Planet ISKCON

We had the opportunity to cook wonderful Prasadam that was served to over 5000 fortunate souls in Brussels. Pretty amazing program organized by Tristran, Niki, Dominique and Parasuram. Everyone loved the Prasadam and were awestruck by Para's huge pots. This program is making people aware of the terrible waste going on in the food industry. Parasuram has been doing this for years, getting donations from food wholesales and chains such as Costco. Then we cook it, offer to Lord Krishna, then distribute it freely. The expenses are offset by grants and donations. Every day in London over 1000 students, homeless and others are getting FREE Prasadam. Read more ›

Lilasuka (L): So how are things going for you, so far, here in New Vrindaban, Alexander and Radhapriya prabhus? You’ve been here for a few months now.

Alexander (A) & Radhapriya (R):  Well, we like our apt.  There’s easy access to the temple.  Things are good.

L: I heard you went to India recently, Radhapriya. Would you like to tell us about that?

R:  Sure. It was October to December, 2013, and it was my first time to India. I went on Indradyumna Swami’s Kartik parikrama to the Vrindavan area. It was a rigorous, intense schedule, with not a lot of free time.

But I really liked Vrindavan because everyone there knows about Krsna. I have to admit that from everything I had read and heard, I had expected Vrindavan to be a peaceful, serene rural scene.  But I’m afraid it wasn’t like that at all.

It was quite noisy and crowded.  A person gets literally pushed around a lot!  All the temples are full of people, but that’s to be expected since it was Kartik time.  There are cars everywhere, it seems. And the people have this amazing habit of just throwing their trash in piles and setting them on fire.   Plus, it was very hard to find any time alone, with some peace and quiet.

There were other surprises, too. We were staying at the Srila Prabhupada Charity Trust building, where our roof accommodations were very scenic, but the electricity would go off regularly, as well as the water. And there was no hot water at all! Quite austere conditions. I didn’t expect it.

L: Welcome to India! Ha Ha! India has always been a challenge, on the physical level.

R: But it’s transcendental too.  All the men in Vrindavan have sikhas and everyone chants “Hare Krsna!”, “Radhe Radhe!”  The sweetest experience I had was attending the matajis’ kirtans.  Every day, in Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi, groups of very renounced, dedicated women would come and chant together in an intimate atmosphere.  It was the sweetest experience and very powerful.

L: Thank you, Radhapriya.  So, Alexander, what kind of work do you do?

A:  I work full-time, online as a tech support for WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting platform.

L: I see. And how did you two meet?

A: Well, I was a philosophy major at the University of Texas in Austin in 2007, when I used to see Radhapriya on “The Drag” (the main street at U.T.) distributing books.  I used to talk to all sorts of interesting people on The Drag. Radhapriya looked particularly captivating, and aroused my curiosity.  I was taking a photojournalism class, and eventually I ended up doing a photo story on Radhapriya.   When I asked her permission to do that, she replied, “I’ll have to talk to my spiritual master.”  That made me REALLY curious!

(They both laugh.)

A: I just kept following her around.

R: And he’s still following. (They laugh again.)

L:  What made you decide to move to New Vrindaban?

A: Well, I have to admit that ever since I first met devotees, I’ve never been able to fully appreciate kirtans. But when we came to N.V.’s 24 hour kirtan last summer, my heart felt very uplifted and moved.  I also really love the natural setting here. Those are the main things that convinced me to want to live here.

R:  Yes, the beautiful countryside, the variety of people, being part of an established devotee community, all the festivals – these were some of my reasons for wanting to move here. Plus, New Vrindaban is a true place of pilgrimage – a spiritual hub.  It’s one of those go-to places that HAS to be visited.  A person can meet all sorts of new devotees here, and establish relationships.

A: Last summer, when we came, Madri dasi showed us around and took us to see Varsana Swami’s project.  That’s when I realized: This is a holy dhama for real.   It’s a spiritual abode. It is Vrindavan!!  New Vrindaban has that spiritual potency.  There’s a very rich history here. And there are so many treasures to be discovered here – it’s an adventure. Almost like we’re living in Krsna’s lila!  I feel like we’re making spiritual progress here.

L: Radhapriya, I understand that you also work full time. What do you do?

R: I work full-time, online, doing graphics and web design.  I’m also helping Jaya Krsna prabhu by designing a new brochure.  I may also help with some festival posters.  I’d really like to help paint some of the deities and the Jagannatha altar.

L: Radhapriya, how did you become a devotee?

R: I was in a literature class, where I read parts of a version of the Bhagavad Gita and then did a report on “Karma and Dharma”.  But I wanted to read more.  So I went out and discovered Srila Prabhupada’s “Bhagavad Gita As It Is”, with its attractive, colorful cover. I thought to myself, “This must be a good, authoritative version.’

The Gita really resonated with me.  Everything you do will come back to you one way or the other, I learned.  Then I googled the Hare Krsnas and soon signed up for an e-course from the one who eventually became my spiritual master. It is   www.backtohome.com.  I remember when my spiritual master, His Grace Sankarshan das Adhikari, was coming to Delaware & I went to visit him at one Indians’ family’s place. So the first devotee I met was my Guru Maharaj, his wife, & Arya Siddhanta – their driver. They had an enthusiastic kirtan.  Mostly, I remember the gauranga potatoes!  In 2005, I took initiation.  Eventually I moved to Austin to do book distribution. That’s where I met Alexander – and you’ve heard that story.  Coming to New Vrindaban has really helped to revive my spirituality, which wasn’t thriving in Austin.  As a matter of fact, I’ve always been attracted to West Virginia Appalachia and the cows.

A: It really makes me happy to see my wife serving the cows.  Everything about the cow is pure.

R: Yes, even cow urine has antiseptic properties.  I hope to work more with the cows.  Physical labor makes me feel good. I love being outside, connected with nature.

A:  I also feel that a person misses out on the real beauty in the world if they just live in a city.  City life is so disconnected. That’s one main reason why we love New Vrindaban.

R:  Yes. It seems as though a person can either be “stressed out” here in New Vrindaban, or they can choose to take shelter of the land, the cows and the amazing abundant gifts of the land.

L: Thank you both. Hare Krsna.

Mangala Arati sung by HG Sundar Nitai Prabhu – 29.03.2014

Finally, a great episode. I want all the episodes to be like this one. This is my kind of stuff.

But I can’t miss the opportunity to use the opening lines of this episode to illustrate what has been bugging me so bad about the first three episodes. Neil deGrasse Tyson says,

Seeing is not believing.
Our senses can deceive us.
Even the stars are not what they seem.

Then I want to rhetorically and sarcastically add:

But everything I am about to tell you is true.
Even though it is based on what we observe
With our senses.

“The cosmos revealed by science”… is supposed to be something different that the cosmos that deceives our senses, but that’s poppycock because the “science” he’s talking about is empirical science. “Empirical” means “based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.” So empirical means based on observation, and observation is carried out by our senses, which, as Mr deGrasse Tyson declares, are faulty and deceive us.

So, it goes without saying that “the cosmos revealed by science” is another sensory deception. Certainly a more elaborate and refined one that the deception presented to the naked eye, but a deception nonetheless.

That doesn’t mean its useless.

It does mean that it shouldn’t claim to hold absolute, final answers.

 

Finally, a great episode. I want all the episodes to be like this one. This is my kind of stuff.

But I can’t miss the opportunity to use the opening lines of this episode to illustrate what has been bugging me so bad about the first three episodes. Neil deGrasse Tyson says,

Seeing is not believing.
Our senses can deceive us.
Even the stars are not what they seem.

Then I want to rhetorically and sarcastically add:

But everything I am about to tell you is true.
Even though it is based on what we observe
With our senses.

“The cosmos revealed by science”… is supposed to be something different that the cosmos that deceives our senses, but that’s poppycock because the “science” he’s talking about is empirical science. “Empirical” means “based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.” So empirical means based on observation, and observation is carried out by our senses, which, as Mr deGrasse Tyson declares, are faulty and deceive us.

So, it goes without saying that “the cosmos revealed by science” is another sensory deception. Certainly a more elaborate and refined one that the deception presented to the naked eye, but a deception nonetheless.

That doesn’t mean its useless.

It does mean that it shouldn’t claim to hold absolute, final answers.

 

Be A Fool

I passed through 61 April Fools in this one life.  At the Tuesday Sanga, the evening’s presenter, Praharana, spoke on how we are all more or less fools for being in this world of suffering.  She, however, explained that joy could be had by taking to the spiritual component.  Her message spoken at the ashram was well received.

It was only after the time of her presentation that I went on my daily walk.  Vrindavan, one of our dedicated devotees in our community here, drove me at my request, to his home.  From there I would walk back to the ashram, a mere 6 KM distance.  I recall when I first tackled the longer stretches for training.  A couple of my colleagues at that time thought I was slightly foolish to go on a 22 KM trek (a first), and to do it on a winter afternoon when a snow storm suddenly hit.  I had lost directions while trying to reach my destination point, the home of a friend.  Eventually I was found through the aid of a call by payphone.  No panic, it was fun being a fool.  Anyways, it was all done for the training perspective. 

The special characteristic of Madhvacarya's doctrine is that it very clearly defeats the faulty mistakes of the Advaita perspective. By maintaining this forceful position, the distress caused by impersonal philosophy falls to the wayside, allowing one to understand and appreciate the Lord's personal form. Therefore, in order to bring about safe and sure benefit for the conditioned souls who are weakened from the onslaughts of Kali-yuga, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the doctrine of Sri Madhvacarya [by adhering to his lineage]. But by doing so He did not minimize the importance of the other three Vaishnava doctrines in any respect. All forms of savisesa-vada (philosophy of eternal distinction) are relishable, for it will certainly bring eternal auspiciousness.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Vaishnava Siddhanta Mala, Chp 5

Don’t even glance at the external things of this world, whether they
belong to you or to others, whether they are as splendid as millions of suns and moons, or whether they possess a great flood of good qualities, Renounce them¡ Give up all conventional peaceful composure, and without caring for anything else, always remember Sri Sri Ra?dha?-Krishna and reside in Vrinda?vana.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-7, Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 March 2013, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.12.6)

Pure devotees of the Lord are only interested in satisfying the senses of the Supreme Lord, hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.2). They are not concerned with the material world because they appreciate that in the material world, everything is only temporary and therefore any relationship that we have with the material energy, will not endure and therefore it will be painful.

Whatever we have, we become attached to and then it will disintegrate in the course of time. That’s the nature of anything material, so what is the point? “I love my beautiful sandcastle; it is so wonderful. But it will not last; it will be destroyed; so many dreams.”

But the love for these dreams comes from the heart because there is a natural need within the living being for happiness and fulfillment. In this material world, we are always experiencing some emptiness within the heart, always experiencing some yearning, some longing for something, some hope that maybe it will happen. Whatever it is, whatever we want, “Maybe I’ll become rich… maybe I’ll become famous… or rich and famous! Maybe one day I’ll wake up and I’ll be beautiful… it’s doubtful but maybe somehow or other, a miracle will happen, you never know! It could happen, therefore, just wait, just in case. Hold onto to that little straw because maybe it will happen and I so much want it to happen. Oh yes, maybe my love will appear. Yes, the one that is my perfect match, the one that is designed for me, that one!’

Of course, that one doesn’t exist; there is no perfect match, it doesn’t exist! It becomes a boxing match sooner or later. It’s not a perfect match, it is not like that. It’s hard work to make relationships work. You cannot say that there is a marriage that just works. No, you have to work for it. It’s hard for relationships to work and then still you don’t really get what you were dreaming of. That’s the material world!

Anyway some say, “Yes, but better a blind uncle than none. Better something than nothing at all!” Okay yes, we want something after all. Alright have it, if you want to settle for something but let that something that you want out of the material world not interfere with your eternal progress! So it cannot be sinful because when we fulfill our desires in a sinful way, then we become bound up by the laws of material nature.

na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ
durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ
andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās
te ’pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ, (SB 7.5.31)

“Come one, don’t be a square! Yeah, it’s okay, everybody’s doing it, everybody.”

Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās, and the blind are leading the blind. Te ’pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ, and the result is that we remain bound up in chains. The whole world is doing it and they all just remain bound up in chains, in this material world. The three gunas, sometimes known as the three qualities of material nature, other times known as the three ropes that bind us; that is what will happen.

So the pure devotee doesn’t even bother with such things. The pure devotee is thinking about Krsna. Krsna is important, Krsna’s desires are important, Krsna’s glory is important, Krsna’s service is important, Krsna’s name is important, tadīyānāṁ samarcanam (CC Madhya-lila 11.31); anything related to Krsna is important. Tadīyā, anything related to Krsna. The Ganga because of the dust of Krsna’s lotus feet. Tulasi Devi is related to Krsna, ‘tulasī kṛṣṇa-preyasi,’ anything related to Krsna.

‘ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ
viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param
tasmāt parataraṁ devi
tadīyānāṁ samarcanam,’ (Padma Purana, quoted in CC Madhya-lila 11.31).

Lord Siva said to Parvarti in the Padma Purana, ”Of all that are worshipable, the Supreme Lord Visnu is the ultimate worshipable entity. But greater still are those personalities and things that are related to him in service.’ That is wonderful!

 

Janmejaya Das has made many Rathayatra Carts including the ones at New Govardhana, New Varshana and Christchurch temple. This year, Jamal Arjuna from the Bhakti Centre on the Gold Coast, asked him to make a smaller cart for the Rathayatra parades there.

The numerous benefits of lavender contain its capability to get rid of mental tension, alleviate painful sensations, disinfect skin, treat respiratory troubles, and so much more.

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

The day began in 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII decreed the adoption of the “Gregorian calendar”, which moved New Year’s Day from the end of March to Jan. 1.

The holy abode of Jagannatha Puri, through the eye of a camera. Jaya Jagannatha! Kindly become visible to us. Jaya Srila Prabhupada! You so kindly gave us the spiritual world.

Be A Fool

I passed through 61 April Fools in this one life.  At the Tuesday Sanga, the evening’s presenter, Praharana, spoke on how we are all more or less fools for being in this world of suffering.  She, however, explained that joy could be had by taking to the spiritual component.  Her message spoken at the ashram was well received.

It was only after the time of her presentation that I went on my daily walk.  Vrindavan, one of our dedicated devotees in our community here, drove me at my request, to his home.  From there I would walk back to the ashram, a mere 6 KM distance.  I recall when I first tackled the longer stretches for training.  A couple of my colleagues at that time thought I was slightly foolish to go on a 22 KM trek (a first), and to do it on a winter afternoon when a snow storm suddenly hit.  I had lost directions while trying to reach my destination point, the home of a friend.  Eventually I was found through the aid of a call by payphone.  No panic, it was fun being a fool.  Anyways, it was all done for the training perspective. 

1969 April 3: "You should take the indication given by Krishna: the press is already there, the press worker is coming, and the scholar has joined. Don't you see the indication by Krishna?."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1972 April 3: "N.B. Regarding changes made in GBC zonal management. I do not favor these changes. Tell them to stop everything. Why they have done this without consulting?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 April 3: "There is no other literatures like ours in the world, and this information, 'Here is God, just see Him,' this clear understanding of God is not available anywhere else but from our books."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 April 3: "Today is Tuesday so I hope that the court case will be heard. If the judge takes seriously that the land must be given to one of us, that will be a great success."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 April 3: "Regarding the house at Puri – the place of Srila Prabhupada. I understand that Sripad B.D. Madhav Maharaj is also eager to purchase, so I do not wish to make a competitive price."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 April 3: "If we cannot utilize the land then why purchase it at such expenditure? Self help doesn't mean Rs 10,000 spent monthly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 April 3: "Why are the cows suffering from no good shelter? I sent $5,000 and then $4,000 previous to that, for construction for the cows. Why have you not built them something solid?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Indradyumna Swami: The holy abode of Jagannatha Puri, through the eye of a camera. Jaya Jagannatha! Kindly become visible to us. Jaya Srila Prabhupada! You so kindly gave us the spiritual world. Read more ›

Samir Becic, 4 times Number 1 Fitness Trainer in the world and his Health Fitness Revolution team created a list that is the first of its kind- the 10 Fittest Religious Leaders in the U.S. Health Fitness Revolution believes that spiritual health is a key component of total body health. We also believe that spiritual leaders cannot achieve their full potential without being physically fit. Healthy body = Healthy Spirit. This is why we are bringing you the list of the Fittest Spiritual Leaders in America. Read more ›

ISKCON Vallabh Vidhyanagar - Gujarat, had celebrated Gaura Purnima festival on 16th March 2014 for which we have created a video Read more ›

With Jayapataka Swami Read more ›

For those with a deeper vision, Aindra Prabhu spent most of his life chanting Hare Krsna in Vrindavana, serving his Deities, doing parikrama and his final act of service was to fall down in front of his Gaura-Nitai Deities. I am sure a flower airplane appeared and took him back to the spiritual world.

To expand ISKCON’s preaching mission Srila Prabhupada created sannyasis. Thus the Ministry for Sannyasa Service has established a website to provide information about potential sannyasis to the ISKCON community and to get feedback in order to help in the candidate's training.

At the 2014 Annual General Meetings of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission in Mayapur, the GBC resolved that devotees wishing to take initiation from an ISKCON guru will be required to first pass the ISKCON Disciple Course. The resolution will not be effective until Janmastami 2015, so that ISKCON leaders throughout the world will have time to put the proper systems in place to make the course widely available.

Niranjana Swami and the Balinese devotees spent a wonderful day doing kirtan at Tirta Gangga, Bali. A video by Guru Gauranga Das.

A video by Dwarkadheesh Krishna Das.

India is the world’s largest producer of milk. But in 10 years, we will be forced to start importing it. And the Indian cow will no longer exist.

Niranjana Maharaja: Bhagavatam-class.

The post How the brahminical class can lose their prowess appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Russian/English Skype conference on sadhu-sanga, being one’s own guru and the mystique of blessings appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Rath Yatra or the Car Festival is a huge Krishna conscious festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Orissa, India Read more ›

Material affairs have herein been compared to an ocean of poison. They have been described in a similar way by Srila Narottama dasa thakura in one of his songs: samsara-visanale, diva-niSi hiya jvale, judaite na kainu upaya "My heart is always burning in the fire of material existence. and I have made no provisions for getting out of it." golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana, rati na janmila kene taya "The only remedy is hari-nama-sankirtana, the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, which is imported from the spiritual world, Goloka Vrndavana. How unfortunate I am that I have no attraction for this." (Srimad Bhagavatam——5:1:22——-purport). Read more ›

The post April 3rd, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

[Kindly transcribed by Swetha Ganeshan Mataji] Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: March 16th, 2014, Sri Gaura Purnima Speaker: HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja (missing) HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja: After Krishna leaves, which seems to be imminent. So then Krishna said, I will come back. I will come […]

The post Gaura Purnima Lecture – HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja appeared first on Mayapur.com.