Everyone is invited this Sat. Oct. 4 to come to the  BURNING OF THE EVIL RAKSASA RAVANA!

Here is the full schedule for this weekend:

Program for

SATURDAY Oct 4^th 2014

5:00 am       Mangala Arati
5:45 am       Japa session- Introduction class

7:00 am      Milking the cows (at the Goshala)

7:30 am      Sringar Darshan

7:40 am      Guru Puja

8:00 am      Srimad Bhagavatam Class:    Ramachandra katha

12:15 pm     Archana Arati

12:30 pm     Rajbhoga Arati Kirtan

1:00 pm      Bhagavad-Gita class

1:30 pm     Lunch Prasadam

4:30 pm      Uttana Arti Kirtan and    Bhagavad Gita Class

6:00 pm      Go – puja at the Goshala

7:00 pm      Gaura Arati

7:30 pm    A discussion on Lord Ramachantra Killing the bad element in Ravana

8:15 pm   BURNING RAVANA : Please assemble in front of the temple and we will walk with torches to the lake

9pm             Simple prasadam

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Temple Program for

SUNDAY, Oct 5^th 2014

 5:00 am       Mangala Arati

5:45 am       Japa session

7:00 am       Milking the cows at the Goshala

7:30 am       Sringar Darshan and Guru Puja

8:00 am       Srimad Bhagavatam Class

10:00 am    Govardhan Parikrama

12:45 pm   Archana Arati

1:00 pm      Rajbhoga Arati 

1:30 pm      Sunday Lecture

2:00 pm      Sunday Love Feast

4:30 pm       Arati

6:00 pm     Go-Puja at the goshala

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Outline:

Bhag 1.15.16 - Arjuna appreciate Prahlad's devotion - form different, but substance same

Prabhupada disapproved cloning of successful book distributors: "Devotional service is individual, voluntary and spontaneous."

He also suspended the GBC when it tried to centralize ISKCON's finances

Institutionalization should facilitate, not stagnate, the flow of devotion

Come up with new services and new definitions of success according to circumstantial necessity or individual propensity

People around us act like mirrors who show a palatable or unpalatable image of us

Nourish the creative side within, not the critical side

Avoid social alienation and sefl-alienation - find a healthy balance

1967 October 3: "He was so much frenzied to meet his old friends that he forgot the order of Krishna and indulged in a sort of sense gratification. It is certainly a shocking incident which I never expected from a disciple like him."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 October 3: "Whenever there is new branch of our society for Krishna Consciousness I become very very happy and my blessings in heart and soul are with you. Although I am not physically present there, spiritually I am always with you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 October 3: "Regarding my return. I may inform you that I am now 90% cured and I can immediately return but I want to return with permanent visa. Please therefore do all the necessary action."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1968 October 3: "I am very happy to learn that you are going to various homes and lecture halls, and holding kirtana and delivering lectures from these transcendental literatures. Continue to preach in this way to all you meet."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 October 3: "It is very simple: God is great, everyone is His servant. Nobody can be equal to or greater than God. In quality we are one, but in magnitude we are different. This is the whole philosophy of the four Vaisnava sampradayas."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 October 3: "You are alone doing such marvelous work and it is impossible for a person without being blessed by Krishna. So you should always be conscious of this special favor upon you and continue to work more vigorously."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 October 3: "I am so glad to hear there are many new devotees. All newcomers should be welcomed and well treated. Out of many thousands one may come. So it is our duty to help them. That is one of our most important activities."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1974 October 3: "The materialists are trying to adjust the disturbances of nature in so many ways. But after so many attempts have they been able to stop suffering? After so many attempts still they are suffering and still they do not ask why."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Women Are Nine-Times More Lusty?

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.23.44:

”Having excited that great woman’s desires and enthusiasm to the utmost, he assumed nine separate forms and made love with his beloved for many years, which seemed like a moment to her.”

If this were a movie it would be hard to keep it even to an “R” rating at this point.

OK, the elephant is in the room. Let’s talk about it. This is the purport where Prabhupāda makes the super-world-famous statement, "the sexual appetite of a woman is nine times greater than that of a man.”

We who are Śrīla Prabhupāda’s followers often make a huge mess out of comprehending and explaining his more unusual or unexpected statements, but this is very likely this single most poly understood and disastrously wrongly explained statement in the history of difficult “Prabhupāda said”s.

It’s just like this, ladies and gentlemen, plain and simple, straight from the bedroom. A man can have an orgasm once. Then he has to wait a while before he can even start intercourse again. Men with good sense control and excellent control of the muscles in their bodies can delay an orgasm for incredibly long times, but once the guy has an orgasm, that’s it, he’s gotta rest. Even the yogis.

Women, on the other hand do not have this limitation. Get it? That’s the idea. That’s why kāma-śāstras make statements like “women have 9 times more ‘sexual appetite’.” “Appetite” means capacity to eat. Women have “9 times” greater capacity to enjoy sex than men do. Why? on big reason is because they can have multiple orgasms in succession without waiting between them. The expert “sexologists” of ancient India (as Prabhupāda calls them sometimes) describe that in the time it takes a man to have one orgasm and then recover and be ready for the next, a woman can have nine orgasms.

That’s why Kardama divided himself into nine, so he could delight his wife continuously for years.

It does not mean “women are nine times more lusty.” It means they have “nine times more appetite for sexual pleasure.” Men are more sexually lusty than women. If you don’t believe me take a look at a man’s reproductive organ and compare it to a woman’s. The man’s is hanging out there right out in the open. The woman’s is small and hidden and indiscreet. The man’s interest in having sex is far greater than the woman’s. But in the act of sex itself, the woman’s capacity to enjoy pleasure is nine times greater than a mans, because it can easily endure nine times as long, and also because the man’s focus is completely localized in the sexual organ itself, but the woman’s experience is spread more throughout the entire body.

If people tried to understand things logically and reasonably instead of using “PRabhupāda said”s to justify their own (useless) preconceived outlooks, everyone in the world would have probably been chanting hari-nām saṅkīrtan by now.

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, 07 September 2003, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture)
In this material world, everything is so gross and cheap. Here, when there is a meeting between lovers then within no time, it is the full embrace – that is what it is all about… Right down to the action! The main thing! Let us not waste any time! Acceleration from zero to a hundred in two seconds, right!? That is the material experience. Very quick and very shallow and with strong exchanges.

But in spiritual loving exchanges, things are very different. In spiritual loving exchanges, everything is so meaningful that slight little exchanges are performed again and again, and give so much satisfaction.

When Srimati Radharani becomes aware that Krsna has left, has left her alone and that she is faced with separation then she faints… boom! She falls unconscious and as she hits the ground, just there on the ground, there are flowers of which the scent reminds her of Krsna. Krsna wears those flowers on his garland. The scent enters her nostrils and immediately she jumps off the ground in ecstasy! So, again, inconceivable! Inconceivable intensity!

So here, we have our dull loving exchanges in the material world, “Yes, I love you…” This is our level of material exchange. I love you today, and tomorrow I love someone else, because how deep is the loving experience in this world? Very shallow!

 

One of the stumbling blocks in our journey toward God is - Doubts. We have doubts. Every time we face a difficulty in our life or see a natural or man made calamity, our mind tends to wander in doubts. Then we tend to ask questions like "why this happened to me?" or "what is God doing?" or "why so much evil in this world when God is supposed to be all good?" etc etc

The existence of these doubts indicate a more fundamental problem and because we do not spend enough time intellectually trying to get an answer to that fundamental question, every time there is a problem our doubts are confirmed and we become more and more atheistic. Science enhances our doubts.

So what is that fundamental question you ask - very simple- "Does God exist"? We may believe in God and regularly spend time trying to understand God but the minute something really goes wrong we question the very same God? So what is wrong in questioning? The fact is if God exists, then there is no question of calamity (personal or global). But then calamity does exist which then fans our doubt that perhaps God is not what I think He is?

All these doubts plague our consciousness because fundamentally we are not convinced God exists. So before we decide to adhere to a particular path or religion, first we have to use our intelligence through observation and analysis to ascertain if God even exists.

Once we are 100% sure He exists, we will not have doubts during calamities but rather we will try to find out the very first emergency responder and that is God. Once we find the first emergency responder, the same calamity will take us closer to God than farther away.

Hare Krishna

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.15 at Damodar’s birthday celebration.

sa vai bhagavato raja
pandaveyo maha-rathah
bala-kridanakaih kridan
krana-kridam ya adade

TRANSLATION

Maharaja Pariksit, the grandson of the Pandavas, was from his very childhood a great devotee of the Lord. Even while playing with dolls, he used to worship Lord Krsna by imitating the worship of the family Deity.

COMMENT by Giriraj Swami

Birth in a good family is a facility, but it is no guarantee of anything. If you read the stories of the lives of many of Srila Prabhupada’s early disciples, there is a symmetry—they were all seeking spiritual life and ultimately came to Srila Prabhupada. I heard that Srila Prabhupada said that Lord Chaitanya placed these devotees in different families in different parts of the world so they could spread Lord Chaitanya’s movement in different countries. So we find devotees taking birth everywhere—in Africa, in China, in Russia. In all sorts of places we find natural devotees taking birth and spreading Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission in those countries.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.15

 

The movement inaugurated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He was present five hundred years ago is again being propagated all over the world, and factually we are seeing its practical results. People are being saved, protected and maintained by this Hare Krsna movement. Thousands of followers, especially Western youths, are taking part in this Hare Krsna movement, and how safe and happy they feel can be understood from the expressions of gratitude in their hundreds and thousands of letters.
CC Adi-Lila 14.1makee
Expression of Gratitude

My question to myself when did I personally thank a devotee for their advice, guidance, encouraging words or engagement in some small seva, do I personally take that small moment to write a letter of gratitude?

Sometimes a conversation with a devotee makes you stop, ponder, reflect and as the saying goes take a big slice of humble pie.

I wrote a reflection on fault finding like a fly in this age of Kali we find the stool the bad bits overlooking the magnificent garden the amazing seva each individual does; feeding this and surrounding myself with like minded fault finding individuals. Then comes offence.

But their is a better way by looking for the good in individuals developing the mood of gratitude, and expressing that, not in an artificial way but in a humble way with sincerity.

Gratitude

Reflection

At times we clash with devotees and indeed I look at the list of devotees I’ve sadly clashed with and in truth their amazing devotees; reality and in honesty if I had just an ounce of their bhakti I would be 100% a better devotee than I am now.

Puffed up with pride and belief in self and ones own self righteousness of course I am always 100% right so words of wisdom are ignored and gratitude not expressed; what a fool I’ve been.

Its hard to apologies, and it is hard to express Gratitude for the amazing tolerance individual devotees have shown to, now a huge piece of humble pie has been served and like all slices of humble pie it’s stuck in the back of the throat unless I act on it I will choke.

So let’s see:

The New Zealand Matajis each one showed amazing kindness, tolerance and without their guidance would never have had such a great grounding in Krishna Consciousness. How I miss your association I’m sorry I never came to your fair well meal. The pain of loosing your association was and still remains too much but I can say our time together was without a shadow of a doubt my happiest.

Candidas Das who’s patience and tolerance is limitless and guided me through the most turbulent time in Krishna Consciousness and who engaged me nicely in small act’s of seva, a truly remarkable devotee

Tarkanath Das who manages both the Swansea and Cardiff centre who’s dedication to serving his guru maharaja with the greatest success and who’s rugby analogue was truly priceless, my regret is I allowed my mind to spoil it all; I would encourage you all to visit their will be a warm welcome waiting for you.

Parogana Das from Bhaktivadanta Manor who on my first day their engaged me nicely in seva cleaning the temple room, how I miss the high clean I still clearly recall our first conversation and the words “the service is their if you want it, stay safe in Krishna’s service”

Parsharam Das and Chris Green and the food for all team, what fun we had and what an inspiration you all remain, thank you for the times I got to join you in the van.

The bakery and all my friends their who have helped and encourage me and supported all my little efforts in trying to make progress in spiritual life.

gadhadha and the pujairs who have taught and shared so much wisdom and insight

To senior devotees like mother Urmila Mataji who took time to read reply and give perfect guidance, to Kripamoya Das who’s advice and wisdom at times I’ve neglected but as time passes am appreciating more and more.

To all those amazing devotees who’s association I’ve had in one way or another each unequally inspirational

To those whom I’ve never met but interact with on social media

Thank you each and everyone of you for richly improving my life and please forgive my unforgiving nature and roughness may be by your association I may begin to show the qualities of a devotee

Apologising to anyone I’ve missed

Hare Krishna

Krishna and the sound vibration "Krishna" are nondifferent, so if one loudly vibrates Hare Krishna, he will be able to think of Krishna immediately. This process of chanting is the best process of self-realization in this age; therefore Lord Caitanya preached it so nicely for benefit of all humanity. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.24.35 Purport) Read more ›

Turkish devotees gathered on one of the beautiful Princes’ Islands off the coast of Istanbul for Bhakti Fest, from September 12^th to 15^th. 27 devotees stayed for the full duration of the event, while daily guests brought attendance to 45 by Sunday. Although that may have been a small group for many ISKCON communities, it was a crowd for Turkey, an Islamic country with very few devotees and no official ISKCON presence.

The high-tech museum is four blocks from the U.S. Capitol and three blocks from a global tourism mecca, the Air and Space Museum.

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Highlights:

Each branch of knowledge like a lens to see the Gita  from a particular perspective

Gita synthesizes six systems of philosophy within a devotional worldview - six systems were originally progressive departments within the same university but later became competitive independent bodies of knowledge, so Baladeva Vidyabhushan refutes the other five systems in his Govinda Bhashya

eg. Gita devotionalizes karma-mimasa eg. 2.42-43; 9.20-24

Descriptive approach to Gita study can't be countered merely by insisting on the correctness of the prescriptive approach, but by changing the mainstream intellectual ethos of Gita study

Prabhhupada's commentary is not bhakti-fanatic; it is bhakti-focused.

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Highlights:

Only when body is maintained can it give the fruit of dharma, mukti and bhakti

Maintaining body means also maintaining mind with emotional sensitivity while applying the philosophy

1. Be encouraging and commiserating with sick devotees

eg. Body is like a dream - but that means, according to Baladeva Vidyabhushan, even dreams are real, not that the body is unreal

Every metaphor is like a rubber band

2. Be caring while helping others deal with loss

eg. Krishna with Arjuna while coping with Abhimanyu's death

3. Don't neglect social responsibility in the name of destiny

eg. Vasudeva - Devaki - Kamsa, Vidura-Dhritarashtra-Vyasadeva

Be dharma-centered, not karma-centered

Charity and social service are sattvika - Vaishnava critique of social service is a contextual response to Christian conversion through social service and Hindu reactionary propping of Manava seva above Madhava seva

 

 

 

 

 

Vaisesika Das, disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Hare Krishna temple president in San Jose, California, book distribution coordinator for North America. In this video he distributes ancient spiritual scriptures such as Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

The TOVP team is providing an opportunity to offer a lamp in your name to Sri Sri Radha Madhava in Mayapur for the entire month of Kartika. All devotees who donate a minimum of one Golden Brick for the TOVP project will have a Kartika lamp offered in their name in Sri Dhama Mayapur.

Yoga practitioners are fighting a new sales tax by insisting the activity isn't primarily about fitness. Around the world, its definition can often be rather more flexible, writes Jon Kelly.

My friend cringed when he heard that the final instruction of the Bhagavad-gita is to surrender to Krishna wholeheartedly. "Am I a criminal that I should surrender to Him? Better worship a God who is more humble and down-to-earth!"

The liberated sage Kardama Muni could see Garuda carrying the Lord on the way to Vaikuntha and hear the flapping of his wings vibrating the sound of Hare Krsna, the essence of the Sama Veda. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.21.34 Purport) Read more ›

His name is Herbie and he has plenty of reasons to be kicking his hoofs in joy — and not just because he can bend it like Beckham.

By the mercy of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada on 29 September 2014 the devotees in Canberra, Australia had Harinam Sankirtana at Floriade, an annual National Flower festival. The holy name of Lord Sri Krishna was distributed the public visiting the Floriade. Earlier on 3 September 2014, the devotees celebrated Radhastami Festival at the Hare Krishna (ISKCON) Temple. Read more ›

Holi, or the Festival of Colors, which heralds spring and celebrates the pastimes of Lord Krishna and his eternal consort Srimati Radharani, was once an esoteric festival celebrated mainly in India. But today, thanks to festivals like the one at the Krishna temple in Utah, USA, it has become a phenomenon across the world. The latest country to host the event is Brazil, with last year’s hugely successful “Festival das Cores” in Sao Paulo.

If one repeats monotonous material words, he will feel exhausted, but if he chants Hare Krishna twenty-four hours a day, he will never feel exhausted; rather, he will feel encouraged to continue chanting more and more. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.21.22 Purport) Read more ›