Planet ISKCON

A homeless man in Preston, England helped a college student at 3am in the morning with her taxi fare so she can get home safely. The homeless person gave all the money he had with him at that time - about four pounds. The gal reached home safely and immensely touched by his selfless act is trying to do something in return. The full story can be read here.

How many of us will be willing to give "everything" we possess to a complete stranger? The man had no possessions except for few pounds and he apparently donated everything to the girl so she can reach home safely. Also the homeless man did not give any further contact details so it was all in all a selfless act of compassion to a complete stranger.

According to the Bhagavad Gita (17.20), Krishna says "Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness". I think this incident fits all of the criteria for charity in the mode of goodness. It is the duty of humans to help fellow humans and the charity was done with no expectation or return to protect the girl from danger as it was in the wee hours of the night.

As devotees of the Lord, we should practice good samaritanism at the mundane level whenever the opportunity arises, but the greatest charity is to practice transcendental samaritanism. This greatest charity is to awaken the souls from their deep slumber of maya or illusion of materialism. Many devotees during this time engage in distributing books to strangers, undergo difficulties, somehow convince people to take a book and ask for donation. It is by no means easy as sometimes we invite the wrath of the people. However, despite the wrath and inconvenience, devotees persist on "reawakening" a sleeping soul.

This charity in one way is like the homeless person story, except this time the taxi will not take you to a temporary apartment, but a transcendental taxi that will take you back home back to Godhead where every walk is a dance and every word is a song! How much more should the book distributors and their charity be glorified! All glories to the book distributors!

Hare Krishna

1968 December 18: "You have got a nice temple by the grace of my Spiritual Master. You should always pray to His Divine Grace because generally one is more affectionate to the grandchildren so naturally He will be more affectionate to you than to me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 December 18: "I am very encouraged to see your enthusiasm for preaching. Everyone is good, everyone is spirit soul but they have been mislead. Try to save them. That is our duty."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 December 18: "Our centers are meant to give relief to the dried up conditioned souls searching after the nectar of joyful life. So I request you all to flood the world with Krishna Conscious centers. The more we open branches, the more I feel encouraged."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 December 18: "As GBC member you must always keep yourself pure and in this way your preaching work will take effect. Others are also speaking but their speech has no effect because they are not following. Always maintain Sankirtana Party, prasadam, chant sixteen rounds and read all our literatures."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1974 December 18: "If there are Krsna Conscious leaders in government they will act as Krsna's representatives. At the present moment there is nothing but great calamity. By injecting Krsna Consciousness into the masses we can change this situation greatly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 December 18: "In America there is very good system of democracy. They were able to get down this Nixon. So if we can simply convince a good majority of persons then automatically they will want a Krsna Conscious leader."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 December 18: "The United States is the most fertile preaching ground in the world. If somehow or other we can convince the majority of the American population to take to Krsna Consciousness then the whole world will become Krsna Conscious. This is a fact."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 December 18: "I do not know how you are selling so many books. There is no instance in history where religious books were sold with such enthusiasm and success. Is there any such history?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

ISKCON Communications Prepares for 50th Anniversary, Seeks Funds for Next Phase
As it prepares to play a major role in creating awareness for ISKCON’s upcoming 50th anniversary in 2016, the ISKCON Communications Ministry (IC) is looking back on decades of relationship-building and gaining support for Srila Prabhupada’s society. Meanwhile, it’s also seeking funds to ensure an even more effective next fifty years. It was really ISKCON Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada himself who started ISKCON Communications. Always looking for opportunities to meet with government officials, media representatives, religious leaders, scholars, and opinion-makers like the Beatles, Prabhupada sought ways to help them understand Krishna consciousness, support the movement, and thus improve its worldwide reputation.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/jRz4Oo

Krishna Consciousness Grows in South Korea
Krishna consciousness continues to spread in one of the last frontiers, South Korea, with Patanjali Muni Das and Prayojana Das recently returning from their third tour of the East Asian country. Former Korean army officer Patanjali Muni spent three years living and teaching Krishna consciousness in his native country in the mid 2000s, and has translated both the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and the Sri Isopanisad for the Korean audience. Today, he works as the kitchen manager in the U.K.’s Bhaktivedanta Manor, but has toured South Korea with his spiritual message for two weeks each in 2011, 2012, and 2014. Retired aircraft engineer and temple commander Prayojana Das assisted him each time.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/fEUY2v

US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard visits India and talks about Bhagavad gita and Bhakti (18 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Devotional service begins with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra and side by side trying to understand Krishna in truth. Unfortunately those who are simply official students of the Vedas become more interested in offering sacrifices to the different demigods, like Indra and Candra. (Bhagavad-gita, 9.20 Purport)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/U2ipaj

The post December 18th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast:

Download by "right-click and save content"

Tulsi Gabbard, the only Hindu member of the US Congress visits India for the first time. In an interview Tulsi speaks about her life as a Krishna devotee. 

Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast:

Download by "right-click and save content"

The post Srila Prabhupada says that although we are not qualified to serve Krsna, if we make a humble attempt to do so, then we become qualified appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Do we find ourselves, needlessly dwelling on negative situations for long periods of time, unable to detach ourselves from our thoughts? This is a problem shared by all of humanity. The mind is an equal opportunity misery provider.

Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast:

Download by "right-click and save content"

An ad using a Hare Krishna devotee :-) (1 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Although the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is powerful in itself, a disciple upon initiation receives the mantra from his spiritual master, for when the mantra is chanted by the spiritual master, it becomes more powerful.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.32 Purport)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/pa9BpY

As it prepares to play a major role in creating awareness for ISKCON’s upcoming 50^th anniversary in 2016, the ISKCON Communications Ministry (IC) is looking back on decades of relationship-building and gaining support for Srila Prabhupada’s society. Meanwhile, it’s also seeking funds to ensure an even more effective next fifty years.

"Jingle Bells": Merry Nickmas In Bhangra Indian Style.

A visit to Iskcon Auckland, New Zealand (Album 27 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By the grace of the Lord, if a devotee, at the time of death, can simply chant Hare Krishna, he immediately surpasses the great ocean of the material sky and enters into the spiritual sky. He never has to come back for repetition of birth and death. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.10.30 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/ZHd3SE

Julia Roberts, Harrison Ford, Kevin Spacey, Edward Norton, Penélope Cruz, Robert Redford and Ian Somerhalder all join forces to give nature a voice. A short film series by Conservation International.

This Christmas, Soho creative agency Mr.President have collaborated with the Radha Krishna Temple to produce a Christmas album like no other: ‘We Wish You a Merry Krishna’.

An armed man took 17 hostages in a cafe in Sydney's central business district on Monday. Three people, two hostages as well as the gunman died in the incident. Sydnyers are coming to terms with the tragic loss of life during the Lindt Cafe siege on Tuesday, by adding to a rapidly expanding floral tribute in Martin Place. To help the healing process ISKCON devotees led by Indradyumna Swami have been chanting and doing Harinama nearby. 

Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast:

Download by "right-click and save content"

United In Prayer (Album 142 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: In solidarity with the people of Sydney, who were slowly coming to terms with the recent hostage siege downtown at Martin Place, we took our harinam party to the streets to give them solace and relief from the grief they were feeling. Our sign, “United in Prayer For Those We’ve Lost,” was greatly appreciated by the people, but so was our joyful singing and dancing, which brought a sense of relief and closure to the ordeal they’d experienced. People slowly began smiling again. We sold a number books that day as many sought answers to questions that often come up during tragedies.
See them here: http://goo.gl/RkgLcn

Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast:

Download by "right-click and save content"

This week’s challenge: Who is this happy young couple?

Bonus challenge: What’s the celebration, where are they and what was the year?

What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook page.

Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast:

Download by "right-click and save content"

Gita verse-by-verse Study Podcast:

Download by "right-click and save content"

"The brahma-muhurta hour is the most important time in the day, and you want to be awake for good chanting. If you’re heavy-lidded, there’s not much you can do but wash your face, grit your teeth, and do the best you can do. Don't give in to sleepiness. The regulated life of a full night's sleep is important."

From Japa Transformations
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

True brotherhood can be found when I see that my brother, who is different, is really trying to do something wonderful, and it is found when everyone tries to do something wonderful, something selfless. This is only possible through a spiritual solution.