Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Hare Krishna dear devotees, we would like to invite you to Online Home Deity Dressing Course which is organized by Mayapur Academy in collaboration with IDWM. Everyone can learn different styles of dressing – Gaura Nitai – Radha Krishna – Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra @ home. More details on attached poster Your servants, Mayapur […]
The post Deity Dressing Course – ISKCON Mayapur Academy appeared first on Mayapur.com.
By ISKCON Gainesville I’d like to you all honor and praise to my elders and my ancestors that came before me that allowed me to participate with you today. um and I’m just going to tell a couple quick anecdotes about um what the Krishna community has meant to me and what it’s meant to Gainesville. I think at large when I grew up in Gainesville. I moved here between my fifth and sixth-grade year and when I got to be a little bit older in high school, I attended Gainesville High School, one of our highlights so we could feel like a little bit older and a little bit wiser and more connected. We had days off at at at Gainesville High School. The thing that we always make sure we did was come down to the plaza, the Americas and have lunch with the Krishnas and that was that I thought it was such that we look forward to it. We celebrated it and we really felt like we were part of a much larger global community. I then ended up attending the University of Florida actually a couple times and I was down here being nourished both physically and spiritually. most days of the week. Continue reading "The speech of the mayor of Gainesville Florida for the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Gainesville
→ Dandavats"
By ISKCON Gainesvill Thank you Bob (Brahmatirtha). It really is a delight to join you all and Mayor Poe in celebrating 50 years of the Hare Krishnas in our community of Gainesville and 50 years here at the University of Florida and 50 years here on the plaza. I understand indeed that nearly 3 million meals have been served here at the University of Florida by you all brothers and sisters in the Hare Krishna and I wanted to say that universities have traditions that their alumni remember, we have mister Tots which is an important tradition at the University of Florida for about 50 years but we also have, as you have heard from Mayor Poe and you all know the tradition of the Krishna Lunch which indeed has nourished bodies as well as souls nearly 3 million meals that have span many university presidents and generations after generations of University of Florida graduates. Continue reading "The speech of the President of the University of Florida for the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Gainesville
→ Dandavats"
Taking advantage of the newest technology in book reading, the TOVP website has launched the beginnings of our digital Flipbook Collection. A digital flipbook is an online book, magazine or other multi-paged publication that turns pages manually and, depending on the service used, offers a variety of related services to the reader.
The TOVP Flipbook Collection consists of various promotional and Mayapur related publications, as well as TOVP calendars for the current year. We are using the best flipbook service in the world to create digital books with various helpful features. These features include turning the pages with realistic sounds, the ability to share the book link via text, email, social media, etc., downloadability, printability, adding the link to your computer Bookmarks for storage, a Notes feature to add notes to individual pages and more.
Please proceed to Flipbook Collection page and enjoy reading the current books, utilize the calendar, and share with others.
Hare Krishna.
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Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
Date:1st Aug 2021
Day: Sunday
Time: 11 am to 12 noon
Topic: "How the devatas are both one and different from Krishna"
Speaker: HG Chitanya Charan das
Link to join the class from your desktop or laptop:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9150790510?pwd=Wk5GYXVRMkJmdk84MzZJRXBKYUgwUT09
HG Chitanya Charan das
Chaitanya Charan is a monk, mentor and spiritual author. He has done his Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from the Government College of Engineering, Pune. He subsequently served as a software engineer in a prominent multinational software corporation. He also secured 2350 out of 2400 in GRE, gaining the top rank in Maharashtra.
Seeing the prevalent problems of stress, depression, addiction and overall misdirection – all caused by a lack of spirituality – he felt inspired to dedicate his life to the cause of sharing the spiritual wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita under the aegis of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness).
He travels all over the world from Australia to America, giving talks on spiritual subjects in universities such as Princeton, Harvard, Stanford and Cambridge and companies such as Intel, Google, Amazon and Microsoft. See Chaitanya Charan’s talks across the world
He is the author of the world’s only Gita-daily feature, wherein he writes daily a 300-word inspirational reflection on a verse from the Bhagavad- Gita. Till now he has written over seventeen hundred Gita meditations that are posted on www.gitadaily.com and are read through daily feeds by thousands from all over the world. He also answers questions by seekers on his site www.thespiritualscientist.com, where his over three thousand five hundred audio answers and several hundred articles are available.
His articles have been published in many national newspapers including Indian Express, Economic Times and Times of India in the Speaking Tree column. His writings in English have been translated into several foreign languages including German, Chinese and Romanian and several Indian languages including Kannada, Telgu, Bengali, Hindi and Marathi.
He is a member of ISKCON’s leading intellectual body, the Shastric Advisory Council, and is the associate-editor of ISKCON’s global magazine, Back to Godhead.
He has authored several wonderful books
ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough, Ontario,
Canada, M1V4C7
Website: www.iskconscarborough.org
Email:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com
scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com
Shri Gopal Bhatta Goswami was the son of Vyenkatta Bhatta, a brahmana resident of Shri Rangam, who was initiated in the Shri Sampradaya.
In the year 1511, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at the house of Vyenkatta Bhatta. Vyenkatta Bhatta lived with his two brothers, Prabodananda Saraswati and Trimalla Bhatta. At that time, Shri Prabodhananda Saraswati was a tridandi sannyasi of the Ramanuja Sampradaya and Vyenkatta Bhatta and Trimalla Bhatta were also Vaishnavas in the Ramanuja Sampradaya.
Vyenkatta’s son was Gopala Bhatta and when Lord Chaitanya visited, he was only a child. When the little boy offered his respects at the feet of Shri Chaitanya, the Lord picked him up and held him on his lap, affectionately embracing the boy. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to call the boy and give him the remnants of his prasadam. By giving him his prasada in this manner, he was blessing Gopal Bhatta Acharya to become a great acharya in the future.
Within a short time, Shri Gopal Bhatta Goswami learned Sanskrit grammar, poetry, rhetoric and became expert in all the scriptures, beginning with the Vedanta sutra. His uncle, Shripad Prabodhananda Saraswati instructed him extensively in the different bhakti-shastras. His scholarship was unparalleled.
After he had been blessed by having darshan of the lotus feet of Shri Gauranga, Gopal Bhatta Goswami’s mind was always absorbed in thoughts of the Lord’s lotus feet. He began thinking, “When will I again obtain a vision of the Lord?” Day and night he posed this question in his mind and could think of nothing else. And yet, he thought, “I cannot just give up my aging father and mother and go away.”
In this way, some time went by. At length his mother and father arrived at their final days. They called Gopal Bhatta to their side and said, “Boy, after we pass away, you must go to Vrindavana and take shelter of the lotus feet of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.” Taking the order of his mother and father on his head, Gopala Bhatta went to Vrindvana, always remembering the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu.
After receiving initiation from Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati, Gopala Bhatta came to Vrndavana and became a dear friend of Sri Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis. He did bhajana in Vrndavana for forty-five years, mostly at Radha-kunda.
On pilgrimage he obtained twelve Salagrama silas. Later the Damodara sila manifested Himself as the beautiful Radha Ramana Deity. Since 1542, Radha Ramanaji has been worshiped with pure devotion following precise sastric rituals.
Lord Caitanya ordered Gopala Bhatta to write a book to check the spread of pseudo-loving rasas and negligence to vaidhi bhakti. In corroboration with Sri Sanatana Gosvami he compiled the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, the authorised book explaining the ritual and devotional practices of the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya. He also wrote Sat-kriya-dipika and the outline for Sri Jiva Gosvami’s Sat Sandarbhas.
He eternally serves Srimati Radharani as one of Her asta manjaris, Guna-manjari. His samadhi is within Radha Ramanaji’s temple compound behind the appearance place of the Deity. Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami initiated Gopinatha (Pujari Gosvami), a lifelong brahmacari who served Radha Ramanaji for his whole life. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami initiated Srinivasa Acarya and many other stalwart Vaisnavas.
Today we had the extreme good fortune to visit the prestigious Vrindavan Research Institute where there are more than 32,000 Gaudiya Vaisnava scriptures, including many original writings of Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Jiva Goswami, Srila Sanatana Goswami and Srila Narottam das Thakur. In fact, many of their writings are unknown and yet unpublished. A number of these scriptures had been kept for centuries in the Radha Damodar Temple in Vrindavan and were donated to the institute over 60 years ago. I could not believe my eyes when I was shown Srila Rupa Goswami’s original handwritten Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu and Srila Narottam das Thakur’s handwritten Prarthana. Touched by the graciousness of the persons in charge, I offered to help in the restoration and maintenance of these sacred scriptures so dear to our hearts.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=indradyumna&set=a.10220102280930244
Today I thought to read a verse and purport about him from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Ten, “The Branches of the Caitanya Tree”:
TEXT 105
sri gopala bhatta eka sakha sarvottama
rupa-sanatana-sange yanra prema-alapana
TRANSLATION
Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, the forty-seventh branch, was one of the great and exalted branches of the tree. He always engaged in discourses about love of Godhead in the company of Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami.
PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada
Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was the son of Venkata Bhatta, a resident of Sri Rangam. Gopala Bhatta formerly belonged to the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja-sampradaya but later became part of the Gaudiya-sampradaya. In the year 1433 Sakabda (A.D. 1511), when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He stayed for four months during the period of Caturmasya at the house of Venkata Bhatta, who then got the opportunity to serve the Lord to his heart’s content. Gopala Bhatta also got the opportunity to serve the Lord at this time. Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was later initiated by his uncle, the great sannyasi Prabodhananda Sarasvati. Both the father and the mother of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami were extremely fortunate, for they dedicated their entire lives to the service of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They allowed Gopala Bhatta Gosvami to go to Vrndavana, and they gave up their lives thinking of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Lord Caitanya was later informed that Gopala Bhatta Gosvami had gone to Vrndavana and met Sri Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami, He was very pleased, and He advised Sri Rupa and Sanatana to accept Gopala Bhatta Gosvami as their younger brother and take care of him. Sri Sanatana Gosvami, out of his great affection for Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, compiled the Vaisnava smrti named Hari-bhakti-vilasa and published it under his name. Under the instruction of Srila Rupa and Sanatana, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami installed one of the seven principal Deities of Vrndavana, the Radharamana Deity. The sevaits (priests) of the Radharamana temple belong to the Gaudiya-sampradaya.
COMMENT
Actually, one of the families entrusted with the Deity service at the Radha-ramana Mandir has a history of relations with the line of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Visvambhara Gosvami’s father or grandfather had relations with Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the family maintained relations with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and then Visvambhara Gosvami had very friendly relations with Srila Prabhupada. And he spoke very nicely about Srila Prabhupada. Now Visvambhara Gosvami’s son Padmanabha Gosvami is also very favorable to ISKCON. In fact, ISKCON devotees often honor prasada at his home at the Radha-ramana Mandir. When I took prasada there with His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami, Padmanabha Gosvami showed us a letter that Srila Prabhupada had written to his father, Visvambhara Gosvami, about how all Vaishnavas should cooperate. So, not only does the Radha-ramana temple belong to the Gaudiya-sampradaya, but at least some of the sevaits have had close relations with the line of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
PURPORT (concluded)
When Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami took permission from all the Vaisnavas before writing Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami also gave him his blessings, but he requested him not to mention his name in the book. Therefore Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has mentioned Gopala Bhatta Gosvami only very cautiously in one or two passages of the Caitanya-caritamrta. Srila Jiva Gosvami has written in the beginning of his Tattva-sandarbha, “A devotee from southern India who was born of a brahmana family and was a very intimate friend of Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami has written a book that he has not compiled chronologically. Therefore I, a tiny living entity known as jiva, am trying to assort the events of the book chronologically, consulting the direction of great personalities like Madhvacarya, Sridhara Svami, Ramanujacarya, and other senior Vaisnavas in the disciplic succession.” In the beginning of the Bhagavat-sandarbha there are similar statements by Srila Jiva Gosvami. Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami compiled a book called Sat-kriya-sara-dipika, edited the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, wrote a foreword to the Sat-sandarbha and a commentary on the Krsna-karnamrta, and installed the Radharamana Deity in Vrndavana. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (184) it is mentioned that his previous name in the pastimes of Lord Krsna was Ananga-manjari. Sometimes he is also said to have been an incarnation of Guna-manjari. Srinivasa Acarya and Gopinatha Pujari were two of his disciples.
COMMENT
Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami ki jaya!
One story about Gopala Bhatta Gosvami is that on the eve of Nrsimha-caturdasi all the other Gosvamis and Vaishnavas in Vrindavan were preparing to worship their Deities and hold festivals. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami had only a salagrama-sila; he didn’t have a Deity with arms and legs and a body that he could dress and decorate. So he was feeling deprived of the opportunity to serve like the other devotees who had Deities they could serve in these ways. And out of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s strong desire, a salagrama-sila became manifest in the form of Radha-ramana. Radha-ramana is considered the most beautiful Deity of Krishna. He is the one original Deity of the Gosvamis that has remained in Vrindavan, while the others had to be taken elsewhere for fear of the Muslim invaders. And near the temple of Radha-ramana in Vrindavan is the samadhi of Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.
Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s uncle and siksa-guru was Prabodhananda Sarasvati. His samadhi is also located in Vrindavan, just off the parikrama path near Kaliya-ghata, quite near our Krishna-Balaram Mandir. So, often when we go on parikrama down the path near the Yamuna, we visit Prabodhananda Sarasvati’s samadhi and bhajana-kutira. And then we proceed to Srila Sanatana Gosvami’s samadhi. Srila Sanatana Gosvami was the most senior of the Gosvamis and was also a close associate and instructor of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. In fact, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami worked with Sanatana Gosvami to produce the great treatise Hari-bhakti-vilasa.
I feel that Gopala Bhatta Gosvami has been especially merciful to me on two occasions. On one, I visited his bhajana-kutira at Sanketa, a place between Nandagrama and Varsana where Radha and Krishna used to meet and sometimes perform rasa-lila. Gopala Bhatta would sit and chant underground in a deep cavern accessible only through a long, narrow passage. At the end of the passage was a somewhat roomier place where Gopala Bhatta used to chant, now marked as his bhajana-sthala. I remember going there with Tamal Krishna Goswami and others on a very hot day and struggling to crawl through the passage to the bhajana-sthala. It was difficult, but when I finally reached there, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was very merciful: he allowed me to chant with a glimpse of taste. And after all the devotees emerged from the cavern, I stole back in. I crawled back to Gopala Bhatta’s lotus feet, and I sat there chanting. I will never forget his mercy to me there, and I pray that he will enable me to chant with relish and love.
On the other occasion, during Kartik of 1999, shortly before my surgery, I visited Gopala Bhatta’s samadhi near the Radha-ramana Mandir. We arrived just after raja-bhoga-arati, and the pujari was closing the doors to the samadhi-mandira. But he was kind enough to open them for us and allow us darshan of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. He gave us some flowers and caranamrta and invited us to stay for prasada. Thus our small party, along with some local sadhus, honored Gopala Bhatta’s maha-maha-prasadam with great relish, and we even stayed to take a little rest before we continued on our way, filled with bliss. So, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami is very kind.
Years later, when some of my disciples from Bombay went to Vrindavan on pilgrimage, they visited the samadhi. They told the pujaris about me, how my health no longer allowed me to visit Vraja, and asked for some prasada for me. And one of the pujaris kindly gave them a piece of cloth from the samadhi. It is very special. Now, twice a year, once on Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s appearance day and once on his disappearance day, we bring it out and touch it. So now we shall pass it around and touch it to our heads and to our hearts—and pray to Gopala Bhatta Gosvami for his sublime mercy.
Thank you.
Hare Krishna.
[A talk by Giriraj Swami on July 31, 2002, Carpinteria, California]
Source: GORA Research GORA গোରା Gaudiya Odiya Research GORA is Madhavananda Das’ offering to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja who was a lover of rare Gaudiya Odiya literature and wanted to begin a Vaishnava university in Odisha. This project is also due to the inspiration and blessings from the learned professor […]
The post Two Volume Songbook from the 1850s in the GORA Collection appeared first on ISKCON News.
Source: GORA Research
GORA গোରା Gaudiya Odiya Research
GORA is Madhavananda Das’ offering to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja who was a lover of rare Gaudiya Odiya literature and wanted to begin a Vaishnava university in Odisha. This project is also due to the inspiration and blessings from the learned professor and devotee Sripad Fakir Mohan Das who wanted to open a research center in Odisha to preserve rare Odiya literature and requested Madhavananda to assist him. Fakir Mohan Prabhu dedicated his life to searching out, preserving, and publishing these rare books. It is our hope that this endeavor will please these personalities. We pray for their blessings and the blessings of all the dear devotees of Jagannath, Gopinath, and Gaudiya-Odiyanath Gauranga Mahaprabhu.
This project is intended to be a resource for scholars, devotees, and researchers and our slogan is: Preserve, Publish, Practice.
To support please visit: gofundme
Source: Fanna-Fi-Allah The fourth purpose of ISKCON: “To teach and encourage the Samkirtan movementcongregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in theteachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.”
The post Sufi Muslims Chanting the Brahma Samhita appeared first on ISKCON News.
Source: Fanna-Fi-Allah
The fourth purpose of ISKCON: "To teach and encourage the Samkirtan movement
congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the
teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu."
We are excited to announce that United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Faith for Earth Council, Govardhan Eco Village, and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) are collaborating for the launch of its Value Education Olympiad for the year 2021. This is a certification program, where each student will get a certificate which will have the […]
The post UN Environment Programme – Value Education Olympiad 2021 appeared first on ISKCON News.
Lives of Service is an ISKCON News interview series that recreates the feel of sitting down for a chat at the Sunday Feast with an old friend or a devotee you’d like to get to know. Told in their own words, it’s an insightful, inspiring, lighthearted, and at times humorous look at their stories and […]
The post Lives of Service: The Kalasamvara Das Interview appeared first on ISKCON News.
Kalasamvara Das is one of the most joyful, ecstatic and dedicated devotees we’ve had the fortune to speak to. We hope you enjoy this chat with him!
A Bond of Love, a series of online interviews that began as a promotional strategy for the book of the same name, sees Vaishnavi disciples of Srila Prabhupada sharing their memories and realizations about their spiritual master twice a month, and thus connecting multiple generations with ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya. The series is livestreamed every alternate Saturday […]
The post A Bond of Love Interview Series Connects Viewers With Srila Prabhupada appeared first on ISKCON News.
A Bond of Love, a series of online interviews, sees Vaishnavi disciples of Srila Prabhupada sharing their memories and realizations about their spiritual master twice a month, and thus connecting multiple generations with ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya.
Podcast:
Summary podcast:
Video:
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 15 July 2012, Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday Feast Lecture)
Everyone is making sacrifices for material benefit. But those are the sacrifices that we need to gradually detach ourselves from and just make some sacrifice for Krsna instead. So therefore, purification remains in our mind daily in whatever we do. Let us keep our head low, and let us not think that we are so qualified, because whatever credits we have, we got them from Prabhupada’s movement. It is as simple as that; that is where our credits come from. Whatever little service we were allowed to do, and whatever devotees ask us to do, we somehow or other do it. Sometimes I liked it when the devotees asked, and as they asked for service that is more important, then I became more important. So when I was very important, Krsna would just do the ‘punar mūṣika bhava’ principle on me – to become a mouse again. This story is the story of my life, I must say. In my life, I always become a mouse again and again. These days, I am just trying to accept that I am a mouse, and nothing more.
The article " Make some sacrifice for Krsna " was published on KKSBlog.
243 Avenue Rd., Toronto
My Cute Little Phone
Can’t seem to live without that phone. Even though I am incapacitated, or at least physically impaired, with my new knee trying to get comfortable in a foreign leg, which is right now restricting my movement. I do most definitely depend on this device to get things done. Put aside the heartwarming calls from well-wishers to my surgery recovery, the balance of hours keeps me tied to my little black companion that fits conveniently in my usual pocket although, for now, it’s affixed to a tripod next to my bed.
One of the great heroes of our tradition, Rupa Goswami, wrote about the great utility of using whatever you have in service of the Lord and that would be considered a gesture of renunciation. Our guru, Prabhupada, spoke about the useful tool of the microphone as a way to project the message of Vedic wisdom to an audience. How handy it is to have this broadcasting device to make a point; correction: many points.
I got a call in from Winnipeg; then trying to reach New York. Ireland is probably the furthest today for reaching someone out there. I contacted Vancouver. Florida was trying to reach me twice by two different people. Then I had a Zoom call with India, DC, Texas, Philadelphia and even Toronto. My goodness. Then there’s so many places via email; to the exclusion of the moon. Global destinations galore. How easy! But in all truth, I’d rather kick out my crutches, put on a pair of shoes and hit the trail; communicating in person and in nature. The day will come!
May the Source be with you!
0 km
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Two Colours
Nanda was kind to drive me to Mount Sinai for the knee replacement. The reason for this surgery is quite obvious. To get around we need our knees. But as we were driving to the location in the fine early morning, the sun captured our attention. Apparently, this almost scarlet-red disc, looming above, carries its colour due to the multiple forest fires. Yes, the northwest of Ontario is not exactly catching up to the West Coast of smoking heat. Both are surely manifesting a changing environment.
One other thing about colour that Nanda brought up was a question; whether I’m getting the thumbs up, as shades of orange these days represent the support against our abused indigenous children. Burial graves of the innocent have been discovered in what is perceived as a fairly pure land. Lo and behold, there is a dark history — a super sad one.
I admitted to Nanda, as we were getting closer to the medical giant, that “No,” I haven’t met anyone who has related the monk colour to empathizers of beautiful native children. Not yet anyway, but for sure I’m one of those supporters. On my walks I had pleasure in mingling with First Nations people whenever I could.
So, for the knee job Dr. Bechstein had his team with what seemed like a sledgehammer/electric saw routine. After 11 hours in the hospital, I was discharged and now have some homework to do — rest and exercise. It’s my left knee getting the attention. Thanks to Dr. Pandith, Dr. Juta, Parahamsa, and a fabulous team who care.
May the Source be with you!
0 km
University Ave., Toronto
Bhakti This Bhakti Bath
My day was split in half. The first half involved thoughts about my knees, especially the left one. Yes, a competent mechanic (surgeon really) is going to replace it. My lefty along with a partner righty have served hard. On marathon walks alone they walked a good 25,000 km at least. As one nurse described to the surgeon at Mount Sinai hospital, “for the sake of humanity.” I was touched by that. Anyway, pray and wish me well. Personally, I get many requests for prayer. Now I’m asking for your blessing.
Now, to prepare for tomorrow’s surgery I came back to the hospital for another Covid test. Just a small cotton swab goes up the nose as a sample to pick up any virus. If the hospital doesn’t call to say “positive,” then I’m good to go. Silence is golden.
My second part of the day was filled with planning service. First of all, the MANtra retreat is set for a date. Still much work ahead. What a great team we have.
I also had chats about the ashram’s renovations regarding a plumbing challenge, pictures for the wall, assembly of beds, etc. Enjoyment.
A future senior’s facility was also discussed with members of a devotee care group. Last, and a blast, was getting close to the finishing touches of the book The Saffron Road, and establishing captions for the pictures of the past. We are covering the time from 1995 to 2017. I am preoccupied in service to overall humanity. Without the moral support it’s all not possible.
May the Source be with you!
6 km
Is God no longer necessary in a world that is increasingly influenced by a scientific temper? Or, on the contrary, have the findings of modern sciences forced us to approach the question of the existence of God in new ways?
The scientific enterprise has gifted us the ability to examine and contemplate deeply the mysterious and beautiful order behind nature. Over the past four decades modern biochemistry has uncovered the secrets of cells and has revealed us the marvelous design even at the molecular level. Advancements in science have also shown us some of the precise laws and unique fundamental constants in the universe. All these facts and observations point to a fine-tuned and specially designed universe with a purpose by a Supreme Being or God. As one journey through the newly discovered marvels of the cosmos and life discussed in this volume, one will be compelled to reexamine his opinion concerning the origins, evolution and essence of this wonderful world in which we live.
Author: By T.D. Singh (Bhaktiswarupa Damodar Swami)
Published: September 20, 2020
Book/File size: 2982 KB
Formats: Kindle
Residents of India will have to search for this book on www.amazon.in
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Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 17, No. 12
Where I Went and What I Did
I went to Upstate New York to visit my mother and my guru before going to Europe for the summer. I cooked some meals for my mother, and we heard a tape of Radhanath Swami together. My diksa-guru, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, was kind enough to give me an hour-long personal meeting, and I shared some of parts of his weekly journal I found most inspiring with him. I also participated in his daily reading of the scripture during and after lunch, along with many of my friends, who participated via Zoom. My friends from NYC Harinam were still in New Vrindaban, so I tried to maintain at least three hours of harinama each day with some of the nonresident attenders of the party still present in New York City. On Tuesday, June 22, I, along with Acarya-nistha Prabhu who was visiting our New York harinama party, flew to Croatia, which I had learned from Harinama Ruci was practically the only European country that did not make U.S. citizens undergo quarantine. I planned to stay in Croatia for ten days and then go to Paris, but at the New York Ratha-yatra, I learned that on July 27 there was going to be a Ratha-yatra in Wrocław, Poland, an event I have attended at least twice before and which many of my friends from Indradyumna Swami’s Polish tour regularly attend. So after two days of harinama in Croatia, I took several trains to Katowice, Poland, where I visited my friend, Tara Prabhu.
I share many excerpts from Srila Prabhupada’s books, conversations, and letters. I share excerpts from the writing of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on lectures by Candrasekara and Krishna Kshetra Swamis and by Hansarupa Prabhu, Manidhara, Ravindra Svarupa, and Nikunjabihari Prabhus. I share fewer insights this month as instead of reading and hearing lectures, I was proofreading Srila Prabhupada Tributes, a book of over six hundred pages of Vyasa Puja offerings. The notes I took on these I did not want to publish until the Vyasa Puja day, as some of the contributors could conceivably object.
Many, many thanks to Tara Prabhu for his very generous donations, as well for great meals, accommodation in Katowice, and paying for my COVID test to leave Poland. Many thanks to Kaliya Krishna Prabhu and Bhaktan Deva for helping to keep daily harinama happening in New York City while Rama Raya Prabhu and his party visited New Vrindaban, and also for their videos of me chanting Hare Krishna in Washington Square Park.
Itinerary
July 1–August 18: Paris harinamas
August 19: Prague harinama
August 20–22: Czech Woodstock (Brno)
August 23: Prague harinama
August 24: flights from Prague to Tallahassee
August 25–September ?: Tallahassee harinamas and college outreach
September ?–December 31: NYC Harinam
Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City
J. R. Maxwell, a friend from Alachua who has a YouTube channel, HarinamGlobal, and a web site www.harinamglobal.com, interviewed me about the New York Ratha-yatra and about harinama sankirtana in general, and he interviewed people attracted by our June 15 harinama at Atlantic Terminal about their experience (https://youtu.be/ol8PBYLqMSs):
Our first day in Croatia, Acarya-nistha Prabhu and I did harinama late in the day between the main train station and a market for just an hour because it took at least an hour and a half to reach the temple by public transportation from the airport, we had to recover from the overnight flight, and then we had to spend at least forty minutes to reach the train station and another forty minutes to return to the temple. We met some people happy to see us, but our total collection was not enough to give away even one book.
The next day, the temple president, Vaikuntha-murti Prabhu, arranged that many devotees go out for harinama and book distribution, and it was ecstatic. The distributors had a good day, doing 51 books in Zagreb, which is one of the more difficult cities in Croatia. Here are some videos of the harinamas:
Acarya-nistha Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Zagreb, Croatia (https://youtu.be/-afc3VmawOE):
I bought my train tickets to Poland online beforehand for each of the countries I passed through, as I learned from the Polish festival devotees you can save a lot of money that way. I found the segment through Austria was several times more expensive than Croatia, Slovenia, Czech, and Poland. Still it was cheaper than a flight.
I told the Slovenian border officer on the Vienna train my reason for traveling is to volunteer at a festival [Wrocław Ratha-yatra]. He accepted. When he searched my computer bag, he exclaimed “Hare Krishna” on seeing the “On Chanting” pamphlets. Finding my “Call out Gauranga and be happy” stickers, he asked, “Who is Gauranga?” Eyeing the harmonium he told me to play him a tune on my ‘harmonika’ [Slovenian for accordion] and so I did, while chanting a mantra for him and his Croatian colleague, and thus I blissfully entered the Schengen Area, feeling that I was protected by Krishna.
I had COVID less than six months before, and I had medical evidence of that which I had to show to the Slovenian and Austrian authorities, but that was the only restriction I encountered.
In Czech Republic, we had to take a bus part of the way because the tracks were made impassable by a tornado the evening before, another Kali Yuga anomaly. You can see the tornado and its damage in this and other videos on YouTube (https://youtu.be/JW00WoVw5Ic):
After entering Poland, I joined a group of American students I overheard talking on the train, hoping to get them to chant a few Hare Krishna mantras with me. They weren’t so keen, but they agreed to listen so I played my harmonium and chanted three mantras of Hare Krishna. One of them named Chris did Catholic outreach at FSU and recalled hearing the mantra on Landis Green. I had talked to one Catholic regularly at Landis, named Garrett, who liked to wear a “Virginity Rocks” T-shirt, and he turned out to be Chris’s former roommate. Pretty amazing!
The students were from different parts of America and were studying at the same college in Austria for the summer. That weekend they were vacationing in Krakow. I left the party with one “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlet and my card, in case any of them were curious about what Hare Krishna is all about.
I was happy to see Tara Prabhu in Katowice (above dancing in Ratha-yatra). He was a brahmacari book distributor in America, when I met him in San Diego over 27 years ago. Then I saw him the first few years I went on the Polish tour. He married one of Indradyumna Swami’s tour organizers, Radha Sakhi Vrinda Devi Dasi, and for a while he had a yoga studio in Tessaloniki, Greece, where I did harinama with him once. Recently I would see him in Mayapur, but a year or so ago, he returned to Poland to facilitate his wife.
He has a nice program of reading scripture together with friends online, and I participated in that with him.
Chanting Hare Krishna in Poland
I was happy to reach Wrocław the day before the Ratha-yatra so I could chant in public and advertise it. I reached the temple midday, taking a morning train from Katowice. I found it difficult to get people to join me for harinama as they wanted to help prepare the feast or else practice their performances for the stage show. Another problem was a rain shower predicted to happen around 4 or 5 p.m. One devotee named Balarama Prabhu, from a nearby city, recalled doing harinama with me and Trevor (later known Toshan Krishna Prabhu), and he came out with me for a good hour and three-quarters. We ended up chanting from just before 7 p.m till just before 10 p.m.
Krishna was kind to me and sent people who were happy to learn of our festival and even a couple who was willing to pay 50 zł (over $12) for a Polish Bhagavad-gita. Some people remembered our food from the Polish Woodstock festival and were happy to hear we would be serving food again the next day. One couple, who lived in Germany near the Czech border, were in town to visit the lady’s Polish grandmother.
I got to the festival about half an hour early, and although people were decorating the cart, no one was chanting for Lord Jagannatha.
It was wonderful to have ISKCON guru and scholar, Krishna Kshetra Swami, who was living in Warsaw during the lockdown, coming to Wrocław for the festival.
Here Tattvavit Prabhu of Gdansk chants Hare Krishna at the Wrocław Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/CsxG9ls9pK0):
and her sister (seen filming the Ratha-yatra cart above)
and her brother-in-law (above), who both resided in Krakow, and who I was happy to inform about Kirtan Poland, a kirtan group near there.
After the procession, Krishna Kshetra Swami chanted a sweet Hare Krishna tune in the Wrocław Ratha-yatra stage show (https://youtu.be/B9NASlzwRSg):
Radhanandini and Kavicandra Prabhus chanted “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” with the band Kirtan Zone on the Wrocław Ratha-yatra stage (https://youtu.be/A0KldPmoxM0):
My last day in Poland I was happy to be chanting Hare Krishina in Wrocław by the University, with Rasa-lila Devi Dasi of Argentina playing drum and Goura Karuna Prabhu of Czech Republic playing karatalas, after chanting alone the previous two days (https://youtu.be/foiY8mtsXIM):
We relocated to the square where the Ratha-yatra had taken place, but we never met any of those special people that make you feel the day was worth it. In fact, in donations we received only 1.5 zł, not even fifty cents!
After I packed up and began walking away, a guy came up to me and asked about Advaita Vedanta. I answered briefly, but I just wanted to change my Polish money to euros and return to the temple for dinner, so I showed him a Polish Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 1, and said, “This book will answer all your questions.” In New York City, we had just read the chapter “Bhagavatam Is the Answer to All Questions,” so I knew he would not be disappointed. He went to an ATM and paid the full price, 60 zł (almost $16), and thus made my final day of chanting Hare Krishna in Wrocław a success!
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.22, purport:
“A criminal is put in prison and punished by the government, but the same government, if it likes, can release the criminal from imprisoned life. Similarly, we must know conclusively that our material condition of suffering has been allotted to us by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and if we want to be saved from this suffering, we must appeal to the same controller. Thus one can be saved from this material condition.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.26, purport:
“Lord Brahma, King Indra and the other demigods living in the upper planetary systems are situated in a different spirit of consciousness, and therefore they are sometimes troubled by demons, but a devotee, even if situated in the lower planets, enjoys life in Krishna consciousness under any circumstances.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.27, purport:
“According to the demands of a particular devotee, he receives a result by the grace of the Lord. The Lord does not discriminate, thinking, ‘Here is a person favorable to Me, and here is a person who is not favorable.’ Rather, He fulfills the desires of everyone.”
“The original creator is Krishna. As such, the original proprietor is also Krishna because He has created the ingredients. Actually when we work in practical field, the ingredients we cannot create. Suppose we construct a very high skyscraper building, but the ingredients, namely the earth, stone, wood, iron, which are the ingredients of the house, that we cannot create. That is created by God. We simply transform. We take earth, dirt from the earth and mix it with water. The water is created by God. The earth is created by God. Then we mix it and make a lump like brick and put it in the fire. The fire is also created by God. In this way if we study scrutinizingly the ingredients and the materials which we are handling, they are not our creation. They are creation of God. We simply handle them. And because we handle them it does not become our property. This is sense.”
“If you cultivate spiritual knowledge in large quantity, then your body is no more material. It is spiritualized.”
“[In] the human life [we] should be very cautious that we may not be contaminated by low-grade qualities. There are so many rules and regulations, but it is very, very difficult to follow. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended, just to remain purified, ‘Chant Hare Krishna.’ Harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva (Cc. Adi 17.21). . . . Otherwise you cannot purify. So kirtaniyaḥ sada hariḥ (Cc. Adi 17.31). We should always chant Hare Krishna mantra. Then we'll gradually be spiritualized, cinmaya, spiritualized. Then our life will be successful.”
Quoted from a Vyasa-puja offering by Dhirasanta Dasa Goswami:
“During that time in New York, when there was some inconvenience for me, I remembered Vrindavan. Should I return or not? The only thing that kept me from leaving was the order of my spiritual master; otherwise, I had no business being in such a dangerous place. Besides that, how else would I have understood His desire to please Krishna?”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.14.41, purport:
“Brahmanas, the topmost section of human society, are mostly devotees. They are generally unaware of the happenings within the material world because they are always busy in their activities for spiritual advancement. Nonetheless, when there is a calamity in human society, they cannot remain impartial. If they do not do something to relieve the distressed condition of human society, it is said that due to such neglect their spiritual knowledge diminishes.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.17.30, purport:
“One should follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and engage constantly in chanting the maha-mantra—Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Then he will never feel the distresses of the world of duality. In any condition of life one will be happy if he chants the holy name of the Lord.”
From a room conversation on Geneva on June 4, 1974:
“Prabhupada: There is example, that grinding mill... You know, grinding mill?
Prof. Regamay: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes, and the grains are put within it, and they are all smashed. But one grain who takes shelter of the center, the pivot, it is not smashed. Similarly, the modern civilization is such that everyone will be smashed. And one takes the central point shelter, Krishna consciousness, he will not be.”
From a letter to Sivananda on 23 January 1969:
“Regarding serving your godbrothers, this is a very good practice. The Spiritual Master is never without his followers, so to serve the Spiritual Master also means to be the servant of his disciples. When you want to serve the king, you must also serve his minister, secretary, and everyone who serves him. And to serve his servants may please him more than to serve the king personally. So the Spiritual Master is not alone. He is always with his entourage. We are not impersonalists. We take care of every part of the whole, as much as one should take care of his hat as well as his shoes. Both are equally important for the upkeep of the body. I hope that you will understand this rightly.”
From a letter dated December 31, 1972:
“The highest development of Krishna consciousness understanding will be when you are able to give anyone the truth . . . in such a manner that they will respond in a positive way.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 11:
“In the Hari-bhakti-vilasa there is the following statement about self-surrender: ‘My dear Lord, a person who has surrendered himself unto You, who is in firm conviction that he is Yours, and who actually acts in that way by his body, mind and words, can actually relish transcendental bliss.’
“In Srimad-Bhagavatam, Twelfth Canto, Thirteenth Chapter, verse 15, it is stated, ‘Srimad-Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedanta philosophy. Any person who has become attached in some way or other to the reading of Srimad-Bhagavatam cannot have any taste for reading any other literature. In other words, a person who has relished the transcendental bliss of Srimad-Bhagavatam cannot be satisfied with mundane writings.’”
“A similar statement is in the Third Canto, Seventh Chapter, verse 19, of Srimad-Bhagavatam: ‘Let me become a sincere servant of the devotees, because by serving them one can achieve unalloyed devotional service unto the lotus feet of the Lord. The service of devotees diminishes all miserable material conditions and develops within one a deep devotional love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 12:
“It is said in the Adi Purana, ‘A person who is constantly engaged in chanting the holy name and who feels transcendental pleasure, being engaged in devotional service, is certainly awarded the facilities of devotional service and is never given just mukti [liberation].’”
“The same thing is confirmed in the Adi Purana by Krishna. While addressing Arjuna He says, ‘Anyone who is engaged in chanting My transcendental name must be considered to be always associating with Me. And I may tell you frankly that for such a devotee I become easily purchased.’”
“Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended that everyone chant the Hare Krishna mantra just to cleanse the dust from the heart. If the dust of the heart is cleansed away, then one can actually understand the importance of the holy name. For persons who are not inclined to clean the dust from their hearts and who want to keep things as they are, it is not possible to derive the transcendental result of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. One should, therefore, be encouraged to develop his service attitude toward the Lord, because this will help him to chant without any offense. And so, under the guidance of a spiritual master, the disciple is trained to render service and at the same time chant the Hare Krishna mantra. As soon as one develops his spontaneous service attitude, he can immediately understand the transcendental nature of the holy names of the maha-mantra.”
“In the Vedic literature it is also stated, ‘How wonderful it is that simply by residing in Mathura even for one day, one can achieve a transcendental loving attitude toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead! This land of Mathura must be more glorious than Vaikuntha-dhama, the kingdom of God!’”
“A similar statement is in the Third Canto, Seventh Chapter, verse 19, of Srimad-Bhagavatam: ‘Let me become a sincere servant of the devotees, because by serving them one can achieve unalloyed devotional service unto the lotus feet of the Lord. The service of devotees diminishes all miserable material conditions and develops within one a deep devotional love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’”
“In the Adi Purana there is the following statement by Lord Krishna Himself, addressed to Arjuna: ‘My dear Partha, one who claims to be My devotee is not so. Only a person who claims to be the devotee of My devotee is actually My devotee.’ No one can approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. One must approach Him through His pure devotees. Therefore, in the system of Vaishnava activities, the first duty is to accept a devotee as spiritual master and then to render service unto him.”
“The importance of chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is very strongly stressed in the Second Canto, First Chapter, verse 11, of Srimad-Bhagavatam in the following way. Sukadeva Gosvami tells Maharaja Pariksit, ‘My dear King, if one is spontaneously attached to the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, it is to be understood that he has attained the highest perfectional stage.’”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From Free Write Journal #149:
[It is always interesting for me to see what my guru considers worth sharing about our meetings:]
“I had a meeting outdoors on the porch with Krishna Kripa. I asked him if he were coming to the July 3rd festival in Stuyvesant Falls. But I was disappointed to hear he is going to Europe for harinama. I realize he has a tight schedule of travels to different countries for harinama. Some months ago Krishna Kripa tested positive for COVID and had to go into quarantine with another devotee. He was frustrated that he couldn’t go out and chant, and he was weak from the disease. For years he has been proofreading my books. But now he says Krishna Bhajana has taken up most of that service, and Krishna Kripa presently has no books to proofread. He has a personal blog which has wide circulation. He regularly prints excerpts from Free Write Journal in his blog. Some things in my Journal really resonate with him, and he loves to share them on his own web page. He had lunch on the porch, listened to the out-loud reading on his computer (and read a section), and then lingered on in the quiet neighborhood of Stuyvesant Falls until 4:00 P.M.”
From Free Write Journal #148:
“In our our-loud reading, we are hearing from a Seventh Canto section called ‘The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone.’ In Bhagavad-gita Krishna says He descends to this world to protect His devotees and annihlate the miscreants. Hearing this, people claim that Krishna shows partiality towards His devotees. But the fact is Krishna responds to anyone who is constantly thinking of Him or saying His names, even in enmity. The demons that Krishna personally kills when He comes into this world gain liberation to the spiritual world. So Krishna is partial to no one, but whoever thinks of Him constantly, in any mood, gains great benediction.”
From Calling Out to Srila Prabhupada:
“O Prabhupada, whose pastimes and phrases of speech decorate the lectures of all his learned followers; O Prabhupada, whose disciples are always saying ‘Prabhupada said’;
“O Prabhupada, who preached krishna-bhakti for many decades in India while carrying out the order of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati as a grhastha;
“O Prabhupada, who then outshone all sannyasis by carrying the message of Lord Caitanya to America, leading the way with kirtana in ISKCON;
“O Prabhupada, who took morning walks beginning just before sunrise, who installed Radha-Krishna Deities around the world, and who led American and European young men and women in blissful dancing and chanting in the parks and streets;
“O Prabhupada, whose activities are appreciated by demigods and by eternal associates of Lord Krishna;
“O Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krishna having taken shelter at the lotus feet of the transcendental Lord;
“O Prabhupada, who brought liberation and bhakti and maha-mantra and Krishna into the English language, and who brought puris and halava and dal and sabji into the Western diet, and who didn't insist that his followers shave their heads and wear robes and saris, but whose disciples wanted to change their jeans for dhotis and wanted to wear tilaka and kunti-mala for pleasing you;
“O Prabhupada, may we please you despite our many faults, may we please be included in your sankirtana party, and may we always chant Hare Krishna mantra, while completely disdaining illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling, and intoxication.”
From My Dear Lord Krishna:
“The sastras state, nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13), both the Lord and His innumerable expansions, including the living entities, are personal and eternal. The only difference is that we are all infinitesimal and maintained, and You are the infinite maintainer.”
“Simple devotees are best.
We who are puffed up
must pass through
a fire of contrition
and give up our attachment
to scepters and crowns.
Becoming poor at heart,
we will see ourselves as puppets,
and beg to Srila Prabhupada,
‘Please, give me a menial job.’”
From Here is Srila Prabhupada:
“A proud person who lives in the world without personally recognizing God’s will and His desires for us wastes the human form of life. Regardless of what our past karma has given us in this life, the material energy continues to deceive us and delivers us cruel blows of Fate. In the end, we are discarded, just like a plastic cup thrown onto the garbage heap by the consumer. Material nature is merciless.”
Candrasekhara Swami:
We should at least understand theoretically that nothing in the material world can satisfy our souls.
We are trying to please Krishna for no other purpose than pleasing Krishna.
Prahlada rejected benedictions from Nrsimha, saying that he did not want to do business with God but was satisfied just to serve him.
If you want to get a better situation from pious activities, you can do that. No one is going to stop you. It is better than sinful activities, but that is not the goal. You will have to return and take another birth in the material world.
Yesterday an eight-year-old kid asked, “Why did Krishna make COVID?” I thought that was a good question.
In the beginning devotion is mixed for most all of us, so do not worry, but as we continue to perform devotional service, the devotion becomes deeper and deeper.
Krishna Kshetra Swami:
I came to Wrocław in 1977, and we would have never have dreamed that someday the colorful Jagannath cart and the chanting of Hare Krishna would happen in downtown Wrocław. If Krishna wants something to happen, then it happens.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
Canakya Pandit advises one not to instruct someone who is unlikely to accept it.
In the absense of real knowledge, people take shelter of false prophets.
A devotee is fearless because he knows everything is directed by the Lord, either directly or indirectly.
We fight ignorance with knowledge.
When people encounter the harinama party, they enter a transcendental atmosphere.
Our prabhu-datta-desa is the place given to us for the preaching pleasure of the spiritual master.
Devotees preached in difficult places like Pakistan and Iran to please Srila Prabhupada, and in both places they met success. In New York City, whatever difficulties we have are insignificant compared to those places.
Whenever we are disturbed, internally or externally, we know all we have to do is to take shelter of the holy name.
Manidhara Prabhu:
A certain level of illusion is required to be enthusiastic about material life.
Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu:
From a Gaura Purnima lecture in 2018:
People want to be God, but God wants to be a devotee.
You do not know what Krishna’s plan is. You might be surprised.
Comment by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami: We thought this was it. 26 Second Avenue.
Nikunjabihari Prabhu:
Vidura became self-realized after hearing just the first two cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam. The third canto and the others are for people like us.
Uddhava was special in that Krishna removed His entire dynasty from the earth, but He wanted Uddhava to stay.
It is said that it was a blessing that Dhrtarastra was blind because if he could see, he would have committed more sinful activities.
If you say a few words and they become included in a scripture, how powerful they are!
There is no difference between Krishna and that which is offered to Krishna.
----
There are many beautiful verses glorifying the transcendental qualities of the holy name of the Lord. Here is one I have not quoted recently:
nama cintamanih krishnas
“The holy name of Krishna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krishna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krishna’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krishna Himself. Since Krishna’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krishna’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are identical.” (Padma Purana, quoted in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 17.133)
Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
Date: 25th July 2021
Day: Sunday
Time: 11 am to 12 noon
Topic: "Me and My Big Mouth — Understanding Gossip"
Speaker: H.H Bhaktimarga Swami
Link to join the class from your desktop or laptop:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9150790510?pwd=Wk5GYXVRMkJmdk84MzZJRXBKYUgwUT09
HH Bhaktimarga Swami:
Bhaktimarga Swami, popularly known as "The Walking Monk", took to a monk’s life in 1973 as a youthful 20-year-old. Prior to becoming a monk, he did chores on the family farm in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, and was a college student of Fine Arts. His walks are extensively and internationally featured on radio, television, in the newspaper, and film
ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough, Ontario,
Canada, M1V4C7
Website: www.iskconscarborough.org
Email:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com
scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com
By Pranata Karuna dasNot everywhere we may stop our bus. But on the roof we have speakers from which the maha-mantra sounds as we drive. In residential areas, where are more people, we slow down and they hear the Holy Name. In order for people to get acquainted with the Holy Name, we painted the bus from all sides, even on the roof. In front of the bus we have a running line with the Hare Krishna maha-mantra constantly lit. The goal is for all people to be able to read the Holy Name while we are driving. Sri Harinam Sankirtana ki Jaya! Continue reading "Harinama Sankritana in Europe: In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard
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By The New Gokula TeamSeeking the meaning of life as a young teenager, Jayasri visited the Hare Krishna temple for a Sunday feast in Auckland where she grew up. Upon hearing the philosophy she immediately recognised she had found the answers to all her questions. Sometime later, working in London and being at a crossroad in life, she decided to pursue her spiritual quest. Wanting to find out more about Krishna Consciousness and not able to locate a Hare Krishna temple in London she decided to fly to Vrndavan instead where a friend had given her a temple address. Continue reading "New Gokula e-news
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By Bhakti Rasamrita SwamiAn online class entitled 'Glories of Caturmasya, Deva Shayana Ekadasi & Guru Purnima' (in English) by HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami. It was premiered yesterday. Continue reading "Glories of Caturmasya, Deva Shayana Ekadasi & Guru Purnima (video)
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