Planet ISKCON

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1973 February 17: "It is brought to my attention that he has become deviated from the four basic principles given to all my students when initiated. He must be brought back to the standard immediately. I have not made any decision, but I would like you to discuss this amongst yourselves and send me your conclusion."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 February 17: "The value of accepting a bona fide Spiritual Master is more than we can calculate. It is not a mere formality. We must become free of all material desires and this can only be achieved by following a bona fide Spiritual Master."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 February 17: "Krishna will see that you are sincerely trying to follow the real process of Krishna Consciousness and He will give you all help. Don't try to manufacture some artificial process. The real process I have already given you. Now you simply have to follow it strictly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 February 17: "Prepare seven different dances from Caitanya Caritamrta and seven different dances from Krishna Book. When you come I shall give you personal direction. It will be very attractive. We can go all over with a party of dancers and perform these dances and distribute our books."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Broadbeach is a suburb on the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia. Read more ›

His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami and his Team have Performed a beautiful Drama on Bhagavad Gita (as It is) in the Temple hall of Iskcon Delhi. Read more ›

ISKCON Leadership Sanga Day One - Seminars. Anuttama Prabhu of ISKCON Communications shares a stirring video about ISKCON’s upcoming 50th anniversary in 2016. As ISKCON approaches this milestone, it is important to recognize the challenges and opportunities associated with the growth of any international organization. Read more ›

Bhaktivedanta Manor is a Gaudiya Vaishnava, Hare Krishna temple set in the Hertfordshire countryside of England in the village of Aldenham near Watford. Read more ›

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From Ranjit

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From Sunil Goel

can you please explain the essence/importance/relativity of  NISKAM KARMYOG in this material world where it is treated no more than INSANITY, even by those to whom you do the favour by sacrificing your own self - interests. in that case, how it will be better than fulfilling your own desires and making him a loser instead.....

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From: vighnesh kamath
why did in srimad bhagvatam 7.15.16, it is told that we should not even endeavour to earn our livelihood . lord krishna will supply all our basic neccesities automatically . isn't  that it is contradicting the karma yoga concept , in which it is said work in krishna consciousness . and normally anyone who works , will work for earning his livelihood only . so shouldnt we even try to earn atleast for maintaining our body and soul together, if not greed . is it not we are triying to run away from our work , and in the name of god, expecting everything will come automatically . is it practical today ? i may have misunderstood the above verse, if yes then in what context it can be reconciled .

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The 2014 ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) was inaugurated on February 16 in Sridham Mayapur. Day 1 consisted of three sessions during which at least ten seminars would run in parallel per session. Seminars such as Effective Outreach, How to Implement the 5 Steps of Succession and Identify Future Leaders, Devotee Care Through Cow Care, Invest in the Future, and To Love is to Cooperate were just a handful of the numerous seminars devotees had the opportunity to attend.

Nityananda Trayodasi after abhishek kirtan

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player is needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer; if you are using Google Chrome it will automatically play, so to not listen, mute your speakers.)

[I am continuing the reposting of this 5 part series as a way to commemorate this month which marks my 45th year of coming to Krishna. This is the final installment (previously posted 2-16-14)--until I make it into a whole book.] Chris had come back from Muir Woods to Berkeley a few times to restock his food supplies and then return, but this time he felt he would stay in town for a while. He wanted to begin searching the library and alternative newspapers for information about different spiritual orders and groups such as the Trappist monks, Buddhists, and various yoga societies. Somehow to have a new life, a spiritual life, and one by which he could focus on useful life skills, being in harmony with Nature, and helping others.

In his second year of college he wasn’t impressed or inspired by his teachers. He reasoned that if he continued his education he would become like they who were merely part of the materialistic status quo. His teachers didn’t seem interested in changing, becoming better people, or most importantly, in their own souls. Chris felt completely estranged from his old life, apparently lost, even damaged from an external perspective, and yet he felt somehow guided in the process of finding his path. It had been a radical, unpredictable journey and there no end in sight, but his effort to find and live the Truth was worth it, even if his material progress was impeded or lost forever. Without realizing and living the purpose of life, what was the use of any other obtainment, even if praised by the World?

He simplified his life by giving away most of his possessions, and began sleeping on the floor. During the day he would sit on his folded sleeping bag before a small coffee table that he used as a desk. It was covered with stacks of spiritual/religious books, magazines, and notebooks. He dreamed of being a sage or monk, what the I Ching referred to as a “superior man,” not in vanity, but in depth of character. Chris had become a vegetarian rather naturally,

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Bird at suet feeder.

Cardinal arriving at sunflower feeder.   At times there are as many as 40 birds feeding there including a lot of juncos on holiday from Canada.  The snow fence keeps deer and crows from devouring the sunflowers.

We got an inch of snow overnight which I didn’t get around to sweeping off the kitchen steps. By late afternoon it was covered with bird tracks.

Filed under: Cows and Environment

There once were two merchants in a town. Their shops were across the street from each other. Each man measured his success, not by how much he personally sold that day, but if he made more than his competitor. The rivalry grew year by year. One day, one of the merchants found a magic lantern. He rubbed it and out popped a genie. The merchant asked the genie if he would grant him three wishes.

With a grand Ratha Yatra through the heart of Mumbai and a massive two-day festival in a large park we took our final bows in our 7-week festival tour of India. We pray that Srila Prabhupada has been pleased with our humble efforts to help spread Lord Caitanya’s movement in the land of dharma. With [...]

tkg academy students had a fun time at the insectarium.

Dressed in a kaupina and kantha, living by eating fruit fallen from the trees, not speaking useless words, not passing the time in useless deeds, abandoning all pride, going to each house to beg a little alms, and following those for whom Sri Radhika is their entire life, I will live in Vrndavana.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-64 Translation.]

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Before we start our chanting we can pray to the Lord for assistance with our Japa - we can also remind ourselves about the quality and how we need to maintain that.
I personally reflect on what I need to strengthen in my Japa and make a specific affirmation before I start chanting.
I know some devotees like to make notes about their Japa, normally after their Japa session....notes that they can read over later and reflect on.
If we remain humble, realising that we can always make improvements in our spiritual lives, then we will give ourselves the best chance to make advancement.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 13 January 2014, Mayapur, India, Lecture: Kirtan Academy 1)

Kirtan happens on the pure transcendental platform. It is an interesting combination of Krsna’s name and a particular melody, a particular raga, which brings out a mood.

It is said that there are sixteen-thousand, one-hundred and eight ragas that are spiritual because there are sixteen-thousand, one-hundred and eight gopis.

Actually every living entity has its own raga, everyone has his own way of singing. Sometimes, we say that some people sing “off” but that is not a fact; they just have their own raga in their own musical scale. So, every living entity has its own raga, the birds have their own raga and all the animals have their own ragas but the sixteen-thousand, one-hundred and eight gopis have their ragas which are spiritual.

So these ragas are known to some in the material world but not to me! I don’t come from a raga background; I come from a rock background and it does happen to me that raga turns into rock – what can I do!? It’s like, somehow or other, it seems to happen to me sometimes but I have always quoted something which is like the Krsna consciousness “Fifth Amendment”:

nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis

tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ

etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi

durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgah, (Siksastakam, verse 2)

 

That basically, there are no hard and fast rules in this chanting so therefore I claim innocence; I am not responsible, rock will do as long as it will connect us to Krsna. Rupa Goswami says that whether it is Vedic or just a practical thing from this world, whatever is favourable for the service of Krsna, is accepted.