If our material activities interfere with our spiritual life, how can we see those activities as spiritual?
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If our family members don’t support our bhakti, what should we do?
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Gaura Purnima Festival in Sri Vrindavan Dham – Russian House,…
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Gaura Purnima Festival in Sri Vrindavan Dham - Russian House, 12.03.2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: You cannot surpass the nature’s law. That is not possible. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Nature’s law will go on. Best thing is, let the hand… The hand can typewrite, but if you say, “No, the leg will typewrite,” that is not possible. Take hand’s business, take leg’s business, and combine them cooperatively. Then the body will be nice. If the leg says, “Why hand will type? I shall type,” that’s not possible. “Legs, all right, you walk, and hands that you type.” Then combine together. Then it will be nice. You cannot change the different capacities. There is God’s law, nature’s law. Let the man and woman combine together, live peacefully. The woman takes charge of the household affairs, the man may take charge of bringing money, and they meet together, have Deity at home, together chant Hare Krsna. Where is the difficulty? That is unity. Combine together, working differently but for the same purpose, for pleasing Krsna, then you will become happy. That is equality. Unity in variety. July 31, 1975, New Orleans
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Sri Gaura Purnima 2017 – ISKCON Seshadripuram Bangalore (Album…
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Sri Gaura Purnima 2017 - ISKCON Seshadripuram Bangalore (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Real strength will remain from Krsna-Balarama’s strength. Balarama. Balarama means strength. Nayam atma bala hina na labhyah. If you are not supported by Balarama, then it is not possible. So we have got our Balarama, Krsna-Balarama temple. (Srila Prabhupada – August 20, 1976, Hyderabad)
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“Corporate Spirituality” – Singapore Artha Event
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhakti Charu Swami

On 5th March 2017, 200 corporate professionals assembled to participate in a special discussion on “Corporate Spirituality.” The panelists were His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, ISKCON GBC Chairman &Renowned Speaker and Sanjiv Aiyar, President, PAN IIM Alumni Singapore. Continue reading "“Corporate Spirituality” – Singapore Artha Event
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Jagannath Mishra Festival
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Day after Gaura Purnima is celebrated as Jagannath Mishra Festival. Just as Nandababa celebrated Nandotsava in joy the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna, similarly, the wonderful appearance of the Lord increased the happiness of everyone in Srimati Sacidevi’s house. Both Sri Jagannatha Misra’s and Srimati Sacidevi’s hearts heaved joyous waves while looking at the Lord’s […]

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5310 biscuits distributed to spread the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
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Hare KrishnaBy Krsangi Radhe dasi

The 531st appearance anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the inspiration for devotees from the Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple in Durban, South Africa to bake, pack and distribute 5310 biscuits. The goal of the biscuit distribution was to help spread Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy to everyone and anyone. A group of devotees gathered at the temple’s Govinda’s restaurant bakery facility which holds industrial ovens to bake the biscuits. Temple President, Vibhu Caitanya dasa said that the thought behind this endeavour came after the devotees baked and distributed 5000 cupcakes for the ISKCON50 celebration last year. Vibhu Caitanya said, “We took advantage that this year the Gaura Purnima festival is on a Sunday. This meant that we could host a 3 day festival. As Srila Prabhupada blessed us with the wonderful gift of Krishna Consciousness, we would like to help him spread the mercy. A small team of 18 devotees began baking which took 18 hours to complete.” Continue reading "5310 biscuits distributed to spread the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
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Japa Retreat 2017 at ISKCON Houston
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Hare KrishnaBy Ravinder Yerram

Last weekend (March 3-5), 150 devotees from Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Oklahoma City and New Orleans had a joyful and spiritual Japa Retreat (Chanting of Holy Names) with His Holiness Romapada Swami and His Grace Bada Hari Prabhu at Greater Houston area, ISKCON Houston. This Japa Retreat is an annual event and for this year the theme of the Japa Retreat was "Taking Shelter of Holy Name – Saranagati!" Romapada Swami gave very informative lectures with scriptural evidences and realizations from his decades of scriptural studies and dedication to the chanting of the Holy Name, Maha mantra (Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare). This retreat was a perfect opportunity to enhance the relationship with the Holy Name! The attendees were also drowned by ecstatic kirtan by world renowned devotee musician HG Bada Hari Prabhu and his students from Chicago. Continue reading "Japa Retreat 2017 at ISKCON Houston
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How can we spiritualize our work without disturbing our colleagues?
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How does repetition in bhakti lead to attraction when normally repetition leads to satiation?
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Is our affection for Krishna to be cultivated as between wife-husband or spontaneous as between child-parent?
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Redirecting our desires and our speech towards Krishna
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Houston, USA]

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Do we make our destiny or are we made by our destiny?
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[Congregation Program in Phoenix, USA]

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Lord Chaitanya demonstrates that the heart is higher than the head
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[Gaur Purnima lecture at ISKCON, Phoenix, USA]

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Congratulations or Commiserations upon initiation (a thought)
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So meeting a wonderful devotee after his initiation i asked him a simple question “is it congratulations or commiserations?”

He looked a little confused, indeed it is a transforming moment in anyone’s life; and the beginning of a life most extraordinary so in many ways congratulations is in order.

But for those observing outside it can be a moment of commiseration as the focus goes from the pursuit of material gains and as society in general puts emphasis on possessions and financial wealth; and for those who have gained real knowledge understand really​ no value in this which goes against society norms.

So our dormant love of Krishna is woken and initiation is the outward sign of this and seeing others take this step indeed reminds me of this step, but it reminded me of one what i feel is one point to ponder.

The need to remain attentive

Not to let standards slip and to increase our love of Krishna and devotional service

As our spiritual selves emerge and increase from the dormant stage to an active stage, thus being in the material world our old material pursuing self goes from an active to a dormant stage.

The moment one feels well I’m most senior, I’ve been around for so long, or believe that one can become a little less strict in reading and chanting them instantly we can return to the point where we rejoin society in material pursuit

Initiation is a truly wonderful and remarkable the start of real living an opportunity few have and one best shared with everyone, and how best to show our gratitude for such an opportunity. Keep to our initiation vows and make devotees

Hare Krishna

A 450 Year-Old Deity of Lord Caitanya (Album with photos)…
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A 450 Year-Old Deity of Lord Caitanya (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya, “Virabhadra Gosani was the direct son of Srila Nityananda Prabhu and a disciple of Jahnava-devi. His real mother was Vasudha.” After the departure of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, Virabhadra brought 3 small deities to Vrindavan to be worshipped at Nityananda-vat; a deity of Lord Caitanya, a deity of Lord Nityananda and a deity of Jahnava-devi. Today, as part of the celebrations for Gaura Purnima, the deity of Lord Caitanya was worshipped right before our very eyes at Nityanand-vat in an unbelievable one-hour bathing ceremony. To see such an historic 450 year-old deity of Lord Caitanya directly in front of us was the greatest mercy we could imagine. I took photos so devotees everywhere could also relish!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/lNjgl0

From the Archives, Gaura-purnima 2013, Houston
Giriraj Swami

Gaura_Purnima_Houston_2013“We hold onto our material attachments because we don’t have faith in Krishna; we don’t have faith in the holy name. First, we doubt whether Krishna actually exists — whether He’s really a person. And then we doubt whether he will really save us. If I am falling, will Krishna catch me? And if we don’t have faith that Krishna will catch us, we will think we have to make so many material arrangements to protect, or support, ourselves. And ye yatha mam prapadyante — as we surrender to Krishna, He reciprocates. If Krishna sees, ‘Oh, this person is making his own arrangements; he thinks he doesn’t need me. All right, you are making your own arrangements — you take care of yourself.’ If someone really depends on Krishna, he can experience Krishna’s intervention. We will never experience Krishna’s intervention unless we take that chance — that risk — and depend on Him. Then we can actually experience it.”

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Iskcon Brisbane: Gaura Purnima 2017 (Album with photos) Srila…
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Iskcon Brisbane: Gaura Purnima 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The best policy to control the mind is to desire how to spread Krsna consciousness. This is the best. Kamah krsna-karmarpane. Narottama dasa Thakura has said that you cannot be free from desire. That is not possible. This is useless attempt. They say that “You become desireless.” No, that is not possible. How can I…? If I become desireless, I become dead. So long I am living entity, I must desire. I cannot check it. Therefore kama means desire. So at the present moment, we are desiring how to become happy in this material world, how to acquire so much money, how to acquire this, how to acquire this, how to get this, how to get that. This is kama. So this brain taxation, if you engage in Krsna’s service – how to spread Krsna consciousness, how to convince people about Krsna, how to take them to the Krsna’s desire, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66] – and in this way, if you go on making plan for spreading Krsna consciousness, then your mind is controlled. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.27 – January 4, 1975, Bombay
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“Corporate Spirituality” – Singapore Artha Event With Bhakti Charu Swami
Bhakti Charu Swami

Artha Forum hosts its 7th Event in Singapore on Corporate Spirituality In the constant pursuits to bring relevance of ancient vedic wisdom into modern businesses and corporate world – Artha forum conducted its 7th event in Singapore inviting entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and professional from for all walks...

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2017 Gaura Purnima Message By GBC Chairman’s 2017 Bhakti Charu Swami
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2017 Gaura Purnima Message By Bhakti Charu Swami (3 min video)
Dear Devotees,
Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I wish you all a very happy Gaura Purnima. It is a very special occasion for us, the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, the followers of Srila Prabhupada, because on this day the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared in His most munificent feature as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore, we celebrate this day as our New Year and resolve to commit ourselves to the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with all our heart and soul.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that His Krishna consciousness movement would spread all over the world in every town and village, and He very mercifully sent Srila Prabhupada to fulfill that prediction. Srila Prabhupada not only spread this movement all over the world but in order to continue his mission, even after his disappearance, he created the wonderful institution — ISKCON. We are experiencing how with the progress of time Krishna consciousness movement is expanding so wonderfully all over the world due to this divine arrangement of His Divine Grace. Now, we, the members of ISKCON have the solemn responsibility to continue his legacy and inundate the whole world with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s divine love (Krishna-prema).

In order to continue this glorious mission let us work together in a spirit of genuine love and trust. The more we develop this spirit of unity the more effective our endeavors will become. Therefore, with Srila Prabhupada in the center, let us all become truly united as brothers and sisters to fulfill the prediction of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

I hope this most glorious day brings you the greatest joy and spiritual fulfillment.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Bhakti Charu Swami.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/bxaszx

The Glories of Lord Caitanya
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Hare KrishnaBy Drutakarma Dasa

Revealing the Land of Krsna. Among the sacred cities of the world, Vrndavana is probably the least well known. Yet this small town in northern India ranks with Rome, Jerusalem, and Mecca as a center of worship. It was in Vrndavana that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, displayed His transcendental pastimes during His appearance on this planet some five thousand years ago. Over the course of centuries, the places of Krsna's pastimes were lost to human memory, until they were rediscovered in the sixteenth century by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krsna Himself in the role of His own devotee. Continue reading "The Glories of Lord Caitanya
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A unit of activities for ages 2-18, centered around Lord Caitanya’s Appearance Day
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Hare KrishnaBy Urmila Devi Dasi

Here are dozens of activities and resources for ages 2-18 about Lord Caitanya, organized around the five most potent limbs of devotional service. It's designed for parents who homeschool, or who have their children in non-devotee school and want to do something in the mornings, afternoons, or weekends. It can be used by devotee schools, once-a-week programs, or the festival coordinator who wants to do something special for the children for Gaura Purnima. Uses: For children being home-schooled to enrich the devotional part of the program. For regular academic schools that are related to Krishna consciousness. For once-a-week schools, children’s clubs, and similar supplementary programs. For children in non-devotee schools as a supplementary program in the morning or evening. Continue reading "A unit of activities for ages 2-18, centered around Lord Caitanya’s Appearance Day
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Appreciating Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
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Hare KrishnaBy Giriraj Swami

Sri Gaurasundara said that sankirtana is the only duty of humankind. This is proof of His magnanimous nature. Human beings can attain what it is impossible even for the best of the demigods to attain. Sri Gaurangadeva does not cheat and does not mix material enjoyment with spiritual understanding. He has preached what is most beneficial to all living beings. If one hears His teachings he will understand that all other teachings in this world are incomplete and weak. Sri Gaurasundara has not descended to cheat people as the mental speculators cheat people by presenting their insignificant sadhanas. By preaching Srimad-Bhagavatam Sri Gaurasundara has proved that the sadhanas put forth by so-called sampradayas are simply ineffective. He has also demonstrated that the congregational chanting of Krishna’s name is the only way to attain auspiciousness. Continue reading "Appreciating Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
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Lord Chaitanya’s Dancing, Vulnerability and Escapism
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Hare KrishnaBy Kesava Krsna Dasa

The dancing of Lord Chaitanya was so astounding that even the Lord of the universe, Sri Jagannatha was astonished. Lord Jagannatha who has seen the best of everything within and outside of the universes, how can He be astonished? Dance in Vaikuntha and Goloka must be beyond compare. The dance of destruction by Rudra must be inexplicably awesome. What was so unique about Lord Chaitanya’s dancing? Worldly scholars of our Gaudiya tradition will say that Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja and other Vaisnava author witnesses to such dancing have a tendency to exaggerate. After all, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is playing a ‘human’ role on earth, so should we not expect human limitations to His dancing at Ratha-yatra and elsewhere? Continue reading "Lord Chaitanya’s Dancing, Vulnerability and Escapism
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“Have you had a near-death experience?”
→ The Spiritual Scientist

I often talk about how theoretical knowledge is different from experienced knowledge, but we don’t always know what we are talking about. I was reminded of this when I spoke at Jacksonville, Florida to students from the University of North Florida on “Near Death Experiences – Has the white crow been spotted?”

The title referred to renowned psychologist William James’ statement about the criterion to challenge ruling theories in science: ““If you wish to upset the law that all crows are black, you mustn’t seek to show that no crows are; it is enough to prove one single crow to be white.”

In my talk, I discussed a strong candidate for the white crow in near-death studies – a case that seriously problematizes the materialist dogma that consciousness originates in the brain. It is the case of Pam Reynolds who was made brain-dead as a part of a surgery called “operation standstill” and during that brain-dead period had a vivid near-death experience (NDE).

After the class, three among the twenty-thirty students said that they had had NDEs. Seeing this frequency drove home the reality of the statistic I had read: “IANDS (The International Association for Near Death Studies) reports that as many 14% people, especially in USA, have had NDEs.”

How commonplace near-death experiences were became even more apparent when one of them nonchalantly asked me whether I had ever had a near-death experience.

I answered that I had had not a near-death experience, but an out-of-body experience. Once nearly a decade ago I had been sick and had been hospitalized. While I was given an intra-venous injection, something went wrong and instead of the fluid going into my body from the bottle, my blood started going into the bottle. I had dozed off during the injection. When I woke up and noticed what was happening, I became horrified and panicky. But suddenly I saw myself from an out-of-body perspective and immediately felt calm. After a few moments, I found myself back in my body. Still feeling calm, I pressed the nearby alarm button to call a nurse, who promptly fixed the problem.

My program in Jacksonville was held at the Bhakti House, a center run by a young couple: Amrita Keli Mataji, who is the Hindu Chaplain for the University of North Florida, and Lovelesh Prabhu, who is a software engineer.

While I have seen many youth centers managed by monks in India, this is the first youth center I have seen managed by householders, and that too in America. Amrita Keli Mataji and Lovelesh Prabhu have taken a two-story house, in which they live in one small part and open the rest of the house for students as a facility for staying and practicing bhakti.

One of the most inspiring features of being a traveling teacher of bhakti for me is seeing the commitment to outreach of devotees all over the world. Their dedication demonstrates that the zeal for outreach ignited by Srila Prabhupada burns strong in the hearts of his second generational American followers.

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