Planet ISKCON

Filmed by Filip Cargonja and Kuva Zakheim. Edited by Hladini Hilary Zakheim.

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15

“The day of Gopastami, or the day that Krishna and Balarama were given charge of the Cows instead of the calves, marks a very significant change in Krishna’s pastimes in Vrindavan. It is stated in Caitanya-caritamrta that in the kumara age, from birth until the age of five, Krishna made vatsalya rasa successful. In other words in the first five years of Krishna’s pastimes he especially nourished the mood of the elders who had parental affection for Him. Then in the pauganda age, from six to ten, He made sakhya rasa successful. Along with His friends He engaged in taking the cows to pasture. And this marks the importance of Vrindavan. For the first time Krishna and Balarama and their friends sport in Vrindavan.”

Gopastami, Dallas

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 31 March 2012, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 7.15.26)

The etymological meaning of the word ‘guru’ is heavy. So is it, that there is some personality sitting on the vyasasana who is a heavy dude, ‘Okay guys, get your act together! With all this sense gratification, you are just attached to material things! When are you going to get serious in Krsna consciousness?’

Is that the meaning of a guru being heavy? Well, sometimes maybe but not necessarily. The meaning of guru being heavy is that the guru is ultimately so heavy that you cannot move him from his position, since he stays fixed at the lotus feet of Krsna! I mean, others are light; so light that sometimes they get shaken on the path if you give them a little push, like a boat which has been put out of its course by the wind…

But, the spiritual master is heavy and he is there, at the feet of Krsna. As time goes by, he has not changed since he is still there; still serving Krsna; still talking about Krsna; still chanting Hare Krsna and so many things have happened:

Disciple, ‘I mean, oh Lord, I didn’t see you for a long time. So many things have happened!’

Guru, ‘And in the course of that, what about Krsna?’

Disciple, ‘Yeah, I’m still into that but things have changed a bit.’

But for the spiritual master, nothing has changed, nothing! It is just the same and it is a great relief to know that there is someone who is still just doing it! There is someone who is still a devotee, and is still chanting Hare Krsna; someone who just did not change and that we find shelter at his lotus feet. It is not about, ‘Is he the greatest intellectual on the planet? Can he quote more verses than anybody else? Can he explain the most complicated philosophy? Does he know the most stories?’

I guess with this, it speaks for itself – this is all kindergarten. That is all I will say about it. We are not taking these things too seriously. And it is also not about the external, ‘My guru is skinny and your guru is fat.’

These things do not matter since it is mentioned that one should not judge the spiritual master by his external appearance. One should see that he is firmly fixed onto the lotus feet of Krsna. Therefore by connecting with him, we will also be fixed because he is always there. Anytime we connect to him then we are also automatically connecting to the lotus feet of Krsna!

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry Damodara Newsletter.
An initiative started by the Malaysian devotees over a decade ago enabled them to reach over 100,000 people last year. ISKCON’s Congregational Development Ministry wants to offer you the opportunity to celebrate this pastime, not only at the temples, but by going out to people’s homes and public places, involving as many people as possible. This program encourages the collective participation of congregations by suggesting a combined effort in reaching out to others. It has been an outstanding success in many Yatras around the world. The idea of the program is simple: to encourage devotees to create visiting teams and perform the Damodara worship (offering of candles, singing the Damodara-song and hearing the narration of the pastime) in as many places as possible. This is a great opportunity to establish and cultivate new contacts and strengthen previous ones. Please read on to learn about the glories of this Damodara month and the exponential scope of this simple but effective program.
http://goo.gl/w1pnc4

Latest Newsletter from Ahimsa Foundation For Cattle Protection.
AFFCAP is an independent, third party, non-profit organization which certifies goshallas to a basic standard of care and protection. It does so by registering and inspecting goshallas, while keeping records of every animal for life. This undertaking ensures that: “No animal is being made available, knowingly or unknowingly, for Slaughter”.
http://goo.gl/CkRBaj

Mini-Govardhana Puja in Copenhagen but still super ecstatic :) (Album 19 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/9x5b0g

Writing on Palm Leaves: A Brief History.
Paper is has been used in India only for about a thousand years. Before that the main writing materials were birch-bark, palm-leaves and copper-plates.
Palm-leaf has been one of the most important materials used for writing purpose in India historically. The palm tree, which gives palm-leaves for manuscripts, is of two types — Shritala or talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera) and Kharatala or tad or palmyra palm (Borassus Flabelliformis).
The former gives leaves that are long, smooth and supple. This species of palm grows abundantly on the Malabar coast, in Bengal, Myanmar and Ceylon.
The Kharatala or tad leaves, on the other hand, are thick and they have a tendency to break very easily. The fibres of the Shritala leaves are more resistant to decay than the Karatala leaves. It is because of these reasons that Shritala leaves have been preferred to Kharatal leaves for writing manuscripts.
To prepare palm-leaves for writing they were first dried, boiled in
water and then dried again. Then they were smoothened and polished
with a stone or conch-shell. The leaves were then cut to size, which
varied from 15 cms to 1 metre in length and 2 to 10 cms in breadth.
The method of using pen and ink on palm-leaves was used mostly by the Vaishnava Acharyas.
Palm leaves could not be bound. One or two holes were bored in the leaves and then cords were passed through them. The manuscripts were generally placed between two wooden boards and the cord passing through the holes were wrapped round the boards.
(facts taken from Vidya Prasarak Mandal website)
http://goo.gl/7vrWby

"Urge for Urj"
“Urge for Urj” is what devotees in Dallas say when they are longing to hear kirtans lead by Urjasvat.
About a year ago I received a phone call from the temple line. It was an older gentleman and he had many wonderful questions regarding Krishna Consciousness. He told me his very nice life story about how in the 70’s he joined the temple for perhaps 8 months and had the time of his life. He said that Urjasvat Prabhu was his Bhakta Leader (spiritual coach) at the time and that he really valued that time he spent with Urjasvat Prabhu. At the time he was just getting out of the military and was getting much more interested in spiritual life. At some point he moved out of temple due to some previous attachments but later became ordained as a Catholic priest. His said that it was only due to remembering the instructions of Urjasvat Prabhu regularly that he was able to stay a celibate Catholic monk for 11 years. He said, “Urjasvat Prabhu may or may not remember me but I know that when I die and leave this world I will probably be thinking of him.” This gentleman called again a month ago and randomly came across me, he was calling temples to chit chat about Krishna. In his call he lamented about not being able to make advancement and surrendering and was comforted when he was told that Krishna is very kind and looks for any excuse, without breaking the rules, to take us back to the spiritual world. This is what the Lord revealed to Gopa Kumara in the Brhad Bhagavatmrta. This story and another one as well brought him to tears of joy, jaya. His 3 children are all grown up and he is now getting more encouragement in chanting Japa. He was a very pleasurable man to speak on the phone with.
http://goo.gl/Ji5mbp

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The post November 3rd, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

VRINDAVAN DIARY 2014 By Sacinandana Swami
I am sitting here in Vrindavan and many realisations have come forth to me. The most stunning one up till now is that Krishna is really here. He is real! And He really comes to someone who calls out for Him. He comes personally. How else would you explain what happened today? It is even better to call out for Radha. After all Vrindavan is Her kingdom.
http://goo.gl/Uzf37c

Vrindavan Kartik 2014 (Album 232 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/h72Ugn

Vraja parikrama….you can never get enough Vrindavana! (Album 95 photos)
“If one only chants, with some slight faith, the holy names of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, then very quickly he is cleansed of all offences. Thus as soon as he chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, he feels the ecstasy of love for God.”
(Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.31)
http://goo.gl/O1YA4u

12 Hour Kirtan 2014 Hare Krishna Baltimore (Album 58 photos)
“As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28)
http://goo.gl/8NVugJ

Taste of Bhakti (Album 12 photos)
Good morning #NYC, it’s #Brunch-TIme! Today is Gluten-Free Day (Ekadasi).
We have vegan & gluten-free buckwheat pancakes, bbq tofu, pan de yuca/queso, herbed potatoes in a creamy cheese-sauce, tofu scrable & much more.
All this along with vegan & gluten-free cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, pumpkin pie & carrot cake, available from 11 AM to 3 PM @ 25 1st Ave between 1st and 2nd street.
Hope to see you soon, Hare Krsna. 920-6-BHAKTI (24-2584)
http://goo.gl/eOPXRY

Durvasamuni’s asram oct 11 2014 HH Indradyumna Swami’s class third part

From: ABHIJIT SONWANE

Law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. It can be transformed from one form to another form. And God transforms his marginal energy into souls. Can god create energy out of nothing ? What is the reference saying that energy can be created by god out of nothing ? Can god destroy energy ?

Answer Podcast

Doesn't it mean that they don’t have faith in the holy name?

Answer Podcast

Aren't you misappropriating the prestige of science to propagate your own philosophy?

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

SC Judgement on implication of secularism

“It is good for us that Krishna is unlimited. As one Devotee prayed when chanting Hare Krishna, ‘My dear Lord, you are so kind that as your Holy Name you are my constant companion.’ Krishna manifests Himself as His Holy Name, as talks about Him—when we talk about Krishna He is actually present. When our senses become purified by the process of bhakti  yoga then we can actually see Krishna, we can hear Him we can smell Him we can touch Him. He will reciprocate, and that is the goal.”

10.29.14, Darshan Room, Dallas

Answer Podcast

Nothing has changed. Everything is still the same as it was when Krsna was here 5000 years ago performing his pastimes in Vrindavan.

Krsna was stealing butter and yoghurt from the houses of all the residents of Vrindavan and all of them complained to Mother Yashoda. Mother Yashoda could not believe such things when she saw the innocent face of her son. But one day, she caught him red-handed when Krsna was there with a broken pot of yoghurt, surrounded by monkeys.

“Now I have caught you, you rascal!”

“Oh Mother, I came in here and the monkeys had just thrown this pot down – I came to chase them away!”

It was not convincing. Mother Yashoda was not at all convinced, so she wanted to punish him and chased him with a stick. Of course, she never wanted to beat him, just scare him. But then, she scared him too much and he became very afraid. At one point she said, “You are such a friend of the monkeys, giving them all this butter and yoghurt. I will treat you like a monkey!”

Krsna said, “If you treat me like this, then I’ll go and live with the monkeys.” Then she became very afraid that he would really do it and she decided to tie him up, which also did not work. The rope was always too short by two fingers! It came to a point where she was taking a ribbon from her hair to extend the cord. The neighbours were looking at the fun and they brought more silken ropes from their houses. Mother Yashoda sent everyone to bring all the rope in Vrindavan, but it remained two fingers short – until she captured Krsna in the end, with her endeavour and by his mercy.

So nothing has changed. The very same condition as 5000 years ago – the same two fingers are still there today. The finger for our personal endeavour and the finger for Krsna’s mercy – these can capture Krsna.