Planet ISKCON

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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Colorful Rangoli for Radha Krishna (Album with photos)

Bhaktivedanta Manor Spring Darshan (Album with photos)
Please find below photos from the Manor on a sunny 28th March.
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“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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The post What your phone can teach you about your mind appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[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)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tNGa6d

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

How to connect to the Divine.
Question: It is said that God is present everywhere. But I don’t perceive his presence anywhere. Can you explain?
Radhanath Swami: To connect to the Divine presence of God within ourselves and within everything that exists cannot be done with our senses, no matter what microscopes or telescopes we use, no matter how many degrees we have or how many books we memorize. Our sciences may be very helpful in dealing with the temporary problems of this material world, but to actually connect to the Divine—according to all of the great saints throughout the ages—the bridge is faith; not blind faith but real substantial faith. Through this faith we can see, we can hear, and we can feel the Divine within ourselves, in every other living being, and in everything that exists. But where does that faith come from? It is within our hearts, and it is awakened when we associate with saintly people who have that faith.

Krishna explains that He manifests within this world especially through the hearts and the lives of those who love Him. Therefore it is said that even a moment’s association with a person who really loves the Divine is more precious than anything else in creation. That association awakens that hope, hope in the infinite love of God. It can awaken that faith which is preliminary to actually follow the path that God has given us for enlightenment.

Do you want to know your future? (4 min video)
Gaura Gopal prabhu, in this short clip, explains everything :-)
Srila Prabhupada: “Regarding astrology, you should not listen to any of these so-called astrologers – strictly avoid. Don’t even see them. What is the use of seeing them? Astrology is meant for the materialist, but a spiritualist does not care for the future. Everything is dependent upon Krishna. So where is the necessity of astrology? The devotees’ principle is, let there happen anything as Krishna desires. Let me remain sincere devotee, that’s all. Pure devotee is never interested in this astrology.
So, continue nicely with your deity worship there and read my books very carefully, and without fail chant 16 rounds on your beads daily. I hope this meets you in good health.”
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/dOdqML

The post Daily Darshan: Mar 28,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books in Arabic language (Album with photos)
Satyanarayana das: More Arabic and Farsi books going out on the streets and in the subways of New York City!
And it’s remarkably easy to do, because these people really want the books (and there’s a good reason for that)!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/940n3O

Presentation by Vaisesika Dasa (Right click – Save as)

The other day i sat and watched a small unassuming game of rugby RCG and Merthyr it wasn’t​ a high profile Welsh regions game or international, indeed it was a small crowd in a small club rugby pitch.
So why mention it, especially here in my blog?
It reminded me of old school rugby before the pursuit of money in my humble opinion ruined it, the rugby was indeed its purest but for me it was the crowd especially the RCG supporters with the beautiful Welsh hymns ringing out, and even when it looked like they had lost the songs continued (RGC won in a last gasp few seconds on the clock try).
Over the past few weeks I’ve been pondering and reminiscing about those early sweet few years when first meeting the devotees and what it taught me compared to what I’ve seen over the past few years
Money and the pursuit of money corrupts
The other day someone said a small sentence that rang more than a few Bell’s with me and clarity came in it went like this: how come we come and are told we have to do devotional service, but when we want to make progress and move to initiation you charge, where is the loving reciprocation?
And that was it LOVING RECIPROCATION
Over them early years their was never ever a request for laxmi, the devotees had time to answer any questions and initiation didn’t involve paid for course’s; indeed the devotees made sure you felt special and because of this you simply wanted to reciprocate.
The most shocking and hurtful thing happened when this pursuit of laxmi meant i was charged to see my own Guru Maharaja, and i was trying to work out what was more hurtful charging me as a disciple to see him or charging others to see him.
Why charge?
There is NO excuse or Need to Charge
To share love of Krishna and especially if you have a facility to do it is service, if your charging then service attitude is lost
Again in those early days the devotees had very little but they simply wanted everyone to come here their Guru Maharaja no charging but if you wanted to make a donation to help towards costs then this was seen as beautiful devotional seva.
Seva is king
Reciprocation between devotees is king
Making business and charging pollutes both of these
And so this is why i use the term ISKCON, it’s the original ISKCON i was first introduced to, no charging but simple beautiful reciprocation
And Corporate ISKCON, the one that has stripped out beautiful reciprocation and says well if you want initiation you pay for these courses, fill out these forms and our committee will decide your eligibility
Money and it’s pursuit corrupts
It has ruined the​ game of rugby, and for me it has ruined the purity of Srila Prabhupada ISKCON and loving exchanges
But I’m guessing most who will read this will miss the simple point I’m trying to make and continue to claim I’m anti ISKCON
Hare Krishna

Stay High Forever! (Album with photos)
To chant the holy name and dance in ecstasy is so easy and sublime that...

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2015, Cape Town, South Africa, Lecture)

You cannot just love like that. At first, love is in practice. We can say, love-under-construction just as in work-in-progress. So called love-at-first-sight does not go so deep. Love at first sight may be the initial attraction but how deep does it go?

Love for Krsna develops by finding out more and more about Krsna: who he is, what he does, what he says, what he likes… and then, if we begin to act in such a way that is pleasing to Krsna, then gradually everything becomes favourable.

Then we begin to slowly develop our love for Krsna because Krsna is wonderful and by acting in a way that is pleasing to him, we too will become pleased, because Krsna’s directions are perfect, full of depth and wisdom, and whoever dedicates his life to that, will see that his life will become perfect…

Surrendering our False Ego.
Question: Our BG discussion group has been rambling for lack of our ability to grapple with the meaning of ‘ego’. All of us generally agree that spirituality is about surrendering the ego or getting rid of 'I-consciousness’. But understanding it conceptually itself seems a challenge. We discussed 'I am not the body, I am the soul’, and 'I am the eternal servant of the lord’ aspects. We also cited the example of sage Valmiki - he must have lost consciousness of body altogether. We would appreciate hearing from you about this topic.
Romapada Swami: There is a distinction between `ego’ and `false-ego’ which I would like to point out — perhaps that would help understand the concept of ego better. Ego is the conception that one has of oneself, a conscious awareness of one’s identity, or as you put it, “I-consciousness”.
The soul cannot get rid of ego, or the conscious awareness of oneself, even with one’s greatest effort. The soul *IS* conscious, and being conscious of one’s spiritual identity is experienced in the liberated state. However, by uncovering our real-ego, or the true and eternal sense of self, we can discard the false-ego or the false identification of the soul with external objects, such as the bodily coverings of the soul, both gross and subtle, and things related to the body.
Getting rid of false-ego does not necessarily mean to `lose awareness of the body or mind’, as was the case of Valmiki during his deepest meditation on Ram’s name. Rather, ridding oneself of false-ego means to change one’s perception of one’s self — to see oneself not as the enjoyer and controller of the material energy, but as a part and parcel
of Krishna and an instrument in Krishna’s hands.
To repeat, a self-realized soul is not necessarily disconnected from sensory perception of the external world; but a self-realized soul *is* disconnected from any mis-identification with matter, as much as the driver of a car is fully conscious of the movements of his vehicle but doesn’t identify himself to be the car. As one’s real-ego or awareness of one’s eternal identity awakens, one becomes transcendental to the pains and pleasures and changes of the body although fully connected to the body, seeing it as a mere instrument.
Here is one final thought on this topic.
Real ego is the consciousness that one is the eternal servant of the Lord, while false-ego is characterized by the mentality of being the doer and mover of material energy (Bg 3.27). Very often, beginners in spiritual life, trying to overcome false ego and the doer-ship mentality, mistakenly suppose that abandonment of false ego means giving up action
or taking initiative. Karma-tyaga is their objective, not just karma-phala tyaga. They think that surrendering or acting as an instrument of God, moreover, is akin to becoming something like a mindless programmed robot. This is not correct. Rather, giving up false ego is to give up whimsical actions and the mentality that one can achieve something
independent of Krishna, replacing this false-ego with the consciousness that one’s actions are to be placed subordinate to and suject to God’s will.
I hope this sheds some light on this topic.