Planet ISKCON

New facility for spreading the Sankirtana in Nigeria (Album with photos)
ISKCON Benin city Nigeria: By the mercy of HH Kavicandra Swami and H.H Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami our Harinam Sankirtana party has now a full air conditioning branded bus. Speci...

Due to the extensive help from a large body of devotees here in Dallas the Govardhan Puja festival has been exceedingly grand this year. There is a video included of the cake mountain preparations. Bhaktin Brittany decided to spend the night on Saturday so that she could work the whole evening Saturday and Sunday in preparation. She is was amazing a real trooper. She has a wonderful service mood. Both my wife and her slept just for a few hours and spend both days just working hard. Last year HH Giriraj Swami attend the festival and was very much enlivened. He shared some very encouraging words, saying that, ‘Anyone who helps to put on this Govardhan Puja festival will go Back to Godhead.’ In the mood bringing joy to exalted devotees such as Giriraj Swami, everyone strived to out do the grand scene of the previous year. There were many beautiful lamps hanging from the trees!

The post Daily Darshan – November 11th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

In continuation with Vraj Parikrama, on the 9th of November, HH Subhag Swami Maharaj took a group of 70 devotees to Badrinath. Buses departed from our Krishna Balaram Mandir after mangal arti, ensuring an auspicious start to our yatra. A bumpy ride which lasted for two hours led us to our desired destination. We were told that in 1932, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur came to Badrinath as part of Vraja Mandala parikrama along with hundreds of his disciples. We feel fortunate to be walking in the same steps of such exalted personalities. After another short drama, a grand feast awaited all the devotees. The menu consisted of: rice, dahl, mixed vegetable subji, paneer subji, chutney, pakora and gulab jammun. All devotees were enthusiastically ready to serve, even to the extent that they would get less prasad. It was a feast for the eyes to see the love and care exhibited between the devotees.

November 11. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
At this time in Prabhupada’s life, he was most restricted in conducting his mission. He was forbidden from preaching to Dr. Mishra’s yoga students. He had no money of his own and was dependent on Dr. Mishra’s support. He only had about two men who were interested in visiting him in his windowless room, Robert Nelson and Harvey Cohen, but they were not able to offer much help. When the thousands of loyal, surrendered followers of Prabhupada today read of his neglected condition in 1965, they may feel frustration and wish they were present in 1965 to give him care and support. Years later when he had many followers, he once said, “I am the same person now that I was in 1965, the only difference is that now I have devotees and money.” But what a difference! We feel poignant and helpless when we read of his condition in 1965. Why weren’t we there to help him? Each devotee can ask himself or herself, “Where was I in 1965 when Prabhupada needed me?” Maybe you were too young or not even born yet, but some of us were old enough; we were just too entangled in Maya. In short, we were not ready. We have to be grateful to Prabhupada that he was patient when he had no assistance and that he persisted and endured until Krishna gave him the opportunities to spread the Movement. Reading the accounts of his situation in 1965, we simply pray, “Please stay in America, Prabhupada. Don’t give up. Help is coming. Krishna is guiding you.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490

On this auspicious day of Srila Prabhupad's disappearance Govinda Swami have shared his wonderful memories about last moments with Him.

Bhagavatam class at Radha Gopinath Mandir, Mumbai
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9.11.2015_H.H.Romapada Swami Maharaj_SB- 06..02.33

Hare Krishna Dear Devotees, Friends and Well-wishers,

We would like to invite you all to join us in remembering ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance from this world as the per the program below.

“He reasons ill who says that Vaisnavas die,
When thou art living still in sound!
The Vaishnavas die to live, and living try
To spread the holy name around.”
(Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur)

Although Srila Prabhupada is no longer physically with us, on the spiritual platform he is very much present through the medium of His books and instructions. It is our great fortune to witness the extent of mercy of Srila Prabhupada in saving the entangled souls all around the globe. No words are enough to describe the compassion and grace Srila Prabhupada bestowed upon us, in creating this shelter of Krishna Consciousness movement. Still, on this day of His disappearance, we would like each and every one of you to please write and offer your homage to Him. For your convenience, we have created a simple format that you can use in your homage (download template). Please encourage your kids to write as well. All the homages will be put in a book and presented to Srila Prabhupada as an offering.

You are requested to bring your homages to the temple on Goverdhan Puja day on Saturday the 14th November. You can also email them to gauranama.jps@gmail.com or you can write your homage write there on Saturday after the program of Goverdhan Puja (Gaura Nama Prabhu will be available for assistance) .

Thank you,

Your servants at ISKCON Perth

Hare Krsna

Annually ISKCON Perth celebrates the Govardhan Puja Festival at the Hare Krishna Temple, this being our last major festival for the year. You are all invited to attend Govardhan Puja Festival on Saturday 14 November 2015, a very special spiritual program is being organised to help increase our devotion to Lord Sri Krsna.

Afternoon Program on Saturday 14 November is as follows:

4.00 pm Bhajans and Kirtans
4.30 pm Class about the Pastimes of Giri Govardhan and lifting of the Govardhan Hill
5.20 pm Circumambulation of Govardhan Hill by everyone present. (Please bring along some sweets or fruits as an offering to Giri Govardhan)
5.50 pm Performance by Sunday School Children
6.20 pm Drama
6.50 pm Offering Gifts and Announcements
7.00 pm Gaura Arati
7.30 pm Onwards Prasadam Feast served with plenty of cakes, sweets and fruits

Sponsorship Opportunities:
Opulent Maha Feast – $701.00
Govardhana Hill – $501.00
Flowers and decorations – $201.00
Deity Outfits – $301.00
Arati Offering Tray – $51.00
We invite all of you to attend this most sweet and auspicious festival and please bring along some cakes, sweets, Savouries or fruits to decorate the Govardhana Hill. There will also be opportunities for everyone to sponsor the different activities that will be happening on that evening:

Please call
SitaRamLakshmana dasa (0422-045525)
Syama Sarana dasa (0439-969002) for all donations, or
Akshay Prabhu Prabhu ( 0401-414172) for offering some service.

We also like to wish every one a very Happy Diwali.

We hope you all can join us for our spiritual enlivening program at ISKCON Perth Kalamunda.

Thank you.

ISKCON Perth Festival Committee

At this time in Prabhupada’s life, he was most restricted in conducting his mission.  He was forbidden from preaching to Dr. Mishra’s yoga students.  He had no  money of his own and was dependent on Dr. Mishra’s support.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 06 August 2012, Ljubljana, The Balkans, Lecture on the Pastimes of Krsna)

When Krsna walks in Vrindavan as Madhava, carrying his flute tucked in his belt, then the trees which have branches laden with fruits and flowers, are trying to touch Krsna’s feet. The bees are just singing the glories of Krsna. Bhagavatam says that these bees must have been great devotee sages in their last life.

The trees are thinking, ‘We are so unfortunate. It is due to our sinful activities that we have taken birth as trees and therefore we cannot follow Krsna on his pastimes in the forest.’

Of course, Bhagavatam points out that Lord Brahma is praying to become a tree in Vrindavan so how can it be that they have committed sinful activities and offenses, rather, these trees are the most fortunate because, after all, one moment of association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one moment of devotional service to the Supreme Lord, is such great fortune!

Even if Krsna walks past these trees only sometimes still they are in the forest of Vrindavan! They may not be able to walk behind him but they can hear him. It is stated in the Mahabharat that trees have eyes and ears. It is said that trees can see and hear. So these trees are hearing and seeing Krsna! Quite auspicious, actually!

Our family goals - Our principle: * To serve Srila Prabhupada and the Vaisnavas: chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba (without being a devotee of a devotee, one cannot be released from material entanglement, Narottama Dasa Thakura) Our methods of service: * To serve the mission of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (ISKCON) * To share our good fortune with others * To set a good example as individuals and as a family * To extend ourselves to help others with whatever qualifications or facilities Lord Krsna has bestowed upon us. Our faith and motivation to act: * Understanding that by serving the Vaisnavas in these ways we will obtain all perfections spiritual and material Continue reading "A Personal Reflection on Virtue and Values in the Krsna Consciousness Movement
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Today Brahmananda Prabhu was placed in his samadhi in Vrindavan, and all the devotees present felt their hearts melt with love for Srila Prabhupada and Brahmananda Prabhu. I sent an offering to for the occasion, which Bhurijana Prabhu kindly read out for me. One thing was certain in my mind—that I would be present for the dedication of Brahmananda Prabhu’s samadhi in Vrindavan—but as Srila Prabhupada said, “I have my plans, you have your plans, and Krishna has His plans.” Brahmananda Prabhu left his body on the appearance day of Vakresvara Pandita, one of Lord Chaitanya’s most dear associates. A contemporary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu named Devananda Pandita had no faith in Mahaprabhu and thus avoided Him, but fortunately, Devananda Pandita developed great faith in Vakresvara Pandita and rendered service to him. And by Vakresvara Pandita’s mercy, he developed faith in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and ultimately achieved His shelter.

15 foot Cake Mountain - Govardhana Puja preparation at Dallas (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/pe1EhU

Please join us in prayers for our dear Caitanya Simha das, disciple of Srila Prabhupada and friend and well-wisher to so many devotees. He started so many on their path, built temples and opened farm communities, worked on Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi and now TOVP. He is in his last hours on this planet before taking the final journey to the next great adventure. Please give him your blessings that he has a safe and blissful journey back Home to Lord Krishna’s lotus feet. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for saving this soul, for saving all of us. Hare Krishna!

Even when living entities harbor inimical desires towards Shri Krishna, He satisfies them. Shri Krishna’s arrangement of male and female prototypes in the material world creates an illusion of genuine relations between two different energies. And through the interaction of male and female entities other bodies take birth. The material world mimics (or reflects in a perverted sense) the spiritual world wherein there is constant interaction of Shri Krishna with His innumerable liberated servants, friends, mothers, fathers and lovers. In the material world the variety of personal characteristics is limited only to two. The material world does not have the facility to satisfy the spiritual seeker who is after the unlimited variety of the spiritual world.

Prabhupada speaking to Brahmananda on Juhu Beach

Today Brahmananda Prabhu was placed in his samadhi in Vrindavan, and all the devotees present felt their hearts melt with love for Srila Prabhupada and Brahmananda Prabhu. I sent an offering to for the occasion, which Bhurijana Prabhu kindly read out for me.

One thing was certain in my mind—that I would be present for the dedication of Brahmananda Prabhu’s samadhi in Vrindavan—but as Srila Prabhupada said, “I have my plans, you have your plans, and Krishna has His plans.”

Brahmananda Prabhu left his body on the appearance day of Vakresvara Pandita, one of Lord Chaitanya’s most dear associates. A contemporary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu named Devananda Pandita had no faith in Mahaprabhu and thus avoided Him, but fortunately, Devananda Pandita developed great faith in Vakresvara Pandita and rendered service to him. And by Vakresvara Pandita’s mercy, he developed faith in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and ultimately achieved His shelter.

Concerning this incident, Sri Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya 3.485–487) confirms the efficacy of serving pure devotees and the results one attains by doing so: “The service of Vaisnavas is superior to the service of Krsna. All scriptures, headed by Srimad-Bhagavatam, confirm this. There may be a doubt whether the servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead will attain perfection, but there is absolutely no doubt that those who are attached to serving the Lord’s devotees will attain perfection. Therefore service to the Vaisnavas is the best means of deliverance.”

Brahmananda Prabhu had such faith in Srila Prabhupada’s service, and thus we are confident of his deliverance and ultimate destination.

Much has been and will be said about Brahmananda Prabhu’s extraordinary love for and service to Srila Prabhupada. His attachment to Srila Prabhupada was so great that any association with him, whether by vani or vapuh, markedly increased my loving feelings for Srila Prabhupada.

The last time I met Brahmananda Prabhu, in Vrindavan, I mentioned that for decades I had been getting messages from Srila Prabhupada that Brahmananda would be going back to Godhead at the end of this life. “Well,” he replied, “it’s funny you say that, because that’s not the message I’ve been getting”—which I take as his humility.

Just after Brahmananda Prabhu left, I heard a prayer, offered to Lord Chaitanya, that seemed to reflect his mood in relation to Srila Prabhupada—and the mood for which I aspire. “Birth after birth, You are our father, mother, son, and master. May we never forget Your lotus feet. O Lord, it does not matter where we take birth, but may we always have loving devotion for Your lotus feet.”

In any case, Brahmananda Prabhu is with Srila Prabhupada, engaged in his service, and that’s all I—or any of us—could ask for. And knowing that Brahmananda Prabhu is with Srila Prabhupada is an added impetus and incentive—an added attraction.

Brahmananda Prabhu, may your example of dedication to your spiritual master and kindness to others inspire us in our service to Srila Prabhupada and his devotees.

Please think kindly upon us and keep us close to your lotus feet, that we may engage in everlasting service to our eternal lord and master in the association of all his beloved servants.

Your eternal, aspiring servant,

Giriraj Swami

Freedom of speech?

Are we free in devotional circles to express a view or opinion, or is anything contrary to the management position simply aparadha?

Fear of being ostracised or seen as a trouble maker is not a healthy position to be in, this doesn’t matter if your in devotional circles or outside of devotee circles. Openness is always needed, but is their a fine line between openness and being critical?

Their is a fear that if one speaks out against something they feel is unjust that this will be seen as anti, indeed a senior devotee expressed concern that here in my blog I am anti-ISKCON because of my being honest in feelings and struggles, but also being outspoken when there is a feeling that some injustice is being done.

It is not that I am anti, but I am anti individual’s leaving and listening to the reason’s given; indeed I have come to a point several time’s were leaving appears the best option.

Forgetting that the greatest gift and motivator in all we do is love

Love motivates, Loving exchanges, The need to be wanted and accepted

Each one of us have strength’s and weaknesses, during one interview I was asked what my weakness in work is well that’s easy paperwork; so I do the legal documentation but anything else well that’s an aspiration.

My service at the temple is due to the amazing loving exchanges, care and feeling of being needed, this is love we need to feel needed understood and wanted.

Over the years I can safely say that these individual’s have been the greatest mentors, accepting my weakness working on my strength but also allowing most importantly freedom of expression; even if they disagreed with my conclusion.

I was reminded of my early day’s in ISKCON their was much freedom to express view’s even those which looking back could have been seen as offensive; but the devotee’s tolerated knowing that it would take time for changes to take place. Their aim was simple to slowly take me as an individual and make sure I had the skills for a lifetime in devotional service.

Mentor-ship should not be Tormentor-ship

Mentor-ship should be a way of getting to know the individual, their strengths and weaknesses and then come up with a way to develop them into life long devotees focused on service

Mentor-ship is not dictatorship

Mentor-ship should be a way of getting to know the individual, and then seeing how best to help the individual progress in devotional service.

Their is however one problem, if you have a single one way system and the mentor-ship system is to force an individual down this single route; this is Not Mentors-ship. For you are denying the individual.
If you then say, ow and you have to do this or that course and there is a cost involved, then sadly their will be criticism; you are running a business and initiation and montor-ship is a way of making money. It is hard to argue against this even if the reality is somewhat different; perception is everything.

So if someone expresses such a view are they ANTI, against or creating aparadha; or is it giving an opportunity to engage discuss and look at things from a different point of view; how can we engage such individual’s.

To silence those who may not agree or have a different view is not always the best way to handle things; to give individual’s a voice is necessary for a health society; remove an individual’s voice then we remove their ability to love and feel love.
Action is better than inaction; devotional service is better than devotional head sloka knowledge.

Forms tell you nothing as there is no way to verify them; best just speak to the individual and find out what their daily/weekly schedule; what is our reading and listening schedule, and what as an individual are you doing to expand Srila Prabhupada’s mission. For many this is more acceptable than a form those who speak out against form filling are not anti-iskcon or anti-managment but anti form.

Courses and classrooms have their place, some love this; but for others it’s a sure way to make them want to run away; this also includes online courses. But the greatest question should be has it moved from head knowledge to heart knowledge? The heart is the seat of motivation, it is also were our greatest love is; isn’t it better to know little but be moved into serving Srila Prabhupada’s mission than to know lot’s and still do nothing?

Discretion is something that Srila Prbhupada demonstrated; he initiated the hippy drug fuelled westerners who were unqualified on many levels, not one had filled out a form or done a course but who because of his mercy became amazing devotees. Given a chance despite disqualification they changed their hippy ways moved not by empirical knowledge but because of love, pure love.

What has kept these disciples motivated, not forms, not courses but LOVE, love for Srila Prabhupada and the friendships made of those who too LOVE Srila Prabhupada; these friendships carry one from the ups and downs of material life. Has smoothed out the mind, brought clarity were their has been nu-clarity.

Mentor-ship should be about developing this LOVE.

But also allowing the individual to express a feeling, understanding that that view even if we may strongly disagree should never be dismissed.

That we should look at how to make individual’s qualified not disqualified based on artificial demands.

For me I would say, you demand I have to do a course for second initiation; you want me to pay, this is business not devotion and sadly it doesn’t matter what you say this feeling will not go away. You want me to buy initiation! Their is no loving exchange, you are for me killing the love.

Feeling the lack of love and seeing it as simple business one wants to leave, it is my love of my guru maharaja and love for those devotee’s who truly know me that keeps me focused; but I understand why others leave based on this perception.

It returns me to my original thought, freedom of speech and expression of view should not be seen as negative, mentor-ship should not feel life tormentor-ship, and a view that is different from yours should not be seen as anti.

Srila Prabhupada understood this so simply asked that we try to get on

And if we are trying to get on then we need to understand the uniqueness of iskcon, that until the introduction of a one size fits all it could accommodate many different types of individual’s inspiring them into service.

So before you judge of condemn or say well this person is anti, ask why they are expressing such a view; may be their is an opportunity to see ow best to accommodate a different type of personality and add to the many colourful characters that makes ISKCON unique and a home for all.

Sunday feast class at Radha Gopinath Mandir, Mumbai

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KK Bindu #362: Srila Prabhupada on “Observing Urjva-vrata” etc. The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released. It can be downloaded here: zine was just released. It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu362 TOPICS INCLUDE: * OBSERVING URJA-VRATA – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks about the importance of observing the month of Kartika. * TOLERATING GURU’S DISCIPLINE – An excerpt from a lecture by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja. * CONTROLLING THE URGES – A fresh translation done for this issue of Bindu of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura’s commentary on the first verse of Upadesamrta, including the verses of his poetic Bengali song. * EQUAL AND UNEQUAL EXCHANGES – A first time translation done for this issue from Srila Kavi Karnapura’s Alankara-kaustubha. To our knowledge this is the first time anything from this important book has been translated into English. * I MEDITATE ON RADHA-DAMODARA – Another fresh translation for this issue from Srila Rupa Goswami’s Stava-mala. * DAMODARA’S GREATEST LOVE – Another verse freshly translated from Srila Rupa Goswami’s Padyavali. For a free subscription or to download back issues of Bindu go to: http://www.gopaljiu.org/bindu “This chanting should go on. Instead of meetings, resolutions, dissolutions, revolutions and then no solutions, there should be chanting.” – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, from Lilamrita, Vol.6, p.182

TOVP: Nursery Update (November 2015) (Album with photos)
Our nursery is now three years old. Over 2,000 different items were planted on this plot of land three years ago. All these trees and plants will be used in the gardens surrounding the Temple of...

November 10. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Prabhupada once remarked, years later, that now that he had thousands of disciples he had many headaches, whereas in the beginning when he was alone with Krishna he was happy depending only on the Lord. This was an unusual statement because Prabhupada usually expressed that he was more enthusiastic and hopeful with more men and money. Nevertheless, he made the remark. He was not disturbed or in anxiety being alone in the jungle (New York City) with scarce apparent hopes of starting his mission. He maintained the six symptoms of surrender through saranagati: (1) Humility – (2) dedication of the self – (3) acceptance of the Lord as one’s only master – (4) the consciousness that “Krishna will surely protect me” – (5) execution of only those acts favorable to pure devotion – and (6) renunciation of conduct averse to pure devotion. And thus he was steady and peaceful in his outwardly unstable situation. He was driven by his mission and would be active in pursuing the path to carrying it out, but he would not be unduly worried when immediate results did not appear. Everything was in Krishna’s hands and Prabhupada was His surrendered instrument.
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The post Daily Darshan – November 11th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Govardhan Hill Through The Lens (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Ananta Vrindavan’s much-appreciated photography of sacred Govardhana Hill. Our parikramas around Giriraja this Kartika are life changing.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/x59gx8