Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Why study Srila Prabhupada’s books (20 min video)
HH Bhakti Charu Swami is reminding us yet again this basic principle for our devotional life.
Power of Obedience by Gauranga Das (4 min video)
The ability to reciprocate with the changing demands of the Lord.
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Event Happiness presentation by HH Devamrita Swami (video)
UniMelb Bhakti Yoga Club Event at Melbourne University, 28 February ...
A nice review of Shyamasundar Das’ Chasing Rhinos With The Swami.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada changed the world. When he came to America from India in 1965, few Westerners knew the deep spiritual truths behind ancient Vedic culture and civilization. Within a decade most humans on the planet had heard the Hare Krishna mantra.
Shyamasundar Das (Sam Speerstra) was one of Bhaktivedanta Swami’s earliest disciples, helping him shape the Krishna Consciousness movement in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, in London, and then, as the Swami’s personal secretary, he traveled with Prabhupada in India, Russia, and all over the globe. “Chasing Rhinos With The Swami” is the intimate account of Prabhupada’s amazing adventures, describing in loving detail the seven years Shyamasundar spent at the side of the perfect person. Nothing was impossible for Srila Prabhupada, and he instilled this idea in the hearts of his first disciples: Go for the rhino!
Training Oxen by Voice Commands Lesson 4 The Lash (video)
We have devoted one lesson to the lash as it is crucial that it is no...
Jayapataka Swami’s message.
My dear devotees, Hare Krishna!
I spent some time at the
Chennai hospital and various doctors from Delhi, Bombay and Chennai said I should go for liver transplant as my liver is diseased. I have been put on the list to get a liver and kidney from a cadaver. Although my blood type is B positive, and I could, in emergency, use a living donor since the liver regenerates in less than a month, the doctor said it is better to have whole liver.
So I went to Mayapur for the Gaur Purnima festival but I should be ready within 6 hours if the liver becomes available so it takes more than 6 hours to reach Chennai from Mayapur. It would be useful if the devotees offer their prayers since it is a major surgery.
I will keep you updated about my health conditions. While I am in Chennai I would like to give some online classes if anybody would like they may contact Maha Varaha Das. For the time being I will be in Chennai.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Gaura Nitai.
Your well wisher always
Jayapataka Swami
Canberra Bhakti Vrksa (Album of photos)
Ramai Swami: The Canberra Bhakti Vrksa program has been going on for over 10 years. I was a guest at the last one and quite a number of devotees and friends attended.
What is a “Bhakti Vrksa program?”.
It is when a small group of congregational devotees meet every week to practice Krishna consciousness and to plan preaching activities. In these Bhakti-vriksha groups the devotees learn how to nourish their spiritual creeper and to cultivate their service attitude in cooperation with others.
Every group member is also active in preaching and in bringing new people into the group. Upon reaching fifteen members the group divides into two. This system keeps the groups small, maintaining an intimate atmosphere of personal care and nurturing, not possible in large groups.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/wYhF7G
By Bhakti Caitanya Swami I have been chanting 45+ years. And some of you for longer, I know. And do not mind me saying it but at least from what I have observed, I have not seen any one displaying such symptoms like Lord Caitanya did. Please forgive me if that is inappropriate but I think it is not. Because I think we commit offenses, I think we are sometimes not attentive enough, And that’s why these things are not happening like they did with Lord Caitanya. I mean with Him it happened on a massive scale. With us, sometimes, oftentimes the chanting is nice, sometimes it’s very nice. But some experience like that is beyond most of us generally. So why… Why? Well, that is unfortunately because we are continuing to not chant purely, to chant offensively. Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam Class in Mayapur: The essence of all Vedic hymns
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The “annotated scans” for Chapter
Ten of Bhagavad-gita As It Is are now online at BBTedit.com/changes.
The scans for this chapter are the latest in a series that shows all the revisions done for the transliterations, word meanings, and purports of the second edition. Nearly every revision also has a note explaining why it was done, along with an image from the BBT’s oldest manuscripts, allowing you to verify the history for yourself.
Jayadvaita Swami did his revisions for the second edition on a physical copy of the first edition. The scans show that copy. (Revisions to the translations aren’t shown, because he edited them separately, not in the book itself.) Each chapter forms one downloadable pdf file.
The revisions to this chapter were extensive, so the scans for this chapter give you much to see.
Apart from images for specific changes, the scans for this chapter include six complete sample pages from the original manuscripts.
Whether you’re for “the changes,” against them, or neutral, here’s another opportunity to see what the changes actually are.
For devotees who have been critical of the second edition but are thoughtful and open-minded, the scans for this chapter provide ample food for thought.
See for yourself in the annotated scans for Chapter Ten, now online at BBTedit.com/changes.
The changes for the Preface, the Introduction, and the previous chapters are already online. See them all at BBTedit.com/changes.
The post Now online: “Gita changes” for Chapter Ten appeared first on Jayadvaita Swami.
By Navina Shyama Dasa Sometimes the car becomes blocked. But some fellow pushes it. We have got this experience. What is that called? Chocked up? Then you get down and push the car and – brut-brut-brut-brut-brut – it goes. Similarly the bhakti-rasa [feeling of devotion] is there in everyone's heart. Nitya-siddha krishna-bhakti. Because we are part and parcel of Krishna. . . . So the fact is that we have got devotion for Krishna. That is a fact. But some way or other we are separated and we have forgotten. So as soon as, by this regulative principle, by the order of the spiritual master, by the injunction of the shastras, we begin devotional service Continue reading "What’s Wrong with Using a Crutch?
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By Iskcon Mayapur Śrīla Prabhupāda describes in his purport to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.11.1: “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has also given us a nice weapon for this age, as stated in the Bhāgavatam: sāṅgopāṅgāstra—in this age, the nārāyaṇāstra, or weapon to drive away māyā, is the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra in pursuance of the associates of Lord Caitanya, such as Advaita Prabhu, Nityānanda, Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa.” This weapon of the holy name was utilized perfectly by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. He took complete shelter of the holy names of the Lord. It is described by Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura that Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and his brothers were constantly absorbed in singing the names of Lord Kṛṣṇa. It was in the home of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His most intimate saṅkīrtana pastimes. Those nocturnal kīrtanas are compared to the rāsa-līlās of Lord Kṛṣṇa, for they are the topmost and most ecstatic of the Lord’s pastimes. Continue reading "The Leader of the Devotees of Lord Caitanya
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 17 August 2017, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.4.5-6)
We read about Vasudeva Datta who was such a great devotee. He wanted to deliver the entire universe by taking on the sinful reactions of everyone in the universe – he was ready to do that. Lord Caitanya was so impressed by Vasudeva Datta that he had said, “He has purchased me. He can sell me in the marketplace,” and then he said, “Whoever touches the body of Vasudeva Datta will go back to Godhead. Not only that, even the wind that has touched the body of Vasudeva Datta, if that wind now touches our body we will be purified.”
In this way, we see how a devotee carries the qualities of Krsna. It is said that the devotee gradually develops the qualities of Krsna by being focused on service to Krsna. The devotee becomes purified and whatever is important to Krsna becomes important to him; we see this in Vasudeva Datta.
We see it also in Srila Prabhupada. We see the places that he touched became transformed. Prabhupada transformed places and transformed the world. He transformed the tree in Tompkins Square. What a place Matchless Gifts is – the walls are vibrating. What can we say? It is just surcharged with this transcendental energy; completely spiritualised by Prabhupada. A very intense presence of all the Krsna consciousness that was within Srila Prabhupada is within that one little storefront. That was where it was all happening and one can still experience that it is not an ordinary place. It does not take much to appreciate that. So yes, Krsna transforms his devotees.
The Canberra Bhakti Vrksa program has been going on for over 10 years. I was a guest at the last one and quite a number of devotees and friends attended.
What is a “Bhakti Vrksa program?”.
It is when a small group of congregational devotees meet every week to practice Krishna consciousness and to plan preaching activities. In these Bhakti-vriksha groups the devotees learn how to nourish their spiritual creeper and to cultivate their service attitude in cooperation with others.
Every group member is also active in preaching and in bringing new people into the group. Upon reaching fifteen members the group divides into two. This system keeps the groups small, maintaining an intimate atmosphere of personal care and nurturing, not possible in large groups.
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Transcriber: Manju Agrawal Mataji
प्रश्न: इस भौतिक जगत में रहते हुए हम कैसे अनुभव करें कि हम भगवान के सेवक हैं और भगवान हमारे नियंत्रक?
उत्तर: हम अपने जीवन में अकसर अनुभव करते हैं कि हमारा जीवन केवल हमारे नियंत्रण में नहीं है। हमसे परे भी ऐसी कोई शक्ति अवश्य है जो हमारा जीवन नियंत्रित करती है। यह हम कुछ उदाहरणों के माध्यम से समझ सकते हैं।
एक टैनिस खिलाड़ी अपने एक कान में एक रिंग पहनता था और उसे पहनने के पश्चात वह अच्छा खेलता था। इससे वह यह समझने लगा कि वह रिंग ही उसके सौभाग्य का कारण है। इस बात से उस खिलाड़ी की मानसिकता का पता लगता है। कहीं न कहीं अपने मन में वह यह समझता था कि उसके नियंत्रण के परे भी ऐसा कुछ है जो उसके कार्यों के फलों का नियंत्रण करता है। उसका स्वयं का प्रदर्शन, उसका परिश्रम इत्यादि मायने रखता है, लेकिन वही सबकुछ नहीं है।
कई बार हम देखते हैं कि कोई क्रिकेट खिलाड़ी बहुत अच्छी बल्लेबाजी करता है पर कभी-कभी वह “आउट-ऑफ-फॉर्म” हो जाता है। उसमें क्षमता होते हुए भी वह अपनी क्षमता पर नियंत्रण नहीं रख पाता। ऐसा इसलिए क्योंकि उसकी क्षमता उसके अकेले की नहीं होती है अपितु भगवान की कृपा से मिलती है। वह क्षमता भी सदैव हमारे साथ नहीं रहती। कभी रहती है, कभी चली जाती है। हमारी उपलब्धियाँ हमारे अकेले की नहीं किन्तु भगवान से भेंट स्वरूप मिलती हैं।
कभी-कभी उचित प्रयास और मेहनत के पश्चात भी हमें यश और सफलता नहीं मिलती। तब हम अपने भाग्य को दोष देने लगते हैं। भाग्य कभी हमारे अनुकूल होता है तो कभी प्रतिकूल। कई बार पर्याप्त मेहनत के बिना भी सफलता मिल जाती है। इससे हम समझ सकते हैं कि हमारा कर्म हमारे नियंत्रण में है किन्तु फल नहीं।
हमारी चेतना दो प्रकार की होती है- भौतिक और आधात्मिक। भौतिक चेतना में हम सोचते हैं कि जो हमारे नियंत्रण में नहीं है, वह हमारी असफलता और दुर्बलता का लक्षण है। यदि हम अपना नियंत्रण बढ़ाऐंगे, तो सफलता प्राप्त कर लेंगे। इसके विपरीत, आध्यात्मिक चेतना में हम सोचते हैं कि जो हमारे नियंत्रण में है और जो नहीं है, वे दोनों ही भगवान के नियंत्रण में हैं। जो हमारे नियंत्रण में है भी, उसे नियंत्रित करने की क्षमता भी हममें भगवान से ही प्राप्त होती है। भगवान की हमारे लिए कोई योजना है जिसका हमें अभी ज्ञान नहीं पर उचित समय पर प्रकट हो जाएगा।
वास्तव में हम सब परम नियंता भगवान के अधीन हैं। यदि हम भगवान की अधीनता स्वीकार नहीं करते तो धीरे-धीरे हम विपरीत बुद्धि के अधीन हो जाते हैं। ऐसा मनुष्य धीरे-धीरे अपने मन और इन्द्रियों का दास बन जाता है। गीता 15.7 में भगवान बोलते हैं कि हम सब उनके अंश हैं अर्थात उनके सेवक हैं। यदि हम भगवान की सेवा नहीं करते हैं तो हम अपने मन और इन्द्रियों की सेवा करने लगते हैं अर्थात इन्द्रियों के दास बन जाते हैं।
यदि हम स्वयं के जीवन के विषय में विचार करें तो पायेंगे कि हम सदैव एक सेवक ही तो हैं। हम राष्ट्र के सेवक हो सकते हैं, परिवार के सेवक हो सकते हैं, अपनी इन्द्रियों के सेवक हो सकते हैं, अपनी आदतों के सेवक हो सकते हैं। हम यह भूल जाते हैं कि – राष्ट्र, परिवार, इन्द्रियाँ इत्यादि – ये सब जिस परमेश्वर के नियंत्रण में है, वास्तव में हम उस ईश्वर के सेवक हैं। यदि हम यह स्वीकार कर लें कि हम वास्तव में भगवान के सेवक हैं, तो उपरोक्त सभी सेवाओं से मुक्त हो सकते हैं।
इस प्रकार आत्म निरीक्षण कर हम समझ सकते हैं कि हम वास्तव में भगवान के ही सेवक हैं।
End of transcription.
Dear Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Here is the latest snowy movie from The City of London’s new initiative.
There was a great Beast from the East,
With blizzards which never ceased.
But Krishna’s Castle was strong,
And all day long
They served out a great big feast.
Your servant
Parasuram das
Nabhinandan Das: Today we were invited to a Primary Academy in Croydon to make assembly presentations to 300 Year 4 and Year 5 students on Holi and Gaura Purnima. The pastime of Lord Nrsimhadeva and Lord Chaitanya was described to the children and they enthusiastically chanted the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. We demonstrated the throwing of colours on the teacher, which the children really enjoyed! After the assemblies, a workshop was done with Year 4 children regarding how in Sanatana Dharma, worship is done to the Lord. We showed the children how arati is performed and how everything we do can be an act of devotion, even cooking and eating. We explained the principles of vegetarianism and 30 Higher Tastes were distributed to the children, which were enthusiastically received. 
“Humility is Power” by Mahatma prabhu (3 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: “Oh Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from My eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in your absence.” This is the perfectional stage of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.51 Purport)
Deena Bandhu Das: My dear Godbrother, Premarnava Prabhu, left this world yesterday in Alachua after struggling with bad health. While he struggled continuously, he never stopped trying to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books whenever he could. He led the most ecstatic kirtans that got everyone dancing as you can see in this picture from New Vrindavan! I first met him in 1969 when I was a bhakta in Boulder Temple and he used to come for Sunday Feast.
Please join us in prayers!
Srimad Bhagavatam Class by Rohini Suta Prabhu at ISKCON Vrindavan, 05.03.2018 (video)
How to become a lover of Krishna.
FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE by practicing SOULFULNESS!! (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: “If one only chants, with some slight faith, the holy names of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, then very quickly he is cleansed of all offenses. Thus as soon as he chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, he feels the ecstasy of love for God.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.31)
Gaura Purnima Festival 2018, San Diego (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/g7Z7wJ
Krishna Holi 2018: Happy New Zealand police and Fire Brigade (Album with photos)
Auckland NZ. The New Zealand police and the fire Brigade are a big part of our Holi celebrations. They say it’s a great venue and way with the spiritual atmosphere of the Hare Krsna temple to help build and bring together the greater Community. Showing how people from all walks of life all ages all religions can come together under the banner of this Krishna Holi festival and be happy.
Both and Police and Fire Brigade do the service for free.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/VtHxia
By Anuttama dasa Among social reformers and spiritual teachers of the past, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stands out. Today, in a period of great cynicism, lack of faith in leadership, and growing tension between peoples and cultures of the world, Mahaprabhu offers us a practical formula for social renewal and self awareness. Continue reading "The Miracle of Mahaprabhu
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By Giri Govardhana dasa There are many extraordinary benefits that come from chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra, but in order for us to receive those benefits we need to endeavor to chant in the right way. If we approach our chanting not simply as a form of meditation, but rather as an encounter between the soul and the Divine, we will be able to bring a mood of heartfelt prayer to our chanting which can help us tremendously. Continue reading "Prayerful Chanting (audio)
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By Parasuram Das There was a great Beast from the East With blizzards which never ceased But Krishna's Castle was strong And all day long They served out a great big feast Here is the latest snowy movie from The City of London's new initiative. Continue reading "Snowing and Freezing in London
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Alachua, USA]
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[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Alachua, Florida, USA]
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By Madhava Smullen We in ISKCON may feel that times have changed; that we must use very different methods to deliver our message to people. But in New York City’s Harinama Ashrama, a group of devotees is using the most “old school” approach – simple Harinama and book distribution for hours every day – to impressive effect. And nowhere was this more evident than during the Prabhupada marathon this past Christmas. Rama Raya Das, formerly of the 24-Hour Kirtan Mandali in Vrindavana, India, started Harinama Ashrama on the instruction of his late friend and guide, Aindra Das. Aindra had said, “If you just sit on the streets of New York and do sankirtana, you’ll see where your realization will be.” Continue reading "NYC’s Harinama Ashrama Reaches New People With Old School Formula
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