Planet ISKCON – Page 696 – Websites from the ISKCON Universe

Heaven On Earth – New Vraja, Dhama, Hungary
→ ISKCON News

New Vraja Dhama, ISKCON’s 300 acre farm in Hungary, is the largest eco village in Europe. It is situated in a small village in the southernmost part of the country, 2 hours drive from Budapest. It was established in 1993 with the purpose of educating people about the values of self sufficiency, cow protection and a natural, God centered lifestyle.

Radhanath Swami Keynote Speaker at Accenture, London. On…
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Radhanath Swami Keynote Speaker at Accenture, London.
On November 5, 2017, Radhanath Swami was in London, serving as the keynote speaker for the fiscal year’s first South Asian Networking Meeting at Accenture, addressing over a hundred employees on the topic “Be the Leader You Wish You Had”.
Accenture is a management consultancy firm that provides services in strategy, consulting, digital technology and operations. They partner with more than three-quarter of the Fortune Global 500. More specific to the event, the South Asian Network is an inclusion and diversity network that brings together people from or interested in eight different South Asian countries. They hold events to help employees at Accenture understand the history and culture of the region, and to help those from that ethnicity understand that they can be as successful as anyone else at the firm.

Oliver (Olly) Benzecry, the managing director of Accenture’s business in the United Kingdom and Ireland, also attended the event as a speaker. He inaugurated the event by sharing a few words about the topic at hand – leadership. “As an organisation we flourish when people want to be here and people can be themselves in the workplace.” He went on to speak on four traits he felt a good leader had: a sense of shared purpose with their team, affinity and affection, they talk openly to the members of their team and they care. This underpins Accenture’s focus on being ‘Truly Human’, to not only work incredibly hard as a team, but care for each other deeply as individuals.

Olly’s leadership was also the focus of Radhanath Swami’s keynote address. The Swami mentioned a simple incident involving himself and Olly that had happened just before the event began. “I was so thrilled to hear the words of Olly” he began. “In the Bhagavad Gita, there is a very significant verse: a true leader is one who sets a direction for people by his or her exemplary actions. When I first arrived just a few minutes ago, I met Olly. We were taking for a few minutes until I requested if someone can show me to the restroom. He said, “I’ll take you.” But I insisted that someone else take me. Yet he insisted on taking me, although he didn’t even know the way! As I entered the restroom, I told him I’ll meet you back in the room of the event, but he again insisted to wait. And wait he did! Here is the Managing Director of Accenture for the whole of the U.K. and Ireland, waiting for a small Swami who hasn’t had a bank account since 1969 to use the bathroom. A good leader is one who cares for others, regardless of their position. It really moved my heart. That is leadership!”

After the keynote address, Radhanath Swami sat on a panel discussion with a handful of the Managing Directors from the firm. They shared their thoughts on inspiration and answered questions from the audience. Sevasti Wong, the Global Talent and Organisation Consulting Lead, shared that authenticity, being yourself and not being scared by failure, were important qualities of a leader. She also mentioned, “I loved the keynote speaker and what he spoke about, especially his position on expressing love and kindness in the workplace and our personal lives. His analogy of being a gardener was my take-home message.” Radhanath Swami shared a story earlier in the event, “The secret of a good garden is in one who personally loves his or her flowers and plants. Because when you take care of them with love, they release the energy of love. If you put together all the right fertilizers and scientific botanical method, you will see something beautiful, but you will not experience something great. When flowers are nourished with both expertise and love, they give out a vibration, that when you enter into that garden, something incredible leaves your heart. Leadership means we must pour love into people to unlock their gift to the world.”

Nnenna Ilomechina, the UKI Lead for Communications, Media and Tech, shared something similar to Sevasti. “Leaders should be authentic. This means they understand themselves and are comfortable with what value they bring to the party.” On Radhanath Swami she mentioned, “He was incredibly calming and took me into a zen calm place. I think that is very important in leadership. He put everyone in such a calm and relaxed place that it’s easy to follow that sort of personality.”

Another Managing Director, Kamran Ikram, who leads the UKI Executive Infrastructure Services, and who sponsored the event for the night, said, “Radhanath Swami very eloquently described how important it is to care about your team. True leaders are not just in it for themselves, but are in it for the whole team. His way of speaking and style of getting messages across is different to your typical corporate speaker. He talked about humility, about love and about being a servant. Those messages were valid, no matter if you’re a large private organisation, a government organisation or tiny independent self employed business!”

As the night went on, a range of employees from the firm bought Radhanath Swami’s The Journey Within and The Journey Home and had them signed. One of them was Helen Anderson, part of the legal team at Accenture. She mentioned, “I had an opportunity to meet the Swami at the end. We only managed to exchange short words about what I do and his event in my home town of Oxford, but the presence he has and the way he carries himself makes even the shortest interaction very meaningful.” This was echoed by Barry Elbashir, a Senior Manager, who spent a lot of time in Mumbai without knowing of Radhanath Swami’s work there. He told us that the Swami was…“extremely inspiring. His humility and rich experience going back through the civil rights movements. Being able to share those lessons and articulating so well what the meaning of life is was incredible. I found him really helpful and I had the pleasure of sitting for a few minutes with him which I found even more inspiring that the actual keynote address!”
More photos here: https://goo.gl/UdYZcq

Tuesday, December 19th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Edmonton, Alberta

Just Arrived

Vira Krishna is a teacher at Edmonton University, who moved here from Brazil with his wife and daughter. What a brahmin he is. He carries himself as such and even has his brahmin thread hanging to the right from under his sweater.

When we use that term, brahmin, it could come across as ambiguous. Many stories to do with brahmins in the Vedas portray this class of people as proud, easily angered and ambitious. Then there is an opposite version of the brahminical group depicting them as caring, learned, visionary, etc.

I would say the latter is a more accurate description of our dear Vira, who also claims to be an avid walker.

“You’re my kind of person, Vira,” I said, referring to his brahminical side, which I admire as much as his ‘pedestrianism’.

Vira, with family, and a host of other community bhakti-yogi members came to hear about the topic of change. ‘Change’ is mentioned in the Gita in connection with reincarnation, whereby the soul alters his/her body. You change your bodies within one lifetime (2.13) just as you would go to your wardrobe and change your clothing.

We went on to discuss with the group that it is a selection choice. You determine your own destiny through your desire.

It was a very focused audience, largely due to the fact there were fewer kids. Don’t get me wrong, I love children.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Monday, December 18th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Edmonton, Alberta

The Ice and the Bird

It is not the most walker-friendly area to get around, but then again drivers in this industrial district are fairly courteous as the pujari (priest) and I maneuver along on foot. This is day number two, when for an hour and more, we brave prairie-winter weather. Actually, even that, we cannot complain about, because instead of the usual coarse temperatures at -20° Celsius or lower, you are looking at just below freezing.

The streets are glistening and without snow, meaning that white and black ice dominate as ground cover. But in the sky, oh yes, in the sky, our feathered friend, the magpie, is truly in charge. Have you ever seen or heard those aggressive creatures? They seem to transcend. They are tough birds. I don’t see them flying south for the winter. If it wasn’t for them, nature’s more jovial side wouldn’t be so present out here on the prairie.

Purbajaya, the pujari, doesn’t know much English—although he knows warmth and kindness—and the magpie is just one more item of the north he isn’t familiar with. Well, I always say, “Get to know the place you’re in. Familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Know, at least, who’s the king of the sky around here.”

In this southern portion of Edmonton—where hockey really matters (the Oilers)—and being near the Radha-Govinda Cultural Centre, where I'm staying, you try to avoid the slip and slide of the ice. Sidewalks are few; remember, it’s an industrial area. To balance the easy life of the many hours of comfort in the centre, I am committed to meet the rawness of the outdoors and view those black, white and blue birds in the air.

I’m signing off for a program at the home of Yogendra. https://instagram.com/p/Bc5PjX0lGBp/

May the Source be with you!

6 km

The Andhra Pradesh/Telangana Padayatra Celebrated Their 5Th…
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The Andhra Pradesh/Telangana Padayatra Celebrated Their 5Th Anniversary.
December 21, 2017
Visnu Swami Dasa: In December 2012 I started padayatra without any experience at all. I thought that it might go on for a few days or even a month but by the grace of Krishna and the mercy of the Vaishnavas, we have been on the road for 5 years. I don’t know how it happened, it was like a dream.
At the moment we are walking in the Hyderabad urban area. Recently Bhakti Raghava Maharaj and Anandamaya Prabhu, in charge of the Hyderabad BBT visited us. On December 6th, to celebrate the 5th anniversary of our padayatra we distributed Bhagavad-gitas to the youth in the town of Chowtuppal in the Bhonagiri district.

So far in 2017 we traveled to 180 villages and towns and walked 1200 km. We distributed 14 sets of Srimad-Bhagavatam, 2,200 big books, 1,500 medium books and 25,000 small books. On December 5th our Gita distribution was sponsored by a local devotee which, helped us give many Bhagavad-gitas away for free.
More photos: https://goo.gl/csX3zC

Hare Krishna! Movie Screening at PVR Cinemas, Manisquare,…
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Hare Krishna! Movie Screening at PVR Cinemas, Manisquare, Kolkata (Album of photos)
We saw the screening of The Hare Krishna Movie in Kolkata….at the second largest screen in India. In the audience were present HH Bhakti Charu Swami Mhj, HH Subhag Swami Mhj, HH Bhakti Prem Swami, HG Devakinandan pr, HG Isvara puri pr, HG Sankarshan Nitai Pr. HG Hridaya Chaitanya Pr along with the director of the movie HG Yadubara Pr (John Grisser ) and his wife HG Visakha Mataji. The evening witnessed a congregation of over a 1000 Devotees. All four screens in PVR Manisquare were house full. Some pics to remember the evening forever… Picture courtesy: Avanish Krishna Das.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9QUF5o

Santiago Municipality in Chile treat Iskcon’s Ratha Yatra as their own festival and provide all facility
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By Sri Bhakti Das

They placed Ratha Yatra posters throughout a large part of the city, they provided implements, part of the security, the stage, etc. Also, the Ratha Yatra appeared on all of its websites as an event co-produced by the Municipality. This was a truly historical event in Chile: That a Major together with her Municipality (public entity with great influence on political and social development) has taken the Ratha Yatra as its own festival; in other words, not only as an activity of the Hare Krishna movement. Continue reading "Santiago Municipality in Chile treat Iskcon’s Ratha Yatra as their own festival and provide all facility
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The visible and invisible universe
→ SivaramaSwami.com

Recordings – August 2017
→ KKSBlog

Please find below, audio recordings of lectures and kirtans by Kadamba Kanana Swami captured during August 2017 at various programmes around Europe.

Download all Germany and Sweden recordings (1.3 GB)

Download all Slovenia recordings (964 MB)

Download all Netherlands and Radhadesh recordings (670 MB)

Download all Slovakia and Austria recordings (900 MB)

Daily Darshan: December 21,2017
→ Mayapur.com

The post Daily Darshan: December 21,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The Sacred Thread Ceremony of Little Nimai – Illustrated Story
→ ISKCON News

Does God Exist?
→ ISKCON News

A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.

Reading from Giriraj Swami’s Forthcoming Book about Srila Prabhupada and Juhu, December 19, Houston
Giriraj Swami

“When Dr. Desai slowed down however, Upendra told him, ‘Prabhupada wants you to drive faster.’ And he picked up speed. But, the moment Dr. Desai hit the accelerator, Tamal Krishna objected, ‘I told you to drive slowly, he said. What are you doing? Slow down immediately.’ ‘Upendra just told me to drive fast’ ‘No no no. Go slowly.’ So, Dr. Desai slowed down. But then Upendra said, ‘Prabhupada says go faster. Why aren’t you going faster? So, Dr. Desai was in a predicament. But, he considered that Prabhupada was the person he had to serve so he sped up and told Tamal Krishna, ‘You sort this out with Upendra and allow me just to drive.”

Juhu Book Reading, Houston

Book distribution in Budapest
→ SivaramaSwami.com

Sahajiyas in today’s world
→ SivaramaSwami.com

Srimad Bhagavatam class by H.G. Mukunda Datta Prabhu in ISKCON…
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Srimad Bhagavatam class by H.G. Mukunda Datta Prabhu in ISKCON Vrindavan (video)

Dhirasanta Das Goswami: Faith. An atheist professor of…
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Dhirasanta Das Goswami: Faith.
An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.
He asks one of his new students to stand and…
Prof: So you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.
Prof: Is God good?
Student: Sure.
Prof: Is God all-powerful?
Student: Yes.
Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn’t. How is this God good then? Hmm? (Student is silent.)
Prof: You can’t answer, can you? Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student: Yes.
Prof: Is Satan good?
Student: No.
Prof: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From…God…
Prof: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student: Yes.
Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student: Yes.
Prof: So who created evil? (Student does not answer.)
Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?
Student: Yes, sir.
Prof: So, who created them? (Student has no answer.)
Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son…Have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.
Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student: No, sir.
Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.
Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student: Yes.
Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.
Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof: Yes.
Student: And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof: Yes.
Student: No sir. There isn’t. (The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat.
But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that.
There is no such thing as cold . Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat . We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it .(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof: Yes.. What is night if there isn’t darkness?
Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of light. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light….But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness doesn’t exist on it’s own. If it did, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?
Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir? (The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)
Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher? (The class is in uproar.)
Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain? (The class breaks out into laughter.)
Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir? (The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable. )
Prof: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.
Student: That is it sir…. The link between man & God is FAITH . That is all that keeps things moving and alive.

Recordings – September 2017
→ KKSBlog

Please find below, audio recordings of lectures and kirtans by Kadamba Kanana Swami captured during September 2017 in Mauritius and South Africa.

Download all Mauritius recordings (1.1 GB)

Download all South Africa recordings (1.1 GB)

Mauritius

KKS_Mauritius_26Sept2017_InitiationCeremony_Kirtan

KKS_Mauritius_26Sept2017_InitiationCeremony_Lecture

KKS_Mauritius_26Sept2017_Disciples_Meeting

KKS_Mauritius_25Sept2017__Lecture_KrsnaBalaramTemple

KKS_Mauritius_24Sept2017_Bhajan_Jaya-Radha-Jaya-Krsna

KKS_Mauritius_24Sept2017__Lecture_SSRGTemple

KKS_Mauritius_23Sept2017_Lecture_RathaYatra

KKS_Mauritius_22Sept2017_RoseBelle_EveningProgramme_Kirtan

KKS_Mauritius_22Sept2017_RoseBelle_EveningProgramme_Lecture

KKS_Mauritius_21Sept2017_Kirtan-on-beach

KKS_Mauritius_20Sept2017_PandalProgramme_Kirtan

KKS_Mauritius_20Sept2017_PandalProgramme_Lecture

KKS_Mauritius_19Sept2017_Lecture_PetiteRiviere

South Africa

KKS_SA_28Sept2017_DBN_Lecture_SB_2.10.48

KKS_SA_17Sept2017_CPT_SundayFeast_Kirtan_and_GauraAarti

KKS_SA_17Sept2017_CPT_SundayFeast_Lecture

KKS_SA_16Sept2017_CPT_InitiationCeremony_Lecture

KKS_SA_15Sept2017_CPT_Lecture_SB_1.13.45

KKS_SA_14Sept2017_CPT_Lecture_SB_1.13.44

KKS_SA_13Sept2017_CPT_Lecture_SB_1.13.43

KKS_SA_12Sept2017_CPT_Lecture_SB_1.13.42

KKS_SA_12Sept2017_CPT_Bhajan_JayaRadhaMadhava

KKS_SA_09Sept2017_JHB_BenoniGujaratiCenterProgramme_Kirtan

KKS_SA_09Sept2017_JHB_BenoniGujaratiCenterProgramme_Lecture

KKS_SA_08Sept2017_JHB_HouseProgramme_Kirtan

KKS_SA_08Sept2017_JHB_HouseProgramme_Lecture

Radhastami in Durban – outstanding recordings

Merry “Krishnas” – Harinama and real happiness in…
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Merry “Krishnas” - Harinama and real happiness in Mexico, Mexico City (Album with photos)
When we understand our relationship with God then we all will be happy. It is an essential factor for establishing peace in the world.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/7aaNAm

8th Annual International Vaishnavi Retreat at Govardhana. We…
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8th Annual International Vaishnavi Retreat at Govardhana.
We are pleased to announce the 8th Annual International Vaishnavi Retreat at Govardhana .
The Retreat was started jointly in 2011 by the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE) and the GBC Vaishnavi Care sub-committee with the aim of facilitating spiritual association among women in bhakti. This retreat offers a wonderful opportunity for women from all over the world, who are eager for sadhvi-sanga. Our compact schedule is designed to maximize devotional synergy throughout the retreat.

Krsna-katha, philosophical presentations and practical workshops by senior vaisnavi’s, sharing of realizations by Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, kirtana, inspirational reading before japa, mridanga lessons, dramas, dance and more have been the regular highlights of the previous retreats.

The usual location of the retreat is Jatipura a small town at the feet of Govardhana hill.

The Govardhana Vaisnavi Retreat 2018 is coming up with the theme - Worship of the Deity.
The teachers - Yasomati devi dasi, Kisori devi dasi, Damodara Priya devi dasi, Prasanta devi dasi.

Sunday, December 17th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Edmonton, Alberta

Suddenly

I was supposed to be in Miami this weekend, but, that being cancelled out, a window of opportunity opened up for going elsewhere. In pronto fashion, divine intervention had it that I would not venture south, but west. Bala Krishna, our leader in Edmonton, booked me right away. It was an overnight red-eye flight from Toronto. The last light piece of humour I recall before arriving at near 2:00 a.m. was a remark by a passenger behind me as she was wiggling her way into the seat. “Excuse my fat ass!”

There were two programs set up whereby I had the blessing to speak on the topic of bhakti-yoga; one was at the home of Adhokshaja, where a fabulous kirtanwas held. Harmonium, violin and tabla made it special.

The second—or rather first, in order—was my talk from Chapter 12 of the Gita. Love these verses, 18 and 19. “One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honour and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contaminating association, always silent and satisfied with anything, who doesn’t care for any residence, who is fixed in knowledge and who is engaged in devotional service—such a person is very dear to Me (Bhagavan).”

It was a captive group of listeners, and I arranged for the youngsters to be in the front, close to me. Successfully, from the speaker’s chair, we sold two hundred eighty-eight Bhagavad-gitasthrough the sponsorship program.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Who’s the Biggest Devotee?
→ simple thoughts

At 7 foot 1 inch tall, with a shoe size 19, our Bhima prabhu comes in as number 1, the biggest devotee in the world !!!
Bhima was working at “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” in London, when our Harinam dancing king Rishi Rai Prabhu took Bhima for a spin, can’t resist twirling around such a big guy on Harinam. Then Doyal Mora prabhu gave him an ISKCON bomb, one of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
After completing the Bhakta program Bhima became a book distributer and a member of our festival drama team, presently he is distributing Prasad daily at the Universities.

It turned out that Bhima is famous movie actor , appearing in over 20 movies such as X Men, I have attached a short movie of Bhima fighting with Gerry Butler ( King Leonidas ) from the movie Roch n Roller with an alternative Krishna Consciousness ending.

Bhima Das movie star in "Rocknrolla" from ardas on Vimeo.

Warning ! There is a lot of violence here, not for those with a staunch in position.

Your servant
Parasuram das

Locana Das Thakura
→ Ramai Swami

Srila Locana Dasa Thakura appeared in this world in 1520 A.D., thirty-four years after the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Locana Dasa wrote a biography on Lord Caitanya entitled Sri Caitanya Mangala, based on the diary of Murari Gupta. He also wrote many devotional songs.

Sri Locana dasa Thakura took birth in a family of physicians who resided in the village of Kogram, within the district of Barddhaman. His guru was Sri Narahari Sarkar Thakura. When he was only a little boy, he enjoyed the good fortune of meeting the devotees of Sri Gauranga.

He was married at a very young age. From his youth he was very attached to Sri Gaurasundara and consequently very disinterested in material life, though he was surrounded by family, friends and society. In his youth he spent the major part of his time at his guru’s Sripat, Srikhanda, where he learned how to do kirtana.

Overcoming fear, desire and anger to take shelter of Krishna
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Chowpatty, India]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Overcoming fear, desire and anger to take shelter of Krishna appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Good news from Iskcon France!
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Visvambhara das: I just could not resist sharing this effort of Janananda Goswami and the devotees from France.

Govinda Istanbul has been re-opened!
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Govinda Istanbul has been re-opened!
Hare Krishna. There was an auspicious event last Sunday in Istanbul. In the past, we had Govinda Istanbul functioning in Turkey between late 2010 and mid-2013 and distributed a lot prasadam and met wonderful people. It was one of our basis of our preaching activities in Turkey and then we had yoga center and couldn’t find suitable circumstances to run a restaurant. After we moved our Goranga Yoga Centre to a new location last year we got better facilities and opportunity to start a restaurant in Turkey again. On 17 Dec after Sunday feast we had a humble opening celebration where a lot of people joined in this auspicious event. We are very fortunate to have HH Sivarama Swami’s and Hungarian devotees support the Turkish Yatra to serve more & more to Srila Prabhupada’s mission in Turkey in every possible way.

If you visit Istanbul, you now know that there is a place to get prasadam regularly. Our restaurant is serving hot prasadam weekdays from 12.00 to 15.00 and sandwiches, sweet and hot herbal tea selection from 18.00 to 21.00. Also, please take part of our Sunday feast starting at 17:00. If you come to Turkey or passing by Istanbul, we will be happy to meet you. Our restaurant is at Gauranga Yoga Centre and it is called Govinda Cafe. We are easily found on Google maps. Our contact details are as follow:

Address: Goranga Yoga
Buyukdere Street Naci Kasim Road No:6B Mecidiyekoy
Phone:+902122343633 // +905325097196
E-mail:gorangayoga@gmail.com

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!

Your servant, Nrsimha Krsna Das

Are there guardian angels?
→ SivaramaSwami.com

HG Niramaya das Prabhu (ACBSP) left his body
→ Dandavats

Prayers requested for one of Srila Prabhupada's disciples, HG Niramaya das Prabhu. He left his body in Spain at 9am on Dec. 15th, 2017. May Srila Prabhupada bless him on his onward journey back home, back ...

To see our life reflected in the Caitanya Caritamrita…
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To see our life reflected in the Caitanya Caritamrita (video)
Lecture by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, 14 December 2016 at Hare Kris...
Read More...

ISKCON Malaysia: Puspa Samadhi Installation of HH. Bhakti…
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ISKCON Malaysia: Puspa Samadhi Installation of HH. Bhakti Vrajendranandana Swami at Sri Sri Radha Krishna Kannaiya Temple Seberang J...

TOVP: Nrshimha Dev’s Kalash structure is almost…
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TOVP: Nrshimha Dev’s Kalash structure is almost completed
Sadbhuja Das: Kindly see the second part of the update on the works going on in the ToVP in preparation for the Gaura Purnima Festival time.
Here you can see the images of the Main Dome and the Nrshimha Dev Dome.
The Nrshimha Dev Kalash structure is almost completed and works on the Main Dome Kalash are coming up fast.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/DzB2va

A message from Agnideva Dasa – with the deepest gratitude to…
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A message from Agnideva Dasa - with the deepest gratitude to everyone who donated to help support him through this major challenge.

The Simple Method
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By Padmapani das

In November of 1969 while speaking in London's Conway Hall, Srila Prabhupada stated the following: "The process is very simple. Just keep a picture of Lord Caitanya with His associates. Lord Caitanya is in the middle, accompanied by His principal associates—Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara, and Srivasa. One simply has to keep this picture. One can keep it anywhere. It is not that one has to come to us to see this picture. Anyone can have this picture in his home, chant this Hare Krishna mantra, and thus worship Lord Caitanya. That is the simple method. But who will capture this simple method? Those who have good brains. Without much bother, if one simply keeps a picture of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at home and chants Hare Krishna, then one will realize God. Anyone can adopt this simple method. There is no expenditure, there is no tax, nor is there any need to build a very big church or temple. Anyone, anywhere, can sit down on the road or beneath a tree and chant the Hare Krishna mantra and worship God. Therefore it is a great opportunity." Continue reading "The Simple Method
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Reaching out
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2017, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Class)

There are many people out there hankering for something spiritual, looking for some deeper meaning to life. Just one devotee stepping into the middle of someone’s life with a book can change the destiny of that person completely. Just one book makes such a huge difference!

Those who are not such good book distributors can sponsor books. Sponsored books help – then we can give away books almost for free.

In Soweto, at the Ratha Yatra, devotees were giving away these big Krsna Books, hardbound with the silver covers. You know these big ones with the colour plates. That is a beautiful book. Somebody had a whole bunch of them and gave the books away to people who were not rich. Those who got the book were holding it like they were ready to fight for it, “No one is going to take this off me. I got something really good today.” They were dancing in kirtan after that with the book! They were not putting it down. That book was under their arm and stayed there all the way throughout the dance. So sponsor books!

Some people will be better at book distribution than others and that is always going to be like that. You never know who, sometimes even really shy people, are very successful. If we can overcome our own false ego, our own fear and if somehow or other, we do it, then we will be amazed by what results Krsna will give us. Otherwise, sponsor books because if we, as a community, put the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books in the foreground where we want more people to get books, then so many wonderful things will happen.

Chanting Nāma Mantra
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QUESTION: Another thing which I wanted to ask you was regarding Chanting. Japa as I have understood is a Dhayana Yoga with Dhayana being done on Sri Naam which is non different from Sri Hari. So whatever Krishna has said in Chapter 6 can be taken as an aid towards Sri Naam Dhayan.

This is true but remember what he says later too. For example in Chapter 12 at the beginning.

Krishna nāma mantra is basically like any other form of meditation (dhyāna), and therefore should follow the same basic guidelines of yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, etc. but Nāma mantra is also quite distinct from many other forms of meditation, because (as Krishna explains in chapter 12), the object of the meditation is actually a living being with will and feelings, who we try to attract with our affection, and who, once attracted starts to make efforts from his own side to attain us. Other objects of meditation are not personal (and/or not all-powerful) and can’t reciprocate in the same way.

So although nāma japa is certainly dhyana, it is a unique type of dyāna not entirely the same as what jñānīs, tapasvis etc are doing when they do dhyāna. Sri Rupa Goswami, in Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu does not really seem to classify nāma-japa as dyāna but instead includes it under the umbrella of saṁkīrtana, at least so far as I understand him.

QUOTE: But I have seen many a people doing Japa along with playing the Chanting box which has Srila Prabhupada doing Japa and they doing along with. Would this sort of thing be Japa or Kirtan because what I understood is that glorifying Sri Naam with others is Kirtan and meditating on Sri Naam individually is Japa or can we say that both are same as ultimately its Samkirtanam?

Both are Saṁkīrtan.

Japa, according to Sri Rupa Goswami and Haribhakti Vilas, should be muttered very quietly or contemplated silently. But (and this may blow people’s minds) not everyone is cut out to do that sort of Japa, and it is not really necessary for everyone to do it. Any form of Saṁkīrtan will be effective if done properly.

The style that we use to chant nāma mantra is really not so important. What is important is that we chant with genuine attraction to loving Krishna – which means chanting without selfishness and the distractions that come with it. Whatever techniques one uses in bhakti-dhyāna are incidental. Bhakti is not technique-oriented. Bhakti is beyond that. It is emotional. With all the technique in the world, but no sincere interest in affection for Krishna, and no accurate comprehension of the object of affection – the so-called dhyana is ineffective – regardless if it’s done while driving through Manhattan and counting with a metal clicker, or if it’s done in a cave at the top of the himalaya.

Vraja

Lochan Das Thakur Appearance day
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On this great Vaisnava’s appearance day, who has gifted the world with Sri Caitanya Mangala and many nectarean songs on Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, please read below his history & glories& meditate and pray for one drop of his mercy to perfect our lives! Srila Locana Dasa Thakura appeared in this world in 1520 […]

The post Lochan Das Thakur Appearance day appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Saturday, December 16th, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario

I’ll Help Jay

It’s been hectic at the ashram and what contributes to this dynamic is the visit by Vaisesika and Nirakula. They are a divine couple who pop by every six months, encouraging the community in the gift-giving exercise of sastra dana. What this means is that if you sponsor a text, like the Bhagavad-gita, some lucky person can become the recipient of the book.

While a crew of volunteers became engaged in the art of book distribution I provided some back-up through cleaning the ashram. Then I took advantage of the time to go for a much needed walk. At 65, you just have to take action. It’s day number three since returning from Winnipeg and I'm embarrassed to say it could have been day number three of no walking. I got antsy.

Jay, 27, joined me. As we trekked a trail down the ravine over nice ice and low snow, Jay had a thought on his mind.

“Only one thought, Jay?”

“Well, one pressing one. Should I become a brahmachari (a monk)?”

I had questions for him, one of which was, “You’re working?”

“Yes.”

“Well, why not try coming on weekends for a stay over? Come and learn the philosophy. Chant and serve. Make friends. Give. Receive. See how you like it. Go at it gradually. In the event that you really like it then you might try working while staying at the ashram. Most men do get married—the ones who come through the ashram doors. After time given to the ashram experience you can decide, ‘Will you marry a woman or will you marry the mission?’ You give it some thought. I’ll help in any way I can,” I said.

https://instagram.com/p/BczvSbTlTS4/

May the Source be with you!

9 km

Friday, December 15th, 2017
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Etobicoke, Ontario

The Right Food and Routine

They sat me down for dinner and before me was presented a very cooked-down veggie prep, popular in Mumbai—a mix of cauliflower, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes spread on a bun. There was also exquisite salad with balsamic dressing, a butternut squash soup and wraps. I was spoiled. Oh, and biryani was also on the menu. I try to avoid rice preps. I find rice bloats me up more than I need. I’m still a sucker for wild rice though. It’s actually a food in the aquatic-grass category and is not a grain.

Our program, held in the household of Nimai and Moksha Lila, was not all to do with potluck food. The gathering of several families is a spiritual-social event.

A reading from the Bhagavad-gita is included and this evening I was asked to conduct a class on Chapter 2, to discuss sense control. It is a lovely section of the Gita, summarizing the basics of the entire philosophical output of Krishna’s message. The lesson concentrated on regulating one’s gratification of the senses. Enjoying your physical body and also the pleasures of the more subtle self are not taboo. They are controlled through training and through the practice of family life. “Don’t go overboard in sensual pleasures,” is the message I addressed. “Fill your thoughts with the Absolute and channel or dovetail the sensual tendencies.”

It is a happy bunch that gets together once a week. A good model. Friday evenings are special for those who are routine.

May the Source be with you

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