Planet ISKCON

Answer Podcast

Answer Summary: The holy name is dramatically different because it is God himself manifesting as divine sound – the difference can be understood through intelligence and confirmed through experience.

Answer: Out of His love for us, God manifests Himself as His holy name. The Padma Purana declares: abhinnatvam nama naminoh “There is no difference between the name of God and God Himself.” So the holy name is no ordinary sound; it is God Himself manifesting as sound.

Here’s an example to illustrate how a thing can be much more valuable that what it appears to be. A mother tells her four year old child to tear and throw into the dustbin all paper that he finds fallen on the ground in their bedroom. The child gleefully gets down to work, tearing and throwing away the papers. Suddenly the mother notices a five-hundred rupee note that had fallen from her husband’s pocket as he rushed to office that morning. The child also notices that note and picks it up to tear it. The mother screams in alarm, “Stop.” Taken aback, the child asks, “Did you not tell me tear all paper lying on the ground?” The mother hastily takes the note from his hand, keeps it safely in her purse and then replies, “But this is not ordinary paper.” The child looks at the paper in surprise. It looks just like the papers that he has torn. Seeing his incredulity, the mother says, “With this paper, you can get five hundred chocolates for your birthday.” When he actually gets the chocolates from the shop, then he realizes that the five hundred rupee note is no ordinary paper.

No ordinary material sound can provide the immense joy such joy just as no ordinary paper can get five hundred chocolates.

Similarly, those with undeveloped spiritual consciousness think that the holy name is just like any ordinary sound. But when they chant the holy names themselves and experience profound peace and immense joy, then they understand that the holy name is different from any ordinary sound, because no ordinary material sound can bring such joy, just as no ordinary paper can get five hundred chocolates.

God, out of His unlimited love for us, makes Himself easily available to us in a portable form that we can literally carry on our tongue-tip. Srila Prabhupada would say that when we chant the holy name, the Lord dances on our tongues.

Chanting can make a huge difference in our own lives and also make a substantial difference in the world too. There are a significant number of criminals and addicts and others habituated to self-destructive behavior who want to become better human beings, but don’t know how to change themselves. If they could be taught the process of chanting, they would be able to overcome their lower natures and become better human beings, and thus help make our world a much better place. Many such stories of inspiring transformation are described in the book Holy Jail compiled by His Holiness Candramauli Maharaj.

Chanting can not only make bad people good; it can also make good people better, helping them to become more focused and more selfless, thereby increasing their contribution to the world.

Thus, the holy name is hugely different from ordinary sound - and open-mindedly trying out chanting to realize that difference can make a huge difference in our life.

From Muralidhara Prabhu:

Would it be correct to say that, just as today’s computers can control many material aspects of life thru a combination of “zero” and “one”, Krishna controls and coaches the living entity thru remembrance and forgetfulness?

Answer Podcast

On August 6th, 2014, one of Srila Prabhupada's earliest disciples Madhu-dvisa Das (67) has passed away. In the video Madhu-dvisa remembers Prabhupada.

An internet person, Sean Fletcher tries to run from a broken relationship by taking a trip to Himalayas, but finds himself stuck in a small Indian town, Vrindavan, that turns out to be an unusual place. A movie by Vrindavan Experience is coming soon.

Devotees had not visited this town in more than thirty years. I talked to my friend Navina Nirada Prabhu about my desire to sponsor the book distribution, and he came up with a plan to do it in early July (you don't want to go there in the winter) with a friend of his from Ottawa, Jaya Sacinandana Prabhu. I told Navina that since I was sponsoring the books ($3500 worth), they should ask for any donation, no fixed price, and accept whatever was given, since the cost was covered. Read more ›

Even though there are so many great acaryas, Srila Rupa Gosvami has been attributed with the honor of being that person who has established the innermost heart's desire, of Sri Krishna in the form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Sriman Mahaprabhu came to the village of Ramakeli-grama, He met with Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami and told them, "You should leave your homes and be with Me." After a short time they left their homes, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came from Vrndavana and met with Srila Rupa Gosvami at Prayag, the confluence of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu told him: "The ocean of the transcendental mellows of devotional service is so large that no one can estimate its length and breadth. However, just to help you taste it, I am describing one drop. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 19.137) Read more ›

The museum features several permanent pieces including three large framed wooden depictions of Lord Krishna’s universal form, Lord Ramachandra, and the Dasavatar (Krishna’s ten incarnations). But its main offering is an annually rotating roster of exhibits that include sculptures, paintings, photography, video, and other art mediums.

UNNESCO lists the Vedic chanting as one of the important representatives of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A video by the UNESCO.

Gita wisdom reconciles the goodness of God’s creation with the weakness of his creatures by differentiating between our pure core as souls and the shell of impurities such as lust.

The post Conversation with some ladies on the importance of rituals, watching movies, the presence of deities and so on appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Medical doctors say that what I have (shingles) is one of the strongest pains. It is true - the pain killers, which I take seem to bow down before this pain and I don't want to take anything too strong to cloud my consciousness. In addition there is a terrible stiffness of the neck. I can only lie down when I bring my head into my arms and then slowly put it down. Read more ›

Eating organic is like eating two extra portions of fruit, vegetables daily.

True gratitude is beyond a superficial flattery of the ‘thank-you’ we hear daily. Heartfelt appreciation may be above utterances. It cannot be just switched on and off.

The post August 8th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The month of Kartika (Damodar) is fast approaching. This year is our 28th Vraj Mandala Padayatra. We have one bullock cart and capacity for 7 devotees, 50,000 books and one month to wander through the twelve forests of Vraj. If you are a little physically fit and up for a transcendental adventure please contact me email Read more ›

There are a number of herbs that are often used in everyday cooking that are also prized for their ability to calm the digestion system.

The National Green Tribunal has banned new construction within 100 meters on both sides of Braj Parikrama route, spanning across three states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan by declaring it as ‘No Development Zone’. Braj Parikrama route spans across the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, part of Bharatpur district of Rajasthan and part of Palwal district of Haryana. A bench of Justice P Jyothimani directed the government of UP, Haryana and Rajasthan to take steps to preserve the Parikrama path apart from restricting the growth of buildings. Read more ›

1968 August 8 : "This method of chanting in the park, distributing Prasadam, and selling our literature and making some collection, is just the way by which we can make both propaganda and maintain our institution."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 August 8 : "The Vedic system is students go from door to door for begging alms, and because everyone's son is in the asrama, nobody declines to give alms. So there is no financial difficulty; but now we have to adjust to the circumstance."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1971 August 8 : "First of all you must promise that you will not separate under any circumstances. This marriage is serious business and not to be taken lightly. There is no question of separation in Krishna Conscious marriages."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 August 8 : "How many trustees there are and how many are our initiated members? Our initiated members must be in the majority, and if any deed has to be prepared then I shall send you the wordings."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 August 8 : "They may install Deities later. First let them preach. Preaching is the first thing, and when there is experience then I can install Deities. Now you go on preaching with full vigor and determination."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 August 8 : "He has no sense. Unnecessarily he has canceled our sales agreement and we are suffering so much in litigation. So, he has not gained any experience what is the meaning of going to court. Therefore I cannot agree."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 August 8: "Yes, before the Spiritual Master a dullheaded fool is required, an over intelligent disciple is not a very good qualification. Chant, dance distribute books and Prasadam and everything will increase automatically."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 August 8: "I am happy that the preaching is going on. Above all our preaching must go on. If we do not get that land then we may purchase some other land, that is not a very difficult thing - but preaching is our real business."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

Jhulana-yatra is a festival to celebrate Radha Krishna's pastime of swinging on a golden swing everyday until Balarama-purnima. Read more ›

1974 August 8: "Regarding your expectation of 10,000 people, that is very good. I am very much pleased. Give the people nice prasadam. This is what is temple - life. Chanting, dancing, prasadam, this is what I want."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 August 8: "I am especially concerned that the second initiations not be taken cheaply. Brahmins are expected to rise early and follow strictly. Everyone must always chant 16 rounds and follow the four regulative principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Acyuta Gopi Mataji – Woodstock 2014 – Mantra Joga

Answer Podcast

From Sushant Kulkarni

Why is it necessary to come to the mode of goodness to practise bhakti? If bhakti is transcendental and does not depend on any material condition can’t it be practiced being in the modes of passion or ignorance?

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Holy Name Meditation Podcast

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Rasa Rasika dasa

(Kadamba Kanana Swami)

Balarama is the elder brother of Krsna and also the direct expansion of Krsna. He is non-different from Krsna; in fact, the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, Balarama and Krsna, appear in two forms but in these two forms they have different moods.

Krsna is the supreme enjoyer, Krsna is the one to whom all sacrifices are being offered to, Krsna is the controller of all the planetary systems… In this way, Krsna is always the Supreme Lord.

But Balarama is the Lord in a mood of a servant. He is the Supreme servant. He is always serving Krsna and it is said that Balarama experiences the greatest pleasure, even greater than Krsna because in service there is greater pleasure than in taking…