Planet ISKCON

Video of Shyamala Kishori Dasi leading during New Vrindaban’s 24 Hour Kirtan – June 15th, 2013. Thanks to Bhakta Vatsala Dasa for posting on Youtube.

Chanting HK is EASY – HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagvata Swami 28jul2013

The nature of the mind is to wander unsteadily and unstoppably. During its wandering it frequently goes to memories that are emotionally potent. These may be positive, that is, pleasure-giving or negative, that is misery-causing.

However, if the mind is left to itself, it usually revisits memories that are disempowering, not empowering. For example, it may go to our past immoral anti-devotional indulgences, thereby fuelling our desires for them. Reliving past immoral indulgences doesn’t free us from them; it sends us deeper into their grip. This creates an inner struggle that leaves us feeling mentally exhausted. Or the mind may revisit past hurts. Reliving old wounds doesn’t cure them; it simply aggravates them, thereby subjecting us to with draining self-pity. Either way such mind wandering tends to be at best unproductive and at worst counterproductive.

That’s why when the mind starts such revisits down memory lane, we need to stop it as quickly as possible. Such memories need to be removed, not renewed.

Pertinently, the Bhagavad-gita (06.26) urges us to anticipate what’s likely to happen due to the flickering nature of the mind and prepare for it using our intelligence to rein in the wild mind.

The best way to implement this is by providing the mind fresh memories. The richest among such positive memories are those centered around Krishna, for he is the most attractive and the most loving of all. The process of devotional service to Krishna brings us in contact with many spiritually stimulating objects. When we receptively receive these stimuli and cherish them, especially those that provide us the greatest spiritual enrichment and empowerment, then we equip ourselves with an arena for the mind to wander, where we can choose renew instead of remove.

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From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.

Since the mind may be one's enemy or one's friend, one has to train the mind to become his friend. The Krishna consciousness movement is especially meant for training the mind to be always engaged in Krishna's business.

Nectar of Instruction 8 purport

Pope Francis made quite a splash when he said last week in response to a question about a priest being gay: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

As you may expect, there has been plenty of discussion about what the pope meant. Was he speaking personally? Was he speaking as head of the Catholic Church? Or was he speaking as both?

Beyond those remarks, the pope has received ample attention for the simplicity of his lifestyle, his attitude toward the poor and his humility in washing the feet of criminal offenders. In fact, those are just some of the areas in which the pope has gained attention, as this Washington Post editorial indicates.

Of course, his remarks, attitude and approach have a special audience among Catholics. But what relevance do they have to non-Catholics? The Catholic Church may be the world’s largest body of Christians, but what about other Christians and the many other faith traditions? What difference do comments from the pope make to them — as well as to non-believers?

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

In the Bhagavad Gītā, Lord Kṛṣṇa states, “Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.”

Having a leader for the social body is like having a head on the physical body. It is of utmost importance. A leader cannot teach principles that he/she does not imbibe and exhibit. Such a leader is called an Ācārya. A spiritual leader must not only be a living example but he/she must also not manufacture rules and ideas against the principles of the words of God. Thus a leader’s instructions reveal God’s instructions, rather than their own inventions.

Any leader who can impart the message of Bhakti, purely loving God without motivation by their own example, is relevant to all people of this world.

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

Here is my day's realisation about chanting - whatever situation we find ourselves in, whether that is dangerous or difficult (also when things are going well and smoothly) - we need to always chant the Holy names of Krsna and surrender to Him and think about Him in all these times.

On Harinama Sankirtan with Mahavishnu Swami - Meaning of the Hare Krishna Chant Revealed at Green Gathering 2013Meaning of the Hare Krishna Chant Revealed - 3 August 2013 | Green Gathering 2013Chepstow, Wales, at the Green Gathering Festival. Mahavishn... Continue reading →

Verse 4.11: As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā.

This verse can be summed up in one word: reciprocation.

If you boil down the word reciprocate, it means to return or requite. That's why I love this verse because there really isn't a topic that's more important to all of us than this one. Reciprocation is what we are searching for in our interactions with one another.

That's because living beings long to love and be loved.

It's not just about loving. It's also not just about being loved. It's both. That give and take is what makes a relationship sweet and interesting. Conversely, one of the greatest causes of anxiety, frustration and hurt results when relationships are not reciprocal. One person gives more emotionally or does more to show their care and when that is not acknowledged and returned, pain can arise in the heart.

Sometimes when persons start to practice yoga or other spiritual paths, they bring along with them the memories of those disappointing experiences. This is often why conceptions of the Divine may be a little but fuzzy because we view everything through the lens of our own experiences. Here, however, the Gita unequivocally states that the Divine also has feelings and reciprocates according to the desires and attitudes of those who not only reach out to Him, but also those who choose to ignore Him. Personally, I've always found that to be so fascinating. In observing others, often if someone is ignored by another, the person who has been ignored will reciprocate the sentiment. The Divine, however, doesn't do that.

That's where the subtlety of yoga really shines through.

In a world where everything is judged by actions, it is a paradigm shift to realize that attitude is actually more important. That's because attitude drives our actions.

The Divine reciprocates not necessarily with what we say or do but what we feel inside. That's why yoga requires introspection and deep thought. It may be easy to fool ourselves, but it's impossible to fool the Divine who is sitting in our hearts observing everything.

Furthermore, when we start expressing our gratitude to the Divine and try to cultivate the sincerity to live a life of compassion and love, we immediately start to experience reciprocation. That reciprocation may come in many different forms such as seemingly serendipitous opportunities, bringing role models into our lives and increased determination and perseverance. For those who are not interested in pursuing such a yogic lifestyle and would prefer to taste the numerous offerings the world has to offer, even then the Divine reciprocates by giving them facility. For those who would negate the existence of a Supreme Person, the Divine allows such souls to exercise their free will to pursue what they choose.

But, for those who genuinely seek to become instruments of compassion and grace, the Divine goes above and beyond by reciprocating in ways we can't even imagine. Facility, intelligence, courage, support and determination are given by the truckloads. So much so that the bhakti yogi becomes even more grateful and genuinely feels that they can never reciprocate adequately.

This is when the possibility of truly becoming selfless can actually become a reality. Such persons have the capacity to be truly selfless and expect nothing in return because they are already in a relationship with someone who is not only reciprocating with them but going above and beyond - the Divine. In this way, such a bhakti yogi just "pays it forward" and helps others.

Such is the power of the reciprocation loop. By offering our heart and attitude to the Divine we can become strong and empowered individuals who are empowered to help others. All we have to do, is try...

The pure devotee does not have to worry about the material necessities of life; he need not be anxious, because when he removes the darkness from his heart, everything is provided automatically by the Supreme Lord, who is pleased by the loving devotional service of the devotee. This is the essence of the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā. - SP Purport BG 10.11

My dear Arjuna, he who engages in My pure devotional service, free from the contaminations of fruitive activities and mental speculation, he who works for Me, who makes Me the supreme goal of his life, and who is friendly to every living being – he certainly comes to Me. - BG 11.55

Anyone who wants to approach the supreme of all the Personalities of Godhead, on the Kṛṣṇaloka planet in the spiritual sky, and be intimately connected with the Supreme Personality, Kṛṣṇa, must take this formula, as stated by the Supreme Himself. Therefore, this verse is considered to be the essence of Bhagavad-gītā. - SP purport BG 11.55

Hare Krishna

The european bustour hits the Polish Woodstock. Besides this just being legendary it was amazing, crazy, exciting and just a lot of fun. Read more ›

Summer in New Vrindaban is going very well. The newly renovated lodge is full on many weekends.  The new welcome center is buzzing with pilgrims and visitors. So, all is well in the holy dhama.

At the same time, in this material world, we all know that Krishna often tests His devotees in different ways. Then He also gives us the intelligence how to deal with such tests. The apartment suite in the lodge, the most comfortable and demanded accommodation, was unfortunately flooded, for the fourth time, by waste water due to the current pumping system. The experts advise that another renovation would not give us a guarantee that the same problem would not happen again. Therefore, we have had to dig up some of the lawn near the children’s playground, and put in a proper waste water line without a pump.

Krsna saved us again!  Very soon the lush, green grass will be growing back in.  All is well in New Vrindaban Dhama.

 

 

 

 

But they are not. Its more bluffing from scientists whose modus is to get funding for useless research. http://bbc.in/165KjtY

Dharmatma das: Another wonderful program last Friday evening. Lots of new guests and The Haris, a ladies bhajan group who led us in very nice Kirtan Read more ›

38 pics: Last Day Of Padayatra at Cesky Krumlov, City of Czech Republic Read more ›

Somehow, some of us might secretly feel the need to add (over-intelligent) to what Srila Prabhupada has already given us. Our thoughts could be, “This process requires too much patience… there must be a quicker way…” which subtracts from our Founder Acarya. How can we acknowledge the fullness of his teachings and what does it mean to have implicit faith in the spiritual master? Read more ›

Indradyumna Swami: When a heavy rainstorm inundated our festival in Kolobrzeg most of the people in attendance left. But some remained... and for them the show went on. All glories to Lord Caitanya's samkirtan soldiers! Read more ›

125 pics: Palky Yatra ©ISKCON GOURADESH, Cologne, Germany Read more ›

20130729 VedavyasaPriyaSwami

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Patients admitted in a hospital long to be discharged so that they can return home and be with their loved ones. Even while staying in the hospital for as long as the treatment necessitates, they long for the release date, looking forward to all that they will be able to do thereafter.

Gita wisdom compares our present condition to a disease and the material world to a hospital. The symptoms of our disease are the fourfold problems of old age, disease, death and rebirth; and the threefold miseries coming from our body, our society and our environment.

People whose spiritual faculty starts awakening recognize the gravity of these miseries. Understanding that these miseries are inevitable at the material level of existence, they strive for release from it.

But their attempts are often sabotaged by their underdeveloped spiritual understanding. As they are not yet aware of the positivity of spiritual reality, their motivation for seeking liberation comes primarily from fear of the negativity of material reality. However, because material reality is seductive and deceptive, their spiritual determination frequently falters and falls, causing them to relapse to materialism.

The Bhagavad-gita (09.28) points to a deeper richer understanding of liberation that it refers to as vimukti. This special and full liberation releases us into a reality of love unending, of exciting and fulfilling reciprocations of love with the all-attractive Supreme Person Krishna. All our longings for love are perfectly and permanently satisfied when we learn to love him. And the process of devotional service helps us to love Krishna even while we are living in material existence. Those who practice devotional service diligently gain endearing glimpses of that love even in this life itself and eventually gain that life of love forever.

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In this way you will be freed from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious results. With your mind fixed on Me in this principle of renunciation, you will be liberated and come to Me.

 

 

Attachment has the power to take our thoughts away from our surroundings to our dreams. It can make those to whom we are attached seem to be present even when they are absent.

This perception-transforming power of attachment is demonstrated at the start of the Gita. Therein, the arrogant prince Duryodhana assesses the comparative strengths of the assembled forces. After listing the prominent players on the Pandavas’ side (01.03-01.06), he refers to the leading lights on his side (01.07-01.11). In the Gita (01.08), he mentions Karna, the renowned archer who had a lifelong animosity towards Arjuna.

Duryodhana’s reference to Karna is intriguing because Karna was not present on the battlefield. Just before the start of the war, Karna had walked out of the Kuru forces in a huff due to what he perceived as a putdown of his prowess by the Kuru commander Bhishma. Karna refused to re-enter as long as Bhishma remained in charge.

Why then did Duryodhana refer to Karna? Because Karna was very much present in his mind. By his deft political maneuvering and shows of friendship, Duryodhana had won Karna over to his evil ways, thereby obscuring and perverting that famed archer’s virtues. As Karna shared his antipathy towards the Pandavas, Duryodhana was very attached to Karna. No wonder he felt the absent archer to be present.

Such is the vision-changing capacity of attachment. We can tap this capacity positively through devotional service. The more we become attached to Krishna, the more we can feel his presence in our heart to help us in life’s battles. And because Krishna being God is factually omnipresent, attachment to him takes us not from reality to illusion, but from temporary material reality to eternal spiritual reality – the arena to which we everlastingly belong.

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There are personalities like you, Bhisma, Karna, Krpa, Asvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta called Bhurisrava, who are always victorious in battle.

 

Today I was speaking with an old devotee friend....recently he is struggling with Japa but after talking with him for awhile, wants to change that situation.

Maya means forgetfulness of Krishna, and forgetfulness of Krishna and Krishna consciousness stand side by side like light and shadow. If one remains in shadow, he cannot enjoy the facilities offered by light, and if one remains in light, he cannot be disturbed by the darkness of shadow. By taking to Krishna consciousness, one gradually becomes liberated and remains in light. Indeed, he does not even touch the darkness.

Nectar of Instruction 7 purport

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 June 2013, Vrndavana, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.34)

 

So this merciful aspect of Krsna is very important because the more we appreciate Krsna’s merciful nature, to be merciful says something about the state of the heart. So speaking here about the nature of Krsna’s heart. We can become attracted to Krsna’s beauty. Stunned by his unlimited beauty and just look at him again and again! His lotus eyes, his lotus feet, but the thing that capture me the most is Krsna’s merciful nature, because Krsna is unlimitedly kind. That naturally brings out love from the heart. We see how kind Krsna is! So it is important to contemplate Krsna’s merciful nature and to more and more appreciate how Krsna is merciful!

 

On Harinama Sankirtan with Mahavishnu Swami - Meaning of the Hare Krishna Chant Revealed at Green Gathering 2013Meaning of the Hare Krishna Chant Revealed - 3 August 2013 | Green Gathering 2013Chepstow, Wales, at the Green Gathering Festival. Mahavishn... Continue reading →

When a heavy rainstorm inundated our festival in Kolobrzeg most of the people in attendance left. But some remained… and for them the show went on. All glories to Lord Caitanya’s samkirtan soldiers!

In spiritual life, tolerance is an important virtue. Internalizing this virtue may present us a dilemma: “If I just tolerate the things that happen to me, won't that make me weak, lethargic, impotent?”

Not at all, answers Gita wisdom. Far from making us impotent, tolerance will make us persistence.

To understand how, let’s look at the Bhagavad-gita’s call for tolerance in its context. The most-quoted mandate to tolerate comes in the Gita (02.14), which urges us to tolerate life's pleasures and pains just as we tolerate the heat and the cold. This verse is preceded (02.13) by the declaration that we are not destructible bodies, but are indestructible souls. And it is succeeded (02.15) by the proclamation that those who can tolerate attain eternal existence. The sandwich-like position of the tolerance verse indicates that it paves the path for us – the path from the information about our eternal nature in the previous verse to its realization in the next verse.
How does tolerance pave the path? When we train ourselves to tolerate the ups and downs of life, be they external like weather changes or internal like mood changes, then our mental energy doesn't get unduly dissipated on less important things. The greater our tolerance, the lesser our mental energy dissipation.
The conserved mental energy allows us to be focused on the process of yoga, connection with the supreme eternal reality, Krishna. The more we connect with Krishna, the more we become internally purified and illuminated, thereby gradually recognizing our eternal essence as souls. Thus, tolerance paves the path and devotional service moves us along the path.
So, tolerance is not about passively accepting whatever life dishes out to us, but about persistently refusing to let those dishes distract us and persevering in the primary purpose of our life.

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