A world record for “Largest Addiction Awareness Festival” was awarded in the event by World Book of Records, London, to Gopal Krishna Goswami, ISKCON GBC, in presence of Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Unioun Health Minister. 

She distributed a set to her Vartma Guru!
Shastrakrit Das: Baylee bought a set from me last Sunday and this Sunday she brought...

Lord Krishna can be served in any situation!
Srila Prabhupada: Hearing the vibration of Hare Krishna automatically reminds one of Krishna’s pastimes. Both of them arise simultaneously in the mind when one is sincerely chanting. You cannot make any distinction between listening to the sound and thinking of the pastimes. But the process is to hear, and then Krishna’s pastimes, form, qualities, etc. will automatically come to mind. That is very nice. Letter to Satsvarupa, April 10, 1969

Love is Greater than God!
“I’m the God of love, I only want my devotees to love me. I don’t want service that is not offered out of love.”
HH Sacinandana Swami: Have you ever thought about the significance of the Damodara-lila?

27th September to 3rd of October the Conference was carried out in West Siberia, near the city with an almost Vedic name – Omsk. This city has a temple of Sri Sri Radha Govinda – the only temple in Russia with Radha Govinda Deities. The Conference proper was carried out in two venues, 30 km away from Omsk – the “Five Truths” family house and the “Planet of Cows” eco-farm. Continue reading "First Russian ISKCON Farm Conference
→ Dandavats"

Visit to Vrinda-kund (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday our parikrama party visited Vrinda-kund. There we had darshan of Vrinda Devi’s Deity form and the sacred lake in which she bathes. Bada Haridas prabhu gave a beautiful class and bhajan. Devotees were very happy in the spiritual atmosphere of that most sacred place, as can easily be seen on their faces here in the photos!

If you are not chanting 16 rounds, however..." and He stopped for a moment and opened His lotus eyes very wide, moving His hand back and forth in front of His face, and He continued... "then your whereabouts are unknown!"

[Talk at Irvine, California, USA]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Damodarashtakam 3 – The unique loveliness of the Krishna conception of God appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Talk at Irvine, California, USA]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Gita’s key to happiness appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Transcription :

Transcriber: Sharan Shetty

Edited by: Keshavgopal Das

Question: If our faith is attacked internally or externally, what should we do?

Answer: The approaches are different for both. Internal doubts can be dealt by going to devotees who know that subject. We have to learn which kind of devotee can address which kind of doubts. If we are analytical then we need the association of someone who is analytical. If we are culturally oriented, then we need the association of someone culturally oriented. Basically, we need spiritual guides and mentors who understand our mind and then help us.

Understanding someone’s mind means to step into the shoes of the seeker and understand the problem from seeker’s perspective otherwise situation will not improve. Generic advises like – why you think so much, just chant Hare Krishna – may not resolve the issue the seeker is struggling with.

Srila Rupa Goswami also emphasized like-minded association, therefore we need devotees who will understand and not judge us for our doubts. Some doubts have to be kept in seclusion where we withhold our judgement. Sometimes we doubt our beliefs and believe our doubts, but it is also important that we doubt our doubts.

There are two kinds of doubts – (i) head doubts (ii) heart doubts. Head doubts are more intellectual. For example, Srimad Bhagavatam describes the length of the Meru mountain as beyond sensory perception. Historians may doubt how can something be so big. In the first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, the path by which Lord Krishna came from Hastinapura to Dwarka is described. Srila Prabhupada says that some historians may try to retrace the path by which Krishna came but the surface of the Earth keeps changing and tracing Krishna’s path may be quite difficult. Therefore, devotees are simply satisfied that Krishna has returned to Dwarka to perform pastimes with his devotees. Srimad Bhagavatam is not a book of geography. It has some geographical knowledge but that it is not the specific purpose of the book. Such details are not to be given lot of emphasis. We study scriptures to pursue the purpose that was pursued by the original students of the scriptures. Head doubts are about facts and figures, which are important, but we study scriptures to remember Krishna and to increase our devotion for Krishna.

Heart doubts need to be addressed whereas head doubts can be kept in suspension. If people ask questions then we need to see what kind of people they are. If they are asking genuine questions, then we should answer them, but if people simply criticise everything out of habit it is better to keep a safe distance from them. One of the keys in having healthy relationships is – do not overvalue people who devalue you. If someone devalues our faith, then do not overvalue their ideas. We should rather value those who value us.

End of transcription.

The post If our faith is attacked internally or externally, what should we do? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Vraja Mandal parikrama - day 7 (Album of photos)
Katha by: H.H Radha Raman Swami Maharaj.
Now we are at the banks of sacred Govind Kunda

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in a lecture at Radha-kunda on 16th October, 1932 said: “I have taken bath in Radha-kunda ,” “I took a dip in Radha-kunda ,” “I am a lump of flesh and blood,” “I am my wife’s maintainer,” “I am a sannyasi,” “I am a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, or sudra” – thinking in any of these ways disqualifies one to bathe in Radha-kunda . What to speak of such materialistic conceptions, if we are filled with the attitude of awe and reverence we also cannot bathe in Radha-kunda . We have to tread the path of Sri Radha’s maidservants without imitating them. Continue reading "Sharing Radha-kunda Secrets
→ Dandavats"

Don’t Buy the Big Tube!
HG Vaisesika prabhu: I met a pathologist recently who works with cancer patients. She explained to me that there is a certain kind of pancreatic cancer that is most deadly and that one who contracts it can survive only a few months, at the most.

[Talk at San Diego, USA]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Damodarashtakam 2 How Krishna is the God of love who fulfills our longing for love appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Online introductory course on Bhagavad-gita]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Gita Lite 4 – Chps 9-11 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The post Comparing Ramayana and Mahabharata (3) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Seminar at ISKCON, Seattle, USA]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Comparing Ramayana and Mahabharata 3 – How to see and seek God amid adversities appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Seminar at ISKCON, Seattle, USA]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Comparing Ramayana and Mahabharata 2 – How to process adversities constructively appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Sadhu Sanga 2019 with His Holiness Subhag Swami Maharaj was organized in Ayodhya Dham from 26th September to 1st October 2019. This Sadhu sanga event is organized every year at one of Lord's pastime places with the purpose for the disciples and well-wishers of His Holiness to come together to listen to and associate with their spiritual master and amongst themselves. Continue reading "Sadhu sanga Ayodhya 2019
→ Dandavats"

Answer Podcast

The post Just as people become obsessed with their mundane heroes, can we become obsessed with our spiritual heroes? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Every year the GBC and other leaders meet in Mayapur and in October at another location in India or sometimes overseas. This year the meeting was held at ISKCON Tirupati.

Generally, at the midterm, the focus is on strategic planning and organisational development. There are a few days set aside for specific topics that need in depth discussion, such as, second generation gurus and vaisnavi diksa gurus.

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura disappearance day in Vrindavana (Album of photos)
October 19th 2019

This video is the first in a series of four entitled, “Char Dham Parikrama”. In this segment, “Yamunotri”, we visit close to the source of the holy Yamuna river. With our eyes we see her sacred waters and with our ears we hear how she descended from the spiritual world. A special feature is beautiful footage the Himalayan mountains. A video by Ananta Vrindavan.

Jagai Nitai Das, an active member of the Laguna Beach temple, organized the Jagannath Temple Tent this year at Bhakti Fest, which ran from September 25^th to 30^th at Twenty-Nine Palms near Joshua Tree in California.

Radhesyam, The Humble Vaisnava Shoeman.
HG Srutakirti Prabhu: Radhesyam has been keeping our shoes safe at the Krishna Balaram Mandir for over a decade. He remembers just about everyone and their footwear.

The annual meeting of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (Global) took place from 18–21 June 2019 in Sardinia, Italy. BBT members agreed to work cooperatively toward recruiting and training new, young devotees in publishing and other BBT-related skills through internships, professional seminars, and by offering service engagements. BBT division heads will report their efforts and progress in this initiative to the BBT Executive Manager’s office every December. Continue reading "Notes and Directives from the 2019 annual meeting of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (Global)
→ Dandavats"

[Bhagavatam class on 4.19.37 at ISKCON, San Diego, USA]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post How the infinite manifests in the finite – Various religious conceptions appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Seminar at ISKCON, Seattle, USA]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Comparing Ramayana and Mahabharata 1 – What caused the exiles appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post What can we do to protect ourselves from ever sinking to the level of being strengthless and faithless? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Bhagavatam class on 4.19.38 at ISKCON, San Diego, USA]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Rise above the ego’s need to be right by focusing on devotional purpose appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.

A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.

A video by Mayapur.Tv

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!