​Does destiny determine who comes to spirituality and who doesn’t?
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​Why do we become more angry with our family members than with our colleagues?
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​Why do people become sarcastic towards those practicing bhakti?
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​How to avoid becoming disheartened on seeing our lack of spiritual emotion while chanting?
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Prayers…Sutapa das: One of my fellow monks is an…
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Prayers…
Sutapa das: One of my fellow monks is an extremely prayerful person. He has regular stories of the reciprocation and interaction that comes from conversing with God. Though inspired, I personally find it difficult to pray. It usually feels unnatural and artificial; probably a combination of my impersonal character, hard-heartedness, lack of faith, and general life philosophy of “work hard and be practical.” Someone, however, recently offered me an interesting antidote – “pray for other people” they said. Whether a friend, family member, work colleague, or even a stranger you meet for the first time, just stop for a few moments and sincerely pray for something that will help them in their life. I began to try. Unconventional as it sounded, I could immediately appreciate the power of this approach on many levels:
Personal level – Rather than being critical, judgmental or aloof, we evolve into selfless agents of positive change. Since prayer invokes divine intervention, we are not simply observers of the world, but can make a difference, even to people we have very little physical contact with. In such moments of noble prayer, we rise beyond self-absorption and forget our own difficulties.
Relationship level – Taking the time to deeply contemplate someone’s life transforms our relationship with them. We learn to see beyond the external chaos, appreciating that everyone is a pure soul trying to break free from material entanglement. Prayer helps one to connect with people on a deeper level.
Social level – When a group of people form, each one sincerely wanting the others to excel, it creates a unique spiritual energy. That unity, fellowship and genuine warmth helps them to achieve their goals and transform the world. Prayer brings people together.
It reminded me of how Swami Prabhupada would sign off his correspondence with “your ever well-wisher.” His prayer was completely selfless; a natural consequence of his incredible compassion and concern for all. Saintly persons are said to feel another’s pain as their own (para dukha dukhi). Just as we spontaneously attend to any ailment in our body, they are spontaneously impelled to relieve the suffering of the general populace. Even if we fall short of that pure stage, we can still institute the process of selfless prayer as a vehicle to developing deeper sensitivity, which is so integral to spiritual advancement. After all, we find ourselves by thinking of others. Try it out this week – take a few quality moments to sincerely pray for the wellbeing of someone else. And if you’re finding it difficult to identify someone, you could always slip in a good word for this struggling soul. :)

In every city and village! (Album with photos) Kavicandra Swami:…
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In every city and village! (Album with photos)
Kavicandra Swami: I just finished a trip to and around West Africa.. First Lagos for a few festivals, then to Benin City. There, every day was harinam with many blissful children coming along. Then to Port Harcourt and after that Enugu.
Then back to Lagos for Krsna Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day.. I was lucky that Indian consulate gave me a quick one year multiple entry visa.
Then to Abidjan, Ivory Coast.. There the harinam is amazing since large crowds of local children dance and chant with us.. From there to Lome, Togo. Harinam there was also very blissful. Then to Accra, Ghana. That is our biggest community in the area so there is much happening there.. From there I went to Nkawkaw (COCO) and Kumasi, then back to Accra.
I wish more devotees would visit these countries. I posted a few pictures along the way. here are some better ones.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Xcb1F8

Spiritual guarantee
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 March 2014, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.52)

SP_smiling

We are not free to live life just as we want to: prakrteh kriyamanani, gunaih karmani sarvasah, the bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities which are in actuality carried out by nature, Bhagavad-gita 3.27.

Rather, there is a script and this script is going along even though we have so many desires. In the middle of all that, “I want this, I want that. I want to be here, I want to be there. I want to do all these things.” But ultimately, the script will determine what we are allowed to do and what we are not allowed to do, where success will be and where failure will be. With time, we begin to realize more and more that things are not in our control because with time, we see in so many situations that we wanted things and it did not happen. We are controlled by the material energy, simply by circumstances.

Sometimes, we are successful and we are surprised. It was something very difficult and it worked; everyone says, “Wow, you did that very expertly.”

But actually the truth is, it just happened, somehow or other, it just happened and was successful. Other times, you work so hard, you know you worked so hard and it was just not successful, “It is just not logical. I’ve done it a hundred times and it worked a hundred times. Now it’s just not working; why not?” So like this, we are in the material world, depending on the arrangement of Krsna and who is providing things to us through the material energy.

Spiritual life is different. In spiritual life, you can be sure. In material life, you are never sure. You never know, you cannot be sure about anything in material life but in spiritual life you can be sure, actually. The result is guaranteed; it is certain.

When you engage in devotional service, success will be there, etavaj janma-saphalyam (CC Adi 9.24), if you want to make this life successful, dehinam iha dehishu (CC Adi 9.24), while we are now in this body, then use it in the service of Krsna. Then surely, it will be successful. This is the injunction of scripture.

Pili Pokhar Pastime
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Hare KrishnaBy Varsana Swami

Srimati lifted up Her skirt and stepped into the water and looked down to wash Her hands. And then, when She saw Her reflection in the water, She was overcome by its beauty. She was seized by this feeling “maybe I should be Gopal’s constant companion and never ever have to leave His side?” And then She began to wash her hands and the waters turned golden and the waves spread out in all directions, hitting the banks and rippling back – forming a beautiful pattern of evolving rasa. And as the waters turned – from Her hands – that golden luster begin expanding toward the far shores of the kund. Continue reading "Pili Pokhar Pastime
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Transform anxiety into intensity by spirituality
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Evening congregation program at Pittsburg, USA

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51st anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in…
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51st anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in Boston,USA (Album with photos)
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)
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Winning the race against Time
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Hare KrishnaBy Sri Chaitanya Chandra Das

Bhismadeva, great devotee, warrior & philosopher says about time- The wind carries a huge cloud from one place to another swiftly, silently and steadily. Similarly time is energy of Lord which carries everyone imperceptibly from womb to tomb without any exception. Famous scientist Einstein says, “Time is what prevents everything from happening at once” Motivational author & speaker Harvey Mackay says, “Time is free but it is priceless. You can’t own it but you can use it. You can’t keep it but you can spend it. Once you have lost it you can never get it back. Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. Steve Jobs says “My favorite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.” Continue reading "Winning the race against Time
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A month of festivities at ISKCON Manipur
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhakta Bhusan

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Gaikhangam inaugurated Sri Sri Krishna Janmastami Celebration 2016 at ISKCON Manipur Sri Sri Radhakrishnachandra Manimandir as Chief Guest, Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Social welfare and cooperation Minister, Kumari A.K. Mirabai and His Holiness Bhaktivyasa Tirtha Swami as president. After the ministers had ‘darshan’ of Sri Sri Radhakrishnachandra, they were explained the posters given in iskcon50.org by His Grace Barnamali Das and His grace Radhamohan Das. A four day Achintya youth festival was organised in commemoration of 50 years of ISKCON and Sri Sri Krishna Janmastami Celebration 2016 from 21st to 24th August. The inaugural function was presided by Dr. I.Ibohalbi Singh, member of Legislative Assembly and leader of opposition. As a prelude to the commemoration of the 50 years of ISKCON, Rath yatra Photography contest was organised during rath Yatra 2016 along with Manipur Photography Club. Nandotsava and Srila Prabhupada Vyasa puja was also observed and about 1100 devotees were served sumptuous Prasad of 9 different dishes. Continue reading "A month of festivities at ISKCON Manipur
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The Wrongs of Being Right
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For someone who has a little bit of knowledge and is somewhat observant, life is replete with a plethora of opportunities to correct other people. And, truth be told, we do like to be right. The urge to rightfully correct someone, however, must be exercised with caution.

A difficult to forget panir in Hare Krishna Valley, Australia…
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A difficult to forget panir in Hare Krishna Valley, Australia (Album with photos)
Aniruddha Dasa: I went to the farm on Monday for a meeting with some representatives from the Surf Coast Shire. Here’s some shots from milking time. We had fresh panir from Lady’s milk at lunch time which I still haven’t forgotten.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/MogcPE

What the 12 Dots Teach You
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There is an image going viral on the Internet, with the taunting challenge, "you cannot see the 12 dots in this image at the same time". And you really can't. As your eyes drift about the image, different dots become visible, and others disappear. And minds to the same thing with life! According to the kind of mindset you have, you will perceive life a certain way. In this short video, Giridhari Das shows this image and explains more what you can learn from it.

Ramayana Musical Premiers at West Liberty University
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A two-and-a-half hour musical production of India’s ancient epic the Ramayana entitled “Ramayana: Past in Present” premiered from August 25th to 28th in the Kelley Theater at West Liberty University, West Virginia, USA. Opening on Janmastami night with an auspicious 108 people in the audience, the musical carried students and faculty into a whole new world of culture, adventure and philosophy.

A Divine Elixir
Giriraj Swami

It is said that wherever Lord Rama’s glories are chanted, Hanuman goes to that place. Yesterday after Deity greeting I was chanting grs-with-chitraleka-and-kosha-rupa-after-classin my quarters in Dallas when I received a text message saying, “Chitralekha is speaking about Srila Prabhupada now.” I immediately left for the temple room, remembering Hanuman: Even though I am like a monkey—or my mind is like a monkey—I wanted to hear her speak about Prabhupada. And what I experienced was an unprecedented flow of divine nectar. I heard things about Srila Prabhupada that I had never heard before and had new deep thoughts and realizations about him. The talk was an elixir for my body, mind, and soul. It is now available on the ISKCON Dallas SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/premasindhu/hg-dharma-prabhu-sb-11743. Chitraleka’s talk follows a short class on Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

​If we ask Krishna for something material that is not good for us, will he give it?
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​We can’t pray for problems like Kunti did, but being problem-free makes us complacent – what is the balanced attitude?
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​If chanting Hari’s name is the only way, how can chanting Allah elevate people?
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​Why are atheists sometimes better behaved than religious people?
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​Whenever I do anything, I feel distracted by the many other things in the world that are wrong – what can I do?
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