Planet ISKCON

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

We live in an age that that cherishes equality of opportunity for all and celebrates the breaking down of barriers such as race. Intriguingly, a similar egalitarian spirit is enshrined in the Bhagavad-gita written millennia ago.

For many years, health researchers have been interested in the potential of copper to help stem the spread of dangerous infections.

A chronic lack of sleep not only affects your work, your relationships, and your enjoyment of life, it also wreaks havoc with your immune system.

he Krishna Kidz Camp has grown from 25 kids to over 100 as word spreads about the fun and exciting immersion into Krishna-consciousness during this four-day camp. The camp is filled with energy and excitement as these wonderful children begin to experience the spiritual bliss of learning about Lord Krishna.

With temperatures expected to fall below freezing in less than two weeks, getting the new shelter for Ukrainian devotee refugees up in double-quick time is more urgent than ever. The ten-room shelter, which is going up just outside of Kiev, will include a communal kitchen and a sawdust-fueled boiler for cost-effective heating and hot water. The property will also have four wells for water and septic.

The Seattle ISKCON temple is a happening place. When someone enters on a Friday or Saturday, it feels like a Sunday feast.  The classrooms are filled with teachers presenting a successful seminar called Discover Yourself, a crash course on the Bhagavad Gita that wets their appetite to delve deeper into the ancient wisdom of Lord Krishna. In the main temple hall there is a Bhagavad-gita class for curious visitors. 

“Prasadarians” is a prime example of just how powerful Facebook can be when used in the right way. Started by Mexican devotee Mahattama Dasi in 2012 when she was in remission from cancer and looking for a service she could do from home, it immediately exploded into a hugely popular group of 7,000 members, all sharing beautiful photos of food offerings (prasadam) to their Deities, along with recipes and stories.

Toronto, Ontario

The Bloor Walk


A drizzle did not restrict me from walking on Bloor Street West this night.  This street is always vibrant with young folks who infuse the area which is the location of the largest university in Canada.

I caught a glimpse of some people at tryouts at a dance academy.  I peeked through the window at the dance studio and it looked like guys and gals at salsa.  Somehow or other that visual helped me to see in my mind’s eye Krishna’s dalliance with the cowherd maidens, a function of His in a world far beyond Bloor.

Christmas décor and trinkets for sale are starting to creep up in window displays and shop shelves.  I’ve been a scoffer at the Yuletide event for years.  I’m fond of Jesus, but the mundane nature of Christmas in current times leaves one to wonder.  I’m reminded of the cynical comedic take on Christmas from a CD delivered to me recently, it makes me crack up to hear it.

Ekendra, the vocalist and music composer behind the piece called “Christmas Is Not On Vaishnava Calendar” actually pokes fun at Krishna culture as a fanatical Krishna monk named Yama Niyama Das Brahmachari, Ekendra’s lineup of tracks features songs like, “Simply Hell” to the likes of Jingle Bells, and “Santa Claus is Coming To Town” parallels “Yamaraja (the lord of death) Is Coming To Town”.  For more info: www.youareinmaya.com

It’s always therapeutic to laugh at yourself and your own community, which like any, has its own in-house quirky habits.  On my return stretch on the walk on Bloor, I reflected on how our ashram crew delighted in listening to it at the tail end of our Bhagavatam class. 

Down Prince Arthur I went, and passed by a high-rise where an acquaintance had thrown herself from her balcony some years back.  She did not survive.  When I walk on this street, in particularly past that building, I do so in the spirit of deeper contemplation on the fragility of this world. 

I also passed by Lee’s Palace, rock concert hall/dance club, I recall seeing the punk straight edge band, Shelter.  Those guys were in their prime in the 90’s and in the turn of the millennium.  I might be the first monk to have stepped into that place.  I was there to give support, of course, to their show.  The boys are good human beings, good devotees.  Still practicing Krishna Consciousness to my knowledge. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Toronto, Ontario

People Walking
 
I could not help but notice a potpourri of people as I stepped southbound on Yonge Street this evening.  It left impressions of people who stood out.
 
The first person: a young man - head protruding forward, not disabled, just bad posture.  Curved bangs for his hair reached the eyebrows He looked sad.
 
The second person: looking chipper, confident stride in his walk. Tall, big boned and head was swaying from side to side. His smile also went from side to side. At the same time, self-absorbed because when I nodded to him, no response.
 
The third person: tall fellow, bespeckled. Noticed me and said, "Yeah!"  Head was tilted. He was puffing on a cigarette. Face expressed beatitude.
 
The fourth person: short, bald man in his seventies (my guess), looked with utmost caution at both sides of the street for oncoming vehicles. Had a slight limp to his walk as he crossed the street.
 
The fifth and sixth: two towering thin chaps with hair gelled upward. Holding hands. Same sex, but are spirit souls. I am not judging them.
 
The seventh: a petite young woman, dark skinned in dark tight attire. Sexy demeanor. She is a spirit soul too.
 
The eighth: a man with large head, somewhat distorted, perhaps homeless. Made me think of Charles Laughton's rendition of both "The Hunchback of Notre of Dame". I remember the film when I was a child. His acting was damn good.
 
The ninth: a young student of UT from India. At peace with himself. Happy to see me. We met before at the ashram. Feeling was mutual. He took my advice to keep coming, keep chanting, keep in the good association of renunciants and devotional people. His name? Nanda Kumar.
 
"Like Krishna" he said of his name. We parted.  Glad to see him and all the people walking.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
7 KM

HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj visits ISKCON Delhi: 07-11-2014
(Album 32 photos)
http://goo.gl/0Du2kK

The post Candramauli Swami’s talk on Srimad-Bhavatam at a public program in Coimbatore 6th November appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Sivarama Swami’s talk on Srimad-Bhavatam at a public program in Coimbatore 6th November appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

How our determination to attain Krsna, our performance of sadhana and our vows should be as fixed as lines in stone.

The post From the Kanya-kumaris we can learn appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Amazing aerial view of Govardhana and Radhakunda (Album 71 photos) By Prananatha Das and his flying “drone”
http://goo.gl/5c5zOz

October 2014 Photos and Updates from the wonderful Radhakunda Seva team (Album 66 photos)
Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com. Your servants, Mayapurcandra dasa, Campakalata Devi dasi, and Padmavati Devi dasi
http://goo.gl/PVuaWg.

Preaching in Athens, Greece (Album 6 photos)
From the recent visit of Kavicandra Swami
http://goo.gl/kek8MW

Circumambulating Govardhan (Album 158 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: As the auspicious month of Kartika drew to a close, our parikrama party choose to circumambulate sacred Govardhan Hill one more time. We knew well that Giriraja is very merciful to those who pray for eternal residence in Sri Vrindavan dhama.
http://goo.gl/q5aAsq

Nigerian Devotees on High Sea, chanting.
Nigerian Devotees embark on a two hours journey in a high sea to a popular and oil rich town called Bonny Island, for Sankirtan and Harinam. They were invited by a Barrister Devotee, Tilaka Das. It was an interesting journey despite the fact that some devotees were scared due to the heavy waves on the sea. So many people were made devotees as they were so excited on seeing devotees dancing and singing strange songs they have not seen or heard before. And lots of Srila Prabhupada books were distributed.

Lessons in beauty, crowd control and cleanliness for TOVP :-)
Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi (Album 47 photos)
http://goo.gl/d2VVo7

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

From Anuj Agarwal P

 

As far as I know Srila Prabhupada readily accepted milk from all breeds of cows. But, some spiritual teachers say only indigenous indian cow breeds are go-mata. Foreign breeds are from Raksasas. Is this correct? If so should we not rear and drink milk of foreign breeds?

Answer Podcast

From Dipin Preet Singh Bhangoo

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot com

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Rasa Rasika dasa

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 September 2014, Pretoria, South Africa, House Program)

Srila Prabhupada came to the Western world. In the Western world, he began his movement and after a short time, he was successful in the Lower East Side. He began to attract some devotees. One of these devotees is Brahmananda Prabhu. I have been reading a new book which is not yet on the market but somehow or other I got an advance copy. Since I was reading it, it is on my mind.

Somehow or other, Brahmananda is a very big and powerful man. Spiritually, first of all and also physically. He has a big body. Brahmananda was a wrestler before Krsna consciousness and even a little bit in Krsna consciousness. Brahmananda, over the years, certainly became very big in size. Even big people look small next to Brahmananda.

One time Srila Prabhupada gave a big sweet ball – a simply wonderful, quite a big size one, maha-large – to one devotee. Prabhupada put it in front of the devotee, on the plate and then just looked at it. Brahmananda also looked at it and just popped it into his mouth and ate the whole thing! Prabhupada said, “Yes, that is the nature of mercy. If you do not take advantage of it immediately, it might just disappear!”

Giriraj Swami spoke on Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja during the Sunday program.

“Although one could say that Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja didn’t preach, he did through Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. He had an immense wealth of spiritual realization and he gave that to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura who then distributed it. If I have $1 million but I don’t distribute it myself but give it to someone else and tell them to distribute it it, is as if I had distributed it myself. So Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura distributed that wealth of Krishna consciousness that he received from his guru maharaja. Although Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura was very busy he would meet his guru maharaja on occasion. Once someone questioned him that. ‘The spiritual master is the pivotal point in one’s devotional service yet you don’t meet him that much.’ Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura replied. ‘What you say may be true but my spiritual master is like the motor that powers the boat. Although you don’t see it, all the power that propels the boat comes from the motor. Similarly with all the preaching I am doing, the power comes from my guru maharaja.'”

Jaya Radha Madhava
Disappearance Day of Srila Gaura Kishore dasa Babaji Maharaja 

Food for Life Global Inc, the headquarters for the world’s largest food relief is moving its headquarters to Melbourne, Australia. The non-profit will continue as usual but with the functions and services now running from Australia. All international affiliations will continue as before.

On May 28, 2008, Adam LeWinter and Director Jeff Orlowski filmed a historic breakup at the Ilulissat Glacier in Western Greenland. The calving event lasted for 75 minutes and the glacier retreated a full mile across a calving face three miles wide. The height of the ice is about 3,000 feet, 300-400 feet above water and the rest below water.

ISKCON’s Padayatra Ministry has been active since its creation in 1991, and padayatras (walking festivals, usually with bullock carts) are  still happening today in different parts of the world. The Ministry's goal is to celebrate  ISKCON’s 50th birthday with 50 padayatras, starting from March 2014  till the end of 2016.  

On 22^nd Oct 2014 the Victorian Government awarded a $500,000 grant to ISKCON Melbourne (Australia) for the Temple kitchen’s upgrade. The Temple kitchen has been distributing sanctified food to the poor and needy of Melbourne through the Temple and various other outlets such as Crossways Hare Krishna Food for Life, for over thirty years.

The post Answering the call of Krsna’s flute appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post November 6th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The Vrajavadhus at ISKCON Punjabi Bagh (Album 12 photos)
The Vrajavadhus were excited to be with the loving devotees at ISKCON Punjabi Bagh. Their enthusiasm in sharing the holy names extinguished our withered heart’s quench. Their jubilance sprang forth many oceans of transcendental waves that flowed from their hearts to ours.
We are truly grateful for their kindness and hospitality. Their love that embraced us once again.
We pray to remain eternally engaged in the loving service of such merciful Vaishnavas. Thereby somehow gain the special favor of Sri Nama prabhu.
Thank you dear devotees at ISKCON Punjabi Bagh, for accepting us in your association and service. We pray to Srila Prabhupada to we may please you.
“O sun of the Holy Name, even the dim light of Your early dawn ‘namabhasa’ devours the power of the darkness of the material world and gives those who are blind to the truth the insight to follow the path of pure devotion to Krishna. What learned person in this world can possibly fully describe Your transcendental glories?”
Stava-mala by Srila Rupa Goswami
http://goo.gl/dslihJ