ISKCON Kolkata Srimad Bhagawatam Class Given By HH Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaj 25th August 2014
ISKCON Kolkata Srimad Bhagawatam Class Given By HH Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaj 25th August 2014
07 Sep 2014 – Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
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Thursday, September 4, 2014
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Montreal, Quebec
The Trash Task
It’s painful to see the waste all around. You’ll walk up a street and see rejected furniture, for instance, a big sofa set, tables, chairs, beds, and mattresses. Often they look to be in good condition. Then you have lined-up on the street bags and bags of wrapping, compost, and all kinds of refuse. It’s all neatly consolidated into shiny bags of plastic.
Then, there’s the scrap yard. Have you ever walked through one? I have! It’s like a visit to hell. Speaking of which, we can all feel the weight of guilt because it’s all one big SIN! We all contribute to “the pile.”
Our turnover of stuff is phenomenal. We are very good at trashing, and that’s not only with stuff. We do it to people. We do it to our partner. We do it to God!
Again we make it all look good. Landfill makes great landscape with a bunch of smooth sod over it. I’m sarcastic, of course.
Have you ever walked over a beach full of empty discarded plastic bottles? I have! You couldn’t see the sand. I was slipping on the bottles and struggled to keep my balance. I felt bad at that point, not sorry for myself. I felt bad being a human and contributing to the culture of junk.
Now, I might complain about the trash without. I must also contend with the trash within. Clean up time! That’s a herculean task!
May the Source be with you!
10 KM
Radhastami Deity Darshan
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September 2nd was Srimati Radharani's appearance day - Sri Radhastami. This day is extra special as it is also the 42nd installation anniversary of our presiding deities, Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha. As always one of the highlights of the festivities was the amazing Darshans of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai and Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subadhra. See below our full album including darshans from Mangal Arati (4:30am) the opulent day outfit as well as the evening flower outfit!
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-04 23:20:00 →
1965 September 5 :
"In the evening the sky was cloudy and they expected foggy weather and all of them became little gloomy. But at midnight we passed Malta by God's grace it was all right throughout the night."
Jaladuta Diary :: 1965
"In the evening the sky was cloudy and they expected foggy weather and all of them became little gloomy. But at midnight we passed Malta by God's grace it was all right throughout the night."
Jaladuta Diary :: 1965
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-04 23:18:00 →
1967 September 5 : "When I received your letter, it appeared to me that I had received a letter from a lost child. I felt too much aggrieved when some of you left me, but I was confident that all of you would come back again."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-04 23:16:00 →
1969 September 5 : "I can re-organize all the branches of the Gaudiya Math in India. If you can negotiate about our amalgamation on a cooperative basis, it will be great service to Srila Prabhupada."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-04 23:14:00 →
1969 September 5 : "The service of the devotee is offered up to Krishna through the disciplic succession. It is like electricity: if one is in touch with his Spiritual Master, and his Spiritual Master is in touch with his bonafide Spiritual Master, then in this way an offering is automatically transferred to Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-04 23:12:00 →
1969 September 5: "Who has said this about rasa with the Spiritual Master? It is a most unauthorized statement. Better you should stick to hearing from authorized persons, like your Spiritual Master. Never hear from someone not in our line. It is simply a waste of time."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-04 23:11:00 →
1974 September 5: "There will be no more discussion. Immediately this should be stopped, this matter. He should be encouraged very much in his activities. Amongst ourselves there must be very liberal and friendly dealings not that if somebody has got some fault he should be cut. We should reform by amicable dealings."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-04 23:10:00 →
1974 September 5: "My only anxiety is to guide you. Krishna sometimes makes me sick just to examine how much you have learned. You should never act independently - my guidance is always there in my words."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-04 23:09:00 →
1974 September 5: "This restaurant program will not work. Do not attempt. Best idea is to go to Fiji and preach. Preaching is first. That is the business of sannyasi, not opening restaurant."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-04 23:08:00 →
1975 September 5: "Krishna appears for this purpose. He leaves behind His instructions so that in the future people could take His help and guidance. But, if you do not accept His instructions, then how can you be happy?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-09-04 23:06:00 →
1975 September 5: "We require the help of many, many young men like you to understand this philosophy thoroughly and preach this movement in an organized way all over the world. I am here in Vrindaban for some time. If you come and stay with me along with some of your interested friends, I shall be happy to convince all of you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
Please Join The Japa Group
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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
ys
Rasa Rasika dasa
Two Wonderful Harinams
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2 wonderful Harinams led by His Grace Sakshi Gopal Prabhu and His Grace Krishna Kirtan Prabhu, this is what makes London the best place in the world to be.
CC Antya 3.67: “On this earth there are many living entities,” the Lord said, “some moving and some not moving. What will happen to the trees, plants, insects and other living entities? How will they be delivered from material bondage?”
CC Antya 3.68: Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, “My dear Lord, the deliverance of all moving and nonmoving living entities takes place only by Your mercy. You have already granted this mercy and delivered them.
CC Antya 3.69: “You have loudly chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and everyone, moving or not moving, has benefited by hearing it.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Yours Humbly
Parsharam Das
The strength of Japa during a dentist visit
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So it’s been an interesting week
One that has increased my appreciation for the chanting of the holy names of Sri Krishna and the amazing benefits it brings.
The Dentist:
Yes another visit to the dentist and finally they decided it was safe to go ahead with the extraction of the tooth, they explained the difficulty of the procedure; however it did not prepare me for the hour of pulling and drilling of the tooth before it became free from the socket.
Dentist’s are a strange place were glad their there but in reality no one really wants to go and this indeed could be added to the many horror stories of dentistry misery; however sitting back in the chair my thoughts were initially focused on soothing sound of the mahamantra then meditating on Radhasthami. Prompting some confusion with the staff in attendance as I was too relaxed given the procedure.
Well it was soon over and indeed I felt fortunate that my time indeed was not wasted and my head was buzzing with the amazing pastimes as spoken of by the many devotee’s who have spoken on the subject.
The anaesthetic wore off and the hour long battle that took place started to let me know along with a little swelling; what to do? Amazingly the answer was simple in times of distress there is no greater activity than chanting the holy names of Sri Krishna; the mahamantra soon soothed the pain.
My mind however started to ponder:
The tooth through association had become very much attached to me so much so that despite the fact it was starting to crumble and suffer the pangs of deterioration it truly didn’t want to leave; the persistence of an expert dentist indeed eventually extracted it.
We are ourselves attached to the material world, so attached indeed that even when difficulty comes the body starts to pain we remain convinced by our staying things will work out; so life time after lifetime we make the same mistakes binding us more and more to the material world.
The expert Spiritual Master assisted by expert devotees enter into the battle to convince and guide us in such a way that we eventually become extracted from material suffering and return to our constitutional position in the spiritual world.
It’s a battle and as were slowly guided and our eyes are opened from the darkest of ignorance to the spiritual light we begin to see the wisdom in the words spoken to us; we see the beauty of their guidance.
It takes time and due to attachment to our material self we sometimes have to be dealt with roughly to awaken us to the dangers were in.
And like the dentist who at the time is not very popular, once the procedure is finished and healing is done we become grateful and thankful for their work.
And so over time we see and become thankful to the great mercy shown to us the Spiritual Master and devotees for relieving us of the suffering we ourselves have inflicted by our insistence on association with material nature.
Well that’s the thoughts on how fortunate I am to have devotee association and the Mahamantra to focus on especially at times of distress.
But as always I would like to hear your thoughts and realisations because they truly do inspire me.
Hare Krishna
Transform, Enrich, Inspire Your Summer Euro Bus Tour Strikes Again!
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To give you a glimpse of what the Euro Bus Tour is like, here are some of the highlights of the 2014 summer tour:
Italy - Villa Vrindavan (Florence) Sravanam Kirtanam festival with a visit with H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami, Villagio Hare Krsna (Bergamo) with H. G. Pancajangari prabhu, and Prabhupadadesh (Venice) harinam and cultural programs
Vienna, Austria – Preaching center cultural program and harinam
Lugano, Switzerland – Lake and alpine adventure activities
Czech Republic – Padayatra across southern Czech with a visit from H.H. Lokanatha Swami
Hungary – Budapest harinam, visits and kirtan with H.H. Sivaram Swami and Krishna Valley visit
Croatia – Pula, Rijeka, and Rovinj beach activities, harinams and visits with H. H. Chandramauli Swami
Slovenia – Yatra summer camp with a cultural program and Zagreb harinam
Lord Balarama’s Appearance day and pizza party at Villa Vrindavana
Read more › Croome Court weekends and Rathayatra at Pershore Plum Festival, UK (Album 83 photos)
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"As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches." (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28) Read more › Tree Planting in Mayapur
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The BSF Kalyani had organized a tree planting program in Mayapur. This was done in the banks of Ganga to protect from erosion. They had planted approximately 100 baniyan trees at Prabhupada Ghat. The IG of BSF joined with the Sri Mayapur Gurukul boys. The BSF School children, BSF force, and the ISKCON management participated in the joint program. The members of ISKCON were Gauranga Simha Das, Madhava Gauranga representing the Gurukul, security department head Bhakti Swaroop Das, and tourism head Gopijana Vallabha Das.
The children performed a cultural program creating awareness to the public on the importance of having trees and the need to protect them and not cut them down for wood.
Read more › Radhasthami in Nanda Gram temple, Nigeria
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This year Radhasthami was celebrated in grand style in Nanda Gram temple, Nigeria. Devotees all conversed in the temple very early and observed the normal fasting. Lectures on Radharani was given by the temple president, His Grace, Nataraja Das, and other speakers like prabhu Caitanya prema and Bhadra Das all spoke on the topic. There was Bhajans, Drama, dance, cutting of Radha cake and delicious prasadam for everybody. Read more › September 4th, 2014 – Darshan
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The post September 4th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
The nature of a devotee
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 August 2012, Stockholm, Sweden, Bhagavad-gita 11.8)
A devotee is not only interested in seeing Krsna himself. Of course, a devotee wants to see Krsna, but he also wants everyone else to see Krsna. He wants the whole world to see Krsna. Therefore, Yudhisthira, the elder brother of Arjuna, performed the rajasuya sacrifice. It was a sacrifice that could be performed by a powerful king and it meant the coronation of that king as the emperor. So Yudhisthira performed that sacrifice but he used it so that Krsna was glorified as the Supreme Lord, in the presence of everyone. That was his real purpose for that sacrifice, so that the whole world could hear, ‘Yes, Krsna is the Supreme Lord.‘So this is the nature of a devotee. A devotee wants the whole world, everyone, to know the glories of Krsna.
The pure devotee is para dukha dukhi. He is feeling the suffering of other living beings. He is compassionate and he understands that in the absence of Krsna, there is only suffering – sugar-coated suffering and straight suffering, but suffering nonetheless. Suffering from acute agony or suffering from emptiness.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Can you point out anything that is not right?”
“No.”
“Then why are you not happy?”
The emptiness of a life without Krsna is also suffering. So in this way, we see sugar-coated suffering or suffering in its raw form. The pure devotee in compassion wants others to know Krsna because nothing else can satisfy the heart.
Krishna Kirtan at Malahide Community School, Dublin, Ireland (1 min video)
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Devotees visit regularly as part of the school's Comparative Religion programme, talking about Hare Krishna philosophy and practice and sharing the gift of Kirtan... in which we often see the students self-consciously singing with big smiles on their faces! Read more › Swiss Mountain Retreat, 28 July – 5 August 2014
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It has been a while since the last travel update of Kadamba Kanana Swami which was his participation in the Radhadesh Summer Festival. Since then, Maharaj’s tour of Europe continued until he departed to Mayapur, India. Over the next few days, we will present to you recordings and photos from the remainder of his European summer tour.
Report by Bhakta Shiv
The morning after the Radhadesh Summer Holi festival, Kadamba Kanana Swami travelled to the great mountains of Switzerland. A group of roughly sixty devotees congregated to hear nourishing classes and kirtans centred around Gaura-lila which were given by Sacinandana Swami and Kadamba Kanana Swami.
The first days were most enticing as Kadamba Kanana Swami spoke from the Caitanya-candramrta, a book by Srila Prabhodhanda Sarasvati, in the morning and the Sri Caitanya-Candradaya-nataka, a book by Kavi Karnapura, at some of the evening classes, whilst planting the question, “Who am I really?” in everyone’s mind. Sacinandana Swami spoke on the principles by which we develop and shield our sraddha (faith).
A few days into the retreat, Kadamba Kanana Swami began giving classes in German, as you will notice in the recordings below, to accommodate the audience. Midway through the week, a full day dedicated to kirtans was arranged, where all the devotees came together in the tent and sang together. Unfortunately, Sacinandana Swami became severely unwell during this week and therefore had to slow down, however he still came down to give a few nectarean kirtans and classes.
On the second last night, a trip to Vrindavan was arranged as Kadamba Kanana Swami guided everyone through the streets, mood, and culture of Vrindavan with a slideshow of pictures put together by Bhanu Nandani Mataji. Then Bhanu Nandani Mataji gave an update on how the Brij foundation was developing over the past year, supporting many Brajabasi widows. The last evening both Swamis gave some final concluding thoughts for everyone to take away.
Then for the next two days, Kadamba Kanana Swami stayed at the Zurich temple where he gave the Sunday love feast class and in the evening, he led really ecstatic rocking kirtans that got everyone dancing and not wanting to leave so much so that when Maharaj actually stopped everyone continued singing, not leaving the temple room and so Maharaj continued on with the kirtans.
Photos
Please visit flickr to see all the photos
Audio
We apologize for the quality of the recordings. Due to heavy rain and noise from the tent heating system, some recordings are not of great quality. A few classes are in the German language only.
Bhajans
Bhajans – 29 July 2014
Bhajans – Part 1
Bhajans – Part 2
Vraja Bhajans
Evening Bhajans
Last Evening Bhajans
Classes
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.17
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.43
Vrindavan Evening – English & German
Reading from a book written by Sadhananda Swami
Concluding retreat class KKS & SNS
Candramrta and Chandradoya Nataka Seminar
Part 1 – English
Part 2 – English
Part 3 – German
Part 4 – English
Part 5 – German
Part 6 – German
Sunday Feast – Zurich – 3 August 2014
Sunday Feast Bhajans
Srimad Bhagavatam 2.1.18 – German
Remembering our recently departed Radha-kunda dd – the epitome of the saying “to know her is to love her”
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Radhasthami Dance in Auckland, New Zealand (4 min video)
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One who feels he is not yet ready to live in a temple, especially householders who live with a wife and children, can start a center at home by installing the Deity, worshipping the Lord morning and evening, chanting Hare Krishna and discussing the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
(Caitanya-caritamrta, Madya-lila, 3.190 Purport) Read more › Radhastami 2014 – temple of Shri Radha Ramana, Villaggio Hare Krishna, Bergamo, Italy (Album 105 photos)
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The members of the present Krishna consciousness movement were not born in India, nor do they belong to the Vedic culture, but within the short time they have become such wonderful devotees simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra that even in India they are well received as perfectly well behaved Vaisnavas wherever they go. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 17.1 Purport) Read more › Radhastami Drama in Iskcon New Zealand (14 min video)
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"Oh Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from My eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in your absence." This is the perfectional stage of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra.
(Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.51 Purport) Read more › 15 Million reached through Namahatta!
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ISKCON Namahatta in Mayapur reaches 15 Million By Iksvaku das (ISKCON CDM Outreach Coordinator) On the auspicious day of Radhastami, His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, co- minister of the Congregational Development in ISKCON, congratulated the Namahatta devotees from Sridhama Mayapur for having reached out to a record number of 15 million people in their last 35 […]
The post 15 Million reached through Namahatta! appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Tree Planting in Mayapur
→ Mayapur.com
The BSF Kalyani had organized a tree planting program in Mayapur. This was done in the banks of Ganga to protect from erosion. They had planted approximately 100 baniyan trees at Prabhupada Ghat. The IG of BSF joined with the Sri Mayapur Gurukul boys. The BSF School children, BSF force, and the ISKCON management participated in […]
The post Tree Planting in Mayapur appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Krishna Paintings to Show at Crow Collection of Asian Art
→ ISKCON News
Twenty beautiful paintings of Lord Krishna by the late celebrated traditional artist B.G. Sharma are set to show at the prestigious Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas, Texas this fall. The exhibition will be named “Seeing and Believing: Krishna in the Art of B.G. Sharma.”
Maradona Among Stars in Interfaith Peace Soccer Match in Rome
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Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist players, including Israel's Tomer Hemed, take part in game endorsed by Pope.
Radhasthami celebration at Iskcon Auckland, New Zealand (Album 91 photos)
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"As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches." (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28) Read more › Update on the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis
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"We have good news and bad news from Ukraine.The good news is that practically all devotees from the Lugansk region have been safely accommodated elsewhere. Devotees are still fleeing the Donetsk region. On August 28th, eight more devotees from Donetsk, including three children, were assisted into safer accommodations."
Bhakti Purusottama Swami Impresses Detroit with Three Day Radharani Katha
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Bhakti Purusottama Swami visited ISKCON Detroit for three days and flooded the congregation with very sweet narrations of divine appearance, supreme qualities and inconceivable pastimes of Srimati Radharani in anticipation of Radhastami.
Another New E-book From the North European BBT
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The North European branch of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) announced that Srimad Bhagavad-gita, The Complete Sanskrit Text in Roman Transliteration – popularly known as the BBT’s “chanting Gita,” is now available in all flavors at bbtmedia.com.
The devotees in Kiev, Ukraine celebrate Radhasthami despite the war! (Album 14 photos)
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Fate can be changed by Krishna consciousness. Krishna says, "I shall give you protection from all the resultant action of your sinful life." That is fate changed. When you surrender to Krishna, He takes charge of squaring up all your sinful activities and their reaction. Surrender to Krishna; then your fate is changed. Delhi, November 28, 1975. Read more › Modi Gifts Gita to Japanese Emperor
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"Today I went to the maharaja of Japan, I have given one to him, because I don't think that I have anything more to give and the world also does not have anything more to get than this."
ISKCON Mayapur Namahatta Reaches Out to 15 Million
→ ISKCON News
On the auspicious day of Radhastami, Jayapataka Swami, co-minister of the Congregational Development in ISKCON, congratulated the Namahatta devotees from Sridhama Mayapur for having reached out to a record number of 15 million people in their last 35 years of preaching Krishna Consciousness.