Websites from the ISKCON Universe
“Pride Can’t Save Us” by HG Mahatma Prabhu - March 28, 2018 (5 min video)
Pride can’t save us from death. In fact, pride can’t do anything useful for us. Pride will cause fault finding and offenses and impede our ability to appreciate others. It can only get us in trouble. Pride is probably the biggest anartha we face. It’s at the root of our material existence and thus is the foundation of all bad qualities.
Srimad Bhagavatam 8.12.5 to 10, Class Speaker: HG Mahamaya Devi Dasi on 23-03-2018 (video)
On the 25th March 2018 ISKCON Kathwada celebrated the first Ramnavami Festival (Appearance day of Lord Ramchandra). Decorated deities, Chappan Bhoga and Abhisheka was the main attraction of the festival. 
Anand Caitanya das; Lokanath Swami inaugurates Vrindavan parikrama at Govardhan Eco Village 
It is such a touching talk....Sruti is such an amazing devotee....I pray and pray that Sri Sri Radha Krishna manifest Their full mercy in his life and in the lives of his wife and son. 
By the GBC The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is committed to the well being of all individuals involved with ISKCON, especially children and other more vulnerable participants. ISKCON recognizes that children, for their full and harmonious development, need to be raised in an atmosphere of love, support, guidance and understanding. ISKCON acknowledges that children, when so raised, are likely to play a vital role in the future of our Society. Thus, placing the interests of the children first is not only in the best interest of the children themselves but also of ISKCON and society at large. Continue reading "ISKCON Child Protection Office Policy & Operational Guidelines
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Want to receive regular TOVP news and updates right in your email box? Just click on the link below and fill out the form, and we’ll send you regular announcements of upcoming events, construction progress, new videos, and exciting updates as we move forward to the Grand Opening of the TOVP in four years, 2022.
We’re calling this combined Maha ISKCON marathon, MISSION 22. And we are all part of this historic project, the temple built by the hands of every devotee. So stay in touch and keep informed.
Click on this link to receive TOVP News and Updates
https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/mayapur.tovp
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
Support us at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/
The post TOVP News and Updates – Stay in Touch appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
By the GBC A sannyasi, in the varnasrama society, is expected to have material and spiritual qualifications even more exalted than those possessed by a brahmana. According to the Bhagavad-gita, a brahmana should possess the following qualities: Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness – these are the natural qualities by which the brahmanas work. Bg. 18.42 Therefore, a bona fide sannyasi is expected to possess the above qualities plus others such as renunciation and spiritual wisdom. If an ISKCON sannyasi breaks his vows of celibacy, becomes greedy for money, or displays other anarthas, ISKCON devotees’ faith in the sannyasa asrama is diminished. Therefore, it is a duty of the leadership of ISKCON to correct a sannyasi’s errant behaviour, and when necessary discipline him. Continue reading "ISKCON Ministry for Sannyasa Services Policy Manual
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By the GBC Establishing the Spiritual Advisors Bhagavata Assembly, or SABHA, has manifold functions. It aims at strengthening unity among ISKCON’s global spiritual leaders. It facilitates their cooperation, communication and working relation for the progress of Srila Prabhupada’s movement. The SABHA provides checks and balances on the authority of the GBC and course-correction for its decisions. More consultation, more dialogue and more interaction can be conducive to better, wiser and more acceptable decisions. Continue reading "Spiritual Advisors Bhagavata Assembly (SABHA)
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The ISKCON Initiated Devotees Global Database is hereby established; all ISKCON initiating spiritual masters (and others who might be managing databases of departed diksa-gurus) shall share their disciple database with this repository upon request and on a regular basis. The ISKCON Initiated Devotees Global Database will provide a secure platform for storage, collation, information processing and management reporting, and should regularly update the database for meaningful data analysis and data mining. The database shall be owned by the Governing Body Commission and shall not be used for any other purpose without the written authorization of the Governing Body Commission. The ISKCON Initiated Devotees Global Database shall provide all initiating spiritual masters the technical platform and relevant training for effectively maintaining and operating their individual disciples’ database (within the Initiated Devotees Global Database). The Manager of the ISKCON Initiated Devotees Global Database shall develop systems for handling information requests. Caitanya Avatari Das is appointed as the Manager of the ISKCON Initiated Devotees Global Database. Continue reading "Minutes Of The Annual General Meeting Sri Mayapur Dham, 2018
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Answer Podcast
The post Should we have expectations while practicing bhakti? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
The post Shouldn’t we speak strongly to get everyone on the fast track to Krishna? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2008, Durban, South Africa)
So humility is the key element in our spiritual life. Humility means that we are ready to put our own ideas aside, and that is an essential element in humility. It is not that necessarily one is always walking with the head a little bowed down, looking at the ground with folded hands – that may not necessarily be humble. Humble is simply that we are ready to accept others as our superiors and we’re open to accept guidance from others. That is true humility. So humility must not be mistaken for externally acting very timid and keeping oneself always in the background; that is not true humility. True humility, rather, is simply submitting oneself before superior persons and ask, “What should I do?” That is true humility. It’s not simple. To take guidance of the vaisnavas, to take guidance of the scriptures – that is humility. To hold the scriptures in such high esteem and say, “Yes, these scriptures will become the guidelines in my life”, that is humility.
We can see that we don’t have it, that rather we are practicing and under the circumstances we’re trying to have a humble attitude but it’s very difficult to take shelter of superiors – very hard, very difficult. Our independence is very great and we’d rather figure it out ourselves. “Is everything fine?” “Yes, yes, very fine…” And then afterwards – it’s total chaos but somehow or other we’ll work it out because we rather not take the risk that someone else tells us to do something we don’t like. So humility requires that we are ready to allow others control our lives, that is a big thing.
This theme of humility is a major theme in spiritual life and that is why we are looking at it – because it can purchase the Lord.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2008, Durban, South Africa)
The article " Accept guidance from others, that is true humility. " was published on KKSBlog.
Why I Tithe.
by Dhritarastra das and Tulasi devi dasi.
We tithe because we are very grateful to Srila Prabhupada, who gave his life to establish places where devotees can come together to hear, chant, study, serve, glorify, and remember Krishna. This Alachua temple for us is an OASIS in the desert of Kali Yuga. One time we were in Russia for a whole month, and there was no temple. We could see how hard it was for devotees there to find the relief from the overwhelming material energy. When we arrived here and were getting off the Alachua exit, we thought, “Here is the land of Krishna—what a wonderful place.” We really appreciated all the time and energy that countless souls spend to make this Oasis possible for us and everyone else.
There was a time when I served as a brahmacari for 11 years and was fully engaged in temple service and sankirtana. However, even after becoming a householder we want to continue contributing and serving Krishna’s temple to please Srila Prabhupada. We should not be misers, but we should make a sacrifice for Krishna’s temple. It is not like when someone sees a beggar in India and gives him 50 paisa or 1 rupee to get him off our backs, but we should always try to make a sacrifice for Krishna. The more we give to Krishna, Krishna reciprocates thousands of times. Srila Prabhupada said that if you make one step towards Krishna, Krishna will take 10 steps towards you. Srila Prabhupada gave a personal example of this when he came to this country with a few rupees in his pocket, and in a short time, Krishna gave him everything—temples, thousands of devotees—just because Srila Prabhupada’s only desire was to please Krishna. So, trying to please Krishna and Srila Prabhupada by contributing our time and money is the very least we can do.
Also, if you have a desire to work and give part of your laxmi to Krishna, it gives you a meditation while you are working very hard making money. It gives you something to be spiritually motivated about. Otherwise, it is very hard to motivate oneself to make money, so turn it into LAXMI. Trust Krishna. It is all in the sacrifice. When I am thinking that I am giving something to Krishna, just through this thought my activity becomes purified. Please don’t make the excuses, “Oh I’m not sure where the Laxmi actually goes.” It goes for the beautiful service of Radhe-Shyam, Krishna-Balaram, Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada, and we become purified for our service and endeavor. It is a win, win situation. Thank you. Hare Krishna.
Sivarama Swami ~ How to be Fearless (3 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: It is very simple, very simple – simply thinking of Krsna. Smartavyah satatam visnur vismartavyo na jatucit. Always, simply if you think that Hare Krsna, if you think simply Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, that is sufficient, even if you do not go into the Bhagavad-gita, if you do not go in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, simply as you are chanting. Krsna has given us the ear, and Krsna has given us the tongue. No expense, no difficulty. You haven’t got to go to college and take degrees to become Krsna conscious. It is easy for the rich, for the poor, for the learned, for the fool, for the black, for the white, for the rich, for the poor, everyone. There is no distinction because Krsna is for everyone. Bhagavad-gita 4.12-13 – July 29, 1966, New York
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ISKCON Chicago: Enthusiastic presentation by children in Glory of Lord Rama on Rama Navami (Album of photos)
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HH Radhanath Swami shares his insights on the virtue of gratitude citing examples of Hanuman, Vibheesana and Vidura. Beautiful Question and Answer session.
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By Dr. Ausra Maldeikiene When I'm really happy, I cry: happiness is somewhere deep in the throat and it is excited by hope and light-carrying tears. The next time I was crying was on Vilnius Street when I first saw the dancing people of the Krishna consciousness movement. I saw how the Soviets fed them into psychiatrists simply because they read "no" books and did not want to turn into a Soviet monstrous communist man. And when I first saw on the street the colourful white, saffron-tone dressed and lovingly looking, singing, dancing, people who distributed meals made by themselves and so pure of God's name, I understood freedom and respect for the choice of man had really come. Continue reading "Hare Krishna! The Mantra and the Swami who Started it All — in Lithuania
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Answer Podcast
The post What is the destination of good non-spiritual people such as Stephen Hawking? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Talk at ISKCON, Las Vegas, USA]
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The post Spiritual but not religious – Analyzing four permutations appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Meenakshi Lekhi Member of Parliament and Advocate of Supreme Court Visited ISKCON Delhi Temple. (Album of photos)
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The post Daily Darshan: March 28, 2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Bhaktivedanta Players: photos from last Sunday’s Ramayan drama at the Manor’s festival.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/2n8vnA
ISKCON temple in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (Album with photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Here are photos of Sri Sri Dayal Nitai Gaura Hari from our ISKCON temple in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. We had a program there last night, and we’ll have another one tonight.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vrQWnA
By Chaitanya Charana Dasa After teaching a university seminar, I was asked questions I had myself raised when I first encountered the philosophy of Krishna consciousness: “Why is the Vedic philosophy so pessimistic? When the world offers both pleasures and pains, why does the Bhagavad-gita call the world a place of misery?” Over my decade and a half of practicing and sharing Krishna consciousness, I have been preparing and refining the answer to these questions. Here's my short four-point answer: • The Bhagavad-gita is not pessimistic, but realistic; the reality is that the pleasure-pain balance of the world is tilted heavily toward the pain side. • Even if we still consider the Gita philosophy pessimistic, that pessimism is only initial, not final. In its conclusion, the Gita offers a supremely optimistic message. • Even the best worldly optimism pales and fails in front of the longing of our heart, a longing fulfilled only by the vision of reality offered by the Gita. • The Gita doesn’t teach us to reject this world for the spiritual world, but to harmonize this world with the spiritual world. Continue reading "Is the Bhagavad-gita Pessimistic?
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By Taru Das “And when the spiritual master sees the devotees are taking bhagavat prasadam, he is satisfied” - Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur. If there is any other instruction which the devotees of New Vrindaban have taken up more seriously than the one above, I have yet to run across it. In their undaunted endeavors to obtain bhagavat prasadam, devotees have crossed over the difficult ocean of contraptions, locks, chains and booby traps grouped together under the heading of maha cabinets. According to Webster, a maha cabinet is “any device or container, usually a box, a safe, cupboard, or so forth, which is used to preserve maha prasad, i.e., to protect it from being stolen, hidden or ingested from the time of its being lawfully distributed.” A little further on down, mention is made of the fact that as of the present, there are no fool-proof models available. Continue reading "Confessions of a Prasadam Addict: Maha is as Good as Gold
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Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Brhad-Bhagavatamrta.
“Gopa Kumar said. ‘Hanuman then quickly made me leave that place and enter the inner precincts of the city where I saw the most amazing sight — the Supreme Lord as the best of human beings. He sat comfortably on a royal throne in the best of palaces. A palace full of the best of charming attractions. Happy and marked with the signs of a great personage He seemed somewhat like lord Narayana.’ Commentary by Srila Sanatana Goswami. ‘Lord Ramacandra’s face showed all the marks of a great person that are set forth in scripture. Such as an expansive chest and a neck like a bull and mighty arms as broad as the trunks of a Shala tree. His youthfulness, His ornaments and the exquisite shape of His limbs made Him look much like the Lord of vaikuntha but certain especially attractive features distinguished Him from that Lord.”
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First kirtan by Sarvatma dasa (Right-click to download)
Kirtan by Isvara Puri dasa (Right-click to download)
Second kirtan by Sarvatma dasa (Right-click to download)
Talk by Giriraj Swami (Right-click to download)
Nrsimha Prayers by Giriraj Swami (right-click to download)
Answer Podcast
The post Can we say that intelligence comprises of knowledge processing, discrimination, analysis and determination? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
The post How should we deal with people involved in non-devotional dharmic causes? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
The post Is determination situated in the intelligence or in the mind? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21 Dec 2010, Cape Town, South Africa
Conviction cannot be based on intellectual understanding. Are we convinced that Krsna consciousness is true? Yes, I am because it makes sense. But that’s just the beginning and it is a lot more than that. It has to be experienced in the heart. It must be really felt that Krsna consciousness is the most wonderful thing. That’s living on the cutting edge and spiritual life is about living on the cutting edge!
It cannot become routine because as soon as it does then we get into trouble. We start to dry up and feel the austerity and the weight of spiritual life – the weight of the promises and the strictness because we are practicing in the spirit of routine. But each time we apply ourselves to service and give it our best, that’s when we are on the cutting edge. Then spiritual life becomes magic when we are inspired. So one has to conquer Krsna!
The article " Are you convinced!? " was published on KKSBlog.
“Getting in the Back Door of Vaikuntha” by HG Mahatma Prabhu - March 23, 2018 (4 min video)
Imagine somehow getting in the door of Vaikuntha before being qualified to go there. Would you be walking around hoping people notice how great you are for making it back to Vaikuntha, even though you got in by a fluke? Would you be looking at your beautiful body in the mirror thinking how gorgeous you are? Would you be thinking how smart you were for getting into Vaikuntha before you were qualified? Would you be thinking …?
Forbidden Archeology with Michael Cremo (video)
Michael Cremo is the coauthor, with Richard Thompson, of Forbidden Archeology: The Hidden History of the Human Race. He is also the author of Human Devolution: A Vedic Alternative to Darwin’s Theory.
In Bangalore, we had an excellent time. Almost daily we had house programs and Ratha Yatras with good support from the congregation devotees who collected donations for padayatra. Anadi Jagannatha Dasa sponsored a projector for us, saying “It would be great if wherever you go you could show people videos of Padayatra, Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON. Let people know about ISKCON!.”