Planet ISKCON

Audio Podcast :

 

Video :

The post Prabhupada life-story 14 – Incorporating ISKCON – The seven visionary purposes appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2016/11/bhkshu-gita-1-minimize-misery-identifying-misery-caused-mind-bhagavatam-11-23-42/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2016/11/bhikshu-gita-2-the-mind-makes-it-difficult-for-people-to-change-be-understanding-srimad-bhagavatam-11-23-43/

hhttps://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2016/11/bhikshu-gita-3-the-mind-makes-the-unreal-seem-real-and-the-real-seem-unreal-srimad-bhagavatam-11-23-44/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2016/11/bhikshu-gita-4-mind-distracts-us-bhakti-name-bhakti-bhagavatam-11-23-45/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2016/11/bhikshu-gita-5-happiness-comes-raising-standard-longing-bhagavatam-11-23-46/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2016/11/bhikshu-gita-6-see-minds-aversion-concentration-trick-illusion-bhagavatam-11-23-47/

The post Bhikshu Gita series transriptions uploaded. appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Where is your hometown?
I am a New Yorker by birth. I was born in Brooklyn and brought up in the rural area of Rockland county, near very small town called Spring Valley. At the age of ten, I moved back to NY and lived in Queens.

What initially attracted you to Krishna Consciousness?
I was in high school when Srila Prabhupada was setting up the first ISKCON temple in the East Village. I was initially attracted to the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness. After reading some Buddhist writings called the Diamond Sutra, which I found to be interesting but not that enlightening, my reading created further questions without producing much in the way of answers.

In early 1973, I received a copy of the Back to Godhead (BTG) magazine from a very kind monk who was distributing them in the French Quarter of New Orleans. After reading only two paragraphs of Srila Prabhupada’s lecture, I felt very sure that this was it – the real thing! I knew I needed to find out more.

When did you first meet Srila Prabhupada, and take initiation?
I didn’t have the opportunity to follow up until the November of 1973 when I realized there was a temple in Coconut Grove/Miami. I was staying with my friends in Fort Lauderdale and upon request, they agreed to take me to the temple. I went there with a hope of meeting the person whose lecture I had read in the BTG. I was unsure about whether or not this would be possible but it seemed like the most important thing. I went there with this goal in mind and without any idea of what to expect. As it turned out, I never left, and I met his Divine Grace for the first time in July of 1974 – when he gave me initiation in New Vrindaban.

Can you please tell us something more about your first initiation?

Sure. My first initiation was, of course, wonderful. Whenever and wherever Srila Prabhupada visited on his US tours, there were usually large-scale initiations at that point in time -Advaita, Nirmala, and myself. We all received 1^st initiation, and I believe Varsana Swami, and Kasyapa das, received second initiation.

I want to say that many, if not most of the initiates, were from other temples. His Divine Grace presided over the ceremony from a Vyasasan which had been placed on the stone steps above the “driveway”/road which ran between the temple and the hill.

Brahmananda Prabhu gave the lecture and performed the fire sacrifice. I was extremely nervous and unnerved by the thought of having to approach Srila Prabhupada in order to receive my beads- this would be my first close encounter. I was pretty shy, this was a very large group of people when you consider that so many were in New Vrindaban to see His Divine Grace- the largest devotee gathering I had ever been in. I was still quite new and easily intimidated. The walk up to the Vyasasan from my place in the arena seemed endless and climbing those few steps leading up to the Vyasasan, seemed like ascending a great mountain! It may sound dramatic but that is how it felt to me.

Once in front of Srila Prabhupada, I could see his mouth moving but really could barely understand the words he spoke (partly due to the reverberation in the sound system). And, when Prabhupada announced my new name, I was unsure of what he had said. All I could hear was the oohs and aahs from the audience.

When he was uttering my name, I flashed on that passage from the Krsna Book, “Description of the Rasa Dance” where Srila Prabhupada describes that the attractive features of Krsna and the Gopis combined together to appear “…like thunder, clouds, snow and lightning” so, it was quite mystical and I was transported to another realm. Being dazed and delighted, somehow or other, I made it back to my seat. In order to have confirmation of the name I had just received, I had to ask someone sitting next to me.

Also, when did you get 2nd initiation?
I was given the option to receive second initiation along with first initiation, but I declined it due to not feeling ready. My letter of acceptance for 2nd initiation is dated for 11/24/74, however, the fire sacrifice did not take place until a few months later- I want to say February of 1975. I believe that Bimbadhara received 1st initiation at that time.

When did you get married?
I got married to Narada Muni in May of 1974 in Miami. We moved up there in June of 1974, within a month of being married.

When/where did you hear about New Vrindaban?

I was not so aware of New Vrindaban or what was happening there. I had heard of it from the other devotees, who tended to speak about it in a sort of romantic way – open spaces, cows, beautiful deities. So that made me curious to know more about New Vrindaban. Narada on the other hand, was well acquainted with the project and the devotees there – he had previously worked with both Kirtananda swami and Kuladri during the roadshow days. He was an older devotee who knew a lot of people in the movement and was himself, very well known.

When did you move to New Vrindaban?
The Miami temple was in chaos at that moment and Narada wanted to go to New Vrindaban in hopes of finding spiritual stability and I basically agreed! It seemed like a good idea and Miami was becoming unbearably hot!

What were your main services in each decade, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and currently?
In the very beginning, I was assigned to serve breakfast prasadam and then afterwards, clean the prasadam room. In those early months, after initiation, I went on to do things like rolling chapatis and then cooking them on the old wood stoves, dressing chota Gaura Nitai. I was assigned to help Kutila to prepare for Srila Prabhupada’s upcoming visit – to re-do the Vyasasan decorations and to also decorate the Deity srngasana which, at that time, was made of wicker. You can, of course, see it in some of the older Deity photos from Bahulaban.

At one point, I was in charge of picking ALL the flowers and making ALL the garlands for ALL the farms. Amrita Prada was just very new and she was my only helper – and it was summer, so no store-bought flowers!!! We had only wild flowers and whatever was available in the rather small garden of the day.

In the fall of 1974, Narada and I started traveling for raising money by wholesaling Spiritual Sky incense. Later we would sell a jewelry line (Jagannatha Jewelry ) that was produced in Pittsburgh. I believe this continued for the next several years, primarily in the summertime.  This was the main service until the end of ’77.

Then later on, Narada was asked to be Temple President of the Columbus center and he opened a very successful Govinda’s restaurant. I became the baker for all the bread and also prepped some other basic menu items – was staying up all night to do this. I would then chant, attend mangal arotik, bathe and dress big Gaura Nitai, and take rest until it was time to start over and go to the restaurant!

The next major service change came when I was summoned to become part of the Palace crew. Myself and Mother Rupa were the only two women on the crew at that time. We started out working with Sudhanu in the casting department, helping prepare the models for casting. These were carved pieces that were going to be installed in the interior of the Palace as baseboards, cornices, window and door frames, etc.  Once these were put in place in the interior rooms of the Palace, I was engaged in “touch-up” finishing work – filing in seams and repairing any broken and damaged areas. The idea was to make them look perfect as possible and prepare them for the next step of gold leafing, which I went on to do – EVEN ON THE MAIN DOME (myself, Bhaktiniddhi, and Kuladri). That was pretty crazy, but seemed perfectly normal at the time, OMG!!!

Initially, it was just myself doing this work, then I had one helper and later as the marathon to finish Prabhupada’s Palace progressed, I was organizing the crews of dedicated souls who would come up to the Palace in the evenings, after putting in a full day of service. We had evening crews doing mostly gold leafing or preparing surfaces and mouldings on the exterior of the Palace.

I loved this service best of all. It was a wonderful and sublime meditation on His Divine Grace! I was able to connect with him in very intensely focused manner.

After a bit of a break (and a breakdown from exhaustion), I returned to full-time Palace service to work on the portico, the terrace walls, and all the things that were manifested in the years following the Palace opening.

There was still some traveling sales work going on intermittently as well until spring of 1981 when Narada was diagnosed with cancer and I was simultaneously expecting a child. My main service became taking care of my husband and then the newborn child!

As every New Vrindaban mother can tell you, if you had a baby you would probably end up working in the nursery if you did not wish to surrender to putting your child in there. So I had nursery service for a few years and then came out of retirement to work on the construction of the Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra temple in the months before the temple opening in 1983.

Also during that time period, Narada was in charge of life membership and started overseeing the guesthouse and was involved with development of the guest cabins as a timeshare program WOW! I almost forgot about that.

There was so much going on during this period of explosive growth and development! It was phenomenal, and you may want to consider Narada to be honored at some point – he was such a powerhouse.

So, I was charged with buying all the curtains and accessories for the cabins. I was responsible for hiring and supervising the cleaning staff for the Temple opening event – that is ALL the cleaning, and set-up of ALL the rooms in the new Temple building. EVERY ROOM, including the prasadam rooms, was set up to accommodate guests with either foam mats, cots or both. And there were about 15 janitors/cleaners working day and night over that festival weekend!

Every guest room in the lodge, every cabin, every room in the new temple building – every room, everywhere was full and I think there were also some tents set up outside. The guesthouse service continued until we ended up leaving the community at the end of 1985. This was originally meant to be a sabbatical, a period recuperation for Narada who had never fully recovered from his bout of cancer. But sadly, things started getting weird in New Vrindaban, Narada fell out of favor with management and we did not return.

In 2001 or 2002, I began attending Festival of Inspiration, helping out with registration and started reviving my New Vrindaban connection then in the next year or so. Gauranga Kishore, our son who took initiation from Radhnatha Swami, returned there to live and serve as a bramachari so I continued to visit more regularly. My major connection with New Vrindaban was revived in 2013 when I came to work for the summer in the guest services department – I was assisting Vasudeva in various ways but mainly as cleaning supervisor. Then I returned for the 2014, and 2015 guest seasons.

Anything specific you’d like to mention about your family? (spouse, children, siblings, parents, etc.) 
Gaura Kishore das is my only son and he has a daughter, Rati Keli, who is 7 years old. They now live in Athens, Ohio, and for this reason I am currently living there as well. He is teaching various courses in Philosophy and Ethics at 3 different colleges in the area.

Anything in particular you’d like us to highlight not yet covered? 
..I would really like to emphasize that I could only accept any “service award” on behalf of my god brothers and god sisters who were all part of an amazing community effort to make Srila Prabhupada’s vision for New Vrindaban a reality.

I felt like I was just trying to keep up. I felt I was part of something so much bigger than myself and being in the company of so many extraordinary, dedicated souls provided the inspiration that powered (and empowered) us – we were the inmates of New Vrindaban! And the community was everything for us, at that time.

Any advice to newer and future residents? (super important!)
It is important to never take anything for granted such as our service and association with devotees, to remember that this place is not ordinary, and the opportunity to perform service in the holy dhama is something very rare and special.

Keep in mind that, Krsna – Sri Sri Radha-Vrindaban Chandra, is the actual in-charge here, and He will always be the one in control! Even when it may seem otherwise. Please take care of the Deities and They will take care of you. Take care of one another and also take care of yourself – try to maintain a healthy balance between body, mind, and spirit.

 

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2017/03/past-karma-affect-present-free-will/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2017/03/can-vedic-concepts-explained-scientific-terms/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2017/03/can-counter-minds-tendency-see-negative-even-devotee-association/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2017/03/can-know-gita-hasnt-changed-centuries/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2017/03/can-overcome-inconsistency-deity-worship-caused-wavering-feelings/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2017/07/hearing-sweet-kirtans-happiness-experience-spiritual-material/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2017/03/devotees-debate-fiercely-different-aspects-bhakti-respond/

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2017/03/face-mental-health-issues-can-deal-spiritually-can-learn/

The post QA transcriptions uploaded on 04-Dec-17 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

ALIGNING BODY, MIND AND HEART IN THE PROCESS OF CHANTING
By Sacinandana Swami
Step 1:
ALIGN THE BODY AND YOUR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT
Watch your posture and more important your pronunciation. Sit in a supportive environment (before the deities, sacred pictures, tulasi, in the company of the devotees and whoever and whatever else helps). Make sure you chant the entire mantra without missing even one syllable. If you chant on your prayers beads (japa), make sure you complete each round in the proper time, not missing any mantra.
Step 2:
ALIGN THE MIND
In order to concentrate on the sound vibration of the holy name, “enter” or totally connect with the mantra through the first “Hare”. After bringing the mind back to the first “Hare” again and again, you will find that your mind has developed the ability to stay with the entire mantra—each single name! Be patient - it will work! Give it your best—the Lord rewards those who try and surrender.
Step 3:
ALIGN THE HEART
Attentive chanting can bring blessings to your life that are hard to imagine. By such chanting all obstacles to the pure name (shuddha-nama) can be effectively removed if one more thing (the most important) is added. Namacharya Haridasa Thakura says (Hari-nama-cintamani, chapter 12):
Simply by one’s own endeavor, no one in this world can overcome distractedness. Such victory can only come about by your merciful blessings. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to beg for your grace.
After all, deep experiences can only happen if the heart is involved. Thus chanting in a devotional and prayerful mood will attract the mercy of the Lord in his magnanimous form of the holy name. Please don’t be hesitant to give your heart to the chanting.
In one of his songs, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura praises the mercy of the holy name by saying that just like the sun which rises in the East destroys all darkness, the holy name in his mercy, continuously rises on the horizon of the heart of the chanter and thus removes the beginningless avidya (inner darkness), which is the source of material existence.

Let’s make this Marathon successful! (6 min video)
A new song and video about the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books during the month of December.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/gT4LPc

ISKCON-Delhi, Inauguration of New Sankirtan Office: 03-12-2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In this Age of Kali, the p...

10,000 fluent speakers of Sanskrit in the United States!
New York: With a long red “tilak” on his forehead, lighter skin and rare name, Bhima-Karma Saragrahi was a cynosure of many eyes at a recent Sanskrit residential camp-cum-convention held in Parsippany, New Jersey. Though it was his first time at such an event, the 40-year-old felt at ease because of his familiarity with the ancient language.
After studying up to the 10th grade and undergoing a course on the Bhagavad-Gita, he left the US for India at age 21. Saragrahi believes that the “esoteric and deep culture” of Hinduism required the study of Sanskrit. He spent several years in India learning Hindi and further improving his Sanskrit.
Based in Boston, he makes a living working in real estate. He is good with Indian musical instruments, including “mridangam” which he played at the convention last month. During his spare time, he offers music lessons.
His parents converted to Hinduism through ISKCON founder Swami Prabhupada when they were teenagers. “I am the second-generation follower of the Sanatana Dharma,” Saragrahi says
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/Q4gs1e

Dear devotees, friends, and well-wishers,
Here is the latest update on Agnideva Prabhu:
Several days ago he was moved from...

Another gift to humanity by Srila Prabhupada’s arrival.
The story was told by one Russian devotee, whose uncle was a Soviet Army officer. In 1965 there was a cold war between the USA and the Soviet Union. At some point it was going to become a real war. Ballistic Missiles were ready from both sides to attack. Everything was set up - which missile flies to which part of the US. For each missile a separate red button. This devotee’s uncle said they had been told that the war would start 99,99%. They were ready, sitting at the control, not sleeping for 24 hours. His hair got white that night. Finally, they got an order - the missiles launch canceled. It was a great relief!!! Later his nephew became a devotee and gave him Prabhupada Book. He started reading it and at one moment called his devotee nephew in great excitement. He said he remembered that day at the missiles controls very vividly. And just now in Prabhupada book he read that the very day missiles launch was canceled - it was the day Srila Prabhupada first stepped on the land of the US!!

UK marathon news (Album with photos)
Our new MEDITATE Bookstand proving to be a Huge Success! Sutapa prabhu distributed 81 Maha...

By CDI Team

Along with the recently completed Community Survey, the objective of this conference was to create a platform that allows the community’s voice to be heard, deepen our relationships, and build a shared vision for New Raman Reti going into the future. This exciting event took place at the Alachua Woman's Club, Sunday, December 3, 2017, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. and followed by sumptuous lunch Prasadam. The overall Vision of the Community Development Initiative (CDI) is a loving and well connected family of Krishna devotees, spiritual aspirants, and friends fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s Mission. Both senior and second generation devotee speakers facilitated the conference with presentations on New Raman Reti’s history and the survey results. They also invited further feedback from the audience on how to enrich our already amazing NRR Community. An important community event. Continue reading "New Raman Reti’s first Community Development Conference
→ Dandavats"

By Chandan Yatra Das

Sant Tukarama (AD 1609-1650) was a saint-poet of towering stature. Tukarama was among the most prominent saints to have come out of the holy land of Maharashtra. He hailed from the village of Dehu, near Pune, and was born in the Warkari community who are devotees of Lord Vitthala (or Panduranga). Srila Prabhupada occasionally referred to this great saint, “The great saint of Maharashtra known as Saint Tukarama was also initiated by the Lord Caitanya. Saint Tukarama, after initiation by the Lord, over-flooded the whole of the Maharashtra Province with the sankirtana movement and the transcendental flow is still rolling on in the southwestern part of the great Indian peninsula.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam - Introduction) Continue reading "Sant Tukaram’s Dehu Dhama and Pune Yatra
→ Dandavats"

By Mohan Sunder Das

From West Virginia to New Vrindavan; Lord Krishna has spread His causeless mercy through Srila Prabhupada in every part of His creation. Now, it was time for Aligarh to become Harigarh. Lord Sri Hari sent His representative, HH Kratu Das ji Das Ji Maharaj to carry out this most auspicious task and materialize or better so spiritualise the words of Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada who prophesied the existence of Krishna’s temple with the echoes of Harinaam in every town and village of the world. Continue reading "From Aligarh to ‘Hari’garh!
→ Dandavats"

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 10/29/2017

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Kripamaya, Ranaka, and Vraja.

Participating Advisors: Bhima, Jamuna Jivani (secretary), Jaya Krsna, Kalakantha, Makara, and Olivia.

1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report

• Ananda Vidya is milking six cows. Milk production is approximately 19 gallons per day.
• The veterinarian checked Malati and now estimates her due date between November and December. Sriya and Anjali are both due in February.
• There are three heifers residing at the Temple Barn: two-month-old Lalita, 10-month-old Vamsika, and 19-month-old Jaya Radhe. Subhadra has been moved to Nandagram for breeding with Madhu.
• Ananda Vidya continues to produce 10-12 lbs. of butter, 15 gallons of yogurt, and 1/2 gallon of ghee on a weekly basis, and delivers them to the temple. He purchased a small cheese press and has been experimenting with making colby cheese. This may be one way to process excess milk during the winter months.
• The children from Gopal’s Garden came to the Temple Barn on Govardhan Puja to decorate the cows and feed them molasses balls, and drank warm milk.
• During the farm conference, six or seven participants came over to the barn to assist with morning milking and become familiar with the cows.
• The 2017 North American Farm conference was held at New Vrindaban on the weekend of October 13-15. We had a good turnout with approximately 40 people over the three days. Everyone seemed quite satisfied, as old relationships were rekindled and new acquaintances were made.
• The potato harvest, washing, and storage is complete for the year, although with a disappointing approximate yield of only 1,000 lbs. due to an exceptionally wet spring.
• Ray completed replacing of the underground electric line to the Nandagram pasture cabin and now the electricity has been restored. Also, he has made progress on Dharma the Bull’s outside pen expansion project at the Valley Barn, as well as on pressure washing and painting the valley board fences, when the weather has allowed. Spreading manure, chisel plowing, and disking areas in the Temple Garden still need to be done and will be pursued if the ground is dry enough. Otherwise, they will have to wait until spring.
• Nila Gopala and his family departed for Hungary last Friday, leaving on good terms. He had completed about 80% of the work on Madhu the Bull’s shed and pen project at Nandagram. Caitanya Bhagavat (and Ray, if needed) will finish the project.
• Caitanya Bhagavat and Balabhadra prabhu gave a ox training demonstration at Nandagram during the recent farm conference. Hari Chand showed he had been well-trained and well-cared for.
• Caitanya Bhagavat continues to work with the ox, Hari Chand, for 1.5 hours every morning, along with Nandagram herd care, fence maintenance, and completing Madhu’s pen and shed.
• Robert and Ranaka, along with input from Suchandra and Lila, have been working on compiling the end of the year flower and vegetable harvest totals, as well as pricing for the 2017 INV billing. The figures should be ready by the next monthly board meeting.
• Robert has expressed an interest to learn how to operate farm equipment along with general building and fence maintenance, etc. Currently, he is assisting Ray with Dharma’s outside fence expansion project at the Valley Barn. Also, he is receiving training on operating farm equipment, and on milking.
• Suchandra and Vidya will be giving a presentation at the upcoming joint board meeting

2. New Board Candidates

Currently, the Board has two open seats. In January, the Board will vote on the seats of the directors whose terms are expiring and review candidates for available seats. Individuals interested in getting involved with ECO-V can contact Ranaka.

3. Employee Manual

Vraja proposed an employee manual which will provide job descriptions for the various positions and outline company policies. She will work on a draft, to which others are invited to contribute and offer feedback.

4. Improving Community Culture

The Board discussed concerns over devotees, including those involved in ECO-V, leaving the New Vrindaban community due in part to considerable negativity within its culture. Several ideas were offered on how we can help to create a more positive atmosphere, both as an organization and as individuals.

5. ECO-V Website

Previously, Jamuna Jivani collected and wrote content for the website. Also, Sukhayanti contributed photos and text. Jaya Krsna and Makara are contributing photos to use.

6. Communication Person for IMCPA

Kalakantha requested Jamuna Jivani act as a liaison between ECO-V and the ISKCON Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture. The Board agreed to this arrangement.

7. 2017 Farm Conference Recap

Jamuna Jivani reported on the North American ISKCON Farm Conference that took place in New Vrindaban earlier in the month. New Vrindaban created a very pleasant setting for the conference with incredible support and service, and a beautiful facility. The whole conference ran smoothly, and the interactions among the participants were inspired. There were approximately 40 participants from USA, Canada, and Guyana. From ECO-V, Ranaka gave a tour of the Valley Barn facilities and spoke about New Vrindaban’s history of cow protection. Makara gave an informative seminar on water bath canning. Both Lalita Gopi and Ranaka were panelists in the Ahimsa Dairy Equation panel discussion.

The plan for future years is to have a similar, but larger, biennial conference, with small organizing conferences in between. IMCPA is currently scouting locations for future events. ECO-V offered to host again in 2019, which will mark the 50th anniversary of cow protection in New Vrindaban.

8. Autumn 2017 Joint Board Meetings

The upcoming joint board meetings in New Vrindaban will be held the weekend of November 10-12.

For regular updates please visit and like the ECO-V Facebook page.

Answer Podcast

The post If devotees use certain statements to demean other bhakti traditions, what to do? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

When recovering alcoholics have stayed sober for some time, they may feel tempted: “Let me take just one drink – what harm can it do?”

A video by Indradyumna Swami Official. 

A video by Monk in the Middle.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Illustrated Story - Navadvipa Before Nimai's Advent This comic narrates the pastime of Advaita Acharya pleading the Lord to descend to this world and liberate the fallen conditioned souls by distributing the Holynames of Lord Krishna to one and all.

One of Canada's fasting rising young opera stars, Dustin Hiles, first met the devotees seven years ago in Winnipeg, MB, while campaigning as a candidate for the provincial Liberal Party of Canada.

On Sunday 26th November, ISKCON-London celebrated Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara’s 48^th anniversary at Camden Centre, in Central London. Over 500 guests participated in the program.

Ratha Yatra festival in Santiago de Chile (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Krishna stresses the importance of remembering Him. One‘s memory of Krishna is revived by chanting the maha-mantra, Hare Krishna. By this practice of chanting and hearing the sound vibration of the Supreme Lord, one’s ear, tongue and mind are engaged. This mystic meditation is very easy to practice, and it helps one attain the Supreme Lord. (Bhagavad-Gita 8.8 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/sn19ut

Srimad Bhagavatam class by H.H. Krishna Kshetra Swami on 5th Nov 2017 at ISKCON Juhu (video)

ISKCON Auckland NZ: 2017 (Album with photos)
Kalasamvara Das: Today we celebrated Rathyatra and Gita Jayanti!!
By giving out the mercy on this beautiful summers day by being part of the Xmas parades which are full of transcendental fun and are so easy to arrange.
One just has to turn up and take part the people are already there, (that’s hundreds and thousands) who turn up for there annual Xmas parade.
But the difference is that by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada who wanted this Rathyatra festival in all the cities around the world they get the opportunity to see the wonderful devotees dancing in ecstasy hear the holy names receive transcendental literature take prasadam and become liberated just by seeing the beautiful forms of Lord Jagannath, lady Subhudra and Baladev riding through the streets on there beautiful Rath cart.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/dga59W

The Secret Of Chanting With Bhakti.
Sacinandana Swami: It’s almost a paradox - only when you stop wanting to enjoy chanting for yourself will the chanting produce unlimited nectar. To understand this mystery we must ask: “What is bhakti? What is devotional chanting?”
It means you chant, not for yourself, but for Krishna. “In what way?” Anukulyena! You do it with a favorable mood – that of wanting to give pleasure to Krishna. In this way a kirtana leader can think: “I want the devotees to chant nicely and for Krishna to relish their call.” Thus, activity for Krishna is not done mindlessly.
Krishna has many expansions; you can chant for Nrsimhadeva’s pleasure or for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara, etc.
In general, devotional service means that you must learn to absorb your consciousness in three things so that your activity becomes bhakti (bhakti yoga or devotional service in Krishna consciousness).
What are the secrets of bhakti?
anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ�
jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam�
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-�
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā
(Brs. 1.1.11)
Devotional service or bhakti means:
i. Activity
ii. For Krishna
iii. In a favorable mood
This you have to learn.
This is called bhakti. Such activities are not jnana (to gain knowledge), nor for our liberation, and they are also not karma (for our sense enjoyment). They are for Krishna.
When you do this, then your practice becomes very sweet, full of taste and you will be able to give up material sense enjoyment even though you may be surrounded by cars, mobile phones and computers.
It is important to perform our devotional practice in this way, for as Srila Prabhupada said:
“Only by drinking the nectar of chanting and hearing the pastimes of the Lord can one forget the intoxication of material existence.” (SB 3.21.17 pp):

Aligarh Mandir Opening (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: On Gita Jayanti day for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, my dear...

All India Padayatra (Album with photos)
Acharya Dasa: On 25 and 26 All India Padayatra was at Udupi. There were 3 days Religious Convention. Padayatris were invited by the organizers for the convention.
So three days All India Padayatris attended the program. Lakhs of people attended the program. When we entered the pandal we were welcomed by the chief of Pejawar Matha. Each one of us was offered a garland. He also performed Arti of our Lordships. Every day we performed Mangal Arti in the pandal and each day we got the chance to be on stage and perform kirtan. It was a wonderful gathering. Many of them also bought books from us. We had arranged a wonderful bookstall there.
For the pleasure of Sri Sri Nitai Guarsundar, Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev we would like to announce the book distribution score of All India Padayatra on 25 and 26 Nov 2017.
Mahabig Books - 1380
Big Books - 27
Small Books - 143
Total Books - 1550
Sri Sri Nitai Gaursundar ki jai…
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai…
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EPVfjz

The Grand Installation Ceremony of the two remaining Chakras onto the domes of Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Lord Nrsimhadeva is only 69 days away! This historic event will mark another milestone in the progress of the construction leading up to the Grand Opening in 2022.

In this recent interview His Grace Jananivas prabhu expresses the importance of the installation of the Chakras on par with the laying of the Ananta Sesa Deity during the cornerstone ceremony by Srila Prabhupada personally in 1972. It permanently establishes the temple and brings the blessings and protection of Sudarshana Chakra.

To make a donation and sponsor an abhisheka for Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s and/or Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Chakra during the installation ceremony on February 7th, please go here: https://tovp.org/donate/once-in-a-lifetime-chakra-abhisheka-seva-opportunity/

The post Jananivas Prabhu Speaks About the Chakra Installation appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Kirtan In A Shanty Town (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we went on samkirtan in a Shanty Town just outside of Durban, South Africa. People there live well below the poverty line and were extremely happy to receive prasadam. As our kirtan party wove its way through the small lanes of the township people spontaneously joined in and chanted and danced with us in great happiness. Such is the great mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
“The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is based on this principle: chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra at every moment, as much as possible, both inside and outside of the temples, and, as far as possible, distribute prasāda. …. Simply by liberal distribution of prasāda and saṅkīrtana, the whole world can become peaceful and prosperous.”
[ SB 4.12.10 purport ]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/2WMEfX