Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Hare Krishna! Just-Installed New Vrindaban Playground “An Investment In Our Families”
The new playground includes a rock climbing wall with a rope, two standard swings, two baby swings, a tire swing, trapeze bars, a slide, and a bridge that connects two towers. It also includes items donated by Malati – a seesaw, and three benches so that parents can sit comfortably right in the playground to watch their children. “We’re trying to cultivate a culture of parents and caregivers staying with their children at all times,” says Ananga Manjari. All pieces of the play set are made of wood that is vinyl-coated to keep out carpenter bees and eliminate the possibility of splinters. Safety is also ensured by the railings throughout and the eighteen-inch faux rock wall surrounding the playground.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18395
Saturday and Sunday, July 4th and 5th, were the last two days of the North American TOVP Tour, 2015. They were, in fact, record days for our fundraising and visits to devotees homes. During these two days Jananivas prabhu alone visited over 25 devotees’ homes, going from one to the other with the Padukas and Sitari, bringing the blessings of Sri Mayapur Dhama.
Wherever he went, devotees felt as if Mayapur had come with him. We also visited the new Balaji temple (a second temple in the Seattle area) Hari Vilas, Temple President, is developing, as well as the recent farm project and school. His motto is to spread Krishna consciousness through culture and education, and the growing, dedicated congregation of devotees is testimony to this fact.
On Sunday, the TOVP presentation began with a full abhisheka of the Padukas and Sitari during kirtan and arati. Then Hari Vilas spoke for some time about the TOVP project and introduced Radha Jivana and Jananivas prabhus. Their last presentations were the culmination of visits to 45 temples and communities and visits to almost 400 homes and programs in four months. Tonight was the last in North America. The crowd of 300+ devotees rose to the occasion, being encouraged to top the charts in pledges. By the end of the program more than $1.2 million was pledged and more expected to come from devotees not present. Even the children from the CHAD Group (Chapter A Day) came forward and combinedly pledged a Silver Gratitude Coin for $11,000. A fitting way to end the TOVP Tour in North America.
May all the devotees who have participated in this glorious attempt to serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada and the acaryas be blessed with Krishna prema.
All Glories to Lord Nityananda Rama. All glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
The post TOVP Daily Tour Diary Days 107-108: The Grand Finale – Seattle, Washington appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
The next four days, from June 29th – July 2nd were spent in Houston catching up on office related work and visiting local devotees. Below is a list of devotees we visited during that time. We also paid a visit to the NASA Space Center to get an idea of what the Vedic planetarium in the TOVP was really up against.
Rasikendra das and Padaduli devi dasi
Kamal Mukha Krishna das and Bhadra Bharati devi dasi
Kamala Gopika and Bipin Gupta
Sonali Mohanti and Krutibas Panda
Sundar Gopal Das and Yugal Priti Devi Dasi
Dr. Dey and Krishna Bhakti Devi Dasi
Arun Parihar and Kusum Parihar
All Glories to Lord Nityananda Rama. All glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
The post TOVP Daily Tour Diary Day 103-106: Four Days in Houston, Texas appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
By Madhava Smullen
On Monday June 29th, New Vrindaban children waited excitedly while an inaugural puja was offered to open their brand new fully-equipped playground next to the Palace Lodge, before running into it to play with blissful abandon.
The playground is an endeavor by ISKCON New Vrindaban to serve and accommodate both the children who live in the village and the thousands who visit for festivals throughout the year with their families.
Ananga Manjari Dasi, mother to five-year old Chintamani and a member of the ISKCON New Vrindaban Board since early this year, brought the suggestion to the board when she saw the dilapidated condition of the old playground.
“It had been there for over twenty years, since the early 1990s,” she says. “It was a wooden play set, and carpenter bees had bored into the wood until it looked like Swiss cheese. The metal parts were all rusty. It was rickety and falling apart. And it didn’t have proper drainage, so there would often be standing water and it would get muddy. As a parent, I was concerned for my kids’ safety.”
While participating in the Farmers’ Market in Wheeling, Ananga Manjari would regularly see the stellar children’s facilities at other local churches. And with ISKCON New Vrindaban repairing a lot of its long-neglected infrastructure, she wanted to do something for the children too.
“As a new board member, I want to bring something to the table that shows that we put our kids first,” she says.
The ISKCON New Vrindaban Board agreed unanimously to fund the project. So Ananga Manjari partnered with Malati Dasi, whose previous research on play sets led them to a Mennonite family-run business in the Pennsylvanian countryside.
“My daughter Chintamani played with everything, and we asked her what she liked,” says Ananga. “We also customized our purchase according to our community’s needs. For example, they had play sets with closed-in playhouses and tube slides. But we didn’t get them because we wanted to make sure that parents never lost sight of their kids on the playground. We wanted everything to be visible and open.”
Back at New Vrindaban, facilities manager Gopisa Das oversaw the installation of new French drains at the playground site to eliminate the previous problems with mud and standing water. Over these, gravel was laid, and then several inches of shredded recyclable rubber mulch, which is shock absorbent and doesn’t rot.
Meanwhile the playground itself was installed by the Mennonite family who handmade it. “It felt really good to support not only local business, but also God-loving, gentle people from another religious community,” says Ananga.
The new playground includes a rock climbing wall with a rope, two standard swings, two baby swings, a tire swing, trapeze bars, a slide, and a bridge that connects two towers. It also includes items donated by Malati – a seesaw, and three benches so that parents can sit comfortably right in the playground to watch their children.
“We’re trying to cultivate a culture of parents and caregivers staying with their children at all times,” says Ananga Manjari.
All pieces of the play set are made of wood that is vinyl-coated to keep out carpenter bees and eliminate the possibility of splinters. Safety is also ensured by the railings throughout and the eighteen-inch faux rock wall surrounding the playground. Looking down over the whole scene is a picture of Lord Nrsimhadeva, who fiercely protected His five-year-old devotee Prahlad, and lovingly watches over all His devotees.
Ananga Manjari smiles, remembering how, during her most recent visit to the temple, she saw kids of all ages having a great time on the new playground.
“I see this as an investment in our families,” she says. “And I see it as just the beginning of making New Vrindaban so family-friendly that families will want to come here and stay – not just for one or two years, but for good, because it’s such a great place to raise children.”
The video also contain a part when Prabhupada meets George Harrison.
Hare Krishna! Conversation Between Krsna-ksetra Swami and Mr Vineet Narain
I told my reporter to go and pretend to be part of them, get as much information as he can. Part of it could be in the favour and if there is anything negative, please bring that because that`s how the news is made! So he went and brought back a lot of literature to read and he also brought back two video tapes; that is, Your Ever Well-Wisher and World of Hare Krsna. The same night I saw both the video tapes; the film Your Ever Well-Wisher especially influenced me a lot. I saw it two times the same night. I was absolutely touched by Prabhupada`s life. Then for thirty days I spent almost all my time discussing with senior devotees of the ISKCON temple about the sastric philosophy.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18392
Transcendental Treasures
Srutakirti dasa: Paramahamsa, Nitai and I received unique, transcendental treasures during our stay in Atlanta. When Srila Prabhupada arrived the weather was rather cold. The devotees presented Srila Prabhupada with warm socks and a pair of canvas walking shoes. The next morning before the walk I assisted Srila Prabhupada by sliding his transcendental toes into his new pair of shoes with his blessed shoe horn. After his walk and morning program, Srila Prabhupada rang his bell. I found my way to his new quarters and offered my obeisances. I sat up and looked at Srila Prabhupada. “These shoes do not fit me,” he said. “If they fit, you can use them.” “I can’t wear your shoes, Srila Prabhupada,” I immediately answered. “That would be offensive.” “If I say you can do it, then it is all right,” he gently replied.
Read the entire article here: https://goo.gl/Z2E23U
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The post We should be assured that at the time of death we can say “I did something useful with my life.” appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Gita Contest Winner Donates Cash Prize to Educate Needy!
Of course, as well as commending Maryam for her her charitable work, and being glad for the many who will be benefitted by her efforts, it’s important to congratulate all the other winners in the Gita Champions’ League, and to note the benefits of the contest itself. Over 4,800 students from fifth to tenth standard (aged 10 to 16), from more than 100 schools in Maharastra, participated. And at a March 15th ceremony in a hall near ISKCON Chowpatty, first, second, and third place awards were given to students from each standard (Maryam was awarded first place for sixth standard). Each student received a cash prize, a certificate, and a set of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Teachers who helped run the contest also received gifts.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/HiLp3r
240 old and new photos of devotees from all over the world chanting and playing the world famous Balaram Mridanga!
See them here: https://goo.gl/7ktBeb
Hare Krishna! I think I have acquired a spiritual guru…
Actually, I think it might be more accurate to say that he has acquired me. I’m a scientist (astrophysicist to be precise) and I’ve been agnostic for as long as I can remember, so I’ve always struggled with the idea of God and the purpose of religion. But a few months ago, I had a spiritual experience, and since then, I’ve been on a quest to understand the being known as God. To learn more, I’ve studied and participated in various religious systems, and for the past month I’ve been exploring the group commonly known as Hare Krishnas.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18383
ISKCON Auckland New Zealand - Friday night Harinam (Album with photos)
By the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada
Books, Prasadam and The Holy Name were distrbuted to all!
See them here: https://goo.gl/pXYz1G
Sweet revenge from the fury of Indra :-) (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The storm in Pobierowo the day before had stolen our usual crowd. Only a few hundred people had showed up for the festival. But yesterday the prayers of the devotees kept the dark clouds above from unleashing their torrents of rain and thousands of people came to our event. Sweet revenge from the fury of Indra.
See them here: https://goo.gl/HgkRz8
The post Daily Darshan – July 11th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
HG Krishna Kirtan Dasa CCM 20.120 – 05.07.2015
The main thing is to want to chant Hare Krishna. Doing the chanting is extremely easy, it’s just words, anyone can say them or think of them. Wanting to chant is the trick, its the hard part. So to work on my japa I try to work on increasing my desire to chant. Here are a few helpful ways I have sometimes been able to do that.
We get told all the time that this or that or the other thing is “pure devotional service,” but the raw, bare truth is that none of that stuff is. Sorry. Everything we do, we do because we like it to, or because we have to do it. Everything we do gives us some sort of material benefit or prevents us from suffering some material ill. Chanting Hare Krishna (especially nāma-japa – which is generally done when we are all alone, with no one watching, and without arts or decoration) gets us nothing; no one will become our fan or our follower, no one will give us any position or reward from it – because no one even knows what we are doing – the entire thing is a private, internal affair. You can chant for material things, but that’s a whole different thing – it’s not our interest. We are trying for attentive and devotional chanting. Such chanting will not pay our bills or find us a job or make us sexy and suave.
Chanting is just you and Krishna’s name, and no one else even really cares.
That’s why its the real thing. It’s the real “pure devotional service” – an expression of affection for Krishna that has no ulterior motive and brings no extrinsic reward: anyābhilāṣitā-śunyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam anukūlyeṇa-kṛṣṇānu-śīlanaṁ.
When the shaved heads, long braids, tilok and indian cloth is set aside; when the “prabhu” “mahārāja” “gurudeva” and “śrī śrī” is dropped and forgotten; when the good-citizen or bad-citizen badges fall off; when whatever you do in the temple or outside the temple is over and done… this is what it all boils down to, this is the bottom line. The amount of interest we have in our private cultivation of nāma-mantra is the only thing that really matters – for its the only true measure to answer the question, “how much advancement have I made?”
When I started to realize this, I became a little depressed, actually, especially at first – but I also automatically started paying a lot more attention to unpretentious nāma-japa.
Look around the world carefully, always. It is all the same pattern just repeating in very, very slightly different ways over and over and over and over again, millions and billions and trillions of different times. Everything that exists, ev-ery-thing, is only a combination of śakti and śaktimān – prakṛti and puruṣa. There is only one pattern: puruṣa seeking the pleasures in its prakṛti. Repeat that pattern an infinite number of times with infinite microscopic variances in the exact flavor of pleasure the puruṣa seeks from the exact instance of prakṛti – and you have the created the entire universe.
This realization has helped me be less distracted by all the dazzling, infinite patterns that line the shelves, flash on smart phones, notify my newsfeeds, flicker on the big and small screens, shake their tail feathers on the sidewalks, and flexing their neck muscles in their wolf-packs. It has helped me to realize, “Wow, I’ve already been everywhere, been everyone, done everything – probably literally over the course of infinite lives, but also ideally because everything is just a minutely different version of the same story. So I guess there’s nothing out there that’s really important for me.”
The original pattern, and patterns built directly off it, are the best. The rest are reflections – exports, “made in China.” The original pattern – śakti and śaktimān enjoying their inherent pleasures – is encapsulated in the words “Hare Krishna” and “Hare Rāma” making itself freely available to unfold in my consciousness and grant me the direct experience of the adi-rāsa, the original flavor, the original pattern of life. Whatever interests me out there is best discovered in here.
“I waste my time everyday, dallying with illusions. But now, for at least just a few minutes, let me do something real and significant.”
I might not be able to make my whole like spiritual and pure, but let me at least have a little bit of time in the day that is purely spiritual – the time for nāma-japa.
I came to realize that trying to make my life “24 hours Krishna consciousness” was just my attempt to be impressive. Better to have even 5 minutes of real Krishna consciousness (focused purely on Krishna’s name with no extrinsic motives) than to have 24 hours of strutting about demonstrating how to be Krishna conscious (even writing this article is so impure, but hopefully it will help many people chant and therefore inadvertainly make Rādhā and Krishna pleased with me.)
“Shrink the universe.”
This means reducing everything to its original form, which is only in the mantra. It also means becoming like a kid playing with toys, unable to hear his mother standing right in front of him. His universe has shrunk to exactly the size of his toys, and thus his concentration is so strong it is very difficult to break. Shrink the universe to the mantra and chant it.
“Nothing truly exists except this.”
Only consciousness exists, everything else exists as a byproduct, within consciousness. The “original pattern” (śakti-śaktimān) is consciousness as an experienced object and consciousness as an experiencing subject – in which the object provides bliss to the subject. The external world is an substandard object precisely because it is “external” – extrinsic to the essence of who and what I am. The real object is in the nāma-mantra and I need to discover it.
“I offer you myself.”
I am consciousness. Consciousness is awareness. Awareness is attention. I am my attention. I will pay attention to Krishna. By doing this I literally “offer myself” to Krishna.He enjoys existence, and I offer myself as a platform of consciousness upon which (within which) he can expand his existence, and thus expand his enjoyment. Thus, literally, I am his strī.
“Withdraw. Withdraw within.”
Sometimes, pulling my attention from everything else and investing it in chanting has a visual and tactile experience to it. Its something like a trees roots (if the tree were made of vapor) withdrawing from the holes they have deeply sunk themselves into, down so many lanes, in so many homes, across so much space and time. Withdrawing like vapor inhaled and compacted within. Envisioning this scene often helps inspire the actual task it represents.
“This is the root upon which the tree can stand.”
This one helps me when I have significant material worries on my mind. I don’t want to chant for the purpose of fixing my material problems, but the truth is that the material problems will be resolved easily, or else will not be damaging in their effect, when the name is chanted purely. So I remind myself that Krishna is the root which sustains all existence, and if I connect more directly and willingly with that root, my need to fend for myself will dissolve.
I may add to these in the comments. If you like this, you may want to subscribe to the comments so you get a notice when something is added. In the comments you are also welcome to share similar tips, or to ask for clarification about what I’ve shared here.
– Vraja Kishor dās
Ultimately, whatever has to happen will happen at the right time, but still, we have choices to make. When we cross the street, it is not like, “Oh! What is happening? I am crossing the street!” No, you are choosing to cross the street. So with everything, you choose. You choose if you are going to have another spoon of sabji or not, or one more roti… it is your choice!Sometimes people say, “Yes, I will be a devotee when Krsna makes me a devotee. I am just surrendered.” This philosophy is dismissing the personal responsibility that we have of making choices. We are making choices. At the right time, the choice comes to us then we have to make it. “Shall I do it? Shall I be a devotee or shall I not be a devotee?”
That is your choice and your responsibility. If you say, “No!” Then you also have to face the consequences, and you are responsible for that.
Parama
Monthly Sankirtan Festival(Carabram)
Festival of India 2015(Rathayatra) 
Sunday School
Gift Shop
Hare Krishna! Time Magazine – The Answers Issue: A Closer Look
The Answers Issue might make you feel guilty if you drive over 13,400 miles a year (the average), since it claims that car emission is the biggest factor to our individual carbon footprints. Eating meat comes in second. Something to consider for those who want to make an impact on their carbon footprint but can’t bring themselves to give up driving. Other lessor categories are our use of air conditioning, air travel and beer drinking, etc. The interesting thing is that the mag is silent on the carbon footprint of our purchases of goods from overseas, since we can hardly buy anything that’s’ manufactured in America anymore.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18377
Hare Krishna! Don’t Worry, Be Happy – The secret to true happiness and well-being
Devamrita Swami: “Anyway, money can’t buy everything,” members of all social tiers often quip. Daily life, however, regularly belies this old mantra. Happiness and even love often seem to have a price tag, or at least a significant financial correlation. Whatever our level of income and indulgence, we all long for true happiness and genuine well-being, however defined. Shouldn’t personal contentment become enshrined as a basic human right, for all people, everywhere? Then again, what about the special persons—the ones who, with wings of selfless magnanimity, soar beyond all social pigeonholes? Compassionate, empathetic, and noble, they radiate human sunshine, in any kind of weather.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18374
The Indian media is exploding with the story of Maryam Siddiqui, a 12-year-old Muslim girl from Mumbai who came first place in her class in the Gita Champions’ League, an annual contest organized by ISKCON Chowpatty, but gave away her winnings to humanitarian efforts.
Radhika, Madhava's wife tells the human story of an exceptional kirtaniya.
While some might turn to prescriptions or over-the-counter aid, there are multiple natural remedies that can help, many of which have been used for thousands of years.
Raincoats and umbrellas but the “show goes on!” (Album with 49 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: One hundred kilometers from our festival in Pobierowo a storm had torn roofs off of houses, knocked down trees and utility poles and left a trail of destruction. Somewhat weakened by the time it reached us, it nevertheless caused serious problems. Two of our tents were severally damaged by wind and a deluge of water made walking difficult, if not impossible, in many areas of our festival site. Despite it all we persevered and went on with our event. And to our utter amazement hundreds of people came, fully equipped with raincoats and umbrellas. Most stayed the entire show, sometimes taking shelter in our tents, where they continued watching the show as it poured rain. All proof of Srila Prabhupada’s statement that Krsna is, “all attractive.”
See them here: https://goo.gl/m4zx9
Nowadays air purifying plants have gained special importance; they are the best and cheapest way to keep the indoor atmosphere as healthy.
Hare Krishna! Religion And Religions
With all the exotic trappings of ‘a traditional Hindu ritual structure’ thus in place, ISKCON appears to many to be heavily freighted with culturally conditioned forms and hence to exemplify sectarianism with a vengeance. It stands in contrast to advaita vedanta, that earlier Indian export, whose philosophical abstractions and non-devotional orientation make it appear universal, nonsectarian, and free from adventitious cultural and historical accretions. Yet even after Prabhupada had everything in place, the Western youth who joined ISKCON never thought of themselves as ‘converting’ to something called ‘Hinduism’ or as participating in ‘a traditional Hindu ritual structure’.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18370
The Polish Festival of India tour led by Indradyumna Swami is now on. This video features some of the highlights of the 2013 tour.
Kirtan in Ireland (12 min video)
Praghosa Das of ISKCON and Govinda’s (Dublin) leads a kirtan chant session at a gathering in County Westmeath, Ireland. Jayananda Davis is the brilliant and enlivening mridanga drum player.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/KnxfEG
This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Bhaktivedanta Manor’s main drama group. It has been led chiefly by Jaya Krishna Das and Dwarka Puri das but over the years a great many other devotees of all ages and backgrounds have participated and given much of their time.
(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed)
[Originally published on July 24th, 2012](The final installment of the 3 part series.) One of my favorite accounts in Shrimad Bhagavatam is Narada’s sharing of his previous life with Vyasadeva in the first Canto. This volume was all of the SB that was published when I became a devotee, and I have read it more than any other passage. Still, even with whole 12 Cantos of SB in print, I still find this story very inspiring. I like biographies anyway, and “coming to Krishna” stories are especially interesting and relevant to sadhakas (practicing devotees of Krishna). Although Narada is an eternally perfected devotee, he still has this aspect of his life as a way to teach us about the essential importance of Vaishnava blessings and association to jump start our spiritual lives. Narada embarks on the pilgrim’s journey to attain spiritual perfection, and he seems like one of us as he faces a personal tragedy which catapults him toward Krishna. We read how he depended on Krishna in all circumstances and was not independent in his endeavor to successfully meditate, but had to abide by Krishna’s timing for perfection.
Among the many games that the mind plays, comparison is one of its favorites – and one that is rarely favorable in terms of how it affects us. The mind will always find something with which to unfavorably compare our situation and make us miserable.
