Planet ISKCON

By Panchatattva Dasa

On our way we noticed a wedding ceremony being held and as we got closer, to our surprise, all the baratis or wedding guests came out to join us in the kirtana. The newlywed couple even took the chance to offer incense to the Lords –we are certain that they received Their blessings. Amazingly, we ended the padayatra in an Arya Samaj Hall, even though it is well known that the Arya Samaj in Mauritius do not accept deity worship in their compound. However, we were warmly welcomed with our deities. Asim Krishna Dasa, originally from India, gave a wonderful lecture bringing the padayatra to a close. Continue reading "The Mauritius Harinama Team Organized 2 Padayatras For Iskcon 50Th Anniversary
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By Paramadayala Nityananda Das

The title is meant to call attention to the fact that this question assumes the either/or fallacy. Pusta Krishna: He said that morning "What can we do, Prabhupada?" He said, "What can we do? If we do not compromise, we will make enemies." Prabhupada: No, you'll not compromise; at the same time, you'll not make enemies. That is tactics. If you make enemies, then what is your tactics? You must speak the truth; at the same time he'll not be displeased (Morning walk, 6/11/1974). Continue reading "Is it Better to Compromise or offend?
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By Janananda Gosvami

The kirtana is at its climax The leader from the top of his lungs bursts forth with a resounding Gurudeva, Gurudeva, Gurudeva Gurudeva ..... Jaya Gurudeva Jaya Gurudeva Jaya Gurudeva Jaya Gurudeva etc. Some devotees look at each other - who am I supposed to be singing to or should I be singing it at all. Who is the leader referring to? A kind of silent unsurety lingers in the background or foreground. Some say we should not at all chant others say at specific occasions and times, others anytime, anywhere. Some say before Jaya Prabhupada is okay some after. Some say it is to Srila Prabhupada, some to their initiating guru, some to all the gurus, some the predecessor guru. On behalf of the Kirtan standards committee I would like to hear what the esteemed assembly of learned and experienced devotees could kindly contribute to this topic. Not just our sentiments and likes but what is correct. Continue reading "Requesting Your Help
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Malaysia Kirtan Mela 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: There are two ways of association–by vani and by vapuh. Vani means words, and vapuh means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but vani continues to exist eternally. Therefore we must take advantage of the vani, not the physical presence. The Bhagavad-gita, for example, is the vani of Lord Krsna. Although Krsna was personally present five thousand years ago and is no longer physically present from the materialistic point of view, the Bhagavad-gita continues. (Srila Prabhupada: Cc Antya Concluding Words)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EWR5PB

Sunday Harinama in Vladivostok, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Perhaps, throughout the whole world, it is the first time – we are preaching Bhagavad-gita as it is. We are the only institution in the world that we are preaching Bhagavad-gita as it is, and people are liking it. Before that, for the last two hundred years, so many swamis, yogis and…, they tried to preach Hindu philosophy, Vaisnavism. Not a single person was a devotee of Krsna, not a single person. Now you see so many young men. Why? Why this difference? Because we did not present Bhagavad-gita adulterated. Presented as it is, that’s all. What is the use of preaching adulterated things? Srila Prabhupada – April 12, 1975, Hyderabad
Find them here: https://goo.gl/qjKYLN

A rare video footage of HDG Srila Prabhupada (1 min video)
He is interviewed by a journalist in his arrival in Australia.
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The Cleansing Power of Swamiji’s Hare Krishna Mantra

Tattva Darsi; Sankirtana and Book Distribution News

The post Daily Darshan: December 20th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Although anger sometimes has a positive use in motivating us to act or to fight for a righteous cause (like Arjuna and Hanuman) and give protection to the oppressed, anger is an energy that is usually criticized since it frequently has negative consequences. We are urged in Bhagavad Gita to control our anger, lest it get out of control and cause us to act in ways we may later regret. In the Bhagavatam’s account of Dhruva Maharaja. After he became king when his brother was killed by a yaksha, although he had heard from Lord Vishnu that his death was inevitable, Dhruva still became angry and killed many yaksha warriors unnecessarily, until he heard spiritual philosophy from Manu.

Because Dhruva was a great soul, he could also give up his anger in the face of reason and Vedic wisdom. We saw in Shrila Prabhupada that he would sometimes become angry to instruct someone to change, but that anger never stayed for long, and the incident that caused his anger would generally not be mentioned again. We find that many people are not able to do this and may get some secondary gain from remaining angry.

For example, in psychology the appearance of frequent anger in a person can alert us to look deeper to find the underlying causes or emotional wounds we would rather not look at or want to feel, like feeling worthless or ashamed of our past. In such an unfortunately mentality anger seems more desirable and motivating that our low self-concept.

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Pictured here is our small deity of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura on his disappearance day, just before we offered him bhoha, pushpanjali, and arati. My spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, said, “Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura came in this world to execute the of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So he executed it. And when it was required, he left this place and went to another place to do the same business.” And Srila Prabhupada prayed to his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, to be merciful to us, Srila Sarasvati’s servant’s servants.

—Giriraj Swami

 

By Vaisesika Dasa

Krishna is the well-wisher of everyone. He is simply waiting within the heart to give facility to anyone who wants to approach Him. "Tesam satata-yuktanam, bhajatam priti-purvakam, dadami buddhi-yogam tam, yena mam upayanti te" [B.G. 10.10] So when a devotee decides to come forward to take up this .. accept this initiation into the sampradaya, Krishna becomes pleased. In fact sastra says this over and over again. The acaryas state this very clearly, that this official entry and declaration, as we are doing here today, is very pleasing to the Lord. Many people "almost" do something. A lot of people "think about" doing something. So when someone actually "does" something, rather than "almost" doing something, then it moves everyone else. So we are very fortunate today that Bhakta Ramaswamy and Bhakta Leon have decided to formally enter into the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya, and that is why we are having this ceremony today. So, a sampradaya means, Krishna's mercy. He is eager that we come back home, back to Godhead. It's not His idea that we stay here. His idea is for us to come back home back to Godhead. Continue reading "Harinama Initiation Lecture
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The ceremony of diksha, initiation, is that by which the spiritual preceptor admits one to the status of a neophyte on the path of spiritual endeavor. The ceremony tends to confer spiritual enlightenment by abrogating sinfulness. Its actual effect depends on the degree of willing co-operation on the part of the disciple and is, therefore, not the same in all cases. It does not preclude the possibility of reversion of the novice to the non-spiritual state if he slackens in his effort or misbehaves. Initiation puts a person on the true track and also imparts an initial impulse to go ahead. It cannot, however, keep one going for good unless one chooses to put forth his own voluntary effort.... Unless the soul of its own accord chooses to serve Krishna after obtaining a working idea of his real nature, it cannot long retain the spiritual vision. The soul is never compelled by Krishna to serve him.

- By His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Takur Prabhupada, Sajjana-toshani, volume 26, number 7 December 1928

My take away points on initiation are;

1. Sets the neophyte on the spiritual path
2. Confers enlightenment through canceling of sinful behavior
3. Progress depends on cooperation of the disciple to the instructions' of the spiritual master
4. It is a voluntary process (no force)

TOVP: First sample of the iron casting of the grills, fences and railings (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: This is the first s...

Ludhiana Rath Yatra (3 min video)
Amazing, Astonishing and Aflatoon devotion and enthusiasm for Lord Jagannath.
Watch it h...

Harinama and distribution of prasadam in Santiago de Cali
City in Valle del Cauca, Colombia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Let us remain in our position, but at the same time, simultaneously, side by side, let us have spiritual culture. Just like we are holding this class. This is also spiritual culture, sravanam kirtanam [SB 7.5.23]. With your multifarious duties you come here thrice in a week and try to understand. This is also spiritual culture. This will not go in vain. This will give you impression. Even you stop coming here, that impression will never go. I tell you the that impression will never go. It is such a thing. But if we take it up very seriously and go on molding our life in that way, then it becomes quickly successful. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.49-51 – New York, April 5, 1966
Find them here: https://goo.gl/dq8u5Y

Festival Sadhu Sanga 2016 in Warsaw, Poland (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Life should be molded in such a way that in every step or action, we shall feel the presence of the Lord. That is spiritual life. That is spiritual life. You need not change your present occupation. … The aim is toward Krsna. … Now, suppose a man or woman is in love, and the man is a third person, beyond the husband of the wife, beyond the, of the woman. Now, it is a example given in scripture that the woman who is fallen in love, the woman of man with other woman, other man, opposite sex. So he may be engaged in so many duties, but his mind is always to that point when he or she will meet his lover. With all his duty, or her duties, during the daytime, she or he always thinks, “Oh, when that moment will come when we shall meet together?” That means the mind is always there. The example is said because when there is ecstasy, when there is ecstasy of love, even within our, within the midst of our multifarious duties, we can remember that thing always. Similarly, God consciousness, we shall have to mold our life in that way that in the midst of our very grave duties, serious duties, we shall always remember the Supreme, the Supreme, in every step. That discrimination, that much love, we have to develop. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.49-51 – New York, April 5, 1966
Find them here: https://goo.gl/6rZNjk

Vrinda Kunda 16-12-16 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Last week we visited Ter Kadamba and Vrinda Kunda. Near Ter Kadamb...

Modernization Without Westernization – Reflections on the Middle East’s spiritual potential.
Chaitanya Charan Das: While in a prominent city in the Middle East, I stayed with a devotee whose house was on the seventeenth floor of a skyscraper. During my travels to Australia, USA, Canada and UK, the devotees who have hosted me have had houses ranging from one-room apartments to multi-story villas. But this house was the highest height at which I had stayed. Though I may have spoken at greater heights in hotels, I didn’t have the time to contemplate the view from there.
During the course of the day, while observing the city from the window, I could see the well-organized roadways, the crowded yet orderly buildings, the impressive domes of the mosques interspersing the concrete expanse and the skyscrapers towering above everything else. In several metropolitan Middle Eastern cities, many buildings are designed with exquisite artistry. This view was far different from the aerial view of Mumbai that I would see whenever my return flight would descend in that financial nerve center of India. This view was more reminiscent of the modernization I had seen in the West.
A major difference between the West and the Middle East, however, was the level of public sensuality. Because of the conservativeness of Islamic culture, no immodest imagery can be seen either on the streets or on the billboards. Although I could see some Bollywood actors on the billboards, their pictures were far more modest than those seen in India. The decreased sensual temperature of the culture makes it easier for spiritual aspirants to keep their mind peaceful for practicing spirituality. The phrase that popped up in my mind for describing the situation was modernization without westernization.
Ultimately, no place in the material world is fully conducive for spirituality. What spiritualizes people is their own intention to be spiritual and the guidance of saintly teachers.
Still, the principle of modernization without westernization can significantly facilitate spiritual growth. Srila Prabhupada would compare the spiritually uninformed west to a blind man and the technologically under-equipped India to a lame man. If the two would come together, if western technology could be joined together with Indian spirituality, that synergy could substantially raise human consciousness, thereby helping promote greater peace and joy, both individually and globally. In this metaphorical merger, Srila Prabhupada could be said to be recommending modernization without westernization. And that has been actualized to some extent by ISKCON, which is working to globalize the message of the Gita using the latest technology.
If India at large could implement modernization without westernization, Indians would have to struggle less for getting life’s necessities and utilities, and would have more time and energy for spiritual cultivation.
But then, categories such as modernization and westernization are porous, and influences from one can easily seep into the other. Ultimately the key to our spiritual protection and purification is not our country’s orientation, but our consciousness’ intention.
If we are determined to grow spiritually, we may still have our struggles and lapses because of our circumstances and conditionings. But we will gradually be guided by Krishna from within, as he assures in the Gita (10.10). And with that guidance, we will learn to adeptly adapt and adopt for doing the things necessary for moving closer to him.
Such adeptness is demonstrated by the devotees in the Middle East, who have found ways to grow devotionally even while being far away from their devotional homeland. In fact, during my world travels, I have seen sincere souls practicing bhakti seriously in all kinds of circumstances – western and non-western, modern and pre-modern (and post-modern too). These devotees are living testimony to the reality that whatever our situation, we can always open the door of our heart to Krishna, and he will mercifully manifest his presence there.

Detachment from material pleasures by HG Akruranath Prabhu Recorded on 12-11-2016, ISKCON of Silicon Valley (video)
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna’s mercy is always there. It is your misuse of free will. You are given the opportunity – that is fortune. But you do not accept the fortune. That is your misfortune. That is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrita. Lord Caitanya said, ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Kono – some fortunate man can accept it. Because mostly they are unfortunate. Just see, throughout the whole of Europe and America we are making propaganda. How many students have come? A very insignificant number, although they have come. They are fortunate. Amogha: Sometimes we see that a devotee may be very sincere, but at the same time he becomes weak somehow, and he falls down. Prabhupada: Even if he falls down, still he is fortunate, because the injection is there. It will act, some day or another. Still he is fortunate. As fortunate man he took it, but he fell down. That does not mean he’s unfortunate. Still he’s fortunate, because the poison is already there. It will develop. That is called ajnata sukrti. Therefore he is not loser. He continues to be fortunate. It will take some time. Amogha: So he became weak because he misused his individual will. Prabhupada: He misused the instruction of his spiritual master. Therefore he became unfortunate, or he fell down. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk – Perth, May 10, 1975
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/q9YkTw

Vrindavan is becoming cold.
Vrindavan Lordships draped in warm clothes to ward off cold.
As winter continues to grip Vraja with its harshness, even the Lordships of Vrindavan do not remain unaffected. The winter ‘seva’ began in the Saptadevalaya Temples from Vyanjan Dwadashi. The ‘Khichdi’ made of varieties of pulses is being offered to the deities.
Not only is a change in their attire and cuisine, there a variation in their routine too with a late rise from sleep and early schedule to bed.
At the various temples of Vrindavan, the priests are adorning the deities with woolen and velvet fabrics while the devotees coming in for the darshan are bringing bhogs according to the chilling climate.
The deities can be seen draped in warm clothes, and a sigari (heater burn from coals) is kept to ward off cold. The temple priests are protecting their deities in various temple of the city by offering woolen blankets and warm clothes apart from arranging hot water and hot foods for the presiding deities.
Various eatable items, which are considered healthy and best suited for the winter season, are being offered to the deities.
Special arrangement for the winter is done at Radha Ballabh Mandir. Peanut gazak, til papdi rolls, Urd daal laddos, moong daal barfis, dry fruits kaju badam, pista and anjeer have become an integral part of the daily offerings.
The devotees can be seen buying the warm clothes for their deities in the markets to protect their beloved from the chilling cold.
Here we see beloved Radha Raman with socks.

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Having been confined to a small hutch, the current living quarters for he rescued calves is luxurious and gives enough space to run happily.

Swamiji’s Eternal Servants Rediscover Themselves

The post Daily Darshan: December 19th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Seven-tongued flame refers to the seven characteristics of Sri Krishna Sankirtana as explained by Srila Bhaktivinod Takur in his Sammodana-bhasya commentary.

1. ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaḿ - cleansing the mirror of the heart
2. bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ - extinguishing the blazing forest fire of material existence
3. śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ - one receives the benediction of pure devotional service, compared to moonshine spreading the white lily of good fortune
4. vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam - the life and soul of all knowledge; the devotee receives the benediction of knowledge of his eternal identity
5. ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ - expanding the blissful ocean of transcendental life
6. pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ - tasting full nectar at every step
7. sarvātma-snapanaḿ - the self is wholly cleansed of all desires other than for selfless devotional service

Rare old photos of clips from the local press coverage, the day Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur departed from this world.

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Let’s all Hare a great time.
Hare Krishna devotees parading in the Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead on Friday.
Hemeltoday: Our photographer David Satchel was sure to be there when Apsley Community Centre held a Hare Krishna Festival.
The event offered visitors of all creeds the chance to enjoy music, dance and food free of charge.
Giridhari Das, a Hare Krishna monk who heads up the UK Hare Krishna Festival team, said: “Whether local carnivals, theatres or town halls we like to be with the people.”
Source: https://goo.gl/gxbMzC

By Bhakti Raghava Swami

Modern Paper Currency Flawed: Within the system of varnasrama, three-fourth of the population does not earn money, namely the brahmacaris, those in the vanaprastha and those in the sannyasa asrama. Grhasthas, in particular the ksatriya householders and the vaisya householders, assisted by the sudra householders, are meant to support the rest of society. The brahmanas and sudra class do not earn money, only the ksatriya class through taxation and the vaisya class, but only one portion of the vaisya class, those engaged in trade, vanijyam. Those engaged in both krishi, agriculture and go-raksya, cow protection, also do not deal with money but rather with goods. The real currency should be in minerals such as gold or silver, and the real wealth should be in having tangible goods such as land, cows, grains, etc. The artificial paper currency currently in use is both artificial and fraudulent since it does not represent real wealth. Most countries in the world are in severe debts (and increasing every year), including the USA, with only temporary and flawed adjustments being made to salvage the present global economic crisis. Continue reading "Money Sweeter Than Honey
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By Niscala Dasi

It struck me the other day the astonishing similarity between the words Christmas and Krishna- Prabhupada once pointed out the similarity between the words Christ and Krishna, but when “mas” is added, and the “i” is shortened, the similarity becomes much stronger- one could even say to someone “krsnas tu bhagavan swayam” and they might respond “What was that about Christmas?” We all know the magic and enchantment that the word “Christmas” had over us when we were young, as we knew that from this word, everything of our hearts’ desire would be manifest, and as we chanted the word, we would long for Christmas to come. It is not all that different when we chant the name of Krishna- from Him alone, all the gifts in the world are given. Like the personality of Christmas, Santa Claus, there is the personality of Krishna, who through mystic potency or magic, makes gifts for all the children of the world (such as rain, sunshine, fresh air, potent seed grains, our bodies and knowledge), via the help of His people who work on His behalf, the demigods and other devotees who are known as “desire trees”. Continue reading "Wishing You A Merry Krishnas…
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By Sacinandana Swami

Lord Krishna says, "Under My protection My devotee reaches My eternal abode." Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to this verse: "To a devotee who is engaged in Krishna consciousness, the Lord is very, very kind. In spite of all difficulties, he is eventually placed in the transcendental abode, or Krishnaloka." And two verses later, Krishna emphatically declares: "If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all obstacles of conditioned life by My grace." Please note: It is not by our own strength that we can conquer the darkness that surrounds us but by the strength of Krishna, which is more powerful than the power of one million suns. Continue reading "More Strength than a Million Suns
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Istanbul lecture (Dec 17th).

“I will love you, if you will love me.”
Satsvarupa das Goswami: The first initiation was on Janmastami in 1966 and it was so lackadaisical that people got initiated without seriously considering whether they were going to follow the four rules.
I wanted to stay independent. I didn’t think I was ready to get initiated, and besides nobody had asked me to get initiated. So I stayed home and typed for the Swami.
The day after Janmastami I showed up at his door and he said, “Oh, you did not come for initiation yesterday.”
I said, “No, but I did some typing.” I gave him the typing and he gave me some grapes.
He saw that unless I got invited I was reluctant to get initiated, to go to the morning class, to go to the feasts.
It was a defect on my part and at that time he said something important to me.
He said, “I will love you, if you will love me.”
That statement made a big change in me.
He exposed that I didn’t love him but I was expecting him to always love me.
I thought, “Why am I holding back my love for him? Is there something I dislike about his face or his way of talking or something? I do not love him, but I’m expecting him to pour love on me.”
I looked at all the ugliness inside myself that made me not love the Swami, and I decided that I should kick it out and love him.
He said, “If you do that, then I’ll love you. But it’s a two-way street.”
He read my heart and my mind and exposed my big barrier.
When the Swami said, “I will love you, if you will love me,” that became a good instruction for any relationship, certainly with a spiritual master and a disciple or with a husband and wife.
You have to love the other person if you want to be loved.
His words broke a lot of ice, and from then on I stepped forward more and didn’t have to be invited to things.
He once spoke on the telephone about a wedding that he was arranging between Mukunda and Janaki.
When he hung up the phone he said, “You’re invited to come to this wedding.” I said, “Thank you,” and I went to the wedding.
I felt sorry that I had not gotten initiated, so another day I asked him, “Could I get initiated on the next occasion?”
He said, “Well, you’ll have to be a strict vegetarian.” I said, “I already am.”
He said, “Yes, then you can be initiated.”
The Swami was teaching from Dr. Radha Krishnan’s Bhagavad-gita. He said, “The translation is 98% good. Don’t read the purport at all, it’s contaminating, but you can read the translations out loud.”
Some of us bought copies of that Gita and during our classes the Swami would ask us to read.
He’d say, “Raymond, read the translation for Chapter 8 Text 7.”
We considered the translations bonafide. We also had the Swami’s Srimad Bhagavatams.
We didn’t study them in any consecutive order. They were just there to read and grasp.
I bought a set but some others didn’t have the money to buy them.
I asked, “When you get initiated is your karma stopped?”
He said, “Yes. It’s like the electric fan is rotating—action and reaction, or karma—but on initiation the plug is pulled. The rotations may go on for a little while, but there’s really no more karma.”
—Satsvarupa das Goswami
.Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint”
by Siddhanta das

Glories of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura by HG Vaisesika Prabhu (video)
Srila Prabhupada: May the glorification of the transcendental name, form, qualities and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect us from the influence of bad planets, meteors, envious human beings, serpents, scorpions, and animals like tigers and wolves. May it protect us from ghosts and the material elements like earth, water, fire and air, and may it also protect us from lightning and our past sins. We are always afraid of these hindrances to our auspicious life. Therefore, may they all be completely destroyed by the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. —————————————-Srila Prabhupada’s translation of SB 6.8.27-28
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/mex05x