Planet ISKCON

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.

– Thomas a Kempis

We all have expectations from others. And when they don’t live up to our expectations, we feel irritated.

We can decrease our irritability and increase our empathy if we contemplate the reality that we ourselves are not able to live up to our expectations. We can’t make ourselves the kind of person we want to be. Why not? Because we have our conditionings that fiercely resist change.

Gita wisdom explains that our present actions are shaped by our conditionings, which are determined by our past actions. As we all have done different actions in the past, we have different conditionings, thereby making different things seem difficult for us to change. Thankfully, our present is only shaped by our past, not determined by it. We can reshape our present by using our free will to choose wisely. Still, our capacity to choose well is severely obstructed by our conditionings. That’s why we all struggle in self-improvement.

We may object, “Yes, there are some ways in which I fail to live up to my expectations. But I am not expecting those things from them – what I expect is simple and easy.” However, what is easy and what is difficult for each one of us is determined by our particular conditionings. So, the thing that seems easy for us may be very difficult for them. To appreciate how it may be difficult for them, we need to compare it not with how easy it is for us, but with some other thing that is difficult for us.

To better understand this variety in what causes difficulty to different people, consider a cricket batting metaphor. Suppose two batsmen are playing against the same team. One batsman drives off-side balls effortlessly, but succumbs to short-pitched deliveries, being foxed by their variable pace or bounce. The other batsman hooks short-pitched deliveries effortlessly, but succumbs to off-side deliveries, being deceived by their variable movement off the turf. If the player expert at playing off-side deliveries is the captain, he may become infuriated with the other player’s inability to play what he considers juicy deliveries. To better appreciate the difficulty of that player, he needs to compare it with his own difficulty in dealing with short-pitched deliveries.

This variety in difficulty applies to all aspects of life. One person may be good at remembering things to be done, but poor at remembering the names of people. Another person may remember people’s names easily, but forget their to-do list. They may label each other as irresponsible or uncaring, if they don’t see each other empathically. Similarly, one person may be good at controlling their eating, but may be prone to speaking rashly. Another person may be sensitive in speaking, but uncontrolled in their eating. If they are to better understand each other, they need to compare the other’s weakness not with their own strength, but with their own weakness.

Does this mean that we shouldn’t desire or strive to help others improve? No, it just means that we need to be understanding and realistic: understanding about their struggles and realistic in our expectation of improvement. If we become understanding and realistic, the strain in our interactions will go down substantially, and amity will return to the relationship.

If we recognize that others are essentially like us, both in their pure core spirituality and in their frail, fallible humanity, we will be better positioned to respond appropriately when others disappoint us. The Bhagavad-gita (06.32) states that seeing the essential similarity of everyone is an elevated spiritual vision.

If we look at our own efforts at self-improvement in our area of weakness, we will observe that we need to try repeatedly, and even then, we fail frequently and improve occasionally. Whatever improvements we do make, they are usually marginal, not monumental. And our journey towards improvements doesn’t always progress in a straight line; it moves in twisted trajectories that sometimes even go in the reverse. As is commonly said, we take two steps forward and one step backward. What applies to our struggle for improvement in our area of weakness applies to others’ struggle in their area of weakness.

By thus cultivating spiritual empathy for others, we can become more patient and helpful towards them, just as we would want them to be patient and helpful whenever we stumble and fall in our struggles.

To remind ourselves of the need to be empathic, we can contemplate an adapted version of the golden rule: Be understanding about others’ struggles with their conditionings as we would want them to be understanding about our struggles with our conditionings.

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This year the youth of Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK, put together a superb drama ‘Something Spiritual - The Story of Krsna’s Birth’. If you missed it or weren’t able to join us… here is the link to see it!

Janmastami celebrated at ISKCON Gaya.
On 15th August, Janmastami was celebrated at ISKCON Gaya (Bihar) campus very gorgeously. More than 10,000 people attended and enjoyed bliss in whole day program. Special cultural program at evening started with Aarti at 7 pm followed by a drama entitled ‘Advent of Krishna’. A lecture was delivered by Jagdish Shyam Das (Manager, ISKCON Gaya). He said if we celebrate this type of festival for the pleasure of Krishna, people will remember Krishna more, which is solution to all permanent problems. He also said if Krishna is satisfied then whole universe will be satisfied. Musical kirtan and Krishna bhajan was performed by a devotee team from Vrindavan in which some Russian devotees were present. MLA Rajiv Ranjan, DPS chairman Sanjeev Kumar, some big business personnel like Mr Shiv Kailash Dalmiya, Usha Dalmiyan, Sushila Dalmiyan, senior physician Dr SK Panda and many other respected personalities were the guests of honor in the program. More than 56 ekadasi bhoga items offered followed by abhishek. At 12 midnight Krishna Janma muhurt was celebrated with crackers and cake cutting. The inhabitants of Gaya said this kind of festival is first time in Gaya history as there was not even a moment when they could forget Krishna. Prasadam was distributed whole day.
More than 10k worth Srila Prabhupada books distributed.

On 16th August Srila Prabhupad appearance day was celebrated. Devotees started Vaisnav bhajan at 10 AM followed by pushpanjali, bhoga offering and aarti. Feast prasadam was distributed. At evening temple devotees along with outside devotees glorified Srila Prabhupada. DPS principal Mr Abhishek Kumar and DAV vice principal Dr Anita Sinha were the guests of honor. A play on ‘Contribution of Srila Prabhupada’ was performed….Jai Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada was born Abhay Charan De on September 1st 1896 in Calcutta, India. His father was Gour Mohan De, a cloth merchant, and his mother was Rajani.

His parents employed an astrologer to calculate the child’s horoscope, and they were made jubilant by the auspicious reading.

The astrologer made a specific prediction: When this child reaches the age of seventy, he would cross the ocean, become a great exponent of religion, and open 108 temples.

Srila Prabhupada fulfilled that prediction and did much more with so many disciples, books and preaching. I attended the anniversary of his auspicious appearance at New Gokula where devotees gathered to offer homages, abhiseka, puspanjali, arati, and wonderful feast.

It was with sadness and also joy hearing of the passing away of Mother Kulangara:
Sadness because she touched so many people’s hearts and inspired us all and the Manor will not be the same; and how by her actions alone taught us the meaning of pure devotional service.

But joy as she returned home; her Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada greeting and showing her the spiritual world the real perfection of life.
I wish to share some of my own personal memories of how Mother Kulangana inspired cared with just a few recollections
One remembers clearly our first meeting, I had been helping the food for all team and had cut myself and was sat outside the kitchen putting pressure on the wound; Mother Kulangana came with great concern seeing the cut she insisted on helping returning promptly with plasters & dressing. The following day she came to check everything was alright and handed me a lovely mangala arati sweets, her concern and sincerity shone she cared for each individual wanting nothing in return.
Each day I would be in the temple early and I was always humbled and amazed Mother Kulangana was always their doing her japa; I was determined one day I will arrive before her but no matter how early I arrived Mother Kulangana was their it inspired me and reminded me of the great importance of japa.
The opportunity to assist in the sweet mangala arati transfers at the Manor showed me Mother Kulangana devotion to her Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada and to Sri Sri RadhaGokulananda; she would not only make the sweets but would come just after arati to collect and pay for some of them. It was never for her own personal use but for visitors and friends; I remember her telling someone who told her to just take what she wanted, No I can never steal from my beloved Krishna I must pay for them this is devotional service.
So attentive was Mother Kulangana that on occasions in the morning as I was putting the sweets on the offering plate she would check, make sure Sri Krishna can see the picture I made them especially don’t put one on top of the other the colours will run. It reminded me and showed me the importance of the service and her loving advice making sure at each step one served Sri Krishna with the highest standards we were doing the service for Krishna.
It reminded me one day as we were in the temple room doing our japa their was a call from the pujari “where’s krishnas Sweet’s, Krishna needs his sweets”; Mother Kulangana was immediately rushing to the kitchen; I was unsure about helping as I wasn’t pujari clean she smiled “don’t worry Sri Krishna won’t” we sorted out the offering plates no time to make hot milk and Mother Kulangana dispatched myself and the pujari plates in hand running from the kitchen to the alter. I stayed on to set up all what was needed to clean and wash the deities, but even now I don’t know how Mother Kulangana got to the kitchen before me as we both set out at the same time, but in each interaction I learnt more about loving devotion and the joy of service just simply by her perfect example, greatness does not come from one telling you how great they are greatness comes from example, her love for her Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada and her love for Sri Krishna being her only motivation and one knew you were in the presence of greatness the humble servant of the servant of the servant who’s serving Sri Krishna.
This was her greatest beauty humble servant and ability to inspire everyone she met to also simply enjoy the joy of service
And this ability to inspire all to serve will be my lasting memory of the Manors greatest mother to all that came Mother Kulangana
And so now she is dancing and serving in the spiritual world simply because she humbly served here in the material world, the perfection of life.

Hare Krishna

My Vyasa-puja Offering to Srila Prabhupada. Last month your spiritual granddaughter Smriti “Baby” Warrier (now Sravana Dasi) lost her son in a tragic accident at the railroad. When I wrote to offer my condolences, I was wonderstruck by her reply: “Thank you for your kind blessings and prayers for our son Nrsimha Guru. Due to the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we are all blessed with our journey in Krishna consciousness. In such a situation all we can see is Krishna’s hand and how He orchestrated the whole incident. Though it is the most horrific thing I have experienced, I am at peace, as I see the Lord in it. “Twenty-two years ago Srimati Radharani put two beautiful Vaishnavas in my lap, and now She has asked for one back. I can only be thankful for those twenty-two years with him. I am proud that he was strong on his devotional path. He had just finished his Disciples Course and gotten his recommendation letter and was chanting a chapter of the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. The morning of the accident he had been chanting his japa, so by Srila Prabhupada’s grace he was in good consciousness. I am proud of all his accomplishments, and now that his karma here is over, he has progressed to serving Srila Prabhupada elsewhere.” Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada’s granddaughter Smriti “Baby” Warrier
→ Dandavats"

The Vaisnava sampradayas mark significant samskaras with various functions and strive to establish in the minds and hearts of all involved the nature of the living entity as an eternal servant of the Supreme Lord. In ISKCON there are many rites of passage that are celebrated to mark the development of a child through different stages of life, to adulthood and beyond. These rites of passage are called samskaras and the goal of the samskara is to make a lasting impression on the consciousness of all involved. Continue reading "The roles of samskaras in the devotees life
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Lord Krishna’s Appearance Day at Golokadham Germany 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Pure devotees chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and simply by hearing this chanting from a purified transcendental person, one is purified of all sinful activities, no matter how lowborn or fallen one may be. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.126 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/yrVCGL

Yesterday’s Prabhupada Katha at ISKCON Vrindavan by Gargamuni Prabhu (video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/xDn96W

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"Our goal is to become steadfast in our Krishna consciousness and in our lives, so that we can one day successfully run the Hare Krishna Movement.”

Dear Prabhus
Pamho agtsp,

This Friday is a historical day , the first Rathayatra ever in York, and the beginning of the annual Northern Tour which will go on for the next 10,000 years.
We are renting a mini bus and taking Tribhuvanath Prabhus van.
Mahavishnu Swami , Janananda Swami ( join us on the way) the Ruci party, a drama group from Russia and a team of chanting devotees.

We are leaving Bhaktivedanta Manor 8am.

An update from our side – Lord Mayor of York has kindly agreed to come for the festival. We shall receive her at 12.45pm and she would be sharing her joy of having the Ratha Yatra festival in York. At 1pm we will begin with the opening ceremony which includes:
Blowing of Conchshell
Chanting of verses from Brahma Samhita
Offering and Worship of Lord Jagannatha
Traditional dance
Then we begin with pulling the chariot with all pomp and enthusiasm chanting the Holy Names of the Lord in the beautiful streets of York!

Liverpool Ratha Yatra – Chariot Festival

The procession will start outside M&S in parliament street towards Coney street via High Ousegate.

Yours Humbly
Parsharama

At the airport reception, a huge kirtana was going on with devotees from Berkeley, San Francisco and L.A. We were oblivious to our surroundings and took over the waiting lounge. Perhaps there were over 100 devotees. As we waited the kirtana got more and more wild and ecstatic, which was not what the other arriving passengers were expecting as they filed out of the plane. We were at the top of a ramp with devotees on either side of the pathway. After what seemed a very long time Prabhupada appeared at the bottom of the walkway. Then the kirtana went into warp speed and intensity difficult to describe.