Planet ISKCON

Iskcon Center Vesu (Surat) Rathyatra And Book Distribution Report (Album with photos)
“Distribution of books and magazines is our most important activity.Without books, our preaching has no solid basis”- Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to Cyavana 26-12-71.
Embracing these divine words of Srila Prabhupada in their hearts and acting accordingly, The devotees from Surat has once again emerged victorious in their 4 hours combat against Maya during a fabulous Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in the Vesu area of Surat city on 30-7-17.
Troops of devotees entered the residential buildings of this posh area and bombarded mostly each and every house with the weapons in the form of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Other groups of devotees marched along the roads with their hands loaded with Prabhupada books surrounding the Rathyatra of the Lord of the universe who was mercifully delivering the conditioned souls by His beautiful sidelong glances.
This Transcendental 4 hours battle came to end in a moment and by Prabhupada’s divine mercy the devotees were able to distribute the books as follows:
342- Maha big books
21- Big books
56- Medium books
1543- Small books
5 Annual BTG subscriptions. H.G. Radhacharàn prabhu and H.G.Radhesh prabhu administered the proper arrangements in the Rathyatra and book distribution respectively.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada transcendental book distribution.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Xz75q7

Troupes of neon-vested Segway riders and strolling tourist families exploring Golden Gate Park on Sunday made way for an especially vibrant interruption: the Festival of Chariots, an annual Hindu parade and celebration with roots going back millennia in India. Held since 1967 in San Francisco, the festival drew hundreds of smiling worshipers who helped pull three large chariots along John F. Kennedy Drive that carried likenesses of Lord Jagannath — who to many Hindus is known as Lord of the Universe or Krishna — his brother, Lord Baladeva, and his sister, Subhadra. Men knelt to touch their forehead to the ground and women in jewel-toned saris danced with the procession. The large wooden carts were painted with elephants and swans, draped with garlands of carnations, and capped by tall red tents meant to resemble temples. “This is a way to bring the lord outside and into the park,” said Haladhara Rupa of Dublin, who wore a traditional purple-blue kurta, or long shirt, and billowing white dhoti pants over bright green running shoes. “You can bring the lord in a joyous way.” Continue reading "Devotees celebrate with Festival of Chariots in San Francisco
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“Whenever I get report of my books selling, I feel strength. Regarding book sales figures, please endeavor in this way. This is the only solace of my life. When I hear that my books are selling so nicely, I become energetic like a young man.” – Srila Prabhu pada, September 2, 1974 Continue reading "North European BBT’s Report for 2016
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“Opportunity may knock only once but temptation leans on the door bell” – Oprah Winfrey

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Suppose we are busy working in our house. If someone knocks on the door, and knocks softly, we may not hear them, especially if we are not expecting anyone. But if that person keeps knocking and knocking, we may feel as if we have no alternative except to open the door.

If we consider our consciousness to be like a house, then various stimuli from the outer world are like visitors that knock on the door of our consciousness. When opportunity knocks, it knocks softly. So, we need to be alert enough to notice and grab it.

Whereas we need to be alert to notice when opportunity knocks, we need another kind of resourcefulness when temptation knocks. If a visitor leaned on the doorbell, it would ring on and on and on, leaving us with no option but to open the door. Temptation is such an insistent visitor. When it appears in our consciousness, it just keeps propositioning us repeatedly and relentlessly. Over time, its siren call consumes our consciousness so completely that we feel as if we have to put everything else aside and just give in to it.

How does temptation ring the doorbell incessantly? By appearing irresistible. Initially, temptation allures us with the promise of pleasure that seems immense and immediate and irresistible. However, once we indulge in it a few times, then the desire becomes increasingly forceful, goading us towards indulgence. Being goaded, we indulge not so much because the pleasure is so irresistible, but because the torment of not indulging is so unbearable. Thus, the incessant and loud ringing of the bell of our consciousness by temptation manifests initially as the promise of irresistible pleasure and eventually as the misery of intolerable torment. Either way, we feel driven to open the door just to silence the bell. But as soon as we open the door, temptation barges into our consciousness and takes it hostage, as the Bhagavad-gita (02.44) warns. With our consciousness thus captivated, temptation impels us into self-defeating actions that cause tribulation and degradation.

Significantly however, we don’t have to open the door. If a persona non grata is leaning on the doorbell, we can just turn off the power to the doorbell. How can we turn off the power to the bell when temptation rings it? By not thinking about the temptation. What gives any stimulus, the power to disturb us is the attention we give it. If we turn our attention to something else, that stimulus becomes disempowered.

To turn our attention away from temptation when it allures us, we need to have ready at hand activities that can engage and absorb us. We will readily have such activities if we have cultivated for our life some higher purpose, a purpose that brings out our higher, nobler, purer side. Gita wisdom explains that the highest purpose is spiritual purpose – the purpose of lovingly harmonizing our spiritual core with the supreme spiritual reality. This supreme reality manifests as the all-attractive, all-pure, all-powerful supreme, Krishna. Thinking about him, engaging in his service and redefining our life as an offering of loving service to him brings sublime, supreme fulfillment. And we can access this fulfillment by practicing bhakti-yoga, which trains our consciousness to connect with him. To the extent our consciousness becomes thus devotionally enriched, to that extent we can pull our attention away from temptation without inordinate difficulty.

And just like an unwanted visitor goes away when their repeated ringing elicits no response, so too does temptation go away when we don’t respond to it.

The post Temptation leans on the doorbell appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

yad atra skhalitaṁ kiñcid                 vidvāṁsaḥ pūrayantu tat

yad atra sauṣṭhavaṁ kiñcid                         tad guror eva me na hi

yad — that which; atra — here; skhalitaṁ — is faulty; kiñcid — whatever; vidvāṁsaḥ — the learned souls; pūrayantu — may kindly correct; tat — that; yad — that which; atra — here; sauṣṭhavam — is beautifully done; kiñcid — whatever; tad — that; guror — belongs to my guru; eva — certainly; me — mine; na — it is not; hi — certainly

“Whatever errors are present in this commentary, may the learned souls correct it; and whatever good is found here, it is due to my gurus, not me.” (Krama Sandarbha introduction, Jiva Goswami)

When authors write a book, they usually include a section for acknowledgments where they give credit to all those who helped them in writing that book. But few authors go to the extent as to give all credit for the good in the book to others. They naturally want credit for what they feel is their creativity, their hard work, their original contribution.

However, in devotional and spiritual circles, especially circles that draw from a venerable lineage of teachers, books often feature acknowledgements such as that expressed by Jiva Goswami here. Are these spiritual authors expressing excessive humility, refusing to take credit where it is due? Or is a deeper truth operational?

In any intellectual or artistic work, no one starts from scratch. We use the language thinkers before us have developed, and we draw extensively from their ideas.

Of course, we may claim credit for having brought those words and ideas together distinctively. However, even for that distinctive integration, we are more a channel than the source. All insightful works rely on inspiration, and inspiration comes from outside of ourselves, giving us in fully developed form ideas that we simply receive and write. The Bhagavad-gita (15.15) indicates that the source of inspiration is the indwelling Supreme Lord. In that sense, we can’t take sole credit for either the points or their integration.

Additionally, in spiritual circles, originality has a sense distinct from its sense in contemporary circles. Nowadays, originality refers to coming up with an insight that no one has come up with till now. In traditional spiritual circles, originality refers to that which is as close to the origin as possible. If we were traveling using a map and wanted to understand the symbols in the map, we would need the second kind of originality, not the first kind. We wouldn’t need to come up with some new meaning for those symbols; we would need to know that meaning intended by the map-maker. When we understand that meaning, we can properly navigate the terrain depicted in the map.

The Bhagavad-gita (16.24) indicates that scripture is a guidebook for helping us make sound decisions. Thus, scripture is like a map for our life-journey. Naturally therefore, when scriptural commentators keep this purpose in mind, they consider their commenting successful if they convey the import given by the previous teachers who had successfully used scripture as a guide for their life-journey. The Gita (04.10) states that many in the past have attained perfection by living in the light of its spiritual knowledge– and it urges us to do the same (04.15).

When we are able to explain a map to someone, helping them find the directions to the desired destination, we don’t feel proud of our creativity – we feel grateful to those who made the map and to those who taught us to read it properly. Similarly, when we are able to explain scriptural knowledge effectively, helping people find the way to enduring spiritual growth, we don’t feel proud of our creativity – we feel grateful: to the universal spiritual master, the Lord, who has given scripture to humanity; and to the exalted lineage of spiritual masters who have made those scriptural directions accessible to each generation for millennia.

And if we make some mistakes in reading the map, we feel grateful when those who are better map-readers than us correct our reading. While explaining a map, our purpose is not to prove that our understanding is right, but to ensure that we gain and share the right understanding. When we share spiritual knowledge in such a mood, we endear ourselves to our Lord, and he guarantees our spiritual elevation and liberation (18.68-69).

Thus, the mood of profound humility amidst devotional creativity is founded in philosophical reality, and it helps us go closer to the ultimate reality, our eternal Lord.

The post Gratitude and originality in spiritual creativity appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

• As sadhus, should we focus on internal change through sadhana or social change through activism?
• I was initiated earlier by a priest – how do I see it when seeking initation from a Vaishnava guru?
• Should we use the words “fools and rascals” just as Srila Prabhupada did?
• When a close relative troubles us, do we need to tolerate infinitely?
• Understanding how dharma culminates in prema
• When we can’t overcome our bad habits, what to do – Hindi? 

The post Latest Transcriptions – 05 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Fifty complete newcomers to Krishna consciousness packed out a recent seminar on “Conscious Living” at the Bhakti Yoga Center in Panama City recently.

15 days, 11 temples and $1 million U.S. in pledges! This was the amazing result of the first tour to the small temples of the Maharashtra region of Western India.

Inspired by the amazing success of his recent Vyasa Puja TOVP fundraising event which also raised $1 million U.S., His Holiness Lokanath Maharaja, Chairman of the Western India District Council, personally orchestrated the recent first leg of the Maharashtra tour, calling temple leaders on the phone every day and creating a transcendental competition to give more to the TOVP. Every single devotee enthusiastically responded to this ‘Call to Action’. Even devotees who had given at his Vyasa Puja celebration upgraded their pledges, being overwhelmed by the ecstatic mood of the competition and festival of kirtan and abhisheka for Lord Nityananda’s Padukas and Lord Nrsimha’s Sitari.

“We far exceeded our expectations here in Maharashtra. It wasn’t anticipated that such small temple communities would step forward and give so much”, said Vraja Vilas prabhu, the TOVP Global Fundraising Director. “We owe a debt of gratitude to Lokanath Maharaja for his complete support of the tour, to Radhanath Maharaja and his many disciples in temples in Maharashtra, to the WIDC (Western India District Council) and to all the temple leaders for their unconditional cooperation and expert organization of our schedule as Lord Nityananda’s Padukas, Lord Nrsimha’s Sitari, Jananivas prabhu and myself traveled continuously for 30 days”.

The mood of the devotees was one of personal sacrifice for the TOVP with the understanding that service to Mayapur and specifically to the TOVP project would please Srila Prabhupada and show their love for him through the spirit of cooperation and bring about the empowerment and success of their own preaching projects. This mood was also emphasized by Srila Prabhupada:

“The more you help develop Mayapur, the more Lord Chaitanya will bless your area of the world and it will flourish”

Letter to Hari-sauri

Ambarisa and the TOVP Team wish to thank His Holiness Lokanath Maharaja, His Holiness Radhanath Maharaja and all the leaders and devotees in Maharashtra for making this tour such a grand success and for showing by their example the attitude of combined service to guru and Krishna.

We look forward to the second half of the Maharashtra/Western India tour in 2018 to continue the transcendental competition.

To donate to the TOVP, please visit the TOVP website at: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post Maharashtra TOVP Tour an Amazing Success appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Heart Felt Thank You And Prannams for the effort and all the wonderful devotees and volunteers for making this year Ratha Yatra festival a huge success!!! Your service personally, financially, or by just attending was much appreciated. Huge thanks goes out to devotees who came all the way from different parts of Ireland to be a part of this blissful event and special thanks to Alek Prabhu for capturing the event photos! Continue reading "Dublin Rathayatra 2017
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Should he be?

A Monk’s lesson from a tree (1 min video)
Sivarama Swami’s advice.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ZPSfAV

An Angel in Disguise.
Sukhayanti Devi Dasi: I guess angels come in all forms and shapes and may appear in the least expected places and circumstances. When I think of angels, I imagine those beautiful, magical figures with wings, sent by God to Earth for some divine purpose. Well, my angel did not have any wings and I cannot remember if she was beautiful or not as her physical appearance was of little significance. She was not magical per se; however, her appearance and the circumstances in which she came into and went out of my life, for me, was quite magical.
I was a young 22 year old woman who had just joined the Hare Krishna movement. Out of my own desire and drive, I decided to daily go out onto the streets of Germany and distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. I did not have much conviction in the cause, in fact I was full of doubts; yet something drew me to that service.
When I had first joined the movement, and started studying those same books that I would later go out and distribute, I felt like finally, for the first time in my life everything made sense. All those burning questions in my mind and in my heart were instantly answered. It is not that I did not ever ask the questions before. I did, to some extent or another. I asked the teachers at my school and the books I read; I even looked a bit into the religion into which I was born. However, no answer was ever able to come close enough to satisfying me. Something was missing.
Then, when I met the Hare Krishna’s and joined the temple, I felt at home. Naturally, I wanted to share with others this valuable gift that I had received. However, although convinced to some degree of the value of my newly acquired belief, many doubts and concerns were still ringing through my brain. One such thought was that of me joining a secret, horribly dangerous, brainwashing cult. I knew it to be nonsense as it would have been an insult to my intelligence and good judgment to ever suggest that I was part of a religious cult. However, the mind who so expertly and easily plays tricks with us kept on whispering in my ears, “are you sure you are not being brainwashed?”. Laughing at the thought, I would shoo it away, only to find it coming back to attack me some days later.
Living in Germany did a lot to contribute to my mind’s playful games. In Germany of 2006, the Hare Krishna movement was still very much perceived as a cult. Whether it still is now I do not know, but it sure was back then. I remember walking down the streets with the books in my hands trying to hand them out to the various people I encountered and every once and a while hearing them say something nasty in German cautioning each other that I am from a cult. I would mainly ignore the remarks or try to brush them off as ridiculous when responding, but that mind of mine was so happy to cling on to each and every remark as it instantly told me “see, I told you so…”.
The day I met my angel was a regular day out on the streets of Germany. We were in a small town walking up and down the streets trying to hand out books and get a donation for them in return. I was not a great book distributor; in fact, I was quite horrible at it. But I was persistent and so I kept going out daily. After many refusals and maybe having succeeded in distributing a couple of books, I came to meet my angel.
She was a women, perhaps in her 40’s, with a very kind and gentle face. I stopped her and immediately felt a connection. I put one of my books in her hand and went on to deliver my usual lines. I had a good feeling about her and was convinced that she would take one of my books. Just as I was telling her that she can take the book in exchange for a small donation to help cover the printing costs, another lady approached us from behind. As she passed by us she spoke quickly but clearly enough for both of us to hear: “Be careful, she is from a cult”. She kept walking as she spoke, and disappeared in the distance.
I stood there speechless. My mind was racing, thinking, “oh no! here we go again, she was just about to take the book but now she will become alarmed, throw the book back in my hand and walk away horrified, to escape the evil danger she was in”.
To my surprised nothing of that sort happened. The lady stood there looking deeply into my eyes with a gentle smile on her face. I do not remember her saying anything, but her eyes spoke to me beyond anything words could ever express. It was as if she was telling me not to worry, and not to listen to every nonsense others had to say. Her smile gave me courage and strength as well as conviction. Her smile told me that I should always have faith in myself and never doubt my ability to decipher between right and wrong, good and evil. She kept the book in her hand, reached down to her wallet and handed me a donation, and with that she walked away, disappearing out of my life just as quickly as she came in.
I cannot say for sure, of course, that she was really an angel, but for me she was. It felt as though God had simply sent her my way so that I may find the strength to believe in myself and not be influenced by others. The way in which she completely ignored the other lady as though she never existed and as though she had not heard a word she said told me that I also need to ignore what is not beneficial for me and keep on focusing on what is true and important.

Photos from the the San Diego Friday Evening Screening of award-winning film, “Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement, and the Swami who started it all” With His Grace Yadhubara Prabhu taking questions and answers after the showing. Photos by ISKCON San Diego’s photographer extraordinaire, Purusa Prabhu.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/2PQqTH

The Gathering for the Yajna (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: 700 devotees from around the world gathered today in the eve of Woodstock to discuss plans for our many programs at Krsna’s Village of Peace.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/V9mEQH

“Be satisfied and pleased with what thou art, Act cheerfully and well thy allotted part, Enjoy the present hour, be thankful for the past, And neither fear, nor wish, the approaches of the last.” [Marcus Valerius Martialis: Roman poet, 41 – 102 AD] Continue reading "The Line Up
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Most by college program organizers asked me to speak on “Spirituality in the age of science.” Not wanting to speak the same content again and again, I started approaching the topic from different angles in different talks. And I soon discovered that I had enough approaches to address this topic in a full book. One such talk centered on “The hard problem of consciousness” at the Texas A and M university, College Station. I explained how consciousness is the basis of all our knowledge – even the denial of consciousness requires the presence of consciousness. While research may show which areas of the brain are activated when we have different emotions and experiences, the emotions and experiences themselves can’t be reduced to anything mechanical, be it neural or digital.

At the universities where I spoke on the mind, the audience frequently asked many questions about emotions and relationships. Even among Indian college students in the US, dating is very common. While many youths in India demand the freedom to choose their partners themselves, talking with students in a campus where such choices were the norm revealed the flip side of that freedom: anxiety. Most of the students were in various phases of uncertainty, insecurity or animosity based on whether their relationships with their significant other was forming, fraying or breaking.

This article is part of a series of articles about the recent Western tour. Full article can be read here

The post Spirituality in the age of science – Balancing science, spirituality and audience interest appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

• Are the Vedas mythological because they talk about mysticism?
• How can karma such as fighting in army be spiritualized?
• How can we make our presentation more crisp and condensed?
• ​How can we develop taste for chanting?
• How can we make the effect of hearing last for long?
• If somebody asks questions arrogantly, how should we respond?
• Is repressing the sexual instinct harmful?
• Why is the Shambhu aspect of Lord Shiva glorified as the topmost devotee?
• Was sati suicide or murder?
• Does the definition of success vary from person to person or is it universal?
• When we face real problems, can we spiritually raise ourselves above those problems?
• When we face real problems, can we spiritually raise ourselves above those problems?
• When we have to choose between two good options, how do we choose?
• When chanting is so simple why do we feel so lazy – how can we chant constantly?
• Why is the desire for sex stronger than the desire for any other sense gratification?

The post Latest Transcriptions – 04 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Том 14, глава 14

31 июля 2017, Польша

В последний день первой половины нашего летнего тура я проснулся в радостном расположении духа. Несмотря на плохую, не по сезону, погоду, все двадцать четыре фестивальные программы, уже проведенные нами на Балтийском побережье Польши, были успешными. Всё пока что складывалось благополучно. Тем не менее, я подумал об изменчивой природе этого мира и словах Шрилы Прабхупады ученику: «Когда угодно может произойти всё, что угодно». Но, отбросив эти мысли, вернулся к радостной действительности: сегодня намечался последний фестиваль перед сборами и переездом на другую нашу базу, на грандиозный фестиваль Вудсток. Готовясь к своему служению, я вспомнил цитату, привлекшую накануне мое внимание:

Что счастье полноценной жизни есть?

Довольным быть своим уменьем,

По данному тебе пути с готовностью ступать,

Благодарить за то, что минуло, ловить мгновенье,

Приблизившейся смерти – и не страшиться, и не призывать.

[ Марк Валерий Марциал, римский поэт (41-102 н.э.) ]

Утром, встретившись на собрании со всеми преданными, я поблагодарил их за стойкость в служении, проявленную за последний месяц. Но и напомнил о трудностях, которые еще предстояло преодолеть. Физически преданные явно устали – но глаза их светились из-за их твердой решимости продолжать. Как же люблю я этих преданных!

Позже отправились на харинаму, рекламировать фестиваль. Пляж в Устроние-Морские был забит до отказа: и одному человеку было негде ступить, что уж говорить о стопах семидесяти пяти танцующих преданных!

– Идите ближе к воде! – крикнул я им.

Но и там каждый дюйм песка был занят отдыхающими. Не оставалось ничего другого, как зайти в море и идти по плещущим волнам, по щиколотку в воде.

– Вода ледяная! – воскликнул один преданный.

– Это Балтийское море, – крикнул я в ответ, – не Тихий океан! Ступай, ступай вперед – скоро привыкнешь.

Наверное, мы смешно смотрелись со стороны, когда шагали вот так по воде, по мокрому песку, пытаясь удержать равновесие и при этом петь и играть на музыкальных инструментах. Но люди явно нам симпатизировали: они выходили из воды, уступали дорогу и подбадривали нас. Какие-то женщины даже встали и захлопали, скандируя «Браво! Браво!»

Тут на противоположной стороне пляжа показалась большая группа христиан. Они шли по направлению к нам с гитарами и своими хоругвями и пели славу Иисусу Христу! Я был поражен. За все годы харинам на пляжах Балтийского моря никогда еще я не видел поющих, подобно нам, христиан. Когда они поравнялись с нами, я улыбнулся, но шедший рядом со мной преданный высказался пренебрежительно.

– Нет-нет, – сказал я. – не говори так. Чем отличается их деятельность от нашей? Ничем. И та, и другая во славу Господа. И еще, говорится: «Подражание – высшая форма лести».

Улыбаясь, я помахал нескольким монахиням, сопровождавшим процессию поющих – они улыбнулись и помахали в ответ. На преданного рядом со мной это не произвело особого впечатления. Я посмотрел на него и процитировал слова Альберта Швейцера: «Этот мир не принадлежит тебе одному. Здесь живут и твои братья».

Дальше по берегу, когда я остановил процессию киртана, человек двадцать отдыхающих спонтанно присоединились к нам и стали танцевать. Такое происходит каждый раз. Я не перестаю удивляться тому, с каким самозабвением танцуют с нами люди на польских пляжах. Самое логичное тому объяснение – это мгновенно очищающая сила святых имен. Святые имена столь могущественны, что тотчас превращают самое обыкновенное место в трансцендентную обитель.

 «И все благодатные реки – Шри Ганга, Сарасвати, Ямуна, Годавари – и все места святые есть там, где возглашают катху о Бхагаване**, о непогрешимом, Ачьюте».

[ Шрила Рупа Госвами, Падьявали, текст 44 ]

Киртан уже снижал обороты, и я обратил внимание на распространительницу книг, которая предлагала «Бхагавад-гиту» семейной паре в нескольких метрах от меня. Увы, книга их не заинтересовала, но тут одна из их дочерей, девушка лет шестнадцати, выхватила ее и крепко прижала к груди. Когда мать попыталась отобрать книгу у дочери, та принялась отбиваться и гримасничать. Она явно хотела получить ее. Посовещавшись с мужем, женщина, в конце концов, купила ей книгу. Как только мы тронулись дальше, я  поинтересовался у преданной, продавшей книгу:

– Что это там было?

– Родители не заинтересовались, а вот девушка – да, – ответила та. – Ее поразили картинки в «Гите», и она прочла несколько стихов, пока я показывала их родителям. Я удивилась, когда она выхватила у меня книгу. Родители извинились, объяснив, что дочка глухонемая. Она не может слышать и говорить – но за такое короткое знакомство с книгой что-то в ней срезонировало, и она ни в какую не хотела с ней расставаться! Так что родители сдались и купили ей книгу.

Я оглянулся посмотреть на эту семью. Мама и папа купались в море – а дочь сидела на пляже, полностью погруженная в чтение «Гиты».

Наш трехчасовой киртан завершился, и видно было, что преданные устали. Не столько от того, что шагали по мягкому песку, по воде, сколько от двадцати четырех предыдущих харинам и двадцати четырех фестивалей!

Когда мы вернулись на территорию фестиваля раньше обычного, Нандини подошла ко мне, явно чувствуя облегчение.

– Шрила Гурудева, вас уже ждут гости. Вот, ушли с пляжа, зашли в отели, переоделись и уже здесь. – Она показала рукой на небольшую группу людей на скамейках перед сценой.

Я замешкался на мгновение, подумав:  «А я ведь устал». Но потом напомнил себе, что эти люди ищут общения с преданными, и сомнения улетучились.

– Хорошо, дай мне десять минут. Нет грешникам покоя*, – пошутил я.

– Каким грешникам? – не поняла Нандини.

– Неважно, – ответил я. – Вернусь через десять минут.

Я пошел в тенистое местечко подальше от палаток и прилег на траву. Спустя десять минут, освежив холодной водой лицо, отправился к тем людям, что хотели со мной поговорить.

– Здравствуйте, меня зовут Кинга, – сказала девушка двадцати с небольшим лет. – Могли бы подписать мне «Бхагавад-гиту»? Купила ее сегодня на пляже.

– Конечно, – отвечаю. – Ты первый раз на нашем фестивале?

– Да, – говорит она. – Но я всё о вас знаю.

– Правда? – слегка удивился я. – И как же ты всё о нас узнала?

– Нет, я не имела в виду, что всё знаю обо всем этом, – произнесла она, обводя рукой фестивальное поле. – Я имела в виду, я знаю всё о ВАС, – и она показала на меня.

Я озадачился.

– Знаешь всё обо мне?

– Да, – сказала она. – Два года тому назад я была в глубокой депрессии. Ходила к профессиональным психологам, но безрезультатно – я погружалась всё глубже и глубже. Однажды ночью, отчаявшись, я набрала в поисковике слово «счастье». Можете себе представить, сколько выпало разных ссылок! Решив рискнуть, я кликнула на ту, что гласила «Повторяй Харе Кришна и будь счастлив», и она привела меня к Движению Харе Кришна. Спустя полчаса я уже пролистывала вашу страничку на Фейсбуке. Не спала всю ночь, читала ваши посты, смотрела фотоальбомы и видео. То, как вы пели Харе Кришна, подействовало на меня успокаивающе. Через несколько дней я уже не могла без этой песни заснуть.

И я многое узнала о вашем духовном учителе, Свами Прабхупаде. Когда я прочла о том, через сколько трудностей он прошел, чтобы принести учение Кришны на Запад, то все мои проблемы показались мне такими пустяковыми. Я начала повторять Харе Кришна и читать книги Харе Кришна он-лайн. Постепенно депрессия прошла, и сейчас я всё время чувствую себя счастливой. Врачи даже поверить не могут. И я не пропускаю ни одного вашего поста на Фейсбуке.

В общем, я сказала маме, что хотела бы встретиться с вами лично, и мы подгадали отпуска под ваш фестиваль. Мне так не терпится, чтобы он поскорее начался. Когда вы будете петь?

– Ближе к концу представления, – сказал я, немного смущенный, протягивая ей подписанный экземпляр «Бхагавад-гиты».

– Вы не представляете, как много вы значите для меня, – сказала она. – Если бы не вы, то я, наверное, была бы уже мертва.

Я онемел. Только лишь кивнул и помолился Шриле Прабхупаде о том, чтобы быть его достойным представителем.

Следующей была женщина, которая показалась мне знакомой. Рядом с ней был ее муж.

– Очень рада снова вас видеть! – сказала она, энергично пожимая мне руку. – Вы меня помните? Два дня назад, в Ревале, после лекции вы подарили мне свою гирлянду. И еще «Бхагавад-гиту».

– Ах, да, – ответил я. – Помню. Я всегда после выступления отдаю гирлянду и «Бхагавад-гиту» кому-нибудь из зрителей.

– Честно сказать, – продолжала она, – мне было совсем не интересно. Я толком и не слушала вашу речь, ждала следующего номера программы. Но меня тронула ваша доброта, и вчера я взяла с собой книгу на пляж. Короче говоря, я не могла от нее оторваться, читала и вчера, и сегодня весь день напролет. В ней все настолько логично. Сегодня притащила сюда своего мужа. Он инженер-химик, и я уверена, что он поймет вашу философию. Хотя в книге говорится, что для осознания этих вещей нужна помощь духовного учителя.

– Вы быстро схватываете, – сказал я с улыбкой, подписывая экземпляр «Бхагавад-гиты», данный ей два дня назад.

– Дома поставим эту книгу сразу за Библией, – сказала она.

«Последовательность верная!» – подумал я.

Следующей была статная, хорошо одетая дама. Она подошла вместе с дочерью и протянула мне старую зачитанную «Бхагавад-гиту».

– Добро пожаловать на фестиваль, – сказал я, кивнув.

– Спасибо, – ответила она. – Мы приходим на фестиваль уже шестнадцать лет. Дочке было два годика, когда пришли впервые.

– Да, мы его любим, – сказала девушка. – У нас по всему дому фотографии с фестиваля. Все время крутим вашу музыку и «Бхагавад-гиту» читаем. Принесли ее сегодня вам подписать. Раньше приходили с бабушкой, но вот уже три года она не может, совсем старенькая стала.

– О, жаль это слышать, – посочувствовал я.

– Нет-нет, все в порядке, – сказала дама. – Мы звоним ей и, пока сидим и смотрим программу, держим телефон повыше, чтобы звук был четче. Она полностью прослушала все представления за те годы, что не смогла прийти.

– Мы с мамой меняемся, держим телефон по очереди, а то шоу длится пять часов, и руки затекают, – сказала дочка, смеясь. – Больше всего бабушка любит ваше пение в конце. Мы многие ваши песни записали. Бабуля не уснет, не послушав, как вы поете!

Подписав еще пару книг, я отправился к фургону освежиться и подготовиться к фестивалю. Шагая, я прокручивал в уме радостные утренние мысли.

«А ведь и правда всё хорошо складывается», – решил я.

И в тот же миг одна девушка-преданная бросилась бежать ко мне, крича в истерике:

– Гурудева, Гурудева! Мне позвонили из дома, мама только что умерла! От внезапного сердечного приступа!

Она рухнула передо мной, подбежали ее подруги и стали ее успокаивать. Я вспомнил пророческие слова Шрилы Прабхупады: «Всё, что угодно, может случиться, когда угодно».

В такие моменты можно лишь предложить слова утешения скорбящему. Не время это для философии.

– Простите, что плачу, – сказала девушка.

– Плачь, плачь, – ответил я. – Мы всё понимаем. И мы здесь для тебя.

Спустя десять минут она попросила:

– Гурудева, пожалуйста, скажите мне какие-нибудь мудрые слова.

Я процитировал Библию:

«Всему своё время, и время всякой вещи под небом:

Время рождаться, и время умирать; время насаждать, и время вырывать посаженное;

Время убивать, и время врачевать; время разрушать, и время строить;

Время плакать, и время смеяться; время сетовать, и время плясать».

[ Экклезиаст 3:1 ]

Какое-то время я мягко говорил с ней, поясняя слова Экклезиаста, и она мало-помалу успокоилась.

– Можно рассказать вам мамину историю? – спросила она.

– Да, расскажи, – ответил я.

– Двадцать лет тому назад мама работала в аэропорту Екатеринбурга, в России. Как-то вы прилетели из Москвы, вас встречала целая толпа преданных. Вам надели прекрасную благоухающую цветочную гирлянду – она доходила вам до колен. Преданные сопровождали вас к выходу из терминала. А мама никогда раньше не видела их и стояла у дверей офиса, восхищенная. Заметив ее, вы подошли и надели ей гирлянду. Потом пошли, как ни в чем не бывало, дальше с группой киртана.

Этот ваш жест тронул маму до глубины души. Так что гирлянда все это время висела у нее в офисе, пока в прошлом году мама не вышла на пенсию. Я, помнится, видела эту гирлянду всякий раз, когда приходила к ней на работу. И она рассказывала мне эту историю снова и снова. Три года тому назад я стала интересоваться сознанием Кришны, начала ходить в наш храм. Мама хорошо относилась к преданным, но меня отпускала как-то неохотно. В какой-то момент даже отговорила бывать в храме слишком часто.

В прошлом году вы приехали в Екатеринбург на Ратха-ятру. Тогда я обратилась к вам с просьбой стать вашей ученицей. Вы милостиво согласились и спросили, поддерживает ли мама мой выбор. Я объяснила вам, что ее немного тревожит эта идея, и рассказала ту историю, как вы дали ей гирлянду в аэропорту двадцать лет тому назад. Ваши глаза засияли и вы сказали: «У меня есть одна идея!». Вы присели и написали маме нежнейшее письмо, прося ее не беспокоиться, потому что жизнь в сознании Кришны – это самая желательная вещь для молодежи.  Вы пообещали ей, что будете приглядывать за мной и защищать. Отдав мне письмо, вы опять сняли с себя большую цветочную гирлянду и попросили передать маме вместе с письмом.

Придя вечером домой, я первым делом протянула маме письмо. Она читала его, и по щекам у нее катились слезы. Когда она закончила, я отдала ей гирлянду, и тут она уже не могла сдержать рыданий. После этого все изменилось. Она не только поощряла мою практику сознания Кришны, она сама увлеклась. Стала постоянно ходить в храм помогать на кухне и не раз давала деньги на разные храмовые проекты. Все преданные любили ее, и она любила их всех.

А сегодня рано утром у нее случился сердечный приступ. Скорая забрала ее в больницу. Мама попросила преданных приехать, побыть рядом с ней. Она оставила тело несколько часов назад, и много преданных вокруг нее сладко пели святые имена Кришны. Такой благоприятный уход. Как же мне мамы не хватает!
Она вновь разрыдалась.

– С твоей мамой будет все в порядке, – сказал я. – Она услышала безупречное послание о том, как выйти за пределы этого мира рождения и смерти, – то же самое, которое мы пытаемся донести до людей нашими фестивалями. Будь уверена: Кришна постепенно приведет ее обратно к Себе домой.

************************

«Своим извечным состраданием Господь Чайтанья вернул людей обратно к жизни и милостью святых имен дал пересечь бездонный океан века раздоров. Так, милостью золотых лун Хари и Вайшнавов весть об именах Кришны из уст в уста передавалась».

[ Сарвабхаума Бхаттачарья, Сушлока-шатакам, текст 46 ]

______________

* цитата из книги пророка Исайи (прим. перев.)

** катха – разговоры, обсуждение тем, связанных с Бхагаваном, Верховной Личностью Бога (прим. ред.)

на англ. http://www.dandavats.com/?p=49214

Ratha Yatra Zagreb 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “The essence of all Vedic knowledge—comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity, the Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods—is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Narada-pancharatra)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/U4CMLg

A conversation between Saints (2 min video)
Mother Kulangana, an 85-year-old disciple of Srila Prabhupada, has been serving at Bhaktivedanta Manor for decades. Known for her devotional artistry whilst making milk-sweets for Krishna, she is a mother figure, an aunt, a grandmother & a guru to hundreds if not thousands of worshippers at the Temple. Now her time to leave this world is nearing yet she remains fixed in meditation, readily accepting the next phase of her journey. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Below is a video from 10 days ago when HH Sivarama Swami went to see her.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/g1GE8o

Attention: Problems in Hell!
Dhirasanta Das Goswami: Yamaraj is the demigod who records all of our pious, as well as evil deeds. Once, the servants of Yamaraj approached him and complained about something which they were very concerned about. Here is the conversation between Yamaraj and his Yamaduta servants.
Yamaduta 1: How are you Prabhuji?
Yamaraj: I am doing well. But you look a little tense?
Yamaduta 1: Yeah Prabhu… we are disturbed by a few matters.
Yamaraj: Oh, let me know your issues.
Yamaduta 1: I am worried about this hell.
Yamaraj: Why? What has happened?
Yamaduta 1: Hell is getting empty by each passing day and if this situation continues, we will need to close down hell.
Yamaraj: But why, what is happening?
Yamaduta 1: This is just because of a devotee of Krishna.
Yamaraj: Devotee? How is a devotee doing such miracle?
Yamaduta 1: This devotee is a representative of Krishna and although he has already left his material body and returned to the spiritual world, his magic is still working like anything.
Yamaraj: Whom you are speaking about?
Yamaduta 2: Prabhuji - It is obvious - Srila Prabhupada. I don’t know what he told his followers but they are preaching and preaching and preaching, and because of their preaching - no one is coming to this hell.
Yamaraj: Yes, you are right - this is a concern…
Yamaduta 1: Even we cannot touch them or take them to hell.
Yamraj: Why? They must have made some mistakes… and for making certain mistakes they can be brought to my hell.
Yamaduta 1: We can’t take them. Everyone is going to Krishna-loka because they know a transcendental secret.
Yamaraj: Which transcendental secret?
Yamaduta 1: They know that “In whichever state you quit your body; in your next birth you will attain the same body.” That’s why every devotee keeps chanting Krishna’s name and never stops chanting. They practice to chant the Lord’s holy name so at the time of death they will be able to attain the Lord.
Wherever they go - they keep on chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, which is so powerful that these devotees become very sharp and smart. They always chant loudly so that people around them can also hear. The sound is everywhere . Some senior devotees are totally renounced and are traveling from country to country giving classes on Krishna consciousness. There are others that send regular weekly wisdom emails in order to give spiritual guidance. What shall we do? We will be in big trouble if hell closes! We will all lose our jobs!
Yamaraj: This is a big issue and problem for hell. But at least I am happy that we still have a lot of prisoners in hell.
Yamaduta 2: No Prabhu. These devotees are very cunning. Srila Prabhupada has revealed every secret to them. These people are observing ekadashis to give benefits to their forefathers, and therefore hell’s population is decreasing.
Yamaraj: Oh no…
Yamaduta 1: Especially because of Indira ekadashi! Due to Indira ekadashi a lot of souls have been released from hell. As stated in the Garuda purana, someone who is suffering in hell cannot practice Krishna consciousness - because it requires some mental peace. The reactionary tortures of hell make that impossible. But if a relative of a sinner suffering in hell gives some charity in the name of the sinner, he can leave hell and enter the heavenly planets. Or if a sinner’s relative observes Indira ekadasi fasting for his suffering kinsman, the kinsman goes directly to the spiritual world.
Yamaduta 2: And moreover - they observe every single ekadashi as per the directions given by Srila Prabhupada and thereby give comforts to their forefathers in this hell.
Yamaraj: Oh my Krishna… I am getting concerned with these devotees.
Yamaraj: Why don’t you put these devotees in some turbulence so that they will be afraid and will forget to chant Hare Krsna?
Yamaduta 2: Prabhuji - It’s not easy… whenever we create some problems for these devotees, they start chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and thank Krishna for giving them a test, or for their purification. They are not afraid of any problem. They think that whenever Krsna sends some problem, it means that Krishna loves them and is testing their sincerity. They are not afraid of anything. They know that Krishna is everywhere. They sing the Hare Krishna mantra in every situation. They are making us mad. We are really sitting idle just because of these devotees.
Yamaraj: Oh no… we are really in trouble.
Yamaduta 1: Even One more problem is there.
Yamaraj: What?
Yamaduta 1: They are making every place like Vrindavana.
Yamaraj: How?
Yamaduta 1: They are building new temples and spending money in Krishna’s service. They have installed so many deities in people’s homes. I can tell you that these devotees are making such a big mess in this material world. I am sure that if they continue to work with this speed, they will make everyone go from this world to Krishna-loka.
Yamaraj: Oh my Krishna!!! Save us from these devotees!
Yamaduta 1: Yeah… better to request Krishna to give us another job…
Yamaraj: What is their mantra?
Yamaduta 1 & Yamaduta 2 (In Chorus): Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
And suddenly Yamaduta 1 and Yamaduta 2 became invisible and Yamaraj understood that they were going upwards to the spiritual plane.
Then Yamaraj started chanting: “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Suddenly - I heard my clock "ring, ring, ring” – It’s 4:00 am. It’s 04:00 am - It was a dream. But yeah, never stop preaching, even in a dream.Transcendental Secrets
Yamaraj is the demigod who records all of our pious, as well as evil deeds. Once, the servants of Yamaraj approached him and complained about something which they were very concerned about. Here is the conversation between Yamaraj and his Yamaduta servants.
Yamaduta 1: How are you Prabhuji?
Yamaraj: I am doing well. But you look a little tense?
Yamaduta 1: Yeah Prabhu… we are disturbed by a few matters.
Yamaraj: Oh, let me know your issues.
Yamaduta 1: I am worried about this hell.
Yamaraj: Why? What has happened?
Yamaduta 1: Hell is getting empty by each passing day and if this situation continues, we will need to close down hell.
Yamaraj: But why, what is happening?
Yamaduta 1: This is just because of a devotee of Krishna.
Yamaraj: Devotee? How is a devotee doing such miracle?
Yamaduta 1: This devotee is a representative of Krishna and although he has already left his material body and returned to the spiritual world, his magic is still working like anything.
Yamaraj: Whom you are speaking about?
Yamaduta 2: Prabhuji - It is obvious - Srila Prabhupada. I don’t know what he told his followers but they are preaching and preaching and preaching, and because of their preaching - no one is coming to this hell.
Yamaraj: Yes, you are right - this is a concern…
Yamaduta 1: Even we cannot touch them or take them to hell.
Yamraj: Why? They must have made some mistakes… and for making certain mistakes they can be brought to my hell.
Yamaduta 1: We can’t take them. Everyone is going to Krishna-loka because they know a transcendental secret.
Yamaraj: Which transcendental secret?
Yamaduta 1: They know that “In whichever state you quit your body; in your next birth you will attain the same body.” That’s why every devotee keeps chanting Krishna’s name and never stops chanting. They practice to chant the Lord’s holy name so at the time of death they will be able to attain the Lord.
Wherever they go - they keep on chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, which is so powerful that these devotees become very sharp and smart. They always chant loudly so that people around them can also hear. The sound is everywhere . Some senior devotees are totally renounced and are traveling from country to country giving classes on Krishna consciousness. There are others that send regular weekly wisdom emails in order to give spiritual guidance. What shall we do? We will be in big trouble if hell closes! We will all lose our jobs!
Yamaraj: This is a big issue and problem for hell. But at least I am happy that we still have a lot of prisoners in hell.
Yamaduta 2: No Prabhu. These devotees are very cunning. Srila Prabhupada has revealed every secret to them. These people are observing ekadashis to give benefits to their forefathers, and therefore hell’s population is decreasing.
Yamaraj: Oh no…
Yamaduta 1: Especially because of Indira ekadashi! Due to Indira ekadashi a lot of souls have been released from hell. As stated in the Garuda purana, someone who is suffering in hell cannot practice Krishna consciousness - because it requires some mental peace. The reactionary tortures of hell make that impossible. But if a relative of a sinner suffering in hell gives some charity in the name of the sinner, he can leave hell and enter the heavenly planets. Or if a sinner’s relative observes Indira ekadasi fasting for his suffering kinsman, the kinsman goes directly to the spiritual world.
Yamaduta 2: And moreover - they observe every single ekadashi as per the directions given by Srila Prabhupada and thereby give comforts to their forefathers in this hell.
Yamaraj: Oh my Krishna… I am getting concerned with these devotees.
Yamaraj: Why don’t you put these devotees in some turbulence so that they will be afraid and will forget to chant Hare Krsna?
Yamaduta 2: Prabhuji - It’s not easy… whenever we create some problems for these devotees, they start chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and thank Krishna for giving them a test, or for their purification. They are not afraid of any problem. They think that whenever Krsna sends some problem, it means that Krishna loves them and is testing their sincerity. They are not afraid of anything. They know that Krishna is everywhere. They sing the Hare Krishna mantra in every situation. They are making us mad. We are really sitting idle just because of these devotees.
Yamaraj: Oh no… we are really in trouble.
Yamaduta 1: Even One more problem is there.
Yamaraj: What?
Yamaduta 1: They are making every place like Vrindavana.
Yamaraj: How?
Yamaduta 1: They are building new temples and spending money in Krishna’s service. They have installed so many deities in people’s homes. I can tell you that these devotees are making such a big mess in this material world. I am sure that if they continue to work with this speed, they will make everyone go from this world to Krishna-loka.
Yamaraj: Oh my Krishna!!! Save us from these devotees!
Yamaduta 1: Yeah… better to request Krishna to give us another job…
Yamaraj: What is their mantra?
Yamaduta 1 & Yamaduta 2 (In Chorus): Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
And suddenly Yamaduta 1 and Yamaduta 2 became invisible and Yamaraj understood that they were going upwards to the spiritual plane.
Then Yamaraj started chanting: “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Suddenly - I heard my clock "ring, ring, ring” – It’s 4:00 am. It’s 04:00 am - It was a dream. But yeah, never stop preaching, even in a dream.

My tour to the West in 2017 was the longest till date, lasting for three months and extending across forty cities in five countries: USA, Canada, Trinidad, Panama and UK. During the tour, by Krishna’s mercy, I gave around 132 classes and answered around 1000 questions. Here I share some of the highlights of the tour. Continue reading "2017 Spring tour of the West
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Hare Krishna! The movie (video)
Ladali Cabezas: I sat next to this lovely person this morning at the Hare Krishna movie. Before the movie began, I asked: “what brought you here today?” She said, “curiosity, I was curious about the Hare Krishna’s, but I didn’t know who was behind it all.” At the end, I asked her “what did you think of the movie?” she replied, “ I’m deeply moved and inspired.”
In the parking lot, Vishvramrita prabhu gave her a Bhagavad gita, and she asked where the closest temple was.
I was in quiet tears from the beginning of the film to the end.
I encourage everyone to see this amazing film!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Pqj9hQ

Muller Beata about rtvikism and being Prabhupada’s disciple, Gopal Raya about the age difference between Krsna and Balarama and Prema Rasa about getting to Radha Krsna without worship of Gaura.

After last years success in contributing towards 50 padyatra’s worldwide as part of the ISKCON50 campaign, ISKCON London agreed to help in continuing this program as an addition to the already vibrant festival season in the UK. This year’s vision was that by organising a Padyatra event and walking between two of our satellite centres we could bring together the devotees from this region for an offering to Guru and Gauranga in an alternative yet highly traditional presentation of Krishna Consciousness, not only for the public but also for the devotees, and in this way draw the attention of the mass of people to our work in the South East of England. The main emphasis this year was intended to explain to the general public the definitive link between the mass slaughter of cows and the violence in modern society, especially in light of recent terror attacks. Continue reading "5 days on Padyatra UK
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