Planet ISKCON

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​Talk at Philadelphia, USA

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TOVP: Vishwakarma Puja in the Service of Sri Sri Radha Madhava (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: Vishwakarma is the demigod of architecture. He is accredited for designing Dwarka. The Mahabharata describes him as “The lord of the arts, executor of a thousand handicrafts, the carpenter of the gods, the most eminent of artisans, the fashioner of all ornaments … and a great and immortal god.” He has four hands, wears a crown, loads of gold jewelry, and holds a water-pot, a book, a noose and craftsman’s tools in his hands”.

By Ananda Vrndavanesvari Devi Dasi

Just as a very good sweet will have something hidden inside of it, or a company will have the inner group of key people, the Gita has a core made up of four verses. These are called the Catur Sloki (catur = four, and sloki = verses), and they summarize the entire Gita. The eighteen chapters of the Gita are themselves divided into 3 parts. The middle six chapters focus on bhakti and are “protected” on either side by teachings on karma-yoga (the first six chapters) and jnana yoga (the focus of the last six chapters). It’s considered that the Bhakti chapters are the heart of the Gita and the catur-sloki are located in that heart. In the catur-sloki you find the essence of the teachings of the 700 verses of the Gita. They establish the scope of the Lord’s opulence (verse 8), the result of truly knowing those opulences (verse 8), how pure devotees worship Him (verse 9), and how He reciprocates with their devotion (verses 10 and 11). Continue reading "The Heart of the Gita
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When I came to Alachua, Florida, USA, last year, I felt embarrassed to speak about Krishna to an audience primarily of senior devotees, many of whom are Prabhupada disciples. Still, they have been very kind to encourage me and appreciate my classes.

This year, Janmashtami Prabhu, who had started the Mayapur Institute (MI) in Mayapur and has started a Krishna Institute here for similarly revitalizing an educational ethos in our movement, asked me to speak on a workshop entitled “Relishing Shikshashtakam” at the Alachua Learning Center.

Fifty-seven devotees participated in the three-day workshop from 3rd to 5th Sep, 2016, with around forty-five of them being non-Indians and over a dozen being Srila Prabhupada disciples.

I spoke on the Shikshashtakam in twelve talks each of about one hour and fifteen minutes. The first text took three talks and the third took two talks, with all the other texts covered in one talk each. All the talks are available here.

The Shikshashtakam talks about exalted levels of consciousness and, also in its later verses, about esoteric states of devotion. I tried to take those lofty topics as starting points for descending to the practical challenges in our life as seekers.

After the course, a sentiment echoed by several devotees was that though they had been reciting the Shikshashtakam for decades, they hadn’t realized its practical relevance till now.

One devotee liked especially the point that the flow of the Shikshashtakam shows how from the holy name, Krishna manifests – the first text starts with the focus on the holy name and the last verse ends with a focus on Krishna. By systematic sustained meditation on the holy name, the holy one who is called by the name reveals himself. The Shikshashtakam thus teaches us to see chanting not as an isolated activity of uttering a mantra, but as an integral limb of developing a relationship with a living, loving person.

I relish the opportunity to go deep into a subject systematically, something that is not possible in one hour classes and even less so in the short Gita-daily articles. So, I saw this course as a blessing for dovetailing my interest in Krishna’s service.

Some devotees encouraged me to make the course into a book or at least a booklet. I would love to do that, and I pray that I can give up my laziness and make time for doing so. Till then, at the very least, I can recite the Shikshashtakam with deeper absorption and appreciation, and strive to better apply its shiksha in my own life.

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The modes!
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 September 2016, Durban, South Africa, Sunday Feast Lecture)
Spiritual life can be received in any state of mind. If the seed of bhakti is received when we are in ignorance, when there are unwanted activities, actions, etc. then these other “creepers” choke the “devotional creeper”. Even in the mode of passion, there are disturbances. We will become insensitive because of our selfishness; we exploit the world, other living beings and so on…
That is what is going on in the world today!
Madness is a result of uncontrolled senses and we get entangled in things that do not bring us happiness because we look at short-term happiness. Sometimes famous people destroy their whole life because of one foolish act which only gave short-term happiness. We have to be careful of what we desire – maybe it is best to not go after too much wealth; what we require for living is actually enough. So often we thoughtlessly do things and then regret… regret… regret…
Bhagavad-gita is the book that organizes our life. Chapter 17 of Bhagavad-gita speaks about the three modes of material nature. These modes manifest in so many things. The mode of goodness makes it easier to maintain our spiritual life. Most of us here are not hearing this for the first time and most of us can make the change but MAINTAINING it is the difficult part.

The post Daily Darshan:September19,2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Shiksha from Shikshashtakam (Audio-visual presentation)
Chaitanya Charan Das: When I came to Alachua, Florida, USA, last year, I felt embarrassed to speak about Krishna to an audience primarily of senior devotees, many of whom are Prabhupada disciples. Still, they have been very kind to encourage me and appreciate my classes.
This year, Janmashtami Prabhu, who had started the Mayapur Institute (MI) in Mayapur and has started a Krishna Institute here for similarly revitalizing an educational ethos in our movement, asked me to speak on a workshop entitled “Relishing Shikshashtakam” at the Alachua Learning Center.
Fifty-seven devotees participated in the three-day workshop from 3rd to 5th Sep, 2016, with around forty-five of them being non-Indians and over a dozen being Srila Prabhupada disciples.
I spoke on the Shikshashtakam in twelve talks each of about one hour and fifteen minutes. The first text took three talks and the third took two talks, with all the other texts covered in one talk each. All the talks are available here: https://goo.gl/z8niHK
The Shikshashtakam talks about exalted levels of consciousness and, also in its later verses, about esoteric states of devotion. I tried to take those lofty topics as starting points for descending to the practical challenges in our life as seekers.

Flooded By Memories of Swamiji

Sri Haridas Thakur is an eternally liberated associate of the Lord. The associates of the Lord are worship-able wherever they make their appearance.

Just as Garuda appeared as a bird, and Hanuman as a monkey, Haridas Thakur appeared in a family of Yavanas. From his very birth he was very deeply devoted to the Holy Names of Sri Krsna and later became known as “Nama Acarya.”

When Lord Caitanya went to Jagannatha Puri, Haridas also went and took up residence there. Everyday, after attending Lord Jagannatha’s mangal aroti, Lord Caitanya would come to see Haridas Thakura and would bring him some of Lord Jagannatha’s prasadam.

He left this world in the midst of ecstatic kirtan while clasping the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya and looking upon the Lord’s beautiful smiling face.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 September 2016, Durban, South Africa, Sunday Feast Lecture)

Spiritual life can be received in any state of mind. If the seed of bhakti is received when we are in ignorance, when there are unwanted activities, actions, etc. then these other “creepers” choke the “devotional creeper”. Even in the mode of passion, there are disturbances. We will become insensitive because of our selfishness; we exploit the world, other living beings and so on…
That is what is going on in the world today!

Madness is a result of uncontrolled senses and we get entangled in things that do not bring us happiness because we look at short-term happiness. Sometimes famous people destroy their whole life because of one foolish act which only gave short-term happiness. We have to be careful of what we desire – maybe it is best to not go after too much wealth; what we require for living is actually enough. So often we thoughtlessly do things and then regret… regret… regret…

Bhagavad-gita is the book that organizes our life. Chapter 17 of Bhagavad-gita speaks about the three modes of material nature. These modes manifest in so many things. The mode of goodness makes it easier to maintain our spiritual life. Most of us here are not hearing this for the first time and most of us can make the change but MAINTAINING it is the difficult part.

*Notes taken my Nimai during the lecture

By Sacinandana Swami

As Krsna displays His attractive three-fold bending form, His left side stretches up broad and straight, without showing the three lines on His belly. His right heel is raised, and His left foot appears to be kissing the earth. His well-shaped left knee is slightly contracted, and His waist is gently curved. His garland and thin caddar are swinging to the left side. It is very pleasant to see His arm pit as He effortlessly holds His strong left arm aloft. ... The pollen fell on His right cheek and He looked so beautiful! ... Krsna smiled so kindly, and Vrajavasis just looked. But one thoughtful Vrajavasis said: The ankle-bells who warble like swans the whole day now are silent- I think they are absorbed in meditation. ... Krsna has such a variety of moods -- and all of a sudden here He takes the flute and makes the sound. Vrajavasis burst into laughter - He is making music now. Madhumangala only is worried, "It is no time for concert - concentrate on your work, otherwise Giriraj by hearing will melt and flow over your head. Because your flute mountains into rivers and rivers into stones." ... We could hear many more discussions about this. But I wanted to summarize why this lila has such a supreme place in Krsna's pastimes. It is because all the devotees were together and could exchange their rasas with Krsna at the same time. Continue reading "Life is difficult only without Krsna
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By Mahatma Das

In the early days, Prabhupada asked devotees how they wanted to serve Krsna. Usually they would say something like, “Whatever you want, Srila Prabhupada.” And he would respond, “No, I want to know what you want to do for Krsna. Prabhupada was doing what he taught his managers to do: challenge devotees to find out what they are most inspired to do for Krsna. “Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” - Carl Jung Our life’s purpose should not necessarily be chosen because of what others expect of us. Often what others expect is the very thing we are least motivated to do. We shouldn’t choose our mission to impress others; neither should we do it to take advantage of others. And we shouldn’t choose it because someone else is doing it. Sometimes you may have goals that are in contradiction to one another. For example, you may want to be a professor but don’t want to spend the time and effort to get a PhD. You may want to play in the Philharmonic orchestra but don’t want to spend much time learning music and practicing your instrument. This is what happens when you make goals that are not connected to your life mission. In this state you’re likely to take one step forward and one backward, and you often get in your own way. To accomplish such things you may need continual outside direction. Strong motivation isn’t going to be there when your goals are not inspiring. Continue reading "If You Don’t Know Where You Are Going, You Might End Up There
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С мирской точки зрения кажется, что мой любимый духовный брат Аиндра прабху покинул этот мир из-за трагического случая во Вриндаване. В его комнате был взрыв газа, и он не выжил. Однако, как преданные, мы понимаем, что ничего не происходит случайно, особенно в Шри Вриндавана дхаме. Все устраивается Господом, чтобы приблизить нас к Его лотосным стопам. Смерть всегда непривлекательна, но мы знаем, что преданный уровня Аиндры прабху немедленно переносится в духовный мир. Аиндра прабху твердо верил в святое имя, своих любимых божеств и святую дхаму Враджа. Мы сокрушаемся о его уходе, но мы радуемся тому, что он исполнил желание своего сердца – служить Их светлостям Шри Шри Радха-Шьямасундаре на Голоке Вриндаване. Он являл это желание в каждом своем бхаджане и киртане. Давайте же все следовать по его стопам.

Заблуждается тот, кто о смерти Вайшнавов толкует,
ибо жизнь продолжается в звуке.
Умирая, вайшнавы живут, а живя,
всему миру имя святое даруют.

[ надпись на самадхи Шрилы Харидаса Тхакура, сделанная Шрилой Бхактивинодой Тхакуром ]

************************

“Когда что-то происходит по воле Верховной Личности Бога, нам не следует сокрушаться об этом, даже если случившееся кажется нам несчастьем. Например, иногда мы видим, что какого-нибудь великого проповедника убивают или же он попадает в очень тяжелое положение, как это случилось с Харидасом Тхакуром. Он был великим преданным, который пришел в материальный мир по воле Господа, чтобы поведать людям о Его славе. И тем не менее однажды по приказу Кази Харидас был бит палками на двадцати двух рыночных площадях. Иисус Христос был распят. Прахлада Махараджа прошел через множество тяжких испытаний. Пандавы, близкие друзья Кришны, лишились своего царства, над их женой надругались, беды обрушивались на их головы одна за другой. Однако все эти несчастья, которые постигают преданных, не должны нас смущать; просто нужно понять, что за всем происходящим стоит какой-то план Верховной Личности Бога. «Бхагаватам» утверждает, что подобные неприятности не могут вывести преданного из равновесия. Более того, преданный воспринимает их как милость Господа. Тот, кто, даже попав в беду, продолжает служить Господу, непременно вернется к Богу, на планеты Вайкунтхи”.

[ Шримад-Бхагаватам 3.16.37, комментарий Шрилы Прабхупады ]

By Kesava Krsna Dasa

Let us say we won a general election. A majority vote sweeps us into power. All state resources are at our disposal. There will still be a democratic opposition in place, but they will want to see how we give all citizens of the land a Vedic alternative. Where do we start? Sometimes devotees in their exuberance will say, “We’re going to take over the entire world.” Lord Chaitanya’s prediction has to materialise, but the sombre realities of actualising Vedic models of civilisation with VAD in mind, may prove complex or simple, depending on what opposition or social factors impede us. In this sample, we shall use a small nation like Mauritius or Uruguay and similar countries that have little or no natural resources like oil and gas to potential fund an envisioned national transition to a Vedic model. This is to give some idea of the magnitude of the task at hand considering how a total civilization and its conditioning has to be undone, then replaced, with expected social upheavals and testing international relations. Continue reading "We Have a Country – How Are We Going To Run It?
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The Myth of Empirical Objectivity (video)
Sadaputa prabhu (Dr Thompson) discusses the faulty theories proposed by modern scient...

Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir Kartika Parikrama Schedule.
Deena Bandhu Das: Kartika is glorified in the Puranas as very special for making spiritual advancement and the best place to be in Kartika is Sri Braja Dham. In fact this month is known as Damodar, since in the middle of this month, the Lord performed His very enchanting Damodar Lila. Kartika month also represents Radharani, and devotees perform special austerities to gain Her favor.
With great happiness in our hearts, we invite everyone to join in the auspicious Kartika Festival in Vrindavan. We have organized a wonderful variety of parikramas to the Holy Places of Krishna’s pastimes in Braja for all of you. Almost daily, we will be going by bus leaving in the morning and returning in time for lunch around 3 PM, unless otherwise noted. Sometimes we will also join up with Lokanatha Swami’s Braja Mandala Parikrama and enjoy the association of the many devotees who will be wandering around Braja on foot. Tickets will be available from the Welcome Center next to the temple, and all of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and accompanied family members are free!
The 4th of November is the Holy Disappearance Day Festival of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and we extend a warm invitation to all to come and commemorate this sacred occassion with us in Sri Vrindavan, where His Divine Grace is sitting in Samadhi. Leading up to this day, every evening, senior disciples will be relating their memories of Srila Prabhupada. One day before, we will take Srila Prabhupada in the very same palanquin from 1977 for a grand Sankirtan Procession past all the Goswami temples in Vrindavan.
Parikrama Schedule
16 Oct Moonlit Giriraja Parikrama
18 Vrindavan Temples
19 Madhuvan Talavan
20 Braja Mohan Mandir Narottama Disap
21 Radha Kunda - Kusum Sarovar
23 Javat - Ter Kadamba - Lunch at Vrinda Kunda
24 Barsana
26 Badrinatha
28 Nandagram lunch at Vrinda Kunda
29 Kamyavan
30 Diwali Raval Gokul
31 Giriraja Parikrama
1 Nov Govardhana Puja
3 Srila Prabhupada’s Procession to Goswami Temples
4 Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day
6 Mansarovar, Bandhirvan, Baelvan Return by Boat
7 Ram Ghat - Chir Ghat
9 Javat - Ter Kadamba (Lunch at Vrinda Kunda)
10 Dauji and Lohavan
11 All night Kirtan in Vrinda Kunda
12 Tulasi Shaligram Vivah Vrinda Kunda
In service of Srimati Vrinda Devi,
Deena Bandhu dasa

Saturday Night Harinam London, September 2016 (2 min video)
Bhajahari das: Steak house waitress makes spiritual profit!
This is why we must go out on harinam!
Please watch the following amazing video:
https://youtu.be/r3R-1_V0J80
In this wonderful short clip you will see a young lady whose job it is to stand at the door of the Angus Steak House in Leicester Square, greet customers and then show them to their seats. As soon as the Harinam Party reached outside the Steak House she deserted her post immediately asked me for the garland I was wearing - then just jumped into the Kirtan Party and while holding hands with one of our lady devotees - wholeheartedly danced and chanted for about 5 minutes. You can see she is holding an Angus Steak House menu in her hand all the while. When she finally decides to return to her post outside the restaurant you can see her respectfully bow her head to me while I film her.
Srila Prabhupada states in the Teachings of Queen Kunti:
“It is our duty to make all such unfortunate creatures fortunate. That is our mission. Therefore we go into the street and chant….. And if somehow or other we place some literature in someone’s hand, he becomes fortunate….. Our business is to bring everyone to this Krishna consciousness movement so that everyone may spiritually profit” Over 1,000 small booklets distributed along with 600 pieces of Krsna Prasadam.

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Bhakti Vaibhava Swami’s SB Class.

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Death, a reminder of eternal life.
Caitanya Caran das: This ultimate defeat in the form of death is just not acceptable for ou...

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HH Jayapataka Swami is in the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai for routine exams. This didn’t impede him to give a class live, through skype, to a Malaysian convention in Penang where more than 1400 devotees were gathered.
Find more photos here: https://goo.gl/LvzyZm

ISKCON NZ: Padayatra Fiji (Album with photos)
Kalasamvara Das: Tonight, after walking for 5 hours on our Journey around Fiji we...

Harinama in Toronto, Canada (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The mantra delivers the conditioned soul from his bondage; so...

Lunch With Swami: Eat more! 

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The post ​After Uddhav sees the gopis’ exalted love for Krishna, why does he still speak about Krishna to them? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.