Planet ISKCON

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Note: Yesterday’s class was held in the temple courtyard facing the ToVP construction site. HG Praghosa Prabhu was coordinating the presentation. There were five speakers and we are sending each one separately. Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 23, 2014 Speaker: […]

The post The Glories of the ToVP – HH Radhanath Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Note: Yesterday’s class was held in the temple courtyard facing the ToVP construction site. HG Praghosa Prabhu was coordinating the presentation. There were five speakers and we are sending each one separately. Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 23, 2014 Speaker: […]

The post The Glories of the ToVP – HH Bhakti Charu Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Note: Yesterday’s class was held in the temple courtyard facing the ToVP construction site. HG Praghosa Prabhu was coordinating the presentation. There were five speakers and we are sending each one separately. Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 23, 2014 Speaker: […]

The post The Glories of the ToVP – HH Sivarama Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Mayapura, India

The Finnish To Begin

Today was the final day for a glorious ingenious program, it’s the second time around for the ISKCON Leaders Sanga.

Sanga means association or gathering of saintly persons.  What our leaders just went through was a harmonious infusion of the Spirit. This involved seminars and workshops on seminars along the line of Devotee Care, Empathic Listening, Strengthening family life, etc.  Practical items were the bulk of the stuff.

It got me thinking, “How can I put together a seminar on walking?” and expressing and informing about its benefits on all levels.

I was honoured to lead the chant at the beginning of the final gathering.

Our group was informed by convenors, Gopala Bhatta, of something quite helpful presented in motivational terms— “The 8 Steps to Create Change”.

1.       Understand and/or create the elements of urgency (the example given here is of how our guru, Srila Prabhupada, used to say that the entire world is suffering).
2.       Collaborate to establish performance and accountability.
3.       Reflect on overall vision and strategy.
4.       Refresh our understanding and commitment to the change vision.
5.       Obtain total “buy-in” from all stakeholders.
6.       Generate short-term success.
7.       Consolidate gains and produce more success.
8.       Anchor the new energy.

May the Source be with you!

5 km 

 Mayapura, India

Places of Real Sound


In the mornings, there is a mist that people walk through on their way to the temples.  As early as 4 AM you have pilgrims in stride moving to one of three outlets for chanting—at the samadhi of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, the kutir, or meditative hut, where he first resided in the early seventies when there was only an open plot of land, and finally, the main mandir, or temple, which accommodates thousands.

It is definitely a busy beehive at predawn.  Now, being Saturday, pilgrims pour into the Mayapura area from the city of Kolkata and other surrounding areas.  Busses of people park in the wide expanse of future development areas, buses with screeching horns of prolonged sounds.  Once you step out of the ISKCON compound, you are sure to be in the throes of passion with traffic and noise.

While in the haven of the dhama (sacred place), the atmosphere becomes more relaxed, but not without excitement.  By 5 PM there is a hati (elephant) procession on the grounds.  Drummers, cymbals, turbaned players, priests, and of course, the large mammals themselves, decorated with draped cloth and coloured pigments, circle the area of thruway, transforming it into much more than Disney could offer.

Teachers of the bhakti school say that wherever there is reverential love, that is the spiritual realm.  And that holds true, they say, especially where the ether is surcharged with sound, mantra, from another world.

When the sun meets the Ganges in Mayapura, only a few metres away from my accommodation (five minutes only), a repeat of the morning fog dynamic occurs.  The number of pilgrims has quadrupled and the option for places to hear kirtan and release karma are also increased.  It’s all so much devotion.

I will declare that I am not missing the mundane sounds of the West, not even the East when it has no connection to the parama dhama, the supreme abode.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Note: Yesterday’s class was held in the temple courtyard facing the ToVP construction site. HG Praghosa Prabhu was coordinating the presentation. There were five speakers and we are sending each one separately. Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 23, 2014 Speaker: HH […]

The post The Glories of the ToVP – HH Jayapataka Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Home programs, with their simple formats of kirtan, class and prasadam, are a wonderful way for devotees of the Lord to associate. Read more ›

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 22, 2014 Speaker: HH Bhakti Vijnana Goswami Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.53-54 So today we are reading Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 7 ‘The Son Of Drona Punished’, Text 53-54 brahma-bandhur na hantavya ?atatayi vadharhanah mayaivobhayam amnatam?paripahy […]

The post Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.53-54 – HH Bhakti Vijnana Goswami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Kirtan. Nityananda Trayodasi: Appearance of Lord Nityananda. 12.02.2014

Gita Coaching Ebook By Akrura dasa Introducing Gita Coaching Welcome to Gita Coaching! Our service is helping devotees, specifically ISKCON devotees, learn and apply Srila Prabhupada’s instructions with enthusiasm and determination, in order to achieve maximum spiritual success in this lifetime. This is our purpose; this is our service for ISKCON

Excellent questions elevate our consciousness, improve the quality of our lives and bring excellent results By Akrura dasa – Gita Coaching www.gitacoaching.com TABLE OF CONTENTS ·         Introduction ·         Start Everything With Questions ·         Arjuna's

On Monday February 3rd, students from Preschool to 3rd Grade visited the Texas Discovery Gardens and Butterfly Museum with parents and teachers.The Middle Elementary class (2nd and 3rd graders) have been studying Invertebrates and Insects.  Did you know that over 90% of animals in this world are invertebrates?

Ms. Erin Shields, at the Texas Discovery Gardens, spent an hour showing students the different parts of a butterfly.  They felt cocoons (where the butterfly spends its time in metamorphosis), and gently touched the scales on a butterflies wings, and practiced learned about the butterfly life cycle.  How can you tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth?  If you don’t know, ask one of the children from the TKG Academy and they will tell you.

Everyone was then escorted to a beautiful Butterfly Sanctuary, protected by two sliding glass doors so that the butterflies wouldn’t escape.  As they entered into this enchanting natural world, they were immediately mesmerized by sights of different colored butterflies flying around.  Big flowers for the butterflies to drink from, tons of greenery and foliage were the habitat for these gentle insects.

 ”It reminded some of what Vrindavan must be like – a protected habitat for living entities to live in harmony, serving Krishna together”.

 

O sadhu, if you can’t suddenly renounce this dreamlike world, then day and night meditate on Vrndavana. Worship Vrndavana’s king and queen, always chant Their holy names, and always hear Their glories. With food, clothing, and other gifts, serve the residents of Vrndavana.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-72 Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

The importance of hearing the Holy names cannot be overstated. Hearing is the first process in devotional service and the most important.
Keep trying to hear the Holy names beginning with hearing the next mantra and then the next. Persistence pays off and we will soon be absorbed in the Lord's spiritual energy.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, April 2012, Zurich, Switzerland, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.34)

By nature, we are weak! The weakness manifests in many ways. Earlier, I spoke about lust but another quality by which the inherent weakness of the living entity manifests, is in pride. We are all very proud and we always take pride in something. This pride is the greatest danger in spiritual life because it is through pride that we become careless in following the process and in respecting our superiors. It is through pride that we think, “I know, I know, I know, I know very well.”

It is due to pride that we commit offences and deviate. It is through pride that we spoil this rare opportunity to go back to Godhead this lifetime.

So we have to cultivate humility, which is very difficult. Many times the question is being asked, “How can we become humble?” Well, one answer is that it begins by becoming honest because as soon as we are honest, we have to admit that we are not perfect. Anybody who is a little bit honest knows that actually, I have some faults… I am not great… I am small. This kind of honesty is what can help us to cultivate humility.

So one must practice this… one must always say to himself, “I have a lot to learn.” At any time in life, even when one is at ninety-nine years old. So in this mood of humility, we can remain careful to serve the vaisnavas, to take shelter of Srimad Bhagavatam, to take shelter of the holy name, to remain grateful for devotional service because as soon as one becomes proud, sooner or later, one will experience service as a burden.

“Oh God, why do I always have to do this service? I don’t know why in this temple that nobody is ever ready to do this and somehow or other, I always have to do this!!”

This is where pride came in and humility was lost. This is where gratefulness was lost. When we are humble, we are grateful.

“I am so fortunate that I am allowed to do this service. I am getting all the mercy. I don’t deserve it. Why am I getting it, I don’t know.”

Such gratefulness is just the opposite of pride. The key is this attitude of gratefulness and humility in spiritual life. We are always thinking that I am being blessed. Yesterday, we were remembering Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj who in his final days would say, “I was blessed by the best!”

 

Dear Maharajs/Prabhus,
please accept my humble obeisances,
all glories to Srila Prabhupada,

London Rathayatra festival July 13th 1972, lecture:

“Our Hare Krishna movement is standing on three principal things: chanting,dancing and eating Prasadam. It is not very difficult. It is very enjoyable to chant,dance,and take Prasadam. And if you like, you can hear a little philosophy of this movement .”

Room Conversation New Vrindavan June 25th 1976:

Dhrstadyumna:”We have found,Srila Prabhupada,when the buses are going to many of these cities, they have never seen our devotees, because when we go, we are dressed like they are for distributing the books. So now the boys are going again in the streets with a Kirtan party once a week downtown, and they have all done the front-page newspaper articles,because although they have been reading the books,they have never seen the devotees in many years.I think festivals like this….”
Prabhupada: “yes.”
Dhrstadyumna:”….in all these cities would be very advantageous,and all the book distribution….”
Prabhupada:”And therefore I said that introduce Rathayatra every city. …..”

Tribhuvanth Prabhu’s festival team have complied a list of festivals for the UK, more will be added. So if you are visiting the UK or you live here,please fill your diary will festival dates.

Your servant
Parasuram Das

HARE KRISHNA FESTIVALS & Events for 2014

info@harekrishnafestivals.com Updated: 02/02/2014

http://www.harekrishnafestivals.com/calendar/

Rathayatras, Carnivals & Harinams, Outdoor Public Festivals,
Indoor Venues / HK Fest, & Devotee Events, TBC = To Be Confirmed

ISKCON festivals UK (HKF) will take part in & support as many events as possible however due to our increasing focus on indoor venues we may not necessarily be available for all events mentioned as this list develops.

MARCH

Sat 15: Feed 5000 / Harinam, Cork, Ireland, (Parasuram Pr)
Sun 16: St Patrick’s Day Ratha Yatra, London (Parasuram Pr)
Sun 16: Gaura Purnima Ratha Yatra, Oxford St, London (Parasuram Pr)
Mon 17: St Patrick’s Day Ratha Yatra, Cork, Ireland (Parasuram Pr)

APRIL

Tue 1: Feed 5000 / Harinam, Brussels, Belgium (Parasuram Pr)
Sat 26: King’s Day Harinam, Amsterdam (Parasuram Pr)

MAY

Sat 10 – Sun 11: Birmingham 24 hour Kirtan, (Mayapur M Pr)
Tue 13: Nrsimhadev app day Harinam, London (Parasuram Pr)
Sat 17: Sheffield Ratha Yatra, Sheffield (Kaye)
Fri 23 – Sun 25: (Spring) Off The tracks, Nottingham, (Mineketana Rama Pr)
Sat 31: Crawley Ratha Yatra (Sanjay Pr) TBC

JUNE

Sat 7: Bath Ratha Yatra (Parasuram Pr) TBC
Sun 15: London Ratha Yatra (Titiksu Pr)
Wed 25 – Sun 29: Glastonbury Music Festival, (HKF) Pilton, (Giridhari Pr)

JULY

Wed 2 – Tue 15: Scandanavia Rathayatra tour (Parasuram Pr)
Fri 18 – Sun 20: Rhythmtree World Music Festival, Isle of Wight (Mineketana Rama Pr)
Sun 27: Birmingham Ratha Yatra (Nitai Charan Pr)

AUGUST

Thur 31 July – Sun 3: Green Gathering, Chepstow, (Mineketana Rama Pr)
Sun 3: Leicester Ratha Yatra (Pradyumna Pr) TBC
Sun 10: Southall Ratha Yatra (Parasuram Pr)
Sat 16 – Sun 17: Janmasthmi, (HKF) Festival at Manor. (Giridhari Pr)
Mon 18: Srila Prabhupada App day, Festival at Manor 
Sun 24: Croydon Ratha Yatra (Parasuram Pr) TBC
Sat 23 – Sun 24: Croome HK Cultural Weekend, Worcestershire (Tribhangananda Pr)
Mon 25: Pershore Plum Ratha Yatra (Tribhangananda Pr)
Fri 29 – Sun 31: (Summer) Off The tracks, Nottingham, (Mineketana Rama Pr)
Sat 30 – Sun 31: Croome HK Cultural Weekend, Worcestershire (Tribhangananda Pr)

SEPTEMBER

Sat 6 – Sun 7: Croome HK Cultural Weekend, Worcestershire (Tribhangananda Pr)
Sat 13 – Sun 14: Croome Park Festival, Worcestershire (Tribhangananda Pr)
Sun 21: Brighton Ratha Yatra (Dharani Dhar Pr) TBC
Sat 27: Plymouth Ratha Yatra (Mineketana Rama Pr) TBC
Sun 28: Glastonbury Ratha Yatra (Mineketana Rama Pr) TBC

Educational tutorial video by Gopinath prabhu about refining and using properly a website as a tool for your temple's reach to the congregation Read more ›

The devotees like to dress properly not for their own pleasure but for the pleasure of the Lord! Srila Prabhupada: You remain the beautiful maid servant of Krishna. That is your business, and you should dress yourself always very nicely so that Krishna by seeing you will be pleased. Don't try to be ugly before Krishna. Krishna does not like ugly gopis. We are transcendental artists, musicians, writers, so everything should be beautiful for Krishna. After all we are members of Krishna's family, just like Krishna had 16,000 wives and each wife has thousands of servants and maid-servants and all of them are very beautiful for serving Krishna and His Queens. Read more ›

Sesa Prabhu describes at ILS (ISKCON Leadership Sanga - 2014) the need for our temples to establish Krishna conscious education institutes for better development of ISKCON. Read more ›

Externally may appear like food distrbution to the needy but in reality consists of purification of the body by taking prasadam, (food cooked with love and devotion, offered first to the Lord), and purification of the soul by the trascendental vibrations of the Holy Names chanted by those that are conscious of the transcendental Supreme Entity, like the devotees of Krishna. Read more ›

We have to take proper advantage by chanting Hare Krsna as our Spiritual master instructs us, trains us and inspires us. We should also be very attentive to avoiding any offenses to the Holy Name.

1966 February 24: "The classes I am holding now may be called the initiation classes for developing The International Institution for God consciousness. The classes may be held thrice in a week and I shall be available for discussion between 6 to 8 P.M."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1967 February 24: "I am very glad to learn that the N.Y. center is doing really well. It is all Krishna's mercy. So if you think that my presence will be necessary then immediately book my seat in the air line when you want me to go there. I shall then cancel all programs here for three weeks."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 February 24: "Today I have sent you the first installment of Narada Bhakti Sutras. Please let me know how do you like it or if there is any difficulty to understand it. On hearing from you I shall take up the next installment."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1970 February 24: "I am very much anxious to get him a good wife so I have all my blessings for the girl being married to him. Perform the ceremony on my behalf. I am sure under your care they will be trained as good husband and wife and be happy in life in Krsna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 February 24: "Krishna is in your heart. The more you surrender to Him, the more He takes charge. And seeing your sincerity, He gives you all facility for increasing your service."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 February 24: "We have contacted a nice Muslim friend from Dacca. If you at all seriously intend to go to East Pakistan, please contact this gentleman and if you think it is favorable you may go there with the blessings of Krsna. When you decide your departure, I will give you further instructions on this."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

Dear Devotees,

Hare Krsna, AGTSP!

Greetings from Sridham Mayapur.The 2014 Gaura purnima festival has begun and our thoughts and prayers for your well being are at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu because you are a devotee and supporter of Srila Prabhupada’s most ambitious project- the TOVP temple. This year is very special since it is the 10th anniversary of the installation of Pancha tattva.

There will be a Maha Abhishek performed on Mach 3rd which commences every 5 years. We are offering 1008 Golden bricks with the names of the sponsors engraved on them which will be put on the platform of Mahaprabhu’s altar in the new temple which is now under construction. These are limited to 1008 and many devotees who have come for the festival are sponsoring these bricks as a donation towards the construction of the new Temple. Even though you have previously donated, this is a very special opportunity since these bricks will be directly under the lotus feet of the Pancha Tattva.

Please find below an attachment of a 3 min video that will explain this rare seva opportunity. Please try to participate by emailing us your name and the names you want on the brick. The payment can be made through paypal or wire transfer. We can also provide installment facilities in case you are not able to pay at one time. But it is important that you register as a participant of this scheme. Since we have sold over 400 bricks in the last 3 days, I thank you very much for your continuous support to Sridham Mayapur.

Please watch the following appeal on YouTube: http://youtu.be/MTKMyu3uO_M

Your Servants in the service of Sri Pancha tattva and Radha Madhava,

Radha Jivan das
Campaign Director

Braja Vilasa das
Development Director

---

1972 February 24: "So I am very glad that you are working for opening a branch there and going on with your work in Krishna Consciousness despite so many obstacles which Maya has placed in your path just to try to deviate you from going back to Home, back to Godhead."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 24: "Follow this simple formula of chanting regularly with full attention, reading at least one hour, and balance time preaching. If you spend your whole time preaching, that will cure you of all misgivings and miserable conditions. "
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Hear what HG Badrinarayan Prabhu has to say about how members of the strategic planning network are "using their intelligence" to plan and organize for a better ISKCON of today and the future Read more ›

The central dome is coming up, like the devotion of all these devotees worldwide that are engaged whole-heartedly for the realization of such unique and huge project for the pleasure of their beloved Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Read more ›

The post Bhakticharu Swami speaks on the Temple of Vedic Planetarium appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

(kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 19, 2014 Speaker: HH Kadamba Kanana Swami Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.8.5 Download the audio for this lecture here: Download So today we are reading from Srimad Bhagavatam Second Canto Chapter Eight entitled ‘Questions by King Pariksit’, Text number 5: pravistah karna-randhrena svanam bhava-saroruham dhunoti […]

The post Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.8.5 – HH Kadamba Kanana Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

(Kindly transcribed by Sheela Mataji, Singapore) Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir Date: February 18, 2014 (Devotee Care Day) Speaker: HH Jayapataka Swami (lecture two of two) Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.13.14 HH Jayapatak Swami: So you were hearing HH Radhanath Swami.  I put myself after him because I thought in […]

The post Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.14 – HH Jayapataka Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

SELF CARE Save yourself, save others. This is our Krsna consciousness movement. First of all save yourself; then try to save others. Or both things can go on simultaneously. The same example. If you want to save somebody who's drowning you must know that I may not be washed away. I have to remain strong; then I can save him. Conversation on Roof -- February 14, 1977, Mayapura The