Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Although World Cup host Brazil is still reeling from a 7–1 loss to Germany on July 8th, football fever still grips the country as the World Cup barrels towards the final. “Football is the most important thing amongst things that don’t have any importance,” says Sri Krishna Murti. “It’s nice entertainment, but it’s not going to change anyone’s life.” For the ISKCON devotees, however, the World Cup was life-changing.
“As if their Gods fell into the dust.” This was my first reaction seeing the videos and photos of the devastated faces after the Brazilian football team’s 1-7 loss to Germany. "What’s the big deal? Wasn’t it just a game?”
On July 7, 2014, girls from Senior Girl Scout Troop 733 from Alachua, Florida were invited to meet with Samuel Mbae Ragwa, Governor of the Tharaka-Nithi County in Kenya. The girls were invited to share details about their project focused on reducing barriers to education for girls and young women around the world.
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| Some of the locust tree logs taken from ISCOWP property were thick enough to split into two or more posts. We used metal wedges and a sledge hammer to split the logs |
I couldn’t let this week go by without saying a few words of appreciation for Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi who has just passed on, aged 89. I met him once, some years ago in London, and he was the father of a friend of my wife who is from Winnipeg, Canada.
My knowledge of him is sketchy, but I do know that he was a teacher of Judaism and brought invigoration to dispersed congregations around North America. Together with Arthur Waskow he created a movement of small groups known as Ruach Havura, whose practise of Judaic liturgy and ritual was creative, experimental – and apparently effective. Many people owe their renewed appreciation for the Jewish culture to his outreach.
After escaping the Nazi threat in 1941 he discovered a USA where Judaism was somewhat accommodated and on the decline. By singing in English, using theatre and alternative forms of presentation, he rekindled interest in spirituality and tradition but in a way that took modern thought and artistic expression into consideration.
When I read his book: “The First Steps” in which he described the key factors of Jewish belief and practise, I knew that he was someone who loved his tradition, but that wanted others to appreciate it too. It was no surprise to me to discover that he was also associated with the Lubavitcher tradition, since outreach is one of their key activities.
Interestingly for me, due to his influences in America and the counter-culture times, he started something called the Jewish Ashram, and was also very favourable to meditation, even chanting the Hare Krishna on occasion. Shalom.
After a quick visit to London from Sweden, Kadamba Kanana Swami arrived in Amsterdam in anticipation for three big programs in the first week of July. After arriving on Thursday evening, Maharaj gave the Srimad Bhagavatam class on Friday morning. Friday is traditionally the day for the ‘Dinner Club’ and bhajan evening, and Kadamba Kanana Swami was happy to join in and enliven us with his expert singing.
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On Saturday, Kadamba Kanana Swami gave the Srimad Bhagavatam class where he talked about household life and how king Rahugana was instructed by the sage Jada Bharata about it.
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In the afternoon, we went out on the streets for some serious dancing and singing of Hare Krsna. Kadamba Kanana Swami led our dancing party through the streets of Amsterdam for almost two hours.
On Sunday, Kadamba Kanana Swami left Amsterdam to attend the Sunday feast in Cologne, Germany. He returned on Monday evening again to Amsterdam. On Tuesday morning, Kadamba Kanana Swami gave the morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam.
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On Friday afternoon, we arrived in the lovely home of Gita Govinda located in Rotterdam. She invited Kadamba Kanana Swami to attend this home program and it was also her birthday. She invited all of her family members to attend the program. The house was amazing, the bhajans were very inspiring, the prasadam was heavenly and all the organizers were very expert in making us very comfortable. The bhajans were powerful and Kadamba Kanana Swami spoke in Dutch on general aspects of Krsna consciousness. Afterwards, we all joined in to relish the nice foodstuffs that were prepared. There was nasi, salad, drink, cake and fruits. We had a great time talking to all the guests and it became very late before we hit the bed. The next morning, after staying overnight in the house of Gita Govinda, we prepared to leave for the next festival: The Ratha Yatra festival in Den Haag.
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Video by Astasakhi. View the video on her channel.
On Saturday morning, it rained like anything and when we arrived in Den Haag it was still pouring down. But the prediction was that it would clear up later in the day, so with bright spirits the parade commenced through the streets of Den Haag. Halfway through the parade, the sun starting shining. It was as if Jagannatha was happy with our efforts and awarded us with some sunshine. Jagadananda prabhu lead the singing in the first half of the procession and Kadamba Kanana Swami took over for the second half. With the expert guidance of the police and volunteers, the procession arrived at the festival square after two hours where the next part of the programs continued.
At 17h30 we made way again for Amsterdam, happy and fulfilled.
Video by Astasakhi. View the video on her channel.
On Sunday, (6 July) Kadamba Kanana Swami led the Sunday program at the Amsterdam Hare Krsna Temple. First, he sang bhajans for an hour and afterwards, he spoke on topics from the Bhagavad-gita. The talk was well received and Kadamba Kanana Swami really got into it. Check out the class because it was really enlivening, “Thirty-nine billion! You couldn’t spend it if you wanted to…”
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Video by : Asthasakhi from the Netherlands. View video on her channel.
Early on Monday morning, Kadamba Kanana Swami left Amsterdam to visit the Serbian Summercamp and this weekend, he is at the kirtan festival in Villa Vrindavan, Italy.
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From the disappearance of Nila Madhava to Rathayatra.
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The film was created by one of the pioneers of Indian cinema, director Govind Phalke Dhandiradzhem. Rare picture of talk about the exploits of the young and small pranks of Krishna, "the Komsomol truth in Khakassia"
First film screening to the accompaniment of musical group was held at the last festival "World of Siberia - 2013" and attracted a record number of viewers. Showing unique silent film "Krishna Childhood" will be held July 12 at the site "EtnoKinoKlub", the beginning of the show - at 23.00.
The original names of the tape: The Childhood of Krishna, Kaliya Mardan. Picture starring Mandakini Phalke, Nilkanth, etc. Read more › 
Mayapur Flavours
Thursday, 10 July to Friday, 18 July 2014
Senior students from Mayapur’s BhaktivedantaAcademy along with the Dean, Sri Madhava Gauranga dasa, are sharing their skills with the New Govardhana community from
Thursday, 10 July to Friday, 18 July 2014. Read more › 
Take some time out to visit the Embassy of the Spiritual World at ISKCON New Govardhana - Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari, the more you look the more nectar you will find. Read more › From S Ramchandran
Based on the Gita daily article Chapter 15, Text 19
Knowledge of Krishna’s position stimulates submission and his disposition stimulates affection
Why do you say in your reply that "But can we love Krishna steadily throughout our life? Is this not a doubt. If your heart is full like Mirabai's, why resort to knowledge, gyan, or any holy scripture/book ? By the very act of thinking, will Krishna not sit into our minds and hearts ? Once Krishna sits inside us, the very moment no external worldy subject can affect ? because what is affected is our consciousness, our feelings, our inner soul, our thoughts, our mental processes...all these of course are taken over by Krishna when we utter his name in intoxicated bliss...
Why are you saying "..We may feel some devotion for him sometimes, but such sporadic feelings ..... Because when those devotional feelings weaken"
How can devotion be 'sometimes'/temporary or sporadic? if we forget everything for a minute and think of Krishna and take his name, surely Krishna will come rushing in like a Tsunami and innundate our entire being inside out. In turn this will make us blind to worldly affairs. As I see it knowledge has no place in pure Bhakti. yes knowledge is required if Bhakti is diluted....
Vrnda Gleeson using her wonderful talents to beautify the ISKCON New Govardhana - Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari Parikrama Path Read more › 
Making Harinama takeaway bracelets from plastic bottles, step by step tutorial. Read more › 
The archbishop of Canterbury plans to force legislation through if the General Synod does not accept female bishops.
In Bhagavad-gita Lord Sri Krishna indicates one of the essential steps in the bhakti process is acceptance of the shelter of such a Postal Peon, a guru, who helps connect one with Krishna, as well as assists in progressively fully restoring one's relationship with Him.
With Bhakti Chaitanya Swami. Irkutsk is a city and the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia Read more › 
Ulan-Ude is the capital city of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia. Read more › 
Before going into politics, Councilor Ajay Maru would regularly visit ISKCON’s Bhaktivedanta Manor just outside London as a congregation member. So when he was voted in as the new Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow on June 12th, it wasn’t a difficult choice for him to select Manor president Srutidharma Das as his chaplain.
Indradyumna Swami: So far the summer days on the Baltic Sea coast have been mostly bright and sunny. Taking advantage, our festival team can be seen everywhere; on the beaches, in the towns and villages and performing on stage each night. Read more › 
A recent news report from Vietnam features an exquisite and very ancient sculpture of Lord Vishnu. The significance of this discovery cannot be overestimated.
By Iskcon devotees. Read more › 
Popular throughout the world, Indian spices have a long history of providing a welcome burst of flavor. They also have very real benefits to the health.
Sivarama Swami Maharaja NVD Kirtan
This talk is a part of the "Fascinating Mahabharata Characters" series. To know more about this course, please visit: bhakticourses.com
Temple Closure Notice
His Holiness Candramauli Swami
Fasting..................... on July22nd
Bhagavad Gita Classes(New Session)
Kirtan Etiquette Workshop
IB's 2ND Festival of Chariots
ISKCON Brampton Yoga and Wellness
Nutrition Help & Diet Tips
Sunday School
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 16 April 2014, Durban, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.34)
Transcribed by Radhadyuti dd
One should not display anger in front of the deities; one should not cry in front of the deities or bring his mundane sorrow. When one cries tears of ecstasy – that is another matter. Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to cry litres of tears in front of Lord Jagganath but we should not bring our mundane sorrows to Krsna; we should not do that; it is not our business to do that. That is according to pāñcarātrikī – rules which purify our behaviour. It means that one has to learn to act according to dharma.
This is a very big step; a big commitment. It is about commitment and it is about desire. It can be done, when we desire. It can be done when we say, “Let me just desire to change.” It is due to ignorance that we do not desire. It is due to ignorance that we still chase after foolish desires; that we still chase after material enjoyment and sense gratification. That is due to ignorance. Therefore we need to cultivate transcendental knowledge and thoroughly read. Everyone should read! Sometimes, someone comes to me and says, “Ah, I never used to read.” It doesn’t matter, now read.
Remember, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu glorifying that brahmana who was illiterate and who could not read but he received the order of his spiritual master and he would sit there everyday, faithfully reading the book, although he couldn’t read a letter! People would laugh but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw that he was crying and he asked him, “Why you are crying?” He said, “I am crying because when I see this drawing, this painting of Krsna, being the chariot driver or Arjuna, his devotee, the Supreme Lord becoming the chariot driver of his devotee. The Lord as the servant of his devotee, that makes me cry!” Lord Caitanya said, “You are the greatest expert of the Gita.”
