“Everything should be done on the basis of love. Strictness is not very good. The students should act automatically, out of love. That is wanted. [However,] Superficially, strictness may be necessary—some material laws or basic principles—and if they don't follow they'll be reprimanded. But they should develop the idea of love. Sometimes you have to [force], but even so, the basic principle should be love. Sometimes, out of love, a father must force his son to do something; that does not mean the father is the enemy of the son. [If the teacher or preacher has not yet cultivated love:] In the meantime our regulated living will teach. Either with your son, your disciple, or your student, you should always strictly enforce the rules. Don't be lenient. Out of love, shall we let our disciples and sons go to hell? That is foolishness.” Continue reading "The Art and Mechanics of Inspiration
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Answer Podcast

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Answer Podcast

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The post Daily Darshan: June 11th, 2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Fiji Kirtana Mela 2018 (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The purpose of pronouncing omkara is to address the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva (om namo bhagavate vasudevaya). And the purpose of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is the same. Hare: “O energy of the Lord!” Krishna: “ O Lord Krishna!” Hare: “O energy of the Lord!” Rama: “O Supreme Lord, O supreme enjoyer!” (Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.14.48 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/UwLU6x

On Friday evening 7 ladies went out door to door to distribute books in the Kingsbury area, UK.
We encountered people from different backgrounds, cultures, ages and races.
One such was an Iranian lady who was an author on yoga and self-help books. When we knocked on her door she was deeply engrossed in her writing but admitted that she was going through writer’s block. So, seeing the meditation books in our hands, she became really excited and said that these books will help her with her writing. She took 6 books, including Bhagavad Gita and was thoroughly fascinated by the contents of the Gita. She became even more excited when we told her that there was also a vegetarian book in the pack. She said that she’s been vegetarian for the last 6 months but finds it hard to explain to her family because she comes from a culture of heavy meat-eating. We will invite her to some yoga classes at the temple and the Sunday feast.
The photo is of a gentleman we met on the street, again very much interested in meditation and courses that we offer. He was so happy to receive our books. Hopefully we will see him at the Manor soon….

Never seen before huge queue of hundreds of people today outside the Soho street, London Iskcon temple for the ceremony of Snana Y...

Vedic Wisdom from Srimad Bhagavatam 6.12.15 by HG Vaisesika prabhu at the Bhakti Center, 10th of June 2018, New York (video)
“One who knows that the three qualities — goodness, passion and ignorance — are not qualities of the soul but qualities of material nature, and who knows that the pure soul is simply an observer of the actions and reactions of these qualities, should be understood to be a liberated person. He is not bound by these qualities.”
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/mcu7oD

Vrindavan Ekadashi Parikrama (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna chant is called the maha-mantra, the great,...

• 40 people are attending the vlog retreat in Croatia
• The experience of chanting transcends all other experiences
• Dattātreya is the guru of environmental protection
• As consumers we should avoid buying things sold in plastic containers
• I compromise my preaching by consuming plastic

In this presentation, Hari-dhama dasa discusses an important social issue for the Society: that of providing care for the terminally ill in the movement. Since Vaisnava hold very dear the hope of dying in the association of devotees and at a place of pilgrimage, ISKCON faces a challenging task in providing this facility and care for its members. The author argues that both spiritual care and medical care should be available to patients, be they in a secular hospice or in a religious institution. He goes on to present some possible methods of approach to both carers in ISKCON and the caring profession in general. Continue reading "Spiritual Need, Pain and Care: Recognition and Response in ISKCON
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Mayapur visit by Mr. Bankim Chandra Hazra, Honorable MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) Ganga Sagar and Chairman of GBDA ( Gangas...

NY Rath Yatra 2018 (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If we simply place ourselves at the lotus feet of Krishna by taking to...

1. O Lokanatha Gosvami! O my master! I beg for the shelter of your lotus feet. If you are satisfied with me then please place your merciful glance upon me.

2. If you are pleased with me then all the wishes of my mind will be attained and my thirst for happiness will be satiated. Then I will attain the association of Lord Caitanya and Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.

3. O master, if you do not become merciful to me then what will become of me? Please fulfill my mind’s desire at least this one time.

4. In the entire world there is no one as much in need of your mercy as me. Please be merciful to me and give me shelter at the soles of your lotus feet.

5. Although he spends all his days and nights glorifying the transcendental pastimes and virtues of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, Narottam dasa knows that his desire to attain Their association cannot be fulfilled without your mercy.”

[ Srila Narottam das Thakur, Prarthana, Song 20 ]

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July 11, 1966. 26 Second Avenue, New York City: A few sympathetic, interested people gather in a small downtown storefront to help an Indian swami's mission by adding their signature to a legal document. Today, ISKCON has branches all over the world. Millions of lives have been transformed by the Hare Krishna mantra and the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita—thanks to the vision of Srila Prabhupada and the efforts of his sincere followers. But in 1966, no one (except Prabhupada himself) could foresee how this society could ever manifest on such a scale. Here's an excerpt from Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita, a detailed biography of Srila Prabhupada, describing the humble yet momentous event of ISKCON's incorporation. 1966: The Lower East Side, New York. The building was humble, the membership small, yet Srila Prabhupada's vision encompassed the whole world. Continue reading "We Shall Call Our Society ISKCON
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One evening, Srila Prabhupada spoke at the University of California in Berkeley, the heart of the hippie capital. The San Francisco devotees enthusiastically received him and relished his lecture. They prepared barrels of popcorn and distributed it following Srila Prabhupada's lecture. "What is that?" His Divine Grace asked. "Popcorn, Srila Prabhupada," Jayananda explained. "Would you like some?" "Yes, give me some," Srila Prabhupada said. The devotees gave him popcorn which was being distributed in little bags printed with the Hare Krsna mantra. Srila Prabhupada ate the fluffy, spiced kernels with great relish. "Oh, this is nice," Srila Prabhupada told them. All the devotees, especially those who had cooked and distributed the prasadam, felt so much pleasure. Now they were certain their offering had been accepted and their lives were successful. Continue reading "Popcorn
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Answer Podcast

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Answer Podcast

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 December 2017, Gold Coast, Australia, Bhagavad-gita 8.20)

We must try to properly glorify Srila Prabhupada in order to understand his unlimited spiritual potency. Srila Prabhupada was always a resident of the spiritual world. He may have been present in this material world for us, but he still resided in the spiritual world. What if I was trying to glorify Srila Prabhupada and I were to say, “At the end of his life, he went back to Godhead.” What would you say to that? (A Vaishnava replies, “Yes, I agree.”) Well, I would say to you, “What do you mean Srila Prabhupada went back to Godhead? Prabhupada actually never left Godhead. He was there all along.” So there was never a time when he was not present in the spiritual world.

There was a lecture given by one of the senior sanyasis in Vrndavan in 1980, and there were many devotees present there. This Maharaj who was giving the lecture then said that blew our minds, “Lately, I have been having some doubts. I am not sure if Srila Prabhupada went back to Godhead.” We all started thinking, “Nooo… this cannot be true that such a senior devotee would have such doubts. What kind of a lecture is this?” But then Maharaj completed his sentence, “I am not sure if Srila Prabhupada went back to Godhead. Maybe he went to another universe, to do it all over again!”

The article " An eternal resident of the spiritual world " was published on KKSBlog.

The post Daily Darshan: June 10th, 2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Lecture on Bhagavad Gita by H.H. Niranjana Swami in Iskcon Boston, 6/6/2018, (video)

TOVP update: Marble cladding (1 min video)
Sadbhuja Das: Dear Devotees,
We would like to give you an update report of the...

Who Am I – UID or SID
Every living entity entrapped in this material world is wondering from one species to another, from one planet to another, from one enjoyment to another, from one body to another and from one bodily stage to another.
In this material universe, every living entity is covered with 24 components, which forms a body out of 8.4 million species. Soul, the unit part of a body is permanent and the 24 components, which forms a subtle and a gross body, changes from time to time.

Harinama in New York, Friday June 8th (Album with photos)
Harinam Sankirtan in Union Square park joined by HH Kadamba Kanana S...

Across all religions there is a universal concept that when a man and woman marry with proper attitude they become one body. They don’t merge into each other’s existence, but it means that they start living for a common purpose – to serve God together. They share the same goal at many levels. First – I will do anything to protect you and you will do anything to protect me; this is oneness. We are there for each other and whatever the difficulties we may face, we will be faithful to each other, till death separates us. It means to give up one’s false ego for the sake of the other. It’s a two way street. So this faithfulness, this devotion to each other is the common principle of marriage. Continue reading "Principles for a harmonious marriage
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The post Can ambition and devotion go together? (2) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Talk to IIT Kharagpur students]

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1. O Lord, 
please give me millions of bodies and millions of mouths in each body. By your mercy place millions of tongues in each mouth. O Lord, may Your millions of transcendental qualities dance on those tongues!

2. What is the use of a soul that does not have millions of bodies? What is the use of a body that does not have millions of mouths? What is the use of a mouth that does not have millions of tongues? What is the use of a tongue that does not chant Your millions of names?

3. 
O Lord, may I perpetually have hundreds of bodies and may each body have thousands of mouths. May each mouth have millions of tongues, and may each tongue chant millions of Your Holy Names.

4. O Madhava, whenever, wherever, or whoever chants Your names and pastimes, there may I with millions of ears eternally drink Your nectar.

5. May I have millions of ears and millions upon millions of tongues. Then, O Lord, I will eternally and happily hear and chant Your pastimes.

6. May I have millions of ears, millions of eyes, millions of hearts and minds, and millions of tongues. Hearing about, seeing, and embracing the ocean of Your handsomeness, I will drink its sweetness.

7. May I have millions of eyes, ears, noses, tongues and chests, so that I may continually taste the nectar of Your handsomeness, Your sweet sounds, sweet fragrance and Your embrace.

8. May I have millions of feet to go to Your side. May I have millions of hands to serve You. May I have millions of intelligences to teach that service. O Lord, please grant me these boons!

[ Srila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur ]

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When a horse stepped on HH Radhanath Swami’s knee (11 min video)
The harrowing tale of Radhanath Swami riding a horse to facilitate his double duty pujari service in two different jurisdictions in primitive New Vrindaban.

The CEO of Avanti Schools in the UK gets an award.
Excited to announce Nitesh Gor, CEO of Avanti Schools Trust has just been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2018!
Navina Krishna das: “I feel humbled knowing all the great work that others within Avanti Schools Trust are doing to make it such a success. It’s wonderful having our work within Avanti being recognized in this way.”
The complete list: https://goo.gl/HZ2WSJ

Please find enclosed the 4th Issue, 2nd Volume for this year, of ISKCON Ministry of Education’s quarterly journal, Viplavah. We hope this edition will be useful and interesting to you in many ways. We look forward to being in touch with you. Please let us know if you would like to participate in educational projects facilitated by the ministry or would like to collaborate with the ministry for educational initiatives in your area. Continue reading "ISKCON Ministry of Education’s quarterly journal, Viplavah
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When Hanuman returned from Lanka, reporting to Lord Rama, he didn't want to start by "I found Sita" by putting himself first, neither putting Sita's name first like "Sita was found" to prevent Lord Rama's anxiety by hearing first her name and assuming the worst. So he said: "Found Sita I"! Hanuman had so many good qualities that Lord Rama said: "If I can have him as my associate I will achieve success!" In this class there are also nice expressions of appreciation among devotees. San Jose, USA, June 3, 2018 Continue reading "Hanuman: Found Sita I!
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Answer Podcast

The post If our mind troubles us more than others’ mind troubles them, what to do? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.