Planet ISKCON

Hare Krishna! Meetings, Resolutions… and Chanting: Boston City Council Hears the Mahamantra!
The meeting, conducted in council chambers with full attendance of council members and the presence of small galleries of municipal aides, local journalists and community members, was called to order by Council President Bill Linehan, who promptly turned the meeting over to Michelle Wu. She read a brief description of the ISKCON Boston temple, then introduced the invocation speaker, Partha Biswas (Parama Rupa Dasa). Parama Rupa and Bhaktin Karuna Randolph each presented a councilor with a beautiful and fragrant garland, after which Temple President Pyari Mohan Dasa gifted each with a copy of “Bhagavad-Gita As It Is”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17723

Inevitable Time album is available at http://www.radhakrishnarecords.com/pa... as well as iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, CD Baby etc. More information about the album, pictures and other lyrics at www.inevitabletime.com

PK was released in Dec 2014 and went on to become the highest grossing Indian film of all time. Using an alien named PK (drunk) and a journalist as its central characters, the movie exposes the shenanigans of godmen and the gullibility of their followers. But in its negative stereotyping of religion, it mixes superstitions with meaningful spiritual practices and reduces God to an irrelevant cipher.

I remember back in the sixties when the words ‘take courage’ were the ubiquitous advertising slogan for a beer of the same name. Quite a nifty publicity idea, I suppose, but a few years ago when it was resurrected in a TV campaign it was banned. The censors quite rightly concluded that encouraging us to drink beer to increase our confidence might not be the best example of social responsibility.

Courage means standing up for what we believe to be right. Intoxication, on the other hand, tends to make us blur the boundary between right and wrong. We need a clear head for that kind of discrimination, as I have discovered over the years when facing my own challenges. For me courage has been more about staying true to myself than standing up to others, in making what I believe to be the right moral choices.

As a young man I became a Krishna monk, renouncing the lifestyle choices of my friends, my family and indeed myself up until that point. It was a radical step. I took vows to give up many of the worldly pleasures I had pursued till then, such as intoxication, illicit sex, meat-eating, and other such things. I donned the orange robes and moved into a temple. Soon after that I actually joined the famous Hare Krishna chanting parade up and down Oxford Street, which took a certain amount of courage, I have to say.
That was well over thirty years ago, and now I am married with children, but I still find myself having to draw upon my inner strength and courage to maintain my principles. For me this is about choosing truth over illusion, the true self or spirit as opposed to the body and its pleasures.

I believe happiness comes when I choose to follow spiritual teachings rather than my own ever-demanding senses and mind. This I find brings an inner fulfilment far more profound than the flickering joys of sensual indulgence. So I shall continue to take courage, although not the Dutch variety, to make the right moral choices. And also to join the Oxford Street crew from time to time as well.

Sitting down for brief periods can help us recover from stress or recuperate from exercise. But nowadays, our lifestyles make us sit much more than we move around. Are our bodies built for such a sedentary existence? Murat Dalkilinç investigates the hidden risks of sitting down.

Chennai is raising an army to fight the war against plastic.

Mayapur Tourism, ISKCON Mayapur’s travels and tours division, has announced the launching of its improved website www.visitmayapur.com. Sri Mayapur is the birthplace of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu- the most merciful form of Lord Krishna who distributed love to even the most fallen through the chanting of the Holy Names.

Hare Krishna! Grand Ratha Yatra 2015 in Sri Lanka
ISKCON Batticaloa located in eastern province of Sri Lanka celebrated its second annual Ratha Yatra on 23rd May 2015. Batticaloa is located in Eastern province, a predominantly tamil dominated region. More than 2500 people participated in this grand event. The procession started at Trinco Road and ended at Hindu College grounds in the heart of the city.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17718

"Mindfulness is just like exercise. It’s a form of mental exercise."

Radha Krishna Temple, 7 Bury Place, London, England, 1978
Srila Prabhupada: “My activities in London were begun as early as September, 1968. I sent six of my disciples there, all of them young couples, husband and wife, and none of them more than 26 years old. These boys and girls first started Sankirtana Movement in London and there were very nice reports about them. Even the ‘Times of London” printed one article with the caption 'Hare Krishna Chant Startles London.“ "In London there are many Indians, especially Gujaratis and Punjabis. All of them were astonished to see how American boys and girls were preaching Hare Krishna Mantra. They were invited to many centers both by the Indians and Europeans, but it was very difficult to find out a suitable house there in the midst of the city. My Guru Maharaja liked to start centers in the busiest part of a city.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/58mVOA

Hare Krishna! “Make him puris if he wants puris”
Sometimes Srila Prabhupada affectionately spoke about his father. When he did, it was always with great fondness. “My father would make sure that whatever I wanted I would get,” he said. “Even if it was in the middle of the night and I wanted puris, my father would say to my mother, ‘Make him puris if he wants puris.’ Sometimes my mother would resist, but my father would make her do it. It was like that. I don’t know. Maybe my father knew. He was always doing things like that. Then my mother would have to comply with him.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17715

Harinama Yatra - Nitay Gauranga: 02.06.2015 Rome (12 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: The name Krishna and the Personality of Godhead Krishna are identical. There is no difference in the absolute realm between the name, form or person of the Absolute Truth because in the absolute realm everything is transcendental bliss. (Srimad Bhagavatam, Introduction)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/wpFqzS

Harinama Sankirtan in downtown Denver last night. (2 min video)
So many enthusiastic people jumped right in to chant & dance with us.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/IQA37j

What is the best way to ease someone's pain and suffering? In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities.

TOVP: Art Department in Action! (Album with photos)
The amazing murtis pictured here are mockups of the 8 demigods that will overlook Lord Nrsimhadeva altar, offering prayers as described in SrimadBhagavatam. The mockups are 2 ft. tall, but the size of the actual murtis when finished will be an astounding 9.8 feet! On the second level of the altar, the railings between the murtis will be decorated with 3D panels illustrating the pastimes of Lord Nrsimhadeva. Each panel will be 6.5 ft. tall and, along with the murtis, cast in pure bronze.
See them here: https://goo.gl/f7xKf3

The post Gaura Nitai dasa asks why one should cultivate good qualities when they are manifest anyway as a result of cultivating bhakti appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

With the appointment of the United Kingdom’s first women bishops, Reverend Libby Lane as Bishop of Hull closely followed by the Reverend Alison White being appointed as the Bishop of Stockport, it was never going to be very long before observers of the Church would become interested in anything they said that appeared to be coming from an exclusively female perspective.

These two bishops, and may God bless them, are the first females to hold that title in the history of the Church of England, although the very first in the Anglican Communion worldwide was Katherine Jefferts Schori in the USA back in 2006.

In the UK, the fact that one of the longest-surviving establishment bodies, the Church, saw fit to change a long-standing tradition was the big news of the early part of this year. Many journalists wrote that the Church was ‘finally coming of age’ and ‘doing the right thing’ by removing what they saw as the largely contrived and antiquated block to women holding the post.

The fact is, of course, that 30% of the Church’s vicars are now women, and that proportion has been growing for a decade. Many say that the CofE wouldn’t be able to survive without them. At one-third I can believe them. Christianity, although still popular, has seen falling membership within the established denominations, and less men coming forward to become clergy. The need of the hour has seen women taking up a valued role in the structure of the Church – roles they are more than suitable for.

It is quite common to see a 60/40 women/men split of attendance to religious services. I have experienced this myself. Sometimes women outnumber men by 2-1. It makes sense that women play whatever role is needed within a religious body whose membership is disproportionately women . Their natural abilities in pastoral care and the nurture of faith suggest that their role has been downplayed for a while.

But this post isn’t about the role of women in the Church. Its about what happens when observers think that the changing make-up of the Church automatically produces a change of theology. I was interested in this piece about ‘God the Mother’ and although it might be seen to be appropriate for the changing times, the fact is that the principle of God as Mother has been articulated for many centuries – by men.

Whether Shekinah, the feminine spirit of God in Judaism, or as ‘Mother of God’ in Catholicism, the feminine nature of God and that which emanates from God, has always been there. As a Vaishnava writer, I must also add that the existence of the notion of God and Goddess is much older than both of those religions.

Where there is a missing element in theology, there will always be an unconscious move to fill the gap. Theology changes ceaselessly until it finds a resting place, and that resting place is where perennial conundrums of philosophy are solved.

Whether or not we have female bishops (and I’m glad we do) it seems the right time to welcome back God the Mother.

Hare Krishna.

 

http://bit.ly/1GmaL7J

The post At the home of the Rasik family appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Daily Darshan – June 4th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

HH Bhakti Vidyapurna Swami at ISKCON Mayapur on 2015-05-31

Guru Maharaja narate story about life of Madhvacarya. Before Madhvacarya born, a crippled man go up his house roof and yell: "Vayudeva will appear.... Vayudeva will appear" then after that Madhvacarya was born, his parent give him name Vasudeva.

One day her mother take 5 year old Vasudeva to a place where a famous speaker of Purana gave a class. His mother and other people there quitely heard this speaker, but little Madhvacarya suddenly spoke: "Dear speaker, what Purana said is not what like you said". Then he began to explain about the verse and explain the meaning and everyone is agree with him. In one occassion his Father explain to him about the meaning of trees mentioned in Purana. his father skip one tree because he could not give the meaning. Madhvacarya knows it and asking his father "Father why you skip one tree?" and then he explained the tree meaning.

His father love his son Vasudeva very much, and he is very glad of Vasudeva inteligence. At the age of 7 year his father sent Madhvacarya to study under Acutya Preksa. Madhvacarya is very smart he understand the lesson very quickly and then playing for a whole day. Some said Madhvacarya swim like Hanuman, and wrestle like Bhima, but his teacher was not very happy because most of the time Madhvacarya just go out playing and never study. One day his teacher become very angry and ask him to repeat all the verses that already tought in the class, Madhvacarya repeat the verses perfectly and the mention the next verses for the next class, his teacher astonished and never bother him again.

Acyuta Preksa then initiated Vasudeva and gave him name Purnaprajna at the age of 11. Then Madhvacarya took sannyasa at the age of 12. He then travel around India and visited many holy places, had discussion with various famous people and strongly refuse mayavadi.

Later Madhvacarya go to Badrinatha to met Vyasadeva. He climb the mountain by jumping like hanuman, at first some of his disciple follow him but the can't keep up. Madhvacarya then met Vyasadeva and get teaching from Vyasadeva then Madhvacarya travel again with stronger teaching and travel all around India.

Please listen the audio for more stories of Madhvacarya.

Hare Krishna

“My child,” Svāyambhuva continued, “these followers of the god of wealth are not really your brother’s killers. It is destiny that creates a person, and destiny that destroys him. That is what creates everything, and what destroys everything, too.”

Dhruva would ask, “Why has the Supreme created so much destruction and death?”

Svāyambhuva replied, “No, no! He is not to blame for it. It is our own selfish ambitions that entangle us in the repercussions of trying to appropriate the beautiful world for ourselves. This world is his energy, and its rules are what creates, maintains, and destroys everything. He himself is equal to everyone. He is everyone’s true essence, true master, and true origin.”

Dhruva broke down in frustration, “I don’t like his rules, which have killed my brother!”

“My dear,” Svāyambhuva said compassionately, “learn to completely accept destiny, whether it brings life or death.”

“Why!?” Dhruva would ask.

“Because destiny is a system created by a person who wants the ultimate good for everyone in the world,” Svāyambhuva declared with a smile, “and also because fighting against it is useless. Even the creator of the world, Brahmā, has to follow this system like a bull follows the reigns tied to his nose.”

Dhruva was silent.

“When you were five years old,” Svāyambhuva reminded him, “you left your mother, with a heart broken by the insults of her co-wife. You went into the forest, and by your disciplines you saw him with your own eyes. Your worship of him granted you a place beyond anything in the three worlds. My dear, free yourself from all this hostility. Compose yourself. Look within yourself and search for that completely pure being who is singular, infallible, and transcendent. Do this, and you will realize that all schism is useless and fake. When you realize this, you will see your true self, and you will see the All-Attractive, who is the very essence of endless bliss and the wellspring of all energy. Supreme, transcendent devotion will flow from your true self to him, and loosening all the knots of ignorance tied tightly by selfishness and self-centeredness.”

Dhruva’s face regained its peace.

Svāyambhuva congratulated him. “You have conquered your true foe: anger. You are blessed! May you attain the supreme blessing! Do not forget what I have told you. Think about it often, King – just like taking medicine regularly to keep a chronic disease in check. People who become possessed by anger terrify the world. The wise, who value fearlessness and who value their true selves, should never let themselves become enrapt in anger.

“Out of anger you killed these pious gods, thinking, ‘they killed my brother.’ What you have done was an insult to the god of wealth, who is Śiva’s brother. Dear boy, go to him right away, seeking forgiveness. Offer your respects submissively and apologize. Do not allow the wrath of great beings to overtake our family.”

Dhruva thanked Svāyambhuva for his guidance, and Svāyambhuva then returned with his sages to his city.

---

Translation of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.11.24 ~ 35 [End of Chapter]

By Vraja Kishor dās

VrajaKishor.com

Tagged: Anger, destiny, fate, self-control

A new album by Ananda Monet published by Radha Krishna Records, London, UK.

"While the body is fit, there­fore, why should we not chant the holy name loudly and distinctly? If one does so it is quite pos­si­ble that even at the time of death, he will properly be able to chant the holy name of the Lord with love and faith."

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.2.49 purport

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 14 May 2015, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.42)

Question: Why does maya make it so difficult for the jiva to attain Krsna when Mahaprabhu is wanting to give Krsna prema so easily?

Srila Prabhupada was explaining in one lecture which I happened to be listening to three days ago that maya is like the police. So maya is there for the criminals! Prabhupada said, “If you are a criminal then maya will give you so much trouble but if you are not a criminal, then there is no problem.” It is like when you are not a criminal, the police will not give you any difficulty. But when we are actually criminals, who are actually ignoring the laws of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and causing disturbances then we are not innocent, we are guilty. We are criminals, we are causing suffering to others, we are causing a lot of suffering in the world therefore maya is arresting us. Time is up and is sort of punishing us.

We may say, “Maya, why are you doing this to me? You know, I am the nicest guy in the world. Why do you not leave me alone? It is not fair. I am completely sincere.” Whereas we are not so sincere. Actually, we are thoroughly corrupted so it takes purification. Not even just purification of bad qualities but it even takes purification of our motivation. Even our motivation is not so pure.

Sometimes people accuse us and they say like, “Escapist! Escapist! Take responsibility! Get a job! Get married! Go get a job! Escapist!”
Of course, you reply, “Demon! How dare you say such a thing about a vaisnava? You know what you are doing? You are blaspheming the vaisnavas! Demon!” (laughter)

But the truth of the matter… maybe there is a little bit of an escapist in us. Work in a job from Monday to Friday, from nine to five? It is easier to live in the temple and say, “Oh sorry, Prabhu, I came two hours late for my service. I had to chant my rounds, Prabhu.”

It is pretty easy, you know, to walk into any temple in the world and ask for prasadam? Just rock up in time. So in some ways, we live very sheltered lives. It is quite comfy compared to the struggle for existence in the material world. So is our motivation that pure? Did we really only come because we want to serve Krsna and surrender our lives to Krsna? Or did we come because we did not like to work? We did not like so many other things and now we are here in the temple and life is good.

I was in one temple in East Africa in 1979.

Yeah, it was like, “Did the life members bring the fruit already?”
“Yes, they did.”
“Oh, are there any mangoes?”
“No, only papayas.”
“Only papayas! Oh gosh. Any programs today?”
“Yes, there is a program at the Gupta’s.”
“Oh, the Gupta’s! I am going to that one. Mrs Gupta, I mean she is a whiz in the kitchen.”

Is this the sankirtan yajna? Is this the preacher who is going to every town and village? svargāpavarga-narakeshv api tulyārtha-darśinah (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.17.28): He is ready to go to hell or to heaven, he is equal-minded, preach Krsna consciousness. Is that us? Or are we more like in a comfort zone?

We can reflect on these things sometimes and we can question our own motivation, “Am I here just to serve Krsna or am I here because in some ways, it is easy?” So, even motivation needs to be purified. So how sincere are we? So, we are criminals. Still, some criminal tendencies are there. Even when we are dressed up like this (in devotional attire), it does not mean that all the criminal tendencies are gone. So when maya sees some criminal tendencies, there she is again, pouncing with her potencies, and we fall down…

Haridas Thakur had no material desires. Maya tested him and then after duly testing him, she found he was free and she surrendered to him. So the pure devotee is beyond. Srila Prabhupada used to say, “You can fall down but I cannot.” The pure devotee is fully transcendental. So we are converted criminals. So that is why maya is still policing us.

Hare Krishna! Cultivating an Empathetic Heart
When I was a young devotee, I was strict about attending all the temple programs. But I found myself critical of devotees who didn’t always attend. One devotee suffered from an illness and did her best to come when she could. But I felt she could do better. Not long after those thoughts contaminated my consciousness, however, I became ill and often missed mangala-arati, the early-morning worship. Krishna accomplishes many things by one action, and one result of my illness was a diminishing of my critical mentality. Krishna has often placed me in situations similar to those of people for whom I lacked empathy, helping me develop more understanding of others’ difficulties.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17712

Florida Is “The Rathayatra State” With Over A Dozen Festivals
For many, the season of Rathayatra, or the Festival of Chariots, won’t start until the summer. But Florida, which has become “The Rathayatra State” with a record-holding one dozen festivals in-state and more organized by Florida devotees out-of-state, is already kicking off its celebrations. Most of the festivals are organized by devotees from Alachua county’s New Raman Reti, the largest ISKCON community in North America. They include former president Bhadra Das, second-generation devotee Govinda Syer, and Dharmaraj Das, who organized Rathayatras in his native Guyana for fourteen years before beginning the same service in Florida in 2002.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/d6hQRU

Happy Couples, Healthy Families, Strong ISKCON
In April and May 2015, Grihastha Vision Team (GVT) members, Uttama dasi and Partha das spent 5 weeks in Brazil, offering seminars, workshops, retreats, individual couple education and mentor training in various cities across Brazil. The Brazilian centers are developing a devotee care initiative, and one of the many aspects is to try to assist members to have better marital relationships.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/wGLLyr

Hare Krishna! Back in San Francisco
The Swami sat between us. He was unassuming, comfortable in all situations, and smiled a lot. His jolly manner was infectious, so I smiled a lot from being around him. If someone gave the Swami any money he would immediately use it for printing, either books or magazines, never for his own self. He lived simply, but he would accept gifts as tools if it helped him to serve Lord Krishna. He awoke at 2:00 a.m., bathed, chanted 250,000 Holy Names, or sixteen rounds on a rosary of 108 beads. He encouraged us to also take up this practice, which we did.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17709

The post Bhakti Charu Swami and Sivarama Swami speak at a Pandava Sena meeting at Anil Agarwal’s home on the Gift of Lord Caitanya appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Hare Krishna! Sri Mayapur International School: English teaching position available
We have a service opportunity for a Secondary School English teacher starting August 2015. If you have successful teaching experience with students aged 12 to 16, and would like to serve in Sri dham Mayapur we can offer you small mixed ability classes of well behaved devotee students, an attractive remuneration package and the opportunity to serve with a team of devotee teachers in a beautiful campus, next to Mayapur goshalla.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17706

The Amazing London Rathayatra!
Date: Sunday 14th June 2015
Details:
Route Map
47th London Rathayatra is Sunday 14 June.
Assemble at Hyde Park, South Carriage Drive 11.30am
Procession departs 12 noon
Arrives at Trafalgar Square 2.30pm
Festival in Square until 5.00pm
Festival Features:
Talks
Bhajans
Dramas
Stalls
Books & Paraphenalia
Free Vegetarian Prasadam Feast for all
Getting There
Dearest Reader,
Before start of procession the horse guards parade past the chariots
Everyone is welcome to Rathayatra.
The procession assembles just inside Hyde Park – 500 yards west of Hyde Park Corner.
You will clearly spot the three colourful carts as you approach. There are three or four kirtan (singing and instrument) sections, each with dancers.
You can pull the ropes on the cart (which bestows liberation) but please follow the instructions of stewards and staff.
The cart leaves Hyde Park promptly at mid-day and arrives at Trafalgar Square around 2.30pm.
This can feel like a long journey on a hot day and a OAP van is provided at the rear of the procession for the infirm.
Bring a bottle of water to refresh yourself along the way.
If you can, please come and enjoy the start of the procession before the Deities arrive.
London Festival in Trafalgar Square after the procession
The Deities come out of the temple to freely distribute Their loving glances to anyone and everyone.
Wherever the Lord appears He is accompanied by His beloved devotees and friends.
If you are also there then you will surely benefit eternally.
Thank you very much for reading. Look forward to seeing you at the festival!
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/67Wyhe

Hare Krishna! The Sublime Essence of the Lotus Feet
Placing the attention on the lotus feet with a reverential attitude can dispel mundane preoccupations of the ego, such as desires born out of vanity, pride and greed. Suffering, affliction, pain, fear and discontent fade away as body and mind become purified through attaching the mind to the lotus feet. The illusion of separation from the divine fades away. It is believed that upon first glance at the lotus feet, it is possible to perceive — via the senses — fresh lotus blossoms. Even to gaze upon the lotus feet can illumine the soul. In the act of falling at the lotus feet, touching the lotus feet, gazing upon the lotus feet or surrendering to the lotus feet, the ego can be subdued in favor of a higher state of awareness. The phrase “contacting the lotus feet of a guru” means to connect with a spiritual master to follow his teachings. It is considered an act of divine grace to be attracted to the lotus feet. By taking refuge at the master’s lotus feet, the devotee can receive innumerable spiritual benefits, just as he might attain through making pilgrimages, fasting, doing charitable acts, performing austerities and engaging in yogic disciplines. Sometimes the lotus feet are referred to as “a pool of sacred nectar that grants salvation to the world-weary pilgrims on the path.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17700

Hare Krishna! The mercy factor
Kadamba Kanana Swami: We can think of our heart as a palace with many rooms. Slowly, we open more rooms and we have to turn all these rooms into temples. But as long as we have any ideas of wanting material things, that means that we still lock out some rooms from Krsna – that is where our obstacles are. Everyone has some barriers otherwise we will all be ecstatic prema bhaktas, rolling on the ground in ecstasy. So, we may have some personal agenda but we minimize it more and more.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17697

Indian Actress Rituparna doing Lord Jagannath Abhishek

The post Daily Darshan – June 3rd, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.