Spirituality changes how we perceive, process and pursue
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[Talk to professional caregivers and counselors at Career Clinic, Belle Mead, New Jersey, USA]

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Willing & Able. Sutapa Das: Various leadership…
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Willing & Able.
Sutapa Das: Various leadership responsibilities, whether manager, mother or mentor, offer us the privileged opportunity in assisting people to excel. Though the most rewarding role in life, they all come with a good dose of frustration and annoyance. How many times has your sincere and informed advice been received with unresponsiveness and neglect? What to do when faced with ingratitude and irrationality? How long should one persevere? What’s the point at which you ’leave them to it’? Sensing the appropriate time to let go is one of the most important elements in any leader’s job description – it should be neither premature, nor delayed.
While making that call, here’s something to consider: for someone to change, they need to be willing and able. Sometimes people are able but not willing. The inertia is essentially a motivation issue since we’ve failed to ‘sell’ the idea to them. Intimidation, criticism and threats are neither effective nor sustainable – we must generate genuine inspiration, willingness and drive. Other times, people are willing but not able. They want to change but they just don’t know how. The best leaders don’t shy away from the hard work that goes into walking through an experience with someone. It’s not just about charismatic speeches and fantastic visions, but systematic empowerment, frontline mentoring, and one-to-one face-time investment.
We must know what we’re dealing with – the key to progression is to understand the block.
Allen Ginsberg, the beat poet who was at the cutting edge of the counter culture, beautifully summarized Swami Prabhupada’s leadership approach; patience, humor and regiment were essential ingredients in cooking up the revolution: “Swami Bhaktivedanta came to the USA and went swiftly to the archetype spiritual neighborhood, the New York Lower East Side, and installed intact an ancient, perfectly preserved piece of street India. He adorned a storefront as his ashram and adored Krishna therein and by patience and good humor, singing, chanting and expounding Sanskrit terminology day by day established Krishna consciousness in the psychedelic (mind manifesting) center of America East. To choose to attend to the Lower East Side, what kindness and humility and intelligence!”

KK Bindu #397: Where is bhakti to be found? Srila Prabhupada: I…
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KK Bindu #397: Where is bhakti to be found?
Srila Prabhupada: I beg to submit herewith that by the Grace of Sri Krishna through His mercy personified—my spiritual master, I have realized it most thoroughly that going “Back to Godhead” is the highest privilege of mankind and that is the supreme perfection of human life.
Unfortunately, the present day human civilization is very much attracted with the beauty of Apara Prakrti the illusory material Nature and as such they are overpowered by a demoniac form of propensity in the atheistic set up of civilization manifested in the matter of sense gratification. This tendency is dangerously harmful to the real progress of life.
The aim of life should be to make a sincere effort to go “Back to Godhead” but contrary to this, the tendency is to go back to hell or in the cycle of evolutionary animal life as it is described in the 16th chapter of Bhagavad-gita.
Please therefore save them from the great falldown. Believe me or not, I have got the clue of going “Back to Godhead” just after leaving my present material body and in order to take along with me all my contemporary men and women of the world, I have started my paper “Back to Godhead” as one of the means to the way.
Please do not think of me as an wonderful or a mad man when I say that I shall go “Back to Godhead” after leaving my present material body! It is quite possible for everyone and all of us.
In the Bhagavad-gita it is said very clearly that whosoever may adopt the specific principle of accepting Sri Krishna the Personality of Godhead, he will be able to achieve the highest transcendental goal of life,—never mind what he is either a born untouchable, a fallen woman, a laborer or a man dealing in rupees annas pies. His being so, what is there difficulty for a pious “Brahmin” and devoted king for going “Back to Godhead”? Everyone should therefore adopt this principle of going “Back to Godhead” in order to get released from the world of miseries, with temporary existence.
This fact is corroborated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the practical demonstrator of Bhagavad-gita and as the most magnanimous incarnation of Sri Krishna—the Personality of Sri Krishna Caitanya has made the path of going “Back to Godhead” so easy for every one that even a boy of the world can swim across the ocean of religiosity, although it is injected with so many dangerous animals ready to devour up a fallen person in that great massive water. I have simply adopted the easy method of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu just suitable to the modern people in general. As such I am feeling as sure of going “Back to Godhead” as I feel without any doubt after taking my dinner that I have eaten to my satisfaction. This feeling is a necessary concomitant factor of the great science of devotional service in the approved line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
I am therefore very eager to broadcast the secret of my success to all men and women of the world as a natural consequence and I am seeking your excellency’s help and co-operation in this great attempt of transcendental service.
I am enclosing herewith 12 (twelve) copies of “Back to Godhead” (I to XII) for your excellency’s reference. If possible kindly go through them all and I am sure that your honour will understand me right about my assertion. If it is not so possible, your excellency can kindly give a glance over the head lines only, and I am sure that will also give your excellency an idea of my definite assertion.
To make a world wide propaganda for this most essential service to humanity, it is necessary that your excellency will stretch the helping hand necessary in this matter, as your exalted honour is personally fit also to do this job. Although the method is very simple for universal adoption, it is not possible for me to express in this letter all the words that I wish to tell your honour. As such, I am seeking an interview with your honour herewith. When your excellency will see personally the papers and programme of work about my bona fides, I am sure your excellency will be interested in co-operating with me. There is immense work to be done so far India’s spiritual asset is concerned and I think the Govt. may take up the matter scientifically for the good of all men. India’s specific culture demands that there should be a ministry of spiritual affairs to save the great culture of “Bharatavarsa”.
I am crying alone in the wilderness at the present moment. So please help me in this noble cause and oblige.
—–
From a Letter of His Divine Grace to: Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of Indian Union
———–
This issue can be downloaded at the following link:

https://archive.org/details/bindu397

New Preaching Centre in Camden Town, London
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Hare KrishnaBy Parasuram dasa

Camden Town is London's hippest part of London, attracting thousands of tourists daily. We have been preaching here since 17 years and now we managed to open a nice centre. A four story building just off the high street. We have daily prasad distribution, yoga classes, plans to open a juice bar but the main thing is we have an oasis for devotees to live and hold the Friday Feast , a chance to give Krishna to the conditioned souls, requesting the devotees blessings. Continue reading "New Preaching Centre in Camden Town, London
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GBC: Configuring Zones and Assigning Overseers – Resourcing ISKCON Global Services
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Hare KrishnaBy the GBC

Srila Prabhupada wrote: “I have formed this GBC for that purpose, to keep the devotional standards at the highest level and at the same time to manage a world-wide 14 organization.” (Letter to Rupanuga, November 4, 1970) Although most management takes place locally, a number of global functions for which the GBC is responsible need funding and staffing for effective operation. As Srila Prabhupada explains in the Bhagavad-gita (12.10, purport): “Every endeavor requires land, capital, organization, and labor. Just as in business one requires a place to stay, some capital to use, some labor, and some organization to expand, so the same is required in the service of Krishna.” Continue reading "GBC: Configuring Zones and Assigning Overseers – Resourcing ISKCON Global Services
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Homage To Jayapataka Swami By Bhakti Charu Swami
Bhakti Charu Swami

Dearest Jayapataka Maharaj, Please accept my most humble obeisances on this very auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja. All glories to our most glorious spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. I am eternally indebted to Srila Prabhupada for connecting me to you and allowing me to be...

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Saturday, April 1st, 2017
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Castleton, Ontario

Farm Conference II

On this very special day, the birth anniversary of Ramanuja (one thousand years ago today), we conducted our second Farmer’s Conference for central Canada.  Primarily we had attendees from the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

In as much as walking is a component of a green culture, so also is the protection of animals, plants and the land.  So many folks the world over, are converting to urban life. The gravitation to concrete, cars and condos is the trend from the more natural way of life, with closeness to the above mentioned categories. Where once there were multiple, family farms to grace the land with intermittent forests here and there, we now experience mega factory farms, industrial big-box buildings, parking lots, shopping malls and cookie-cutter designed homes moving along like a silent invasion.  Urban sprawl is hogging its way in.

Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, was a strong advocate of a more peaceful, environmentally-conducive lifestyle.  We spoke about his revolution and how to learn its implementation from each other.  The conference, held in December in the same area of Castleton/Coburg, commanded a follow-up.  The session today was held to fulfill this need.

A group of thirty participants engaged in a tour of Jai and Rasa’s farm—our rendezvous location—ate a wholesome meal and then proceeded to the community centre for discussions on good gardening techniques, bull castration—or not—and the practical aspect of how to plan for more farm-flavoured festivals such as Ratha Yatra.

May the Source be with you!


6 km

Friday, March 31st, 2017
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Hastings, Ontario

It was Not…

It was not the ideal weather for a stroll.  Cold pellets of rain descended upon our vehicle as we made our way to the farm near Hastings.  It’s at times like these when I don’t mind the shelter of a vehicle—this one being the van owned by Savyasacin.  I felt comfortable with his driving as well.  What a skill it is to operate a machine with ease and to do so safely in bad weather.

Our destination was the farm outside of Hastings.  The proprietors, Fil and Sukayanti, and their sixteen-month-old daughters, were our hosts.  Tasty veggie balls soaked in a seasoned, home-grown tomato sauce, dripping over whole wheat pasta was what we were greeted with, alongsside a supremely flavourful peppered salad.  Thanks, you two!

Fil and Suk are orthodox in their way of life, including how they deal with food.  It is, through the process of tender operations, offered to Krishna.  The food is powered by mantra.  It’s then called prasadam.

The couple also has a sweet way with their twin daughters.  Their cow herd of thirteen also receives loving treatment.  Savyasacin and I put alfalfa nuggets on the animal’s tongues.  It is slightly awkward for the bovine to just grab them with a lick.  You must make contact with their teeth.  Then they can swallow.

On such a miserable day, in terms of weather, all becomes pleasant with good food, good people and good pets.  Such lovely events lift a tough day to better heights.

It was a day to be grateful for in spite of the gloominess of the sky.  And, I did some walking anyway.

May the Source be with you!


5 km

Thursday, March 30th, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario

Listening

Some concerns came my way.  People want to tell of their woes.  Somehow it eases the pain.

One woman, a doctor from the Middle East, came for darshan of the deity.  She came to Canada to receive a second surgery for cancer.

“I’ve come to pray,” she said.

Another man, of Jewish descent, expressed, “I lost my wife of forty-one years.  She died of cancer.  I’m trying to adjust.  It’s not easy.”

Another person I had known reached out to me on the phone.  “I built a house for my family.  My wife asked me to leave.  My young children are asking, “Are you still our Daddy?”

The happiest story of all was expressed by my hosts of the day.  Three of us, ashram residents, went to the home of the Patel’s for a scrumptious lunch.  Mr. Patel, at retirement age, is saying, “We have run a good business for so long.  I want to sell it.  Mrs. Patel wants to hold onto it.  I want to go back to Gujarat, to my village, or Vrndavan, the village of Krishna, and live life simply.  Bobby (their son) has a good job, has a wife and they have a baby.  It’s time for me to go.”

It’s people expressing their lives’ ups and downs.  I don’t mind being a sounding board for them.  I offer to put in my two cents worth.  “Keep Krishna in the centre.”

We said our good-byes to the Patels. The other two ashram residents drove back. 

I walked.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Wednesday, March 29th 2017
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Toronto, Ontario

Like Kids

I always get a thrill when I take what I consider city kids into a country atmosphere.  They’re not exactly kids but junior to me in decades.  Perhaps the nomenclature could be justified.  Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, used the term “you boys and girls,” when he was in his 70’s and we were in our late twenties.

With me, down the ravine within the city limits, was Luv, Adi Shakti and Muza—one boy and two girls.  The sign read “Discovery Walk.”

“So, shall we?” I asked for confirmation.

“Yes!”  It was unanimous.

What did we explore?

A woodpecker close to our feet.  Sparrows in the bush.  A red cardinal as curious as we were, but too fast to get close to.  Also, geese and ducks, quite ordinary fowl, enjoying the water ways at the Brickworks, which was something else to discover.

“This was once the place where all the bricks in the city were made.  It was a quarry of sizeable dimension that we are now in.  Ponds were developed by redirecting some creek water nearby.  Indigenous trees were also planted here.  I’ve seen the place shape up to become desirable.  It has been transformed from an empty, cavernous big hole.

“They do weddings here now, and hold festivals, flea markets and craft shows.  It’s a happening place with concerts in the summer.  Perhaps it will be ideal for future kirtan.  What do you think?”  I asked my companions, especially the girls who are planning to organize kirtan chanting sessions as are done in Europe.

“Oh yes!” they all said enthusiastically.

They were truly in wonder at the sights and sounds.  They were like kids exploring and learning.

May the Source be with you!

10 km

If we feel social pressure to do some service other than what we feel inspired to do, which service should we choose?
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We all need role models – then what does we shouldn’t become xerox copies of others mean?
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What does spirituality have to say about modern cosmological knowledge?
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What is the difference between walking away from problems and running away from them?
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How can we know whether the inner voice comes from the mind or the intelligence?
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In Vishnu Sahasra Nama, how are Vishnu’s names Nimisha and Animisha reconciled?
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Ecstatic Rama Navami Celebrations in Madan, Bangladesh Nila…
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Ecstatic Rama Navami Celebrations in Madan, Bangladesh
Nila Kamal das: Madan is a small village located in North Bangladesh. For the last seven years, devotees from ISKCON Netrakona have been preaching there and have established regular Nama Hatta programs. There are around twenty initiated devotees there and they are conducting regular preaching programs there. ISKCON Netrakona devotees visit every month to inspire and enthuse the local devotees.
On the auspicious day of Lord Rama’s appearance, devotees from Madan arranged a wonderful pandal program in which nearly 2000 locals visited, took part in and honoured prasad.
‘Go on holding as many festivals as possible. Your reports are very convincing, this combination of book distribution and public festivals is very good for bringing the people to an attraction for Krishna Consciousness.’ June 5th 1974
On the day of the festival, devotees arrived in Madan around 11am. To the surprise of the devotees there were heavy wind and rain. Locals said that such extreme weather conditions were not to be seen even in the rainy season! At twelve noon, a yajna was performed under the expert guidance of HG Shyamasundarananda das (Mayapur). This was done in order to invoke auspiciousness for the festival. At the end of the yajna, Indra sent his blessings down again in the form of heavy rain. A small abhishek was then performed to a picture of Sita, Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman for Their pleasure. Devotees then went to break their fast and attend other services.
The evening program started at five with ecstatic kirtan. After the evening arati ceremony, various speakers shared their insights and realisations about the festival. Dr Subhananda das (National Heart Foundation, Dhaka) delivered a wonderful speech on how Lord Rama is ‘Maryada Purusottam’ and how He set the ideal example for all to follow. International guests from Spain and England then spoke to the audience and expressed their’ gratitude and happiness to be in Bangladesh to celebrate this festival.
Last but not least, the chief guest of the program; Shyamasundarananda das addressed the audience. He spoke on the paradox of the modern age. He described how the rich culture of Bangladesh is rapidly changing. ‘Every night in villages there used to be topics discussed on Ramayana and Mahabharata but now that tradition is not to be found. Now in the nights we find the villagers watching television or chatting on their smart phones.’ This statement deeply penetrated into the hearts of the locals. His grace then went on to narrate some wonderful pastimes of Lord Ramacandra which few devotees had ever heard off.
To conclude the speeches, HG Jay Ram das (ISKCON Netrakona President) thanked all the participants and volunteers for the festival and encouraged Madan devotees to again hold this festival next year.
The night ended with a drama performance by devotees enacting some sweet pastimes of Lord Rama. We would like to thank all the devotees who put in hard work and efforts in order for this program to be successful. We would especially like to thank the brahmacaris from ISKCON Netrakona, many who had sleepless in order to make arrangements for the program.
We hope that Srila Prabhupada and Caitanya Mahaprabhu are pleased with our humble efforts.

If someone insults us but we don’t feel angry whereas others feel we should be angry, what is happening to us?
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Iskcon Vrindavan Devotee Care Assisted Living Facility Bhumi Puja
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Hare KrishnaBy Kusha devi dasi

His Grace Pancagauda Prabhu gives the invocation speech on 4th April 2017 at the Iskcon Vrindavan Devotee Care Assisted Living Facility's Bhumi Puja at Deva Lok Colony. Srila Prabhupada wanted the devotees to come to Vrindavan to retire, to finish their days. And it is encouraging that we provide you would say a guest house if you need to come and stay and retire. We see our devoted community really growing and developing all over the world, our congregation and many devotees have spent many many years serving in Prabhupada's mission, Lord Chaitanya's mission and although we can say it's not our responsibility but people do come here to leave and go back home back to the spiritual world. So we're trying to provide a small facility to assist devotees and help them to be in Vraj, be in Brindavan and this wonderful spiritual atmosphere so that they can actually make perfection of the human form of life. Somehow Krishna arranged that we have devotees who are also interested Kesava Madhavan and his wife Priti they are developers and builders and they liked very much the idea of providing some facility and helping to develop a senior assisted living facility here in Vrindavan dham. So this is a start we hope to have 15 apartments or studio apartments with a couple of caregivers, even a medical trained person on board. We will have those battery-operated rickshaws so that those who want to come to the temple can come to the temple either way, it's not that far. It's quite actually a nice atmosphere out here, it's almost has a bit of a little more of a Vraj feel without all the vehicles and noise. So we're hoping it stays this way for a long time. I want to thank everyone for coming, so we will now perform the ceremony with the chanting of the Holy Name the blessings of the vaishnavas some yajna a little Prasadam distribution. We have a beautiful project and the cook of Srila Prabhupada is here, Shyama sundar prabhu from Hyderabad, he called me and said you know I'd like to donate to Srila Prabhupada's Kutir he felt that Prabhupada has given him so much and so he wanted to give back to Prabhupada so he gave and we want to utilize it to its full potential. I think it has a nice little project here will renovate the inside of Prabhupada's Kutir as well and so the two buildings will be together for the purpose of serving the devotees. Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! Continue reading "Iskcon Vrindavan Devotee Care Assisted Living Facility Bhumi Puja
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HH Jayapataka Swami Vyasapuja – Arrival Reception!
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On the auspicious occassion of Vyasapuja celebration of HH Jayapataka Swami on 7th April, on Kamika Ekadasi day,  the disciples & wellwishers of HH Jayapataka Swami welcomed Maharaj, who arrived at Mayapur yesterday (5th Apr) with a grand reception. Mayapur community children and mataji’s walked in front , blowing conch shells, carrying waterpots and lamps, while […]

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Pandharpur Parikrama 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Braja Prema Dasa

This was the fourth annual parikrama (walking event) organized by ISKCON Pandharpur , with 250 participants from all over India and abroad. Many of them came from big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Gaziabad, Pune, Muscat, Dubai, and also from Brazil. Our parikrama party was fortunate to have the presence of Navayogendra Maharaj, who gave various lectures during the walk. Other senior devotees who attended included Dharmaraja Dasa, Krishna Caitanya Dasa, Prahlada Dasa and Vitthalananda Dasa. The four-day parikrama started on February 4th and the daily schedule included mangal arati (morning worship) from 4:30 to 5:30 am after which we would begin walking and would have breakfast at 9:00 am. After breakfast we walked to the next holy site, take darsana, have lunch, rest and end the day with a lecture. Continue reading "Pandharpur Parikrama 2017
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How do we respond to people who self-identify as spiritual but not religious?
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How can our spiritual growth dismantle the power structures in today’s world that choke spiritual growth?
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How does spiritual consciousness help solve today’s practical problems?
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Just as a child learns by growth, can’t machines develop human features by technological growth?
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How do we decide when to confront a problem and when to accept it as destiny
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Shouldn’t love for Krishna soften devotees’ heart and make them gentler?
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How do we see when senior devotees act inappropriately and rationalize it based on their seniority?
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Should we choose a career based on our nature or on our parents’ expectation?
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Are scriptural models of duties to be implemented as it is today – should children obey their parents just as Rama obeyed Dasharatha?
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