Planet ISKCON

1967 March 4: "The money and society is yours. You can spend in any way but it is my duty to give you guidance as your ever well wisher. Pray to Krishna for your successful transaction."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

Every month we will be interviewing students of TKG Academy gurukula.  Some of our students started school through TKG Academy preschool or kindergarten. Others moved to Dallas with their families and started in later grades. TKG Academy has students that come from Vaisnava families and others who are just being introduced to Krsna Consciousness through the gurukula. All of these students have one thing in common: parents that were searching for an educational alternative that included a tight knit, loving environment that teaches their children above standard academics from a dedicated staff of teachers that go above and beyond the  call of duty as educators.

Madhava is a 6 year old Kindergarten student at TKG Academy from Boston, MA. He is a third generation Vaisnava, whose grandparents are disciples of Srila Prabhupada. He is in his 2nd year attending TKG Academy.

Every month we will be interviewing students of TKG Academy Gurukula.  Some of our students started school through TKG Academy preschool or kindergarten. Others moved to Dallas with their families and started in later grades. TKG Academy has students that come from Vaisnava families and others who are just being introduced to Krsna Consciousness through the gurukula. All of these students have one thing in common: parents who were searching for an educational alternative that included a tight knit, loving environment that teaches their children above standard academics from a dedicated staff of teachers that go above and beyond the  call of duty as educators.

Gaurang is a 7 year old, 2nd grade student from Massachusetts. His parents are both initiated disciples of  His Holiness Radhanath Swami. He is in his first year as a TKG Academy gurukula student.

1968 March 4: "I am very glad that Krishna is already dictating to you how to make perfect the SANKIRTANA party. I am glad that our friend, Allen Ginsberg, is helping you. There is no doubt about our success if we can make this Kirtana party successful."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 March 4: "This Krsna Consciousness movement has such vast potency that by its philosophy the whole human race can be united politically, socially, religiously, and culturally. If important personalities like you will kindly join with my activities, I am sure it will come out successful."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1972 March 4: "I am glad that you are trying for city commissioner. Take advantage, preach widely and sell our literatures. But our platform must be very simple - there is no other sacrifice necessary for the well-being of the citizens save and except this Sankirtana yajna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Every month we will be interviewing students of TKG Academy Gurukula.  Some of our students started school through TKG Academy preschool or kindergarten. Others moved to Dallas with their families and started in later grades. TKG Academy has students that come from Vaisnava families and others who are just being introduced to Krsna Consciousness through the gurukula. All of these students have one thing in common: parents who were searching for an educational alternative that included a tight knit, loving environment that teaches their children above standard academics from a dedicated staff of teachers that go above and beyond the  call of duty as educators.

Zion is 11 year old, 6th grade student at TKG Academy gurukula. His family is from the East Dallas area. He has been attending TKG Academy since 3rd grade.

1972 March 4: "Krishna says one should surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. He also says that one should “Surrender unto Me.” So there is no difference between surrendering to God and surrendering to God’s representative."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 March 4: "Just yesterday I have arrived here in Calcutta and by the end of the week I expect to visit our new construction at Mayapur. Arrangements are being made for a very grand celebration on the Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 March 4: "We have not gone an inch forward. The application is still lying there and they do not say yes or no. Our position is not clear. I require your help very much. Things are standing in the same position as when you left."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 March 4: "Always follow our principles and actively preach. Krishna will protect you. Establish something substantial there and develop it. This is just according to the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu so He must be very pleased upon you for assisting me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Students in the upper elementary reinforce parts of speech by classifying sentences in grammar.

The post Last day of sankirtana-mela appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Great news this month! We received permission to start cleaning and renovating Sakhi Kunda! Seven months we waited, but no more. Cleaning has begun there with gusto. Thanks to your generous donations we have also started to care for Guru dasi. Meanwhile, daily cleaning and gardening is continuing all around Radha Kunda and Shyama Kunda and at nearby Mukharai Kunda. Read more ›

Devotees who have assembled in Sri Mayapur dhama visited Yogapith ( the birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu) to take Sankalpa to perform the most auspicious Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama. Read more ›

The post Conversation with Hungarian pilgrims appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

October 5, 1971 - Sria Prabhupadas letter to Jayapataka: "Here in Nairobi our program is going on very nicely. There are TV engagements and a very large meeting is scheduled at the University of Nairobi for tomorrow. Many respectful Hindus are inviting us and I am staying in everyone's house for four to five days. Most probably our center here in Nairobi will be a strong one, as strong as any of our other centers." Read more ›

Parasuram dasa: The singer is Jenny who runs Matchless Gifts, she is the former singer with the Bellestars. It's not uncommon to bump into members of the Slits, the Sex Pistols or the Clash at Matchless Gifts in London. Read more ›

Harinam in Leicester square,
London.
Singer is Jenny who runs Matchless Gifts, former singer with the Bellestars.

It’s not uncommon to bump into members of the Slits, Sex Pistols or Clash at Matchless Gifts,
your servant
Parasuram Das

SB 3.25.34 Impersonalism Side B.mp3

SB 3.25.34 Impersonalism Side A.mp3

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 2-23-2014.

 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes a simple, sustainable lifestyle centered on the care and protection of cows, local food production and the loving service of Lord Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

Participating Members of the ECOV Board of Directors:  Anuttama (partial attendance), Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Krpamaya, Navin Shyam, and Ranaka. Madhava Gosh did not participate in the Utica Shale gas lease discussion and vote (due to a conflict of interest).

Advisors present: Jaya Krsna

1.   Used equipment purchase

WHEREAS:  The ECOV Board wishes to acquire proper equipment for its gardening projects, and to facilitate a smooth winding down of the operations of the Small Farm Training Center on INV & ECOV managed properties.

RESOLVED: The Board authorizes up to $6,000 for acquiring implements from the SFTC, including a transplanter, plastic layer/bed former, and chisel plow.

2.   Utica Shale Gas Lease

WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to proactively respond to the proliferation of natural gas drilling in and around New Vrindaban so as to minimize the risk of harm to the land and its residents and maximize any potential gains.

RESOLVED: Upon consideration of the inquiries from the New Vrindaban Advocacy Sanga (contained in e-mails dated February 13 and 19) and the respective legal opinions of Mr. William Leon (dated January 30 and February 19), which addressed the following issues:

• Terms of the lease;
• Conflicts of interest;
• Proxy voting by directors;
• Voting by non-resident directors;
• GBC involvement;
• Due diligence on the part of directors;
• Air and water quality protections; and
• Proposed well pad placements,

and after thorough examination of the terms of the proposed leases, in light of the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, the best interests of the community under the circumstances, and the principle of yukta vairagya (as described by Varsana Swami in his paper entitled “Yukta Vairagya and the Gas Drilling Contract”), the ECOV Board hereby authorizes its officers to execute lease agreements as to the Utica Shale formations underlying ECOV-owned lands, subject to the following two internal commitments by the Board:

1) If requested by the legal owner of an affected property, ECOV shall ensure testing of any water supply within a thousand feet of well pads located on either INV or ECOV-managed properties, in accordance with a regimen prescribed by an industry expert;

2) ECOV shall provide a grant of at least $350K toward renovation of Srila Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, to be provided on a matching basis to any funds expended by INV.  This grant shall supersede the previous grant of $100K and loan of $100K, which are both hereby defunded.

Mangala Arati of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, ISKCON Temple,Chowpatty,Mumbai;24th Feb. 2014

 Please click here for more photos

In the 3rd canto we meet Uddhava for the first time. In the 1st Chapter, Vidura asks him many questions about Krishna, and in the 2nd Chapter Uddhava tries to reply – but cannot, because he is overwhelmed by emotion as a result of contemplating the answers to those questions.

All these ślokas in chapter 2 are ecstatic, but the 6th śloka has particularly appealed to my heart and mind today. It says, śanakair bhagaval-lokān nṛlokaṁ punar āgataḥ, which literally means “Gradually, from the world of Bhagavān to the world of humans, returned.” Uddhava’s memories of Krishna literally carried his consciousness to Krishna’s location! In that location, he experienced divine, transcendental emotions – and the side effects of these were visible even in Uddhavas form that was rooted in the normal plane, the human-world, the “mortal location.” And gradually he returned his consciousness to the human location so that he could reply to Vidura’s questions.

While his consciousness had gone to the spiritual location, tears and horripilation and so on erupted from his physical form. But as he returned to this plane, the śloka says, vimṛjya netre viduraṁ prītyāhoddhava utsmayan, which literally means “wiping dry his eyes, out of affection for Vidura, Uddhava smiled.” The word for smiled indicates a sudden, smile, almost like being jolted or shocked back into external consciousness – but in a pleasant way.

Śrīla Viśvanātha comments that while with Bhagavān in Bhagavān-loka, Krishna had told him, “now please return to the normal world to answer the questions of my beloved Vidura.”

Krsna steals the minds of everyone, yet Radha steals even His mind by Her divine expertise. Thus She is known as Hara.

Srila Jiva Gosvami

Monday mantra meditation & mantra chanting (also known as KIRTAN). Each session will include powerful mantra chanting together as a group, using styles with beads and also chanting to kirtan music. These forms of yoga are extremely powerful yet so joyful and easy to do. Don’t feel like you need some prior experience, just come along and enjoy the […]

The post NEW MEDITATION CLASSES appeared first on The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland.

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Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.30 during the Sunday program.

“Because Lord Siva is a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he loves all the devotees of the Supreme Lord. Lord Siva told the Pracetas that because they were devotees of the Lord, he loved them very much. Lord Siva was not kind and merciful only to the Pracetas; anyone who is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very dear to Lord Siva. Not only are the devotees dear to Lord Siva, but he respects them as much as he respects the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Similarly, devotees of the Supreme Lord also worship Lord Siva as the most dear devotee of Lord Krishna. They do not worship him as a separate Personality of Godhead.” (SB 4.24.30 purport)

Maha Siva-ratri Los Angeles 2014

…one should first of all understand that this material existence is anartham. Anartham means purposeless life. There is no purpose. Real purpose should be how to get out of the spell of material nature. That is real purpose. They do not know. They are taking very seriously some temporary purpose of life, which will be changed with the change of body. Now, as human being, I am manufacturing so many purposes of life, but as soon as the body is changed and I get the body of a cat or dog or tree, the whole purpose is changed. Therefore it is purposeless life, anartham.

- Srila Prabhupada lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 3.26.6, Bombay, December 18, 1974

1966 March 3:
"Today Ekadasi observed. In the evening two visitors came. There were some topics on the meditation yoga. Dr. Mishra wanted my kirtan in his meetings. I am considering the proposal. The situation is adverse. Let me first of all see how they receive it in the Ananda."
1966 March 3

1968 March 3: "I am pleased you have begun practicing for the Kirtana party; please keep me informed how you are progressing. Responsive chanting is very nice; one singer may lead, and the others join in. That is the system. Arrange for costumes and wig; one boy dressed as Lord Caitanya, another as Nityananda."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 March 3: "One God, one scripture, one mantra, this idea is not manufactured by me, but it is authoritative statement. In Life Magazine, Feb. 9, 1968, there you will see how nicely the American boys and girls are dancing and chanting the Holy Name of the Lord. I think a very nice Sankirtana party can be organized to travel all over the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

Who are the Pancha-tattva? The Pancha-tattva are a five-fold manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, featured as five tattvas (truths), namely, isha-tattva (the Supreme Lord), His expansion tattva, His incarnation tattva, His energy tattva and His devotee tattva. These five tattvas incarnate with Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and thus the Lord executes His sankirtana movement with great pleasure. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32) there is the following statement regarding Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:-"In the Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of the sankirtana-yajna." Lord Chaitanya is always accompanied by His plenary expansion Sri Nityananda Prabhu, His incarnation Sri Advaita Prabhu, His internal potency Sri Gadädhara Prabhu and His marginal potency Sriväsa Prabhu. He is in the midst of them as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should know that Lord Chaitanya is always accompanied by these other tattvas. Therefore our obeisances to Lord Chaitanya are complete when we say:- sri-krishna-chaitanya, prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara, srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda. Read more ›

1968 March 3: "Ultimately you want to merge in the formless, or you want some material facilities, or you want to serve Krishna as His personal associate. Never mind, whatever you want, you worship one God, Krishna. The ultimate gain can be achieved as one desires."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 March 3: "The Indian transcendentalists who are very serious about spreading the message of Bhagavad-gita may join us and backed by the Sankirtana movement, it will be great success. And there is every possibility of oneness all over the world, without any communal differences."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 March 3: "Organization of the European centers and World Sankirtana Party - for these reasons I called you. You are all tested devotees, remain engaged in Krsna's service, then there will be no misunderstanding. See that the French and German BTGs are nicely done - that is my ambition."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

The renewed website of HH Jayadvaita Swami has been launched today, the 3rd of March 2014. Jayadvaita swami has been writing extensively for the Back to Godhead magazine, published and co-edited several books and is in charge of editing the BBT books of Srila Prabhupada and other contemporary devotees.

His website has been refreshed with a new layout and navigation menu. You can now easily find interesting articles about reincarnation, 9/11 and even about health issues. you can comment on articles and even subscribe to receive new articles by email when they are published. So you will not miss anything.

Visit : www.jswami.info

Here are some jewels of articles

• Reincarnation : http://www.jswami.info/reincarnation/
• Articles about editing : http://www.jswami.info/category/about-editing/
• Bless this house : http://www.jswami.info/bless_this_house/
• Why chant Hare Krishna?: http://www.jswami.info/whychant/