Planet ISKCON

Answer Podcast

"As long as we chant as we have been taught we will not com­mit the first type of disruption, varna-vyvadhana. But a sub­tle form of this dis­rup­tion occurs when we don’t pro­nounce the mantra prop­erly. Srila Prab­hu­pada refers to a “hiss­ing sound” that is some­times pro­duced by a poor chanter and in a lec­ture he made a car­i­ca­ture of slurred chant­ing, and said “hurkr­ish hurkr­ish krishkr­ish” and said “Not like that. But with priti, with love."

by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
From Viraha Bhavan #140

Please click here for all photos

You may experience either happiness or distress. You may know fame or infamy. The lowest persons may insult you, or the saintly devotees may praise you. You may know poverty or great wealth. You may obtain all valuable things, or you may not obtain anything. Whatever position your past pious or impious deeds may place you in, just make Vrindavana your life and soul.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-30 Translation ]

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 19.132.

“Being a Rupanuga doesn’t mean dressing in a loincloth and sleeping under a tree. The real essence is, as Srila Rupa Gosvami is described: sri-caitanya-mano-’bhistam sthapitam yena bhu-tale—he established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Chaitanya. He understood the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and was empowered to establish it on earth (bhutale). That is done primarily—not exclusively, but primarily—through writing, publishing, and distributing books. And this has come to us through parampara. Srila Prabhupada compared it to a train: ”This is the parampara system. My guru maharaja pushed me, I am pushing you, and you are pushing others. It is like a train.” And so the pushing through parampara continues. That is seen and experienced very vividly here: the whole temple is surcharged, and it is very enlivening.”

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 19.132, Sant Nagar, New Delhi

The Absolute cannot be enjoyed by sensuous exploitations to bring any profit to mind and body. All the profits accrued by offering our services to the Absolute are never meant for our temporary happiness depriving others of the benefit. The theme of the Vedanta actually deprives the human frame and subtle body, of the bliss, which are wrongly incorporated with the unalloyed absolute infinitesimals.

- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, The Vedanta – Its Morphology and Ontology 

As we usher in 2014, ISKCON News takes a look back at fifteen stories that helped to shape the last twelve months. While it was tough to single out only fifteen, we tried to narrow it down by selecting those that had the most impact on the whole of ISKCON as a society, as well as those that demonstrated ISKCON’s impact on the outside world. -- Read more ›

Being on dialysis I have the same benediction that Grandfather Bhisma had — I can leave my body any time I want. Stop the dialysis and 8 days later I am gone. Because of that I was allowed to register for hospice care. It is not active and activation would be the next step but for now I think I have at least another year before my liver fails so it is a contingency plan. Still one’s thoughts turn to the end game,

An email my sister:

Matt has an app on his phone that alerts him if his furnace is not working correctly. He got a message that the temp had dropped 10 degrees yesterday while in St Paul, MN so I went and sat at his home writing Christmas thank yous as waited for the Heating man to come over to fix it. Since quiet and by myself I had time to think of lots of our Dad, Paul stories, on what would have been his 92nd birthday. He sure liked to tell detailed stories! Just think he has been with Jesus Christ, family and friends for 20 yrs of eternity now! Wow, wonder what that will be like? Exciting future!! I can wait awhile still to find out, but have the hope of heaven since in a relationship with Jesus, so am thankful!

I was doing some Bible Study prep tonight and came across this passage in 2 Corinthians that always makes me think of Dad. He told me it was time to pack his tent up when preparing for his physical death, so know he was referring to this:

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

“Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

I think of our mother when I read the verses below as it seemed as she got sicker, her spirit seemed to stay positive and mind clear. We were so protected by God that she was that way with her head so full of tumors! Remember her last words were “Trust and Obey for there is no other way”.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Love, your sister Laura

Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever

with a never before released bonus track. -- Read more ›

Yesterday we traveled north through the jungle to the famous Adi-kesava temple which Lord Caitanya visited 500 years ago during His journey through South India. It was in the Adi-kesava temple that Mahaprabhu found a copy of the 5th chapter of the Brahma-samhita. The inner sanctum of the temple was constructed over 4,000 years ago. [...]

1970 January 8: "When I was in London, I was wearing on your cloak daily because there it was severe cold. But this side is very nice. It is not cold at all. So when I get back the coat surely I shall utilize it properly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 January 8: "Krishna is never approached directly. Krishna is approached through His bona fide servitors. Try your best to serve Krishna under the direction of your Spiritual Master and Krishna will surely help you in all respects."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 January 8: "My ambition is to open centers as many as possible. By this work not only you will be blessed by Krishna but your name will be recorded in the history of the Krishna Consciousness Movement which is to grow to the largest volume of expansion."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 January 8: "I am not after recruiting some disciples. My main purpose is to propagate the teachings of Krishna Consciousness. But for preaching work we want some assistants and if somebody offers voluntarily his service it is welcome."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 January 8: "If they are sincere it is not objectionable that your followers want to accept you as guide in spiritual matters. So the best thing will be that you become a regular disciple of me and you can teach your followers in the same principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 January 8: "Please establish this new center firmly just according to our highest principles of devotional service to Krsna. You may immediately arrange an alter for worship of Guru-Gauranga. Later you can increase the Deity worship."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1974 January 8: "Our program is perfect, now you simply have to implement it without any changes. Now our five centers in Canada are going nicely. As GBC, please correspond and occasionally visit the centers to see how they are doing."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 January 8: "Thank you for the fruits and vegetables. I have asked Brahmananda Svami to go and see what is the situation there. Please continue your service nicely as one of my elder women disciples always setting good example for others to follow."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

The post January 7th bhajan at Karuna Bhavan appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Bhagavatam class.

The post How the controlled sense gratification of grhasta life leads to liberation (Part 2) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Krishna's devotees are celebrating new year 2014 in London city center. -- Read more ›

Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we traveled north through the jungle to the famous Adi-kesava temple which Lord Caitanya visited 500 years ago during His journey through South India. It was in the Adi-kesava temple that Mahaprabhu found a copy of the 5th chapter of the Brahma-samhita. The inner sanctum of the temple was constructed over 4,000 years ago. The deity of Lord Visnu is lying down and is 22 meters long. -- Read more ›

The post January 8th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

14 01 06 SB 06 02 44 By H G Lal Govinda Prabhu ISKCON Juhu

I’ll share a few more of my experiences on the subject of femininity.

Essentially female means “open” and it means “amplification of input.” The female opens herself up to “input” and then amplifies and expands that input.

One word for female in Sanskrit is strī - literally “expand” – which illustrates what I am talking about: receiving input and expanding upon it. Another word associated with “female” is prakṛti which also literally means something very close to “expand.” Prakṛti means expansion “pra-“ of deeds “krti” – or the entity that is able to expand and develop an effort.

So femininity also means openness, because she cannot receive input to amplify when she is closed. Procreation is a very concrete example of femininity. The female must open herself, receive input, and then she can amplify and expand that input into something amazing, a child. So the feminine nature is open to input and expansive upon the input.

 

I personally feel that chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra deeply is an extremely profound feminine experience.

My experience is that I must completely open my mind to receive the mantra. I must not close my mind off from the mantra by clinging tightly to other thoughts. As a female opens herself to her mate, the mind must be feminine and open herself to the mantra. “Hare Krishna, here is my mind, my self, my whole being. I reserve none of it from you. Take all of it. Fill all of it with you. Place your potency within it.”

When the mind becomes womanly open to being filled by the mantra, that mantra immediately responds (being so masculine) and becomes a very ecstatic and blissful entity due to being attracted to the availability of our mind. It then becomes extremely easy and enjoyable to chant and meditate upon the mantra without distraction.

Houston, Texas

At the US Customs

At the Toronto Airport, US Customs, station number 9, I was asked by an officer, a woman, “Where are you flying to?”

“To Houston.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a monk.”

“You don’t mind being asked questioned by a woman, because I had two monks here last week who refused to deal with me.” (She wasn’t defiant, just relaying her experience…)

“Well, ma’am, that must be a different order.  I’m a Hare Krishna monk, we love everyone.”

She smiled, which is a rarity, coming from a customs officer.  She had a few more brief questions and was content with my answers.

Yes, we do love everyone, at least, try to.  No one is your friend and no one is your enemy.  We are all spirits, but with different attitudes.  I have to be concerned with my own.

In the evening, it was preplanned that I meet with a cast of potentials, youth who would audition for parts for the weekend drama, “Little Big Ramayan”.  The volunteers that showed up were both young men and women, average age in their teens.  The story calls for male and female characters.  Sorry, Shakespeare, I usually don’t have an all male cast; I use both genders.  I try to love everyone.

As our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had done, he accepted all, and for those who consented to the Vaishnava principles, he turned them into ladies and gentlemen.

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Toronto, Ontario

Warm Up When Cold

It is so very possible to work up a sweat while in the snow.   Myself, and so many other people took advantage of the tranquility in the ravine that runs near Bayview Avenue.  You walk at a good speed and beads of perspiration will form and get absorbed in the clothes you wear.  Sweat is a sign that the machinery is in motion.  Motion can make you wet.  Motion is also the best for toning down emotion.

Our Inuit people knew the art of keeping warm in the igloo.  For southerners who aren’t aware, snow is a remarkable insulator from chilly winds.  A small fire inside combined with body heat emits enough warmth to make life pleasant in the white domed home.  You keep bundled up and you are fine.  In our childhood, we constructed snow tunnels.  Inside you felt very protected.

I embarked on this trail, bidding all other walkers with a, “Have a good one!”  And, one by one, they, in good spirits, offered their brief greeting to one another and to me.  In one way life in terms of pleasure doesn’t get better than this meeting of people in a winter setting.

I reflected on the day prior on a visit to a young couple, Yogendra and Rasa and their newborn daughter, Audharya.  Warmth was demonstrated, particularly by daddy to daughter, during my short visit there.  Not so long ago, Yogendra was a cheerful young monastic living the life of learning, simplicity and devotion.  Those three items are dream catchers in a monk’s life.  They are just precious and they set the stage for the challenging life of parenting, home making and community contributing.

I’ve watched Yogendra personally grow, and I can see life for him is becoming fulfilled.

My last touch of warmth for the day came during the famous open house at the Hare Krishna Centre, what in hippie days was called The Love Feast.   The temple managers arranged a gorgeous lit flower petaled staged for the local bhajan band, Gaura Shakti.  A seat with similar décor was set for me to use before the Sunday crowd to explain the power of hearing mantra and a further enhanced power from reciting it.  The mantra presentation by Gaura Shakti warmed so many hearts that night.

I think that if hearts can sweat in devotion, that happened tonight.

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

At the end of this week, Americans will pause to observe the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s death. We in Dallas particularly will be in the middle of the observation. The assassination, of course, happened here. And Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings has put together a gathering at Dealey Plaza to commemorate the anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination.

Earlier, this panel discussed the impact John Kennedy had on Catholicism. Let’s now look at the Kennedy impact in another way.

Why is it that the nation still pauses 50 years after his death?

The country has never really looked back on the assassination of any our other leaders, except perhaps that of Abraham Lincoln. So, is this just part of the Kennedy mystique?

Or does this national moment of reflection say something about an innate human need to have princes we look up to, even if the scriptures warn against putting one’s faith in princes?

Or are we pausing because we still wonder what might have happened if an assassin’s bullet had not put the country on a different course?

Or was it only one assassin? I think so, but the open question for some creates a giant sense of mystery around his death. Is that why we keep focusing on November 22? Does the mystery draw us in?

Or do we stop to reflect because he was having an impact on the country that was suddenly aborted?

Or here’s one more thought: Is November 22 now mostly a media creation?

Obviously, there are many different angles here. And there are many more. But from your perspective:Why does the nation still pause 50 years after John Kennedy’s assassination?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

We are surprised that the thief known as Death does not discriminate. One may have the best medicine and doctor but that does not guarantee safety. Nor is there such a guarantee for a child of loving, protective parents. Nor can the man on the sturdiest boat be assured of his safety.

When death comes, the Secret Service will not be able to shoot him, nor will one's guard dogs bark him away. It doesn't matter how much organic food or vitamins you take. Nor does it matter how much you jog. Whether you are the president or the Pope, Death is still an equal opportunity employer. Those with spiritual wisdom do not fear death. They understand it as simply a change of dress.

This weekend I performed the funeral of a 19 year-old girl. This was a strong reminder of the most surprising thing in this world. We have seen others before us pass away but none of us really think death will happen to us.
Rejection of death actually hints to the nature of the self. We do not want to die because the very notion of it is unnatural. Why? Because the self is eternal, so the notion of death goes against our very nature.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.