Planet ISKCON

In 2009, a tiny one percent of the US population reported eating vegetarian or vegan. The rates have skyrocketed over the last five years.  

This four-minute interview makes you privy to one of the most ancient, colourful, and delightful culinary traditions of India. Bang in the heat of action, you're up against the flames without a burn. A video by Vasudeva Das.

With temperatures falling to freezing at night, devotees are working as quickly as possible to erect a new building to shelter Vaishnava refugees in Ukraine. According to ISKCON leader Niranjana Swami, the current crisis in Eastern Ukraine forced many Ukranian devotees, including families with small children, to flee their homes.

Below are questions posed by a devotee friend and my following answers.

From what I understand, Krishna is a person, meaning he is personal. What are the impersonal aspects he is referring to?
You are correct Krishna is a person with likes and dislikes except He is the Supreme Person. The impersonal aspect of Krishna is His bodily effulgence or nirguna nirakar Brahman and then His energy upon which this material creation rests. This material world in which we are currently occupying is an expansion of Krishna but without Krishna directly in it so in that sense it is impersonal. The Brahman effulgence (the universal light) which yogis meditate upon is also a manifestation of Krishna (which is impersonal as it has no character or guna).

Does the personal triumph over the impersonal?
I am not exactly sure what you mean by triumph but from a spiritual perspective, impersonal and personal are same but the difference is in complete versus incomplete. Brahman manifestation is an incomplete realization of God. Realizing Bhagavan is a complete realization of God so one can say in that sense personal is superior to impersonal due to the degree of completeness. If you want to give a crude example, we can establish a relationship with a person by email and or also by person. Both are valid but talking to a person directly reveals more about the individual than just email. Similarly meditating on Brahman reveals certain aspects of God but meditating directly on God reveals Him completely.

I absolutely believe that one has to treat God like a family member to establish that relationship of Love with him. Unless one can think of him that way, it will be difficult as you said to continuously think of him. Correct me if I am wrong, the best way to develop this Love would be to read and hear about his stories, his past times.
Yes you are correct. Just one additional point, you have to hear not just from anyone but from His pure devotee only and not anyone else because Krishna as we discussed earlier reveals His confidential secrets only to His pure bhaktas (not gnanis or yogis). Why…you may ask that is because love is personal and confidential as we discussed earlier and gnanis want knowledge and yogis want siddhis, only bhaktas want to love God…so therefore if we also want to develop love for Krishna, then we must hear from a lover of God – His pure devotee or suddha bhakta.

When we say he is a person, are we not limiting his existence to a body and form? What of the space outside of his body and form? How should we understand it?
This is good question. To understand this fully requires deeper realization. For my part I can share the theory. Our mundane experience so far has taught us to see body as limited…why…because our body is made of flesh and blood bound by space and time. According to great saints like Sukadev Goswami, Mahamuni Vyas etc and according to Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, we understand that Krishna’s body is not made of flesh and blood. You can get an indication of this in verse BG 4.6. Please read that for clarification. In other words, even when Krishna appeared 5000 years ago, His body was not material but fully spiritual. His atma and His body are the same unlike in our case, the atma is inside the physical body. Therefore the entire body of Krishna is spiritual and in our case our atma or spirit is a tiny size (1/10,000 tip of a hair strand) located in the heart region of our body. The rest of our body is made of flesh and blood. So Krishna is not bound by laws of nature like we are bound. Believe it or not…all the 33 crore demigods (except Lord Siva) also have a physical body like us and an atma residing within. However, the physical bodies of demigods are very powerful. Krishna’s body however is completely spiritual and hence He is categorically superior from all living beings and demigods including Sivaji and Brahmaji. This is why Krishna is Swayam Bhagavan.

The space outside of Krishna’s body is both outside and inside of His body. This is not possible for us to understand as we live in a three dimensional world. For example, mother Yasoda asked to see Krishna’s mouth, she saw the entire creation plus herself in it which means Krishna was inside and outside His creation simultaneously. Because Krishna is the Supreme creator, His entire creation is inside and outside of Him. So in one sense all space is contained within Him and outside Him simultaneously. So Krishna is everywhere and in one place simultaneously. Because we live a three dimensional world, it appears to us that Krishna came to earth 5000 year ago, did some lila, lived in Vrindavan, Mathura and left the planet. People with material understanding like scholars and material sadhus narrate Krishna’s stories in this way. But actually, Krishna never leaves Vrindavan and at the same time all pervading. We cannot perceive this reality till our heart is cleansed of our attachment to our bodily identity and completely immersed in service to Krishna. This will take time but for now in theory, we can understand that because Krishna’s body is not made of material elements, is all pervading (i.e all space is within Him) and at the same time localized (i.e. space is outside of Him) simultaneously. There are two narrations to illustrate this conundrum, one story of Markendeya muni and the other of Dhurvasa muni. Both experience Krishna inside and out.

Hare Krishna

The life & teachings of Madhvacharya.

After monks went on a hunger strike to push for a citywide ban on animal slaughter, the local government declared Palitana a meat-free zone. But the city's Muslims are not happy.

God, out of His unlimited love for us, makes Himself easily available to us in a portable form that we can literally carry on our tongue-tip.

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Podcast

One should never consider the chanting of the holy name of Godhead equal to pious activities like giving in charity to brahmanas or saintly persons, opening charitable educational institutions, distributing free food and so on. The results of pious activities do not equal the results of chanting the holy name of Krishna. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.79 Purport) Read more ›

Last year I made a series of short pieces about the holy month of Kartik. Here’s the first one:

The Hare Krishna mantra is specifically mentioned in many Upanisads, such as the Kali-santarana Upanishad, where it is said: "After searching through al the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krishna." (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.40 Purport) Read more ›

The importance of the counsellor system.

The post Conversation with Marfina community appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

01-10-2014 Krishna Balaram Katha Part 2, ISKCON Gaborone, Botswana.mp3

From Subash

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Why would he say, "I started serving Krishna with Rs 40 and now I have more than Rs 40 crore"

Answer Podcast

HH Radhanath Swami inaugurates the exquisite paintings adorning the roof of the Vedic Cultural & Educational Center. All these hand drawn gems-of-art have been made by the expert artists @ GEV! Read more ›

Radhanath Swami visited Bologna for 2 days and this was the first program at a large hotel very well known in Bologna, home of the oldest university in the western world. There were over 500 people attending on a Thursday night. At the end they gave a great applause and purchased over 200 books. For Maharajas visit next year we are already looking for halls with over a thousand seats!! Ys Trai das Read more ›

Devotees have begun construction on another temple in Rohini, near Punjabi Bagh, which will complete Srila Prabhupada’s wish for ten small temples and one big temple in Delhi. Read more ›

From Cape Town, Kadamba Kanana Swami travelled to Durban on Monday, 22 September. His stay was a week full of exciting programs and kirtans. It started-off on Tuesday with an evening program at the New Jagannatha Puri Temple in Phoenix; followed by a program in Scottburgh on Wednesday, 24 September, which was a public holiday in SA. This was an initiative by the Global Youth Yatra which brought together young people from the local community who got exposure to Krsna consciousness through song-and-dance, interesting discourses and prasadam!

On Thursday and Friday, Maharaj participated in Bhakti Yoga Society Student Retreat that took place at the temple. On Friday night, a program was held at the home of Candrasekhara. Apart from the devotees, many family members and friends also attended who got the opportunity to hear Maharaj render kirtan and speak about Krsna’s Vrindavan pastimes.

Amidst his stay in Durban, Maharaj went to Pretoria for a day to participate in a Saturday afternoon program. On Sunday, another busy day lay ahead with Maharaj attending the Love Feast in Pietermaritzburg at midday and in Durban in the afternoon.

On Monday, the final program of this SA visit took place at the house of Nicole and Kody in Pretoria. Apart all of these engagements, Maharaj also gave morning classes and spent time with the disciples. On Tuesday, he departed for Australia.

 

Photos

Please visit flickr to see the full slide-show.

 

 

Audio

Courtesy of Vibhu Caitanya Das

 

Lectures

KKS_DBN_23 September 2014_SB_1.10.4

KKS_NJP_23 September 2014_Evening Lecture

KKS_DBN_24 September 2014_Scottburgh_Lecture

KKS_DBN_26 September 2014_BYS_Lecture_The_path_of_saints

KKS_DBN_26 September 2014_House Program_Lecture

KKS_PTA_27 September 2014_Lecture

KKS_PMB_28 September 2014_Sunday Feast_Lecture

KKS_DBN_28 September 2014_Sunday Feast_Lecture

KKS_PTA_29 September2014_House Program_Lecture

 

 

Kirtans

KKS_NJP_23 September 2014_Kirtan I

KKS_NJP_23 September 2014_Kirtan II

KKS_DBN_25 September 2014_BYS_Evening Kirtan

KKS_DBN_26 September 2014_House Program_Kirtan I

KKS_DBN_26 September 2014_House Program_Kirtan II

KKS_PTA_27 September 2014_Kirtan I

KKS_PTA_27 September 2014_Kirtan II

KKS_PMB_28 September 2014_Sunday Feast_Kirtan

KKS_DBN_28 September 2014_Sunday Feast_Kirtan

KKS_PTA_29September2014_HouseProgram_Kirtan

 

 

Did past people believe in miracles like Govardhana lila because they were unscientific and gullible?

If Krishna is the cause of all causes, is he the cause of everything that we and others do?

When Ramanuja has refuted the design argument, why does Prabhupada use it so extensively?

Why has Ramanuja refuted the design argument in his Vedanta Sutra commentary?

How to control our jealousy and ego?

Isn’t doing our duties better than spending hours chanting?

Why are all forms of science not equally authoritative – why is evoluion less reliable than gravity when its all science?

When we don’t feel like asking for forgiveness what should we do?

Can devotees watch TV serials about Krishna’s pastimes?

What is the use of writing insubstantial articles in newspapers that don’t even mention the name of Krishna once?

How can we strengthen our resolve to correct our wrongs?

How can we forgive not just with lips but with the heart?

 

 

HG Sundar Nitai Dasa – SB 10.69.41 – 09.07.2014

This week’s challenge: Who is this Brijabasi, what is she doing & what year were these photos taken?

What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the Brijabasi Spirit website.

1966 October 9: "Sitting under a tree in a Lower East Side park, fifty followers of a Hindu swami repeated a sixteen-word chant for two hours yesterday afternoon to the accompaniment of cymbals, bells, and a small reed organ."
[From the New York Times, October 9, 1966]

1968 October 9: "We can take part in politics only which is sanctioned by Krishna. This political struggle by the students is different thing. I am prepared to go and lecture if somebody agrees to hear continually for some time. But not to take part in some political agitation."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1971 October 9: "It is not that everyone will be able to understand this philosophy. Still if some intelligent section of the human society understands it, there will be tremendous change in the atmosphere."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 October 9: "The important matter is that the children are taken care of nicely. That is the first duty. They must have sufficient quantity of milk and then dhal, capatis, vegetables, and fresh fruit will keep them always fit."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 October 9: "Recoup your health, Delhi climate is now very good. Soak sugar candy overnight in water and take early in the morning and that will help you. Also take green vegetables with lime juice. Green papaya boiled is also nice."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 October 9: "Yes, Visnujana Maharaja is personally a nice devotee so he has created nice devotees. Lord Caitanya also behaved personally and taught others. So every one of us should follow this principle of Caitanya Mahaprabhu."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 October 9: --STOP ALL NEGOTIATIONS. DO NOT PAY A FARTHING UNTIL CONVEYANCE EXECUTED. SENDING KARANDHARA FOR FILING SUIT FOR SPECIFIC EXECUTION OF SALE AGREEMENT
--A. C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1974 October 9: "Yes, it is understood that your paintings are offered to the Deities when they appear in my books or on our temple walls. Regarding asking me questions, yes you can ask, but unless it is sanctioned by me, you cannot act on it."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

“O friend, by great good fortune you have attained this body where you have heard Vrndavana’s wonderful glories and learned that everything in this world is like a dream. Don’t, don’t, don’t put any faith in the mind and body. Run to Vrndavana!” [ Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati, Sataka One, Text 80 ]