Hash Bash ‘Bash Crash’ 2018 (Album with photos) Deva…
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Hash Bash ‘Bash Crash’ 2018 (Album with photos)
Deva Madhava das: Some time ago Grace started introducing herself as Gray because she felt Grace was too much to live up to. When she was younger she felt the world was an opportunity to connect with others, there was good inside all people, and that her purpose was to help everyone feel loved and cared for. Lately though, feelings of anger were coming up inside her, seemingly out of nowhere. She was regularly feeling scared and isolated from both strangers and familiar relationships and didn’t know why. But it occurred to her that maybe part of the problem was with herself, that she’d wrongly given up on living for goodness always just because it became a little tough after childhood. So just recently she started introducing herself again as Grace.. like she’d done with me, and had written a series of Philosophical essays on her own theory of the best lifestyle.. Radical Gentleness. She’d gotten a Bhagavad-Gita As It Is a few years ago and appreciated it as profound book; though she couldn’t relate how to apply it in her own life. She was relieved and grateful, after an hour of dancing in the Harinama, to get a bottle of water and a Science of Self Realization.. which is “topically organized and easier to relate to than the Gita.”

Grace is the best kind of person we could hope to meet at a Hash Bash in 2018. Far from the energized rally it used to be.. with Marijuana practically legal now and the party scene thats developed over the years.. the event, like most modern efforts, has traded in its nobler aspects for the typically crass, indulgent fluffiness of today’s social justice scene. Most thoughtful people in the Detroit area keep Hash Bash on their calendar only to remind themselves to avoid Ann Arbor that day. But we look forward to the opportunity each year. As HG Madhavanada Prabhu, who got our consciousness primed for maximum impact all week with his wonderful katha, shared after his blazing kirtan.. “Some devotees were cautioning me 'maybe its not so good this Hash Bash program.. we don’t want folks to affiliate us with this kind of crowd.’ But I can see they’re wrong, we have to be here.. look at all these people.”

Its not 1973 anymore, and that’s a good thing. Krishna Consciousness is for more, and has much more to offer, than merely what burnouts and hapless hippies can generally appreciate and accept. But that doesn’t mean those people shouldn’t get their chance.. That doesn’t mean a classic Hare Krishna street corner carnival doesn’t have its place in 2018. 6 Hours of Harinama, 2,000 servings of halva, 100+ big books and the thousands of people who heard the Holy Name last Saturday are proof “Old is Gold” as Madhavananda Prabhu puts it. Gauranga!

Deva Madhava das

Photography Courtesy: Arjun Bhattacharyya
Find them here: https://goo.gl/W8EqUX

Murari Kirtan Valley – Vrndavan Villages (13 min video) ISKCON…
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Murari Kirtan Valley - Vrndavan Villages (13 min video)
ISKCON Murari Sevaka is a farm community in Mulberry, Tennessee, USA based on Srila Prabhupada’s desire to create Vrindavan villages. It was established in 1976 by Srila Prabhupada who named the presiding deities, Sri Sri Nitai Gaurachandra. The temple throughout the years has gone through many ups and down. However, in the recent years, it has picked up a notable momentum in the trail to fulfil Prabhupada’s desire to create Vrindavan Villages. One may ask, what exactly is a Vrindavan Village? Is it that we replicate Vrindavan Dham from India? Is it that we create farm communities to grow our own food, make cloth, etc.? is it a retreat location? Not exactly. Vrindavan is where Krishna is the life and soul of the entire village. Every breath taken is heavy with the thoughts of Syam. Every step taken is in the hope to come closer to Govinda. Rather than replicating Vrindavan Dham, far more important, Our Acharya suggest, is to imbibe the moods of the Vrajbhasis. Our Dear Srila Prabhupada at the end of his manifested life on this earthly planet emphasized the importance of establishing Vrindavan Village where Radha and Krishna are the central focus of any act. Whether we are milking the cows, making garden beds, planting trees, or cooking - everything is centered around Radha and Krishna. Life in the village is very simple which leaves more time to cultivate your internal Bhajan to Syamsundar. We have first-hand witnessed this at Murari Sevaka. There is more much to say about Murari Sevaka. However, we will reserve that for another time.

Below is a video to introduce you to the residents of Murari Sevaka. We put together this video to explain, in a concise manner, the importance of Vrindavan Villages. We ask everyone to come and bless us with your association. Come, stay for as long you like, and see for yourself if this is something that sparks a fire in your heart.

We ask that you may be merciful on us and bless us in the pursuit of fulfilling Prabhupada’s desire to create Vrindavan Villages.

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!
Vrindavan Village ki Jai!
Gaudiya Guru Varga ki Jai!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/32TzPb

Beautiful New Arabic BGAIS!
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Hare KrishnaBy Satyanarayana dasa

More than two years in the making, this meticulously translated Arabic edition of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is is now being snapped up by temples all over North America and worldwide (including the UK, Europe, Aus/NZ, and even India)! Specifically designed for distribution to the millions of Arabic speaking tourists and university students visiting the West annually from the Middle East (including the large populations of foreign residents), ISKCON book distributors around the world have joyfully discovered that these visiting Middle Easterners are truly open-minded (plus seriously interested in Indian culture), and are therefore most eager to purchase it. Continue reading "Beautiful New Arabic BGAIS!
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Srila Vrndavan Das Thakur Disappearance
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vedavyaso ya evasid daso vrindavano’dhuna
sakha yah kusumapidah karyatas tam samavishat
Srila Vedavyasa became Vrndavan Das Thakur. Krishna’s friend Kusumapida also entered into him for special purposes. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 109)
Vrndavan Das Thakur’s famous book was first called Chaitanya Mangala, but when Locana Das gave the same name to his biography of the Lord, it was dubbed “Chaitanya Bhagavat”.
Vrindavan Das was born in the month of Vaishakh in 1429 of the Shaka era (1507 AD). His father was Vaikunthanatha Vipra, who originally came from Sylhet (Sylhet), his mother Narayani Devi. Narayani was the daughter of Srivasa Pandit’s elder brother, Shrinalina Pandit.
Vrindavan Das Thakur’s disappearance day is the Krishna Dashami of Vaishakh. There is some dispute as to the exact year of his disappearance, which was likely 1511 Shaka (1589 AD).

15 Rise Up Your Life – Gitavali Devi Dasi
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In this episode… How a French Canadian mother of a 1 year old went from idea to published book within 2 weeks… without her husband even knowing about it! Her dream from Star Wars that came true when she became a devotee. What her English teacher taught her that led her to Krishna consciousness. The […]

The post 15 Rise Up Your Life – Gitavali Devi Dasi appeared first on Successful Vaisnavas - Personal Development for Hare Krishnas.

15 Rise Up Your Life – Gitavali Devi Dasi
→ Successful Vaisnavas – Personal Development for Hare Krishnas

In this episode… How a French Canadian mother of a 1 year old went from idea to published book within 2 weeks… without her husband even knowing about it! Her dream from Star Wars that came true when she became a devotee. What her English teacher taught her that led her to Krishna consciousness. The […]

The post 15 Rise Up Your Life – Gitavali Devi Dasi appeared first on Successful Vaisnavas - Personal Development for Hare Krishnas.

Does accepting our emotions mean that our getting angry is not a matter of concern?
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Answer Podcast

The post Does accepting our emotions mean that our getting angry is not a matter of concern? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

When we are telling ourselves to concentrate, who is telling this – the soul or the intelligence – and to whom?
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Answer Podcast

The post When we are telling ourselves to concentrate, who is telling this – the soul or the intelligence – and to whom? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Gilles le Suisse avec les dévots d’Hare Krishna…
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Gilles le Suisse avec les dévots d'Hare Krishna (video)
Radhadesh: The documentary which was shot during our festival in January finally got aired during Easter weekend. Its a wonderfully made and positive take on the Hare Krsna movement & Radhadesh with at its center the Chanting of the Holy Names, Prasadam, and Sadhu Sanga. Quite simply incredible to have such encouraging footage broadcasted on the main french Belgian tv channel. The Maha Mantra has surely reached hundreds of thousands of more ears and hearts. Thank you for all the many devotees who gave their best during the festival to ensure our special guest Gilles le Suisse a simply unique Krsna Conscious experience.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ws6JEu

Reflections on God and Evil in the Krishna Bhakti Theology of Caitanya
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Hare KrishnaBy Garuda Das

In order to appreciate aspects of the relationship between God and evil in Bhakti traditions, specifically for the Krishna Bhakti tradition of Caitanya, we must apply at least some essential conceptions of the school’s complex and richly nuanced theology to our topic. First, however, we must acknowledge at least briefly what we all know about the Hindu theological palette that undergirds this school’s vision, before we can appreciate the school’s theological portraiture. Continue reading "Reflections on God and Evil in the Krishna Bhakti Theology of Caitanya
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Hinduism and the Academy: Towards a Dialogue Between Scholar and Practitioner
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Hare KrishnaBy Radhika Ramana Dasa

Recent decades have seen persistent tension between Hindus and scholars of Hinduism. There is, for example, ongoing disagreement over how Hinduism is taught in school textbooks, how scholars portray Hindu deities in their writing, and how we ought to conceive Hinduism’s history. The accusations from both sides often become heated, with nationalist politics, colonialist agendas, and missionary zeal allegedly part of the mix. Continue reading "Hinduism and the Academy: Towards a Dialogue Between Scholar and Practitioner
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Fight or Flight: Thomas Merton and the Bhagavad Gita
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Hare KrishnaBy Satyaraja Dasa

TWO commemorative events of landmark stature inspired the essay you are about to read: First, the year 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Thomas Merton’s abrupt departure from our material vision. Second, 2018 is also the semicentennial celebration of a consequential publication: It was in 1968 that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada released his unprecedentedly influential Bhagavad-gita As It Is. As we shall see, the trailblazing Western visionary, Merton, and this particular edition of the Gita engaged in productive conversation with each other Continue reading "Fight or Flight: Thomas Merton and the Bhagavad Gita
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Your mercy case
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 18 October 2017, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.3.17)

I have a disciple who always signs their letters with ‘your mercy case’ instead of the usual ‘your servant’. It has been consistent over many years and it is nice. It sounds good to think with that mentality, ‘I am your mercy case!’

Whatever reminds us of our humble position, that is an asset! When we are seeing ourselves as fallen, then we feel a need for shelter. As soon as we think, “Well I know it all. I have been around for a long time,” then the difficulty begins. We immediately start to derive some status from our position but by taking birth in this age of Kali, we are actually all inherently weak. So we deal with such weaknesses by chanting, taking shelter, adopting Vaishnava etiquette and ‘beating our mind’.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura advised that we must always ‘beat the mind’. He did not just say that; he actually did it. Krsna consciousness is not just about reading the books, understanding them and getting some glories – “I have now thoroughly understood Srila Prabhupada’s books in a way that they are very rarely understood.” No, rather we have to reform ourselves again and again, except that is still not the main thing; it is only a catalyst. That conscious endeavour is only the catalyst. It is one of the factors that support the real purification that comes from devotional service because ultimately, mercy is more important than our endeavour.

It is good when a child is trying to do something independently. However, when an adult interferes and provides assistance, that is obviously more powerful than the child trying to do it all alone. Sometimes, we may also need a little help from someone who knows more. So in spiritual life, we need help. We should never think, “Now I have come to the point that I do not really need help from my spiritual master. He has helped me a lot, but now I am a teacher myself! So I do not need him anymore.” Absolutely not. We always need the mercy of the spiritual master. We always need to have him to help with our attitude. We must always be at the feet of our spiritual master, talk to him, be open to him, consult him, share our lives with him and ask him for directions!

The article " Your mercy case " was published on KKSBlog.

Back in the U.S.S.R.- Vladivostok (15 min video)
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Hare Krishna Indradyumna Swami: Following in the footsteps of our beloved spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, we are back in Russia on a two-month winter preaching tour, taking us from the far eastern shores of Vladivostok to St. Petersburg, 6,532 kilometres to the west. The rigours and austerities involved in such a tour are nothing compared to the joy and satisfaction that come from sharing our good fortune as devotees of the Lord with others.

Bhakti Vriksha Hands on Training held in ISKCON Mira Road, Mumbai
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Hare Krishna ISKCON MIRA ROAD, MUMBAI had organized a 3 Day workshop Entitled Bhakti Vriksha-Hands on Training between 6th-8th April 2018. Around 65 devotees participated in this workshop which includes Congregation devotees, Youth Forum Devotees and Brahmacari's from ISKCON Mira Road. This workshop was facilitated by Nityanand Ashraya Prabhu from ISKCON Bahadurgarh, Harayana.

When we can’t remember Krishna purely now, how will our remembering him at death take us to him?
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Answer Podcast

The post When we can’t remember Krishna purely now, how will our remembering him at death take us to him? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Does religion cause war?
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[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Washington DC, USA]

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Podcast Summary


 

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The mind may stray away, but don’t let it stay away
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[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Baltimore, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

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Embracing restrictions
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 January 2018, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.12.23-24)

The human form of life is very different from the animal form of life. In the human form, we have responsibility. An animal has no karma in whatever they do – karma-free! You want a karma-free life with no restrictions and the ability to do anything? No problem, here is a tail and a snout to go with it; become an animal! Here, all you get as an animal is your old karma from previous lives and you do not create any new karma. So isn’t it great to be an animal? Not really, because then you do not proceed anywhere.

You may say, “Oh, I will do it. I will sign up for that. I will opt for an animal birth next time. Where do I sign up to be free from karma? Phew!” But what you may forget is that when the previous karma comes, so will happiness and distress, so it is not that good.

The other thing is that you will not go anywhere and make no progress. You are stuck here in the material world, chained by sex life. How long have we been locked away in this jail where the bars of this jail are sex life? These bars keep us here within the jail of the material body. We should not think that this body is for enjoyment. It is actually a cell within a jail. Some may have a big jail cell, whereas some may have a small jail cell, some may have a beautiful jail cell, whilst others may have an ugly jail cell. But which one is good? We may look at each other and think, “That one looks much better. I want to have what they have.” We may look at others with envy, but there is no need to be envious as everyone is actually suffering within different cells of this jail.

When my spiritual master was in New York, a policeman approached him and asked, “What is it that you monks have to give up?” My spiritual master replied with, “Suffering!” The policeman said, “Well, that makes sense.” This is because we can see all layers of society in a city like New York. We get a good overview of the varieties of the sense-gratification that are available to us and its results. But since the ultimate result is not happiness, we voluntarily embrace restrictions in our life.

 

The article " Embracing restrictions " was published on KKSBlog.

The only “prisoner of conscience” to die in a Soviet…
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The only “prisoner of conscience” to die in a Soviet labor camp.
When Saci-suta was a young boy in Armenia he would hike into the country hills and renovate abandoned churches with a friend and later met the devotees. He was always encouraging the other devotees in the Yerevan temple even when the Russian soldiers would come and break up the Sunday festivals and destroy the few furnishings in the ashram. Later, he became a fearless book distributor and would take Communist books out of the library and use the bindings for Srila Prabhupada’s books making them beautiful with his devotion. Then he was caught by the KGB and would not denouce Srila Prabhupada and his movement so he was eventually thrown in a Siberian prison. You cannot imagine the difficulties the devotees encountered at that place. He was so sick with tuberculosis that he passed away. The devotees didn’t know the story until one day a man came up to them when they were on street sankirtan years later. He was exhuberant…and crying, saying, “I was with him. He was so pure. What they did to him. I was with him when he left this world.” He then told the devotees just what happened that day that Sacisuta dasa left his body in a prison in Siberia. That day Saci took up the bed sheet as he had never done before and fashioned it into a dhoti and with some toothpaste applied very nice tilak. With colored paper from magazines he made a garland for Krsna and then put it on himself chanting very intensely. His friend left the dorm facility for some time and when he returned Saci-suta was no longer chanting…just sitting there very straight. After some time the man asked him, “Saci, what is wrong? …you are always chanting. You are funny, Saci…what are you doing?” and then he walked up to our dear Saci-suta dasa and looked very closely this time…“Saci…Saci!” and began crying realizing Saci-suta had left this filthy place forever.
Read more: https://goo.gl/f9KGgz