miércoles, 10 de noviembre de 2010

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 10 November 2010--Remembering My Most Glorious Spiritual Master--and--How to Feel ...



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"Planet ISKCON" - 35 new articles

  1. Kurma dasa, AU: Poories
  2. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 10 November 2010--Remembering My Most Glorious Spiritual Master--and--How to Feel ...
  3. Australian News: Spirituality In the Pub
  4. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: 10/11/10 Darsana
  5. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Govardhana Puja Pictures
  6. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 127
  7. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: One Hundred Prabhupada Poems
  8. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Asking for Blessings
  9. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Free Write
  10. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Why shall I think of other gurus?
  11. Australian News: Are cruelty free dairy farms possible?
  12. Maddy Jean-claude Durr, New Govardhana, AU: Who is Srila Prabhupada?
  13. Hari Sauri das, Mayapura, IN: Srila Prabhupada’s tirobhava mahotsava in Mayapur
  14. Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group
  15. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  16. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  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. Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Bhajan - Kalachandji's Kirtan Group @ Denton Unitarian Church - Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya - 4/6
  24. Subhvavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: To our Merciful Guru and Saviour, Srila Prabhupada, on this most difficult day.
  25. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Krishna Consciousness in Lebanon
  26. Australian News: Vaiyasaki Das @ Bhakti Centre Surfers Paradise… be there
  27. Deva Gaura Hari, AU: Harinam Sankirtana - 5 Nov 2010 Brisbane, Australia, with Janananda Goswami
  28. H.H. Sivarama Swami: B. Andrey asks about computer games
  29. ISKCON Brisbane, AU: Karthik with Vaiyasaki das
  30. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Damodarastakam with Tarakanatha Pr for Radha Damodara
  31. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Remembering Srila Prabhupada on the 33rd anniversary of his disappearance
  32. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: ISKCON LEICESTER PROGRAM WITH GURU MAHARAJA
  33. Gouranga TV: Mayapur Bhajans – Hare Krishna
  34. H.H. Sivarama Swami
  35. Japa Group: Easier For One To Always Chant
  36. More Recent Articles
  37. Search Planet ISKCON
  38. Prior Mailing Archive

Kurma dasa, AU: Poories

I'm a bit speechless today. It's complicated. Here's a crispy olde blogge.

M from Australia wrote:

"Hello, I would love to make a chickpea curry and I would like to serve it up with Poori but don't have a recipe. I would love it if you could give me a recipe for Poori. By the way your recipes are by far the best i've come across on the internet. Thanks a bunch. Warm regards M."

pooris completed!:

North Indian Puffed Fried Breads (Poories)

Popular over all of India, pooris are ideal to cook for small dinners, parties or even festivals with hundreds of guests. On a number of occasions, I've cooked 500 or more pooris in a few hours for big feasts. Once you get the rhythm down, it's effortless and rewarding. Pooris are traditionally made with straight wholemeal flour, but you can vary the ingredients. One-half chapati flour or atta, and one-half unbleached plain flour makes lighter breads.

If you're expert at rolling, try using just plain flour for translucent, gossamer-thin pooris. You can add yeast to your pooris for light, bread-like results, or add spices to your dough; you can sprinkle sugar on top of pooris for a sweet snack, or you can stuff them with various sweet and savoury fillings. Pooris are traditionally eaten hot, straight out of the ghee or oil, and are even great served at room temperature for picnics or snacks when travelling. Makes about 16 pooris.

2 cups sifted atta flour or half atta and half-unbleached plain flour, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons melted butter or ghee, 2/3 cup warm water, or as needed, ghee or oil for deep-frying.

Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Rub in the butter or ghee until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add up to 2/3 cup of water, slowly pouring in just enough to form a medium-soft kneadable dough. Turn the dough onto a clean working surface and knead for 5 - 8 minutes or until silky smooth. Cover with an overturned bowl and leave for ½ - 3 hours.

Knead the dough again for 1 minute. Divide the dough into 16 portions, roll them into smooth balls, and cover them with a damp cloth.

poories ahoy!:

Preheat the ghee or oil in a wok or deep pan over low heat. Roll all the balls of dough into smooth disks about 11½ - 12½ cm wide with a rolling pin. Increase the ghee or oil temperature until it reaches about 185°C/365°F.

rollin, rollin, rollin:

Lift up a rolled poori and slip it into the hot oil, making sure it doesn't fold over. It will sink to the bottom then immediately rise to the surface. Hold it under the surface with a slotted spoon until it puffs up into a balloon. After a few seconds, when it is browned to a light-golden colour, turn it over and cook the other side to an even golden colour. Lift out the poori with the slotted spoon and carefully drain it in a large colander.

puffin!:

Repeat for all the pooris. Serve immediately, if possible, or leave in a preheated, slightly warm oven for up to 2 hours.

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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 10 November 2010--Remembering My Most Glorious Spiritual Master--and--How to Feel ...

================================================================== Thought for the Day--Wednesday 10 November 2010 ================================================================== Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and to you, our treasured readers. Our purpose is to help everyone awaken...

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Australian News: Spirituality In the Pub

Image by Vara Nayaka dasa

Yesterday Devotees of Krishna went to the pub in Newtown to take part in SIP (Spirituality In the Pub), a multi-faith initiative bringing spiritual message right to your pub table.

It happens 4 times a year, and people from different spiritual organisations share their message.

Sri Prahlad told the story of his personal journey, and spiritual discoveries. He received a big round of applause and was given a big basket of fruits as a token of appreciation from the organizers.

Hare Krishna Food For Life operates in Newtown near the pub. So many people know us there and appreciate what we do in Newtown. During the program you could see the Food For Life van through pub’s windows distributing prasadam.

Spirituality in the pub is not about preaching, it is focussed on having a conversation. In the past few generations things have changed considerably and often peoples spiritual needs are left out of the conversation our community has amongst its members. Spirituality in the pub aims to being our spiritual lives back into the conversation.

Many of the people who are part of the ‘pub’ social scene may never hear about their spiritual selves, or about Krishna consciousness. Now they can.

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: 10/11/10 Darsana

10/11/10

Another breath-taking darsana today at Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir.

Srila Prabhupada's transcendental disappearance day ki, jaya!

Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada ki, jaya!

Patita pavana Srila Prabhupada ki, jaya!

Please come and join us this afternoon for the second half of the celebration in Srila Prabhupada's room, from 6-7pm.

Here's the slideshow.

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Govardhana Puja Pictures

govardhana

Here they are at last: the Govardhana Puja photos!

It was one of the best attended Govardhana Puja we have known in Melbourne.

The sun was out and so were the bright smiles on the jolly faces of those who attended that 'sweet' festival.

Click here for the slideshow.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 127

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

3:57 A.M.

Namamrta by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:

‘Although chanting of the holy name is complete in itself, initiation and Deity worship are still necessary for purification’

“Especially in this age of Kali, sankirtana alone is sufficient. If the members of our temples in the different parts of the world simply continue sankirtana before the Deity, especially before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they will remain perfect. There is no need of any other performances. Nevertheless, to keep oneself clean in habits and mind, Deity worship and other regulative principles are required. Srila Jiva Gosvami says that although sankirtana is sufficient for the perfection of life the arcana, or worship of the Deity in the temple, must continue in order that the devotees may stay clean and pure. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura therefore recommended that one follow both processes simultaneously. We strictly follow his principle of performing Deity worship and sankirtana along parallel lines. This we should continue.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.25)

Srila Rupa Gosvami has described that the holy name of the Lord can be chanted by liberated souls but almost all the souls that came to Prabhupada for initiation were conditioned. So it’s advised that one chant the holy name of the Lord without offenses and according to the regulative principles, yet due to their past bad habits they violate these rules and regulations. Thus the regulative principles for the worship of the Deity are also simultaneously essential. Narada Muni in his Pancaratrika-viddhi and other great sages have sometimes stressed that since every conditioned soul has a bodily concept of life aimed at sense enjoyment, to restrict this sense enjoyment the rules and regulations for worshiping the Deity in the temple are required.

I had a struggling morning but was ultimately successful in japa. I woke at 12:45 and began chanting at 1:00. By 2 A.M. I had only completed four rounds so they were done in a lethargic state without full consciousness and alertness. At two o’clock a headache came and I took medicine. The medicine did not subdue the headache, but I became alert in chanting despite the pain and chanted quickly. I paid attention to the syllables of the holy name and grinded out my japa despite the impairment. Somehow or other by 3:30 I had completed sixteen rounds. When Baladeva came up, I told him that I still had a “hangover” from the headache, and he prescribed more medicine for me. The headache is still lingering on, but I had the satisfaction of completing my day’s quota in japa and now I will turn to writing.

While chanting my japa
I brought my pained eyes
upon the forms of
Radha-Kalacandji. I
could not see Them clearly
but it was better than
chanting without seeing the
Deity. I like to worship
Harinama in kirtana
or japa, while worshipping
the forms of Radha and Krishna.
The form of Lord Caitanya
is also recommended as He
is the giver of the names.
Chanting by itself is sufficient
for the liberated soul,
but we are fallen and still
have the tendency for bad habits.
So along with our chanting we
must worship the arca
vigraha and keep clean
in body and mind.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: One Hundred Prabhupada Poems

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

# 84

In this 1971 photo, Prabhupada is right at
the departure gate, American Airlines,
Boston to New York.
He’s sitting on a pillow on the floor and we are all
sitting close. I’m singing and playing karatalas.
His secretary, Syamasundara, is poised by the door with
briefcase. Rupanuga is carrying a three-tiered tiffin
tensed waiting for the boarding announcement.
The Boston brahmacarinis all wear one-colored saris,
the top piece over their heads.
Patita-uddharana is facing Prabhupada
eccentrically, with his eyes closed.

I stayed behind, would not go to New York.
It was so rare to see Prabhupada, we had waited years.
He had been to India, Moscow, Paris…
why not go with the others to NY
and get as much of his association as possible?
Because I thought I ought to stay with the
newly initiated shaved-up bhaktas in Boston.
They couldn’t go to New York so why shouldn’t
I stay with them? That was my duty.
I’m not sure it was right but
as I look at this photo
I’m sure glad Prabhupada did come to Boston
and that we stayed with him
right up to the departure gate and
that the inspiration came—I think it began with Suhotra—
and we started chanting and Prabhupada smiled…
I’m sure glad they photographed it
so that I will not forget I chanted
with my spiritual father, sitting on
the floor.
There’s so much bliss
I don’t want to let it go…
“Flight 388 is now departing.”

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Asking for Blessings

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

Krishna, bless me so I can
know You and feel Your
protection. Let me know
the story about Your
lotus feet and the gopis
fainting in distress that
You will hurt Your soles walking on
pebbles in the forest.

Let me have a breakthrough in
my chanting so I can taste
the sweetness of Your holy
names. Let me work for
You and be kind to others.

I heard a man say he was
lazy, and I must admit
it is true of me too. I don’t
have the conviction anymore
to work in my master’s
institution, except this
journal with a daily poem
offered like a note in a bottle
cast upon the sea.

What chance do I have
of reaching You? When they
bring me to the hospice house
it will be too late to start
a preaching project.

It’s already too late to act
again as a young man,
the two steps at a time
stage is over, I creep
downstairs favoring my
left ankle, and holding
onto the stair-rail lest I
fall head first as I
saw a man do in a
photo. You’d bash
your head and have
a concussion like a
football player
who just hit head-
on with another’s helmet.
Please help me to be young
again and active, I know
it’s possible.

You are in my heart
and in the hearts of everyone,
and I just have to awaken
to Your presence and
love You by active
service.

Krishna, please bless me
so I can know You and feel
Your protection. Let me
know that magic of being
alive in service to You
forever.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Free Write

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

I turned at random to Canto 3, Chapter 29, text 22: “One who worships the Deity of Godhead in the temples but does not know that the Supreme Lord as Paramatma, is situated in every living entity’s heart, must be in ignorance and is compared to one who offer oblations into ashes.”

The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His plenary expansion of Supersoul is present in all living entities. Prabhupada writes, “Therefore persons who profess to belong to some religious sect but who do not feel the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living entity, and everywhere else, are in ignorance.” If without this preliminary knowledge of the Lord’s omnipresence one simply attaches himself to the rituals in the temple, church or mosque, it is as if he were offering butter into ashes than into the fire. The devotee must know that in every living entity, however insignificant he may be, even in an ant, God is present, and therefore, every living entity should be kindly treated and should not be subject to any violence. In modern civilized society, slaughterhouses are regularly maintained and supported by a certain type of religious principle. But without knowledge of the presence of God in every living entity, any so-called advancement of human civilization, either spiritual or material, is to be understood as being in the mode of ignorance.

Kamsa must have been very physically strong. His men told him that when you meet your enemies on the battlefield they all open their turbans and surrender to you. When the voice from the sky spoke to Kamsa and he drew out his sword, Vasudeva did nothing to protect himself or Devaki. He saved himself with diplomatic talk and a promise to give his newborn children to Kamsa to kill. So Vasudeva was overpowered by Kamsa. And Kamsa was not only strong himself, but he was politically shrewd and made allies with all of the great demons of his time, under the protection of Sisupala. With all his demoniac allies, he crushed the unity of the Yadu dynasty. The Yadu leaders had to leave their kingdoms and take shelter in different remote places. The very surprising incident is Narada’s visit to Kamsa and telling him secrets of his enemies. He told him the demigods were being born on earth into families where they would be prepared to receive the appearance of Lord Vishnu. Narada told Kamsa that in his previous life he had been a demon named Kalanemi and had been killed by Lord Vishnu. When he heard this, Kamsa became a sworn enemy of the Yadus and Lord Vishnu. He arrested his father Ugrasena and had Vasudeva and Devaki locked in prison. Why did Narada betray the devotees of Krishna in this way? He didn’t betray them. He worked to accelerate the coming of Krishna. So he helped in making things so bad that Krishna would come soon and fulfill His purpose made in Bhagavad-gita, that He comes when irreligion is on the rise and the devotees are being harassed. It seems strange when Narada speaks that it is for the good of Krishna. Despite Narada’s revealing secrets to Kamsa, Krishna was safely born as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva in prison. He first appeared as four-handed Vishnu and then appeared as a new-born baby.

When Devaki first bore Krishna in her womb she became very beautiful. Kamsa surmised that Vishnu was in her womb and would soon be born. He considered killing Devaki at once but decided against it. He thought that even if he killed her, Vishnu’s will would be carried out. Besides that, it would be terrible to his reputation if he killed his sister at a time like this. He decided to wait until the baby was born and then kill Him as he had killed the previous six. But Kamsa became very anxious about the appearance of Krishna. He was afraid of Him and became obsessed with Him. He thought of Him all the time, even when sleeping. A pure devotee also always thinks of Krishna, but Kamsa is not considered a devotee because his absorption in Krishna was in enmity of Him. Nevertheless he was thoroughly “Krishna conscious” in a negative way.

As for the demigods, they were very happy to know that Krishna was in Devaki’s womb, and they gathered in the prison room and made beautiful prayers praising the Lord.

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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Why shall I think of other gurus?

Interviewer: What do you think about some of the other gurus, if you will, since you are yourself considered a guru? Do you study anybody else? Prabhupada: These answers you can give. Bali-mardana: :She said what do you think about the other gurus. Prabhupada: Why shall I think of other gurus? Bali-mardana: He does not study them. Prabhupada: Why shall I think of other gurus? "Oil your own machine." (laughter)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Interview with Newsweek -- July 14, 1976, New York

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Australian News: Are cruelty free dairy farms possible?

Commercial dairy farms treat cows in a notoriously cruel and inhumane way. More profits require increased cruelty and unnatural living conditions for the cows.

It seems there is no way to separate cruelty from dairy. Until now.

Cows at the New Gokul centre are raised in keeping with the Vedic method where nothing need be harmed to produce ample food for all.

The animals are played relaxing music, are hand milked and allowed to live their natural life span.

The community ensures that if their cows are sheltered, fed and protected, they happily produce more than enough milk for their calves, and the excess can be taken without harming them in any way.

Watch the video below to learn more.

Click here to see more ISKCON Internet News Reports

Click here to visit Bhaktivedanta Manorr

Click here to visit the web site for Australia’s own New Gokula Farm

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Maddy Jean-claude Durr, New Govardhana, AU: Who is Srila Prabhupada?

My glorious master, how I wish I could serve you.

 

Who can know Prabhupada?  Prabhupada was a ceaseless devotee of Krsna, pure in every respect.  His very life itself was an intense tale of immense compassion.  I am blessed to know what I know and hear what I hear about him but surely every aspect of this wicked mind that is not used in this appreciation is folly.

From childhood I looked on, up on a mighty throne.  He was a king and I never thought “maybe my king is proud?”, no; he was the king because he deserved to be the king.  He was the grandfather, the grandsire, over a kingdom that spread far and wide.  It was not the biggest kingdom, and I knew this truth, but it was the most magnanimous, because Krsna shone upon this kingdom with a beaming smile.

It was strange to grow old, to grow away and then to grow nearer again.  “Who is Srila Prabhupada?” I would finally ponder.  I knew of his majesty, of his grace and there was an instantly instinctive awe and reverence due to his supreme majesty. I could somehow perceive his immesurable humility.  Why did I know he was humble?  Was it told to me time and time again or was it simply that ever grave look in his eyes, in the murtis, photos and paintings?  Perhaps it was that he gave everything so freely and never asked me to give anything in return.  He was a saint and I wanted to know this saint of saints.

I relished to read words spoken and written by him, which was so elegant yet so powerful.  At first it felt like a massive download, like the first gush of water into your mouth at a drinking fountain; it seemed too much, too fast, but I knew this was premature and I persisted to guzzle down the message.  I bit again into this fruit of knowledge and finally penetrated the skin.  This was the sweetest fruit in the market, and surely the world.  The strangest thing was that the fruit continued to become sweeter.

I had some basis; I was finally starting to see his vision, but there were still many aspects missing from my equation?  I know some what of what he stands for but how did he come to this?  There was always this vision that Krsna helped him along, like it was simply some game, where he wandered, opened his hands and all heavenly opulence manifested.  This fantasy needed to be unsheathed.  It was true in one deeper sense but great things are considered great by the blood, sweat and tears shed on their path of completion.  Fortunately there were countless volumes of biographies and I was finally able to read some humble beginnings to the most humble of souls.  Tears, laughs and cries burst as I saw him unfold his mission, in the now seemingly unlikely circumstances.  “Just see my master” I thought, “not only is he great now in his might but he was great before in his endless determination.”  Krsna provided all the way but He made the point to reveal that Srila Prabhupada was a magnanimous hero in this tale.

It was strange to grow from boyhood to youth and see Srila Prabhupada.  He is in one way the grandfather but he’s still something else.  When I grew, my natural grandfather also passed in time but as I grew, Srila Prabhupada remained ageless, still the same (if not younger).  It could be attributed to my narrow frame of visions of him, only pertaining to one time period and no more? But it felt deeper than that; like Krsna is eternally youthful, so is Srila Prabhupada.  He fights with such vigour; he is a soldier.  He is still fighting; his books battle on until the dying days of goodness.  Nothing stands in his way; if it seems to stand any chance, know it only to be illusion.  Who could cut the words of Srila Prabhupada, which were swipes from his mighty sword of knowledge, that which requires the strength of Baladeva’s to lift.

This is my Srila Prabhupada, a great general, a loving grandsire, a king of the mightiest nation and my eternal maintainer.  Nothing in my creation exists separately from him and nothing in my life will be worth it unless it is dedicated to him.  Please Lord, allow me to be a bodyguard, a dog, a cockroach even, in the house of Srila Prabhupada.  Please let me guard the high walls of his kingdom and forgive me that I am a little proud to be on such a high wall, under such a high master.

 

Your tiny servant, Madhavendra Puri Dasa, son of the grand disciples of Srila Prabhupada.

 

Read original post: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/2010/11/09/who-is-srila-prabhupada]

 

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Hari Sauri das, Mayapura, IN: Srila Prabhupada’s tirobhava mahotsava in Mayapur

We just celebrated a blissful festival in honor of Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance pastime. Whereas His Divine Grace’s Vyasapuja is generally a very public and grand affair, his tirobhava festival is more intimate, with mainly just our Mayapur devotees in attendance. That still means the best part of a thousand souls turning out for the festivities.

In the morning we followed the regular program until guru puja. At the end of that we took Srila Prabhupada’s chota murti in procession to the Puspa Samadhi. Everyone packed into the auditorium to watch and hear Srila Prabhupada give SB class on 1.8.31 – teachings of Queen Kunti,  speaking about the fortune of Mother Yasoda in being able to chastise baby Krsna by tying him up. It was just appropriate for this season of Damodar.

Then we all went up into the main temple and listened to offerings by Srila Prabhupada’s disciples glorifying His Divine Grace.

The altar was beautifully decorated with a variety of flower arrangements

Among the speakers were Yadunandan Swami, Hrmati dasi, Sauri dasa, Samba dasa, Ragatmika dasi, Vidagdha Madhava dasa, Shyamasundari dasi, Naru Gopal dasa, Bhavananda dasa and Umapati Swami.

We missed the presence of Sriman Padma Locan prabhu, who had for many years participated in this event. Now we are certain that he has gone to join his Guru Maharaja in nitya lila seva. But  happily his wife Vrndavana Lila mataji offered to Srila Prabhupada a new book written by Padma just before his own disappearance. It is a small rendition, translated from Sanskrit by Padma Locan himself, entitled Uddhava Sandesh.

We were pleased to host some special guests from our neighbouring mathas, and HH Bhakti Nandan Swami from the Gopinath Gaudiya Matha spoke very affectionately about Srila Prabhupada, whom he had seen as  a young boy in the 1970s when he was serving his guru maharaja, Srila BR Sridhara Swami.

Srila Prabhupada was then bathed by all of his disciples and the sannyasis in a transcendental abhishek. After a massive bhoga offering of 1,000+ preparations we offered puspanjali followed by arati. There was a big feast for all the devotees (in Mayapur that means feeding at least  1,500-2,000) as well as all the workers and laborers etc. That’s one thing that ISKCON Mayapur does very well. They can feed tens of thousands of pilgrims a day in the three large kitchens.

This evening we gathered at 6.00PM for bhajans led by our Mayapur youth.

The whole Puspa Samadhi was nicely illuminated to mark the special event

At 7.24 PM, the time of Srila Prabhupada’s departure, the lights went out, with Srila Prabhupada’s murti illuminated with just ghee lamps, and the pujaris loudly blew two conchshells. Naru Gopal prabhu led the assembled devotees in singing a very beautiful rendition of “ye anilo prema dhana…”. This was followed by puspanjali, arati, offering of individual lamps

the offering of individual garlands by Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, including one offered by Srila Prabhupada’s great grand daughter

and finally maha-prasadam distribution to all the devotees.

It was a deeply satisfying event, with a real sense of community camaraderie centered on our common dependence on and affection for Srila Prabhupada. We owe him our lives and this was just one small chance to express our gratitude to him.

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Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 November 9: "I am now thinking about our society. We were very smoothly going on but this disruption created by Kirtanananda has plagued and disturbed the situation. The best thing is to do our duty nicely with faith in Krishna and everything will be adjusted."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 November 9: "Kirtanananda is a crazy man. That is proved. Try to convince by argument and reason but do not become angry. We should always try to represent Lord Nityananda Prabhu in the matter of preaching work."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 November 9: "As President, see that everyone is following a regulated schedule of chanting sixteen rounds, reading, Sankirtana, and temple worship. Any breakage in the performance of one's duties will surely be a hindrance in one's advancement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 November 9: "Universities are very important. There they can appreciate our philosophy. When you speak in the classroom, just quote from my books and explain in your own words. They will appreciate very much."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 November 9: "I was sick when I left Calcutta for London. For the time being I am keeping my health. So after all, this is an old body. I am 78 years, and still by the grace of Krsna it is going on."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 November 9: "We have to request them humbly to correct if there is any discrepancy, not changing or dismissing. Our whole process is to humbly request and like Nityananda Prabhu sometimes falling down on the feet and flattering."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 November 9: "The temples should save more and not exceed expenditures. Our principle is tyaga, to renounce material activities as far as possible. It is not good that all the temples are spending more than they are receiving."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 November 9: "We are not interested in giving them vegetarian food; we are interested to give them prasadam. They may take so many nice things, especially the sandesh, kachori, rasagulla, samosa and in this way they will forget their meat-eating."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Bhajan - Kalachandji's Kirtan Group @ Denton Unitarian Church - Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya - 4/6

Kalachandji's Kirtan Group performing the bhajan "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" at the Denton Unitarian Church.  Somehow my 6yo son ended up singing backup vocals. :-)

Gopi Gita (vocals),  Nitai Pran (backup vocals), Gopinath (flute), Hari das (drum), Kapil (kartals)

Dallas, TX
2010-05-01 
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Subhvavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: To our Merciful Guru and Saviour, Srila Prabhupada, on this most difficult day.

Picture
The following is an offering presented by Indresh at New Remuna Dham (ISKCON Toronto) last year (2009) on Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance day.

Dear Srila Prabhupada,


Please accept my dandavats at the dust of your lotus feet.

I know in our Sampradaya we are trained to celebrate the disappearance day of our Vaishnava Acharya, but we are fallen devotees and rather find ourselves full of sadness and thus find it difficult to adhere to these instructions.

Srila Prabhupada, I will never forget the day you left us in November of 1977. By that time we were living less than a block away from the temple.  My father answered a phone call and dropped the phone and screamed “Prabhupada is gone.” Between the crying and panic my father was already running to the temple.  I was crying and by the time we made it to the temple I found my father upstairs in Srila Prabhupada’s room, Visvarkarma sitting near the window and my father on the opposite side, both grown men sobbing uncontrollably. What sticks out in my mind is 2 normally jovial and calm men grieving your departure and 2 god brothers comforting each other with simply a roll of toilet paper sitting on the table.  Me and my mother and sister just sat for hours crying on the temple stairs.  I also remember the temple was eerily quiet. Every devotee must have found their corner to cry over this unimaginable loss. We did not fathom the day would come that our beloved Srila Prabhupada would leave.

After you left we marched onwards to serve in your Chicago mission and we were in the process of moving the temple from Evenston  to Lunt. Me and my dad were upstairs in the deity sewing room when a devotee returning from India told my father, “Srila Prabhupada was asking for you in the final days”. That moment is frozen in time for me. Looking at your picture on the wall, the sewing machine and reels of thread, and my fathers face. For my dad it was like a ton of bricks hitting him. We would give anything Srila Prabhupada to have been with you one more time. In hindsight, I am not sure if my father would have been able to see you in that physical condition as you left and rather like to remember you with the smile that lit up our world. 

Srila Prabhupada, as we now sit in your opulent temples worshipping the beautiful forms of Radha and Krishna you have given us, we sometimes forget how much hardship you went through to build your ISKCON. Over the last few years, I have been slacking on reading your books but last month there was a quandary and I had the mercy and privilege to research your instructions. As always I found the clarity and purity of your instruction amazing and lest we forget your instructions remain 100% relevant today and a guiding force which cannot be watered down. As we were discussing your struggles and challenges in establishing Gaudiya Vaishanva Sampradaya in the west a devotee blurted out a stanza from a Robert Frost poem. 

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

It was soooo out of place yet so relevant. The poem talks about a nice house in the village in which he can stay at but he must keep going to accomplish his mission. Srila Prabhupada you could have stayed in Vrindavan but you had a promise to keep to your Guru Maharaja and you set out on a mission which would take you over every ocean to save us. I also thought to myself that as an alumni of Scottish Churches College in Calcutta, you may have read this same poem. 


Srila Prabhupada after you left I wondered so many times why you could not have stayed for a few more years. ISKCON was growing exponentially and I reasoned that a few more years and sooo many challenges would have been avoided. As a child I read the final chapter of your lila-mrta written by Satsvarupa Maharaj which is titled the “final lesson” and I could not comprehend the “final lesson”. As a child I asked myself, was the final lesson that after your left there would be chaos and confusion?  Was the final lesson that you did not want to stay with us as a few more years? As I child, I even questioned why Krishna would take you from us when we needed you so desperately? Many years have now passed and my childhood reading has given way to some comprehension of your final lesson.   Srila Prabhupada, I am a neophyte and I have boiled down my neophyte understandings of your final lesson into a few points. 

1.     Srila Prabhupada you said, “You will show your love for me by how you cooperate with each other.” In the hours after your departure, the true spirit of cooperation was there where god-brothers and god-sisters comforted and supported each other, each wanting to carry your mission forward. This was part of your final lesson: Cooperate to carry your mission forward. 

2.     To your great disappointment, your Guru Maharaj’s disciples did not follow his orders of setting up a collective management system, referred to as the Governing Body Commission. To your credit your disciples tried to follow your orders and followed the collective management system, the GBC. They also followed your orders regarding autonomous temple entities, the istagoshi system and the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Yes, there have been many hiccups along the way but overall your disciples have followed your management directives. This was also part of your final lesson, that by following your orders, ISKCON will stay together and flourish once again. That day has come… 

3.     Srila Prabhupada, you had a vision to build a house in which the whole world can live in. I used to tell my fellow gurukulis and cohorts that if you were here for a few more years, that house would have been built. In reality you have given us a house in which the whole world can take shelter in. Srila Prabhupada you are the architect and your books, instructions and vani are the engineering blue prints. You have built the pillars in which ISKCON is standing. Now all of us are your construction workers and each of us has a responsibility to do our part as long as we are following your blue prints. 

4.     “I have given you everything already, there is no need for you to add anything or change anything.”
Another part of the final lesson is the strongly worded letter you wrote on January 4th, 1973, to repeat “I have given you everything already, there is no need for you to add anything or change anything.”  You expressed similar sentiments many times knowing that others would try to bewilder your movement. Srila Prabhupada, the lesson you have given us is that we have everything we need in the philosophy, books and instructions you have given us. 

5.     For me the final part of your final lesson is so eloquently written by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur.
He reasons ill who tells that Vaishnavas die
When thou art living still in sound
The Vaishnavas die to live and living try
To spread the holy name around!


Srila Prabhupada, you are here with us because your vani is with us. Some speculators want to “date” your instructions but the lesson you have given your sincere followers is very simple indeed…to take your instructions “As-It-Is”.

If we adhere to your lessons to chant, distribute, cooperate, associate and push your mission forward then we will have understood your final lesson. 

Krishna is omni-present and you, Srila Prabhupada are EVER present in your books and instructions.  

In the letter you wrote to me and my sister on March 16, 1977 from Mayapur Dham, you wrote “I am always thinking of you…”. Srila Prabhupada I beg that I can have the strength to always think of you. Srila Prabhupada, we miss you. What I would give to get a smile or instruction from you or another flower or cookie from you lotus hands…

Srila Prabhupada I want to end this offering in your words…

“Please be happy in separation. I am separated from my Guru Maharaja since 1936 but I am always with him so long I work according to his direction. So we should all work together for satisfying Lord Krishna and in that way the feelings of separation will transform into transcendental bliss.”

Srila Prabhupada, in 1976 when you entered this temple for the first time you said, “Subhavilasa, I like this temple. Can I stay here forever?” My father replied, “Of course, Srila Prabhupada.” Srila Prabhupada, thank you for keeping you word…you are indeed here forever. 

Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavan Dham you called me your grandson.

Today I stand in front of you in your New Remuna Dham as your most worthless and fallen servant begging for your shelter,      

Indresh 
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Krishna Consciousness in Lebanon

Dear Subscribers of my ecourse in Lebanon, Please accept my blessings. Some devotees of Krishna are moving to Lebanon and would like to have Krishna conscious gatherings there. If you are interested in attending, please let me know by replying to this email, and I'll tell how how to get in contact with you to inform you of when and where the meetings...

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Australian News: Vaiyasaki Das @ Bhakti Centre Surfers Paradise… be there

For your eternal spiritual benefit Vaiyasaki Das and Brisbane’s “Crystal Dolphin” are appearing at the Bhakti Centre, Surfers Paradise

The doors will open at 6pm on Wedneday 17th and Thursday 18th of November.

Contact Govindas Veg -O- Rama, ph 0755383788 for details.
$10 donation on entry,
children free.

Tickets available at Govindas Surfers Paradise or at door.

Vegetarian dinner served.

See the web site

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Deva Gaura Hari, AU: Harinam Sankirtana - 5 Nov 2010 Brisbane, Australia, with Janananda Goswami

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: B. Andrey asks about computer games

B. Summon about Dantavakra’s parents and B. Richard whether it is worth to continue chanting even though one knows he/she is not up to initiation in this life, at which time it is said one really receives the holy name?

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ISKCON Brisbane, AU: Karthik with Vaiyasaki das

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Damodarastakam with Tarakanatha Pr for Radha Damodara

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Remembering Srila Prabhupada on the 33rd anniversary of his disappearance

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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: ISKCON LEICESTER PROGRAM WITH GURU MAHARAJA

Please click on the picture to see the enlarged vision by Ramananda Raya Dasa “Wherever People Are Receptive Towards Krishna Consciousness, We Should Take Care Of Them,” Guru Maharaja told myself and Kamlesh Krishna Prabhu, who drove us to Sacitanaya Prabhus house in Leicester, where we spent the night after the evening program in Iskcon [...]

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Gouranga TV: Mayapur Bhajans – Hare Krishna

Mayapur Bhajans – Hare Krishna

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H.H. Sivarama Swami

God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

- C. S. Lewis

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Japa Group: Easier For One To Always Chant


trnâd api sunîcena, taror iva sahisnunâ
amânina mânadena, kîrtanîyah sadâ harih


’’One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others, can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.’’

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura says that this verse teaches one how to chant without offences by mentioning the four qualities necessary for non-stop chanting. In other words, by possessing these four devotional traits it will be much easier for one to always chant the holy name. The sastras prescribe constant chanting as the way to remove all offences.

From Illuminations on Nama Aparadha by Mahanidhi Swami

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