Answer Podcast
The post Why is it so difficult to step back from a dramatic position that we have publically taken – is it because of ego? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Answer Podcast
The post Why is it so difficult to step back from a dramatic position that we have publically taken – is it because of ego? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
The Vedic texts describe that there are innumerable spiritual planets in the spiritual sky beyond this material creation, each having one of the unlimited forms of the Lord with countless devotees engaging in His service. In the center of all the spiritual planets of Vaikuntha (meaning the spiritual sky where there is no anxiety) is the planet known as Krishnaloka or Goloka Vrindavana. This is the personal abode of the original Supreme Personality of God, Sri Krishna. Krishna enjoys His transcendental bliss in multiple forms on that planet, and all the opulences of the other Vaikuntha planets are found there. This planet is shaped like a lotus flower and many kinds of pastimes are taking place on each leaf of that lotus, as described in Brahma-samhita, verses two and four: “The superexcellent station of Krishna, which is known as Gokula, has thousands of petals and a corolla like that of a lotus sprouted from a part of His infinitary aspect, the whorl of the leaves being the actual abode of Krishna. The whorl of that eternal realm, Gokula, is the hexagonal abode of Krishna. Its petals are the abodes of gopis [friends] who are part and parcel of Krishna to whom they are most lovingly devoted and are similar in essence. The petals shine beautifully like so many walls. The extended leaves of that lotus are the garden-like dhama, or spiritual abode of Sri Radhika, the most beloved of Krishna.”
The only business that Sri Krishna has in the spiritual realm is transcendental enjoyment. The only business of Krishna’s eternal servants or devotees is to offer enjoyment to Him. The more enjoyment the devotees offer to Krishna, the happier He becomes. The happier Krishna becomes, the more His devotees become enlivened and taste eternal, transcendental ecstasy. In this way, there is an ever-increasing competition of spiritual ecstasy between Krishna and His parts and parcels. This is the only business in the spiritual world, as confirmed in Brahma-samhita, verse 6: “The Lord of Gokula is the Transcendental Supreme Godhead, the own Self of eternal ecstacies. He is superior to all superiors and is busily engaged in the enjoyments of the transcendental realm and has no association with His mundane [material] potency.”
Though it is not possible to experience spiritual pastimes or to see the form of the Supreme with ordinary senses, by spiritualizing our senses by the practice of devotional yoga we can reach the platform of perceiving the Supreme at every moment. At that time we start becoming Krishna conscious and can begin to enter into the pastimes of Krishna, although we may still be situated within this material body. If we become fully spiritualized in this manner, there is no doubt that when we give up this material body, we will return to the spiritual world. Until then, we can continue studying the Vedic texts to remember and be conversant about the beauty and loveliness of the spiritual world, as described as follows:
“Vrindavana-dhama is a place of ever-increasing joy. Flowers and fruits of all seasons grow there, and that transcendental land is full of the sweet sound of various birds. All directions resound with the humming of bumblebees, and it is served with cool breezes and the waters of the Yamuna River. Vrindavana is decorated with wish-fulfilling trees wound with creepers and beautiful flowers. Its divine beauty is ornamented with the pollen of red, blue and white lotuses. The ground is made of jewels whose dazzling glory is equal to a myriad of suns rising in the sky at one time. On that ground is a garden of desire trees, which always shower divine love. In that garden is a jeweled temple whose pinnacle is made of rubies. It is decorated with various jewels, so it remains brilliantly effulgent through all seasons of the year. The temple is beautified with bright-colored canopies, glittering with various gems, and endowed with ruby-decorated coverings and jeweled gateways and arches. Its splendour is equal to millions of suns, and it is eternally free from the six waves of material miseries. In that temple there is a great golden throne inlaid with many jewels. In this way one should meditate on the divine realm of the Supreme Lord, Sri Vrindavana-dhama.” (Gautamiya Tantra 4)
“I worship that transcendental seat, known as Svetadvipa where as loving consorts the Lakshmis, in their unalloyed spiritual essence, practice the amorous service of the Supreme Lord Krishna as their only lover; where every tree is a transcendental purpose-tree; where the soil is the purpose-gem, water is nectar, every word is a song, every gait is a dance, the flute is the favorite attendant, effulgence is full of transcendental bliss and the supreme spiritual entities are all enjoyable and tasty, where numberless milch-cows always emit transcendental oceans of milk; where there is eternal existence of transcendental time, who is ever present and without past or future and hence is not subject to the quality of passing away even for the duration of half a moment. That realm is known as Goloka only to a very few self-realized souls in this world.” (Brahma-samhita, 5.56)
By studying and hearing about the beauty of the spiritual world, we will understand that everything we are looking for in life has its origin in that eternal realm. There, as it is described, one finds freedom from all pains and suffering, and the atmosphere is unlimitedly full of ever-expanding beauty, joy, happiness, knowledge, and eternal, loving relationships. It is a world full of recreation only, without the struggle for maintaining our existence. There is never any hunger, and we can feast and never get full. Neither is there any lamentation over the past or fear of the future. It is said that time is conspicuous by its absence. Thus, the needs of the soul for complete freedom and unbounded love and happiness are found in the spiritual atmosphere. That is our real home.
For more information and paintings and photographs of Krishna, go to the Krishna Darshan Art Gallery at http://www.stephen-knapp.com, which presents a collection of photographs of lovely Radha-Krishna Deities from around the world, as well as paintings and prints of Krishna’s pastimes and His incarnations.
[From www.stephen-knapp.com]
2013-09-21 Bhakti Sangam #Russian #BookDistribution
Two students meet again.
Both did B.Tech in Metallurgical engineering the same year (1992). One from IIT Kharagpur and other from IIT Bombay. One works for a company that helps people to search for content on the internet/web, the other gives company (association) to search God within and around us. One developed Chrome and the other developed Govardhana ECO village.
None other than Google CEO Sundar Pichai with HG Gauranga prabhu at Mukesh Ambani son’s (Akash Ambani) marriage.
The following is a chapter from Modern Culture–a Dangerous Experiment by DAYANANDA DAS ADHIKARY.
This section discusses human greed as the root cause of environmental disasters. Many consider the problem to be systemic,[1] and they advocate changing fundamental values to those that would provide genuine reverence toward nature.
The solution presented in this book is to adopt the essential values and practices of Vaishnava culture, specifically those related to yajna.
HG Chaitanya Dasi’s memorial in Vrindavan (Album of photos)
Mahadevi Dasi: Yesterday in Srila Prabhupada’s House here in Vrndavana, Caitanya Dasi’s Godsisters n brothers sat in a family circle to glorify n remember Prabhupada’s dear disciple. Caitanya dasi has served Srila Prabhupada faithfully in ISKCON since 1969.
The last 2 days of Parikrama have been such an unforgettable experience for all the pilgrims. In the second day we visited Godrumadvipa, the island where kirtan is the process. This is where Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gave comments on the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta and wrote all his songs. We were in Surabhi kunj where Sri […]
The post Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama:Day2 &3 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Navadvip Mandala Parikrama 2019 - Day 4 (17 min. video)
To experience ecstasy in the holy places is not as simple as buying a ...
Lord Krishna is everyone’s wellwisher. He is equal to all and extremely dear to everyone (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam class by H.H. Bhakti Gauravani Goswami in Vrindavan, Mar 9, 2019.
Inauguration of the 2nd Mayapur Goshala Bullock Cart on 11 March (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada once wrote to Nityananda Prabhu, head of New Talavan Farm Community: “We can introduce many millions of such carts all over the world.” This prophetic statement reigned true again today as HH Lokanath Swami Maharaja inaugurated the second Mayapur Goshala Bullock cart.
The degree to which you are able to turn to Krsna while chanting reveals the depth of your relationship with Him and how healthy you are spiritually. If you are unhealthy, you simply cannot turn to Krsna. Your mind will dislike the idea of chanting. It will be very rebellious and everything but Krsna will appear in your mind at that time. Every relationship starts with giving attention, and your relationship with Krsna is no exception. Therefore, you must learn how to chant with attention. It is said in the scriptures that inattention to Krsna is the root cause of all other offences and problems. Thus, inattention to Krsna embodies our main problem in this material existence. We need to fix that – it is most important. Continue reading "It All Starts With Giving Attention
→ Dandavats"
Prema is within the heart of every being. It’s who we are. It’s what we are, it’s how we are. But we can’t find it unless it’s awakened and there is nothing we can do to awaken it. Even we gain all the eight mystic siddhis of being supernatural yogis or any other means, it doesn’t awaken. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu told Sanatan Goswami, that, love for Krishna is very rare because one who loves Krishna, Krishna becomes subordinate to that love. He becomes indebted forever to one who has that love and who serves in that love. But it can be easily achieved by one who is sincere, serious and has no ulterior motives and that sincerity is in how we, Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam class in Mayapur, March 12, 2019
→ Dandavats"
|
|
Answer Podcast
The post If aspiring disciples feel that they can’t get their guru’s association, what can we tell them? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Radha’s Abode (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: On my first day back in Vrindavan I went to Varsana, the home of Srimati Radharani, in the early morning hours with a small group of devotees. As we traversed the trail up the mountain to the magnificent temple on top, family after family invited us into their humble homes to take prasadam. I am so happy to be back in this transcendental abode in the association of the wonderful people who live here!
International devotees performed harinam in the streets of nadvadvipa town today, as on the Navadvip Mandal Parikrama 3rd day parikrama, devotees after walking to the holy places of Pushkara and Kuruksetra, crossed Ganga and entered Koldvipa, the present day town of Navadwipa. “One day during the afternoon , Lord Nityananda reached Koladvipa along with Sri […]
The post Singing in the streets of Navadvipa! appeared first on Mayapur.com.
All glories to Sri Navadvipa Dhama, the birth place of Harinama sankirtan! Sri Caitaya Mahaprabhu said: “This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon.” Kali Yuga it is an hopeless age in all respects, chanting the Holy Name is the only means to […]
The post Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama: Day1 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
The Independent online news reports that this weekend (24th of February) the animated cartoon Peppa Pig has attained 10 years of being broadcast for the entertainment of young children. The Independent mentions that Peppa Pig is being shown in 180 countries and has been translated into 40 languages. One might ask why does the show has so much success among little children. Basically because the episodes use children´s ordinary interests as main topics and show children natural ability to do imaginative play also call “Pretend Play”. Continue reading "“Pretend Play” about Krishna versus “Pretend Play” about Peppa Pig: the impact of non devotee association on the lives of devotee children
→ Dandavats"
In February, the leaders of the Sri Mayapur International School had requested me to spend quality time with their pupils aged 11 to 18. We had decided to first welcome the boys with a group of teachers for two days to Nityananda's abode, and then a bus-load of girls and their teachers. What a wonderful excursion!
Our children are very special, and they start chanting in japa and kirtan already at a very young age. If we can inspire them to develop good chanting habits from the very beginning of their life, it will give them a wonderful start to their way back home, back to Godhead.
Continue reading "Holy Name Retreat for the youth at Ekachakra Dham
→ Dandavats"
Life Of A Devotee - Hayagriva Das (video)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna maha-mantra gives liberation and at the same time...
Read More...
One Day Vaishnavi Padyatra - Women’s Day - ISKCON Amravati (3 min. video)
Srila Prabhupada: If the surface of the globe is overflooded with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, the people of the world will be very, very happy. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.10 Purport)
So the purpose of the program today is to increase the awareness and the importance of all of us participating to complete the TOVP project in time. Whats our deadline? 2022! And how many years are left? Three years! We don’t have a lot of time left! Only three years! So we have to go a real marathon to increase the awareness and the urgency of this project. Prabhupada had a great desire to build this temple to fulfil the desires of the previous acharyas Continue reading "Presentation on ToVP by senior speakers in Mayapur
→ Dandavats"
Srutakirti prabhu, who served as a personal servant of Srila Prabhupada for several years, narrates several episodes from his experience, highlighting the personal protection and care Srila Prabhupada provided for his disciples.
Tulsi Gabbard on CNN yesterday about being a Gaudiya Vaishnava, a devotee in Krishna Consciousness.
(It’s a two-minute fraction of the whole interview)
The link will bring you to the exact point of the relative discussion.
I have been distributing Srila Prabhupada's books for more than 12 yrs.
This is the part of my book distribution that I have started for the last 2 years now, and this has been successful. I give Srila Prabhupada's books, I explain to them about Peace mantra for their mind, body, and soul. I request them if they like to participate with me in chanting Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, they happily do it. You can see the clips to believe it. Continue reading "New souls chanting full Hare Krishna mahamantra for the first time
→ Dandavats"
The last 2 days of Parikrama have been such an unforgettable experience for all the pilgrims. In the second day we visited Godrumadvipa, the island where kirtan is the process. This is where Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gave comments on the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta and wrote all his songs. We were in Surabhi kunj where Sri Nityananda prabhu started His first Namahatta and from that very place the incredible mercy of Lord Nityananda crossed the whole world and touch the hearts of millions of living entities. So walking in that place, listening to the lectures and chanting gives us the chance to build a very strong connection with the Holy Name. Continue reading "Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2019 Day 2 and 3
→ Dandavats"