Pada yatra 2017 in Tapolca and Keszthely, Hungary (Album with…
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Páda yátra 2017 in Tapolca and Keszthely, Hungary (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: As far as possible, therefore, the devotees in the Krishna consciousness movement gather to chant the holy name of Krishna in public so that both the chanters and the listeners may benefit. (Sri-Caitanya-Caritamrta, Antya-lila 1.101)
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The relief of turning away from the social mirror
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How pleasant is the day when we give up striving to be young – or slender.

 –  William James

While navigating through life’s inevitable challenges, we often increase our burdens by uncritically accepting prevailing definitions of success as our life’s goals. One incessantly glamorized success-definer is an ideal figure, which nowadays means a young, slender figure.

Of course, we need to be healthy, and we would like to look good. But when looking good becomes an obsession, we subject ourselves to unnecessary torment. We adopt dubious dieting fads, swallow ‘fat-cutting’ magic pills and potions or undergo extreme exercise routines. Our mood goes up and down in inverse proportion to the reading on our weighing machine. Obsession with the ideal figure sentences us to hours and years of agitation and dissatisfaction.

To prevent such torment, we need to protect our self-conception from becoming distorted by the social mirror. After all, the social mirror is fickle – what figure is considered ideal varies according to cultural and historical conceptions of beauty. Not many generations ago, several parts of the world considered a moderately plump figure attractive, for it indicated prosperity; a thin figure indicated poverty and was considered not so-attractive.

Someone may argue, “But today’s social mirror is what matters for me.” Yes, and we can work to improve our figure as needed. But we needn’t let it become an obsession. We need the confidence that we are at our core far better than the reflection shown by the social mirror.

Such confidence comes naturally when we cultivate spiritual knowledge. Wisdom-texts such as the Bhagavad-gita explain that we are eternal souls, different from our physical bodies. As we are eternal parts of the all-attractive whole, God, Krishna, we partake of the attractiveness of the whole. Presently, we can seek to increase our attractiveness in two ways – by working outwards to improve our looks or by working inwards to excavate our soul’s attractiveness. Working outwards gives at best ephemeral results. Bodily looks come with an expiry date, which can’t be extended much. In a materialistic culture, old people are frequently considered unattractive, unwelcome and unworthy. Hence, the fervent attempts of many senior citizens to look younger using hair-dyes and face-lifts. But it doesn’t work – even with the best of technology, the body’s degeneration remains unstoppable.

In contrast, working inwards to manifest our soul’s attractiveness yields enduring results. Recognizing that we are souls and that our bodies are our vehicles, we focus less on how the vehicle looks and more on where we are going with the vehicle. When we live with spiritual purpose, we find inner contentment through our fulfilling inner connection with Krishna. Whatever our looks or age, spiritual knowledge paves our way to inner security and satisfaction. Thus breaking free from the compulsion to look good in the social mirror, we feel liberated – liberated to be ourselves. The Bhagavad-gita (13.10) indicates that knowledgeable people refuse to get carried away by the opinions of the masses.

When we accept ourselves for what we are, we get enormous relief. We stop wasting our mental energy obsessing over our looks – not that we become negligent about how we look, but that we become confident about who we are.

Our spiritual self-confidence manifests in our conduct; we radiate the natural comfort and joy that comes from self-acceptance. Such comfort and joy, even if not glamorous or eye-catching, carry a charm that attracts the hearts of those who come close to us. And because this charm is not a show, but expresses our substance, it is sustainable. Naturally, relationships formed on the basis of our substance, not our appearance, are more real, more enduring and more fulfilling.

 

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Iskcon Zagreb’s sankirtan festival (Album with photos)…
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Iskcon Zagreb’s sankirtan festival (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna movement is present in every millennium of Lord Brahma’s life, and the holy name is chanted in all the higher planetary systems, including Brahmaloka and Candraloka, not to speak of Gandharvaloka and Apsaroloka. The sankirtana movement that was started in this world five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is therefore not a new movement. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 2.7.15 Purport)
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Is it easier to go from aversion to renunciation than from attachment to renunciation?
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Podcast

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For preaching, is it enough to simply hear classes of senior devotees and repeat?
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Podcast

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As science fiction movies show robots with emotions, can’t scientific progress imbue robots with consciousness?
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Podcast

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The Gopis: An Ambrosial Dance Crew or Something More?
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Hare KrishnaBy Venu Gopal Das

The consciousness of the gopis is exemplary.The entire day they think of how to serve Krishna. Their minds are not focused on material desires or selfish delusions. When they meet amongst each other, instead of going on about themselves, they constantly glorify the Lord and teach His message without discrimination. These are indicators of those who have surrendered themselves to God. Their actions, thoughts and words are never independent of the Lord. Continue reading "The Gopis: An Ambrosial Dance Crew or Something More?
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Chosen for a Purpose
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Hare KrishnaBy Nikunja Vilasini Dasi

Nick Vujicic was born without arms and legs. “Why me?” he always asked until he discovered that God had chosen him for a purpose. Because of his disability, he was able to reach out to people and give them courage. Nick’s zest for life and faith in God’s will drove him to learn to swim, surf, travel the world, and do things that even able-bodied people fail to do. He touched people with his conviction that God loves us unconditionally and that whatever He does is for our highest good. He exemplified that faith in God should not depend on what He dishes out for us; rather we should see His higher plan at work. Sometimes adversities make us question God’s love and His presence in our lives. We become weak to face the storms in a positive spirit. But Nick took strength from God. The more he took shelter of Him, the more he could see God’s purpose unfold. Continue reading "Chosen for a Purpose
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Saturday, July 15th, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario

Destroy What’s Bad

Due to the extensive flooding that occurred on the Toronto Islands, the usual location of the annual Festival of Chariots / India, a new venue was secured.  Next to Sugar Beach at the city’s waterfront in a new condo district.  Not yet occupied as a residential area, the space was available to our organizers.  Out east here, there have been record-breaking watery days.  The earth and the weather are going through incredible changes.

The procession went well but for a few glitches with sound.  This walk, combined with stage, display units, boutique and more, make up the festival—a party of a unique kind, free from booze.

Regarding make-up, our young men from the youth bus tour had their first crack at eye accentuation.  I told them that the stage lights wash out your face.  “Certain areas of the face need to be defined.”

At age ten to sixteen, you are going to get some abrasive reactions in the beginning.  But they surrendered, and in terms of performance and what was an actual dress rehearsal, they scored well.  Raj, who played Krishna, is a natural.  Rakta, he is a good build but needs to develop those emotional elements for the role of Arjuna.

With time, all will come together.  In fact, the script for “The Gita” includes the famous, profound line, “Time I am, destroyer of what is bad (the Kauravas).”

Through devotional service, all that’s inauspicious will be dissolved in the message of “The Gita.”

May the Source be with you!

6 km

People of character
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2010, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture)

If I think of what I would desire to achieve, it is to become a strong individual – strong in integrity, strong in character, to be someone who lives by his word, to be someone who embraces principles regardless of whether it brings me gain or loss, comfort or distress.

This is what I would like to be and that is what I would like to transmit to all of my disciples. I would like my disciples to be people who live by principles, who live by their word regardless of the situation, who can recognise that the illusory energy is strong but who remains an observer of themselves and who are not just going to fall prey to their mind and senses, but who will say, “No!”

For this, one needs to be strong in knowledge. Knowledge is not just a matter of parroting. It is a matter of hearing, assimilating and thinking.

Sometimes, I give the example of you are not this body; you are an eternal spirit soul. It is a nice slogan for on a T-shirt. But, one can also ask, “If I’m not this body, then what are the consequences?” And the consequences are many. One has to think it through in Krsna consciousness. Just as, “We are the eternal servants of Krsna!” What are the consequences of this? That no matter what happens; we are the eternal servants of Krsna. Nothing in the world can ever change that! This is very important for me; this is one of my meditations.

A lot of my Krsna consciousness comes from thinking about things. Not just hearing and reading Srimad Bhagavatam but thinking about it, “What does this mean for me? What are the consequences of what I’m reading here?” and this kind of thinking process can eventually make us what Srila Prabhupada phrased as INDEPENDENTLY THOUGHTFUL. This means a lot to me. I am looking for people who deeply think about what are they doing with their lives and why are they doing it! People who live very consciously and in this way become strong in their own conviction and independently thoughtful, and I would be glad to add to it!

Something I learnt from Tamal Krishna Maharaj, by observing him, is that the duty of the spiritual master, the principle duty of the spiritual master is to give people a greater vision for themselves than what they came up with on their own! I want disciples who have a vision about their life, who know where they are going and what they are trying to achieve in this life!

Causal Causes Causalty
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The message runs through loud and clear – a casual approach will inevitably cause casualties. We’ve witnessed it in catastrophes of the past, we’re witnessing it now and if we look closely, we’ll witness this principle constantly playing out in our own life.

Indian Parliament’s Speaker Visits ISKCON Moscow
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On July 10th, an official delegation of the Parliament of India visited ISKCON’s Sri Sri Dayal Nitai Sacisuta temple in Moscow. The delegation was led by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. She has arrived in Russia on a five-day visit to address the Russian Parliament Duma on July 12. Among other guests of the ISKCON temple were actress and MP Hema Malini, India's Ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran, as well as other deputees from different Indian states and representatives of the Russian Duma. 

Hindu Forum of Europe Meets in Lisbon, Portugal
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Several members of the Hindu Forum of Europe (HFE) met with leaders of the Hindu Community of Portugal on 23rd of June 2017 at a hall offered by the City of Lisbon. Mahaprabhu dasa, General Secretary made a presentation of the work of HFE and how it is important for Hindu Communities in different countries in Europe to create platforms to represent them to the government, media and religious leaders.

Appeal for Service to Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi Mandir in Vrindavan
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Hare KrishnaBy Parvati devi dasi

This is an appeal for your help for Prabhupada's Vrndavana Samadhi Project. This year, somehow the donation level has fallen below normal. For the first time in 17 years, I had to break a small Fixed Deposit to put in the working account. More than that, we must re-seal the dome after 25 monsoons, to ensure no leaking or concomitant structural damage. Removing the grouting on all the dome tiles from top to bottom to maintain the waterproofing, then applying the clear silicon coating so the moisture cannot come through the marble, will cost at least Rs. 5 laks or $7500. This year, we found 3 leaks in the dome, which we sealed up immediately. It is urgent we begin the work without delay to protect the whole dome. Best would be if there were some forthcoming donations. But at this point, the work cannot wait. Prabhupada's Samadhi needs extra funding on an ordinary basis, but this work is the first order. I need help to cover at least our present crisis now. Therefore I am requesting your help to find donors for this Samadhi work. Though it is an urgent situation, I prefer not to dip into the Samadhi Maintenance Fund if I don't have to. Thank you for your kind consideration. Continue reading "Appeal for Service to Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi Mandir in Vrindavan
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Friday, July 14th, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario

All Nice

Walking for me usually means encountering niceties.  Today’s jaunt—if I could call it that—was along posh Bloor and then a portion of Yonge, a run-of-the-mill section, to reach ‘Theatrics Plus,’ a shop for dress up and theatre goods.  There, I picked out some accessories for our upcoming drama.  The owner was so nice, she just said, “Here, they are yours.  No charge.  Oh, and here’s a bag of packed incense if you’d like.”

I went away from the shop being quite the ‘happy chappy’.

I took a route through fancy Yorkville where they have this transplanted, reformulated Muskoka rock, a touch of the north.  From the top if this attraction descended a young man, Christian, who identified himself as a Vedic person.  “Where can I find you guys?” he asked, while in the middle of eating a delicious wrap.  He was thrilled to know we have an ashram / temple nearby. 

“Come to our Govinda’s.  Also, a twelve hour kirtan is going on right now.”

I thought it was great that someone went out of their way to connect and inquire. And there was a second person who came after me with a similar enthusiasm.  Alexandra crossed over the street, with her exquisite pet dog, to my side of the walkway.  She told me she had recently met the hugging guru (Amma) and that her friend mentioned something about an exciting event happening at the Krishna temple.

“Yes, we have some popular kirtaniyas, musicians, who chant, drum and get everyone to transform through this ancient method.”

“I’m going to make it and try out your food.”

I tried to make Alexandra as welcome as possible.  This is what I learned from my guru, Srila Prabhupada.

May the Source be with you!

7 km


Hare Krishna Festivals UK – Dalston, Hackney Harinam – 15th July…
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Hare Krishna Festivals UK - Dalston, Hackney Harinam - 15th July 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that since His spiritual master ordered Him only to chant the holy name of Krishna, He always chanted the Hare Krishna maha-mantra according to this direction (“krsna-mantra” japa sada—ei mantra-sara). (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.72 Purport)
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After practicing bhakti for many years, our enthusiasm goes down and we just go through the motions – how can we know whether we are actually going towards Krishna?
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Suppose Krishna desires me to win a race, but I decide to not participate – what happens?
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In the spiritual world, can we act entirely freely without being controlled by our nature?
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