Sivarama Swami on the Refugee Crisis
Hare Krishna! The Need for Struggling Together to Help Each…
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Hare Krishna! The Need for Struggling Together to Help Each Other
Niranjana Swami: I wanted to express my convictions today, not based upon my position as an “authority”, but from a personal and open-hearted viewpoint of someone who has had many years of experience in ISKCON. If you see any validity to these years of experience, then maybe when I open my heart to you, it may influence you, in some small way, to understand why I feel that this counselor system is important. I am not here in the capacity of the GBC for Moscow. I’ve come to realize that hammering from the GBC doesn’t open anyone’s heart. Frankly, I’m tired of hammering, and therefore I put away my hammer many years ago. If I ever use a hammer again, it will be only to hit a nail. I am not going to hammer on your heads to accept this system, although I may try to open up a few minds, and hopefully some hearts as well. Just before I came here, I was thinking that if I opened my heart first, it might have some influence. I’m therefore just going to express to you why I personally feel it’s important to have this counselor system.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1869
Srila Prabhupada, ambassador of Vedic culture (Part 1)
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Timesoar public program.
The post Srila Prabhupada, ambassador of Vedic culture (Part 1) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Carrying the mercy
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 September 2015, Randburg, South Africa, Youth Group Bhajans)
By the mercy of the holy name, we are here. The holy name is being carried by devotees. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, there is a description of how the Ganga is entering into the universe – as Vamanadeva cracks the shell of the universe, a drop of the causal ocean enters into the universe. That drop is falling down towards the middle planetary systems where we are residing.
Then the demigods come with kumbas, pots, in which they carry the Ganga in the same direction the Ganga was already going and they bring the Ganga down. I mean, exactly in the same direction the Ganga was flowing but now they are carrying it down. Then, Ganga comes to planet earth. On planet earth, Ganga is known by many; during kumba-melas as many as twenty million people take bath in the Ganga. Then, Ganga goes down further and comes to the lower planetary systems known as Bhogavati. In the Bhogavati, nobody knows about the Ganga but somehow or other, by accident people take their bath in the Ganga or get benefit unknowingly.
So, why are the demigods carrying the Ganga? Because the demigods understand that the Ganga is liquid mercy and if they carry this mercy, then they get more mercy because they partake in distributing it. So not only do we get the credit for receiving mercy, we also get credit for giving it. Therefore, the demigods brought their pots, caught the Ganga, carried the Ganga to planet earth where many were eager to bathe in the Ganga.
So we can compare the sankirtan movement to the centre of the Ganges and we can see that the sankirtan movement is spreading. It is spreading everywhere simply by being carried by the devotees. The acaryas carried this holy name and brought it to so many places. Somehow, they made this holy name the tool by which they changed the world. So, still now, it is possible to carry the name. One who carries the name gets the most mercy. Then there are those who are bathing in the name and they are also receiving the mercy. Then, there are the neighbours who do not know what is going on but they also take their bath in the ocean of nectar of the holy name without even knowing what is going on. So, in this way, let us be carriers of the holy name. That will be the most wonderful.
Hare Krishna! The Unknown History of Big Book…
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Hare Krishna! The Unknown History of Big Book Distribution.
Mahatma Das: (The following is an excerpt from an unfinished book about my life in Krsna consciousness. It details the history of how big book distribution began in Iskcon, a history which has not been chronicled in any Iskcon publications. The scene takes place in Vancouver, Cananda, November of 1971.) At this time in Iskcon (1971) big book distribution had not yet begun. We only distributed Back to Godhead magazines (BTG’s) on the street. We usually got donation of 25cents per magazine. If we were lucky, we might occasionally get a really big donation of 50 cents. We thought it was difficult to get that much money from most people so we didn’t usually ask for it. I have never been one to be happy with the status quo (sometimes that gets me into trouble) and I began thinking that we should try to distribute Krsna Books which had just recently been published. That was such a big way of thinking at the time that it was hard for any of us to take it seriously, myself included, since the Krsna Books sold for $8 and we were cautious about asking for mere 50 cents. Yet on one Canadian holiday in which everyone stayed home, we decided to go door to door.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2288
Three last wishes! Alexander, the great Greek king, after…
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Three last wishes! Alexander, the great Greek king, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He called his generals and said, “I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail.” With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king’s last wishes. “My first desire is that,” said Alexander, “My physicians alone must carry my coffin.” After a pause, he continued, “Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury.” The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute’s rest and continued. “My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin.” Alexander’s favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. “O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes.” At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: “I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learned. I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted. The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell people that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth. And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world.” With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last.
Video of The Detroit Deities Flower Festival (15 min video)
Here…
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Video of The Detroit Deities Flower Festival (15 min video)
Here is a short video of the recent Flower Festival for the Deities of Detroit (Devasadana Mandir) on October 4, 2015
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/GaTRZQ
Councillors approve plans for new venue at Hare Krishna temple…
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Councillors approve plans for new venue at Hare Krishna temple in Aldenham
Plans to build a new venue on Green Belt land at the Hare Krishna temple site in Aldenham has been approved by councillors. Bhaktivedanta Manor, in Hilfield Lane, submitted a planning application to Hertsmere Borough Council to build a two-storey “Haveli”. The proposal was submitted following the council’s adoption of a planning brief in 2012, which sets out the manor’s plans for the next 15 years. The “Haveli” building will be approximately 2,000sq m.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/IqqTWH
Hare Krishna! Lust blinds love liberates
Bilvamangala Thakura…
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Hare Krishna! Lust blinds love liberates
Bilvamangala Thakura was a wealthy south Indian Brahmin and belonged to a cultured family. But he got attracted to a prostitute named Cintamani. The attraction soon became attachment. And as it happens when we get attached to worldly enjoyment we lose our intelligence and subsequently our dignity. The fire of lust was so intense that he was not at all moved when his father died; in fact standing near the pyre of his father he was engrossed in the thought of Cintamani. The body of his dead father did not bring tears to his eyes but his eyes were eager to see the physical beauty of the lady.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20436
Daily Darshan – October 14th, 2015
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The post Daily Darshan – October 14th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Acid Test
→ Tattva - See inside out
Periodically, we'll all be confronted with situations where people are oblivious to our sacrifices, unappreciative of our endeavours, and seemingly unimpressed with our contributions. People may even misunderstand our purpose and cuttingly criticise us. Swami Prabhupada talked about a period of his life where he was "crying alone in the wilderness." Few who heard, even less who genuinely appreciated, and scarcely anyone who actually helped. He nevertheless continued on with no loss of enthusiasm. In such testing times, the level of our spiritual purity is exhibited and developed. One must be fixed in the consciousness that there is divine appreciation for our sincere endeavours, even if the individuals around us aren't so forthcoming. When Mother Teresa scribed her poem entitled "Do it Anyway," she concluded with a poignant reminder - "in the final analysis its between you and God, it was never between you and them anyway."
Thus, in the rollercoaster journey of life, the ‘good times’ and ‘bad times’ all have their part to play. Whatever encouragement we receive is being willed by providence because it’s the ‘need of the day’ in our spiritual journey. Those times of stability, prosperity and recognition, should be utilised for spiritual immersion so we can build up assets of inspiration, gratitude, strength and unbreakable faith. And when the acid test comes, when we’re stripped of that encouraging support, crying alone in the wilderness, then we exercise the internal muscles by practicing resilience, humility, patience and tolerance. The test will expose us, educate us and hopefully inspire us. It’s a learning curve and I’m trying to remain alert – surprise tests are always around the corner.
Ukraine Festival 2015 Gaura Arati Kirtan by Bada Haridas Prabhu
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Ukraine Festival 2015 Gaura Arati Kirtan by Bada Haridas Prabhu
October 14, 2015
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October 14, 2015
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HG Narottamananda Prabhu – Science of Self Realization
→ Kalachandji's Audio Archive
HG Nityananda Chandra Prabhu – Bhagavad-gītā As It Is Ch 15
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HH Bhakti Sundar Goswami / SB 10.23.9
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Bhaktimarga Swami’s Walk Featured on ISKCON News
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The Walking Monk Retraces Prabhupada’s Journey
By: Madhava Smullen ISKCON News on Oct. 7, 2015
Bhaktimarga Swami has become famous as “The Walking Monk” from his treks on foot four times across his native Canada, as well as across Ireland, Israel, Fiji, Mauritius, Guyana and Trinidad. On each walk, he shares his message of reconnecting to a simple, natural, and God-conscious life with the media and locals along the way.
The Swami’s current walk, however, may mean the most to him on a personal level. Dubbed “Walking for our Teachers,” its theme is to honor all teachers in a broad sense—but in a more specific sense, Bhaktimarga’s own guru.
“Personally, we’re walking to honor ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya Srila Prabhupada, who was at the cutting edge of animal rights, vegetarianism, going back to the land, and of course spiritual enlightment,” he says. “People know the Hare Krishnas, but they don’t know about the person behind it all. So I feel it’s our mandate now to let people know who Prabhupada was.”
Bhaktimarga Swami’s walk began on September 20th at Boston’s Commonwealth Pier, where Srila Prabhupada first reached the U.S. on the steamship Jaladuta in 1965. [Read More]
Cows Have Started to Arrive at Govardhana Farms
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The first cows have arrived to Govardhana Farms and there are some very nice videos that we're sure you would love to see. Check them out below.
Also, don't forget! The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple has sponsored a cow (set to arrive to the farm very soon) which will be saved from slaughter and we are asking you to help us name the cow!
University Program
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The Mahendradatta University is one of the many universities in Denpasar and some of our devotees teach there.
Don’t Miss This Opportunity
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Initiation Lecture,
December 26, 1969 - Boston
When many spiritual paths say they are the best, how to choose our path?
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Answer Podcast:
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Can we be enthusiastic without being passionate?
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Answer Podcast:
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To manage the mind, regulate the mind’s diet
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Talk at Ohio State University
Lecture Podcast:
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Preserving tradition means fulfilling the purpose of the tradition
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Class at New Jersey
Lecture Podcast:
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How to deal with people who don’t want to clarify misunderstandings?
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Answer Podcast:
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Cooperating among equals
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Srimad Bhagavatam Class at ISKCON, Columbus, Ohio
Lecture Podcast:
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He went for the jugular
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The mayor waited and Prabhupada sat, and the mayor started getting nervous and Prabhupada sat. Then everyone was looking at Srila Prabhupada and I leaned over and said, "Srila Prabhupada, they're waiting for you to stand." Srila Prabhupada looked at me and said, "I'm supposed to stand for who?" and refused to stand. So the mayor started his remarks and gave his greeting to Srila Prabhupada seated, probably the first time in the history of the country that anyone had been received in City Hall without standing up. Then when the mayor was finished saying how Paris has always been such a spiritual city, Srila Prabhupada stood at that moment and said, "Mr. Mayor, you have spoken very nicely about how France is such a spiritual country, etc.
Let us examine what is spiritual," and went right for the jugular, that there is a soul within the body and any government that is unaware of the difference between the soul and the body is a demonic government. "Just like your Napoleon Bonaparte," (he pronounced the name "Napoleon Bona-partee"), "he said, 'I am France.' France is there. Where is Napoleon? The soul is gone. Where has it gone? This is the importance of proper spiritual training is to understand the difference between the body and the soul
- Following Srila Prabhupada - Rememberances by Yogeswara das
Srila Prabhupada ki jay!
Hare Krishna
Sunday, October 11th, 2015
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Saturday, October 10th, 2015
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Friday, October 9th, 2015
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Thursday, October 8th, 2015
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Wednesday, October 7th, 2015
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Manjari d.d. asks questions on spontaneous devotional service
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Hare Krishna! Reflecting on Half a Century
“Bhakta Tom,” he said…
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Hare Krishna! Reflecting on Half a Century
“Bhakta Tom,” he said the first week, “we’re going out to chant Hare Krishna. Please come with us.” His sincerity encouraged me. He regularly organized the inspiring chanting and dancing on the streets. Tall and charismatic, he played a drum and led the singing. Once, on seeing Jayananda entering the temple, Prabhupada paused his lecture and said of him, “Jayananda looks like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Yes! He was tall and stout and strong. Caitanya Mahaprabhu.” Sri Caitanya benevolently gave humanity a dispensation, five hundred years ago, to chant Krishna’s names as the sufficient means of spiritual deliverance. Just a recipient of the grace of Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya, I lacked any further qualifications to join the Hare Krishna movement.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20424
The real purpose of Srimad Bhagavatam
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27 August 2015, Stockholm, Sweden, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.6.6)
Srimad Bhagavatam is not a technical manual about the creation as that is not its purpose. Srimad Bhagavatam describes the creation and the essential reason why it describes the creation is to explain how at every stage, creation is intimately connected with the Supreme Lord. That is the essence – to understand how creation is intimately connected with the Supreme Lord. It is not about nuts and bolts, and so on. Bhagavatam is the book which is dedicated to the glorification of the Supreme Lord. That is where it gets its name – Bhagavat means everything related to Bhagavan, the Supreme Lord. So the creation is very much related to Bhagavan, he is part of it at every stage and this is what Bhagavatam is trying to make us understand.
When we see anything material, we can always remember that it is not material at all. It may appear material but actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is behind everything, at every moment. His involvement is always there, and even after the whole world has been created, still he is involved with the three modes of material nature. The essence is that he never leaves us alone. He is there, at every stage when the living being enters into the material world, not only as Paramatma, but in so many expansions…
In so many ways, Krsna is involved with our material sojourn or our material situation; never for a moment are we abandoned. Never for a moment are we without Krsna, but it appears to be so – when our original knowledge of the Supreme Lord becomes covered and we forget conveniently about his existence.
Krishna conscious Crosswords
Number 13 – SANATANA
Solve them…
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Miami Beach Harinam Party, Florida (Album with photos)
Srila…
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Miami Beach Harinam Party, Florida (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra without offences, all of one’s sinful actions are surely atoned for immediately, but one should not commit such deeds again, for that is an offence. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.16.14 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/8Dx8tw
Hare Krishna! Butler, Pennsylvania: The First Testing…
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Hare Krishna! Butler, Pennsylvania: The First Testing Ground
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami: After a month I really loved the swami (Mrs. Agarwal relates). I felt kind of protective in a way, and he wanted to go to Philadelphia. But I couldn’t imagine—I told him—I could not imagine this man going to Philadelphia for two days. He was going to speak there, and then to New York. But he knew no one in New York. If the thing didn’t pan out in Philadelphia, he was just going to New York, and then there was no one. I just could not imagine that man … it made me sick. I remember the night he was leaving, about two in the morning. I remember sitting there as long as he could wait before Gopal took him to Pittsburgh to get on that bus. Gopal got a handful of change, and I remember telling him how to put the money in the slot so that he could go up to the bus station to take a bath, because he was supposed to take a bath a few times a day. And Gopal told him how to do that, and told him about the automat in New York. He told him what he could eat and what he could not eat, and he gave these coins in a sock, and that’s all the man left us with.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20421
Daily Darshan – October 13th, 2015
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