Did some of the leaders of our movement fall down because of being haunted by demonic forces?
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Answer Podcast

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

Krsna has a deep personal relationship with every living entity and he is conscious of every thought the every living entity has – just imagine that! Krsna is unlimitedly great in this aspect. And so, Krsna enters into a deep personal relationship with every devotee and can become attracted and captured by their loving service. This is called sri krsna-akarsani – to attract Krsna by devotional service. This is our aim: to go deeper into devotional service and attract Krsna.

Krsna states in the Bhagavad-gita that by remaining covered by his illusory energy, people will not be able to see him in this material world. Therefore, there is sometimes doubt or strong opinions where some may say, “He is an old man with a beard.” Once a professor referred to Srila Prabhupada as “dogmatic” for saying that Krsna is God. The professor was of the opinion that we should be more universal to all religions and not become narrow-minded; this is what he meant by dogmatic. In response, Srila Prabhupada said, “Why is he so dogmatically saying that Krsna is not God when he has never seen God?”.

Ultimately, one has to see the Supreme Lord but because of the cover by the illusory energy, we have forgotten our origins, our connection with Krsna. Even if we remember a little, by some mercy or have some knowledge, it is still very incomplete. We are not seeing Krsna face-to-face. So, our purpose is to reawaken our natural love for Krsna and to restore our original relationship with him; to dedicate our lives in service to Krsna, so that we can attract him. Once that is happening, we naturally become more and more attached to Krsna by hearing, chanting and serving him. This is completely natural because Krsna is not an ordinary person!

The article " The reawakening " was published on KKSBlog.

Murwillumbah Home Program
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Rupa Raghunatha is well known to devotees all over Australia. He has been regularly going out on book distribution for over 25 years.

Some time ago he moved to Murwillumbah near our New Govardhana temple.

When gurus, sannyasis and senior devotees visit New Govardhana, he invites them for a program at his home. I received such an invitation the last time I visited.

 

Surya Kunda! (Album of photos) Indradyumna Swami: Today we…
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Surya Kunda! (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today we visited Surya Kund, where the Sun God performed austerities to see and serve Lord Krsna. His wish was fulfilled when Srimati Radharani asked him to warm the Lord’s transcendental body with his rays after Krsna came out of the water from battling the Kaliya serpent. Radharani visits Surya-kund every Sunday to worship Surya-deva. It is also a place where Radha and Krsna meet regularly for Their pastimes. I said prayers while gazing at the beautiful lake, begging to keep Vrindavan in my heart as I head for Australia this coming Wednesday.
“I wander over this earth meditating on Her, who is a moon shining in the rasa-dance arena, who is a host of bright lamps in Vrsabhanu’s palace, and who is the central jewel in the necklace of Goloka.”

[ Narada Muni, Garga Samhita 1.8.12 ]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/LP53WW

Protect our sacred Vrindavana from environmental disaster. H.H….
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Protect our sacred Vrindavana from environmental disaster.
H.H. Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Maharaj and H.H. Indradyumna Swami visited the VT office on Friday.
The two swamis every year bring to Vrindavan hundreds of devotees from the central Asian states, Russia, Poland and many other places around the world. They bring their followers for darshan of Braj’s Thakurjis, and to do Chaurasi Kos Parikrama.
Both swamis have had personal residences near the Parikrama Marg for several decades, and spend considerable time in the Dham every year. They have, like many of us, grown deeply concerned about the changes seen in Vrindavan over the last decade, and feel that some of the things most related to “the Vrindavan experience” are being sadly lost.
They thus feel the need to get more involved in doing something to counteract the negative developments.
A few months ago, Shailjakant Mishra, the Vice President of the Braj Tirth Vikash Parishad, for the first time met officially with leaders of the international devotional community. Many of these devotees have been here for decades, and despite coming from different, in their own words, “branches of the Gaudiya tree,” they are willing to unite as one strong front to produce solutions for the current problems of Vrindavan.

Many things were discussed at the meeting with Mr. Mishra that have not yet been acted upon. But the principal takeaway message for me was that the Government is willing to listen to the voice of the international Vaishnava community.

Mr. Mishra recognized that Vaishnavas hailing from foreign countries have adopted Vrindavan as their spiritual home, that they have aspired to Braja-vasa like all Gaudiya Vaishnavas, and indeed they are an important segment in the Vrindavan community. Having contributed to its current development, the foreigners can now help to plan Vrindavan’s future in a very practical way, yet according to Braj’s eternal culture.

The two Swamis believe it is necessary to preserve the original meaning of Vrindavan, which is a strictly spiritual place. The visitors they bring here come in expectation of the Vrindavan of the Srimad Bhagavatam, of the Krishna Book of Bhaktivedanta Swami.

During the meeting with Mr. Mishra I felt it was time that we should now unabashedly state what our vision of Vrindavan is because we are stakeholders in a very significant sense.

The Government would be very wise to recognize that the presence of influential foreign devotees, who command the respect and devotion of thousands of disciples and who bring them to Vrindavan, is an asset for the state. If the Government wants to bring in tourism, the worshipers of Braj as per the Bhagavata are precisely the best kind of tourist we could possibly have.

These “tourists” return again and again, to buy clothes at Gangotri and books at Rasa Bihari Lal and Sons. They stay for extended periods of time, to follow retreats, to go on 84-kos parikrama.

For the long-term, these are the best kinds of foreign tourists that we could hope for.

Govinda Maharaj said, “We have seen the way that the Europeans protect their heritage cities. They do not allow traffic in the old town. They do not allow environmental disasters to destroy the distinctive aesthetics of the locality. They do everything they can to enhance visitors’ experience of the place. Here, it is impossible for us to not be embarrassed at the garbage, the noise, the visual pollution that all make it difficult to stay here. The Parikrama has become almost impossible because of traffic on the Parikrama Marg. There are many issues that we feel need to be worked on and we would like to help.”

Prem Prayojan Das, another international Vaishnava preacher who also brings 50-100 people from various countries on 84-kos parikrama twice a year, also expressed his anxiety about the developments in the Dham. “The sacred power of the Dham is unbroken,” he said. “It cannot be affected by any human activities. But it is our duty to reveal the Dham to those who seek the highest perfection of spiritual life, prema. We should not allow this jewel to be covered by the ignorant activities of those who do not know its value.”

The two sannyasis have already created a popular website about Vrindavan, Vrindavan Experience. The site is principally known for the amazing professional photography and for the film Reconnection, by Govinda Maharaj’s disciple Maksim Varfolomeev. Indradyumna Swami is himself a master photographer and has been keeping a daily blog for many years called the Traveling Monk, in which he chronicles extensively his visits to Vrindavan and his personal experiences with the Dham and the Dhamvasis.

Jagannath Poddar, director of Friends of Vrindavan, a founding member of the Braj Vrindavan Heritage Alliance, and the managing editor of Vrindavan Today pointed out that the BVHA has been using the courts as a last line of defense to prevent bureaucrats who think of short term economic development goals from creating long term damage.

“What Vrindavan Today aims to achieve,” he said, “is to create a vision for Vrindavan that enhances its prestige as a spiritual place of pilgrimage. We have to have a vision that is resilient in the long term, that attempts to recreate an atmosphere that enhances the visitor’s devotional experience. So we are combining activism with an attempt to create a vision of Vrindavan that will stand the test of time, even in these rapidly changing times.”

Govinda Maharaj also emphasized the need for cooperation. “When ISKCON was under attack in Kazakhstan,” he said, “we learned that networking with like-minded souls was a necessity. In this attack on Vraja we need to network with kindred spirits as well.”

NASN February 2018 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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Hare KrishnaBy Mayapur Sasi dasa

For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of February 2018. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5 Continue reading "NASN February 2018 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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Thursday, March 15th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

Plaque and Statues

With pride, I read the newly installed plaque, at the recently renovated square, at the University of Florida in Gainesville.  There is a history of Krishna devotees distributing great lunches here for decades.  The operation still goes on, with energetic enthusiasm, to this day.

With an image-relief of the Hare Krishna founder embossed on it, the plaque reads, “Krishna Lunch: On July 29th, 1972, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the Hare Krishna Movement, addressed students here and inspired them to start Krishna Lunch.  Since then the Lunch has nourished the UF community with millions of vegetarian meals.  In 2017, Krishna Lunch and its alumni contributed toward the renovation of the Plaza.”

It was only yesterday morning that we strolled our way to the plaza to have a look.  I came back to Toronto just in time for a mini-installment of three gorgeous brass figurines to complete a permanent display of Das Avatars, that is ten incarnations or avatars.  They sit down on a unique wooden platform, which is actually the base of the bed slept on by Prabhupada when he visited us in June of 1976.

It is a stunning exhibit, really, located in what’s called Prabhupada’s quarters, a room with a wall that separates my room from his.  It’s a blessing to live in this area of our building.

My last message is about my lack of walking today.  I did, practically, a sprint down the endless corridor of the Miami Airport, but that was about it.  However, the equivalent to walking was a massage and meaningful leg stretches by Gopal, who also resides in our ashram in Toronto.  He did splendidly.

May the Source be with you!

1 km


Wednesday, March 14th, 2018
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Gainesville, Florida

Conflicts We Face

As we all know, the world is full of conflict.  Conflict was the major topic of discussion at the Krishna house in Gainesville this morning.  Thirty students and facilitators are accommodated with living quarters in this flourishing little nook within the city.  There’s more than one houseful, in other words.

From Canto One, the story arises about the Yadu Dynasty, and they, being the most powerful empire of the time, were unconquerable.  By divine arrangement (if you will), the dynasty’s demise involved rice wine and its consumption, in group dynamic, which led to a flogging to the death of each other.  There was conflict ‘within’, which is where our thoughts brought us to, in so far as a point for discussion. We all struggle internally with our minds, perhaps even more than we receive pain externally.  It was interesting.

At evening time, Ananta and I walked his neighbourhood’s backroads to reach the home of Janmastami.  There we met for a converging of families.  For the children—I sat them in front of me; adults in the back—I read and ‘charaded’ the chapter of “Killing the Dhenukasura Demon.”  This arrangement pumped up the kids to no end.  The magic of this situation is that parents and others also feel part of the fun.  Kirtan and pasta were also featured.

I received a call from Daruka of Winnipeg, my trusty back-up man for cross-Canada walks of the past.  His mum, Marilyn, in her late 70s, is having a difficult time, physically.  I told him I would appeal to readers of this blog to offer prayers for this “strong woman,” as he put it.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Prof John Lennox: “The new atheism is an old atheism, except it’s much more aggressive.”
→ SivaramaSwami.com

“The new atheism wants to destroy religion. That’s a very different thing. The arguments are not new, it’s the aggression that’s new.”

  • My low key tweet of yesterday on the passing of Stephen Hawkings, an outspoken atheist
  • Our busines is to give light and dispell the darkness the scientific community propagates
  • If you don’t speak of when you see ireligion you become implicated
  • Devotees should not be afraid to speak out as Śrīla Prbhupāda did without worrying about political correctness
  • No sane way to explain how things came about than by a divine, intelligent personal creator

Winning with emotional intelliigence 2 – Social competence through relationship management
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[Seminar at Microsoft, Seattle, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

PPT:

Video:

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Tap the mind, don’t be trapped by the mind 2 – Why mind control backfires
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[Seminar at ISKCON, Seattle, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

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Tap the mind, dont be trapped by the mind 1 – The pressure for pleasure
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[Seminar at ISKCON, Seattle, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

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Program with the Indian Community of Munich, Germany (Album with…
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Program with the Indian Community of Munich, Germany (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Along with the Deity worship in this temple, hold classes at least five hours. As in the schools and colleges there are regular classes, forty-five minutes’ class, then five or ten minutes’ recess, again forty-five minutes’ class, in this way, so we have got enough subject matter to study, and if we study all these books, to finish them it will take at least twenty-five years. So you are all young men. I request you to engage your time in reading books, in chanting, in Deity worshiping, in going to preach, selling books. Don’t be lazy. Always remain engaged. Then that is Krsna consciousness. (Srila Prabhupada, Arrival Lecture – Mexico, February 11, 1975)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/uvYUtu

Expanding Our Love
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Hare KrishnaBy His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

To love means to be concerned for the other person's benefit. That is real love. I love you for your benefit; you love me for my benefit. If I so-called love you for my benefit, that is lust. In this material world there cannot be love. It is not possible, because the so-called love is for our own sense gratification. A young boy loves a young woman for his sense gratification, not for her sense gratification. Similarly, she also. In this material world this cheating is going on. I want to satisfy my lusty desires, but it is going on in the name of love. Continue reading "Expanding Our Love
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Rathayatra in Newcastle, South Africa (Album of photos) Bhakti…
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Rathayatra in Newcastle, South Africa (Album of photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Today we had Rathayatra in Newcastle, South Africa. It’s a small town with a nice community of devotees who are enthusiastic to spread Krishna consciousness. This was the 17th annual Rathayatra here. The weather had been really bad, with lots of rain for days, but this morning the rain eased off and we managed to hold the festival with no problems.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/GEXXiN

All India Padayatra In Koramangala
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Hare KrishnaBy Acarya Dasa

Koramangala is a small preaching center. In big temple celebrations usually we do not get any seva -we have to be mostly guests- so this time we were delighted to get the opportunity to serve.. Expecting a huge number of people, the devotees of Koramangala booked the Laxmi Devi Stadium, 6th Block Playground for the event. They printed colourful invitation pamphlets and invited the devotees and the public with the help of modern social media such as facebook and WhatsApp. The chief guests were Sri R. Ramlinga Reddy (Honorable Home minister of Karnataka) and Sri M. Chandrappa (Honorable Corporator, Koramangala). Continue reading "All India Padayatra In Koramangala
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The Way To Gain Krishna’s Special Mercy…
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The Way To Gain Krishna’s Special Mercy (video)
Amala-bhakta Swami - Sunday Feast - 3-4-18.
Quite often I’ve been asked by devotees after lectures and classes, “How can I get Krishna’s special mercy?” In the following Sunday Feast lecture Youtube video at the Los Angeles New Dwarka temple, I answer that question directly from Shastra and from personal experience.

My Place of Worship
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Hare KrishnaBy ISKCON Mayapur

The opulent outfits offered to the Deities are all designed, stitched, and embroidered by a team of 28 local devotees who work year-round to create the Lord’s beautiful clothing. Resident devotees also hand make most of the jewelry worn by the Mayapur Deities. Approximately 35 devotees are engaged in caring for the Deities’ paraphernalia rooms and paraphernalia. These devotees clean, polish, organize, and in other ways ensure that the Lord’s belongings are maintained nicely. Continue reading "My Place of Worship
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Mayapur – My Place of Worship
→ Mayapur.com

All of the devas, ṛṣis, and tīrthas congregate in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur to worship the Supreme Lord, for in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur – the center of the universe – Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa eternally reside and bestow Their benediction and mercy to those who worship Them there. Is it any wonder, then, that Śrīla Prabhupāda stated that Māyāpur, […]

The post Mayapur – My Place of Worship appeared first on Mayapur.com.