Planet ISKCON

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

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CC daily Podcast:

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Hare Krishna spiritual retreat preaching program, 05/2015 Israel (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We are meant for enjoyment, but we are seeking enjoyment in a false place - in an illusion, like the desert animals that run after water in a mirage and eventually die of thirst. They cannot relieve their thirst with such illusory water. Similarly, we are trying to manufacture many things to satisfy our thirst for enjoyment, but we are being baffled at every turn because material existence is an illusion. Real intelligence means to inquire, “Where is the reality? Where is the eternal substance behind the illusion?” If we can find that out, we can experience real enjoyment. Los Angeles, April 28, 1973.
See them here: https://goo.gl/WhB4Ms

On 27^th of April 2015, Radhanath Swami spoke at a Civitatis International Policy Seminar for the Ambassadors to the Court of St. James’s at Goodenough College, in the United Kingdom. Ambassadors and diplomats from many nations around the world came to listen to his unique insights into spirituality and peace. 

It was certainly ghastly to imagine how my own body might look, lying dead on a dissection table.

A video by Leigha Speirs-Hutton. http://www.enoughmagazine.org/

Sri Jagannath Trust Presents the Nauka Vihar Boating Festival.
(3 min video)
Hare Krishna devotees take Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra and Gaura-Nitai deities for a ride down Christchurch’s Avon river through the botanical gardens.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/h9naMU

Album: BHAKTI WITHOUT BORDERS. Producer: Dave Stringer, Singers: Chaytanya & Madi Das. Song: Shri Radhe. Band website: kirtan-shakti.com

Music Video Credits:
Choreographer: Anapayini Jakupko
Dancers: Bhakti Kalalayam Dance Academy
Mridanga player: Sri Nama Vanamali
Shakti Films & Bhava Films
Director: Krishna Sanchez
Cinematographers: Krishna Sanchez, Hilary Zakheim, Kuva Zakheim
Editors: Hilary Zakheim & Krishna Sanchez
Special Thanks: Inner Voice Productions

BUY THE ALBUM BHAKTI WITHOUT BORDERS TODAY! Available from Bandcamp, iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. All profits from BHAKTI WITHOUT BORDERS will fund education for underprivileged girls in Vrindavan, India. More information about the charity at fflvrindavan.org

Hare Krishna! Endless Festivities in Bali & Gita Nagari Baru, Indonesia
A group of disciples and well-wishers of HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami along with His Holiness are currently on a short yatra to Indonesia, visiting temples and farm communities in the vicinities of this island country. Our journey started at Bali, where the devotees serving at Sri Sri Radha Madhava temple in Gianyar are so kindly looking after us.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17453

Festival of India in Poland (3 min video)
The Hare Krishna festivities in Poland are about to begin! See a preview here: http://goo.gl/UvPLFR

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An interesting encounter I had with a man in Southern California!
I was distributing books when I saw a man sitting at table in front of a restaurant. He was reading a section of a book that had been torn out of a book. The section looked about forty pages long. I looked closer; it was part of the Bhagavad-gita. So I said to the man, “Excuse me, but where did you get that torn-out section of the Bhagavad-gita?” “I found it on the street a few days ago, and it contains some of the most profound philosophy I’ve ever read, I’ve read it twice. I wish I had the whole book.” “Well, today is your lucky day. Your wish has come through. I have the whole book with me, and I’m distributing it for a donation.” “You’re not serious?” He gave a nice donation and was one of the happiest receivers of the Gita I have ever met. Evidently someone was uninterested, had torn it up, and thrown it on the street. Just see the power of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Torn up and thrown on the street - one would think that’s the end of that book. But no, Krsna still had a plan for it to touch the man’s heart.
Your servant, Vijaya Dasa

Invitation - The Holy Name Festival 2015 (2 min video)
Kadamba Kanana Swami Invitation for the Holy Name Festival in Spain summer of 2015
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/B7OwJn

Neev (Iskcon Rohini Gurukul) (4 min video)
Iskcon Rohini Educating young kids. These fortunate souls are learning the basics of Indian Culture and becoming proficient in scriptures and culture. These kids are new hope for the bright future of India.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/I3tyyn

And taking physical association when possible, in light of the all-encompassing association of vani.

The post Discussion with Manjari dd on the importance of selecting a guru appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Life today is full of journeys, it seems. Most of us could hardly survive without our cars and think nothing of a fifty or sixty mile trip, a good two day walk in olden days. For many of us, there’s the daily commute which here in London where I live is less of a journey and more of a battle to the near death. Thankfully I only have to go twenty or so miles, but a lot of people nowadays have to commute as much as a hundred miles and back every day.

Life can be quite hectic, but in the midst of all our moving around we should not forget that our whole life is itself a journey. All of us are travelling continuously through life, observing so many changes as we go. In fact the spiritual teachings of the Bhagavad-gita suggest that by carefully considering this we can understand that we are eternal beings. We go from childhood, to youth to old age, but through all these changes of external body we remain the same unchanging spiritual person.

For me the most important journey is the one within, the search for my true self. This is truly a voyage of discovery, but you don’t have to go anywhere. It is the practise of yoga, which means to re-connect with the spirit. Each day then, before embarking on the furious rush of daily life, I sit down for a couple of hours to journey within myself, to peacefully meditate and contemplate my real existence, beyond the ephemeral world.

Krishna’s instructions tell us that this fleeting life is but one small part of a great journey. It ends when we reach God, where we are said to really belong. We are thus enjoined to prepare for that end by cultivating our inner life. By such practise, which I personally do by the simple method of chanting God’s holy names, we can ultimately perceive our true existence. The Gita describes this as eternity and bliss, and it promises us that when we finally achieve that our stressful travels in this world will be over.

Hare Krishna! “Give More Than You Take”
Indradyumna Swami: Samskaras are Vedic purificatory ceremonies for advancing in spiritual life. One of them is vivaha-samskara, the wedding rite. Our spiritual master said that in this material world a boy naturally desires a girl and a girl naturally desires a boy, and they come together in holy matrimony to make it sacred, and they advance in material prosperity and spiritual prosperity together. I think that is a nice definition of love: “to be concerned about the needs of your beloved.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1363

Hare Krishna! Relating to Devotees with Due Respect
As we discussed in Respect, the Basis of Civilisation, Vedic Culture is based on respect and this respect is expressed through specific codes of conduct or etiquette. In this section, we will go a little more in detail about the principles and practices of Vaisnava etiquette. …it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and protect the Vaisnava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaisnava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee. …By observing the etiquette, you have satisfied My mind. Who else but you will show this example? (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya Lila 4.130, 132) Nothing can be successful without sadacara (etiquette). Every activity should be performed with the right attitude. A saint’s heart is free from all impurities. Thus the way a saint acts is the right behaviour known as sadacara. (Hari Bhakti Vilasa)
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1091

We kindly request all devotees to please continue your prayers for HH Jayapataka Swami’s health since his condition is not totally out of complications just yet. Thank you

Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada and the puffed rice
Srutakirti dasa: “This evening you can make me some puffed rice and peanuts,” he said. “It will fill me, but it is not heavy. What I ate last night made it difficult for me to get up and do my translating work. With puffed rice there is no indigestion.” I left his room and began to prepare the puffed rice and peanuts. He told me to serve it with sliced cucumber and ginger root on the side. First, a chaunce was made and then the puffed rice and peanuts were put into the wok and cooked until all the grains were toasted. I brought it to his room along with hot milk that was sweetened with sugar.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17446

A very nicely made movie about the Hare Krishna movement and its basic beliefs (25 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/YUlgrv

The last day of the 40th anniversary of Melbourne temple was just as ecstatic as the others.

The post Daily Darshan – May 20th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Bhuta Bhavana dasa Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 19 229 236 20150516074214

Dhruva said, “You are the self-energized source of all energies. Entering into me, you energize my latent capacities. Now your internal energy enters me, awakening my capacity to speak about you. My hands awaken and want to touch you. My legs awaken and want to run to you. My ears awaken and want to hear your voice. My skin awakens and awaits your touch. My life force becomes truly alive for the first time, and I breathe only for you. I offer myself to you, the All-Attractive Person!”

Hari might reply, “My dear, before today you also spoke, breathed, touched things, heard things and so on. Why do you say I have newly brought these capacities to life?”

So the boy said, “Before today, I lived and breathed only to touch and be touched by the endless external things created by the amazing qualities of your energy called māyā. Even then, it was you alone who brought my capacities to life. Even then it was you alone who I sought, for you are the Animator of all the things produced by this temporary world, latently present at the heart of everything, just like fire is latent in wood.

Comment: The internal energy entered Dhruva through the touch of Viṣṇu’s conch. When the internal energy energizes the jīva, the nature of that energy (bhakti) becomes one with the jīva and inspires the senses, emotions, thoughts, etc.. This is defined as the beginning of bhāva-bhakti. When the external energy energizes the jīva, the nature of that energy (bhukti) becomes one with the jīva, and inspires the senses, etc. If the jīva is not energized by either energy it is sūpta – latent, inactive, “comatose” in a spiritual sense.

“He Nātha! Oh friend of the troubled! People take refuge in you because, when you energize them, their latent intellect will awaken and they will see everything clearly. A wise soul who seeks the ultimate prize could never disregard the refuge offered at your feet!

“Alas! You can completely deliver us from temporary existence, but fools whose delusions completely hijack their intellect come to you for other things. They worship a wish-fulfilling tree just to get some facsimile of pleasure for their own corpses. They worship you to get external sensations that can be found even by animals.

“He Nātha! What is the use of flying into paradise? The blade of time will only cut our wings! What even is the use of emancipation into the unfettered latent consciousness of Brahman? For in that state we can never taste the exhilarating joy of contemplating your lotus feet, or hearing your beloved associates discuss you!”

Hari might ask, “Then, do you want to meditate on my feet, or do you want to hear about me from my beloved associates? Which blessing do you want from me?”

Anticipating this, the boy said, “I want to become close with the infinitely glorious people whose spotless hearts are always absorbed in devotion to you. If I have this blessing, then why should I fear anything? Your devotees would intoxicate me by giving me the nectar-wine of discussions about your qualities, and then would be easily able to guide me through the terribly fearsome ocean of existence.”

– Śrī Bhāgavata 4.9.6 ~ 11

Vraja Kishor dās

VrajaKishor.com

Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:

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Written by Michael

Travelling from Brisbane, after a seamlessly smooth landing into the then-expected arctic Melbourne, the temperature didn’t actually seem too bad; a little fresh, as the Europeans call it. To keep things short and sweet, below I will convey some highlights of the stay here, before our departure to Canberra tomorrow (20 May).

On Wednesday, 13 May, Maharaja was invited to an Urban Yoga event entitled “Mindfulness and Meditation”, where he addressed the value and importance of connecting with the Divine, to a group of mainly university students and budding yoga practitioners.

The evening of the day after was definitely my highlight of the week. Maharaja was invited to lead a mantra session at Mantra Lounge, Grattan St. As always, the kirtan was incredible, however at a certain point, Maharaja slowed down his melodious transitions, and spoke to the again ‘university student filled’ room. Eyes closed, he took us on a journey from where we were situated and ascended up towards the spiritual realms, past the Sapta Rsi’s, past Janaloka, past Brahmaloka, gradually penetrating the eight coverings of the universal shell and beyond. I won’t give the conclusion away but the recording is right below.

Friday evening was packed with a maha-harinama. A large number of devotees and distinguished guests were invited, such as HG Hari Sauri Prabhu (ACBSP) and Melbourne’s temple president, HG Aniruddha das. Maharaja led the harinama through the high streets outside the Town Hall. We went into an enclosed space and the kirtan sound waves rattled the nearby windows! Another kirtan which was as powerful as harinama that reached heights extremely close to Kingsday last month, was for the 40^th Anniversary Celebration for ISKCON Melbourne on Sunday (18 May). My word, that was serious! For three hours, the whole temple room was jumping up and down, and if for whatever reason somebody had not been satisfied with the kirtans before, they definitely would’ve been left satisfied with that! Maharaja was invited to give the Sunday Feast lecture, in which you could say, he gave cannonball of a talk. Hear it below.

Canberra and Sydney, here we come…

Photos

Visit flickr for more pictures.

Recordings

Courtesy of Michael

KKS_AUS_Brisbane_11 May 2015_Lecture_Rupa_and_Sanatana_Goswami

KKS_AUS_Brisbane_11 May 2015_Kirtan

KKS_AUS_Brisbane_11 May 2015_Lecture_SB_1.3.42

KKS_AUS_MEL_12 May 2015_Kirtan_Sandhya

KKS_AUS_MEL_12 May 2015_Personal_Address

KKS_AUS_MEL_13 May 2015_Lecture_Mindfulness_and_Meditation

KKS_AUS_MEL_13 May 2015_Lecture_SB_3.9.41

KKS_AUS_MEL_14 May 2015_Lecture_SB_3.9.42

KKS_AUS_MEL_14 May 2015_Mantra Lounge_Meditation

I had an interesting request today with a idea of how to bring groups of individuals together over distance.

It is a simple idea of having a regular sanga using Skype, meeting once a fortnight at a set time. The idea was to go through the Gita verse by verse however a senior devotee suggested that a more methodical look at the top 150 verses quoted by Srila Prabhupada.

It is also interesting how Sri Krishna works, with the initial request being that I myself front this digital sanga; however the senior devotee has advised and encouraged the initial devotee to take this up.

So I was wondering has anyone else tried to set up an online digital Skype sanga, if so what was your experience?

And is their anyone who would like to join and be a part of this community.

You can contact myself: dhirabhakta@gmail.com or Dipak prabhu (who’s idea it was): dipak.px@gmail.com

Hopefully the first meeting will be held in the next few weeks, and hopefully we can feedback the progress of this online sanga

Hare Krishna

Jaya Jagannatha & Hare Krishna chanting by HH Danavir Goswami (Musical 8 min. video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/OkUg0b

FFL Nepal latest news
16th May, 2015, Nepal — FFL volunteers went to Chamkharka village at Panauti to cook and serve hot meals, along with relief materials. Twenty-five Volunteers from FFL Nepal ventured out early in the morning with utensils, fresh vegetables, rice, and dhal to cook their now famous khichadi (rice, bean and vegetable stew) onsite. However, preparation for cooking was delayed when they realized it was not possible to transport their cooking stove & gas to the remote village. Volunteers had to gather wood from around the area to cook on an open fire. Once the khichadi was ready, a rush of children came to get their share, thrusting their plates & cups at the servers and screaming in anticipation. “We asked the children to first wash their hands with soap before serving them the hot khichadi,” explained one of the volunteers. “Even though they were very hungry, they all happily complied.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17430

Hare Krishna! Impersonalism and the Doomed to Fail Attempt to Judge Sadhus
“For various reasons, common people do not easily develop faith in exalted persons who are still living, whereas they tend to develop great faith in the activities of mahajanas who have passed away.” (Jaiva Dharma chapter 22) The proud practice of using our dull material senses to try to judge who is sadhu and who is not is the same as the neti neti endeavor of the impersonalists. The impersonalists try to understand what is spirit by using their material senses. “Net, neti” means, “not this, not this”.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17427

Hare Krishna! Come back to Me and dance with Me. Why rot in this rotting dance?
Why don’t you come back to Me and dance and sport with Me?” “Why you are rotting in this rotting dance, in false lila, temporary lila, or hellish lila.? “Krishna’s business is rasadi-vilasa. He’s busy in dancing with the gopis. He has no other business. Just like we try to imitate Krishna. Big, big rich men, they go to the ball dance, to the night club for dancing. So wherefrom this propensity comes, dancing? That comes from the Supreme Lord. Rasadi-vilasa. Because Krishna has the business of dancing and we are part and parcel of Krishna, so we have got the same spirit of dancing. But because we are in the material world, the material covering has perverted the dancing propensity.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17424

Bhagavatam daily Podcast:

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CC daily Podcast:

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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:

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Questions from Bh. Ravi, Manjari dd. and Adhoksaja Krsna.

The post Do demons who attain Goloka enjoy the same prema as devotees? appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.