Simple LIving, High Thinking (Album 184 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Govardhan Eco Village, situated in the Sahyadri mountains near Mumbai, is a model ISKCON farming community and retreat center. Yesterday my festival team and I took a break from our preaching and visited the community. We were treated to a 4-hour tour of the 75 acres, which include a beautiful temple, a gurukula, a center for Vaisnava studies, an Ayurvedic treatment center, a gosala for cows and a retreat center for learning yoga. Most of the food devotees eat is grown on the farm. A herd of healthy cows provide plenty of milk. All buildings and houses are built with mud-bricks made by the devotees. With much construction going on, they produce over 1,000 bricks a day. The project has received numerous awards from the Indian government for their contributions to ecology. We were deeply impressed by the entire project which serves as a true testament to simple living and high thinking.
See them here: http://goo.gl/5TBL5H

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Lord Ramchandra Illustrious Pastimes Day 02 – Aranya Kanda Bhakti Caru Swami

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, November 2014, Mayapur, India, Youth Class Lecture) 

I was invited by Ganga Prabhu for some Italian lunch. I was in his house and then at one point, he started to talk about the making of the Panca Tattva deities. He described that at that time, the sthapatis of South India said, ‘No, we do not make any statues we make only deities.’

Ganga said, ‘But these are the deities.’ 

‘No, Narayana and Visnu, we can make. Krsna, we can make but only the Supreme Lord. We do not make any acharyas or anything like that.’ The sthapatis would not do it. So then it is said that Atma Tattva Prabhu went down to South India and for one week and produced different quotes from scriptures and then finally, the sthapatis agreed. Then they starting making Lord Caitanya, they were casting the Panca Tattva deities – refining it, carving and hammering to make it all perfect.

So, during the process, one of the workers was sitting on the Lord and working in the middle. Then the sthapatis came and said, ‘What! You are sitting on the Lord! Get down…’  So they had really accepted that Lord Caitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That was a big victory in the South, the fact that Lord Caitanya was accepted as the Supreme Lord. Now, Sri Sri Panca Tattva stand here in Sri Dham Mayapur to be accepted as the Supreme Lord and we provide the evidence, we provide the stories, we provide the meaning of the Panca Tattva, of Sri Dham Mayapur for all these people who come here so that they also can share in the mercy and then their life can become meaningful.

 

 

 

"Our movement depends on offenseless chanting, and spiritual advancement depends on offenseless chanting, whatever your particular service is. At the same time, to take to the mercy of the holy name and grow spiritually, you must avoid the sinful activities: illicit sex, gambling, intoxication, meat-eating, and be very faithful in service to the spiritual master. This combination will make the perfect advancement."

From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

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TOVP-Office-Inauguration (Album 80 HR photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “My dear lord, what kind of mantra you given have Me? I have become mad simply by chanting this maha-mantra!” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.81)
See them here: http://goo.gl/pBpvXn

The post TOVP Seva Office Inauguration Gallery appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Before leaving Sridham Mayapura I visited the Bhaktivedanta Academy, one of several schools in our ISKCON community there. It functions as a traditional Vedic gurukula with education for both boys and girls. The day I visited the boy’s school they were receiving one of their teacher’s, Bhaktividya Purna Maharaja, who was returning from a trip [...]

Harinama at Melbourne Central. Postive Vibrations.(2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: “In Dvapara-yuga one could satisfy Krishna or Visnu only by worshiping Him gorgeously according to the pancaratriki system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting the holy name.” (Narayana-samhita)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/QrK8iy

'Long Lost' explores the anxieties, the hope, the questions that arise within us all including, 'what is love? - as in, REAL love?' This film is attempts to encourage others to also delve deep within. Watch Long Lost and share Tim's ordinary night out and the extraordinary (re) connection. A film by Shaktyavesa Avatara Das.

Kirtan Mela in Moscow (Album 62 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-these sixteen names composed of thirty-two syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name.” (Kali-santarana Upanisad)
See them here: http://goo.gl/tBUrzp

Hare Krishna! My Yatra Diary: Hare Krishna ISKCON Temple, Pune
By chanting Krishna’s holy name, One cleanses all the dust, From the mirror of one’s consciousness. ~ Srila Prabhupada. Strains of melodious Kirtan (holy hymns) and gregarious chants pierced through the air as I hurriedly paced across the corridor through the modestly set courtyard of the Sri Radha Kunjbihari ISKCON Temple in the camp area of Pune.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15377

Nityanada Triyodashi Celeberation at ISKCON Ghaziabad (Album 41 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “The essence of all Vedic knowledge-comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity, the Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods-is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Narada-pancharatra)
See them here: http://goo.gl/yYj8hq

Hare Krishna! Nityananda’s Paduka (Shoes) Bless the Grand Opening of TOVP Seva office in Mayapur
On February 1st, 2015 the TOVP Seva Office in Mayapur officially opened with a grand celebration consisting of Lord Nityananda’s Paduka (shoes) leaving the altar for the first time to bless the occasion. It was really an amazing experience for all the devotees & specially for the TOVP team as a whole. The Lord’s divine shoes are also scheduled to go on an extensive three month tour to North America starting in March, 2015 to bless and give all the devotees His darshan.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15374

On February 1, 2015 the TOVP Seva Office in Mayapur officially opened with a grand celebration consisting of Lord Nityananda's Paduka (shoes) leaving the altar for the first time to bless the occasion. The Lord's divine shoes are also scheduled to go on an extensive three month tour to North America starting in March, 2015 to bless and give all the devotees His darshan.

Stephen Fry, for those of you who don’t know him, is a spectacular comedian, charismatic actor and a national treasure. Recently, he was asked by Gay Byrne, an Irish TV presenter, what he would say to God if he died and had to confront him.

Preaching in Turkey and devotees calling each other by nicknames.

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Lord Ramchandra Illustrious Pastimes Day 01
Bhakti Caru Swami

At the February 15th Kīrtan Party, I will try to explain that India has a few different philosophies. Philosophies of “0″, “1”, “2”, and “1&2.”

— Intro —

Buddha created the philosophy of “0.”
Śaṅkara created the philosophy of “1.”
Madhva created the philosophy of “2.”
Caitanya created the philosophy of “1&2”

— Zero and One —

Buddha’s philosophy of “0”: He realized that everything causes pain and suffering, so his solution was to become nothing, 0.

Śankara’s philosophy of “1”: He realized that everything is made of the same stuff: Brahman. So everything is 1.

The problem with both of these is that they are unrealistic. They don’t describe the world that we actually live in. We live in a world that is certainly not 0, and also isn’t 1. We live in a world were there are infinite different people, places and things.

Buddhas philosophy is more unrealistic and illogical that Śankara’s, because there is no way to explain how or why nothing could turn into everything. This weakness is main reason why Śankara’s philosophy almost completely drove Buddhism out of india in the 8th century. Another reason India eventually rejected Buddhism is that its Philosophy of 0 completely contradicts India’s oldest philosophical and religious foundations: the Veda.

Still, Śankara’s philosophy has to try to explain how one thing becomes everything. This is very difficult for him to do, because he tied his philosophy in to the Veda by defining the one thing as Brahman: pure, flawless awareness – consciousness itself, without limitation by form and characteristics.

His followers mainly proposed two solutions: (1) The theory of “division,” (2) the theory of “reflection.” I’ll explain the two theories visually, by using their analogies of a pot dividing the sky, and a lake reflecting the sun. Then I will explain why these analogies are totally unrealistic.

Trying to address this, some followers of the Philosophy of 1 said, “yes, its unrealistic. The Brahman because illusioned by un-real things, and all the things in the world are just unreal illusions.” This is called the “Philosophy of Illusion” (māyā-vāda). However it has its own problems: (1) Its unrealistic to suggest that illusion (māyā) is more powerful than pure, flawless awareness (brahman). (2) It’s not a “Philosophy of 1” anymore, now there are 2 fundamental things: awareness (brahman) and illusion (māyā).

— Philosophy of 2 —

Madhva answered the weaknesses in the Philosophy of 1 by creating the Philosophy of 2, and showing how it is much more faithful to the whole Veda (the Philosophy of 1 only picks quotes from the Veda here and there).

The Philosophy of 2 says that Brahman (awareness) comes from a sentient being (Paramātmā). Illusion (Māyā) can affect little particles of awareness (individual Ātmā), but cannot affect the source of awareness, (Paramātmā). It is called the Philosophy of 2 because there are two real entities, Ātmā and Paramātmā. Both of them have infinite qualities and energies. Brahman is the main energy of both Ārmā and Paramātmā. Māyā is an energy of Paramātmā.

What we learned last month about Vyāsa’s realization does support the philosophy of 2 much more than it supports the philosophy of 1. I’ll explain this.

— Philosophy of 1 & 2 —

Other philosophers pointed out that the “Dualism” of the Veda established by the Philosophy of 2 doesn’t contradict the “Nondualism” (“Oneness”) that the Philosophy of 1 wanted to establish. The Paramātmā is the one root of everything. Everything is made of the same single substance, Brahman. Everything shares the same qualities as the Paramātmā, yet is dependent upon Paramātmā.

The first philosopher to begin pointing this out came before Mādhva, Rāmānuja. Later, Nimbarka pointed it out, and Śrī Caitanya’s follower, Śrī Jīva also made it clear that Śrī Caitanya embraced this same point of view.

So, the philosophies of India have evolved to show that the original foundation of Vedic philosophy is most clearly and reasonably understood from the perspective of the Philosophy of “1&2”, called by several names, like: viśiṣtādvaita, dvaitādvaita, and bhedābheda.

Tagged: Advaita, dualism, eastern philosophy, indian philosophy, nondualism

"In two hours I’ve chanted six teen rounds. I endured the pain and chanted in my mind. I was able to pay attention but was ham­pered by the headache. This chronic condition will not go away, but I don’t let it stop my japa."

From Bhajan Kutir #429
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.19.25)

Question: You explained about the necessity of stretching ourselves and raising the bar of our devotion. How can we know if we are stretching too much or too little?

We must begin to accept some of the practices of devotional service and fix ourselves. That is the beginning – in fixing ourselves in chanting, in service, in ashram, in brahminical qualities… Once we have been fixed in a particular situation for a while, then we can raise the bar and fix ourselves on that level. So we keep it for a while and then again – raise the bar. Abhyasa yoga means practice, but practice translates to fixing ourselves. However, as you raise the bar, you have to do more to maintain it.

I remember, we used to do some retreats in Drakensberg (South Africa) and we made everyone work quite hard to make really special darshans of the Deities. One year, Indradyumna Maharaj came upon my request and I asked him to introduce his Deities to the devotees. He explained about his Deities and he got so fired up about sharing his Deities with the devotees that the next morning he also shared his puja with the devotees; around three-hundred devotees were all part of his puja!

Well, it was interesting because everybody knows that Swami is into his puja for a long, long time and it is of a very high standard. I was checking it all out and I noticed that he was playing a soundtrack where there was a whole sequence of going through guru, going through associates of Lord Caitanya, going through Lord Nityananda and all the mahajans, sort of slowly, slowly bringing it to Vrindavan, step-by-step. It was very interesting! Then I said, ‘Maharaj, that was like two hours! How are you doing that every day?!’

He replied, ‘Well, I got to do something! I got to do something to be Krsna conscious!’  That is the point! You do not get it for nothing. You cannot be Indradyumna Maharaj for nothing! There is a price to pay!

Gaura Purnima, the appearance of Lord Caitanya, is only a month away… But in our preschool class He has already appeared. Mother Krishna Priya has intrigued the students with His pastimes, from Advaita Acarya Prabhu’s calling, through the stealing of the Brahmana’s offerings. The thread and essence of them all is His special gift of the Holy Name and His mercy upon us, the conditioned souls. When Krishna Priya calls out “Haribol!” she sets the students into a lively kirtan, singing and dancing happily. The sound of the gong settles them back into “yogis in meditation”, ready to hear the next part of the story. More pastimes are in store for the next few weeks, such as Jarikanda Forest and the deliverance of Jagai and Madhai. How fortunate we are to have His transcendental pastimes narrated to us, almost as if they unfold before our own eyes.

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Devotees from Gainesville, Alachua, and Tampa chanted at the Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa in January 31, 2015, Everyone was in a partying mood and man… Devotees from Gainesville, Alachua, and Tampa chanted at the Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa in January 31, 2015, Everyone was in a partying mood and many danced with us. We met people who recognized us from Gainesvile and Jacksonville. Attendance at the Gasparilla parade is said to be 300,000.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xch5zVhDUkM

Hare Krishna! Juhu Rathayatra 2015
The Rathayatra began at the Bhaktivedanta Mission School. A pandal (tent) was erected there, and several senior ISKCON leaders addressed the crowd. They included Nava Yogendra Swami, Atmanivedana Swami, Amiyavilas Swami, Devakinandan Das, Surdas, Mahamantra Das, Basu Ghosh Das, Braja Hari Das, President of ISKCON Juhu, Dadhibaksha Das, and Janardan Das, who is 88 years old.
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Hare Krishna! From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir: HH Bhakti Visrambha Madhava Swami
“Serve Krishna and the Vaisnavas as much as possible and constantly chant Hare Krishna mantra and that will be sufficient.” This devotee left Bengal, walked for ten days to Puri, in June, to see Lord Jagannath at Rath Yatra and Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And he asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu “How do I recognize a devotee?” So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, “One who likes the chanting of Hare Krishna is the best person in a group.” So that is the lowest denominator of the Vaisnava. This is why we go on Harinama sankirtana and distribute the holy name to everybody.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15368

The Sannyasi, Guru and GBC Sanga in Mayapur. A gathering of the most senior and knowledgeable devotees in ISKCON. It started today and will continue for two more days.

Hare Krishna! From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir: HH Candrasekhara Swami
Yamaraja specifically advises his servants to bring these persons to him for punishment and not to bring the devotees, who always lick the honey at the lotus feet of the Lord, who are equal to everyone, and who try to preach Krsna consciousness because of sympathy for all living entities. Devotees are not liable to punishment by Yamaraja, but persons who have no information of Krsna consciousness cannot be protected by their material life of so-called family enjoyment.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15366

Romapada Swami, GBC member of over twenty-two years leading ISKCON in New York, New Jersey and the Midwest of the USA, and also a member of the SPN’s Organizational Development Committee, speaks on how strategic planning has helped him in his GBC service and how it can better assist ISKCON’s leadership to respond to what is required of it – to bring the message of Lord Caitanya to the world while ensuring that the devotees’ lives continue to be enriched and invigorated.
Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRTsa5R5Vck