Hare Krishna! Choosing To Forgive Mahatma Das: The sastras are…
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Hare Krishna! Choosing To Forgive
Mahatma Das: The sastras are full of stories of forgiveness: Ambarisa forgiving Durvasa, Parikshit forgiving Sringi, Narada Muni forgiving Daksa, Prahlada forgiving Hiranyakasipu, Haridas Thakura forgiving the guards who beat him, Nityananada forgiving Jagai and Madhai, Parasarama forgiving those who stole his family’s kamadhenu cow. Srila Prabhupada forgave anyone who came to him to serve Krsna. And of course Krsna forgives all of us no matter how sinful or blasphemous we were. Sastra implores us to forgive. The Srimad Bhagavatam lists forgiveness as one of the qualities of civilized human beings. And Srila Prabhupada asks us to be forgiving so we can cooperate to spread the movement. Yet despite the examples of devotees demonstrating incredible acts of forgiveness, despite the sastra telling us to accept suffering as a token reaction of our karma, despite Prabhupada’s plea for us to forgive, and despite the cleansing it can do to our hearts, forgiving is difficult for many of us. Devotees often say, “I was so deeply hurt that I just don’t know how I can forgive.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=314

The Walking Monk Retraces Prabhupada’s Journey Bhaktimarga Swami…
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The Walking Monk Retraces Prabhupada’s Journey
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 enlightenment,” 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.”
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/vtfBjR

Hare Krishna! The Best Birthday Present! Vijaya dasa: This is…
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Hare Krishna! The Best Birthday Present!
Vijaya dasa: This is about how the biggest book distributor in the USA, Bhakta Jaya Khush, came to Krsna consciousness. At his tenth birthday party, someone gave him as a present: Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is. At the time he thought, “Who has the nerve to give me a book for my birthday?” Ten years later, he’s a music producer traveling around with a famous musician. This musician is quoting the Bhagavad Gita to Jay Khush, who’s shocked that a famous African-American is quoting the book of his religion to him (he was born a Hindu) and knows it better than him. That made him curious, so when he went home after a tour he decided to read it, and he found out that the present he received was the best present he ever received. He started visiting the Radha-Raman Temple, an hour away from the Los Angeles temple. Every morning he would go to mangal-arati for six months.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20329

Iskcon Of New Jersey Bhumi Puja And Groundbreaking Video (7 min…
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Iskcon Of New Jersey Bhumi Puja And Groundbreaking Video (7 min video)
The new temple building will be modern and functional and will be accented with elements of classical Vedic architecture. The following are the key components of the planned temple: • Vedic Temple Architecture • Spacious Darshan Hall (3,500 sqft) • Educational Facilities • Community Hall and Auditorium • Commercial Kitchen • Library • Vedic Books and Gifts Boutique • Ashram • Parking for 140+ vehicles • Beautiful Landscaping • Organic Garden
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/yW0ISe

October 9, 2015
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By October 9th, Prabhupada was scheduled in his routine of residing at the YMCA and visiting the apartment of his sponsors, Gopal and Sally Agarwal in Butler, Pennsylvania. Every morning he would rise early at the Y and write on his Srimad-Bhagavatam translations and purports. 

How To Keep The Mind Steady Question: I wanted to know how to…
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How To Keep The Mind Steady
Question: I wanted to know how to keep the mind steady; usually we have contradictory ideas and thoughts going on in the mind.
Radhanath Swami: The nature of the mind is like that of a monkey, it jumps from branch to branch. It goes to one branch, then to the next branch, then to the branch next to that, then again to the first branch – 2nd, 4th, 10th, 1st, 9th, 3rd. It’s the way the mind works. But when you give the monkey a nice ripe banana, it’s happy. Similarly, Bhakti is about giving the mind a deep and fulfilling experience. Though we may not get that higher taste immediately, but since we know it’s there waiting for us, that helps us keep the mind steady. Coming back to the analogy of the monkey, if the monkey has the banana, it will stop jumping from branch to branch even before it has tasted the banana. It stops jumping in order to go through the process of pealing the banana. Our spiritual practice, our sadhana, is like pealing the banana. We know that the higher taste is there – inside – just as the monkey knows that the banana is there inside the peal. And just knowing that it is there, and keeping our mind focussed on the process, our mind can be kept steady. So when we are chanting the holy names the mind will go here and there; do not worry about it – just bring it back. Bring it back to the divine sound vibration, to that object of our meditation. Try to keep it there, and if it runs away – and it will surely run away – then bring it back as soon as we realize it has run away. While we do seva, if we realize our mind is wandering, we just bring it back. ‘I am doing this for Krishna; let me do it in the best possible way.’ The more we take responsibility to do something wonderful for God – sweeping the floor, cooking a meal or doing our business – if we are really doing it for Krishna, for God, we are going to be attentive to whatever details we can, and that keeps our mind focussed.

Hare Krishna! Preparing for ISKCON 50 @ Bhaktivedanta…
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Hare Krishna! Preparing for ISKCON 50 @ Bhaktivedanta Manor
Hundreds of devotees gathered at Bhaktivedanta Manor to hear an insightful presentation by HH Radhanath Maharaj about preparing for ISKCON’s 50 anniversary. In describing Srila Prabhupada’s treacherous journey from India to America, Maharaj spoke of his experience at the recent ISKCON commemoration events in Kolkata and Boston. He spoke of visiting the King George Dock in Kolkata from which Prabhupada had departed. The audience were enthralled hearing about Prabhupada’s challenges and humility. In summing up Maharaj said: ‘In preparing for ISKCON 50 we must feel gratitude, true gratitude and not theoretical. With such gratitude we can embrace within our hearts our great fortune and reciprocate that with others as Srila Prabhupada did. Prabhupada was so grateful for what his guru gave to him, that he gave his heart and life to serve him. We must do the same. Live Srila Prabhupada’s message and share it”.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20326

Life’s 4 defining D’s: Desire, Decision, Destiny and Dharma
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Program at ISKCON, Portland
Lecture Podcast:


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How to spiritually reach people who aren’t receptive to hearing Krishna’s glories?
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Answer Podcast:


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Why is Krishna selectively merciful in inspiring some people to take to bhakti and not others?
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Answer Podcast:


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Tread the path of the ears to the eyes and the heart
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Srimad Bhagavatam class at Corvallis, Oregon (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.11)
Lecture Podcast:


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Hare Krishna! TOVP Campaign Making Wonderful Progress Results…
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Hare Krishna! TOVP Campaign Making Wonderful Progress
Results are coming in from the TOVP tour that carried His Grace Jananivas Prabhu & Lord Nityananda’s holy paduka all over North America for four months earlier this year. In His manifest presence, Lord Nityananda walked over the Indian subcontinent, spreading the glories of Lord Caitanya, so in the form of His shoes. Thus he has continued His ‘walk’ to many cities and towns of the Western world, furthering the stated prediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu that ‘My name will be sung in every town and village.’ Devotees and well-wishers were enlivened to hear of the rising of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium on the Ganges plain. Everyone could feel that this project is destined to attract the people of the world to Sridham Mayapur and the teachings of Lord Caitanya. Hundreds of devotees from dozens of centers in the US and Canada came forward to greet the travelling party. They opened their homes and hearts to our illustrious guests.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20321

TOVP Campaign Making Wonderful Progress
- TOVP.org

Results are coming in from the TOVP tour that carried His Grace Jananivas Prabhu & Lord Nityananda’s holy paduka all over North America for four months earlier this year. In His manifest presence, Lord Nityananda walked over the Indian subcontinent, spreading the glories of Lord Caitanya, so in the form of His shoes. Thus he has continued His ‘walk’ to many cities and towns of the Western world, furthering the stated prediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu that ‘My name will be sung in every town and village.’

Devotees and well-wishers were enlivened to hear of the rising of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium on the Ganges plain. Everyone could feel that this project is destined to attract the people of the world to Sridham Mayapur and the teachings of Lord Caitanya. Hundreds of devotees from dozens of centers in the US and Canada came forward to greet the travelling party. They opened their homes and hearts to our illustrious guests.

They also opened their pockets in order to get in ‘on the ground floor’ of the magnificent temple. Devotees sponsored golden bricks engraved with their names, or names of their family members, reserving a place under our Lordships’ altars. Many sponsored Gratitude Coins to express their thanks to Srila Prabhupada, this has given a real boost to the construction effort. Thanks go to all who have pledged, and those who have begun to fulfill their pledges. We would also like to extend a special thanks to those who have already completed their pledged donation.

To date, nearly 2,000 donors have pledged to give (over seven years’ time) $16 million, of which $1 million has been realized thus far. The TOVP staff would like to heartily thank, on behalf of the disciplic succession, all those who have come forward. Nearly 500 of the donors have pledged to give $11,000 or more, and of those roughly one-quarter have begun to make their contributions. With a monthly construction budget of $500,000, we are not shy in requesting every devotee and follower of Srila Prabhupada to come forward and contribute to this great cause.

Last month, we even received a generous donation from New Zealand to the amount of $250,000 for TOVP construction. The donor till date has remained anonymous, even though we have tried our level best to find out. The donation was anonymously transferred to the TOVP account in Mayapur from New Zealand. We take this opportunity to thank this anonymous devotee. If the devotee could discretely reveal himself to us, we would be very grateful, so that we can appropriately reciprocate and express our gratitude.

We are very inspired to see how devotees around the world are the backbone of the construction of this most ambitious project of Srila Prabhupada. They are constantly giving support to the ongoing progress of the TOVP temple.

The post TOVP Campaign Making Wonderful Progress appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Hare Krishna! Sacred Stones and Plants The ancient story of the…
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Hare Krishna! Sacred Stones and Plants
The ancient story of the wedding of a sacred plant called Tulsi to Krishna in the form of a sacred stone. Please join us for a short lecture on the spiritual principles behind this story and how we can relate to them. “The word ‘vana’ means forest. Vrindavana is the name given to the forest where Srimati Vrinda-devi (Tulasi-devi), grows profusely.” (CC Madhya 17.l93p.) Another name of Tulasi is Vrinda-devi (one who awards residence in Vrindavana). Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says: krpa kori koro tare vrindavana vasi, “Dear Tulasi, please bestow your mercy upon me, so that I may forever reside in Vrindavana.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20318

Ethan Hawke Film Shot at Bhakti Center Released on Blu-Ray The…
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Ethan Hawke Film Shot at Bhakti Center Released on Blu-Ray
The independent film 10,000 Saints, which includes scenes shot in the Manhattan Hare Krishna Temple “The Bhakti Center” and features ISKCON devotees, was released on Blu-Ray, DVD and streaming services on October 6th. Based on the novel by Eleanor Henderson, it is directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini of the Oscar-nominated American Splendor. It stars Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, Training Day), Asa Butterfield and Hailee Steinfeld (co-stars of Ender’s Game), and Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild, Lone Survivor).
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/8tHs8T

Teaching the chanting of Hare Krishna in Mongolia (7 min…
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Teaching the chanting of Hare Krishna in Mongolia (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Five hundred years ago Lord Nityananda opened a market place of the holy names. Two days ago we took that sublime commodity of chanting Hare Krsna to the market places of Uliastal here in Mongolia. First we were invited to chant inside a large modern supermarket. Afterwards, with a police escort, we chanted outdoors in what the local people called the infamous, “Black Market.” Whatever danger there may have been was immediately neutralized by the loud chanting of the holy names. So powerful and so pure are the holy names of Krsna that soon we had many people in the market chanting and dancing alongside us. The miraculous effect of kirtan never ceases to amaze me. All glories to Sri Krsna Samkirtan!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/T1ojyw

Hare Krishna! ISKCON 50th Anniversary Celebrations – ISKCON Sri…
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Hare Krishna! ISKCON 50th Anniversary Celebrations – ISKCON Sri Lanka
The 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Sri Lanka was celebrated by the devotees and congregation of ISKCON Sri Lanka on the 19th of August 2015. On this day, the program commenced with Nagar Sankirtan and following that Special Darshan, Special Kirtan & Bhajans were conducted. To mark the 50th anniversary of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Sri Lanka, ISKCON Sri Lanka organized to release the commemorative stamp and commemorative cover on the 04th of October 2015 and for this event there were VIPs present too, like ministers and industrialists. This function was held at Ramakrishna Mission Hall, Wellawatta, Colombo – 06. There were cultural dances performed by the student of Hare Krishna Music & Dance school and also by the students of the University of Visual and Performing Arts.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20296

Hare Krishna! ISKCON Sandton Celebrates Srila Prabhupada’s 40th…
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Hare Krishna! ISKCON Sandton Celebrates Srila Prabhupada’s 40th Anniversary Arrival to South Africa
“The lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest and thickest mud”. The arrival of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada materialized the above praxis when he arrived in South Africa in October 1975 during the height of the apartheid regime. The juxtaposition of apartheid, its racial and ethnic segregationist policies and the restlessness of a suppressed people caused the message and teachings of Srila Prabhupada to resonate widely and be felt deeply. He came to spread the universal message of peace, love, harmony and the tangible means of achieving such a state of existence. During His tour of South Africa, His Divine Grace spoke at the famous Great Hall at the University of Witwatersrand on the 23 October 1975.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20275

One Can Chant While Sleeping
→ Japa Group

One does not need any material arrangement to cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One can cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness anywhere and everywhere, provided he can always think of Kṛṣṇa. The mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, can be chanted even within the abdomen of one's mother. One can chant while sleeping, while working, while imprisoned in the womb or while outside. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be checked in any circumstance.

Srimad Bhagavatam 3.31.21