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January 23 2011 - Planet ISKCON - 26 new articles



 
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"Planet ISKCON" - 26 new articles

  1. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Sunday 23 January 2011--Connecting with the Universal Religion--and--How to See the Reality Beyond Illusion?
  2. Japa Group: It’s Hard Work To Control The Mind
  3. Gaura Yoga, NZ: Revivify
  4. Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Cold Weather Food : Pakora / Chutney / Dal
  5. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
  6. Gaura Yoga, NZ: Wellington Anniversary
  7. Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Lecture - Prahladananda Swami - SB 10.1.18-19 - Demons & Devotees
  8. ISKCON Orlando, USA: Trivikrama Swami Srimad Bhagavatam Class 01/22/2011
  9. ISKCON Orlando, USA: Kirtan Trivikrama Swami 01/22/2011
  10. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 198
  11. Dandavats.com: Mayapur Institute Offers Groundbreaking Online Course
  12. Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Shelter
  13. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: WHAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
  14. ISKCON News.com: Snowstorm Destroys Villa Vrindavana Cow Shelter
  15. ISKCON News.com: Four New ISKCON Sannyasis Bring Total to Eighty-Four in 2011
  16. ISKCON News.com: Russia to Launch Muslim TV Channel
  17. ISKCON News.com: Waiting For Disaster and War?
  18. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Friday kirtan evening with Manor youth at the Manor
  19. ISKCON News.com: Spanish Inmates Eat Prasadam
  20. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Talk to a Yoga-kirtan group at the Kirtan-barn in Essex on Jan 19th (Part 1)
  21. H.H. Sivarama Swami
  22. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, January 22, 2011
  23. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Thursday, January 20th, 2011
  24. Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Hindu Groups Agree To Address Climate Change
  25. Gouranga TV: Lecture – Prahladananda Swami – SB 1.15 – Pandavas Pass the Test
  26. Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group
  27. More Recent Articles
  28. Search Planet ISKCON
  29. Prior Mailing Archive

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Sunday 23 January 2011--Connecting with the Universal Religion--and--How to See the Reality Beyond Illusion?

A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course(tm) Sunday 23 January 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. Today's Thought: Connecting with the Universal Religion Uploaded from New Dwarka--Los Angeles, California, USA There are many billions of people throughout the world who consider themselves religious. Generally each of them adheres to a particular religious tradition, which is in many ways similar and also in many ways different from other religious traditions. Often, they consider that their tradition is the only valid tradition, and that others who are not participants in their tradition are lost souls condemned to be denied access to the kingdom of God. In this way, they fail to see the true universal nature of religion. Unfortunately this exclusivist mentality leads to increasing chaos and conflict in a world that is already too much overburdened by chaos and conflict. Religion is supposed to be God's gift to man so that he can have a heaven on earth and qualify to return to God's kingdom upon leaving his current body. So what is going wrong? And what can be done to change it? What's going wrong is that we approach God to fulfill our desires instead of His desires. In other words we approach Him with our contaminated consciousness of subtly considering ourselves to be the Supreme. We place ourselves over Him by asking Him to serve us instead of us serving Him. This is selfishness, not selflessness. And this is what is going wrong in the hearts of practically everyone who approaches God. To change this we must teach that selfless service to Supreme Person is the only way that one can experience genuine complete happiness. If the hand wants to get nourishment, it must give the food to the belly. God is like the belly and we are like the hand. So we must give everything to God. In this way, we will be the best servants of God and all living beings including ourselves. So, the universal religion is pure selfless service to the Supreme Person, the source of all existence. The language of the universal religion takes different shapes according to the different traditions. But when one goes deep enough into any one tradition, he will arrive at exactly the same conclusion as anyone else who follows his own religious tradition deeply enough. Therefore instead of getting side tracked by the differences of the religious traditions, we should immediately try to capture the pure essence of religion, the universal religion of pure, unadulterated, selfless, loving service for the Supreme Person. The difficulty is that we currently have a drastic shortage of enlightened teachers on this planet who are fully tuned into the original, pure essence of religion, the universal religion of pure selfless devotion to God. An enlightened teacher is someone who has gone deep enough into his own tradition to find the one universal root of all traditions. He is a teacher who has fully realized the one universal or absolute truth underlying all relative truths. If planet earth had a sufficient abundance of such enlightened teachers in each tradition, there could be instituted a global educational system which would easily bring to this tattered global society a truly profound golden era of peace, prosperity, and happiness for all. This is the day that we are praying and crying for, Lord. May it come soon! May it come soon! May it come soon! Sankarshan Das Adhikari Today's Thought for the Day was inspired by a conversation I had over breakfast on Saturday 22 January 2011 at ISKCON's center in Los Angeles, California, USA with Dr. Francis Clooney, the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at the Harvard Divinity School--Harvard University http://www.backtohome.com/images/FrancisClooney.jpg Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: How to See the Reality Beyond Illusion? How can one open one's heart to the reality beyond this world of illusion? I can only see this world of illusion. Deepa Answer: Open Your Heart to Krishna You have to open your heart to Krishna by regularly chanting His holy names on a daily basis. And then when your heart becomes completely pure, the curtain of the material energy will be withdrawn and you will perceive Krishna, the ultimate source of reality, face to face, eye to eye. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2010-2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:

 
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Japa Group: It’s Hard Work To Control The Mind


We actually like to space out when we chant. It’s easy, it’s easier than concentrating, it’s hard work to control the mind. It is hard work to concentrate. So that’s why you have to develop internal momentum, you get the speed, you get the determination, the sankalpa developed in the mind.

From the Process Of Improving Habits
by Mahanidhi Swami
 
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Gaura Yoga, NZ: Revivify

Recharge yourself inside and out, using holistic tools which make you feel light and energised all year round! Based on the premise that a healthy mind leads to a healthy body, we will explore how to balance our habits and transition into a healthy way of living, which ultimately leads to happiness.

The 2 day rejuvenation retreat is located at Gaura Haven located in the native bush of Otaki Gorge. Garden fresh meals, yoga classes if you fancy, wilderness walks and time to relax!

 
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Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Cold Weather Food : Pakora / Chutney / Dal

 

 

Moong Dal w/ tomato and asparagus : Cauliflower Pakora : American-style Tomato Chutney

 

The morning scene: Kids juicing locally picked Florida grapefruit in the kitchen.

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

23/01/11

It seems that like a torrent of jasmine is pouring from the celestial abodes.

Indeed, the little gopis in training, Vidya and Radhika, were methodically picking Srimati Radharani's favourite flowers just after the Brahma-muhurta hours, for the pleasure their swamini.

Also Radha Carana Prabhu has added his french flair to Sri Sri Radha Ballabha to heighten Their elegance;
Bhaktiman Prabhu put all his heart in dressing Sri Sri Gaura Nitai;
and Sri Yasoda showed her devotion to Sri Jagannatha and Baladeva through those 'grandiose' turbans.

Here's the darsana of Their Lordships rejoicing in the sea of Their devotees' love for Them.



 
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Gaura Yoga, NZ: Wellington Anniversary

Gaura Yoga is open on Monday 24 January.

 
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Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Lecture - Prahladananda Swami - SB 10.1.18-19 - Demons & Devotees

Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 1, Texts 18-19 by Prahladananda Swami - "Demons and Devotees".  

Dallas, TX
2010-12-10

10.1.18

gaur bhutvasru-mukhi khinna
krandanti karunam vibhoh
upasthitantike tasmai
vyasanam samavocata

TRANSLATION

Mother earth assumed the form of a cow. Very much distressed, with tears in her eyes, she appeared before Lord Brahma and told him about her misfortune.

10.1.19

brahma tad-upadharyatha
saha devais taya saha
jagama sa-tri-nayanas
tiram kshira-payo-nidheh

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, having heard of the distress of mother earth, Lord Brahma, with mother earth, Lord Siva and all the other demigods, approached the shore of the ocean of milk.

PURPORT

After Lord Brahma understood the precarious condition of the earth, he first visited the demigods headed by Lord Indra, who are in charge of the various affairs of this universe, and Lord Siva, who is responsible for annihilation. Both maintenance and annihilation go on perpetually, under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (4.8), paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca dushkritam. Those who are obedient to the laws of God are protected by different servants and demigods, whereas those who are undesirable are vanquished by Lord Siva. Lord Brahma first met all the demigods, including Lord Siva. Then, along with mother earth, they went to the shore of the ocean of milk, where Lord Vishnu lies on a white island, Svetadvipa.

 
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ISKCON Orlando, USA: Trivikrama Swami Srimad Bhagavatam Class 01/22/2011

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ISKCON Orlando, USA: Kirtan Trivikrama Swami 01/22/2011

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 198

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

2:02 P.M.

Ever since the colonoscopy my stomach has been bubbling and unrestful. I slept until seven in the morning and then had breakfast and went back to bed. I slept from 8:00 in the morning until 12:30 P.M. Baladeva teased me, “And sometimes he hibernates, and sometimes he comes out of his hibernation.”But he was glad that I was getting so much sleep, since I am exhausted. At lunch we read from Srimad Bhagavatam about King Yudhisthira’s lamentation at having killed so many millions of people in the battle of Kuruksetra. He took the blame all for himself and said he had done it for his self-aggrandizement and that Duryodhana was ruling the country well. He should not have thought like that, but he took the guilt upon himself. He was a good, moral man. The use of weapons in a justified cause is sanctioned in Vedic literature. Krishna urged Arjuna to fight, and Rama took His armies to fight and kill Ravana. The Vedic literature is not in favor of ultimate gun control, where weapons should never be used. But it is a great shame and tragedy that so many innocent people had to be killed in the war. The war at Kuruksetra, where many children and women were killed, reminds us of Steinbeck’s Once There Was a War. Steinbeck’s war seems even more realistic as we tend to think that the Vedic wars were mythological and they happened long, long ago, before there were any real weapons. But to hear of the plywood boats, the Navy PT boats, and the dropping of bombs by the Germans on the movie theatre attended by children seems so much realistic and believable. Both wars were believable and took place, only the Kuruksetra wars took place on a much greater scale, with more sophisticated weapons and more people killed. The wars of the twentieth century are more believable and tragic because our mothers and fathers died in those wars and the cruelty was so recent.

I have to tell my readers that I’m not up to speed in keeping my journal. Going to the hospital and then worrying about colonoscopy have knocked me off the track. I think all of us go through periods like this when we can’t do our work regularly, where we’re not inspired. I hope to come out of it, however, and write more quantity and be more inspired to write.

You should not bash yourself for not writing better and more. You have done so much, riding in the van across Europe and stopping for writing retreats, where you would write what comes to your head. Repeated, extended visits to Vrndavana, where you would write of Vrndavana. Long loose novels with plots, experimental short stories and lots of poems, lots of poems. I don’t want to think I’m petering out. It’s just a certain phase, not permanent old age slowing down. You’ll pick up again in different ways. What about all the snow, the winter cold, is that holding you down? I don’t want to think so. Don’t turn to television and movies. Don’t turn to sleep. Baseball catcher Roy Campanella said, “A slump starts in the arms, then it goes to the hands, and then it goes to the stomach, and then it goes to the mind.” And how wonderful when you’re hitting well! It can be like Alice in Wonderland, or dark stars of night. You can be just rolling down a trail with not certainty where it’s going–but it’s going, with characters and paths. Live in the present, don’t hold me down. We are driving across the plains. It’s in the middle of a dream. The dog next door has stopped barking because Baladeva gives them two dozen cookies once a week. I’m getting back my life. The blood is flowing again. You don’t want to sleep so much. The birds don’t come as much to the feeder, but they still come. A bird of prey, and the cat scared them away. He’s glad I asked for more than one massage a week, but do I want more than that? You could go down and talk to Narayana-kavaca again if he’d be interested to talk and if you’re interested to talk. Has Baladeva gone shopping? Should I ask Bhakti-rasa to read to me? Why does a woman have to suffer when she goes through her period? What’s that about? I just have to find a desire for something new. I have a Ski Magazine I want to give to Laksmana. He’s interested in skiing, baseball, football, playing in the snow, eating, lots of childhood things that hold his interest. Subhadra is also interested in lots of things, but Kaulini is entering some teenage petulance. I am pulling out of midwinter sickness. I can find my way again.

 
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Dandavats.com: Mayapur Institute Offers Groundbreaking Online Course

By Madhava Smullen

After the success of a pilot Bhakti Sastri Online course by the Mayapur Institute for Higher Education (MIHE), the Institute will offer another round of this groundbreaking step in ISKCON education from January 29th 2011 to April 29th 2012

 
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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Shelter

The last 2 pictures (from the newly found envelope containing 7 pictures) are of great significance to me. These 2 pictures are of myself, Subhavilasa das and my wife, Ashalata devi dasi taking initiation. It took us some time to get to this stage, however when we got there we understood this was a lifetime commitment and we were very fortunate to be getting the Shleter of Srila Prabhupada.

We are so blessed to get initiation from the greatest Acharya of modern times, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. We were blessed to take initiation in Srila Prabhupada's beloved New Remuna Dham (ISKCON Toronto) and in front of the ever merciful Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha.We were also blessed by so many Godbrothers and Godsisters who prepared and encouraged us. For the blessings of our Guru, Srila Prabhupada and our Godbrothers and Godsisters, we will be forever grateful. Everyday we continue to beg Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha for Their mercy and shelter.

So without requiring much more explanation, we titled these pictures, "Shelter".   
Picture

Shelter

Picture
So guru means spiritual master means who can deliver one from this forest fire. Just like when there is forest fire, the animals are very much disturbed, and they die mostly. The snakes, they die immediately. So this forest fire, saṁsāra-dāvānala, is going on perpetually, and the person or the authorized person who can deliver you from this forest fire of material existence, he's called guru, or the spiritual master. Saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam. How he delivers? What is his means? The same example. Where there is fire in the forest, you cannot send fire brigade, or you cannot go there with bucketful of waters to extinguish the fire. That is not possible. Then how it will be extinguished? Fire means it requires water to be extinguished. But where the water is coming from? From your bucket or from your fire brigade? No. It must come from the sky. It must come from the sky. When there will be torrents of rain from the sky, this forest fire, blazing forest fire will be extinguished. So these rains from the sky, it does not depend on your scientific propaganda or manipulation. It depends on the mercy of the Supreme Lord. So the spiritual master is compared with the cloud. Just like from the cloud there is torrents of rain, similarly, a spiritual master is considered just like cloud. Saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka ** . Just like cloud takes the water from the sea-cloud hasn't got its own water; cloud takes water from the sea—similarly, a spiritual master brings mercy from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just see the comparison. He has no own mercy, but he carries the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the qualification of spiritual master. A spiritual master will never say that "I am God. I can give you mercy." No. That is not spiritual master. That is a bogus, pretender. A spiritual master will say, "I am servant of God. I have brought His mercy. Please take it and be satisfied." This is spiritual master's business. Just like a post peon. A post peon, when he delivers you some large amount of money, it is not his own money. The money is sent by somebody else. But he honestly delivers you: "Sir, here is your money. Take it." So you become very much satisfied with the peon. Although it is not his money, but when, in case of need, you get the money sent by your father or somebody else, brought by the peon, on oh, you get very much satisfaction. Similarly, we are all suffering in this blazing fire of material existence. The spiritual master brings the message from the Supreme Lord and delivers you. And if you kindly accept, then you'll be satisfied. This is the business of the spiritual master.

saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya-kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇarṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam **

So spiritual master is offered obeisances: "Sir, you have brought the mercy from the Supreme Lord. Therefore we are much obliged to you. To deliver us, you have come. We offer our respectful obeisances." This is the meaning of this verse. Vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam. That means the first qualification of the spiritual master, or guru, is to deliver you some message by which immediately your blazing fire in the heart will be stopped. This is the test.

Everyone has blazing fire within the heart. That is the proof of material existence. Nobody is without anxieties. That blazing fire means anxieties, always. Everyone has got anxieties. Even the small bird, he has got anxiety. You give the small bird some grains to eat, he'll eat it. But he's not very peacefully eating. He'll see this way, that way, "If somebody's coming to kill me?" Yes. This is material existence. Everyone... Even President Nixon, he's also full of anxieties, what to speak of others. Even Gandhi, in our country, he was full of anxieties. All politicians, they're full of anxiety; although they hold very exalted post, still the material disease, anxiety, is there. So if you want to be anxiety-less, without any anxiety, then you must take shelter of the guru, or the spiritual master, and the test is that by the instruction of guru, by following the instruction of guru, you will be anxiety-less. This is the test.

saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam **

Don't make a cheap guru or a fashion guru, just like you keep sometimes a dog as a fashion. Similarly, if you want to keep a dog, or if you want to keep a guru as a fashion—"I have got a guru"—that will not help. You must accept a guru who can extinguish the blazing fire of anxiety within your heart. That is the first test of a guru.

And the second test is, mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-vaditra-mādyan manaso rasena. The guru... Second system, symptom, is that guru is always engaged in chanting Mahāprabhu, glorifying Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. That is his business. Mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta. He's dancing and chanting in the... By chanting the holy name of the Lord... Because this is the remedy for all calamities within this material world at the present moment. At the present moment, nobody can meditate. The so-called meditation is humbug. It is very difficult to meditate in this disturbing age of Kali. Therefore śāstra says, kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇum SB 12.3.52 . Meditation means dhyāna, dhyāyato. So Kṛte, in the Satya-yuga, when people used to live for 100,000's of years... The Vālmīki Muni, he got perfection by meditation after meditating for sixty thousands of years. So there is no guarantee whether we are going to live for sixty years or sixty hours. So meditation is not possible in this age. That was possible in the Satya-yuga. Then the next path is performing rituals as they are enjoined in the Vedic śāstra. Kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ. Yajato makhaiḥ. Makhaiḥ means performing big, big sacrifices. It requires huge lots of money. They, in this age, people are very poor. They cannot perform. Dvāpare paricaryāyām. And in the Dvāpara-yuga it was possible to worship the Deity in the temple. But nowadays, in this Kali-yuga, that is also very impossible fact. Therefore, the general recommendation is, kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt: "In this age of Kali, simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, you can get all perfection." All perfection. That is the... Our this movement, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is meant for that purpose. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu... The picture is there, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Here, Ṣaḍ-bhūja. So He inaugurated this movement five hundred years ago, chanting. Chanting and dancing. So this is going on for the last five hundred years. In India it is very popular, but in the Western countries, we have just introduced five or six years ago, and people are taking to it, and they are feeling happy. So this is the only process. Therefore, the guru is always engaged in chanting. Mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta ** , Chanting and dancing. Unless he performs himself, how he can teach his disciple?

So first symptom is that he will give you such instruction that immediately you will feel relief from all anxieties. And the second symptom is that he's personally engaged also in chanting and dancing the holy name of the Lord. Mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-vaditra-mādyan manaso rasena. And enjoy the transcendental bliss within the mind by chanting and dancing. Unless you become blissful, very happy, you cannot dance. It is not... Artificially, you cannot dance. These dances, they are not artificial. They feel some transcendental bliss; therefore they dance. It is not they are dancing dog. No. They dance from the spiritual platform. Vaditra-mādyan manaso rasena. Romāñca-kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo. And there are sometimes transformation of the body with spiritual symptoms—sometimes crying, sometimes there is, I mean to..., swelling on the end of the hairs. There are so many symptoms. These are later. These are not to be imitated. But when one is spiritually advanced, these symptoms are visible. This is the second symptom of guru. And the third is:

śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā-
śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau
yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato 'pi
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam **

The spiritual master's duty is to engage the disciples in Deity worship, śrī-vigraha. Śrī-vigraha. In our centers, all centers... We have got about..., more than one hundred centers all over the world. We have got the method of Deity worship. Here we have not yet established, but we worship the picture of Lord Caitanya and guru. But in other centers... In London, we have got two centers, two temples. In America we have got about forty centers. In this way, in each and every center, there is Deity worship. Śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā: to worship the Deity, to dress the Deity very nicely; to cleanse the temple very nicely; to offer nice foodstuff to the Deity and accept the remnants of the foodstuff as our eating. In this way, there is method of Deity worship. The Deity worship is done by guru himself, and he engages the disciple also in that business. This is the third symptom. Śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā-śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mār janādau, yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato 'pi. Not that he is not engaged. He is also engaged. His disciples are engaged. He's always showing, "Do like that. Do like that. Do like that." Or sometimes, if he cannot, the guru shows how to do it. That is the business of guru.

Then fourth symptom is:

catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda-
svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān
kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam **
 
The fourth symptom is that a guru, the spiritual master, encourages prasāda distribution, remnants of foodstuff distributed to the public. Ours is not dry philosophy, simply we talk and go home. No. We distribute prasādam, very sumptuous prasādam. In every temple, anyone who comes, we can offer prasādam. In each and every temple, we have got already from fifty to two hundred devotees. And outsiders also, they come and take prasādam. This is an... This introduction is also another symptom of guru, prasāda distribution. Catur-vidha. Not ordinary. Catur-vidha means four kinds of eatables: carvya, cūṣya, lehya, peya. Something is chewed, something is swallowed up, something is licked up. In this way, there are different kinds of palatable dishes. Catur-vidha-śrī... Catur-vidha means four kinds of different types of varieties of prasādam. Catur-vidha-śrī... Śrī-bhagavat-prasādam. Śrī means opulent. If you eat bhagavat-prasādam, then gradually you become spiritualized. It has got the potency. If you eat the prasādam. Therefore it is said that realization of God can be done by the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau [Brs . 1.2.234] . If you engage your tongue in the service of the Lord, then you realize God realization. So what is that tongue engagement? The tongue engagement is you chant the holy name of the Lord, and you take the prasādam, remnants of foodstuff given to the Lord. Then you become self-realized, God realized. By these two methods. You don't require to be very highly educated philosopher, scientist, and a rich man and..., to realize God. If you sincerely engage your tongue only in the service of the Lord, you realize Him. It is so simple thing. It is not very difficult. Therefore, this prasādam program is there, introduced by the guru, spiritual master. Śrī-vigra... Catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda-svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān. Hari-bhakta-saṅga means association of the devotees. These things are done... Outside we cannot do it. But if there are some devotees, we can order, "Please do it. Distribute like this. Do like this." Therefore hari-bhakta-saṅghān. Kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva. And when he's fully satisfied that the prasāda distribution is going on, he's very much pleased and engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord by chanting and dancing. This is the fourth symptom.

And fifth symptom is:

śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra-
mādhurya-līlā-guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām
prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya... **

What is that? Anyway. Vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam. And the spiritual master is always thinking of the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. Śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra: with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, His consort, and the gopīs. That is always his thinking. Sometimes he's thinking about His pastimes with the cowherds boys. That means that he's engaged always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, engaged in some kind of pastime. Śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra-mādhurya-līlā-guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām pratikṣaṇa asvādana lolupasya. Pratikṣaṇa, twenty-four hours, he's thinking. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One must be engaged twenty-four hours in thinking of Kṛṣṇa. You have to make your such program. Just like we have, at least, made such program. All these boys and girls, those who are engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, they are engaged twenty-four hours. Not officially, once in a week, they meditate or go to some temple. No. Not like that. Twenty-four hours. Twenty-four hours. They have got engagement twenty-four hours. Ask anyone how they are engaged. You can ask.

The next symptom is... What is that?

Haṁsadūta: Nikuñja-yūno.

Prabhupāda: Nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā ** . So the ultimate goal of the spiritual master is that he wants to be transferred to the planet of Kṛṣṇa, where he wants to associate with the gopīs to help them to serve Kṛṣṇa. Some, some of them are, some of the devotees, spiritual master, they are thinking of becoming assistants to the gopīs, some of them are thinking to be assistants to the cowherds boy, some of them are thinking to be assistant to mother Yaśodā or Nanda, and some of them are thinking to the servants of God. Or some of them are thinking how to become a flower, tree, a fruit tree or a calf or a cow in Vṛndāvana. There are five kinds of mellows: śānta, dāsya, sākhya, vātsalya and mādhurya. The... Everything is there spiritual. That I shall describe next. Cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu. So in the spiritual sky, the land is spiritual, the tree is spiritual, the fruit is spiritual, the flower is spiritual, the water is spiritual, the servant is spiritual, the friend is spiritual, the Lord is spiritual and His associates are spiritual. Everything. Therefore oneness, Absolute Truth, everything absolute. Although there are varieties, these varieties, the spiritual varieties, are simply reflection in this material world. Just like there is a tree on the bank of the river. That is reflected in the water. But reflected how? The top has gone down. The topmost thing has gone down. So this material world is the reflection of the spiritual world—but perverted reflection. In the spiritual world, there is love between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is always young. Nava-yauvanaṁ ca [Bs. 5.33] . And Rādhārāṇī is also always young. Pleasure potency of Kṛṣṇa. We worship: śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra ** . Mādhava. Jaya jaya Rādhā-Mādhava. We worship not Kṛṣṇa alone—with His eternal consort, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. So there is eternal love between Rādhārāṇī and Kṛṣṇa. Therefore in the Vedānta-sūtra, it is said, janmādy asya yataḥ SB 1.1.1 . This Absolute Truth means wherefrom everything comes, emanates. Just like here we find love between mother and son, love between wife and husband, love between master and servant, love between friends and friends, love between master and the dog or the cat or the cow. Same thing. These are only reflection of the spiritual world. The same thing is there. Kṛṣṇa is also good lover of the animals, calves and cows. As we love here dogs and cats, Kṛṣṇa loves there cows and calves. You have seen the picture of Kṛṣṇa. So the propensity to love even an animal is there. Otherwise how it can be reflected here? This is simply shadow reflection. If, in the reality, there is nothing like that, then how it can be reflected here? So everything is there. Therefore, that mellow, to understand, you have to practice. Here we have got frustration. Here we love. A man loves a woman or woman loves a man. But there is frustration. After some time, they are separated, they divorce, because it is perverted reflection. There is no real love in this material world. It is simply lust. Real love is in the spiritual world between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Real love is between Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs. Real love, the friendship is there between Kṛṣṇa and His cowherds boys. Real love between animal and man is there. Kṛṣṇa is loving the cows and calves. Real love between trees, flowers, water, simply that is the platform of love. That is spiritual world. Everything love.

So we are simply satisfied within this material world by the shadow reflection of such thing, as in the spiritual world. Therefore we have got this opportunity of human life. Let us understand Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Let us understand Kṛṣṇa. And if you simply understand Kṛṣṇa, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ... Tattvataḥ, in truth, not superficially. Learn this science of Kṛṣṇa. Janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya BG 4.9 . This is the instruction: if you simply try to love. The process is that you worship the Deity, you take the prasādam, you chant the holy name, you follow the instruction of the spiritual master. In this way you'll be trained up how to understand Kṛṣṇa, and then you life is successful. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa.
 
~ Srila Prabhupada, Lecture on Gurvastakam, Stockholm, 09/09/73
 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: WHAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

It is not what happens to you but what you do with it that makes a difference.

 
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ISKCON News.com: Snowstorm Destroys Villa Vrindavana Cow Shelter

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News on 21 Jan 2011

Devotees in ISKCON Italy’s rural Villa Vrindavana community are still struggling to recover after a violent snowfall in the Florence area on Friday, December 17th paralyzed the farm and completely destroyed the tent-shelter in which its cows were housed.


 
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ISKCON News.com: Four New ISKCON Sannyasis Bring Total to Eighty-Four in 2011

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News on 21 Jan 2011

Four dedicated devotees took the vow of sannyasa—renounced, traveling celibate monks—in 2010, bringing the number of ISKCON sannyasis up to eighty-four. Sannyasa Minister Prahladananda Swami, who has been a sannyasi for twenty-eight years, says that each of the new sannyasis were especially qualified candidates.


 
 
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ISKCON News.com: Russia to Launch Muslim TV Channel

By Amie Ferris-Rotman for Reuters on 18 Jan 2011

Russia will soon launch a Muslim television channel in the hope it will foster tolerance after the capital saw some of the worst clashes since the fall of the Soviet Union.


 
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ISKCON News.com: Waiting For Disaster and War?

By Keshava Krishna Das for ISKCON News on 21 Jan 2011

We oftentimes hear devotees say that their preaching efforts might become easier if a disaster strikes somewhere, or everywhere. More suffering should mean more turning towards spirituality and God. Will things be as simple as this?


 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Friday kirtan evening with Manor youth at the Manor

 
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ISKCON News.com: Spanish Inmates Eat Prasadam

By Krishna Kripa Dasa for dandavats.com on 15 Jan 2011

It was for that second time that ISKCON devotees did prasadam distribution in the Prison of Ceuta, Spain. It is the only prison in Spain and in the entire European Union that serves a full vegetarian menu at least once in a year to all inmates.


 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Talk to a Yoga-kirtan group at the Kirtan-barn in Essex on Jan 19th (Part 1)

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami

Arjuna attained spiritual perfection by devotional service to the Lord in friendship. The fighting was there, the friendship was there, Arjuna was there, and Krsna was there, but Arjuna became a different person by devotional service.

- Srila Prabhupada

 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, January 22, 2011

Surgery Update

Yesterday morning the surgery was successfully performed.
HH Bhaktimarga swami is recovering in hospital nicely.

Sincerely
Vrindavan das
Blog admin on behalf of HH Bhaktimarga swami.

 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Thursday, January 20th, 2011

Will this Happen to Me?

Thornhill, Ontario

And speaking of shuffling along I still see the image of my dear Godbrother, a monk from New York, Romapada Swami, in my mind’s eye, forging ever so slowly ahead in the same street of Rosedale that I walked today. The swami came to Toronto to the world -renowned Shouldice Hospital for hernia surgery. It was a good twenty years ago or more that I walked beside him at what seemed to me to be a snail’s pace. He was hurting or at least he was careful and frankly I can’t recall if the stroll was before or after the operation.

One thing that was clearly set in to the recesses of my recollection was my inner thought at that time. “I wonder if this will happen to me? “ And sure enough it is happening. I find myself in the Shouldice getting first of all orientated with a shared room, the staff and the surroundings (beautiful grounds around).

I had to come to the self-admission that the machinery (this body) is needing repair from time to time. I’m not invincible or immortal but let’s settle for the word invincible first because mortality will find its way “down the road” (please Krishna). Wasn’t the word ”unsinkable” used to describe the Titanic before it set sail on that fateful journey? Invincible, unsinkable is practically the same thing.

On that summer along with the swami I do recall thinking that all my daily walking, all the exercise, should spare me of what my monk friend is going through. But no! Not a chance! Anything can happen to anyone. It’s profound.

And so the ego would say, “Oh no, not me!” The Truth will reveal otherwise. If we don’t see truth through a deductive rationale then hopefully it will work its way through another channel but it’s always there.

Here’s to quote Robert Browning:

“Truth is within ourselves; it takes no rise from outward things, whatever you may believe. There is an inmost center in us all, where truth abides in fullness”.

 
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Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Hindu Groups Agree To Address Climate Change

By Lal Krishna Das for ISKCON News on 14 Jan 2011
Image: www.greenpeace.org
India`s future of India hold up tiny windmills

National Hindu groups in India have pledged to make addressing environmental damage a top priority. Joining a growing international network of Hindu organizations, they will endorse ethically sourced food, waste recycling, and promote good environmental practice to their members.

Meeting in New Delhi on January 4th, the groups discussed their current and future environmental plans. Convened by the Bhumi Project, this meeting followed a similar successful meeting of Hindu leaders in England in 2009. Hindu leaders from Africa and America are now planning to meet later this year. The Delhi participants, comprising a large cross-section of Hindu groups, unanimously agreed that environmental damage is one of the biggest problems facing modern India.

Sudhir Garg, of Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust, explained “Indian tradition and culture is rich in good environmental practice. At a time when the world is looking for alternative solutions to environmental damage, there is much we can offer. This is an opportunity to show how our tradition can help with modern concerns and issues.”

The Bhumi Project is facilitated by the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS), in partnership with the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), and backing from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Using Indian scripture and traditional culture, they promote lifestyle choices that are in line with Hindu religion and kind to the Earth. Gopal-Lila Patel, Project Manager for the project commented, “Weʼre not asking people to do anything new. Weʼre simply encouraging them to re-learn the teachings of the past; to re-examine the principles and practices their forefathers lived by – whatever their religious background.”

Whilst all organisations present are already doing considerable environmental work, all agreed more was needed to be done, and that collaboration was vital for success.

Bharat Vig of the Art of Living Foundation, commented quoting Sri Sri Ravi Shankar “It has to be noted that the ultimate aim of sustainable development is to preserve the planet earth, replenish, not deplete its resources and make life a celebration.”

Susie Weldon, of ARC, noted, “India is one of the three countries which will decide the environmental future of the world. This meeting is the beginning of a process which will hopefully see many more Hindu groups take seriously the issue of environmental harm, and work together to address it.”

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The Bhumi Project is an international Hindu response to climate change launched at Windsor Castle in November 2009 with HRH Prince Philip and HE Ban Ki-moon. Using Hindu perspectives, teachings, and ancient culture, they work with temples and organisations to help encourage the Hindu community take a more active role in the care and protection of the planet.

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies is a Recognised Independent Centre of the University of Oxford. The principal aim of the Centre is the study of Hindu culture, religion, languages, literature, philosophy, history, arts and society, in all periods and in all parts of the world. All Hindu traditions are included.

The Alliance of Religions and Conservation is a secular body that helps the major religions of the world to develop their own environmental programmes, based on their own core teachings, beliefs and practices. They help the religions link with key environmental organisations in creating powerful alliances between faith communities and conservation groups. ARC was founded in 1995 by HRH Prince Philip. They now work with 11 major faiths through the key traditions within each faith.


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Gouranga TV: Lecture – Prahladananda Swami – SB 1.15 – Pandavas Pass the Test

Lecture – Prahladananda Swami – SB 1.15 – Pandavas Pass the Test



 
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