Planet ISKCON

Prasūti’s daughter Svadhā married the Ancestral Pitṛ, who takes many forms. In the forms of Agnisāttva (“Offerings of Fire”) and Ajyapā (“Offerings of Butter”) the Ancestral Pitṛ accept offerings through the sacred fire. In the forms of Barhiṣada (“Offerings of Grass”) and Saumya (“Offerings of Soma juice”) the Ancestral Pitṛ accept offerings without sacred fire.

From all these Pitṛ, self-controlled, self-sustaining, self-possesed Svadhā conceived two daughters who were expert spiritualists, full of supreme knowledge and realization. She named the daughters Vayunā (“Wisdom’s Goal”) and Dhāriṇī (“The Upholder”).

Tagged: ancestor spirits, ancestral, manes, pitr

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2012, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture)

This morning, I opened my lecture with the topic of sex life because we have these material bodies. Prabhupada said in the Srimad Bhagavatam, ‘The whole material world is a backdrop for sex life!’ That is what he wrote. Sex is the one thing that is behind everything, somehow or other, either direct or indirectly, it is so deeply engraved.

When Brahmananda was saying that he had a university professor who once rejected his essay because Brahmananda had written in his essay that people are intrinsically driven by a desire for spirituality, and his mundane teacher had said, ‘Wrong, they are driven by sex!’ Brahmananda was presenting this to Prabhupada and he said how foolish his teacher was, and Prabhupada said, ‘No, your teacher was right.’

So, I brought it up to let you all know that we are not alone in this struggle. We are doing it together. We are, somehow or other, together making this commitment. I am making this commitment and you are making this commitment. I live by the same four regulative principles as you do. I also promised it and I am also in a material body, and I also say, ‘I choose for Krsna!’

Of course, it becomes easier and easier with time, and more and more natural but one has to keep on choosing for Krsna! One has to make sure that one fills the heart and the consciousness with hearing, chanting and service in relation to Krsna so that one is full enough to not be drawn to the physical platform!

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot com

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Rasa Rasika dasa

Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast

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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

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Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam  9.14.1.

“Rupa Goswami’s Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu or The Nectar of Devotion, lists six characteristics of pure devotional service. One is kleshagni or relief from distress, and another is subhada which means it bestows auspiciousness. These two characteristics come at the stage of sadhana-bhakti. There are others that come at the stage of bhava-bhakti and prema-bhakti but these two come at the stage of sadhana-bhakti. There are different elements to auspiciousness. One of the elements is happiness. It is not the same happiness that comes at bhava-bhakti, but there is happiness right from the beginning of sadhana-bhakti. And, we feel it. But because of conditioning or mundane association we get lured by the false promise of reducing our distress or increasing our happiness by the standard material formulas which don’t work.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam  9.14.1

CC daily Podcast

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Holy Name Meditation Podcast

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Lecture Podcast

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Lecture Podcast

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Lecture Podcast

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Lecture Podcast

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My mother who was a practicing devotee suddenly passed away due to an illness even before it could be diagnosed. My father is distraught and asked me - why did God allow one who was so devoted to him die like this?

Answer Podcast

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Answer Podcast

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Parikrama in Lalita Kunda - Ter Kadamba - Vrinda Kunda (Album 85 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “My heart is always burning in the fire of material existence, and I have made no provisions for getting out of it. The only remedy is hari-nama-sankirtana, the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, which is imported from the spiritual world, Goloka-Vrndavana. How unfortunate I am that I have no attraction for this. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.1.22 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/GwrIKi

On Sunday, we challenged ourselves and any other interested participants to the "I'm doing" challenge. That is, we invited everyone to transform one of your "I knows" to an "I'm doing".

As we're over mid-way through this week, I thought I'd share something that happened to me, even prior to hitting the publish button for Sunday's post. I was sitting in my room writing when one of my family member's called me down. Joining them in the foyer of our house I asked "What's up?" and was immediately greeted by the accusation "It's because of you we're going to be late!" Looking back in hindsight, it wasn't anything major; rather, it was just an expression of a dear one's frustration.

That said, it was unexpected. Immediately I got on the defensive and offered a legitimate explanation as to why I was not to blame. I was pretty worked up. There's little that bothers me more than being falsely accused of something.

As I walked back to my room, only then did I realize - I had already failed at my challenge! LOL.

I know better than to react when someone else is worked up and yet I did exactly that.

A simple example no doubt, but a powerful one. It left me with the realization that the practice of transforming knowing to doing requires one to be:

1) conscious at all times, and
2) willing to do the work, even if we don't want to.

In this case, I wasn't conscious and therefore didn't even realize the opportunity I had in front of me. In cases where I am conscious of the opportunity to "do" there is often a bigger hurdle and that's my ego. Often it prevents me from doing the right thing because the right thing doesn't provide me with immediate satisfaction.

How have you been finding the challenge? We'd love to hear your experiences and invite you to share in the comments below.

Harinam at Selayang Morning Market (17/03/15)(Album 25 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A devotee always thinks of the Lord continuously. While chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, the words Krishna and Hare immediately remind him of all the Lord’s activities. Since his entire life is engaged n the service of the Lord, a devotee cannot forget the Lord at any time.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.1.6 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/V62uTk

Harinama in Prague (Album 54 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In old age, at the time of death, the throat sometimes becomes choked with mucus or blocked by air. At such a time the sound vibration of Hare Krishna may not come out. Thus one may forget Krishna. Of course, those who are strong in Krishna Consciousness cannot possibly forget Krishna at any stage because they are accustomed to chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, especially when there is a signal from death. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.28.15 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/XOF2hO

Imagine takes a road trip round the desert state of Rajasthan, meeting musicians whose existence is under threat from the new India. They meet Bhopa bards who recite four-night-long epics in front of huge hand-painted scrolls, saffron-clad, chillum-smoking sisters, cross-dressers and gypsy dancers who literally bend over backwards to pick up rupees.

Hare Krishna! The Highest Charity
Every civilized person is familiar with the concept of seva or service. Service can be of different types and of different qualities. At home, every member of the family is serving everyone else. Traditionally, the father traditionally earns for the family and is therefore known as the “breadwinner,” while the mother takes care of the home itself by cooking, cleaning, and creating a comfortable and congenial atmosphere. The children obey their parents and perform basic chores or run minor errands, according to the desires of the parents.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16267

The world of love refers ultimately to the spiritual world, Krishna’s personal abode where there is endless love. There, Krishna exists eternally, the soul exists eternally, and their love exists and expands eternally.

TKG Academy Now Enrolling for School Year 2015-2016
We are pleased to announce that TKG Academy is now enrolling new students for the school year 2015-2016.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16263

Hare Krishna! VIP Visits Mayapur
Mr. Cesare Bieller, Consul General of Italy at Kolkata, visited ISKCON Mayapur. Around 40 different nationals live peacefully as a community in Mayapur. We have few devotees from Italy residing at Mayapur and they came together to welcome and meet the Italian Consul General. Ganga Das (an Italian National), our Deputy Director had invited Mr. Cesare Bieller to visit Sri Mayapur. Ganga das took him on a tour inside the campus, temple and had organised a meet with Italian devotees.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16260

Since its launch in 2000, Festival of Inspiration has been a unique standout of the festival season. It has just the right mix of enlightening presentations by ISKCON’s best speakers; top-quality entertainment from dramas to stand-up comedy; rip-roaring kirtans; and mouth-watering prasad. This year, 600 to 700 devotees from all over the USA, Canada and beyond are expected to flood into the emerald hills of New Vrindaban.

"Rescuing the Stolen River", a feature documentary produced by ISKCON devotees will be premiered at Asia's largest green film festival in New Delhi on Saturday October 10th at 11.30AM at the Delhi Convention Centre. The admission is free, but registration is required:  http://vat2015.cmsvatavaran.org

 

 

The aerial cinema experts at Teton Gravity Research release the first ultra HD footage of the Himalayas shot from above 20,000 ft. with the GSS C520 system, the most advanced gyro-stabilized camera system in the world. Filmed from a helicopter with a crew flying from Kathmandu at 4,600 ft. up to 24,000 ft. on supplemental oxygen, these are some of the most stable, crisp, clear aerial shots of these mountains ever released, which include Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse.  Sound design and mix by Jeff Cormack at Play+Record

Hare Krishna! Pishima: Srila Prabhupada’s sister
Srutakirti das: Srila Prabhupada said. “She tells me she is eating just a little bit, but she keeps on gaining weight. You don’t know anyone who keeps on gaining weight without eating, do you?” “Yes!” Srila Prabhupada said. ” She has to be eating very much. She tells me she is not eating, but I know she is eating. She complains to me about her health, that she doesn’t feel well. I told her, ‘You are so fat. How can you be healthy?’ She said, ‘I don’t know how. I am hardly eating at all. I don’t know how I am so fat?’”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16257

A video by Inci Mutlu Milano.

Due to computer failure I cannot post podcasts today. Apologies. SRS

The post Notice appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

11-03-2015 Lord Krishna’s Internal Reasons for Coming as Lord Chaitanya, Mother Gopal Nandini’s Home, Lenasia, South Africa.mp3

The post March 19th, 2015 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

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Question: What is your relationship to ISKCON?

ISKCON is not a monolith. There are great sādhus in ISKCON, there are jerks in ISKCON, and there is everything in between. It’s not black and white. So how shall I answer a question about my relationship to it?

ISKCON is an idea, a social abstraction, a concept… a concept of community. But a community is not an entity to itself so much as it is a collection of individuals. I concern myself with my relationship with the actual individuals, not with their social abstractions into various groupings. My relationship with the great sādhus of ISKCON is that I remain in the shelter of their feet, striving to please them and experience their happiness with me. My relationship with the common, innocent ISKCON devotee is that some of them are my dear friends, whom I would give all my energy and time for, and who would do the same for me. Others are unknown to me. My relationship to them is nonexistent. Others approach me asking questions or whatever, to them my relationship is to work as hard as I can to serve their needs. My relationships with the belligerent or weird and dysfunctional is that they are also Brahman (rays of the supreme spirit) and also “sādhu” in some extended sense – and I should respect them as such. But for my own sanity and for their happiness as well, I should keep out of argument and therefore keep my distance from them in an unpretentious way.

My relationship with the social abstractions of ISKCON is basically nil, especially since I live in Japan, where ISKCON is not prominent. Once or twice I visited ISKCON’s center in Tokyo, and experienced great friendship and devotional bliss there. I have no relationship with the managerial structure or government of ISKCON, (GBCs, Sannyasis, Temple Presidents, etc. etc.). I agree with some their decisions, disagree with some, and really find no need to get involved in any positive or negative capacity. I hope I never will.

I’m interested in relationships with great sādhus, dear friends, and sincere people – their social nationality (ISKCON or not, etc) really doesn’t make a difference to me.

Tagged: ISCKON, Relationships, Society

Q: How does Krishna benefit all living entities by being the supreme enjoyer?

Very nice question!

Why are you attracted to a beautiful woman? A darling child? A cute puppy? Have you ever thought about this?

I have thought about it and come to the conclusion that consciousness needs something to be conscious of. We need something to love – to state it another way. We are not happy without having something or someone we can love. It is the nature of consciousness itself that it is incomplete if it has nothing to be conscious of. This is why we need something to attract and absorb our focus, our attention, our love.

The seer (consciousness) is incomplete without the seen (something to be conscious of).

This is why Krishna manifests so much beauty and charm, and becomes the “Supreme Enjoyer.” The term “Supreme Enjoyer” means “Supreme Beloved” / “Supreme Focus of Attention.”

Krishna not merely seen, he is also the seer. He makes himself an object of our consciousness to benefit us, because he loves us. But primarily he is the original seer and we are the original seen. Because of this, he also, let’s say, “wants a cute puppy.” He also needs something worth seeing. He also wants and needs someone to love. This is why we exist, and this is why we also possess the potential for infinite beauty and charm.

So, there is a reciprocal circuit between Krishna and us. We are his beloved, he is our beloved. We are his lover, he is our lover. He is the seer and we are beautiful to be seen by him. We are the seer, and he is beautiful to be seen by us.

Tagged: Beauty, Consciousness, Krishna, Seer and Seen