Planet ISKCON

First evening at the Sacred Sound Retreat, with BB Govinda Swami at Iskcon New Govardhana, Australia (video)

Harinama in Florence (Firenze) Italy yesterday (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The bhaktivedantas are impartial in distributing the transcendental knowledge of devotional service. To them no one is enemy or friend; no one is educated or uneducated. No one is especially favorable, and no one is unfavorable. The bhakti-vedantas see that the people in general are wasting time in false sensuous things. Their business is to get the ignorant mass of people to reestablish their lost relationship with the Personality of Godhead. By such endeavor, even the most forgetful soul is roused up to the sense of spiritual life, and thus being initiated by the bhakti-vedantas, the people in general gradually progress on the path of transcendental realization. From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 1.5.24
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The Gurukula building in Krishna Völgy, Hungary (Album with photos)
Krishna Valley Gurukula - 26 March 2018. Excellent facilities from 1st to 12th grades. Students are given small plots next to the building to learn gardening.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/oZKi7V

Vrikodara das, (Victor Mistretta), disciple of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, passed away January 26, 2018, in Miami, Florida. He was 68 years old, and had terminal cancer. He had been the temple president of ISKCON New Orleans and the ISKCON New Talavan farm community for many years, as well as in charge of the devotee school at New Talavan.

By The GBC

Whereas someone skilled and experienced is required to establish and develop the new ISKCON International Office for the Prevention of Leader Misconduct (PLM Office); Whereas Champakalata dd has volunteered to take up this service; Resolved: That Champakalata Devi Dasi is appointed as the Director of the ISKCON International Office for the Prevention of Leader Misconduct (PLM Office) for a period of two years from March 2018 to February 2020. It is further resolved that the mandate and performance of the PLM Office will be subject to review by the GBC Body (as with other Offices and Ministries). The PLM Office Director will report to the GBC EC through the ISKCON Executive Secretariat. Continue reading "Appointment of Director for Prevention of Leader Misconduct Office
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By the GBC

Whereas the issues of implementation of Vaishnavi diksa-gurus and disciples initiating in the presence of their initiating guru in ISKCON remain unresolved; Whereas there is a critical need for many more devotees to serve as diksa-guru in ISKCON; Whereas there are at least 9 million congregational members in ISKCON; Whereas ISKCON has less than 80 devotees available to give diksa to potentially 9 million people; Whereas if every congregational member sought initiation each ISKCON guru would have to accept approximately 112,500 disciples; Whereas the moratorium on both Vaishnavi and second-generation devotees serving as diksa-guru remains until the GBC concludes its research on guru-tattva in ISKCON; Whereas the GBC Body previously committed to that research and to annually review, until its conclusion, a comprehensive and inclusive understanding that delineates how diksa- and siksa-gurus unitedly work within the framework of ISKCON; Whereas the GBC stated it “is steadfastly dedicated” to accomplish the above; Resolved: The GBC recommits to its statement of 310/2015, and begins by dedicating at least two days at either every Annual General Meeting or Midterm General Meeting to this subject until the relevant aspects of this topic are resolved satisfactorily. Continue reading "Dedication of Time to Guru-Related Research
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By the GBC

Whereas the Srila Prabhupada Disciple Database was started in 1995 as part of the Srila Prabhupada Centennial Project under the petal of Uniting Srila Prabhupada’s Family and is based on the “Initiation Name Book” which was compiled by Srila Prabhupada’s secretaries; Whereas Mahamaya-devi dasi (ACBSP) has expanded the approximate 3,900 names from the last version of the initiation name book that she typed in 1977 by compiling through research of Srila Prabhupada’s letters and initiation tapes as well as face-to-face meetings with devotees at festivals and at temples to the current number of approximately 4750 names; Whereas the process of adding names involves thoroughly verifying that the devotee was indeed initiated by Srila Prabhupada (or his authorized representative) while he was personally present (ie. before November 14, 1977); Whereas the process of verification involves consulting with the devotees who got initiated at the same fire sacrifice or who witnessed the ceremony; or using photos that show conclusively when and where the initiation was held; Whereas there are devotees who have taken the online posting of the Srila Prabhupada Disciple Database currently hosted on Krishna.com and used that as a basis of their own online projects, pretending to be authorized or to be the official database, but who accept anyone who claims to be initiated by Srila Prabhupada without using a process of verification and who are thus causing confusion and discrediting the validity of the Srila Prabhupada Disciple Database; Resolved: That the Srila Prabhupada Disciple Database is an authorized GBC project with Mahamaya-devi dasi as the compiler. Access shall be shared with the GBC Secretariat. Continue reading "Official Srila Prabhupada Disciple Database
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Answer Podcast

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Answer Podcast

The post Should we take other devotees plates for washing if they don’t want to give? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

6 Habits That Destroy Your Peace and Sanity by Rupa Goswami (video)
HH Romapada Swami at Iskcon Naperville, Mar 26, 2018

Cow Protection at Krishna Valley Goshalla, Hungary — 26 March 2018 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Actually as I have already discussed in my Srimad-Bhagavatam, for economic problem one requires a little land and a few cows. Then the whole economic problem is solved. We should utilize our time for elevating ourselves in Krishna Consciousness than for so-called economic development. If we are satisfied with plain living, with minimum time and the balance time is engaged for elevating our Krishna Conscious program, then every man can be transferred to Goloka Vrindaban, just in this very life. The modern civilization has encumbered the mode of living and people are engaged all the time in the matter of eating, sleeping, defending, and mating. Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Hansadutta – Los Angeles 11 January 1968
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The post Daily Darshan: March 29, 2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

“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

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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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By the GBC

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

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Answer Podcast

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Answer Podcast

The post Are we the sum of our thoughts? 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]

Podcast

 

Podcast Summary

 

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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.