Hare Krsna Everyone,

We are now in the most auspicious month of the vaisnavas calendar which is the month of Kartik. This Kartik month is where our dear Lord Krsna displays His Pastimes as Lord Damodara being bound by Mother Yasoda. Every day morning and evening there is an offering of lamp to Lord Damodara at the temple and in most houses of all the vaisnavas in the world. This is also the month where Lord Krsna lifted the Govardhana hill to protect the citizens of Vrindavan from the strong thunder and heavy rainfall released by Lord Indra.

Each year we in ISKCON Perth celebrate the Govardhan Puja Festival at the temple and this is our last major festival for the year. This year Govardhana Puja Festival falls on Sunday 3^rd of November 2013 and we have a very special spiritual program to help increase our devotion to Lord Sri Krsna. (PLEASE SEE PROGRAM BELOW)

We invite all of you to attend this most sweet and auspicious festival and please bring along some cakes, sweets, Savouries or fruits to decorate the Govardhana Hill. There will also be opportunities for everyone to sponsor the different activities that will be happening on that evening:

Sponsorship for Opulent Maha Feast – $701.00
Sponsorship for Govardhana Hill – $501.00
Sponsorship for Arati tray – $51.00
Sponsorship for flowers and decorations – $151.00

Please call
SitaRamLakshmana dasa (0422-045525) or
Syama Sarana dasa (0439-969002) for all your donations and
Hema Krsna dasa (0411-018849) for all your cakes and sweets.

We also like to wish every one a very Happy Diwali.

We hope you all can join us for our spiritual enlivening program at ISKCON Perth Kalamunda.

Thank you.

ISKCON Perth Festival Committee

Govardhana Puja Festival, Diwali  & Lamp Offering to Lord Damodara

Sunday 3^rd November 2013

Program on Sunday is as 

4.00 p.m. – Bhajans and Kirtans
4.30 p.m. – Class about the Pastimes of Giri Govardhan and lifting of the Govardhan Hill
5.30 p.m. – Circumambulation of Govardhan Hill by everyone present. (Please bring along some sweets or fruits as an offering to Giri Govardhan)
6.00 p.m. – Gaura Arati – Offering of lamp to Lord Damodara to celebrate the month of Kartik (Everyone can participate)
6.45 p.m. – Prasadam Feast served with plenty of cakes, sweets and fruits
HARE KRISHNA

 

HARE KRISHNA

The post Bhakta Nicolas asks how and when will ISKCON get back to the old standard of giving sannyasa to young men and brahmana diksa to new devotees appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Answer Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

HH Janananda Goswami Kirtan May 2013

This year Halloween falls on a Thursday- so we will be celebrating this transcendentally fun identity crisis by having an extra special NIGHT OF KIRTAN in our temple (right next door to the Krishna Lounge).

Costumes are very much optional,
and treats will be in great abundance.

6pm – 10pm
Thursday, Oct.31st
1030 Grand Ave San Diego, CA 92109

What would Jesus tweet? If Jesus were here today – or if Twitter had been an available app 2,000 years ago – would Jesus have used it as a communication tool to reach larger audiences? More broadly, would Jesus have used social media to spread his message? Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the Vatican’s media-savvy minister of culture, has suggested that Jesus “used tweets before anyone else.” What he meant was that Jesus made statements that were brief, punchy and full of meaning as a way of spreading his particular message of faith.

Elementary phrases like ‘Love one another’ would have fit within Twitter’s 140-character convention with room to spare for a hashtag. After all, Pope Francis has more than 3 million followers on Twitter. And presumably only the most steadfast Luddite would say that people of faith shouldn’t use every tool necessary to advance the faith. And this is likely true regardless of faith tradition – Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, whatever the spiritual expression of our lives.

But back to the original idea. How would Jesus have used Twitter? What would he have said in 140 characters? The Texas Faith panel considers the question and offers some provocative ideas about technology, faith and the modern world. (What if the Sermon on the Mount had been live-streamed? The clearing of the temple posted on YouTube?)

How would Jesus have viewed social media? What would Jesus tweet?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

Essential truth spoken concisely is true eloquence. - Vedic aphorism.

In spiritual life there is a principle called vairāgya, or renunciation. But this principle is often misunderstood. Many hold the idea that to give something up is renunciation. Such as, I give up my car, my guitar, my bank balance and so on. But this idea is seated in the notion that oneself is the owner of that item or activity that one is giving up. I give up my guitar because it is mine to give away. That is called phalgu vairāgya or false renunciation.

Yukta vairāgya, or practical renunciation, carries the idea that God is the owner and ultimate beneficiary of all things. Thus by using my guitar to sing the glories of God is the proper use of the guitar and my talent. Just as if one finds a wallet the right thing to is to return it back to the owner.

The wise devotee of the Lord learns how to use everything practically in the service of the Lord and at the same time is ever vigilant to maintain steady spiritual practice by avoiding those things that may impede it.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Every year my wife spends countless nights in preparation of the big day, Govardhana Puja.  Here are some photos & videos to enjoy!

 

and a few years earlier

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

"...the most important point is that everyone, especially the leaders, must always stick to the basic regulative practices that I have given, especially 16 rounds each day."

Letter to Hamsaduta
18 May, 1973

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2013, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.20.12)

It is said that as long as Krsna was gracing the planet; everything was auspicious, opulent and widely available. But when Krsna left the planet then everything changed and not only did natural opulence disappear but dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.43).

Dharma-jñānā also went with him. When Krsna left then the world was deprived of religious principles, the world was deprived of knowledge, and people sunk down into ignorance.

The Bhagavad-gita is particularly that book which cuts through ignorance because Arjuna is in ignorance. He has the bow, the gandiva, and it is gliding from his hand,

aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ
prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase
gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca
nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ, (Bhagavad-gita 2.11)

You are mourning for what is not worthy of grief, it is stated. Arjuna is in ignorance and therefore he is reminded of the position of the soul as being eternal. He gets an explanation of the three modes of material nature. He is explained on how lust is dealing,

āvṛtaṁ jñānam etena
jñānino nitya-vairiṇā
kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya
duṣpūreṇānalena ca, (Bhagavad-gita 3.39)

That lust covers the consciousness and covers knowledge and that is,

indriyāṇi mano buddhir
asyādhiṣṭhānam ucyate, (Bhagavad-gita 3.40)

That it is situated within the senses, within the mind and in the intelligence. So little-by-little, the Bhagavad-gita is pointing out how we are in the grip of the material energy. One learns the austerities of the body and how one has to bow down before elders and respect them. One learns the austerity of the mind and when the conditions are right, one has to be satisfied. The mind is never satisfied and always finds something that is not satisfying. With the austerity of the mind, we have to immediately cut a thought that is not ānukūlya

Anukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ
prātikūlyasya varjanam, (Hari-bhakti-vilasa, quoted in CC. Madhya 22.100)

Where it is ānukūlya, unfavourable, let go, just let that thought go, do not dwell on the thought! When it is favourable for the service of Krsna, then accept it. That is the way to deal with the mind – the austerity of the mind.

 

 

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer; if you are using Google Chrome it will automatically play, so to not listen, mute your speakers)

I am returning here after some time, and I am sure I miss my writing more than you do, but that is OK, and just the way this blog space, and life, works. I share a free verse blog poem I began over a month ago. This poem is about being caught up in life, so much so that I couldn't write much during the last two months. From a writer's perspective, this is funny, because there was so much "grist for the mill" or interesting events for possible writing material. While I did begin a few other pieces, I wasn't able to finish them. I am not speaking of "writer's block," but of feeling caught up with circumstances and pushed in many directions. While these pushes were not bad in themselves, somehow they weren't conducive for my writing practice. As a result of what seemed to be impediments for creating blogs, I was reminded of how much time and energy it takes to regularly write and to publish it here.

According to the Bhagavad Gita we aren't the real doer, and our will is only one of five factors of action [Bg 18.14]. Thus we are never independent, even in the simple (not so simple) maintenance of our body, and what to speak of accomplishing anything of value. From a spiritual perspective, we have to be "empowered" just to live and breathe. And this is more obvious to me in any creative pursuit like art, drama, writing, or what have you. Personally, without making writing a priority I can't consistently write, or write well enough to connect with my audience.

While I admit to being a mediocre writer when compared to the masters, I love to do it, and generally feel what I say, which I pray will be communicated to you. If I am successful, then my words have power and utility. I have found that my free verse poems generally are read less than my regular blogs. I have developed a free verse style over the last 6 years on Krishna.com that works for me, and those I have heard from. Admittedly you may be required to read a line or series of lines a few times to have a sense of the flow--whether a line is a complete thought or goes on for several lines. However, I am not trying to confuse you or make you work too hard (which I think some poets do), but to be as clear and concise as possible. Call it shorthand, codes, word pictures, sutras (to be generous), etc., my endeavor is to share what moves me in various ways.

read more

The ISKCON Radha Krishna Deaf People Association (RKDA) is a community of both deaf and fully hearing devotees who wish to help each other in their spiritual lives through practical study of Bhagavad-gita. We offer training to anyone who wishes to communicate in sign language. Read more ›

Indradyumna Swami: Parikrama around Govardhan Hill reveals the natural beauty of Vrindavan and helps the pilgrim to awaken love for the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha Krsna. Our parikrama photographer, Ananta Vrindavan das, truly captures the spirit of Vraja in this album Read more ›

Gopal Bhajan Band - a phenomenon unique and extraordinary. Having been born yet when the Soviet system, the group soon became a pioneer of the aristocratic etnoroka prayer, for many years ahead of his own confession, and along with social consciousness Read more ›

The post Krsnananda asks how it is that Srimati Radharani is known through the kama-gayatri mantra appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Visitors are aware of the acute shortage of space at Bhaktivedanta Manor during all but the smallest of functions. The Haveli project aims to provide a purpose built hall to meet the worship, cultural and educational needs of Bhaktivedanta Manor's congregation Read more ›

The post October 29th, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

By Akrura dasa "Thank you for your excellent e-book. I found many jewels inside." - Sacinandana Swami TABLE OF CONTENTS A New Role How To Become A Trusted Authority For Life? What Do You Want To Show To People? What Should People Feel About You? It's Our Original Nature – That's Why We Want It How Can People Get Confidence That They Can Be Successful? * "Becoming A Trusted Authority"

Did you know that the Krasnodar recently named the most livable city in Russia? We offer you a diverse, full of enthusiasm and joy of life Krasnodar devotees Read more ›

ISKCON New Vrindaban Vision Statement: 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.

Jhulan Yatra 2013 Hare Krishna Melbourne

"The chanting and hearing is essence. Even when dealing with a practical problem, Srila Prabhupada was seeing it and soon speaking of it in absolute terms. Chanting especially promotes this: leave everything aside and chant the holy name. Then we can take up even our most demanding preaching duties in this world with vigor and endurance."
From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

The scriptures such as the Puranas and Itihasas were written for mankind to follow the righteous path of Dharma free from vice thus gradually purifying one's heart of material desires. Even in the Judeo-Christian traditions, there are codes of morality given for mankind.

Despite abundant instructions on truth, justice and spiritual values in the scriptures, still, more than any sphere of existence today - the religious sphere encompasses violence and hatred. Why? The conclusion we can come to is in the interpretation of religion and not with religion itself. When a man with imperfections study and speak from scriptures it will only manifest in imperfections. Imperfections in the extreme sense can result in fanaticism. Therefore it is imperative that we seek guidance from a perfect person who is free from doubt. illusion and envy.

During the Kurukshetra war, there was an incident where Karna completely vanquished King Yudhistira in battle.  Karna did not kill King Yudhistira because of his promise to Queen Kunti. Retreating to his tent, Yudhistira was given medical treatment. At this time, Arjuna and Krishna entered the tent to check for Yudhistira's safety. Seeing Arjuna in the tent not avenging Karna made Yudhistira angry. He criticized Arjuna to give up his Gandiva and insulted him. As a kshatriya, insult is worse than death. Arjuna famous for keeping his vows had a vow that whoever tells him to give up his Gandiva will be killed. Seeing his predicament between fulfilling his vow and killing his brother, he turned to Krishna.

Krishna, in his response was shocked that Arjuna even considered killing his brother. Finally, Krishna had this to say to Arjuna about upholding religious vows "O Pārtha, your vow was made out of childishness. Now hear from me about the higher principles of religion....morality cannot be ascertained by logic, nor even in every case by a study of the scripture. One must seek the guidance of experienced and wise elders to learn its subtleties. All this I have heard from the ṛṣis, O Pārtha"

His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada is one such rsi or saintly person- If we submissively study his books, listen to his lectures and practice his instructions,  then we also will understand the subtleties of religion beyond logic and study of scripture.

Hare Krishna

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.36.11 – 16.

“After purifying Himself by bathing, Lord Hari became quite arrogant and said, ‘I have produced a pond containing all the various holy places, whereas you gopis must never have executed any religious duties on this earth for the pleasure of Lord Brahma.’ Then Srimati Radharani addressed Her girlfriends as follows.”

” ‘I must create an even more beautiful pond. So go to work!’ Having heard these words, the gopis saw that Arishtasura’s hooves had dug a shallow ditch just west of Sri Krishna’s pond.”

“At that nearby spot, all the gopis began digging up lumps of soft mud with their hands, and in this way a divine pond manifested in the short span of an hour. Krishna was astonished to see the lake they produced.”

“He said, ‘Go ahead, lotus-eyed one. You and Your companions should fill this pond with water from Mine.’

“But Radha replied, ‘No, no, no, no! This is impossible, since the water of Your pond is contaminated by Your terrible sin of killing a cow.’ ”

” ‘I will have My countless gopi companions bring the pure water of the Manasa-ganga here in billions of pots. In this way I will fill this lake with My own water and thus make its renown unequaled in the entire world.’ ”

“Lord Krishna then gestured to a heavenly personality who was an intimate associate of all the holy places. Suddenly that person rose up out of Krishna’s pond and bowed down to the daughter of Sri Vrishabhanu [Radharani]. Then, with palms joined and tears pouring from his eyes, he began praying to Her in devotion.”

” ‘O goddess, even Lord Brahma himself, the knower of all scriptures, cannot understand Your glories, nor can Lord Siva or Lakshmi. Only Krishna, the supreme goal of all human endeavor, can understand them, and thus He feels obliged to personally make sure that You can wash away Your perspiration when You are fatigued.’ ”

” ‘He is always anointing Your lotus feet with nectarean caru and yavaka and decorating them with ankle bells, and He rejoices and feels most fortunate simply by satisfying the tips of the toes of Your lotus feet. On His order we have immediately come here to live in this most excellent pond, which He created by one stroke of His heel. But only if You now feel satisfied with us and bestow upon us Your merciful glance will the tree of our desire bear fruit.’ ”

“Hearing this prayer spoken by the representative of the full assembly of holy places, Sri Radha was pleased and said, ‘So, kindly tell Me your desire.’

“They then told Her plainly, ‘Our lives would be successful if we could come to Your pond. That is the benediction we desire.’ ”

“Glancing at Her beloved from the corners of Her eyes, the daughter of Vrishabhanu replied with a smile, ‘Please come.’ Her gopi companions all agreed with Her decision and became immersed in the ocean of happiness. Indeed, the beauty of all creatures, both mobile and stationary, was enhanced.”

“Thus gaining the grace of Srimati Radharani, the holy rivers and lakes in Sri Krishna-kunda forcibly broke through its boundary walls and swiftly filled Radha-kunda with their waters.” – From the Puranas, quoted in SB 10.36.16

The Appearance of Sri Radha Kunda

The ISKCON Temple in Coimbatore is a well known pilgrimage centre located in the heart of the city. The ISKCON temple aims at spreading the science of Krishna consciousness with the help of Bhagavad Gita. Spread across an area of 20,000 sq ft, the temple has an array of beautiful deities belonging to Sri Radha Krishna, Sri Jagannath, Sri Baladev, Subhadra Devi and Sri Prabhupada Read more ›

Each page of the book glimpse a different faces of Lord Krishna.It also reveals the true bonding between Lord Krishna and his devotees. This spiritual Knowledge creates a special place of Lord in every one's heart Read more ›

Here's a clear photo of the tree that fell on the front lawn at Bhaktivedanta Manor as the result of the storm Read more ›