Planet ISKCON

Preaching program in Krishna Tempel Leipzig, Germany (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: It is essential for persons who are ...

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A Far Distant Corner Of The World (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The ISKCON devotees of Omsk, in southwest Siberia, Ru...

Krishna Mangala das: Today is Jayananda’s disappearance day. We compiled the film about Jayananda Thakur. Also we put his Bhagavad-Gita Class
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How much weight do we put on our intelligence?

The other day I read about a young lady who was killed on the M4 a motorway I use regularly, why was she killed? Simply by exiting her car to chase a dog that was loose running across the lanes.
I’m sure normally speaking she wouldn’t entertain or think of leaving the safety of her car due to dangers involved; but her love of dogs made her intelligence temporarily disappear in regards to the real danger.

Then the sad news of a wonderful devotee who was killed upon his return to New Zealand at a local road junction, it’s unclear what happened or who is at fault; but as we know their is always need to be cautious before entering any junction. Again the intelligence is temporarily lost in regards the danger.

Material life is like this, we put lots of emphasis on our intelligence indeed each and everyone​ of us are a slave to our mind which leads us in so many directions, convincing us that our thoughts and our way is constantly right, indeed we then surround ourselves with like minded individuals who will validate our thought processes.

But disaster is always one step away, most of the time we can simply dust ourselves down say how much we’ve learned from the experience and carry on; sometimes sadly actions mean loss of life were upon the onlookers state how their superior intelligence means they wouldn’t make such mistakes.

It reminded me of the simple fact that devotional life isn’t always easy, for we actually if practicing correctly have to deal with the real self and our not so intelligent intelligence. Even the Guru’s mission is to help us overcome this faulty material intelligence and replace with spiritual intelligence.

Srila Prabhupada translated so much and took the time to explain the real meaning each verse and sentence designed to enhance our intelligence and explain how material nature works and how best to overcome it. Every situation is covered there is not one problem or circumstance that isn’t covered and in each turn a positive outcome can be seen, no matter what our own personal situation we can return home this lifetime.

Time and time again Srila Prabhupada reminds and requests we simply chant the holy name’s for in this age of Kali there is no other way, simple reading and chanting, offer our food to the lord.

But best of all we can share this amazing inspirational intelligence with everyone we meet freely and unconditionally just as Srila Prabhupada showed us, and make sure they leave with a book

Hare Krishna

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Jayananda Thakur’s Own Words (Album with photos)
Jayananda made his own notes in the jacket of his Krishna book in a list in point form. He wrote: ;As your begin to apply the book’s clearly described principles to your life you will quickly experience a new realm of mental poise and experience an inner happiness even in the midst of the most trying circumstances...

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[Youth meeting at Toronto Public Library, Canada]

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By Ajitananda das

From the very beginning of our association I sensed something special about Jayananda, and always felt extremely happy and contented in his company. I certainly considered him to be my spiritual superior, but never felt uncomfortable or intimidated in his presence. He was like a kind elder brother. I could sense that his heart was filled with genuine humility and spiritual affection, and this instantly endeared him to me. Never one to condescend, Jayananda would always take the humble position and solicit my advice on matters which he was obviously competent to deal with himself. That was his considerate nature, always depreciating his own importance, while offering all respect to others. Continue reading "Remembering HG Jayananda Prabhu
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[Sunday feast lecture at ISKCON, Brampton, Canada]

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[Seminar at ISKCON, Brampton, Canada]

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By Kalindi Devi Dasi

Around 8 a.m. on August 6th I entered her room and found that she was getting closer to leaving her body. She was unresponsive to verbal cues and her body was quite limp. I took this opportunity to sing the Maha Mantra one last time while she received her final bath. Continue reading "Jayananda Prabhu’s Mother
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[Seminar at ISKCON, Brampton, Canada]

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[House program at Toronto, Canada]

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Yesterday, after the Bhagavtam class, Abhishek prabhu was approached by an elderly Indian gentleman.

He was well-dressed, had a smiling face, respectful and later declared to us that he was from Bengal, a diplomat during his working years and was now retired. Visiting his son in Sydney, he was out and about when he happened to see the temple complex. Curious, he had stepped in and eventually stayed for the Bhagavatam class. He could speak fluent Chinese too!

Anyway, it was nice to see his interest but as an elderly person, he obviously had a slight inclination towards correcting the youngsters. So, he began to quiz & debate with Abhishek prabhu (and myself too). Abhishek prabhu, for his young age, happens to be well-versed in spiritual literatures. His answers to the gentleman was cut and right – no diplomacy from him. His sharp answers actually subdued the man who now respected him more.

As we shared the breakfast table, munching on our elaborate feast (cabbage subji, carrot halva, kofta balls, coconut chutney, crispy jalebi, salad, upma and a pea curry), his attention turned to an incoming tray of hot samosas! “Is that samosa?“, he asked like a little child. Before we could answer, he picked his plate and hurried towards the server. Grabbing a piece topped by a generous amount of tamarind chutney, he sat back on his seat again. As his eyes twinkled over his conquest, I quickly ran over and got me a piece too. Abhishek was avoiding anything deeply fried although he was munching away on that crispy jalebi pieces! Hypocrisy, i say!

As the man relished his samosa, he asked, “Are you both living at the temple?“. We replied that we weren’t but the Brahmacaris (renunciant students) were. He looked at us with concern and asked, “You mean they have no house of  their own, no job also?“. Abhishek prabhu explained that as brahmacaris, they had no outside work or financial assets, were devoted to the temple full-time and were under the care of the temple management. The man’s fatherly instincts were raised, “But how is that possible? How can someone live without any work and no money – how will they get food and clothes? What if he wants to buy a tooth-brush?! Who will give?“, he asked with great concern.

I thought that was funny and chuckled. Who will get their tooth-brush? I told him that just like there are people for whom material assets are important for their security, there were those who were completely attached to devotional service of the Lord. In that service, they are completely dependant on Him for all their needs, sustenance and protection. I told him that it’s hard for people like us to understand or live such a lifestyle but those who had made the jump were happy. I told him that temple took care of  their food, clothing and shelter besides engaging them in a wide variety of devotional work. He seemed surprised but content that they were being looked after. He eventually finished his meals, bid us farewell, promising to return again next weekend too.

Many things passed by mind after the incident:

1. Life of brahmacaris: how sacrifice, austerity, simplicity and unselfish devotional service is so pure, healthy and powerful.
2. Goal in life during old age: Instead of spending time visiting children here and there, attached to one’s past work life & achievements, it’s important that one takes up full-time devotional life also after retirement.
3. My fortune of being a part of a devotee network early on in life: The earlier one takes the risk and associates with a spiritual group, the better.
4. Importance of regular study: Watching Abhishek prabhu answer the questions from a shastric angle was so wonderful to watch. It inspired me to study regularly, contemplate more and apply the learnings in one’s life.

So, that was a great Saturday morning well spent, i thought.

Written by Uddhava

The morning (27 April) started really early. It was dark, the temperature was almost zero and most were heavily wrapped in warm winter clothes but spirits were high – Kingsday here we come!

At 5 am, three buses arrived at the Radhadesh guesthouse parking. 2017 marked the first year that we needed three buses to take 205 devotees to Amsterdam. This was a record number and we are not counting the large number of devotees who went directly by car and those that came straight from the UK. About an hour away from Amsterdam, our stomachs were rumbling as we made a stop for breakfast. The amazing prasadam packs were prepared under the expert guidance of Nama-rupa dd. There were sandwiches with humus, fruit, a drink, sweet bars donated by Pada Pankaja and, of course, the famous sweet ‘haribols’. These food packages were a lifesaver and many devotees saved some of it for the harinama!

Around 9:30 am, the buses arrived in Amsterdam which would soon be turned into a dham (holy place) by the presence of approximately 350 happy devotees. A whole group of about 25 devotees also arrived from the UK headed by Parasurama. He also brought his sound machine again, complete with drum kit and bass guitar. It was going to be a fun parade! After a short break and a quick visit to the ISKCON temple, the group was about to step out for the start of the biggest and most orange harinama in Europe!

From the temple, immediately we took a straight course to the city center and Dam Square as we danced our way towards the middle of Amsterdam. It was still quiet in those parts of town, so after spending some time on Dam Square we headed off into Damstraat. Finally, it got crowded and some people starting jumping and dancing with us. We arrived in the middle of the Red Light district and almost passed what was the first ISKCON temple in Amsterdam, established in 1973. From there, our orange journey unfolded onto central station and back to the Dam Square.

Vraja Krsna Das took over the microphone and rocked the Dam for at least an hour. He is a great singer and he inspired many to join in and to take LOTS of photos and videos! At the sound of the bells announcing 2 o’ clock, we walked on towards Rozengracht and with a loop back to Leidseplein. At the Leidseplein, we got the feet of many onlookers swinging about and attracted the crowds again. That was an easy job since we were the only big ‘event’ that was actually doing something organised in Amsterdam that day!

The first part of the day came to an end at the nearby site where we stopped for lunch. Rick from Radhadesh was there again to help with the logistical part of the site and he brought a big tent, tables and chairs. Gita Govinda and her amazing team organised the prasadam, distribution and overall planning of Kingsday. It was a BIG success and we are forever grateful for her contribution! Even though the cooking team (headed by Marcel & Kerstin) cooked for 400 people, all prasadam was finished swiftly. After the amazing lunch of pasta, halava, sweet and cake, most devotees were taking a break in the nearby park to give our feet a well-deserved rest.

An idle mind is the devil’s workshop – so goes the saying – but we did not have time to sit idle as the second part of the day was about to commence. Our stomachs were filled, feet rested and the sound system geared with new batteries, once again we hit the streets of AmsterDHAMA!

And we all knew what was coming… the famous ‘bridge’ in Vondelpark!

Parividha Prabhu was leading the group into Vondelpark and peaked under the bridge. People came running to ‘our’ party to join in and dance like crazy. In the meantime, Kadamba Kanana Swami took the microphone and rocked on! He is famous for draining the energy of the mrdanga players but this was the first time that he drained all the energy from the batteries of the sound system!!! But that did not stop him and while using the portable sound system from the Harinam Ruci group, he continued the crescendo into a huge final craze. I thought I saw flying devotees at once stage!

After the ‘bridge’, we walked, albeit slowly, through Vondelpark and headed for the buses again. We did it again – eight hours of singing and dancing.  At least 350 devotees, 3 buses, 4 vans and many cars. One sound system and six (!!) car batteries. A team of 21 devotees organised the Kingsday festivities with five cooks. And, against all odds, a sunny day without any rain. Nothing can beat that!

See you in 2018!?

Practically everyday, I look out of my window and I see my neighbor working on his yard. Of course, in winter he is not doing yard work but plows the snow if it snows etc. At least major part of the year, I see him waving at me and enthusiastically doing his work. Clearly, I saw how he was connected and was taking pleasure in maintaining his garden. His persona was one of energy and movement. I guess as a proud homeowner, Americans in general tend to take pride in their upkeep of yard and gardening.

Then one day I saw he was missing in his regular activities. After few months, I chanced to meet him in his yard and I was told by my neighbor that he has cancer. As a result, he reduced his movements and stayed indoors most of the time. I prayed to the Lord for His well-being.

As time passed, the yard seemed eerily silent and void. I started to have a gut feeling that something was not right. What once was a yard of energy looked desolate like an abandoned brownfield. It did not sit well with me. I was constantly meditating on his missing figure. Has the inevitable taken place? Not able to withstand my apparent internal conflict, I googled the obituary only to find my good neighbor passed two months ago. He was 61, by modern standards that is young indeed.

I went over to my neighbor's house with a single rose stem and expressed my support and sadness to his wife. Life goes on...isn't it (as my brother would say in his english accent). Everything seems normal and now i see a hired landscaper doing the yard work every week.

Once upon a time my neighbor was real, he existed and his passion for keeping the yard was real. His energy could be felt and he was constantly up and about. Now that same energy is there but it can be felt in the emptiness by him not being here. So which is true? The fact that he existed or the fact now that he doesn't? The Bhagavad Gita says that the soul is eternal and that there is no birth or death for the ever lasting soul. So I am pleased to know that my neighbor truly is somewhere in the cosmos. While the soul may be eternal, the reality as "my neighbor" and "his yard work" is not. It is this apparent reality I am questioning - is it even real? Both his presence and non-presence seems very real but also very opposite! Which is true, bewildering indeed, Maya is!

I am reminded of this deep statement by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami which jump started my own quest for the truth. It comes right in the beginning pages of the introduction of Bhagavad Gita - "Our very existence is in the atmosphere of nonexistence. Actually we are not meant to be threatened by nonexistence".  These words cannot be anymore truer for me especially now as I can feel the presence of existence and non-existence and my struggle to grasp the truth?

Hare Krishna

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Nectarean Krishna katha by Romapada and Bhakti Chaitanya Swamis while visiting several sacred sites in Vrindavan.

The confidential truth is that in order to quickly bestow auspiciousness upon the living entities of Kali-yuga, in the beginning, the Supreme Lord sent His devotees such as Sathhakopa (Nammalvar), Ramanuja, Vishnusvami, Madhvacarya and Nimbaditya to this world, and desiring to bestow the supreme secret of attaining conjugal love of Godhead, He personally assumed the form of a devotee named Sri Krishna Caitanya and descended with His own Golokadhama in the supreme place of pilgrimage, Gauda-bhumi

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Deep In The Heart Of Russia (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Our team has made it to Omsk in Western Siberia. The winter’s here are brutally cold. But spring has just arrived and there’s a pleasant atmosphere in the air. All the hearty Siberian devotees are most grateful for our visit and together we are enjoying kirtan and classes in the presence of Sri Sri Radha Govinda. Radha Govinda are the only full-sized Radha Krsna deities installed and worshipped in Russia. And of all places - Siberia!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aWCkfb

Preaching program in the beautiful Los Angeles temple (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Don’t think preaching is so easy going – eating, sleeping, and sometimes chanting “Haribol,” that’s all. [laughs] That is not preaching. We must be ready to implant Krsna consciousness ideas throughout the whole world. Just like these people, either in India or here, they remain simply Churchianity, going to the church without any understanding. Therefore it is failing. Now churches are being closed. Similarly, if you do not keep yourself fit to preach, then your temples will all be closed in due course of time. Without preaching, you’ll not feel enthused to continue the temple worship. And without temple worship, you cannot keep yourself pure and clean. The two things must go on, parallel. Then there is success. In modern time, either Hindus, Muslim or Christian, because in these places there is no teaching of philosophy, therefore they are closing, either mosque or temple or church. They will close. Therefore we are writing so many books. Unless we take care of the books and preach and read ourself, understand the philosophy, this Hare Krsna will be finished within few years. Because there will be no life. How long one can artificially go on, “Hare Krsna! Haribol!” That will be artificial. No life. From Srila Prabhupada’s Morning Walk – December 12, 1973, Los Angeles
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By Subroto Biswas

At ISKCON Mayapur , devotees turned up in large numbers from various parts of India and abroad, braving the inclement summer heat to get an opportunity to grind the sandalwood ( chandan) which is used as a paste to smear over the body of Radha Madhav . For next 21 days every evening a large procession, carrying the resplendent deities on a palanquin will be taken out within the campus where thousands of devotees will sing and dance ecstatically. Then the deities will be placed on a nicely decorated boat and will be taken out for a ride in the pond so that They can enjoy the evening breeze. During this time various pastimes of Krishna – Rasa Leela, Govardhan Leela, Aghasura Vad, Gajendra Uddhara and many more will be depicted in the temple. Every day large quantities of delicious prasadam like different varieties of cakes, sweet rice, laddoos, halua, pakoras will be distributed . At the ancient ISKCON Jagannath Temple Rajapur too devotees celebrated the festival by smearing sandalwood paste on the deities of Jagannath, Baladev, Subhadra and it will be done regularly for 3 weeks. Continue reading "Chandan Yatra in Mayapur
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Dear devotees, for the pleasure of their Lord ships Sri Sri Radha Madhav , Pancatattva, Gour Nitai, Srila Prabhupada and for all of you Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha broadcasting a very important news of Yuga dharma ‘Harinam Sankirtan’ that has been held at Dhubulia town on 10th April, Monday , 2017. A huge gathering of more […]

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My friend Abhishek prabhu gave a great Srimad Bhagavatam class yesterday in which he mentioned that every action a pure devotee performs must make impressions in the disciples heart, even if they are very trivial ones. If it doesn’t, then its hard to approach Krishna.

What i understand from his statement is that all actions of a pure devotee of the Lord is transcendental. They are fully connected with Krishna and even inspired by Him. That is why in the case of Srila Prabhupada, his disciples often were mesmerised by the way he walked, drank water, glanced over the devotees, his looked at them, the way adorned his tilaka etc. These actions seem so trivial and day-to-day stuff but 40 years on, his disciples still remember and connect with him in separation through these actions also. Besides the spiritual master’s or a pure devotees instruction and personal example, we must also remember his simple actions. Even Arjuna seems to ask Lord Krishna something along these lines:

Chapter 2: Contents of the Gita Summarized

The afternoon was dedicated to expanding our spiritual family during the initiation ceremony with a record number of seventeen initiates. The Radhadesh temple room once again filled to the maximum and the temple room plus fire ceremony area were again beautifully decorated. All the initiates gathered around the ceremony area and were awaiting the arrival of their spiritual master.

Maharaj started with a short speech on the vows of initiation and continued with the name giving of the new initiates. There were nine first initiations and eight second initiations.

Gopinathacarya Prabhu did a wonderful job of translating the Sanskrit names and gave their meaning. Here are some examples:

Līlā-kamala
The lotus-like pastimes (līlā); the pastimes which are untouched by the material world, even if they are manifested in this world, like a lotus is untouched by water, though it grows out of the water.

Locana
Literally “vision” or “sight”. The name is an abbreviation of Tri-locana (“he who has three eyes”), a name of Śiva. Locana Dāsa is the author of the Caitanya-maṅgala, a Bengali biography of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jalāśayā
She whose residence (āśaya) is in the water (jala). A name of Rādhārāṇī, who appeared in a golden lotus in the Yamunā.

This enervating day was not over yet. We still had three dramas planned that night as part of the closing ceremony for the Radhadesh part of the festival. When the evening ended, we all went to bed early for the final leg of this festival namely the Kingsday harinama which took place the next day in Amsterdam.