Planet ISKCON

Perth Govinda’s Restaurant (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: Occasionally, when I travel to our ISKCON centers, I like to visit the restaurants to see how they are going. Generally, all of them do very well and some exceptionally well.
On a recent visit to Perth I headed into Govindas with Yadu-Shrestha and Sita Rama Laksman and had a wonderful lunch. It was around 2.30pm so the restaurant was a little quiet but those who were there seemed happy with their meal.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/nD8J16

Best way to study Srila Prabhupada’s books: Read them out loud and hear with rapt attention!
Srimad-Bhagavatam class by HH Keshava Bharati Goswami in Vrindavana, 11.12.2017 (video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/1TqXBE

Iskcon of Silicon Valley - Gita Champions Award Ceremony - Dec 10th 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: It is the duty o...

ISKCON-Delhi: Smt. Arti Mehra former Mayor Of Delhi celebrated her birthday in our ISKCON Delhi temple premises. Shri L K Advani for...

December 13th - Saphala Ekadasi :
Ekadasi-What does it mean? What am I supposed to do? What can I eat?
Ekadasi is a Sanskrit word for number 11. It means the 11th day of each half of the month in the Vedic lunar calendar. So there are two Ekadasi days in each month on the Vedic calendar. One is in the first half of the month whilst the moon is waxing, or growing. This is known as the bright fortnight. The second is in the second half of the month whilst the moon is waning, or shrinking. This is known as the dark fortnight.
Ekadasi has been set aside for us to observe a fast to please Krishna and is a special day for devotees. Srila Prabhupada asked us to fast on Ekadasi by avoiding eating grains and beans, anything made from them or anything that has them in it. This means avoiding bread, pasta, lentils, rice, as well as beans and preparations made from bean flour.
When observing Ekadasi we should think of it as part of our devotional service. The fast does not need to be extreme and you don’t have to starve yourself. Some of us may be able to offer a full fast as their Ekadasi sacrifice, avoiding all foods and drinking only water or juice, but not everyone can do this. Srila Prabhupada said we can observe the fast by avoiding food with grains and beans and eating only light foods. We should not overdo our fasting. Fasting should cause buoyancy of feeling and not tiredness or fatigue. We should only practice as much fasting as our capacity allows.
We fast on Ekadasi in order to minimize the demands of the body so we can engage more of our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing some other devotional service. The best thing to do on these fasting days is to remember the pastimes of Krishna and to hear His Holy name being sung and chanted. In the book “Nectar of Devotion” Srila Prabhupada tells us the purpose of Ekadasi is to increase our love for Krishna. On the day of Ekadasi we should plan to chant more rounds and read more devotional literature. If possible we should spend more time with devotees at the temple.

By the GBC

Yamuna Devi was one of the most influential devotees during ISKCON’s fledgling years. She was among a handful of people who established ISKCON’s first. Those who came to ISKCON in later years joined an established society, but Yamuna Devi was one of the few who established that society Continue reading "ISKCON`s GBC Remembers Yamuna Devi
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By Madhava Smullen

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust has already translated ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada’s books into 87 languages. But there are more to go. And today, dedicated servants working for the spiritual publisher in far flung corners of the world still continue to translate his works into their native languages, despite busy family lives and professional careers. On August 24th this year, for example, Nandapriya Das finished translating the last of seventeen volumes of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita into the language of his native Georgia, which is spoken by more than five million people. Nandapriya, an oncologist at one of Scandinavia’s largest hospitals, did most of the work on the train during his morning commute. He has now finished translating all of Srila Prabhupada’s books into Georgian for the first time ever, a monumental feat. Continue reading "Oncologist Finishes Translating All Srila Prabhupada’s Books into Georgian
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By Madhava Smullen

Beyond the 2017 marathon, a goal has already been set of further 10% increases every year for the next ten years, reaching an annual remittance to the BBT of $5.2 million by 2026. If, however, goals continue to be exceeded at the rate they are currently, the remittance by 2026 will be an unprecedented $10 million. Why is remittance to the BBT so important? Well first of all, fifty per cent of all profits from the BBT go towards building ISKCON projects around the world, such as the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur – so those who remit to the BBT will be supporting these. Continue reading "North American Temples Give Final Push This Marathon to Increase Already Burgeoning BBT Sales
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2017, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Class)

It is not just about the number of books that you distribute because if you sell someone a book which they do not really want, they may not read it. But if you make a good connection then they will feel they got a book from someone who is very nice. They will definitely feel that it is a special book to read because it came from a special person. Do not forget, they buy the person too and not just the book. They buy you too! Still, we sell the book on the merit of the book – we just present it and the book will sell itself because after all, it is Krsna and Krsna is all attractive. So these things are nice because the more we sell the books on the merit of the books, then we are glorifying the book and then we become uplifted to a spiritual consciousness.

Those who know the rituals to the Pitṛ know that a child, especially a son, is required to perform the rituals which will liberate the parents, especially the father, from the wrath of Yama and the Pitṛ.

Those who know the Indian planetary mythos know that Śani (Saturn) is the son of Sūrya (the Sun).

Those who know the astrological symbolism of the planets see that Saturn indeed liberates the Sun.

The Sun represents ātmā – the fundamental consciousness itself, the core of who and what we are. The Moon represents manas – a reflection of the light of consciousness into the dark night of insentient, external, material things. Mercury further extends the light so that it can interact with these insentient things, via buddhi (intellect, the i/o bridge between mind and matter). Venus grants five actual senses of perception to the intellect. Mars grants five actual senses of action.

However when there is action towards the objects of the senses, living beings come into conflict, and fight over the objects – Mars runs rampant.

Jupiter enters with morals, principles and values dictating how people must share and cooperate. Live becomes good.

But the living entity is still hyperextended into an environment foreign to itself, external to its true being. So, in spite of all the prosperity Jupiter can bring, there is still depression and dissatisfaction. There is still hollow loneliness.

Saturn enters to smack us on the face and wake us up. “See, everything you are striving for is foreign to you. You are permanent, but you are trying to enjoy situations that are temporary. Wake up! This will never work!”

Saturn allows us to change our concept of self, and thus encourages the sunlight which has evolved through the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter, to finally return within itself, to what it truly is – a purely conscious entity with joy and happiness within. This is something that cannot be realized without disconnecting from the falsehoods of joy that surround us.

So, symbolically speaking, Saturn liberates his father, the Sun, from his forray into pursuit of external objects, by forcing his father to realize his mistake, by forcing him to face the temporality and non-esstiality of all the things his father is obsessed with via the other five planets.

Thus Saturn is the ultimate mokṣa-kāraka of the planets, and the ultimate indicator of spirituality.

PS – Rahu and Ketu are the evolutionary forces themselves. Rahu allows the Sun to extend outwards through the Moon, up to Mars. Ketu allows the Sun to return inwards from Jupiter through Saturn. Thus Ketu is also a mokṣa-kāraka.

Vic DiCara

vicdicara.com

Occasionally, when I travel to our ISKCON centres, I like to visit the restaurants to see how they are going. Generally, all of them do very well and some exceptional well.

On a recent visit to Perth I headed into Govindas with Yadu-srestha and Sita Rama Laksman and had a wonderful lunch. It was around 2.30pm so the restaurant was a little quiet but those who were there seemed happy with their meal.

Because trading an established location for a mere speculative prospect would place the maintenance, service and worship of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda in jeopardy

Why not Simply Chant and Dance?
Sacinandana Swami: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: “Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the Holy Name of the Lord. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya 4.71)
One might ask, “Then why do we hear so many lectures on the Bhagavatam in our movement. Why don’t we simply sing and dance instead of listening to so many explanations?” The answer is: the other eight processes of devotional service support the chanting of the Holy Name. For example, when you hear or read about Krsna you will know who Krsna is. From this position you will chant to a person, you will connect with Krsna; you will chant with sambandha-jnana. However, if you don’t read the Bhagavatam, if you don’t know who Krsna is, He will not mean anything to you and thus you won’t connect with Him. In other words, your chanting will be ‘shadow’ chanting, without substance. You will only think about material things and it will not be devotional service. Therefore you must hear and learn about Krsna, so that your chanting won’t be a bridge that leads nowhere, but a bridge to Krsna.
For me, chanting means touching Krsna. Here is an example for what I mean by that: at airports smoking is forbidden outside of designated smoking rooms. Especially when many people are smoking in one of these rooms, whoever comes out of it smells intensely – having been so immersed in the smoke – and if the person passes you, you’ll immediately know where he or she came from. Similarly, in chanting you want to be so absorbed that you touch Krsna, that you touch the spiritual world and that when you have completed your chanting you will have a Krsna conscious fragrance or influence around you. Therefore it is so important that every day you enter this ‘room’ of intense, immersed chanting. Then you can bring something of the spiritual atmosphere into your daily life. That is why we are interested in the other eight practices of devotional services – they support us, and we need this support, so that we can chant with taste and absorption.

Tails of New Vrindaban: “Malati the cow.”
Malati was showing signs of labor when I went to check on her at 6:45 am Monday morning. I had to do an airport run for some devotees but I mentioned it to Anandavidya before I left for Pittsburgh. Malati proceeded to disappear from the barn. Anandavidya was unable to locate her as she was nowhere to be seen. Morning milking takes place at 7. He was however worried about her and ventured out into the horrendously muddy field to search. She was found down the hill behind the Palace. After herding her back into the barn he continued to milk the other 5 cows. She gave birth to her fourth calf on Monday Dec 4th at 11:20 am. I returned from the airport run just in time to see a brand new baby. Anandavidya reported that the rather large calf took some extra time getting out. Remaining half way in and half way out for sometime, with a little extra help she was gently pulled to delivery.
What a beautiful little girl and a healthy mother. We were counting our blessings for an easy birth free from complications. For the next day and a half we were immersed in appreciation of the sweetness of these two. Malati is a very strong cow and has so much affection for her calves. Around 1:00pm the afternoon of Dec 5, I was working in the barn and watched a wild turkey enter the field with Malati and her baby. Malati got up and chased that turkey with great speed and determination, clearing the field of any potential dangers for her little one. I was thinking how wonderful that she had recovered from birth and could run with such energy.
Evening milking is at 6:00pm. We noticed that Malati was uninterested in coming inside at milking time. We assumed she was tired as her calf had picked up on the drinking process and was likely keeping her busy. By the end of the milking Malati was in distress. She was showing signs of struggle being unable to stand. Within the next hour their was an incredible acceleration of problems. She was on her side all four legs sticking straight out. Her stomach was bloated and swollen. Her head lay flat on the ground as she struggled with each breath.
I called Hari Bhakti and asked that the vet be called. I was not able to sleep. I called Dr. Nick. He called Tom Bach. Dr. Nick asked for more details so we went down to access her situation again. I was just so sad to see her I was practically in tears trying to tell Dr. Nick that she was in trouble. I called Ranaka and let him know that we would surely be losing her over night. Dr. Nick called back with an idea. He suggested milk fever. I had thought that perhap there had been a birth complication internally or even a second calf that was struggling to exit. But the diagnosis of milk fever was something I hadn’t thought of. I researched it online and learned that she needed calcium. The stores were all closed it was around 11 at night. I searched our medicine cabinet at the barn and found a tube of calcium supplement. Anandavidya and I forced the tube down her throat and used a broom stick to get the calcuim gel out of the tube. (you are supposed to use a special gun which we didn’t have) Malati seemed to get better. She was able to pick her head up and we brought her water and hay. We treated her with uterine bolus’s just incase there had been an internal infection. She was shivering and shaking. We got her baby inside for the night. And had to try to get some rest ourselves. I woke up and drove to the barn to check on her every two hours. By the morning milking at 7 she seemed to be barely alive. We rushed through the morning milking. Malati had been struggling and her head was stuck under the fence.
I called Hari Bhakti to make sure the vet would be called ASAP. Instead of trying to make more calls with the bad cellphone reception I drove down to the big barn to ask for help. I went over to find some strong people to try and get her sitting upright. Anandavidya used the tractor and a rope to pull her out from the fence. John and Gintas came over to help just as Ray arrived. With the tractor, Ray was able to use the bucket to pull her into an upright position. If a cow is not sitting upright their organs will not work. Getting her into the upright position was great. She was able to breathe and even ate a little hay. She sat propped up against the tractor bucket and gradually the bloating decreased. We began to feel a little hope. I drove to the store to buy more calcium. And we gave her another tube.
By 3:00pm Dr. Mores our veterinarian arrived. He gave Malati an IV treatment of calcium. She was definitely improving. Her front legs were moving and she would occasionally struggle to stand. We milked the cows and went home for some such needed sleep.
In the morning we found Malati in a very precarious position. She had broken through the fence and in her struggle to pull herself up with her front legs she had scooted herself down hill and was headed down a very steep incline. I call it a cliff. What could we do? She weighs 1500 pounds. We had to milk the cows. By the end of milking she had slid entirely down to the bottom of the incline. I could barely get down the hill it was so steep. Yudhistur Prabhu was walking up to the temple and was very surprised to find her at the bottom of the hill. He stayed and chanted with her for a half an hour thinking that she didn’t have much of a chance of surviving. She had rolled to her side again and the bloating took over. Immediately after milking the entire maintenance crew came over to help. Her legs were very stiff and she was weak. However all signs of swelling had gone indicating the milk fever had been cured. Cows are very big and strong in so many ways but there they have so many weaknesses. If a cow remains sitting for 72 hours without standing their muscles degenerate and they lose their ability to stand. With Anandavidya, Bhagavan, John, Gintas, Dev, Moses and myself we were able to rock her back and forth, pushing her legs under her and bringing her to a sitting postion. Finally she could breath again! We gave her food and water. Gradually the bloating decreased and we were hopeful once again.
Raye arrived with the tractor, harness and the hip huggers. First he had to clear a road in order to reach Malati. Manuevering a large tractor on the side of the hill (I call it a cliff), he was able to turn around, and pick Malati up with hip huggers. The hip huggers are a metal device with two circles that fit over the cows’ hip bones. The tractor and the cow made their way up a very narrow steep incline balancing ever so carefully. Anandavidya walked calmly next to the tractor ensuring that the cows feet would not slip under the wheels. I closed my eyes, tried to breathe deeply and prayed that no one would get hurt.
By 12 noon Ray was able to set Malati down in front of the barn. She had been through a lot. We brought her baby out and the two were reunited. The maintenance crew came back to try and push Malatis legs underneath her. We were able to lift Malati again with the hip huggers and let the baby drink. We milked her. And then she seemed to get some enthusiasm and she began to use her back legs. She was already up in the air but she was standing on her own. She tried to walk. We yelled and cheered as she took a few steps.
Amazingly she was up and walking, she even ran a bit to keep up with her very energetic calf. We lead her around with enticement of grain and bananas encouraging her to keep moving and using those leg muscles.
We put her in the field and went home for some lunch. By evening milking she was sitting again. We tried to encourage her to stand. She got up on her own and walked into the barn for evenings milking. It felt so nice to have her back with the herd. What an adventure. She was able to get up and sit down on her own.
Saturday night we let her sleep in the barn with her calf as the temperatures took a dive. The floor inside the barn was too slippery and her weakened back legs could not find traction. She struggled for a good 24 hours. Finally I went for help once more. Sunday morning Anandaviya and I decided to bring the maintenance crew back as our levels of frustration were boiling over. Bhagavan, John, Dev, and the two of us struggled to get Malati outside to the earth were her legs could dig in and give her the support needed to stand. After a few hours we had dragged her about four feet. She had worn the skin off her legs trying to get up. Running low on ideas we called for more help. Malati (Prabhupada’s Malati) came over and gave some encouragement. I found Varsana Swami in the Prasadam room. And Ranaka came up to help.
Using a pulley and a chain through the barn ceiling, we used hip huggers to raise her off the ground. The boys took turns standing on a bench tightening the pulley and gradually lifting her up. We milked her to give her some relief. Malati looked so sad. She was hanging in the air but seemed to have given up on her desire to stand. It wasn’t until her calf rounded the corner that the life returned to her eyes. She saw her calf and she used her legs to stand up. We were able remove the support and she walked on her own. Thank the Lord! What a strong cow. We will see what tomorrow brings.

Name Calling - Vraj Vihari das at ISKCON of DC (audio)
The practice of calling the Holy Name is found in many of the world’s great spiritual traditions. Today we’ll take a look at that and share some insights to better experience the Bhakti Yoga practice of singing and chanting Krishna’s Holy Name.
Listen to it here: https://goo.gl/PsWuRD

Srila Prabhupada: Now, this is Sanskrit word. Some of you do not know what is the meaning of this Hare Kṛṣṇa. This meaning of Hare Kṛṣṇa is… It is just addressing the Supreme Lord and His energy, Harā. Harā is the energy, and Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord. So we are addressing, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa: “O the energy of the Lord, O the Lord, please accept me.” That’s all. “Please accept me.” We have no other prayer. “Please accept me.” Lord Caitanya taught that we should simply cry, and we shall simply pray for accepting us. That’s all. So this vibration is simply a cry for addressing the Supreme Lord, requesting Him, “Please accept me. Please accept me.”
Lecture on BG 8.21-22 – New York, November 19, 1966: This verse we have been discussing last day, that avyaktaḥ akṣaraḥ. Avyakta means which is not manifested. This material world is manifested, but the spiritual world is not manifested before us. But, although not manifested, that part of this creation is eternal. Akṣara. Akṣara means “which has no annihilation.” In the material world everything is born, it stays for some time, it develops, it gives some by-products, then it dwindles and then vanishes. These six forms of changes of the material form—ṣaḍ-vikāra. This is called in Sanskrit word ṣaḍ-vikāra, six kinds of changes. But the spiritual world, avyakta, which is not manifested at the present moment before us, that is akṣara. Akṣara means it is eternal. It does not annihilate.
Now, this spiritual vision at the present moment, because we are covered by the material dress, or material senses, therefore the spiritual world or anything spiritual is not conceivable due to our material senses. But we can feel that there is something spiritual. That is possible. Although we are fully in ignorance of the spiritual matter, still, we can feel. If you analyze yourself silently, “What I am? I am this finger? I am this body? I am this hair?” you’ll deny, “No I am not this.” So beyond this body, what is, that is spiritual. That we can feel. Similarly, as we cannot find our self within this matter, although I’m here, that we can distinguish, the distinction between dead body and living body, something minus. That something is spirit. That something is spirit. Although we have no eyes to see, but the spirit is there. That is the beginning of Bhagavad-gītā. Avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idaṁ tatam. That spiritual existence is eternal, whereas this body is not eternal.
Now, here it is said that avyaktaḥ akṣaraḥ: “That nonmanifested, spiritual atmosphere is nonmanifested.” But how it can be manifested? We have little feeling of it, but how it can be manifested? Yes. It can be manifested. And that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which we are preaching. In the Vedic literature it is said that ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ (CC Madhya 17.136). Indriya means the senses. We perceive or we get knowledge through the instruments of different senses—eyes, ear, or smelling, tongue, touch. These are our five sense for gathering knowledge. And there are five senses for working. So we have got ten senses. And the ten senses are being conducted by the mind. So ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ.
Now, because Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa is complete spirit and He’s absolute, therefore His name is also spirit; His name, His form, His quality, His, I mean to say, opulence, His paraphernalia—everything is spiritual. But at the present moment, due to our material bondage or condition, we cannot understand what is spiritual. But this ignorance can be moved by this process, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. How it is? I’ll give you example. Just like a man is sleeping. A man is sleeping. How you can awake him? By vibration of sound. “Mr. such-and-such, just get up. Get up! The time is up.” Although he is now practically unconscious, he cannot see, he cannot, er, still, that hearing process is so prominent that a sleeping man can be awakened by vibration of sound. Similarly, the spirit soul, although it is now overpowered by this material bondage or material conditions, that spiritual consciousness can be revived by this transcendental vibration, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. And for practical example, we are experiencing, and some of you…
Now, this is Sanskrit word. Some of you do not know what is the meaning of this Hare Kṛṣṇa. This meaning of Hare Kṛṣṇa is… It is just addressing the Supreme Lord and His energy, Harā. Harā is the energy, and Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord. So we are addressing, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa: “O the energy of the Lord, O the Lord, please accept me.” That’s all. “Please accept me.” We have no other prayer. “Please accept me.” Lord Caitanya taught that we should simply cry, and we shall simply pray for accepting us. That’s all. So this vibration is simply a cry for addressing the Supreme Lord, requesting Him, “Please accept me. Please accept me.”
ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ
patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau
kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-
sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya
(Cc. Antya 20.32, Śikṣāṣṭaka 5)
This prayer was offered by Lord Caitanya. He’s praying, “O my dear Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda…” Kṛṣṇa appeared as a foster son of Nanda Mahārāja. And Kṛṣṇa is very delighted when He is connected with some of His devotees’ names. So Lord Caitanya addresses Him, “O the son of Nanda, somehow or other, I have now fallen in this ocean of nescience, ignorance. Please pick me up and fix me as one of the atoms of Your lotus feet.” That’s all. Just like a man fallen in the ocean, the only survival is… If somebody goes and picks him just one inch above the water, he feels immediately relieved. Immediately. So as soon as we are fixed up in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the immediate relief. Immediately. There is no question about it. It is such a nice thing.
So although we cannot perceive the transcendental nature of the Supreme Lord, His name, His fame… Simply by speculating that what is the name of God, he cannot understand what is the name of God. Simply by speculating what is the form of God, it is not possible to understand. But as soon as you become situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ (Brs. 1.2.234). If you engage yourself in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness business, then gradually God will reveal Himself before you. Oh, you cannot see God by your own endeavor. But if you qualify yourself, God will reveal Himself and you’ll see Him. This is the process. You cannot order, “O God, please come before me and dance before me.” No. He cannot be order-supplier. But you have to do in such a way that He’ll be pleased to reveal Himself before you and you’ll see Him fully.
So here it is said, avyaktaḥ akṣaraḥ. The transcendental, there is. Because it is spoken in the Bhagavad-gītā and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is speaking Himself, there is no cause of doubting. There is no cause of doubting. The only thing is how to feel it, how to understand it. That understanding will gradually be developed, and it will be…, the truth will be revealed to you if you go on with this chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma… This is simple process, very simple process. Even children can take part in it. Even a child of six months took part in it. Perhaps in the last meeting you have seen. There was a small child, sitting on the lap of his father, and he was also (claps) joining. You see. Because automatic. A dog will dance, a cat will dance, a child will dance. There is no necessity of preliminary qualification for understanding, because it is from the spiritual platform. It is from the spiritual platform.
So this simple process will reveal before you what is spiritual kingdom, what is God, what you are, what is this material world, why you are conditioned, what is the remedy. Everything will be… Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇam (CC Antya 20.12). Gradually, step by step by step by step.
So avyakto ‘kṣara ity uktaḥ: “It is in the Vedic literature it is said that that spiritual world and the spirit, everything is nonmanifested, but still, that is eternal, eternal.” We have to see through the books of knowledge. We have to believe. And it will be revealed, if you follow. Just like you purchase a ticket for going to India, some India Airline or Pan American Airline, you purchase. But why do you purchase? You can disbelieve. So what is the evidence that I shall go to India by purchasing the ticket? But still, with faith, because people are going there, the company’s running, under certain circumstances, you create some faith, “Yes, it will take me.” And actually, when you purchase ticket and sit down on the plane, ah, next morning you get down. So you have to be… But faith, why you are accepting that faith? Because it is a company which is authorized, which is recognized, and therefore you are creating faith. Faith you must have. Without faith, you cannot go a step forward, even in your ordinary life. But faith, what faith? Ah, the belief and faith should be in the authorized, authorized place. That is the process. Faith we must have. Without faith, we cannot make progress, but not blind faith, but to accept something which is recognized.

ISKCON Auckland Rathayatra 2017 - highlights (4 min video)
Dec 9, 2017.
Srila Prabhupada: When loud chanting of the Hare K...

Iskcon Center Vesu (Surat) Rathyatra And Book Distribution Report (Album with photos)
“Distribution of books and magazines is our most important activity.Without books, our preaching has no solid basis”- Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to Cyavana 26-12-71.
Jagannath Damodar das, on behalf of ISKCON SURAT: Embracing these divine words of Srila Prabhupada in their hearts and acting accordingly, The devotees from Surat has once again emerged victorious in their 4 hours combat against Maya during a fabulous Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in the Vesu area of Surat city on 10-12-17.
Troops of devotees entered the residential buildings of this posh area and bombarded mostly each and every house with the weapons in the form of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Other groups of devotees marched along the roads with their hands loaded with Prabhupada books surrounding the Rathyatra of the Lord of the universe who was mercifully delivering the conditioned souls by His beautiful sidelong glances.

This Transcendental 4 hours battle came to end in a moment and by Prabhupada’s divine mercy the devotees were able to distribute the books as follows:

538- Mahabig books
80- Medium books
108- Small books
11 Annual BTG subscriptions.

H.G. Radhacharàn prabhu,
H.G.Radhesh prabhu and
H.G.Arvindaksh prabhu. administered the proper arrangements in the Rathyatra and book distribution respectively.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada transcendental book distribution.

Link to photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/bxmHg20VtLwFClO02

A very positive update on HG Agnideva Prabhu, from HH Indradyumna Swami.
Dear devotees, friends and well-wishers:
This is an update on Agnideva prabhu. In fact, it will be the final update on this GoFundMe page as he is doing very well! Yesterday his physiotherapist at rehab took away his walker saying that Agnideva prabhu can now walk unaided on his own. Last Friday, he was given an endurance test and asked to walk as far as he could for 6 minutes. He did very well. He will be discharged tomorrow and will move into an apartment with his son Sadbhuja dasa and his daughter-in-law, Jackie in Sydney. Next Friday, he will have a post-surgery cardiac evaluation after which he will attend a prescribed physio/exercise course as an outpatient at the hospital. It will be around 3-4 weeks before his breathing is back to normal and when safe he will fly back to Portland to stay at Sadbhuja’s home.
Once again, we would like to thank everyone who donated towards his recovery. To date the fund-raising has brought in close to $141,000. In consultation with the hospital and his rehab, we feel this amount will be sufficient for past, present and future expenses for Agnideva prabhu. We will present a full list of all expenses soon on Agnideva’s Facebook page. It is heartwarming to have seen so many devotees, friends and well-wishers come forward to support him in his time of need.
We would like to also like to thank the following devotees who attended to Agnideva prabhu’s personal needs while he was in hospital:
His son Sadbhuja and his daughter in law Jackie
Pavitram and Kavita
Assem and Diviya Aurora
Dhruva Sharma
Bhagavad Ashraya dasa and Sarva Mangala dasi
Bhaja Govinda dasa
Govinda Hari dasa
Kartika dasa
His doctors and nurses
A special thank you to Jahnavi Jivana dasi for her special efforts in raising funds for Agnideva prabhu.
If you would like to contact Agnideva prabhu personally you can do so on his Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/agnideva.dasa
Hare Krsna and thank you all once again!
Your Servant,
Indradyumna Swami

By Gurudas

I am saddened by my feeling of separation from you, that I will not see you again on this planet, yet I still feel close to you. Our relationship transcends material boundaries and You are in my, and many people's hearts. Let us all pray for your continued spiritual journey, which makes me happy, as you are not in pain anymore, and with our beloved Spiritual Master, and Radha and Krishna Continue reading "YAMUNA
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By Giriraj Swami

Srila Prabhupada’s beloved disciple Yamuna-devi dasi passed away on Saphala-ekadasi. There is so much to be said about Srimati Yamuna-devi dasi. In October of 1970 I was one of a group of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples from America going to join him in India. On the way, we stopped in Brussels, and it was there, in an apartment, that I first met Yamuna—and Malati and Syamasundara (I had met Gurudas before that, in Boston). Upon entering, I could immediately feel their intense, extraordinary devotion to Srila Prabhupada—it was so palpable, so tangible; the room was just suffused with their devotion—and we spent the next several hours there together. As enthusiastic as I was to go to India to be with Srila Prabhupada, I felt like I could stay there forever; I never wanted to leave the association of these amazing devotees who were so attached to Srila Prabhupada and so capable of serving him in such different ways. Continue reading "Yamuna-devi — Serving Vani and Vapuh
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2017, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Class)

When we present books to people, we change them. Someone may say, “No, not interested.”

We can reply, “No, that is okay. You do not have to be interested. You can still have the book.”

Them, “No money!”

We, “No, it is not a matter of money. It is a matter of desire.”

In this way, it does not matter what they say; there always is an answer. They try to have a closing remark – you meet them and you connect with them by having a conversation and then they try to close it with something like, “I have no money!”

That is a good close. It is finished now. But, no, it is not a matter of money; it is a matter of desire. When we really desire something then miracles start to happen. There are always obstacles to be overcome. Book distributors know that you can argue with someone’s mind and try to change someone’s mind but ultimately when the Supersoul interferes then real miracles start to happen. Somehow or other, suddenly the person changes and says, “Okay, I will have that book.” You wonder how… you wonder why!? So many amazing stories are there!

 

Answer Podcast

The post In the computer metaphor for explaining the self, comparing the soul with the user mixes the inanimate with the animate – isn’t it better to compare consciousness with electricity? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

ISKCON devotees may already know what an amazing event ISKCON Leadership Sanga is, with over a thousand ISKCON leaders and potential leaders, from around the world attending.

I have arrived safely in Dallas and am now happily under the protection of Sri Kalachandji, His dhama, and His devotees, by the grace of Srila Prabhupada and his followers.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Qualities of a Srimad Bhagavatam Hearer.
Radheshyam Das: On choosing the Right person to hear from: Srila Prabhupada writes, “If hearing is from the right sources, it acts very quickly. Generally people hear from unauthorized persons. Such unauthorized persons may be very learned by academic qualifications, but because they do not follow the principles of devotional service, hearing from them becomes a sheer waste of time. Sometimes the texts are interpreted fashionably to suit their own purposes. Therefore, first one should select a competent and bona-fide speaker and then hear from him.” (1.8.36p)
“….sometimes people, in an unauthorized hearing process, take more interest in hearing about His dealings with the gopis. Such an inclination indicates the lusty feelings of the hearer, so a bona-fide speaker of the dealings of the Lord never indulges in such hearings. One must hear about the Lord from the very beginning, as in the Srimad-Bhagavatam or any other scriptures, and that will help the hearer attain perfection by progressive development. One should not, therefore, consider that His dealings with the Pandavas are less important than His dealings with the gopis. We must always remember that the Lord is always transcendental to all mundane attachment. (1.8.36p)
Srila Prabhupada writes, “One can certainly see directly the presence of Lord Sri Krishna in the pages of Bhagavatam if one has heard it from a self-realized great soul like Sukadeva Gosvami. One cannot, however, learn Bhagavatam from a bogus hired reciter whose aim of life is to earn some money out of such recitation and employ the earning in sex indulgence.” (1.3.44p). Thus one has to choose the right source before one sits down to hear Bhagavatam.

On Right Attitude of the Hearer: The hearer should be inquisitive to ask questions but not in a challenging mood; he should present his queries with great regard for the speaker and subject of Bhagavatam. The transcendental subject should be heard by submissive hearing process from right sources (based on SB1.1.5p). If queries are presented to test the scholarly aptitude of the speaker or to present one’s learning, such a boorish attitude blocks one’s ability to access the spiritual truths. Understanding is not a question of information accumulation, rather becoming an antenna to receive the descending mercy of Guru parampara.
Srila Prabhupada also writes, “The conditions for hearing the transcendental message of the Absolute Truth are set forth herein. The first condition is that the audience must be very sincere and eager to hear. The transcendental message of the Absolute is not understandable by those who are materially absorbed. Under the direction of a bona-fide spiritual master, one becomes gradually purified. (SB 1.1.13p). The transcendental literature like Bhagavatam deals with the supermost activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna on the spiritual realm. If the hearers come with mundane motivations of earthly or heavenly pleasures or with desire for liberation from cycle of birth and death, then such self-absorption they will not be able to receive the full benefit. In India Bhagavat saptahas are held for seven days by well-to-do men, to increase their popularity by inviting a speaker who pampers the senses of the audience by directly going to the 10th canto confidential pastimes of Krishna and gopis. This titillates the senses of the hearers materially without yielding any spiritual benefit to them. Sincerity means that the audience should be interested in knowing how to rise above all forms of sense gratification and engage in the service of Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. They should be eager to blossom their devotional attitude by parampara wisdom.
Also Srila Prabhupada says, “Simple hearing is not all; one must realize the text with proper attention. The word niviñöa means that Suta Gosvami drank the juice of Bhagavatam through his ears. That is the real process of receiving Bhagavatam. One should hear with rapt attention from the real person, and then he can at once realize the presence of Lord Krishna in every page. The secret of knowing Bhagavatam is mentioned here. No one can give rapt attention who is not pure in mind. No one can be pure in mind who is not pure in action. No one can be pure in action who is not pure in eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. But somehow or other if someone hears with rapt attention from the right person, at the very beginning one can assuredly see Lord Sri Krishna in person in the pages of Bhagavatam.” (1.3.44p). This illustrates the importance of RAPT ATTENTION on the part of hearer.

By Jayadvaita Swami and Guru Gauranga Das

December 6, 2017 - New York Supreme Court for Kings County Room 525 was filled with Krishna devotees opposing a petition seeking approval of the sale of their temple in Brooklyn. Also appearing in court to oppose the proposed sale were attorneys for ISKCON's Governing Body Commission (GBC), an attorney for the newly reconstituted Bharati Center board, an attorney for the temple’s congregants and a New York Assistant Attorney General. New York State law requires court approval of the sale of real property belonging to a religious society. Typically, a religious society desirous of selling its place of worship first seeks approval from the New York State Office of the Attorney General. If the Attorney General rejects a religious society's petition to sell its place of worship, the seller's sole recourse is to attempt to overturn that decision in New York Supreme Court. Continue reading "New York Attorney General Urges Supreme Court to Reject Pending Petition for Sale of Hare Krishna Temple in Brooklyn
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Srila Prabhupada: Thank you very much for taking so much care of my health for praying to Nrsimhadeva. He is very kind. By all your prayers He will surely take care of me.

The post Daily Darshan: Deember11,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Harinama Sankirtana at Union Square park subway station, NY, Sunday, December 10th (Album with photos)
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HH Bhakti Charu Swami’s review about the HARE KRISHNA FILM (4 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/X1Nx6p

Srila Prabhupada’s tireless pursuit of giving Krishna consciousness.
Udayananda: During the 1976 festival in Vrindavan, there was a whole schedule one day that started at mangal arotik and went all the way until midnight at a pandal program celebrating the Appearance of Lord Ram and attended by over twenty thousand people.
It was very impressive.
For me the day started blissfully as I got to go on a morning walk with Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada walked for a very long time preaching vigorously.
At the beginning of the walk I was at the rear of the devotees, but after about an hour I finally ended up right next to Srila Prabhupada.
At this point Prabhupada had to pass water so he turned and handed me his cane.
I took his cane and Prabhupada was handed a bottle of water to wash his hands.
He went down into a little gully and did what nature called.
In the meantime, I put the cane in my left hand and put my right hand in my japa bag to chant my rounds.
When Prabhupada returned, he reached for his cane and like a fool I started to hand it to him with my left hand.
Prabhupada said, “Left hand?”
Immediately I thought, “Oh, I am an idiot, aren’t I?”
So I put it in my right hand and handed it to Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada said, “Always right hand.”

Immediately after the hour and a half walk, Prabhupada spent the rest of the afternoon with dignitaries who had come from New Delhi, such as the governor and state representatives.

I was hanging outside Prabhupada’s room listening and was amazed at how he was like a lion amongst lambs preaching vigorously.

Then without rest, Prabhupada went to Mathura to give a lecture at the pandal program to the twenty thousand or so people.

Prabhupada started the lecture by saying, “Because there are so many people here to hear Krishna’s pastimes, and they may not speak English, I am going to speak in Hindi, and I apologize.”

Prabhupada actually said, “I apologize to my English speaking disciples”, as if he ever had to apologize to us.

What amazed me was not only Prabhupada’s humility when he apologized to us, but my realization about the scene I observed while Prabhupada preached about Krishna and Lord Chaitanya.

I looked around at the thousands of people there and the contingent of devotees from Africa, England, Australia, America, South America and remembered Bhaktivinode Thakur’s query,

“When will Americans and Englishmen and Germans come with their hands raised high and say, ‘Jaya Sachinandana, Gaura Hari?’

When will that day come?” I thought, “The day has come!”

I was thinking, “Prabhupada, you did it! You have done this and now you’re preaching to twenty thousand people and you were preaching to all these dignitaries all day long.

You’ve done it! You don’t have to do anything else! You’ve done it.

You can just rest on your laurels.

You don’t need to push! You’ve done it! You’ve done it all!”

With Prabhupada’s accomplishment, there was fanfare because he did an amazing, miraculous thing.

The fanfare, however, had no affect on him, nor was he interested in that type of glorification.

He was just interested in glorifying Krishna.

By the time we got back to Fogel Ashram it was close to midnight.

Everyone was completely exhausted.

I felt like a zombie and on top of that I had gotten a little sick because I ate some jalebis in the marketplace and came down with a violent case of diarrhea.

Every time I laid down to sleep, I had to go back to the restroom.

It was really hellish.

This went on for quite a while so I thought I might as well just stay up to chant my japa.

I went down to the temple and it was close to two o’clock in the morning.

I was the only person around except for one devotee who was doing the twenty-four hour kirtan and he was laying on the mridanga barely hitting the drum and just muttering Krishna’s name.

I came out the front of the Krishna-Balaram temple and I started to circumambulate.

As I came around the back of the temple, I was right next to Srila Prabhupada’s room where I saw a light on.

I reflected how Prabhupada had been preaching tirelessly since four o’clock in the morning and now it’s two o’clock in the morning the next day.

In his room, he had his dictaphone and I heard him say, “Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur says in his explanation of the Gita…” Prabhupada was translating the Bhagavatam.

I’m thinking, “Why? You’ve already done it all.

You’ve done everything.

You’ve done this big festival, there’s no one around seeing you do this.”

But he was there translating the Bhagavatam, and he was doing it for us.

I got to witness Srila Prabhupada’s tireless pursuit of giving Krishna consciousness to this planet, to this world, to this universe.

And that’s why he’s the spiritual master of the universe.

—Udayananda

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