From May 17th to 18th this year, ISKCON Houston will finally celebrate the grand opening of its brand new Vedic temple. The temple was originally set to open in November 2010, then later in 2011, but was delayed by multiple challenges. Amongst them were city permit and structural issues, as well as the shocking theft of small utsav deities Sri-Sri Radha-Giridhari on October 6th 2010.
There are hundrends of articles about this unprecedented event of oriental spiritual practices being presented to the gathering of the most influential peope on the planet. Even though there was not direct talk about bhakti yoga and linking to the Supreme, still familiarizing these leaders with the ancient traditions of India could surely help the preaching of the devotees to all classes of people! -- Read more ›
THE FOLLOWING LECTURE ON SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM THIRD CANTO CHAPTER NINE, “BRAHMA’S PRAYERS FOR CREATIVE ENRGY”, TEXT 29, WAS GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CHARU SWAMI ON 15 FEBRUARY 2009 IN ISKCON UJJAIN, INDIA. Transcription & Editing : Ranga Radhika Dasi Srimad Bhagavatam, third Canto, chapter nine, text twenty nine. sri-bhagavan uvaca ma veda-garbha gas tandrim sarga […]
Incidents of religious hostility are on the rise in all parts of the world except for the Americas, according to an international study by the Pew Research Center. A BBC video.
On Januray 7th, 2014, the China Social Sciences Press proudly announced the historic release of two ancient cultural classics of India: Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad-gita As Is. The two released works are authored by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, and translated into Chinese by Jahnava Devi of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
SEREMBAN - Witnessing the meeting of two great souls shows us in Malaysia what real love really is. HH Jayapataka Swami squeezed in a very special visit out of his hectic schedule to meet his very good friend, Iskcon Malaysia President, HH Bhakti Vrajendrananadana Swami who had miraculously recovered the third time the doctors were almost helpless as to what to do and that he was practically gone. -- Read more ›
On January 18-19, ISKCON held its first Ratha-yatra Festival in Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia. It was a very successful event. The mayor of Medan, the head of the Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia, the head of ISKCON in Indonesia opened the event attended by over 3,000 people, who joyfully pulled the chariot of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra on a 4-kilometer route.
Please click on the link below for a very favorable picture story with captions of New Vrindaban, very informatively entitled by the author “Know More About New Vrindaban”.
Deriving knowledge from Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s (Founder Acharya of ISKCON) teachings of Varnashram Sanatan Dharma on Land Sustainability, Cow Protection, and Living simply with minimum resources, Saving Earth from Ultra Industrial Enterprises and similar principles, we are introducing GIE as a platform to connect youth with this vision for a mission. -- Read more ›
1966 January 24: "Saw Mr. Larry Boghart in his office. He advised me to write to Mr. Felix Morrow for an appointment to see. So I am writing him & sending some literature of Srimad Bhagwatam." Prabhupada Journal ::1966
SEREMBAN - Witnessing the meeting of two great souls shows us in Malaysia what real love really is. HH Jayapataka Swami squeezed in a very special visit out of his hectic schedule to meet his very good friend, Iskcon Malaysia President, HH Bhakti Vrajendrananadana Swami who had miraculously recovered the third time the doctors were almost helpless as to what to do and that he was practically gone.
It is simply amazing watching how HH Jayapataka Swami takes so much trouble despite his physical disability and busy schedule to simply meet another soul. HH Bhakti Vrajendranandana Maharaj's heart is soft as a rose petal and he relishes memories of meetings with Srila Prabhupada and his god-siblings and the pastimes like no other. Try telling him why he is always repeating these nostalgic moments and you will see tears roll from his eyes. And in this meeting, it has brought so much tears to us just watching them and I realize that this is what real love truly is.
"Love means sacrifice. Love means service. As long as we have an individual, personal, egoistic desire to enjoy, there is going to be conflict, and then we cannot wholeheartedly love each other." - HH Radhanath Swami
As I was packing my luggage for the return journey back to Canada, my two monastic friends, guru and Agni, came to join me for our last few minutes together. It was kind of them to bid farewell. It is moments of support like this, and the camaraderie that goes along with it, that makes devotional life in the renounced lane very whole and complete. It epitomizes the personalistic approach to spiritual life.
The last few words which express a safe journey is like a prayer that all will go well. It seems that a frequent traveller would likely be receiving many “Bon Voyages” in his or her life.
A five hour flight by Caribbean Airlines brought me to the Toronto airport where I was greeted by Vaishnava Das of Brampton. A “Goodbye” should always be followed by a “Welcome”, which is what I totally received. “Goodbyes” and “Hellos” should run in circles in life, otherwise it means you’re not moving.
Vaishnava Das took me to his home where Janaki, his wife, had left her trademark curry leaf veggies for my tummy. Vaishanava then drove me to Cassie Cambell Community Centre to enable me to get some walking in. In the fitness room I tackled the 145 metre lap walking lane. Seven of those revolutions make one kilometre. I took a gusto one hour at the track, trekking around a space of occupied treadmills, yoga balls, weightlifting devices and numerous other contraptions for getting fit.
While I went in stride on with the walking, Vaishnava spent some time chatting with Lauren, a staff member, chatting a bit about the guy in robes who has trekked the country a few times. My hour terminated. It was all good, the people, the machines, the walking lane, except for the playing of not favourite selection of music. At best, it was a step up from bubble gum music. But I shouldn’t complain, I benefitted from being there.
I did hint to Vaishnava that in the future, we should have Wellness Night for our bhakti yoga practitioners, some of whom are under engaged and the food consumed is too rich.
It was a treat on this perfect day to be with an old friend, a new friend. Along this world class beach I did trail alongside Guru Prasad Swami, an American born who became a monk around the same time as me. The new friend referred to is Agnidev, known in the world of devotional circles as a leader of smooth sounding kirtan.
Agnidev, I never met before, until now. When singing as he did at the beach under a tropical tree with a group of Longdenville Community and I, his voice came across, as usual, in a very transparent way. It’s the voice of a crooner without ego. Compliments to him. After running a successful restaurant in Santa Rosa, California, for a number of years, Agnidev decided to retire from the restaurant business. When he received the consent of his dharma patni, wife, he moved back to his native Trinidad where he is now the smooth mover and shaker of the community.
With the old friend, Guru Prasad, we talked of many things. While waves of the ocean were crashing near to us, we contemplated the direction of our worldwide mission. We were rethinking and redefining our various centres and temples. Our thoughts were that a certain type of person is very much drawn to the ritualistic side of devotion. The majority of people in many countries that we travel to (he, predominantly in Latino places, and I more so in Anglo territory) appear to be more attracted to kirtan, to discussions, and good exotic, but holy food. He and I firmly believe that we should give greater emphasis toward cultural educational approaches. We pondered the benefits of this direction, giving ritualism a secondary place.
Number one, it is always imperative to deliver what’s in demand. And number two – presentations must be of quality standard, even though the subject is non secular.
One of the monks of Longdonville in Trinidad quoted Schopenhauer, he compared life to walking. He referred to taking a step forward and in order not to fall, you correct yourself by striding and planting the other leg forward.
If I got him right, it’s hard to stand on one leg. The balance factor has to be in place.
The last few days I’ve been trying to strike a balance by not always being on the feet. Addressing some varicose vein issues, I recall my doctor saying, I must give some time to the blood in the legs to flow downward while they are suspended up. So in the last few days, I chose the wall next to the bed I’ve been laying on for propping my legs up and allowing the flow of blood to occur. I believe I should religiously follow this regiment, even when I’m not on long marathon treks.
It was the same monk, Kavi, by name, who quoted Schopenhauer, who took me for a short jaunt within the neighbourhood of the ISKCON Centre.
The neighbourhood is predominantly Hindu. This is clearly demarked by the various flags you see pegged in their front yard. The colours of the flags vary and they represent different personalities of the Vedic pantheon. By the time we walked, the sun was descending when we met some of those folks, and connected with them.
Kavi and I discussed the art of connecting. Connecting is sometimes referred to as the word ‘yoga’, as in when you take up the practice of yoga, you are ultimately making a connection or union with the Divine, in other words, communicating with God.
Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, went so far as to say that this is the art of all work. This full reference from the Bhagavad Gita goes as such:
“A person engaged in devotional service rids himself of both good and bad reactions, even in this life. Therefore, strive for yoga, which is the art of all work.”
Take walking, for example. It takes the form of an art and going beyond mechanics when the spiritual connection is made, when you walk not just for fitness, but when there’s a spiritual intent behind it.
1969 January 24: "We cannot worship Radha-Krishna now. Radha-Krishna worship is meant for persons who have already developed spontaneous love of God. In the training period we are only worshipping Laksmi-Narayana." Letters :: 1969
1969 January 24: "There are two kinds of Spiritual Master, initiator and instructor. Anyone who can give instructing in spiritual life is treated as Spiritual Master. So the husband can help the wife as instructor." Letters :: 1969
1970 January 24 : "As you are always thinking of me, I am also thinking of you; and the best thing will be I shall go there by the next mango season because last time when I was there I could not get any mango." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1970 January 24 : "All the Goswamis and Acaryas chanted, my Guru Maharaja chanted, and following all their footsteps we are also chanting at least 16 rounds daily. We should not be carried away simply by all the other duties." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1970 January 24 : "I am very much anxious to know who is taking care of the Deities, whether regular performances are being executed etc. The Deities are now installed - there cannot be any scope of neglecting Them." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Relationship – Our Ultimate Hankering Part 1
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:
When, filled with eternal transcendental bliss, will I reside in Vrndavana, the most exalted of moving and non-moving creatures, and the nectar treasury of pure devotional service to Sri Radhika-Ramana?
[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-41 Translation ]
There are hundrends of articles about this unprecedented event of oriental spiritual practices being presented to the gathering of the most influential peope on the planet. Even though there was not direct talk about bhakti yoga and linking to the Supreme, still familiarizing these leaders with the ancient traditions of India could surely help the preaching of the devotees to all classes of people! -- Read more › 
Nectar Day of Harinama, Bhajans, Book & Prasadam Distribution. -- Read more › 
With Jayapataka Swami -- Read more › 
SEREMBAN - Witnessing the meeting of two great souls shows us in Malaysia what real love really is. HH Jayapataka Swami squeezed in a very special visit out of his hectic schedule to meet his very good friend, Iskcon Malaysia President, HH Bhakti Vrajendrananadana Swami who had miraculously recovered the third time the doctors were almost helpless as to what to do and that he was practically gone. -- Read more › 
Deriving knowledge from Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s (Founder Acharya of ISKCON) teachings of Varnashram Sanatan Dharma on Land Sustainability, Cow Protection, and Living simply with minimum resources, Saving Earth from Ultra Industrial Enterprises and similar principles, we are introducing GIE as a platform to connect youth with this vision for a mission. -- Read more › 
by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Seremban - Sambhoga 
by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Seremban - Sambhoga 
by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Seremban - Sambhoga 
by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Seremban - Sambhoga 
by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Seremban - Sambhoga 
by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Seremban - Sambhoga 
by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Seremban - Sambhoga 
by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Seremban - Sambhoga 
by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Seremban - Sambhoga 
by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi Seremban - Sambhoga 
