Planet ISKCON

Harinam in Bangalore administrative management college (Album 87 photos)
Dr. Shrinivas Raao Potula has invited us to perform a spiritual programm in front of his college students, and it went awasome!
See them here: http://goo.gl/m1YSQZ

Hare Krishna! Reflections upon reaching the age of 65
Pusta Krishna das: I began my spiritual Krishna conscious journey at the age of 20 in Gainesville, Florida, 1970. Shortly thereafter, I went to Bangladesh as a new brahmachary. I soon discovered the real battle with maya that was before me. I was already convinced of Krishna, without any doubts, but I still carried the weight of my karma, my attachments, and my active mind. I practiced sense control and withdrew my mind from any where it wandered, taking shelter of the Holy Name, praying for His mercy. It was a great internal battle. I am certain that nearly all of you reading this know the struggle. Years have passed and you cannot stop the passing of time. That river flows on, and as Krishna describes in His Bhagavad Gita, Time I am. Time is a manifestation of God. Srila Prabhupad used to say that for those who choose not to surrender to the Personality of Godhead, then they are forced to surrender to Him as Time, whose manifestation is death for all things material.
http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15425

Hare Krishna! Using Social Media in Preaching service
With the raise of internet , and the usage of social media sites have increased exponentially over the past 5-8 years, the social media has emerged as a new instrument for the age of kali. The opinion of the masses is not only influenced by the media, but even the media is able to create new opinions of the masses by just repeated information (true or false, as it wishes).
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15422

Maha Milan -2015 (ISKCON Punjabi Bagh Congregation Community) (Album 42 photos)
A Mahamilan was organized on 18th January for ISKCON PB Congregation community at Shah Auditorium. Event became more special by gracious presence of three Srila Prabhupada’s Disciples: HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja, HH Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Maharaja, HG Sarvadrik P.
Drama on Vardaraja & Kanchipuram(“Servant Of the Servant”), Debate(“Commercialization Of Religion”), Dance Performance, Antakshani, Discourse, Kirtans, Award Ceremony were some of the major highlights of the program.
See them here: http://goo.gl/Auemt5

Hare Krishna! Matra Ashirawad Program (Mother’s Blessing Program)
A Report from a program for brahmcharis and their parents. Ever heard of “Brahmcharis” and their “Parents” coming together……to chant and dance in ecstasy……Sharing Gratitude and Joy…….Acknowledging each other’s contributions and difference of opinions…..with all mothers cooking a Grand feast in honor of their sons who are currently serving under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada?
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15420

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Hare Krishna! Mayapur Sanga of ISKCON Sannyasis, Gurus and GBCs – Day One
Reading the observations, participants voiced concern, among other things, on the trend they were seeing on diminishing standards in our movement as we continue to move from a temple-centric to congregation-based movement. For example, although we have strong programs for teaching the sastra, more could be done to guide people in the practicalities of living a Vaisnava life, as Srila Prabhupada trained his disciples. It was also noted that trends in the wider world have both positive and negative effects for ISKCON, and that these trends could be perceived differently in different parts of the world, which have differing cultural influences.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15413

BY SRIDEVI GAURANGI DEVI DASI

KLANG - The abhishek ceremony on Sri Nityananda Trayodasi was held in ISKCON Teluk Pulai, Klang on 1 Feb 2015. It was the offering of fruit juices milk honey and flowers on the deities. We were honoured to have the special spiritual discourse by HH Bhakti Vijendranandana Swami Malaysia's only Maharaja and President of ISKCON Malaysia. The abishek ceremony on this auspicious day is the opportunity for devotees to offer their respects and love by observing a half day fast and glorifying their Lordships!

Hare Krishna! From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir: HG Mahatma Das
When I travel, people always ask how the movement spread in the early days. My realization is that it spread by Prabhupada’s faith in the Holy Name to purify us. One day I was happily sitting in the San Francisco Temple in 1970. At that point, I had been a devotee for eight months. I had just turned to the ripe age of twenty. I was called into the Temple President’s office and told that I would be going to Vancouver to be the Temple President because I was so qualified. Why would Prabhupada allow that?
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15410

Hare Krishna! From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir: HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami
In 1970 the devotees approached the authorities of the University of California at Berkeley to be allowed to give some classes on Krishna consciousness to the students. The faculty members considered the proposal and rejected it. There was a newspaper article sometime later in the Los Angeles Times. And one of the professors named Professor Staal was quoted as saying, that “the Hare Krishnai..or the devotees spend too much time chanting to be able to develop a philosophy.” (laughter) What he implied was that it is just sentimental, they don’t have philosophy, they just chant and dance.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15407

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Lord Ramchandra Illustrious Pastimes Day 3 Sundar Kanda I

“Go on acquiring the surrounding lands and in this way we will establish a local self-governing village and show all the world a practical example of spiritual life as Krishna Himself exhibited in Vrindaban.” – Srila Prabhupada, 1973.

Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Vanipedia website.

CC daily Podcast:

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[This blog was originally published on 4-21-12, and has now been moved here] Everyone falls short, or doesn’t progress as fast as they would like, on their spiritual journey. Can we ever think we love or serve Krishna sufficiently, when even great souls consider themselves deficient in devotion? Therefore, I always feel it is essential to portray my struggles as well as successes, so that devotees will be comfortable accepting and acknowledging where they fall short—at least within a select group, or a confidential friend. If we hide behind a veneer of external practice, trying to look good without admitting and sharing our struggles, we won’t be able to hear how other devotees have dealt with similar problems. Some devotees think they are the only one with a particular challenge or sensual weakness, but if there was more honest sharing of experiences, devotees would see that while the exact details and degree of intensity vary, most of us have many of the same issues and struggles

To make spiritual progress we must be introspective enough to understand our strengths and weakness, as well as where we are now, and what the goal is (so we can remain fixed on it). There is a time to hear and chant about Krishna, and a time to be real about our material attachments and lack of spiritual standing. We only get to steadiness (nistha) and taste (ruchi) in bhakti through being conscious of, and retiring our anarthas, or unwanted ways of thinking and acting—and that is a long, winding road!

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 9.19.19)

This human life is very short and we have to be very careful that we do not waste the opportunity to go back to Godhead. In whatever we do, do what you have to BUT, do not, in any way, jeopardize the opportunity for going back to Godhead. That is the first priority in life. Whatever we do, that should never, in anyway, come in the second place for a moment. And for the rest, do what you have to do; that is up to you!

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

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Radhanath Swami explains Srila Prabhupada’s incredible positive attitude.
Many of you know the story. He left India when he was 69 years old, crossing the Arabian Sea on a cargo ship named Jaladuta. He had two heart attacks, sea sickness, and still he had to cross Africa, the Suez Canal, and the entire Atlantic Ocean! For some short stay he was in Butler, Pennsylvania, at some stranger’s house, and then he was living in the bowery ghetto of New York. Living in the esteem of the highest saint, and around him were drunkards, prostitutes, drug addicts and criminals. The lowest ghetto in America in those days was the bowery. He had no other place. Someone just let him stay on his floor.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/UFPZgq

Hare Krishna! ISKCON Leaders Speak Out
HH Radhanath Swami, HH Bhaktimarga Swami, His Holiness Giriraja Swami and HH Devamrita Swami speak About the TOVP. His Holiness Giriraja Swami speaks about the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium and the astounding thing Srila Prabhupada said to him about what would happen if we build this temple.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15404

Sringar Vat Temple Darshan And Sobha Yatra 2015! (Album 55 photos)
It is the place which commemorates the pastime of Radha and Krishna when, Sri Krishna personally decorated Sri Radharani with flowers. Shringar means to decorate and Vat means Banyan tree. Thus it’s the old Banyan tree under which Lord Krishna is believed to have decorated Sri Radharani with different flowers, ornaments and arranged her hair. It’s said that once Sri Radharani, left the rasa dance in a fit of jealousy (mana) after watching Krishna associating with all other Gopis (cowherd maiden) and hide herself at this place under banyan tree (Shringar Vat). Later on, Krishna came to the place searching for Radharani and found her sulking under the Banyan tree. While sitting under this tree he personally decorated the hairs of Sri Radharani with beautiful forest flowers and put anjana (kajal) in her glimmering eyes and also decorated her body with ornaments studded with precious gems and stones. The original Banyan tree under which both Radha and Krishna performed this pastime is no more as it broke down during flood in Vrindavan. The branch from that tree has been planted at the place which has now grown into a large tree. Inside the temple there is a beautiful painting depicting this worshipable pastime of Lord Radha and Krishna. Nityananda Prabhu during his visit to Vrindavan used to stay under this Banyan tree chanting names of Lord Krishna completely absorbed in his thoughts. Sometimes he would cry and shout aloud with the intense feelings of separation from Lord Krishna. Once, during one of his ecstatic moods he listened to a divine voice saying that his Lord Krishna has already taken birth in Navadwipa and is waiting for him. After hearing this voice he immediately left for Navadwipa to meet Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The Banyan Tree is also known asNityananda Vat as he stayed under this tree.
See them here: http://goo.gl/FRGRzO