I Have No Time to Chant
→ Japa Group

If I am finding it difficult to finish my rounds because of a lack of time, I am ultimately the one who chose to do all the activities that are getting in the way of my chanting. Even when I can't really avoid all the work and responsibilities, still I am the one who is organizing those activities in a way that chanting often takes a back seat to the other things I do.

Damodar-lila, October 23, Houston
Giriraj Swami

Damodar1Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.9, on Mother Yasoda’s binding Lord Krishna, which took place on the Dipavali day.

“Our goal is to bind Krishna within our minds and in our hearts. When we chant japa we know how hard it is to bind Krishna—He keeps running away, like Krishna was running away from Mother Yasoda. Of course, He is not really running away—our minds are running away. But we have to maintain our effort. That is the difference between offensive chanting—nama aparadha—and the clearing stage of chanting. In the clearing stage one makes the effort to bring the mind back to Krishna when the mind goes elsewhere. So, that is our effort, and it can be very demanding, even excruciating. From our side we have to make our best effort, and then Krishna from His side will bestow His mercy. And He does. He may not do it immediately, but He will do it enough to encourage us by showing that He is aware of our hard labor and our sincere desire and He is reciprocating.”

Binding Lord Krishna

Honouring Srila Prabhupada – Monday, October 27
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

The Hare Krishna Temple warmly invites one and all to join us for a reflective evening as we observe Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day on Monday, October 27th, from 6pm to 9pm. On this day, we reflect on the remarkable life of Srila Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on the anniversary of his passing (known as the Disappearance Day).

ISKCON is now a worldwide movement and is comprised of more than 350 centres, 60 rural communities, 50 schools and 60 restaurants around the globe. This day will provide a great chance to meditate on what Srila Prabhupada means to us.

Please join us for the festivities that will start at 6:00pm with arati and will continue until approximately 9:00pm. Please join us as we glorify Srila Prabhupada on this very important day.

Govardhana Puja at ISKCON New Govardhana – Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari, Australia (Album 177 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

One should not wait to purify himself before chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. Whatever our condition may be, we should begin chanting immediately. By the power of the Hare Krishna mantra, we will gradually be relieved from all material contamination and will get shelter at the lotus feet of Krishna, the ultimate goal of life. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 25.199 Purport) Read more ›

Govardhan Puja at the Radha Gokulananda Temple in Vrindavan (Album 118 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Because our parikrama party consists mainly of Russian and Ukraine devotees we observed Govardhan Puja at the Radha Gokulananda Temple in Vrindavan, so we could translate each of the English lectures and talks into Russian. Everyone was excited because on the main alter of the temple is the Govardhan-sila that Lord Caitanya gave Raghunatha das Goswami. Thus the kirtan, katha and prasadam were truely, "out of this world." Jai Giriraja Govardhana! Read more ›

Reminder Invitation to New Vrindaban’s Joint Board Meetings & Community Dialog
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ISKCON New Vrindaban logo   ECO-Vrindaban New Vrindaban Logo
OPEN MEETINGS AND YOU’RE INVITED! 
This is a reminder of your invitation to the semi-annual Joint Board Meetings & Community Dialog in New Vrindaban.

As we do twice a year, the board members of ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-Vrindaban will gather to meet with managers and community members.

PLEASE NOTE: In our ongoing efforts to improve transparency and communications, we’ve changed the format and organized a weekend of open presentations and discussions.
We humbly invite ALL New Vrindaban residents and well-wishers to participate in ALL the scheduled weekend activities.
Weekend schedule

Saturday, November 1st.

10:00 am to 1:30 pm: Department Head Presentations for 2014 (under the Lodge)

1:30 pm to 2:30 pm: Lunch Prasadam (at Radha Vrindaban Chandra’s Temple)

2:30 pm to 4:30 pm: Community Dialog (under the Lodge)

6:00 pm to 7:30 pm: Srila Prabhupada Sangam (at his Palace)

Sunday, November 2nd.

10:00 am to 1:00 pm: New Vrindaban Tour (various locations around the Community)

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm: Sunday Program & Feast (at Radha Vrindaban Chandra’s Temple)

We would be honored if you join us throughout the weekend and look forward to seeing you then.

 Sent on behalf of the INV & ECO-V Board Members

Lord Balaji
→ Ramai Swami

UnknownTirupati+Temple+Andhra+pradesh

The Tirumala Hill is 853m above sea level. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven heads of Adisesha, thus earning the name Seshachalam.

The presiding deity of the temple at Tirupati is Lord Venkatesvara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Venkateswara is known by other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa.
Annually 30-40 million people visit this temple, making it the most visited place of worship in the world. Revati Raman, ISKCON TP, organised darshana of Lord Balaji for our devotees who came to the GBC meetings.
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Judgement day
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2009, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England, Lecture)

PrabhupadaAt the end of our life, our own service will be judged but more important, is the service of our spiritual master, who is requesting Krsna, “Please accept him, he didn’t do well but accept him anyway.”
This is actually how it works. Thus Srila Prabhupada is praying for all of us and saying, “Please take them all back to Godhead. I know everything but still… Please take them back to Godhead.”
Then what can Krsna do, because Prabhupada has done such service that Krsna has become so indebted; what can he do!? So when Srila Prabhupada is asking then, “All right, let him go.”

So mercy is a major factor and thus we must look for that mercy. Therefore, we must always turn to our spiritual master. It’s not that the spiritual master should turn to us, we should turn to him for shelter!

With Great Concentration
→ Japa Group

If we chant with devotion....giving our attention to the sound and with great concentration, diving deeply into the Holy names, then we will feel the Lord's transcendental spiritual energy and our faith and determination will increase.

Here is a quote from Srila Prabhupada that illustrates this point:

"....Practically we see that as we sincerely try to improve our chanting for the pleasure of Krishna, Krishna reciprocates and we feel our greatest pleasure which is devotional service to the Lord."

Letter to Syamasundara
November 24, 1968