10 Part Founder-Acarya Seminar
→ The Hare Krishna Movement

Join us for a special 10 part seminar on His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Founder Acharya of ISKCON. Presented by Srila Prabhupada’s dear disciple: H.G. Suresvara Prabhu Suresvara Prabhu has been presenting this in-depth seminar all over the world. He will be sharing his very thorough research and insightful realization on Srila […]

Renovations for Radha-Syama’s abode in Hungary (Album 36 photos)
→ Dandavats.com


Warning: call_user_func_array() expects parameter 1 to be a valid callback, class 'quick_page_post_reds' does not have a method 'ppr_filter_page_links ' in /home/haribol2/m.dandavats.com/wp-includes/plugin.php on line 199
Sivarama Maharaja said that if we invite Radhe-Syama for ten thousand years then it means we accept the responsibility to maintain Them for ten thousand years. It is like a contract which is the prime responsibility of Radhe-Syama’s every devotee. Read more ›

Sri Ram Navami Maha Abhishek in ISKCON-Delhi: 08-04-2014 (Album 34 photos)
→ Dandavats.com


Warning: call_user_func_array() expects parameter 1 to be a valid callback, class 'quick_page_post_reds' does not have a method 'ppr_filter_page_links ' in /home/haribol2/m.dandavats.com/wp-includes/plugin.php on line 199
Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir (Hindi: श्री श्री राधा पर्थसरथि मन्दिर ) or generally called as ISKCON Delhi temple is a famous Vaishnav temple of Lord Krishna and Radharani in the form of Radha Parthasarathi, Opened in 1998, it is located at Hare Krishna Hills, in the East of Kailash area of New Delhi, India. Read more ›

Are You Pretty Without Makeup and Nice Clothes?
→ The Enquirer

Chanting Hare Krishna is so utterly simple that it is difficult. How can something simple be difficult? Because there is no faking it. Not to be crass – but it is a lot like being naked after bathing. Then there is no makeup and no clothes – so you are either beautiful or you are not. You cannot fake it. There is nothing to hide behind, because nakedness is simplicity.

So it is difficult to be beautiful when absolutely naked. Only a truly beautiful person will be beautiful in that condition.

Similarly chanting Hare Krishna is so simple, it is naked spirituality. There is no makeup and no clothing on it. Makeup is like jñāna and philosophy and clothing is like rules and relugations and rituals. These are things we can hide behind to make it seem like we are spiritually advanced, when, in fact we are not. We can follow a bunch a rules and behave just the right way, and then it looks like we are good devotees. Or we can learn a lot of words and phrases and ideas, and become good at explaining them – and then people can think we are good devotees. In this way by jñāna and karma (makeup and clothes) we can fool ourselves and others into thinking we have bhakti (beauty).

But none of these things help us chant Hare Krishna, honestly.

When it is time to chant Hare Krishna, the mind will completely lose interest in all other thoughts and feelings and completely embrace Krishna like a lover embracing her long-absent beloved at a rare opportunity of privacy. Is that what happens when you chant Hare Krishna?

Not for me, at least, not very often at all.

But this is the TRUE MEASURE of our bhakti – how passionately our heart and mind runs to embrace Krishna and drop everything else. And this is truly measured when we sit and chant Krishna names.

It is so SIMPLE – you just have to hear Krishna’s name and naturally think of Krishna as a result of hearing his name. By hearing the name your mind will flood with the image of him, the sound of him, etc, and his associates, and their activities together. Just by hearing the name, such a simple thing – just like if you hear “President Obama” you immediately get a mental image of him, etc. Similarly hearing any name (what to speak of a non-dual name) you will think of the person named. It is a very simple thing.

But our practice is so poor.

Our mind insists on thinking of other things, and makes up excuses that “this distraction is related to Krishna so its OK to think of it while I bounce around, pace around, and mouth some words with some rhythmic pacing to make sure I keep going with the mantra even though I’m paying zero attention to it.”

So, we are very useless sadhakas. Therefore we should try harder, because you should know that kripa-siddhi is EXTREMELY rare. Sādhana siddha is the standard path. In other words we will not get anywhere until we finally become less useless sadhakas. So its time to practice more seriously.

That doesn’t mean getting new clothes and makeup. It means simply forgetting everything else for a few minutes at a time, and just paying attention to the plain and simple names of Krishna for a few minutes at a time, at least.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare.
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare


Are You Pretty Without Makeup and Nice Clothes?
→ The Enquirer

Chanting Hare Krishna is so utterly simple that it is difficult. How can something simple be difficult? Because there is no faking it. Not to be crass – but it is a lot like being naked after bathing. Then there is no makeup and no clothes – so you are either beautiful or you are not. You cannot fake it. There is nothing to hide behind, because nakedness is simplicity.

So it is difficult to be beautiful when absolutely naked. Only a truly beautiful person will be beautiful in that condition.

Similarly chanting Hare Krishna is so simple, it is naked spirituality. There is no makeup and no clothing on it. Makeup is like jñāna and philosophy and clothing is like rules and relugations and rituals. These are things we can hide behind to make it seem like we are spiritually advanced, when, in fact we are not. We can follow a bunch a rules and behave just the right way, and then it looks like we are good devotees. Or we can learn a lot of words and phrases and ideas, and become good at explaining them – and then people can think we are good devotees. In this way by jñāna and karma (makeup and clothes) we can fool ourselves and others into thinking we have bhakti (beauty).

But none of these things help us chant Hare Krishna, honestly.

When it is time to chant Hare Krishna, the mind will completely lose interest in all other thoughts and feelings and completely embrace Krishna like a lover embracing her long-absent beloved at a rare opportunity of privacy. Is that what happens when you chant Hare Krishna?

Not for me, at least, not very often at all.

But this is the TRUE MEASURE of our bhakti – how passionately our heart and mind runs to embrace Krishna and drop everything else. And this is truly measured when we sit and chant Krishna names.

It is so SIMPLE – you just have to hear Krishna’s name and naturally think of Krishna as a result of hearing his name. By hearing the name your mind will flood with the image of him, the sound of him, etc, and his associates, and their activities together. Just by hearing the name, such a simple thing – just like if you hear “President Obama” you immediately get a mental image of him, etc. Similarly hearing any name (what to speak of a non-dual name) you will think of the person named. It is a very simple thing.

But our practice is so poor.

Our mind insists on thinking of other things, and makes up excuses that “this distraction is related to Krishna so its OK to think of it while I bounce around, pace around, and mouth some words with some rhythmic pacing to make sure I keep going with the mantra even though I’m paying zero attention to it.”

So, we are very useless sadhakas. Therefore we should try harder, because you should know that kripa-siddhi is EXTREMELY rare. Sādhana siddha is the standard path. In other words we will not get anywhere until we finally become less useless sadhakas. So its time to practice more seriously.

That doesn’t mean getting new clothes and makeup. It means simply forgetting everything else for a few minutes at a time, and just paying attention to the plain and simple names of Krishna for a few minutes at a time, at least.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare.
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare


Just now coming…
→ KKSBlog

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

KKS_walkingSrila Prabhupada stated that spiritual life means surrender – there is no question of spiritual life without surrendering. He said, “Just like in the darkness you cannot find the sun. You can go looking in the darkness… Where is the sun? It must be somewhere? But in the darkness, you cannot find the sun. In the same way, in a conditioned state, one cannot find Krsna.” It is not possible. One may look here and there and everywhere but impurity is the condition. Therefore we must just take our shelter in service to Krsna and nothing else.

In all others things, it is so difficult to surrender. This can be translated as: it is so difficult to stop being rebellious, basically. It is so difficult to just stop being rebellious against Krsna, “Why do I have to accept his supremacy? I feel forced. Why is it Krsna? Why is there suffering in the material world – I think he is trying to forcing us into serving him. Is it?”

Why? Because Krsna is impatient. He does it out of love. How long does he have to wait for us to say, “Yes, yes, just now coming.” And then not coming at all. Not coming to serve him at all.

 

 

Bow Down Mister, April 6, Houston
Giriraj Swami

04.06.14_01————————
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.21 during the Sunday program in Houston.

“The common man who is puffed up with his material position and does not bow down before the Deity of the Lord in the temple, or who defies temple worship without any knowledge of the science, must know that his so-called turban or crown will only succeed in further drowning him in the water of the ocean of material existence. A drowning man with a heavy weight on his head is sure to go down more swiftly than those who have no heavy weight. A foolish, puffed-up man defies the science of God and says that God has no meaning for him, but when he is in the grip of God’s law and is caught by some disease like cerebral thrombosis, that godless man sinks into the ocean of nescience by the weight of his material acquisition. Advancement of material science without God consciousness is a heavy load on the head of human society, and so one must take heed of this great warning.” (SB 2.3.21 purport)

04.06.14_0204.06.14_0404.06.14_0304.06.14_05—————————————
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.21

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-04-08 18:25:00 →

1972 April 8: "This discrimination is spiritually illegal. Many hundreds of my foreign disciples will be coming to India in the near future and it will be the misfortune of the administrative officials of Puri if so many qualified devotees of the Lord are not allowed into the temple, simply because they have taken their birth in a faraway place."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-04-08 18:18:00 →

1973 April 8: "Your program for traveling and holding festivals at schools is approved by me. Especially you must try to convince these students to join us. There is nothing else that will save the world from destruction and it is our responsibility to recruit these young educated boys and girls before they become spoiled by the degraded conditions of this society."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

New Vrindaban Grows Through Care and Communication
→ New Vrindaban

New Vrindaban Grows Through Care and Communication

by Madhava Smullen

Since moving back to New Vrindaban three years ago, Lilasuka Dasi has used her people skills to inspire residents to care for each other and communicate positively with one another. This, she feels, is the key to the community’s recent attempt at rebuilding and growth.

Originally from Toronto, Lilasuka first lived in the rural West Virginia community between 1980 and 2000, teaching at the day school there.

She then relocated to Pittsburgh until New Vrindaban president Jaya Krishna Das, who calls her “the mother of New Vrindaban,” invited her back to head up the communications department.

From the way she talks about the community, it’s clear that Lilasuka loves New Vrindaban deeply. And that makes her ideal for the job.

“I know the ins and outs of New Vrindaban, and am friends with just about everyone, because I lived here for so long,” she says. “It’s ideal for a deep spiritual life, and is full of interesting people. I just like people, so I like studying them and figuring out how to work with them.”

Initially, the goal of Lilasuka’s department was to establish communications amongst a variety of external groups like the media, the local municipal departments, and the academic community.

And she does nurture a relationship with some, like the Marshall County Tourist Board, whose website advertises New Vrindaban’s festivals and lists Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold as one of the top six tourist attractions in the county.

But her first priority, she felt, was to focus on internal communications amongst New Vrindaban devotees and nearby ISKCON communities.

“A lot of people didn’t know what was going on in New Vrindaban -- even those who lived here!” she says. “Now many devotees tell me that they are glad to see the regular updates about what’s happening.”

Hanuman’s Success by Radhanath Swami (8 min video)
→ Dandavats.com


Warning: call_user_func_array() expects parameter 1 to be a valid callback, class 'quick_page_post_reds' does not have a method 'ppr_filter_page_links ' in /home/haribol2/m.dandavats.com/wp-includes/plugin.php on line 199
"Yes, the nine devotional process and how, by each process, one becomes perfect, just like Pariksit Maharaja, simply hearing, and Sukadeva Gosvami, simply chanting, reciting Bhagavatam. So both of them got salvation. Laksmi, she is simply pada-sevanam, giving massage to the lotus feet of the Lord. Arjuna simply made friendship with Krsna. Hanuman simply worked as a hard servant. He doesn't know what He is... "Lord Ramacandra wants it." Then it is done. Jump over. He does not know any philosophy. He has got bodily strength, so whatever Ramacandra says, he'll do. He was asked to bring that medicine for Laksmana. He did not know where to find it. "Take this whole mountain." (laughter) He was not intelligent. "Fight! We have to fight with Ravana. Then block his whole city by throwing stones and trees and dirt." Everything became blocked. They could not move. So in one side he is born of animal life, he had no higher intelligence, but his staunch desire, that "I shall serve Lord Ramacandra..." By that... Only this desire made him perfect." Read more ›

Rama Navami Festival Lecture – Mumbai April 2014.
Bhakti Charu Swami

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS Founder-Ācārya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda The following lecture on the Pastimes of Sri Ramacandra was given by His Hosliness Bhakti Charu Swami in ISKCON Chowpatty on 08 April 2014. Hare Kṛṣṇa kīrtana, Raghupati Rāghava Rājā Rāma kīrtana. His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami: Gaur Premānande Hari Hari bol. namo(...)

The benefits of reading Ramayana
Krishna Dharma

He who listens every day to this oldest epic, composed by the sage Vālmīki, which is calculated to bestow religious merit, renown and longevity, and which lends support to the Vedas, is completely freed of sin. Kings will overcome their enemies and conquer the earth, men will overcome all difficulties and women will be blessed with excellent sons and grandsons. Those listening to this epic will receive from Śrī Rāma all the boons they desire. Through a hearing of this work all the gods are satisfied. One who keeps a copy in his house will find all his obstacles coming to an end. A man offering worship to and reading this historical work is completely rid of all sins and attains a long life; all the gods are thus pleased and one’s ancestors are gratified forever. Those transcribing this work with devotion are guaranteed residence in heaven, while those hearing it will secure the growth of their family and wealth, supreme happiness and the accomplishment of all their objects on earth.

Yuddha Kanda

The gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas and ṛṣis always listen with great pleasure to the Rāmayana in heaven. This legend is the bestower of longevity, the enhancer of fortune and the dispeller of sins. It is the equal of the Vedas. A man reading even a quarter of it is freed from all sins; indeed, even if one sins daily he is released from the reactions if he recites just one verse of the Rāmayana. A man gets the results of one thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices and ten thousand Vajpeya sacrifices merely by hearing this great work. He has visited all the holy shrines and bathed in all the sacred rivers. One who listens to the story of Śrī Rāma with full reverence roots out all sins and goes to the world of Viṣṇu. The Rāmayana is the unsurpassed form of Gayatri. By hearing it with devotion one will undoubtedly achieve liberation, along with many generations of ancestors. The exploits of Śrī Rāma are the bestower of all four of life’s objects—dharma, artha, kama and moksha. Hearing even one line of this work with full devotion guarantees one’s attainment of the world of Brahmā.

Uttarā Kanda

Find the Ramayana here

Harinama at Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 06 April 2014 (Album 14 photos)
→ Dandavats.com


Warning: call_user_func_array() expects parameter 1 to be a valid callback, class 'quick_page_post_reds' does not have a method 'ppr_filter_page_links ' in /home/haribol2/m.dandavats.com/wp-includes/plugin.php on line 199
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu belongs to the spiritual world, and His methods for propagating the sankirtana movement are also imported from the spiritual world. Srila Narottama dasa thakura has sung: golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana, rati na janmila kene taya. This states that the sankirtana movement has nothing to do with this material world. It is imported from the spiritual world, Goloka Vrndavana. Narottama dasa thakura laments that mundane people do not take this sankirtana movement seriously. Byron Bay is a beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of the state of New South Wales, Australia. Read more ›

Good Karma comes to Pass Christian (Album 92 photos)
→ Dandavats.com


Warning: call_user_func_array() expects parameter 1 to be a valid callback, class 'quick_page_post_reds' does not have a method 'ppr_filter_page_links ' in /home/haribol2/m.dandavats.com/wp-includes/plugin.php on line 199
When Maharani Berg opened her third Good Karma vegetarian restaurant in the DeLisle community near Pass Christian recently, she thought only a few people would show up for the soft opening. The response caught her by surprise. “One hundred people came in that night,” she said. “It was the first time I ran out of food for an opening. I didn’t expect that many people to be there.” Ingredients come mostly from Oriental stores and includes locally grown produce. “In the summertime we have a lot of vegetables coming out of our garden at the farm where I live,” she said. “I plan all the food and every day is different. I see what grows in the garden locally and seasonally.” The farm is part of the the New Talavan community, which is affiliated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly referred to as the Hare Krishna movement. Read more ›

Abhaya and Jayanti
→ Ramai Swami

IMG_0625IMG_0623

Abhaya Carana das and his wife Jayanti devi dasi lived in New Zealand and were rendering service at the Wellington temple at Newlands. Last year Kaliya Krsna from New Gokula Australia asked if they could come to the farm and help with service there.

After relocating, Abhaya and Jayanti found there were plenty of things to do such as farming, deity worship, cooking, looking after the cows and running the veggie club at Newcastle University.
They are also in charge of the new restaurant/preaching facility at Mayfield, which is 5 minutes from Newcastle University. At the moment, tradesmen are renovating and making a commercial kitchen so in a few months time everything will be nicely set up.

IMG_0624IMG_0622

Gaur Purnima Celebrations 2014
→ TKG Academy

One of the most incredible perks of being part of the TKG Academy is the vibrant community around the school, Sri Radha Kalachandji Dham.  This community celebrates the major Vaishnava festivals regularly.  Here, students, alumni, parents, supporters and all the families worship Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda on the auspicious occasion of Gaura Purnima.

Special Visitors-HH Giriraj Swami & HH Rtadhvaja Swami
→ TKG Academy

5,000 years ago, Sri Krishna’s friend Arjuna asked Him a question.

“Oh Krishna, what are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is merged in transcendence?  How does he speak, and what is his language?  How does he sit, and how does he walk?”  BG 2.54

On March 31st, the TKG Academy students had a chance to ask similar questions to two Vaishnavas, His Holiness Giriraj Swami and Rtadhvaja Swami, whose consciousness is completely merged in Krishna.

“What is your favorite food?  Your favorite pastime?  Your favorite color?”

Giriraj Maharaja’s favorite color is blue, like Krishna and Rtadhvaja Maharaj’s is yellow for Gauranga.

Students also asked other questions they had been wondering for some time.  “What does Krishna like most in Vrindavan?”  “How do we give up material desires and attachments?”  “Why did Krishna let Kamsa kill his baby brothers and sisters?”

The Maharajas lovingly and patiently answered the questions, tailoring their answers to young children’s understanding.

One student asked, “When did you first meet Srila Prabhupada?”

Giriraj Maharaj answered, “March 31st, 1969.”

Wait!  Today is March 31st!  The students worked to figure out how many years it had been.  It had been 45 years since Giriraj Maharaj had first met Srila Prabhupada!  Wow, what an auspicious day for his visit.

Rtadhvaja Maharaja’s years of practice as a teacher showed when he only answered those whose hands were raised quietly.   He ended the session with a brain teaser for the young ones to figure out.

We always look forward to their visits, and are grateful to get a chance to spend some time with them.  If you didn’t already know, Giriraj Maharaj’s favorite food is rasagulla.

Offer the Plant Parts
→ TKG Academy

Spring time means time with plants and flowers!  Our March days began with offering flowers, leaves and nuts to the Deities, and reciting the Bhagavad Gita verse 9.26.  “If you offer me with love and devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I will accept it.”

In Science, the 2nd to 3rd graders were immersed in hands-on plant projects, growing, describing, and observing.

Students learned about the Parts of a Plant, and the jobs of each part.  Stems carry water to the rest of the leaves.  Leaves are the plant factory, where food is made.  They learned about the process of Photosynthesis, and that chlorophyll is the green in the plant.  They also learned how all the plant parts are are things that we eat every day!  Carrots are roots, celery and asparagus are stems, and broccoli are flowers.  After gluing edible plant parts together, they offered their plants to Krishna.   As He says in Bhagavad-Gita, we pray that He accepted their loving offerings.

Celebrate Ramanavami with us this Tuesday from 7.00pm-9.00pm
→ ISKCON Brampton



Special Ramanavami Maha Feast

When?
TuesdayApril 8th
from 7.00-9.00(pm)

Where?
6 George Street South
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 1P3, Canada
Park underground(free) @ City Hall
Phone:416-648-3312

New! Listen
Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog
Make a Donation
"Raghupati Ragava Raja Ramapatita Pavana Sita Rama"

“Lord Rama is the chief of the house of Raghu and the saviour of the fallen souls; all respects and praise to mother Sita and Lord Ramacandra.”
The word Rama literally means one who is divinely blissful, gives joy to others and in whom sages rejoice. The name of Lord Rama is the greatest purifier of the heart. It not only wipes away all one’s sins but it wipes away the sinful tendencies as well. Lord Shiva tells His consort Parvati: “This Ram Naam is equal to the Lord’s one thousand names or repetition of the mantra a thousand times.”
The Ramayana’s perennial relevance lies in its power to inspire us to broaden our consciousness from “me” to “we” and to momentously expand the definition of “we” from the human-human paradigm to the human-divine. The kingdom of God, or Rama-rajya, is impossible without the awakening of God consciousness in the mass mind of the people of the world. Ramanavami is therefore a spiritual reminder of the noble ideals for which Lord Rama stood.
Devotees celebrate this day by fasting till sunset, singing and chanting His holy names, pastimes and glories.


Sponsor the Event
"So far as your working engagement is concerned, certainly you are not a karmi. Any person whose constant occupation is Krishna Consciousness, he is not a karmi ; he is a devotee in all circumstances. You should accept the best source of monetary income and use it for Krishna. That is better than sannyasa. Stick to your job and use it for Krishna Consciousness. You are not a karmi."(Srila Prabhupada)

If you'd like sponsor/finance this event,contact Krsna Smaran Devi Dasi(kavitabalram@yahoo.com)

Ramanavami Maha Feast.....$251
Florals & Garlands...............$108

Special Program
7:00pm         Guru Puja
7:15pm         Gaura Aarti
7:45pm         Narasinga Aarti
7:50pm         Welcome Announcements
8:00pm         Glories of Lord Rama by HG Mahabhagavat Dasa
                     **Rama means perfection personified**
8:40pm         Closing Kirtan & song Glorification of Lord Rama
9:00pm         Ramanavami Maha Feast
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!