Acquiring Krsna’s qualities
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 March 2014, Sydney, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.6.11)

1983-06-03sarva mahā-guṇa-gaṇa vaiṣṇava-śarīre
kṛṣṇa-bhakte kṛṣṇera guṇa sakali sañcāre (CC Madhya 22.75)

This verse is saying that all the good qualities are present within the body of a vaisnava. All the good qualities of Krsna are actually manifesting in the devotee. So it is interesting that we get the same qualities as Krsna. By serving Krsna, we get the good qualities of Krsna. By serving someone, you get the qualities of that person. It’s logical because whatever is important to that person becomes important to you. So if you serve Krsna, whatever is important to Krsna becomes important to you and the way Krsna conducts himself becomes important to us. In this way, we develop all the good qualities of Krsna by the grace of Krsna.

 

 

 

Giant Hanuman Sculpture Built With 26, 500 Bells
→ ISKCON News

This video is going to prove those wrong, who think science and faith cannot come together. Watch these guys at Charuvi Design Labs give shape to this unique amalgamation, in the most gigantic form possible. They used 26,500 bells to give shape to their dream of creating a huge Lord Hanuman structure. What’s more, this structure is interactive. When you touch Lord Hanuman’(feet), the bells start chiming and the whole structure seems to be coming alive. 

The root of sin is deliberate disobedience to God
→ The Spiritual Scientist

The root of sin is deliberate disobedience of the laws of nature through disregarding the proprietorship of the Lord. Disobeying the laws of nature or the order of the Lord brings ruin to a human being. Conversely, one who is sober, who knows the laws of nature, and who is not influenced by unnecessary attachment or aversion is sure to be recognized by the Lord and thus become eligible to go back to Godhead, back to the eternal home.

- Srila Prabhupada, Sri Isopanishad Mantra 1

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-04-16 16:56:00 →

1970 April 16: "Regarding the three couples staying with George Harrison, if there is no contemplation of starting a temple there, simply to take advantage of staying there is no good. Not a single moment should be wasted - that is very important. We shall not act anything which has no connection directly with Krishna Consciousness business."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Frequently Non-answered Questions
→ Dandavats.com

More than half of the problems that exist today would be tackled differently if we solely knew the answer to the question that Calvin poses. Wouldn’t it? Violence, discrimination, environmental pollution, corruption – you name it – all would end if everyone just got the answer to this fundamental question – who are we? And what are we doing here? Are we in tune with our real nature? Sometimes the questions we ask are more important than answers we already have. That’s what the teachers from ancient India tell us in the Vedanta Sutras – athato brahma jigyasa – literally, “thus, let us ask the questions about the Absolute Truth, God”. This, they say, is the question of all questions. Did you spend some time thinking about the big questions of life? Why don’t you? Read more ›

We need quality
→ Servant of the Servant

Everyone has got some followers. This.... What is that? Guruji Maharaja. He has got also so-called followers. The T.M.,(Transcendental Meditation of Mahesh Yogi)  - - - he has got also some followers. Everyone has got some followers. But what kind of followers they have ? That is quality. Everything has quality. Simply quantity is not. There are many Christians. Even up to date, some Christian fair or.... Many millions will come. What is the quality ? Quality is all meat-eater. But Christian means he should not kill. Where is the Christian ? So we have to test by the quality, followers. Not many followers, the quality of the followers. My Guru Mahäräja used to say like that, that "If I get at least one quality disciple, then all my labor will be success." He was saying like that: quality, not the quantity.

- Srila Prabhupada (Room Conversation  -  The Spirit of Preaching is to Make Perfect Disciples
- May 2, 1976, Fiji)

Hare Krishna

The Word Is Out!
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


The response to my new book Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest has been streaming in: 

“Wonderful! Your storytelling art – which quickly gets to the essence of everything – has opened the world of Mahabharata to me , for it has opened up the world of the feelings and emotions of Mahabharata.” Sacinandana Swami

"Got the books. Already finished the first chapter....really nice. Have a friend who teaches comparative religion classes at the University here, I'll give her a copy.” Trivikrama Swami, FL

"Reading your book! Such a great job – deep and flowing. You are truly gifted to share this profound story the way you have. Outstanding!” Krsnanandini Dasi, OH 

“Thank you Andy for this wonderful book. As I sit here reading I feel whole regions of my mind and heart awaken. Soul food for our times.”  Rasika Walkingfeather


“I could not put it down…. I am going to give it out to others who I think have an interest…. It’s a landmark work….. How difficult it must have been to reduce the volume of the text and not loose the threads of the story, nor the essence of the philosophy! Magnificent!” Josef Lauber

“I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your unbelievable gift of Mahabharata:The Eternal Quest… I found myself picking it up only minutes after putting it down and reading it all in every spare moment I had…… a great telling of the classic…… When I came to the chapter where you condensed the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, I found tears in my eyes. It was wonderful, concise, and exceptionally powerful.” Emil Sofsky

“Thank you for this engaging rendering of Mahabharata. You’ve performed a great service.” Dr Vicky Jenkins, IN 

"Wow, what a wonderful book. We just finished it this morning ... i'm sad it's over...we'll have to read it again!" Mohanasini Lighfoot

"I just finished reading Mahabharata. Wonderfully done. Except I started to do the math to calculate the years of Kali-yuga remaining and...think I'll just keep playing my flutes. Thank you a great read." Lou Boden

“Hare Krishna. May you live for many years and keep producing wonderful stories that lift the spirits of all who hear them. " Vegavati DD  

“The book has brought Stephanie and I so much joy, we couldn't put it down and read it to one another so we could both enjoy together. We also love the cover artwork. Our complements to the artist.” Luke Kopyar

“I am almost finished reading the book. Very mesmerizing.” Dheeraj Handa, CA 

“I couldn’t put it down.” Vidya DD 

“Andy Fraenkel’s Mahabharata is a transcendental experience on every page.” Steve Howard, CO

“The book and website look really good. I'm excited that this important subject is getting attention.” Roi in Israel

“Very well written. You have kept the meaning of Mahabharata and have given life to the major and minor personalities.” Appa Roa Gollamudi, Hyderabad, India

“His book is an incredible rendition of one of the oldest written books on the planet. I highly recommend it if you want to immerse yourself in the most amazing drama and intrigue ever recorded.” Darrell Martin, Blue Boy Herbs


“Cows flying” in the festival of the cows’ first spring pasture, Krishna valley, Hungary (Album 166 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

This event would make excellent natural wonder visible to those who visit the valley Krishna Sunday April 13 th, as at the date of holding the "first spring grazing"! The first spring sprouting is one of the most joyous holiday for the cows, as after the long winter confinement for the first time and enjoy the taste of fresh grass in the soft sunlit meadow in spring Read more ›

Is This All There Is? — Devamrita Swami
→ ISKCON News

Work, buy and consume week after week, month after month, year after year, is that what we're really here for? Devamrita Swami elaborates on this common mantra: work, buy, consume, die explaining that actually there is more to life than that. (Produced by Bhakti Lounge, Wellington, New Zealand.)

ISKCON NEPAL 18th Anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Govinda Hari (166 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Celebrating 18th Anniversary of our beloved Sri Sri Radha Govinda Hari 14th April 2014, Monday. It had been 18 years of the deity installation @ ISKCON Nepal, Buddhanilkantha. With the Special Presence of His Holiness Mahavishnu Swami and 2000+ Devotees & Visitors. And In Nepal its a New Year too. So visitors also came to have darshan Everyone were gifted by a A4 sized Radha Govinda Hari Photo and a Back To Godhead Magazine.. everyone seems to be happy for getting those New Year Gifts. Read more ›

Ratha-yatra Morning, April 12, Dallas
Giriraj Swami

1654404_10152249448784929_1845577006_nGiriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 1.46–81.

“At the Ratha-yatra, Lord Chaitanya recited the following verse:

seita parana-natha painu
yaha lagi’ madana-dahane jhuri genu

‘I have gotten that Lord of My life, for whom I was burning in the fire of lusty desires.’ (Cc Madhya 1.55)

“All the scriptures proclaim that the gopis’ love for Krishna is completely pure and spotless, free from any material taint ofselfish desire. So, when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the mood of the gopis says that he is burning in the fire of lusty desires, He really means that He is burning in the fire of separation—separation from pleasing Krishna. The gopis know that Krishna is pleased by their service more than anyone else’s. And because their only ambition is to see Krishna happy, they want to serve Him, not for their own happiness, but to give Krishna the highest transcendental pleasure. But they express their desire in terms of lust, or selfish desires—also to please Krishna.” —Giriraj Swami

Ratha-yatra Morning, Dallas, 2014

Prayer to Hanumanji – Welcome the Rama-duta in the heart with eagerness
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Manojavam maruta tulya vegam, jitendriyam buddhi mataam varishtham
vaataatmajam vaanara yooth mukhyam, shree raama dootam sharnam prapadye.
Let me pray to the one who is swift as thought (manojavam-), the one who is more powerful than the wind (marut.tulya.vegam-), the one who has conquered his senses (jitendriyam-), the one who is supreme among all intelligent beings, the son of the wind-god (vaataatmajam-), the commander of the army of forest creatures (vaanar.yooth.mukhyam-), Let me find refuge in Lord Rama's Messenger, the incomparable Lord Hanuman.

Special Day Meditation Podcast

So many religions in the world… why?
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.8)

krsna with cow and fluteIt is due to our rebelliousness that we do not want to take Krsna consciousness as it is. This is the issue and then we say, “Well, I have changed my religion. I actually realized after a long time that Krsna consciousness was not it! Initially, I had full faith but then over time, I saw that people did not live up to the standards actually. I saw that it was a big farce and now, I worship Durga or I am going to Church daily. I am very happy! So happy. Yeah, happy because now I can do any damn thing. I do not have to follow the same rules anymore. I have just given up Krsna consciousness and I have taken on another philosophy with easier standards. Great then I do not have to feel guilty about not surrendering.”

“And why are there so many religions in the world, Swamiji?” So that people can justify material desires in the name of religion. That is why there are so many different religions in the world. So people can justify different material desires and just put a nice religious sugar coating over it and feel so good about themselves, “It is all right to eat this animal, it is our religion. Every Christmas, it is part of our religion to live for the turkeys!” So, in this way, justifying – that is actually the truth. If you really look at it that is what Srimad Bhagavatam is saying,

dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satāṁ
vedyaṁ vāstavam atra vastu śivadaṁ tāpa-trayonmūlanam
śrīmad-bhāgavate mahā-muni-kṛte kiṁ vā parair īśvaraḥ
sadyo hṛdy avarudhyate ’tra kṛtibhiḥ śuśrūṣubhis tat-kṣaṇāt, (Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.1.2)

It speaks about all these kinds of dharmah, all these cheating religions which are simply aiming at fulfilling material desires and it is everywhere in the world. Everywhere in the world!

 

 

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-04-15 20:41:00 →

1966 April 15:
"Ekadasi. Met Mr. Anderson, Assistant to Governor. He is little sympathetic. He says that I may expect some news from the Asia Society, New York. Yolanda will take me to Ashram tomorrow at 2 P.M. Books delivered to Elise. Two sets of books for sale in charge of Paul. Collection in the meeting -- $4.00 Expenditure Bus fare .60."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966