Darshan of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath ,ISKCON Temple,Chowpatty,Mumbai; on 21st December 2013
Darshan of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath ,ISKCON Temple,Chowpatty,Mumbai; on 21st December 2013
ISKCON Scarborough – Grand new year’s eve celebrations tomorrow!
→ ISKCON Scarborough
Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
We will usher in the year 2014 in a glorious manner tomorrow with a non stop 3 hour kirtan from 9 pm to 12 am at ISKCON Scarborough.
The program for 31st Dec 2013:
7 pm to 8 pm - Grand free vegetarian feast
8 pm to 9 pm - review of special events that took place at ISKCON Scarborough in 2013
9 pm to 12 am - Ecstatic Kirtan by Radha Murari group, HG Dhiranitai das, HG Paripurna das and others devotees
12 am to 12.30 am - Grand new year Arti
12.30 am to 12.45 am - Distribution of Spiritual gifts
We welcome you, your family and friends to our special new year's eve program tomorrow- Tuesday - 31st December 2013.
With best wishes from,
ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7
Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com
www.iskconscarborough.com
The Ultimate Dance
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Question: Spirituality should be silent and sober like in meditation. When devotees sing loudly and dance vigorously, how can such a noisy activity be considered spiritual?
Answer: Sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna to the accompaniment of music and dance, is actually meditation in its most profound, potent and practical form. Let’s see how.
The purpose of meditation is to connect with and experience spiritual reality. Silent meditation, as done through breathing exercises and yogic postures, tries to achieve this by negating the material, by deactivating the body and the mind. But since we're habituated to physical and mental activity, wouldn't it be easier and more natural if somehow the body and the mind could be used to raise ourselves to spiritual levels of consciousness? That is precisely what sankirtana does. 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—especially the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare—quickly and efficaciously transports our consciousness to the joyful realm of divine love.
Sankirtana acts like spiritual-music therapy to heal the soul in the current Iron Age, Kali-yuga. Just as a stone burdens the person carrying it, negative thoughts and emotions burden most people in the present age. Sankirtana floods the heart with positive, uplifting emotions like love, faith and joy and flushes away negative, burdensome emotions like hatred, anxiety and sorrow.
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who appeared some five hundred years ago, revived and popularized sankirtana all over India. Lord Chaitanya displayed divine dance so enchantingly that His golden complexion, graceful gait, and intense devotional emotions charmed everyone—from aristocrats like the king of Orissa down to crime-hardened rogues.
Indeed, Shri Chaitanya's dance charmed even the Muslim emperor Akbar, who lived half a century later: "Hail Thee, O Chaitanya, the victor of my heart.... O my heart's Lord, how can I express the love I have for Thee? Shah Akbar craves a drop from the sea of Thy love and piety." (Quoted by D. C. Sen in Chaitanya and His Age)
These verses composed by a Muslim emperor in glorification of one who is commonly considered a Hindu saint illustrate the universal appeal of this dancing meditation.
As a spiritual master in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's line, Shrila Prabhupada, through his ISKCON, popularized the divine dance of sankirtana in our times. Chanting and dancing devotees are now a familiar sight in major cities all over the world. Given that dance, an exuberant physical activity, and meditation, an introspective spiritual activity, intersect in sankirtana, it can well be called the ultimate dance.
December 31st, 2013 – Darshan
→ Mayapur.com
The post December 31st, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Is offering the heart to Krishna easier and more fulfilling than offering the head?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
From Kiran P
I always find easier and effective to control the head or mind through the heart, otherwise mind is very turbulent and chaotic and needs our heart and will power to control it, orelse i get lost somewhere. Heart is easy to control and more within one’s control and more satisfying to control too.
How can an aspiring devotee-precher put one’s heart in a career that increases people’s illusions?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
From Aditya Kumar Jha
I’ve been reading your gita daily articles since last two months and they are inspiring me a lot. I’m connected with ISKCON, East Kailash, New Delhi. I’m currently in final year of my engineering in ECE course. Prabhuji! my point is sometimes i feel like i’m very much closer to Krishna and at other times due to my surrounding i feel frustrated and doubtful of myself. I want to prepare myself as an extensive preacher and i want to know in what way should i make a balance between my sadhana and studies? I’m studying Embedded Systems and preparing myself for this field to join a private company but then i feel as an engineer the products which we make are all based on concept of creating unnecessary wants in the market. How can i then devote my time and brain in studying these things while knowing that i’m also a part of the group who are running away from the reality and forcing people to think that technology is the only thing which can make you happy?
How can we avoid the ego’s feeling that service to others is demeaning?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
If Krishna frees the surrendered of sinful reactions , why do pure devotees suffer?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
How can we avoid pride during times of material success and remain thankful to Krishna?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Ring in the New Year Hare Krishna Style on Dec 31st!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
Here's all that you need to know about this evening:
8:00pm - Kirtan will begin at the temple.
10:00pm - The kirtan will really pickup by this time!
10:30pm (approx) - Bundle up and off to Rosedale station.
11:30pm - We will start chanting in front of Old City Hall (NE corner of Bay & Queen)
12:00am - the kirtan will reach it's peak as fireworks set the sky ablaze!
1:30am (approx) - We'll get back on the subway and make our way back to the temple for hot ginger tea and snacks!
Some tips to keep in mind for this evening:
- Come early to the temple - enjoy the kirtan and association of devotees before we head out to City Hall.
- Dress warmly - it will be chilly, so dress in layers!
- Don't worry about weather - whether it be snow, rain, hail or sleet, we will usher in the new year with kirtan!
- Bring your voices - don't forget to chant with all of your hearts!
In our efforts to become pure, pride somehow or the other sneaks in. How to avoid this?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
When we have to spend time on family duties, how can we stay strong in our devotional standards?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
What can we do when the mind gets agitated by a tempting sense object that can’t be avoided?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
We surrender to Krishna’s will sometimes but mostly act for our own pleasure. What is our hope?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
When something happens, how do we decide whether it was due to past karma or present actions?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
The Relationship Between Sound And Form
→ Japa Group
From The Art of chanting Hare Krishna
by Mahanidhi Swami
Obituary: His Grace Bhimasena Das
→ Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, Hare Krishna Temple. ISKCON Brooklyn New York
His Grace Bhimasena das (Mr. Roberto Fucaloro) passed away on October 9th, 2013 in New York City. He su A dedicated disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhimasena prabhu lived in New York City for practically his whole life. He became a full time member of ISKCON in 1975, and his primary service as a devotee was acting in dramas with the famed New York ‘Vaikuntha Players’, with many legendary devotee actors including Lohitaksa Das and Rasajna Devi Dasi.
In 1999, he took up the service as the Director of the New York temple drama troupe, and till his last days was always eager to present dramatic performances at the temple for festivals, or on the big stage at the annual New York Ratha Yatra festival.
We miss his association very much and pray that Lord Nityananda Rama and Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu bless Bhimasena das Prabhu with engagement in Their causeless devotional service forever.
If There’s Something You’d Like to Try
→ Load Film in Subdued Light
Camera: Polaroid EE100BSL | Film: Fuji FP-100C
At the risk of brazen redundancy, I wanted to share a negative scan of a photo taken with the EE100BSL (Polaroid EE100 with a Big Swinger single element, plastic meniscus lens).
Above is the negative scan, and below is the original photo peeled off of it.
Camera: Polaroid EE100 (with Big Swinger 3000 lens) | Film: Fuji FP100C
These are two very different images. The negative is grainy and has lots of contrast, while the photo is much softer. The feel of the Big Swinger lens comes through in the photo much more than in the negative. In the photo, you’ve got an obvious soft focus, while all you notice in the negative is the grain.
Normally, I give the photos away and scan the negatives, but maybe with the EE100BSL, I’ll scan the photos.
02 Jan 2014 – Appearance Day of Sri Locana Dasa Thakura
→ ISKCON Desire Tree
Sankirtan – Where dance and meditation intersect for spiritual therapy
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Sankirtan churns feelings of separation and union to increase attraction to Krishna
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Lord Chaitanya – The Divine Alchemist
→ The Spiritual Scientist
New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day Programs at New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
The following New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Programs will be held in the temple at New Vrindaban. Everyone is invited!
Bring in the New Year with Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra
Tuesday December 31th 2013
5:00 am Mangala Aratika
5:45 am Japa session
7:00 am Milking the cows at the Goshala
7:30 am Sringar Darshan
7:40 am Guru Puja
8:00 am Srimad Bhagavatam Class
12:30 pm Rajbhog Aratika
12:30 pm Gopi dots face painting and more for kids with Gopi Priya devi Dasi
4:30 pm Dhupa Aratika
5-6 pm Sacred Stories told by resident story teller H. G. Sankirtan Prabhu
6 pm Go Puja in the Goshalla (Venkat Prabhu)
7:00 pm Gaura Artika
7:45 pm Prasadam
8:30 pm Shayan Darshan
9:00 pm Fire Jagja to invoke auspiciousness for a Good New Year (Venkat Prabhu)
10:00 pm Bhajan (Lilasuka Mataji)
Wednesday January 1st 2014
5:00 am Mangala Aratika
5:45 am Japa session
7:00 am Milking the cows at the Goshala
7:30 am Sringar Darshan
7:40 am Guru Puja
8:00 am Srimad Bhagavatam Class
12:30 pm Rajbhog Aratika
1:30 pm Prasadam
4:30 pm Dhupa Aratika
7:00 pm Gaura Artika
8:30 pm Shayan Darshan
New Year’s Eve Program
→ New Vrindaban
Temple Program for Tuesday December 31th 2013
5:00 am Mangala Aratika
5:45 am Japa session
7:00 am Milking the cows at the Goshala
7:30 am Sringar Darshan
7:40 am Guru Puja
8:00 am Srimad Bhagavatam Class
12:30 pm Rajbhog Aratika
12:30 pm Gopi dots face painting and more for kids (Gopi Priya devi Dasi)
4:30 pm Dhupa Aratika
5-6 pm Sacred Stories told by resident story teller H. G. Sankirtan Prabhu
6 pm Go Puja in the Goshalla (Venkat Prabhu)
7:00 pm Gaura Artika
7:45 pm Prasadam
8:30 pm Shayan Darshan
9:00 pm Fire Jagja to invoke auspiciousness for a Good New Year (Venkat Prabhu)
10:00 pm Bhajan (Lilasuka Mataji)
Temple Program for Wednesday January 1st 2014
5:00 am Mangala Aratika
5:45 am Japa session
7:00 am Milking the cows at the Goshala
7:30 am Sringar Darshan
7:40 am Guru Puja
8:00 am Srimad Bhagavatam Class
12:30 pm Rajbhog Aratika
13:30 pm Prasadam
4:30 pm Dhupa Aratika
7:00 pm Gaura Artika
8:30 pm Shayan Darshan
Harinama and Prasadam distribution in Navadwip village (Album 39 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
30/12/2013 -- Read more › Sir Ivan The Krishna Remixes
→ View From a New Vrindaban Ridge
What was the best life investment ever for John Vis?
→ Dandavats.com
When the realities of The Gita, Krishna’s message, were told to me, my world had turned around. That was back in December of ’72, right at Christmas time. It was the present I ever received. I am grateful to those five monks that did the delivery. Their names I have not forgotten – Visvakarma, Ayodhya Pati, Satyahit, Drupada, and Dustadhura. They had peculiar names (in Sanskrit) and like the early pages of The Gita where names of warriors are identified, I found the names of my new friends to be odd, yet exotic. -- Read more › 2013 Bhakti Shastri – English (Album 140 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
The Bhakti-sastri course is a systematic study of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Prabhupada wanted all of us to deeply study his books, so that we could be better preachers, teachers and, very importantly, achieve a clear understanding and application of the beautiful science of devotional service. Sri Vrindavan Dham mercifully provides a unique environment to enhance one’s taste and appreciation of the treasures of direct bhakti. -- Read more › Mumbai Govinda’s: Culinary delight inside ISCKON
→ Dandavats.com
The Hare Rama Hare Krishna or ISKCON Temple in Juhu (Mumbai) is thronged by devotees of Lord Krishna throughout the year. But foodies with a huge appetite also have a big reason to visit the temple, provided they have a fat pocket. That reason is Govinda’s, a restaurant situated inside the premises of ISKCON. -- Read more › New Vrindaban Daily Darsan @ December 30, 2013
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
Please see the link for all photos ….
https://plus.google.com/u/0/114809389518597520995/photos
The materialists, who are strongly attached to the objects of sense gratification, the ascetics, who cannot tolerate even a glimpse of sense happiness, the earnestly endeavoring yogis, the impersonalists, whose minds are merged in Brahman happiness, and the devotees whose minds have entered the lotus flower of Lord Govinda’s feet, are all enchanted by the transcendental qualities of Sri Vrindavana.
[ Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrndavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-21 Translation ] 
Varsana Holy Name Retreat (Album 78 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
The most merciful environment of the holy dhama in the association of sincere seekers of mercy helps us to go deeper in developing spiritual taste and becoming devoted servants of the Holy Names and Srila Prabhupada’s legacy! -- Read more › Morning sadhana is vital
→ The Spiritual Scientist
“If you want to follow Caitanya Mahaprabhu, there is no question of sleeping in the morning."
Srila Prabupada, Conversation, Aligarh, 10/9/76.
Harinama in Rio Beach, Brasil (Album 16 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
Harinama Sankirtana ki Jaya! -- Read more › Short morning kirtana in New Vraja-dhama
→ SivaramaSwami.com
The post Short morning kirtana in New Vraja-dhama appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Markendeya Rsi describes the age of Kali – lots of crows among other things
→ SivaramaSwami.com
Kali Yuga series 12.
The post Markendeya Rsi describes the age of Kali – lots of crows among other things appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
2013-14 VIHE Govardhan Retreat – November 29 – December 5 (Album 64 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
Every year at the end of month Kartik VIHE holds the annual Govardhan Retreat. Devotees from all around the world come to participate in a wonderful week of Krsna-katha, ecstatic kirtans and many breathtaking darsanas of Giriraja Govardhana. The sublime atmosphere of the sacred Govardhana Hill enables those who live and preach outside of the Holy Dhama to immerse themselves in the magical world of Krsnas pastimes -- Read more › Symptoms of Kali Yuga Part 3
→ HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami
13-12-2013 SB 12.2.10 The Symptoms of Kali Yuga 3, Beau Bassin, Mauritius.mp3
After 57 hours of no electrical power, Toronto devotees celebrate with a …pizza party! :-)
→ Dandavats.com
The whole force of nature seemed to have that bonding effect on everyone in Toronto. In the ashram at meal time where there’s no access to light in the eating room, all the monks were getting together hovering around a single candle. Everyone was quite liking it. It was as it should be, perhaps. -- Read more › Beautiful Iskcon Mayapur and its residents! (Album 82 HR photos)
→ Dandavats.com
Dec 2013 -- Read more › Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-12-30 08:35:00 →
1967 December 30: "You will be glad to know that yesterday I have signed the agreement with MacMillan for publishing Gitopanisad. So far my health is concerned, Gaurasundara is keeping me fit by massaging and Govinda dasi is supplying me upma."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967