Planet ISKCON

A prayer for ISKCON’s devotees in the troubled region of eastern Ukraine: “O Lord Nrsimha, who are omnipresent, may your nails protect me and others at all times. Just as a lion attacks powerful elephant groups and splits apart their heads with it’s nails and the Vajrayudha (Indra’s defense weapon) splits the highest mountains, in [...]

"With the river rising, the water level of Yamuna at waterworks rose to 486.6 feet, which is around six feet higher than last week. The rise in the water level has provided us with ample stock of raw water needed to be supplied across the city for the whole of August," said, Rajendra Kumar Arya, executive engineer water works, Agra. However, the rise in the river level has alarmed people living in various localities in Trans-Yamuna region, which might get flooded if the water flow increases. A population of about 5,000 is living in fear of their homes getting submerged if heavy rains occur. Read more ›

1968 July 25: "How to do it, that I shall give you. You have simply to carry out my instructions. But you are not prepared to follow. You are simply visiting different places, for sight seeing recreation. This sort of service is not accepted by Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 July 25: "Unless you fix up your mind to serve the Spiritual Master Who is direct representative of Krishna, it is not possible to approach Krishna. Krishna is only approached through the transparent via media of bona fide Spiritual Master."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 July 25: "The activities of these elevated souls are not to be questioned by us. They have a higher purpose which we cannot determine; therefore do not try to imitate the actions of the very powerful, but one should simply follow their instructions."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 July 25 : "From India I went to Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit and then Boston. Now I am in New York and from here I shall go to Gainesville University and then London. You may write to me in London."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 July 25 : "I suggest when you return to India that you take sannyasa in your ripe old age without any family responsibility and let us together do something tangible in India. I shall request you to think this over very seriously."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 July 25 : "As long as the classes are going on well, the rules and regulations are being observed sincerely, the sankirtana party is going out with enthusiastic mood - if these things are going on, then everything is first-class."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 July 25: "That is not a very good proposal. We are always thinking these kind of changes, why is that? I simply want things to be developed which we have got, not to make so many big big plans and changing all the time."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 July 25 : "All respectable gentlemen will come. That quarter is aristocratic and our temple is unique. It is the only Krsna Balarama temple in Vrindaban and so attractive people will automatically come and see."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

How many of you would say that you think deeply about life? So there are many people who are like that but have no forums, or means to share their thoughts in real life. For instance, we may think about life from different perspectives, but we don’t always think others are also thinking like that, so we may not bring anything up in conversation. This society is about you as an individual, your own answers and feelings, there’s no uniform. We’re giving you spiritual wisdom from an ancient body of literatures called the Vedas, though they were compiled some time ago, they still provide cutting-edge tools for modern day life. We know this because we know bankers, doctors, lawyers and social leaders from different backgrounds and all walks of life using these techniques to make their life successful and more importantly happy. Our main events include: PSummer, Jammins, KCSocs, Festivals, Mentorship, Sangas and Courses. We also do a lot of other activities like, creative media, all of which can be found at www.psena.com Read more ›

1975 July 25: "I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples and the others as twice-born initiated brahmanas. Please see they are chanting 16 rounds and following the four regulative principles - this is your responsibity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

The post July 25th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

It is our great pleasure to announce ISKCON MAYAPUR’s 2nd annual six day Kartik Navadwip Mandal Parikrama during the most auspicious month of Kartik (organized by the Mayapur Chadnra’s). The Parikram begins on October 22nd and will end on October 29th, 2014. There will be a two day break, one for Govardhan puja (24th October) […]

The post Kartik Navadwip Parikrama appeared first on Mayapur.com.

“Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead.” CC Antya 4.71 Read more ›

‘The holy name of Krishna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krishna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krishna’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krishna Himself. Since Krishna’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krishna’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are identical.’ Padma Purana Read more ›

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZWrzyh

The post Scenes from Thursday at the Sun Festival outside Budapest appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Rupamati dd asks about mixed devotion and how it works and how it is purified appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Haribol! In case you didn't notice! Google Earth put brand new pictures from the space about Navadvip area. Last satellite pictures where made in 2010 and 2006, you can see the difference in development of TOVP and Mayapur area! your servant Abhinandana Nitai das Read more ›

On July 24^th, Abhinanda dasa reported that Alchevsk, a city between Donetsk and Lugansk in Eastern Ukraine, which had been relatively peaceful until now, looked like it would become the next battleground. “There is a large devotee population in Alchevsk”, he says. “If the conflict moves into Alchevsk, there may be many more devotees looking for refuge.”

By Bhakti Caru Swami, from the Malaga Retreat 2014 Read more ›

SB 4.12.12 Dhruva Maharaj’s Godly Qualities, Helsinki, Finland.mp3

Twenty-five young girls aged eleven to sixteen embarked on the Kishori Yatra bus tour from June 6^th to 29^th this summer, taking a life-changing road trip in America that was a major positive influence at an extremely formative period in their lives. With them were a group of positive role models and experienced youth leaders, dubbed “counselors,” all of them second generation ISKCON devotees themselves.

Hinduism is the second-largest practiced religion in Arizona, according to the U.S. Religious Congregations & Membership Study from 2010.

Krishna Lunch has been served at the University of Florida for 40 years. There is now students graduatinfg from this school who would not have eaten there at least once. ISKCON now partners with the University to upgrade the campus Plaza where the food distribution has been taking place for decades. 

I'm born Jewish. I have identified as a Vaisnava three times longer than as a Jew in my life.  I've been to Israel three times; Gaza once.

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada New Namahatta center as "HARE KRISHNA BHAJAN KUTIR" opened on 6th July at Aruppukottai 40Km from Madurai South Tamilnadu. HG Shankadhari Prabhu Temple president Madurai & ISKCON Indan Bureau inaugurated . Program started from Mangala Arthi fallowed by Darshan Arthi , Name board opening, Srimad Bhagavatam lecture and Prasadham, 500 to 600 devotes visited and about 550 plates of prasadham distributed till 3pm. Asia's largest cotton spinning industry Chairman T.R Dhinakaran and Ramco cement factory manager also take part in festival and enjoyed the Keerthan . We mainly focus on school collage youths and village preaching. Read more ›

Nature has provided us with numerous herbs and spices that contain significant pain-killing properties. 

According to many doctors and experts the cancer industry is just another a multi-billion-dollar industry that needs disease to stay in business. It is not in their interetst to cure you. An eye-opening full documentary "Cancer is Curable NOW" by Marcus and Sabrina Freudenmann challanges the Big Pharma.

Seven years after its first release and people are still talking about it. ‘The Secret’ that Rhonda Byrne felt she had discovered was the ‘law of attraction’; whatever you think about and focus on, eventually becomes reality in your life.

"So far the action taken by city officials, it is not good to disturb them unduly or cause unwanted agitation or anger with such people. They are demons so they will not change. Civil disobedience movement can be led by Lord Caitanya, but we are not so strongly organized and influential to be able to perform successfully such civil disobedience movement. It is good if the newspapers take our side and public opinion is against the authorities viewpoint, but it will be better if we use all goodwill and tact to avoid such violent confrontation in public and simply take another place with required parking space."

Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita 28 December 1971

Listen audio...

This talk is a part of the "Fascinating Mahabharata Characters" series. To know more about this course, please visit: bhakticourses.com

Calgary, Alberta

Learning On The Trail


On the Rotary Mattamy Greenway, at the eastern reaches of Calgary, I took my early trek.  From two locations on the trail, I learned of wilderness struggle.  Firstly, on a slight divergence of the trail, by a batch of trees (where frankly, I released some water) I saw the remains of an ordeal.  It had more to do with a ruffling of feathers.  There, on this tiny forest floor, was a pile of actual feathers, likely what was left of some aerial battle between two birds.  It was not the down of a duck that I was looking at, or a crow; hard to tell really, but it was a scatter of life, nevertheless.  I could only imagine the pain of the feathery victim. 

Further on the trail, in fact very close to the Trans Canada Highway/Highway 1, there lies the relics of a fur animal, at least to me, it was evidence of another scuffle. 

I terminated the trail walk and ended at a newspaper box.   I pulled out a Metro newspaper, sat myself at a park bench, and read the feature article of a local Calgarian pit bull that was euthanized by officials.  He had attacked and killed a poodle.  Chaos was the name of the three year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier.  The article was an account of two dog owners walking their pets, their toothy encounter, and then the subsequent reactions from the owners.  All in all, the theme here was about the struggle within life, and the harshness that pervades in our world. 

Mmm… this gives me a topic to speak on at tonight’s sangha at the home where I’m staying, “Suffering!  Can it be overcome?”

May the Source be with you!

9 KM

Vancouver, British Columbia

Decisions


A fairly spontaneous decision was made for me to fly to Vancouver, which I did yesterday.  The purpose?  It was not to participate in a walkathon.  Rather, it was decided that I meet with two monks, Gopal Krishna Goswami, and Hari Vilas (by virtue of service, he is practically a monk).  The three of us, not shunning administrator obligations, but sitting to discuss issues over our devotional community, was our topic of discussion. 

It would be nice to have the easy life of a roaming hermit, and not bother with ‘people’, however, our whole mission involves humans and offering them the more stress free material relieving lifestyle.  ‘People’ will always be on our agenda.  We serve and receive service from them.  Our role is to teach, mentor, coach, encourage.  The three of us had two sessions of meetings, one last evening and one this morning.  Prior to meeting, I naturally had to put in my kilometres, and also, in the planning of the day, work around our morning sadhana which begins at 4:30 AM.  After all, strength lies in sessions that are heart touching, and sadhana, when approached feelingly, opens up the chakra of the heart and prepares for dealing with people issues.

The three of us came out of our meeting room, satisfied with decisions made, knowing well that not all parties will be cent percent satisfied.  Compromise we must live with, otherwise, expect no hope. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Calgary/Vancouver

Moving Up


Usually the prairie is dry, yet this morning it was moist.  Some drizzle sprayed the sky during a portion of a 9 KM hike at Calgary’s east end.  It was my time to chant until I came to the home of Gaura Chandra when it was time to chat. 

Chat I did, and also at the Radha Madhava Cultural Centre, when reuniting with our bus tour group.  I spoke about the advantages of commitment, especially in regard to vows made by young Shyama Priya.  She is only 12, but made a firm conviction for the basic tenets of Vaishnava culture.  She put her values out for the ears of our community – no intoxication, no gambling, no meat eating and no casual sex.  These are tall orders to fulfill, but she has a good trying chance given her upbringing.  It is admirable that she takes this firm stance.  She also commits to mantra meditation for approximately 2 hours every day. 

Vows, when taken seriously, give power.  Vows that are taken casually, weaken.  No vows or no commitment means ‘no life’. 

I applaud Shyama Priya.  Her new name Shyamesvari. 

May the Source always be with her!

9 KM