Planet ISKCON

  The Passing Away of Sura Dasa Today, December 2nd, at about 5:30 am California time, during the auspicious Brahma Muhurta time, His Grace Sura Prabhu (disciple of Srila Prabhupada and a long-time servant of the BBT) left his body in Los Angeles. He had been hospitalized since November 26th, after being diagnosed with Covid-19. […]

The post Srila Prabhupada Disciple and Stalwart Preacher, Sura Dasa, Passes appeared first on ISKCON News.

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, after more than four months of absence, I finally returned to Sridham Mayapur. Burning with impatience this morning I went to the construction site of the TOVP, accompanied by our Construction Manager, His Grace Premavatar Gauranga prabhu, who showed me the various directions in which work is now underway.

We bowed to Srila Prabhupada, who is majestically seated in a specially designated room on the Pujari floor and awaits the opening of the Temple to move to His permanent place in the Temple Room. He is being worshiped nicely and we received His prasadam.

I saw significant progress in the marble cladding of the upper floors of the TOVP, a huge number of ready-made GRC coffered ceiling elements for the Nrisimhadev Dome (which are ready for painting and installation on the Dome), we enjoyed examining the exquisite pink sandstone Jaipur balusters on the top of the temple, received darshan of Jaya and Vijaya at the entrance to Temple Room, and discussed the details of the processing and painting of wall bas-reliefs in the Temple Room with the artist Ambhoda devi dasi.

Much has been accomplished in these few months and we hope that His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will accept our sincere efforts to bring closer the auspicious day of the opening of Their Temple.

 

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My dear devotees,

Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In a letter to me dated December 1971, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “Go on increasing books, and go on increasing my pleasure.” December is a special opportunity to focus on Srila Prabhupada’s desire that we distribute books—and thus increase his pleasure. As he wrote in the same letter, “I am most pleased especially to hear that you are distributing many books.”

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
  yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yaso ’nkitani yat
  srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah 

“That literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung, and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.” (SB 1.5.11)

Now let us cooperate fully to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire, which is the desire of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the parampara, and distribute such transcendental literature for the benefit of all—and be blessed by their sublime mercy.

Thank you very much.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

• 

• 

Shri Sharanga Thakura (Sharanga Murari) lived in Mamagacchi, Modadrumadwipa (Navadwipa). Staying under a Bakula tree, Sharanga Thakura worked hard every day to please his worshipable Deity. Single handily, he would collect fruits, vegetables and firewood. He would also beg rice, cook, bathe, dress, and feed his Lord. After a full day of Deity service Sharanga would cross the Ganges River to join Mahaprabhu’s Hari-Nama sankirtana party in Mayapur.

vraje nandimukhi yasit sadya saranga-thakkurah

prahlado manyate kaishcin matpitra sa na manyate

 Vraja’s Nandimukhi became Sharanga Thakur in Gaura-lila. Some people say that he is Prahlad, but that is not the opinion held by my father. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 172) 

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur writes in his Anubhashya:

Having been ordered by Mahaprabhu to take disciples, Sharanga Thakur decided that he would make a disciple of the first person that he met the following morning. As fate would have it, the next morning, a dead body washed up against him while he was taking bath in the Ganges. He revived the corpse and made him his disciple. This disciple was known as Thakur Murari, or sometimes as Sharanga Murari. 

In the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, it is further said that Murari was a boy who had been killed by snakebite and his parents had set his uncremated body afloat on a raft in the Ganges, as was the custom in that time.

Sharanga Thakur himself become an empowered preacher of Mahaprabhu’s dharma. Descendants of his disciples still live in a village named Shava. Sharanga Thakur’s Deities were served in the town of Mamagachi. The original Temple was built in front of a bakula tree.

The Deities of Radha Gopinath can be seen in this Temple, as can the Deity of Mahaprabhu’s other parshad, Vasudeva Datta Thakur, Shri Madana Gopal. The devotees who do parikrama of Navadwip Dhama visit this Temple for darshana. 

• 

• 

Sudbury, Ontario

Today

While my host Damodara, and his student occupants, took that extra Sunday morning rest, I snuck out for a quiet stroll. The sun hadn’t yet risen so “all is calm and all is (not yet) bright.” It was really soothing to know that I can walk for two minutes and I’m on a stretch of the longest recreational, multi-use trail in the world. The signage, which I’m so familiar with since seeing it from my first marathon pilgrimage in 1996, was like meeting an old friend. The trail is 24, 000 kilometers long and is referred to as the Great Trail. This morning the signage took me along not only Lake Ramsey, but also a zig-zag of a walk through the older part of the downtown.

At one point I thought I was the only pedestrian but then, near the old train station, an oncoming walker, much bigger than myself, came right towards me and momentarily put a few shivers up my spine, especially when he extended his arm. It actually is the crazy part of town. He ended up just placing his right hand for a quick stroke along my left arm, giving a warm “How’s it going?” According to the boys back at the house, the gesture is common enough in this town. “Neighbourliness” is what you might call it.

One family that moved-in to the area from Saskatoon, whom I once visited there, are here now and they came to the house to get reacquainted. They were somewhat keen to have their young, shy son and daughter meet a monk in living flesh. Usually, a high five is the technique that breaks the ice with them. Also, I engaged in some Zoom-ing, which included a sibling reunion on the occasion of my sister Rose Ann’s birthday. As usual, we talk silly on such a calls. We’re human right?

May the Source be with you!

5 km

 

 

Sudbury, Ontario

Walking a Bit of the Past

There are places in Sudbury I just had to revisit as part of my personal “memory lane.” First of all Ramsey Lake, a sixty-five feet deep and eight kilometre-long body of water within the city limits; a place I would gravitate to fourty-nine years ago.

Damodara, my host in the city, drove a few of us to Cambrian College, where I attended as a fine arts student. Two boys accompanying us are current students in the computer science field. The campus has expanded since my time.

Finally, I just had to set my feet at the downtown corner where Bonimart used to stand. It was here that I met five Krishna monks. Ayodya Pati (now with the name B.B. Govinda Swami), Visvakarma, Drupada, Dustadura, and Satyahit were those fine, young devotees who first treated me to Krishna. They were chanting at that corner on a wintry night near Christmas. I could see they were very determined, swaying in the cold playing drums and hand cymbals. I received a hardbound Bhagavad-gita for five dollars. I invited them to stay in my apartment overnight. Those few hours with them changed my life forever.

Now, our evening was spent at Damodara’s home with a dozen students from India, all of whom want to start a new life here. They wanted to hear about my “Tales from Trails,” so that is what I delivered.

My message to them was “study hard, work with attention to detail, settle down and keep Krishna in the centre.”

May the Source be with you!

 

5 km

Sudbury, Ontario

Back Where It Started

This is where it all began for me. My seed for bhakti was planted on Yonge St., in Toronto, and Victoria, B.C., where I had brief encounters with Krishna monks. However, it was here in this town, Sudbury, the nickel capital of the world, where my actual practice of devotion began. That’s why I’m excited to be back. To arrive here hits some sentimental nerves. It pushes emotional buttons. I met devotees during Christmas in 1972.

First of all, I really like the airport. If I say, it’s an incredible edifice. I’m being facetious, if not sarcastic. It’s the size of a chicken-coop, a shack. You’re in. you’re out. I like that.

When I came out, I was greeted by northern enthusiasts. “Northern” because they were standing in snow, but the term couldbe misleading. The eight or so young, bright men all migrated here or are on visas, having come from steamy India. Trained by one of our boys from Toronto, initially, Dharshan, the sweet souls raised their arms and gave out a boisterous “Haribol!” which means “chant the name of God.”

Locals who were also standing about waiting for their arrivals were entertained by the boys’ reaction. I feel I’ll have a good time here.

On a grave note, I wanted to mention that during the earlier part of the day I attended the cremation event for our dear Madhurya Lila, who gloriously left this world with loving family and friends around her. The Brampton community will miss her very much; an example of a fine devotee and human being.

May the Source be with you!

 

 

Toronto General, Toronto

Take Care Vaishnava

I trekked in the rain to see our beloved Vaishnava Prabhu at the Toronto General Hospital. His heart is not in the best condition and so he deserved a visit. Being in the CIUC is a very protected and secure division of the hospital, which is number one in the country and one of the best in the world for cardio challenges. Visitation is quite restricted so I was lucky, as the priest, to come in. Vaishnava’s family comes daily. His wife, Janaki, brings tasty prasadam from home, blessed by Krishna. Hospital food is rather bland.

Our man, Vaishnava, is one of our heroes. Born in South Africa, he migrated to Canada in the late ‘80s and, along with his family of five, they took up Krishna Consciousness so well. They got serious about running the Sunday School, and then opened an Iskcon branch in nearby Brampton, starting a school there.

He is in a stable condition and is in good spirits. It is an obligation and natural motivation to come and give some moral support to persons like Vaishnava, who is a great family and community person.

We know from the Bhagavat philosophy that we are not these bodies, yet, at the same time, we must take care for what God has given to us in the way of a physical body, which serves the Supreme and fellow human beings. To the best of our ability, we should demonstrate conscious care of both body and soul together. Take care, Vaishnava.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

 

 

Srila Kaviraja Goswami writes (Chaitanya Charitamrta-lila Adi 11:37.) that Kaliya Krishna Dasa Thakura was one of the principal devotees of Nityananda Prabhu. He knew nothing other than the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. According to Srila Kavi Karnapura’s Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika (text 132.), he was one of the 12 gopals in Vrindavana, and in the pastimes […]

The post 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 Day 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐬 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The Study and Teach Program makes getting a sastric degree on Srila Prabhupada’s books easier and more accessible. Up till now, one of the main methods of getting your Bhakti Sastri Degree in ISKCON involved taking six months off from your job or service to study in person in Mayapur or Vrindavan. This made it […]

The post New Study and Teach Program Makes Getting Your Sastric Degree Easier appeared first on ISKCON News.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 November 2018, Madhuvana, Vrndavana, India, Parikrama 2018 Lecture)

All the wealth we can accrue from a whole lifetime of service is insignificant compared to the blessings of our spiritual master. It is blessings that are the principal factor and not only of our spiritual master but of the entire sampradaya, of the previous spiritual masters. One should however not jump over though. One should approach through the lineage and through the Vaisnavas and therefore, one has to become soft.

In the beginning, we make distinctions between Vaisnavas, thinking, “This Vaisnava is a neophyte” or “that one is not bona fide” and “that Vaisnava is weak and the other one is too stubborn.” Every Vaisnava is not good enough for us. At one point, however, all the Vaisnavas become good enough except one – ourselves. All the others are worshippable. So one has to arrive at this point. This is difficult when one identifies with varnasrama and is in a ksatriya spirit, brahmana spirit or a sudra spirit. Only in the pure transcendental spirit can we really worship all the Vaisnavas because all faults become insignificant in comparison to their spiritual credit. If we see that someone has spiritual credit, who cares about the faults? The faults are meaningless. In this way, one can appreciate and worship all the Vaisnavas.

The article " Worshipping the Vaisnavas " was published on KKSBlog.

By Mayapur Sasi dasa

Whoa, this is huge! ISKCON Silicon Valley did 130,018 book points in October, way ahead of any other temple. What's going on there? Vaisesika Prabhu is spreading the word that Srila Prabhupada likes it when his books are distributed, and the temple's marathon began two months before the annual Prabhupada Marathon. Dhaka, in Bangladesh, achieved a 999% increase, with 24,392 book points. This Muslim country's population is only about 10% Hindu, but still, the devotees are determined to spread Lord Krsna's glories, no matter what the circumstance are. Recent, tragic violence against Hindus and devotees in Bangladesh prompted worldwide ISKCON protests. Continue reading "WSN October 2021 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
→ Dandavats"

MADHUMATI GOPI AS SRILA NARAHARI SARKAR THAKUR   pura madhumati prana-sakhi vrindavane sthita adhuna narahary-akhyah sarakarah prabhoh priyah   She who was previously Radha’s intimate girlfriend named Madhumati is today Narahari Sarkar, the Lord’s dear associate. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 117)   Sri Narahari Sarkar Thakura participated in all of Sri Gaurasundora’s pastimes. He was Lord Gauranga’s chief […]

The post DISAPPEARANCE OF NARAHARI SARKAR THAKUR appeared first on Mayapur.com.

 

• 

• 

Shri Narahari Sarkar Thakura was born at Shri Khanda. Shri Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami describes that the residents of Shri Khanda formed a branch of the desire tree of love of God.

“Shri Khan davasi (the residents of Shri Khanda) Mukunda and his son Raghu nandan were the thirty ninth branch of the tree, Narahari was the fortieth, Chiran Jiva the forty first and Sulochana the forty second. They were all big branches of the all merciful tree of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead anywhere and everywhere.”

Shri Narahari Sarkar Thakura participated in all of Shri Gaurasundara’s pastimes. Bhakti Ratnakara states: “Shri Sarkar Thakura’s glories are most uncommon. In Braja he is known as Madhumati, whose good qualities are unlimited.” 

One day, Nityananda Prabhu arrived at Shri Khanda and said to Narahari, “All right, we know who you are. So where’s the honey, Madhu’ ?” In Krishna-lila, Narahari is the sakhi Madhumati, whose service is to supply honey for Shri Shri Radha-Govinda and Their associates. So he immediately went to a nearby pond and filled a pot which immediately turned into honey of the most nectarean kind. Nityananda Prabhu and His associates drank from this pot to their full and unlimited satisfaction.

Narahari dasa Sarakara was a very famous Devotee. Lochana dasa Thakura, the celebrated author of Shri Chaitanya-mangala, was his disciple. In the Chaitanya-mangala it is stated that Shri Gadadhara dasa and Narahari Sarakara were extremely dear to Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Shri Lochana dasa Thakura was the dear disciple of Shri Narahari Sarkar. In his book Chaitanya mangala he introduces his guru in this way:

“My Thakur (spiritual master) is Shri Narahari das Thakura, who is very influential amongst the medical caste. He is continuously absorbed in Krishna-prema, and in fact his body knows nothing but Krishna. To his followers he speaks about nothing other than love of Krishna. He was previously known in Vrindavana-lila as Madhumati and was a storehouse of sweetness (honey), and very dear to Radharani. Now he is now present in Kali-yuga with Shri Gaurasundara as Shri Narahari. He is the keeper of the storehouse of love of Radha and Krishna.” [Shri Chaitanya Mangal, Sutrakhanda]

Shri Narahari Sarkar Thakura was a very expert singer as well as poet. He has composed many songs about the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda. He composed a Sanskrit work entitled Shri Bhajanamrta.

 His disappearance is on the Ekadasi tithi day, of the dark fortnight, in the month of Agrahayon (Mrigashir – Nov-Dec). 

• 

• 

Montreal, Quebec

Sweet Etiquette

We had such a sweet time with sadhanain the morning. Thanks to our guru, Prabhupada, who brought a morning program into our lives. It starts at 4:30 AM with singing. We are swaying. We are playing our instruments. Three hours later, we sit for a grave discussion on the book Bhagavatam.

This morning we dwelt on the beautiful story of the Dwarf Avatar and his encounter with King Bali. Bali was a generous type. He had all the protocol down, just right, when the very tiny Vamana came to his presence. It started off with the phrase “svagatam,” which means welcome, or in this province you say “bien venue.” Bali then offered kind words, some praise and a seat that was comfortable. His etiquette was perfect.

Anyway, we were a happy batch of devotees relishing the warm and yet reverential exchanges of these two souls together. Breakfast followed with fruit and kichari. Yummy!

When I arrived at the Montreal train station, I was greeted by a VIA Rail attendant. She could have been trained in the school of Bali. I could see her smile beyond her covid mask as she spoke, “Comment allez-vous?” which means, “How are you?”

Knowing I’m an Anglophone with language she continued, “You are Hare Krishna?”

“Oui!”

“The world needs more people like you; to enlighten.”

She continued with her sweetness and made sure I was in the proper queue, destined for my home. I witnessed the perfect behaviour. It was great.

 

May the Source be with you!

4 km

 

 

Montreal, Quebec

Some Warmth in the Cold

 

Dark, ominous clouds set in and at the corner of Guy and Maissoneuve Streets in downtown Montreal, thousands of Concordia University students were making their way to destinations – classrooms, apartments, or coffee shops. Snowflakes hit our faces, but just momentarily, at this busy student hour as we chanted away letting the nippy nature of the night not bother us too much.

Students were curious. With a big percentage being from India they are indeed familiar with the sound. We received smiles from many. I believe that some appreciated our presence in braving the cold. One person did not. She undid her covid mask and shouted repeatedly, “Repent! Repent!”

I guess we sinners, who were chanting, will try to do that – repent.

Our group needs to be vigilant about some guys on the streets who ask our girls (chanters) for their phone numbers. Nandini Radha played harmonium. Then did Tulasi, who also is adept at leading the chant.

Indoor mantras continued back at the temple on Pie IX Boulevard. In honour of Chaitayna, the monk from Bengal, we sang again, followed by a second lesson of the day from Bhagavad-gita2.21. Through Zoom, devotees from Ontario also listened in.

To remind all the verse goes as follows, “O Partha, how can a person who knows that the soul is indestructible, eternal, unborn, and immutable kill anyone or cause anyone to be killed?”

 

May the Source be with you!

 

 

Montreal, Quebec

In Separation

I wanted to offer my congratulations to the four new initiates from Mauritius. This last Sunday, we got plugged into the Zoom system with the community in Bon Accueil, in that country which apparently holds the post of having the most covid deaths per capita in the world at present. There is no way that I would be physically present in this otherwise lovely nation with the virus being too infectiously in the atmosphere. Things are done in separation these days.

Kudos go to Akilesh who received the name Akilananda, Arvind as Achyuta, Yasna as Yasoda Mayi, and Sweety as Sarsti. May Sri Krishna bless them with the good life of honesty and sensibility, straightforwardness and purity. Three devotees at the event took their second initiation – Danapati, Maha Laksmi, and Divya Jnan. May you all prosper spirituality.

While I was physical apart from this devotional group in Mauritius, I committed myself to visit another French-speaking community – Quebec. It was time to visit Montreal. That I did via the railway line that goes by the name Via Rail. I was happy to see renovations completed at Toronto’s Union Station. It looks really good.

Travelling by train is always a pleasure. The only thing is I was lusting over being in the outdoors. From the window there is more forest, rivers, lakes, swamps and farmland than concrete and glass condos. With the sun shining and all the rural niceness I really did wish to exercise my limbs in the shape of walking. Walking only transpired after I de-trained. I put in a humble 2 kilometres.

 

May the Source be with you!

2 km.

 

Hamilton, Ontario

For Kali It’s Kirtan

 

One very hip street in Hamilton is called Hess Village. It’s trendy and it is natural to have a few yoga studios in the area. One such place is in a loft. “Church 444,” for some reason or another, is the name of the place. Monica runs the place. Shawn is the handy man around. Chris, a local barber, co-ordinated the event this afternoon for kirtan, chanting and dancing.

 

Chris has a bad cough and declined from coming, but Monica, Shawn, Ben, Kartik, Rahul, Zak, Henry, Jyoti, Aindra, Dhruva, Roman, Katie, Karuna Sindhu and Allison all rose to the occasion for mantrapower and dance. The dance isn’t always part of the repertoire, but it evolved anyway.

 

Ben expressed, “This is the kali yuga(dark age)” and indicated that the chant was necessary to challenge the ills of the world. Allison is a bit shy to sing when it came to her turn, but she really got into the dance at Dhruva’s drum beat and Karuna Sindhu’s harmonium playing.

 

I took the liberty to announce dedicating the kirtan to Madurya Lila, most beloved by our Brampton community. She passed away this morning at 12:55 from cancer. Devotees in the area have come forward to morally support the surviving family members – Abhijit, her husband, and their two children. Her pain is over now. It was hard.

 

Thank you for reading, please pray and chant.

May the Source be with you!

 

Ramsden Park, Toronto

 

Marvelous Moments

Two young students from the Toronto Film School lined me up for a documentary assignment interview. The questions included, “What is Hare Krishna?”, “Do you believe in an after-life?”, etc. The filming went well.

Many marvelous moments filled my day. Then I came up with a poem inspired by phrases spoken by Prabhupada. In bold, Ill relay those messages. In lower case is my contribution.

BOOKS ARE THE BASIS

 

BOOKS ARE THE BASIS

They come in many cases

And go to different places

Contents evoke happy faces

Leaving many holy traces

 

PURITY IS THE FORCE

Taking us to the Great Source

It is something to endorse

Can't learn it from any course

Lose it, and you will remorse

 

PREACHING IS THE ESSENCE

Reaching young, old, adolescence

A service of super-excellence

Gaining Krishna's acceptance

In giving we feel His presence

 

UTILITY IS THE PRINCIPLE

The state of being useful, sensible

Practical and comprehensible

Balancing maximum, minimal

The key to reaching the pinnacle

 

-Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk

 

May the Source be with you!

3 km

 

PM Modi said Jagattarini Dasi, who joined ISKCON  in 1970, spent more than 13 years in Vrindavan before returning to Australia. 

By Aseem Krsna Das

Here is an exceptional devotee of the Lord, who is committed to improving the deplorable conditions of the prisoners within the jails with the brilliant lamp of Krishna consciousness. The prison house is a place meant for reformation or correction but there is no hope of correction without Krishna consciousness. Continue reading "A Central Jail’s Transformation into an Ashrama
→ Dandavats"

 

Hare Krishna!

Please accept our humble obeisances!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

Topic:  Meditation on the form of the Lord from Srimad Bhagavatam

Date: Sunday 28th Nov 2021

Time: 11 am to 12 noon EST

Link to join the class from your desktop or laptop:

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9150790510?pwd=Wk5GYXVRMkJmdk84MzZJRXBKYUgwUT09

ISKCON Scarborough

3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,

Scarborough, Ontario,

Canada, M1V4C7

Website: www.iskconscarborough.org

Email:

iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com

Last year, members of a small Michigan church attempted to do something that has proven difficult in America: establish common ground in a time when so many are divided politically. 

In October a very special event happened at the TOVP, the arrival of Srila Prabhupada, the installation of the Srila Prabhupada Murti. On the same date, Hari Sauri Das made the official announcement of the arrival of his latest book - Back to Vrndavana: Srila Prabhupada's Final Lila – and it is now available for purchase.

ISKCON Youth Forum [IYF] Delhi celebrated its annual Youth Festival, ‘VIPLAVA- A Revolution in Consciousness’,  from October 22nd to 24th 2021, at Fogla Ashrama, Bhaktivedanta Marga, Srī Vrndāvana Dhāma, for 2000+ youth from across the nation.

Source: Krishna Tube

Reporters from the Philadelphia Enquirer Ann Jones and Sandy Nixon compiled a list of questions for Srila Prabhupada. Sandy Nixon planned to write a book and a New York Times magazine article on the spiritual masters who were influencing Americans at the time. Her idea for the book was to let people know what Krishna consciousness is.

She asked fifteen questions and the first one was, "What is Krishna Consciousness?" Srila Prabhupada replied: "Krishna means God and we are all connected with Krishna, God. God is the original father therefore we have got an intimate connection with Krishna, so we have forgotten it. What is Krishna? What is my connection with Him? What is the aim of life? All these questions there are and when one becomes interested in such questions, he is called Krishna conscious.

Sandy's second question was, "How did Krishna consciousness develop?"

Srila Prabhupada replied: "Krishna consciousness is already there in everyone's core of heart but due to one's material conditional life he has forgotten it. So this process of chanting Hare Krishna maha mantra means to revive that consciousness. It is already there. Just like a few days ago these American and European boys and girls, they did not know who is Krishna but now you have seen yesterday how throughout the whole procession they were chanting and dancing in ecstasy. So do you think that is artificial? No. Artificially nobody can chant and dance for hours together. That means the awakening of Krishna consciousness. It was there and by the bonafide process it is now awakened. That is explained: "The Krishna consciousness is dormant in everyone's heart. So when he comes in contact with devotees that is awakened. Just like to be attracted by a young girl or a young boy, it is there in the child, in the small child, it is there and when he will be young, then it will be awakened. It is not that artificial. So in association, it is awakened. The potency is there already but in good association, by hearing about Krishna one is awakened to the status of Krishna consciousness."

Sandy Nixon's third question was: "What is the difference between Krishna consciousness and Christ consciousness?"

Srila Prabhupada replied: "Christ consciousness is also Krishna consciousness but people do not follow the rules and regulations of Christianity therefore they are not awakened. The commandments of Christ, they do not follow, therefore they do not come to the standard of consciousness.

Sandy's forth question was "What is unique about Krishna consciousness that separates it form all other religions? Is it a religion?"

Srila Prabhupada answers: "Religion means primarily to know God and love Him, that is religion. But nobody knows God, and what to speak of loving Him? Nobody is trained up, how to know God and how to love Him. They are satisfied by going to the church, "O God give us our daily bread." That also not everyone goes.

So the communist says that, "You don't go to the church, bread we shall supply." So poor innocent persons, they get bread elsewhere, so they do not go to church but nobody is serious to know what is God and how to love Him. Nobody is serious. Therefore in Bhagavatam it is said that it is cheating religion. I profess some religion but I do not know what is God and how to love Him. So that type of religion is cheating religion. Religion means to know God and love Him but generally, a man does not know what is God and what to speak of loving him? So therefore that is cheating religion, that is not religion.

Source: ISKCON Bangalore

Welcome to Braj Mandal Parikarama!

The scriptures declare the land of Braj to be the holiest of places in the universe, as the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, performed His pastimes in this sacred land, 5000 years ago. Here is the list of places we will be visiting on the first day of the Parikrama:

1) Mathura - The birthplace of Lord Krishna and the capital city of the warrior kings of the lineage of Lord Krishna.

2) Vishrama Ghat - 'Vishrama' means 'rest' and 'Ghat' means steps leading to the sacred river. It is said that Lord Krishna took a rest at this spot along the river Yamuna after killing the tyrannical King Kamsa.

3) Gokula - Among the 12 forests of Braj, the first and foremost is the forest of Mahavana. Mahavana is also called Gokula.

4) Nanda Bhavan - Nanda Bhavan was the residence of Nanda Maharaja, the father of Lord Sri Krishna.

5) Ukhal Bandhan – Lord Krishna got the name 'Damodara' because Mother Yashoda tied little Krishna's belly with ropes, to a grinding mortar. This sweet pastime of motherly punishment took place here.

6) Brahmanda Ghat – The place where Lord Krishna showed the entire universe within His mouth to a stunned Mother Yashoda.

With 65 chapters and more than 1,600 pages the ‘Handbook of Hinduism in Europe’ is a major contribution of knowledge and research on Hinduism and its spread in Europe up to the present day.

The 11th day of the waning phase of the Moon (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Margashirsha (November–December) is observed as Utpanna Ekadasi. It is believed that fasting on this Ekadasi relieves one from the reactions to sins of past and present lives. This day is also known as Uttpatti Ekadasi.

Govardhan Eco Village (GEV), ISKCON’s 100-acre farm in the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range in Maharashtra, recently completed the final fourteen rooms for its 42-room Mahavan guest building using energy-efficient mud block building technologies. 

By Amanda Lucia

Unlike other versions of Hinduism that gurus have presented to Americans, ISKCON is unique in that it has never attempted to universalise or dilute Hindu beliefs and practices in order to fit into local American customs. In fact, ISKCON encourages its disciples to learn Sanskrit, chant mantras, wear Indian clothing, eat vegetarian food, and devote themselves to Krishna. ISKCON presented Krishna as a monotheistic supreme deity, and has augmented its theology to draw parallels with Christ. Continue reading "How ISKCON took Hinduism to the US heartland
→ Dandavats"

Books Are the Basis They come in many cases And go to different places Contents evoke happy faces Leaving many holy traces Purity Is the Force Taking us to the Great Source It is something to endorse Can’t learn it from any course Lose it and you will remorse Preaching Is the Essence Reaching young, […]

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Govardhan Eco Village (GEV), ISKCON’s 100-acre farm in the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range in Maharashtra, recently completed the final fourteen rooms for its 42-room Mahavan guest building using energy-efficient mud block building technologies. The same techniques are also currently being used to build the 9,000 square foot Bhajan Ashram, a retreat facility for […]

The post Govardhana Eco Village Creates Green Guest Buildings Using Mud Block System appeared first on ISKCON News.

The 11th day of the waning phase of the Moon (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Margashirsha (November–December) is observed as Utpanna Ekadasi. It is believed that fasting on this Ekadasi relieves one from the reactions to sins of past and present lives. This day is also known as Uttpatti Ekadasi. The narration below of […]

The post Utpanna Ekadasi, The TOVP and Giving Tuesday appeared first on ISKCON News.

The ’Handbook of Hinduism in Europe’ is the first encyclopedia to this extent that explains the development of Hinduism in Europe, its various traditions, the philosophy as well as describes Hindu-rooted movements such as ISKCON. The encyclopedia consists of two volumes with 65 chapters in total, written by 60 researchers from all over Europe. The […]

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