Planet ISKCON

Vaishnava wedding in Mayapur.
The wedding of 2nd gen Sahki Caran and 3rd gen Madhavi Lata in Mayapur 20/11/16.

Krishna-kshetra Swami: I am happy to report that Prof. Ravi M. Gupta, Radhika Ramana Prabhu, my longtime colleague who teaches at Utah State University, has received the annual DANAM Best Book 2016 for his edited volume, Caitanya Vaisnava Philosophy: Tradition, Reason, and Devotion (Ashgate, 2014). (DANAM = Dharma Association of North America, a practitioner-friendly academic initiative with an annual conference linked to the annual American Academy of Religion meeting). Ravi’s book contains five essays (including an introductory essay by yours truly) and five short translations (more details at amazon’s ‘look inside’: https://goo.gl/BP2mGE).

By Giriraja Swami and Bhurijana prabhu

"In the course of time, the transcendental news of Krsna's pastimes in Vrndavana, was almost lost. To enunciate explicitly those transcendental pastimes, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, at Prayaga, empowered Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatana Goswami with the nectar of His mercy to carry out this work in Vrndavana. From the very beginning Rupa Goswami was deeply attracted by the transcendental qualities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus he was permanently relieved from family life. Srila Rupa Goswami and his younger brother Vallabha were blessed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Although the Lord was transcendentally situated in His transcendental eternal form at Prayaga He told Rupa Goswami about transcendental ecstatic love of Krsna. The Lord then embraced him very firmly and bestowed all His mercy upon him." Continue reading "Summary study of Srila Rupa Goswami’s ‘Bhakti Rasamrta-sindhu’
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Sadbhuj prabhu, the TOVP Managing Director, safely arrived in Moscow, Russia and the trip has been a great success!

He has gone to visit the Production Company where all of the TOVP’s Kalashes and Charkras are being manufactured. He will also preach about the magnificence of the TOVP to the Russian devotees.

Despite the extremity of the temperature being a chilling 1 degree Celsius /33 degree Fahrenheit, Sadbhuj prabhu is fully satisfied with his visit to the manufacturer’s workshop. The factory production results are excellent and we are delighted to be working with this company. The manufactures are making the 3 Chakras, the 3 Dome Kalashes, and all 8 of the Chatri Kalashes for the TOVP.

The first container of finished products will be dispatched from Moscow and sent to Mayapur in the middle of December 2016. The container is scheduled to arrive in Mayapur in February 2017.

When it arrives we can then begin to assemble the first Kalash. Once assembled nicely, it will then be installed on the top of TOVP to crown our temple with the effulgence of victory and triumph.

The post Adventures In Russia appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

By Bhakta George Shihundu

Despite the chilling cold and rainy weather of Nairobi, a large group of more than 250 devotees assembled at the Sri Sri Radha Banke Bihari Mandir to commemorate the ISKCON’s golden jubilee. Amongst them were HH Bhakti Narasimha Swami(South Africa), HG Akhandadhi Prabhu(UK), ISKCON Nairobi Vice President Rukuma Prabhu,HG Manasi Ganga Mataji, and 90 jubilant students that celebrated attaining a Certificate of Ethics and Morality after a year-long course on Vaishnava philosophy. The programme is run by the Hare Krishna Training Center, part of ISKCON Nairobi. The goal is to introduce students to the ageless wisdom of Vedic philosophy and practice of Krishna Consciousness. The centre seeks to further A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada’s mission of preaching to all people around the world. The centre also seeks to establish a large pool of devotees by targeting mostly young students from local universities who have an interest in understanding their purpose in life. By offering character building courses, students are not only introduced to the need to live an ethically astute and morally sound life as young adults, but are also introduced to the unwavering practice of Krishna Consciousness that is a much needed weapon against the vagaries of society in an increasingly volatile East African region struggling with poverty, Islamic fundamentalism, corruption, and ethnically motivated conflict and violence. Perhaps the pure love for Krishna and the peace that comes with it could not have come in handy. It is akin to the 60s when Prabhupada gave the hippies the Krishna Conscious “drug” for self-realization. Continue reading "Iskcon 50 celebrations at Iskcon Nairobi
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What subjects have I subjected myself to today?
The word, subject, is both a noun and a verb.

When used as a noun, subject, means a person or thing that is being discussed. For example, “The teacher brought up the subject of Lord Krishna tending the cows.”

14th Annual Vrinda Kunda Festival.
This coming February will be the auspicious 14th Anniversary of Vrinda Kunda Temple opening! To celebrate we are organizing special parikramas to the Holy Places of Braja. The Festival will culminate with our famous Kalash Yatra, an ecstatic Sankirtan procession with the ladies carrying water pots with coconuts on their heads. Parikramas will be taken out from 8 Feb - 21 Feb with the main festival day on Sunday 19 Feb. Even after that there will still be some parikramas.

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The post Do our default settings come from our past karma or our association? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Members of the Rotary club help Iskcon Food for Life Nepal (Album with photos)
(Rotary International is an international servic...

Bhajans in the Balboa Park, San Diego - Nov. 19, 2016 (Album with photos)
Yesterday, Syamali and I had the great privilege to take part in ISKCON San Diego’s weekly “Bhajans in the Park”, at Balboa Park. Srila Prabhupada spoke and walked this 100+ year old park several times, and this chanting endeavor has been going on since the early days of our San Diego yatra.
Harinam Sankirtan Yajna KI JAYA!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/CDm09q

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The post What is more powerful – the soul or the mind? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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The post Do the spikes of desire vanish when we become spiritually advanced? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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The post How can we attract materially comfortable people who don’t feel the need for spirituality? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Congregation program at Bahrain
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Talk at ISKCON, Bahrain
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Talk at ISKCON, Bahrain
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The post Bhikshu Gita 4 – The mind distracts us from bhakti in the name of bhakti (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.23.45) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Ginsberg Questions Prabhupada’s Sadhu Status

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 06 September 2016, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.26)

Intelligence is found in the two upper classes of men – in the brahminical class and the kshatriya class. The intelligence of a vaishya is of a different nature because the intelligence of a vaishya is less selfless. The brahmana and kshatriya sacrifice their self-interest for the sake of dharma so their lives are dedicated to a higher duty. Whereas the vaishya is also intelligent but his intelligence is focused on profit and on personal gain. So when the choice comes between following a principle and making a profit, the vaishya then puts the principle on the shelf, makes the profit and the next day re-adopts the principle, you know what I mean. But the vaishyas get purified by dharma, by generosity, by giving and in this way, they fulfil their duty.

For a sudra, principles are a difficult thing to deal with because, “I don’t feel it!” so then how can they do it! The sudra does what he ‘feels’ is right. Therefore kalau sudra sambhava (Skanda Purana), in this age everyone is classified as sudra because we do what we feel.

Vijaya and Kiran are from the Punjab in India. They have lived in the Murwillumbah area since 1977. Vijaya’s grandfather first arrived here in 1901 and grew bananas and kept dairy cows.

For the last few years, Vijaya has headed the agriculture department at New Govardhana and comes early in the morning until late in the afternoon. He engages many visitors in helping him.

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Animal agriculture accounts for an estimated 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and emissions from this fast-growing sector are largely unregulated.

Animal agriculture accounts for an estimated 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and emissions from this fast-growing sector are largely unregulated.

Devamrta, Niranjana, Sivarama Swamis.

Written by Uddhava Das 

Read about Vrindavan Part 1

Friday, 04 November – Disappearance Day of Srila Prabhupada

On the special occasion of the disappearance day anniversary of Srila Prabhupada, Kadamba Kanana Swami chanted his rounds in the morning and later on, attended the memorial service for Srila Prabhupada. For this purpose, the huge hall on the temple ground was decorated beautifully and no seat was left empty. There were many speakers – Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, sannyasis and other VIPs, who relished their memories with the visitors from a lavish stage. Maharaj also spoke and one quote that stood out was, “There is no doubt that this Movement will take over so now it’s our turn! But who are we? Together, small as we are, we have to take the responsibility. Now it’s our turn to do something.”

The program continued until late in the afternoon and concluded with a super opulent prasadam feast. Maharaj was fully booked for the rest of the day with giving darshan to his disciples. The evening was reserved for a good rest in preparation for the coming Braj parikrama tour.

The parikrama

Saturday, 05 November – Manasi Ganga, Kusum Sarovar and Uddhava Kund

The first day of parikrama had arrived and devotees gathered at Prabhupada’s house at 7am. Everybody looked well prepared and ready to go. The parikrama party of more than 80 devotees was scheduled to go to Manasi Ganga, Kusum Sarovar and Uddhava Kund on the first day. We left promptly at 7am to the buses that were parked just outside the Bhaktivedanta Gate near Citrakoot. After the big bus and a smaller van were packed with our fellow travellers, we set out on our first adventure and 45 minutes later, we arrived at Kusum Sarovar.

While devotees disembarked from the bus, Maharaj set a brisk pace towards Kusum Sarovar and sat down on the opposite site of the Kund where he set up his new portable sound system and right away started the introductory bhajans. Afterwards he commented that he always likes to start with a bhajan and usually ends with one also. He continued with an introduction to Kusum Sarovar. In terms of spiritual importance, it is said that Kusum Sarovar is very dear to Srimati Radharani. Along with her girlfriends, she used to pick flowers from here and many pastimes were performed. Maharaj further elaborated on the connection that Uddhava has with Vrindavan, being sent to Vrindavan by Krsna himself.

Maharaj said that actually Uddhava was an outsider. He was not from Vrindavan and therefore it was similar to our situation. We just arrived in Vrindavan as outsiders and we have to enter into Vrindavan, just like Uddhava. Our meditation was interrupted by a local Babaji who suggested that we start with the last minute planned initiation ceremony immediately otherwise the ongoing construction on the buildings would be too noisy for the ceremony. Maharaj really appreciated this Babaji’s advice and got up quickly and went upstairs where the yajna area was prepared. Adi Kesava and Veni Madhava did an amazing job creating a perfect place for initiation, directly on the roof of Kusum Sarovar sheltered by a large tree that provided shade.

All the six initiates sat down in a close circle but all of a sudden, other devotees were suggested on the spot and was added to “the soon to be initiated”! Sevanandini dd, Anukampa dd and Advaita Simha das joined in for second initiation. For first initiation we had Anna, Bhakta Vatsala, Natalia and Romesa. Bhakta Vatsala had already received his name but sat in for the fire yajna.

After the oblations, Maharaj continued his talk on Uddhava and combined it with the initiation ceremony in an expert way. Then he started on the name giving part: Anna’s new name is Ambhoda dd, Natalia became Nava-nita Lila dd and Romesa was named Namaruci dd. The fire was started, prayers were offered and the karma was burned when the bananas were devoured by Agni!

When the ceremony concluded, we went down on the stairs of Kusum Sarovar and sat at our previous spot. It was time for breakfast and while we munched on our bananas and chapattis, Maharaj was reading from ‘Uddhava Sandesa’ as we were about to leave for Uddhava Kund. He made the comment that we cannot cross Govardhan and in a strange coincidence, when we were on the bus again ready to go to Uddhava Kund, the bus took a right turn and was going to drive over Govardhan. Maharaj yelled to the driver to stop and for 10 minutes, they were arguing about crossing Govardhan. The bus driver objected and said that buses could not go around Govardhan and crossing over was the only way. So we decided to go to Radha Kund and walk from there to Uddhava Kund. Maharaj did not want to offend Govardhan and crossover out of convenience.

We reached Radha Kund, offered our respects and went onwards for a brisk walk to Uddhava Kund. After 20 minutes, we reached and the group spread out on the stairs to this private Kund. Maharaj continued reading from the ‘Uddhava Sandesa’ and also ‘Gopal Campu’. Uddhava had entered Vrindavan and was no longer an outsider after meeting the brijbasis.

Maharaj referred back to the initiation ceremony and how initiation means entrance into Vrindavan, just like how Uddhava entered Vrindavan and got to know about the unlimited devotion of the gopis for Krsna.

After a long day, we returned to Vrindavan, full with realisation and the dust of Braj. As you may have noticed, the parikrama did not go to Manasi Ganga. Maharaj commented on this when someone asked a question after breakfast. He decided to leave Manasi Ganga for another time due to the last minute planned initiation ceremony.

Sunday, 06 November – Yavat and Prema Sarovar

The second day of parikrama was upon us and the devotees who did parikrama the day before already looked well experienced! Today Yavat and Prema Sarovar were on the program. We embarked on a 1 hour trip to Yavat, the living place of Radharani, Abhimanyu and Radharani’s in-laws, in a big palace. Because Radharani was guarded very well, it was difficult for her and Krsna to meet but Krsna always devised a clever plan to meet her.

Maharaj started this parikrama with a very sweet bhajan session in the temple courtyard which was followed by reading from ‘Vidagdha Madhava’. Breakfast was served thereafter on the roof of the temple.

After breakfast we packed up to quickly go to Prema Sarovar. Again, like the previous day, the bus driver missed an exit to Varsana and we had a slight detour but eventually we arrived at Prema Sarovar – the lake that was formed from the tears of Radha and Krsna. This was our backdrop for a long bhajan that made us get up on our feet to dance. Even the local residents came to check out the spectacle and started clapping with us. When the dancing dust finally cleared, Maharaj continued his reading from ‘Vidagdha Madhava’.

Maharaj presented a summary of his plans for these parikramas and how he wants to enter the mind of the Goswamis, like Rupa Goswami, and their writings about Braj. He started with ‘Uddhava Sandesa’ (our entrance) and now was reading from ‘Vidagdha Madhava’ which he will continue for a few days and then ‘Lalita Madhava’ will complete the parikramas readings.

When reading from ‘Vidagdha Madhava’ he connected it to Prema Sarovar – how a bumblebee was circumambulating Radharani intensely and when Madhumangal chased the bumblebee away, he said to Radha, “Madhu is gone now!” and Radharani immediately began to cry because she thought Krsna left her, and because of her tears she could not see him anymore. This made Krsna to cry also because he witnessed her love for him and the rivers of tears formed Prema Sarovar. Before leaving, some devotees jumped in the Kund for a swim and others put the tears of Prema Sarovar on their head before boarding on the bus back to Vrindavan!

 

Srila Prabhupada On The Srimad-Bhagavatam As The Natural Commentary On Vedanta-sutra

From Teachings of Lord Kapila, Chapter 4: ‘Srimad-Bhagavatam is a commentary on Vedanta-sutra. Vedanta-sutra explains that the Supreme is the source of everything, and the nature of that source is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.1): janmady asya yato 'nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah svarat. That source is abhijna, cognizant. Matter is not cognizant; therefore the theory of modern science that life comes from matter is incorrect. The identity from whom everything emanates is abhijna, cognizant, which means He can understand. The Bhagavatam (1.1.1) also states, tene brahma hrdaya adi-kavaye: Krsna instructed Lord Brahma in Vedic knowledge. Unless the ultimate source is a living entity, how can He impart knowledge? Srimad-Bhagavatam was compiled by Vyasadeva, who also compiled the Vedanta-sutra. Generally the Mayavadis emphasize the commentary made on the Vedanta-sutra by Sankaracarya, the Sariraka-bhasya, but that is not the original commentary on Vedanta-sutra. The original commentary is given by the author himself, Vyasadeva, in the form of Srimad-Bhagavatam. To understand the actual meaning of the Vedanta-sutra, we must refer to the commentary made by the author himself. As stated by Sri Krsna Himself in Bhagavad-gita (13.5):

By Chirag Dangarwala

Srila Prabhupada says in his purport that mode of goodness is better than the others because in this mode one is able to see all the things in their right perspective and hence it gives chance to develop devotional service to Godhead. So if one wants to develop this Love for Godhead and become eternally blissful he has to work in order to maintain this mode of goodness and eventually transcend this. Modes of passion and ignorance are not conducive qualities for developing devotional service and hence they should be completely avoided. Just like in order to become a Masters of Science one has to at least have a Bachelor's degree, similarly in order to develop the transcendental love for Godhead one has to be situated in the mode of goodness at least, that is a pre-requisite. It is for this reason as Srila Prabhupada explains that the four regulative principles viz no meat eating, no intoxication, no gambling and no illicit sex have to be followed strictly for whoever is interested in spiritual progress. Since these four activities are considered to be the four pillars of sinful life and prominently are in the mode of passion and ignorance, avoiding them will help in cultivating the mode of goodness. Continue reading "Three modes of material nature
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A letter of appreciation from a satisfied receiver of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Jiva Doya das is a book distributor from the Bhaktivedanta Manor. He travels around England with three other devotees.
Dear Jiva,
thank you very much for contacting me. It was nice to speak to you in town when I saw you. I had had a rather uninspiring day and it was eye opening to talk to someone who seems to have a real passion for what they believe in. At the moment I am at a point in my life where I am happily floating on a cloud of contentment for who I am and what I believe in, which at present is unknown even to myself.
I have the greatest respect for people like yourself who have kept the lifestyles of those before you in an unbroken chain of philosophy and spiritualism. I believe that if I hadn’t already been captured in the cycle of what is my turbulent near adult life I would have liked to have done something similar to yourself.
Thank you for stopping me in the street and being so warm and friendly, you have opened my eyes to the world that is around me and the amazing people such as His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (see I have read the books you gave me!) who have inspired millions upon millions of people.
I must repeat my thank you again as your email has been like a ray of sunshine to what has been a rather boring life and I am grateful to you for that, as it is not an easy job restoring my faith.
I hope you are well and enjoying life
all my best wishes
Helen

By Advaita Acarya Dasa

Worshiping the cows: The Vedic scripture states that all the demigods and demigoddesses reside in the body of a cow. This explains why the body of a cow is divine and holy. If we worship Mother Cow, we attain the same material benefits we'd get by worshiping the demigods and demi-goddesses individually. The Garuda Purana says that anyone who has even once worshiped Mother Cow will be saved after death from the great suffering of hell (Naraka). Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, gave more importance to the worship of the cows than to the worship of the king of the demigods, Indra. Therefore in India even today many millions of pious Vedic followers worship Mother Cow at least once a year on Govardhana Puja day. Continue reading "Service to the Cow
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Chanting on the biggest ever japa beads? (Album with photos)
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: This morning we visited the peaceful and be...