Websites from the ISKCON Universe
US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Offers Appreciation to Srila Prabhupada in Her 2015 Janmastami Message
Listen and/or download freely 12 tracks of the beautifully narrated and musically arranged Krishna stories.
These are Iskcon’s “Golden Avatar” Krishna stories by Krishna Kanti Prabhu (recorded during the 70ties)
Here: https://goo.gl/3TLenB
A small yet growing crew of dedicated devotees have been doing Harinama Sankirtana in downtown Vancouver, Canada, for over 200 days in a row now, chanting the Holy Names of God for two hours every week day after work and for three hours on weekends.
Everything is produced in time, stays in time and perishes in time. But there is a place and there are beings, completely beyond the influence of time. Everything is eternal there. No one ever dies or grows old. Time is not divided into past, present or future.
Climate change is a “pressing” global challenge and the poor people are ‘most adversely’ affected by it.
Hare Krishna! Assumptions…
Vraj Vihari dasa: Our minds are constantly making assumptions. We assume things about ourselves, about others, about our environment. With the help of Vraj Vihari dasa and instructions from the Bhagavad-gita, we’ll explore the assumption phenomena, and how to examine our assumptions and decide which ones to keep, which to be wary of.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19575
ISKCON of Washington, DC area
Looking forward to hosting Congressman Van Hollen, delegates Aruna Miller and Kumar Barve at the Janmastami celebrations tomorrow night.
This Divine Couple, Radha and Krishna, eternally engage in loving pastimes. These loving pastimes are enacted on the spiritual platform, which is free from the contamination of material inebrieties. The ocean of bliss, emanating from these loving pastimes, expands continuously. Every moment is a festival or a party that never ends.
Hare Krishna! Sharing Faith
Saunaka Rsi Das: The word conversion can bring images of determined zealots haranguing a fallen soul to turn to God or images of profound change, deep truth, joy, and connection. In the Vaishnava tradition it includes a personal spiritual journey, a sharing of experience and realization, and, in modern times, institutional allegiance. As attitudes in the world change towards ‘organized religion’ and wanting to be ‘spiritual, but not religious’, we explore the Bhakti practice and ways of thinking about conversion, change, and transformation, and how they may apply in a modern context.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19570
Yamuna Devi recalls Prabhupada
Yamuna: The first time that I assisted Srila Prabhupada in the kitchen was in New York on the occasion of my sister’s wedding. Srila Prabhupada cooked in his apartment in a small galley kitchen with counters on both sides. He gave me the singular task of making a very difficult preparation called aloo kachori. It’s one of the most complex pastries to cook properly because it has to cook for a long time without becoming greasy, which is almost impossible. For nearly eight hours I made aloo kachoris while Srila Prabhupada single-handedly cooked a fourteen-course wedding feast in his small kitchen. In the course of cooking for that feast, I made many mistakes. It was my very first day, and the first mistake I made was to wear a short skirt and a little T-shirt. Sitting crossed-legged I said, “Swamiji, may I have a cigarette?” He popped his head out of the corner and said, “Go wash your hands.” I washed my hands. Then he explained the four prohibitions in Krishna consciousness: no meat eating, no gambling, no illicit sex life, and no intoxicants. A short time later I said, “Swamiji, may I have a glass of water?” He said, “Go wash your hands.” Then he explained that the first and foremost principle in cooking was to engage our senses in the service of the Lord. He said that we should cook for Krishna with love and devotion and not think about our senses, our tongue, our sense of smell or our belly, because we were cooking for Krishna’s pleasure. A short time later I said, “Swamiji, it’s very hot in here.” I was fighting perspiration. “Go wash your hands.” In this way he introduced me to the simplest, most rudimentary principle of external cleanliness. He also explained a simple touch of internal cleanliness and said, “We can serve Krishna through the art of cooking when we are externally and internally clean.”
ISKCON Communications Director Anuttama Das and Bhumi Project Director Gopal-Lila Das presented a proposal for a new ISKCON Environmental Initiative at the North American GBC meetings in Chicago this August. The proposal was unanimously accepted, and if successful will see ISKCON temples reducing waste, and increasing renewable energy use.
Hare Krishna! Prasadam via Amazon!
Svavasa Dasa (Temple President): A wonderful thing just happened. Tadit and I had a meeting with a rep from Amazon.com. They are launching a new program for their Prime Amazon customers in So. Cal. for take out food. We were picked as one of their vendors for take out within a three mile radius of the temple. This is really a big step up for us since they are a premier company for delivery goods as I’m sure you know. They will take our menu put it on the Amazon site and give their customers an app and then the customer sends us their order through the special app, we put it together and Amazon sends their delivery man to pick it up and deliver it to the customer. Amazon will supply us a Kindle reader hooked up next to our register were the order will come in from a customer.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19567
We hope that you are all geared up to celebrate the most auspicious Sri Krishna Janmastami tomorrow. This also means that you still have 1 more day to sponsor Sri Krishna Janmashtami services at Mayapur. Apart from gaining immense spiritual benefit, all our donors will receive Sri Radha Madhava Mahaprasada of dry fruits, Tulasi leaves and […]
The post Hurry up Dear Devotees!! appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Cows on the “Mooove” - videos from the recent translocation of some happy cows.
In the first group of cows to travel from ISCOWP West Virginia to ISCOWP Florida were Abhay, Akshobhya, Padmaganda and Meenakshi. Their trip is described in the first video. Indraneela and Lila were the second group to go and their story is told in the second video. We are trying to move each cow with their best friend or friends.
Watch them here: http://goo.gl/m7qTx8
Harinama by the Krishna devotees cheers up Muslim refugee children in Hungary (3 min video)
We are not Muslims, Hindus, Jews or Christians. We are not Afghans, Syrians, Germans or Hungarians. We are all migrants on our journeys, seeking love, peace and happiness. – A short film about the power of an act of humanity recorded at the Budapest Railway Station, in the flashpoint of the refugee crisis in Hungary.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/0NDhHs
Krishna Balarama Rath Yatra in Queens, New York (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra is specifically mentioned in many Upanisads, such as the Kali-santarana Upanishad, where it is said: “After searching through al the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.40 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/3ZWsLm
Hare Krishna! The nature of a Mahatma
Gaura Govinda Swami: “The Western world means countries where the people are gross materialists, who have no Krsna consciousness, no God-consciousness at all. Therefore, who is able to spread Krsna consciousness among them? It is completely impossible, unless, krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana, one is empowered by Krsna’s sakti and becomes krsna-sakti-pusta-parikara. That is guru-tattva. One who is sad-guru, sri-guru, a pure Vaisnava, sadhu mahajana is krsna-sakti-pusta-parikara. He is Krsna’s eternal associate. He is nourished by krsna-sakti. Without krsna-sakti no one can spread Krsna consciousness alone, by his own strength. It is impossible. Therefore, there is definitely no doubt that Srila Prabhupada was empowered by Krsna, empowered by Mahaprabhu. He had received the full mercy of Krsna, Mahaprabhu and the previous acaryas — Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, and all other sadhu-mahajanas, who gave him full power.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19563
Hare Krishna! Bus party experience
Recently we commenced monthly book distribution venture by our temple bus in the interiors of Maharashtra, India. It is really an exhilarating experience to realize Srila Prabhupada’s statement in Srimad Bhagavatam: It is the duty of a mendicant to experience all varieties of God’s creation by traveling through all forests, hills, towns, villages, etc., 1) to gain faith in God and 2) strength of mind as well as 3) to enlighten the inhabitants with the message of God. SB1.6.13
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19557
The post Daily Darshan – September 4th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Balaram Jayanti Class – HG Parividha Dasa – 29.08.2015
Please join us!
blessed and renowned Pṛthu became very angry at Indra, and took up his bow and arrows.
The priests say him rise in a terrible rage to swiftly destroy the Thunder-Wielder, “Oh king of broad intellect!” they protested, “it is declared that if you injure any creature now, your sacrifice will be ruined!”
Pṛthu glanced ferociously at the sky, towards Indra.
“We will stop him” the priests said, “and we will do it in a sacrificial manner. We will invoke that lord of storms who wants to destroy your success.”
“How will you do that?” Pṛthu would want to know.
“With mantas of summoning!”
“They are powerful enough to summon the king of paradise?” Pṛthu would ask.
“Their powers are insurmountable! They will invoke him instantly and irresistibly. He is already powerless, because he opposes you, and we are all-powerful because we serve you.”
“What will you do with him once you invoke him?” Pṛthu would wonder.
“We will make him the final horse, and give him to the sacrificial fire.”
Before Pṛthu could even reply, the furious priests prepared to incant the mantras, taking butter-oil ladles into their hands. But self-born Brahmā interrupted, ordering them to stop.
“You must not try to kill Indra!” Brahmā declared. “You will fail – for he is an essential part of the sacrifices manifest by the All-Attractive. Should sacrifice be employed to destroy sacrifice? If you did kill him, what would happen to all the gods for whom he is the essential king?”
There was silence.
Brahmā continued, “O Priests! By disrupting the King’s religious ceremony in the disguise of a religious person, Indra has opened the door to terrible religious hypocrisy and exploitation. Now just see the first result: you want to kill him by a religious ceremony!”
The Priests put down the ladles in shock.
Brahmā turned to Pṛthu and said, “Broad minded king! Your fame is already spread everywhere. So what if you have performed one less that one hundred rituals? What is the difference? You know that religion is actually meant for spiritual liberation, so why should you be so intent on finishing your hundredth mundane religious sacrifice? What will you really gain if you succeed?”
Pṛthu’s anger disappeared.
“Indra is a king just like you,” Brahmā continued, “and both of you are parts of He Who Is Glorified in Topmost Poetry. So why should you be angry at him? What should anyone be angry at either of you? I wish good fortune to both of you!”
Pṛthu looked at the final sacrifice half-completed. Brahmā encouraged him, “Your soul is very soft and kind, O Emperor. Don’t worry yourself by dwelling on this last sacrifice. What is done is done. The mind of one who dwells on what destiny seems to steal is lost in the blinding darkness of anger.
“Give up this ceremony! Of all the gods, Indra is the most tenacious and impossible to thwart. He has already created such a mess by using religious symbols to accomplish irreligious aims. Seeing how Indra ruined your ceremony by stealing the horse, everyone is now tempted to exploit religious symbols for their own interests.
“You have come into this world to help bring the people into moral harmony. After Vena practically destroyed morality, you arose from a part of his body, as a manifestation of Viṣṇu’s expansion. Fulfill your mission, which is the mission shared by all of us who help create the world. Don’t think about destroying Indra, think about destroying the religious hypocrisy he has invited by so wantonly exploiting religious symbolism.”
The king accepted the guidance of the world’s guru, Brahmā. He compassionately forgave Indra and made peace with him.
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:
We are not Muslims, Hindus, Jews or Christians. We are not Afghans, Syrians, Germans or Hungarians. We are all migrants on our journeys, seeking love, peace and happiness. -- A short film about the power of an act of humanity.
Created by: Janos Kapcsos, Laszlo Tas Balogh, Gandharvika Prema, Krisztina Danka.
www.karunaproductions.com
EmediaServices. KratuPrabhu: Janmashtami Utsav @ C.B.D Ground - Shahdara,Delhi - INDIA on August 30, 2015" whith Honorable Chief Guest : Dr. Harsh Vardhan (Cabinet Minister of Science & Technology)
See them here: https://goo.gl/h5aPTy
Hare Krishna! Travel Adventures from Czech Padayatra, Wroclaw Food for Life, Polish Festival Tour and more…
Krishna-kripa Das: When I travel I love meeting people who had positive experiences encountering Krishna music, Krishna food, and Krishna philosophy. I like to find out where they are from and suggest how they can have more Krishna experiences. The day I left the Festival of India in Poland I met three such people. On the first train enroute to Wroclaw, after leaving the Polish Festival tour, I met a girl who went to our festival the night before in Niechorze. On the second train, the girl across from me named Alicja loved our Krishna food at Woodstock and ate it every single day. She was happy to learn of our Friday Food for Life and Sunday feast in her home town of Wroclaw, and she enjoyed a spiced potato patty I had packed for my lunch.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19552
The Grihastha Vision is hosting its 3rd annual Couple’s Retreat October 2nd to 4th 2015 at the Gita Nagari farm. Married and engaged couples are encouraged to attend who would like to deepen their connection to one another and to their spiritual practices. This is a special opportunity to nurture your relationship in a lovely country setting and spiritual environment with other couples similarly focused.
GVT Couple’s Retreat Intro
The Grihastha Vision Team is hosting its 3rd annual Couple’s Retreat October 2nd to 4th 2015 at the Gita Nagari farm. Married and engaged couples are encouraged to attend who would like to deepen their connection to one another and to their spiritual practices. This is a special opportunity to nurture your relationship in a lovely country setting and spiritual environment with other couples similarly focused.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19549
Kaulini Devi Dasi, passed away from this world
Sangita Devi Dasi: Hare Krsna. At 2:20 a.m. on September 3, 2015 our dear godsister, Kaulini Devi Dasi, passed away from this world in Gita nagari surrounded by loving devotees and the Holy Names of the Lord. Kaulini served for decades in Gita nagari as the pujari of Lord Jagannatha and Radha Damodara and milked the cows twice daily. Kaulini was a beloved mentor to so many devotees around the world, and a loving mother and grandmother. She was a dear friend who will be personally missed by me and greatly missed by many of our godsisters and godbrothers.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19546
Nitai Fest in Tel-aviv, Friday 28/8/2015 (Album with photos)
The Nitai Fest is a preaching program which takes place in Tel-aviv, Israel once every two months. It is being arranged by the local devotees and a large group participates.
See them here: https://goo.gl/H1i77i
Srila Prabhupada: “If you can get on TV or radio the whole world will become Krsna conscious in 18 days!”
Ramesvara Dasa: in ’73 we started a thing called the Krsna Show and Prabhupada loved it. He loved it. Karandhar and myself and Krsna Kanti started it, we presented the idea to Prabhupada and he made some comments. There’s a letter that Prabhupada wrote to Karandhar to the effect that if you can get on TV or radio the whole world will become Krsna conscious in 18 days. Something like that. I’m not sure if that’s the18 day letter.We could check the Karandhar file and you’ll find these letters talking about the importance of broadcasting the transcendental sound over the airways.
The whole world will become purified and the whole world can be made Krsna conscious. And Prabhupada definitely said,
“If you can get me on TV I’ll just sit in one place. I won’t travel any more.”
That’s how important it was to Prabhupada, this mass media. It fascinated him. He wanted us to get into it. But it took us a long time to understand how to. We tried the Krsna Show and it was a success for about a year or two, and Prabhupada liked it very much. So by the end of the Krsna Show it was becoming too difficult to continue to produce original material,so we were using Prabhupada lectures. And again, if you interview Krsna Kanti, I think he might have written to Prabhupada about that. But I know that I told Prabhupada that that was the format and Prabhupada approved again.He liked the idea that his lectures were going out on the radio. So he encouraged. He wanted us to use the mass media. I think that there are about three or five major letters that Prabhupada wrote to people like Karandhar, Yadubara, maybe to Krsna Kanti. Definitely I have one or two where Prabhupada is talking about the mass media, radio, television, video, film, and pushing it, pushing it and wanting it.
Jaya Prabhupada!
