The post Conversation with devotees in Moscow on the difference between being a believer and a real rasika in Krsna consciousness appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

1971 October 8: "So don't be disheartened at any circumstance. Depend on Krishna. After all this is the kingdom of maya. She is always peeping to take the opportunity of attacking us, but if we fix up our attention on the Lotus Feet of Krishna, maya cannot even touch us."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 October 8: "From your letter I can see you are persevering. That new devotees are coming is the sign of our success. I will be in India up to April then I can go to South Africa, or if you like, to Australia. My immediate program will be for one month at Radha Damodara Temple where we shall be holding class on the Nectar of Devotion."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Oct 8, 2014, lecture by Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu Read more ›

1974 October 8: "Krishna will help you, that is a fact. So do your work sincerely, husband and wife, and you will have good success. You be pure, and teach others to be pure. The process is there. Follow very strictly our rules and regulations and maya will not be able to touch you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 October 8: "If we actually follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, where is the question of conspiracy? I am training some of my experienced disciples. So if instead of taking my training, if in my lifetime you people say 'I am the Lord of all I survey,' that is a dangerous conspiracy."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 October 8: "I wanted you all my experienced disciples should manage the whole institution very cleverly without any personal ambition. The Gaudiya Math institution has become smashed on account of personal ambitions. So I shall request you all not to be personally ambitious."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Indradyumna Swami: "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 ] Read more ›

Results of world's largest Near Death Experiences study published. Recollections in relation to death, so-called out-of-body experiences (OBEs) or near-death experiences (NDEs), are an often spoken about phenomenon which have frequently been considered hallucinatory or illusory in nature; however, objective studies on these experiences are limited. Results of the study have been published in the journal Resuscitation and are now available online. Read more ›

Lecture Podcast

The Puranas (Vedic histories) extol the month of Kartik as the topmost in the calendar. Lord Krishna’s mercy is very easily accessible in this month and to demonstrate their sincerity devotees accept different austerities such as fasting, cutting down on non-essential activities and offering charity. Worship of Tulsi and serving Lord Krishna’s cows is especially glorified. Read more ›

Hare Krishna Maha Mantra Challenge asks that you sing the maha mantra in a non-traditional, but very recognizable tune. Watch these vaishnavas that accepted the challenge! Read more ›

The performance of sankirtana-yajna is a special concession for human society to save people from being affected by known or unknown sinful activities. We are surrounded by unlimited sins, and therefore it is compulsory that one take to Krishna consciousness and chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 9.16.23 Purport) Read more ›

Kadamba Kanana Swami will be in Melbourne for a week (08-15 October). If you are in the area, be sure not to miss out. Please see the poster for all the info!

Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet [SB 12.3.51] Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, one becomes free from the bondage of material existence and thus becomes eligible to return home, back to Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 9.14.48 Purport) Read more ›

HG Ananda Chaitanya Dasa – SB 10.70.1 – 11.07.2014

Answer Summary: Madness possesses us when inner weakness couples with outer recklessness.

Answer:

Madness refers to our irrational relapses into regrettable behaviors that leave us shocked at ourselves: “How could I have done something as terrible as that?” Such madness doesn’t come upon us just by random chance about which we can do nothing – it comes by a method that we can comprehend and counter.

Essentially, madness possesses us when inner weakness couples with outer recklessness. Weakness refers to the impurities in our heart that make us vulnerable to certain forms of immoral or anti-devotional indulgences. Recklessness refers to our carelessness in leaving within easy reach the external sense objects for which we have a weakness.

Consider for example recovering alcoholics. They have a weakness for alcohol – though they have resolved to give it up, their resolve may go down whenever recollections of their past indulgences start attacking their consciousness. When they are thus internally weakened, a key thing that will check immediate relapse is the external unavailability of alcohol. The heavy attack of temptations doesn’t last forever – it comes in spikes of heightened craving. Recovering alcoholics just need to endure those heavy-attack phases and such endurance becomes easier when the object for indulgence is not readily available. Soon their intelligence and conscience will re-surface and they will resist and reject the temptation. But if they have recklessly kept alcohol nearby, then it’s almost certain that they will relapse. And who knows how long it will be before the madness releases them from its grip and they find themselves with a hangover in the head and frustration in the heart?

The heavy attack of temptations doesn’t last forever – it comes in spikes of heightened craving.

Alcoholism may not be a problem for most of us, but we all have our weaknesses that sometimes drive us mad. This analysis of how the coupling of weakness with recklessness invites madness can help us better apply in our inner battles the Bhagavad-gita’s two-point strategy given in its illuminating exposition on lust (03.36-43). Though this Gita section focuses on lust, the strategies it outlines can apply to whatever our blind spots may be.

The Gita's two-point strategy

The first strategy (03.41) centers on sensual regulation. In our analysis, it can correspond with avoiding recklessness and not keeping alluring objects easily available. In the past, most spiritual cultures and in fact of most human cultures stressed minimizing, if not preventing entirely, unfiltered mixing between the genders, thereby decreasing greatly the danger of wrongdoing. Thus the culture served as an assistant in the individual’s endeavors for sensual regulation. At present unfortunately, the culture has largely become an opponent to the individual’s efforts due to its public depictions of sexually suggestive imagery. But still we can get some cultural help by situating ourselves in a community that respects, even expects, sexual morality. And we certainly can according to our specific vulnerabilities put as much distance as possible between ourselves and the objects that especially allure us. Rather than rejecting such distancing as fanatical, we need to recognize it as foundational. For example, just as recovering alcoholics can’t stay sober if they choose to live next to a bar, recovering porn users can’t stay sober if they retain unfiltered Internet access. When we thus carefully keep our living environment morally safe for ourselves, we can stop madness from possessing us even when we feel internally weak.

Rather than rejecting such distancing from tempting objects as fanatical, we need to recognize it as foundational.

The second strategy (03.43) centers on spiritual nutrition. The Gita urges us to use our intelligence to contemplate our spiritual nature and situate ourselves firmly on the spiritual platform, thereby conquering lust. Situating ourselves spiritually means rendering loving service to Krishna because we are at our core, souls, who are eternally his parts, as the Gita informs later (15.07). When we remember and serve Krishna with a devotional disposition, we relish a profound non-material enrichment, just as the hand becomes nourished when it provides food to the belly. With our innate need for happiness thus satisfied at the spiritual level, we feel rejuvenated in our battle against our inner weakness. As our inner strength increases, we push back the temptation towards which we had been becoming allured. As our intelligence and conscience become re-activated, the folly and the futility and the depravity of the indulgence becomes evident to us. And we push the temptation completely out of our consciousness.

By thus protecting ourselves externally and nourishing ourselves internally, we can methodically counter the method of madness.

 

 

Diwali, also known as "festival of lights" (23rd of October), spiritually signifies the defeat of darkness / ignorance over light / knowledge. It is merely two weeks away and as is tradition, gifts (usually sweets) are exchanged amongst friends and family.

Gopinath's Delights has been serving you (on Diwali and Christmas) since 2011. We're now back- with more variety- and are pleased to inform you that we've started taking orders. For your convenience, we have four sizes: $5, $10, $15 and $20 sweet boxes. Each box comes with a free book*. Weekly sales have also been on for the past two Sundays and will go on for the next two weeksl; please check us out in the main hallway! 

These 100% natural, pure vegetarian and spiritually crafted sweets are prepared with care and offered to 
Sri Sri Radha Ksir-Chor Gopinath with love. Unoffered and sugar- / gluten- free sweets can also be prepared upon request. 

To place orders or if you have any queries, please contact Hina: (647)-989-1806   

*to be picked from pre-selected titles

You Want Lasting Happiness for Them

"I took solace in my faith in the holy names and their power to cleanse. I felt like I was chasing evil bandits like the police force and solving crimes."

From Bhajan Kutir #413
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 October 2010, Melbourne, Australia, Lecture)

When we offer a lamp to the deities, we try to lock the deities in our heart! We follow the shape of the deity as we are waving our lamp and we are trying to lock the deity into our heart. As we are waving the lamp, we are seeing the form, we are contemplating on the form of the deity and we pray that that form may be burned into our consciousness. That is our desire… because that will be our saving grace. All these activities will prevent us from becoming so distracted.

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player is needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer; if you are using Google Chrome it will automatically play, so if you don't want to listen, mute your speakers.)

Today has brought beautiful fall weather, with a cold morning, and now a warm—but not hot—day at 12 noon. I sit on the deck under a bright cloudless sky and appreciate the wonder of Krishna’s material energy, and his many blessings to me, pondering what is on my mind to share with you. I have been reading some fantasy and adventure novels to imagine what I might do with a book idea that has been percolating within me for quite a while now. This has been a useful exercise that has given me hope that I can write a novel meant for teaching about life and spirituality. Though I read many acclaimed books in their genre, I haven’t been very satisfied with them. Even when the characters, or the story line, are interesting and can hold my attention—and some don’t—I still feel sorry for want of a spiritual theme. Only occasionally God is mentioned, and usually not as a guiding principle of life.

Sometimes I think: “All that invested time for this ending?” or there is no ending, but just a lead-in to the next volume. To me, other than in devotional literature, I find there is little of specific spiritual merit, or personal benefit other than “entertainment,” or at best some moral message or social commentary. That has value, but is never enough for me, as a person concerned with meaning and purpose in everything. Yes, there are spiritually themed books which can inspire readers, but at this stage of the writing project, I have avoided them for contrast, and this endeavor has borne fruit, albeit, in ways I never imagined.

From my readings I became curious why we feel compelled to seek out entertainment and adventure—while I was reminded of my attraction adventure stories and the search for treasure, especially of the mystical variety. In a general sense what we have intense attraction to, or interest in, gives us hints as to an important aspect of our life direction. Part of the work of the spiritual aspirant is to make whatever we want or yearn for, part of our spiritual/Krishna conscious /yogic practice. Some spiritual paths shun all attachments and action, but in bhakti, we use our attachments and inclinations in relation to service to Krishna, and in that way purify them. Otherwise we may be diverted from self-realization by our unfulfilled natural propensities or inner conditioned compass.

read more

Special Kartik Feast

When? Wednesday,Oct 8th,2014 Program starts at 7.00pm Where? 6 George Street South Brampton, Ontario L6Y 1P3, Canada Park underground(free) @ City Hall Phone:416-648-3312 New! Listen Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog Make a Donation

In this Kartik we may get the same mercy as Nalkuber and Manigrive g0t at that time... Program Schedule 7:00PM       GURU PUJA                                 7:15PM       GAURA AARTI                               7:45PM       NRSINGADEV PRAYERS                                                Welcome announcements 7:55PM       SPIRIT OF KARTIK by Kamala Gopi Mataji     8:30PM       DAMODAR AARTI AND KIRTAN                                      Festivities will be concluded by honoring DAMODAR MAHA FEAST  About Damodar Festival Kartik (Damodar) is the best, the purest of purifiers, and most glorious of all months. Kartik month is particularly dear to Lord Sri Krishna. This month is full of bhakta vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest, will yield huge results. The effect of performing a Kartik Vrata lasts for one hundred lifetimes, Kartik or the festival of offering lamps to Lord Krishna, glorifies Lord Krishna’s pastime of being bound with ropes by Mother Yashoda.One should daily offer a ghee lamp to Krishna and sing the Damodarastakam, meditating on meaning. Check this link out for Damodarastakam http://www.krishna.com/damodarastakam The essential lesson that we learn from Damodar lila is that the all-pervading,all powerful Lord is easily conquered by the love of His devotee and love saturated devotees desire nothing else except to constantly hear and glorify His pastimes. Damodarstakam 4-5 specially signifies the essence and the sweetness of this month. Following are excerpts from some scriptures (Puranas) describing the glory of the pious Kartik month: “If somebody performs even a little worship of Lord Shri Hari in this month, He offers that devotee His own abode.” “If somebody burns a lamp in the temple of Lord Shri Hari even for a short time (in the month of Kartik), then whatever sins, he has acquired for millions of kalpas (one kalpa equals 1000 yugas) are all destroyed.” “A person, who for the entire month of Kartik eats only once a day, becomes very famous, powerful and heroic.” “A person who happily reads the Bhagavad Gita in the month of Kartik does not return to the world of birth and death.” “Of all gifts, the gift of a lamp during the month of Kartik is the best. No gift is its equal.” “The pious result obtained by bathing in all holy places and giving all charities is not equal to one ten-millionth part of the result obtained by following the vow of Kartik." Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Chant and Be happy!

“Giriraj Swami spoke at the ‘Simple Living, High Thinking’ gathering in Houston, a regular program for seekers who want to learn about Krishna consciousness. After his talk—and many questions and answers—Giriraj Swami led an ecstatic kirtan during which everyone present danced very joyously.”

—Nila Madhava dasa

First Kirtan
Talk
Second Kirtan

Dear Readers, the holy month of Kartik is now upon us, the time of year when it is that little bit easier to engage in bhakti, and the rewards that little bit more.

Its a Vaishnava tradition to make an extra endeavour at this time and I thought you might like to hear about my ‘Kartik Challenge.’

There’s no ice buckets involved, and no funds to be raised, but there is wonderful song to sing that is sure to give you pleasure and inspiration. Just one Sanskrit verse is all I’m asking for, filmed and uploaded to facebook. First, please watch this short video prepared by my young friends from Radha Krishna Records.

If you’re unfamiliar with the song, here is a version for you to listen to:

http://youtu.be/T_c7QzDXa9Y

A conference at the prestigious Sala San Francesco Ferrara given by Matsyavatara prabhu 4th of October 2014 helped greatly its audience to raise their consciousness and understand how the laws of karma work in this material existence. Read more ›

An original photo of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, recently discovered by the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre in Kolkata. The photo was found inserted between the pages of an old book previously owned by a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. 

Srila Jagannatha Das Babaji Maharaj was the sovereign emperor of the Gaudiya Vaishnava world. No human talent can ever describe his fathomless love for Lord Goursundar (Gauranga). He spent many years in the adoration of Sri Radha-Govinda in Sri Vrindavan. He was a highly revered personality. Everywhere he was renowned as "Siddha Baba" (a great devotee who has reached the Goal or attained Ultimate Success).

Generally devotees talk about the contribution of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji in confirming the birth place of Lord Caitanya. However, there is also one more very important contribution, which probably is even more important than confirming the birth place of Lord Caitanya, which is never or rarely discussed. This is that, Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji is the first person in our guru parampara who chanted the Pancha tattva maha mantra as with "Jaya Sri Krishna Caitanya...".Before the time of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, the Panhca Tattva maha mantra was chanted as " Jaya Sri Gauranga Prabhu Nityananda....". Devotees following the guru parampara from Srila Jaganatha dasa Babaji then followed the same.. "Jaya Sri Krishna Caitanya.."

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur beheld his lotus-feet for the first time in Vrindavan in 1880 and received many precious pieces of advice about Haribhajan from him. Srila Babaji Maharaj said 'there is the danger of committing ten offences while chanting Hare Krishna mahamantra. But there is no consideration of offence in uttering Pancha Tattwa –"Sri Krishna-Chaitanya Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Adwaita Gadadhar Srvasadi Gour-bhakta-vrinda."

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur met Srila Babaji Maharaj for the second time at Amlajora village in the district of Burdwan in the month of Falgun 1298 Bangabda (Year of the Bengali era). Srila Babaji Maharaj observed the holy fast enjoined on the eleventh day of a lunar fortnight (Ekadashi) at Amlajora village and discoursed on God day and night. Though he was very old, he was fond of devotional dance and congregational singing of the Holy Name. Next day Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur established 'Sri Prapannashram' at Amlajora village. Srila Babaji Maharaj was very happy to see the ceaseless loving efforts of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur in preaching and propagating the gospels of Lord Gouranga.

While staying in Navadwip, Srila Babaji Maharaj would remain absorbed in his Nam-Bhajan (the adoration of the Holy Name) on the bank of the Ganges at Kuliya. (His Bhajan-cottage and his Samadhi-temple still exist there) Srila Babaji Maharaj asked Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur to construct a shed in front of his cottage for the devotees. Srila Thakur gladly carried out his order.

In 1893 Srila Babaji Maharaj came from Kuliya, Navadwip to Sri Godrum Suravi Kunja and made Thakur Bhaktivinode and other devotees extremely happy. Srila Jagannatha Das Babaji Maharaj paid a kind visit to Sri Mayapur. It was with the divine inspiration of Srila Babaji Maharaj that Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode discovered the Birth-site of Mahaprabhu. Srila Babaji Maharaj ascertained that the discovery was true. He pronounced it to the entire world and danced in ecstatic joy in the holy Birth-place of the Lord. Devotees marveled at his wild dance at such a ripe old age. Dancing impetuously with loud roars, he swept the devotees away on the wave of transcendental enthusiasm. The sound of Sankirtan filled the three worlds and maddened the Vaishnavas present there.

Srila Babaji Maharaj had a great affection for Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur whom he asked to prepare a Vaishnava Almanac. From Srila Babaji Maharaj, the world has learnt that the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Magha is the day of Sri Vishnupriya Devi's appearance. 

Srila Babaji Maharaj disappeared from this world in Navadwip in 1895 at the age of about 147. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur described him as "the Old Commander of the army of devotees".

Some of his immortal messages to this world are;

• Those who make money by interpreting the Bhagavatam are offenders at the feet of the Holy Name. The transcendental words of Krishna never appear on their lips. Their attitude is more abominable than that of prostitutes. Those who listen to the talks of such speakers will be ruined.
• If you want final success in your Bhajan, you must maintain strict regularity in chanting the Name. Don't go to bed before completing the fixed number of chanting everyday. Stick to your vow even at the cost of your life. If you adore the Holy Name with such sincerity, you are sure to attain perfection or final success. At first you will have to toil hard. But ultimately you will get eternal rest at the blissful feet of Lord Gouranga.

According to Srila Rupa Goswami even great devotees may not have the qualifications to visit Radha Kunda, the sacred bathing place of Srimate Radharani. What then of us aspiring devotees? It was only by the causeless mercy of our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, that we walked the sacred parikrama marg around Radha Kunda this afternoon [...]

Lecture Podcast

To chant the holy name of Krishna one does not need to speculate on the philosophical aspects of the science of God, for one automatically becomes ecstatic and without consideration immediately chants, dances, laughs, cries and sings just like a madman. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.79 Purport) Read more ›

On 16th September 2014, a total of 33 children from SJMKL's Gokul Garden Sunday School gathered excitedly at Sri Jagannath Mandir Taman Yarl KL as early as 7.15 am to board a bus to Janda Baik, Pahang to visit Goshala farm which is approximately 52 kilometres away from Kuala Lumpur city. The children were accompanied by 10 teachers. The rain showers that morning did not dampen the children's spirit for the trip, instead it was taken as a shower of blessing from Lord Krsna. Read more ›

Mumbai, October 2: In a historic order the Mumbai High Court Tuesday stayed the slaughter of 12,000 bullocks while giving its ruling on the plea filed by Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) challenging the Maharashtra Government order of July 31, 2014. Read more ›

"In Dvapara-yuga one could satisfy Krishna or Visnu only by worshiping Him gorgeously according to the pancaratriki system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting the holy name." (Narayana-samhita) Read more ›

The post October 7th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

BY ISKCON BHAKTIVEDANTA CULTURAL CENTRE, PENANG

• ISKCON BCC Youth with HH Jayapataka Swami after the show

• ISKCON BCC Youth leader Nila Lim with other youth on stage

"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-these sixteen names composed of thirty-two syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name." (Kali-santarana Upanisad) Read more ›

"The essence of all Vedic knowledge-comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity, the Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods-is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience." (Narada-pancharatra) Read more ›

In the material world, everything is full of anxiety (kuntha), whereas in the spiritual world (Vaikuntha) everything is free from anxiety. Therefore those who are afflicted by a combination of anxieties cannot understand the Hare Krishna mantra, which is free from all anxiety. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.74 Purport) Read more ›