Fotos de Prabhavati Devi Dasi del álbum Ananda
Here are the latest updates for "Planet ISKCON" - 32 new articles
Krishna-kripa das, Mayapura: Travel Journal#6.3: Gainesville, Miami, OcalaDiary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Sent from Gainesville, Florida, USA, on February 25, 2010) Highlights Bringing Krishna to the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering Insights from Rtadhvaja Swami, Brahmatirtha Prabhu, Chaturatma Prabhu, Kalakantha Prabhu, Nanda Prabhu, Where I Am and What I Am Doing I am living in the Krishna House in Gainesville and chanting at the University of Florida for two and a half or three hours a day. On Wednesday afternoon, we chant at the farmers' market downtown for one or two hours, and on Friday night, we chant downtown near the bars and restaurants for an hour or an hour and a half in the evening. Three days a week I teach an hour-long course on a chapter of Bhagavad-gita. I also help with morning and evening classes occasionally. There are several students who are enthusiastic about different of our practices, and so it is very inspiring to be here. The beginning of the month we did a couple weekend adventures, chanting at the Super Bowl in Miami and at the regional Rainbow Gathering in Ocala National Forest, where we also served prasadam. Four devotees from the Alachua area joined four devotees from Miami in chanting for three hours at the stadium in Miami before the Super Bowl game. Siddha-vidya Prabhu, who has been doing harinama in Miami for decades, and Sunanda Prabhu, presently the head cook at Gainesville's Krishna Lunch, were the main singers. Only one devotee lady was on the party. We chanted inside the stadium gate for sometime, until relocated to outside the gate by the police. Once outside the gate, we were warned not block the sidewalk, which, in fact, meant that none of us could even stand on the sidewalk, with being warned again by the police. We accepted that we were given any place at all to chant was a benediction from the Lord. Previously devotees had been ordered by the police to leave after no more than an hour's chanting, so I felt we were blessed. More than one person said he hadn't seen the Hare Krishnas in years, and for me, that is additional evidence we should get out there in public and chant the holy name more often. One such person appeared glad to see us and eagerly took the "On Chanting Hare Krishna" pamphlet I gave him. Another person exclaimed, "They used to have three hundred people, and now there are only nine!" I do not recall any persons who were inimical except some Christians who took the trouble to blaspheme Krishna. The Christians were out in force, on each street corner, where there were a man with a loudspeaker, some people holding signs, and some others giving out propaganda. Some of the signs protested abortion. I was thinking the Saints fans being from New Orleans, where we have a temple, were more familiar with the devotees, and gave a us more positive reception, and so that might be favorable for their victory. It turns out the Saints did win. Although it was five-hour drive from the Alachua / Gainesville area to Miami, we all felt it was worth it to help thousands of people come in touch with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra which we received from the chain of spiritual teachers by the grace of Srila Prabhupada and his followers and which we feel has greatly benefited our lives. Bringing Krishna to the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering For years devotees in Alachua and Gainesville have brought Krishna prasadam and kirtana to the Rainbow Gathering in Ocala National Forest, at least to extent of a day of kirtanaand prasadam. This time was especially sweet because so many people appreciated our contribution and no one complained. We brought half a bucket of chili and rice, two buckets of spaghetti, and three buckets of trail mix halava, one of this years' most popular flavors. When we arrived at the trade circle, where many people were sharing their wares, a young lady named Michele, who was happy to see us, found a place for us to set up and offered her blanket for us to sit on. People came with their plates, which were sometimes pieces of cardboard, bark from trees, or a bowl made from half a coconut. Others simply accepted prasadam on their palms. We chanted for three hours while distributing prasadam. I asked one girl who was glancing at the kirtana party as she ate her halava if she had encountered the Hare Krishnas before. To my great surprise, she exclaimed, "Krishna-kripa, you don't remember me?" It turned out I talked to her in our Tallahassee temple one time, and she was the roommate of the daughter of a friend of mine. Rafael, who helped Daru Brahma Prabhu prepare and serve prasadam at Tallahassee, was also there. One girl told me about how the devotees came to her peace picnic at University of North Florida in Jacksonville and asked if I remembered her. I said, "Are you Amanda?" "Yes," she said. "Amanda Fowler, right?" I replied. "Yes." She was surprised I remembered. I told her we were thinking of chanting in Jacksonville again during our spring break and would keep in touch. Next we did a little harinama through the woods for half an hour or so. The girl from Tallahassee who remembered me, followed at the end of our party, eating her halava on the way. Two boys, who had also taken prasadam, also followed our harinama. While on harinama, we learned of the location of the main circle and since evening was approaching, we returned to the trade circle and packed up the remaining prasadam, a bucket and a half of halava, and proceeded to the main circle on the path which was demarcated by pink ribbons tied on the trees. I played my harinama harmonium along the pathway in the woods, struggling to avoid branches overhead and debris underfoot, as I walked and sang. At the main circle, Garuda Prabhu, known also by the Rainbow name Soaring Turkey, was making an enthusiastic appeal that the Rainbow people unite to discourage the use of alcohol and which was becoming excessive to the point of being a disturbance to the mood of the gathering in recent years. It was nice to see a devotee advocating that persons, who he plays a leadership role in relationship with, act to protect a principle of religion. Garuda Prabhu, as usual, camped out and shared prasadam and kirtana with the people for most of the gathering, and we were glad to see him again this year. We chanted "om" with the Rainbows and then began serving out our halava at the main circle, Mahakirti Prabhu starting at one point, and I starting 180 degrees away. For many, the halava was the first preparation on their very imaginative plates, and they were eager to get it. The halava went around the circle once, and then I took seconds to about half the circle, and many people were happy to get some more. After serving prasadam, we asked Garuda Prabhu where we could chant Hare Krishna, and he invited us to his tepee, which had a fire burning within it and was just a few feet from the main circle. We chanted for an hour, and then he chanted for about fifteen minutes until it was 8:00 p.m., the time we planned to leave. While we were chanting, I asked a girl who seemed to be really getting into dancing to the kirtana, if she had encountered the devotees before. She said she hadn't. She was from Coconut Creek and into Tibetan Buddhist meditation. After awhile, she stopped dancing and sat near the fire to meditate. However, the kirtana was so lively, she soon found herself moving to the music, and abandoned her attempt to meditate and resumed dancing. The two boys who had followed our harinama were there along with a girl, who had come with them from Ashville, North Carolina. They had never met the devotees before, but they seemed really to appreciate both the kirtana and the prasadam. I gave them a card for Krishna.com, so they could get more information. We chanted through the woods back to our car. As it was dark, the temperature was dropping and my fingers were getting numb as I played the harmonium, so I had to reposition them to improve the circulation. It was Krishna's mercy that Jaya Sita had asked as we were about to leave if we had any flashlights, and finding we had none, she lent us two. Her brother held one facing ahead of him and the other facing behind him, so we could see the path. It was the hardest experience for me to play harmonium in the dark, in the cold, and on a path in the woods, but by Krishna's grace I kept it up for forty-five minutes or so, until we reached the car. Thirteen devotees came out together from the Gainesville and Alachua area and all of them loved the program, many saying they would like to attend the Tallahassee Regional Rainbow in March as we did last year for the first time. We saw old friends and made new ones, and many people, including ourselves, advanced in Krishna consciousness. Insight from Lectures When people are situated properly according to varna and asrama, they will naturally be happy. My friend's Dad planned to work hard his whole life and buy a recreational vehicle and travel around the US. The day he was to leave on his trip he got his first heart attack. His insurance paid for it, and then six months later he tried again. In the course of his traveling, he got another heart attack, but his insurance would not pay. He had to sell his recreational vehicle and live off his social security. When I met the devotees, they told me I couldn't enjoy in the material world. I thought they just hadn't figured out how to do it, unlike me. I could show them how to enjoy in the material world. After several months, I realized they were right. I called the temple and told the devotees, "You ruined all my fun." I used to enjoy all these things, but now I realize such enjoyment is not real. My father said on his deathbed, "I can't stop this," and died. Learn to give up material things slowly, and do not get too involved in material things in the first place. If you do a Folio search, you will be amazed to see how often Srila Prabhupada used the word "gradually". We should have SGA, Sense Gratifiers Anonymous. We come before the Deities and say, "I am Maharaja, and I am an addict." We have our twelve step program, "Mangala arati,Krishna prasadam, . . . " Brahmatirtha Prabhu [known as the Bob Cohen in Perfect Questions, Perfection Answers] originally heard Hare Krishna from the musical Hair and could not get the mantra out of his mind. Whenever I would call home, my mother would criticize Krishna and the devotees, and I would preach to her. After this went on for two years, I finally made a truce with my mother. She would not criticize Krishna and His devotees, and I wouldn't preach to her. I haven't preached to my family for 35 years. If they asked a question, I would answer it. In that time, they asked two questions. Srila Prabhupada said not to change things after he left, but he also wanted us to act about time, place, and circumstances. It is said they are no atheists in the foxholes, however, after the war there are many atheists because both sides pray to win but one side loses. Why do bad things happen to good people? One Biblical answer, fortunately not the only Biblical answer, is that there are no good people because we are all tainted. We all deserve to suffer in hell. Once I went to the Museum of Torture, where I learned that much of the torture in history was performed by priests who considered that by torturing people they were purifying them of their sins. Bad philosophy creates bad activities. What do bad things happen to good people? I have heard two explanations: (1) I don't know. (2) Karma. The "I don't know" is sometimes phrased in different ways such as "You just have to have faith." In a hospital there is always a morgue because so many people die there, but it never has a sign on it that says "Morgue" because that would freak out people. It is called "X-Ray Room" or something like that. Brahma Tirtha Prabhu: What good does it do if we are suffering for something we did in the past life if we cannot remember it? Gopal: Well, if a murderer gets amnesia and cannot remember his sinful act, should he not be punished? Srila Prabhupada was also aware of the contemporary culture as can be seen from his description of Maharaja Bharata, "Because of the boy's becoming so strong, more than the so-called modern Tarzan, the rsis in the forest called him Sarvadaman, or one who is able to control everyone." In a public lecture in San Diego, Srila Prabhupada was explaining that we cannot get any satisfaction. Then he turned to a devotee, "Just like that song says. Don't think I do not know these things." We can learn one pointedness from Arjuna who was tested by his archery teacher Dronacarya who wanted him to shoot the eye of fish behind a wheel situated on the ceiling that was seen only by reflection. Because he saw only the eye of the fish, he was successful. Although Sridhara Swami and Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura disagree in their commentaries, Srila Prabhupada saw the value in both versions and gives evidence how both are reasonable. This is a wonderful example to be followed. Once a leader who was pushing on Krishna consciousness in a particular part of the world was complaining to Prabhupada about how difficult it was to get the devotees to work nicely in the way he wanted. Srila Prabhupada smiled and said, "As I am tolerating you, you must tolerate them." We cannot hold maya back ourselves, but in the association of devotees, it becomes possible. As far a plant is high, so deep are the roots. Similarly in the hearts there are the roots of our sinful tendencies. These must to uprooted by taking shelter of the Hare Krishna mantra. State fathers must be wise devotees of the Lord, breakers of the discipline of sinful, and uprooters of the symptoms of Kali. Srila Prabhupada was not just an acarya, teacher by example, for the twelve years he was preaching in the West, but for his entire life, including his childhood, which he engaged in devotional service. The different between a grhamedhi and grhastha is how much you give Krishna consciousness to others. It is important to have the Deity in the home, so we realize this is not my house, but Krishna's house. Otherwise the tendency is the male-female relationship tends too much toward sense gratification. As grhasthas, you have to have deity worship in the home, otherwise you end up thinking you are lord of the home. Many times Srila Prabhupada speaks of the necessity having deities in the home for grhasthas. From the viewpoint of the Protestant, Jewish, and Moslem faiths, the idea of deity worship is completely foreign. In Catholicism, there is the idea of the worship of the form of saints. Srila Prabhupada writes that no one can worship in raganuga through the bhagavata vidhi without going through the pancaratrika vidhi (sadhana-bhakti). Pancaratrika worship allows anyone regardless of background to do deity worship as long as he is initiated by a spiritual master. In the temple, the standard is very strict, but in the home it is the mood of convenience. This, however, does not mean a mood of frivolity. For example, the deities take rest at a certain time, but if you have friends over for bhajanas and things go late, it is alright that they take rest late. If you are performing arati, and a guest comes, you invite them in, and then continue with the arati. You may not use all the mantras and gestures that are used in the temple worship. It can be very simple, or in a phase of your life when you have more time, it can be more complicated. You have to be practical and not fanatical, otherwise you will cause distress for both yourself and others. Both in the temple and at home, cleanliness is most important. By consulting with the spiritual master, other devotees, and the scriptures, we can refine our worship. If you have many deities, it may not be possible to worship them all every day. However, the main deity, your ista-deva, should be worshiped every day. Caturatma Prabhu has three silas from Narottama Dasa Thakura. He has a little cloth from Lord Nityananda's staff and Lord Caitanya's dhoti, and salagram-sila forms of all of the dasa-avatara (ten avatars) except Lord Kalki. He also various remnants from Srila Prabhupada, and bark from the Siddha-bakula tree, the tree Lord Caitanya was born under, and tree in Tompkins Square Park that Srila Prabhupada chanted under, and many, many amazing historical Vaishnava remnants. The bath water from the salagram-silas can be used bath the Siva lingam and Ganesa. Q: Why worship demigods at all? A: Because by pleasing the servants of the Lord, we can approach the Lord. The example is the gopis worshiping Katyayani to attain Krishna. In the homes of the different devotees in the community, the focus is worshiping Krishna for the perfection of developing love of Krishna, but the details are different. The coral from the beach in Dvaraka (known as dvaraka-sila) is nondifferent from Krishna. Kush is the best oil for polishing the sila. Never leave a bottle of oil uncovered. You can either sit the sila on tulasi or stick tulasi with sandlewood to his head. You can use one side of the sink for Krishna's plates and the other for your own. Use a separate set of cloths to dry the different plates. As many householders there are, there are different ways of offering bhoga. The simplest is just to set the plate on the altar. Gauranga-kisora Prabhu told a story that Puri Maharaja served a feast to the devotees in the temple. Radhanatha Swami inquired if they should close the deity's curtains. Puri Maharaja said, "No, the Lord like to see His devotees eat." Q: When someone lives in an ashram is it alright worship personal deities? A: Yes, but your personal deity worship should not overshadow or interfere with the temple worship. Bhaktin Lacie adds: when I do the temple service to the temple deities, I meditate on my personal deities. On neem deities, water destroys the wood and oil destroys the paint, so do not use those substances in bathing them. Wiping with a slightly damp cloth is sufficient. Srila Prabhupada told the early book distributors they could do arati to the Bhagavatam before they read it. I put our dying bird, which I found on the bottom of his cage, in front of our altar and with his beak he struggled up two steps to Srila Prabhupada's altar, looked at Srila Prabhupada, and left his body. My wife and I were amazed to see this. In the Mahabharata, Duryodhana gave the Pandavas half the kingdom, but the half where nothing grows and which was useless for all practical purposes. By Krishna's grace, they were able to turn it a place so wonderful that was called Indraprastha, the abode of Indra, the king of heaven. Therefore Duryodhana refused to give the Pandavas even five villages to rule for fear of giving them the slightest foothold, and thus he caused the Kuruksetra War. Srila Prabhupada said the defending propensity is even stronger than the mating propensity. Steve Covey's book on self-improvement was originally a Mormon book on spiritual upliftment, but the publisher encouraged the author to secularize it and, it became incredibly popular. Treasure these days in Krishna House when you can easily come together in the morning and do your spiritual practice for they may not last forever. When you are married you will not have so much time to devote in this way. We talk of glorifying the name, qualities, and pastimes of the Lord, but my experience is the chaplain I meet because they have so little knowledge of these, they supplement their spiritual meetings with alcohol. One chaplain has "Theology on Tap" where they meet in a bar and discuss theology. Another chaplain was once given a big assignment by a leader in the church. To calm his nerves after hearing of it and to prepare himself to execute it, he had a drink. When he was quickly successful, the church leader celebrated by breaking out a bottle of whiskey. The Lord is not punishing us in the material world but just letting us realize it is not possible to be happy separate from him. We are always incapable when it comes to making offerings to the Lord, and thus it is the devotion that makes the offerings worthy. The Lord accepts the arca-vigraha, the deity form, so we can worship Him. The Lord is always reciprocating, not only with Maharaja Pariksit, Maharaja Yudhisthira, and Sukadeva Goswamis, but also with us, who are trying to serve Him. The Lord does not want the nondevotees to suffer but to become rectified. Early in the movement, we had a regular event of devotees taking turns coming before Deities and offering prayers to Them during a Sunday morning kirtana. Srila Prabhupada told us that an animal who takes prasadam next takes a human birth. One great Vaishava acarya threw remnants of his meal to the fish in the river, and they assumed spiritual forms and returned to the spiritual world. His disciples had one doubt. "We always take your remnants of your food, but we remain in this world. Why is this?" The master replied that the fish had not committed any offense while taking theprasadam. Disciple: Bhaktivinoda Thakura said he left his work unfinished. What did he mean by that? SP: He left it for you to finish. Lord Caitanya taught by His example to observe the Ratha-yatra festival, to travel and preach, etc. By following His example, we please the Lord and the acaryas. The Lord's example and instructions teach two principles: personal purification and benefiting others. Although we are not important persons, still our good example can benefit each other and inspire those around us. Paraphrase of some of Srila Prabhupada's instructions on prasadam distribution: This program of mass distribution of prasadam was advocated by Lord Caitanya, because those who take prasadam will come again in touch with Krishna consciousness. Prasadam is the key medicine for driving away maya. If you have prasadam and sankirtana success will come very quickly. Because you are preaching and distributing prasadam, management will follow like a shadow. If only the intelligent class appreciate our mission, it will become successful. By prasadam distribution you will please the Lord and also the public will be pleased. As far as prasadam distribution, we do not discriminate between rich or poor, otherwise it will be karma-kanda. What is the use of a temple with no prasadam distribution? People cannot hear philosophy if they are hungry. Prasadam in this country means full meal. Lord Caitanya's policy was to feed people up to the neck, akantha. Lord Caitanya would chant four hours of sankirtana and distribute prasadam. You can keep two or three first-class cooks, and they must be fully engaged. Our temple is managed by Srimati Radharani who Laksmiji [the goddess of fortune] so why should there be want? Our main programs are distributing prasadam and sankirtana. The official who gives permission for our Jacksonville Ratha-yatra ate Krishna lunch when he was a student. He gives us the band shell and other facilities. Madhava Prabhu (Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Appearance Day): Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura initiated himself into sannyasi because he had no godbrothers to do it, and he wanted to remain in the line following Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja. Ali Krishna Prabhu: If we recite the prayers of the previous acaryas [spiritual teachers], we can be sure that we are praying for the right thing. This universe is cosmic sensitivity training. When we suffer, we should think, "What is Krishna trying to teach me?" I pray to increase my attraction to the devotees and to devotional service. This is description of a Hare Krishna community: "Devotees of the Supreme Lord are twenty-four hours daily engaged in glorifying the qualities and pastimes of the Supreme Lord. Their hearts and souls are constantly submerged Krishna, and they take pleasure in discussing Him with other devotees." (Bg. 10.9, purport) We have to learn how to begin spiritual conversations with people in a way that they will not be disturbed, and they can gain spiritual knowledge. We must be pleasing and inspiring. It takes work, and we have to practice. We have to find out their background, so we can think of what aspect of Krishna consciousness might inspire them. Seven steps toward more spiritual conversations from a Christian web site that may be valuable for us. 1) Make it a priority. Pray for spiritual conversations. Associate with more advanced devotees. Q: How to speak with people? A by [Gauranga Kishore:] (1) Nothing is really mundane as if comes from Krishna, so if we talk about ordinary topics with a person for the sake of inspiring them in Krishna's service that is OK. (2) Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati Thakura said that one should not tell others about Krishna if one doesn't have tendency to give respect to others. Gauranga Kishore Prabhu: The message of Bhagavad-gita is simple. God is a person. We have a loving relationship with God. If we awaken our relationship God, we will find the happiness in life that we are looking for in other things. Krishna explains to Arjuna that real happiness does not come from anything external. We say seeing is believing, but in reality, we see things according to our beliefs. The confidential message of Bhagavad-gita is that Krishna is God. Many people both at the time the Gita was spoken, and now, understand there is a God, but it is very confidential knowledge that Krishna is that God. ----- yajña-śistāśinah santo "The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin." (Bg. 3.13)  • Email to a friend • Related •  •Japa Group: Love Of God Will Come Out
As you chant Hare Krsna, your dormant love of God will come out, just as butter comes out when we churn milk. Butter is already there in milk, but it has to be brought out by the process of churning. So your love of God is there, it just has to be brought out by your chanting.  • Email to a friend • Related • •H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Harinam Initiation of Ananta dasi (Angela)Harinam (first) Initiation ceremony of Ananta dasi (Bhaktin Angela) by Prahladananda Swami. Dallas, TX PAS_Initiation-of-Ananta_2009-11-29 • Email to a friend • Related • •H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Gita Jayanti – Complete Bhagavad Gita SummaryAt the conclusion of Gita Jayanti, Prahladananda Swami gave a lecture on the Bhagavad Gita. A whirlwind tour of the Bhagavad Gita. Dallas, TX PAS_BG-Summary-GitaJayanti_2009-11-28 • Email to a friend • Related • •ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Monthly Sankirtan Festival - Gaura Purnima Special
 • Email to a friend • Related • •HH. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 3584:14 A.M. I woke up frequently during the night. I finally got up from bed at 3 a.m. It was nice welcoming Narayana Kavaca back. I am assured of his loyalty and have no anxiety about that anymore. He performed all his duties of waking the Deities, we talked a while, and then I got on with my chanting. I remember years ago one of the Beatles said that his practice of transcendental meditation was like brushing his teeth daily, just the routine. I would never want my chanting to become as mechanical and ordinary as that. There has to be something fervent about it, concentrated and extraordinary. And yet you do it every day at the same time and the same way, it's bound to become a routine. That's the nature of vaidhi bhakti, that you do it according to rules and regulations not according to greed. I do have some taste for the chanting, not like just brushing my teeth. So far I've chanted only seven rounds, but I intend to go on chanting the balance and with intensity. I'll do the best I can. I beg to Krishna to give me more empowerment in chanting the holy name so that I can chant like a child crying for his mother. Prabhupada has showed us the way, and we simply have to follow. My routine habit Prabhupada Smaranam
Here are pictures of Prabhupada talking one to one to different gentlemen in different cities. They have come to see him in his room. As usual, he sits at a low desk, on a mattress, although he is sitting upright and not leaning back. The elderly men, dressed in suit jackets are sitting somewhat awkwardly on chairs at a higher level than Prabhupada. The men look similar, with gray hair and wearing thick spectacles. The conversation is being recorded with several microphones. The recordings are preserved in the Bhaktivedanta Archives, and one can hear them today. They were usually elementary talks as the gentlemen were not much acquainted with Krishna consciousness, and Prabhupada explained the basics of Bhagavad-gita to them. Some of the men were distinguished citizens, presidents of universities, clergy men, professors, police officers, business men, and it was good public relations for Prabhupada to meet with them and give them a favorable impression of the Hare Krishna movement. But Prabhupada didn't try to flatter them or give them a sugar-coated version of Krishna's teachings. He spoke Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam as they are. He criticized democracy and its leaders. In a "if the shoe fits, wear it" attitude he spoke to the men before him and explained what ungodly behavior was and implied that if they were themselves smoking drinking, committing illicit sex and gambling, they were sinful and unfit to lead. Even when Prabhupada was blunt the men rarely became disturbed or argumentative, although there are cases where that happened too. They remained respectful and honored him as a spiritual master and the head of a religious institution. Often when the meetings were over they sincerely thanked Prabhupada, and he always distributed some prasadam to them. Prabhupada was very fond of talking one to one with respectable men or women, and he usually had several meetings in each city he visited. He used to remark, "I sometimes call them demons, and they accept it." Searching for An Axis
You start, not knowing where
"Gloria's Step" a piece of music,
His poems are better than Mary
We just read of the mass civil
This poem has no axis
The axis of this poem is
I'll keep searching for the axis
I seek the axis, and it's Free write
These two pictures show the primary practices of Krishna consciousness, japa and kirtana of the holy names. The man is wearing a brahmacari, vanaprastha or sannyasasaffron and he is demonstrating perfect form in chanting on tulasi japa beads. The forefinger does not touch the beads. The thumb and third finger push the beads in a circular movement. We cannot see the bhakta's face, but he should be enunciating with his lips and teeth and chanting out loud. Usually the beads are kept in the bag, but they can also be chanted outside, like this, as long as they don't touch the floor. It is a centuries' old practice, and it's being performed around the world in increasing numbers in increasing countries in the twenty-first century. If enough people chanted offenceless, unmotivated japa, the vices of Kali-yuga could be counteracted, and Krishna would be pleased. Animal slaughter houses would be closed, illicit sex would be stopped, intoxication would cease along with gambling. This is a simple self purifying practice for the individual. The picture of the cowherd boy with the karatalas is a demonstration of kirtana. The difference between japa and kirtana is that in kirtana the holy names are sung loudly and other people get to hear it. In this picture the deer and cows, the trees, bushes and rivers all get the opportunity to hear the holy names. The boy is chanting spontaneously and joyfully. Lord Caitanya used to hold kirtana with large numbers of people in public places. Hundreds and thousands of people would hear the melodious, tumultuous chanting and their minds would become changed. When Lord Caitanya traveled on his tour of South India He would convert everyone who heard Him chanting into blissful devotees of Krishna. Japa and kirtana must never be stopped. Without them there is no hope of spreading the Hare Krishna movement and its virtues for the confused, karma-laden people of this age. • Email to a friend • Related • •Sri Nandanandana das: Evidence the People Existed 74,000 Years Ago in IndiaScience 23 Feb 10 http://www.ox.ac.uk/images/maincolumn/9440_Mapping_of_stone_tool_artefacts_on_occupation_surface.jpg Mapping of stone tool artefacts on a Middle Palaeolithic occupation surface under the Toba ash. Newly discovered archaeological sites in southern and northern India have revealed how people lived before and after the colossal Toba volcanic eruption 74,000 years ago. Dr Michael Petraglia, School of Archaeology. An area of widespread speculation about the Toba super-eruption is that it nearly drove humanity to extinction. The fact that the Middle Palaeolithic tools of similar styles are found right before and after the Toba super-eruption, suggests that the people who survived the eruption were the same populations, using the same kinds of tools, says Dr Petraglia. The research agrees with evidence that other human ancestors, such as the Neanderthals in Europe and the small brained Hobbits in Southeastern Asia, continued to survive well after Toba.The international, multidisciplinary research team, led by Oxford University in collaboration with Indian institutions, unveiled to a conference in Oxford what it calls 'Pompeii-like excavations' beneath the Toba ash. The seven-year project examines the environment that humans lived in, their stone tools, as well as the plants and animal bones of the time. The team has concluded that many forms of life survived the super-eruption, contrary to other research which has suggested significant animal extinctions and genetic bottlenecks. According to the team, a potentially ground-breaking implication of the new work is that the species responsible for making the stone tools in India was Homo sapiens. Stone tool analysis has revealed that the artefacts consist of cores and flakes, which are classified in India as Middle Palaeolithic and are similar to those made by modern humans in Africa. 'Though we are still searching for human fossils to definitively prove the case, we are encouraged by the technological similarities. This suggests that human populations were present in India prior to 74,000 years ago, or about 15,000 years earlier than expected based on some genetic clocks,' said project director Dr Michael Petraglia, Senior Research Fellow in the School of Archaeology at the University of Oxford. This exciting new information questions the idea that the Toba super-eruption caused a worldwide environmental catastrophe. Although some scholars have speculated that the Toba volcano led to severe and wholesale environmental destruction, the Oxford-led research in India suggests that a mosaic of ecological settings was present, and some areas experienced a relatively rapid recovery after the volcanic event. The team has not discovered much bone in Toba ash sites, but in the Billasurgam cave complex in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, the researchers have found deposits which they believe range from at least 100,000 years ago to the present. They contain a wealth of animal bones such as wild cattle, carnivores and monkeys. They have also identified plant materials in the Toba ash sites and caves, yielding important information about the impact of the Toba super-eruption on the ecological settings. Dr Petraglia said: 'This exciting new information questions the idea that the Toba super-eruption caused a worldwide environmental catastrophe. That is not to say that there were no ecological effects. We do have evidence that the ash temporarily disrupted vegetative communities and it certainly choked and polluted some fresh water sources, probably causing harm to wildlife and maybe even humans.'       • Email to a friend • Related • •H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010Property and Cloth  • Email to a friend • Related • •ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhanu SwamiSrimad Bhagavatam 11.17.55 - Just do bhakti. • Email to a friend • Related • •Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: “Winter Stars” by Sara TeasdaleI went out at night alone; But when I lifted up my head From windows in my father's house, Years go, dreams go, and youth goes too, Filed under: Poetry       • Email to a friend • Related • •Dandavats.com: Live from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami
So very soon after a few days we are going to celebrate the appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore from today onwards we will discuss different topics on Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to develop our Caitanya consciousness. • Email to a friend • Related • •Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Perception
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule. 4 minutes later: 6 minutes: 10 minutes: 45 minutes: 1 hour: No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. (See original article here, quite fascinating,) The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made….. How many other things are we missing? (end article) ” In that land all speech is song, and all walking is dancing, and one’s constant companion is the flute. Everything is self-luminous, just like the sun in this material world. The human form of life is meant for understanding this transcendental land of Vrndavana, and one who is fortunate should cultivate knowledge of Vrndavana and its residents. In that supreme abode are surabhi cows that overflood the land with milk. Since not even a moment there is misused, there is no past, present or future. “An expansion of this Vrndavana, which is the supreme abode of Krsna, is also present on this earth, and superior devotees worship it as the supreme abode. However, no one can appreciate Vrndavana without being highly elevated in spiritual knowledge, Krsna consciousness. According to ordinary experience, Vrndavana appears to be just like an ordinary village, but in the eyes of a highly elevated devotee, it is as good as the original Vrndavana. A great saintly acarya has sung: ‘When will my mind be cleared of all contamination so I will be able to see Vrndavana as it is? And when will I be able to understand the literatures left by the Gosvamis so that I will be able to know of the transcendental pastimes of Radha and Krsna?’ “ Teachings Of Lord Chaitanya 31: The Supreme Perfection Do you hear the flute? Filed under: Illusions       • Email to a friend • Related • •Akrura das, Gita Coaching: POSSIBILITY THINKINGThere are always many more options available to you in any situation than you can see at any particular moment. You have to find ways how to see those options and coaching helps with that. To have a friend who cares and who is thinking for you outside of the box helps with that. You can also learn to do it yourself and make it your own habit.  • Email to a friend • Related • •Srila Prabhupada's Letters1968 February 25: "We accept Krsna on the evidence of Vedic literature. This man, who is actually Gadadhara Chatterjee, declared himself as the same Rama and Krsna. There is no evidence in the Vedic literatures that a common, unintelligent person by worshipping the goddess Kali can become an incarnation of Godhead."  • Email to a friend • Related • •Srila Prabhupada's Letters1968 February 25: "It is all bogus propaganda and anyone who follows such bogus propaganda is misled. Any movement which does not tally with the principles of Bhagavad-gita as it is, is considered unauthorized by us. Lord Caitanya's transcendental movement is not only for the present age, but for all time - past, present and future."  • Email to a friend • Related • •Srila Prabhupada's Letters1968 February 25: "Nobody can compare with the Merciful Nityananda. He can defend Himself quite well; He could have killed the sinners in an instant, but He had decided that He wanted to save these sinners. He was setting an example that we have to preach Krishna Consciousness even at the risk of personal violence."  • Email to a friend • Related • •Srila Prabhupada's Letters1969 February 25: "You may paint Guru Maharaja, myself, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Gaura Kisora, Panca-tattva, Sankirtana, etc. We have immense work to be done so you become expert painter. Continue to improve your artistic talents and it will soon come to the perfectional stage."  • Email to a friend • Related • •Srila Prabhupada's Letters1970 February 25: "Authorized means sung or composed by self-realized Acaryas. Unauthorized statements or songs should never be heard. Just like milk, although very nutritious food, if it is touched by the tongue of a serpent, it acts like poison."  • Email to a friend • Related • •Srila Prabhupada's Letters1970 February 25: "Certainly the castle which George has acquired can be turned into a nice Krsna Consciousness asrama. If George believes in my potency to spread Krishna consciousness, I shall be able to give him a plan for organizing this asrama so much so that it will be very, very attractive to everyone."  • Email to a friend • Related • •Srila Prabhupada's Letters1972 February 25 : "The art of dancing, like any art, can be engaged to glorify the Supreme Lord. Organize a classical dancing group to depict very exquisitely stories from our Krishna Book. That will be very nice proposal."  • Email to a friend • Related • •Srila Prabhupada's Letters1972 February 25: "When intelligent people begin to understand that if one becomes Krishna Conscious, that is the highest perfection of understanding philosophy, then our Krishna Consciousness Movement will advance very quickly because everyone respects the opinion of intelligent scholars."  • Email to a friend • Related • •Shalagram das, Dallas, TX, USA: Organic Versus High BrixOrganic gardening is focused on the inputs – what you put into the soil and on the plants – with the expectation of better nutrition as a result. High brix gardening is focused directly on the end result – the nutrition levels – and providing specific inputs necessary to obtain this. The methodologies are therefore [...] • Email to a friend • Related • •Japa Group: Please Join the Japa Group
 • Email to a friend • Related • •Matsyavatara das (ACBSP), Italy: Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu in AssisiBy Madhavipriya Dasi Assisi, 30 January 2010 Yesterday evening, Matsyavatara Prabhu held a confererence on Bhagavad-Gita and Divina Commedia at Santa Maria della Scala in Siena. More than two hundred people were in the audience. Once again, the Bhakti message becomes a protagonist in places that represent the peak of the Italian and European culture, and it is expressed in that universal language that connects the Orient and the West. Tomorrow, the same event will take place at Palazzo Priori in Perugia. Today, together with Shrila Gurudeva and some devotees we visit Assisi and the places where San Francesco expressed his Bhakti for God. We concentrate in front of the place where San Francesco left his body on October 3, 1226 and where he had his first mystical vision, the Church of Porziuncola. Here, Shrila Gurudeva begins to speak with words that vibrate of the highest holiness. "God shows Himself only for His sweet will. His manifestation or revelation to man is not forced by external or logical-material causes. Even undergoing the hardest asceticism doesn't compel God to give His Mercy. Only thinking of this would be offensive. To hope to receive the divine Mercy, we should have one aspiration only: realizing our real nature which is the one of servant of the Lord and surrender ourselves to His will. When the soul accepts to let itself go to God, with joy, not passively but creatively, by engaging every quality and talent to His service, the Lord reveals Himself. When our only desire is to serve God and in Him all the creatures, without expecting anything in return, because we are already gratified by doing so, the Lord manifests Himself in our heart. Shri Krishna is conquered only by Love which by definition refuses any forcing. Here, San Francesco received the Divine Mercy. Here, the Lord revealed Himself to him when Francesco didn't have any worldly desire left because he had realized their inconsistence and he was searching for the sense of life. Detachment from power and richness and from everything that is corruptible brings us close to God. When God manifests Himself in our heart, we can hear a special music, which is not produced by material instruments but by the soul." While Shrila Gurudeva speaks, in the Church there is the sound of the organ and of chants that glorify the Lord. "San Francesco decides to leave his body in this place where the Lord had manifested Himself. He welcomes "sister death" in harmony with all of the creatures, the create and the Creator, with that sentiment of pure devotion that joins him to the great Vaishnava Saints and those of all the authentic spiritual traditions. Their message is a message of hope and complete faith in God. Let's cultivate this rasa in our heart and let's always keep it with us. He who turns to the Lord with faith and in a sentiment of surrender, receives from Him all of the sustainment and love. If you raise your eyes to the sky, you can hear His voice." Upon exiting the church, we immerse ourselves in the singing of Mahamantra Hare Krishna. The names of the Lord enlighten the night, warm-up the hearts and open every way to the Lord.  • Email to a friend • Related • •Mayapur Online: Parikrama returns to Mayapur
• Email to a friend • Related • •Sita-pati dasa, AU: Madhava Yoga is Music 2010 Australia Tour Kirtan artist Madhava visits Australia for the first time in March - April, 2010. He starts a four city tour with a 24 hour kirtan in Murwillumbah on March 27 - 28, and weaves his way up and down the country over the next three weeks. Here are the dates for Madhava's tour (those that are tba will be updated as we get the information), followed by his bio. MURWILLUMBAH, NSW BYRON BAY, NSW SURFERS PARADISE, QLD SYDNEY, NSW SYDNEY, NSW MELBOURNE, VIC BRISBANE, QLD Artist Information Madhava With a tuft of matted dread-locks erupting from his otherwise shaven head, a sculpted goatee, and a host of piercings and tattoos, you expect Madhava to be a punk rocker — that is until the moment he closes his eyes, opens his mouth, and begins to sing. Before he completes one line, the sweetness captures your mind. And by the time you are repeating the refrain, you are his—hook, line, and sinker. If you had any plans for the next few hours go ahead and cancel them, and instead make yourself an appointment with the ecstatic chanting of sacred mantras. Welcome to kirtan, Madhava-style. About Kirtan: The mantras that are used in kirtan are mainly Sanskrit names for the Divine. Sanskrit is the oldest language known, and its sounds and their meanings are primordial. Kirtan is a consciousness-transforming and raising activity, where music and song are used to bring everyone together in a beautiful experience of collective expression of the divine. The mantras quiet the mind, the music frees the heart. About Madhava: When Madhava left to return to the West, his mentor Aindra impressed on him that he had to take the kirtan back with him from Vrndavan — telling him: "Now it is you who must lead the kirtan". Based in Switzerland, Madhava travels extensively through Europe and the US with his partner Radhika and his band Gaura Prema, enlivening audiences with the power of devotional kirtan. He fuses his Mauritian roots with the influences of India to produce a unique style of kirtan, but one in which the main ingredient is the heartfelt bhakti. This year Madhava visits the shores of Australia for the first time. Others on Madhava: "Madhava is a powerful and inspirational devotional singer and master of mantra singing. His music and melodies bring ecstacy to our singing and dancing, bathing us in happiness as we respond to his illuminating voice." "Madhava's singing touches the heart.... his chanting is always sweet and full of energy. It is a wonderful experience being in his kirtans." "The kirtana of Madhava has an almost magnetic influence. The mind and heart get totally attracted, then drawn into the inside world where one can meet the soul of the universe. Tune in and you will have a deeply rewarding, spiritual experience." • Email to a friend • Related • •Book Distribution News: =?Windows-1252?Q?Srila_Bhaktisiddhanta=92s_Appearance_Anniversary?=Sent by Bhakti Vikasa Swami In a lecture on this occasion in 1976 in Mayapur Srila Prabhupada quoted his Guru Maharaja: Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada . . . continued that “There is no need of establishing many temples. Better we publish some books.” He said like that. He said that “We started our Gaudiya Matha in Ultadanga. The rent was very small, and if we could gather two-hundred-fifty rupees, it was going on very nicely. But since this J. V. Datta has given us this stone, marble stone Thakurbari [Datta donated for a marble temple], our competition between the disciples has increased. So I don’t like any more. Rather, I would prefer to take out the marble stone and sell it and publish some books.” So I took that point, and he also especially advised me, “If you get money, you try to publish books.” So by his blessing it has become very successful by your cooperation. Now our books are being sold all over the world, and it is very satisfactory sale. So on this particular day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur’s advent, try to remember his words—that he wanted many books published about our philosophy, and it should be given to the English-knowing public especially, because English language is now world language. We are touring all over the world. So anywhere we speak English, it is understood, except in some places. So on this day, particularly on the advent of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, I’d especially request my disciples who are cooperating with me that you try to publish books as many as possible and distribute throughout the whole world. That will satisfy Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as well as Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. (Text D:2242189) ------------------------------------------- ------- End of Forwarded Message ------ • Email to a friend • Related • •Mayapur Online: Live from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!
Date: February 24th, 2010 Listen here HG Urmila Mataji's class. • Email to a friend • Related • •Mayapur Online: Mayapur Institute Graduation Ceremony
February 15th 2010, saw the graduation ceremony for the newest Bhaktisastri graduates at the Mayapur Institute (MI) Sri Dham Mayapur Campus. The ceremony was graced by many senior ISKCON leaders and educators. About 75 Students hailing from 34 different countries were welcomed with a very different type of invocation prayers led by Prema Vikas Das from South Africa. • Email to a friend • Related • •H.H. Mukunda Goswami: Rupa Goswami was more than importantSrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura talked of following Rupa Goswami as "our supreme desire." In his last will and testament he writes: "All of you preach the message of Rupa Goswami and Raghunath Das Goswami with great enthusiasm. Our supreme desire is to become the dust of the lotus feet of the followers of Sri Rupa Goswami." • Email to a friend • Related • •Gouranga TV: winter kirtan in Mayapur (end of 2009)winter kirtan in Mayapur (end of 2009) • Email to a friend • Related • •Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Prahladananda Swami - Harinam Initiation of Ananta dasi (Angela)Harinam (first) Initiation ceremony of Ananta dasi (Bhaktin Angela) by Prahladananda Swami. Dallas, TX Download: 2009-11-29 - Prahladananda Swami - Ananta dasi (Angela) Initiation.mp3 • Email to a friend • Related • •More Recent Articles |
By Bhakti Purusottama Swami
On 24th of Feb, Parikrama returned to Mayapur. From Rajapur Jagannath Mandir, international party proceeded towards Caitanya Mutt, Murari Gupta's Sripat, Srivas Angan and Yogapith. At Yogapith, all the parties joined together successfully completing the Parikrama. There was a Maha Harinam at Yogapith. Parikrama devotees were greeted with garlands, juice and sandalwood paste at the entrance gate of Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir. In the evening, we celebrated Sri Sri Radha-Madhava Boat festival. 
| Your requested content delivery powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 9 Thoreau Way, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA. +1.978.776.9498 |
Página PRINCIPAL
OBRAS y AUTORES CLÁSICOS
Agradecimientos
Cuadro General
Disculpen las Molestias
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario