Hare Krishna! Jayapataka Swami and Others to Present at Festival…
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Hare Krishna! Jayapataka Swami and Others to Present at Festival of Inspiration’s 15th Anniversary
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, West Virginia from Thursday May 7th to Sunday the 10th for FOI’s unmissable 15th Anniversary event. World-renowned kirtan singers Agnideva Das and Karnamrita Dasi will kick off proceedings on Thursday with an evening of ecstatic kirtan and bhajans from 6 to 10pm.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16272

Ancestrals – Prasūti’s Grandchildren Through Svadhā
→ The Enquirer

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

We are in this together…
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2012, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture)

KKS_sweden_2011This 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!

Finding Happiness, March 17, Bhaktivedanta Manor, London
Giriraj Swami

03.17.15_BV_ManorGiriraj 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

Why do serious devotees sometimes die prematurely?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

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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Parikrama in Lalita Kunda – Ter Kadamba – Vrinda Kunda (Album 85…
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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

"i’m doing" challenge update
→ everyday gita

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…
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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)
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Harinama in Prague (Album 54 photos) Srila Prabhupada: In old…
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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

The Lost Music of Rajasthan – A BBC Documentary
→ ISKCON News

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…
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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

Hare Krishna! VIP Visits Mayapur Mr. Cesare Bieller, Consul…
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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

Jayapataka Swami and Others to Present at Festival of Inspiration’s 15th Anniversary
→ ISKCON News

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.

The Himalayas from 20,000 ft.
→ ISKCON News

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