Websites from the ISKCON Universe
TEACHERS… Mayapur needs you. Few things in life infuse the heart with as much spiritual happiness as service to the devotees in the holy dham. That opportunity awaits you now. As the community in Mayapur expands at an unprecedented rate, so too does the needs of Sri Mayapur International School. This school, presently home to over […]
The post Service opportunity at SMIS appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Letting the cows out at Bhaktivedanta Manor 2015 (5 min video)
An annual ceremony at ISKCON’s Bhaktivedanta Manor, Watford, UK that takes place every Spring and is all about releasing Lord Krishna’s cows onto the fields.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/xP9t69
Nepal: Narasimha deity from 7th century intact!!
The post Lord Caitanya asked, “What shall I do now?” appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
On the occasion of the World Dance Day, a flash mob performance was organized by ISKCON devotees in downtown Budapest, Hungary on April 29th, 2015. They suprised the passer-byes with a beautiful Odissi dance piece praising Lord Jagannatha.
Hare Krishna! Mayapur Masterplan
Masterplan department (MDM) is conducting an online survey with valuable input of the Mayapur residents. The purpose of the survey is to understand the needs and vision of the community members regarding Mayapur Dham. We would request all the devotees to participate individually. (Please ask your family members also to participate in the survey). The survey will take only 5 -10 mins of your time. This survey will help us identify and address the concerns of the Mayapur residents in Masterplan Proposal.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17083
Hare Krishna! Mayapur Masterplan
Masterplan department (MDM) is conducting an online survey with valuable input of the Mayapur residents. The purpose of the survey is to understand the needs and vision of the community members regarding Mayapur Dham. We would request all the devotees to participate individually. (Please ask your family members also to participate in the survey). The survey will take only 5 -10 mins of your time. This survey will help us identify and address the concerns of the Mayapur residents in Masterplan Proposal.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17083
Krsna Consciousness in Sochi (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Sochi is located on the Black Sea in southern Russia. It is Russia’s largest resort city. It hosted the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. ISKCON has an attractive temple in a forested area 15 minutes from the city center. Devotees regularly do harinama and book distribution throughout the beautiful city.
See them here: http://goo.gl/v6qZJC
Hare Krishna! Food For Life Nepal Day 4, 29th April
We are also extending our services through Health Facilities. Team of 13 Medical crew members from Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai, with 7 Super specialist Doctors came to Kathmandu at their own cost to serve their best for the Earthquake victims in Nepal. They, together with ISKCON Nepal Doctors made a team of 28 members comprising of 7 Super Specialist Doctors from Mumbai and 5 Specialist Doctors from Nepal along with 12 Paramedical and 4 Medical Volunteers.
On their first day (29th April) they had their camps at Padma College, near Durbar Square Gate, Bhaktapur. They divided their teams in three groups, first – Psychological care group, second – Door to door Health care group and third – Stationary Health care group. Stationary team at Padma College checked 167 patients and Door to door health care group visited 63 families whereas psychological group counselled 4 psychologically traumatized patients. This team aims to provide care to nearby villages such as Changu-Narayan area where no medical facilities have arrived.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17080
HG Gaura Gopal Dasa – SB 10.83.17-19 – 17.04.2015
The post April 30th, 2015 – Chandan yatra Darshan- Day 10 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Dakṣa said, “Consciousness is pristine, self-manifesting, beyond the grasp of anyone’s intellect, unified, carefree, and impervious to externalism (māyā). Yet it becomes the husband of the external world by entering into her. You only appear to be here in this non-pristine external world with us, in truth you are always situated within your conscious self.”
The Ṛtvik priests said, “O All-Attractive, he cannot understand the pure truth about you, nor can we. As a result of Rudra’s curse, all we can think about are the three selfish rewards to be gained by the supposedly religious deeds of so-called sacrifices. Our conception of religion is nothing more than a grand arrangement praying to modify fate.”
Comment: The “three selfish rewards gained by the supposedly religious deeds of so-called sacrifices” are ethics/morality (dharma) which solidifies ones economic security (artha) which allows one to prolong ones exposure to pleasure (kāma).
The external conception of religion is nothing but a big, fancy way of begging ‘the gods’ not to get what we really deserve – which is actually stupid.
The overseers of the sacrifice described the path of selfish-rewards in more detail, “The proliferative lifestyle is a relentless path infested with time’s fearsome deadly serpents, granting no rest from terrible and extreme dangers. We dare to tread this path because of our animalistic thirst for the mirage of external objects it seems to lead to. We lug along our heavy accumulations, pitting the path with potholes as we discover the bumpy reality that every pleasure is accompanied by distress. The stronger animals on the path strike fear into our hearts, and make us run into the desperate forest of depression. Oh, when will we slaves of lust, ignorant of our own self-interest, instead tread the welcoming path towards the refuge of your feet?”
Comment: This is a gem!
“proliferative livestyle” (utpattyadhvani) is the materialistic lifestyle where we try to get stuff and increase and produce.
Time (serpents) constantly threaten this lifestyle, for we always need more time to get more and produce more. It is a very dangerous path, but we enter it because we are like animals thirsty for the water in the mirage at the end of the path. The more we get and produce, the heavier the burden we have to lug along with us on this difficult path. It is a bumpy path because every happiness is something we have to work for, and work to maintain, and work not to lose. So every pleasure is accompanied by pain and stress.
We are not the only animals treading this path. There are many others, and many of them are more powerful and ferocious than us. They threaten us if we try to move towards the mirage faster than they do. In fear of our lives we run off the path, into the surrounding forest, a forest of sadness and depression.
Thus we are slaves to our thirsts, lusts. When will we look for a more welcoming path, one that leads to the shelter of Viṣṇu’s feet?
Rudra said, “Your precious, wish-fulfilling feet can certainly fulfill our every desire. That is why sages with no material illusions adore them as worshipable. My own mind is enamored by them, so why should I even notice whatever the ignorant, impure masses may say about me? I should always be supremely affectionate to everyone, like you are.”
Bhṛgu said, “Your external energy (māyā) lulls every embodied being, even Brahmā, into a dark sleep and treacherously steals their self-knowledge. Even at this very moment we cannot understand how you are within our true selves. You are the friend of the humble soul, so please don’t be upset with us for our ignorance.”
Comment: Each person is speaking “yathā-mati” (4.7.24) — according to their own level of realization. Bhṛgu has phrased it as if Māyā is the active agent stealing our self-knowledge and putting us into darkness. This is his realization of the truth. It seems to me that the actual truth presented overall and consistently throughout Bhāgavatam is that the soul is the active agent, and Māyā facilitates. The soul wants to be devoid of self-knowledge and sleep in the darkness of identifying with Māyā, because they soul is infatuated with her beauty. Māyā merely complies. See Kapila’s explanations of this in Canto 3. Kapila’s realization of the truth, in my opinion, is far superior to the realization expressed here by Bhṛgu.
Brahmā said, “Your intrinsic personality and form can’t be known to anyone who wants to see other delights. You are the ultimate origin of perception, senses, and sense objects, but your true self is certainly quite different from these things.”
Comment: We possess three things: perception, senses, and sense objects – all of these are transformations of Krishna’s external energy. We are qualified to experience all these transformations of Krishna’s external energy, but as long as we maintain facination with these things we are not qualified to experience Krishna’s internal energy.
The reason is that the nature of externalism is selfish, we look away from our true self (interior) towards an artificially separated, divorced concept of self. This makes it impossible to be sensitive to the internal reality.
The order in which people spoke is fascinating and seems very spontaneous. I also note that almost everyone seems to be elaborating on the main theme that Dakṣa said first.
Indra said, “It is true that you are beyond perception, Acyuta, yet you show yourself within this external universe, delivering blissful joy to our minds and eyes. Your eight arms with raised weapons will destroy all who hate the gods.”
Comment: Indra’s realization is almost funny. First it sounds really, really nice. “You show your beautiful form and bring joy to our mind and eyes.” Then he ruins it (imo) by explaining why he feels so joyful to see Viṣṇu: Because he has eight arms with lots of weapons to destroy Indra’s enemies. Indra is like the prime example of the materialist on the fearful path to mirages – he’s constantly worried about other animals on the path who might get bigger and stronger than him.
To be fair, Dakṣa’s realization was also simultaneously sublime and comical. The sublime part was how well he described consciousness. The comical part was how sexual his imagery was, being that he is the foremost progenitor. Anyway maybe that’s not so comical but quite accurate. Kapila deva also used these sexual terms when describing the relationship between Consciousness and matter.
The Snana Yatra of Lord Jagannatha was celebrated at Brisbane temple a little early this year. This was because the only date the devotees could book the Civic Square for the Rathayatra was in early May.
If you’ve been to one of our monthly Latin nights, you’ll have seen Atma’s Director of Salsa Rico Andrade and his students on the dance floor. Rico teaches Beginners Salsa classes at Atma Yoga on Wednesdays at 7:30pm. Classes are $10. Check Rico’s website for details on what to wear.
Happy Lives are made of Salsa dancing
– Rico Andrade
Question: Would harinam sankirtan remove all the bad karma accumulated in previous births and purify the soul?Oh yes! Harinam sankirtan surely removes all bad karma. It is said in the Caitanya Caritamrta that Haridas Thakur was known as the namacarya. Haridas Thakur would chant the holy name twenty-four hours a day. He is the authority on harinam sankirtan.
Haridas Thakur explains how it works. He says that it is just like the rising of the sun in the morning. Before the sun actually appears over the horizon, the light is already visible in the sky and all the darkness and fears of the night are gone. In the same way, even before the name is chanted purely, even when we begin to accidently or incidently chant the name without chanting it purely in the heart, already karma is being destroyed. But the holy name is doing more. Not only is the holy name purifying us from karma, but the holy name also gives us liberation from birth and death.
Bhagavatam-daily Podcast
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An annual ceremony at ISKCON's Bhaktivedanta Manor, Watford, UK that takes place every Spring and is all about releasing Lord Krishna's cows onto the fields.
Hare Krishna! Youth Bus Tours 20th Anniversary – An Interview with Manorama das
Manorama das and his wife Jaya Sri Radhe devi dasi have been developing the ISKCON Youth Ministry bus tours since 1995. Road-tripping across the globe is an exciting way to engage the ISKCON youth in bhakti yoga, combining the youth’s craving for adventure with practices of devotion. The travelers not only deepen their own bhakti, but also share it with others through kirtan and cultural presentations. Such road trips encourage young people to step out of their comfort zones, giving them an opportunity to do things they would never have thought possible, while simultaneously building strong bonds of friendship and accumulating memorable experiences.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17077
Bhaktapur Devotees in Nepal conducting Food For Life despite the rain (Album with photos)
See them here: http://goo.gl/h3Lc93
Food for Life after Earthquake in Nepal- 2015 (5 min video)
An update from Nepal about the Hare Krishna Food for Life program. As on 29th April, nearly 12,000 people are being served with fresh meals.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/YHe6on
Spring Clean - 6 Hour Kirtan at the Swiss Church, London (Album with photos)
Our Spring Clean 6 Hour Kirtan was truly wonderful! Thank you to all who came along and joined us!
See them here: http://goo.gl/kG0DM2
Bombay High Court Upholds Beef Ban in Maharashtra
MUMBAI: Bombay High Court on Wednesday upheld the Maharashtra government’s decision to ban sale and consumption of beef in the state. A division bench comprising Justice V.M. Kanade and Justice M.S. Sonak gave the verdict in a bunch of PILs challenging the state government’s move to ban sale and consumption of beef, said one of the petitioners, Mutton Butchers Union Sarvashramik Sangh secretary Vijay Dalvi. “We have opposed the ban as it affects not just the consumers, but also farmers, traders, the leather industry and many other stakeholders. We shall take out a rally in south Mumbai next week to highlight their plight,” Dalvi said.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/tcHTph
Mvt - Guesthouse And Restaurant In Vrindavan Begins Go-puja (Album with photos)
On Akshaya Tritiya our MVT Manager Prem Kishore Das inaugrated the auspicious go-puja for Saraswati our MVT cow. There on, everyday MVT staff, residents and guests participate in this wonderful offering to GO-Mata. Prem Kishore Prabhu mentioned, the importance of go-puja with chanting of Krishna’s Holy Names cannot be stressed enough. In this times of stress, troubles and turmoil only these will give relief to the distressed. He also mentioned it would be wonderful if temples with farm communities could do this everyday. Haribol!
See them here: http://goo.gl/r0YdD1
http://www.sivaramaswami.com/en/?p=21897
The post It has finally happened. Yes, they are finally available. appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
VG – Venu-gita, NPH – Na Paraye’ham, SBC – Sudha Bhakti Cintamani, KS – Krsna-sangati.
US itunes store (these books are available on every itunes store but the links here are pointing to the US store) https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/sivarama-swami/id588116422
VG: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/venu-gita/id926918617?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
NPH: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/na-paraye-ham/id973186752?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
SBC: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/suddha-bhakti-cintamani/id973186533?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
KS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/krsna-sangati/id973186849?mt=11
Amazon.com
VG: http://www.amazon.com/Ve-x1E47-u-g-x12B-x101-ebook/dp/B00PH9OM08/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430246831&sr=8-1&keywords=sivarama+swami
Kobo
SBC: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/suddha-bhakti-cintamani
VG: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/venu-gita
NPH: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/na-paraye-ham
KS: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/krsna-sangati
Barnes & Noble
SBC: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/suddha-bhakti-cint-257-ma-7751-i-sivarama-swami/1121339890?ean=9786158019729&itm=1&usri=9786158019729
KS: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/k-7771-7779-7751-a-sa-7749-gati-sivarama-swami/1121717958?ean=9786158019712&itm=1&usri=9786158019712
NPH: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/na-p-257-raye-ham-sivarama-swami/1121339888?ean=9786158019705&itm=1&usri=9786158019705
VG: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ve-7751-u-g-299-t-257-swami-sivarama/1120512759?ean=9789638986672&itm=1&usri=9789638986672
Google Play
KS: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=7D_yBwAAQBAJ
SBC: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sivarama_Swami_Suddha_bhakti_cint%C4%81ma%E1%B9%87i?id=AVTnBgAAQBAJ
VG: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sivarama_Swami_Ve%E1%B9%87u_g%C4%ABt%C4%81?id=IyW5BAAAQBAJ
NPH: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sivarama_Swami_Na_P%C4%81raye_Ham?id=3FPnBgAAQBAJ
The post SRS: Hare Krsna, here are the links where devotees can purchase ebooks of the following titles appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Rev. Peter Panagore's book trailer.
Devotees in the movies :-)) (5 min video)
…unxpected turn of events!!
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/PuDFft
Hare Krishna! Lord Nrisimhadeva’s Appearance (Hiranyakashipu’s Disappearance) Day!
In this narration about Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, various expansions or incarnations of the Lord have been described, and the killing of the two demons Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu has also been described. This narration describes the characteristics of the great and exalted devotee Prahlada Maharaja, his staunch devotional service, his perfect knowledge, and his perfect detachment from material contamination.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17067
The post April 29th, 2015 – Chandan yatra Darshan- Day 9 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
How can deaf people chant Hare Krishna (8 min video)
Chant & Be Happy :-)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/oQ9M5c
Lessons From the Sand
Radhanath Swami: “I was sitting on the sand, thinking this sand was so cool and it’s giving me such shelter. Then I was analyzing the nature of sand. That the same sand that’s now so cool and so comfortable to sit, earlier in the day, it was burning hot, I couldn’t tolerate it. And then in another place the same kind of sand, was sucking me down to suffocate me and kill me. How sand is so influenced by it’s surroundings….and isn’t that like human nature, according to the company we keep, according to the experiences we have and the circumstances we have in our lives, how it can make us envious or proud of somebody. How it can make us angry or forgiving. Mean or kind. Just due to circumstances, like the sand.”
Hare Krishna! ISKCON Nepal Assisting Earthquake Victims – Updates
(Also, instructions about how to make free phone calls to and from Nepal. Big tech companies are waiving fees on calls to and from the country in hopes of helping people get in touch with loved ones.)
The World Heritage Sites within Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur have been completely damaged. The ISKCON Temple in Kathmandu and Dharan, however, remain unscathed but the BBT building in Kathmandu has suffered cracks on the walls. Though many temples and deities within Bhaktapur Durbar Square have been reduced to rubble, the Jagannath Temple, which is under ISKCON management, has stood firm in the face of the earthquake, with minor damages to the roof.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17059
2015-04-26 Sunday Feast – Madhavendra Puri’s Devotion – Shyam Charan Prabhu – ISKCON Chowpatty
Getting out of the car to begin my walk today, I found myself before a white picket gate leading to a small, beautiful garden. The gate was flanked on either side by the most lovely rose bushes, but the flowers were past their prime and were falling apart. I thought, “They would have made such a beautiful offering to Lord Krishna, which would have perfected their lives as roses, but instead they are wasting away on the bush.
“How many human beings are wasting away without offering their lives to Krishna?” I thought. “We should help them realize their purpose.”
—Giriraj Swami
