Planet ISKCON

From Gunjan Mala Vaswani Mataji

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In the first chp of BG Arjuna raises some imp (material) concerns. Destruction of dynasty, family traditions, unwanted population etc. Krishna does not address any of these issues in BG. Does it mean that these concerns were meaningless concerns or does it mean that these concerns actually turned out to be factual, but Krishna was not addressing these issues in his spiritual message to Arjuna?
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Hare Krishna! Marriage is an ashram. It is important to make it successful
This next coming Sunday 15th of February in Sridhama Mayapur, His Grace Mahatma prabhu (ACBSP) will be conducting a seminar about relationships. “Sacred Union”, the title of his presentation gives us a hint of the importance of marriage in our spiritual life. This is what he says about his seminar: “A good marriage is not an accident. You need to learn how to make it work. Do we need a workshop to help our marriages? If you are married, if you plan to marry, or even if you don’t plan to marry but will be instructing married couples, the answer is a resounding yes. Married life is an asrama and Prabhupada wanted us to make it successful. To be successful in your service and sadhana and not in your asrama is a paradox.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15454

Unity in Diversity (1 min video)
Radhanath Swami, GBC member for centers in Italy and India, and serving on the SPN committee for Devotee Care, speaks his appreciation of the dynamic example of Unity in Diversity the SPN exemplifies – so many devotees from diverse backgrounds serving together for the unity of ISKCON’s mission.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/SUIv8f

GBC Team Building (2 min video)
Praghosa Prabhu, a GBC member for the UK, Ireland, and parts of Northern Europe, and also serving on the SPN committees GBC Team Building and Organizational Development, speaks on the challenging but rewarding work of building camaraderie and cooperation among members of the GBC body.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/oUUK4C

Over 500 devotees and guests had flooded in from all over the US for the biggest public event ISKCON had so far.

Spiritual Inspiration & Strategic Planning (2 min video)
Badrinarayan Swami, whom we introduced in previous posts, speaks on the exciting deliverables coming out of the strategic planning work, the latest being the leadership training college, a legacy for ISKCON’s future.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/uLnyjy

Let’s not fall in that trap. Break the mould by distributing books.

The post Srila Bhaktisiddhanta lamented that he had only succeeded in making kanistha-adhikaris appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

After concluding the three-day Sanga for GBCs, Gurus and Sannyasis, ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission began its Annual General Meetings (AGM) on 6th February, in Mayapur, India. The meetings began with a presentation on the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) by Badrinarayan Swami, congratulating the devotees for the best book distribution year since 1996.

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Development/Systems Administration Committee (2 min video)
Jai Nitai Prabhu, Temple President of ISKCON Soho Street, London, and serving as a member of the SPN’s Temple Development/Systems Administration Committee (TDSA) explains another initiative coming out of the TDSA, an open source database, that has the potential to help projects harness their manpower and resources and better accommodate and provide for the communities they serve. Information is provided for those interested in participating in this initiative.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/0lMm0J

Hare Krishna! The Sadaputa Digital Channel Now on Youtube
For those devotees not familiar with the name Sadaputa Dasa (Dr. Richard L. Thompson), he was one of Srila Prabhupada’s foremost preachers to the scientific community, one of the founding members of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, author of numerous books presenting the Vedic view of reality, international lecturer, a respected Vaishnava, and a veritable transcendental genius. He is also responsible for much of the current design of the Vedic planetarium in Mayapur and many other exhibits planned for the TOVP. It was the world’s great misfortune that in 2008 he passed away from this world, leaving much work undone in his life’s mission and service to Srila Prabhupada.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15449

Melbourne Ratha Yatra 2015 (Album 100 photos)
A colorful and fulfilling day with great kirtans, on-stage performances, prasadam and most importantly chariot pulling of our gorgeous Jagannath Baladev and Subhadra Maharani.
See them here: http://goo.gl/FtHnas

Hare Krishna! From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir: HH Bhanu Swami
This is the good fortune we have to be born in Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement. The generosity of Caitanya Mahaprabhu is to reveal the highest treasure. So the highest treasure is not just prema, and not just Krishna prema, but Radha Krishna prema. To not just deliver and qualify people, every body, even aparadhis. Therefore He is most generous. Generally they don’t give to aparadhis. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu wants to save even the aparadhis. How is it possible? Through Sri Nama Sankirtan. Even a person like Ajamila can get so much from chanting even once the name of Narayana, what to speak of chanting the name of Krishna. We are most fortunate to have this wonderful process coming in our sampradaya, delivered to us by Srila Prabhupada.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15446

The post February 9th, 2015 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Eco Village / Plain Living and High Thinking

by Vyasasana dasa

There has been an ongoing discussion here at New Vrindaban about the possibility of establishing a Vedic or Eco Village, where people would be able to live simply, and practice Krishna Consciousness. Establishing cottage industries based on agriculture, dairy, arts and crafts, etc., and living a more earth based lifestyle

A few day ago my wife shared a link with me on Facebook describing an earth friendly, hand built house, built by Michael Buck, for practically nothing! As I have myself been a builder for almost 40 years now, as as we have been discussing the idea of an Eco Village here at New Vrindaban, I was of course interested. This is a nice example of a house that could easily be built with materials that are local to our area, using the ancient technique of  cob – building with a mixture of sand, clay, straw, water and earth.

The following is the text and images as it appears on the English web site Daily Mail.

It looks like something straight out of Middle Earth – and the story behind it is almost as fantastical.

This cottage cost just £150 to build, using only natural or reclaimed materials, and is now rented out for a fee of fresh milk and cream.

And with no mains electricity, gas or water, the bills don’t come to much either.

Smallholder Michael Buck spent eight months constructing the house using the ancient technique of  cob – building with a mixture of sand, clay, straw, water and earth. He taught himself the method by reading a book, even shaping the walls without a single power tool.

He also made the simple wooden roof frame and thatched it himself with straw from his fields.

The 300 sq ft of floor space features floorboards rescued from a skip, while an old windscreen from a lorry provided glass for the windows.

With no central heating, you might think it would be a bit chilly, but he says the cob walls and thatched roof make it incredibly well insulated – and the ceiling is stuffed with sheep’s wool from a nearby farm to help keep the heat in further.

Despite the somewhat Spartan arrangements, Mr Buck is renting out the unusual property. But there isn’t a hobbit in sight – and the current tenant is a worker on a neighbouring dairy farm who pays for her lodgings in milk and cream. Cooking can be done on the woodburner, but she has installed a small gas stove in the kitchenette.

Yesterday father of three Mr Buck, 59, who lives in a more conventional home nearby with wife Sheila, 57, said: ‘I wanted to show that houses don’t have to cost anything. We live in a society where we spend our lives paying our mortgages, which many people don’t enjoy.’

Mr Buck originally aimed to build the house for nothing, but miscalculated the amount of straw needed so had to buy more. He also had to buy nails to keep the thatch attached. Friends pitched in to help with the build and their names are written on the wall, along with the names of three cows – Marigold, Crystal and Mist – whose dung was used to make plaster.

Mr Buck, a former art teacher, drew the plans for the house on the back of an envelope and did not need planning permission as it was classed as a summer house.

Simple Living High Thinking

In the Srimad Bhagavatam we find in one purport where it is described:

… Another feature of the devotee is nir?hay?, simple living. Nir?h? means “gentle,” “meek” or “simple.” A devotee should not live very gorgeously and imitate a materialistic person. Plain living and high thinking are recommended for a devotee. (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.22.24)

Srimad Bhagavatam
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Canto Four, Chapter 22, Text 22

ahi?say? p?ramaha?sya-caryay?
sm?ty? mukund?carit?grya-s?dhun?
yamair ak?mair niyamai? c?py aninday?
nir?hay? dvandva-titik?ay? ca

ahi?say?—by nonviolence; p?ramaha?sya-caryay?—by following in the footsteps of great ?c?ryas; sm?ty?—by remembering; mukunda—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ?carita-agrya—simply preaching His activities; s?dhun?—by the nectar; yamai?—by following regulative principles; ak?mai?—without material desires; niyamai?—by strictly following the rules and regulations; ca—also; api—certainly; aninday?—without blaspheming; nir?hay?—living simply, plain living; dvandva—duality; titik?ay?—by tolerance; ca—and.

TRANSLATION

A candidate for spiritual advancement must be nonviolent, must follow in the footsteps of great ?c?ryas, must always remember the nectar of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must follow the regulative principles without material desire and, while following the regulative principles, should not blaspheme others. A devotee should lead a very simple life and not be disturbed by the duality of opposing elements. He should learn to tolerate them.

PURPORT

The devotees are actually saintly persons, or s?dhus. The first qualification of a s?dhu, or devotee, is ahi?s?, or nonviolence. Persons interested in the path of devotional service, or in going back home, back to Godhead, must first practice ahi?s?, or nonviolence. A s?dhu is described as titik?ava? k?ru?ik?? (Bh?g. 3.25.21). A devotee should be tolerant and should be very much compassionate toward others. For example, if he suffers personal injury, he should tolerate it, but if someone else suffers injury, the devotee need not tolerate it. The whole world is full of violence, and a devotee’s first business is to stop this violence, including the unnecessary slaughter of animals. A devotee is the friend not only of human society but of all living entities, for he sees all living entities as sons of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He does not claim himself to be the only son of God and allow all others to be killed, thinking that they have no soul. This kind of philosophy is never advocated by a pure devotee of the Lord. Suh?da? sarva-dehin?m: a true devotee is the friend of all living entities. K???a claims in Bhagavad-g?t? to be the father of all species of living entities; consequently the devotee of K???a is always a friend of all. This is called ahi?s?. Such nonviolence can be practiced only when we follow in the footsteps of great ?c?ryas. Therefore, according to our Vai??ava philosophy, we have to follow the great ?c?ryas of the four samprad?yas, or disciplic successions.

Trying to advance in spiritual life outside the disciplic succession is simply ludicrous. It is said, therefore, ?c?ryav?n puru?o veda: one who follows the disciplic succession of ?c?ryas knows things as they are (Ch?ndogya Upani?ad 6.14.2). Tad-vijñ?n?rtha? sa gurum ev?bhigacchet:

tad-vijñ?n?rtha? sa gurum ev?bhigacchet
samit-p??i? ?rotriya? brahma-ni??ham

“To understand these things properly, one must humbly approach, with firewood in hand, a spiritual master who is learned in the Vedas and firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth.”

In order to understand the transcendental science, one must approach the bona fide spiritual master. The word sm?ty? is very important in spiritual life. Sm?ty? means remembering K???a always. Life should be molded in such a way that one cannot remain alone without thinking of K???a. We should live in K???a so that while eating, sleeping, walking and working we remain only in K???a. Our K???a consciousness society recommends that we arrange our living so that we can remember K???a. In our ISKCON society the devotees, while engaged in making Spiritual Sky incense, are also hearing about the glories of K???a or His devotees. The ??stra recommends, smartavya? satata? vi??u?: Lord Vi??u should be remembered always, constantly. Vismartavyo na j?tucit: Vi??u should never be forgotten. That is the spiritual way of life. Sm?ty?. This remembrance of the Lord can be continued if we hear about Him constantly. It is therefore recommended in this verse: mukund?carit?grya-s?dhun?. S?dhu means “nectar.” To hear about K???a from ?r?mad-Bh?gavatam or Bhagavad-g?t? or similar authentic literature is to live in K???a consciousness. Such concentration in K???a consciousness can be achieved by persons who are strictly following the rules and regulative principles. We have recommended in our K???a consciousness movement that a devotee chant sixteen rounds on beads daily and follow the regulative principles. That will help the devotee be fixed in his spiritual advancement in life.

It is also stated in this verse that one can advance by controlling the senses (yamai?). By controlling the senses, one can become a sv?m? or gosv?m?. One who is therefore enjoying this supertitle, sv?m? or gosv?m?, must be very strict in controlling his senses. Indeed, he must be master of his senses. This is possible when one does not desire any material sense gratification. If, by chance, the senses want to work independently, he must control them. If we simply practice avoiding material sense gratification, controlling the senses is automatically achieved.

Another important point mentioned in this connection is aninday?—we should not criticize others’ methods of religion. There are different types of religious systems operating under different qualities of material nature. Those operating in the modes of ignorance and passion cannot be as perfect as that system in the mode of goodness. In Bhagavad-g?t? everything has been divided into three qualitative divisions; therefore religious systems are similarly categorized. When people are mostly under the modes of passion and ignorance, their system of religion will be of the same quality. A devotee, instead of criticizing such systems, will encourage the followers to stick to their principles so that gradually they can come to the platform of religion in goodness. Simply by criticizing them, a devotee’s mind will be agitated. Thus a devotee should tolerate and learn to stop agitation.

Another feature of the devotee is nir?hay?, simple living. Nir?h? means “gentle,” “meek” or “simple.” A devotee should not live very gorgeously and imitate a materialistic person. Plain living and high thinking are recommended for a devotee. He should accept only so much as he needs to keep the material body fit for the execution of devotional service. He should not eat or sleep more than is required. Simply eating for living, and not living for eating, and sleeping only six to seven hours a day are principles to be followed by devotees. As long as the body is there it is subjected to the influence of climatic changes, disease and natural disturbances, the threefold miseries of material existence. We cannot avoid them. Sometimes we receive letters from neophyte devotees questioning why they have fallen sick, although pursuing K???a consciousness. They should learn from this verse that they have to become tolerant (dvandva-titik?ay?). This is the world of duality. One should not think that because he has fallen sick he has fallen from K???a consciousness. K???a consciousness can continue without impediment from any material opposition. Lord ?r? K???a therefore advises in Bhagavad-g?t? (2.14), t??s titik?asva bh?rata: “My dear Arjuna, please try to tolerate all these disturbances. Be fixed in your K???a conscious activities.”

Lord Ramchandra Illustrious Pastimes Day 03 – Yuddha Kanda Part 1

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Thaipusam - Gelugor, Penang

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Thaipusam - Nibung Tebal, Penang

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Thaipusam - Penang

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Thaipusam - Gelugor, Penang

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Thaipusam - Nibung Tebal, Penang

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Thaipusam - Penang

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Thaipusam - Gelugor, Penang

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Thaipusam - Penang

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Thaipusam - Penang

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Thaipusam - Penang

09-02-15 A Ray of Vishnu(with russian translation), ISKCON Mayapur, India.mp3

0 KM

Toronto, Ontario

Happiness and Its Shadow


I had the greatest time at the Bhakti Lounge.  I was given the topic, “Happiness and Its Shadow” to speak on.  From the angle of the Vedas which is the literal heartbeat of Indian culture, I spoke, as well as from some experience.  I guess you can say, “Happiness is a natural state which has spiritual origins.”  This was the beginning of our discussion with our group.  I have referenced a phrase, ananda mayo bhyasat, which means everyone is seeking joy.  I believe everyone realized at that point.  Another reality felt by the group is that each and every one of us know both joy and pain.  We have all visited both camps.  When I expressed that ultimate contentment comes out of enlightenment from being cognizant, they listened well.  When I mentioned that ignorance beckons pain, it resonated. 

The group was young, average age from 20 – 30.  When we spoke about social pressures along the lines of sex and substance use, everyone identified with the point of instant stimulation, but how on the course of impulsiveness the senses enjoy, but the intelligence was asleep.  When body, mind and brain are all alert, when thoughtfulness is introduced, then one stands a better chance of avoiding instant gratification for long term satisfaction. 

In the promiscuous world that we currently live in, little guidance is given to our young, and as a result, they become very vulnerable and end up being hurt.  Happiness really must have more depth than a cheap thrill arousal.  Our guard must be up.  “Let us first grab a hold of our true identity, I am a spirit, I am not the body.  This is a good start for understanding and to bathing in the pool of happiness. 

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

4 KM

Toronto, Ontario

Machinery at Work


One revelation that came to me, simple as it may be, during the course of today’s walk, was how alert and animated you come to be.  Just in dodging traffic, prudence in stepping over an icy patch, ducking when branches are low, catching the scent of a cedar tree, or car exhaust, makes it all a sensation.  Your senses and the big muscle the brain are all perked up.  The machinery is definitely at work. 

Here’s my favourite in regard to all of this – giving and receiving warmth from fellow pedestrians.  It’s in greeting that much comes alive.  For instance, the facial muscles that make the smile.

Through the careful stepping in the ravine today, I felt inner elation.  It was great to see that attention is given to the Mud Creek Trail by the city in addressing erosion issues.  Even on this wintry day, workmen are turning soil and setting rock pieces strategically for an enhanced landscaping. 

On the street level where commerce is alive, you get the chance to dance, or at least weave through people.  Here again, your attentiveness become sharpened.  These dynamics just don’t occur when you slouch on that couch.  Consider yourself privileged to be able to go for the adventure on foot.  Personally, I get a real charge each time from the daily trek, which above all brings me closer to the Divine.  It’s truly a blessing all around. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM