You Associate With God
→ Japa Group
Bhagavad Gita 2.13 public lecture
Hamburg - September 10, 1969
Websites from the ISKCON Universe
“My way or the highway.” This is the conflict resolution mantra of the power-hungry. They sometimes rationalize their power-centric tactics with the Bhagavad-gita’s call for violence.
The Gita’s message is far greater and deeper than a mere call to arms. In fact, its essential message is a call to love, enlightened love directed towards Krishna and radiating through him to all living beings.
The greatest power that can inspire everyone towards this spiritual love is the power of example – the example of saintly individuals leading a life of devotion to God and service to all living beings.
The Pandavas exemplified such love through their personal lives, their just rule and their tolerant acceptance of the injustices inflicted upon them by the Kauravas. Arjuna’s readiness to even accept death for avoiding a bloody war, as expressed in the Bhagavad-gita (01.45), confirms that he was not at all power-hungry.
Krishna himself showed the power of example when despite being the most powerful warrior in the world he went to the Kauravas as a humble peace envoy. His example of humility coupled with his sound reasoning influenced many of the Kuru leaders, but not Duryodhana.
Some people like Duryodhana are totally blinded by their greed for power. Such people if they gain power can become monstrous misleaders who can harm millions.
To prevent such a calamity, they need to be taught in the only language they understand: the example of power. They can be silenced and subdued only by a display of power greater than theirs, as happened at Kuruksehtra after Krishna spoke the Gita.
What makes Gita wisdom enduring and endearing is not its contextual call for unleashing the example of power, but its universal call for unveiling the power of example.
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01.45 - Better for me if the sons of Dhṛitarashtra, weapons in hand, were to kill me unarmed and unresisting on the battlefield.
A little late posting due to unexpectedly being admitted to hospital, this is my humble offering:
Dear Srila Prabhupada
Please accept my Humble Obeisances
When Bhaktivadanta Manor first opened it’s doors I was only 2 it meant very little to me identifying with this body and then many things this material world offers.
My first clear memory was the song “my sweet lord” by the one close to you Srila George Harrison I heard these few words Hare Krishna who could not but want to sing it? Although my parents banned it’s playing as they viewed his song as dangerous a cult.
I heard first about Bhaktivadanta Manor as your devotees fought to keep it open, I could not understand the legal arguments but as Sebastian Poulter said their was many inaccuracy in the reporting that the devotees had to endure. Watching it appeared to me that all they wanted to do was sing and worship God, my parents and religious leaders disagreed seeing it as an act of god to close a cult. The singing of the maha mantra seemed at odds with the aggression being faced it made a small impression and reminded me of that sweet song “my sweet lord”
The biblical scripture that I pondered most simply said “seek and you shall find” my questions despite many years studying their was no answers; but one fine day I met a devotee who simply by love was sharing your books with the world, the sweetest of exchanges and I left with a book.
The answers were all their, my first visit to the Hare Krishna centre and as we sat a devotee started singing the Maha mantra and it reminded me of they joy singing the words I had picked up from the song “my sweet lord”
With each word and sentence read the clarity slowly revealed itself the answers I had been seeking were finally being revealed my love for the devotees grow with each visit, exemplifying and demonstrating the practicality of devotional life.
Their was struggle and recalling my first visit to Bhaktivadanta Manor my thoughts turned to this it was a place were you personally stayed and if I was going to make it in devotional anywhere then here was the place to be. My first minutes amazingly I was asked to perform arati at your lotus feet overwhelmed with tears it wasn’t that good but I knew then your love; each visit grows and each visit to Bhaktivadanta Manor becomes sweeter and sweeter.
This was your desire that by the love of your disciples and through reading the words found in your books material bondage is relieved; so a few words appear inadequate but as you simply served your spiritual master may we by your words and example simply follow our spiritual masters and inspire others to come and understand how sweet my Lord Kirishna really is.
Yours Humbly
Dhirabhakta Das
Manuscript of the Isha Upanishad
Dear readers, you may well know that the Upanishads are the cardinal philosophical scriptures for those who follow the Vedic tradition. All of them are important, but the Sri Isha Upanishad, or Ishavasya Upanishad (also known as the Isopanishad) is particularly interesting – along with the Katha, Kena, and Swetashvatara – for the Vaishnavas. So I was particularly happy to see that a devotee artist is making the Isopanishad accessible to a new generation that might not otherwise discover it. He is rendering the entire 19 verses in different word media with accompanying videos. If any of you feel his project is worth your support, do please make a contribution. The benefit of ‘Kickstarter’ is that if the total is not reached, you won’t pay a penny, no matter how much you pledge. Have a look today. JUST CLICK HERE
Srila Prabhupada was seen “flying” into the temple room on an elegant swan carrier on his Vyasa Puja day, which followed a wonderful Janmastami celebration.
In this episode we interview Krishna conscious rapper Mikey Jay (http://www.mikeyjay108.org). Mikey is working on a project to create an album presenting the philosophy of Sri Isopanisad through rap and hip hop music. I have already watched some of the videos he has produced for the first two tracks and I am impressed. Here is Mikey Jay […]
The post 012 Krishna Conscious Rapper Mikey Jay appeared first on Successful Vaisnavas - Personal Development for Hare Krishnas.
In this episode we interview Krishna conscious rapper Mikey Jay (http://www.mikeyjay108.org). Mikey is working on a project to create an album presenting the philosophy of Sri Isopanisad through rap and hip hop music. I have already watched some of the videos he has produced for the first two tracks and I am impressed. Here is Mikey Jay himself explaining the Sri Isopanisad Album project.
Mikey has set up a Kickstarter project to reward anyone who support his project. I have personally pledged something because I want to support this talented devotee, and I can see how this album can be a powerful tool for spreading Krishna consciousness and distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikeyjay/sri-isopanisad-the-album-bhakti-yoga-music
Please visit the site and consider pledging. He has already generated quite a few pledges but still has some way to go to reach the goal. If it doesn’t reach the target, you won’t have to pay anything…
But your pledge could be the one that makes it successful!
Comment below and let me know what you think and let me know if you pledged.
Chewy, crispy, sweet and wholesome… these cookies will satisfy all cookie monsters!
PREPARATION TIME: 30 minutes
YIELD: about 36 cookies
100gm oil
1 Tbsp Golden syrup
1/2 C Sugar
3/4 C Coconut
3/4 C Rolled oats
3/4 C Plain flour
1 tsp Baking soda
1 Tbsp Hot water
1. Mix oil, golden syrup, sugar, coconut, rolled oats and flour together.
2. Dissolve baking soda in water and mix in.
3. Make the dough into cookie size balls & flatten onto a greased oven tray.
4. Bake @ 180 degrees for 15 min or until golden.
5. Say Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Balaram Jayanti 2013 – Jhulan & Deity Greetings
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Giriraj Swami read and spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.33.36 at Lord Krishna’s Appearance Day festival.
“When we hear these stories, we should think, ‘Krishna is so kind to His devotees.’ Even in the midst of the worst calamity, if you just take shelter of Krishna — just surrender to Krishna — He will protect you. ’I could have that facility if I surrender to Krishna. Why am I missing out — puttering around with my little toys and sense gratification and fallible soldiers? I am wasting my time. I should surrender to Krishna and get the real benefit.’ So, Krishna appears for this reason. And we can make the purpose of His appearance successful by hearing about His pastimes and dedicating ourselves to Him.”
“The devotees of the Lord, who are all confidential servitors, are sometimes perplexed in the discharge of their respective duties, but they are never discouraged. They have full faith in the Lord, and He paves the way for the smooth progress of the devotee’s duty.”
People often worry whether they look good in the eyes of the world; they fuss about being in tune with the latest fashions.
However, the world’s eyes are ever changing. What it cheers today, it jeers tomorrow. Fashions are notoriously short-lived.
Moreover, the world has many eyes – different people consider differing, even opposing, things as good. Looking good in everyone’s eyes is impossibly frustrating.
The obsession to look good sentences us to perpetual insecurity – we never know whether the world will find us good enough or what it will demand next. Worse still, under the spell of this obsession, we drag ourselves away from ourselves. We become disconnected from our core values, our inner essence, our true identity.
Situating ourselves in our actual identity is the only way to lasting security. For that, we need to get good eyes to look at the world. These good eyes are the eyes of knowledge (jnana-chakshu) provided by Gita wisdom, eyes that show us reality as it is. The unchanging reality is that we are souls meant for an eternal life of love and joy with Krishna. This world is but one station in our multi-life journey towards Krishna. People trying to ape the latest fashions are simply deluded souls dancing to the tune of the three modes, as the Bhagavad-gita (15.10) indicates.
The eyes of knowledge revise our vision of the world: It’s not a judge we need to satisfy, but a practicing ground we need to use for reviving our real life as devoted souls. Once we start serving Krishna and get a taste for the resulting fulfillment, then the obsession to look good ends – and we become free to live for our ultimate good.
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15.10 - The foolish cannot understand how a living entity can quit his body, nor can they understand what sort of body he enjoys under the spell of the modes of nature. But one whose eyes are trained in knowledge can see all this.
by Lilasuka dasi
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.
Different tourist entities came together and formed the Marshall County Tourism Board for the purpose of helping each other attract more visitors to the Moundsville area. The representatives of the attractions on this committee co-operate and brainstorm ways to improve tourism. Based on a proposal of the Marshall County Tourism Board, there has recently been a hotel tax introduced to collect funds for further promoting the local destinations. Workshops have also been organized to train the staffs of each attraction to inform visitors about all the other Marshall County attractions.
The staff members of the attractions work together. As a matter of fact, staff people have free entrance to each other’s attractions, so that they can get more familiar with all of the destinations. The different attractions have contributed to a fund that promotes advertising on T.V., in certain travel magazines, and other kinds of ads. The Marshall County Tourism Board is especially working with the Palace of Gold for their Bus Tour marketing.
The current representative for the Palace of Gold tourist attraction is Bhakta Josef Lauber. Working together with our local community is always a win-win situation.
From Mithilesh P
The verses 5.17-5.24 (BG) bhagvan Krishna talks about "brahmabhuta" and "brahmanirvana" and says that such a person attains supreme. Why then srila prabhupada talks about the fall of impersonalists and that they reach supreme destination after many births.
From Anuj P