
Devotees from Around the World Attend Radha Madhava’s Boat Festival
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Websites from the ISKCON Universe
TOVP models of the Disciplic Succession also in Ujain (Album of photos)
HH Bhakti Charu Swami’s visit to the TOVP. Besides looking at all the work that has been done, Maharaj also came to see our models of the Disciplic Succession in order to have them done in Ujain. He’s taking up the task himself to oversee this work in Ujain.
GBC college 2019 event in Mayapur (15 min. video)
Srila Prabhupada: If one renders even a small amount of sincere devotional service, Krishna becomes obliged to elevate such person; and what to speak of one whose entire life and soul has been dedicated to Krishna’s service. Letter to Harer Nama, November 6, 1969
Answer Podcast
The post Does human nature always give fear precedence over faith? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
While chanting japa this morning, I thought of Srila Rupa Gosvami’s verse about the holy name:
tunde tandavini ratim vitanute tundavali-labdhaye
karna-kroda-kadambini ghatayate karnarbudebhyah sprham
cetah-prangana-sangini vijayate sarvendriyanam krtim
no jane janita kiyadbhir amrtaih krsneti varna-dvayi
“I do not know how much nectar the two syllables ‘Krs-na’ have produced. When the holy name of Krsna is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert.” (Cc Antya 1.99)
Although I have not experienced that level of chanting, it is a stage to which I can aspire.
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
Some “rock and roll” mahamantra in Mayapur (video)
The NAM ROCK BAND performs at Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi in Mayapur with a concert in the park.
HG Mahatma Prabhu: “Our business is to raise ourselves to the highest status of life as preachers of Krsna’s message, and one should behave himself rigidly, then he should instruct others. Two things: Be himself exemplary, then teach others to be exemplary. If one has not come to that high standard, he cannot judge or criticize others. There is one saying from the Bible: ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged.’ So how we can preach unless we are able to make judgments? That will not be possible. Only those who are above suspicion can judge others. One must himself act in such a way that he is always above suspicion. Then he can judge, then he can preach. But now you have no power to instruct. One who is not following himself, how he can instruct others? Srila Prabhupada Letter December 1972.
Srila Prabhupada’s expertise to preach and engage everyone according to time, place and circumstances (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam class by HG Rukmini Devi Dasi in Iskcon Mayapur, Mar 14, 2019.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/hdnZcf
People who appreciate proper standards of Deity worship tend to look to ISKCON as an example. Over the years, ISKCON has established a reputation of having high standards of Deity worship. However, the Deity Worship Ministry warned the GBC that if proper care is not taken to maintain and improve standards of worship, this reputation could slip.
Panca Dravida Swami wanted to know how a person can attain perfection simply from one lava, one-eleventh of a second’s association with a pure devotee.
Visiting and preaching in Bali (Album of photos)
Bali is a province of Indonesia and it’s most tourist destination. It is located east of Java and west of Lombok. Balinese culture was strongly influenced by Indian, Chinese, and particularly Vedic culture, beginning around the 1st century AD. The name Bali dwipa (“Bali island”) has been discovered from various inscriptions. The largest city is the provincial capital, Denpasar, near the southern coast, where we have astoundingly beautiful Sri Sri Jagannatha Gauranga Temple. The beauty of the Deities and the altar is out of the world. Among many other ISKCON temples in that island, this one is one of the most prominent. For Deena Bandhu Prabhu’s Vraja-Katha programs, huge number of devotees showed up. Their simplicity and devotion amazed us. We were also invited to a Russian Yoga studio where we were stunned by the natural scenic beauty of the place. Finally we visited the mesmerizing Balinese temple known as Tanah Lot. It is one of the important directional temples and cultural icon for photography in Bali. The temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide. Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 16th-century Dang Hyang Nirartha and forms an important element of Balinese spiritualism and history. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. It is an extremely popular tourist destination and we were caught there by heavy rain, which increased the beauty three fold.
A Change of Heart (6 min. video)
HH Devamrta Swami talks about what happens when people meet the cows in Gita Nagari. “People want to be re-enchanted by nature.” He recorded this video for the North American Farm Delegates Meeting.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left His house (where the Yoga Pitha is situated) in the early morning heading to the Ganga. He crossed the river by swimming on His way to Katva to take sannyasa. When Saci mata understood that He was not in the house, she left looking for him, asking the villagers " Did you see Nimai?" In their hearts, the eternal associates of the Lord in the form of villagers, just remained silent. By seeing their behaviour mother Saci said:" You are just merciless." Continue reading "Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019 Day 6
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On the 6h day of Parikrama, we are wondering in the island of Rudradvipa where Nidaya Gat (border) is situated. Early morning all the pilgrims left Pratapnagar by boat.. it is always a great time crossing the merciful waters of Mother Ganga with so many devotees, such an unique experience! Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left His […]
The post Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama: Day 6 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Today we visited Modadrumadvipa. As you already know, each of the nine islands correspond to one of the nine processes of devotional service according to our previous acharyas. Modadrumadvipa corresponds to dasyam (service in the mood of servant). Our speakers explained that in the same way that the celibacy pervades all the four ashrams, dasya […]
The post Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama: Day5 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Answer Podcast
The post Is living in the present without living for Krishna helpful? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Meet Australia’s oldest initiated Prabhupada disciple Bhutanath dasa.
Gauragopala Dasa ACBSP: Australia’s oldest initiated Prabhupada disciple 77 year old Bhutanath dasa ACBSP.
Constructive criticism from caring guides
Excerpt from The Spiritual Scientist
‘See Criticism With a Critical Eye’
By Caitanya Charan Das
The bhakti tradition compares the cutting words of sages to a surgeon’s scalpel. Just as the scalpel cuts off unhealthy tissue, so too do the corrective words of our trustworthy spiritual guides destroy our misconceptions. Just as avoiding surgery can worsen the disease, so too fleeing from corrections can aggravate our illusions. Therefore, when we get constructive criticism from our well-wishing mentors, we need to humbly and honestly introspect and improve.
The Queen’s Secret (Album of 255 photos)
What a show!! This is by far the most amazing drama I have ever seen!! The Queen’s Secret depicts the life of Queen Kunti, from when she was a maiden princess, to begetting Karna and the five Pandas, until her last days in this world. The Mahabharata is nicely condensed in this hour-and-a-half drama performed by a cast of devotees from 25 countries. Deep emotion, anger, joy, regret, satisfaction, excitement, and tears fill this play all throughout. 255 pictures is a lot but for this play by Bhaktimarga Swami, it doesn’t give it justice… A small offering of gratitude to Bhaktimarga Swami and his great team!!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/m2dNqt
A visit to the TOVP (Album of photos)
Sadbhuja Das: Hare Krishna dear devotees,
Please check these images of His Holiness Radhanath Swami’s visit to the TOVP.
Srila Prabhupada: “As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28)
The next stop was the house of Saranga Murari, the famous guru who initiated a dead body that was floating in the Ganga in the early morning. His very unique pastimes made the devotees laugh when they heard the incredible activities of this unique vaishnava. The most humble and sincere Vasudeva datta was also living in this house and His beautiful deities are still there: Radha Madhan Gopal, they are very tall and Gopal has light blue body with big lotus eyes. Once Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to this place and for the pleasure of the devotees he saved a tree which was giving shadow in the courtyard. That very tree touched by Lord Caitanya's lotus hand is still there. Continue reading "Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019 Day 5
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Dallas’ Mayor Rawlings invites all to Dallas Ratha Yatra (2 min. video)
Watch this wonderful invite to the Festival of Joy, by our very own mayor, Mike Rawlings!
Answer Podcast
The post Is it ok for devotees to give motivational classes without mentioning Krishna at all? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 August 2018, Vrindavan, India, Bhagavad-gita 4.9).
The pastimes of Krsna have more power to capture the heart than any other pastime. Therefore, to develop love for Krsna is especially easy because Sri Krsna is all attractive and His pastimes are especially sweet. What Lord Caitanya gave us is filled with taste and there is no compromise – it is the highest taste. Taste is the special feature of Lord Caitanya’s movement.
In the Caitanya Candramrta of Prabodhananda Sarasvati the question is asked: “Where do you find renunciation as you find it in the associates of Caitanya Mahaprabhu?”
Yes, and why is this? Because it is a renunciation which is based on blissfulness. When you are completely blissful in some activities there is no interest in anything else. You do not even think about it. Imagine if we are totally absorbed in a very blissful activity and some salesman comes and says, “You want this?”
“What? No!”
In this way maya has nothing to offer.
It is explained that the virakti of the vaisnava is like the eating process. When one is full one has no interest in anything, even in the tastiest things. Things that normally would be considered attractive are not attractive. So one who is absorbed in love of God and has that taste, has no interest in worldly pleasures. In this way we can be on a platform of renunciation which is otherwise virtually impossible for any yogi, who would have to undergo great difficulty, great pain, a lot of austerity and follow a very rigid program. Therefore taste is the central factor. It is the source of our strength.
The article " The Highest Taste " was published on KKSBlog.
The post Krishna’s moods in the Bhagavad-gita (3) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Seminar in Melbourne, Australia]
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The post Krishna’s moods in the Bhagavad-gita 3 – Chp 13-18 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
The area was undeveloped and considered unsafe. Local people and even disciples used to tell Prabhupada that although he was planning to spend so much money, no one would go there, because it was so isolated. Undeterred, Prabhupada would say that it was a good location. He had a vision. When land is donated, he said, it is auspicious. He asked his disciple, Surabhi Dasa, a Dutch architect, to design the temple
Jaya Jaya Sri Caitanya Jaya Nityananda, Jaya Advaita Chandra Jaya Gaura bhakta vrinda! In the Parikrama 4th day we covered Rtudvipa and Jahnudvipa, processes arcana and vandanam respectively. Rtudvipa is where the house of the learned Vidya Vanaspati is situated and Jahnudvipa is the island where the sage Jahnu muni was living, once Bhismadeva came […]
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