How are humility and honesty different – why are they needed in spirituality?
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Answer Podcast

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Gita 16.23 Those who reject scripture suffer both in this life and the next
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Developing qualities of the mode of goodness
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 September 2017, Flacq, Mauritius, Lecture)

Before the Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannatha, his temple is cleaned – Gundica Marjana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu would clean Lord Jagannatha’s temple and would count how much dust was accumulated. He alone would collect more dust than anyone else. Cleaning the temple takes out dust and dirt from the heart. We should give up all illicit activities while gradually developing qualities of the mode of goodness. In Hindu tradition, if one is not born a Brahmana, he becomes a Brahmana after many births but in Krsna Consciousness, just by chanting the Holy Name our karma is erased. Everything can be conquered by devotional service. What cannot be overcome by donation and charity, can be overcome by devotional service – greed, lust and want for money.

Don’t sleep! Don’t sleep! Be awake! Be awake! Get up!
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Excerpt from the original manuscript, entitled “Who Is Crazy.“ By A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
"All Vedic literature is imploring us, “Don’t sleep! Don’t sleep! Be awake! Be awake! Get up! Get up from this sleep! Utilize the boon which you now have. Don’t be foolish.”
People are working hard, and earning enough to eat. Especially in your country, there are sufficient means for eating, and nobody is starving. That’s all right, but they are still not satisfied. I have studied this very carefully. The younger people all appear to be frustrated. It is not a very good condition, when the young generation, which is the future hope of the country, feels that there is no hope. Their future is dark. Why? Because they have no direction. What is the aim of life? What will they become? The philosophy is, work hard, get dollars, and enjoy as you like. This is misguidance. Therefore, the young are not happy. So, they take center of something which is objectionable for satisfaction. But that cannot give total satisfaction.


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Appreciate small victories as stepping stones to big victories…
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Appreciate small victories as stepping stones to big victories Gita 06.25 (4 min. video)
Chaitanya Charan Das: When we fight against our lower desires, we sometimes succeed. But our mind frequently undermines our success: “What’s the big deal? You resisted temptation today, but you will be tempted again: tomorrow, the day after and the day after that. How long can you resist? You will succumb eventually.”
Yes, a small victory in sense control doesn’t mean we have become self-controlled. But that doesn’t mean small victories count for nothing; they count, as stepping stones to a big victory, just as small steps count in covering a long distance. The Bhagavad-gita (06.25) urges us to use our intellectual conviction to gradually, step-by-step, fix our mind on spiritual reality.
Applying this incremental approach, we can celebrate our small victories – celebrate not egoistically, “Just see how self-controlled I am,” but gratefully, “If I strive earnestly for self-control by practicing bhakti-yoga, I can actually get absorbed in Krishna and resist temptation. Bhakti’s higher taste is for real.”
While striving for self-mastery, we need encouragement. And we can get immense encouragement by experiencing that we have been able to exercise, even if to a modest degree, the self-regulation that we had earlier thought impossible. When our efforts and Krishna’s grace have manifested such evidence in the form of our small victory, why let our mischievous mind deny that evidence’s significance?
After all, lifelong self-control is nothing but the act of daily self-control repeated lifelong. With this positive attitude, we can turn the mind’s argument on its head: “If I can resist temptation today, I can resist it tomorrow too. And it may even become easier tomorrow as I start relishing the freedom coming from self-control and the joy coming from uninterrupted absorption in Krishna.”
By such affirmative reflection, we can march humbly yet confidently towards self-mastery and pure devotion.
*****************
Verse 06.25 - “Gradually, step by step, one should become situated in trance by means of intelligence sustained by full conviction, and thus the mind should be fixed on the Self alone and should think of nothing else.“
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/vn3RRe

Gita 16.22 To pursue our self-interest, we need to purge out self-defeating desires
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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If I feel fearful because others keep reminding me of my past mistakes, what to do?
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Answer Podcast

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Sunday, February 11th, 2018
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Mayapura, West Bengal

A Day’s Steps and Questions

From my room, #506 in the Gada Building, the Samadhi Auditorium is a walking distance of 0.6 km.  I go back and forth completing that measurement at least twice in a day.  In the morning, I trek along a 2.5 km stretch with a group of companions as we chant the maha mantra.  In addition to that I walk to the room where I meet with my peers at least twice.  Then I walk to eat.

This moving from one building to the next is like being a student on a campus.  I get my mileage in, I get my breaks and I get some exercise in.   https://instagram.com/p/BfFJMXTFZgS/

I imagine locals do the same.  There is little obesity in the villages of Bengal.  Those of us who are foreigners appear in more bad shape.  It’s not surprising.  We represent the ‘developed’ world, while places like India are on the list as ‘developing’.  I don’t know when a nation crosses the line.  One interpretation for the ‘developed’ world could be when one becomes self-indulgent, spoiled and has earned the prize as a fat cat.

Anyway, I can’t be too critical.  Even “The Walking Monk” may have a few excessive pounds than necessary.  It’s something I’m not proud of.

I’m asked one question by someone almost every day in Mayapura. “What’s your next walking venture?”

My answer to that is, “I plan a week on the famous Camino in Spain, as well as starting a trek on Canada’s oldest foot path—The Bruce Trail.”

May the Source be with you!

6 km

The simple method to chant Hare Krishna
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Over the years, I have read and heard different devotees speak about different techniques to chant properly. Devotees also talk about crying out to Radha and Krishna during chanting for mercy for improving our chanting. This may be bonafide or not, I do not know. However, so far I have not read or heard anything like this from Srila Prabhupada. The only thing I have heard Prabhupada say is to hear the words of the Mahamantra distinctly with focus. Beyond that I have not heard him say or have not read anything related to the mercy of Radha and Krishna or other techniques about chanting. Anyways, I will stick to the simple method of trying to hear the words properly while chanting and not speculate much.

In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we have fixed sixteen rounds as the minimum so that the Westerners will not feel burdened. These sixteen rounds must be chanted, and chanted loudly, so that one can hear himself and others. - Cc Antya Purport 11.23

The first regulative principle is that one must chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra loudly enough so that he can hear himself, and one must vow to chant a fixed number of rounds. - Cc Antya Purport 11.24

Therefore this is the only method. That you chant loudly and hear. Hare Kṛṣṇa. If your mind is in other things it will be forced to concentrate on the sound vibration "Kṛṣṇa." You haven't got to withdraw your mind from other, automatically it will be withdrawn because the sound is there. - Lecture, Los Angeles Feb 18 1969

What is the question of controlling the mind? Just chant and hear and the mind will controlled automatically - Page 95, Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name

Only thing is that we should chant very attentively, hearing the vibration very distinctly.- SP letter to Satsvarupa Das Goswami,March 8 1969

Hare Krishna

Srila Prabhupada Memories by Jagat Purush Das (video)
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Srila Prabhupada Memories by Jagat Purush Das (video)
Nectarine interview of devotees who have had personal association with His Divine Grace, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Their stories provide insight into the personality and qualities of Srila Prabhupada, as well as revealing many instructions never heard or written before. These are the anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint, Srila Prabhupada & all the oral histories contained within the Memories of his disciples.

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Sadhana, Seva, Sangha
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhaktimarga Swami

Srimad Bhagavatam class in Mayapur, 13 February 2018. Hiranyakasipu was terrorizing the universe, abusing his own son and was atheist. But Prahlad Maharaja, risking his life, he kept sharing Krishna consciousness. Similarly in this Kali-yuga chanting Hare Krishna publicly and preaching is a courageous act but this is the Yuga dharma as taught by Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and we must make it known! Continue reading "Sadhana, Seva, Sangha
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CM’s twitter message
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Twitter Message from Honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee on her Mayapur visit: Today I visited ISKCON Mayapur.ISKCON is setting up a world tourism circuit center at Mayapur and have sought our assistance, We would be very happy to help them. This will definitely be a landmark in the religious tourism destination not […]

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Doors To Hell
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Hare KrishnaBy Abhaya Mudra Dasi

In the material world the three gunas function simultaneously. In some situations and individuals sattva will prevail, in others rajas or tamas. They all are necessary for the proper function of the material machine. But when a mode becomes in excess and overpowers the rest of the rest of the gunas then it shows its destructive tendency. Getting out of balance is the door to hell. Continue reading "Doors To Hell
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West Bengal’s Chief Minister Visits ISKCON, Mayapur
- TOVP.org

Today, ISKCON Mayapur welcomed West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who came for an official visit. After arriving by helicopter, she was given a warm welcome at the temple by Ambarish Prabhu and several GBC members. Then she took darshan of Sri Panca-tattva, Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, And Lord Narasimhadeva. Jananivas prabhu guided her in performing arati to Lord Narasimhadeva.

 
Mamata Banerjee then inquired about the temple worship, and offered different auspicious gifts for the pleasure of the deities. In her personal Twitter page she wrote:

“Today I visited the ISKCON temple at Mayapur. ISKCON is setting up a world tourism circuit centre at Mayapur and have sought our assistance. We would be very happy to help them.
 
This will definitely be a new landmark in the religious tourism destination not only in the state and the country, but also in the whole world. It is indeed a wonderful experience for me.”

Mamata Banerjee‏ @MamataOfficial, Twitter

Today I visited the ISKCON temple at Mayapur.

ISKCON is setting up a world tourism circuit centre at Mayapur and have sought our assistance. We would be very happy to help them. pic.twitter.com/Wki3lNrZEq

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 12, 2018

This will definitely be a new landmark in the religious tourism destination not only in the state and the country, but also in the whole world. It is indeed a wonderful experience for me. pic.twitter.com/ZhlKkH4gmV

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 12, 2018

  

The post West Bengal’s Chief Minister Visits ISKCON, Mayapur appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

The Doubtless and Fearless Way to Success for All, February 9, Moorpark
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad Bhagavatam 2.1.11 During the celebration for Abhay’s Birthday.

“In this verse, Sri Sukadeva Gosvami recommends the transcendental chanting of the holy name of the Lord. By offenseless chanting and hearing of the holy name of the Lord, one becomes acquainted with the transcendental form of the Lord, and then with the attributes of the Lord, and then with the transcendental nature of His pastimes, etc. Here it is mentioned that one should constantly chant the holy name of the Lord after hearing it from authorities. This means that hearing from the authorities is the first essential. Hearing of the holy name gradually promotes one to the stage of hearing about His form, His attributes, His pastimes, and so on, and thus the necessity of the chanting of His glories develops successively. This process is recommended not only for the successful execution of devotional service, but also even for those who are materially attached. According to Sri Sukadeva Gosvami, this way of attaining success is an established fact, concluded not only by him but also by all other previous acaryas.” SB 2.1.11 purport.

Srimad Bhagavatam 2.1.11 (Right click to download)

Analyzing the relationship between material progress and spiritual progress
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[Class at ISKCON, Kolkata, India]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary

Video:

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Gita 16.21 The metaphorical usage stresses the reality and gravity of the demoniac forces of lust, anger and greed
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Bhaktivedanta Academy has been featured in a major article in…
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Bhaktivedanta Academy has been featured in a major article in redefinEd, a publication dedicated to school choice and educational alternatives.
Livi Stanford: Alachua, Fla. – The art projects were distinct from most others. Students at Bhaktivedanta Academy had to use pieces of trash to create artwork weighing less than 50 pounds.
The project, Trashformations, was part of the 19th-annual student recycled art competition sponsored by the Alachua County Commission.
Students at the academy, which is rooted in the Hindu faith, worked tirelessly and won first place for their aquarium they built entirely out of discarded materials. They also garnered a third-place award for a city built out of similar material.

ISKCON Mayapur in the news about waste management on our…
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ISKCON Mayapur in the news about waste management on our property.
Clean Dham, clean your heart: ISKCON Mayapur’s waste management drive.
Timesofindia.indiatimes: KOLKATA. Mayapur being a holy Dham, global headquarter of ISKCON and an important tourist destination of India is visited by lakhs of pilgrims, tourists, devotees from across the world every year. Also a vibrant ISKCON community permanently stays here. This results in accumulation of huge quantities of garbage and waste material which poses a major threat for the environment.
For the ISKCON devotees, the Mayapur Dham, the birth place of Sri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu is a sacred and revered place and hence the management conceptualised the idea of implementing ‘Zero Waste Mayapur - Clean Dham and Clean Your Heart’ exercise with the aim of gradually bringing down the garbage level to zero, informed Harilila Das, member of the Management team which has initiated the programme.
“Earlier the garbage remained dumped in large volumes leading to the formation of harmful methane gas and leachate, a kind of liquid that percolated through the soil and polluted the ground water. Therefore, it was decided to convert the dumped garbage into something of utility for mankind,” said Das.
Elaborating on the mechanism, Das further added that, “ISCON has developed an Eco centre where latest machinery and technology has been set up near the ISKCON campus and volunteers collect more than 6 tonnes of garbage per day from important centres of Mayapur. From this huge load, toxic waste - discarded tablets, batteries, CFL lamps etc is sorted, arranged in lines and systematically composting is done. Two types of composting are done - bacterial compost and verni compost. By adding bacteria to the waste it produces humus which can be used as organic fertilizer and verni compost produces a liquid which is used to enrich the soil and increase the produce of the crops. This recycled substance is also used by the horticulture department of ISKCON to maintain the beautiful gardens.”
A team of community members and devotees has been formed to create awareness about the campaign and importance of the clean environment.
“To spread awareness within the community and visitors, a team led by a Russian devotee, Pivel Katev, has started organizing 'Clean the Dham’ drive every week wherein group of devotees take up the broom and get into the act of sweeping and removing the garbage from streets, localities of Mayapur. Today, a group of 20 devotees consisting of women, children and men from various countries like Russia, China, Germany and many more countries enthusiastically cleaned the entire Gournagar area of Mayapur.”
Madhavi, a 5-year-old Russian girl espoused the cause by helping other senior devotees in carrying bags and gathering the garbage. Anton, from Belarus, has been participating in this weekly drive for a month and he derives a great sense of happiness in cleaning as he feels this is the highest service to make Lord Chaitanya happy. The group of devotees also educate the people to discourage the use of plastics.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/DxTZ7S

Katwa, Where Lord Caitanya Took Sannyasa (Album of photos)…
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Katwa, Where Lord Caitanya Took Sannyasa (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: 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!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/cDaSJf