Answer Podcast
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Amidst suffering, should we see that Krishna has chosen us to go through this for some purpose?
Daily Darshan: June 9th, 2018
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How can we make difficult decisions responsibly?
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Answer Podcast
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Redirection of consciousness is Krishna’s miracle – Bali Maharaj pastime reflection
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[Bhagavatam class on Srimad Bhagavatam 8.22.29-30 at ISKCON, Juhu, India]
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Seeing Krishna’s mercy amidst loss – Krishna’s instructions after Govardhana lila
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[Govardhana lila Bhagavatam study at Juhu, India]
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Renunciation of false ego – Indra’s Prayers after Govardhana lila
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[Govardhana lila Bhagavatam study at Juhu, India]
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Purushottama – The Supreme Person
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I have copied verses from the Bhagavad Gita that categorically claim Krishna as the Supreme Perso. Any doubt that may arise in the mind's of people as to what the Bhagavad Gita represents, these verses should quell that doubt.
In my knowledge, there is absolutely no scripture (west or east) existing in this world that can counter these emphatic statements of Krishna. Yet, people says there is no God or searching after God or Krishna is a Hindu God. No where Krishna (you will see in these verses) that Krishna says He is for the Indians or Hindus. He categorically claims His supreme dominion of all that be.
Unless one is biased or dull or stubborn, he or she cannot deny that Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth.
The following verses are spoken by Krishna;
Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form. – 4.6
The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries. – 5.29
A true yogi observes Me in all beings, and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized man sees Me everywhere. – 6.29
The yogi who knows that I (Krishna) and the Supersoul within all creatures are one worships Me and remains always in Me in all circumstances. – 6.31
Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both its origin and dissolution. O conqueror of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread. I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man. I am the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics. O son of Prtha, know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men. - 7.6-10
O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows. – 7.26
Those who know Me as the Supreme Lord, as the governing principle of the material manifestation, who know Me as the one underlying all the demigods and as the one sustaining all sacrifices, can, with steadfast mind, understand and know Me even at the time of death. – 7.30
By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them. And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities, and although I am everywhere, still My Self is the very source of creation. As the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, always rests in ethereal space know that in the same manner all beings rest in Me. – 9.4-6
The whole cosmic order is under Me. By My will it is manifested again and again, and by My will it is annihilated at the end. – 9.8
This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again. Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature and My supreme dominion over all that be. – 9.10-11
I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support, and the grandsire. I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed. O Arjuna, I control heat, the rain and the drought. I am immortality, and I am also death personified. Both being and nonbeing are in Me. – 9.17-19
I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts. – 10.8
I am the Self, O Gudakesa, seated in the hearts of all creatures. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings. – 10.20
Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O Arjuna.– 10.32
Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being-moving or unmoving-that can exist without Me. – 10.39
But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe. – 10.42
The Blessed Lord said: Time I am, destroyer of the worlds, and I have come to engage all people. – 11.32
It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father. – 14.4
And I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness, and which is immortal, imperishable and eternal. – 14.27
The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind. – 15.7
The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me. I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables. I am the fire of digestion in every living body, and I am the air of life, outgoing and incoming, by which I digest the four kinds of foodstuff. I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I am to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas. – 15.12-14
Because I am transcendental, beyond both the fallible and the infallible, and because I am the greatest, I am celebrated both in the world and in the Vedas as that Supreme Person. Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is to be understood as the knower of everything, and he therefore engages himself in full devotional service, O son of Bharata – 15.18-19
The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.- 18.61
The following verses are spoken by Arjuna;
You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me. 10-12-13
Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own potencies, O origin of all, Lord of all beings, God of gods, O Supreme Person, Lord of the universe! – 10.15
O great one, who stands above even Brahma, You are the original master. Why should they not offer their homage up to You, O limitless one? O refuge of the universe, You are the invincible source, the cause of all causes, transcendental to this material manifestation. – 11.37
You are the original Personality, the Godhead. You are the only sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world. You know everything, and You are all that is knowable. You are above the material modes. O limitless form! This whole cosmic manifestation is pervaded by You! You are air, fire, water, and You are the moon! You are the supreme controller and the grandfather. Thus I offer my respectful obeisances unto You a thousand times, and again and yet again! Obeisances from the front, from behind and from all sides! O unbounded power, You are the master of limitless, might! You are all-pervading, and thus You are everything! - 11.37-40
You are the father of this complete cosmic manifestation, the worshipable chief, the spiritual master. No one is equal to You, nor can anyone be one with You. Within the three worlds, You are immeasurable. You are the Supreme Lord, to be worshiped by every living being. Thus I fall down to offer You my respects and ask Your mercy.– 11.43-44
After reading this, with a focused mind and heart filled with gratitude, let us do what Krishna asks from us;
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear. – 18.66
Hare Krishna
In my knowledge, there is absolutely no scripture (west or east) existing in this world that can counter these emphatic statements of Krishna. Yet, people says there is no God or searching after God or Krishna is a Hindu God. No where Krishna (you will see in these verses) that Krishna says He is for the Indians or Hindus. He categorically claims His supreme dominion of all that be.
Unless one is biased or dull or stubborn, he or she cannot deny that Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth.
The following verses are spoken by Krishna;
Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form. – 4.6
The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries. – 5.29
A true yogi observes Me in all beings, and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized man sees Me everywhere. – 6.29
The yogi who knows that I (Krishna) and the Supersoul within all creatures are one worships Me and remains always in Me in all circumstances. – 6.31
Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both its origin and dissolution. O conqueror of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread. I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man. I am the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics. O son of Prtha, know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men. - 7.6-10
O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows. – 7.26
Those who know Me as the Supreme Lord, as the governing principle of the material manifestation, who know Me as the one underlying all the demigods and as the one sustaining all sacrifices, can, with steadfast mind, understand and know Me even at the time of death. – 7.30
By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them. And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities, and although I am everywhere, still My Self is the very source of creation. As the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, always rests in ethereal space know that in the same manner all beings rest in Me. – 9.4-6
The whole cosmic order is under Me. By My will it is manifested again and again, and by My will it is annihilated at the end. – 9.8
This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again. Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature and My supreme dominion over all that be. – 9.10-11
I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support, and the grandsire. I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed. O Arjuna, I control heat, the rain and the drought. I am immortality, and I am also death personified. Both being and nonbeing are in Me. – 9.17-19
I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts. – 10.8
I am the Self, O Gudakesa, seated in the hearts of all creatures. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings. – 10.20
Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, O Arjuna.– 10.32
Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being-moving or unmoving-that can exist without Me. – 10.39
But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe. – 10.42
The Blessed Lord said: Time I am, destroyer of the worlds, and I have come to engage all people. – 11.32
It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father. – 14.4
And I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness, and which is immortal, imperishable and eternal. – 14.27
The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind. – 15.7
The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me. I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables. I am the fire of digestion in every living body, and I am the air of life, outgoing and incoming, by which I digest the four kinds of foodstuff. I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I am to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas. – 15.12-14
Because I am transcendental, beyond both the fallible and the infallible, and because I am the greatest, I am celebrated both in the world and in the Vedas as that Supreme Person. Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is to be understood as the knower of everything, and he therefore engages himself in full devotional service, O son of Bharata – 15.18-19
The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.- 18.61
The following verses are spoken by Arjuna;
You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me. 10-12-13
Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own potencies, O origin of all, Lord of all beings, God of gods, O Supreme Person, Lord of the universe! – 10.15
O great one, who stands above even Brahma, You are the original master. Why should they not offer their homage up to You, O limitless one? O refuge of the universe, You are the invincible source, the cause of all causes, transcendental to this material manifestation. – 11.37
You are the original Personality, the Godhead. You are the only sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world. You know everything, and You are all that is knowable. You are above the material modes. O limitless form! This whole cosmic manifestation is pervaded by You! You are air, fire, water, and You are the moon! You are the supreme controller and the grandfather. Thus I offer my respectful obeisances unto You a thousand times, and again and yet again! Obeisances from the front, from behind and from all sides! O unbounded power, You are the master of limitless, might! You are all-pervading, and thus You are everything! - 11.37-40
You are the father of this complete cosmic manifestation, the worshipable chief, the spiritual master. No one is equal to You, nor can anyone be one with You. Within the three worlds, You are immeasurable. You are the Supreme Lord, to be worshiped by every living being. Thus I fall down to offer You my respects and ask Your mercy.– 11.43-44
After reading this, with a focused mind and heart filled with gratitude, let us do what Krishna asks from us;
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear. – 18.66
Hare Krishna
Fiji 2018 Festival (Album of photos)
Devotees from Australia,…
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Fiji 2018 Festival (Album of photos)
Devotees from Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji perform Sri Harinama distributing the hol...
KC program at Deepak HomeBase Series in New York
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Radhanath Swami Speaks at Deepak HomeBase Series in New York City.
On Tuesday, May 31, Radhanath Swami spoke as part of the Deepak HomeBase series of discussions at ABC Carpet & Home in New York City. More than an ordinary rug shop, ABC Carpet & Home is a seven-story design destination that aims to be “ a portal into collective creativity, integrating healing, education, theater, art, and interconnectivity”.
On “Society, Friendship and Love”
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By Damodar Prasad das For Srila Prabhupada, the term “Society, Friendship and Love,” was used to refer to the primary allurement which keeps us shackled in the material world of illusion and suffering. The following excerpt is indicative of his general usage of the term: Persons who are conditioned in the society, friendship, and love, this is the attraction for material life. "Society, friendship and love," they think, "divinely bestowed upon man." But that, it is not divinely bestowed upon man. From spiritual point of view, it is the gift of maya. Society, friendship and love is the gift of maya, illusion. (SB 3.25.23, Lecture, Nov 10 1968) Continue reading "On “Society, Friendship and Love”
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The Holy Names of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda
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By Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Goswami If one chants the exalted Holy Name of the Lord again and again and yet his love for the Supreme Lord does not develop and tears do not appear in his eyes, it is evident that because of his offenses in chanting, the seed of the holy name of Krsna does not sprout. But if one only chants, with some slight faith, the Holy Names of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, very quickly he is cleansed of all offenses. Thus as soon as he chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, he feels the ecstasy of love for God. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, is greatly magnanimous. Unless one worships Him, one can never be liberated Continue reading "The Holy Names of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda
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Truthfulness (Part 7)
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Искать нектара лучших качеств
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Our Festival of India in Poland will begin towards the end of June and continue until August 20. It will be our 27th year of hosting large festivals along the Baltic Sea coast. All glories to those devotees who spend their summers with us, giving their lives and souls to spreading the glories of the holy names far and wide.
“The devotees of Krishna are the most exalted persons on this planet, better than kings, all of them, so we should always remember that and, like the bumblebee, always look for the nectar or the best qualities of a person.”
(Srila Prabhupada letter to Atreya Rsi; February 4, 1972)
Better Than Kings!
Vaisesika Dasa: At a meeting of ISKCON…
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Better Than Kings!
Vaisesika Dasa: At a meeting of ISKCON leaders in Los Angeles, my management guru, Rupanuga Dasa of Laguna Beach, California, emphasized the importance of looking out for devotees. He suggested that leaders should not only be aware of signs of discouragement in their comrades and community members, but they should also have a plan re-inspire them when they do see these signs.
His insights were based on the fact that those following the path of pure devotional service are not only rare, but they are also especially dear to Lord Krishna.
From a practical point of view, Rupanuga Prabhu also cited a couple of oft-repeated mantras from the world of business:
“It’s easier and cheaper to keep a customer than it is to make a new one.”
“Leaders should keep their eyes trained to see the potential in others.”
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of ISKCON, clearly applied all these principles in his dealings with the members of his fledgling spiritual society.
The following excerpt from a letter Srila Prabhupada wrote to a senior leader is a good example of this:
“The devotees of Krishna are the most exalted persons on this planet, better than kings, all of them, so we should always remember that and, like the bumblebee, always look for the nectar or the best qualities of a person.”
(Srila Prabhupada letter to Atreya Rsi; February 4, 1972)
12 Ways to Let People Make You Miserable.
Mahatma das: The Gita…
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12 Ways to Let People Make You Miserable.
Mahatma das: The Gita says we can be expert at making ourselves miserable. Here are some ways we do this in relation to people. We:
1. Hate someone
2. Resent someone
3. Become angry with someone
4. Become envious of someone
5. Become jealous of someone
6. Criticize someone
7. Constantly complain about someone.
8. Expect someone to do something they can’t
9. Argue with someone who will never admit they are wrong
10. Try to change or control someone we can’t (or who doesn’t want us to)
11. Try to make someone unhappy or make their life miserable
12. Dwell on one or more of the above “someones.”
If this “someone” is a close friend, family member or spouse, the misery multiplies many times over.
ISKCON Communications Conference in Italy.
Last week, ISKCON…
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ISKCON Communications Conference in Italy.
Last week, ISKCON Communications European (ICE) leaders and representatives from 17 Countries gathered in Prabhupada Desh just outside of Venice, Italy, to discuss and share their thoughts on some pressing issues such as women’s position in ISKCON, veganism, the changing world around us with social media and how to grab people’s attention on Facebook and Instagram. The Countries represented were: UK, Belgium, Holland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Russia and USA.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/2VQ5W9
Rathayatra in Bologna, Italy (Album with photos)
Srila…
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Rathayatra in Bologna, Italy (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Our relationship with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of G...
A visit to Rajani Priya dasi (Rose Forkash)
Giriraj Swami:…
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A visit to Rajani Priya dasi (Rose Forkash)
Giriraj Swami: Yesterday, Indradyumna Swami and I and all the other devotees staying at the ashram in Carpinteria visited Rajani Priya dasi (Rose Forkash), age 97, at her home. In the two hours we spent together, she enlivened us with stories of her experiences in Krishna consciousness, both during Srila Prabhupada’s presence and now, and Indradyumna Swami led a wonderful kirtan, which prompted her to say, “Beautiful. This is what we are meant to be hearing.”
More photos: https://goo.gl/85WTAh
You can find Indradyumna Swami’s kirtan and a few words from Rajani Priya at http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=12874
Reading Srila Prabhupada’s books
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By Sivarama Swami From Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and Gaudiya history, it seems that there has always been a tension between two kinds of followers of Lord Caitanya’s mission—the preachers and the reclusive practitioners. These are known as the gosthy-anandi (GA) and bhajan-anandi (BA), respectively. The debate between the two centres around how they realise the confidential essence of Lord Caitanya’s teachings, Vraja-bhakti, and the failings that each sees in the other’s practice. GA see that BA neglect Lord Caitanya’s order to preach and that they take an exoteric approach to spontaneous devotion in practice, for which the vast majority of aspirants are ineligible.(1) Therefore such BA are rightly labelled sahajiyas. BA, on the other hand, argue that GA preaching of varnasrama and refuting evolution are material activities, and the GA practice of regulative devotional service leads them to Vaikuntha and not Vraja. Both these charges show a lack of understanding of how to preach and how to elevate neophyte devotees to the realm of spontaneity. Continue reading "Reading Srila Prabhupada’s books
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Gathering at Rajani Priya’s House, June 6, Carpinteria
Giriraj Swami
Giriraj Swami, Indradyumna Swami, and all the other devotees staying at the ashram in Carpinteria went to visit Rajani Priya dasi (Rose Forkash) and spent two hours with her.
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Indradyumna Swami’s kirtan (Right click to download)
Does Krishna interfere with the laws of material nature for a devotee?
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Answer Podcast
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How can we become more consistent?
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Answer Podcast
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How the mind troubles us – and how to protect ourselves – Hindi
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[Congregation program at Kharagpur, India]
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Keep the mind on the spiritual track to keep it out of trouble
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[Talk to NIT students, Juhu]
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Why we need spirituaity in the age of technology
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[Talk to NIT students, Juhu]
Podcast
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Monday, June 4th, 2018
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Bracebridge, Ontario
It Started With Bracing the Bridge
We admired the Bracebridge Falls, then stepped over Silver Bridge, which arches over the falls, in order to get to the main street of the town. The first shop to see is a storefront for “Veda Yoga.” Then Vyasacharya, who runs the Quality Inn and led our walk, mentioned, “There’s four yoga studios in town.”
“Not bad for a population of 16,000,” I said.
We stepped on further at the quiet hour of 9:00 p.m., and a sole person, a middle-aged Caucasian male, after unloading something, offered his pranams. “Namaste!” he said in greeting, and, “Where are you from?”
“Toronto, but really I travel a lot. Did Canada on foot, four times. Just completed the U.S. last year.”
“These are your followers?” he asked inquisitively.
“We are friends, followers of bhakti-yoga…”
I was thinking that all of us are actually under the father-ship of Prabhupada.
We moved on toward Wellington Street, but came upon a picture of Elvis with the poster caption: Father’s Day is June 16th—Treat Dad like a King. The poster was set in the wall of a shop, and it reminded us, our group of eight—all fathers except for myself and Kailash, a newly-wed—that dads do entertain. We could not imitate Elvis, who would smoothly move his pelvis, but we could enlighten the generation after us with our words and actions. Generally, this is what a parent does—guide, direct, point, bless, etc. Show by example. For instance, here we are winding down the day by walking.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
Sunday, June 3rd, 2018
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Queenston Heights, Ontario
The Start of the Bruce
Just a few metres from a monument marking the death of Sir Isaac Brock in the War of 1812, is the starting point of the southernmost entrance of the Bruce Trail. At 7:00 a.m., I, with companions, Vaishnav, Jagannath Misra, Sukavak, Karuna, Narayani, and friend Kent, began this 900 kilometre trail and headed north. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brock%27s_Monument
The trail is awesome, with its Carolina-like forest in the southerly portion, ancient rocks next to the Niagara River, and green vegetation of all sorts. One of the highlights of this trail is the diverse eco-systems. You turn a corner, and you observe a sudden patch of daisies all around, and at another bend, trees of majestic stature. The surface of the trail ranges from packed deciduous clay, to mud, sand, and then gravel.
It was surprising to me to notice more people. However, at one point, in our mere 12.5 kilometre trek for the day, after venturing through some steep areas of almost climb, we met Dracon. Dracon sported a sunhat and an attached head net to address everyone’s favorite entity, the mosquito.
Dracon is originally from China, worked as a server in a Chinese restaurant in Canada, and told the restaurant owners that he was quitting in order to spend the month of June hiking the Bruce Trail.
We asked him why he was hiking, and camping the whole trek.
“To get a peace of mind,” he said solemnly.
Our group reached Woodend Conservation and left it to return at a time of our convenience in the future. It was from there, hours later after our start, that we returned to do other devotional activities.
May the Source be with you!
12.5 km
Saturday, June 2nd, 2018
→ The Walking Monk
Mississauga, Ontario
Walk for Alzheimer’s
I’ve been on a Terry Fox Run for cancer, but this was the first time I’d trekked for Alzheimer’s. I was fortunate to get plugged into the run/walk for the cause of the serious disease through friends and devotees of the west end of Toronto, with the group being spear-headed by Rajasuya.
Although it has been said that turmeric and ginger, two major ingredients in our diet, are combatants of Alzheimer’s, and some other physical challenges, we are primarily looking at those folks who are going through awful pain caused by the side-effects from some of these kinds of illnesses. Almost everyone knows or has known people afflicted with Alzheimer’s. For those individuals and to fund research to develop cures, we walked with about 500 others in Mississauga, in Peel County, along Lake Ontario, on a scenic snake of a trail.
Gaura Keshava, my friend from the UK, was, by the way, ‘scenic’ for co-walkers on this five kilometre walk. He came in a white dhoti, a thick grey-and-white stitched chauddar (shawl), and for footwear, it was your traditional wooden karama shoes, hand-carved from hardwood in India. Boy, did they get attention. There’s a peg—or what I call a door knob—affixed to each shoe to fit between the big toe and the single inline.
It was quite exotic for everyone else in their name-brand sneakers.
The walk went well, and thanks to Juhi Arora, our group was able to register and participate. Music was played at the registration booth to hype everyone up, and it was rather uplifting to hear James Brown belting out, “I Feel Good,” over the loud speaker.
For the hour or so of walking, there was little time for japa chanting. Of course, you are obliged to talk and walk simultaneously.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
Friday, June 1st, 2018
→ The Walking Monk
Toronto, Ontario
We Like Where We Are
“Please join us,” I indicated with hand gestures to the cricket enthusiast on his way to the athletic field. It wasn’t the first time he or his buddies refused our offer to sit down and sing with us. There’s a group of them, obsessed with their game, and they routinely go about their business as we do ours, sitting there on the grass.
The light refusal is always with a smile.
The other day, Ajamil, who was singing to his harmonium accompaniment, also tried to encourage. “Hey, before the game, just five minutes, chant with us!” Now Ajamil is very animated in most everything he does, and still his coaxing didn’t work, because everyone has his/her priorities.
Today, also, it became a priority for Karuna and I to go for that walk—my second for the day—to “knock off” our prescribed sixteen rounds on our meditation beads.
The route? Well I let him have his choice.
“Green space or people and concrete?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter. As long as I’m given time,” he said.
Alright then. And so we ventured down Yonge Street, right onto Bloor, and then through Yorkville’s Jazz Fest. It had started to darken with night approaching, and you could see everyone anticipating a wild night.
As we moved through the night crowds where everyone dressed well—or almost dressed—I blurted out to Karuna, “I’m so grateful I did not get entrapped in this lifestyle. I like where I am.”
Karuna totally agreed with me. We individually set goals and priorities for ourselves.
May the Source be with you!
6 km
Thursday, May 31st, 2018
→ The Walking Monk
Mississauga, Ontario
Gone to Bobby for Donations
Every year I pay a visit to Bobby Bakri, a dentist, who has his practice in Mississauga. Some great points about him:
He’s a good donor for the yearly Chariot Fest, this year on July 14thand 15th.
He also loves to read the books of Prabhupada. Currently he’s reading Canto 3 of the Bhagavatamand he’s loving it.
I handed Bobby a copy of the short read, Easy Journey to Other Planets. The contents are so prophetic, profound and progressive-thinking. Bobby loves this subject because what the contents say so much aligns with today’s findings on the galaxy. For example, more recent research confirms the Vedic belief of many universes existing with multiple planets and luminaries such as suns and moons.
According to Bobby, within space you have a great vacuum, but what’s there now is a fluid moving within that space. And what do the Vedas say about liquid flowing in the sky? Aren’t there stories in them about the Ganges descending? And what about the milk ocean Vishnu floats upon? Some scientists are discovering all kinds of fluids in the atmosphere.
Bobby hosts myself and companions from our community at his clinic, where there’s samosas, lassies, nuts and a good walker’s trail mix. His family—two sons, a daughter and his wife (also a dentist)—always come when we are to turn up. We chant throughout his clinic, through every room, which is a way of blessing the premises. His son, age eight, gave me an optimistic high five. I gave him a copy of the children’s book, The Walking Monk,published by Samhita Press, and written by Anna Milagrits. https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Monk-Anna-Milagrits/dp/1684430011
May the Source be with you!
0 km
Daily Darshan: June 8th, 2018
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Bulls, not Milk?
→ Life With the Cows and Land
The Cow Culture Conference was held in Silicon Valley, California May 2018 by the Om Sri Surabhi Campaign headed by HH Bhakti Raghava Swami. At the conference, Balabhadra (William E. Dove -president of ISCOWP) speaks about Lord Krishna as a protector of cows, why cows were bred in Vedic times and his personal realizations about the benefit of associating with cows. Some flashes from the past can be seen in pictures, dating back to the 1980's, accompanying his talk.
“Importance of Studying Srila Prabhupada’s Books”
→ Dandavats
“Importance of Studying Srila Prabhupada’s Books”
BB Govinda Swami: At those meetings we discuss different topics and points for the development of our International Society for Krishna Consciousness. But there’s some of us who always feel like when we, older leaders of ISKCON come together it would be in our best interest if we would sit down together and we would just open Srila Prabhupada’s books and we would read Srila Prabhupada’s books together for two weeks straight. Or when we would stop reading Prabhupada’s books we just sit down and have kirtan for hours together.
Happiness Revolution (video)
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Happiness Revolution (video)
A lecture in ISKCON Goa, Speaker - HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami.
Krsna-priya D.D. asks questions about being on the mental platform
→ SivaramaSwami.com
- The power of association
- Without getting higher taste we will turn to lower taste
- Cultivate things that develop your attachment to Kṛṣṇa
- We need to train ourselves to think about Kṛṣṇa
Severe Drought in New Gokula farm, Australia! (Album with…
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Severe Drought in New Gokula farm, Australia! (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: On a recent visit to New Gokula farm the devote...
Kitchen Cleanliness by Kurma Dasa
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Kitchen Cleanliness.
Kurma Dasa: Here’s an essay I wrote a while back.
While teaching Sanatana Gosvami, Lord Caitanya described twenty-six qualities of the Vaisnava. A devotee of Krsna, he said, is clean, suci. Everything about a devotee, inside and outside, should be clean - his mind, heart, intelligence, body, clothes, living place, place of work, place of worship, and his personal and business dealings.
Panihati Festival 2018 Iskcon Atlanta. (Album of photos)
Srila…
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Panihati Festival 2018 Iskcon Atlanta. (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, dancing ...
Sadbhuja Das: Our research is continuing in all aspects of the…
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Sadbhuja Das: Our research is continuing in all aspects of the ToVP.
Here you can see in the photo a sample of mother of pear...
The “Hare Krishnas”, are they crazy?
Kadamba Kanana…
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The “Hare Krishnas”, are they crazy?
Kadamba Kanana Swami: All throughout history, people have tried to impress other people. Some men have been wearing high hats. Some ladies have been wearing high heels. In so many ways, people have tried to impress each other, generation after generation. Are we any different? It is the same thing again and again – this one has a beautiful T-shirt, that one a far-out tattoo, this one has very tight clothes, and so on. We are trying to impress everyone with the central focus being the body. It is said however that the happiness of the body is very limited. Many of us know that, but then again, maybe we don’t actually understand what that means. It seems that only a small part of us actually knows it.
Everyone is looking at us ‘Hare Krsnas’ and thinking that we are crazy. Maybe they are right, but then again we are having a good time being attracted to Krsna and knowing that Krsna is spiritual. We know that Krsna’s body is not material – it is never tired and it is not influenced by time. Krsna can eat unlimited food and he does not become fat. You never see Krsna running around the block, trying to stay fit. Krsna is always fresh! (laughter)