Planet ISKCON

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Just adding to my last post on updates, I have launched an email newsletter, “The Gita” that focuses on building our knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita.

Every week, I will send out a short and easy-to-understand essay from each of the chapters of the book. We will cover the 18 chapters systematically and I plan the first issue to go out this weekend of 27th & 28th of June 2020. So, please subscribe early so as not to miss out.

It would be awesome if my blog fans & visitors here could subscribe to this initiative & invite your friends too. A lot of subscribers will keep me excited & keep me motivated to keep writing.

Please subscribe via this link: https://thegita.substack.com/welcome

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! See you there

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 13 May 2020, Durban, South Africa, Caitanya Caritamrta Lecture)

sarvopaniṣado gāvo
dogdhā gopāla-nandanaḥ
pārtho vatsaḥ su-dhīr bhoktā
dugdhaṁ gītāmṛtaṁ mahat
(Gītā-māhātmya 6, cited in Bhagavad-gita, Introduction)

It is said that there is a herd of cows and these cows are all a personification of the upanisads. The gita-upanisad is the best of these upanisads. The cows are being milked by Gopalananda, being Gopal, the son of Nanda Maharaj. His pārtho, being Arjuna, is the calf that creates the milk. And sudhīr is the bhoktā, the wise person who is drinking that milk, the one who is enjoying that milk. In this way, the nectar of the Bhagavad-gita is enlivening the great souls.

The article " Enlivening the great souls " was published on KKSBlog.

Hare Krishna all!

I haven’t been blogging here as often I have been in the past – 3 years to be exact! That’s what social media does to you. Been Facebooking, Tweeting & Instagraming!

Anyways, early this year, I launched a website called “bhajate.com“

I am planning to use the above new site as my blog. So, please do visit me there.

I will still keep this one active as it’s a part of my life and has my early Krishna Consciousess journey recorded. But yeah, please check out the contents on the new site.

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Sivananda Sena, the twenty-fourth branch of the Caitanya tree, was an extremely confidential servant of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Everyone who went to Jagannatha Puri to visit Lord Caitanya took shelter and guidance from Sri Sivananda Sena.

Srila Sivananda Sena has been described by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja as follows: ”Sivananda Sena was a resident of Kumarahatta, which is also known as Halisahara, and was a great devotee of the Lord.” 

About one and a half miles from Kumarahatta is another village, known as Kancadapada, in which there are Gaura-Gopala Deities installed by Sivananda Sena, who also established a temple of Krsnaraya that is still existing. 

Sivananda Sena was the father of Paramananda Sena, who was also known as Puri dasa or Kavi-karnapura. Paramananda Sena wrote in his Gaura-ganodesa-dipika that two of the gopis of Vrndavana, whose former names were Vira and Duti, combined to become his father. 

Srila Sivananda Sena guided all the devotees of Lord Caitanya who went from Bengal to Jagannatha Puri, and he personally bore all the expenses for their journey. 

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 4 June 2020, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta Lecture)

Death – something to think about!
What does Krsna want?
What am I doing to contribute to that?
What am I contributing in my character and in my behaviour?
In other words, what am I contributing in my consciousness and in my actions?

Will it be enough? Will I dedicate myself enough that when the time of death comes, that I will really be anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ (Nectar of Devotion 1.1.11); free from any other motivation, and that I can just turn to Krsna and say, “Krsna I am yours and I have no other interest than your interest and as you desire”. Will I develop abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhir (Bhagavad-gita 16.1); develop that spirit of fearlessness. This fearlessness is required where we have to shift our focus and look at Krsna’s interest.

We must look at:
What does Krsna want? What does Krsna need?
What am I doing to contribute to that?
What am I doing to offer Krsna what He needs?
What am I contributing in my character and in my behaviour?
In other words, what am I contributing in my consciousness and in my actions?

Everything in my consciousness should be for Krsna. At least everything in my consciousness should be focused on Krsna. All my activities must be connected with Krsna, every single one of them. All my actions must be a constant string of activities which are connected with Krsna consciousness, and these activities must directly engage in Krsna’s service or indirectly support Krsna consciousness. Now, what to do if we are professionals in the world. We are devotees, but we also have some material profession. Then let us use the fruits of that work for the service of Krsna and that is how we can maintain a Krsna conscious lifestyle. So, what are we bringing to Krsna? I am not only bringing Him my consciousness. I am also bringing to Him my actions. Even when my consciousness is not perfect, I hope that my actions are going to make a difference, because after all, Krsna is merciful and Krsna can be purchased by mercy. So, I hope that whatever I am bringing to Krsna will be enough to purchase His mercy.

So, the more we focus on bringing Krsna the most wonderful offering called, ‘our life’, the more we focus in this way, the more we can be truly fearless. But when we face Krsna at the time of death, then there are all kinds of loose ends and slip-ups and things. Therefore, this is the moment to collect our wealth. This is the time to collect the treasures, not for ourselves but to collect the treasures for Krsna and let us come before Krsna with a huge collection of wonderful gifts. Then Krsna will be so pleased, that the time of death will be a moment of great happiness.  

Watch the full video below or on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaGecWoqPwA

The article " Death – something to think about! " was published on KKSBlog.

Kensington Market, Toronto

Homeless Hanuman

What I’m going to say I’m sure will sound familiar to you.

Someone I hadn’t seen for a while entered my mind view.

I reached Kensington on foot and the dude-in-thought manifest.

His name is Hanuman and it’s here that he rests. 

“I’m glad to see you,” he said, “I like it here. I even kicked the habit of drinking beer.”

I cheered the tall but disheveled Hanuman, who has no home and no coins in his palm.

I gave him a pair of gloves last year for the winter.

I’m sure he forgot as his life has no centre.

This time I gave him a card with the maha mantra.

I felt for him because his life is unlike Cleopatra.

I detected a sparkle in his eye so precious.

It made my walk to the park like a gondola in Venice.

Now it was Bellevue Square Park I came to with the boys,

I felt some peace because there was a little noise.

Although the gathering there were quite full,

The atmosphere was lacking that spiritual pull;

Some were like Hanuman with the warrying in the mind.

While there were people who actually shined.

With no instruments in hand to rhythm-it-up,

We collected sticks, beat them, chanted for a windup.

May the Source be with you!

9 km

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBp3pdmgqsL/

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From the time that he was a boy, Gadadhara Pandita was always in the association of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Gadadhara Pandita’s father’s name was Sri Madhava Misra; his mother’s name was Sri Ratnavati Devi. 

They lived close to the house of Jagannatha Misra in Mayapura. Sri Ratnavati Devi looked upon Sacidevi as if Sacidevi were her big sister. The two of them were always spending time with each other. During his childhood pastimes, Gaurahari used to often play with Gadadhara Pandita. 

They both went to the village school together to study. Gadadhara Pandita was a year younger than Gaurahari. Gadadhara had so much affection for Gaurahari that he could not leave his company even for a moment. 

In the Gaura-ganodesa-dipika it has been explained by Kavi Karnapura that in Vraja-lila Sri Gadadhara Pandita was the daughter of Vrsabhanu—Srimati Radharani.  This is confirmed in the notebooks of Svarupa Damodara as well as in the songs of Sri Vasudeva Ghosa Thakura. 

According to Sri Caitanya Caritamrita: “No one can describe the characteristics and ecstatic love of Gadadhara Pandita. Therefore another name for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Gadadhara Prananatha, “the life and soul of Gadadhara Pandita.” No one can say how merciful the Lord is to Gadadhara Pandita, but people know the Lord as Gadaira Gaura, “the Lord Gauranga of Gadadhara Pandita.”

Gadadhara Pandit also took the renounced order of life and went to Jagannatha Puri to be with Lord Caitanya. Accepting ksetra sannyasa (a renunciate who never leaves the dhama), he served the Deity of Tota-Gopinatha with full love and devotion. 

Regularly, Sri Krishna Caitanya came to relish Sri Gadadhara’s rasika reading of Srimad Bhagavatam. Lord Caitanya concluded His manifest pastimes “by entering the Deity of Tota-Gopinatha.

Although Gadadhara Pandit was barely forty-eight when the Lord departed, he quickly became old because of the intense anguish he felt in separation from his beloved Lord Gaurasun­dara. He couldn’t stretch his arms to offer a garland to his Deity. Understanding His servant’s difficulty, Sri Tota-Gopinatha sat down to facilitate Gadadhara’s loving service. To this day, Sri Tota- Gopinatha is the only sitting Deity of Krishna.

According to some authorities, a short time after Lord Caitanya’s disappearance Sri Gadadhara Pandit joined His eternal pastimes by entering his beloved Deity of Tota-Gopinatha. His danta (tooth) samadhi stands near the Vamsi Gopala temple in Vrndavana.

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.12.

At this moment, we are watching a constant stream of broadcasts revealing violence against African Americans. The videos are clear evidence of systemic racism in America, and any thoughtful person, devotee or not, cannot help but feel angry. Yet many ISKCON community members I have spoken with recently are confused about how we should respond. […]

The post What the Gita Says About Anger appeared first on ISKCON News.

Should we join the protests? Should we speak out against a government that oppresses black men and women and attacks those wishing to publicly object to such racism? As devotees, should we protest at all? Is meddling in politics the business of Vaishnavas? Yet if we decline, are we not part of the apathy that perpetuates such injustice?

  The Bhagavad-Gita is a theological and philosophical classic. In 700 concise verses, it summarises the conclusions of the Vedas, ancient scriptures written approximately 5000 years ago in the Sanskrit language. It covers topics ranging from religion to relationships, science to sociology, leadership to lifestyle management: the keys to all aspects of life, the universe […]

The post Gita Life Online Course Taught by Sutapa Das, UK appeared first on ISKCON News.

Over 10 thought-provoking and interactive sessions, the Gita Life online course will be taught by Sutapa Das who will provide a chapter-by-chapter summary, giving very relatable themes and life lessons from the Bhagavad-gita.

Covid -19, a virus that has taken the world by storm, has inconvenienced many and has taken away precious lives. It continues to stay on giving newer challenges to the society at large. People all over the world are trying their best to cope with the new normal, continue to fight in solidarity and are […]

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“Gita Made Easy”, an 18-day online course designed and facilitated by Amarendra Gaura Das and Sukirti Madhavi Dasi from ISKCON Chennai started off as a course aimed at an audience of 300, ended up with 10,800 people signing up.

Why did Lord Rama send agents undercover to hear what people were saying about him? Was Lord Rama doing that to show an example as a king, to have a pulse of his reputation among the citizens, or was it because he is the Supreme Person and concerned people were harming themselves by thinking ill of him? Or some other reason?

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Srila Prabhupada expressed his appreciation for his father in his dedication to his book Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, “To My Father, Gour Mohan De (1849-1930)”—“A pure devotee of Krsna, who raised me as a Krsna conscious child from the beginning of my life. In my boyhood ages he instructed me how to play the mrdanga. He gave me Radha-Krsna vigraha to worship, and he gave me Jagannatha ratha to duly observe the festival as my childhood play. He was kind to me, and I imbibed from him the ideas later on solidified by my spiritual master, the eternal father.”

As devotees, we try to encourage and facilitate our children’s Krishna consciousness, as Prabhupada’s father did with him—an effort that is solidified when our children find their eternal spiritual masters.

Later, Srila Prabhupada wrote to one of his disciples, “You have accepted me as father, so I have also accepted you as my dear and real son. Relationship of father and son on spiritual platform is real and eternal; on the material platform such relationship is ephemeral and temporary. Although I cannot give you anything as father, still I can pray to Krishna for your more and more advancement in Krishna consciousness. Your sincerity and service mood will always help you in advancing your genuine cause.”

We are indebted to all our fathers, biological and preceptorial. To those still with us, we wish you Happy Father’s Day. To those who have left us, we love you and miss you, and we shall try to act in such a way as will please you—and Krishna, the Supreme Father.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Queens Park, Toronto

Beat Sticks

It was a pleasure, and always will be—a pleasure—to deliver classes on the science of bhakti. I am in my element as it brings me closer to guru and Krishna. We have begun a new chapter in the study of the Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 25, where Vasudeva, the father of Krishna, expresses the realizations that his two offspring, Krishna and Balarama, are actually Divine mystics; creators of the world, and pradhana—energies of the world. It was fun to explore this subject.

A second class, by way of zoom, dealt with the topic of how to relate to people of varying religious backgrounds. This live-streamed presentation was fun, as we explored verses from the Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 17, where the Gita student gets to filter faith through the three modes of nature.

Ultimately, we don’t want to resort to being judgemental; when it comes to a review of different paths. One path can be strong, another muddy, another dry and uneven, but our goal is to reach the final destination.

The biggest challenge with various faith groups is that theymaintain respect for each other. We must see each other as good neighbours, and not condemn one another. Where there is belligerence—we can perceive this as ignorance. Interfaith sessions can be healthy. The meeting of the mature.

Tonight’s walk took Aisvarya and myself to Queens Park. Our drum did not arrive.  Corrado took sick so we sat on the grass and sang to the beat of sticks.  Spiritualists can beat sticks but not each other.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Allen Gardens, Toronto 

Combining Walking and Kirtan 

Corrado cycled over to Allen Gardens, with the mrdunga drum strapped to his back, and waited there for us walkers. This is a new strategy we’re trying. Each night, after our serenade of sorts (musical display at our stairwell facing the public), those on foot will reach a different park, get down on the grass and start chanting away.  Corrado’s lugging the drum by his bicycle saves us time and a burden.

We reached the garden park, which is just across the street from our old temple/ashram, at 187 Gerrard Street.  I was surprised by the occupants visiting this green space. In the ’70s practically all who hung out there were of a very challenged, homeless type—heavy on drugs and alcohol. Well, things have not completely changed but we did see a whole lot of decent families.

In any event we sat down, chanted and swayed to the beat of the drum. We kept respectful distance from each other.  One family, who are members of our community, joined us for the kirtan.  It has become almost a habit to take time to reflect upon the green we are sitting on, and then, at some point, find our eyes drawn upward to the sky of pure blue.

The evening hours are the best for people, just before dusk. The heat is behind them. Coolness has arrived. It is wind-down time. It can’t get any more pleasant.

When I returned from the kirtan, news came online about one of our colleagues, a monk from India, Bhakti Caru Swami.  He is Covid 19 positive and is in critical condition. It was an unsettling night. Lots of praying.  https://iskconnews.org/bhakti-charu-swami-hospitalized-for-covid-19,7395/

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Giriraj Swami discusses Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Gadadhara Pandita on their disappearance day.

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Starting from Thursday 18th June 2020, Akhandadhi das ACBSP has been presenting live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/712689826170459/) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAtmaParadigm), the second of four series on ‘The Atma Paradigm.’ This ground-breaking webinar series shines the light of Srimad Bhagavatam philosophy onto modern scientific findings, asking the question, what would science look like if we agree that consciousness […]

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Starting on Thursday 18th June 2020, Akhandadhi das ACBSP has been presenting live on Facebook and YouTube, ‘The Atma Paradigm.’ This ground-breaking webinar series shines the light of Srimad Bhagavatam philosophy onto modern scientific findings.

As ISKCON GBC member Bhakti Charu Swami struggles in the USA with COVID-19, devotees around the world are deep in prayer for his rapid recovery. Kirtan Fest Global for Bhakti Charu Swami is an opportunity to pray together.

A video by BB Govinda Swami Media. 

A video by ILS Global. ISKCON Leadership Sanga, Sri Dham Mayapur. Gaurapurnima 2020, Day 1.

Fifty years ago, a 70-year-old spiritual teacher from India arrives in the West and settles among the hippies of New York’s Lower East Side. From a tiny storefront, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami starts a revolution of consciousness influencing tens of thousands in the U.S. and worldwide. But what happens to his movement after their charismatic leader’s passing? Will it survive? Will it change? Can an ancient Eastern spiritual tradition be relevant in the modern 21st century?

Please share the joy and help making more films by donating here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=...

A film by Karuna Productions (www.karunaproductions.com)

Executive Producers: Bhakti Charu Swami, Anuttama Dasa, Pancharatna Das. Producer-Director: Krisztina Danka, Ph.D. Cinematography: Filip Cargonja, Denes Doboveczki Editor: Szabolcs Guth

A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.