Planet ISKCON

“What benediction should I ask from you?” He said. “What would a wise person ask from a master who can fulfill any wish?”

Viṣṇu might suggest that he imagine the most wonderful thing in the world and ask for it, so Pṛthu explained, “I won’t ask for anything that exists in this world, for all such things are just transformations of the same material that the denizens of the hells experience.”

Viṣṇu might suggest that he ask for something beyond experience, so Pṛthu said, “You are the master of enlightenment, so maybe I should ask you to allow me to merge completely into consciousness itself, so that I never again experience anything except consciousness itself? But no, I do not want even that, my dear. I would never want to exist in a state in which I could not drink the experience of your lotus feet.”

Viṣṇu, in shyness, would run out of suggestions – so Pṛthu would speak his mind in all honesty. “The benediction I ask from you is this: give me infinite senses to experience you! Give me unlimited ears to hear what comes from the heart, through the mouth of the greatest souls.”

What sound comes from the heart of the greatest souls? Pṛthu explained, “The breeze of their breath carries the pollen of their love for you from the lotus of your feet, which they embrace in their hearts. It becomes honey as it passes through their vocal chords. The ear drinks this honey in the form of the supreme poetry. This nectar-honey grants every boon, even to we who are without spiritual discipline and have no idea about the paths of philosophy. Any other benediction is completely unnecessary!”

Viṣṇu might ask, “Wouldn’t you eventually become tired of drinking it? Even the sweetest honey eventually becomes tiresome. So, in the end, wouldn’t it be better to merge peacefully into pure consciousness?”

Pṛthu exclaimed, “If, somehow, someone even once winds up hearing attentively about your auspicious fame from those who really comprehend it, how would that person ever ‘get enough’ of it – unless they are like a dull animal who cannot appreciate the difference between fine food and common garbage? Even the Goddess of Fortune herself, Śrī, wants only this blessing!”

Viṣṇu might test Pṛthu by trying to discourage him. “You are a powerful man, emperor of the world! Why would you ask for the same thing that an emotional woman wants?”

Pṛthu declared, “I desire exactly what she wants! I want to become exactly like her, the Lotus-handed Goddess of Fortune! I want the same relationship with you that she has! I want to love you as the Supreme Male, the storehouse of all attractions and qualifications!”

Viṣṇu would test further. “I already have my wife! Taking you as a second might cause problems!”

Pṛthu explained, “She and I will not quarrel or compete over our shared husband – we will cooperate to serve your feet as one!”

Viṣṇu would ask, “But what if she doesn’t feel the same way?”

Pṛthu explained, “O Master of the Universe, I am dedicated to you, so I am not afraid of her! Even if the mother of the universe gets mad at me for my desire to share in her fortune by assisting her, I know that you will calm her down. I am nothing compared to her, but you especially love the lowly and you consider even their insignificant efforts to be great accomplishments.”

Viṣṇu was speechless. His heart stunned and bound in the ropes of emotion, he could not speak or wipe the tears that flowed from his beautiful eyes.

“By worshipping you,” Pṛthu concluded, “great souls dispel all confused fascination with the glamour of external existence. I know that they desire nothing from this worship except to constantly remember your All-Attractive feet.”

Then, in the great intimacy of love, Pṛthu chastised Viṣṇu. “When you say, ‘Ask me for a benediction,’ the whole world becomes deluded. Such words are like ropes that will only bind us to misery – for what can we possibly ask for except the ordinary, toilsome things that we are already so intoxicated with? We have divorced our identities from you and given ourselves to your external existence. We have no idea of our true identity. So, you should not ask us to choose our own benedictions! You should be like a father who does what he knows is best for his children.”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 September 2012, Durban, South Africa, Radhastami Lecture)

Mother Yasoda wants only the best for her son so she grows very special grass which is fed to very special cows who then produce very special milk. Then early in the morning, she calls for Srimati Radharani. Srimati Radharani, at that time, is staying with her in-laws in the village of Yavat, some two kilometers away from Nandagrama, a little further from Varsana where her parents, Vrsabhanu and Kirtida, are still living.

Srimati Radharani, from the house of her in-laws, is brought to the house of Yasoda in the morning. Although Jatila, her mother-in-law, is not so eager to let her go, she is forced to do so by her elders. The elders were saying, ‘How can you disobey the queen of Vrndavana?’ And mother Yasoda wants Srimati Radharani to cook for Krsna because Srimati Radharani had pleased Durvasa Muni once and she got the benediction that whatever she cooks will provide long life to whoever eats it plus it will taste like nectar! So mother Yasoda is very eager that Krsna will get a long life because like any mother, she is always worried. That is the nature of mothers, they always need something to worry about; something can possibly go wrong and mother Yasoda is not any different. So she is reciting all kinds of different mantras on the body of Krsna and in different ways, trying to protect him from all possible dangers and she wants him to have a long life. Therefore, she insists that Radharani has to cook for Krsna.

So early in the morning, Srimati Radharani leaves home, carried in a palanquin by various gopi servants, who are carrying her along the pathway, fanning her and transporting her to the house of Yasoda. Rohini has already started the fire early in the morning and started some preparations and is cooking away when Radharani arrives. Then Radharani begins to prepare so many of Krsna’s favourite preparations! She is very expert in making various sweet preps like kheer and rasagula for the pleasure of Krsna, who is very fond of such sweets. That is the nature of Krsna and Radharani is there every day.

Early in the morning, Krsna rises and the very first thing that Krsna does, even before bathing, is to milk the cows because the udders of the cows are full in the morning and they cannot wait so that must be done first.

Then when Krsna takes his bath, it is a festival because the gopis are assisting in the bathing as well as the cowherd boys. In that way, the spiritual world resembles the deity worship which we are performing here in this world. Behind the altar, there is a whole crew of devotees who are preparing things for the worship of Krsna. So in the same way, that is going on also. The dressing of Krsna is done by many in the spiritual world. Krsna is not dressing Himself.

By some higher arrangement, I will be joining His Holiness Radhanath Swami for saintly Amala Bhakta Prabhu’s sannyasa ceremony today—the first sannyasa initiation in New Dvaraka in more than three decades. Then tomorrow morning Radhanath Swami and I will fly together from Los Angeles to Boston for the fiftieth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America there, which ultimately led to us all coming together and being engaged in devotional service to His Divine Grace, his guru maharaja, the Panca-tattva, and Sri Sri Radha-Krishna.

bhavapavargo bhramato yada bhavej
janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samagamah
sat-sangamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau
paravarese tvayi jayate ratih

“O my Lord! O infallible Supreme Person! When a person wandering throughout the universes becomes eligible for liberation from material existence, he gets an opportunity to associate with devotees. When he associates with devotees, his attraction for You is awakened. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest goal of the topmost devotees, and the Lord of the universe.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.51.53)

Hare Krishna.

Your aspiring servant,
Giriraj Swami

Hare Krishna! HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj’s Vyasapuja a Grand Success for the TOVP!
Due to the mercy of their spiritual master, HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj’s disciples enthusiastically made commitments to support the construction of the TOVP. More than 700 devotees made pledges that day, totaling more than 2.5 million dollars. The willingness of Maharaj to open his doors to the TOVP fundraising team, despite the fact that he has five major temple projects of his own to complete, encouraged everyone present. The leaders of ISKCON have shown great appreciation for the effort Maharaj has made to assist the TOVP Project. For this act of devotion to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Srila Prabhupada, we congratulate and offer him our heartfelt gratitude.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19826

Destination Mongolia – A Visit To A Monastery (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we journeyed to Kharkhorin and visited Erdene Zuu, an ancient Buddhist monastery. There we discussed philosophy with the monks and how we could work together to increase interest in spiritual life amongst the youth of Mongolia. Towards the end of our visit the head of the monastery invited all the resident monks to come and hear us chant Hare Krsna. Before leaving we presented the leader of the monastery with a copy of Srila Prabhupada’s, Bhagavad Gita As It is. It was an historic occasion.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/V4qUSl

Reception for Prime Minister of India
Bhaktivedanta Manor: We are delighted to confirm that ISKCON – Bhaktivedanta Manor is one of the Partners for the forthcoming Reception at Wembley Stadium to honour His Excellency, the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. The event will take place on 13 November 2015.
Read more: http://goo.gl/Y8SJ7c

This month, the ISKCON Disciple Course – a program introduced in 2012 to help devotees better understand the guru-disciple relationship – became a requirement for initiation into ISKCON. And now, the straightforwardly-named The Guru and Disciple Book, by Prabhupada disciple Kripamoya Das, adds to the complex age-old topic and makes it even more accessible.

The post Bh. Alexey asks what is the qualification that is required for devotees to not search for Krsna consciousness outside of what Srila Prabhupada gave and ISKCON appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Last seminar in Turkey.

The post The importance of organization to realise the purposes of Krsna consciousness appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Hare Krishna! Bhaktivedanta Research Centre Newsletter
BRC Digitizes Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s Handwritten Letters. BRC recently digitized several never- before- seen letters that were personally written by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur to Mahendra Nath Datta. BRC Bengali Section Librarian, Bharati Roy Mataji has translated them into English for the first time. Gratefully, we accepted the permission of Niranjan Roy, whose wife is Mahendra Nath Datta’s granddaughter. Niranjan Roy is currently the head of Bhaktivinoda Gosthi, a committee of devotees from Birnagar that help manage Bhaktivinode Thakur’s birthplace.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19823

Harinama in London (6 min video)
If this video doesn’t put a smile on your face hardly anything else will!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/cCh6sL

The Power of Prayers!
Jayapataka Maharaj’s long-standing secretary, Mahavaraha Das writes this. It was in the month of may this year, just 3 months ago that Jayapataka Maharaj faced a very serious health crisis. As Jayapataka Maharaj is back preaching here is an article written by HG Mahavaraha prabhu , underlying the importance of prayer and a series of events that went on in those difficult days.
The Power of Prayers
————-
Prayers and willpower are an intrinsic part of the lives of aspiring spiritualists. They form the foundation and crux of the daily lives of individuals of all faiths, whether they be Christian, Muslim, Jewish or Hindu. In fact, the prayers and willpower of devotees are so enthusiastic and determined that we sometimes forget their true potential in our fights against Maya. Regardless of our short remembrance, the prayers by sincere devotees establish a direct link with the Lord that, at the very least, convince Him to hear our pleas.
Now let’s just take a step back for a second and ask ourselves, “What is a prayer, anyway”? According to Oxford dictionaries, a prayer is “a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity.”
Queen Kunti. Prahlad Maharaj. Draupadi. Gajendra. These divine personalities are without a doubt, exemplary pure devotees of the Lord. But they all had something special in common - their determined, unyielding, intense prayers convinced the Lord to turn His merciful glance upon them in perilous situations that would have otherwise resulted in tragic results.
As we begin to see the first rays of sunshine at the end of this dangerously dark tunnel of HH Jayapataka Swami’s recent health crisis, we may assert that we have witnessed the Bhagavatam and Caritamrta coming alive in the present day.
For a short recap of events: Jayapataka Maharaj was having severe breathing difficulties in Mayapur during the beginning of May. A multi-resistant pneumonia caused him to not be able to breathe well. Due to this inability to breathe well, carbon dioxide began building up in his body. Further, due to a weak liver, ammonia gas also began building up. The excess of gases combined with a low breathing power caused his body to become almost unconscious. As per medical science, the aforementioned symptoms would eventually lead to death. Vital parameters could not be stabilized in Kolkata and we experienced a momentary loss of hope. Shortly thereafter, Jayapataka Maharaj was intubated during the wee hours of the morning and airlifted to New Delhi.
Intubation is a procedure in which a pipe attached to a ventilator machine is inserted down the trachea through the vocal chords to assist in breathing. Jayapataka Maharaj was sedated for some days as it is common medical procedure to sedate patients during intubation to help in maintaining patients’ peace of mind and allowing them to sleep well. It is extremely uncomfortable to have tubes inserted all the way down one’s throat. After about a week of the intubation, the doctors noticed that Jayapataka Maharaj’s sedation was weaning off and he was becoming alert and active. Seeing these positive signs, they decided to remove the pipe (known as an extubation). After extubation, he was still kept in the ICU for a few days. On the 26th of May, Jayapataka Maharaj was shifted to a private room. However, within a day-and-a-half, his breathing drastically dropped, again. He had failed the first attempt. Thus, he was moved back into the ICU and was sedated and intubated. All our hopes crumbled. The hospital doctors, our in house doctors, and the caretakers were so worried. There was a big question mark hanging on the top of our heads. We, the caretakers and the senior disciples team of Jayapataka Maharaj, decided that we should announce Jayapataka Maharaj’s precarious and fragile health condition to the GBC Body and the ISKCON World. That same day, the GBC Executive Body sent out a message in the social media about Jayapataka Maharaj’s perilous condition and requested devotees to intensify their prayers. This time, Jayapataka Maharaj was intubated for a longer time to ensure that he would be able to breathe on his own, using his own lungs. After a few days, Jayapataka Maharaj became more alert and active, but he was still very much dependant on the ventilator to breathe. The hospital doctors became even more cautious at this time. They gave their very best in their treatment of Jayapataka Maharaj.
3rd June, 10.30 AM: Due to the risk of infection of having a tube inserted down one’s trachea for so long, Dr. Sarin decided that it would be best to have the ventilator removed and have a tracheotomy performed. A tracheotomy is a minor surgical procedure in which an incision is made through the trachea to allow for a tube to be inserted which assists in breathing. However, reactions to this decision turned out to be completely unexpected, especially from Jayapataka Maharaj’s side; Jayapataka Maharaj has undergone this same surgery, twice. Dr. Sarin, himself, was not happy from the very beginning and hesitated to give this tracheotomy option to Jayapataka Maharaj because he was afraid that Jayapataka Maharaj’s voice could be affected. He knows very well that preaching is Jayapataka Maharaj’s life, which obviously involves lots of talking. But you’ll see below how it all played out, below.
4th June, 11:30 AM: There was a meeting with all of the doctors and Jayapataka Maharaj’s medical team regarding the tracheotomy. Dr. Sarin had already called the top tracheotomy specialists in Delhi to come and perform the procedure. The final step was to obtain Jayapataka Maharaj’s consent and views on the procedure. Later in the day, a medical representative came and presented the top-of-the-line tracheotomy device to the health team. We demonstrated the function of the device to Jayapataka Maharaj.
5th June: From the morning onwards, Jayapataka Maharaj, Dr. Pritirupini and the caretakers had meetings with Jayapataka Maharaj, meticulously going through the pros and cons of having the tracheotomy done. The ICU head doctor, Dr. Lalita, was explaining all of the medical textbook justifications and reasons regarding why it was essential for Jayapataka Maharaj to have the tracheotomy, especially having failed the first attempt at extubation. However, Jayapataka Maharaj was still not convinced. Dr. Lalita clearly explained how if it were another patient present, there would have been no choice; they would have immediately gone for the tracheotomy. However, she said that given Jayapataka Maharaj’s determination and him being a divine person, she would give him a second chance. During the evening, Dr. Pritirupini, Dr. Acyutananda and Jayapataka Maharaj had a skype conversation with and a top doctor from Atlanta, Dr. Anand Deval. He was explaining all the pros and cons of having the tracheotomy performed. However, even after all these discussions, Jayapataka Maharaj still refused to have the procedure done. His willpower was just unshakeable. He wanted to have another chance to breathe on his own without the ventilator and without the tracheotomy too.
Then, the doctors finally had to agree to Jayapataka Maharaj’s desire and they extubated him. But all the doctors said that if he was unable to breathe, then they would go for the tracheotomy straight away. During the midnight hours of June 6th, the first night after removing the pipe, Jayapataka Maharaj’s carbon dioxide levels increased and they put on the gigantic Cpap mask which regulates the breathing pattern. Fortunately, the carbon dioxide levels became controlled. For the first few days and nights, we all had our fingers crossed. There were so many ups and downs. By the fourth day of this second attempt of extubation, Jayapataka Maharaj’s breathing had gradually improved. Doctors were shocked to see an overturn of medical theory. Devotees were ecstatic to witness the progress he was making. Jayapataka Maharaj was calm and composed, determined to continue on in his service to Srila Prabhupada.
From the very beginning of this health crisis, the JPS correspondence team has been continuously providing updates on Jayapataka Maharaj’s health condition and encouraging devotees to pray for him by inundating the social media. Thousands of devotees and even non-devotees have spontaneously prayed for Jayapataka Maharaj. So just if you’re curious: Within a month, post the health crisis, Jayapataka Maharaj has received over 1000 emails from all over the world, including countries such as Ghana, Estonia, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Uganda, and Iran, with devotees reporting their extra services dedicated for his fast recovery. Collectively, over 99,000 extra rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and over 411,000 recitations of the Narasimha Kavacha and Ugram Viram Mantras have been chanted. Nearly 400 hours of kirtan were performed and over 3000 books were distributed. 790 devotees were reported to have observed full Pandava-Nirjala Ekadasi fasting and many devotees also reported having done special fire sacrifices and home programs. Please keep in mind that these reported statistics are only those extra devotional services that devotees chose to report! There are still many unreported services that have been dedicated to Jayapataka Maharaj. Further, with this month being Purushottam Adhika Masa, devotees are performing even more devotional service and preaching dedicated to Jayapataka Maharaj’s quick recovery.
Jayapataka Maharaj has expressed his heartfelt appreciation for all your extra services on numerous occasions. It is undoubtedly clear that intense prayers and Jayapataka Maharaj’s determined will power combined with the doctors’ skilled efforts and Krsna’s divine intervention have brought him to this current stage after this health crisis.
Clearly, the power of prayer is inconceivable. It is best explained by Jayapataka Maharaj, himself - “Prayer is a very important activity we have. It is a private talk between the devotee and the Lord. It also helps us to establish our personal relationship with Krishna because we are praying to Him, as that is our communication with the Lord.” (Excerpt from Srimad Bhagavatam Class 6.9.46, 24th May 1999, Sridham Mayapur)
Jaya Srila Prabhupada! Jaya Jayapataka Maharaj!
Maha Varaha Das

Hare Krishna! ISKCON 50 World Holy Name Week
An important GBC initiative, to glorify Srila Prabhupada and Holy Names – World Holy Name Week (WHNW) is around the corner. This year it’s very special as it marks the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the west and bringing the Holy Names to the shores of the western world. That World Holy Name Day is made an annual program for all ISKCON centers. The observance of the World Holy Name Day is to be held in connection with the anniversary observances of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the USA Sept. 17, 1965 (GBC resolution 2006) On seeing the tremendous success and potential of this event, in 2008 GBC has resolved ‘World Holy Name Day’ into ‘World Holy Name Week’ and to celebrate this event for an extended period of time.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19820

The post Daily Darshan – September 16th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Appearance Day of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 2015.09.06

Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna festival returning to Croome Court (Worcestershire, UK)
THE Hare Krishnas will return to a place in Worcestershire they once called home. From when they sold Croome Court over 30 years ago, the Hare Krishnas are returning with their annual event which celebrates their time at the National Trust mansion house and parkland during the 1980s. The event, which will see Croome burst into song, dance and live music, takes place on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20. Becky Wilks, events officer at Croome, said: “It’s great to have some of the devotees return to Croome as part of our Hidden Heritage programme to share their stories with our visitors over the weekend.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19815

Hare Krishna! Custom Routing Tool Now Being Manufactured for TOVP
In yet another remarkable innovative step forward, the TOVP engineering team has embarked on the development of a custom-made tool to be used for engraving designs into wood, metal and styrofoam for various elements of the temple; the 4 Axis CNC Router. Being manufactured in China, this router is designed to serve the specific needs of the TOVP. It has been selected for its precise work and will be used for making mold patterns in wooden doors, windows, etc. The 3D design-based tool can not only carve patterns into wood, but it can also cut into aluminum and mill styrofoam which will be used for the ceiling, arches, screens and GRC molds.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19812

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 September 2012, Durban, South Africa, Radhastami Lecture)

Krsna is the all attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sri krsna-akarsani, devotional service can attract Krsna. Srimati Radharani is in the maha mantra, present in the word ‘Hare’. The word ‘Hare’ represents devotional service. Devotional service is of a very wonderful nature because as described in the Nectar of Devotion, devotional service is sri krsna-akarsani.

Krsna is known as Acyuta because Krsna never fails to notice any service rendered to him. In that way, service rendered by any devotee, anywhere in the three worlds, is always noticed by Krsna and Krsna reciprocates. Still, amongst all devotees, there is one devotee who is the topmost devotee and that devotee is Srimati Radharani!

The followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is really the originator of this Hare Krsna movement, are taught to understand that no one can please Krsna more than Srimati Radharani. Therefore, rather than to aspire to serve Krsna directly, we are aspiring to become the servant, of the servant, of the servant of Srimati Radharani – a hundred times, a thousand times, a hundred thousand times, a million times, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-anu-dasa (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 13.80). It makes sense and this actually is the mood of Vrndavana.

Vrndavana is a place which is different from any mundane place in this world like where we appeared and where we are trying to perform our own pastimes. Everyone is busy trying to create their own pastimes but these pastimes which we are performing are pastimes for our pleasure. But Vrndavana is of a different nature. The entire existence of Vrndavana is only for one purpose which is to please Krsna and everything within Vrndavana is meant for that pleasure of Krsna, hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 19.170).

In Vrndavana, pathways are made of transcendental gems and these gems are also devotees of the Lord. These gems are simply there to please Krsna. The bodies of water at the side of the pathway contain many beautiful birds and wonderful lotus flowers and so on, and all are there simply for the pleasure of Krsna. When Krsna places his lotus feet in the river Yamuna, the water plants in the Yamuna hold onto Krsna’s lotus feet and will not allow Krsna to move his feet out of the Yamuna again. The Yamuna then stops flowing and begins to show little whirlpools of ecstasy because Krsna’s lotus feet are in her waters. How could she flow and move past Krsna when his lotus feet are there!? There is no flowing! So in this way in Vrndavana, all the residents are absorbed in Krsna prema, prema-antaranga, deeply absorbed in such love of God.

“Then Srila Prabhupada said that he never complained, because his policy was, “Everything for Krsna; nothing for myself.” He mentioned how he had suffered in so many ways in the course of establishing the Krsna consciousness movement; he had struggled to get passage to America and then on the way suffered two heart attacks at sea, and even when he got to America he had suffered in so many ways—he had buzzing in his ears and his head. “I cannot even describe how much I suffered,” he said. “Nor do I want to.” But he had never complained.

“Everything for Krsna; nothing for myself.” That is why, as a service to Krsna, Srila Prabhupada was serving us—because his ultimate goal was to bring us back to our eternal relationship with Krsna and engage us in His service. Essentially, he was bathing us, feeding us, and dressing us—teaching us how to live as human beings so that ultimately he could bring us to the position where he could offer us for Krsna’s service.

He asked for only one thing—that we continue his mission.”

—Giriraj Swami

Akruranatha Dasa
Kanka Dasi
Jaggarini Dasi
Satyadeva Dasa
Mahaguna Dasi
Nrihari Dasa
Bhavatarini Dasi
Giriraj Swami
Srila Dasa
Vaisesika Dasa

Hare Krishna! Plaza of the Americas renovation makes room for Krishna
The Foundation has partnered with Krishna House to raise funds for the project, said the chaplain and manager of Krishna House, Carl Woodham. “We have such a long-standing relationship with the university,” he said. The renovation will also bring a designated area for Krishna Lunch to be served, Woodham said. The Foundation is also working with UF Libraries to seek support for a combined Plaza of the Americas and Library West entrance renovation, Orlando said. The renovation doesn’t have a start or end date yet, but the Foundation is working on the official timeline, Orlando said. The planning was finalized about a year and a half ago, and small modifications have been added since then.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19809

Hare Krishna! The Perils Of Being Over-intelligent
‘Once bitten twice shy’ may be the general maxim. Does it mean we should suspect every devotee around us? Some discriminators say we are being naïve if we see only the good in devotees. Are we being naïve if we see only the good in others? Many of us are accustomed to the intellectual cynicism afforded by ‘free’ democratic societies. The news we read or hear, and judicious endings to court cases are often the work of investigative journalists or police work, who often test the limits of constitutional liberties such as the freedom of speech, expression, the rights to life, to privacy and so on, which favor a decent and dignified existence. When we come to Krsna consciousness, a cultural shock awaits us as we become exposed to the ancient way of obedience to authority, to guru, sadhu and Sastra.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2181

Hare Krishna! Caring For Devotees: The Spiritual Counselor System
Radhanath Swami: A devotee has given his whole life to serve this mission, and then he becomes very sick. He needs help. He lays sick on the floor “I can’t do my service.” And we say, “You are in maya. You are not the body.” “Thank you. Philosophically it’s true: I am not this body and I am in maya, but I need your help to get out of maya and transcend this body. I need the love, support and care of a Vaisnava to take me through this.” As a service to all of you, I am offering a brief explanation of how we are attempting to serve the Vaisnavas at the Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha Mandir, in Mumbai
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1378

Hare Krishna! Have You Burnt The Ravana Within?
Many people think of a villain as a person who enjoys by exploiting and harming others. Though not wrong, this conception of evil is incomplete and naïve as it ignores a fundamental reality: our supremely responsible and loving father, God. Probably most of us never got spiritual education to realize that it is God who selflessly provides us our daily food. It is true that we have to work hard to earn our living, but our effort is secondary; its like the hard work of the birds searching for grains. Without God pre-providing the grains through nature, their search, no matter how painstaking, would be fruitless.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1656

Indradyumna Swami: During our trip to Kharkhorin, the old capital of Mongolia, we visited the ancient Buddhist monastery of Erdene Zuu. After discussing spiritual matters with the monks there for sometime, they asked us to have kirtan. I believe it was one of the best kirtans Bada Haridas prabhu ever led. Before leaving we gave the head monk a copy of Bhagavad Gita. It was altogether an historic occasion. That evening we had wonderful program for 100 citizens of Kharkhorin in a local hall. After the lecture everyone chanted and danced in great happiness during the kirtan.
See the photos here: https://goo.gl/JcCjb5