D.C.’s Historic Chant 4 Change! Political pundits last weekend…
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D.C.’s Historic Chant 4 Change!
Political pundits last weekend were calling the second presidential debate “the darkest and nastiest in modern history,” full of scandals, personal attacks and insults. And the ongoing drama may be what’s taking over the news lately.
But not everyone, even in Washington, is being dragged down by it. On Saturday October 8th, thousands of people from different faiths and backgrounds gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a “Chant 4 Change,” trying to bring some light into the darkness.
Throughout the ten-and-a-half-hour event, they chanted God’s names together in each other’s traditions. They sang songs of peace, unity and love. They sang to change the consciousness that has caused so much violence, racism, corrupt leadership, environmental destruction and economic collapse recently.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/ZzZruL

Kartik: Part 2
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 October 2009, Durban, South Africa, Lecture)

yashoda_damodara

So, Kartik is the time to tighten up the loose screws, of all the loose ends, and to bring it back to the real standard. Kartik, is our chance! It is only one month but of course, after that month, it becomes a habit! Habits are like that. If you do something for one month then it is easy to keep on doing it. So in this way, we can take so much advantage.

I thought my main objective in this month would be meditation, to increase my remembrance of Krsna and to increase my service, both in quantity and quality. I thought I will focus on quality especially because quantity is not so easy. Already there is so much to do in a day, already such a hectic life, how much more can I physically manage? And I do not want Kartik to become a total stress situation where I am just doing these very intense vows, the kind of vows that drive me to the edge and that at the end of the month, if I make it till the end, I just hate Kartik and may be even Krsna!

Not like that! No, I will not make it a month full of stress. Therefore, I thought, this year I will not do something huge, I will not take one really big vow. I have a different strategy; I will take many little vows! Also, Krsna gave me some ideas about chanting. I thought, I am going to chant extra rounds but I am not going to fix it that every day I must chant so many extra rounds but I will just fix a number for the whole month and then I can adjust it. I will have my busy days when I may chant less and on days that I have the opportunity, I will chant more; and in this way, it averages out. In this way, I will survive and I will still be chanting extra rounds. I thought it was a good idea, really!

Then I thought…Yes, I’ll read something! I thought, every night I will read for five minutes something about Krsna. I will read Krsna Book for five minutes a night. That is nice. It is not a big Kartik vow but it is something that you know is nice but that you just get slack in! It is one thing that you do not always do! But I said, in this month of Kartik, I will do it.

So, many such things… I will not tell you everything that I am going to do but I told you this much just to kind of inspire everyone of how we can do something. It is still early enough! After this lecture, you can quickly jot down a few things that you are going to do this month. Just a few things. And if we do that, if we really do it… then you will be surprised! You will surprise yourself! Really! You will find that your Krsna consciousness would have so much increased just from one month of practising, in the month of Kartik. 

Kula Shaker Returns, Shares Mystical Journey of Service
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Back with new album K 2.0 and touring the U.S. for the first time in seventeen years, British rock band Kula Shaker are concluding a euphoric set of hits at New York City’s Rough Trade venue the same way they always do: with “Govinda.”  “Govinda Jaya Jaya, Gopala Jaya Jaya, Radharamana Hari…” The crowd roars along as lead singer Crispian Mills beckons them to chant with esoteric hand guestures, then punches the air as his electric guitar surges back into the mix. 

Heartfelt Prayers from India to Syria
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Syria's civil war is the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. Half the country's pre-war population — more than 11 million people — have been killed or forced to flee their homes. Families are struggling to survive inside Syria, or make a new home in neighboring countries. We need more of music and prayers and less of war and violence. Dr. Sahadeva dasa is singing and playing a concert Ukulele and Govinda is on the flute. 

Rain Can’t Dampen Spirits at D.C.’s Historic Chant 4 Change
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Political pundits last weekend were calling the second presidential debate “the darkest and nastiest in modern history,” full of scandals, personal attacks and insults. And the ongoing drama may be what’s taking over the news lately. But not everyone, even in Washington, is being dragged down by it. On Saturday October 8th, thousands of people from different faiths and backgrounds gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a “Chant 4 Change,” trying to bring some light into the darkness.

Megacities: Urban Future, the Emerging Complexity
→ Servant of the Servant

Megacities are, by definition, urban areas with a population of 10 million or more. The video is used as part of an “Advanced Special Operations Combating Terrorism” course offered at Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) for a lesson on “The Emerging Terrorism Threat.”

The video is nothing if not an instant dystopian classic: melancholy music, an ominous voiceover, and cascading images of sprawling slums and urban conflict. “Megacities are complex systems where people and structures are compressed together in ways that defy both our understanding of city planning and military doctrine,” says a disembodied voice. “These are the future breeding grounds, incubators, and launching pads for adversaries and hybrid threats.”It is a collage of pictures of current events predicting a foreseeable dystopian future.

The video eerily shows whats in store for the future of Kali yuga. As dark as the video may sound, it misses one thing - God or Krishna. As long as Krishna is still on this planet, there is some hope. More than anytime in the past, it is important we connect with Krishna and stay connected. Deeper understanding of "consciousness" living is the solution to the ever growing complicated urban lifestyle.

But lets make one thing clear -the problem is real and we have to be ready to face it.


 
“Megacities: Urban Future, the Emerging Complexity,” a video created by the Army and used at the Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations University. A Pentagon Video.

Hare Krishna

There’s still hope in society! Vijaya das: While…
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There’s still hope in society!
Vijaya das: While distributing books at Cal State Northridge University, I met a couple of students at my table who were asking about the books on display. They were both enthusiastic to take a Gita. After explaining the tenets of the Gita, I asked for a donation.
One of them enthusiastically gave a donation, but the other said, “I don’t have anything to give.”
The person who did give a donation said, “No problem. I’ll get it for you.”
He then gave another donation. I asked the one that had no donation whether she knew this person.
She said, “No, I’ve never seen him before.”
I said, “Well, that goes to show you that there’s still hope in society. Here’s a person you don’t know, and he’s going out of his way to help you.”
She was as surprised as I was and profusely thanked the young man.
The very next day at UCLA the same thing happened. I was talking to a young man about the Gita and showing him the pictures when another young man showed up and listened in. When I asked for a donation, the one that came while I was talking to the first person enthusiastically gave a donation, and the first person said he had nothing to give.
The second person, who turned out to be named Ryan, said, “It’s OK. I’ll get it for you. I like to do spontaneous acts of kindness.”
The young man receiving the kindness couldn’t believe it and thanked Ryan for his kindness.
What I find with these two incidents is that book distribution brings out good qualities in the book distributors and in the people we distribute books to. One thing I suggest that devotees do: When someone doesn’t have money for a book, give them a piece of paper with vedabase.com on it. All of Srila Prabhupada’s books are on this website. Had these two persons not received a book I would have given them this paper so that they could still read the books. Most students don’t have money, but they always get this paper from me and many of them go to the site and later thank me for directing them to it.
Your servant,
Vijaya Dasa

Three Life Lessons from Our Founder. 50 years ago, at this time…
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Three Life Lessons from Our Founder.
50 years ago, at this time of the year, a 69 year old sadhu (saintly person) was on a cargo ship traveling from Kolkata to New York. He was alone on this journey and his journals at that time are a moving read. Within a year he would officially establish the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in a store front in the Lower East side of New York. Today ISKCON is flourishing throughout the world all because of the journey of this one man – our Founder-Acharya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

We can list hundreds of things that we have learned from Srila Prabhupada but here I will share just three:

1. It’s Never too Late to Start

At 69, Prabhupada set out on this long and arduous journey. It was the request of his spiritual teacher to bring the teachings of Krishna to the West. This request had been given when he was a much younger man; the time wasn’t ripe then.

Sometimes we may feel we have missed our chance, or it’s too late to begin, or we are afraid to fail. Prabhupada didn’t let his age, or similar misgivings or circumstances stop him. Neither should we – especially when it comes to important and meaningful spiritual actions and activities.

2. Early Morning Treasure

Every day, no matter where he was in the world, Prabhupada would rise very early in the morning (from 1.30am onwards) to write his translations and commentaries of sacred Sanskrit literature belonging to the Bhakti tradition. He planned his day so those hours were protected and available for him. It was there he produced his masterpieces – his books that can bring the greatest spiritual insights to anyone who reads them. The early morning hours are available to all of us. It’s the open secret of spiritual advancement.

3. Individuality

The essence of the Bhakti practice is developing our personal relationship with Krishna. Prabhupada again and again stressed the individual and personal nature of God and our unique and personal relationship with Him. This is perhaps his greatest gift to us and our greatest lesson – we belong to Krishna, are eternally related with Him, and thus we are never alone. Despite whatever desperate circumstances we may find ourselves in, we are never, ever, alone.

Ananda Vrindavanesvari Devi Dasi

Wednesday, October 12th, 2016
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016
Vrindavan, India

Big Brother and the Clapping Co.

After two lengthy plane rides and a three hour drive via taxi to Vrindavan, I arrived at the Krishna Balarama Guest House.  It was 3 a.m. and I was tired.  I tucked myself into bed and had a decent slumber.

My main reason for the visit was to see one of my older brothers—not biological—but a spiritual brother whom I looked up to when I first became a monk.  He donned robes and practices of renunciation before I did.  He’s dying from cancer and having his last months, weeks and days here in Vrindavan, one of the most sacred places in the world.

It was good to see him, and he looks better than I thought he would.  He seemed in good spirits and to raise those spirits even more, he had arranged a kirtan group to come to his quarters for chanting.  Most of those participants were faithful Krishna devotees from China.

It was my intent to get some walking in for some of the evening, seeing that two days in air and car had restricted me.  Now, the melodious chants compelled me to stay, and my big brother wouldn’t let me go.  The session started in late afternoon and continued for three hours.  Redeemingly, foot-work was used in the form of dance, and for a good portion of the time aggressive clapping in-time became an optimum work-out for the hands.

When hands are activated, organs of the body do well, just like when feet are mobilized, so many human body parts reap the benefit and get stronger.  Perhaps hand clapping could be considered a kind of walking?

May the Source be with you!

? km

Monday, October 10th, 2016
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Monday, October 10th, 2016
Toronto, Ontario

Give Thanks

It’s an official holiday in Canada, Thanksgiving Day.  It is very much a family day when blood relations converge for a dinner.  As the name implies, gratitude becomes the theme in the minds and in practice for those who honour the occasion.

I see that spiritual practitioners and folks of faith carry that type of spirit—the spirit of saying, “Thank you!”  For those who have adopted the lifestyle of atheism, it would be hard to imagine who to thank for life’s bounties.  Perhaps, expressing inner appreciation for what is to be utilized for one’ssurvival and pleasure, might be one way to be grateful.  That approach, it seems, would eliminate the person, God.

I had the fortune to deliver a class this morning to the resident monks, and a few visiting folks from our community, highlighting the meaning of giving thanks.  We looked at the historical reference to do with early settlers, pilgrims to the New World.  Apparently, Martin Frobisher, Arctic explorer, took up the first Thanksgiving in 1578, more than forty years before the pilgrims arrived, therefore, the traditional approach to this day began in Canada, first.

I didn’t know that until I looked it up.  Frankly,every day is, or should be, a Thanksgiving Day, for the reason that every moment, we receive benefits from the original supplier.

May the Source be with you!

0 km (en route to India)

Tuesday, October 11th, 2016
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Tuesday, October 11th, 2016
Amsterdam/Delhi

Impressions In-flight

When landing at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the gate for the flight to Delhi was right there.  Yet I had two hours to kill, so I decided I was not going to just sit around.  “It’s time to explore the airport.  I’ll get some walking done.”

My impressions!  The colour scheme of the airport interior is a trite too colourless.  In a country like Holland, where it’s overcast for a good amount of the time, it might be an idea to intensify the hues a bit.  Learn from the Spanish, perhaps.

Also the place is very international.  You have travellers and tourists here from all over the world.  I see a share of Dutchman who are some of the travellers, but mostly are staff and personnel.  They remind me of me, to a certain extent.  My ancestry comes from this ‘below the sea-level land’.  They are tall people—blondish and into the formalities.  German-like, but softer.

The next flight was a little change from the one to Amsterdam.  Jet Airways carries many passengers from south-east Asia.  Many of them are older.  They’re off to come home to India.  One man I met from the Punjab, but who lives in Canada, is going home for a wedding.  The screens on the plane were all lit up for Bollywood flicks as soon as we got back into the aircraft.

At the Delhi Airport, as we de-planed, I met a sweet couple from Calgary en route to Nepal and the Himalayas.  “Get ready for a joyous culture shock.  You’ll love it.”  I wished them well.

May the Source be with you!

0 km


The Kartik Project. Sacinandana Swami: Throughout the year…
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The Kartik Project.
Sacinandana Swami: Throughout the year Krishna’s devotees pursue various projects: their devotional practices (sadhana), their various services (seva), work projects, various family projects, building projects, private projects, etc. Once a year comes a time when another project arises: the Karttik project, which offers a rare chance to come close to the Lord. Srila Prabhupada told his disciples that even ‘unserious persons’ who execute devotional service during this month of Karttik are easily awarded the Lord’s personal service (1)
What is the Karttik project?
It is a 30-day vow taken during the month of Karttik. (This year according to our sun calendar Karttik begins on 16 October and ends on 14 November.) During this time the Lord’s internal potency, who is the presiding deity of this month and who is therefore known as Karttika Devi, is pleased by serving the Lord of Her heart – Damodara Krishna. It is stated in the scriptures that during Karttik all the holy places of pilgrimage with their rivers and lakes also come to Vraja. It is certainly a very special time of the year…
In this world we know of special times of the year that bring certain gifts: the summer gives us warmth, the beginning of autumn many fruits, late winter gives us snow and early spring brings flowers, etc. According to the 16th chapter of Hari-bhakti-vilasa, Karttik gives us inexhaustible benefits. There are many descriptions how even little amounts of devotional service are regarded by the Lord as very special – because they are done during this month of His beloved Radharani.
For this special month the devotees take to various devotional practices, which bring them more in contact with Srimati Radharani and Krishna. Traditionally these vows are executed on the sacred land of Vrindavana, but are certainly not limited to Vraja. If you cannot be in Vrindavana physically during this time make sure your heart is there – by remembering the pastime places or looking at the many beautiful pictures of Vraja taken by the devotees on their many pilgrimages.
What can you do to observe the Karttik vrata?
The first point is that a personal vow should be something we do regularly and unfailingly each day of the month. Srila Prabhupada encouraged the devotees in all temples around the world to execute the Damodara vrata by offering a light to the Lord each morning or evening (or both).
Let me give you some suggestions based on what I do personally:
1) Rise early and offer a little aratik. You can choose how many items you wish to offer but certainly there should be at least a ghee lamp offered to Lord Damodara (by placing a picture or deity of the Lord on your altar)
2) Chant extra rounds – or you can at least make sure that you increase the quality of rounds
3) Increase your reading of Vaisnava scriptures – especially Srimad Bhagavatam
4) Recite various prayers, like the Saranagati Prayers
5) Worship Tulasi devi
6) An absolute must – recite the Sri Damodarastakam
These are minimal requirements, but of course you can add any devotional practice that brings you closer to the Lord. The main point is that it is done daily as a loving offering.
Additionally, it is recommended to observe some austerities with regards to eating. There is an absolute restriction on the consumption of urad dal. I always like to desist from all kinds of sweets, but this is optional.
Please know the main point is to increase positive devotional practices.
You can expect that your resolve will be tested – rest assured that you will pass all tests if you remember your priority: to please Srimati Radharani by engaging in devotional service to the Lord.
Let me end with a wonderful verse written by Raghunatha Dasa Goswami about the mercy of Srimati Radharani:
“From birth Srimati Radharani has been naturally affectionate to all… She is the protectress of the poor and unfortunate.” (2)
Special Karttik inspiration
Many devotees have requested me to give a regular audio message as a day-by-day Karttik inspiration. As a servant of the Vaisnavas, I have happily accepted this service. It is my desire to try to nourish devotees during this month with short inspirational messages. Thus, please be so kind to share these with anyone you know who would be interested to hear. These Karttik inspirations can be downloaded and heard from www.sacinandanaswamipilgrimage.com starting on Sunday 16 October.
Let us associate through sound at this most exciting time: Srimati Radharani’s month which carries the name of Her beloved Damodara.
Wishing you all the best and lots of spiritual strength
Your humble servant,
Sacinandana Swami

​How can we help materialistic people recognize the need to control their thoughts?
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​Why does ISKCON have a more organized managerial structure than most traditional religious groups?
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​When the soul is beyond identity, why do devotees put identification marks such as tilak?
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​Should we stick to personal spiritual standards even when they imbalance our life?
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​Activate the grand rapid flow of bhakti by restructing your mental architecture
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​Congregation program at Grand Rapids, Detroit, USA

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​A Bhagavad-gita view of religious diversity
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​Talk at Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Detroit USA

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15th Anniversary of Tribhuvanatha Prabhu’s…
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15th Anniversary of Tribhuvanatha Prabhu’s Departure.
Padmapani das: I think the most important thing that I learned from Tribhuvanatha Prabhu is that one can serve the spiritual master in any condition of life and under any circumstances. We joined forces just after Srila Prabhupada’s departure, and from then on it was nonstop adventure and challenges. We had to quickly become self-reliant. It didn’t matter if we found ourselves in a safe situation or not, or whether we had lots of association or none at all. The main thing was serving Prabhupada. Service was our lifeline. So the Middle East program was great training, like being thrown into deep water without knowing how to swim. It was sink or swim, do or die. The material world is a war zone and only the strongest survive. Tribhuvanatha was a soldier for Srila Prabhupada and he led by example. The war against maya isn’t over, but at least I have some hope and inspiration thanks to Tribhuvanatha Prabhu.
Here is a video of Tribhuvanatha Prabhu’s memories of Srila Prabhupada: https://goo.gl/s2PYBq

Kartika is coming! In the Padma Puräëa it is said, “The Lord…
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Kartika is coming!
In the Padma Puräëa it is said, “The Lord may offer liberation or material happiness to a devotee, but after some devotional service has been executed, particularly in Mathurä during the month of Kärttika, the devotees want only to attain pure devotional service unto the Lord.” The purport is that the Lord does not award devotional service to ordinary persons who are not serious about it. But even such unserious persons who execute devotional service according to the regulative principles during the month of Kärttika, and within the jurisdiction of Mathurä in India, are very easily awarded the Lord’s personal service. (NoD chapter 12)

As we read the above lines from Nectar of Devotion, we can not help but appreciate that if ‘unserious’ persons can be awarded so much benefit then surely Krishna may bestow on us, aspiring devotees, something even more valuable to hold on to and cherish all our life. Kartika is the month which is most dear to Krishna. We receive so many articles/ whatsapp messages/emails glorifying Kartika and how Krishna is easily pleased by anyone who renders even little devotional service to Him during this special month. So we can not even imagine what great benedictions await each one of us, aspiring devotees, if we make some sincere and serious endeavour to please Krishna, and Srimati Radharani, this Kartika.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/JaZMh7

From the performance of “Give It A Chance” during…
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From the performance of “Give It A Chance” during the Cologne Rathayatra Festival 2016 (3 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: The mantra delivers the conditioned soul from his bondage; so simply by chanting the mantra Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, one can gain deliverance from any condition. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.42 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/TSuttS

TOVP Kartika Announcement and Appeal
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Hare KrishnaBy Braj-vilas das

Performing vrata in the month of Kartika (Damodara) is glorified profusely in the Puranas. Since this month is very dear to Lord Krishna, by performing austerities or restraining one’s sense gratification and performing activities to please the senses of the Lord, one becomes very dear to the Lord. As Satya yuga is the best of yugas, as the Vedas are the best of scriptures, as Ganga is the best of rivers, so Kartika is the best of months, the most dear to Lord Krishna. The vrata may begin on the ekadasi of the waxing moon of Asvina, on the Purnima, or (samkranti) when the sun enters the house of Libra. Five activities are glorified: staying awake, early morning bath, worship of Tulasi, offering lamps and performing austerities. One should practice brahmacarya, give charity, and perform homa and japa. Continue reading "TOVP Kartika Announcement and Appeal
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Spiritual Tsunami Inundates Pune City!
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Hare KrishnaBy Vamsuli Dasa

Just as the last of the monsoon clouds dispersed and the balmy October sun shined bright, hundreds of unsuspecting people in Pune were caught in a sudden tsunami last weekend. Yes, 130 supercharged devotees from ISKCON Pune spread out across 10 chosen spots in the city and distributed nearly 700 books of Srila Prabhupada within a matter of just 2 hours on Saturday, 8 October 2016. This was indeed an unprecedented spiritual deluge for the city! What was the occasion? ISKCON Pune just held their first ever Monthly Sankirtana Festival (MSF) with the guidance and encouragement of His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu (ACBSP), who delivered a two-day seminar on the significance and implementation of regular and systematic book distribution. MSF is a strategy of book distribution where a large number of devotees go out together for book distribution on one weekend every month. It has been a great success in the US and Canada since many devotees doing a little bit adds up to big results and strong relationships in the devotee community. Adding to the spiritual weaponry at ISKCON Pune is "Our Family Business - The Great Art of Distributing Srila Prabhupada's Books" - the first book written by His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu about the principles, practice, techniques, as well as the history of book distribution in ISKCON. More than 100 devotees in Pune received copies of Our Family Business signed by him, and more copies are available at both temples in Pune. Continue reading "Spiritual Tsunami Inundates Pune City!
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Srila Prabhupada gets his golden tooth in Tokyo, Japan. This…
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Srila Prabhupada gets his golden tooth in Tokyo, Japan.
This photo was taken in the office of the CEO of Dai Nippon printers in Tokyo.
Japan was wonderful. All the young guests who came to see Srila Prabhupada at the temple humbly offered Him flowers and bowed down at His lotus feet, many of them offering full dandavats.
Respect is part of the Japanese culture, and very beautiful.
At Dai Nippon, which was so big that the offices and factory took up an entire city block, they offered His Divine Grace the chance to see their dentist to replace the single lower front tooth He had just lost.

He went to their dental clinic, which was part of their very large medical office, and met the young dentist who would make the solid gold tooth and bridge for Him.
Since gold is good for the heart, and was an ingredient of the heart medicine Srila Prabhupada used every other day, “yogendra-ras” (it also contained pearls and coral and came in a small red pill form), He asked if they could use gold and they immediately agreed.
The young dentist was so joyful, honoring and respectful, and bowed over and over to His Divine Grace as He did the needful and took a plaster cast of His lower jaw and teeth.
The gold replacement was ready the next day, and when the dentist put it into Srila Prabhupada’s mouth, He moved His mouth around and exclaimed… “This is very nice… I can hardly feel it!”!
He reached up and pulled the dentist’s head to His heart, hugged him and messed up his hair (as He did with George Harrison once in London) and thanked him over and over… the young saintly dentist was in bliss, as you can imagine, and was smiling from ear to ear :-)

Second ISKCON UK National Convention takes place
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Hare KrishnaBy Mina Sharma

On Saturday 1st October, the second ISKCON National Convention took place at the newly renovated temple in Leicester, bringing together over a hundred devotees from across the UK. Organised to promote one UK yatra, and encourage a mood of unity, cooperation, trust and positive communication between devotees, there was opportunity to hear from a variety of leaders from across the UK. Presentations were delivered on a number of topics, including book distribution, how to grow your congregation, end of life care, deity worship, kirtan and devotee care. A special video update from all UK temples was also shown, which featured updates of outstanding events that have taken place over the past year. Continue reading "Second ISKCON UK National Convention takes place
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Krsna Saradiya Rasayatra
→ Ramai Swami

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The first full moon of the autumn season marks the celebration of Krsna’s dancing with the gopis. On this day the deities of Vrndavana are nicely decorated in white. Krsna lila dramas are enacted.

Because the moon is very auspicious, the vraja vasis leave pots of sweet rice exposed to the full moon for the whole night, to turn the sweet rice into ambrosial amrta.

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Kartik: Part 1
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 October 2011, Melbourne, Australia, Home Program)

kks_goverdhanIn the Bhagavad-gita 10.35, Krsna says that of all the months, “I am marga-sirsa,” which is a name for the November-December period. It is said that before Krsna, first comes Radha – Radha-Krsna, Radha-Syam, Sita-Ram, like that. First the consort of the Lord is mentioned. Therefore the month of Kartik, which comes before this month of marga-sirsa, is a month of Radharani. It is a month when we are meditating on pure devotional service because she is the proprietor of pure devotional service! No compromise at all, no self-interest whatsoever, only the interest of Krsna in mind and nothing but the interest of Krsna.

That is pure devotional service and that is found in Srimati Radharani, so this month of Kartik is about that. So everyone who is ordinarily sort of compromised in his devotional service, in the month of Kartik, will try for pure devotional service. In this month, one can take vows to perform some special service because this month is the month of Srimati Radharani. She is especially noticing the service that we render and when she recommends us to Krsna, then Krsna will also be inclined towards us. Radharani is very compassionate and soft-hearted. Therefore, this month is especially a very favorable time to try and attract the mercy. In that way, we prepare for the month of Kartik and see what special service can we offer?