Gita 18.08 Desire for bodily pleasure and fear of bodily trouble both keep us in the cage of bodily consciousness
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Millions in Puri for Lord Jagannath (video) Srila Prabhupada:…
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Millions in Puri for Lord Jagannath (video)
Srila Prabhupada: “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare—these sixteen names composed of thirty-two syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name.” (Kali-santarana Upanisad)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ncjM3f

Sunday, June 24th, 2018
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Madrid, Spain

Checking Out Miguel

Miguel de Cervantes is the famed author of the fictitious character “Don Quixote” and is memorialized just a few blocks from Hare Krishna Centro.  It was natural to take a stroll there.  Gathering Narottam, a student from Mayapura, India, and Bhakta Jyan, of Guadalajara, to take the lead, browsing about became our way of winding down the day.

The monument is impressive, situated by a pond of water, and just about every tourist who comes to Madrid, takes a walk around while taking a few snap shots. It’s amazing that Don Quixote has become so popular a character.  When I asked my companions, “Who was he?” the straight and simple answer is, “He was a dreamer.”  I know of a few people like that.  I guess his imagination was in the extreme.

Morning and evening engaged me in giving classes, the first was based on the monk, Chaitanya, and his magnanimous ways with prema pumartha maha.  Premais the love that is deeper than any other. It goes beyond the practice of dharma.  If people love the person Don Quixote then they may consider the nature of Krishna and so many avatars.

The second class, at 1:30 p.m., was a component of the Sunday Open House.  The quaint Hare Krishna Centro, just five minutes off San Bernardo, gets packed with people, mostly Spaniards, with the exception of some South Americans settled in the country for better socio-economic opportunities.  Here I spoke (with translation) from Chapter 18 of the Gita.  How glorious is that dialogue between the warrior and the Divine.  “It gives me a thrill,” if not a chill, up the spine, so says Sanjay.

May the Source be with you!
6 km

Saturday, June 23rd, 2018
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Madrid, Spain

How Does It Feel

At 3:45 a.m., just when the party mode was beginning to subside, a guitarist moved his strings, and with his vocals—outside our window—started to sing, “How does it feel to be on your own, like a rolling stone…”  This Bob Dylan classic threw me back to the sixties, but probably it was also a message that roommate, Yadunandan Swami, and I were to start activating our mission for the day and become rolling stones.

Julan Yatra from Tenerife was also to join us on an early attack on the trail, a branch of the famous Santiago Camino that runs through Madrid.  We convened and the air was good, and people were good (sort of); some were high or a bit tipsy from drinking.

Party goers chanted simply upon seeing the three of us, however, a trio of Friday night enthusiasts—two gals and a guy—took us more seriously.  They looked over our mantra card with serious interest.  We were on the first break, standing, and then sitting under an amber street light.

Incidentally, to follow the Camino’s route, you have to keep your eye on the gold-painted arrow.  It led us to a cemetery and the very precincts of the city.  That was good enough.  Thirteen kilometres accomplished.  We had to return to our temple for a scheduled talk on “Tales from Trails” to be held in a cave-like temple.  By the way, the restaurant here is well visited and increases in attendance in the winter.

May the Source be with you!
13 km

Simple living high thinking for the devotees of Iskcon Slovenia…
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Simple living high thinking for the devotees of Iskcon Slovenia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s transcendental mission is to distribute love of Godhead to everyone. Anyone who accepts God as the Supreme can take to the process of chanting Hare Krishna and become a lover of God. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 4.41 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/GCHFNF

Friday, June 22nd, 2018
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Alcala de Henares, Spain

Kirtan Where It Helps

Most of my stepping today was in the city above, done during our Hari Nama Sankirtan practice.  Approximately twenty-five of us danced or paced up and down through this trendy downtown, armed with mrdangadrum, kartals(cymbals) and our own good cheer.

It’s funny how people respond to our group.  It ranges from disdain, to indifference, to happiness.  Obviously, we come across as religious, and some store owners don’t see us as a draw to their merchandise.  There are a lot of people, clerks as well as tourists, who just break into a big smile, and that is always reassuring.

It was interesting to see storks flying overhead, and even more-so, landing on municipal towers where their full nesting arrangements have fewer predators at such heights.  There’s always an innate desire to see your species survive and prevail.

While we were chanting the streets under an endless awning, a protection from the sun, a group of protesters were shouting out slogans for justice.  Apparently Spain had one of those instances where a woman was mercilessly and publicly raped, and the guilty group of men have received a less-than-serious sentence.  Of course, people should be penalized to match the offence.  https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/spain-protests-wolfpack-rape-charges_us_5ae520bee4b04aa23f23a2af

What brings people to do such things?  Where do such ideas come from, ideas that get implanted in the brain?

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Thursday, June 21st, 2018
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Romanacos, Spain

At the Top

I am really fortunate because rains have been in abundance, more than usual. It has left everything very green.  Locals say, “It is usually dry at this time.”

The village of Romanacos is approximately seven kilometres from the farm, Vrajamandala. A kind person, Vishnu Dharma, drove us to the top of the hill, right to the site of the village.  There sits an old church from the 16thcentury. A tiny snake seemed to take refuge in the area.  He shared the road with us—Nir, Julan and Lyla.     https://instagram.com/p/BkT_r_igFJn/    The trail is this winding road that is ever so quiet.  It’s hard to believe we are so remote.  Luckily, spring fountains of drinking water are found here and there.  Overall, I find it is a very pleasant place for self-reflection and God-contemplation.

Yadunandan Swami asked that I give classes twice today—once on the story of young prince Dhruva after he met Vishnu, and another on “Whatever you wish to speak about.” For the second one—which was at 6:00 p.m.—I wasn’t sure where I was going to go with it.  It was a nice surprise to see how it terminated.  Each person was left with their own chosen, personal sutra(code) which he/she felt was their direct message from our guru, Srila Prabhupada.

“In a nutshell, what is he asking you to do?”

In truth, I came to Spain primarily to meet with Yadunandan Swami, and two Cuban devotees, Janardan of Madrid, the temple president, and Julan Yatra, vice president of Tenerife.  We discussed, at length, strategy for sharing Krishna Consciousness there. Vrajamandala is a great place to meet.

May the Source be with you!
6 km

Song: Stand and Serve – Do What You ❤️ For Lord Chaitanya (Updated June 2018)
→ Successful Vaisnavas – Personal Development for Hare Krishnas

On the long flight back from the Experts Academy seminar (2012) in the US, I got inspired to write a rap song. (The song is to inspire each member of the Krishna consciousness movement to take initiative and using their own unique talents do something great for Lord Caitanya’s mission. The lyrics are below the […]

The post Song: Stand and Serve – Do What You ❤️ For Lord Chaitanya (Updated June 2018) appeared first on Successful Vaisnavas - Personal Development for Hare Krishnas.

Song: Stand and Serve – Do What You ❤️ For Lord Chaitanya (Updated June 2018)
→ Successful Vaisnavas – Personal Development for Hare Krishnas

On the long flight back from the Experts Academy seminar (2012) in the US, I got inspired to write a rap song. (The song is to inspire each member of the Krishna consciousness movement to take initiative and using their own unique talents do something great for Lord Caitanya’s mission. The lyrics are below the […]

The post Song: Stand and Serve – Do What You ❤️ For Lord Chaitanya (Updated June 2018) appeared first on Successful Vaisnavas - Personal Development for Hare Krishnas.

Before I Die…
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Hare KrishnaBy Ananda Vrindavanesvari Devi

The Gita teaches that wherever our mind is at the time of death, that will determine our next destination. Better not leave that to chance as our mind is undependable. In a split second it goes off on any emotion, both good and bad. Before we die, therefore, we need to practice what state of mind we want to be in at the time of death. That’s the practice of Bhakti. If our heart is filled with affection for Krishna, then at that critical moment we will call out to Krishna, and place our heart, and therefore our mind there. Love conquers all, especially the mind. If we love Krishna, that is where we will go for shelter. And that is where we will go at the time of, and after, death. Continue reading "Before I Die…
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Do We Complain Too Much?
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Hare KrishnaBy Kesava Krsna dasa

While performing our services according to ability and inclination, mistakes will be expected. The tendency to highlight those as faults can be habitual, which has the effect of being caught up in a cobweb. If we persist in complaining about faults, thinking we are still advancing in spiritual life, without any ill effects to our health or well-being, will solidify to become steel cables. The fact that the mind is attracted to flying towards the sores of others’ mistakes is evident the Lord is displeased. Such behavior is really a selfish activity. How so? More often than not, if we are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but due to our own estimation of it, and we have the power to revoke it by becoming more Krsna conscious. Continue reading "Do We Complain Too Much?
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ISKCON Scarborough – 8th Annual 64 round chanting day on Sunday – July 1st, 2018 (Canada day)
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Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!


We are pleased to announce that our 8th annual 64 round chanting day will take place coming Sunday- 1st July 2018 from 8 am onward.

We will have our regular Tulasi arti, guru puja and main arti as usual on this Sunday.

Scrumptious breakfast and lunch prasadam will be served on this day.

Every year several devotees take part in chanting 64 rounds at ISKCON Scarborough that takes place on CANADA DAY or the weekend of Canada day.

It is difficult to complete 64 rounds by ourselves at home. However, when we are in the association of other devotees, we get inspired and motivated to chant the 64 rounds.



Further details about chanting the 64 rounds:

When we chant 64 rounds, we chant over 100,000 names of the Lord!

• 1 Hare Krsna Maha Mantra(HKMM) = 16 names of the Lord - consisting of 3 transcendental words of Hare, Rama and Krsna (“Hare” is the internal energy of the Lord which is non-different from the Lord, “Krsna” means all attractive and “Rama” means reservoir of all pleasure).

• 1 round in a japa mala =108 Hare Krsna Maha Mantra= 1728 names of the Lord (16 names of the Lord in 1 HKMM X 108 times in a japa mala)

• 16 rounds = 27,648 names of the Lord (16 names of the Lord in 1 HKMM X 108 times in a japa mala X 16 rounds)

• 64 rounds = 110,592 names of the Lord (16 names of the Lord in 1 HKMM X 108 times in a japa mala X 64 rounds)



Why chant 64 rounds of Hare Krsna Maha Mantra?

Caitanya Bhagavat (by Sri Vrindavan das Thakur)- Antya Khanda- chapter 9 verses 116 to 125:

“As the devotees invited the Lord (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu) to take His meal in their houses, the Lord took the opportunity to teach them all this topic.

When invited to take a meal, the Lord smiled and said, “First you should become a laksesvara [The word laksesvara is a combination of laksha (“hundred thousand”) and isvara (“master”). In common usage, it would refer to someone who possessed a hundred thousand rupees.].

“I take meals only in the house of a laksesvara.” Hearing this, the brahmanas became worried.

The brahmanas offered prayers to the Lord, “O Gosaani, what to speak of a hundred thousand, none of us possess even a thousand.

“If You don’t accept meals from us, then let our entire household be burnt to ashes.”

The Lord replied, “Do you know who is a laksesvara? He is someone who daily chants a hundred thousand holy names.

“I call that a person a laksesvara. I take meals in only such a person’s house, not in the houses of others.”

Hearing this merciful statement of the Lord, the brahmanas gave up their anxiety and became joyful.

“O Lord, we will chant a hundred thousand names. Please therefore take Your meals in our houses. It is our good fortune that You are teaching us in this way.”

All the brahmanas then began to chant a hundred thousand names everyday so that they could offer food to Lord Caitanyacandra.


Importance of Chanting the Holy names of the Lord:

Srimad Bhagavatam: 6.3.31:

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore, the chanting of the saṅkīrtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others will take it seriously.


Caitanya Bhagavat Adi Khanda 16.94 – Namacarya Srila Haridas Thakur

“Even if my body is cut into pieces and I give up my life, I will never give up chanting the Lord’s holy name.”


Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32/Caitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila 3.52/ Caitanya Caritamrta Madya Lila 6.103/ Caitanya Caritamrta Madya Lila 11.100/ Caitanya Caritamrta Madya Lila 20.342/ Caitanya Caritamrta Antya Lila 20.10

In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.


Padyavali- Srila Rupa Goswami:

O Supreme Personality of Godhead, when someone desires to chant Your holy name, sins tremble in fear, the glory of material illusion faints unconscious, Yamaraja’s scribe Citragupta becomes happy and gazes at the chanter’s toenails with awe and reverence, and Lord Brahma prepares madhu-parka to worship him. O Lord, what more can we say than this?


Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.51:

My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna Hama-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom


Padyavali- Srila Rupa Goswami:

May Krsna's holy name, which is a reservoir of all transcendental happiness, the destruction of Kali-yuga’s sins, the most purifying of all purifying things, the saintly person’s food as he quickly traverses the path to the spiritual world, the pleasure-garden where the voices of the greatest saints, philosophers, and poets play, the life of the righteous, and the seed of the tree of religion, bring transcendental auspiciousness to you all.


We invite you, your family and friends to ISKCON Scarborough on 1st July to take part in this auspicious event.



ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7

Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website:
www.iskconscarborough.org

Gita 18.07 Renunciation done in illusion can’t take us out of illusion
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Bhagavatam study 83 1.16.1-6 How Parikshit Maharaj manifested his predicated qualities
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Podcast


 

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Spiritual lessons from world history 1 – Reflections on the Christian Reformation
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Podcast


 

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Festival in Sri Vrindavan Dham Farm, Almaty, Kazakhstan (Album…
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Festival in Sri Vrindavan Dham Farm, Almaty, Kazakhstan (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s transcendental mission is to distribute love of Godhead to everyone. Anyone who accepts God as the Supreme can take to the process of chanting Hare Krishna and become a lover of God. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 4.41 Purport)
Find them here: Find them here: https://goo.gl/DbdHnb

Gratitude Community Cooking and Sharing 27.06.2018 (Album of…
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Gratitude Community Cooking and Sharing 27.06.2018 (Album of photos)
Shantasya Carlisle: Oh what fantastic helpers today; we were honoured to be visited by Kripamoya Das and Havi Das who are world famous for their devotional music. They made these super tasty pizzas for us. Thank you very much.
Tesco’s community champion and her line manager poped in to see what we do with their food donations and gave us a hand cutting cherries.
We had new comers and old comers having lots of fun preparing together great dishes using what we collected yesterday from the paddock Road Allotments.
We also broke off with a Gratitude tradition, due to the heat we didn’t make soup!
Our lunch included;
Boiled artichokes
Roasted baby potatoes
Roasted zukini
Green salad
Rice
Baked white sauce pasta
Corn on the cob
Panir in red sauce
Sweet roasted parsnips
Baklava
Dates
Fresh cherries
Rhubarb pudding
Drinks
Thank you lovely people, till next time …
Find them here: https://goo.gl/4rJuBW

Looking for the Supreme God
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Hare KrishnaBy Manali D. Bijlani

I was born and brought up in a Hindu family in Delhi, and we used to go to various temples and offer prayers before the gods. Two questions, however, always tickled my mind: Why do we worship so many gods, and who is the real God? As I never got answers to my questions, I considered all the gods equal, and in my teenage years all religions and faiths became one for me. Be it Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, or Christianity, all pointed towards one God. But I could not find out who this God is. During my school days, when I badly needed the help of God I would cry out to Him, but no name would come on my lips. Sometimes I wondered whether God has any name, and slowly and steadily I felt that God has no form or name but is a supernatural power—a powerful light we cannot see but can only feel. Continue reading "Looking for the Supreme God
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ISKCON CENTER VESU (SURAT) RATHYATRA AND BOOK DISTRIBUTION…
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ISKCON CENTER VESU (SURAT) RATHYATRA AND BOOK DISTRIBUTION REPORT.
“Many fanatic spiritual movement have come and gone, but without the flawless philosophy of Krishna, they cannot stand.Therefore I want especially that my book and Literature should be distributed profusely.This is our substance,real philosophical information, not some weak sentiments.So try for this,to give all men this Krishna philosophy,and many real devotees will come with us back to Home, back to Godhead.”-

In Glorification of Yamaraja Prabhu
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Hare KrishnaBy Krishna-kripa Das

I just wanted to thank you for being a model of dedication to Srila Prabhupada, his Back to Godhead, his society, ISKCON, and his mission. You have been designing, laying out, and taking photos for Back to Godhead ever since I met you in Philadelphia around 1984. When did you start? Thank you for designing practically all of Sadaputa Prabhu's books, both in the past and present. You were always a great supporter and friend of his. I do not think any devotee appreciated Alien Identities to the extent you did. Thank you for cooking for all the devotees, the halava for the Sunday feasts, the capatis for lunch, the pancakes and the upma for breakfast. Thank you for teaching me typesetting and proofreading so I could do layout for Sadaputa Prabhu's books and so I could help out by proofreading those books, Back to Godhead, Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami's books, Tattva Sandarba, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava, and so many more. Thank you for teaching me how to make capatis, upma, and tricks for mass quantities of halava. Thank you for being a good example of a steady devotee and a steady brahmacari. Continue reading "In Glorification of Yamaraja Prabhu
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Chanting with Feelings
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Hare KrishnaBy Niranjana Swami

And that is the activity of Lord Hari, when that fear is taken away by remembrance of the Lord. Lord Hari is the ‘One who takes away’, but He also takes away our fear because generally, it’s the fear which is the cause of so much anxiety. As Śrīla Prabhupāda explains, ‘fear’ means to not know what lays in the future. That’s why we fear. “If I do this, what’s going to happen? If I get on the plane, is it going to land?” Fear comes from the anticipation of the unknown. Continue reading "Chanting with Feelings
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Gita 18.06 Karmic bondage is like emotional dependence – focus not just on the action but also on the motivation
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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