Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Saw these birds sitting on high voltage power lines. They are fearless and comfortable on it. Had their feet been on two of the lines, they would be dead. Similarly, if we keep our focus solely on the lotus feet of Krishna, we can live comfortably in the material world. Having our thoughts on multiple lines of desires and solely for our own sense gratification, will completely kill our spiritual growth.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, February 2011, Stockholm, Sweden, Lecture)
It is certainly good to look for inspiration in the association of devotees but we must also learn to find it when we are completely alone. If we always try to fill the vacuum by being with others and hoping that something inspirational is going to happen, then each time when we are alone, we fall back in a vacuum.
No, we must also learn to appreciate Krsna’s presence when we are alone. He’s here! He’s always here! He’s really here! We are never alone! Krsna is here in all his magnificent glories. So where is the question of having to go to anyone when we have Krsna?
In any relationship, there is always a third person – Krsna, and he is by far more inspiring than any other person. It is Krsna that is the most inspiring person in any relationship. So, we have to remember the third person is always there, and ultimately, that he is the one! The one whom we are actually taking inspiration from!
The devotees around Auckland organised a 6 day family festival that saw nearly 80 devotees travel to Waitangi in the north of New Zealand. Waitangi is the famous place where in 1840 The British signed a treaty with the Maori that was first signed by 43 Northlands chiefs and then by over 500 Maori chiefs as it was taken around the country over an 8 month period.
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17 at Bhaktivedanta Manor on Sunday evening.
“How is it that by rising and by setting the sun decreased the duration of life of everyone except one who utilizes the time in Krishna consciousness? This is the basic instruction of the verse. It is because everyone is approaching death, but the devotee is approaching eternal life. So he is not getting closer to death, but he is getting closer to his eternal life with Krishna.”
Of course, one's thoughts during the course of one's life accumulate to influence one's thoughts at the moment of death, so this life creates one's next life. If in one's present life one lives in the mode of goodness and always thinks of Krishna, it is possible for one to remember Krishna at the end of one's life.
- Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita As It Is 8.6 purport
(Automatically translated from Russian) Nadia was in a beautiful white and gold sari and flowers in her hair, and on the forehead the groom was wearing the tilak - a sacred sign of devotion to Krishna. Instead of "Kiss!" Guests shouted "Haribol!" Which means "Call the names Hari" or chanting of the Holy Name. And when you exit the registry office a young family showered rose petals under the chanting of mantras and music of drums, flutes and other instruments. -- Read more › 
On Sunday afternoon in the village of New Raman Reti (Alachua, Florida), the residents come together and dance and sing with great love and joy in their hearts. They are there to entertain the King and Queen, Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara....
-- Read more › 
" O venerable Vaisnava. O ocean of mercy, be merciful unto your servant. Give me the shade of your lotus feet and purify me. I hold on to your lotus feet. "[ from Saranagati by Bhaktivinoda Thakura ] -- Read more › 
On the 10th of January’ 2014, Radhanath Swami addressed guests, doctors and the Directors of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. He was attending the 16th Annual Day celebrations of the hospital, which was founded, and is presently managed, under his direct vision.
Radhanath Swami was accompanied by his dear friend Giriraj Swami, Dr. Ajay Sankhe, the Director of the hospital, and the Trustees Rishikesh Mafatlal, ND Desai, and Sanjeev Maheshwari.
Addressing over a fifteen hundred people, Radhanath Swami spoke of the need to constantly meditate on the purpose of the hospital; that is to offer compassion for the body, mind and souls of all human beings. -- Read more › Talk.
The post Only the holy name can protect us from all contaminations appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
(Automatically translated from Russian) Number of people apparently turned if not record, it is very impressive - at a rough estimate of about a thousand people. Among them were the ambassadors of Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries, as well as famous scientists, politicians and public figures, members of the government commissions on economic, trade and cultural cooperation, representatives of public organizations. Fully stocked huge reception hall guests luxury hotel was another sign of the strong interest of Russia to India, including its people, traditions, rich spiritual heritage. -- Read more › 
Deena Bandhu Das: Come with us on virtual winter parikramas of Braja! :-) -- Read more › 
Pandharpur - the city of Lord Sri Vitthal. Village preaching, Nagar Sankirtan, Prabhupada's Book Distribution and distribution of large amount of Krishna Prasad to lacs of pilgrims in month of Ashadha are the major activities of ISKCON Pandharpur. Also festivals like Janmashtami, Gaur-Pornima, Ram Navami and Jagannatha Rathayatra are celebrated with great pomp and gaiety.
Devotees also celebrate Dindi – the walking festival, many times in the year. We invite you to give a visit to Holy Dham Pandharpur and be blessed by Lord Vitthal and Sri Sri Radha Pandharinath.
ISKCON Pandharpur has now a beautiful guest-house with all facilities to stay with your family and participate in daily spiritual programs in the temple....Hare Krishna! -- Read more › Video of Jamuna dasi leading New Vrindaban’s 24 Hour Kirtan – June 15th, 2013.
Click here to view the video on YouTube.
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram is a popular bhajan (Hindu devotional song) that was a favorite of Mahatma Gandhi. It is also a favorite amongst devotees in New Vrindaban.
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Patita Pavan Sitaram
Sitaram, Sitaram,
Bhaj Pyare Mana Sitaram
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Patita Pavan Sitaram
Ishwar Allah Tero Nam,
Sabako Sanmati De Bhagawan
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Patita Pavan Sitaram
Mukhmen Tulsi Ghatamen Ram,
Jab Bolo Tab Sitaram
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Patita Pavan Sitaram
Hathose Karo Gharka Kam,
Mukhase Bolo Sitaram
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Patita Pavan Sitaram
Kaushalyaka Vhala Ram,
Dashrathjika Pyara Ram
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Patita Pavan Sitaram
Bansivala Hay Ghanshyam,
Dhanushya Dhari Sitaram
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Patita Pavan Sitaram
The song starts with the praise of Raja Ram (Lord Ram). Lord Ram is an incarnation of Vishnu (the preserving aspect of Brahman). Lord Ram is an embodiment of Dharma (Right duty, righteousness) and Virtue.
Raghupati Raghav mean one who has attained all spiritual knowledge, who is strong and firm in righteousness, who is radiant like the thousand suns and who has viveka (spiritual discrimination) and vairagya (dispassion for worldly thing). Such is Raja Ram.
Patit Pavan means the uplifter of those who have fallen from the path of righteousness and virtue. So, we call upon Mother Sita and Raja Ram who are the uplifters of the fallen. Mother Sita is the daughter of Earth. She signifies selfless Love and purity. Mother Earth gives us everything she has without asking anything in return. Mother earth is always pure and everything we get comes from that purity.
Bhaj Pyare Tu Sita Ram means — O beloved Lord Ram and Mother Sita we praise you for what you are and what you signify.
Ishvar Allah Tero naam means — People call you by many names, some call you God “Ishvar” while some call you Allah, but you are the one and only Holy Spirit that is within us all and we are all within you.
Sabko Sanmati De Bhagvan means — Bless everyone with this very wisdom that we are all the product of the same Holy Spirit and that all of us strive towards the path of righteousness and virtue.
Hope that you will find peace and joy in singing this bhajan. We will get utmost spiritual benefit of this devotional song if we can remember its meaning and significance while singing.
Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram
Courtesy: http://truehinduism.wordpress.com/201
The post January 29th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
2014 01 25 Festival Pushya Abhishek Lecture Evening Radhanath Swami ISKCON Chowpatty
From Latha Mataji
From Ram Charan das
A devotee whom I know said to me that when he chants 16 rounds a day he finds himself out of focus
and spaced out. So he cannot concentrate on anything throughout the day and his mind is always wandering
from one thing to another and he seems to have no control over it. When he does not chant his 16 rounds but
as many as is possible i.e. 4 or 5 or 9 or 13 then his focus is better and his work is better.
Please advise how he can chant 16 rounds a day and still maintain focus on the work that he is doing?
Please see this answer too:
(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.)
(Fast forward sixteen years from the marriage spoken about in part 1.) This seemed like any typical San Francisco summer morning, foggy and cool, but it was anything but normal to Chris, who was going to do something he didn’t want to do, while his Dad, Johnny, was happy. They were driving to the courthouse for a divorce settlement. Parking, they walked up the stairs and into the building. John found the appropriate courtroom and they took their seats to wait their turn. Chris felt sick to his stomach and wished he could just run away, but knew he couldn’t, so instead, he retreated deeper into himself. It was like he wasn’t even there. Disassociation was how he survived childhood and it had served him well. While a good temporary protection strategy, it was a poor way to live at all times. Later in life, Chris would find his biggest challenge was learning to be present, and to feel, whether sadness or love, but depression became a way to be numb, though it gradually became his clue that something was wrong, very wrong.
For all practical purposes, the memory of this courtroom experience was gone, buried under the debris of pain and disappointment. He only knew it happened on the rare occasions his dad recounted how proud he was hearing that Chris, when asked by the judge, wanted to live with his father—which was totally untrue. Even though Chris couldn’t remember the last time his dad beat him, he still was afraid of him and on guard in case his father would become angry and hit him, so he didn’t speak his mind at court, or for that matter, much at all.
Some devotees say that we should be sensitive to public opinion while others say that we shouldn't bother about public companion.
Sometimes some people report incidents when they were taken while in sleep or unconsciousness to Yamaraja, who says, "This was not the Amit you were supposed to bring - that was another Amit. Take this person back."
How then is God's system of justice perfect? Do the Yamadutas identify souls' by their this lifetime's names?
Is this the wonder of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s opulence? Is this the wonderful sweetness of the shoreless nectar ocean of transcendental bliss? Is this the seed of many splendid kalpa-vrksa forests? Is this Vrndavana, the glorious and wonderful transformation of pure love for Krsna?
[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-46 Translation.]
Please click here for more photos
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 April 2010, Durban, South Africa, Lecture)
In Germany, in the area where I’m preaching in, there was an archaeological statue or a finding. The statue was the body of a man and a head of a lion. What do you think of that!? What would you make out of that!?
It is like that all over the world, we find remnants of Vedic culture. Long ago, Vedic culture spread all over the world and now India is getting smaller and smaller. In 1947, there was a petition and Pakistan was separated.
But, if we travel around Asia – we see Angkor Wat, the biggest Vishnu temple in Asia. The biggest Vishnu temple in the world is in Cambodia – what do you think of that!?
Then you go to Thailand and it is all ‘Rama Rama’ where ever you go!
Dear devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
HG Adi Karta Prabhu, leads the Kirtan on the streets of London.
The Sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya started in the house of Srivas thakur, them the chanting party left the house, went on to
the streets and they never went back.
This movement will always be street based.
Quotes in the movie are from the Kali Santarana Upanisad.
Your servant
Parasuram Das