[Seminar at ISKCON, Melbourne, Australia]

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Morning class in Bucharest.

Well have a look at this short film produced by Elon Musk. This technology already exists and it only requires someone to integrate it. http://bit.ly/2iQ6S38

‘The music of yoga’: Agnostics, Christians find spiritual benefits in kirtan’s Hindu chants.
Online editor April Smallwood says the religious nature of kirtan was neither a drawcard nor a deterrent when she first attended.
“I became addicted because of that first experience,” she recalls of her visit to Sydney’s Hare Krishna organization Govinda’s.
“I didn’t really know what the chants meant, or what I was saying, essentially, but that helped me become more present because I was just focussing on pronouncing the words correctly.
"I noticed after that session, even four days afterward, I was on a continued high.”
Ms. Smallwood says the musicality of kirtan helped her achieve a state of mindfulness that was far harder to obtain through traditional meditation.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/9JEDje

In India, the movie was officially launched in Delhi on the 12th November 2017 by the Vice President of India, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu. Dr. Bibek Debroy, one of world’s well known economist and Indologist, executive members of India’s planning commission (NITI Aayog) and Chairman of Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council participated as the guest of honour. This film is going to be released all over India in PVR cinemas starting from 15th December 2017 onwards and is an opportunity to spread Srila Prabhupada's life and his glorious teachings, his profound work and ISKCON's mission to each and every house and person of India. We request all ISKCON devotees to inspire their family members, relatives and friends to go and watch this movie by pre-booking the tickets online in their nearby theatre through the link provided in this post. Continue reading "All India Launch of the Movie, “Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami who started it all”
→ Dandavats"

Sustainable success - Smart (Krishna conscious) way forward talk at Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) Convention (Album with ...

ISKCON Naperville: God and Google (video)
Human Relationships in this Internet Age by HG Radhika Raman Prabhu.
Watch it he...

The Parchment.
Indradyumna Swami: Dearest Prahladananda das and Vraja Kumari dasi. Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I see myself as a “scripted devotee" someone who puts pen to paper to organize his thoughts. And so it is that I read an offering to you on this auspicious day of your marriage. Having a written parchment will afford you the opportunity to revisit this day of mirth and joy, and remember whatever humble advice I can offer to you about how to make your journey together on the path of Krsna consciousness both materially and spiritually rewarding.
I say “materially rewarding” because the basic needs of life, which everyone seems to struggle to obtain, are easier to achieve when husband and wife cooperate together.
Mother Teresa once said:
“I can do things you cannot. And you can do things I cannot. But together we can do great things.”
What great things can a househoulder couple in Krsna consciousness achieve? One significant achievement is that by working together they can simplify their lives and find time for the most essential things in life: chanting Hare Krsna, reading Srimad Bhagavatam, associating with devotees and sharing their good fortune with others.
Srila Prabhupada writes in a purport in the fourth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam:
“Another feature of the devotee is nirihaya, simple living. Niriha means “gentle,” “meek” or “simple.” A devotee should not live very gorgeously and imitate a materialistic person. Plain living and high thinking are recommended for a devotee. He should accept only so much as he needs to keep the material body fit for the execution of devotional service.” [ SB 4.22.24 purport ]
You, Vraja Kumari, were born into an affluent family in which your parents have set a wonderful example by sacrificing most their wealth for the propagation of Krsna consciousness. Embracing that example, you yourself showed the utmost detachment and compassion by donating your entire first year’s salary to my festival tour in Poland. It was a significant donation and it was only by your generosity that we were able to function that year. You could have used any amount of that money for yourself to buy clothes, jewellery or even a car, but despite your access to wealth you always remain simple at heart—even austere in some ways.
Yesterday evening when I met your husband to be, Sriman Prahladananda das, I mentioned how much I appreciated your frugal nature and how it would surely continue in household life even though he, a capable and responsible individual, could provide whatever you needed. He nodded, appreciating your endearing qualities, but then smiled and said, “But look at the engagement ring I bought her!”
Glancing at your hand I noticed the beautiful ring, which you showed to me, blushing a little bit. Your shy demeanour only convinced me more that you and your husband will live well, but simply, using all your energy in the service of guru and Gauranga. Thus, your household life will surely also be spiritually rewarding.
Now for some practical advice. To ensure that those spiritual rewards manifest, remember a cardinal rule in household life: never be so busy that you don’t have time to sit together as a family, chant your rounds, read and peacefully take prasadam. Together those simple activities are the very essence of our spiritual progress; this is true for individuals, couples and the society of devotees as a whole.
Challenges will come: none of us are perfect (at least at this stage) and sometimes there will be disagreements between husband and wife. But those differences can be tolerated and overcome when the relationship between husband and wife is rooted in service to their spiritual masters and Krsna. Such a genuine, deeply spiritually and satisfying relationship can never be broken. Srila Prabhupada used to give the example that although many powerful rivers flow into the ocean, the ocean is never disturbed because of its greatness. Your greatness as a couple is the depth of your love for the vaisnavas, your spiritual preceptors and Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
That kind of love is unknown to most people in this world because it is a pure, selfless love. It pervades all relationships in Krsna consciousness: the relationship between disciple and their spiritual master, between parents and children, between friends and between husband and wife. Selfless love is the fundamental theme of Krsna consciousness and is most perfectly demonstrated by the cowherd girls of Vrindavan.
In closing I would like to share, once again, my favorite wedding story; I repeat it again and again at each vivaha-yajna I attend! It reveals the secret for success in holy matrimony and serves as a good example for both of you.
A few years ago, on a flight from New York to Los Angeles where I was to attend another devotee marriage, I was contemplating what I might say when asked to speak at the event. Being late for the flight that day I was unfortunately assigned a middle seat between a more desirable window and aisle seat. As I settled in, an elderly couple appeared and squeezed in on either side of me: the man took the window seat and his wife took the aisle seat.
As soon as the flight took off the elderly man said very loudly, “Martha, I love you! I can’t want to get to Los Angeles to celebrate our seventy-fifth wedding anniversary!”
She screamed back at him, “Georgie, I love you too! It will be fun! It’s always fun with you!”
It was obvious to me that they were both very hard-of-hearing.
“Wow!” I thought to myself. “They’ve been married for 75 years! I can get some tips from them about successful marriage and use it in my talk at the wedding.”
“Excuse me,” I said, turning from side-to-side to get both of their attention.
“What’s that young man?” screamed the old lady. “Speak up!”
“Young man?” I thought. “I’m 66 years old!” But I said aloud, “How old are you, Ma’am?”
“We’re both 96.” she replied.
“We were childhood sweethearts,” chimed in the old man.
“I see,” I said. “Well, I’m going to a wedding on the West Coast and I’d like to ask you for some advice that I can share with the young couple. What would you say is the essential ingredient for a successful marriage?”
They looked at each other for a moment, paused, then smiled and said simultaneously in their equally loud voices:
“Love means to give more than you take!”
I leave you, Prahlad and Vraja Kumari, with those words of wisdom found both in our ancient scriptures and from the mouths of an old couple in the USA. I have no doubt that many years from now you will share those words of wisdom with your own children and grandchildren, thus ensuring this magical formula for successful marriage is passed down through generations.
I wish you a prosperous marriage full joy and laughter. I pray the good Lord will send you saintly sons and daughters who will carry on the legacy of this great movement. And I wish that by serving the devotees, your spiritual masters and the Lord successfully throughout your married life together, you will indeed reach perfection in Krsna consciousness and go back home, back to Godhead in this very lifetime!
As you come together in sacred marriage on this most auspicious day, I pray that this old parchment—new actually, but steeped in the knowledge of our ancients—will be of some use to you, both today and in the years to come.
Hare Krsna!
Your ever well-wisher,
Indradyumna Swami

Is bhakti yoga meant for sentimentalists?
In India, there is a common notion amongst the intellectuals that…………
Bhakti yoga is meant for sentimentalists, children, women who cannot think, but who are only fit for clapping hands and doing some bhajans.
Jnana yoga is meant for intellectuals, thinkers and those who have reasoning power. Jnana yoga is superior to Bhakti yoga.
Impersonal understanding of God is all-inclusive because one may accept any form of god like Ganesh, Siva, Durga, Rama, Visnu etc ultimately all paths lead to same goal.
Murti puja, Deity worship is idol worship; there is no need to go to Temple of god. God is everywhere and in everything. We can see god in the smile of a poor man; we can see god in social service; we can see god in our Work. There is no need to go to Temple to see god.
Ashtanga yogis who get Ashta-siddhis, eight mystic perfections are great heroes. Compared to them, the bhaktas who have no such mystic powers are simply singers and chanters of some mantra.
Srimad Bhagavatam nullifies all such bogus arguments as above by presenting pastimes such as these –

Kumaras, who were impersonalists before, smelling Tulsi fragrance from Lord Visnu’s lotus feet, became personalist devotees of Lord Visnu and gave up their impersonal conceptions
Shukadeva Goswami, who was a brahma jnani at birth, became a great pure devotee of Krishna hearing the verses of SB from woodcutters, who were disciples of Srila Vyasadeva
Mystic yogi Durvasa had to flee for life from Sudarshan chakra, after offending King Ambarisha and at last had to fall flat at the feet of King Ambarish to save his life
In our preaching, we could quote these instances to prove the following :

Personalist devotees never turn into impersonalists; on the other hand, impersonalists become personalists when they get association of Lord or His devotees. Thus Personal understanding of God is the ultimate understanding that surpasses all other realisations of God.

Paths of Jnana, Yoga, Karma – are not independent; they depend on Bhakti yoga, for achieving their results such as Liberation, Mystic powers or fruitive results etc.

Although one who has experienced Brahmananda may shun material enjoyment, still Brahmananda is nothing more than a drop in the ocean of Bhaktyananda, the spiritual bliss arising from devotional service to Lord.

“My realization this Kartik”
Spending the most Auspicious month of Kartika in Vrindavan is a wonderful chance to meet beautiful devotees from all over the world. To obtain the blessings of the senior devotees and love of the friends in the dhama is all the more reason to be there.
I and my husband (Rasapriya das) try to be there to grab the mercy of the Devotees and Deities in the Kartika. This Kartik of 2017 again brought us to the Holy Dhama in the association of so many effulgent Sanyasis and devotees.
We had a great opportunity of listening kathas and sermons.
There are many anecdotes to narrate but I am going to share one in particular. It was early in the morning of the 30th Oct. right after Tulsi arati. I was chanting outside Srila Prabhupada quarters and my husband was chanting sitting on a chair near the guest house stairs.
I am prone to stomach ache if I don’t feed myself with some nuts or fruit within an hour of waking up. Usually, before rushing for the Mangal aarti I have a habit of gulping down few almonds so as to avoid the stomach ache.
But on that day I forgot to do so. While chanting I could feel the pangs of pain and started thinking about procuring something to eat from somewhere. But everything was shut down and none of my friends were carrying anything to eat. I kept on chanting as I have a habit of finishing a set number of rounds in the temple.
HH Kadam Kanan Maharaj passed me chanting on his beads. I bowed down acknowledging his appearance.
He walked into the guest house reception and met my husband. Maharaja ji in his strong voice called out to my husband and commented smilingly on his chanting in seclusion. He started to climb the staircase and then suddenly turned around and called my husband.
Maharaja ji put his hand in his kurta pocket and took out a small box that he handed over to him. While handing over Maharaj ji made a statement,“give this to your family”.
My husband excitingly ran to give to me.I was overjoyed to receive the “Mahaprasad”.
The Divine laddoos in the tiny box filled my belly and all the pangs of pain were gone.
Krsna has amazing ways ……..
It may sound a petty incident but its impact is great on the Consciousness.
Krsna takes care of His devotees right from small to big needs.

Be a monk - The 7-day challenge! (4 min video)
Niskincana Caitanya Das: This week-long course is designed to give people a taster and a blast of Krishna consciousness; particularly for those who find it difficult to commit to more than a week at the temple. It’s especially good for new people and those who are recently coming into Krishna consciousness Candidates get to experience the morning program, engage in philosophy sessions and do various activities like Food for Life, cookery workshops, yoga session, farming, Vedic fitness, and festivals etc. We’ve had 2 courses so far and they’ve been extremely well received. It’s short, simple and great fun!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/RshpQT

“At the beginning of winter, there is a ceremony known as the Odana-sasthi. This ceremony indicates that from that day forward, a winter covering should be given to Lord Jagannatha.” – Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya-lila16.79, purport Once, Srila Pundarika Vidyanidhi and Srila Svarupa Damodara came to Jagannatha Puri and saw the festival of odana-sasthi. On […]

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Answer Podcast

The post In Damodarashtakam, what does duhka-jala abdhi magnam mean? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

From Sydney we made our way to the wonderful devotee farm community of New Govardhana. We were welcomed by the small community with open arms and bright spirits.

We were told by several devotees not to expect any big fundraising results as this is a small farm community, so we were happy to just come and bring the Lord’s mercy and blessings and inspire the devotees with details of the TOVP progress. However, nothing could be further from the truth. On November 20th, after the Lord’s abhisheka and arati and all was said and done, the devotees there were so pleased that the small attendance of 35 families pledged over $85,000!

We want to thank Ajit prabhu, the Temple President for his support and for arranging the program.

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 TOVP Australasia Tour, Day 4 – New Govardhana, Australia appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Leaving Melbourne, Australia after a few days of no travel, the TOVP Tour made its way to Sydney, also one of the largest cities in Australia.

The management there, under the outstanding direction and leadership of Temple President Vijay Gopikesh and Varanayaka prabhus, and inspired by His Holiness Ramai Swami, rented a separate hall for the TOVP fundraising event. On November 18th a wonderful program ensued with the Padukas and Sitari receiving abhisheka and arati as usual along with kirtan and prasadam. 150 devotees attended and when all was said and done over $165,000 U.S. was pledged.

We thank Ramai Swami, Vijay Gopikesha and Varanayaka prabhus for their support and enthusiasm.

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 TOVP Australasia Tour, Day 3 – Sydney, Australia appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

On November 11th the TOVP Tour Team brought Lord Nityananda’s Padukas and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Sitari to the original Capital City of Australia, Melbourne. Although Canberra is now the Capital, Melbourne is one of the largest cities in Australia and this showed by the incredible response of the devotees who pledged over $500,000 U.S. to the TOVP.

The fundraising event was held at the Williamstown Town Hall as a fundraising dinner and was attended by over 400 devotees. The program included kirtan, other devotional entertainment and a wonderful prasadam feast. The video presents highlights of the program.

We are especially grateful to Temple President Aniruddha prabhu for his orgainizing, promoting and encouraging this event. From start to finish he is responsible for making this happen.

Also below is a link to the full photo library from this event.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/137890268@N05/sets/72157666431999849/

To sponsor an abhisheka for Sri Sri Radha Madahava’s or Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Chakras at the Grand Installation Ceremony of February 7th, go here:

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

The post Melbourne Fundraiser appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

This is an update since we released our Three Month Marathon video a few weeks ago detailing our preparation work for the installation of Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Chakras on February 7th.

The Russian team from the company that manufactured the Kalashes and Chakras will complete the Nrsimhadeva Dome Kalash installation with titanium nitride panels shortly, ahead of schedule. Then they will begin placing the titanium nitride panels onto the Main Dome Kalash.

The blue titling and rib placement onto the Nrsimhadeva Dome is also progressing rapidly with no major obstacles.

The assembling of the Kalash onto the Main Dome is also in progress.

The post TOVP Marathon Update appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Divergence between the controlled and the controller (video)
A talk by HG Gauranga dasa on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto-11, Chapter...

15th Annual Vrinda Kunda Festival.
Deena Bandhu dasa: Early next year will be the auspicious 15th Anniversary of Vrinda Kunda Temple opening! From 29th Jan to 12th February we will celebrate with special parikramas to the Holy Places of Braja. The high point of the Festival will be our famous Kalash Yatra, an ecstatic Sankirtan procession with the ladies carrying water pots with coconuts on their heads. Parikramas will be taken out almost every day with the main festival day on Sunday 4th Feb.

Havi das’ interview.
Havi values special moments in his spiritual life, such as the time he got to wash Srila Prabhupada’s feet in Venezuela in 1975, much more than he does any of his career achievements.
He is eager to warn younger generations of devotees enamored with the idea of fame and the Grammys that there is a dark side to the music business, with predatory record labels taking advantage of artists, morally bankrupt companies like McDonald’s sponsoring awards shows, and more.
And ultimately, he says, people worship pop idols because they’re disconnected from their relationship with Krishna.
Havi, for his part, would rather reconnect people with Lord Krishna, their original lover and friend, than be part of reinforcing the disconnect.

“To be honest, I’m waiting for the first opportunity to open the door and run away,” he says. “I’m 65 years old – enough is enough! I want to dedicate the rest of my life to serving the Vaishnavas and talking to people about Krishna. And if the fact that they think I’m important helps me, well, then I’ll use that.”
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/gxAGP1

TOVP Fundraiser. New Varshan. Nov 2017 (Album with photos)
Yesterday we were graced with a SB class given by HG Jananivas Prab...

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, May 2011, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture)

Srila Prabhupada emphasised book distribution and that emphasis will never go away no matter what we do! There was a time when book distribution was THE EMPHASIS of the Hare Krsna movement and there was only a small percentage of devotees who were not part of it. But as time went on, book distribution at one point become a peripheral program – a side program and it lessened as a mainstream focus.

Now in recent years, we see a resurgence of book distribution worldwide, as statistics shows. So as they say, the pendulum swings – it swings from one side to the other BUT Srila Prabhupada’s desires remain valid. Whether our community takes different forms at different historical points in time, Prabhupada’s desires remain as an exceptional source of blessings! We can get such blessings by simply trying to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desires!

Therefore, again and again, that will come to the forefront, even if at times the focus shifts a little, still it remains within the boundaries of authorised vaisnava behaviour. If we miss the emphasis which Srila Prabhupada gave or the points that he stressed then we will dry up a little bit. So, therefore, our connection with Srila Prabhupada is extremely important and it must remain a focal point of our movement then our movement will flourish!

Harinama Sankirtan on a cold day in Paris, France (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Those who simply chant the holy name w...

A live turkey has been the guest of honor at Govinda’s Restaurant in Tuscon, Arizona for the past twelve years, although the restaurant has been serving Thanksgiving dinners since opening its doors in 1992.
“Our current turkey, Curley Sue, has been with us for three years,” says ISKCON Tucson temple president, cook, groundskeeper and all around busiest-person-ever Sandamini Dasi. “She’s from Wilcox, a small nearby farming town, and is very friendly. She just sits out on the patio during the Thanksgiving meal, being fed by a circle of excited, laughing kids.”
Seeing the turkey as a loving living entity, a member of the family, tends to make quite an impression on the 50% of Govinda’s clientele who are non-vegetarian. Often they begin to reflect on where it would be if not for Govinda’s. “We hold a contest every year where we give away a free dinner to those who best answer the question “What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?’” Sandamini says. “People are often moved to write, ‘I’m thankful that the turkey is here alive, and not on someone’s plate.’”

The event also draws the attention of Tucson’s local TV stations, at least one of which will usually feature it on their 6 o’clock news, with a repeat at 10 o’clock. “Come on down to Govinda’s, where there’s a new twist on Thanksgiving – the turkey is the guest of honor,” they’ll report, giving out the restaurant’s address.

“Then they’ll show clips of the turkey running around and gobbling. It’s quite a draw,” Sandamini laughs. “Most city folk don’t even know what a turkey looks like – what to speak of getting a picture sitting at a table with one!”

Govinda’s all-vegan Thanksgiving dinner includes apple-walnut stuffing, mashed potatoes with carrot, cashew gravy, fresh cranberry sauce, green bean almondine, baked acorn squash with maple syrup, pumpkin pie, a full salad bar – and an organic tofu “turkey,” which is really just a farina casserole with crumbled tofu and saitan.

Answer Podcast

The post The driver controls the car, but the soul doesn’t directly control the body – can you explain? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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On October 15^th the Mayapur Institute of ISKCON opened its first classroom kutir, or hut, which creates the perfect atmosphere for study of the Vedic scriptures. Built with natural, environmentally-friendly local materials like bamboo, bricks and thatch, the kutir makes students feel like they have stepped back in time to learn with the sages of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.