Planet ISKCON

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Lord Jagannath Shobha Yatra at Budh Vihar of North West Delhi district in Delhi by ISKCON Rohini Delhi’s devotees (6 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: If you get one thousand of rupees, ten rupees is already there. If you get Krishna, you get all perfection. Hrishikesh, May 15, 1977.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/yh5WGt

The Summer tour 2016 of the Harinama Yatra Nitai Gauranga group (20 min video)
It is unbelievable how much joy the public chanting and dancing of the devotees is generating. It is also surprising to see the degree of participation from the public, especially in these western countries known for their generally mistrusting and introvert populations. This is a compilation of the highlights of their Harinamas in different cities of the west. It won’t miss putting a smile on your face :-)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/nvTD3D

Badrinath in Vrindavan (5 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: It is said that all holy places in India exist in their original forms in Sri Vrindavan Dhama. The other day we visited Badrinath (Badrikasrama) a two-hour drive from Vrindavan town through the countryside. As we approached Badrinath we were surprised to see a small mountain range. Upon arriving we discussed a number of Krsna’s pastimes that took place there, as well as the glories of Gangotri, Yamunortri, Kedarnath and other sacred places that can be found in Vrindavan’s Badrinath. The beauty of the surrounding area was stunning.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/1C6HsF

Splendid Vrindavan during Kartik (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Just work in such a way that God may see you.” This is the Krishna consciousness movement. Everyone is busy to see God. Of course, it is not so easy to see God. But a devotee is not busy to see God, but he wants God to see him. Bombay, May 12, 1974.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/QXswfJ

Srila Prabhupada: You have asked about the specialness of the month of Karttika, and the answer is that it is a special inducement for persons who are not in Krsna consciousness to perform some devotional service. For persons who are doing nothing in Krsna consciousness, it is an indirect inducement to take to devotional service in earnest seriousness, every moment is Karttika. In this connection, there is a good example that sometimes a store gives a special concession to attract new customers. But for those who are already customers there is no need of a special sale. They will purchase at any cost if they know the important value of the goods. Similarly, those who are pure devotees do not aspire for any concession, and out of spontaneous love try to engage themselves in devotional service twenty-four hours each day, three hundred and sixty five days every year, without any stoppage.” Continue reading "Kartika does not end on the last day of Kartika!
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How Much Should I Beg?

The post Daily Darshan: October 25th, 2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

One of my programs in Panama was at a Christian school, San Miguel Arcangel School, Panama. This school is in what is called Zona Roja (Red Zone) area, where drugs, crimes and the like are rampant.

My audience was mostly teenage kids who are particularly vulnerable to delinquency and worse in such areas. I had been asked to speak on “Power of the mind” – the same topic that I had spoken the previous day in the big hotel program. But seeing that this audience required a considerably simpler presentation, I decided to use a theme that kids can easily relate to – animals. I used three examples to illustrate different aspects of habits:

Dogs, specifically the dogs in the well-known experiments by Alexander Pavlov that salivated on hearing a ringing bell, to illustrate how our habits make us believe that some things are enjoyable even after they cease to be enjoyable.
Birds, specifically how birds need to go through the painful process of breaking their shells to have wings strong enough to fly, to illustrate how breaking our shell-like habits is worth the effort.

Elephants, specifically how a shackle that bound a baby elephant continues to bind an adult elephant because it stopped trying to break the shackle, to illustrate how we should never give up and shouldn’t under-estimate our power when we connect ourselves to God with meditation and prayer.
As the room had limited seats, the teachers asked the boys to be gentlemen and let the girls sit – the “gentlemen” agreed, though not too gently.

The talk audio is here: http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2016/10/%E2%80%8Bwhat-dogs-birds-elephants-teach-us-habits-spanish-translation/

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This is a recent recording of HH Devamrita Swami on real happiness

HH Devamrita Swami; real happiness

The Madan Mohan Temple, established by Sanatan Goswami, was the first temple to be erected in Vrindavan on the order of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago. Near the temple is the sacred samadhi of Sanatan Goswami. A video by Ananta Vrindavan.

Some 240 eminent professionals of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities packed the room. It is noteworthy that President Obama has the distinction of appointing the largest number of Indian-Americans in any US administration so far.

Prabhupada said, “Simply by circumambulating Krishna and Balarama, no more traversing up and down in the material universe.”

Written by Sesa Das 

On Saturday morning (01 October), Kadamba Kanana Swami flew from Durban to Cape Town and was joyfully welcomed at the airport by a group of devotees, and we drove to the temple about 15 km away.

Later on in the day, we went to Sea Point along the Cape Town coast or as the locals call it, “Let’s go over the mountains.” Cape Town has amazing scenic views and now there were many landmarks all over the city reminding us of the great achievements Nelson Mandela had made, from enlarged steel versions of his glasses looking out to Robin Island (where he was formerly imprisoned) to big skyscraper buildings which had coloured windows in such a way that from the outside you saw a picture of Mandela across the building! Whilst walking along the beach many would approach us saying, “Hi… Wow… or Hare Krsna,” and we would give a quick response or from time to time Maharaj stopped and greeted and conversed with them like a true gentleman.

Sunday was an important day for ISKCON Cape Town. You could feel it in the air! Everyone assembled in the temple early & even during class there was loads of vegetables to be chopped, cooks rushing around and people everywhere getting things ready. Why? Alongside it being the Sunday Love Feast, on this day was going to be their harinama bus festival for Iskcon’s 50^th Anniversary! What does that mean? Well at 10:30am we arrived at a car park near Sea Point & there were two buses awaiting us! One double decker bus and one smaller single storey bus.

Devotees were bringing prasadam & fliers for distribution and we began to head into the buses as Maharaj began leading the harinama on the roof of the double-decker with Medhavi Prabhu singing on the single storey bus! Even before the driver had switched on the vehicle, Maharaj had already taken off – absolutely rocking the top floor with the speakers blasting the Holy name, whompers smashing, mrdangas pounding the atmosphere and people all around inside & outside the bus dancing!

Thirty minutes later, we got off the buses to do harinama along the beach! We sang, danced, played instruments loudly & everyone stared, a little shocked and then smiled whilst devotees ran all over the beach distributing cupcakes and the famous Cape Town ladhus! (If you haven’t had one, you have no clue what you’re missing out on! Fly in & get one! It’s worth it!) We re-entered the bus and Harinamananda Prabhu (from Australia) began leading a jolly tune. People were waving and singing along with us as the bus went through the town. Maharaj was dancing, glancing & enticing others on the side walk to sing also! What a festival it was!

Our last stop was at the famous Cape Town Waterfront were everyone crowded around the harinama party, coming out of shops, restaurants, off the beach and from all corners to see what was happening. Many joined in the singing and dancing & one African band group even began playing along with us when we passed them.

Then we all went back to the temple and shortly thereafter Maharaj gave the Sunday Love Feast class. For the first hour or so Maharaj led another roaring kirtan going through a few melodies. Maharaj recited Bhagavad-gita 7.7 & began the class reminding us how we see through our mind which accepts and rejects things but again we chew the chewed. Then a baby began crying & Maharaj said, “That’s enough to make anyone cry!” We try to squeeze the juice but the taste quickly goes & bubbles pop & we are just left with sticky stuff.

We see many saints in the world though. St. Francis would walk around and give any of his possessions to anyone who wanted and asked for them. He would embrace lepers. He was full of compassion & kindness. So we see mercy isn’t discriminating. The Supreme Lord is open to all. The mahamantra is the names of Krsna. Krsna means all attractive! Hare, is the energy of service and Rama, is the happiness from that service! But to get that mercy, love is needed and love requires humility to develop. Through genuine honesty, we know who we really are! Through real honesty we receive real mercy. So we must strive for service, humility, love & mercy! And Lord Caitanya openly gives us a direct way back and Lord Caitanya instructed everyone to distribute love of Godhead to all! So Srila Prabhupada didn’t just translate the books but devotional service for all us!

Then the class opened up for some questions and Maharaj ended it with saying that the Lord always upholds the words or promises of the spiritual master and will never let them go in vain, like when Brahma gave the boon to Hiranyakasipu. So Srila Prabhupada said, “If you faithfully follow four regulative principles and chant sixteen rounds, you will go back to Godhead!” Afterwards, Maharaj sat outside whilst the feast began and spoke to many individuals.

After a day or so of rightly due rest, Maharaj had an evening program at the temple and began by reciting Bhagavada-gita 9.9…

It’s inconceivable to understand Krsna as He is the cause of everything and it’s said that not even a blade of grass can move without Him, yet He isn’t responsible for any of this! Why? Because He didn’t want this world! Actually this world and the different yugas are completely a mirror of our state of consciousness. In Satya yuga everyone was going for self-realization. Then in Treta yuga material agendas began. Indeed, there was goodness and piety, however there was more desire to enjoy and lower consciousness began creeping in. Now we are in Kali yuga, the age for those with learning difficulties. So we are all of a lower standard and so the bar is lowered too. This age of Kali yuga is like an ocean of crocodiles (which represent ignorant speculative theories) and only by Mahaprabhu’s mercy can an innocent child swim across to the other side safely. We have difficulties of old habits haunting us and we know they aren’t good or useful but when we think about them or bring them back then spiritual life becomes hard again. Ultimately we place our faith in those places where we are attracted. So we have to look at material life and become convinced that it doesn’t work! We have to consciously cut material attachments. We must develop real friendship with the spiritual master also. It is the disciples’ duty to re-connect, serve & trust him whole-heartedly. To restore things with our honesty. But we must really not stagnate & do more and more service!

The next morning Maharaj gave a morning class from Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.43, the chapter summarizing the passing away of Bhismadeva. We see that Bhismadeva was never distracted! He had no attachment to this material as he was attracted to Krsna. So asrama is secondary, more of a support system, and not the end goal! All our acts are for Krsna ultimately. Maharaj told many stories of his experiences in Iskcon and was always leading toward the need of absorbing oneself in Krsna consciousness.

The following morning Maharaj gave Srimad-Bhagavatam class on the next verse (1.9.44) and began by giving some of the stories from Mahabharata where Duryodhana challengingly confronted Bhismadeva saying that he’s not really fighting properly…

So Bhismadeva boldly said he would kill the five Pandavas with these five arrows and Duryodhana was eager to keep them. Then Krsna reminded Arjuna how he had previously saved Duryodhana out of family duties and could still ask any boon from him. So that evening Arjuna went and Duryodhana grudgingly had to hand over the five arrows. Bhismadeva, a personality dedicated to his vows wasn’t happy at all that now he could not fulfill his vow and therefore he wanted to make Krsna break His vow of not fighting. Therefore he really wanted to see Krsna in the fighting mood. It was at that moment where he saw his worshipable deity. The principle we see here is the sense of dharma which we must put first in life. The class ended with Maharaj glorifying the Mahajanas. ‘Maha’ meaning great and ‘jana’ meaning personality. So we see they are so-called due to their ability to deal with and handle such big issues. And now we know there are modern day Mahajanas, because only once in 1000 yugas does all the Vedas come to the west! And this was done by Srila Prabhupada.

Later that evening, Thursday (06 October), Maharaj went to Stellenbosch University to give a talk and kirtan. Returning after a few years, Maharaj instantly knew the way around and led us all to the room for the event. Students and professionals began to come in and fill up the room. Then Maharaj sat down at the front with the harmonium and told us all, “I would sing every day and if there was ever a day that I didn’t sing it was a miserable one!” Then for an hour or so Maharaj sang and the whole crowd embraced the experience, closing their eyes and singing back loudly. You could feel the energy bouncing off the walls! Then Maharaj began speaking about his experience of coming into contact with the Hare Krsna mantra, and before that the Rama mantra and his travels en-route to India. Only when coming into contact with the Bhagavad-gita did it satisfy the deeper personalism aspect he was looking for, so then he knew this was real. Maharaj could appreciate and understand the philosophy as he had seen the east. He had seen a dead body lying in the street and people throwing money on the body. Maharaj recognized the individual and ironically thought this beggar died in poverty and was now buried in money. But then someone explained the culture that they would burn the body on the day either before sunrise or sunset as the soul that had left wanted to come back in. So the living entity had to give up the body and must move forward to the next journey. So the Bhagavad-gita isn’t to be seen as a book but a way of life. It comes off the pages and we see it in the people and buildings all around us! So these books give us great insights and then we learn through life. Otherwise we die before we’ve died! Then to finish Maharaj ended by answering a few questions and then finally a short kirtan.

And this brought to an end our visit to Cape Town…

By enacting His intimate pastimes, Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, evokes deep primeval emotions in the hearts of the sleeping souls. Generally, when the Lord displays His pastimes in the material world the mood is one of separation. This mood of separation is very important for the conditioned living entities who are dwelling in this material world. Not only they have forgotten their eternal identities as Shri Krishna’s servants but they have fallen into the mode of unrealistic feelings. All their sentiments are masked by the false pursuance of temporary happiness. The Supreme Lord comes to shake the rusty and crude feelings of the conditioned living entities whose hearts have become like stones. He knows exactly how to call the ones that are ready to come back to Him by playing the deepest sentiment of disconnection. This mode of separation is the surest attracting factor that propels the living entity to realize that he needs to reunite with the Supreme Lord as His eternal loving servant. The Supreme Lord plays the lila of separation although in fact He is never separated from the living entity. He is all-cognizant at all times and at the same time He is in everyone’s heart. Continue reading "How Shri Krishna Calls Us Back
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Journalist Thomas Paine in 1776 sparked the American Revolution by writing and widely distributing his pamphlet, Common Sense. Fidel Castro – while in a Cuban prison – crafted his speech History will Absolve Me, had it smuggled it out of the prison and distributed to the masses. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati encouraged his followers to distribute books, saying: “As soon as a single person will have conceived the sincere desire of undertaking the promulgation of the tidings of the Gaudiya literature to the peoples of this world, he is thereby enrolled among the agents of divine mercy with power to forward the fulfillment of this expressed wish of the Supreme Lord.” Continue reading "The pen is mightier than the sword
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The samvartaka cloud, urged by Indra, became exhausted. Indra was hissing, but after some time even Indra could not fail to notice that there is no effect. He has noticed joyful flute music coming from under the hill. The boy looked completely happy gazing with love at His people. Vrajavasis did not even notice what Indra was doing. Not even one Govardhan-sila fell from the hill. The 7 days passed for them like 1 ghatika, 24 minutes. Finally Indra felt confused. Like falling from a high platform on the ground, - that is how a proud person feels when ignored - he is confused. That is the best way to deal with the proud person - just ignore him. "Let us run, Krsna will now punish us!" By Indra's command the sky cleared, the sun became visible and everything became auspicious in all the four directions. Brijbasis saw the attractive scenery - roofs of their houses were glittering as if washed. They were not eager to leave, they were ready to stay and look and Krsna. Continue reading "Hearing Krsna-katha as the new sadhana
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Harinama at Coolangatta, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia - 23 October 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “It is the nature of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra that anyone who chants it immediately develops his loving ecstasy for Krishna. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.83)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/nXBtqS

Dressing up for Diwali: BBC Leicester (2 min audio)
Kiran runs a saree shop in Leicester and Chaitanya is a devotee of Hare Krishna.
Please listen in to the clip from BBC Leicester as part of Radio 2’s Faith in the World Week. Caitanya Cintamani was invited to discuss the concept of dressing up for Diwali with a prominent businesswoman on Leicester’s Golden Mile.
Listen to it here: https://goo.gl/9rryhn

​Bhagavatam class at Bhaktivedanta Manor, London, UK

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Gopala Campu by Jiva Goswami.
The Gopala Campu is one of the all time classic texts in the library of the Gaudiya Vaisnava. The Gopala Campu, literally “the story of Gopala,” gives descriptions of pastimes of Lord Krsna. As this format is a Campu, a mix between praises, songs, and virudavalis (free-form poetic forms without real adherence to meter of the song), there is text, and at appropriate places, a song will be sung. Within the main text, there are two campus, namely purva (Volume 1) and the uttara (Volume 2). There are nineteen songs found from the Gopala Campu. Each of these songs are found in Volume 2 or the Uttara Campu. As these songs just appear in middle of texts, the listing here will strictly be based on alphabetical order of the first words. For actual placement of the songs in the original texts, please click on the song. The official name will point out where in the text the song is found.
Read more: https://goo.gl/i88zNF

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