Planet ISKCON

New Orleans RathYatra (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: I am very much pleased that you have opened a very nice center in Madison, Wisconsin. Thank you very much. Now develop it very nicely, and especially make certain that the daily routine program is held nicely and to the regular highest ISKCON standard, that is, you should see that our rising early, holding mangala arati, chanting 16 rounds, reading books, having classes, street sankirtana, etc., go on just to the highest standard and are never for any reason neglected. In this way your success is assured, but if we neglect even for a moment our routine, work, if we allow the regular program to become slack then everything else we may try will fail. (From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Rudra, Radhika - Calcutta 20 February 1972)
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Allen Connects with Swami Bhaktivedanta

 

By Madhavananda Das

At about 6:46 pm yesterday evening, this world became a darker place. Pujyapad Fakir Mohan Maharaja left this world, surrounded by devotees chanting Hare Krishna and crying. His departure was extremely auspicious: He had a prasada Tulasi leaf on his mouth, the Govardhan Sila given to him by his Gurudeva was on his forehead, on his chest was a prasada chadar from the ancient deity of Tota-Gopinath, there was a plate full of Salagram Silas by his head. Also on his chest was a silk rope that had been used to tie Lord Jagannath to his Ratha-yatra cart in Puri. There was also a Jagannath prasada Gita Govinda Khandua on his chest, the cloth with verses written on it from Jayadev Goswami's Gita Govinda. Continue reading "A precious vaishnava departed: Disappearance of Sripad Fakir Mohan Prabhu
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Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 3: Chapter Twenty-nine, Text 34 TRANSLATION: Such a perfect devotee offers respects to every living entity because he is under the firm conviction that the Supreme Personality of Godhead has entered the body of every living entity as the Supersoul, or controller.

Niranjana, Devamrta and Sivarama Swamis read Caitanya-caritamrta

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TOVP: Winter Adventures In Moscow (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja 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 Farenheit, Sadbhuja Prabhu is fully satisfied with his visit to the manufacturer’s workshop. The results of the work that has been produced in the factory are excellent. 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 in the middle of December and sent to Mayapur.
The assemblage of the products will begin in February when the container arrives in Mayapur. Once assembled nicely, the pieces will then be installed on the top of TOVP to crown our temple with the effulgence of victory and triumph.
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The post If we keep curbing most of our impulses, aren’t we living a fake life? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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Talk at ISKCON, Bahrain
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The post Bhikshu Gita 3 – The mind makes the unreal seem real and the real seem unreal (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.23.44) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The “Real Thing”
I was distributing door to door: I rang the bell, and a middle-aged woman opened the door. When she saw me she opened her mouth and eyes wide.
Slightly laughing, I said, “I’m a missionary, do not worry”.
In the meantime her husband came, saw the situation and invited me to enter the apartment.
After few moments the woman “woke up” and told me,“ Please excuse me if I did not let you in immediately but I was very shocked to see you here, it is the first time…. you are a Hare Krishna right?”
“Yes it is, and yes I am” I answered back.
She continued,“ I am simply in love with Srila Prabhupada and His more than wonderful books.”
Then I asked which books she had and she showed me six books of S.P that she bought in a used books store. I presented to her the Caitanya Cairitamrta set and other introductory books that she immediately accepted.
I felt very encouraged after this because I saw the potency of the SKT movement and in particular of S.P. books. I used to say sometimes to the people I meet: “I know you do not read but take this book anyway because these are the only books with legs….” The only contact she had with Krishna Consciousness was Srila Prabhupada books. Actually, “They” are doing sankirtana we may be or not be there but S.P’s Books are there, and they’re the “Real Thing”.
Your Servant,
Anakadundubhi Das

Talk at ISKCON, Bahrain
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The post Bhikshu Gita 2 – The mind makes it difficult for people to change – be understanding (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.23.43) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

By Dvarakadhisa Devi Dasi

God is a person, and out of His infinite kindness He allows us even in our present condition to render Him personal service. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the devotee Prahlada Maharaja, a great spiritual authority, says, "Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia, and pastimes of Lord Visnu [Krsna], remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship …, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind, and words) these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krsna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge." Here we continue our series on the nine processes of bhakti-yoga, or devotional service to the Lord. Continue reading "Arcanam – Deity Worship
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Conference for the 50 years of ISCKON at the Facultat de Geografía i Història de la Universitat de Barcelona, Spain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The whole world is running on a false theory that life is born out of matter. But that is not a fact. So how to defeat this theory? That is our business. We have to defeat this rascal theory. We have to challenge all these rascals and defeat them. How it is possible? By logic, by science. Anyway, that we have to make program. Because this is most misleading. The whole human society is affected by this misleading theory. We have to make program, go from place to place and invite all big men, all scientists. That program we have to make. We cannot allow this nonsense theory to go on. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk – May 3, 1973, Los Angeles
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Where are you now, old friend?
To Tribhuvanatha Prabhu (1952 - 2001)
By Padmapani das.

Where are you now, old friend? Where are you now? Have you gone ahead to lead another sankirtana party for Srila Prabhupada in a far distant land? Are you chanting up a storm and playing the mrdanga until time stops and theres nothing left but the Holy Name which you love so much? Are you preaching to a young devotee to run off on another daring adventure for our spiritual master?

A special birthday poem, for Guru das

An intricate mosaic is Guru das ji Experiences life footloose and fancy free But a closer look reveals a tender heart Moved by compassion, caring as an art. You have known the highs and lows of human life Rejected inherited values despite povertys strife Sought to give a picture of a divine example For Prabhupada's grace youve received ample. You chose not to take much of this dreary world And to share glimpses of divinity so others may be healed May you live a very long life for our hearts sake Until Krishna your soul will gently take. But that, my friend, is a new beginning Where every word is a song, every step dancing To the sweet sound of Krishnas flute And be with Prabhupada again in a spiritual suit. As Krishna expresses, something in the way She moves Perhaps enlisted in service to Her servants, no higher Truths Leave this place behind for the grateful dead Goloka is for the living, let it be written, let it be said. Happy 75th. Birthday, Guru das November 18, 2016 from your friend, Pusta Krishna das

Harinam Sankirtan in Santiago de Chile (Album with photos)
This hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana, that is not any vibration of this material world. That is spiritual. If you want to get out of this viṣānala, the blazing fire of poison or forest fire, then we have to take shelter of this hari-saṅkīrtana.
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By Madhava Smullen

Few prasadam stories from New Vrindaban’s history are as legendary as those of the late Amburish Dasa’s sweet rice and Pitambar Dasi’s ice cream. Straight from the cow barn and prepared by the cowherd couple with deep love and devotion, they were much-craved treats in the austere lives of New Vrindaban’s early devotees. Neither Amburish nor Pitambar had any cooking or cow-care experience before becoming devotees. Amburish, a city boy from Denver, Colorado, stopped at New Vrindaban on a road trip in 1971 just after high school, and instantly knew he was home. He moved to New Vrindaban and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada that same year. Pitambar met devotees chanting at a craft show while living as a hippy in California’s Santa Cruz mountains. When one of the devotees told her all about New Vrindaban, she was similarly drawn to the place – she stayed over night at her first visit on Radhastami 1976, and never left. Continue reading "New Vrindaban Recipes: Ice Cream and Sweet Rice Straight From Krishna’s Cows
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Allen Ginsberg Comments

Congregation program at Bahrain
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Address to teenagers forum at ISKCON, Bahrain
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This will be the first time that Govinda’s restaurant will be hosting a Dinner Show!

Govinda’s is going through a wonderful evolution and my father happens to be part of that great team!
In support of these great changes, we want to help spread the word to show everybody what an awesome place we have in Gainesville. They are already serving new items in the menu and are hosting parties and doing catering.
We want to help push forward the amazing energy that’s happening at Govinda’s, so please come show your support by Chanting, Dancing and Feasting with us!

The Dinner plate is only $9.95 and kids from ages 6-12 get it for $4.95. All kids 5 years and under eat free!

There is limited seating but we will try our best to accommodate everyone. It will be good if you come on time so you can get a table and good seating for the concert.
Parking is at the back and if that fills up please park across the street at Earth Origins, there is plenty of parking there.
If you have any questions please let us know

Jay Ganashyam Shetty discusses the psychology behind finding success when the odds are against you.

In attendance were Members of the European Parliament; MEP Geoffrey Van Orden, MEP Neena Gill, MEP Jo Leinen, MEP Cora Van Nieuwenhuizen, MEP Dennis De Jong, Vice President of the European Parliament; Antonio Tajani, Ambassador of India to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU; H.E. Manjeev Singh Puri, Ambassador of Mauritius; H.E. H. Dillum, General Secretary of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of the European Community; Br Olivier Poquillon OP, representatives from the Vatican, and the Hindu diaspora from the UK, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Italy and many more.