Planet ISKCON

Written by Nimai 

Kadamba Kanana Swami enjoyed the Janmastami festival and Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja celebration in Ljubljana a lot, however we could not stay longer afterward as we had a tight schedule to follow. So we left to the airport on the evening of Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja (26 August) and travelled to Berlin, Germany.

When we landed, Silvio, who was going to be initiated two days later, drove us to Leipzig about 200 km away. We arrived at my parent’s flat at 11 pm and Maharaj immediately ‘crashed’ (went straight to the bed and slept) being totally exhausted from the previous few days of festivals and travelling. Nonetheless, still he attended the Leipzig Ratha Yatra the next day with the procession starting at 11 am.

Sacinandana Swami had also come from Berlin, accompanied by some of his disciples and a group of German devotees. Kadamba Kanana Swami and Sacinandana Swami, being good friends, had a short chat in front of Lord Jagannatha, before the Ratha Yatra procession began.

Kadamba Kanana Swami began the kirtan, quickly building up the pace and had everyone dancing. When the procession stopped in front of a church where a lot of people stood, Maharaj took the kirtan to yet another level. The devotees formed two circles and danced in ecstasy and even non-devotees felt attracted and joined the party while other onlookers took photos. When Maharaj got tired, he handed over the microphone to Sacinandana Swami who gave an explanation on the importance of the Ratha Yatra festival before starting his kirtan. 

Kadamba Kanana Swami did not return home after the procession ended but rather, we remained at the site until the program ended at about 7pm. Throughout the afternoon, Maharaj walked through the city, always staying close to the site, giving personal attention to as many people as he could. Towards the end, Maharaj sang on the main stage, assisted by a few devotees singing back-up and playing instruments. Ananta Gauranga from America, who Maharaj considers to be one of the world’s finest mrdanga players, was also present.

The next day, Sunday the 28th of August, we had yet another hectic schedule ahead of us. The first part of the program was held in the Leipzig temple. There was the name giving ceremony for the child of Jayanti and Mahibharta. Both parents sat alongside to the fire holding the baby and the new vaisnava was named Madhura Nitai. After that, using the same yajna kund and fire, Maharaj initiated four new disciples who received the following names: Saksi Gopal das (Silvio), Tara Chandra dd (Tatiana), Racitambara dd (Rachel) and Ahuti dd (Aya). During the fire sacrifice, several fire brigade cars drove by but none of them seemed to notice the smoke coming out the door!

After few hours break during which time Maharaj took a short nap and had his lunch, the program continued in a rented hall nearby the temple. The program was themed “second Janmastami” so even though there was no second abhishek (as it took place on Janmastami day itself), Maharaj spoke about the importance of Janmastami once again and didn’t fail to entertain the audience with his little stories in between. There was a second floor in the hall, which made it possible to watch the action from above and it served well for keeping the kids quiet during the lecture.

On Monday, finally Maharaj got his well-deserved day of rest and he worked a bit on his novel for the first time in a week. Later in the day, we went for a walk in one of Leipzig’s many parks. Sadbhuja drove us there in his “Free Spirits” bus and about fifteen disciples joined too. That morning, I went to the city centre to buy a few things for Maharaj. On the way there I met the “Free Spirits” bus and they were just about to start a harinama from the train station and they took me with them! Maharaj spontaneously decided to do another program that evening which took place the temple.

Around noontime on Wednesday, Maharaj left Leipzig and flew to Amsterdam. He spent a night at Uddhava and Visakha’s house before continuing his trip to South Africa the next day…

Visit Flickr to see more photos. 

The secret? A little fraction of mercy of the Supreme.
This is the secret. Yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau [ŚU 6.23]. If one has staunch faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and as much faith in the guru, yathā deve tathā gurau, then the revealed scriptures become manifest. It is not the education. It is not the scholarship. It is faith in Kṛṣṇa and guru. Therefore Caitanya-caritāmṛta-kar says, guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Not by education; not by scholarship. Never says. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya, by the mercy of guru, by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. It is a question of mercy. It is not the question of scholarship or opulence or richness. No. The whole bhakti-mārga depends on the mercy of the Lord. So we have to seek the mercy. Athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya-prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi, jānāti tattvam… [SB 10.14.29]. Prasāda-leśa. Leśa means fraction. One who has received a little fraction of mercy of the Supreme, he can understand. Others, na cānya eko ‘pi ciraṁ vicinvan. Others, they may go on speculating for millions of years, it is not possible to understand.

In late August, as the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks loomed, religious leaders tuned into a webinar to prepare themselves for a possible future disaster.

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Princeton scholar Dr. Cornel West and Radhanath Swami, a spiritual teacher, activist and author, in a discussion titled "East Meets West: A Dialogue Between Cornel West and Radhanath Swami". Tuesday, April 19, 2011 in Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall.

In life, few things are as hurting as criticism. Even more excruciating is unwarranted criticism, that is, criticism based on misunderstandings or untruths. We tend to respond to such criticism in one of three broad ways.

Ratha Yatra in Brighton, UK (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This Krishna consciousness movement is for approaching Radha...

Conditioned souls, being victims of illusion and the repetition of the cycle of birth and death, are prone to commit errors. The material world created by the Lord is our testing place. Here at every step we are continually being tested by maya. To pass this test one has to hear the devotional message spoken by mahajanas like Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Bhaktivinoda’s teachings should be preached more and more. If the leaders of present-day society sincerely desire the welfare of humanity, they should deeply cultivate and introspectively reflect upon these teachings. Please practice these teachings in your life and teach them to the world. This will surely bring auspiciousness and the unlimited blessings of Thakura Bhaktivinoda. Continue reading "Praise for the Highest Mercy
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Srila Prabhupada furthered many of Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s projects: engaging householders in local preaching initiatives (nama-hatta); establishing the principle that Vaishnavas, even not born brahmans, are greater than brahmans (and are brahmans too); translating, explaining, and publishing important Vaishnava scriptures for the understanding of the contemporary audience; implementing the vision of a wonderful temple and spiritual city in Mayapur; and, perhaps most significant, fulfilling the desire and prediction that the holy names and teachings of Sri Krishna Chaitanya—Krishna consciousness—be propagated all over the world. “Lord Chaitanya did not advent Himself to liberate only a few men in India. Rather, His main objective was to emancipate all living entities of all countries throughout the entire universe and preach the eternal dharma. Continue reading "Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Prabhupada
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ISKCON of DC, Sunday Open House Talks, This Week’s Talk: Science and Spirituality. We live in the age of science. How does that impact our spiritual practice? Does each one have a role to play in spiritual development and raising consciousness? Continue reading "Science and Spirituality
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Miracle in Spain! (Album with photos)
Kishori Devi Dasi: What an inspiration to experience Rupa Goshala in Nueva Vrajamandala, Spain. This is one of the most spiritual goshalas I’ve ever been to with Surabhi cows that give milk without ever having had a calf, and cows that give milk for 13 + years having had ONLY one calf. The last three cows that died natural deaths gave milk until the day before they died. This miracle is all due to Alberto Santi’s love and devotion to Gomata. When cows are loved and respected they reciprocate!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/nKH76Y

Huge ongoing Vaishnava Festival by the Black Sea in Russia.
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: We’re at the Sadhu Sanga festival by the Black Sea in Russia. Several thousand devotees are there. This was the scene during Guru Puja. The presiding Deities are the Panca Tattva and Yoga Nrsinga with Prahlada.
Watch it live online here: http://vedamedia.ru/live/sadhusanga2016/

KK Bindu #383: With first time translations of acaryas comments on Vaishnava poetic ornamentation.
Distorted Bhakti by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Excerpt: Many of our friends have forgotten the subjects pertaining to the Supreme Lord. They imagine Krishna to be an angel or a historical personality and thus they speak in a way that is not fit for hearing and they paint pictures that are not fit for seeing. In this way they are ruining themselves and others as well. These people have distorted Jayadev’s and Chandidas’ writings, which Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu relished in the company of his most intimate associates. They have thus transformed these transcendental books into objects of their sense gratification. It is very unfortunate and unjust that subject matters meant for discussion by high class personalities are now talked about among ordinary people that lack the necessary qualifications. By proudly attempting to discuss these topics, such people have brought about their own ruination and also that of others. Nowadays, people are only interested in hearing things that appear pleasing to them. For this reason they like to hear the teachings of impersonalists. It is very difficult to find people who are truly interested in hearing hari-katha. People who are averse to devotional service and yet advertise themselves as devotees, as learned scholars, as great renunciates, as qualified brahmanas, or as mayavadls , simply deceive people. By claiming to be devotees or learned scholars, they bring inauspiciousness upon the ordinary people. Unfortunate people fall into their snare.
———
CONTENTS INCLUDE: * RECIPROCATION OF LOVE AND DUTY – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks about the exchange between guru and disciple.
* DISTORTED BHAKTI – Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada explains the detrimental effects when persons try to pretend to be on a spiritual platform that they are not.
* RECOLLECTION, CONFUSION AND AMBIGUITY – A first time translation done especially for this issue of Bindu of comments from various acaryas about Vaishnava poetic ornamentation.
* MY GREAT LAMENTATION – Another fresh translation from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati’s Vrindavan-mahimamrtam. It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu383

TOVP: Metal Casting (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: Last week in our GRC Factory we experimented with metal casting into a sand mold. We made our fresh Copper based alloy with Nickel, Silicone, Bismuth, Zinc and Aluminum. This alloy creates a non- leaded yellow brass. Our experimental melting furnace runs on regular kitchen gas and it has a maximum temperature of 1,600°C / 2,912°F. Volcanic lava is a liquid usually at temperatures from 700 to 1,200 °C, so this is some courageous work we are doing in service of the TOVP!
This fire is strong enough to melt all of non-ferrous and most of ferrous alloys. This is the process as follows. Melting 7 kilograms of brass in a silicon-carbide crucible takes 15-20 minutes. Then we pour the metal into the pre-made sodium-silicate sand mold cured with carbon dioxide gas. The casting solidifies within a couple of minutes. Then the model is washed by a high-pressure water jet, polished, and then fine tuned. The images included show this experimental casting process.
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Radhastami 2016 at Bhaktivedanta Manor (Album with photos)
David: Please find HR photos from the Radhastami 2016
celebrations at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Special thanks to Jayadev Prabhu for his Madana Mohan Mohini song, which accompanies the slideshow.(http://goo.gl/990apG)
He had us sing along to it during the festival (see photos 27-29).
Srila Prabhupada: The secret of surrendering to Krishna is that such surrendered devotee sees that everything is part of Krishna’s plan. Whatever is meant to be I am doing. Let me do it with my full attention to every detail. Let me become absorbed in such service, never mind what it is. Let all other considerations be forgotten and only my desire to do the thing best for Krishna’s alone pleasure is my motive. Letter to Jayapataka, December 19, 1972.
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​Talk at ISKCON, Richmond, USA

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​Talk at Bhaktivedanta Academy, Alachua, USA

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​Sunday feast class at ISKCON Washington DC, USA

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​Talk at Krishna House, Gainesville, USA

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Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Alachua, USA

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A Short Walk to the Spiritual World

Written by Nimai

After the wonderful program in Lendava, Croatia, we continued our journey the next day to Slovenia. Shortly after our arrival at the temple in Ljubljana (24 August), Kadamba Kanana Swami led a fired up kirtan and gave an evening class in anticipation of the upcoming Janmastami Festival. In his class, Maharaj mentioned the nine-fold process of bhakti and explained how we should follow each of these. He went on to emphasize what a special day Janmastami is for us, as devotees, and that we have to make some special endeavor for Krsna on his appearance day – the special service we perform on Janmastami will help us in the future; it will be like a handle which we can use to pull ourselves up; once we do something for Krsna, we can do it again and more often! 

On Janmastami day, the enthusiasm was high. Many disciples and other devotees had travelled from surrounding countries to be in Ljubljana for the special occasion. The presiding Panca Tattva deities at the temple looked splendid in their outfit.

Maharaj wanted Giriraja to have some extra offerings on Janmastami so we got Him a bigger altar table and fancy decoration. Maharaj was thinking that Giriraja should have a turban as well, and then somebody just gave us one which matched the flowers perfectly!

Maharaj gave two classes where he shared wonderful pastimes of Krsna. Sureshwar Prabhu (ACBSP), a long-time friend of Kadamba Kanana Swami, was also in Ljubljana and was in the audience during the class. His presence inspired Maharaj to speak about Srila Prabhupada!

In between the activities scheduled on Janmastami day, Maharaj took some time to rest. We also went for a walk to a nearby park with Sureshwar Prabhu and some disciples. During the walk, Maharaj and Sureshwar Prabhu discussed stories of Srila Prabhupada and made a plan on what they were going to speak about in the upcoming lectures. 

The highlight of the evening program was the abhisek and during this time, Maharaj led a wild kirtan and went on even after the auspicious bathing ceremony was over. As midnight approached, all the devotees gathered in the temple room for the special darshan and aarti! At 1 am, Maharaj and Sureshwar Prabhu finally ended their fast.

Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja celebration continued the next morning with a joint morning class given by Kadamba Kanana Swami and Sureshwar Prabhu. They took turns to glorify Prabhupada and told personal stories of being touched by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy. Sureshwar Prabhu spoke about the first ever Janmastami in ISKCON’s history and told the famous story of the “falling dandas” where the early devotees were not yet accustomed to fasting for such a long time and celebrating Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja right after and because of being sleep deprived, they dropped their dandas during Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja lecture. He went on to describe his personal first Janmastami and how he experienced it. It is amazing how much ISKCON changed over the years but Srila Prabhupada’s spirit is still here, especially in his disciples.

Maharaj then sang the Guruvastakam prayer which was followed by a pushpanjali (offering of flower petals). After the program, despite being extremely exhausted from the previous late night, Maharaj took time to speak to as many people as he could before having to leave the temple in the early evening to catch our flight to Berlin, from where we made it to Leipzig for the Ratha Yatra which took place the very next day after Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja.

Visit Flickr to see more photos.

Buckingham Fountain Parade Launches Hare Krishna Movement’s 50th Anniversary.
Chicagotribune.com: CHICAGO-A 40-foot high, colorfully decorated and hand pulled cart-surrounded by thousands of chanting and dancing devotees-will roll down the streets of downtown Chicago on Saturday, September 17 to kick off a national celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), better known as the Hare Krishna Movement.
The “Chariot Festival - Ratha Yatra Parade” begins at 2 PM at the Buckingham Fountain (Columbus Drive) in the downtown area and meander its way through Madison Ave., Michigan Ave., and State Streets and joins the “Hare Krishna Festival of India” at Daley Plaza for an afternoon of free vegetarian food; stage performances of classical Indian dance; a dramatic rendition of the ancient history connected with “Jagannath;” and multiple booths about reincarnation, meditation, and yoga.
“ISKCON’s founder, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, first came to New York City from India in September, 1965 to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna to the western world,” said Amrita Hari, spokeswoman for the Krishna society. “It’s very special for us to kick off the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON where he began right here in New York.” ISKCON is part of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition within the broader Hindu culture. It teaches bhakti, or devotional yoga, and advocates that the perfection of life is to awaken love of God, or “Krishna,” in the Sanskrit language.
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Celebrating 50 years of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Romea Promodh (indianlink.com.au): It all started back in August 1965, when the 69-year-old Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, popularly known as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, boarded the cargo vessel Jaladuta from a port in Calcutta. Instructed by his guru to go to the west and preach Vedic knowledge, in his possession were his translations of Srimad Bhagavatam and a heart devoted to Lord Krishna.
His mission was to spread a love of God through the chanting of the ‘Hare Krishna’, also referred to as the maha mantra, and so A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
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Radhastami festival in New Vraja-dhama, Hungary (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “When one becomes Krishna conscious, he loves everyone. If you chant loudly Hare Krishna, even the ants and insect who is hearing, he’ll be delivered, because it is spiritual vibration.” Bombay, January 4, 1973.
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1. To-do List Japa – Meditating on your to-do and shopping lists, sometimes adding and deleting items between mantras. This may also include mentally balancing your checkbook or mentally going over which bills you have to pay. Caution: This process can cause you to lament about how many bills you have to pay, and thus changing your prayers from “Oh Lord, please engage me in your service,” to “Oh Lord, please add a few more zeroes to the end of my bank balance.” 2. I Hate Him Japa – While chanting, meditating on who hurt you, how badly you were hurt, how much you hate that person, and what you’ll do to get back at him. By the end of 16 rounds your hatred has increased tenfold and you have developed excellent plans and strategies to take revenge. 3. I am Right Japa – Meditating while chanting on how right you are and how wrong someone else is, and with every mantra you become more convinced how right you are; also known as “Pump Your Ego Japa.” Continue reading "32 Ways to Not Chant Japa
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Radhastami celebration - Iskcon New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is offering, by His descent, that “If you want to enjoy like this in the society of beautiful young boys and girls, come to Me. Here it is, reality.” Los Angeles, January 2, 1974.
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