Planet ISKCON

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

 

Please see the link for all photos ….

How important are the most powerful earthly kings for us? How important are all the demigods and sages? How important are countless material opulences, which come and go like the scenery in a dream? How important are even the liberated devotees in the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha, for those of us who have made residing in Vrndavana our only goal of life?

[ Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrndavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-25 Translation ]

Today I received a nice message from one of our Japa Group email subscribers.

"I get so excited to chant to Krishna that I feel I get going way to fast!! When I catch myself chanting to fast, I make myself SLOW WAY DOWN for several beads to relax me again....Hare Krishna!!!! Then I am back to being able to concentrate on the sound vibration of the Holy Name of Krishna. Hare Krishna!"

I find inspiration when I see devotees making sincere efforts like this and it reminds me of the importance of giving utmost respect to Krsna's sound vibration the Hare Krsna mantra.

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

This festival travelling program is a modern day pastime of Lord Caitanya because it’s the result of the desire of all the previous acaryas and of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Kadamba Kanana Swami visited South Africa from 12-17 December. Please find below recordings from the various programs that he did.

You may listen online via the media player or to download a file, right-click on the title and “save-target-as”.

 

 

KKS_South Africa_Midrand_12 December 2013_Evening Kirtan

KKS_South Africa_Midrand_12 December 2013_Evening Lecture

KKS_South Africa_PTA_13 December 2013_Morning Lecture

KKS_South Africa_PTA_13 December 2013_Evening Kirtan

KKS_South Africa_PTA_13 December 2013_Evening Lecture

KKS_South Africa_PTA_14 December 2013_CC Madhya 9.179-193

KKS_South Africa_Lenasia_15 December 2013_Kirtan

KKS_South Africa_Lenasia_15 December 2013_CC Madhya 14.16

KKS_South Africa_Soweto_15 December 2013_Lecture

KKS_South Africa_Sandton_16 December 2013_Kirtan

KKS_South Africa_Sandton_16 December 2013_SB 1.17.38

 

 

Recently there was a picture of Samba on the Brijabasi Spirit Throwback Thursday.  Naturally it reminded me of him. What he will be best remembered for is that he was a trucker who hauled in much of the materials that manifest as what most devotees would now recognize as New Vrindaban.

He took initiation from Srila Prabhupada in 1972 and helped build the Palace. All that marble you see at the Palace was hauled in and Samba made frequent trips to New York and other places to pick it up.

He was especially active in the 1980s when the lodge, Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Candra  temple and all the associated building were constructed. We had our own cement mixer for the floors and curbs and  a paving brick factory where all the pavers used in the parking lot were made. All that material was hauled in as well as the gravel substrata under the roads.  Also a lot of the construction materials that were used to build the structures.

Samba was so dedicated he would be at the gravel place when it opened in the morning. He would haul gravel all day until it closed. He would dump the gravel on a lot we purchased at Rte 88 and 250.  Then when  the gravel place would close he would reload the materials onto his truck and haul it the rest of the way  into New Vrindaban because he could get more done in a day that way.

When the lake by the temple, then called Kaliya Ghat,  was being built he was involved.   A large hole was excavatedIn order for a lake to hold water it needs a clay liner and the clay on site wasn’t suitable so he was trucking it in. He would dump it and the man (or in this case,  kid, our current ECOV director Chaitanya “Chaits” Mangala then age 14 ) on a dozer would smooth it out to make the liner.

BTW other members of the crew were Varsana Maharajah overseeing, Pippalada,  grader operator,  Murti, truck driver, Kaliya Krishna, trucker,  Sarva Saksi back hoe  and Samba, son of Hayagriva,  also just  a kid at age 12, dozer.

They would run in shifts around the clock and  a leader at the time said he couldn’t fall asleep unless he heard the equipment running.

Some of Samba’s ashes were spread in the ghat so the next time you watch a Swan Boat Ceremony, remember Samba.

Samba was also a devotee of Tulasi and spent a lot of time caring for Her.

After Srila Prabhupada left the planet and Kirtanananda took over Samba left for a few years. He got cancer and moved back to New Vrindaban to leave his body. He was set up in a room in what is the guest quarters now of the temple.

While there he was chanting furiously, so intently that a prominent leader  told him that because he had done so much service and was rightly situated in the temple that he didn’t need to worry so much about chanting so hard. Samba waited until the leader left the room then went right back to chanting furiously.

At the end there was a sannyasi who was visiting and standing next to his bed holding his danda. With his last breath Samba reached out, grabbed the danda , and left his body.  Those of us at the time who were hard core householders appreciated that although it is proscribed that at some time we take up the sannyasa life of celibacy, traveling and preaching, Samba only had to endure that for the shortest possible time, one breath, as we figured grabbing the danda was taking sannyasa. It was another thing to admire him for.

Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever

If there is an option to choose between Independence and prevention of Cow Slaughter, I would choose the latter, for its protection shall open all means to achieve true independence. - Mahatma Gandhi
Here in Iowa, we are trying to organize a micro-dairy farm where we can support few cows and its offsprings without sending to slaughter. It is a very small effort for a big cause.

Go-rakshya is a way of natural life in harmony with nature. It is one of the significant factors for sustainable farming and green living. Growing research in the field of agriculture and environmentalism strongly promote cow protection as a way of happy and sustainable life for the cow, nature and human beings.

As humans we rely heavily on cow products. Slaughtering the cow after the effect is highly an inhumane thing to do. Unfortunately, industrialized nations such as America lead the way in cow slaughter. Surprisingly India is not far behind in cow slaughter.



In Iowa, a small group of devotees are coming together to try to elevate the consciousness of local residents of cow slaughter and ahimsa milk. We want your support.

You can support us by clicking "like" on our facebook page. The more "likes", the more chances we can approach a local dairy farm and initiate the conversation of micro-dairies.

In our estimate, from Iowa, we think it is doable. We want your virtual support for without the blessings of devotees, we cannot make progress. Please bless us by clicking like on our facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/IowaAhimsaMilk

Oh Bharata, nothing is rare for a devotee of the cow. Whatever such devotees desire, they achieve. A lady who is devoted to the cow can have her desires fulfilled by the cow’s mercy. One who desires a son or a daughter, who desires wealth, one who desires piety, or knowledge — all can get their desires fulfilled by the mercy of the cow- Mahabharat

Thank you very much

Hare Krishna

Very good news from this year's preaching results! -- Read more ›

US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard in her message to celebrants of Gita Jayanti explains the the importance of the Bhagavad-gita in her life.

At the European Leaders’ Meetings this fall, ISKCON leaders discussed a common dilemma for devotees today: do we drink milk, an important staple of the ISKCON diet? Or do we avoid it, since today’s store-bought milk supports the slaughter industry? The answer, is to drink milk from our own protected cows. Unfortunately, there are few ISKCON dairy farms in the world today -- but there are some. 

17-12-2013 SB 12.2.21 The Symptoms of Kali Yuga 5, Beau Bassin, Mauritius.mp3

Deena Bandhu Das: Rare darshan of Sri Sri Radha Vamsi Gopal, the temple where Srila Prabhupada stayed before moving to Radha Damodara! Usually no pics, but last couple of times no one has made a fuss. This is down the street and around a curve from Gokulananda Mandir. -- Read more ›

Kali Yuga series 14.

The post Look down. What do you see? Look in the mirror. Are you wrinkle free? appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

SRS: Are you one of those overweight? bbc.co.uk/news/health-25576400

The post Obesity quadruples to nearly one billion in developing world appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

On the 21st and 22nd of December 2013, 45 youth from all over Bali, Indonesia, gathered for a retreat to study the Bhagavad-gita. Surprisingly, none of them had to even open their Bhagavad-gitas as the entire knowledge, practical applications and philosophy of the Gita was taught through games, dramas, presentations, kirtan and moments of contemplations. 

On the 21st and 22nd of December 2013, 45 youth from all over Bali, Indonesia, gathered for the Nava Yauvana Sanga 2013 to study the Bhagavad-gita in a unique way. A video by Premakanda Dasa.

1972 January 3: "I am the only one in India who is openly criticizing, not only demigod worship and impersonalism, but everything that falls short of complete surrender to Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Due to the continuous help and incoming of donations, ISKCON’s Food for Life (FFL) activities are still going on and reaching the victims of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The dedicated Food for Life team has been working in Tacloban city since Christmas day, and they prepare hot meals and deliver them to different areas of the city every day.

US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is the first Hindu Congresswoman in American history. She is also a Vaishnava, or devotee of Lord Krishna, and she took her oath of office with the Bhagavad-gita. In this video, delivered as a message to celebrants of Gita Jayanti in Kurukshetra, India on December 15, 2013, she explains the the importance of the Bhagavad-gita in her life. She also highlights the value of Lord Krishna's message in overcoming the challenges that face modern society, and especially for those seeking knowledge of God and the soul. -- Read more ›

While hundreds of thousands cheer in Times Square, hundreds of New Yorkers will gather not far away to pass the waning hours of 2013 without a word.

Secunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh -- Read more ›

“We could see that many Spanish and South American devotees didn’t have access to ISKCON world news, because they couldn’t speak English,” Baladeva says. “We also saw that English-speaking devotees didn’t know much about what devotees were doing in the Spanish-speaking world.” -- Read more ›

"Humanitarian organizations should collaborate in setting up an international court to judge cases of animal cruelty."

Sri Radha-Kund Mahabhoga Darshan 31/12.2013 -- Read more ›

“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”  – C.S Lewis.

On 31st Dec, 2013 many people gathered at Iskcon Detroit - The Bhaktivedanta Cultural Centre to welcome the new year 2014. We had dance, drama, cultural program and ecstatic kirtan whole night with sumptuous prasadam for everyone. -- Read more ›