Planet ISKCON

No matter what situation one might be in, one should never forget to offer anything and everything to the Lord. It’s a great blessing that we have the opportunity to do so.

Me offering fruits to the Lord and spiritual masters at work.

Thanksgiving Weekend Schedule

Fri. Nov. 29

5:00 AM Mangal Artika
5:45 AM Japa
7:00 AM Milking Cows at Goshala
7:30 AM Sringar Darshan
7:40 AM Gurupuja
8:00 AM Srimad Bhagavatam Class

9:00 AM Breakfast
12:30 PM Rajbhog Artika

1:30 PM LUNCH

4:30 PM Dhoop Artika
5:45 PM Swing Festival
6:15 PM Sacred Storytelling with Sankirtan Prabhu
6:45 PM Tulasi Puja
7:00 PM Gaura Artika
7:30 PM Bhagavad Gita Class
8:30 PM Shayan Artika and Bhajan

Sat. Nov. 30

5:00 AM Mangal Artika
5:45 AM Japa
7:00 AM Milking Cows at Goshala
7:30 AM Sringar Darshan
7:40 AM Gurupuja
8:00 AM Srimad Bhagavatam Class
9:00 AM Breakfast

10:00 AM Govardhan Parikrama12:30 PM \
12:30 Rajbhog Artika
1:00 PM Bhagavad Gita Class
1:30 PM LUNCH

2:30 PM Movie in Temple Room
4:30 PM Dhoop Artika
6:00 PM Go-Puja at Goshala
7:00 PM Gaura Artika
7:30 PM Bhagavad Gita Quiz for Adults & Kids
8:30 PM Shayan Artika and Bhajan

Sun. Dec. 1

5:00 AM Mangal Artika
5:45 AM Japa
7:00 AM Milking Cows at Goshala
7:30 AM Sringar Darshan
7:40 AM Gurupuja
8:00 AM Srimad Bhagavatam Class

9:00 AM Breakfast

10:00 AM Govardhan Parikrama
11:30 AM Workshop: “How to Worship At Home”
12:30 PM Rajbhog Artika
1:00 PM Bhagavad Gita Class

1:30 PM LUNCH

2:30 PM Movie in Temple Room
4:30 PM Dhoop Artika
6:00 PM Go-Puja at Goshala
7:00 PM Gaura Artika
7:30 PM Workshop: “Importance of Protecting Cows”
8:30 PM Shayan Artika and Bhajan

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot com

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Rasa Rasika dasa

The first time I gave morning Srimad Bhagavatam class a thought entered into my mind how would I react if my dad walked into the temple room, given the history of abuse.
At what time do we show compassion and forgiveness? More to the point what point do I personally practice this!
In-trepidation indeed, a small word in the management and child protection team and a request for some restrictions but I found myself feeling that the automatic ban would be unjust/unfair; and for me this is a strange feeling.
Yes at times when the school is open and there is are children I would have been concerns; but I found myself thinking Yes late evening Gita class and some pot washing or given he’s a wonderful carpenter maintenance would be a good seva to do.
Listening to the wonderful new CD by Jayadeva Das (I protest) one of his song’s has some powerful and thought provoking words; for those who rape they take a body were they are raped themselves till they understand (Yes understand the pain);
I’ve been struggling for many years with my personal pain, but as I read Srila Prabhupada’s books and gain better understanding of Karma and how it works; I understand also these few points:
1) Being raped as a child is horrid but karma dictates for my previous life’s actions I gain a reaction
2) If I can not forgive and show compassion then this will eat me up inside will continue to haunt; I will remain a slave to these feelings
3) That compassion also means that I understand the desires of the body; these desires are so strong that at times actions that defy logic happen; by farther overcome by bodily desires undertook an act that should never happen, how sad
4) That only by studying Srila Prabhupada’s books and undergoing proper training can we truly understand the bodily condition and surpass it reconnecting with the spirit soul; which would if undertaken properly reform even the most unsavoury of character
I found myself looking and thinking, ok it would be scary but a good thing if one day we could sit in the same room doing japa/kirtana together.
I’m not really into banning individual’s but I do believe in keeping those who come to the temple/centre’s safe; however I would not have an open door policy and for those who have no insight into their conduct and because of this pose a huge risk should be banned; otherwise a late night service would be in my mind appropriate.
And Yes! It won’t be that upon my dad’s walking into the temple room we would simply sit down and chant; that will take more time and support from my wonderful devotee friend’s but I would also hope they would also care and make him welcome finding a way to assist his spiritual progress.
Many may disagree with my stand, indeed it’s taken me a long long time to get to this stage; but I’ve moved my position from being sorry and fearful for myself to one were I feel sorry and pity for him being unable to control the desires that the material body inflicts on us.
But I am interested in other’s views, I understand many will disagree with me, but I feel ISKCON should be a home for everyone as long as their willing to learn and change.

Chanting the Holy Name! Read more ›

Lecture Podcast

The post Evening bhajana appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

By Lilasuka dasi  Nov. 2013

We welcome two new cows to the Holy Dhama!  Srila Prabhupada’s vision for New Vrindaban includes cow protection as one of the five main aspects of the dhama. The other four aspects are self-sufficiency, spiritual education, a place of holy pilgrimage, and keeping the main focus on loving Krishna.

On Nov. 8, two Brown Swiss cows on a farm south of Harrisburg PA found themselves being saved from an ordinary, and possibly tragic life that would most likely end in a slaughterhouse.  By the grace of a donation from two of our donors, Ranaka, New Vrindaban’s main cowherd boy, bought Laxmi and Anjani, two pregnant heifers from that Pennsylvania farm.  He will be keeping them down at the big barn until they are due to come fresh sometime in mid-March, 2014. Then they will go up to the milking barn near the temple.

It is rare for a living entity to have the opportunity to live in a holy dhama. In Kali Yuga, it is tragic for a cow, in particular, to miss such an opportunity.  We can understand that gomatas Laxmi and Anjali must be very special souls to be able to spend the rest of their lives in New Vrindaban, and to be afforded the opportunity to have their milk serve Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra.

The post Karunesvari d.d. in Ireland is often challenged by New Agers when she proposes the cultivation of humility which they see as a threat to the idea of equality appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Every year, the British Prime Minister hosts a special Diwali event in his official residence of 10 Downing Street. This year the event fell on Wednesday 6th November and it carried with it an extra special charm: As part of the proceedings, children from the Krishna Avanti and Avanti Schools sang a number of traditional songs glorifying Lord Rama. Read more ›

A few weeks ago, Annie Sakab, a student who is studying photojournalism at Loyalist College in Belleville, paid a visit to our temple during one of our Sunday Feasts. The pictures she took were for a project in one of her classes. Annie has kindly shared her photos with us! Check out these wonderful photos, taken from the perspective of a talented photography student! Read more ›

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

the 27th Vraj Mandala Padayatra

On the 19th October, the first day of Kartik,the padayatra left the Krishna Balaram Mandir for an adventure that would last one month and would take us through the 12 forests of Vraj. The team consisted of 3 devotees from UK,2 from Check,2 from Russia and 2 from Vrindavan (in the bodies of oxen).The program consists of distributing books,prasad,all day Hari Nam, and holding nightly programs in the villages. It is a traditional sadhu program, at night (and morning) we would go door to door begging food from the Vrajabasis.

Now here is something important I would like to share with you. In ISKCON devotees may wonder what will happen to me when I get old ? Who is going to look after me? Well here is the good news…In Vraj Lord Krishna promises that no one will go hungry. It is quite simple, we just got to learn a few words in Hindi. This is all you need to know,”give me one rotte….you have hot milk?…onion and garlic I don’t eat…where can I get drinking water”. That is just about all you need to know. The Vrajabasis are only too happy to feed you. If you are in a woman’s body you will need to wait till you are bit older (at least mid 50′s),as young men in Vraj can be very lusty but they respect older ladies.So a couple of elderly devotees can easily pick up a pair of kartals and wander in the Dham without any worry.

Many thanks to Bhima prabhu, BBT, he printed us 45,000 books for distributing. We had the name “Brajabasi” on the cover of the book,and from experienced we found that the books would be treasured this way. I have met people who had books that we had given them 6 years back. One great thing about India is that people love to read and one book could be read by 20 people. Printing is also inexpensive, each book cost less than 4 rupees, and now £1 = 100 rupees.

We have 4 solar panels on the ox cart roof which charge a battery and is used to power the video projector for the evening program. In India it gets dark by 6pm and usually the electricity does not come on in the villages till 8pm,so if you were sitting in the dark in a village and there was program, very few people would turn down the invite. One more advantage about Vraj preaching is that you can go anywhere in a village set up a program and nobody will object or ask you for a permit.

We made one new movie this year, we call it “the message”. The point we present is that although the West has advanced in materialism,it has no substance without Bhakti. It is a hard hitting movie but that is what it takes, no beating around the bush.

There is always room for a few Hari nam devotees on this program next year so please contact me, you will need to be a little physically fit,

sorry,
your servant Parasuram Das

Answer Podcast

By Mahatma dasa Devotees often ask me, "How do I know what inspires me? How do I know what to do with my life? What is my dharma?" The following can help you answer this question. If you had a magic wand and could change anything, what would you want to change (what problem or problems would you want to solve)? Would you love to see: § The divorce rate in Iskcon drop to zero; § Devotees

Mangala Arati at Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple, Chowpatty, Mumbai ,25th Nov. 2013

The post November 28th, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

1965 November 28:
"Meeting at New India House
'God Consciousness'
under the auspices of the
Tagore Society of New York.

MEMORANDA
1. The Absolute Truth
(Srimad Bhagawatam 1st Canto)
2. Symptoms of Objectivity
(Srimad Bhagwatam 2nd Canto)"

Prabhupada Journal :: 1965

1967 November 28: "If everyone of us would conduct our business in the spirit of prabhu and servant then there is very little chance of being misunderstood. Sometimes misunderstanding may take place but it should be adjusted in a spirit of service attitude to the prabhu."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 November 28: "I am so much anxious to return to San Francisco and then to your place in Los Angeles. Due to political strikes I am waiting for the opportune moment, most probably Monday next. Anyway, I will be reaching you as soon as possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967