Planet ISKCON

A historic new anthology entitled “The Emergence of Women’s Voices in ISKCON: A Collection of Letters, Articles, Papers, and Conference Reports from 1988 to 2020” is set to be released with a special online book launch event on August 22^nd and 23^rd. 

A historic new anthology entitled “The Emergence of Women’s Voices in ISKCON: A Collection of Letters, Articles, Papers, and Conference Reports from 1988 to 2020” is set to be released with a special online book launch event on August 22^nd and 23^rd. 

Nobody thought this piglet would survive. But with the help of fruit punch, a baby calf, and an epic road trip, she was able to thrive. Sometimes all it takes is a little love to grow strong. A video by the Dodo.

Nobody thought this piglet would survive. But with the help of fruit punch, a baby calf, and an epic road trip, she was able to thrive. Sometimes all it takes is a little love to grow strong. A video by the Dodo.

A video by the Vaishnavi Ministry.

Srila Prabhupada: For a devotee, liberation is no problem at all. The impersonalists undergo severe penances and austerities to attain mukti, but the bhakta, simply by engaging himself in the bhakti process, especially in chanting Hare Krishna, immediately develops control over the tongue by engaging it in chanting, and accepting the remnants of foodstuff offered to the Personality of Godhead.

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The post The Monk’s Podcast 45 with Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaj – Is bhakti pro-modern or anti-modern appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

ISKCON News is inviting talented designers from around the world to help redesign ISKCONnews.org and the site's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ISKCONnews/.

The innovative ways in which devotees have been trying to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books during the lockdown.

MARKANDEYA RSI TEMPTED BY CUPID AND HIS FOLLOWERS

Markandeya Rsi, a great devotional mystic, resided in a hermitage on the northern side of the Himalaya Mountains. Observing that the sage was becoming very powerful by performing severe penances and austerities, the demigod Indra became fearful of his growing mystic potency. To ruin the sage’s spiritual practice, Lord Indra sent Cupid, beautiful celestial singers, dancing girls, the season of spring, and a sandalwood-scented breeze from the Malaya Hills, along with greed and intoxication personified. Cupid, the master of many heavenly women, went to Markandeya’s hermitage carrying his bow and arrows. He was followed by groups of Gandharvas playing musical instruments and singing. The women danced before the sage, and the celestial singers sang to the charming accompaniment of drums, cymbals, and vinas.
While greed personified, spring, and the other servants of Indra all tried to agitate Markandeya’s mind, Cupid drew his five-headed arrow and fixed it upon his bow. The Apsara Puñjikasthali made a show of playing with a number of toy balls. Her waist seemed weighed down by her heavy breasts, and the wreath of flowers in her hair became disheveled. As she ran about after the balls, glancing here and there, the belt of her thin garment loosened, and suddenly the wind blew her clothes away. Cupid, thinking he had conquered the sage, then shot his arrow.
But all these attempts to seduce Markandeya Rsi proved futile, just like the useless endeavors of an atheist. In the midst of all these disturbing influences, Markandeya remained fixed in his meditation, defeating Cupid and his associates by burning them with his mystic potency. Though the followers of Lord Indra had impudently attacked the saintly Markandeya , he did not succumb to any influence of false ego. For great souls, such tolerance is not at all surprising.
The mighty King Indra was astonished when he heard of the mystic prowess of the exalted sage Markandeya and saw how Cupid and his associates had become powerless in his presence.

PAINTING BY JADURANI - DEVI DASI (1982)

A similar rasa-līlā was going on. You know that story? Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was magistrate, and one person in Orissa, he declared himself that "I am Viṣṇu," and in the village he was enticing young women and girls to dance at night.

Traverse Beyond the kitchen and the plate, as you cook a delectable meal for the Birthday Boy, Lord Sri Krishna with Radhavallabha Das in 60 minutes.

Join us to learn and hear the lessons Lord Balaram's Appearance and Pastimes can teach us in our own lives. We are delighted to host HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagar Swami to celebrate Balaram Jayanti.

Sunday August 2, at 12EST 11CST 9PST on the Children at Home Show by Gopi Gita Schomaker, we invite her sister, Her Grace Gaura Mani Devi, Grammy-nominated kirtaniya and personal mentor to thousands of devotees worldwide. In preparation for Lord Balaram's Appearance Day, they speak about the importance of enhancing relationships between brothers and sisters, and avoiding rivalry with practical tips that can be used immediately.

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The post The Monk’s Podcast 44 with Bhakti Purushottam Maharaj – ISKCON Tribal Care appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Srila Prabhupada

What if there was one simple solution for all your problems? Something so easy that even a child could do it? Something which costs nothing, is available to everyone and ultimately ends all suffering? Well, before you decide to follow the standard dictum that if it sounds too good to be true then it most likely is, ask yourself a couple of questions. Firstly, do you know who you really are? I don’t mean a man, woman, black, white, John, Jill or Javed—no, I’m talking about the real you, beyond your temporary and changeable labels. If you don’t know then how can you make yourself happy? If you are trying to satisfy something that is not you then it’s no surprise that you might be finding it difficult. The spiritual teaching Bhagavad Gita therefore starts with this fundamental spiritual truth—’know thyself’—famously echoed by the Ancient Greek oracle at Delphi. The Gita describes the self as an eternal being quite distinct from its temporal covering. Throughout all bodily changes, growing from a baby to old age, the one unchanging and abiding principle is you, the person within. We are all aware of the continuity of our existence as individuals. We remember our childhood and know that we are still the same person. With a little careful thought we can realise that we are merely observing the changes around us, including those of our own body, but we are not changing.

The next question is how did I end up in this condition of misery, stuck in a body and forced to accept pain and death? And this is where we approach our solution. Ending suffering requires that we find out and negate its original cause. Here again the Gita offers guidance. After establishing that we are undying spiritual beings, it describes how we are parts of a much greater whole, a supreme spirit. Somehow, we have forgotten this truth and think that we are independent, even though we are obliged to accept so many unwanted impositions outside of our control. But, says the Gita, this is not our natural state. This too we can ascertain with just a little thought. Why are we constantly endeavouring for happiness, for peace and tranquillity? Surely that must be our natural condition. Like a fish out of water, which flaps around trying to get back in, we too are striving to return to our natural position of unending joy. The Gita makes it clear that we are not meant to suffer.

We have simply forgotten who we really are. Like a rich man’s son with amnesia who needlessly wanders around in poverty, we are forgetting the great treasure of happiness that is ours by right when we reconnect with the Supreme. How exactly we ended up in this state is perhaps mystifying, but according to the Buddha it is pointless asking that question right now. He said that if you are struck by an arrow the first thing to do is remove it, not run around trying to find out who fired it. First save yourself. Then you can find the answers. In any event, we can see the problem we face. Thinking we are the material body, we rush about in a vain attempt to secure bodily comfort and happiness. This has dire consequences. The Gita explains that as long as we strive for material happiness we remain bound up in the body, obliged to accept material misery. You can’t have one without the other. And here we come to the very crux of the problem. We are pleasure seeking by nature, meant to be always happy, so how can we give up the endeavour to satisfy our bodily senses if it is the only enjoyment we know?

The Gita helps us by pointing out the illusory nature of worldly happiness. As pure spiritual beings we have nothing to do with this material world. We are like persons suffering and enjoying a dream, while all the time lying asleep in bed. Although experiencing feelings in relation to the dream, those experiences are unreal. Similarly, falsely identifying with our material body, we think that bodily experiences are happening to us, but they are not. We are not material beings.

The author C.S.Lewis said that the proof we are not of this world is that nothing in this world can ever satisfy us. This is true. We must always seek newer and newer bodily pleasures. The answer then must be to find that pleasure which does satisfy us, which means it must be spiritual, just like us. Which brings us to our simple solution, reconnecting with the Supreme, who the Gita explains is a person, or in other words, God. As such, he has a name, in fact many, but not like us. Our names are temporary labels that apply only to the body we inhabit. God’s names are eternal, like him, and describe his eternal attributes. For example, he is called Krishna, which means all attractive, that is to say possessing all the qualities that attract us—beauty, power, knowledge, opulence, fame and detachment—in unlimited quantity. Connecting with him means awakening our eternal loving relationship. This is what we have forgotten, and as a result are languishing in material existence, suffering endless misery. We have only to  chant his name and we immediately begin to reconnect with him. This can be done anywhere, at any time, by anyone, even a child. All it requires is the will to do so.

My spiritual teacher, Srila Prabhupada, said ‘just give it a try’. You’ve tried everything else and are still not satisfied, so see if this works. How long must we keep endeavouring for material success before we realise it’s not making us happy? George Harrison, who became Prabhupada’s student, said ‘I want to be successful, not rich and famous.’ And another star, Jim Carrey, said ‘I think everyone should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of to see that it is not the answer.’ They’re right, dream happiness is not real, and thankfully neither is dream suffering.

So give it a try and see what happens. Sril Prabhupada taught us to chant a mantra comprised of several Sanskrit names of God. It goes like this: ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.’ You’ve probably seen Prabhupada’s followers chanting it on the streets, so hopefully now you have a better idea why. It’s all about awakening from the dream into a world of unimaginable, everlasting spiritual bliss. What are you waiting for?

Krishna Dharma (for more information please visit https://www.krishnawisdom.com/)

As the appearance of Lord Balarama purpose is to prepare the grounds for auspicious appearance of Lord Krishna, similarly Balarama Jayanthi marks the beginning another exciting festival month that will Sri Balaram Jayanthi Darshan Gallery and Abhisheka at Rajapur As the appearance of Lord Balarama purpose is to prepare the grounds for auspicious appearance of […]

The post Sri Balaram Jayanthi Celebrations appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Sandbanks P.P., Ontario

Resembled Balarama

It was dusk and it was rainy. Gyan, our driver, was smooth in his operation behind the wheel. In fact, the day went marvellously well, despite sporadic rain. It began early, at nine a.m., the start of our adventurous day. The most dark, ominous clouds—low hanging—cut off some of those high-rises as we exited Toronto via Scarborough. Freaky.

By the time we reached today’s first destination, Tyendinaga, which is officially Mohawk territory, the skies, though not clear, held off with the downpour. It was there that Gyan safely brought David, Krishna Chandra and I to the home of two sets of twins—two Canadian young men and two young Malaysian women. They are, both sets, identical and hence for me are confusing. Great folks nevertheless.

Unique about their homestead is their sincere effort at a farming initiative. Last year they asked me to plant an apple tree so we made a bit of a ritual by incorporating mantras. Since then they have endeavoured at gardening parsley, coriander, bok choy, beans, tomatoes, peppers, and the list goes on. The place has become bountiful.

One of my reasons for our visit was to offer encouragement to these daring souls for this natural, organic method of life. Secondly, I wanted to offer a break to David and K.C. from their daily routine, although devotional; a change from usual operations. It’s necessary. The whole bunch of us, including Paul from Mexico and Mohammed from Lebanon, took to the water of Sandbanks Provincial Park, luckily, between rain showers.

Then, on our return, going down the Don Valley Parkway, at dusk, with Gyan behind the wheel, a small white Ferrari was in front with red lights on a dark bumper; somehow he resembled Balarama.

May the Source be with you!

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What happened when the chief immigration officer refused to grant a visa to Srila Prabhupada on the basis of him being sick and unable to personally come to the office to submit the request?

Gage Park, Brampton

That Pretty, White Gazebo

The Greater Toronto Area has entered into its third phase of lifting restrictions imposed due to the pandemic. At Gage Park in Brampton, Stephen Philips and I could see how the public there was taking advantage of trees, grass, benches, flowers and the gazebo. I remember that gazebo. At eighteen years of age, a friend, Ron Casier, and I hitchhiked from Chatham, a good 300 kilometres through country roads, for an experience, and reached as far east as this gazebo. We took a nap at the shelter. It’s still in its spot. Memory lane indeed. Our trip included visiting family in the farmland near London. I recall my second cousin, Agatha, seeing us come up her country laneway.

“Who are those hippies?” She pondered, while in some state of fear.

Anyway, I’m back to the same gazebo. It’s pretty and white. Steven and I were waiting for a third person, Savyasachin, to sit down on the grass for a good read of the script, “Rolling the Dice.” We have put the script to the side for about fifteen years but it was worth pulling out of the files, since we are preparing for filming a production sometime over the coming months.

Three central characters are highlighted in this drama. Two brothers, Vidura, who is wise, along with his eldest brother, the blind king, Dhritarastra. Finally there’s the personification of offense in the form of the character, Duryodhana. Krishna plays a minor role as far as presence on the stage is concerned, however, he is like the gazebo of the story—the shelter.

May the source be with you!

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Once when mother earth was overburdened by hundreds of thousands of military phalanxes of various conceited demons dressed like kings, she approached Lord Brahma for relief. Mother earth assumed the form of a cow. Very much distressed, with tears in her eyes, she appeared before Lord Brahma and told him about her misfortune. Thereafter Lord Brahma went with mother earth, Lord Siva, and all the other demigods to the shore of the ocean of milk. There the demigods worshiped Lord Visnu, the master of the universe, the supreme God of all gods, who provides for everyone and diminishes everyone's suffering. With great attention they worshiped Him by reciting the Vedic mantras known as the Purusa-sukta.

With his passport and sponsorship papers, Bhaktivedanta Swami went to Bombay, not to sell books or raise funds for printing; he wanted a ticket for America. Again he tried approaching Sumati Morarji. He showed his sponsorship papers to her secretary, Mr. Choksi, who was impressed and who went to Mrs. Morarji on his behalf. “The Swami from Vrindavana is back,” he told her. “He has published his book on your donation. He has a sponsor, and he wants to go to America. He wants you to send him on a Scindia ship.” Mrs. Morarji said no, the Swamiji was too old to go to the United States and expect to accomplish anything. As Mr. Choksi conveyed to him Mrs. Morarji’s words, Bhaktivedanta Swami listened disapprovingly. She wanted him to stay in India and complete the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Why go to the States? Finish the job here.

Sri Baladeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is equal in
supremacy to the Supreme Godhead, yet wherever Krishna appears, Sri Baladeva
appears as Krishna’s brother, sometimes elder, sometimes younger.

In his vaibhava-prakasa feature, Lord Krishna manifests Himself as Balarama. The
Balarama feature is as good as Krishna Himself, the only difference being that
the bodily hue of Krishna is dark and that of Balarama is fair. These two
Lords, Krishna and Balarama, are each the seed and womb of the universe, the
Creator and His Creative potency. They enter the hearts of living beings and
control their conditioned awareness. They are the primeval supreme.

Yogamaya transferred Ananta Sesa (Balarama) from the womb of Devaki to the
womb of Rohini. Seven months later during the most auspicious moment in
Sravana month, Rohini, just like a lioness gave birth to Lord Balarama feeling
all happiness. His complexion was just like a white lotus flower and He looked
like the full moon. His eyes were brilliant like lightning flashes and his
hair was the color of a new cloud yet brilliant like the sun.

Such extraordinary beauty prevailed because He was none other than the Lord
Sankarsana. Astrologers said that He would have long arms and kill
Pralambasura; that He would have a younger brother and kill many other demons.
They said He is Dhenupal, the protector of cows an the killer of Dhenekasura.
The brahmanas under Vasudeva’s order performed the jata karma samskara
ceremony.

Though He was extremely beautiful, everyone was extremely anxious
because He was mute and inactive. No one could get Him to make a sound or
move. Once when Yasoda was pregnant, she picked Him up and carefully placed
Him on her lap next to her heart where Krishna was residing, Balarama
immediately began to laugh and play like a blissful child. But when Yasoda
would set Him down, again he would become inactive. He remained in this
condition until the appearance of His younger brother (Krishna). 

This year, I celebrated Lord Balarama’s appearance celebration at New Govardhan.

By HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj - HG Deena Bandhu Prabhu - HG Sruti Kirti Prabhu.

A recent downpour of rain at the farm has seen the dams fill up and at last our wetlands have returned. The wetlands are the home of many bird species including pelicans, black swans, ducks, ibis and grebe.

The cows are as important as the citizens. Just as the human citizens should be given all kinds of protection. So the cows also should be given full protection. Srila Prabhupada did not make distinctions between Indian cows (Desi) and western cows. Continue reading "Krishna, Cows and Humanity (video)
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The Monks podcast with Braja Bihari Prabhu- How to disagree without being disagreeable

Summary of the podcast @1.34.07:

Chaitanya Charan Prabhu: We discussed about this topic on how to disagree without being disagreeable. You started with your journey of how you started exploring conflict resolution, and then you created structures which are across the world now. Devotees can access these in various ways, i.e. the website. And then we discussed whether devotees have more conflicts or less than others? So, there were some common factors:

1. Information
2. Relationships
3. Structures and values.

But beyond that, it is our own identity. Our investment in our identity that can cause conflicts, especially in religion faith-based organizations like ours. I think that and values were the main part of our remaining discussion. So, it is amazing, you quoted Prabhupada saying that we should appreciate people even who are not devotees and then what to speak of devotees. And that appreciation or that broad-mindedness, it can come if we learn to see others as devotees, not just see them and reduce them to the position that is problematic for us. You also talk about “I” messages, which is more about expressing vulnerability rather than expressing judgment about the other person. If we focus on the fact that we all have the same ultimate purpose, then we can minimize differences.

Sometimes, because we emphasize philosophy, so, we reduce people to philosophical categories, seeing them as multifaceted beings. Prabhupada has given many examples of him being philosophical, by having differences, but being culturally friendly. Then you also made this point that the resolution can be based on three ways:

1. Power- based,
2. Rights- based
3. Interest- based

Most resolutions are power- based. So, when a call for cooperation seems to be like a deference to authority, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, if it is operational.

We talked also a little bit about social media and how it can unnecessarily spread negative vibrations. But there is a means by which devotees can express their grievances and have things addressed.

And toward the end, we talked about how we have created space for devotees by provisions like; different devotees can have different outreach centres in the same city. So that means we appreciate each other but we try to have space for ourselves. And in that way, we can have unity in diversity like a like a set of flowers in a flower vase.
So, this was a very illuminating discussion. Any concluding words you want to say?

Braja Bihari Prabhu: “No, but just what you just did summarize is one of the best ways to have a good rapport with other devotees. Because it shows that you were respectful enough to listen. And when you summarize like that, it’s also if you’re having a dialogue or you know debate, it’s great to summarize the other person’s points before you make your own because the person will feel much more ‘Oh yes, he’s understood me’. “

Chaitanya Charan Prabhu: “Okay”.

Braja Bihari Prabhu: So, it’s very good for relationships and also for clear thinking. So, thank you so much for doing that. You did so wonderfully.”

Chaitanya Charan Prabhu:“Thank you so much prabhu, very much Prabhu. wonderful to have you here.”

Braja Bihari Prabhu: “Thank you for having me prabhu, Hare Krishna. All glories to Prabhupada.”

End of transcription.

The post The Monk’s Podcast 43 with Braja Bihari Prabhu – How to disagree without being disagreeable appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Toronto’s Vaisnava Care Team present to you a two-day online seminar!

Come learn the art of caring for devotees faced with: an acute illness, a long-term chronic illness or those in need of end-of-life care. These sessions will be facilitated by none other than Sangita devi dasi whose seminars from some years ago were well attended and appreciated. We were hoping to have an in-person deep-dive on this very important topic but due to the lockdown, we are going to hear from her virtually.

The details for this are as follows- 

Days? Aug 15 and 16 (Sat-Sun) 

Timings? 9:30AM-1:30 PM EDT

Student workbook will be sent to registered participants only. Please RSVP by sending an email to Lalithapriya devi dasi at lalitha_gs@yahoo.com

Sangita devi dasi (Susan Pattinson, RN, Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse) has been a practitioner of the bhakti tradition for close to five decades. In 2000, she co-founded the non-profit organization Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. (Counselling, Assistance, Resource, and Education for the terminally ill and Their Family). She has written seven articles on hospice care that were published in various nursing journals and is the author of the book, “The Final Journey–Complete Hospice Care for Departing Vaishnavas”, a hands-on text on the care of terminally ill loved ones. For fifteen years she has travelled throughout North America and India giving hospice seminars and workshops and is acknowledged as being the international pioneer for end-of-life care in the ISKCON Krishna Consciousness movement.

Take a look at ISKCON Mayapur in 2020. We walk around TOVP and Prabhupada Samadhi

Welcome to another Sacred India Wisdom Tree message from Jagattarini. This week's message is entitled: Memory Boxes

For ten years, we have printed Srila Prabhupada Tributes and sent a free copy to each devotee who wrote for it. But this year, the pandemic that struck made us uncertain about whether our printers could provide the book on schedule, or even if we could deliver the physical books to all contributors. And so, for the first time, we have produced the book in electronic form only. Continue reading "Download your copy of the 2020 Tributes today
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