Planet ISKCON

Hare Krishna Kirtan by Titiksava Karunika Das (6 min video)
By chanting Krishna’s Holy Name, one cleanses all the dust from the mirror of one’s consciousness.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/cra6Eb

Ayurveda The Science of Life - About Curd (8 min video)
by Dr NanaSaheb Memane.
Srila Prabhupada: Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised His disciples never to eat palatable food, never to talk about village topics and never to read ordinary novels, poems and newspapers. One may ask, “How is it that in the modern age these Europeans and Americans of the Krsna consciousness movement do not take interest in newspapers?” Newspapers are very popular in the West. Each day the papers are published in three or four editions, and they are all selling. However, these American boys and girls who have come to Krsna consciousness have stopped reading newspapers. They do not know what is happening from day to day, and it does not matter. All of this is a waste of time. It is better that they read literatures like Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Why waste one’s valuable time? >>> Ref. VedaBase => TLK Vs 12
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/wkLaao

MY service.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: Our favourite song which we chant so happily, “Sarīra abidyā-jāl, joḍendriya tāhe kāl, jīve phele viṣaya-sāgore, tā’ra madhye jihwā ati, lobhamoy sudurmati,” translates to, “The senses are a network leading to death and of all the senses the tongue is the most voracious to control…” It sounds quite intense actually but by the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, by engaging the tongue in transcendental activities of glorifying Krsna and tasting Krsna prasad, suddenly everything changes – our whole destiny changes. Thus it is the tongue which changes our destiny!
A big ship, heavy with so many tons of steel, is moving along and changing direction by means of a tiny piece of metal called the rudder. In the same way, the tongue can change the destiny of our entire existence so somehow we must engage that tongue and if we engage the tongue in connection with Krsna then very quickly we become attached to Krsna. This is the nature of Krsna consciousness, paraḿ dṛṣṭvā nivartate (Bhagavad-gita 2.59), that we will develop a higher taste. One cannot serve Krsna without developing attachment.

In the beginning when we start, we may find things a bit austere but after a while we think, “This is my service and I am not going to stop my service. This is my connection to Krsna!” In Krsna consciousness there is philosophy but the actual connection to Krsna is by service – whatever little thing we do. After some time, one becomes possessive about it, “It is MY service.” We become protective of our service because attachment develops. This is the nature of devotional service that attachment to Krsna naturally develops therefore, Krsna consciousness is not difficult to follow!

Management vs Theology – a new challenge.
Kripamoya Das: Any human endeavor requires good management. Any organization of a certain size – and some say over 150 members – requires a different system of management from that of its beginnings. But when good management dominates theology, and spiritual vitality, and moderates religious practice, and we choose a religious leader on the basis of how good a manager he is, then the very purposes for which the organization was founded are threatened. This year is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s challenge to the Church of his day. He thought it needed reform and he wrote his suggestions as a list. A contemporary list of suggested reforms for bishops of the Church of England, all 95 of them, has been published and makes interesting reading. It’s a long piece, but it can be ‘translated’ for the organization or movement of your choice.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/Y4Rx3X

Sharne Mataji- A loving tribute!
From The GBC Ministry for Cow Protection:
It is with great sadness that we have been informed that yesterday Sharne mataji left this world while in Sri Vrndavana Dham on a mission to serve.Her example was a real asset to our movement and her departure from this world is indeed a great loss for us. Like many vaishnavas her services were unknown to many but certainaly very known to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.I used to see her every time I visited the Goshala in Sri Mayapur, she was always very blissful, free from criticism, and free from personal gain.Many good qualities for a Vaishnava.
The GBC ministry for cow protection and agriculture offer our obeisances to her departure in the holy Dham to the shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Krsna,

All glories to her sincere devotional service, and her service attitute.

Your servant,

Kalakantha das

From Vrindavan Street Cow Seva

Street Cow Seva – Monday 9 January

A dear member of our Street Seva Team, SHARNE Teudt from Australia, on the auspicious day of Ekadashi, left her body in Vrindavan Holy Dham. We can’t explain how wonderful soul she is, and how we are honored to get her association.

She came here from Mayapur to serve the cows and to treat the sick ones using homeopathy.

Her life was completely dedicated to loving Krsna ‘s cows. We are really missing her but we trust that Radharani has accepted her in eternal service of Krsna’s cows in Goloka.Thank you Sharne your life and selfless service Are an inspiration to all of us.

Love Krsna’s cows ( she always signed off with this phrase )Love u…All Blessing to you.

Pada-sevanam devi dasi & the miracle of Nrsimha worship.
This amazing story is about a saint named Mataji Pada Sevanam, from Baku, Azerbaijan (Caucasus, former part of the USSR), who re-established devotional service to Lord Nrsimhadeva and changed the hearts of many devotees due to her limitless love to Krishna, fearlessness, and determination. (From a lecture by A.C. Bhagavatamrita Keshava Swami. Barnaul, Russia December 18, 2016)
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/y0yTfX

Tendecy to retaliate and Compare.
Question: 1) I have a tendency to retaliate if someone says something bad to me. I have heard in a lecture that ‘If you retaliate you may please yourself but If you do not retaliate you please Krsna’. However I am not able to practically apply it in my Life. Please suggest dome practical ways to overcome this tendency.
2) I have a tendency to compare myself with others. If I see someone in a materially better condition I feel depressed. This tendency is automatic and I am not able to overcome it. Please help me.
Romapada Swami: 1) There is no hard and fast rule as to WHEN one should act strongly when one is offended/wronged vs. simply tolerating it.
Retaliation is actually not the correct way to react to someone’s bad behavior towards us even though it is not our fault. In fact Lord Krsna instructs us in BG 2.14 that one should tolerate duality, knowing the manifestations of duality to be illusory.
There are examples from the scriptures to show us how great personalities responded/reacted to when faced with such situations.
a) Vidura went to pilgrimage without getting disturbed after being insulted by Duryodhana and did not retaliate/oppose, did not get disturbed and did not try to correct the situation. SB 1.13.9
b) Similarly, in Dvaraka Krishna was wrongly defamed and criticized by Satrajit. Krishna showed us what to do: He stood by the truth, and the truth proved Him to be faultless.
c) There are many examples of our acaryas remaining totally humble in the face of undue criticism springing from envy or ignorance. Listen to the last day of the Vrndavan Yatra to hear the description of Jayadev Goswami’s response to serve physical harm done to him by dacoits. Feeling the Lord’s protection, we can easily forgive aggressors.
The key to know what to do in different circumstances is to remain in a humble service mood. Then only will we be receivers of direct prompts from Krishna as to how to best serve him in different circumstances.
Some further scriptural references:
Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 17.27
“A devotee engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord should practice forbearance like that of a tree. Even if rebuked or chastised, he should not say anything to others to retaliate.”
b) Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 17.28
“For even if one cuts a tree, it never protests, and even if it is drying up and dying, it does not ask anyone for water.” PURPORT this practice of forbearance (taror iva sahisnuna) is very difficult, but when one actually engages in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, the quality of forbearance automatically develops. A person advanced in spiritual consciousness through the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra need not practice to develop it separately, for a devotee develops all good qualities simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra regularly.
2) Comparison with Others: You have very honestly put forth your feelings. In the material world everyone who comes to enjoy himself or lord it over material nature is envious of others. This envy is also found in the personality of the King of heaven, Indra so what to speak of conditioned soul like us.
Since no one in this material world can tolerate another’s advancement, everyone in the material world is called matsara, envious. If somebody is in some way greater than us, we are envious. “Oh, how has he progressed so much? How come he has more than I have? I also want the same as he has or even more.” This is the disease of the material world—envy. And indirectly culminates in our being envious of the Supreme Lord, Krishna who is the source and proprietor of everything.
In Krsna consciousness, however, if someone excels another person, the devotee who is excelled thinks how fortunate the other person is to be advancing in devotional service. Such non envy is typical of Vaikuntha.
Below are some of the practical ways that may help you to avoid the situation you are facing :
1. Chanting fixed number of rounds of the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra regularly and sincerely, in a humble mood and striving to take full shelter of Krsna. Simply by chanting Hare Krsna, Lord Caitanya has said the heart will become cleansed of all the dirty things accumulated in the heart.
2. Reading/hearing from the scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam regularly and systematically. Please refer to SB 9.11.23, SB 11.29.15 where this instruction is given.
3. Associating and serving the devotees, attending the temple programs on regular basis.

The essence of all advice.
In our backyard garden, we installed an automatic watering system invented in Israel. Hoses run underground throughout the garden and, extending from them, smaller tubes tipped with color-coded nozzles terminate near the roots of each plant. The color-coded nozzles deliver a specific amount of water appropriate for each plant.
With this automatic “drip system” in place my plants thrive. They always get the water they need even as I keep up with other duties in my life.
In a similar way, expert spiritual gardens install drip systems in their bhakti gardens, making sure that they systematically get “sravanadi jal,” the nourishing waters of hearing and chanting about Krsna regularly, every day.

In the Upadesamrta, Srila Rupa Goswami recommends that we organize our daily lives around methodically hearing and chanting:

“The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one’s full time—twenty-four hours a day—in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord’s divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one’s tongue and mind …” (NOI 8)

To take advantage of Rupa Goswami’s advice, progressive bhakti gardeners take the time to custom design their hearing and chanting watering systems.

Some keep diaries of their daily progress while others meticulously plan their hearing and chanting schedules far in advance. Some daily read a set number of verses, chapters, pages, or astakams. Others like to perform their practices at the same times each day.

When a devotee’s hearing and chanting becomes an unshakable, daily habit, she can be sure that her watering system is nicely in place.

Bhakti gardeners who use a hearing and chanting drip system soon get intimate knowledge of sastra, gain spiritual strength, develop unwavering faith and become invaluable sources of shelter for others.

Have you installed a spiritual drip system in your bhakti garden?
Vaisesika Das

The Village Of Yogamaya-Devi (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Bandi-Anandi is a small village near Gokula in Sri Vrindavan Dhama. At the end of the village is a beautiful temple of Yogamaya devi, who is worshiped in two forms as Bandi-devi and Anandi-devi. When Krsna appeared in Kamsa’s jailhouse, His potency that caused the jail to be unlocked and Vasudeva’s shackles to fall was Bandi-devi. Anandi-devi put all the guards to sleep. By her potency, Vasudeva was able to carry baby Krsna to Gokula without being detected. After taking darshan of these two forms of Yogamaya we walked around the village. Our presence created quite a sensation as everyone came out to see us and greet us as well. The inhabitants of Bandi-Anandi are very special people. To really understand Vrindavan one must visit the more remote villages and associate with the wonderful Vraja-vasis who live there!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/8gPMgY

Distributing Books in Foreign Languages (Video)
Satyanarayan Dasa (head of BBT Far East, Middle East):
What magnifies the importance of this special book distribution, especially in these Far Eastern and Middle Eastern languages, is what happens to these books after they are received. We are just seeing the beginnings of their long and remarkable journey here. These fortunate tourists and university students become emotionally moved by seeing and obtaining these literatures translated into their own beloved mother tongue. And because the books are also being offered to them by such sincere and caring book distributors., these two factors inspire them to take the books back home with them, to their home countries, and share them eagerly among their family and friends.

This is most significant, especially when dealing with the Arabic language and the Middle East. As we well know, each of these transcendental literatures (seeds) contain immense spiritual power. Through this exciting sankirtana method, where we can reach the tourists and students when they visit the West, the books wind up being spread widely across the Middle East and the Far East. Tens of thousands of books have been distributed like this, into difficult areas often impossible for us to personally travel to. And by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy, those numbers may increase into the 100,000’s soon.

Who knows what divine, inconceivable and globe-changing magic the Supreme Lord may soon create from all of these transcendental seeds, as they begin to sprout…
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/V9Z2eE

By Rsiraja Das

Material and spiritual “sciences” are different because their roots are different. But the underlying principles of space and position are similar and can be understood in a similar manner. By understanding how atoms in material space are nodes of a tree emanating from Ksirodakasayi Visnu, we can understand how the soul is an atom emanating from Krishna. Ksirodakasayi Visnu is in each atom not physically but semantically: to understand the atom, we must know the root from which it emanates. Similarly, Krishna is in all of us not physically but semantically: if we know how we are connected to Krishna, we fully know ourselves. Continue reading "How is Space in Srimad Bhagavatam Different from Space in Modern Science?
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By Ratirupa Jahnava Devi Dasi

The 25th Annual Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsava of ISKCON, Coimbatore and " ISKCON 50" Golden Jubilee celebrations was flagged off on 6th January 2017 in a grand function at Sri Annapoorna Auditorium at R.S.Puram. The occasion was graced by the presence of several dignitaries and VIPs like Sri. Srinivasan, Chairman, Sree Annapoorna Sree Gowrishankar Hotels, Dr. K.G.Bhaktavatsalam, Chairman , KG Hospital, senior ISKCON sannyasis and GBC like HH Jayapataka Swami, HH Bhakti Vinoda swami ( Zonal Secretary,Western TamilNadu and Kerala) and international devotees. On the following day,7th January 2017, Coimbatore city witnessed one of the grandest ever Jagannath Rath Yatra. Continue reading "25th Annual Jagannath Rath Yatra and “ISKCON 50” Golden Jubilee Celebrations at ISKCON Coimbatore
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By bhaktin Anya

Every day thousands of people from all over India come to Vrindavan. Especially over the last few years the number has been increasing very rapidly. I was surprised to see that the people didn’t know much about the extreme sanctity and transcendental value of the place they were in. In this way I had a nice opportunity to speak about Vrindavan. I used to say: “Do you know that you are very fortunate? Do you know why? It is because you are in the spiritual capital of all the three worlds. Everyone who comes to Vrindavan gets special benefit.” Like this I was addressing each family. And after that we had nice discussions about Bhagavad Gita and the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. Sometimes some persons refused to take a book because they considered themselves contaminated. Yes, nowadays, even in India, people are inclined to do many kinds of nonsense such as drinking liquor or going to nightclubs and so on. Continue reading "December marathon 2016 — VrindavanDham
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Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 December 2016, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.26.41)

Our favourite song which we chant so happily, “Sarīra abidyā-jāl, joḍendriya tāhe kāl, jīve phele viṣaya-sāgore, tā’ra madhye jihwā ati, lobhamoy sudurmati,” translates to, “The senses are a network leading to death and of all the senses the tongue is the most voracious to control…” It sounds quite intense actually but by the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, by engaging the tongue in transcendental activities of glorifying Krsna and tasting Krsna prasad, suddenly everything changes – our whole destiny changes. Thus it is the tongue which changes our destiny!

A big ship, heavy with so many tons of steel, is moving along and changing direction by means of a tiny piece of metal called the rudder. In the same way, the tongue can change the destiny of our entire existence so somehow we must engage that tongue and if we engage the tongue in connection with Krsna then very quickly we become attached to Krsna. This is the nature of Krsna consciousness, paraḿ dṛṣṭvā nivartate (Bhagavad-gita 2.59), that we will develop a higher taste. One cannot serve Krsna without developing attachment.

In the beginning when we start, we may find things a bit austere but after a while we think, “This is my service and I am not going to stop my service. This is my connection to Krsna!” In Krsna consciousness there is philosophy but the actual connection to Krsna is by service – whatever little thing we do. After some time, one becomes possessive about it, “It is MY service.” We become protective of our service because attachment develops. This is the nature of devotional service that attachment to Krsna naturally develops therefore, Krsna consciousness is not difficult to follow!

 

In India, “Oh, Vasudeva, we know everything of Vasudeva,” “Hare Krsna, oh, What you can teach? We know everything.” This is the Indian disease. Because familiarity breeds contempt. Because Indians are familiar with the name of Vasudeva, with the name of Hare Krsna, they think… Just like in Europe and American cities these boys and girls, they go for sankirtana, and the Indian people, they say, “Oh, we know everything about it. We have now come here to learn how to eat meat, how to drink wine.” This is the condition. And the leaders, they are also leading in that way: “Give up this Vedic culture. Throw away.” The leaders say openly that “Throw away your sastras in the water. No more sastra. Now you take to industry, technology, if you want to become happy just like the Americans, like the Europeans.” So the leaders, such leaders have been described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, andha. Andha means blind. They do not know how to lead people, what is the aim of life.
- Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.26 – January 3, 1975, Bombay

Sometimes, life seems to hand out one reversal after another and all that we are doing seems to be falling apart. We may feel that the universe is hostile; we may question the benevolence or even the existence of God.

Any recent visitor to Mayapur Goshala would know of Sharne mataji. She is a selfless servant & lover of Cows. She is at Goshala round the clock, busy cleaning the shed, nursing the sick cows, giving care to the newborn ones, chanting with the cows, inspire & engage devotees to serve the cows. For the past […]

The post Sharne Mataji- A loving tribute! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Dignitaries Celebrate ISKCON50 at Hungarian Gala.
As part of the event there was an exhibition of pictures and photographs, with a special work of art - a mosaic of 400 small photos depicting a portrait of Srila Prabhupada. On their arrival our guests were greeted with artifacts representing stages in Srila Prabhupada’s life: a typewriter, a recorder, books, a 1944 BTG magazine, handwritten letters and a packed suitcase containing the exact contents of Prabhupada’s 1965 suitcase on the Jaladhuta ship. The captions provided thematic and chronological information about Prabhupada’s life and contemporary events in world history. This parallel of worldly and spiritual history highlighted the horror of Kali-yuga contrasting it with the wonderful activities of Prabhupada and ISKCON.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/JHlMMn

Are you a teenage girl  between 17 & 20? You are welcome to the fun filled Girls’ Mela at Ekachakra dham. We teenagers go through a very special phase in life. We want to gradually establish ourselves in this world, and we want to be accepted as individual and almost grown-up personalities, with our own […]

The post International Girls’ Mela! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

A man is on trial in Russia — for talking about yoga!
Washingtonpost: What they’re really doing however, is making it practically illegal to speak publicly about anything pertaining to spirituality or religion unless you’ve registered with authorities as a representative of an approved missionary group.
Since the laws have passed, officials have invoked the law to bizarrely crack down on seemingly benign situations. In August, for example, a Hare Krishna devotee nearly went to jail when he was arrested after talking to two people on a street corner about his faith, the Moscow Times reports.

The newspaper added that last month, police ordered employees of the Salvation Army to burn dozens of Bibles because they weren’t labeled properly.

Ugai’s situation, however, might be the most random because he wasn’t proselytizing about a religion, but an activity.

“I am concerned about the complete arbitrariness of this law, which can lead to the persecution of my many fellow citizens who practice yoga and study Indian philosophy,” Ugai wrote in his blog. “There are signs that there’s a campaign unfolding against an entire culture … The level of delusion is clearly off the charts.”
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/QQRQ2m

HG Murari Hari Prabhu ACBSP suffered a stroke in Mayapur and was taken to a Kolkata hospital where his condition is stable and he is...

(Photo caption) It’s cold at the Mayapur goshala.
Srila Prabhupada: In India, “Oh, Vasudeva, we know everything of Vasudeva,” “Hare Krsna, oh, What you can teach? We know everything.” This is the Indian disease. Because familiarity breeds contempt. Because Indians are familiar with the name of Vasudeva, with the name of Hare Krsna, they think… Just like in Europe and American cities these boys and girls, they go for sankirtana, and the Indian people, they say, “Oh, we know everything about it. We have now come here to learn how to eat meat, how to drink wine.” This is the condition. And the leaders, they are also leading in that way: “Give up this Vedic culture. Throw away.” The leaders say openly that “Throw away your sastras in the water. No more sastra. Now you take to industry, technology, if you want to become happy just like the Americans, like the Europeans.” So the leaders, such leaders have been described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, andha. Andha means blind. They do not know how to lead people, what is the aim of life. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.26 – January 3, 1975, Bombay

Sri Harinam Sankirtan Nectar - Sydney CBD 05/01/17 (Album with photos)
Hare Krishna and Welcome to 2017.
This transcendental vibration by chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is the sublime method for reviving our Krishna consciousness.
As living spiritual souls we are all originally Krishna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter since time immemorial, our consciousness is now polluted by the material atmosphere. Krishna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind. This consciousness is the original energy of the living entity. When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived.

So for this first Sydney Harinam Program in the new year HH Janananda Swami took the microphone and showered the transcendental vibration of the Mahamantra around the city.

it was a true Mahaharinam.

Throughout the evening eighty devotees came to participate in the Yuga Dharma of chanting the names of Radha and Krishna

Beginning at Town Hall we took our usual route to Pitt Street Mall, returning via George Street to Woolworths.

The city crowd was excited to see so many devotees dancing and singing. It is always a very attractive sight and gets much attention.

Please come along next week and keep the new year going with a Harinam explosion in the center of Sydney. Every Thursday we are chanting in the streets of Sydney. See you next Thursday.

Sri Harinam Sankirtan ki jaya.

Chant
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
And Be Happy …
Find them here: https://goo.gl/7BT0t8

ISKCON UK Annual General Meeting 2017 (Album with photos)
Hare Krishna Festivals UK were invited along to the ISKCON UK AGM last Sunday in Bushey (Hertfordshire) to present the team’s statistics for the 50th Anniversary Year. What a record-breaking year it was! Tribhuvanatha ki Jai! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tlDWFI

Mahabhagavat Katha in Pune.
ISKCON Pune has been playing host to the annual Bhagavat Saptah presented by HH Lokanath Swami for 15 consecutive years now! The katha is held during the last week of the calendar year, and was held between 27th December 2016 through 2nd January 2017; in the largest auditorium in Pune city.
On this, the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON, HH Lokanath Swami dedicated the entire katha to the person bhagavat – HDG Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, as his final offering of the year. The katha was based primarily on content from Srila Prabhupada’s Lilamrita. The presentation this year was a brilliantly conceived and delivered audio-visual experience, with HH Lokanath Swami’s katha being interspersed with several pertinent audio and video clips.

The katha was attended by approximately 3000 - 5000 people daily, and was viewed online by upwards of 10000 people daily – this includes the telecast on Facebook and on mayapur.tv. Mayapur.tv in turn relayed this through their cable network in which they have a subscriber base of nearly 2 million home viewers!

In attendance were HG Mukunda Datta Prabhu and HG Sikhi Mahiti Prabhu; both disciples of Srila Prabhupada, as well as HH Ram Govinda Swami and many stalwart devotees. Besides these distinguished devotees, the katha was also attended by many local dignitaries. An international troupe of devotees from 10 different countries also regaled the audience with their ecstatic kirtans and cultural programs. HH Lokanath Swami led the kirtan to ring in the New Year, and thousands of devotees were spellbound and danced and participated in the kirtan beyond 1 am on 1st January!

HH Lokanath Swami presented the katha in a very seamless manner. On the first day, there was a discussion of Srila Prabhupada’s glorification as Mahabhagavat. The second day’s topic was “Lifetime in Preparation”, followed by “ISKCON around the World and in India” on the 3rd day. The 4th day was dedicated to personal reminiscences by HH Lokanath Swami, as well as of other disciples of Srila Prabhupada. On the 5th day, the topic was “Challenges and Struggles of Srila Prabhupada”, followed by “Srila Prabhupada and Caitanya Mahaprabhu” on day 6, and finally rounded off with “Teachings of Srila Prabhupada” on the 7th day.

The katha is an excellent platform for distribution of the transcendental literature published by Srila Prabhupada. The event saw 223 sets of Srimad Bhagavatam, 50 sets of Caitanya Caritamrita and 30 Bhagavad Gita – As It Is and 119 sets of Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita being distributed! Besides these, 256 Braja Mandal Darshan books were also distributed.

Besides books, around 30000 plates of full prasadam were distributed, the highlight being Srila Prabhupada’s favourite kachoris on the final day. The event also has preaching stalls set up, which enable new bhaktas to commence their spiritual journey. Many dozens of new bhaktas – especially youth - join ISKCON through this event every year. 100’s of guests chanted at least one round in these stalls, and also registered for various courses like Discover Yourself conducted by ISKCON Pune.

In conclusion, this was a truly memorable event, and many thousands of devotees were left with their hearts filled with appreciation of and love for HDG Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

By Giriraj Das

HG Bhurijana Prabhu, in a recent class, shared an interesting pastime during a program in Japan, when Srila Prabhupada, did not let a mayavadi sanyasi speak for too long, starting a impromptu Kirtan in the middle of his speech, much to the bewilderment of the audience. Srila Prabhupada, later, shared with his disciples that he could tolerate the mayavadi sanyasi for some time but when he started speaking that Supreme Lord has no form, no senses, can not talk and so on, then Prabhupada could not tolerate it any more! HG Bhurijan Prabhu said that such is the love Srila Prabhupada has for Krishna that he could not tolerate anyone speaking that his beloved and most beautiful Lord does not possess any beauty, any form, any taste, etc. It simply showed his level of attachment to Krishna. Continue reading "Why did Srila Prabhupada speak so strongly against Mayavada?
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By Bhakta Dr. Chetan Hazaree

In Jagannath Puri, the annually organized Ratha-yatra engages thousands of artisans (for cart making), priests, and general populace in the service of the Lord. The king of the region is also engaged in actually sweeping the road on which the most merciful Lord rides on the chariot. Globalizing the exclusive and confidential ways, in which Srimati Radharani herself implored their Lordships Sri Krishna, Sri Balarama and Subhadra Maharani to come to Vrindavan, and then Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu danced in front of the Chariot and cleansed the Gundicha temple, Srila Prabhupada actually offers unconditional opportunities to all for serving the Lord. Continue reading "Celebrating 50 Years of Flood of Mercy
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By Dusyanta dasa

Recently on TV in Wales a famous BBC, Welsh news reporter decided to do something about his burgeoning weight. He wanted to lose weight, become healthier and enjoy more energy. But like us all he was faced with the same wall of contradictions of diets to follow to achieve his goal. Nowadays the UK governments advice for a healthy diet is to eat a good balance of foods and carbohydrates but with little saturated fats. The fats in this instance represent meat and dairy fats. And the carbohydrates represent Breads, Pastas, Potatoes and Sugars. Continue reading "Fats and Carbohydrates, and Cow Protection
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Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

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The post Gita 11.41 Knowledge reveals the power asymmetry to be in the opposite direction appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 June 1999)

Once in India, I saw a serious drawing. It was a drawing of a frog and this particular frog was in somewhat of a precarious position because a snake had crawled up from behind and had half swallowed the frog! The mouth of the snake was slowly engulfing the frog and the front of the frog was still sticking out. Then a little fly flew past the nose of the frog and frog’s tongue shot out to catch the little fly…

So, who is the frog in the painting and who is the snake!? The snake represents time and the frog is the living entity who is trying to enjoy all kinds of opportunities that fly by his nose although he is already half eaten by time! Depending on age, let’s say 35-40 years old means already half eaten. At 25, just the hind legs are digested. At 75 years old, as you can imagine, the eyes are still sticking out and the rest of the body is in the snake. At 80, you don’t even see the frog anymore but the tongue is sometimes still sticking out and catching flies!

Like this, the serpent of time is doing its work, it is doing it very silently and only sometimes do we notice it! It is a fact that sooner or later every living entity will have to experience the effect of time. No one can stay in this world but by the process of bhakti-yoga, one can conquer the influence of the material energy and one can rise above and come to a higher level of consciousness!

Once upon a time, someone distributed a Bhagavad-Gita by Srila Prabhupada to this woman. She read it and the knowledge struck her so much that she accepted it with all her heart. She found the address of the ISKCON temple in the beginning of the book and came to meet devotees in a luxurious, large hat. A devotee met her and escorted her to a guest room where there were a few other people. The devotee begun telling something to the guests, but he was called out and left them to bring more guests, saying: “just a minute, please wait”. When he came back, the woman was preaching the Bhagavad-Gita to the gathered big time. She had lots of bookmarks in her Bhagavad-Gita, and she was saying: “see, Bhagavan Shri Krishna says…”. The devotee later said he was amazed, it was so interesting that he got engaged and continued listening. She was so sincere in her preaching. This is how she came to the devotees. With utmost bliss, she started coming to the programs at the temple, participated in kirtans and fell in love with the Deities. She felt like there was no point in living alone in her city, her kids were grown up, and had their own families. Now she acquired a new spiritual family.

One day she came to the temple and said that she wanted to sell her apartment and donate the money to the temple. “You can use the money in any way, just provide me with a room, I want to live here, serve, chant, and sing.” she said. The devotees held a discussion about it and finally agreed; they built a little extension to the temple. You can see it by the temple in Baku, right at the entrance, it has large windows. She moved in there and began growing Tulasi. She was so positive and gave love to all bhaktas. I never saw her criticizing anyone, and she never participated in the politics. She also treated the Deities and Krishna with great love. When I first came there, devotees were showing me around and told me about her as a local significance. At that time she had already been initiated by Rohinisutra Prabhu, and her name was Pada-Sevanam.

Devotees told me: here lives one grandma. There are different opinions about her around here. Some say she should be expelled from the temple for Sahajiya, others say she is a saint, but actually, we don’t know. What they meant by Sahajiya was that she was communicating with Krishna, as if she would do with you. She used to come to them sometimes and say: “Krishna told me”. That is how they introduced me to her in absentia. Next morning she came to me to associate and looked at me with a challenge, probing me, what my condition was. I was respectful to her in every way. Suddenly, she takes out an apple, gives it to me and says: “Gopal told me to pass it to you” I say: “thank you, please pass my thanks to Gopal” Gopal was a blue-colored doll, a little child Krishna. I don’t know where she got it from. She took care of Him, she had a cot for Him and toys. Devotees were saying she used to do strange things. Once she bought a radio controlled toy car, put her Krishna into it and started driving him around in the temple’s yard.

Devotees asked her: “Pada Sevanam, what are you doing?” She said: “He is little, it’s interesting for Him. Kids like to play with cars, look, he is so joyful!” I began watching her. Some sentiments were there, for sure, some imagination was also mixed in. But at the same time, she was an interesting type of devotee who had personal relationships with Krishna, she lived for Him. Perhaps, these impurities would go with the time, I thought. However, if people fall into pride, they take a position from above: “Krishna talks to me, I’ll tell you all how to live”. She never had this attitude. Those kind of relationships were very natural for her. She talks to Krishna, why can’t she talk to Him? She always chanted the holy names very seriously.. Whenever she had spare time she would sit down and chant very thoughtfully. She always read books of Srila Prabhupada with great interest, she was always engaged in service and participated in all devotees’ gatherings. Whenever someone would give a lecture, she would attentively and respectfully listen. Those are the signs of a true devotee.

Once I came to the Baku temple again and she came to me to associate and says: “I’d like to get your blessings.” What does she have in mind? I wondered. I watched a movie called “Pilgrimage to Ahovalam”, she said. Ahovalam is a famous temple of Lord Nrsimhadev. If any of you is a disciple of Indradyumna Swami from the 1990s, you would have probably heard a fascinating story how he went to the Ahovalam temple. The temple is situated deep in a jungle. Tigers live around there and one has to be really determined to get there. Indradyumna Maharaja was telling that there are signs that read “Beware of Tigers.” There is a temple of Hiranyakashipu and there are still pieces of the column which Nrsimhadev appeard from. There is also a cave and there is a self-manifested deity of Lord Nrsimhadev inside it.

The video shows Dhruva Maharaja prabhu entering an ancient temple, where the Deity is Vira Nrsimha. Vira means victor, conqueror. The deity is located in a cave at the top of the mountain. Once upon a time, a demonic king conceived a plot in this place. He decided to perform austerities and worship Brahma. When Brahma appears, he thought, I would steal the Vedas from Him and we would construct this civilization in our demonic way. When he actually stole the Vedas from Brahma’s mind, thanks to his demonic mystic powers, Brahma began praying to Nrsimhadev. Nrsimhadev personally appeared before him, tore the demon apart and returned the Vedas. Bhahma was very thankful to Lord Nrsimhadev. He performed a ritual of worship and prayed to Nrsimhadev: “Oh, Lord, please stay in your merciful form of Vira Nrsimha, so that we could always worship you and remember about your heroic deed.” The Lord was pleased with the prayer and appeared in a form of the deity.

The movie shows that Dhruva goes through water up to his chest in the cave, there are bats hanging above his head. He and his companions go further and are full of dread, it becomes dark and it’s unclear what is ahead. All of a sudden, they hear bells ringing and see the light of oil lamps at the end of the cave. There was a priest, who was conducting worship to the deity, and beside him sat an engaged couple, a bride and a groom. He said that this is a very ancient deity, but unfortunately, the worship ceased. Only once a week a priest comes to perform the worship ceremony, because there is jungle around the cave and to live in close proximity is almost impossible. When PadaSevanam heard that, her maternal feeling woke up: “Krishna, my Krishna is suffering!”.

She said that she asked Gopal: “what I should do, how can I help Nrsimhadev?” “Gopal told me that I should go there and serve Nrsimhadev”. Imagine a 74 year old grandma has such an idea! Do you think it sounds a little abnormal? That is what I thought. My eyes widened and I said: “Do you understand what India is? I’m not even talking about the mountain! I take groups there every year. I know what it is. “One can be robbed, there are all sorts of cheaters there, you don’t know the language, anything can happen!” “Besides, you don’t have the money for the tickets and who told you they would let you serve the Lord there?” “In Southern India they are really strict and don’t let women to serve deities, they consider this a violation of tradition, Srila Prabhupada saw devotees differently, not dividing men and women in this sense, that’s why he allowed women to worship on the altar. But there not every man is allowed, not even every Brahman.” She says: “ I know nothing, Gopal told me, I have to go! “My arguments didn’t work, so I tried a different approach and said: “Actually, in our Sampradaya, we worship Radha Krishna or Lord Chaytanya, who is Radha and Krishna as one person, so, if you want to go to India, go to Mayapur or Vrindavan and happily worship Krishna there.” “You don’t need to go to some mountain where there are no devotees, where it’s unclear how to make living, and besides you might not be allowed there.” This argument stumped her. She said:“ Alright, I’ll ask Gopal.” I thought to myself: Gopal, tell her! The next day she comes to me and says: “I asked Gopal and He said that I have to go Nrsimhadev anyway.” I thought to myself: “well, how is she going to go anyway, she doesn’t have the money.”

Two or three years later, I came to Azerbaijan again and devotees asked me: “do you remember Pada-Sevanam? She actually made it to the Nrsimhadev’s temple. Moreover, some say that people received her as a saint and worship to Nrsimhadev resumed”. That took me by surprise. She is a really unusual woman, I thought. Unfortunately, no one knew any more details about her, just this short information. About a half a year ago, before Pandava Ekadashi, a devotee, who was originally from Azerbaijan, wrote to me on skype. Ganeshwara Prabhu was asking if I remembered that grandma; Pada Sevanam. I replied: “yes, of course, I do”. It seems that the time has come, he wrote. Please ask devotees to pray for her. I replied: “sure, I will”, but then I began thinking how I should tell devotees about her. She had done did something extraordinary, what I needed to let them know about. I wrote back to him on skype asking if he knew the details of the story, which was going around about her reaching the Nrsimhadev’s temple and re-establishing the worship. “Yes, I know everything”, he replied. I helped her to get in there. Then he told me the whole story.

She was asking devotees around how to get to the temple of Nrsimhadev and someone suggested to asking Ganeshwara Prabhu. She contacted him with the help of devotees and asked to watch the movie and find out where the temple was. She said: “Gopal told me that I have to serve Nrsimhadev there.” He and his wife respected Pada Sevanam a lot. They thought, perhaps it’s really something extraordinary what Krishna is doing through them, through their service. They watched the movie, but it was unclear where the temple was. That day or shortly after, Ganeshwara went to have Deities darshan at Krishna Balaram mandir as usual and accidentally saw that devotee Dhruva Maharaja, who made the movie. He invited Dhruva to his house and she showed him the episode, asking “where is this temple?” Dhruva told him that one needs to fly to Hyderabad, then by taxi, for a few hours, go to a village called Vedagiri. There, lives the main priest. The mountain is located in five kilometers from the village. One needs to know the pathways in the jungle. The priest goes there only once a week. If one wants to have a darshan, they have to come on the eve of the day and go with him there. Ganeshwara did exactly that. He took two devotees and went to the village. They found the priest and went with him to the mountain. They saw the jungle, herds of wild monkeys, and snakes. In the cave they saw bats hanging above their heads, walked in the water up to a human chest, and finally got the darshan. They realized that it is unrealistic to live there and it is simply dangerous.

Ganeshwara went back to Vrindavan, then he called Pada Sevanam and said: “I went there. It’s impossible to live there, just stay with the devotees and live normal life. Krishna has a different plan”. “Gopal told me to go and I will, anyway. I bought tickets and I am arriving in two weeks. Please meet me.” What should I do? Ganeshwara thought. Imagine, taking 74 years old woman to the jungle and leaving her there. Imagine a man who gets snowed under with such a sudden mission. It’s like Lakshman would take Sita to the forest and leave. How can I leave a devotee of her age in the jungle where there is no water, no electricity, no food, absolutely nothing, only wild animals nearby? Alright, he planned: will bring her to Vrindavan. She would see the Deities of Radha and Krishna, sink in that nectar atmosphere and then we will make the right decision; that she should better stay in Vrindavan. Her heart will open and God’s plans will change. That was the plan.

He meets her at the airport. She comes with all her tens of deities, what devotees were bringing to her – several pairs of Radha Krishna, a number of Gopals, Govardhana Shilas, Shaligram Shilas, different pictures, etc. That all she brought with her in her suitcases. I met her and said: “a taxi is waiting. We will go to Vrindavan first and then decide what to do in a few days.” She got really tensed. “ I need to go to Nrsimhadev immediately, He is suffering because no one serves Him! How can I go to Vrindavan and enjoy myself there?” “But Pada Sevanam, you have never been to Vrindavan”, said Ganeshwara. “It’s only a few kilometers away, we need to go there. When would you go there otherwise?” She said: “If you don’t want to go there with me, just tell me where to go, I’ll get a ticket and go by myself!” Ganeshwara thought: I can’t leave her. Then, he buys tickets, they fly to Hyderabad, taxi brings them to Vedagiri, Ganeshwara takes her to the priest, hoping that he would open her eyes to see the reality. They go to the priest. He is around 70 years old himself, his son is 30.

Ganeshwara explains through his son (he translates) that this woman is from a different country, she is from Azerbaijan, and she got a revelation that your Nrsimhadev calls her and that she needs to come and serve Him here. She packed her things and came. When the priest hears that his eyes doubles in size. He says: “What Nrsimha? Do you understand what you are saying? Live here? We, adult men can’t live there. It’s dangerous there, there are no facilities – no water, no food, no electricity. You don’t know what you are talking about! I cannot provide protection for you, so as the main priest I can’t let you worship there!” Pada Sevanam becomes very serious, looks at the priest with a trying look and says: “If Krishna wants to kill someone, would you be able to protect that person, regardless of the place in this universe, even in your house? If Krishna wants to protect someone, who can kill that person?”She said that with such faith and determination that the priest just broke into tears and said: “I don’t know who this woman is, but I have no arguments to convince her in this case. Go ahead, live! I will try to give you maximum protection.” Now Ganeshwara is put in front of the fact that he has to carry all Pada-Sevanam’s luggage through the jungle. They left in the morning and carried the luggage to the mountain. Ganeshwara has the last hope that she would see everything herself and change her mind. They reached the top and Pada Sevanam, is lost in admiration. “Here is also a room for my deities!” (There was some little rickety building made of stones, with a time-skewed door, in front of the entrance to the temple). “I will install my deities here, set up a tent and begin living. “Excellent facilities! Everything is beautiful, go home, I will stay and worship Nrsimhadev”. Ganeshwara and the priest were totally shocked and speechless, but left her there. The priest was so amazed that he began telling everyone in the village about it, word about this grandma spread around instantly.

The next day swarms of people begun climbing to the mountain to see that woman, a saint from Azerbaijan. They brought whatever they could – water, some kind of clothes, etc. Men looked at the tent she was in and said: “we must protect her and build a hut for her.”.Women joined and began cleaning, bringing water, doing other things. All villagers received her as a saint and began worshiping. She didn’t have even a tiny amount of pride about herself and was easily accepting it. People paying obeisances as she blesses them, as if she has always been doing that. People were inviting her to bless weddings, new houses, and to bless a newborn or a dying person. All were running around her – the priests, the Brahmans, everyone.

When she was coming to Shiva’s temple, they would bring her the Pushpa and she would offer. She would do Abhisheka as the great Sadhu do. People fell in love with her for her simple and cordial love to Krishna. Although she didn’t know the local language, nor did she know English, she was preaching! She only knew “Bhagavan Shri Krishna”, in Sanskrit. She would preach half in Azerbaijanian, half in Russian, but people were able to understand because she was speaking from her heart. The news and the story were spreading and more people were coming to see her and have Nrsimhadev darshan. The priest had to start coming every day and open the temple. That’s how the worshipping of Nrsimhadev resumed on a daily basis. Finally, the news reached journalists of a newspaper of that region. They came and wrote an article about it, which blew the media. The article was being reprinted all around India. It was published in Azerbaijan and Turkey as well. People began coming from everywhere, just to see this woman and the Deity. Mayor of the state of Andra-pradesh read the article and was amazed: “This happens in my state? “ “We have to see that woman!” he told his wife.

They came with an escort and winking lights and climbed up the mountain to see Pada-Sevanam. Everything was happening around her, all people were doing something and she was in ecstasy worshiping the deities. Imagine, in the beginning, to get water she had to climb down several kilometers, take bath and bring drinking water. That’s how she lived before people started helping. When the Mayor saw that, he said: “we call ourselves devotees of Krishna, but who we are, actually? Look what is a condition of our temple and compare it to our houses! We made facilities for ourselves, but not for Krishna! We left Him here and worshiped Him once a week! This is all to begin with me”. This is how he addressed the people. “I take responsibility”, he said, “to collect enough money to make facilities, build a road, bring electricity, water, ensure access to the temple and dignify the temple in order to ensure proper worship of our Nrsimhadev.” He started a foundation and built a road to the mountain, parking with marble steps to the temple for tourist groups. They also built Hanuman temple and refined everything.

For Pada-Sevanam they built a brick house. When I heard about this all I was really impressed. The main point is – we don’t know anything about this woman, who is leaving now. I had to let devotees know right away. Perhaps, some of you received my message about this MataJi, it went to Facebook. I sent it on Ekadashi day and by the end of the day replies from devotees started coming. They were thanking me, gratifying Pada- Sevanam, some broke into tears. One said: :”my husband had a breakdown, he has not chanted the Holy Names for two years and after reading this article he cried and began chanting again.” In the morning, I woke up and saw Ganeshwara’s message on skype. He wrote that the main priest called him and said she left the body last night. The circumstances of her departure were remarkable though. He sent me some pictures. On that morning of Dvadashi first devotees came in and as always, they would first come to Pada-Sevanam for darshan, to get the blessings. Then they would go into the temple to see the Deities. Pada-Sevanam used a plastic chair, an Asana for Krishna. She would take Krishna from the altar, put Him on the chair and feed. When devotees came in, they saw her on her knees embracing Krishna’s feet. Under her arm, she was holding the Bhagavad-Gita. Devotees thought she was sleeping. The priest knocked on the table: “Mata?” She didn’t’t respond. He asked women to check up on her and help her up. They touched her and realized that she had left the body. Pada-Sevanam means “the one who worships the feet”. She left this world embracing Krishna’s feet and holding Bhagavad-Gita, which brought her to the perfection of her life. This is a remarkable example that we have.

There are two little additional stories about Pada-Sevanam. The main priest told one of them. Once upon a time, I closed the temple at night and began going down the mountain when I heard screaming and the sound of banging dishes. I thought: “maybe a monkey attacked.” The next morning I came up and everything was as usual, Pada-Sevanam was worshiping. I asked her: “What happened yesterday?” She said: “Nothing, it’s all good.” “I heard the banging of dishes and your scream.” “Oh, that’s just Nrsimhadev, he didn’t want to eat I was swearing.” The priest said to me: “I don’t understand what kind of woman she is.” She also said to him at some point that Nrsimhadev told her that she would incarnate in this place for 10 000 years and then He would take her to Goloka.

Ganeshwara told the other story, he asked her once: “At the beginning everything was somewhat rough, were there any dangers, perhaps wild animals, any problems? I just wanted to know how she lived. She said: “no, no problems overall, just a cobra bit me once in a leg. That’s it.” “Wow! That’s it?” “I just went to Nrsimhadev and said: “I want to serve you, but a cobra bit me. If you want to take me, so be it. But if you want me to serve you, tell me what to do. He told me to wash the wound with Charitamrita. I did and everything was fine.”

- From a lecture by A.C. Bhagavatamrita Keshava Swami. Barnaul, Russia December 18, 2016, Translated by Ramananda das (Roman Zilber), Edited by Radha-Vilasa (Ranetta Zilber), (Apologies for any mistakes and incorrect use of grammar).

“I am concerned about the complete arbitrariness of this law, which can lead to the persecution of my many fellow citizens who practice yoga and study Indian philosophy,” Ugai wrote in his blog.

“.. Whether you are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh – these religions are teaching our young people about justice and compassion and honesty.”

While distributing the famous cookbook, The Higher Taste, book distributor devotees met many people who have become meat-free or seriously considering it. They were surprised to see some of the individuals who made the conscious choice, including a 4 year old girl who decided to be vegetarian on her own. Also a teacher now implements cruelty-free diets in her classroom. Other people included an ex-marine, nurse, musician, and college students. They all got a Higher Taste.  A video by WestCoastMonk.

Department Reports in New Vrindaban Show Continued Progress Towards Prabhupada’s Vision

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications

Kicking off ECO-Vrindaban and ISKCON New Vrindaban’s end-of-year Joint Board Meetings, their Department Head Reports on Saturday November 12th were uplifting to members of the community who attended the open event.

Showing steady progress towards Prabhupada’s vision, the reports also revealed that the past half a decade’s concerted efforts at rebuilding New Vrindaban are gradually beginning to move past upgrading existing facilities, and onto new and exciting ventures.

In his introduction, ISKCON New Vrindaban Temple President Jaya Krsna Das laid out a mission to attentively follow Prabhupada’s instructions for the community; to care deeply for visitors, cows, Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra and one another; to cooperate with residents, management and ISKCON’s international leadership; and to one day see every devotee in North America and beyond proud of and honored to be associated with New Vrindaban.

Starting the reports, Brihat Kirtan Das, who became Devotee Kitchen manager in spring 2016, thanked ECO-V’s Nitaicandra Das for familiarizing him with the fresh produce available to use. He added that the kitchen has also been using ghee from protected cows and brown sugar instead of white sugar; and has purchased a commercial oven that can bake much larger batches at once.

The Guest Lodge, managed by Gaura Bhakta Das, has added nine new ground-floor rooms with attached bathrooms and handicapped access. These have dramatically improved the guest experience at New Vrindaban. The lodge has also introduced a new reservation system for online bookings, and furnished its welcome center with a new ATM, reception desk and sofa chairs.

Reporting on Prabhupada’s Palace Restoration, Gopisa Das said that the new rose and black granite front steps have been completed. The outer wall’s saffron topping and ornate black window frames are finished, and the wall itself is nearing completion. The Palace parking lot has been expanded and given clearly demarcated handicapped parking spaces. And Prabhupada’s kitchen is about to be fully updated, so that his resident pujari can cook daily offerings onsite. Gopisa also showed initial architectural plans for simple homes based on Prabhupada’s recommendations for an affordable small housing community within New Vrindaban.

Next, Prabhupada’s Palace manager Vrajadhama Das talked about how the Palace’s growing team has maintained monthly Prabhupada Sangams for devotees; introduced First Friday kirtans for the public; repainted gold-leafing; opened a new smoothie shack; and renovated a room in the Palace for resident pujari Srinama Das. They have also increased tourism and social media presence, and applied to register the Palace as a historic building. This will draw more interest and possibly make the Palace eligible for grants to help with renovations.

Meanwhile, at Govinda’s Restaurant, Vasudeva Das reported a 15% increase in patronage since last year. There’s a new kitchen manager, Dinamani Das, and floor manager, Bhaktin Mar, who have introduced new dishes like burritos, tacos, nachos and Philly sandwiches. There’s a new Point-of-Sale system, which has streamlined ordering for better service. And the outside snack bar, with an improved menu, was kept open throughout the season.

In Congregational Development, Gaurnatraj Das has built a strong team who serve pilgrims and guests. He reported an increase in pilgrims; upcoming yoga, astrology and meditation programs in the spring; and a successful Damodarastakam program in which devotees offered lamps on behalf of long-distance congregation members. He also reported that the team has raised almost a third of the funds needed for the new Yoga Sanctuary; and has traveled the country installing Deities in congregation members’ homes.

In Devotee Care, Sukhavaha Dasi has been facilitating coaching, yoga classes, massage, aromatherapy, and sessions with visiting doctors at the new Wellness Center. She has also researched all products being purchased by ISKCON New Vrindaban’s different departments and found the best locations and prices for them, thus consolidating purchasing and saving the temple thousands of dollars.

Next Vrindavan Das reported on two departments. The Communications team has reached more than a million people through social media; redesigned the New Vrindaban website; and published over 60 articles in the Brijabasi Spirit newsletter and in ISKCON-wide media. They’ve also appeared on TV and radio many times, and have seen many articles published about New Vrindaban in local and national newspapers. They are also maintaining strong ties with the regional tourism board, local media and public interest groups.

Meanwhile Vrindavan helped oversee many Festivals throughout the year including the tenth anniversary of Kulimela and 24 Hour Kirtan, the revival of the Prabhupada Festival, the first ever Rathayatra in local town Wheeling, and yet another successful Festival of Colors.

Bhagavan Das then presented the exciting developments in Construction. In addition to the nine new Palace Lodge ground floor rooms, the guest kitchen in the temple was completely remodeled; one exterior lodge wall got all new siding and landscaping; and the prasadam hall got a new wood floor, new cabinets and sinks, and new metal dishware and cutlery.

Meanwhile the ground was broken for the planned Yoga Sanctuary on the Kusum Sarovara lakeside; the original Vrindaban farmhouse where Srila Prabhupada stayed in 1969 had a wall replaced so that it will remain structurally sound; and the new Vishnu’s Maintenance Workshop is coming up fast and should be up and running within the next couple of months.

Last but not least was the heartwarming presentation on Gopal’s Garden Homeschool Co-Op, started by Ruci Dasi.

Teachers Sundari Dasi and Mercy began by reporting on its Preschool, which they launched in April 2015. With two successful years completed, the preschool currently has seven students aged three to five and has done many fun and bonding activities with them, including a summer camp, picnics and playdates, educational excursions, and a Krishna conscious Halloween party.

Some of the children will soon be ready to graduate to kindergarten, and then on to Gopal’s Garden Elementary and Middle School, which Ananga Manjari Dasi reported on. Ruci Dasi teaches nine children aged six to thirteen with help from many community members, who teach a variety of different subjects such as music and art. New classes introduced this year included interactive science, Waldorf math, Quigon, yoga, and crotcheting.

On behalf of ECO-Vrindaban, Board member Chaitanya Mangala Das then introduced its staff and reminded all of its mission statement. “The two buzzwords we want everybody to connect with ECO-V are cows and gardens,” he said.

First off in ECO-V’s presentations was the Cow Care program with Ananda Vidya Das andLalita Gopi Dasi, who are milking eight cows, caring for three new calves, and keeping the Deity kitchen stocked with butter and ghee. They’ve also taught hundreds of guests how to milk, engaged devotees in serving the cows, and maintained the grounds and planted flowers at the milking barn.

In the Deity Flower Gardens, Vidya Dasi grew marigolds, zinnias, snap dragons, and dahlias at her own home and at the Teaching Garden, to provide the Deities with organic flowers. After nearly forty years of service, Vidya is soon looking to retire, and during her presentation she passed the torch to Suchandra Dasi. Born and raised in New Vrindaban, Suchandra has already worked as a gardener, taken Lowe’s training program and developed good managerial skills. Vidya ended her report with a tribute to her late husband Madhava Gosh, saying that his vision and hard work made the program possible.

Next Ox and Garden Manager Nitaicandra Das, who previously ran a farm in California, said he had learned a lot during his first full growing season in West Virginia. He battled groundhogs, rabbits, and insects to grow a successful crop including tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, zucchini, potatoes, herbs and berries. He has also begun construction on an inground greenhouse which will keep temperatures warm and extend the growing season into the winter. Meanwhile several teams of oxen are being trained in using yokes, learning commands and pulling logs.

Finally, Project Manager Mukunda Das showed photos of the 400 feet of fencing he had rebuilt at the Community Garden, the flower garden shed, where he installed double doors and window trims, and the milking barn, where he replaced old doors, upgraded electrics and painted steel frames that hadn’t been maintained in twenty years with protective coating. He also participated in the first North American ISKCON Farm Conference in Gita Nagari, and was a member of the steering committee that helped elect New Vrindaban’s first Village Council.

Since Mukunda is concluding his service at New Vrindaban and returning to Alachua, this was the last manager presentation he made. Thus the ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-Vrindaban Boards of Directors presented him and his wife Bhakti-lata Dasi with a plaque in appreciation of the two years they dedicated to helping develop New Vrindaban village.

“This year, we’ve started to turn the corner beyond long-needed upkeep, and see new construction come into the mix – like the yoga sanctuary, the Vishnu maintenance workshop, new apartments and the inground greenhouse,” says joint-board member Chaitanya Mangala Das. “And as we move forward, we’ll start seeing more and more of that. In the future, I think we’ll reflect back on 2016 as the year we turned that corner.”

Examining my life and studying the endeavors of the young and old, I find this energy or push to find one’s calling, one’s “authentic” or real self, one of primary motivators in life. If we are thoughtful and blessed this should tell us something, as does the fact that our life goes through stages, is of short duration, and seems to be always threatened by non-existence. Behind everything is a message and lesson to learn. We can learn to listen or dull this urge through the endless distractions that are offered by modern society.

If we were a body we would be happy just to exist and live, yet we find that no one can just live without this search for identity, or someway to designate themselves. We can't just be zero. If we are simple minded we won’t spend too much time or energy on this. We’ll just identify with our body, village, culture, religion, and follow our parents’ or peer’s ideas. If we more sophisticated or have some spiritual bend of mind, we’ll make the time to stop and contemplate the existential questions of the ages and sages.

We may search out guidance from the world’s religious or spiritual literature and those who live it by them. Then we may discover that our search for worldly identity hints at the true quest of life, self-realization to uncover our soul, or animating principle of life, the real “I” or “me,” spiritual identity, who is part of something much greater, our Source. This could be seen as the all-pervading undifferentiated “Brahman” or “Clear (or White) Light,” or as the Supreme Being, God, the originator of all energies and spiritual aspects and conceptions, who we are part of and meant to serve. For some, matter seems all there is, and birth and death ends in nothingness.

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By Rukmini Devi Dasi

“Shoot him,” said the man with the crowbar. Kshudhi felt the cold metal against his skull and chanted Hare Krishna like never before. His nimble nineteenyear old body was tucked under the bed. The other four men with guns hesitated. They attacked the house knowing that a Johannesburg vegetable merchant had kept cash there, but were they ready to kill for it? Less than two years before, Kshudhi had purchased a copy of Teachings of Lord Chaitanya from a book store in Los Angeles. The book introduced him to bhakti, the means of approaching God selflessly. One day, he sat on his favourite ‘meditation rock’ and called out to God, asking Him to please show him how he could serve Him. He opened his eyes and in front of him stood a Hare Krishna devotee. Kshudhi had never seen one before. The devotee had instinctively wandered off from his harinam group to Kshudhi. That was how Kshudhi’s bhakti journey began. Continue reading "Living Heroes
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