Over 1,000 people new to mantra culture are expected to attend Mantra Fest in Moscow, Russia on September 1^st at the Green Concert Club.

Indian PM Shri Narendra Modi sent birthday wishes for HH Gopal Krishna Goswami.
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It is my privilege to extend my best wishes to Shri Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja on the auspicious and joyous occasion of his 75 birthday.

The main cake featured the name “Prabhupada” cut into individual letters. These were surrounded by twenty-six small cakes, each with one of his qualities artfully inscribed upon it.

The first Janmastami festival organized by the new ISKCON management at Brooklyn’s Radha Govinda Mandir focused on improving the pilgrim experience to create lasting positive impressions for devotees and visitors alike. 

It was wonderful to visit the Seattle temple again. As always, Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Nila Madhava, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sita, Rama, Laksman, Hanuman were as beautiful as ever.

The devotees told me that the Krsna Janmastami festival was the biggest ever with around 20,000 people attending over two days. Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasapuja was also blissful and for part of the celebration they took his murti on a palanquin circumambulating the temple.

In July, the two main UK temples, Bhaktivedanta Manor and London-Soho, had a great month. They had a summer marathon (see att. image) as they celebrate fifty years of Hare Krishna culture in the UK this year. The Manor did 6,154 book points, a 234% increase, and London did 5,297 book points, a 116% increase. These results made them the two top temples in Europe. These two temples have a special place in Srila Prabhupada’s heart. Sri Sri Radha—London-Isvara were transcendentally kidnapped by Srila Prabhupada, and Bhaktivedanta Manor was the last temple in the West he visited. Many book distributors from Europe went to visit him at that time and were glad they did, because for most it was the last time they saw him. Continue reading "WSN July 2019 – World Sankirtan Newsletter – Manor: 234% increase, London :116% increase!
→ Dandavats"

Durban Krishna News!
The Greening of Govinda’s!
No plastic bags & no plastic straws at Govinda’s!
Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple takes a small step in our bid to reduce single-use plastic. Another great reason to shop at Govinda’s Restaurant!

123rd Vyasa Puja celebration of Srila Prabhupada at
Iskcon Juhu Temple (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “For one who wants liberation from the fruitive reactions of material activities, the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, or glorification of the name, fame and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting eradicates the dirt from one’s heart completely.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.12)

In this video,HH Jayapataka Swami recalls on Srila Prabhupada’s pastimes at his room at Lotus building. This is where Srila Prabhupada translated books, waking up late at night.   Srila Prabhupada Nectar – Sri Mayapur Meditation Srila Prabhupada Nectar – Sri Mayapur Meditation by His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. Posted by Jayapataka Swami on Saturday, […]

The post Srila Prabhupada quarters at Lotus building Video! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Answer Podcast

The post Why does God give some people an evil mind? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Alachua, Florida-Jahnavi Haggard, former Executive Director of Children of Krishna, a non-profit organization formed in 1996 to support second generation Krishna youth with grants for education and counseling, passed away on Saturday, August 9th, at the age of 36. She died at her home in Alachua, Florida, from a heart attack resulting from complications of her life-long struggle with diabetes.

The love of Kubja, the Queens and the gopis - Zoom conference of HH Sivarama Swami with English speakers (video)
HH Sivarama S...

Srila Prabhupada to Brahmananda: Your mother was very angry upon us. [laughter] You know that? When she came to see me, I told, “Mrs. Bruce, can you give me some money?” [laughing] [imitating angry woman’s voice:] “I have given you two sons!” [laughter] She was very angry. “Still you want money?” [laughter] And “That’s all right.”

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“Communication is the key to healthy relationships.” If we are truly serious about someone’s presence in our lives, then no matter how challenging, we will make an endeavor to contribute all we can and more to share our grievances and good news with them. Spirituality is a key contributing factor to our sense of self. Regarding matters of faith, ancient Vedic texts speak of vandanam or prayer as a means of communication with the Lord.

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Some people are chronic complainers who justify their negativity, irritability and disagreeability self-righteously, “Can’t you see how many things have gone wrong in my life? What else do you expect from me?”

Srimati Raharani appeared in Raval and later moved to Varsana when she was a young girl. The beautiful pastoral setting in Raval was a perfect place for a parikrama party to hear and meditate on the transcendental pastimes that took place there 5,000 years ago. A video by Indradyumna Swami.

By Tarana and Friends. 

In the U.S., SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, which has SeaWorld parks in California, Florida and Texas, announced in 2016 that it would stop breeding captive killer whales and shift its focus to marine mammal rescue operations.

If we had a rand for every time we felt discouraged and aimless in our spheres of livelihood, we would probably be well-off by now and ready to take early retirement. Srila Prabhupada explains that everyone has a prescribed duty according to the four social dispositions; namely the priestly, warriors, merchants, and labourers. Those who properly perform their prescribed duties as an offering to God “live peacefully and are not disturbed by material conditions.” Thus they achieve the highest perfection of life. To see the truth behind this precept we learn from a scene in the life of the great vulture king, Jatayu.

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Nestled in beautiful and tranquil New Goloka Dham, Hillsborough, North Carolina, USA, home of Sri-Sri Radha Golokananda, the BKG Academy is a homeschooling co-operative, which has continually provided holistic and individualized education to its students. For more information please contact campakaf@gmail.com or lilasaktidd@gmail.com.

Vaisnava seva was released in 2000 and it was the first ever studio album by Kadamba Kanana Swami. It proved to be a classic, as it is still the long time favorite of many! To date, it has only been available as a digital album but now…

We are proud to present the re-release of Vaisnava seva on CD with new artwork (by Sandhini) and with all the favorite tracks of yore! Let yourself be blown away by Nrsimha pranama with a rocking electric guitar on track 11 and relish the upbeat Mahamantra on track 10. Check out this album to sooth your ears.

Dear Vaisnavas,
I made this CD on the request of many devotees, I am offering it to you and hope you will find it to be inspiring.

Vaisnava seva –
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, it is said that by Vaisnava Seva one may develop a taste for devotional service.

The new Vaisnava seva CD is now available in the shop.

The article " Vaisnava seva on CD " was published on KKSBlog.

Janmastami 2019 original theatrical play by kids in the Hare Krishna temple of Melbourne (8 min. video)

BKG Academy is Now in its 5th Year!
Nestled in beautiful and tranquil New Goloka Dham, Hillsborough, North Carolina, home of Sri-Sri Radha Golokananda, the BKG Academy is a homeschooling co-operative which has continually provided holistic and individualized education to its students.

Today I heard a lively argument between Srila Prabhupada and Dr. Patel on a morning walk on Juhu Beach, February 23, 1974. Srila Prabhupada was criticizing so-called gurus who are actually Mayavadis and say, “I am God. Let me now have rasa dance. Send your children. Send your wife, send your daughter. We’ll dance.” “These are all rascals,” Prabhupada said. “Mayavadis. Mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa. This is the statement of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. As soon as one hears the statements of Mayavadis, he’s doomed; he’s finished.”

Dr. Patel objected: “You have been bracketing so many good people like that, with the bad, and I feel strongly—”

“Where is good people?” Prabhupada exclaimed. “Where is good people? All rascals! Let them come. Let them come. Yes! I shall kick on their face! I am so strong. Where is good man?”

“You see—”

“I have already kicked that . . . What is that?”

“Bala Yogi,” Tamal Krishna answered.

“Yes. He’s a dog. I said in a public meeting. So, we have got some discrimination. This is our only point: If anybody is a Mayavadi, he’s a dog. Kick him on his face—that’s all.”

“What do you mean by Mayavadi?” Dr. Patel asked.

“Mayavadi means who thinks that Krishna is different from His body. That is Mayavadi. They think that Krishna comes with a ‘maya body.’ Therefore they are Mayavadis.”

Dr. Patel began to eulogize some Mayavadis, and Prabhupada pointed out their defects.

“You are a guru,” Dr. Patel said. “so I don’t want to contradict you. I am going.”

“Then you have got some selection of your own.”

“I have no selection.”

“I have to tell the truth. You may like or not like, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. I have to say the truth. I am saying all over the world.”

I felt grateful to Srila Prabhupada that he spoke the truth all over the world, wherever he was, and thus saved us from being misled by so-called gurus and others who did not know or speak the truth. He was so strong.

—Giriraj Swami

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 06/16/2019

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes cow protection, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON New Vrindaban’s Founder-Acharya.

Participating Directors: Anuttama (partial attendance), Chaitanya Mangala, Jamuna Jivani (board secretary), Makara (chair), Olivia (partial attendance), Ranaka, and Vraja.

Participating Advisors: Kripamaya

1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report

Lalita Gopi (Temple Barn)

• There are eight cows giving milk: Surabhi, Lakshmi, Jaya Radhe, Parijata, Cintamani, Anjali, Usha, and Subhadra
• There are four calves: Prahlada, Satyabhama, Puspavati, and Jai Sri
• The cows are producing 25 gal of milk daily.
• Anandavidya is making 30 lb of butter and 30 lb of yogurt weekly.
• Parijata delivered a bull calf named Prahlada on May 18 during mangala arati. He initially suffered with stiff tendons in his front legs which kept him from balancing and bending low enough to drink from his mother. Bhaktin Brooke massaged his legs and within 13 days he was able to use his legs and drink properly. Also, Dr. Mores visited to check on him.
• Balaram has been weed-whacking and power-washing the fence.
• Lalita is slowly painting the fence and will continue to make repairs.
• A little pool was purchased for the new ducks which were dropped off at the barn.
• A new vacuum pump, capable of running three bucket milkers at once, was purchased and installed. A second bucket milker was refurbished and put back into service, we are now milking with two buckets at a time.
• Nila Govinda, Venkata, Nikunja Vilasini, Gopika and several bhaktins have been hand milking on occasion.

Ray: General Farmhand

• Repaired the Temple Barn roof
• Cleaned up and hauled four loads (20,240 lb) of scrap metal from around the new high tunnel area to the recycling center in Benwood.
• Completed clean-up of the high tunnels site.
• Worked with John Blakemore to install 100’ of drainage between both high tunnels
• Rotovated high tunnel site at Vidya’s.
• Cut, baled, and stacked 48 round bales of hay in the barn with the assistance of Joshua Rama and Caitanya Bhagavat.
• Installed a new vacuum pump and vacuum line upgrades at the Temple Barn
• Made repairs to Community Garden irrigation system.
• Brush-cut the rose bushes in the Bahulaban pasture and grass-cutting on various devotee residences.
• Cultivated potatoes.

Caitanya Bhagavat (Nandagram and Bahulaban)

• Daily cow counts
• Checking all fence lines
• Mowing and weed-whacking at Nandagram and the Valley Barn.
• Helped Vidya to prepare for her high tunnel greenhouse.
• Started a new locust post fence line at the Temple Barn.
• Assisting in hay making operation by moving bales from field and stacking in the Valley Barn.

Suchandra
Teaching Garden:

• hand-tilled the beds with the help of Sara, Ryan, Suchandra, Shyama, and volunteers
• laid ground cover with Sara and Ryan
• Shyama planted all pots
• weeded the lily beds and other areas with Shyama and Sara
• planted dahlias, marigolds, zinnias, globes, and other flowers with the help of some volunteers
• planted green beans and put cages around them with Sara, Shyama, and volunteers
• caged tomatoes and vining green beans with Ryan

Community Garden:

• put a fence up around the beds and secured areas of large fence with Ryan
• laid ground cover with Sara and Ryan
• planted tomatoes, green beans, green peppers, hot peppers, and big marigolds with Shyama, Sara, and volunteers
• Ryan mowed and weed-whacked

Vidya (Vidya’s Garden)

• Prepared the high tunnel site. The area is ready for Yoder’s to put up the structure.
• Angie has harvested and delivered to the temple:
• 39 pounds of asparagus
• one bushel of lettuce
• 2 bushels of kale
• 159 peony flowers
• 160 marigold flowers
• 8 lily flowers
• Angie caged 120 tomato plants
• The lily patch has been weeded along with much of the vegetables
• Started the second planting of marigolds and sunflowers
• Potted tube roses to plant in the high tunnels for fall production,
• Potted carnations plants to put in high tunnel

Lila (Nandagram Garden)

• Planted 70 tomatoes and 30 hot peppers.
• Seeded lettuce, peas, beets, cucumber, carrots, bush and pole beans, summer and winter squash, watermelon, kale, and arugula.
• Weeded, watered, cultivated, fertilized, mulched, and weed-whacked

Ranaka: General Manager

• Researched and ordered a new vacuum pump for temple barn, making it possible to milk two cows simultaneously.
• Has been working with John Blakemore to lay out high tunnel placement and drainage.
• Yoder’s began construction of two – 30’ x 96’ high tunnels on June 12. They estimate it will take five more work days to finish.
• Met twice with Kalakantha prabhu during his recent visit to NV. We discussed the organization of the October farm conference along with various farm projects around the globe.
• With the birth of Prahlada, the total herd count stands at 64.

2. Allegra as Advisor

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to maintain a team of advisors.

RESOLVED: The Board designates Allegra Wiprud to the position of advisor through the end of 2019.

3. Prabhupada’s Palace Restoration Funding Request

WHEREAS: ECO-Vrindaban wishes to help renovate Srila Prabhupada’a preeminent samadhi in North America.

RESOLVED: The ECO-V board authorizes a grant up to $300K to ISKCON New Vrindaban for Prabhupada’s Palace roof restoration.

There are three terms the ECO-V Board highlight as part of this grant/loan:

1. ECO-V encourages incorporating more of Srila Prabhupada’s vision for New Vrindaban into the experience guests receive at Prabhupada’s Palace, including increased emphasis on the cow protection and local agriculture aspects of his mission.
2. In the near future, ECO-V would like to see a sustainability plan created for the long-term maintenance and viability of Prabhupada’s Palace.
3. For its records, ECO-V requests documentation on how the funds are spent on the Palace Roof Restoration Project.

To reach the previously requested $500K, up to $200K can be provided as a loan from ECO-V to INV, with loan details to be decided at a later date.

Answer Podcast

The post What is the scriptural view on political correctness? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Zack Richards and Chaitanya Mishra received first initiation and the names Vraja Mohana Dasa and Chaitanya Priya Dasi, and the sisters Priti Radhika Dasi and Priya Gopika Dasi were awarded second initiation.

Audio
Initiation Ceremony talk (Right click to download)

BB Govinda Swami: I can still cook! (Album of photos)
Hare Krishna .. Good News .. I can still do it !!
Yesterday for Srila Prabhupada I prepared 1,000 boondi ladu that were “as good as ever” and 100 kg of bhaigun bharta that was really delicious.
Folks ..I guess I can still cook.
A late “Happy Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja to All.”
>

Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day 2019 at ISKCON-London (Album of photos)
Please find below photos from Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day 2019 at the ISKCON-London Radha Krishna Temple.

[Talk at Radha Krishna Mandir, Cambridge, Canada]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post How devotion and dedication can transform our life into an adventure appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post Most of my fears don’t actualize, but some do – how can we be prepared without becoming fearful? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Toronto, Canada]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Negative and positive thinking in spiritual life appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Gold Coast Bhakti Centre Janmastami (Album of photos)
This year Bhakti Centre Gold Coast presented two Janmastamis. One at the Bhakti Centre in Surfers Paradise and one at the Arts Centre Pimpama, a northern suburb of the Gold Coast.
Over 600 guests attended the festivities over the two days. Special guests for the festivities were senior Prabhupad disciples HG Bhagavat Ashraya and HG Sarva Mangala Prabhus. There was ecstatic kirtan performed by Bhagavat Dey from Bombay and the local kirtaneers, Krishna Leela dance performances, abisheka of Sri Sri Radha Giridhari, distribution of maha prasadam and offerings of flowers to Srila Prabhupad. The Bhakti Centre Gold Coast community requests all the Vaisnavas to give their blessings so we can continue to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

Dhama Seva at New Mayapura, France, August 14 by the devotee youth of the Europe Bus Tour 2019 (Album of photos)
Find them he...

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 3 October 2018, Camp de Masque, Mauritius, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1)

We see that the residents of Vrndavana may forget Krsna’s divine nature, but they never forget Krsna Himself. And that is the thing, we should always remember Krsna. So whether we come together with many and sit in a pandala and discuss how Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or whether we are alone. There is no difference, because in reality, we are never alone. We are always with Krsna. In this way we realise that loneliness is actually maya. Loneliness is illusion. When we are feeling lonely, we are in illusion, because we are not understanding that Krsna is always with us at every moment.

The article " Loneliness is Maya " was published on KKSBlog.

My Initiation.
On August 15, 1968, in Montreal, I was initiated at the age of 16-an unqualified person meeting such a great and unprecedented saint as Srila Prabhupada. At the same time, the six pioneers from San Francisco, on their way to London received their Gayatri mantra, or second initiation.

Photos from Sri Krishna Janmashtami 2019 at ISKCON-London.
Srila Prabhupada: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Though the hearts of the gopis are like high-standing hills, they are inundated by the waves of the nectarean ocean of Krsna’s beauty. His sweet voice enters their ears and gives them transcendental bliss, the touch of His body is cooler than millions and millions of moons together, and the nectar of His bodily fragrance overfloods the entire world. O My dear friend, that Krsna, who is the son of Nanda Maharaja and whose lips are exactly like nectar, is attracting My five senses by force.” PURPORT This verse is found in the Govinda-lilamrta (8.3), by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja. Cc Antya 15.14

First Manado Jagannatha Ratha-yatra, Indonesia (Album of photos)
Thousands of residents crowded the Megamas area of ​​Manado City, North Sulawesi watching the Manado Fiesta 2019. Along the way, the Manado Fiesta route took place lively. Thousands of people poured out to watch the Fisco program. The road that became the route was crowded by people who wanted to see various regional groups from around Indonesia performed their cultures which took part in this year’s Manado Fiesta.