Planet ISKCON

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 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 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

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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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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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Have a safe and peaceful Labor Weekend

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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 :-)

The post Daily Darshan: October14,2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

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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Pleasing Swamiji by Working for Krishna 

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.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 October 2011, Melbourne, Australia, Home Program)

In 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?

Radhadesh is a community of Hare Krishna devotees in the Ardennes region of Belgium. A film by Vrsabhanu Das.

Devamrita Swami is an educator, writer, and guide. New York born, Yale graduate and a monk in the now global tradition of Krishna spirituality, he has traveled every continent for 40 years, presenting non-material solutions for personal societal redevelopment.

Jay Shetty (Ganashyam Das) dissects the question of what can we do to alleviate to world of its hate. of Jay Shetty is a Huffington Post featured Motivational Vlogger, strategist and former monk.

Their comes a time when one feels somewhat saddened and the struggle in Krishna Consciousness appears so futile one believes that the solution is to just give up; however each morning one sits before the home deities, offers prasadam, gives a small class and chants.

One simply cannot give up, even though the mind says that it is by far the most logical course of action.

So what went wrong?
How did one get to the stage of giving up?

A mentor system that was so indexable it killed the joy of seva
An institution that put emphasis on course’s, tells you not to go to someone who charges to depart bhakti, then presents you with a bill and trys to disguise it as donation
A committee that judges without knowledge as they never sat with you, spoke to you, shared prasadam with you or even sat in any of the classes
Or having to pay to see your own Guru Maharaja

For me that’s the straw that broke the camel’s back

Not the 290 mile journey to do seva each month, after negotiating an ongoing agreement to allow extended weekends each month

Not the apparent insult, your qualified enough to give Srimad Bhagavatam class in the morning but somehow my knowledge is not good enough for the committee members

Not even the mentor system that dispite my plea to the head instigator and temporary mentor to not leave devotees like me behind and find a way to make us feel needed, was ignored to the point one became deeply unhappy

No this wasn’t the straw that broke the camel’s back

It was the change of relationship, from one of friendship to one of business; yes the feeling that one is just a commodity a way of gaining laxmi, and at every turn their is a bill and a smiling devotee who is convinced that I am convinced the asking of laxmi is alright.

The final nail in my enthusiastic pursuit of bhakti was my last visit by my Guru Maharaja, I could only make it to one date due to work commitment (something many forget); it meant a bill to see my own Guru Maharaja, yes a bill and apparently this was a good thing.

For me it signalled the end of the personal relationship to one of business as long as the laxmi flows my progression is guaranteed.

I was so upset and bewildered I wrote this email to my own Guru Maharaja:-

Dear ==== Swami Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisance
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

It was so nice to meet you if not briefly the other month, although I noted our relationship and that of my relationship with ISKCON has changed somewhat; to the point were one is no longer enthusiastic.

I have received several emails reminding me of the need to write a Vyasa-Puja offering and how Imminent the deadline is, however I found myself empty and unable to write a single word; drowned and confused by the new corporate impersonal way things are done.

One is further saddened that the only way to see you or even speak to you means a monetary exchange, I’m left empty wondering if you would be more willing to speak to me if I pay in advance and worked out that as our conversation last less than half and hour that the accepted amount is £60.

That I’m judged by a committee that doesn’t even know me, and marked by results from paid courses and forms; when all one wants is the personal relationship as was found in those early days with your disciplines in Manchester, things seemed a lot simpler then and I never had to pay to see you.

I’m guessing ISKCON has moved on and I’m just a sentimentalist of the simpler personalism and the joy of just being around devotees and helping them in a simple way

It would have been nice to tell you about the video of me the council uses, and the community and school visits and to hear how I can improve and look at long term aim; but I’m guessing in the new corporate ISKCON which appears to be more interested in pursuit of laxmi than devotees this probably won’t be applicable.

I want to write a nice offering this year but given our relationship is now simply business relationship I’m confused as to how to achieve this.

So what to do?

I was hoping that maybe as I’ve an opportunity to visit ==== to look at wildlife and countryside management that it would allow me the opportunity to reconnect, to again realise the joy of seva; without feeling it is simply business transaction. But I noticed you were little enthusiastic.

So my question is what is one to do?
How does one reconnect with what one felt was real, when one feels that all ISKCON is interested in is my wallet?
How does one regain the joy of seva, and the joy of sharing love of Krishna, when the mentorship system beat it out of me; leaving an empty shell, where happiness once was but smothered in corporate courses and forms?
And more importantly where do I stand with you? Is it too only business, do I have to continue to pay to see you?

One is saddened by it all, and simply prays for the simple days to return

Humbly Yours; discipline or not discipline as I’m unsure

Dhirabhakta Das

Sadly I didn’t receive a reply and a bit of me thought maybe it would have come if I had given big donation at the same time.

The personal relationship, the relationship I felt were real now feels empty one personally feels cheeted by ISKCON

Given that I’ve only ever experienced the reverse were a business relationship has changed into a personal friendship, were once I was seen as an income of sorts is now family discount or free

For me ISKCON was a real family, my motivation was because I loved the devotees and I thought they intern loved and liked me; but the reality is it feels to me like I’m being cheeted and that the only thing ISKCON is interested in is laxmi

And simply that makes me weep
And the regection cannot be put into word’s

Apart from this,

I now truly appreciate the one thing those early devotees showed and gave to me, the understanding of real love and friendship and the reality of what Krishna Consciousness is and not how it now has become.

And for that little insight of real devotional love, I thank you

I thank you because it’s the only thing that keeps me going

And I pray each and every day that one day I’ll experience that pure unconditional love of devotees once again

The moment you are proud, you lose your vision. Humility grants perception of reality. In the words of the Bhagavatam, "the earth appears spinning due to one's spinning his eyes around" - that happens due to pride. Pride comes from a form of lust. Krsna is time and He desires to destroy all the obstacles for devotees. Especially pride. Once I told you a story about a king asking a minister, "What is God's daily work?" ... Then priests were asked.... Finally a shepherd, seeing a fleeing, asked the priest about the question... "Let me give the answer". Before answering the kings question, the shepherd said, "First I have to correct the incongruity, you are sitting on the throne and asking me a question as a teacher, so we need to change seats". Boiling king did, and the shepherd said, "That is the constant work of God, being done right now: He puts the proud people down, and humble people up". Continue reading "Humility grants perception of reality
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Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami Disappearance observance in ISKCON-Delhi (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We are in so many w...

A bonafide substitute for a meat substitute: mangodi or wadas.
Citraka dasa: Recently the renown and expert devotee cook Kurma dasa answered an inquiry about the use of the common meat substitute product known as soya chunks or soya mince. He concluded that “these products are made in an elaborate industrial process using industrial solvents. They are in the worst category of soya products” and also that “Soy was not considered suitable by Srila Prabhupada”
You can read the whole post here: https://goo.gl/cSevA2
It may be helpful to know that there is a very similar dumpling, traditionally made in India for centuries, which was liked and eaten by Srila Prabhupada.
They are the well-known mangodis or wadas or baris, badis, vadis, wadiyan etc. which are basically sun dried split mung or urad dal dumplings.
Here Yamuna devi, a personally trained by Srila Prabhupada cook, describes how he would ask for these South Indian wadas [urad dal dumplings] or have Punjabi badis: https://goo.gl/9E2GwD
These are healthy, tasty, nutritious, economical and simple to make them at home, although available in the market too.
Once made they can be stored for months and can be used practically with everything: sabjis, rice, soups, salads or eaten by themselves in a tomato or other sauce, yogurt etc.
Some strict vaishnavas will avoid urad dal because it contains a great amount of protein, but it is not necessary to use it.
Here is a basic and simple way to make mangodis: Soak split mung dal in the water all night after having it washed properly.
Next day you drain all the water, add salt (and hing) and grind it into a paste with your mixer. With the help of a spoon you take small, equal portions of the paste and you place them on a tray which then you expose to the sun until they dry completely. That is all!
Ready for storage or use!
It usually takes 2 days under the sun. If there is not sun you can place them in your oven, setting it in the lowest temperature possible and leaving its door half open; it will take 4 hours like this.
If you google “mangodi” or any of its other names you will find hundreds of videos or articles about how to prepare it and/or use it.
Much much better than the soya chunks under any point of view!

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If you are a man, it’s like living in a candy store, but having persistent jaundice and indigestion. If you are a woman, its like being an amazing candy, but in a store full of cavity ridden, bad-breath mouths.

The man tries to cure his jaundice and indigestion, but finds that his eyes are always bigger than his stomach. The woman hopes against hope that a better mouth will come into her store, but finds that even the best are still too blunt and blatant for her true flavor.

We need a miracle.

The first miracle happens the moment a man realizes that it’s more natural to be a candy than to be a mouth. He just cannot produce unlimited digestive fire, and just cannot become fully perceptive.

The second miracle happens the moment a woman realizes that there is only one mouth with unlimited digestion and refinement – the root of all persons, rasarāja, the true enjoy of flavors.

These miracles happen as the sugar-dust from the footprints of bhakti-śakti falls on our heads.

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Harinama Tel Aviv, Israel, 07.10.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is within your heart. If you kindly continue to hear about Him, as you are doing then Krishna will be very much pleased, “Oh, this person is now interested in me.” Because nobody’s interested in Krishna, so Krishna is also silent to them. But as soon as you become interested, oh, Krishna becomes very active, “Oh, he’s trying to do something. I shall help him.” Los Angeles May 19, 1972.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/XVGXvN

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Evening honours Patrons’ £2million Haveli building pledge. Record volunteer count makes Janmashtami huge success. 20th Anniversary of “Save the Manor” campaign. Manor school children’s interfaith presentation at Hertsmere Council. Film group explores Hinduism at the Manor. Manor College provides training for Avanti staff. Manor Monks attend Jain Parliament event. Indian High Commissioner lauds ISKCON’s contribution. European award for Excellence. Youth alumni reunite at Krishna Avanti School. Europe-wide youth event hosted at ISKCON Leicester. Mayor celebrates new deities at ISKCON Leicester. Culture Night feeds 5,000 in Belfast’s biggest lunch. ISKCON monk invited by Ernst and Young. ISKCON Leicester temple open after renovations Continue reading "The October issue of Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Newsletter
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Fortunate people who utter the Lord’s Name even unconsciously (3 min video)
Merciful devotees request the people they meet in the streets to chant a whole maha-mantra while they are video-recording them. In this video you will see an animated compilation of such recordings.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/3EoxJ1

(In the photo remnants of Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj’s sandals). Krishna Dasa Kaviraja was a living example of "humbler than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree." A devotee will ad­vance spiritually and understand Sri Caitanya's teachings on Radha-Krishna bhakti by reading Caitanya-caritamrta. By associating with Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja, an eternally liberated associate of Lord Caitanya, one will develop the Vais­nava qualities of humility, innocence, integrity, equanimity, gentleness, purity, selflessness, patience, kindness, gravity, freedom from material desires, mild temperament, control over the six passions, friendliness, honoring all beings, being silent, expert, poetic, and absolute surrender to Sri Krishna. In Vraja lila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja is Kasturi-manjari, one of the eight most intimate maidservants of Srimati Radharani. His samadhi is at Radha-kunda, and at the Radha-Damodara temple according to some. Continue reading "Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Gosvami
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Neophyte, but Pure!
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: When one is situated on the neophyte platform, one cannot understand the devotional ingredients of a pure, unalloyed devotee. However, when the novice engages in devotional service — especially in deity worship — and follows the order of a bona fide spiritual master, he is a pure devotee. Anyone can take advantage of hearing about Krishna consciousness from such a devotee and thus gradually become purified. In other words, any devotee who believes that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord is a pure devotee, even though he may be in the neophyte stage. By his association, others may also become Vaishnavas.
KK Bindu #385: With first time translation of a little known song glorifying Srila Raghunath Bhatta Goswami. CONTENTS INCLUDE:
* NEOPHYTE BUT PURE – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks about the power of someone following the process of bhakti.
* ALL GLORIES TO RAGHUNATH BHATTA GOSWAMI – A first time translation done especially for this issue of Bindu of a Bengali song by the medieval poet Radha Vallabha Das.
* VRINDAVAN SADHUS AND BHAGAVAD-GITA – Another first time translation done for this issue of of an excerpt from a little known book by a disciple of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami.
* IDEAL RESIDENCE IN VRINDAVAN – Another fresh translation from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati’s Vrindavan-mahimamrtam. This issue can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu385