Verse number:SB:9.8.24-30 Date: 2 Dec 2018 Speaker: HH Bhakti Vidya Poorna Swami praśānta māyā-guṇa-karma-liṅgam anāma-rūpaṁ sad-asad-vimuktam jñānopadeśāya gṛhīta-dehaṁ namāmahe tvāṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇam Translation: O completely peaceful Lord, although material nature, fruitive activities and their consequent material names and forms are Your creation, You are unaffected by them. Therefore, Your transcendental name is different from material […]

The post Srimad Bhagavatam class: HH Bhakti Vidya Poorna Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Our first KIRTAN NIGHT MAYAPUR of this winter season held at the Mayapur Community Hall (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: F...

Practical demonstration of book distribution (8 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: All persons in this material world are suffering ...

[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Chowpatty, India]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post How to present spiritual principles amidst changing times appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Prerana festival at ISKCON, Chowpatty, India]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

PPT:

Video:

The post Destiny – Do we make it or does it make us? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post If Krishna takes hundred steps towards us when we take one step towards him, is he partial or impartial? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Indonesia has so far around twenty temples, some big and others smaller in size. In Bali there are six main temples and one is the Jagannatha Gauranga temple, which has a very sweet atmosphere.

I visit regularly and it’s always a pleasure to attend festivals, lead kirtans and give lectures there. The devotees in Bali love kirtan and sometimes the chanting goes on for hours and hours and at the end there is, of course, wonderful prasadam.

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.6.

“Dhruva Maharaja was pleasing to everyone. He was pleasing to his brother who was the threat to his kingdom, to his father, even to hos step-mother who was so mean to him. Srila Prabhupada was like that to. He spoke about the art of criticizing. He quoted a Sanskrit sloka; Instead of saying the tree is dead and dry one should say. ‘The beautiful tree that is full of luxuriant foliage and producing so many fruits and flowers and that provides people shade, has lost its juice. Its the same as saying that it has dried up but that is an example of how one can criticize in a palatable way.

On one morning walk in Varda Srila Prabhupada said. ‘It is a great art how to criticize and unfortunately you do not know that art’. In a way he was criticizing us but the way he led into it by saying that it is a great art and not that it is a simple thing, made it palatable.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.6

Srila Prabhupada’s Winter Book Marathon 2018 - Chant & dance your way - Vayu dasa (2 min video)
Every December the entire ISKCON world focuses all attention on the distribution of transcendental literature, something we all know was so close to Srila Prabhupada’s heart. He was incredibly eager to hear the figures of how many books were being distributed. Indeed, he said it gave him life. When a new book was printed, Prabhupada felt as though he had conquered an empire. He told one disciple – “the best of me is in my books.”
Join us this marathon and let’s try to give pleasure to Krishna by giving this mercy in the form of Srila Prabhupada’s books to as many souls as possible.

Our "Paramahamster" comic strip follows an enthusiastic devotee as he navigates a 9 - 5 work day in the corporate world. Please check back weekly for new episodes!

Rathayatra in Lenasia in Johannesburg, South Africa (Album of photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Photos from our Rathayatra in Le...

Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession (Album of photos)
Saturdays around 5:00 pm in Mayapur… Magical moments of Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession.
Mystical sounds could be heard by every single living entity anywhere near ISKCON Mayapur campus. Very intense thundering of large drums beating to the rhythm of two elephant’s hearts, was the best way to bring back to mind some very sweet pastimes of our dear Lord Krsna in Dwarka.
Every Saturday evening, Sri Radha Madhava leave their altar carried by one of our leading Pujari, HG Jananivas prabhu and are reverently placed on our dear elephants Vishnupriya. Her associate the little elephant Laxmipriya also joins the procession.
Two devotees beautifully decorated, have the service of carrying their Lordship on elephants along with some devotees around the Mayapur campus. The fire lanterns being the only source of light during the procession, create a fascinating and kind of mysterious atmosphere which bring everyone to an enchanted mood. The roads are so colorful and beautifully decorated with breath taking Rangoli designs, it is hard to walk without stopping to take a longer look, but we have to follow the procession with hundreds, if not thousands of devotees and pilgrims chanting and dancing with raised arms.
In front of the procession, there is a procession of Sri Gaura –Nitai deities from Bhajan kutir in bullock cart.
The amazing kirtan & mantra chants by Gurukul boys made everyone’s heart melt and voices merged into a one unison sound. All of us present could feel how once again, these pastimes performed by the Mayapur devotees are incredibly powerful and help so much to bring everyone into a good spiritual mood. Krsna consciousness is serious business but, Oh my God… How fun and heart cleansing it can be. So every Saturday evening, we can all really do what Srila Prabhupada said “ Just chant and be happy!”
Hari Haribol !
Find them here: https://goo.gl/BZ5ce6

Saubhari Muni’s story (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam Class by Bhima Prabhu, ISKCON Juhu.

Day 8 – 19 November 2018

Written by Candrasekhara das

Most of us on the parikrama are from the West and accustomed to different comforts. Whilst Vrindavan offers its inconveniences, we must remember that Vrindavan is home and that home is nowhere else. We carry this important meditation by Kadamba Kanana Swami from Day 7 into Day 8.

We begin Day 8 with an hour-long drive from bustling Vrindavan to the clear sky-ed Brahmanda ghat. Being more rural, Brahmanda ghat is serene, peaceful and calming to the soul. We sit beside the auspicious ghat shaded by a large kadamba tree eagerly awaiting Kadamba Kanana Swami’s nectarian meditations. The parikrama thus far has been filled with special meditations. Following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityandanda, we will distribute these precious meditations to the different corners of the earth when we leave sacred Vrindavan. Brahmanda ghat is celebrated as the place where baby Krsna ate clay and displayed all the universes in his mouth when the concerned Mother Yasoda looked inside. Isn’t Krsna bewildering?

As followers of Srila Prabhupada, Brahmanda ghat is also significant as the place where Srila Prabhupada’s dear disciples gave him an abhishek in 1972 when he bathed in the ghat. Kadamba Kanana Swami made the important point that although the holy dham is filled with mercy, even more mercy is attracted to places where great vaisnavas have been, therefore making Brahmanda ghat especially potent.  

Our second stop for the day was the River Yamuna, a few hundred metres from Brahmanda ghat. In that area, the famous Damodara lila took place. HH Bhakti Ashraya Vaisnava Swami captivated the minds of everyone as he sweetly described Krsna’s humorous butter-stealing pastimes.

Our final stop for the day was Raval – the birthplace of Srimati Radharani. Due to its sanctity, Kadamba Kanana Swami decided that we spend a larger portion of our day at Raval. We sat under a mysterious tree formation which were actually two trees (one blackish and one white) that have intimately intertwined into one tree known as the Radha-Krsna tree. This is just one of many such trees in Vrindavan. Kadamba Kanana Swami, Ramanaji and Gour Krsna each led ecstatic kirtans that had us all screaming Krsna’s holy names in surcharged Raval. How nice it is to scream out Krsna’s names in all corners of Vrindavan! Although Krsna can be accessed wherever we reside in the world, he is especially accessible in holy Vrindavan. Kadamba Kanana Swami concluded the day by reminding us that it is only due to Lord Caitanya’s special mercy that we have all come to Vrindavan. By Lord Caitanya’s mercy, difficult things become easy to achieve and without his mercy, easy things become extremely difficult to achieve. We carry this meditation into the night as we excitedly await Day 9 of our exhilarating parikrama.

The article " Vrindavan Braj Parikrama – Day 8 " was published on KKSBlog.

When 300 voices come together in heartfelt chanting (2 min video)
We are on retreat in Vrindavan with 300 participants from al...

“The Trees Want To Tell Their Story” (4 min video)
The latest project from The Sacred India Gallery- “The Trees Want To Tell Their Story”. Our Artistic Director Jagattarini Dasi is in Vrindavan sharing insights into the importance of the mystical trees of this timeless land.

Verse number: Srimad Bhagavatam 9.8.23 Date: 01 Dec 2018 Speaker: HH Chandramouli Swami taṁ tvāṁ ahaṁ jñāna-ghanaṁ svabhāva- pradhvasta-māyā-guṇa-bheda-mohaiḥ sanandanādyair munibhir vibhāvyaṁ kathaṁ vimūḍhaḥ paribhāvayāmi  Translation: O my Lord, sages freed from the influence of the three modes of material nature — sages such as the four Kumāras [Sanat, Sanaka, Sanandana and Sanātana] — are […]

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

Kirtan Rasa 2018 - Live Kirtan Festival From Dubai (Damodardesh) (video)
Srila Prabhupada: Instead of actively taking part in ...

Beautiful forms inspire attraction, but attachment and affection are developed more because of beautiful characteristics. Although physically attractive, if someone doesn’t have good qualities and attitude, people are not inclined to maintain a relationship with him. But if someone is beautiful both in his form and character, relationship with him is most enlivening. Krsna’s form is exquisitely beautiful, and so is His divine character. Continue reading "SARVA SAUNDARYA SANGRAHAM: Reservoir of All Beauties
→ Dandavats"

Answer Podcast

The post If genetically modified bacteria could clean the polluted Yamuna river, is that technology still bad? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.

The word “soul” sometimes refers non-literally to the things that matter the most to us. Such a non-literal usage features in the phrase “to sell one’s soul.”

Argentina saw a unique moment in ISKCON’s history on Thursday November 22^nd. Two major Ratha Yatra festivals took place at the same time on both sides of the country – one in its capital city Buenos Aires, on the East Coast, and one in Mendoza, on the Western border of the country, at the foot of the Andes mountain range. 

Have you heard it said these days that the secret to happiness is to lower your expectations? It makes sense, doesn’t it? We often put so much pressure on ourselves or each other, due to our unnecessary or overblown expectations. 

A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.

An invitations for scholars and scientists for the "Consciousness in Science" Conference organized by the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies, to be held in Gainesville, Florida, USA in January 2019.

Kalyana Venkateswara, the beautiful Deity of Balaji (3 min video)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Kalyana Venkatesvara is a beautiful ...

Srila Prabhupada Marathon 2018 by HH Smita Krishna Swami (2 min video)
Inspirational thoughts and realizations about distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books during the month of December.

Marathon Message by Janananda Goswami.
It’s never too late. Srila Prabhupada arrived in US at 70 years of age and preached alone in the snow of New York, distributing his Srimad Bhagavatams. We sure can’t imitate Srila Prabhupada, but at least we can try to follow. Last year I had the fortunate experience of trying to distribute books in France, and I do not speak the language. You may know what France is like if you don’t speak French. Still, by the mercy of Lord Nityananda, many books were distributed, and I am no book distributor at the best of times. To be honest I had not been on a full marathon since 1985. Done a few partial ones here and there, in the snow of Newcastle and the sun of the Gold Coast. But Paris was something special - a real dose of mercy and a close feeling of Srila Prabhupada’s presence.

Srila Prabhupada Marathon 2018 by HH Sacinandana Swami (4 min video)
Inspirational thoughts and realizations about distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books during the month of December.

Darsana of Varadaraja and Maha Laksmi in Kanchipuram (2 min video)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Some very rough footage of darsana ...

When Hitler met a Vaishnava.
From the book “Blazing Sadhus” by HG Acyutananda Prabhu ACBSP.
“We sat on the veranda, and Bon Maharaj told us how he met Adolf Hitler. "I saw Hitler down a long hall. He was pacing furiously. The war was on. This was before Britain was in the war because the British would never allow any Commonwealth citizen to associate with the enemy. Anyway, Hitler was pacing furiously down the end of a hall. He stopped and looked at me. I walked down the hall, and he immediately shook my hand.” I found this astonishing because it is well known that Hitler refused to shake the hand of Jesse Owens after the Olympics, yet he did shake the hand of Bon Maharaj, who was very dark-skinned. Bon Maharaj went on, “I knew Hitler was trying to find any kind of evidence to support his Aryan culture. I told him we Indians are the true Aryan culture from ancient times.” Hitler said, “Thank you,” in English and then turned me over to a secretary/officer who arranged to have me stay with a German family. The officer ordered me, “At the beginning and end of every lecture you must raise your right hand and say, `Heil Hitler.’ ”

The giant book is funded by ISKCON Italy through donations and designed by the Mediterranean branch of the BBT, which claims it will be the largest sacred text in the world.