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Scenes from Heathrow to Swansea
The lonely vaisnava
Kadamba Kanana Swami: I used to think,…
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The lonely vaisnava
Kadamba Kanana Swami: I used to think, before I came to Krsna consciousness, that now I would join a movement of very like-minded people and that I would feel very intimate friendship. Then, I was shocked to see that that person who I kind of detested for his views, he also had joined! (laughing)
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/F5FvR3
Udupi Krishna (Album 112 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The city of…
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Udupi Krishna (Album 112 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The city of Udupi is situated in the southwest state of Karnataka in India. It has a population of 165,000 people, but is filled with visiting pilgrims throughout the year. Devotees come specifically to take darsan of the beautiful deity of Krishna [ Udupi Krishna ] who was established by Sripad Madhvacarya in the 13th century. Udupi is the headquarters of the followers of Madhvacarya. ISKCON identifies with the personal philosophy expounded by Madhvacarya, calling ourselves part of the ‘Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya.’ Lord Caitanya visited Udupi during His travels in South India. During our 3 day visit we appreciated how Vedic culture is very much intact in Udupi and recommend it as a place devotees visit for Krsna conscious inspiration. Unfortunately, we did not get permission to take a photo of the deity of Udupi Krishna.
See them here: http://goo.gl/yxsuuD
Mantras, mantras and the Maha-mantra
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Kirtan evening in Cardiff.
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January 3rd, 2015 – Darshan
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As neophytes can’t understand tattva and rasa accurately, isn’t it better to consider Krishna-lila depictions as literal and not artistic?
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From Raja Parikshita Prabhu:
Answer Podcast:
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Won’t atheists use the concept of artistic license in depciting Krishna-lila to say that his supernatural pastimes are poetic exaggerations?
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From Raja Parikshita Prabhu:
Answer Podcast:
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Mangala Arati – 24.12.2014 Iskcon London
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Mangala Arati – 24.12.2014 Iskcon London
Prabhupada’s Vision for New Vrindaban: “Brijabasi Spirit” Defined
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“Agriculture and protecting cows, this is the main business of the residents of Vrindaban, and above all simply loving Krishna.” – Srila Prabhupada, July 1973.
Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Vanipedia website.
Prabhupada’s speciality
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For those who were serious of spiritual life, like an expert doctor, he clinically isolated the bad from the good. Prabhupada was not afraid to point out bogus philosophy, watered down vedanta, pure word jugglery and outright cheating. After clearing the dirt, Prabhupada injected pure organic vedanta as have been taught through the ages without adulteration. This style of presentation of God was actually a systematic scientific presentation found only in academia.
Prabhupada presented the topic of God with such clarity (distinguishing the fake from real), it was hard to find fault. The only way one can disagree was if one simply was not interested in the real message of God. Even today, so called spiritual gurus beat around the bush explaining the metaphysics of life. I don't think there will be anyone as clear as Prabhupada in explaining the science of God.
Hare Krishna
Gita 03.43 – Use intelligence to pursue transcendence and subdue lust
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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
HG Narottamananda Prabhu / SB 10.74.53
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Gita 03.42 – In the line of fire from lust the soul is the last
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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
Naked Feminine Hearts
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srasta-srasta niruddha-nīvi vilasad-gopī-sahasrāvṛtaṁ
Those flute vibrations loosen all tightly bound, dazzling skirts (and all bonds of ignorant infatuation with superficial glitter) which fall away to reveal thousands of splendid gopīs, who surround and smother him.
The key phrase in this line (line 3 of Krishna Karnamṛta, Verse 2) is निरुद्धनीवि (niruddha-nīvi) the nīvi is the more original style of dress that eventually evolved into the sārī. It’s a short skirt. Under Muslim influence, presumably, this became longer and longer and also covered the head (but at least still shows the belly button and face, unlike the Muslim burka). Indian girls used to wear nīvi and kanchuki (a cloth tied around the breasts). This evolved into sārī and sewn cholī (kanchuki is not sewn. It’s simply tied).
Bilvamaṅgal Kavirāja describes the gopīs in this attire. Generally gopīs are painted in this attire as well, although their nīvi are painted much longer than they probably should be. ISKCON artists sometimes paint gopīs in sārī. Artists and poets also depict the gopīs often wearing dupatti (top cloth) which is a third piece of cloth (essentially the saree fused the dupatti and neevi into a single garment).
Anyway, the literal meaning of nīvi is “tied-thing, tied-cloth.” So it allows the line to take dual-meaning. On one hand it means, “the skirts tied around the gopīs’ hips.” On the other hand it means, “the ignorance that binds the jīva (soul) to māyā (illusion).”
The direct meaning of the line appears when we take the direct meaning of nīvi as “skirt.” Then it means “Krishna’s flute makes a vibration that loosens the gopīs’ tightly bound skirts, and makes them fall off. This reveals their splendid beauty as they smother and cover Krishna.”
So Krishna is covered in two things, flower petals (line 1) and beautiful young girls!
Therefore we cannot approach him with male mentality. We must adopt a female identity and perspective, then we can participate. Otherwise we have to access some compromised version of this most primordial reality which BIlvamaṅgala Ṭhākur describes. The direct reality of the primordial absolute truth is only accessible through a feminine perspective.
The male mentality is niruddha-nīvi – a very tight bondage. It is the tight bondage of attraction to vilasat, the sparkle and glitter of external objects which seem to be feminine (i.e. sources of happiness and pleasure). [psychologically, “male” means enjoyer of pleasure and happiness, while “female” means origin of happiness and pleasure. The male mentality is an imposition on the original nature of the spiritual entity, “soul.”].
If we listen to the sound of Krishna’s flute, this male mentality which keeps our soul tied as a hostage to māyā will loosen and fall away. Then we will be anāvṛtam / avṛtam (un-eclipsed) in our true spiritual nature, which is patently feminine through and through by design. At that time we will be able to join this incredibly primevally blissful, decadent, joyful scene as a gopī smothering Krishna in joy.
But how can we listen to the sound of Krishna’s flute?
The flute was described in the previous line as the prastuta of the vastu. The vastu is Krishna, and the prastu is the thing that is integrally proximate to the vastu. In short, the flute is an integral part of Krishna, like a limb is part of a body. Therefore the flute sound is within the Hare Krishna mahāmantra, which is non-different from the vastu Krishna. Therefore we must listen for the flute vibration within the name and the name-mantra.
It is also noted that the flute sound is present in the klīṁ kṛṣṇāya govindāya… mantra, upon which we should carefully meditate.
It is also understood from Brahmā-saṁhita and Bhāgavatam that Brahma chanted this very mantra (klīṁ kṛṣṇāya…) and eventually heard the flute-sound in it, which filled him with knowledge, which he later put into words as the veda, which in its most mature, ripe form is Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.
So listening deeply to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and hearing deeply the holy name in meditation and in kīrtan… this is how to listen to the sound of Krishna’s flute. These sound vibrations will untie our souls bound in the false, perverse gender-abnormality of masculine psychology (female embodied persons are only slightly less immersed in the masculine mental psychology), and allow us to exist in true spiritual form as a participant in Krishna’s absolute, original, primeval festival of wanton bliss, from the perspective of a nīvi-kanchuki tying (and retying and retying) gopī.
Hari bol.

Lecture – SB 1.15.47-48 Attraction to a Dead Goat’s Beard
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SB 01.15.47-48 Attraction to a Dead Goat’s Beard 2013-02-10
Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 1.15.47-48 Attraction to a Dead Goat’s Beard 2013-02-10
By pure consciousness due to constant devotional remembrance, one attains the spiritual sky, which is ruled over by the Supreme Lord Krishna. External Pastimes
Prahladananda Swami en conferencia sobre Ayur Veda
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Lecture – SB 1.15.46 Analysis of Bhagavad Gita 7.15-16
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SB 01.15.46 Analysis of Bhagavad Gita 7.15-16 2013-02-09 (Cows, Vegan)
Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 1.15.46 Analysis of Bhagavad Gita 7.15-16 2013-02-09
Melbourne: Happiness of being Brahman realized multiplied by billions of times is nowhere close to even a drop of happiness derived from ocean of devotional service. Your own special private hell
Vaisyas naradhama seem to have Culture
Mayaparitya jñ?n? Kshatriyas
Krsna conscious theory
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, October 2014, Mayapur, India, Siksastakam Seminar: Verses 1&2, Part 1)
I have a story of my spiritual master, Jayadvaita Swami. He comes up with good titles of seminars and he came up with the title: The hopes and horrors of household life. Even before the seminar, there was a storm of discussion and people were saying all kinds of things, “The hopes and horrors of household life – what does he know about it? He has never been married. Why doesn’t he speak of the hopes and horrors of sannyasa!” There were all kinds of comments going around. So it was a good title as it got people going even before the seminar started.
I was supposed to go to the first session but I got stuck in traffic somewhere, so I was late and I missed it. I just arrived as people came out of the room. There was someone else who had also missed it and he asked another devotee, “So, how was it?”
The devotee said, “Oh, it was all theoretical, just quotes from the scriptures!” I thought that was such an amazing statement, really, because when the quotes from the scriptures are just theoretical it means that you are not following the scripture! I mean, when you live by the scripture, it is not theoretical anymore, then it becomes realised and it becomes very relevant… as simple as that!
This Will Protect You
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Letter to Sudhindra Kisora Raya - 10th June, 1975
Tuesday, December 30th, 2014
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Monday, December 29th, 2014
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Sunday, December 28th, 2014
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Saturday, December 27th, 2014
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Friday, December 26th, 2014
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Thursday, December 25th, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
A Reflective Track
Squirrels. They’re all over the place, scurrying about, digging from earth storage of nuts and other concealed treats. On ground or tree level, they’re making an incredible appearance, a response to mild weather, I guess.
It’s features of nature like this that make the day complete. Just one little guy perched on a branch at eye level became a mere reminder for me of the glory of anti-urbanization, because during my outdoor ventures through concrete zones, I am provided with a break. “Thanks little fella,” I pensed, “you just brought me closer to Krishna with your jerky tail and animated loveliness.”
When looking at concrete and doing some building gazing, it just doesn’t do the same for a person when compared to being in a pastoral presence. I’m grateful for green, or even brown spaces in the city that reflect a gentler world. I pass through Allan Gardens and also ambled along through Jarvis Street which has this unique blend of Victorian stateliness, and glass modernity. It still doesn’t beat seeing the community of the black bushy chaps. I can always appreciate the artistry of man, but it never measures up to the creativity of the natural world’s artist.
On my return journey from a satsang at the home of a sweet Bangladeshi household, other ashram dwellers had joined me, retracing steps through brick and bark regions. I’m of the opinion that no one should remain in one building or machine all day. Life can be more reciprocal than that. Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, walked through beach and through park in this town in the 70’s, so I’ll always bear in mind the good fortune of being on a reflective track as he had done.
May the Source be with you!
8 KM
Join us with your family & friends for this Sunday, January 4th,2015 from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Hear and associate with His Grace Vaishnava Dasa
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ISKCON Scarborough – Recently uploaded videos
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Bhagavatam-daily 78 – 11.07.68 – In scriptural study focus on practical application, not historical precision
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Bhagavatam-daily podcast:
GITA COACHING INTERVIEW BY A STUDENT
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New Year Kirtan Mela 2015, Iskcon Los Angeles (Album 125 HR…
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New Year Kirtan Mela 2015, Iskcon Los Angeles (Album 125 HR photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The difference between a devotee and a nondevotee is this, just like the bee and the fly: the bee always is attracted by the honey and flies go to the open sores. So the devotee is only attracted by the good qualities in other people and does not see their faults. Letter to Badrinarayana, November 7, 1971.
See them here: http://goo.gl/ERLHFd
Gita 03.41 – Regulation is the foundation for purification
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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
Gita 03.40 – Lust has taken over our knowledge-acquiring mechanism
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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
Gita 03.39 – The eternal enemy blinds, binds and burns
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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
Those spare 10 minutes I have during the day
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Preachers living in ISKCON temples follow this advice daily. They rise early and gather for maṅgala-ārati before the temple Deities, chant kīrtana and japa, hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam class, and honor prasādam in the association of devotees. Strengthened by this morning program, they go out to preach in the most materialistic places in the world, offering people a chance to receive Krishna’s mercy in the form of literature, prasādam, or hari-nāma. In the early evening the preachers return to the temple for more chanting and hearing. While they are with the nondevotees, they do not compromise their devotional principles, and thus they keep their hearts aloof from the modes of material nature and bad association.
Narada Bhakti Sutra 3-45
I was reflecting back on my year and noticed how much easier devotional life is whilst stopping at the temple, even my 16 rounds are usually completed before 4-30 and their is always time to read and discuss Srimad Bhagavatam with the many inspirational devotees.
However a majority of my time is spent outside of the temple, the work devotional duties become a fine balance especially when looking at japa and reading/hearing from both the Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam
This got me thinking and analysing my day, and how I use my time is it productive and wise?
My thoughts turned to this and it was something I discussed during my last stay at The Manor, in the day their is always a few spare 10minutes either waiting for one thing or another. How am I spending this time?
It occurred to me in this small 10 minute break I could do one steady unrushed round of Japa and one complete verse including purport of a chosen scripture; the smart phone also allows me access to HH Sivarama Swami’s podcast which is always short and inspirational, or to read a small article written by one of our amazing devotees either using the link on planetiskcon or dandavats.com.
Many devotees like myself who spend a long time outside of direct association use social media, it is wonderful so many images of Sri Krishna and postings of devotee activities but be careful if your like me it could easily distract
Each of these spare 5 or 10 minutes soon add up, used wisely I noticed an increase which also meant a more joyful productive day.
As Srila Prabhupada said “Don’t waste time chant Hare Krishna”
It occurred to me I have been a first class fool misusing these precious 10 minutes studying the inside of my eyelid’s, so that’s my New Years resolution right their to not waste time and make the most of these spare 10 minute’s.
May be you may want to join me after all what’s 10 minutes in your day, it too will make a difference in your day.
Hare Krishna
Should conversions be banned in India?
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Goura Vrindavana, Brazil (Album 120 photos)
Half way between Sao…
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Goura Vrindavana, Brazil (Album 120 photos)
Half way between Sao Paulo & Rio there is a beautiful farm of 800 hectares of Atlantic Rain Forest.
See them here: http://goo.gl/NmFo6x
Village preaching with Harinam kirtan in Farrukhabad…
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Village preaching with Harinam kirtan in Farrukhabad UttarPradesh (Album 9 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one renders even a small amount of sincere devotional service, Krishna becomes obliged to elevate such person; and what to speak of one whose entire life and soul has been dedicated to Krishna’s service. Letter to Harer Nama, November 6, 1969.
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New Year Kirtan Program in Dubai (Album 74 photos)
Srila…
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New Year Kirtan Program in Dubai (Album 74 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Although materialists who are addicted to experimental knowledge and the so-called “scientific method” cannot place their faith in the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, it is a fact that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra offenselessly one can be freed from all subtle and gross material conditions. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.74 Purport)
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The miracle of the holy name – kirtan evening in Swansea
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Vraja Parikrama (Album 250 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord…
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Vraja Parikrama (Album 250 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya’s spiritual master instructed Him that one must read Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly and with scrutiny to gradually become attached to the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.73 Purport)
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Sat-tila
Appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu
Indian Classical Dance Classes