Planet ISKCON

Prayers requested for one of Srila Prabhupada's disciples, HG Niramaya das Prabhu. He left his body in Spain at 9am on Dec. 15th, 2017. May Srila Prabhupada bless him on his onward journey back home, back ...

To see our life reflected in the Caitanya Caritamrita (video)
Lecture by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, 14 December 2016 at Hare Kris...
Read More...

ISKCON Malaysia: Puspa Samadhi Installation of HH. Bhakti Vrajendranandana Swami at Sri Sri Radha Krishna Kannaiya Temple Seberang J...

TOVP: Nrshimha Dev’s Kalash structure is almost completed
Sadbhuja Das: Kindly see the second part of the update on the works going on in the ToVP in preparation for the Gaura Purnima Festival time.
Here you can see the images of the Main Dome and the Nrshimha Dev Dome.
The Nrshimha Dev Kalash structure is almost completed and works on the Main Dome Kalash are coming up fast.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/DzB2va

A message from Agnideva Dasa - with the deepest gratitude to everyone who donated to help support him through this major challenge.

By Padmapani das

In November of 1969 while speaking in London's Conway Hall, Srila Prabhupada stated the following: "The process is very simple. Just keep a picture of Lord Caitanya with His associates. Lord Caitanya is in the middle, accompanied by His principal associates—Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara, and Srivasa. One simply has to keep this picture. One can keep it anywhere. It is not that one has to come to us to see this picture. Anyone can have this picture in his home, chant this Hare Krishna mantra, and thus worship Lord Caitanya. That is the simple method. But who will capture this simple method? Those who have good brains. Without much bother, if one simply keeps a picture of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at home and chants Hare Krishna, then one will realize God. Anyone can adopt this simple method. There is no expenditure, there is no tax, nor is there any need to build a very big church or temple. Anyone, anywhere, can sit down on the road or beneath a tree and chant the Hare Krishna mantra and worship God. Therefore it is a great opportunity." Continue reading "The Simple Method
→ Dandavats"

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2017, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Class)

There are many people out there hankering for something spiritual, looking for some deeper meaning to life. Just one devotee stepping into the middle of someone’s life with a book can change the destiny of that person completely. Just one book makes such a huge difference!

Those who are not such good book distributors can sponsor books. Sponsored books help – then we can give away books almost for free.

In Soweto, at the Ratha Yatra, devotees were giving away these big Krsna Books, hardbound with the silver covers. You know these big ones with the colour plates. That is a beautiful book. Somebody had a whole bunch of them and gave the books away to people who were not rich. Those who got the book were holding it like they were ready to fight for it, “No one is going to take this off me. I got something really good today.” They were dancing in kirtan after that with the book! They were not putting it down. That book was under their arm and stayed there all the way throughout the dance. So sponsor books!

Some people will be better at book distribution than others and that is always going to be like that. You never know who, sometimes even really shy people, are very successful. If we can overcome our own false ego, our own fear and if somehow or other, we do it, then we will be amazed by what results Krsna will give us. Otherwise, sponsor books because if we, as a community, put the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books in the foreground where we want more people to get books, then so many wonderful things will happen.

QUESTION: Another thing which I wanted to ask you was regarding Chanting. Japa as I have understood is a Dhayana Yoga with Dhayana being done on Sri Naam which is non different from Sri Hari. So whatever Krishna has said in Chapter 6 can be taken as an aid towards Sri Naam Dhayan.

This is true but remember what he says later too. For example in Chapter 12 at the beginning.

Krishna nāma mantra is basically like any other form of meditation (dhyāna), and therefore should follow the same basic guidelines of yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, etc. but Nāma mantra is also quite distinct from many other forms of meditation, because (as Krishna explains in chapter 12), the object of the meditation is actually a living being with will and feelings, who we try to attract with our affection, and who, once attracted starts to make efforts from his own side to attain us. Other objects of meditation are not personal (and/or not all-powerful) and can’t reciprocate in the same way.

So although nāma japa is certainly dhyana, it is a unique type of dyāna not entirely the same as what jñānīs, tapasvis etc are doing when they do dhyāna. Sri Rupa Goswami, in Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu does not really seem to classify nāma-japa as dyāna but instead includes it under the umbrella of saṁkīrtana, at least so far as I understand him.

QUOTE: But I have seen many a people doing Japa along with playing the Chanting box which has Srila Prabhupada doing Japa and they doing along with. Would this sort of thing be Japa or Kirtan because what I understood is that glorifying Sri Naam with others is Kirtan and meditating on Sri Naam individually is Japa or can we say that both are same as ultimately its Samkirtanam?

Both are Saṁkīrtan.

Japa, according to Sri Rupa Goswami and Haribhakti Vilas, should be muttered very quietly or contemplated silently. But (and this may blow people’s minds) not everyone is cut out to do that sort of Japa, and it is not really necessary for everyone to do it. Any form of Saṁkīrtan will be effective if done properly.

The style that we use to chant nāma mantra is really not so important. What is important is that we chant with genuine attraction to loving Krishna – which means chanting without selfishness and the distractions that come with it. Whatever techniques one uses in bhakti-dhyāna are incidental. Bhakti is not technique-oriented. Bhakti is beyond that. It is emotional. With all the technique in the world, but no sincere interest in affection for Krishna, and no accurate comprehension of the object of affection – the so-called dhyana is ineffective – regardless if it’s done while driving through Manhattan and counting with a metal clicker, or if it’s done in a cave at the top of the himalaya.

Vraja

On this great Vaisnava’s appearance day, who has gifted the world with Sri Caitanya Mangala and many nectarean songs on Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, please read below his history & glories& meditate and pray for one drop of  his mercy to perfect our lives! Srila Locana Dasa Thakura appeared in this world in 1520 […]

The post Lochan Das Thakur Appearance day appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Please find below the audio recordings of lectures and kirtans by Kadamba Kanana Swami during his stay in Mayapur in November 2017.

Download all (1.1 GB)

KKS_Mayapur_09Nov2017_Bhajan_JayaRadhaMadhava

KKS_Mayapur_09Nov2017_Lecture_SB_8.3.16

KKS_Mayapur_12Nov2017_Kirtan_RememberingBrajaVallabhi

KKS_Mayapur_12Nov2017_ShortLecture_RememberingBrajaVallabhi

KKS_Mayapur_12Nov2017_Kirtan_Russian_SundayFeast

KKS_Mayapur_12Nov2017_Lecture_Russian_SundayFeast

KKS_Mayapur_14Nov2017_Kirtan_TempleRoom

KKS_Mayapur_15Nov2017_Lecture_Russian_SB_8.6.26

 

Parikrama

KKS_Mayapur_18Nov2017_Parikrama_Lecture_BhaktivinodaThakursHouse (With Candramauli Swami, Pankajhangri Prabhu and Bhakti Nrshima Swami)

KKS_Mayapur_18Nov2017_Parikrama_Kirtan_Suvarna Bihar

KKS_Mayapur_18Nov2017_Parikrama_Lecture_Suvarna Bihar

KKS_Mayapur_18Nov2017_Parikrama_Lecture_NrsimhaPalli (With Candramauli Swami, Pankajhangri Prabhu and Bhakti Nrshima Swami)

 

Nectar of Devotion lectures and House Programme – outstanding recordings.

Visit Flickr to see more photos

 

India is hosting 700 screenings in one-week, Canada release January 22nd, and South America and New Zealand planned for the early new year.

One of Srila Prabhupada’s disciple shares his motivation for distributing books (6 min video)
Jiva-Natha das has been distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books for over 4 decades. Now living in Mayapur, India he continues to do so with the same enthusiasm. He shares how to be inspired to perform this important service for Srila Prabhupada; 1 book at a time.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/F3umX9

Food for All Relocation Christmas Plan and Appeal.
Parasurama das (ACBSP): As you maybe aware Food for All have had to relocat...

By Subhag Swami

I am very happy to hear that devotees are gathering together in Penang to pay their homage to His Holiness Bhakti Vrajendra Swami Maharaj and showing their love, affection, dedication and loving service to the cause of our society, mission of Sri ChaitnyaMahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada. He is definitely a great soul, Mahatma… I know him from Birmingham from early 70’s. He used to come to the Birmingham centre and whatever he gets, he used to help the centre as the temple used to have hard days during that period. Later on, he came to London and used to distribute book, to work very hard and everybody appreciated his service - because Srila Prabhupada says ISKCON is a preaching movement, and ultimately book distribution. Krishna says, “No one was or will be so dear to Me than one who preaches this Krishna Consciousness. Continue reading "Remembering His Holiness Bhakti Vrajendra Nandan Swami
→ Dandavats"

The post Daily Darshan: December 18,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Today Santa Barbara County lifted the evacuation order for the neighborhood of my ashram in Carpinteria, and Kuntidevi will be returning with the Deities and other items, to begin the arduous process of cleaning up the property, reestablishing the worship, and restoring the ashram to proper function. We wish her well in her endeavor, in difficult circumstances, by Srila Prabhupada and Their Lordships’ grace.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

There are many devotional programs going on in the greater Sydney area. Sometimes they are held in halls and other times at devotee homes. Generally, there is kirtan, lecture, arati and prasadam feast.

Recently, I was invited to attend a program in the home of Umesh Prabhu and his good wife Suman Prabhu. They have a beautiful dedicated temple room and about fifty enthusiastic devotees attended the evening.

SB 05.19.06 All Wonderful for the Liberated 2013-03-30

Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 5.19.6 All Wonderful for the Liberated 2013-03-30 Radhadesh

SB 01.14.03 Safe Landing 2013-03-27

Lecture – SB 1.14.03 Safe Landing 2013-03-27 Radhadesh

CC Adi 17 Tattvavit Pr, M. Visakha; Kolaveca Sridhara 2013-03-27

Lecture – Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 17 Tattvavit Pr, M. Visakha; Kolaveca Sridhara 2013-03-27 Radhadesh

Sri Sri Jagannath Ratha Yatra 2017, Iskcon Klang, Malaysia
(Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: “I have brought medicine to awaken very living being from perpetual sleep. Please receive the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and awaken. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.13.9 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/1csC1W

UK - December Book Marathon 2017 (Album with photos)
ISKCON Birmingham’s 5000 offering to Srila Prabhupada!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/fSJKUL

Iskcon Brisbane Temple: Thank you to the 25 wonderful (!) devotees who came out to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books today. Below are pics of the training and practicing before hand.
Here’s the list of Srila Prabhupada’s frontline soldiers!
Darshan Grewal
Laksmi priya
Rajal
Kanchana
Aarya
Shivali
Caru candravali
Hari Varta
Hitashi
Divya
Niyati
Vasu
Gangesvara Caitanya
Saumya
Radheshyam
Dominic
Vrindavancandra
Dharmesh Porwal
Dauji
Tulasi Bhakti
Prema Nama
Saci mata
Shushank
Ranga
Adya Shakti
Find them here: https://goo.gl/dsC8Qu

Srimad Bhagavatam Class 11.6.5-7 By Radhika Raman Prabhu At Iskcon Chowpatty On 15th Dec 2017 (video)
Why we should bow down in...

By Danakeli dasi

Srila Prabhupada wanted us to show by example how to become freed from dependency on city life and satisfied with the village idea. “ But we are not going to develop a competitive farming enterprise for making money. The basic principle is to become independent of artificial city life ...Gandhi had this idea, the one defect was that there was no Krishna in the center. So the same idea of village organization , but keeping Krishna in the center should be introduced on our farm projects . ” Continue reading "Community by Design
→ Dandavats"

By TOVP staff

The tour stopped in the cities and communities listed below and achieved great success, being met by enthusiastic and supportive devotees who made small and large financial sacrifices according to their means for the project. The total amount of pledges exceeded $3 million U.S., an astounding amount considering the small size of some of the communities. All these devotees are to be thanked. Continue reading "TOVP Australasia Tour Report
→ Dandavats"

By Yadubara das

Actors Namitha and Veera reviews. Financial Express article. Bhanu Swami interview. Yadubara das⁩ interview with Hrishi K on radio one. Urban Asia interview. IANS Review. Movie Talkies Review. Vivek Bindra, a well known motivational speaker, talks about movies then HARE KRISHNA! Continue reading "Celebrities and the media along with the public, in India, thrilled by the “Hare Krishna!” film
→ Dandavats"

The post Daily Darshan: December 17,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

 

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 12/03/2017

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

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

1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report

• Five cows are being milked by Ananda Vidya & Lalita Gopi at the Temple Barn: Jamuna, Surabhi, Parvati, Laxmi, and Sita. Milk production is approximately 17 gallons per day.
• Asha has been retired from the milk herd and is now residing at the Valley Barn.
• Malati returned to the Temple Barn and is due very soon.
• Sriya and Anjali are both due in February. Subhadra has been confirmed pregnant and is due at the end of May.
• There are two heifers residing at the Temple Barn: three-month old Lalita, and 11-month-old Vamsika.
• Jaya Radhe has been moved to Nandagram for breeding with Madhu. Also, Usha is currently residing with Madhu.
• Ananda Vidya continues to process approximately 15 lbs. of butter, 15 gallons of yogurt, and a half gallon of ghee on a weekly basis, and delivers them to the temple kitchen.
• The Temple Barn had many guests over Thanksgiving, including Anuradha’s friends who volunteered during an evening milking. Also, Lilasuka and her extended family came for an evening milking.
• Bhaktin Andrea has been coming every night to help with milking, as has Bhakta Kyle on occasion.
• Ray completed the work on Dharma the bull’s outside pen expansion project at the Valley Barn. Dharma is content in his new outside space.
• Ray replaced all of the old fluorescent bulbs and fixtures in the new vegetable processing room with LED lighting which is low-maintenance and energy efficient. In addition, he ran conduit and installed two electrical outlets, one of which services the new freezer.
• Ray, with Robert’s help, replaced the old deck on the front entrance of Gopal’s Garden. With the help of Brikasanga, he is replacing the siding around the front entrance to the school building.
• Ray will be handling repairs at the greenhouses at Vidya’s and at Nandagram this month.
• Caitanya Bhagavat has settled into a winter program of working with Hari Chand in the ox program for one hour each morning, and caring for the Nandagram herd.
• Suchandra cleaned out all the beds at the Teaching Garden and prepared them for winter by working them up and covering them with compost. Also, she finished planting 400 lily bulbs there. She will finish clearing the beds and digging out the dahlia bulbs at Vidya’s this month.
• Robert cleared the beds at the Community Garden and readied them for next year.
• In discussions with Robert, he shared that does not want to take on the responsibility of overseeing the vegetable gardens for 2018. That means ECO-V is still searching for a garden manager for the upcoming season.
• 2017 Total Garden Yields

Produce delivered to the Temple Kitchen (does not include Freezer Stock):

• Green beans – 336 lbs.
• Cucumbers – 20 lbs.
• Bitter melon – 30 lbs.
• Summer and patty pan squash – 166 lbs.
• Zucchini squash – 117 lbs.
• Winter squash – 15 lbs.
• Swiss chard – 78 lbs.
• Basil – 7.5 lbs.
• Kale – 23 lbs.
• Lettuce – 8 lbs.
• Carrots – 36 lbs.
• Heirloom tomatoes – 122 lbs.
• Roma tomatoes – 80 lbs.
• Cherry tomatoes – 42 lbs.
• Apples – 81 lbs.
• Plums – 25 lbs.
• Strawberries – 50 lbs.
• Blackberries – 5 lbs.
• Potatoes – 600 lbs.

Freezer Stock:

• Green Beans – 54 gallons
• Tomatoes – 33 gallons

Flowers:

• Big marigolds – 27,000
• Small marigolds – 25,000
• Lilies – 525
• Dahlias – 760
• Zinnias – 1,500
• Sunflowers – 575
• Gladiolus – 75

2. Restructuring ECO-V

The Board explored ways we can encourage more people to get involved with ECO-V. Strategies suggested included:

• Improve outreach to the local community
• Connect with people from the WVU College of Agriculture
• Build relationships with people from Grow Ohio Valley
• Review wages offered
• Continue to search within the broader community of devotees while making internal improvements within ECO-V and New Vrindaban in general
• Attract WWOOFers – Start by offering room and board, then work to eventually be able to offer paid positions and offer training. Look for interpersonal skills within the existing staff to run such a program.
• Look at possible interfaith connections
• Reassess past experiences, consider how to highlight the uniqueness of the opportunities ECO-V and New Vrindaban have offer, and revise our methods of recruitment until we find the right people

3. Village Governance vs. Non-Profit Management

Chaitanya Mangala spoke in regards to the need to identify the differences between a village governance and non-profit management, and also to develop language that helps differentiate between the two so the New Vrindaban residents & well-wishers can continue to develop & evolve a proper “self-governing village.”

4. Board & Advisor Application

The Board discussed the possibility of adopting an application recently developed by INV for director and advisor positions and also to explore other ways of increasing involvement with ECO-V. Chaitanya Mangala will share the INV application so it can be considered at the next meeting.

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

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2017, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Class)

I remember going door-to-door on book distribution and it was all okay until I came to this one house. The door opened and there was a monster – a huge guy, all leather clad, looking like an enormous Hells Angel. In those days, there were many of them.

I was thinking and I started to pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva, “Oh my god, how do I get out of here quietly?” but it was too late and the guy said, “What do you want?”

I go like, (high-pitched soft voice) “Book.”

He says, “Oh, how much?”

I said, “Twenty-five.”

He gave me twenty-five, took the book and said, “Get outta here!”

It is amazing. Sometimes you cannot believe who takes a book. You cannot calculate. You sort of try to figure out who is the one, who is the devotee? You look around the crowd and see one who has a nice smile but he says, “Not interested. No, thank you.”

A man in Boston said to me when I approached, “You cannot speak to me! We have not been introduced.” (laughter) I replied, “Please allow me to introduce myself.”

There are all kinds of people – nice people, crazy people, cold people, arrogant people, destitute people… People that just say that they have no money and people that really have no money. And there are also people that have no money but seem to be so nice that you give them a book for free.

Some book distributors, young men, specialise in young girls. They target only young girls. “Hi…” Blink, blink, blink! “Hi, how are you?” Anyway, those book distributors instead of carrying books; soon they will be carrying babies (laughter). What can we say? That is going on also.

When distributing books, one has to have a sense of being an instrument of the Lord and understand that the mercy is available to all…

I have been moved by the many devotees who have written me expressing their concern about the wildfires in the Carpinteria area and informing me of their prayers for me and the other residents. Your concern and prayers mean much to me, and I feel obliged to you all and offer you my heartfelt thanks. Your care is much appreciated, and you all are very dear to me.

Hare Krishna.

Your grateful servant,
Giriraj Swami

 

Concerned about India’s falling rank on the Global Hunger Index, ISKCON Food Relief Foundation’s Haryana chapter is to launch a campaign against hunger. Through this campaign, the foundation aims at eradicating hunger and malnutrition from India starting with the Haryana State.

George Harrison relates a story that a man once attacked him with a knife, at his home some years ago, but George was shouting Hare Krishna at the top of his lungs so loudly that when the man was about to attack, it stunned him so badly that his attack was not effective