Planet ISKCON

The post August 23rd, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

HH Radhanath swami Kirtan @ jivamukti tribe

In 3rd Grade, we’ve begun a detailed study of English Grammar.  The focus this month has been Capitalization.  Do you know how many capitalization rules there are for the English language?  Proper nouns, uncles & aunts names, names of languages, streets, buildings, professions, parks, cities, states, and so much more!  Tons to remember!

To help student remember the long list of rules for Capitalization, we took the list from the Easy Grammar Workbook and built sentences using Grammar Cards.   Wacky and weird sentences.  With a whole variety of common and proper nouns, students had to decide which words would be capitalized and which lowercase.  They paired these nouns with exciting action verbs.  They partnered up, wrote the sentences and shared them with the class.

Some examples:
“The gorilla in the Empire State Building tumbled down the stairs.”  (I smile just thinking of their gleeful laughs as we all pictured a gorilla tumbling.)

“The owl and the polar bear got lost in Detroit.”

When their sentences were built, we shared them!  We made long imaginative stories with each one!  What fun it was!  Take a look above!

n SB 10.12.11- ittham satam brahmasukhanubhutya.., there is the word krita punya punjah- which means those who have accumulated pious deeds- the verse is saying that such persons can play with the Supreme Lord. I have heard you explain that bhakti only comes from bhakti, not from punya? Does the word 'punya' here mean 'bhakti'?  BG 7.28 and its purport also seem to suggest that one's sins need to end first through pious activities before bhakti can begin.In general, there seems to be some confusion on this point. Some devotees talk about 'sukriti' in the context of bhakti, others say that sukriti is irrelevant, that it is the *causeless* mercy of the Vaisnavas and point to Srila Prabhupada's disciples who were hippies and led sinful lives before becoming Vaisnavas. It would really help to get a clear discussion of this point.

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As students of the Gita, we may face this question. “How can we live according to the Gita’s ancient tradition in today’s world?”

By being flexible but not fickle.

Being fickle means changing our actions based on the moods of the mind, doing whatever recommendation of the Gita feels good and avoiding whatever doesn’t feel good. By being fickle, we stay stuck on the mental level without rising to the spiritual level.

Being flexible, on the other hand, means adjusting our behavior according to time-place-circumstance by clearly understanding what is essential and what is peripheral in the tradition.

The Bhagavad-gita points to such focusing on the essential when it urges Arjuna (02.45) to rise beyond the Vedic rituals that are material, being within the three modes. This verse concludes with a call to become atmavan – the possessor of the soul.

When we are ourselves the soul, what does being a possessor of the soul mean?

It means staying conscious of our spiritual identity and choosing our actions so that our spiritual consciousness becomes strengthened, not weakened. We don’t change the essential spiritual practices such as mantra meditation and scriptural study, because such monkeying with the tradition will injure our spiritual health. But that which is peripheral – certain cultural specifics, for example – can be adjusted so that we don’t exhaust our limited energy in fighting over externals, and so are left with no energy for the internals.

Being a possessor of the soul doesn’t imply mere abstract theoretical mentation about the soul. It implies concrete practical action in devotional service to Krishna, for such service is the real life of the soul. The more we internalize this attitude of service, praying, “Krishna, how can I serve you best?” the more we will gradually gain, by Krishna’s grace, the insight to focus on the essential.

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The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the three modes of material nature. O Arjuna, become transcendental to these three modes. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self.

We are sorry to announce that the Loft will be closed on Thursday 29th August for a festival Event. We are sorry for any inconvenience and we will be open again from Sunday 1st Sept, starting with our huge COMEDY FESTIVAL. The Loft

The post Closed Thursday 29th Aug appeared first on The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland.

The kings of all planets are especially meant for the protection of the inhabitants, and therefore the royal order should understand the science of Bhagavad-gita in order to be able to rule the citizens and protect them from material bondage to lust.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is 4.1 purport

Hare Krishna

As mentioned in a previous blog I’m putting together the second Diwali festival for the local community were I live; this year we will also advertise so this is my second attempt:

Thank you to the very eagle eyed devotee who spotted my mistake on the first flier, Yes the year does make a big difference it’s not quiet 2014 yet.

I will be at Bhaktivadanta Manor on the day of Diwali and so it is planned during the month of Kartika but when the community hall and groups I’ve been working with are available just incase anyone’s wondering about the dates on it

As always any humble corrections thought’s suggestions on how I can make it attractive to as many people as possible would be fabulous

This arrived in my inbox today, I’m always pleased when receiving such wonderful devotee links; it also demonstrates why I feel more mataji’s should lead kirtan:

Hare Krishna Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obesiances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Below is a link of the kirtan I recorded on the last day of our trip together at Villa Vrindavana.

I pray I see you all at Janmashtami.

your servant,
dipak

SB 01.02.12 Opportunities to Serve 2013-07-18 Balkan Summer Camp (Bulgarian)

1.1-1.46 2.1-2.30 2.54-3.8

Founded in 1968, Srila Prabhupada boldly envisions New Vrindaban as a sacred place known worldwide for Cow Protection, Self-Sufficiency, Holy Pilgrimage, Spiritual Education, and, above all, Loving Krishna.

Streets of Nadia – Nrshima Prayer

Sometimes we get so caught up in watching a movie that we forget where we are, even who we are. The content of our experience, the hopes and horrors of the movie characters, make us oblivious to the context of that experience: the reality that we are observers seated on a chair, distinct from the happenings in the movie.

When the content of an experience blinds us to its context, that blinding effect is the essence of illusion. Similar is the illusion that traps us souls in material existence. We get so caught up in the pleasures and pains of the body that we forget who we are – the experience makes us oblivious to the experiencer, the source of consciousness, the soul.

The difference between a movie and material existence is that in the latter we are not just spectators but also actors. Tragically however, as actors we are not victors but victims. The actions we do to gain pleasure and avoid pain bring karmic consequences that incriminate us further in material existence, thereby subjecting us to greater illusions.

To come out of this illusion, we need philosophical education and personal introspection. The Bhagavad-gita (06.18) indicates that those who bring their consciousness under control by rejecting sensual desires become situated on the spiritual platform, free from illusion.

Intriguingly, not all illusion is bad. In the highest level of existence in the spiritual world, Goloka Vrindavana, devotees relish such exciting and fulfilling experiences in loving Krishna that the content makes them forget the context; they become oblivious to the supreme position of Krishna and their subordinate position. They delight simply in the reciprocation of love. That divine illusion is existence’s supreme achievement – the perfection of pure and perennial love.

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When the yogi, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in transcendence – devoid of all material desires – he is said to be well established in yoga.

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