Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Preaching in Mongolia (10 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Wearing traditional Mongolian coats at the request of local authorities, we spent our first day in the capital of Ulaanbaatar exploring the country’s ancient customs. In the evening we held a blissful program at our local ISKCON temple for devotees and guests alike. Our initial impression of Mongolia was thus filled with the resonating sound of Buddhist mantras and the sweet singing of Krsna’s holy names. Tomorrow we head for the ancient city of Kharakhorum where we’ll perform harinam samkirtan for the first time ever. A great adventure in service to the Lord!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Ty4omQ
Hare Krishna! ISKCON 50th Anniversary team looking for Webmaster and Social Media Manager
Preferably a graduate who has experience in creating or maintaining websites, and has used content management software Past experience in creating and maintaining websites must be demonstrated with a proven track-record in using Wordpress Knowledge of HTML would be an advantage, but not necessary Working Hours: Four to six hours a week. How to apply: The ISKCON 50 Webmaster will report to the International Coordinator for ISKCON 50 and will work under the guidance of the International Executive Committee.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19760
Hare Krishna! The Asset of the Gaudiya-Guru-Varga
Gour Govinda Swami: “These three desires are antaranga-karana, the internal cause of Krsna’s appearing as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and it was unfolded in the Gambhira with His very intimate associates. That is why the Deity of Radha-Kantha is there. Radha-Kantha is kisora-krsna, the very beautiful, eleven-year-old Krsna in Vrajabhumi. Whatever lila Krsna performs in Vrajabhumi, His svayam-rupa-lila, is Radha-Kantha’s lila. The pure, loving conjugal dealings of Krsna with the gopis is sadhya-vastu. That prema is the asset of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, and it is relished more in viraha-bhava, in the mood of separation, which is known as vipralambha-rasa.” A lecture delivered by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja at an evening program 24 July, 1995, Paris, France.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19757
You can get Basic Truths of Gaudiya Philosophy right now at vrajakishor.com
Darshan Of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath;31st August 2015
Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 September 2012, Durban, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 11.31.24-28)
It is said in the Bhagavatam that the pastimes of Krsna are always covered by darkness and cannot be seen by the materialist. Krsna remains hidden from the materialists. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is eternally present in Dwarka but hidden from non-devotees. For non-devotees, Dwarka has been inundated. It has disappeared in the waves and they can no longer see it and there are some remnants at the bottom of the ocean… if you believe in that! But to see beyond that, the devotee is granted transcendental eyes.
premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ, (Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā, verse 38)
He is given transcendental eyes, vilocanena; locanāḥ are eyes but vilocanena are special eyes! Blessed eyes which are more powerful and with premāñjana, the ointment of love.
So, in this way, with the eyes anointed with transcendental love, one can see Krsna. Then one can see Dwarka, then one can see Krsna in Dwarka or in Vrndavana. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura said that the kirtan in Srivas Angam, in Mayapur, is still going on today. He said, “Some devotees can hear it directly and others hear it through the scripture.”
So if we are not in the category of the devotees who can see Krsna directly, who can hear Krsna directly, then we hear through the scriptures. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta said, “It is the same result if we simply hear through the scriptures.”
śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ
hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇi
vidhunoti suhṛt satām (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.17)
When we are hearing this transcendental sound vibration about Krsna, then the abhadrāṇi, the inauspiciousness in the heart is gradually removed!
Giriraj Swami spoke about Krishna’s qualities and answered questions during the program.
“From the musical perspective Krishna’s flute playing even bewilders Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma is the most intelligent being in the universe. He is so intelligent that he engineered the whole universe and everything in it. Still, he could not wrap his mind around the melodies of Krishna’s flute. So, Krishna’s flute playing is completely transcendental—beyond the material realm. Krishna’s flute is also a messenger. When Krishna wants the cows to come back He calls them by playing His flute. When He plays his flute to call the gopis they hear the music but they also hear the message embedded in it. Sometimes our speech or chanting is also embedded with a message.”
—Giriraj Swami
Chaitanya Charitamrita daily Podcast:
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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
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Devotee Flutist to Play Vaishnava Songs to 10,000 at Japanese Concert
Award-winning flutist Bhadra Rupa Das has been invited to perform a concert of Gaudiya Vaishnava songs, along with a presentation on Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, to 10,000 people at a shrine in Takayama, Japan.
Bhadra Rupa, alias Luis De La Calle, is signed to Sony World Music, has performed at theaters around the world, and is a member of the US, British, and Japanese national flute associations. At his music academy in Geneva, Switzerland, he teaches students how to play devotional songs by Vaishnava composers like Narottama Das Thakur.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/1r2sOu
Iskcon devotees from Mongolia
Hare Krishna! The Paradox of Ethics (audio class)
Hari-kirtana dasa leads a discussion on the role of ethics in the Gita’s teachings. For contemporary people who value peace, one of the biggest challenges to understanding the Gita is Krishna’s insistence that the war Arjuna must wage is ethically correct. The larger role of ethics in the Gita’s discourse on the elevation of consciousness is often lost in the paradox of Krishna’s simultaneous advocacy of non-violence for those on the path of yoga and and his encouragement of Arjuna to fight from the position of yogic knowledge. In this class we’ll look at how the apparent contradiction of yogic non-violence and ethical warfare is reconciled in the Gita’s teachings.
Listen to it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19753
Hare Krishna! Proper Dealings With Others (audio class)
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: Simply by Narada Muni’s presence, Mrigari was getting purified. He asked Narada Muni how he could get free from the sinful acts he had committed so far. Narada Muni replied that he could, provided he followed the Muni’s instructions. When Mrigari agreed to do so, Narada Muni first instructed Mrigari to break his bow. Mrigari hesitated. His bow was his only means of sustenance. He and his family would starve if he gave up his bow. Narada Muni assured him that he would take care of Mrigari’s sustenance. Upon this, Mrigari broke his bow.
Listen to it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19749
Varnasrama series from Turkey.
The post Why and how principles of dharma become bhakti appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
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Kinda gonna be epic! SATURDAY 19th London Bus Party!
Hare Krishna! Iskcon Mayapur: Thanks to Flood Relief Donors
Due to the onset of festival season with festivals like Janmashtami, Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja and Radhashtami, thousands of pilgrims are visiting Sri Dhama Mayapur. This is a stark contrast when we look a month back as devotees were leaving Mayapur due to the flood. Entire ISKCON Mayapur campus was flooded then which led to a huge loss of resources. We heartily appreciate the sincere efforts and prayers of all devotees by which Mayapur could be back to normalcy. ISKCON Mayapur management expresses its special thanks to donors who joined us in our flood relief program. With their kind contributions, we could distribute everyday nearly 7000 plates of khichri prasad. The villagers waited anxiously for ISKCON boats to arrive so that they could have delicious khichri prasad. Many tarpaulin sheets were distributed and medical relief was provided by setting up medical camps.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19746
Hare Krishna! Lokanath Swami’s Book launched by Indian Minister of Culture & Tourism
His Holiness Lokanath Swami Maharaj’s book ‘Vraja Mandala Darsana’ was internationally launched by Honourable Indian State minister of Culture & Tourism, Dr. Mahesh Sharma at ISKCON Noida temple on 9th Sept.2015 at 11am. Noida MLA Mrs.Bimla Batham was also present there. Mr.Minister mentioned that Govt. of India has chosen out of many proposals, ISKCON, to be Govt. partner in celebrating Lord Caitanya’s 500th anniversary of Vraja Mandal Parikrama. Mr.Minister glorified the contents of this book and utility especially for the people who cannot visit Vraja Mandala physically, they can tour Vraja Mandala through this book.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19743
The post Daily Darshan – September 12th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Lord of The Universe And His Day Out Part 2,
Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:
Amidst serene and scenic beauty
an island house getaway
observing vistas three stories high
visible water on two sides
crashing waves and calm waters
salt scented wind forever blows
the all-powerful sun runs the show
floating unimaginable tons of water
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 24 June 2013, Czech Summer Camp, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.2.33)
We should get serious now. Our time is running out! We must increase our devotional life and that is really necessary. It is not so cheap, going back to Godhead.
We get the chance but we still have to work for it. Why else did we join the Hare Krsna movement if we do not want to go back to Godhead? Did we really join for the halva?
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Our Lord and the Twelve Disciples was the title of a Victorian print hanging on the wall of my childhood Sunday school in Cornwall. I can still see it now. In different attentive postures, the twelve are gathered around their Master, whose right hand is held in benediction. They are in awe at his divine words, and their closeness to the Son of God indicates their status not merely as followers, but as The Twelve Disciples. That picture had a lasting effect on me. Throughout my childhood, the word disciple always meant those twelve – and only them.
Fast forward a few years and I was in Africa speaking to a large group of Ethiopians. It was from them that I first heard the term nefshabbas, the local term for spiritual teacher or guide. The nefshabbas was ‘the soul-father’ and he guided you on your earthly journey towards God. As a disciple, or daqa of such a spiritual helper one would offer reverence and service in exchange for teaching and guidance. Gradually, I learned that every branch of Christianity had versions of this relationship between master and disciple. In Russian Orthodoxy the guide was the starets and his disciple the uchenik, while in Greece the spiritual elder was the geron. In early Ireland he was the anamcara, or ‘soul friend.’ But it didn’t end there.
I discovered that every spiritual path, every religion, had such a master-disciple relationship for compassionate and friendly instruction. For the Sufi Muslims the murshid or pir was the spiritual guide and the murid his acolyte; while in China the teacher was the shifu and over in Japan he was the roshi. European Jews spoke of the mashpiya as the learned guide, and the tzadik as the saintly master. Discipleship, it seems, is a universal approach to spiritual learning and grace, and knows no geographical or cultural boundaries. The twelve disciples did not have the monopoly on discipleship, after all.
India has embodied the master-disciple relationship in millions of spiritual friendships over thousands of years. Although the ancient Sanskrit language is used to describe it – guru and sishya – India gives us the archetypal form of that vital connection which is familiar to all religious or spiritual traditions. No other country has had such a full and rich history of spirituality taught by such a time-tested method. The very history of that land is made up of gurus and their disciples and the detailed science of spiritual transmission has been preserved intact.
For the path of yoga, the guru and sishya relationship was the only way to effect inner transformation. Becoming a disciple was not an easy life, but for someone who wanted to learn both transcendental knowledge and meditation techniques, and to reap the ample rewards of practising both under the guidance of an expert, it was the singular choice to make. It still is today.
So in my book I try to describe the teaching techniques and relationship dynamics of the guru-disciple connection. I find it a fascinating subject. The book seems to be accessible for readers so far. Over the recent festival weekend we sold 70 copies and the comments have been favourable. In the past few days I’ve been organizing the book’s overseas sales. The distributor Motilal UK is handling sales through Amazon UK, USA and India, and also with Nielsens. I’m exploring well known routes for our Vaishnava community.
Hare Krishna! ISKCON’s New Temple in Parsippany, New Jersey
With great pleasure, we cordially invite you to the Bhumi Puja and Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new ISKCON (Krishna) temple in Parsippany, New Jersey. This will be the first ISKCON temple in the Northeast that will be built in a traditional, Vedic architectural style and will feature beautiful elements such as shikhars (domes) and jharokhas (decorative windows) among others. This is a once in a lifetime event welcoming Lord Krishna’s temple to the community and will feature traditional prayers and vidhis (rituals) by qualified brahmana priests. There will also be an array of colorful cultural programs such as kirtans and bhajans (musical presentations) as well as plenty of free prasadam (vegetarian feast prepared with love and devotion to Lord Krishna).
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19736
'Hanuman' by Samadhi Dance Company. Choreography: Vraja Sundari Keilman. Performers: Jeffrey Stuut, Chaitanya Charan Das (Chris) Kuijken, Vraja Sundari Keilman, Rasarani Keilman, Carl Refos, Gino Jagessar. Film: Lars Steenhoff
Launching of monthly youth journal ‘Arunodaya’
ISKCON Navi Mumbai, India happily announces the launch of a monthly youth journal namely ‘Arunodaya’ to enlighten, inspire and guide the Krishna Conscious youth to shoulder greater responsibility in strengthening ISKCON moment.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19733
