Planet ISKCON

Harinam Sankirtan in Mar del Plata, Argentina (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The demigods are pleased when sacrifices a...

By Giriraj Swami

Following Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Prabhupada is explaining that because devotees are living in the material world, they also have activities that they must perform in relation to material existence, in relation to society, state, and so on. Such activities cannot be avoided, because we are in the material world. We have to live in society. We have to live in a country. In the grhastha-asrama, one has to earn a living and pay taxes. We have to do so many things, and those activities are performed in the material world. When we go to the spiritual world, we won’t have to go to the office, pay taxes, or perform social functions, but for now we must. There are, of course, constitutional activities that one performs both here and in the spiritual world. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam. We hear about Krsna. We chant about Krsna. We remember Krsna. And when we go to the spiritual world, we will engage in these same activities. Continue reading "The Advent of the Bhagavad-gita—Some Practical Guidance
→ Dandavats"

By Shyama Mohini devi dasi

At the annual meeting of the global BBT in June, HH Jayadvaita Swami resigned as a trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Since 1988, he has served as a trustee of the original BBT Trust, or as a director of the BBT International, or both (The two organizations work together). His resignation, which the BBT trustees have accepted, means that he no longer holds a post with either. His letter below gives his reasons for resigning. The BBT Trustees and Directors would like to thank HH Jayadvaita Swami for his years of dedicated service to the BBT and are grateful that he continues to serve the BBT as a friend and advisor. Continue reading "HH Jayadavaita Swami’s resignation as a BBT Trustee
→ Dandavats"

Answer Podcast

 

Transcription :

Transcriber: Sharan Shetty

Edited by: Keshavgopal Das

Question: When jnana and karma are different philosophies, how can they both give the same result, as the Gita’s sixth chapter states?

Answer: When Krishna is using the words karma and jnana, he is not necessarily using the words to refer to whole philosophical systems. Arjuna and Krishna are not discussing broad philosophical treatises, they are discussing courses of action, that is why, karma in that context refers to the path of action and jnana refers to the path of inaction or the path of renunciation based on contemplation. There are some connections between the sankhya (which is being talked over there) and the sankhya (which is a philosophy) but they are not exactly the same because words have contextual meaning and context-independent meaning. Here, in the context, Krishna says to Arjuna , in Gita 5.2, nihsreyasa-karav ubhau. This means both will lead to long term benefit, but both will not lead to the exact same benefit. Krishna is not specifying any identical ultimate goal, he is broadly saying that both will lead to nihsreyasa or long term benefit. Therefore, in that context, both are similar.

When Krishna is using the word karma, he is not using it to refer to karma-kanda, he is actually using it to refer to karma yoga because in the context of karma-kanda, Krishna has already told in Gita 2.47, karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana (You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action). The progression from karma-kanda to karma yoga has already happened before Chapter Three. Krishna is talking here about karma yoga which does not mean romanticizing and enjoying the world. Krishna explains karma yoga as working with detachment. There are various places where Krishna is saying asaktah – work with detachment. Among the path of detached action and contemplative knowledge, karma yoga is better, although both will lead to long term benefit.

The yoga ladder, in itself, is an overall truth in which jnana yoga is placed above karma yoga. However, in the Gita’s context, there are very few verses which are actually speaking positively about the jnana yoga, path of inaction. Krishna wants Arjuna to act and so he always stresses on action, not on renunciation. The very fact that Arjuna wanted to renounce the world indicates that he considered renunciation to be higher than action and from a broad cultural understanding; renunciants are respected even by the kings. Renunciation being respectable is a broad Vedic understanding and Krishna is not challenging it. Renunciation of the world for the contemplation of higher reality is considered higher than engagement in the world for the purpose of enjoying the world. So, in the Gita, the hierarchy of renunciation being higher than action, in principle, is already accepted. However, in the context of Arjuna, inaction is not preferable. For him, the path of detached action is preferable. That is why, Krishna is speaking in general principle that both will lead to long term well-being but for Arjuna (and in general, people who are not very detached or not in sattva-guna) the path of detached action is better than path of renounced contemplation. This is the principle which Krishna is explaining in that context.

End of transcription.

The post When jnana and karma are different philosophies, how can they both give the same result, as the Gita’s sixth chapter states? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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

Our ISKCON movement is growing every day, and not growing only in numbers but it is also growing in complexity! In the earlier days, when Srila Prabhupada was establishing the preaching mission, this movement was simpler; membership was more homogenous – people of a similar age group and all engaged in the same activity.

Now, there is much more diversity! Diversity in different members of this movement and also diversity in different kinds programmes needed. We need a very broad movement! We need a movement which provides various ways for all kinds of people to engage in Krsna consciousness because Krsna consciousness is possible in any condition of life and it is meant for all kinds of people. There isn’t a particular stereotyped way of practicing Krsna consciousness.

In recent years, a lot of focus is on individuality, on engaging according to one’s nature, in finding one’s natural place in Krsna consciousness. In the earlier years of this movement, a lot of emphasis was placed on sacrifice – sacrifice of one’s nature for the mission. But now, people are looking for individual expression and we see more creative ways of engaging in devotional service, which opens up more avenues for more people to connect. So in that way, we established our movement in so many ways to society! That is fine and nice but the spirit of sacrifice still remains very valuable. The spirit of simply putting one’s own idea aside for the higher interest!

CC Madhya 13.001-8 Empowerment Through Service To Our Acharyas 2017-11-11

Lecture – Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 13.1-8 Empowerment Through Service To Our Acharyas 11/11/2017

BG 13.26 Sunday Feast – He wanted everyone to become an Acharya 2017-11-12

Lecture – Bhagavad Gita 13.26 Sunday Feast – He wanted everyone to become an Acharya 11/12/2017

Ten years can seem a long time. Certainly many things have changed in the past ten years. I know the first iPhone was released ten years ago and how that has revolutionized the lives of people. Another big change was the housing market crash which I remember was also changing people's lives. America elected the first black president and he heralded something new into the political and social system. In the past ten years, my own personal life has changed a lot. Certainly ten years can seem long and when we look back we can appreciate our losses and thank our successes.

From the perspective of time itself, ten years is negligible. One of the five things that is talked about in the Gita is Time. Time, Krishna says "I am". Krishna manifests as time factor, how He does it is mysterious. Physicists are trying hard to quantify time but are unsuccessful. Time is elusive and difficult to understand. One thing physicists agree is that time is like an arrow that has already left the bow. It is speeding only in one direction. However, according to physicists',through time-warp we can travel back in time. Of course this is only in theory so far. My point is time is the grandest and mysterious thing of all and is executing our lives as we speak.

Last ten years has been a pleasure for me writing this blog. It was ten years ago to this day I began this blog. Writing my mental ramblings in some ways has been therapeutic for me and also a way to express my thoughts and views related to Krishna and life in general. I hope this can continue by the blessings of devotees and Krishna. Regardless, I thank Krishna for giving me the inspiration to write and the readers whoever you are for taking time to read and sharing your comments.

Thank you very much!
Hare Krishna

The Eye of the Owl.
Sivarama Swami: Let me tell a story from the ancient India Mahabharata. India’s princes were being tested in archery by their martial arts teacher Drona. He had put a wooden owl in the top of a high tree. And then he called the princes to attention. Their target was the eye of the owl. First he called on the prince regent and said, “Set the arrow to your bow, take aim and tell me what you see?”
The regent did as he was told and being polite said, “I see you. I see the tree. I see the branch. And I see the owl.”
The teacher said, “Ease your bow and move out of the way.” The next prince was called.
Again, “Set your arrow, aim and tell me what you see.”
The second prince replied, “I see the tree and the owl.”
The teacher said, “Ease your bow and move out of the way.” The teacher called for the next prince. “Aim your arrow and tell me what you see.”
The third prince replied, “I see the owl sitting on the branch. And I see the eye of the owl.”

Once again the teacher said, “Ease your bow and move out of the way.” By this time there was silent anxiety amongst the princes.

The teacher next called for Arjuna, Krishna’s friend, and the person to whom the Bhagavad-gita would be spoken to in the future.

The teacher said, “Arjuna! Set the arrow to your bow, take aim and tell me what you see.”

Arjuna replied, “I see the eye of the owl.”

The teacher asked, “What else do you see?”

Arjuna said, “I see only the eye of the owl.”

“Don’t you see me?”

“No!”

“Don’t you see the tree?”

“No!”

“Don’t you see the branch its on.”

“No!”

“Don’t you see the owl.”

“No!”

“You don’t see the owl? Then what do you see?”

“I see only the eye of the owl.”

The teacher nodded and said, “Then shoot your arrow.”

Arjuna shot and hit his target.

The lesson is clear. When you have a goal in life. Especially the goal of self-realization. Never take your eyes off it. Don’t get distracted from it by anything or anyone. Then you will be able to reach it.

Keep your aim on the eye of the owl

– HH Sivarama Swami

Bigg Boss Chahte hai…
Madhav Mehra: Such is the craze of this series across the country that just these 4 words instantly brings to the ears a husky and grave voice with no face but a popular name ‘Bigg Boss’. Bigg Boss remains a dominating highlight of television and its discussions are part of our daily meal as a side dish along with our lunch and dinner menu.
We all are ardent followers of freedom, privacy and harmony. Yet, when the contestants are denied all three of these, our subtle mind enjoys the outcome. Secretly we love snatching the rights of people, are curious to track their each and every movement and if, unable to handle the first two impositions, chaos erupts that becomes a cherry on top of this delightful treat for viewers. The show is meant to exploit this exact tendency thus provides the enjoyment in mode of ignorance.

However, it would be too naïve to think the concept as original. If you read the Bhagvat Gita, you can easily perceive that the Bigg Boss show is just a microscopic replica of materialistic world and real BIGG BOSS is Krishna who has been playing this BIGG Boss since time immemorial. Not just the house but the features and functionalities can be proven to be a direct derivation of Laws of our material world and we all have been living in this Bigg Boss’s house as Contestants since eternity. (BG 9.8 “The whole cosmic order is under Me. By my will it is manifested again and again, and by my will it is annihilated at the end”).

Let’s explore some of features of this show which clearly portrays the rulebooks governing the Original BIGG Boss House, This Materialistic World.

1. In Big Boss, once the contestants enters the house, then only they come to know other participants, with whom they have to live during their whole stint at house. Similarly Living beings are not aware who will be their parents, relatives on their birth in this world. Further, irrespective of contestant’s desire, Bigg Boss can ask the contestant to leave the house anytime, correspondingly inspite of all our will, whether we are young or old, we can get order from Supreme to leave this world.

2. When one enters the house, the colors and design captures the sight and heart but as days pass by, each of these artistic objects fade away in the din of day-to-day fights. Krishna created this seemingly beautiful world with so much captivating beauty along with perfectly working Nature, yet himself named it Miserable. Today whole world has been infected with social HIV (Hatred, Intolerance and Violence) which likewise HIV disease seems incurable!!

3. Bigg Boss may boast of 90+ cameras to record every activity of participants but Krishna has created this materialistic world in such a fashion that we are under surveillance every moment and are being constantly judged for our actions. Krishna’s technology is far superior than Bigg Boss technology that not just records physical actions, but is even aware of mind, intentions and heart of person.

4. To maintain the house and the contestants, Bigg Boss allocates them tasks – some necessary and some playful. These tasks are purposefully designed to bring out the real nature of the contestants. No matter how sophisticated they appear when they enter yet they are soon seen fuming with anger, hatred and intolerance to project themselves as the smartest and the worthy-most. These tasks are a reflection of our day to day lives, where we want to win and see only our version of ethics as the correct one. We all harbor intense desire to be the Captain of ours as well as others’ lives.

5. Propelled with the desire to win the show and to prove their supremacy to everyone, contestants do all kind of indecent activities. When their plan doesn’t work they may resort to creating mindless controversy which only promotes the fights, tensions in the house thus raising the anxiety and frustrations in the contestants. In the material world as well, the mind-numbing race of proving oneself better than the other in this short time becomes a cause of frustration and on finding other better than us, burn us in fire of Jealous and Hatred thus degrade our propensity to animal level.

6. Living in so much anguish, negative environment having daily fights, back biting and no one who can be relied upon truly, contestants based on their tolerance level, stay strong in their journey or make desperate attempts to leave the house, similarly being tormented by waves of depression, anxieties, diseases and uncontrollable lust and yet trying to pretend that we are happily living through our Facebook, Instagram posts either leads the individual to commit suicide or keep living with ‘Smiling Faces and Crying Hearts’ lifestyle.

7. Every contestant thinks that If I win the show then it will change my destiny forever as he will become a Star. But what to say of becoming Star, even hard core fans of Big Boss will not able to recall the names of winners of last seasons. Similarly whatever we may achieve in this life whether we become millionaire or Miss World or Most Powerful person of World, all will vanish one day and we have struggle from scratch in next lifetime.

8. Finally, even if you are Big star outside but in Big boss home, Big boss is only master and his orders everyone has to follow, similarly in this life we have to finally go as per plans of Krishna inspite of fact how much planning we have done for our life.

We can see for ourselves that we are living in one such Bigg Boss House . Krishna takes innumerable forms to revive the long-lost souls and take them back to His Original Home. Yet, our bewildered mind is unable to perceive it. We judge the contestants, analyze their actions, predict their role, chuckle at their predicament and feel empowered with these imaginary powers. Like a dust covered kid when sees a mirror, he blames the mirror of being dirty instead of realizing that the dust is actually on him. Similarly, people fail to realize that actually they themselves are living in a BIGG BOSS house leaving their original home, and not the contestants of the show who are being paid huge amounts to deliberately create visual content on-screen.

There is no manual to win the Bigg Boss but to win the original BIGG BOSS, Krishna being most kind and helpful has provided a very Phenomenal manual – Srimad Bhagavad Gita. We saw how traits of an unacceptable behavior is documented in it and so is their answers. As host Salman Khan keep warning the contestants ”Be careful, kyunki uparvala sab dekh raha hai”, likewise Our Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupad (Founder Acharya of ISKCON) regularly warned about original Bigg Boss House that ‘This place is not for Gentleman’ and though his books showed us way to our Original Home ‘Back to Godhead’ far away from this turmoil BIGG BOSS House.

Thanks and Regards,

Madhav Mehra

Lord Krishna’s Lotus Feet (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam class by H.G.Rukmini Mataji in ISKCON Vrindavan, 26.11.2017.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/dNgFPy

A Voyage Down the Yamuna River (11 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: A spiritually rewarding boat ride down the sacred Yamuna river...

Preaching program in Delhi (Album with photos)
On 4th Nov 2017, Gaur Gopal das was invited to give a speech on the topic of ‘Spiritual Connect in Management Education and Higher Education,’ at Industry Interface with Higher Education (IIHE) Conclave held at Delhi, India.
IIHE conclave was conducted to discuss current challenges in Higher education and Industry expectations. The talk was attended by high profile academicians (vice chancellors, Directors, Govt. Secretaries, Bureaucrats, Senior Professors) and Top leaders from Corporate sectors.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/WHsSo4

TRIBUTES: Vyasa-puja book for all disciples of Srila Prabhupada.
The annual Tributes Vyasa-puja book is looking to grow its team.
The Tributes book offers all disciples of Srila Prabhupada the opportunity to submit a vyasa-puja offering. Annually the book receives over 250 offerings. We would like to grow this number and reach many more disciples of Srila Prabhupada. The offerings are an opportunity to capture the relationship, stories, realizations of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples.
To continue providing this service, the Tributes team is looking to expand in order to get additional support for the various aspects of the publication. Here’s what we’re looking for:

Production Manager: to oversee the various stages of the book production and working with the teams receiving the offerings, editing, proofing, design, print and dispatching the books.
Location: ideally UK.

Designers: we have a set Adobe InDesign layout for the book and cover that is updated annually. We are looking for experienced or budding designers to help compile the book layout to be print-ready.
Location: anywhere.

Editors: our editorial policy is to keep it light and support the original voice of author. Editors can be based anywhere and will work with our Senior Editor Nimai devi dasi based in the UK.
Location: anywhere.

Sanskrit editors: to look through all the Sanskrit and diacritical markings for each offering.
Location: anywhere.

Proof readers: to check to book for errors and rectify them with the designer.
Location: anywhere.

Website Maintenance: to regularly update and maintain the website.

Marketing agents: connecting with and reaching out to all Srila Prabhupada disciples across the world using local face to face as well as social media networks.
Location: anywhere.

Dispatch: arranging to collect and post all books on time.
Location: UK.

If you’d like to explore one or more of these roles then please send me an email at sptributes@gmail.com and we can set up a Skype call to discuss further. In the meantime you can find more info on the book at sptributes.com.

Thank you.

Hare Krishna.

Your servant,
Pradyumna das

A good question from Anonymous.

Sunday in Bucharest.

[Seminar at ISKCON, Perth Australia]

Podcast

 
Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Duryodhana character analysis 1 – How the entitlement mentality degrades appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavatam class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.28.22 at ISKCON, Perth, Australia

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Appreciating the purpose of worship of the devatas appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Sharing Bliss with the Goblins - Chanting Hare Krishna on Halloween in New York City (19 min video)
Six devotees associated wit...

The post Daily Darshan: 28 November, 2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Answer Podcast

The post When the mind becomes a mirror for the pure soul, does the soul perceive itself through the mind or without it too? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 November 2017, Mayapur, India, Russian Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.6.10)

Srila Prabhupada makes the point that Krsna is more eager for us to go back to Godhead than we are ourselves. We sometimes say, “Yeah, I definitely want to go back to Godhead…” but what if suddenly, we would get the opportunity?

One devotee, a friend of mine who joined ISKCON in 1967, when he was young, he was looking for the truth and he went into nature and sat down on a hill. He started meditating and he was thinking, “I really want to get out of this world.”
Suddenly he saw a big gate in the sky. The doors opened and a sage appeared. The sage said, “You can come,”
and he said, “Oh, well… but I am still young.”
Then sage said, “Okay, you can wait,” and the doors closed.
He thought, “Oh no! What did I do? I got the opportunity and I hesitated and now the doors are closed!”

Anyway, he went home and for some months nothing happened, then winter came and there was a lot of snow outside. One night, he was dreaming that he was flying in the sky. He came to a city which was built on hills. Then a voice said, “Go to San Francisco.”

So he thought, “Last time, I missed… So this time, I will do it!” He was very serious. He got up immediately and left the house, in the middle of the night in the snow.

He started hitchhiking and immediately one car stopped.  The driver asked, “Where do you want to go?”
He said, “To San Francisco.”
The driver said, “Get in. That is where I am going.” Everything was magic.

But when he arrived in San Francisco, nothing happened. So he stayed there. He got a motorbike and got a job with a courier service delivering packets and racing around on his motorbike. One day he had an accident and injured his leg and had to go to the hospital and all these things. After some time, he was a little better and one day, was sitting in a park, on a bench, with his leg in plaster and he still had crutches. He was in the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and suddenly the Ratha Yatra came past with ten thousand people and Prabhupada was on the chariot! The kirtan was going on and when he saw Prabhupada, he recognised Prabhupada to be the sage in the sky, who had asked him to come in the doors! The Ratha Yatra cart was moving but since he could not walk because of his injured leg, it just disappeared. He was totally fried – two times, he missed out!

Anyway, after some weeks, his leg was better and he went to the police station to pick up his motorbike. He had brought a sleeping bag with him to take it to the dry cleaner. When he was at the place where the motorbike was stored, then he heard this noise, “Hare Krsna… (ching), Hare Krsna… (ching)” It was the same noise as that Ratha Yatra so he followed it and walked straight to the temple and the devotees said, “Oh, you brought your sleeping bag, you want to move in?” And this is how he became a devotee. It is quite a story. A five minute story but a nice story. It shows Krsna’s eagerness to take us back to Godhead, somehow or other!

 

A spiritually rewarding boat ride down the sacred Yamuna river to the sacred asrama of Durvasa Muni, during the auspicious month of Kartika. A video by Ananta Vrindavan.

The post Daily Darshan: 27 November, 2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

His Grace Gaurgopal Das on his maiden trip to Singapore, no less than mesmerized the audience at RELC International Hotel, who were attending an event organized by Artha Forum.

Srimad Bhagavatam class by H.H. Bhakti Brihad Bhagavat Swami given in ISKCON Vrindavan, 25.11.2017 (video)
Watch it here: Read More...