Planet ISKCON

World champion athlete from Russia becomes a devotee (Album with photos)
Olga Yaremenko (now Kamalekkha Priya Devi Dasi) is an ...

Answer Podcast

The post If our actions unintentionally hurt others, will we get the reaction? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post When money provides all comforts, why is spiritual life needed? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post Amidst today’s financial insecurity, how can we decide how much accumulation is enough? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post When bhakti practice hasn’t yet changed our disposition, how can we take sound decisions? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

 

Transcription :

Transcriber: Suresh Gupta

Question: If someone puts in the same efforts as me but gets better results, how to avoid envy?

Answer: All of us are on a multi life-time journey where actions and results are not simply a linear connection. We see that a particular action done by us leads to a particular result and when someone else does the same action, it produces different result. Although causes and effects are connected, the connection between cause and effects is not simply linear or a one-to-one correspondence. For example, two farmers living in different part of the country may individually do the same action of sowing seeds, ploughing their land but if it rains only in one part of the country and not in the other part then the place where it rained, the farmer will get lots of harvest and the other place where it did not rain, the farmer may not get any harvest.
In Sanskrit, all these factors are described as karma (action), daiva (destiny), kaala (time) and phalah (fruit). We perform karma (action) to produce phalah (fruit) but actually there are two more factors involved: daiva and kaala. So, the entire equation is karma + daiva + kaala together lead to phalah. In this case, the karma is the farmer ploughing the land, sowing the seeds; daiva is the rains coming; kaala is the passage of time until the harvesting season and finally it leads to phalah.

Whenever we do any action, we need to understand that they alone do not determine the results. Our actions do play an important role – the farmer has to plough the land, sow the seeds but that alone does not bring the result. Sometimes, we may go through a phase when the daiva or the destiny is not favourable and because of that, even after doing the work, result does not come. If we look back at our life, we will remember situations where although we had put in small efforts, still we got a good result. Along with our hard work, many things would have fell right in place (e.g. we might have found the right contact, a particular thing happened on time etc.). The results achieved require not just our good performance but also other things. Thus, daiva is an accumulated sum total of the karma that we have done in the past.

When we do not get the results, it means that karma is not leading to phalah because daiva is not favourable. Daiva is like weather – sometimes cold, sometimes hot. It is not that daiva will always be unfavourable. One must learn to tolerate such events and be patient. There is no need to be envious of others because everybody has done a mix of good and bad karmas. With this understanding, we would not deem ourselves as failure for not producing a result.

Ultimately, nothing is gained by envy. Therefore, we should instead focus on doing our best then even when the results do not come, we are at least becoming better at what we are doing. We are growing internally. Einstein said, ‘’Strive to become a man of values, not a man of wealth”. Values are enduring and wealth is fleeting but if we develop the culture of discipline, dedication and values, then that will bring results in due course of time.

End of transcription.

The post If someone puts in the same efforts as me but gets better results, how to avoid envy? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post Do we need to sometimes prioritize the spiritual over the material or the material over the spiritual? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post Philosophy makes sense intellectually, but doesn’t sink emotionally – what to do? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post Is crowding desires out of our mind not superficially distracting? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post Is working hard and getting promoted in our job good? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk.
Garuda Prabhu: Often when yoga is there in the verse, Srila Prabhupada puts devotional service in the translation. Some object to this. As far as I am concerned he has every right to. This is because Srila Prabhupada knows goal of yoga is bhakti. As I scholar, I cannot do that.
Houston Smith, who liked many of my books, said the mystics are the impatient ones. They do not want to wait until the end of life.
Union implies two. That means uniting the individual soul with the Supreme Soul.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are the Bible of yoga. In them, there are innumerable references to bhakti, more than I imagined.
In four or five places Patanjali speaks of isvara-pranidhana.
That word has three parts:
pra - moving
ni - deeply
dhana - into the core of our being

Isvara to be means the divine center of all reality. It is Bhagavan and Brahman with us in between.

Yama – ethical disciplines
Niyama – essential practices

Isvara-pranidhana is an essential practice.

Patanjali says samadhi siddhi isvara-pranidhanat. Isvara-pranidhana is the perfection of the perfection. Thus isvara-pranidhana is the beginning and the end.

In the Gita Krishna teaches self-realization and then self-abandonment. We nourish ourselves so we can get ourselves out of the way.

At raganuga every act is part of your service.

Patanjali does not identify isvara but advises one must seek out isvara. The word ista-devata comes from the Yoga Sutras.

Krishna is beautiful, delightful, and playful.

Nirvikalpa samadhi is complete absorption in Krishna.

Bhakti yoga is entering Krishna’s world, the big picture. Our little pictures are sometimes distressing but not the big picture.

Srila Prabhupada calls yoga “devotional service” because it is the union of the individual self and the Supreme Self.

Bhagavan-kripa, the mercy of the Lord, is there in the Yoga Sutras, but people do not know it.

In my book, my thesis is that the Yoga Sutras do not make any sense if we do not understand Krishna bhakti.

Yale was started by disgrunted Harvard professors.

Krishna embraces us as much as we want to be embraced.

Krishna does not force, coerce, and manipulate souls to love Him. He waits for an eternity for souls.

We have one great kirtaniya here. Not you, Gauravani, Srila Prabhupada!

The more love we have for Krishna the more desperate we are when we are separated from Him.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/YjMTmL

[Home program at Colon, Panama]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

The post Cultivating the strength to let go appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Brisbane Rathayatra (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: Lord Jagannatha’s Brisbane Rathayatra took place with around one thousand devotees attending. Their Lordships rode majestically through the streets of Brisbane with kirtan led by his grace Sri Prahlada.
At the end, the Ratha Cart was pulled into St George Square and placed in front of the Town Hall. There were performances on the main stage and thousands of plates of prasadam distributed. Lord Jagannatha ki jaya!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/zeSW98

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada gave the following Kavacha for the protection of sannyasis he had send to the west:
Sri Nrisimha Kavacha of the Trailokya Vijaya in the Samhita of Brahma

Read More...

Hare Krishna Festivals UK (Album with photos)
Fantastic festival at the Doddridge Centre in Northampton last night.
A ful...

By Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written five beautiful prayers in “Sri Navadvipa Bhava Taranga” for receiving the mercy of Lord Narasimha. These prayers are certainly assurance to all sincere devotees that the worship of Lord Narasimha is purely in the line of aspiring love and devotion to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. Continue reading "Five Prayers to Lord Narasimha
→ Dandavats"

By Harivamsa Purana

These prayers are from the 47th chapter of the Harivamsa Purana which narrates the story of Lord Ramacandra's visit to the holy place of Ahobalam to see the Deity of Nrisimha, where Lord Nrisimha appeared and saved His devotee Prahlada. Continue reading "Lord Ramacandra’s Nrisimha-Panchamrita
→ Dandavats"

Lord Jagannatha’s Brisbane Rathayatra took place with around one thousand devotees attending. Their Lordships rode majestically through the streets of Brisbane with kirtan led by his grace Sri Prahlada.

At the end, the Ratha Cart was pulled into St George Square and placed in front of the Town Hall. There were performances on the main stage and thousands of plates of prasadam distributed. Lord Jagannatha ki jaya!

The post Daily Darshan: May 06,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Volume One of Shyamasundar’s long-awaited memoir is now available. This is a most intimate, detailed, and exciting account of Bhaktivedanta Swami’s amazing adventures in the dawn of the Hare Krishna movement. Volume One describes the Swami’s halcyon days in San Francisco and London, 1967–1970, and describes the real story of Lord Jagannath’s advent in the Western world, meeting the Beatles and, with them, broadcasting the Mahamantra around the globe. These, and a hundred more never-heard-before stories, along with 128 rare photos, will transport you into those magic days: Chasing “rhinos” with the Swami.
“There have been other memoirs involving His Divine Grace, to be sure, but the attention to detail and visceral manifestation of time and place found in Shyamasundar’s book is something new. It has never before been accomplished in quite this way. His street savvy, intelligence, common sense, and love for Prabhupada all come through with a tangible freshness, allowing readers entrance into the narrative in a very real way. . . . A must-read for all students of philosophy, the ’60s counterculture, cosmic consciousness, Eastern thought, and life itself.”

—Steven J. Rosen (Satyaraja Dasa), author of 30 books on Eastern spirituality

With its fast pace and novelistic style, Volume One of Chasing Rhinos With The Swami has become a runaway best-seller for all audiences and, with only a limited number of books remaining in this first edition, NOW is the time to enjoy this book while it’s still available from the <chasingrhinos.com> website.

Better yet, take advantage of special BULK ORDER prices and stock enough books for your boutiques, sankirtan parties, extended congregations—for everyone you know or meet. Chasing Rhinos is a book to delight the whole world!
“This book is masterfully written and is truly unique—a must-read for devotees, their families, and friends.”
—Radhanath Swami

“I just received a copy of Chasing Rhinos with the Swami Volume 1, and I am ecstatic. Just looking at the photos, and glancing at the text, filled me with such great joy that I couldn’t contain myself and had to write you immediately. Thank you for taking up this tremendous service!”
—Giriraj Swami

At the 2017 Religion Communicators Council (RCC) annual DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards ceremony in Chicago, Illinois on March 30^th, ISKCON Communications won several awards for excellence in religion communications, including a Best of Class award for “The Joy of Devotion” film. “The Hare Krishnas: Celebrating 50 Years” magazine also won an award for excellence in overall design and a merit award for single-issue periodicals.

MC Yogi Forward Video filmed by Amanda Giacomini and MC Yogi. Edited by Amanda Giacomini. Music by MC Yogi and Robin Livingston.

“Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement and the Swami Who Started It All,” a ninety-minute documentary film about the life and achievements of ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada, will start its nationwide roll-out in the U.S. this June. The ambitious film, originally titled “Acharya” and directed by John Griesser (Yadubara Das), has been much-awaited by ISKCON devotees and congregation everywhere.

BGIS Newsletter 2017.
Bhaktivedanta Gurukul & International School Vrindavan.
Dear Well Wishers,
Thank you for your support towards the BGIS Projects. Year after Year we strive to be more efficient at building a “Better World with Better People”. In this newsletter, we are sharing with you the recent happenings and activities at our school. We hope that you enjoy reading and share it with your friends and family.
Read more: https://goo.gl/9mYDEr

Narada Muni, son of Brahma, instructs his disciple Srila Vyasa, and requests him to write the Bhagavata Purana

It is said that Vedic injunctions are made large by the Puranas, or histories, since within these texts we can learn of how the Vedas have been implemented historically in the lives of humans, gods, sages and kings. By reading of the interplay of Vedic lore in the lives of real people we can be inspired to follow their example, and be warned of the consequences of acting in a manner contrary to Vedic dharma. Also written in the Puranas are descriptions of the compassionate, knowledge-giving actions of the many avatars of Sri Vishnu and the appearance of the Supreme Godhead, Sri Krishna.

The Puranas present selected events rather than a strict chronology. There are eighteen Puranas, notionally divided into three sections according to the predominating influence in the mind of the reader. The Puranas for those largely predominated by the influence of sattvika guna, or the ‘mode of goodness,’ for instance, will focus on Vishnu (Narayana), his incarnations and devotees. Other Puranas may focus on god Shiva or goddess Shakti.

Traditionally, there are five subjects of a Purana:

1. Sarga or ‘Creation’
2. Prati-Sarga or ‘Secondary Creation,’
3. Vamsa or ‘Family Trees,’
4. Manvantara or the ‘History of the Manus’ the creative gods, and finally
5. Vamsa-anu-caritra, the details of the dynasties of kings and saints.

The Bhagavata Purana or Srimad Bhagavatam contains ten topics explained in 18,000 verses, a third of which describe the activities and speeches of Krishna. The verses are divided into 335 chapters, 90 of which are the tenth canto, the narrations of Krishna. According to a verse in the second canto of the book, the contents are as follows:

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there are ten divisions of statements regarding the following: the creation of the universe, subcreation, planetary systems, protection by the Lord, the creative impetus, the change of Manus, the science of God, returning home, back to Godhead, liberation, and the summum bonum. (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.10.1)

In his commentaries to the Chaitanya Caritamrita, the extensive biography of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada writes:

These verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam list the ten subject matters dealt with in the text of the Bhāgavatam. Of these, the tenth is the substance, and the other nine are categories derived from the substance. These ten subjects are listed as follows:

(1) Sarga: the first creation by Viṣṇu, the bringing forth of the five gross material elements, the five objects of sense perception, the ten senses, the mind, the intelligence, the false ego and the total material energy, or universal form.

(2) Visarga: the secondary creation, or the work of Brahmā in producing the moving and unmoving bodies in the universe (brahmāṇḍa).

(3) Sthāna: the maintenance of the universe by the Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu’s function is more important and His glory greater than Brahmā’s and Lord Śiva’s, for although Brahmā is the creator and Lord Śiva the destroyer, Viṣṇu is the maintainer.

(4) Poṣaṇa: special care and protection for devotees by the Lord. As a king maintains his kingdom and subjects but nevertheless gives special attention to the members of his family, so the Personality of Godhead gives special care to His devotees who are souls completely surrendered to Him.

(5) Ūti: the urge for creation, or initiative power, that is the cause of all inventions, according to the necessities of time, space and objects.

(6) Manv-antara: the periods controlled by the Manus, who teach regulative principles for living beings who desire to achieve perfection in human life. The rules of Manu, as described in the Manu-saṁhitā, guide the way to such perfection.

(7) Īśānukathā: scriptural information regarding the Personality of Godhead, His incarnations on earth and the activities of His devotees. Scriptures dealing with these subjects are essential for progressive human life.

(8) Nirodha: the winding up of all energies employed in creation. Such potencies are emanations from the Personality of Godhead who eternally lies in the Kāraṇa Ocean. The cosmic creations, manifested with His breath, are again dissolved in due course.

(9) Mukti: liberation of the conditioned souls encaged by the gross and subtle coverings of body and mind. When freed from all material affection, the soul, giving up the gross and subtle material bodies, can attain the spiritual sky in his original spiritual body and engage in transcendental loving service to the Lord in Vaikuṇṭhaloka or Kṛṣṇaloka. When the soul is situated in his original constitutional position of existence, he is said to be liberated. It is possible to engage in transcendental loving service to the Lord and become jīvan-mukta, a liberated soul, even while in the material body.

(10) Āśraya: the Transcendence, the summum bonum, from whom everything emanates, upon whom everything rests, and in whom everything merges after annihilation. He is the source and support of all. The āśraya is also called the Supreme Brahman, as in the Vedānta-sūtra (athāto brahma jijñāsā, janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1)). Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam especially describes this Supreme Brahman as the āśraya. Śrī Kṛṣṇa is this āśraya, and therefore the greatest necessity of life is to study the science of Kṛṣṇa.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam accepts Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the shelter of all manifestations because Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the ultimate source of everything, the supreme goal of all.

Two different principles are to be considered herein—namely āśraya, the object providing shelter, and āśrita, the dependents requiring shelter. The āśrita exist under the original principle, the āśraya. The first nine categories, described in the first nine cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, from creation to liberation—including the puruṣa-avatāras, the incarnations, the marginal energy, or living entities, and the external energy, or material world—are all āśrita. The prayers of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, however, aim for the āśraya-tattva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The great souls expert in describing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam have very diligently delineated the other nine categories, sometimes by direct narrations and sometimes by indirect narrations such as stories. The real purpose of doing this is to know perfectly the Absolute Transcendence, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, for the entire creation, both material and spiritual, rests on the body of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Itihasas

The Sanskrit word Itihasa means ‘It happened thus’ and the texts are histories, normally written by an author who was contemporary with the events. The Mahabharata was written by Srila Vysadeva who witnessed many of the events described therein; and the Ramayana was composed by Sri Valmiki who was a contemporary of Sri Ramachandra. The Itihasas do not have to follow the structure of the Puranas, but they may also contain elements of the five subjects nonetheless. The Chandogya Upanisad (7.1.4) mentions the Puranas and Itihasas as the fifth Veda. The Bhagavata-Purana (1.4.20) also states, “The four divisions of the original sources of knowledge [the Vedas] were made separately. But the historical facts and authentic stories mentioned in the Puranas are called the fifth Veda.” Madhvacarya, commenting on the Vedanta-sutras (2.1.6), quotes the Bhavisya Purana, which states, “The Rig-veda, Yajur-veda, Sama-veda, Atharva-veda, Mahabharata, Pancharatra, and the original Ramayana are all considered Vedic literature. The Vaishnava supplements, the Puranas, are also Vedic literature.”

Bhagavad-gita

The Bhagavad-gita is a dialogue contained in the Shanti-Parva section of the Mahabharata, but the nature of the conversation ranges from Upanishadic verses through to the highest devotional theology. For this reason it is much loved and commonly known as Gita-Upanishad or Gitopanishad.

Since the times of Adi Sankaracarya in the early mediaeval period, it has been common for all schools of thought to establish their systems of philosophy on three texts, the Upanishads, the Vedanta Sutra and the Bhagavad-gita, collectively known as prasthana-trayi or the ‘three foundations’.

By Lokanath Swami

The holy and auspicious month of Kartik means that it is also the time for ISKCON's Padayatra Ministry's Vraja-mandala Parikrama. This year the Parikrama commences on 5 October 2017. If you ever questioned as to why we would just like to wander around the forests of Vrndavana during Parikrama. Well, it is in our line, following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. " The Lord's ecstatic love increased a thousand times when He visited Mathura, but it increased a hundred thousand times when He wandered in the forests of Vrndavana. (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 17.227)" Continue reading "Vraja-mandala Parikrama 2017
→ Dandavats"

By Aja Govinda Dasa

Hiranyakashipu, the universal tyrant, wished to reverse the system of piety. He wanted the impious to be rewarded and the pious to be punished. Thus upon the death of Hiranyakashipu, all the demigods and inhabitants of various planets offered their prayers to Lord Nrisimha, expressing their gratitude for the Lord’s slaying the daitya, who had usurped all their riches, wives, and shares of sacrificial offerings. Only Prahlada Maharaja, however, could pacify with loving prayers the transcendental wrath of Lord Nrisimha, who is prepared to even appear as half-man, half-lion for the sake of His pure devotees. Continue reading "Lord Nrisimha: Protector of Devotees
→ Dandavats"

By Nandini Radha devi dasi

17. Antarvedi: This is one among the thirty-two most reputed Nrsimha Kshetras of Andhra Pradesh. It has a famous temple of Sri Lakshmi Nrsimha Swamy. The unique feature of the Deity is that it is facing towards West instead of East, the usual direction. 18. Singarayakonda: Located in Andhra Pradesh. Singa- lion; konda- hill. The Deity of Varaha Nrsimha resides here. 19. Namakkal: Located in Tamil Nadu. After being pacified by Prahlad Maharaj, the Lord assumed the form of a Shanta Nrsimha saligrama in the Gandaki river. Lakshmi devi was upset and wanted to have association of the Lord again and thus performed penances in Kamalalayam (Namakkal). Here Sri Mahalakshmi's prayers made Nrsimhadev calm. Continue reading "Famous Kshetras of Lord Nrsimhadev and His Pastimes
→ Dandavats"

The post Daily Darshan: May 05,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Preaching in Russia - Beautiful City - Beautiful Devotees (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Most certainly St. Petersburg...

The post Gita Essence – The transformational power of love appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Podcast

The post Gita 02.08 Don’t let comforts lure you away from life’s purpose appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Podcast

Podcast Summary

The post Gita Essence 3 – The transformational power of love – World-knowledge as the vehicle for love appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post How can we scientifically explain reincarnation? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post How can we explain Bhagavatam sections that contradict modern science? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

The post How can we identify our natural inclinations? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.