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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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Gopala Bhatta Goswami (the son of Vyenkata Bhatta, a Sri Vaisnava brahmana) appeared in Sri Rangam, South India. Lord Caitanya once stayed for four months in his home and converted the family to Gaudiya Vaisnavism.
A boy at this time, Gopala personally served the Lord. Sri Caitanya treated him affectionately giving His remnants and blessings to become an acharya.
On pilgrimage he obtained twelve Salagrama Silas. Later the Damodara Sila manifested Himself as the beautiful Radha Ramana Deity. Since 1542, Sri Radha Ramana has been worshiped with pure devotion following precise sastric rituals.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 February 2013, Prague, Czech Republic, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.19.4)
If we want to be counted amongst the saints, we must have the courage to stand up for Krsna and not think, “What will the neighbours say?”
We have heard many stories of devotees during the early days of the movement in the former Soviet Union (Russia) and how the devotees were put into jails, mental hospitals and even labour camps. However, even during such circumstances, the devotees, using spoons over heating tubes, were ticking slowly in Morse code, “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna“. It takes a little longer to chant this way in Morse code as you can imagine but slowly the chanting of the holy name spread throughout the jails. Srila Prabhupada said, “This movement cannot be stopped! It is too late… it simply cannot be stopped. It is like a disease; when it has gone too far, there is nothing you can do. Nothing can be done to stop it now!” This is because vasudeva-katha-rucih (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.16). This is the key because of the taste of glorifying Krsna, how can one ever give it up!
Let the people say what they want to, we will still glorify Krsna!
Let the world criticise us, we will still glorify Krsna!
Let the word condemn us and declare us illegal, we will still never stop to glorify Krsna!
The article " Stand up for Krsna! " was published on KKSBlog.
Yesterday we were graced by a visit from Kalakantha Prabhu and Bhakta Jeff, from Gainesville. Kalakantha is such a sincere, intelligent, thoughtful, dynamic, compassionate, innovative preacher, I always feel enlightened and encouraged by his annual visits.
As stated in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 1.50),
tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te
“To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.”
Purport: “This verse of the Bhagavad-gita (10.10) clearly states how Govindadeva instructs His bona fide devotee. The Lord declares that by enlightenment in theistic knowledge He awards attachment for Him to those who constantly engage in His transcendental loving service. This awakening of divine consciousness enthralls a devotee, who thus relishes his eternal transcendental mellow. Such an awakening is awarded only to those convinced by devotional service about the transcendental nature of the Personality of Godhead. They know that the Supreme Truth, the all-spiritual and all-powerful person, is one without a second and has fully transcendental senses. He is the fountainhead of all emanations. Such pure devotees, always merged in knowledge of Krsna and absorbed in Krsna consciousness, exchange thoughts and realizations as great scientists exchange their views and discuss the results of their research in scientific academies. Such exchanges of thoughts in regard to Krsna give pleasure to the Lord, who therefore favors such devotees with all enlightenment.”
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
This year we had he largest gathering for the Dublin Ratha Yatra ever! It was a truly wonderful day beginning with lively kirtan as Lord Jagannatha ascended His chariot. 30 minutes later we were hearing the 1st citizen of Dublin waxing lyrical about how once he learned he would be attending today, he was eagerly awaiting the opportunity to help pull the Lord's chariot! An avid walker and long term abstentionist from motorised vehicles, he was very impressed with such a grand vehicle having no horsepower. And so we began, gliding through the streets with not an inch of free rope available to pull from. With an ever crescending kirtan we eventually arrived at our destination, the splendid St Stephen's Green park in the centre of the city. For the next 3 hours (with just a short pause for a powerful summer shower) all were captured by the multi generational cultural program from the quaint bandstand, as well as the various exhibits circled all around. As the pleasant evening drew to a close with many attendees and onlookers hesitant to leave, the Lord led the way although also appearing slightly reluctant to leave behind the summer sun and blissful festival-goers. So we are already looking forward to next year to experience yet again this unique spiritual and fun-filled festival! Continue reading "Dublin Ratha Yatra 2018
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Erecting a great wall versus character-building.
Laksmi Nrsimha Das: When the ancient Chinese decided to live in peace, they made the great wall of China.
They thought no one could climb it due to its height.
During the first 100 years of its existence, the Chinese were invaded three times. And everytime, the hordes of enemy infantry had no need of penetrating or climbing over the wall…
because each time they bribed the guards and came through the doors.
The Chinese built the wall but forgot the character-building of the wall-guards.
Thus, the building of human character comes BEFORE building of anything else..
Like one Orientalist said:
If you want to destroy the civilization of a nation there are 3 ways:
1. Destroy family structure.
2. Destroy education.
3. Lower their role models and references.
1. In order to destroy the family: undermine the role of MOTHER, so that she feels ashamed of being a housewife.
2. To destroy education: you should give no importance to TEACHER, and lower his place in society so that the students despise him.
3. To lower the role models:
You should undermine the Saints and Scholars, doubt them until no one listens or follows them.
For, when…
* a conscious mother disappears,
* a dedicated teacher disappears, and
* there’s a downfall of role models,
Then _who_ will teach our children VALUES?
*Aren’t we being already invaded..?*
Pop-up Temple at Kensington Olympia, UK.
This year’s “Wellbeing Mind Body Spirit Expo” took place at Kensington Olympia last May. Kirtan London devotees organized a pop-up temple and Ananda Monet led kirtan on the main festival stage. The chorus comprised a talented team of Manor School alumni. As well as hosting kirtans, the pop-up Temple ran mantra meditation workshops, and no less than 400 of Srila Prabhupada’s books were distributed.
‘Superb’ Open Day in the Manor!
The annual Open Day held on Saturday 7th July was described as ‘superb’. In the middle of a heatwave, Bhaktivedanta Manor received a steady stream of guests throughout the day, many of them for the first time. Devotees from across the entire community teamed together to ensure the best experience for everyone. Guests enjoyed tours, ox-cart rides, ‘Meet the Monks’, a free veggie lunch and kirtans. Inside were ongoing hatha yoga sessions, reflexology and ‘drumfullness’ workshops (‘mindfulness’ with percussion by Jayadeva das!) Meanwhile, children were also treated to henna decoration, face-painting, a bouncy castle and the very popular Children’s Yoga sessions in the George Harrison Garden! Balaram Nityananda das reflected, “We were off to a great start, after chanting the Hare Krishna mantra on the BBC Three Counties Radio Breakfast Show during an interview about the Open Day! “The energy, vibrations and team-work on the day was exemplary. We really had the best attendance we could ever hope for because guests were so interested to learn more that they renounced watching a crucial England World Cup match!”
On Saturday, approximately twenty-four devotees & seven children participated in our MSF in honor of Bhaktivinoda Thakur in Kingsbury, UK. Five of the devotees and the children went door to door and the rest of the devotees engaged in street distribution and kirtan. 137 doors were knocked!The first photo is of a Muslim gentleman who was very interested in our philosophy and took this book on our presentation. He explained he didn’t have any money to offer a donation but, driven by a desire to not miss an opportunity of taking a book, he asked a guest at his home to lend him some money so that he give a donation and take the book. His guest, understanding how important this was to him, gave him the money!
The second photo is of a Polish lady who was very happy to receive books from Niharika Jain. She felt blessed that our books had arrived at her doorstep.
The third photo is of a spiritually inclined gentleman who was happy to accept the books and gave a generous donation. Our books have given him the chance to further his spiritual knowledge and to advance his learning in spirituality.
The fourth photo is of a lady named Vivienne ans as soon as the books were presented to her, she was very happy to take them. She wants to start yoga so we took her details and gave her information about the Manor and invited her to visit us. It was really heartwarming to meet her and to share the special mercy Srila Prabhupada has left us with in the form of these transcendental books.
As you can see from the subsequent photos the children and devotees had so much fun. We are all looking forward to our next MSF!
More photos: https://goo.gl/ZdNJzj
Birmingham youth enjoy dancing happily with devotees as Agnideva Prabhu leads the Hare Krishna chanting at the Ratha-yatra parade (...
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2018, Durban, South Africa, Human Relationships Lecture)
Question: What is the most appropriate way to inspire your spouse towards Krsna consciousness?
With a lot of love! It is going to take a lot of love because it is through love that the inspiration will come to the other person – the inspiration to make a sacrifice. It is a challenge for someone to inspire a spouse to take up Krsna consciousness therefore, it must be done in a loving way. It does not mean that every word has to be decorated with roses. No, it means that we have to speak simply with the interest of the other person at heart, not that we are the centre and that we are going out of our way for someone else and that we are adjusting ourselves to others. Love means to give. Love means that we are ready to sacrifice and when someone sees this, that can really awaken something within them.
Srila Prabhupada’s sister was an extraordinary devotee. She looked just like Prabhupada in a female form. In her younger years, she was married to a man who was not a devotee. Her husband was engaging in all kinds of activities, which during that time in India was quite shocking. But she never gave up. She never left him. She kept on serving him and so on. It took quite a long time but eventually one day, he admitted it, “My wife is a saint!” and that actually changed him. He gave up all his bad habits. So in this way, she conquered him by her saintliness.
The article " Inspire through love and sacrifice " was published on KKSBlog.
INDIA IN GREECE Or, Truth in Mythology (Free pdf)
Edward Pococke: Where did the Aryans come from originally? Did they invade India? Or were they actually Indian invaders who colonized Greece?
In India in Greece, E. Pococke explores the theory that the Aryans may have originally traveled from India to Greece, colonized the latter and influenced the culture there. Centuries later, they came back to India. Covering topics as diverse as the sources of the Hellenic Race, the colonization of Egypt and Palestine, the wars of the Grand Lama and the Bud’hist propaganda in Greece, the author tries to show that at some point in history, India and Greece were closely associated
To read the pdf please click here: https://goo.gl/7Ywyvi
The Sanga Initiative 2018: Matchless Gifts (4 min video)
A video compiled by Avig Pointi, Anandarupa Kundu, and Gaura Klein! A...
Devotee awarded British Empire Medal.
Acyuta Charan das, based in South London, manages a vegetarian food charity for homeless people, and was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year’s Honours list. The award category was for voluntary and charitable services to homeless people in the area. For ten years he has been heading up food distribution for the charity Food For Life while also working as a Home Office accountant at Lunar House in Croydon. “I wasn’t expecting it at all!” responded Acyuta, “We serve all meals from a pop-up table and if it’s raining we operate from a van. I just get on with my service; I don’t expect to be nominated for awards. The Medal was presented to Acyuta at Tower Hill, Central London, by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Mr Ken Olisa OBE.
Devotees attend Royal Reception in the UK.
Kripamoya das and Sita Rama das were guests of HRH Prince Andrew at a reception to welcome inter-faith representatives of the Emir of Bahrain. The event was held in a venue adjacent to St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Krish Raval, director of the Senior Faith Leadership Programme spoke on the importance of religious understanding between traditions. Clergy from Windsor Castle and the Dean of Windsor were also present.
Three, Two, One… (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: With Polish Woodstock [ Pol'and'Rock ] just days away the countdown has begun. People are beginning to trickle in and set up their tents at this free event. As our men continued setting up our “village” I took the opportunity to walk around and meet some of the people who had arrived early.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vSWwru
THE COLORFUL UGANDA RATHA YATRA (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Absolute Truth is Sri Krishna, and loving devotion to ...
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[Talk at Bhakti Lounge, Wellington New Zealand]
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[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Wellington, New Zealand]
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[Bhagavad-gita class to Bhakti Shastri students at Wellington, New Zealand]
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[Congregation program at Wellington, New Zealand]
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“The mind is the agent of the false ego and the false ego doesn’t want to surrender to Krishna. The false ego wants to be the controller, the enjoyer, the proprietor and the center of everything. The mind will always give us so many reasons why not to surrender or chant Hare Krishna. So, we should not be misled by the mind. With our intelligence or with our hearts we should surrender.”
Talk by Giriraj Swami (Right click to download)
Talks by other devotees (Right click to download)