Planet ISKCON

"You require the water as it is. Then your thirst will be satisfied. But in the transcendental, absolute world, there is no such difference. Krsna and Krsna’s name, Krsna’s words and Krsna’s qualities, Krsna’s pastimes- everything is Krsna."

Srimad Bhagavatam 1:2:17 lecture

Don’t be afraid, thinking it disobedient to the Vedas! Don’t consider the arguments of your elders! Don’t enter the realm of ordinary duties! Don’t run about to maintain your poor family! Don’t become bound by love and compassion! O friend, run to Vrndavana!

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-52 Translation.]

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 15 December, 2013, Soweto, South Africa, lecture)

If you commit vaiṣṇava-aparādha then you do not lose your pious credits from your devotional service. It still stays in your spiritual bank account but what happens is that your bank account gets frozen. Just like when you have a bank account and the government freezes your bank account and you cannot get the money. So when you commit vaiṣṇava-aparādha, your bank account of the spiritual credit gets frozen. Then you have to suffer for sometime and then when you get purified by the suffering then again you can get access to your spiritual bank account.

So, if you commit vaiṣṇava-aparādha, you suffer the reactions for sometime and then you carry on with all the benefit from all the chanting. So nothing can destroy the effect of chanting, not even vaiṣṇava-aparādha but it can freeze your bank account!

 

 

Just as a child is fully dependent on his mother whether he knows it or not, we are fully dependent on the Lord whether we accept it or not.

Kalindi felt sad when she overheard her parents discussing the recent catastrophe in the Philippines. She pondered deeply on the intense suffering of the families and wondered what she could possibly do to help. Hitting on the idea of organizing a maha kirtana at the temple, she hastily phoned school friends Tulasi and Karuna, and a transcendental plan was hatched. -- Read more ›

Mind is the instrument for feeling different material experiences, but intelligence is deliberative and can change everything for the better. The intelligent person, therefore, can attain salvation from the illusion of material existence by proper use of intelligence. An intelligent person can detect the awkward position of material existence and thus begin to inquire as to what he is, why he is subjected to different kinds of miseries, and how to get rid of all miseries, and thus, by good association, an advanced intelligent person can turn towards the better life of self-realization.

- Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.10.32 purport

(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.] An unusual cold, rainy day in Berkeley, California, but for a particular person, it was a fitting, useful, backdrop for an epiphany, or deep “aha moment.” Chris Cox, in a contemplative mood that was becoming almost normal, was sitting on the floor in his minimally furnished room. A single light bulb hung down from the ceiling by a cord speckled with white paint from an ancient paint job. Warming himself in front of the gas heater, he would occasionally look around the room or out the window at the gray day, as if looking for special meaning, or some clue about what was missing from his life. In fact he felt like he, himself, was an existential question waiting to be answered, and for the first time in his life.

Chris had lost his job and was getting food stamps. His hippie house was on “rent strike,” having banded together with other renters to withhold paying rent until the “pig landlords” lowered the cost, so he hadn’t paid his rent in months. Still, the electricity and water were on, and he had food and shelter. How was this possible that he could live here with no effort? He could just sit here and live, having time to read religious and mystical texts and think about the purpose of life. It all seemed magical, yet purposeful.

He didn’t know it yet, but he was experiencing how simple living can foster deep thought about life. As it turned out, this was a rare time when life conspired to make certain results more likely by arranging the environment like a perfect supporting cast.

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Two-year-old Nandulal Robson began displaying spiritual inclinations at the tender age of 12 months. In the family household, personal bead bags were mysteriously disappearing, only to be found in the toddler's tiny hand as he paced back and forth chanting the Hare Krishna maha mantra. With the family's recent visit to India, Nandulal now boasts his very own miniature-sized japabag. He is insistent that it always accompanies him to the temple. -- Read more ›

(Automatically translated from Russian)Anantashanti Prabhu (Anatoly Pinyaev) was the first who got Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the days of his stay in Moscow in the summer of 1971 Tradition puspa-samadhi (flower tombstones) exists in the Vedic culture for centuries. Flower (puspa) it is called, because in this place put flower garland that adorned the body of the departed Vaishnava. The body is usually burnt, with the exception of a sannyasi, ie Vaishnavas who have taken a vow of life in renunciation. Their bodies are considered to be sanctified and do not require a purifying fire. -- Read more ›

Today we took a trip with Charlene to the store to check out paint and lighting.

 

 

 

Special Day Meditation Podcast

Special Day Meditation Podcast

Special Day Meditation Podcast

Special Day Meditation Podcast

Special Day Meditation Podcast

Special Day Meditation Podcast

Siva ratri is celebrated by all Hindus in Bali. On this auspicious day, people pray in temples all over Bali staying awake all throughout night. They believe that on this special day they undergo atonement. Some others accept this day as the best time for self-reflection. Apart from the usual practice, the students at State Health Sciences High School (STIKES Negeri), Bali, glorified Lord Shiva in a wonderful way. They welcomed Sivaratri by organizing a public seminar on “Bhagavad Gita and The essence and meaning of Sivaratri” on January 29, 2014 in Denpasar. As Srila Prbhupada mention in his letter that “These engagements at school and college is most important task. If school become interest with our philosophy and we can introduce these books, than it is our success”. SPL to Rupanuga, 1 December 1970. -- Read more ›

The post The fruits of our Leadership-sanga appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Hungarian Leadership-sanga Day 3.

The post Niranjana Maharaja’s study group of Bg 10.10 (English) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

flic.kr/s/aHsjREuVnQ

The post Leadership-sanga Days 3-4: final pictures appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai-Radha Govinda Mandir, Iskcon Klang, on the 31st Jan 2014 had a special visitor HG Dina Bandhu Pr., a Srila Prabhupada's disciple. The devotees were given a special treat on Sri Krsna's pastimes in Vrndavan. It was nectar all through his discourse. -- Read more ›

(Automatically translated from Russian) The new surge of interest was observed on January 30, to a certain point of the book "In all senses" According to the event-manager of the project "In all senses" Nikita Panfilov, due to the increasing interest in self-consciousness in man there is a need for good governance in life, not just a desire to learn or read, namely change life on the basis of knowledge and be useful to society, purposefully realizing their potential. And this can be found in the Bhagavad Gita. -- Read more ›

Two New Calves, Need for Cow Protection, Gir & Kankrej Herd Kathwada, Gujarat and more -- Read more ›

Dear Prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. The following is a letter that I wrote to Bhakti Charu Swami after I received an ecstatic research paper produced by him. I thought the assembled devotees would really appreciate it. Thank you. Your servant, Udayananda dasa ———————- January 25, 2014 Dear Bhakti […]

See more photos here

Once every three years, there is an international competition in horticultural sculpture, called “mosaiculture,” in a major city in the world. This year it is in Montreal . 

 This is not topiary but rather creating sculptures out of living plants. The greatest horticulturalists in the world, from 20 different countries, submitted plans a year in advance.  

 Steel armatures were then created to support the works (some 40 feet high); they were then wrapped in steel mesh and filled with dirt and moss and watering hoses. Then they ordered 3 million plants of different shades of green and brown and tan, and these were grown in greenhouses all over Quebec .

 In late May, these horticulturalists came to Montreal and planted all of their plants in the forms at the Montreal Botanic Gardens, and they have been standing for three months now. 

There were 50 major sculptures along a path two miles long.  They were incredible. If you would like to visit a few and walk along the path, click on:

Filed under: Cows and Environment

New Vrindaban: Three Occasions for Transcendental Festivals

Back To Godhead Article – April 1974

By Vishaka-devi dasi

THIS YEAR, three auspicious days of special celebration for all devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead fall within the months of August and September. The first (August 11) is Janmastami, the unique day commemorating Krishna’s appearance on earth five thousand years ago. The next day, Vyasa-puja (August 12), celebrates the appearance anniversary of our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Finally, Radhastami (September 23) marks the appearance day of Srimati Radharani, Lord Krishna’s eternal companion.

Janmastami is the most opulent festival day for devotees. In India it is still observed with great pomp in every Hindu house, and even the devotees of other religious groups enjoy the ceremonies of this auspicious day. Many people make a holy pilgrimage to Gokula Vrndavana, the place of Krishna’s pastimes, which is located near Delhi in India. It is said that if someone simply goes to Vrndavana, he will immediately feel separation from Krishna, who performed such nice activities when He was present there. Srila Prabhupada’s disciples have arranged for the construction of an opulent Krishna consciousness temple in Vrndavana. This temple will officially open in a joyful ceremony on this coming Janmastami.

In the west, hundreds of devotees observe Janmastami by making a holy pilgrimage to New Vrindaban, a 1,000-acre Krishna conscious community in the West Virginia hill country. New Vrindaban is so named because it is the western counterpart of India’s Vrndavana. Great authorities on spiritual science state that the area known as Gokula Vrndavana, where Krishna performed His pastimes on earth, is as good as Goloka Vrndavana, Krishna’s eternal abode in the spiritual sky. Poor human understanding cannot possibly determine how Goloka Vrndavana in the spiritual world, far beyond human comprehension, can be nondifferent from actual geographical places in India and West Virginia. Yet Vrndavana and New Vrindaban, although on earth, are on the spiritual plane; their positions in material space and time in no way restrict their eternal transcendental nature.

For the pleasure of the Lord, New Vrindaban has contented, milk-giving cows (now numbering more than two hundred), acres of rolling green pasturing grounds, and vast tracts of farmland where devotees raise a wide variety of crops. Thus all the necessities of life are easily provided, and the residents of New Vrindaban find that the combination of simple rural living and Krishna consciousness makes their lives complete and fulfilling. Devotees in New Vrindaban are now constructing seven temples, modeled after the seven major temples in Vrndavana, India. Soon, therefore, no one in New Vrindaban will ever be beyond the sound of temple bells, reminding everyone of Krishna’s all-attractive presence.

During the week of Janmastami, devotees from all over North America flock to this beautiful land for many days of festivities to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Simply hearing about the transcendental activities of the Lord in the association of pure-hearted devotees brings feelings of transcendental bliss. In fact, the first symptom of one who has actually come to the spiritual platform is that he is always joyful. This joyous life is attained as a reaction to reading Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam or associating with people interested in the spiritual life of Krishna consciousness, especially those who are seriously determined to achieve the favor of Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada allows his most advanced disciples in Krishna consciousness to accept the renounced order of life and engage themselves full time in preaching Krishna consciousness (opposite, below). In this order, called sannyasa, the devotee breaks his connection with wife and family and fully surrenders his life to the Lord’s service. The thoughts of such pure devotees dwell in Krishna, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Him. By the grace of the Lord these fully dedicated sannyasis are able to abandon all material desires born of false ego and thus become fully self-satisfied.

The association of other devotees, especially such elevated sannyasis, generates spontaneous feelings of happiness within the minds of the devotees who come together at New Vrindaban for the many days of festivities. There is ecstatic singing (above), dancing and philosophical discussion throughout the days and nights. For the entire week of Janmastami, the chanting of Hare Krishna goes on literally twenty-four hours a day.

All Srila Prabhupada’s disciples begin the day of Janmastami as usual by rising and bathing early and chanting the maha-mantra-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-until mangalarati at 4:30 a.m. Each day at this time, the Lord is worshiped with incense, a camphor lamp, a ghee lamp, water in a conchshell, a flower, a handkerchief, a peacock fan and a whisk, while the assembled devotees sing beautiful prayers in glorification of the spiritual master and Krishna (see the inside back cover of this magazine). This chanting is accompanied by the melodious sounds of mrdangas (drums) and karatalas (hand cymbals). Such purifying devotional activities arouse feelings of ecstasy even in neophytes. Thus mangalarati (mangala means “auspicious”) is always adorned with joyful clapping, dancing and exclamations of “Haribol! Haribol!” (“Chant the names of Hari, or Krishna.”)

The appearances of the Lord, his pure devotee and his pleasure potency are occasions for especially ecstatic singing and dancing. In India, as in the rest of the world, national and sectarian limitations become irrelevant in a flood of love of Krishna.

After arati most of the disciples continue their japa (soft chanting of the maha-mantra), while others bathe and dress the Deities of Radha and Krishna. According to revealed scriptures, since God is unlimited and absolute, there is no difference between the Lord and the Lord’s form and name. Therefore the Deity, or form of Krishna, is God Himself, but this fact is visible only to His devotees.

To honor Krishna on the day of His birth, devotees offer their services to the Deities by dressing Them in new garments made especially for the occasion and lavishly decorating the Lord’s altar with flowers to create a nice transcendental atmosphere so ^that everyone naturally becomes absorbed in thoughts of Krishna’s transcendental appearance in this world. In observance of the great day of Janmastami itself, no one takes any food or water until midnight, when, after a majestic bathing and arati ceremony, a little prasada (the Lord’s mercy in the form of food) is distributed to everyone.

The day after Krishna’s appearance day is Vyasa-puja, the appearance day of the spiritual master of the universe (jagad-guru], His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Although bogus yogis often claim the title jagad-guru to increase their false prestige, we properly honor Srila Prabhupada with this title because he is a bona fide representative of Lord Krishna, the supreme spiritual master, and is making Krishna’s message known all over the world.

On the day of Vyasa-puja in New Vrindaban, as in all the ISKCON centers around the world, the disciples read their personal offerings in appreciation of Srila Prabhupada. In their own words, the disciples express the purport of this prayer:

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

“I was born in the darkest ignorance, but my spiritual master has opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.”

The morning’s activities culminate in an arati offered simultaneously to the Deities and to Srila Prabhupada. The spiritual master is not God, but he is God’s pure representative. Therefore, on account of his being the most confidential servitor of the Lord, he is honored as much as the Supreme Lord Himself. After the drati ceremony, all the devotees partake of a sumptous feast of Krishna prasada to their full satisfaction.

The third festival, Radhastami, the appearance day of Srimati Radharani, occurs on September 23. Srimati Radharani personifies Krishna’s internal energy, or pleasure potency. She is described as the symbol of devotional service in the highest degree, and She is known throughout the world as the most beloved of Krishna. Her name is always associated with Krishna, for devotees speak of “Radha-Krishna.” Radharani is always prepared to fulfill all the desires of Sri Krishna, She is the supply source of all the demands of Sri Krishna, and She is qualified with uncommon qualities for the satisfaction of Krishna. Radhastami is a special opportunity to glorify Srimati Radharani, under whose care one can attain perfection in devotional service.

Many thousands and millions of living entities are wandering within this material world, and some of them, by the grace of Lord Krishna and the spiritual master, can get the seed of devotional service. One must sow this seed in the field of the heart, just as a gardener sows the seed of a valuable tree. Periodic occasions for remembering the Lord and His pure devotees, such as Janmastami, Vyasa-puja, and Radhastami, stimulate ecstatic love of Krishna. Joining in these activities is just like pouring water on the creeper of devotion. As one hears and chants the holy name of the Supreme Lord or takes part in discussions of devotional service in a society of pure devotees, the plant of devotional service sprouts from the seed of devotion and begins to grow freely. When fully grown, it transcends the length and breadth of the universe and enters the effulgence that pervades the spiritual world. The plant penetrates even this effulgence and then gradually enters the planet known as Goloka Vrndavana, where it takes shelter at the lotus feet of Krishna. After attaining this position, the plant produces the fruit known as love of Godhead. That is the ultimate goal of devotional service and the perfection of human life. Therefore devotees take advantage of these festive days to glorify Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, and Their pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada.

Visakha-devi dasi, a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, is a professional photographer who joined ISKCON in 1971. She is now traveling around the world making documentary films about the Krishna consciousness movement.

1966 February 3: "Today there was a very nice demonstration of tape-record Samkirtan by me. These Americans cannot understand even a word's meaning yet they were so much attracted? It is all Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's power."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

1967 February 3: "I think you are now expert account keeper and may Krishna bless you for your talents. Now you should become little cautious to sign checks. "
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1970 February 3: "Our duty is heavy. If we can save even a single soul from the clutches of Maya, the value of such act is millions of times better than any kind of altruistic and philanthropic activities."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Vivaha-yajna on Dynamo wonderful couple - Michael and Golda! 1. Alignment with Shrila Prabhupada [in line with guru, shastra (scripture), and sadhu (previous and current advanced devotees)] 2. Spiritual Growth and Progress 3. Spiritual Equality / Material Difference 4. Positive and Realistic Vision 5. Mutual Respect and Appreciation 6. Commitment and Dedication 7. Open & Honest Communications 8. Personal and Social Responsibility 9. Economic Development & Prosperity 10. Focus on Children's Welfare 11. Family Love and Affection 12. Exemplary Lifestyle -- Read more ›

1970 February 3: "Mr. Allen Ginsberg promised before me that everywhere he would chant Hare Krishna Mantra, and actually he is doing it. So he may be able to understand our philosophy in the future."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1974 February 3: "Sankirtana is imported from Goloka Vrindaban - it is not material rock and roll. Work combinedly and Europe can be made filled with Sankirtana."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 February 3: "I am glad you are cooperating. That I want. As long as we are sincere there is no question of split amongst us. Split means only someone is not sincere, otherwise there is no question of it."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 February 3: "Without accepting our basic rules and regulations seriously, there is no question of spiritual life. So, I hope you understand the utmost necessity of these things and are remaining pure in your activities."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975