Planet ISKCON

Program for University of Florida Students at Krishna House, Gainesville
Lecture Podcast:

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The post Death and the search for meaning appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Program in an orphanage (6 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Much of the Mongolian population lives below the poverty line and many families struggle just to get by. It is common, especially in the capital Ulaanbaatar, to see children who have been abandoned. They are typically a product of social upheaval caused by alcoholism, rapid urbanization and poverty. Little is known of the history of most of the 80 children in the orphanage we visited in Erdenet. Many were abandoned at birth in hospitals, or left simply on the side of the road. Because of such backgrounds they were especially appreciative of our visit. After I told them animated stories from Krsna Book they all chanted and danced in great happiness with the devotees. They especially loved prasadam at the end of our visit. The mercy of Lord Caitanya is now spreading everywhere in this distant land of Mongolia. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/1vytlh

The post Radhastami Abhishek – 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The first question often asked about the Bhagavad-gita is why was it spoken on a battlefield? Despite a common view that religion is a major cause of war, the general view is that the two should remain separate. Religion or spirituality should result in peace not conflict. If one’s spiritual practises bring about the bloodthirsty desire to eliminate the followers of some other faith then they must be suspect. That would surely seem to make sense.
Nevertheless the Gita did arise from a war, the great Battle of Kurukshetra. Not only that, but its final message to Arjuna—a mighty warrior who had suddenly veered towards pacifism—was to give up his “petty weakness of heart” and sally forth to slay his enemies in battle. How then is it a religious text?

Perhaps we should begin by defining religion. Dictionaries usually describe it as a system of belief in some supernatural power. That is where the conflicts tend to arise. My beliefs may well be different to yours, and human nature is such that we identify with these to the point where we create divisions based upon them. Hence we have many religious communities going under different names—Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc. In most people’s minds this is what is meant by religion, all these various designations. The Gita however gives a broader definition.

In Sanskrit, the language of the Gita, the word for religion is dharma. This translates more accurately as the essential nature of a thing. In the case of a person this nature is to serve. We are always serving someone or something, be it our boss, family members, country, or maybe just our dog. We cannot avoid service. Even if we have no one to serve we will still serve our own mind and senses, which constantly demand satisfaction in one way or another. We cannot sit peacefully for very long before one bodily demand or another impinges upon us and we have to act to satisfy it.

Vedic wisdom tells us that this service propensity is actually meant for God. This is real religion, the dharma of the soul. No doubt the adherents of all the above named faiths and most others will concur with this, despite their external differences. Whatever our practises the ultimate aim must be to know and love God, to unite with him and serve him eternally. When we serve anything other than God we are never satisfied; we constantly search for the lasting fulfilment that no amount of sensual pleasure or material relationships can provide. As Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.”

This is the message propounded by the Gita. It speaks of all beings as eternal parts of God having an unbreakable loving relationship with him. Arjuna’s dilemma as a warrior who was not inclined to fight was only the external context for a far deeper message than just getting him to take up his weapons. That message is encapsulated in the Gita’s key verse in the ninth chapter, where Krishna says, “Always think of me, offer me your respects, worship me and become my devotee. Surely then will you come to me.” This is the essence of all religion and it was what Arjuna had forgotten. He was thinking he had so many other duties which had all begun to seem onerous, conflicting and ultimately impossible. He got to the point where he did not know which way to turn or what to do. Krishna’s response was simple; just do what I want and you will be peaceful and happy.

As it happened at that time Krishna wanted Arjuna to fight. After all, sometimes fighting and violence are required when there are disturbing elements in society. We need the forces of law and order, which was Arjuna’s duty, but that’s not the real point. The ultimate message of the Gita is not about fighting or any other specific kind of work. It is about surrendering to God, acting only for his pleasure, recognising that this is truly in our own and everyone else’s best interests. When Arjuna understood this point his dilemma was over and he became peaceful. “My illusion is gone,” he told Krishna. “I am now free of duality and prepared to do whatever you ask.” And as Krishna asked him to fight that very fighting became a pure spiritual activity that led Arjuna to the highest point of self-realisation.

All of us are like Arjuna in so many ways. We stand on the battlefield of life faced with all kinds of challenges which often seem overwhelming. Sometimes we too don’t know which way to turn but the message of the Gita is also there for us. “Turn to me,” says Krishna. “I will always protect you and in the end bring you back to me.” That is the fight facing us all, turning from illusion towards Krishna, but with his help we like Arjuna will surely emerge victorious.

Hare Krishna! Vaisnava culture of respect and honour
ISKCON is more or less unique in vaisnava history, being an institution that is dedicated to spreading Krsna consciousness. During vedic times you would have what devotees often term as the traditional guru disciple relationship brahmacari guru-kule vasan danto guror hitam, a disciple living in a local village, where a local guru would teach the children of those who lived in the village, and more or less those villagers who stayed in the village with everyone living a simple lifestyle with no institution. However as we know that is not the model given to us by Srila Prabhupada and as ISKCON is the institution of Srila Prabhupada, in essence the devotees serving as gurus within ISKCON are first and foremost initiating devotees into the institution of their spiritual master.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=7315

Radhastami celebration in ISKCON New Govardhana - Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari with Mukunda Swami (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/1D7UuS

Hare Krishna! The “Traveling Parson”
Rupa Raghunatha’s original ancestors were Christian missionaries in the 1790s. Thomas Hassall was called the ‘traveling parson’, because he used to preach from Sydney to Canberra and Newcastle riding his horse town to town. Rupa Raghunatha says, “Now I feel like I have the same missionary spirit not on four legs, but on four wheels! Often Rupa Raghunatha will set up a table with books and prasadam on the street, or walk around to each shop and show them books personally. He often feels inspired to do Hari Nama, especially in remote towns, as they may not have another chance to hear the holy names.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19995

http://bit.ly/1KxkfsE

The post Japa walk in Timesoara appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Bhagavatam class.

The post Krsna accepts delicacies brimming in ghee through the mouths of devotees in preference to oblations in the sacrificial fire appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Henry Ford’s life - a spiritual perspective by his great-grandson (Ambarisha Prabhu) (3 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/SHbjD1

ISKCON Auckland New Zealand: Over 100 sets of SP Lilamrta sets sold for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada for His 50th anniversary!

A traditional Maori greeting and “Haka”, performed by local devotees in Iskcon Auckland, Temple of New Zealand during the reception of dignitaries on the occasion of celebrating Srila
Prabhupada’s 50th anniversary of his arrival in America. (3 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/7CJnuE

ISKCON Malaysia - Srila Prabhupada’s Gallery Opening (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/DwX0Ca

Hare Krishna! The building blocks? The Transcendental Sound Vibration!
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Harinama Sankirtan Mission. Right now, this moment in Harinam Sankirtana, the Maha Mantra rises. The kirtan leader was born a devotee – blessed by the commitment of his parents and the mercy of Srila Prabhupada. The volume is high, the beats are many per minute. The devotees are all swimming with the current. The commuters are now running – it is rush hour in New York. Everyone is running. These busy people may not notice the devotees – it appears this way – but the inner ear, the Soul’s accomplice, has captured this Transcendental Sound. These Eternal moments are quick!
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19993

Hare Krishna! Our dear Grandfather Srila Prabhupada
Acyuta Gopi: He came to a place where he knew no one and was unsure if anyone would be able to help him carry out his mission. He fought sea sickness, life threatening heart attacks and braved the roughest conditions because he had such firm faith and conviction in the orders of his guru and the message of Lord Caitanya. Because of his journey and his sacrifice, I am here today. Because of his amazingly selfless personality I am able to say I’ve dedicated 30 years to this movement. Because of all of his hardships I was able to go to South Africa where I knew no one and gain an entire family in one day because we are connected worldwide by his vision. I can travel anywhere in the world confident that I will be cared for because of Srila Prabhupada’s work. And when he journaled, it wasn’t full of complaints about the hardships he had to endure. Somehow he was thankful to be performing the work that would make his spiritual master proud.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19988

Photos from the huge festival which took place in Boston for the celebration of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America 50 years ago
Find them here: https://goo.gl/E9ZgHI

Hare Krishna! A special preview clip of Acharya the Movie!
Yadubara Das: ACHARYA, The Life and Legacy of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. In celebration of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in Boston 50 years ago, when he brought the practice of Bhakti Yoga to the West, we are pleased to release a special preview clip of Acharya the Movie! Please post, share and support!
Watch it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19983

Hare Krishna! Varshana – Sunrise Aerial Darshan (10 min video)
Prananatha das: I had spent two weeks at Govardhan last October (2014) working on the film “Govardhan Seva” but during that time I didn’t get the opportunity to visit Varshana. So, on the morning I was leaving, my taxi was heading towards Delhi and I asked the driver to quickly stop at Varshana. The sun was just rising. It was so stunning. I put the drone in the air for a few minutes and, what you see in the video is the unedited footage. I used only a few seconds of footage in Govardhan Seva. Last night I suddenly remembered the rest of the footage was sitting there, so, happy Radhastami .
Watch it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19980

Darshan Of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath;8th September 2015

Mantras are words.

Words are very powerful things, because words contain meaning.

Meaning is to consciousness what the calorie is to digestion.
Meaning is the thing that consciousness digests and subsists on.

“You are what you eat.” As this applies physically to food, it applies psychologically to words. The words you speak and hear create your psyche.

Mantras, therefore, are very powerful things. They are very special words, conveying very special meaning – and therefore possess the power to reshape our psyche, and thus change the tangible direction of our lives.

The real power in the mantra is not the frequency of the sound waves, the real power is the meaning conveyed by the words. A mantra used without awareness of the meaning in the words can exhibit only a small fraction of its potential power. The ultimate effect of using a mantra this way is simply that the user will eventually be blessed to seek and find the meaning of the words. Then, when we use a mantra with awareness of the meaning, much more of the mantra’s power can activate.

The more deeply we understand the meanings of the words and phrases in a mantra, the more deeply its power affects us.

 Vraja Kishor

VrajaKishor.com

Mantras are words.

Words are very powerful things, because words contain meaning.

Meaning is to consciousness what the calorie is to digestion.
Meaning is the thing that consciousness digests and subsists on.

“You are what you eat.” As this applies physically to food, it applies psychologically to words. The words you speak and hear create your psyche.

Mantras, therefore, are very powerful things. They are very special words, conveying very special meaning – and therefore possess the power to reshape our psyche, and thus change the tangible direction of our lives.

The real power in the mantra is not the frequency of the sound waves, the real power is the meaning conveyed by the words. A mantra used without awareness of the meaning in the words can exhibit only a small fraction of its potential power. The ultimate effect of using a mantra this way is simply that the user will eventually be blessed to seek and find the meaning of the words. Then, when we use a mantra with awareness of the meaning, much more of the mantra’s power can activate.

The more deeply we understand the meanings of the words and phrases in a mantra, the more deeply its power affects us.

 Vraja Kishor

VrajaKishor.com

Answer Podcast:

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Answer Podcast:

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The post Does the working of the mind match with our desires? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.