New Dvaraka Prabhupada Festival-2018 (Album of photos)…
→ Dandavats



New Dvaraka Prabhupada Festival-2018 (Album of photos)
Dharmatma Das: Feeling very grateful to have attended this wonderful festival centered on glorifying Srila Prabhupada. How refreshing! It was my first and, Krishna willing, won’t be the last.
This year’s theme was, “Windows to the Spiritual World.” Many of the original artists came together to share wonderful stories of the creation of the beautiful artworks that adorn Srila Prabhupada’s books and Temples worldwide and many other topics concerning Transcendental Art.
There were ecstatic morning programs, inspiring seminars with the artists, Watseka Avenue Rathayatra, Deity Boat Festival, the sweetest kirtan by Hari Bhakti and Amala Kirtan prabhus, wonderful association and over the top delicious Prasadam.
Thanks to Svavasa and Naikatma prabhus and all of the residents of New Dvaraka for creating such a loving and wonderful atmosphere wherein we all gained even more of an appreciation of our dear most spiritual father, Srila Prabhupada!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/dHiNqx

Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Surabaya Vaganza
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Hari Narayana Das

Both sides of the streets were packed with people who wanted to see the parade. Devotees distributed one ton of oranges that already offered to the Lord Jagannath which was donated by Dina Dharini Mataji to the audiences. The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra filled the atmosphere. The devotees danced in front of Lord Jagannath and people also followed from their place. They were so happy seeing Lord Chariot. Devotees also distributed Srila Prabhupada’s books. Throughout the journey, many people witnessed various activities and cars followed by the Regional Device Organization (OPD) Pemkot Surabaya, BUMD Pemkot Surabaya, universities, agencies/ambassadors from neighboring cities and also cities from outside the province and outside the island. Continue reading "Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Surabaya Vaganza
→ Dandavats"

Searching for fulfilment
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 May 2018, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.19.25-32)

The material world that we live in has been created by the Supreme Lord and his agents. However creation of this world was not the desire of the Supreme Lord. He does not want this material world but actually we do. We, the living entities, wanted this material world because we wanted to be in a place away from Krsna where we could be the ‘Lord’ and the ultimate enjoyer. Krsna described our conditioned state of mind, how we falsely think that we are the enjoyer and the Lord of everything: isvaro ‘ham aham bhogi (Bhagavad-gita 16.14). So it was us who wanted this. Not only did we used to want that but we still do. We still want to be the controllers. We still want to be the enjoyers, and we are finding different ways to be that.

Just like Dante writes in his poem Divina Commedia, “Better a king in hell, than a servant in heaven.” (laughter) So he has figured out our mentality. Here we are thinking that we made it, “Great! I got a nice castle or cottage and it is my kingdom! We are the kings and queens!” But actually, we are kings in hell. Such a mentality of ours of lording over will surely be taken away by the Supreme Lord. He will not necessarily take away all our possessions but he will destroy this mentality where we think, “I am the Lord!” So we are simply waiting until we fall or get kicked in the face, and then we are not so much the ‘Lord’ anymore.

Srila Prabhupada was once describing donkeys and how the male donkey follows around the female donkey, singing beautiful songs for her. But then, she kicks him in the face! Now that is difficult! We have to understand however that maybe she is not kicking him in the face because she is outright mean but because she is not satisfied with what he has to offer. She wants fulfilment from him but the males of this material world cannot offer her that fulfilment. The males also cannot get such fulfilment from the females of the world. Only Krsna can provide us with fulfilment. This has to be understood. Until then, Krsna, through various means of suffering, will bring all of us to that point!

The article " Searching for fulfilment " was published on KKSBlog.

Remembering Srila Prabhupada, May 26, Prabhupada’s Quarters, New Dwaraka, Los Angeles
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami and other devotees gathered in Srila Prabhupada’s quarters to remember him.

“Srila Prabhupada was starting to talk about forming a political party because his disciples wanted to form the ‘In God We Trust’ party. There was some movement among the American people that they shouldn’t have the slogan ‘In God We Trust’ on the money because what if you don’t believe in God? So Srila Prabhupada said that we must capture the power before they remove it.”

Prabhupada’s Quarters, LA (Right click to download)

WSN April 2018 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Vijaya Dasa

Denver had a great month in April. It was the No. 1 temple in the Medium Temple category worldwide. There's a nice temple president there, Tusta Krsna Prabhu, who previously was a full-time book distributor for about fifteen years. Because of his acquired taste for book distribution, he encourages the devotees to do as much book distribution as they can. The Denver devotees did 3,898 book points, for a 44% increase over the same month a year ago. I was just listening to a morning walk with Srila Prabhupada, senior devotees, and some Denver devotees -- recorded when he was visiting Denver in 1975. The local devotees told Prabhupada that the devotees distribute a lot of books in Denver, and Srila Prabhupada responded, "That is the success of a temple." Continue reading "WSN April 2018 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
→ Dandavats"

Cow Culture conference 2018 – California
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Sri Krishna Purusottama das

On Sunday, May 20, 2018, a conference on Cow Culture was held at the India Community Center, Milpitas, California, which is located on the Northeastern side of the area that has become known as Silicon Valley. The conference was organized by the Om Sri Surabhi Campaign, which is running under guidance of HH Bhakti Raghava Swami. Continue reading "Cow Culture conference 2018 – California
→ Dandavats"

How Robert Kennedy heard the holy names shortly before departing this world
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Bhusaya dasa

“Wait a minute,” Ginsberg told him. “I wanted to sing you the Hare Krishna mantra. Can you stay and listen? It’ll just take one minute.” After Kennedy agreed, Ginsberg pulled out his harmonium. “He has this one-tone mouth harp, so he blows his note on that – what’s the sound? Mmmmmmmmmmgggg?” Edelman recalled. Ginsberg chanted two choruses. “I think Kennedy was kind of … I don’t know if it was delighted or amused,” Greenfield recalled. “I think he was kind of intrigued.” Continue reading "How Robert Kennedy heard the holy names shortly before departing this world
→ Dandavats"

Spiritual health
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 07 October 2017, Canberra, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.27.25)

Ayurveda is very nice because it is the science of long life. Ayur means life and basically, the idea to lead a healthy life so one will not become ill. So this is very good. However, Srila Prabhupada would always say, ”What is the point of this? We are going to die anyway.” You could lead a very strict life based on a strict health regime which I am not against, to an extent. But then sometimes, if possible, one may have to just eat that gulab jamun because it has been offered to Krsna and because it has tulsi on it and because now it is maha-prasadam. When someone brings malpuras from Jagannath Puri, one may go, “No, I cannot take it. This is not on my diet. It is forbidden.” But this is Krsna prasadam, and we must remember that our ultimate health is our spiritual health. I say ultimate, because I would only take a very small piece of that malpura. Why? Because at this stage, it would probably kill me if I take the whole malpura. What to do? That is old age.

The article " Spiritual health " was published on KKSBlog.

Can You Help London Rathayatra Prasadam cooking?
→ simple thoughts

Share

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This year the feast for Lord Jagganath’s Rathayatra will be cooked at Krishna’s Castle,in the City of London.

We recently built the kitchen, and are daily cooking and distributing 2,000 free healthy meals(Prasad).

Today the Council gave us the highest rating for the kitchen.

“Please find enclosed a copy of my letter, further to my inspection on the 14th May 2018. I am pleased to confirm that you have been awarded a Food Hygiene Rating of 5 – Very Good.”

Jagganath Rathayatra Festival London 2018

Let’s cook a feast for 16,000 people , the best feast ever, and it falls on Nir Jal Ekadasi, Jai Jagganath!

All the food preparation takes place on Saturday 23rd June

Chop the veg
Fry the paneer
Squeezing lemons

We will start at 9am and will work all the day till 7pm

We can have 3 shifts. Morning shift we need ten volunteers
Afternoon shift we need 10 volunteers and late afternoon shift another ten volunteers

Then at 10pm Saturday evening we will start cooking the feast
We will need 8 volunteers cooking and helping through out
the night,

Early morning Sunday 24th we need volunteers cooking and transporting the Prasad/Feast to Trafalga Square, it must arrive by 11.30am so the distribution teams can get organised.

This year’s feast will be cooked at “Krishna’s Castle” in the City of London.
Full address is:
Krishna’s Castle
26-30 Holborn Viaduct
EC1A 2AQ
Enterence is on Plumtree Court

There is a big Narasimhadev at the enterence to the Castle, in case you are unsure you are in the right building.

Reading my books – excerpts from Conversations
→ Dandavats



Reading my books - excerpts from Conversations.
Conversations and Morning Walks
1969 Conversations and Morning Walks
Room Conversation With John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison – September 11, 1969, London, At Tittenhurst: Prabhupāda: So Bhagavad-gītā is accepted by scholarly section, by philosophers. So I think people should have one scripture, one God, one mantra, and one activity. One God, Kṛṣṇa. One scripture, Bhagavad-gītā. And one mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa. And one activity, to serve Kṛṣṇa. That’s all. There will be peace. There will be actually peace all over the world. So I request you to, at least to understand this philosophy to your best knowledge. And if you think that is nice, you take up. You are also willing to give something to the world. So you try this. You have read our books, this Bhagavad-gītā As It Is?


Read More...

What is this? What is this? What is this?
→ Dandavats



What is this? What is this? What is this?
Bala Gopal dasi: In Rome, Prabhupada wasn’t very well. So he was traveling with his own personal cook, who was Satsvarupa Maharaj. But when they arrived, they had just come from India, Satsvarupa had hepatitis. So then it was decided that I would be his cook. Because of that, Prabhupada was very involved in the cooking.
On three different occasions he came into the kitchen, and on this one particular time he came in to cook lunch and he cooked the whole meal along with me and whoever was helping, Narmada. For some reason, I’m pretty sure we made asparagus that day.
I had cooked for him previously, but one of Prabhupada’s endearing qualities was his pure innocence. He would come into the kitchen, and this was a very, very tiny room. Prabhupada would walk into the kitchen and he’d see a bowl of chickpeas. He’d point at everything, “What is that?” He was just so curious, but never imposing. He would just be pure innocence – “What is this? What is this? What is this?” – curious about everything. So we had a couple Italian devotees cook an Italian preparation on a few days and Prabhupada inquired what it was before he ate it, but he enjoyed them.
Reference: Following Srila Prabhupada – Remembrances

Decisions! Vaisesika Dasa: The word, decide, means, “to come to…
→ Dandavats



Decisions!
Vaisesika Dasa: The word, decide, means, “to come to a resolution in the mind as a result of consideration.”
Before leaving one’s present human body, a man or woman has the chance to make a fixed number of decisions. Because our time is limited, the number of decisions we get to make is also limited.
However, the decisions that we make now – before the process of aging debilitates us – directly determine our future body and facility.
Bhakti yogis keep their spiritual intelligence sharp by regularly hearing from the scriptures, the guru and advanced devotees. When the need to make an important judgment arises therefore, these wise practitioners are prepared to make beneficial decisions that situate them ever more soundly in their service to the Lord.
Srimad-bhagavatam 7.19.12:

After all the rsis and others had seated themselves comfortably, the King, [Maharaja Pariksit] humbly standing before them with folded hands, told them of his decision to fast until death.

PURPORT

Although the King had already decided to fast until death on the bank of the Ganges, he humbly expressed his decision to elicit the opinions of the great authorities present there. Any decision, however important, should be confirmed by some authority. That makes the matter perfect. This means that the monarchs who ruled the earth in those days were not irresponsible dictators. They scrupulously followed the authoritative decisions of the saints and sages in terms of Vedic injunction. Maharaja Pariksit, as a perfect king, followed the principles by consulting the authorities, even up to the last days of his life.

A Motivational Talk at PIET (Album of photos) On the 24th May…
→ Dandavats



A Motivational Talk at PIET (Album of photos)
On the 24th May 2018, H.G. Govind Krsna Prabhu invited to Panipat Institute of Engineering & Technology (PIET) to give a motivational talk on “HOW TO OVERCOME DEPRESSION”? On the completion of the session, the Director & Principal said that they had found a teacher in Him & that the session was an enthralling one!

The Audience were Awestruck .. with the presentation & participated throughout the session very enthusiasticallyOn the 24th May 2018, H.G. Govind Krsna Prabhu invited to Panipat Institute of Engineering & Technology (PIET) to give a motivational talk on “HOW TO OVERCOME DEPRESSION”? On the completion of the session, the Director & Principal said that they had found a teacher in Him & that the session was an enthralling one!

The Audience were Awestruck .. with the presentation & participated throughout the session very enthusiastically.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EoQGXR

Purushottama Month
→ Ramai Swami

The ancient Vedic calendar is calculated by the movement of the moon. Lunar months are shorter than solar months so every three years a month is added called Purushottama month. 

Once, long ago, Sri Narada Muni reached Badrika Ashram, the residence of Sri Narayana Rishi.

Lord Narayana smiled. He said, “O Narada, please listen to the narrations about the supremely pious pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, for they will diminish all sinful reaction.

Once upon a time, by the arrangement of providence, an extra month came to this world. Every one took this month to be most inauspicious, and even saw it as a stool-like month. It was constantly unprotected and blasphemed, and rejected by everyone as an improper time for any religious and auspicious activities.

Being so rejected by all human beings, and constantly hearing only bad words and blasphemy, the personality of this extra month became very sad. She went to Vaikuntha to explain her sorrowful situation to the Lord.

Lord Vishnu became very merciful towards her. He told her, “Do not lament, I shall give you protection from all of your miseries. Get up and come with Me to Goloka Vrindavan, which is unattainable even to great yogis. Goloka is the abode of Lord Sri Krishna.” 

Having reached the Supreme Abode, Lord Vishnu met Lord Sri Krishna who was surrounded by many devoted gopis. 

Sri Krishna said, “Oh Vishnu, you have done a very great deed by bringing this extra month to Me. I shall make this poor extra month just like Me in quality, fame opulence, realisation, success, and in giving benediction to the devotees. This month will become equally potent to Me. I am bestowing all of My divine qualities in this abused month. Named after Me, this month will be famous as Purushottama month in this world.”

All human beings should perform some devotional service in this Purushottama month by:

1. Worshipping Sri Krishna, by chanting His holy name

2. Study of Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-Gita, particularly Chapter

Fifteen, Purushottama Yoga

3. Giving in charity

4. Offering ghee (lamp) daily

Materially Successful Spiritually Strong – Q&A May 27, 2018
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

Raseshvara Madhava Prabhu will be sharing his thirteen years of experience and leading an interactive Q&A on Sunday, May 27, 2018 at 2pm on a variety of topics on balancing work, school, family and spiritual life. Event will be geared towards university, post grad and young working professionals. A great opportunity to come forward with all your burning questions and have a practical discussion that hopes to motivate and inspire.

Event will be a Facebook Live Event on ISKCON Toronto Facebook page. Those locally can attend in person at ISKCON Toronto. 

Please send questions prior to the session to Garg.aditya91@gmail.com



Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Halifax, Nova Scotia

At the Harbour

Myself and the boys—I call them boys because they are 21, 23 and 23—drove to Halifax’s waterfront to indulge in a gracious walk just as corporate folks started milling about.  It really is a nicely done up harbour.  It also has its history.  In 1917, a Belgian and French ship collided, with one bearing explosives.  On that foggy day their vision was obscured and the worst occurred.  No one had ever in the history of the world seen such devastation from explosives—before the bombing in Japan.

It is remarkable that the city resurrected.  At the end of the harbour promenade is the pier where so many immigrants landed by boat over the decades—people searching for a new life.

When our early trek was completed, we resumed a seat in the van.  A breeze from the ocean was setting in.  Marshall, one who’s 23, made wraps for us with the ingredients hummus, olives, avocado, peppers and fiddleheads, while I was reading from Prahladananda Swami’s book, “Hope This Meets You in Good Health.”

For us monks, it was interesting.  The topics include physical health, letters from our guru, Srila Prabhupada, on the topic, and it also touches on Vedic astronomy and astrology.  I read a section on celibacy, which is pertinent to the crew I was with.

However, for everyone’s appeal—I assume—here is a small excerpt from the astrology section:

In summary we have different planets and their influences on the consciousness of the soul:

Sun-ego (one’s identity) / Moon-mind (desire for peace) / Jupiter (mission how to achieve peace and happiness) / Saturn (duties to be done to achieve mission) / Mars (determination, conviction and courage to perform duties) / Venus (enthusiasm required to achieve goal) / Mercury (results that come from assimilation of the qualities of the planets to achieve one’s goals).

May the Source be with you!
4 km


Dhanvantari, a plenary portion of a plenary portion of Lord Vishnu (video)
→ Dandavats



Srimad Bhagavatam Class by Bhanu Swami at ISKCON Juhu (video)
SB 8.8.34 — This person was Dhanvantari, a plenary portion of a plenary portion of Lord Viṣṇu. He was very conversant with the science of medicine, and as one of the demigods, he was permitted to take a share in sacrifices.
Read More...

(This post has been viewed 540 times so far)