The midterm GBC meetings about to begin at the beautiful Iskcon…
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The midterm GBC meetings about to begin at the beautiful Iskcon temple in Kanpur, UP, India (Album of photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: We are now at the fabulous ISKCON Kanpur temple in UP, India, at the GBC meetings. It’s an amazing temple, that has only be open about a year, being run by His Grace Devakinandana prabhu.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/QVR72B

Ratha Yatra and Prayers for Tsunami Victims of Sulawesi, Indonesia
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Hare Krishna Gorontalo (Hulontalo) is an Indonesian province on the island of Sulawesi. It was created on December 5, 2000. Historically, it has been a center for the spread of Islam in Eastern Indonesia. Gorontalo City is also known as "The Land Under Medina's Porch".) Gorontalo province is located on the peninsula (Gorontalo Peninsula) on the northern part of Sulawesi, located in the western part of the province of North Sulawesi. The government of Gorontalo holds annual Karawo festival and this year devotees in Gorontalo were invited to participate in the Parade.

The Odyssey of Lord Krishna’s Cuisine: The most beautiful collection of rejection letters!
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The Odyssey of Lord Krishna’s Cuisine: The most beautiful collection of rejection letters!
“Looking back, I don’t know what it was—youthful folly, divine inspiration, some chromosomal glitch in the DNA sequence—I don’t know what it was that prompted us to take this on…. We just felt compelled….We had faith in Yamuna.
We had faith in the fact that prasadam was so central to Prabhupada’s mission—that if we could do this, then we could die peacefully. I am not saying that in any kind of metaphorical way. I truly think that it was a service that we could look back on and say, ‘You know what? If nothing else happened, I helped to get that done.’
So we got somebody to pay for copies of the manuscript and sent them out [to publishers]. To this day I have at home the most beautiful collection of rejection letters from every publisher in America. They are the most heartfelt, 'This is incredible research’; 'It’s extraordinary’; 'Good luck to you’; 'I have no idea what to do with it’; 'I don’t have any ideas for you’; 'It’s fantastic.’
But who wanted to publish it? Who wanted to read 1,000 pages on Indian vegetarian food with all of these descriptions of Lord Krishna and this guru [Srila Prabhupada]?”
- Yogesvara das, from “Yamuna Devi: A Life of Unalloyed Devotion”

Cultivating the mood for studying Bhagavatam
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Bhagavatam study program at Seattle, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post Cultivating the mood for studying Bhagavatam appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Taking shelter through chanting
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Taking shelter through chanting.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: The purpose of chanting is about taking shelter. Everyone needs shelter in this world; we know that very well. But where is our shelter other than at Krsna’s lotus feet? That is our situation, there is no other shelter! Everything else is illusory shelter. Real security and shelter is found in Krsna and that is the essence of spiritual life.


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When Mother Lorrie visited her son, Jayapataka Swami, in Mayapur…
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When Mother Lorrie visited her son, Jayapataka Swami in Mayapur
Haridhvani Devi Dasi: In 1995 I went to India and that year was the 25th anniversary of HH Jayapataka Swami taking sannyasa, so his mother actually came to Mayapur at festival time. I and a few other ladies got the chance to take care of her while she was there. We would try to see to her comforts- is she hot, is she thirsty, is she hungry, would she like to go shopping? It was nice because we figured that Maharaja would be pleased if she was happy and cared for so we did our best.


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Where is our shelter other than at Krsna’s lotus feet?
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, December 2010, Cape Town, South Africa, Morning Lecture)

The purpose of chanting is about taking shelter. Everyone needs shelter in this world; we know that very well. But where is our shelter other than at Krsna’s lotus feet? That is our situation, there is no other shelter! Everything else is illusory shelter. Real security and shelter is found in Krsna and that is the essence of spiritual life.

When we are new in spiritual life then we think we are advancing – we feel we are advancing, we feel things are changing, we feel our life is changing, we feel we are getting serious… but after we are involved for a longer period of time, we feel that we are not making any progress at all. Why is that!?

In the beginning, our progress is very measurable. It is about how many principles we are following – three, four, two? Or how many rounds we are chanting? It can be measured. But later, it is different because later, it is about the state of purity of the heart which is more difficult to measure.

Throughout the centuries, the culture of worship of Krsna has been existing in India. The worship of the Krsna was preserved within the culture. But what about the state of the heart? That is another matter. That you will not get from culture alone. Culture does contribute because within culture, respect and worship of Krsna is there and even the name of Krsna is there. But the state of one’s heart is what Krsna is asking for. At the end of Bhagavad-gita (18.66), Krsna says to surrender unto him, sarva-dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja.

This topic of surrender is very big. It is a very big challenge to rise to that occasion. To really say, ‘Now it’s only Krsna!’ Otherwise, the danger is there that we think of other ways to take shelter. Therefore the more we take shelter of the holy name, the less we need to take shelter in other things.

The article " Where is our shelter other than at Krsna’s lotus feet? " was published on KKSBlog.

Demons in krishna-lila 2 – Shaktasura – Overcoming Lethargy
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post Demons in krishna-lila 2 – Shaktasura – Overcoming Lethargy appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

TOVP Daily Victory Flag Sponsorship – An Ideal Kartik Seva
- TOVP.org

Every Nation in the world has a flag that they raise each day as a tradition to symbolize the values of the country and the dedication of its people to those values. Many Institutions and groups use flags to display their identity to the public. There are also flags for special occasions like festivals, etc. In Vedic culture flags are commonly used on temples, even to the present time such as in Jagannatha Puri where the temple flag is raised daily displaying the Sun and Moon dynasties. Even Arjuna used a Hanuman flag on his chariot during the battle of Kurukshetra.

With the above in mind, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium management have decided to officially roll out a daily Victory Flag raising tradition starting Kartik, 2018 (October 25th) that will continue unabated for hundreds of years into the future for generations of ISKCON devotees to observe for as long as the TOVP stands, and we are now historically at the very start of this important transcendental custom. Raising the TOVP Victory flag daily will symbolize the glory and victory of the spiritual headquarters of the entire universe, Sridhama Mayapur. It will symbolize the victory of Srila Prabhupada as Mahaprabhu’s representative who established the yuga dharma throughout the world and whose fame is spread all over the three worlds, as we sing daily at guru puja. It will symbolize the victory of the Sankirtana movement over the forces of Kali and the dense darkness of ignorance that covers the minds of a misguided civilization. It will symbolize the Hare Krishna explosion that is spreading throughout the world, inundating the fallen souls with Krishna prema.

This will also begin the TOVP Daily Flag Sponsorship Seva wherein three new flags (raised daily by a devotee personally going to the top of each of the three domes) can be sponsored by devotees worldwide. We have prepared a daily flag raising calendar going up to the Grand Opening of the TOVP in 2022 and you can be a part of the historic beginning of this unique tradition. Along with the great satisfaction of sponsoring the TOVP Victory Flag, we will also ship it to you anywhere in the world as your personal memorabilia and reminder of your seva. Every day three new flags will be sponsored, raised and shipped to the donors.

Devotees can sponsor a flag for the appearance day of an acharya or their guru, a relative’s birthday, a wedding anniversary, in memory of a deceased relative, or any other special occasion. Or simply for the seva of the Lord and to glorify the TOVP. Not only individual devotees, but ISKCON temples, zones, farms, preaching centers, restaurants, etc. can also participate.

Each flag is red and will bear the standard logo of the Sun and Moon dynasty (see article photo). The sponsorship cost is $501 for either the Lord Nrsimhadeva or Planetarium dome flags and $701 for the Pancha Tattva/Radha Madhava/Guru Parampara dome and dates are now available going all the way to Gaur Purnima 2022. Certain calendar days like the appearance days of the Lord and the great acharyas will be more to sponsor, and Gaura Purnima 2022 will be a special sponsorship that will include multiple flags offerings throughout the day. The flags on that day will be offered at a special Homa yajna prior to being raised. All sponsorships must be paid in full at the time of making your date selection. Donations from this flag raising seva will help us to meet our construction deadline during the MISSION 22 Marathon for the next 3½ years.

To sponsor a TOVP Victory Flag go to the link below to see the available calendar dates and select the date you would like, the name or occasion for which it is being sponsored and to make your payment. This sponsorship will require a full payment at the time of selection.

This tradition will continue for hundreds and thousands of years and you are at the very beginning of this unique seva. And what a better time to sponsor a TOVP Victory Flag than Kartika. For sponsoring a TOVP Victory Flag and serving the mission of the Sankirtana Movement you and your entire family for generations past and future will receive the blessings of the Lord:

“Please note that every farthing of this money will be employed in the service of the Lord, and the Lord is so kind and grateful that He will bestow upon you benediction at least ten times more than that you have done for Him.”

Srila Prabhupada

Please click on the link below to go to the TOVP Daily Flag Sponsorship Seva page and choose your date(s) today:

SPONSOR A DAILY FLAG FOR A TOVP DOME NOW

The post TOVP Daily Victory Flag Sponsorship – An Ideal Kartik Seva appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Why Build the TOVP? Do We Really Need Another Temple? Part 4
- TOVP.org

This is the 4th and final part of this series of articles. Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 can be found here. It is the most important because it presents from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya and Jaiva Dharma the glories of Gauda-mandala in West Bengal, the hundred-petaled lotus with the eight-petaled lotus of Navadvipa-dhama, Mahaprabhu’s birthplace (Yogapitha), at its center.

No other tirtha (sacred place) in the universe equals the power of this Navadvipa-dhama at the present time because of its being non-different from the most merciful avatar, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus, it should be easily understood why the grandest and most glorious temple of them all, not just in ISKCON but for all Gaudiya Vaishnavas for preaching the glories of the samkirtana movement should be built in Sridhama Mayapur, which is a part of the divine lotus-like Navadvipa-dhama. In the words of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur:

“Those who are trying their best to keep intact the flow of service to Sri Mayapur will be considered the benefactors of the world of Vaisnavas.”

Selected Quotes from Jaiva Dharma and Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya

“Of the seven holy places giving salvation – Ayodhya, Mathura, Gaya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avanti and Dwaravati – Sri Mayapur is the most important place of pilgrimage. Sriman Mahaprabhu with His advent made His own Svetadvipa descend here, and after four centuries after the disappearance of Sriman Mahaprabhu this place of pilgrimage Svetadvipa will be superior to all other places of pilgrimage of the world. Living in this place removes all sin and offenses and helps pure devotion to grow.”

Jaiva Dharma – Bhaktivinoda Thakur

“He who lives in Navadvipa-dhama is very fortunate, for he achieves attraction for Krishna. He who happens to go there becomes freed from all offenses. What one attains by traveling to all the holy places is attained just by remembering Navadvipa. In this way the scriptures sing. He who sees Navadvipa-dhama gets ecstatic love of Krsna birth after birth. Even one who goes to Navadvipa desiring to gain material comforts through pious activities will not take another birth. The Sastras say that one who walks around Navadvipa attains the fruit of millions of asvamedha yajnas at every step. And one who lives in Navadvipa and chants mantras obtains the sound of Caitanya as his mantra and easily gets free from maya. What yogis obtain after ten years at other tirthas is obtained in three nights at Navadvipa.”

Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya – Bhaktivinoda Thakur

“Whoever gets the mercy of Lord Nityananda, the master of the sandhini potency, can see that blissful dhama as fully spiritual. The holy rivers such as the Ganges and Yamuna as well as the seven holy cities headed by Prayaga are all situated in various places within Navadvipa-dhama. One who is fortunate can see that this pure realm, Gauda-mandala, is directly the spiritual world.”

Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya – Bhaktivinoda Thakur

“Gaurahari appeared in the beginning of Kali-yuga in Navadvipa by His own internal spiritual potency. Withdrawing the covering of illusion, Gauracandra revealed His eternal pastimes in Gauda-mandala. I see no one in Kali-yuga more unfortunate than that lamentable, wretched person who does not worship such a merciful Lord as Sri Caitanya, or who rejects such an inconceivable dhama as Navadvipa. Therefore, give up all other desires and attractions, and simply fix your mind on Navadvipa-dhama.”

Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya – Bhaktivinoda Thakur

Further glories about Sridhama Mayapur can be read in this article about the creation of Mayapur by Srimati Radharani Herself: https://tovp.org/fundraising/radhastami-2018/

To read more excerpts from the Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya, download the pdf at the link below.


 

DOWNLOAD PDF

 

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 Why Build the TOVP? Do We Really Need Another Temple? Part 4 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

European Farm Conference report 2018 – Day Three
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Hare KrishnaBy the IMCPA team

Certificate of Readiness. On a global level the ministry is working on a certificate of readiness that will be a requirement for any goshala that wants to be ISKCON approved. This certification process will ensure applicants are fully aware of the responsibilities for cow protection over the full life of the herd. It will require detailed analysis of herd growth, milk yield projection, budget setting for years 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 15, land analysis and building needs assessment. It will also include a full audit of work and service requirements for the project and ensure it is properly balanced between secured maintained people and voluntary assistance. Continue reading "European Farm Conference report 2018 – Day Three
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Was Sati’s reaction to her father’s actions justified or was she also implicated?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post Was Sati’s reaction to her father’s actions justified or was she also implicated? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Gita 01.09 Duryodhana’s slip of tongue leads to his speaking the truth unintentionally
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 01.09 Duryodhana’s slip of tongue leads to his speaking the truth unintentionally appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Govindas Asrama Program
→ Ramai Swami

As usual, it was standing room only at the Tuesday Govindas Asrama kirtan program. Sri Prahlada was in town and led kirtan for the first half and I took over for the second half.

Everyone was clapping, chanting and some dancing in ecstasy due the wonderful Hare Krsna mantra, especially when Sri Prahlada led. At the end, sumptuous prasadam was served to all.

 

“Krsna Loves His Devotees” (8 min video)
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In his commentary to the Gita 9.30, wherein Krsna says his devotee is a sadhu even if he commits an abomination, Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura says that Krsna becomes a little angry thinking that someone is faulting a devotee. If a devotee feels he is bad and lowly, Krsna will repeatedly overlook that offense. If a devotee’s action is bad but his intention is good, Krsna will ignore/forgive the action and accept the intention.


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Jagannath Ratha Yatra Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia
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Hare KrishnaBy Hari Narayanaa das

In commemoration of the 92nd Anniversary of Sukorejo Village, Bangorejo Subdistrict, Banyuwangi Regency, enlivened the cultural arts parade. This parade aimed to clean the village environment from negative energy. The Hindu Parisad and Hindu community invited devotees to participate on the parade. Then the devotees accepted the invitation and coordinated with the Ratha yatra Nusantara team to make preparation. Continue reading "Jagannath Ratha Yatra Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia
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IMCPA Conference Day 2
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Hare KrishnaBy the IMCPA team

In the ahimsa community there are 2000 people. 4% are ISKCON and 8% receive milk and the rest support the ahimsa dairy foundation. They find the vision enthralling and want to support its work. We have 48 acres and will be buying a further 25 acres shortly. 180 people sponsor cows and we have 360 members who pay at least £9 per month. There is a waiting list of 1000 people who want milk and so we have stopped taking new applicants. Continue reading "IMCPA Conference Day 2
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