Planet ISKCON

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Amidst thoughts about my past in my Fatal Attractions series (still in process) and how it relates to my present, I have thought, and felt, deeply about relationships I have had, and endeavored for. In response to my contemplation I wrote this free verse poem. It is full of angst and intense emotion for my failed relationships, disappointments in good ones, and my hopes and aspirations. While most of us value relationships highly, they are also the source of our greatest distress and sadness. Everyone wants to be loved and understood, but it is never quite to the degree we want. Even in what seem the best of relationships we may be separated from our beloved through death, debilitating disease, divorce, or mental imbalances, as in dementia.

Examining the depth of my capacity to love, I question who in this world can we love and understand that is capable of fully accepting our heart’s gifts? At least in my experience, no one can completely satisfy either our desire to love, or to be loved in return. This could be depressing or could point to our goal of loving and serving Radha-Krishna with our spiritual heart and soul. The negative impetus for such love and service is our bitter experience, or at least disappointments, in worldly relationships, while the positive impetus comes from our taste in spiritual practices and eventually our pure love for Krishna, or prema. All relationships with others and our dealings with the things of this world are meant to point us in the direction of Krishna, as the source of everything, and the complete object of our love. Our desire for unending and ever-increasing love can only be fulfilled by the One who can accept our love unlimitedly, and that is Krishna, the fountainhead of all relationships (rasas), the cynosure of our eyes, heart, and soul.

I
I’m a disabled person
climbing a mountain:
my words are my hammer,
feelings are my spikes, and rope,
I know not if they’ll hold or help me up,
in giving me a grip on my steady journey
to avoid be hurled down by trolls;
I only have my effort and a prayer
with the aspiration to reach the top
where I find the entrance to your self-universe:

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Hundreds packed into the auditorium at Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi in Mayapur, West Bengal at 7pm on February 21st to watch Fabric of the Gods, a show depicting Vaishnava fashions throughout history.

The Navadwipa Mandala Parikrama is held every year in the Pahalguna month (middle of March). People from all over the world take part in the week long festival held at Navadvipa in West Bengal. Navadvipa Parikrama means visiting the holy places of Navadvipa in groups. Navadvipa is where the Supreme Lord incarnated as Lord Gauranga (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) in kali-yuga to teach the people the best way to attain Him. Navadvipa is one of the holiest places on earth and anyone visiting it will become His perfect devotee as Shrila Narottama Dasa Thakura states, shri-gauda mandala-bhumi yeba jane chintamani tara haya vraja-bhume vasa “One who knows the Gauda-mandala-bhumi, the abode of Lord Gauranga, is transcendental and qualified to live in Vraja-bhumi.” Read more ›

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjTVpkwA

The post Pictures from the night of day 5 of the sankirtana-mela appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

How are two items alike?  How are they different?  Being able to identify and communicate similar and different qualities of characters in Literature is one of the higher thinking levels in Bloom’s Taxonomy.  In “Analyze”, students are expected to take a look at two situations or characters and explain in detail the differences and similarities.Students picked a partner.  We went over Venn Diagrams, and started making our own.  They started talking to their partners about all the similarities and differences.

“You like to eat broccoli?  Wow!!  So do I!”  Differences were discussed as well.  ”I have lost 10 teeth, but he hasn’t lost any yet!”

Such simple activities provide so much excitement for this age group.   They’re expected to brainstorm, work together and write, write, write.. But because its a “project”, they do it all with so much excitement.From here, we’ll go to analyzing the characters in our Literature study.

 

An introduction was given for Kinder and 1st grade about the weight of items. First we compared the weight of common items to each other and then checked to see how many pennies they weighed. The 1st graders went on to record their findings by drawing the items they weighed and noting the number of pennies. Later we  talked about different kinds of scales and what could be weighed with them. We ended up weighing ourselves  and had fun trying to lift each other up.

We have been serving delicious vegetarian karma-free meals in Melbourne since the 1971. Over three decades we have grown to cater to the various needs of Melbournites and visitors. We have two restaurants down-town, we serve meals three times a day from our temple premises in Albert Park, and we have an outreach program for the homeless and needy. We also cater for private functions and for festivals and events in and around Victoria. Read more ›

The post Guests at the sannyasa ceremony speak of Badrinarayana Goswami appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

They Snarled

They snarled and growled.  I'm referring to dogs.  Then they, only two or three, would have a biting fight which would last as long as you could say, "Lassi!"

Its only indistinct in the beginning.

The post Lecture for Badrinarayana Goswami’s sannyasa ceremony appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

1966 March 5: "Today I have sent one letter to the Secretary Salvation Army for exchange. At 2 o'clock went to Ananda Ashram. Kirtan was performed in the evening. Very much appreciated."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 March 5: "Please be happy in separation. I am separated from my Guru Maharaja since 1936 but I am always with him so long I work according to his direction."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1971 March 5: "Anyone reading our KRSNA book, TLC, NOD, and Bhagavad As It Is, is sure to become a Krishna Conscious person. Therefore somehow or other we must push on this literature distribution program."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 March 5: "You are the flowers of your nation, the most exalted and never inferior or less than even the most so-called elevated materialistic person."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 March 5: "Even I cannot give you any nice thing, still, because you have got some love for Krishna and your Spiritual Master, you are working very hard in every way just to push on this movement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 March 5: "Practically now it is in the hands of you big guns to manage everything. if you go on helping me in this way, you may know it for certain that very soon you will see Krishna face-to-face."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 March 5: "We must avoid the risk of a separatist movement, unity is our purpose. We want to avoid skin disease and the Indian people are like the tannery experts. They will see our Sankirtana Party and think it is a white dance."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 March 5: "We do not say that one has to leave home. Either you leave home or remain there, you go on with your progressive interest and participation in this great movement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

So, on March 3rd about one hour before the Maha abhisekha of the Panca tattva I made my way to the temple and pushed through thousands of devotees making my way to the front where there was a spot for Srila Prabhupada disciples. As time went past I spoke to Nrsingha kavacha who was ‘in charge’ of the Abhisekha and asked him what was the chance of making getting on the altar to bathe the Deities. He said, ‘None!’ We had a conversation for about 10 minutes and despite me using all of my strategies he didn’t budge. I told him that if I got the dhoti from Lord Caitanya or Lord Nityananda I would be somewhat pacified. Read more ›

Vaishnava seva dasa prabhu from the most useful Iskcon website Iskcondesiretree.net just finished uploading them and they are ALL now available for watching and downloading (for free) Read more ›

Sivaram Swami at Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2014 Day 3

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

To be merited rights is a metaphysical concept.  There is no scientific or secular logic that procures rights upon an individual.  Therefore this subject must be approached metaphysically with logic and reason.

The first question is: what is it that is being granted rights?  If there is no logical understanding of the self or individual, then we cannot progress further.

In an American history we had slavery because it was said that dark-skinned people did not have souls. But where is the logic in that?  By simple analysis one can see that the symptom of the soul or self is consciousness.  As soon as the soul leaves the body, that body no longer carries its beauty and luster. That same symptom of consciousness is equal whether one is a man or a woman, dark-skinned or light, or human or animal.   All feel pain and pleasure.   However, because our society’s understanding of the self and consciousness is lacking depth, a large foolish section of society makes claims that animals are without souls and therefore without inherent rights.

Another large and equally foolish section of society will make claims that the unborn individual is also without rights.  This is all because there is no clear understanding of the self which is the foundation of the discussions of rights.  But there are books, such as the Bhagavad Gītā As It Is, that deal with this subject with such clarity that it can shock most people.  Such clarity is necessary to govern social structures in a progressive way.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

My Reply: Varnaśrama Dharma is not fully viable in this modern age, Kali-yuga. The only completely viable dharma in this yuga is hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana. (“harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam, kalau nastyeva nastyeva nastyeva gatir anyataḥ”).

That said, Varnāśrama Dharma is still partially viable – and the general principles are still useful and valid. The Gita’s concept of Varnāśrama Dharma is not a janma (birthright) system at all, it is a guṇa-karma system (“catur-varnyam mayā śṛṣtāṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgasa”) – a system based on your actual character and deeds. You are born into a brahmin family, but that does not mean that you have brahmin dharma, it means that it might be relatively easier for you to adopt brahminical occupations and character traits. But until and unless you adopt the deeds and character of a brahmana you are not a brahmana, instead you are “brahma-bandhu” (the relative of a brahmana). Of course, the caste system has degraded so extensively that most likely a person born into a so-called brahmin family today could often be brahma-bandhu-bandhu-bandhu-bandhu (the relative of a relative of a relative of a relative of a brahmana).

In kali-yuga, Varṇāśrama Dharma is not primary, it is secondary. Hari Kīrtana is primary. As a secondary dharma, the specific exact details and strictures of Varṇāśrama are not important, it is mainly the essential concepts and fundamentals of the system that are still reasonably viable today. Perhaps in the future things could possibly change for a few centuries or so, enabling Varṇāśrama to be a little more viable than it currently is. Currently the only useful thing is to recognize ones character and deeds as being most akin to either intellectual, administrative, mercantile, or artisan. And based on that, cultivate a few essential qualities intrinsic to each category. For example one with a primary intellectual bent needs to cultivate simplicity and honesty. One with a primary administrative bent needs to cultivate political knowledge and respect for intellectuals. One with a primary mercantile bent needs to cultivate the knowledge related to their field and the giving of ample charity, and one with an artisan bent needs simply cultivate their art/technical field along with the quality of helpfulness when called upon.

Krishna’s advice here in the 3rd Chapter of Gītā is translated to modern terms with more integrity when we use the word “responsibilities” rather than “duties” especially if by duties we begin thinking of some particular social structure like the caste system or some semi-workable concept of Varṇāśrama Dharma. He is advising Arjuna, “you have your responsibilities. Stick to them. Sticking to your responsibilities is always noble and pure and will always uplift your character and your life. Even when your responsibilities seem to be hard, or seem to be debased and difficult – stick to them at all costs.”

– Vraja Kishor das

www.vrajakishor.com

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 June 2013, Vrindavana, India, Srila Prabhupada Pastimes Lecture)

Question: What is the purpose of group chanting?

Obviously when we do things together, it gives us support in different ways – it gives support in a positive way and also in another way like when your mind thinks, ‘Oh, I am so ill today, I am not well, I need some rest! Oh, rest!!’

When you are alone, who will tell you not to do it but when you are with the vaisnavas, then it looks so bad. Therefore, it also keeps check and balance. In this way, the association of devotees gives us support and protection from our lower nature. In front of the vaisnavas, we will behave better than when we are alone. So, chant with the vaisnavas!

 

 

 

He forcibly attracts Sri Radha with the sweet sound of His flute, therefore that Lord of all enchanting qualities is known as Krsna.

Srila Jiva Goswami

O friend, by great good-fortune you have attained this body where you have heard Vrndavana’s wonderful glories and learned that everything in this world is like a dream. Don’t, don’t, don’t put any faith in the mind and body. Run to Vrndavana.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-80 Translation.]

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Materially, everyone wants to satisfy his senses, and he wants God to be the order supplier for such satisfaction. The Lord will satisfy the senses of the living entities as much as they deserve, but not to the extent that they may covet. But when one takes the opposite way – namely, when one tries to satisfy the senses of Govinda without desiring to satisfy one’s own senses – then by the grace of Govinda all desires of the living entity are satisfied.

- Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Chapter One: Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra 1.32-35

Devotees express their gratitude for the teachings and guidance that have received from Bhurijan prabhu who is acting as the representative of the Parampara for his disciples. Read more ›

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.