Planet ISKCON

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. 

Lavanya-keli and Isvari-kesavi are producing short outreach videos to give people some small insights into the Hare Krishna lifestyle. Subscribe to their channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0QQqSBqrjLoLZPoZ_Xy9wQ

Introduction to ISKCON Connection.

New website iskconconnection.org hopes to get an accurate count of all ISKCON members for the first time ever, and to help them feel part of an international family by connecting them to all the inspirational activities in ISKCON around the world. The website is the face of ISKCON Connection, ISKCON’s global membership program, developed by the GBC and based at ISKCON’s headquarters in Mayapur, West Bengal.

Mansarovar in Braja (Album with photos)
Once in while you come across a hidden place of such stunning beauty that you wonder how it has remained `undiscovered’ for so long…

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami went with devotees of Surat, Ajmer and Ujjain to Sridham Govardhan for a yatra from 2nd November to 5th November 2016. Maharaj spoke on the glories of Govardhan, Barsana and Nanda Gaon on the first two days. Maharaj also described...

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Index of Names in Bhagavad-gita
This index lists, explains and provides verse locations for 237 names occurring in the texts a...

Transcending the Times.
Does transcendence mean we ignore current events? Does it mean ‘we are spiritual’ and ‘that is material’ and we don’t get involved? Does being detached mean we don’t care? Yes and no.

MotelGita Report, Nov 17, 2016

MotelGita has distributed ten thousands of Bhagavad Gita’s in hundreds of motels and hotels across the United States of America in the last couple of months.
With the help of a call center, MotelGita is making sure that all the hotel/motel owners get new or replacement books in a timely manner so that Srila Prabhupada’s books are in the rooms.

Nandagram Karttika 2016 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Our visit to Nandagram begins with Uddhava Kyari, the place where Sri Uddhavaji delivered Krishna’s message to the gopis. This the place of Srimati Radharani’s conversation with the bumble bee! Next we visited Pavana Sarovara and the Bhajan Kutir of Srila Sanatana Goswami. After taking darshan in Nanda Bhavan, we concluded at my lovely Vrinda Kunda! Relish these photos of Vittalrukmini Das!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/TCIg2S

A Damsel of Vraj, Nadia Weds the Gentle Cowherd, Krishna premi (Album with photos)
In the milk soaked land of Vraj, where honey drips from the trees, the beautiful damsel Nadia married the gentle cowherd man, Krishna premi of 24 hour kirtan at KiKi Nagala amongst the well love cows of “Care for Cows”!

By Bhaktisiddhanta Swami

Srila Prabhupada, our most noteworthy example, established an international society amidst overwhelming physical handicaps or apparent setbacks that became a precursor to a worldwide society. Then there are his sincere followers, whose tests and trials amidst obstacles, have realization, trying their best to fulfill his will. Apart from what should be a 'main concern' of positives; victories, satsanga, kirtans and good times, let us examine the difficulties that we may individually/collectively undergo as we traverse the path of devotion in this present field. We may have an ax to grind with regard to an individual, guru, management, or society. Possibly, we may feel taken advantage of, manipulated, abused, and used within arenas that proclaim spiritual values, where material agendas have sadly arisen. Has politics pushed us into the background? Has our response to various scenarios been accommodating or reactionary? Do we focus on the grains of sand of 'an event' rather than the instructing panorama of the Lord's arrangement with regard to an individual or collective? Continue reading "Difficulties In Devotion: A Blessing in Disguise?
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By Damodar Prasad das

“A person is not considered a great sage unless he disagrees with another sage”. This adage suitably describes the career of La Mettrie, whose contentious writings during the eighteenth century were almost universally reviled by his contemporaries during the age of the Enlightenment. Even Frederick the Great, who afforded him protection and patronage following his banishment from France and Holland, declared that one could attain peace of mind by not reading La Mettrie’s works. Notwithstanding the general distaste with which they were met, the ideas he espoused have proved long standing and influential in the modern science of medicine, psychiatry, neurology and psychology. Perhaps his most provocative work was entitled “Man a Machine” in which he makes a number of extraordinary claims, many of which we will pass over. The main thrust of the work was that only physicians (amongst whom he could count himself) had the right to speak on the soul, because, he felt, the soul itself was a product of the interaction of the organs of the body. Continue reading "The Man in the Machine
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ISKCON Auckland NZ: Friday night Harinam! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: You are asking what should your preaching work be now that you are attending the university. So the first preaching work is that yourself should become an ideal devotee. Lord Caitanya said that one should first make himself perfect and then attempt to instruct others. There is no point in telling another man to stop smoking if you yourself are smoking cigarettes. Even though you are mixing with all kinds of the student class at the university, you must strictly refrain from the four prohibitive sinful activities, and as an initiated student you must not let a day pass when you do not chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krsna Mantra. If you can follow just these things nicely that in itself will be strong preaching by behavior. You should also always wear Kunti beads around the neck and wear the marking of tilak. People will inquire from you and you can tell them about Krsna Consciousness and sell them books also. You should also try to associate with the devotees in England and Scotland. If possible, visit the temple on Sundays and whenever you can, and always read my books. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Niranjana — Hyderabad 23 April, 1974
Find them here: https://goo.gl/G3hGds

By Krishna Kishore Das

On, 17th of November 2016, Institute of International Social Development – New York, an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations awarded a special award to His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami. Over the years, Institute of International Social Development, has grown from a small organization to a vast Non Governmental Organization, helping those in disadvantaged areas. The organization is very grateful for all the support His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj gave them on behalf of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in spreading the message of spirituality for the World Peace and Understanding between Nations and Civilizations. Institute wanted to show him their appreciation, with this small token of love and sincerity. Continue reading "Institute of International Social Development, United Nations (NY) awards Iskcon leader
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Bhkshu Gita 1 – Minimize misery by identifying the misery caused by the mind (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.23.42)
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Allen Ginsberg Arrives on the Storefront Scene

Institute of International Social Development 2016 Annual Award Ceremony, 20th Anniversary and Book launching of ‘Ocean of Mercy’ by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami On, 17th of November 2016, Institute of International Social Development – New York, an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic...

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 07 September 2003, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture)

In this material world, everything is so gross and cheap. Here, when there is a meeting between lovers then within no time, it is the full embrace – that is what it is all about… Right down to the action! The main thing! Let us not waste any time! Acceleration from zero to a hundred in two seconds, right!? That is the material experience. Very quick and very shallow and with strong exchanges.

But in spiritual loving exchanges, things are very different. In spiritual loving exchanges, everything is so meaningful that slight little exchanges are performed again and again, and give so much satisfaction.

When Srimati Radharani becomes aware that Krsna has left, has left her alone and that she is faced with separation then she faints… boom! She falls unconscious and as she hits the ground, just there on the ground, there are flowers of which the scent reminds her of Krsna. Krsna wears those flowers on his garland. The scent enters her nostrils and immediately she jumps off the ground in ecstasy! So, again, inconceivable! Inconceivable intensity!

So here, we have our dull loving exchanges in the material world, “Yes, I love you…” This is our level of material exchange. I love you today, and tomorrow I love someone else, because how deep is the loving experience in this world? Very shallow!