The Main Point of Gaudiya Vaisnavism
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Sacinandana Swami: Once there was a lady in India called Kamabai. She lived in a small straw hut and materially speaking she was very poor. However, she had strong love for our Lord, Jagannatha, in her heart. Every morning before the Lord received His over 30 food preparations from the first-class priests in the temple, she cooked a simple stew called kitchari which traditionally consists of rice, beans and if you have enough money also vegetables. It is easy to digest and the main food of the money-less.


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Ecstatic Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra in Canberra, the capital of…
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Ecstatic Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra in Canberra, the capital of Australia (Album of photos)
Jagannatha Rathayatra @ Multicultural Festival 2019
Enthralling Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra in Australia’s Capital - A Fabulous Day of Devotion n Joy
We had enthralling Rathayatra as part of National Multicultural Festival. Lord Jagannatha, His brother Baladeva & sister Subhadra majestically rode on Their beautifully bedecked palanquin through the Central Business District of capital, blessing one and all with Their merciful darshans.
Hundreds of people including ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and other dignitaries had opportunity to witness this Festival, as Hare Krishna devotees danced & chanted enthusiastically. All devotees participated contributing with great synergy for pleasure of Lord Jagannatha.
Very grateful to our ISKCON Founder-acarya Srila Prabhupada, to be fortunate to do some services to enumerate in West this age-old 12th century’s devotional Festival originating from holy Jagannatha Puri Dhama in Orissa.
Jagannatha Rathayatra Mahotsav ki jai!! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/3Y8P

Ecstatic Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra in Canberra, the capital of…
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Ecstatic Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra in Canberra, the capital of Australia (Album of photos)
Jagannatha Rathayatra @ Multicultural Festival 2019
Enthralling Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra in Australia’s Capital - A Fabulous Day of Devotion n Joy
We had enthralling Rathayatra as part of National Multicultural Festival. Lord Jagannatha, His brother Baladeva & sister Subhadra majestically rode on Their beautifully bedecked palanquin through the Central Business District of capital, blessing one and all with Their merciful darshans.
Hundreds of people including ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and other dignitaries had opportunity to witness this Festival, as Hare Krishna devotees danced & chanted enthusiastically. All devotees participated contributing with great synergy for pleasure of Lord Jagannatha.
Very grateful to our ISKCON Founder-acarya Srila Prabhupada, to be fortunate to do some services to enumerate in West this age-old 12th century’s devotional Festival originating from holy Jagannatha Puri Dhama in Orissa.
Jagannatha Rathayatra Mahotsav ki jai!! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/3Y8P

World Heritage Centre at Mayapur
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By Subroto Das

Spread over 700 acre ISKCON has decided to set up a 3000 crore (420 million US dollars) World Heritage centre at Mayapur , Nadia, birth place of Sri Chaitanya MahaPrabhu and spiritual headquarter of the institution. The construction of a 500 crore grand temple , Temple of Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) is the first step towards it. The temple is expected to be inaugurated in 2022 On Sunday morning , Mr Jindal along with other industrialists arrived at Mayapur on his private chopper at 11.00 am. They were warmly greeted and welcomed as per the Vedic traditions by senior devotees of ISKCON. Continue reading "World Heritage Centre at Mayapur
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You have got a short duration of life / Жизнь коротка
→ Traveling Monk

“Instead of contemplating what will happen to this world, you have got a short duration of life, say fifty, sixty years. You chant Hare Krsna and go back to home, back to Godhead. Don’t consider what will happen to this world. Nature will take care of it. You don’t puzzle your brain with these thoughts. You utilize whatever time you have got in your possession and go back to home, back to Godhead. You cannot check it. Best thing is that you mold your life and go back to home, back to Godhead. Because people will go on with their rascal civilization, natural consequences will be there. You better take advantage of whatever time you have got and become fully Krsna conscious and go back to home.”

[Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk, February 21, 1975, Caracas]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213728198862176&set=a.3707173840886&type=3&theater

When our prayers are unanswered
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Talk at Radha Krishna Cultural Center, Goldcoast, Australia]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post When our prayers are unanswered appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How to deal with uncomfortable emotions – 5 Ds
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Talk at Goldcoast, Australia]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post How to deal with uncomfortable emotions – 5 Ds appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

When Dhruva already had darshan of Vishnu, how could be become disproportionately angry at the Yakshas?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post When Dhruva already had darshan of Vishnu, how could be become disproportionately angry at the Yakshas? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Lord Nityananda Appearance Day
→ Ramai Swami

I celebrated Lord Nityananda’s appearance festival with the devotees at Brisbane temple. Although a week night, hundreds came for the abhiseka, lecture, drama, kirtana and feast.

Lord Nityananda is, of course, the incarnation of Lord Balarama who came to assist Sri Krsna in the form of Lord Chaitanya, in spreading the samkirtan movement to liberate the fallen souls of Kali Yuga.

He appeared as the son of Hadai Pandit and Padmavati Devi at Ekachakra, West Bengal in 1474, twelve years before Lord Chaitanya, who appeared in 1486.

Sri Nityananda-trayodasi, February 17, New Dwaraka, Los Angeles
Giriraj Swami

Vrindavan Kartik Parikrama, November 2018 – Audio Recordings
→ KKSBlog

Download Part 1 (zip file, 593 MB)

Download Part 2 (zip file, 276 MB)

Download Part 3 (zip file, 413 MB)

Part 1

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day1_12November2018_Madhuvan_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day1_12November2018_Madhuvan_Lecture

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day1_12November2018_Talavan_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day1_12November2018_Talavan_Lecture

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day2_13November2018_Moir_Kutir_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day2_13November2018_Varsana_Kirtan1

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day2_13November2018_Varsana_Kirtan2

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day2_13November2018_Varsana_Lecture1

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day2_13November2018_Varsana_Lecture2

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day3_14November2018_Kusum_Sarovar_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day3_14November2018_Narada_Kund_Lecture

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day5_16November2018_Moti_Kund_Lecture

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day5_16November2018_Pavana_Sarovar_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day5_16November2018_Pavana_Sarovar_Lecture

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day5_16November2018_Vrinda_Kund_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day5_16November2018_Vrinda_Kund_Lecture

Part 2

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day6_17November2018_Prema_Sarovar_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day6_17November2018_Prema_Sarovar_Lecture

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day6_17November2018_Sanket_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day6_17November2018_Sanket_Lecture

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day6_17November2018_Ter_Kadamba_Lecture

Part 3

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day7_18November2018_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day7_18November2018_Lecture-with-BVAS

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day8_19November2018_Brahmanda_Ghat_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day8_19November2018_Brahmanda_Ghat_Lecture

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day8_19November2018_Raval_Kirtan

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day8_19November2018_Raval_Lecture

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day9_20November2018_Lecture

KKS_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day9_20November2018_Surabhi_Kund_Lecture

KeshavaMadhavaDas_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day5_16November2018_Moti_Kund_Kirtan

Ramanaji_GourKishor_Vrindavan_Kartik_Parikrama_Day8_19November2018_Raval_Kirtan

The article " Vrindavan Kartik Parikrama, November 2018 – Audio Recordings " was published on KKSBlog.

Thursday, February 14th, 2019
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Saint John, New Brunswick

Strolling & Meeting

At the intersection, the light turned red.  I was standing there waiting for a green.  The red hand that was before me and the man with a coffee clutched tightly gave me some talking ammunition.  "In the culture I come from that open palm gesture means we are getting a blessing."

"If you move forward," said the tall gent who smiled, "it won't be a blessing," indicating a car could come and flatten you.  I agreed.

"The open palm would indicate 'be patient the blessings are forth coming.'"  We crossed.

"Have a good one," he said.

I meandered through the snow-ridden but now ploughed streets.  I was enjoying that older architecture that is so abounding in this historical Loyalist city.  On one street, two fellows, one with a snow shovel, were chatting, with the one instructing the other.  "Hello," one said to me.

 I returned the gesture. 

But then the instructing fellow looked back and scolded the shoveler for not doing as directed.  "Throw the snow against the building," he said, harshly.

 I thought he could have done a better job of community, given that it's Valentine's Day.  A little more love goes a long way.

After trekking through residential neighbourhoods, I came upon that Uptown park, and then commerce area.  A man and woman were stationary in conversation.  It seemed to me it was like church-talk because the woman ended the conversation with a "just keep up the faith... just keep up the faith."

They parted, but I kept up the conversation, feeling slightly like an eavesdropper.  "That word 'faith' is powerful," I said.

"Yes, I'm a believer!" she said as she veered off in another direction.

May the Source be with you!
4 km


Wednesday, February 13th, 2019
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Saint John, New Brunswick

Stranded

Due to nasty weather conditions, Nakula and I were grounded in his apartment for the entire day.  Strong winds blowing snow, and then ice pellets, made it impassible and impossible to take those legs out on the street.  Outside Nakula's place you have this inhibitive hump of glossy ice.  Anyway, enough of all this winter blues.  How do others deal with this dynamic?  Some people don't go anywhere.  Some shops did not open up.  That is a real storm.  How our northern people handled these severe challenges, I don't know.  All flights were cancelled today—all of them.  My earliest get away is Friday morning.

Fortunately at the St. John Airport, I met Anurag from Toronto.  It pays off to have friends in different places.  Anurag, now a banker, was formerly one of those little devotional spirits at the temple and sangha programs.  Kindly, he booked me a room for the night.  Thank you! God be with you!

It was Roy Flowers, 75, a local cab driver, who took us to a downtown hotel.  Roy appears to be a natural tour guide.  He said a bit about himself and mentioned he's related to the famous, "Buffalo Bill," the showman who put on all these wild western shows with horses, cowboys and Indians.

Cab drivers, I've found, are often colourful characters like Roy.  I do believe that somehow they have a connection to the Supreme.  After all, one of the most revered drivers of them all is Krishna himself, known as partha-sarati, which means the chariot driver of friend, Arjuna.  Come to think of it, Krishna may also have a bond with Buffalo Bill.  Long before Buffalo Bill hit the stage, Krishna drove on two wheels with four horses in the front.

May the Source be with you!
0 km



Tuesday, February 12th, 2019
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Saint John, New Brunswick

Not Deadbeat

The Vedic warrior, Bhisma, known for his virility, heroism and saintliness, was honoured today.  On this day, his birthday, we reflect on his devotional performances which include his renunciation.  Yes, the mighty warrior was also a celibate.

Well, I went off, destined for New Brunswick, and while on the plane, sitting next to me, was a man who asked about my japa meditation beads.  Other questions followed such as: "Why the colour orange?" and, "Why did you become a Krishna monk?"  Once those initial questions received their answers, I asked him about what he does?

"I'm a Catholic priest with a parish in Rothesay."  That was my intro to Father Stan.

That was interesting.  From there we got to sharing common beliefs about the world—the drugs, alcohol, broken homes, pornography, and the lost souls that lurk.  Also, what about the evangelism?  Is there competition for the older traditions like Catholicism and the Anglicans?  And what about media and its very negative take on the church re: sexual abuse?  He and I both agreed that it's an issue—a serious one—and has taxed both of our communities.  Then he mentioned it's all over the news that a huge percentage of sports trainers are accused of sexual misconduct with young trainees.

Wow! What else about this Kali Yuga, Age of Darkness, madness?

Unfortunately media rarely speaks of religions who have helped people with their problems.  Another matter.  Much work is to be done towards rectification.

By evening, I had arrived at a wellness centre with the message, "Be upbeat, not deadbeat!"

May the Source be with you!
0 km



Monday, February 11th, 2019
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Montreal, Quebec

Skates Meant Fall on Butt

At primary school, I used to express to my home-room teacher that I was not feeling well when it was Monday afternoon, and all the students would go to the arena to skate.  We kids had the freedom to shoot the puck—as in hockey—or just skid around on skates.  However, I was terrible at it.  I suppose, or I believed, that I had weak ankles.  I was this skinny thing, and I just wasn't strong in many areas of my physical body.  I could run and move like a swift wind, but those heavy, awkward skates wrapped around my feet were just too much.  I couldn't make those curves like the other guys playing hockey.  I would never become a figure skater.  I was an absolute klutz on ice.  I was, as said, hopeful as a runner, quite fair at baseball and high-jumping, but skating—an absolute failure.  I sat in the classroom, skipping out, doing homework, with my teacher up front at the desk and maybe one or two other students at their desks, perhaps also with ‘excuses’.  I was thinking: At least I'm not falling on my butt.

I had these flashbacks, as I walked in Montreal's downtown eastside, when I came upon a skating rink, where young boys were on ice, artfully swerving about, gliding; at play with puck and sticks. 

So where am I now?  Well, I'll likely never try skates again, but I have been walking and walking, and my flimsy weak ankles have been strengthened over time.  I'm not worried about climbing down the ice-covered snow bank in front of me, at the rink.  I guess you could say, I've somewhat conquered that past, with some help from my friend, Krishna.

May the Source be with you!
4 km


Koda Nitai!
→ Dandavats

After meditating all morning to be able to distribute a Bhagavatam set as an offering to Nityananda, we took a Bhagavatam set with us and displayed it. It was an average day until this sweet Chinese lady shows up at our table from no where. We tried to sell her a small Chinese book, but when she started speaking we realized she was hungry for way more than a small book . She was like “ I’m on a spiritual journey, I locked myself up in a room for a year with different ancient spiritual texts. I was hardly eating or sleeping trying to figure out who am I and what’s going on with my life. Right now I’m really interested in studying Hinduism. So which book do you recommend?” At that point it clicked, I realized this is the person that will take Bhagavatam set. I spent about 45 mins explaining and showing her the Bhagavatam cantos. Sure enough she agreed to take the set.

Iskcon Orlando Nityananda Rama’s Grand Birthday Celebrations
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Today we celebrated Nityananda's Appearance day at the ISKCON Orlando temple. We were graced by guest speaker HG Adikarta Das who gave an uplifting class on the mercy and kindness of lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda- who is lord Balaram himself, appeared in 1474 in the village of Ekachakra. Along with Lord Chaitanya and their many associates, they came to spread love of god through the powerful mantra of this age (as predicted in the Vedas), the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra!

Harinama and Food for Life Program at IIMSAM, Kenya (Album of photos)
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Glimpse of HH Mahavishnu Swami Maharaj ji accompanied with us for our Food for Life Program at IIMSAM, Near Kisumu Airport. Organization taking care of Orphans and a few HIV/AIDs affected children backed by United Nations and World Health Organisation. Harinam Kirtan followed by Prasadam serving by Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Kisumu, Kenya.

GARBHAVASA” or “SOOTIKA MANDIR” (Album of photos)
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In Janmasthan Mandir there is a Deity of Nitai (Nityananda). Hadai Pandita Bhavan is the site of the original house of Nityananda’s father. There are two banyan trees by this temple that are said to have existed since the time of Nityananda. In the centre of the main altar of the temple is a deity of Lord Nityananda. To His left, with His hands raised, is Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. On Nityananda’s right is Sri Advaita Acarya.

More Merciful than the Most Merciful
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Iskcon Mayapur: “When our Lord Caitanya disappears, by His desire, the Ganges will swell. The Ganges water will almost cover Mayapur for a hundred years, and then the water will again recede. For some time only the place will remain, devoid of houses. Then again, by the Lord’s desire, this place will again be manifest, and the devotees will build temples of the Lord. One exceedingly wonderful temple (adbhuta-mandira) will appear from which Gauranga’s eternal service will be preached everywhere.”

Sri Nityananda-trayodasi
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By Giriraj Swami

Pure devotees have no selfish desires. They have no desire even for liberation. Their only desire is to serve the Lord. Still, sometimes the Lord will give liberation to a pure devotee—though never the impersonal liberation of merging into the brahmajyoti—as a facility for the devotee to serve the Lord. He may award the devotee sarupya (equal bodily features, to serve the Lord), salokya (facility to live on the same planet as the Lord), sarsti (possession of opulence like the Lord), and samipya (close association with the Lord). Such personal liberations may be offered by the Lord to the devotee as facilities for further devotional service, but the devotee neither desires nor asks for them. They come simply by the grace of the Lord. Continue reading "Sri Nityananda-trayodasi
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