Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Anu Aniruddha: Fearfulness, lamentation, moroseness, self pity and Negative thoughts, if you are experiencing such emotion that means you are dominated by the mode of darkness and ignorance. 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 […]
The post Sravan Utsava begins! appeared first on Mayapur.com.
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?
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 September 2017, Petite Riviere, Mauritius, Lecture)
Some people say, “After 36 years that I have been chanting, I can see no result!”
Do not worry, one day we will all realise that making spiritual advancement is not easy. It takes time. It is a slow process. We make spiritual advancement but we do not see it. One may have no taste for chanting but if one day, it is forbidden to chant; we still cannot stop it. It is not possible. That is how it is. It is deeper that we think it is. At the end of life, all that counts is spiritual advancement. All material things become insignificant.
In South Africa, Syamalal Prabhu, a Prabhupada disciple left his body as he was suffering from a brain tumour. He forgot everything except Srila Prabhupada and the sannyasis. He remembered that he was born in Navadwip and followed all the traditions of Navadwip. He used to say that Srila Prabhupada wants sweets and told the same stories again and again. That was an incredible blessing that took from him away from all undesirable things. He was just left with Srila Prabhupada. That is wonderful. That is the essence of our being. And it does not stop there. The Maha Mantra enters the heart and awakes our sleeping consciousness. Chanting is very powerful!
Radha Kunda Seva: January 2018 Photos and Updates (Album of photos)
Cleaning alongside Govardhan is going strong! Day after day, our crew sets out to sweep up trash from the foot of Govardhan Hill up to the parikrama path. It’s a large swath of land and the initial cleanup involved truckloads. Our workers remain enthusiastic to do the cleaning, and the Forestry Officers have been supportive of our efforts. We are very hopeful that we will be able to expand this cleaning service to the entire periphery of Govardhan! Meanwhile, we’ve already expanded the cleaning in Radha Kunda to cover the entire parikrama path around Radha Kunda and Shyama Kunda. And we have received permission to begin cleaning the area behind Lalita Kunda too. We had a special visit this month from K.D. McComb and Balarama Joshi on Makara Sankranti day. They distributed warm winter shawls which had been sponsored by the Kulimela Association to all the widows we care for in Radha Kunda. The shawls were well-received, as were the sweets Balarama distributed to our ladies. As usual, the cleaning, gardening, and prasadam distribution continue. Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com. We are dependent on your help. Your servants, Campakalata Devi dasi, Padma Gopi Devi dasi, Sri Arjuna dasa, Urmila Devi Dasi, and Mayapurcandra dasa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/cbj6BP
By Chaitanya Charan Das “The great delusion of modernity is that the laws of nature explain the universe for us. The laws of nature describe the universe, they describe the regularities. But they explain nothing.” That’s why the truth-claim that evolution is a grand non-theistic alternative for explaining everything goes beyond the range of valid science. It becomes scientism, the ideological imperialism of science extended into all domains of knowledge. Allowing such scientism to be taught in schools is a disservice to science because it gives a misleading picture of reality. People who use science to search for the deepest answers, for answers to question about the meaning and purpose of life, will find science falling short of their expectations. This is no fault of science, for no field of knowledge can be expected to answer questions outside that field. But when education sets up the expectation that science has the answer to all questions, the ensuing frustration only alienates people from science. Continue reading "Teaching evolution in schools: what science explains and what explains science
→ Dandavats"
By Rasika Kanai Das On the occasion of ‘Narottama Purnima’, the birth anniversary of Prema Bhakti Mahajan Srila Narottama Das Thakur Mahasaya with fully auspicious festivity in Kheturi Dham, Godagari, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabu left behind Krishna Prema through Padmavati, the river Padma flowing by the side of Prematali, the most auspicious holy place for the vaishnavas. At the age of twelve Narottama dasa Thakura had a vision of Lord Nityananda in a dream. He told Narottama to take bath in the Padma River whereupon he would receive love of Godhead. Following the instructions of Lord Nityananda, Narottama bathed in the Padma regardless, and the Goddess of the river appeared and on the order of Lord Chaitanya, gave him pure love of Godhead. The color of His body changed into Gaura (Yellowish) from blackish. Continue reading "ISKCON Bangladesh arranged ‘Narottama Purnima’ festival for the first time in Kheturi Dham
→ Dandavats"
A “homework question” from the online Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu course I’m hosting.:
Can Vṛndāvana be attained without Rāgānuga? Why or why not?
Here is the reply of one student, with my responses:
This is a tricky and controversial question. I have heard arguments from both sides and I personally cannot make up my mind on this, so I request you to enlighten me.
I am not sure why you think this is controversial. Śrī Rūpa directly says:
riraMsAM suSThu kurvan yo vidhi-mArgeNa sevate |
kevalenaiva sa tadA mahiSItvam iyAt pure || BRS 1.2.303 ||
“One who desires a romantic relationship but follows Vidhi-mārga attains their ultimate perfection in the city.” (Dvārakā)
This statement of his also unequivocally shows that Vaidhi leads to its own perfection, and which is not the same as the perfection Rāgānugā leads to:
vaidha-bhakty adhikārī tu bhāvāvirbhavanāvadhi |
atra śātraṁ tathā tarkam anukūlam apekṣate || BRS 1.2.293 ||
“But, if one’s affection [for Krishna] remains dependent on logic and injunctions, vaidhi bhakti has the ability to take one all the way to bhāva.”
Śrī Viśvanātha very clearly says the same thing many times, in his explanations of Śrī Rūpa like Mādhurya Kādambiṇī.
Krishna can do anything he desires. I read somewhere in CC that Shri Chaitanya embraced some son of Mahraja Prataprudra who wasn’t a devotee and he instantly became a Radha Krishna prema bhakta. Amogha the son-in-law of Shri Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, who didn’t do any sadhana but rather offended Shri Gaurasundara obtained prema bhakti.
Krishna can take anyone to Vrindavana if he wants to.
“Krishna can do anything he desires” …sure. Krishna can make water flow uphill, I guess, but should we therefore refrain from saying, “water always flows downhill”?
It’s not really true that “God can do anything.” He can’t do anything. For example, we exist and he can’t change that and make us non-existent. We exist as consciousness and therefore have subjective will. He can’t change that either. You may think this makes him non-omnipotent, but it is his omnipotency to create this situation is the first place. His reality is not populated automatons, but by divine beings with inviolable properties that even he cannot transgress, because he likes it that way. Why does he like it that way? Because (as I said in class today), robots and puppets are less fun than real friends.
So, it is actually not true that Krishna can give prema to someone who doesn’t deserve it, or take someone undeserving into his Vrindavana.
Śrī Viśvanātha very clearly argues this point in the opening section of Mādhurya Kādambiṇī. His argument is like this: If it were true that Krishna could give prema to anyone, then why doesn’t he? Is he a sadist who gets kicks from seeing people suffer? If bhakti truly comes from Krishna’s mercy, he says, then Krishna is horrible for withholding that mercy from so many people! So, he concludes that bhakti does not come from Krishna’s mercy alone, it arises when the individual has the will to accept and nurture Krishna’s mercy.
Śrī Rūpa will explore the concept of Bhāva and Prema obtained by Mercy (like the son of Mahārāja Prataparudra). We will get to it in the next two classes (on Bhāva and Prema). He will explain that it is only apparent mercy, in truth the result of the mercy is made possible by previous practice.
I have heard the argument that simply by preaching, doing book distribution, 16 rounds + 4 regs one could please Shrila Prabhupada who can then request Krishna to bestow Vrindavana prema bhakti.
Well, first of all you can’t GIVE love. Love comes from the lover, not the beloved. A man can’t give a beautiful woman love-for-him. The woman has to give the love to him, from her heart. Not even Krishna can give me something that by definition has to come from me.
So Krishna cannot bestow Vṛndāvana-prema-bhakti to a person who is incapable of holding it. The way you become capable of hosting Vrndavana-prema-bhakti is by practicing it. That practice has a name, Rāgānugā-sādhana. So, assuming that Prabhupāda would request Krishna to bestow Vṛndāvana prema bhakti on someone, the best Krishna could do in reply would be to give the recipient of the blessing ample and excellent opportunity to acquire the qualification to practice Rāgānuga-sādhana.
I respect devotees from whichever institution/path they follow, so I don’t want to say that their practice won’t take them to Vṛndāvana.
I have utmost respect for Satyabhāma and Rukmini. I respect Kubja greatly. I highly respect Rāma and Sīta and Hanumān, Narasiṁha and Praḥlāda, Viṣṇu and Lakṣmī, Śiva and Pārvatī, Varuṇa and Āpas, Indra and Śaci, and Kāma and Rati. Heck, I respect my Dad and Mom too, and my neighbors, and so on.
My point is that someone doesn’t need to be a Vraja-bāsī or a future Vraja-bāsī to have my respect.
These devotees have sacrificed a lot of their time and energy to building/maintaining temples and giving others the opportunity to come in contact with Krishna bhakti. They also helped me at some point and therefore I really hope that Krishna somehow does take them to Vrindavana, if they so desire.
“If they so desire” is the key phrase here. If they don’t “so desire” Krishna won’t be able to reward their service with something they don’t desire and aren’t practiced to fathom.
But there is no need for anyone to go to Vṛndāvana. It’s not like Dvārakā is a boring place, or Vaikuṇṭha is a drag! It’s not like Brahmānanda isn’t better than anything anyone could imagine! Let each person get what they desire and what they strive for – that is a more realistic and beneficial blessing than expecting everyone to get the same result.
Answer Podcast
The post With what attitude should we go for inter-faith programs – how do they help our mission? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
The post Gita 16.17 Self-complacence and impudence perpetuate ignorance appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Radhanath Swami Speaks at Governor’s Bungalow, Pondicherry (Album with photos)
Radhanath Swami was invited by the Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry Mrs. Kiran Bedi to speak at her official residence Raj Nivas on 23rd December 2017. He spoke from his book The Journey Home, and the talk culminated with the launch of his second book The Journey Within. Radhanath Swami’s talk was part of Raj Nivas Lecture Series, an initiative by the Governor “to engage citizens of Pondicherry on thought leadership through a series of interactive sessions by eminent speakers from the fields of history, art, leadership, literature, management, science, culture, health, spiritually and more.”
The talk was attended by Lieutenant Governor Mrs. Bedi, a retired police officer who, while in the police service won the Ramon Magsaysay Award as well as worldwide acclaim for her reforms in Tihar Jail in India. She was the first woman to join the Indian Police Service and the first woman to be appointed the United Nations civilian police adviser. “We can’t thank enough Radhanath Swami for accepting our invitation to come to Pondicherry. I have never seen an audience so rapt in attention as the audience were during his talk today,” said the Lieutenant Governor. “Radhanath Swami is a remarkable gift of divine grace to India. To come across living legends and saints like him is very rare. It will be my dream come true if I see The Journey Home made into a movie during my lifetime,” she said.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/fSTvjc
Meetings And Seminars In Mayapur (Album of photos)
Giridhari Swami: The 2018 GBC AGM began on Feb. 3. This year the meetings run tandem to the ILS and other events, so suffice to say that things are quite intense here in Mayapur. 850 leaders from around the world have gathered for the ILS and the first day was spent in plenary, ably led by Gopal Bhatta and Kaunteya Prabhus. Some sixty seminars are being held over eight days, and it is quite a challenge to choose one over the other….
Find them here: https://goo.gl/m7eALD
Zurich Krishna temple: We have regular school classes visiting our Zurich Krishna temple. Today we had also a fire offering going on...
Colorful Harinam Sankirtan in Auckland, New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Although Sukracarya was a strict brahmana addicted to ritualistic activities, he also admitted, nischidram anusankirtanam tava: “My Lord, constant chanting of the holy name of Your Lordship makes everything perfect.” (Srimad Bhagavatam, 8.23.16 Purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/qqY7cH
A visit to Siliguri Iskcon (Album of photos)
Dharmatma Das: Credit goes to the wonderful disciples of Jayapataka Maharaja who built and developed this amazing Temple. Well organized and maintained. Beautiful Pancha Tattva and Sri Sri Radha Sundhar with Lalita and Vishaka and many other Temples on the grounds. A real gem of a Temple…
Find them here: https://goo.gl/sCF1fb
By Lila-sakti Devi dasi 2017 was a year full of forward movement and positive changes at ISKCON New Goloka. Established in 1985, our aging temple infrastructure is currently being upgraded and updated to comply with required local building codes. Orange County, North Carolina is particularly stringent with their commercial code requirements, so the renovation process has been long, tedious, and costly. By Krishna’s mercy, however, we are in the home stretch of completing the first part of a multi-phase infrastructure improvement initiative at ISKCON New Goloka, home of Their Lordships Sri-Sri Radha-Golokananda. When complete, Their servants will prepare bhoga offerings in a brand new commercial kitchen, and Their paraphernalia will be stored and maintained in a spacious and well-appointed pujari room. All glories to the devotees who have continuously undergone great austerities to wonderfully serve the deities despite so many challenges. Continue reading "A Happy New Year: Sustained Growth and Renewal at ISKCON New Goloka
→ Dandavats"
By Hari Narayana Das Sulawesi is one of the main islands of Indonesia and Kendari is the capital city of South East Sulawesi. We took a flight from Bali to Makassar for a transit of about two hours then another flight to Pomala airport at Kolaka, Sulawesi where devotees were eagerly waiting to receive us. That evening we had the opportunity to interact with few guests who were leaders of Hindu community there. They were happy to discuss Bhagavad-gita with us and also took some books. Next day, 26 Feb 2018, we started for Ladongi, driving almost three hours via the mountains, where we have the Gaura Nitai centre and which is also conducting Jagannatha ratha yatra every year. Although the number of devotees are less, they are nonetheless very enthusiastic… taking into consideration the fact that the small centre is situated in a forested area and before, due to misjudgement, the local people there used to throw stones at the temple… but after the first ratha yatra in the year 2014 which was fully supported by the Mayor of the locality and the Hindu Parisada there, the locals started to visit the temple and also bring flowers and fruits for the deities. Continue reading "International Seminar on Vedanta and Science, Kendari, Indonesia
→ Dandavats"
By Rasika Raman Das A two-day international conference on Vaishnavism: Theory and Practice was held on 18th and 19th December, 2017 at Jadavpur University, organized in collaboration with Stockholm University (Sweden). In this session devotees from various academic fields represented proper a understanding of Vaishnavism and the impact of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement. Pro Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University, Prof. PK Ghosh, spoke on the importance of interdisciplinary studies, religious embeddedness in society. He acknowledged the contribution of Prof. Ruby Sain in the formation of Centre for the Study of Religion and Society at Jadavpur University. Continue reading "International Conference: Vaishnavism: Theory And Practice
→ Dandavats"
Ever wondered what the life of a Monk looks like? Last month, Sivarama Swami spent 2 weeks in the UK. Here's a taster of what he got up to! He'll be back in May! :)Comment below if you'd like to meet Sivarama Swami! What wouldyou talk to him about ?#monklife #dayinthelife
Posted by Sivarama Swami on Thursday, February 8, 2018
The post Daily Darshan: February 08,2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
No more motorcycles or petrol scooters within Iskcon Mayapur.
As of October 1, 2019, motorcycles, petrol scooters, and personal use e-rickshaws/totos (over 2 meters long / 80 cms wide) will not be permitted inside any of the following gates and areas:
- Prabhupada Bhavan gate - BBT gate
- Gammon gate - SMIS road
- Gurukula Road gate - Goshala/Vaisnava Academy road
- Gita Bhavan gate - The path between government road and MCS community hall
- Namahatta gate - The road between Nityananda Kutir and Govinda’s
Some parking areas will be available on the perimeters of the campus.
As of February 20, 2020, motorcycles/petrol scooters will not be permitted on East/West road, which will run from Bhaktisiddhanta Road, passing Sakhi Nivas, and connecting with Taranpur Road.
You should expect that eventually, motorcycles/petrol scooters will also not be permitted on most ISKCON owned roads.
Caitanya Caritamrita – Adilila Chapter 8 Text 42 Date: 05 February 2018 Verse etāvaj janma-sāphalyaṁ dehinām iha dehiṣu prāṇair arthair dhiyā vācā śreya-ācaraṇaṁ sadā SYNONYMS etāvat—up to this; janma—of birth; sāphalyam—perfection; dehinām—of every living being; iha—in this world; dehiṣu—toward those who are embodied; prāṇaiḥ—by life; arthaiḥ—by wealth; dhiyā—by intelligence; vācā—by words; śreyaḥ—eternal good fortune; ācaraṇam—acting […]
The post HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami: Caitanya Caritamrita – Adilila Chapter 8 Text 42 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
The post Gita 16.16 Desires and fears cover our consciousness completely with illusion appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
The post If a Muslim wants to study the Gita but can’t accept God’s personal form, what to do? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
A nice edited video with the highlights of today’s installation ceremony in Mayapur (2 min video)
Mohanasini Devi Dasi: Well, the Mardi Gras Marathon has begun…lots of Fortunate People this weekend. Please click on the pics for all the nectar!
Book totals for this weekend: 9 Perfection of Yoga, 10 Chant and be Happy, 86 Higher Taste Cookbooks, 1 Science of Self Realization, 78 Bhagavad Gitas, and 4 Srimad Bhagavatams Total: 188 books.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/mY497v
Chakra Installation 7/2/18 (Album of photos)
Good morning from Sridham Mayapur on this most auspicious day for the bathing and...
The TOVP with its new cakras (Album of photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Today we had the most spectacular program at the Temple...
Drumila Dasa: This is Renes Rivera. He plays ‘Mark’ in a television series called ‘The Gifted’. Super nice, humble fellow. A pleasure to have met him.
More photos: https://goo.gl/tXnw8M
CHAKRA INSTALLATION IN MAYAPUR (Album with photos)
One of the most wonderful days in the history of ISKCON!
Find them her...
By Mayapur.tv A beautiful ceremony, attended by thousands of vaishnavas from the international community of Iskcon and from more than 1 million viewers through the TV stations which broadcast the Mayapur.tv's live transmissions, was concluded successfully this morning in Mayapur. The Central Government of India sent their congratulations for the event from New Delhi. Continue reading "All the video-recordings from the glorious Chakra installations today in the TOVP
→ Dandavats"
By Romapada Das Over 100 new people committed to chanting at least one round of the Hare Krishna mahamantra everyday at a week-long Bhagavata Saptah discourse from 9th January to 15th January in Surat. Almost 1500 devotees thronged to hear the discourse based on the story of Prahalada Maharaja in the Srimad Bhagavatam, delivered by Chandra Govinda Das, an eminent exponent of Srimad Bhagavatam, who is a disciple of His Holiness Radha Govinda Swami. “The lectures started with melodious kirtan and bhajans every day,” said Ramanatha Das, one of the organizers of the discourse. “People listened to the story of Prahlada Maharaja and the glories of Lord Narsainghadev with rapt attention. We also served a sumptuous vegetarian prasadam dinner every day after the discourse.” Continue reading "Hundred people start regular chanting after week-long discourse in Surat
→ Dandavats"
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 September 2017, Petite Riviere, Mauritius, Lecture)
Srila Rupa Goswami said, “Do not go to Kesi Ghat if you have material desires.” But when Krsna plays his flute in Vrindavan how can one not go. We should all go to Vrindavan. Srila Prabhupada used to tell the story of the thief in a village…
Krsna is unlimitedly beautiful. One of His flutes is called sammohini, the bewildering flute. Krsna is always dressed beautifully and on His chest He has a big Kastubha jewel. Once a thief heard about that and he thought that his life would be made if he would have that jewel. He fantasised about stealing that jewel from Krsna. He searched for Krsna everywhere near Govardhan. He walked near Govardhan every day and then one day he saw Krsna covered with jewels. He said to Krsna, “Come on now! Give me all your jewels!” Krsna refused, he said, “Mother Yashoda will be angry if I give you my jewels.” Still the thief insisted that Krsna should give him all the jewels. Then finally Krsna gave him all His jewels and all desires that the thief had were fulfilled and he said to Krsna, “Would it be alright if I decorate you with these jewels!” When Krsna returned home, Mother Yashoda looked at him and said, “I did not dress you like that.” Krsna replied, “It was my devotee who did!”
Krsna does not look at what we give but He looks at what we are holding back.
Devotees from all over the world travelled to Mayapur to see the Chakras of the ToVP installed on the domes of Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Madhava/Panca Tattva and Lord Nrsimhadeva.
The ceremony started around 9.00am with a welcome from Braja Vilasa das, (chief fundraiser) and speeches from many of the leading devotees of the movement.
This was followed by a maha-yajna and abhiseka of the Sudarsana Chakras themselves. Finally, the Chakras were lifted by a giant crane and installed on each individual dome.
