Planet ISKCON

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental “Throwback Thursday” – 01/30/14.

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

This week’s challenge: Identify the two devotees in the photo.

Extra credit: Name the two horses as well.

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.

By Gopish das

As another manifestation of the temporary nature of this material world weighs heavily in the air, I’m reminded of the unlimited kindness of Krsna’s devotees.

At lunch Prasad a couple of days ago, Jaya Govinda Prabhu was relating the story of Kala Krsnadas who was attracted away from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by the Battatharis. Mahaprabhu was obliged to save his servant from an imminent plunge into darkness. Thereupon the Lord continued to travel with Krsnadas but on returning to Jaganatha Puri, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed the devotees about the pollution of His servant and sent Krsnadas away. It was Sri Nityananda Prabhu and the devotees that engaged Krsnadas by sending him to Bengal to inform the Navadvipa devotees about the return of Sri Caitanya to Jaganatha Puri.

By the mercy of Sri Krsna one gets the association of devotees. But it is by the association of devotees that one is able to receive the mercy of Krsna!

An example of this has just played itself out on my doorstep. Chandravali was headed down our driveway towards the temple when she came upon a very young fawn dying in the road. She gently picked it up, placed in on a blanket
in the back of her car and with tears in her eyes, brought it back up to the house. Kalindi comforted her daughter and called me down to take the fawn out of the car.

Kalindi retrieved Srila Prabhupada’s garland and draped it around the neck of the fawn while she and Chandra gently chanted to the deer. I placed the blanketed fawn on the back porch and Chandra came out with a picture of baby Krsna, placed it in front of its open eyes and continued to chant softly to this most fortunate living entity. Kalindi turned up Srila Prabhupada’s chanting and faced the speaker towards the back door.

I took a picture of the pastoral scene and came up to write this short description. Kalindi just came in to inform me that she lit a stick of incense, offered it to Sri Jaganatha Swami and asked for Him to kindly take this spirit soul back to His loving embrace. She went outside and the fawn had left its body…

What fortune has smiled on this living entity that, by the grace of these kindly matajis, the path to Sri Krsna’s lotus feet has been cleared and illuminated?

Once again I am awakened to the true greatness of Krsna’s devotees and made acutely aware that it is by their grace alone one will cross the ocean of nescience and obtain the mercy of Krsna!

(Editors note: this was submitted last spring when fawns were small but it fell through the cracks and didn’t get published until now)

The sun is shining. It’s been a long winter, but warmth is on the horizon. As the season tips toward Spring, so the progress of the main dome is assuming a fresh direction.

The second ring of the main dome has begun. This supporting structure is an epic coil of over 200 pieces of steel designed to fit together. The entire process involves intricate calculations accounting for forces such as counter-weight and weather hazards. The rising ring will form the base of the new temple’s centerpiece, the main dome, which will be finished in tile work.

As the second tier begins, the actual magnitude of the dome begins to become surreal. It is the largest dome compared to any of its religious architectural rivals. An incredible landmark appearing distinctly on the Mayapur landscape.

Pushya Abhiskek Festival 2014,ISKCON Chowpatty (Evening)

"I would only believe in a God that knows how to dance" - says Fredrick Nietszche. Maybe he was searching for Krishna, the enchanting flute-player who dances with the cowherd maidens in the moonlight. Maybe we all are.

For the first time ever ISKCON Adelaide Hare Krishna Temple celebrated Jagannath Ratha Yatra (Jagannath Chariot Festival) on Sunday 26th January as part of the Australia Day celebration which included a parade, concert & fireworks.

“How does the concept of “mind” emerged? How the division of science was conceived? What was the contribution from the philosopher and psychiatrist Carl Jung to Western philosophy?” The conference was led by the psychologist Huber Hutchin Robinson, internationally known as Hanumat Presaka Swami, an ISKCON monk who spreads the knowledge of the ancient Indian texts since more than 30 years.

Where do all people automatically and effortlessly obtain pure ecstatic love for Krishna? Where does the Supreme Personality of Godhead manifest His supremely wonderful pastime form? Where is the empire of the bliss of devotional service to Krishna’s lotus feet manifest? O brother, listen I will tell you a secret. All this is present here in Vrindavana.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-47 Translation.]

Please click here for all photos

From Karishma Mataji

Answer Podcast

From Jayant Kulkarni

We had very nice discussion over Whats App and one devotee asked an interesting question. As per BG2.12, lord says that he and we are eternal. Which means no one is first and other is second If so then it means we both existed at the same time. If so then how can he become our source? Secondly, we both existed at same time (Let us consider some time as there is not effect of time in spiritual sky.) then how come Krishna has all opulence in full and we don’t.

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

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.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17

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