Websites from the ISKCON Universe
World Holy Name Week (WHNW), first established in 2008, is increasing in popularity with forty-three ISKCON Centers worldwide in 2013 and over fifty last year putting on events designed to share, spread and become absorbed in the Holy Name of God.
Dr. Graham M. Schweig on Prabhupada’s Historic Achievements
As we hear from the ancient voice of the Upanishads cry out: tamaso mā jyotir gamaya! “From darkness, lead us to light!” (Bṛhadāranyaka 1.3.28). Swami Prabhupāda has brought more light into this world, a world in which we still find too much darkness. Let us celebrate on this day how Swami Prabhupāda raised greater awareness to the monumental teachings of the Bhagavad Gītā. Let us honor on this day how Swami Prabhupāda selflessly traveled the world to the hearts of so many. Let us recognize the accomplishments of one of India’s greatest exponents of Sanātana Dharma, the eternal teachings of what is good and right in the world that is in harmony with the divine. We owe a great debt to Swami Prabhupāda for raising the consciousness of countless millions to a much greater consciousness, ultimately to Krishna consciousness, and how he has moved the minds and hearts to a greater awareness of all the blessings we have in life and to a greater sensitivity to all living beings everywhere. And finally let me say how I offer my respects to such a man who represents so much the rising of India’s spirit in its exultation of all that is loving in the universe and of all the blessings showered down up us! Thank you, Swami Prabhupāda! Thank you very much. Namaste.“
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/uIvD6J
These famous prayers were sung by the Gopis when Krishna suddenly disappeared from their company and they were searching for Him everywhere. This is one of the finest poetry ever composed. Srimad Bhagavatam is ‘Grantharaja’, the king of all the scriptures and this poetry is one of its crest jewels. (Music and video by Dr. Sahadeva Dasa)
Hare Krishna! Branding the 50th Anniversary
Mukunda Goswami: The concept of ‘branding’ can be used by putting ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary logo on every ISKCON website, temple notice, temple poster, temple advertising and in many other places. Placing ISKCON’s 50 th Anniversary logo everywhere is important propaganda. The official logo can appear on ISKCON notices, memos, concession cards, vouchers, announcements, statements, letterheads, websites, position papers, news releases, communiqués of all description, bulletin boards, signs, briefings, manuals, fact sheets, handouts, flyers, minutes of meetings, notices, directories, reports – and the list goes on. On occasion, this may cost something, but many applications, like websites, are free.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20157
A Glimplse Into Krishna Balaram Mandir’s Architecture (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/zetvBL
We live in an overcommunicated world. The prevailing culture insists we reply to all text messages within 10 minutes, be mindful of the mountain of emails building up in our inbox, and religiously return random ‘missed calls’ on our phones.
Preaching in the Legendary City Of Genghis Khan (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday in our travels here in Mongolia we visited two cities; one of them Chinggis, the legendary birthplace of Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire. As we entered the city and asked for directions, one of the citizens reminded us of Genghis Khan’s famous statement, “One Mongolian is worth a hundred foreigners.” Despite the warning, we found the people of Chinggis to be as open to Krsna consciousness as anywhere else in the country. Soon after harinama we had a hall full of people listening attentively to the philosophy of Bhagavad Gita and dancing in ecstasy during kirtan. Such is the causeless mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/bPxGzt
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 10 September 2015, Lenasia, Evening Lecture, Bhagavad-gita 7.7)
Besides the holy name and transcendental knowledge, there is one more factor in our life which is life itself. Life, is also is our teacher because Krsna is merciful to all living beings. It is said that the uttama-adhikari (topmost devotee) is seeing that everyone is perfectly situated because Krsna is taking care of everybody. Nobody is neglected by Krsna. Krsna makes arrangements for everyone’s purification. So there is no difficulty, no problem. “Everything is fine,” says the uttama-adhikari. Krsna is taking care of everyone and that is true. Therefore, through life itself, Krsna is making arrangements for our purification also.
So, I was reading a story which I will share with you and in this story, life is compared to a house. It says that Krsna is entering into that house and is renovating the house. Now, we knew it had to be done. We knew there were things in our life which needed fixing. So Krsna is fixing these things – the illicit activities, the inappropriate elements, meat, fish, eggs, gambling, intoxication, lust, greed, anger, envy, madness, illusion – all these things, they have to go and Krsna is taking them out of the house. So, we are not surprised. In this way, Krsna has been renovating our house and it all seemed to make sense.
But as of late, as of late, what is he doing!? He is breaking the whole house! No, really. I mean he is doing all kinds of things! He is turning everything upside down! He breaking our whole life! What on earth is he doing!? Krsna, you know, we thought he was going to fix our house and make it like a pleasant little cottage but this is not a fact. Actually, he is adding a wing here and a wing there. He is building a palace! And he is planning to live in it himself! This is what is going on. So in this way, the purification is not only going on by reading Bhagavad-gita and not only going on by chanting Hare Krsna but it is also going on by life itself.
"Prabhupāda has brought more light into this world, a world in which we still find too much darkness. Let us celebrate on this day how Prabhupāda raised greater awareness to the monumental teachings of the Gītā."
The post Questions from Adkosaja Krsna like why do karma-less animals get run over appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Students from the Sri Mayapur International School perform the dharma for this age: Harinama Sankirtana (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/lnBA1T
Born in New York City, Amala-bhakta Swami worked in motion pictures in California before beginning a search for the true purpose of life. Moving back to New York in 1957, he studied and then began teaching ashtanga yoga, establishing his own yoga center and amassing a following of 400 disciples. In 1976 he moved to Los Angeles to join the ISKCON temple there and receive initiation from Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krishna! Another Dimension – Ukraine Television Interview
Another Dimension – Ukraine Television Interview with Bhakti-Chaitanya Swami. The process of systematically cultivating transcendental consciousness by offering loving service to the Supreme Living Entity upon Whom all is resting and depending. Bhakti yoga and the chanting of Hare Krishna.
Watch it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20153
Who has time for mindfulness when deadlines are looming and our managers are breathing down our necks? Mindfulness might be good for monks living in the forest or folks who have retired from corporate life but unrealistic for busy, working individuals.
A Christian meditation: Acknowledge your blessings
I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels.
My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, ‘This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.’ I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.
Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section. The angel then said to me, 'This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them.’
I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery.
Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the Door of a very small station to my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. 'This is the Acknowledgment Section,’ my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed 'How is it that there is no work going on here?’ I asked.
'So sad,’ the angel sighed. 'After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments.’
'How does one acknowledge the blessings?’ I asked.
'Simple,’ the angel answered. Just say, 'O Lord! Let me be grateful to You for all Your blessings upon me.’ (Or chant “Hareee Krishna”!)
30.09.2015 H.G.Rohini Suta Prabhu_SB-6.01.51
The post Daily Darshan – October 1st, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Answer Podcast:
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The post How can we differentiate between Krishna and Maya in subtle situations? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast:
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The post How can we cultivate the disposition of surrender? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast:
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The post How does the existence of the finite point to the existence of the infinite? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Srimad Bhagavatam class at Denver
Lecture Podcast:
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The post QA tradition brings intellectual vibrancy to bhakti appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Talk at University of Colorado
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The post Manage the mind through introspection and meditation appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Hare Krishna! Do We Complain Too Much?
While performing our services according to ability and inclination, mistakes will be expected. The tendency to highlight those as faults can be habitual, which has the effect of being caught up in a cobweb. If we persist in complaining about faults, thinking we are still advancing in spiritual life, without any ill effects to our health or well-being, will solidify to become steel cables. The fact that the mind is attracted to flying towards the sores of others’ mistakes is evident the Lord is displeased. Such behavior is really a selfish activity. How so? More often than not, if we are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but due to our own estimation of it, and we have the power to revoke it by becoming more Krsna conscious.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2018
Medical Practitioners Meet and Retreat At Gita Nagari Yoga Farm
More than 50 ISKCON medical practitioners—doctors, nurses, medical technicians, Ayurveda experts and other healthcare professionals—gathered at the Gita Nagari Yoga Farm in rural Pennsylvania on September 25-27 for a three-day event, the “North American ISKCON Medical Professionals Retreat.” The event was organized by four doctors, Lila Manjari dasi, a Psychiatrist from Columbus, Ohio; Premvilas das, a physician of Internal Medicine and his wife Lalita dasi, a physician in Family Practice and Palliative Care, both from Columbus; and Acyuta Gauranga das, a Vascular Surgeon from Detroit, Michigan.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/OWo8dN
FATAL FAT
Chaitanya Charan Das: Obesity and all other indulgence-induced problems originate from the presumption that material enjoyment is the only enjoyment available to us – and so we must have it, whatever the cost. But the Vedic scriptures – and indeed all the great spiritual texts – inform us that this presumption is a misconception. We are intrinsically spiritual beings. Our deepest fulfillment comes from having a satisfying relationship with God. The unlimited inner happiness thereof is our birthright, but being spiritually uninformed, we are searching in vain for that infinite happiness in the realm of finite matter. Most people assume that they can’t enjoy life because they don’t have enough money. But obesity statistics show that, even if they get all the money in the world to eat whatever they like as much as they like, still they will not be able to enjoy unlimitedly because their body limits their capacity to enjoy – inescapably.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2202
GaurangaGifts.com launched
Mayapur Tourism has announced the launch of its online shopping portal Gaurangagifts.com.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20142
More than 50 ISKCON medical practitioners—doctors, nurses, medical technicians, Ayurveda experts and other healthcare professionals—gathered at the Gita Nagari Yoga Farm in rural Pennsylvania on September 25-27 for a three-day event, the “North American ISKCON Medical Professionals Retreat.”
The post Bh. Mike asks to hear about taking vanaprastha at 50 appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 September 2015, Midrand, Johannesburg, Lecture)
When one corner of the spiritual world becomes covered by a cloud of illusory energy then Krsna cannot be seen, nāhaḿ prakāśaḥ sarvasya, yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ, mūḍho ’yaḿ nābhijānāti, loko mām ajam avyayam (Bhagavad-gita 7.25), Krsna becomes covered by his yogamaya energy.
āvṛtaḿ jñānam etena, jñānino nitya-vairiṇā, kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya, duṣpūreṇānalena ca (Bhagavad-gita 3.39), Krsna becomes covered when lust is burning in the heart. In this way, the living being resides in this covered portion of the spiritual world. Somehow, due to the illusory energy, living beings are thinking that they are in the material world but Srila Prabhupada pointed out that we are actually in the spiritual world right now. There is nothing separating us from the spiritual world other than our own illusion.
It is not that after a lot of hard work in devotional service, after chanting many, many rounds and after being a very good devotee then may be/possibly/theoretically speaking it could happen that at the end of this life, one might actually go back to Godhead… and it is a long, long journey. No, it is instantaneous.
It is not a physical journey, it is a journey of becoming aware of that other dimension and once that other dimension is there, we are there – it is not like a long drive to the spiritual world…
The post Daily Darshan – September 30th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Kirtan Fest Brazil
One of the most expected events of ISKCON Brazil provides us with a great deal of enthusiasm and makes sure that there is no other way except get the shelter of Maha Mantra Hare Krishna. This year, KIRTAN FEST will give even more emphasis to the chanting of the holy names with lectures conducted by Purushtraya Swami, Yamunacarya Goswami, Lokasaksi Prabhu and Setukara Prabhu who dedicated their lives to this sublime process. The kirtans will be even more inspiring with the participation of large Brazilian kirtanyas, besides the presence of Amala Kirtan Das and Krishna Gour Das. The prasadam will be prepared by the best-known chefs of ISKCON Brasil and their famous dishes. Children will have a special space: KIRTAN FEST KIDS, with activities. All this will take place in New Gokula, Radha Gokulananda’s house.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20135
Hare Krishna! Representing ISKCON in a religious assembly
On 27 September 2015 His Holiness Lokanath Swami was invited by High Highness Divyasinghdev Gajapati Maharaj, the current king of Jagannath Puri to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Swami Chidanand Sarasvati. More than 8,000 people had gathered from all over India to attend this festival in the land of Lord Jagannath. Moreover, it was a wonderful preaching opportunity to represent Krishna’s holy name in front of a large religious assembly. There were many organisations such as the Ramakrishna Math, Divine Life Society and Chinmaya Mission.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20130
Radhastami drama Monday 21 sept
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 Indradyumna Swami and his group visited in Erdenet. Many were abandoned at birth in hospitals, or left simply on the side of the road. (A video by Ananta Vrindavan.)
In 1996, several foreign devotees who were visiting Mongolia, held kirtan in the streets of the capital, Ulaanbaatar. They were immediately caught and deported. For almost 20 years now the streets of the country have remained silent of the singing of Krishna's holy names. ISKCON's renewed status as a religious organization, however, now allows devotees to sing freely everywhere with prior permission. (Video by Ananta Govinda)
