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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.
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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.
Aniruddha Sowale: Any person who wins a favor of Krsna has to be extremely humble, meek, reservoir of good qualities, controller of senses and totally detached from the material world. The pandvas had it all, in the 16th chapter of Bhagwat Geeta where krsna tells Arjun about the qualities of demi-gods and propensities of demons, 
Nrisimhananda Dasa: I'm born Jewish. Let's get that out of the way. I have identified as a Vaisnava three times longer than as a Jew in my life. I identify as a devotee of Krishna, not as a Jewish devotee. I've been to Israel three times; Gaza once (when it was open to everyone while being administrated by Israel in 1979). 
From Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava: By chanting without offenses you will personally realize that all perfections come from the holy name.
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By Niscala Dasi 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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By Hari-sauri dasa 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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Bhurijana dasa: Krsna and Balarama continued to watch as the calves ate grass and drank water. Krsna approached one calf, massaged the calf's face and limbs, hugged the calf, and said in the calf's ear, "Do you want to go to your mother? 
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
By Mahatma Das 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.
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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)
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(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.
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)
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By Ajay Kamalakaran 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
By Bhakta Jorge Camara 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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Daruka dasa: This is a somewhat convoluted and speculative explanation of reincarnation. The Rabbi mixes Talmudic explanations and empiric observations in his attempt to understand the reality of repeated birth and death. 
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur: In the following article Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur describes Krishna consciousness as the only genuine reform process. He says that anyone who takes shelter of any other process to reform society is in need of reform themselves. 
By His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada 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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Srila Prabhupada: Generally, we work for our sense gratification. "I have got this money. I must use for my sense gratification or for my relative's sense gratification or for my country's sense gratification, for my society's sense gratification." So this is materialism. But when the same thing is turned for Krishna's sense gratification, that is spiritual. That is the difference between prema and kama. 
ISKCON Auckland NZ: Rathyatra 2017 (Album with photos)
The best way to bring in the new year!
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A visit to Rose Forkash (now Rajani-priya dasi).
Giriraj Swami: Tonight, 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.
Evidence Of Their Devotion (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: On our way back from Nathdwara to Vrindavan we stopped in Ja...
The Struggle To Feel Alive With A Passion To Give.
I must discover and name my gift—yes, that is a practice, but more.
I must also share it now, not just keep talking about it,
like a prisoner in a cage,
because I will never be completely ready
to be who I want and pray to be.
I used to be a workshop and training junkie,
wanting titles and certifications,
but it was never enough,
because inside of myself
I didn’t feel worthy to teach,
feeling incomplete and insufficient,
thinking my sad past story defined me.
It has taken having to face my imminent death by cancer
that I have been forced to actually live each day as fully as I can—
thinking I can, I will, I must, I am living my true purpose
one moment, hour, day, week, year, and life at a time.
There is no time like the present, and that is all I have,
that, and my desire to love and serve, to give to make a difference.
I need to be a teacher of essential truth,
now, from my lifetime of becoming,
accepting that I, and we, are always a work in progress,
but we don’t have to wait till perfection to give.
I have learned that by giving who we are now,
we become more than we could have ever imagined.
We don’t just wake up one day fully formed and realized
but it happens gradually, like the sun rising, or the coming of spring.
As it is said, the journey of a thousand miles begins
with the first step, so I, and we, have to step forward,
instead of hesitating in fear and doubt and complaining,
remaining in the background of what could have been
and then dying angry and resentful that we stopped short.
I, and we, have to make room for our gifts
which is as simple as giving love and caring
at every moment through our natural daily rhythm of being.
By living through my spiritual practice of prayer, worship,
studying scriptures and the practical knowledge from the wise,
I deepen who I am, and joyfully become my gifts and loving service
which give me life and inspiration, to share who I am.
As I focus on the Lord of my heart
to gain a oneness in spiritual purpose
and strength, so I can be, speak, and write
my confidence in my divine packing
believing in myself and encouraging you
to do the same—which is why I share.
I realize that while I have to be self-reliant while depending on God
I also need to help you by giving myself and all I have learned—
one truth of which, as difficult and foreign as it is to accept:
The greatest gift we have to give is ourselves—first to God
and then to everyone else, to be emissaries of the spiritual Light,
for me the devotional life of bhakti, or loving service to
the divine couple, Radha and Krishna, through their remembrance
and fully taking the holy name as my constant companion
as given by the kirtana and prema avatar,
Shri Chaitanya, & his agents, my mentors and companions.
Karnamrita Das
In Life or Death - Take Shelter!
After leaving the hospital a few weeks ago, my firm determination was never to return. It was by far, one of the most painful experiences of my life. Yet, today I did. This time, to the ICU, a place I cringed to think about. However, the visit was for a completely different purpose. The daughter of a devotee from Pune, passed away at a very young age in California Medical Center Hospital here in San Francisco, due to organ failure. A group of devotees and I had the opportunity to be next to her body and pray for her. Life is so fleeting and can pass through our fingers at any time. It’s so shocking, that it almost feels unreal. So many people on life support, young and old, just barely holding on. Death and pain don’t discriminate, do they? Time and tide wait for none.
I came across a feeble young girl from her bed in the ICU, around my age, smiling back at me. I waved at her and she waved back. I took the liberty to walk into her room and her sister welcomed me with a warm embrace and tearful eyes, as though I was a part of their family.
“We were just waiting for someone, come by, smile at us, and give us some warm feelings of love amidst all this suffering,” the sister said, firmly holding on to my hand. “Thank you for stopping by. You don’t know how much it means to us.” I gave them a Bhagavad Gita, saying this is main book of prayer, the source of our strength. They eagerly took two copies. While I was leaving, they all folded their palms in gratitude and bowed their heads saying, “Thank you so much. I’m sure our daughter will get better soon. Thanks for sharing the love.”
Death is all pervading, so unstoppable. There is nothing in our humanly power that we can do to prevent it. Its all a cycle of every individuals personal karma. Surprisingly, though, we do have control and responsibility over the situation. Srila Prabhupada has given us our only shelter, Krsna, and his words in the form of Bhagavad Gita. We are encouraged to drink the nectar of its contents to our fullest, and make it a goal of our life to distribute it to our suffering brothers and sisters.
Priya Kishori Devi Dasi
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