Anwser Podcast
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Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Anwser Podcast
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The post Is there any reference to the subconscious mind in the Vedic literature? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Online QA from Seattle for Boston devotees]
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[Online Wednesday feast class for Boston devotees from Seattle]
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2009, South Africa, Untitled Lecture)
How is it that the all good, all merciful and kind Supreme Personality of Godhead who is just full of love, who is just the well-wisher and friend of every living being, who cares about every little plant, every little jiva, how is it that the Supreme Lord, the Supreme Controller, has arranged all the varieties of suffering that exist in this world?
This question is very difficult to answer but it is an essential question for us if we want to love Krsna. We have to resolve this question. Otherwise, how can we love Krsna? If deep down in our heart there is any doubt about Krsna being in any way responsible for the suffering in this world, then how will we ever develop love of God?
In this world, the difficulties and the suffering are there for only one reason. Krsna is indeed unlimited and full of love but it is not an impersonal type of love. It is a personal type of love and Krsna, in this mood, cannot wait any longer. How long is it going to take, are you going to come back or not to the spiritual world? It is taking too long!
The Lord can’t wait forever and ever for us to just stay here in the material world, life-after-life, whilst eternally fallen and still not turning around! It takes too long, thus he has built into the material world some mechanism of suffering to bring us to our senses and make us turn back to him.
The ancient city of Madurai visited by pilgrims year-round witnessed a rather unique event on the 26th of March, 2017. More than 5,000 people from different walks of life gathered together in one of Madurai’s biggest outdoor auditoriums, Gandhi Mandapam, eager to celebrate the 1,000th Anniversary of a Stalwart Saint, Acharya and Guru, Srimad Ramanuja Acharya. ISKCON Madurai, under the inspiration of Jayapataka Swami and leadership of Balaram Govinda Das and Shanka Dari Das Temple President of ISKCON Madurai, organized the grand event.
New VIBe! (Visual Interactive Bhagavad-gita As It Is ebook)
Gaudacandra dasa Adhikari: I am excited to share with the devotee community and abroad the new VIBe!
Replete with over two hundred full-color images, this digital Visual Interactive Bhagavad-gi-ta- As It Is edition is certain to stimulate and enlighten any reader with its ancient yet thoroughly timely teachings. This digital edition comes with: Intro video, a visual table of contents, links to important chapter sections, glossary, appendix, scroll view, the ability to highlight text in different colors, in-margin notes, “my notes” section, chanting section, study cards, search, dictionary, bookmarks, quizzes, links to relevant videos, audio and study links, training videos, full screen, zoomable art galleries, sketch book, correspond with the publisher from within the book, etc. “Glorification of the Gita” added - one of the nine supplemental and inspirational chapters. A true portable “portal” into transcendence when stress hits or not!
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/YDnrud
ISV Harinaam in Paloalto - March 24th 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This Krsna consciousness movement is the greatest boon to humanity because it keeps one always engaged in Krsna’s service. The devotees think of Krsna, act for Krsna, eat for Krsna, sleep for Krsna and work for Krsna. Thus everything is engaged in the service of Krsna. A total life in Krsna consciousness saves one from material contamination. Srila Prabhupada; SB 4.30.19 purport
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Today is the day Britain begins its two year period of exiting from the European Union, the official beginning of what has been termed ‘Brexit.’ The country is surprisingly divided over our immanent departure from what started out as a trading partnership in 1973, and then gradually became ever more a state of monetary, legal and political union.
Perhaps its because of that creeping amalgamation of Britain into a European super-state, a situation that our forbears didn’t sign up for, that a majority of British people felt uncomfortable and wanted out. It was a slim majority, but a majority nonetheless.
To my American friends: Brexit is nothing like Texit, the idea of Texas leaving the union of the states of America. When your forbears signed documents to create the USA, they knew they were creating a political union – one nation with no national borders between the states. When Britain signed up there was no such agreement.
So today the exit begins.
The ancient city of Madurai visited by pilgrims year-round witnessed a rather unique event on the 26th March, 2017. More than 5,000 people from different walks of life gathered together in one of Madurai’s biggest outdoor auditoriums, Gandhi Mandapam, eager to celebrate the 1,000th Anniversary of a Stalwart Saint, Acharya and Guru, Srimad Ramanuja Acharya. ISKCON Madurai, under the inspiration of HH Jayapataka Swami and leadership of HG Balaram Govinda Das and HG Shanka Dari Das, Temple President of ISKCON Madurai, organized the grand event.HH Ranga Ramanuja Jeeyar along with many other senior Sri Vaishnava Priests were the guests of honor. Seen along with the guests of honor on the dais was a Murti of Srila Prabhupada, HH Jayapataka Swami , HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami, HH Bhakti Nityananda Swami, HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami and HH Bhakti Mukunda Swami. The event began with an Abhishek to the deity of Ramanuja Acharya. The Jeeyar spoke about the glories of Sri Ramanuja Acharya and his eminent role in spreading Vaishnavism all over the Indian subcontinent and now practically all over the world. He thanked ISKCON for organizing such an extravagant event and was very pleased that the followers of Vaishnavism celebrated the 1000th Anniversary in unison. Continue reading "Over 5000 people participated in ISKCON’S celebration of the 1000th Year Anniversary of Srimad Ramanuja Acharya
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Bhaktivedanta Manor Spring Darshan (Album with photos)
Please find below photos from the Manor on a sunny 28th March.
Sli...
“RAMAYANA”
Srimad Bhagavatam describes how Lord Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared in a transcendental human form as Lord Ramacandra in His eighteenth incarnation and exhibited superhuman powers. The name, form, qualities, and pastimes activities of this form are depicted in the great treatise of Ramayana. There are different versions of Ramayana in different parts of India and in different parts of the world yet the acaryas all accepted Valmiki Ramayana as the original version.
When they do not even know the cause of their punishment – their past sin.
For the last four years a Cambodian youth has been inspired to organize an elaborate yearly Hindu worship within the monastery of a major Buddhist temple (Pagoda) in Phnom Penh with the approval and consent of the local head monk. Not only is it a Hindu worship program, indeed the initiative has developed into the manifestation of a Hindu shrine within the Buddhist compound. On Sunday, April 26, 2017, a group of devotees from our Hare Krishna base center in Siem Reap travelled to the capital city to attend a shorter version of their yearly event that the group celebrates in the month of December. As we entered the Pagoda compound we were led to the place where for the last 4 years Bhakta Karney has been 'step by step' unfolding a Hindu rendering of ancient Cambodian Vedic gods and goddesses in an area especially assigned for such worship, reminiscent of a revival of ancient Cambodian Hindu worship. We were pleasantly surprised to see a group of some 30 Hindu Cambodians all engaged in making various arrangements for the elaborate worship soon to follow. Some were making flower garlands for the large stone-carved deities of Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu. Others were placing candle lamps and flower vases on the small altar that had the small Deities of Sri Sri Radha Krishna along with Deities of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and a photo of Srila Prabhupada. They had also prepared flower petals to be offered to all the deities. As darkness set in, the various colored lights placed in front of the altar produced a special effect. Continue reading "A Hindu Shrine Amidst A Buddhist Monastery
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 13 July 2010, Japa Talks)
The current temple of Lord Jagannatha in Puri is 800 years old and during that time, the fire in the kitchen of the Lord has never gone out. In the same way, we must keep the fire of our bhajan going and make sure it never goes out. Every day we must throw big logs of: worshipping the deities, serving and hearing from the vaisnavas, and chanting the Hare Krsna mahamantra. Then that fire will burn forever and increase and increase – let us just add more fuel as much as we can to the fire of pure devotional service!
At the recent GBC Meetings in Sridham Mayapur, the GBC College was pleased to present 32 graduates from the GBC College to the assembly of GBC members. As HG Rupanuga Prabhu (President of the GBC College) called out the names of the graduates, HH Romapada Swami handed them their graduation certificates, HH Bhakti Charu Swami gave them a pavitra (in the colours of the GBC College and offered to Lord Nrsimhadev) and HG Gopal Bhatta Prabhu gave them a GBC College bag. HG Tapan Misra Prabhu, the top student in this group of graduates, spoke briefly expressing his gratitude for the wonderful opportunity he was given to attend the College. He considered the companionship that was established to be most important. He also appreciated having the senior leaders speaking with them about the importance of organizing ISKCON. Continue reading "GBC College – Graduation Ceremony – February 2017
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[Talk to children at ISKCON, Seattle, USA]
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[Talk at ISKCON, Seattle, USA]
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The post What your phone can teach you about your mind 4 – Let bhakti change your memory appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Talk at ISKCON, Seattle, USA]
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The post What your phone can teach you about your mind 3 – Check your energy drainers appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Today I had a simple but profound realization: God is great, and God is good. If he were good but not great, He could not help us fully. And if He were great but not good, He could harm us. But He is great, and He is good, and He is always mindful of all the infinite living entities. These thoughts brought to mind a verse Srila Prabhupada often quoted from the Katha Upanishad (2.2.13):
nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam
eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman
“He is the prime eternal among all eternals. He is the supreme conscious being among all conscious beings. And He alone is supplying all the desired necessities of life for the many other living beings.”
I had heard these words before, but today they came to life. Now I pray to always remember the good, great Supreme Godhead and serve Him with gratitude and appreciation. As the same verse in the Katha Upanishad continues,
tam pitha-gam ye ’nupasyanti dhiras
tesam santih sasvati netaresam
“The wise souls who worship Him in His abode attain everlasting peace. Others cannot.”
Hare Krishna.
—Giriraj Swami
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2010, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture)
Who were we in our past life? Ever thought about that. Maybe we were already devotees in our last life and blew it up so we have come back again; it’s possible. On the other hand, it might also have been that we were a worm and some vaisnava spat and it landed on our head and by that we attained human birth now and our devotional service has begun. It could also have been that we were a rat in our last life and somehow or other ate some prasadam and that is why we still have a rat like mentality!
About a hundred people were in the room for our presentation. We started with a kirtan. Then I spoke about the glories of the Bhagavatam. I said, "There is so much news about the world. It's not good news. But the Bhagavatam is good news, in fact, it's great news, because it gives us direction how be completely happy and satisfied and then go to the spiritual world. Vasudeva Datta Prabhu then glorified some great personalities from Bhagavatam. He also mentioned the Fifth Canto, where we find out how to avoid the hellish planets. After speaking, he offered the set to the people. Twenty-five people came forward to get a set. I couldn't believe it. Never before had I experienced anything like it. In an hour we distributed twenty-six sets. We were all in bliss. Continue reading "Book distribution explosion in Sri Lanka!
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"In Alabama the police asked why I was wearing a dress. I didn't know it, but devotees had already been arrested there for "wearing a dress." That's what it was like in the South in 1971" He hitchhiked from Miami to Houston wearing his Hare Krishna clothes through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. Continue reading "Interview
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Who are meant to set the example of simple living for the rest of ISKCON but are living in opulent homes whose costs could go to build TOVP and which should have been given to ISKCON.
Harinama at Surfers Paradise - 26 March 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The distinction between a pure devotee and a karma-misra devotee is this: a pure devotee does not desire anything for material enjoyment, whereas a mixed devotee becomes a devotee to become a first-class enjoyer of this material world. (From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Bhag. 10.10.22)
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ISKCON Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada says, "Bhagavad Gita is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanisads in the Vedic literature whose purpose is to deliver mankind from the nescience of material existence and is devoid of any religion." (25 March, 2017) Saturday festival in ISKCON Temple, Budanilkantha, Kathmandu with social activist, CNN-hero and the founder of Maiti Nepal, Anuradha Koirala and Actress Rekha Thapa. Actress Rekha Thapa sponsored 45 Srimad Bhagavad Gitas for the students of Maiti Nepal. The students were very delighted receiving Bhagavad Gita as gifts. Rekha Thapa expressed the remarkable contribution of ISKCON, Nepal for such Krishna Conscious Movement among the youths in present world. Anuradha Koirala expressed that she had established a trend of daily bhajans among girls in her hostel but now onwards she would start a trend of Bhagavad Gita class of reciting at least a single stanza (sloka) every morning. She expressed her sincere thanks to actress Rekha Thapa and ISKCON, Nepal for arranging such spiritually uplifting environment for her students. Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavad Gita Distribution to the Students of Maiti Nepal
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Lord Krishna everywhere!
Bhakta Dasa: Our team just completed our display at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden show.
First time entry and they expect about 200,000 people to visit over the next 5 days.
We presented Radha and Krishna in the forest of Vrindavan.
The title of our entry is “ SPIRITUAL VISION”.
THANKS to all that helped with this preaching adventure.
Environmentalist seeks FIR for ‘attempt to murder’ Yamuna river, now a living entity.
Motivated by Uttarakhand high court orders declaring rivers Ganga and Yamuna living entities, environmentalists in Agra has asked the Agra police to register a case against those “guilty of attempt to murder” the Yamuna.
The rivers Ganga and Yamuna are losing their very existence. This situation requires extraordinary measures to be taken to preserve and conserve [the rivers]. They are worshiped by Hindus. These rivers are very sacred and revered. The Hindus have a deep spiritual connection with them … They support and assist both the life and natural resources and health and well-being of the entire community. The rivers are breathing, living and sustaining the communities from mountains to sea.
The unfiltered water of dirty drains, besides the sewer, continues to flow into Yamuna despite crores received for sewage treatment from state and central governments.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/onfids