Planet ISKCON

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.

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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
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The materialists spend their whole time fixing petty problems. We should appreciate the scope, the depth, the value of Vedic wisdom. It goes to the heart of the matter. What is the first thing that’s essential for a good doctor? What is the first thing to get cured? Medical, good insurance? No. You have to have a good diagnosis, you have to know the cause of the disease is, and otherwise you might as well be taking colored water for medicine. Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam class in Mayapur, March 11, 2019
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Answer Podcast

The post Should devotees fast on Mahashivaratri? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

This update video produced by the ToVP team covers the gamut of the finishing work currently being undertaken on the TOVP and which will continue over the next three years, and gives some glimpses of what the amazing and magnificent finished product will look like.

Construction on the 520,000-square-foot temple is now in the final phase after decades of development and nearly ten years of work onsite. 

Cow protection has been going on at Australia's thousand-acre farm in some form since its establishment in 1979.

Vaisesika Dasa made the presentation on behalf of the BBT’s new Marketing Communications Innovation department. This relatively new area of the BBT focuses on ascertaining how to assist and inspire ISKCON members around the world to distribute books.

Ambarish Dasa, the ToVP Chairman, and other members of the ToVP team presented an hour-and-a-half report on the progress made in the past year and described the plans and projections that will see the ToVP to its grand opening in 2022.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 August 2018, Vrindavan, India, Bhagavad-gita 4.9)

In Germany Srila Prabhupada was speaking with professor Durkheim. In that discussion they were speaking about the soul being eternal and separate from the body. Prabhupada said, “The body actually does not die because it is never alive. Never was there a moment when it was alive. It is the soul that is alive and that makes the body move and animates it. But otherwise it is not alive.”

Of course, as conditioned souls, all this philosophy is something we can only remember and remind ourselves about, because to realize this is not so simple. To actually experience this is very difficult. But we see that some great personalities are completely dhira – completely undisturbed. They have absolutely no relationship with the material energy.

In the Srimad Bhagavatam there is the example of the sage Dadhīci (Canto 6). As we know, the demigods have a much greater level of enjoyment than human beings. They have a very long life and a very nice standard of enjoyment but there is only  one problem – the demons.  The demons are always attacking so there is always war and constant fights. On one occasion the demigods needed a weapon which was to be made from the bones of Dadhīci who had performed a lot of austerities. So they went to Dadhīci and asked him, “Can we have your bones?”

In most cases when people start to ask for our bones, we are not so eager to give our bones! But in this case Dadhīci had no concern whatsoever. He was ready to give these bones. He said, “Just wait a minute. Let me give up the body and then you can take the bones.“ So he had absolutely no attachment to the body; absolutely no identification with the body. For a Vaisnava the essence is to identify as the servant of Krsna and to simply begin devotional service.

anarthopaśamaṁ sākṣād
bhakti-yogam adhokṣaje, (SB 1.7.6).

Then that devotional service will remove all the anarthas – all the unwanted things, including identification with the body.

So we may initially philosophically understand that we are not this body but we cannot realize it actually. It is more difficult  to realize when we are about to be wheeled into the operating theater – at that time the blood pressure may be a little higher than usual. So it is difficult to have this aloofness fully realized. But philosophically we understand and then we engage in devotional service. It is through devotional service that we actually realize this experience of brahma-bhūtaḥ, of having nothing to do with the material energy – in a more advanced stage of devotional service. And it is at that stage also that we can engage fully in devotional service because these two enhance each other. As long we are in the bodily concept of life to a degree, we are not able to fully connect with Krsna. Part of understanding the nature of Krsna is also understanding our own nature as being his parts and parcels – his vibhinamsa – his separated parts and parcels and as such being of the same nature – being of sat-cid-ananda as Krsna is sat-cid-ananda. Then we can realize our potential. When we are not realizing it then we are in illusion.     

The article " An Essential Realization " was published on KKSBlog.

New York Temple gets some help (Album of photos)
The second day of the Sanga of GBC, Guru and Sanyasis was equally amazing from the previous day. Vaisesika Prabhu gave the Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture and emphasized on reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. This topic, the reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books, was one of the two main conclusions from the previous gathering. And all of us in ISKCON need to undertake this in our daily sadhana. Link of the lecture can be seen at the bottom.

Becoming immune to Kali-yuga by realizing the Lord’s presence.
Srila Prabhupada: There is nothing in the world with which the Lord is disconnected. The only thing we must learn is to excavate the source of connection and thus be linked with Him by offenseless service. We can be connected with Him by the transcendental sound representation of the Lord.

A real prayer comes deep from within!
The following prayers, which Srila Prabhupada described as “the sum and substance of devotional life [v. 24]”, are spoken by the demon Vrtrasura – to Indra’s great astonishment – in the middle of his fight for life or death with the king of the demigods (Indra):

In 2019, kirtan is readily available anywhere in the world. Kirtan is daily performed in temples and on the streets across the globe. Every year, more kirtan events are held, some drawing hundreds of thousands. Kirtan recordings and albums are available online at any time. Even so-called mainstream culture in the Western world is embracing […]

The post Devotees from 60+ Countries Chant Together in the Birthplace of Sankirtana appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Purushottama Dasa was the son of Sadashiva Kaviraja, a great Devotee of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

One thing we’re aware of is that it’s an offence not to have faith in the chanting of the holy names of the lord, indeed as initiated or aspiring devotees a minimum of 16 rounds is required and the like of my own Guru Maharaja speaks of our japa being fun and how if we can we do more than just 16 rounds.

So it’s surprising when attending funerals of devotees how. Note the phrase “May be next time Sri Krishna will give them a better opportunity”. This leaves me perplexed given the sincerity of the devotee there love for Sri Krishna the service they undertake and most importantly there faithfully chanting the holy names in the form of the Mahamantra. But somehow we have little faith in the results.

Yes we can look at what the devotee didn’t do or what we think they should or could have done, whilst forgetting all Sri Krishna asks for is not our perfection in service but our sincerity our small offerings and chanting.

The same individuals how little lack of faith if the person is a big name Guru or devotee we appear to be certain they would return home, but we view what is unfortunately called congregational members with uncertainty. Whilst forgetting that anyone who comes to the temple are simply devotee’s only devotee’s would come to see Sri Krishna and do service.

Many congregational members serve nicely there own deities at home, making and offering nice preparations and sharing this with others. And sincerely chanting each day without fail not out of duty but out of love. Having complete faith in the process of chanting so why would Sri Krishna then deny the results? Indeed Sri Krishna explains what happens if one sincerely chants but for one reason or another stops and one hopes the opportunity to take birth in a devotee family would be there.

But we do need to take this chanting of the Mahamantra seriously, chant with sincerity and with complete faith. This way as Srila Prabhupada spoke about we will go home this lifetime, and we should all develop faith that this will be the result.

Reincarnation (video)
Scientific, Logical and Relational perspectives - by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu.

Final Day Parikrama of Vrinda Kunda Festival (2019) (Album of photos)
Our last parikrama of our 16th Annual Vrinda Kunda Festival was to Javat, Ter Kadamba, and Vrinda Kunda. Javat is the most important place for the Gaudiya devotees as the parakiya bhava is born there. It is the place of Radharani’s so-called husband Abhimanyu, mother-in-law Jatila and sister-in-law Kutila. Ter Kadamba is the favorite cow-herding place of Krishna and Balaram, as well as, the bhajan-place of Rupa Goswami. We ended our parikrama in Vrinda Kunda, the eternal residence of Vrinda Devi!

In 2019, kirtan is readily available anywhere in the world. Kirtan is daily performed in temples and on the streets across the globe. Every year, more kirtan events are held, some drawing hundreds of thousands. Kirtan recordings and albums are available online at any time. Even so-called mainstream culture in the Western world is embracing kirtan as a form of meditation in the music and yoga scene. Kirtan is now available for all. But it wasn’t always like this. Before the 15th century, the chanting of God’s own holy names was a sacred activity reserved for the highest of ecclesiastic society in the inner sanctums of temples. Continue reading "Devotees from 60+ Countries Chant Together in the Birthplace of Sankirtana
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It is so unfortunate that today, especially in India, that people think these are fairy tales, concocted stories. No, these are not concocted stories, these are historical facts. These are facts. People think that this is mythology or whatever because they never read them. They never read the scriptures but they will say that these are all fairy tales. Another thing is that it's not just by reading the books that they understand. They will need a teacher to reveal those scriptures. We are so fortunate that we came across Srila Prabhupada's teachings. That is how we get to know what the scriptures are and what they are saying. Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam class in Mayapur 9.15, 16-24
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Sri Locana dasa Thakura, he very beautifully describes sankirtana as an actual yajna. He says in his Caitanya Mangala – “The living entities ears are sacrificial openings, yajna kunda, our ears are yajna kunda, the tongue is a sacrificial ladle that you pour the ghee with, sound of Krishna’s glories is charming sacrificial ghee. So the sound of Krishna’s names or glories is actually that ghee that you pour into the fire. When the ladle of the tongue pours that ghee into the opening of the ears, the ghee enters the heart. In the heart the ghee adds fuel to the fire of ecstatic love. It makes that fire burn with great flames. The flames of that fire make the body tremble. They make the body’s hairs stand erect. Freed from sin in this way the living entities dance. Salokya and other kinds of liberation follow behind them. However, the living entities will not cast even a side long glance at liberation. Instead tasting the sweet nectar of Lord Krishna’s glories they joyfully dance. The Vaisnava acharyas all perform this yajna. Please know that the sankirtana yajna is the best of all the yajnas. Hare Krishna!” Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam class in Mayapur 9.15.26
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Answer Podcast

The post How can a hunter-devotee justify that he is simply doing the profession ordained by past karma – can a terrorist argue the same way? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

This update video produced by Sadbhuja prabhu and his team covers the gamut of the finishing work currently being undertaken on the TOVP and which will continue over the next three years, and gives us some glimpses of what the amazing and magnificent finished product will look like.

Sit back and let your mind be drawn into the transcendental beauty of Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s, Sri Pancha Tattva’s, and Sri Nrsimha’s new home. And ponder the historic and world-changing effects this temple will have on generations of visitors for thousands of years to come.

MISSION 22 MARATHON KI JAYA!! THINK 22 > TOVP NOW!

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
Phone App at: http://tovp.org/news/announcements/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Mailing List at: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
Support us at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

The post TOVP Progress Report 2019 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Book distribution weeks ending March 3, 2019 (Album of photos)
Mohanasini Devi Dasi: Another Mardi Gras success story! Fortunately for me, there are lots of wonderful people waiting for these incredible books! I am always surprised at their responses….so please click on the pics to see what they have to say!
Book totals: 20 Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, 19 Perfection of Yoga, 14 Chant and Be Happy, 259 Higher Taste Cookbooks, 4 Science of Self Realization, 215 softbound Bhagavad Gitas, 6 hardbound Bhagavad Gitas, and 4 Srimad Bhagavatams Total: 539 books

The GBC meetings are in full swing (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: You are all the limbs of my body. Unless you cooperate,...

[Seminar at ISKCON, Melbourne, Australia]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

The post Krishna’s moods in the Bhagavad-gita 2 – Chp 10-12 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Seminar at ISKCON, Melbourne, Australia]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Krishna’s moods in the Bhagavad-gita 1 – Chp 1-9 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Auckland New Zealand, Kirtan Mela 2019 (Album of photos and videos)
A wonderful evening of Kirtana with Sri Prahlada.

Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2019 Day 4 (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Others, who are not devotees, may think, “How can people devote so much time simply to talks of God?” The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is simply the repetition of three words, Hare, Krishna, Rama, but still devotees can go on chanting this Hare Krishna mantra twenty-four hours a day without feeling fatigued. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.13.1Purport)

The New York Times Style Magazine’s first digital cover story features Hare Krishna devotees chanting on the streets of London, and model Maisie Dunlop. The photograph is part of a series showcasing classic British fashion, paying homage to Savile Row.
The New York Times Style Magazine, The New York Times

Bhaktivedanta Gurukula International School.
Gurukula, ready to move in to the New Campus It is a historical event for Bhaktiv...

Material society is ripped apart, material family life is ripped apart, material desires are ripped apart. It is natural that the conditioned soul in this world wants shelter. One of the inconceivable characteristics of the conditioned soul in Maya is that it's not only we cannot perceive the full extent of the forest of illusion. We also cannot perceive how helpless we are. We can’t fully appreciate how tiny and helpless we are. Because we have surrounded ourselves with so much bad shelter. It’s natural for us to want to take shelter. Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam class from Mayapur, March 9, 2019
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As usual at the Mayapur GBC meeting, the first section is dedicated to hearing about the progress of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium. This was headed up by the chairman of the ToVP, Ambarish das and he was followed by Sadbhuja das, (construction head) and Braja Vilasa das, (chief fundraiser).

There was a video showing the temple from the top and side, as well as devotees working on sculpturing and design. The GBCs were informed that there were challenges that lay ahead to opening the temple in 2022, but by the mercy of the Lord and devotees the team would be able to achieve that goal.

DO I LOVE MAYAPUR DHAM? (Album of photos)
Srutakirti Das: My wife and I arrived in Mayapur on Feb 22nd. We left this morning, March 8th. I have to admit Mayapur is growing on me. I’ve resisted it for decades, hardly going there. Vrindavan is where I felt more comfortable, smaller. You could know most residents after a few weeks. Not in Mayapur, maybe in a few lifetimes.