Mayapur GBC meeting
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The GBC members again came to Mayapur for the annual general meeting, which lasted around eleven days.

Different topics were discussed and ministers gave their reports in the areas of health and welfare, devotee care, deity worship, book distribution, communications, cow protection, etc.

The ecstasy of love of God
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 September 2017, Flacq, Mauritius, Lecture)

The Panca Tattva descended to this world. They broke the lock of the storehouse of love of God and they were relishing the love of Godhead. As they were drinking the nectar of Krsna Prema, their thirst was increasing. This is the nature of chanting the Holy Name. One should drink from the cup of the ears for transcendental pleasure and attain laya, nearly fainting in love of God. Lord Caitanya used to jump very high in kirtan and spin wildly. Sometimes he would chant the same line of a kirtan for nine hours; he would be so absorbed. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would always chant in great ecstasy.

Krishna Castle takes shape
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Hari Bol,
Please accept my humble obeisance
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Here is the latest pictures from inside the castle:

The last cookers arrive tomorrow and the builder is coming to connect up the gas (they are not charging money); so by next week we will relocate from Bhaktivadanta Manor to Krishna Castle in Holborn, Central London.

We have bought two new rickshaws for the two extra Universities and we plan to cook 2,500 meals daily.
Temple room also ready for the Pancha Tattva Deities.

Food for All team

Harinama in New York, Sunday, February 18, 2018 · Taken at MTA -…
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Harinama in New York, Sunday, February 18, 2018 · Taken at MTA - Times Square-42 St Station (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Kali-yuga continues for 432,000 years, of which only 5,000 years have passed. Of the balance 427,000 years, the 10,000 years of the sankirtana movement inaugurated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago provide the opportunity for the fallen souls of Kali-yuga to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and thus return home, back to Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 8.5.23 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/jtmh2u

Heliocentricity
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The distance to the closest stars has been measured by astronomers using an effect called parallax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallax). This measurement depends on the assumption of the heliocentric model because one measures the position of a star at two times while earth rotates around the sun. (Parallax can be observed with a simple example. One can see the position of one’s outstretched finger will appear to be different relative to the background when you look through your right or left eye.) For example, parallax measurements suggest that Sirius (Mrgavyadha) is about 8.6 light years away. If the stars are so far away, then they have to be irradiating light like our sun. A distance of 8.6 lights years is much larger than the diameter of the universe given in the Bhagavatam (i.e. 4 billion miles, equivalent to approx 8 light minutes).

Using parallax, one can measure the distance to only the nearby stars. For the more distant stars, astronomers have developed a scale using the “magnitude” (brightness) of the stars. But this scale depends on knowing the absolute magnitude of specific stars, whose distance has been measured by parallax. In summary, the astronomers have assumed the correctness of the heliocentric model in calculating the distances to all of the stars.

If the heliocentric model is wrong and the earth is stationary, then the parallax measurements are wrong, and the stars are much closer than the scientists think.

-Bhù-gola tattv- Science of the Round Earth – Introduction, edited by H.H.Danavir Goswami

Hare Krishna

From thinking Krishna of having a questionable character to becoming His devotee: Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s journey
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Hare KrishnaBy Khonika Gope-Kumar

“By 10 o'clock the night was very dark and cloudy. Across the Ganges, in a northern direction, I suddenly saw a large building flooded with golden light. I asked Kamala if he could see the building and he said that he could. But my friend Kerani Babu could see nothing. I was amazed. What could it be? In the morning I went back to the roof and looked carefully back across the Ganges. I saw that in the place where I had seen the building was a stand of palm trees. Inquiring about this area I was told that it was the remains of Lakshman Sen's fort at Ballaldighi.” Taking this as a clue, Thakur Bhaktivinoda conducted an investigation of the site by consulting old maps matched against scriptural and verbal accounts. He concluded that the village of Ballaldighi was formerly known as Mayapur, and later Miyapur. He confirmed Mayapur from Bhakti Ratnakara as the birth site of Mahaprabhu. Continue reading "From thinking Krishna of having a questionable character to becoming His devotee: Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s journey
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Insights from lectures of Iskcon devotees
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Hare KrishnaBy Krishna-kripa das

I share many quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s books and lectures. I also share notes on talks by Varsana Swami, Rtadhvaja Swami, Adikarta Prabhu, Akhandadhi Prabhu, Madana Mohan Prabhu, Nagaraja Prabhu, Garuda Prabhu of Tallahassee, Murali Gopal Prabhu, and Hanan Prabhu. I share quotes by Prishni Devi Dasi and Nama Kirtan from conversations and by Jagannatha Misra Prabhu from his latest book, The Book III. Continue reading "Insights from lectures of Iskcon devotees
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Kali Yuga: An Ocean of Faults
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhanu Swami

Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.51in Mayapur on 17-02-2018. Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults but there is a great benediction given to the people of this age: the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord. There is no way to overestimate the potency of this Sankirtana-Yajna! The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna Bhagavan Himself descended on this planet as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to establish this Yuga Dharma which is available to all without limitation of sex, race, nationality, age, varna, asrama etc. Continue reading "Kali Yuga: An Ocean of Faults
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Gita 17.03 The relationship between our existence and our faith is causal, constitutional and consequential
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 17.03 The relationship between our existence and our faith is causal, constitutional and consequential appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Touched by mercy
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 August 2017, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.4.5-6)

This Iskcon movement is a treasure box. It is sort of like a gift packet; a big gift packet full of all kinds of goodies! This movement is like that; it is just packed with mercy. None of us really have the capacity to understand Srila Prabhupada! I think that we cannot understand the mercy Prabhupada has given us. We can see some of it.

When I read the Lilamrta and I read the Prabhupada stories that the devotees tell, sometimes I think, “Yes that person describes how they perceived the transcendental nature of Prabhupada.” Then I was thinking,”All that they saw was the tip of the iceberg of Prabhupada’s mercy!” Most of an iceberg is under water. There is so much more mercy than we see. So even all the glorification of Prabhupada is only touching the tip of the iceberg. Prabhupada is so much greater; his mercy is so much greater than we can see.

Sometimes, we are thinking that we have the potential to understand. We are in a movement, and even if we have been here for like forty or fifty years it does not matter, still we cannot understand how much mercy there is. Surely we are being touched.

Gopi Gita: Yesterday a whole group of local community devotees…
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Gopi Gita: Yesterday a whole group of local community devotees volunteered at the Festival of Joy booth at the Chinese Festival at North Park Mall held by the Crow Museum. (Album of photos)
125 mandala crafts were made! 1200 Jagannath cards passed out individually to the festival and mall goers.
So many of my friends were there at different times. I came for the last two hours so I missed you all but I really wanted to express how cool it was knowing you were there and that I’m getting to share Krishna alongside you all.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/b1tNDk

2018 Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama- Day 1 (Album of photos) “By…
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2018 Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama- Day 1 (Album of photos)
“By performing Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama the whole world will be liberated” -Bhaktivinod Thakur Hare Krishna! Dear Guarabhaktas, today it was the first day if the most auspicious Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur started this parikrama in 1918, thus making this, the 100th Parikrama. Sri Navadvipa Dhama ki Jay! Today the international party chanted and danced in the land of Godrumadvipa. First place visited was Suvarna Vihar. There we had Guru Puja followed by a class given by HH Bhakti Caitanya Maharaja who very expertly added Russian words to his speech, for the pleasure of the Russian devotees. Mukti Datta Prabhu is a very sweet kirtaniya from Bengal who comes every year to the International party to bathe us in the nectar of the morning bhajans: “Udilo Aruna” and “Jiva Jago”, both composed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur. Next stop was Nrisimpalli where we had class by HH Bhakti Dhira Damodara Maharaja followed by a spontaneous drama of Lord Nrisimhadeva played by HG Pancharatna Prabhu and his family. The last place was Hari Hara Kshetra where the devotees will spend the night. Many have come for the first time and they are loving it. Nitai Gaura Sitanath Premanande Hari Hari Bol!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/up9D5R

Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Day1 ( Feb 18th)
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“By performing Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama the whole world will be liberated” -Bhaktivinod Thakur Hare Krishna! Dear Guarabhaktas , today it was the first day if the most auspicious Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama. After a wonderful vaishnava gathering in the Kirtan Mela, we were ready to leave the temple room and spread Krsna’s sweet names […]

The post Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Day1 ( Feb 18th) appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Gita 17.02 See not just people’s ideological faith – see also their functional faith
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 17.02 See not just people’s ideological faith – see also their functional faith appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The Chariot of the Mind – By the medieval poet, Govinda Das By…
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The Chariot of the Mind - By the medieval poet, Govinda Das
By drinking the nectarean honey of the lotus feet of Sri Gaura, by singing the glories of Sri Gaura’s deity, by listening to the instructions of Sri Gaura, and by associating with devotees who follow his instructions, so many fortunate individuals experienced the joyous waves of prema.
—-
O mind! Why do you keep burning repeatedly in the fire of worldliness? Simply keep chanting the mantra of your dear Lord.
Think carefully about the ultimate aim of your life and then climb on the chariot of the [purified] mind. Make the feet of Lord Gaura your charioteer.
Engage your five life-airs (prāṇa, apāna, udāna, vayāna and samāna) as the five horses driving this chariot. Let āśā, the hope of attaining the Lord, be the strong rope controlling these horses so that the chariot may never break down.
Using this chariot, go quickly towards the shore of the unlimited ocean of the Lord’s loving pastimes. Having reached there, bathe thoroughly in the waves of this ocean of prema.
In this ocean, you will swim along with other servants of Hari who are delighting in the waves of bhakti-rasa. These servants of Hari will fetch you the rare jewel of prema from the depths of this ocean and will thus fulfill your most cherished desire.
In the middle of that ocean of bhakti-rasa is a house decorated with precious jewels in which brilliant complexioned Radha and dark complexioned Shyam reside.
The charioteer, Lord Gaura’s lotus feet, will help you meet these two, Radha and Shyam. It is for this reason that Govinda Das sings the glories of Gaura.

Radhadesh – January 2018
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Written by Naimisaranya dd

After attending the Sunday feast program in Gauradesh (Cologne) in Germany on 21 January, Kadamba Kanana Swami arrived in Radhadesh that same evening to a small group of devotees who welcomed him with a short kirtan. Maharaja spent some time with the devotees before taking rest for the night.

On Tuesday morning, Maharaja gave the Srimad Bhagavatam class. The chapter which provided the theme for the lectures that week was entitled “The Lord incarnates as Mohini-murti.” Maharaja quoted the Uddhava Gita which says that heroism means to overcome the natural tendency to enjoy material life. Maharaja discussed how to deal with the material energy and how follow this heroic path as outlined in the Nectar of Devotion – recordings to follow. 

On Thursday, Maharaja gave the morning Bhagavatam class again. Continuing the descriptions of how Lord Siva was bewildered by Mohini-murti, Maharaja explained the need for the varnasrama system for dealing with the material energy when there is the affliction of lust. Later that evening saw the official opening ceremony of the Radhadesh Mellows festival with short addresses by both Sacinandana Swami and Kadamba Kanana Swami. Kadamba Kanana Maharaj spoke about how the special mercy of Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda and the entire Panca Tattva is unique to this Kali yuga. He explained how their special mercy in this age, helps one attain results very quickly. He also explained that the Mellows is more than just a nice festival, but rather a life-changing event which we should embrace.

On Friday, the first day of the festival arrived and saw the unveiling of the much anticipated artwork for the festival. Fitting with the theme for this year’s festival, Lord Nityananda served as the backdrop for the Mellows this year in the form of an acrylic mural titled “Eternal Bliss” by Kardami Kapila das from Bulgaria. The first of Kadamba Kanana Maharaja’s four one-hour kirtan slots for the festival was scheduled for that morning. Even though this festival is named the “Mellows” for its meditative kirtans, true to form, Kadamba Kanana Maharaja transformed the atmosphere and got the crowd on their feet within the first ten minutes of his slot! The festival was well-organized and it meant that a strict schedule was followed for the kirtan slots each of which ended on time in a bittersweet fashion. Other legendary kirtaniyas performing included Madhava, Jahnavi Jivana and Acyuta Gopi to name just a few.

Saturday’s Srimad Bhagavatam class emphasised the importance of a retreat such as the Mellows. Maharaja discussed how such a retreat serves to strengthen our commitment and bring new life to our everyday practices. He used the Sunday morning class on Caitanya Caritamrta to discuss the glories and mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda which amped everyone up further for Nityananda Trayodasi the next day

Finally, Lord Nityananda’s appearance day arrived. With a packed morning program scheduled, the day started off sweetly with Sacinandana Swami giving the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class. This was followed by a set of five entertaining short dramas directed by Syamananda Prabhu that was appreciated by all. A mesmerizing abhishek was then performed Gaura Nitai by the senior devotees present and the fun continued with pushpa-abhishek which brought out the enthusiasm in everyone. After the festivities, Kadamba Kanana Swami, Niranjana Swami and Sacinandana Swami took lunch together. Although most of the festival attendees had already begun their journeys back home, those who were still around were in for a treat with Kadamba Kanana Swami’s final kirtan offering for the festival.

All through the festival, Maharaja gave his time generously to the many festival attendees and disciples who travelled from far and wide, and who eagerly awaited his association. On Tuesday, even though the Radhadesh Mellows was over, and the remaining few were set to recover from the long weekend, Maharaja gave the Srimad Bhagavatam class which continued with descriptions of the Lord in the form of Mohini-murti. Maharaja gave his experiences with the “innerer schweinehund” (the pig within). His honest descriptions and confessions were refreshing. They were well-received by the audience and appreciated for its remarkable sincerity and authenticity in dealing with this topic of lust.

On Friday, Maharaja gave one last class for the French preaching program which was attended those who were staying at guesthouse for a retreat. He then departed Radhadesh early on Saturday (3 February) morning to Germany.

Visit Flickr to see more photos.