Harinama in Argentina (Album of photos)
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Harinama in Argentina (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)

Завершение мурти Шри Лакшми Деви
- TOVP.org

Мы очень рады сообщить о завершении мурти Шри Лакшми Деви. Посмотрев фотографии ниже, вы сможете оценить сложность деталей и искусную роспись, которые только усиливают Ее трансцендентную красоту.

Это одно из большого числа мурти полубогов, на которыми сейчас работает наш художественный отдел и которые будут установлены в разных частях храма. В настоящее время мы также занимаемся росписью Господа Шивы. Мы уже нанесли грунтовку и начали прорисовку крупных деталей, таких как одежда и волосы. Другие полубоги также сейчас находятся на стадии покраски.

The post Завершение мурти Шри Лакшми Деви appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

The Completion of the Sri Lakshmi Devi Murti
- TOVP.org

We are very happy to announce the completion of the Sri Lakshmidevi murti. Through the photos you will be able to appreciate the intricate detail of the murti and the delicate painting work that enhances Her transcendental beauty.

This is one of many, many murtis of demigods the art team is working on that will be placed throughout the temple interior. Currently, we are also working on Lord Siva and have already applied the base and begun creating the larger details like his clothes and hair. Other devas are also presently being painted.

The post The Completion of the Sri Lakshmi Devi Murti appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

West Bengal Tourism Presents – Gaura Purnima Festival, ISKCON Mayapur
- TOVP.org

With the help of Sriman Subrata das from ISKCON Mayapur, the West Bengal Department of Tourism recently produced this video documentary of Gaura Purnima at ISKCON Mayapur. With the purpose of expanding the already popular Holy Tirtha of Sridham Mayapur, the birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which is currently visited by over 5 million pilgrims annually, this video will help to bring Mahaprabhu’s message to millions more, especially in lieu of the Grand Opening of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in 2022.

The below article about ISKCON Mayapur appears along with the video by the West Bengal Tourism Department on their Youtube Channel, WBTourism.

ISKCON is an organization founded by Srila Prabhupada, a Bengalee born at Kolkata, who at the age of 69 embarked on this mission of spreading the message of Krishna in foreign countries as per the orders of his spiritual master Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. It follows the Gaudiya Vaishnab Tradition of Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprbhu. As a result of Srila Prabhupada’s endeavor, many foreigners across the globe got acquainted with the Vedic culture and Sanatana dharma. They adopted a Saatvic lifestyle as prescribed in the Vedic scriptures.

Mayapur ISKCON temple at Nabadwip, the birth place of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, is the Head Quarter of ISKCON. It is one of the 20 sacred places most visited in the whole world with almost 5 million visitants/guests around the year!

ISKCON devotees follow a disciplined line of Gaudiya Bhagavata Vaishnavas and are the largest branch of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Vaishnavism means ‘worship of Vishnu’, and Gauda refers to the area where this particular branch of Vaishnavism originated, in the Gauda region of West Bengal. Gaudiya Vaishnavism has had a following in India, especially West Bengal and Odisha, for the past five hundred years. Bhaktivedanta Swami disseminated Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology in the Western world through extensive writings and translations, including the Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana), Chaitanya Charitamrita, and other scriptures. These works are now available in more than seventy languages and serve as the canon of ISKCON. Many are available online.

Krishna is described as the source of all the avatars of God. Thus ISKCON devotees worship Krishna as the highest form of God, svayam bhagavan, and often refer to Him as “the Supreme Personality of Godhead” in writing, which was a phrase coined by Prabhupada in his books on the subject. To devotees, Radha represents Krishna’s divine female counterpart, the original spiritual potency, and the embodiment of divine love. The individual soul is an eternal personal identity which does not ultimately merge into any formless light or void as suggested by the monistic (Advaita) schools of Hinduism. Prabhupada most frequently offers Sanatana-dharma and Varnashrama dharma as more accurate names for the religious system which accepts Vedic authority. It is a monotheistic tradition which has its roots in the theistic Vedanta traditions.

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

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The post West Bengal Tourism Presents – Gaura Purnima Festival, ISKCON Mayapur appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

From sky-diving to distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books
→ Dandavats



From sky-diving to distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Ragalekha Devi dasi: I had a difficult childhood. My twin sister and I were raised without a father, we never saw him. Mother died in early childhood, while we went to school. Since childhood, the Lord has led me through tremendous difficulties, there have been times when there was absolutely nothing to eat.

Politics, Social Organization and Bhagavad-gita
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Video:

Podcast:

 

Podcast Summary:

The post Politics, Social Organization and Bhagavad-gita appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

NASN May 2019 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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By Mayapur Sasi dasa

For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of May 2019. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5 Continue reading "NASN May 2019 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
→ Dandavats"

Tributes for our dearly departed Brahmananda prabhu
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By various devotees

Mahadevi Dasi: Over the last week, I compiled and edited about 30 tributes from our Godbrothers and sisters and those were read yesterday, as not many Prabhupada disciples are here in Vrndavana right now. For the last 20 years serving in Vrndavana, I've had the great pleasure of organizing programs to glorify devotees. How could we leave out Brahmananda prabhu, who was also like a brother and very dear friend to me, as well as Prabhupada's dear son.. Continue reading "Tributes for our dearly departed Brahmananda prabhu
→ Dandavats"

Bhagavatam tenth canto study 69 – 10.12.29-36 – Krishna fulfilled the desire of the gopas to have Agha’s body as a plaything
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 69 – 10.12.29-36 – Krishna fulfilled the desire of the gopas to have Agha’s body as a plaything appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Thursday, June 20th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Gainesville, Florida

I Hardly Walked

I hardly walked.  It's too humid.  To compensate for the loss, I swam 3 kilometres in one of those fabulous springs that the area is known for.  After a lively morning program in Gainesville, one of the members of the facility called "Krishna House," took me to Ichetucknee Springs State Park.  

Now, what is so unique about these springs?  Here's what a brochure tells me: "Springs are amazing natural phenomenon where vast underground caves and caverns form to hold water.  They are the window into the health of our groundwater."

It was in the spring that Jai Chaitanya and I swam in—the Ichetucknee.  How refreshing!  While submerged to the neck, heavy rains came.  As we body-sailed with the traditional forward strokes, the current carried us. Massive fallen trees, we tried to dodge. One such tree became a perfect anchor for me to sit upon during a gayatri mantra break before proceeding on. No alligators live here, but there are turtles galore.

The swim did the trick and spared me from a sweat-bound walk.

In the evening, I was invited for a second visit to "Krishna House," this time to award initiation to Lucy. I spoke on 10.9 from the Gita, and soon after, we gave her the Sanskrit name, "Lalita Gopi.  The ceremony was completed with a great, happy kirtan.  https://www.instagram.com/p/By9KOiFAwP8/?igshid=nuve3u07lx2

Since her younger years, people have teased her with the term "I Love Lucy.”  Perhaps now, it will occasionally be "I Love Lalita."

May the Source be with you!
2 km walking
3 km swimming




Wednesday, June 19th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Alachua, Florida

Speaking of Bears in Gator Country

Now that summer is around the corner, people already have plans for doing some serious summer camping.  At an evening program at the home of Nandini Kishori, there was a sizeable gathering of especially young boys and girls, all of bhakti yoga parents.  I was asked to share stories about my adventurous walks; the most intriguing one was about the grizzly encounter.  There was also the time when a brahmachari and I met up with a black bear, whom, we were not aware, had her cubs nearby.  She was munching on wild strawberries and I guess you could say we happened to be there at the time of her breakfast.  We were imposing on her leisure-time and she let us know about it. She got up on her hind legs looking tall, then she lunged forward on what is called a "bluff charge." We casually and respectfully moved out of her way and went down the trail.

The things that I learned from park authorities on the subject and personal experience with bears are as follows:  1) when you encounter a bear respect it and go backwards in a slow retreat   2) avoid looking at it in the eye   3) never run away as you are inviting the bear to charge   4) to fight off a black bear, strike it in the nose   5) play dead with a grizzly, head down with your hands to the back of your neck   6) carry bear spray and you may avoid #5   7) when walking through bear country make noise, let them know you're coming—or as I do, chant mantras audibly to warn them.

Those are some tips for those planning a wilderness trip of some kind.

May the Source be with you!
2 km


Tuesday, June 18th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Niagara / Toronto

A Mind Reader?

Anytime a monastic guest arrives in Toronto, I feel a happy obligation to take him to the Falls, which is a mere hour and a half away.  Sundarlal, from Mauritius, made it here for the first time, and along with our driver, Nanda, we took a trip on what seemed like the first day of summer this year.  

Starting on foot near white water with its rushing and roaring, Sundarlal, like all newcomers, became amazed by the elemental power.  While we were observing the majesty, a man from Kentucky, also a tourist, came over for a chat.

“Buddhist monks?”

“Actually, Krishna! Hare Krishna!” I clarified.

The outgoing friendly chap, with sun hat and shades, declared he was a mind reader. With a Festival of India card, I gave him, he pressed it to his head and then recited the entire Mantra, found on the card.  “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare Hare….”   https://www.instagram.com/p/By6fVxjgUeu/?igshid=1k6ohk7flkshl

“Magic!” we asserted. “Magic!”

He gave us a boost.

Now, everyone knows my passion for theatre of a transcendental nature.  I rarely see live theatre, although I produce plays with a spiritual content.  Stephen, Balaram, and I have all worked as a team on dramas.  To gain exposure, ideas, inspiration, etc., we booked ourselves tickets for a performance of “The Book of Mormon” at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto.  It was an entertaining experience.  The troupe was tight in their presentation.  The audience of 2300, all stood for a standing ovation. However,  much of the content was somewhat too vulgar for me. It was a learning experience.

May the Source be with you!
3 km




Monday, June 17, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

North York, Ontario

One Party Spoiled

They say two million people attended the big party today at Toronto’s Nathan Philips Square and the parade route along the Lakeshore.  That’s huge.  People were having a good time honouring the champion basketball team, the Raptors.

Unfortunately, there were three or four who came to spoil the party, leaving four people injured in a shooting, and others injured in a stabbing.  Not much is known about the offenders as I write this, but arrests were made.  We’ll hear more, I’m sure.  Just 3.2 kilometres north of the senseless tragedy, is our ashram.  I had every intention of staying away from the congestion even before hearing of the injuries. ( I wish quick recovery for the victims.) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/raptors-parade-stabbing-suspect-images-1.5181040

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/shooting-raptors-rally-1.5180396   

The intent today, or rather, for tonight, was to visit some annual donors for our big (not Raptor big) Festival of Chariots.  That was cancelled out.  Our donors warned us,  “Please don’t come out tonight.  There’s too many shootings.”

The alternative was to go north to Shepherd in North York.  One of our girls, Lila Mayi, pre-arranged for a kirtan in Avondale Park.  Jai and I went via subway.  I was tired. We were late.  The kirtan had begun.  We could hear it.  We dashed over and plopped ourselves down on the grass and joined in.

The response was magnificent.  People came down from the highrises all around , curious about our sound.

What an assortment of demographics!  You have people from China, India, the Middle East, Russia etc. , all living around here as one happy family. It sure felt like that!

May the Source be with you!
5 km



Sunday, June 16th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Hamilton / Mississauga

Devil’s Punch Bowl

Two men fairly fresh from India, two from Canada (actual monks), and a young Ukrainian, hit the Bruce Trail trudging through mud.  The two Indians were enthralled.  “Green, that’s all that can be seen!” reflected one, who also added, “This is very, very, very nice!”  That was Venkat, from Andhra Pradesh.

The second one, Audarya, responded by sharing.  He held up his phone, filmed as he was walking through the green forest and shared a few steps with his wife and mother in India.  

Then there was Alexander from Ukraine.  He’s a pro at trekking the Bruce.  The terrain is not much different here from where he comes from.  

Finally there is Karuna and myself, both Canucks (slang for Canadians), who are passionate about this service, if you will.  Yes, we are doing ourselves a favour physically, and me, mentally.  On a daily basis, I deal with people stuff. It can be draining.  I keep my head above water by doing this walking. The people stuff or taking care of human-community needs has been going on for forty-five years.  The fact that I use walking poles proves my age.

It is Karuna, who is half my age, who is the helpful navigator of all our trips and has a love for this.  

So, we are all guys.  Happy Father’s day!  By birth we are meant to provide and protect Mother Nature.  This was my message to a group of bhakti-yogis in a studio rented space in Mississauga—a group called GEL (Gita Ethics Learning)—after the walk.  Whether you father kids or not, guys have a big responsibility to fulfil always.  By the way, we finished walking at the Devil’s Punch Bowl.  

May the Source be with you!
8 km



Saturday, June 15th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Hey, Walking Monk!

“Hey, Walking Monk!” shouted the soul from the window of his vehicle as I was approaching Bloor Street.  I wasn’t sure in the beginning who the greeter was, so I moved closer.

“Remember me?” he  asked.

Looking closely, I could identify him.  It was Johnny! 

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it has.”

“I’m doing weddings, these days.”

“You mean you’re a priest?”

“No, just a thing.”

“Okay, thing.”

It was nice to see Johnny who had his two young daughters with him, and who joined in with salutations. “Goodbye Walking Monk!”

With my companions, we strolled off to our favourite park, Bellevue Square.  There, we met three young chaps from nearby Woodbridge, who were enroute to a Beat-boxing competition on Queen Street. Unique about this bunch was their familiarity with the science of the Bhagavad-Gita.  One of the chaps chants mantra and has read about bhakti-yoga.  All three knew of Arjuna’s struggle, and how he became enlightened  through Krishna’s words about dharma.  

“A sense of duty,” remarked the one fellow of oriental origin.  The other two, of Italian descent, were also thoroughly enjoying the conversation.  Spiritual talk is what it was all about.  It’s rare to find a group of guys, like these ones, talking also about the yuga-dharma, sharing sacred sound.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BywFiePAt2d/?igshid=1pq2nyn2jt2ro

May the Source be with you!
6 km

Friday, June 14, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto / Mississauga

Go For Compliance

A very nice monk from Mauritius, Sundarlal, has been with me for a few days now, and we introduced him to our city’s little treasure place for kirtan.  Kensington Market is the place where we sat along with Dwarkanath, who is a sitar extraordinaire musician.  But before we laid out our mat for sitting on Bellevue Park’s grass, a neighbourhood lady from across the street approached us and mentioned we were very loud two days ago.  

“I’m seventy-two, and it’s very annoying,” she said in reference to Ananda’s boisterous but jolly djembe beats.  She was quite sweet about it and suggested we move to the side of the park away from the residences, and closer to the businesses.  I apologized and our chanting group complied.  It was worth the adjustment.  People who were strolling by gave nods of appreciation, especially a young oriental couple from Montreal.  They were transfixed by our presentation and went away with our complimentary cookbook.  But before they wandered off, they digested the contents of that book, The Higher Taste, just standing there, flipping the pages, sharing in the reading, the pictures, and so forth.  
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bys_24AA3r4/?igshid=7ohxzjtgzqx4

As usual, Karuna and I walked back to the ashram, never sticking to the same trail, but always exploring new streets, and remarkably surprised by some green space not formerly known to us.  

A subway ride to the western-most reaches of the train line brought us to Kipling Station for a night time discussion on the Gita, Chapter Six, on meditational yoga.  Dharma and Manasi Ganga were our hosts. Thank you for the lasagna! Yummy! 

May the Source be with you!
4 km


HG Gunanarnava Prabhu ACBSP about to have an open heart surgery
→ Dandavats

Vishalini Devi dasi: Hare Krsna Prabhus and Maharaj's - Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Our godbrother, my husband, Gunarnava Das Acbsp is about to have open heart surgery. He was admitted to hospital in Brisbane, Australia last week, when all surgeries got cancelled due to an emergency heart & lung transplant. He is being readmitted Thursday for proposed surgery Friday IF there is not another medical emergency (his op requires a specialist team of 12). Nothing is any more powerful than the prayers of the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord. May I humbly ask you to join me in praying that his surgery successfully happens this Friday? Krsna has sent "Dr Prabhu" as the surgeon to take care of his precious heart...which yearns to offer more service

TOVP: The tourist government department of Bengal releases a promo video for Iskcon Mayapur’s projects
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TOVP: The tourist government department of Bengal releases a promo video for Iskcon Mayapur’s projects.
Sadbhuja Das: Hare Krishna everyone!
This is a very nice video which was shot for the tourist government department of Bengal. I believe is a great way of preaching and advertising our vast project. Please have a look and share with others!

Divine blessings
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 April 2019, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 9.15.31)

The German writer Goethe, who is like the German equivalent of Shakespeare, came up with an interesting point.

He said that a child is a realist because a child is trying to understand what are apples and what are pears; a child tries to figure out the difference. He tries to understand what is reality.

A youth is an idealist – a dreamer of what he is going to make of his life. He said that in mid-life, one becomes a bit of a cynic. The person goes, “But yeah, yeah, yeah. I have seen it. These dreams … I know very well what happens.”

Goethe then said that in old age, one becomes a mystic. This is because in old age, you can see that even the people that have all the qualifications, all of them that should logically become a success, they are not becoming a success. Meanwhile, the people that have no attributes at all for becoming a success, they became the successful. This is when you become a mystic and realize that there is a divine hand in the entire arrangement and if you do not have the divine blessings, no plan can be successful. It is not possible then; nothing will work without these divine blessings.

The article " Divine blessings " was published on KKSBlog.

The joy of Narada muni’s agitating Kamsa (video)
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The joy of Narada muni’s agitating Kamsa (video)
A lecture by HH Devamrita Swami Maharaj at Journey of Self Discovery (JOSD) Wellington, New Zealand.
An insightful, thought-provoking and humorous session by HH Devamrita Swami Maharaj given at Journey of Self Discovery (JOSD) Wellington New Zealand on 21 June 2019.
Maharaj also distributed 4 sets of Srimad Bhagavatam and 3 sets of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam.

Sustainability in Bhakti for the Long Haul of a Lifetime of Service
→ Dandavats

Karnamrita Das: I have thought and written much about what it takes to stay the course in bhakti for our whole life, as well as to how not to settle into a comfortable religious life not intensely focused on making spiritual advancement. They are related subjects though usually spoken of separately. I am primarily thinking about what kind of unique guidance should be provided to devotees of different ages, needs, and personality types.

Madhusudan Memories of Brahmananda prabhu
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Madhusudan Memories of Brahmananda prabhu. At 18 years old, around the time I met Brahmananda, the first president of an ISKCON temple in early 1967, I was still suffering from the effects of delusion resulting from so-called “consciousness-expanding drugs.” Wandering the streets late one night I knocked on the door of the temple when everyone was sleeping. Brahmananda, in his sober wisdom and seeing my state, would not let me in. A month or so later, after recovering a bit, I stated going regularly to the temple.

Vakresvara Pandit Appearance
→ Ramai Swami

In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā it is stated that Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was an incarnation of Aniruddha, one of the quadruple expansions of Viṣṇu (Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Aniruddha and Pradyumna). 

He could dance wonderfully for seventy-two continuous hours. When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu played in dramatic performances in the house of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was one of the chief dancers, and he danced continuously for that length of time. 

Śrī Govinda dāsa, an Oriyā devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, has described the life of Vakreśvara Paṇḍita in his book Gaura-kṛṣṇodaya. There are many disciples of Vakreśvara Paṇḍita in Orissa, and they are known as Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas although they are Oriyās. 

If someone hurts us repeatedly, is that because of our past karma?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

Transcription

Question: If someone hurts us repeatedly, is that because of our past karma?

Answer: A lot depends on specifics, but I will give some broad principles.
There is a love that guards and there is a love that guides. That means that love is the same, but if a small child, maybe two or three years old, goes and, while playing with a ball, breaks the neighbour’s window, the parents will say it’s okay, do not worry about it, we will pay for it. Now, if a child does something wrong, the parents stand next to the child and guard the child from the results. But if a teenager or adult child does something like that, then at that time, it is the love that has to guide. If the parents keep guarding the child from the consequences of their actions, then what happens? The child keeps doing the wrong thing. Guarding children from the consequences of their actions in the name of love is actually a disservice to them.

I was in Connecticut, I had gone to a seminar on spirituality and mental health and addictions. A whole group of addicts and their family members were there. There was one man who was a little older, 65 to 70 years, and there was a girl with him who was five years old. After the class, I was talking with them. They were both Americans. He told me that she is his granddaughter. He said that his daughter had become a drug addict and she was taking more and more drugs. She would borrow money from me and never return. Then I retired and one day she broke into my house and stole all of my life savings. Not only that, while she went to get a big haul of drugs, she left her daughter in her home alone and there’s some kind of electrical wiring which went off, and there was a fire. I had to run and save her at that time. When both of these incidents happened in quick succession, till then I was trying to help her. But then I did a court case against her due to which she had to go to a de-addiction center. Then I filed for custody of my granddaughter. At that time my daughter was very angry with me. She said what kind of father are you? You are taking my own daughter away from me and sending me to jail. She is still in the addiction centre getting treatment. She is gradually becoming a little sober. She is understanding that what I did for her was good. Even after she comes out, she’s not going to get her daughter back. My granddaughter is going to be with me.

That is an extreme example. But in general, if somebody is an addict, bot only they are to be counselled, but often their family members also have to be counselled. There is a concept called codependency. Codependency means that the addict’s care providers unwittingly start facilitating the addict’s addiction. So the addict may get drunk or go high. And after every episode, their significant other picks up all the pieces. If they keep doing that, that person is not hit by the consequences of their actions, then they keep doing it more and more and more.

Sometimes letting people suffer the consequences of their actions is love. It’s painful because there is no easy way. We don’t want them to hurt, but we don’t want us to also get hurt. These are decisions that have to be taken very carefully. As I said, a lot will depend on the specifics. But the principle is that if that particular suffering which we are getting is because of that person’s misuse of free will, then at the very least we should stop giving them power over us. If an addict is squandering all the money of a family member and this family member calls this to be due to his karma. Well, it’s not karma, that’s irresponsibility. It requires courage to take a stand.

Everybody commits mistakes and we cannot come thundering down on people for one or two mistakes. However, if something is being done repeatedly to worse and worse degrees, then at the very least we have to create some distance. Specifically how we do that will vary.

Sometimes the situation might be different. If somebody is autistic or has some other mental developmental issues because of which they are aggressive and hurt others, we understand they are not consciously doing it, then it’s a different dynamic. Therefore, we should check the specifics.

Broadly speaking, we have to look at things from the perspective of what is the best for that person, but what is also the best for us. If we are drowning ourselves in trying to help them, then they will drown and we will also drown. It is not selfish to think of our basic survival needs. That is intelligence.

Beyond that, if you are thinking only of ourselves, then that is a problem. It is like say in aeroplanes it is said that whenever there is an emergency, first put the mask on yourself, then put it on your children. Why? Because if we try to put it on the children first, we might not be able to reach them. Before that, we might succumb and they may not be able to put it on their own. So, there are times when our very life is itself becoming unbearable due to other’s repeated misdoings, then some appropriate action is required.

End of transcription.

Bhagavatam tenth canto study 68 – 10.12.18-28 – Our perceptions are shaped by our conceptions
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 68 – 10.12.18-28 – Our perceptions are shaped by our conceptions appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Kirtan in Carpinteria on Sunday
Giriraj Swami

We will be having kirtan at my ashram in Carpinteria with Madhava, Radhika, Vrindavan Kirtan, and others on Sunday, June 23, at 5 p.m., followed by prasada. Please join us in person—otherwise the kirtan will be live streamed on Madhava Naidoo’s and my Facebook pages.

Thank you very much.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Hare Krishna Temples: New Mayapur, France
→ ISKCON News

The temple of New Mayapur is situated near the Loire Valley in Central France. Srila Prabhupada, the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, visited the castle several times in the mid-seventies and installed the deities of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Sri Sri Krishna Balarama. In this video local devotees speak about the history of the community and its various departments. A video by Vrishabhanu Das.