​What is the destination of spiritualists who don’t follow scripture properly?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​What is the destination of spiritualists who don’t follow scripture properly? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Is it right to kill large quantity of grass to cultivate one plant or grain?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Is it right to kill large quantity of grass to cultivate one plant or grain? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Why should we avoid speaking points just because they are unpopular?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Why should we avoid speaking points just because they are unpopular? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Should we improve the material skills needed for service or improve our consciousness?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Should we improve the material skills needed for service or improve our consciousness? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

​Can the Gita’s verses be translated differently from what Prabhupada did?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Can the Gita’s verses be translated differently from what Prabhupada did? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Prabhupada’s Appearance celebration in Iskcon New…
→ Dandavats



Prabhupada’s Appearance celebration in Iskcon New Govardhana (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: There is a need of a clue as to how humanity can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity with a common cause. Srimad-Bhagavatam will fill this need, for it is a cultural presentation for the respiritualization of the entire human society. Delhi, December 15, 1962.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/lfTtsR

Devotees pay Homage to Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON. Indiatoday:…
→ Dandavats



Devotees pay Homage to Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON.
Indiatoday: Glittering lights, melodious chanting of Hare Krishna maha mantra by several devotees transformed the auditorium of Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir at ISKCON Mayapur in Nadia district into a transcendental world even as rich tributes poured in from all over the world in the form of messages including President of India Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minster Narendra Modi and UK PM Theresa May.
“I pay my humble tribute to the contributions of AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad who incorporated ISKCON in 1966 and whose teachings continue to resonate in the hearts of Krishna devotees all over the world even today,” President Mukherjee said in his message.
PM Modi has congratulated ISKCON and written “journey has been manifestation of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam integration core of philosophy”.
May in her message mentioned, “For fifty years since its foundation by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the men and women behind ISKCON have dedicated their lives to the words of Lord Krishna to achieve peace and unity.”
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/HAuaER

Can not desiring perfection lead to a casual attitude in service?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Can not desiring perfection lead to a casual attitude in service? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Why are only services done in the temple, and not activities done in the home temple, considered as seva?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Why are only services done in the temple, and not activities done in the home temple, considered as seva? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s example of practicing bhakti applicable today?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post How is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s example of practicing bhakti applicable today? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Flight wings give wings to the flight of realization
→ The Spiritual Scientist

While returning by flight from Bangalore to Mumbai, I was allotted the window seat. I usually ask for the aisle seat so that I can get up and use the restroom when necessary without inconveniencing others. But on this day, the aisle seat was unavailable. My window seat happened to be in the last row at the rear end of the plane. From that seat’s window, I could see the wing of the plane spread out.

When the plane started off, I was praying and chanting with closed eyes. After some time, when the plane was high in the sky, I opened my eyes and looked out of the window. I was intrigued to see that the plane appeared to be moving at a leisurely pace, akin to a stroll.

When I looked down and caught sight of a city rushing behind far below, I got some sense of how fast the plane was moving. On enquiry, I came to know that its speed was over seven hundred miles per hour.

Because the sky is so vast, when we see the plane’s wing with the sky as the frame of reference, the plane’s high-speed motion appears to be leisurely. When the frame of reference changes to something far smaller, the speed is seen as super-fast.

As I contemplated how the frame of reference shapes our perception of things, my thoughts went to my favorite book – the Bhagavad-gita – and its description of how spiritual knowledge changes our frame of reference. The Gita (02.13) informs us of our spiritual identity and then (02.15) indicates the resulting change of vision: Seers of truth focus on the unchanging spiritual, beyond the changing material.

I was under some stress because of having multiple deadlines to meet. I had to prepare for a seminar series starting the next day at Bhaktivedanta hospital; I had to write one article and one reflection for BTG; I had to do sixty advance Gita-daily video recordings for the next two months when I would be traveling and wouldn’t have the facility to do video recordings; I had to edit and finalize my book on reincarnation which is my first book to be published by a mainstream publisher. And I had to do all this before my US trip began on 31st. And, of course, I had to take care of all the travel logistics too.

By seeing how my perception changed based on my frame of reference, it struck me that I was feeling stressed not so much because I had so many things to do but because I was seeing things with my frame of reference being the world, not Krishna. My chanting was not just another thing that I had to get done; it was an empowering practice for changing my frame of reference from the world to Krishna.

That thought inspired me to absorb myself in chanting intensely. And as the holy name entered deeper into me and I entered deeper into the holy name, I started feeling my stress fading out. Krishna had enabled me to meet many writing deadlines in the past and he would enable me to do so now too. Even when I had failed to meet some deadlines, the world had not come crashing down – Krishna had taken care of things even then. During my past international tours when I had been far less experienced, Krishna had guided me; he would surely guide me now too. My purpose in life was not just to meet deadlines – my purpose was to use those deadlines as spurs to focus on Krishna. If I let deadlines distract me from him, I was letting the means come in the way of the ends instead of letting them be the way to the ends.

As my frame of reference changed from the world to Krishna, I found myself becoming more reassured, more focused, more satisfied. The flight wings had given wings to the flight of realization. And as my consciousness rose towards the spiritual, I sensed the proximity of Krishna and relished the security of absorption in him.

 

 

The post Flight wings give wings to the flight of realization appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

“Back in Town”
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Indradyumna Swami

For years we have taken pride in doing our summer festival in Kolobrzeg, one of the biggest and most popular tourist destinations along the Baltic Sea coast in Poland. There was a time when we had to fight for permission to hold our programs there, but as the years rolled by, word spread that our event is highly professional, cultural and fun. The city has warmed to us and has even suggested specific dates on which to hold our festival. Unfortunately, last year we were unable to perform in Kolobrzeg because the city was upgrading the waterfront where our event has taken place over the last twenty seven years. This summer we anticipated a big comeback, only to be disappointed when we learned that the renovated area could no longer support the semi-trailer that unfolds into the large stage on which our show takes place. Continue reading "“Back in Town”
→ Dandavats"

50th Celebrations at the Sydney Opera House Attract Devotees from Around the World
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Arya Devi Dasi

The weekend’s events started on Friday night with Bhakti Film Fest and a patron’s dinner. The highlight of the weekend was a theatrical, musical, and multimedia performance at the iconic Sydney Opera House with 800 people attending two performances. In attendance were Rachael Kohn from ABC Radio’s Spirit of Things program, the New South Wales Indian Consul General, as well as representatives from Multicultural New South Wales, the Hindu Council of Australia, and the Catholic Church. Numerous dignitaries sent their best wishes, including: the Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore; New South Wales Premier, Mike Baird; Australia’s Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten; and India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Continue reading "50th Celebrations at the Sydney Opera House Attract Devotees from Around the World
→ Dandavats"

Gita 11.18 – The universal form is the eternal personal protector of dharma
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Gita verse-by-verse podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Gita 11.18 – The universal form is the eternal personal protector of dharma appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Jehovah Witnesses quote Srila Prabhupada
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Kesava Krsna Dasa

There is one publication issued by the Watch Tower called, “Mankind’s Search For God.” In this book, they probe all the major world religions and thought systems with a view to guide the readers to the “True God”. Any laypersons reading this book could easily think this is an impartial and balanced analysis, but make no mistake, it is pleasantly biased in favour of the ‘Biblical’ observation that the world is 6,000 years old, and all religions, including Hinduism, spread out from the cesspool of Babylonian times. As we would suspect, the references to Srila Prabhupada are found in the chapter entitled, “Hinduism – a search for liberation”. While it is pleasing to acknowledge he is cited as a major authority on ‘Hinduism”, sadly his, and Lord Chaitanya’s message get enmeshed in the tangled web of whatever Hinduism is supposed to be. They are mashed together with the tantrics, impersonalists, and demigod worshippers, sharing equal status with them. Continue reading "Jehovah Witnesses quote Srila Prabhupada
→ Dandavats"

Celebrating Janmastami
→ Karnamrita's blog

photo DSCN5094_zpsgj8dzz2y.jpgCelebrating the holy day of Krishna’s appearance in this world five thousand years, or Shri Krishna Janmastami, is one of the many “high holidays” (to borrow from Judaism) which devotees of Krishna observe. What is known today as Hinduism includes what is called Gaudiya Vaishnavism, or the bhakti (devotional) movement inaugurated by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, which Krishna.com represents. My spiritual master, Shrila Prabhupada, wasn’t fond of the word Hinduism since it is an imposed term created by those not familiar with the tradition and is a word not found in any Vedic literature.

Be that as it may, for the sake of convenience, we sometimes say we are part of the very diverse and inclusive Hindu tradition of India. Irrespective of the various Hindu theologies, all sects of Hinduism celebrate Janmastami as an important day, and glorify Krishna in various ways. Whether they think he is one of the many Hindu gods, or that the Ultimate Truth is “The One,” or the formless, impersonal Brahman source energy, they still glorify him as the wise speaker of the Bhagavad Gita, and are charmed by his depiction in the Shrimad Bhagavatam as a carefree cowherd who lived an idyllic life amidst the simplicity and beauty of Nature, surrounded by those who loved him.

This evening we read from the Krishna Book, and discussed some of Krishna’s pastimes surrounding his so-called “birth” in the world. I was reminded of watching how excited Prabhupada was when he was presented with advanced copies of the Krishna Book during the 1970 Rathayatra, and how he personally sold and signed copies. I also remembered our routine of reading “Nectar of Devotion” and “Krishna Book” while we sipped hot milk and ate popcorn. I never doubted—what to some people are fantastic stories—but felt more and more connected to Krishna by hearing his pastimes. When I think of it, my attitude was truly amazing and shows my open and innocent heart as a very young, tender 19 year old. I had only been a devotee a short time, and yet hearing about Krishna was so faith building. I was still basking on the energy from my spiritual existential search and felt no need to question the teaching.

Krishna's lila or pastimes are inconceivable and can't be understood with material logic alone.

read more

The Meaning of Vyasa Puja – “He came; he gave; he conquered”
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Chaitanya Charan Das

Srila Prabhupada manifested both the literary vigor of Vyasadeva and the itinerant vigor of Vyasadeva’s spiritual master, Narada Muni. Srila Prabhupada wrote prolifically and profoundly, thus doing in English what Vyasadeva did in Sanskrit. And Srila Prabhupada, following in Narada Muni’s footsteps, circumnavigated the globe fourteen times, making Krishna’s message accessible to millions who had never heard it before. The Vyasa-puja celebration of 2016 is special because this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of ISKCON. Devotees in various parts of the world have prepared inspiring presentations that demonstrate movingly the global spread and devotional depth of Srila Prabhupada’s legacy. Continue reading "The Meaning of Vyasa Puja – “He came; he gave; he conquered”
→ Dandavats"

Krishna is universal yet personal – Janmasthami meditation 3
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Krishna is universal yet personal – Janmasthami meditation 3 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Krishna teaches prepare for the worst strive for the best – Janmasthami meditation 2
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Krishna teaches prepare for the worst strive for the best – Janmasthami meditation 2 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Krishna teaches contribution without position – Janmasthami meditation 1
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Krishna teaches contribution without position – Janmasthami meditation 1 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Krishna descends to elevate us to happiness – Janmashtami class (Hindi)
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Talk at ISKCON, Seshadripuram, Bangalore

Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Krishna descends to elevate us to happiness – Janmashtami class (Hindi) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Krishna Janmashtami Special: ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple,…
→ Dandavats



Krishna Janmashtami Special: ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple, Chennai.
My favourite part in the temple is the walls which are adorned with the mesmerising paintings of Lord Shree Krishna and all His adorable pastimes. Since we are celebrating His birthday, Krishna Janmashtami today, I thought of presenting those paintings with a few Quotes from The Bhagavad Geeta.
Life can seem tough or confusing sometimes and you don’t really understand the way, but through the vast treasure chest of knowledge and guidance He left us in the form of the sacred Bhagavad Geeta, one realises that making a way through anything is well within our grasp and very much possible. Collecting these quotes today inspired me, I hope they will do the same for you too.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Nu3i2N

ISKCON Temples all over the world celebrated Janmashtami, the…
→ Dandavats



ISKCON Temples all over the world celebrated Janmashtami, the 5243rd “birth” of Lord Krishna, on 25th August 2016. Radha Krishna Deties in ISKCON Radha Gopinath Temple - Girgaum Chowpatty were wearing the opulent gold hand embroidered dress of zardosi on pure silken velvets in royal Colours inspired by the six opulence’s of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna during the day time .The night dress was completely hand woven by the weavers in Varanasi / Banaras in pure silks and gold Zari ,with intricate ornamental designs. Jaya Sri Krishna!

As Vasudeva-suta, Krsna performs pastimes that, for the most…
→ Dandavats



As Vasudeva-suta, Krsna performs pastimes that, for the most part, prominently review His power and opulence, while as Nanda-suta He performs only humanlike pastimes that prominently reveal His sweetness. Vasudeva-suta’s lila is clothed in opulence while decorated with sweetness, like an opulent mirror decorated with an attractive picture. By contrast, Nanda-suta’s lila is clothed in sweetness while decorated in opulence, like a beautifully painted stage curtain decorated at the bottom with a row of opulent mirrors. Both these forms of Krsna are oceans of nectar, but the form of Krsna in Vraja is the most absolutely perfect.
(from Gopiparanandhana’s comments to Sri Laghu-bhagavatamrta)