Planet ISKCON

At the Laguna Beach Ratha-yatra, a young man asked me why God created us. He appreciated my answer, but then he had another question. “If God is all-knowing,” he said, “He would have known that some of us would become bad, and if God is all-powerful, He could have made us different. Why didn’t He?” I told him that because God created us to enjoy loving reciprocation with Him, we must have free will, because love is voluntary. As Srila Prabhupada explained, “It is not some mechanical process—if we force in such a way they will come out like this—no. We are persons, and Krishna is a person, and our relationship with Krishna He leaves open as a voluntary agreement always, and that voluntary attitude—‘Yes, Krishna, I shall gladly co-operate, whatever You say’—that ready willingness to obey is only possible if there is love. Forcing will not make me agree. But if there is love, oh, I shall gladly do it. That is bhakti, that is Krishna consciousness.”

On another occasion, Srila Prabhupada elaborated: “God is great, and we are dependent on God. Therefore the natural conclusion is that we have to serve God. This is the whole comment. Serving means with love. Now just like these boys, my disciples, they are serving me. Whatever I say, they are immediately executing. Why? I am an Indian; I am a foreigner. Two or three years ago I was not known to them, nor they were known to me. Why they are doing that? Because it is love. Serving means developing love. So unless you develop your love for God you cannot serve Him. Anywhere. Whenever you give some service, it is based on love. Just like mother giving service to the helpless child. Why? Love. So similarly, our life will be perfect when our love is perfect with the perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then it is all right. You have to learn this. This is Krishna consciousness: in a relationship with Krishna. Just like I am loving my disciples, my disciples are loving me. Why? What is the medium? Krishna.”

And again, in a lecture in Bombay: “Brahmacari means living under direction of guru, guror hitam [only for the benefit of the guru]. And guror hitam: how he can be simply thinking of benefiting the spiritual master. Unless that position comes, nobody can serve guru. It is not an artificial thing. The brahmacari, the disciple, must have genuine love for guru. Then he can be under his control.”

Why didn’t God force us to be good? Because without free will, without individuality, we would be unable to enjoy loving reciprocation with Him. And without pure, spiritual love, how would we ever experience the happiness for which we were created?

—Giriraj Swami

Guru, in sanskrit literally means heavy - heavy in their instructions to bonded souls, and heavy in that the guru does not budge away from the Lotus feet of Krishna.

When the guru speaks words which cut though our falsities of this world, that feeling is not very satisfying to the heart. But a person who is sincerely seeking the truth will acknowledge his unpleasant feeling and transform his heart. A person who is not sincere in order to avoid unpleasantness will brush those heavy words aside and continue with his ways. Such unfortunate people can never understand God no matter how much they chant, study scriptures, visit Holy places and or perform charity. What to speak of those who take shelter of false gurus?

I come across people many times who think Krishna consciousness is not practical, or only practical up to a certain level. Such people most likely approach Krishna for punya karma, morality or spiritual entertainment. Deep inside their hearts, they do not have the desire to give up their independent thinking and independent desires. Such people can never understand God!

Therefore the only way, one can understand God and be God conscious is to accept the heavy words of guru whole-heartedly without speculation and have faith that these heavy instructions can be followed at all times regardless of time and circumstance. The faith to follow instructions without deviation can be cultivated gradually over time by the sincere aspirant of the truth.

Srila Prabhupada is one such guru with heavy words and is one such disciple who emulated guru bhakti to the world without deviation. Below is an example of his heaviness in terms of instructions to his disciples. A sincere soul will be delighted to hear such instructions where as a frivolous soul will feel sadness reading it.

In a place made for misery, he told us, only the rascals try to make adjustments for peace by material arrangements. "They are mudha. It is not possible. Krsna has made it suffering. How you can become happy here? But these rascals will not understand. Within the suffering they will try to become happy. That is not possible. The toilet room he wants to make a Deity room. How it is possible? That is not possible. Therefore we should be careful not to make a friendship with our restless mind. Rather, it should be beaten with shoes and a broomstick and kept under control. - Srila Prabhupada- From "A Transcendental Diary Vol 5" by HG Hari Sauri Prabhu

For an untrained person, these words would be offensive. Prabhupada is comparing this world to a toilet and people who are trying to be happy in this world as rascals and mudhas (fools). Toilet, rascal and fool is not politically correct by modern day standards. If this world is a toilet, then all things of this world we consider sacred mainly wife, husband, children, relatives, money, house, job etc are also toilet.

Toilet means two things. (1) it is a place to shed our dirty nature (2) it is a stop gap place - finish your business and leave. So in that sense, this world, relationships and possessions are considered an impurity as it is materialistic and also temporary. In such a temporary material setting, what is the business of a pure spiritual being? From the vantage point of the pure spirit soul, he should finish (rather give up) his material business and depart to the eternal spiritual world where there is no misery.

So yes, on the surface Prabhupada's words can be heavy but an intelligent person will dig deeper to find the meaning behind his compassionate words. Such a sincere individual will take shelter of that compassion, will follow the instructions of Prabhupada, will achieve liberation from the shackles material bondage and eventually meet Krishna face to face.

This is the only way - there is no other way!

Hare Krishna

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year.

Sri Sri Radha 15th Rasesvara Anniversary (Album 53 photos)
15th Anniversary of the Sri Sri Radha Rasesvara Ashram in Bali, Indonesia
http://goo.gl/oGZRPu

An original copy of Srila Bhaksiddhanta Sarawati Thakur’s “The Nadia Prakash”, His daily spiritual newspaper that was printed from 1927-1942. Sundaranand Vidyabinod prabhu, His secretary, had kept them nicely as part of his personal collection. Years later, they were entrusted to BRC and properly preserved and bound so that future generations may be able to appreciate and remember this remarkable service achievement of the Guru Varga.
http://goo.gl/yZ93WI

So sweet,so sweet,Lord Jagannath lotus feet (Album 28 photos)
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)
http://goo.gl/Q1ktwS

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Kirtan Mela Malaysia 2014

The post November 26th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The post Mayapura kirtan on November 22nd appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

- Devamrta, Niranjana and Sivarama Swamis.

The post Cc Adi-lila 4 Reading and discussion (Part 2) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Realization is Manifested Through Humility and Devotion
We have the highest, most intimate and confidential of all knowledge in the Vedas in the Srimad Bhāgavatam, which is how we are not this body. We should give up the bodily concept of life. Of course, we read the beautiful pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna also. But when we come to this highest knowledge of body and soul, we want to skip through this because we already have heard it so many times. We want new tastes, new nectar, we want the juice of newer and newer subject matter of the scriptures. We feel we already know this and have heard it many times, now we want to hear something else. But the problem is we do not know.
http://goo.gl/6N7HOJ

Copter to ferry pilgrims for Panchkoshi ‘parikrama’ in Vrindavana!
A helicopter service will be launched on December 4 to ferry pilgrims on a ” parikrama” (circle) of the holy town in just eight minutes. The Agra-based Jet Star Charter and Helicopter Services will use the helipad developed for President Pranab Mukherjee when he visited Vrindavan to lay the foundation stone of the world’s tallest Sri Krishna temple on the Akshay Patra campus.
Meanwhile, residents besides “pandas” and conservationists are unhappy with the moves being made to “‘urbanize” Vrindavan. “Neither the move to make Vrindavan a tourist spot nor to change its original rustic flavour will succeed. The fervor of visiting temples cannot be matched with an aerial view. The numerous saints and ascetics living in Braj mandal are not too happy with move to modernize the traditional landscape of the holy town,”
http://goo.gl/oxYIzE

Surely the happiest Balinese style sweet bhajan you have ever watched by the blissful vaishnavas of ISKCON SAKKHI Indonesia (8 min video)
http://goo.gl/EqlnjU

Motherhood Lessons from Yashoda Mayi (7 min video)
Mother Yashoda was always present for her child Lord Krishna and personally took care of all his needs. She is an inspiration for us to follow in our mothering journey to raise Krsna Conscious children. There are various detrimental effects of a mother who maybe physically or emotionally unavailable for her children. We pray that we can follow Mother Yashoda’s footsteps and nurture healthy and spiritually sound individuals.
http://goo.gl/0PNsCw

Meet the future pure devotees presently under training in Iskcon’s Sri Mayapur International School (Album 22 photos)
Vaishnavas do not require to practice any yogic power to become materially powerful. Simply his surrender to Krishna makes him all-powerful. That is the position of Vaishnava. Vrindavan, August 4, 1974.
http://goo.gl/syYYCZ

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Kirtan Mela Malaysia 2014

"By chanting carefully, you get the strength to follow the orders of your spiritual master, as you associate with Krsna’s name. But we know that if you associate without offense, it is much more effective. Following the four rules and living in devotional service assures you of avoiding the ten offenses."

From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 June 2014, Stockholm, Sweden, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 22.75)

If sometimes, we feel a little dry in our Krsna consciousness – if sometimes we feel that chanting is good but difficult, if we feel like reading but we fall asleep, if we just feel, “What to do now?” then let us just preach. But – preach boldly! Not just give them a book but, reach out to them.

It was amazing – devotees would just go anywhere, in any situation. They would wait next to a flat which had an intercom system. They would stand next to the intercom and just when the door of the flat opens and someone comes out, they would say, “Oh it is okay, the door is already open!” to the speaker and just walk in. So many tricks! Somehow or other – bold, BOLD!

One devotee just walked in like that into the flat of a student of literature; that’s right, a student of literature! He was studying; his whole life was books and books.

The devotee walked in and said, “I have some books…”

The student said, “Books! Books! You have books!?”

“Yeah!”

So, devotees have a nose for these things. He did not show him just the one book but the full set; he sold him the full set! Now that person, that student, has become one of the head production managers of one of our BBTs. It had to happen. Books, books, books! So, if somehow or other we penetrate into people’s lives then miracles will happen for them and for us.

 

Music - MC Yogi: www.mcyogi.com. Dance & Choreography - Vrinda Sheth. Directed by Rasa Acharya Partin & Little Sky Film.

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

Does Religion Cause War? (24 min video)
HH Jayadvaita Swami answers to the question we have probably all faced on occasions whether religion is the main cause of war, with the suggestion being made that the world would be a much more peaceful place if only there was no religion.
http://goo.gl/Ie3tgT

Below is a video of a Western devotee speaking in Tamil and distributing books to pilgrims at Kattaragama, the lagest religious gathering in Sri Lanka. This year more then 1.500.000 people attended the festival. Disciples of HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami were distributing books continuously for ten days (24h par day) in day and night shifts. On the last day they performed Nagara Sankirtan in front of 200.000 people. Majority of the pilgrims were Buddhists therefore the mercy of Lord Caitanya and the previous Acharyas was just indescribable.
http://goo.gl/qgn0n0

ISKCON-London’s 45th Anniversary Celebrations (Album 91 photos)
Odana Sasthi, the date on the Vedic calendar on which the original
installation took place, falls on Thursday 27th November this year.
A further celebration will take place at the ISKCON-London Radha-
Krishna temple on that date.
http://goo.gl/JgdsNb

Historical photos from New Govardhana, Australia (Album 36 photos)
The Krishna consciousness movement supplies materially stricken people with the medicine of the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and the diet of prasadam. The centres of the Krishna consciousness movement are the only established hospitals that can cure man of birth, death, old age and disease. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 10.51 Purport)
http://goo.gl/ZVFeKB

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Kirtan Mela Malaysia 2014

In Focus: Go Govardhana Girls!
By Mandakini devi dasi For the very fist tie in the history of New Govardhana, Australia, an offial women’s ashrama is rapidly unfolding. Ajita dasa has given his consent for the transformatin of the top guest house into a women’s ashrama, thanks to Padma devi dasi, who moved on to the farm a couple of months ago. Padma is organising the ashrama, delegatig mentors for the girls and generally overseeing the project. With impressive qualifiatins, Padma is more than up for the task. The fldgling ashrama, which is almost at full capacity, is soon to take in more aspiring devotees including bhakties from the WWOOFer program. We now have bhakties and brahmacharinis also coming to New Govardhana from other ISKCON centres. The ashrama girls have a plethora of services, including temple dutis; cooking; bhajanas; cultural actiitis; and garland-making. Notably, the girls were especially busy serving guests and VIPs during the recent retreats and festials. A training program to learn how to preach is also under way. Padma’s aspiratin is to help create a pleasant Krishna conscious environment for her spirited charges. The girls are enthusiastially coming on board and currently joining forces to organise their new ashrama.
http://goo.gl/5Dl3Dj

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Kirtan Mela Malaysia 2014

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Kirtan Mela Malaysia 2014

BY SJMKL YOUTH

KUALA LUMPUR - This time around we are just going to get to the heart of it all, time to experience something different with a new flavour with a person all the way from Zagreb, Croatia with Ojasvi Dasa. We will decode ourselves through a new genre of sound: KIRTAN

The Mayor of Tweed Shire, Cr. Gary Bagnall
Tweed Shire is a local government area located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia.
Gary and wife, Linley, have operated the New Leaf vegetarian restaurant in Main Street for 12 years. Linley has been a vegetarian all her life, and Gary for the last 35 years. The couple’s sons, William, 17, and James, 13, were both raised as vegetarians, and count many young devotees among their circle of friends.
Eight years ago, Gary requested devotees travelling to India to bring back Deitis for the restaurant, along with ‘costumes’. Sri Sri Gaura Nitai appeared, and the daily offrings began.
http://goo.gl/aT40XD

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Kirtan Mela Malaysia 2014

The post November 25th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

BY JIVANANDA CAITANYA DASA

nama cintamanih krishnas
caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh

The holy name of Krishna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krishna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krishna's name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krishna Himself. Since Krishna's name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krishna's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material.

Deity worship and cooking classes for the students of Mayaur Academy (Album 18 photos)
“Oh Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from My eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in your absence.” This is the perfectional stage of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra.
(Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.51 Purport)
http://goo.gl/X4CvQm