Websites from the ISKCON Universe
The monsoon arrives in Mayapur.
You can see by the water surrounding the ToVP.
It has become very hard to do any kind of outside work! Yogendra Bhagavat, Caitanya-lila, Bachman Jean ask questions.
Krishna conscious presentation at Capital First (Album with photos)
On the 20th of July, Gaur Gopal Das spoke at Capital First.
Capital First Lim... 
By Niranjana Swami I was recently inspired. It was the 2nd day of our GBC meetings. I was completely absorbed the whole day, which for me is not something very easy. I am not so inclined to meetings, but on this 2nd day of our GBC meetings, there was only one subject, and that was book distribution. Continue reading "Niranjana Swami on book distribution
→ Dandavats"
Janmastami, the most auspicious appearance day of the original Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna is almost upon us. This particular appearance of Lord Krishna, which takes place once in a day of Lord Brahma, is of very special importance because it is followed by the appearance of His combined avatar form of Radha and Krishna, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Lord Krishna comes to annihilate the miscreants and re-establish the principles of religion, and teaches surrender as the means of attaining Him through bhakti. Lord Caitanya, while maintaining the essence of this instruction, adds the special feature of bestowing Krishna prema in the mood of the Vraja Vasis freely to all through the chanting of the Holy Names, which even Lord Krishna does not reveal.
Along with the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Krishna sends His most confidential servants to help spread His mission like the six Goswamis, Narottama das Thakur, Srinivas Acharya, Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswami, Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur, and many other acharyas including our own beloved Srila Prabhupada. Lord Krishna confidentially reveals the purpose of the appearance of Srila Prabhupada in this discussion from Brahma-vaivarta Purana with Ganga Mata:
“On behalf of the sacred rivers (Yamuna, Kaveri, Godavari, Sindhu, Saravati and Narmada), Ganga Devi says, ‘Lord Krishna, we see that Your pastimes are ending and that people are becoming more materialistic. After You leave, all the sinful people of Kali-yuga will take bath in our waters, and we will become overwhelmed with sinful reactions.’
Lord Krishna smiled and replied, ‘Be patient. After 5,000 years My mantra upasaka (worshiper of the Holy Name) will appear and spread the chanting of the Holy Name everywhere. Not only in India but all over the world people will chant My Holy Names. By this chanting the whole world will become eka varna (one class or designation), namely, Hari-bhaktas, devotees of the Supreme Lord Krishna. Because the devotees of Hari are pure, anyone who contacts them will become purified of sinful reactions. These pure devotees will visit India and purify you of your sinful reactions by bathing in your sacred waters. The period of worldwide chanting of Hare Krishna will continue for 10,000 years.’”
Moreover, Lord Caitanya Himself foretells of the appearance of Srila Prabhupada in the Caitanya-mangala:
“I want to flood the whole world with the chanting of the holy names. I will personally preach and flood India with Harinama sankirtana. My senapati bhakta (Commander in Chief) will come, preach in distant countries and flood the world with the chanting of Hare Krishna.”
In this very special Kali-yuga we cannot separate the appearance of Lord Krishna from Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. And Srila Prabhupada’s appearance and mission is the culmination of this ‘Road Show’ as it enters its glorious 10,000 year phase of the Golden Age. His Grace Ravindra Svarupa prabhu expounds on this in his treatise, Srila Prabhupada – ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya:
“Our Founder-Ācārya marked the beginning of his project with his first book, Easy Journey to Other Planets, and he continued his effort through the writing, printing and distributing of books and the simultaneous construction of a worldwide institution. His handiwork continues and now is at last crowned with its consolidating apex, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, which unifies both Bhāgavatam and Bhāgavata, book and person. It marks the core and center of the Founder-Ācārya’s creation, and it indicates the location of the true world-axis at sacred Śrīdhāma Māyāpura, the descended spiritual realm.”
The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is the “consolidating apex”, the unification of the teachings of the Bhagavatam and the person(s) Bhagavat in the form of a temple that will preach the glories of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the process of Harinama sankirtana to the entire world for the next 10,000 years. It is our great fortune that we live at such a supremely auspicious moment in time. It behooves us all as followers of Srila Prabhupada to share this great opportunity and do all we can to make this great temple manifest.
The temple is now in a crucial stage of completing the external finishing work. Specifically, we are now underway to complete the production and installation processes of the dome and chatri Kalashes and Chakras by the end of this year. With your help we can reach this goal. Whether you have already donated to the TOVP or have never done so, please take advantage of this auspicious time to make a donation specifically for the Kalashes and Chakras with a one-time donation or long-term pledge.
Go to this website address to show your support: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/
Do the following:
1. Click on the Square Foot donation option
2. Click on Donate Now
3. Select your Payment Method
4. Scroll down to Other Donation Amount
5. Fill in Donor Information
6. Specify for TOVP Kalashes and Chakras in the Notes section
Please also view this new and inspiring 2017 update video by Sadbhuja prabhu:
https://tovp.org/construction/2017-mid-year-tovp-update-video/
The post Janmastami 2017 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
A Look Inside (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: A brief look at the performances at our summer festival tour in Poland. We’ve reached the half-way mark now. Tomorrow we pack up and head off to prepare for the great Woodstock Festival. We’ll be back on the beaches in 12 days!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/b9Mi91
Question Time - HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami answers relevant questions (video)
Organized by the Pandava Sena Alumni which is focused on giving the ... “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” – Woody Allen
This quote provocatively restates a universal truth, enshrined in sayings such as “Man proposes, God disposes.” We all have dreams and we make plans accordingly. We envision our life going along a smooth line leading to destination happiness, with happiness being equated with the fulfillment of our dreams. However, life rarely goes the way we plan – factors beyond our control disrupt things. If we ascribe those disruptive factors beyond our control ultimately to the supreme divinity, then we could say that God has disposed the plans we had proposed.
But does God really laugh when we make plans? Is he a sadist who delights in disrupting our plans? Certainly not. The point of God’s laughter is subtle and non-literal. To appreciate that point, we need to understand that our perspective is very limited – so limited in fact that our plans often involve such a huge degree of presumption that it makes those in the knowledge of things laugh indulgently. Suppose a small girl plans to build a sand castle and tells her parents that her dream prince will come on in shining armor on a white horse and live with her in that castle. The parents laugh not sadistically, but indulgently, at the child’s grandiose imagination associated with the sand castle.
Similarly, when we make our plans in this temporary material world where everything is swept away by the tides of time, even our best-laid plans can be seen to be not much different from the child’s fantasies about a sand castle. Seeing the grandiosity of our plans, God laughs – not sadistically, but indulgently.
The key illusion that we need to counter is the notion that we are controllers who can make the world bend to our plans. However, countering this illusion doesn’t have to be disempowering, implying that we have no control and are utterly helpless. We are parts of God, and as he is the supreme controller, we as his parts are controllers in our own small right. Just as parts are meant to work in harmony with the whole, we are meant to use our capacity to control in harmony with his plans.
Those devoted to God make plans, but they do so in a mood of service without becoming attached to their plans. Their attachment is to God, not to their plans. If a particular plan of theirs get disrupted, they may be temporarily perplexed not being sure what to do. But they don’t become disheartened, thinking that nothing is worth doing. They soon regain their perspective, focus on their ultimate plan of serving the Lord and find some other practical way of continuing their service to him, thereby moving closer to him.
Gita wisdom explains that we are meant for something much bigger than this world. Just as the child needs to grow up and learn more constructive engagements, we too need to grow up spiritually and learn more constructive engagements. Whereas the child needs to stop building sand castles, we don’t need to stop our endeavors in material life – we need to redirect our consciousness from this world to God and invest our emotions primarily in him. With our consciousness thus invested, we can see the world as an arena for contributing in a mood of service, according to our talents and interests. If our life’s overall plan is to serve our Lord, then that plan makes him smile with joy.
Indeed, the purpose of the Bhagavad-gita was to inspire Arjuna to harmonize his plan with Krishna’s plan (18.73). And in the ensuing battle for establishing dharma, Arjuna did make daily plans for tackling various enemy commanders, and Krishna aided and guided him in executing those plans. Arjuna’s diligence in doing his service – in planning it intelligently and executing it pragmatically – made Krishna smile in satisfaction.
Just as parents already have a home in which the child can live happily with them, God too has a home for us in his personal abode where we can live happily with him. When we grow up spiritually and redirect our life’s endeavors for his pleasure and for our purification, then we can function in this world effectively but without excessive emotional entanglement.
When we live devoted to him, making him our goal, then on leaving our body at the end of our life, we attain his eternal abode. Thus seeing the return of the prodigal child, God laughs in joy.
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The post Does God laugh at our plans? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Вчера во время великой нужды появился друг. Я был очень благодарен.
«О! что за чувство! Рука старого друга»
[ Генри Водсворт Лонгфелло ]
“When we are present in the houses of worship of other religious practitioners during their rituals, we should remain respectful and reflect upon the following: Here, before me, is my very own God being worshipped in a form different than that to which I am accustomed. Because of my different training and practices, I am unable to completely understand this foreign worship, but witnessing it gives me even more affection for my own beliefs and practices. God is one. I prostrate myself before this symbol of the divine that I see before me. I make obeisance to my Lord who is made manifest in this alternate form for my benefit and the benefit of others.”
—Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya-siksamrta, First Rainfall
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, August 2010, New Radha Kunda, Sweden, Lecture)
Devotional service is so powerful that it will always have an effect. Therefore, gradually devotional service will take over our lives – there is no doubt about it. We need not worry if this process will work for some but may not work for others or that WE may be the exception that it will not work for ME!
No, devotional service always works. As soon as one somehow or other connects to devotional service, one will be purified. Srila Prabhupada had great conviction in devotional service and he was ready to approach anyone and everyone. He did not consider who was qualified and who was not qualified to serve because he had strong faith that they will be purified.
It is due to the illusory energy where we think that we cannot overcome our challenges. Someone may have Rahu in their astrological chart and believe that Rahu is stronger than anything else! What rubbish; that is nonsense! Material considerations have nothing to do with bhakti.
Knowledge can increase our eagerness in devotional service. The more knowledge we develop about the potency of the Holy Name and the potency of devotional service, the more eager we will be to perform it, the more eager we will be to take advantage because then we realise it is possible.
The tendency is there to think, “I believe in Krsna consciousness, I believe in bhakti yoga, I believe that it is the truth but I don’t believe in myself. I know my limitations. I tried to follow the four regulative principles but I couldn’t do it; it is too difficult for me!”
This is a subtle form of faithlessness and totally missing the point! In the early stages of Krsna consciousness, we may not be able to follow the four regulative principles. That does not matter BUT we keep on trying. Prabhupada often said, “Failure is the pillar of success! Just how it is natural for a child to walk – it takes a certain amount of effort and in the beginning the child will fall and fall again and again but one day the child will walk!”
So, in the same way, in the beginning we may struggle, we may not be able to follow everything but still we must continue to be Krsna conscious!
The GBC, ISKCON’s ultimate managing authority, has officially removed Ramabhadra Dasa as president of the ISKCON Sri Sri Radha-Govinda Temple at 305 Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn.
While some ISKCON Rathayatras attract mostly an internal devotee audience, the recent 18th “Festival de la India” in the Central American country of Panama drew largely local Panamanians. Only 10% of the crowd in attendance were devotees, while 90% consisted of newcomers. Some were drawn by devotees’ appearance on TV program Tu Manana to promote the event.
Today’s mangala artik darshan in Vrindavan’s Sri Krsna Balaram mandir, 25th July 2017
Jaya Krsna Balarama!!!!!!
Family Fun Open day at Bhaktivedanta Manor, Hare Krishna Temple, organized by Krishna Wisdom (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/... 
Wonderful Harinama in St. Petersburg, Russia held on July 23, 2017! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is ... 
ISKCON Goshala at Myanmar got a new vehicle today.
Srila Prabhupada: We have to work sincerely, and because Krishna is in everyone’s heart, there will be no difficulty to have the necessary facilities. Letter to Satsvarupa, September 14, 1969.
ISKCON Detroit Rathyatra 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Our relationship with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is eterna... 
“We’re Never Alone” (4 min video)
I don’t like being alone because when I’m with myself alone maybe I’m not Krishna conscious. But if you like being alone and you feel Krishna conscious that’s really good because then you are good association for yourself.
Scientific Christian And Bhagavatam Conceptions of God (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam class by Chaitanya Charan Das, a monk, mentor and spiritual auth... Podcast
The post Morality may be relativized, but the consequences of immoral indulgence can’t be relativized Gita 03.17 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post Spiritualizing our relationships 5 – Focus more on our intentions than on others’ dispositions appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27 June 2012, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.1.3)
We must come to the stage of being fearless of death. We will become truly fearless of death only when we feel very sure in our relationship with Krsna. An element that causes anxiety in death is that we do not know our next destination. Even as a devotee who performs devotional service still, we do not know our destination for sure.
One may start thinking, “I didn’t do so well. I didn’t become that pure so it may be another birth and still, I’ll have karma…” and it just goes on and on into the unknown! So anxiety remains also for devotees; some insecurity is still there.
However, a devotee can become fearless of death, not so much by philosophical understanding that ‘I am not this body’ but by one’s relationship with Krsna.
The deeper we get into our relationship with Krsna, the devotee knows, “Krsna will protect me, surely there is no doubt about it! I’m always living with Krsna, always serving Krsna, always thinking of Krsna therefore there is no doubt Krsna will protect me.” In this way, one becomes fearless.
Harinama in Ukraine (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on one’s having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness, one attracts the attention of Krishna. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 4.71 purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/WYuQ9g
The post Daily Darshan July24,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
What makes us act selfishly?
Question: The caring attitude is pleasing to everyone, but generally the default attitude in this world is one always thinks selfishly. So is it an inbuilt script of the mind that makes one think selfishly?
Radhanath Swami: The false ego misconceives: “I am this body, I am this mind, I am the controller, I am the proprietor, and I am the selfish enjoyer.” This is foundational to all material complications. It impels us to put ourselves above others and act selfishly. And when we continue to act in that way it becomes a habit. According to how we habituate ourselves, by making those wrong choices, we become more and more engrained in that way of thinking.
Inhibitions about distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Question: How do we overcome the inhibitions about getting out there to distribute the books?
Vaisesika Prabhu: Okay; here’s the trick. The inhibition comes from your mind. The mind accepts and rejects. When we are in material life, the mind accepts and rejects based on what it thinks will bring the highest bodily pleasure. So your mind may tell you not to go out on book distribution because you won’t enjoy yourself and it will be hard, and somebody might say no and you’ll get all offended or you’ll feel low. Isn’t it? The mind is blocking you; otherwise you would just walk out the door and do it. So you have to trick your mind. It’s a kind of yoga. So this is what I do:
Say I am at home and I want to go out on book distribution but my mind is telling me not to go. So I make a deal with my mind and I say, “Okay, I’m not REALLY going to go out on book distribution. I am just going to PRETEND like I’m going on book distribution.”
Interview With Bijoy Krishna – a DJ From Amsterdam.
I really love Radhadesh Mellows, a kirtan festival in Radhadesh. That was the first time I met so many amazing and highly elevated people in one place. The vibes around me and people’s energy gave me new and unique experience. It felt like something was vibrating at the tip of my head (perhaps, a crown chakra?). Everything was so breathtaking! I also received a lot of inspiration during my visit to Pune. The devotees there impressed me a lot: they were so warm, hospitable, kind, and sympathetic. This is the best attitude one can ever experience!
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/9nivPV
Hindu Forum of Europe Meets in Lisbon, Portugal.
Several members of the Hindu Forum of Europe (HFE) met with leaders of the Hindu Community of P... 
Czech Padayatra 2017 (Album with photos)
Dharmatma Das: We had the fortune to spend three days on this wonderful event. Munipriya prabhu has organized this Padayatra for the last 28 years. A small but sweet group of dedicated devotees will spend close to a month spreading Lord Chaitanya’s mercy to many of the small towns and villages of Eastern Czech Republic. The goal this year is to distribute 10, 000 books. We distributed over 1600 in the first four days. Very impressed with the young devotees who are part of this program. Padayatra Ki Jaya!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/nR35Tk
Bhagavatam class (3.25.5).
Transcend!
Kadamba Kanana Swami: Sometimes in the course of life, in the course of duty, while interacting with the world, we have to adjust our dress and we cannot speak about Krsna. That is okay but we must understand that when we are forced to do it then we are under the protection of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But the danger is that we may get into a habit of it and then we may feel, “Why even bother,” and we rarely wear dhotis or sarees unless it is Janmastami or something that happens once a year. If we are transcendental then this is fine, but are we transcendental? Who is actually transcendental?
Sometimes when I am in the temple, I think that it’s wonderful to be in the temple. The temple is such a transcendental place where everything is transcendental and everyone is transcendental, EXCEPT ME! Yes, I do feel like that sometimes, I don’t know if you do also?
So if you feel like that sometimes, then you may feel that it is better to just take shelter of the external things, but if we do then we are risking a lot. It is dangerous and if you blow it in this life then you don’t know for how many births you have to stay in the material world. Well, if you want to stay, then stay but I’m not staying in this material world!
Meeting with guests.
