Conversation with Siddhartha dasa.

Program at Apollo Hospital: “A Spiritual Dimension to Medical Science”
Anadi Jagannath Das: On July 13th 2017, ISKCON Seshadripuram (Bangalore) conducted a program at the Apollo Hospital in Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore. The event was entitled “A Spiritual Dimension to Medical Science”, and the lecture was delivered by H.G. Devaki Mataji, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy at the same hospital. It was offered as a program of gratitude to all the staff that had nicely taken care of mataji during her treatment. What a better way to thank than sharing the spiritual dimension to medical science! Devaki mataji went to the hospital a few days before the program to individually invite the doctors, nurses and staff. She visited all the departments of the Hospital and distributed 600 invitation cards which had been specially printed for this program. In this way everyone was so charmed and obliged to come and participate in the program.

On Thursday, July 13th, the program was scheduled to start at 3pm in a training hall within the hospital. The hospital management was very supportive and provided us with everything required, and also attended the program. Local devotees also arrived to help with serving prasadam, welcoming guests and distributing books. By 3.05pm many doctors, nurses and medical staff had gathered, and all the 85 seats in the room were occupied. More people were arriving to stand just outside the door, trying to hear with great eagerness.

Devaki mataji began the session with a short and sweet kirtan. She then introduced herself (as a qualified physiotherapist who was trained in Germany, and now giving rehabilitation for the soul as a preacher) and expressed how essential it is for all people in the medical line to understand the science of the soul. This knowledge will immensely help doctors in treating and benefitting patients, especially those with terminal illnesses. She commented on BG.9.2 and boldly stated that a doctor will only be first class, if he adds this king of education to his life. Otherwise he will only be second class. Without a clear understanding of the science of the soul medical science tends to become inhuman. She also briefly explained what happens at the moment of death, and how important it is for medical personnel to help their patients prepare for this final challenge. Everyone listened very attentively, and after her speech many asked questions, to which Mataji presented good answers. Many of the people in the audience were Christian, and also some Muslims attended. Devaki Mataji presented the topics in a broad and expert way to include people from all religious backgrounds.

We concluded the program by all participants honoring prasadam: lemon-mint juice, tasty samosas, vegetable puffs, carob cookies and rich burfi.
Everyone received a brochure entitled “Prabhupada - the Messenger of God” and an invitation for Sri Krishna Janmastami .Some also purchased Srila Prabhupada’s books, kirtan CDs and japa beads. Some of them asked when the next program would take place. We request the prayers and blessings of the devotees to continue this hospital preaching.

The talk is available in https://youtu.be/d7yAQpHtS1o

The Exalted Bhakta-Bhagavata.
This publication, available in hard and soft bound, is a condensed version of HH Gaura Govinda Swami’s remarkable life.
To read it online click here: https://issuu.com/tvpbooks/docs/book_ebb/6

The overwhelming and overflowing passion of the Vaishnava heart (video)
Prahlada Maharaja’s mood. A Recent class of Vaisesika Prabhu in Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Yax1kF

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Our "Paramahamster" comic strip follows an enthusiastic devotee as he navigates a 9 - 5 work day in the corporate world. Please check back weekly for new episodes!

Yasomati Devi, a co-founder of Kirtan Academy in Mayapur, toured important states such as Delhi and Punjab, in North India to educate devotees about Gaudiya kirtan standards. She explained each standard and also engaged in kirtans with devotees.

We live in a world of bitter competition wherein our rivals sometimes become enemies bent on destroying us. Amidst such external hostility, it is easy to forget that worse than the worst outer enemies is the inner enemy of our own unguarded thoughts.

The devotees from the TOVP team are developing a project called FullDome. This project will be located on a small piece of land near Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi. Operation FullDome is a way to give any visiting guest to Sri Dham Mayapur an opportunity to experience the most unique immersive spiritual experience in a spiritual town.

The following is a mid-year video report for 2017 by Sadbhuja das on the progress of the external finishing work at the TOVP.

The post Mid-Year TOVP Update 2017 Video appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

ISKCON-London Radha-Krishna Temple Project Update: Beautifying Krishna’s Temple - Temple Facade Refurbishment (3 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/SjT9th

From Devouring to Honoring: Bhakti as Culinary Therapy.
Krishna Kshetra Swami’s notes for his lecture at the 9th European Farm Conference in Villa Vrindavan, Italy.
Introduction: Facing the problem of civilizational disease: how to present the bhakti paradigm as effective civilizational therapy. (Essentially: how to make “simple living and high thinking” intellectually attractive and plausible)
“Cowspiracy” – the big environmental protection organizations studiously avoid the issue of meat production.
(Same silence in the EAT Forum (Sweden) “How Food Can Save the World” article.)
One thing is clear – environmentalism is mainstream, and we can take advantage.
Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, “The Ethics of Eating Animals” conference.
“Reframing” traditional (Indian) thought and practice as therapy
( actually the therapeutic paradigm has an ancient pedigree in India)
presenting Dharma, Yoga, and their culmination in Bhakti
Dharma: “Establishing Moral Community: the Fivefold Sacrifice (pañca-yajña)”

Response to the condition of existential debt … (in five features: deva-ṛṇa, ṛṣī-ṛṇa, pitṛ-ṛṇa, nṛ-ṛṇa, and bhūta-ṛṇa)
… which is easy to perform (easy and straightforward compared to complex contemporary multinational capitalist consumer-based life)
… consisting of five “sacrifices” – five types of giving, which is truly global exchange.
The therapy: (1) quid pro quo exchange consciousness, >> (2) gratitude for goodwill and trust, inspiring goodwill and trustworthiness…
… thus establishing a “moral community of mutual trust and responsibility, mutual obligations, reciprocal acknowledgements of rights and duties and the general demand for inter-personal regard” (K. Stamm)that involves all beings, visible and invisible.
Implied metaphysics: behind all existence is a conscious principle.
Yoga: “Rehabilitation Through Yoga”

Metaphysical basics to understand Yoga’s transformative potential: puruṣa & prakṛti
The human condition as a diseased condition: PYS Ch. 1: vyādhi to samādhi.
aṣṭāṅga-yoga >> yama & niyama >> ahiṁsa … & pratyāhāra (in contrast to atyāhāra.)
… leading to shrinking and ideally erasing all forms of violence
Bhakti: “Curative Devotion”

So far: moral community and rehabituation, based on non-reductionist (all is matter and energy) metaphysics.
But neither of these practices – Dharma or Yoga – are going to be attractive to the vast majority of people.
Hence, the third option, bhakti, by which the trans-temporal self experiences relishable aesthetic relationship with its trans-temporal counterpart, the supreme self or over-soul (paramātmā).
Bhakti springs from the natural inclination of the self to be consequentially reformed to enable transcendent relationship.
patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ… & yat karoṣi yat aśnāsi…
These acts are deeply therapeutic, by bringing everyone quickly in ever deepening loving exchange in divine participation.
One’s own personhood fully unfolds, leading to realization of the common personhood of all beings…
… such that moral community expands out into devotional community in expanding spheres of compassion and care.
Still, who will do this? Therefore yad yad ācārati śreṣṭhas…
Concluding Reflections

How to connect these eastern thought traditions with the West?
Possible connection with a recent development in western ethical thought – the “ethics of care”.
But “Virtually all [traditional communities] are patriarchal” (Virginia Held).
Bhakti as a metaphysics of gender equality.
Bhakti as metaphysical grounding for ethics of care…
… such that people can let go of the eating habits, compulsions, which are destroying human civilization and the world.
viṣayā vinivartante…paraṁ dṛṣtvā nivartate: the change of attitude from devouring to honoring (of non-animal, sanctified food).
hence: saṁkīrtan yajña !! – as expansion of Dharma’s moral community, realization of Yoga, and fulfillment of Bhakti.

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Eleventh Canto - Chapter 31: The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (Spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī to King Parīkṣit). Arjuna took the survivors of the Yadu dynasty—the women, children and old men—to Indraprastha, where he installed Vajra as ruler of the Yadus. Hearing from Arjuna of the death of their friend, my dear King, your grandfathers established you as the maintainer of the dynasty and left to prepare for their departure from this world. Continue reading "Arjuna and the survivors of the Yadu dynasty
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Conversation with Gaura Krsna.

I have vivid memories of the many times my mother took my siblings and me to church the heartfelt gospel singing, the soul-stirring preaching, the supplications for lost souls to join the church. I remember the passing of the baskets to collect money to support the church and its many activities, and I recall well the song that generally accompanied these collections. Its famous, oft-sung lyrics still echo in my mind today: “You can’t beat God giving, no matter how you try. The more you give, the more He gives to you. Just keep on giving; you’ll find it’s really true.” Continue reading "The Challenges and Benefits of Charitable Giving
→ Dandavats"

Three Kinds Of Prayer.
At the first level, we cannot really see how fallen we are and that is God’s blessing. If we could honestly see all the sinful inclinations, offenses, and selfish motives of ours – we would become severely depressed. That is why Krishna shows us a distorting reflection of our mind, instead of showing us the reality. Although we do not usually see ourselves as saintly persons, we are usually confident that we are better than others, honest, humble, and austere. At this level, people normally are full of themselves. However, at the second level of devotion, we begin to soberly realize how many stupid things we have done, how many people we have offended, and how much selfishness, anger, and indifference is in us. This condition can be compared to that one of a pre-trial. Bhaktivinoda Thakur in Bhajana Rahasya gives an example of Yamunacharya’s Stotra-ratna prayers: “There is no single offense or sin that I have not participated in. The day has come when I am standing before You. The judgment day has come and I have no other refuge but You”. Prayer means to always appear before God. Thanks to the intensive spiritual practice, experience, and mercy – such a person is full of the desire to serve without any distractions.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/8D8H8m

A Most Attractive Way (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Our summer festival programs along the Baltic Sea coast in Poland introduce people to Krsna consciousness in a most attractive way; through large dramatical theatrical performances, dance, music, kirtan, delicious food, Srila Prabhupada’s books and many other attractions. Each evening we welcome an average of 3,000 people to experience the wonderful world of Krsna consciousness. Their appreciation is clearly seen on their smiling faces.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/y6fcjp

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