Once-in-a-lifetime event marking the commencement of the grand ISKCON Temple of Parsippany. One of the first Vedic-style ISKCON temples in Northeast. Our Chief Guest Mayor Soriano and our Committee Chairman Mr. Piyush Patel headlined this wonderful event. All the attendees enjoyed it thoroughly and auspiciousness was seen throughout.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 9 January 2017, Brisbane, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.6)

At the time of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, he would say that anyone who does not chant 64 rounds, is fallen. He said to chant a minimum of 4 rounds. Now, 4 rounds did not necessarily mean going back to Godhead in this lifetime, but it meant that at least some connection is there. 64 rounds, however, was the program. That was the straight path back to Godhead. But Prabhupada brought it down to 16 rounds, accompanied by his prayer, so therefore 16 is the blessed number for going back to Godhead. 

So we must chant that number – that blessed number, even if it is difficult. “Why not 12? I can manage 12. I cannot manage 16.” I do not care, you still have to chant 16. “But…” There is no ‘but’ because 16 is the blessed number! It is not what you can do, it is where the blessings are. It is the shortcut. It is the minimum that Prabhupada brought it down to. He lowered the threshold of the spiritual world. Prabhupada said, “Simply 4 regulative principles with a minimum of 16 rounds and then you go back to Godhead”. 

He also said, “Why just 16 rounds? Why not 16,000 rounds?” Actually, real chanting begins after the 16 rounds are completed, because then you can just chant without that pressure of “I have to chant”. As long as we are chanting 16 rounds, there is always this pressure. So sometimes it is said that real chanting begins after the chanting of 16 rounds.

The article " Real chanting begins after 16 rounds " was published on KKSBlog.

Recent Events - June 2020 - Vaishnava Seva - The Global Devotee Care Directorate is happy to share the next interview of a weekly Devotee Care webinar series called "Vaishnava Seva" - an effort to emphasize a culture of devotee care in ISKCON temples and communities

Join the prayers for HH Bhakti Charu Swami maharaj's recovery and well-being

Maharaj remains in intensive care, on the ventilator and requiring support for his blood pressure and kidneys.

Krishna’s quality of detachment - Although Krishna is everywhere behind the scenes maintaining this world, Krishna is neutral and never interferes with our freedom to choose and to pursue our journey through life. (Bhagavad Gita chapter 9 verse 9)

The Monk's Podcast - with Kalakantha Prabhu

The Monk's Podcast with Hrdayananda Goswami

Answer Podcast

The post Is spirituality meant to make us feel bad about ourselves in the name of humility? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Podcast

Video:

The post The wealth of emotional health appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Padma Locana Krishna is part of the executive team with Corporate Learning Group at Harvard Business School Publishing. He has been an integral member of Bhakti Rasayana Sagar Maharaja's LEAD school faculty. We'll have a discussion with him around potential lessons from the business world ISKCON can incorporate to move forward effectively.

Answer Podcast

The post Does every thought in our mind result from something we have done in the past? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Toronto, Ontario

Arjuna Said/ Krishna Said 

We often consider that we are nowhere near perfect. But are there some, or even one person who is flawless?

I was looking at a rendition of The Gita by Ranchor Prime, a student of our guru, Prabhupada, and what follows is how he delivers a message based on some verses from Chapter 14. He offers to say, according to the Gita’steacher, Krishna, what are the symptoms of one who is flawless:

21. Arjuna said:

What are the signs and behaviour of one who has risen above the three qualities (goodness, passion, ignorance)?  How does one transcend these three?

22. The Blessed Lord said:

One who is not averse to illumination, hard work or delusion when they are present, nor desires them when they are absent….

23. Who is detached, undisturbed by the different qualities, firm in the knowledge that the qualities alone are active….

24.  Who is centred on the self, equal to happiness or distress, to earth, stone, or gold, to the desirable or the undesirable, to praise or blame….

25.  Who is unaffected by honour or dishonour, neutral among friends and enemies, who gives up all selfish endeavours—such a person, Arjuna, is said to have transcended the qualities of nature.

The above is good stuff!

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Rosedale, Toronto

Short for Krishna

I had crossed the bridge over the ravine, carrying my meditation beads in my left hand while fingering each bead. A local person on his bicycle noticed them. He stopped and asked, “Is that a rosary?” 

Now, this occurred shortly after I passed by a home with several people gathered on an extensive veranda who had also noticed my dangling strand of 108 beads. They seemed to be a bit ‘tipsy.’ I guess they were all friends—drinking buddies. They got kind of excited by my appearance. They approved. At least three or four held up their drinks, whether in a glass or a bottle, making a ‘toast’ gesture. In any event, I returned a wave with my free hand and carried on.

Going back to the cyclist, I answered his question. “These are japa beads. They are used as a method for mantra meditation—for chanting. There is also something called bhajan, which involves a small group of people chanting, but accompanied by instruments that create beautiful music. Finally we have something called kirtan,which is an even more inclusive form of chanting. This can take the shape of many people on their feet swaying to the music. There are choices. For me I take time out in the evening and chant on my japa beads, which is a kind of communication with the Supreme.  I walk at the same time and I love it.”

The cyclist told me his name.

“Chris!”

“Oh, short for Krishna.”

He laughed. So did I.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Video – Bhagavad Gita 2.57 Seeing the Face of Material Existence 2020-06-28 #Ljubljana #ZoomClass

In this episode, we’ll be interviewing Jaya Sila Prabhu and Vimala Mataji about Relationship Rescue Remedy. This powerful 5 Drop Formula gives tools for managing conflict and ensures successful relationships. I’ve personally worked with Jaya Sila and Vimala on this program from the very beginning and can vouch for its effectiveness. Jaya Sila and Vimala […]

The post 29-Successful Relationships with Jaya Sila dasa and Vimala devi dasi appeared first on Successful Vaisnavas - Personal Development for Hare Krishnas.

Chanting before Tulasi today, I recalled an incident with Srila Prabhupada in his garden in New Dvaraka, Los Angeles, in 1973. I was looking at him, and suddenly his face lit up, his eyes opened wide, and he smiled broadly, as if he were seeing a long-lost dear friend. When I turned around to see who had come, I saw that it was Tulasi, being carried by a devotee. “Just by her presence,” Prabhupada said, “Tulasi purifies the whole atmosphere.”

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.11 during the program.

Podcast

Video:

The post Gita key verses course 27 Is the ultimate reality personal or impersonal – Gita 07.24 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

“Women of Bhakti is a tribute to the unsung heroines of Bhakti.” Producer Jahnava Hausner and award-winning filmmaker Hilary Tapper take viewers on an extraordinary journey into the lives of historical and modern devotees of bhakti yoga in this groundbreaking film. Women of Bhakti, shot in India and America, is an artistic and entertaining film that gives viewers an enlightening understanding of the bhakti, or devotional, tradition and its relation to modern yoga practice.

I look in the mirrorAnd I see this bodyWith this colorThat I am supposedTo give up identifying withBut somehow,I can’t seem to seeBeyond the brown. BrownLike the dust of vrajaPerhaps you willPlace Your lotus feetWithin my heartAnd make your homeWithin this skinThat so resemblesYour eternal playground. BrownLike the peaks of Govardhan,Perhaps You will place Your […]

The post Color – A Poem appeared first on ISKCON News.

"I look in the mirror /  And I see this body / With this color / That I am supposed / To give up identifying with / But somehow, / I can’t seem to see / Beyond the brown."

Nearly two dozen African nations are now committed to build and maintain the “Great Green Wall,” a chain of forests and woodlands spreading across the entire continent.

  Many ISKCON members are aware of the formation of the Revisions Review Panel (RRP), but they may not be informed of how it came about and exactly what its task is. This article I hope serves to communicate more of these details.  In February 2019, the BBT/GBC Relations Committee conversed about meeting with the […]

The post BBT Revisions Review Panel to Examine Changes In Prabhupada’s Books appeared first on ISKCON News.

The aim of the RRP is to examine all proposed and previously accepted text changes to Srila Prabhupada’s books in the English language—a painstaking service being approached by panel members with commitment, time, and critical analysis. However, the emphasis will be on reviewing any posthumous editing or particularly controversial edits.

“When the lockdown started, nobody thought we could distribute books, and everybody was worried about what would happen,” says Shyama Mohini Dasi, co-sankirtan leader at ISKCON Toronto, Canada. “But Vaisesika Prabhu encouraged us to think differently, and innovate.” Every year since 2007, devotees at Toronto, ISKCON Silicon Valley, and other temples – inspired by Global […]

The post North American Teams See Book Distribution Increase During COVID-19 Marathon appeared first on ISKCON News.

“When the lockdown started, nobody thought we could distribute books, and everybody was worried about what would happen,” says Shyama Mohini Dasi, co-sankirtan leader at ISKCON Toronto, Canada. “But Vaisesika Prabhu encouraged us to think differently, and innovate.”

Hera Panchami is a unique festival associated with famous chariot festival of Puri. ‘Hera’ means to ‘see’ and ‘Panchami’ means the ‘fifth day’. It is celebrated at Gundica temple on the fifth day from the start date of the chariot festival. 

This festival is dedicated to Mahalaxmi and is also known as a ritual of Mahalaxmi. The temple of Lord Jagannath is known as Sri-mandira. “Sri” means Laxmi, so the name of the temple as “Sri-mandira” signifies the fact that Mahalaxmi is the principal Goddess of the Grand Temple. This ritual highlights the separation of Mahalaxmi from Lord Jagannatha.

On the festival day, Lord Jagannath leaves the Jagannatha temple and goes to Gundica temple for 9 days with his siblings. His consort Mahalaxmi is left behind in the main temple. Lord Jagannatha promised his wife that He would return the next day, but Lord Jagannatha did not return the next day. Mahalaxmi waited for 5 days but Lord Jagannatha did not return to the temple.

After waiting for 5 days, she became impatient and worried. At last, she made up her mind to meet Lord Jagannatha at the Gundica Temple where He had based with His brother and sister. 

At night the representative deity of Mahalaxmi (known as Subarna Mahalaxmi) went to Gundica temple in a beautifully decorated palanquin via Bada Danda (the Grand Road) in a colourful procession of splendour, accompanied by her servitors, to meet Lord Jagannath and ask Him why he had not returned yet. 

The servitors, who were part of the procession of Mahalaxmi, sang the Hera Panchami song. The Hera Panchami song expresses Mahalaxmi’s anger toward Her husband. When Lord Jagannatha found out that Mahalaxmi was coming to meet him with anger, He asked his servitors to quickly lock the door of Gundica Temple.

Mahalaxmi became very angry due to this activity and made some satirical remarks to Lord Jagannath by saying, “My husband! You have become more attracted to your brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra than me? Is this the reason you locked me out of the Gundica temple?” 

Mahalaxmi felt insulted and to teach Her husband a lesson She asked her servitors to break a part of Nandighosa Ratha, the chariot of Lord Jagannatha. On her return, She avoided the direct route via Grand Road, and secretly returned to the Jagannatha temple via Hera Gohiri Sahi of Puri. The unique ritual is enjoyed by a large number of devotees of Lord Jagannatha.

A video by Avelo Roy (Ajita Das).