The Honorable Mayor of Baroda grants ISKCON exemption from land increment laws (Album 10 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

The Honorable Mayor of Baroda, Sri Bharat Shah, Standing Committee Chairman, Dr. Hitendra Patel, and a number of Baroda (Vadodara) Municipal Corporation elected representatives visited us this past October on the night when the VMC unanimously passed a resolution "varying" TP scheme 14, granting ISKCON exemption from land increment laws (where we would have had to surrender more than an acre of our present property). Read more ›

As the world judges us by actions not dispositions how can we avoid the confusion caused by wrong judgments?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Dilip Singh

For two different individuals ,different actions (but maintaining same disposition),creates confusion in their minds and to answer their confusion is again more difficult. World perceives the doer thru his actions & not disposition. Typical eg. is Bali and Sugriva. So prabhuji, need your explanation to get rid of this confusion.

Answer Podcast

A visit to Nanda Ghat, where Krsna’s father was caught by a servant of Varuna for bathing too early in the morning (Album 158 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: The other day we visited a quiet and isolated place in Vraja up the Yamuna river. Nanda Ghat is where Krsna's father was caught by a servant of Varuna for bathing too early in the morning. Devotees loved hearing the pastime how he was rescued by Krsna. The people of the village were curious seeing so many western devotees in their humble abode. They were kind to us and we so much appreciated their hospitality. Read more ›

Initiation Ceremony, November 13, Vrindavan, India
Giriraj Swami

11.13.13_24.VrindavanGiriraj Swami and Indradyumna Swami accepted disciples during a blissful initiation ceremony at the samadhi of Srila Srinivas Acharya in Vrindavan.

“It is a very joyful occasion because we are making the turnabout to go back home. But it is a serious affair as well; these are serious vows. Devavrata took a vow that he wouldn’t marry and would be celibate. And when he took that one vow, the devatas showered flowers from the sky. They called him Bhisma — how horrible a vow. These are difficult vows. But the guru reciprocates with our determination. When the disciple takes these vows, the guru also very seriously considers that his job is not over until his disciple goes back home to Godhead. Sometimes the guru has to come back to deliver the disciple if he or she doesn’t make it. So, there are some perks: we get some garlands, get a cushion for the feet, and get some donations; we ride in the car instead of the bus. But really it is a serious thing, and the disciple should understand that the guru is prepared to come back to deliver the disciple. And then even in the spiritual world we continue to serve our guru maharaja.” — Indradyumna Swami

11.13.13_01.Vrindavan11.13.13_02.Vrindavan11.13.13_03.Vrindavan11.13.13_04.Vrindavan11.13.13_05.Vrindavan11.13.13_06.Vrindavan11.13.13_07.Vrindavan11.13.13_08.Vrindavan11.13.13_09.Vrindavan11.13.13_10.Vrindavan11.13.13_11.Vrindavan11.13.13_12.Vrindavan11.13.13_13.Vrindavan11.13.13_14.Vrindavan11.13.13_15.Vrindavan11.13.13_16.Vrindavan11.13.13_17.Vrindavan11.13.13_18.Vrindavan11.13.13_19.Vrindavan11.13.13_20.Vrindavan11.13.13_21.Vrindavan11.13.13_22.Vrindavan11.13.13_23.Vrindavan11.13.13_25.Vrindavan———————————————————————————————–
Kirtan by Madhava dasa
Induction Talk by Indradymna Swami
Talk by Bhurijana dasa
Talk by Bada Haridas
Initiations and Talk by Giriraj Swami
Initiations and Talk by Indradymna Swami

Study Bhāgavatam With Your Whole Heart and Mind, and you will have No More Confusion or Doubt
→ The Enquirer

The text below presents Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 2.10.8-9. The entire Bhāgavatam is full of such profoundly deep knowledge and realization. Please devote your heart and mind to study of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.

Parīkṣit: Then the soul is not the ultimate refuge, the Supreme Soul is?

Śuka: The soul is the refuge of three treasures, but is not its own refuge.

Parīkṣit: Please explain! What are the three treasures the soul possesses?

Śuka: Individuality, divinity, and substance are the three treasures sheltered in the sanctuary of the soul.

Parīkṣit: How are they related?

Śuka: Where there is individuality there is a person, and a person certainly is also divine, but it is the person’s substance which stands between the two.

Parīkṣit: To understand this, it might help if I knew the tangible nature of three qualities.

Śuka: Individuality is tangible as consciousness – the awareness of things from a point of view.

Parīkṣit: Divinity?

Śuka: Divinity is tangible as the power of perception – the superior position of observer rather than the observed.

Parīkṣit: And substance?

Śuka: Substance is tangible as the senses which constitute a physical body.

Parīkṣit: In what sense does the body (substance) “stand between” consciousness (individuality) and perception (divinity)?

Śuka: In one sense as a conduit or interface: The bodily senses allow the consciousness to exercise its perception. In another sense as a divider, a blockage: Investing your individuality into an unreal substance cuts you off from your full divine nature.

Parīkṣit: Now I understand that the soul is the refuge of three treasures. Please explain why the soul is not its own refuge, and what the soul’s refuge is.

Śuka: These three qualities of the soul are relative to one another. The existence of one depends on the existence of the other. If one is absent, the others cannot manifest.

Parīkṣit: I understand. Conscious perception cannot manifest without sense organs, but sense organs are useless without consciousness and the divine power of perception.

Śuka: A fourth entity possesses and utilizes these three, she is the “soul” – the true self. That true self is a treasure in turn possessed by the supreme self. So, three treasures are sheltered in the soul, and the soul is an entity sheltered by a being who is his own shelter. Thus the ultimate refuge of everything is the Supreme Soul.

supersoul