Planet ISKCON

Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

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The post Gita 11.36 What brings joy to the godly causes misery to the ungodly appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Untitled Lecture)

When I approached my spiritual master for initiation, he said, “Hmmm, as good as God, are you prepared to accept that?” And I thought, “Umm, well, I don’t know…” but I just said yes with a weak voice because it is not so simple to accept the spiritual master as good as God. But this is Krsna’s standard so what can we say. So somehow, gradually we must bring the guru-disciple relationship to that point. For me, it was not so easy because I had been initiated before and that relationship did not work – the spiritual master did not maintain spiritual standards and then to try to get into the mood of being a disciple again was a little difficult.

At that time, I was the temple president in Vrindavan, one of the big international headquarters of Iskcon. People would salute me as I would walk by and offer pranams (respectful hand gesture)! Half the town would come and offer respects, what to speak of devotees in the temple. And suddenly, I had to sit in a yajna again with the new bhaktas, remove my brahmin thread and sit down there and be initiated!

So I had a complete identity crisis to tell you the truth! At that time I felt somewhat awkward but my spiritual master understood and was kind and gave me some credit in the midst of that sacrifice. He said, “I want to give him two initiations at once.” Well, that was a relief because I wasn’t sure if he was going to do that so at least, I was going to get my brahmin thread back; that was something! And then he said, “In fact, I would like to give him three, I would like to give him sannyasa as well but we will have to postpone that due to the particular rules and regulations in that regard.” By then it got pretty nice but it was not easy to just sit down in the sacrifice!

But afterwards, there was the whole thing of bowing down! I had to get used to it, to bow down! The scriptures say to bow down many times whenever one sees the spiritual master. That was a bit of an adjustment. Like that, I had to practice and I still have to practice in this guru-disciple relationship – to not take it casually, to not take it cheaply but to get really serious about it as a disciple and try to really act in such a way as he likes, as he would like in all situations. By now, I have some idea of what he likes and what he does not like.

So the spiritual master is always present in his instructions and following instructions does not come automatically, it takes real endeavour, but when that endeavour is made then the relationship becomes really meaningful…

JOYFULLY BEING ALONE: This topic is an extension of a frequent topic of mine, dealing with it on a daily basis, where I extol the virtue of introspection and self-analysis as part of clearing out impediments to devotion in the stage of bhakti called anartha-nivritti (retiring unwanted habits of thought and action)--at least that is often the hint. We live in a time of busy-ness and addiction to innumerable distractions, where it isn't seen as cool to just be sitting down without a handheld device, something to do, or talkative friends.

I remember once on a busy street being taken by the beauty of a particular cloud, where the comments I heard from passersby were about my being on drugs or exhibiting unusual, curious behavior to be looking up at the sky, as if their personal business of walking somewhere, or hanging out with no real purpose, was the only important activity, and my looking at a cloud was deranged tomfoolery.

Though we are social creatures that need interaction with others, the importance of being alone with one's thoughts or taking the time to reflect on life is crucial. Some people aren't comfortable being alone or don't know what to do with themselves

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Дорогие ученики, каждое утро перед джапой я молюсь этими стихами Шрилы Бхактивиноды Тхакура из 8-й главы “Харинама-чинтамани”. Это помогает мне ценить удачу, благодаря которой я посвящен в воспевание святых имен Господа Кришны. Советую вам делать то же самое.

“Святое имя – чистейшая форма знания; наилучшая из врат (обетов) и вершина медитации.

Оно дает самые благоприятные плоды; оно есть величайшее отречение и неоценимая духовная деятельность.

Оно – самое благое из всех святых занятий; оно – наивысший путь самоосознания.

Оно предлагает наивысшее освобождение и цель и есть наивысшее место назначения.

Оно – лучшее преданное служение и наилучшее средство очищения.

Оно дарует любовь к Богу и есть сама суть памятования о Нем.

Оно – причина всех причин, Высшая Абсолютная Истина, наивысший объект почитания, высший духовный учитель и гид”.

 
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208082320638749&set=a.3707173840886.2134384.1321748113&type=3&theater

At 3.40 am on the 30th of January Bhakti Vrajendranandana Swami left his body and returned to the spiritual realm. Lying in his bed in the Kuala Lumpur temple surrounded by devotees chanting the holy names Maharaja breathed his last. Bhakti Wrajendranandana Swami was born in Malaysia. He went to the UK to study where he joined ISKCON in 1971 in Birmingham. He got initiated in July 1972 from Srila Prabhupada on Trafalgar Square, receiving the name Vrajendra Kumar.

The post Daily Darshan: Jan 04,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Choreography & concept: Vraja Sundari Keilman in collaboration with the dancers. Dancers in order of appearance: Vraja Sundari Keilman, Ricardo Rus Da Silva, Sarada Sarita Keilman, Annlydie Groenen, Ilaria Angelicchio, Gaura Nataraj Das (Aleksey) Furdak, Eline Vroon, Jeffrey Stuut, Rasarani Keilman, Guillermo Blinker, Fredrik Quinones, Vinita Simonse, Kim Amankwaa, Carl Refos, Marnix Lenselink, Liam O'Callaghan, Sara Pennella, Flory Curescu, Ronja Cornelis, Delano Spenrath.

From Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava: By chanting without offenses you will personally realize that all perfections come from the holy name.

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The post The future is in the future, not the past – Wisdom on Wisdom 3 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Loving Krishna means loving everyone because Krsna is in their heart. Conversely, applying that logic backwards, if you don't love everyone, it means that you are not loving Krsna. Using the root and leaves example, if the leaves are looking healthy, it is to be understood that the root is receiving nourishment. In SB, eleventh canto, it is explained that only the kanishta or neophyte sees Krsna in the temple, but not in the hearts of all, and fails to respect and develop loving relationships with them. In my experience, the leaves and root example has been used in our preaching to discourage against trying to develop loving relationships that are devoid of a sense of everyone's natural attachment to the tree of Krsna, who alone can fulfill of their insatiable need for happiness forever. But there is an important consideration which needs to be taken into account. While it is true that while ignoring the root, the leaves will suffer, one must keep in mind also the limitation of the tree example. Unlike a tree, the root is within the heart of the very leaf itself. It is not that by offering respect to Krsna in the temple, at the same time ignoring His presence in the hearts of all living entities, somehow all living entities will be satisfied. Why? Because that is not bhakti. Lord Kapiladeva in 3rd Canto SB says that such attempted worship is like pouring ghee into ashes- utterly ineffective. Continue reading "Watering the Tree of Love
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I HAVE ALWAYS done a bit of travelling, at least since 1975 when I was fortunate enough to join Srila Prabhupada’s personal entourage. I got to travel India and around the world with His Divine Grace, and it gave me my first look at worldwide ISKCON. I was impressed. Impressed with Srila Prabhupada and impressed with his disciples and the amazing scope of transcendental activity that was manifesting all over the globe. Unity was the key, and that was achieved through the presence and desire of Srila Prabhupada. Later, after His Divine Grace’s disappearance I served as a GBC for over seven years. It seemed like I was in the air or on the road more often than I wasn’t. Continue reading "In Prabhupada We Trust
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Devotee soldier gets 600 American soldiers to chant Hare Krsna.
“ I am a soldier in the US Army and thought you all might get a laugh at what happened the other day. We had to do a 6 mile run for fitness. It’s custom to sing during these runs to build soldier cohesion.”
“ So they asked me to sing. I agreed so we were running down the street when the idea popped in my head to get them to chant. Now this wasn’t 6 or 7 people, its was a total of 600 soldiers. And they were into it, for 3 miles they chanted the Maha Mantra as loud as they could and were really into it. Amazing what the power of the Holy Name can do! ”
Your servant,
Partha-sarathi dasa

The sastras are full of stories of forgiveness: Ambarisa forgiving Durvasa, Parikshit forgiving Sringi, Narada Muni forgiving Daksa, Prahlada forgiving Hiranyakasipu, Haridas Thakura forgiving the guards who beat him, Nityananada forgiving Jagai and Madhai, Parasarama forgiving those who stole his family’s kamadhenu cow. Srila Prabhupada forgave anyone who came to him to serve Krsna. And of course Krsna forgives all of us no matter how sinful or blasphemous we were. Sastra implores us to forgive. The Srimad Bhagavatam lists forgiveness as one of the qualities of civilized human beings. And Srila Prabhupada asks us to be forgiving so we can cooperate to spread the movement. Yet despite the examples of devotees demonstrating incredible acts of forgiveness, despite the sastra telling us to accept suffering as a token reaction of our karma, despite Prabhupada’s plea for us to forgive, and despite the cleansing it can do to our hearts, forgiving is difficult for many of us. Devotees often say, “I was so deeply hurt that I just don’t know how I can forgive.” Continue reading "Choosing To Forgive
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New Years Eve 2017 - Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast (Album with photos)
Dharmatma Das: Our nightly Harinams have been exceptional. So many people smiling, waving and chanting and dancing with us. We really were the best and most enlivening show in town. Yes, there were a few Buskers but no one can get the crowd excited like Lord Chaitanya’s Harinam Party. This New Years was no exception. Kadamba Kanana Maharaja led the charge, then Janananda Maharaja took it to an even higher level, then the “Mad Hatter”, Mahavishnu Swami turned it into complete transcendental madness. Muslims, Christians, Hindus, whites, blacks and every other nationality and color were somehow or other implicated in the glorious sound vibration of the Lord’s Holy Names. Thank you Srila Prabhupada for the wonderful mercy you have given the entire world.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Ga3KTU

Preaching in Mexico by the Bus tour devotees (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When a disciple becomes perfect in spiritual advancement, the spiritual master feels very, very happy, that “I am a nonsense, but this boy, he has followed my instruction and he has achieved the success. That is my success.” This is the spiritual master’s ambition. Just like a father. This is the relationship. Just like… Nobody wants to see anybody more advanced than himself. That is the nature. Matsarata. If anybody becomes advanced in any subject matter, then I become envious upon him. But the spiritual master or the father, he does not become envious. He feels himself very, very happy, that “This boy has advanced more than me.” This is spiritual master’s position. (V�ndavana, March 13, 1974)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/uBsL6p

Ocean of Mercy.
A new publication, yet so much appreciation

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The post Gita 11.35 The kala rupa makes the fearless fearful appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, July 2007, Phoenix, South Africa, Ratha Yatra Lecture)

Sometimes we get so disturbed by the past that the clock stops, “On 12 December 1937, I …” and we still remember what happened! Forget what happened! Who cares about what happened! First of all, accept that whatever happened maybe due to our past karma, that it was due to us. Now we are finished and we start again, start fresh, start positive and build up something good. Then the future is bright, the future is what you make it to be. The past does not make the future; the past is gone, dead-and-gone! What are you planning for the future … You can make something of it. It is up to us!

Krsna consciousness takes more than just determination. Determination means, “Okay, I will do!” Okay, we will do it but it takes more than that; you also have to DO something. You have to spend time with devotees and you have to do things in devotional service! You have to make an endeavour – you have to chant sixteen rounds and sixteen good rounds! That is an endeavour. So like that, we make an endeavour in spiritual life then we can become very successful…

Last night night Swarup Damodar, Sukumari, Nikunja Viharini, and I went to visit Rose Forkash (now Rajani-priya dasi) at her home in Carpinteria. For three hours, she enlivened and inspired us with stories of her and her family’s association with and service to Srila Prabhupada. And Swarup Damodar gave me a wonderful exchange with Srila Prabhupada about her and her daughter, to read out loud.

Ramesvara: We have one mother in Los Angeles of a girl named Lila-sakti. She’s a big book distributor. And her mother, she loves this movement so much that when the deprogrammers start debating us, she stands up and yells at them that “My daughter was on drugs, hippie, before she came to this movement. This movement has saved her. If I had known about this movement when I was a young girl, I would have joined this movement!” On television she’s speaking like that, very strongly: “You have no right to criticize! You don’t know anything about this movement.” . . . She says, “You just come over to my house for lunch and I’ll tell you all about this movement, how nice it is.” She started this club, Parents for Krishna.
Prabhupada: Oh, she is very sincere. And her daughter, this Lila . . .? What is?
Ramesvara: Lila-sakti.
Prabhupada: She’s wonderful girl. She’s expert in everything.
(Room Conversation, January 20, 1977, Bhubaneswar)

Rajani-priya is now ninety-six years of age, but she is full of life—Krishna consciousness.

—Giriraj Swami

Martin Luther nails his protest to the church door

Any human endeavour requires good management. Any organisation of a certain size – and some say over 150 members – requires a different system of management from that of its beginnings. But when good management dominates theology, and spiritual vitality, and moderates religious practice, and we choose a religious leader on the basis of how good a manager he is, then the very purposes for which the organisation was founded are threatened.

This year is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s challenge to the Church of his day. He thought it needed reform and he wrote his suggestions as a list. A contemporary list of suggested reforms for bishops of the Church of England, all 95 of them, has been published and makes interesting reading. It’s a long piece, but it can be ‘translated’ for the organisation or movement of your choice.

Here it is.

Purva raga

Dear friend, the trembling of my heart can never find a cure.
No herb or medicine or balm, my beating breast can calm.
For this disease one remedy will bring relief for sure,
but that alas will soon produce painful opprobrium.

My friend I am severely struck and all my sense departs,
when Krishna’s name enters my ears and lodges in my heart.
And then there is another one whose flute enchants my mind,
seizing it with such madness that I can no peace find.
Again there is a third one, whose brilliance I see
in pictures of purest beauty that are entrancing me.
Shame upon my sinful self for loving all these three
at once, and thus I think it best if death does now take me.

Sweet Radha when Krishna’s pure love does deeply pierce the heart,
one feels at once profound pleasure mixed with most poignant pain.
Like poison and its antidote that both the other thwart,
does one all bitter sweetness of that rapture thus obtain.

My dearest love, your loveliness within my mind impressed
does agitate my aching heart with pangs of deep distress.
For you are gone and in this grief I know not where to flee.
For here and there and on all sides your face I simply see.

If Krishna should be cruel, dear friend, to me, you need not cry,
for it will not be through your fault, though surely I shall die.
But please then place me with my arms around a tamala tree
like tight creepers so that I may in Gokula ever be.

(English rendering by Krishna Dharma)

The post Daily Darshan: Jan3,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The Russian Krishnaite said he respected the right of the Orthodox priest to have an opinion but felt the young man was misguided. “We have absolutely no political agenda of any kind. Even if we had 100,000 followers in Russia, could we possibly topple a government in a country of 140 million?” Das agreed that there were many followers from Western countries but insisted that these people merely sought salvation from the “vicious cycle of karma.” He said his guru told him about how some Western intelligence agents “penetrated the ranks of the movement,” but added that these were the exception and not the rule. “Russians, like Indians, strongly resist change and any idea that is considered new,” he said, “and that’s why there is suspicion against the movement.” Das said yoga was looked upon with suspicion a few decades ago in the country but now even stringent followers of the Orthodox faith practice the Indian system of physical and mental wellness. “It’s only matter of time before those who have misplaced fears understand that we’re not on some sort of political mission.” Continue reading "A Russian Krishnaite responds to allegations against ISKCON
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If you did not get the chance to support the distribution of the Acarya film about Srila Prabhupada, here is you chance to get the new year off to a good start: http://bit.ly/2i5m4ad

In 1967, Srila Prabhupada wrote to his disciple: “Be careful about your health first. This information is not only for you but all my noble sons. I am an old man. I may live or die it does not matter. But you must live for long time to push on this Krishna Consciousness movement.” Since time immemorial, human societies have championed Mother Nature’s therapeutic splendor as a reliable and sacred source of healthcare. Whether one is a spiritual dilettante or a vigorous meditator, it is important to be aware of the various health issues sprouting up during this iron age of Kali. By learning how to make conscious decisions about our material wellbeing we can avoid unnecessary disturbances and peacefully perform our spiritual practice. Continue reading "Krishna’s Healthcare
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Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself wanted our cooperation. He is God, Krsna. And therefore cooperation is very important thing. Nobody should think that "I have got so great ability. I can do." No. It is simply by cooperation we can do very big thing. "United we stand; divided we fall." This is our.... So be strong in pushing on Krsna consciousness, and Krsna will help. He is the strongest. Still, we must be combined together. Sankirtana. Sankirtana means many men combined together chanting. That is sankirtana. Otherwise kirtana. Sankirtana. Bahubhir militva kirtayeti sankirtana.(?) Bahu. Bahu means many, many combined together. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, combined together. All nations, all persons they should combine together. There is hope in our society, combination. There are Hindus; there are Muslims; there are Christians; there are black, white. Combine them. That looks very beautiful, just like combination of many flowers. There is black flower also. It looks nice, very nice. Each and every flower take alone; it is not beautiful, but when they are combined together, it looks very beautiful. It is attractive. And that is wanted. Because from the spiritual platform we are all working. Panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18]. Spiritual platform, every one of us, we are servant of Krsna. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada explains why cooperation is the essence of the movement
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