Vyasapuja and Srila Prabhupada remembrance.
→ Ramai Swami

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HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja travels all over the world giving wonderful classes, leading blissful kirtan and serving the vaisnava community. He is very attentive to keeping in touch with as many devotees as possible.

Every year, his disciples celebrate his Vyasapuja day, but because he is extremely devoted to his guru maharaja, Srila Prabhupada, he insists that on the same day there is a special commemoration of our Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
This year his disciples invited me to attend this function at Sydney temple, in the evening.
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Meet TOVP donors: Guru Gauranga Das & Family
→ Dandavats.com

Srila Prabhupada created ISKCON to facilitate the rehabilitation of all misguided souls toward the lotus feet of Krishna. The implementation of World peace through God conscious lies squarely on the shoulders of the representatives of Lord Chaitanya which includes all of us. The urgency of this cause has been loudly articulated in the clear and powerful instructions of the greatest Titan of devotion – Srila Prabhupada. One of the most important instructions he gave, was that all of us – the global community of Vaisnavas, must cooperate to build this great temple. As individuals making up this harmonious body of ISKCON, it is our filial duty to Srila Prabhupada to cooperate in this mammoth task. There is no greater opportunity, there is no better time, and there is no better project to support generously with all your heart. Make your contribution to the TOVP an evocation of your love for Srila Prabhupada, the parampara and Panchatattva. Read more ›

Live on Purpose
→ Seed of Devotion


I read the above sign on the train when I sat down. The message registered as barely a blip, like all other advertising in New York City. Then I opened my book and began to read; the train picked up speed, heading to the next stop.

Suddenly, two uniformed police officers strode through the train, guided by an older man. I looked up from my book. The man pointed at a backpack that was on the ground right across from me.

"Is this anyone's bag?" The officer's voice rang out in the train.

Everyone fell quiet, shaking their heads. The women who were sitting on the seat nearby the abandoned backpack scooted away.

The officers looked around, confirming that no one owned the bag. I watched the scene unfold, my heart pounding a bit. It's true, the bag had just been sitting there. It was some cutesy backpack, a leopard print I believe. But the two officers surrounded it now, their energy taut like wires. Definitely not cutesy now.

I resisted the urge to scramble away, walk away, run away. But what could I do? I was on this moving train. In those few moments when the officers examined the bag, I had this realization that maybe there was a bomb in there, about to explode at any moment.

There was nothing I could do about it. Although I experienced fear, I also experienced this eerie calm, that somehow if this is my fate, it is what it is.

When the train slowed to a stop, one officer stepped out of the train and the other cautiously unzipped the bag, as if touching a wild tiger. I could feel all the passengers watching, holding their breaths.

The officer unzipped the bag with one final tug.

Sneakers.

Everyone let out a collective breath. The officer carried the bag out of the train, joining her comrade. Then the train boarded more passengers and we moved on.

It was not a laughing matter about this leopard-print backpack - after all, there have been numerous incidents of such episodes that involved an abandoned bag which were deadly.

There is a verse in the scripture Srimad Bhagavatam that describes how in this material world there is danger at every step. I had no idea that when I got onto the train that day that maybe that day was my last. I am sure that anyone who has ever been involved in a lethal terrorist attack, or a plane accident, or even a car accident had no idea that that day was the last day of their lives.

Sometimes it takes danger or an accident to stop living on accident and start living on purpose. Every day, may I and may we live on purpose.

And may the owner of that bag and those sneakers get her stuff back. It was a cute bag. 
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Donor Bio – Guru Gauranga Das & Family
- TOVP.org

My family and I are currently based in Durban South Africa, we also have a home in Orlando Florida. I met ISKCON devotees in the early ‘80s and joined ISKCON at Soho Street London in the winter of 1984. I first visited Mayapura in 1988 and fell in love with the wholesome atmosphere of Vaishnava association and the dedication of the devotees living there.

Soon after my marriage in Mauritius to my wife Sucitra dd in 1991, we both relocated to Mayapura dhama and lived there until 1997. Our oldest daughter Champakalata dd was born in Mayapura on the ground floor of the conch building in one of the rooms adjacent to the diety kitchen and only feet away from Radha Madhava. Doing simple service as a pujari and gurukula teacher my family and I felt very happy and content with our life there. In 1998 we relocated to America and started a prasadam business so we could support ISKCON projects. Very soon after relocating we realized how much we missed Mayapura and how important the Mayapura project is.

Srila Prabhupada wanted all of his followers to visit Mayapura at least once a year to become spiritually surcharged. Srila Prabhupada’s vision and endeavour to create the Mayapura project reveals how massively important it is to the spreading of Krishna consciousness worldwide. The waves of service and devotion that emanate from Mayapura gain momentum with the coming and going of the global Vaishnava community. These transcendental waves will increase as the glory and fame of Mayapura increases. The challenge of embedding the existence of Mayapura into the minds of all human beings can gain a great leap of victory by the construction of this monumental temple of devotion and will signal an era of global Vedic revival.

We understand from the predictions in our scriptures that the construction of this temple will be a milestone on the road to a global renaissance in spirituality. The funding and building of the Mayapura TOVP by people of diverse ethnic, economic and geographic backgrounds, is a catalyst that will trigger a massive unleashing of the flood of bhakti, set to loosen the foundation of Kali’s grip on this World.

Srila Prabhupada created ISKCON to facilitate the rehabilitation of all misguided souls toward the lotus feet of Krishna. The implementation of World peace through God conscious lies squarely on the shoulders of the representatives of Lord Chaitanya which includes all of us. The urgency of this cause has been loudly articulated in the clear and powerful instructions of the greatest Titan of devotion – Srila Prabhupada. One of the most important instructions he gave, was that all of us – the global community of Vaisnavas, must cooperate to build this great temple.

As individuals making up this harmonious body of ISKCON, it is our filial duty to Srila Prabhupada to cooperate in this mammoth task. There is no greater opportunity, there is no better time, and there is no better project to support generously with all your heart. Make your contribution to the TOVP an evocation of your love for Srila Prabhupada, the parampara and Panchatattva.

Your servants,

Guru Gauranga das, Sucitra dasi, Kamalata dd, Lalita dd

 

Guru-Gauranga-family

The post Donor Bio – Guru Gauranga Das & Family appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Boston Hemp Fest Harinama (Album 43 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Muci haya suci haya yadi krsna bhaje. It is said that even a cobbler or person born in the family of a cobbler can be elevated to the position of a brahmana (suci) if he takes to Krishna consciousness. Any person who is purely Krishna conscious and who engages in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is the purest in the whole universe. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.12.37 Purport) Read more ›

Confessed “Glutton” visits Toronto’s Govinda Hare Krishna Restaurant
→ Dandavats.com

In all my years of living in Toronto, I’ve never once stepped inside the Hare Krishna Temple. But that all changed a couple weeks ago. What finally led me to venture inside this historic building? One word: buffet. For a glutton like me, simply uttering the word “buffet” is music to my taste buds. I immediately envision myself standing at a long table piling my plate to overflowing with delectable offerings from every possible food group. And the best part? Having free rein to stuff your plate and face over and over again – without people judging you. What a fabulous concept! Read more ›

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-16 10:58:00 →

1971 September 16: "We should not follow the policy that one man gives us everything and we become idle. This is a material policy. Our policy is madhukari or the profession of the bumblebee. The bumblebee does not eat all the honey in one flower. It goes from flower to flower and takes little. The purpose is that saintly persons, Vaisnavas, if they take something from many men, everyone is benefited."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

Meet Rose Forkash, the originator of the F.O.L.K. (Friends of Lord Krishna) program in USA
→ Dandavats.com

Bhumi Devi Dasi: There are so many devotees who love and cherish Rose Forkash. She was the originator of the F.O.L.K. program and did so much to help befuddled parents of devotees to understand what their children were doing when they joined the Hare Krsna Movement in the 1970's and 80's. She has stayed close with many of the devotees over the years and chants Hare Krsna on beads every single day of her life. When I visited her recently, we brought some prasadam with us, and before she would honor it, she asked, "Is it offered?" She is so far out! I just love her. She is just like a real mom to me. Happy birthday Rose! May you go back to Godhead…! Oh! I forgot to mention, she is the mother of Lila Sakti devi dasi, one of the greats in our movement, and one of my very closest friends…. May good fortune be bestowed on their entire family! Read more ›

40 distinguished scholars, professors, politicians, writers and poets in Moldova meet the devotees (Album 16 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Concluding a full day of preaching here in Moldova, I met with a group of 40 distinguished scholars, professors, politicians, writers and poets in the evening. They asked many deep philosophical and spiritual questions and each one of them said they were more than satisfied by the answers. The proof came at the end of the program when they all bought copies of Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad Gita! [ Photos by Mahavan das ] Read more ›

Viplava Festival : 13-14th Sep, 2014, ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi temple, Delhi (Album 28 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

No one can be more pure than devotees. Anyone who once utters the name of Vishnu immediately becomes purified, inside and outside. Since a devotee constantly chants the Hare Krishna mantra, no contamination of the material world can touch him. He is, therefore, actually purified. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.12.37 Purport) Read more ›

Care for Cows Newsletter September 2014
→ Dandavats.com

1. A reprint of a strong article against cow slaughter appearing in BTG in 1976. 2. A brief appreciation of Vrinda who was rescued from the street seven years ago. She is reciprocating by lactating for two-and-a-half years. She is a champion home-grows tomato! 3. Fourteen Amazing Benefits of Ghee by Diana Herrington. 4. Srila Prabhupada's terse and strong order to the leaders of the Los Angeles Temple to not offer Sri-Sri Radha-Krsna things produced by the karmis. 5. Why Cow Killing Started in India by Manish Goyal (MBA). Interestingly enough, cow slaughter was not started in India by the Moghuls, but by the British! 6. An short story demonstrating that one is never the loser by serving cows. Read more ›

5th Ratha Yatra Festival in Burgas, Bulgaria (Album 41 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

"So this festival, taking part in these festivals means a step forward to our self-realization. Rathe ca vāmanaṁ dṛṣṭvā punar janma na vidyate. Simply by seeing the Lord on the chariot, one makes advancement for stopping the repetition of birth and death… This Rathayātrā is one of the activities of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore to take part in the Rathayātrā festival means to associate with Kṛṣṇa directly. So in this way, if we associate with Kṛṣṇa's name, Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, Kṛṣṇa's qualities, Kṛṣṇa's form, then, gradually, we transcend this material existence. Janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ." Srila Prabhupada, London, July 13, 1972 Your servant, Kamala Sundari devi dasi Read more ›

World Holy Name Week in Vrindavan – Vrajavadhus Kirtan
→ Dandavats.com

After just returning from our summer kirtan tour of America and Canada, we couldn’t be more delighted to be back in the land of Kirtan, Vrindavan, just in time for World Holy Name Week. We felt a special calling from Srila Prabhupada. A feeling of his Divine Grace’s acceptance to once again allow us to share the holy names at his Samadhi Mandir in Sri Vrindavan Dham. Each night many hundreds of exuberant young and old, boys and girls would go wild, dancing and chanting to the holy names. Their ears wanted more. Their mouths called out louder. We sang and watched as their hearts transformed. Read more ›

A Full Day Of Preaching
→ travelingmonk.com

Concluding a full day of preaching here in Moldova, I met with a group of 40 distinguished scholars, professors, politicians, writers and poets in the evening. They asked many deep philosophical and spiritual questions and each one of them said they were more than satisfied by the answers. The proof came at the end of [...]

Only 500,000
→ travelingmonk.com

This afternoon I was interviewed on Moldavian TV 1, the nation’s main television station. I was asked to explain how an ancient spiritual tradition, like Krsna consciousness, can be practiced in modern society.The interviewer also asked me to explain the qualities of true leadership and how they could be applied in government. I also explained [...]

The Most Practical Advice for “Spreading Krishna Consciousness”
→ The Enquirer

The Most Practical Advice for “Spreading Krishna Consciousness”

Do not concern yourself with students. Do not concern yourself with success. Do not concern yourself with numbers and accomplishments. Concern yourself only with the purity of your own meditation upon Nitya Prākaṭa Śrī Yugāla Rūpa Hari-Nāma Mahā-mantra (“The divine couple’s eternally manifest form as the Hare Krishna mahā-mantra”).

The entire world might chant on beads, follow ekadaśī or do a million other things; they may even all dance in spiritual ecstasy in nām-kīrtan and behold the incalculable beauty of Śrī Gaura Hari, and Śrī Śrī Rāsabihari-bihariṇī. But what benefit will that have for us if we still have not concerned ourselves with the purity of our own meditation upon Śrī Nāma?

We have one primary, sacred responsibility: to purify ourselves of ahaṅkāra (“self-centeredness”) and fill ourselves with prema śakti (“the empowerment of divine love”) emanating from Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and amplifying through her devotees, and then to pour that prema from the golden pitcher of our hearts onto the lotus flower of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Krishna Caraṇāmbujā.

We can help countless people gain an access to the entryway of Krishna Consiousness, we can become capable to transmit bhakti-latā-bīja (“the seed of the vine of spiritual devotion”) to innocent souls who have some inclination towards accepting it if and when we do not lose sight of the real priority and therefore endeavored with great effort, primary focus, and profound sincerity to remove the ahankāra from our hearts and replace it with the sincere aspiration for Krishna prema.