"Planet ISKCON" - 47 new articles
Kirtan Australia.com: Madhava "Yoga is Music" 2010 Australian Tour Video
 Thanks to Vrajadhama, who accompanied the tour as engineer and cameraman, here is a video of highlights from Madhava’s recent Australia tour. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Sunday Feast Recording - May 16, 2010The recording for this week's Sunday Feast (Ratha-Yatra Launch Day) can be viewed by clicking the image below. As a reminder, the recordings from our weekly live web broadcasts are stored on our ISKCON Toronto Video Archive Blog.  H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, May 15th, 2010About Our Troupe Group  H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Friday, May 14th, 2010Caution You Culprits!  H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Thursday, May 13th, 2010Veggie Walk  ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gopa-vrndesha PrabhuSrimad Bhagavatam 11.20.27-28 - A devotee must persevere in their devotional practice in spite of so much material contamination within the heart. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sunday, May 16, 2010     Srila Prabhupada's Letters1966 May 16: "I know you well and I think once we met at Vrindaban and I took prasadam in your Matha behind the Ranganatha Temple. Perhaps you saw my paper also Back to Godhead."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1971 May 16: "It is so much encouraging to hear how eagerly the high school boys and girls are taking to your preaching, so continue this program. And thank you very much for your good feelings. I shall be returning very soon."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1972 May 16: "If the Americans can take this up seriously, why not others? We are trying to unify the whole population of this globe by this movement. There are blessings of Lord Caitanya in this connection, and if we try sincerely it will be successful."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1972 May 16: "My dear Acyutananda, sometime ago you asked my permission for accepting some disciples, now the time is approaching very soon when you will have many disciples by your strong preaching work."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1972 May 16: "Last time you told me that Lalita Prasad wanted to see me and according to his desire I saw him. And the proposal was accepted by him. Now it appears he has changed his mind so what can be done?"  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1973 May 16: "Regarding fourth canto, go on and prepare for publishing as quickly as possible. The first six volumes are selling very well so we may print more volumes and they will also sell."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1974 may 16: "Religious systems up to the idea of liberation are cheating. Actually there is no religion in the world accept Bhagavat religion, namely surrendering to the lotus feet of the Lord. This means the bhakti marga is the only religion."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1974 May 16: "I have not done anything personally, very wonderful. If I have done anything of credit it is that I have not changed their teachings. I have not added anything of my own interpretation."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1966 May 15:  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1969 May 15: "If we cannot organize these sales, there is no use of printing books and stocking them in our store room. It would be better to hand it over to the MacMillan Company."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1971 May 15: "Now you say August 1st, but last time you said June 1st, so how long this delaying business shall go on? Our Bhagavad-gita As It Is is too much important to the world."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1972 May 15: "So far our investing, where is our money to invest? We have no money to invest. Our process is to collect and spend, from left hand to right hand, or from right hand to left hand."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1972 May 15: "We have taken a very responsible task. At the present moment, to speak the truth, the whole population of the world are demons and animals. It may be a very strong aspersion but this is the fact."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1972 May 15: "The people are so mad, they are talking so many nonsense things - nonsense philosophy, nonsense science - and our task is to meet all of them and at the same time pacify them in their lunatic condition."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1974 May 15: "There is a Festival in Rome, and then Geneva for another festival and for meetings with the World Health Council. Then Paris and Amsterdam and on to Koln, and then Heidelberg and Sweden. Rathayatra in Chicago and then San Francisco on July 8th."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1975 May 15: "Why these books are not being published? This is our first business. Immediately, these pending books must all be published. Why the delay?"  H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: '438' from The Yellow Submarine4:12 A.M.I slept well but did not wake until the alarm went off at 2:30. Somehow my chanting was very slow, and I've only chanted eight rounds up to this point. My chanting was a bit "spaced out" and not concentrated on chanting quickly and with attention. I will try to improve with the big remainder of rounds I have to chant. Chanting but not H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 'Dancing at Ratha Yatra' from The Yellow SubmarinePrabhupada Smaranam
This is a famous picture, a wonderful moment. It is the 1974 San Francisco Ratha Yatra at Golden Gate Park. The cart in which Prabhupada has been sitting and riding has come to a halt. He rises to his feet, raises his hands like Lord Caitanya and makes little leaps with his feet. All the devotees go wild and start leaping in the air, raising their arms, playing karatalas and mrdangas and all sing Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare. They are amazed that Prabhupada can dance like this. He is causing a mass ecstasy. All they know is that he is jumping and they are jumping and that it is a state of exalted delight, joy and rapture. These are overpowering emotions involving temporary loss of consciousness. This is the highest mysticism of Krishna consciousness—caused by Prabhupada's dancing. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 'Songs of a Hare Krishna Man (take 6)' from The Yellow SubmarineSongs of a Hare Krishna Man (take 6)Do you think because you have "I am blowing this one on a Sunday morning I said there was nothing new and that was all right. It The cardiologist was gentle In Songs I keep departing from Kerouac and returning In "Songs," I ran around Learn it well or if you Tough and heavy are the vows I'm getting tired again Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: fully Krsna consciousWhen Visala dasa asked Srila Prabhupada what it means to be fully Krsna conscious, Srila Prabhupada replied, "To be fully Krsna conscious means to realize that Krsna is the supreme master and everyone else is His eternal servant, and we no longer try to imitate Krsna by being the supreme enjoyer." ISKCON News.com: Campaign Against Yamuna Overpass Continues
H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 'The Sign' from The Yellow SubmarineFree write
What do they mean? Is it an indirect way of saying "Go away"? There are no Deities here, it is not a temple, there are no pictures to look at. But you pique our curiosity, you challenge us. We can think of something we want to do here, a reason to visit. We can, two of us or more, sit on that green bench or on the white floor — and talk topics of Krishna consciousness. On His tour of South India, Lord Caitanya would have talks with other sadhus on mountaintops or caves. It doesn't have to be a special place. Prabhupada would talk in his little garden in Los Angeles. There was nothing to visit there, but when he was there it was a holy tirtha. Why is there nothing to visit here? Wherever you engage in Krishna–kathah, that place becomes a holy spot. There are lush bushes growing, and a pleasant, secluded atmosphere. The Buddhists believe in "No-thing." They believe there is nothing to visit because everything is ultimately illusion. But the Vaisnavas believe the material world is real because it is God's energy. It is real but it is temporary. So for the Vaisnava there is something to visit in any place, provided we use the place to perform devotional service. The green pleasant spot in this picture is a nice place for chanting and hearing (sravanam-kirtanam) and, technically speaking, Krishna is there. So there is something to visit. The sign should be replaced with one that says, "Come here and visit. By virtue of the 24 principles of Krishna consciousness, there's plenty to visit." It is a mistake to say there is nothing to visit. Kurma dasa, AU: La Trobe University Vegetarian Cooking Classes with Kurma
In less than two weeks I'll be teaching some seriously delicious vegetarian cooking classes on Melbourne's La Trobe University campus.
I'll be facilitating the 6-hour hands-on workshop and banquet at two locations: Saturday 29 May, La Trobe University Bundoora Campus, Lifeskills Cafe, Sunday 30 May, La Trobe University Bendigo Campus, Food for Thought Cafe.
Hurry! Some places still remain. Enquiries and bookings: phone Manoj on 0434606710 David Haslam, UK: Class from HH BHakti Caru SwamiAmazing class today by HH Bhakti Caru Swami, you will have to set some time as it’s nearly 2hours long. Other classes I’ve uploaded are from my last visit but due to internet problems been unable to upload HG Vicaru Dasa and HG Jay Krishna Das Hope they give you as much pleasure as it has me. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – CC Adi 1.1-4 Divya Jnana – Prema Bhakti – Video
Lecture on Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi Lila, Texts 1-4 by Prahladananda Swami. Dallas, TX CC Adi 1.1: I offer my respectful obeisances unto the spiritual masters, the devotees of the Lord, the Lord’s incarnations, His plenary portions, His energies and the primeval Lord Himself, Sri Krishna Caitanya. CC Adi 1.2: I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krishna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauda to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all. CC Adi 1.3: What the Upanishads describe as the impersonal Brahman is but the effulgence of His body, and the Lord known as the Supersoul is but His localized plenary portion. Lord Caitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna Himself, full with six opulences. He is the Absolute Truth, and no other truth is greater than or equal to Him. CC Adi 1.4: May the Supreme Lord who is known as the son of Srimati Saci-devi be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love. PAS_CCAdi01.001-4_DivyaJnana-PremaBhakti_2009-11-29 H.H. Sivarama Swami: Visiting Caitanya CandraThe renovated home of Caitanya Candra and Kathamrta, that burned down some months ago. Mayapur Online: First day of Chandan Yatra-pictures!
Today is the most auspicious Akshaya Tritiya day. Sri Sri Radha-Madhava Chandana Yatra begins today and will continue for 21 days.We were all anxiously waiting for the darshan of Madhava in Chandan. Around 8.30 a.m., HH Bhakti Vidya Purna Maharaj was ready in the Sri Radha-Madhava altar to blow the conch. On the stage appeared Gurukulis chanting mantras. Six devotees from Gurukula were blowing conch along with Maharaja. The tumultuous sound of seven conch shells, Kirtan Australia.com: The "Justin Bieber of Kirtan"
From Canberra’s Maha Kirtan 1 – the “Justin Bieber of kirtan”, Krishnapada das, accompanied by Sitapati and Gitanjali in the finale kirtan. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Will we and future generations spread Krsna consciousness our way, or Srila Prabhupada’s way?
Bhakta Chris, New York, USA: Fear And Loathing In Heaven?  Image: www.freeuni.edu.ge To love God or to fear God? That is the question. As I was driving down an interstate road late one breezy spring night, I read a billboard signed by God. But I felt no tranquility, no joy. My lips grew so heavy I could not smile. I was gripped by a strange, suffocating unease. "DON'T MAKE ME COME DOWN THERE," it angrily warned. The warmth of the moonlight, which felt like God's smiling, protective eye gazing directly at me as it hit my skin and illuminated the darkness, suddenly became an intrusive beast that was lighting the darkness ahead of me only to see me crash in it. In that moment, the earth became a lost city. Is God not already present in the soul of every living being, and reflected in every non-living thing? And more strikingly, why (on earth) would God "coming down" in His personal form ever be a thing to fear? Indeed, mankind has no greater dream: it is a prospect that every life of every civilization in human history has lived and died for, and will continue to live and die for - whether at its occurrence skeptics will look and say, with matter-of-factness, "proof," or followers will say, with tears in their eyes, "at last." But that was the billboard's intention exactly: instilling fear. Fear, the most dangerous of all human emotions, the catalyst of inaction. And when it comes to authentic spirituality, there is no greater demon than inaction, because it not only prevents progress itself, but also eliminates the will to progress. Our very lives are expressions of our past spiritual progress, and because of the inaction that fear can enable, there will be nothing left to express, no higher lives to live for. How can we confidently and faithfully climb higher if the very mountaintop we are climbing towards is telling us to be afraid of heights? We cannot. When once asked by a devotee what he felt when he chanted the holy names of the Lord (which of course is non-different than experiencing God Himself) Srila Prabhupada replied with that characteristic lack of hesitancy only attainable by someone who has seen the face of Truth: "I feel no fear." My heart began to vibrate as I read those words. It was my soul, shaking with ecstasy. Srila Prabhupada was saying to live without fear is to be with God. Of course, there is no way to escape fear in this world except through taking shelter in God Himself, through His transcendental names, so that they are embedded into our very heartbeat, our very lifeline, so that even when we are not actively saying them they sustain our existence, at which point our hearts are no longer even beating but rather dancing. And to embrace God in this way is the most courageous thing one can do in this universe. But to portray God not only as an angry punisher, but as the source of all fear as the billboard implies, was one who would rather intimidate us with His absence and threaten us with His presence, rather than act as a loving protector, who, by contrast, yearns to deliver us from that very absence and longs to be with us, seems criminally counterproductive. Because it brings our sincerity into question: are we acting out of love or self-interest? Some may say the answer to this question does not matter in spirituality, as long as we believe; on the contrary, it could not matter more, because the answer breeds an even more fundamental question: is it actually God we seek, or simply the security of the place where He lives? Or, expressed in biblical language, God may have created the heavens and the earth- but did He not exist before that? I believe the mentality, so prevalent in materialistic culture, that appeals to our lower selves (through fear) rather than our higher selves (through love) repels people from religion, and infinitely worse, from God. Especially young people, who are already disillusioned by fear-mongering, whether by political leaders, parents, or organized religion itself. One example of this repulsive mentality is the group of so-called religious preachers who stand outside the public events and shopping centers of America condemning individuals who, because God "hates" them, are doomed to suffer eternally in hell. Homosexuals. Liberals. Non-fundamentalist Christians. Their list is endless. It is manifested in senseless religious wars. It is manifested in the dangerous notion that the road to enlightenment is paved only with guilt. And it is manifested in the billboards that fail to guide us and have nothing worthwhile to say. People see these atrocities and turn the other cheek. Unconditional love of God cannot exist in a culture that calls hope rage. This is a reason that the Lord triumphantly declares in the Bhagavad-Gita, "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." (18.66) Thus to embrace and surrender to God is to be fearless. But fear is hardly real; it is an illusory construction of the mind. As verse 15.7 from the Gita states, "the conditioned soul is bound up, as though shackled by iron chains. He is bound up by the false ego, and the mind is the chief agent which is driving him in this material existence." Therefore, rather than pander to the basest emotion of the disturbed, ephemeral mind, perpetually agitated by temporary material conditions and pulled by chains like a dog, why not appeal directly to the Soul, eternal and brimming with God's present love, and change the angry, spiteful message that induces aversion from God (as reflected in the billboard) to the achingly beautiful and comforting one that attracts us to God (Krishna, after all, means all-attractive) and is reflected in the Lord's blissful words in the passage quoted above? "The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Fearlessness; purification of one's existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity; simplicity; nonviolence; truthfulness; freedom from anger; renunciation; tranquility; aversion to faultfinding; compassion for all living entities; freedom from covetousness; gentleness; modesty; steady determination; vigor; forgiveness; fortitude; cleanliness; and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor — these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature." (BG 16.1) It is no coincidence that the very first quality the Lord lists as transcendental and divine is fearlessness. Hence Srila Prabhupada's response: "I feel no fear." After all, it is our own karma that ultimately punishes us, not God. But of course, in this material world, making God a scapegoat for our own fears is so much easier than meaningful self-examination.  Read more: http://news.iskcon.com/node/2799/2010-05-13/fear_and_loathing_in_heaven#ixzz0nv032ZnJ  The Loft, Auckland, NZ: Thursday Yoga - It's Back!You may be wondering why yoga is starting back up on Thursday nights? Well, to keep a long story short: the Thursday night Krishna Fest evolved into Kirtan Yoga (Mantra Meditation with beats and bass!) which we feel will go down best on Saturday nights (starting in the middle of June) so we thought lets bring yoga back on the Thursday and there you have it - Yoga on Thursday nights is back. The schedule will be the same as previously (see poster below). If you would like more info in this regard feel free to contact us on 09 379 7301.
Check out our yoga page here. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gangesvara PrabhuSrimad Bhagavatam 11.20.26 - All services must be done in the mood of preaching. Dandavats.com: A poem to Amekhala deviAnanta Purusottama das: The purest love in this world is from a mother Something which cannot be done any other Since our birth they just selflessly serve We can't repay, only love we can preserve Dandavats.com: Bharuch Yatra Report
Inspired by His Holiness Bhakti Vikas Swami, more than four hundred devotees from twenty places around India, mostly from Gujarat, gathered to hear and chant about Lord Krishna at a three day "shravanam kirtanam camp" organized by Maharaj's disciples, near Bharuch, the largest town on the banks of the holy river Narmada, from May 7-9. Dandavats.com: Japa & Kirtan Arrow Pierced the Heart in Radhadesh!Bhaktivedanta College Radhadesh: During May 2-7 Japa & Kirtan Retreat took place in the beautiful land of Radhadesh, organized by Bhaktivedanta College as part of its devotional strand of courses. More than a hundred devotees and community members took part, and dozens more followed the broadcasts on the Internet. Dandavats.com: Voice of America at Krishna TempleCaru Das: Joseph Mok, who filmed the Holi Festival for Voice of America, posted a 7 minute segment on Youtube. It is a very well, professionally done piece which will be featured in "Cultural Odyssey", a TV show which is viewed by 30 million Chinese in Taiwan, the Mainland, Singapore, and Macao. Dandavats.com: Ratha Yatra at Gita Nagari, Port Royal, PAOrtrun Gates: It's that time of year again and the devotees at Gita Nagari are are giving their full-time spiritual energy to get ready to host the Vaishnaves who come to this special place to enact the pastime of pulling Lord Jagannatha back to Vrindavan. Dandavats.com: Gita Nagari Ratha Yatra is looking for VendorsOrtrun Gates: We are looking for a few special vendors to be part of this year's special country Ratha Yatra in Gita Nagari, Port Royal, PA. to be held on July 31, 2010 starting at 10 am until 6 pm. Gouranga TV: Lecture – Gunagrahi Goswami – SB 9.6.4-26Lecture – Gunagrahi Goswami – SB 9.6.4-26 Sita-pati dasa, AU: Live Video Stream: Krishnafest KirtanTesting new streaming technologies for the Maha kirtans. This weekend, kirtan at Janna and Abhi's new place. More Recent Articles
|
Preparing for today’s Bhakta Sanga. 
By Nartaka Gauranga Das
Click here to safely unsubscribe now from "Planet ISKCON" or change your subscription or subscribe
Unsubscribe from all current and future newsletters powered by FeedBlitz
| Your requested content delivery powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 9 Thoreau Way, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA. +1.978.776.9498 |
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario