Planet ISKCON

1969 July 11 : "If one deliberately defies the instructions of the Spiritual Master, then advancement is hampered. This defying means to disconnect the relationship with the Spiritual Master. And anyone who defies can hardly expect the assistance of the Spiritual Master life after life."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1972 July 11 : "Yes, Bhagavat Dasha, or ten day festival of reading from Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam will be nice. In future, you may join one of the parties for preaching tour, this alone preaching is not good."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 July 11: "People are fed up with materialistic propaganda so you will find good response simply by chanting, speaking from Bhagavad gita As It Is, and distributing prasadam. Unless human society takes to this process the situation is very precarious. So we have to work hard."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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.

Arrival and Bhajan evening

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.

Jaya Radha-madhava

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Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.17

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Firday Bhajan Evening

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Harinam on Saturday

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.

Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.18 – Cutting Through Household Life

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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.

Jaya Radha-madhava

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Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.20 – Royal Life style

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House program at Gita Govinda’s 

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.

Bhajans and Talk (dutch)

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Ratha Yatra in Den Haag

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.

Sunday program in Amsterdam

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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Photos from Harinam, House Program, Ratha Yatra Den Haag, Sunday Feast Amsterdam

From the disappearance of Nila Madhava to Rathayatra.

The post Pastimes of Lord Jagannatha appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

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 ›

SB 10.46.1, Uddhava Visits Vrindavan with Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, South Africa.mp3

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....

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

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

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

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

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Rasa Rasika dasa

(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.”  

 

According to a recent report by the Census, in the US, there is a rapid decline in marriage rates among first time young mothers less than age 23 indicating that more and more young women are delivering babies outside wedlock. The purple line represent married women - it has dramatically dropped from 63% prior to the 1990s to 24% in 2012. The blue line are young moms cohabitating. Cohabitation is a sociological phenomenon on the rise in the US where man and woman just live together as mates without any commitment. Another reason as to why divorce rates are reducing because more and more are cohabitating. The pink line is much more disturbing in that these women neither cohabitate nor marry but get pregnant nevertheless. They are most likely women with unplanned pregnancies. In other words, they have sex without any intention to get pregnant but get pregnant anyways. This group of women most likely perform abortion as they feel pregnancy is a burden on their life.

So why is this important, you ask? When we live our lives solely to satisfy our sensual organs, honestly, the line between man and beast disappears!!

Arjuna argued with Krishna that he will not fight the battle of Kurukshetra. One of the reason he gave was that by killing many men in battle the family tradition will be destroyed thus giving rise to unwanted children who then will destroy all community and social welfare projects. Arjuna gave such astute responses to Krishna that today after 5000 some years we can see the impact of unwanted pregnancies. The Govt ends up spending billions in social welfare and still most of these children are growing with mental and physical challenges. What to speak of spiritual acumen?

Krishna Consciousness is simply not a sectarian religion based on dogmatic beliefs. It is intended to respiritualize the entire human society providing solution to all problems of life. Sex no doubt is very enticing thus sex is a multi-billion dollar industry. Every aspect of our modern life is filled with sexual innuendos. This is not surprising. However, we can change this obsession with sex.

By simply chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, we can turn to our lighter side- our spiritual side. Life will be much more simpler, much more happier!

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

Hare Krishna

"I am not in Vaikuntha nor in the hearts of the yogis. I remain where My devotees engage in glorifying My activities." It is to be understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not leave the company of His devotees. Padma Purana Read more ›

A short documentary about the famous chariot festival in Puri, India.

Laxmimoni devi dasi met the devotees in 1968, while attending college at University of New York at Buffalo. Exploring various religions, she found a Bhagavad Gita class being offered at the university. Her friends encouraged her to come along, but although she heard a lot about the classes, she never went to them. It was in Buffalo though that she met Rupanuga das, and was introduced to kirtan chanting. During “Spiritual Week” at SUNY Buffalo, Srila Prabhupada came. Laxmimoni prabhu noted he was different from all the other “spiritual leaders,” who were more or less hippies. She became very attracted to the chanting. Lokavarnottama das, of Alachua community now, suggested she come to the Temple. Being impressed with the devotees, who seemed to be fully engaged in what they were preaching and in contrast to the “weekend warriors” of other religions, Laxmimoni prabhu began attending daily. In 1969, she started coming regularly to the Temple and was initiated and married shortly thereafter. Read more ›

The post July 10th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Above: Wakey wakey campers! Reading Music Festival, 1976. After two years on tambourine, I had been promoted to chief drum-banger.

This year, on a sunny afternoon in August, I will be celebrating my 40th anniversary of kirtan. On the sunny afternoon of August 24th, 1974 I sat down with a group of Hare Krishna devotees and had my first ever kirtan experience. They’d camped up in a field and, like they do, let me sit with them and try to follow along with the words.There are only three words, so it wasn’t too hard to sing along, but you do have to remember to sing them in the right order.

At some point, just when I was becoming filled with all sorts of new feelings I couldn’t yet comprehend, someone handed me a tambourine.I’d been accepted, I felt, as part of the group and thought to myself: “I’m playing tambourine with the members of the Radha Krishna Temple – cool.” (Or whatever word like ‘cool’ was in vogue at the time)

So for the past 40 years I’ve been singing kirtan. I have to tell you something: it works. Yes, it doesn’t quite make sense, just repeating three words over and over again. And yes,it should have driven me to distraction by now. But it hasn’t. Quite the reverse.

In fact, kirtan has been the solace of my life, the undisputed mood-lifter, the peaceful sound and the sonic energizer – all at the same time. I have been in kirtans in fields and forests, up mountains, down streets on foot and up rivers in boats. I’ve sung kirtan on the telly, in the homes and halls of the great and good of the land, and ‘performed’ it at pop festivals. I’ve sung in the pouring rain and the scorching sun. Its been the soundtrack of my life and of many thousands who I’ve known.

 

Krishna Valley is a peaceful island in a sea of busy weekdays, the lake is only thirty kilometers from Kaposvar direction. Two hundred and sixty acres lying areas were - which is also the cultural center and organic farm as well - really nice to see and promises new experiences for visitors. Dísztavaink, parkland and arboretum of hundreds of plant and animal species are home. Farms, Biokertészetünk, and also visited our school building; these sites have lots of interesting things are available here. The reception guests can view these specialties in the temple leading to a pleasant walk. Read more ›