Vrindavan Braj Parikrama – Day 7
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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)
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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.


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Bhakti Yoga—A Method of Nonmechanistic Science
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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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“We will call our society ISKCON”…
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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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How to balance material and spiritual life? (4 min. video)
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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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India Prime Minister’s Message for Iskcon’s International Gita Festival
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Hare KrishnaBy 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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Gita 02.05 Deliberation is desirable, but depth of deliberation is decisive
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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For devotees practicing bhakti in the West, is it better to educate our children in India or in the West?
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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.

The Influence of Holy Places
Giriraj Swami

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

George Harrison’s Visit to Juhu—Remembering and Giving Thanks
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

Guru Nishta
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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
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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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The Day Justin and Sophie Trudeau Received Lord Krishna’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is
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I have a little story about the time I distributed a Bhagavad-gita As It Is to the then-future Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and his fiancee Sophie-Gregoire. They married in 2005 so it must have been a year or two before that when I met them.The Montreal Hare Krishna devotees from the ISKCON community of Sri Sri Radha Manora were doing Harinam Sankirtan, the congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra in a parade down trendy St. Laurent Blvd. The parade was commemorating the celebration of “India Independence Day” Each ethnic group of India had their float or representation of drummers, dancers and colorful saris and traditional dress from Punjab, Bengal, Gujarat South India, etc… and then there was our group of Hare Krishna devotees with the Vaisnavis dancing in colorful festive saris and the men in dhotis, kurtas playing kartals and mrdangas


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How Mubarak of Egypt and other African leaders got Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita
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Vidura Dasa ACBSP: In Nairobi, many moons ago, Kenya was hosting the annual meeting of the African Union where the heads of state of all countries in Africa gather. We happened to have recently received a container of Bhagavatams and Gitas cleared through customs. I went to the Kenyatta Conference Centre and tried my luck at getting in. If you think Western politicians are paranoid about security you should see these African ‘Boss Men’ and their ever nervous heavy dudes.

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Why “Bhagavad-gita As It Is?
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Why “Bhagavad-gita As It Is?
The Bhagavad-gita has been translated many times since Krishna spoke it on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra thousands of years ago. Srila Prabhupada chose "Bhagavad-gita As It Is” as the title for his own translation and commentary, first published in the late 1960s. It has since attracted a worldwide following of spiritual seekers and scholars of Vedic culture.

World famous cricketer receives Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita (1 min video)
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World famous cricketer receives Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita (1 min video)
Jhulan Nishit Goswami is an all-around cricketer and former captain of India national women’s cricket team.
After receiving a copy of Bhagwat Gita in London last week, Jhulan Goswami appeared to be elated. She said, “This is for the first time I received a full version of Bhagwat Gita in Bengali language. I know this holy book defines the way of life. I feel blessed to have it today”.

Does practicing bhakti at only the cultural level deprive us of intellectual and spiritual growth?
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Answer Podcast

 

Transcription :

Transcribed by: Bhaktin Raji Nachiappan

Question: Does practicing bhakti at only the cultural level deprive us of intellectual and spiritual growth?

Answer: Cultural bhakti in not wrong or bad in any way. Yena kena prakarena – by any means, if we can fix the mind on Krishna, it is good. However, we all need some level of philosophical understanding. Some of us may be very intellectual and philosophical and may want to go deep into philosophy. Some of us may not be so philosophically inclined. However, if we have some level of philosophical understanding that Krishna is the ultimate reality, then we will not be too shaken by the ups and downs of life.

To what extent our bhakti needs to be intellectual, that will depend our own our intellectual capacity and interest. However, we need to have a basic understanding of philosophy. Without that basic understanding of philosophy, if we stay too much at bodily level, then bhakti will not make sense. Once a devotee in a class said, “You are not your body”. Then, a person in the audience raised a hand and asked, “If I am not my body then whose body am I?”. Here, the conception is that we are our bodies and that if we are not our bodies, then we are someone else’s body. The point is that ignorance of the bodily conception can be very deep-rooted.

When I spoke about rising from cultural bhakti to spiritual, it is about understanding that Krishna is the ultimate reality. If we do not have this understanding, then we see our relationship with Krishna through the filter of our attachment with others. We start thinking that when the Lord fulfils our prayers, he loves us and when he does not, he does not care about us. Just like a child, when he/she wants a toy and the parents do not buy it, the child assumes that the parents do not love the child. The parents may have done so much for the child, but the child reduces the love of the parents to whether or not they purchase the toy.

Hence what happens is when we do not have an adequate philosophical understanding, then our mind becomes child-like. When one thing is not given, we think that Krishna does not love us.
We may think that the things we need in our life are very important and they are not akin to toys. Yes, they may be very important, however from the perspective of eternity, what we may have considered vitally important five years ago, it may not be that important now.

When we discuss about practicing intellectual or philosophical bhakti, it simply means understanding Lord Krishna as the ultimate reality and that we should not let our practice of bhakti be conditional to the fulfilment or non-fulfillment of desires. We should stay fixed on Lord Krishna whether or not our desires get fulfilled.

End of transcription.

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Gita 02.04 Fight not for or against some material cause – fight for Krishna
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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How to control the mind?
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Krishna after the war and before His departure from this mortal world instructs Uddhava in what is famously called now as Uddhava Gita. One can read this conversation in the pages of the Bhagavata Purana. Right in the beginning, Krishna says something important which i thought requires serious contemplation.

Krishna says that the world we perceive through our mind, eyes, ears etc is simply an imagination. He says this because the value and meaning we apply to the things of this world as good (guna) or evil (dosha) is derived from our subjective mind. The mind and senses are temporary and subject to change and hence our values and meanings we apply to things also change. In that sense, the same things and people we know, we may like one day and may not like another day or vice versa. In that sense, our values of good or bad is all in the mind.

From here, Krishna says the concept of mind control arises. He says to Uddhava, because everything is changing and our perception is changing with it, Krishna says withdraw the mind and focus within the self and see the self as part of the Super-self which is Krishna. In other words, mind control means to withdraw the mind from the outside people/world (as it is all subjective anyways) and focus ultimately on Krishna.

Basically, mind control is a two step process (1) withdraw from the outside world (2) focus or meditate on Krishna. When we constantly practice withdrawal and meditation on Krishna, in time we will be able to perceive our true self (separate from body and mind) and thus attain peace and happiness. This sounds too theoretical but never hurts to try it out.

SB-11.7-7-9

Hare Krishna

Vaishnava marriage in Mayapur (Album of photos) Indradyumna…
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Vaishnava marriage in Mayapur (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today Ananda Mohan das and Varsana-rani dasi had their Vedic wedding in Sri Vrindavan Dhama. Two hundred devotees, including a number of distinguished guests, participated and gave their blessings. Their traditional vows included staying together for “one hundred autumns.” In the years that follow may they render wonderful service to the samkirtan movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/t7F4RB

“THE SUNDAY HARE KRISHNA LOVE FEAST”
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“THE SUNDAY HARE KRISHNA LOVE FEAST”
Srila Prabhupada: Make very nice palatable prasadam. We shall spend for that. Why miserly? There is no need of miserly. You are going to earn money by agricultural produce, so how the money will be utilized? It will be utilized for Krsna’s purpose. By prasadam, by chanting, by drama, somehow or other bring them. That is our mission. Congregational chanting. Always festival, and we shall spend for that. Immediately arrange. If there is scarcity of money, I shall pay, but from… Bring them somehow or other. Tomorrow I want to see at least 500 men. Make arrangement like that. I came here to see that, not to sit down in a room peacefully.

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The crying monkey
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The crying monkey.
Sacinandana Swami: Bhakti takes two forms in this world. On the one hand the form of activities you perform with body, voice and mind, and on the other hand the form of feelings. These devotional feelings are the inclination to serve Krishna in a favorable way, in other words giving pleasure to Him. The feelings of bhakti-bhava also include eagerness, gratitude and being moved by genuine love.


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Devotees Chant Hare Krishna Before UF/FSU Game and Fans of Both…
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Devotees Chant Hare Krishna Before UF/FSU Game and Fans of Both Dance and Play Instruments (6 min video)
Ten devotees took a 6-hour break from the Alachua Festival of the Holy Name to drive 2 hours to Tallahassee to chant Hare Krishna for 2½ hours for the benefit of the University of Florida and Florida State football fans there. Fans of both teams played the instruments and danced with the devotees. November 24, 2018.

Iskcon-London 2019 Wall Calendar. SPECIAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY…
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Iskcon-London 2019 Wall Calendar.
SPECIAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
2019 marks ISKCON-London’s 50th Anniversary. For this milestone year, we have a special calendar with 12 original, meditational pieces of artwork including:
Deity installation and early day darshan of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara
Srila Prabhupada in London
Aspects of devotion over the last 50 years, including deity worship, harinama, and kirtan
Meditations on the transcendental qualities of Their Lordships
There is also a compilation of quotes by Srila Prabhupada and in reference to Srila Prabhupada speaking about Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara, the first large marble deities Radha Krishna Deities in ISKCON.
Read more: https://goo.gl/38yb3W

Experience Krishna’s magic – Jhulan Lila Devi Dasi (2 min…
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Experience Krishna’s magic - Jhulan Lila Devi Dasi (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada’s Winter Book Marathon 2018 - 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.

In loving memory of Sukadev das
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Hare KrishnaBy Damaghosa das

Sukadeva spent his life dedicated to the service of his spiritual master Srila Prabhupada and was greatly attached to reading his books daily. He and I would have many long discussions over the years over the Krsna Conscious philosophy based upon those books and personal realizations. He also worshiped over 300 Salagrams Silas as part of his daily program. Myself and hundreds of others will miss his association when they learn of his passing. He was a wonderful, always laughing, happy, and totally determined devotee. Continue reading "In loving memory of Sukadev das
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Vraj Padayatra November 2018
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Hare KrishnaBy Parasuram dasa

This year we distributed 31,000 books, "the teachings of Lord Caitanya", and tonnes of Prasad. HG Loka Saranga prabhu a regular Vraj Padayatra devotee, had a serious car accident a year ago during the Padayatra in the Check Republic. He was lucky to be alive, he even had to learn how to walk, and now by Krishna's mercy he is fully recovered, and again singing and dancing in the dust of Vraj. We were also fortunate to have 3 members of the Harinam Ruci Party. Continue reading "Vraj Padayatra November 2018
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Intelligence is seen not just through aptitude but also through activity
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[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Connecticut, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

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Does any Gita verse say that the soul is on a multi-life journey of spiritual evolution?
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Answer Podcast

The post Does any Gita verse say that the soul is on a multi-life journey of spiritual evolution? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Gita 02.03 Identify behavior that is out of character with our character
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Thursday, November 22nd, 2018
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Richmond Hill, Ontario

Meet Arnav, Chess Master

I remembered to call my dear sister, Rose Ann, to say, “Happy Birthday.”  A good day it was for her and also for we bhakti-yogis who are honouring this last day of the month of Kartik, the month of Krishna as a child.  I headed north today on Yonge, opposite direction to yesterday, from our ashram to the corner of Lawrence.

There Kishor picked me up for a song ceremony and food with friends, to commemorate the month where candles are presented.  At his home in Richmond Hill, families came including neighbours.  Kishor moved here from Atlanta not long ago and started a successful IT business.

I met his son, Arnav, age eight, who recently returned from Santiago de Campastella, the famous place where the world’s most renowned footpath begins in Spain.  Arnav went to Spain with his family to engage in chess.  Contestants came from all over the world.  He represented Canada and was able to make the trip with parents and sister because he gained a grant/scholarship for being the champ in his age group.  Smart kid! He scored well.

Krishna plays chess.  I imagine He wins.  We are not informed about His batting average at the game.  We know He is fond of it.  I’ve never ventured into the game.  Of anything, I try to champion walking.  

At least guests at Kishor’s home were impressed at my six kilometres.  “Aren’t you cold?” “There’s a full moon!” two remarked.

“Yes, these features add to inspiration.  Six K is nothing.  Standing in one spot causes freezing in this weather, but walking keeps you warm.”

May the Source be with you!
6 km

Wednesday, November 21st, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

Six Kilometres

Billie dropped me off at Yonge and Lawrence, leaving me with a nice six kilometres to make it back to the ashram.  I say “nice” because Yonge Street southbound is a smooth gradual downward slope toward Lake Ontario.  One day, when I walked this route, a film company with a camera affixed to the roof of a car was capturing a half dozen, or so, young skateboarders going on that downward incremental slope.  There was a grating sound against the asphalt, but those guys were in ecstasy, having the time of their lives, while getting filmed on ‘Take Number who-knows-what’.

It was at 7:30 p.m. when Billie dropped me off, night time, of course, but the street with its lights was enough so I could see where I was going.  Shops, mostly independently owned—in other words, not chain-stores—cast their own light onto the sidewalk.

The weather was reported to be brutal with high northern winds.  I couldn’t feel it much.  I sported my new bright-orange, amazon, winter coat, compliments of Gurudas and Amala from Hawaii, and it protected me sufficiently.

I received a call from elsewhere in Canada.  Someone needed to talk, needed reassurance, some advice.  I did the best I could, at least listening to the concerns of personal matters.  To console I spoke of Arjuna who underwent the biggest of tasks and challenges, and who overcame them because he became fixed on duty and love, which in Sanskrit are dharmaand prema.

Snow, the nice kind, soft and fluffy, came down from the sky.  It created magic for the walk.

May the Source be with you!
6 km


Tuesday, November 20th, 2018
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Argentina / Canada

Go! Geronimo!

Seva and Camila were the great couple who saw me off when I was departing back to Canada. Once boarded, I would occasionally take a peek at the screen indicating what, geographically, our flight was soaring over.  For a while it was indicating we were over the Amazon, then the equator, the Caribbean, Florida and so on.  We were forging ahead.

I reflected also on one of my favourite renderings of art displaying Krishna and Arjuna on a chariot with horses in full ‘charge’ mode.  “Move forward!” it seems to say. “Leave maya, illusion, behind.”  A massive blow-up of this piece, by artist Baradwaj, adorns the wall by the entrance gate at the temple in Buenos Aires.  It is powerful.

When I was a kid it was common to do a war cry, when imitating an attack on an ‘enemy’, and to yell, “Geronimo,” the name of the great Apache leader from the New Mexico area.  “Geronimo” was also a cry used by parachuters in American movies to denote they were jumping out of a plane. 

When I see that picture of Krishna, the wise man, and Arjuna, the warrior, in that progressive stance, I get very inspired.  There are many reasons, these days, for disappointment and depression. It is in those times of discouragement that we must conjure up some profile or image that does it for us.  It is a duty or dharmathat must be done, and so do it with a gusto, as if to say, “Geronimo!”

May the Source be with you!
4 km

Celebrate Your Birthday with the TOVP
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TOVP: Fundraising on Facebook has reached an all-time high with people fundraising for their favorite non-profits, churches, Causes, etc. on holidays, their birthdays, and other occasions. Why not become a TOVP Ambassador and celebrate your birthday, wedding anniversary or any other special day with the TOVP and make it a combined gift from your Facebook friends to support the MISSION 22 MARATHON to complete the TOVP by 2022?