viernes, 9 de julio de 2010

SKCON News.com: US Court Stops ISKCON Seeking Donations At Los Angeles Airport



PLANET ISKCON

 

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"Planet ISKCON" - 49 new articles

  1. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Silas' Darshan
  2. Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Bhajan - Kalindi dasi - Nrsimhadev Prayers
  3. ISKCON News.com: US Court Stops ISKCON Seeking Donations At Los Angeles Airport
  4. ISKCON News.com: New Training Center for Women in Alachua, USA
  5. ISKCON News.com: Monthly Phone Teleconference for Devotees With Marriage Questions
  6. Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Tile &Table
  7. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: definition of Vaisnava
  8. ISKCON News.com: Slovenian Pada Yatra: The Eco-Caravan
  9. ISKCON News.com: Moscow Ratha Yatra Promotes Healthy Lifestyle
  10. Japa Group: I Felt Some Depth Of Meaning
  11. ISKCON News.com: US Pharmacists Win Right to Refuse to Sell 'Morning After' Abortion Pill
  12. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: Mirror of our soul
  13. ISKCON News.com: Choosing Healthy Foods Now Called A Mental Disorder
  14. ISKCON News.com: Future Moscow Teachers Learn Religious Xenophobia
  15. ISKCON News.com: Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies Celebrates Lucky Thirteenth Birthday
  16. Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Stand Up
  17. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  18. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  19. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  20. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  21. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  22. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  23. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  24. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  25. ISKCON News.com: BBT Inspired Art Seminar in New Vrindavan, USA
  26. ISKCON News.com: Rural Job / Service Opportunity in Kansas City, USA
  27. Kaunteya das, Mayapura: Idolatry. Unfortunately.
  28. Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Rock-Festival Distribution in Finland
  29. Book Distribution News: Rock-Festival Distribution in Finland
  30. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 3
  31. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Bowing Down to a Pure Devotee
  32. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Caitanya Lila and Living Alone
  33. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: A Man and His Cow
  34. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: TEN THINGS I COULD DO TO IMPROVE MY CHANTING
  35. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, July 4th, 2010
  36. Maddy Jean-claude Durr, New Govardhana, AU: A Journey Across to Poland: [P1] Arrivals
  37. Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: For Sale: Dallas Rathayatra &Initiation Ceremony 2010 DVD (2 Set)
  38. Dandavats.com: Twilight of Destruction
  39. Dandavats.com: World Holy Name Festival 2010: Sept 17 - Oct 3
  40. Dandavats.com: Iskcon Bangladesh Ratha Yatra 2010
  41. Dandavats.com: Sri Mayapur International School and Ashram admissions going on!
  42. Dandavats.com: New Vrindaban BBT Inspired Art Seminar
  43. Dandavats.com: Fourth Annual BBT Art Seminar now open for registration
  44. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Remembering the pastime of Rathayatra as enacted by Caitanya Mahaprabhu (Part 1)
  45. Bhakta Chris, New York, USA: Mythology, Media, And The Future of Hinduism
  46. Kaunteya das, Mayapura: Prevention and continuity: appreciable but non-enthralling
  47. Gouranga TV: Kishori Yatra Part 4
  48. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Jaganathastaka at Jagannatha-ghat on the banks of the Yamuna
  49. Japa Group: Good Bhajana Kutir
  50. More Recent Articles
  51. Search Planet ISKCON

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Silas' Darshan

When our Bhagavatam speakers glorify the pastimes of Giriraja, Gopal, Rama, Ananta, Trivikrama (Vamana), Kurma, Varaha, Mastya, and Hayagriva - Krishna's incarnations who kindly appear in our Mandir as silas - Their presence inspires me to meditate on their lotus forms and pray for Their mercy.

TrivikramaDarshan.jpg Because of his service as one of the Lords' pujaris, Bala Gaura Prabhu knows each and every one of Them intimately, and he has shared Their order of appearance with us.

Here is The Lords' 2010 Gaura Purnima darshan, moving clockwise from Lord Trivikrama who sits to the left of Radha-Vallabha's upper step. Lord Trivikrama; Sri Narasimha; Sri Gopal; Sri-Sri-Sri Ananta, Hayagriva, Ananta; Sri-Sri-Sri Rama, Varaha, Sudarshan; Sri-Sri Radha-Giriraja;Sri-Sri-Sri Kurma, Matsya, Mastya (with a white Dwaraka sila covered behind).

May They bless us to perfect our lives as we chant Their glories.

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Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Bhajan - Kalindi dasi - Nrsimhadev Prayers

Kalindi dasi singing Nrsimhadev Prayers at her engagement to Kapil.

Dallas, TX


Download: 2010-05-15 - 5 - Kap and Kalindi Engagement Ceremony - Nrsimhadev Prayers.mp3
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ISKCON News.com: US Court Stops ISKCON Seeking Donations At Los Angeles Airport

The Times of India on 8 Jul 2010

Hare Krishna movement has been stopped from seeking donations at the Los Angeles International Airport by a US court. The court allowed the Los Angeles Police to enforce a 13-year-old municipal ordinance, which would prevent members of the movement from seeking donations at the airport.


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ISKCON News.com: New Training Center for Women in Alachua, USA

By Vinode Vani Dasi on 8 Jul 2010

Srila Prabhupada indicates in the Bhagavad Gita, that women, in particular, are the protectors of religion in Vedic society. If women are not properly trained and protected, then the moral fiber of the children and the entire family declines. Toward this end, ISKCON is establishing a training facility and ashrama for new devotees, specifically women, at the New Raman Reti community in Alachua, Florida.


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ISKCON News.com: Monthly Phone Teleconference for Devotees With Marriage Questions

By ISKCON News Staff for ISKCON News on 8 Jul 2010

The North American Grihastha Vision Team (GVT) offers a FREE teleconference facility every month for devotees who are seeking help with or more information about relationships. The panel consists of qualified devotee experts, counselors, therapists or marriage educators who are committed strenghtening devotee marital relationships.


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Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Tile &Table

Financial update: Credit union guy called to say he was leaving the office, waiting on our file but wanted to know a good time to call tomorrow. He was very courteous.

We are not so worried. Our unsold PA house deserves a refinance since the rate is not so great and it is a 5 year arm that is soon to expire. So, that seems to be our newest back up plans. You know what they say about best laid plans….that’s why we are not doing so much planning right now ;)

Tile is almost done. All up. Grouting is in order. Tomorrow.

Our table is finally done. The guys brought the slab yesterday, but the table bowed under the weight. Back to the iron smiths (is that what they call themselves?). KD brought the table there this morning and picked it up this afternoon. KD and Lotus lifted the 500 lb slab onto the table base and now we have a pretty table.

Here are pics. I am off to study with my son for a geography bee tomorrow.


Our kitchen tile. White, Mint Ice, Meadow, Porcelain. Subway tile with get gray grout, glass mosaic will get an off white.


Our granite table. Base custom made by Gainesville Ironworks. Top Sapphire Brown granite.


Sapphire Brown Granite....not my first choice. Not my second choice. Third string rookie.


Browns in the granite marry well with the chestnut stained cherry cabinets, although the flash kind of ruined the moment.

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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: definition of Vaisnava

Krishna Consciousness has great potency to deliver us to the highest platform of perfection, but only if it is understood by the intelligence. Something understood by the intelligence is fixed forever and cannot waver, and that is almost spiritual. From your letter, I can understand you are confused in your mind, because you do not want this, you do not want that, you might like another, like that. That position of confusion is not very much desirable, so you are a Vaisnava, now rid yourself of such misunderstanding of things. Vaisnava means one who is able to sit down anywhere, under any conditions, and be happy. He wants only a place to lay down, a little prasadam, and if there's a little service he can do, gladly let me do it for Krishna, that's all. As long as we are thinking I want this, that is not to my liking, or if I adjust things a certain way everything will be better, these thoughts are material. Devotional service is not conditional. So stop this dreaming state. Try to understand things with the light of your intelligence, and if your are sincere in this way, without a doubt Krishna will give you full facility to understand Him and become freed of the bondage of ignorance.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Bhagavatananda -- New York 8 July, 1972

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ISKCON News.com: Slovenian Pada Yatra: The Eco-Caravan

By Ananta Das for ISKCON News on 8 Jul 2010

A few days ago, Slovenian devotees started their 9th annual pada-yatra festival called Eco-caravan 2010.


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ISKCON News.com: Moscow Ratha Yatra Promotes Healthy Lifestyle

By Yadhunandana Das for ISKCON News on 8 Jul 2010

Last Sunday, visitors of Moscow`s Russian Exhibition Center encountered an unusual sight: a richly decorated chariot moving around in the flowery central park. The previous Ratha Yatra took place here exactly fifteen years ago, in the summer of 1995. This year, the ancient Indian Festival aimed to attract the attention of the people in Moscow to the importance of healthy life-style.


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Japa Group: I Felt Some Depth Of Meaning


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.

From Bhajan Kutir #2
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ISKCON News.com: US Pharmacists Win Right to Refuse to Sell 'Morning After' Abortion Pill

By ISKCON News Staff for ISKCON News on 8 Jul 2010

Less than two weeks before the start of a civil rights trial in Tacoma federal court, attorneys for the State of Washington told a federal judge that the State would seek to create new rules for pharmacists with conscientious objections. The new regulations would give the plaintiffs in the lawsuit--the owners of Ralph's Thriftway pharmacy and two pharmacists—what they've wanted all along: the right to refuse to stock or dispense Plan B (the so-called "morning after pill") based on their conscientious objection.


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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: Mirror of our soul

Isn't it strange how a 20 rupee note seems like such a large amount when You donate it to temple, but Such a small amount When you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when You're at temple, and how Short they seem when you're Watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't Find a word to say when You're praying, But you have no trouble Thinking what to talk about
With a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficult And boring it is to read One chapter Of the Bhagwad Gita, but how easy It is to read 100 pages of A popular novel ?

Isn't it strange how everyone Wants front-row-tickets To concerts or Games, but they do whatever Is possible to sit at the last Row in Jagran?

Isn't it strange how we need to Know about an event for Temple 2-3 Weeks before the day so we can Include it in our agenda, but we can Adjust it for other events in The last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it Is to learn a fact about God to share it With others, but how easy It is to learn, understand,
Extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we Believe everything That magazines and newspapers Say, but we question the words in the
Bhagwad Gita?

Isn't it strange how everyone Wants a place in Heaven, but they don't want To believe, do, or say anything To get there?

Isn't it strange how we send Jokes in e-mails And they are forwarded Right away, But when we are going to send
Messages about God, we think About it twice before we share It with others?

IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT?

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ISKCON News.com: Choosing Healthy Foods Now Called A Mental Disorder

By Mike Adams for NaturalNews.com on 29 Jun 2010

In its never-ending attempt to fabricate "mental disorders" out of every human activity, the psychiatric industry is now pushing the most ridiculous disease they've invented yet: Healthy eating disorder.


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ISKCON News.com: Future Moscow Teachers Learn Religious Xenophobia

By Willy Fautre for Human Rights Without Frontiers on 6 Jul 2010

Students of the Moscow City Pedagogical University are being taught that charismatic churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, "The International Society of Krishna Consciousness" and other religious associations are "sects," a Portal-credo.ru correspondent reports.


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ISKCON News.com: Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies Celebrates Lucky Thirteenth Birthday

By Lal Krishna Das for ISKCON News on 8 Jul 2010

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS) celebrates thirteen years of growth from humble beginnings in a suburban house to one of the world's leading Hindu Studies centres building bridges between academia, tradition, business, and government.


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Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Stand Up

This is a cooking blog, so let me keep this vague.

Live a principled life.

Remember, the personal is political.

Your Facebook friends list speaks multitudes about you.

Don’t compromise your opportunity to say something important by remaining silent.

Even sheep have balls.


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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1966 July 8: "Sasthi. Society's balance $28.00. Electric light fitted today and there was about twenty men attending. It is encouraging. The collection was $15.00. One boy Gerald was very much interested."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 July 8: "Those who are sincere souls, Krishna helps them to have a bonafide Spiritual Master, and the bonafide Spiritual Master helps the disciple to approach Krishna. This is the process. If you are sincere Krishna will give you proper intelligence."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 July 8: "So far remembering me and Krishna, it should be simultaneous. I am your Spiritual Father, and Krishna is your Spiritual Husband. A girl can never forget either her father or her husband."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 July 8: "It is all Krishna's money. When He sees us very faithful and trustworthy, He gives up His money. Simply pray to Krishna. The whole process is to accept the superior quality of service in Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 July 8: "Now you should concentrate to develop your spiritual power to attract the fallen souls. Perform sankirtana and display what is this Krishna consciousness movement and how it is for everyone's eternal welfare and happiness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 July 8: "When I see young American boys becoming qualified Brahmins, I am pleased and my Guru Maharaja becomes pleased. So you must live up to the standard. First and foremost is cleanliness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 July 8: "We are Hari Kirtana men, that's all. We can attract people by some gorgeous show, but inside there must be strict purity and seriousness. If we can recite from Bhagavad gita without any need for elaborate scenery and gorgeous dresses, that is best."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 July 8: "There is no water arrangement. The temple is not being maintained properly. They are keeping long hairs and not living responsibly. I do not think it is good to put good money after bad."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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ISKCON News.com: BBT Inspired Art Seminar in New Vrindavan, USA

By ISKCON News Staff for ISKCON News on 8 Jul 2010

Between September 13th and 22nd in New Vrindavan, there will be a ten day art seminar taught by veteran ISKCON-BBT artists, Dhriti Dasi and Ram Dasa Abhirama Das.


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ISKCON News.com: Rural Job / Service Opportunity in Kansas City, USA

By ISKCON News Staff for ISKCON News on 8 Jul 2010

Bhaktivana Dhama farm community, near Kansas City, is offering job/service positions for devotees who wish to help pursue Srila Prabhupada's vision of cow protection and self-sustainable farming. Experience welcome but not necessary since training will be provided. Opportunities available for individuals, couple or small family.


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Kaunteya das, Mayapura: Idolatry. Unfortunately.

A sand sculpture of Michael Jackson built to mark the first anniversary of
his death (where the confused being would be now?).

To witness veneration of this pathetic idol is saddening, regardless of
where in the world it takes place. What is even more puzzling and unsettling
is that this photo was taken in Jagannath Puri, India.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

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Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Rock-Festival Distribution in Finland

Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

For the last four or five years we have distributed books to the crowd at the annual Tuska ("Pain") Open-Air Metal Festival in the center of Helsinki. The festival runs from Friday through Sunday during the first weekend of July.

Compared to some other rock festivals, the crowd at this one is a little less intoxicated. They mainly go there because of the music. Actually, the fact that they're a bit drunk makes them more open to being approached. This festival is really quite a good field for preaching.

The Christians had their "Finland for Jesus" bus there, trying to save the fallen souls. But their tactics just drew ridicule from the "metal heads," who continued to flaunt their upside-down crosses and various provocative anti-Christian T-shirts. Our approach was different. We distributed there in devotional clothing, avoiding Christian-style warnings about imminent damnation and the need to be saved. We just presented our literature and engaged in small talk about the bands and how the weekend was going.

Sankirtana Prabhu, the sankirtan leader of the Czech Republic, was visiting Finland, and after our Sunday feast we went to the festival together. Some people sitting near the entrance immediately showed interest in the books. They were two ladies accompanied by a young man and a professional drunkard. The two ladies had pretty authentic metal-festival outfits -- blood stains painted all over their bodies, etc. But they were positive and without needing too much convincing surrendered to purchasing a small book.

Many attendees had doubts about us. They regarded us as Hindus and thus thought that we worshiped many gods in a hodgepodge way, without much philosophy. I did my best to explain that we are not just ritualistic followers but have a clear and deep philosophy.

It was fun to discuss philosophy with all those wild-looking characters, many of whom had read some of our books. Some were favorable, some not, but for the most part they were more philosophical than the average person on the street. Many had read books on various other philosophies -- Taoism, Buddhism, shamanism and some were followers of the teachings of Anton LaVey (hedonistic Satanism).

It was very nice distributing with His Grace Sankirtan Prabhu. He did about ten books in less than two hours. It was good that I stayed until the end of the festival, since around that time two young men took five books, and, as on Saturday, the total for Sunday was some fifteen books also.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! Lord Nityananda's special mercy and transcendental special jokes ki jaya!

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Book Distribution News: Rock-Festival Distribution in Finland

Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

For the last four or five years we have distributed books to the crowd at the annual Tuska ("Pain") Open-Air Metal Festival in the center of Helsinki. The festival runs from Friday through Sunday during the first weekend of July.

Compared to some other rock festivals, the crowd at this one is a little less intoxicated. They mainly go there because of the music. Actually, the fact that they're a bit drunk makes them more open to being approached. This festival is really quite a good field for preaching.

The Christians had their "Finland for Jesus" bus there, trying to save the fallen souls. But their tactics just drew ridicule from the "metal heads," who continued to flaunt their upside-down crosses and various provocative anti-Christian T-shirts. Our approach was different. We distributed there in devotional clothing, avoiding Christian-style warnings about imminent damnation and the need to be saved. We just presented our literature and engaged in small talk about the bands and how the weekend was going.

Sankirtana Prabhu, the sankirtan leader of the Czech Republic, was visiting Finland, and after our Sunday feast we went to the festival together. Some people sitting near the entrance immediately showed interest in the books. They were two ladies accompanied by a young man and a professional drunkard. The two ladies had pretty authentic metal-festival outfits -- blood stains painted all over their bodies, etc. But they were positive and without needing too much convincing surrendered to purchasing a small book.

Many attendees had doubts about us. They regarded us as Hindus and thus thought that we worshiped many gods in a hodgepodge way, without much philosophy. I did my best to explain that we are not just ritualistic followers but have a clear and deep philosophy.

It was fun to discuss philosophy with all those wild-looking characters, many of whom had read some of our books. Some were favorable, some not, but for the most part they were more philosophical than the average person on the street. Many had read books on various other philosophies -- Taoism, Buddhism, shamanism and some were followers of the teachings of Anton LaVey (hedonistic Satanism).

It was very nice distributing with His Grace Sankirtan Prabhu. He did about ten books in less than two hours. It was good that I stayed until the end of the festival, since around that time two young men took five books, and, as on Saturday, the total for Sunday was some fifteen books also.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! Lord Nityananda's special mercy and transcendental special jokes ki jaya!

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 3

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

3:50 A.M.

I woke at 11 P.M. last night and was restless for the rest of the night, sleeping only on-and-off. I got up at ten minutes to two. I began chanting, but I gradually developed a pain in my right eye, migraine headache. I treated it with medicine, but it only gradually went down. As a result my chanting was hampered and not so quick, but I remained determined and kept fighting to keep attention and devotion in harinama. I have chanted about eleven rounds. I was able to keep focus on the syllables and not become panicky. But it is not a superexcellent day due to the impediment. I have to accept that there will be some days like this and not bash myself when there is physical difficulty. Chant Hare Krishna in any condition and trust that Krishna will reciprocate.

Chanting in difficulty,
I keep up my vow.
Krishna stays with me in
His holy names despite
a right eye twinge. The
japa is transcendental
and cannot be stopped by any
physical impediment. 
I struggle through and reach a state of prayer: "Please
let me stay close to You
on the spiritual plane.
Let there be no obstacle
to chanting on this morning.
Repeating Your names is
my life and soul,
even when it's hard."

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Bowing Down to a Pure Devotee

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

Prabhupada Smaranam

The devotees bow down at the first sight of Prabhupada in the morning, and after his lecture, and whenever they meet him during the day. And they murmur his pranama–mantras. Once in the Seattle temple, when the devotees bowed down after Prabhupada's lecture, a college student raised his hand and said he did not want to bow down to anyone. Prabhupada replied that the boy would be forced to bow down even if he didn't bow down to the pure devotee-spiritual master.  He would be compelled to bow down to rebirth, death, disease and old age. The material nature does not allow us to go through life as some master of all we survey. The real question is, since you have to bow down to something or someone, you should find that person who is worthy bowing down to. Find that person whom when you bow down to him, you will be released from the necessity of other bowing down.

In 1966, when devotees first started bowing down at the feet of Prabhupada, some of the more rebellious spirits didn't like it and went away. Gargamuni dasa asked Prabhupada if he should bow down even if he didn't feel like it. Prabhupada said, "Yes."

Prabhupada told the boy in Seattle, "You are wondering why all these people are bowing down, but they are wondering why you don't bow down."

Prabhupada's disciples liked to bow down to him. They did not see it as a personality-cult worship, but recognition that Prabhupada was the representative of Lord Hari and should therefore be treated as good as Hari. Those who refused to bow down as Prabhupada passed by broke the Vaisnava etiquette and ran the risk of committing an offense to God's representative.  Bowing down to the superior is a very convenient process, and it does the heart good to do. Prabhupada received the obeisances humbly, and not for himself, but on behalf of his spiritual master in the parampara.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Caitanya Lila and Living Alone

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

Lord Caitanya sat at Akrura–
ghata for a long time.
He remembered that it was here
Krishna and Balarama revealed the
Vaikuntha world to Akrura.
And it was here that Krishna showed
the residents of Vraja, the revelation
of Goloka Vrndavana.
Pondering, Caitanya Mahaprabhu
dove into the lake and stayed at
the bottom for a long time. Krishnadasa
screamed out, and Balabhadra–
bhattacarya came running and
pulled the Lord out. Balabhadra then
had a solitary talk with the Sanodiya
brahmana. He said, "It was lucky that
I was nearby today, but what if
the Lord does this in Vrndavana and
there is no one to help Him?
And we are getting so many invitations,
from brahmanas for Lord Caitanya to take
lunch. And there are everywhere
big crowds. My conclusion is that we
should take Mahaprabhu out of Vrndavana."
The Sanodiya brahmana proposed that
they could go to Prayag by the way
of the Ganges, and it would be very pleasant.

Every day I hear more pastimes
of Lord Caitanya during
prasadam, and they
uplift my spirits right
away. The summer heat
weighs on my bones, and
I spend time sitting back in
my chair.

Do I wish I were a
more active bhakta,
or am I content to
read and write and
express my taste in this
way? I don't have much
inclination to mix with
others, and my health
is weak, so I spend the
day mostly alone. Today
we will unpack the boxes
of books and clothes and
articles and put them
on the newly-purchased
shelves. I'm preparing
to live in a comfortable
room surrounded by all
my necessities and spin
my web like a spider
does, out of its own saliva.

I depend on my friends
to fix my room and support
my life in a bhajana-kutir
where I hope to not just
stare at the wall and let
time pass, but cultivate
separation from Krishna
and Prabhupada. It's
my senior-citizen way
of life, confining my
exercise to an afternoon
walk and preferring
my own company.

I do plan to receive a
friend in the middle of the month, and at the end
of July I propose to take a
few days off my web-posting
and travel far to attend the
two-day Ratha-Yatra festival
at Gita-nagari. So I am not
entirely alone, but most
of the time I am, and
I am fairly satisfied this
is the way I prefer, as
long as I can turn it
into hours of Krishna
consciousness with writing and reading
and chanting the holy names.
I have a good new house
in which to spin my web
and so I spend my days
accomplishing what I can.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: A Man and His Cow

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

Free Write

I felt tired late this morning after working with Baladeva to unpack boxes in my room, and I lay down for a nap. I had a dream in which different masters of animals, mostly cows or bulls, were shown taking care of their livestock, as if they were affectionate pets. The dream narrator said that a master should spend more time with his animal in order to find out what he wanted to die to become. Aside from the relationship with the animal, I was struck with the concept of dying to find out what you want to become. It struck me as significant.

It seems to me that I want to die to become–or perhaps it would  be more accurate to say I want to live to become—a good devotee of my spiritual master and Krishna. This is my aspiration in life. How can I attain it? The answer that comes to me is to be obedient  to the instructions of my spiritual master and not deviate from them, and I should cultivate my relationship with Radha and Krishna by hearing and chanting Their names, fame, pastimes and qualities. I should preach the glories of the Lord to the innocent nondevotees, and I should share my realizations with the devotees and associate with them.

The dream said I should find out what I want to die to become by spending more time with "my animal." Dreams don't often make rational sense, and I don't understand what this means or how to follow it, but I remain intrigued by the search to know what I am willing to die to become, and I think I know the answer.

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: TEN THINGS I COULD DO TO IMPROVE MY CHANTING

1. Chant first thing in the morning
2. Chant 16 rounds in one go
3. Send reports to my chanting success partner
4. Do not eat until I finish 16 rounds
5. Read about the effects of chanting from Sri Namamrta
6. Write on my blog about chanting
7. Inspire devotees to chant more
8. Make chanting as the main pillar of the success of my coaching
9. Make chanting as the main pillar of the success of building communities of care
10. Pray to the holy name

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, July 4th, 2010

Nothing Wrong With That

Up-State New York

Wherever I travel to attend a festival I'll meet someone who will ask, "Did you walk here?" and I'll say, "I wish!" It has become a common joke, which I consider flattery really.

It becomes an embarrassment when you can't boast doing even a measly four kilometers like today. You make the best of everything. Here, we are, five of us adults, crammed in a small Hyundai, meant for four people on a ten hour trip. So I'm reminded of our Inuit people of the north who would for some months know only darkness, stay in their igloo nestled under animal skins and have a tiny light fuelled by whale oil. They would lie there and tell stories to pass the time away.

Our situation going through Pennsylvania and New York states in our small car isn't anywhere near as austere. We do have stories to tell – lots of them and so passengers and driver discussed a touch about each others' marital status. One person expressed the satisfaction of being single. The others in the vehicle likely will be betrothed down the line. For myself, well, the writing is on the wall. I'm single and I intend to stick to vows.

I have expressed even recently in Halifax to an eager gathering of fifty young people, "some of you will choose to remain single and celibate and there is virtually nothing wrong with it. For some of us we have got stuff out of our system in a previous life. You may consider that you have another purpose in this life than having families and the sweet bitter entanglement that goes along with it. There is nothing wrong with that."

I implied that such persons don't have to be made to feel guilty and that a spiritual centre will fill the gap that would lead to loneliness.

4 KM

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Maddy Jean-claude Durr, New Govardhana, AU: A Journey Across to Poland: [P1] Arrivals

Thursday 1st, July 2010. It was a little past midnight. I had just arrived in a motel in Berlin, after plane delays and a crazy journey across from Radhadesh, Belgium. I was off for another tour in Poland with HH Indradyumna Swami and the crew from Festiwal Indii (Polish for "Festival of India"). I made it to bed a little after twelve and I had, most probably, the last sound sleep I would have for the next couple of months. Polish tour was usually bliss and austerity rolled into one lovely package. A perfect way to learn lessons and progress, whilst experiencing something unforgettable and totally original.

I awoke and began to pack. I had a loaf of bread from Radhadesh bakery for breakfast. I had a couple loaves of this Vaisnava baked bread as gifts for my friends from Australia. I was planning to meet them at Tegel airport. Tegel was another international airport, in the north of Berlin (on the other side of the city). After breakfast, I checked out of my room and caught a shuttle to the S Bahn (Berlin underground train system). I was glad to be associating with Germen efficiency yet again. I spoke to the conductor and he located me a map so I could navigate my way through the whole system; with this I quickly planned my route.

I stepped off at one of the many, large, busy and overly technological train stations of Berlin. Again, I felt like I just stepped out of a time machine into the future. I asked some locals for information on a connection. They speculated something for me before pointing me out to the information desk. The information desk casually pointed me outside, where I would find a bus straight to the airport. I was in luck, Krsna had provided me an efficient way to reach my goal. The only problem was…where was the bus stop? I walked for some time and then paused. I looked behind me, only to see the bus in the distance, and I ran with all my bhakti shakti, hoping to catch it. The doors on the bus closed and it started to drive off. I hailed it and it stopped, opening its doors for me.

I arrived timely at the airport. I dragged my luggage around the building, in chase of the boarding gate. I passed one girl who, for some reason, looked strangely familiar and she gave me a strange stare in reciprocation to my own confused look of curiosity. It was a long time before my travel companions were scheduled to land so I realized this stranger probably wasn't one of them. I found my way to the gate, made a triple check and then sat myself down. I submerged myself in Caitanya Caritamrta. The devotees of Navadvipa were arriving and meeting in Jagannatha Puri, soon to chant and dance with Lord Caitanya. I was also waiting to be reunited with old devotee friends so that we could engage in the preaching mission of Lord Caitanya in the present day.

Eventually I was distracted from my reading by a voice that was projected from next to me. Someone sitting down the long bench called my name, "Maddy?" I turned and it was the girl I passed earlier. I now recognised her as Shairie, one mataji who had been on the previous Polish tour. She had arrived from London in the morning and was also waiting for the devotees from Australia. I was wondering who else I was going to see whom I wasn't expecting. Shairie pointed out someone, "I think our lift has arrived" she said. I looked over and it was Sadhu Sastra Prabhu and another Prabhu from Stage Crew! I had spent four tours with Sadhu now, in Poland and Australia, so I was happy to see him.

Now that our car to Poland had arrived, where were the rest of our passengers? I looked through the glass walls to the luggage pick up. At first I couldn't see anyone but then I picked out Pulkit's face. Soon I saw the rest of them - Niti, Ashta and Kanchana. I waved and caught their attention. Pulkit and I began to communicate through the glass, making various jokes with sign language. I was surprised how well we could communicate without uttering a single sound. We waited for their luggage to come through. I saw Niti interacting with another passenger from their landing party. I spotted that it was Sita, Bimal Prasad's daughter. Bimal Prasad had been on Australian tour with us recently and had spent many intimate days with Maharaja. Now Bimal's daughter was going to fill his place on yet another tour over here in Poland.

The group came through the gate and we went out to find our car. We found the Sprinter, a van I had been driven in many times over the period of my Polish tours. Pulkit and I found our spots at the back. I pulled out the remaining two loaves of Radhadesh bread from my bag and passed them around to the starving pilgrims. We now had a long, hot ride to Poland. Due to the blessings of global warming, the weather in Poland and Germany was ridiculously hot. We had a mild struggle with the heat but were otherwise happy to be on our way to the tour. We chatted, chanted and observed the passing road signs with excitement.

We cheered as we crossed into Poland. This cheer was only matched by the even louder cheer as we arrived at the local town of Dzwirzyno, where the tour base was located. We piled out and I felt a strange but positive vibration. The atmosphere seemed to radiate spiritual energy and I could tell that the tour had created a holy tirtha out of what would otherwise have been simply another mundane village of Poland. I quickly showed Pulkit to our room, which would be our residence for the next two months. We found Govinda, a boy from Mayapur, loitering inside but everyone else seemed to be missing. With the addition of Govinda from Mayapur to the tour, we now had two boys with the same name, the other being Govinda from Berlin. I asked Govinda where to find the rest of the crew and he pointed me out to the sports field out back.

I paraded through the familiar halls, seeing a couple old faces but many more new ones. I greeted Braja Kishore, our illustrious stage manager, on the way. I took Pulkit with me out to the back field, our leisure grounds for the period of the tour. The crew was crowded around the mobile stage, which was being set up to check for glitches. I saw a crowd of faces that I knew from different places and times - childhood in Australia, Mayapur and tour. All of a sudden I heard Sri Nama Vanamali Krsna Dasa Prabhu (aka Vana) call my name. He jumped off the stage, ran over to me and gave me a big hug, which was embellished by the rest of the boys joining in. I looked around and was impressed with our new crew of mischief makers. We had the highly reputed, Ninja-Brahmana, Dina Dayal Prabhu; Pulkit, Vana, Govinda from Mayapur; Govinda and Gopal from Berlin; Braja, also from Germany; and Nila from Sweden. I also officially met Radheya, from Hawaii. This team was a good blend for another exciting journey in Poland.

[http://maddmonk.wordpress.com]

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Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: For Sale: Dallas Rathayatra &Initiation Ceremony 2010 DVD (2 Set)

2 DVDs of ecstatic Kirtan, an combined Initiation by His Holiness Giriraj Swami and His Holiness Rtadhvaja Swami, Bhajans, and Dance Performances.  This is a wonderful way to experience Rathayatra as held in Dallas in May 2010.

CD CoverDVD 1:
Parade
Initiation by Giriraj Swami & Rtadhvaja Swami
Bhajans by Amala Kirtan & Advaita Acharya

DVD 2:
Odissi Dance
Bhakti-vriksa Children
Bharatnatyam  - Sanskriti Trivedi
Khatak - Chinmayi
Chaitanya Bhajan - Gopi Gita & Kalindi
Bharatnatyam - Gopi Krishna & Surata
Bhajans - Kalindi & Kalchandji's Kirtan Group 

Purchase this wonderful festival for only $20 plus shipping ($5 US, $15 for international).   

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Dandavats.com: Twilight of Destruction

Ishvari Devi Dasi: After reading Slaughtering Chastity, Indradyumna Maharaja requested I write a follow up story focusing on how the chanting of the holy name saved me from destruction

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Dandavats.com: World Holy Name Festival 2010: Sept 17 - Oct 3

By Ekalavya das

The World Holy Names Committee proposes the following initiatives: 1. Japathon 2. Harinam Sankirtan 3. 12-hour Kirtans 4. Global Prayer 5. Reciting the Glories of the Holy Names

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Dandavats.com: Iskcon Bangladesh Ratha Yatra 2010

Iskcon Bangladesh: ISKCON Dhaka, Bangladesh is going to Celebrate The Festival of Chariot(RATHA YATRA) of Lord Jagannath from 13th July to 21st July, 2009. Distinguished dignitaries personalities and guest from home and abroad are expected to join in this 9 days long programme

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Dandavats.com: Sri Mayapur International School and Ashram admissions going on!

Gopijana Vallabha dasa: 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

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Dandavats.com: New Vrindaban BBT Inspired Art Seminar

Malatidevi: The people today are fascinated by so much of the glimmering so-called beauty of the external energy, and there is necessity of seeing beautiful pictures of Krishna and His devotees and His pastimes, in order to attract them to the spiritual process

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Dandavats.com: Fourth Annual BBT Art Seminar now open for registration

Pancharatna das: 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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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Remembering the pastime of Rathayatra as enacted by Caitanya Mahaprabhu (Part 1)

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Bhakta Chris, New York, USA: Mythology, Media, And The Future of Hinduism


The gods of Hinduism have never been up there in some cold palace playing cruel whimsical games of fate with us humans. Instead, they have taken their place among us. They have let us call them friend, cousin, son, mother, teacher, and adore them as such. For it is only in relationships that we humans adore, and it is only in adoration that we learn the lessons of the gods: to live in friendship with ourselves and others, to attain a sense of justice in our actions, and to surrender to serenity. That is the story about our gods, and it is a story that has been told countless times over the millennia in words, songs, gestures, sculpture, and art.

Since the early 20th century, the stories of the gods have found new forms in the mass media. Indian cinema in its early years was almost entirely a mythological genre. Even when the Bombay film industry moved away from them, the thriving regional language cinemas of South India produced grand mythologicals well into the 1970s. In the 1980s, when Indian television came of age, its most popular serials were mythologicals. The media boom of recent years brought forth a new wave of animated mythological shows and movies. And for nearly four decades, one distinguished comic book series, Amar Chitra Katha, has made the stories of the gods familiar to young modern readers.

How the media retell these stories is a matter of some consequence. After all, for many Hindus, these stories are not just stories in the sense of fairy tales. These stories have been the templates for our lives, helping us see Krishna in our children or Shiva and Parvathi in our parents. We see them as more than entertainment, but how we see them today and how we will see them in the future is a crucial question. Hindu myths have survived much over the centuries through a complex form of cultural negotiation and resistance against the forces of colonialism. In the present day, mythology may not seem overtly in danger of extinction, but it will have to be thought through carefully to remain as vibrant and vital as it has been.

At present, Hindu mythology is under strain from two opposite tendencies that are not entirely unrelated to broader debates about religion and politics in India and the diaspora. There seems to be a "didactic" extreme and an "experimental" extreme in present approaches to the tales of the gods. The didactic tendency views mythology as a litany of facts about history and geography. It shows up in some of the recent animated mythological movies. The gods are depicted like pop culture superhero figures while a pedantic voice lists facts about them. The experimental tendency, on the other hand, sees mythology as open to virtually any sort of reinterpretation without regard to virtue or intent. Some artists and intellectuals espouse this view, and end up assuming that any imputation of sanctity to mythology is inherently fundamentalist.

Despite these unfortunate extremes, it is my belief that the tales of the gods, like the philosophy that is infused in them, like Hinduism as a whole, are deeper and more resilient than any constraint that our era can put on them. Commercialism may have turned mythology into a media formula, with virtually any movie being cited as a retelling of the Ramayana and Mahabharatha; politics may have rubbed the stories of the gods the wrong way, from Right and from Left, leaving out the greatness of heart in them altogether. But when we look at the history of our "myths" more accurately, we will surely find what it was about them that made them both timeless and timely for so many generations. After all, even in the relatively short span that these tales have appeared in the media, there are great contributions only beginning to be acknowledged. For instance, long before mythologicals allegedly provoked religious extremism by turning up on Indian television in the 1980s, they were sparking the spirit of Gandhi, social reform, and Indian independence in the stages and cinema halls of early 20th century India (seen in the work of film pioneers Phalke and Nagiah). The question for us to ask now is what the tales of the gods need to liberate us from in the future. In an age of terrorism, wars, environmental degradation, financial hoaxes and mass mediated delusions, the need for the tales of the gods is stronger than ever. The challenge for us is simply to tell them better.

We are already telling ourselves more stories about the gods than ever before, thanks to new media technologies. But in order to tell ourselves better stories and stories that speak as much to new concerns as to old ones, we must avoid the extremes of the present moment. There are many new voices that are rising to the sky in praise of the gods in ways that make sense to us in the 21st century. Devdutt Pattnaik's work covers anthropology, philosophy, and art but speaks to us ultimately in one simple voice, of devotion. Sanjay Patel's vision of the gods shows freshness in their form and a charming 21st century American sort of coolness to them, without straying into irreverence at that. His child gods, delightful and divine all at once, are the best image for us to think of Hinduism's popular pantheon as it leads us into the future. It is as if each god is being reborn with each child that comes onto this earth, and it is up to us to learn to live and walk worthily among them once more.

(See images from an illustrated retelling of the Hindu Ramayana myth here)

This essay is part of a series on the Future of Religion at patheos.com

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Kaunteya das, Mayapura: Prevention and continuity: appreciable but non-enthralling

Today I read in the New York Times a sentence that impressed me: "the public
will never give a leader credit for preventing something from happening."
Right now it's not important to elucidate on its context, but it stroke me
as very pertinent and applicable to the work of the GBC - the Governing Body
Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

ISKCON, as an integrated worldwide movement, could have long disappeared if
somehow the GBC had failed to address some crucial philosophical and
financial crises, or if it had failed to attract to its ranks spiritual
leaders who at one point were formally disenfranchised from the Society.

But who will give them credit for that? (And let me add, who is going to
give the GBC credit for something the public hardly knows about?)

We have heard many times - and I assume we can all agree - that "prevention
is better than cure." Yes, who would argue that it would be better to do a
little regular exercise to prematurely loose one's health? Who would argue
against driving carefully and avoiding accidents? But who would glorify
someone "just" for being in fairly good physical shape or for being a safe
driver?

No, the public's mind is more attracted to the thrills of danger and the
adrenaline of competition - even for something as frivolous as sports - than
to the steadiness of preservation or the wisdom of preventive measures.

And Sukadeva Goswami, knowing perfectly well human psychology, included in
the Bhagavatam plenty of narrations about the vigorous and lively ksatriyas
- instead of focusing on the more virtous, sedated (but literarily more
boring) brahmanas:

"O mighty Pariksit," Sukadeva Goswami said towards the end of
Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.3.14), "I have related to you the narrations of all
these great kings, who spread their fame throughout the world and then
departed. My real purpose was to teach transcendental knowledge and
renunciation. Stories of kings lend power and opulence to these narrations
but do not in themselves constitute the ultimate aspect of knowledge."

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Gouranga TV: Kishori Yatra Part 4

Kishori Yatra Part 4

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Jaganathastaka at Jagannatha-ghat on the banks of the Yamuna

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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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