Hare Krishna! Serving Krishna by Serving Tulasi
Srila Jiva Gosvami, arguably one of the greatest spiritual scholars in the history of religion, said that one does not really accept God unless one accepts his inconceivable nature. In other words, if we try to limit God in some way, then in effect we have eliminated his true nature. In the same way, how the Lord’s internal potency for performing pastimes in this world expands as the pure devotee Tulasi, an eternal consort of Krishna, is also inconceivable. Devotees simply accept her and worship her with joy in their hearts. And if she blesses them by growing luxuriously, as she has in Vancouver, that, Srila Prabhupada wrote, is evidence of their sincere devotion.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17651

Vaishnava weddings in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra without offenses, one increases his love for Krishna. As stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, preme pum-artho mahan: one’s main concern should be to increase one’s attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to increase one’s love for Him. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.3.24 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/5A6Ko8

Hare Krishna! Family ties
Srila Prabhupada explains that we are indebted in so many ways. We are indebted if we take milk from the cow. We are indebted to other living beings, demigods, family, parents and to everyone who has made a sacrifice for us. We are indebted to our teachers for whatever knowledge we have taken from them. Like this, we are indebted, indebted, indebted! Therefore, we have a duty to repay. It is a karmic duty and not just a moral duty! If we do not repay that duty then there are reactions.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17650

These and other questions by Manab Mitra, Bhakta László, Lalita-sakhi, Marcus Perez, Mahatma Vidura, Lando Linda and Czakó Misi.

The post Is Rahu responsible for the phases of the moon, what is a spiritual body and where in sastra is there information about sikhas? appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

http://bit.ly/1FTfmw3

The post Radha Damodara today appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Deena Bandhu prabhu gets a new friend from Boise!
Deena Bandhu: We met a nice girl in the park who owned this sweet cockatiel. First the bird gave me kisses, then went after my sikha!
See more pics here: https://goo.gl/PZ25RU

BOAT FESTIVAL In Kolkata, India, 24.05.2015 (Album with photos)
Program organised by Well Wisher Forum, ISKCON Kolkata, Their Lordships Sri Sri Banka Nitai Gaura Ray and Sri Sri Radha Govinda dev graced the occassion alongwith many other
See them here: https://goo.gl/GWsbF5

Maha Harinama in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Intelligent men decide to solve all problems by adopting the devotional service of chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is situated in everyone’s heart and who is a mine of all auspicious qualities. Such persons are not within Yamaraj’s jurisdiction for punishment. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.3.26 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/v9fZFt

Shabbat Harinam in Tel-aviv (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra without offenses, one increases his love for Krishna. As stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, preme pum-artho mahan: one’s main concern should be to increase one’s attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to increase one’s love for Him. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.3.24 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/Ub5erI

http://bit.ly/1EH82OO

The post Radha Damodara appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

http://bit.ly/1RxKaXg

The post Bhakti Charu Maharaja appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Sadhu Sanga Retreat’s success beyond description! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: 1.600 devotees enjoyed many hours of kirtan at the Sadhu Sanga Retreat in North Carolina over Memorial Day weekend. Words cannot begin to express the deep joy and satisfaction everyone experienced. Perhaps the following photos of Damodar-rati das can help to convey the spirit of that historic event.
See them here: https://goo.gl/CUxhOU

Gita Nagari Baru Yatra, Indonesia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the sastras it is said that if a person only once chants the holy name and completely surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Lord, the Lord immediately considers him His ward and is always inclined to give him protection. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.49 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/S2UeAV

Hare Krishna! Miraculous Meetings!
We had an amazing sankirtan experience last week. While traveling we met a man who got a ‘Chant and Be Happy,’ read it, became convinced, and started chanting – all by himself. Never been to a temple, never met a devotee. He just made up his own beads from reading and now chants everyday. Gives us great faith in power of Srila Prabhupada’s book. The full article and video interview can be found here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17645

On Saturday, May 16th we left Bloomington, Illinois for the Chicago temple. However, along the way we paid a surprise visit to His Holiness Radhanath Swami who was staying nearby.

Arriving at the temple, we set up our TOVP presentation banners and prepared for the Sunday program. The Chicago temple is a very large building and houses the presiding Deities of Sri Sri Radha Kishor Kishori, Sri Sri Gaur Nitai, and Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. The congregation of devotees is very large and we expected a good crowd.

Devotees started arriving for the evening arati and darshan of the Padukas and Sitari, after which the Temple President, Nityananda Pran prabhu, introduced the TOVP Team. Radha Jivan and Jananivas spoke again about the importance of Mayapur Dhama and building the TOVP. Pledges began to come in and by the program’s end close to $300,000 was pledged. After a puspa abhisheka to the Padukas and Sitari prasadam was served.

The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 66: Chicago TOVP Presentation appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

The post Daily Darshan – May 30th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Answer Podcast:
Download by “right-click and save content”

Answer Podcast:
Download by “right-click and save content”

Answer Podcast:
Download by “right-click and save content”

Answer Podcast:
Download by “right-click and save content”

Evening program at ISKCON, Melbourne on Bhagavad-gita 5.17
Lecture Podcast:
Download by “right-click and save content”

Answer Podcast:
Download by “right-click and save content”

Answer Podcast:
Download by “right-click and save content”

Srimad Bhagavatam class on 3.10.16-17 at ISKCON, Melbourne
Lecture Podcast:
Download by “right-click and save content”

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed)
[Originally published on November 26th, 2012 and reposted here]

Superior soul energy lives within
animating matter’s lower vibration
being naturally unfulfilled in a body
driven to search for fulfillment.

Oblivious to its real nature
looking without instead of within
trying to be somebody special
in a fool’s make-believe paradise.

Covered by illusion’s dictates
trying to be pleasured
repeating the hackneyed routine
avoiding pain by numbing.

read more

“The wisdom of the devotee is that he bows down to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one can do that it is special mercy. That is achieved through reception of the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord’s pure devotee. Generally that means to follow the instructions of the devotee. One cannot fully understand the science of transcendence unless one is a follower of a pure devotee. That is why the sacred texts themselves say that one cannot achieve success by simply studying books. Therefore it is said that one should study with the help of a devotee.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23, The Bhakti House
Kirtan, The Bhakti House

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27 May 2015, Sydney, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.23)

Whenever we take birth in this world, immediately we are indebted. We are indebted to our parents who have brought us into this world and made arrangements for caring for us. We are indebted to the demigods because they are providing for us. Light, air and food are all provided by the demigods. We are indebted to the forefathers because they have built up so many things and worked so hard to create all facilities for us.

Srila Prabhupada explains that we are indebted in so many ways. We are indebted if we take milk from the cow. We are indebted to other living beings, demigods, family, parents and to everyone who has made a sacrifice for us. We are indebted to our teachers for whatever knowledge we have taken from them. Like this, we are indebted, indebted, indebted!

Therefore, we have a duty to repay. It is a karmic duty and not just a moral duty! If we do not repay that duty then there are reactions. It is said that if one owes money to another and one dies, then in the next life, one has to come back and pay back four times the amount – so with interest! So these things are arranged like that. Also, it is said that if someone owes you money, you will have to come back to receive it unless you write it off. So at the time of death, it is better to just write everything off.

But for a devotee, (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.41)

devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ pitṟṇāṁ, na kiṅkaro nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan

sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ, gato mukundaṁ parihṛtya kartam,

A devotee is no longer a debtor. He has paid back all this debts! But one may ask, “What about my parents? Shouldn’t I care for my parents?” Yes, you should care for your parents by serving Krsna because the way to care for parents is by serving Krsna. You may care for their bodies by sending money and so on, but if you give them Krsna and even if they are not getting Krsna directly from you, if you serve Krsna then your parents will share in the benefit; they get eternal benefit. So why should we work so hard to give them temporary benefit if they can get eternal benefit. Therefore, one should not interrupt his devotional service to take care of their parents; it is not beneficial!

In Navadvip, there was Shyamlal who had joined Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada had sent him to Calcutta to assist Brahmananda and Gargamuni in collecting funds for Mayapur. Then a message came that his father was very ill and his father was dying, and he was asked to go home immediately. And Prabhupada said, “No, don’t go. There is no need!”

So in Prabhupada’s time, it was like that because in Prabhupada’s presence, everything was very transcendental. Since then, it has come down and now material considerations are also taken into account but in Prabhupada’s presence, it was, “You are engaged in devotional service and that is the greatest welfare work and there is no need for anything else.” That was the spirit and in Prabhupada’s presence, everyone was pulled up to a very high standard of transcendental life.

We are not saying that we cannot give mercy to our family; that we can do. We are not saying that we cannot associate with our family but still, our life is now with Krsna. Krsna’s associates are our real family. We are now in a new family lineage. We have now taken a second birth in the acutya–gotra, the family lineage of Acutya, the infallible family lineage which is Krsna’s family lineage.

In Vrindavan, when I was the temple president, I used to buy land. In India, there is a tradition that on any official document, they want you to state not only the name of the person who was involved but also his father’s name so you can see the family lineage. And instead of the father’s name, one could give their guru’s name and this is legally accepted! Whenever you are asked for your father’s name, you can give your spiritual master’s name because it is accepted as a bonafide relationship!

So that is culture actually. That is correct. The law of man is in line with the law of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krsna has laws within the universe and according to these laws, we have our duties, we have rights and if we are not adhering to these duties, there is karma. But one who takes to Krsna’s service is released from all kinds of duties…

Aerial View of Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple Prai, Penang (3 min video)
Sri Sri Radha Krsna Temple of Devotion & Understanding Prai, Penang.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/qO6NLV

In its recent annual report, ISKCON South Africa – which has fifteen centers and five Govinda’s restaurants – let readers know about a string of inspiring achievements throughout the nation. Many of these came from new centers. In Stellenbosch, a town in the Western Cape, devotees acquired a three-bedroom house in the suburbs to serve as an ashram for three brahmacharis and three students.

On 16th May, ISKCON held its annual Ratha Yatra Festival it Parramatta, Sydney. The program was a great success, it was also attended by Julie Owens Member of the Australian Parliament. On May 27^th, Julie Owens in a speech given in the Parliament House expressed her heartfelt appreciation of the Ratha Yatra festival

The principal challenge to the religious commitment of a new generation of Hindu Americans is the indifference to religion.