Enchanting Kirtan with Madhava Prabhu in Vrndavan
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
Enchanting Kirtan with Madhava Prabhu in Vrndavan
Awakening Divine Soul – Chanting the Holy Names (Album 108 photos)
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Alachua Kirtan Mela with Madhava & Mayapuris Read more › Holy Name Nectar
→ travelingmonk.com
A daily routine …. “One must make it a daily routine to chant for an hour in the company of saintly Vaisnavas in a sacred, undisturbed place. Noting the Vaisnavas devotional attitude and their relish for the holy names, the neophyte should emulate this mood and gradually rid himself of all apathy while chanting. Step [...]
Holy Name
→ travelingmonk.com
While recuperating here in South Africa I am focusing on chanting the holy names – which are in and of themselves the best medicine. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur’s instructions in this regard are important: “Advanced Vaisnavas advise that chanting is best performed in the presence of Tulasi devi and in a place of Lord Krishna’s pastimes. [...]
Shelter of the Holy Name
→ travelingmonk.com
As I convalesce after my recent illness here in South Africa I take shelter of the instructions of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur in his Harinam Cintamani: “The devotee should make it a regular practice to spend a little time alone in a quiet place and concentrate deeply on the holy name. He should utter and hear [...]
Do we feel a need for God in our lives when life is treating us good?
→ Dandavats.com
When life is treating us good and all is going well, we often don't feel a need for God in our lives. Our material acquisitions -- money, property, friends and family -- become our crutch. As long as we have these things in place, we feel comfortable and don't have a strong need for a spiritual practice. However, when these things start to fade, we feel a sense of fear and panic come over us Read more › Initiations and celebrations in Nova Gokula Farm, Sao Paulo, Brazil (Album 91 photos)
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with Jayapataka Swami Read more › A Christmas Message: Be An Instrument of Peace
→ ISKCON News
The highest prayer is the prayer to become a selfless instrument in God’s hands. As Saint Francis prayed, “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.” He prayed not to receive, but to give.
World’s “Poorest President” Gives 90% of His Salary to Charities
→ ISKCON News
Jose Mujica, dubbed the "world's poorest president" for his significant contributions to the needy, considers himself anything but.
Why Suffering and Spirituality Go Hand-in-Hand
→ ISKCON News
It's quite natural for those of faith to turn towards God during difficult times. Even if one has a regular spiritual practice, their practice can increase and improve during times of difficulty.
Great Loss For The Vaishnava Community
→ Dandavats.com
Aniruddha dasa, a second-generation devotee leader from Nigeria died as a result of a car accident a few days ago. His passing is a great loss for the Vaishnava community and especially for the Hare Krishna devotees in West Africa and the Communications Ministry world-wide Read more › ISKCON Alachua expands into new heights!
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ISKCON of Alachua, Florida -- the largest Vaishnava community in North America with nearly 500 congregational families and three generations of devotees -- has began work on a new Master Plan for its future development Read more › In this age wealth is the sign of good birth, proper behavior and fine qualities and justice is received on the basis of one’s influence
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Kali Yuga series 7.
The post In this age wealth is the sign of good birth, proper behavior and fine qualities and justice is received on the basis of one’s influence appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
ISKCON Europe Excellence Awards in 2013
→ ISKCON News
Every year, ISKCON's European Governing Commission choses and awards the best performing devotees in many different fields, including book distribution, outreach, pujari service end event organizing.
New Vrindaban’s Transcendental “Throwback Thursday” – 12/19/13
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
It’s time for New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday!
Each week we highlight an earlier era in the history of ISKCON New Vrindaban and ask our readers to identify devotees in the photo.
This week there are ten people who can be named.
Extra credit if you spot the special “accessories” one of them is wearing.
Post your best guesses on the “who, what, when & where” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook Page.
Technical stuff: We post the photo Thursday and confirm known details Sunday.
Let’s have a bit of fun and see who knows their New Vrindaban history!
HH Indradyumna Swami’s kirtan at Madan Mohan, Sanatana Goswami’s Samadhi 10.11.2013
→ Gouranga TV - The Hare Krishna video collection
HH Indradyumna Swami’s kirtan at Madan Mohan, Sanatana Goswami’s Samadhi 10.11.2013
Visit from HH Sivarama Swami
- TOVP.org
Mayapur is livening up as devotees fill the campus from around the world. With courses, kirtans and kathaa in plenty, the community is enjoying the influx of visitors and residents. The offices at the TOVP have also benefited from the inspirational association of some of ISKCON’s leaders.
HH Sivarama Swami recently visited the TOVP and was taken on a tour of the site. Known for his ecstatic kirtan, Maharaja brought that same enthusiasm and vigor to his walkabout. Having a background in metallurgy, he expressed an interest in the materials being used in the fabrication of each design element. His attraction extended to him jokingly commenting that he was jealous the TOVP devotees had such an exquisite seva. He was also pleased by the regard and camaraderie shown amongst the TOVP staff and toward their guests. Furthermore, Maharaja was thrilled by the progress being made and he was so eager to see everything that his tour expanded into a three hour sojourn. His time with the TOVP devotees ended with an open invitation for him to join the round table.
The staff at the TOVP always enjoy giving tours. Not only is it an opportunity to guide visitors through what is being done, but the appreciation and excitement of the guests motivate the TOVP devotees to continue in their dedicated seva. This project serves as a meaningful milestone in ISKCON’s history, but he power of the support and encouragement from the international community ignites an immediate fire in the hearts of the TOVP staff.
The discoverer behind all discoveries
→ The Spiritual Scientist
The Lord inspires the individual soul to create what is already created by the Lord, and by the good will of the Lord a discoverer of something in the world is accredited as the discoverer. It is said that Columbus discovered the Western Hemisphere, but actually the tract of land was not created by Columbus. The vast tract of land was already there by the omnipotency of the Supreme Lord, and Columbus, by dint of his past service unto the Lord, was blessed with the credit of discovering America.
Find the devotee
→ KKSBlog
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.2-7)
We should never think that somebody is not a devotee. We should think that everybody is a devotee! The uttama-adhikari sees everyone as a devotee. We should find the devotee in other people. The devotee is there; we should just find it!
We treat someone as not a devotee then they may also say, “Yes, I am not a devotee.” But if we find the devotee; awaken the devotee… There is a devotee in every person!
The Symptom Of Good Japa
→ Japa Group
- The symptom of good Japa is that we like to chant.
- The symptom of poor Japa is lack of taste and a struggle to complete our rounds.
- Lack of taste is reinforced by the mood of, "I have to do chant" rather than in proper mood of "I want to chant, I get to chant, I love to chant."
- I have to chant sends a message to Krsna in the form of Nama Prabhu that we don’t like spending time with Him.
by Mahatma dasa
21 Dec 2013 – Disappearance Day of Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
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Worship of Govardhana Sila
→ travelingmonk.com
We have been blessed that Giriraja has come to us so we should be very careful not to become familiar, not make offenses and follow all the rules of bhakti.
Big celebration at Iskcon Detroit – The Bhaktivedanta Cultural Centre(Album 43 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
Inspired by the spiritual teachings of His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Alfred Brush Ford(great-grandson of Henry Ford) and Elisabeth Reuther Dickmeyer(daughter of United Auto workers President, Walter Reuther) jointly purchased the Fisher Estate in 1975 as the site for the Bhaktivendanta Cultural Center Read more › Produce Department Head Position Available
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
This is in New Vrindaban for the 2014 growing season. This is a compensated position.
Contact Madhava Gosh for details
gourdman8(at)gmail.com
Service Description
Department: Gardens & Produce
Mission: Make the gardens attractive, a place where pilgrims, visitors, and community members can find their connection with a natural way of living, create a proper service mood among the staff and support the temple with outstanding produce.
Goal: Produce vegetables and flowers for the New Vrindaban community as per Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. Make sure the garden looks attractive throughout the year. Engage staff and volunteers.
Job Title: Department Head Gardens and Produce
Authority: ECOV
Requirements/Skills:
Knowledge and experience in organic food production and garden management.
Interact and communicate in a friendly manner with visitors.
Supervise staff and volunteers, assign duties and evaluate service.
Value other people’s contributions and to express appreciation.
Deal with problems and time sensitive matters.
Organizational and administrative skills.
Steady, reliable, responsible, exemplary character.
Ability to follow budget and financial plan.
Responsibilities:
Plan the new season based on the needs of the temple.
Prepare the garden for each season (e.g. preparing the soil, planting the seeds, maintaining the crops, harvesting, etc.).
Managing daily operation of the gardens including staff and volunteers.
Maintaining an attractive, healthy garden.
Managing budget and controlling expenditures.
Inform the kitchen one week in advance about planned harvest.
Food processing and storage.
Ensure safety for all staff members, volunteers and guests.
Comply with licensing laws, health, safety and and statutory regulations.
Care and maintenance of machinery and power tools as appropriate.
Attend meetings and training courses as required.
Guruttama Pr. asks about freeing ourselves of bad qualities, dealing with abused devotees and building faith in abused novices
→ SivaramaSwami.com
Kali Yuga series 6.
The post Guruttama Pr. asks about freeing ourselves of bad qualities, dealing with abused devotees and building faith in abused novices appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
SB 01.15.13 – By acknowledging the orgin of our talents in Krishna and keeping him as the goal of our accomplishments, we complete the circle of loving reciprocation
→ The Spiritual Scientist
SB 01.15.12 – Our devotion is the basis for, not a distraction from, our practical accomplishments
→ The Spiritual Scientist
SB 01.15.11 – Dangers are opportunities to realize the reality of Krishna’s shelter
→ The Spiritual Scientist
SB 01.15.10 – Let our chanting and our dramatic and traumatic times symbiotically increase our relationship with Krishna
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Ramdas leading New Vrindaban’s 24 Hour Kirtan – June 15th, 2013
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
Video of Ramdas leading New Vrindaban’s 24 Hour Kirtan – June 15th, 2013.
Click here to view the video on YouTube.
Bhakti Caru Swami, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.10
→ Gouranga TV - The Hare Krishna video collection
Bhakti Caru Swami, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.10
Does ISKCON promote subtle emotional enjoyment in the name of spiritual enjoyment?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
From Mrigank Sharad
Gita condemns sensual enjoyment, but
does repeatedly talk about some kind of 'spiritual enjoyment',
like in chapter 6, many times the bliss of associating with brahman has
been stated. while iskcon tries to discourage gross sensual enjoyment, but it in
factpromotes some kind of subtle sensual enjoyment. Mind is a subtle
sense and
emotional thoughts about love and affection are like subtle sense
gratification. It makes one crave for others' association' and imposes a
feeling of attachment. Like, I was listening to one of the ISKCON sanyasis
at Chicago temple: " when you go to Krishna , he will welcome you, will
give you a hug, will play with you'... these sound like promoting subtle
sense-gratification, like the thoughts of emotional dependence
on some one. you may feel that i am questioning the concept of bhakti it
self, and am sounding more like adwaitis ( or mayavadis)). But these are
logic questions. I have not read any of their books. If i try to observe
what my mind is doing by thinking the way this prabhu thinks, i am just
allowing my mind to enjoy subtle pleasures , at the emotional level . And
some people may get intoxicated with this kind of feelings.
Is ISKCON’s conception of God like the Abrahamic religion’s jealous God?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
From Mrigank Sharad
The main ISKCON theory is that Krishna is the only enjoyer and all
others are to be enjoyed. This is the ultimate truth and those who rebel
against it , violate their essential 'dharma' and a bound to fall down.
This is nothing better than the portrayal of God as an envious frowning
master by the Abrahimic religions!
Could the unbelievable stories about Krishna not be some poets’ fabrications?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
From Mrigank Sharad
ISKCON being related to the school of Gaudia Vaishnavism emphasises upon
the form of devotion that is generally termed as 'madhurya rasa'. You talk
about gopis, and Krishna's form etc. I have heard many stories being
discussed by ISKCON celibates which sound strange: one goes like this:
Radharani cooks new dishes for Krishna every day in the spiritual world,
and never repeats a dish'... this kind of man-made stories are hard to
believe! And your slogan is to follow the foot-steps of acharyas! whats
the proof that the acharyas who told all these strange stories did not
fabricate them. for me Gita is logical, whether i look at it from the point
of view of dualism or advaita. Every rational person can connect with it.
But absolutely not with these kinds of stories.
The basic principle of missionary activities
→ The Spiritual Scientist
The pure devotees are not only satisfied by knowing everything about the Lord, but are also eager to broadcast the information to others, for they want to see that the glories of the Lord are known to everyone. Thus the devotee feels satisfied when such an opportunity is offered to him. This is the basic principle of missionary activities.
The Sound of Silence
→ Seed of Devotion
I walk through the cold and dark streets, the city night so quiet to me. I enter the park and walk past sludgy snow piled up against empty benches. Round street lamps bob in the night like so many candle flames. The almost full-moon hangs in the sky, surrounded by one or two glittering stars. The trees are all bare.
I gingerly sit on a cold bench before the Prabhupad Tree. I glance up at bare branches which seem to reach for the sky. Almost 50 years ago, Prabhupad came to sit under these branches to sing the holy name.Through his kirtan, he transformed hearts, he transformed the world.
Now, the word is silence - I seem to be surrounded by so much silence.
Every time I come here I feel this silence, and in that silence the emotion of gratitude always emerges. I feel grateful to Prabhupad for giving me a reason to live. I feel grateful that he persevered. I feel grateful to be breathing and to be on the path of love, true love.
I close my journal and rise to my feet, gazing at the Tree. I then kneel to the ground and touch my forehead to the cold concrete bricks in obeisance. When I stand again, I whisper, "Thank you Srila Prabhupad," and turn around to leave.
Walking away, I can still hear the silence.
I gingerly sit on a cold bench before the Prabhupad Tree. I glance up at bare branches which seem to reach for the sky. Almost 50 years ago, Prabhupad came to sit under these branches to sing the holy name.Through his kirtan, he transformed hearts, he transformed the world.
Now, the word is silence - I seem to be surrounded by so much silence.
Every time I come here I feel this silence, and in that silence the emotion of gratitude always emerges. I feel grateful to Prabhupad for giving me a reason to live. I feel grateful that he persevered. I feel grateful to be breathing and to be on the path of love, true love.
I close my journal and rise to my feet, gazing at the Tree. I then kneel to the ground and touch my forehead to the cold concrete bricks in obeisance. When I stand again, I whisper, "Thank you Srila Prabhupad," and turn around to leave.
Walking away, I can still hear the silence.
In Spite Of The Influences
→ Japa Group
From Harinama Cintamani
by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Our sacred space
→ KKSBlog
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2010, Sydney, Australia, Lecture)
We can choose what influences we allow to enter into our consciousness. We can declare our consciousness as a sacred space:
“This consciousness is something that I declare a sacred space and within this consciousness I’ll try and bring in influences that are uplifting, that are giving me strength and that are adding to my happiness.”
Initiation Ceremony, Gita Jayanti, Moksada Ekadasi, December 13, Vrindavan
Giriraj Swami
———————-
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Bhagavad-gita 3.34 and Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.11 during Ati Sundari dasi’s initiation ceremony.
“Above them are the devotees of the Lord, who neither aspire to enjoy the material world nor desire to get out of it. They are after the satisfaction of the Lord, Sri Krsna. In other words, the devotees of the Lord do not want anything on their personal account. If the Lord desires, the devotees can accept all sorts of material facilities, and if the Lord does not desire this, the devotees can leave aside all sorts of facilities, even up to the limit of salvation. Nor are they self-satisfied, because they want the satisfaction of the Lord only. In this verse, Sri Sukadeva Gosvami recommends the transcendental chanting of the holy name of the Lord. By offenseless chanting and hearing of the holy name of the Lord, one becomes acquainted with the transcendental form of the Lord, and then with the attributes of the Lord, and then with the transcendental nature of His pastimes, etc.” —SB 2.1.11 purport
Cultural program at Voloshina Library, Moscow, Russia (Album 70 photos)
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Bhagavad gita night Read more ›