Planet ISKCON

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As an introduction to the Seven Marital tips, I would like to suggest the essential concept of the “trinad api marriage” (which my wife and I are teaching in the 3rd Annual Couple’s Retreat in October in Gita-nagari PA as part of the Grihastha Vision Team effort.) This is a relationship based on mutual humility, tolerance, and respect and is the spiritual basis for a successful marriage. All the other marriage tips that follow can be seen to revolve around this verse spoken by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. “One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord [or remain in a happy, spiritually vibrant, marriage throughout their lives.]

All devotees are recommended to wear this verse around their neck. In a similar way my wife and I recommend that all married couples wear this verse around their necks and think of how to apply it in their marriage, in their life, and in devotional activities. In a marriage we honor and respect one another as devotees and do our best to see to the ultimate welfare of our spouse and family according to their nature. Love and trust, given not only by Shrila Prabhupada but by many marriage authorities, are important qualities for long lasting, fulfilling, relationships. For this discussion, I would add that love and trust come from each person practicing the qualities of humility, tolerance, and respect. These qualities give life to our spiritual practices and marriage. Please keep this in mind as you hear the following simple, though profound, marital tips.

Tip 1: Be committed to personal growth work and the inner vision it fosters in order to become the best person you can. In the process of self-study, understand your life issues and how they can trigger reactionary conflicts in your relationships. Learn to be introspective and observe yourself, understanding both your attractions and repulsions. If you have negative emotional reactions toward certain persons, ask yourself why, and find help if required. Be open to discovering and letting go of those parts of your conditioning that are unfavorable for having happy, healthy, relationships. In short, “Know thyself,” (the age old recommendation) or your strengths and weaknesses, and strive to improve. We are always students of ourselves and on our spiritual journey. We have found studying the Enneagram a very helpful tool in both understanding ourselves and in others.

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Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna Yasoda Dulal embarks on a year’s pilgrimage
When John Herbison said goodbye to his wife before setting off on a walk, he didn’t say “I’ll see you later”, it was “I’ll be back in about a year”. The devout Hare Krishna of 30 years has set out on a pilgrimage to mark the 50th anniversary of the Hare Krishna Society’s arrival in the western world. He left Christchurch 10 days ago with a stroppy horse named Samson and a restored 100-year-old wagon, intent on travelling the length of New Zealand.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19263

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Raghunatha-batta Goswami – Dhananjaya Prabhu.

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Go-Fest festival near Moscow, a festival dedicated to Cow care and protection) (Album with photos)
The place is called Cintamani Dham, it is a few devotees families’ settlement.
See them here: https://goo.gl/XIiZob

Hare Krishna! The Welfare Of Others
Srila Prabhupada: May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other’s welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krsna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him. Just like a desire tree, a Vaisnava can fulfill all the desires of anyone who takes shelter of his lotus feet… he prays not for himself, but for all living entities—the gentle, the envious and the mischievous…This is the attitude of a Vaisnava, who always thinks of the welfare of the entire universe.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19260

 Her Grace Narayani Devi Dasi:
Her Grace Narayani Devi Dasi joined ISKCON in Boston in 1970. She has done many services for Srila Prabhupada including Deity worship in Calcutta temple, traveling book distribution in Western India for the Bombay temple, and teaching Bhakti Sastri, Bhakti Vaibhava and Bhaktivedanta courses in the VIHE in Vrndavana. She helped write the VTE curriculum for Bhakti Sastri and has written three books: Srimad Bhagavatam At a Glance, Garden of Devotion and Bhagavadgita at a Glance. 


Pavitraropana
Fasting.....................on Tue Aug 25th,2015
Breakfast.................on Wed Aug 26th,2015 b/w 7.39am-11.04am

Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.

To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com
Call:647.893.9363

The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).


Gift Shop

Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your visit. It offers textiles, jewellery, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.

Holy Name Festival in Spain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: “I have brought medicine to awaken very living being from perpetual sleep. Please receive the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and awaken. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.13.9 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/qxeNTq

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 June 2015, Gita Nagari, USA, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.8)

Srila Kavi Karnapura, in his Caitanya Candrodaya Nataka, explains how there are two types of devotional service which are: devotional service with nectar and devotional service without nectar. Many get involved in the latter, in devotional service without nectar. But devotional service is not meant for that, it is meant for svādu svādu pade pade (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.19); it is meant for relishing at every step. So this is our challenge and the spiritual master is challenging the disciple.

One thing I learned from Tamal Krsna Maharaj, is that the duty of the spiritual master is to give the disciple a vision of what he can do with his life which is greater than what he would have thought of by himself! We see that Prabhupada did it. We see that Prabhupada would just literally blow the minds of his disciples by having ideas that were like much greater than they ever had.

Prabhupada generated that spirit by his purity, by his dedication, by his learning and by coming down to the level of people. Prabhupada did not, although he was also in his presence worshiped on great vyasasans and so on, Prabhupada did not stay on that platform. Prabhupada came down and lived with people, lived with hippies on the Lower East Side, stayed with them and gave so much personal attention so that people began to feel indebted. That is the only thing a spiritual master can do!

If it was so easy, just give some transcendental knowledge and the job is done, people will say, “Yeah, very nice.” But then how will they give their life? So Prabhupada pushed. He pushed. Prabhupada was very demanding. He would push devotees, push them to do things that were very difficult. Great struggle! Prabhupada wanted all these impossible tasks and because he was the spiritual master of the entire movement at that time, the whole movement just had to do what he said. His word was absolute for all.

Now, you know, it is different. Now we have so many spiritual masters and now in some temples, especially bigger temples more than one guru visits and each time, there are different people who come. When there is a certain guru coming, some people come out of the woodwork, otherwise, you do not see them so much. But when the guru is there, they all come and are around him.

When the next guru comes, again a whole new assembly is there. Otherwise, usually there are more deities than devotees in the temple. Maybe that is a little cynical from my side to say that but you know, you get the idea…

So, in that way, nowadays it is easier to sort of escape. There is more leeway for the mind to take advantage and to avoid the order on the head, that order of the spiritual master which is meant to be the jewel on the head, the jewel that the devotee carries on his head. The chudamani is the order of the spiritual master and whatever he wants, that we must do!

Hare Krishna! Lord Nrisimha: Protector of Devotees
Hiranyakashipu, the universal tyrant, wished to reverse the system of piety. He wanted the impious to be rewarded and the pious to be punished. Thus upon the death of Hiranyakashipu, all the demigods and inhabitants of various planets offered their prayers to Lord Nrisimha, expressing their gratitude for the Lord’s slaying the daitya, who had usurped all their riches, wives, and shares of sacrificial offerings. Only Prahlada Maharaja, however, could pacify with loving prayers the transcendental wrath of Lord Nrisimha, who is prepared to even appear as half-man, half-lion for the sake of His pure devotees.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19254

Radhadesh Summer Holi Festival: Kids Ratha Yatra (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One has to continue chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and preaching the chanting of this mantra because such preaching and chanting constitute the perfection of life. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.67 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/Bdx7P4

Hare Krishna! When Swami Met Sally
Satyaraja Dasa: He was the easiest guest I have had in my life, because when I couldn’t spend time with him he chanted, and I knew he was perfectly happy. When I couldn’t talk to him, he chanted. He was so easy, though, because I knew he was never bored. I never felt any pressure or tension about having him. He was so easy that when I had to take care of the children he would just chant. It was so great. When I had to do things, he would just be happy chanting. He was a very good guest. When the people would come, they were always smoking cigarettes, but he would say, “Pay no attention. Think nothing of it.” That’s what he said. “Think nothing of it.” Because he knew we were different. I didn’t smoke in front of him. I knew I wasn’t supposed to smoke in front of Gopal’s father, so I sort of considered him the same. He didn’t make any problems for anybody.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19250

Hare Krishna! Spiritual Television: Is the World Ready for a True Spiritual Network
Yogesvara dasa: A Native American storyteller named Ron Evans tells a tale that warms the heart of all who agonise over the effects of contemporary media. Ron visited Africa some years ago and was present the day electric lines were installed for the first time in a tiny village. Along with wiring came a gift from the local government: the village’s first television. Ron describes how the entire village sat mesmerised for three days watching every programme. Then as if on cue, rose, turned off the set, and went about their business. Curious as to their motives, Ron approached the village chief and asked, ‘Why did you stop watching the television?’ The chief smiled and replied, ‘We don’t need the television. We have our storyteller.’ Delighted but not completely satisfied by the reply, Ron commented, ‘The television knows many stories, too.’ The chief bowed his head thoughtfully, then looked up with a smile and said, ‘Oh, no doubt the television knows many stories. But our storyteller knows us!’
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19246

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"One must come to the understanding that the Holy name of the Lord and the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself are identical. One cannot reach this conclusion unless one is offenseless in chanting the Holy name."

Chaitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila 8.16

Mantra-japa (meditation on a mantra) is fun, relaxing, and easy – particularly in bhakti-yoga, where the mantra describes the object of our love.

Don’t look at mantra chanting as a chore, or a task, or a challenge. Look at it as an opportunity to rest, relax, and enjoy the happiness, peace and bliss that comes naturally and automatically from the ultimate core of the self, param-ātmā – who, ultimately, is Krishna.

Chanting mantra right would feel as restful as sleeping without dreams, because you would be physically still, and your mind would stop imagining things that it worries about or wants. This is why people who practice mantra-japa effectively wind up feeling like they naturally need less sleep. All the time they put into mantra-japa rejuvenates their body and mind just like deep sleep.

Often we have a hard time falling asleep, or getting a really restful sleep. This is, in many ways, the same reason why we have a hard time doing deep, effective mantra-japa: we are unable to let go of our worries and wants. We need some motivation to set aside the things that constantly occupy our mind. This motivation can come from simple exhaustion and the need to relax, and it can come from seeking svānanda (the bliss inherent in simply being conscious, without needing to worry about what to do with it), and it can come from seeking bhaktyānanda (the bliss inherent in focusing consciousness upon an fearless, stable object of divine love – Krishna).

When chanting, don’t try to create the mantra. That is work. And it is hopeless. You cannot create this thing which is so categorically greater than and fundamental to your self. You can’t create the mantra with your voice or your mind or even your heart.

The mantra already exists, and it already exists in you. All you need to do is tune in to it, by tuning out from all the noise made by the wants and worries of the mind. Allow the mantra to be discovered within you, by your curious contemplation of its words.

Curiosity is an absolute necessity for successful mantra-japa. If we are not curious about something, we will not ever really pay attention to it! You must be curious, “What is this word, ‘Krishna’? What does it indicate? What does it sound like? What does it feel like?” Don’t answer, just incite your curiosity and let the name answer. “What are these words, ‘hare’ and ‘rāma’? Why do they come in this curious, rhythmic pattern?”

In time, successfully curious mantra-japa will begin revealing incredible detail contained within the words of the mantra. All of Rādhā-Krishna’s names, beauty, qualities, associates, and activities are enveloped within the Hare Krishna mahā-mantra. This things unfold to those who set aside their normal wants and worries for at least some time, and focus their consciousness on the mantra existing within their consciousness.

With curiosity as fuel, pay attention to the mantra manifest by its own self-sustained existence within your own eternal consciousness. Then mantra-japa will be stress-relieving, health-improving, restful, and most importantly of all, spiritually potent!

Tagged: hare krishna mantra, Japa, Meditation, nama-japa, relaxation

Hare Krishna! NASN July 2015 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of July. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19243

Harinama in every city and village! (Album with photos)
Sri Nama Prabhu, the Holy name, likes to be distributed. Especially in kali yuga, Sri Nama Prabhu wants to go to every village and every person. Every devotee should be a distribution outlet for the holy name.
See them here: https://goo.gl/eSFJcx

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Hare Krishna! The complete list of videos from the epic 50th Anniversary celebration at Kolkata
From August 13th to 16th a massive event in Kolkata – celebrating the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s journey to the U.S. – drew 35,000 people, including representatives of 125 countries and many prominent politicians and VIPs. All were coming to pay their respects to the great spiritual teacher, who left his home alone at age 69, braved two heart-attacks during a month-long voyage on the cargo ship Jaladuta, and struggled with little help in one of the roughest parts of New York City for nearly a year before establishing ISKCON on July 13th, 1966.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19239

Worship of Lord Nrsimhadeva (5 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Each day I worship Lord Nrsimhadeva for protection in spreading the glories of the holy names far and wide, as well as for removing all obstacles on the path of pure devotion to the divine couple, Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/dBx1ZW

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Please forgive the sound quality – wasn’t the technicians dharma. https://youtu.be/TehQlZKbGXg

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As the main dome structure is almost complete, a lot of preparation has been going on to commence the next step, the Kalash.

We have seen the Kalash mock-up from McCoy industry made in titanium nitrite coated stainless steal, being fabricated in Mumbai. Our latest addition is a life size bracket that will support the Kalash. It’s made from GRC and measures 3/4 of an inch thick (1.9 cm) and 14 feet (4.5m) tall. This frame is being built in house, right here in Mayapur.

Next week we are planning to start fabrication of mold for the bracket using fiber glass and polyurethane. There will be total of 24 brackets and each one will weight 1.2 tons (2,646 lbs).

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Hare Krishna! The Art and Culture of Leadership Succession (video)
Anuttama dasa and Tamohara dasa. Class at Iskcon Chicago, Sri Kishore Kishori temple streamed live on Aug 20, 2015. All authority in ISKCON is derived from the order and directions of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Thus to the degree a member of ISKCON is following Srila Prabhupada’s order and direction he/she carries authority. In general spiritual matters, this authority is naturally manifest. It does not need to be officially conferred. However based on Srila Prabhupada’s direction to cooperate for a unified preaching endeavour the members agree to cooperate in the practical exercise of all authority, whether self-manifest (as in spiritual authority) or conferred (as in management positions) within the management system of ISKCON under the direction of the Governing Body Commission.
Watch it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19232