Memories of Srila Prabhupada, Bhakti Vikasa Swami, with Hindi Subtitles (53 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/7oji75

Hare Krishna chanting and prasad distribution at Kusum Sarovara’s local school, Vrindavana (2 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/DcVKA8

The post Tradgedy strikes appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

21.03.2015. Madhava das Baba’s disapperance day at Vrinda Kunda (Album 50 photos)
Yesterday it was Caitra shukla pratipat, this is the first day of the Indian Calendar and it is the day the Sun is officially in the north. On this day 22 years ago Baba Madhava Das, who donated Vrinda Kunda to ISKCON, left this world! Join us for the festivities through Tulasi Das’ pics!
See them here: http://goo.gl/IyEI5S

St Augustine, USA, Ratha Yatra 2015 (Album 104 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If the surface of the globe is overflooded with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, the people of the world will be very, very happy.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.10 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/QQoBYA

Hare Krishna! Is Religion the Opium of the Masses?
Though others before Karl Marx had promoted the idea, he made it famous: “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.” What does the religion-as-opium argument imply? Atheists allege that just as opium intoxicates people with illusory feelings of well-being without offering any real relief, so does religion. Only when people shed the false hopes offered by religion will they strive for actual well-being.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16303

Kavicandra Swami: My dear God Brother HH Badrinarayana Swami is hospitalized in New Delhi. I beg all to pray for his recovery. His sharp intelligence and spiritual vision is important for us.

HG Murli Manohara Dasa – SB 10.81.35-37 – 12.03.2015

"One should avoid ordinary topics of novels and fiction, but there is no injunction that one should avoid hearing ordinary news."

(Srila Prabhupada, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Chp 12)

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 January 2015, Bhaktivedanta Manor, United Kingdom, Brahmacari Class)

There is a story in the Caitanya Bhagavat of Gadhadara Das. Gadhadara Das, one day went to the residence of the Chand Kazi. He stood in the courtyard and called out, “Kazi! Kazi, where are you? Kazi, chant! Chant the holy name of Krsna! Chant the holy name, Kazi!”

The Kazi knew Gadhadara very well. They actually had a good relationship, so he was not too perturbed. He came to pacify Gadharara and said, ”Don’t worry, Gadhadara. No need to make so much of noise. I’ll chant Hare Krsna tomorrow.”

Gadadara began to jump up and down. He said, ‘Why tomorrow? You already did it today! You already did it today!”

That was enough for Gadadara to experience great ecstasy, because he had that faith that if this Kazi chants Hare Krsna just once, then everything auspicious will happen.

Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast

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Hare Krishna! Chariot Festival at Galtare
Galtare Village is the home of Radhanath Swami’s project, Govardhan Eco Village, a model farm community and retreat center highlighting the importance of spiritual ecology. The procession, with a chariot carrying a Deity of Krishna, passed through the narrow streets of the village, as 2000 villagers pulled the chariot, sang kirtan and danced joyfully.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16300

Mrdanga Presentation by Sunday School Children at Houston Iskcon (2 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/VeLRGD

Request for feedback for GBC Srila Prabhupada Position Committee.
The SPPC of the GBC has published a booklet entitled Srila Prabhupada – The Founder Acarya of ISKCON, written by HG Ravindra Svarupa prabhu. To further ensure the pre-eminent position of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as the Founder-Acharya for all generations to come, the GBC SPPC is producing short Q&A videos to further explain the content of the booklet (available for download from www.founderacarya.com) To help us serve you better, devotees who have read the booklet and have specific questions on the content are requested to email them by the 10th of March 2015 to SPPC secretary: ccd@pamho.net. Please keep your questions brief and to the point, providing the reference from the booklet. Your questions will be answered by HG Ravindra Svarup prabhu and other senior Vaisnavas in the Q&A videos, so please provide us with your input and make a valuable contribution to this initiative.
Your servant, Kamala Sundari devi dasi SPN Implementation Team for SPPC

Initiation Yajna at the Gurukula of Sridham Mayapur (17 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/L7sEGV

Searching for Devotional Youths
Is your teenage son spiritually inclined? Is he one of those kids who like to be active in devotional service? He likes to go to the temple more than others but feels a little out of place without peer association. Is he naturally indifferent to the latest fads, senseless parties and night life? He wants a more meaningful life and he wants good, fun friends to share it with. To those youngsters, normal life in the west can assert much unnecessary pressure and anxiety. They may give into that way of life to be “normal”, yet they feel unsatisfied within. Or they may become the odd boy in the community.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16297

Hare Krishna! What Men Always Wanted to Know About Women
During January the Institute for Spiritual Culture in Mayapur launched for the very first time the course “Men in Spiritual Culture - what Men Always Wanted to Know about Women”. A wonderful group of around 40 intelligent men attended all five sessions of three hours each with great eagerness and interest. The audience was very mixed: a couple of Prabhupada disciples were there, a few school teachers from the Mayapur Community, Bhakti Sastri teachers, many young fellows from all corners of the world, some boys who grew up in our ISKCON movement and are now in their twenties, some senior devotees from the Mayapur Community. Really, very inspiring indeed…!
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16294

Young artist, talented and famous, leaves everything for Kirtan!
Here is a FRESH inspiring article about famous musician Todd Eberwine who left ‘Dive House Union’ in exchange for… KIRTAN. It’s another example of a talented person endowed with numerous opulences yet searching for deeper meaning and fulfilment, who found all that and more in this ancient form of spiritual practice.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/LYeK99

The post March 21st, 2015 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

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From Padma Naik Mataji
We all know we are not our body but we are so much use to identify ourself with this body, for sure deliberate practice can get us out of this habit but it is very difficult. Do scripture give us any method that is practiced & help us to be a person who identify ourself as soul?

2nd when we identify ourself with soul , I felt many a times " everything is maya, just exit from all this & be lost in lord" but living in this sansar it is so so difficult to fight the war between maya & soul... We get pulled & pushed ...  But when in silence, it is for sure much easy to be with lord...when in temple again we can connect to him, listening to kirtan we can connect... But rest all other place I feel I am lost... Then do we quit other things or how do we manage to connect to him even in that place?

Sure we should chant, we should try to follow regulations that help but still we it is not easy. All of us can only do is to keep fighting with maya by bringing Krishna. But when you know you have to reach Krishna & I still don't know how much life I have but for sure I am not eligible to reach him, then why should i live in a place where maya is ruling. Our work is corrupt, our relations are selfish, most of our life is filled with all such things & what if I die in few years & become some animal then I will not even have the chance to even know what I know now, then shouldn't I get out of all this & just focus on lord, serving lord or be with his Dev. For sure this doesn't say I give up my responsibility. But even living in this superficial & unnatural world is so very difficult. But I want to make the best of this human life that I have.
Even if I live in this material world then how do I be more focused to  learn & identify myself as soul & use body to serve lord & Devs .

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Hare Krishna! Radhanath Swami Speaks at Divine Life Society’s International Headquarters
During the evening Satsanga Swami Vimalananda Saraswati introduced Radhanath Swami to an international gathering of 150 yogis and devotees; leaders of the society, including General Secretary Swami Padmanabhananda Saraswati, were present. “We met each other for the first time in the 1970s on a mountaintop monastery in the United States. There we chanted the holy names and danced together,” Swami Vimalananda Saraswati fondly recalled. He glorified Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, for spreading the glories of the Mahamantra all over the world.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16291

Hare Krishna! Mumbai’s municipal schools to teach ‘Bhagavad Gita’ to students
“We shall impart the knowledge of ‘Bhagwad Gita’ to students to make them independent and sharpen their power in decision making,” Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai’s (MCGM) Deputy Municipal Commissioner Ramdas Bhausaheb said. He was speaking at a prize distribution function of ‘Gita Champions League’ contest, organised by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) here on March 15. Mr. Bhausaheb said MCGM has 1,200 schools with a total strength of 4,78,000 students where the corporation spends over Rs. 3,500 crore every year to impart free education to children in nine regional languages, a press release here said.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16288

Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada’s Ecstatic Symptoms
Srutakirti das: Hundreds of devotees were assembled in the temple room while Srila Prabhupada spoke. Suddenly, he stopped and became silent with his eyes closed. Everyone in the room became still, not wanting to disturb him. A pin drop could be heard. We didn’t dare breathe too loudly. This went on for some time. Hundreds of devotees were transfixed on His Divine Grace’s ecstasy, each being transported by his rapture. Our minds were overwhelmed with blissful anticipation. Srila Prabhupada carried us all to another realm. Before he could continue, Srila Prabhupada responded in the sweetest voice, sounding a little embarrassed. “I do not do that very often,” Srila Prabhupada said.Hundreds of devotees were assembled in the temple room while Srila Prabhupada spoke. Suddenly, he stopped and became silent with his eyes closed. Everyone in the room became still, not wanting to disturb him. A pin drop could be heard. We didn’t dare breathe too loudly. This went on for some time. Hundreds of devotees were transfixed on His Divine Grace’s ecstasy, each being transported by his rapture. Our minds were overwhelmed with blissful anticipation. Srila Prabhupada carried us all to another realm. Before he could continue, Srila Prabhupada responded in the sweetest voice, sounding a little embarrassed. “I do not do that very often,” Srila Prabhupada said.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16285

HH Giriraj Swami Evening Class 13.03.2015

Srimad Bhagavatam class by HG Shaunaka Rishi prabhu, Delhi, 20th Mar, 2015 (58 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/tJs9ip

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes Simple Living, Cow Protection, Engaging Oxen, Local Agriculture, and above all, Loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

Participating Members of the ECO-V Board of Directors: Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, and Ranaka.

Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna, Radha-Krishna, Sri Tulasi Manjari

Participating Managers: Mukunda

Recording secretary: Jordanna

1.  Refining ECO-V Mission Statement

Whereas: The ECO-V board wishes to continue refining its mission statement for clarity and brevity.

Resolved: The board adopts the following as our updated mission statement:

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes Simple Living, Cow Protection, Engaging Oxen, Local Agriculture, and above all, Loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

2. ECO-V Posters

Whereas: The ECO-V board wishes to have posters designed related to its mission and “Prabhupada’s Vision for New Vrindaban.”

Resolved: The board authorizes up to $500 for poster designs.

3. Kacey’s Retirement and Replacement Search

Kacey got an opportunity to be a director at a non-profit called Grow Ohio Valley and she resigned from ECO-V in February. The board members are simultaneously sad to see her go and happy to know she found a position where she will still be able to regularly interact with ECO-V because she oversees Grow Ohio Valley’s local food production efforts in Marshall County. There was a general discussion defining Kacey’s contribution to the garden and what sort of person should be considered for the position. The ECO-V team will continue a search till a suitable Garden Manager replacement is found.

4. March Onsite Meeting Preparation

A brief overview of the weekend schedule:

Saturday

Morning: Department Head Presentations

Afternoon: Community Dialogue

Evening: Sanga with Prabhupada at his Palace

Sunday

Morning: Parikram Tour

Afternoon: Temple Program & Service Appreciations

5. Mukunda’s Relocation Plans

Mukunda plans to relocate to New Vrindaban the end of March; he will have a clearer idea of when exactly that will be by the on-site meeting.

ISKCON New Vrindaban (INV) allocated $25K budget toward the renovation of the Prabhupada House (aka the “Green House”). Vyasasana will start the renovations. Once underway he will be able to give a clearer picture of the timeframe required.

6. ECO-V Bahulaban Barn Rehabilitation

This project has been on hold since January due to the weather and will resume once conditions improve.

7. INV Bahulaban Utility Building Roof & Window Repair

The roof was completed in December and some exterior clean-up has been done. The Stone Shop roof has not been done. The Amish workers are offering a good price to finish that section of the roof. The Joint Boards will look at this project during the on-site meeting.

8. INV Palace Renovation Matching Grant

There are three projects currently in the works:

1)      Part of the exterior wall

2)      The upper stairs

3)      Expanded 80-car parking lot.

9. INV “Reduce/Reuse” – Water Filling Stations

The existing stations are being used. The outside filling station still needs to be installed. This should be done by summer in time for the festival season.

10. INV “Reduce/Reuse” – Signs

A sign was placed at the new water filling station near Prabhupada’s Palace. This project has been completed.

11. INV/ECO-V Farms Garden of 7 Gates 3 High Tunnel Greenhouses

These are completed, but still need shelving. David will install them when weather warms up. Vidya will start growing flowers in March.

12. Solar Equipment

Additional panels will be installed to offset the increased electric usage at the Prabhupada House (formerly known as the Green House).

GBC Chairman Anuttama das speaks about the importance of the TOVP project, and encourages all devotees to help in the completion of raising this incredible temple.

The post Anuttama Das, ISKCON GBC Chairman Speaks About the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

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