Deposit or in general for the Samadhi working expenses. I thank all of you for helping me to serve the Samadhi better and beg to remain

Your servant, Parvati devi dasi, Samadhi Office.

A Program was organized at Smt.Santosh Ahlawat’s (MP) Home which was attended by two more Member of Parliament Mrs Riti Pathak and Smt Anju bala and many others. The program which consisted of Kirtan, 30 minute talk followed by Ques Ans for another 30 min was very well received by the participants.

The VIPs there received Srila Prabhupada books, Prasad and asked various questions on the philosophy. There were enthusiastic to host similar programs in future as well.

It gave us good opportunity to interact with some leaders and share some elements of Krsna Consciousness with them.

Hare Krishna.

In Your Service

Keshav Murari Das

President, ISKCON Rohini

 Positive Thinking 1 – Countering external and internal negativity

Positive Thinking 2 – Understanding the four kinds of thoughts

Positive Thinking – 3 Science and positive thinking

Positive Thinking 4 – Thoughts lead to things – and are things

Positive Thinking 5 – Think positive – think spiritual

Positive Thinking 6 – Don’t just see reality positively – see the positive reality

10. Positive Thinking 7 Get the IDEA Identity, Divinity, Eternity, Activity

Positive Thinking 8 – I of IDEA – Understanding our identity boosts our positivity

Positive Thinking 9 – D of IDEA – Divinity underlies the universes order

Positive Thinking 10 – E of IDEA – Eternal love provides inexhaustible positivity

Positive Thinking 11 – A of Activity – Spiritual vision inspires positive action

Positive Thinking 12 – IDEA at work 1 – Facing untimely death positively

Positive Thinking 13 – IDEA at work 2 – Facing reversal after reversal positively

Positive Thinking 14 – Understanding willpower 1 – Beyond genes, upbringing and association

Positive Thinking 15 – Understanding willpower 2 – Potential and actual

Positive Thinking 16 – Understanding willpower 3 – Sharpen and strengthen the intelligence

The post List of all talks in Positive Thinking Series appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The post Daily Darshan : December 12th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

December 12. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Prabhupada is the perfect theist. He doesn’t belong to the twentieth century or the twenty-first century; he is a timeless devotee-sage. The atheists are timeless too. They have been with us in one form or another since the beginning of time. They are prominent in Kali-yuga, blaspheming religion and preaching gutlessness. What passes for religion in this age is a sorry spectacle. Prabhupada is the educated theist of Vedic culture, the modern parivrajakacarya-paramahamsa who speaks like a layman in language which is inescapably blunt and clear. And he calls them rascals for not accepting the obvious hints, conclusions and analogies, and the direct statements of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the scripture.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

The Perfect Theist

My dear devotees,

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

In a letter to me dated December 1971, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “Go on increasing books, and go on increasing my pleasure.” December is a special opportunity to focus on Srila Prabhupada’s desire that we distribute books—and thus increase his pleasure. As he wrote in the same letter, “I am most pleased especially to hear that you are distributing many books.”

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yaso ’nkitani yat
srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah

“That literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung, and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.11)

Now let us cooperate fully to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire, which is the desire of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the parampara, and distribute such transcendental literature for the benefit of all—and be blessed by their sublime mercy.

Thank you very much.

Your grateful servant,

Giriraj Swami

Written by Nandan

Russian Srimad Bhagavatam Class

On Saturday, 21 November, Kadamba Kanana Swami gave the Srimad Bhagavatam class to a mainly Russian audience who were very attentive and very enthusiastic. The class was about the pastime of Maharaj Chitraketu and the nature of happiness & suffering in the material world – the samsara chakra, the wheel of birth and death & endlessly wandering life after life in the material world.

Maharaj started off by saying that it may seem that work can change destiny. Then he pointed out that he is from the Netherlands where it rains 300 days per year and it is cold rain. So the normal colour of the Dutch is white face with a red nose. The Russian devotees found this remark hilarious.

Maharaj then reminisced about how he walked past a big poster of palm trees and sunshine. It took over his mind and he bought the ticket. Not much later he came to ‘sunshine loka’, also known as Kenya in Central Africa. He went to the beach and there were coconuts everywhere. Maharaj’s sentiments were now, “Did it! I defeated destiny! I shook off karma!”

So to celebrate his victory, he sat under a palm tree and plop – a scorpion! He was inspired to tell his friends back home about his adventure. Then plop – another scorpion! The tree was full of scorpions. So he went for a swim, then a man said that he could not swim. So Maharaj got haughty, of course he could swim; he is from Holland!! Then the man said that when the tides come in, so do the sharks. He couldn’t swim!! More hearty Russian laughter.

So he couldn’t swim and couldn’t sit under a tree. He had to sit in the direct heat with just a towel to use as shade. Then Maharaj realised, “If you’re destined to suffer, you will!”

Considering that a lot of the Russian devotees in the class had moved to Mayapur with their families in search of a better life, Maharaj made the pertinent point that moving to Mayapur does not mean karma goes away. The good karma and bad karma are still there alongside the transcendental blessings. It is our identification with karma which is the problem. But it only applies to the body, not the soul. We must sail on the boat of knowledge and not get affected by the heavy waves of material nature.

Suffice to say, the Russian devotees loved the class and had plenty of questions to ask afterwards so the class even went overtime despite the beckoning of breakfast prasadam. The Russian interpreter was also interesting for whenever Maharaj would convey some expression or change his voice for some effect, the interpreter would do the same!

Later on that day…

Mayapur Grhasta Community Program

It was 2.30 pm and we were in the leafy grhasta community park in a beautiful residential square with well-tended lawns. It was a family friendly environment, with pretty apartment buildings, deities of Gaura Nitai, children and young ladies dancing about gaily in circles, and devotees of so many different nationalities as well as a multitude of scholars including the distinguished sastric teacher Atul Krsna Prabhu who had come to witness Maharaja’s program. Beautiful green leaf arches and marigold garlands were decorating the surrounding railings and Maharaj was leading a high-spirited belter of a kirtan to start off the program.

There were around 100 devotees in total and the climate was humid but pleasant. If one strained their ears, they could even hear the cooing off birds like doves and partridges in the branches. In the middle of his rollicking kirtan, Maharaj suddenly decided to change the tempo, going mellow but punctuating it with some robust vibratos. It continued in this style for a while before Maharaj gradually started increasing the pace again until it became a musical whirlwind again. The kirtan was also being accompanied by some inspired mrdanga playing by a strapping young gurukuli lad. As this ‘bobby dazzler’ of a kirtan was rising to a crescendo many of the Prabhus and Matajis were getting up and dancing with such gay abandon that it seemed as if they were back in time 500 years and in the middle of a kirtan from the Caitanya Caritamrta! With effortless grace Maharaj then wound down the kirtan until it ever so softly faded away into the ether…

Maharaj then spoke on the binding effect of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Lord’s influence on Swarup Damodar which empowered his spell binding singing of the holy names. Maharaj then celebrated Krsna’s exquisite facial features and how his eyes stretched from ear to ear and penetrated into everyone they gazed at. Simply through his face, his glowing face, one is mesmerized. The beauty of Krsna is just so stunning, it is overwhelming. Yet although priceless, the nectar of his face is available to everyone. But the point is, Krsna is waiting for us but we are not up to the mark yet – still not pure in devotion. Most people are just worshipping Krsna out of fear. This point was followed by a rib tickling take on the Nrsimha prayers which conveyed how we are simply singing to protect ourselves.

After looking for a verse on his e-book but seeing that it was taking so long, Maharaj started bemoaning the awkwardness of this modern contraption and how paper books are so much more convenient…

The day before, Maharaj had an important meeting in Kolkata and he commented in this program, how being on the road to Kolkata was such a different reality from Krsna’s moon like face. It was so intense but still somehow we must keep Krsna’s face as our meditation. On that note Maharaj started another beautiful kirtan. This time it was emotional and sombre. The devotees found it so heart rending that a lot of them closed their eyes in deep contemplation and swayed from side to side. And a good number of them looked like they were going to go into tears. It really bought out a lot from the devotees’ hearts.

On Sunday, 22 November, Maharaj once again led a rousing morning prayer and then rest of the day, packed to the rim with meetings. Monday, 23 November, was also a similar program but with an interesting addition. Starting from this day, every weekday morning Maharaj began his much anticipated series of classes on the Nectar of Devotion to the Bhakti Sastri students of Mayapur.

Maharaj had been teaching these classes for about 13 years now and they have become famous and much loved by devotees far and wide. Maharaj himself also seemed to thrive from giving these classes and acknowledged in the first days session that he would like to continue giving these classes for as long as possible and as far as his capacity will allow. The Nectar of Devotion has given him so much ‘juice’ over the years and what could be more relishing than sharing that taste with others. Suffice to say, with his classes, meetings and spending time with various devotees, Maharaj’s schedule was ‘choc-a-bloc’!

HH Kadamba Kanana Maharaj ki Jai!

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The post Here is one of the things we are trying to do for Srila Prabhupada this 50th year. Like to help? appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

In attached photo:
From left to right:
Canadian stage director Valerie Kuinka, her husband Richard Margison, the honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau & Bhakta Dustin Hiles.

by Jaya Govinda Dasa (GKG)
Bhakta Dustin, a Hare Krishna devotee, was given the honour of singing the National Anthem to open the first holiday caucus dinner of the recently elected Canadian liberal government.
Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau along with his wife Mrs. Grégoire-Trudeau, affectionately known as “Sofie”, hosted the gala event of almost three thousand elite guests.
After singing the Canadian National Anthem opposite the legendary Richard Margison, one of the most critically acclaimed singers on the international stage today, Bhakta Dustin and Richard were ushered to the prime minister’s table by several staffers at the specific request of the honorable prime minister.
Although Bhakta Dustin didn’t get a lot of time to speak with the Prime Minister, he did get to speak at length with the prime minister’s wife Sofie, “who is truly an amazing women and truth seeker” says Bhakta Dustin.
“She said that the difference between Justin Trudeau and Harper, is that Justin leads with devotion, “Bhakti”. I was so inspired. After our long conversation we both, with folded hands, paid our obeisance’s to each other and she said “Hare Krishna!”

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE: We have been eating healthy organic food for 4 or 5 years as part of my wife’s Ayurvedic wellness program due to her long struggle with weak health. Unfortunately, because of my rare encounter with serious health problems and a strong “kapha” constitution, I have been more cavalier about taking care of myself. Her weak constitution and immune system has forced her to be much more conscious of the importance of diet, sleep, exercise, balance, and peace of mind. So now I am also being forced to do all the things I should have been doing as maintenance for health, and more so with a special diet and treatment for cancer.

It takes money and time to eat right and exercise, and even if we do, we may still attract some catastrophic illness. I remember reading an account several years ago about a health enthusiast and advocate for a strong wellness program who was shocked when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was saying, “How can this be happening to me, since I am doing all the best things for my health, and have been for twenty years?” The better thought is, “Why not me?”

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By Madhava Smullen

A group of preschool children, along with their devotee parents and grandparents, bustled excitedly into Gopal’s Garden Homeschool Co-Op for their graduation party on November 5th.
The event had ISKCON New Vrindaban president Jaya Krsna Das calling the Co-Op “community building at its best.”

Gopal’s Garden was established in New Vrindaban, West Virginia – Srila Prabhupada’s first farm community — in 2007 by Ruci Dasi. It runs to eighth grade, and teaches thirteen students in total.
Its preschool, which cares for eight children aged three to five, was an individual effort launched this April by New Vrindaban residents and parents Sundari Dasi and Mercy.

“We decided to do it as soon as my son Sanjaya and Sundari’s daughter Bhumi were the right age, so that they could be together, and play and learn with other children in the community,” says Mercy, who was born and raised in New Vrindaban and wants to pursue a career in teaching.

Mercy assists head teacher Sundari, who moved to New Vrindaban from Bangalore in 2011 and holds a Montessori teacher training certificate. Under their care from 12:30 to 3:30 each day this year, the children learned basic ABCs, counting, colors, arts and crafts, how to share, hand-eye coordination and speech development along with spiritual projects that put Krishna in the center.

The teachers’ children Bhumi and Sanjaya both attended the recent graduation party at Gopal’s Garden to celebrate their first year of school, along with Malini, Pranaya Keli, Rama Lochana, Nadia, and Harilila. Arjuna, who was absent because he was traveling with his parents, also completed the year.

The event ran from 6 to 8:30pm, beginning with everyone offering ghee lamps together to Lord Damodara, along with the classroom deities of Radha Krishna and Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra.

A video presentation entitled “Glimpses of Gopal’s Garden Preschool” followed, showing the young students’ heartwarming participation in Krishna conscious festivals throughout the year.

“For our first festival of the year, Pushpa Abhisekha, we had a picking party with the kids where we picked a bunch of local flowers here in New Vrindaban, then they pulled off the petals and showered the deities with them,” says Mercy. “It was so sweet.”

Next, the children participated in ISKCON New Vrindaban’s Rathayatra by helping to make outfits for their classroom Jagannath Deities, decorating a small cart that community members came together to build, and pulling it while having an ecstatic kirtan. All the parents then made a special offering of cupcakes and cookies to Lord Jagannath, and distributed them to the children.

On Janmastami, the students got to bathe their Radha Krishna Deities in saffron water, and take turns pushing them on a special Jhulan Yatra swing that had been constructed for the occasion.

And on October 25th, a week before Halloween, the teachers and parents got creative and held a Krishna-ized Halloween party with all the children dressed as demons from Srila Prabhupada’s book Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead. The parents then ascended a stage with their child and narrated the pastime of how Lord Krishna dispatched that particular demon.

Meanwhile in honor of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival to the West, the children got to decorate a construction paper “Jaladuta” ship and glue blue cotton balls around it to represent the ocean.

After the video depicting all these activities, the children stood and sang classic gurukula songs like “My Name is Aghasura,” “Krishna’s Devotees Had A Farm,”and Mercy’s own composition to the tune of “Mary Had A Little Lamb” – “Krishna Has A Little Calf.” They also demonstrated their “ABCs.”

Sundari and Mercy then presented proposed plans for improving the preschool in 2016.

“As next year will be more focused on academics and learning, we will introduce a worksheet program, teaching the kids how to trace and write letters so that they can start learning how to write their own names,” says Sundari. “We’ll also start teaching them the Spanish and Sanskrit for English words they’re learning.”

Health will also be a priority. There will be more outdoor games, and yoga taught by Sundari – who has a diploma from Bangalore’s VYASA yoga university – so that the children can burn off their energy and learn motor skills. Lunch time, instead of consisting of store-bought snacks as it did this year, will feature a full meal such as rice, dahl and bread cooked by a different parent each day.

Inside the classroom, individual cubbies will be installed for each child to learn to put away their jackets, shoes and personal items.

And as always, Krishna consciousness will be a priority: a proper altar will replace the current dovetailed bookshelf. “We also want to have a couple of Laddhu Gopal Deities, so that the children can learn to dress Them and offer their food to Them,” Sundari says.

To conclude the graduation program, the children were presented with certificates. Finally, principal Ruci Dasi and president Jaya Krsna Das spoke, thanking Sundari and Mercy for their dedication and enthusiasm and praising how the school has brought the community together.

“It’s wonderful to see the kids hugging each other when they come in, and to see all the parents becoming friends,” said Jaya Krsna. “Many of them would not even know each other if the pre-school didn’t exist, as they live several miles apart from each other.”

He was glad to see the preschool training the children so early in life in Krishna consciousness, in a way that would be a challenge for their parents to do with their busy schedules. He also appreciated that the preschool gave parents, especially mothers, some much needed free time in which to rest, chant, or engage in other activities, while feeling assured that their children are being nicely taken care of.
Weeks after the graduation event, Jaya Krsna is still bubbling over with enthusiasm and appreciation for the preschool.
“For me, it’s just Krishna’s magic,” he says. “These kids are our future; and so the preschool is doing nothing less than building the future of New Vrindaban.”

Iskcon temple attacked in Bangladesh, 2 injured.
Unidentified gunmen on Thursday night hurled a crude bomb inside International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) temple in Kaharol’s Bahuchi village and opened fire at its entrance, reports said.
But locals caught one of the attackers - Safayet Hossain - in possession of a crude bomb. And later the police arrested Safayet.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/T7iu0K

Preaching program at King’s College London Dental Institute, London.
King’s College London Dental Institute, often found at the top of the national leaderboards for Dentistry, regularly invites speakers to inspire their students. On November 30th, 2015 they hosted Radhanath Swami alongside Ash Parmar, a world-famous cosmetic dentist (who has appeared on shows such as This Morning and Extreme Makeover), to give a seminar on the art of decision-making.
Due to his experiences, elaborated on in his autobiography, The Journey Home, Radhanath Swami was requested to speak about ethics, morality and compassion in relation to medically treating people. From the outset, Professor Woolford was impressed: “It was fascinating to hear the silence when the Swami was talking. The fact that people were genuinely listening; I wish I had that much silence in my lectures when I give them on crown and bridge work!” he laughed. Radhanath Swami told the students “cleaning our teeth is natural, but we also have to clean our heart.” He added that “If we don’t examine the deeper principles in life, we will develop the plaque of bad habits.”
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/grrYk1

Bhakta Dustin, a Hare Krishna devotee, was given the honour of singing the National Anthem to open the first holiday caucus dinner of the recently elected Canadian liberal government. Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau along with his wife Mrs. Grégoire-Trudeau, affectionately known as “Sofie”, hosted the gala event of almost three thousand elite guests.

On December 10^th, unidentified gunmen hurled a crude bomb inside a Namahatta center in Dinajpur, Bangladesh, where thousands of congregational members and guests have gathered from all over Northern Bangladesh. “Luckily, it did not explode,” said ISKCON general secretary of Bangladesh Caru Candra Dasa, “however, the attackers opened fire at the entrance, injuring two people.”

Celibacy trains adolescents for self-restraint, whether they stay single or get married. It develops their inner strength, self-control, and good character. It also fosters good health and a fine memory. Without celibacy we can never realize that we are spirit soul, distinct from the body. Sex reinforces the illusion that we are these bodies. Sexual attraction and its extensions in family and society are the main knots that bind us to material identification. Vedic education aims to free the child from these knots so the adolescent can act on the spiritual plane. Children, of course, have no knowledge of sex. How do we train them to value celibacy before they reach puberty? By association and environment. Modern educators know well how children's early impressions influence their later moral behavior. And these educators are passing on their decadent moral values to our children. For example, the New York City public school board recently introduced textbooks in the first grade that show families with two "mommies" or two "daddies," to get children used to homosexuality. Continue reading "Teens And Celibacy
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New Ramana Reti, Iskcon Alachua: the real example of the United Nations!
Mukhya Devi Dasi: In 1974 Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to an Indian disciple who had complained to him that he felt American devotees were looking down on him. Srila Prabhupada said “Why be affected by bodily relationships? Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised us…that we have to become humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree. Then we can execute our service and chant Hare Krsna. If Indians are bad, then I am also bad, as I am an Indian. But they have accepted an Indian as their guru. So Indians are both good and bad according to the behavior…Don’t be afflicted by all these external features of our bodily relationship. Be steady in Krsna consciousness and do your duty, and you may be blessed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna and make your life successful. We are neither Indian nor Americans; our real identity is that we are servants of Krsna.”
New Raman Reti is perhaps the most homogeneous blend of different nationalities in one temple in our movement. It’s part of the vibrancy of this community. The skills and talents and experiences combining together in service to Krsna that we find here creates a spiritual energy unique to our temple. It’s a cause for celebration, and sometimes it’s a challenge. When two people whose first language is not English communicate with each other in English, nuance can be lost and sometimes there is a mistaken perception of what’s being said. We all need to be extra sensitive to each other here, take a bit more time to communicate carefully and calmly; try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a minute before assuming they are wrong. We take time to cleanse our hearts in the shower of the holy names every day; we want to be cautious about throwing dirt right back over us by hanging out in the bodily identities of nationality, gender, intellect, profession, etc. We can be the real example of the United Nations, all operating under the Bhakti flag, if we keep everyone’s desire to serve Krsna and guru front and center.

By Dayal Mora das

The time was coming around for the temple to send me to India again. Finally! I have the great fortune to serve as brahmachari leader at Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara Dham and I have been serving here for three and half years. I’m into Harinam and it’s a blessing that I can call this service one of my main services.

It was not difficult to choose a destination to request since I had recently seen Parasuram’s video from a Vraja Mandala Parikrama, or Padyatra, from 2010 which was super inspiring and I had been immediately attracted. (https://vimeo.com/10101860) What could be a better means of honouring the forests of Vraja than walking amongst them, chanting Harinam with an ox cart and two beautiful bulls from which tons of prasadam and books are distributed to the Brij Basi’s? We simultaneously visit the many ancient holy places dating back to the The Supreme Lord’s manifest pastimes on this planet as well as please the local inhabitants of this worshipable tract of land, a people undoubtedly very dear to Lord Krishna. And all of this during the month or Kartik!

In my previous life before coming to devotional service and ISKCON, I had oftentimes preferred travelling a little off the beaten track. In this way I found that one gets to see the reality of each place, meet the people who live there and there is an added element of excitement and adventure.
Thus this program seemed to be my cup of tea and surely a good program to invoke the blessings of Srila Prabhupada, the Vaisnavas and the residents of Vraja! I wrote to Para and got a place on the tour. By the Lords grace I was on my way to Vrindavan.

I hadn’t been too mental during the build up to the parikrama, I had decided to simply get out there and do the best I could, however from time to time I naturally did ponder briefly about how My body would hold up in the conditions, after all I had never been on padyatra before. My service was to perform sankirtana for 6 hours a day covering up to 25 km and it wasn’t clear where we would be taking rest in the evenings.

Kartik was as late as it gets this year with it beginning late October and finishing 25th November. With a nice crew of 6 souls we hit the road the day after we landed in India. I managed to pick up a walking harmonium and a mosquito net before setting out, both items I felt were absolutely essential for one month on the road in Vraja.

For those not familiar with the Vraja Mandala Parikrama, ‘parikrama’ means ‘to circumabulate’ and in doing so we honour and show respect to the object we are circumambulating. According to Lokanath Swami’s new book Vraja Mandala is 168 miles, not including internal parikramas. We would encircle the entire area of Vraja on foot.

Surprisingly even to myself the daily routine came very naturally and we happily traversed kilometre after kilometre constantly hearing the Holy Names vibrating in the ether around us. In fact it was The Holy Names which carried us through the quiet and busy roads, towns and villages and I was simply fortunate enough to be on the ride. Out of the 6 man crew, three of us usually were available for the service of chanting before the oxcart. As well as myself there was Vaikuntha Prabhu from Russia who had been on the tour several times before, as had Loka Saranga Prabhu from Czech. I soon realised that all the members had performed this yajna for several years in succession I and began to wonder if the same was going to happen to me. In addition we were joined a couple of weeks into the parikrama by one devotee from Nigeria, another brahmachari called Tribuvanath. Arjuna and his good wife Krishna Mayi would hand out books and bananas on the move whilst Para drove the ox-cart.

Me and Loka would take turns beating the mridanga, Vaikuntha would bash the cartels and we would alternate the singing. Vaisnavas are very tolerant and the team were kind enough to allow me to sing my little heart out for hours on end playing my new squeeze box with great enthusiasm! I felt that as the month drew on our relationships became very sweet through this chanting and every day we were overcoming obstacles and sharing experiences. Performing service together and serving one another is the way to build friendships in Krishna Consciousness.

It would take too long to describe all the sacred places we visited, needless to say they were all beautiful, enriching and purifying to see, smell and touch and pay obeisances to. As a city based front liner I found great joy in being out in the countryside for a change away from the bustling areas of Mathura and Vrindavan. What bliss we experienced chanting all day from dawn, which was when we would usually set off, until dusk when we pull in to our final stop for the evening. Our daily bath in the Holy Name was glorious.

We would usually be with or very close to the official Parikrama party, which this year consisted of 1500 devotees from all over India and the world. We were part of the main Parikrama party but at the same time a little separate which is understandable since we have a slightly different program. For example each evening we would drive the Harinam and oxcart into a village which the team may or may not have visited before in previous years.

Someway before the village came into view the banana throwing pastimes would begin in earnest as Para and Arjuna launched an untold number of yellow torpedoes into the sea of village children scrambling and diving, fighting and seemingly having the time of their lives in a frenzy of banana catching mayhem. Somehow the children would usually have advanced warning that we were coming and run out of the village to meet us on the road literally sprinting like anything to be amongst the first to get those bananas and books.

The same scene would be repeated in every village and we never tired from seeing the explosion of enthusiasm that these blessed children displayed at the prospect of receiving Thakurji’s mercy in the form of these bananas. It was incredible to see day after day how just like an army of untiring monkeys these children competed with great tenacity, and at the risk of life and limb (seemingly) they each pocketed one, two, three or more bananas. The bigger boys were the best catchers and the parents and village elders would look on in delight as their children revelled in the fun of the oxcart pastimes. The children look forward to the carts arrival every year.

We would then reach a suitable place in the village and whilst the kirtan continued Para and Arjuna would set up for the next instalment of the program, a movie! Thanks to the solar panels on the roof of the oxcart, batteries, a retractable screen, a projector and an amplifier, the oxcart is swiftly transformed into a mini cinema. All the village kids gather around, eyes transfixed upon the huge screen, the smaller ones at the front and the cooler, older ones with flashy shirts purchased in town would hang out at the back. The elders of the village often in the more traditional dress would be amongst the crowd. It seemed as if the whole village was there!

After 2 or 3 episodes of ‘Little Krishna’, the punching preaching movie would be shown. This year the movie shows scenes of the western world with all its glitz and glamour which seems so attractive, but as the film progresses it reveals the darker sides to western civilisation with is multitude of wars, violence, slaughter houses, drugs and discontent. Life is short and death is closing in for us all. Remain a Brij Basi and enjoy the best culture, your own culture, the culture which reminds us so much of the pastimes of Sri Krishna Himself. The very fact that this truth is being explained by a bunch of white skinned westerners adds weight to the message.

Once the movie concludes we pack up and prepare for rest as by this time it’s dark. If we are not invited in for supper by the friendly villagers we relish the opportunity to practice the sadhu style means of getting ones sustenance. Madhukari! Para would take me along as he showed me how to beg from door to door like a honey bee, taking from each family only one or two rotis and a little milk and in this way not being too much of a burden on any individual family in the village. A few doors later and we had a veritable feast to offer to Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara. We would then sit together on the cart munching down roti after delicious warm roti, made with freshly ground grains and cooked often before our eyes. Washed down with ample warm cows milk, what could be better after a good days preaching in the most sacred place on earth? Lord Chaitanya Himself walked this land and Krishna appeared and grew up amongst these people. How can we be much better situated? Laying back satisfied and excited about the next day and snuggled up in my sleeping bag I’m thinking how I could live like this forever.

Some other highlights of the Parikrama were:
Bathing in the various sacred kund’s which are so wonderfully available to all in Vraja, a far cry from the UK and its chlorine filled swimming pools!
We were able to visit some places off of the general Parikrama route such as Surya Kund which is a pastime place which Radharani Herself still visits daily and also where Gaura Kishore das Babaji Maharaja performed many austerities.
Blue cows! Although apparently becoming rarer to see in Vraja we saw them so many times in ever greater numbers and more closely. In fact on one of the last days we were only a few meters from one of these wild native creatures which is I suppose something between a cow and a deer. He seemed to like the sound of our harinam!
Our Govadhana Parikrama was a little different. Instruments in hand we circumambulated Giri Raj at breakneck speed in a rickshaw with the Holy Names streaming from the rear of the vehicle. “Don’t let Lokanatha Swami see me” joked Para as we hurtled past his Parikrama party!
However for me the topmost highlight was developing friendships and experiencing the Dham in the association of and serving alongside such cool devotees. They would not want to be glorified, but for me that association made the pilgrimage so nectarean. Now I understand a little better why these devotees cannot stop themselves coming year in year out on this ecstatic program and what an opportunity it is to do so! Maybe next time I could improve my capacity for serving them and make some real advancement.

“You have only spoken about good things, nothing went wrong?”, you may cry. Well surprisingly, aside from the usual day to day difficulties, it is true… except for the mad bull episode! We had to swap one of the bulls early on due to a leg problem but somehow or another we were given a replacement bull which was basically a psychopath. My first view of this bull was seeing this huge fearful beast running full pelt towards us in the campsite for the Parikrama party. I found out later that by this time it had already tried to kill Para and escape a couple of times. I was most impressed by Para’s determination the next morning to harness the insubordinate brute to the oxcart despite being run over more than once. Needless to say this grumpy, grouchy and overly paranoid excuse for a bull was also discharged later and swapped with a much more humble bull of good character who was willing to pull Their Lordships and Their devotees along the dusty roads of Vraja and thus advance in Krishna Consciousness. It was explained to me later on that these kinds of things happen from time to time when dealing with bulls, and I was informed of some historic instances that had occurred over the years which were both hilarious and far more frightening.

My deepest realisation was in regards to my long lost and forgotten eternal relationship with the Lord’s Holy Name which was to some degree improved and gratefully taken back to London for the benefit of the unfortunate souls there. Sri Harinam Sankirtan key jaya! Though certainly I’m still but a tottering infant stumbling along the long winding pathway back to Goloka Vrindavan, a month on the road in Vraja has graciously gifted me a greater taste for chanting the Holy Name of Krishna. Thank you so much Braja Bhumi Dham! Now I must distribute The Name with greater intensity and without false pride, and then hopefully by Her grace Srimate Radharani may invite me back again for more service one day soon for Her divine pleasure.

Hari Bol!

For more details about this greatest of ways to spend ones Kartik, you are please recommended to read Lokanath Swami’s new book named ‘Vraja-mandala Darsana’

I have been asked a few times upon my return to London about the austerity there in Braj. In the purport to Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is 17.16, His Divine Grace writes that austerity of the mind is performed by training the mind to always be thinking of how to good for others. So my humble recommendation is to go to see the 12 forests of Braj with the intention of doing good for others and taste the sweetness of this austerity for yourself.

Hare Krishna

Your servant
Doyal Mora das Brahmachari

Harinam in Los Angeles, California (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If the surface of the globe is overflooded with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, the people of the world will be very, very happy. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.10 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/DGYxfm

The post Daily Darshan : December 11th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

December 11. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
We have often heard the phrase “love of Godhead.” How far this love of Godhead can actually be developed can be learned from the Vaisnava philosophy. Theoretical knowledge of love of God can be found in many places and in many scriptures, but what that love of Godhead actually is and how it is developed can be found in Vaisnava literature. It is the unique and highest development of love of God that is given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. – (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Introduction) By following Prabhupada, I have learned that love of God is not attained cheaply. One may claim, “I love God,” but it is not so easy. Prabhupada said that the beginning symptom is obedience to God’s laws. Even if we follow the laws, though, we may be attached to material desires. We have to qualify before we can experience love of God.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

HH Indradyumna Swami Class, Talavan Kartik Yatra 2015

On Obtaining Krishna-Prema 

Written by Nandan

Thankfully, Maharaj was able to get a well-earned break on Wednesday, 18 November, and he pretty much spent the whole day delving into the magic of the Caitanya Caritamrta, particularly the Madhya Lila and the sweetness of Krsna. Around 4 pm, disciples started streaming into his room to get some intimate association and katha.

Maharaj continued from the morning of his reading of the Madhya Lila and sharing the nectar with the devotees. It was a highly esoteric conversation. Maharaj was speaking on the concept of ‘sthayi bhava’ and the various mellows of devotional service that were being unfurled in that famous, formative conversation between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sanatana Goswami. Suffice to say, Maharaj was going very deep into the subject matter and it was wonderful to see Maharaj in his element, really relishing the subject matter as opposed to being preoccupied with managerial issues.

Maharaj outlined how there are two definitions of bhakti. One is the liberal, very broad definition and the other is the very high one. We stick with Srila Prabhupada’s liberal definition. Maharaj gave the example of us being like glasses with ink but when we add more and more water, eventually it becomes pure. The problem is we are not just adding water but also ink!! Laughter from the devotees.

Of course time is a big factor, when you age, you do think ‘I’m losing time, running out, life almost gone, what am I doing?’ Then we become submissive, you realise the truth of the situation. Maharaj gave the example of the American devotee who was doing harinama outside the room. This devotee had been religiously doing harinama every day. Maharaj explained how he knew this person from the 80’s and how he was a very different man then. But age makes one wake up like no one’s business.

One of the bhaktas then said that it would be nice if we could act so seriously when we were still young. Maharaj stated that there are some exceptional individuals who are serious from day one, case in point being HH Jayadvaita Maharaj who took sannyasa in his early 20’s and never looked back or like HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami who was fasting so much and sleeping so little that one of the devotees approached him about his severities, then the great Swami replied, ‘You don’t know what it is like in this big, passionate body.’

British disciple, Gurudas, then asked a question about the difference between direct service and indirect service. Maharaj explained that serving Krsna is also chanting. We do a lot of working with the material energy for Krsna, it may not seem as direct but it is no different. But then there will come a time when we will want more and more absorption so sannyasa ashram is there. He affirmed that as you become more senior, you will preach more and more. Even if you’re not a sannyasa, just keep preaching as a brahmachari.

BUT on the way to that stage, one will have to deal with the material energy for Krsna. Maharaj recalled his own experiences of buying marble from Rajasthan in the searing heat for the temple. There were these Nepali cooks who were singing horrible songs and they got a goat in front of his room and slaughtered it and cooked it on top of the room and offered it to him, not to mention the greedy marble contractors. So we have to deal with the heavy, external energy. So the external energy is heavy but it is seva for Krsna, so we do it.

After the enlightening discussion, Maharaj and all the disciples went for a nice evening stroll around the dhama and a tall South African devotee came along. Maharaj was talking with his South African disciple about the general management of the temple city project. To establish something in South Africa, you have to deal with the African element. Similarly in Bengal, you have to deal with the Bengali element. Therefore we need saintly people to build this place. Maharaj added that personally, he could not deal with the mechanics of the material energy for too long… it is not his constitutional position any more. He is more into hearing and chanting now.

Staying on the subject of management, Maharaj added that when you hire professionals, naturally their time is money so they want to move quickly and to a fixed schedule. Whereas with devotees, you have to juggle with so many needs and concerns. Of course, Srila Prabhupada also managed projects but made it clear it’s not for sanyasis. Only in emergency situations.

Eventually the devotees all decided to head back to Maharaj’s room. Gurudas Prabhu then asked if book distribution is a direct or indirect service. Maharaj replied that it is direct but if we are not glorifying Krsna, then it becomes heavy and external. Now there are good salesman and they may get some bliss, “I just sold 100 books!!!” But the principle is to glorify Krsna.

Maharaj then finished of the day with humorous anecdotes from his days doing books from cars.

HH Kadamba Kanana Maharaj ki Jai!

The world has now become an unsafe place for all. The thirsty bullets of the terrorists vying for blood of innocents have filled our life with fear. Today we can be killed anywhere – in restaurants, in parks, in planes, in offices and also in our homes.

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The post Positive Thinking 15 – Understanding willpower 2 – Potential and actual appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhakti Without Borders, a charity kirtan album featuring mostly second generation ISKCON singers, has been nominated for a Grammy – the biggest music recognition award in the United States. The album has been nominated in the Best New Age Album category, along with four other artists. It’s only the third time a kirtan album has ever been nominated, following Jai Uttal’s “Mondo Rama” in 2004, and Krishna Das’ “Live Ananda” in 2013.

Vraja Mandala Parikrama by Dayal Mora das

The time was coming around for the temple to send me to India again. Finally! I have the great fortune to serve as brahmachari leader at Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara Dham and I have been serving here for three and half years. I’m into Harinam and it’s a blessing that I can call this service one of my main services.

It was not difficult to choose a destination to request since I had recently seen Parasuram’s video from a Vraja Mandala Parikrama, or Padyatra, from 2010 which was super inspiring and I had been immediately attracted.

Vraj Padayatra from Food For All on Vimeo.

What could be a better means of honouring the forests of Vraja than walking amongst them, chanting Harinam with an ox cart and two beautiful bulls from which tons of prasadam and books are distributed to the Brij Basi’s? We simultaneously visit the many ancient holy places dating back to the The Supreme Lord’s manifest pastimes on this planet as well as please the local inhabitants of this worshipable tract of land, a people undoubtedly very dear to Lord Krishna. And all of this during the month or Kartik!

In my previous life before coming to devotional service and ISKCON, I had oftentimes preferred travelling a little off the beaten track. In this way I found that one gets to see the reality of each place, meet the people who live there and there is an added element of excitement and adventure.
Thus this program seemed to be my cup of tea and surely a good program to invoke the blessings of Srila Prabhupada, the Vaisnavas and the residents of Vraja! I wrote to Para and got a place on the tour. By the Lords grace I was on my way to Vrindavan.

I hadn’t been too mental during the build up to the parikrama, I had decided to simply get out there and do the best I could, however from time to time I naturally did ponder briefly about how My body would hold up in the conditions, after all I had never been on padyatra before. My service was to perform sankirtana for 6 hours a day covering up to 25 km and it wasn’t clear where we would be taking rest in the evenings.

Kartik was as late as it gets this year with it beginning late October and finishing 25th November. With a nice crew of 6 souls we hit the road the day after we landed in India. I managed to pick up a walking harmonium and a mosquito net before setting out, both items I felt were absolutely essential for one month on the road in Vraja.

For those not familiar with the Vraja Mandala Parikrama, ‘parikrama’ means ‘to circumabulate’ and in doing so we honour and show respect to the object we are circumambulating. According to Lokanath Swami’s new book Vraja Mandala is 168 miles, not including internal parikramas. We would encircle the entire area of Vraja on foot.

Surprisingly even to myself the daily routine came very naturally and we happily traversed kilometre after kilometre constantly hearing the Holy Names vibrating in the ether around us. In fact it was The Holy Names which carried us through the quiet and busy roads, towns and villages and I was simply fortunate enough to be on the ride. Out of the 6 man crew, three of us usually were available for the service of chanting before the oxcart. As well as myself there was Vaikuntha Prabhu from Russia who had been on the tour several times before, as had Loka Saranga Prabhu from Czech. I soon realised that all the members had performed this yajna for several years in succession I and began to wonder if the same was going to happen to me. In addition we were joined a couple of weeks into the parikrama by one devotee from Nigeria, another brahmachari called Tribuvanath. Arjuna and his good wife Krishna Mayi would hand out books and bananas on the move whilst Para drove the ox-cart.

Me and Loka would take turns beating the mridanga, Vaikuntha would bash the cartels and we would alternate the singing. Vaisnavas are very tolerant and the team were kind enough to allow me to sing my little heart out for hours on end playing my new squeeze box with great enthusiasm! I felt that as the month drew on our relationships became very sweet through this chanting and every day we were overcoming obstacles and sharing experiences. Performing service together and serving one another is the way to build friendships in Krishna Consciousness.

It would take too long to describe all the sacred places we visited, needless to say they were all beautiful, enriching and purifying to see, smell and touch and pay obeisances to. As a city based front liner I found great joy in being out in the countryside for a change away from the bustling areas of Mathura and Vrindavan. What bliss we experienced chanting all day from dawn, which was when we would usually set off, until dusk when we pull in to our final stop for the evening. Our daily bath in the Holy Name was glorious.

We would usually be with or very close to the official Parikrama party, which this year consisted of 1500 devotees from all over India and the world. We were part of the main Parikrama party but at the same time a little separate which is understandable since we have a slightly different program. For example each evening we would drive the Harinam and oxcart into a village which the team may or may not have visited before in previous years.

Someway before the village came into view the banana throwing pastimes would begin in earnest as Para and Arjuna launched an untold number of yellow torpedoes into the sea of village children scrambling and diving, fighting and seemingly having the time of their lives in a frenzy of banana catching mayhem. Somehow the children would usually have advanced warning that we were coming and run out of the village to meet us on the road literally sprinting like anything to be amongst the first to get those bananas and books.

The same scene would be repeated in every village and we never tired from seeing the explosion of enthusiasm that these blessed children displayed at the prospect of receiving Thakurji’s mercy in the form of these bananas. It was incredible to see day after day how just like an army of untiring monkeys these children competed with great tenacity, and at the risk of life and limb (seemingly) they each pocketed one, two, three or more bananas. The bigger boys were the best catchers and the parents and village elders would look on in delight as their children revelled in the fun of the oxcart pastimes. The children look forward to the carts arrival every year.

We would then reach a suitable place in the village and whilst the kirtan continued Para and Arjuna would set up for the next instalment of the program, a movie! Thanks to the solar panels on the roof of the oxcart, batteries, a retractable screen, a projector and an amplifier, the oxcart is swiftly transformed into a mini cinema. All the village kids gather around, eyes transfixed upon the huge screen, the smaller ones at the front and the cooler, older ones with flashy shirts purchased in town would hang out at the back. The elders of the village often in the more traditional dress would be amongst the crowd. It seemed as if the whole village was there!

After 2 or 3 episodes of ‘Little Krishna’, the punching preaching movie would be shown. This year the movie shows scenes of the western world with all its glitz and glamour which seems so attractive, but as the film progresses it reveals the darker sides to western civilisation with is multitude of wars, violence, slaughter houses, drugs and discontent. Life is short and death is closing in for us all. Remain a Brij Basi and enjoy the best culture, your own culture, the culture which reminds us so much of the pastimes of Sri Krishna Himself. The very fact that this truth is being explained by a bunch of white skinned westerners adds weight to the message.

Once the movie concludes we pack up and prepare for rest as by this time it’s dark. If we are not invited in for supper by the friendly villagers we relish the opportunity to practice the sadhu style means of getting ones sustenance. Madhukari! Para would take me along as he showed me how to beg from door to door like a honey bee, taking from each family only one or two rotis and a little milk and in this way not being too much of a burden on any individual family in the village. A few doors later and we had a veritable feast to offer to Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara. We would then sit together on the cart munching down roti after delicious warm roti, made with freshly ground grains and cooked often before our eyes. Washed down with ample warm cows milk, what could be better after a good days preaching in the most sacred place on earth? Lord Chaitanya Himself walked this land and Krishna appeared and grew up amongst these people. How can we be much better situated? Laying back satisfied and excited about the next day and snuggled up in my sleeping bag I’m thinking how I could live like this forever.

Some other highlights of the Parikrama were:
Bathing in the various sacred kund’s which are so wonderfully available to all in Vraja, a far cry from the UK and its chlorine filled swimming pools!
We were able to visit some places off of the general Parikrama route such as Surya Kund which is a pastime place which Radharani Herself still visits daily and also where Gaura Kishore das Babaji Maharaja performed many austerities.
Blue cows! Although apparently becoming rarer to see in Vraja we saw them so many times in ever greater numbers and more closely. In fact on one of the last days we were only a few meters from one of these wild native creatures which is I suppose something between a cow and a deer. He seemed to like the sound of our harinam!
Our Govadhana Parikrama was a little different. Instruments in hand we circumambulated Giri Raj at breakneck speed in a rickshaw with the Holy Names streaming from the rear of the vehicle. “Don’t let Lokanatha Swami see me” joked Para as we hurtled past his Parikrama party!
However for me the topmost highlight was developing friendships and experiencing the Dham in the association of and serving alongside such cool devotees. They would not want to be glorified, but for me that association made the pilgrimage so nectarean. Now I understand a little better why these devotees cannot stop themselves coming year in year out on this ecstatic program and what an opportunity it is to do so! Maybe next time I could improve my capacity for serving them and make some real advancement.

“You have only spoken about good things, nothing went wrong?”, you may cry. Well surprisingly, aside from the usual day to day difficulties, it is true… except for the mad bull episode! We had to swap one of the bulls early on due to a leg problem but somehow or another we were given a replacement bull which was basically a psychopath. My first view of this bull was seeing this huge fearful beast running full pelt towards us in the campsite for the Parikrama party. I found out later that by this time it had already tried to kill Para and escape a couple of times. I was most impressed by Para’s determination the next morning to harness the insubordinate brute to the oxcart despite being run over more than once. Needless to say this grumpy, grouchy and overly paranoid excuse for a bull was also discharged later and swapped with a much more humble bull of good character who was willing to pull Their Lordships and Their devotees along the dusty roads of Vraja and thus advance in Krishna Consciousness. It was explained to me later on that these kinds of things happen from time to time when dealing with bulls, and I was informed of some historic instances that had occurred over the years which were both hilarious and far more frightening.

My deepest realisation was in regards to my long lost and forgotten eternal relationship with the Lord’s Holy Name which was to some degree improved and gratefully taken back to London for the benefit of the unfortunate souls there. Sri Harinam Sankirtan key jaya! Though certainly I’m still but a tottering infant stumbling along the long winding pathway back to Goloka Vrindavan, a month on the road in Vraja has graciously gifted me a greater taste for chanting the Holy Name of Krishna. Thank you so much Braja Bhumi Dham! Now I must distribute The Name with greater intensity and without false pride, and then hopefully by Her grace Srimate Radharani may invite me back again for more service one day soon for Her divine pleasure.

Hari Bol!

For more details about this greatest of ways to spend ones Kartik, you are please recommended to read Lokanath Swami’s new book named ‘Vraja-mandala Darsana’

I have been asked a few times upon my return to London about the austerity there in Braj. In the purport to Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is 17.16, His Divine Grace writes that austerity of the mind is performed by training the mind to always be thinking of how to good for others. So my humble recommendation is to go to see the 12 forests of Braj with the intention of doing good for others and taste the sweetness of this austerity for yourself.

Hare Krishna

Your servant
Doyal Mora das Brahmachari

Flooded with a population of 4.6 million affected due to floods caused by heavy rainfall, the city of Chennai, capital of the Indian state 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. 

The Soul is Made of Faith. In this article I use the word belief as “a feeling of certainty about what something means.” I discuss how this feeling of certainty affects the way you look at things, and the way you look at things affects your actions. Therefore, in this sense things are less the way they are and more the way we are. Belief is fundamental to consciousness. In Chapter 17 verse 3 of the Gita, Krsna says the atma is made of faith. If someone doesn’t believe that the atma is made of faith, it just means they have faith (they believe) that the atma is not made of faith. Since that is also a belief, it proves that the atma is made of faith. What Do You Believe? If you ever find it difficult to keep your vows and promises or commit to something new, it’s possible you have beliefs that are preventing you from being more committed. If you believe something is difficult to do or if you believe something is possible to achieve, you are usually right, not necessarily because that’s true, but because of the way you think about it (or the way you think about yourself). Continue reading "How Your Beliefs Affect Your Commitments
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