Planet ISKCON

This revealing video showcases scenes behind the curtain of ISKCON temples. Although thousands of people visit the temple and attend the programs, in the background there is a huge team of volunteers who are selflessly working to give the best experience. The concept of the movie and script for it is given by Toshan Nimai das, it is directed and edited by Dhwani Bhargava and Akshit Gupta. 

  Everything rests on You Ideally as pearls on a thread.. In your safe care I close my eyes Lovingly I bow my head….   Even when there are no words And I don’t know what to say.. Offering prayers to you Calms my heart and makes my day….   The boat of your lotus […]

The post Poem: In My Heart You Will Stay appeared first on ISKCON News.

"The boat of your lotus feet / Will get me across the ocean of life some day. / No matter come what may / In my heart you will stay...."

"The boat of your lotus feet / Will get me across the ocean of life some day. / No matter come what may / In my heart you will stay...."

Srimad Bhagavatam class online by HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami, August 7, 2020

Yogesvara Prabhu, (Joshua Greene), was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1969. After 13 years in temples of Europe and America, he returned to New York. He is Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies at Hofstra University and teaches weekly classes at Jivamukti Yoga School.

Here are some nice photos from Balarama Purmina 2019 at the ISKCON-London Radha Krishna Temple.

Dear ISKCON Leader, please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. In June 2020, the GBC SPT – Strategic Planning Support unit published a Temple Re-opening Guide and a decision-making Toolkit to support you in your efforts to re-open your temple. You will find attached, additional materials we have developed to assist you in facilitating the safe re-opening of your temple to the public. Continue reading "Guidelines for a safe re-opening of temples
→ Dandavats"

We are happy to share that over the last two years, in addition to the preservation work in the library, the team at BRC has made significant strides in conducting pioneering research in the field of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in collaboration with international universities led by reputed devotee scholars worldwide. We have also started MA and PhD programs on Gaudiya Vaishnavism in affiliation with Mumbai University wherein students are being guided by international devotee scholars. Continue reading "Bhaktivedanta Research Center
→ Dandavats"

As the newly married Vasudeva and Devaki prepared to start for home, conchshells, bugles, drums, and kettledrums all vibrated in concert for their auspicious departure. But as Kamsa, controlling the reins of the horses, drove the chariot along the way, an unembodied voice addressed him, "You foolish rascal, the eighth child of the woman you are carrying will kill you!''. Kamsa was a condemned personality in the Bhoja dynasty because he was envious and sinful. Therefore, upon hearing this omen from the sky, he caught hold of his cousin's hair with his left hand and took up his sword with his right hand to sever her head from her body.

Srimad Bhagavatam class given by HH Bhanu Swami at ISKCON New Govardhana Temple, August 7, 2020

For those devotees who use Instagram for a communication and sharing platform, the TOVP Communications Department has launched the TOVP official Instagram account where we will share new photos, videos and messages.

You can also donate to the TOVP through the Instagram App. Open the Instagram App and search for: templeofvedicplanetarium_tovp or TOVP Official

Podcast

Video:

The post The Monk’s Podcast 46 with Anuttama Prabhu – How we can outgrow our cultish image appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

A collaboration between Madhavas Rock Band and students of Braj Gopika Vidya Mandal School Nandgaon.

A collaboration between Madhavas Rock Band and students of Braj Gopika Vidya Mandal School Nandgaon.

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 22nd and 23rd.  Compiled by Srila Prabhupada disciple Pranada Dasi, the work is a written documentary […]

The post New Book “The Emergence of Women’s Voices in ISKCON” to Launch with Online Event appeared first on ISKCON News.

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.

Podcast

Video:

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.

Podcast

Video:

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/)