Planet ISKCON

Harinama Sankirtana in the Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra without offenses, all of one’s sinful actions are surely atoned for immediately, but one should not commit such deeds again, for that is an offense. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.16.14 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/sYWo52

The post Ambition, Satisfaction & Devotion (2) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Seminar at Singapore]

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The post Ambition, Satisfaction & Devotion 2 – Hospital metaphor for harmonizing material and spiritual growth appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Since its inception by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada in 1918, the Gaudiya Vaisnavas have been performing parikrama around Sri Navadvipa Mandala. 2018 will mark the one hundred year anniversary of performing Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama.

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.42.

“There is a verse in the Srimad Bhagavatam that says that everyone knows that attachment is the greatest form of bondage for the conditioned soul. But, that same attachment when transferred to the self-realized devotees of the Lord, opens the door to liberation. So, we cannot actually exist without attachment. There are some impersonal philosophers who want to stop all attachment. but, as Srila Prabhupada says to be completely without attachment you have to be like a stone. We don’t want to become like stones. We don’t want to be without attachment but, we don’t want to be attached to things that cause us pain and suffering and bondage. We want to be attached to things that liberate us and that means Krishna and His devotees.”

Subtleties of Affectionate Relationships, January 10, The Darshan Room, Dallas (Right-click to download)

Sadbhuja Das: We are doing a mock up of Gaura Nitai of printed canvas that we will place in the front of the temple staircases walls. (1 min video)
This will give us an indication for the sizes of each deity that will go on the wall which will eventually be made in mosaics tiles.
The smaller staircases on either ends will also have Lilas made in mosaics tiles.
In a few days, we will put the canvas on the walls outside and we will keep you posted on what it will look like.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/3V4rgq

The easiest and the most Powerful means of God-Realisation! (1 min video)
Anyone, Any age, Any caste, Any color, Any Nation even up to the animals can chant this Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
These little kids in midst of Namishranya Jungle calling out to Lord Krishna is the cutest thing by far on internet right now !!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/B6Bp1B

“Parikrama is a revival of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes.”- His Holiness Lokanatha Swami Since its inception by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada in 1918, the Gaudiya Vaisnavas have been performing parikrama around Sri Navadvipa Mandala. 2018 will mark the one hundred year anniversary of performing Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama. In 1972, Srila […]

The post Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama – Reviving Mahaprabhu’s Pastimes appeared first on Mayapur.com.

“The secret is to be praying while we’re chanting the name of Krishna, ‘Please, Krishna, just place me in the society of Your service.’”
Pradyumna: During that Boston trip, almost every week new faces used to show up from New York.

All the New York devotees would come up – Brahmananda, Rayarama, Rupanuga.

The Boston temple had always been a small temple – three people, two people, five people, six people, but never more than about five or six; but during Prabhupada’s visit there, it was just packed with mostly New York devotees.

I remember the day after the brahmana initiation we all went on a walk, I was also there, and I quipped, “Boston brahmins.”

Prabhupada said, “Ah, yes, Boston brahmins.”

There were six of us that got sacred thread in the first initiation, six men and no women.

Then they raised a fuss and they didn’t show up.

They were so angry that they weren’t going to get second initiation, they didn’t come.

—Pradyumna

Vaikunthanath: Prabhupada would arrive, I think, by taxi.

But in the meantime, the devotees were chanting in the temple there at 95 Glenville Avenue deep in kirtan; and there would be all this frankincense, the whole room was full of smoke.

When Prabhupada would come in, we were literally in ecstasy.

You cannot conceive of the impact that Prabhupada had on us.

Prabhupada’s every move and every gesture, he was just floating in ecstasy, and we could perceive that bliss that Prabhupada was in.

I remember he got up on the vyasasana and he said, “The secret is to be praying while we’re chanting the name of Krishna, ‘Please, Krishna, just place me in the society of Your service.’”

—Vaikunthanath

Rukmini dasi: Once they called and he was coming and Jadurani, who was not much of a cook, asked him if he would be eating before he came or whether they should have something for him to eat when he arrived.

So Prabhupada said, “I am an just like a cow. I can eat in one pasture and then eat in another pasture also.”

—Rukmini

NBS#78:: Demi-gods: The Powerful Representatives Of God.
NBS#78 describes: The different demigods like Ganesha and Durga that are mentioned in reference to worship of the Lord's abode and associates are the eternal associates of the Lord in Vaikuntha like Visvaksena and others. Therefore they are not like the Ganesha and Durga of the material world. Demigods like Ganesha and Durga born of the material energy are different from them. The illusory, external energy has no juris...diction in Vaikuntha, so what can be said of qualities like lust and greed?' That is why those forms of Ganesha and others are manifest from the spiritual energy of the Lord. The mundane Durga is a portion of Yogamaya and hence under her control. This spiritual energy, Yogamaya, has engaged Durga of the material world as her maidservant and entrusted her with the service of protecting mantras, not as the predominating deity of service.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/r5JsfZ

Gopi Gita: A beautiful account of two of my dear friends sharing their book distribution encounters with Krishna guiding all their steps from their hearts.
It's so inspiring.. please watch and learn how they just bring Krishna into their lives and into everyone's lives around them.
Minute 7 is the best. Ananta Angie says, "We just learned we're not the doer. Krishna is doing it all" and Kamalaksa Rupini shares beautiful words about surrender.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/4WVZEu

The post Daily Darshan: January 13,2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Vlog event at Neal’s Yard, London.

Rukmini Mataji on Attentive Hearing Is The Goal of Sadhaka at ISKCON Chowpatty on 12th January 2018 (video)

Program in Ulan Ude, the capital city of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia (Album of photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: On Friday ...

Watching TV and Movies.
Sivarama Swami: There are two main defects in this activity, whether they’re done regularly or even occasionally. The first is that this media always includes intoxication, graphic sex life, violence, and gambling. Therefore watching it means to break the regulative principles. What reason do we have that we should go out of our way to observe and watch these activities of Kali-yuga when it’s already difficult enough to stay away from them? So why would I want to bring these things into my own home, to give ideas to children? Answer: because people have material desires and they give into them.
The second defect is that anything you see makes an impression on the heart. So the rampant violence, sex, intoxication, bad language, immoral behavior, fairytale worlds like Spiderman jumping off buildings and flying through the air, these make an impression in the heart, and when they do they become a source of meditation, something to meditate on, because these impressions will come out at a later time. Not only as a reflection of the mind, but something that creates seeds of material desires in the heart and which will also water existing seeds of desire in the heart. So it is a very detrimental practice.
Initiated devotees vow to follow regulative principles. When referring to brahmacaris and sannyasis in this regard, we say that even in the mind if one contemplates these things he is breaking the principles. But while grhasthas might have license, they only have that within their own marriage situation. They don’t have a license to view sexual activities or these other things. So for them to contemplate it, to view it, to enjoy it; it’s all breaking the principles. How then can an initiated devotee do these things with a clear conscience?

And what is the effect of breaking the regulative principles? We commit sin. And by committing sin, we complicate our spiritual lives, entangle ourselves in material existence, and suffer from the results of that sin. Committing sin has an effect on the mind; that is that sinful thoughts linger in the heart. They come up like bubbles from the mud and become the source of other sinful desires, which then become the result of further sinful acts. Ultimately what devotees see on TV and in movies, they’ll end up doing. If they see infidelity, they’ll end up doing it. If they see violence or other activities, they’ll do that. When they become bewildered thinking materialism, egoism, pride in the material body is the ultimate goal in life; they become more body conscious and egotistical.

All these things strangle the creeper of devotional service and make one’s devotional life more or less null and void. Why does a devotee do this? Well, obviously because they’re not doing what they should be doing. One who is not chanting Hare Krishna and hearing Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya-caritamrita without offense and who is not doing them enough will not have enough spiritual strength to resist the social pressure from those who are doing these things. Devotional movies are available and will water our seed of bhakti and give further inspiration and lasting satisfaction to the heart.

Sivarama Swami

With ancient flora, UP plans to revive Govardhan Parvat.
The CM, who is also the chairman of the parishad, has tasked it to fin...

The official Chakra Installation Schedule of Events.
The Schedule of Events for the Grand Chakra Installation Ceremony on Febru...

The All-india Padayatra’s December Book Marathon In Karnataka.
January 12, 2018 - By Acarya Dasa.
Every year all the ISKCON temples and centers worldwide hold a marathon during the month of December, which corresponds to the Christmas season in the Western world. During that time they profusely sell Srila Prabhupada’s books in order to spread the essence of Vedic wisdom. But on Padayatra India book distribution is a daily ongoing process, in fact it’s the heart of padayatra. Harinama sankirtana and book distribution go hand in hand. During this month we padayatris enhance our book distribution for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. This year we were in the state of Karnataka in South India during the December marathon.
School students get inspired by the holy name
On December 17th we were at Subramanya where there is a school named Jnanadeep. The specialty of that school is its daily morning recitation of the Bhagavad-gita by all the students. As the school principal got news that padayatra was in town he personally came to invite us for a small school program in order to chant and also read our Bhagavad- gita As It is to the children. When we reached there we were warmly welcomed by the staff of the school. As we had gone with the cart of Their Lordships all of students assembled in the yard around the cart; the children were amazed to see our big Kankrej oxen with their huge towering horns. They danced with us to the sound of the holy name and many of them took a Bhagavad-gita. The teachers were also very much interested in the program and they also bought Bhagavad -gitas from us. In the evening the children came with their parents for the Gaura arati. The principal had also called newspaper reporters and the next day there was an article about Padayatra India in the well-known local newspapers.

The Lord sends us help in time of need

Sullia (also spelled Sulya) is a beautiful small town and the taluk headquarters in the Dakshina Kannada district. It is surrounded by the evergreen mountains of the Western Ghats range and is located at a distance of 89 Km from Mangalore. As the roads were going through hilly and jungle areas it was very difficult to walk. There were no lights on the road, it was very scary. As we reached the town at 9 pm we tried to communicate with the people there, but nobody could understand our Hindi, and no padayatri spoke Kannada. Finding no place for accommodation we were about to camp out in an open area. It was very cold also, so I was worried about the oxen who would have to stay in the cold all night long.

Suddenly a man came. He was a pharmacist by profession and fortunately he could understand Hindi. He told us to go to the Aayyapa temple. There we met Mr Madhava, who helped us with our accommodation. He was very happy to see us in his town. He had attended the religious convention at Dharmasthali in Udupi and had a desire that padayatra should come to his town. Next day he was with us in nagar sankirtana and he inspired people to buy a Bhagavad-gita. Within just one hour we distributed 500 Bhagavad-gitas, and after that, our stock of Gitas was finished. Then I went to nearby Mangalore and brought more Gitas. At 10.30 pm a few people came and asked for Bhagavad-gita. Mr Madhava had called famous news reporters and the next day news of padayatra were flashed in many newspapers. In Sullia we distributed an amazing 720 Gitas in one day. I thought this was the special mercy of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara during the month of the book marathon. I have the experience that, even though we keep distributing books throughout the year, in December some special events always take place that greatly increase our book distribution scores.

Instant Ratha-yatra and darsana of the holy river Kaveri

From December 22 to 24 we were at Madikeri, a hill station town in Madikeritaluk and a popular tourist destination. It was very cold there, the temperature was going down to about 11° C. Saciputra Dasa, a disciple of Jayapataka Maharaja preaching in that area, welcomed us. He called about 50 Nama-hatta devotees and the next day they organized a Ratha-yatra festival; many people participated in the procession and took books from us. Normally we have our own cooking team, but the devotees insisted on cooking for all of us so our padayatris were free to preach and distribute books. Saciputra Dasa also took us to Talakaveri the source of the holy river Kaveri. The river originates from a spring feeding a tank, which is considered to be a holy place to bathe on special days.The temple there is dedicated to Goddess Kaveriamma.

Buddhist monks enjoy harinama and the Bhagavad-gita

On December 28th we were in the town of Kushalnagar, 34 km from Madikeri. There is a Tibetan Monastery, locally called the Tibet Camp, around 6 kms from Kushalnagar. This Tibetan settlement at Bailkoppa or Baylkuppe is the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet, with over 7,000 monks and students. The 40 feet tall golden Buddha statues are the major attractions. As we went on sankirtana in the area many monks came forward for darsana of our Lordships, which they enjoyed a lot. They were enchanted by our harinama and dancing, and discussed with us the padayatra program and objectives.. They said, ‘we also have dedicated our lives to Lord Buddha, so we are similar.’ They also bought Bhagavad-gitas from us. Thus many books were distributed there. We had many such good experiences during this month of December, by the arrangement of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara.

December book score

Maha big books: 8440

Big books: 356

Medium books: 2

Small books: 1787

Total Books: 10,585

The top 3 book distributors during the month of December

Kaunteyasakha Dasa: 1629 books
Suryavamshi Dasa and Mangal Nitai Dasa: 724 books
Diranayak Dasa: 620 books
More photos: https://goo.gl/1ozWTb

Here’s How ISKCON Juhu Will Celebrate Its 40th Anniversary On Sunday.
It’s Iskcon Juhu’s 40th anniversary on Sunday. The celebration will follow a full calendar of festivities starting from January 13-16.
Inaugurated on Makar Sankranti day, January 14, 1978, the Juhu Temple shrine is the national headquarters of the order.
A vast Jagannath Rathyatra will be carried out on Saturday at around 2:00 PM. The yatra will comprise of three chariots which will lead through Lokhandwala Complex and culminate at Jamnabai Narsee ground in Juhu at 6:00 PM.
Temple president Braj Hari Das said that the prasad meals will be served to 10,000 people at night. Plays will be performed by various ISKCON temples. Approximately 100 senior sanyasis and devotees from the USA, UK and Australia have arrived for the event.
On Sunday, the deities will be adorned in new festive clothes. The evening will mark launches of two books, Bombay is my office and ‘Chasing Rhinos with the Swami’ at Jamnabai ground. Among the attendees of this event will be Union Minister Satyapal Singh, Nagaland governor P B Acharya, and actress-MP Hema Malini.
ISKCON Juhu, the second temple of the Hare Krishna order, was opened in 1978. The movement began in Juhu, however, the first temple was built in Varanasi. The land was procured by the founder of the temple Srila Prabhupada and the construction began in 1975.
Spokesperson Parijata Devi said anywhere from 5,000-10,000 devotees visit every day. The temple has lakhs arrive over Janmashtami and new year.
Source: https://goo.gl/LKqzkd

ISKCON Youth Spend Their Holidays Helping Puerto Rico Temple.
Three months after the category 4 Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico on September 20th, the U.S. territory’s infrastructure is still far from recovered. Only 20 per cent of traffic lights are powered; forty per cent of Puerto Ricans, especially in the countryside, are still without electricity, and many have barely any running water.
This includes the U.S. territory’s only ISKCON temple, which had its roof, veranda and porch ripped off in the storm. Devotees are still struggling to clean up and rebuild.
So from December 16th to 30th, nineteen ISKCON youth and young adults, aged 17 to 29, gave up their Christmas vacation to help clean up and repair ISKCON Puerto Rico in the wake of the hurricane.
Youth from all across the United States and Canada also paid for their own airplane tickets there, and contributed a further $300 each towards local transport and rebuilding supplies. The effort was organized by Manorama Das and Jaya Sri Radhe Dasi of ISKCON Youth Ministry, with local logistics arranged by Jaya Sita Dasi.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/81MECE

The landmark ISKCON temple in Juhu will celebrate its 40th anniversary Sunday with a full calendar of festivities from January 13-16.  Union minister Satyapal Singh, Nagaland governor P B Acharya, and actress-MP Hema Malini will attend.

Singaraja, known for its beautiful beaches and picturesque sites of natural wonders, is also the most important education hub in Bali, Indonesia. The Hare Krsna Centre or ISKCON at Banyuning, Singaraja or more affectionately called by the devotees there as Sri Radha Gopisvara temple, is unbelievably vibrant considering its small area and very small number of devotees. The main ornament of this centre is the group of very enthusiastic young boys and girls who never miss to conduct the mangal-arti, chanting their 16 rounds of maha mantra, guru puja,morning and evening classes, lively kirtans as well as cooking and cleaning the temple. Certainly a wonderful experience. Continue reading "International Seminar on Bhagavad-gita: Spirituality and Heath care, Singaraja, Indonesia
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The result was that for this year’s Prabhupada marathon, about 55 street teams and 220 individual devotees went out on book distribution throughout the UK and Ireland, distributing a total of 138,330 books. Temple devotees went out for 8 to 10 hours a day of their own accord, while many of the book distributors were working professionals with families, giving up their evenings and weekends to dole out transcendental knowledge. Continue reading "Teamwork Makes UK Marathon a Resounding Success
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, August 2010, Lecture)

We cannot say that the four regulative principles in themselves constitute bhakti or devotional service. These are preliminary activities of renunciation and austerity. When we rise above and become attracted to Krsna and absorbed in devotional service, naturally the regulative principles will be followed!

A pure devotee naturally will not engage in sinful activities. He is not consciously thinking, “I should not engage in these things because they are sinful.” Sinful activities have nothing to do with pleasing Krsna and a pure devotee’s entire life is absorbed in pleasing Krsna.

[Seminar at Singapore]

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The post Ambition, Satisfaction & Devotion 1 – Outside-in Ambition vs Inside-out Ambition appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

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Initiation ceremony in the ISKCON temple in Ulan Ude in Siberia, Russia (Album with photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: In the phot...

H.G.Mahatma Prabhu - Introduction of Bhagavad Gita (video)
ISKCON Vrindavan, 10.01.2018.

Naimisharanaya Yatra (Album of photos)
Mishrith Teerath / Dadhichi Kund
Dadhichi was a Vedic king, Son of Atharvan, who t...

After some time, Lord Nityananda was approached by Madhai, where he said that “My Lord, You’ve pardoned me, You’ve given me Your mercy, but I am haunted by the idea that with my hand, I have struck You and I have caused You to bleed. And I am just obsessed with this thought that I have committed this offence to You and how can I actually be forgiven. Even though You’ve pardoned me officially, still I was thinking that I am so rotten, I am so fallen, I am so envious that I could have done such a thing.

The post Daily Darshan: January 12,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Krishna conscious presentation in Dubai (Album with photos)
Gaur Gopal Das spoke on “Finding your WHY,” for a conference in Dubai. His talk was attended by an audience of 600 people comprised of lawyers, doctors and other professionals.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/GqiYWV

Talk to visiting school class at the Manor.

Meeting with god brothers and god sisters at the Manor.

As heat purifies gold and increases its luster, so this simple austerity of reading Bhagavad Gita every day burns away the dirty coverings of the soul and brightens one’s spiritual luster. Start 2018 Stronger! Follow the 2018 Calendar, Read a chapter of Bhagavad Gita every day. This will make your life sublime. Continue reading "Start 2018 Stronger!!
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The Hare Krishna tree of New York in the news.
At a recent New York Times article a famous young businessman says: “ After brunch, I go to Tompkins Square Park, where I sit on a bench underneath a tree called the Hare Krishna Tree. The Hare Krishna movement was founded in the park in the 1960s, and I am always inspired when I’m in there. ”
As Sikhi Mahiti das observes: I often judge the result of our ISKCON outreach in terms of who is coming to our temple and how many. But, Srila Prabhupada has affected the lives of millions of people in ways we don’t normally hear about.
Here is an article about a high achieving entrepreneur who takes his inspiration for business by sitting under the Hare Krishna tree in New York City: https://goo.gl/NKqMn7

After I had read many of the books about Srila Prabhupada for a second or third time I found myself thinking, “Didn’t it say something about that pastime in another book?” And I would pull out a different book and read about the same event or time period from a different perspective. Or whereas in the Lilamrta it might say that Srila Prabhupada traveled to Australia and then back to Bombay but not give any details, in another book it would give the details of his trip. It was very enlivening, so I started to compile an outline of my readings. Gradually it developed into the Srila Prabhupada Lila Reading Guide. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada Lila Reading Guide
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