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"Yes, the nine devotional process and how, by each process, one becomes perfect, just like Pariksit Maharaja, simply hearing, and Sukadeva Gosvami, simply chanting, reciting Bhagavatam. So both of them got salvation. Laksmi, she is simply pada-sevanam, giving massage to the lotus feet of the Lord. Arjuna simply made friendship with Krsna. Hanuman simply worked as a hard servant. He doesn't know what He is... "Lord Ramacandra wants it." Then it is done. Jump over. He does not know any philosophy. He has got bodily strength, so whatever Ramacandra says, he'll do. He was asked to bring that medicine for Laksmana. He did not know where to find it. "Take this whole mountain." (laughter) He was not intelligent. "Fight! We have to fight with Ravana. Then block his whole city by throwing stones and trees and dirt." Everything became blocked. They could not move. So in one side he is born of animal life, he had no higher intelligence, but his staunch desire, that "I shall serve Lord Ramacandra..." By that... Only this desire made him perfect." Read more ›

The post April 8th, 2014 – Rama Navami Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS Founder-Ācārya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda The following lecture on the Pastimes of Sri Ramacandra was given by His Hosliness Bhakti Charu Swami in ISKCON Chowpatty on 08 April 2014. Hare Kṛṣṇa kīrtana, Raghupati Rāghava Rājā Rāma kīrtana. His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami: Gaur Premānande Hari Hari bol. namo(...)

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The post Pictures from yesterday’s deity room renovation meeting and of Radha-Syama on Ramnavami appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Lessons from the Ramayana appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

He who listens every day to this oldest epic, composed by the sage Vālmīki, which is calculated to bestow religious merit, renown and longevity, and which lends support to the Vedas, is completely freed of sin. Kings will overcome their enemies and conquer the earth, men will overcome all difficulties and women will be blessed with excellent sons and grandsons. Those listening to this epic will receive from Śrī Rāma all the boons they desire. Through a hearing of this work all the gods are satisfied. One who keeps a copy in his house will find all his obstacles coming to an end. A man offering worship to and reading this historical work is completely rid of all sins and attains a long life; all the gods are thus pleased and one’s ancestors are gratified forever. Those transcribing this work with devotion are guaranteed residence in heaven, while those hearing it will secure the growth of their family and wealth, supreme happiness and the accomplishment of all their objects on earth.

Yuddha Kanda

The gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas and ṛṣis always listen with great pleasure to the Rāmayana in heaven. This legend is the bestower of longevity, the enhancer of fortune and the dispeller of sins. It is the equal of the Vedas. A man reading even a quarter of it is freed from all sins; indeed, even if one sins daily he is released from the reactions if he recites just one verse of the Rāmayana. A man gets the results of one thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices and ten thousand Vajpeya sacrifices merely by hearing this great work. He has visited all the holy shrines and bathed in all the sacred rivers. One who listens to the story of Śrī Rāma with full reverence roots out all sins and goes to the world of Viṣṇu. The Rāmayana is the unsurpassed form of Gayatri. By hearing it with devotion one will undoubtedly achieve liberation, along with many generations of ancestors. The exploits of Śrī Rāma are the bestower of all four of life’s objects—dharma, artha, kama and moksha. Hearing even one line of this work with full devotion guarantees one’s attainment of the world of Brahmā.

Uttarā Kanda

Find the Ramayana here

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with Madhava prabhu Read more ›

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Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu belongs to the spiritual world, and His methods for propagating the sankirtana movement are also imported from the spiritual world. Srila Narottama dasa thakura has sung: golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana, rati na janmila kene taya. This states that the sankirtana movement has nothing to do with this material world. It is imported from the spiritual world, Goloka Vrndavana. Narottama dasa thakura laments that mundane people do not take this sankirtana movement seriously. Byron Bay is a beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of the state of New South Wales, Australia. Read more ›

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Kirtana forever: Auckland NZ. with HH Indradyumna Swami Read more ›

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When Maharani Berg opened her third Good Karma vegetarian restaurant in the DeLisle community near Pass Christian recently, she thought only a few people would show up for the soft opening. The response caught her by surprise. “One hundred people came in that night,” she said. “It was the first time I ran out of food for an opening. I didn’t expect that many people to be there.” Ingredients come mostly from Oriental stores and includes locally grown produce. “In the summertime we have a lot of vegetables coming out of our garden at the farm where I live,” she said. “I plan all the food and every day is different. I see what grows in the garden locally and seasonally.” The farm is part of the the New Talavan community, which is affiliated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly referred to as the Hare Krishna movement. Read more ›

03-04-2014 Lessons from Lord Ramacandra’s Banishment, ISKCON Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa.MP3

2014 04 05 SB 10 42 15 38 Breaking of Sacrificial Bow Gaur Krishna Prabhu ISKCON Chowpatty

Abhaya Carana das and his wife Jayanti devi dasi lived in New Zealand and were rendering service at the Wellington temple at Newlands. Last year Kaliya Krsna from New Gokula Australia asked if they could come to the farm and help with service there.

One of the most incredible perks of being part of the TKG Academy is the vibrant community around the school, Sri Radha Kalachandji Dham.  This community celebrates the major Vaishnava festivals regularly.  Here, students, alumni, parents, supporters and all the families worship Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda on the auspicious occasion of Gaura Purnima.

5,000 years ago, Sri Krishna’s friend Arjuna asked Him a question.

“Oh Krishna, what are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is merged in transcendence?  How does he speak, and what is his language?  How does he sit, and how does he walk?”  BG 2.54

On March 31st, the TKG Academy students had a chance to ask similar questions to two Vaishnavas, His Holiness Giriraj Swami and Rtadhvaja Swami, whose consciousness is completely merged in Krishna.

“What is your favorite food?  Your favorite pastime?  Your favorite color?”

Giriraj Maharaja’s favorite color is blue, like Krishna and Rtadhvaja Maharaj’s is yellow for Gauranga.

Students also asked other questions they had been wondering for some time.  “What does Krishna like most in Vrindavan?”  “How do we give up material desires and attachments?”  “Why did Krishna let Kamsa kill his baby brothers and sisters?”

The Maharajas lovingly and patiently answered the questions, tailoring their answers to young children’s understanding.

One student asked, “When did you first meet Srila Prabhupada?”

Giriraj Maharaj answered, “March 31st, 1969.”

Wait!  Today is March 31st!  The students worked to figure out how many years it had been.  It had been 45 years since Giriraj Maharaj had first met Srila Prabhupada!  Wow, what an auspicious day for his visit.

Rtadhvaja Maharaja’s years of practice as a teacher showed when he only answered those whose hands were raised quietly.   He ended the session with a brain teaser for the young ones to figure out.

We always look forward to their visits, and are grateful to get a chance to spend some time with them.  If you didn’t already know, Giriraj Maharaj’s favorite food is rasagulla.

Spring time means time with plants and flowers!  Our March days began with offering flowers, leaves and nuts to the Deities, and reciting the Bhagavad Gita verse 9.26.  “If you offer me with love and devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I will accept it.”

Special Ramanavami Maha Feast

When? TuesdayApril 8th from 7.00-9.00(pm) Where? 6 George Street South Brampton, Ontario L6Y 1P3, Canada Park underground(free) @ City Hall Phone:416-648-3312 New! Listen Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog Make a Donation

"Raghupati Ragava Raja Ramapatita Pavana Sita Rama" “Lord Rama is the chief of the house of Raghu and the saviour of the fallen souls; all respects and praise to mother Sita and Lord Ramacandra.” The word Rama literally means one who is divinely blissful, gives joy to others and in whom sages rejoice. The name of Lord Rama is the greatest purifier of the heart. It not only wipes away all one’s sins but it wipes away the sinful tendencies as well. Lord Shiva tells His consort Parvati: “This Ram Naam is equal to the Lord’s one thousand names or repetition of the mantra a thousand times.” The Ramayana’s perennial relevance lies in its power to inspire us to broaden our consciousness from “me” to “we” and to momentously expand the definition of “we” from the human-human paradigm to the human-divine. The kingdom of God, or Rama-rajya, is impossible without the awakening of God consciousness in the mass mind of the people of the world. Ramanavami is therefore a spiritual reminder of the noble ideals for which Lord Rama stood. Devotees celebrate this day by fasting till sunset, singing and chanting His holy names, pastimes and glories. Sponsor the Event "So far as your working engagement is concerned, certainly you are not a karmi. Any person whose constant occupation is Krishna Consciousness, he is not a karmi ; he is a devotee in all circumstances. You should accept the best source of monetary income and use it for Krishna. That is better than sannyasa. Stick to your job and use it for Krishna Consciousness. You are not a karmi."(Srila Prabhupada) If you'd like sponsor/finance this event,contact Krsna Smaran Devi Dasi(kavitabalram@yahoo.com) Ramanavami Maha Feast.....$251 Florals & Garlands...............$108 Special Program 7:00pm         Guru Puja 7:15pm         Gaura Aarti 7:45pm         Narasinga Aarti 7:50pm         Welcome Announcements 8:00pm         Glories of Lord Rama by HG Mahabhagavat Dasa                      **Rama means perfection personified** 8:40pm         Closing Kirtan & song Glorification of Lord Rama 9:00pm         Ramanavami Maha Feast Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Chant and Be happy!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, December 2013, Pretoria, South Africa, Caitanya Caritamrta Lecture)

The nature of Srimad Bhagavatam is that it is ever fresh. It is never old; it is never stale but ever fresh! It is going on right now – Bhagavatam. There is no limit to the Bhagavatam. The demigods have a Bhagavatam of 100 000 verses. We have 18 000 verses and they have a 100 000. There is more and more… and more will be revealed. Bhagavatam will be revealed from within the heart because dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 25.57) – true religious principles are not found within the scripture alone but they are hidden within the heart. Within the heart these things will be revealed.

So we read Srimad Bhagavatam and then we live by Srimad Bhagavatam and then Srimad Bhagavatam becomes revealed to us, gradually. This is the system of how to change our lives. That is the idea. Only then will we know Srimad Bhagavatam. You cannot know the Bhagavatam just by reading. By reading, you scratch the surface but you cannot know; just as you cannot know Vrndavan by just buying a ticket, going there and walking around. One may say, “Radhe Radhe,” but we cannot know. We cannot penetrate into Vrndavan unless we live like the eternal residents of Vrndavan, unless we become pure devotees then we can perceive Vrndavan.

 

With Their soft flower-petal hands Sri Ra?dha?-Krishna carefully watered the trees and vines from the time of their first sprouting. They nourished them and made them grow and, at the proper time, married each vine to an appropriate tree . When They saw new flowers beginning to blossom, They became delighted and spoke many playful joking words. Let us bow down and offer our respectful obeisances to these trees and vines of Vrinda?vana forest.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-11, Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

"And practically we see, those who are chanting, they're becoming free from the contamination. If you follow the rules and regulations, very simple thing, and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā mantra. That is our only request. Then, in spite of this contaminated age of Kali, you'll be saved. You'll be saved."

Lecture SB 1.16.19 Hawaii
January 15, 1974

Rtadhvaja Swami and Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Kabe Habe Bolo by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

“This is the aspiration of the devotee who is making advancement—to relish the ecstasy of the holy name. Not as a selfish desire, but as a sign that Krishna and the acharyas are pleased, that they have granted him admittance into the nectarean realm of pure chanting. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura mentions specifically, ‘after grasping the feet of a saint who constantly relishes the flavor (rasa) of devotion.’ ‘Grasping the feet’ can be taken literally, but ‘grasping the feet’ can also mean holding tightly to the instructions and following them.” —Giriraj Swami

Rtadhvaja Swami and Giriraj Swami on Kabe Habe Bolo

1966 April 7:
"Tritiya. Today I am staying with Paul. I cooked food and dined with him and Sakar. They liked the foodstuff very nice. Circumstances seem to be favorable. Paul promises to organize. He is enthusiastic. Let us see. He attended the morning class punctually."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

A living being who lives in the mundane world has four defects: (1) he is certain to commit mistakes; (2) he is subject to illusion; (3) he has a propensity to cheat others; and (4) his senses are imperfect. No one with these four imperfections can deliver perfect knowledge.

- Srila Prabhupada, Sri Isopanishad Mantra 1

Greetings from the Garden……

It has been another busy week in the garden.  Unfortunately, the April showers are keeping us from doing much planting and tilling. In the teaching garden post have been put in for the new fence. The plan for the teaching garden is to have 1/3 flowers, 1/3 greens, and 1/3 perennials & herbs.  In the Garden of Seven Gates we planted Cayuga and Mars grapes this week. They are genetically the most resistant to black (also called brown) rot the bane of Eastern grape growers.

Some of the perennial plants to look forward to in the Garden of Seven Gates include: blueberries, red raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, bush cherries, grapes, honey berries, elderberries, and asparagus.

The newest addition to the perennial fruits in the garden are goji berries. The picture above is of goji berries, they are also know as the wolfberry. Goji berries are often used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are usually cooked or dried before eating.  The berries are high in nutrients and are believed to have many health benefits. You can grow goji berries in your home garden they grow well in containers and in your garden soil. They can be pruned as bushes or trained to grow on a trellis.

Over the next few weeks we will be planting fruit trees, flowering bushes, perennial fruits, and hopefully if the rain holds off spring vegetables.  Until next week, happy gardening.

This month, we would like recognize Neeraj and Kavitha Bhatnagar as our Donor Spotlight.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS Founder-Ācārya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda The following evening lecture-seminar on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Position In Iskcon, was given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami in ISKCON Chowpatty on 07 April 2014. His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami: Hare Kṛṣṇa. So class will be go on until what time? 9h00? It’s(...)

During the winter break, while all was quiet and peaceful at the end of the temple block known as TKG Academy, a storm erupted.  The bus tour coming from Mexico descended upon the playgrounds.  Nearly twenty youth, along with many of our own youth from Dallas, decided to give the school grounds some tender loving care.  I was out of town and you can guess my reaction when I returned and saw the transformation that had occurred.  I was elated!

The new ramps which had been installed during the summer break, needed priming and painting.  During the first part of school, Joseph Clark who had been coming to the Wednesday classes, came several times and began the painting.  We found it a bit difficult to have fresh paint in the porch area when children were around so he was asked to come back to paint during the winter break.

And then the service hungry youth appeared.   Manorama Dasa  has long been known for taking temples by storm with his energetic, talented youth.  Some of our devotees here in Dallas realized that the grounds at the school needed raking and that the ramp painting needed to be completed.  Someone told me that Krishna Mangala Dasi along with her children and many of our young men and women, gathered the bus tour youth together, and tackled the job.

 

There is a general feeling when it comes to God (not religion) that we work or relate or interact with God only when we feel like it (in a spontaneous sense). When we don't "feel" the love from God, we do not really worry about God. But actually our Acharyas teach that we have to "force" certain issues. Krishna asks Arjuna to "control" his mind through practice and detachment. Practice means we have to force our mind to behave in a certain way.

Spiritual inertia is a natural element of material culture. Our culture is advancing in the name of technology to increased levels of inertia or simply put laziness. Think about it - inventions such as automobiles, tractors, cell phones, computers make things efficient, quick and orderly but creates a mentality that machines will do the work and I just need to control the machine. Science is advancing more and more towards increasing technology however it is also drastically promoting laziness. When was the last time you wrote a letter by hand and mailed it to your loved one? So this is the situation - this inertia has largely impacted our spiritual life as well.

We fear change, and lack the drive to beat the blues in terms of spiritual inertia or laziness. But if we want to progress towards Krishna, then no machine or sporadic spontaneous feelings of God will cut it. We have to approach this "military" style meaning with intent and conviction. We have to force our enthusiasm to be in Krishna consciousness.

The more we show our conviction towards Krishna in terms of disciplining our mind (forcefully) then surely Krishna will reciprocate and when that reciprocation happens, we know He exists and there is no greater feeling than knowing that Krishna exists and He is looking out for us. This experience or realization will cultivate within us a spontaneous attachment towards Krishna.

So yes purity is the force, so lets force it!

Hare Krishna

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Procession celebration in Krishna Balaram Mandir. Read more ›

22-09-2013 Reminices of ISKCON Cape Town, ISKCON Cape Town, South Africa.MP3

Brilliant as the Sun, my summary of the first nine cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam is now available on Amazon Kindle.

The post April 7th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Tonight Bada Haridas and myself are leaving India for Europe. After a few days we’ll travel to South Africa for the Durban Ratha Yatra, and then onto Russia and Ukraine for a 3-week preaching tour. Time to share the fruits of our pilgrimages to India’s holy places with others!

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Our Vision: To create an environment where people and animals can practice natural living and higher thinking, in an atmosphere of love and trust, for the pleasure of Shree Krishna. Philosophy: Our motto at Hare Krishna Valley is “natural living, high thinking”. Natural living means that we live a comfortable, uncomplicated life in harmony with nature. By reducing our “wants” to “needs”, we manage to live in a peaceful state of mind. Peace of mind is a prerequisite to true happiness. The needs of all humanity can be amply supplied from Mother Nature. At Hare Krishna Valley we aim to develop a self-sufficient farm community in which we gratefully receive our gifts from the earth and in return protect the earth from unnecessary harm. Our project includes an investment in bio-dynamic farming, a plan for a humanitarian dairy, protection of wild life, forest regeneration and developing solar energy. Read more ›

Damodara Dasa, damodara.d@gmail.com

The post To participate in Radha Syama’s service contact appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Off Road Pictures presents: Hare Krishna by Shivali Bhammer . Directed by Hasinth Pathirana. Produced by Arjuna. Read more ›