Money and an Illusory Sense of Security.
Dhirasanta Das Goswami: Money gives us a sense of freedom and ownership. We feel that with money, we can own anything or put a price tag on anybody’s services.
Ownership of something means total control of its existence from beginning to end. When we pay for a piece of land, we feel that we own it, although the land continues to exist even after the owner is long gone. How can you own something that outlives you?
Money also gives the idea that you are powerful and independent, blinding you to the fact that we live in a world of interdependence. We depend on farmers, cooks, drivers and the services of so many other people around us. Even an expert surgeon cannot operate on himself; he depends on others.
Why are most rich people arrogant? Because of the feeling of independence that money brings. The awareness of dependence, on the other hand, makes one humble. The basic human tenet of humility is taken away by this false feeling of independence.
Today, we have gone to the extent of measuring people in terms of their net worth on the money scale — “so-and-so is worth five hundred million” etc. Can money reflect the worth of a person? Calling someone a millionaire or a billionaire is not a compliment. You cannot assign a monetary value to human life.
When people lack faith in divinity, in their own abilities and in the goodness of society, they suffer from a deep sense of insecurity. Then, all that appears to provide security is money. Some among the wealthy feel insecure in relationships — they don’t know whether their friends are truly their friends or are just interested in their fortune. Money can only provide a temporary, illusory sense of security.
Wealth is attained through one’s skills and abilities, inheritance or through corrupt means. Each means of attaining wealth brings with it its own consequences. The very motive for corruption is peace and happiness. Yet peace and happiness remain elusive when the means are corrupt.
Due to the illusory notions of independence, ownership and security that it brings, money is considered a part of maya: ‘miyate anaya iti maya’ means 'that which can be measured is maya’. Hence everything in the world that can be measured is considered maya, money being one such thing. Human values are eroded when you try to put a price tag on all that cannot be measured, like love, truth, wisdom and life itself.
On the other hand, there are those who criticize money and blame it for all the ills of society. There are some others who even consider it as evil. Not only does possessing money bring arrogance, rejecting it does too. Some people who renounce money take pride in their poverty, just to draw attention and sympathy.
However, the ancient sages never denigrated money nor maya. In fact, they honored it as a part of the divine and thereby transcended the grip of its illusion. They knew the secret that when you reject or hate something, you can never transcend it.
They honoured wealth as Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Narayana. She is born out of Yoga (yogaje yoga sambhute). It is Yoga that transforms bad karma and brings out latent skills and talents. It also brings up ashtasiddhis — the eight perfections, and nava nidhis — the nine wealth’s.
It is this wisdom of Yoga that transforms one from arrogance to self-confidence, from meekness to humility, from the burden of dependence to the realization of interdependence, from craving for freedom to the recognition of unbounded-ness, from a limited ownership to a transcendental relationship with the whole who is Krishna.

Huge crowds visit ISKCON-Delhi for the 1st of the year! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: It is essential that one constant...

Transcendental invitation!
Indradyumna Swami: Recently Pundrik Goswami of the Radha Raman temple in Vrindavan contacted Ananta Vrindavan das, one of ISKCON’s most well-known photographers and videographers and requested him to film a documentary on the worship of the famous Radha Raman deity. Pundrik Goswami will have the service of worshipping Radha Raman from January 2 – 9. Ananta Vrindavan will accompany him everywhere except the altar and the kitchen. Pundrik Goswami is also inviting myself and many other ISKCON devotees to be present for morning and evening programs. In fact, he has asked me to speak and lead kirtan in the temple on the evening of January 5. This is all an unprecedented opportunity to observe the high standard of deity worship in the temple.
Radha Raman is one of the most beloved forms of Lord Krsna. Radha Raman means ‘one who gives pleasure to Radha.’ The distinctive feature of Radha Raman is that He is a self-manifested form of the Lord who revealed Himself in His threefold-bending form to Gopala Bhatta Goswami, one of the famous Six Goswamis of Vrindavan.
While living in Vrindavan before coming to the west, Srila Prabhupada would often visit the Radha Raman temple. For many years he was a close friend of Vishwambar Goswami, an acharya in the line of Gopala Bhatta Goswami. On a number of occasions, Srila Prabhupada requested his disciples to learn the high standard of deity worship and vaishnava etiquette from the Radha Raman temple. We will be sharing photos of all the festivities.

Harinama in a frozen Barnaul, Russia, 30.12.17 (Album with photos)
After the Harinam we were tired, a little frozen, but very s...

New year’s eve harinam in New York - welcoming 2018! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “What to speak of others, even Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, personally descends to taste the nectar of love of Godhead in the form of the chanting of Hare Krishna.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.265 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ERb2cL

Simheswara Dasa Jps: Hare Krishna. Received lots of New Year Greetings yesterday and this morning. And thought how I can really be h...

New Year’s Eve Maha Harinama - West End, London (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Pure devotees chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and simply by hearing this chanting from a purified transcendental person, one is purified of all sinful activities, no matter how lowborn or fallen one may be. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.126 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EgZa5s

SRI JAGANNATHA RATHA YATRA: SATURDAY 6 JANUARY 2018

Hare Krishna. Please accept my respectful greetings and best wishes.

Sri Jagannatha Mandir Kuala Lumpur invites you to the Annual Jagannatha Ratha Yatra on Saturday, 6 January 2018.
Their Lordships Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, Subhadra Devi and Sudarshan will go on a chariot procession beginning at 5.00PM from Elephant Fountain,Little India Brickfields,
Kuala Lumpur. Procession will end at Little India, Brickfields at 7.10PM where devotees will
be treated with sumptuous vegetarian prasadam, spiritual discourse and stage concert.

It is explained in the Brahmanda Purana that those who watch the Ratha Yatra procession, those who stand up to welcome the chariot with reverence and those who pull the Lord’s Ratha are
freed from all sinful reactions and they attain the kingdom of God.

To give benefit to the people of the world, The Founder Acarya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace, A.C
Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, started Ratha Yatra festival in 1967, Following that of
the Grand Festival Celebrated in Jagannath Puri (Orissa), since time immemorial. This has
become a Major Festival celebrated in many parts of the world.

So please participate and experience a festival of spiritual joy and happiness with your family members and friends.

Programme details:
5:00pm: Chariot precession starts
7:10pm: Welcome address by Temple President
7:15pm: Address by His Grace Simheswara Prabhu, Regional Secretary, ISKCON Malaysia
7:30pm: Spiritual discourse by His Holiness Bhakti Mukunda swami, ISKCON Malaysia
Vice President
8:00pm: Address by Guest of Honour YB Senator Dato Dr.Loga Bala Mohan Jagannathan,
Deputy Minister of Federal Territories and ISKCON Malaysia President
8:15pm: Stage concert and Feast

Below is the list of sponsorships available for Ratha Yatra Festival: You may choose to sponsor any item Below is the list of sponsorships available for Ratha Yatra Festival: You may choose to sponsor any item (either fully or partially) that Lord Jagannatha inspires you. 

1 Garlands: RM 600.00

2 Bhoga offering for Jagannatha: RM 400.00

3 Chariot Decoration: RM 2000.00

4 Jagannatha, Baladev Subhadra Car decoration: RM 300.00

5 Rela services: RM 800.00

6 Tenting,Tables,chairs: RM 5000.00

7 Banana trees and thoranam: RM 200.00

8 Flyers and Banners: RM 300.00

9 Prasadam feast (Annadanam): RM 10000.00

Bank Account details if you would like to do online  transfer of your kind donation:

Bank: Hong Leong BankAccount

Number: 00300093243

Account name:  THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS MALAYSIA SECTION ( ISKCON)

For further information please contact temple office 03 7980 7355/ 7971 7729 .

Thank you again and see you at the festival.

Yours in service of Sri Guru and Lord Jagannatha,
Kripa Sindhu Krishna Dasa
Temple President
Sri Jagannath Mandir, ISKCON Malaysia National HQ

Seeing others happy on 1 Jan 2018 is what made me happy

Hare Krishna. Received lots of New Year Greetings yesterday and this morning. I then thought how I can really be happy on the 1st day of 2018. Just then I heard devotees from our temple were heading for a program to give out free books, school bags and shoes. I joined the team of devotees of Sri Jagannatha Mandir Kuala Lumpur headed by Krishna Chandra Prabhu and the Temple President Kripa Sindhu Krishna Prabhu starting the new year with a drop in at Pangsapuri Enggang Kinrara, gathering flat residents especially children for a Hare Krishna Maha Mantra morning chanting session.

Immediately checking out their gift packages

The children about 50 of them were each given a school bag, a pair of shoes and a Srila Prabhupada small book and of course prasadam. We even celebrated the birthday of a kid. So there was cutting of cake.
As you can see from their faces, I am now happy to have started my HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018 by seeing others happy.

The post Daily Darshan: January01,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

QUESTION: So often we are taught to chant more and more. I’ve been advised to chant fast, with pronunciation almost an afterthought; but then I’ve also been instructed to chant with clear pronunciation, which slows it down. I’ve been told we can’t even be considered truly “human” unless we chant 108 mantras 16 times a day; but now I’ve been hearing from you that one should put the effort into wholeheartedly chanting one mantra. So, why have we been instructed to chant so many rounds if it’s not so beneficial?  

My reply:

I am not saying that we don’t need to chant as much as possible. I am saying the quantity is not the goal. To learn how to play a violin sweetly, for example, we have to practice a lot. The hours of practice isn’t the goal. The one sweet, heart-moving, tear-jerking note at the apex of a performance is the goal. Similar with chanting, to truly connect heart-to-heart with Krishna is the goal. It takes high-quality and significant-quantity practice and effort to get there.

We have to be aware of the words we are chanting. If we are chanting too quickly this may not be happening. For some people  sometimes, however, trying to chant as quickly as possible helps them concentrate – because it becomes impossible to do anything else without totally screwing up the mantra at that speed. The technique can vary from individual to individual and from day to day – the goal is the same: to truly focus on a clear, true experience of Krishna-nāma so that we develop a direct relationship to Krishna.

QUESTION: You have mentioned that only those who understand Krishna somewhat can actually chant his names. So why have we been taught that anyone who utters Krishna’s names will be liberated? 

You do not need to ask this question. You already know the answer. You have uttered Krishna’s name many times. Are you liberated yet?

A person will be liberated at some point due to even casually or indirectly contacting Krishna’s name, but it may not be very soon, and is not likely even going to happen in the next few hundred lifetimes unless and until that person stops causally and indirectly contacting that name and starts systematically, and deliberately contacting it, with devotional intent.

This is why you get some statements that, “anyone who utters Krishna’s name will be liberated” (viz. Caitanya Maṅgala) but you get other statements that, “even after chanting Krishna’s name for a million lifetimes, you will not get liberated” (viz. Caitanya Caritāmṛta). The explanation above reconciles the two: Anyone will be liberated (Caitanya Maṅgala) but it will not be a very long time, unless the do it without aparādhā, by the grace of Sri Caitanya’s teachings (Caitanya Caritāmṛta).

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[Youth meeting at Bahrain]

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The post Daily Darshan: December 31, 2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

As we now enter the year 2018, we are fast approaching what will be perhaps the most momentous and important occasion in ISKCON’s history thus far; the completion of the Chakra installations onto the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

This event not only represents the culmination of over eight years of cooperative effort on the parts of thousands of ISKCON devotees from around the world, but heralds the beginning of a new and exciting phase towards the completion of the TOVP. It is truly another milestone of achievement that we can all be proud of, and we are certain Srila Prabhupada is smiling upon us.

The three month marathon being organized by Sadbhuja prabhu in preparation for the Chakra installations continues unabated. The Nrsimhadeva Dome Kalash is almost complete and the Main Dome Kalash is fast approaching completion. Between the Kalash mounting, painting and fastening the dome ribs and stars, assembling both Chakras and working on the Chatris, all the transcendental sevaites are working around the clock to bring the marathon to its completion by February 7th for the Grand Installation Ceremony of the Chakras onto Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Domes.

Devotees are also encouraged to take advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime seva opportunity to sponsor the abhisheka of one or both Chakras. Many devotees have already done so and we are fast approaching our goal to get 1008 sponsors for each abhisheka. Don’t miss this opportunity. Go to this link to find out how you can sponsor an abhisheka:

https://tovp.org/donate/once-in-a-lifetime-chakra-abhisheka-seva-opportunity/

Here are the current statistics for the Chakra abhishekas:

Lord Nrsimhadeva Chakra – 643 sponsors
Radha Madhava Chakra – 506 sponsors

This inspiring installation trailer video will give you an idea of what’s to come at the installation ceremony: https://youtu.be/ljUaWuXgD8U

Below is a general invitation flyer for the ceremony which you can copy and share with other devotees online and print and post at your local temple. We hope you can attend this historic occasion.

Installation Ceremony Invitation can be downloaded by clicking the button below.
 

DOWNLOAD PDF  

The post Chakra Installation Update, December 2017 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

It’s been a tradition for me that when I’m in Sydney for New Years Eve I go on Harinama around the Opera House, Circular Quay and Rocks area.

We usually go down a little early around 5 or 6pm because as the night goes on, it’s standing room only and even if we wanted to take a Harinama through, it’s impossible to move because of the tremendous crowds.

Pratapana and Jayasri organise this particular kirtan party and the devotees are in a joyous mood, chanting and dancing along with members of the public, who enthusiastically join in.

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The audio only starts after about 20 minutes.

The brahmachari and the grihastha.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: There is the story of a wrestler in South India who was very much impressed by a beautiful girl and he served her so nicely. He was opening doors and holding parasols and was doing whatever he could to please her! So, one day, Ramanuja Acharya saw that wrestler and said to him, “Why are you serving her in this way?” The boy then said, “She… is… so… beautiful!”
Then Ramanuja Acharya said, “You call that beautiful?” Now, if it had been anyone else, they would have been in serious trouble but since it was a sadhu, the wrestler held himself back even though he felt the urge. Then Ramanuja Acharya said, “If you want to see what beautiful is all about, I will show you.”
So the next day, Ramanuja took that wrestler through many different corners, left, right and then suddenly, they stood in front of the deities. And because of the presence of the pure devotee, the wrestler had a special experience; something that you cannot just get without mercy. But because of the mercy of a vaisnava, suddenly for a moment, he saw the deity in all its transcendental beauty and for a moment, he realized that Ramanuja was right and that actually, the beauty of Krsna was greater…

So the wrestler saw the beauty of Krsna and that day he changed completely. From that day on, he became a devotee and he also made that lady a devotee. Then the roles reversed, instead of him always serving her, she was always serving him after that and they became initiated disciples of Ramanuja Acharya.

Then time went on and one day, the brahmacharis in the ashram were criticising those fallen householders who were so attached, so attached – just collecting all kinds of material things, “Just see how she is decked out with gold – gold everywhere like a Christmas tree!” Okay, maybe they didn’t say Christmas tree in South India at that time (laughter!) but anyway, something like that.

So then, that night when everyone was deeply asleep, Ramanuja Acharya went to the brahmachari ashram. All the dhotis of the brahmacharis were hanging over the washing line and drying, and Ramanuja went up to every dhoti and ripped a strip off every dhoti and he took the cloth and he left!
Then, he went to the house of his grihastha disciples and when he was inside, he sneaked up to the sleeping householders and started to take the earring out of the ear of the lady and he even slid-off her golden bangle. Then she woke up and realized, “It is Guru Maharaj! He is taking my earring. Oh, I should give him my other one as well but he can’t reach it because I am sleeping on it.” So she decided to turn over and then Ramanuja immediately left. She then he woke up her husband, and told him the whole story, who chastised her, “You nonsense! Why did you turn over and disturb him like that. Give me that earring!”

So, it was morning and just around mangal artik time and the grihasthas were just on their way to the temple. The brahmacharis were just waking up and there was a major riot; they were accusing each other of ripping pieces of their cloth, “Who took a piece of my cloth? Was it you, was it you…” It was a big fight! Then Ramanuja Acharya asked, “What’s going on here?”

“He took a piece of my dhoti,” all were saying.

Ramanuja said, “Who took a piece of your dhoti…” and he pulled from behind his back, all the pieces of cloth and held up all the pieces of cloth! Just then, those householders arrived and said, “Guru Maharaj, you were taking the earrings but you forgot something, here take these also…” then Ramanuja Acharya said, “See, who is attached!”

So, ultimately it is about dedicating ourselves to Krsna. It doesn’t matter where we are; it doesn’t matter what our position is; it doesn’t matter if we are married and we have thirteen children; it is okay!

The post Daily Darshan: December 30,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Harinama in Sydney, Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If we simply place ourselves at the lotus feet of Krishna b...

“Let Go of the Past” (7 min video)
Mahatma Prabhu’s realizations about past actions.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/JE1bfY