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A layer of protection is being applied to the cement floors of the super-structure and other areas where a surplus of water passes.
This waterproofing ensures that water and the elements will not penetrate and degrade or corrode any part of the super-structure.
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Greeting Deities & Guru Puja – 12.05.2014
"In the word Pra-Da-Kshi-Na the syllable Pra dispels sin, the syllable Da bestows what is desired, the syllable Kshi causes the destruction of Karman and the syllable Na is the bestower of salvation."
Skanda Purana Ch.9 v.68
Bhakti means application of love. Bhaja sevaya. When you love you serve somebody. That is called bhakti. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.2.6 Hyderabad, November 26, 1972)
Transcript:
This is a personal question that has to be analyzed and applied on individual level with guidance from one’s own personal counselor or guide and based on one’s own understanding of one’s personal situation. So I cannot give a specific answer in terms of ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but I can explain broad principles.
The principle of no illicit sex especially when Srila Prabhupada talked about it in the context of initiation, whether it was initiation lectures or letters which he sent at the time of initiating devotees, he primarily talked about in terms of no sex outside marriage, and that is the primary trust of the vow of initiation. Of course Srila Prabhupada has written about in his books that even sex within marriage which is not for procreation is also considered illicit. But at the same time there is a substantial amount of difference between the two. For example, we could say illicit sex outside of marriage is illicit sex with a capital ‘I’ and illicit sex within marriage is the small ‘i.’ The capital ‘I’ indicates that it’s a very serious violation and it’s a violation not just devotional vows; it is also a violation of moral principles and legal principles and it can disrupt many many lives, many families by that. So it has far graver implications.
When Srila Prabhupada was personally questioned about this Srila Prabhupada was on one level uncompromising but on another level he was understanding. At one time there was a devotee who came to Mayapur and then in Mayapur that devotee went to some local society girl over there, and the news spread among the devotee community and then they told Prabhupada. And then Prabhupada called the devotee and Prabhupada asked him, “Why did you do that?” He said, “I couldn’t control myself. I was too much tormented by lust.” And Prabhupada said, “But you are married! Why did you have to go to a prostitute!?” He said, “No Prabhupada, my wife wanted to follow the principle of no illicit sex so she refused and I didn’t want to force her.” So Prabhupada said that actually the violation within marriage is extremely minor as compared to what is outside of marriage. So Srila Prabhupada was actually very clear about this.
And if you look at the broad Vedic principles, if you look at Prabhupada’s broad context, he talks about various standards. Prabhupada sometimes quotes standards from Manu Samhita where one can have sex once a moth during the time when a woman is likely to bear a child so that one can get a child. So there are various things that Srila Prabhupada is talking about; there is not one absolute standard for within marriage. And if you look in the 6th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam it is described there that because a woman took part of the karma of Indra – one thing that happened is that a woman can enjoy sex life even while pregnant as long as it’s not injurious to the embryo. So that is a facility that is given; but it is not something that is recommended or glorified. Certainly that is discouraged, but that was something that was given to them – not as a blessing but because they took up part of the karma.
So if you look at the broad Vedic context, the emphasis of Srila Prabhupada, if you look at his purports – was that actually in the traditional Indian culture, and not just Indian culture in all cultures – the act of copulation, sexual union, what was naturally connected with procreation, with begetting new children, it is the artificial separation of the two. That is what Srila Prabhupada is condemning. So actually speaking, when there is artificial separation of the two there is contraception or abortion and abortion is nothing but cold blooded murder of the child which has serious karmic complications. So actually if you look at Srila Prabhupada’s statements, he condemns animal slaughter and abortion far far strongly and far far more repeatedly in his purports than this principle of no illicit sex in marriage. So it is not that the principle of no illicit sex in marriage is meant to make married life perpetual torture for a person where a person has to live with the spouse and still restrain ones desires.
Actually in a traditional Indian society it is not that woman and man will be living together and sleeping on the same bed and room constantly. Generally the woman would have the anta-pura and the woman would be associating with other women in the family. There would be joined families. And the men would be working with other men and living with the men, and it would not happen that the man and woman would sleep together every day. So in such a situation the man and woman, even when they are married it is not that they would come together regularly. And when they would come together there would be bodily union and then there would be the begetting of children. So in a traditional Indian society there would not be such thing as a question of abortion.
The important point over here is that at one level if one becomes unrestrained in sexual life then one can have the consequences of aborting the child which is very unfortunate and massively sinful. And of course another level is that if one gets very caught up in sex cannot focus on Krishna and that will certainly be a major distraction in the practice of one’s spiritual life. But at the same time when we are committed to the practice of devotional service and we are seriously wanting to advance in devotional life and we are striving towards the standard, so we should make a serious attempt and a serious commitment to attaining the standard but it is not absolutely essential or mandatory that one be able to follow the principle of no illicit sex within marriage to be able to take initiation.
Certainly one should not reject the principle as impractical and become completely unrestrained and not even trying for any kind of restraint, saying that it’s just impractical. If that is one’s attitude and one has no intention of developing restraint and one is not trying for restraint then certainly one should not take initiation. But if one is seriously determined and is trying one’s best even if one has not come to that level of self-control but at least one is surely confident and completely determined to not break the principle by seeking illicit sex outside of marriage or before marriage then that is the primary trust of the vow of initiation.
In our consciousness, lust is like the constant background noise but occasionally there are peaks of that lust when the desires increase very strongly. But a devotee who is seeking initiation should be able to restrain the peaks within certain limits. That means as one practices Krishna consciousness more and more the general level of lust in consciousness goes down. But even as it’s going down by purification, sometimes peaks will come which will suddenly make us feel agitated and at that time also one has to remember one will not go beyond certain limits. So if one is confident that one will not break the regulative principle beyond the bounds of marriage then that is the essential trust of qualification for initiation.
In general one has to observe sudden peaks of lust, how frequently they come and how often they force one to engage in illicit sex, even within marriage. And if that is too frequent; if it is too irresistible then one may have to wait for adequate purification. But in general this may not be taken as an absolute prerequisite for the practice of commitment to initiation. So in a broad sense the basic emphasis of principle is that there should not be sex outside of marriage and sex within marriage should not lead to heavy karmic complications like abortion. So for that purpose the best way to do is it to avoid sex that is not meant for procreation and one should at least be strongly determined to go towards that; and if one is not determined and is not able to move towards that goal then certainly one may have to think again about initiation. But if one is seriously trying for that one is gradually progressing towards that goal but one may not be fully confident to sticking to that level, but one is fully confident that they will not allow the peaks of lust make one go into illicit sex outside of marriage then one can also go for initiation.
The ultimate decision should be taken by considering and discussing with one’s spiritual guides and looking at one’s consciousness. This answer is a broad guideline and is not a specific answer to this question. Thank you.
That is why we need a spiritual master. A spiritual master is basically someone who has a vision of us being something much greater than the vision we have of ourselves. That is what the spiritual master does. He looks at us and thinks, “You could be something much greater than what you think you could be!” So yeah, he gives us a vision of ourselves.
In a startling development Mahesh Keshavam, Gangadhar Yadav and Akbar Patel have announced that they've deciphered the Indus Valley script. Their task was made simple by the discovery of an Indian equivalent of the Rosetta Stone. For those who don't know, the Rosetta Stone, an ancient Pharaonic-Egypt decree discovered in the 18th century, helped decipher the ancient Egyptian script. Read more › 
With Jayapataka Swami. Read more › The post May 18th, 2014 – Darshan – Chandan Yatra – Day 17 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Apart from weekly Bhakti Vriksha Program Mayapur Local Preaching (MLP) also holding Nagar Sankirtan Programs at a certain interval to those particular locality where the Bhakti Vriksha Centers are located, just to awaken people regarding Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission for their spiritual benefit. Generally we start Nagar Sankirtan from Bhakti Vriksha center and after one […]
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In the heart of the Belgian Ardennes, near Durbuy, lies the fairytale castle of Petite Somme. The castle has a long history which now houses the spiritual community, Radhadesh Ardennes. The new residents have thoroughly restored the castle and transformed it into a true spiritual oasis where you can explore the colorful culture of the Indian traditions. The castle is now one of the main attractions of the Ardennes and is open to visitors every day. Read more › The post Sivarama Swami and Candramauli Swami speak on the 10 offenses to the holy name (Part 2) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
The post Kesava Bharati Maharja talks on the appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Photos of Harinam along with kichari prasadam distribution to local people in various parts of Mayapur. Harinama happens every day, but prasadam distribution only when there is a donation for it. Read more › Mangala Arati of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, ISKCON Temple,Chowpatty,Mumbai;10th May 2014
Invigorate your body, mind and consciousness for the upcoming week with our Super Yogi Sundays – it just couldn’t be a better line up!
5pm Yoga with Muni = core power and laughter at the same time :D
6pm Soul Feast = Beautiful, uplifting kirtan beats, consciousness expanding wisdom and foodthat will blow you out of this world!
Every Sunday starting April 13th.
Cost – from your heart. You give what you can, and what it’s worth to you. Simply for the love of it :D
Srila Prabhupada at the original New Vrindaban farmhouse, 1969.
Srila Prabhupada Advocates A “Common Sense” Approach When Using Modern Conveniences To Develop New Vrindaban – December 1968.
From a series of letters written by Srila Prabhupada outlining his vision for New Vrindaban.
Thanks to Vanipedia for the source material.
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My Dear Kirtanananda,
Please accept my blessings. I have received today your letter dated 4, December 1968 and have carefully read the contents.
You have asked whether you may use charcoals to use for fuel during the winter and since this is the simplest thing to use in your present situation certainly it is all right. In all such questions as this you need only use your good common sense and depend upon Krishna as always to guide you nicely. So far as the government making repairs on the roads, If they are willing to do it this is very good. With nice roads we can invite many people to New Vrindaban as well as facilitate our own activities there so such proposal is welcome. For construction of ponds I don’t know if you will be able to use them for bathing in the cold winter so it is better if you can construct a well if this can be more used in the winter. So if you are pressed now for time, the ponds may be constructed in the spring.
I have noted from your letter that you have available a Lincoln automobile which you are able to donate to us in Los Angeles. At the present we are requiring just such a car so I think you may make arrangements to have it brought here. This is all Krishna’s Grace so as you are able please make arrangements for this. So far as your utilizing machinery at New Vrindaban, if such machinery is helpful than you may take advantage of them. We are not enemies of machines. If they can be used for Krishna’s service then we welcome them.
You will be glad to know that we have now signed lease for a new temple for the Los Angeles center. It is very large, fine chapel and now there is program being organized here to set everything up very nicely and invite many new people to participate in our programs. Krishna has been very kind to grant us such facilities and now there are many efforts to be made to use it nicely.
Please convey my blessings to Hrsikesa and I hope this letter finds you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Simply you have to develop your service attitude. Service attitude is already there. We are servants by constitution, but we are serving maya [illusion]. We are so constitutionally servant that after very, very high education, taking all these degrees, oh, we are moving door to door, that “Give me some service.”
(Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.9.9 -- Montreal, July 6, 1968)
Give your heart to everyone, even if they don’t give anything back. It hurts sometimes when people are hard-hearted and not responding properly but take that pain with patience and carry on. Somehow, keep on chiseling at stone. Get through that barrier. In the Netherlands, we say that some people have a block of concrete in front of their head. Just chisel right through! Give your heart. That is a vaishnav - we give our hearts.
The heart is involved in being merciful to the conditioned souls. The heart is involved, it is not just, “Yeah, I’m having a great time here with my pakoras and so on …” No! How can I have my pakoras when people are suffering in the world? How can I sleep when there is still even one person who is caught in the cycle of birth and death? How can I sleep?
This is how Krsna feels. Krsna is emotionally involved. He is thinking, “How can I enjoy unlimited pleasure in an ocean of transcendental bliss if there is still one person missing?”
Of course, he is enjoying in an ocean of transcendental bliss at every moment but he wants that one person also to be a part of it – that is Krsna. So, if even Krsna is emotionally involved, how can the devotee not be? We are emotionally involved with everyone, not only our own little circle. Open the heart to everyone!
The Bhaktivedanta Archives has released the 2014 update for the Bhaktivedanta VedaBase. If you already have a copy of the VedaBase, the update is free.
At the same time, the Archives has released mp3s of its full collection of audio recordings of Śrīla Prabhupāda from 1975 (315 hours, 563 audio files, 14Gb).
Here are the details of these releases and how to get copies.
The post Bhaktivedanta Archives releases 2014 VedaBase appeared first on Jayadvaita Swami.
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Jayadavaita Swami, Rtadhvaja Swami, Deenabandhu Prabhu and Giriraj Swami spoke on Lord Nrsimhadeva then Rtadhvaja Swami and Giriraj Swami initiated new disciples.
“I first heard about Lord Nrsimhadeva and Prahlada Maharaja in 1968 when I joined the society. We used to recite the Nrsimha-stotra for Srila Prabhupada’s health because he had gone back to India with his health uncertain. So, we used to pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva for Srila Prabhupada’s health. At that time we didn’t know very much about Lord Nrsimhadeva or Prahlada Maharaja. This was more or less during the height of the countercultural movement that defied authority. Many hundreds and thousands of young people had turned their backs on conventional American society. They were contemptuous of the American government, the war in Vietnam, their parents, and just about everything else that had to do with the American establishment. A slogan of the time was ‘Don’t trust anyone over 30′—I still don’t trust anyone over 30. So, into this milieu came Prahlada Maharaja who was for us the ideal countercultural hero. Srila Prabhupada used to begin practically every lecture on this topic by saying that Prahlada Maharaja was a five-year-old boy and his father was the greatest atheist. We were particularly pleased that Prahlada Maharaja dismantled the worldview of his father.” — Jayadvaita Swami
Jayadvaita Swami
Deenabandhu Das
Giriraj Swami
Rtadhvaja Swami
The post Sivarama Swami and Candramauli Swami speak on the 10 offenses to the holy name (Part 1) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
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Yesterday in Rajapur a wonderful boat festival was held for the pleasure of Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva & Subhadra devi. The small deities or vijaya vigraha of Their Lordships had a boat ride in the lake in front of Simantini temple and gave darshan to the devotees. The boat was sparkling like made out of gold and diamond by the effect of the lights on the waves of the lake. H.G Pankajangri prabhu was serving the deities on boat along with Rajapur temple pujaris. There were about 200 people who came from mayapur and surrounding places. This festival originated in Sri Ksetra Puri dhama where Sri Jagannatha’s Utsava deities enjoy boat pastimes in Narendra Sarovar. This has been followed from Mahaprabhu’s time. Read more › Prabhupada’s Palace Nectar: On the Road
Written by Puru das and taken from the April 1983 Issue of the Brijabasi Spirit
Pictures shows Devananda on the left and Jalakolahali on the right.
During the “off” season the Palace staff keeps engaged. Actually there is no such thing as an “off” season in Krsna Consciousness. But this refers to that time during the winter when the amount of tourists visiting Prabhupada’s Palace slows to the point that we can work on Palace maintenance and repair, and busy ourselves for the rush of visitors that will arrive in the Spring.
During the winter, three teams, consisting of Mahabuddhi, Devananda, Jalakolahali, Raghunath, Sankirtan, Jambavati devi and myself, travel all around the G.S.A. representing Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold at 30 or more Travel, Camping, Bus Marketplace and Bus Association Trade Shows. Travel is a tremendously large business in America, and literally hundreds of thousands of summer travelers attend these shows, searching for attractions and places of interest to visit.
At the shows, we set up an 8′ x 10′ booth, with a long table at the front for displaying photographs and Palace brochures. Along with our large 6′ x 8′ photo of the Palace, we also set out two other displays, three easels each, with large 16″ x 20″ color photographs of the Palace and its interior.
Just as during the earlier days of ISKCON when devotees would attend boutique shows and gift shows to market Spiritual Sky incense, we are now attending similar events to generate interest for Prabhupada’s Palace. People are very attracted by the beauty of the Palace, even in photographs, and it is quite wonderful to see their reaction.
Tourist: George, look at that! That’s just beautiful. Why, we didn’t know such a place existed in the U.S.
George: Wheeling, West Virginia, eh? Why, we go through there once a year. How come we never knew that this was there?
Devotee: Well, sir, we’ve only been open for two years to the public. That’s why we’re here at the show. To let you know about the Palace and how you can visit it. We have two large billboards on 1-70.
Wife: Well, we certainly must come and see that when we travel west this summer. We visit our daughter in Ohio once a year. We have to stop and see this!
Devotee: Please come, ma’am. It will be our pleasure to have you visit.
Couple: Well, thank you very much young man. We’re certainly glad we found out about this.
Very often, more times than we can count, the same conversation takes place during the course of a day at one of these shows. The Harrisburg Travel Show, The Columbus Travel Show, The Detroit Show, and Indianapolis Show (all of which we have attended this year) were each nine days long. During that time 300,000 to 500,000 people visited each show, and those who passed by the Palace of Gold booth were given the opportunity to start their spiritual life and make advancement in Krsna Consciousness. They may have attended the show to look at recreational vehicles, or find that perfect vacation, but when they pass our booth they are stunned by the beauty of the Palace and usually stop to take a brochure. Those that do are pretty definite about coming to visit during the next summer season.
Wife: Why Harold, we have to visit this place. Why haven’t you taken me here?
Devotee: Have him take you to our restaurant ma’am. You can dine in a very elegant atmosphere and very inexpensively at that.
Wife: Will you look at these pictures, Harold (as she pages through our photo album)? How beautiful. When was this built?
Devotee: We started construction in 1973, and it was finished in 1979. We opened to the public about two years ago.
Wife: Well, is it a restaurant, a hotel, or what?
Devotee: No ma’am, the restaurant is in the back behind the Palace. The Palace is a memorial to our spiritual leader, Srila Prabhupada. It now serves as a museum that you can see on our guided tour.
Wife: How interesting. Who built it, anyway?
Devotee: It was built by the members of our religious community. All the work was donated, and all the laborers were previously unskilled.
Wife: I see. Prabhupada, who was he, anyway?
Devotee: He is the founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, the Hare Krsna movement. He was the world’s most renowned Vedic scholar, and translated the most authoritative collection of ancient Sanskrit texts from India, called the Vedic literatures. His books are found in almost every major university in the world today.
Wife: This is really fascinating. Look at those flowers. We must come this summer when your gardens are in bloom.
Devotee: Please do. You can easily get overnight accommodations, and here is some information for you about the area.
Wife: Thank you very much. We’ll be seeing you.
Many people cannot quite believe that the Palace really exists. They ask, “Is that really real?” “Is that building really in West Virginia?” “Is it made of real gold?” Then it becomes easy to explain to them that the Palace is located in ‘Almost Heaven’ West Virginia. Since many of them are likely to travel through the state, they all become candidates for visiting the Palace.
Staying away from the Holy Dhama, New Vrindaban, and living away from the association of our God brothers is an austerity worth accepting for the sake of preaching to the conditioned souls. We feel very fortunate to be allowed to travel around the U.S. and represent the Palace and do what we can to attract everyone in America to come and visit. Of course, there are many other booths at the shows, but the people who run the booths are now old acquaintances. They have all heard a little philosophy from the different devotees, and are happy to see us when we set up our booth next to theirs. A familiar face in unfamiliar surroundings is always a pleasant experience. Now, for some of the different people that work these shows, those familiar faces are devotees.
Last winter we distributed 50,000 brochures and spoke to at least twice as many people at the various shows. We expect to see many of them at the Palace this season. Last year we had over 300 motorcoach tours visit; this year the number should double. When we attend the Bus Association shows, and the Bus Company Marketplace, the likelihood of attracting whole busloads of visitors increases. At these shows, group leaders are always invited to attend the first part of the show, even before the general public is allowed entrance. All of these people are presidents of travel clubs, old-age groups, school groups, and travel agents that charter buses with the various companies. They are all very eager to find new and interesting places to take their groups.
The Palace of Gold is such an attractive place to visit. Once, during a show, the vice president of one large bus company in Pennsylvania was bitten by the Sankirtana bug. Although he had his own booth, he would encourage his customers to stop at our booth and to book a tour with us. “Listen,” he would tell them, “you’ve got to visit this place. Go on over and get their information.”
One time at a bus marketplace, a bus driver who had driven one group to the Palace last season remarked to several women looking at the booth, “Oh, ladies, don’t miss this place. We went there last year on our ‘mystery tour.’ Everyone just loved it. It was so beautiful.” He actually did a better job of convincing them than I could have. Wearing his official bus company driver uniform, he appeared a paragon of bus travel authority. They listened to him and all took information about the Palace.
It is certainly encouraging to see how everyone is actually attracted to the spiritual energy that the Palace generates. Even though they are so absorbed in material illusion, when they get the opportunity to engage their senses in Krsna’s service, many take advantage. They may think that they are attracted by the gold, or marble, or crystal chandeliers, but actually Krsna is in their hearts and it is their spiritual senses that are becoming enlivened. The Palace is situated on McCreary’s Ridge, but actually it is Prabhupada’s paraphernalia and is in Vaikuntha. When someone sees one of our ISKCON paintings they look at a “snapshot” of the spiritual world. The Palace is made of the same spiritual potency and has the same effect on them. They see the Palace, become attracted, and are convinced that they should visit. Their senses are enlightened by Krsna’s internal potency.
Materialists are usually not attracted to devotional life, so devotional service is the last thing from their minds. Nevertheless, by the mercy of Krsna’s devotees they become interested in some aspect of Krsna Consciousness when they visit and see the opulence of the spiritual world manifest in the hills of West Virginia. They may not become devotees in this life, but they will never lose the benefit they derive from coming in contact with a pure devotee. Krsna and Krsna’s pure devotees are all-attractive. The Palace of Gold is like a powerful magnet that draws them here for a visit. They may never engage in any other devotional service for the rest of their lives, but their spiritual bank account has begun.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada, as he is benedicting the fallen souls of Kali yuga with unlimited opportunity to engage their senses in the Lord’s service.
The post May 17th, 2014 – Darshan – Chandan Yatra – Day 16 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
With Indradyumna Swami. Read more › 
Saint Petersburg is the 2nd largest city in Russia. Founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703 it now boasts a population of over 5 million people. St. Petersburg is also graced by a community of 1,000 ISKCON devotees from all walks of life. Over the last 3 days myself, Bada Haridas and Chaturatma celebrated a wonderful yatra festival with all of them. It is easy to understand now why Srila Prabhupada made such a great effort to personally come to Russia in 1971 to inaugurate the Krsna consciousness movement. All glories to His Divine Grace! Read more ›