Planet ISKCON

When spiritual life seems impractical - because of body, family, society and job (video)
[Congregation program at Ashburn, Was...

Kartika In Sridham Mayapur (14 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Today we began our Kartika parikrama in Mayapur by visiting Nrsimha Palli and HariHara ksetra, two special holy places in the Dhama. There we discussed the glories of both Lord Nrsimha and Lord Siva. The spiritual atmosphere of these places was overwhelming and more so due to the ecstatic Kirtan’s we had! So much mercy is available in the places of the Lord’s pastimes.

Bhaktivedanta Academy Receives Grant for Science Education.
Bhaktivedanta Academy, a combined Montessori – International Baccalaureate school at ISKCON of Alachua, Florida, has been awarded a $3,000 grant for science education.
Deepa Mukhtyar (Deva Sarita Dasi), the science teacher for Krishna Sharanam, the school’s Middle Years program, applied for the grant from the Toshiba America Foundation, and received approval on October 23rd.
To read the entire article please click here: https://goo.gl/BTjT2k

ISKCON Members Participate in Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Nearly 10,000 delegates from 80 countries attended the 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions from November 1stto 7thin Toronto, Canada. They represented nearly 200 religious, spiritual and indigenous traditions, comprising the single largest interfaith gathering in the world.

The spider effort.
Sacinandana Swami: Today I sat at the banks of Radha Kund and had a wonderful realization I must tell you about. I had already arrived before sunrise and watched the different morning scenes. Tulasi leaves drifted by from the offering to Giriraj at the Sangam. Devotees from Delhi whom I recognized sang beautiful glorifications. Later a group of villagers from the Gujar community arrived, all dressed in the most colorful outfits you can imagine. However, what caught my special attention was a group of devotees circulating Radha Kund in a particular way. Their left hands were holding onto the lower step and they splashed water into the kund with their right hands. In this way, they moved around, clockwise, until they came to me. They were really blissful, chanting the Holy names and splashing water into the kund. Finally, I couldn‘t contain my curiosity. I know one of these devotees for many years and asked him: “Why are you splashing water into the kund?” Gravely he answered: “see, I have heard from many People, including scientists, that the kunds in Vraja are not being circulated enough. That’s why algae grow and it smells because too many people take their bath. I asked what would help these kunds and they said There is only one solution: oxygen. The best would be a fountain, like fountains and pools with many bathers in the west have them. But a fountain will never work at Radha kund. Pilgrims will not like it and the people who live here will not allow it. So all I can do is to take my own hand, inspire a few other people and splash water in order to give the kund oxygen.”
I replied: “that’s wonderful. That reminds me of the little spider who helped Lord Rama build the bridge from the mainland to Sri Lanka.”
And he said: “yes, Maharaja. That’s what we are, little spiders trying to satisfy Srimati Radharani and Krishna.“ “But,” he paused: “when you give your best, when you make your little spider effort, those you try to please, will take note. And they will decide: I must help This person.”
What a good formula! Make your effort, even if it is small, and Krishna and Srimati Radharani will notice, Especially in this month. And they will decide: “I must help this person.”

Answer Podcast

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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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[Discussion at Bhakti Lounge, Washington DC, USA]

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A film about the huge organization and endeavor invested by Iskcon for the preparation of first class prasadam meals for thousands and thousands of devotees every day.

Damodara Masa in Iskcon Nepal (Album of photos)
Only 7 days remaining to end Dāmodara Masa.
Don’t miss this opportunity.
Anyone can offer a Ghee lamp to Lord Damodara in this auspicious month.
Offering from a child to the old age with happiness, joy, prayers feelings..
We like to thank everyone who helped in sponsoring ghee lamps and Prasad everyday till today.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/xtb34r

A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.

The new grant will provide high quality anatomical models of different bodily systems for the students to study, which are normally too expensive for the school to buy.

Official Opening of Avanti House Secondary school by the Secretary of State for Education (3 min video)
Avanti House Secondary School’s Official opening with the Rt. Hon Damian Hinds. Avanti House Secondary School is the first Hindu State-funded secondary school in the country. Avanti was honored to have the Secretary of State open the school along with MP Bob Blackman and the Mayor of Harrow Kareema Marikar.
To watch it please click here: https://goo.gl/c35JEj

Govardhan Puja in Simhachalam 2018, Germany (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Kirtana means both lecturing and chanting wit...

Happy Gopastami celebration in Vrindavan (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The general mass of people, although sudras and ...

The work continues on the outside of the temple domes with blue tiles, stars and gold ribs being placed in beautiful designs that are appealing and beautiful to look at from all locations throughout Mayapur and the surrounding area. 

Nearly 10,000 delegates from 80 countries attended the 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions from November 1^stto 7^thin Toronto, Canada. They represented nearly 200 religious, spiritual and indigenous traditions, comprising the single largest interfaith gathering in the world.

The Ego-death.
Sacinandana Swami: Part of my kartik-vrata is to read Krishna’s instructions to Uddhava before He left this world from the 11th canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. The Lord makes an important point there – that the knot in the heart, the ahankara, the false ego, is destroyed by bhakti. He says: “When one engages constantly in worshiping Me through loving devotional service, his heart becomes firmly situated in Me. Thus all material desires within the heart are destroyed and the knot in the heart is pierced, the ego knot.” (11.20.29) This is the power of bhakti. It so to say digests the ego. what happens when something is digested? After the stomach burns the food the good portions go into the bloodstream and the unnecessary ones are eliminated and leave the body in the bathroom. This happens automatically, you don’t have to analyze what happens, you don’t have to think about it to make it happen. It works by the power of digestion. So, the Bhagavatam states that bhakti, devotional service, dissolves the subtle body including the ego, without any separate effort, just as the fire of digestion digests everything we eat. if you have ego problems, this means your spiritual digestion is not so strong. In such moments, ask yourself: ‘how can I step up my practices of bhakti? How can I chant? What can I do today that is just for Krishna’s pleasure, without having my own selfish desires in my mind?’ Then offer service with feelings and you will see how your spiritual digestion will become ablaze.
I sitting here in Vrindavan, I chant and do it only for the pleasure of my lord. I can see so many good insights, realizations and clarity of mind coming from this. I wish that you also use the month of kartik in whatever way possible to increase your spiritual fire of digestion, your bhakti.

“Greeter” Service at Temple.
Greeting Guests at the Sunday Feast.
In an effort to make our temple more ‘user-friendly’ for guests that come on Sunday, we would like to have an assigned Greeter set up along the walkway leading up to the Temple. Many people come for their first time and just don’t know where to go or even what our program is for the day. Think how nice it would be for you if you were to go somewhere for the first time and were met by a friendly face who could tell you the lay of the land.
While this is a service that is commonly covered in most churches, it isn’t something we have done successfully for quite a while. It’s a great way to help newcomers feel comfortable and welcomed. You’d only have to say hello and point the way. If this is something you would like to do even once every two months, please let me know so I can fill a schedule.
Read more: https://goo.gl/ke5RZb

By Mukhya devi dasi

The third community development conference took place at New Raman Reti beginning November. You can learn about our Community Development Initiative and how it developed at www.nrrcommunity.com This event presented an organized approach to serving and sharing with friends by launching Action Teams for the 10 focus areas that emerged from the CDI Survey and Conferences 1 and 2 where we “Explored” and “Analyzed” the different facets of our growing community. During this third and final conference, entitled “Implement”, we started with icebreaker exercises, followed by special presentations on team building. Audience participation was encouraged , and our teams started on the road to developing our priority issue. Through this conference I could see the tremendous potential to develop and enhance our community on many levels (such as relationship building, practical service, helping those in need, supporting our next generations) while furthering Srila Prabhupada’s movement. Continue reading "Working Together to Please Srila Prabhupada
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Finishing work continues on the outside of the temple domes with blue tiles, stars and gold ribs being placed in beautiful designs that are appealing and beautiful to look at from all locations throughout Mayapur and the surrounding area. Pictured here is the work in progress on the Nrsimhadeva dome.

[See image gallery at tovp.org]

The post Dome Finishing Work Progress appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

By Kesava Bharati Das Goswami

To help propagate this revival, I’ve made a vow to live-stream my daily reading of your books. On the Facebook App, if one searches for “Daily Readings of Srila Prabhupada’s Books” and “likes” the page, one can hear your books, either live or at one’s convenience. Now I’m reading the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. But when I finish the Bhagavatam I’ll move on to Sri Caitanya-caritamrita and read it out loud cover to cover; then the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, cover to cover; then back to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and so on, for the rest of my life. I seek your blessings, Srila Prabhupada, to complete this vow. Continue reading "Letting Srila Prabhupada Speak for Himself
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Today is Gopastami, the day on which Krishna and Balarama and other boys Their age, who previously had tended the calves, were given charge of the cows. This event is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.15.1):

tatas ca pauganda-vayah-sritau vraje
  babhuvatus tau pasu-pala-sammatau
gas carayantau sakhibhih samam padair
  vrndavanam punyam ativa cakratuh

“When Lord Rama and Lord Krsna attained the age of pauganda [six to ten] while living in Vrndavana, the cowherd men allowed Them to take up the task of tending the cows. Engaging thus in the company of Their friends, the two boys rendered the land of Vrndavana most auspicious by imprinting upon it the marks of Their lotus feet.”

As stated in the purport: “Since Lord Krsna’s spiritual body had apparently grown slightly in age and strength, the senior men of Vrndavana, headed by Nanda Maharaja, decided to promote Krsna from the task of herding calves to the status of a regular cowherd boy. He would now take care of the full-grown cows, bulls, and oxen. Out of great affection, Nanda Maharaja had previously considered Krsna too small and immature to take care of full-grown cows and bulls. It is stated in the Karttika-mahatmya section of the Padma Purana:

suklastami karttike tu
  smrta gopastami budhaih
tad-dinad vasudevo ’bhud
  gopah purvam tu vatsapah

‘The eighth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Karttika is known by authorities as Gopastami. From that day, Lord Vasudeva served as a cowherd, whereas previously He had tended the calves.’

“The word padaih indicates that Lord Krsna blessed the earth by walking on her surface with His lotus feet. The Lord wore no shoes or other footgear but walked barefoot in the forest, giving great anxiety to the girls of Vrndavana, who feared that His soft lotus feet would be injured.”

The celebration was meant for only the cowherd men and boys, but Srimati Radharani also wanted to enjoy the fun, and so, because of Her resemblance to Subala-sakha, she donned his dhoti and other garments and joined Krishna. Thus, on this occasion, in temples in Vrindavan and elsewhere, Srimati Radharani is dressed as a cowherd boy.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Written by Rukmini dd

“The Varsana parikrama is situated around the Sriji Temple. The different hills here are demigods incarnating in this way to place the feet of the devotees on their heads.”

Sancaricor

First, we got lost but there is no wrong turn in Vrndavana. Following in the footsteps of the spiritual master, each step takes us closer to Krsna. A narrow path surrounded by soft sands leads us to Sancaricor; a narrow valley where two hills meet. Here, Krsna would stop the gopis who carried their butter and cream on their heads and demand a tax for passage. In the same line, the villagers line the pathway, “Daan karo.”

In a nearby clearing Maharaja perches on a small parapet with his back against a pillar, gazing at the hills and singing kirtan. Rectangular rocks with a smooth finish and mega-sized cow dung patties form the backdrop. “We are chanting for pure love of God”, he says. “Therefore our chanting is the echo of the chanting of the pure devotees. It releases the karma that people leave here. It is our service to the dhama.” We respond to each mantra, aiding his offering.

He focuses on how the pastimes of Krsna are of two types: prakat (manifest) and aprakat (unmanifest). But what is manifest to us? Not much. We do not see a tax collector with a peacock feather. He questions the village boys if they have seen such a tax collector. “He is just now coming,” they assure him. It is through the acaryas that the unmanifest can become visible to us.

Another theme was that all the activities of the spiritual world are of deep intensity. When Krsna left, the residents of Vrndavana simply stood there. Their bodies remaining but their minds had gone along with Krsna. We have come to Vrndavana but part of our minds are still in the places we have come from. Are we really in Varsana? But through the acaryas, what is unmanifest can become visible and we can begin to appreciate the spiritual world and develop a desire to go there.

Moor Kutir

Leaving Sacaricor, we journey up a long winding staircase to Moor Kutir. The priests urge us to take off our socks and cover our heads before entering. The altar is a little obscure but we sit in the hall decorated with peacocks opposite the temple and Maharaja leads kirtan. The devotees soon rise and dance. In this place, Radha and Krsna dress up as peacocks and dance. “You are all dancing like peacocks,” he says.

In the parikiya relationship, there is no obligation as there would be in marriage. Srimati Radharani must conquer Krsna at each moment. Maharaja applies this meditation to our own devotional service. No matter how much service we render and for however long, we may get some recognition from Krsna but it never affords us any right to Krsna’s mercy. We also must conquer Krsna again and again.

A panda wants us to leave and Maharaja humbly obliges. “We are given a fleeting moment of meditation, but in such a place, a moment is all we need.”

The Rajpur Temple

Above Moor Kutir is a pathway leading to the Rajpur Temple. This route is significantly shorter than our previous visit to Varsana. “I took some shortcuts,” Maharaja said, and we were grateful.

Someone says that the deities are Koshal Bihari. Maharaja confirms that the temple was built by the Jat kings from Bharatpur. It is beautiful sandstone structure and we find a peaceful spot on the left. A mellow kirtan gears up to rocking quickly and soon we attract an audience. Maharaja throws his hands in the air, raising the enthusiasm of the pilgrims in orchestra fashion.

Maharaja reads from the Nectar of Devotion. He expands on the perception of love in this world and how it infiltrates ISKCON: Romeo and Juliet with Radha and Krsna in the background. Even if we find a love that is pure it will not transcend death. He gives the example of the Taj Mahal. Even if it would transcend death for a while, it cannot transcend birth and death for in the next lifetime you will not even recognise the person. But who can avoid the Romeo and Juliet syndrome? The essence is that we want to be loved.

“Covered in this way who is really in Varsana? What should we do if we are miles away? Should we cry? What if we have no tears? All we can do is call out for the mercy of Lord Caitanya, Srila Prabhupada and their representatives.”

Sriji Temple

The climax of our journey is at the ethereal Sriji Temple. Located at the peak of Varsana, it boasts a breathtaking view of the villages below. The temple is busy as it always is, with ancient deities of Radha and Krsna. We move to the back balcony and immerse in harinama led by Harinamananda Prabhu. Bystanders join in. They dance and chant and take selfies. We create a stir. Maharaja dances the two-hundred-step descent to the buses.

The article " Vrndavana Braj Parikrama – Day 2 " was published on KKSBlog.

Srinivasa Acharya is one of the most important personalities in the religious history of Bengal, perhaps the most important Vaishnava teacher in the generation immediately following Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

He is chiefly remembered as the illustrious disciple of Gopala Bhatta Goswami and Jiva Goswami. His achievements include delivering the writings of the Goswamis from Vrindavana to Bengal, converting King Birhambir to Vaishnavism, and originating the Manohar Shoy style of kirtana.

At Kheturi, Bengal, he co-organised the first Gaura Purnima Festival (celebrating the anniversary of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance in this world), which Narottama, Shyamananda, and thousands of other Vaishnavas attended.

[Congregation program at Washington DC, USA]

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The post Does the spiritual world really exist? – SPIRIT acronym appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Harinama in Argentina (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “My heart is always burning in the fire of material existence, and I have made no provisions for getting out of it. The only remedy is hari-nama-sankirtana, the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, which is imported from the spiritual world, Goloka-Vrndavana. How unfortunate I am that I have no attraction for this. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.1.22 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/RmCTiW

Reading Srila Prabhupada’s books by HH Kesava Bharati Goswami and HG Vaisesika Dasa (video)

Hare Krishna devotees at Diwali with Governor of Utah, US, Gary Richard Herbert at Governor’s mansion. It was a very pleasing & auspicious event.
More photos: https://goo.gl/onpB4Z

Australia’s first Hare Krishna schoolies: No sex, drugs, alcohol, gambling or meat.
Principal Vinod Bihari das said he was proud of the students for choosing a different path to many other Australian school-leavers who favor Gold Coast getaways characterized by heavy drinking and late night doner kebabs.
“These Year 12s are making their own decisions rather than thinking ‘Just because everyone does it, that’s what we should do’, and that’s a true sense of independent thinking — you critically analyze what’s happening around you.
To read the entire article please click here: https://goo.gl/qWD5FN

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by H.H.Badrinarayana Swami in ISKCON Vrindavan,

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KARTIK YATRA 2018 - DAY 8 (video)
PURI YATRA CLASS BY HH RADHANATH SWAMI - 14th Nov 2018.

By Rahul Singh

Gauranga Das Ji has successfully married city comforts within a village with a wellness program for stress free living. What started in 2005 with 5 humans and 8 cattle today is a 250 human and 100 cattle thriving economy. Gauranga Das Ji mentioned that there are 29 agro climatic zones in the world and India is blessed to have 21 of them. Yet due to modern linear (as opposed to cyclical) consumption model, India today is the 4th largest contributor of Carbon Dioxide after China, USA and EU. Continue reading "The Monk who used his IIT degree for Environmental Transformation
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A Visiting To Katwa (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Our parikrama party was extremely fortunate to visit the very place ...

By the Sannyasa Minister

Srila Prabhupada: “If one takes up the sannyasa order of life but is not able to control the mind, he will think of objects of sense gratification namely family, society, expensive house, etc. Even though he goes to the Himalayas or the forest, his mind will continue thinking of the objects of sense gratification. In this way, gradually one's intelligence will be affected. When intelligence is affected, one loses his original taste for Krishna consciousness.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.22.30, Purport) Continue reading "ISKCON Sannyasa Ministry Newsletter
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Washington DC, USA]

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The post Demons in Krishna lila 5 – Aghasura – Cruelty and violence appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.