Planet ISKCON

1972 May 20: "Small children, they learn better these things from their mother and women in general. So I think that some mothers of our children should take charge of teaching the children, especially how to play nicely the pastimes of young Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 May 20: "He is doing very nicely by speaking at colleges and schools so let him continue in that way. He may take as many assistants as he requires and very strongly preach this philosophy to the student class of men. That is the greatest service."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 May 20: "I am very pleased to hear that you are distributing many of my books, especially Krsna Book. You are a very sincere girl. Please continue to engage wholeheartedly in Krsna's service and there is no doubt that you may go back to home, back to Godhead in this life."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1975 May 20: "I am very glad to hear that you are keeping yourself busy preaching. Don't become a dead man. Always preach."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 May 20: "I received your Hindi newspaper Vraja-Garima but unfortunately did not see anything about Vrajendra-nandana. If you really want to glorify Vraja then we can co-operate very nicely by publishing many Hindi books translated from our English books and distribute them to the Hindi reading public."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Greeting Deities & Guru Puja – 19.05.2014

"Because after devastation, the whole universe is filled up with water.
So in the water the first living beings are the fishes or the aquatics.
Then that fish or aquatic means a living entity embodied by that fish
body. Just like we are now, every one of us... I am also a soul, you are
also a soul. We are embodied by this body, human form of body.
Similarly, we had to accept the body of a fish. Because we are in this
material world, when there is water only, where shall we go?"

Ref. VedaBase => Lecture -- London, July 12, 1972

Lecture Podcast

"Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the holy name. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead."

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Antya 4.71

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 24 April 2014, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta Lecture)

How far does the mercy of Lord Caitanya extend? It is said that it is the smile of the Lord that awoke the desire for spiritual life in the heart of the living beings. So, it is not just all due to our own credit, our own piety and so on. It is also Lord Caitanya who awoke some desire into our heart, just to encourage us, ‘Alright, take a little bonus here!’

Otherwise it may have never happened. The mercy of Lord Caitanya is the reason why the Caitanya Caritamrta is so important. Because of that mercy, the Caitanya Caritamrta goes beyond the Srimad Bhagavatam.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjYfxmA7

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Last 2 weeks we were hitting the road with "Free Spirits" German Harinam Sankirtan Bus Party. Read more ›

Bhakta Abhay (Wales)
Abhiṣeka Dāsa – servant of Kṛṣṇa, who is bathed in different substances and bathed in the love of His servants

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https://flic.kr/s/aHsjXBuXJe

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An interview with Matea Nefertiti https://www.facebook.com/reikiangelic.healing Q: What is reiki? A: Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit, creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Q:

1966 May 19: "Amavasya. Paul paid $2.00 for Expenditure. Today one letter received from Mr. Paul C. Sherbert and he is replied also."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1971 May 19: "The picture may be shown of Arjuna going step by step to the Himalayas; Yes, occasionally devotees may be pictured with full head of hair instead of sikha. Use your own discretion; the garb can be Vedic or American. There is no harm. Dress has nothing to do with the soul."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 May 19: "I have very much appreciated the enclosed photos of the Amsterdam activities. I am coming to London for Rathayatra festival and if you like perhaps I can come to Amsterdam also if there is sufficient engagement there. At that time we can see about installing Lord Jagannatha in your temple."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 May 19: "Now I am in Los Angles. I think you may also come here and see me. Others are coming here also because I am giving them the sannyasa order of life. However, there is certainly no urgency for taking sannyasa. But if my senior disciples wish to take sannyasa then I shall give it."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 May 19: "Now you must do the work that I am doing. This traveling extensively is for the GBC men, just as I am doing it. Traveling and preaching, that is the Sankirtana movement. But now I am old man; let me retire for writing books in my last years."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1975 May 19: "Things are looking very favorable now we simply have to try even harder to sincerely carry out Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's orders and He will be pleased to provide us with more and more facilities. Co-operate nicely with one another and strongly push on this mission by printing and distributing our books in unlimited quantity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 May 19: "Continue your drawing work nicely. This is your business. Krishna has given you special talent and you are using it for spreading His glories. This is wanted. I will be arriving soon and at that time I can see you and we can talk sometimes."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 May 19: "Our real business is to print and distribute my books. By doing this business you will all become recognized by Krishna. Make your program simple - always make sure that you are somehow or other engaged in Krishna's service and the best service is preaching or engaging others in Krishna's service."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Taking shelter from the rain in a New York subway station! Read more ›

Yesterday Russian devotees held their annual Ratha Yatra festival in Moscow. Due to the present political climate in the country, city authorities restricted the event to a small area inside a park. But that did not deter 700 hundred devotees from participating. Afterwards a public program was held in a large auditorium for the public. Over 4,000 devotees and guests came for the spectacular event which included singing, dancing, theater and delicious prasadam. Read more ›

This week in the garden the weather has shown us just how unpredictable May weather can be, in a few days we went from over 80 degrees to a light frost. Many of our more sensitive plants were covered the last two nights. If you are unable to cover your plants at night often they can be saved by heavily watering the foliage before the sun has a chance to melt the frost off of the plants. This is what we did in both the Teaching Garden and the Garden of Seven Gates.

In the Garden of Seven Gates we have been working on a large bed of 300 tomatoes and 200 peppers. Within this bed we are doing companion planting. Companion planting is defined as the close planting of different plants that enhance each other’s growth or protect each other from pests. A great historical example of companion planting is “the three sisters”. According to Iroquois legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together. This tradition of interplanting corn, beans and squash in the same mounds, widespread among Native American farming societies, is a sophisticated, sustainable system that provided long-term soil fertility and a healthy diet to generations.

With our tomatoes and peppers we are also planting basil, rosemary, and marigolds. This will help to deter pests and provide beautiful flowers for the temple. In the teaching garden you will find beds that have flowers intermixed with lettuce and spinach. The following link is a great site for finding basic companion plants http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html . I hope everyone has a wonderful sunny week in the garden.

15-04-2014 Weapons of War, ISKCON Durban, South Africa.mp3

Moscow's "Night at the Museum" is an event during which some of Moscow's museums open their doors over the weekend - and overnight - for Moscow residents and visitors. Many museums also host entertainment to attract people to the event. Read more ›

Generally we start Nagar Sankirtan from Bhakti Vriksha center and after one hour we come back to the same place. But at this program on 3rd May,2014 we changed the schedule, not coming back the same place, but we finished in a different house. We started from Sri Caitanya Bhakti Vriksha center, karuna Bagchi mataji’s House and ended up with Sunil Thakur house. There we had again for one hour stage program, beginning with mangalacaran, Bhajan-kirtan, Receiving devotees with chandan and garland by the local devotees. Then there was lecture on ‘the aim of human life’ delivered by H.G. Gopal Pr. From Spain. Then there also was ISKCON cinema ‘Hare Krishna World’ and at the same time we also had a booth for ‘Jivan Jignasa Program’– a onetime slide show by which new people gets opportunity to take part in Bhakti Vriksha program regularity. At the end Mahaprasadam distributed for all the devotees and participates. The whole program completed successfully. Read more ›

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For over 50 centuries worldwide tense debate about who this really Sri Krishna? Simply extraordinary person? Or invincible hero? Or maybe, as the powerful intellect, aware of the movement of atoms, energy and moods in the universe? It is also true, and the second and the third ... But the main thing is still more. Most of the inhabitants of our planet are convinced that Krishna is invisible and that the original source and creator of the universe, as mentioned in the ancient Vedas. Read more ›

“Goloka-Fest” is a festival of joy and happiness, based on healthy lifestyles and Vedic knowledge. Coming into contact with the Vedic culture, one experiences another beauty, another fun and discovers in themselves things they had never suspected before, but was looking for! “Golok-Fest” is a live and electronic music, theatre, communicating with different creative and spiritual people, lecturers, musicians, the Vedic tradition and a lot of joy, a charge of energy and vibration of nectar for the soul! Read more ›

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Each Saturday 16:30 at the Tel-Aviv beach! Read more ›

During processions Chariot pulled by ropes, and sweeping tracks whisk before it is considered a very confidential service to God, that trust only important figures and honorable citizens. Simultaneously with the Chariot procession throw fruit and flower garlands - who caught that lucky in life. The procession is accompanied by the singing of Vedic hymns and favorable mantra Hare Krishna prayer, as well as the sounds of sea shells, horns, cymbals and drums. Read more ›

Temple Hall Prabhupada Desh combines both Indian and Italian styles. Ceiling spacious and bright rooms of the temple is painted with scenes from the life of Srila Prabhupada. Italian Vaishnava famous all over the world for their hospitality. And if we add such traditional treats as pizza, pasta, crostini, radicchio, tiramisu and, of course, ravioli, Huge abundance of lush and colorful salads and fruit, after all of this we did not want to leave. Read more ›

The Balkans has been hit by some of the worst natural disasters in history. Three months' worth of rain fell on the region in just a few days, causing rivers to burst their banks and sweep into people's homes. In Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, the floods killed at least 35 people and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. ISKCON devotees in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as in Serbia immediately responded.

Report by Bhaktin Nicole who is currently on a year long visit to Manchester

Following his Vyasa Puja celebration in Radhadesh, Kadamba Kanana Swami went on a short tour of England with programs at Bhaktivedanta Manor, Soho Street temple and Leicester. He also attended Birmingham’s 15^th Annual 24 Hour Kirtan from 10^th- 11^th May. It is the longest running event of its kind outside of India and Maharaj was an honoured guest.

After the traditional breaking of coconuts and an opening ceremony, Sacinandana Swami welcomed everyone and gave a short talk highlighting the importance of the prescribed yagna of this age: the sankirtan yagna or congregational chanting of the holy names of Krsna. Many international visitors to the UK, as well as local devotees were in attendance. Wonderful décor was provided by devotees from as far as Kenya.

Kadamba Kanana Swami, Sacinandana Swami, Madhava Prabhu, Tulasi Harrison and many UK kirtaniyas kept the kirtan going for what turned out to be in excess of 24 hours. Teen sensation Bhakta Nimai Prabhu from the UK moved everyone with his expert singing of Aindra Prabhu’s sweet melodies. In addition to the traditional kartalas, harmonium and mdranga, many musicians made their contributions to the kirtan with violins, flutes, trumpets and even bass guitar.

Sunday morning saw an elaborate abhishek of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. Kadamba Kanana Swami mentioned that Lord Caitanya is sometimes described as dancing with grace and sometimes as dancing like thunder. Maharaj himself also danced ecstatically with grace and like thunder on Sunday afternoon during Sacinandana Swami’s kirtan. In his final slot, Maharaj rocked the house, ending off the festival with a bang!

On Monday (12 May), Kadamba Kanana Swami left for Simhachalam in Germany to join the Nrsimha Caturdasi festivities.

Photos

If you cannot view the slide show, then please visit flickr.