Planet ISKCON

"Those who think that devotion to God and kindness to the jivas [souls] are mutually different  from each other, and perform accordingly in their life, such persons will not be able to follow the devotional culture. Their performances are only a semblance of devotion. Therefore, all the types of beneficence to others, like kindness, friendliness, forgiveness, charity, respect, and so on, are included in bhakti. Among these, according to the triple categories of the recipients. viz., high, medium and low. The actions of respect, friendliness and kindness are the very form of love and the characteristic portion of bhakti: charity of medicines, clothes, food, water, etc., shelter during adversities, teaching of academic and spiritual educations, etc., are the activities included in the devotional culture."

-  Tattva Viveka-­Tattva Sutra-­Amnaya Sutra: A Comprehensive Exposition of the Spiritual Reality by Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Miami, Florida

Give Gita A Chance

It’s not my most favourite time of the year to be in Florida, the weather gets balmy and hot.  I decided to stay in the Miami airport terminal, as I usually do, to take advantage of the AC in anticipation for a pickup or a ride.  That was the reason for missing my ride by Dr. Romue, AKA, Murari Gupta.  In other words, I should have been standing outside.  I took pleasure in a sit down reading from the book, “Chaitanya Bhagavat”, on the life of the renowned mantra master.  Time passed by.  I phoned the doctor, but no response.  Okay, taxi then.  Walking was out of the question for the chance of getting lost.  And also contending with the distance factor while hauling luggage. 

I arrived by taxi at the Coconut Grove ISKCON address.  Happily, I met a group of eager people I’d not seen for months.  There were new people in the mix, people who had since my last visit, discovered the wisdom of the “Bhagavad Gita”, and which resonated with them.  New faces, and joyful ones, enthusiastic to hear and see someone who might be an exemplar of the culture of the Gita.  Personally, I could not fit such shoes.  In any event, “I’ve given some friendship as best as I can,” I thought. 

We all gathered in my accommodated room and basked in the warmth of light heartedness, and not the sun.  I offered words of encouragement, “Life,” I said, “on the outside provides little fulfillment.  We are all looking but we are not receiving.  When you come to the point of stumbling upon Krishna’s divine word, then everything changes.”  The room full of people all admitted that it’s all there – in the Gita, like, “An empire spoke,” as Emerson said.  And as Thoreau had put it, “I bathe my intellect in the stupendous philosophy” of the Gita’s enlightenment.

Humbly, I could not say anything fresh and new, but to point to the text itself which can change the hearts of all.  Give the Gita a chance. 

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Toronto, Ontario

With His Finger

In our ashram office, a small packet was lying there on the desk.  I was curious.  It had arrived by regular post, I guess.  I opened the package, got to the contents, and saw it to be a complimentary copy of a CD entitled, “Mighty Govinda”, by the artist of the same name.  It’s a dancey piece of music with a touch of reggae, hip hop and classical music.  It’s upbeat.  I think I could walk to this genre of music.  It made me happy, gave me pleasure.  That’s all anybody ever wants anyways, right?  We desire ananda (joy). 

Don’t we all know from experience that where there’s pleasure there also will be some pain.  I have been concerned about my right index finger giving some botheration for a straight month now.  Not quite sure what it is – some minor infection.  It was some coincidence that I read from a calendar of Prabhupada’s meditations, a daily excerpt from his realization.  While listening to the music, I had a hard look at the finger, when I happened to glance at the quote for today. 

“If there is little pain in the finger, I become so much disturbed because I’ve got intimate connection with this finger.  Similarly, we have got intimate connection with Krishna, and we are fallen.  Therefore, Krishna always also feels little pain, and therefore, He comes down.  Krishna is feeling pain, so you become Krishna Conscious, then Krishna will feel pleasure.” – Srila Prabhupada.

May the Source be with you!

8 KM

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Lecture)

Freedom! Where is freedom in this world? Somehow we became disconnected from our real self and therefore we always feel trapped in every situation. But this process (Krsna consciousness) can reconnect us with ourselves, where we belong, in a world with an all-attractive Supreme, in an all-attractive exchange.

I’ll tell you what – at the end of the day, fairytales are true. And you thought all along that it was just myth, didn’t you? There was a time when you believed in fairytales, didn’t you?  But then, on the way, you lost that belief. But today I tell you, fairytales are true, after all… “And they lived happily ever after!”

TRANSLATION
With the destruction of dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion.

PURPORT
In the system of the varṇāśrama institution there are many principles of religious traditions to help members of the family grow properly and attain spiritual values. The elder members are responsible for such purifying processes in the family, beginning from birth to death. But on the death of the elder members, such family traditions of purification may stop, and the remaining younger family members may develop irreligious habits and thereby lose their chance for spiritual salvation. Therefore, for no purpose should the elder members of the family be slain.

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 1.39

"Chanting produces best results when we go deeper into chanting. Standing on the shores of the ocean one can’t access the precious gems and jewels on the bed of the ocean; one will be tossed away by the waves. However if we go deeper into the ocean, we can access the pearls. Similarly by chanting superficially or occasionally, we can’t avail the benefits; we’ll be thrown away by the waves of material energy."

Radhanatha Swami

The TKG Academy Community Picnic was held on April 27th.  Parents and teachers bond over team building games and honor potluck prasadam. Thank you to all the cooks!

 

 

1966 April 27: "I am holding classes thrice in a week and training some American youths in the matter of sankirtana and devotional service of the Lord. Some of them are taking the lessons very sincerely and in future they may be very good Vaisnavas according to rigid rituals."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

1967 April 27: "Rest assured in the discharge of Krishna conscious duties Krishna will always give us His protection. I have seen in you that Krishna has special mercy upon you so utilize this mercy fully so in this very life you can be elected as one of the associate of Krishna in His supreme abode Goloka Vrindaban."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 April 27: "My society desires to construct a nice American house on the land for study and promulgation of the Goswami literatures all over the world. We shall start a fine press for publication both in Sanskrit and English language and we can appoint your son as the Press manager if he can manage."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1969 April 27: "I am traveling now in so many places - from Los Angeles to Hawaii, then to San Francisco, then again Los Angeles, then New York, then Buffalo, and now I am in Boston. From here I shall go to Columbus, then to North Carolina, then to New Vrindaban, and then I may go to London if required."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 April 27: "The traveling Sankirtana Party was programmed long, long ago, even when I was in India. I used to say to my God-brothers that when I would begin preaching I shall take two trucks, one for Sankirtana Party and one for carrying requisites, and I would go from village to village throughout the whole world preaching Lord Caitanya's message. So the time has come as per my dream."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 April 27: "We are the only institution which can receive foreigners and train them nicely in spiritual life. So the Indian government should help to get us a nice place for such work to go on. Try to convince him in this way. Yes, we are contemplating Indira Gandhi's presence while laying down the foundation stone in Mayapur. So you arrange like that."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1973 April 27: "One who has no mother and who's wife is not obedient, such a home is as good as living in the desert. The steps you have taken are worthy of one who is my disciple. So please revive your old Krishna conscious activities and make your life successful. Do not spoil your life for a woman."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 April 27: "We can help them but the function has to be in connection with Krishna. We cannot divert our attention to such participation in so called Hindu religious functions. This has spoiled the Hindu religion into a hodgepodge pseudo religion. For advancement in Krishna Consciousness we should simply concentrate on Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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Why is a highly placed government servant given better facilities than those of an ordinary clerk? The answer is that a highly placed officer has to discharge duties of a higher nature. Similarly, the duties human beings have to perform are higher than those of animals, who are always engaged in simply feeding their hungry stomachs. Yet the modern soul-killing civilization has only increased the problems of the hungry stomach. When we approach a polished animal in the form of a modern civilized man and ask him to take interest in self-realization, he will say that he simply wants to work to satisfy his stomach and that there is no need of self-realization for a hungry man.

- Srila Prabhupada, Sri Isopanishad Mantra 3

(Image editing by Ajit Khadd - thanks!)

 

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2014 04 08 Rama Navami Festival Summary of Ramayana Bhakti Charu Swami ISKCON Chowpatty

Srila Prabhupada Encourages Devotees to Cooperate & Expand New Vrindaban – July 1974.

From a series of letters written by Srila Prabhupada outlining his vision for New Vrindaban.

Thanks to Vanipedia for the source material.

——————————————————————

July 26, 1974

My Dear Hladini devi dasi:

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 17, 1974 with enclosed photographs of Lord Jagannatha. I can see that you are very nicely taking care of the Deities, and this is much appreciated by me. Now you stick to this process of worship of the Deity and you will advance more and more in Krishna consciousness. I very much enjoyed my stay in New Vrindaban, and was glad to see everything going on very nicely. So now just cooperate with the leaders there and expand it more and more.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/bs

A couple of years ago the Govinda Valley devotees opened up the “Heart and Soul” restaurant in Cronulla, Sydney. This is a beachside suburb that is very busy, especially in summer. 

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 June 2013, Vrindavan, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.34)

Ultimately, the mercy of Mahaprabhu is what we are hoping for but only after we have given it our everything - not before and not while lying on our back saying, “Oh gosh, I really hope for the mercy of Mahaprabhu.” 

Not exactly like that but instead, after we have given it our everything and we have reached our limits by trying hard. When we reached our limit that is when we start hoping, that is when our prayers begin.

If you pray before that then what is the meaning of your prayer? If you have not reached your limits (of endeavour) and you pray already, then how would you feel when someone is says, “Aaahh, please help me to get up from bed!”

“Oh, do it yourself,” we may say. How do you think Krsna feels if we do not make any endeavour ourselves. When we have tried everything to conquer the unconquerable Krsna then yes, miracles can happen by mercy.

 

 

"O Krsna! Thakura Bhaktivinoda has warned us that inattention is the main door into the house of aparadhas. O Krsna! Please let me taste some pleasure in Your names, so I can focus my full attention on chanting. May Your holy names become deeply impressed in my mind."

From the Art Of Chanting Hare Krsna
by Mahanidhi Swami

1968 April 26: "Just like zero has no value, but when zero is placed on right side of one, the value of zero enhances to 10 times; similarly, our life, wealth, intelligence, and words become 100 X 100 greater and greater if they are employed in the service of the Lord."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 April 26: "This gentleman is very much materially ambitious. He wants to utilize Krishna Consciousness for his material name and fame. He greatly offended our Guru Maharaja so instead of becoming a great preacher of Krishna Consciousness, this gentleman has artificially become head of an institution."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 april 26: "You may know that he is not a liberated person, and therefore, he cannot initiate any person into Krishna Consciousness. That requires special spiritual benediction from higher authorities."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 April 26: "Everyone is appreciating your Deity worship and Srimati Radharani is smiling, so it is a great credit for you, so continue this engagement. You are making advancement in Krishna Consciousness as it is scheduled. From the attachment platform, the next platform is ecstasy, and then pure love of God."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 April 26: "Find out two or three such national distributors then we can distribute 10,000 books very easily. Now 5,000 KRSNA, vol. II and 10,000 KRSNA vol. I @ $8.00 per copy less 40%, or $4.80 x 15,000 = $72,000.00 which should be sent gradually to the Book Fund and again reprint. So we shall over flood the whole of Europe and America with KRSNA Book."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971