Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Early morning drone flight at Mayapur. (Album with photos)
The TOVP is nearing the stage of receiving the enormous Kalash.
See them here: https://goo.gl/THNsnl
From Ranjith A U Nair Prabhu
During our course of ISO, we discussed about 3 levels of devotees. In NOI also we are re-visting the same topic in more depth. Can we consider Krishna devotees outside ISKCON, who does’nt yet have knowledge about our paramapra and teachings (say they are chanting some mantra of Krishna and maybe reading other versions of BG/SB) as neophyte devotees? As per the discussion in ISO the qualities of those devotees match that of a neophyte.
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The post Are Krishna bhaktas outside ISKCON at the neophyte stage? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
From Praveen Nayak Prabhu
Prabhuji – In NOD Chapter 7 in the section Observing fasting on Ekadashi it is said “The basic principle is not just to fast, but to increase one’s faith and love for Govinda, or Kṛṣṇa.”
Could you please explain – How would doing fast increase ones faith and love for Krishna ?
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From Ankur Sharma Prabhu
Srila Prabhupada says in the purport of verse 4.14, “Anyone who is fully conversant with all the intricacies of this law of karma, or fruitive activities, does not become affected by the results of his activities.” Similarly thing is said in 4.9.
How can simply knowing something free one from the bondage of karma?
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From Ankur Sharma Prabhu
Srila Prabhupada says in the purport of verse 4.13, “as Kṛṣṇa is transcendental to this system of the four divisions of human society, a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is also transcendental to all divisions of human society”
a) What is the implication of someone is transcendental to all divisions of human society?
b) How could someone who is still contaminated by the modes be considered transcendental to social divisions? Should this not apply only to the paramhamsas (other than Krsna, of course)?
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The post Is a person in Krishna consciousness transcendental to varnashrama? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
From Vandana Goel Mataji
Verse three of NOI say the attitude while performing Bhakti should contain
ENTHUSIASM ….PATIENCE….AND CONFIDENCE
my question is having enthusiasm and patience simultaneously are two contradictory things why has a devotee been advised to have these two contradictory features simultaneously??
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From Promila Chitkara Mataji
Arjuna had all the rare accomplishments (e.g. winning boons from Shiva, entering heaven etc) because of the difficult austerities he performed before the war. He lived in forests to perform those austerities, fought wars etc. Then, why did he say he could control the wind but not the mind? He did control his mind otherwise he wouldn’t be able to do what he did. Moreover, he wouldn’t be Gudakesha if he had no control over mind.
Is this because the Gita was spoken for us and not so much for him?
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The post When Arjuna had enough mind control to perform great austerities, why does he say that he can’t control the mind? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
From Sunil Prabhu
In Bhagavat Gita 1.32-35 Arjuna says that he doesn’t want to fight even in exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth and What pleasure he will derive from killing?
Later in 2.8 he says “I will not be able to dispel it even if I win a prosperous unrivaled kingdom on earth with sovereignty like the demigods in heaven”
In both statements, Arjuna is saying he doesn’t see any benefit in fighting; in another sense he can’t find solution for his grief. What is difference in Arjuna’s state of consciousness in reference to rejecting the kingdom, apart from the fact that he has accepted Krsna as Spiritual master in 2.7.
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The post How has surrender in Gita 2.7 changed Arjuna’s consciousness when he expresses the same sentiment in 1.35 and 2.8? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
We last wrote about Kadamba Kanana Swami’s stay in Slovakia which was followed by Ratha Yatra festivals in Munich and Prague.
Thereafter, Maharaj travelled to Radhadesh to participate in the Kirtan Course and Summer Festival (20-26 July). Next was his visit to the Swiss Summer Camp and then he travelled to India (1 August). After some time in Kolkata, to attend meetings, Maharaj spent a week in Vrindavan (12-19 August). Courtesy of Adi Kesava Prabhu, we have video recordings of Maharaj leading kirtan and giving classes at the Krsna Balarama Mandir.
From India, Maharaj travelled back to Europe and this past weekend (20-24 August), he joined in the Kirtan Festival at New Vraja Mandal in Spain. We will share with you media from all the events as we get them!
KKS_12 August 2015_24 Hour Kirtan
Varnasrama series.
The post The transition we will have to make to come to Varnasram appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Hare Krishna! The Art and Mechanics of Inspiration
“Everything should be done on the basis of love. Strictness is not very good. The students should act automatically, out of love. That is wanted. [However,] Superficially, strictness may be necessary—some material laws or basic principles—and if they don’t follow they’ll be reprimanded. But they should develop the idea of love. Sometimes you have to [force], but even so, the basic principle should be love. Sometimes, out of love, a father must force his son to do something; that does not mean the father is the enemy of the son. [If the teacher or preacher has not yet cultivated love:] In the meantime our regulated living will teach. Either with your son, your disciple, or your student, you should always strictly enforce the rules. Don’t be lenient. Out of love, shall we let our disciples and sons go to hell? That is foolishness.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1243
Hare Krishna! On Conceiving the Inconceivable – Some Principles in Understanding the Origin of the Conditioned Soul
Ravindra Svarupa dasa: We conditioned souls are originally Krishna conscious living entities, but owing to a desire to be independent of God and to be the Supreme ourselves, we have fallen from our original position and become covered by maya (illusion), who provides us with false identities of gross and subtle matter. By the grace of Krishna and His pure devotees we fallen souls can regain our original Krishna consciousness and in so doing go back to Godhead. This simple dramatic narrative tells the story of who we are, where we came from, how we fell, and how we can be restored. Srila Prabhupada tells us this story, and so do the previous acharyas and the scriptures. This story is the profoundest truth about ourselves, and there is no fault in it. Yet the story becomes complicated when we discover (from the identical infallible sources) that the souls in the spiritual world are nitya-siddha, eternally or perpetually liberated souls, and that no one falls from the spiritual world.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19289
Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir of Iskcon Vrindavana featured on History channel (Network 18) today (23-8-2015) evening. (3 min video)
History TV18 (formerly known as The History Channel) is a pan-Indian television channel broadcasting programmes related to historical events, infotainment and persons. Available in eight languages as English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali, in full HD across all major markets in India reaches out to more than 50 million households.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/vIwCxO
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The post How was Sanjay able to see the Universal Form without being given special eyes by Krishna? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post Does the fact that religious knowledge doesn’t grow like scientific knowledge prove its irrelevance? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post Do the differences in various religions’ conceptions of God prove his non-existence? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Ratha Yatra in Soweto, South Africa
Chaitanya Charitamrita daily Podcast:
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The post CC daily 206 – 7.39-41 – Understand the CV needed to be the Lord’s servant appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
ISKCON New Govardhan Sringar Darshan on 17 Aug 2015
Chaitanya Charitamrita daily Podcast:
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An album of many old, new and rare photos of Jayapataka Swami.
Jayapataka Swami is a Vaishnava swami and a religious leader for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He is a senior disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
See them here: https://goo.gl/upIFRB
Bhagavtam-daily Podcast:
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The post Bhagavatam-daily 310 – 11.14.2 – Diversity of paths accommodates variety of desires appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
UK, Southall Ratha Yatra - 23 Aug 2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Practicing the yoga system of exercise and breath control is very difficult for a person in this age, and therefore Lord Caitanya recommended, kirtaniyah sada harih: one should always chant the holy name of the Supreme Lord, Krishna, because Krishna is the most suitable name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 3.28.9 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/9ImRkf
Huge Harinama in Madrid, the capital city of Spain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: For a devotee, liberation is no problem at all. The impersonalists undergo severe penances and austerities to attain mukti, but the bhakta, simply by engaging himself in the bhakti process, especially in chanting Hare Krishna, immediately develops control over the tongue by engaging it in chanting, and accepting the remnants of foodstuff offered to the Personality of Godhead. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 3.25.33 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/tHnNTd
Iskcon Mayapur Devotees On Zee Bangla Tv Show (13 min video)
This video clip is an excerpt from Prarthana Special episode of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa of Zee Bangla TV show. This is the 33rd episode of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa performed on August 12th, 2015. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa which is Bengal’s best platform for music, rightly put as ‘Sangeet er shera mancha. It is the most popular and respected musical Reality Show of Bengal. In this special prayer episode Tulika Mondal and Gangadhar Mondal sing Krishna Kirtan together with the ISKCON Mayapur Devotees.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/jrLPiF
By Madhava Smullen
Govinda’s Groceries, recently opened next to Govinda’s Restaurant at the Palace Lodge and run by longtime residents Nityodita and his wife Radha Dasi, is the newest store to contribute to New Vrindaban’s growth as a village.
It joins four others, each with their own specialties: The Palace Gift Shop near the entrance to Prabhupada’s Palace is run by Krsna Bhava and Kripamaya and caters mainly to tourists.
The Temple Gift Shop, located inside the entrance to Radha Vrindabanchandra’s Temple and run by Vani and Rupanuga, serves mainly pilgrims.
The New Vrindaban Artisan Co-op, located along the side of the Palace Lodge and run by Jamuna Dasi, sells locally made gift items to tourists, pilgrims and locals.
And the thrift store Krishna’s Attic, located on the ground floor of the Palace Lodge and run by Ananta and Vilasini, sells donated clothes and household items.
Govinda’s Groceries, meanwhile, will serve as that age-old village staple, the general store.
“We look upon New Vrindaban as a small village,” says shopkeeper Nityodita Das. “And generally a village means you should be able to get everything within it. So the ideal vision is to have a store that caters to the basic needs of the residents.”
The idea is not new to New Vrindaban. Over the years there have been a string of general stores including ISKCON Groceries and Simply Wonderful, managed by Meghamala Dasi in the late 1970s and ‘80s, and Hanuman’s Healthfoods, run by Jamuna Dasi in in the 1990s and 2000s.
As well as providing groceries, snacks, herbal medicines and more, the general store was also a “nerve center” where residents picked up the latest news and found a sympathetic ear.
But when Jamuna’s store closed five years ago, there was a gap until ISKCON New Vrindaban president Jaya Krishna Das encouraged devotees to open shops on the ground floor of the Palace Lodge building, alongside Govinda’s Restaurant.
Govinda’s Groceries, marked by a window with frosted lettering advertising its wares, is a warm, welcoming space that customers can drop into through the restaurant via an attractive archway.
The result of a full makeover, it has mango-yellow walls, a ceramic tile wood-look floor, candle chandeliers, ornate shelving, and lots of natural light from its glass door and picture windows.
Open from 1pm to 6pm with a view to extend its hours soon, Govinda’s stock serves two distinct customer bases: pilgrims and resident devotees.
The pilgrims are attracted by its deity dioramas, gift items like bath soaps and jewelry, and especially its homemade New Vrindaban hot-sauce, maha-prasadam, and “Vrindavan” brand ghee, which is cooked and bottled in New Vrindaban.
For residents the stock is more practical. There are Indian spices, chapati flour, dosa mix, and organic couscous and millet. There are natural versions of quick-meal staples like canned beans, frozen vegetables and not-dogs, and breakfast items like cereal and almond milk.
There are also organic snacks like rice cakes, kettle chips and Natural Brews sodas. And there are prasadam items from devotee company Pure Bliss like granola, spicy nuts and health bars.
“Next we really want to develop a line of what I call fast prasadam,” Nityodita says. He’s most excited by this idea. “Homemade sandwiches, spring rolls, cheesecake and more -- prasadam alternatives to temple fare.”
In September, once the tourist season is over, Nityodita plans to survey resident devotees so that he can supply them with more of what they want. He intends to add fresh bread to his shelves, and if there is the demand even a weekly organic vegetable co-op. The idea is that devotees will be able to fulfill their basic grocery shopping needs within the community.
Nityodita feels that Govinda’s Groceries and all the other stores at the Palace Lodge will help bring devotees together.
“Right now we’re all going outside the village to spend our money, which is kind of backwards to the purpose of living in a community,” he says. “Investing in local businesses brings us together to share resources. And, to me, that’s a nicer future.”
By Madhava Smullen
Govinda’s Groceries, recently opened next to Govinda’s Restaurant at the Palace Lodge and run by longtime residents Nityodita and his wife Radha Dasi, is the newest store to contribute to New Vrindaban’s growth as a village.
It joins four others, each with their own specialties: The Palace Gift Shop near the entrance to Prabhupada’s Palace is run by Krsna Bhava and Kripamaya and caters mainly to tourists.
The Temple Gift Shop, located inside the entrance to Radha Vrindabanchandra’s Temple and run by Vani and Rupanuga, serves mainly pilgrims.
The New Vrindaban Artisan Co-op, located along the side of the Palace Lodge and run by Jamuna Dasi, sells locally made gift items to tourists, pilgrims and locals.
And the thrift store Krishna’s Attic, located on the ground floor of the Palace Lodge and run by Ananta and Vilasini, sells donated clothes and household items.
Govinda’s Groceries, meanwhile, will serve as that age-old village staple, the general store.
“We look upon New Vrindaban as a small village,” says shopkeeper Nityodita Das. “And generally a village means you should be able to get everything within it. So the ideal vision is to have a store that caters to the basic needs of the residents.”
The idea is not new to New Vrindaban. Over the years there have been a string of general stores including ISKCON Groceries and Simply Wonderful, managed by Meghamala Dasi in the late 1970s and ‘80s, and Hanuman’s Healthfoods, run by Jamuna Dasi in in the 1990s and 2000s.
As well as providing groceries, snacks, herbal medicines and more, the general store was also a “nerve center” where residents picked up the latest news and found a sympathetic ear.
But when Jamuna’s store closed five years ago, there was a gap until ISKCON New Vrindaban president Jaya Krishna Das encouraged devotees to open shops on the ground floor of the Palace Lodge building, alongside Govinda’s Restaurant.
Govinda’s Groceries, marked by a window with frosted lettering advertising its wares, is a warm, welcoming space that customers can drop into through the restaurant via an attractive archway.
The result of a full makeover, it has mango-yellow walls, a ceramic tile wood-look floor, candle chandeliers, ornate shelving, and lots of natural light from its glass door and picture windows.
Open from 1pm to 6pm with a view to extend its hours soon, Govinda’s stock serves two distinct customer bases: pilgrims and resident devotees.
The pilgrims are attracted by its deity dioramas, gift items like bath soaps and jewelry, and especially its homemade New Vrindaban hot-sauce, maha-prasadam, and “Vrindavan” brand ghee, which is cooked and bottled in New Vrindaban.
For residents the stock is more practical. There are Indian spices, chapati flour, dosa mix, and organic couscous and millet. There are natural versions of quick-meal staples like canned beans, frozen vegetables and not-dogs, and breakfast items like cereal and almond milk.
There are also organic snacks like rice cakes, kettle chips and Natural Brews sodas. And there are prasadam items from devotee company Pure Bliss like granola, spicy nuts and health bars.
“Next we really want to develop a line of what I call fast prasadam,” Nityodita says. He’s most excited by this idea. “Homemade sandwiches, spring rolls, cheesecake and more — prasadam alternatives to temple fare.”
In September, once the tourist season is over, Nityodita plans to survey resident devotees so that he can supply them with more of what they want. He intends to add fresh bread to his shelves, and if there is the demand even a weekly organic vegetable co-op. The idea is that devotees will be able to fulfill their basic grocery shopping needs within the community.
Nityodita feels that Govinda’s Groceries and all the other stores at the Palace Lodge will help bring devotees together.
“Right now we’re all going outside the village to spend our money, which is kind of backwards to the purpose of living in a community,” he says. “Investing in local businesses brings us together to share resources. And, to me, that’s a nicer future.”
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