
By Prabhupada’s Mercy We Can Remember Him
Websites from the ISKCON Universe

The intrepid explorers are Kesihanta Das, a Prabhupada disciple and co-director of ISKCON Alachua’s Save the Cow program, and Trivikrama Das, bass player for Vaishnava hardcore band 108. The two held the first kirtan in Antarctica and distributed Prabhupada’s books there for the first time, placing the Bhagavad-gita As It Is in several Antarctic research stations. What’s more, in bringing a murti of Srila Prabhupada himself with them, they have ensured that the ISKCON Founder-Acharya has now visited every continent in the world.

ROOFTOP MONKS (4 min video)
A recent video we did in New York. Transcendental sound for our friends!
Srila Prabhupada: His [the Supreme Lord’s] existence can be realized by one who has the single qualification of submissiveness and who thereby becomes a surrendered soul. The development of submissiveness is the cause of proportionate spiritual realization, by which one can ultimately meet the Supreme Lord in person, as a man meets another man face to face. [Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 1.55 purport]
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/v86C5j

Kartik Nabadvip Mandal Parikram 2016
“A full twelve hours of pure unalloyed Krsna Consciousness.” – (Shatadhanya Prabhu)
“How can I ever have a favourite part? The kirtans are fantastic, there is so much senior association, all the devotees want to serve, the management is par excellent, the prasad is delicious, and the Dham is so beautiful! Still hearing from the disciples of Srila Prabhupada is my favourite part.” – (Nimai Sundar Prabhu)
“The parikram brings the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya to life in our hearts.” – (Laxmimoni Mataji)
“Recommend it!? It’s a must! If you haven’t been on the Mayapur Chandra’s Parikrama, 50% of your life is wasted.” – (Pankajanghri Prabhu)
Dear Devotees, welcome to the Mayapur Chandra’s Parikrama. These were some of the realizations from our attending Vaisnavas and their experience, observations, interactions and discussions have joyously revealed that, though the praise was lavish it was far from exaggerated.
Sunrise to sunset there is one goal on this Parikrama - to hear and chant about Krsna, in His Dham, with His dear most devotees. Members of ISKCON from all over the world and all ages flock in annual attendance to this Prema-filled Parikrama. It is just the perfect package!
There are so many devotees, but not too many; the mood stays intimate. The management is perfect, but flexible; any devotee so inspired always has an opportunity for some service. And best of all, no matter how much your mind tries to wander; there is Krsna Consciousness at every step. No one can escape into the shadows of Maya and the result is brilliant, darkness dispersed, everyone happily accepts their fate and absorbs themselves in the names, abodes, and pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In six short days, you will get the experience of a lifetime. And though admittedly exhausting, it is equally ecstatic.
Ladies and gentleman, this is not some unreachable utopia, nor a lavish lie. This is Navadwip Dham. It is the spiritual world. Respected Vaishnavas, this is Mayapur Chandra’s Kartik Parikrama.
For those devotees who couldn’t attend this year’s Parikrama, can grab the opportunity for next year’s Parikrama. The dates are 18th,19th,21st,22nd,24th & 25th October 2017 (no parikrama on 20th Goverdhan puja & 23rd Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day)
Special participants for Kartik Nabadvip Mandal Parikram are H.H Jayapathaka Swami, H.H Kavichandra Swami, H.H Bhakti Purushottam Swami, H.H Bhakti Brihad Bhagavat Swami, H.G Pankajangri Prabhu, H.G Jananivas Prabhu and many more Srila Prabhupada’s disciple and senior devotees.
Your humble servant Adidev Das

What I love about ISKCON Mayapur.
Urmila Devi Dasi: What I love about ISKCON Mayapur (among many other things) is that there are three–THREE–3–schools here for elementary and high school (primary and secondary). And, and, and, the students in those schools are very prominent, valued members of the community. Every morning it’s the kids who recite the Siksastaka after Tulasi worship. The elephant (hati) procession is almost entirely a program done by the youth. It’s kids and teenagers on the elephants, worshipping the Deities, singing the mantras, playing the drums, drawing the rangooli designs. No, the schools aren’t perfect; yes, involvement from SMIS and the National School in the community could be (should be I would argue) greatly increased, and so many negative (truthful) things could be said. In fact, I say them to the (I hope) right persons at (I hope) the right time and place. But, still, this is one of the few–very few–communities of devotees of Krishna where the roles of the schools and the students in them is so vital and public in the community. YES!!!
In Mayapur, I’ve been doing some service I really relish–assisting the schools here. There are new heads of the Sri Mayapur International School (SMIS) and of the National School. In the SMIS, they have been using our Dr. Best Learn to Read for some time very successfully, as they do in the Bhaktivedanta Academy (usually called the boys’ gurukula). Both of those schools use Learn to Read as their basal (core, main) reading program and love it. We had a training with the National school teachers who have over fifty new sets of Learn to Read so they can also use them as their core reading program.
It was great to take the new SMIS head to see both the Academy and the National School–places to which she had not yet had a chance to visit. I was fortunate to have discussions with the leaders of all three schools about development of school identity and increased visibility and participation in the Mayapur community.
Altogether much positive is going on (though, again, there is always room for improvement) and I feel very encouraged.

Harinama in a cold Arbat street, a pedestrian street about one kilometer long in the historical center of Moscow (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the beginning, a conditioned soul is bereft of Krsna consciousness and is always morose in his material activities. Later, by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes inquisitive to know the Absolute Truth. In this way one begins to engage in the transcendental service of the Lord. Next, by the Lord’s grace all misconceptions are vanquished and the heart is cleansed of all material dirt. It is only then that the pleasure of transcendental bliss is awakened. By the Lord’s mercy one is completely convinced of the value of devotional service. When one can see the pastimes of the Lord everywhere, he is firmly situated in transcendental bliss. Such a devotee is relieved of all kinds of material desires, and he preaches the glories of the Lord all over the world. These Krsna conscious activities separate him from material activities and the desire for liberation, for at every step the devotee feels himself connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although such a devotee may sometimes be involved in household life, he is untouched by material existence due to his constant engagement in devotional service. Thus everyone is advised to take shelter of devotional service to become happy and liberated. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Madhya 10.119
Find them here: https://goo.gl/HzLGHZ
By Purushottam Nitai Das Since the day I came to know about God, I was told that God is the giver of everything and so I should unhesitatingly ask him to fulfil all my desires. And from that day or rather from that moment onwards I have always treated God just like a shopping mall from where I can buy anything and everything. The only difference is that in a mall I need to pay but in front of God I do not need to pay. Yes it is true that sometimes like many others I have put some paper notes or coins in a hundi (donation box) in a temple. But here too the desire is less to share the wealth with the Lord but it is due to the hope that if I give something to God then in return he will fill my coffers with abundant wealth. God always takes care of all our needs whether we ask for it or not. A baby does not have to run to the market to buy milk as soon as he is born but God makes sure that his mother has sufficient milk to feed her newly born baby. Air to breathe, water to drink and food to eat is supplied by him free of cost. But is God just there to fulfil our needs? Continue reading "Why now I am not with Krishna
→ Dandavats"

Updates from Bhaktivedanta Research Center.
We’ve decided to implement a new method to keep you up to date. Our new blog, BRC Bulletin, will be continually updated as we make a commitment to keep you more informed and connected to our service developments.
This edition’s topics include:
An index of selected scanned texts in English that have recently been added to online catalog
A University of Oxford scholar explains how his research at BRC library benefited his latest publication
Highlights from our adaptation of Open Source technology, including Koha
Detailed, step by step explanation of how to access scanned texts from our online catalog
A report from our Manuscripts Mission on their recent visits to several libraries in West Bengal
Technologically detailed explanation of our digital processing of text from scanning to cataloging
A new social networking forum for BRC donors and members.
Please note If you would like to be notified each time we post, you may register your email address on the blog.
We greatly appreciate your interest and support. We hope you visit our website often. Please visit us when you come to Kolkata. Our sincere well wishes to you and your loved ones.
- Your aspiring servants at BRC
BRC Bulletin: https://brcbulletin.blogspot.com/

Parikrama in Vrindavana: the best medicine! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Not feeling well for a couple of weeks I had not journeyed outside.Yesterday I took a short walk for some fresh air and brought my camera along with me. It’s amazing what variety of culture one capture in Vrindavan in 90 minutes!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/LbYBcC

Yesterday was the 39th disappearance day of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Here are some pictures from His room in...
By BalGovind Das HG Rasamandala Prabhu, Director of ISKCON Educational Services, facilitated a four day Devotee Care Course-2, pilot course at ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village (GEV), Wada from 27th to 30th Oct 2016. It was organized by Revatiraman Prabhu, Chairman of the Devotee Care Committee and Gauranga Prabhu, Divisional Director for Devotee Care Committee. Rasamandala Prabhu was given the responsibility of creating a world class Course on Devotee Care in the VTE style and was given all the resources created by the Devotee Care Committee over 6 years. The efforts have been kindly sponsored by ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor, ISKCON Tirupati, ISKCON Chowpatty and HG Gopal Bhatta Prabhu, the Chairman of the Strategic Planning Team. The members of the Devotee Care Committee who were involved in creating the resources over several years of efforts are HH Bhakti Purushottama Swami, HH Bir Krishna Goswami, HH Jayapataka Swami, HH Kavicandra Swami, HH Radhanath Swami, HG Asesa Sandhini Devi Dasi, HG Chandrasekhara Dasa, HG Ekavira Dasa, HG Gauranga Dasa, HG Hare Krishna Dasa, HG Kisori Devi Dasi, HG Patri Das, HG Prashanta Devi Dasi, HG Prema Padmini Devi Dasi, HG Revati Ramana Dasa, HG Sadasivananda Dasa, HG Sridama Dasa, HG Vijay Venugopala Dasa, HG Vrajalila Devi Dasi. Continue reading "Devotee Care Pilot Course Conducted at Govardhan Eco Village
→ Dandavats"
By Anand Caitanya das ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village, a 100 acre sustainable farming community and retreat center, based near Mumbai, India received the Green World Environment Award 2016 in the international campaign to find the world's greenest countries, companies and communities. They competed against more than 500 other nominations in the Green World Awards for Environmental Best Practice and were presented with their trophy and certificate at a glittering presentation in The Fantastic Cube, Bucheon City Hall, South Korea on October 28, 2016. Narayana Prabhu and Kamaleksana Mataji from Sri Sri Radha ShyamSundar Mandir, Seoul, South Korea, received this award on behalf of ISKCON GEV. Continue reading "ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village receives the Green World Award 2016 in South Korea for Environmental Best Practice
→ Dandavats"

На карттику провожу больше времени в Шри Вриндавана-дхаме. Может быть, даже останусь здесь на зиму. Таким Вриндаван я еще никогда не видел: очень тихо и умиротворенно. Совершенная атмосфера, чтобы погрузиться в слушание и воспевание. Вчера вечером, прогуливаясь по Ямуне, вспомнил один из своих любимых стихов, его написал преданный по имени Шри Рагхупати Упадхйайа. Эта мольба далека от моего нынешнего уровня сознания Кришны, но все-таки мы все могли бы стремиться к этому:
iha vatsan samacarayad
iha nah svami jagau vamsim
iti sasram gadato me
yamuna tire dinam yayat
“Здесь Господь мой пас телят,
а здесь играл на флейте.
Молю, чтоб проводить мне дни в таких
речах, роняя слезы по берегам Ямуны”.
[ рисунок Mahaveer Swami ]
(Kadamba Kanana Swami)
Preaching will not become successful if we are not endearing ourselves to Krsna. Preaching does not just depend on some techniques otherwise we could all learn hypnosis and with hypnosis, we could take over the world! There are yogis like that who can bring people under their will, “Chant Hare Krsna!” and look into their eyes. This is not the way we want people to chant – by force! We want people to chant voluntarily. We want service to be voluntary.
When Prabhupada invited everyone to come to the Sunday Love Feast, everyone would eat so much, be totally ecstatic and then, they would go home. Prabhupada never asked, he would wait until someone offered to help. If someone wanted to help then he would make them in charge of that particular task. As soon as one extended help, he would take that help but he never forced anyone. In this way, Srila Prabhupada was very expert and captured everyone.
So there are many ways, many fronts in which we can spread Krsna consciousness while dealing with the modes of material nature – battle it out in the soaking rain with a kirtan party or we can stand soaking in the rain with a bag full of books. We can stand in the street with an umbrella and invite people under the umbrella, it was an old system – boys went out in the rain with a big umbrella and then would call someone over and give them a book. Like that, many tricks were employed. Another system was to sit in the car and call people over. They would think that you are lost and you intend asking for the road – people always want to give directions – and then give the books out of the car. Some would stand on the street and knock on the windows of cars.
Anyhow, we have many fronts with which we can deal with people and Prabhupada was broad minded. In this way, this movement is not stereotyped; it is not that there is a particular mould that everyone would have to fit into and that everyone has to be the same. But in one way, everyone must be the same – we have to start taking responsibility for the Krsna consciousness of others. We may do it on our own front, in the area where we are expert, whatever we are good at.
If we take responsibility for the Krsna consciousness of others, if we keep ourselves preoccupied with that then the mercy will come. If you don’t know what you are good at then we will put you in the book distribution army because that is very powerful.
Prabhupada was good at that. Prabhupada was very good at taking the essence of things from everywhere, from all the teachings of the acharyas, taking it together, taking the spirit and bringing it home to people. The essence which meant surrender to Krsna and if you read Prabhupada’s books, in so many ways, he is telling us to surrender to Krsna. When you read his books, you get hit from so many different angles with the same message: surrender to Krsna.
The real purpose is pure devotional service; the reason is to give up false ego; one should bow down before Krsna, humility means to do everything for Krsna and so on. Finally after you have been reading for a while you think, “Maybe I should surrender to Krsna!” This is what reading does. So in this way, all of us can surrender in our own individual way. That is the one thing we all have in common. We are all very different – some are intellectuals, some are practical – it does not matter!

Prapujaka Das (Per Jäderstrand) is just ‘an ordinary guy,’ as he’ll tell you himself. He’s not a Swami or a guru. And he’s not from India, or even America or England, but from Sweden. “Nobody knows where Sweden is,” he deadpans. But all that might make his extraordinary tale “Looking for My Life” – about searching for his identity across India and beyond – more relateable.
By Vraja Bihari Das This realization can be a painful experience. Hence to avoid this realization, we may prefer to believe that chanting is one of the many things to be done in devotional service. If we profess that chanting is the most important activity, immediately we are exposed to the painful reality of our own poor chanting. It seems hypocritical that on the one hand we declare chanting to be most sacred, but on the other hand, our actions are contrary to the reality we preach about. The more we glorify the Holy Names, the more we have to face the stark truth of our own inadequacies of chanting. And this revelation is painful because we want to feel a sense of self-worth and success in our spiritual lives. Hence we avoid discussing the importance of good chanting, because these discussions only confirm to us our abject failure in our vow of chanting. Continue reading "When our ‘failure’ is a success
→ Dandavats"
By Vaiseshika Dasa Many “Warriors” are householders who have family obligations and who work during the week to earn their livelihood. But despite their busy professional and family lives, these devotees, eager for the nectar that comes from direct preaching, go out on weekends to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. But the “Weekend Warrior” comes in all shapes and sizes: Kids, students, temple managers, retired book distributors, and congregational members of ISKCON are all joining the swelling ranks of the “Weekend Warriors.” Continue reading "Strategies To Become A “Weekend Warrior”
→ Dandavats"

ISKCON Aruppukottai - Mandap Program Nov 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati: The Supreme Lord is saying, “I have arranged so much misery, so much pain, so much trouble and danger, not to make you suffer, but to teach you that all this misery is unnecessary; so you will search for the happiness that is eternally desirable, the joy that is eternally adorable.“
Find them here: https://goo.gl/qjy63w

Festival of The Holy Name in Alachua (2016) (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja used to say, prana ache yara sei hetu pracara. A person can become a preacher if he has got life. A dead man cannot become a preacher. So you must be very enthusiastic that “I shall preach the glories of the Lord to my best capacity.” It is not that one has to become very learned scholar to become a preacher. Simply it requires enthusiasm, “My Lord is so great, so kind, so beautiful, so wonderful. So I must speak something about my Lord.” This is the qualification, enthusiasm. >>> Ref. VedaBase => The Nectar of Devotion – Vrndavana, October 20, 1972
Find them here: https://goo.gl/uV3v1K

WALL ART. Harinama’s striking mural art.
Mandakini devi dasi: Harinama and his wife, Laksmi Priya devi dasi, with their three children – Caitanya five years, Nityananda four years and Bhakti aged one – recently moved onto New Govardhana Farm, Australia. The Perth couple had visited the farm several times and was keen to provide their children with a Krishna conscious education. At present the couple are busily engaged in renovating the Lily Pond house and cultivating the surrounding land. Harinama took to spiritual life 20 years ago soon after he graduated with a Diploma of Art from the Perth School of Fine Art. Inspired to paint wall murals at the farm, he has to date completed an impressive Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill at Carpark 1. Another work is in progress on the wall as you walk up to the temple from Carpark 1. This shows the scene from Srimad-Bhagavatam of Sukadeva Gosvami preaching to Maharaja Pariksit and the sages. With wall art being much in vogue, Harinama is hoping to continue the trend by painting several more murals.
Four or five new bhaktas arrived from Kalimantan, (formerly Borneo) to join the asrama at Jagannatha Gauranga Mandir in Denpasar.
Although not yet initiated brahmanas, they are learning how to serve the deities from the brahmanas at the temple so that they are ready once they take brahmin initiation.

The Sound of Krishna’s Flute.
Last month artist Dhanesvara dasa produced a series of works at a Murwillumbah studio (Studio 88) focusing on Krishna’s pastimes, calling the exhibition ‘The Sound of Krishna’s Flute’. He used traditional images with a contemporary twist. Dhanesvara hopes that these images reflect the devotional rasa’s that inspire our continual journey of bhakti-yoga, perfecting our love for Krishna and His devotees. The launch for the exhibition will be held Friday, 2 December at 6pm. Talented musicians Malcolm Knights (on flute) and his wife, Lila Kirtan devi dasi, leading the kirtana will be an additional highlight. A light supper of chai and nibbles will also be provided. Please come along Friday, 2 December at 6pm, 88 Main Street, Murwillumbah.
Read more: https://goo.gl/F6IJtg

Lismore High Religious Studies School Students Visit Iskcon’s New Govardhana Farm Community, Australia.
Damodara Pandit dasa: Lismore has always been a great place to visit and tell people about Krishna, so it was no surprise when the local Lismore High School contacted us requesting a visit. On Wednesday, 26 October, myself and Ambarish dasa made the journey down south. It was a pleasant surprise to be greeted by Paul Von Bratt, the Chaplain and Religious Studies teacher, who was extremely happy to see us. He then introduced us to the senior Religious Studies class. During the following hour we shared a nice kirtana led by Ambarish, and discussed the practice of Krishna Consciousness. The students were very interested and a few even stayed on during lunch to ask more transcendental questions.
Richmond River High Campus is a caring school of excellence which maintains – through curricular and extra-curricular initiatives – a strong commitment to quality.

Melbourne’s First Rathayatra Festival, Monday, 17 July 1972.
“Prabhupada was convinced that the festival was an important part of Krsna consciousness culture, and had personally told Madhudvisa that the Rathayatra parade was so spiritually potent that just by following the chariot of Lord Jagannatha as it passed down the road, one would be liberated from repeated birth and death.
Madhudvisa also had his own, special, personal experience of the potency of the Ratha-yatra festival - it had first attracted him to become a devotee, and later he had helped organize the 1969 and 1970 Ratha-yatra festivals in San Francisco.
Madhudvisa was well aware of the enormity of such an event, and he inspired others. May and June 1972 saw devotees in Melbourne work tirelessly on the multifarious aspects of Ratha-yatra - fund raising, purchase and acquisition of materials, publicity, planning the actual parade, hiring a hall for after the parade, and organizing a feast for thousands
Vaibhavi, now an accomplished artist, drew up plans for the cart from studying pictures of the massive chariots in Jagannatha Puri. After corresponding with Nara-Narayana who had designed the first carts in America, she came up with an especially scaled-down version that would fit into a single Melbourne traffic-lane. Notable also would be a special, custom-made mechanism to lower and raise the silken canopy to avoid the overhead tram lines that spanned the city streets.
Vaibhavi decided on the final color scheme, the position of the colorful blue and white swan motifs, the size of the Deity platform, and the location of the fencing. She tended to even the smallest details - the dimensions of the spire, the design of the kumbha, the parrots, the length of the flag, and even the angle of slope for the multicoloured canopy.
Work began under extreme weather conditions – the Melbourne winter of 1972 was a severe one. A vacant lot in Carlton was donated for the duration of the construction. Devotees labored day and night. Sometimes unknown men and women would turn up on the rugged, muddy site and volunteer their services for painting or construction.
Once, an old staggering drunk insisted on holding a kerosene lamp for hours so the devotees could work through the night. To the devotees, it seemed that Lord Jagannatha - Krsna, the Lord of the Universe - was personally, causelessly engaging these persons in His devotional service. Some of these men and women became so inspired that they actually became devotees.
And where was Lord Jagannatha? A Ratha-yatra parade held no meaning without the smiling, angular-faced Deities of the Lord and His brother Balarama and His sister Subhadra.
Dipak recalls: “One grey, overcast day I was out driving when I came upon an old sawmill. There I saw a huge seasoned log of hardwood lying on the ground. I purchased it and had it cut into three pieces then drove them back to the newly acquired Hare Krsna shop in Little Lonsdale Street and set them up in the chilly loft. The Lord had come to Melbourne!”
Dwaipayana Das recalls: “I had a desire and one day it was fulfilled. Vaibhavi asked me if I would like to help carve Lord Jagannatha! I was thrilled and honored.
Dipak came back from the sawmill with three logs and we carried them upstairs to an area partitioned off from the Mighty Apollo Gymnasium. We started with a chainsaw and then continued with hand tools. Dipak carved Lord Balarama and I carved Subhadra and Jagannatha. Finally, Nartaki painted them.”
Dipak: “I remember daily entering that freezing loft. There was such a holy atmosphere. Each morning we would come and offer our obeisances to the unfinished Deities and then commence our work. It had such a powerful effect on us. To this very day, I have a deep attraction to Lord Jagannatha.””
From The Great Transcendental Adventure, by Kurma dasa
By Members of Krishna Sambandha November 29, for the first time in the history of Chile and its Courts of Justice, a concert was held in the Hall of Honor of the Supreme Court. Never before had there been a musical presentation in this space of great patrimonial and historical value for our country. The concert, consisting of an exhibition of classical and devotional music from India, was performed by Krishna Sambandha, composed of members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). This activity was initiated with a speech by His Excellency Mr. Hugo Dolmestch, President of the Supreme Court, and was attended by the Minister of Supreme Court, Gloria Ana Chevesich, the National Prosecutor of the Public Ministry, Andrés Montes; Ministers of the Constitutional Court; The President of the Court for the Defense of Free Competition, Enrique Vergara; The first Secretary and Cultural Manager of the Embassy of India in Chile, Mr. Venkataraman and Mr. Shammi Arora; The President of the Indian Federation in Chile, Kishan Dadlani and the leading exponent of classical Indian music in Chile, Master Millapol Gajardo. Continue reading "Preaching program at Honor All of the Supreme Court of Justice (Chile)
→ Dandavats"