"Planet ISKCON" - 49 new articles
Dandavats.com: New Vrindaban Hosts North American Leadership ConferenceBy nvcommunications This past weekend, 45 administrators from 40 Hare Krishna centers met in New Vrindaban for the semi-annual North America Leadership Conference for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Dandavats.com: 16Rounds newspaper
We have a newspaper rack in front of Henry's in Pacific Beach, San Diego. Henry's is is one the largest health food stores in San Diego and, as you can see, our rack is right by the entrance door Dandavats.com: Auntie Saved, Spanish Site Open
Last summer we had Pancagangri prabhu visiting our Malaga temple and in one lecture he said that sometimes they call the Lord "Dr. Nrsimhadev". I can only agree!! Dandavats.com: Chandan Yatra Festival in Mayapur- pictures
Thanks to the hard work and devotion of students in girls' Gurukula, we are blessed with amazing darshan of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. Dandavats.com: Amazing Nrsimha StoryAmogha das: On Wednesday evening, Oct 22, 2008, we were performing our regular deity service at our local ISKCON temple in Houston. My Prabhu and me were dressing the deities of Sri Sri Radha Nilamadhava. Dandavats.com: Gvt Offers Free Tele-Call ServiceSridevi dasi: The Grihastha Vision Team presents to you our monthly FREE teleconference call where people can call in and ask questions and listen to everyone's answers about Grihastha asrama. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Brahmakunda and Bhakti Lata's Wedding PhotosAlyona has uploaded her photos Brahmakunda and Bhakti Lata's wedding to her Facebook page. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Aniruddha PrabhuSrimad Bhagavatam 11.20.30 - Enjoy! Serve Krishna. New Vrndavan, USA: "Loving Exchange"- House RaisingCome be a part of supporting Mother Sukavaha to build her house. If you missed the first “Loving Exchange” event at Pitambara’s house, here is another chance to be involved in supporting your community. Start Time: *BUILDING Music by Devananda and Abhay. Potluck Dinner around 6 pm followed by a camp fire. Bring your tent if you would like to camp Saturday night. We need support with: Assisting with Building the House Hope to see everyone there!!! Contact Das at 412-287-6368. Or Yasoda at 304-639-8914 for potluck preparations. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 8.22.3 Why Afraid Of Infamy? – Video
Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 8, Chapter 22, Text 3 by Prahladananda Swami. Dallas, TX TRANSLATION I do not fear being deprived of all my possessions, living in hellish life, being arrested for poverty by the ropes of Varuna or being punished by You as much as I fear defamation. PURPORT Although Bali Maharaja fully surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he could not tolerate being defamed for cheating a brahmana-brahmacari, Being quite alert in regard to his reputation, he thought deeply about how to prevent being defamed. The Lord, therefore, gave him the good counsel to prevent defamation by offering his head. A Vaishnava does not fear any punishment. Narayana-parah sarve na kutascana bibhyati (Bhag. 6.17.28). PAS_SB08.22.03_WhyAfraidOfInfamy_2009-12-02 Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Maya's IllusionMaya's illusion is like the foam Which mixes again with the sea. No one is mother, father, or relative; Like the sea foam, they remain a short while only. And, as the sea foam merges into the sea, This precious body of five elements disappears. Who can say how many ephemeral forms The embodied soul has taken? >From Vrndavane Bhajana, a Bengali poem by Srila Prabhupada Kurma dasa, AU: Too Hot to Bear, Too Sweet to Resist'Too Hot to Bear, Too Sweet to Resist'...That's the famous chutney mantra. So much chili that it's unbearable, but so sweet and tasty that you can't stop eating it. A sort of culinary masochism. I was even thinking of designing a t-shirt with it on. But I digress... Cooking is a form of relaxation for me, especially when I'm not too 'cooked-out' from teaching, if I'm home alone, and in the mood for some spontaneous kitchen adventures. These rare circumstances all converged last weekend - my son and father were both away on 'sleepovers'. So I took advantage. I surveyed the scene: plenty of fresh chilies (the last of the season) and some super-ripe tomatoes. Tomato chutney!
I blanched the tomatoes, peeled and chopped them, heated a little olive oil in a saucepan, and toasted some cumin seeds until they were fragrant. I added the chopped fresh chilies - fiery red savinas and yellow habaneros - and added them to the pan.
Not illustrated here are the other ingredients I used: a tiny piece of cinnamon stick, a small handful of organic sultanas, and a smidge of sea salt. I reduced the chutney way down before adding the final ingredient: a moderate handful of organic raw sugar.
And there it is; hot, sweet, nose-tingling and irresistible. A bit like me (not). H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – Bhagavad Gita 7.28 Vaikuntha Is Not a Bakery
Lecture on Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 7, Text 28 by Prahladananda Swami. (The audio quality improves about half way through the lecture) Dallas, TX TRANSLATION Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life and whose sinful actions are completely eradicated are freed from the dualities of delusion, and they engage themselves in My service with determination. PURPORT Those eligible for elevation to the transcendental position are mentioned in this verse. For those who are sinful, atheistic, foolish and deceitful, it is very difficult to transcend the duality of desire and hate. Only those who have passed their lives in practicing the regulative principles of religion, who have acted piously and who have conquered sinful reactions can accept devotional service and gradually rise to the pure knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then, gradually, they can meditate in trance on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the process of being situated on the spiritual platform. This elevation is possible in Krishna consciousness in the association of pure devotees, for in the association of great devotees one can be delivered from delusion. It is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.2) that if one actually wants to be liberated he must render service to the devotees (mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh); but one who associates with materialistic people is on the path leading to the darkest region of existence (tamo-dvaram yoshitam sangi-sangam). All the devotees of the Lord traverse this earth just to recover the conditioned souls from their delusion. The impersonalists do not know that forgetting their constitutional position as subordinate to the Supreme Lord is the greatest violation of God’s law. Unless one is reinstated in his own constitutional position, it is not possible to understand the Supreme Personality or to be fully engaged in His transcendental loving service with determination. PAS_BG07.28_VaikunthaIsNotABakery_2009-12-02 H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 8.22.1-2 Bali Or Hiranyakashipu – Video
Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 8, Chapter 22, Texts 1-2 by Prahladananda Swami. Dallas, TX Text 1 -TRANSLATION Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, although the Supreme Personality of Godhead was superficially seen to have acted mischievously toward Bali Maharaja, Bali Maharaja was fixed in his determination. Considering himself not to have fulfilled his promise, he spoke as follows. Text 2 – TRANSLATION Bali Maharaja said: O best Personality of Godhead, most worshipable for all the demigods, if You think that my promise has become false, I shall certainly rectify matters to make it truthful. I cannot allow my promise to be false. Please, therefore, place Your third lotus footstep on my head. PURPORT Bali Maharaja could understand the pretense of Lord Vamanadeva, who had taken the side of the demigods and come before him as a beggar. Although the Lord’s purpose was to cheat him, Bali Maharaja took pleasure in understanding how the Lord will cheat His devotee to glorify the devotee’s position. It is said that God is good, and this is a fact. Whether He cheats or rewards, He is always good. Bali Maharaja therefore addressed Him as Uttamasloka. “Your Lordship,” he said, “You are always praised with the best of selected verses. On behalf of the demigods, You disguised Yourself to cheat me, saying that You wanted only three paces of land, but later You expanded Your body to such an extent that with two footsteps You covered the entire universe. Because You were working on behalf of Your devotees, You do not regard this as cheating. Never mind. I cannot be considered a devotee. Nonetheless, because although You are the husband of the goddess of fortune You have come to me to beg, I must satisfy You to the best of my ability. So please do not think that I wanted to cheat You; I must fulfill my promise. I still have my body. When I place my body for Your satisfaction, please put Your third step on my head.” Since the Lord had covered the entire universe with two steps, one might ask how Bali Maharaja’s head could be sufficient for His third step? Bali Maharaja, however, thought that the possessor of wealth must be greater than the possession. Therefore although the Lord had taken all his possessions, the head of Bali Maharaja, the possessor, would provide adequate place for the Lord’s third step. PAS_SB08.22.01-2_BaliOrHiranyakashipu_2009-12-01 H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: '440' from The Yellow Submarine5:35 A.M.I had a headache during the night but got most of my sleep. I woke up at two o'clock with another headache. I persisted in chanting my rounds and chanted eight rounds. Interrupted japa, you will read more from SDGonline - daily updates from The Yellow Submarine: My Bhajana Kutir journal H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 'Little Drops of Nectar: Relaxed' from The Yellow SubmarinePrabhupada Smaranam
Srila Prabhupada is sitting relaxed in his room. His eyes are almost closed, like a content cat's. He is not putting out energy by leading a kirtana or giving a lecture. Some devotees are probably in the room with him but not so many. He has to spend some time like this, not always on the go as founder–acarya manager. He is not less Krishna conscious in a moment like this but savoring his closeness to Krishna. How sweet it is. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 'The Songs of a Hare Krishna Man (take eight)' from The Yellow Submarine"I spent an hour in that shed.
He contemplated about the time
You pray to transcend and be
Now you're planning to go to
There will always be topics H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 'Preaching Behind the Iron Curtain' from The Yellow SubmarineFree writeThey look incognito like they were attending a book fair in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Not many books are displayed and not many people are crowded around their book table. But it's a breakthrough to have Prabhupada's books circulated in these circumstances. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust had a great history. It began in the United States around 1970. Devotees went out to parking lots, airports, door to door and conducted Christmas sales marathons in which they sold thousands of books. Prabhupada was very enlivened with the results. Book trusts were opened in various countries and Prabhupada's books—originally written in English—were translated to Spanish, French, German, Italian, etc. The book distributors were met with opposition as public and private venues prohibited the sales. But legal cases were fought and won and the sales flourished. Money from the sales of books went half to producing more books, and half to constructing new temples in India, according to Prabhupada's direction. The most successful book distributors became the heroes and heroines of ISKCON. Aggressive sales techniques became controversial with the public and even within ISCKON, but for the most part, Prabhupada encouraged the daring distribution. Prabhupada's translation of Bhagavad-gita As It Is became, by far, the best selling edition of the Bhagavad-gita in the world. The Library Party succeeded in selling full sets of Prabhupada's books to most of the college libraries in the U.S.A. and Europe. And to Prabhupada's great delight, professors wrote letters of appreciations for his books. After selling the same books for decades, the BBT is not as dynamic in sales as it used to be. But Prabhupada's followers continue to sell his books, especially in certain parts of the world and the BBT continues to find new outlets for distribution. Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: KuliMela 2007 - Russia - Main Film
Sastra Dana, San Diego, USA: 16 Rounds To Samadhi Serigo Canela & Rohini DD VIDEO: 16 Rounds To Samadhi is a Sastra Dana publication, a newspaper. We have a newspaper rack in front of Henry’s in Pacific Beach, San Diego. Henry’s is is one the largest health food stores in San Diego and, as you can see, our rack is right by the entrance door. We tried several times to put a book rack in this store and it was honestly very difficult. We were turned down, one time after another. That is where the beauty of the newspaper is. Basically the content of our newspaper is identical with the content of our books. The difference is that the content of the newspaper is packaged differently. It’s graphics and design make it look contemporary, doesn’t have that religious look and feel to it. Nowadays lots of people are put off by religion. As I said, we tried to put a book rack in this store many times but it just never worked. However the store managers didn’t have a problem with having us distribute our newspaper at the store’s entrance off our newspaper racks. This is truly wonderful. How much more wonderful can it get, that our publication, a Hare Krishna publication, is available at such popular, mainstream places? This place, for example, Henry’s, is super busy. If you watch the video you will notice vehicles coming and going, constantly. So many of these people now have a chance to read a Krishna conscious information, a wisdom lacking in these modern times. Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Henry’s, Ralph’s, and many more such places carry our publication. This is something we previously were not able to accomplish with book racks. I think this is a grand success for the mission of Srila Prabhupada and that of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So please plug in, help out. There is much more to do. We have a hundred or so racks out there and we could have thousands of racks carrying our publications. We should have no difficulty competing with San Diego’s reader, LA Times, City Beat, etc. But we need help, your help. We need help financially. You can donate money for this cause. If you have some talents, skills, you could help in that way. We need graphic designers, illustrators, people that can draw comics, people who can write, people that are good with editing English, etc. CONTACT US to volunteer, plug in, and help the mission. To make a DONATION, click here. Thank you. Hare Krishna.  Rohini Mataji manages this rack.  Sergio Canela is Rohini's assistant.
Kripamoya dasa, UK: Singing and dancing for God
This post is not about Vaishnavism per se, but it is about someone who revitalised a religious tradition with a new spiritual awakening; who brought the attention of the masses away from a sole focus on intellectual discussion and legalism to a more practical approach to spirituality. He was someone who believed that the recitation of God’s names accompanied by singing and dancing would allow the soul to experience the kingdom of God. He was also someone who believed that reaching out to others and making the spiritual life accessible to them was the need of the day. As such, his life is perhaps of some interest to followers of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. His name was Baal Shem Tov and today is the 250th anniversary of his passing. You can read more about himand watch a film here. Although he did not think that he was founding a new movement, it is a fact that hundreds of thousands of Jews follow his teachings and that his followers can be found somewhere in most major cities of the world.       Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: “Love Hides” by The DoorsLove hides in the strangest places. Filed under: Poetry       Madri dd, South Africa: Devotees in Halifax, Canada relish BCEC coursesH.H Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami, founder of Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC) spends most of his year travelling to various places all over the globe and teaching structured courses based on the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami. Since generally most yatras have a skeletal staff to maintain preaching in their local vicinity it is not possible to fly individuals abroad to study scripture. Hence BCEC teachers offer such study opportunities in various countries in collaboration with the local management of Iskcon centres.  Above attendees of Bhakti Sadacara course in Halifax, Canada, conducted by Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami from May 11th to May 15th, 2010.  Students' Comments: "Precise and clear explantions. The flow of Srila Prabhupada's teachings wonderfully enter the heart" - Stefina Tukker, Halifax, Canada "Good diversity kept our minds focused. The course positively helps to raise consciousness in the devotee community." - Damodara Gopala Dasa, Halifax, Canada  H.H. Sivarama Swami: If while chanting devotees keep in mind Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of the maha-mantra,
Namahatta.org: Siksa Ceremony in Juhu-Kaunteya das
On 16 May 2010, Aksaya Tritiya (traditionally considered a very auspicious Namahatta.org: What Srila Prabhupada said?-kaunteya das A quiz for you: In 1972 Srila Prabhupada wrote the local GBC: "I have just received one
What Srila Prabhupada wrote the local GBC? What instruction Srila Prabhupada H.H. Sivarama Swami: A vision of what festivals in New Vraja-dhama mean
H.H. Sivarama Swami: Remembering the early days in Krsna Valley
H.H. Sivarama Swami: Vraja-kumara dasa asks:
H.H. Sivarama Swami: The dangers of offensively chanting Krsna’s holy name
H.H. Sivarama Swami: Will we and future generations spread Krsna consciousness our way, or Srila Prabhupada’s way?
ISKCON Brisbane, AU: Sri Vyasa Puja 2010 - H.H. Indradyumna Swami
Program 9.30 AM Bhajans 10..15 AM Reading of the meaning of Vyasa Puja 10.20 Homages with video clips in between 11.45 Offering with some more homages 12.00 Noon – Pushpanjali 12.05 - Guru Puja Kirtan 12.30 Vote of thanks and Prasaadam
ISKCON Brisbane, AU: Transcendental VisitH.H Prabhavishnu Swami will be visiting Brisbane and will be offering classes on the Srimad Bhagavatam on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning of this week.
Mayapur Online: History of Veshas Offered During Chandan Yatra
We kindly requested Jananivasa and Pankajangrhi Prabhus, the head pujaris in Mayapur, to explain a little about how Veshas started being offered to Radha Madhava during Chandan Yatra. This is what they shared with us. Jananivasa Prabhu: I heard about this festival of offering Lord Jagannatha twenty different dresses during Chandan Yatra and I wanted to perform them. Then, in 2007, Narottama das, who serves in Srila Prabhupada’s Pushpa Samadhi, Mayapur Online: 20 Vesha's Offered By Girl's Gurukula
Our school, Sri Anasuya Vidyamandala, has taken on this wonderful service since last year, of offering twenty veshas (dresses) to Sri Sri Radha Madhava during Chandan Yatra. Under the guidance and supervision of Jananivasa Prabhu and my teacher Sri Radhe Mataji, everyday Their Lordships are offered a new dress depicting a different pastime. So far, RadhaMadhava have enjoyed Natabara (Best Dancer); Chakra Narayana (Lord of the Universe); and today they are enacting Krsna Janma pastime (the Birth of Lord Krsna). The Loft, Auckland, NZ: Roar Sound
Dandavats.com: For Lord Nrsimhadeva's Appearance Day
Dozens of prayers, verses, references, and ideas for fun, deep service and mediation on the Lord. Several summaries of the story are included for absorption in the Lord's pastimes. Here are a free e-book and colorful posters to enhance your festival. While the focus of the activities is for guiding children aged 2-18, devotees of all ages are finding this a handy reference guide. As one temple president said, "I couldn't put it down until I'd read the whole thing!" Dandavats.com: Ratha Yatra held in ISKCON Phoenix, ArizonaBy Radha MadhavaHari Das On a beautiful afternoon on Sunday, Their Lordships Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra rode a small tastefully decorated chariot pulled by ropes which passed through Hare Krishna Drive ( Weber Drive) near Red Roof Inn- in viscinity of Mandir, located in Chandler Dandavats.com: ISKCON Birmingham 24 Hour Kirtan 2010Mohan Nandi: I do not know how much nectar the two syllables 'Krs-na' have produced. When the holy name of Krsna is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. Dandavats.com: Ancient Rathayatra At Puri, OrissaISKCON Puri (India): Dear Devotees, Dandabat pranam, All glories to Srila prabhupada. Last 8 years worldwide devotee community serving free Prasad distribution(full meal, Rice, dalma & chatni) During Rathayatra day at puri, for which iskcon puri being appreciated by Govt and common pepule of orissa Sita-pati dasa, AU: Build your church before your church
Make sure that having a facility will serve the purposes of God in your community. Make sure that it will facilitate reaching more and more people for Christ. Remember, the church is a living organism made up of the people Christ died for. A building is only beneficial if the people are thriving. - Simply Strategic Stuff, Tim Stevens Srila Prabhupada's Letters1966 May 18:  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1971 May 18: "Presently we are holding huge Hare Krishna Festival in which 35,000 to 40,000 people are attending daily and hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita discourses. It is so much enlivening to see how the people are being so receptive to this message. It is all Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1971 may 18: "It is very much encouraging that you have made final arrangements for going to Jerusalem. You all have my full blessings and may Krishna help you all in this noble venture. Just as soon as you arrive there, you can let me know. Please offer my blessings to your good wife Krsna Devi."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1973 May 18: "We can understand from this incident that the most important point is that everyone, especially the leaders, must always stick to the basic regulative practices that I have given, especially 16 rounds each day. So, now what can be done? I am very pleased to note that you are opening another center in Zurich."  Srila Prabhupada's Letters1973 may 18: "Yes we are all unqualified, but we become qualified by the mercy of Guru and Krishna. Go on and prepare fourth canto as quickly as possible. As soon as you have finished third canto synonyms join me immediately wherever I am and we can finish it up in good time. Keep up good pace with Caitanya-caritamrita then we may print one 400 page book per month."  Gouranga TV: Akshay Tritiya – a day for New BeginningsAkshay Tritiya – a day for New Beginnings Kaunteya das, Mayapura: What Srila Prabhupada said?
A quiz for you: In 1972 Srila Prabhupada wrote the local GBC: "I have just received oneletter from the black devotees in Cleveland who wish start their own ISKCON Center independently of the white devotees there." What Srila Prabhupada wrote the local GBC? What instruction Srila Prabhupada gave him? Here are three choices; you can choose one (only one is correct), the one you think is what Srila Prabhupada said: A. "This is nonsense, our mission is to free the conditioned souls from the bodily concept of life." B. "If we accept such proposals our movement will eventually become spoiled in the future." C. "We should not discourage them in any way from opening their own center." So, what is your choice, A, B or C? Choose one and then check the answer below. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The right answer is "C": Srila Prabhupada's letter to Satsvarupa, 24 August 1972: "I have just received one letter from the black devotees in Cleveland who wish start their own ISKCON Center independently of the white devotees there. In principle, it is alright, birds of a feather will flock together. We should not discourage them in any way from opening their own center, but I want you to go there and see how their things are going on and that the standard of Krishna consciousness is being maintained on the highest level." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A few days ago I used this exercise during the course "Building Vibrant Vaisnava Communities" to illustrate that sometimes we might project our understandings and values on Srila Prabhupada and shape our congregational development according to policies **we imagine** Srila Prabhupada would approve. This quiz was part of a broader presentation on three levels of culture: 1. visible artifacts, norms, language, etc.; 2. strategies, official values, priorities; 3. Underlying assumptions and beliefs. In the course, only a minority (about 33%) identified the right answer, thus showing that the assumptions of the majority of the participants weren't fully aligned with Srila Prabhupada views -- at least in this particular case. Kaunteya das, Mayapura: Siksa Ceremony in Juhu
On 16 May 2010, Aksaya Tritiya (traditionally considered a very auspicious their commitment to sadhana-bhakti. I am not sure how many certificates I handed but it must be a few dozens: The vast majority was for sraddhavans (those who chant one round a day) and for Srila Prabhupada Asrayas (those who practice at standard level for initiated devotees: sixteen rounds and four regulative principles. Vice-President and Congregational Development Director Mukunda Madhava Prabhu acted as Master of Ceremony; his close collaborator and fellow congregational preacher Rupa Vilas Prabhu was also present: Together they are cultivating and educating these devotees and I assume they were watching over the handing of the certificates with a mixture of healthy pride for the progress of their protégés and satisfaction that their efforts were effective positive results: their people are indeed advancing, either moving the first steps of regulated japa practice, or moving forward with confidence towards spiritual initiation. For more information on the Siksa Program and how you can implement it in your place: http://namahatta.org/en/node/1973
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By Mahat-tattva Dasa 
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they will understand the explanations of the mantra given by acaryas like Gopal-guru Goswami.
Perhaps understanding which would better shape visiting devotees’ expectations and increase the overall festival-seva to the Lord.
I think about how much we value Vaisnava festivals today and what role they play in our lives?
“I have heard from a devotee of a GBC ruling that we should not chant japa in public places, supermarkets etc. as it gives a bad image. Is this correct?”
and how to avoid and rectify such a vile, atheistic habit for which Sri Radha remains far from us.
Preparing for today’s Bhakta Sanga. 
By Urmila Devi Dasi
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