Planet ISKCON

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

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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!.”

The Best Reception of Spiritual Safari 2018 in ISKCON Narsingdi (6 min video)



The post Daily Darshan: March 27,2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Giriraj dasa: If you want to stay in Krsna Consciousness you will have to develop firm faith in Guru and Sastra. Therefore, you must study my books very scrutinizingly, follow the four regulative principles very strictly and chant 16 rounds daily avoiding the ten offenses. Don’t take this movement as something cheap.

Mayapur (Deep In Your Love) (5 min video)
Written in glorification of the spiritual land, Sri Mayapur, as a love song to the pe...

Amarujala Samvad 2018 (Album with photos)
On 25th March 2018, Gaur Gopal Das was invited to speak at thought leadership conclave ‘Amarujala Samvad 2018’ at Kanpur Uttar Pradesh. Through his remarkable presentation, he connected to the finest minds and leading people from all walks of life in Kanpur.
He shared dais with eminent speakers like Shri Yogi Adiyanath (Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh), Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya (Deputy Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh), Shri Rajyavardhan Rathod (Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs), Shri Akhilesh Yadav (Ex Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh), Suresh Raina (Indian Cricketer), John Abraham (Film Actor), Raju Srivastav (Comedian), Kirti Kulhari (Film Actress), Irshad Kamil (Poet & Lyricist), Dipa Karmakar (Indian Gymnast), Devendra Jhajharia (Indian Paralympic), Bishweshar Nandi (Dronacharya Awardee).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/6R5LB9

By Vijaya Dasa

Things are looking really good in the world. Last year, we again increased the book distribution worldwide, and now for the first time we received book scores from Havana. You read that right: Havana, Cuba. Not only did the Havana devotees send their score but they were the No. 1 temple in Latin America, with 1,791 book points. A government official in Russia once said, before the fall of communism in Russia that three things would cause the downfall of communism: Western dress, Western music, and Hare Krsna. Cuba remained a stronghold of communism for almost six decades, but now with many of Srila Prabhupada's books going out, it's possibly just a question of time before Cuban communism caves in and Krsna consciousness arises. Continue reading "WSN February 2018 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Answer Podcast

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The post Lessons from Hanuman’s devotion to Rama (4) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Rama Navmi Class at ISKCON, Phoenix, USA]

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[Congregation program at Phoenix, USA]

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Podcast Summary

 

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The post Lessons from Hanuman’s devotion to Rama 4 – How Hanuman provoked to deter Ravana from war appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The appearance of Lord Ramacandra, Rama Navami, is enthusiastically celebrated in India and around the world.

The devotees in western Sydney invited me for the Rama Navami at a hall they hired for the evening.

I led kirtana and gave class. This was followed by a puspa abhisheka of Sita, Rama, Laksman and Hanuman and then there was a dance, arati and wonderful feast.



The post Daily Darshan: March 26, 2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

St. Augustine 2018 - Festival of Chariots (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Our humble attempt is to distribute the sublime knowledge of India. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. Actually, outside India, there is no knowledge. Plainly speaking, their knowledge is as good as animals. Srila Prabhupada – April 17, 1977, Bombay
Find them here: https://goo.gl/d62sxv

Lecture by HH Radhanath Swami On the Occasion of Ram Navami Festival given in Mumbai (video)

Chinese Devotees visit Kurukshetra Dham with H.H. Bhakti Vigna Vinasha Narasimha Maharaj. (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A conditioned soul is hampered by four defects: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to become illusioned, he has a tendency to cheat others, and his senses are imperfect. Consequently we have to take direction from liberated persons. This Krsna consciousness movement directly receives instructions from the Supreme Personality of Godhead via persons who are strictly following His instructions. Although a follower may not be a liberated person, if he follows the supreme, liberated Personality of Godhead, his actions are naturally liberated from the contamination of the material nature. Lord Caitanya therefore says: “By My order you may become a spiritual master.” One can immediately become a spiritual master by having full faith in the transcendental words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by following His instructions. From SB 4.18.5 purport
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hQsEHJ

43rd Anniversary of Krishna Balaram Mandir (Album of photos)
Ram Navami 2018 marked the 43rd anniversary of Sri Sri Krishna Ba...

Rama Navami Celebration 2018 in ISKCON Calgary (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If we keep ourself on the material platform, then for thousand years we may chant, it will be difficult. That is called namaparadha. Of course, holy name is so powerful that even by chanting with offense, gradually he becomes pure. Therefore we should not give up chanting. Any circumstances, we should go on chanting Hare Krsna mantra. But the warning is that if we keep us on the material platform, then it will be not possible to understand Krsna, His holy name, His attribute, His form, His activities. It will be not possible. Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15 – June 28, 1975, Denver
Find them here: https://goo.gl/uQhzKY

Sadbhuja Das: We are currently working, among other things, on fixing the stars on the domes.
We have begun with the Planetariu...

In 1968, Gordon John Erdman was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in Montreal, Canada, and given the name Jayapataka dasa. The name Jayapataka is translated as “victory flag,” and has proved to be truly befitting of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaja, who has ceaselessly championed the cause of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu undeterred by […]

The post Srila Prabhupada’s Victory Flag! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

By Bhakti Charu Swami

Veda Foundation is a public charitable trust whose mission is to spread the glories of Sri Krishna Chaitanya based headquarters in Deland, South Orlando, FL, USA. Veda Foundation is a public charitable trust whose mission is the worldwide propagation of Vedic culture and wisdom, primarily through developing farm communities and visual media. The Foundation has branches in the United States, India and representatives in UK, South Africa, Australia and many other countries around the globe. One of the foremost projects undertaken by the Foundation was Abhay Charan, a film series on the life of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. This 18-part series was produced and directed by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, the founder of Veda Foundation and a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Continue reading "Veda Foundation’s new temple and sanctuary in Deland, Florida
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ISKCON Mayapur: In 1968, Gordon John Erdman was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in Montreal, Canada, and given the name Jayapataka dasa. The name Jayapataka is translated as “victory flag,” and has proved to be truly befitting of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, who has ceaselessly championed the cause of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu undeterred by any kind of challenges.

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 02/18/2018

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

Participating Directors: Anuttama (partial attendance), Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Jamuna Jivani (board secretary), Makara, Olivia, Ranaka, and Vraja.

Participating Advisors: Bhima (partial attendance), Jaya Krsna, and Kalakantha (partial attendance).

1. Ranaka’s monthly report

• Ananda Vidya and Lalita Gopi are currently milking five cows: Jamuna, Surabhi, Laxmi, Sita, and Malati. Milk production is approximately 20 gal. per day.
• Sriya and Anjali are both due to freshen this month. Subhadra is due in May.
• There are three heifers residing at the Temple Barn: one-year-old Vamsika, five-month-old Lalita, and two-month-old Gopi Katyayani.
• Parvati is residing with Dharma for breeding.
• Jaya Radhe and Usha are still residing in Nandagram with Madhu for breeding.
• Ananda Vidya continues to produce approximately 15 lbs. of butter, 15 gal. of yogurt, and a half gal. of ghee weekly, which he delivers to the temple kitchen. He now has a larger cheese press and mold which holds four gallons of milk at a time. He made and waxed a wheel of Colby cheese last week, which will be aged for 2.5 months.
• Ananda Vidya and Lalita Gopi continue to clear out and clean the upstairs of the Temple Barn.
• Ray is about half finished replacing the siding around the front entrance to the school building, but due to poor weather, no further progress has been made. The materials needed to finish the job have been received.
• Ray finished the loading chute at Nandagram, and repaired the bullpen there, as well as the greenhouse. Vidya’s greenhouse still needs to be finished.
• Ray continues moving hay from the Valley Barn to Nandagram as weather permits.
• Caitanya Bhagavat works with Hari Chand in the ox program for an hour each morning, along with daily Nandagram herd care.
• Ray and Caitanya Bhagavat have completed the permanent loading chute at Nandagram along with some repair work on the bullpen.
• Suchandra is finishing seed orders, as well as cleaning and organizing the Community Garden shed. She has noted repair work that needs done of the fence there.
• Suchandra, Ray, and Ranaka are planning a walk through in the Community Garden this month to discuss manure-spreading and tillage plans.
• Ranaka has been providing financial information to Ram Associates, the auditing firm ECO-V hired every year since 2012 for  internal auditing. They are aiming to have the 2017 financial statements finished in time for the March 2018 onsite meetings.
• Rakta the cow passed away on February 12th at the age of 23. She had been in good health despite her old age, so her sudden passing came as a surprise. After some years of providing milk, Rakta retired and spent her days grazing and relaxing with the retired herd. She got along well with everyone, cows and cowherds alike. She was one of the oldest cows in the herd, but always remained young in spirit.

2. Lakshmi Cow Sanctuary Adoption Request

A subcommittee, consisting of Chaitanya Mangala, Jamuna Jivani, Makara, and Ranaka, made some calculations which showed taking on these five cows would mean at least 16 years of responsibility and over that time cost approximately $143K.  After some discussion, it was determined that absorbing these animals would not interfere with ECO-V’s goals of maintaining 8 to 10 milking cows, and an overall herd size of approximately 100, as was expressly desired by Srila Prabhupada. The Board agreed to adopt these cows. Ranaka will speak to Dr. Shastri to work out the arrangements for their arrival and care.

3. INV Request for Promotional Budget

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to support INV’s ongoing promotional efforts.

RESOLVED: The Board approves up to $1,000 per month towards INV’s promotion of activities in New Vrindaban, for up to 10 months.

4. Website

The ECO-V website is now live at eco-v.com. Jamuna Jivani and Makara will continue to maintain, improve, and add to it over time.

For regular updates please visit and like the ECO-V Facebook page.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 December 2017, Govinda Valley, Australia, Initiation Lecture)

 At initiation, one makes a lifelong commitment. But so many things happen over time and there are not always going to be great days, there will be moments of difficulty. I have experienced after some operations that it was difficult to chant. Once I was in a hospital, just coming out of intensive care and recovering, and one devotee brought me my beads, but I lost them in the ocean of the bed. They just disappeared and I had no idea what happened to them. At that stage, I did not manage to keep my vow. I could not chant sixteen rounds on that day; it was just not possible. It took me a few days before I could manage it when I eventually made up those rounds. We must understand that we wholly depend on Krsna to bring this commitment to a success, not on our own strength.

In the Caitanya Caritamrta (Adi 1.1), the opening words are vande gurun isa-bhaktan – it is beginning to glorify the spiritual master. It is saying that there are many spiritual masters but the Guru is first, as the Guru represents the Absolute Truth. The Guru is representing transcendental knowledge – dharmam tu sāksād bhagavat-pranītam (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.3.19) – meaning that this knowledge comes from Krsna. He is the origin of the knowledge and the spiritual master, in disciplic succession, is bringing that knowledge to us – evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh (Bhagavad-gita 4.2).

So all the generations of previous acaryas are present at an initiation. Srila Prabhupada is there. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta is there. Panca-Tattva are also present. Many personalities are present. All the acaryas are not just invoked by mantra, but they are actively concerned with our welfare. They are supporting the whole effort. They are glancing at us and are blessing us through the vows we take. Therefore, there is a lot more going on than what we think and what we see. It is important to understand that there are higher personalities present who are looking upon us. When we have given our heart to a Personality, then certainly that Personality will look upon us with grace.

The article " A lifelong commitment " was published on KKSBlog.