Planet ISKCON

Registration for Kartik Navadwip Mandala Parikrama 2017.
It is our great pleasure to announce ISKCON MAYAPUR’s 5th annual six-day Kartik Navadwip Mandal Parikrama during the most auspicious month of Kartik
(organized by the Mayapur Chandra’s). The Parikrama begins on October 18th and will end on October 25th, 2017.
There will be two days break, for Goverdhan puja (20th October) & Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance (23rd October) so that devotees can participate in the festivals.
For this year also, the parikrama will not stay overnight; we will leave each day from the ISKCON Mayapur campus at 5 AM and return no later than 5 PM. In order to give more time to chanting and hearing pastimes in the holy places, we have reduced some of the walking, and devotees will be transported faster to the various places via boat and vehicles.
Kartik is the most auspicious month to perform spiritual activities, and the weather is extremely pleasant and favorable, so please do not miss this opportunity to associate with the devotees, to hear and chant the glories of Lord Chaitanya, to bathe in the Ganges, and honor prasadam together in the various holy places.
For more information: https://goo.gl/pWUG2g

The Archbishop of Lebanon gets Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Pavitra Devi Dasi: I was on SKP at the L.A. airport back in 1980. I was at American Airlines terminal distributing books as travelers boarded and unboarded planes. I suddenly saw a procession coming off the plane and heading towards the escalators. It was a pope with a tall white type headpiece, all kinds of long robes on with beautiful large rosaries hanging on him. I knew right away he was very special because he was surrounded by many many followers and body guards. There was in front of him a man carrying a pillow upon his head with what I believe was either the Virgin Mary or a stature of Jesus. I didn’t think ahead. I barged threw everyone to reach this priest. I made it. I took a very humble and reverential pose and asked who he may be. He said he was the archbishop of Lebanon. He was really nice. I handed him a book and asked him to please give it a read. He agreed and asked if I would need to be paid. I said well, you may give if you like. To my surprise, he pulled up all his heavy floor length robes and huge rosaries hanging from his waist to reach some money under it all and gave me $5.00 which wasn’t bad back in 1980. He thanked me and I thanked him and off the procession went.

By Rachna Tyagi

So, what are the prerequisites to join them? “ISKCON is a calling. The person coming to ISKCON actually comes to serve Krishna. He wants to dedicate his life to Krishna,” says Das. As a student of structural engineering in IIT-Madras, he came across a book on Prabhupada at a library in IIT-Bombay. He says, “When I read that, I felt it was something that nobody had taught me. I was very inspired, especially after I finished reading the Bhagavad Gita. I felt this was what I should dedicate my life to. I then switched over to philosophy, did my master’s and got my doctorate on the topic,” says Das. Continue reading "ISKCON is more than people, communities, music, food and deity worship. It is a calling that asks you to keep Krishna at the centre of your life
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Radha Kunda Seva - June 2017 Photos and Updates (Album with photos)
Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra cart passed through Radha Kunda this month and we took the opportunity to offer Him halava, fruit and garlands. The heat was oppressive and difficult as it usually is this time of year, but the parikrama path was as crowded as ever on Purnima day (June 10th) and pilgrims were grateful for some chenna prasada. The garden at Sakhi Kunda is lush and beautiful and clear, sweet water is still flowing at the kunda despite many challenges with people over-using and breaking the pump. We are feeding the Radha Kunda widows and cleaning daily thanks to your continued support. Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com. Your servants, Campakalata Devi dasi, Padma Gopi Devi dasi, Sri Arjuna dasa, Urmila Devi Dasi, and Mayapurcandra dasa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/H3b2dJ

“Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts”

– Buddha

 

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. Whereas our enemies do hurtful things to us, our thoughts can make us do far more hurtful things to ourselves.

For example, many people nowadays are afflicted by a tragic tendency to sabotage themselves. Just when they are about to achieve their biggest success, they irrationally do something that turns their dream into a nightmare. We often see this vividly in the world of sports. In a cricket match, a player who is playing the finest knock of their lives suddenly plays a rash shot and gets out, thus triggering a collapse by which the team snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. If that match was a tournament final, that player is left with regrets that haunt for a lifetime.

And what happens in sports reflects what happens in people’s lives. People who are on the path to financial security suddenly make a stupid investment that destroys their reputation, their credibility, their career, their relationships and maybe even their life. People with a steady, happy family suddenly get into an affair that rips their family apart and devastates the lives of everyone involved. And if people in positions of public leadership engage in such acts of self-sabotage, they end up hurting not just themselves or their immediate circle of people, but hundreds, thousands or even millions.

How can we protect ourselves from being sabotaged by our thoughts? To be forewarned is to be forearmed. We can get the necessary forewarning by studying spiritual wisdom-texts such as the Bhagavad-gita that illumine our inner world. With spiritual knowledge, we become aware of the potential dangerousness of our thoughts and our disconcerting vulnerability to them.

Gita wisdom also equips us to protect ourselves by becoming vigilant and diligent. Vigilance means that we cultivate inner awareness and become alert to the kind of thoughts that are entering into our consciousness and especially the kind of thoughts that we are entertaining. Diligence means that we keep ourselves constructively engaged in positive uplifting activities that don’t leave us with time or mental space to dwell on stray thoughts. Even if such thoughts somehow creep in, diligence also means that we untiringly, unflinchingly, unsentimentally crowd them out by focusing on something positive.

Bhakti-yoga offers us the most positive object for focus: the all-powerful, all pure Absolute. Though a meditational connection with the Absolute, we become recipients of a descending power of deeper insight and higher taste. Being thus empowered, we can overcome our deep-rooted self-sabotaging tendency and nurture our latent capacity for self-actualization, for becoming the best that we can be.

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By Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Swami

So the more we will clear ourselves and dip ourselves into this process of sadhana-bhakti, which is the bhakti-lata-bija, then the more our greediness and our possessiveness for Krishna will grow. And when we're possessive that we just can't live without having Krishna, when we get to the point when we don't want anything else in life, that we just want Krishna and nothing else, then that's called pure devotion. And when our devotion becomes purified, and that type of devotion is burning inside of our hearts, then Lord Krishna He cannot resist that, and Lord Krishna gives His mercy. And His mercy is called "vishuddha-sattva". It means His whole internal potency from the spiritual world, He just sends it down and it touches our hearts. Continue reading "“Practice makes perfect”
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Radhanath Swami and Syamasundara das in Ringo Starr’s celebration (2 min video)
Ringo Starr turns 77, hosts annual Peace and Love celebration in Hollywood surrounded by friends and family.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/QGA7Ub

Lucy got the mercy!
Vijaya Dasa: While in Alachua, I gave a Bhagavatam class about book distribution. A Vaishnavi, Guru Prasad devi dasi, commented on an experience she had distributing books.
She was distributing at Dallas airport without much success, but she was still happily approaching people.

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By Vijay Krsna Kumar Das

Scholars and academicians from various parts of the country and abroad converged at the Kalina campus of Mumbai University to participate in a first of its kind International conference on the topic “Relevance, Role and Resurgence of Vaishnavism studies in 21^st century.” Jointly organized by the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center of ISKCON and Shree Halari Oswal College, the conference witnessed participation of more than 200 students, scholars and administrators from the field of academia. Honorable Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University, Dr. Sanjay Deshmukh and several other dignitaries like Dr Satish Modh, Director of Vivekanand Institute of Management Studies, Mrs Maya Shahani, Chairperson at Thadomal Shahani Centre for Management, Dr. Chandrakant Puri, a Chair Professor at Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Contemporary Studies, HG Gauranga Das from ISKCON Mumbai inaugurated the conference by lighting the lamps. It was followed by Sarasvati Vandana and the University Anthem. Continue reading "Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center organizes an International conference on Vaishnavism at Mumbai University
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Jayadev’s Virtual Mantra Choir performs ‘MAHAPRABHU’ (13 min video)
Performance of “Mahaprabhu” with over 400 musicians, singers and dancers from all around the World.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/t9g2Gc

  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 […]

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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

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[Youth meeting at Vrindavan BACE, Nasik, India]

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