|  Balance Edutainment provides its expansive thoughts on the Occupy Movement
Public demonstrations will not help much.
If you want to bring about the change in this world, start with yourself.
How?
Declare a war to your lower nature.
in Mahabharata, General Bhismadeva says to king Yudhisthira that the greatest victory for a king (or any leader) is over self (meaning: over our lower self).
And what is our lower self or nature?
It is that part of us that wants to enjoy sinful activities, a part of us that is animalistic, a part that wants to control and exploit others.
If you work on controlling your lower nature, and give prominence to your higher, divine nature, you might become an empowered leader.
You might become the change you want to see in this world.
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.35 - Krsna smashed the pride of His devotee Indra by Govardhana Puja.
We had a very sweet and intimate Diwali night yesterday. The whole altar was solely lit by ghee lamps. Here's a slideshow.
By Krishna-lila Dasi for ISKCON News on 28 Oct 2011  | Recently, ISKCON spiritual master Mukunda Goswami was featured in the documentary George Harrison: Living In The Material World, directed by award-winning director Martin Scorcese. Mukunda Goswami talks about the filming and his relationship with the ex-Beatle.
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For many years now we celebrate Govardhan Puja on Saturday at Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir.
So "Happy Govardhan Puja" dear devotees. Giriraja, which is another name of Govardhan, is the best of Krsna's servants. He supplies Krisna, Balarama and cowherd boys fresh grass for their cows, fruits, roots, minerals and beautiful scenery, caves and groves for the wonderful pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Ballabha. On this auspicious day we pray to Sri Giriraja Maharaja to always grant us the glorious darsana of the Divine Couple.
Hare Krsna my dear devotees. Today I would like to bring up a very nice topic related to chanting. I was reading a verse about the glories of Lord Rama and the name of the prayers are "Where Should Rama Stay?" and by reading the verses something came to my mind and I thought about chanting. Where should our thoughts be when we chant. If my thoughts were at the lotus feet of Krsna or on the maha mantra Himself or in the sound vibration (who is Krsna Himself), where is my heart at this time?
Sometimes it's easy to say our hearts are with the Lord when we are in kirtan, arati, worship, cooking and any other service but when we chant why our minds conduct us to anything else but not Krsna or His Holy names? So I remembered how the great devotees who chant nicely have so much love for the Lord, are so dedicated that their hearts are full of Krsna and the Lord is there all the time wherever they go....whatever they do it`s for Krsna and this seems so simple. We have to have our minds and hearts on the Lord every time, not even forget the Holy names for a second. So we should chant all the time and perform our japa with sincerity and our taste for chanting will increase in a way that one day we will chant with the heart in it.
Wishing your weekend is full of realisations on spiritual life.
your servant,
Aruna devi
Here is a very nice seminar on chanting Japa given by Chandramauli Swami (there is a slight pause between each part).
1970 October 28: "Maya is insurmountable but one who surrenders to Krsna - Maya does not touch him. So all my books are as good as Krsna therefore taking shelter of my books means taking shelter of Krsna - there is no doubt about it."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1969 October 28: "It is very, very encouraging that you propose to go to Australia. If you can start a center there now, it will be certainly all glorious. By the order of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu we shall not leave any place within this world without Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
1967 October 28: "Narayana understood Dhruva's sincerity & sent Narada to initiate him. This Krishna Consciousness is a parallel process of worshiping the Supreme Lord & the Spiritual master simultaneously."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
1970 October 28: "I've sent the sannyasis letters requesting them to preach from different centers. Why they are together? Sannyas means they should travel extensively, create new centers and new devotees--that is sannyasa business."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1967 October 28: "Thank you very much for your letter. I am so happy that a boy of 17 years can feel so nicely about Krishna Consciousness. I am so happy that this movement is attracting young innocent hearts of America. I think the future is very hopeful."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
1970 October 28: "In regards to Swami Tirtha, forget all these past incidences. Let us now work with new life and new vigor. They are all nice boys but maya has made them something else. In course of time, they'll all become nice again."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1970 October 28: "If the Hamilton House in Dalhousie Square is available for purchase, immediately all of you see it. I am very much anxious to have a center in Calcutta, so if it is suitable for our purposes, you work for it immediately."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1973 October 28: "If the men you bring to India come as tourists and then go away this kind of coming and going is a waste of money. I think you can get local men here. That is the preaching process."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
Vicaru Das
Bhaktivadanta Manor (UK) The Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 9 Text 1 states: Sri-Suka Uvaca
Atma-mayam rte rajan
Parasyanubhavatmanah
Na ghatetartha-sambandhah
Svapua-drastur ivanjasa Translation Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, unless one is influenced by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no meaning to the relationship of the pure soul in pure consciousness with the material body. That relationship is just like a dreamer's seeing his own body working. Purport by HDG A.C.Bhaktivadanta Swami Prabhupada Maharaja Pariksit's question as to how a living entity began his material life, although he is apart from the material body and mind, is perfectly answered. The spirit soul is distinct from material conception of his life, but he is absorbed in such a material conception because of being influenced by the external energy of the Lord, called atma-maya. This has already been explained in the First Canto in connection with Vyasadeva's realization of the Supreme Lord and His external energy. The external energy is controlled by the Lord, and the living entities are controlled by the external energy – by the will of the Lord. Therefore, although the living entity is purely conscious in his pure state. He is subordinate to the will of the Lord in being influenced by the external energy of the Lord. In the Bhagavad-Gita (15.15) also the same thing is confirmed; the Lord is present within the heart of every living entity, and all the living entity's consciousness and forgetfulness are influenced by the Lord.
Now the next question automatically made will be why the Lord influences the living entity to such consciousness and forgetfulness. The answer is that the Lord clearly wishes that every living entity be in his pure consciousness as a part and parcel of the Lord and thus be engaged in the loving service of the Lord as he is constitutionally made; but because the living entity is partially independent also, he may not be willing to serve the Lord, but may try to become as independent as the Lord is. All the non-devotees living entities are desirous of becoming equally as powerful as the Lord, although they are not fit to become so. The living entities are illusioned by the will of the Lord because they wanted to become like Him. Like a person who thinks of becoming a King without possessing the necessary qualification, when the living entity desires to become the Lord Himself, he is put in a condition of dreaming that he is a King. Therefore the first sinful will of the living entity is to become the Lord, and the consequent will of the Lord is that the living entity forget his factual life and thus dream of the land of utopia where he may become one like the Lord. The child cries to have the moon from the mother, and the mother gives the child a mirror to satisfy the crying and disturbing child with the reflection of the moon. Similarly, the crying child of the Lord is given over to the reflections, the material world, to lord it over as karmi and to give this up in frustration to become one with the Lord. Both these stages are dreaming illusions only. There is no necessity of tracing out the history of when the living entity desired this. But the fact is that as soon as he desired it, he was put under the control of atma-maya by the direction of the Lord. Therefore the living entity in his material condition is dreaming falsely that this is "mine" and this is "I" The dream is that the conditioned soul thinks of his material body as "I" or falsely thinks that he is the Lord and that everything in connection with that material body is "mine." Thus only in dream does the misconception of "I" and "mine" persist life after life. This continues life after life, as long as the living entity is not purely conscious of his identity as the subordinate part and parcel of the Lord.
In his pure consciousness, however, there is no such misconceived dream, and in that pure conscious state the living entity does not forget that he is never the Lord, but that he is eternally the servitor of the Lord in transcendental love. This is confirmed in the Padma Purana qhich quotes the CC Madhya 17.133 as follows: Nama cintamanih krsnas
Caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
Purnah suddho nitya-mukto
'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh The holy name of Krsna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, from it is Krsna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krsna's name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krsna Himself. Since Krsna's name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krishna's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krsna and Krisna Himself are identical. The powerful and merciful sound incarnation of the Supreme Lord is purely Received and honoured by the True and Faithful Lovers, these Faithful lovers are Forever intoxicated, obsessed profoundly with the nectarian taste of that Rasa, these great souls who happen to be walking amongst us are to be associated most with love and care, and we desperately take shelter of them, by thoroughly hearing, when they sing the divine names. They often travel to the spiritual world through the holy names because they have access by the power of faith, which is uncompromising, undeviating, unbending, and unflinching Faith on divine names, they are profoundly dear to Srila Haridas Thakur and the Master Lord Caitanya, the all merciful holy name reveals the knowledge to these great lovers of the holy name. This planet can turn into Vaikuntha in an instant, IF every, single being take Complete Shelter of the divine holy name, The most available now on this dark rotten planet, which Krsna is not so inclined of and which Krsna in his schedule, made the last item to think of about the welfare of this planet. Even Balrama is holding the whole universe on his thousands of hoods to maintain this universe so that the living entities can quickly recognise their identity and go back to see my brother, Krsna on that eternal planet. So the most valuable diamond is in the hands of Srila Prabhupada and his powerful and humble Servants who daily Feast on holy names: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare Glory to all those fortunate souls who are the greatest servants of the Holy Names With great hope in some life I'll get some speck of that taste of the Holy Names, which is highly tasted by those pure Hearted Devotees Your Humble Servent Vicaru Das Bhaktivadanat Manor (UK)
SB 06.15.07 Orienting Oneself Towards Krishna 2011-10-28 Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 6.15.7 Orienting Oneself Towards Krishna 2011-10-28 Los Angeles SB 06.15.07 Orienting Oneself Towards Krishna 2011-10-28 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 6.15.7 Orienting Oneself Towards Krishna 2011-10-28 Los Angeles
The new issue of Martha Stewart Living featured a really ingenious idea–cabbage leaves covered in chocolate to use for ice cream bowls! At first I was all fart face about it, until I realized that you peel away the cabbage after the melted chocolate hardens and before you serve the ice cream. Oh yeah! Since it is Halloween/Fall Festival time and I am a mom of 3, I took this idea and ran with it….all the way to my cupcake decorating station. Do I really have a designated cupcake decorating station in my kitchen? Oh yeah! I used basil from my garden as my leaf molds, melted semi-sweet chocolate in the microwave (going for easy here, don’t judge), and got my paint brush sharpened (not really).  Basil leaves are a natural, non-toxic chocolate mold! A slight hint of basil was left behind; I found it rather pleasant. Mint would also be a natural choice. After I painted the leaves, I set them on parchment paper and stuck them in the fridge overnight. The next morning, I peeled back the leaves and was left with a delicately detailed chocolate relief. Or should I say, chocolate re-leaf. Guffaw.  Isn't the detail amazing? I go the best results from painting the chocolate on the underside of the leaf since that is the veinier side. I stuck the leaves, at a fun and jaunty angle!, into the piped buttercream on le cupcakes. Unfortunately, those pictures were not worthy of this blog. Sadness.
I’m sure like me you look forward to classes by our most senior but humble devotee’s and so it was nice to be at Bhaktivadanta Manor and able to record the class given by HG Krypa Moya Dasa on the morning of Govardhana Hill.
Please note that it was recorded in a tent on the Manor grounds so it’s not as clear as in the temple room but you will enjoy every second: Hg Krypa Moya Dasa.mp3 Whilst staying I was able to record the following wonderful classes for you all to enjoy: Hg Jay Krishna Dasa (1).mp3 Hg Patanjali Muni Dasa.mp3 Hg Prayojana Dasa (4).mp3 HG Prayojana Dasa (5).mp3 Hg Ramanuja Dasa.mp3
Saturday, October 29th will mark the day we commemorate Srila Prabhupada's passing from this world, also known as Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day. Festivities will begin at noon and will feature memories of Srila Prabhupada by our dear Srila Prabhupada disciples and amazingly sweet kirtan!
It will be a special day as Toronto's Hare Krishna temple will welcome HH Bhakti Vasudeva Swami, HH Bhaktimarga Swami, various Srila Prabhupada disciples and kirtan superstars Gaura das (Montreal, QC) and Amala Kirtan das (Dallas, TX).
Festivities will begin at 12pm and continue to 4pm. A special invitation goes out to your and your family to join us for what promises to be a VERY special afternoon, dedicated to Srila Prabhupada!
Check out this wonderful video of Amala Kirtan das from his "Yoga Bliss Kirtan Tour" in Australia last year:
 By Deva Sekharah Das
Everything started eight years ago when Dharma Raja Prabhu set out on a fantastic adventure with ISKCON youth groups of that time, groups of which I was a part. The experience was so positive that year after year since then ISKCON youth groups have strived to repeat the initiative and finally this intention became a reality in the summer of 2011. I was impressed with the adventure that Dharma Raja Prabhu was leading us on, walking 220km through the north of Spain, I was thoroughly inspired for later events and specially for this Padayatra, "The Holy Walk" Camino De Santiago
Last Spring I bought a climbing petunia, an old fashioned heritage type plant. I put it on the end of a row of pea trellis and when the peas gave out the petunia overtook it. It never did stop growing and this is a current picture of it. It has taken over two rows of trellis, the sweet peas that were on the trelis in the foreground of the picture are long gone. 
It is plenty seedy looking now but still was pretty picturesque right into September and the few brave blooms this late into the autumn are precious in their own way. During the summer it was pleasantly fragrant, not the throw it all over type but enough so when in the area you knew it was there. I am not much of a photographer so always take a few pictures in case some don’t turn out. Here is a happy accident that made me think of Monet in a vague sort of way. 
Filed under: Cows and Environment        
On the auspicious day of Dipavali the children of the Bhaktivedanta National School celebrated their annual Govardhan Puja festival. The festival included kirtan, lecture, abishek, anna-koot offering, pushpanjali, arati, lamp offering, and prasadam. The children also created a Govardhan hill made from cow dung. read more
 By Gokula Ranjan Das
Once again we can see the power of cooperation to please Srila Prabhupada. The results are always successful and sublime. New flowers will blossom in the ISKCON branch of Lord Caitanya's movement
Radhika dasi: Please join us in New Goloka for an ecstatic kirtana weekend! March 27th and 28th we will be chanting from 8 am to 8 pm both days. Sunday will include a Rama Navami Sunday program beginning at 4:30 pm with a discussion on Lord Ramachandra. Lunch will be served on Saturday at 1pm and dinner on both days at 7:30 pm. We need kirtana leaders and musicians
Ananda Tirtha das (GBC Corresponding Secretary): The Annual General Meeting of the ISKCON GBC Society will begin on February 10, 2012. Following the ISKCON GBC Society's Rules of Order, the GBC Secretariat requests proposals, duly sponsored by a GBC member, to be submitted by December 10, 2011. This will allow adequate time for the GBC Secretariat and Deputies to prepare the proposals for presentation at the meeting
Anandini dd: Hare Krsna prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We have a possibility for a devotee to take over this preaching center since I am moving to Belgium Radhadesh
Palace Restoration Committee Minutes, conf call September 9, 2011 Present: Gaura Shakti Dasa , Gopisa Dasa, Malati Devi Dasi, Ramesvara Dasa, Tripad Dasa, Jaya Krsna das 1. Structure: Gopisa checked the access for the dome; there is no visible support. There may be evidence in one of the 3.000 pictures of Kama. Gaura Shakti will handover the pictures to Gopisa for review. a. Patch – Tripad has brought to Gopisa's attention that the concrete of the dome on top of the temple room is damaged. The membrane is leaking on top of the main dome. b. Gopisa is looking for material, which is compatible with the current rubber. The plan is to cover the dome by a new membrane. c. Recoat the roof, put patches on the domes itself and the roof. Gopisa would engage the LEED consultant for further consultation. d. The budget is about $20.000. Has to be adjusted based on the material chosen and the labor, if we do it ourselves or by the roofer. e. Time frame: budget approval next Thursday, order the material, start cleaning the rubber. 2. Story board – JKd to adjust the current version, send it out before the next meeting, discuss the proposal on the next conf call. 3. Front stairs – Gopisa is expecting an email from Gus Kayafas with quotes from the two contractors he recommends for the reparation of the stairs. Gus promised it for the current meeting. 4. Gus made a suggestion for the intermediate gift shop. He would place the gift shop at the place (prefabricated, wired, insolated) where the permanent gift shop would be placed. Gopisa is waiting for the proposal and cost estimate of Gus. We expect the proposal for the next meeting. Gopisa will work also on the initial plan the committee has discussed so far. 5. LEED consultant: Tim will be engaged for INMV and ECOV project and the Palace. Gopisa expects to engage Tim also for the Palace. The hourly rate for the current contract: principal 110 (110 in our initial contract) for other functions: 85, 90, drafting 75, only in the current, to be added to the general contract, secretarial time 55 previously, 40 KBC, to be adjusted in the overall agreement. 6. PRC accepts officially Gopisa's proposal to engage Tim Crowley as the LEED consultant for the Palace. 7. Ramesvara emphasized that the PRC needs a paper trail for all contacts between Kayafas, the LEED consultant and ISKCON. PRC decided that emails are also accepted as part of the paper trial. Gopisa is the main contact for the patches and the current work to execute.
Gaura Shakti was officially elected by the original group (original Palace group) as the project manager. A longer discussion on the formal process of electing a project manager led to following thoughts: a) The board of directors of INMV currently defines sub committees which are working on different topics and make recommendations to the board. The board is ultimately responsible for the decisions taken. b) Mother Malati proposes a second approach: The PRC makes a written proposal to the INMV board. The PRC members are present in the meeting for the election of the project manager and participate in the vote. The PRC proposes that both proposals will be presented to the joint board meeting. Malati will be invited to present the second option to the joint board members (unanimous vote). Gopisa continues with the service request for the intermediate tasks until an official project manager is elected. Next conf call: September 23, 2011, 4pm, moved to September 30, 2011, 4pm (conflicts of different meetings). JKd, September 22, 2011 Activity list: Gopisa Get information about the support structure of the dome to define the setup of a new dome September 9, 2011
All Feedback on the storyboard, to be adapted by JKd – 75.000 visitors a year September 30, 2011 Tripad Contact Charu Prabhu to get input for the exibits September 15, 2011
Gaura Shakti Contact BhkatiCharu Swami, Rameswara, Kripamaya, Sankirtana for input for the exhibition September 15, 2011
Gaura Shakti Article on dandavats September 15, 2011
Gaura Shakti Write regular articles ongoing
Gaura Shakti Get the 4000 pictures of Rukmavati September 15, 2011
Gaura Shakti Get feedback from Sudanu September 9, 2011
Gopish Request Kayafas to get quotes for the reparation of the front stairs September 30, 2011
Gopish Propose a temporary gift shop (style, size, estimation for the investment) September 30, 2011
THE FOLLOWING LECTURE ON SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM CANTO 3 CHAPTER 24, THE RENUNCIATION OF KARDAMA MUNI, TEXT 37 WAS GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CARU SWAMI ON 5TH SEPTEMBER 2010 IN ISKCON UJJAIN, INDIA. Transcription : Her Grace Ranga Radhika Dasi Editing : Hemavati Radhika Dasi Audio reference: click here Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Om Namo Bhagavate [...]
Today I was thinking about what are the 3 qualities that are most important to me. They are: humility, clarity, and courage.
HUMILITY
Humility puts me in my right place as a small part of God, who is not in control.
CLARITY
Clarity allows me to understand who I am, what is my purpose, and what I want.
COURAGE
Courage enables me to stretch, grow, take risks, and learn.
What are your 3 most important qualities?
We live in our little worlds of family, friends, work, sports and music, but the moment of death is coming.
And we do not know what will be our next destination. 
By Tamal Krishna Goswami
One day Ibrought a painting done by our artist Muralidhara for Prabhupada's approval. OnPrabhupada's request, Muralidhara had reproduced on canvas theSrimad-Bhagavatam jacket cover showing the spiritual sky.
As I heldthe painting up, Prabhupada began to explain the plan of the creation. First hepointed to where Krsna was and described how the entire creation was anexpansion of Krsna's energy. The Vaikuntha planets, broad and effulgent, wereunlimited in number.
Then Prabhupada pointed to the corner of the paintingwhere the material world was situated. Maha-Visnu is lying down there, andmillions of universes emanate from His skin holes.
Prabhupadasaid, "Each universe is filled up with unlimited numbers of livingentities who inhabit all of the planets and stars. One of these planets is ourearth, and on this planet are many continents. On one continent there isAmerica, and in America there are so many big cities. Here is Los Angeles, andin Los Angeles there is a street, La Cienega Boulevard. On this boulevard,among all of the buildings, is a temple of Lord Krsna. And in this temple thereis one Tamal Krishna. He is there, and is thinking that he is veryimportant."
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is the initiator of sańkīrtana [congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord]. One who worships Him through sańkīrtana is fortunate indeed.
(Adi 3.77)
Such a person is truly intelligent, whereas others, who have but a poor fund of knowledge, must endure the cycle of repeated birth and death. Of all sacrificial performances, the chanting of the Lord's holy name is the most sublime. (Adi 3.78)
PURPORT
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the father and inaugurator of the sańkīrtana movement. One who worships Him by sacrificing his life, money, intelligence and words for the sańkīrtana movement is recognized by the Lord and endowed with His blessings. All others may be said to be foolish, for of all sacrifices in which a man may apply his energy, a sacrifice made for the sańkīrtana movement is the most glorious.
The following lecture was given by H.H. Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja on October 05th, 2011,in ISKCON Ujjain. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam Canto 3:The Status Quo–Chapter33:Activities of Kapila–Text 05 Share/Save
We host Events occassionally for the Local Community. The programs are posted on this page for coming up Festivals or Events.
Govardhan Puja 29-10-2011 
Mayapuris Tour 2011 - Peace Yoga 30-10-2011 
The Mayapuris 
Damodara Masa 2011 
Jhulan Yatra Festival 10-08-2011
Lord Balaram's Appearance Day 13-08-2011
Janmastami Invitation 20-08-2011
Vyasa Puja Invitation 24-08-2011
Sri Radhastami 03-09-2011
Bhaktivinoda Thakur's Appearance Day 10-09-2011
Haribhakti Dey 22-10-2011 
Mayapuris Tour 2011 - 26-10-2011 (BCGC) 
Mayapuris Tour 2011 & Diwali Celebration - 27-10-2011 (BBSLSC)
Bada Hari Dasa Kirtana
Workshop with Urmila Wednesday 2nd November 6pm Urmila is an expert author and is renowned for delivering the timeless Vedic wisdom of the Vedas with loving devotion and deep knowledge. She has been dedicated to assisting her spiritual teacher, A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (translator of the Bhagavad gita as it is) since 1973. This is a [...]
Sweet date! Sunday November 13th 5pm An exotic evening for YOUR senses with a mountain of Bhakti styled sweets, handmade-with-love to tantalise the eyes and tongue. Some made from protected cows milk – if you haven’t tasted milk sweets before then it’s certainly time you did.The evening is mixed in with live kirtans and a disussion. [...]
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Friday 28 October 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. (Click on photo to see a larger image.) Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. For Transcendental Association Connect With Other Members of this Course. Join this Conference: http://groups.google.com/group/sda_students Help Popularize Our Message By Liking Today's Thought on Facebook: Today's Thought: Vrindavan, the Most Amazing Place on Earth uploaded from Sri Vrindavan Dhama, India We have returned now to Sri Vrindavan Dhama. Even though it appears that we are now in India, we are actually not in India, because Sri Vrindavan Dhama is non-different from Lord Sri Krishna's transcendental abode in the spiritual sky, Goloka Vrindavan. Anyone who comes to this place humbly in the mood of a pilgrim will be greatly blessed and uplifted by the amazing transcendental potency of this most sacred place. Krishna's pastimes are going on here even today for those who have the eyes to see them. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Vrindavan Dhama-Lord Krishna's Home on Earth http://www.backtohome.com/images/2006-2007 WT/vrindavan.jpg This Abode is Non-Different from the Spiritual Sky http://www.backtohome.com/images/2006-2007 WT/Vrindavan_map.jpg Ecstatic Kirtan in the Holy Dhama http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Vrindavan_kirtan1.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Chant Hare Krishna Before Hare Rama? Dear Sir, I have some doubts which I request you to clear: 1. In the Hare Krishna mahamantra what does Rama refer to? Does it refer to Lord Rama of Ayodhya or does it refer to Lord Rama (Balarama) the brother of Lord Krishna? How can this mantra be Lord Krishna's mantra if it also contains Rama, another name of God, Rama? 2. Does it matter if we chant the mahamantra in the reverse order i.e. Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare? Actually this is the order in which Lord Brahma gave the mantra to Narada Muni. 3. Lastly, if I wish to chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra but do not want to be initiated under any ISKCON guru. Is it ok? I read it is not important to be initiated under any guru in order to chant His names. Yours faithfully Kaushal Varma Answer: Follow the Authorized Scriptures Your questions are answered as follows: 1. Rama in the Hare Krishna mantra can refer to Lord Ramacandra, Lord Balarama, Lord Parasurama, or to Lord Krishna. 2. The sastras and God Himself have given us the mahamantra with Hare Krishna first. Here are some of the many evidences: Ananta Samhita: hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare sodasaitani namani dvatrimsad varna kani hi kalau yuge mahamantrah sammato jiva tarane "Hare Krishna hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. This hari-nama mahamantra consists of sixteen names and thirty-two syllables. In Kali-yuga this mantra can deliver all jivas." In the Brahma Yamala, Lord Shiva states: harim bina nasti kincat papani-starakam kalau tasmal-lokod-dharana-artham hari-nama prakasayet sarvatra mucyate loko mahapapat kalau yuge hare-krsna pada dvandvam krsneti ca pada-dvayam tatha hare-pada-dvandvam hare-rama iti dvayam tad-ante ca mahadevi- rama rama dvayam vadet hare hare tato bru-yad harinama samud dharet mahamantram ca krsnasya sarva papa pranasakam "He Mahadevi! Look! In Kali-yuga there is no easier way to eradicate sins than by sri-hari-nama. It is therefore essential to propagate sri hari-nama among the general populace. The people in Kaliyuga can be easily liberated from the greatest hell by performing sankirtana of this mahamantra. To chant the mahamantra, first chant Hare Krishna twice, then chant Krishna twice, then Hare twice. After that, chant Hare Rama twice, then Rama twice and again Hare twice. One should chant, articulate and perform sankirtana etc., of Sri Krishna's mahamantra, which destroys all sins." In the Radhahrdya Khanda of the Brahmanda Purana, Romaharsana Suta prays to Sri Veda Vyasa as follows: yat tvaya kirtitam natha hari-nameti sanjitam mantram brahmapadam siddhi karam "He Vibho! He Prabhu! Please instruct me in the brahma svarupa nama mantra of Sri-Hari which is the bestower of all perfections." In reply, Sri Veda Vyasa gives the following instruction: grhanad yasya mantrasya dehi brahmamayo bhavet sadhyah putah surapo 'pi sarvasiddhi-yuto bhavet tad-aham te bhidhasyami mahabhagavato hamsi hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare iti sodasakam namnam tri-kala kalmasapaham natah parataropayah sarva vedesu vidhyate "O my son, I will certainly instruct you in that maha-mantra, the acceptance of which a person in the bodily conception of life can be liberated and even a drunkard can quickly become purified and attain all perfection. I will instruct you because you are a maha-bhagavata and a suitable candidate. Just see! The sixteen word mahamantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare can destroy the sins of the three worlds. The four Vedas do not mention a method for achieving liberation from material bondage superior to the chanting of this mahamantra." The Ananta Samhita also states: hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare sodasautani namani dvatrimsad varnakani hi kalau yuge mahamantrah sammato jiva tarane utsrajyaitan-mahamantram ye tvanyat kalpitam padam maha-nameti gayanti te sastra-guru-lani-ghanah "All sastras agree that the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, which is composed of sixteen names and thirty-two syllables, is the illustrious mantra to deliver the jivas in Kali-yuga. Those who neglect this mahamantra and accept any other process, due to their own imagination or the imagination of others, are actually disobeying guru and sastra. If someone asks, 'Why is this sixteen word Hare Krishna mantra the mahamantra' then the following answer is given: 'Among all of Krishna's names no name other than Hari can easily take away sins, great misfortune and ignorance. No name other than Krishna can deliver prema. And no name other than Rama can bestow liberation.' This is why the mahamantra is composed of these three primary names. Secondly, these sixteen names are an invocation. Om, svaha, etc., are not required to make the mantra more potent. For this reason it is called the mahamantra." In some unauthorized editions of the scriptures the mahamantra has been reversed to start with Hare Rama instead of Hare Krishna. But we follow the authorized scriptural editions which give Hare Krishna first. 3. If one chants Hare Krishna sincerely, he is begging Krishna that he can obediently surrender to the instructions of Krishna. And since Krishna orders us to accept a guru, if we are chanting Hare Krishna sincerely, we will naturally in due course of time surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. So what you read is not correct. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? 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