Planet ISKCON

Political turmoil and campaign schemes aside, the man now in the center is no average politician. 

Eve class by HG Radha Raman Prabhu. Nityananda Trayodasi: Appearance of Lord Nityananda. 12.02.2014

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental “Throwback Thursday” – 02/27/14.

Each week we highlight an earlier era of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

This week’s challenge: There are fourteen devotees in the photo. Can you correctly identify them all?

Extra Credit: Why are they dressed up so colorfully?

Post your guesses on the “who, what, when & where” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook Page.

Technical stuff: We share the photo Thursday and confirm known details Sunday. Let’s keep it light and have a bit of fun!

Special request: If you have a photo showing New Vrindaban devotees in action, share it with us and we’ll use it in a future posting.

Mr. Vara has helped ISKCON in a variety of campaigns with ISKCON Hungary and Moscow and with many projects for the Hindu community in the UK.

Radha Krishna Das and Radhanath Swami speak about the beginnings of ISKCON's Midday Meal program (Annamrita) and the inspiration for doing this service.

On the occasion celebrating ISKCON's Annamrita Food Relief program Basanti Roi a Government Officer speaks appreciatively about the project.

ISKCON Food Relief Foundation (IFRF), which has so far served 1.25 billion healthy sanctified vegetarian meals to underprivileged school children across India with its “Annamrita” program, celebrated its tenth anniversary on February 6^th. People packed out the 3,500-seat auditorium at the Yogi Sabhagriha of the Swaminarayan Temple in Mumbai for the event, entitled “Abhar: Expressing Our Heartfelt Gratitude.”

The Mahabharata says that, while ordinary arrows cut us once, the arrow of our words ‘burn the heart day and night.’ This is poignantly true when the heated exchange is between near and dear ones, as is so often the case.

He who with food, clothing and other gifts, serves Vrndavana’s residents that are penniless, desireless, afraid of materialists company, and plunged into Krsna nectar makes Vrndavana’s king and queen his submissive servants.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-74 Translation.]

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Once upon a time

Lalitā scolded Hari, saying, “You rascal! How dare you treat us like that! Who do you think you are!?”

Hari replied, “I am Hari. I am not only the king of this land, I am the king of everything. I am Jagannath, Viṣṇu, Puruṣa the original person.”

The Gopīs made fun of him by busting into uproarious laughter.

“I’m not kidding,” he said.

“Ok, then prove it,” Lalitā challenged.

“How?” he asked.

“Show your incarnations,” she demanded. “Assume the form of one of the avatars.”

“OK,” he said, and there on the spot assumed the form of Varaha, the gigantic boar. Thus the place in Vraja is known as Varaha-ghat (at that time it was on the riverbank, now it is a few hundred yards away).

The gopīs love for Krishna was not hindered by this at all. Their awareness of Krishna’s godhood only increases the sweetness of their intimate relationship. Indeed this theme is presented directly by Śrī Śuka in the Second Canto, Chapter Seven – where he repeatedly shows how the sweetness of Krishna cannot be diminished by his majesty.

Vraja prema is supremely powerful. There is no threat to it. Aishwarya prema is no threat to it. Aishwarya, like everything, is a maidservant to madhurya-braja prema.

- Vraja Kishor

www.vrajakishor.com

"The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Kṛiṣhṇa are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidya [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root."

From Nectar of Instruction Text 7

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, July 2011, Fruska Goranga, Serbia, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.16)

Question: How to deal with the notorious false ego?

You can buy a self-help sociology book. It is useful because it makes you more aware but your false ego will still be there. Carl Jung speaks of a swollen ego. We can try so many techniques and all may help a little bit.

But I think that the approach of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is nice. It is an approach where we just don’t pay attention to this false ego. It works through our mind, and constantly the mind comes up with endless rubbish.

The mind is like a spoiled child. If we want this child to stop crying, just ignore it. Cry until you are dry. Simple as that!

Not that we do it in the mood of just renouncing and being hard. We just get busy in devotional service. Too busy and then we can’t complain.

“Oh, I’m so busy. I have no time for anything else. I can hardly chant my rounds! Oh, I have never time to read! I have so much service.”

Good! Because if we would have time, we would just think of nonsense anyway and if we would have time, we would still not chant seriously. We would still chant, “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna… Oh, how are you today?”

So, if you have such a big, swollen false ego then the best remedy is to just become overloaded with service and that service will save us. Then later, after we have made sacrifice in service, then we will find that our hearing, chanting, remembering has grown deeper.

 

 

Thus the Complete Whole is not formless. If He were formless, or if He were less than His creation in any other way, He could not be complete. The Complete Whole must contain everything both within and beyond our experience; otherwise He cannot be complete.

- Srila Prabhupada, Sri Isopanishad : Iso Invocation purport

1966 February 26:
"The whole day and night remained at Ananda Ashram. Kirtan demonstration was given. Dr. Mishra appreciated it very much. Next morning also invited. The following letters received

1. From Teertha Maharaj
2. From the Nepal Permanent Commission
3. From Brindaban.
4. From United States Navigation Co.

The following letters despatched.

1. To Mr. Prem Gandhi
2. To Sally Agarwal.
3. Brindaban's letter replied."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 February 26: "I am very much ambitious for leading a Kirtana party, especially all over your United States, and Europe. If you can move with this Kirtana party, say a batch of 12 to 15 heads, all over the United States, as well as Europe, I am sure we will be more popular than the so-called yogi."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 February 26: "If he comes back then our dream of opening a center in India is not very encouraging. Kirtanananda came back, Ramanuja has joined the Buddhist camp and the other two boys living with Bon Maharaja, they are not very much hopeful. If I would have been there, I could manage, but I am here."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

Young entrepreneurs :-) Read more ›

1968 February 26: "We have got 50 or more volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam and they can be printed here if it can be arranged. If printing of Bhagavatam is done here and a Kirtana party is organized then I shall never go back to India. I shall stay here in your good care till my death."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 February 26: "I am pleased that you are doing very nicely in your center. By no means should you stop kirtana. It must be done regularly because that is our strength. We are always in the whirlpool of maya, and only this chanting of Hare Krishna Mantra can save us from all pitfalls."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1971 February 26: "Translating the rest of Srimad-Bhagavatam is my next program. I shall record two tapes daily. Time is short and I am aging but I want to publish all of Srimad-Bhagavatam."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 February 26: "Although I am getting old, I shall give you two tapes daily provided you guarantee to finish printing two tapes daily. I shall record two tapes daily but my only request is that the tapes must be transcribed, edited, composed, layed out and printed all in one week."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 February 26: "It is not compulsory. It may be $500.00 or $5.00 it doesn't matter. Each devotee should collect some alms to the best of his capacity either cash or something else and make a presentation to the Spiritual Master. This is daksina. Without daksina the initiation ceremony is not perfect."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

The Jagannath Temple in Puri is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath and located on the eastern coast of India, at Puri in the state of Orissa. The name Jagannath comes from the word Jagat-Nath which means 'Lord of the Universe' Read more ›

TKG Academy’s Upper Elementary class took a field trip to the Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History.TKG students were engaged with an interactive way to enhance and support classroom curriculum by going to the Museum for an exhibit field trip. The exhibits provided a wide-range of interactive experiences.

The post How proposals go before and pass through the GBC appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

VANDE, which stands for Vaisnava Arts For A New Devotional Era, is headed by Bhaktimarga Swami and a dedicated team of ISKCON thespians. Maharaja travels the world encouraging devotees to spread Krsna Consciousness through this ancient medium.

For the 1st part of 129 photos: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=1391 Read more ›

Braja Bihari prabhu gives a fantastic talk about habits at ILS (ISKCON Leadership Sanga - 2014). Braja Bihari dasa is the director of ISKCON Resolve. He is a mediator and ombudsman. He's presently pursuing an MA in Conflict Transformation. He lives in Vrindavan, India. Read more ›

ISKCON Cinema will produce the Documentary Feature Film, ACHARYA—One Who Teaches by Example. This is a 90 minute, broadcast quality, HDTV production depicting the life and teachings of Srila Prabhupada. The film will depict the incredible story of one devoted soul's mission to re-spiritualize humanity. The movement he started in 1965 continues to thrive worldwide 36 years after his disappearance. In a short period of 12 years, what Srila Prabhupada accomplished was superhuman. This film should prove to be a real eye opener for moviegoers and audiences around the world. Read more ›

Pancharatna prabhu speaks about most important steps for effective outreach and cultivation of Krishna consciousness at ILS (ISKCON Leadership Sanga - 2014). Read more ›

SB 4.8.41 Demigod Ancestor Worship Side B.mp3

Class by HG Bhuta Bhavana Prabhu. CC Madhya 15.278-302. 25.01.2014

He who has his house, clothing and food in sacred Vrndavana is pious a million times over. He becomes liberated and he liberates others. He who resides in Vrndavana, the spiritual abode of the nectar bliss of pure love, easily attains wonderful love from the beloved of Maharaja Vrsabhanu’s daughter.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-73 Translation.]

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Japa is the cornerstone of our spiritual life that supports the other areas of sadhana etc. If the cornerstone is strong, the rest is strong. Here is a nice quote to illustrate the importance of making Japa a priority:

“You have to minimize your sleeping. If you cannot finish sixteen rounds, then you must not sleep on that day, you must not eat. Why don't you forget to eat, forget? Why do you forget chanting Hare Krsna? This is negligence, aparadha, offense. Rather, you should forget your sleeping and eating, and must finish sixteen rounds. This is called determination. This is called determined....”

Letter from Srila Prabhupada 28/1/74