From Manoj P

If so, then how can non-intellectual devotees understand? And as intellectual ability comes from past karma, doesn't it make spiritual advancement dependent on past karma

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Janmastami Celebration at Imphal, Manipur at Srila Sripad Educational, Research & Cultural Foundation (174 photos) Read more ›

The Stains on my Hands

By Chelsea Cirasa

I had no clue what to expect when I decided to spend a month in New Vrindavan. I had been here once before in June for 24 hour kirtan, and I instantly fell in love, so much so that I almost had to get dragged onto the bus back home after numerous ‘reminders’ that it was leaving.. 20 minutes ago.

Coming this time was a bit more intimidating. My stay was longer, and it was not clear what exactly I had even signed up for. I had many little fears that week after I made the decision to come. I wondered if it would be a positive experience or if I would be committing offense after offense, not able to adjust.

To my delight, the experience turned out to be incredibly amazing, and so much more than my extremely idealistic and imaginative head would even dare to dream of.  I spent all of my days in the garden, peacefully doing very simple tasks while listening to bhajans, lectures, or even just the silence, which actually wasn’t all that silent. As my hands diligently worked away, my mind engaged in my own personal lilas with Krishna. It was so easy to imagine Him working right there next to me, dancing around and getting into all sorts of mischief in the garden.  At times, I knew I had never been happier or more connected to Krishna.

 

Temple life was different. It was difficult for me to connect with Radha Vrindaban Chandra in the beginning. At times I felt lost even though They would be standing right in front of me. I think though, that, that was their gift to me; teaching me to see Krishna everywhere. The garden soon became my temple, and little old me was actually allowed to serve on the altar.

The biggest difference I found between the altar I speak of and the one on which Radha Vrindaban Chandra reside is the standard of cleanliness. Radha Vrindaban Chandra’s altar is immaculate while the one I speak of is dirty. The dirt gets everywhere; in your mouth, in your hair, under your nails, literally everywhere. At first, I was embarrassed. I remember standing in the prasadam line after feverishly scrubbing at the stains on my hands, praying that no one would notice and admonish me for not being up to cleanliness standards while honoring Prasad.

Day after day, I would stand in line with dirt under my fingernails and stained onto my hands. The miraculous thing about the garden, though, is that the more time you spend there, the clearer and simpler things become. I came to realize that the stains on my hand were not something to be ashamed of, rather they were to be celebrated as a symbol of real, active, and raw devotion. All the painful, hard work and sacrifices I made for Krishna during those times resulted in those stains. So now everyday as the sunscreen goes on and the tilak comes off, I head out to the garden to put on another symbol of faith: the stains on my hands, symbolizing my position as a servant of God, to do whatever it is that He shall request of me.

 

Today's (07/09/2013) prasadam distribution to local people in Iskcon Mayapur (35 photos) Read more ›

On the 27th of Aug 2013 it happened. The website got hacked, or actually, our hosting company, WestHost, got severely hacked. More then 500 clients and their websites were affected. And 10 days later Westhost still has clients and websites that are offline, including our blog. Our site was protected against hackers, and fortunately we had daily backups of all our content. So the damage was minimal. But after 10 days of downtime it was time to move on.

New Hosting

After many calls to WestHost support, and repeatedly being told that they are very busy, they will get to it asap, etc, i made the decision to move KKSBlog to another hosting company. At the moment of writing  the hosting at Westhost is still not working.

At the end of every year i take time to evaluate the hosting company and the performance of KKSBlog. And that was also the plan for November of this year. But current events made me act quickly to get the blog working again. And since you are reading this means that the new hosting is functioning.

DreamHost

We have moved to a hosting company called DreamHost. The price was right and their offer exactly fitted with the requirements, so we hope it will all work out nicely. Dreamhost offers a special hosting service for WordPress, the software that kksblog is using. This special hosting is currently in beta.

Pricing

Hosting (DreamPress) : $25/mo
Backup: $15/mo
Domain name registration: $5/mo

(Optional: Hacker Protection: $9/mo)
————————————————————-
Total yearly: $ 540  ($648 with hacker protection)

Your Support

If you like KKSBlog you can return the favor. Please donate for our new hosting. See also our thank you section. We set a goal of 2 weeks to gather the necessary funds. So we should have a minimum of 400 euro on the 17 of Sept. Choose your option below:

PAYPAL
You can use all credits cards or your PayPal account

Click to Support!

Donate by PayPal

 

By bank (EU)
Here are our bank details. When you transfer money always use the SHARED Costs option.

Account holder : Mw B Gavrilova en/of Hr E T Hamers
Account nr : 4376683
IBAN: NL58INGB0004376683
SWIFT/BIC: INGBNL2A
Bank name: ING Bank NV
Bank address:
Bijlmerdreef 109
1102 BW Amsterdam
Netherlands

Backers

The most important people. Without you this blog cannot continue. Thank you for your quick support!

• Visvambara Caitanya das, Belgium
• Csitraketu das, Csaba Szabó, Hungary
• Aindavi dd, Australia
• Gita Govinda devi dasi, The Netherlands
• Keshava Madhava das, Switzerland
• subhash velagapudi – Sudama das
• Shiva Nanda
• Ravindra Svarupa Das, The Netherlands
• Uddhava das, The Netherlands

 

 

On the 27th of Aug 2013 it happened. The website got hacked, or actually, our hosting company, WestHost, got severely hacked. More then 500 clients and their websites were affected. And 10 days later Westhost still has clients and websites that are offline, including our blog. Our site was protected against hackers, and fortunately we had daily backups of all our content. So the damage was minimal. But after 10 days of downtime it was time to move on.

New Hosting

After many calls to WestHost support, and repeatedly being told that they are very busy, they will get to it asap, etc, i made the decision to move KKSBlog to another hosting company. At the moment of writing  the hosting at Westhost is still not working.

At the end of every year i take time to evaluate the hosting company and the performance of KKSBlog. And that was also the plan for November of this year. But current events made me act quickly to get the blog working again. And since you are reading this means that the new hosting is functioning.

DreamHost

We have moved to a hosting company called DreamHost. The price was right and their offer exactly fitted with the requirements, so we hope it will all work out nicely. Dreamhost offers a special hosting service for WordPress, the software that kksblog is using. This special hosting is currently in beta.

Pricing

Hosting (DreamPress) : $25/mo
Backup: $15/mo
Domain name registration: $5/mo

(Optional: Hacker Protection: $9/mo)
————————————————————-
Total yearly: $ 540  ($648 with hacker protection)

Your Support

If you like KKSBlog you can return the favor. Please donate for our new hosting. See also our thank you section. We set a goal of 2 weeks to gather the necessary funds. So we should have a minimum of 400 euro on the 17 of Sept. Choose your option below:

PAYPAL
You can use all credits cards or your PayPal account

Click to Support!

Donate by PayPal

 

By bank (EU)
Here are our bank details. When you transfer money always use the SHARED Costs option.

Account holder : Mw B Gavrilova en/of Hr E T Hamers
Account nr : 4376683
IBAN: NL58INGB0004376683
SWIFT/BIC: INGBNL2A
Bank name: ING Bank NV
Bank address:
Bijlmerdreef 109
1102 BW Amsterdam
Netherlands

Backers

The most important people. Without you this blog cannot continue. Thank you for your quick support!

• Visvambara Caitanya das, Belgium
• Csitraketu das, Csaba Szabó, Hungary
• Aindavi dd, Australia
• Gita Govinda devi dasi, The Netherlands
• Keshava Madhava das, Switzerland
• subhash velagapudi – Sudama das
• Shiva Nanda
• Ravindra Svarupa Das, The Netherlands
• Uddhava das, The Netherlands

 

 

On the 27th of Aug 2013 it happened. The website got hacked, or actually, our hosting company, WestHost, got severely hacked. More then 500 clients and their websites were affected. And 10 days later Westhost still has clients and websites that are offline, including our blog. Our site was protected against hackers, and fortunately we had daily backups of all our content. So the damage was minimal. But after 10 days of downtime it was time to move on.

New Hosting

After many calls to WestHost support, and repeatedly being told that they are very busy, they will get to it asap, etc, i made the decision to move KKSBlog to another hosting company. At the moment of writing  the hosting at Westhost is still not working.

At the end of every year i take time to evaluate the hosting company and the performance of KKSBlog. And that was also the plan for November of this year. But current events made me act quickly to get the blog working again. And since you are reading this means that the new hosting is functioning.

DreamHost

We have moved to a hosting company called DreamHost. The price was right and their offer exactly fitted with the requirements, so we hope it will all work out nicely. Dreamhost offers a special hosting service for WordPress, the software that kksblog is using. This special hosting is currently in beta.

Pricing

Hosting (DreamPress) : $25/mo
Backup: $15/mo
Domain name registration: $5/mo

(Optional: Hacker Protection: $9/mo)
————————————————————-
Total yearly: $ 540  ($648 with hacker protection)

Your Support

If you like KKSBlog you can return the favor. Please donate for our new hosting. See also our thank you section. We set a goal of 2 weeks to gather the necessary funds. So we should have a minimum of 400 euro on the 17 of Sept. Choose your option below:

PAYPAL
You can use all credits cards or your PayPal account

Click to Support!

Donate by PayPal

 

By bank (EU)
Here are our bank details. When you transfer money always use the SHARED Costs option.

Account holder : Mw B Gavrilova en/of Hr E T Hamers
Account nr : 4376683
IBAN: NL58INGB0004376683
SWIFT/BIC: INGBNL2A
Bank name: ING Bank NV
Bank address:
Bijlmerdreef 109
1102 BW Amsterdam
Netherlands

Backers

The most important people. Without you this blog cannot continue. Thank you for your quick support!

• Visvambara Caitanya das, Belgium
• Csitraketu das, Csaba Szabó, Hungary
• Aindavi dd, Australia
• Gita Govinda devi dasi, The Netherlands
• Keshava Madhava das, Switzerland
• subhash velagapudi – Sudama das
• Shiva Nanda
• Ravindra Svarupa Das, The Netherlands
• Uddhava das, The Netherlands

 

 

In his teachings, ISKCON-founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada often points out that in the material world every living entity is a prisoner, without exception, so regardless of our nationality, age, gender or social status, we all equally need the mercy of the "great mantra of liberation", the Maha Mantra to achieve true freedom. Read more ›

ISKCON New Vrindaban, home of the Palace of Gold, has been actively participating in the Marshall County Tourism Board since April 2012. There are a wide variety of tourist attractions in the Marshall County area of West Virginia, including the former WV Penitentiary, Grand Vue Park, the Grave Creek Mound, Fostoria Glass Museum, the Marx Toy Museum, and of course the Palace of Gold, which was listed this year on CNN Travel as one of the eight religious wonders to see in the U.S.A. Read more ›

The post September 7th, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Mohanasini Dasi ACBSP: Another month, another few hundred books! What a life! The secret to happiness! Please join in....don't delay! Read more ›

Beautiful Vrindavana: 45 day to the Kartik (27 photos) Read more ›

The End Begins (play) - Janmashtami 2013 - ISKCON Pandavasena UK Read more ›

If your prayer is not answered while holding your nose in the air... pray harder and bow your head. Read more ›

Mayapur Kirtan Mela Nama Yajna with H.H. Bhakti Bringa Govinda Swami 12.03.2013 in India

The Hare Krishna Temple warmly invites you and your family to join us on Thursday, September 12th for Radhastami celebrations - celebrating the appearance of Srimati Radharani! Festivities will commence at 6:00pm, stay tuned for more details. As an annual tradition, the highlight of the evening will be when we open gifts for Srimati Radharani that have been brought by the assembled devotees.

If you and your family feel inclined, you are welcome to bring a gift for Their Lordships. Some humble suggestions from our beloved pujari department for gifts for the Deities include:

• jewellery
• bindis and bindi sets
• 1 set of 14"-16" tall brown vases (colour to match with the Altar)
• medium size storage containers
• small pots
• medium size pots
• food processor
• aprons
• oven mitts
• mop & bucket
• broom
• silver polish
• copper polish
• wood polish
• laundry soap
• floor cleaner
• cleaning towels
• soft towels for the Deities
• kitchen towels
• cotton handkerchiefs

A humble request is that all gift items be new as gifts will be placed on the altar and will be unwrapped and shown to the Deities during the program. Of course donations of any kind are always warmly accepted!

Complete knowledge includes knowledge of the phenomenal world, the spirit behind it, and the source of both of them. This is transcendental knowledge.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is 07.02 purport

 

People often think of spirituality as centered on detachment – renunciation of pleasures, positions, possessions, even individuality and relationships.

Such a conception makes spirituality appear unappealing. The Bhagavad-gita seem to endorse this conception when it urges us repeatedly, as in Gita (02.38) to stay unaffected and detached amidst worldly gains and losses, pleasures and pains, victories and failures. However, detachment is preliminary to the takeoff stage of spirituality. The real takeoff stage is centered on attachment – increasing attachment to Krishna, the pinnacle of spiritual reality. The Gita (07.01) underscores that making the mind attached to Krishna is the purpose and perfection of spirituality.

Material attachments comprise the gravity pull that holds our consciousness down to the material level of reality. Just as a rocket needs to counter the gravity to be launched into outer space, we need to counter the gravity of material attachments to be launched into the spiritual sky. When a rocket is launched, it’s essential to break free from gravity, but that’s not the purpose – the purpose is to attain some lofty destination in space. Similarly, when we launch ourselves into spiritual life, it’s essential to break free from the gravity force of material attachments, but that’s not the purpose – the purpose is to attain the supremely lofty destination of Krishna’s personal abode.

The rocket needs to be propelled by appropriate and adequate fuel. The propellant that will fuel our spiritual journey and give us the necessary momentum to break free is appropriate and adequate devotional attachment to Krishna. This attachment comes by hearing about Krishna, as the same Gita verse (07.01 – tac shrnu) underscores in its conclusion.  When we understand Krishna’s glory and majesty as well as his beauty and intimacy, devotional attachment arises and energizes us to break free.

**

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Now hear, O son of Pritha, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.

 

Radha Ashtami Celebration - Thursday September 12th @ 7:00pm

ISKCON Brampton is pleased to invite you and your family for the celebration of Radha Ashtami. Radhashtami is the celebration of the advent of Shrimati Radharani in this world who appeared over five thousand years ago. Lord Krishna is the male aspect of God, the energetic source of the supreme energy, and Shrimati Radharani is the female aspect, of the energy. So when Krishna descends, Shrimati Radharani also descends.

Program:
7:00PM – Guru Aarti & Kirtan
7:15PM – Gaura Aarti & Kirtan.
7:45PM - Nrsingadeva Prayer
7.50PM – Welcome Announcements
8:00PM – Glories of Srimati Radha Rani by Her Grace Kamala Gopi Devi Dasi
8:40PM – Sunday School Presentation
9:10PM - PUSHPANJALI CEREMONY TO HONOR SRIMATI RADHA RANI
9:20PM - Song dedication to Srimati Radha Rani & Closing kirtan
9:40PM – Maha Feast

SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS
Whatever big or small you donate, it’s always been very helpful to carry on festivals in a more opulent and better way. Remember your kind and constant support means a lot to us. ISKCON BRAMPTON will continue to gladly provide a tax deduction receipt for any sponsorship or donation that you'll make towards the festival. Please contact Krsna Smaran Devi Dasi [kavitabalram@yahoo.com] for sponsorships.

RADHA RANI MAHA FEAST                                          $251,
RADHA RANI FLORALS AND GARLANDS              $108
RADHA RANI EXQUISITE SRINGAR                        $201

For more information on how you can serve on festival, please contact Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi.

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya! The Prabhupada Vyasapuja celebration at New Gokula was very sweet. Even though it was in the middle of the day on Friday still there were quite a few guests and devotees who came to observe the wonderful occasion. Below is an excerpt from the poem I wrote this year.

Today I had a nice realisation - no matter what situation you are in and how many distracting elements are around you, we simply need to have the determination to avoid all distractions in our life and make a big effort to just sit down and chant in a quiet place where we can fully concentrate on the sound of the Hare Krsna mantra.

In The Vastness

Scotsguard, Saskatchewan

The only thing casting light at 4 AM out in the bareness of the prairie are the stars above, and there is my headlamp – a necessity. You need to know what you’re stepping on at this dark hour. You don’t want to land on some roadkill. Also, with the headlamp you are made known for the oncoming traffic in front or behind. Motorists must be aware that you are there. There is practically no shoulder to the road. But, traffic is light. In the first hour of my walking not a single machine came by. I’m in an area of less civilization.

By 6:30 AM, the eye of God, the sun, came up from behind. At that time you could hear the sound of crickets. Owls are now quieted and hawks began to occupy the ether, moving in swirls. To my amazement, a heard of antelope in full freedom moved with incredible speed in group tightness across the plane from one cut wheat field, crossing the road in front of me, jumping a ditch and then onto another field. Off they went. Minutes later they reappear and it is without a question that they were expressing curiosity at my presence.

En route to work, and some people stop asking if all is okay.

“Yes, I’m alright, it’s a fourth walk across Canada.”

“Good luck!” they say after I’ve identified name, my order, and my purpose.

The sun got brutal. The area is quite desolate, there was no town along the way. From what I could see, Scotsguard is not even a hamlet, maybe three buildings. The first group of trees for any real shade came at the 7th hour of the walk. There I took my one and only cat nap. Thank God for no mosquitoes in this shade, lots of flies though.

I am reminded of the wonder of nature, it’s soft and harsh sides, and I recall a verse from the Gita to allow me to savour in the thoughts of a deeper dimension. From 8.20 it reads:

“Yet there is another nature which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as it is.”

After a last dash at walking, Daruka showed up having booked us for radio media in the early of next week, and some more school engagements. Eventually we made the four hour drive north to Saskatoon.

Whether on foot or in a vehicle, we are both struck with awe at the vastness of the open prairie as we sped along. Billy the parrot always gives a squawk at the sight of anything in flight.

30 KM

29 photos: UK Prabhupada disciple get-together (reunion) in Letchmore Heath on 30th August 2013 Read more ›

PHOTOS

Yesterday we did harinama in Haifa, Israel’s 3rd largest city. Israelis are celebrating their New Year and the beaches are crowded. As we experienced in Tel Aviv people spontaneously came forward to dance with us. I have never experienced this on such a scale in any other country of the world. In one sense it [...]

Amongst the background of religious traditions existing for thousands of years in Israel devotees of Krsna blissfully propagate the chanting of God’s holy names. People love the kirtan and easily join in. Just another example that kirtan is a universal process that can benefit the entire world.

Tracey George is the mother of 4th grader Kalyani Rao. She is originally from Auckland, New Zealand and has been living in Dallas, TX for 7 years. She has been a member of the Hare Krsna community for 15 years. She was very involved in the gurukula last year and this year has accepted the role of PTA Chairperson, which includes organizing the parents in various activities and meetings.

• 

Palace News

Many devotees worked very hard this summer serving Srila Prabhupada at his Palace. Following Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day we would like to thank them for all their wonderful service.

Lila, Gopa, Purnima, Srimati and Mukunda worked hard in the garden department. They planted many rows of jiva souls who appeared in the bodies of Blue Salvia and Vinca flowers. Two types of Vincas were planted, called “jellies” and “jams”, Numerous Day Lilies were planted as well. Unfortunately the deer came out at night to eat the Day Lilies so the devotees had to spray the plants with liquid fence. As always, Srila Prabhupada’s rose garden continues to attract and enliven our guests. Whenever you can please come say “Hare Krishna! Thank-you and Goodbye” to all these flowers before they leave us for the winter.

Electricity was out at the Palace during the summer for almost three weeks. Tejomaya, Gopisha, Gopal and Gaurashakti Prabhus worked diligently to replace the defective transformer. Tejomaya is pleased to announce that the Palace has been hooked up to city water. Tripad, Bhakta Josh and Gopish Prabhus were busy throughout the summer water proofing the Palace domes.

Hladini,  Kimberely and Shyamala Kishori Prabhus were busy giving Palace tours as well as applying gold leaf on the Palace. Shyamala Kishori, a second generation devotee, (daughter of Batu Gopal das) was so inspired she wants to help start a campaign to help raise awareness about the Palace, Srila Prabhupada’s only pushpa samadhi in the west. If any is interested in collaborating with her on this project please call 304-843-1778.

Chaitanya Bhagavat Prabhu steadily toke care of the puja services at Srila Prabhupada’s Palace and was a source of inspiration to the many guests who come to see Srila Prabhupada.  The guests who come to visit Srila Prabhupada are truly special souls. Last month a guest came out who is working on his Phd. in Theology. Even though he is a Catholic he said because of his association with New Vrindaban devotees he has become a vegetarian. He said one of his friends grew up on Irish Ridge (across from the Palace). His friend told him as a small child when he woke up in the morning he could look out his bedroom window and see the Palace sparkling like a gem in the distance, and he could hear the chanting of Krishna’s holy name floating through the valley from the Palace. What a beautiful way to start your day.

your servants

Krishna Bhava and Kripamaya das

03-09-2013 SB 1.3.28 krsnas tu bhagavan svayam, Marlboro, Johannesburg, South Africa.mp3

53 photos: 12 Hour kirtan @ Singapore Read more ›

Lakshman Poddar: ISKCON PHUKET is a small effort to serve the mission of HIS DIVINE GRACE SRILA PRABHUPAD. SRILA PRABHUPAD extensively travelled through the world to spread the Holy names of the LORD. Infact when LORD KRISHNA appeared in this world 500 years ago as SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, HE himself confirmed that HIS Holy name will be preached in every town and village of the earth. Read more ›

The post September 6th, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Conversation with Russian speaking disciples (English/Russian).

178 photos: Huge Harinama in Madrid's center, Spain Read more ›