Planet ISKCON

Home programs, with their simple formats of kirtan, class and prasadam, are a wonderful way for devotees of the Lord to associate. Here is one such program at the home of my disciples, Sakhi Rai das and Vraja Laksmi dasi. Devotees from Brisbane and the Gold Coast attended. Great photos by Ananta Vrindavan, as always.

The 2nd to 3rd graders just finished a Social Studies Unit on Government.  Objectives of this unit were:

• Identify prominent presidents in the US, naming leadership qualities that enabled them to succeed.
• Discuss qualities of leaders in the Vedic times versus today’s leaders
• Understand the importance of rules and consequences in a community.
•  Identify the needs of our society today and strategies we would place in order to meet those needs.

We started with the story of “Arjuna visits Maha-Vishnu” where a brahmana had blamed the king for his children dying untimely.  We discussed how much responsibility leaders face.  In a brainstorming session, students came up with a list all the problems they see in the community around us.

“No trash on the lawns.  No drunk driving.  No loud music after dark.”  One student, hearing from the news that Target credit cards were hacked recently added “No hackers!”    These 7 and 8 year olds were making policy. Each child picked a president to write about.  The active boys picked presidents that were generals in armies.  The girls picked those who had qualities similar to theirs.

We read “So You Want to Be President?” and watched a tongue in cheek version of it.  We read about Lincoln’s push to abolish slavery, and how Ulysses S. Grant fought bravely.

These were our Presidential Canditate hopefuls:

Gaurang Grant.  Abrinda Lincoln.  Jamuna Jefferson.  Gopal Washington.  Padi Jackson.  Krishna Kennedy and Bala was Obala for Barack Obama.

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They researched facts about their presidents.  They put together a Presidential Campaign with their rules for the society they would govern and perks for what they would offer.

What would they give their citizens in return?  ”I will help you on the wind and on the water and on the land.”  ”Free homes.”  ”Free education.”  ”I will give everyone jewels.”

My favorite?  “I will help you go Back to Godhead by chanting Hare Krishna.”With these presidential candidates, we have a bright future ahead.

 

 

 

A new study that is set to be presented to a conference of experts later in the year indicates that eating foods rich in vitamin C can reduce hemorrhagic stroke risks.

It is very common to find people who want to love, care and help in a world where suffering is so prominent. But to motivate those people to become truly qualified to love, care and help, that's where society seems to come up short. (Produced by Bhakti Lounge, Wellington, New Zealand.)

1008 Golden bricks with the names of the sponsors engraved on them which will be put on the platform of Mahaprabhu’s altar in the new temple which is now under construction. These are limited to 1008 and many people who have come for the festival are sponsoring these bricks as a donation towards the construction of the new Temple. www.tovp.org

The final plenary was scheduled for two hours, but went on for three, with devotees longing for more. As a perfect ending, the very last plenary for the ISKCON Leadership Sanga 2014 ended as the first one started – with a very sweet and loving Guru puja for the founder acarya, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.  Throughout the entire ILS, Srila Prabhupada and his teachings were at the center. 

1968 February 25: "We accept Krsna on the evidence of Vedic literature. This man, who is actually Gadadhara Chatterjee, declared himself as the same Rama and Krsna. There is no evidence in the Vedic literatures that a common, unintelligent person by worshipping the goddess Kali can become an incarnation of Godhead."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 February 25: "It is our movement only under the guidance of the acaryas in disciplic succession which strictly follows. This sublime movement is not only for the present age, but for all ages, past, present and future."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 February 25: "Nobody can compare with the Merciful Nityananda. He can defend Himself quite well; He could have killed the sinners in an instant, but He had decided that He wanted to save these sinners. He was setting an example that we have to preach Krishna Consciousness even at the risk of personal violence."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

One major drawback of today’s IT systems is the de-personalizing of communications. When you are face to face with a person you try to display some decorum even when there are issues at hand. You tend not to vent your spleen in excessively harsh terms, not least because you may elicit a response in kind. However, when you face only a docile screen it becomes all too easy to let loose a tirade of vitriol that you may well regret in calmer moments of reflection. Especially if your acerbic comments have landed you in jail, as was the case recently with a couple of Twitter users found guilty of posting racist and inflammatory tweets.

We have probably all been there. Hitting the send button on an angry e-mail and quickly wishing we had paused for perhaps a moment or two. The Mahabharata says that ‘wordy arrows’ once released cannot be retracted, and that is especially true when they are recorded in black and white for all to see, particularly the magistrate you may end up facing.

The real problem is anger of course, the ‘enemy with the face of a friend’. We think that by giving someone a piece of our mind we will feel that much better, but we usually become as disturbed as the person we aim to castigate; especially when we add remorse to the equation. Then there is the pain we mete out to the recipient when we fail to own and express our anger responsibly. The Mahabharata says that, while ordinary arrows cut us once, the arrow of our words ‘burn the heart day and night.’ This is poignantly true when the heated exchange is between near and dear ones, as is so often the case. And sometimes it escalates to much more than a mere exchange of opposing views. A person under the influence of anger can lose all sense and do any crazy thing. I heard of a recent case of road rage where an irate driver leapt from his car brandishing a gun and a hammer, fired at the other driver and proceeded to pound his vehicle with mighty blows from the hammer.

Harbouring anger in the heart is another problem, as it consumes us with negative thoughts. Lord Buddha said that retaining anger is like ‘holding a live coal intending to throw it at someone else.”

How though do we control the powerful emotion of anger? Perhaps it would help if we understood its causes. The Bhagavad-gita describes the dynamics of anger. It is said to be a corollary of lust, a secondary emotion coming after we are frustrated in some desire. Krishna explains how by contemplating sense pleasure we become attached, then lusty to enjoy what we contemplate, and this inevitably ends in frustration. Either we don’t get what we want, or we do and it fails to satisfy us, as material pleasures always will. This anger then leads to delusion, bewilderment and continued entanglement in Maya and her miseries.

The key then to reducing anger is to reduce our material attachments. The more we have the more often we will be liable to get inflamed. The Gita describes how those of a materialistic mindset are constantly prone to anger due to “insatiable lust” and being “bound by a network of illusions”.

On the other end of the scale is the spiritual practitioner who does not experience material anger as he has no material attachments. He is also humble and meek and does not take personal offense even when affronted. Like everything else, he uses anger only in Krishna’s service. Srila Prabhupada writes in his Bhagavad-gita, “A devotee is generally very humble and meek, and he is reluctant to pick a quarrel with anyone. Nor does he envy anyone. However, a pure devotee immediately becomes fiery with anger when he sees that Lord Viṣhṇu or his devotee is insulted.” Unlike material wrath born of selfish desire, anger used in the Lord’s service is beneficial to all, being pleasing to Krishna.

Most of us are probably somewhere between the demon and the devotee, a work in progress as they say. We therefore need to manage our anger and indeed our attachments. Krishna therefore tells Arjuna how this is achieved. After explaining how anger comes from frustrated lust, he says that lust must be kept in check by ‘regulating the senses.’ He goes on to describe how above the senses is the mind, above that is the intelligence, and above them all is the true self, the spirit soul. Therefore one needs only to engage in the regulated spiritual activities of Krishna consciousness and the senses are automatically controlled. Commenting on this Srila Prabhupada says, “That solves the whole problem.”

Of course, it takes time and practise, but Prabhupada assures us that ‘success is certain for the rigid practitioner.’ So the choice is ours. Become victims of lust and anger, along with all the dangers that this presents, or try our best to rise to the spiritual platform.

And I hope that doesn’t make you angry.

1969 February 25: "You may paint Guru Maharaja, myself, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Gaura Kisora, Panca-tattva, Sankirtana, etc. We have immense work to be done so you become expert painter. Continue to improve your artistic talents and it will soon come to the perfectional stage."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 February 25: "Authorized songs means songs composed by self-realized Acaryas. Unauthorized songs or statements should never be heard. The comparison is given, milk, although very nutritious food, if it is touched by the tongue of a serpent, it acts like poison."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 February 25: "It is a great advancement that George Harrison has given up composing nonsense songs. I can give him many themes for songs and if George can compose such nice song in his own words, I am sure it will be an epoch making event."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Konark Dance Festival is a dance festival held every year in December in backdrop of the Sun temple in Konark, Odisha in India. Read more ›

1972 February 25 : "The art of dancing, like any art, can be engaged to glorify the Supreme Lord. Organize a classical dancing group to depict very exquisitely stories from our Krishna Book. That will be very nice proposal."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

The Anniversary of Vrinda devi's Installation at Vrinda Kund! Read more ›

1972 February 25: "When intelligent people begin to understand that if one becomes Krishna Conscious, that is the highest perfection of understanding philosophy, then our Krishna Consciousness Movement will advance very quickly because everyone respects the opinion of intelligent scholars."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

On Sunday February 23rd, 2014 in Sri Mayapur, five of our esteemed sannyasi’s gave class glorifying the new Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. Below you will find links to the transcription of what each one of the Maharajs had spoken. There are also links to the audio. Please read and share with others: HH Jayapataka […]

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The post Conclusion of our wonderful ILS appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Evening kirtana February 24th appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Note: Saturday’s class was held in the temple courtyard facing the ToVP construction site. HG Praghosa Prabhu was coordinating the presentation. There were five speakers and we are sending each one separately. Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 23, 2014 Speaker: […]

The post The Glories of the ToVP – HH Gopal Krishna Goswami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Note: Yesterday’s class was held in the temple courtyard facing the ToVP construction site. HG Praghosa Prabhu was coordinating the presentation. There were five speakers and we are sending each one separately. Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 23, 2014 Speaker: […]

The post The Glories of the ToVP – HH Radhanath Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Note: Yesterday’s class was held in the temple courtyard facing the ToVP construction site. HG Praghosa Prabhu was coordinating the presentation. There were five speakers and we are sending each one separately. Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 23, 2014 Speaker: […]

The post The Glories of the ToVP – HH Bhakti Charu Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Note: Yesterday’s class was held in the temple courtyard facing the ToVP construction site. HG Praghosa Prabhu was coordinating the presentation. There were five speakers and we are sending each one separately. Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 23, 2014 Speaker: […]

The post The Glories of the ToVP – HH Sivarama Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Mayapura, India

The Finnish To Begin

Today was the final day for a glorious ingenious program, it’s the second time around for the ISKCON Leaders Sanga.

Sanga means association or gathering of saintly persons.  What our leaders just went through was a harmonious infusion of the Spirit. This involved seminars and workshops on seminars along the line of Devotee Care, Empathic Listening, Strengthening family life, etc.  Practical items were the bulk of the stuff.

It got me thinking, “How can I put together a seminar on walking?” and expressing and informing about its benefits on all levels.

I was honoured to lead the chant at the beginning of the final gathering.

Our group was informed by convenors, Gopala Bhatta, of something quite helpful presented in motivational terms— “The 8 Steps to Create Change”.

1.       Understand and/or create the elements of urgency (the example given here is of how our guru, Srila Prabhupada, used to say that the entire world is suffering).
2.       Collaborate to establish performance and accountability.
3.       Reflect on overall vision and strategy.
4.       Refresh our understanding and commitment to the change vision.
5.       Obtain total “buy-in” from all stakeholders.
6.       Generate short-term success.
7.       Consolidate gains and produce more success.
8.       Anchor the new energy.

May the Source be with you!

5 km 

 Mayapura, India

Places of Real Sound


In the mornings, there is a mist that people walk through on their way to the temples.  As early as 4 AM you have pilgrims in stride moving to one of three outlets for chanting—at the samadhi of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, the kutir, or meditative hut, where he first resided in the early seventies when there was only an open plot of land, and finally, the main mandir, or temple, which accommodates thousands.

It is definitely a busy beehive at predawn.  Now, being Saturday, pilgrims pour into the Mayapura area from the city of Kolkata and other surrounding areas.  Busses of people park in the wide expanse of future development areas, buses with screeching horns of prolonged sounds.  Once you step out of the ISKCON compound, you are sure to be in the throes of passion with traffic and noise.

While in the haven of the dhama (sacred place), the atmosphere becomes more relaxed, but not without excitement.  By 5 PM there is a hati (elephant) procession on the grounds.  Drummers, cymbals, turbaned players, priests, and of course, the large mammals themselves, decorated with draped cloth and coloured pigments, circle the area of thruway, transforming it into much more than Disney could offer.

Teachers of the bhakti school say that wherever there is reverential love, that is the spiritual realm.  And that holds true, they say, especially where the ether is surcharged with sound, mantra, from another world.

When the sun meets the Ganges in Mayapura, only a few metres away from my accommodation (five minutes only), a repeat of the morning fog dynamic occurs.  The number of pilgrims has quadrupled and the option for places to hear kirtan and release karma are also increased.  It’s all so much devotion.

I will declare that I am not missing the mundane sounds of the West, not even the East when it has no connection to the parama dhama, the supreme abode.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Note: Yesterday’s class was held in the temple courtyard facing the ToVP construction site. HG Praghosa Prabhu was coordinating the presentation. There were five speakers and we are sending each one separately. Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 23, 2014 Speaker: HH […]

The post The Glories of the ToVP – HH Jayapataka Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Home programs, with their simple formats of kirtan, class and prasadam, are a wonderful way for devotees of the Lord to associate. Read more ›

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 22, 2014 Speaker: HH Bhakti Vijnana Goswami Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.53-54 So today we are reading Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 7 ‘The Son Of Drona Punished’, Text 53-54 brahma-bandhur na hantavya ?atatayi vadharhanah mayaivobhayam amnatam?paripahy […]

The post Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.53-54 – HH Bhakti Vijnana Goswami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Kirtan. Nityananda Trayodasi: Appearance of Lord Nityananda. 12.02.2014

Gita Coaching Ebook By Akrura dasa Introducing Gita Coaching Welcome to Gita Coaching! Our service is helping devotees, specifically ISKCON devotees, learn and apply Srila Prabhupada’s instructions with enthusiasm and determination, in order to achieve maximum spiritual success in this lifetime. This is our purpose; this is our service for ISKCON

Excellent questions elevate our consciousness, improve the quality of our lives and bring excellent results By Akrura dasa – Gita Coaching www.gitacoaching.com TABLE OF CONTENTS ·         Introduction ·         Start Everything With Questions ·         Arjuna's

On Monday February 3rd, students from Preschool to 3rd Grade visited the Texas Discovery Gardens and Butterfly Museum with parents and teachers.The Middle Elementary class (2nd and 3rd graders) have been studying Invertebrates and Insects.  Did you know that over 90% of animals in this world are invertebrates?

Ms. Erin Shields, at the Texas Discovery Gardens, spent an hour showing students the different parts of a butterfly.  They felt cocoons (where the butterfly spends its time in metamorphosis), and gently touched the scales on a butterflies wings, and practiced learned about the butterfly life cycle.  How can you tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth?  If you don’t know, ask one of the children from the TKG Academy and they will tell you.

Everyone was then escorted to a beautiful Butterfly Sanctuary, protected by two sliding glass doors so that the butterflies wouldn’t escape.  As they entered into this enchanting natural world, they were immediately mesmerized by sights of different colored butterflies flying around.  Big flowers for the butterflies to drink from, tons of greenery and foliage were the habitat for these gentle insects.

 ”It reminded some of what Vrindavan must be like – a protected habitat for living entities to live in harmony, serving Krishna together”.

 

O sadhu, if you can’t suddenly renounce this dreamlike world, then day and night meditate on Vrndavana. Worship Vrndavana’s king and queen, always chant Their holy names, and always hear Their glories. With food, clothing, and other gifts, serve the residents of Vrndavana.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-72 Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

The importance of hearing the Holy names cannot be overstated. Hearing is the first process in devotional service and the most important.
Keep trying to hear the Holy names beginning with hearing the next mantra and then the next. Persistence pays off and we will soon be absorbed in the Lord's spiritual energy.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, April 2012, Zurich, Switzerland, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.34)

By nature, we are weak! The weakness manifests in many ways. Earlier, I spoke about lust but another quality by which the inherent weakness of the living entity manifests, is in pride. We are all very proud and we always take pride in something. This pride is the greatest danger in spiritual life because it is through pride that we become careless in following the process and in respecting our superiors. It is through pride that we think, “I know, I know, I know, I know very well.”

It is due to pride that we commit offences and deviate. It is through pride that we spoil this rare opportunity to go back to Godhead this lifetime.

So we have to cultivate humility, which is very difficult. Many times the question is being asked, “How can we become humble?” Well, one answer is that it begins by becoming honest because as soon as we are honest, we have to admit that we are not perfect. Anybody who is a little bit honest knows that actually, I have some faults… I am not great… I am small. This kind of honesty is what can help us to cultivate humility.

So one must practice this… one must always say to himself, “I have a lot to learn.” At any time in life, even when one is at ninety-nine years old. So in this mood of humility, we can remain careful to serve the vaisnavas, to take shelter of Srimad Bhagavatam, to take shelter of the holy name, to remain grateful for devotional service because as soon as one becomes proud, sooner or later, one will experience service as a burden.

“Oh God, why do I always have to do this service? I don’t know why in this temple that nobody is ever ready to do this and somehow or other, I always have to do this!!”

This is where pride came in and humility was lost. This is where gratefulness was lost. When we are humble, we are grateful.

“I am so fortunate that I am allowed to do this service. I am getting all the mercy. I don’t deserve it. Why am I getting it, I don’t know.”

Such gratefulness is just the opposite of pride. The key is this attitude of gratefulness and humility in spiritual life. We are always thinking that I am being blessed. Yesterday, we were remembering Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj who in his final days would say, “I was blessed by the best!”

 

Dear Maharajs/Prabhus,
please accept my humble obeisances,
all glories to Srila Prabhupada,

London Rathayatra festival July 13th 1972, lecture:

“Our Hare Krishna movement is standing on three principal things: chanting,dancing and eating Prasadam. It is not very difficult. It is very enjoyable to chant,dance,and take Prasadam. And if you like, you can hear a little philosophy of this movement .”

Room Conversation New Vrindavan June 25th 1976:

Dhrstadyumna:”We have found,Srila Prabhupada,when the buses are going to many of these cities, they have never seen our devotees, because when we go, we are dressed like they are for distributing the books. So now the boys are going again in the streets with a Kirtan party once a week downtown, and they have all done the front-page newspaper articles,because although they have been reading the books,they have never seen the devotees in many years.I think festivals like this….”
Prabhupada: “yes.”
Dhrstadyumna:”….in all these cities would be very advantageous,and all the book distribution….”
Prabhupada:”And therefore I said that introduce Rathayatra every city. …..”

Tribhuvanth Prabhu’s festival team have complied a list of festivals for the UK, more will be added. So if you are visiting the UK or you live here,please fill your diary will festival dates.

Your servant
Parasuram Das

HARE KRISHNA FESTIVALS & Events for 2014

info@harekrishnafestivals.com Updated: 02/02/2014

http://www.harekrishnafestivals.com/calendar/

Rathayatras, Carnivals & Harinams, Outdoor Public Festivals,
Indoor Venues / HK Fest, & Devotee Events, TBC = To Be Confirmed

ISKCON festivals UK (HKF) will take part in & support as many events as possible however due to our increasing focus on indoor venues we may not necessarily be available for all events mentioned as this list develops.

MARCH

Sat 15: Feed 5000 / Harinam, Cork, Ireland, (Parasuram Pr)
Sun 16: St Patrick’s Day Ratha Yatra, London (Parasuram Pr)
Sun 16: Gaura Purnima Ratha Yatra, Oxford St, London (Parasuram Pr)
Mon 17: St Patrick’s Day Ratha Yatra, Cork, Ireland (Parasuram Pr)

APRIL

Tue 1: Feed 5000 / Harinam, Brussels, Belgium (Parasuram Pr)
Sat 26: King’s Day Harinam, Amsterdam (Parasuram Pr)

MAY

Sat 10 – Sun 11: Birmingham 24 hour Kirtan, (Mayapur M Pr)
Tue 13: Nrsimhadev app day Harinam, London (Parasuram Pr)
Sat 17: Sheffield Ratha Yatra, Sheffield (Kaye)
Fri 23 – Sun 25: (Spring) Off The tracks, Nottingham, (Mineketana Rama Pr)
Sat 31: Crawley Ratha Yatra (Sanjay Pr) TBC

JUNE

Sat 7: Bath Ratha Yatra (Parasuram Pr) TBC
Sun 15: London Ratha Yatra (Titiksu Pr)
Wed 25 – Sun 29: Glastonbury Music Festival, (HKF) Pilton, (Giridhari Pr)

JULY

Wed 2 – Tue 15: Scandanavia Rathayatra tour (Parasuram Pr)
Fri 18 – Sun 20: Rhythmtree World Music Festival, Isle of Wight (Mineketana Rama Pr)
Sun 27: Birmingham Ratha Yatra (Nitai Charan Pr)

AUGUST

Thur 31 July – Sun 3: Green Gathering, Chepstow, (Mineketana Rama Pr)
Sun 3: Leicester Ratha Yatra (Pradyumna Pr) TBC
Sun 10: Southall Ratha Yatra (Parasuram Pr)
Sat 16 – Sun 17: Janmasthmi, (HKF) Festival at Manor. (Giridhari Pr)
Mon 18: Srila Prabhupada App day, Festival at Manor 
Sun 24: Croydon Ratha Yatra (Parasuram Pr) TBC
Sat 23 – Sun 24: Croome HK Cultural Weekend, Worcestershire (Tribhangananda Pr)
Mon 25: Pershore Plum Ratha Yatra (Tribhangananda Pr)
Fri 29 – Sun 31: (Summer) Off The tracks, Nottingham, (Mineketana Rama Pr)
Sat 30 – Sun 31: Croome HK Cultural Weekend, Worcestershire (Tribhangananda Pr)

SEPTEMBER

Sat 6 – Sun 7: Croome HK Cultural Weekend, Worcestershire (Tribhangananda Pr)
Sat 13 – Sun 14: Croome Park Festival, Worcestershire (Tribhangananda Pr)
Sun 21: Brighton Ratha Yatra (Dharani Dhar Pr) TBC
Sat 27: Plymouth Ratha Yatra (Mineketana Rama Pr) TBC
Sun 28: Glastonbury Ratha Yatra (Mineketana Rama Pr) TBC