Here are the latest updates for - ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Diwali & Govardhan Puja: 'On' this weekend!
- Australian News: Thursday Harinam Sankirtan Sydney Style
- ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Prayers for Purnachandra Goswami
- Australian News: For the first time in history…
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Svarupa-sakti Mataji
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Damodarastakam Prayer - Gopa-vrndesa Prabhu
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
- Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: For Dipavali: Krsna's mercy on Yasoda
- Subhvavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Happy Damodar Lila! On Diwali ~ Unconquerable Lord Damodar is Conquered by Love.
- Caitanya Mangala, CA, USA: Kulimela Australia: Limited Time Registration Discount
- Japa Group: Fit To Become A spiritual Master
- H.H. Sivarama Swami: Vidyagati dd wants to know about the alleged changes to Srila Prabhupada’s books by the BBT
- H.H. Sivarama Swami: Why we do not put visitor’s deities on Radha Syama’s altar
- Namahatta.org: "Lord Damodara Comes to Kuala Lumpur and Stays " - a Brief Overview of The Damodara Program
- Dandavats.com: Vraj Parikrama 2010 Update (5th & 6th day) Santanu kund & Radhakund
- Dandavats.com: Sri Ramachandra Vijayaotsava celebrated by ISKCON Klang for the first time
- Dandavats.com: Reminder Gorardhana Puja Festival November 7, 2010
- Dandavats.com: The Samprajna Institute Newsletter
- Dandavats.com: Update on the health condition of HG Devaki Mayi dd
- Dandavats.com: KulimeLA 2009: Bhajan Kutir - Volume 3 CD now available at Krishna.com!
- Dandavats.com: Prayer to Ugra Narasimhadeva (for HH. Purnacandra Goswami)
- ISKCON News.com: Why It Is Important To Drink Lots Of Water
- ISKCON News.com: Srila Prabhupada at the Moscow Book Fair
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Dandavats.com: Moscow News
- Dandavats.com: URGENT - 2 brahmachari pujaris wanted for the UK
- New Vrndavan, USA: Govardhana Puja Schedule
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- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Subhvavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Krishnas celebrating Diwali: The Festival of Lights.
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Just a kind reminder about our festivals over the weekend.
Tomorrow we will celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lamps, from 5pm to 9pm by offering arati trays to Sri Sri Sita Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman.
And on Sunday we will be celebrating the joyful Govardhan Puja which is probably the favorite festival for most Vaisnavas... after Janmastami and Radhastami of course! This will be from 4.30pm to 7pm. 
Please come and join the festivities.
Mobile phone photos by Bhaja GovindaAs you can see we have taken to enlisting members of the public to join in the harinam party. This guy so wanted to dance with us so we said sure, if you lift up your arms you’re in. So he did and he danced for about 10 minutes. As usual the crowd were very happy to see us Just like last week we did Harinam at our base point 580 George Street. (corner of George and Bathurst Streets, Sydney) Thanks to Lord Gauranga that we are still able to continue in rain, hail or shine. We started at sharp 7pm and chanted for 1 hour. In a very dangerous move Antony was leading the kirtan while holding the maha mantra banner and playing kartalas. Bhaja Govinda was playing the mrdanga, both were chanting Sri Harinam aloud. People passing by waived and some chanted the Hare Krishna mantra with us. This week some young people came forward and chanted with us. It was fun. The owner of the nearby flower stall said: “I see you all every week here, and its nice to see you all and the music you play. I like the sound.” Fortunately enough for him we chant near his stall each week. All glories to Sri Harinama Sankirtana.. See you all next week …. Share this story your way:          
 We regret to inform you about the demise of Purnachandra Goswami, one of Srila Prabhupada's senior disciples and a Bhakti Yoga Monk for nearly 40 years.
He was recently admitted into the hospital after suffering from severe internal bleeding. He gradually moved into a state of coma at the hospital in Moscow and he passed away on Thursday, November 4th.
He visited Toronto two years ago and inspired many with his inspiring talks and kirtan. The Hare Krishna Community around the world will miss him immensely.
Please join us in the memorial prayer kirtan for Purnachandra Goswami at the Hare Krishna temple tomorrow evening from 6:30pm which will also include Damodarastakam prayers at 8:00pm.
For the first time in its history the Klang Branch of ISKCON, in Malaysia, celebrated Sri Ramachandra Vijayaotsava during October, 2010. The drama depicts the Yuddha Kandha from the Ramayana, the story of Lord Rama of Ayodhya. The Yuddha Kandha describes the climax of the fight between Lord Rama and Ravana, the evil King of demons.
“During the drama devotees were ecstatically chanting the Holy names of Lord Rama. Toward the end Lord Ram strings his bow and aims his arrow at the 9 foot tall Ravana, burning him to ashes. Devotees were shouting and the matji’s were ululating. Everybody who witnessed the burning of Ravana become so ecstatic,” says Jivendran Sasidharan from ISKCON Klang. “Soon after the burning Ravana, the deities of Sri Sita, Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman and Hanuman were brought into the temple and devotees welcomed Lord Rama wonderfully,” Jivendran says.
The deities were placed on a palanquin as the kirtan and arati was going on. “After the arati and offerings had been made Sri Sita, Lor Rama, Lakshman, and Hanuman were brought toward the devotees. Everyone got a chance to touch the lotus feet of the deities.” Jivendran says. The devotees created a shower of flowers as the Lord went back to his altar to take His rest. “This is how the Ramachandra Vijayotsava came to an end,” Jivendran says, “with devotees enjoying wonderful prasadam.”
“Organized by Sachi Suta Sevaiks, the youths of ISKCON Klang, the festival team, headed by Anand Prabhu, created a nine foot high effigy of Ravana made of wood and paper. It took 4 days to complete,” Jivendran says. Share this story your way:
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.26.21-23 - The desire-seeds of sense gratification within the heart are destroyed by devotional service to Krsna.
Length: 16:00
Their Lordships are beautifully decked up in white and purple today; if I am mistaking it is last year's Gaura Purnima set.
Here's a slideshow.
[Damodara-lila took place on the Dipavali day] Because of mother Yasoda's hard labor, her whole body became covered with perspiration, and the flowers and comb were falling from her hair. When child Krsna saw His mother thus fatigued, He became merciful to her and agreed to be bound. O Maharaja Pariksit, this entire universe, with its great, exalted demigods like Lord Siva, Lord Brahma and Lord Indra, is under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yet the Supreme Lord has one transcendental attribute: He comes under the control of His devotees. This was now exhibited by Krsna in this pastime. Neither Lord Brahma, nor Lord Siva, nor even the goddess of fortune, who is always the better half of the Supreme Lord, can obtain from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the deliverer from this material world, such mercy as received by mother Yasoda. >>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 10.9.18-20
Tomorrow is Diwali (for some it has already started). Before giving you wishes for a Happy Diwali, I want to first wish you Happy Damodar-lila since this great event happend on Diwali.
In the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam 10.9.1 it is stated: Srila Visvanatha CakravartiThakura, quoting from the Vaishnava-toshani of SrilaSanatana Gosvami, says that the incident of Krishna's breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by mother Yasoda took place on the Dipavali Day
Krishna is unconquerable but on this day and out of LOVE for Mother Yasoda he was conquered.
Srila Prabhupada writes "Krsna is the supreme bestower of all kinds of liberation to His devotees, but the benediction which was bestowed upon mother Yasoda was never experienced even by Lord Brahma or Lord Siva or the goddess of fortune."
Srila Prabhupada writes that "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the son of Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja, is never so completely known to the yogis and speculators.
But He is easily available to His devotees."
In this month of Damodar, He is very available to His devotees and bestows great favor. Although most of us know the story of Mother Yasoda tying Krishna up it is important that in this month this "kata" as given to us by our guru, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivendanta Swami Srila Prabhupada is read. What better day to read it then on thay this pastime happend, Diwali. This great kata is:
Krsna was sucking the milk, she was smiling, enjoying the beauty of her child's face. Suddenly, the milk which was on the oven began to boil over. Just to stop the milk from spilling, mother Yasoda at once put Krsna aside and went to the oven. Left in that state by His mother, Krsna became very angry, and His lips and eyes became red in rage. He pressed His teeth and lips, and taking up a piece of stone, He immediately broke the butter pot. He took butter out of it, and with false tears in His eyes, He began to eat the butter in a secluded place.
In the meantime, mother Yasoda returned to the churning place after setting the overflowing milk pan in order. She saw the broken pot in which the churning yogurt was kept. Since she could not find her boy, she concluded that the broken pot was His work. She began to smile as she thought, "The child is very clever. After breaking the pot He has left this place, fearing punishment." After she sought all over, she found a big wooden grinding mortar which was kept upside down, and she found her son sitting on it. He was taking butter which was hanging from the ceiling on a swing, and He was feeding it to the monkeys. She saw Krsna looking this way and that way in fear of her because He was conscious of His naughty behavior. After seeing her son so engaged, she very silently approached Him from behind. Krsna, however, quikly saw her coming at Him with a stick in her hand, and immediately He got down from the grinding mortar and began to flee in fear.
Mother Yasoda chased Him to all corners, trying to capture the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is never approached even by the meditations of great yogis. In other words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, who is never caught by the yogis and speculators, was playing just like a little child for a great devotee like mother Yasoda. Mother Yasoda, however, could not easily catch the fast-running child because of her thin waist and heavy body. Still she tried to follow Him as fast as possible. Her hair loosened, and the flower in her hair fell to the ground. Although she was tired, she somehow reached her naughty child and captured Him. When He was caught, Krsna was almost on the point of crying. He smeared His hands over His eyes, which were anointed with black eye cosmetics. The child saw His mother's face while she stood over Him, and His eyes became restless from fear. Mother Yasoda could understand that Krsna was unnecessarily afraid, and for His benefit she wanted to allay His fears.
Being the topmost well-wisher of her child, mother Yasoda began to think, "If the child is too fearful of me, I don't know what will happen to Him." Mother Yasoda then threw away her stick. In order to punish Him, she thought to bind His hands with some ropes. She did not know it, but it was actually impossible for her to bind the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mother Yasoda was thinking that Krsna was her tiny child; she did not know that the child had no limitation. There is no inside or outside of Him, nor beginning or end. He is unlimited and all-pervading. Indeed, He is Himself the whole cosmic manifestation. Still, mother Yasoda was thinking of Krsna as her child. Although He is beyond the reach of all senses, she endeavored to bind Him up to a wooden grinding mortar. But when she tried to bind Him, she found that the rope she was using was too short--by two inches. She gathered more ropes from the house and added to it, but at the end she found the same shortage. In this way, she connected all the ropes available at home, but when the final knot was added, she saw that it was still two inches too short. Mother Yasoda was smiling, but she was astonished. How was it happening?
In attempting to bind her son, she became tired. She was perspiring, and the garland on her head fell down. Then Lord Krsna appreciated the hard labor of His mother, and being compassionate upon her, He agreed to be bound up by the ropes. Krsna, playing as a human child in the house of mother Yasoda, was performing His own selected pastimes. Of course, no one can control the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The pure devotee surrenders himself unto the lotus feet of the Lord, who may either protect or vanquish the devotee. But for his part, the devotee never forgets his own position of surrender. Similarly, the Lord also feels transcendental pleasure by submitting Himself to the protection of the devotee. This was exemplified by Krsna's surrender unto His mother, Yasoda.
I’m going to keep this short and sweet! It’s time to get excited as we are only 8 WEEKS AWAY from Kulimela Australia!
The dates are from the 27th of December 2010 through the 9th of January 2011, with the 4 day Kulimela part running from Thursday the 6th of January to Sunday the 9th. You have only until Nov 14th to register yourself at the discounted “Child’s” booking rate. This means AU $64 per week, which is almost half off the regular adult registration fee (AU $108). We are on track to set the standard of these events with world class Kirtan leaders and the ideal location. Plus, of course, Seminars, Workshops, Japa Walks, Kuli Association, Sports Activities, Arts, Fashion, Music, Performances & Amazing Prasadam! For all you internationals, there has never been a better time to come to Australia. Please, do whatever you need to do to come for Kulimela! Your Friend & Servant, Nitai – Festival Coordinator “Any questions – Just ask! I look forward to meeting you all!”
When a devotee is perfectly qualified in chanting the transcendental vibration of the holy name, he is quite fit to become a spiritual master and deliver all the people of the world. The chanting of the holy name is so powerful that it gradually establishes its supremacy above everything in the world.
Teachings of Lord Caitanya
 (Please see www.bbtedit.com) and B. Csaba asks what service he can do at age 43.
It has been 10 years since the devotees of Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON
Kuala Lumpur (SJMKL) bathed in the glory of Lord Damodara,that is the Damodara Program.
From humble beginnings of just 24 homes, being blessed with the presence of
Lord Sri Damodara, it has grown by leap and bound to a startling 20,000
homes in recent years.
 By Lakshman das Today 27th Oct 2010. Devotees enthusiastically started gathering on Bank of Krishna Kund in the early morning and very sweet morning rhythm Hare Krishna Mahamantra and Jiva jago jiva jago Goda Cada bole kirtan, everyone was relishing with open heart the bliss carried through vibration. To relish the sweetness of Kirtan, you are cordially invited in advance for next year Silver Jubilee Vraj Parikrama 2011
 By Antony Brennan During the drama devotees were ecstatically chanting the Holy names of Lord Rama. Toward the end Lord Ram strings his bow and aims his arrow at the 9 foot tall Ravana, burning him to ashes
Murari Sevaka: We want this Goverdhana Puja festival to initiate the rejuvenation of a brilliant future for Murari…a future of acceptance, tolerance and loving relationships with all devotees.
The Samprajña Institute: HMEC Conference 2010, Dialectical Spiritualism Project, and Chairman Basu Ghosh Das's USA Visit
Tusti Mohan Krsna das: As you all may know by now, that our very dear God sister HG Devaki Mayi dd had a very dangerous car accident in Guayaquil, Ecuador in South America, and that she is in intensive care unit in coma. I just had a phone call at 5:20 pm Local time in Ecuador with her husband, our very dear God brother Ekanath Gaura Prabhu and with our dear God sister HG Sarvasakti dd
Kuli Mela Association: Heartfelt Kirtans with Krishna Kishor & Visvambhar (Mayapuris), Radhanath Swami, Bada Haridas, Aniruddha das, Gopal Krishna das and more…
Marunda devi dasi: Dear Ugra Narasimhadeva, this is a prayer from your insignificant servant who is humbly asking for mercy. I know that You have power to burn demons by Your mere glance...
| More than fifty percent of the human body is made of water. Knowing that, it's not hard to realize how important staying hydrated is to a person's well-being. In fact, dehydration can cause confusion, dizziness, and sluggishness in addition to other more serious symptoms. |
By Olessia Podtserob for ISKCON News on 4 Nov 2010
 | The Moscow International Book Fair is by considered to be one of the major events in the cultural and business life of Russia. Since 1979, the BBT has been giving the Russian people the chance to aquiant themselves with the glorious knowledge of the Vedas. |
1967 November 4: "Every minute I think of you and and as you asked me to go to San Francisco while returning from India, I am trying to fulfill my promise. I am thinking of going directly to San Francisco."Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
1970 November 4: "Now I want to simply begin translating. The atmosphere here is very relaxing, such as I have not found anywhere else in India. So in every way it is very conducive to my translating work and beginning today I will spend all my time translating."Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1970 November 4: "Our actions are all meant for pleasing Krishna. If we act always in this consciousness automatically everyone will be attracted to devotional service, and this is the secret of our preaching work."Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
 By Bhakti Vijnana Swami I am excited and happy to let you know that, by the mercy of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, the great struggle for getting the land from the Moscow government to build a Sri Sri Radha-Krishna temple in Moscow is almost over
Ravinol Chambers: When: As soon as possible Where: ISKCON Birmingham, UK How long: Full time for 2 years contract (after 2 years contract reviewed) Duties: Deity services including worshiping, dressing, cooking, cleaning, offering, special religious services including congregational support, pastoral care and kirtan. Expenses paid: Flights to UK and home after 2 years paid All living expenses covered while in the UK and serving at the temple
This Saturday, November 6th. 2010, is the Govardhana Puja Celebration.
It will be another wonderful spiritual event for the whole family.
Please come and if you like please bring an offering for Their Lordships by 6 p.m. 8 to 9:00 AM Srimad Bhagavtam Class…Hopefully by Varsana Swami 5 to 6:00 PM Lecture 6 to 6:30 PM Abhishek/Bhajans 6:30 to 7:00 PM Story Telling by Sankirtan 7 to 8:00 PM Maha Kirtan and Circumambulating Sri Govardhana Hill 8:00 PM Maha Prasadam Feast Hope to see you there.
I turned at random to Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 3, Chapter 17, verse 1: “Sri Maitreya said: ‘The demigods, the inhabitants of the higher planets, were freed from all fear upon hearing the cause of the darkness explained by Brahma, who was born from Vishnu. Thus they all returned to their respective planets.’ “The demigods, who are denizens of the higher planets, are also very much afraid of incidents such as the universe becoming dark, and so they consulted Brahma. This indicates that the quality of fear exists for every living entity in the material world. The difference between the demigods and ordinary human beings is that the demigods approach authority, whereas the inhabitants of this earth defy authority. If people would only approach the authority, then every adverse condition in this universe would be rectified. Arjuna was also disturbed on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, but he approached the authority, Krishṇa, and his problem was solved. The conclusive instruction of this incident is that we may be disturbed by some material condition, but if we approach the authority who can actually explain the matter, then our problem is solved. The demigods approached Brahma for the meaning of the disturbance, and after hearing from him they were satisfied and returned home peacefully.” So the election results are in and the Republican Party has taken control over the Congress by a great majority. The Democrats failed to bring about positive change in the economy, and the Republicans opposed them in all their attempts at legislation. Now it will be up to the Republicans to prove they can improve things. People are already talking about who the Republicans will run for president in 2012. This is a contaminating arena, full of opportunistic, scheming, and pushing for agendas. J.S. teased me for thinking that Barack Obama could do some good. Devotees don’t get implicated in worldly politics but try to spread the auspicious Krishna consciousness movement. We have faith that Krishna can bring about change. But the do-gooder has to put his body on the line and fight for it. We try our best to spread the movement of Lord Caitanya. It doesn’t seem very possible that we can be influential. We don’t belong to this world, but we try to help people of this world to be an instrument and contribution in their own spiritual progress and for the world in general. The basement art space is ready now. An easel is set up, and I can sit before it and work on cardboard sheets. We don’t have paint yet, but I have colored pencils and oil sticks. I think after this writing session I’ll go downstairs and begin something. It’s cool in the basement, and I’ll need a sweater, sweatshirt and jumpsuit. Maybe just start on small Bristol boards with faces and abstracts. Eventually get around to Krishna conscious figures. I watched President Obama’s press conference where he humbly admitted his party had been “shellacked” in the elections. I thought he handled himself well and intelligently. Afterwards, some commentators said they were impressed, but on another channel someone spoke strongly against him. I don’t want to become a political junkie and continue to see how things develop. I had a sharp headache in the morning but nothing after that. Do I dare to write and then try art? If you do something it should be with a face looking at death. Prepare yourself. Position yourself at the feet of Krishna. It will not be easy. You slip into that “good night,” which is actually the next life, carried like a cat carries its kitten in its jaws but not like a cat carries a rat in its jaws. I’d like to write and to drift naturally into topics about Krishna. It is still Karttika season, and they are lighting the candles and singing Damodarastakam. In Damodarastakam, Satyavrata Muni prays for the direct darsana of Krishna. He mentions Radha also. While writing this I feel the beginning of a headache sensation, and I took medicine and now I am writing again. Try to avoid a surge of pain by overstress. I would like to do art after the writing, but maybe I should chill out (rest). Krishna is the Supreme Being. I have read it in scriptures and heard it from my spiritual master. I have a pain in my back neck. I don’t know whether it came from doing the exercises in the morning. I’ve lost a few pounds, so that’s a sign that the exercises are good for me. By the end of the week it will be Govardhana Puja, and we will have a celebration. Some guests will come, and I’ll speak on the lila. I have Saci rereading it to me, and I said I may make some rehearsal notes. Krishna humbles Indra, who is acting crazy, insulting Krishna and trying to destroy the Vrajavasis in Vrndavana. Krishna smiled and forgave him but warned him to remember who his master was. Indra was repentant. You want to emphasize the celebration-procession and the big feast (which is still offered today, annakuta) where devotees throw prasadam on the ground and people collect it and eat it). Everyone is fed and cared for, even the poor people and beggars and the cats and dogs. Emphasize the feast and the gigantic form Krishna manifests, and don’t forget the aftermath: Indra’s anger, and sending the storms, and Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill and holding it as an umbrella to protect all the residents. Radha and Govinda stand and let me look upon Them. Another day passes. “You can do it, all you need is a hand, you can do it, everything’s comin’ up roses for you and for me.” Krishna appeared as the hill itself, in the stones, then in His original form, and then in the gigantic form—like in the churning of the milk ocean, where He appears in several forms at once.
#79 Prabhupada, pick me up,
Prabhupada, let me serve you,
please let me do something nice for you,
like improve my chanting,
bring some people to the Krishna consciousness
movement. Let me help some devotees
to find their way.
You expect something
from an old student of yours. Prabhupada, I love you.
You said you were an old man.
You said old age makes the body ugly.
But we see your body as spiritual.
Prabhupada, I could fall down
so I pray that won’t happen.
Let me be near you. Prabhupada, I am a tape recorder for you.
You said, “I write
all the articles in Back to Godhead
but we divide the names,
like Satsvarupa, Hayagriva, Damodara and Raya-rama.” I cut my hair for you,
wear this saffron dhoti,
I want to go on pilgrimage,
I want to serve you here and now
in writing. I read your books and underline sections
that strike me,
lines that assure me or challenge me
and then I share them with your devotees.
Prabhupada, you are my father, and the father
of all your devotees.
I will go now and hear you.
I have a van full of your tapes and books.
I dig into them.
They are my sustenance. I have been looking
at your photos.
Prabhupada, please tell me what to do
if you think I can hear.
Put on your tilaka,
using the mirror. You are not
expert making the arrow over
the nose or the parallel lines.
You have a bumpy scar, and
your hand is not steady.
You used to paint them on
your canvas faces. They
came out neater somehow. It is such an important symbol,
“making a Vaisnava temple
out of the body.” It
tells the world who you are,
though most people don’t
understand it. They think
it’s some war paint or
just weird and they
glance away from it,
another crazy thing
like a man wearing earrings
or nose rings or lip rings.
They don’t know how important
it is. I couldn’t wear it when
I worked at the welfare office,
and so I put it on invisibly
with water. In India
it’s more familiar. A young
boy at Radha-kunda once
said to me as I applied
it, “Gaudiya Vaisnava,”
and he tried to sell me the
stick of gray clay. But we prefer the light sandy gopi-chandan and
wear it proudly, but
a little embarrassed in the USA where they
are ignorant of Vaisnava
tilaka. Go ahead, no matter
what they think. Mark your
body in twelve places
as a temple of Vishnu. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said his disciples
were like the slaughterhouse
if they didn’t wear it. Prabhupada
didn’t press us at first, he said
“Wear it if you are not ashamed.”
But later he expected it,
and it’s called for in the
Hari-bhakti-vilasa. Lord Krishna didn’t always wear
it because He’s God, but when
He appeared as a sannyasi
He adorned His beautiful face
with the sign of the Vaisnava
and looked more beautiful
than Kamadeva. The simple, down-pointing
arrow with its two
parallel lines is a
sublime ornament for
the soul, imprinted on the
mortal flesh to indicate
you are a devotee
of Lord Vishnu who
is eternal, as are you.
1971 November 4: "It is very encouraging to hear that my Sannyasis are traveling and preaching. Visit existing temples and this will enliven the devotees tremendously. We must keep our centers strong. This will be the greatest preaching program."Prabhupada Letters :: 1971
1971 November 4: "So far the paintings you have sent, they are bona fide but for the ordinary man they appear sensual. So better not to display such paintings, not even in our temples."Prabhupada Letters :: 1971
1975 November 4: "You are doing solid work, even alone, and I am very pleased. This is the test for a sincere devotee. Simply by carrying out the order of the Spiritual Master, ones success in spiritual life is guaranteed. I thank you for your endeavor."Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
1975 November 4: "The best way to associate with the Spiritual Master is to follow his instructions. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not. Therefore we should take advantage of vani, his words because his vani exists eternally."Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
1975 November 4: "Now I am getting old, so if you can do things without me, that will be a great pleasure for me. Still if I get the chance, I will come for the Ratha Yatra festival."Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
His Grace Caru Prabhu, President of ISKCON Utah
A plug in for “Unity in Diversity”
Mumbai, India
I was given the pleasure to read before the assembled body of great souls to initiate the meeting for yesterday and I just wanted to share its message from our Guru Srila Prabhupada.
Dated 73-10-18
Delhi
My dear Kirtananda Maharaja,
Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 16, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully. Next time you come to India, you must come to Mayapur in March, not only you but many others. Our Bombay affairs are almost settled by 90%. The conveyance deed is prepared and it will be signed within one or two days.
Now this displeasing of god brothers has already begun and gives me too much agitation in my mind. Our Gaudiya-math people fought with one another after the demise of Guru Maharaja but my disciples have already begun fighting even in my presence. So I am greatly concerned about it.
Following in the foot prints of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu: trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniya sada harih “One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly”.
We must always remember this verse and be as tolerant as the tree, as we execute the Krishna Consciousness movement. Without this mentality we cannot be successful.
Material nature means dissension and disagreement, especially in the kali yuga. But, for this Krishna Consciousness movement its success will depend on agreement, even though there are varieties of engagements. In the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. The materialist without being able to adjust the varieties and the disagreements makes everything zero. They cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep Krishna in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called unity in diversity. I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. That will make our movement successful. One section of men have already gone out, therefore we must be very careful to maintain unity in diversity, and remember the story in Aesop’s fables of the father of many children with the bundle of sticks. When the father asked his children to break the bundle of stick wrapped in a bag, none of them could do it. But when they removed the sticks from the bag, and tried one by one, the sticks were easily broken. So this is the strength in unity. If we are bunched up, we can never be broken, but when divided, then we can become broken very easily.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivendanta Swami
10 KM
Get Smart
Mumbai, India
To access Juhu beach at the northern most section where overhead lights mark the way I meandered through several streets, but I ventured too far north and ended up where fishermen dwell, an area one grade up from a shanty town. Some rickshaw drivers led me to a narrow alley which was dark and moist. I could see rats scurrying about. That was fine provided I wouldn’t get bitten. Finally climbing down rocks to reach the beach I felt a little more safe.
At 2:30 am I found adventure but also peace. The waterfront is people-less and I can concentrate on chanting and walking. Well I thought it was quite. A young dog came after me barking fiercely. This was simply a deja-vous because last year an aggressive young dog jumped on my leg and left a tear in my dhoti (lower robe). It happened once again today personally I was torn between maintaining the dog as enemy by inviting fear or by befriending him. I will have to learn the fine art, I must plan. I must be smart to sustain a relatively undisturbed walk; I suppose I can apply what I learn during the day. In our meetings we are thought that SMART goals must be met, S stands for specific,
M for measurable, A for accountable, R for realistic and T for time based. Our guru Srila Prabhupada, so much wanted us to plan smartly the effort to spread the spiritual culture. Our task as leader is to come up with systems, systems that will manifest from though to documentation and then to be in the world of action.
In our meeting we keep mission in mind although there may be disagreement. Argument is often encouraged so long as it doesn’t hurt. Here again our guru encouraged “unity in diversity”. You can’t have unity without individual contribution.
If I was just to walk all day and contend with a small pup or dog my strategy would be so simple, but since life is more complex I will have to apply more details and live with that adventure.
10 KM
Expert Shifting
Mumbai, India
It is unusual to spring into action after an arduously long trip in the air but it seems to be happening for so many colleagues who have come from far and wide. And for me, well, I felt great, sitting down in ISKCON Mumbai’s banquet hall surrounded by such great souls. The care shown by devotees operating the place helped to make everything so stress free. I would not be perked up for the morning session had it not been for the four bramacharis (monks) who came at me the previous night for massage with excellent oil, the main ingredient being cow’s urine. “Four of you? That’s an over kill, isn’t it”, I asked. My slang didn’t exactly resonate with them yet they waggled their heads in the typical accommodating Indian style and proceeded to their task. Indeed I felt like the scare crow in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ who was being re-stuffed before seeing the wizard himself.
I had been given the honour on the previous night to lead the chanting session as part of the opening ceremony to inaugurate our annual meetings. Then I was asked to lead this morning the charming chant in honour of Krishna as a baby Damodara. After this morning’s class spoken by god brother Jayapataka Swami, an American born senior member of ISKCON, who two years ago in Mumbai suffered a serious stroke, I raised my hand during the question and answer session.
This senior monk physically went through hell so I was compelled to ask “How do you do it Maharaj? The ordeal you went through two years ago and your mind is clear your intelligence and memory sharp, How do you account for that?”
Jayapataka answered by saying “Blessings from all the devotees”. He skillfully avoided taking any credit and then started tooting any praises he could find in me as he was explaining his last trip to Canada and Toronto my home base. This is what a true monk will do, shift the attention away from himself and throw back to you.
This he did despite the speech defect he now contends with. He certainly demonstrated a saint hood by this technique. There is always something to learn.
10 KM
One of the ways I serve people is to help them make sense of what is happening to them and what they are facing in their lives.
I help them develop a spiritual perspective on things and events and come to conclusions and decisions that have a lasting benefit.
By AKASH KAPURDHUNDLI, INDIA — About three kilometers from this village, across dirt tracks and open scrubland, there is a settlement of seven mud huts bordered by millet and lentil fields. No electricity or telephone poles run to these huts. There’s not a satellite dish to be seen. In the dry, open land that surrounds the settlement — part of the great Thar Desert that dominates the western part of the state of Rajasthan — black buck deer roam freely, foraging for leaves. They are noticeably bold; they seem unafraid of strangers. The deer have good cause to feel safe. The settlement — like scores of others that dot this harsh landscape — is populated by members of the Bishnoi, a community that traditionally reveres and protects nature. Although they are often referred to as a tribe, the Bishnoi are, more properly, a sect within Hinduism. They were founded in the 15th century when a saint laid down 29 precepts for his followers (hence their name: bis means 20 in the local dialect, and noi means nine). Today, there are around 600,000 Bishnoi, spread across northern and central India. Several Bishnoi precepts are directed at encouraging harmony between man and nature. They include injunctions against eating meat and felling trees, and an exhortation to “be compassionate toward all living beings.” The Bishnoi are devoted ecologists. Although they are friendly people, full of toothy smiles and warm hospitality, they can also be fierce when defending nature. The Bishnoi of this area have been known to chase down poachers and attack them. The Bishnois’ ecological ethic represents a remarkable ideology in modern India, where the environment so often seems to take a back seat to the quest for economic growth. Across the country, forests and glaciers are dwindling, air and land are being polluted, and coastlines are disappearing. A recent World Bank report suggests that environmental sustainability is likely to be “the next greatest challenge” to India’s development in coming years. I wanted to visit the Bishnoi settlement outside Dhundli because I wondered if their way of life offered a path to sustainability. Historically, India’s environmental consciousness (such as it is, anyway) has often been driven by grass-roots, traditional movements. Many people attribute the birth of modern Indian environmentalism, for example, to the Chipko movement, a spontaneous protest that erupted in the 1970s when peasants in the Himalayas rose up to stop the destruction of their forests. More recently, the environmental costs of development have been highlighted by the discontent of tribal populations that have protested large mining and industrial projects in several states. Could the Bishnoi, in the same way, have something to teach the rest of the country about living in harmony with nature? I was introduced to the Bishnoi way of life by Sajjan Bishnoi, the 75-year old patriarch of the settlement I visited, and his son, Khiyaram Bishnoi. Sitting under a leafy neem tree, they told me about their community’s efforts to live with nature. Nobody in their settlement ate meat, they said. Nobody used electricity. They only used motor vehicles when they absolutely had to. Khiyaram Bishnoi pointed to a thatchlike material on the roofs of their houses. He said they only used plants they knew animals didn’t eat. He told me, also, that the Bishnoi tried to limit their use of plastic — a choice that was evident in the clean surroundings, noticeably absent of garbage, and in particular of the plastic waste that plagues so many villages and towns in India. Plastic, he said, was bad for the environment. It lined the bellies of animals, and sometimes choked them. This evidence of ecological living was impressive. But it was clear, also, that for all their adherence to an ancient way of life, the Bishnoi were struggling against the onslaughts of modernity. Sajjan Bishnoi talked about another son. He worked in a distant town, as a miner. When asked whether he was aware of what mines did to the environment, how they split open the earth and choked trees with their dust and explosives, he grimaced and said, “It’s necessary for the money.” He also told a familiar tale of agricultural decline — how yields had gone down, how the water had turned bad. Once, the Bishnoi had been able to live off the land. Now many were forced to move to the cities and take up modern jobs. The overall impression, sitting in that quiet, bucolic and in many ways quite inspiring settlement, was of an island. I was impressed by the Bishnoi way of life, but I wondered how long they would be able to maintain it. I felt the world was closing in, washing up against the island, eating away at its shoreline. Father and son both spoke of a new generation that was living in the cities. Sometimes, they conceded, this generation lost themselves. They would drink, maybe even eat meat. “India is getting more and more developed,” Khiyaram Bishnoi said. “People like us are less educated and have more expenses. Our children will move to cities.” He said he worried that the 29 precepts would decline. He gave me a tour of the settlement. He showed me the small huts in which they lived, the mud vessels in which they cooked. It all had a simplicity that was almost heartbreaking. As we walked around, he said that he, too, worked sometimes in the city. It was difficult out there; he hated the filth and the crowds. But he had no choice. He had a family. He had to feed them. I folded my hands and thanked him for the tour. “Good luck,” I said. “I think you have a hard time ahead of you.” “Yes, hard time,” he said, and he smiled. “Hard time, but a good life.”
Come and celebrate the amazing pastime when Lord Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill for seven days to protect His devotees from the storms brought by Indra. The festival will be celebrated on Sunday 7th of November at 5pm with kirtan, arati, hearing the glories of Govardhana, a ghee lamp offering, and sumptuous feast. Don’t miss the special event on the day: the children performing their drama, “The Lifting of Govardhana Hill.” ISKCON Adelaide Ki Jay Share this story your way:
30 devotees went to the Melbourne Cup to share the Holy Name. One of the race foremen feared the sound of a loud sankirtan party may scare the horses. The devotees decided to chant quietly and with little mrdanga and no kartals. Clapping and singing the name of Krishna they shared the Holy Names with the passing crowd. Harinama Sankirtan ki Jay The following video is made using a mobile phone but you can still hear, see and feel the wonderful sound emanating from the sankirtan party. Share this story your way:
Bhajan – Kalachandji’s Kirtan Group @ Denton Unitarian Church – Jiv Jago Jiv Jago
Strictly speaking, when chanting the names of the Panca-Tattva one should fully offer his obeisances: sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda sri advaita gadadhara srivasadi gaura bhakta vrnda. By such chanting one is blessed with the competency to chant the Hare Krishna mantra with out offense.
From Namamrta by Srila Prabhupada
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