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The Conch - Newsletter of the New Govardhana Community.
EDITORIAL BOARD: Damodara Pandit dasa, Govardhana Seva dasa, Krishnarupa devi dasi (ACBSP), Urvasi devi dasi
(layout and graphic design).
Srila Prabhupada: Vedic civilization is very strict. Because the whole aim was how to go back to home, back to Godhead, not sense gratification, eat, drink, be merry, enjoy. That is not the aim of human life. So everything was planned with that aim. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.3 – London, August 4, 1973
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Meet Guru Prasad devi dasi an Iskcon pujari, cook and popular myotherapist in Australia.
Mandakini devi dasi: Popular myotherapist and remedial massage healer Guru Prasad devi dasi decided last year to study Occupational Therapy (a specialized, four-year degree) at Southern Cross University.
Occupational therapy is a client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Therapists achieve this outcome by working with individuals and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or environment to better support their occupational engagement.
Once fully qualified, Guru Prasad may be called upon to assist children with learning disabilities, assist adults to bathe and dress after experiencing a stroke, modify workplaces so that injured people can return to work, teach parents how to care for a child after a motor vehicle accident, or design renovation plans to ensure a person’s home is accessible for their wheelchair and much more.
For Guru Prasad, this degree means mountains of study, particularly at the weekends, but she is embracing it wholeheartedly. Undaunted by the fact that her workload may well double next year, she is putting her best foot forward for the long haul.
In spite of her busy schedule, Guru Prasad is maintaining her commitment for two days a week Deity dressings and she also helps Ambika and Krishnarupa devi dasis with the practical devotee care program by cooking for devotees in emergencies whenever time allows.
Since mid-year 2016, she has reduced her usual five days a week clinical hours at her therapeutic massage clinic to two days. She is now available for consultation and treatments at her Main Street clinic on Mondays and Wednesdays only.

Normality and illness only exist in the illusionary vision of man. In reality, there is only the immense path of spiritual evolution, characterized by vicissitudes, incidents, stages, progresses, stasis, deviations, falls and imprisonments. Certain incidents are isolated and classified by medicine and psychology as “illness”. Then medicine and psychology study them under an unconscious perspective and do not take under account the evolution context in which they are inserted. These sciences can still obtain respectable, considerable and useful short-term results, but these are only limited to the symptoms. They can also have a certain prevention capability, however the entity and means of their cure and prevention cannot go beyond to reach the substance. This is because they are not contextualized into reality and into the process of spiritual evolution, which are mostly invisible even though they are sometimes remotely perceivable. Continue reading "The Yoga of Love – Beyond illness and psychotherapies
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In spite of what a person who is suffering depression may think, it is actually very easy to overcome depression from a spiritual point of view. It is not at all as difficult as one imagines. And this is a major issue, since it is all a matter of perspective or point of view, which is based on the mental disposition. This attitude and perspective is what must be changed. Mind has the mysterious power of magnifying a problem and making it appear formidable and bigger than it is. Do not listen to the promptings of the mind. Reject them ruthlessly and throw them out. Although spirituality may not be able to cure all forms of depression completely, it will certainly help. In many cases, developing oneself spiritually can lay the groundwork so that if you are depressed, you may change your view which may allow you to rise above a depressed state of mind. In other cases, it can lift you right out of any depression or despair that you may feel. Continue reading "Curing Depression with Spirituality
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Chanting the holy name and engaging in Bhakti-yoga (Krishna consciousness or devotional service) is the ultimate process of purification and healing in our tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The process of counseling should be seen as an adjunct to the process of Krishna consciousness, and although it can be helpful for some devotees, it is not in itself the panacea for all our problems. The reason for bringing this up is that sometimes the question arises: “Why do we need anything other than our spiritual practices to be successful in our spiritual life?” Continue reading "Psychotherapy and the Practice of Krishna Consciousness
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Answer Podcast

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The post Why did Krishna allow the desecration of Deities by foreign invaders in medieval times? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

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The post Does the soul come first in the womb and the subtle body comes later after which consciousness manifests? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Class at Radha Madan-Gopal Mandir, ISKCON Nasik on Bhagavad-gita 18.33-35]

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The post Determination in the three modes – Hindi appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

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The post When others’ words makes us disturbed and dissatisfied, how to deal with that dissatisfaction – Hindi? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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The post When we are unable to practice devotional principles, are we hypocritical – how to overcome it – Hindi? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

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The post How can we overcome the unhappiness felt on seeing others go away from bhakti – Hindi? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Happy Vasanta Panchami, Vrindavan’s first day of spring, which is the appearance day of Srimati Visnupriya Devi, Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Sri Raghunandana Thakura, and Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami; the disappearance day of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura; and the anniversary of the acceptance of sannyasa by His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami (my sannyasa-guru). May they shower their mercy upon us all.

Hare Krishna.

—Giriraj Swami

Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

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The post Gita 12.09 If absorption in Krishna is unattainable, seek attraction through connection appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Sri Advaita Acharya was the first among the associates of Lord Chaitanya and He appeared on earth some 50 – 60 years before Lord Chaitanya’s own advent. Sri Advaita Acharya is recognised as a combined incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu and Sri Sadasiva, Lord Siva in Goloka dhama.

Before the appearance of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, all the Vaisnava devotees in the Navadvipa area used to gather at the house of Advaita Acharya. In these meetings, Advaita Acharya preached on the basis of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.

It is said that Advaita Acharya prayed fervently to the Lord for several months. He worshipped His saligram silas lovingly with sacred tulasi leaves and Ganges water calling out to the Lord to manifest and show a way to the worldly people to reach the eternal spiritual abode.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 November 2008, India, Lecture at Mamgachi)

We will just read something from the Caitanya Bhagavata. Srila Prabhupada said that the nature of scripture is that it is sweet on all sides so it does not matter where you begin, it is always sweet.

Lord Visvambhara looked at Advaita Acharya and said, “I have descended to this world in response to your vow and repeated worship. I was resting on the ocean of milk but your roaring woke Me up. You are so merciful that you could not bear to see the suffering of the conditioned living entities and so you summoned Me to alleviate their painful condition. All of these demigods, sages, devotees and associates have appeared in response to your call.”

Advaita Acharya had worshiped the Salagram Sila with Ganga-jal and Tulasi because he had read in the scriptures that the Lord said, “When you offer Me Ganga-jal and Tulasi, then there is nothing in My possession to repay such an offering. And thus all I can do is give Myself.” Thus, Advaita Acharya thought, “This is it! I will force the Lord to appear!” but he never knew that the Lord had appeared because for so many years Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained hidden.

No one knew that Nimai Pandit, the extraordinary scholar, was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. No one had any idea but at this point, where we are reading now, Lord Caitanya has just revealed to Advaita Acharya that He is the Supreme Lord so Advaita Acharya is in ecstasy.

Lifting his arms, Advaita Acharya responded, ‘Today my life has become successful. All of my dreams have been fulfilled. By seeing Your lotus feet, my birth has gained meaning. O Lord, who else but You could liberate all the living entities.” Tears rolled down Advaita Acharya’s cheeks as He spoke. “Now perform My worship,” the Lord said. Having received this instruction, Advaita Acharya began worshiping the Lord’s lotus feet in great ecstasy. First, he washed Visvambhara’s lotus feet, then he smeared scented oil on them. Next, he dipped tulasi-manjari’s into sandalwood paste and placed them on the Lord’s lotus feet. Advaita Acharya performed worship with flowers, frankincense and lamps while everyone glorified the Lord. While Advaita Acharya continued the worship, he chanted the verse, ‘O my Lord, You are well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas indeed. You are the maintainer of the entire universe.’

Or the famous verse: namo brahmanya-devaya, go brahmana-hitaya ca, jagad-dhitaya krishnaya, govindaya namo namah. Advaita Acharya kept on repeating that mantra again and again while he was worshiping the Lord. So it is very interesting how that mantra is now so much part of our everyday life. At least a few times a day, we are chanting that mantra as if it is just another mantra and not realizing how intimate that mantra is to the Supreme Lord, how dear it is to the Lord and how essential it is to the pastimes of the Lord.

We are pleased to announce that marble work on the walls outside the main temple entrance has begun, and once finished sandstone work will commence.

This is part of the exterior finishing work that will continue on an ongoing basis until the temple is completed.

The post Temple Room Entrance Marble Work Begins appeared first on Храм Ведического Планетария.

http://planetiskcon.rupa.com/index.php/author/h-h-indradyumna-swami/page/6/

We all practice sadhana-bhakti, and to achieve perfection in it by taking another happy birth enables a Vaisnava/i to associate with and obtain blessings from those eternally liberated souls forever serving with the Lord. In this regard, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur explains: "In this context we will make our analysis according to the method described in Srila Rupa Gosvami's Ujjvala-nilaman?i. There are two categories of gopis: the eternally perfect (the nitya-siddhas) and those who have become perfect by practicing bhakti-yoga (the sadhana-siddhas). The sadhana-siddhas are of two categories: those who belong to special groups and those who do not. And there are also two classes of the gopis belonging to special groups: namely the sruti-caris, who come from the group of the personified Vedas, and the rsi-caris, who come from the group of sages who saw Lord Ramacandra in the Dandakaran?ya forest.” (SB 10.29.9 purport) Continue reading "Where Do Our Departed Vaisnavas Go?
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ISKCON-Delhi: Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami Appearance 01-02-2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If you make your friendship with Krsna, that will never break. If you make your master Krsna, you’ll never be cheated. If you love Krsna as your son, He’ll never die. Similarly, if you love Krsna as your lover or husband, He will be the best husband, the best lover. There will be no divorce. That is Krsna consciousness. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 4.13-14 – New York, August 1, 1966
Find them here: https://goo.gl/lGFLSz

Transcendental Street Art (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: For so many countless lifetimes the conditioned souls have been giving all of their service and energy to the service of Maya, and I am requesting all of my disciples that for this one lifetime you give all of your energy and service to Krishna. The spiritual force is eternal, so to give simply one lifetime to Krishna is not a very difficult thing. And yet if we are serious in executing the devotional principles, this one lifetime of service to Krishna will absolute and final solution to all the problems of life. Sincere devotional service in even one lifetime is sufficient to make one eligible to return to the Vaikuntha world permanently. Krishna Consciousness has got this power. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Madhudvisa – Hamburg 7 September, 1969
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MAKING MARRIED LIFE AN ASHRAM THROUGH THROUGH WORSHIP OF THE FORM OF KRISHNA, SAINTS, AND THE HOLY NAME: I devoted a previous blog to the power of Deity worship in general and some of my experiences being a temple pujari for so many years. Today, after I dressed our Gaura and Nitai, and beheld the other Deities, all recently worshiped and adorned with new dresses and ornaments, as I chanted, I felt both awe and inspiration that these forms of Krishna and his expansions and energies have allowed us to live with and serve them. I was appreciating how for a householder, regular worship of Deities and seeing them as the true owner and enjoyer of our home and lives, is one way we transform our home into an ashram.

We have a simple home standard where we offer them everything we eat two or three times a day, and dress and bathe them once a week, while the shilas are worshiped daily, though also simply. I have reasoned that our real worship is through our daily chanting of the holy name through japa and kirtan, offering our prayers, and ultimately our very life and soul, which is the point of everything we do.

Saranagati, or surrendering our body, mind, and soul and all that we possess for divine service, or bhakti, is the process of spiritual awakening. Surrender is a loaded word, and we naturally feel it means we have to give up so much, lose so much. However paradoxical it may seem materially, it is by surrender that we gain our soul and true spiritual nature.

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Like so many things, both Economy and Cow Protection can exist in the Mode of Ignorance, the Mode of Passion and the Mode of Goodness. And although the Economic models can be perceived easily through the different modes of Nature, its way more difficult to differentiate Cow Protection within the different modes of Nature. It’s only been within the last 20 years or so that Cow Protection has taken on any kind of form. That it is not just a bunch of cows hanging around a field with red hands all over them and old Maha garlands hanging dishevelled on their horns. At least, on some Cow Protection projects it has been realised there are models to follow, albeit within the two lower modes of nature. Continue reading "Natural Economy, Cow Protection and the Mode of Goodness.
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A recent presentation in Bhaktivedanta Manor about Iskcon Gainesville's, (Florida, USA) successful program of bringing in new devotees. Focusing on recruiting, preparing the proper environment, tolerate breaking secondary rules and correct once a week, offering respect and appreciation, assigning responsible duties since the beginning, vision for a future devotional career, providing proper living facilities for man and women, access to car, internet etc., zero tolerance in regards the regulative principles, systematic training, realistic counseling, make everyone feel important, understood, welcome and loved, like mother Yamuna did. Continue reading "Successful methods of outreach
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Тех же, кто поклоняется Мне, безраздельно предавшись Мне и посвящая Мне все свои действия, кто занимается преданным служением и постоянно размышляет обо Мне, сосредоточив на Мне свой ум, — таких людей, о сын Притхи, Я без промедления вызволяю из океана рождения и смерти.

The account of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu’s deliverance of the two drunken sinners Jagai and Madhai demonstrates the harmful results of blaspheming Vaishnavas and the beneficial results possible for those who do not blaspheme. Sri Caitanya-bhagavata (Madhya-khanda, 13.39–43) describes:

“Every type of sin became manifest in the bodies of those two [Jagai and Madhai] except the sin of blaspheming Vaishnavas. They happily spent their days and nights in the company of other drunkards. Therefore they had no opportunity to blaspheme the Vaishnavas. The assembly in which Vaishnavas are blasphemed will be ruined, even if all other religious principles are observed. If an assembly of sannyasis indulges in blasphemy, then that assembly is more sinful than an assembly of drunkards. A drunkard will be delivered in due course of time, but one who engages in blasphemy will never attain the goal of life.”

Later, after Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu delivered Jagai and Madhai, Mahaprabhu accepted all their sinful reactions—and sent the sinful reactions to those who blaspheme devotees:

“Mahaprabhu said, ‘O brothers, I have accepted the sinful reactions of Jagai and Madhai. You will all see for yourselves.’ In order to demonstrate that there were no more sins remaining in the bodies of those two, the Lord’s body turned blackish. The Lord said, ‘How do I look?’ Advaita replied, ‘You look just like Sri Gokulacandra [Krishna, Syamasundara].” On hearing Advaita’s comment, Visvambhara smiled and all the devotees chanted the name of Hari. The Lord said, ‘See how these two sinners are black. Perform kirtan so that their sins take shelter in those who blaspheme.’ Hearing the Lord’s words, everyone became jubilant. They then began to perform kirtan in ecstasy.” (Cb Madhya-khanda 13.298–303)

I desperately pray never to commit the offense of blaspheming devotees. Rather, as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “Let me have unlimited mouths and unlimited lifespan to unlimitedly glorify the unlimited qualities of Krishna’s devotees.”

Hare Krishna.

—Giriraj Swami

Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

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The post Gita 12.08 Bhakti changes not our outer location but the locus of our inner world appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, April 2008, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Lecture)

I would say that in our Hare Krsna Movement, one of the great causes of devotees becoming dry in their spiritual practices is because they do not get absorbed in reading. You see, chanting is something you do because we measure it – sixteen rounds; it is very clear. But we do not vow to do one hour of reading. We just do not make that vow so we do not give it the same urgency but it should have the same urgency. Reading of scripture is very important; very, very important. If we are not reading, I guarantee you that everything will become stale.

Reading has the capacity to just sort of change our whole vision back to transcendental. So it is very important and many devotees will say to you, “I use to read much more before I joined than after…” and many would agree to that. I understand that circumstances and the culture in which we live is not favourable that we have to struggle to do it but it is really is important. And if you have so much service that you never have time to read, then maybe it is time to speak to the senior vaisnavas about giving you some time. Of course, I know that when you get that little time then you fall asleep within two minutes. But I knew one devotee then who was really fired up. He used to be cleaning with one hand and with the other he was learning slokas! He did it and he became very learned!

What would you do if the White House were to announce that President Trump added India to the list of nations whose citizens are temporarily banned from entering the United States? What if the president announced that banning entry to majority Hindu countries is a small price to pay for keeping America safe?

Five Principles of Vedic Education (12 min video)
His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami explains about the basic principles of Vedi...

Umang Festival at ISKCON Gaya (Album with photos)
On 29th Sunday evening, Umang Festival was celebrated at Dharmsabha Bhawan, Gaya by ISKCON Youth Forum, Gaya. More than 500 students attended the festival from Gaya Engineering College, Gaya College, Magadh University, Central University and some other educational institutions. The festival started with a movie “Bina PK” (A movie where all the answers are given to the questions asked at PK). After that, a seminar on “Mind Your Mind” was given by Hg IsvarNam Prabhu(Director, IYF, Bhagalpur). Hg Rambhadra Prabhu(Director, IYF, Bihar) delivered the concluding points. A drama on “Me & Mind” was performed by the IYF, Gaya devotees. Thereafter the students enjoyed the Mantra Rock and delicious dinner…Iskcon Gaya website was launched….Please visit www.iskcongaya.com
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ZQDNBO