Websites from the ISKCON Universe
BY HRIMAN KRISHNA Ever heard a hothead yell cuss words at a bad driver? Is your amped-up evangelist a target for the middle finger? Or maybe you were brown-eyed by bare buttocks while strolling the beach? Whatever the provocation, you probably cannot count the number of times you had to exercise a little tolerance […]
The post Age of Intolerance – The ability to tolerate is the measure of true greatness. appeared first on The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland.
This morning I read a posting by Vijaya Dasa, ISKCON’s Minister of Book Distribution, in which he relates an interesting encounter he had heard described after one of his classes:
When in Alachua I gave a Bhagavatam class about book distribution, a Vaishnavi, Guru Prasad dasi, commented on an experience she had had distributing books.
She was distributing at the Dallas airport without much success, but she was still happily approaching people.
A lady sitting nearby was watching and finally walked up to her and asked what she was doing. This lady was shown the books, and she was surprised that people were not interested, because they appeared to be nice books.
She said, “I’ll take one.” She told her husband to give a donation. He gave two hundred dollars.
Guru Prasad was surprised and asked the couple, “Can I give you more books?”
They said, “Okay, give us what you have.”
She then gave them a stack of books. And the man gave her even more lakshmi, adding up to $500.
Guru Prasad usually signs the books and also writes the name of the person receiving the books.
She asked the name of the lady, and the lady responded, “Lucille Ball.” The devotee wrote the name, like she would any name.
Then Lucille asked, “Do you know who I am?”
“No, should I?”
“You never saw my TV show, I Love Lucy”?
“No, I’m from Guayana.”
“Okay, that explains it.”
Then she and her husband went on their happy way with Prabhupada’s books. . . . She was one of the most famous actresses and comediennes on American TV, and the first female to run a major Hollywood studio. This incident happened many years ago.
Lucille Ball passed on in 1989, but not without having given a large donation and gotten Srila Prabhupada’s books. That made a big difference for her next life.
The post Daily Darshan: July 8th, 2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
The Russian Kalash installation team has now completed three Kalashes on the Chatris and is currently working on the Main Dome/Planetarium Kalash.
Alongside the installation of the Kalashes onto the Domes and Chatris, laying of the blue tiles also continues simultaneously. In the photos you can also view the GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) ‘ribs’ being placed onto the Main Dome.
The post Dome and Chatri Kalash Installation and Tiling Continues appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On July 2nd while driving to Split in Croatia the Harinama Mandir, a European traveling sankirtan party's bus suddenly started to loose the speed and right away stopped. Devotees heroically pullled and pushed the bus to a nearby town, creating quite a site to the passerbyes.
On July 2nd, while driving to Split in Croatia the Harinama Mandir, a European traveling sankirtan party's bus suddenly started to loose the speed and right away stopped. Devotees heroically pullled and pushed the bus to a nearby town, creating quite a site to the passerbyes.
Why an Isopanisad went out to a young man. I heard this nice story from Sutapa Prabhu (Bhaktivedanta Manor).
-Vijaya
Bhakta Ruben approached four young men and offered them an Isopanisad. They all returned the book except for one of them, who said he’d give a donation.
As he looked in his wallet, Ruben looked on and saw a piece of paper that had the word “Isopanisad” written on it.
Ruben said, “Look at the name on the piece of paper and look at the title of the book.”
The young man said, "Wow! It’s the same name.”
Ruben asked him, “Why do you have the name of this book in your wallet?“
He responded, “A few weeks ago I was with some friends at a shop in Amsterdam when I saw a monk. I walked over to talk to him, and during our conversation, he suggested I read this book. So I asked him to write it down. This is what he wrote, and now you’re offering it to me. That’s amazing.”
He enthusiastically gave a donation in anticipation of reading the book he was looking for.
Bhakta Ruben then said to him, “You see, there is a God.”
To which he responded, “Yes, I think you’re right.”
* * *
My comment: Srila Prabhupada says in a purport that “as one engages in devotional service, one enters into the mysterious region of transcendence.“ This is especially true about the service of book distribution. Again and again, we hear of experiences that aren’t just coincidences. Krsna’s hand is involved, and it’s nice to see Him in this way.
Vijaya Dasa
Gopa Kumar describes Vaikunthaloka by Romapada Swami.
Summary: During this past weekend a number of devotees participated in a Retreat at our Gita Nagari farm, part of which was hearing from “Sri Brhat-bhagavatamrta” by Sanatana Goswami. Gopa Kumara had entered into Vaikuntha on a Vaikuntha airship, by the blessings of Lord Siva and others, and was relating his experiences there to another. The splendor of the Vaikuntha realm was so amazing to Gopa Kumara, who explained that even metaphors indicating it’s magnificence were grossly inadequate. He explains in Chapter 4 Text 51: “Except by direct experience, no one can rightly understand Vaikuntha. No more than this can I accurately describe. Nonetheless, his well-wishes for his student, the Mathura Brahmana, include his becoming inspired to attain that direct experience. However, that demands prior discipline and austerity (see below). Thus, Gopa Kumar gives the gist of his experience what quality the Vaikuntha realm represents, as an *inspiration* to undergo needed discipline to reach there. May you also become inspired to reach Vaikuntha, and to be prepared to sacrifice whatever it takes to get there!
Reading Assignment
"Sri Brhat-bhagavatamrta” by Sanatana Goswami a) Part 2, Chapter 4, Text 51, b) Texts 53-54
a) Sri Brhat-bhagavatamrta Part 2, Chapter 4, Texts 51
Commentary: A condition soul may discover the transcendental world of Vaikuntha, but only if he sees that higher reality for himself. By hearing from someone who has seen Vaikuntha one may gain only a glimmer of understanding. Nonetheless, when a devotee aspiring for the Lord’s service hears the pure instructions of his self-realized spiritual master and faithfully practices the disciplines such a guru recommends, the devotee gradually becomes pure in heart. And when his faith sufficiently matures, he can see the spiritual world. Only by that direct perception does knowledge become perfect. Casual hearing, even from those who have seen the truth, is not enough. One must become a disciple of such an authority and accept the disciplines that lead to self-realization.
b) Sri Brhat-bhagavatamrta Part 2, Chapter 4, Texts 53-54
Translation Those who are self-satisfied, fulfilled in all desires, and free from all material concerns, who have renounced everything they know and possess, who have associated with Vaisnavas and have acquired the power to discern between the essential and the nonessential — it is they who can enter the path of devotional service. When I went to Vaikuntha, that is what I vividly saw.
Commentary Even though Gopa-kumara’s student has been told that only direct perception can give him true understanding of the nature of Vaikuntha, he may still be anxious to have some other means to gain the special faith which the discipline of bhakti-yoga demands. Anticipating that anxiety, Gopa-kumara here describes the logic by which one can know theoretically the superexcellent happiness of Vaikuntha. Advanced mystics who have realized the Supreme Truth in its impersonal aspect sometimes abandon the happiness of Brahman for the opportunity to realize Vaikuntha. They leave aside both their knowledge and their perfectly developed realizations to enter the path of devotional service. Once they experience the bliss of Vaikuntha life, they condemn what they formerly considered happiness in impersonal realization. This is evidence of the wonder of Vaikuntha.
Your Fear Indicates Your Wealth (5 min video)
Where you fear to go is the place your wealth lies!
I think one of the great sufferings of life, of the great anxieties, is to know there’s something that we should be doing but to be handicapped by fear and we don’t do it and then have to live with this, with this reality of our lives of not doing what we should be doing…
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/mLMNWv
VIDEO: CANADA DAY HARINAMA (OUTDOOR CHANTING)
On Saturday, July 1, 2017 the entire country was celebrating the 150th birthday of Canada! The Hare Krishna Temple did it’s own version of celebrations by having an amazing harinama (outdoor chanting) right in downtown. Dressed in Canadian red and white colours, the smiling devotees brought music, dance and joy to the streets of Toronto!
Special thanks to Sathi Prabhu for capturing the event! Check out the video: https://goo.gl/ZvZZDA
Answer Podcast
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[Youth meeting at Vrindavan BACE, Nasik, India]
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Bhakti Rasamrita Swami - Overcoming Fear & Insecurity (video)
Don’t tell Krishna how big your problem is, tell your problem how big Krishna is!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/7ZVCwz
The post Daily Darshan: 07 July,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
By Ravindra Svarupa Das Srimad-Bhagavatam Eleventh Canto Chapter 31: The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Dāruka delivered the account of the total destruction of the Vṛṣṇis, and upon hearing this, O Parīkṣit, the people became deeply distraught in their hearts and stunned with sorrow. Feeling the overwhelming pain of separation from Kṛṣṇa, they struck their own faces while hurrying to the place where their relatives lay dead. Continue reading "The Disappearance of Lord Sri Krishna
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Bhaktivedanta Manor’s initiative “The guest is equivalent to God” (2 min video)
It is important for the host to receive the guest with warmth and provide all the possible comfort he can afford to. “Guest should not leave the place of the host dissatisfied,” elders say so in the view of giving good hospitality.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/rKmUXC
By Anantashesh Das Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura instructed Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to establish scriptural learning in Mayapur. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura worked out a detailed tenfold curriculum of study of all of the major writings of the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya to be taught here. It is based on this curriculum that Srila Prabhupada presented his Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhava, Bhakti-vedanta and Bhakti-sarvabhauma courses. Continue reading "Grand Inauguration of the Mayapur Institute Campus
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Summer Krishna (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: For many people, summertime means vacation time, but for Krsna’s devotees it’s an opportunity to go out and share with the public the wonderful world of Krsna consciousness through chanting the holy names, dancing in ecstasy and holding festivals. Here on the Baltic Sea coast in Poland, we go on Harinam daily, rain or shine, throughout July and August. The blissful result is that each evening thousands of people flock to our festivals. Summer Krsna!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/yGp767
For decades, Bada Hari has been singing kirtan, teaching others, and mentoring young devotees. And for the past five years, he has been touring non-stop with Indradyumna Swami, averaging 13 countries a year and trying to serve people by connecting them with the Holy Name. Listeners say all this experience, service attitude and austerity can be felt in what some are calling “his finest work to date.”
The sannyasa ashram, or renounced order, is extremely influential in ISKCON. A high percentage of the society’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) members are sannyasis; while the majority of ISKCON’s initiating gurus are too. Yet a large proportion have fallen by the wayside over the years, struggling to maintain their monastic vows. In his new book Yadunandana Swami takes an uprecedently honest look at these challenges.
In the book The Seventh Goswami, a biography of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura , it is stated that Thakura Bhaktivinoda prayerfully invoked the Lord, and expressed his heartfelt desire, “When will that day come when the fair-skinned foreigners will come to Sri Mayapur-dhama and join with the Bengali Vaisnavas to chant ‘Jaya Sacinandana, Jaya Sacinandana!’ … […]
The post Russia Comes to Mayapur appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Ratha Yatra 2017 - ISKCON Mayapur (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one hears a person say even once the word “Krishna” that person should be accepted as the best man out of the common group. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 15, 106)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/BSb4gG
'The 5 Drop Formula For Restoring Healthy Relationships' by ISKCON's leading relationship experts Vimala Devi Dasi & Jaya Sila Dasa.
Bhagavata Pradipika, a free monthly e-magazine on the Srimad Bhagavatam, is an initiative of the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha, Govardhan Eco-village, to share the unparalleled wisdom of the Bhagavatam with the whole world. Each issue of the Bhagavata Pradipika contains illuminating perspectives and principles of practical application on a pertinent theme of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
When an instructional point is conveyed in a straightforward way, people frequently dismiss it as, “Same old moralizing.” But when that point is made using humor or sarcasm, it registers far more strongly, deeply and possibly transformationally.
Check out the Facebook page of two Vaishnavi girls, who have just started a facebook page so people can more easily direct message to them with questions about the philosophy. They will post other videos and articles that relate to Krishna consciousness, which those developing an interest in the philosophy will hopefully find interesting! : https://www.facebook.com/ThoseHareKrishnas/
For many people summertime means vacation time, but for Krishna’s devotees it’s an opportunity to go out and share with the public the wonderful world of Krishna-consciousness through chanting the holy names, dancing in ecstasy and holding festivals. On the Baltic Sea coast in Poland Indradyuma Swami and his enthousiastic group go on harinam daily, rain or shine, throughout July and August. The blissful result is that each evening thousands of people flock to the festivals.
Harinam Mandir’s bus broken. Please help!
On July 2nd while driving to Split in Croatia our bus suddenly started to loose the speed and right away stopped. Later in the service, we found out it was the problem with the clutch. It was completely broken. Our Harinama Sankirtana group at the moment got stuck in Split and can’t move forward to make Harinamas in other cities. We would like to ask you to help us financially to repair our bus and this way contribute in Sankirtana mission in Europe. All together repair, towing and new clutch cost about 3000 euros. We are grateful for any help.
More information about us:
https://www.facebook.com/harinammandir
http://www.harinammandir.com
Account name: Nomen sancti monasterii
Account number: LT777044060008051652
Bank name: AB SEB bankas
Bank code: 112021238
Address: Paltininkų k. Kaišiadorių r. sav. Lietuva
SWIFT (BIC): CBVILT2X
Videos: https://goo.gl/VSUdTk
and https://goo.gl/4k5MAZ
Sankirtan Weekend Warriors (Album with photos)
A very special Sankirtana with a very special guest HG Vaisesika Dasa in Central London.
Find the... (Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 June 2013, Vrindavan, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.34)
Ultimately, the mercy of Mahaprabhu is what we are hoping for but only after we have given our everything – NOT BEFORE and NOT while lying on our back saying, “Oh, I really hope for the mercy of Mahaprabhu.” Not like that but instead, after we have given our everything and we have reached our limits by trying hard and when we reached our limit, that is when we start praying! When we have tried everything to conquer the unconquerable Krsna then miracles can happen by mercy.
By Ananta Gauranga Das When Alexander the Great lead his men through the Gedrosian Desert, the loss of life was colossal. He sent phalanxes of his army in search of water. After many hours they came back with just enough to fill a helmet. The parched army handed over the precious liquid to their commander. He clasped the helmet in both hands and to the dismay of his troops, poured its contents onto the sand. Alexander proclaimed, “If the men don't drink, then I don't drink”. This selfless act forever forged an impenetrable bond between the commander-in-chief and his men. He inspired them to live and die for him, not by what he said, rather, by what he did. Continue reading "Leaders Like Salt
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