Planet ISKCON

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“We may approach the Lord for something material and he may fulfill our desire, but in such a way that we don’t approach him again for that desire. So, it is better if we approach the Lord and great souls like Giri Govardhan with spiritual desires like the gopi’s—just to serve and please Krishna—without any desire for themselves. By serving and pleasing Krishna we become pramodah—we become exceedingly happy. That is how we become happy. Not by trying in our own independent way to enjoy but by serving and pleasing Krishna and His devotees. That was the benediction the gopis wanted from Govardhan Hill and he fulfilled their desires.”
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Govardhan-puja Talk

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ECO-Vrindaban Offers Opportunity for New Maintenance Person.
ECO-Vrindaban (ECO-V) which strives to fulfill Srila Prabhupadas mandates for simple living and cow-protection at New Vrindaban in West Virginia, USA is on the lookout for a new construction and maintenance person for its ongoing operations. The ideal candidate would be a journeyman level carpenter with construction or general contracting experience. Basic plumbing and electrical skills would be a major plus. The candidates duties would include painting, restoration and maintenance of farm buildings, as well as new construction projects such as greenhouses and various fencing projects. They would also help with other ECO-V activities when needed. Thus ECO-V is looking for someone with an experience of and desire for simple country living, and a well-rounded familiarity with farm life the sort of person who would be comfortable working with animals, lending a hand in the garden, or driving a tractor. The ideal candidate would also be a self-starter with the ability to think on their feet, work unsupervised, and, at times, manage a small crew. To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/2dSGFY

Harinama in Jax today. (Album with photos)
Jacksonville, FL, United States - Thousands of people heard the Holy Name and many...

Despite many challenges, the intrepid devotees in this remote city 5,700 land miles from Moscow built a suitable temple to worship the Lord. The city of Vladivostok (“Ruler of the East”) is situated in the far east of Russia, a few hundred kilometers north of China. The region was long under Chinese rule, but Russia acquired it through the Treaty of Beijing in 1860. In time Russians migrated from the western part of the country, and it is now an important port serving the eastern region of Russia. In the late 1980s, when the USSR gave up its communist regime and opened its doors to other ideals, the Krishna consciousness movement established centers across Russia, Vladivostok being one city where the people were immediately interested. Continue reading "ISKCON Vladivostok: Where Krishna Reigns in Russia’s Far East
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I share many powerful insights from Srila Prabhupada’s lectures and his books. I include excerpts from Satsvarupa dasa Goswami’s Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name. I transmit some nice realizations from Janananda Goswami, speaking at 26 Second Avenue in New York City on the fiftieth anniversary of the first Tompkins Square Park harinama, October 9, 2016, and also some cool insights from his godbrother, Mahavirya Prabhu, also speaking at that occasion. I share a nice point from a lecture by Candrasekhara Swami. I share several profound quotes from Sadaputa Prabhu’s collection of articles, published as God and Science. I share notes on a lecture by Shyamananda Prabhu, a senior Radhanath Swami brahmacari from Pune and Chowpatty. I share notes on lectures by young devotees who attend The Bhakti Center morning program, Virabhadra Rama Prabhu and Bhakta Cesar Prabhu, along with many comments on their lectures by Adi Purusha Prabhu, who has been a devotee since the 70s. Continue reading "Interesting insights of classes by Iskcon devotees
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Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu’s latest issue.
* DAMODARA VRATA – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks about some devotional activities for the month of kartika.
* DIVINE DEEDS OF DAMODARA – Some comments from Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja about the pastime of Krishna being tied to the wooden grinding mortar.
* BINDING THE BOUNDLESS – A fresh translation done for this issue of of an excerpt from Srila Jiva Goswami’s Bhakti-sandarbha.
* BLIND, DEAF, AND DUMB IN VRINDAVAN – Another fresh translation from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati’s Vrindavan-mahimamrtam.
This issue can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu386

Not So Vegetarian! Vegetarians Beware!
Madhavananda das: Processed fast food is very popular in the world today, and even devotees often take bread, chips and other items. You may be aware that many of those products are not healthy, but what some people don’t know is that many of them are also not vegetarian.
Even if you read the label, it can be misleading. For example, “natural flavors” can often refer to non-veg items. Such ingredients are very common in processed food today. An article last year on CNN reported:
“In the Environmental Working Group’s Food Scores database of over 80,000 foods, "natural flavor” is the fourth most common ingredient listed on labels. The only ingredients that outrank it: salt, water and sugar.“
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/IMG96W

As the age of Kali-yuga moves forward, many people are wondering how bad social conditions will get before they improve, and what can we do about it now. Yet the Vedic texts contain a specific prescription for staying free from the heavy influence that this age of Kali-yuga brings. In spite of all the changes predicted to happen in society and on the planet, there are still many ways, both material and spiritual, to stifle or even get free of Kali-yuga’s influence. If we are going to change anything for the better, now is the time to work at it--while the Golden Age within Kali-yuga lasts. One of the first things we must understand is that a perfect civilization is based on working with valor while depending on the Supreme. The more godless we become, the more deteriorated and degraded society and this world will be due to allowing the influence of Kali-yuga to come in without any interference. Therefore, we all need to work for our existence, but we need to recognize that we also are dependent on nature, or the gifts of God. For example, a farmer may have planned and worked so hard to acquire full facility to grow food, such as getting land, seeds, and equipment. But he is not in control of the rain. Without proper rainfall all of his endeavors are fruitless. Therefore, he is dependent on the higher powers who can provide such necessities. So although wanting to be independent of everything is natural for numerous people, this is not possible while living in this material world. We are all dependent on so many other beings and things to survive, including the laws of material nature. And, ultimately, it is the Supreme Being who is in charge of those laws. Therefore, the perfection of society is to work to contribute to family and society while depending on and working in harmony with the Supreme Will. Continue reading "Staying Free Of Kali-yuga’s Dark Influence
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Kartik 2016: Visiting Sri Sri Radha-Raman (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna consciousness, or bhakti, devotional service, means to develop attachment for Krsna and in the same proportion develop detachment for material sense gratification. Two things cannot go on. Just like here is a glass containing water. If you want to put milk in this glass, then you have to throw away the water. If you think that “I shall keep half water, half milk,” that can be done, but both of them becomes diluted or polluted. If you want to keep milk, then you have to throw out the water, and if you want to keep water, then you cannot keep milk. Similarly, bhakti paresanubhavah. This is the test. If you become Krsna conscious, if you are improving in spiritual life, proportionately you’ll be detached from materialistic way of life. That is the test. Simply thinking that “I am meditating so much, I am making very good advance,” is not. You have to test. The test is that your… Improvement of spiritual life means that you become detached to the materialistic way of life. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [SB 11.2.42]. From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.40-45 – Los Angeles, December 13, 1968
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TOVP Booth in Vrindavana (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada visited the TOVP Booth at Shree Shree Krishna Balarama Temple - I...

The City Of Victory (Album with 222 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Jaipur translates as the “City of Victory.” The planned city was built for the protection of Sri Sri Radha Govinda, the beloved deities of Srila Rupa Goswami. Each day thousands upon thousands of people take darshan of Radha Govinda. It is an overwhelming experience to see their devotion for the deities. Our parikrama party visited Radha Govinda twice a day during our stay in Jaipur. We also visited the temples of Radha Damodar, Radha Vinod and Radha Gopinath. For us Jaipur was a like a hidden Vrindavan.
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We have commenced the ornamentation of the main inner staircase of the TOVP. We are cladding the walls with lustrous white Vietnamese marble. Within the white marble, decorative borders are being inlayed with blue marble from Bolivia.

The fusion of the different tones in the blue marble on the white surface gives it a natural brilliant golden effulgence. The camera just does not do any justice in capturing this remarkable phenomenon of sattvik artistry and the beauty of the blue borders.

The effect is extraordinary and the work is looking very first class. We are very satisfied with the results and look forward to the continued success in our interior decoration of the TOVP.

The post Artisan Work in the Inner Staircase appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

A Letter to Rayarama dasa Brahmachari

Dipavali or Diwali means “a row of lights”. It falls on the last two days of the dark half of Karttika (October-November). For some it is a three-day festival, others a five day festival.

There are various alleged origins attributed to this festival. Some hold that they celebrate the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. In Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Kali.

Srila PrabhupadaI said that this festival commemorates the triumphant return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating the asura Ravana. The citizens welcomed the Lord by lighting the way with tens of thousands of candles.

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications

View of Nandagram farm in New Vrindaban, WV Autumn 2016

ECO-Vrindaban (ECO-V) – which strives to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s mandates for simple living and cow-protection at New Vrindaban in West Virginia, USA – is on the lookout for a new construction and maintenance person for its ongoing operations.

The ideal candidate would be a journeyman level carpenter with construction or general contracting experience. Basic plumbing and electrical skills would be a major plus.

The candidate’s duties would include painting, restoration and maintenance of farm buildings, as well as new construction projects such as greenhouses and various fencing projects. They would also help with other ECO-V activities when needed.

Thus ECO-V is looking for someone with an experience of and desire for simple country living, and a well-rounded familiarity with farm life – the sort of person who would be comfortable working with animals, lending a hand in the garden, or driving a tractor.

The ideal candidate would also be a self-starter with the ability to think on their feet, work unsupervised, and, at times, manage a small crew.

Nitai Chandra and Chaitanya Bhagavat taking care of the cows.

They would be working at ECO-V with a strong team of six full-time staff and five part-timers. These include General Manager Ranaka Das, who has worked in agriculture and cow protection at New Vrindaban for forty years; and Ox and Garden Manager Nitaicandra Das, who managed ISKCON San Diego’s successful satellite farm for four years before moving to New Vrindaban last September.

The construction and maintenance role will be a full-time, salaried position, and help will be provided to make sure that the candidate and his or her family are adequately situated in the New Vrindaban community, where there is housing, a children’s school, and other facilities.

ECO-Vrindaban is an exciting project with a lot of potential that would appeal to those enthusiastic about Srila Prabhupada’s teachings on simple living. Devotees there are trying to manifest Prabhupada’s own vision for New Vrindaban, established under his direct instructions in 1968.

A non-profit entity launched in 1998, ECO-V works closely with ISKCON New Vrindaban in the areas of cow protection and gardening activities.

The organization looks after a total of around 800 acres interspersed throughout McCreary’s Ridge in the Appalachian mountains. Most of its work focuses on managing four farmsteads – Nandagram, Bahulaban, the Community Garden and Milking Barn near Sri-Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra’s temple, and the Valley Barn area.

The recently acquired 168-acre Nandagram farm, formerly owned by ISCOWP, is now home to part of ECO-V’s vegetable production, twenty retired cows, and its ox program.

“There are excellent ox training facilities there, including roads, forests, and a large barn,” says Nitaicandra. “We have six young oxen in our training program, who are currently pulling logs and going over their commands. They’ll soon be dragging the field for two acres of winter wheat – the first time they’ve been out in the field, which is pretty exciting. Our oldest team will be four-and-a-half and be fully ready for heavy field work in 2018.”

Milking cows at New Vrindaban’s Goshalla.

The seven cows at the Temple Milking Barn, meanwhile, are lovingly cared for by Ananda Vidya Das and his wife Lalita Gopi Dasi, and give an average of 25 gallons of milk a day. Yoghurt, butter, and curd are made from the milk, providing for most of the Deities’ and temple devotees’ needs during offpeak times.

During the growing season, vegetables are being produced at the seven-acre Community Garden for the Deities’ offerings and for two meals a week for the temple devotees. In his first year, Nitaicandra and his garden crew have grown an acre of potatoes, four varieties of tomatoes, okra, summer and winter squash, basil, kale, Swiss chard, mustard greens, bok choy, and bitter melon.

“We’re making a blueprint to grow from right now, but I’m really happy with what we’ve been able to do in my first year,” says Nitaicandra.

Flowers for the Deities are also grown under Vidya Dasi’s guidance, with more than 37,000 marigolds harvested this year, along with cannas, lilies, and peonies.

“One of the major challenges for temples is flowers, and we’ve really improved local production this year,” Nitaicandra says. “We hope to increase next year.”

Finally at the Valley Barn, where ECO-V’s offices are located, are approximately sixty acres of the 160 from which hay is harvested every year for the cows. There’s also a plan to grow a sweet corn seed crop there next year, to save and use for growing future cornfields.

In the near future, there are plans to begin converting the old milking parlor at the Valley Barn into a food processing facility, with canning, drying and freezing operations.

Other future ECO-V projects which the new maintenance person would take part in include a pit greenhouse – a special type of partially underground greenhouse that is naturally warmed and can be used in winter at high altitudes. There are also plans to use permaculture techniques in creating a ‘food forest,’ a type of low maintenance sustainable food production system.

Ranaka and Ray New Vrindaban 2015

“Why come to serve with ECO-V and live in New Vrindaban?” asks Nitaicandra. “Well, we have excellent staff, a lot of opportunity and potential with the land that we have and lots of exciting goings-on. We’re growing organic food and flowers for our Deities and devotees; we’re expanding our orchards and food forests; we’re protecting cows and training oxen. There’s a nice community of devotees — about 300 living within a thirty-mile radius. And many devotees and guests visit from around the world every year for our many wonderful festivals like the 24-Hour Kirtan and Festival of Inspiration.”

He smiles. “We have a lot to offer, and we’re looking forward to a nice reciprocation with someone who has a lot to contribute towards maintaining our program, too.”

For those interested in the construction and maintenance position, please send a cover letter, resume and any other inquires to Ranaka Das: dfintel@msn.com.

Harinamas and preaching programs in Cochabamba, Bolivia (Album with photos)
This was another special day in our traveling tour. For the first time we flew to another city for Harinam with a return ticket for the same day in the evening. The devotees in Cochabamba arranged for us a whole day’s program. From the airport we drove directly to an interview at the main Bolivian Television channel’s studio. They said approx. 1 million people watch it. Then after a short breakfast we went for Harinam in the city, by the university. After that the Holy Name took us up a mountain to get Jesus darshan. ‘Cochabamba’ they said 'has the biggest statue of Jesus in the world, even bigger than Brazil’. Then we returned down from mountain for another Harinam, we took a short stop for dinner, chanted Damodarastakam kirtan and then left quickly for the Airport.by the mercy of the Holy Name everything is possible…..
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Kartik inspirations 2016 - October 29.
Sacinandana Swami: As I am going through my Kartik-vrata, by Krishna‘s mercy certain things become alive in my heart. These days I am reflecting deeply about how I can think of Krishna. Thinking about His qualities, lotus feet and so many other things is a wonderful aid we are provided with. Everything here in this universe is bright because of Krishna‘s effulgence. Everything beyond this universe is illuminated by the rays emanating from Krishna‘s body. Also in Vrindavan everything is illuminated by of Krishna‘s effulgence . This world is covered by a dark layer of ignorance (avidya), which is covered with dark layers arround the shell of the universe – so while we are here it‘s very appropriate to think about Krishna, who is extremely effulgent and the source of all other effulgence. This was how Akrura, who we talked about yesterday, thought of Krishna as he was traveling on his chariot to Vrindavan. In his mind he thought: »Simply by the effulgence of Krishna‘s toenails many souls in the past have transcended the insurmountable darkness of material existence.« Thinking about the circle of light which forms around each particular nail on Krishna‘s lotus feet, is a great way to become free from inner darkness. Krishna‘s toenails are compared with effulgent moons that are surrounded by an orb, or a circle of light. Let us meditate about Krishna being supremely effulgent and the inner darkness that gives us so many problems will easily disperse. Hare Krishna.
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In Search of Relief - Vraja Vihari Das (audio)
Karl Marx is famous for saying, “God is the Opium of the masses”. Is there truth to Marx’s statement? What does the Bhagavad-gita say in this regards? We will discuss these questions and look at the key difference between seeking relief via spiritual pursuits and pursuing a true, intimate relationship with the Absolute Truth.
Listen to it here: https://soundcloud.com/iskconofdc/in-search-of-relief-vraja-vihari-das?in=iskconofdc/sets/sunday-open-house-talks

https://flic.kr/s/aHskGaNX3g

King Of The Mountains (8 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Parikrama around Govardhan Hill during the month of Kartika in Vrindavan, India is a favorite devotional activity for devotees of Lord Krsna. Chanting softly on our prayer beads our group of 400 devotees relished every step of the 24 kilometer walk. Ananta Vrindavan dasa’s outstanding footage captured the bliss of the pilgrimage.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/sHqHDT

Diwali comes from the word Dipavali which has two words dipa means light and avali means carrier. Therefore Dipa or Diya (1) signifies 'coming to light'. In the Vedic Literature it is mentioned: "Tamasa Ma, Jyotir Gamaya" means 'Do not remain in Darkness, Come to Light', meaning 'come to spiritual awareness or awakening'. In the Bhagavat Gita Chapter four verse seven and eight Lord Krsna says: 'yada yada hi dharmasya glani bhavati bharata, abhyudhan dharmasya, tadatmana srijyamya ham, Pavitranaya sadhunam, vinasaya ca duscritam'. Translation is 'Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious principles and predominant rise in irreligion, I descend Myself again and again to kill the miscreants and to re-establish the principles of Dharma' This is illustrated in the Diwali celebrations which are in the rememberace of Lord Krsna's various pastimes. Unless the true meanings of these celebrations are understood they will become merely commercialized These events have been celebrated for millions of years. E.g. Lord Rama and his whole entourage had appeared on earth in Treta Yuga Continue reading "Meaning and Reasons for Diwali Celebrations
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Answer Podcast

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Answer Podcast

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(Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Hamsadutta dasa written from Seattle). Diwali ceremony can be observed in the temple by illuminating 100s of candles, indifferent parts of the temple, and offering a special Prasad to the Deity. This ceremony was observed by the inhabitants of Ayodhya, the Kingdom of Lord Ramachandra, while Lord Ramachandra was out of His Kingdom due to His 14 years banishment by the order of His father. His younger step-brother Bharat, took charge of the Kingdom and the day on which Lord Ramachandra took back the charge again from His brother, and seated on the throne, this is observed as Diwali, and Deepabali. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada writes about the observance of Diwali
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Answer Podcast

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Once, this Azerbaijan devotee, Garuda Vahana Das and I were at the University of Utah, where practically everyone is fixed up in Mormonism, and we approached a student reading outside on a bench.
Garuda: (Russian accent) Excuse me, I have book for you, about Yoga, you know, meditation.
Student: That sounds great, but I think I’m okay.

The Stars and Us.
In a recent conversation, I heard about a persons struggle with life, and having the it never rains but it pours experience. What did I do to deserve this? he mused. Something, I replied. That was almost as painful for him to hear as his present situation. And he couldnt accept it. Are you telling me, he ventured, that I have caused as much pain to another that I am experiencing now? Yes, no one makes our bad karma that causes us pain. It may appear that others are doing it to us, or life itself is doing it and Im just an innocent player. Such innocence is not true.

There is so much ignorance in the world now. People are so bewildered, and are becoming more and more bewildered, through the internet, and on television. For example one can get five hundred channels on television nowadays. This is insane. This is completely bewildering people's minds. But Krsna Consciousness is a positive alternative. In Australia, in the early days, the devotees had a traveling sankirtan bus, and on the side of the bus it said, "The positive alternative: Krsna Consciousness." Book distribution is an adventure. We never know what is going to happen. Amazing things happen. Just like yesterday I heard an amazing story. A friend of mine, Tara Prabhu, was distributing books in the Miami airport. He distributed some books to one boy from Columbia. The boy went home and put the books on his bookshelf. The books remained there for five years, sitting there, waiting. A friend of his one day saw these books and asked him if he could borrow them during his upcoming trip to California. He read the books, and he was so inspired by reading them that he became a devotee. He looked in the back of the book and found the address of the L.A temple. He joined the temple. Continue reading "The Importance Of Book Distribution
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Veda London Diwali Event (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: …a devotee does not attach much importance to the pains and trouble pertaining to the body because he knows perfectly well that he is not the material body. He does not identify with the body; therefore he is freed from the conception of false ego and is equipoised in happiness and distress. He is tolerant, and he is satisfied with whatever comes by the grace of the Supreme Lord. He does not endeavor much to achieve something with great difficulty; therefore he is always joyful. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bg 12.13, Bg 12.14, Bg 12.13-14
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Prabhupada’s Teachings are Not Like a Computer