Planet ISKCON

Kevin Wu, a Youtube star with over 300 million views on his “KevJumba” channel, has been left feeling spiritually uplifted after following and filming sankirtan devotee Madhava Puri Das on book distribution. Wu met Madhava Puri while staying at the ISKCON Los Angeles ashram, looking for spiritual answers during a difficult period in his life.

A seminar, held on September 26th, 2017, in Italy’s House of Parliament, at the Sala del Refettorio, and organized in co-operation with MP Lacquaniti, has discussed the problems of religious freedom in Russia, a cause of serious concern in Europe.

Zonal Supervisors, an important leadership role created by the Governing Body Commission (GBC) to improve management in ISKCON around the world, was the first topic of today’s GBC meeting. Working directly under an individual GBC member, a Zonal Supervisor assists that GBC member by supervising a number of temples and projects within a particular geographical zone. 

How Can There Be Peace?
A conversation with His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Disciple: Srila Prabhupada, in a recent study by U.S. agricultural officials, they found that it’s uneconomical to eat meat. It takes so much energy and man hours to raise and transport and slaughter the cows that it’s very wasteful.
Srila Prabhupada: Wasteful, yes. Therefore I say they have no brain. They are all rascals. Rascal leaders. A little labor in agriculture will be sufficient to produce the family’s food stock for the whole year. You work only three months, and you get sufficient food for your whole family. And in the remaining nine months, you chant Hare Krishna.
If people ate the grain they feed to animals, they could feel twenty times more people than by eating the animals
But these rascals will not do that. They will work hard like asses simply for eating. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaya aprinoti. They will not accept an easy life.
Disciple: In that agricultural report it said that if people were to eat all the grains they give to the cows and animals, they could get twenty times more calories than by eating meat.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Wrong civilization, rascal civilization. And this is due to this rascaldom called nationalism—“This is my land.” At any moment a person will be kicked out by death, but still he claims, “It is my land.” Janasya moho ’yam aham mameti. This is the illusion. Nothing belongs to him; still he is fighting, “This is mine. This is mine.” “I” and “mine”—identifying oneself with the body and wrongly conceiving that “This is mine.” This is the basic principle of a wrong civilization. Nothing belongs to us. I have come here to Switzerland. Suppose I remain here for one month and I claim, “Oh, this is mine.” What is this?
So, similarly, we come to this world as guests. We come to the womb of a mother and live here for seventy years or so. And we claim, “This is my land.” But when did it become yours? The land was there long, long before your birth. How has it become yours? But people have no sense. “It is mine—my land, my nation, my family, my society.” In this way, they are wasting time.
These things have been introduced by Western civilization. In the Vedic civilization there is no such thing as nationalism. You won’t find it there. Have you seen the word “nationalism” in the Bhagavad-gita? No such thing.
Nationalism is the idea of tribes. In Africa there are still groups of tribes. Nationalism is the most crude idea of civilization. It is nothing but developed tribalism. Modern man is not advanced in civilization. This nationalism is another form of tribalism, that’s all.
Disciple: Today, so-called civilized people are actually just cannibals because they maintain themselves on eating the cow.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. And they are suffering. Therefore you’ll find that in recent history, every twenty-five years there is a big war with mass slaughter of people. Nature does not tolerate animal slaughter.
Now India has learned to slaughter animals, imitating the Western countries. And now there is war between India and Pakistan. During two wars between Pakistan and Hindustan, millions of people were killed unnecessarily, without any gain.
Disciple: Just recently India exploded an atomic bomb, and now Pakistan is hurrying to get an atomic bomb also.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes.
This is going on.
Disciple: The Indian government promised that nuclear energy would be only for peaceful purposes.
Srila Prabhupada: No, what do they know about peaceful conditions? They are all rascals. They do not know what a peaceful condition is. The actual peaceful condition is described in the Bhagavad-gita:
bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-maheshvaram
suhridam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam shantim ricchati
“A person in full consciousness of Me [Krishna], knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.”
This is peace. Unless there is Krishna consciousness, where is peace? There cannot be peace. All rascaldom. Na mam dushkritino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah. These rascals and fools—mayayapahrita-jnana—have lost all knowledge. How can there be peace? Their endeavors for peace are all useless.

Russel Brand is “Chasing Rhinos” with Shyamasundara Prabhu’s most fascinating book about the beginning of the Hare Krishna movement in the west.

Sankirtan story from Vijaya dasa: From: Vijaya (das) HDG (USA)
Sent: Saturday, October 7, 2017 5:54 AM
I approached an older black man at a street fair. In a respectful manner, he began to question why I believed what was in the books. Considering how good of an event this was, I was surprised that I was giving him so much time. But I would soon find out why.
His daughter (about ten yrs. old) came and sat down next to her father, looked at the books, and said “Hey, that’s Krishna!” Her father and I were both shocked.
I asked, “You know about Krishna?”
She said, “Yeah, my father loves reading about Krishna.”
I was surprised, but by looking at the father I could see thathe was even more surprised.
After inquiring from his daughter, I found out that he had had a stroke in April and therefore could not remember many things that had occurred before then.
Seeing that an opportunity had just just opened up, I seized it by further questioning the little girl in her father’s presence.
I asked, “Does he meditate?”
She said, “Yes.”
Then I asked, “Does he ever chant Krishna’s names?”
She said yes and began to chant the maha-mantra. Her father seemed as amazed as I was.
Although he had no recollection of all this, I found out that he would chant on beads and go to the Detroit temple. This was a devotee!
He then said, “Well, I guess I have to buy this book.”
In conclusion, I told him that he must have found this practice beneficial before his stroke and so he should take it up again. I showed him the address to the temple and thanked him and his daughter. I was left thinking about what Krishna says: “There is no loss or diminution on this path;” “My devotee never perishes;” and “I direct the wandering of all living entities.”

Today is the appearance anniversary of Radha Kunda, the bathing pond of Srimati Radharani in Vrndavana. Devotees bathe there especially on the midnight of this day.

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Life – An Art of Dying.
Death is that grand test that determines our next destination. Srila Prabhupada once said that ISKCON teaches the Art of Dying. In Srimad-Bhagavatam, we can see that Bhismadev has set the best example of how to prepare oneself for that moment.
The quality of life determines the destination after death.

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Lalita’s Village (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we visited Uncagaon, the village of Lalita devi, one on Srimati Radharani’s sakhis. We discussed her pastimes and sang her glories in the pristine, pure atmosphere of Sri Vrindavan dhama. Once again, Ananta Vrindavan das expertly captured the mood with his camera.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Bn7VjC

By Anuttama dasa

The second day of the Governing Body Commission (GBC) Mid-Term Meeting began with a report of a one-year study of how to improve the effectiveness of GBC meetings. Members were presented with a 94-page document or “Meetings Manual,” and a second 23-page guide on “Decision Making.” Both texts were drawn from research conducted by the GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT). In preparing the manuals the SPT underwent a detailed analysis of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings on management as well as a review 40 professional studies and books on meetings and decision-making. Vraja Vihari Das, a SPT member, led a morning series of plenary and small group discussions to introduce the two documents. The GBC discussed the advantage of creative arguments (open mindedly exploring a variety of positions) vs. attached arguments (only wishing to push one’s own agenda or opinion, and thus shutting down other possible solutions, or sources of information). Continue reading "Second Day of GBC Meetings Explores Improved Means of Decision Making
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By Bhaktimarga Swami

Yesterday's (Oct. 11) SB class in Iskcon Ujjain. Don't tell Krishna how big your problems are, tell your problems how big Krishna is! Like there is an expression in Spanish "pochito" meaning "little, very little or small". So when someone tells you all about their problems, remind them how small, temporary and insignificant they are in front of the greatness of the Lord and our eternal spiritual life by saying: "pochito prabhu!" Continue reading "Pochito Prabhu!
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Members were presented with a 94-page document or “Meetings Manual,” and a second 23-page guide on “Decision Making.” Both texts were drawn from research conducted by the GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT). In preparing the manuals the SPT underwent a detailed analysis of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings on management as well as a review 40 professional studies and books on meetings and decision-making. 

[Bhagavatam class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.13.26 at Alachua, USA]

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A historic, ecstatic event! (Album with photos)
Mahadevi Dasi: We shared a historic, ecstatic event on Srila Narottama das Thakura’s Disappearance Day during the 1st week of Kartik in Vrndavana.
Srila Prabhupada’s dear daughter Sitala Dasi offering her book: THE GLORIES OF NAROTTAMA DAS THAKURA
to her eternal Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada, her GOURANGA Lord WHO was shining on the altar
and hundreds of simply wonderful assembled devotees.
HH Indradumna Swami was presiding as this is the season for his annual Kartik Vraja Parikramas. Sitala prabhu spoke for more than an hour giving an astounding narration of the Glories of Narottama das Thakura. Astounding!
This Parikrama group loves Sitala and she loves them having spoken about Narottama Mahasya many times in previous years on this day. She said she felt so grateful for their support and enthusiasm through the years which helped her to complete the book.
The proceeds also go to help her husband HG Hari Sauri prabhu who has advanced Parkinson disease. May we take a moment and send a prayer for him.
Madhava and Bada Hari’s Kirtana transported us to Goloka Vrndavana!
Let’s shower our good wishes, congratulations, and blessings on Sitala for the completion of her long-awaited book.
Her book table is in the Krsna Balarama Kartik mini-mall and you can contact her through msg on fb for ordering your copies. Cases are available.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/rSCeSo

A serene and thought-provoking journey in Mumbai (Album with photos)
On 5th October 2017, Gaur Gopal das was invited as a keyno...

Narottama das Thakura’s Disappearance Day (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Yesterday, we celebrated Narottama das Thakura’s Disappearance Day at Sri Sri Radha Braja Mohan Mandir! They were originally installed in Kheturi Gram Festival, but now reside in Vrindavan. There were sweet Narottama bhajans, Narottama katha, aratika, and finally grand feast for 400 Vaisnavas! Join us through the pics of my friend, Shreyas Waichal!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/jA2cw7

Devotee-run publishing house Samhita Press presents their first children’s books.
Samhita Press is a new, devotee-run publishing house with focus on literature that promotes universal ethics and values, ‘simple living, high thinking’ lifestyle, peace and compassion, respect for the nature, and love for humanity. Promoting cultural and spiritual titles, Samhita Press released their first children’s books earlier this week, The Story of Gajendra, Elephant-King and rhymed story The Walking Monk, both by Anna Milagrits, known among the devotees as Ananda Rupa devi dasi.
The Story of Gajendra, Elephant-King is based on the timeless narration from the Bhagavata Purana. In the described story, Lord Vishnu saves Gajendra, king of the elephants, from the jaws of a giant crocodile.
The hardcover edition has 28 full-color, beautifully illustrated pages, rendered in watercolor and gouache by professional artist Antonina Hordovska. According to the publisher, the book is aimed for wide audience, and it is part of the My Magic Bhagavatam series, with more books to come in the next few years.
“There are a lot of parents out there who want to introduce their children to world cultures, so the kids can be growing up with respect to the traditions and customs of others. We hope The Story of Gajendra, Elephant-King will be appreciated by curious readers who love traveling, exploring, and learning from the world and people in it. This story can also teach children some universal lessons, for instance, that there are situations, when it’s important to ask for help and support, even if one is famous and strong, like Gajendra”, the author says.
The Walking Monk is a rhymed story about a Hare Krishna preacher who travels to share his message of love and peace (‘a happy magic song’) with everyone he meets along his way. In the end of the book it is revealed that his ‘happy magic song’ is actually the maha-mantra. Anna Milagrits (Ananda Rupa devi dasi), the author, hopes that this book will be appreciated by everyone who believes in the universal language of sound and music, and the power of a kind heart. “This book seeks to challenge stereotype and present fresh view on modern spirituality. Who said that monks are old-fashioned, cheerless people who reside in secluded places? The Walking Monk is not like that!” She says the book was also intended for wide audience, as a “fun and easy way to introduce a child to mantra meditation”.
The book is dedicated to Ananda Rupa’s spiritual master, Bhaktimarga Swami, known as the Walking Monk for his inspiring walking journeys. Maharaja just finished his preaching walk across the United States last month, from New York to San Francisco, covering over 3,500 miles on foot, through cities, towns, villages, and farmlands.
Ananda Rupa devi dasi and her husband Vivasvan das, both originally from Ukraine, are devotees residing in Metro Detroit area. The Story of Gajendra, Elephant-King and The Walking Monk are their first books for children, published through their publishing house Samhita Press.
The couple hopes the books will get positive response from the readers, so they can continue their publishing projects. Also, Samhita Press currently accepts submissions from other devotee authors (more details can be found at Samhita Press’ website).
Both books are already available at www.samhitapress.com and selected bookstores (please check the website for more details)
https://samhitapress.com/

Inaugurating Caitanya Subodhini Madhya Lila Part-1.
Out this Kartik, Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha is back with yet another publication in the Subodhini series - CAITANYA SUBODHINI MADHYA LILA - I (Chapters 1–13).
Readers will move further from the Adi-lila, having studied the tattvas of the Lord as well as a glimpse of the childhood pastimes of Lord Caitanya, to His latter pastimes. In this edition, Caitanya Subodhini will take the readers through the overview of the post-sannyasa pastimes of Lord Caitanya - from His travels towards Jagannatha Puri, to His yatra across southern India. This first volume concludes with the Lord’s return to Jagannatha Puri in time to celebrate Jagannatha Ratha Yatra in great jubilation.

As usual, this systematic study guide includes:

Verse by verse overview of the chapters along with summary tables and overview charts.

Special Map of Lord Caitanya’s South India Tour

Spectacular Darshans of Sri Gauranga and Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Behari

Thematic Compilations such as Lord Caitanya’s Prasada Pastimes, Lord’s affectionate dealings and mercy.

…and many more

Caitanya Subodhini attempts to simplify the study of Sri Caitanya Caritamrita by integrating the explanations of Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraj Goswami and Srila Prabhupada thus catering for the taste and needs of avid readers, scholars and even new comers.

Get a birds eye view of Caitanya Caritamrita chapters

Drift in the flow of verses and sections

Savour the special thematic compilations

Zoom into the beauty of Holy name and analogies.

Studying the post graduate scripture of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, is now more relishable and accessible to all who would like to dive deeper into the instructive and nectarean ocean like pastimes of Lord Caitanya.

In Your service
Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha: http://www.vidyapitha.in/

An Invitation to the 40th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance, Iskcon Vrindavan October 22nd through October 24th 2017

By Lokanath Swami

During the Kartik of 1972, Srila Prabhupada stayed at the Radha-Damodara temple and we stayed at Kesi Ghat where the palace of King Bharatpur is located. We would wake up early in the mornings and take bath in the Yamuna River along with some very big tortoises, kacchap. Srila Prabhupada’s plan was not to give public programs or host public functions, but instead to give classes for the benefit of the devotees. This is how the famous Nectar of Devotion lecture series came about. Every morning he would give a class on Bhagavatam and every evening he would give a class on the Nectar of Devotion. After Bhagavatam class we would have kirtana at the Radha-Damodara temple and then make our way to the Krishna-Balarama Mandir construction site. Continue reading "Meditation on Damodarastakam
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By Candramauli Swami

The devotees had seen in second volume of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam, there was a verse and a purport. In the purport, it was written in verse form, it was names of Krishna. He Krishna Govinda Hari Murari, He Natha Narayana Vasudeva. In the purport, Prabhupada was explaining that Krishna is all of those in one. So we thought this was a mantra of some kind and they were obviously names of Krishna, so we started chanting it. We put it to music, of course, with all the various instruments, and we were singing it Continue reading "History of Kirtan in ISKCON
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By Sukanti Radha devi dasi

This is the first TOVP Europe Tour opening the door of opportunity for every devotee to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity. Lord Nrsimhadeva's Sitari and Lord Nityananda's divine lotus shoes will travel to Belgium - Germany - Poland - Slovakia - Hungary - Austria - Slovenia - Italy and Switzerland The Tour will begin 10th April 2018 in the ISKCON Europe headquarters at Belgium - Radhadesh and will continue until 30th April 2018 in Switzerland. The TOVP Europe Tour can be viewed live on many Europe temples' live broadcasts available through Mayapur.TV. We welcome every devotee to come accept the blessings of Lord Nrsimhadeva and Lord Nityananda. Please see your local temples noticeboard for local arrangements throughout this tour. For countries that the International team will not be visiting on this tour, those devotees are warmly invited and welcome to come and participate at your nearest TOVP Europe Tour event. You can contact the local TOVP organisers for more info. Continue reading "The TOVP World Tour 2018 – Europe
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Srimad Bhagavatam 08.07.46 by H.G Pancharatna Das on 18th September 2017 in Mumbai, Iskcon Juhu Temple (video)

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[Talk at Retreat in Breckenridge, USA]

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