Kartika Parikrama in Bharatpur (14 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Our Kartika parikrama took us to Bharatpur, a town within the...

Gurus Everywhere - A Sunday lecture by Vraj Vihari Das at Iskcon of DC (audio)
There is so much to learn from the world around us… if we just learn to listen.

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Real Protection (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HH Prahladanandana Swami at ISKCON Kanpur - Sri Sri Radha Madhav Mandir.

In an effort to increase awareness of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) within the ISKCON devotee community and the importance of completing the project by 2022, the TOVP management wants to create an online gift and paraphernalia store through the Zazzle.com website platform.

The TOVP store will provide devotees with beautiful memorabilia that they can gift to others or use themselves as reminders of this wonderful project, and will include popular products like shirts, jackets, hats, buttons, watches, clocks, phone covers, keychains, posters, canvas art, and many more items with artwork depicting the TOVP and other designs related to the project. Products ordered from the store can be shipped to any part of the world as gifts for personal use, as prizes for book distribution leaders, or many other uses. The ‘store’ has no stock. Each item is created ‘on-demand’ and shipped accordingly as ordered.

To accomplish this service we are seeking talented and experienced graphic artists who would like this opportunity to offer their time to create artwork for this purpose and serve the TOVP, Srila Prabhupada and Mahaprabhu in this unique way.

Please contact Sunanda das at tovp2016@gmail.com for more information and to offer your help. Kindly provide some samples of your artwork with your submission. All responses will be seriously considered. Please note this is a voluntary service and not a paid position.

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 Attention all Devotee Graphic Artists – Artists Needed for TOVP Online Gift Store appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

How I came to Krishna Consciousness - Panchagauda Das (10 min video)
The amazing ways Lord Chaitanya’s movement changed the lives of so many souls!

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For a devotee, death means leaving everything behind and continuing our wonderful spiritual journey of gradual progress back to Godhead. Although during our life we know everything really belongs to the Lord and we use it in His service, when leaving our body this fact becomes even more clear. It therefore behooves those of us who have significant assets to decide how they will continue to be used in His service in a responsible way when we leave this world for the next.

Donating to charities, non-profits and religious/spiritual organizations in one’s Last Will and Testament is a common and respectable act. Within ISKCON this has also become a regular affair and the results can make a very significant difference to a temple in need. We hope those with the means will consider the TOVP in their thoughts when creating their final distribution of wealth.

Click to read a short and simple explanation of three different types of contributions you can make in your Last Will: Fixed Sum, Specific Legacy and Residuary Legacy.

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 The TOVP and Your Last Will appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

The beautiful Srimad Bhagavatam (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam Class by H.G.Hari Sauri Prabhu at ISKCON Vrindavan, Oct 27, 2018.

The post From sentimentalism to sentiment – FEEL acronym (2) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Seminar at ISKCON, Hillsborough, North Carolina, USA]

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The post From sentimentalism to sentiment 2 – FEEL acronym – Expression and Learning appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Seminar at ISKCON, Hillsborough, North Carolina, USA]

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Podcast Summary

The post From sentimentalism to sentiment 1 – FEEL acronym – Firmness and Education appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Congregation program at Cary, North Carolina, USA]

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The post Immigrating to the spiritual world appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 01.24 The position of maximum visibility is also the position of maxiumum vulnerability appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Transcription :

Transcriber: Bhakta Sharan

Question: When facing serious problems, should we first focus on solving problems and then practice bhakti?

Answer: Each problem is different. To have a heavy workload is one kind of problem and going through a major health crisis is another. Similarly, having a traumatic relationship conflict is a problem of its own kind. Each of these problems pose different obstacles on our bhakti path.

If we have a sore throat or our leg is fractured and the doctor has advised us to not exert pressure, and still we continue to sing loudly in kirtan or climb a mountain to go to a temple, then such action is foolhardy. We might have to stop a particular devotional service until our physical capacity is restored. We have to follow all the prescribed exercises and medications till we are physically fit.

In case of excessive workload where we have to meet deadlines, postponing our devotional engagements for some time is understandable. Simultaneously we need to check whether working more hours really translates in progressing towards meeting our deadline. Sometimes more hours at work does not necessarily mean more productivity at work. Being alert and taking breaks could actually help us to be more productive. What one does in those breaks could vary from person to person.

Doing activities like hearing kirtan, studying philosophy, listening devotional lectures etc. could actually help sharpen our mental faculty and reduce stress which helps in boosting productivity. One should not think that because I am so busy therefore, I cannot do my devotional activities. Rather, one should be open towards the perspective that my devotional activities could in fact help me do my work better.

In a relationship conflict, emotional pain experienced is much more than the physical pain. Amidst such trauma, one can think that after this gets over, I will practice bhakti. It is understandable that in such situation one should stay focused and purposeful without which it will be very difficult to remain in an emotionally well-balanced situation.

Problem solving is not like weight lifting where the more pressure we exert the more weights we can lift. Problem solving is like applying the right kind of voltage for the right device. If a device receives less power than what it needs, then it cannot function properly. However, at the same time if the device gets more power than what it needs, that will also be a problem. Similarly, we need to find out what amount of thinking help us solve the problem and what amount of thinking starts affecting us negatively. Unless we recognize this dynamic difference, we will continue to think about the problem understanding that the more we think about the problem, the more we will be able to deal with it. At one level this may be true because we need to think to solve the problem. However, we need to understand that thinking endlessly about the problem will also not help. Our thoughts need to be sharp and alert so that our thinking is effective to find constructive paths for dealing with the problem. That is why for emotional problems, it is vital that we create the necessary distance and detachment by directing our thoughts elsewhere so that we can get positive energy to help us deal with the negative energy.

This can be done by thinking about Krishna and practicing bhakti activities. Not ritualistically, but in a way that we can absorb ourselves in it. Doing that activity could help us in a significant way in moving towards Krishna and growing internally by calling out to him in a mood of dependence. Consequently, getting the required clarity that could help us solve the problem more effectively.

End of transcription.

The post When facing serious problems, should we first focus on solving problems and then practice bhakti? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

“Don’t Think God Has No Feeling” by Srila Prabhupada (SB 7.9.5) 24 min. class recorded in Mayapur, February 25, 1977.

Proud of your new “supercar”? (2 min video)
Sivarama Swami: A new Mercedes, BMW, Tesla or Porsche … will make us Happy? It’s a myth - let me explain.

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Vaman Kshetra Hall Programme, Glenfield, New South Wales, Australia (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: There is no limit to perfection—we may go on improving more and more, and still there is no limit to how much we may please Krishna, just like for the materialist there is no limit to how much Maya can kick us! Letter to Balavanta, December 22, 1971.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/GaXDAU

Kartik in Vrindavana (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This Krishna consciousness movement is for approaching Radha-Krishna,...

Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami Festival (Album of photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Last Dvadasi we celebrated the Disappearance Day of S...

Damodarastakam (video)
Ecstatic bhajan glorifying Lord Damodara by HH Lokanatha Swami in Iskcon Vrindavana, 24.10.2018.

Rathayatra in Curitiba, a city in Brazil (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The secret of surrendering to Krishna is that such surrendered devotee sees that everything is part of Krishna’s plan. Whatever is meant to be I am doing. Let me do it with my full attention to every detail. Let me become absorbed in such service, never mind what it is. Let all other considerations be forgotten and only my desire to do the thing best for Krishna’s alone pleasure is my motive. Letter to Jayapataka, December 19, 1972.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/99SnGJ

Answer Podcast

Transcription :

Transcriber: Bhakta Sharan

Question: Should a devotee profession try to become a CEO to demonstrate how devotees can be materially successful too?

Answer: All of us have certain capacities of stretching ourselves in carrying out various tasks. If we are in a zone below that capacity, it is called comfort zone (the name maybe comfort zone but staying there for too long makes us uncomfortable). Above the comfort zone is stretch zone and beyond it is the panic zone. Lifting a weight is either within our capacity or way above our capacity. Stretch zone varies from person to person. Ideally, it would be great that devotees have the best profession, or they are the best in their profession. However, we should remember that not every student in the class can be first.

Devotional sincerity is good but in the material world the translation of devotional intention into successful action also requires material competence. Different people will have different competence. For example, there might be a student who comes first in his class and also practices high standards of sadhana in devotional life. Other devotee students would surely want to emulate him. If the students out of peer pressure desire to be first in the class but neglect the fact that they take 14-15 hours to study compared to the topper who takes only 5-6 hours, then this might not be the best way that they can contribute.

We have to find out for ourselves what level of success or what level of progressing towards success is sustainable and holistic for us. Striving to be the best in our field is good but striving to be connected with Krishna and pursuing our profession in the context of our connection with Krishna is even more important.

For someone, the pursuit of becoming the best may take them away from Krishna. For some, the pursuit to be devoted to Krishna may inspire and equip them to become the best and for others, the pursuit of becoming the best and the pursuit to be devoted to Krishna may go parallel. We can understand this with three scenarios as follows:

A. In a class, there might be students who are average or above average and the pursuit to be the topper may take them away from Krishna (I have to study so much, I have no time for bhakti)
B. Some students may have a lot of potential but are unable to cope up due to their own negativity. However, when they feel positive after practising bhakti, it inspires them to become the best.
C. And then, there are toppers who are also devotees and they may continue practising bhakti and remain on top.

All these three possibilities are there, and which possibility applies to us that we have to see.

To conclude, there are central and peripheral activities of devotion. More broadly, there are primary, secondary and tertiary activities of devotion. Primary activities are our direct devotional expressions and responsibilities, secondary activities of devotion could be our family responsibility, professional ambition etc. and tertiary activities are pursuing excellence in a particular field as a mode of devotional expression. Some people may spend lifetime trying to achieve excellence in kirtan (which is great) but if that is done at the expense of not following the prescribed sadhana (not chanting their daily rounds, not attending important programs in temple etc.) because now they do not have time then they are giving up the primary for the tertiary. How much effort will be required in the tertiary will vary from person to person depending on how much talent they have and what situation they are in.

End of transcription.

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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 01.23 Virtue doesn’t count when determining the military count in a fight appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Bhagavatam class at Raleigh, North Carolina, USA]

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The post Stop fighting battles that are already lost and start fighting the battle that is never lost – Vritrasura pastime analysis 3 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Talk at North Carolina State University, USA]

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The post Focus on potentials, not on problems appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

A pioneer devotee is braving austerity to create a dream retirement home in Colombia’s lush Cauca Valley, for those who have dedicated their lives in service to ISKCON. And Lord Krishna is reciprocating as neighbors embrace the project and doors gradually begin to open.

Just as our phone disturbs us externally, our mind disturb us internally.

Karma in a strict, scriptural sense, primarily means the actions done in accordance with one’s prescribed duties as mentioned in the revealed scriptures. A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.

Today, thinking of how valuable Krishna consciousness is and how few people are accepting it—and how people are suffering for want of Krishna consciousness—I felt somewhat discouraged, but then I thought of Srila Prabhupada’s encouraging words to a reporter from the New York Times, John Nordheimer, in September 1972.

“How many followers do you have?” Nordheimer asked.

“Well, this is a very difficult job, naturally,” Srila Prabhupada replied. “We don’t have a large number of followers. When you try to sell a diamond, you cannot expect many customers. Nonetheless, a diamond is a diamond, even if there are no customers. The number of customers is not the test. The customer must pay the value of the item.

“In this Society we propose that you give up illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication, and gambling. When people hear this, they go away, saying, ‘Oh, Swamiji is very conservative.’ But I cannot become liberal and tell everybody, ‘Go ahead and do all nonsense, and you can become God conscious.’ I cannot possibly recommend that. Therefore, my first condition is that if someone wants to become my student he has to follow these four regulative principles. Consequently, I do not have many followers, but I do have a select few. One moon is sufficient to dissipate the darkness. If there is one moon, there is no need for millions of stars. It is useless to expect a large number of followers. We want only one good follower. If I can get one man to become Krishna conscious, I will consider my mission fulfilled. If you talk to whatever small number of followers I have, you will find that they talk better than any great philosopher, better than any scientist or politician. That is the quality of my students. . . . Because they are select, they will bring about a revolution in the world.”

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

In India, Panihati had the highest increase: 999% (3,957 book points). In the USA, Chicago increased the most: 129% (6,656 book points). In the CIS, Simferopol (Ukraine): 313% (1,204 book points). In Europe, Milan, Italy: 124% (1,750 book points). In South America, Guadalahara, Mexico: 234% (533 book points). In Africa, Port Elizabeth, South Africa: 614% (70 book points). And in Australia, Melbourne: 148% (1,919 book points). Continue reading "WSN September 2018 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
→ Dandavats"

Our "Paramahamster" comic strip follows an enthusiastic devotee as he navigates a 9 - 5 work day in the corporate world. Please check back weekly for new episodes!

A video by Barnaby Booth.

The Gujarati dubbed DVD of the hit movie “Hare Krishna – The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami who started it all” was launched at the ISKCON Ahmedabad Ram Vijaya Festival on October 19th, by the Honorable Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani.  

 One of my favourite BBC Radio Four shows is Desert Island Discs. At the end of every show the guest is figuratively sent to the island with a copy of the Bible and the entire works of Shakespeare. They can also have a book of their own choice and some important item.

The ToVP team has completed the research for the ingredients that will be used for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium's coffered ceiling sections within the domes. Based on that research they have found Glass Reinforced Gypsum (GRG) to be the most suitable material for their purposes for many reasons. In the video you will find a description of the different properties of GRG.

The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has sent a Diwali message for Hindus all over the world entitled as Christians and Hindus: In Defense of the Vulnerable of Society.

Heartwood Soundstage, an intimate venue in Gainesville, Florida will come alive at 7pm on Wednesday November 7^thwith the second annual kirtan dance party and fundraiser by non-profit Bhaktiland Inc.