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The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 66 – 10.12.1.12 That the extraordinary appears ordinary is extraordinary appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

В новых четках ощущается легкость и воздушность. Древесина новая, скорее светлая, поверхность шершавая. После воспевания день за днем кажется, что происходят чудесные преобразования. Их вес начинает меняться. Это необъяснимо, но кажется, что они стали тяжелее, будто они каким-то образом наполнились, насытились силой мантры. Их цвет меняется, как будто сама Туласи Деви хочет обрести темный цвет лица ее Шйама. Жесткость нити ослабевает, и ощущение скольжения через  пальцы само по себе становится гипнотическим. Это чувство заставляет меня изо дня в день возвращаться, стремясь раскрыть запредельные тайны Святого Имени. Перебирание сглаживает текстуру, пока наконец бусины не приобретают блеск и сияние, становясь похожими на ряд мини-божеств. Нама-мурти.

 

Напитайте их нектаром Святого Имени, и они начнут изменяться и трансформироваться. Как и мы. Мы снова и снова возвращаемся к нашим четкам и Святому Имени, надеясь обрести покой, надеясь обрести облегчение, надеясь обрести радость и утешение. Все это, как и многое другое – нам доступно.

 

Я с нетерпением жду того дня, когда наполню свои четки достаточным желанием и тоской, чтобы Говинда услышал мои молитвы и открыл двери в Свое царство Любви.

 

Гурудев наставлял нас: не уморите свои четки голодом. Этот образ остается со мной. Образ мешочка с заброшенными бусинками джапы, оставшимися нетронутыми, оставленными без ежедневного приношения любви и шепота грез, проникающих в каждую бусину – всякий день, когда мы готовимся воспевать, и неважно, насколько долго… Этот образ буквально преследовал меня.

 

В те дни, когда мой разум бунтует, в дни, когда губы не хотят мне подчиняться, сердце закрывается, а все мое существо стремится спрятаться за чувством ложного контроля, образ голодных бус побуждает меня вставать. Идти к ним. Дотрагиваться до них и вспоминать. Вспоминать ощущение от перебирания их, их гладкую поверхность, что соединяет меня с мантрой, высвобождающейся с каждым выдохом.

 

Эти бусины джапы – мои врата к Любви. Я надеюсь и горячо молю, чтобы они всегда указывали мне путь. Молю, чтобы они никогда не оставили меня, чтобы были моими неизменными спутниками. Удивительно, как нить, казалось бы, обычных деревянных бусин стала одной из моих самых дорогих подруг. В них, этих четках – какая-то магия. Я напитываю их – а они напитывают меня. Они наполняют меня заботой, они наполняют меня благодатью и они наполняют меня чудесами Любви, которые извечно хранятся в губинах верховнейшей из мантр. Я молюсь напитывать их так, чтобы однажды я могла придти туда, где не смогла бы остановиться. Место, где Имя будет всем. И это Святое Имя – моя жизнь.

 

[ отрывок из «Према-малы», книги Шримати Ачьюты Гопи даси, известной ученицы Его Святейшества Радханатхи Свами ]

 

 

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 31 December 2018, Simhachalam, Germany, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.21)

When Srila Prabhupada started the Sunday love feast, there were about fifteen preparations where each one was outstanding. There was nothing ordinary, everything was special. In the Lilamrtra, it is said that Satsvarupa wanted to be renounced. So when Prabhupada was serving out and asked, “Any seconds?”, Satsvarupa did not want to say “More sweet rice!“, so he instead said, “Just some rice please.” But even the sweet rice had little cheese balls in it and cashews and all kinds of other incredible things. Even that rice was like yummy rice to have; so filled with devotion!

The Sunday love feast was basically like this: one would come to the Sunday feast, load up the packages, store it in the fridge and it would last till Thursday. On Friday, it was a miserable day. But Saturday there was hope because the Sunday love feast was just around the corner again. Devotees who joined the temple would live from Sunday feast to Sunday feast; the only reason they did not leave was because devotees would say, “You are not going to miss the Sunday feast? Are you? You could not do that!”

So this was Prabhupada’s generosity and it was his way of purchasing people – all this amazing prasadam, all for free, taking as much as you want. And this made people indebted and it created an attitude of service within those people. This is the way to preach and this is the way to convince and cultivate new devotees. This is the way that people will actually take up Krsna consciousness – through generosity. Otherwise why else would they take it?        

The article " Cultivating through generosity " was published on KKSBlog.

The names of Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna being chanted for the first time in the history of Indian parliament (1 min. video)
BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura, Hema Malini took oath as a Member of Parliament at the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. She concluded her oath with ‘Radhe Radhe! Krishnam Vande, Jagat Guru.’ She won second consecutive time from Mathura.

Every week we create an in-house TOVP Progress Report on different aspects of the temple construction.

This week’s report was focused on art in the temple and we decided to share it with all of our donors and supporters. We hope you enjoy reading it.

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

The post TOVP Weekly Inhouse Progress Report appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

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The post If Sita in Lanka was Vedavati, why do we say Sita, not Vedavati, prayed for Hanuman? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 65 – 10.11.50-59 Huge demons become like moths on coming before the Krishna-fire appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 64 – 10.11.41-49 For Krishna, killing demons is all in a day’s play, that too before breakfast appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Video – BG 18.55 Thank you Krishna, See you next Janmastami 2014-08-30 Tula

Please find below photos from the 2019 London Ratha Yatra.

Temple President, Pradyumna Das says: “I am deeply grateful to the children and their families for their commitment to preserve this jewel in the heart of our City. Unfortunately, the situation is dire and this building cannot see another winter. Though we have done some patchwork, the roof will not last. These children are making a valuable contribution for theirs, and this wonderful building’s future.”

With more than 1 million viewers in youtube. Indian famous Rapper EMIWAY, received the book "on the way to Krishna" by His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada from the Sitar player Sri Bhakti Das (Chile).

Sri Syamananda Disappearance.
Syamananda Prabhu, a disciple of Hrdaya Caitanya, established the temple of Sri Radha-Syamasundara in Vrndavana.

On Sunday 6/16/2019 Lord Jagannath Snan Yatra was celebrated with sincere devotion. On this actual day of Lord Jagannath’s appearance day

Nartaka Gopala dasi says: I have been feeling devastated since I heard my dear friend Labangalatika devi passed on May 28, 2019 at her home in India. Yes, one less Prabhupada disciple on the planet, but more than that, she was one of the most remarkable and inspiring people I ever knew.

By Srimati Dasi

Smiling in which the teeth are slightly visible is called hasita smiling. One day Abhimanyu, the so-called husband of Radharani, was returning home, and at that time he did not know that Krsna was there. But Krsna immediately changed His dress to look exactly like Abhimanyu and approached Abhimanyu's mother, Jatila, addressing her thus: “My dear mother, I am your real son Abhimanyu, but just see — Krsna, dressed up like me, is coming before you!” Jatila, the mother of Abhimanyu, immediately believed that Krsna was her own son and thus became very angry at her real son who was coming home. She began to drive away her real son, who was crying, “Mother! Mother! What are you doing?” Seeing this incident, all the girlfriends of Radharani who were present there began to smile, and a portion of their teeth was visible. This is an instance of hasita smiling. Continue reading "The Science of a Smile
→ Dandavats"

Syamananda Prabhu, a disciple of Hrdaya Caitanya, established the temple of Sri Radha-Syamasundara in Vrndavana.

Sri Syamananda, Srinivasa and Narottama Dasa Thakura are eternal associates of Sri Gaurasundara. For the purpose of preaching the holy message of Sri Caitanya all over the earth they appeared in this world.

Sri Syamananda father’s name was Sri Krsna Mandal. His mother’s name was Sri Durika. 

After some time the boy took initiation from Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu and was named Krsna das. He was ordered by his guru to go to Vrndavan and study the sastras under Jiva Goswami.

One day in Kanana Kunja, he found an ankle bracelet that belonged to Srimati Radharani. Krsna das was brought before Radha and She marked him on the forehead with the bracelet.

She said, “From now on you will be known as Syamananda das.”

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The post If kshatriyas were allowed to eat meat, why is meat-eating considered wrong for everyone? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Ratha Yatra at Prague, Czech Republic (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If we simply place ourselves at the lotus feet of Kr...

The historic Harinama Sankirtana event drew some 200 devotees, and was used to promote New York Rathayatra and the accompanying Hare Krishna Festival from June 7^th to 9^th.

Tulsi Gabbard took time out of her busy schedule of events in New York to visit the main kirtan tent at the Rathayatra’s post-parade festival in Washington Square Park.

With his Bangalore-based agency, Shabdahari Das has run social media campaigns for world-famous personal development gurus like Tony Robbins, T. Harv Ecker, and Bryan Tracy. He’s also trained over 20,000 entrepreneurs in how to use social media to grow their businesses.

Initiates hailed from Houston, Washington D.C., New York, and London, and included prominent kirtaniyas such as Gaura Vani, Jahnavi, Tulasi, Ananta Govinda, and Janaki Priya. All others in the group are also dedicated to regular ISKCON service in their areas.   

Baladeva Das was appointed CPO Director in October 2018 by ISKCON’s Latin Regional Governing Body (RGB). Since joining ISKCON in 1991 in Argentina, he has done preaching, communications and educational services, lead the Nava Gundica Dhama temple, and helped edit and translate the Spanish edition of Caitanya-Caritamrita.

Pushpa Abhishek 2019 (Album of 86 HR photos)
New Govardhana San Diego, June 16, 2019
Srila Prabhupada: If with the arrow of chanting the holy name of the Lord one pierces Lord Vishnu’s lotus feet, by dint of performing this heroic activity of devotional service on receives the benefit of returning home, back to Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.15.42 Purport)

[Bhagavatam class on 4.18.9 at Auckland, New Zealand]

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The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 63 – 10.11.30-40 The extraordinary Lord gave and got joy in ordinary play appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

“In this Age of Kali, Krishna is manifest in two forms; wood and water. Thus, by enabling the conditioned souls to see the wood and bathe in the water, He helps them become liberated.” “Lord Jagannath is the Supreme Lord himself in the form of wood and the river Ganga is the Supreme Lord himself in the form of water.” [ Lord Caitanya quoted in Caitanya-caritamṛta: Madhya 15.134-135 ]

A rare view of Bhaktivedanta Manor completely deserted due to the Rathayatra festival in London (Album of photos)
Bhaktivedant...

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 31 December 2018, Simhachalam, Germany, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.21)

Woody Allen once said, “You can go to a church, a temple or a mosque but that does not make you into a devotee. You can go into a garage but that does not mean that you become a car.” That is his logic and it is a good line. But then he does not know that you can in fact become a devotee in the temple. Here, you do become a car! (laughter) Here, you do become a devotee! Oh yes, it happens every moment and how does it happen? Because we are being purchased by the devotees around us. These devotees, they capture us completely!

Are we the greatest philosophers? Most of us are not. Are we the greatest scholars? Most of us are not. Do we really know Sanskrit? Most of us do not know, we just bluff our way through. Do we really know the shastras? Most of us do not. But one thing we know, we are trying. We are really trying to be devotees of Krsna and we are trying to do things nicely for Him.  

One of my early services was to clean the VIP room and it had to be done very quickly. So I used to get the dust and put it underneath the carpets in the room. But then I thought, “Ugh, but Krsna can look under the carpet, so this is not going to work.” So I lifted it back up and actually took the dust out. So this is devotion, where you are not cutting corners, but really trying to do it properly; doing it as nicely as we can and giving ourselves in service. In this way, everything becomes possible and then we can expand our boundaries. So here, the principle of surrender is key. Surrender somehow or other brings us to the point of trying. And on the strength of trying, we may struggle, but we work hard and somehow or other it gets done. So in that way this movement is not running on mundane skills. It just goes on the sincere efforts of the devotees.

The article " A movement based on sincere efforts " was published on KKSBlog.

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.”

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.

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 shall try to act in such a way as will please you—and Krishna, the Supreme Father.

Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.24.13) states,

etavaty eva susrusa
karya pitari putrakaih
badham ity anumanyeta
gauravena guror vacah

“Sons ought to render service to their [qualified] father exactly to this extent. One should obey the command of his [qualified] father or spiritual master with due deference, saying, ‘Yes, sir.’ ”

Srila Prabhupada explains, “Two words in this verse are very important; one word is pitari, and another word is guroh. The son or disciple should accept the words of his spiritual master and father without hesitation. Whatever the father and the spiritual master order should be taken without argument: ‘Yes.’ There should be no instance in which the disciple or the son says, ‘This is not correct. I cannot carry it out.’ When he says that, he is fallen. The father and the spiritual master are on the same platform because a spiritual master is the second father. The higher classes are called dvija, twice-born. Whenever there is a question of birth, there must be a father. The first birth is made possible by the actual father, and the second birth is made possible by the spiritual master. Sometimes the father and the spiritual master may be the same man, and sometimes they are different men. In any case, the order of the father or the order of the spiritual master must be carried out without hesitation, with an immediate yes. There should be no argument. That is real service to the father and to the spiritual master. Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has stated that the order of the spiritual master is the life and soul of the disciples. As a man cannot separate his life from his body, a disciple cannot separate the order of the spiritual master from his life. If a disciple follows the instruction of the spiritual master in that way, he is sure to become perfect. This is confirmed in the Upanisads: the import of Vedic instruction is revealed automatically only to one who has implicit faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and in his spiritual master. One may be materially considered an illiterate man, but if he has faith in the spiritual master as well as in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then the meaning of scriptural revelation is immediately manifested before him.”

On this occasion I pray to become a proper servant of my spiritual master, my spiritual father, Srila Prabhupada, and of all his other servants.

Hare Krishna.

Your aspiring servant,
Giriraj Swami

Devotees of Journey of Self Discovery (JOSD) Wellington had a power packed week with HG Chaitanya Charan Das, who gave 8 seminars from 3 – 9 June 2019.

HG Kunti Devi Dasi, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and known Iskcon pioneer left this world.
Karnamrita Dasi (her daughter, shown in the little square photo with her mother): She left at 9:40am, she had said the evening before, just as we were ready to go to sleep, “The train is coming, I’m getting on” I thought there were no meanings to her words. And then the next morning my sweet friend Molly Ananga Manjari Martin who was helping with my mother’s needs, let me know that her loud death rattle had stopped and to come immediately. I’ll never forget how that death rattle sounded…it’s not something you want to hear your loved ones struggle through.
And there she was, I had only left briefly, but everything had slowed down, her breath, her sound, and her lips were spreading now into a smile.