jueves, 8 de julio de 2010

ISKCON News.com: Annual Pilgrimage to Puri



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  1. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Krishna Lila Bhajana Band
  2. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Yuga Dharma
  3. ISKCON News.com: ISKCON Remains Prominent at 40th Glastonbury, UK
  4. ISKCON News.com: Fourth Annual BBT Art Seminar Now Open For Registration
  5. ISKCON News.com: Annual Pilgrimage to Puri
  6. ISKCON News.com: A British View of Ratha Yatra
  7. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gangesvara Prabhu
  8. ISKCON News.com: Trees, Images, and ISKCON
  9. Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Are You Freaking Kidding Me?
  10. Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Kirtan - Anish - Noon Arati @ Kap and Kalindi's Engagement
  11. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Checkmate – a story from former life
  12. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: petty and miserable atheists of Kali-yuga
  13. Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Is The Universe Merely A Statistical Accident?
  14. David Haslam, UK: Childhood questions; a lifetime search for answers
  15. Japa Group: Good Bhajana Kutir
  16. Gaura Vani, USA: The Bhakti Brothers' New England Tour – Starting July 9th
  17. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – final day 6
  18. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – day 5
  19. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – day 4
  20. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – day 3
  21. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – day 2
  22. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – cont. day 1
  23. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  24. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  25. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  26. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  27. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  28. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  29. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  30. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  31. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 2
  32. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Main Inspiration
  33. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Viraha Bhavan
  34. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Real Beauty
  35. Mayapur Online: Welcome Home, HH Jayapataka Swami
  36. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, July 3rd, 2010
  37. Gauranga Kishore das,USA: Srimad Bhagavatam is the post graduate Study of the Bhagavad Gita
  38. Phanisvara das, Mayapura, IN: testing...
  39. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Ceto Darpana Marjanam
  40. Dandavats.com: Vrindavan fully furnished flat for sale
  41. Mayapur Online: SMIS School &Srila Prabhupada Ashram Admission going on…
  42. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Why the sacred cow is sacred and how we as devotees may be neglecting our duty by not protecting sacred cows
  43. Gouranga TV: Kishori Yatra Part 3
  44. Japa Group: Not Worrying About Contingencies
  45. More Recent Articles
  46. Search Planet ISKCON

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Krishna Lila Bhajana Band

Thanks to the effort and determination of Bhakta Prabhu, the Melbourne Temple now has an official bhajana band.
bhajan
We have been rehearsing steadily for 3 weeks for our first performance at an Interfaith Program by the end of August, at the Malvern Centre. In the meantime our talented singers and musicians are busy perfecting their playlist. If ever you feel inspired to donate or lend us some musical instruments, please call Bhakta Prabhu on 0431 829 463; it is always nice to add some new chords to our "Krishna-Lila" repertoire.

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Yuga Dharma

Come and assist us in spreading the holy names of Sri Sri Radha Ballabha.
harinama
Every Tuesday at 5pm and Friday at 6.30pm we meet in front of Crossways 123 Swanston Walk and joyfully chant along the streets of the CBD to awaken the city dwellers to their eternal identity. To keep updated with special guests who join us occasionally or to be involved with spontaneous harinamas that pop up around festivals, public holidays and so forth, you can join our 'Harinama Melbourne' group if you already are a Facebook user. Or you can join Kanapathy Prabhu's Harinama-texting-list on 0416 409 130. Either way, he is always eager to recruit  sankirtaniyas in his harinama army.

The only qualifications required are your dancing feet and a happy heart. Even if you don't feel you meet the criteria, you will be up to the mark once you come in contact with them; their enthusiasm is contagious!

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ISKCON News.com: ISKCON Remains Prominent at 40th Glastonbury, UK

By Gaura Hari Das for ISKCON News on 7 Jul 2010

June 2010 marked the 40th anniversary of Europe's largest green field music festival. Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts was started from humble beginnings four decades ago and attracted mostly those immersed in the hippy culture and those seeking an alternate lifestyle.


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ISKCON News.com: Fourth Annual BBT Art Seminar Now Open For Registration

By ISKCON News for ISKCON News on 7 Jul 2010

The BBT will be holding its fourth annual art seminar in Vrindavana, India, from November 5 25, 2010. Once again, the seminar will led by veteran ISKCON artists Dhriti Dasi and Ramdas Abhirama Dasa, teaching both new and repeat students practical techniques as well as the mood essential in producing devotional art.


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ISKCON News.com: Annual Pilgrimage to Puri

By ISKCON News Staff for ISKCON News on 7 Jul 2010

Over the past six years the parikarama has been conducted very successfully, with an increasing number of attending devotees from all over the world. Last year more than 6.500 devotees participated, listening to sannyasis and Srila Prabhupada`s disciples speaking about the pastimes of Lord Jagannatha and Lor Gauanga every day.


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ISKCON News.com: A British View of Ratha Yatra

By Jack Hebner
 for Archeology Online on 7 Jul 2010

The British described Jagannath as "a frightful visage painted black, with a distended mouth of bloody horror." Seeing the grand procession of the Ratha Yatra, the British experienced further disdain and coined the term "juggernaut." This word gradually found its way into the Oxford Dictionary with the meaning "a massive, inexorable force that crushes everything in its path." It could hardly be expected that the British should have immediately fallen in love with Jagannath or worshiped him, but at least they could have investigated the meaning and philosophy behind him.


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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gangesvara Prabhu

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.22.8 - Krsna- the Supreme Brahman, the resting place for everything- has His own transcendental personality.

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ISKCON News.com: Trees, Images, and ISKCON

By Sesa Das on 7 Jul 2010

We seem to be losing our sense of love for nature. Man and nature, particularly trees, have a natural mutually fulfilling relationship. Man receives the Mother Earth's bounty, and offers back respect and care. Yet, modern civilization at its worst abuses this relationship, and even at its best tends to make the relationship an economic one.


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Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Are You Freaking Kidding Me?

Seriously?

So, our remodel is costing a relatively large sum of money for us. We knew it would. We are remodeling the kitchen/dining space, after all–and it is a full third of the space of our house. Plus, we replaced all the windows and light fixtures throughout. Major, major improvements for our quality of life and for our house.

Or so we thought.

Due to our home’s location in a “declining market,” we were not able to get the full amount of equity out of the house. Yes, we wanted all the equity. So we got some. But we needed more money. What to speak of money to pay off the loan.

The plan really was hinged on the fact that I am awesome and was going to get a full time teaching position for next school year. Little old me was going to pay for the entire kitchen all by her lonesome. Plus have some spare cash to spend on kids’ extracurriculars and the occasional shopping spree at Ross Dress for Less.

And I got a job offer. In April. Totally ahead of schedule.

And then one week later I took a test and there were two pink lines.

Talk about perfect timing.

So, on to Plan B.

Refinancing our HELOC after the kitchen was completed. Our loan lady at Sunstate Federal Credit Union said we could *definately* do this. This was one month ago. My husband called yesterday to schedule the appointment for the appraiser to come out. Of course, we were not expecting the appraisal to increase in correlation to the amount of money we spent. We spent the money knowing that if we had to sell, no one would appreciate the awesomeness of our kitchen. But still, the remodel should increase the value of our house at least a fraction of what we spent. Shouldn’t it?

Ummm, that’s what we thought.

But the loan lady is now telling us something else. Since we did not increase the square footage of our house, we did not increase the value. We merely did “beautification.”

Really? It’s not like we just painted the freaking old, falling off the walls, doorless cabinets.

The housing market is a total mess and I understand lenders are cautious, but sticking to some whacked formula based solely on square footage to determine equity value…I just never heard of such a thing.


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Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Kirtan - Anish - Noon Arati @ Kap and Kalindi's Engagement

Anish and other devotees singing kirtan at the noon arati during Kapil and Kalindi's engagement ceremony.

Dallas, TX
2010-03-07 


Download: 2010-05-15 - 4 - Kap and Kalindi Engagement Ceremony - Kirtan.mp3
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Checkmate – a story from former life

His Holiness Prahladananda Swami when speaking to young Arjun, son of Ananta, about Arjun’s interest in Chess, told him that he was the captain of the Chess team that they had in Manhattan. He said he started when he was five and when he was in his chess club he defeated his teacher so many [...]

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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: petty and miserable atheists of Kali-yuga

O King, in the age of Kali people's intelligence will be diverted by atheism, and they will almost never offer sacrifice to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme spiritual master of the universe. Although the great personalities who control the three worlds all bow down to the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, the petty and miserable human beings of this age will not do so.

Terrified, about to die, a man collapses on his bed. Although his voice is faltering and he is hardly conscious of what he is saying, if he utters the holy name of the Supreme Lord he can be freed from the reaction of his fruitive work and achieve the supreme destination. But still people in the age of Kali will not worship the Supreme Lord.

SB 12.3.43-44

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Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Is The Universe Merely A Statistical Accident?

From Dr. Larry Dossey, author of "The Power of Premonitions" at the Huffington Post

Where scientists such as Weinberg, Monod and Dennett see pointlessness and despair in science, as we have seen, other scientists see pattern, direction and meaning. For example, the eminent physicist John Archibald Wheeler said:

"Science ... at first sight seems to have no special platform for man, mind or meaning. Man? Pure biochemistry! Mind? Memory modelable by electronic circuitry! Meaning? Why ask after that puzzling and intangible commodity? What is man that the universe should be mindful of him? ... [I]s not man an unimportant bit of dust on an unimportant planet in an unimportant galaxy in an unimportant region somewhere in the vastness of space? No! The philosopher of old was right! Meaning is important, even central." (1)

The British physicist Paul Davies is also astounded by the sheer unlikelihood of human life, and he suggests that something else might have been going on to tip things in our favor:

"The origin of life on Earth ... could well have been the result of a stupendous chemical fluke. [However,] ... computing the raw odds quickly shows that even the simplest known cell is so unlikely to form by accident it wouldn't happen twice in the entire observable universe. Or in a trillion similar universes ... Perhaps life's origin wasn't a freak event after all, but the automatic outcome of inherently bio-friendly laws of nature." (2)

In his book The Cosmic Jackpot: Why Our Universe Is Just Right for Life, (3) Davies finds in the fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears a potent metaphor for expressing the weird fit between the universe and life. The Three Bears story first appeared when the English poet Robert Southey composed it for his 1837 book The Doctor. (4) In the story, a family of three bears -- mother, father, baby -- live in a house in the forest. One day, having cooked porridge and waiting for it to cool, they go for a stroll in the woods. Goldilocks finds the house, enters, and meddles with things -- chairs, beds, and porridge. She finds the adult bears' beds and chairs "too hard" or "too soft," their porridge "too hot" or "too cold." But the baby bear's bed, chair and porridge are "just right." The bears return and discover that Goldilocks is asleep in the baby bear's bed, after having eaten all the baby's porridge.

The parallels are telling, says Davies. The conditions that life encountered in the universe proved "just right." If the known natural laws had been a greater or lesser value than what they are, the universe, like the porridge, would literally be either too hot or too cold to accommodate life as we know it. The stars would burn too brightly or not at all; or they would have collapsed rather than exploded, thus failing to scatter the chemical detritus across the universe that ultimately supported life. If the difference in mass between a proton and neutron were not exactly what it is, life-sustaining chemistry would not have been possible. If all these just-right characteristics were not present on Earth 3.5 billion years ago, we would not be here to reflect on them. (5)

The distinguished physicist Freeman Dyson suggests that life is so improbable, and the physical characteristics of the universe are so finely tuned to accommodate it, that in some sense the universe "knew we were coming." (6) As a consequence of this cosmic foreknowledge, by the time life arose, conditions in the cosmos were ready for it. The table was set -- all life had to do was show up.

Sir Fred Hoyle, one of the twentieth century's most respected cosmologists, seems to agree with the idea that the universe knew life was on its way. Reflecting on the fine-tuning of the conditions necessary for the universe to bring forth life, he suggested that the universe looks like a "put-up job," as if someone had been "monkeying" with the laws of physics, getting ready in advance for the appearance of life. (7,8)

But this is a minority view within cosmology and science in general. Most scientists believe there is no mystery that needs explaining. Life, mind and consciousness are a big fat statistical accident. Given infinite time, the improbable is bound to occur. We're here because of pure, dumb luck. There are no patterns or meaning behind the scenes. This dour position reminds me of the puckish comment of Gertrude Stein: "There ain't no answer. There ain't going to be any answer. There never has been an answer. That's the answer." (9)

Forfeiting Consciousness

There's an even drearier little secret that veteran scientists never let kids in on -- that if they enter science, they have to check their minds at the door. The reason is that mind, as most people think about it, does not exist in conventional science, because the expressions of consciousness, such as choice, will, emotions, and even logic are said to be brain in disguise. As astronomer Carl Sagan put it, "[The brain's] workings -- what we sometimes call mind -- are a consequence of its anatomy and physiology, and nothing more." (10) Nobelist Francis Crick in his 1995 book The Astonishing Hypothesis was equally explicit, saying, "'You, your joys and your sorrows, your memories and free will, are in fact no more than the behavior of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules. As Lewis Carroll's Alice might have phrased it: 'You're nothing but a pack of neurons.'" (11) Or, as Marvin Minsky, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology cognitive scientist and artificial intelligence expert, put it more crudely, "The brain is just a computer made of meat." (12) Crick went further. In his subsequent book Of Molecules and Men, he wrote, "The ultimate aim of the modern movement in biology is to explain all biology in terms of physics and chemistry" (13) -- to analyze, in other words, the meat. And lest there be no doubt about where he stands, philosopher Dennett says, "We're all zombies. Nobody is conscious." (14)

Try selling that to a teenager contemplating a career in science and see what happens.
Novelist Arthur Koestler poked fun at these positions by taking aim at Rene Descartes, the seventeenth-century philosopher who was extraordinarily influential in establishing the notion of a mindless body. "If ... Descartes ... had kept a poodle, the history of philosophy would have been different," Koestler wrote. "The poodle would have taught Descartes that contrary to his doctrine, animals are not machines, and hence the human body is not a machine, forever separated from the mind ... " (15)

This morose, meaningless side of science is never openly presented to young students contemplating a lifetime in science. They usually sniff it out later on, after a career choice has been made. I know of no studies that assess the impact of these dark views on young scientists when they encounter them. Are they negatively affected? Do they adopt a chin-up attitude and soldier on, having traveled too far on the science path to turn around? Or -- most commonly, I believe -- do they schizophrenically partition their psychological, spiritual and scientific lives into separate domains in a desperate attempt to find balance, silently suffering the jagged contradictions the rest of their life?

Purists insist that science is neutral on matters of meaning; the world is what it is. Whatever meaning we find in the world comes from us, not the world itself. We read meaning into the world, not from it. This sword cuts two ways; if meaning should not be imputed to the universe, neither should meaninglessness. It is a plain fact that scientists in general, peering into the same universe and aware of the same set of facts, see meaning in different ways, ways that are not part of science itself. No scientist has ever possessed a meaning meter. Therefore the proper approach, it would seem, would be to declare questions of meaning beyond the purview of science, and to cease imposing one's personal view as the official way the universe should be interpreted. This would give students and young scientists a fighting chance to find their own path where meaning and purpose are concerned, and not be bullied by senior scientists who ought to know better.

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David Haslam, UK: Childhood questions; a lifetime search for answers

As a young child I remember asking some of the members at the Kingdom Hall we went to what happened to the animals when they die; if as humans we can either go to heaven or eternal death then what happens to them. Well they die came the answer, you see god put them here for [...]

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Japa Group: Good Bhajana Kutir


Chanting Hare Krishna in
the Bhajan Belt. My
bhajana is mostly
solitary but shared with
my friends. I try to give
the good news of a
person success fully chanting
his rounds. My mood
is separation and I ease
it with Nama Prabhu.
This is my new home
and it seems suitable
for chanting and
writing the daily web.
I thank Krishna
and my friends for
providing me another
good bhajana kutir

From Bhajan #1
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Gaura Vani, USA: The Bhakti Brothers' New England Tour – Starting July 9th

Bhakti-Brothers-Tour-Poster

  • Fri, July 9, 2010, 7:30 pm
    Cambridge YMCA Theatre
    820 Massachusette Avenue
    Cambridge, MA 02139-3296
    (617) 661-9622
  • Sat, July 10, 2010, 7:30 pm
    Kripalu Center
    57 Interlaken Road
    Stockbridge, MA 01262
    www.kripalu.org
  • Sun, July 11, 2010, 7:30 pm
    Yoga Sanctuary
    189 Main Street
    Northampton, MA 01060-3147
    $15 at the door
    (413) 585-9642
    http://yoga-sanctuary.com/
  • Mon, July 12, 2010, 7:30 pm
    All That Matters Yoga Studio
    315 Main Street
    Wakefield, RI 02879
    $20 pre-registration or $25 at the door
    Phone: 401-782-2126
    http://www.allthatmatters.com/index.cfm
  • Tues, July 13, 2010, 7:30 pm
    Block Island, RI:
    St Andrews Parish Center
    http://www.blockislandyoga.com/
  • Thurs, July 15, 2010, 7pm
    Yoga Mandali
    454 Broadway
    Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
    $15 in advance, $20 at the door
    518.584.0807
    http://www.yogasaratoga.com/
  • Sunday, July 18th, 2010, 4:30-7pm
    Radha Krishna Temple
    72 Commonwealth Ave
    Boston, MA 02116
    617-247-8611
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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – final day 6

These are the recordings of the USA retreat 2010 which is being held in Vraj, Pennsylvania. Kindly provided by Candrasekhara Acharya Prabhu.

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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – day 5

These are the recordings of the USA retreat 2010 which is being held in Vraj, Pennsylvania. Kindly provided by Candrasekhara Acharya Prabhu.

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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – day 4

These are the recordings of the USA retreat 2010 which is being held in Vraj, Pennsylvania. Kindly provided by Candrasekhara Acharya Prabhu.

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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – day 3

These are the recordings of the USA retreat 2010 which is being held in Vraj, Pennsylvania. Kindly provided by Candrasekhara Acharya Prabhu.

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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – day 2

These are the recordings of the USA retreat 2010 which is being held in Vraj, Pennsylvania. Kindly provided by Candrasekhara Acharya Prabhu.

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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2010 – cont. day 1

These are the recordings of the USA retreat 2010 which is being held in Vraj, Pennsylvania. Kindly provided by Candrasekhara Acharya Prabhu.

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1953 July 7: "Sir--With reference to the letter published in your columns. It is wrong to interpret that Vedic religion is not proselytistic. The proselytising method of Bhagavad-gita is to turn the face of all mundaners towards the transcendental service of the Absolute Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1958 July 7: "The Leaders of India have carefully set aside the treasure house of India's spiritual assets and they are imitating the Western material way of life constantly engaged in acts of error of judgment, misgivings, imperfectness and duplicity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1966 July 7:
"Panchami. Today I saw Mr. Goldsmith in his office. It is expected that the Society shall be registered by the next week. He says everything is alright. In the evening two Indian gentlemen talked with me till 10 at night."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 July 7: "I read your letter describing very emotionally the nice success of our Rathayatra festival. Now you can understand the specimen of transcendental pleasure in which the human society as a whole can take part and realize transcendental bliss."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 July 7: "But this is all tapasya. The whole world is full of fanatics. Without tapasya, nobody can approach Krishna and Krishna takes note of such tapasya and the devotee is recognized by Him."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 July 7: "As our devotees become more devotional, the non-devotees will come to hear. To become advanced means to acquire spiritual strength, and this spiritual strength is for impressing devotional service into the hearts of the fallen souls."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 July 7: "My Dear Sridhara Maharaja: I am so much thankful for your appreciating my preaching work in the Western countries. So I think there is some plot to check up this fast growing movement. We are trying our best to counteract this opposing element but everything will rest upon Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 July 7: "Sripada Sridhara Maharaja said Caitanya Mahaprabhu's prediction would remain a dream only, but I have done it practically. I do not know how things are going on automatically by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, because I have no other assets except his causeless mercy."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 2

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

3:42 A.M.

I woke up at midnight and couldn't sleep much after that. I got up from bed at 2 A.M. without a headache and began chanting. My japa was good this morning. I entered the sound of the holy names and stayed attentive on the syllables. My mind was clear and undistracted, and I felt some depth of meaning in uttering Hare Krishna mantras. They were distinct, and as I chanted I thought of Nama Prabhu and His potency. I've chanted 12 rounds, and I am not sleepy. My Prabhupada murti is now out on the shelf on his vyasasana, and I chant to him as well as Radha-Govinda. The shelves have been built into the room, and soon my books will be here. It is becoming more of a nice bhajana kutir, and gradually all the boxes will be unpacked and the atmosphere will be nicer.

The room is protective
and I'm enclosed,
chanting bright mantras
at a very early hour.
Time passes and my
numerical strength grows
quickly and without
laziness or distraction,
the big offenses against
the holy names. This is
a good platform to
maintain and improve from
here. I'm calling
on Radha and Krishna
on a deep summer morn.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Main Inspiration

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

Prabhupada Smaranam

Srila Prabhupada is the main inspiration and direction for all activities in the Krishna consciousness movement. In Visnu-aradhanam's car there was a picture of Prabhupada taped to the dashboard, and Visnu-aradhanam wore a t-shirt with a big picture of Srila Prabhupada on the back and front. We remember his years with us over 30 years ago, and continuing from the present to future, we try to follow his instructions and maintain his society of devotees.

It is nice to see him gesturing on his walk. You can meditate on it and cultivate feelings of separation. You can also hear the recordings of his morning walk and lectures and be in tune with his preaching presence. You can read his books and refresh yourself with his personal presentation of the classics, Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta, and his other books. By associating with his followers, you can remain in his camp.

I was fortunate to meet Srila Prabhupada from his very beginnings in New York City in 1966, when he was so accessible and personable. His personality and role expanded as the movement grew, and he became world acarya for thousands of devotees, and a manager of complex institutional affairs. But he always maintained his intimate touch with many persons wherever he visited. As a mahatma, or great soul, he was able to give love to everyone he met, and encourage them to take up devotional service in their lives. Someone referred to the "Vraja-bubble" that Prabhupada lived within, and how, when you came into his presence, you left the material world and entered the Vraja-bubble with him. Traveler's Aid, an insurance company, advertises that they "take the scariness out of life" by their insurance protection. Similarly, Prabhupada takes the scariness out of life, when we come close to him, take shelter under his transcendental umbrella, and follow his instructions.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Viraha Bhavan

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

In the green-painted
Viraha Bhavan, I try
to search for a new voice.
I'm in a neighborhood of
leafy trees, little white houses,
and they tell me, progressive
people who are interested in
yoga and kirtana and who like
Hare Krishna people. I can't see
myself taking a leading role
in socializing with the kindred
spirits, but I will show up
when they bring their
kirtana here. Mostly I stick
to my chair, but I've been
joining them for lunch,
and at 5 P.M. I go for a
walk in the nature trail.

Yadunandana Maharaja continues
to read to me of the ecstatic
pastimes of Radha and Krishna
and we hear of Lord Caitanya's
visit to Vrndavana (this
above the noise of construction
downstairs).
Krishna wins in the dice
game, and He kisses Radha's
bimba-like lips as the prize,
but She slaps Him with the lotus.

On a trick, the Gopala Deity
descends from Govardhana Hill
so that Caitanya Mahaprabhu can
receive His darsana. He
would not climb up the hill,
thinking Himself an ordinary person.

I do feel my separation
as a painful thing.
I can't reach as close as
I desire in japa or
any other sadhana activity.
So does separation mean
simply distance? I thought
it meant keenness of wanting
to be near. The gopis
felt Krishna's presence
more intensely by His being
away, and the mood was
so ecstatic, Caitanya Mahaprabhu
appeared just to taste it.
In the Gambhira He
talked madly to His
close associates and underwent
severe bodily transformations.
He sometimes criticized Lord
Krishna for staying away and
breaking Radha's heart
and all the people of Vraja
who were seemingly withering without Him.
He even sent Uddhava to
console them and to learn for
himself how great the gopis' love was.
Uddhava told them, "Don't distress,
remember Krishna and He is here."
My separation is a simple thing,
sheer distance in emotions,
yet aware of the cause of my
dissatisfaction—not near Vraja.
(I cannot seem to make it up
by a trip to Vrndavana in India.
I haven't learned to feel the
presence of Krishna there, but feel
sick and I'm anxious to go "home.")

So I will try to elevate
my viraha to a real thing
in Stuyvesant Falls,
by settling in to a routine
of quickly chanting and hearing,
and in an easygoing way,
tolerating my physical weakness,
come to feel the
absence-presence of the Lord.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Real Beauty

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

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Here is an intricate sculpture with an ornate frame. The main figure is a skull or frightening ogre mask. The more one looks at the pieces within this sculpture, one is impressed with how many figures there are and how intricate it is. They also give off a ghoulish effect, as they contain disembodied pairs of legs, half-human half-animal forms, and a bric-a-brac collection of madness, like a nightmare. It is a disquieting arrangement in the mode of madness, a waste of time and talent.

By contrast, the picture of Radha and Krishna is one of harmony and blissfulness. It comes not from the speculative mood of a mad artist, but from scriptural descriptions of the Supreme Lord and His eternal Consort. They are all-spiritual forms, and They embody the topmost form of love. Krishna is so enchanting to all living beings that He is called Madana-mohana, the enchanter of love personified (Cupid). But Krishna is Himself captivated by the beauty of Radharani. Therefore She is called Madana-mohana-mohini, the enchanter of the enchanter of Cupid. Together they are the Divine Couple and are worshiped by the Vaisnavas as the highest object of devotion. Bhakti, or devotional service, means to render acts pleasing to Radha and Krishna. They are both addressed by Their names: Hare (O Radha) and Krishna (O Krishna) in the syllables of the maha-mantra, the easiest and most-recommended process for serving Radha-Krishna in this age.

How much more satisfying it is to look upon the forms of the Divine Couple than to bewilder yourself trying to make sense of the grotesque sculpture which has no conclusion or meaning.

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Mayapur Online: Welcome Home, HH Jayapataka Swami

It was a day we have waited for, to welcome back HH Jayapataka Swami in Mayapur. Earlier, we got the news that Maharaja may come for Gaura purnima, but then he could n't due to his therapies. After that, we were looking forward for his visit for Nrsimha Caturdasi,which couldn’t manifest. But yesterday, the patience of the devotees as well as Maharaja, who expressed that it was very difficult for him to remain far away from Mayapur and devotees for a long period, came to an end. For the past two days, children, young,old and the entire community become so alive just thinking & planning of the ways to increase the ecstasy of welcoming home their beloved spiritual master. Welcome -Picture gallery here.

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

Festival at the Susquehanna River

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

I felt so honoured to be present for the memorial anniversary of the passing of my dear monk friend, Bhakti Tirtha Swami. It has been five years since his leaving us. In retrospect I see him as the personification of the principle 'unity and diversity'. His presentation, style, dress code, demeanour was bold, daring, fresh, different. He broke through conventional boundaries and would open up topics that some of us would be shy to talk about. He was like a chameleon adjusting to diverse situations and all the time so much advocating a 'oneness' factor. He would emphasize unity, harmony and cohesion; to work as a unit.

At the samadhi tomb of the Swami at the Gita Nagari farm where the service was held, I was asked to speak something and this thought came to mind, "Here is the embodiment of the philosophy of Chaitanya "achintya bhedabheda" or, simultaneously oneness and difference.

For the afternoon our party drove to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital city, for their summer's music festival. Incorporated into the festival was a mini Ratha Yatra. Swamis from other parts of the US came such as Bhakti Caru, Veda Vyasa Priya and Chandrashekar to enrich the program with their presence. I spoke with Gauravani who is doing the kirtan (chanting) circuit traveling and singing. He shared time on the stage with our drama troupe for "Lonely People". He does that excellent singing presentation with his group.

One thing that was novel was hearing Chandrashekar Swami quote a Christian speaker as the swami and I had a casual talk, "There's a God-shaped hole in the heart that only God can fill."

6 KM

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Gauranga Kishore das,USA: Srimad Bhagavatam is the post graduate Study of the Bhagavad Gita


A little while ago after the Bhagavatam class here in Gainesville I had a discussion with the speaker, the concern I raised with him was about some of the statements encouraging renunciation could be misunderstood or misapplied and how they may not be appropriate for people who are just beginning to practice spiritual life.

We talked about it for sometime but didn't really come to any conclusion. Of course it was agreed that Krishna consciousness needs to be presented and applied in a balanced and mature way but exactly what that means is more difficult.

This is something I've been thinking about for a while and a little later that afternoon I remembered something Srila Prabhupada often said. He would often remark how the Srimad Bhagavatam is the post graduate study of the Bhagavad Gita but until now I hadn't taken that as seriously as maybe I should've. I think that I always thought it just meant they were about the same thing but that the Bhagavatam just contains more information than the Gita.

But I think we should consider taking that statement a little more seriously meaning that maybe we shouldn't study the Bhagavatam until we fully understand and realized the Bhagavad Gita. Or at least the Bhagavatam needs to be understood in context of the Gita.

If the Bhagavatam isn't understood in the context of the Gita, with a firm basis in performing our duties for the pleasure of the Lord we may prematurely renounce them. I think it is important to keep in mind that the Bhagavatam was spoken to Maharaja Pariksit who only had seven day left to live, and begins with the question "What is the duty of a person who is about to die?"

The Bhagavatam is the ripened fruit of the desire tree of the Vedic literature, which means that it is the ultimate purpose of the Vedas but from another perspective it also means that the rest of the tree is also valuable because it is necessary to produce the fruit. Or to use the post graduate example quoted earlier, graduate level studies may be more advanced than undergraduate studies but it doesn't mean we can skip over the undergraduate level studies.

The Bhagavatam over and over again encourages renunciation whereas in the Gita Krishna does not encourage Arjuna to renounce his familial and societal obligations but only encourages him to renounce the desire for the fruits of his action. Rather Krishna very explicity forbids Arjuna to renounce his duties exposing his desire to renounce as a shallow form of laziness, the opposite of true spirituality.
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Phanisvara das, Mayapura, IN: testing...

hare krsna

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Ceto Darpana Marjanam

ceto

There was a maha-clean at Urban Yoga not so long ago where the enthusiastic devotees were eagerly cleansing the mirror of their heart by cleaning Lord Krishna's sankirtan abode on the 3rd level of the 123 Swanston Walk building.

Far from looking like an austerity the little crew seemed to have had a great time. They wanted to share the fun with us; here are some pictures they took.

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Dandavats.com: Vrindavan fully furnished flat for sale

Radhacharan das: A very nice fully furnished flat located in the well reputated building Ananda Krishna Van ,near ISKCON ,near krsna balram tree is available for sale.

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Mayapur Online: SMIS School &Srila Prabhupada Ashram Admission going on…

Srila Prabhupada ashram, the boys' residential campus of Sri Mayapur International School, invites applications from worldwide devotees for  admission of their children to the ashram. Provide your child a holistic and balanced training in spiritual and material education, in a eco friendly and peaceful environment of Sri Mayapur dhama.

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Why the sacred cow is sacred and how we as devotees may be neglecting our duty by not protecting sacred cows

Answering questions by Vishal Merai on cow-protection.

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Gouranga TV: Kishori Yatra Part 3

Kishori Yatra Part 3

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Japa Group: Not Worrying About Contingencies


Chanting should be a period when you are not worrying about contingencies, and what may happen. You just live in the present and just take your holy names to heart.
From Bhajan Kutir
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