"Planet ISKCON" - 59 new articles
H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Tuesday 20 September 2011--Take This Key and Open the Door--and--Why Mind Goes Back to Bodily Concepts?A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Tuesday 20 September 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 Today's Thought: Take This Key and Open the Door Uploaded from Timisoara, Romania There is no reason for you to languish any more suffering here in the cycle of birth and death. Awaken now and enter into your eternal spiritual identity as a servant of God. Come now through the science of bhakti or devotion to that wondrous dimension beyond time and space where life is eternal, full of unlimited knowledge, and full of unfathomed bliss. Don't cheat yourself by remaining under illusion. Take this key and open the door to your liberation. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Opening the Door to Unfathomed Bliss Lecture in Timisoara, Romania--18 September 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Timisoara_SF_Lecture.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why Mind Goes Back to Bodily Concepts? Why does the mind keep going back to bodily concepts even after realization of the truth? Raghavendra Answer: You Are NotGetting a Higher Taste. If your mind keeps going back to bodily concepts, this means that you are not getting a higher taste. In other words, your realization of the truth is not mature. To get that higher taste, to become mature in your realization you first of all must have faith in the self-realization process, the process of Krishna consciousness. Then you must associate with pure devotees and take shelter of the bona fide spiritual master by initiation. In this way by giving up your bad habits and becoming solidly fixed in Krishna consciousness you will experience a very sweet taste that you will fully liberate you from all bodily concepts and attractions. 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:  • Email to a friend •  •ISKCON Melbourne, AU: FOLK News For Our Diwali Festival SeasonThe Diwali festival season is fast approaching. Your FOLK news magazines should arrive in your mailboxes this week. • Email to a friend • •
H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 437 — Poem for September 194:35 A.M. Poem for September 19 In the fifth chapter of C.c. Adi-lila the essential nature and glories of Sri Nityananda Prabhu are described. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are two-in-one in the same identity. They differ only in form. Lord [...] 437 — Poem for September 19 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom Prabhupada Meditations, Volume II "Just as we maintain our aging bodies by exercise and rest, so the memories have to be exercised. One has to be humble and accept even little memories as worthwhile. We should seek any occasion to talk about Prabhupada in a natural way. We must also be humble to recognize [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 436 — Poem for September 184:31 A.M. Poem for September 18 "Desiring to know the glories of Radharani's love, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, that Supreme Lord Hari endowed with Her emotions appeared from the womb of Srimati Saci-devi as [...] 436 — Poem for September 18 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom Memory in the Service of Krishna The Best Religion "'The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.' (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.6) "Before I had been initiated by Srila Prabhupada, [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 435 — Poem for September 174:39 A.M. Poem for September 17 Seeing His own beauty, Krishna began to consider: "My sweetness is wonderful, infinite and full. No one in the three worlds can find its limit. Only Radharani by the understanding of Her love, tastes all the nectar of My sweetness." "If I deliberate on a way to taste My [...] 435 — Poem for September 17 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom Remembering Srila Prabhupada: A Free Verse Rendition of the Life and Teachings of His Divine Grace A,C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada "Swamiji's Departure "It was too soon for him to leave them, but Krishna had arranged it. So his followers were resigned. "'Either I will die there or I have work to do, to make [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 434 — Poem for September 164:39 A.M. Poem for September 16 The confidential reasons for Lord Caitanya's appearance are three. They all exist in the parakiya-rasa of conjugal love. In their topmost form they reside in Radharani who is the hladini sakti or the pleasure potency of the Lord. In the fifth of the first fourteen verses of Cc., Svarupa [...] 434 — Poem for September 16 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom My Dear Lord Krishna, A Book of Prayers Vol. 1 "I am writing to You in the afternoon. I just had lunch with my friends, and there was lively conversation. Now we are alone. I look to You in my mind and heart. I find You there. You are a quiet, abiding presence. I [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 433 — Poem for September 154:24 A.M. Poem for September 15 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, after displaying His pastimes in Vraja, thought it wise to make His advent in the form of a devotee to explain personally the transcendental mellows of service between Himself and His pure devotees. The foremost occupational duty in the Age of Kali [...] 433 — Poem for September 15 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom Niti-Sastras: Sayings of Canakya and Hitopadesa as Quoted by Srila Prabhupada TRANSLATION: "A wise man will renounce wealth and his very existence in the service of the Supreme. It is better to renounce things for the sake of the eternal when faced with the ultimate destruction of the body and everything related to it. [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 432 — Poem for September 144:29 A.M. Poem for September 14 Chapter Two of Adi-lila describes the third verse of the first fourteen, an auspicious vibration that describes the Absolute Truth: "What the Upanisads describe as the impersonal Brahman is but the effulgence of the body of Lord Krishna as the Supersoul which is but His localized plenary portion. Lord [...] 432 — Poem for September 14 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom Spiritualized Dictionary "vow "'Noun, from the French, votum; see vote. 1. A solemn promise or pledge, especially made to God or to a god, dedicating oneself to an act, service or way of life. 2. A solemn promise of love and fidelity [marriage vows]. 3. A solemn affirmation or assertion to praise, to promise [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 431 — Poem for September 134:29 A.M. Poem for September 13 "I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and the moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauda to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and wonderfully bestow benediction upon all." Sri Krishna and Balarama the Personalities of Godhead, who [...] 431 — Poem for September 13 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom In Praise of the Mahajanas and Other Poems (1983) A Devotee's Twilight Walk with His Mind "Color schemes in the evening here are starkly gray and white, snowfall in twilight. Two rabbits slowly move aside as I hear the panicky wingbeats of a large bird afraid of me. Creatures in the cold, how can [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 430 — Poem for September 12Poem for September 12 In the first chapter of Adi-lila, Srila Prabhupada writes that his edition of Cc. is presented for the study of sincere scholars who are really seeking the Absolute Truth. It is not the arrogant scholarship of a mental speculator but a sincere effort to serve the order of a superior authority [...] 430 — Poem for September 12 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom Reading Reform "'So far our activities in Krishna consciousness are concerned, every one of us should read this book very attentively because all conclusive statements in the kingdom of bhakti are contained in this transcendental, valuable book. It is the essence of all Vedic scriptures enlightening about Krishna consciousness. If anyone will read this [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 429 — Poem for September 11Poem for September 11 In his "concluding words" Srila Prabhupada announces that he has finished the English translation of Cc. under the order of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, "my beloved eternal spiritual master, guide and friend." Although Srila Bhaktisiddhanta passed away in 1936, our Srila Prabhupada still considers him to be always present within by his [...] 429 — Poem for September 11 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom Shack Notes: Moments While at a Writing Retreat "Find your drum and beat it. Learn to play pleasingly in the company of devotees. Study with the masters. And when you get a deep taste for it, consider yourself fortunate. Then play it day and night. "The scriptures give us the example of the arrowsmith. [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 428 — Poem for September 10Poem for September 10 For twelve years Lord Caitanya remained in that state every day and night. With His two friends He tasted the meaning of those verses, which consisted of nothing but the transcendental bliss and mellows of Krishna consciousness. The author says he could not understand the deep meaning of Lord Caitanya. "After [...] 428 — Poem for September 10 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom The Qualities of Sri Krishna "50. The Supreme Controller "This is one of the qualities that a jiva can possess in part. If he attempts to possess it in full, he becomes pitiful. Srila Prabhupada used to say that we are all isvaras, controllers, to some extent. The president of the United States is [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 427 — Poem for September 9Separation from Krishna awoke various mellows of distress, lamentation and humility. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke like a madman. "My Lord Govinda, because of separation from You, I consider even a moment a great millennium. Tears flow from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I see the entire world as void." Pouring incessant tears, [...] 427 — Poem for September 9 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 426—Poem for September 8Poem for September 8 In great humility, considering Himself a conditioned soul, Lord Caitanya again expressed His desire to be an eternal servant to the Lord. "O My Lord, O Krishna, Son of Maharaja Nanda, I am Your eternal servant, but because of My own fruitive acts I have fallen in this ocean of nescience. [...] 426—Poem for September 8 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom The Wild Garden "Ireland "Krishna is coming home from pasturing the cows. His pastimes are eternal. He's coming home at dusk. This is a lila for all of Vraja's devotees. The gopis watch him discreetly from the porches and roofs. They embrace Him with their eyes. He is the perfection of handsomeness, the vision [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 425 — Poem for September 7Poem for September 7 Lord Caitanya continued: "O Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya please hear from Me the symptoms of how one should chant the maha-mantra to easily awaken one's dormant love of Krishna. One who thinks himself lower than the grass, more tolerant than a tree and who is prepared to give all respects [...] 425 — Poem for September 7 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom Life with the Perfect Master "On several occasions I was present when Tamal Krishna spoke to Prabhupada about the plans to preach in America. 'Without preaching,' said Prabhupada, 'ISKCON will become rubbish. The management will be at our finger's end if the devotees simply follow the rules, chanting and taking prasadam. Preaching is first. [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 424 — Poem for September 6Poem for September 6 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed nights in the company of Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya relishing the Siksastakam prayers: "Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Krishna, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material [...] 424 — Poem for September 6 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom Obstacles on the Path of Devotional Service "According to Srimad Bhagavatam, all obstacles could be overcome by one who regularly chants and hears the message of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: "'Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of repeated birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 423 — Poem for September 5Poem for September 5 On a full moon night, Lord Caitanya and His followers went to a garden. A mild breeze was blowing, carrying the fragrant aroma of flowers. As He wandered around every tree and creeper, He came beneath an asoka tree and suddenly saw Lord Krishna. When He saw Lord Krishna, Lord Caitanya [...] 423 — Poem for September 5 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected WritingsFrom Japa Walks, Japa Talks "There was a gusty wind overnight. A few times it sounded so loud, I thought that a car was coming close and that the wind had even pushed open the window. I wondered how it would affect my walk. At ten minutes to five I pulled up the shade on [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 422—Poem for September 4Poem for September 4 Feeling separation from Krishna, Lord Caitanya was so distraught that in great anxiety He stood up and began rubbing His face against the walls of the Gambhira. Blood oozed from the many injuries on His mouth, but due to ecstatic emotions, the Lord did not know it. He made a particular [...] 422—Poem for September 4 is a post from: EVERY DAY • Email to a friend • •Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group
 • Email to a friend • •Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Sanction for drinking wineAtreya Rsi: Could it be, Srila Prabhupada, that this sanction of wine drinking be from God? Could that sanction come from God? Do we think that is possible? Prabhupada: We don't find there is sanction by God to drink. But under certain circumstances, beverages, different types of beverages allowed, not for intoxication but for keeping health. That is different thing. Just like in the moon planet, it is mentioned they drink soma-rasa. Soma-rasa is a kind of beverage made from extract of herbs. So because it is very cold there, so they drink that, but not for intoxication. People drink for intoxication. Just like in medicine, so many drugs are used. Even opium is used. Yes. Morphia is used. But they are not used ordinarily. For a specific purpose. Even snake poison is used, but that does not mean snake poison should be used perpetually. So for benefit of the body under particular circumstances something may be recommended, but that is not for general use or for intoxication. That is condemned. Just like animal killing is sometimes prescribed in the yajna. The purpose is different. But that does not mean unrestricted animal killing in the slaughterhouse should go on, no. That is sinful. So if we violate the laws perpetually, then how we can consider as belonging to a certain group of religious system? There must be principles. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation with Richard Webster, chairman, Societa Filosofica Italiana -- May 24, 1974, Rome • Email to a friend • •Krishna Dharma dasa, UK: The beast risesIn the aftermath of last month's riots opinions were divided as to their cause. "Existing criminals on the rampage," pronounced Home Secretary Kenneth Clarke, while, in a display of party disunity, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan-Smith declared the problem to be "selfish bankers and MP's ignoring the plight of the poor." Whatever the cause, the riots certainly made for some shocking footage with the police apparently losing control of our streets. Fires blazed everywhere, shop fronts were kicked in and cars turned over as marauding gangs realised that no one was going to stop them. Personal violence was also meted out with a number of brutal incidents being reported. I felt a deep sense of sadness at seeing all this, but I was not particularly surprised. Vedic knowledge points out that a man lacking spiritual practise will descend to the level of brute beasts in his behaviour, and our society now could hardly be described as an emblem of spirituality. This may seem a harsh assessment, but the Vedas define the distinction between man and animal as a quest for religious meaning and truth. Sensual gratification is common to all species but only humans can practise religion. Such genuine practise, according to the Srimad Bhagavatam, imbues a person with "all the qualities of the gods," while its absence results in one losing all gentility and becoming a danger to everyone including himself. Given the right set of circumstances, such as we saw recently, this tendency rapidly rises to the surface. Iain Duncan-Smith's suggestion that selfishness lay at the root of the riots was right. It was the ugly face of selfishness run amok as people grabbed whatever they could while the going was good. Obviously it was also rampant criminality, as Mr Clarke pointed out, but in the Vedic analysis anyone not God conscious is not only bestial, but also a criminal to a greater or lesser degree, stealing the Lord's property. Animals take whatever they want as and when they can, and a person with no spiritual guidelines must act in the same way. The only restriction will be one's personal capability, or the constraints of law, which as we have just seen do not always work. Naked came we to the world, states the Bible, and naked we shall depart. Whatever we think we own was here before us and will remain after we are gone. We falsely claim ownership for a brief period of time before everything is snatched away by death. Really it belongs to its creator and maintainer, and that is Krishna or God. Spiritual practise aims to awaken this perception and its consequent gentle behaviour of using all things in divine service while taking for ourselves only our necessities. Ever increasing consumerism and the all out pursuit of wealth stand in stark opposition to this godly paradigm, but does our present society direct people toward anything else? Who are our heroes and role models, for example? Film stars, musicians and football players, for the most part, all of them flaunting huge amounts of disposable income and quite often a converse degree of morality. Saints and sages hardly get a look in, with religion generally making the media only when it is time to decry the fanatics. And what do our schools offer in the way of spirituality? You're lucky if you get an act of collective worship these days, while RI lessons merely examine religion from the viewpoint of objective academic interest. God is a dirty word in science lessons, and let's face it scientists are the new priests of our modern age. Hardly surprising then that we are seeing godless behaviour breaking out all over. Especially when we add to the mix the fact that society is producing an underclass of people for whom hope and opportunity are words in a dictionary they probably don't even own. Two and a half million are now unemployed; nearly half of them young people, with many coming from families where no one has a job or any realistic hope of getting one. But like everyone else they have been instilled with consumer society's ideal of having everything now, and are continually tantalised by an all powerful marketing machine. Without spiritual practise we are all victims of the same desires; all of us becoming thieves of God's property to satisfy a greed that knows no satiation. Okay, some of us have enough control to not rush out and snatch what we want when the opportunity presents itself, but as long as we remain fixated on material enjoyment who knows what we might be capable of doing if the going gets tough enough? Even those at the top of the heap have shown themselves to be quite capable of snatching what they want, as the recent banker's bonuses and MP's expenses debacles demonstrated. Unless we find some way of injecting spirituality into society soon we can surely expect the madness to continue, from top to bottom. • Email to a friend • •Dandavats.com: Southall Ratha YatraParasuram das: Southall is a suburb of London. It has a huge Asian community and is often compared to Bombay. They even accept Rupees as payment in some places (pubs, restaurants) |
