Planet ISKCON

Каждый год некоммерческие организации по всему миру устраивают онлайн инициативу #ЩедрыйВторник, названную на веб-сайте www.givingtuesday.org «Международным днем благотворительности». Людей вдохновляют открыть сердца для благотворительности, по крайней мене в этот день, и поддержать проекты, которые важны для них.

В этом году Facebook и YouTube в США объединились для того, чтобы софинансировать пожертвования, полученные через портал Facebook в США, в размере до 7 миллионов долларов. И, хотя мы начали позднее остальных, так как не были знакомы с программой #ЩедрыйВторник, пожертвования ХВП для марафона «МИССИЯ 22» достигли 25 829 долларов США. Почти сто преданных вызвались помочь, понимая, что их пожертвования будут софинансированы. Мы очень признательны за их энтузиазм и поддержку.

Однако в течение дня нам стало известно, что фонд софинансирования Facebook / YouTube уже распределен и софинансирования пожертвований более не будет. Мы не были уверены, что это только слухи, и также беспокоились, что спонсоры будет разочарованы, если их пожертвования не софинансируют. Мы обсудили возможные последствия и представили их вниманию Амбариши прабху, председателя ХВП. Он разрешил дилемму, сказав, что сам софинансирует пожертвования, если Facebook и YouTube не сделали этого. Наш герой.

Мы все еще ожидаем информации от Facebook, были ли наши пожертвования частично или полностью софинансированы, но, в любом случае, все наши спонсоры могут быть полностью уверены, что их усилия по получению софинансирования пожертвованных средств обязательно принесут свои плоды. Спасибо еще раз, вся слава вашему служению.

 

НОВОСТИ ХВП – БУДЬТЕ В КУРСЕ

Посетите ХВП: www.tovp.org
Читайте о ХВП: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Смотрите о ХВП: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
Загрузите приложение ХВП для мобильного телефона: www.tovp.org/ru/announcements-ru/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Подпишитесь на новости ХВП: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
Поддержите ХВП: www.tovp.org/ru/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post Сбор средств ХВП в #ЩедрыйВторник обрел небывалый успех appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Every year, non-profit organizations worldwide organize an online effort called #Giving Tuesday described on the website www.givingtuesday.org as a “Global Giving Movement”. People are encouraged to open their hearts to the giving attitude, at least on that day, and support Causes that are important to them.

This year, U.S. based Facebook and Youtube teamed up to match donations given through the U.S. Facebook portal up to $7 million. And although we got a late start, not being familiar with the #Giving Tuesday program, our TOVP fundraiser raised $25,829 for the MISSION 22 MARATHON. Almost one hundred devotees stepped up to the plate and gave their might to help with the understanding that their donations would be matched. We are most grateful for their enthusiasm and support.

However, during the day we heard that the Facebook/Youtube matching funds account had already been dispersed and there would be no more matching of donations. We weren’t sure if this was just a rumor, and were also concerned that donors would be disappointed if their donations were not matched. We discussed the implications amongst ourselves and brought this to the attention of Ambarisa prabhu, the TOVP Chairman. He solved the whole dilemma by himself offering to match the donations if Facebook and Youtube did not. Our hero.

We have yet to hear from Facebook if our fundraiser was matched, either in part or whole, but in either case all our donors can rest assured that your efforts to have your funds matched will bare their fruit one way or the other. Thank you again and all glories to your service.

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
Phone App at: http://tovp.org/news/announcements/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Mailing List at: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
Support us at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

The post TOVP #Giving Tuesday Fundraiser a Grand Success appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Srila Prabhupada personally wrote me, “Go on increasing books, and go on increasing my pleasure.” The December marathon is a special opportunity to increase the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and the parampara by distributing books about Krishna consciousness. So, I encourage you all to increase their pleasure—and your own—by distributing as many books as possible. As Srila Prabhupada said in Los Angeles, “So, I took up this from [Guru Maharaja’s] mouth, that he is very fond of books. And he told me personally that ‘If you get some money, print books.’ Therefore, I am stressing on this point: ‘Where is book? Where is book? Where is book?’ So kindly help me. This is my request. Print as many books in as many languages and distribute throughout the whole world. Then the Krishna consciousness movement will automatically increase.”

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

By Giriraj Swami

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada explains the reasons for Sri Krishna Chaitanya’s appearance. Lord Krishna, in His pastimes, was unable to experience the glory of Srimati Radharani’s love for Him, the wonderful qualities in Krishna that She relishes through Her love, and the indescribable happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love. Thus, Lord Krishna, assuming the guise of a devotee, adopted the mood and complexion of Srimati Radharani and descended in Navadvipa-dhama to fulfill His innermost desire: to experience Srimati Radharani’s ecstatic love for Him. Continue reading "Sankirtana Expands from Mayapur
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 02.07 Seek first to understand the question to best understand the answer appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post How do we deal with fear of success because after success, failure will come? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

We should be a good steward of the resources of this world. Srila Prabhupada was adamant in not wasting anything as he saw everything as Krishna's energy. This video can inspire us to reduce waste and live a more natural life.

Hare Krishna

Holy Name retreat, Govardhana (Album of photos)
Day 4: Going Deeper- Friday, November 30
Seminar by HH Sachinandana Swami
Topic: “Learning The Living Name-” Learning to Chant with Absorption"
Find them here: https://goo.gl/UftHbh

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada explains the reasons for Sri Krishna Chaitanya’s appearance. Lord Krishna, in His pastimes, was unable to experience the glory of Srimati Radharani’s love for Him, the wonderful qualities in Krishna that She relishes through Her love, and the indescribable happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love. Thus, Lord Krishna, assuming the guise of a devotee, adopted the mood and complexion of Srimati Radharani and descended in Navadvipa-dhama to fulfill His innermost desire: to experience Srimati Radharani’s ecstatic love for Him.

So, Navadvipa-dhama is a manifestation of Srimati Radharani’s love for Krishna. The Puranas also describe that when, in the state of mahabhava, Srimati Radharani reached the extreme in ecstatic feelings of separation from Lord Krishna, He entered into Her heart and “stole” Her feeling of mahabhava. That mahabhava became manifest as Navadvipa-dhama.

Thus, to better understand Sri Mayapur-dhama and the mood of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, as well as Srila Prabhupada and our own devotional service, we should understand Radharani’s mood of separation.

Once, when Krishna left the company of the gopis, Radharani began to search for Him in one forest after another, crying in intense separation. She approached a kadamba tree, “Where is Krishna?” She approached Govardhana Hill, “Where is Krishna?” She wandered everywhere throughout Vrindavan, crying, “Where is Krishna? He is more dear to Me than My own life. How can I live without His service?” Then, in divine madness, She fainted.

After some time, when Krishna appeared, He addressed Srimati Radharani, “I am extremely pleased with You. You may ask from Me whatever You wish.” And Radharani requested three things: “Please promise Me that You will always remain in Vraja, unseen by those without devotion; please never disappoint the devotees who reside here, maintaining their lives by their love for You alone, hoping to attain Your lotus feet; and please always shower Your mercy on Your devotees and give them shelter at Your lotus feet.”

We see that even though Srimati Radharani had been experiencing extreme separation from Krishna, when Krishna asked Her what She wanted, She did not think of Herself; She thought of the suffering of others. This is the mood of separation. Srimati Radharani’s desire to please Krishna is so pure and so intense that She wants to engage every living entity for Krishna’s pleasure, to give them Krishna’s service and association.

Krishna has an unlimited desire to enjoy. Radha has the unlimited desire to fulfill Krishna’s desires. And Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada have the same desire to engage unlimited numbers of living entities in Krishna’s service. Like Srimati Radharani, the preacher wants to arrange for others to get Krishna’s association, to serve Him.

Srila Prabhupada especially wanted unlimited numbers of books to be distributed so that unlimited numbers of persons would be engaged in devotional service. Every book distributed means another brick for the Mayapur City temple, and as the city manifests, more and more devotees will be attracted to the dhama, to develop the same mood of sankirtana. And as they become inspired to distribute more and more books, more and more people will become devotees. And thus the Vaishnava’s desire will be fulfilled.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

ISKCON Communications Director Anuttama Das attended the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) in Denver, Colorado from November 17^thto 20^th, as a representative of the Hare Krishna Movement. Representatives of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust also participated with a booth at the event, which promotes the study of religion from an academic perspective.

Sri Harinam in Auckland New Zealand (Album of photos)
Giving out the mercy Friday night Harinam.
And the best gift ever f...

The devotees of ISKCON-London are known for their special yearly anniversary event festivities and this year was no exception with what can only be described as a spiritually uplifting theatre production that left the audience at the edge of their seats - entertained throughout.

Beautiful Vrindavana (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: As I was leaving Vrindavan I stopped by Varsana and did a quick tour around the sacred home of Srimati Radharani with a small number of devotees. The local villagers fed us hot chapatis, we visited the Mystic Forest of desire trees, paid our respects to various sadhus … and then I left for Africa taking the mood of Vrindavan with me.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vPCZan

Kirtan Ras Festival from the Gulf is LIVE - and is amazing (video)
Srila Prabhupada: In the Bhagavad-Gita it is advised that o...

Harinama in Moscow, Russia (13 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: The process of chanting the holy name of the Lord is always superb...

By Vijaya Dasa

A lot of temples did really well in October. Among large temples, Radhadesh looked really good, for a rural community, increasing by 296%, with 1,632 book points. Nice to see Radhadesh in the newsletter again. Among the medium temples, Sydney-North made a comeback, with an increase of 218% (7,572 book points), putting it in the No. 2 spot worldwide in this category. Mira Road was right behind, with an increase of 158% and 3,671 book points. There's a new marble temple there and a sincere congregation. Among the small temples, Cueramaro (Mexico) had a huge month: an increase of 387% and 14,568 book points. It appears that the marathon already started. Among the maha-small temples, Baltimore did great, increasing 151%, with 10,263 book points. This temple is like ISKCON Silicon Valley: all sincere householders and also under the able guidance of Vaisesika Prabhu. Continue reading "WSN October 2018 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Cadets dance during Harinam in Russia (6 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: This Krishna consciousness movement insists that everyon...

Most temples around the world encourage devotees to hold programs in their homes as well as attend temple functions. These can be informal gatherings or more structured like Bhakti Vrksa programs.

I attend many of these in my travels and whilst in Perth I was able to be with the devotees who are under the guidance of Punya Sloka Prabhu. We started with a little prasadam, then kirtan and discussion on verses from Bhagavad-gita.

Vrindavan Pastimes of Lord Shri Krishna (video)
A lecture by HH Bhakti Charu Swami, 17 November 2018 at ISKCON New Jersey.

Answer Podcast

The post How can I see spiritually my scientific research for solving serious problems such as incurable diseases? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 02.06 The decision that seems a no-brainer turns out to be a brain-exhauster appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Story 1 
One night an extraordinary thing happened. Prabhupada led the first kirtan and then gave a lecture. I sat on the floor just to his right with the harmonium, and after the lecture, I began leading the second Hare Krishna kirtan. All of a sudden, Srila Prabhupada’s voice cut through the auditorium with the potency of Lord Nrisimha, right in the middle of my chanting. I had never heard Prabhupada do that, nor had I heard the words he chanted. ‘Narada Muni bhajaya vina radhika ramana namne,’ he sang. And then again he repeated it. I looked up, and he looked down at me, signaling me to carry on. So I continued chanting Hare Krishna, and he continued singing his prayer to Narada Muni into his microphone. I closed my eyes and carried on, not knowing what was happening. Then he started leading with me. We could all understand that something inexplicable but amazing was happening. Everyone was literally jumping off the ground, leaping in the air; even little baby Saraswati was two feet off the ground, and the audience was leaping into the air. We jumped off the stage and all of us began running around the perimeter of the auditorium with the audience. It was one of those Krishna magic moments. Just amazing! The next morning I asked what had happened the previous night. “Didn’t you see?” Srila Prabhupada said. “Narada Muni came to our kirtan.” “No, I didn’t see him,” I answered. “Yes, Narada Muni came.” - Yamuna devi dasi – London 1969

Story 2 
During an ecstatic kirtan in Los Angeles temple Srila Prabhupada was laughing. Afterwards a devotee asked why he had been laughing and Prabhupada said, “I was laughing to see Narada Muni.” The devotee said, “Narada Muni?” “Yes, Narada Muni was there.” What was Narada Muni doing?” Prabhupada said, “He was laughing.” The devotee said, “Why was he laughing?” “He was laughing when he saw the mlecchas and chandalas dancing and chanting Hare Krishna.” - Dinadayadri devi dasi

Story 3 
In the Berkeley temple in Prabhupada’s room where he was staying, some reporters came and some important folks and they were asking questions. That was the period of time where the interviewer asked Prabhupada, “What will happen when you leave? When you leave, what will happen to this movement?” And that’s at the time where Prabhupada said that “My books will never die, they will live on for ten thousand years.” But also during that darshan, it was exquisite because there was this practical interchange of how interviews go and all of a sudden Prabhupada looked up over everyone’s head into the corner, the exact corner of the room, and he said, “There’s Narada Muni.” So Prabhupada saw Narada Muni during that time in that room. - Dhanishta devi dasi

Story 4 
In London, at Bury Place, Prabhupada told devotees to put a small asana on the altar for Narada Muni because he was attending the kirtanas.

Story 5 
In America Prabhupada held a sparsely attended program but said that sage Narada was present.

Narada Muni also foretold extraordinary worldwide preaching. In the Padma Purana, Bhagavata Mahatmyam (2.5-7), he says: “O Bhakti Devi, there is no age like Kali because you will be established in every house and in every heart. Hear my vow. If I do not preach your message, subdue all other religions and make devotional festivals predominant, then I shall not be considered the servant of Lord Hari. In Kali-yuga those people who follow you, even if they are sinful, will attain Lord Krishna’s abode without fear."

Unlike anyone else Srila Prabhupada fulfilled Narada Muni’s prediction by following Lord Caitanya’s instruction: prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama, sarvatra pracara haibe more nama: In every town and village of the world. My name will be heard. {Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126) 

Srila Prabhupada lives forever in his books and worships Lord Caitanya by teaching everyone to always chant “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.”

Hare Krishna

Kalakantha Das: This fall, the seven-member staff at the Bhakti Academy at the Krishna House (ISKCON of Gainesville, Florida, USA), has been blessed with one of its best classes in its ten-year history, with eleven new bhaktas and seven new bhaktins taking part in the fall semester along with four young adults from devotee families. This diverse group has established tight Vaishnava friendships, all of them living in an ISKCON ashram in the West for the first time.

Kartik Parikrama Braj Badrinath (Album of photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Nanda Lala didn’t want the Brijbasis to go to any tirtha outside of Braja, so He created Badrinath within Braja for Nanda Baba. Very beautiful serene place with forests, hills, kundas, peacocks, and lovely cows! Come along to this wonderful place through the pics of my dear Vittalrukmini Das
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aaGwUK

A visit to Sri Rangam, the biggest functional temple in the world. (6 min video)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: It has 7 walls, each ...

Written by Harsarani devi dasi

After a very bumpy ride on the bus, Day 7 of the Vrindavan parikrama led us to Sunhera at the Sudevi Sakhi Temple. It was not arranged for us to be here but somehow the driver took a different turn. Sudevi is one of the eight principle varistha gopis. This temple was very small but quaint with a painted courtyard.

As we all stumbled out of the bus, we were welcomed by streaming heat from the sun that penetrated down to us. It was a clear blue morning with not a cloud in sight. The sound of the birds chirping was getting louder with the imminent arrival of HH Kadamba Kanana Maharaj who was accompanied by HH Bhakti Ashraya Vaishnava Maharaj.

As Bhakti Ashraya Vaishnava Maharaj had been residing in Vrindavan for many years, Kadamba Kanana Swami kindly suggested that Vaishnava Maharaj should elaborate on Sudevi and the gopis:

“Sudevi Temple is an important place. Our destination is to get love of Godhead by sanctioning Radharani. Narottama Das Thakura narrated Vraja as a Cintamani dhama: a golden lotus with eight petals, where each petal represents one of the eight gopis. At the centre of the lotus is Radharani and Krsna. The asta-sakhis’ main focus is on Radharani and to assist her in every way in order to attract Krsna. The asta-sakhis in turn are assisted by the manjaris, headed by Lalita who is assisted by Rupa Manjari. This mood is very specific to her group of gopi followers. There are other groups of gopis who are in competition with Radharani’s group of gopis.  We are always in the mood of assisting the living entities. As Srila Prabhupada states that the nature of the jiva is to be a servant, therefore the highest service is to be the servant of the servant.”

Our next stop was Kamyavan, the place where the original deity of Vrinda devi resided. It is a very small and simple temple. Kamyavan is one of the twelve main forests of Vrindavan. The deity of Vrinda devi was installed by Vrajranabha who was Lord Krsna’s great-grandson. When the muslims sieged Vrindavan, most of the deities were moved to Jaipur. However, Vrinda devi refused to leave since she could not bear to be separated from Vrindavan.

As we walked to take the darshan of Vrinda devi, the markings of our footprints had heavily etched onto the thick layer of the sacred Vrindavan dust. Kadamba Kanana Maharaj explained that a few days ago, we were meditating on Vrinda devi who organised the pastimes of Radharani and Lord Krsna and that she is actually the manifestation of Radharani.

Maharaj said that the Radha Govinda deities were pratibhu deities (the replacement of the original deities). They were installed after the departure of the original deities that were taken to Jaipur. In Jaipur, the original Radha-Govinda deities are still there. The devotees there are worshiping these deities. So Vrindavan is manifested over there, according to Maharaj. One time Maharaj was there in the Radha-Govinda Temple and an old lady was pulling at his cloth. Then she gave him a little binocular which he used to take darshan of the deities close up. He noticed that Govinda-ji was wearing a watch. Even Gopinatha was wearing a watch!

“The devotees there are giving the Lord everything. They know that if they neglect the deities, then the deities will come back to Vrindavan. The mood of Lord Caitanya – distributing love of God – is everywhere. The people of Jaipur are also distributing. When water is distributed there, then it is lots of water due to lots of mercy.”

Maharaj points out that Srila Prabhupada classed Vrindavan as his home, Mayapur as a place where he worships, and Bombay as his office. The goswamis were also mentioned because it was them who had excavated all of the forgotten places here in Vrindavan as per Lord Caitanya’s instructions.

Vaishnava Maharaj then recited the daily prayers to Vrinda devi and retold a pastime about Radha-Krsna and the gopis.

The final destination was Vimal Kund which is the main place in Kamyavan. This beautifully forest-coloured kund was surrounded by ancient russet buildings.

“So how to cover it in one day? We need to travel in our mind to all the other places, then we can do it. It is not possible by any other means. Here in Kamyavan, we see that many pastimes took place. Pandavas were here.”

Maharaj retold the following pastimes that took place here:

• A well known story of Durvasa Muni where he came to the Pandavas with sixty-thousand disciples who all happened to be very hungry.
• The story of the Pandavas and the huge crane who would not let them drink water from the kund unless if they answered all of the questions correctly.
• Asvattama came here after he was exiled by Arjuna for having killed Arjuna’s sleeping children.
• The gopis challenged Lord Krsna to prove that he was the Supreme Lord by building a bridge like Lord Ramacandra did with the monkeys.

“We are developing our relationship with the dhama as we are visiting these places. The shadow reflection of ecstasy – chaya bhava – can be gained by visiting the dhams or through devotee association. We become more and more purified and so the dhama gives us chaya bhava. In the Gopala Campu, Srila Jiva Goswami states how the dhama has so much love for Krsna. So that love is everywhere and some of it has rubbed off onto this kund. We pray that we may get some of that love for Krsna. We are here to meditate and to pray to get some ecstasy and love of God. Lord Balarama provides Vrindavan. His love for Krsna is very deep. By being here, some can get that shadow reflection and develop some love for Krsna. Vrindavan is also one of the five principles limbs of bhakti which can quickly give us the love of God.”

Vaishnava Maharaj then recited some more pastimes of Lord Krsna as per Kadamba Kanana Maharaj’s request.

“One can only see the dhama with the ears.”

The article " Vrindavan Braj Parikrama – Day 7 " was published on KKSBlog.

The importance of spiritual association (sat-sanga) (video)
Our consciousness and behavior are certainly affected by the company we keep. This is especially true for those who want to enhance their spiritual consciousness. In this episode, Mahatma dasa explores some of the many reasons why building relationships with spiritually-focused people can profoundly help awaken our own Krishna consciousness.

Read More...

Bhakti Yoga—A Method of Nonmechanistic Science.
Sadaputa Dasa: How can we study nonmaterial aspects of reality when we’re living in a world of matter? Modern mechanistic science rests on the premise that reality is ultimately reducible to a simple set of mathematical equations. Such a view fails to account for two important aspects of reality: consciousness, and complex biological form. Here, in the first of a series of articles excerpted from the conclusion of the book, Sadaputa describes how an alternative, nonmechanistic model can be verified through the science of bhakti-yoga. He begins with a summary of the essential features of this model.

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“What’s that?” I asked. “I-S-K-C-O-N,” he spelled the letters out.
“ISKCON—International Society for Krishna Consciousness.” Then he laughed. He was obviously having fun.
It was also in early August that we began attending the early morning meetings. None of us had ever gotten up before ten or eleven in the morning, but the magnetism of Srila Prabhupada drew us out of our dark Mott Street dens at 6:30 and down from fifth-floor apartments into deserted Lower East Side streets.

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We’re spirits inside material bodies. If we do something about our own spiritual life—like find out who we really are and what we’re meant to do—life can only improve. We generally prefer consciousness to unconsciousness, except during surgery. Putting zero effort into finding our true identity and purpose while keeping our bodies and minds pleasantly occupied is like always stopping for gas but never eating. What good is keeping our car’s fuel tank full if we’re starving? How can we have a balanced spiritual diet, though, with all the stuff we have to do?

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By Narendra Modi

I am pleased to learn that the International Gita Festival is being organized by ISKCON in December, 2018 at New Delhi to celebrate the profound relevance of Srimad Bhagavad Gita in the contemporary world. Encapsulating the wisdom of our several millennia old civilization, the Gita holds the vision for fulfilling the true meaning of existence of each and every human. Its teachings transcend the confines of language and cultures. The whole humanity has woken up to receive and appreciate the enlightening knowledge radiated by it. ISKCON has been playing a significant role in helping the entire humanity benefit from the profound wisdom and guidance of the Gita. I hope that the International Gita Festival will be an occasion for scholars from across the globe to contemplate on the insights offered by the Gita for the contemporary world. I convey my best wishes for the success of the Festival. Continue reading "India Prime Minister’s Message for Iskcon’s International Gita Festival
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 02.05 Deliberation is desirable, but depth of deliberation is decisive appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post For devotees practicing bhakti in the West, is it better to educate our children in India or in the West? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

In the first verse of the Bhagavad-gita, the low-minded king Dhrtarastra asks his secretary, “O Sanjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?” Kim akurvata: “What did they do?” Srila Prabhupada says that this is a foolish question. The two armies had gathered to fight, so what is the question of what they did? Srila Prabhupada gives the example that if someone sits down before a plate of food, intending to eat, what is the question of “What did he do?” He would eat—that’s all.

So why did Dhrtarastra ask? Because Kurukshetra is dharma-ksetra, a holy place of pilgrimage. And under the influence of this religious place, his sons might have been influenced toward the good, to give up their intention to fight. Srila Prabhupada explains, “Yuyutsavah. This word yuyutsu [jujutsu] is still used in Japan. Perhaps you know, yuyutsu, fighting. So, yuyutsavah—‘desirous of fighting.’ Now, both parties were desiring to fight, and they assembled. Why is Dhrtarastra asking the question Kim akurvata: ‘What did they do?’? Because he was a little doubtful. These boys, after being assembled in dharma-ksetra, might have changed their ideas. They might have settled up. The sons of Dhrtarastra might have admitted, ‘Yes, Pandavas, you are actually the owners. What is the use of unnecessarily fighting?’ So he was very much anxious whether they had changed their decision. Therefore he is asking.”

Such is the influence of holy places. They can elevate one’s consciousness, even the consciousness of one habituated to low thoughts. And people who go to holy places—Mayapur, Vrindavan, Jagannath Puri—can immediately feel the difference. With reference to the power of living in Mathura-Vrindavan, The Nectar of Devotion explains, “Srila Rupa Gosvami has described Mathura-mandala: ‘I remember the Lord standing by the banks of the Yamuna River, so beautiful amid the kadamba trees, where many birds are chirping in the gardens. And these impressions are always giving me transcendental realization of beauty and bliss.’ This feeling about Mathura-mandala and Vrndavana described by Rupa Gosvami can actually be felt even by nondevotees. The places in the eighty-four-square-mile district of Mathura are so beautifully situated on the banks of the River Yamuna that anyone who goes there will never want to return to this material world. . . . Such transcendental feelings are aroused immediately and without fail after one arrives in Mathura or Vrndavana.” (Chapter 13)

Many pilgrims travel to Vrindavan and other holy places during the month of Karttika, and as they prepare to leave to return to their homes and places of service, they may wonder how they can keep the experience of Vrindavan with them. It is a challenge. The influence of materialistic cities, surcharged with passion and ignorance, can be daunting. And our own busy schedules may leave little time for direct service to Krishna. How can we keep the good influence of the holy places in our lives even after we leave?

Srila Rupa Gosvami advises,

krsnam smaran janam casya
  prestham nija-samihitam
tat-tat-katha-ratas casau
  kuryad vasam vraje sada

“The devotee should always think of Krsna within himself and should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Krsna in Vrndavana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship with Krsna, and one should live in Vrndavana. If one is physically unable to go to Vrndavana, he should mentally live there.” (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.294, quoted as Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.161)

We should always engage in remembering and discussing Krishna—His names, forms, qualities, pastimes, and associates in Vrindavan—and even our own experiences there. By such engagement, we can experience Vrindavan wherever we are, with Krishna as the focus of our lives.

And we should spread the message of Vrindavan, the message of Mayapur. Once, on a morning walk in Mayapur, a devotee said to Srila Prabhupada, “Mayapur is so nice, I wish I could just stay here,” and Prabhupada responded, “You must go out and make the whole world Mayapur.”

To experience Vrindavan outside Vrindavan is difficult; to create Mayapur outside Mayapur is difficult. But Srila Prabhupada said, “Spiritual life is difficult, but material life is impossible.” So let us make an honest effort to engage in Krishna consciousness, and Krishna and His devotees will surely help us.

—Giriraj Swami

I will never forget the moment when I heard that George Harrison had passed away, shortly after Thanksgiving in 2001. My strong feelings of separation surprised me—and made me think how important and dear George must have been to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krishna. And I remembered my own little experience with George in Bombay.

In 1974, George came to visit Srila Prabhupada at Hare Krishna Land, in Juhu. He was wearing a white kurta and white yogi pants and had a plain bead bag. I took him around the property, and he expressed his appreciation for our work and encouraged us in our efforts.  When at twelve-thirty we heard the conch shell blow for raja-bhoga arati, we proceeded to the small temple shed, where George chose a pair of kartalas and sang with the other devotees. Puri dasa, originally from Scotland, was doing the arati, and when he turned to offer the ghee lamp to the devotees and saw George, his hand started trembling so much that he thought he might drop the lamp.

After the arati, I arranged a full plate of maha-prasada for George and accompanied him to meet Prabhupada in his apartment. Prabhupada greeted him warmly, and I left them together and returned to my office.

“Prabhupada was behind his desk, with George in front of him,” Kishor das later described. “I barely remember what was said, but I remember the feeling of love that went back and forth between them. It was tangible. I didn’t really understand what this relationship was. I was young, and here was a big rock star, and a pure devotee of Krishna, and there was I somewhere. But I could just feel this feeling of love that went back and forth between Prabhupada and George.”

About two hours later, a pudgy twelve-year-old boy with glasses—the son of our friend and supporter Pranjivan G. Valia of the “Hare Krishna” house in the Juhu Vile Parle development—came to my small office at the back of the property. “I heard George Harrison is here,” he said.

“Yes,” I replied, “he is.”

“I want to see him,” he stated.

“Well, you can’t. He’s meeting with Srila Prabhupada.”
He looked me straight in the eye, sizing me up, and, concluding that he wasn’t going to get anywhere with me, turned, dashed to the stairs, and bolted down the steps.

Oh my God, I thought. He’s going to try to find him. So I bounded down the stairs in hot pursuit.

I ran across to the next building, and when I reached the second landing, in front of Prabhupada’s flat, I found the door ajar. The boy stood just inside, and beyond him George sat cross-legged with his back erect, like a yogi—a perfect disciple listening attentively at the feet of his master.

With the boy’s abrupt appearance, Prabhupada and George ended their meeting, exchanging some final words. George was gracious and appreciative, Prabhupada affectionate and kind. I was upset that the boy had interrupted them, but they took it as a matter of course. Maybe it was time for the meeting to end; maybe they took it as Krishna’s arrangement.

Shyamasundar and I accompanied George back to the temple shed for darshan of the Deities. He paid full dandavats, lying completely flat on the floor before Them for a long time, and then left.

The next year, on a morning walk in Sanand, Gujarat, Prabhupada recalled the meeting: “He is very nice boy—George. I have studied. Very good boy. He showed me in Bombay. He came to see me in Bombay, last year. He is keeping Jagannatha within his bead bag and chanting.”

I and many thousands—perhaps millions—of people are thankful to George for all the service he rendered to Srila Prabhupada and the Krishna consciousness movement, for making the holy name of Lord Krishna—the Hare Krishna maha-mantra—and the principles of Krishna consciousness so accessible to people all over the world and for attracting so many souls to the all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Although he had serious health problems for many years, he never complained or even talked about his struggle with disease; nor did he give up.

Guru nishta is a principle that is important for one to advance in Krishna consciousness. Without the blessings of the spiritual master, progress towards Krishna is practically nill. In the Hari Bhakti Vilas (not sure where) i think there is some language on how to select a spiritual master. I believe there is some room for sentiment when it comes to getting diksha from a specific guru. However, sentiment goes only so far. If we truly want to serve guru, then we must serve per principle and not sentiment. Because in daily life, there will be struggles internal and external. There will be doubts and temptations on the position of guru thrown at us by media, people, family and material opulence. If we simply serve based on sentiment, such service can be volatile (up and down).

We should not trust our mind because as the mind vacillates so does our  emotions and sentiments. Therefore, our service, convictions, and emotions should be rooted in principle that stems from the pages of Bhagavatam or Bhagavad Gita. Our vision of the spiritual master and his instructions should be seen through shastra and not our sentiments. When we strictly approach the person Bhagavad through the shastra Bhagavad, no amount of external forces can shake our faith in guru. Sentimental faith on guru is like house on sand, will crumble eventually!

Hare Krishna

Clear instructions by His Divine Grace.
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind letter dated November 13, 1972, and I have noted the contents with great care. I am so glad to receive your report after such long time, and it appears that everything is improving more and more, by Krishna’s grace. I like this idea of distributing books and preaching, that is Lord Caitanya’s plan, and because you are doing it so nicely you are already making the greatest contribution, so what need there is for some special instruction from me? But if you want, I must give, because you are serving Krishna so nicely, so in that case my request to you is that you enter into the universities and colleges wherever possible and preach there with a view to recruiting some first-class devotees for helping me manage and push on this movement all over the world. Overall there is shortage of first-class, experienced men to manage things just to the highest standard, as you are doing.

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