Jagadisa Pandit Appearance
→ Ramai Swami

In Vraja there was a dancer named Chandrahasa who was very expert in the tasting of rasa. In Caitanya-lila, he became Jagadisa Pandit who also took great pleasure in dancing for the Lord.

Jagadisa came with his wife Duhkhini and his brother Hiranya to Mayapur on the shores of the Ganga where they built a home near that of Jagannatha Mishra. Jagadisa Pandit became Jagannatha Mishra’s very close friend and Duhkhini became like a nurse to Nimai.

On his way back to Bengal after visiting Jagannatha Puri, Jagadisa cried in separation. Lord Jagannatha appeared to him in a dream and asked him to take His vigraha and serve it. 

Simultaneously, He appeared to the king of Orissa and ordered that at the time when the wooden Deity of Jagannatha was changed, the outgoing form should be given to Jagadisa Pandit.

The Lord told Jagadisa that wherever He was set down and couldn’t be carried further, that place should be His place of worship. The place was the village of Jashora on the banks of the Ganges.

Both Nityananda Prabhu and Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the Jagannatha Temple in Jashora on two occasions, being attracted by Jagadisa Pandit and his wife’s parental devotion. They held samkirtan and a feast both times. 

Serving Krishna by Serving Tulasi
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Hare KrishnaBy Vishakha Devi Dasi

Srila Jiva Gosvami, arguably one of the greatest spiritual scholars in the history of religion, said that one does not really accept God unless one accepts his inconceivable nature. In other words, if we try to limit God in some way, then in effect we have eliminated his true nature. In the same way, how the Lord’s internal potency for performing pastimes in this world expands as the pure devotee Tulasi, an eternal consort of Krishna, is also inconceivable. Devotees simply accept her and worship her with joy in their hearts. And if she blesses them by growing luxuriously, as she has in Vancouver, that, Srila Prabhupada wrote, is evidence of their sincere devotion. Continue reading "Serving Krishna by Serving Tulasi
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“Make him puris if he wants puris”
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Hare KrishnaBy Srutakirti dasa

Sometimes Srila Prabhupada affectionately spoke about his father. When he did, it was always with great fondness. "My father would make sure that whatever I wanted I would get," he said. "Even if it was in the middle of the night and I wanted puris, my father would say to my mother, 'Make him puris if he wants puris.' Sometimes my mother would resist, but my father would make her do it. It was like that. I don't know. Maybe my father knew. He was always doing things like that. Then my mother would have to comply with him." Continue reading "“Make him puris if he wants puris”
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Cultivating an Empathetic Heart
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Hare KrishnaBy Archana Siddhi Devi Dasi

When I was a young devotee, I was strict about attending all the temple programs. But I found myself critical of devotees who didn't always attend. One devotee suffered from an illness and did her best to come when she could. But I felt she could do better. Not long after those thoughts contaminated my consciousness, however, I became ill and often missed mangala-arati, the early-morning worship. Krishna accomplishes many things by one action, and one result of my illness was a diminishing of my critical mentality. Krishna has often placed me in situations similar to those of people for whom I lacked empathy, helping me develop more understanding of others' difficulties. Continue reading "Cultivating an Empathetic Heart
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Youth for Sustainability
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Two years ago, six devotees from different yatras started to organize youth exchanges at several ISKCON temples in Europe. They saw a need for ISKCON’s youth to get together, develop deep friendships, integrate into the ISKCON community, and develop a philosophical understanding of our faith.  

Mood of Worship — Bhanu Swami (5 min video)
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Srila Prabhupada: Lord Krishna stresses the importance of remembering Him. One‘s memory of Krishna is revived by chanting the maha-mantra, Hare Krishna. By this practice of chanting and hearing the sound vibration of the Supreme Lord, one’s ear, tongue and mind are engaged. This mystic meditation is very easy to practice, and it helps one attain the Supreme Lord. (Bhagavad-Gita 8.8 Purport)


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Can near-death experiences be induced in everyone so they can be become repeatable experimental evidence?
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Answer Podcast

The post Can near-death experiences be induced in everyone so they can be become repeatable experimental evidence? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Iskcon devotees in kumbhamela 2019 (Album of 90 photos) On 15th…
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Iskcon devotees in kumbhamela 2019 (Album of 90 photos)
On 15th January 1st Shahi Snan ( on makara Sankranti ) in Prayagraj Kumbhamela 2019!
Srila Prabhupada: I don’t say, “Follow me.” I say “Follow Krishna.” Krishna says, “Surrender unto Me.” I say “Surrender unto Krishna.” Is there any difference? My position is simply repeating because Krishna says, “Anyone who preaches this confidential subject matter, he is dear to Me.” Allahabad, January 18, 1971
Find them here: https://goo.gl/bEUxLZ

Panca-krosa Parikrama Invitation
→ Mayapur.com

We invite the devotees worldwide to take part in Sri Panca-krosa Parikrama on 27th January, 2019. Following the footsteps of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, devotees will perform Parikrama of holy places in Sri Mayapur, Ganga Nagara, Barakona ghat, Mahaprabhu ghat, Simantadvipa, Mayamari and other places. For more details, write to mayapur.parikrama@gmail.com To offer seva for Parikrama, […]

The post Panca-krosa Parikrama Invitation appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Principles and details
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Disagreement over issues is not as disruptive as disagreement over the importance of the disagreements (Based on Gita 18.22)
When we see disruptive disagreements among friends who share our faith, we feel distressed. Why? Because we practice our faith to experience peace, not strife. Indeed, the specter of religious conflicts drives fence-sitters towards agnosticism, atheism or even anti-theism.


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Why do bad things happen to good people?
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, November 2015, Vrindavan, India, Video Interview)

Good and bad things happen to everyone in this world – no one is exempt. This is the nature of a world where everything has two sides – everything can be used for pleasure and everything can be used for pain. We should see this dual nature of the world and understand that we are not in the right place. And for this reason, we should get out of here and go back to the spiritual world where there is no pain but only pleasure! The best way to go back to the spiritual world is by the process of serving the vaisnavas. Because through devotional service we will engage in the chanting of the holy name of Krsna. Then we can go back to Godhead. Then, no more bad things will happen to good people there!

The article " Why do bad things happen to good people? " was published on KKSBlog.

Kirtan Night at Mayapur (Album of photos) The fourth Kirtan…
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Kirtan Night at Mayapur (Album of photos)
The fourth Kirtan Night of the season with HH Krishna Kshetra Swami ….. leading up to Kirtan Mela 2019.
Srila Prabhupada: The holy name of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent; therefore when a devotee chants Hare Krishna, Krishna and His internal potency are dancing on the tongue of the devotee. Bhagavad-Gita 12.8 Purport.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EcgdJt

Sudama das: It was a very hot day in Oregon, in August of 1968….
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Sudama das: It was a very hot day in Oregon, in August of 1968. I awoke rather early, which for me and the people I was around at that time was somewhat unusual. Usually, coming down from last night’s drugs, everyone would rise sometime afternoon. On that day, as on every day, I awoke with a feeling of separation, a searching for, a longing for…


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Vaishnava Teacher: the relevance of his/her role in the education of devotee children and teens
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Hare KrishnaBy Mani Manjari Devi Dasi

Devotee parents need to be aware of the big impact that secular teachers have in the religious education and spiritual development of their children. Neither a course of moral values or positive education can bring a permanent feeling of happiness or prepare children and teens for lost and grief that they might face at certain time in their lives. It is only through a loving personal relationship with Lord Krishna that a persona can face the hardest moment of life with integrity. Continue reading "Vaishnava Teacher: the relevance of his/her role in the education of devotee children and teens
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Thursday, January 10th, 2019
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Spence's Bridge, British Columbia

The Valley and the Bridge

Jaya Govinda let me off at the juncture of the Trans Canada Highway and Venables Valley Road.  I put it to him like this: "If I don't walk now, I won't get a chance later."  He understood.  So from there I slowly ascended to a higher altitude by way of a country road which was slippery in parts.

At this late morning time, the sun was peaking in intensity.  I actually began to sweat despite the snow all around, and unpeeled my coat, but still perspired in the process of walking.

I came to some realization regarding meeting people.  Stay on the road and eventually motorists will take that road you're on.  They'll stop and talk in a small place like this. In the past I would walk from door to door to make a monk's visit, but I see now that you stay on the main trail and the world comes to you.

Now outside Venables Valley I know only a few folks.  Satarupa, a resident, kindly arranged a talk at the Spence's Bridge community hall, next to the Garuda Inn.  There's a hundred and fifty residents here, and the town is known for creating the Granny Smith's apple.  Far out!

Twenty-five or more people turned up, come from the valley, to hear a session of "Tales from Trails."  So, you have a mix of those who are informed of bhakti yoga and those who are not.  At Q and A time, a man from the valley asked, "What do you think of when you're walking?"

Answer (in short) was, "I contemplate on my three phases of time.  What I did that shapes me now and what I do now that shapes my future."

May the Source be with you!
6 km


Wednesday, January 9th, 2019
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Surrey, British Columbia

Autistic Kid

On a day when I found no room/time to walk, I came up with a song on what happened when on a visit to a home of a loving autistic kid.  You can put a tune to it.

Autistic Kid    ©Bhaktimarga Swami

Well, the rain is quite serious right now
To stand to nature and give that bow—
Is to see reality in its face
A duality you'll always find in this place
The condition is that I am house-bound
In the home of a fifteen-year-old boy
Who snuck to his room to fetch his toy
We were all sitting in the living room
Hearing the stories from his mum and her groom
He's been struggling slow since he was born
A life that can be seen as very forlorn
But the parents end up looking quite clean
In the love that they give to this young teen
Well, his name is Nick, he comes with a kiss
He's got two great saints and an urban sis
He's got a life of love and a lot of luck
He's got it good, he's strong like a forest buck
With a soul that's just like you and me
We heard of his life over herbal tea
We finished the eve with song and guitar
Before we all got to our respective car
We'll remember sweet Nick, he's so slick
Cause he may give you a kiss or give you a kick
And that's okay cause we know him quite well
Nick and his family we think they're so swell.

May the Source be with you!
0 km

Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
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Coquitlam, British Columbia

Spiritual Trail

Balaram turned twenty, today.  He's reserved, stays away from drugs, plays the bag-pipes and likes Krishna.  Along with his Mom, Manohini, we ventured off to Nitai Priya's for a great meal of asparagus, dahl soup and salad.  Also with us were Dale and Danielle.  It was light talk.  We stuck to positive topics including the topic of walking.  Generally people are intrigued with the power-walking I've undertaken.  I relayed to these sweet people that chanting mantras in the course of foot-stepping is a strapping way to live life.

Juniper, a person, was there to sit but not listen. He's lovingly hairy but I suspect, given his pampered life, not much matters to him outside the comforts of the condo.  It's easy to see there's a soul in this cat as revealed through his eyes.

Our group (minus Juniper) hit two trails in the Coquitlam area, in the midst of mountains.  Streams of water floated down, cascading over rock with ferns and fungi all about.  It was quite heavenly, although a trifle grey and wet.

Balaram was off with Tilak, the part-terrier.  He loves the trails.  Who wouldn't?  Trails are for people, both the physical and spiritual.  Had I not the bhaktitrail to tread, I'm not sure where I would be today.

I'm concerned about the U.S. and the presidential policies which I will not delineate here.  I do see that the globe's leading nation is under duress and therefore it affects all of us.  Surely we must give the spiritual trail a try.

May the Source be with you!
3 km


VOLUME TWO, “CHASING RHINOS WITH THE SWAMI”
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Hare KrishnaIn October 1970, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami arrived in India with twenty of his Western disciples to re-ignite the dying flames of Krishna consciousness in the land of its ancient origin. Srila Prabhupada and his Dancing White Elephants were an immediate national sensation. In very short time, Prabhupada established ISKCON as a major spiritual force in India, laying the foundations for three huge temples and a dozen centers across the land. In June 1971, Shyamasundar das became Prabhupada’s personal secretary and for the next two years traveled with him around the globe—all over India, to cold-war Russia, to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, and across Europe and America—the eye-witness to Prabhupada’s incredible achievements. As they traveled, Prabhupada and Shyamasundar debated Western philosophers, from Plato to Heidegger. Now at last, here are Shyamasundar’s stories in nearly 500 pages, with 180 photos, describing in well-researched and intimate details this most exciting episode in Prabhupada’s amazing journey.