Planet ISKCON

(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
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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.

 

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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). 

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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
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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
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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, […]

The post Books are the Basis appeared first on ISKCON News.

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 […]

The post Online Book Launch of the ‘Handbook of Hinduism in Europe’ appeared first on ISKCON News.

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 […]

The post Back to Vrndavana: Srila Prabhupada’s Final Lila is Now Available appeared first on ISKCON News.

  A Small Church’s Example of Compassion Last year, members of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church attempted to do something that has proven difficult in America: establish common ground in a time when so many are divided politically. It’s a familiar complaint in America: political polarization has grown toxic, and houses of worship have not […]

The post A Community Divided appeared first on ISKCON News.

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 elusive and difficult for many to get the “family transcendental diploma” based on Srila Prabhupada’s books which Prabhupada wanted all his “spiritual sons and daughters” to inherit.

As everyone knows, the Nrsimhadeva Deity will be installed on a separate altar in the East Wing of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. The temple room of Nrsimhadeva will be smaller than the central hall, but nevertheless it will be beautifully decorated and very majestic. The Grand Opening of this wing is scheduled for 2023.

One of the features of the Nrsimhadeva temple room, in addition to a huge chandelier, will be eight, two-meter (7’) figures of demigods, who, standing on powerful columns from a height of 13 meters (43’) above, will gaze at the Deities of Nrsimhadeva and Prahlad Maharaja, and His devotees. One of these eight figures will be the murti of Manu, the progenitor of all humanity, who oversees its development. This announcement is to unveil the completed murti of Manu.

All the murtis are made of fiberglass, and are wonderfully painted by the Russian artist Ambhoda devi dasi, also the painter of the now completed Jaya and Vijaya murtis standing at the entrance of the TOVP.

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Follow: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
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Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/

Godhead is Light. Nescience is darkness. Where there is Godhead there is no nescience.

These words were immortally etched on Srila Prabhupada’s original Back to Godhead magazines in the mid-1940s. They are forever true, and the Hare Krishna movement was founded with this underlying principle in mind.

The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, as envisioned by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, is meant to be a world class educational center from which the light of Vedic knowledge and science will be disseminated. This will be achieved through the Cosmology Chandelier, Planetarium, Science Center, state-of-the-art exhibits, books and publications, regular conferences, summits and symposiums, and much more.

While we are still a long way off from that plan fully manifesting, we are beginning some online outreach to the general public in a small way, by presenting some of the basic concepts of Vedic wisdom and Krishna consciousness through videos, audios, books, and essays by learned devotees on different subjects. This will be done through promotion of a specially designed Landing Page on the TOVP website located on the Main Menu as VEDIC SCIENCE.

We encourage all devotees to take advantage of this outreach opportunity by sharing this page using the link below and expanding the preaching mission, thus dispelling the darkness of nescience with the light of Godhead.

Vedic Science Page

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Follow: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
View at 360°: www.tovp360.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://m.tovp.org/whatsapp2
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/

If we are at all aware of how dependent we are on God—for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and our very ability to eat and drink and breathe, to think and feel and will, and to walk, talk, and sense—we will feel grateful and want to reciprocate God’s kindness. We will want to do something for He (or She or They) who has done, and continues to do, so much for us.

We often take things for granted until we lose them. I use my right hand to chant on meditation beads, and one morning I found that I had severe pain in my hand and could no longer use it for chanting. I had taken the use of my hand for granted, but when I lost its use, I resolved to never take it for granted again and to always use it in the best way in God’s service.

How can we attempt to return some of God’s favor, some of God’s care and love for us? My spiritual master, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, gave one answer:

“Whatever you have got by pious or impious activities, you cannot change. But you can change your position, by Krishna consciousness. That you can change. Other things you cannot change. If you are white, you cannot become black, or if you are black, you cannot become white. That is not possible. But you can become a first-class Krishna conscious person. Whether you are black or white, it doesn’t matter. This is Krishna consciousness. Therefore our endeavor should be how to become Krishna conscious. Other things we cannot change. This is not possible.

tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
  na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah
tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham
kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa
   [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.18]

Kalena, by time, you will get whatever you are destined. Don’t bother about so-called economic development. So far as food is concerned, Krishna is supplying. Eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. He is supplying even cats and dogs and ants. Why not you? There is no need of bothering Krishna, ‘God, give us our daily bread.’ He will give you. Don’t bother. Try to become very faithful servant of God. ‘Oh, God has given me so many things. So let me give my energy to serve Krishna.’ This is required. This is Krishna consciousness. ‘I have taken so much, life after life, from Krishna. Now let me dedicate this life to Krishna.’ This is Krishna consciousness. ‘I will not let this life go uselessly like cats and dogs. Let me utilize it for Krishna consciousness.’ ”

I pray that I will dedicate this life and everything I have—everything God has given me—fully in God’s service, following His pure devotees.

manasa, deho, geho, yo kichu mora
arpilun tuya pade, nanda-kisora

“Mind, body, and home, whatever may be mine, I surrender at Your lotus feet, O youthful son of Nanda!” (Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Saranagati)

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

By The GBC Strategic Planning Team

On Srila Prabhupada Disappearance Day festival , here are some lesser-known facts related to ISKCON Founder acharya Srila Prabhupada by Vaisesika Prabhu. GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT) is pleased to invite you to the Day 2 of our 3 day series celebrating Srila Prabhupada Disappearance Day festival reflecting on the role of Srila Prabhupada as our preeminent Siksha Guru Continue reading "The Untold Story of Srila Prabhupada-Our Preeminent Siksha Guru (video)
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Podcast:

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