Hare Krishna! “Plain Living and High Thinking”: An English Lesson with Srila Prabhupada
Ravindra Svarupa Dasa: Any student of Srila Prabhupada will at once recognize the phrase “plain living and high thinking.” It occurred frequently and memorably in his discourse. It functioned as kind of motto or slogan to epitomize Prabhupada’s vision of a natural spiritual culture, an alternative to our modern, “soul-killing” industrial civilization. Prabhupada had made use of the phrase even before he journeyed to America in 1965.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15695
On Sunday 15th Feb, there was a campus tour of the Temple of Vedic Planetorium (TOVP) between 10 am and 12 noon. Initially, the features of the Temple under construction were told such as the stainless steel dome that would stay for many years, a huge chandelier in center of Temple of 20 m diameter, ornate […]
Devotees Brave War-Torn Ukraine to Provide “Food For Life”
A brave group of devotees have mounted a Food For Life effort and are preparing enough sanctified vegetarian food, or prasadam, to distribute to 600 to 800 people every day in the war-ravaged city of Donetsk, South-East Ukraine. When Kishora Gopala Das, Yuthesvari Dasi and others at the ISKCON temple in Donetsk – which, fortunately, is not in a dangerous part of the city – saw the situation escalate last year, they wanted to help citizens in affected areas. The city and especially its suburbs were under attack, buildings ruined, and communications damaged. There was no water and electricity, and food was at a shortage.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/QxRlfQ
Bhaktimarga Swami Hit By A Monk! One swami gave me a slug. Yes, in truth I got hit by a monk in the left brow and cheek. It was not ill-intended. It was an accident but at the time it felt a hard blow. What actually happened is that at the first day of the kirtan mela, the chanting fest, I was making my dance moves during the chant session. Dozens of men were following my lead when Chandramauli Swami comes in to participate. He always gravitates to the place where there’s a beat and a thump and a mantra - I commend him for that. At one point in the kirtan he broke into a wild spin and like a tornado he spun out of control and headed my way. The Maharaja apologetically said, “I stepped out of line, I’m sorry.” And of course, all was done with genuine heart. The incident had all alarmed but the dance persisted and both swamis, he and I, demonstrated a transcendence, if I could say. The hurt subsided and there were no signs of permanent damage. Life goes on, as it should, with the chant in prevalence. I think of the conviction of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, who carried on, despite being knocked over by a horned bull while on the streets in Delhi, and how on his ocean journey on the vessel “The Jaladuta” he encountered two heart attacks, but on the will of persistence, forged ahead with a mission. The apparent blow to my head was minuscule compared to what my guru has done. May the Source be with you!
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/fup4S4
A Sankirtan award distribution ceremony took place in Temple on 19th February morning. This year Mayapur Temple enjoyed a special success by securing the first position worldwide for annual distribution in 2014. The ceremony took place to honor top book distributors connected to Mayapur. These included Banamali Mukund prabhu, Bharadwaj prabhu , Kamal Nayan prabhu and devotees […]
1. "We have guided missiles and misguided men ..." We need inner mastery to complement the outer control provided by technology.
2. The Gita's setting demonstrates the necessity of inner mastery.
3. The Gita's message takes us beyond material appearance to spiritual substance and brings clarity and strength.
4. Gita is yoga-shastra - it connects us with higher spiritual realities and provides inexhaustible hope. eg. anchored boat
5. Arjuna's Gandiva bow - initially lowered (1.46) and finally upraised (18.76) - signifies our determination and the Gita's capacity to boost our morale. Quotes of Thoreau, Emerson and Gandhiji.
Bhagavad Gita Sloka Recitation 09.25-27 by Krishna Singh (3 min video)
Bg 9.25 yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vratah bhutani yanti bhutejya yanti mad-yajino ’pi mam
Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me.
Bg 9.26 patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati tad aham bhakty-upahrtam asnami prayatatmanah
Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.
Bg 9.27 yat karosi yad asnasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam
Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/olh9cK
A brave group of devotees have mounted a Food For Life effort and are preparing enough vegetarian food to distribute to 600 to 800 people every day in the war-ravaged city of Donetsk, South-East Ukraine. When Kishora Gopala Das, Yuthesvari Dasi and others at the ISKCON temple in Donetsk saw the situation escalate last year, they wanted to help citizens in affected areas.
Moscow’s first ever Kirtan Mela, which ran from Friday January 30th to Sunday February 1st, drew nearly 2,000 devotees from around Russia – and it was a colorfuly uplifting affair on a grand scale. The event was organized by Saraswati Dasi after ISKCON guru Bhakti Bringa Govinda Swami, inspired by a “Mantra Yoga” program he attended in Moscow, expressed the desire to participate in more outreach programs there.
Gaura Purnima Festival Entertainment
This year the Gaura Purnima Festival, Main Pandal Entertainment will be held on February 28, March 1, 2, 3 & 4. The Main Pandal is located near Vamsi Bhavan. There is a number of great acts already booked to perform this year including a new production by BhaktiMarg Swami. Maharaja’s new drama, “Blue Mystic” will play at 7PM on 1st February. If you would like to perform on the main stage or know of a quality act please contact us as soon as possible.
Y.s. Damodara Pandit das
Ph: 8609 364 066
Email: yakdas@Hotmail.com
More Sannyasis-preachers for Iskcon!
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami will be awarding the order of sannyasa tomorrow(Feb 21st) to two devotees in Sri Dham Mayapur. Dhirashanta dasa from England and Ananda Chaitanya dasa from Lithuania. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Mayapur TV at 10am indian time. Please watch it if are able and offer your blessings to these devotees. In the photo Dhirashanta prabhu.
Harinama in Hlavni Mesto Praha, Czech Republic (Album 41 photos)
For many years harinams – the color joyous procession of devotees singing the holy name of Krishna accompanied by harmonium, mridangas and karatalas – are inseparable from Prague. This singing represents the yuga-dharma for this age. We go regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 PM from Obecni dům on Republic Square.
See them here: http://goo.gl/vVlMcJ
Gabhadhana-samskara, the first and most important of all the purificatory processes in the tradition of Sanatana dharma is yet either less prevalent today or almost extinct. Such a sacred practice remains obscure, less propagated and even less understood. The new publication titled, “Garbha̅dha̅na-saṁska̅ra, The Science of Vedic Family Planning” humbly attempts to fills this gap.
On February 9th, devotees from ISKCON Patna held the first ever program in Ranchi, the capital of the Indian state of Jharkhand. The program’s purpose was to provide a basic understanding about the goals of ISKCON, about the Bhagavad-gita, and Srila Prabhupada’s contribution to humanity.
On 18th February, HH Niranjan Swami gave the morning Bhagwatam lecture on SB 6.17.30. Below is the transcript of the lecture. (Pranama Mantras) First I would like to thank all of the assembled vaisnavas for this opportunity to render service. I pray to all of the vaisnavas who are here today to bless me that I may […]
Hare Krishna! From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir: HH Niranjana Swami
All of us have gathered to relish the sweet taste of Krishna’s names here in the association of devotees. But as servants of the holy name, we should never try to selfishly relish that sweet taste ourselves. Our duty is to go out and to give it to others. That is the auspiciousness of this event that has been created for all of us to take part in – to go together and to relish these sweet names
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15660
One swami gave me a slug. Yes, in truth I got hit by a monk in the left brow and cheek. It was not ill-intended. It was an accident but at the time it felt a hard blow.
What actually happened is that at the first day of the kirtan mela, the chanting fest, I was making my dance moves during the chant session. Dozens of men were following my lead when Chandramauli Swami comes in to participate. He always gravitates to the place where there's a beat and a thump and a mantra - I commend him for that.
At one point in the kirtan he broke into a wild spin and like a tornado he spun out of control and headed my way. The Maharaja apologetically said, "I stepped out of line, I'm sorry." And of course, all was done with genuine heart. The incident had all alarmed but the dance persisted and both swamis, he and I, demonstrated a transcendence, if I could say. The hurt subsided and there were no signs of permanent damage.
Life goes on, as it should, with the chant in prevalence.
I think of the conviction of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, who carried on, despite being knocked over by a horned bull while on the streets in Delhi, and how on his ocean journey on the vessel "The Jaladuta" he encountered two heart attacks, but on the will of persistence, forged ahead with a mission.
The apparent blow to my head was minuscule compared to what my guru has done.
Cashews and figs are my breakfast. During meetings my colleagues and I enjoy a snack bar with water right out of the dab (coconut). Other juices are freshly made pomegranate, sugar cane, lemon, and bael. Delicious! Good for any one walking or sitting (at meetings).
Lunch is much the same every day. I pass on the rice but delight in steamed veggies, a banana curry, and today it was jackfruit, an actual vegetable. I tell you, even a meat-eater would relish cooked jackfruit, its texture and taste.
Daru Brahman is a student of mine who brings a lighter meal at night during our rehearsals. I will not pass up on the fruit-filled custard, a fitting food to our tummies taken just two hours before retiring for the night.
Somehow the above-mentioned gets burned up during the daily walk, the recreation of dance during the morning auspicious time at tulasi puja and then somehow or other the warmed-up temperature that we experience at our think-tank hours, the AGM for our society.
What a pleasant change it was to have that downpour of rain. It didn't take much for areas to flood. I guess you call it a token flood. By the following morning most of that had disappeared and was drained out to the nearby Ganges. It was shortly after the rainfall that the coriander fields in the area exploded in fragrance. Tucked away we were in the samadhi auditorium at the time and that remarkable scent burst at the nostrils, adding to the magic of nature and its Creator.
Please accept my prostrated obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All
glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for the wonderful day today, spent at your samadhi at your palace at Govardhana. Thank you for the association of wonderful loving
godbrothers, united in their love for you and Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for the association of your fortunate disciples, who are fixed in devotion at your lotus feet. May we be associated in loving service to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu always. I love you.
He explains that things which are in themselves very difficult become easy by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore, in this chanting of the maha-mantra, we first chant the Panca-tattva mantra: śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda because it is by that mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that we are chanting in the first place. It is by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that in spite of our lack of qualification in the chanting, still there will be amazing results.
It is by the very mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that we are able to chant here in front of the Panca Tattva in Sridham Mayapur and that is such an added mercy which cannot be found anywhere in the word! Understand that in the form of his murti, the Lord is particularly adding his mercy, so it is the combination of the holy name and the mercy of Sri Sri Panca Tattva that can produce the most amazing results. Therefore, there is no doubt that the Kirtan mela, by coming to Mayapur, has come home and along with the Kirtan mela, we have also come home! Therefore, let us take full advantage of this mercy and let us pray to the Lord so that we can actually enter into the meaning of the holy name.
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:
Our 6 week festival tour in the Mumbai area is finally coming to a conclusion. Yesterday, while doing some errands, I took photos of life in the city, comparing old India with that of the new.
Hare Krishna! Radhanath Swami felicitates Book Distributors at ISKCON Chowpatty
This year we had a successful Book distribution Marathon at ISKCON Chowpatty. This time the highlight was cent percent devotee participation. All devotees – Temple as well as Congregation put up strong efforts to please Srila Prabhupad by distributing his books. Irrespective of their age and gender, right from Gopal Fun school kids to Varishta Vaishnavas (Senior citizens), all went out to distribute Srila Prabhupad books.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15653
Hare Krishna! Message from the GBC Chairman: 2015 Year of the TOVP!
Srila Prabhupada: “My idea is to attract people of the whole world to Mayapur”. 2015 will be the official year of the TOVP whose purpose is to fulfill this desire of Srila Prabhupada. Watch this new video about the Temple of Vedic Planetarium in High Definition with the messages of GBC Chairman Praghosa prabhu and of TOVP Chairman Ambarisha prabhu. A special TOVP World Tour is now being organized, carrying with it Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s divine lotus shoes and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s sitari (helmet) from the Mayapur Chandodaya Mandir, accompanied by His Grace Jananivas prabhu, His Grace Radha Jivan prabhu, and His Grace Vraja Vilas prabhu. TOVP Chairman Ambarisa prabhu will also be present at many of the programs. The Tour will begin Spring 2015 in North America from March through July.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15647
Hare Krishna! No One Can Help You Like You Can
Mahatma Das: A devotee asked Prabhupada for help, saying that he was not able to follow the four rules. Prabhupada looked sternly at him and said, “If you do not follow the regulative principles, then no one can help you’.” Following the practices of Krsna consciousness is the platform from which help comes. It is not that we attract mercy by virtue of the fact that we are so fallen that we can’t follow or don’t try to follow. To think this way only perpetuates the problem. Devotees feel in great need of mercy, not because they are having difficulty following principles or vows, but because they don’t feel they are spiritually advanced and thus need help.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15644
100,000 people are expected to participate in a third march protesting the condition of the sacred river Yamuna this spring – and this time, organizers say, they will not budge or negotiate with the government. Two previous marches in 2011 and 2013 yielded some results -- for instance, the government agreed to construct a sewage canal to stop Delhi drains discharging pollutants and sewer waste into the river.
On 19th February evening, there was a grand celebration of Siva ratri festival at ISKCON Jagannath Temple, Rajapur. More than hundred devotees gathered for the event. Many resident and visitor devotees went from Mayapur Chandrodaya Temple. First of all, there were lectures by HH Candramauli Maharaj and HH Bhakti Vighna Vinasa Narasimha Swami. Both of them glorified […]
