Websites from the ISKCON Universe
From Saipriya
Does Lord Krishna help devotees when they face challenges in school with teachers, bullying by classmates and friends?
To hear the answer podcast, please click here
From Jacob P
One place Srila Prabhupada is saying that sahajias are much much better than mayavadis and that they are devotees.
To hear the answer podcast, please click here
From Jacob P
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2013, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi Lila 9.46)
Not only are we taking shelter of Krsna, but we also let Krsna lead our way. Krsna has placed us in a particular position
karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa
jantur dehopapattaye
We are not only taking birth by our karma, but also by divine arrangement. Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa – it is also by the arrangement of Krsna that we find ourselves in a particular situation. And a certain amount of acceptance of our destiny is required.
“Well, you know, this is what came my way, and I’ll just roll with it. I will not get into too much of anxiety about my condition of life. I don’t need to turn everything upside down to try and make some sort of arrangement by which I will get a better life.”
All that energy should not go towards the material arrangement. All that energy should go towards our service for Krsna. In so far as our material arrangement is concerned, we accept what comes naturally, what comes …karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa .. by karma and by divine arrangement.
We see that the tree is a symbol of acceptance and we must also accept our destiny. A tree has no choice – it cannot run away. We also must accept, must be tolerant and generous
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2013, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi Lila 9.46)
Not only are we taking shelter of Krsna, but we also let Krsna lead our way. Krsna has placed us in a particular position
karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa
jantur dehopapattaye
We are not only taking birth by our karma, but also by divine arrangement. Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa – it is also by the arrangement of Krsna that we find ourselves in a particular situation. And a certain amount of acceptance of our destiny is required.
“Well, you know, this is what came my way, and I’ll just roll with it. I will not get into too much of anxiety about my condition of life. I don’t need to turn everything upside down to try and make some sort of arrangement by which I will get a better life.”
All that energy should not go towards the material arrangement. All that energy should go towards our service for Krsna. In so far as our material arrangement is concerned, we accept what comes naturally, what comes …karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa .. by karma and by divine arrangement.
We see that the tree is a symbol of acceptance and we must also accept our destiny. A tree has no choice – it cannot run away. We also must accept, must be tolerant and generous
From His kingdom the Personality of Godhead sends His bona fide servants to propagate this message by which one can return to Godhead, and sometimes the Lord comes Himself to do this work. Since all living beings are His beloved sons, His parts and parcels, God is more sorry than we ourselves to see the sufferings we are constantly undergoing in this material condition.
In 1969 I bought the Radha Krishna record and a year later a book from a devotee in London. In 1973 I got a job in the British Museum and started going to Bury Place regularly for lunch. This was the original London temple before Soho St. My boyfriend and I went to stay at Bhaktivedanta Manor in November 1973. By wonderful arrangement Srila Prabhupada was there. I remember the first morning he came in, as the Govinda prayers started playing, the curtains opened and we all bowed down in front of the Deities with him. It was so overwhelming that I cried. We attended his morning lectures, gave him flowers and went to the airport with him when he had to leave and sat by his feet chanting.
Soon after that we moved to Lancaster and for a year distributed books and had Sunday programmes. We stayed with Ranchor Das Prabhu in Manchester a couple of times, and Rebatinandana Swami and several devotees stayed with us for a few days. In late 1974 I became the first English girl to become a life member and had a meeting with Srila Prabhupada in his room at the Manor with other life members.
Moving back to Essex, I met then married Martin in 1979. We had three children (Ross, Joseph and Lauren) and run a small farm together. We couldn’t get to the temple much for the next few years till my eldest son Ross learnt to drive and was able to take us to the Manor regularly, which we still do. We have made many dear friends there, and appreciate their precious association. We also go to Soho Street temple when we can, and also have lovely friends there. The devotees at both temples have always made us most welcome and inspire us to progress in Krishna Consciousness.
I joined the Mayapur TV online Morning Program in November 2007 and have hardly missed a day since and really consider it an important part of our lives. Ross, Lauren and my two grandchildren (Mia and Samuel) also attend the programs. Lauren and I log in at 4:30am so have 4 hours association with devotees each day which has helped our spiritual progress greatly. The relationships we have developed with the devotees who come online regularly are deep, loving and also great fun! It is a life-line for people like us who are far from the temples.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all the devotees!
Lauren
My two brothers and I grew up learning about Krishna and going to the Manor occasionally. My mother had been going there since 1973 but we couldn’t get there often. Her friend Jagatam and her son Nimai came to visit us and I loved being with them.
It wasn’t till my older brother Ross began to drive and take us there every other week and for festivals that I really got to learn more and make lots of friends and now I love going there more than anything.
Mum and I go on the Morning Programme each day from 4:30 am till the end of class at 8:30 and that is the most important time of the day for us.
Hari bol!
Left to right starting from the back: Joseph, Martin, Ross, Sam, Julia, Mia, Lauren.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
If you wish to contribute your story, please try to limit it to 2 pages as Julia and others have done. Thanks. Ed.
(With apologies for late publication – Ed)
Please see the letter below from Govardhan devi dasi, Prabhupad disciple, about this new weekly group starting Saturday 13th April!
If you live in or near York and would like to do some service, please print, cut into four and distribute this leaflet, to counters in and around York.
Hare Krishna!
ISKCON Yorkshire has a new branch of Nama Hatta opening in York at the Quaker Meeting House, Friargate, York City Centre.
We’ll meet from 6 to 8pm every Saturday, after doing some Harinam in town each week.
Our first meeting is on Saturday 13th April, and on that day the Harinam will be headed up by His Holiness Dayananda Swami, meeting at 2.30pm in the Castle Car Park.
We hope to see many visitors and guest speakers – you will all be given a very warm welcome!
You can email us at iskcon.york@gmail.com
Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Govardhan dd
Please click this link if you wish to print flyers york poster x4
Nottingham, 1st April 2013. A bunch of fools? No, a team of devotees and non-devotees run around like ants – sweeping, mopping, screwing tables together, and putting final licks of paint… you get the picture! In the background, leaflets are being distributed, Govinda’s is appearing on websites, word is getting around.
The decor’s gorgeous – clean, relaxing colours, Govinda pic on the left wall, a lovely one in front of the kitchen of Srila Prabhupada cooking. Other pics, banners – it’s all very tasteful.
2nd April, late morning: a few more finishing touches and hey presto, in walk the first two customers, Glenis and Mick. They laugh as someone asks if it’s ok to put them on the Internet and tuck in happily to plates piled high with prasadum from the all-you-can eat buffet. They’ve been walking by every day, waiting for Govinda’s to open.
Local vegans are on Cloud Nine: there was nowhere much for them to go, now look at all the vegan options! And Salendria, Prabhupad disciple and Head Cook, is happy to pop out of the kitchen and explain to those on special diets, in fact anyone who asks, what the ingredients are.
Trade is really good on day one and climbs daily. The friendly little team seem as happy as the customers and, a few days later, so are the Nama Hatta devotees, comparing notes and realising that Govinda’s has provided everyone with plenty of service this week.
Please see Govinda’s Nottingham Facebook site for pics and up-to-date information and comments.
https://www.facebook.com/GovindasNotts
Govinda’s Nottingham ki Jai!
Children’s Corner
with thanks to Dhamananda devi dasi
Colour in this Krishna pic!
Older children: try this crossword:
Ekadasi
Please see this site for details of upcoming Ekadasi dates:
http://ekadashi.iskcondesiretree.info/02_-_Ekadasi%20observance.htm
and this one for lots and lots of information about Ekadasi:
Please send all submissions to kcfoundme@hotmail.co.uk
If you are sending your story, please try to keep it to 2 pages of A4. Thank you.
(A nudge when you are on MTV to remind me to check this email will ensure a quicker reply!)
BY SHEVAANNI PILLAI
KUALA LUMPUR - Led kirtan for the first time ever during Aindra prabhu's tribute yesterday in Sri Jagannatha Mandir, Kuala Lumpur :) Thank you Aindra prabhu, for giving us the incredible oppurtunity to relish in such awesome kirtans and for a wonderful experience like no other ! You're truly such an inspiration, and you'll always live on in your beautiful and amazing self-composed melodies of the Holy Name. All due to the mercy of studying in Mayapur.
Nrsimha Caturdasi in Mayapur - My blood-splattering partner-in-crime ! Had a blast working with the M-Yes crew for the Nrsimha Vijaya drama ! It was so fun being a demon/cliff/snake/guard lol. Oh and of course the highlight of it all, getting my mouth ripped apart by Nrsimhadev while vomitting blood and tumbling off stage to my death
Visit by mum during Gaura Purnima 2013 - My mother and I share a very close and initimate relationshop. Other than the obvious mother daughter relationship, we also tend to treat each other like best friends. We share and exchange personal stories and experiences about our lives with one another. She also helps me face my problems and give me good advice. She has been my pillar of strength and support through the ups and downs of my life. As a mum, she knows her duties of instilling moral values in me and always make sure I practice them. My mum always says that respect is earned when you learn to respect others and I think that is the basis of our relationship..
Acted as Krishna for Sri Mayapur International School's Open Day
Janmastami in Mayapur
The Monday night BHAJANS at Yamuna’s house will be combined, instead, with a home program at Gopa and Damodara’s house.
Guest Speaker: His Grace Bhakti Vasudeva Maharaja, from Nigeria, a disciple of His Holiness Bhaktitirtha Swami
**
EVERYONE INVITED: POTLUCK DINNER
MONDAY JULY 22
GOPA & DAMODARA’S HOUSE
at 6:00 PM
The post July 21st, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
BTG Cover – Vol 1, # 23, February 1969
by Hayagriva Dasa
A spritual concept of community life
One practical aspect of the Krishna Consciousness Movement is now taking form in the hills of West Virginia. This is a report on the development and the philosophical background of that important project.
“You have New York, New England and so many ‘new’ duplicates of European places in the USA why not import New Vrindaban in your country?” -A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, in a letter to his disciples
New Vrindaban, a spiritual community united in the pursuit of Krishna Consciousness, is now taking shape under the guidance of our Guru Maharaj, A. C . Bhaktivedanta Swami. Now the hills of West Virginia are vibrating daily with the Maha (Hare Krishna) Mantra, and it is certain that the forests, fields and mountains are no longer in West Virginia they have entered the spiritual sky of Vaikuntha. By the mere touch of sound, everything at New Vrindaban is Krishna-ized. And by the mercy of the spiritual master, America is seeing a resurgence of God consciousness.
The conception and purpose of New Vrindaban are best set forth in the letters of Swamiji himself. Primarily, the place is intended to serve as an amiable location for reviving our dormant God consciousness. In New Vrindaban, remembrance of Krishna is easy because the atmosphere is conducive: “We can remember Krishna in every moment. We remember Krishna while taking a glass of water, because the taste of water is Krishna. We can remember Krishna as soon as we see the sunlight in the morning, because the sunlight is a reflection of Krishna’s bodily effulgence. And as soon as we see moonlight in the evening, we remember Krishna, because moonlight is the reflection of sunlight. Similarly, when we hear any sound, we can remember Krishna because sound is Krishna, and the most perfect sound, transcendental, is Hare Krishna, which we have to chant 24 hours. So there is no scope of forgetting Krishna at any moment of our life, provided we practice in this way.”
The atmosphere of New Vrindaban is suitable for such a remembrance process it is cosmic, rural, woodsy. Under the Milky Way, Kirtan the chanting of Hare Krishna to the accompaniment of musical instruments expands. Orion, Saggitarius, Virgo all vibrate to the cymbal rhythm, the sounds loosed in the night, broadcast from the mountains of planet earth. The firmament revolves around Vrindaban the Maha Mantra twirls it about.
Life revolves about the Maha Mantra the charting of the Holy Names. There is Kirtan, group chanting, every morning and evening. Aritik cymbal clashing, offering to the Deity is performed before dawn and four times throughout the day. The morning Kirtan is usually over before sunrise. Then morning “Prasadam,” food first offered for the pleasure of the Lord, is taken, usually cereal, and the day’s chores begin. There is much work at New Vrindaban, and all participate.
The system and purpose of New Vrindaban is set forth specifically in the letters of Swamiji:
“Vrindaban conception is that of a transcendental village, without any of the botheration of the modern industrial atmosphere. My idea of developing New Vrindaban is to create an atmosphere of spiritual life where people in the bona fide divisions of society namely, Brahmacharies [celibate students], Grihasthas [householders], Vanaprasthas [the retired], and Sannyasis [renounced holy men] will live independently, completely depending on agricultural produce and milk from the cows.” (8/17/68)
“To retire from activities is not a very good idea for the conditioned soul. I have very good experience, not only in our country, but also in your country, that this tendency of retiring from activities pushes one down to the platform of laziness, and gradually to the ideas of the hippies.
“One should always remain active in Krishna’s service, otherwise strong Maya [illusion] will catch him and engage him in her service. Our constitutional position being to render service, we cannot stop activity. So NewVrindaban may not be turned into a place of retirement, but some sort of activities must go on there. If there is good prospective land, we should produce some grains, flowers and fruits, and keep cows, so that those living there may have sufficient work and facility for advancing in Krishna Consciousness. In India, actually, Vrindaban has now become a place of the unemployed and of beggars. Kirtanananda has already seen it. And so there is always a tendency toward such degradation if there is no sufficient work in the service of Krishna. ” (7/14/68)
From the beginning, as Swamiji suggested, the program at New Vrindaban has been geared to enable the student to progress along the path of devotional service, and so there is work going on all the time. And the program is sufficiently diversified to accommodate a variety of talents, dovetailing them in Krishna’s service.
As in the many transcendentalist farms of 19th century America, the concept of life at New Vrindaban is that of plain living and high thinking.
“Vrindaban does not require to be modernized, because Krishna’s Vrindaban is a transcendental village. They completely depend on nature’s beauty and nature’s protection. The community in which Krishna preferred to belong was the Vaishya community, because Nanda Maharaj [Krishna's foster father, with whom He spent His childhood while on Earth] happened to be a Vaishya king, or landholder, and his main business was cow protection. It is understood that he had 900,000 cows, and Krishna and Balaram used to take charge of them, along with Krishna’s many cowherd boy friends. Every day, in the morning, He used to go out with His friends and cows into the pasturing grounds.
“So, if you seriously want to convert this spot into New Vrindaban, I shall advise you not to make it very much modernized. But as you are American boys, you must make it just suitable to your minimum needs. Nor should you make it too much luxurious, as generally Europeans and Americans are accustomed. Better to live there without modern amenities, and to live a natural, healthy life for executing Krishna Consciousness. It may be an ideal village where the residents will have plain living and high thinking.
Walking path to the original New Vrindaban farm.
“For plain living we must have sufficient land for raising crops, and pasturing grounds for the cows. If there is sufficient grains and production of milk, then the whole economic problem is solved. You do not require any machines, cinema, hotels, slaughter houses, brothels, nightclubs all these modern amenities. People in the spell of Maya are trying to squeeze out gross pleasure from the senses, which it is not possible to derive to our heart’s content. Therefore we are confused and baffled in our attempt to get eternal pleasure from gross matter. Actually, joyful life is on the spiritual platform, and therefore we should try to save our valuable time from material activities and engage it in Krishna Consciousness. But at the same time, because we have to keep our body and soul together to execute our mission, we must have sufficient (not extravagant) food to eat, and that will be supplied by grains, fruits and milk.
“The difficulty is that the people in this country want to continue their practice of sense gratification, and at the same time they want to become transcendentally advanced. This is quite contradictory. One can advance in transcendental life only by the process of negating the general practice of materialistic life. The exact adjustment is in Vaishnava philosophy, which is called ‘Yukta Vairagya.’ This means that we should simply accept the bare necessities for the material part of life, and try to save time for spiritual advancement. This should be the motto of New Vrindaban, if you at all develop it to the perfectional stage.” (6/14/68)
Regarding New Vrindaban’s cow protection program, Swamiji has written:
“We must have sufficient pasturing ground to feed the animals all round. We have to maintain the animals throughout their lives. We must not make any program for selling them to the slaughter houses. This is the way of cow protection. Krishna by His practical example taught us to give all protection to the cows, and that should be the main business of New Vrindaban. Vrindaban is also known as Gokula. Go means cows, and Kula means congregation. Therefore the special feature of New Vrindaban will be cow protection, and by doing so, we shall not be the losers.
“In India, of course, a cow is protected, and the cowherdsmen derive sufficient profit by such protection. Cow dung is used for fuel. Cow dung dried in the sunshine is kept in stock for utilization as fuel in the villages. They get wheat and other cereals produced from the field. There is milk and vegetables and the fuel is cow dung, and thus they are self-sufficient, independent, in every village. There are hand weavers for the cloth. And the country oil-mill (consisting of a bull walking in a circle around two big grinding stones, attached with yoke) grinds the oil seeds into oil.
“The whole idea is that people residing in New Vrindaban may not have to search for work outside. Arrangements should be such that the residents will be self-satisfied. That will make an ideal ashram. I do not know whether these ideals can be given practical shape, but I think like that, that people may be happy in any place with land and cow, without endeavoring for the so-called amenities of modern life which simply increase anxieties for maintenance and proper equipment. The less we are anxious for maintaining our body, the more we become favorable for advancing in Krishna Consciousness.” (6/14/68)
A devotee at the original New Vrindaban farm.
As for the development of buildings, Swamiji has given specific instructions for temples and living quarters. At present New Vrindaban includes 133 acres (with more land available in the future) of pasture, forest, ponds, mountains and streams. So there are varied settings for numerous buildings. Swamiji advises:
“Concentrate on one temple, and then we shall extend one after another. Immediately the scheme should be to have a temple in the center, and residential quarters for the Brahmacharies or Grihasthas surrounding it. Let us go ahead with that plan at first.
“Also, you will be pleased to note that I’ve asked Goursundar to make a layout of the whole land, and I shall place 7 different temples in different situations, as prototypes of Vrindaban. There will be seven principle temples, namely, Govinda, Gopinath, Madan Mohan, Shyamsundar, Radha Raman, Radha Damodar, and Gokulananda. Of course, in Vrindaban there are, more or less, big and small, about 5,000 temples; that is a far distant scheme. But immediately we shall take up constructing at least 7 temples in different situations, meadows and buildings. So I am trying to make a plan out of the description of the plot of our land. And the hilly portions may be named Goverdhan. On the Goverdhan hillsides, the pasturing grounds for the cows may be alloted.” (8/23/68)
In conclusion, New Vrindaban is a means of attaining life’s ultimate goal in the service of the Lord, Sri Krishna. The sincere participants can thereby please the spiritual master by progress in Krishna Consciousness, and when the spiritual master is pleased, Lord Krishna is pleased.
“Now we can work with great enthusiasm for constructing a New Vrindaban in the United States of America. People who came here from Europe to this part of the world named so many new provinces, just like New England, New Amsterdam, New York. So I also came to this part of the world to preach Krishna Consciousness, and by His Grace and by your endeavor, New Vrindaban is being constructed. That is my great happiness. Our sincere endeavor in the service of the Lord, and of the Lord’s assistants, to make our progressive march successful these are two important things to be followed in the spiritual advancement of life.
“I think it was Krishna’s desire that this New Vrindaban scheme should be taken up by us, and now He has given us a great opportunity to serve Him in this scheme. So let us do it sincerely and all other help will come automatically. I am very glad to notice in Kirtanananda’s letter that he has realized more and more that the function of New Vrindaban is nothing physical or bodily, but purely spiritual and for the glorification of the Lord, Sri Hari [Krishna]. If we actually keep this view before us, certainly we shall be successful in our progressive march.” (8/23/68)
From Bhumi Vrndavana in India, Kadamba Kanana Swami travelled on to Villa Vrndavana, a beautiful Hare Krsna Villa situated close to Florence in Italy. Maharaja, together with many fantastic kirtaniyas like Amala Harinama, Tarana Caitanya and Ojasvi, filled the 12 hours of daily kirtan with beautiful and ecstatic melodies. Maharaja also gave daily classes, first focusing on the Srimad Bhagavatam and then, during the weekend, lecturing on harinama verses from the Caitanya Caritamrita.
Please find below, the lectures and some of the kirtans by Kadamba Kanana Swami during this stay. To download the audio files, right-click on each title and “save target as”. Further down you can also find photos depicting this stay. If you cannot view the slide show, please visit flickr.
Lectures
KKS – Srimad Bhagavatam – 05 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
KKS – CC. Adi. 7.20-21 – 06 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
KKS – CC. Adi. 7.76 – 07 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
Kirtanas
KKS – Kirtana I – 06 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
KKS – Kirtana II – 06 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
KKS – Kirtana I – 06 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
From Bhumi Vrndavana in India, Kadamba Kanana Swami travelled on to Villa Vrndavana, a beautiful Hare Krsna Villa situated close to Florence in Italy. Maharaja, together with many fantastic kirtaniyas like Amala Harinama, Tarana Caitanya and Ojasvi, filled the 12 hours of daily kirtan with beautiful and ecstatic melodies. Maharaja also gave daily classes, first focusing on the Srimad Bhagavatam and then, during the weekend, lecturing on harinama verses from the Caitanya Caritamrita.
Please find below, the lectures and some of the kirtans by Kadamba Kanana Swami during this stay. To download the audio files, right-click on each title and “save target as”. Further down you can also find photos depicting this stay. If you cannot view the slide show, please visit flickr.
Lectures
KKS – Srimad Bhagavatam – 05 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
KKS – CC. Adi. 7.20-21 – 06 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
KKS – CC. Adi. 7.76 – 07 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
Kirtanas
KKS – Kirtana I – 06 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
KKS – Kirtana II – 06 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
KKS – Kirtana I – 06 July 2013 in Villa Vrndavana, Italy
Mahavishnu Swami Energetic Gaura Arati – Almviks Gard Sweden 12 July 2013 | Scandinavian Tour 2013
We all feel that enjoyment is our right.
And Gita wisdom declares that we are right. But it cautions us against assuming that this right makes any and every form of enjoyment right.
To understand, let’s compare enjoyment with eating. We all have a right to eating. But does that make eating anything and everything right? Certainly not.
Infants tend to explore the world with their tongues. Starting with their fingers, they put into their mouth whatever they can lay their hands on. They may put a knife in their mouth – or even their stool. Attentive mothers gently but firmly stop their precious babies from eating such things, and give them something better to eat. Are they violating their infants’ right to eat? Not at all. They are simply training their babies in the right way to enjoy the right to eating.
The same applies to enjoyment. We are souls who can relish our joyful spiritual nature by reciprocating spiritual love with Krishna, our eternal Lord and lover.
As we are spiritual beings, material things as sources of enjoyment are simply incompatible with our nature, just as a knife as food is incompatible with the human digestive system. Material things even if they initially promise enjoyment eventually imprison our consciousness in the material body, thereby subjecting us to the agonies of old age, disease and death. The Bhagavad-gita trains us, as would a caring mother, when it (18.38) cautions that enjoyment at the material level turns poisonous and painful.
Of course, we don’t have to give up all material things; we can use them to serve Krishna. Accepting Krishna as the source of ultimate enjoyment and using material things to reciprocate love with him is the right way to enjoy our right to enjoyment.
***
That happiness which is derived from contact of the senses with their objects and which appears like nectar at first but poison at the end is said to be of the nature of passion.