11th in the U.S for 2018 (Album with photos) Mohanasini…
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11th in the U.S for 2018 (Album with photos)
Mohanasini Lightfoot: You know how you get that happy, satisfied feeling when you’ve done something you know is right? Well, multiply that a million fold to feel the bliss of distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books! PLEASE click on the pics to see what these fortunate souls think!
Book totals for this album ending January 22, 2019: 9 Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, 25 Perfection of Yoga, 25 Chant and Be Happy, 143 Higher Taste Cookbooks, 4 Science of Self Realization, 96 original softbound Bhagavad Gitas, 12 original hardbound Bhagavad Gitas, and 3 Srimad Bhagavatams Total: 317 books
Totals for 2018: 8142 books, 11th in the U.S
Find them here:https://goo.gl/azFtE4

Kirtan Mellows (15 min. video)
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Kirtan Mellows (15 min. video)
Srila Prabhupada: The devotee can constantly think of the object of worship, the Supreme Lord, in any of His features—Narayana, Krishna, Rama, etc. – by chanting Hare Krishna. This practice will purify him, and at the end of his life, due to his constant chanting, he will be transferred to the kingdom of
God. (Bhagavad-Gita 8.8 Purport)

Sun Love Feast – Jan 27th, 2019 – Vedic discourse by His Grace Mahabhagwat Prabhu
→ ISKCON Brampton



His Grace Mahabhagavat Das is a disciple of His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari. Mahabhagavat Das along with his spouse are very senior well respected devotees in Toronto and are often associated along with the names of Vaisesika Prabhu for expanding the Sankirtan initiative across the GTA and South Western Ontario. Together as a family they have made preaching their life mission and will go beyond their limits to ensure that Srila Prabhupada’s books are being distributed.

Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 

And Be Happy!!

ayur harati vai pumsam
udyann astam ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-ksano nita
uttama-sloka-vartaya

Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one
who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.
 ~ Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.17




11.00 - 11.15      Tulsi Puja
11.15  - 11.30     Guru Puja
11:30 - 11:55     Aarti & Kirtan
11.55  - 12.00    Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers
12.00 - 1:00     Vedic discourse
  1.00 - 1.30      Closing Kirtan
  1.30 - 2.00     Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast


COMING UP AHEAD



Sat-tila Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Thu Jan 31st,  2019
Breakfast................  on Fri Feb 1st, 2019 b/w 7:35am – 8:32 am

Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or
simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures
and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.By constantly ‘exercising’ our minds through
regular japa we can train our senses to push the threshold of contentment.
English audio glorification of all Ekadasis is available here 

ONGOING PROGRAMS

Adult Education At The Temple
ISKCON Brampton offers various courses and Seminars for adults. The courses take a personal approach to learning. It encourages the student not only to study thoroughly the contents of Srila Prabhupada’s books but also to clearly understand the philosophy and practically apply it. The course focuses on behaviour and character, nurturing students in appropriate Vaishnava values.
Professionally designed and presented, it draws on the principles of Krishna consciousness
and the best of progressive education. In this way, it is true to ISKCON’s heritage and at the
same time relevant to its mission in contemporary society.

For further information, please contact HG Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi @ premagaurangi.jps@hotmail.com


Sunday School

To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com
Call:647.893.9363

The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates,
quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed
to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).


Monthly sankirtan Festival(MSF)
“One who has life can preach, and one who preaches gets life.”(Previous Acaryas)
Every member of ISKCON should have the opportunity to make advancement in Krishna
consciousness by preaching.We encourage everyone to come out and participate and make
Srila Prabhupada happy.

Please contact:
Dharma Dasa- dharandev58@gmail.com-647.892.0739(Mississauga and Brampton regions)


The Mentorship Program

Please note that registration in the Mentorship System is now a mandatory requirement for all initiation requests at ISKCON Brampton.It

1.Facilitates  and nurtures devotees aspiring for first and second Initiation.
2.One-on-One personal follow up on a regular basis.
3.Systematic training to devotees in matters of Philosophy, Sadhna, Vaishnava behavior, etiquette, Lifestyle and attitudes.

To find details please click here


Gift Shop

Are you looking for some amazing gift items which are less expensive and more beautiful for your
loved ones for festivals or many other occasions??
Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your
visit. It offers textiles, jewelry, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs
inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.

Is God far away?
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 April 2010, Durban, South Africa, Lecture at Ratha Yatra)

There are many people all over the world who are adhering to some religion and are worshiping God! They speak about intimacy and about getting close. One day, I was preparing a seminar on the topic of prayer so I had researched different things on prayer. I looked on the internet to see if I could find something general on prayer and I found a quote by one Christian priest who said, “Whenever I pray, I realize how far away I am from God…”

When I read that, I was thinking that we don’t have that! Whenever we pray, we feel very close to Krsna! All of us, although we are not very great devotees and although we do not have much love for Krsna, we do not feel so far away. Krsna is here! When we dance in front of the Lord, we know he is right here. So this is Krsna consciousness; it is immediately very intimate! A very intimate relationship with Krsna!

The article " Is God far away? " was published on KKSBlog.

Happy Home for Krishna’s Cows-Video
→ Mayapur.com

Sri Mayapur Goshala is a happy home for Sri Radha-Madhava’s Cows. Situated in the ISKCON campus, Mayapur Goshala serves to give the best of care in terms of fodder, shelter, medication, cleanliness and an opportunity to serve the cows! Watch in this video Mayapur Goshala’s Care for Cows! Become a Mayapur Goshala Sevak today!  

The post Happy Home for Krishna’s Cows-Video appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Sunday, January 20, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Houston, Texas

Best Medicine

All of the attendees at this weekend’s medical conference were handed a credit-tracking record form to be tallied.  According to my addition, I can claim 11 points out of 14.75. Where my numbers went, I don’t know. Some missing points were due to my pulling out for drama practice.  I enjoyed the conference so much and I felt right at home with the group of medical professionals.  However, my greater passion is in drama presentations in the company of performers.

Both groups have something in common. Yes.  An entertainer offers the audience a type of medicine.  In fact, laughter is the best of medicines.  

One of the features of the Gauranga Hall is a stage which I stood upon to introduce our prepared piece, “First Timer.”  The Hall was full of medical people, congregants—including their children—and one monk, Ritavidya Swami.  So, I addressed the crowd,  “Comedy is an exaggeration of the truth.”  The curtains opened, unfolding a portrayal of an objectivity on an aspect of life.  In this case, the spectator is viewing some culture shocks that a newcomer sometimes goes through on a first visit to a temple.  

Yes, indeed, we make mistakes in the execution of our devotions.  We can laugh at them when staring at them—when they are “in our face.”  My only hope is that we can step ahead and correct some wrongs in regard to our dealings with new people, as well as dealings amongst ourselves. 

The performers did well.  I’m grateful to the young folks who laid out the short story. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs52zPlAA79/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=wn38glndieuy

My great highlights of the day are the medical presentations, the drama, and the topic I spoke on, from the Bhagavatam, which was ‘family’.  The word is derived from the Latin word famulus, and defined as “household of servants.”

May the Source be with you!
0 km


Saturday, January 19, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Houston, Texas

To Midnight

I was previously requested to give a class from the Bhagavatam and had no idea from which verse I would be speaking.  It ended up being one of those 10thCanto verses presenting a list of the names of  Krishna’s children.  There was little to no philosophical content to the verse, but somehow or other the hour-long space given to me ran smoothly.

I was also somewhat concerned about being the first presenter for the Bhaktivedanta Medical Seminar with theme “East Meets West: An Holistic Approach to Health” before approximately eighty professionals, many of them MDs.  My topic was “Putting Heart and Feet Together,” about walking and its benefits.  Whew! I got through that as well.  I find that you have to entertain a bit.  The idea is to bring the audience on the walk with you.

And walking, I did squeeze in.  Over two miles away from the ISKCON Centre is a farm lot with three gir cows, a beautiful home on nine acres.  A tour, a meal, and a cooking demo were the components to that visit. I met the man who first discovered oil in Guyana—a treat.  “Oil can ruin a nation that has learned sustainability,” he warned.  

From the farm, I walked back to Gauranga Hall, the place of the presentations on health. Finally, the day was over and my evening assignment began, working with local youth on a preparation for a Sunday drama.  “First Timer” is what it’s called.  It’s a short sketch and it’s comedic.  Comedy is a medicine.  It is an exaggeration of the truth.

Our practice took us to midnight.

May the Source be with you!
4 km

Friday, January 18, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Round Rock/Houston, Texas

With Tibetan Monks

Walking today consisted of a few steps along a spillway and the Bushy Creek Trail, and up to the home of Rama Vijay, one of the organizers of the famous Sadhu Sangha which takes place in North Carolina every year.  Rama Vijay is a handsome thirty-eight -year-old husband and father who most recently was stricken with cancer.  Although a very successful businessman, he had to desist from employment to work on regaining health.  With Ayurvedic treatment, a change of diet and other measures, he hopes to make a turnaround.

He asked me, “What did you speak about in the morning Bhagavatam class held at the suburban home of Rupa and Maha?”

I spoke from Canto 7, a verse from the progressive five-year-old Prahlad, and how he viewed no one as friend, and no one as enemy.  He was referring to a ‘oneness’ and that all souls are simply servants of the Supreme. In the purport, Prabhupada spoke of this point of view as Vaikunthathinking.  We are all servants.

Rama Vijay, who gets around with the aid of a walker, nodded in approval, liking the term “Vaikuntha thinking.”  I do wish RV well.

Whisked away down the interstate (on a set of wheels), a sweet family, with their dog, Chicoo, brought me to Houston which is east-bound. At the community centre, the community was deeply sunk into prasadam.Along with these good folks was a group of Tibetan monks.  It looks like they can enjoy pizza like a Krishna monk from Canada can.  They were very gracious and I believe the managers were reciprocally kind to them.  After all, hosts extend the warmth first, and then the gesture returns.

May the Source be with you!
4 km


Thursday, January 17, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Round Rock, Texas

To The Heart of Texas

I was air-bound to reach Austin, Texas, and while waiting at the airport gate in Toronto, I could hear behind me two young women conversing casually, stumbling on the word “like” very frequently.  To me they sounded like caricatures.

Next, three tall fellows, quite loud in their expressions, came by to sit next to me where there was available seating.  One had on a cowboy hat.  Considering the flight, that was a give-away that they were Texans.

In the queue for boarding, a young oriental guy and I began chatting about weather and walking.  “Of course, walking is best in summer,” he expressed.

I mildly argued the point.  “Walking is good in all seasons.”

I was scheduled to give a talk, “Tales From Trails” and that happened at a community centre in Round Rock, just outside of Austin. A group of bhakti-yogis of the south-east Asian community were focused  on hearing of my U.S. pilgrimage.  I was personally proud of the fact that I did not have to merge-in any of my Canadian pastimes.  There is enough material there for both nations individually.

I also read a section of Chaitanya Bhagavat, about the life of traveler Chaitanya, followed by dance and song lessons for a kirtan. Chaitanya was a monk from the early 16thcentury, who trekked a lot, chanted, and danced with his companions, enthusing people from all walks of life.

As I have expressed in previous entries, I have remorse when I cannot fit in time for walking.  At least some leg movement occurred this evening in the form of dance.

I thank Rupasagara and Maha Sundari for hosting me.

May the Source be with you!
0 km  

Wednesday, January 16, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

I Ventured Alone in Memory

I ventured out alone after leading a song in the temple.  I more or less burst out the door after an intense but good day.  Out I went into -9 Celsius weather, in my thick polar orange suit, prepared for the chill.  It was an exhilarating blast of cold, much to my liking for a brisk walk.

I walked along on Bloor and Robert Street where I noticed a church emptying out.  Trinity St. Paul’s Church is often a venue for great performances.  The people pouring out were a delighted audience who heard “The Harlequin Salon.” I went inside for a peek.  The original pipe organ is still set in the back area. Nice exterior building as well.  https://www.tafelmusik.org/concert-calendar/concert/harlequin-salon

Some years ago, when Professor Joseph T. O’Connell, of U of T’s religious department, had gone to hear a concert, he and I happened to converge in the street.  He was with his wife, Kathleen.  He was a great scholar and had majored in Gaudiya Vaisnava history and culture. The Hare Krishna were his friends. He has passed on.  I attended his funeral services.  He always stood up for us in our early years.   https://iskconnews.org/remembering-joseph-t-oconnell,3280/

Anyway, it was interesting meeting him outside St. Pauls.  I had just returned from another type of concert—a Straight Edge music display by the rock band “Shelter” with singer Raghunath.  O’Connell had come from a sophisticated music ensemble, and I had just emerged from Lee’s Palace, up the street, where heavy music blares out. They were two different worlds of music genres, although I really do have a taste for classical instrumental music personally.  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelter_(band)

Professor O’Connell, the scholar, asked our guru, Srila Prabhupada, when visiting Toronto in June of 1976, whether there were any female gurus in our tradition.  In short, the answer was, “Yes!” 

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Tuesday, January 15, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Nippy Fingers Nippy Legs

“My fingers are getting numb. I can hardly feel them,” said Narahari, who obviously was affected by the January evening chill. He fussed around with his Japa meditation beads, before sliding them into his coat pocket on the right side. We were walking through the residential area of Rosedale, and subsequently, I said, “I figured that one out years ago.  When your fingers get cold remove the beads from the pouch they’re in, and make your pocket the pouch (bead bag).

Narahari was chanting quite attentively in the course of our short walk, as we snaked our way through the curvy walkways of Rosedale. It’s really quite pleasant here despite the nippiness of the night.  The chill is no problem for a Canuck like me, but for Narahari, who hails from India, it was a new experience, so it seemed.

Narahari was remarking about the expensive homes, some of them mansions, and how none of them are acquisitions he would be interested in.  ‘Keeping it simple’ was what he was getting at.  I was thinking he was more like a monk than a householder.

We swung around in the direction heading back to the ashram where the day had been most interesting.  To catch a thief is more like what we went through, today, as it was Narahari who was the victim of theft two weeks ago.  Police came over to ask questions and give directions to a group of us should the thief reappear. 

The day was long, and at the end I was forwarded an article from the Toronto Observer on the topic (with pictures) of “The Walking Monk’ by journalist Doha Hanno.  https://torontoobserver.ca/2019/01/10/torontos-walking-monk/

May the Source be with you!
4 km 

Monday, January 14, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

The Before and Now

It was in that same queue at the Vancouver Airport that the fellow next to me asked another curious question, after I told him I was a Southern Ontario kid raised on a farm, and that I became a monk in 1973.

“So what’s behind a boy from small-town Canada becoming a Hare Krishna monk?”

My answer was: “I was drawn to the simple life and to spirituality.  It came so naturally, and no doubt, it had something to do with my previous life and how I lived that out.  My inclinations from then spilled over into my current life.”

The man was intently listening and with a smile. It was just too bad our line was moving, and that we boarded the Air Canada plane, with him having his secured seat way in the back and mine being fairly close to the front on Flight 126. We could have had an ongoing dialogue.

Back at home in the ashram, I worked hours in a sedentary fashion on the phone and with pen on mission-oriented projects. It was fun, but in the evening, our ashramdwellers came together for our weekly gathering over Russian potato salad and a reading/discussion from Prabhupada’s Nectar of Devotion.  The topic was about fructified and unfructified seeds of karma,in regard to living out life reactions from our former lives, both good and bad.

In the discussion with Madhu and Andrey, we identified four positive assets that a person reaps from pious actions in the past—wealth or comfortable living, intelligence or common sense, good parentage, and physically wholesome features.  It was an interesting theme.

My last thoughts of the day, as I stood in the temple, were of the image of Radha’s, whom I refer to as the Queen of Toronto.

May the Source be with you!
3km

Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja Disappearance
→ Ramai Swami

Ramacandra Kaviraja, the son of Sri Ciranjiva Sena (eternal associate of Lord Caitanya), appeared in Sri Khanda. “Ramacandra Kaviraja was especially earnest, beautiful, intelligent, energetic, and enthusiastic,” said one biographer. 

Although married, Ramacandra and his wife, Ratanala, had no material attachments. They stayed fully engaged in the loving service of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They had no children. 

With steadfast devotion he served his spiritual master, Srinivasa Acharya. In Vrindavan, Sri Jiva Goswami gave him the title, kaviraja, “king of poets.”

In the form of Karna manjari, he serves Srimati Radharani in Vraja lila. His samadhi is in Dhira Samira Kunja next to Srinivasa Acharya. 

Srimad Bhagavatam :HH Subhag Swami
→ Mayapur.com

Srimad Bhagavatam Verse: 9.11.18-19 Date: 23 Jan 2019 Speaker: HH Subhag Swami Text 18: After mother Sītā entered the earth, Lord Rāmacandra observed complete celibacy and performed an uninterrupted Agnihotra-yajña for thirteen thousand years. Translation 19: After completing the sacrifice, Lord Rāmacandra, whose lotus feet were sometimes pierced by thorns when He lived in Daṇḍakāraṇya, placed those […]

The post Srimad Bhagavatam :HH Subhag Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Death and Dying from the Vedic Perspective, January 19, Houston
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami gave the keynote presentation on his book Life’s Final Exam: Death and Dying from the Vedic Perspective at the Bhaktivedanta Medical Retreat in Houston.

 

Live from Bhaktivedanta Medical Retreat in Houston, where Giriraj Swami is giving the keynote presentation on his book Life’s Final Exam: Death and Dying from the Vedic Perspective.

Posted by Anish Pillai on Saturday, January 19, 2019

Death and Dying From the Vedic Perspective – Keynote Presentation

New logo to commemorate ISKCON UK’s 50th anniversary unveiled
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By Mina Sharma

A new logo to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ISKCON UK has today been unveiled by the organisational team.Designed by Anantacarya Das, the striking logo encompasses the colours of the Union Jack and features a map of the UK in the background.Speaking today, Praghosa Dasa, UK GBC Chairman said:“The 50th anniversary is an historic milestone for ISKCON UK, where we lookback at the incredible story of how our first temple and deities were established in London, to today where the movement is thriving and going onto bigger and better things.“This logo is an important symbol for us as a UK yatra, bringing together all the wonderful work each of our centres do and will continue to do for the next fifty years and beyond.”. Continue reading "New logo to commemorate ISKCON UK’s 50th anniversary unveiled
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Reflections on the Bhakta Program for 2018 at Rupanuaga Vedic College, Kansas City, USA
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Hare KrishnaBy Krishna Bhagavan dasa

In recent months RVC has added many new preaching programs including "Bhakti Vriksha" - a weekly program for congregation and temple members, First Friday Art gallery event in downtown Kansas City, and monday evening drum circles at a local park. RVC has taken up as its top priority to upgrade and update: many of the temple and bhakta ashram facilities, kitchen, prasadam*dining* room, basement hall, and other needs and requirements of the devotees. During 2018 the temple installed a completely new roof, installed a new AC system, updated the restrooms, and fixed other maintenance issues. At RVC, we are making our best efforts to make the "bhakta program" more enlivening, comfortable, and fulfilling.” Continue reading "Reflections on the Bhakta Program for 2018 at Rupanuaga Vedic College, Kansas City, USA
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CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhakti-latā Dasi

Sending and receiving a letter to an inmate is just as exhilarating and rewarding: connecting one-on-one with a receptive soul, even more so one who is suffering and conscious of his/her suffering and seeking help, is the most rewarding activity I have ever experienced. Given that I have in my possession the key that will unlock their prison, the knowledge that will end all their suffering, it follows naturally that it is my duty—and privilege—to make sure that as many inmates as possible get hold of it too. Continue reading "CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG
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The age of forgiveness
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 January 2015, Simhachalam, Germany, Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 7.16)

We must not blindly follow but always use our intelligence to deeply understand our philosophy and all the stories from the different ages. In previous ages, quite outstanding things were possible. In those times, sages had amazing powers and piety was a big thing.

But now, we live in a different age. The first principle of this age is forgiveness, ksama; that is the essence. If there is no forgiveness – forget it! If you cannot forgive then you cannot be a devotee, as it is not going to work that way. So many people do things to us and sooner or later, it is a devotee. Have you thought about the things that devotees have done to you? Devotees, you know, tilak and neckbeads, how they have treated us sometimes!? But forgiveness is required because how can we live amongst the vaisnavas without forgiveness? How can we preach without forgiveness? The fact is that everyone is so sinful, so fallen, so learning to forgive is a very deep thing.

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhismadev says that to conquer anger one must learn to forgive, as without forgiving, some anger remains. There are different types of anger –  first there is a hot anger, the fist on the table type, ‘And now, it is enough!!’  Then there is the other anger, the cold one, where the heart freezes and one says, ‘For that one, there is no mercy!’  Ice-cold anger in a frozen heart.

So we need to see others through our own example and ask ourselves who is actually perfect amongst us, who has never made a mistake? Who has not done anything wrong to anybody? If there is an angel amongst us, please show us your wings! So we can see it is not that feasible. Therefore, if we approach others through our own life and through how we have dealt with others, then it is easier to forgive.

We are filled with weaknesses, so to forgive means to accept weakness in others, that they make mistakes and that they are not perfect. It is actually to be expected in this age of kali because in this age, weakness of character is our biggest problem. We are weak – we have no determination, we have no piety, we are proud, we cannot tolerate very much, we are lazy and we do not want to work very hard, we are not very learned but at the same time, we think that we know everything.

These are all the typical things that everybody has – everybody! It is not that somebody is different, but everybody thinks, ‘I know very well! Why they are telling me this, when I already know it? What can I do, when Krsna gave it to me, to know things!’  The root cause of our material disease is manifested in thinking, ‘I know!’ Because we think that way, it becomes such a habit to just do our own thing and not accept a proper guidance.

The article " The age of forgiveness " was published on KKSBlog.

Kids Bhagavatam (Chapter 2) by LightOfGodhead
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaPlease find the Kids Bhagvatam summary video for Canto1, Chapter 2 - "Divinity and Divine Service". We pray this inspires some of you to try this teaching methodology with your kids at home/Sunday school etc. Please write to me personally if you would like to use any of the resources. We seek your blessings to continue this journey of learning Srimad Bhagavatam.

If Jesus came today, he would not be a Christian – should we avoid organized religion?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post If Jesus came today, he would not be a Christian – should we avoid organized religion? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Srila Prabhupada’s Transcendental Sweetness and Beauty
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Hare KrishnaBy Yamuna Devi Dasi

Two months later, on Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja day - 9 September 1966 - Srila Prabhupada held the first initiations in ISKCON. Michael Grant became Mukunda Dasa and Jan became Janaki Dasi, Srila Prabhupada's first woman initiate and one of three ISKCON trustees. Three days later, Prabhupada performed a marriage ceremony for them. In those early years, Prabhupada established a personal, warm rapport with each of his disciples and nurtured them in spiritual life. This was true of both men and women. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada’s Transcendental Sweetness and Beauty
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Vrndavana – Land of No Return
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Hare KrishnaBy Brahmananda Dasa

The transcendental land of Vrndavana is always spiritual. That spiritual land is populated by goddesses of fortune, who are known as gopis. These are all beloved of Krsna, and Krsna is the only lover of all those gopis. The trees of that land are kalpa-vrksa, wish-fulfilling trees, and one can have anything he wants from them. The land is made of touchstone and the water of nectar. In that supreme abode, all speech is song, all walking is dancing, and one's constant companion is the flute. Surabhi cows flood the land with milk, and everything is self-luminous, just like the sun in the material world. Since every moment there is spent in loving service to Krsna, there is no past, present or future. Continue reading "Vrndavana – Land of No Return
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Vaishnava Etiquette
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhakti Caru Swami

Folding his hands, Sanatana Gosvami said, "My Lord, You ordered me to write a directory about the activities of Vaishnavas. I am a most lowborn person. I have no knowledge of good behavior. How is it possible for me to write authorized directions about Vaishnava activities?" Sanatana Gosvami then requested the Lord, "Please personally tell me how I can write this difficult book about Vaishnava behavior. Please manifest Yourself in my heart. If You would please manifest Yourself within my heart and personally direct me in writing this book, then, although I am lowborn, I may hope to be able to write it. Continue reading "Vaishnava Etiquette
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