Planet ISKCON

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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The post Checking in from Hare Krsna land in Mumbai appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

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

The Harinama “fiesta” in Mexico continues (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: To manage a sankirtana party nicely is more precious than all other activities. That is the verdict of Bhagavad-gita and the mission of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
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A visit to New Vrindaban Dham, USA (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna’s Lila in Vrndavana is prakata or manifest Lila, and the same is going on eternally in the spiritual realm, which is known as aprakata or nonmanifest. Krishna’s planet and Krishna’s pastimes are going on eternally, and the same is manifested before the conditioned souls at certain intervals, once in one day of Brahma, exactly as the sun is visible for 12 hours once a 24 hour cycle of and night. When the sun is visible it is called prakata, and when the sun is not visible that is called aprakata or unmanifested. Non-manifested therefore does not mean there is no existence, but the terms are used in relation to the visibility or non-visibility to the limited conditioned souls. Letter to Shyamasundara, May 14, 1970.
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Radhastami 1966

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 October 2011, Melbourne, Australia, Lecture)

We simplify our life just for the sake of chanting Hare Krsna. There is no other reason. We can have everything – we can have the biggest house in the street, we can have five cars if we want to – one for every family member – no problem! It is not forbidden for a devotee to have that. The only problem is when you have all that, where is the time to chant Hare Krsna!

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Enjoy the complete Mahabharata narrated by Nirantara Das ACBSP available freely in audio mp3 files.
You can download them fro...

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