The incarnation of beauty
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 June 2016, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 25.57)

balaram-and-yamuna

The all blissful Supreme Personality of Godhead is eternally young and not plagued by any imperfections, not plagued by an old cranky body and not ugly either. Some incarnations of God are certainly not the most beautiful. It is said that various incarnations of the Lord have different qualities of the Lord. Maharaj Pritu had the pālana-śakti, he was empowered with the power to protect the earth. Mohini-murti and Balarama represent the beauty of the Lord. Nrsimhadev is the protector of the devotees. So different incarnations represent different features of the Lord. 

Realized Faith vs Sentimental Faith
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The operative word in Krishna Consciousness is “faith”. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna uses the word “shraddha” at least ten times in different places in His conversation with Arjuna. In these places, Krishna clearly stresses the importance of faith in knowing Him. In chapter six text 47, there is a clear indication to this point. Srila Rupa Goswami, the leader for Gaudiya Vaishnavas, explains that “shraddha” or “faith” is the preliminary ingredient to understand and love God. Having said that, Srila Prabhupada in his introduction to Bhagavad Gita explains the difference in faith within sanatana dharma and faith in sectarian religion. Below is his quote;

The English word religion is a little different from sanātana-dharma. Religion conveys the idea of faith, and faith may change. One may have faith in a particular process, and he may change this faith and adopt another, but sanātana-dharma refers to that activity which cannot be changed…Those belonging to some sectarian faith will wrongly consider that sanātana-dharma is also sectarian, but if we go deeply into the matter and consider it in the light of modern science, it is possible for us to see that sanātana-dharma is the business of all the people of the world – nay, of all the living entities of the universe. Non-sanātana religious faith may have some beginning in the annals of human history, but there is no beginning to the history of sanātana-dharma, because it remains eternally with the living entities…Yet man professes to belong to a particular type of faith with reference to particular time and circumstance and thus claims to be a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or an adherent of any other sect. Such designations are non–sanātana-dharma. A Hindu may change his faith to become a Muslim, or a Muslim may change his faith to become a Hindu, or a Christian may change his faith and so on. But in all circumstances the change of religious faith does not affect the eternal occupation of rendering service to others. The Hindu, Muslim or Christian in all circumstances is a servant of someone. Thus, to profess a particular type of faith is not to profess one’s sanātana-dharma.

“Faith” or “belief” is a common word and has to be understood properly. When it is used purely on a sentimental platform fully dependent on the words of the speaker or a book such as the Bible or Koran or Gita etc, then it is considered “sentimental faith”. But that “faith” which motivates the soul to express his or her inherent nature of selfless and timeless service to God and all beings is considered “realized faith”.

When one’s faith is enriched with realization versus mere sentiment, there is harmony within and without followed by peace and inner joy!

Hare Krishna.

My Condolences to the Followers and Disciples of Pramukh Swami Maharaja
→ The Vaishnava Voice

pramukh swami

I would like to offer my condolences to all the many followers and disciples of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaja, who passed from this world on Saturday, 13th August at the age of 95. His contribution to their lives is immeasurable, and I know this will be a time of great pain for them.

Pramukh Swami Maharaja took the vision and mission of his own gurus, Shastriji Maharaja and Yogiji Maharaja and developed it into a worldwide network of more than one thousand temples and hundreds of thousands of followers. He carried the message of Lord Swaminarayana and gave countless talks, wrote thousands of letters, and inspired his devotees to perform great educational and humanitarian endeavours.

I had a memorable lunch with Pramukh Swami in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1980, and visited him again just a few years ago at the magnificent white marble temple in Neasden, London. He was always gracious with his visitors and seemed to have time for everyone. I feel blessed to have had his company for a few moments and although I am saddened by his passing, I know that he is now, as always, in supremely blissful company.

 

 


Matter and Karma
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhanu Swami

Free Will: The individual can activate or deactivate his samskaras and vasanas by his choice of association and place. He can use his intelligence to control feeling (samskara and vasana) for attaining his chosen goal. Then he can act according to choice, not feeling. By intelligent acts he can alter his present and future karma. Purpose of Karma: Karma is not a punishment but a chance to recognize the responsibility we have for our acts. It is learning through material experience. If we commit violence we suffer violence. The condition of suffering is a message for us to rectify our exploitative mentality, and act according to compassion rather than passion. We must learn to change our actions from service to self to service to other. This is the first step in purification of the jiva. Continue reading "Matter and Karma
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On Preaching to Scientists and Scholars
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Hare KrishnaBy Sadaputa dasa

Srila Prabhupada wanted us to challenge the scientists and scholars. He was quite uncompromising about this, as we can see from his conversation with the physicist Gregory Benford. However, it might be argued that we are not in a position to challenge the scientists. Their position is strongly supported by evidence and arguments, and we have practically nothing to offer in opposition to it. If we oppose the scientists simply on the basis of religious scriptures, then we will become known as foolish, ignorant creationists. Therefore, we should follow a policy of appeasing the scientists, recognizing our own helplessness, and simply depend on Krsna to change their hearts. Actually, it is possible to challenge the scientists, as Srila Prabhupada wanted us to do. There exists a vast amount of evidence that supports the Vedic world view and contradicts the modern scientific world view. All we have to do is systematically gather this evidence and present it in a scholarly way. Continue reading "On Preaching to Scientists and Scholars
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Janmastami
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Hare KrishnaBy Braja Vilas das

The name Madhava is a very prominent name for both Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna. Srila Prabhupada has translated Madhava in his Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam in many ways: “Husband of the goddess of fortune,” “Master of all energies,” and “He who appears in the Madhu dynasty.” As a name of Vishnu, “Ma” refers to Laksmi and “Dhava” means husband or consort. In reference to Krsna, Madhava is usually explained as coming from the root “Madhu”. “Srila Sanatana Gosvami has explained the various meanings of the word Madhava as follows: Madhava normally indicates Krsna to be "the Lord, who is the consort of the goddess of fortune, Laksmi." This name also implies that Lord Krsna descended in the dynasty of Madhu. Since the spring season is also known as Madhava, it is understood that as soon as Lord Krsna entered the Vrndavana forest, it automatically exhibited all the opulences of spring, becoming filled with flowers, breezes and a celestial atmosphere. Another reason Lord Krsna is known as Madhava is that He enjoys His pastimes in madhu, the taste of conjugal love.” (SB 10.15.2) Continue reading "Janmastami
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Hare Krishna Festivals at Glastonbury Festival 2015 with…
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Hare Krishna Festivals at Glastonbury Festival 2015 with Mahavishnu Swami, 2016 video .
No Glastonbury is complete without a visit to the Hare Krishna tent, located next to the Spirit of 71 stage
They’re extremely accommodating. And their chant is easy to pick up:
Hare kṛiṣhṇa hare kṛiṣhṇa
kṛiṣhṇa kṛiṣhṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma
rāma rāma hare hare
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/2tym8V

The great Sankirtan Movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a…
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The great Sankirtan Movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a great gift to the world and a very rare event!
Gauragopala dasa: Many could take it for granted without realizing how rare Lord Caitanya’s appearance actually is as He comes once in every day and night of Brahmā. That is once every 2000th Kali-yuga in the cycle of Maha Yugas, there are 4 Yugas to a Maha Yuga, Lord Caitanya appears “once” in a Kali-yuga with His Sankirtan Movement out of every two thousand.
There are 4,320,000 human years in a Maha Yuga multiply that by 2000 (that equals 8 billion 640 million years) and you will see that Lord Caitanya’s appearance is very rare as He comes once over that enormous period of time
Krishna also comes once every 2000 Maha yugas or every 8 billion 640 million years at the end of Dvarpara-yuga just before Lord Caitanya’s appearance 4,500 years into the Kali-yuga
In this rare Kali-yuga there there is a 10,000 years Golden Age of the Sankirtan Movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu or the congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha mantra, the previous 1,999 Kali-yugas had no Lord Caitanya or Golden Age of Sankirtan.
The Four Yugas
The four yugas make up a cycle called Divya-yuga or Maha-yuga, which lasts 4,320,000 years.
One thousand of these yugas equal one day of Brahma, which is called a kalpa and another one thousand makes up a night.
Brahma’s lifespan is 100 years of his time and 311 Trillion 400 billion years of our time.
SATYA YUGA - (sometimes also called krta-yuga): The golden age lasts 1,728,000 years. The process of self-realization in this yuga is meditation on Vishnu. During this yuga the majority of the population is situated in the mode of goodness and the average life span at the beginning of the yuga is 100,000 years.
TRETA YUGA - Also called the silver age, lasts 1,296,000 years and the process of self realization is the performance of opulent yajnas(sacrifices). The average life span is 10,000 years and the godly qualities decrease one fourth compared to the Satya yuga.
DVARPARA YUGA - Or the bronze age, lasts 864,000 years and the process of self realization is the worship of the deities within temples. Godly qualities are reduced to 50% by now and the average life expectancy is only 1000 years. Krishna in His originally Form comes at the end of Dvarpara-yuga but not every Dvarpara-yuga as He only comes once in a day of Brahma which is only every 2000th Dvarpara yuga
KALI YUGA - The iron age of hypocrisy and quarrel lasts 432,000 years. Lord Krsna appeared in His original, transcendental form right before the beginning of a Kali-yuga at the end of Dvarpara-yuga in one day of Brahma which is every 2000 cycles of the four yugas. Both Krishna in His original Form and Lord Caitanya do NOT appear in every Maha-yuga. Krishna does not appear at the end of every Dvarpara-yuga and Lord Caitanya does NOT appear in every Kali-yuga as explained above

The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu #381 e-magazine…
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The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu #381 e-magazine was just released. This is a special issue dedicated to Sri Krishna Janmashtami. Includes new translations from various Acharyas.
It includes:
* NO BAR FOR GOING HOME – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks of how a Vaishnava from any caste or gender can get liberation.
* THE SOLE COMPASS FOR BHAKTI – Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada glories Srila Rupa Goswami.
* MY DIVINE BIRTH AND ACTIVITIES – A fresh translation done especially for this issue of Bindu from various commentaries on Bhagavad-gita 4.9 regarding the appearance of Sri Krishna.
It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu381

Gita 11.07 The universal form transcends limitations of space and time
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast


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Viswa Harinam Week
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We are bringing you very special and happy new on behalf of Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha. On 29.07.16 Friday in occasion of ISKCON’s ‘Viswa Harinam Week’, a colorful harinam Sankirtan procession was organized on the street of Krishnanagar, from Jorashibbari barwari temple. Including foreign devotees from Mayapur, a total of around 200 devotees took part in that procession. […]

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Relative suffering
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2016, Durban, South Africa, Sunday Feast Lecture)

vrindavan_2015 (6)

There was a video clip about teenagers in Australia who have a very hard life – they have iPads with only 1 GB memory space! And on Saturdays their parents would do all the shopping for the week, drive the car into the garage and then the kids had to carry all that shopping, all the way from the car to the kitchen! Oh my God, what an intense life! So this is the suffering of the young generation in Australia. (laughter)

Anyway, we are all like that. Everything is too much. Kitchen sinks are filled with dirty dishes. As you walk into the house, there is laundry stacked up on chairs and no place to sit. It is just the epitome of lethargy, of the laziness of Kali yuga. There are endless unanswered mails and there are cars where people write, “I want to be washed!” Just endless symptoms of lethargy, like a wet blanket on the consciousness, “Do I have to do anything? I’d rather do something passive, like watching TV or playing computer games. Something where I don’t have to really do anything, if possible. Doing things are very tiring.”

We hope some magical personality will come flying in on a magic carpet and give us some amazing inspiration in kirtans and lectures, something that will carry us, something that will make us surrender.  Thus we postpone it, life after life. We say, “I’ll surrender! Yes, I want to surrender but I’ll do it tomorrow.” But we have to break through these barriers now and by ourselves. 

Srila Prabhupada: “This is a simple method. All you have…
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Srila Prabhupada: “This is a simple method. All you have to do is bow down before Krishna with faith and say, ‘My Lord Krishna, I was forgetful of You for so long, for so many lives. Now I have come to my consciousness; please accept me.’ That’s all. If one simply learns this technique and sincerely surrenders himself to the Lord, his path is immediately open.”
(Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 7)

Gita Nagari Retreat to Explore Varnashrama Dharma. Sivarama…
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Gita Nagari Retreat to Explore Varnashrama Dharma.
Sivarama Swami, who is behind the New Vraja Dhama farm in Hungary which has been vastly successful in both spiritual and simple living efforts, will give a talk entitled “Varnashrama: Why devotees need to adopt it, and the first steps to doing so.”
He’ll discuss Prabhupada’s statements on the feasibility of Varnashrama today, the qualities devotees must develop in order to be eligible for the Varnashrama system, and the challenges in changing to a lifestyle that’s very different from that of the world around us.
Devamrita Swami will speak about the Amish as an example of a different social order sustaining over time in modern America and Canada.
Abhirama Das will share personal instructions Prabhupada gave him on Varnashrama, and talk about co-existing with other communities, like the Amish, who have similar simple-living-based lifestyles. He’ll also talk about how to get started on Varnashrama, and how to develop a Varnashrama community connected to a city preaching center, something he hopes to do himself with his New York City-based Harinama ashram.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Zs1z3E

How to avoid becoming indecisive when encountering different advices from different people?
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Answer Podcast


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How can we avoid being misled by people who are confident but wrong?
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Answer Podcast


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How can we live in the present alone without learning from the past or preparing for the future?
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Answer Podcast


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States of Consciousness and Dreams
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States of Consciousness and Dreams.
Modern materialistic science is not sure about the origin and nature of most psychic phenomena including dreams. This information can be found in Vedic scriptures.
Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.53-54, 7.7.25 or 7.15.61 describes three material states of consciousness:
1. jagrata, awakened state (beta, 14 - 20 Hz)
2. svapna, dreaming state (alfa, 7 - 14 Hz)
3. susupti, deep sleep (theta, 4 - 7 Hz)


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Summary of Srimad Bhagavatam
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhurijana Dasa

1. One should hear the pastimes, names, and glories of the Lord from the Srimad Bhagavatam, in which all material forms of region have been are rejected, from a bona fide spiritual master, become fixed in devotional service, and not allow his mind to be deflected to anything else. Patiently and submissively hearing the Srimad Bhagavatam immediately re-establishes a soul in his eternal relationship with Krsna. All other goals are rejected in the Bhagavatam. (1-3) 2. One must hear the Bhagavatam from a bonafide representative of Vyasadeva. (4-8) 3. If both the speaker and the hearer are qualified, the hearer will easily understand the Absolute Truth, Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (9-13) 4. Hearing of the everfresh pastimes, names, and glories of Krsna will attract one from the horrible Kali yuga trap of the material world to the eternal blissful spiritual realm. (14-20) 5. Because of the shortness of life that Kali Yuga brings, one should fear the dangers of Kali, accept the shelter of a bonafide spiritual master, and adopt the process recommended by Lord Caitanya for self realization in Kali Yuga: hearing and chanting Krsna's glories as told in the BG and the SB. (21-23) Continue reading "Summary of Srimad Bhagavatam
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Hare Krsna Mantra – meaning of the mantra Meaning as…
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Hare Krsna Mantra – meaning of the mantra
Meaning as explained by Gopala Guru Gosvami, disciple of Svarupa Damodara of Puri:
The word “hare”:
hari harati papani dusta cittair api smrtah
anicchayapi samsprsto dahaty eva hi pavakah
vijnapya bhagavat tattvam cid ghanananda vigraham
haraty avidyam tat karyam ato harir iti smrtah
“Just as the fire, on contacting an object, automatically burns it, so the name of Hari takes away (harati) or burns up all ht esins of the people with materialistic hearts. It removes (harati) all ignorance and reveals the transcendental, blissful form of the Lord. Also, ‘hari’ means that personality who attracts (harati) the minds of all the people in the universe when they hear stories of His transcendental qualities; or, He who attracts the minds of people by His beautiful youthful form. 'Hari’ in the grammatical form of address, the vocative, or calling out to a person, becomes 'hare’.”
The word 'hare’ has another meaning:
svarupa prema vatsalyair harer harati ya manah
hara sa kathyate sadbhih sri radha vrsabhanuja
Hara is Srimati Radhika, daughter of Vrsabhanu, who steals (harati) the mind of Hari, Krsna, by her unalloyed love. Hara, in the form of address, also becomes 'hare’.
The word 'Krsna’:
krsir bhu vacakah sabdo nas cananda svarupakah
tayor aikyam param brahma krsna ity abhidhiyate
“The word 'krsna’ is composed of the root 'krsi’ meaning 'bhu,’ the shelter of all existence and the word 'na’ meaning 'nivriti’ or the form of supreme bliss. Combined they form the word 'krsna’ which signifies the param brahma, the supreme personality of Godhead with blissful form.”
Krsna in the form of address remains as 'krsna.’
The word 'Rama’:
ramante yogino 'nante nityanande cidatmani
iti rama padenaiva param brahmadbhidhiyate
“The param brahma is known as Rama because the yogis take pleasure (ramante) in meditating on His eternal, blissful form.”
vaidagdhi sara sarvasva murti liladbhidevatam
sri radham ramayan nityam rama ity abhidhiyate
“The Supreme Lord is called Rama because He carries out pastimes of pleasure with the most beautiful Sri Radha.”
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Oh Radha, please attract my mind, and free me from this material world.
Oh Krsna, please attract my mind.
Oh Radha, attract my heart by showing your sweetness.
Oh Krsna, purify my mind by giving knowledge of how to perform worship of You through Your pure devotee.
Oh Krsna, give me steadiness to appreciate Your name, qualities and pastimes.
Oh Krsna, may I develop a taste for serving You.
Oh Radha, please make me qualified for your service.
Oh Radha, please instruct me on how I can serve you.
Oh Radha, let me hear of your intimate pastimes with your beloved.
Oh Rama (Krsna), let me hear of Your intimate pastimes with your beloved.
Oh Radha, reveal to me your pastimes with your beloved.
Oh Rama, reveal to me Your pastimes with Your beloved.
Oh Rama, engage me in remembering Your name, form, qualities and pastimes.
Oh Rama, please make me qualified for your service.
Oh Radha, be pleased with me.
Oh Radha, be pleased with me.

Те когти, точно молнии
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Пусть защитят нас дарящие благо вскинутые когти
Всевышнего со львиным ликом – Нрисимхадева,
Кого сопровождает Его супруга Лакшми.

Те когти точно молнии, искусны в разбиваньи на куски
надменных, размером с горы, предводителей
опьяненных толп мощных, что слоны, асуров (недругов Индры).

На те же когти медитируют собранья девов.
Их ясные умы сосредоточены на Нем, и оттого тьма тамаса рассеяна,
насколько только видно, и недруги внутри* разодраны на части.

[ «Шри Накха Стути» Шрилы Мадхавачарйи, текст 1 ]

* похоть, гнев и т.п.

Iskcon’s growth for the next 50 years
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Hare KrishnaBy Tamohara Das and Anuttama Das

After celebrating the anniversary of Iskcon's 50th year, what are the next steps needed to expand the movement further and refine its functions in order to be able to take proper care of those taking shelter in Srila Prabhupada's teachings. Improving the taking care of the devotees and the educational system for the younger generations are some of the priorities which need to be focused upon and this will happen only with the involvement of the congregation. The gigantic expansion of the movement requires the service of qualified devotees who will be able to do full time service only if the movement will take care of all their needs, including their families. An economic system has to be in place to provide for all of that so that there is investment not only for temple buildings but also for the devotees who run it. Continue reading "Iskcon’s growth for the next 50 years
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ISKCON World Review 2016
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Hare KrishnaBy Badrinaryana Swami

An updated report of the amazing achievements of Srila Prabhupada's Iskcon up today. His movement has expanded into a multitude of projects worldwide all with the unique purpose of spreading the chanting of the Holy Name of Lord Krishna and giving to all a chance for delivery from the material world and Kali Yuga. You will be pleasantly surprised to hear this summary of all the activities the disciples and grand disciples of His Divine Grace are performing daily for the service of his mission and the pleasure of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Continue reading "ISKCON World Review 2016
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How can we know ourselves well enough to make wise choices with lifelong consequences?
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Answer Podcast


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