
Harinama at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia - 25 September 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada:...
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Harinama at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia - 25 September 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada:...
Krsnanandini Dasi: On Saturday, September 24, the Cleveland Nama Hatta Program, an affiliate of ISKCON, sponsored a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s coming to the west. Our hearts are brimming with gratitude for the devotees and well-wishers who contributed to the the success of this special event.
Mother Malati joined us with her unique brand of wit, work and wisdom; she shined on our Interfaith Panel and Prayer for Peace section, which was a hit of the celebration. Vrajalila Devi & Ekavira Prabhus just emanated cooperation, intelligence and devotion in their roles of Panel participant and Kirtan leader; Alicia Ambika Dasi Pascal devi, with so much love, along with her beautiful niece Shani, came all the way from New York to dazzle the audience with her BharatNatyam dance.
Sankirtana Prabhu, (Master storyteller, Andy Fraenkel, from New Vrndavan), patiently endured the technical difficulties to present a wonderful audio/visual offering of the Mahabharata and the history of Prabhupada’s contributions and the establishment of ISKCON.
The awesome teamship of the Nama Hatters like Sri Isopanisad, Agni-hotra & Avadhuta, Paurnamasi & Bhakta Mike, Tulasi & Sirrhan, Prashanti, Parvati Dasi, Lilasmaranam, Tariq Prabhu, Akhilananda & Jean, Ganga Sarasvati, Krsna-Jivani, Lola, Turiya, Sowmya and Hari, Mohan Dasabey, Visnu Ziyad, Kat Rasta, Dayal-Nitai, Ganga & Vrajendrananda, Jahanavi and Prasadat Iluvme Devi, Vani & Brahma bhuta, (Radica & Khrishna and Nishant Soni Prabhus were absent but very much present by their support and love) and others like Laksmi (LaToya Kent) who set the tone so effectively with her Yoga demonstration—left the audience marveling at how well everyone cooperated together, with courtesy and eagerness to serve.
The Christian ministers: Pastors C. Jay Matthews (Mt. Sinai Ministries) and James Roberson (Cory United Methodist Church) and the two Imams Akmed Saeed (Masjid Bilal) and Imam Abbas (First Cleveland Mosque) gave some thought-provoking and heart touching responses to our questions about why and how servants of the One God should work together on the Interfaith Panel.
Master Mayo from Northern Wind Martial Arts School had the attentive audience applauding as he and his young son demonstrated some martial arts techniques.
Finally, the extensive, delicious, vegetarian feast and bake sale, prepared and offered with love by AgniHotra Dasi, Kamagiri dasi, Krsnanandini dasi, Lilasmaranam Prabhu, Avadhuta Dasa Kibble Prabhu, Paurnamasi Turkal, Krsna-Jivani Ziyad, Lola Reeder, Indrani Bhattacharya, Sowmya Thirumoorthy and Dayal Nitai (Don Foose)– was relished by all.
“The only thing wrong with the program was that it was not long enough!” Mother Kamagiri
“Everyone left the celebration feeling inspired and happy.” a guest, giving feedback.
This sincere soul, wearing her traditional hijab, stopped everything to read her new Arabic “Perfection of Yoga” in the middle of the popular 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California. The gentlemen to her right, witnessing her excitement in obtaining the book and how fully absorbed she seemed to be in reading it, soon purchased from Nila Madhava Prabhu some of the Arabic and English books for himself. He explained that he had just undergone a major operation and was feeling very morose. But upon seeing the blissful Harinama party and the special effect this little Arabic book was having on this woman, he said he felt an immediate sense of relief and happiness. He knew then and there that he had to find out what was happening here, what was behind all of this…
The FAR EAST • MIDDLE EAST division of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust publishes Srila Prabhupada’s books and other BBT titles in fourteen languages of the Pacific Rim and Middle East for distribution in those regions of the world.
As a new Western outreach initiative, BBT FEME is also developing titles specifically for distribution in the Western world to foreign language speakers living within large foreign residential communities, as well as to the many foreign students studying in Western colleges and universities.
Read more: https://goo.gl/Rho3ON
ISKCON Imphal, Deities, Temple interior and exterior, “function” kitchen - where they cook daily on wood (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: How can we think mundane thoughts and at the same time chant? Two things are happening, and one will conquer. As maya is working to drag you from Krishna consciousness, you can challenge maya by chanting Hare Krishna. (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 3.6.10, Los Angeles 1968).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9rv144
The post Talks about the stage of bhava appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
We should be eager, very eager. As Srila Prabhupada beautifully wrote in a poem, ‘When will that day come when I will be rolling on the ground with Krsna and playing with Him? When will that day come when I am very eager to join with Madhu Mangala and steal sweets from Krsna? I will run onto the pastures with the cows and calves with Sridama, Sudama and Vasudama playing with Krsna and defeating Him in sports. They will then tell Krsna to carry us on His back but Krsna will be reluctant. Sridama will say, ‘Krsna cannot play with us! He doesn’t play fairly!’ Krsna will argue, ‘I am the prince, the son of Nanda Maharaj! I don’t have to obey you!’ And Sridama will say, “Okay you remain the prince and play by Yourself and we other cowherd boys will play together.” Continue reading "The Sweetness of Bhakti
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Scenic Shots from the top of the Dome of the TOVP (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: Please see these new scenic shots that were taken from the top of the side Dome Kalash. These images we captured when the final measurements on the Kalash frame were made.
Savyasachi Prabhu, Jagadananda Prabhu, and the Russian Engineer, Yurii Tereshkov, were the brave servants that climbed to the heights (67 meters / 220 feet high) to take the measurements and record the footage for us.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/VRneNc
Answer Podcast
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The post How can we use our talents at work without being sucked by the work away from Krishna? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post The soul is always happy – what does this mean? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Giriraj Swami and Rtadvaja Swami spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.6.
“It is a great transcendental science and begins with the process of hearing and chanting the name, fame, glory, etc., of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Revival of the dormant affection or love of Godhead does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing and chanting, but it solely and wholly depends on the causeless mercy of the Lord. When the Lord is fully satisfied with the sincere efforts of the devotee, He may endow him with His loving transcendental service. But even with the prescribed forms of hearing and chanting, there is at once mitigation of the superfluous and unwanted miseries of material existence. Such mitigation of material affection does not wait for development of transcendental knowledge. Rather, knowledge is dependent on devotional service for the ultimate realization of the Supreme Truth.” —Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.6 purport
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Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.6
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The post How is one soul different from the other? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post Is there a time when the soul says – I don’t want any more bodies? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
As a snake-bitten man is brought back to consciousness by the chanting of certain mantras, so one in the unconscious state of material life can be revived by hearing the maha-mantra: In the Garuda Purana the stress on hearing is expressed very nicely. It is said there: "The state of conditioned life in the material world is just like a man Iying unconscious, having been bitten by a snake. This is because both such unconscious states can be ended by the sound of a mantra." When a man is snake-bitten he does not die immediately, but first becomes unconscious and remains in a comatose condition. Anyone who is in the material world is also sleeping, as he is ignorant of his actual self or his actual duty and his relationship with God. So materialistic life means that one is bitten by the snake of maya, illusion, and thus, without any Krsna consciousness, he is almost dead. Now, the so-called dead man bitten by a snake can be brought back again to life by the chanting of some mantra. There are expert chanters of these mantras who can perform this feat. Similarly, one can be brought back into Krsna consciousness from the deadly unconscious state of material life by hearing of the maha-mantra: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Continue reading "The Transcendental Effects of the Holy Name
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The post On leaving the body, does the soul retain its identity or merge with the cosmic whole? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post Can the soul exist without the body? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post What about the Buddhist concept of no-self, anattavada? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post Where is the soul located in the body? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
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The post Are all types of meditation equally beneficial? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Talk at Denver University
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The post Spirituality in an age of science – Maximizing human potential appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Every guest coming to the temple is warmly welcomed with folded palms and cordially received. Since our movement is a preaching mission, in the International Society for Krishna consciousness (ISKCON), the proper reception of guests is very important. As followers of Srila Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON, we should consider any guest in the temple to be his guest. Proper reception of a guest can make a difference between a person coming once to the temple and never returning, or becoming a regular visitor & ultimately becoming a devotee of Krishna. Therefore each and every guest should be dealt with great care and hospitality. Their names and addresses should be collected. They should be sent some gift and relevant information about the temple. Continue reading "Dealing With Different Categories Of Visitors
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However, right from the start, there were a couple of notable challenges. Firstly we were assumed, and required, to represent one of the principle world religions, namely Hinduism. This raised pertinent, and sometimes controversial, theological questions about the identity of ISKCON and its members (we’ll come back to this later). Secondly and subsequently, this also meant that ISKCON Educational Services staff were required to make presentations not just on ISKCON and Gaudiya Vaishnavism, nor on broader Vaishnavism, but on the whole spectrum of Hinduism itself. I began to question whether this supported our Society’s aims or was even consistent with them. As I pondered, and read more school textbooks on Hinduism, I considered and noted down some of the possible benefits of speaking and writing about the subject. However, I also noticed in many school textbooks room for considerable improvement. Continue reading "The Western Educationalists’ Perspective on the Vedic Tradition
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(excuse the pauses)
The post Evening bhajan – September 27th appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
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ISKCON NZ Padayatra Fiji (Album with photos)
Kalasamvara Das: Today we chanted in the outer suburbs of Fiji and distributed hu...
Plastering on the TOVP (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: The beautification of the TOVP is set into full motion now. We are currently plastering all of the TOVP’s outer walls, including the walls under the Domes. Once this is completed we will then install the white marble.
The workers are using our wonderful new hoist to keep their work simple and safe. Using this hoist is a remarkable alternative for scaffolding and is making our construction smarter, more cost efficient, and is saving us time.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/oo3dcM
TOVP: Bronze Ornamentation Samples (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: Our very creative Manufacturing Process Engineer, Savyasa...
TOVP: Demigod Sculptors (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: After a year of dedicated work and co -creativity, we are reaching a great milestone in our Art department. The artists have been creating 8 sculptors of chosen demigods and associates of the Lord.
The demigods that we have sculpted are Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, Lord Indra, Sri Lakshmii Devi, Manu, and Garuda. Currently we are finishing the last two Vaikuntha associates, Nanda and Sunanda.
Once completed, the sculptors will be placed in Lord Nrsimha’s Dome. The 8 Demigods and the Lord’s associates will fill the circumference on the second gallery level of Lord Nrsimha’s Dome.
They are all in the mood of fear and submission because they have never seen Lord Nrsimha this ferocious. They will be facing Lord Nrsimha because they have come to witness His pastimes and offer their humble obeisances.
After this project is completed, the artists will then begin sculpting the Guru parampara that will go on the leftmost altar in the Main Dome.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/F5wqfl
Harinama in Tel Aviv, Israel, 24.09.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Narada Muni, citing a practical example from his...
Harinamas in London “shake” the city! (6 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: If we simply place ourselves at the lotus feet of Krishna by taking to Krishna consciousness and keeping always in touch with Him by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, we need not take much trouble in arranging to return to the spiritual world. By the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this is very easy. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.15.53 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/xucdEL
Scientists claim Saraswati did exist, debunk 5,000-year-old myth.
Prithviraj Singh, Hindustan Times, Dehradun: Scientists at the Dehradun-Based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) have debunked established belief that river Saraswati is just a 5,000-year-old myth.
They claimed to have found after extensive research that the river did exist during ancient times, but got buried because of tectonic changes in the Himalayas.
The mythical Saraswati forms the Hindu holy triumvirate along with the Ganga and Yamuna, and the hypothetical confluence of these three rivers in Allahabad is the source of humanity’s biggest gathering every 12 years during the Kumbh Mela.
Scientists said the Saraswati flowed from its origin at Adi Badri in the Shivalik range of Haryana’s Yamunanagar to its meeting point with Chautang river in the plains. This is the course the river followed when it flowed in the Vedic era.
They confirmed that tectonic activities along the Shivalik Himalayas separated the river course from Adi Badri and it was never recharged because of a series of climatic disasters.
The river died eventually. But rainwater collected at scattered hollow locations above the buried river gives proof of Saraswati’s existence and the course it took.
Physical and chemical analysis of nearly 22 samples from a 60-km buried water stream confirmed that of it was indeed the ancient Saraswati, now entombed by five feet of top soil, the scientists said.
Source: https://goo.gl/PpWEgW
One of the recent events celebrated for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary by the Brisbane devotees was a boat ride on the Brisbane River.
About 140 devotees ( that’s all the boat could fit ) assembled at a Southbank jetty in central Brisbane to board the “Jaladuta 2”, which was a reenactment of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival into Boston on September 17th 1965.
On board we started with guru puja to Srila Prabhupada and for the next 4 hours there was kirtan, speeches, stories and wonderful prasadam.
Special guests were Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, HH Vedavyasapriya Maharaja, Gunarnava das, Vilasini dd and myself.