Planet ISKCON

The whole material creation is a jugglery of names only; in fact, it is nothing but a bewildering creation of matter like earth, water and fire. The buildings, furniture, cars, bungalows, mills, factories, industries, peace, war or even the highest perfection of material science, namely atomic energy and electronics, are all simply bewildering names of material elements with their concomitant reactions of the three modes.

- Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.3 purport

H.H Sacinandan Swami Maharaj 11/18/2013

Good Letter

Toronto, Ontario

I was reluctant to read stacks of personal letters (you know, messages on paper) that were left on my desk, or rather, given to me by the person whom they were addressed to. His name is Steve Mann, otherwise known as Satyavrata. He had left these letters which were written over a period by a well wisher, Kirtanananda, who was the son of a minister and later took to the practice of bhakti yoga. He had become controversial and had written these letters when in prison. But, to his credit, he wrote some insightful literature much to do with the comparative thought between Christianity and spirituality from the east.

In an effort to reach out to one in need, Kirtanananda wrote the following letter to his friend. I thought it worth sharing and after reading it and after a walk through Rosedale:

“Thank you for your recent letter, 15th March, 1998.

So far as Lord Jesus is concerned, His mission is the same as all the other representatives of Godhead; namely, to remind us that we are all children of the one Almighty Father, and that He wants us to come Home, Back to Godhead! Again, don’t worry about some ‘final dissolution’ of the material world’. Material nature is also eternal, although any particular manifestation is temporary. The sacrifice Christ made is the same sacrifice demanded of all of us, ‘die before you die’, ‘die to live’. Unless we die to the ‘old man’, the false ego self, we cannot live to the ‘new man’, the real self that is part and parcel of the One, Krishna.

My instruction to you is the same instruction Prabhupada gave, ‘Chant and be happy’. Surrendering to Krishna means to stop worrying about your future and leave everything in His hands. Trust Him completely, He is your Father. He loves you perfectly and completely. He knows what is BEST for you. He is able to accomplish it and has the will to do it. Just trust Him!

Perhaps you should pray the serenity prayer, Lord, grant me the serenity (intelligence) to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

Also, the second part of Saint Francis’s prayer gives the secret of that sacrifice I mentioned, ‘Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love, for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we born to Eternal Life.’

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

1967 November 22: "It is my duty to deliver you the right thing in right earnestness and it is the duty of the receiver to act in the standard spiritual regulation. Any good soul who approaches me for spiritual enlightenment is depending on my responsibility to get him back to home, back to Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1968 November 22: "Your father and mother are very good souls. We are trying to educate our disciples to produce Krishna Conscious children, but your father and mother, without being Krishna Conscious, have produced such nice Krishna Conscious devotees, so I am very much obliged to them."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 November 22: "Prahlada never protested against his father, but he never agreed either. That should be your policy also. I am always praying to Krishna to protect you because I know purposefully I have sent you into a fiery condition of maya."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 November 22: "Arjuna sacrificed all his good sentiments and accepted the order of Krishna thus he came out victorious. Follow this principle and you will be never disturbed by any frightening condition of maya. We are neither renouncer nor enjoyer. We are simply servitor of Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1971 November 22: "I am happy to accept them all as my sincere disciples. Now you give them good advice how to push on this Krishna Consciousness Movement. Let them know it for certain that something given to Krishna is never lost or wasted and if they are determined they may go back to Godhead very soon."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 November 22: "Let our philosophy be challenged by anyone and we shall defeat them. We show people by the results: so many centers, happy devotees, big books, strong conviction - like that. Let people judge who is better by the results."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1974 November 22: "Vaisnava philosophy is now being pushed on all over the world under the Hare Krishna movement. We find great shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Ramanujacarya which are the strongest fort for combating mayavadi philosophy."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 November 22: "Our process is something universal. It cannot be checked by any means. Anyone in any place, in any country can chant Hare Krishna. So far your becoming initiated, it is alright provided you have the recommendation of the temple president."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

We are very thankful to Food for Life Global and their many donors and supporters for giving us this chance to be engaged in this noble service. Sometimes while distributing our prasadam, we also sing the holy names to the people here and that gladdens their hearts…Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare Read more ›

Q&As Does One Need a Mahabhagavata & Rasika Guru 2010-05-05

original video post here. 

Q&As Tuning Into Reality 2010-05-05

original video post here.

Q&As How is the chanting of the Maha Mantra dependant on Initiation 2010-05-03

original video post here. 

Q&As How To Recognize A Pure Devotee Of God 2012-05-03

original video posted here.

Sannyasa Candidates Training Seminar – Bhajans at Sri Jaganatha Mandir – Mayapura from Lilasuka Das on Vimeo.

Sannyasa Candidates Training Seminar – Bhajans at Sri Jaganatha Mandir – Part 2 from Lilasuka Das on Vimeo.

SERVICE OF THE SANNYASIS TO ISKCON’s MISSON – Part 1 from Lilasuka Das on Vimeo.

SERVICE OF THE SANNYASIS TO ISKCON’s MISSON – Part 2 from Lilasuka Das on Vimeo.

Service of Sannyasis to ISKCON’s Mission 2012-02-06

The post November 22nd, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.48-53 by HH Prahladananda Swami (Malaga, 8 October 2011) from Lilasuka Das on Vimeo.

SB 10.03.48-53 How can Yasoda think that Krishna is God? 2011-10-08 Malaga Spanish

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.47 by HH Prahladananda Swami (Malaga 7 October, 2011) from Lilasuka Das on Vimeo.

SB 10.03.47 Finding faults in Krishna 2011-10-07 Malaga Spanish  (Half way through it becomes stereo)

Bhagavad-gita 10.11 by HH Prahladananda Swami (Malaga 7 October 2011) from Lilasuka Das on Vimeo. Malaga Spanish

BG 10.11 Rumors of Death 2011-10-07

The deities of Radha-vallabha in downtown Vrindavan are amongst my favorites. Krsna’s dark eyes are so enchanting! Popular amongst the Vraja-vasis, the old temple is not so well known amongst ISKCON devotees. Srimati Radharani is present as Her crown to the left of Vallabha, like at the more famous Radha Raman temple.

Radha Raman is everyone’s favorite in Vrindavan, with crowds of people flocking to see Him each evening – for the last 500 years.

Yesterday I wandered around Mathura alone. To my delight, I found many old temples and interesting people – just like in nearby Vrindavan. The glories of the holy dhamas never cease to amaze me. “By speaking the name ‘Mathura’ one attains the same result as chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna. By hearing the [...]

So after the joy of Kartika, and holding the second community Diwali then having one of the busiest visits to the Manor the past week has been relatively quiet a time to ponder and reflect.

December is looming and speaking to most of my clients and their relatives they are gearing up for Christmas, presents and food to buy for what should be one of the main Christian celebrations but unlike Kartika and Diwali were there is at least an understanding of the need to visit the temple few see the need to visit the church; each midnight mass I attend there is fewer and fewer in the puws whilst the temple appeared to be much more fuller this year.

So the month gives us a remarkable opportunity to reawaken the spirit soul to love of God (love of Krishna); Yes how much do we love Srila Prabhupada, how much do we desire to relieve others material suffering?

It’s the Christmas Book Marathon.

And before you get the excuse book out, it is not a temple devotee only activity but anyone’s and everyone’s young and old; even if it’s one small booklet or may be we can make it a gift for a loved one; these books are for sharing.

Weekend Warriors will always make you welcome, senior devotees will welcome you with open arms, Srila Prabhupada will beam the biggest smile, Sri Krishna will reciprocate; you will have the greatest joy.

Bring the love of Krishna into Christmas and remind the world of the real spiritual joy Jesus talked about.

Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 10.9 by HH Prahladananda Swami (Malaga, 5 October 2011) from Lilasuka Das on Vimeo.

BG 10.09 Locks, Vitamins, & Jogging Will Not Protect 2011-10-05 Malaga Spanish

Prahladananda Swami, SB 10.3.45 Malaga 4 October 2011 from Lilasuka Das on Vimeo.

SB 10.03.45 Mostly Asleep But We Think That We Are Awake 2011-10-04  Malaga Spanish

SB 06.03.24 who is the better crazy person? 2011-09-14   Bhakti Sangam Russian

“One of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples in Bombay said, ‘Srila Prabhupada, the mango season is just beginning. You should stay in Bombay now.’ And Srila Prabhupada replied, ‘Preaching in the snows of Moscow is sweeter that any mango.’ ”

Talk to Russian Devotees at Brahmanda Ghat

The thing with smartphones is your never ever away, so e-mails are received immediately but some stand out more than others, and some bring a smile and inspire.
This week I received such an e-mail so much so I checked to see if it could be shared, mainly as many live outside of the temple, work and study the balance is always difficult between the spiritual needs and practical work/study needs; so this was a deep realization from one of our shining young bhakta’s

Hare Krishna,
Dhirabhakta das,
Please accept my humble obesiances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

How are you? How’s your health?

Feels like ages since we last spoke.

I am surviving, hanging on by someone’s dhoti, year 2 is most definately alot more intense. In the midst of it all I am actually enjoying it , I must be sick.

So 2 weeks ago we get an assignment, a programming assignment, I started and was getting through it quite well.

All of a sudden I hit a massive brick wall , my head hurts and I am lost in a warp of logic, if this equals that and I need to output this or that blah blah.

I stopped and started chanting, sitting infront of my altar praying to Sri Sri RadhaGokulananda, Sri Sri Sita Ram , Laxman and Hanuman as well as Sri Jagannath, Balarama and Subdra as well as Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari. “I CANT DO THIS” was the extent of my cries and begging for help and mercy.

Well two weeks later I have finished the assignment a week before deadline and the test on it is next week (blessings request

So amazed at how their Lordships have reciprocated. The assignment is a paired exercise, so after my requests to their lordships, literally the best programmers who are light years ahead of me approached me and asked if I wanted to work with them. Whilst feeling overwhelmed instantly as I walked back from uni that day I had a conversation with Sri Krishna and explained how grateful I was for him sending the help and answering my SOS. Stating all the way I knew it was him, I just knew it.

I am speechless whilst overwhelmed.

Its so true, the lord can make the impossible , possible , I could not have dreamed of the way Sri Krishna helped me to even ask for the help he gave.

Its so helpful as I am swimming in work, one module ends another begins and blah blah and all I think of doing is finishing my rounds, an improvement on last year whereby I wouldnt finish them all but since May 2013 and the start of this academic year, its the first thing I do.

I know its NOT a business we are in and how much of a rascal I remain but boy it is so reassuring knowing THE LORD, I mean THE LORD is there hearing you and reciprocating accordingly. Whilst I always knew its just weird realising. As Srila Prabhupada says, “self realisation” and as HG Prayojana says, “Self Realisation, not people realisation” hehe

So I just wanted to share this episode with you as its thanks to you I am and never will I forget how much you did for me back then and still continue to do, so BIG THANK YOU..

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

your servant,
dee

They also included this wonderful video

Devotee volunteers from ISKCON invited the public to offer what they called 'lamps of love' to Krishna. Most of the visitors came forward to participate in the festivity with a lot of enthusiasm. "I am living away from home, and Diwali is not so grand when we are away. But offering this lamp here to, it has surely made it a wonderful Diwali for me" said Ankita Agarwal, 2nd year student at MCC. Read more ›

Our Food for Life North Florida program has been delivering prasadam to the needy in our community for about a year now. Temple volunteers prepare and package the meals every Friday, and drivers distribute them to various families and individuals in greater Alachua Read more ›

After a full year of exciting individual events all over the world ISKCON’s 50th anniversary will culminate in one huge event in either India or the US. “Look, we’re the Hare Krishnas. We’ve been here for fifty years, and we’re still strong, still standing, and we’re going to be here for another fifty and beyond.” Read more ›

Indradyumna Swami: After our month-long parikrama finished, I just kept walking ... [ Photos by me :) ] Read more ›