Websites from the ISKCON Universe
An interreligious dialog, held in ISKCON Germany/Austria’s headquarters near Frankfurt from April 21st to 23rd, will discuss the very topical question, ‘Religion: Peacemaker or Cause of War?” This will be the third annual such event organized by ISKCON and Religions for Peace, the largest international coalition of world religion representatives dedicated to promoting peace. About 100 people will attend this April’s event
Often pushed by his male disciples to minimize ISKCON women’s spiritual position, Srila Prabhupada reacted, for example, in the following way: Srila Prabhupada: ‘”You dance, she dances. You sing, she sings, you cook, she cooks, there is no difference. You are the same in Krishna’s eyes.”
The number of sannyasis grows from year to year in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, to well over 100; and those who take the vows of this final ashram of renunciation are, since recently, receiving formal training over and above what they receive individually in the course of their devotional lives and through the guidance of their sannyasa mentors. In pursuit of this aim of formal training, on February 18 – 22 we held a Sannyasa Candidate Training Seminar in Sridham Mayapur.
A video by Madhuri Pura Das & Jaya Chaitanya Das.
During Club Week at California State University Long Beach, the Los Angeles Harinam team established a Music Meditation Club and performed kirtan to bring a positive and peaceful atmosphere. Watch as many students join in on the fun! eaturing Harinam Ruci and the LA Sankirtan team. A video by WestCoastMonk
[Talk at Colorado State University, Denver, USA]
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Denver, USA]
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The post Understanding what is our quota in material life – 1 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Distributing SP’s books in IRAN! (Album with photos)
Satyanarayana das: Whether it’s happening within the bustling souks (marketplaces), on the streets or in storefronts, nothing stops blissful Shakatari Prabhu from distributing hundreds of Farsi “Perfection of Yoga” books throughout the cities of Tehran and Shiraz, Iran. And they simply love the books…!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/8V75xo
The post Daily Darshan: Mar 16,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Then Five Years is a book that you don’t want to miss. Hear more and here is the link: http://a.co/czOZiH5
Hare Krishna Auckland - Gaura Purnima 2017 (Album with photos)
Hrdayananda: [translating] He’s saying that he thinks the way we dress, our whole way of life, will make our movement only available to a few people, because it requires someone who is prepared to completely change his way of life.
Srila Prabhupada: Well, when there is question of knowledge, only you will find a few people to get the knowledge. When you put this question, “Find out some learned scholar,” generally they will be very…, their number will be very little. But one thing is that if there is one man in real knowledge, he can give the…, distribute the knowledge to many. The example is just like kas candras tamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah: if you get one moon at night, that is sufficient to dissipate the darkness. And there are millions of stars–it is useless. So it is necessarily not required that everyone should be in perfect knowledge. But if one man is in perfect knowledge, hundreds and thousands can hear from him and they can perfect. So it does not depend on the quantity; it depends on the quality.
From a conversation with professors – February 19, 1975, Caracas
Find them here: https://goo.gl/r4asu0
Sacred Waters (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we had the good fortune to visit Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda. A...
View of TOVP from the Navadvip Bridge (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: For many years we were meditating how the Temple would look like from few kilometers away.
Here we can see photos from the other side of Navadvip, where the main bridge is, where it crosses the Ganga.
You can see the visibility of Navadvip and the big Temple. Also you can see the contrast of the landscape and the surrounding buildings around the Temple.
Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi is very large building, but compared to the height of the Main Temple it looks so small!
The Temple height is not completed yet. The Main Kalash is 65 feet height (around 20 meters).
And this Main Kalash is not even placed on top as yet, which will make the Temple look even higher.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/oQLB2q
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Nārada asks where the world, full of so many amazing specifics, comes from.
Brahmā says it comes from Brahman (“Great Being”) – and the fascinating thing is that this great being is “beyond specification” (“Beyond qualities” – nirguṇa) – because if it can be specified or qualified, then it must be delimitable, and then its greatness is not beyond measure.
Then Nārada asks a very big philosophical question which is a very troublesome riddle for Buddhist and Monist schools: “How is it possible that qualities come from something without qualities?”
It seems Brahmā is saying that the Great Being cannot be qualified at all, which is what Buddhists and Monists say. So Nārada asks for clarification, with this question.
Brahmā answers that the Great Being has Great Power (śakti), and this power has various qualities, so the riddle is solved. Buddhists and Monists cannot give this answer because it goes against their fundamental tenant that the Great Being is absolutely one – if it has power, then, they argue, this power is distinct and different from it, so it is no longer absolutely one.
Bhāgavatam is distinct from Buddhism and Monism because it explains from the outset that the Great Being is “Advaya Jñāna” – which means that it is consciousness (jñāna) in which pluralities (dvaya) are not significant (advaya). In other words, it is a unified whole, with distinct intrinsic parts. So it describes the fullest conception of Brahman (the “Great Being”) as Bhagavān, the possessor of Great Potency.
Potency or Power is śakti – sometimes called “energy” – which is defined as, “the means by which an agent accomplishes an objective.”
Bhāgavatam describes the Great Being not just as “consciousness” (brahman) but as “a conscious entity” (Paramātmā). It is consciousness, and it can use consciousness to perceive and act upon itself, which it manifests in various ways – thus producing the world with so much variety and specificity.
[This conversation between Brahmā and Nārada comes from Chapter Five of Part Two of Bhāgavata Purāṇa. You can read it in my translation: Creating the Creator.]
By Kripamoya Das Here is a brief checklist to help you with your testing of a prospective guru. Education. Has he studied Vedic literature sufficiently to become a teacher? Has he become an expert in any particular literature? Has he passed any examinations? Can he recite verses from memory? Does he demonstrate his learning by references when he gives classes? Is he faithful to Srila Prabhupada’s translations and commentaries in his presentations? Are you sure that he does not unduly emphasize any particular portion of the philosophy but provides a balanced presentation? Is he knowledgeable of Deity worship? Does he perform Deity worship himself? Can he conduct ceremonies and teach others how to celebrate festivals? Does he know how to cook for Krishna? Does he know the standard Vaishnava songs and prayers? Continue reading "The Guru: A Checklist
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For the pleasure of their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Sri Pancatattva, Sri Nrisimhadev, Srila Prabhupada and all the readers, Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha informing a very remarkable 2nd annual festival UTSAHA that has been held on 26th Feb. 2017, Sunday at Rabindra Bhavan cultural hall, Krishnanagar. This program mainly for the welfare of Mayapur Bhakti […]
The post ‘Utsaha’ Festival appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Work has recently begun on the temple columns’ exterior mock-up, a design which will be used on the columns all around the temple.
In the image below you can see half the exterior mock-up as it goes around the main column structure. The final product will be made of two pieces which will wrap around the actual column and be joined together to completely encase it.
We are very happy with the design and effects of the mock-up. Once we are fully satisfied we will make the rubber molds and begin casting the column pieces in GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete), after which work will commence to install them.
We are very excited about this new aspect of the interior finishing work that has begun and hope all the devotees are pleased with our progress.
The post Temple Column Exterior Mock-up In Progress appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
TOVP 2017 is a presentation by TOVP Chairman, Ambarisa das, about the current progress of the TOVP construction and an appeal for donations to help continue the current pace towards its completion in 2022. A video by Thakur Saranga Das.
The Sankirtan movement in South Africa (Album with photos)
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: Photos from the last two days of the Verula...
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The post When guidance is not easily available, how can we make good choices? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post How can we assess our service when we are not pure-hearted? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post In the practical-philosophical categorization, where does the emotional fit in? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post When we face problems, we need practical solutions, not philosophical solutions – how can scripture help? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post What is the best way to monitor our mental habits? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Talk at Denver University, Denver, USA]
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Short but amazing aerial glimpse of the Gaura Purnima Abhishek 2017 in Mayapur (1 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: If a living entity is developed in Krsna consciousness and is merciful to others, and if his spiritual knowledge of self-realization is perfect, he will immediately attain liberation from the bondage of material existence. PURPORT In this verse the words daya jivesu, meaning “mercy to other living entities,” indicate that a living entity must be merciful to other living entities if he wishes to make progress in self-realization. This means he must preach this knowledge after perfecting himself and understanding his own position as an eternal servant of Krsna. Preaching this is showing real mercy to living entities. Other types of humanitarian work may be temporarily beneficial for the body, but because a living entity is spirit soul, ultimately one can show him real mercy only by revealing knowledge of his spiritual existence. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, jivera ‘svarupa’ haya-krsnera 'nitya-dasa’: [Cc. Madhya 20.108] “Every living entity is constitutionally a servant of Krsna.” One should know this fact perfectly and should preach it to the mass of people. If one realizes that he is an eternal servant of Krsna but does not preach it, his realization is imperfect. >>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 4.29.1b
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/9hJV1m
In the 1960s Ranchor Prime left home to find God. He has been searching through nature and the spirit ever since. In this beautiful book, he reflects on his journey and, one by one, introduces the reader to the eight elements of ancient Hindu cosmology. For more information visit: https://issuu.com/fitzroviapress/docs/elements_issuu_1
The post Daily Darshan: March 15,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Akrura Ghat @ Vrindavan 10/03/2017 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Akrur Ghat is a little distance from Vrindavan in the fields and forest. Because of it’s peace and quiet, Mahaprabhu stayed here on His Vrindavan visit. This is where Akrura saw Krishna and Balaram within the waters of Yamuna. Later Krishna gave the Brijbasis darshan of Vaikuntha and Goloka at this place. Used to be broken down place, but now it is very nice remodeled and maintained. Just down the road in a very peaceful forest, some Babas are maintaining a beautiful gaushala! Vittalrukmini Das checked it out with his friends!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/RMJh32
By Kesava Krsna dasa Just as the pumpkin transformed into an impressive stagecoach which took Cinderella to the ball, the magic of trnad api …. By which we can obtain Sri Guru’s grace, Sri Nityananda’s grace who as Sri Balarama will be pleased to transform Iskcon into a dazzling Vaikuntha airplane. Our ploughing will then become an easier affair.
Continue reading "Opposites & Unlikely Sources
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The latest news from the Hare Krishna Festival of India Tour.
Sankirtan Yajna Prabhu distributed Srila Prabhupada’s books directly to students at the Festival of India at George Mason University. This is one of the Universities where Festival of India has been sponsored to set-up our exhibits, tents, and distribute Krishna Prasadam and Srila Prabhupada’s books. Please contact us for details how to bring the Festival to a University near you. This is a sure way to get Srila Prabhupada’s and Lord Krishna’s mercy.
As Lord Krishna says in the 68th and 69 verses of the 18th chapter of the Gita: For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.
So let us continue, at every festival introducing students, and everyone else we meet to this sublime science of Krishna Consciousness, as it will guarantee your devotional service and in the end you’ll go Back to Godhead. Hare Krishna.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/mo3rFb
Mayapuris’ New Album To Have Intriguing Concept.
It’s been seven long years since kirtan band The Mayapuris released their debut album “Mridanga,” hitting the top five in the iTunes World Music chart.
The Mayapuris were one of the original second generation ISKCON groups to bring Gaudiya Vaishnava kirtan to the forefront of the burgeoning mainstream kirtan scene.
Since their debut, others have continued to forge the path, with Madi Das and his Bhakti Without Borders charity album winning a Grammy nomination.
A new sannyasi for Iskcon.
Markendaya Rsi Prabhu took his sannyasa initiation from Jayapataka Swami. His new name is Bhakti Mu...
By Kripamoya Das I often get asked questions by people who are looking for a guru: “What sort of teacher should I be looking for?” is shortly followed by: “And where do I begin looking for someone like that?” After they’ve thought a few moments the next question is: “What sort of things do I have to do before I can become someone’s student?” “What happens if I don’t quite measure up?” Some time later the questions are more about what will happen after they become initiated: “What is he supposed to teach me?” “How do I know if he’s teaching me the right things?” Lots of questions but, strangely enough, the same questions that people have been asking for a long time. Proof of this is that way back in the 14th century a great spiritual teacher named Vedanta Deshika gave answers to these questions in a short book – Nyasa Vimsati. The answers proved so popular and correct that Gopala Bhatta Goswami included them in his handbook of devotional practise, standard for Gaudiya Vaishnavas for the last 500 years. Continue reading "New questions same as the old ones
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Dear Devotees
Kadamba Kanana Swami is receiving Ayurvedic treatment at the hospital in Coimbatore, South India. He is strictly prohibited from using his phone, computer, etc. and cannot reply to emails and other messages. Please allow him space to undergo his treatment peacefully! We will do our best to keep you updated on his stay in hospital via KKSBlog and Facebook.
