Planet ISKCON

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The post Summary of New Vraja-dhamas’ residents’ final remembrance of Radha-kunda dd appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

One should invite people, chant Hare Krishna, and then distribute prasada. This yajna will satisfy all the demigods, and thus where will be peace and prosperity in the world. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 4.6.53 Purport) Read more ›

We are happy to invite devotees from around the world to perform the most auspicious Sri Ksetra Parikrama. This year the parikrama day falls on 11th November. On this day, devotees will circumambulate the entire Sri Ksetra dhama, a distance of around 21 Km. This parikrama has been performed since the time Vidyapati visited Sri Ksetra. ISKCON has been organizing this parikrama for the last nine years, on the specific day prescribed for parikrama as per the scriptures. Last year we had nine thousand devotees participating in this parikrama. This year we are expecting many international devotees. Read more ›

The post Retreat on Prince Island in the Bosphorus appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

A unique offering may be presented to the sacred hill Giri Govardhana upon the October 24th festival of Govardhana Puja this year. Renowned UK musician and singer Jayadeva Das (John Richardson) will put together a virtual version of his Mantra Choir project in which over 108 – and possibly as many as 300 or 400 – singers will harmonize through their webcams on a mantra in praise of Govardhana. The resulting track will then be posted to Youtube on Govardhana Puja with an accompanying video featuring all the singers. Read more ›

The middle and high school students of Sri Mayapur International School participated in World Holy Name week on the sacred disappearance day of Srila Haridas Thakur. The Primary students went on Harinama the next morning, accompanied by family members ,including baby brothers and sisters. At the beginning of the Harinama, the children were briefly joined by H.H Kadamba Kanana Maharaja and by the end had many visiting pilgrims chanting and dancing with them. Read more ›

Come on a 20 minute animated guided tour of our Universe, according to the ancient Vedic text “Srimad Bhagavatam”. Splendid computer generated visuals and narration describe how the ancient mystics perceive our poly-dimensional Universe. The concepts presented here are found in many ancient traditions, yet the Vedic tradition remains consistent with modern astronomy and cosmology. Explore what lies beyond the boundaries of our limited vision; the heavenly planets, where angels and demigods reside, the subterranean heavens of sense enjoyment, the different hellish regions, and what lies beyond the universal boundaries of time, space and karma; the kingdom of God and Divine Love. Read more ›

In the Padyavali there is a statement by some devotees: "We shall not care for any outsiders. If they should deride us, we shall still not care for them. We shall simply enjoy the transcendental mellow of chanting Hare Krishna, and thus we shall roll on the ground and dance ecstatically. In this way we shall eternally enjoy transcendental bliss." (Nectar of Devotion, 27) Read more ›

Indradyumna Swami: Srila Prabhupada once told Govinda dasi that formerly in Vedic times the land of Russia was known as 'Rishiya' - the land of the rishis. The area of Russia was populated by many yogis and sadhus who went to the mountains of the Himalayas and beyond to perform penances and austerities in the frozen terrain, far from the hubbub of worldly life. Srila Prabhupada told Govinda dasi that the descendants of those rishis who live in Russia now have the sukriti to easily take to Krishna consciousness. Such an amazing statement was never more evident than at the recent Russian Yatra festival where over 5000 Russian devotees come together for a week of chanting, dancing, Krsna katha and prasadam. How pleased Srila Prabhupada must be! Read more ›

Ecstatic Kirtan – HH Kadamba Kanana Swami

If you’re raised on dogma and hate, can you choose a different path? Zak Ebrahim was just seven years old when his father helped plan the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. His story is shocking, powerful, and ultimately, inspiring.

REGGAE MANTRA VIBES This Sunday, 10th May 2015 at 5pm, will be our biggest festival of the year. There will be REGGAE VIBES and MANTRA CHANTS, all mixed with a presentation by an international guest, and a HUGE RASTA FEAST … See poster for details .. don’t miss this unique event!

The post REGGAE MANTRA NIGHT appeared first on The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland.

Srila Prabhupada once told Govinda dasi that formerly in Vedic times the land of Russia was known as ‘Rishiya’ – the land of the rishis. The area of Russia was populated by many yogis and sadhus who went to the mountains of the Himalayas and beyond to perform penances and austerities in the frozen terrain, [...]

Toronto, Ontario

Walking In the Rain

It dripped and it dropped
I stepped and I stopped,

For the rain had come
In a hiss and a hum.

The slope had a slip.
I thought, “Oh!  What a trip!

Don’t be uptight! 
Slide not, stay upright!”

Somehow I succeeded
Prayers were all I needed

On the slimy raw trail
With no rope and no rail.

Rain drove all away
But I was fixed to stay.

Before I took to trek
“Clouds,” but what the heck! 

I’ll just have some fun
Should I walk or should I run

I’m a monk on the move
Conviction I must prove.

May the Source be with you!

9 KM

Toronto, Ontario

I Turned a Corner 

As I turned a corner at Roxborough and Yonge, a middle-aged woman was standing there, waiting for, my guess was a cab.  You could tell she was curious as hell. 

In order not to appear like I had my hand in a sling (on my actual pouch for holding my meditation beads), I held my beads free in my hand.

“Are you praying?” she asked.

“Yes, it is actually for meditation.”

“Are you a priest?” 

“A monk.”

“I’ve never seen before, your clothes,” she persisted in inquisitiveness.  “I’m Catholic and from Portugal.  Are you from Canada?”

“Oh yes!  I’m a Krishna monk and I adapted to this ancient culture from India.”

“Do you get married?”

“In our tradition most priests do but I stayed single.”

She went on with her curiosity.

“Our priests don’t get married.  Sometimes they make a mistake,” she said as she swayed her head. 

I concurred and we both broke into a smile. 

“Yes, sometimes they make a mistake!”

I walked on, on that note, thinking that I do not believe I errored on my celibate life.  I had put a little walking in before speaking at a group on “The Glories of Sannyasa” which means the life of renunciation.  I asked the group to consider 18.2 from the Gita:

“The giving up of activities that are based on material desire is what great learned people call the renounced order of life (sannyasa). And giving up the results of all activities is what the wise call renunciation (tyaga).”

My message was, “At the maturing of your life when passions have been subsided to a good degree, consider renunciation.”

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

In the mid-1990’s ISKCON scientist Sadaputa das (now deceased) of the Bhaktivedanta Institute was instrumental in designing the planetarium as well as various scientific exhibits for the TOVP project.

In this Srimad Bhagavatam lecture/video (3.29.6) from 1997 his genius and intelligence stand out as he explains the nature and purpose of some of the exhibits, as well as other scientific, archeological and historical facts. Please note that not all of the exhibit plans in this lecture may be in the current scheme.

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The post TOVP Exhibits appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

BY GAURAVANI DASA 

KUALA LUMPUR - "I offer my obeisances unto the shoes of those devotees who are expert in extricating those sunk in the rotten muck in the bottom of the ocean of material existence, and who become blissful by hearing the pair of syllables, 'Krsna', impelled to dance with all their hairs bristling." [A verse by an Utkala Poet from Srila Rupa Goswami's 'Padyavali'] 

1965 September 12 :
"Mrs. Pandiya has foretold my future. The crisis which I have crossed is mentioned by her. All blessings of Lord Krishna for her. If I have crossed this crisis, then that is the Good Will of Lord Krishna, my friend and philosopher."
Jaladuta Diary :: 1965

1965 September 12 : "Today there is a great deal of lurching although the sky is clear. In the evening I felt a bit sea-sickness. I could not take my food properly. A little sweets were accepted with some relish. The lurching continued till midnight."
Jaladuta Diary :: 1965

1974 September 12 : "If he received the vote, why you have opposed? He has been chosen by the vote, and I am giving the casting vote for him. He is doing things very nicely there, so he must be the president."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 September 12: "Why did you close the temple without asking me? Is this too much to do this? Our propaganda is opening temples, and you are closing them. We are not for closing but for increasing. Don't do anything whimsically without consulting me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 September 12: "The women are doing nicely, so why are they being changed from the pujari to Sankirtana? These are internal things, and you should not interfere. I do not approve. It should be the choice of the President."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 September 12: "It is a great offense. I am not in favor of closing even a small temple. The Deity is living and not dead stone or wood. Before opening a temple it must be considered a hundred times, and after opening - it cannot be closed."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 September 12: "I made the GBC to give me relief, but if you do like this, then where is the relief. It is anxiety for me. This is the difficulty, that as soon as one gets power, he becomes whimsical and spoils everything. What can I do?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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

Giriraj Swami and Vaisesika Dasa spoke and accepted disciples during the ceremony.

“The spiritual master goes from place to place speaking about Krishna and in that way captures the soul. Then the person who becomes inspired by that spiritual master captures him by asking for initiation. So they capture each other in different ways. In this way they enter into a sacred relationship that is meant to connect to the adi-guru, the original spiritual master, who is Krishna. Srila Prabhupada would give the example of copper wire. No matter how far down the line you are, if the wire is connected, you will get electricity.”

—Vaisesika Dasa

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Initiation Talk by Vaisesika dasa
Initiation Talk and Name-giving by Giriraj Swami

As the world holy name week 2014 entered day 7, some devotees organized Harinam and lecture close to their residence as part of the holy name celebrations. By Mahavrata Devi Dasi Read more ›

Hare Krishna

Anxiety, insomnia, muscle tension, fatigue, high blood pressure, and anger are just some of the symptoms of stress. Stress not only affects our body, but also our behavior that can lead to social withdrawal. This presentation will explore the nature of our mind and the various factors in our lives that cause us stress.

Praying for others is itself an act of selflessness, but praying for God is the act of ultimate selflessness. What the Vrajavasis are unconscious of is Krishna’s divinity, not divinity itself. They are obviously not atheists – they are the topmost theists.

This seminar helped us to explore the finer dimensions of identity, how it affects our work and relationships. We also learned how to transform our work duties into an avenue for personal development and growth. By attending the seminar we heard about: •How to inspire others and be inspired •How to use your occupation as a catalyst for personal development •How to enhance any relationship •How to understand the feelings and needs of others and much more... Read more ›

Written and Produced by Michael J Martin & Gareth Wakeham. Directed by Michael J Martin. Produced by Alfie Ambrose.

The post September 11th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

12-08-2014 B.G 9.29-31 Lord Krishna’s Dealings , Lotus Park, Durban, South Africa.mp3

She was in the prime of her youth when her world flipped upside down in an instant. Up until the year before, Jahnavi had been enjoying all of the thrills and fun that life could offer. Not worrying about the future, not taking the Krishna consciousness that her parents had given to her very seriously. But then it happened – the harsh pains of suffering that many of us have faced in this world hit her family like a storm.