Planet ISKCON

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

Srila Prabhupada explains, in terms of going to the forest, that the best of all forests is Vrindavan. But in Vrindavan, one must purely pursue Krsna consciousness and one must not go there for engaging in lusty desires. In other words, one must not go to Vrindavan to be a pretender and in the name of spiritual life just secretly engage in illicit sex.

Sexuality is allowed in Krsna consciousness but one must take responsibility. Illicit sex is condemned and illicit sex will not help. Illicit sex will bind us into the lower species of life; it will bring us down. So, even a devotee, who is secretly engaging in illicit sex, is doomed and is facing a future full of difficulty therefore one must take shelter! The process of varnasrama is designed in that way, it is meant to provide different kinds of shelter. Everyone needs shelter! We are all conditioned souls. The pushings of the senses are very strong. The ashram offers us a different facility of shelter and one may chose whichever shelter that may seem to be the easiest the follow. But, if out of false ego, one is going for a position that appears to be more prestigious and one is not honest with himself as well as others, then he brings fall-down upon himself, disgrace and with it, difficulty to continue to properly take the alternate shelter – the shelter of Krsna. Varnasrama is a material position from samsiddhir hari-tosanam (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.13), from where we can take shelter of devotional service. So it is important that one is properly situated.

Of all the ashrams, there are three ashrams which are allowed for a lifetime – the brahmachari ashram, the vanaprashta ashram and the sannyasa ashram, but the grhasta ashram is not! One cannot stay there forever. It is an ashram that is time bound, pancasordhvam vanam vrajet (at age fifty to go to the forest). So scriptures are emphasizing vanaprashta.

Now the question may be raised, “Is this also applicable to devotees? Should devotees also, at the age of fifty, take vanaprashta?” Sometimes it is said, “What if the marriage is favourable for preaching then do transcendental principles apply?”

One can argue in favour of that and say yes, the higher principle is anukulyasya sankalpah pratikulyasya varjanam (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 22.100), that whatever is favourable for spreading Krsna consciousness, we accept. So, the case can be made that we will not rigidly follow these rules of varnasrama. Of course, we understand, as Prabhupada said that after age fifty, there must be no sex life. That we shall do, but we shall stay together to preach. So, on the strength of anukulyasya sankalpah, or accepting that which is favourable, one can make a case for staying together.

On the other hand, it still may be very useful to go to the forest; after all we are not so transcendental. Even if externally we give up sex life, still internally, we may maintain some lust unnecessarily which may lead to another birth in the material world. Therefore, those who are very serious, even in our movement, may consider pancasordhvam vanam vrajet, at age fifty to go to the forest as a shelter. Continuing to take shelter and not trusting one’s own mind, not trusting one’s own senses because the mind and senses, by nature, are treacherous. So how to trust the mind? So, pancasordhvam vanam vrajet, is not wrong, it is the approach towards safety.

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“The essence is to surrender to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and dedicate your lives to their service. There will be details and there will be difficulties — there are always difficulties. But, as Srila prabhupada said. ‘Spiritual life is difficult but material life is impossible.’ It is difficult in some ways but the alternative — material life — is impossible. So just persevere and work together — that was very important to Srila Prabhupada. And, it came from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that we should work together to relish and spread Krishna consciousness.”

ISKCON Youth Program,
Youth Program Q and A

Winter Baltic Vaishnava Festival 2015 (Album 78 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Simply by taking prasada and taking part in chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, ordinary persons are being considerably elevated. Saubhari Muni regrets that he had bad association even in the deepest part of the water. Because of the bad association of the sexually engaged fish, he fell down. A secluded place is also not secure unless there is good association. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.6.51 Purport).
See them here: http://goo.gl/DD53bh

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Giriraj Swami at ISKCON Juhu 37th Temple Anniversary - 15 Jan 2015 Makar Sankranti (27 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/M64tYn

Of Shaving Head and Cleaning Toilets - Homage to HH Janananda Goswami
In 1995, Jelutong Penang temple, you gave me a chorus to clean the toilets. I did the best I could. You came in to inspect the toilet bowls and pointed out that the inside of the bowls are still dirty. I replied that the toilet brush could not reach those areas. You changed into your gamchas and took a tiny piece of green color scrubber and with bare hands reached into the toilet bowl and cleaned it. Then, you went further, putting your hand into the water area; your hand reaching into the deepest sections of the bowl and scrubbed it. I watched in horror, that you have to teach me like this. What a complete idiot I am! Lesson learned well. I cleaned the toilet bowls the same way ever since and realized I am not the body. I realized that Brahmana does not mean wearing a tread but to un-tolerate dirt, although I am still working on this.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/XhCW1m

HH Indradyumna Swami Visits Bangalore
The Evening started off with Tulasi aratik and Gaura aratik by our temple devotees, soon afterwards Maharaj had reached the temple and started Kirtan which was followed by a discourse on the effects of Kali Yuga. One would be able to notice that by this time, even the outsides of the temple hall were jam packed with devotees! After the Lecture, Sriman Bada Hari Prabhu had lead kirtan for about half an hour. Afterwards, all the devotees had sumptuous Mahaprasadam of Lord Jagannath and thus the program was concluded.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/qnJuuX

Narottamanand Prabhu at ISKCON Juhu 37th Temple Anniversary 15 Jan 2015 Makar Sankranti (7 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/3oZ7AR

Harinama in ISKCON Johor Bharu (Album 17 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna chant is called the maha-mantra, the great, exalted mantra above all other Vedic mantras, because simply chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra brings so many beneficial effects. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.1.17 Purport).
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Preaching program in 26 Second Ave Matchless Gifts the Seed of Hare Krishna Movement in the West (Album 12 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when your Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.” (Srimad Bhagavatam, 8.23.16).
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Preaching in San Diego (Album 7 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Although Sukracarya was a strict brahmana addicted to ritualistic activities, he also admitted, nischidram anusankirtanam tava: “My Lord, constant chanting of the holy name of Your Lordship makes everything perfect.” (Srimad Bhagavatam, 8.23.16 Purport).
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BY PALAKA KRISHNA DASA

PHOTOS BY INDRANUDJA DASA

JOHOR BHARU - Every year we get the pleasure of seeing the Russian devotees in Malaysia enthusiastically distributing books, performing harinam and participating in our many ratha yatras throughout Malaysia. With at least 3 hours of harinam everyday, they inject such zest into the lives of people here. Currently they are travelling in the southern part of Malaysia visiting our ISKCON branches in Seremban and Johor Bharu and spreading the sweet Holy Name around. 

The name of Hari was not born in this material world. A jiva who is the atomic miniature of the infinite consciousness is only eligible to pronounce the name of Hari, when he lives in his real unsullied form, in his transcendental body. Nobody of this world who lies in the bondage of illusion,is able to utter the hallowed name with any of the sense organs, but when his real self works through the grace of the hladini-sakti of God, it is then and then alone that the real name of god appears with the appearance of that holy name, the pure nama most kindly descends on the mind of the devotee and begins to dance on his tongue sanctified by devotion. The name is not something of the shape of letters, it manifests itself in the shape of alphabet at the time of dancing on a material tongue, here is the mystery of the HOLY NAME.

Jaiva Dharma Chapter 23 - Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

And Bhagavatam inspired codes of conduct for and between men and women, were the two main themes from our Varnasrama conference leaders want to see in their sphere’s of influence.

The post Systematic education on the 30 qualities appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila
Prabhupada.
We are happy to announce the first event this year in Vrndavana Dhama in honor of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s historic journey on the Jaladutta to start this wonderful ISKCON mission, AND in honor of the 40th anniversary of the historic Opening of the Krishna Balarama Mandir.
On Vasant Pancami, 24, January 2015 we will inaugaurate a fantastic
presentation of the Changing Bodies Diorama upstairs in Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi Museum. We will also post new nameplates and descriptions of Parampara for our 4 parampara Deities upstairs.
Ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. with guest speakers, kirtan and Prasad
distribution. Pictures will be sent out later on the Samadhi site of the
Vrndavan temple web.
Hope this meets you all well and in jolly spirits.
Your servant on behalf of the Samadhi,
Parvati devi dasi

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Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavtam 10.14.8.

“The idea is that just as a legitimate son has to do nothing but stay alive in order to inherit his father’s property, similarly all a devotee has to do is remain alive in Krishna consciousness and he will inherit the kingdom of God. What does it mean to ‘remain alive’ in Krishna consciousness? It means to continue to follow the process of bhakti-yoga in the association of devotees. And if we just stay alive in Krishna consciousness we will inherit the kingdom of God. The relationship between the father and the son or the parent and the child is such that the parent does whatever is best for the child. One of our acharyas, Srila Visvanatha Thakur, has given the example that sometimes the parent will give the child sweets and sometimes the parent will give the child bitter medicine. But, both are meant for the child’s benefit.”

Pune Counsellor Meeting

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Seberang Jaya - Temple update 17/1/2015 (Album 6 photos)
Simheswara Dasa: Latest progress report on our Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple of Devotion & Understanding building project in Seberang Jaya, Penang, Malaysia. Met with Vice Chairman of project Kalesa dasa and site manager Mr. Ehambaram for two days. We have finalised paintwork decision, Kalasam for sikhara, wall work on perimeter of temple and worked on gantt chart to complete all works by July 2015. We have proposed opening of temple on Balarama Purnima 2015, August 29.
See them here: http://goo.gl/WZzeOa

Chanting Pledges
Reciting the Hare Krishna mantra is the foundational spiritual practise for devotees. Practitioners from around the UK who make their lifetime commitments vow to meditate for more than one hour each morning, but that’s not easy in the beginning. So to mark gradual progress a ceremony is held whenever members feel ready to make a specific commitment to 15, 30 or 45 minutes of chanting each morning. In Bristol, a Vaishnava Sankalpa ceremony was held for ten meditators who were making their commitments to between 1 and 16 rounds daily. They each performed a short puja before receiving a certificate, to the loud applause of the local members.

Training the Temple Managers
Bhaktivedanta Manor devotees attended interactive workshops co-ordinated by Sanjay Bhandari (Sandipani Muni Das).
The sessions focused on developing communications skills, goal setting and time management. Sanjay runs training workshops for the world’s leading financial organisations such as Barclays in London and Goldman Sachs in New York.
“We know in theory the qualities that were explored, but unpacking them for today’s sensibilities made a lot of usefuldifference,” said Caitanya Jivan Das. “It was great to spend time with colleagues and getting to learn deeper aspects of each other’s personalities,” added Brijlata Dasi.

Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:

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The post January 17th, 2015 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Bhaktivedanta Research Centre Mission for Manuscripts Team has been busy with their service at Navadwip Sadharan Granthagar (library), They are cataloging and digitizing manuscripts that have been neglected for many years, making them available for devotees and scholars in the future.
See more recent photos here: http://goo.gl/DYMpCk

The post Report on the Leaders’ Sanga by Lake Balaton and the Varnasram-dharma theme to which the conference is dedicated to appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.