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“The rabbi quoted a little story from Jewish literature. ‘A student was going to live with the rabbi, and a friend asked him, “Why?” He replied, “So I can see how he ties his shoes.” ‘ The idea is that if someone is spiritually elevated—and what to speak of Srila Prabhupada, who was on the highest platform of spiritual perfection—you can learn from everything they do. Because everything they do is done in God consciousness, Krishna consciousness. There are so many things that come up, all the time, and I think of Srila Prabhupada: ‘What would he do?’ ”
At around 11:08 last night His Grace Ayudhya Prabhu and Nirguna Rupa looked everywhere for the statue and concluded that it must have been stolen. An anonymous donor had paid the high price of $16,108 for the inconceivable statue and records have shown that the statue was duly shipped.
(This is where the statue was going to be installed – Picture by channel 12 news)
When interviewed by the news, Avyaktā Das and his wife Arupina Devī Dāsī revealed,
“It is really hard to figure out how are we going to find this statue, for we do not know what it looks like, it’s color, it’s height, nor do we even know how we feel about it being missing. Even Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita 12.5 says that to find Nirākāra Brahman is very troublesome.”
Oh and by the way HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S DAY
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From Niraj
Srimad bhagavtpuraan makes it very clear karna was an honoured guest at pandavas rajsuya yagna and was in charge of the charity section. K.M. Gangulys mahabharata mentions many karna. One particular karna is mentioned but this karna king of anga is not mentioned. Here are the passages “ And making the earth tremble by means of his troops consisting of the four kinds of forces, the foremost of the Pandavas then encountered Karna that slayer of foes. And, O Bharata, having subjugated Karna and brought him under his sway, the mighty hero then vanquished the powerful king of the mountainous regions” Here we see some karna but had it been written karna of anga or karna the son of radheya or suta then it would have been beyond doubt that karna was conquered by bhima. Even when bheeshma was abusing karna left right and centre he mentioned karna failures ie virata gandharva but he did NOT mention bhima conquering karna. Incidently a son of dhirtharashtra also was named karna. Shisupala had nominated karna instead of krishna for the foremost gueste of honour. Now shishupala was evil but he had to play a role of a good sales man hence he had nominated bheeshma and other reputaed people as well. Karna too has his fair share of victories over bhima in mb war.
Recently the book of a Western Hinduism scholar was withdrawn by publishers from India due to litigation by Hindu groups and the media labelled it as violation of freedom of thought that is uncharacteristic of Hinduism.
By.... Harinama! Read more › 
New Raman Reti is a spiritual community based on the principles of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), located in Alachua, north Florida, USA. Situated on a rural 127-acre property surrounding a tranquil, marble-floored temple, New Raman Reti is a devotional refuge from the material world.The temple deities are the most merciful Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. Read more › 
Gathering of bhaktas and bhaktins for the sole purpose to engage in the Sankirtan Yajna and glorify the Lord and His devotees. Read more › The post April 1st, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
The post Respect to others is the hallmark of Vedic culture appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Their is an interesting notation when it comes to being labled as anti you get to the stage of what the heck it doesn’t matter they have made up their mind and it’s now closed to any discussion’s, or it could be a reflection of our own closed mind.
But continuing on the theme of late on returning to roots I’m also going to return to a continuing theme on my blog and that of initiation and spiritual progress in ISKCON and also the difference in perspectives and philosophical viewpoint’s.
In my years as a Jehovah’s Witness their was always a focus on book distribution a free home bible study, from their an invite to a free home study group and eventually on to the kingdom hall with the aim for baptism. I go back to the days like ISKCON the society charged for books, however two books were free, the study book for baptism and the one given to those who were regular pioneers who went on a special course a year after entering into the full time service, this is the group picture taken of my time attending the pioneer service school, the whole cost was covered by the local congregation who were amazing host’s.
I’m going to focus in on the baptism study aid book the approach and it’s aim and parallel this with ISKCON’s approach.
Firstly the study material is free a point I want to emphasis the society views this as the most important step ever and so is paid for by the society, the book is studied by the candidate along with the elders of the congregation. Each section would be taken each week and at the end the elders would discuss the candidates suitability for baptism.
A personal approach meaning also that those involved get to know the person as an individual and then the conclusion discussed by the senior elder and the candidate.
Now as far as I can see we have a wonderful closed system made up of committee members who can make a comment on an individuals suitability without actually sitting in the same room or getting to know them a very impersonal approach.
Now is added on a level or study programs all well and good however this is made as a requirement and comes with a charge, you have to do this course it’s good for you and by the way here’s a bill, have a nice day Hare Krishna. OK some say it’s to cover costs their is no free rides in Krishna Consciousness.
For me personally and as I’ve been labled anti-iskcon I can understand why some feel justified in accusing ISKCON of being fool hardy and money grabbing reducing bhakti and initiation to a financial exchange, sold to the individual who can pay for the course.
My background as a Jehovah’s Witness gives me an insight into a more personal way of doing thing’s whilst keeping standard’s which brings me swiftly and finally to an apology for due to influence for a time I prescribed to an impersonal even devastating philosophy view turning my back on all the good positives of my root’s.
But also reminds me of association and influence.
Their was for a small time a view that initiation and more to the point initiated names were or are divisive to the society, indeed my background their is no divisions as startling as a name change. So the view or philosophy was simple after a short time the person was given an interim name the argument went this will help integrate and encourage the individual.
OK
Well no not really as it muddies the standard’s we do expect a level of those who are initiated indeed when I hear my name it reminds me their is a level of responsibility and my own personal failings.
But even back then I didn’t see myself as anti-iskcon more delusional and puffed up with pride, I want more devotee’s and it hurts to see those leave for other devotee group’s ISKCON is a home for everyone even me.
So mentorship yes
Course’s yes
Even committee’s possibly
But returning to my root’s some things need to be free and personal
The tools to make sure individuals are ready and standard’s are their is needed and as a society we should offer this free of charge.
For my desire is just like the kingdom hall’s we have temples/centre’s to Sri Krishna in every town, village and country and for me this means we become personal in our or should I say my approach
And as always ending on asking what’s your view?
Sadhu-sanga, chanting and hearing the Holy Names, Parikramas, Krishna-katha, Classes, Seminars, Prasadam.... this is the real life, in the Sacred Dhamas! Read more › 
At the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the Diag is a large open space in the middle of the university's Central Campus. Originally known as the Diagonal Green, the Diag derives its name from the many sidewalks running near or through it in diagonal directions. It is one of the busiest sites on the university campus, hosting a variety of events including outdoor concerts, fundraisers, demonstrations, and sun bathing. Read more › 2014 03 30 Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 05 14 13 By HH Bhakti Vidyapurna Swami ISKCON Mayapur
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday in Cuttack we visited Jogendra Candra das, one of the last living disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati. Born November 16, 1912 he is 102 years old. He was initiated in 1932. During WWII he served in the Indian army, all the while maintaining his vows and chanting his rounds. After the war he became a policeman and retired in 1969. We had darshan of his japa beads which he has been chanting on for 82 years. They were as smooth as glass. Despite his age his mind was clear and his intelligence very sharp. He spoke fluent English and shared with us many pastimes of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. For generations his family has been taking care of the original wooden shoes of Srila Rasikananda, the foremost disciple of Syamananda Pandit, whom Jiva Goswami sent to Orissa to spread Krsna consciousness sometime after the disappearance of Lord Caitanya. Read more › 
In anticipation of Snana-yatra and Anavasara in Dallas, Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 11.61.
“Hankering to do better means that there is a separation between where you are now and where you want to be, or what you have now and what you want to have in the future. That hankering, which is another side of separation, can go into the chanting—whatever stage we are in. Even if it is just hankering to be able to chant with attention, our chanting can be infused with that mood. It is not something separate but it is something that is infused into the chanting. We want to infuse our chanting of the name with some feeling. And that feeling will come from within our heart. Our hearts have some feelings of spiritual desire—hankering, or separation—so that should be infused into the names we chant. Even if we think, ‘I am too neophyte to have any spiritual feelings’—we do have some feelings: We don’t want to remain neophyte; we want to be able to taste the things we read about and that other devotees have tasted. So put those feelings into the chanting.”
"We are not separated actually. There are two—vani or vapu. So vapu is physical presence and vani is presence by the vibration, but they are all the same. So Krsna when He was physically present before Arjuna is the same when He is present before us by His vani of Bhagavad-gita."
Prabhupada's letter to Hansadutta, Los Angeles, June 22, 1970.
In Vrinda?vana the leaves on the trees are made of emeralds, the flowers of diamonds, the new flower buds of beautiful pearls, the newly sprouting leaves of red kuruvinda jewels, the many fruits, all filled with various kinds of nectarean tastes, of rubies, the rain of an incessant shower of nectar, and the bumblebees of sapphires.
[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-4, Translation.]
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 March 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.52)
Humility is something alien in the modern world. We had a comic in Holland; I saw it as a kid but it made an impression on me. It was a simple man; he had a cap on – a labourer type – and he was coming for a job interview which was happening in a big hall. The interviewer was sitting behind a glass with a screen so you couldn’t see him but his voice was coming out through a loud speaker.
The voice was saying, “Name?” Then the man said his name and he said, “Thank you very much, please.” And after every question that he answered, he said, “Thank you very much, please,” and he looked like a total fool but actually, if you think about it, he was very humble and the other man (the interviewer) was very cold and arrogant.
But this humility was depicted as like… you become a fool when you are humble. when you are simple! So the whole world projects this upon us that you’re a fool when you’re simple.
Even when you are a devotee, it hounds you, “How many slokas do you know?”
Reply, “Seven!”
“Only seven! My god, how can you know only seven slokas!?” Who can be so simple to say so…
So, the social pressure upon us in this whole world, where you have to be greater than you are, comes into every field. In the modern world, it came into the field of sex because ordinary sex will not do – it has to be super sex! You have to be a super lover and if you’re not a super lover, you’re a loser. That’s the image that is being projected.