Harinama in Venice, Italy, during the Carnival (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: At every step there is danger. Therefore, ...

In ISKCON, when you become a leader you may obtain several assets. By being in a dress of a sadhu, with the tilak and the saffron, people will bow down to you and worship you and they may give your donations or properties, so many things in the name of ISKCON! Don't think for a moment they are yours. And don't utilize them for yourself. We are simply the custodians! The name, the fame, the assets, the gross tangible and the intangible assets are all belonging to Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, we simply become an instrument! Continue reading "Leadership in Iskcon
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The 2018 ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) in Mayapur spanned a period of eight days and was attended by more than eight hundred devotees from all over the world.

Devotees enthusiastically went to numerous seminars given by leaders involved in various fields of ISKCON activities.

I was inspired by the positive mood of the festival, which is now incorporated into the overall Gaura Purnima festival of Mayapur.

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Ever since taking sannyasa in 1979, I have had a strong desire to visit the town of Katwa, where Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa 500 years ago.Today my wish was fulfilled when myself and 60 devotees made the 2 hour journey from Sridham Mayapura to Katwa. Naru Gopal prabhu took us to the exact spot where Mahaprabhu was shaved up by a barber and where He took His sannyasa vows from Kesava Bharati Maharaja. He expertly described the pastime in great detail. Afterwards we took darshan of the samadhi where Lord Caitanya’s hair is kept, as well as the samadhi of Kesava Bharati Maharaja. We prayed at the historic tree under which Lord Caitanya’s beautiful long hair was shaved and also bowed down to the samadhi of Das Gadadhar. Naru Gopal explained that Lord Caitanya had kirtan where we were for 3 days straight after taking sannyasa. Following in His footsteps we chanted and danced for hours in front of a beautiful deity of Lord Caitanya in a large temple on the grounds. It was a most wonderful day! All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!



The post Daily Darshan: February 11,2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

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Krishna is not an optional source of entertainment - he is the indispensable source of shelter Gita 04.09 (4 min video)
Many people like to hear Krishna’s pastimes as a pious form of entertainment. Even if they know vaguely that he is God, their interest in him is as a source of entertainment.
Significantly, the Bhagavad-gita states that hearing about Krishna can do much more than entertain – it can elevate and liberate. Those who understand him in truth attain him, never to return to this distressful world (04.09). This implies that proper philosophical understanding of Krishna has the phenomenal purificatory potency to redirect our heart from the world to him.

Srimad Bhagavatam class 5.18.9, Speaker: HG Rukmini Devi Dasi in Mayapur, 09-02-2018 (video)

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The village of Srikhanda, a 3-hour scenic drive from Sridham Mayapura, is mentioned many times in Caitanya Caritamrta. Yesterday we spent 5 hours exploring the village where a number of Lord Caitanya’s personal associates resided 500 years ago. We had kirtan and katha at the exact place where Locan das Thakur wrote Caitanya Mangala. We also visited numerous temples where we had darsan of historic deities connected to the lila’s of Lord Caitanya. The highlight of the day was an exuberant kirtan we held through the entire village. The local people were in bliss seeing us. Here in the holy dhama of Mayapura we are trying our best to follow in the footsteps of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, who wrote:

“In the company of intimate and beloved devotees, I will go to all the places that Mahaprabhu joyfully visited.”

(Suddha-Bhakata, verse 3)]

Seth Rogen gets an ‘Elevation to Krsna Consciousness’ book. By A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Album of photos)
Drumila Dasa: As I often do when I see people approaching me, I give them nicknames right away. To get the attention of the three people that were walking towards me (two of which were women), I said, “You two ladies and Seth Rogen come over here.” I said that because I thought he looked like Seth Rogen. Knowing that I was joking, all three came over. Right away, after hearing his voice, and his signature laughter, I realized it actually WAS Seth Rogen! (The very famous actor, and comedian extraordinaire) I told him that I did my routine for the likes of Emma Stone, Russell Brand, and numerous others, and would he please hear me out. He agreed, and we all had a lot of fun. Afterwards, I presented books to each of the three, and asked them which title they preferred, 'Easy Journey to other Planets’, Perfection of Yoga’, or Elevation to Krsna Consciousness.’ Seth immediately said something to this effect, “Oh…I’ll take 'Elevation to Krsna Consciousness.’ It’s got to be Krishna, right?” I said, “Absolutely! Good choice!”
Find them here: https://goo.gl/UnfhWv

Krishna Chandra dasa who leads the outreach preaching at Kuala Lumpur handing books and prasadam at Kinrara Garden

Hare Krishna. ISKCON is a preaching movement. Srila Prabhupada wanted the respiritualization of the entire human society. In the preface for Canto 1 of the Srimad Bhagavatam Srila Prabhupada wrote “Human society, at the present moment, is not in the darkness of oblivion. It has made rapid progress in the fields of material comforts, education and economic development throughout the entire world. But there is a pinprick somewhere in the social body at large, and therefore there are large-scale quarrels, even over less important issues. There is need of a clue as to how humanity can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity with a common cause. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam will fill this need, for it is a cultural presentation for the respiritualization of the entire human society.” It is indeed a big order. But it can certainly be done in small and big installments by the combined preaching efforts of all preachers.

Weekly distribution of pure vegetarian prasadam meals at Jalan Bandar Kuala Lumpur

We have many ISKCON preaching centres in Malaysia and they also are temples. But it is not that many will walk into our temples especially that we are mostly operating in the nontraditional temple design structures. And even if we do as in the case of the magnificent one of its kind temple, the Sri Sri Radha Krishna temple in Seberang Jaya, it is not that thousands or even hundreds throng in daily. To get thousands to come and get the mercy of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna Kanhaiya, participate in Kirtana, to associate with devotees, to hear the holy scriptures and to take prasadam it requires lots of creative and innovative thinking. Our festivals have to be well organized to attract the crowd. All these are done for the purpose of the spiritual upliftment of all who attend.

 since the 80's Harinam, Book Distribution, Prasadam distribution at every town and village

We do however see that what actually brings in new people to our centers are our outreach preaching activities. Tagged with that is the care and concern for those whom we reach out to. Such outreach preaching programs are knocking on doors, harinam chanting in public, public festivals, sastra dana anna dana at schools and colleges, free meals distribution, counselling and surely organizing innovative gatherings. All these are avenues for us to reach out the masses. The ISKCON Malaysia co-governing body commissioner and minister for Congregational Preaching Srila Jayapataka Swami Maharaja invested lots of time, energy, thoughts and held many national and regional seminars for all preachers so that oureach programs followed with devotee care through the Bhakti Vrksa Cell groups be carried out at all ISKCON centres. His Holiness even prays for the welfare of all preachers and devotees so that they all be well situated in Krishna consciousness and be sheltered by Guru and Krishna. Our sincere thanks to Srila Jayapataka Swami Maharaja for his continuous guidance and instructions for the ISKCON Malaysia Yatra.

 HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja & HH Bhakti Vrajendranandana Swami Maharaja inaugurating Padayatra 1991 at Penang

I think this year has indeed started so well for ISKCON Malaysia. There are many activities which are being performed on schedule such as weekly free prasadam distribution at the Kuala Lumpur city centre, Taman Sentosa, Klang, Penang, Ipoh, etc we also have weekly book distribution parties, weekly Gita Upadesham knocking on doors in villages and towns, schools and college preaching, etc. In the big outreach programs, we served thousands of pilgrims by talking to them, selling our literatures, offering free prasadam meals and similar other programs.

At the recent opening of the Taman Impian Emas Maha Mariamman Temple at Johore we distributed a total of 5000 prasadam meal plates.

At the Thaipusam festival, around the country we distributed a total of about 40,000 free prasadam meal plates and thousands of Bhagavad-gita and other literatures. We got in contact with many thousands of pilgrims, had nice experiences hearing them, sharing  the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna and our personal realizations. It is at these festivals that we actually get lots of opportunities to rekindle bhakti in the hearts of many. As a result of hearing from the devotees many of them do turn up at our centers for the weekly programs, become closer friends and also take up to Krishna consciousness. As Srila Prabhupada mentioned preaching is the essence and this is what keeps devotees alive and which actually attracts the mercy of Sri Guru and Lord Krishna.

ISKCON Malaysia is very thankful to the leaders in the ISKCON centres around the country and devotees who though have their personal commitments to family, work, society at large, etc but who still allocate their time to carry out the order of their spiritual masters and Lord Krishna to serve the organization as whole. This is indeed a BIG SACRIFICE!!! Appended is very nice excerpt from a Srimad Bhagavatam lecture by Srila Prabhupada given in New Vrindavan on May 24, 1969.

Therefore, Kṛṣṇa says, "These field workers who are engaged in preaching this Bhagavad-gītā as it is, they are very, very dear to Me. Very, very dear to Me." Na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ (BG 18.69). "There is nobody dearer to Me than that person who preaches this confidential truth to the people."

200 Muslim students and a group of 20 Christians visit the Radha Kalachandji Iskcon Temple in Dallas, USA, and participate in the kirtan



The post Daily Darshan: February 10,2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Iskcon New Govardhana: Harinama at Byron Bay - 04 February 2018 (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna chant is ...

The aim of this paper is to present how the “No Objection” procedure, the mechanism the GBC has established to encourage devotees to serve as diksa-gurus in ISKCON, is not contrary to Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta. We will examine how the system came to be and why it remains in place as the best option available for now for the GBC to ensure as best it can, that ISKCON has qualified diksa-gurus available to its aspiring bhaktas. It will also look at how the procedure best helps the GBC manage a multi-guru system within one organization. That dynamic of a governing board managing an institution, which includes within it multiple gurus, is, of course, a relatively new concept in Gaudiya Vaisnava history. However, regardless of the structure, Srila Prabhupada certainly expected those serving as diksa-gurus to be qualified. The question then arises: should ISKCON’s ultimate managing authority, the GBC body, be responsible along with the prospective disciples to ensure that those serving as diksa-gurus meet set qualifications? However we manage the procedure that allows diksa-gurus to initiate in ISKCON, ISKCON’s performance in this area puts Srila Prabhupada's glorious reputation very much at stake. Continue reading "History and Rationale of the “No Objection” Procedure
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When you give to Krishna, because we are parts and parcels of Krishna, then we also become enriched simultaneously. This is a principle that Prahlad Maharaj mentions in the ninth chapter of the Bhagavatam. He gives the example that when you decorate your face and you look in the mirror, the reflection is also decorated. How about that? In a similar way he said that when we give to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we, ourselves, become decorated. This is a great revelation to have. The big mistake in the material world is to think that I'm out for myself and that I can somehow or another get ahead independently. If one discovers the principle that I am actually an eternal giver, that is what I am meant to do, I am meant to give. By giving I grow and by giving I become happy. Then of course we might not find the right person to take who can actually satisfy us when we do give. People are all the time complaining about unrequited love, aren't they? Continue reading "From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir, Srimad Bhagavatam class, February 3, 2018
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I grew up thinking that I had to be the best—in the classroom, in extramural activities, and in everything else—to be successful in life. Although I excelled in most of what l did and was at the top of my class, the unimaginable day came when a new boy joined my class, and I became second best. This was my first lesson in recognising that no matter how materially accomplished I may become, there will always be someone better, someone ahead, someone wiser and stronger, someone more competent and expert, and someone more spiritually evolved. As my abilities, talents, and even spiritual pursuits began to pale against others, it dawned on me what “best”actually means. It all started when I realised that life didn't go according to my plans, that fate could snatch away my dreams, and that I couldn't control situations and circumstances. Sometimes I lost confidence and strength and wallowed in selfpity. Was this the best way to respond according to Krishna’s advice in the Bhagavad-gita? Continue reading "The Test for Best
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Wonderful Dharan, Nepal Mandir 2018 (Album of photos)
Beautiful Sri Sri Madhava Chandra, Gaura Nitai and Jagannath, Baladev, S...

The Sacred Village of Srikhanda (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The village of Srikhanda, a 3-hour scenic drive from Sridham Mayapura, is mentioned many times in Caitanya Caritamrta. Yesterday we spent 5 …hours exploring the village where a number of Lord Caitanya’s personal associates resided 500 years ago. We had kirtan and katha at the exact place where Locan das Thakur wrote Caitanya Mangala. We also visited numerous temples where we had darshan of historic deities connected to the lilas of Lord Caitanya. The highlight of the day was an exuberant kirtan we held through the entire village. The local people were in bliss seeing us. Here in the holy dhama of Mayapura, we are trying our best to follow in the footsteps of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, who wrote:
“In the company of intimate and beloved devotees, I will go to all the places that Mahaprabhu joyfully visited.”
(Suddha-Bhakata, verse 3)]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Q7YAiP

Hare Krishna. Joined devotees at ISKCON MAYAPUR BARU, Teluk Intan for the Sunday evening program yesterday. 
This is one of the towns where Srila Prabhupada laid his lotus feet in 1971 when he made a 5 days flash tour of the country. Teluk Intan was his first stop after Kuala Lumpur and then to Ipoh and Penang, in all these places ISKCON MALAYSIA has established preaching centres and a big temple in Penang inaugurated in 2015 dedicated to the instruction Srila Prabhupada left behind while he was in Malaysia.

The Presiding Deities at ISKCON MAYAPUR BARU are Sri Sri Dayal Nitai Gaura Hari. 
Srila Prabhupada was also loved so much in Teluk Intan that the local Swami Siva Jyoti at that time wanted Srila Prabhupada to remain in Teluk Intan for the night and he purposefully delayed the taxi arrangements. Srila Prabhupada somehow came to know about this and he made some arrangements and reached the next town Ipoh though very late but with a packed crowd at the Ipoh St Johns Hall. 
Jai Srila Prabhupada!

*Hare Krishna. Today is Ekadasi and devotees fast till noon in respect of Lord Varaha’s appearance which falls tomorrow.*

I am at with the devotees of ISKCON JOHORE now. Today is a big day for the people of Skudai especially the devotees of Mother Durga Devi. For the ISKCON Johore Bahru devotees the very big days of selfless service started yesterday at 6pm and carried on till 1noon today. *All three ISKCON CENTRES in Johore Bahru joined hands and headed by Navadvipa Mataji from Penang cooked the sumptuous lunch meal for more than 6000 pilgrims visiting the Skudai new light purple painted Sri Maha Mariamman temple on the occasion of the grand opening of the temple and Kumbha Abhisekam. *

Man Made Halva as offering to Lord Krishna

....and of course supervised by a Mataji

In the Brahma Samhita Lord Brahmā looking up to the higher position of Goloka is speaking of the other realms from the point of view of his own realm. These two stanzas of his song mentions the importance of Durga Devinand how she serves Lord Govinda.

Bs 5.43
_goloka-nāmni nija-dhāmni tale ca tasya_
_devi maheśa-hari-dhāmasu teṣu teṣu_
_te te prabhāva-nicayā vihitāś ca yena_
_govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi_

*Translation:*
*Lowest of all is located Devī-dhāma [mundane world], next above it is Maheśa-dhāma [abode of Maheśa]; above Maheśa-dhāma is placed Hari-dhāma [abode of Hari] and above them all is located Kṛṣṇa's own realm named Goloka. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, who has allotted their respective authorities to the rulers of those graded realms.*

_Bs 5.44_
_sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā_
_chāyeva yasya bhuvanāni bibharti durgā_
_icchānurūpam api yasya ca ceṣṭate sā_
_govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi_

*Translation: *
*The external potency Māyā who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency, is worshiped by all people as Durgā, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda in accordance with whose will Durgā conducts herself.*

Some light moments with Sivacharya Muthukumara Swami Gurukal chatting about the importance for Hindus and all to engage in Cow Protection and Care. Swami was very happy that ISKCON Malaysia was having a Cow Care Farm and carrying out Cow Protection activities and promoting actively.

More than 60 devotees and volunteers started at 6pm yesterday preparing, cutting vegetables and cooking till 6am this morning and, served pilgrims from 11am till 1pm today . Nama Sankirtan Prabhu & his wife Sarva Jaya Mataji sponsored the prasadam expenses and also coordinated the whole operations while the ISKCON Skudai and Senai temple devotees distributed books.

It was a very good day serving pilgrims prasadam, offering them Srila Prabhupada’s *”treasure house of knowledge”* books and introducing them to devotional service. Very soon devotees will also conduct Bhagavad Gita lessons at the Maha Mariamman temple especially targeting children.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Muthu Kumara Swami Gurukal and had some light moments while discussing a lot about the importance for Hindus to lead the way for cow protection and Dharma father bull protection. Swami was very happy to hear that we had already started cow protection program and a humble way and are spreading the message in Malaysia.

We finally seek the blessings of Mother Durga to bless devotees in their Bhakti Seva as how she is so committed in serving Lord Govinda.

**Jai Srila Prabhupada! Jai Sri Govinda! and all glories to our wonderful Vaisnavas.*

Hare Krishna.

Your servant,
Simheswara Dasa

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Srimad Bhagavatam class in Mayapur, Speaker: HG Gauranga Das, 06-02-2018 (video)

“Becoming a Slave of Krishna” (5 min video)
The aspiration of the pure devotee is to be a slave of Krishna and the aspiration of the materialist is to be master. As conditioned souls trying to be Krishna conscious we fall somewhere in the middle. Surrender is the sweetest position but due to conditioning in thinking, we may fear it see it as unpleasant or even be afraid of it.

The post Daily Darshan: February 09,2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books is fun and easy! (video)
A documentary about book distribution with English subtitles.

Sravana Utsava begins today- 4 days of FESTIVAL OF HEARING. With 8 hours continous pour of Krishna Katha for the next five days, Sravan Utsava shifts the consciousness totally to dwell in one of most important limbs of bhakti-Sravanam. During Sravan Utsava, lunch and dinner prasada are served FREE for all the attendees. Sponsorship for […]

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Harinama in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna chant is called the maha-mantra, the great, e...

“We are making a very gorgeous plan at Mayapur, and if you all together can give shape to this plan, it will be unique if not in the whole world then at least in all of India…. The aim is to make it an international institute for taking perfect spiritual order of life. We shall give titles like Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Divinity, Doctor of Divinity…. Our mission is solid. Our philosophy is not utopian. Our men are being trained for exemplary character. So we shall have a unique position all over the world, provided we stick to the principles, namely unflinching faith in the spiritual master and Krsna, chanting not less than sixteen rounds regularly, and following the regulative principles. Then our men will conquer all over the world.’

and does smartavyam verse equate to smaranam?

• It is not esssential that the place of writing corresponds to the topic one writes about
• A writer may look for inspiration from a place
• Consciousness, not physical location is the determinent factor in writing
• Prabhupāda wrote his books all over the world
• A place may seem different based on what it reminds us of: Raghunātha Dāsa sees Rādha-kuṇḍa as the jaws of a tiger since Rūpa’s disappearance
• Remembrance of Kṛṣṇa is both a process and a goal