Celebrate Krishna’s Eternal Song
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By Vaisesika Dasa

For those whose lives have been forever improved by meeting Lord Krishna personally in the pages of the Gita, Gita Jayanti is not only a day of celebration but also a chance to express their gratitude. And the best way to do so is to share the Gita with others. Krishna Himself says, “There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” (Bg. 18.69) The Gita teaches the essence of spiritual knowledge, purely and succinctly, in a way that anyone – in any situation of life – can practically apply its instruction and wisdom. And since Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, resides within the heart of every living being, He is always there to help the reader understand the Gita’s profound message. Many people in the world are innocent; and when they hear the message of the Gita from a devotee, they at once embrace it and attain perfection. Continue reading "Celebrate Krishna’s Eternal Song
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Radha Madhava and Radha Gopinath Temples
→ Ramai Swami

Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Sri Sri Radha Gopinath temples in Bali are both very beautiful with a large community devotees living just nearby.

This is ideal because the grhasthas, although working in day jobs, are close enough to attend most programs and render temple services like dressing the deities, cooking and cleaning etc.

I always enjoy visiting both places to lead kirtan and give class.

God of Abrahamic faith?
→ Servant of the Servant

In the Bible (old and new testament) and Koran, we find that God volunteers to talk to man. The stories begin with God talking to Abraham in the old testament and an angel talking on behalf of God to Mohammed in the Koran. There are similar stories connected to Moses as well. In all of this, God takes the first step or at least that is the impression we get reading the Abrahamic scriptures.

In the Srimad Bhagavata purana, we find the opposite. For God to appear, the great devotees of the Lord undergo severe austerities. Devotees like Dhruva, Kardama muni, Prahlada,Prshni & Sutapa etc undergo tapasya (austerity) to see Krishna face to face. We all know the caliber and quality of such exalted souls. They were in full control of their body and mind, were peaceful and completely focused in the service of the Lord for many many years.

If it takes such austere practices and conditions to see the Lord, then how come Abraham or Moses or Mohammed had contact with the Lord without tapasya? We do not have information that they practiced severe austerities. In fact we learn that they were just regular householders. Krishna Himself proclaims in the Gita (BG 7.3) that even amongst perfected beings, rarely one can know Him. Certainly, I do not think Abarham or Moses or Mohammed were perfected beings at the time they were contacted by God.

Considering all of these points, it is difficult to comprehend for me that Krishna is the God mentioned in the Abrahamic faith that He would have contacted the patriarchs of the Abrahamic faith. So if the God of the Abrahamic faith is not Krishna, then perhaps it may be some demigod giving instructions to elevate the consciousness of the people outside Bharata khanda?

Hare Krishna

Empowering instead of imposing “topiary”
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Visakha dasi ACBSP: Think of a topiary. A topiary is a shrub clipped to create a particular shape. When we look at a topiary, we don’t see the plant’s natural shape but the shape that’s been imposed on it. Topiaries may be visually entertaining, but when that “clipping” is applied to people and they are forced to function in ways that may be artificial for them, it leads to misery. To prevent someone from serving Krishna according to his or her personal proclivities is a kind of violence. No one wins – not the persons involved, not the Hare Krishna society, and not the promotion of Krishna consciousness. It’s a lose-lose-lose scenario.


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Krishna devotee’s restaurant (Divya’s Kitchen) named…
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Krishna devotee’s restaurant (Divya’s Kitchen) named as one of the 50 best restaurants for vegetarians in America! (http://divyaskitchen.com/)
With plant-based diets on the rise, the online restaurant-reservation service Open Table has complied a list of the 50 best restaurants for vegetarians in the U.S. based on more than 12 million diner reviews. These scrumptious spots are located across 15 states and Washington, D.C., and offer a range of cuisine from American to Indian to Mediterranean. New York was the most represented on the list, with 11 restaurants. California came in second with nine, and Washington, D.C., followed with seven.
Read more: https://goo.gl/kX1E5Y

Ekachakra Holy Name Retreat : Dec 22 to Dec 26,2018
→ Mayapur.com

Please come and chant with us…..in japa as well as in kirtan. * Deepen your relationship with the Holy Name. * Spend these days in seclusion in beautiful Ekachakra – away from all usual distractions. * Hear about the glories of the Holy Name in the association of like- minded devotees and practically apply what […]

The post Ekachakra Holy Name Retreat : Dec 22 to Dec 26,2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The Art of RESPONDING EFFECTIVELY | Turning Crisis into Opportunities
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Hare KrishnaBy Gauranga Darshan Das

Because Suniti herself was a great devotee, she could inspire Dhruva to take to devotional service. Although Dhruva was ambitious, because he received the guidance of great devotees like Suniti and Narada, he was purified and elevated. Although Uttanapada neglected his glorious wife and son, he honestly repented for his misdeeds and took to good behavior soon. Although Suruci was envious and proud, the kindness of Suniti and spiritual success of Dhruva brought positive transformation in her. Continue reading "The Art of RESPONDING EFFECTIVELY | Turning Crisis into Opportunities
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Is everything we need in Srila Prabhupada’s books?
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Hare KrishnaBy Srimati Devi Dasi

In the advanced stage, one falls completely in love with Krishna, and that is the beginning of the highest perfectional stage of life which prepares the devotee's transferral to Krishna's abode in the spiritual sky, Goloka Vrindavana, where the devotee enters into eternal happiness. Here Srila Prabhupada is intimating a very profound and subtle subject matter: the journey from prema to fully evolved loving relationship with Krishna and eternal ongoing exchange of rasa with Him. Continue reading "Is everything we need in Srila Prabhupada’s books?
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If someone doesn’t do their allotted service properly, how can we deal with the resulting anger?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post If someone doesn’t do their allotted service properly, how can we deal with the resulting anger? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

ISKCON Philadelphia Deities Move Into Beautiful New Temple Room
→ ISKCON News

Around six hundred congregation members and newcomers visited ISKCON Philadelphia on December 8thto celebrate as the presiding Deities moved into Their beautiful, spacious new temple room. The move had been planned for several years at ISKCON Philadelphia’s property in Mt. Airy, a diverse area where the temple attracts students, Indian community members, and local Americans of all backgrounds.

Stunning Noreen!
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Stunning Noreen!
Geeta Bhandari: Today, I bumped into stunning Noreen again. She was so excited and told me she started to read the Veda and opened the book from the middle and described what she had read as “Absolutely Astounding!” She told me a little bit about what she had read and said she was utterly fascinated.

Just one of Srila Prabhupada’s books sufficient to change a life forever!
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“Topmost Yoga System” Just one of Srila Prabhupada’s books sufficient to change a life forever!
In 1970, I was a young man visiting friends in Montreal. I had just come to the surface of the city after a ride on the subway (underground) when a very enthusiastic devotee approached me with a copy of *Topmost Yoga System*.

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Hot Christmas (Album of photos) Indradyumna Swami: It’s…
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Hot Christmas (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: It’s summertime down here in Durban, South Africa, so this afternoon we went on harinama along the beachfront. What an experience it was! African people love to sing and dance. While watching them dance with us today I realized Caitanya’s formula truly works anywhere and everywhere in the world. All glories to Sri Krsna’s holy names! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Yny8DF

“You’re a beggar, you’re nothing but a…
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“You’re a beggar, you’re nothing but a beggar”
Geeta Bhandari: Yesterday someone walked past me and said, “You’re a beggar, you’re nothing but a beggar”. He then walked off. His comment was said with malice yet I knew he was sent by Caitanya Mahaprabhu to remind me that yes I am a beggar, a beggar begging for the mercy and love of God. I also realized that as a book distributor I’m on the streets begging myself and others to awaken our spiritual identity in order to be able to relate to each other in the mood of pure selflessness so that we can derive unlimited happiness. That is ultimately our purpose in life.
Ironically, today two boys approached me. Rhys (on the left) asked for a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, and I noticed his friend Leoa (on the right) held a copy of the Veda in his hand. Leoa then picked up the Srimad Bhagavatam displayed on my trolley. Rhys explained that he was given a copy of the Veda a few days ago and he and his friend had been reading it together. They were most fascinated by what they had read so far, and now they wanted a copy of the Gita. I asked who had given him the Veda and he said it was an older lady who was standing outside ‘Waterstones’. Immediately I knew they were talking about my aunt, Meena, as she was distributing with me a couple of days ago and had she told me that she was going to stand there as she wanted to compete with the bookshop. Rhys held out a handful of change and placed it into my hand, he said he didn’t know whether it was enough to cover the cost but it was all the money they had collected over the last couple of days…he explained that they were homeless. I was astonished and asked why they were both homeless. Rhys said they both had been extremely wealthy, however, had gotten into the wrong association and tragically had lost their money, homes and flash cars. Now they only had each other, and they wanted to read more about our philosophy as this had struck a real chord with them. I noticed that during my entire conversation, Leoa had just been holding the Srimad Bhagavatam and had been simply staring at it. I was so moved by their story that I gave them the Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and Chant & Be Happy. I then requested if I could take their photo and put their story on FB. They agreed. After I took the photo Rhys asked if he could take a look at the photo, as he wanted to ensure he looked presentable. I was really moved at this point. He was homeless, a beggar, yet a gentleman with the utmost dignity. He smiled when he saw the photo and they both thanked me and walked off. I then remembered the incident from yesterday, and it dawned on me that book distributors are also beggars with 'dignity’….begging people to accept the mercy of Srila Prabhupada’s books and to take shelter of his incredible movement.

No problem is too big for God – or too small – Hindi
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Class at Sharjah, United Arab Emirates]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post No problem is too big for God – or too small – Hindi appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Dealing with fear of rejection – Analyzing Karna’s character
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[Youth meeting talk at Dubai, United Arab Emirates]

Podcast


 

Video:

The post Dealing with fear of rejection – Analyzing Karna’s character appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Can you explain the concepts of anvaya and vyatireka practically and as explained in Bhagavatam 3.9.36?
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Answer Podcast

The post Can you explain the concepts of anvaya and vyatireka practically and as explained in Bhagavatam 3.9.36? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Santa Claus
→ simple thoughts

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Prabhupāda: We have taken so much trouble for understanding English language. And simply for our transcendental understanding… Allen Ginsberg: It’s next to Santa Claus in the dictionary. Lady: Yes, Kṛṣṇa is Santa Claus. He is everything. He gives everything. Prabhupāda: Very good.

http://vanisource.org/wiki/Room_Conversation_with_Allen_Ginsberg_–_May_12,_1969,_Columbus,_Ohio

Prabhupāda: So where is the difficulty to understand Kṛṣṇa? (laughs) Every moment you can remember Kṛṣṇa. Every moment you can see Kṛṣṇa, provided you have got eyes. Premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38] . Santaḥ. So you have to become a santaḥ, perfect santa. Then you’ll see Kṛṣṇa always.

Prabhupāda: …confirmed in Brahma-saṁhitā. Premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena [Bs. 5.38] . Bhakti-vilocanena. Santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti. Those who have become santa and those whose eyes are smeared with love of Godhead, they see every moment Kṛṣṇa. They do not see anything but Kṛṣṇa.

http://vanisource.org/wiki/Morning_Walk_–_March_31,_1974,_Bombay

So the atheistic and the theistic persons are always there. But the theistic persons, they see always God. Premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38] . That is the theistic. Santa, those who are theistic, advanced in devotional service, they are called santas, saintly person, premāñjana, because they have developed love of Godhead. In the previous verse it has been described, sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje SB 1.2.6 . That culture required. You may belong to any type of religion. It doesn’t matter. You may become Hindu, Muslim, Christian, or brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya… Whatever you may be, it doesn’t matter. But if you are a religious person, the test is how much you have developed love of Godhead. Then it is tested. “Yes, you are nice.” Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmaḥ. That is the test. Otherwise it is useless. You may be Hindu, Muslim or… Whatever stamp you like, you can have it. But the real test is whether you have developed love of Godhead. That is wanted. So that required. By love of Godhead you can see God every moment. Premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva [Bs. 5.38] . Sadaiva means twenty-four hours. People ask, “Whether you have seen God?” To see God is not difficult job. Simply you have to qualify yourself, love of Godhead. Then you can see.

http://vanisource.org/wiki/Lecture_on_SB_1.2.7_–_Hyderabad,_April_21,_1974

Yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo. Santa, devotees, they take prasādam after offering to Kṛṣṇa. That is called yajña.

https://vanisource.org/wiki/710909_-Lecture_SB_07.05.30-_London