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"Planet ISKCON" - 36 new articles
Australian News: Hare Krishna Indonesia forum – Ki Jay

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 5 August--When All Hell Breaks Loose--and--Is ISKCON Membership Required?

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Japa Group: Krsna & His Name Are Non-Different

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gopa-Vrndesa Prabhu

Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Elevated bhava of Gauranga beyond our understanding. Honouring Sri Vamsidasa Babaji.

David Haslam, UK: The motive behind giving money; for personal gain or none

H.H. Devamrita Swami: Mayapur Dreaming

Japa Group: Three Techniques Of Hearing

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Produce one hundred children with spiritual contraceptives

ISKCON News.com: Huffington Post: Two Minutes Of Wisdom With Radhanath Swami

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO CHANGE YOUR BAD HABITS?

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: INNOVATION VIDEOS

Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Won-Durr Boiz in Poland (Part 9) – Under the Lighthouse [Niechorze]

Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Dance and Yoga Retreat in Pandavas Paradise

Kripamoya dasa, UK: Not so lotus feet

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Class on verses 2-4 of Upadesamrta (Part 1)

The Loft, Auckland, NZ: Experience Kirtan Yoga

ISKCON Education: Srila Prabhupada on education

ISKCON Education: Application to Become an Approved Examination Center

ISKCON Education: Bhakti Vaibhava Center Application Form

ISKCON Education: Closed Book Exam Supervisors Guidelines

ISKCON Education: Registration Form for Bhakti Sastri Course Enrollees

ISKCON Education: Bhakti Life

ISKCON Education: Bhakti Courses

Gouranga TV: Lecture – Nityananda Prabhu – Gaura Purnima

Australian News: Janmashtami in Indonesia – It’s coming

Kurma dasa, AU: Fresh Fennel

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Australian News: Hare Krishna Indonesia forum – Ki Jay
Click the link below to travel to the Hare Krishna Indonesia forum where you can keep up to data and catch up with devotees from Indonesia and where Indonesian and regional devotees can connect and associate .
Don’t speak any Indonesian Language, me neither, art the top of the page you can click to translate the text into a language you can understand. I am limited to English, and that badly.

Click here to visit Hare Krishna Indonesia Forum
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 5 August--When All Hell Breaks Loose--and--Is ISKCON Membership Required?
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Friday 5 August 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. Special Announcement: Connect With Other Members of this Course. Join this Conference: http://groups.google.com/group/sda_students Today's Thought: When All Hell Breaks Loose Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA When all hell breaks loose in this material world, as it often does, the pure devotee of the Lord is not surprised or bewildered because he sees how everything is taking place under the sublime, divine, and perfect arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In all situations the pure devotee is saved from psychological devastation because he constantly takes shelter of Krishna and is thus always transported into the supremely sublime dimension of Krishna consciousness where life is eternal, full of bliss, and full of knowledge. At the same time his heart bleeds with compassion to see how much the world population is suffering without Krishna consciousness, and he fully dedicates his life to saving them from illusion. Sankarshan Das Adhikari The Pure Devotee, Although Fully at Peace Within, Is Most Perturbed to See the Suffering of Others. http://www.backtohome.com/images/Krishna_gopis.jpg Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Is ISKCON Membership Required? Dear Maharaja, Does one have to be initiated in order to preach Krishna Consciousness? If an aspirant is sincere in their orientation in Krishna Consciousness, does it make a difference to be initiated? And finally does one have to be affiliated with ISKCON to be Krishna Conscious and preach? Prem Answer: It Best Facilitates Krishna Consciousness Whether they are initiated or not, all devotees should dedicate their entire lives for telling everyone about Krishna because Krishna consciousness will solve all of the problems of this planet and make everyone happy. Since Krishna orders us to surrender to the bona fide spiritual master, committing ourselves to the spiritual master through the process known as initiation is a necessary and vital step on the pathway to spiritual perfection. One does not have to be a member of ISKCON to be Krishna conscious and preach. But if one wants to get the best facility for becoming Krishna conscious and spreading it all over the world, there is no better opportunity anywhere in the world than being a member of ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. 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? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

"These pure, holy names of Lord Hari are full of sweet, nectarean pastimes. Krsna is the Lord of the twelve forests of Vraja, He is ever-youthful and is the best of lovers. He is always playing on a flute, and He is an excellent dresser."
(Sri Nama-kirtana by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
Sri Krsna is indeed an excellent dresser; He blows us away everyday with His wondrous darsana.

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1958 August 5: "Both the audience and the lecturer are mundane persons and out of sheer foolishness their indulgence in the matter of Rasalila will result only in imitating Rudra who swallowed up an ocean of poison. By drinking such poison a man surely goes to hell."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1969 August 5: "This Krishna Consciousness Movement is for understanding one God, one scripture, one mantra, and one engagement for all living entities, not only within this world, but throughout the whole universe."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1969 August 5: "You have asked me about my plans: my plan is for preaching with your help. You arrange, and I shall talk anywhere for any length of time about Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1971 August 5: "Forget taking sannyasa. Now you should take care of your wife. At the time of the marriage ceremony there is a promise that the husband will care for the wife throughout her life. When the child is grown up then the husband can take sannyas. Anyway I think now you are doing more than sannyasa."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 August 5: "Make our presence in Vrindavan very impressive and prestigious. Lead sankirtana party every day from Radha Damodara Mandir to our new place in Raman Reti and wherever possible hold kirtana and speak in Bengali and English. If you can have such engagements from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M. daily, do that."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 August 5: "I am very happy to hear of your daily walk through your Brooklyn neighborhood with Deities. That is customary in India, and all the neighbors come out and offer incense, garlands and other gifts for Radha and Krsna. So encourage your neighbors to participate and their lives will improve."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 August 5: "It is not necessary for you to return to university for further education. Your material education is finished. Your real education is to be found in my books. So do not bother yourself anymore with this idea but go on learning from our own scriptural evidence how great is the supreme science."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 August 5: "If you want to teach in universities and colleges, they must accept us on our high degree of Vedic learning, not on their so-called credentials. They must accept our system of scholarly learning from the bona fide Spiritual Master."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Japa Group: Krsna & His Name Are Non-Different

Here are some very nice words from Srila Prabhupada in Beyond Birth and Death:

The simple process of chanting the names of Krsna will reveal what one is, what God is, what the material and spiritual universes are, why we are conditioned, how we can get out of that conditioning—and everything else, step by step.
Such meditation on Krsna may seem very difficult, but it is not. If one practices Krsna consciousness by chanting the mahä-mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare, he will be quickly helped. Krsna and His name are nondifferent, and Krsna and His transcendental abode are also nondifferent. By sound vibration we can have Krsna associate with us.

Hare Krsna.

ys,

Chuck

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gopa-Vrndesa Prabhu
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.3 - The ripened fruit, Srimad Bhagavatam, has come down carefully through the chain of disciplic succession (evam parampara praptam...).

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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Elevated bhava of Gauranga beyond our understanding. Honouring Sri Vamsidasa Babaji.
Yesterday marked the disappearance day of Sri Vamsidasa Babaji and I feel unqualified to glorify this elevated Vaishnava saint since his bhava and renunciation is beyond ordinary grasp.

HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami who was in Toronto a few weeks back has written a book with research and antidotes of Sri Vamsidasa Babaji who left his earthly pastimes just in 1944.

Our grand-guru (or great grand-guru for many readers), Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, not only met with Sri Vamsidasa Babaji but also wrote about him in Sajjana-tosani. In Navadwip, Sri Vamsidasa Babaji said "Someone very close to my Gaura has come to me." when he blessed Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. But Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura also once told his disciples " But you are not able to understand this bhava."

So to glorify Sri Vamsidasa Babaji we are going to simply repost some pastimes and with this nectar we can get some drops of understanding of his elevated state.

When Vamsidasa was visiting Puri during Ratha Yatra, the cart stopped closed to where he was standing. Despite the efforts of everyone assembled the cart would not move. Then Vamsidasa came and after some intimate conversation with the Lord, the cart moved on with ease.
Once Vamsidasa went to the sea in Puri, to give Bala-Gopala a bath. Arriving on the shore be beckoned the sea 'Come here, come here!' Huge waves crossed over the beach and Vamsidasa was able to bathe his Deities.

While crossing the river Mahanandi, Vamsidasa instructed the boatmen to drop him near a point where he claimed was a snake. When the boatman dropped Vamsidasa and his associates at the point, a yellow snake appeared. Holding his Bala-Gopala Deity Vamsidasa exclaimed, 'See Anantadeva has come!' After some time the snake went away.

Once on a full moon night of Ashvini, Vamsidasa instructed his associates not to set up any tent but camped out in the open. At this time fifty attractive women, dressed in white, came and offered obeisances to Vamsidasa and left without saying. Despite the late hour, they were unescorted, something that never happens in rural India, and none of the locals had any knowledge of them. The devotees concluded that they were demigoddess who had come to get the blessings of Vamsidasa on this auspicious day.

One day Vamsidasa cooked sweet rice for Bala-Gopala, but before offering it he angrily threw it away, accusing Gopala of having already eaten sweet rice with "gur" in the Radha-Govinda temple in Vrindavana. One of the persons who happened to hear this sent a letter to the temple priest inquiring about the offering to Radha-Govinda on that particular date-time. A reply soon came indicating that the offering on the day was indeed sweet rice cooked with "gur".

Once a man suffering from cholera lay outside the hut of Vamsidasa, expecting him to cure him. For three days he lay there moaning with intense pain, without eating and drinking anything. Finally Vamsidasa came outside and place a Tulasi leaf on his tongue. The man was instantly cured and he got up and went home.

When Vamsidasa became too old and infirm, he would have trouble going out to do madhukari (begging food). Once in such a situation he exclaimed to his servant, "Did you hear what Gauranga was saying? He has told Vamsidasa, 'you do not go begging for three days. Now you are too old, so I will feed you.' This Gauranga wants to feed me!" Saying this Vamsidasa fetched a stick and waved it threateningly at his Gaura Deity. "You do not have to go outside for serving me. If You go outside, I will break Your legs!"

And this last pastime recounted above demonstrates why we cannot understand this bhava.

Sri Vamsidasa Bahbaji expressed this bhava in his songs...just see these 2 verses...

kena giya chilama ganga-tire o nagari
nyana kataksa bane gaura kaila mana churi
ami ekhana ki kari o nagari ki kari

"O Nagari! How I repent having gone to the bank of Ganga. Gaura cast a side long glance at me and stole my heart. What shall I do now, O Nagari! What shall I do?"

bala go nagari gaura kallena ki
grha gela kula gela mana kela curi
sajani! ekhana ami ki kari
nayana kone, kane kane gaura kallena ki
ami je prana mari gaura kallena ki

"Tell me O Nagari what Gaura has done to me, He winked and whispered and did, I do not know what to me. O Sakhi! Now I know not what to do, Life is running out of me. O! What has Gaura done to me?"

Gauranga! if we can attain just a sliver of this love of Gauranga our life will be sublime. Gauranga!
Jaya Sri Vamsidasa Babaji

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David Haslam, UK: The motive behind giving money; for personal gain or none
Money is always needed in this modern society of ours, we pursue it for various reasons, pay bills, up keep of home, investing, to attract someone. We believe it will bring happiness, the more we have the better life will be. But something I loved when first meeting the devotees was that they lived very [...]

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H.H. Devamrita Swami: Mayapur Dreaming
In Cairnes, on the northeast coast of Australia, I woke up this morning with Mayapur in my head. Yet I know the true reality of Mayapur and Vrindavan hides from rebels, the unharmonized souls. Amazing it is, what our senses don't see there—much more so than what they do see.
Journeys to the holy places of India start to impact our life dramatically only when we have sufficient knowledge and humility to accept that we are not perceiving the fullness of Reality, even while our senses are physically operating.
"I'm here but not here" is the correct standard for appreciating the private realms of Mayapur and Vrindavan.
"Why should I see, what real merit do I have?" This is the attitude that will get us spiritually somewhere in the Holy Dhamas, while physically there.
As Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur expresses: "Why should the rebels of the Age of Darkness, packed up in illusion, possess the privilege of seeing the eternal, wholly spiritual, limitless treasures of Krishna's private abodes? Maya has therefore masked the spiritual reality of the Dhamas by curtaining it with mundane terrain and topography."
Eyes still afflicted by rebellion and enviousness will only see what a mundane land surveyor or developer sees.
Honestly, it may subconsciously bother us to know that we presently don't deserve, we don't rate. Much like spurned lovers, whose advances are apparently ignored or rejected, we may then opt to close up, recede into our shell, our conditioned nature. Indicating this submerged psychology, when no one else is around, "Hmmph" would be our appropriate utterance. According to the online Urban Dictionary, it means: "A sound one makes when frustrated or pouting."
In other words, "If Krishna doesn't want me now, then the hell with it; I'll do my own thing—just as He is doing His. Remember, I've got my Kali-yuga pastimes."
Fret not.
Don't unnecessarily trouble yourself with disappointment totally unfounded.
Dedicate this short life to serving Krishna though Mahaprabhu, and indeed the Dhamas will "pay out." As the fog of maya clears, we can glimpse Reality, the spiritual wealth of Krishna's personal abodes.

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Japa Group: Three Techniques Of Hearing

In the Japa Room this week we discussed the Japa task that was set for everyone - we had to try 3 different techniques of hearing and discuss the results at the session. The 3 techniques are as follows:

1. Stare at one point and focus your eyes there only
2. Close your eyes
3. Read the Hare Krsna mantra whilst chanting

One devotee reported that he tried the first 2 and the result was OK but as soon as he started reading the mantra he could focus more than any time before.
Another devotee told us how by closing his eyes, he immersed himself in the sound of the Holy names so much so that he couldn't remember what room he was in.

This association of devotees is so important for our spiritual advancement. Srila Prabhupada always instructed us to have the association of devotees in all our devotional activities - by doing so, we can get inspired on the spiritual platform.

I hope your week of Japa is going well....please join us in the Japa Room each week at http://www.mayapur.tv - click on the channel "TheJapaRoom".

1st session = Every Fri. 11.30pm GMT / 6.00pm EST
* To see the time in your city visit http://tinyurl.com/6ccdtqv

2nd session = Every Sat. 1.30pm GMT / 8.30am EST
* To see the time in your city visit http://tinyurl.com/6g7ku4e

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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Produce one hundred children with spiritual contraceptives
Produce children as much as you can train them to become eternally family members of Krsna. That is spiritual contraceptive. Don't produce children like cats and dogs. This is our philosophy. If you can produce Krsna conscious children, produce one hundred children. There is no objection. But if you cannot do that, then either don't produce children or produce children as much as you can manage. This is Krsna philosophy.
So avoid sinful life. We have given you prescription: no illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication, no meat-eating. Avoid the sinful life and make your children Krsna conscious purely. Then you can produce hundreds of children. There is no objection. And so far maintaining your children, we are taking charge. Come on. We are taking charge. We shall supply everything. Of course, not to the whims of these material man, but as much which is needed to maintain them, that we take, Krsna consciousness, ISKCON society will take charge.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Arrival Lecture -- Dallas, March 3, 1975

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ISKCON News.com: Huffington Post: Two Minutes Of Wisdom With Radhanath Swami
By Editor for Huffington Post on 4 Aug 2011

On August 4th, the Huffington Post has published a video with Radhanath Swami. He is talking about the true meaning of love and service.

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO CHANGE YOUR BAD HABITS?
Find out what is the need you are trying to meet with the bad habit.

Replace it with something that meets the need but does not harm you.

To inspire yourself, make a list of 20 benefits that you will have by changing your habit.

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: INNOVATION VIDEOS
Click the title.

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Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Won-Durr Boiz in Poland (Part 9) – Under the Lighthouse [Niechorze]

Friday 15^th, July 2011.

I published the first Won-Durr Boiz entry for Poland, starting off yet another series of Tour diaries. HH Bhaktivisvambhara Madhava Maharaja had arrived and the devotees held a grand reception for him, in typical Tour style. Maharaja had already bumped into us in Belgium but now he was back for more action with the Durr boys alongside.

The buses left at 1pm, earlier than usual, because the drive was a little further that day. We arrived in Niechorze very early, making our way across the windy festival site to take shelter of our newly established home in the cooking tent. The festival was planted just underneath Niechorze’s famous lighthouse, which towered over the whole scene.

We spent most of the day walking around with HH Bhaktivisvambhara Madhava Maharaja. He was his lovely, talkative, joking self and we just had to go along for the ride. The show went on in good shape, despite the wind, and we went on into the night, until they began shining rainbow lights across the lighthouse, making an unusual attraction.

Saturday 16^th, July 2011.

I skipped the day for a break in the fight. I went on a long japa walk into the wilderness and then came back to collapse in Nidra Yoga (the yoga of sleep). It was Rajesvari’s birthday. They had an awesome celebration for her at the festival site, although I missed out. She brought me back some treats and I was rested for yet another day of festivals.

Sunday 17^th, July 2011.

The buses were back to the normal schedule now, having arrived far too early the days before. We took prasadam and then explored the town. We watched our Mexican friend, Victor, charm the local boys at the skate park to play off some tricks and then took an extended walk up the beach, back to the festival.

We danced away under the marvelous lights of the stage and the lighthouse. Niechorze was a great delight and a pleasing atmosphere. The weather wasn’t the best but the public still ventured to the outskirts of town just to see our show. Although we all knew that it was a big success, it didn’t stop us from rushing off to the buses on the last night, when it was all said and done.

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Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Dance and Yoga Retreat in Pandavas Paradise
In July, we tried a new kind of retreat. Instead of a pure bhakti or yoga and bhakti retreat, we did a dance, yoga and bhakti retreat! We met a New York dancer, Amber Joy Rava here in Alto Paraíso and decided to organize a retreat at short notice. Amber performs all over the world, including in the Cirque do Soleil.
The group that came was very sweet and soon was in the highest of spirits. They danced 5-6 hours a day, chanted the Hare Krishna mantra, swam in waterfalls, ate wonderful prasadam and did all this in a 1000 acre ecological paradise – who wouldn’t be in bliss?
On the first day they had a section on “Dancing with the Water Element” in one of our waterfalls.

Early in the day, after chanting mantras, watching the sunrise and doing mantra meditation (japa), the group had lessons in “yin yoga.”

Later Amber taught different aspects and techniques of dance, focusing on “oriental dance”.

But it didn’t stop there. Amber is very creative and the retreat was intended to help participants connect with the Divine through dance, both in material elements (earth, water, fire and air), as well as directly with the Divine, dancing for the pleasure of the Deities during kirtans. Thus, the group went out dancing atop mountains, in the rivers, at night with fire, with stones and clay and so on!
At night I also talked a little about the philosophy of yoga, explaining the concept of karma, the different practices of yoga to stop karma, Krishna consciousness, etc.
As usual the food (prasadam) was a special highlight of the event. Every day they experienced a new treat for the soul and tongue prepared by Charana Renu.
Here are some of the testimonies of the participants:
“Participating in the dance and yoga retreat was a very special experience for me, first by allowing me to connect to wonderful people – sweet, gentle, loving and full of humanity, each one doing her best to make the most of life and closely connected with the Divine -, then the charm transmitted by Mother Nature’s loving embrace, in harmony with the experiences passed through dance by our master Amber Joy… I felt everything was perfect and I thank Krishna. To be sure, I will be in Pandavas Paradise again. Thank you. “- Monica, Brasília – DF
“Reconnecting with the divine in dance gave a new meaning to my movements. Understanding the harmony between body and spirit are essential for the exercise of sacredness in women. I thank Amber for the love and care with which she conducted these discoveries and for this opportunity!” – Cathana, Brasília – DF
“I appreciated every moment lived in these days of the retreat! Our teacher, Amber, conducted with love our connection to the Sun, the earth and water and through dance and movement I could release the female beauty and sensitivity in me. I am grateful to God for this gift that I was provided – this reconnection with Krishna. “- Andreia, Sao Paulo – SP
“I treasure the memories of this piece of paradise. And I take with me the energy and love received… “- Rejane, Brasília – DF
“I can only thank God for the opportunity I got of experiencing love so naturally. I saw that my material gains mean nothing – without God’s love I will never find peace.”- Florizel, Sao Paulo – SP
Click here to see more photos of this retreat.

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Kripamoya dasa, UK: Not so lotus feet

My doctor has told me I have Plantar Fasciitis. I went to him today complaining of painful heels, especially in the mornings, and pain later on in the day after standing and walking.
Its been going on for more than two months now, ever since I walked and danced around Munich, Germany, in this year’s Rathayatra back in May. It was a great pleasure on the day: bright sunshine, lots of happy devotees, and an appreciative German public, you know the score. But whether it was my bad choice of footwear – rubbery Crocs – or whether it was my slightly-too-enthusiastic-jumping-for-my-age or whether it’s just normal wear and tear – I don’t know. But I do know they hurt.
I have not been very kind to my feet over the years. Thirty-five years and more of using my feet, often bare, in walking, standing, dancing and jumping without so much as a massage must constitute some kind of abuse. If my feet were independent personalities I am sure they would sue me for ill treatment.
Back in 1986 I was the first Englishman to complete the 128-mile barefoot pilgrimage around the sacred land of Vraja in northern India. The first four days were torture – no exaggeration - but after that my feet seemed to appreciate all that wonderful, holy sand and bare earth. I was walking as Lord Krishna walked, in the places He walked, and the month-long walk served to bring me closer to Him.
Srila Prabhupada cautioned that the ‘Kali Yuga pavement was not meant for bare feet’ and warned his disciples to always wear shoes on hard surfaces. However, I serve in a large building with wooden floors, often cold, and I am always in bare feet or thin socks. Not good.
Anyway, my diagnosis means that I will wear thicker socks, do remedial foot movements, and wear gel cushions in my soles for a few months. If you see me wince any time, you’ll know why.

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Class on verses 2-4 of Upadesamrta (Part 1)

Class on verses 2-4 of Upadesamrta (Part 2)
Class on verses 2-4 of Upadesamrta (Part 2)

August 5th, 2011

Scotland June 8th

Class on verses 2-4 of Upadesamrta (Part 2)

Class on verses 2-4 of Upadesamrta (Part 1)
Class on verses 2-4 of Upadesamrta (Part 1)

August 4th, 2011

Scotland June 8th

Class on verses 2-4 of Upadesamrta (Part 1)

Scotland June 8th

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The Loft, Auckland, NZ: Experience Kirtan Yoga
An amazing evening of Kirtan Music, the first Saturday of every month from 7pm till 9.30pm – $10

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ISKCON Education: Srila Prabhupada on education
Education means to lead the people gradually to Krsna consciousness. [Lecture SB 1.3.20 Los Angeles 1972] For the present you should continue going to school because education is important. Without education nobody has any social position and all our students in Krishna Consciousness are expected to be preachers. So preachers must have sufficient education because they have to meet with so many opposing elements. Education should be continued at the same time chanting should be continued. There will be no difficulty. [Letter to: Indira and Ekayani” [San Francisco 17 December, 1967] Human life is meant for cultivation of spiritual knowledge, in eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the executive heads of all states and all planets are obliged to impart this lesson to the citizens by education, culture and devotion. [Bhagavad â€“ Gita, 4.1. Purport] Regarding the answers which you gave to Bilas Vigrahadas, they were all correct. When you study very carefully all of the literature which is available, especially Bhagavad-gita As It Is, you will have in your grasp answers to all questions that may be put to you. Please encourage the others to read this Bhagavad-gita at least one chapter every day. [Letter to Upendra, 6th January, 1969] Please see that the program for studying our literatures is also undertaken very seriously by all the devotees there. Everyone of us must become thoroughly acquainted with our philosophy, so that our preaching work may be carried out nicely. [Letter to Jagadisa, 27th February, 1970] Yes, we must set up our society as a school as best we can. I have already sent you letter. Please formulate the whole curriculum because we have to immediately submit to the Draft department and if this is accepted that will be great gain for our society. "Bhakti-sastri\'\' is awarded after extensive study of Bhagavad-gita, Easy Journey, and Nectar of Devotion. "Bhakti-vaibhava\'\' is awarded after study of Vedanta-sutra and Srimad-Bhagavatam on a preliminary basis; and "Bhaktivedanta\'\' the highest title, is awarded after extensive study of Caitanya-caritamrta. [Letter to Brahmananda, 23rd March, 1969] It is necessary for the leaders of the Krsna consciousness movement to start educational institutions in different parts of the world to train children, starting at the age of five years. Thus such children will not become hippies or spoiled children of society; rather, they can all become devotees of the Lord. The face of the world will then change automatically. [SrimadBhagavatam 4.12.23 Purport] I consider this Gurukula school to be one of our most important aspects of this movement and it should be given all serious consideration by the members. If we are able to make a whole generation of our children into fine Krsna Conscious preachers, that will be the glory of our movement and the glory of your country as well. But if we neglect somehow or other and if we lose even one Vaisnava, that is very great loss. [Letter to Stokakrsna - Los Angeles 20 June, 1972] Gurukula is our most important project. If the children are given a Krsna Conscious education from early childhood then there is great hope for the future of the world. [Letter to Dayananda, Nandarani - Calcutta 27 January, 1973] By all means you should continue practicing Krsna Consciousness everyday. But that does not necessarily mean that you have to move into the Temple immediately. It is also important to get some education. So for some years you should remain studying in school. But on the weekends with your parents permission you can go to the Temple and stay there but do not fall behind in your school work. [Letter to Durgesh, 16th December, 1974] Soon we shall be introducing the Bhakti-sastri examination which all brahmanas will be expected to pass. It will be based on Bhagavad-gita, N. O. D., Nectar of Instruction, Isopanisad, and the small paperback books like Easy Journey. A brahmana should be pandita.[Letter to Brsakapi, 7th January, 1976]

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ISKCON Education: Application to Become an Approved Examination Center
We would like to become an Approved Examination Center for the administration of Bhakti Sastri Examinations. We have read and understood the document "Awarding Sastra Degrees Version 4" and agree to administer our examination program in accordance with the policies of the ISKCON Board of Examinations as they exist now or as they may be amended in the future.

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ISKCON Education: Bhakti Vaibhava Center Application Form
Attached is a description of the planned program covering the following areas: Devotee community to be served. (In other words, from where, as a general rule, the enrolled students will come.) Language of instruction. Time frame of the course. (In other words, how many weeks or months of instruction, how it will be broken into modules, how it will be interspersed with breaks, and how much total time from beginning to end of the course. Describe the various attendance options that will be offered to the students, if any.) The instructor(s) and their qualification. Physical location(s) where the students will attend. The instructional and assessment methods and policies to be followed by the center that meet the requirements spelled out in the document "Standards for Awarding the Bhakti Vaibhava Degree, Approved August 2010". Whether distance learning facility will be offered and the policies in place for that.

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ISKCON Education: Closed Book Exam Supervisors Guidelines
Students may consult dictionaries during the exam. Randomly check dictionaries being used for any concealed notes. Ensure that a supervisor is present during the entire exam session. The supervisor must vigilantly ensure that Standards Applicable to Closed-Book Assessment Sessions are maintained. The supervisor may take questions from the students, but only to clarify any questions on the paper.

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ISKCON Education: Registration Form for Bhakti Sastri Course Enrollees
Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education The International Society for Krishna Consciousness Founder Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada BHAKTI SASTRI COURSE 2010 REGISTRATION FORM Please fill out this form completely and carefully with your correct/updated postal address and name that you wish to be stated on your Bh.S. diploma so we can send you your diploma and information on upcoming VIHE programs.

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ISKCON Education: Bhakti Life
Bhakti Life offers courses, workshops, retreats and counseling that help support the spiritual lives of both devotees and people new to Krishna consciousness. Our programs are highly interactive, facilitating personal discovery, growth and change.Courses are fun, eye-opening, introspective and practical and are aimed at helping participants make permanent improvements in their spiritual lives.We specialize in offering courses that help devotees (and aspiring devotees) in the areas most needed for their continued spiritual growth. In order to go more deeply into the particular areas of bhakti our courses cover, and in order to have a deeply transformationalexperience, we find it essential to schedule our courses over a full weekend(or longer). We also find it especially powerful for devotees to focus an entire weekend solely on improving their Krishna consciousness. The added benefit of this is the deepening of relationships among devotees and strengthening of your community.

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ISKCON Education: Bhakti Courses
Mahatma Das joined Iskcon in 1969 and has served as temple president, book distributor, sankirtana leader, college preacher, membership director, and VIHE teacher and co-director. He is well known in Iskcon for his recorded music and his seminars. BHAKTI COURSES Individual Bhakti Courses are designed for people new to Krishna consciousness, newly practicing devotees and devotees who are already seriously practicing Krishna consciousness. (This includes both temple and congregational devotees.) THE BHAKTI COURSE LEVEL ONE THE BHAKTI COURSE LEVEL TWO THE BHAKTI SADHANA COURSE THE SADHANA RETREAT http://www.mahatmadas.com/home.html

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Gouranga TV: Lecture – Nityananda Prabhu – Gaura Purnima
Lecture – Nityananda Prabhu – Gaura Purnima

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Australian News: Janmashtami in Indonesia – It’s coming
In our life, celebrations of all kinds bedeck the diadem of elation. However, it is the transcendental occasion of the Lord’s pastimes that truly leaves a dent on the soul, which is carried birth after birth, and eventually reaches the Lord Himself. Celebrate this year’s Sri Krsna Janmastami at the Sri Radha Govinda Temple, located on the crest of Jakarta’s peak (Puncak).
22 August at 6:30pm
23 August at 1:00pm
Radha Govinda Temple (Puncak)
Jl. Haji Suparman No:54 [RT 01/RW 04]
Desa Citeko, Cisarua, Bogor/Puncak

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Kurma dasa, AU: Fresh Fennel
Florence fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is in the shops right now in Sydney, and judging by it's cheap price, it must be at it's peak of season. It has a mild, aromatic sweet anise-like flavour. It is known in Italy by the name finocchio. Here's a great fennel recipe.
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Country-style Anise-scented Cream of Fennel Soup
The sweet, rustic licorice taste of fennel is at once unmistakable and subtle. It is so flavourful that it requires no stock, only water, and no extra herbs to transform it into a full-bodied hearty, satisfying soup. If the inner core of the fennel is tough and stringy, remove it with a paring knife. Serves 6.
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon yellow asafetida powder, 4 medium fennel bulbs, thinly sliced, 1 large red potato, sliced, 6½ cups cold water, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 teaspoons salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons chopped fennel greens.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over moderate heat. Sprinkle in the yellow asafetida powder and saute momentarily.
Stir in the sliced fennel and fry, stirring occasionally, until slightly tender and translucent.
Add the sliced potato, cold water, cream and the salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, then cover with a lid, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the fennel is soft and tender.
Puree the soup, using a food processor, blender, or hand-held mixer.
Pour the soup through a fine strainer. Serve: stir in the chopped fennel greens, then ladle into 6 warm soup bowls.

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