Planet ISKCON

Apologies for the lack of chronology in the recent travel posts. Kadamba Kanana Swami interrupted his stay in Mayapur with a short visit to South Africa. Here is a report by Candrasekhara dasa.

Kadamba Kanana Swami visited South Africa recently. He visited different centres around Johannesburg motivating the devotees in their preaching initiatives. He arrived in South Africa on Thursday morning (12 December) and spent the day meeting with local leaders of the Pretoria yatra. In the evening, he conducted a program at a disciple’s home in Midrand. Despite his long journey and tiring day, he led a sweet kirtan which touched the hearts of devotees. In addressing the audience thereafter, he highlighted the importance of studying Srimad Bhagavatam and encouraged devotees to adopt this culture of study.

Maharaj resided at the Pretoria temple for two days during which he lectured on Srimad Bhagavatam & Caitanya Caritamrta in the mornings and absorbed himself in sweet bhajans during the day. He also used the time to meet with devotees.  On Friday, 13 December, he held an evening program at the temple which was well attended by the congregation.  Within minutes, he broke out into ecstatic kirtan which had the ladies compete with the men in dancing.  He went on to speak about the importance of filling our lives with service to Krsna:

“The essence of what I’m trying to say is that we must fill our life with service to Krsna.  That is the difference, you see, hearing, chanting and other service to Krsna will make the difference.  Otherwise, we will be alone, wherever we are.  It doesn’t matter who we are with, still alone! But when we are really absorbed in service to Krsna, then we will never be alone.  Never! And therefore  we will never be feeling any lacking. One who is not with Krsna all the time always feels something lacking, even if you have everything.”

On Saturday, 14 December, Kadamba Kanana Swami attended the wedding ceremony of two of his disciples, at the Pretoria temple. The wedding couple were of African descent and their family members, even though having limited exposure to Vedic culture, completely embraced the ceremony and fully took part in the ecstatic kirtan which followed the ceremony. Kadamba Kanana Swami, a true follower of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was in ecstasy himself seeing the Lord’s holy names being taken to the people of Africa.

The following day (15 December), Kadamba Kanana Swami attended the Sunday Programs at ISKCON Lenasia and ISKCON Soweto.  The preaching initiatives in Soweto have a special place in Kadamba Kanana Swami’s heart and he is always inspired to give the people of Soweto extra mercy, and the people of Soweto reciprocated by coming in numbers to the temple to receive him.  The small temple room was packed to capacity and the devotees danced to their heart’s contents to the beat of the holy name which continued for two hours.  After class, a local devotee offered his appreciation to Kadamba Kanana Swami for always keeping Soweto close to his heart.

On 16 December was the last program that Kadamba Kanana Swami held. This time it was a relaxed picnic program at ISKCON Sandton where he highlighted the importance of staying safe from the influence of kali.

The Audio classes will be made available soon.

Please find below pictures from all these program.If you cannot view the slide-show, then please visit flickr

HG Mataji Sitala’s class at Govindaji temple in Jaipur 30.10.2013

The Mahabharata states that Duryodhana and his aides despite their viciousness attained heaven because they died on the battlefield? Didn't their past bad karma matter? If it didn't, how is this belief different from jehadi suicide bombers who kill hundreds of innocent people believing that they will attain jannat and enjoy virgins there?

Answer Podcast

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

Answer Podcast

From Mrigank Sharad

From Mrigank Sharad

From Mrigank Sharad

Answer Podcast

Please note that ISKCON Brampton Management has decided to cancel the Sunday Feast Program due to a major ice storm coming towards Southern ontario.

Environment Canada says the storm system may bring up to 30 millimetres of rain to the lower Great Lakes. A freezing rain warning remains in effect for those areas as the temperature could fall below zero overnight.

Environment Canada also warns that the storm system’s effects could result in widespread power outages across Ontario due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines.

Note that the following upcoming event  on Wednesday December 25th will happen as scheduled.

UPCOMING EVENT:

• Program starts at 11:00am
• Guru Puja, Kirtan, Graduation, Visit from Bhakta Santa and Prasadam (Vegetarian Feast)!
• REGISTER YOUR CHILD TO ENSURE THEY WILL RECEIVE A GIFT FROM BHAKTA SANTA… please email us at sundayschool108@gmail.com with your child’s name and age by Friday, December 20th.
• Suggested donation $10/per child

Whenever I am chanting and feel my mind wandering there are two words that I use to bring it back to the sound of the Maha mantra...."Just focus!" - I say this loudly in my mind, each and every time my mind starts to wander and it works every time.
Please try this and see if you get the same results....you have to say it with conviction and strength.

Vrindavan, 21st December, 2013: After the National Green Tribunal ordered to ban the burning of the plastic & rubber in open, the green activists geared up their demand for complete ban of the garbage burning. It causes heart diseases, cancer, asthma, skin diseases and many other diseases, observed by the group of green activist in a workshop jointly organized by Friends of Vrindavan & the Bhaktivedanta Hospice -- Read more ›

Tofurky, move over. One company in the US is now producing and selling fake chicken meat. The products are made from soya and peas, thus avoiding stemcell technology -- Read more ›

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Mandakini devi dasi: One of the House rules would be no mobile phones or television, so the focus is on more wholesome activities like archery, triathlons, competition games, sports, camping and other exciting adventures Read more ›

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

BY KRIPA SINDHU KRISHNA DASA

More photos here

 

“In the month of Kartika, which is very dear to Sri Hari, one who bathes early in the
morning attains the merit of bathing in all places of pilgrimage. Anybody who offers the
Lord a ghee lamp in the month of Kartika, O brahmana, becomes free from all kinds of
sins, such as killing a brahmana, and he goes to the abode of Lord Hari.”

During the month of Damodara devotees in Kuala Lumpur actively engaged in conducting Harinam, house and school programmes, to spread the mercy of Lord Damodara to as many people as possible. Different programmes were held in many parts of Kuala Lumpur. Devotees went door to door doing harinam asking people to offer a lamp to Lord Damodara. There were also house programmes where in devotees conduct a full programme with Kirtan, class, damodara arati and prasadam.

A Damodara booth was set up in the Deepavali carnival, at Bukit Jalil, from 19th October to 1st November 2013. This was the 7th year, a booth was set up. Three and half booths were rented at the entrance of the premises. This was a very good opportunity to encourage everyone to offer ghee lamps to Lord Damodara and obtain his mercy. A gift pack and halwa prasadam were distributed to guests. Each gift pack contained a picture of Lord Damodara, a pamphlet highlighting the glories of Damodara and the method of worship for Lord Damodara at home along with a Damodarastakam CD, which included pastimes of Lord Krsna and Hare Krsna Mahamantra kirtana.

Every day many stall owners visited the booth and offered lamps to Lord Damodara before they opened their various booths for business. It was indeed a very special experience. Ravilocana and Tatvavit Prabhus, veterans in book distribution, were there every day from morning to night. Various books were distributed at the carnival including a Srimad Bhagavatam set.

“People are very receptive to Srila Prabhupada’s books. I developed good interpersonal skills, communicating with guests. My level of tolerance, patience, and perseverance, improved during these 14 days” says Krishna Chandra Prabhu, who also helped manage the booth.

A total of 4800 lamps were offered during the carnival. Overall, this month, 16,508 lamps and 13,523 prasadams were distributed. A total of 1077 books were distributed at the carnival alone.

The post Today and tomorrow is Gita-jayanti in Hungary appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Lecture Podcast

I shall never forget it; that shining face in the midst of darkness which moved me like no other face and which now stays with me because of its silent message Read more ›

Live broadcast

Participate in the Gita Jayanti Book Sponsoring Marathon

We plan to distribute 3000 Srila Prabhupada’s books with the help of book
sponsors.

You may sponsor the following book-sets with Gitas and other books of Srila
Prabhupada:
1. 8 books (11.000.-Ft / 40E)
2. 11 books (18.000.-Ft / 60E)
3. 5 books with a Caitanya-caritamrta! (26.000.-Ft / 90E)
4. 25 books (51.000.-Ft / 175E)
5. 108 pocket Bhagavad-gita (162.000.-Ft / 545E)
6. 108 hard covered Bhagavad-gita (175.000.-Ft / 590E)

Budapest Temple: 21 Dec, Saturday from 10.30 and from 5pm
Szeged: 22 Dec, Sunday, 10.30

There will be live broadcast of the Gita-jayanti yajna in Budapest on the
21th of December, Saturday at 10.30 am and 5pm Hungarian time.

You are welcome to participate in the reading, the blessings that go with it
and the feast after the yajna. If you wish to attend any of the above
programs or would like to just sponsor books for free distribution or for
any further information please contact Asta Sakhi devi dasi:
tel.: +36 30 600 1459,
e-mail: Asta.Sakhi.SRS@pamho.net

The post Gita-jayanti 2013 appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

One can build a magnificent temple with pure love and that is a great service, or one can offer a simple flower and that is just as good, may be even better, depending on the internal quality of how we are genuinely trying to please the Lord Read more ›

The public broadcaster caught up with our walking Swami as he made his way through Canada's prairie province and this nice little interview highlights yet another way that people across this wonderful country are being introduced to our wonderful, spiritual way of life! Read more ›

Saranagati Village, British Columbia

Little Mouse in the Snow

Saranagati Village, British Columbia

The first living entity I saw today was a spider I saw crawling along the base of a shower stall.  I took extra care to angle the shower head in such a way that he wouldn’t get flushed down the drain.

The second creature for my eyes to meet seemed to be exploring territory.  He was a tiny mouse.  I first detected him after noticing an interesting trail of teeny footprints impressed into the freshly fallen snow.  It was those hypnotic type of snowflakes coming down ever so light against the stark black sky.  With flashlight in hand I kept eyes mainly on the white covered road in front of me.  The little fella, the mouse, was scurrying along and leaving his mark.  I just missed his small bodily frame when stepping along.  I aimed my flashlight directly over the little guy and then got close to him as if to give him the spotlight.  That certainly alerted him.  Perhaps he momentarily liked the attention.  Perhaps he froze from having stage fright.

I let him go on to venture at his whim as he likely was set out to search for food.

“Adios.”

I proceeded on to the location of the temple which is facilitated by an elder, Kulashekhar.  After a shake off of snow, we conducted sadhana  (spiritual practice) together.  In the dim and mystic candlelit room, we sang the Guruvastakam along with other adjoining prayers before I trekked to the Venables Valley School for a second installment of mantras.  This was followed by a devotional theatre workshop conducted by yours truly.  That went down well, including the pizza prepared with love by devotees.

Much later, Gosh Thakur, my friend from Quebec, lead me to the summit of a mountain, the location of the recently installed internet tower.  The sun, at this point, was hidden away when Gosh Thakur and I took the gradual but steady climb up.  It was a heart pounding workout with healthy panting and puffing.  We crossed the footprints of much wildlife – of mice (and not men), deer, coyotes and rabbits.  At the very top, we paused to catch our breath and a great view as we sat restfully atop a log chatting.  The world seemed quite awesome from our stance.  We were high, although we were truly small, like the little mouse.

We will always be small, but carry large and hard driven dreams.  We just want to make sure that our dreams line up with the wishes of the creator.

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Surprised and Stranded

Jackass Mountain, British Columbia

It took us by surprise.  Peter and I were coasting along on Highway 1 which from the town of Hope runs parallel to the Fraser River, a vein of beautiful mountainous water, when an officer nabbed us.  According to him we were over the speed limit by 50 KM.

“No way,” we thought.  Peter tried to argue the figures, but the officer had his routine down for this stretch of the highway which is notorious for motorists call a speed trap.  Knowing well the sudden downslope after leaving a tunnel through a mountain, a driver is practically helpless but to gain some speed.  Peter was handed a $368 ticket apart from receiving the news of a 7 day impoundment on the vehicle we were driving.  A tow truck was called by the officer and within minutes our vehicle was hauled to the nearby town, Boston Bar.  To unimpound it after this period costs at least another $200.  We ended up being stranded for hours in the town until someone from the village Saranagati came to our rescue.  That leeway time of waiting, however, did permit Peter and I to explore this town which was formerly a trail during the old pioneer gold rush.  I had trekked through this area two times before, but never throughout the town which is mostly populated by indigenous folks.

If you are ever grounded somewhere like we were, then you make the best of that time.  Avoid groping and meet nature.  We ventured by this vibrant river, the Fraser, explored its banks somewhat.  With its trails and its fur and spruce trees, the aroma of their green needles sends you to heaven, while the wobbly nature of stones and the soft sands under the feet remind you of both the uncertainties and welcoming side of life.

Our ride finally arrived.  Gosh Thakur, my French Canadian friend, came in time to help us reach our evening engagement – kirtan with the youth.  It’s a Tuesday night regular event in the peaceful valley called Venables, an area the devotees of Krishna refer to as Saranagati, the place of ultimate surrender.  By the warm stove of crackling fire wood, young voices chanted “Hare Krishna”, ‘twas nice.

Speaking of names, please take note of the place where our vehicle was towed from, Jackass Mountain.  One thing is, always avoid speeding and this is an unlikely warning for pedestrians though.  Walkers could never be ticketed for speeding.  It’s always the safest mode of transport.

May the Source be with you!

10 KM

A Pleasure

Burnaby, British Columbia

It’s always a pleasure to sit down and hear something motivationally strong, coming from experience.  My spiritual brother, Kriphanidi, spoke from the Bhagavatam, a text that by regular reading has the effect of shrinking that which is inauspicious in the heart – anger, envy, greed, etc.

Hearing the realizations of others enhances your own realizations.  It’s also a pleasure to push the wheel chair of Padyavali, my godsister, on the ISKCON property, because she can’t do it on her own.  When she, Manu and I, sit to talk or have lunch together as we did today, we have a blast at joking.  It lifts our spirits.  I recall this last summer, during the course of my fourth cross-Canada trek, pushing the chair of a middle aged handicapped native person to Tim Horton’s doughnut shop for a coffee, and then to church.  This happened at a bridge in Winnipeg as he was waiting for someone to come along.  I lost about a half hour of time from my routine walking, but I gained something through service.

It was also a pleasure to serve the guru by sitting in-the-round with administrators of ISKCON.  Although topics can be grave and taxing, the challenges can excite you.  You probe the brain and you tap the heart in search for answers.  By nighttime, I sat in the director’s chair, so to speak, for a new take on Ram’s pastimes.  ‘The Little Big Ramayan’ will be presented on the 29^th of this month.  Along with cast and crew, we are starting to shape this production which is in its embryonic stage.  It had me constantly leaping back and forth from chair to stage.  It was a pleasure.

My final pleasure session of the day was a walk after all was done.  It was damp and dark out, but the moon  gave consolation.  Around its fullness were massive rainbow rings; perfectly round concentric circles surrounding it.  Awesome!  Just awesome!  What a pleasure!  What a pleasure!

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 12-08-2013

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban (Earth, Cows, Opportunities & Vrindaban Villages) is dedicated to cow protection, sustainable agriculture, self-sufficiency and simple living — all centered around loving service to Sri Krishna, as envisioned by the ISKCON New Vrindaban Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Participating Board Members: Anuttama (first half of meeting), Chaitanya Mangala, Madhava Gosh, Navin Shyam, and Ranaka.

Advisors present: Jaya Krsna

1. Garden of Seven Gates (G7G) manager & ECOV responsibility

WHEREAS: In line with its mission, the ECOV Board wishes to actively promote the production and use of food grown locally in New Vrindaban.

RESOLVED: The Board hereby authorizes the creation of a new management position, the Food Production Manager (FPM), whose duties and salary will be determined by ECOV management.

The need for an ECOV President or other general manager to oversee projects and overall operations was also considered. Further discussion will resume after the FPM is found, but it was recognized that the first step is creating a job description.

2. Madhuban grove

WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to continue developing the Madhuban orchard.

RESOLVED: The Board authorizes up to $2,200 for continuing the maintenance of food-producing trees on the Madhuban site in 2014. The Food Production Manager will manage the project once that position is filled. In the interim, Rafael, the proponent of the project, will report to Ranaka and be advised by Madhava Gosh.

3. 2014 operating budget

This will be discussed at the Annual Meeting in January, along with review of the 2013 budget.

4. Bahulaban barn deconstruction

Gosh will follow up with an Amish group to get a quote.

5. Bahulaban utility building temporary repairs

Navin Shyam will contact Gopisa to ensure that this is moving forward.

6. Bahulaban pink building demolition

Completed.

7. Deity flower garden

The $341.40 2013 budget overage will be taken out of the manager’s discretionary fund.

Gosh is currently acting as the Project Manager, with involvement from Vidya dasi.

8. Garden of Seven Gates related grants: Irrigation, greenhouses & pole barn

The Board deferred consideration of the high-tunnel greenhouse and pole barn projects pending the hiring of the FPM. The irrigation project is nearly complete, but more funding has been requested.

WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to maintain good relations in the greater Wheeling community, and to fairly compensate those who work on ECOV projects.

RESOLVED: The Board requests Ranaka to meet with Andy Reed of Apogee Design and authorizes him to offer Andy up to $1,100 for additional unanticipated labor performed on the Garden of Seven Gates irrigation project.

Payment will be contingent, however, on Andy providing the relevant ECOV and/or INV individuals with the following:

• Operator Manual with diagrams;
• Final field instructions;
• A list of spare parts;
• Names and locations of suppliers where we can obtain spare parts and materials required for any future expansion of the project;
• Any other training and/or documentation requested by INV or ECOV during the course of the project.

9. G7G prototype cabin

Varsana Swami will be engaged to do some backfilling. A gutter system also needs to be installed. The budget overage ($227.38 to date) will either be addressed using the management discretionary fund or an augmentation of the project budget itself.

10. Grain storage

Storage bin purchase and set up completed.

11. Valley barn roof repair

Completed.

12. Bulk grain purchasing

INV has begun exploring suppliers for purchases of rice and various beans.

13. Legal research

Completed. There will be a need to further engage our attorney when we hear back from the IRS in regards to the integrated auxiliary application. We anticipate this to be in about a year and will allocate the necessary funds at that time.

14. New Vrindaban Master plan completion

WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to reallocate funds for any project that is not making regular progress.

RESOLVED: The Board hereby returns to the general fund the remaining $5K budget allocated for the completion of a New Vrindaban Master Plan.

1967 December 21: "Be careful about your health. Not only you but all my noble sons. I am an old man. I may live or die it does not matter. But you must live for long time to push on this Krishna Consciousness movement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1968 December 21: "Accelerate these school engagements and I am sure you will be very successful. When Krishna sees that we are trying very sincerely to preach His message He becomes very pleased and showers all blessings upon us. So please continue in this spirit."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 December 21: "Mr. Harrison must join this Krishna Consciousness movement without hesitation. If Mr. George Harrison takes the lead in organizing a huge Sankirtana Party consisting of the Beatles and our boys surely we shall change the face of the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1972 December 21: "Yes, spiritual activities, even mentally performed, are beneficial. No, mental sinful activities do not cause a bad reaction. We do not suffer for thinking something sinful. Not in this age. That is a special concession for Kali-yuga."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972