Srila Prabhupada once said, “Tax your brains how to spread this movement.” So today we loaded our devotees, puppets and musical instruments on carts drawn by camels and did harinam throughout the city of Vadodara, all the while announcing our festival tomorrow night. News of the extravaganza spread quickly and soon all local newspapers and [...]

A Vaishnava, a sober man, accepts only a man's glories and not his faults, for flies seek sores whereas honeybees seek honey.

- Srila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi 8.62 purport

Every year I make my personal finances public. Attached is an accounting of my finances for 2013.

Jamnagar, with a population of 600,000, is called the ‘Oil City of India.’ It has the the world’s largest oil refinery. We held our festival in an open field near the center of the town.To my surprise, 10,000 people showed up early for one of the best shows of our tour.

This presentation is connected with the Priyavrata Prabhu's presentation at the European Leaders Meetings, 2013 -- Read more ›

Indradyumna Swami: Srila Prabhupada once said, "Tax your brains how to spread this movement." So today we loaded our devotees, puppets and musical instruments on carts drawn by camels and did harinam throughout the city of Vadodara, all the while announcing our festival tomorrow night. News of the extravaganza spread quickly and soon all local newspapers and television stations came out to interview us. Everyone we met on the streets promised to come. If they do, then our 'camel caravan kirtan' will have been a great success! -- Read more ›

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) runs the Bhaktivedanta Theological College in Hungary. The Hungarian government donated a building for the Bhaktivedanta Theological College -- Read more ›

10-01-2014 Questions and Answers, ISKCON Newcastle, United Kingdom.MP3

Bhagavatam class.

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1966 February 1:
"Today phoned Mr. Felix Morrow of University Books. His representative will let me know. It is also arranged today by phone that the Universalist Church will allow house for holding meeting on every Wednesday evening from 7/30 to 9 pm.
Expenditure - Busfare .30"
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1969 February 1: "Although you are not formally initiated, you have associated with our devotees and it has acted. The seed is already there in you and it has to be helped to grow and fructify. You can immediately start a center wherever it is possible for you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 1: "There are innumerable living entities wandering within the universe and out of many, many of such conditioned souls, only one will come into contact with a bona fide Spiritual Master by the Grace of Krishna. Krishna can understand from within the sincerity of purpose of a particular living entity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 1: "Simply engage yourself in Krishna's service. That will protect you from any attack of maya. Maya can take Krishna's place in our heart as soon as there is a slackness on our part. Otherwise, if Krishna's seated always, maya has no opportunity to occupy the seat."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 1: "I am very much encouraged by your proposal for constructing housing. This money will be secured somehow or other. These cottages needn't be very high class finished. They may be very roughly finished. We simply want protection, that's all."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 1: "Introduce to the colleges our Bhagavad-gita. If they are actually serious to receive instructions from Krishna, they absolutely must read our Bhagavad-gita As It Is. If they want some nonsense on the plea of reading Bhagavad-gita then there is nothing we can do to help them."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1975 February 1: "Come to India and live in Mayapur. I shall arrange a very nice room and you can peacefully engage in reading Srimad Bhagavatam. I think this arrangement will be very nice for you according to my idea. Now you decide what to do."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Our last Harinams in Gold Coast, all glories to all devotees who participated in this never ending festival of bliss! -- Read more ›

Indradyumna Swami: Jamnagar, with a population of 600,000, is called the 'Oil City of India.' It has the the world's largest oil refinery. We held our festival in an open field near the center of the town.To my surprise, 10,000 people showed up early for one of the best shows of our tour. -- Read more ›

Deena Bandhu Das: A few years ago, someone donated an already built Mandir to ISKCON in Faridabad (Just next to Delhi)! A couple of weeks ago they invited me for their Saturday Feast Program. Relish these pics of another temple for Srila Prabhupada as the preaching expands! -- Read more ›

Paulista Avenue is one of the most important avenues in São Paulo, Brazil. The 2.8 kilometre thoroughfare is notable for headquartering a large number of financial and cultural institutions, as well as being home to an extensive shopping area and to Latin America's most comprehensive fine-art museum, MASP. -- Read more ›

The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and temple complex in Ubud, Bali. Its full name as written on a welcome sign is the Padangtegal Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. -- Read more ›

Should have added some ginger!

Filed under: Jokes

The last shipment of pure white marble has arrived from Vietnam.

The standard is incomparable with a pristine finish lacking any dark markings. Girigovardhan Prabhu is supervising the unloading and quality check of the marble. His attention to detail guarantees only a superior product will be accepted.

HH Sacinandana Swami – Radhadesh Mellows – Kirtan – 01/25/2014 Belgium

Toronto, Ontario

Two Years for TS

In the ashram/temple we cut a birthday cake.  It’s been a two year running of Tuesday’s sanga. 

What to many people is a most boring and dull time of the week, Tuesday afternoon/evening, is actually a real life - my spirit occasion, when the sanga rolls around.  Sanga means soul association.  When people come together for spiritual centric purposes, the topics are about higher consciousness.  The procedure is rather interactive.  There is also kirtan, a chanting done in unison.  The special feature is prasadam, blessed food, and tonight it was a cake to boot. 

Manaksi, a loyal attendee, baked the best cake in the universe, with the main ingredient being pecan flour.  It was nectar for the tummy and the tongue. 

For the ears, I was asked to speak about the importance of sanga, so I made reference to the Bhagavad Gita, 10.9:

“Devotees derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.” – Sri Krishna.

During the session where I asked for comments one fellow said, “I come regularly on Tuesday and it’s such a relief for me.  It’s a nice break from the materialistic world.”

A woman spoke as well, admitting that she was reluctant to participate in the beginning, but when she got the encouragement from family, she attended and had a change of heart.  She likes the community/family feel. 

The coordinator, Indresh, spoke about how attendance has fluctuated over the 100 weeks plus.  Tonight, at the session, there was 25 strong.  Not the largest turn out.  Sometimes due to weather conditions, five or six diehards show up.  Indresh seemed to indicate that Tuesday is special, and the program will go on despite the accordion dynamic of attendance. 

Personally, I enjoy the sanga, social company and a Krishna cake.  I couldn’t enjoy the walk today, some spasm hit my left side, so I spent a portion of the day using my own recipe on physiotherapy, trying to take care. 

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Ultimate Yoga discussions Many people have received a copy of this greatest of all yoga texts, the ‘Bhagavad gita’. Some of you may have read all of it, some of it, or even if you have never heard of it, this weekly workshop is for you. Dharma will take you on a journey, through each […]

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"One must make it his daily routine to chant for an hour in the company of saintly Vaisnavas in a sacred, undisturbed place. Taking note of the Vaisnava's devotional attitude and their relish for the Holy name, the neophyte should try to emulate this mood and gradually rid himself of his apathy to chanting. Step by step his mind and attention should become fixed in the Holy name. By constant chanting, the sweetness of the Holy name makes him anxious to taste more of that nectar."

Harinama Cintamani

The great Vedic scholars cannot obtain even a glimpse of the wonderful and splendid transcendental essence of the nectarean ocean o the bliss of pure Krsna consciousness. O brother, now that you have entered the difficult to attain land of Vrndavana which fulfills all desires, why have you allowed yourself to come the spell of petty materialism, and why do you allow yourself to constantly roam about with entering the realm of pure love of Krsna? They who have gone to the farther shore of the Vedas cannot glimpse the wonderful and splendid nectar of the ocean of the Krsna bliss. O, now that you have entered difficult to attain Vrndavana, which fulfills all desires, why do you wander about, charmed by the witch of petty desires?

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-49 Translation.]

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 15 December 2013, Soweto, South Africa, Lecture)

Although we are not so humble, by offering obeisances to the other vaisnavas, we can develop some humility. When we become humble, we can tolerate anything and then we can conquer anger. Anger also is related to pride, “Who are you to talk to me?” Pride, you know. Pride is our enemy! So by bowing down to devotees, we can conquer pride gradually, not in one night, not in one day but gradually!

 

 

Ambarish Prabhu, speaking at a TOVP banquet in Scottburgh, South Africa. Three hundred business and professional persons are in attendance. Pictured is Mr. Ford chatting to the Consul General of the US. -- Read more ›

Sunday Love Feast

When? Sunday, February 2nd Program starts at 11 am Where? 6 George Street South Brampton, Ontario L6Y 1P3, Canada New! Listen Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog Make a Donation

Bhagavad Gita - 12.10   Devotional Service abhyase 'py asamartho 'si mat-karma-paramo bhava mad-artham api karmani kurvan siddhim avapsyasi TRANSLATION If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage. PURPORT Program Schedule: 11.00 – 11.15                 Tulsi Puja                                            11.15 - 11.30                  Guru Puja                                             11:30 – 11:55                Aarti & Kirtan                                       11.55 - 12.00                Sri Nrsingadev Prayers                   12.00 – 1:00                Vedic Discourse by Her Grace Sukhayanti Devi Dasi 1:00 – 1:30                   Closing Kirtan    Best Vegetarian Govinda's Natural Foods Snack Bar                                                                              Govinda's has always been a giver of love and friendliness, food with a home cooked feel, Check out this Sunday your own Govinda’s Snack Bar at ISKCON Brampton for dine in or take out. This snackbar definitely has the best selection of cruelty-free eats with a bang for your buck.                        Why go else where,when Govinda’s is there!!                          UPCOMING CELEBRATION                       APPEARANCE OF NITYANANDA PRABHU                                                                                                                                              On feb 12,at 7pm.                                                                                               How may I be helpful with this festival? To help with this festival,please contact Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi. If you would like to Finance/sponsor the festival,  please contact Krsna Smaran Devi Dasi [kavitabalram@yahoo.com],you’ll be duly provided a tax deduction receipt towards your donation. Details of the celebration will follow shortly. We’ll keep you updated for those. Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Chant and Be happy!

Gadadhara Pandit Dasa is a monk, lecturer and the first-ever Hindu chaplain for Columbia University and New York University and the Interfaith chaplain at Union Theological Seminary where courses on Hindu scriptures. He has spoken at a recent TEDx conference and was featured in the NPR piece "Long Days and Short Nights of a Hindu Monk." He appeared in the PBS Documentary on the Bhagavad Gita, as well as The New York Times. He is also a regular contributor for the Huffington Post. His life is chronicled in his autobiography: Urban Monk: Exploring Karma, Consciousness, and the Divine. -- Read more ›

By Vasudha Mittal -- Read more ›

Government creates university also, or government creates prison house also. But it is your freedom. You make your choice: either you go to the university or you go to the prison house.

- Srila Prabhupada, Town Hall Lecture -- Auckland, April 14, 1972:

---

Syamasundara: Does Krishna create the universe or does He just make it possible to be created?

Prabhupada: No, the universe, this material world, is created by God. That's a fact. But if the question is that whether God has created this body for suffering in this material world, that is not God's creation; that is our creation. Just like the government creates the prison house. That does not mean that government wants that somebody should be criminals and fill up this prison house. It is a freedom to the citizens. Government creates university also, or government creates prison house also. But it is your freedom. You make your choice: either you go to the university or you go to the prison house. It is your choice. Just like government opens some liquor shop, gives license. That does not mean that government is encouraging drinking. The liquor shop is there. Those who are drunkards, they can go. That's a facility. That's all. Otherwise, that is not encouragement.

Indradyumna Swami: Last night we had an unfortunate accident on our festival tour. One of our devotees, Lal Krsna das, slipped from a balcony and fell two stories to the ground. He broke both hands and an ankle and is presently undergoing surgery at a nearby hospital. The good news is that there are no serious internal or head injuries. The doctors say he is out of danger and will make a full recovery. Please everyone keep him in your prayers. -- Read more ›

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