Planet ISKCON

Dallas, Texas

The Mode of a Monk


At the end of the fifth day of sanga (spiritual gathering) we entertained the group with our drama, “Blue Mystic”.  Now it was my time to unwind and do due diligences to my physical self.  I hit the usual trail, the Santa Fe Trail.

By nightfall you are seemingly alone.  There’s the very irregular pedestrian, mostly male.  If I were in a female body I wouldn’t trust the area.

With the old growth of trees running along this former railway line, it attracts the usual wilderness.  Rabbits I see.  Raccoons I hear.  There’s the owl from the other day.  And the partial moon lies on its back set as a punctuation in a vast sky, a sky you would expect over Texas, a glare of utter openness.

“Hare Krishna….” I’m chanting with right thumb and mid-finger rolling over bead-by-bead.  I contemplated, “Yes, I left behind, decades behind, a world of rock ‘n’ roll for a world of mantra ‘n’ roll, with no regrets.  With only rewords like abstinence of the standard Saturday night mish-mash of a karmic world, I can boast that I’m getting my satisfaction from a social/spiritual life (I just entertained).  I am so content to submit to mantra and to the oxygen that projects from the trees and coolness from the moon.

Life can’t be better in the mode of a monk.

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

North American Leaders Focus on Kirtan, 50th Anniversary, TOVP
Dallas, Texas—-Sixty leaders of ISKCON Temples in North America met in Dallas Texas for four days, beginning on January 22, to plan the society’s priorities for 2015 and to prepare for the upcoming 50th Anniversary of ISKCON in 2016.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/A9tPMK

There seems to be a tension between comfort and aspiration in our lives. We seek to explore, to grow, to achieve, yet we also desire security, safety and certainty. It’s clear, however, that we often have to sacrifice one to get the other.

As the community in Mayapur expands at an unprecedented rate, so too does the needs of Sri Mayapur International School. This school, presently home to over 220 Vaishnava children and prestigiously affiliated with Cambridge International. For further information on the positions available please contact the SMIS principal, Gunacuda dasi at :  mayapurschooloffice@gmail.com

Bhaktivedanta Manor is the largest UK centre of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Bhaktivedanta Manor propagates the teachings of the authentic Vedic scriptures.

In 2014, ISKCON's worldwide book distribution increased 10% over 2013, with almost nine million books distributed, the best year since 1996. It is in India is where the biggest amount of books has been distributed,  5,355,465 of the 8,913,251total  books handed out in 2014.

The post January 29th, 2015 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Devakinandana Das from ISKCON Singapore, an international lawyer speaking of his service at ISKCON GBC's Organizational Development Committee and the benefits he takes home to his prabhu-datta-desh from the various initiatives coming out of this work.

As part of the lead up to the ISKCON GBC meetings in Mayapur that will be taking place soon, the Community Relations Office of the Strategic Planning Network published videos taken during last year’s mid-year meetings in Tirupati. In this video Anuttama Das, current GBC Executive Committee chairman and head of the SPN’s Communications Committee speaking on the significant work of the Strategic Planning Team that planned and hosted the successful ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS), which attracted devotee leaders from across world. He also speaks of the positive emphasis during the ILS on the concept of servant leadership. 

Sixty leaders of ISKCON Temples in North America met in Dallas for four days, to prepare for the upcoming 50^th Anniversary of ISKCON in 2016.

After reaching the quarter finals in the Russian edition of hit talent show The Voice, ISKCON devotee Premamaya Vasudeva Das (Pierre Edel) is continuing to use his newfound fame to deliver a Krishna conscious message. After his final performance, Premamaya thanked his guru Jayapataka Swami on live TV watched by 40 million people, and ended his concession speech with the words, “Hare Krishna.”

http://youtu.be/AG4ltRgnUIo

The post Interview with the Moscow ISKCON communication department on the principles of New Vraja Dhama appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Govinda Maharaja fundraises in Moscow for Radha Syama in New Vraja-dhama appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Celebrating Vasant-pacami and remembering the great devotees who appeared or disappeared on that day. (English/Russian)

The post Arrival in Moscow appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Bhuta Bhavana Prabhu Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 19 156 20150124073728

The Harinama Ruci brahmacaris visited Wellington and invited devotees from the Newlands Centre and Bhakti Lounge Centre on kirtan downtown.

"One who has sufficient faith in Lord Krsna's name is eligible to chant, and only one who chants the name is properly executing the prescribed duties of the human being. He is called an adhikari or possessor of the holy name."

From Harinama-cintamani
by Bhaktivinoda Thakura

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Music by Guna-grahi Das (Hungary) and the Kirtan for the Soul team. Video by Balazs Sarudi. 

Seberang Jaya - Temple Update 26/1/2015
I was at temple project site on last Friday and Saturday. We had meetings and here are some progress cleaning of temple walls before painting begins. The GI tubing for sound and wiring has been completed. Front wall being put up. Countdown for August 29, 2015 and only then it will be Merdeka, our Independence Day which incidentally falls on 31/8.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/AeFJsM

Mantra Lounge in UNITEN, Malaysia
KAJANG - There is an amazing effect from our recent Kirtan Mela in Malaysia that the youth are getting. They are bonding like never before. Youths from various centers throughout Malaysia are getting together in each other’s events not minding the travel, time or money needed to spend to get together. During our recent ratha yatras we saw youth from Central and Southern zones of Peninsular Malaysia travelling up North to participate in the ratha yatra there and then just a week later youths from Northern Peninsular Malaysia traveled to the Central zone to do the same.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/HYXs3X

BY JAI SITA RANI DEVI DASI

KAJANG - There is an amazing effect from our recent Kirtan Mela in Malaysia that the youth are getting. They are bonding like never before. Youths from various centers throughout Malaysia are getting together in each other's events not minding the travel, time or money needed to spend to get together. During our recent ratha yatras we saw youth from Central and Southern zones of Peninsular Malaysia travelling up North to participate in the ratha yatra there and then just a week later youths from Northern Peninsular Malaysia traveled to the Central zone to do the same.

Now from just devotees enjoying each others company, they are now spreading the joy of kirtan even in the universities and colleges they go to.

They have started a program called the Mantra Lounge which was spearheaded in London, in our local university, UNITEN. It is a music meditation lounge which gives the students a place to indulge in introspection with soft spirited music, candle light, cosy atmosphere and real good energy all around. A place for the student to de-stress, unwind and experience bliss.

Mantra is a Sanskrit word composed of ‘Mana’ – the mind, and ‘trayate – to transcend’. Therefore mantra refers to an ancient word or sound which helps the mind to reach a higher consciousness. Its is a powerful sound vibration – sometimes compared to a key that opens a specific lock. When accompanied by music it is known as kirtan. Accompanying the mantra with music is a way to help us with the difficult task of focusing the mind.

It was stunning... a sensual journey, unforgettable music with harmonium by Patita Pavan Dasa, karatals by Nanda Krishna and Shatish, mrdangam by Tirthapad and violin by Mukundan.

[Vallabha Bhatta to Lord Caitanya]: "The fundamental religious system in the age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Krishna. Unless empowered by Krishna, one cannot propagate the sankirtana movement. You have spread the sankirtana movement of Krsna consciousness. Therefore it is evident that You have been empowered by Lord Krishna. There is no question about it. You have manifested the holy name of Krishna throughout the entire world. Anyone who sees You is immediately absorbed in ecstatic love of Krishna." - Sri Caitanya caritamrta Antya lila 7.11−13

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by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Malacca - Ratha Yatra 2015

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Malacca - Ratha Yatra 2015

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Malacca - Ratha Yatra 2015

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Malacca - Ratha Yatra 2015

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Malacca - Ratha Yatra 2015

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Malacca - Ratha Yatra 2015

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Malacca - Ratha Yatra 2015

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Malacca - Ratha Yatra 2015

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Malacca - Ratha Yatra 2015

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Malacca - Ratha Yatra 2015

Third and final instalment on the 30 quality series.

The post Being “satisfied” with what Srila Prabhupada gave us appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.