Planet ISKCON

Our "Paramahamster" comic strip follows an enthusiastic devotee as he navigates a 9 - 5 work day in the corporate world. Please check back weekly for new episodes!

With an objective of making lasting changes in inmates' behavior by igniting the love for God in their hearts, devotees from ISKCON Chandigarh visited the Central Jail of Chandigarh and Model Jail Ambala (Haryana). 

In 1994, Priyavrata das, working under the guidance of Mukunda Goswami, wrote and published the first edition of the Food for Life Training Manual. Mukunda Goswami wrote the foreword to the manual, praising its importance to the preaching and success of the Krishna Consciousness movement.  

The well adored Sanskrit Bhajan composed from the Brahma Samhita in praise of Lord Krishna, performed by Sufi Soul Sangeet lead by Tahir Qawwal. Tahir is a world renowned Sufi Qawwali singer with his ensemble Fanna-Fi-Allah. Though a practicing sufi & qawwal by profession, he is also devoted to sharing sincere devotional wisdom from all spiritual paths reaching beyond the boundaries of conflicting belief systems. This cultural bridge building is one of the essential principals of the sufi way.

During the traditional swearing-in ceremony within Parliament's  main debating Chamber,  in his right hand he took a copy of Bhagavad Gita As It Is, along with the traditional King James Bible.

 ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) recently ended a lengthy, detailed consideration of the Vaishnavi diksa guru question that has been under consideration since 2003. The Vaishnavi Ministry welcomes the new resolution, which upholds important spiritual principles and Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition while accommodating concerns about local communities having different cultural standards.

The ISKCON Communications Ministry hosted the Fifth Annual Vaishnava Christian Dialogue in India, December 16-18. The Dialogue is part of a global effort by the Ministry to promote understanding between members of ISKCON and other major religious communities.  

Indian origin lawmakers take oath on Bhagavad Gita in UK’s House of Commons.
Two UK lawmakers Alok Sharma and Rishi Sunak took oath on the Bhagavad Gita while swearing-in as members of the parliament in the new House of Commons on Tuesday. Alok Sharma is a minister in the British cabinet, Rishi Sunak is the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

"Can I walk the world in grace, in anonymous  humility, offering myself to selflessly give, as an invisible guide, like the scent of roses?"

Backyard Bhakti.
Backyard Bhakti, a group that emerged from the Community Development Initiative (CDI), is committed to assisting people begin and maintain a small home garden. For the cost of materials and some pay-it-forward participation, the Backyard Bhakti team will conduct a workshop at your home on constructing, filling and planting a 4 x 8 foot raised-bed garden (just add water and bhakti). Like to have a garden at your house?
In 2018, from the Alachua Hare Krishna Temple Community Development Initiative, several Action Teams were formed to develop Focus Areas identified as interests/needs of the community. Backyard Bhakti is focusing on the vision of a community where members live a simpler, more natural way of life as taught by Srila Prabhupada.
The team’s mission is to encourage and facilitate a collaborative culture in the community for learning and implementing sustainable agriculture and cow protection.
How can YOU get a garden???

* Participate in helping install TWO Backyard Bhakti gardens at someone else’s home first. Contact Michael Peattie or see the posts telling when the next garden party is scheduled. Once you’ve done this you can sign up for a garden.

* Fee of $108 to cover cost of lumber, soil, fertilizer and seeds for a 4’ X 8’ garden

* Help promote participation and education by inviting your friends!
For more information see https://www.facebook.com/groups/backyardbhakti

Black Forest Cake - No Chocolate No Egg Recipe - Dessert - Iskcon Recipes (video)

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By Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

>When we started our OCHS journey twenty years ago, I was focused on the study of my own Hindu denomination. I thought it time for that tradition to engage in a critical assessment of itself. We should use the apparatus of scholarship to compare its perspectives with those of other world views, and provide a basis for discussion and dialogue in a more public and global context. In the association of wonderful scholars, such as Prof. Keith Ward, Peggy Morgan, and Prof. Richard Gombrich, we realized that the field of my focus and its wider context – Hindu Studies per se – remained greatly unexplored. And so the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies was born. After twenty years we now see young scholars, from many Hindu denominations, inspired by the same impulses that motivated our approach. They are opening up fields of study, based on objective research and critical scholarship, with the support of their communities. This is a historic development and is complemented by OCHS scholars who do not share a Hindu practice. Together, these reflections create a holistic and balanced discourse Continue reading "Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies – Annual Report 2019
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By Kaunteya das

Interviewing His Grace Kalakantha Prabhu (ACBSP), the director of ISKCON Gainesville on the approach of Krishna House, a replicable model for attracting youths. Kalakantha Prabhu is going to present a seminar on these topics at the ILS, in Mayapur, February 2020 Continue reading "Krishna House in Gainesville, Florida, an outstanding model for making devotees and caring for them
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[Online Gita key verses course]

Podcast

 

Podcast Summary

 

Video:

The post Gita key verses course 1 – What is the Gita? How is the Gita relevant today? Gita 1.1 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post Is the Gita a later insertion in the Mahabharata? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The devotees in Bali always enjoy kirtan, whether at the temple, on harinama, or at home programs. The TP of Jagannatha Gauranga temple invited me to a program at his new shop in Sanur.

The atmosphere was surcharged with chanting and I also gave a lecture extolling the virtues of the holy name of the Lord. Everyone was happy and at the end there was wonderful prasadam.

Srila Prabhupada’s quarters in Vrindavana prior to his coming to the West
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Been serving for so long but still… not even the aroma of Krishna?
BB Govinda Swami: Sometimes devotees say: “Oh, He has forgotten us. Oh, I’ve been chanting Hare Krishna for five years, so much sincere service I’m doing, but still…. not even the aroma of Krishna. What to speak of seeing Krishna! Has He forgotten us? Is He hard-hearted? Is He indifferent? Why doesn’t he respond? Why doesn’t He reciprocate with us?

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 8 January 2017, Brisbane, Australia, Govinda’s Program Lecture)

The material world is dominated by lust. That is what this world is all about; lust somehow or another in so many varieties and forms. The spiritual domain however, is dominated by love. 

Lust is self-centred; lust is ultimately asking, “What is in it for me?” Love on the hand is giving, love is aiming to please others. So that is spiritual consciousness, pleasing others. That is the essence of the spiritual world. This mantra that we are chanting, it comes directly from the spiritual world. And it is this mantra that leads us to the spiritual world, it lifts us up. At first a little, and then more and gradually fully to the spiritual platform, where we begin to understand that giving is the essence of existence. That is the only way we will be satisfied. And it is at this point that we realise that service to the Supreme Lord is really what our existence is all about. That is the perfection of life. 

The article " From lust to love " was published on KKSBlog.

Chandelier Model of the Universe

Architecture lies where science and spirituality meet. This nexus endures the aesthetic impressions coupled with functional propositions. Our unprecedented chandelier has taken the entire team on a beautiful journey, which has finally arrived at the brink of reality.

Special gratitude to Antardwip Prabhu who has consistently poured his heart, talent, and intelligence into this mind-blowing venture for years.

Click here to see it in your browser or download a copy to your desktop for offline reading.

The post TOVP Architecture Department Report – December, 2019 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

So the conclusion is if Krishna saves, nobody can kill; and if Krishna wants to kill, nobody can save. Therefore our conclusion should be that we should always be under the protection of Krishna. Avasya raknibe Krishna this is saranagati, or surrender. Surrender means, “I am surrendering to Krishna with full faith that He is quite competent to give me protection.” This is called surrender. Continue reading "Krishna’s Presence Ensures Protection
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By Gautam Saha

Every civilized person is familiar with the concept of seva or service. Service can be of different types and of different qualities. At home, every member of the family is serving everyone else. Traditionally, the father traditionally earns for the family and is therefore known as the “breadwinner,” while the mother takes care of the home itself by cooking, cleaning, and creating a comfortable and congenial atmosphere. The children obey their parents and perform basic chores or run minor errands, according to the desires of the parents. Continue reading "The Highest Charity
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By Krishna Dharma Dasa

I remember years ago my sister arguing with my mum and dad. "How can we eat animals? Isn't it cruel?" Don't be silly, she was told; they are meant to be our food. What else is the point of their existence? But the Vedas tell a different story. Like any human, animals are living beings in this world trying to enjoy. Just our bodies differ, but our basic desires are the same. We all want happiness. Sometimes, due to the nature of our desires, we may be obliged to accept an animal body. In fact the word used in the Vedas for meat is mamsa, which means, "you shall be me (if you eat me)." Continue reading "Poor Cows
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Tapana Mishra dasa: The Ministry of Education is undertaking an educational census among the educators and leadership of ISKCON to determine our current scope of activities and future needs of the members. The output of the census would allow us to put forward plans for developing stronger educational systems and programs within ISKCON to cater to such needs of the members.

The cow is integral to the economic, cultural and spiritual well being of Hindus (and all human beings)
HH Krishna Ksetra Swami: I presented a copy of my book ‘Cow Care in Hindu Animal Ethics’ to Dr. Nanditha Krishna, President of the C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation and author of several books, here in Chennai. Dr. Krishna kindly wrote an endorsement for the book, on quite short notice, prior to its publication (included in the book’s front matter):

The TOVP Architecture Department has produced this second inspirational video in an effort to express their profound appreciation for the magnificent project which they are dedicated to, and to celebrate the devotees who work together on this creative and innovative team.

The post A TOVP Architecture and Design Department Video appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

HH Radhanath Swami offered the title deed of the Bhakti Center in Manhattan to Srila Prabhupada (4 min. video)
This happened yesterday (Dec 16, 2019). HH Radhanath Swami offered the title deed of the Bhakti Center in Manhattan, NYC, to Srila Prabhupada and the Deities before he left to fly back to India. See beautiful 3-min video shot by Susan Hu. Powerful Kirtan by Acyuta Gopi and her family!
Thanks to the generous support of our donors and the Bhakti Center’s able management headed by Vira Tansey and Sundarnath prabhu, the Bhakti Center’s mortgage was paid off last week. Onward and upward!

Answer Podcast

The post How can we know if worldly desires come from our heart or our mind – What happens if such desires come while chanting? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Visvambhara das: Some years back Shailesh Vara (MP) received a Gita from Visvambhara some when they met at a service area on the M1 in England. When Boris Johnson recently visited Bhaktivedanta Manor in the UK, Shailesh introduced Visvambhara to him and told him about receiving the Gita, to which Boris responded -- “I want one, too!”

But why are the best things so hard to do?
Monday morning. It’s cold, wet and windy. It’s time to face the world. It’s another day on book distribution! I remember returning from my first day on book distribution and being advised to do the unthinkable – “go and have a cold shower!” What! I’d already been standing in the freezing cold all day! The logic was that a warm shower cleanses your physical body, but a cold shower cleanses your subtle body – all the negative energy that we absorb from a day in the urban jungle is cleansed away by cooling waters. After an intense bout of mental warfare, I did it, and it was actually amazing (but only after it was finished!). I’ve never seen the scientific evidence for it, but you can definitely feel the purifying effect. The same person told me that book distribution was like a cold shower – in fact, he said, progressive life is like a cold shower – the beginning is always the most difficult, but everything works out if you muster up the determination and drive to make the first steps. Building momentum takes bucket loads of energy, but once you’re flowing, it’s effortless.

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An actual pair of shoes worn by Srila Prabhupada that are kept in safe custody in Radha Govinda Mandir (NYC), benedicting HH Radhanath Swami. RGM’s temple President Hansarupa Prabhu is holding them.

Jaya and Vijaya are the celebrated gatekeepers of Vaikuntha, and in most major Vishnu temples their murtis are found guarding the temple entranceway. The TOVP will also have their murtis placed at its entranceway.

Here is a clip we shot in the honor of moving Jaya to his rightful place. This is a very celebratory moment for us, and we are glad to finally see it happen! We will soon commence the painting of this monumental murti with wonderful pastel shades. He will be supported by a wonderful pink sandstone base which will compliment the surrounding embellishments made of sandstone such as the Jaipuri windows and columns. Jaya is looking very grand and majestic at the entrance of the temple.

 

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The post Moving Jaya to His Proper Location appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

By Purushottam Kumar

Material attachment weakens our heart whilst spiritual affection strengthens it. Most of our material desires remain unfulfilled. And if somehow some gets fulfilled then soon we find that it does not give us same pleasure as we had expected and soon we get bored. This is why great minds in the past and holy scriptures have always spoken about the futility of material cravings. Then why to waste our invaluable life running after worldly things? Instead let us take a bold decision, step out from the material mindset and look towards Krishna. Continue reading "Calm the hungry and angry heart
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By Antardwip das

Some people hold that, having been prophesied by scripture, by Lord Chaitanya and by the previous acharyas, if Srila Prabhupada had not spread Krishna Consciousness, some other devotee, or some group of devotees, would have been empowered to do so in Srila Prabhupada's place. In other words, the prophecy to spread Krishna Consciousness around the world relied on empowerment, rather than an empowered individual, for its fulfillment. It is similar to saying that if we were empowered like Hanuman, we could also jump to Lanka. But is empowerment all that is needed? Can anyone by empowerment do any prophesied task as well as anyone else? Continue reading "Who went West – Srila Prabhupada or the Holy Name?
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By Akruranatha dasa

Srila Prabhupada wanted us to set up ISKCON as an almost self-contained, devotional society, with our own schools, farms, economy, and social system. So far we have not completely realized that ambition, though there are some very good schools and options for those who want to live a life of 'full-time' engagement in ISKCON. But we also have large 'outside congregations' of devotee (like myself) who have our own jobs, careers, and community engagements. Continue reading "Spiritual Communism, Organized Religion, Varnasrama-Dharma, and Self-Reliance
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You expect results from your school. So do we. We see results every single day. We see 3-year-olds cutting cucumbers and 5-year-olds doing division. We […]