Planet ISKCON

Care for cows in Vrindavana (Album with photos)
Care For Cows was blessed with a visit from H.G Chaitanya Chandra Charan Das w...

TOVP: Cast iron fences for the Prabhupada bridge (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: We just completed the designs in 3D for the ...

Giriraj Swami: This morning while chanting japa in front of my deities, I perceived some lingering impersonalism within me, and to purify myself, I thought of presenting Srila Prabhupada’s strong refutation of impersonalism from his morning walk on Juhu Beach on January 12, 1976, which I had heard just the night before.
“Impersonal philosophers are more dangerous than atheists,” Prabhupada began.
“That you think,” Dr. Patel retorted.
“No, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says. Veda na maniya bauddha haila nastika. Vedasraya bauddha-vada nastika ke adhika. We accept as atheist, one who does not believe in the Vedas. Therefore we have rejected the Buddha philosophy. They could not exist in India. But those who are preaching atheism through the Vedas—impersonalism—they are more dangerous.”
“For example?” an Indian man asked.
“Any impersonalist—‘God has no form.’ There are so many rascals. He has got form to speak against God, and God has no form. This is going on all over the world. He speaks against God, that ‘God is not a person.’ So, he is a person, and God is not person. Just see their foolishness. He is made by God, and he is a person, and He who made him, He is not a person. This is foolishness”
The Indian man agreed, “Yes, there’s good sense in what you say.”
“Therefore the impersonalists are senseless. It is understood that I am person, my father is person, his father is person, and the supreme father is not a person. Just see. If the supreme father is not a person, then wherefrom these personal fathers came? Mudho nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam [Bg 7.25]. ‘Mam’—this is person. The mudhas cannot understand that the supreme father is a person. Therefore when Arjuna understood Bhagavad-gita, he declared that ‘It is very, very difficult to understand Your personality. It is very, very difficult.’ Arjuna said. And he accepted Krishna as person, purusam sasvatam: ‘You are eternally person.’ Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam, purusam sasvatam divyam adyam [Bg 10.12]. These things are there. The real understanding is there. And Arjuna said, ‘This is accepted by Vyasadeva, Narada, Devala.’ Svayam caiva: ‘And You are also speaking.’ Then where is the question of imperson? Therefore Krishna says, bahunam janmanam ante jnanvan mam prapadyate [Bg 7.19]: ‘You are person; I surrender unto You’—this knowledge comes after many, many births of the impersonalist. Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma: ‘That great mahatma is very rare.’ So one who believes and accepts the Supreme as person, he immediately becomes a mahatma. Otherwise he remains duratma.”
Srila Prabhupada reminded me of his description of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
“Absolute is sentient
Thou hast proved,
Impersonal calamity
Thou hast moved.”
I earnestly pray that Srila Prabhupada will remove all impersonalism from within me, so I can properly worship the holy names, my deities, and all persons.
Hare Krishna.

Famous Celebrity ‘Michael Emerson’ Gets Rare Books (Album with photos)
Drumila Dasa: Famous Tv Personality 'Michael Emerson’ from the Mega Hit CBS TV Show 'Person of Interest’, and formerly of 'Lost’ and 'The Practice’ gets books by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He is an 'Emmy’ award-winning actor with many accolades. And I can attest, he has not let it gone to his head. One of the most down to earth and unassuming persons I have ever met. He even commented before we parted ways that he was all about the books that I gave him. 'Chant and be Happy’(an interview with George Harrison about mantra meditation). And the best translation of the Bhagavad-Gita that one could ever receive, called the 'Bhagavad-Gita As it Is’ which is considered like the Bible of India. It is the sourcebook of all knowledge on karma, yoga, meditation, reincarnation, the soul, and God.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ZUqjyq

TOVP: See the walls covered with marble (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: On the outside entrance, just before you go into the temple room, you can see the walls covered with marble.
Now we are placing the sandstone decoration around the walls and building up to do the windows a little bit above them as well.
You can see the artwork on the sandstone and what it will look like when it’s completed.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/o8D5tl

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The post If our spiritual master is not easily accessible and other spiritual masters give time primarily to their disciples, how can we get inspiration? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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The post If an initiated devotee does something non-standard such as eating food cooked outside, will the spiritual master get the karma? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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The post If we can’t follow certain standards while practically living in the world, how should we adjust? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Bhagavatam class at New Hillsborough, USA]
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[Evening program at New Hillsborough, USA]
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8th April 2017 marked the day when over 15000 Youths from across State of Uttar Pradesh, India were blown away by spiritual serenity and positive confidence in a star studded event, ‘Xpressions 2017’ in ISKCON Kanpur. Emphasizing on De-addiction and Value Empowerment within youth, Xpressions 2017 was an effort by a team of ISKCON devotees to bring the Youth closer to their roots, re-introducing them to the rich cultural heritage they have inherited, focusing on the need for a positive approach to life, believing in themselves and working hard. It inspired youths for De-addiction through the ever joyful process of Devotion and showed them how bhakti can be Fun. Continue reading "Euphoric Xpressions of the Youth
→ Dandavats"

“Tejo made Ekadasi bearable with his fantastic breakfast tapioca,” says Advaita. “And he was well-known for his Gauranga potatoes, bharats, and palak paneer. Like the other pit cooks, he’d be cooking outdoors with nothing but a tin roof overhead in the dead of winter, starting fires from scratch with frozen wood at 3 o’clock in the morning, and dragging forty-gallon soot-covered pots to the pot room to scrub them in cold water. It was tougher than you can imagine!” Continue reading "Tejomaya Das: A Diamond From the Rough
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Member of Parliament Bob Blackburn, who has been coming to the Manor for the last 30 years spoke with pride about his pleasure that the “temple’s future is secure” thanks to the Haveli. Much of the Manor’s success in getting this far with the Haveli is thanks to support from significant members of society. In this vein, Kripamoya Das thanked servicemen and members of parliament for their dedication serving society, poignant on the birthday of Lord Ram who dedicated his life to serve the citizens of Ayodhya, as the 'Maryada Purshottam’, or ideal man. Temple president Srutidharma das thanked the counsellors for their kind words and reminded the assembled devotees that the message for the festival was the importance of helping others. Continue reading "Hosting Dignitaries at Ramanavami festival
→ Dandavats"

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust was present at the American College and Research Library Conference in Baltimore, Maryland from March 22^nd to 25^th this year, with its own booth. Representing the BBT was Jaya Chaitanya Das, 30, a former hip-hop artist who has been ISKCON’s number one book distributor in the U.S. for the past two years, and is always working hard on inventive new strategies. 

“Transcendental Journey: Hare Krishna Celebrates 50 Years,” an historic variety stage production put on by Australian devotees for ISKCON 50, is now available on Youtube and for pre-order on DVD. The film is a nearly two-hour presentation that cuts together the best bits from the show’s matinee and evening performances at the famous Sydney Opera House on August 20^th, 2016. Professionally shot with ten cameras and edited by technical director Deva Gaura Hari Das, the film seamlessly blends live acts and narrative slideshow segments.

It was fitting that on the hottest day of the year so far Bhaktivedanta Manor celebrated Ramanavami, the birthday of Lord Ram, who was born in the sun dynasty, several millennia ago.  This year, the auspicious festival was celebrated on Sunday 9^th April and the Manor played host to a number of dignitaries, including first citizen, Counsellor Peter Rutledge, the Mayor of Hertsmere.  Most of the luminaries had visited the temple on numerous occasions beforehand as Counsellor Victor Eni of Harrow said, “I love coming here and seeing how much the community has progressed since I was last here.”

The post Daily Darshan: Apr12,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Villa Vrindavan Academy opening (Album with photos)
Yesterday, the Mayapur Academy and Villa Vrindavan had the official opening...

Goodbye Party to the Herd.
Govardhana Farms from Canada (the whole family: cows and humans) is relocating to the ISKCON New Vri...

About Lord Caitanya’s brahmacari-lila, and what should be done if one is always tired by following the temple schedule

Dubai, April 11th

Sri Syamananda, Srinivasa and Narottama Dasa Thakura are eternal associates of Sri Gaurasundara. For the purpose of preaching the holy message of Sri Caitanya all over the earth they appeared in this world.

Sri Syamananda Prabhu was born in Utkala. His father’s name was Sri Krsna Mandal. His mother’s name was Sri Durika. Sri Krsna Mandal had many sons and daughters who passed away before this son took birth. Because of this misfortune, Sri Krsna Mandal named the boy Dukhi.

After some time the boy took initiation from Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu and was named Krsna das. He was ordered by his guru to go to Vrndavan and study the sastras under Jiva Goswami.

One day in Kanana Kunja, he found an ankle bracelet that belonged to Srimati Radharani. Krsna das was brought before Radha and She marked him on the forehead with the bracelet.

She said, “From now on you will be known as Syamananda das.”