Curiously, although India is often associated with ideas of peace and tolerance, no Indian has ever been awarded the Peace Prize.

The newly launched website DevoteeClassifieds.com - is a place where devotees (and their friends) can buy and sell items amongst themselves, whether it be a house, a car, furniture or children’s books.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Orthodox Christians and all citizens of Russia who celebrate Christmas.

2014 01 04 Prerna Festival The Power To Change Radhanath Swami ISKCON Chowpatty

The tragic events in Volgograd makes us wonder about the nature of terrorism. The saddest thing is that people explain or justify terrorism with God, and with the name of God.

In each stage of the TOVP’s construction, only the top quality materials are selected. The goal of which is to ensure the sturdiness of the temple for years to come.

The project has entered a new phase of construction beginning the new contract for laying the brick on the walls and on the floors. Maintaining the TOVP standards, only India’s finest brick was chosen. This layer will form a solid base upon which the marble and decorative cladding works will be added. Furthermore, the walls will serve as weather protection for all of the structural elements.

The brickwork reveals a new dimension of progress as the sterile construction site becomes gradually transformed into a recognizable temple. If looking closely, one could perhaps already see hundreds of devotees dancing in ecstasy as the sounds of mridangas echo triumphantly throughout the ether.

Houston, Texas

Strong Points

Billy Graham, a popular American evangelist, had never taken up the status as a monk, yet he is commendable as an influential spiritualist. 

His name came up in one of our meetings, when the topic arose about being proactive in the matter of maintaining integrity on the spiritual platform.  Billy Graham was once asked how he keeps going on as a successful inspiration and his response was capsulated in two points.  Number one, he would never find himself in a man and woman in a room alone situation.  And with number two, he remarked that he doesn’t handle money. 

This information is pertinent for those particularly in the renounced order of life. 

At our meetings I took note of other remarks of inspiration quoted from different sources:

“Any course is better than no course.”
 
“Show them a ladder and people will climb.”
 
“The rising tide raises all boats.”
 
“For succession, get the best people, give clear goals, and get out of the way.”
 
“Where attention goes, energy flows.”
 
“Better a good plan today than a better plan tomorrow.”
 
“Be tolerant and continue progress with determination.” (Srila Prabhupada). 
 
“Humility.  Yes, but be aggressive, be a lion on the chase and a lamb at home.” (Srila Prabhupada).
 
May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Houston, Texas

The Train and a Time

The timing couldn’t be more precise.  Running alongside our meeting room is this railway line; a train goes by periodically with a routine whistle blowing off.  It seems to strike at a critical moment, just when something profound is being said or a major item is being voted on, there blows the whistle.

I got somewhat familiar with those tracks of the train at predawn when I was ambling on the trail right next to it.

I’ve always liked trains.  Since knowing that our guru, Srila Prabhupada, spent ample time on this mode of transportation in his years as a family man (prior to being a monk), the locomotive reminds me of him.  India, where he did his travels, mainly to earn his family’s keep, have the most complex and active passenger train system in the world.

For me the sound of a train represents optimism in a certain way.  They are ancient relics of the past.  They are powerful.  Of course, there is a dark side – products of a residual industrial revolution.   They made a major change in the culture of our indigenous people.  Their construction killed many labourers .  In Hope, British Columbia, I recalled through my travels through there, a plaque reads that for every mile of constructed track, three Chinese labourers fell to their death.

When my colleagues and I have our meetings in India, a small lizard, what they call a tik-tik, crawls along the walls and often makes a sound at a point of affirmation.  Here, in Houston, we hear the toot of a choo-choo, at a moment when it’s so on queue.  It just appears to be such perfect timing.  It is beyond declaring that it’s a coincidence.

May the Source be with you!

3 KM

Giriraj Swami spoke to the assembled parents, students, teachers, and other staff at the Bhaktivedanta Swami Mission School in Lokhandwala, Andheri West, Mumbai.
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Bhaktivedanta Swami Mission School Talk

"Therefore chanting the holy name is the prime religious activity of a Vaisnava. From the holy name gradually blossom the Lord’s form, qualities and pastimes. The entire panorama of Lord Krishna’s pastimes is present in the holy name."
From Sri Harinama Cintamani
Haridasa Thakura to Lord Caitanya

Please click here for all photos

Don’t do anything! Don’t say anything! Forget everything you’ve seen! Remember the fair and dark divine couple that pains Kamadeva, flee the common people and go to transcendental Vrindavana!

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-32 Translation ]

For over 10 years the devotees from New Govardhana have been catering at the Woodford Folk festival. It is said that a few hundred thousand people attend this festival over a 6 day period.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 September 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.36)

Real security is with Krsna – that is all that remains. The more one places his faith in Krsna, the more everything becomes successful. This is what we see in Srila Prabhupada who came to the Western world with forty rupees and then had so many assets at the end of his life.

Some journalists would inquire about Prabhupada’s wealth. They were seeing him as one of those gurus who were exploiting and living-off the wealth of their disciples. So at one point Prabhupada volunteered, he said, “Yes, I have many cars. Yes, I have cars all over the world.” 

“Oh, the Swami has cars all over the world!” You can see the headlines, it is going to be good! But then he said, “Yes, my disciples are driving these cars everywhere to spread the message of the Bhagavad-gita.”  They ripped up their notes and said, “This one will not make any article, useless!”

They tried to portray him as selfish, like an exploiter but instead, Prabhupada turned it around and just showed selflessness. He was simply maintaining all possessions in a selfless way – so many temples, so many buildings, so many cars and so many things but all in a selfless way. Yes rooms, large rooms but Prabhupada filled them up with devotees who would meet him there for darshan. So, no selfish use of any of the facilities – no such thing. Just all for Krsna, as much as possible!

Join us this Sunday for a special discourse by His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari Please join us this Saturday from 11am to 1pm for a special Kirtan session in honor of a devotee who is battling for life at the moment.

Sunday Love Feast When? Sunday, January 12th Program starts at 11 am Where? 6 George Street South Brampton, Ontario L6Y 1P3, Canada New! Listen Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog Make a Donation Bhagavad Gita - 17.1   The Divisions of Faith arjuna uvaca ye sastra-vidhim utsrjya yajante sraddhayanvitah tesam nistha tu ka krsna sattvam aho rajas tamah TRANSLATION Arjuna said, O Krsna, what is the situation of one who does not follow the principles of scripture but who worships according to his own imagination? Is he in goodness, in passion or in ignorance? (To expand on this or get an understanding of the answer, please visit Iskcon Brampton this Sunday) The Sunday Feast program consists of arati, kirtan (devotional chanting), philosophical discussion and prasadam.  Please come, get inspired and inspire others through your desire to share Krsna Consciousness! Program Schedule: 11.00 – 11.15                Tulsi Puja                                            11.15 - 11.30                  Guru Puja                                             11:30 – 11:55                Aarti & Kirtan                                       11.55 - 12.00                Sri Nrsingadev Prayers                         12.00 – 1:00                 Vedic Discourse by His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhika 1:00 – 1:30                    Closing Kirtan evaḿ pravartitaḿ cakraḿ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ aghāyur indriyārāmo moghaḿ pārtha sa jīvati Bhagavad-gita 3.16 My dear Arjuna, one who does not follow in human life the cycle of sacrifice thus established by the Vedas certainly leads a life full of sin. Living only for the satisfaction of the senses, such a person lives in vain.   Once again we have the opportunity to get the association of His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari at ISKCON Brampton. His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari appeared in this world in November 1947, the tenth day (Dasami) of the most holy month of Kartik according to the Vaisnava calendar. He first met his spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in 1971 and was initiated by him the same year. Srila Prabhupada personally told this new young disciple that he was pleased with his sincerity and enthusiasm for spreading the Krishna consciousness movement. Sankarshan Das fully dedicated his life for serving the order of his spiritual master to become a guru and deliver the world. For the last 40+ years he has uninterruptedly served his spiritual master’s movement, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), in various capacities. In the year 2000, in recognition for his full dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s mission, ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) gave him their blessings to initiate disciples. Since that time he has been regularly traveling and lecturing extensively all over the world for reviving the dormant Krishna consciousness in the hearts of all living beings. Well known for his Internet based training program, the Ultimate Self Realization Course, he has attracted over 14,000 subscribers from over 100 different countries who receive a daily inspirational message and personal answers to their questions regarding how to become perfect in Krishna consciousness. Those who are interested can join his course at: www.backtohome.com The program consists of arati, kirtan (devotional chanting), philosophical discussion and prasadam.  Please come, get inspired and inspire others through your desire to share Krsna Consciousness!   This Saturday January 11th from 11am to 1pm A dear member of our ISKCON congregation within the GTA,  Atal Pandey Prabhu, is currently in a critical situation in the hospital after a serious surgery. He is still in the ICU department. It is very important at this time to pray to Lord Krishna for Prabhu's health and quick recovery. This is the best thing we can do as devotees and Prabhu's friends and well wishers.   The ISKCON Brampton Centre will hold a small kirtan & prayers program in the Temple this Saturday, Jan 11 on the auspicious day of Ekadashi. The program will start at 11 am. Please come and chant with us for Prabhus quick recovery.   Atal Prabhu and his wife are very active devotees and doing many important services in the Brampton area, like their weekly home programs and regular services at the various ISKCON centres in the GTA.

Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to preach Krishna Consciousness in India.

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Produced by Karuna Productions with the sponsorship of ISKCON Communications and Odyssey Networks. -- Read more ›

Today is my close friend Shyamlal prabhu’s funeral. I wrote this letter to him to be read at the ceremony: My dear friend Shyamlal, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I was happy to hear of your departure the other day. It was very difficult seeing you in a painful condition [...]

Yesterday evening we took darsan of Lord Padmanabha. Like many other temples in this region of India the Lord is lying down in a mystic slumber. Western, non-Hindu people are forbidden to enter the temple, but ISKCON devotees ( from anywhere in the world ) may enter with the express written permission of the King. [...]

Ten thousand devotees, from all over the world, are expected to attend the special 25th anniversary Silver Jubilee Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama from March 5th to 11th this spring. The Navadvipa area of West Bengal is considered sacred as it is the place where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu -- believed to be an incarnation of Lord Krishna, or God Himself -- lived and taught his message of chanting God’s Holy Names. -- Read more ›

Evening talk at Karuna Bhavan.

The post The sweetest of all sweet things – the name of Krsna appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

We’re ringing in the new year by welcoming Baby Gopal to Save the Cow. Born in 2003 on Deer Run Farm in nearby Columbia County, he was rejected by his mother for some unknown reason. His owners, Al and Barbara Bluhm, called him “Baby” and lovingly raised him as their pet. Now, a decade later and retired from farming, they needed to find a new home for their 10-year-old, 1800-pound Baby. They contacted Save the Cow, an interview was conducted, and everyone agreed that Baby was a good candidate to join the herd. He arrived just before Christmas and, as you can see, Baby, now “Baby Gopal,” is fitting right in. -- Read more ›

Produced by Karuna Productions with the sponsorship of ISKCON Communications and Odyssey Networks.

If we want to make significant steps towards sustainability, we need to appeal to the real motives behind choices. 

Ten thousand devotees are expected to attend the special 25th anniversary Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama from March 5th to 11th this spring.The Navadvipa area of West Bengal is considered sacred as it is the place where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu -- believed to be an incarnation of Lord Krishna, or God Himself -- lived and taught his message of chanting God’s Holy Names.

Last month BBT editor and scholar Dravida das gave a three-hour informative seminar in Alachua, on why and how the original printings of Srila Prabhupada's books have been edited to more closely fit Srila Prabhupada's intentions. There was time for questions and answers and logical explanations. There was a question raised asking why would the unedited books of Srila Prabhupada's not be allowed to be distributed here at ISKCON Alachua. -- Read more ›

Engaging the body in graceful dance for the pleasure of the Lord, and the mind in prayerful contemplation on the sound of His holy names quickly transports our consciousness to the joyful realm of divine love.

The post January 10th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Coimbatore, is a city in India. It is the second largest city and urban agglomeration in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, after Chennai and the sixteenth largest urban agglomeration of India. -- Read more ›

Parasuram das: His Divine Grace wanted us to be happy. Chanting the Hare Krishna mantra brings one to the platform of the soul. Happiness is one of the symptoms of devotional service, check out the smiling face on this movie. On New Year's Eve central London becomes one big party, millions of people take to the streets, no cars are allowed and the ground is ready for the biggest Harinam ever. Enjoy the movie -- Read more ›

“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven..”
― John Milton, Paradise Lost

So it is said to enjoy lasting happiness we need to give up hankering and lamenting.

“As long as we are in material existence, we lament for the losses in our life and hanker for that which we do not have. A self-realized person is joyful because he is free from material lamentation and hankering.”

NBS 1*

So easy to say so hard to do as it is the nature of the mind to do so. Here is an example.

There is a short cut I have taken through Moundsville more than a hundred times. It involves a jag on 4th Street then a left by a church. The other day that street was closed so I had to go to the next one to cut over. On the way back I turned down that same street and had the realization that if I had gone to the normal street there is a stop sign there then another at 4th Street while the new route only had the stop sign at 4th.

Which meant that every time thereafter I take that route I can miss a stop sign and I take it a lot. So it should have been a moment of joy but my mind turned it into a lamentation by thinking how many times I had taken the old route and made an unnecessary stop.

Nothing changed but my mind made a negative reaction to what should have been a happiness. Such is the power of consciousness.

“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.”

Bhagavad Gita 18.54

Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever

1970 January 10: "They are not my words, I do not make any addition or subtraction. I am simply the bearer of the message from Lord Caitanya through the disciplic succession."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 January 10: "If you all carry these words successively, then the transcendental parampara system will be exactly maintained and people will be benefited. Please, read regularly my books."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 January 10 : "Everyone should be thoroughly convinced of the power of the Hare Krsna mantra to protect you in all circumstances. Then advancement will be swift."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 January 10 : "Now become very convinced of our philosophy and very enthusiastically and soberly maintain temple routine standards, satisfy the devotees, and in every way become the perfect example of Krishna concscious angel."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 January 10 : "I am very very glad to see that you have got such a nice place to conduct Krishna's business. I think I shall be very comfortable in your center when I shall come there very soon."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972