10.08 – Krishna speaks his glories not to prove his position but to improve our disposition
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Some people ask: “Why does Krishna insist repeatedly in the Bhagavad-gita readers that he is God? Why does he need to prove his position?”

Because he wants to improve our disposition.

If we feel that Krishna is obsessed with his position, then the counter-evidence stares into our face each time we look at any standard picture of Krishna speaking the Gita. Krishna is situated in the menial position of a charioteer. That’s a position a status-obsessed person would find nightmarish and never choose voluntarily. Yet Krishna freely and joyfully accepts that position on the request of Arjuna because it enables him to serve and love his devotee.

Love is Krishna’s primary concern – that’s what he relishes in his own abode eternally, wherein his pastimes of love flood everyone with supreme ecstasy.

Krishna’s love is so great that it is not limited to those who love him, but also extends to those who do not love him – to all of us who are missing out an eternal life of love with him. To invite us to that life, he descends and demonstrates his pastimes. But due to our preconceptions, we mistake his pastimes to be ordinary, as just some stories for entertainment.

To free us from such misconceptions, he shares Gita wisdom so that we can see reality as it actually is. And that reality reveals Krishna as he actually is – God who conceals his godhood for the sake of love.

He speaks about his godhood so that we can appreciate the beauty of his concealing something that glorious for the sake of love. Appreciating his position as the Supreme who becomes the Supreme Lover improves our disposition; it inspires us to love Krishna wholeheartedly, as the Bhagavad-gita (10.08) states.

***

10.08 - I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.

 

KRISHNA’S VARIOUS NAMES ,QUALITIES,FORM
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VICARU DAS
BHAKTIVEDANTA MANOR
ISKCON UK.

Krishna is the supreme God, param brahma

Krishna is the source of all that exists

Krishna is the beginning,middle, and the end

Krishna is unborn, ajam.

Krishna is the cause of all that is, that was, or that will ever be.

Krishna possesses all the six opulence in unlimited degree.

All wealth- All power- All beauty- All wisdom- All fame- All renunciation.

Krishna lives in Goloka Vrndavana, in the unlimited spiritual cosmos.

Krishna incarnates whenever and wherever there is decline in religious principles and predominanat rise in irreligion.

Krishna-Parthasarathi-Vasudeva-Devakinanadana-Nandanandana-Yashodananadana-Madhusudhana-Narayana- Govinda-Keshava-Madhava-Ranchor- Janardhana-Mukunda-Damodara-Acyuta-Hari-Yadunandana-Ajita-Yogeshwara are some of Krishna’s names.

Krishna never pollutes- Never dies- Never ages- Never laments- Never becomes hungry or thirsty- Never unlawful- All his actions are correct- Never changes- He is firm in is decisions.

Krishna taught the science of Bhagavat-gita to the sun god Vivasvan hundreds of millions of years ago,The sun-god taught it to Manu, The father of mankind two millions years ago, Manu taught it to Iksvaku, the emperor of earth, at that time, and to His friend Arjuna, 5100 years ago.

Krishna taught the science of the vedas to Brahma, during the time of creation, 151 trillion years ago,To Vyasadeva, 5000 years ago.

Krishna’s immediate expansion is Baladeva.

Krishna at one month old killed Putana.

Krishna at three months old ,He killed sakatasura.

Krishna at one year old ,He killed Trinavarta,

Krishna at two years old He killed Vatsasura.

Krishna at four years old He killed Bakasura.

Krishna at five years old ,He killed Aghasura.

Krishna at six years old, He killed Dhenukasura.

Krishna at seven years old He lifted Govardhana hill.

Krishna at eight years old He perform the rasa dance.

Krishna at 12 years old ,He killed Kamsa.

KRISHNA’S VARIOUS NAMES ,QUALITIES,FORMS
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VICARU DAS
BHAKTIVEDANTA MANOR
ISKCON UK.

Krishna is the supreme God, param brahma

Krishna is the source of all that exists

Krishna is the beginning,middle, and the end

Krishna is unborn, ajam.

Krishna is the cause of all that is, that was, or that will ever be.

Krishna possesses all the six opulence in unlimited degree.

All wealth- All power- All beauty- All wisdom- All fame- All renunciation.

Krishna lives in Goloka Vrndavana, in the unlimited spiritual cosmos.

Krishna incarnates whenever and wherever there is decline in religious principles and predominanat rise in irreligion.

Krishna-Parthasarathi-Vasudeva-Devakinanadana-Nandanandana-Yashodananadana-Madhusudhana-Narayana- Govinda-Keshava-Madhava-Ranchor- Janardhana-Mukunda-Damodara-Acyuta-Hari-Yadunandana-Ajita-Yogeshwara are some of Krishna’s names.

Krishna never pollutes- Never dies- Never ages- Never laments- Never becomes hungry or thirsty- Never unlawful- All his actions are correct- Never changes- He is firm in is decisions.

Krishna taught the science of Bhagavat-gita to the sun god Vivasvan hundreds of millions of years ago,The sun-god taught it to Manu, The father of mankind two millions years ago, Manu taught it to Iksvaku, the emperor of earth, at that time, and to His friend Arjuna, 5100 years ago.

Krishna taught the science of the vedas to Brahma, during the time of creation, 151 trillion years ago,To Vyasadeva, 5000 years ago.

Krishna’s immediate expansion is Baladeva.

Krishna at one month old killed Putana.

Krishna at three months old ,He killed sakatasura.

Krishna at one year old ,He killed Trinavarta,

Krishna at two years old He killed Vatsasura.

Krishna at four years old He killed Bakasura.

Krishna at five years old ,He killed Aghasura.

Krishna at six years old, He killed Dhenukasura.

Krishna at seven years old He lifted Govardhana hill.

Krishna at eight years old He perform the rasa dance.

Krishna at 12 years old ,He killed Kamsa.

Down By The Dead Sea
→ travelingmonk.com

Yom Kipper, or the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for Jewish people. Here is Israel all businesses are closed, there are no television or radio broadcasts and public transportation is shut down. Strict observance of the holy day includes not driving a car, playing music or eating food in public. [...]

Chantix VS Chanting–to quit smoking
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Before taking to chanting the Hare Krishna mantra daily my wife used to smoke 2 packs of cigarettes every day.  But with the help of this mantra she quickly and easily gave up smoking.

Chantix

The prescription drug Varenicline (Chantix) helps you quit smoking.  It has a standard pharmaceutical list of side effects and warnings.  Here is a few of them.

Allergic reaction.  Anxiety, confusion, depression, restlessness, or mood changes.  Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.  Chest pain. Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Lumps on your neck, armpit, or groin.  Numbness.  Red or black stools. 

 

Seeing or hearing things that are not really there. Seizures.  Thoughts of hurting yourself or others.  It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed.

So far it has only been linked to 98 suicides, no big deal.   Also it has been linked to murder/suicide cases as well.

vs

 

Chanting Hare Krishna

Chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, is the most effective prescription to give up smoking.  It is proven to work and literally hundreds of thousands of patients have easily given up smoking with this medicine.  Many of whom did it cold turkey.  Here is a list of a few of the side effects and qualities.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna awakens love of God.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna brings liberation as a side benefit along the way.

  • When you chant Hare Krishna, you automatically develop knowledge and detachment.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna gets you out of the endless cycle of birth and death.

  • It is the most effective means of self-realization in the present Age of Quarrel. Nothing else works nearly as well.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna cleanses the heart of all illusions and misunderstandings.

  • By chanting Hare Krishna, you become free from all anxieties.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna brings you to self-realization—and shows you how to act as a self-realized soul.

  • It keeps you ever mindful of Krishna, the reservoir of pleasure.

  • There are no hard and fast rules for chanting. You can chant anywhere, any time, under any circumstances.

  • Krishna Himself is fully present in the transcendental sound of His name. And the more you chant, the more you realize it.

  • All other Vedic mantras are included in the chanting of Hare Krishna. So just by chanting this mantra, you get the benefit of all others.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna purifies not only you but every living entity around you. Whoever hears the chanting gets spiritual benefit.

  • A person who chants Hare Krishna develops all good qualities.

  • You can chant Hare Krishna softly for personal meditation or loudly with your family or friends. Both ways work.

  • Srila Prabhupada chanted Hare Krishna, and so did great souls in the past. So why not you?

  • It’s free. Chanting Hare Krishna never costs you money.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna brings the highest states of ecstasy.

  • There are no previous qualifications needed for chanting Hare Krishna. Young or old, anyone can chant—from any race, any religion, or any country of the world.

  • Even if you don’t understand the language of the mantra, it works anyway.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna brings relief from all miseries.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna is easy. When the best way is also the easiest, why make life hard for yourself?

  • Chanting Hare Krishna invokes spiritual peace—for you and for those around you.

  • When you chant Hare Krishna, Krishna Himself becomes pleased.

  • When you chant Hare Krishna, Krishna dances on your tongue.

  • By chanting Hare Krishna you can return to Krishna’s world, the eternal abode of full happiness and knowledge.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna frees you from the reactions of all past karma. Chanting Krishna’s name even once, purely and sincerely, can free you from the reactions of more karma than you could possibly incur.

  • Chanting Hare Krishna counteracts the sinful atmosphere of Kali-yuga, the present Age of Hypocrisy and Quarrel.

  • By chanting Hare Krishna you can relish at every step the full nectar that’s the real thirst of the soul.

  • The more you chant Hare Krishna, the better it gets.

  • If you look through all the Vedic scriptures, you’ll find nothing higher than the chanting of Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

However chanting Hare Krishna is not without warning.  Do not chant this mantra if you would like to keep attachments to pride, lust, anger, and greed.  It will destroy these attachments. 

Parikrama and Abhisek in the Radhadesh Goshala (153 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

“Radhadesh” is a spiritual community based in a 19th century chateau in the Belgian Ardennes. There are presently around eighty people living in the community, which was founded about 1980. In the Château, which has been beautifully renovated by the present inhabitants, you can see a gorgeous temple-room which is unique in Belgium and the Netherlands. Yearly we have about 40.000 visitors. Radhadesh is the main center for ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) in the Benelux. Read more ›

Fabulous Amsterdam Rathayatra (187 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

You just know that when Janananda Maharaja, Parividha, Parasuram and Madhava prabhus are there it's going to be blissful. Lord Indra sent early morning rain to clean the streets but as soon as Lord Jagannatha, Balaram and Subhadra arrived before Their Chariot, the Sun greeted and stayed with Them the rest of the day. All glories to all of the devotees who worked so hard to make the Festival a sucess Read more ›

Thank You to Devotees from Jaya Krishna das
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Dear Brijabasis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I would like to express my deep gratitude to all the community members and temple devotees who made the Janmastami Festivals, Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day and Labor Day weekend a big success. Many pilgrims approached me to express their heartfelt thanks for the experience New Vrindaban offered them.

I will not name each individual devotee herein as I am unable to recall each and everybody who has served so nicely over the last week and do not wish to risk omitting anyone.

I would especially like to thank the Pujari Department for the exquisite dressing of Their Lordships on Janmastami morning – the darshan was mind blowing. Thanks also for the wonderful Flower Outfit at midnight. It was simply overwhelming.

Thank you to those who created the astonishing set up for Srila Prabhupada’s vyasasana on his Appearance Day.  At 2 am in the morning of Vyasa Puja, I was thinking that I am the last one wandering around the temple, only to be surprised a small crew of dedicated devotees who were hard at work decorating the vysasana.

Thank you for the hard work in the Kitchen over these days. Dear Community Members, please accept our sincere apologies that we were unable to cook a proper feast on Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day. As a result, we hear with pleasure that some of the extraordinary NV Maharathi Cook Elder’s (heroes) have agreed to take care of Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day feast.

Thank you to the CD department for their hard work in contacting so many donors for the Janmastami Festivals, for the incredible program on the festival days as well as the team spirit they have developed. A number of guests recognized and appreciated the nice cooperation.

Thank you to the Lodge crew and manager who handled all challenges very smoothly over the festivals and made our guests feel comfortable.

A round of applause to the Restaurant Crew who once more managed to properly serve a very large number of guests, keeping them satisfied.

The Palace of Gold crew has done a fantastic service by giving an incredible number of tours. I do not remember seeing so many cars parked around the Palace over the last three years.

The Rose Garden and the flowers around the Palace are currently in full bloom and touch many hearts. Thank you the glorious garden crew for this wonderful gift to Srila Prabhupada on his Appearance Day.

Last, but not least: the Goshalla Team of cow herds has shown their wonderful care by presenting our new baby bull, Pundarikaksa, with his mother Surabhi to our guests on different festival days.

Thanks to all of you for participating in the festivals. Many devotees and Prabhupada disciples (a new record over the last three years) participated in his Appearance Day celebrations in the morning at the temple as well as at his Palace of Gold later in the evening.

I am very grateful that more community members are participating in festival celebrations, contributing to a new team spirit that is slowly developing at the temple.

I request your blessings that I may continue as your servant,

Jaya Krsna das
Community President
ISKCON New Vrindaban

Radhastami Photos
→ Mayapur.com

Please view the following galleries: Abhishek Darshan As the glorious festival celebrating Srimati Radharani comes to a close we have lovely pictures of this years abhishek, and darshan for you. The festival was packed with devotees more than any previous year. We all celebrated with gift giving, drama, abhishek, kirtan-mela, and distribution of srimati radharani’s [...]

The post Radhastami Photos appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Historical Photos from Srila Prabhupada’s visit in Iskcon Atlanta, 1975 and his rooms in the temple (82 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Iskcon Atlanta: We sincerely invite you to join us in any of our programs, especially our Sunday program. If you have any questions, please call us at 404-377-8680. or email at info(at)atlantaharekrishnas.com. Please don't forget to register with us to receive email announcements about special events at our temple. Read more ›

The Man in the Machine
→ Dandavats.com

“A person is not considered a great sage unless he disagrees with another sage”. This adage suitably describes the career of La Mettrie, whose contentious writings during the eighteenth century were almost universally reviled by his contemporaries during the age of the Enlightenment. Read more ›

Surrender Of The Fewest
→ Dandavats.com

A conversation took place between a senior devotee and a young, active devotee youth member (initiated). The senior devotee said that previously, devotees were more surrendered to Iskcon, to which the younger devotee replied by saying that today’s congregation are just as surrendered, but in different circumstances. Can we compare and quantify such surrender? Read more ›

Wednesday, September 11th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

A Rooted Routine

East End, Saskatchewan

Daruka and I routinely sing a bhajan in honour of the guru while we’re on our route to the spot from where I left off the day before. We used no instruments. Of course, he can’t, he’s driving. We just rely on our voices to sing what is an integral part of our morning. We apply as much devotion as possible.

It’s also a good idea, particularly today, to start off on the best note, given what 9/11 means to a lot of people. Out here in the Prairie, for the people we meet, the anniversary of New York’s twin tours descent, appears rather irrelevant. Here we are far removed from an urban world.

I could clearly see what’s called Cypress Hills. They are beautiful smooth, rounded hills with coulees – a bit barren and looking like the badlands, but most interesting. Sage plants are all about “dry as a bone” would be an appropriate expression to describe some of the area. It’s great being away from billboards and retail strip fast food joints. Here it’s more or less raw nature, pastures and wheat fields, but a true sense of rawness.

A bus driver pulled over and offered words of thanks, “We appreciate the inspiration you are giving to humanity.” Then a newspaper delivery man came to walk his dog with me, also a woman by the name of Wendy came with a bag of apples from her backyard tree. A family also came to trek with me for a while in a very remote section of the highway. A farmer loading his hay for the winter’s feeding of his cows, stopped, and asked for prayers, “Rolin’s, the name. My wife is Susan. Please pray for us,” (of course I’ll oblige). Then Brenda Furerstein came to our inn for the evening. She assisted her late husband, George, in a translation of the Bhagavad Gita. She also gave me a copy. She will gather friends for mantra meditation with us for tomorrow.

And speaking of the Inn, Ed Sanford, owner/proprietor of Riverside Inn, so kindly let us stay for as long as we need. We invited Ed in for our kitcheri dinner, which we prepared in the kitchenette. This dish is great for travelling. Ed, also loved it. We consecrated it, in other words, made it prasadam. A mellow fellow, big hearted person, this Ed is. We will tag him on to our growing list of new friends.

Please remember, the pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, the realists adjusts the sails.

31 KM

YOU HAVE TO REPEAT
→ Gita Coaching


If you simply hear and hear in the class of Krsna consciousness, and go outside and forget, oh, that is not nice. That will not make you improve. Then what is? Kirtitavyas ca: "Whatever you are hearing, you should say to others." That is perfection.

Therefore we have established Back to Godhead. The students are allowed, whatever they are hearing, they must be thoughtful and write. Kirtitavyas ca. Not only simply hearing. "Oh, I am hearing for millions of years; still, I cannot understand"—because you do not chant, you do not repeat what you have heard. You have to repeat.

Srila Prabhupada
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture in San Francisco, USA on March 23, 1967

Burdens do not burden the Lord
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Sometimes we see a picture of Atlas holding the globe on his shoulders; he seems to be very tired, holding this great earthly planet. Such an image should not be entertained in connection with Krsna’s upholding this created universe. He says that although everything is resting on Him, He is aloof. The planetary systems are floating in space, and this space is the energy of the Supreme Lord. But He is different from space. He is differently situated. Therefore the Lord says, “Although they are situated on My inconceivable energy, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead I am aloof from them.” This is the inconceivable opulence of the Lord.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is 9.5 purport 

02.07 – Those who overestimate their intelligence underutilize their potential
→ The Spiritual Scientist

When things go wrong, we may appeal to Krishna for help. If no help appears forthcoming, we may doubt Krishna: “Why doesn’t he help me?”

The problem is not that Krishna doesn’t help, but that we demand his help on our terms. We overestimate our intelligence and underestimate his intelligence.

When faced with problems, we often assume that we know the solution. All we need from Krishna is to implement that solution. We want him to use his omnipotence to fix things up as per our plan. Thus we seek only Krishna’s power and not his intelligence. By  overestimating our intelligence, we deprive ourselves of the growth opportunities hidden in problems.

Problems come upon us due to our own past karmic misdeeds. But Krishna expertly orchestrates problems so that they can also become growth opportunities. Provided we make the right choices, of course.

If we are to make those right choices, we need to open ourselves to Krishna’s guidance internally and externally. Empowered by his guidance, we can unleash our latent potentials as spiritual beings and grow.

In the Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter, Arjuna wanted to solve his problem on his terms. He wanted Krishna to support and implement his plan. But soon Arjuna realized that his own intelligence was getting him nowhere. So in the Gita (02.07) he surrendered to Krishna and asked for guidance. And thus he was blessed by Gita wisdom, which enabled him to discover his hidden potentials as a spiritual being, as a part of Krishna. By tapping into both Krishna’s intelligence and power Arjuna gained emotional and spiritual strength to use his abilities for individual and social wellbeing.

We too can similarly discover of our hidden potentials if we stop seeking Krishna’s help on our terms and instead open ourselves to his guidance.

***

02.07 - Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.