Planet ISKCON

Bhurijana prabhu gives some deep insights into chanting at a Japa Retreat in Chowpatty

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 May 2015, Cronulla, Australia, Intro to Kirtan)

Question: Just wondering, some persons have been chanting for quite some time now and have asked me and I would like to ask you, what sort of symptoms should we see in ourselves if we are really progressing in our attachment to the chanting? If we are really doing it properly, is there some way we can know that it is really working in a progressive sense?

When we are progressing, first we gain stability. The chanting offers us an anchor. It offers us something deeper, something spiritual and naturally we begin to inquire a bit more about the meaning, about where it comes from. We may read something like Bhagavad-gita, a Vedic text which gives us some understanding where we begin to realize that we are spirit and that is an important point. We all have bodies and bodies are machines.

Just like when you go into hospital sometimes and they change a part or they fix some loose screws. I mean, it is just like when the car goes to the garage, right. What is the difference? It is a machine. They treat it like a machine also. The body is described in Sanskrit as yantra – machine. So as part of advancement, our awareness becomes broader and deeper. When we begin to realize that we are spirit then a whole spiritual dimension opens to us. Then, there is Krsna. Between the individual spirit and Krsna, there is a relationship and that relationship is always there. You know, HE provides the energy for the sun and the sun shines. HE provides the taste in what we eat, in the vegetables. HE provides… That is the first relationship.

The second relationship is from our side, a sense of gratitude. We no longer just take everything for granted and just throw garbage on top of the planet but we develop a sense of gratitude for the gifts that we have received. We see that we are receiving gifts, and then we return those gifts by giving ourselves… by giving ourselves for higher values, by giving ourselves for other people.

So as some of these qualities begins to manifest in us – this sense of giving, this sense of doing something for the good of all rather than just being on the take, that is where we begin to notice the change from chanting. Then we realize that we get strength of mind through this chanting. We get focus. We are able to control our mind and focus on a goal and as I said, it can go higher and higher until one chants with pure devotion until one realizes everything is here, just in this mantra. Everything!

But that is very high and not all of us can reach that level but at least for some time, we get some attachment to the chanting. That is a blessing because again it brings this positive energy into our life and again, we become compassionate. Just like when we say no meat-eating, that is due to compassion. It is compassion! If the animals would have voting rights, I am sure they would start a vegetarian party. They want to live and why not let them live. Like this, gradually, these kinds of qualities begin to develop. So the mantra brings about a change in quality because it makes us aware of the spiritual totality that we are part of and we begin to take that place as part of a whole rather than seeing ourselves as me and mine on a separated entity. So in that way, we are advancing.

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Hare Krishna! Praying for the Welfare of Others
Urmila Devi Dasi: In summary, for intercessory prayer to be part of pure devotional service to Lord Krishna, it should be free of desires outside of that service, and it should ask for something favorable to the Lord. Such prayers should not stem from excessive attachment to the world. We can engage in intercessory prayer to deepen our relationship with Krishna, to develop a mood of humility and compassion for others, and with a desire to glorify our beloved Lord.
“I am praying to Krishna to offer you all His strength in the discharge of His noble service.” “I am praying for your long life and prosperity in Krishna consciousness.” “I pray that Krishna may bless you with a long life with which to open many temples and that in this very lifetime you may return back to home, back to Godhead.” “I pray to Krishna that you all may use your intelligence for Krishna’s service and not for any personal ambition.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17902

Gauranga Festival in Ukraine, Day 2 (5 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Festivities continued throughout the weekend at the Gauranga Festival in Ukraine. The clear, fresh mountain air facilitated long and loud chanting of the holy names. Prasadam, cooked in ghee on open wood fires, was super excellent. And the association couldn’t be beat!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/OPVkTl

The post Why Srila Prabhupada took pride in our temples and lifestyle as being aristocratic appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Chanting and dancing in Washington Square Park, NY (Album with photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/FFztKT

Hare Krishna Festival Photos In New York city 2015 (3 min video)
Three Huge Colorful Chariots Are Pulled By Rope Down 5Th Avenue By Hundreds Of People Towards Washington Square Park. Festival Stage, Food Booths, Religious Booths, Singing, Music….photos In Washington Square Park.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/m9JeZ3

Watch Live Broadcasting from ongoing London’s huge Rathayatra
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/uj01Fx

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed)

[Republished from November 11, 2012]
Two weeks have passed since my last blog. During this time, I have reflected on the illusive, uncontrollable (though we try to use it) nature of time, of which life, as we known it, is inextricably intertwined. Hopefully we will be drawn to question the force of natural laws on us, and think of their purpose, and controller—the Law Maker. We have our individual life’s timing for significant or insignificant events—sometimes lethargy or stagnation—and then the larger field of our immediate surroundings, our country, and the whole planet, all of which can influence our decisions and how we go about things. We may feel like we are in a stagnant pool, going nowhere fast, or being diminished daily, while at other times we seem to be swept away by events much larger than ourselves or our family concerns. For Gaudiya Vaishnavas, the chaos that may surround and seem to threaten us, points to the lasting spiritual peace within, and the love of the soul for Krishna which enlivens us. Thus the blessing of upheaval or problems can be a motivation for spiritual practice. Life in the material world is always uncertain and changing, like unstable shifting sand, and still we try to avoid, or find shelter from this truth. Firm ground is the soul and its relationship to God.

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Sri Jagannath Ratha Yatra and Festival of India 2015 in NYC (Album with professional HR photos)
Jagannatha Ratha Yatra festival celebrated by the Hare Krishna devotees on New York’s Fifth Avenue, New York City. This festival is held in a mood of love and devotion and invokes universal peace, harmony, and good will for all creation
See them here: http://goo.gl/jdj3HM

Hare Krishna! Radhanath Swami Speaks on Happiness at Wedding Wire in D.C.
On June 10th, 2015 Radhanath Swami was invited to take part in the speaker series hosted by Wedding Wire where he was interviewed by Wedding Wire CEO Tim Chi on the subject of Happiness. Wedding Wire is a young Washington DC-based company that specializes in helping couples-to-be find anything they might need to make their wedding day as perfect as possible. They are also one of the most highly recommended companies to work for in the DC area. Tim Chi helped create a culture of friendship and teamwork among his growing staff of 200+ employees and has near 100% turnout on days of company wide service to help in the local DC community.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17897

HH Indradyumna Swami – Sunday Feast Class – 07.06.2015

Hare Krishna! Memories of Brahmananda Dasa
Much can be said about our dear godbrother Bramhananda, but you know some devotees are just special. Just seeing him could make one smile and as one of Prabhupada’s original “white elephants” his efforts to serve him “in the day” are legendary. As one of the heavy pullers of our “mule team” for Prabhupada, those early devotees did so much for him. They cleared and paved the way for later devotees and enlivened many. Days were glorious but rigorous, filled with exhaustion and sweet surrender. Time moves on but it just won’t be the same without him around…yet we are happy for him.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17892

Two things will go on and this chanting of Hare Krishna will conquer. As maya is forcing you to drag you from Krishna consciousness, you also force maya by chanting Hare Krishna. There is fight. And maya will go away!

Srila Prabhupada Conversation 23/12/68

New Vrindaban’s 24 Hour Kirtan to Transport Partipants to Vrindavana Dhama
The ninth annual 24 Hour Kirtan festival in New Vrindaban, West Virginia is set to give North American participants the experience of the 24 Hour Kirtan that runs 365 days a year in the original Vrindavana Dhama, India without having to travel thousands of miles. Around 600 devotees from all over the U.S. and Canada are expected to converge in the beautiful rural community that founder Srila Prabhupada called “a new place of pilgrimage for you Western devotees.” During a 1972 visit he also commented, “This Vrindaban, that Vrindavan, no difference.” The devotee participants will be joined by two groups of students, one from Cleveland State University and one from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, attending for the first time.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17889

Hare Krishna! The Ecstasy of Insignificance: Happiness Through Reality
A feeling of insignificance and a humble service attitude come not by astuteness, not by knowing some tricks, but by simple steadfastness in the process of Krishna consciousness. The Srimad-Bhagavatam tells us that Krishna showers all benedictions on those who consider themselves insignificant. Seeing them as significant, by His causeless mercy He shares with them the sweetness of devotional service. Insignificance is so inconceivably ecstatic that the Lord Himself desires it, as Srila Prabhupada describes: “Krishna says in Chaitanya-charitamrita, you will find, ‘Everyone worships Me with awe and veneration. But if anyone worships Me without any awe, veneration, and treats Me as insignificant, I like that. I like that.’
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17886

Hare Krishna! Truth in a Nutshell
Four special verses in the Bhagavad-gita and four in the Srimad-Bhagavatam lay out the fundamental teachings of Krishna consciousness. My mom always keeps peanuts around the house. Crack the shells open, and you find two peanuts inside. So much goodness in one little package: beneficial nutrients, plant proteins, fats, fiber, and plenty of vitamins, minerals, and bioactives. As I looked at the broken shells in front of me one day, my mind was drawn to four special verses of the Srimad-Bhagavatam and four of the Bhagavad-gita, each set often referred to simply as chatuh-shloki: “the four verses.” Srila Prabhupada was the first to refer to them as “nutshell verses.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17883

Hare Krishna! God Is Great—and Sweet
“I would believe only in a god who could dance,” wrote German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. During his times, God was generally portrayed as a frozen perfection—remote, static, and wholly unsociable. No wonder Nietzsche was disillusioned. He might have been pleasantly surprised to hear about Krishna, the God who dances with spellbinding expertise on the hoods of the venomous serpent Kaliya; the God who dances to the tune of His mother just to get butter; the God who dances with the gopis during the rasa-lila, a celebration of divine love; the God known as Vrindavana-natabara, the best dancer in the pastoral paradise of Vrindavana.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17880

Solve The Problem Of Terrorism On An Individual Level
Radhanath Swami: Terrorism is born of ego. Strife and friction are caused when we understand only the letter of the religious law but ignore the spirit behind it. Unity and brotherhood of mankind can happen when we transcend the external differences and focus on the spiritual essence of all great traditions. The essence of every religion is sincerity in cleansing our own hearts, and cultivating humility by honouring every living entity as a child of God. We must educate the youth about these universal principles which teach us to love God and love every living being as a child of God. God is one and is known by many different names. If we understand and internalize this reality we develop respect for every religious path.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/UNADeJ

By Madhava Smullen

The ninth annual 24 Hour Kirtan festival in New Vrindaban, West Virginia is set to give North American participants the experience of the 24 Hour Kirtan that ns 365 days a year in the original Vrindavana Dhama, India without having to travel thousands of miles.

Around 600 devotees from all over the U.S. and Canada are expected to converge in the beautiful rural community that founder Srila Prabhupada called “a new place of pilgrimage for you Western devotees.” During a 1972 visit he also commented, “This Vrindaban, that Vrindavan, no difference.”

The devotee participants will be joined by two groups of students, one from Cleveland State University and one from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, attending for the first time.

Leading up to the festival, Europe-based spiritual teacher Kadamba Kanana Swami will give three morning lectures at Sri Sri Radha-Vrindabanchandra’s temple from Thursday June 18th to Saturday June 20th on the importance of chanting the Holy Name.

There will also be an inauguration kirtan with Kadamba Kanana Swami, Agnideva Das and other senior kirtaniyas on Friday evening from 7 to 10pm at Srila Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold.

The 24 Hour Kirtan festival proper will then run from 11am on Saturday June 20th to 11am on Sunday June 21st in the temple, which will be decorated with maha-mantra banners, harinama chaddars and lamps.

Participants will sit in a semi-circle facing the Deities. Each of the long list of lead chanters will lead for around one hour, and each will bring their own flavor to an event packed full of variety.

Kadamba Kanana Swami is known for his fired up, rocking kirtans. Agnideva Das – who has been one of the world’s most popular chanters since the 1970s and is now based in Trinidad – steals devotees’ hearts with his classic, soulful style. And Brazilian kirtaniya Amala Kirtan Das, now based in Austin, Texas, brings blissful ragas and astonishing virtuousity on the harmonium.

Meanwhile Ananta Govinda and Acyuta Gopi from New York raise goosebumps with their soul folk kirtan; Mayapuri band member Krishna Kishor injects youthful energy into proceedings; and Gaura Mani Dasi from the Vrindavana, India-based band the Vrajadhus dovetails Bollywood songs in Krishna’s service to create new Hare Krishna tunes that take off like wildfire.

Local New Vrindaban chanters will also lead kirtan, including Rupanuga Das, Abhay Das, Bhaktin Autumn, Ananda Vidya Das, and Lilasuka Dasi.

And youth and children will get a chance too – the boys from ISKCON Alachua’s Summer Trip, aged 12 to 15, will chant for 45 minutes, while a group of children aged 10 and under will chant for half an hour.

“It’s really important for them to have that opportunity to sing at a festival,” says Shri-Ram Poddar, 18, who is organizing the schedule for the festival. “They’ll love it, and it’s just a really good growing experience for them too.”

Shri-Ram is speaking from experience. He first attended the New Vrindaban 24 Hour Kirtan in 2011 when he was 14 and uninterested in kirtan, staying up throughout the night as an experiment. He calls it “the first devotee festival I really enjoyed” and afterwards became passionate about kirtan. Now he’s helping to organize both New Vrindaban’s summer and fall 24 Hour Kirtans, and is inspired to manage other Krishna conscious events too.

While many other kirtan festivals follow the two 12-hour days format, Shri Ram loves New Vrindaban’s because it remains a straight 24-hour event nine years in. This features gets participants intensely focused on the Holy Name, and combined with New Vrindaban’s Brijabasi mood it truly recreates the original Vrindavana 24-Hour Kirtan.

The Vrindavana mood will be particularly evident during the night time hours, when devotees like Amala Harinama and Govinda Das, who both spent time as part of the 24 Hour Kirtan Mandali in Vrindavana under Aindra Das, will chant.

“Govinda Prabhu has been there since at least the early 2000s, and was with Aindra Prabhu for at least ten years, as one of his main mridanga players,” says Shri-Ram. “His kirtan really has Aindra’s mood.”

Most devotees will attend only select parts of the kirtan, taking rest in between in the comfortable motel-style rooms at New Vrindaban’s Palace Lodge (now booked up), in local hotels in Wheeling and Moundsville, or in tents on the ISKCON New Vrindaban grounds.

Every year, however, some brave souls are so inspired that they manage to make it through the entire 24 hours.

The prasadam helps – breakfast on Saturday and Sunday will include kichari, granola, yoghurt, chutney, and a drink. For lunch on Saturday there’ll be fancy rice, dahl, two subjis, macaroni, pakoras, puris, chutney, sweet rice, and mango lassi.

The primetime evening kirtan slots from 6pm to 10 or 11pm on Saturday will be the most packed and energetic, as will Agnideva’s grand finale on Sunday morning, followed by a delicious Sunday Feast at 12:30pm.

Afterwards, participants are usually left hungry for more – more kirtan! “People always say they feel very enlivened and recharged,” says Vrindavana Das, who organizes the festival with assistant coordinator Gauranga Prasad Das. “They always look forward to coming back again.”

And New Vrindaban has what they’re looking for. A fall 24 Hour Kirtan is coming up on October 31st and November 1st, during the sacred month of Kartik – which, of course is one of Vrindavana, India’s most famous festivals.

With a more sweet, mellow mood, devotees will get to offer candles to New Vrindaban’s beautiful Deities, and once again get the Vrindavana Dhama experience without having to travel to India.

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Kirtan On The Mountain Peak (6 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Devotees from all over Ukraine gathered this week for their annual Gauranga Festival in the Carpathian mountains. Blissful Kirtan resounded throughout all the hills and valleys!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/sUHcne

Bhakta Marcel, asks “In my original svarupa, what caused me to want to enjoy separate from Krishna?”

The post Trying to understand transcendence from a conditioned state appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Remembering Brahmananda Prabhu (video)
By HH Indradyumna Swami.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/h4kP1p

‘Bloop’ by Acyutananda Prabhu - Tribute to Brahmananda Prabhu (2 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/BM1Acc

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