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
→ The Walking Monk

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.

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 12/09/2018
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ECO-Vrindaban New Vrindaban ISKCON cows gardens

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 12/09/2018

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes cow protection, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON New Vrindaban’s Founder-Acharya.

Participating Directors: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Jamuna Jivani (board secretary), Makara, Olivia, Ranaka, and Vraja.

Participating Advisors: Kripamaya.

1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report

Lalita Gopi (Temple Barn)

  • Milking eight cows at the Temple Barn: Lakshmi, Subhadra, Sriya, Jamuna, Malati, Surabhi, Anjali, and Usha. They are producing approximately 20 gallons of milk per day.
  • Anandavidya is making approximately 30-40 lb of butter each week, although it is hard to measure because he has not been putting it in molds since the Deity cooks are using it in large quantities for ghee.
  • The vet visited to trim Malati’s hooves and checked on Vamsika at Nandagram. He confirmed she is approximately 2.5 months pregnant.
  • Ray installed the new hundi at the Temple Barn to securely collect donations.
  • Sriya is being dried off for rebreeding and will soon go to visit Madhu the bull at Nandagram.
  • The new ECO-V bags have been very useful. Lalila Gopi is keeping a supply at the barn and offering them for $10 each when a bag is needed.
  • We are providing bedding for the cows and leaving open the barn door for the cows to come in for shelter from the winter elements.
  • We are temporarily not feeding hay on the hill above the barn due to wet and muddy weather conditions.
  • The new “Do not feed the cows during milking” signs are proving effective.

Ray (General Farm Hand)

  • Mounted two new tractor tires on the front of the 5095M John Deere tractor.
  • Moved the last three cows from the Bahulaban pasture to their winter quarters at the Valley Barn.
  • Repaired pasture fence at Valley Barn.
  • Continues moving hay as needed from the Valley Barn to the Nandagram and Temple barns.

Caitanya Bhagavat (Nandagram & Bahulaban)

  • Daily barn maintenance and general cow care: feeding hay, filling the stock tanks with water two to three times per day, bed packing, counting the cows and checking on the cows’ health and well-being at Nandagram and Bahulaban. Also, he is performing similar duties at the Valley Barn on the weekends.
  • Caring for Tulasi’s medical needs, as she is geriatric.
  • Caring for Madusudhana the sire bull and Vamsika the cow, who are at Nandagram for breeding.

Suchandra (Community & Teaching Gardens)

  • Her part-time winter crew consists of Monique and Sara
  • The crew has been preparing gardens for spring and shutting down operations for the winter:
  • Planted fall lily and gladiola bulbs at the Teaching Garden.
  • Have covered most of the lily/gladiola beds with hay.
  • Dug up cannas at the Teaching Garden.
  • Stored all ground cover to save for next year.
  • Re-planted mums where they can re-grow next year.
  • Pulled down the bitter melon and loki vines at the Teaching Garden and Vidya’s Garden.
  • Started making cages for next year’s tomatoes and vines.
  • Began measuring and mapping of the gardens for next year.
  • Planned the seed order for the coming year

Lila (Nandagram Garden)

  • She shut down the Nandagram Garden for the season and will resume in late February.

Radhanath das (Vidya’s Garden)

  • He and Dharma Raj cleaned out the garden from dead plants, removed ground cover, and added the cow manure. There are only a few beds left, which will be finished by spring.
  • Prepared pots with soil for planting the next batch of flowering bulbs (narcissus, amaryllis, and hyacinths).
  • Continued preparations for next year by finalizing the seed and supplies orders and devised strategies and goals for next season.

Ranaka

  • Vidya, Suchandra, Radhanath das, Monique, Lalita, Caitanya Bhagavat, Ray, and Ranaka met with Kacey Gantzer to hear about greenhouses and high tunnels. These structures would allow us to extended the growing season for some crops and flowers, and would yield a more even flow of harvesting throughout the growing season while reducing the labor input. Kacey is committed to working with us throughout the implementation process.

2. External Grant Request: $15K for Gopal’s Garden School 2018-19 Academic Year

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to continue its support of a school in the New Vrindaban community.

RESOLVED: The Board approves a grant of $15K for Gopal’s Garden 2018-19 school year.

Here’s a link to the ECO-Vrindaban website.

For regular updates, please visit, like and follow the ECO-V Facebook page.

Makara Sankranti Seva opportunity!
→ Mayapur.com

Makara Sankranti Seva opportunity! Today is the auspicious day of giving Charity- Makara Sankranti , when the sun enters Makara ( scorpio), is a special muhurta especially glorified for offering charity( annadana) by Vishnu Smrti. Hence, this day is known as Punya Kala- that yields unlimited spiritual credits.Contribute generously to feed Vaishnavas for Gaura Purnima […]

The post Makara Sankranti Seva opportunity! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Harry Krishna
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By Mina Sharma

The Sun, a popular British Newspaper with sales of around 1.5 million copies daily has featured Prince Harry and his wife Meghan on the front cover with the headline “Harry Krishna” after the Prince revealed that he meditates daily. Whilst he is not chanting the mahamantra, for the British press to make the connection between meditation and our movement is very powerful. Prince Harry practices a form of Buddhist meditation. On a visit to a cafe and supermarket that sells discounted food to people on low incomes, they met a 69-year-old Buddhist monk who gave Harry a copy of a book entitled 8 Steps to Happiness after the Prince told him that he meditates every day. This revelation came as the couple visited Birkenhead on the Wirral peninsula for engagements, including a walkabout in the town centre. Continue reading "Harry Krishna
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Is Krishna present in the book Bhagavatam – is he also present in a digital book?
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Answer Podcast

The post Is Krishna present in the book Bhagavatam – is he also present in a digital book? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.