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Two Most Amazing Tirtha’s (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday 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!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ieHdmQ
By Iskcon Vrindavan Offerings of many sannyasis and older devotees in Iskcon Vrindavana for the disappearance day of His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Nectarean memories and selected words of respect, appreciation and love for Srila Prabhupada (video) Continue reading "Glorification of Srila Prabhupada from senior devotees in Vrindavana
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By Srimati Dasi Let’s face it – trying to become a devotee in this faithless, fast, and quarrelsome age is very, very tough. If the mind is not making life difficult for us, it will be the neighbors, some authority figure, our bodies or our family. Actually, the list is endless. How to keep faith and focus in a world so obviously made for distraction?! The real challenges come in our daily dealings in life. The philosophy sounds fine in the class atmosphere, but often we lose sight of it when dealing with the “nitty-gritty” practicalities of life. This often leads to a spiritual schizophrenia. We have one sense of identity when at the temple and a very different one when we are at home or at work. What to do? Continue reading "Grandma’s Home Remedies: Active Meditations to Help Me Deal with the Nitty-gritty Challenges of Life
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By Mayesvara Dasa Those of us who appreciate the magical potency of what Srila Prabhupada gave us know that a miracle of colossal historic importance occurred in the late 1960’s. At that time His Divine Grace came and ignited a worldwide spiritual revolution that has no historic equivalent. Those of us who were blessed to become his disciples all got an opportunity to be part of this extraordinary moment in history. Yet time is gnawing away at all of us every day. One by one we watch the disciples of Srila Prabhupada evaporate right in front of our eyes. Continue reading "Museum of The Hare Krishna Movement?
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
The post Gita 01.36 The ethical tension between kula-dharma and kshatriya-dharma leads to emotional over-reaction and physical inaction appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Giriraj Swami offering arati to Srila Prabhupada.
Panel Discussion with Bhargava dasa, Dugdha-pana dasa, and Giriraj Swami
Kirtan by Giriraj Swami
Talk by Giriraj Swami
The Vraj Parikrama is bursting at the seams this year. We are different. All 140 of us have come with a milieu of accents, skin tones, natures and cultures from all corners of the earth. Yet we have come to Vrindavan as family and Vrindavan is home.
We begin our pilgrimage in the early morning and load into three buses. Kadamba Kanana Maharaja smiles and chats to people in between managing logistics. He is a gracious host and guide on this sacred trail. Today we journey to Dhruva Tila in Madhuvan.
A five-year-old prince is insulted by the harsh words of his step mother who denounces him access to both his father’s lap and the kingdom. His heart, burning with the insult, festers with the need for revenge and he desires a kingdom greater than the material creation. He is told by his mother that only the Supreme Lord can fulfill such a desire and that He can be found in the forest. So he leaves home for the forests in search of Krsna.
Maharaja also chooses the bushy path towards Dhruva Tila, avoiding the noisy traffic, where our buses finally stop. Dhruva meets Narada, is given a process of sadhana and is sent to Madhuvan. We cross the soft sandy paths of Madhuvan leading to the temple honoring Dhruva, his guru – Narada; and Lord Narayana – who graced Dhruva with His darshan by the mercy of Narada.
Maharaja approaches the Dhruva lila with a fresh perspective. Narada instructs Dhruva to give up his enmity and be saintly. But Dhruva, deeply identifying as a ksatriya, sees the value of his instructions but could not embrace them in his heart. Narada then offers him a process of sadhana that would help achieve his goal yet purify him. However, Maharaja made the salient point that if Dhruva had embraced the transcendental instruction, he would have saved himself a lot of trouble. He made the distinction between following the orders of the spiritual master and wholeheartedly aligning ourselves with his mood.
This was a skillful link to the essence of his offering on Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day. Lord Caitanya was surrounded by three circles when dancing at Ratha Yatra. The inner circle was his closest associates. So too was Srila Prabhupada. The outer circle is those who were touched by Prabhupada but may still be distracted. The inner circle is those who had complete focus on Srila Prabhupada’s desire. Denying the transcendental instruction placed Dhruva – and maybe us – on the outer circle. “You cannot get to the inner circle just by initiation,” Maharaja commented. We prayed at Dhruva Tila to align ourselves with the mood of the spiritual master with single-minded focus.
After a pleasant breakfast at the base of the temple, which was peaceful except for the occasional appearance of a maddened bull, we loaded the buses once more. Destination: Talavan. This is where Lord Balarama tackled a bunch of demon asses by spinning them unconscious and hurling them into huge Taal trees. A very original move, no?
We reach the temple of Lord Balarama with a smaller Krsna on his right and Revati on the left. Balarama is blackish. It is generally mentioned in this regard that Balarama had been so absorbed in the meditation in Krsna that he assumed the colour of Shyam. “That’s the way to chant,” Maharaja comments. We first head out for the roof in the stinging midday sun. “Some austerity is needed in the dhama,” said Maharaja. Some dust, heat, crowd and noise – the hooter of our bus is an extremely high pitched version of a horror movie soundtrack! But this is the price to be paid for the lap of Krsna, Vrndavana. But Maharaja, being merciful, soon led us to the shaded courtyard.
Maharaja has planned this parikrama as a meditation. It is no coincidence that we approach Lord Balarama on the first day. He represents the adi-guru and is the giver of spiritual strength. Maharaja makes the important connection that Lord Balarama’s very essence is service to Krsna. We pray to Him for such a service attitude because through service we experience joy. That joy is the crux of spiritual strength. That joy is a gift from Lord Balarama.
We head back to Krsna Balarama Mandir having planted prayers in sacred places. Precious seeds of instructions toss in our minds searching for our hearts.
The article " Vrndavana Braj Parikrama – Day 1 " was published on KKSBlog.
Big gathering of vaishnavas in Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi in Mayapur (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Spiritual Master and Krishna are two parallel lines. The train, on two tracks, moves forward. The Spiritual Master and Krishna are like these two tracks, they must be served simultaneously. Krishna helps one to find bona fide Spiritual Master, and bona fide Spiritual Master helps one to understand Krishna. If one does not get bona fide Spiritual Master, then how he can ever understand Krishna? You cannot serve Krishna without Spiritual Master, or serve Spiritual Master without serving Krishna. They must be served simultaneously. Letter to Mahapurusa, February 12, 1968
Find them here: https://goo.gl/kg15QU
Ecstatic Ratha-yatra in Vrindavan (Album of photos)
Mahadevi Dasi: Totally ecstatic Vrndavana RATHYATRA with our ISKCON JAGANNATHA BALABHADRA SUBHADRA and CHAKRAJI!
The Sacred Sounds of the Holy Names of KRSNA were vibrating throughout the universe it seemed!
Devotees pulling Lord Jagannatha’s Cart while singing, dancing, laughing, smiling n showing various signs of the JOY that RATHYATRA gives so freely.
Brijabasis lined up along Bhaktivedanta Marg to join in the chanting, clapping their hands n showing their appreciation for the Lords going by giving tons of garlands, fruits n sweets!
Lord Jagannatha drenching everyone in Their Mercy- literally- as a rain shower came pouring down after the RATHYATRA!
Jagannatha Swami nayana patha ga me bhava tu me!
[Talk at Intel, Phoenix, USA]
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[Prabhupada disappearance day class at ISKCON, Phoenix, USA]
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[Talk at Phoenix, USA]
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[Talk at Phoenix, USA]
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[Talk at Phoenix, USA]
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[Talk at Phoenix, USA]
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[Govardhana puja talk at ISKCON, Phoenix, USA]
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Srila Prabhupada Nectar from Srutakirti Prabhu (video)
Srila Prabhupada: We must all become ideal in our character and then pe...
ISKCON Member Selected as KAICIID International Fellow.
ISKCON India’s Director of Communications, Yudhisitr Govinda Das, was earlier this month chosen by the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) as one of its twenty International Fellows for the year 2019.
KAICIID, based in Austria’s capital city Vienna, is an inter-governmental organization jointly founded in 2012 by the Republic of Austria, Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Holy See (Vatican) following the initiative of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to promote inter-religious dialogue with the aim of preventing and resolving conflicts.
To read the entire article please click here: https://goo.gl/x8nsPX
ISKCON India’s Director of Communications, Yudhistir Govinda Das, was earlier this month chosen by the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) as one of its twenty International Fellows for the year 2019, to promote inter-religious dialogue with the aim of preventing and resolving conflicts.
On October 27, ISKCON New Vrindaban devotees in West Virginia heard of the horrific mass shooting at the Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh, a 90-minute drive away from their idyllic rural community. Jaya Krishna Das, the Temple President of ISKCON New Vrindaban, wrote a heart-warming condolence letter to the Tree of Life Synagogue and the Jewish community, which was noted by the Intelligencer newspaper of Pennsylvania.
Kirtan Mela and Grand Inauguration Festival at New BGIS Campus, Vrindavan, India (Album of photos)
The Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School (BGIS) on Monday, 12th of November inaugurated its new Campus at Ajai Village in Vrindavan.
Hundreds of devotees from different parts of the world participated in this wonderful event in honor of the Gurukula’s founder, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Honorable guests, dignitaries, Prabhupada disciples, sanyasis, and senior leaders of ISKCON witnessed the splendid campus that unbelievably took in just few years to get it established. The celebration was held at the newly completed academic building. The ceremony was presided by His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami. In his inaugural speech, he emphasized the importance of giving Krishna consciousness to the children at the early stage of life. He mentioned that “This Gurukula will provide a safe learning atmosphere that will allow the students to develop a love for learning, with exemplary character, a profound understanding of Krishna consciousness, and the skills to become responsible leaders of the society". Maharaj greatly appreciated the unparalleled efforts of the New Gurukul Project Team and Staffs, headed by BGIS Director, His Grace Lila Purusottam Das and Radhakanta Das.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/yjaL7S
Is your child defiant? Parenting strategies you can implement right away (video)
Teachers from the TKG Academy of Dallas offer...
Remembering Srila Prabhupada in Mayapur (video)
Srila Prabhupada Disappearance day 2018, Mayapur, India.
Many Sanyasis an...
Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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On November 14, 1977, at 7:30 P.M., in his room at the Krishna-Balaram Mandir in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada gave his final instruction by leaving this mortal world and going back to Godhead.
His departure was exemplary, because his whole life was exemplary. His departure marked the completion of a lifetime of pure devotional service to Krsna. A few days before the end, Srila Prabhupada had said he was instructing as far as he could, and his secretary had added, “You are the inspiration.” “Yes,” Srila Prabhupada had replied, “that I shall do until the last breathing.”
I was privileged to be present at our Brisbane temple for the anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s departure from this world. Devotees came forward to glorify and offer homages to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, my guru and the Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness.
An amazing visit to Balaji/Venkateswara temple, the main temple at Tirupati.
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Hare Krishna dear devotees, this is a long read. Please persevere through it all. I hope it is worthwhile
We just had an amazing visit to the Balaji/Venkatesvara temple, the main temple at Tirupati. Or more correctly at Tirumala, on top of the hill above Tirupati town.
Did you know the bimba fruits?
We sing: “O Lord, the cheeks of Your blackish lotus face, which is encircled by locks of curling hair, have become reddened like bimba fruits due to Mother Yasoda’s kisses. What more can I describe than this? Millions of opulences are of no use to me, but may this vision constantly remain in my mind.”
Well, here they are in the photo.
Harinama in Brno, Czech Republic (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: “I have brought medicine to awaken very living being from perpetual sleep. Please receive the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and awaken. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.13.9 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/RchbDm
Sridham Mayapur ki Jaya! (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Our 2018 Vrindavan-Mayapur Parikrama party has now arrived in S...
A Chinese girl named Li-Li and Mr. Huang.
Dhirasanta Das Goswami: A long time ago in China a girl named Li-Li got married & went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn’t get along with her mother-in-law at all.
Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law’s habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.
Srila Prabhupada visits the 7 Goswami Temples in Vrindavan (Album of photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Every year we take Srila Prabhupada on procession past the Saptadevalaya (Seven Goswami Temples) in the very same palanquin that we took him on procession 41 years ago. Come join the ecstatic Sankirtan Procession through the pics of my dear Vittalrukmini Das
Find them here: https://goo.gl/wHzVKF
Memories of Srila Prabhupada (video)
H.G. Mokshalaxmi Mataji - Srila Prabhupada Katha, Vrindavan, India, 10/11/2018.
By Anuradha dasi On October 27, ISKCON New Vrindaban devotees in West Virginia heard of the horrific mass shooting at the Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh, a 90-minute drive away from their idyllic rural community. This tragic news affirmed the timeless knowledge of the Srimad Bhagavatam, which instructs us to take shelter of the Supreme Lord in a time where “there is danger at every step” (SB 10.14.58). Devotees visiting New Vrindaban often travel to and from the Pittsburgh airport, and one of the eleven victims who died in the shooting was a dentist to several devotees in Pittsburgh—reminding the ISKCON New Vrindaban community of the cruel, precarious nature of this world. Continue reading "ISKCON New Vrindaban Reaches Out to Jewish Community
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Дорогой Шрила Прабхупада, пожалуйста, примите мои смиренные поклоны.
Вся слава вам.
Как всегда, день этот для меня и сладок, и горек. Понимание, что вы отправились домой в духовный мир – единственное, что утешает боль утраты. Конечно, наша печальная потеря стала великолепным приобретением для многих обитателей духовного мира. Можно себе представить радостный праздник, устроенный по поводу вашего долгожданного возвращения! Для преданных вполне естественно ценить самоотверженное служение таким великим душам, как вы. Кавирадж Госвами пишет в Чайтанья-Чаритамрите:
«Слушая о деяниях Рупы и Санатаны Госвами, приближенные Шри Чайтаньи Махапрабху говорили: «Стоит ли удивляться достижениям человека, на которого Сам Господь пролил Свою милость?»
[ Шри Чайтанья-Чаритамрита, Мадхйа 19.132 ]
Скорее всего, теперь вы рано поутру гуляете по лугам и пастбищам, бегаете и играете в лесах Враджа. Вы непременно катаетесь по земле в духовном экстазе! Вы стремились к этому, когда написали 13 сентября 1965 года на Джаладуте свою знаменитую «Молитву лотосным стопам Кришны». Без сомнения, это из-за вашего успеха в исполнении желания вашего духовного учителя (чтобы сознание Кришны проповедовалось на западе) Господь ответил на вашу молитву и забрал вас домой.
Шрила Прабхупада, вы даровали миру уникальнейший из даров, обучая одновременно и искусству жить, и искусству умирать. В этом временном мире страданий и то, и другое непросто. И все же вы сделали и то, и другое возможным. При следовании вашим простым наставлениям жизнь приносит радость, а смерть становится просто сменой декораций из новоприобретенных друзей и освежающего разнообразия служений, которые, в конце концов, забирают обратно, в духовное небо. И что самое главное, жизнь в сознании Кришны гарантирует, что мы в этой духовной обители окажемся с вами, Шрила Прабхупада.
Почти что 70 лет тому назад я родился в этом материальном мире – такой же грешник, как любой человек, родившийся до меня. По своей недоброй судьбине, мне было хорошо на этой дороге из нескончаемого цикла рождений и смертей. Так все и шло до того дня, когда по милости ваших учеников вы появились в моей жизни. Вишнуджана Махараджа знал эту верную формулу. Когда в тот день я повстречал его на зеленых лужайках Университета Мичигана, первое, о чем что я спросил у него, было: «Махараджа, кто это – Кришна?» Улыбнувшись, он ответил: «Садитесь, молодой человек. Прежде чем ответить на ваш вопрос, позвольте мне рассказать вам о моем духовном учителе».
Шрила Прабхупада, я всего лишь одна из множества павших душ, которых вы спасли. Вы так добры. Скорее всего, при приближении к вратам Вайкунтхи для получения допуска нужно будет лишь упомянуть ваше имя.
«У тебя есть качества, чтобы зайти сюда?» – могут сказать Джая или Виджая.
Достаточно будет ответить: «Беспричинная милость Шрилы А.Ч. Бхактиведанты Свами Прабхупады».
Тогда привратники улыбнутся и скажут: «Хорошо. Входи!»
Конечно, всем понятно, что если мы хотим дерзновенно сослаться на ваше имя, мы должны будем добиться вашей благосклонности, служа желанию вашего сердца в этом мире. Мы не знаем, кто вы в духовном мире, но бесспорно, что служа вашим желаниям в этом мире, мы заслужим привилегии однажды служить вам в мире духовном.
Самое смешное, Шрила Прабхупада, что чем я становлюсь старше и тело мое становится старее и больнее, тем сильнее у меня желание помогать вам в распространении вашего движения по городам и весям этого мира. Временами это расстраивает. Но я пришел к выводу, что именно это желание и поможет мне перебраться через океан рождения и смерти – к приюту ваших лотосных стоп на противоположной стороне. Самкиртан, без сомнений – лучший способ достичь этой цели:
«Стремишься пересечь бездну мирского бытия, мечтаешь вкусить нектар самкиртаны, тоскуешь по тому, чтоб плавать в океане божественной любви?
Прими прибежище у стоп Чайтанья-чандры».
(Шрила Прабходананда Сарасвати, «Шри Чайтанья-чандрамрита», стих 93)
Шрила Прабхупада, вы говорили в своей проповеди о двух моментах, которые всегда напоминают мне о временном характере этого мира: «Не удивляйтесь, когда всё идет не так – удивляйтесь, когда всё правильно» и «Всё что угодно может произойти когда угодно». Оба эти утверждения верны. Но кажется, что преданное служение под вашим руководством опровергает эти законы материальной природы – и в этом его таинство. Как много раз, проповедуя сознание Кришны, я был свидетелем божественного вмешательства Господа. Сам факт, что кто-то покупает одну из ваших книг, приходит в храм, чтобы спрашивать об абсолютной истине, или дает разрешение провести масштабный фестиваль сознания Кришны на публике, показывает, каким образом Господь присутствует в этом мире и как может исправить все невзгоды. Я живу ради этих моментов, Шрила Прабхупада. Мэр Нью-Олбани, богатого города в США, сказал мне после просмотра нашего представления в сентябре: «Ваше шоу лучше любого бродвейского шоу в Нью-Йорке!» Услышав это, я ощутил такое удовлетворение глубоко в сердце. И – еще большее, когда он, улыбнувшись, добавил: «Главное, что в нем глубокое духовное послание».
Шрила Прабхупада, мои отношения с вами – одно из моих служений. Это очень ясное служение, ведь вы наставляли меня:
«Смело проповедуй и верь в святые имена».
Слова эти впечатаны в самые глубины моего сердца, они сама моя жизнь и душа. Я живу только для того, чтобы служить этим наставлениям. Случись мне вновь родиться, мне бы хотелось выслушать их от вас еще раз – поскольку они непременно направят меня домой, к вашим лотосным стопам в вечных духовных пределах.
На этом духовном пути я молюсь о вашей защите, но не для себя, а чтобы я мог беспрепятственно продолжать здесь вашу работу. Пожалуйста, защитите меня от любых материальных желаний в сердце; защитите от тех, кто выступает против вашего учения; защитите меня от бед, которые подстерегают падших душ в их земном бытии; и защитите от мыслей, что мои достижения – это мои заслуги. Пусть я всегда помню, что ваша милость – вот все, что я из себя представляю!
Я скучаю по вас, Шрила Прабхупада. Я знал вас лично лишь в младенчестве моей духовной жизни. Я мечтаю о том дне, когда я стоял бы перед вами очищенным, зрелым в преданном служении, и вы могли бы наставлять меня в возможностях служить вам в духовном мире – той обители, где вы в превеликом счастье служите вашему возлюбленному Господу.
Я часто вспоминаю, что в своей книге «Слуга слуги» написал Тамал Кришна Госвами:
«Я помню, в Бомбее Прабхупада пообещал мне: «Если кто-то пожертвует своим чувственным удовольствием, посвятив жизнь распространению сознания Кришны, Сам Господь Чайтанья придет в момент его смерти, скроет любые его недостатки и заберет обратно к Богу».
Шрила Прабхупада, молю, чтобы вы увидели все жертвы, на которые я пошел, распространяя это удивительное движение по всему миру. Если вы пожелаете, я готов на все это снова!
мама джанмани джанманишваре / бхаватад бхактир ахаитуки твайи
«Все, что я хочу, – это беспримесное преданное служение Тебе жизнь за жизнью»
[ Шикшаштакам, стих 3]
Навечно ваш слуга,
Индрадьюмна Свами
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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By Indradyumna Swami rila Prabhupada, you gave the world a most unique gift: you taught both the art of living and the art of dying. Neither is easy in this temporary world of misery. Yet somehow you made it all possible. Life is joyful if one follows your simple instructions, and death becomes a simple change of scenery, new-found friends and a variety of fresh services that ultimately take one back to the spiritual sky. Most important, living a Krsna conscious life guarantees that we may be with you, Srila Prabhupada, in that spiritual abode. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada Disappearance Day offering 2018
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Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day
Hare Krishna,
Jai Srila Prabhupada,we are distributing 40,000 books , the teachings of Lord Caitanya, and Prasad,
I am in my element here but I look forward to getting back in to UK stuff, we are opening a centre for homeless people in Watford on my return.
Your servant
Parasuram Das
from Nanda Gram
