miércoles, 9 de noviembre de 2011

Mukunda Charan das, SA: Darshan Of Radha And Krishna, The Sriji Mandir (Varsana, Part 3)



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"Planet ISKCON" - 33 new articles

  1. Vraja Kishor, JP: I Learned Three Things from Children Today…
  2. Spiritual Scientist: Look for the right lighthouse
  3. Brisbane Congregation of Krishna: Urmila devi dasi seminars – live audio feed
  4. One ISKCON.com: Dispelling Homophobia
  5. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
  6. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Svarupa sakti mataji
  7. H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: Nama Tattva lecture – Part 3
  8. Mukunda Charan das, SA: Darshan Of Radha And Krishna, The Sriji Mandir (Varsana, Part 3)
  9. Sutapa das, BV Manor, UK: Google vs God
  10. Australian News: Srimad Bhagavatam Overview with HG Krsna Ksetra Prabhu – Sydney
  11. New Vrndavan, USA: Wanted: Ox Teamster – New Vrindaban USA
  12. Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Minister’s Son
  13. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  14. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  15. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  16. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  17. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  18. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  19. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  20. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  21. ISKCON News.com: Syam: A Beautiful Song by Gaurangi Dasi
  22. ISKCON News.com: "Convergence of Science and Spirituality" Conference in Delhi
  23. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Monday, November 7th, 2011
  24. Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: An interfaith discussion
  25. Japa Group: 4 New Japa eBooks
  26. Dandavats.com: New online & wholesale devotee print company
  27. Australian News: Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha, Sydney, Australia – a Darsan Gallery
  28. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Haladhara dasa, Krsnadasa, Anonymous and Balarama dasa asks questions
  29. ISKCON Desire Tree: Vaishnava Calender - Sri Bhugrabha Goswami - Disappearance, Sri Kasisvara pandit - Disappearance
  30. Dandavats.com: Krishna in the Heart of Europe
  31. H.H. Devamrita Swami: Looks Are Deceiving
  32. Gouranga TV: Indradyumna Swami. Ekaterinburg – Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.41. 2006.09.20.
  33. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Tuesday 8 November 2011--Open the Flood Gates of Nectar--and--Holy Trinity in Vedic Terms
  34. More Recent Articles
  35. Search Planet ISKCON
  36. Prior Mailing Archive

Vraja Kishor, JP: I Learned Three Things from Children Today…

One thing I do occasionally is teach English in preschools here in Japan. Its a lot of fun, and I learn a lot of things. Today especially I learned three things…

1. The Meaning of Life

Yeah, from kids.

If you need a philosophy degree to learn the meaning of life, I don’t really think it’s the meaning of life – since life doesn’t exist in a university library.

The most basic truth about a kid is that it doesn’t matter how fat or skinny or pretty or ugly or tall or short or light or dark or rich or poor or “cool” or “uncool” you are. If you treat a kid with love, the kid will come running to you with a smile on his or her face everysingle time you come around.

That’s the meaning of life.

Love.

It just goes to prove that the ultimate essence of a living entity is love. We are made of it, made for it, and we need it even more than we need food, water or air. Every living being, especially when they are still new and unruined – like kids, will always come running towards love. Why? Because love is the meaning of life.

The whole point of life and spiritual realization should be to seek out the purest, deepest, most sublime form of love. Philosophy and religion and spirituality is not really supposed to be about morality (dharma) or mysticism (siddhi) or knowledge (jnana) or even liberation (mukti). These things are only supports leading us towards the perfection of love – the ultimate goal, prema-bhakti: Divine Love.

2. Love Hurts

The next thing I learned is that love hurts.

OK, there is this one little boy who especially loves me. But whenever I come to the school, on that day he always get very cranky and cries all the time and gets tired very fast. Why? Because love hurts.

Now this gets me thinking… if love is the goal and meaning of life, why does it hurt?

And then I realized there are two grades of love. One is like iron, the other like gold. Both are metallic and so appear similar at a glance from a distance but the value of each is dramatically different. One kind of love is common, the other is uncommon. One is base, the other is purified.

Animals and human beings start out by developing common love. And that love hurts. Common love retains the faulty ego-centered concept of life. You see, my little friend at school, he cries when I come because he hates it when I play with any other kid. He always wants me to pick him up, etc. play with him, talk to him. His concept of love is self-centered: As far as he is concerned, everything about me exists only in terms of how I relate to him. He is the central figure and I am an accessory which brings him happiness do to possessing love for him. He has not learned yet that such love causes agony – even though he spends his whole day crying when I come in.

Unfortunately, almost none of us ever learn this lesson.

There is another type of love, which is purified and which puts the beloved in the center and the self as an accessory for the beloved. This love is extremely blissful and practically never seen on earth in its full form. The main obstacle making it so rare is: Who is really qualified for the absolutely central position that absolutely pure love requires?

Now, people have many different ideas of who or what “God” is. All of them have some truth in them, but to me the central and most important feature of the Supreme Life is to be the one entity perfectly qualified and attractive to be the absolute center of infinitely pure love. This conception of divinity looks almost nothing like an old man on a throne, and has just about nothing to do with thunderbolts or stone tablets, nor even a meditation posture. It looks a lot more like a beautiful young boy and girl in a natural setting, surrounded by intimate friends, and intrinsically rooted into the soul of every soul. We call this conception of Godhead “Radha-Krishna.”

Common love hurts because love such love results in selfish attachment to the object of love. And such attachments are the cause of all suffering – according to all my favorite philosophers, and according to all the little kids I hang out with, too. Therefore even the joys of such love eventually become pains and induce philosophers and housewives alike to doubt that love is really the meaning of life.

Divine love, however – radha-krishna-prema – results in selfless attachments to the object of love. Thus both the joys and tears experienced in such divinity are blossoming expansions of the most sublime spiritual bliss inherent (though in only a potential form at present) withing the deep soul of both you and I.

3. Joy is Natural

I watch these kids, and play with them a lot. We play with stuff like… cardboard, paper towel rolls, sometimes something fancy like a plastic ball. When I hang out with adults its a lot different. It seems like with adults “having fun” usually means doing something elaborate or unusual. Going out to Karaoke, or to a restaurant or a movie, or whatever. But kids, they don’t seem to need any props to have fun.

I think it means that the soul is ananda-moya – it is composed of bliss (a intrinsic quality of pure love). When the body and mind are very young they are soft and fresh and working great. They don’t get as badly in the of the natural bliss in the soul.

Of course kids get bored too, but its usually not really young kids who get bored. Its the older ones whose minds and hearts have starting solidifying from prolonged exposure to object-oriented, externalized human culture. But even those kids, watch them. Look at the enthusiasm they display when they do go to the amusement park or get a new video game. Theydive into it. Adults just can’t compete with their zeal. I think it is because the aging body tends to form an increasingly hard shell over the soul’s natural energy and happiness.


       
 
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Spiritual Scientist: Look for the right lighthouse

Navigating life’s journey amidst the unpredictable worldly ups and downs is like navigating a boat in dark, turbulent waters. Just as the boat would be lost without a lighthouse, we would be lost without a reliable basis for our decision-making. Most people base their decisions on four main lighthouses:

  1. Culture (everyone does it)
  2. Tradition (we have always done it)
  3. Mood (it felt good)
  4. Reason (it seemed logical)

Unfortunately, these are fallible, movable lighthouses that at times point to the safe ground of time-tested truths and at times point to the dangerous rocks of short-sighted trends. Guided by them, we may sometimes land and sometimes sink.

That’s why, before using these lighthouses, we need to ascertain where they stand by comparing them with the one lighthouse that always stands on the firm ground of perennial truth. That immovable, infallible lighthouse is the word of God, the Bhagavad-gita, which is ever pointing to our highest interests. This indeed is the reason why the Lord urges us in the Gita (16.24) to forever make the scriptures as the first and the last basis of our decision-making.

 
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Brisbane Congregation of Krishna: Urmila devi dasi seminars – live audio feed

Brisbane, Australia time 7pm – 9pm on Wednesday November 9 and Thursday November 10, we will be streaming Mother Urmila devi dasi’s seminars live on the internetz.

Visit our Live Broadcast page for the broadcast, and check the facebook event for the deets of the seminar.

 
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One ISKCON.com: Dispelling Homophobia

By Yugala Kishor Dasa (Gainesville, Florida)

We were aghast after briefly reading the article titled, “India’s Slow Descent into Homophobia.” The term “Gay Vaishnava” is the epitome of an oxymoron. It is strikingly 108% oxymoronic. The Shastras sanctions the union of husband and wife in religious marriage, and even accommodates them into an ashrama; the grhastha asrama, for the sole purpose of spiritual advancement, so that they don’t live like cats and dogs. Why is this so? Perhaps, it has to do with the universal fact that – unlike homosexuality – the religious union of husband and wife has the natural purpose of procreation. This faculty of procreation is a divinely appointed function; since it is devised by the devatas, specifically Lord Brahma. No where in the Scriptures we see that there exists such a similar arrangement to accommodate homosexuality.

The fairly recent pomp about homosexuality—by the media—is an attempt by unscrupulous people, stemmed from certain academic circles, to misdirect the general public. Secular society (what we would call in ISKCON, the mleccha society) is increasingly plagued with the maladies such as the degradation of the individual, the breakdown of the family (kula kshaya), the corruption of social institutions, including the media and intelligentsia, the departure from basic moral or ethical values; in summary, the decay of society in general (kula dharma). Thus, the glorification in recent years of homosexuality in the media—websites, newspapers, TV, etc.—is a byproduct of the humanistic agenda which assiduously disregards basic religious principles, let alone Vaishnava or even Vedic ethics.

Some may argue that we in ISKCON have to catch up with the times, and since there is a increasing attention of the media on homosexuality, we need to do the same. But many of us do vehemently disagree. We mainly do not agree because spiritual values—as outlined in Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, his writings and his exemplary behavior—are not part of an antediluvian civilization. Vedic civilization and the principles it conveys, may be old, when viewed from the standpoint of linear-historical time; however, they are transcendental, and, hence entirely apposite; they are fully applicable at any time and in any place. Their salient relevance is guaranteed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The fact that certain sectors of contemporary secular society may focus their attention on the cheap glorification of homosexuality does not mean that the rest of society goes along with it; and this is also true for ISKCON society.

In a sense, homosexuality—along with divorce, getting involved with other men’s wives, defilement of women—is a form of illicit sex, although more blatant and vulgar than the other ones. The fact that these forms of illicit sex may now be practiced within ISKCON, by some weak and insincere individuals, does not mean that the whole body of Vaishnavas condone them.

By giving editorial space, in “Vaishnava-friendly” media, to such bagatelle as homosexuality, we are copycatting what the secular media is doing. Emulating the mleccha society is obviously not Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Tout au contraire, we are supposed to bring about a revolution in their impious lives. To accomplish this revolution, our character and integrity as individuals, the moral standing of our institutions and organizations, ought to shine forth the principles of Vaishnava ethics, morality, philosophy and theology.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada, So, in every sense, we are not homophobes; we are serious about defending Srila Prabhupada’s mission and his institution. The doors of Prabhupada’s mission are not closed to Amara dasa or any homosexuals in general. We are all welcome. But once we are in, we are expected to honor the commitments and vows as requested by the parampara, via Srila Prabhupada. We are to take the stand of perfect gentlemen. Giving up all forms of illicit sex is not only compulsory to be part of Srila Prabhupada’s mission, but to advance in spiritual realization, it is mandatory.

In the final analysis, the fruitless attempt to relate homosexuality with Vaishnava theology is an attempt to taint Vaishnavism, in general, and Srila Prabhupada’s movement, in particular. It is a direct offense to Srila Prabhupada, to the parampara, and to the legacy that they have handed down to us.

 

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

09/11/2011


"His gopis are sweet, His pastimes are sweet, His union is sweet, His deliverance is sweet, His sidelong glances are sweet, His courtesy is sweet..."

(Madhurastakam)

O Srimati Radharani, O sweetest amongst all of Sri Shyamasundara's gopis, please reveal to us the darsana of Your worshipable Lord.

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Svarupa sakti mataji

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.4.2 -  Only one who is prepared to present Bhāgavatam in the light of Śukadeva Gosvāmī and only those who are prepared to hear Śukadeva Gosvāmī and his representative are bona fide participants in the transcendental discussion of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

 
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H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: Nama Tattva lecture – Part 3

Below is a media file to download, containing Part 3
of the Nama Tattva lecture given by Kadamba Kanana Swami earlier this year in Helsinki, Finland, which focuses on Japa.

Helsinki – Nama Tattva III Japa Workshop

 
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Mukunda Charan das, SA: Darshan Of Radha And Krishna, The Sriji Mandir (Varsana, Part 3)

We ascended a flight of stairs behind Braja Mohan prabhu’s house to the Sriji Mandir.  We moved in semi-darkness, cooled by the evening breeze.  When we got near the entrance of the Temple Braja Mohan said, ‘You can leave your capalas here’.  We took off our shoes, and entered the crowded Temple room.   The darsana was a new experience for me.  I was accustomed to visiting Indian Temples in the company of ISKCON devotees.  On this occasion, however, I was the only westerner around.  There was, despite the British influence in the men’s dress, a sense of timelessness about the Temple.  The Temple Room was well-lit and a group of local devotees, dressed mainly in western clothes, huddled around a harmonium singing songs in praise of the Divine Couple.  Braja Mohan took me by the hand and led me, through the crowd, to the altar. 

The brahmana priests were engaged in concentrated worship of Radha and Krishna.  The bell above the Temple Room door clanged as worshippers entered the Temple.  The Deities were brightly dressed and, when the pujari blew the  conch, the restless-looking crowd burst into  rapturous song.  I was carried by a wave of harmonious love expressed in this song of devotion to Sri Radha.  The large assembly seemed to be singing through one mouth.  There was no hype.  No spiritual celebrity.  Just a heartfelt offering of love from a congregation to their Deities.  When the singing stopped there was a press of devotees towards the altar, where old women and men with moustaches and long pants stretched out their arms towards the sacred ghee lamps at the altar.  By Braja Mohan’s grace, I was able to get a nice view of the Deities.  I offered prayers to the Divine Couple.  Then we passed back through the crowd, my new friend and I, to the terrace outside.  We retraced our steps down the medieval-looking flight of stairs and, without much more ado, took rest.


Filed under: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaIndiaISKCON Tagged: postaweek2011radha and krishnasriji mandir,the divine couplevarsana        
 
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Sutapa das, BV Manor, UK: Google vs God

Think of someone you go to when you need help... someone who is always available... someone who has all the answers... someone who never gets angry or frustrated. Yes, I’m sure you’ve guessed it... Google! Those of you who were thinking of God are just old fashioned and out-of-touch! Google now logs 2 billion searches everyday, which translates to around 300 million users. According to internet trends, the term "Google" is searched for more than the terms "God", "Jesus", "Allah", "Buddha", "Christianity", "Islam", "Buddhism" and "Judaism" combined. There is now a “Church of Google,” and they even have a list of commandments that they follow! 

Unfortunately, the reality is that Google does fall short in key areas. The popular search engine provides access to a storehouse of information, collected through the study and research of millions of people. However, even the combination of a million human brains will struggle to grasp transcendental realities beyond the experience of the mind and senses. Google has the ability to answer a multitude of questions and queries, but when it comes to establishing a personal, loving and meaningful relationship with its users, the search engine falls short. Google may have backed up its servers and arranged emergency power supplies, but it is definitely not eternal, immortal or omnipresent; we have all experienced the volatility of modern technology. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Google fan, but it clearly fails in key areas of God’s job description. 

While technology undoubtedly enhances aspects of our lives, solves certain problems and brings a sense of security, it cannot replace the deep yearning for spiritual connection. The discoveries and innovations of modern science are undoubtedly praiseworthy and notable. However, the notion that such advancements have replaced the need for spirituality is not only erroneous, but frankly a little arrogant and bigheaded. As spiritual beings, our number one priority is to reawaken our true sense of self awareness, inner happiness and relationship with God. To the extent that technology aids us in our personal spiritual journey, and simultaneously helps us to communicate such knowledge to the world, to that extent we gratefully accept its utility. Otherwise, we are quite happy to do without.

 
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Australian News: Srimad Bhagavatam Overview with HG Krsna Ksetra Prabhu – Sydney

Srimad Bhagavatam Overview by HG Krsna Ksetra Prabhu 
12 Cantos in 12 Classes

7th – 18th of December 2011 
ISKCON Temple North Sydney

HG Krsna Ksetra Prabhu is a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, and an initiating Guru. He has dedicated his life to understanding teachings of Krishna Consciousness.

In 1994 he compiled a handbook for deity worship ‘Pancaratra Pradipa’, in order to establish a standard of worship in ISKCON temples. From 1991 to 1995 he helped developed the Vaisnava Library at the Gurukula in Mayapur, and also he passed the Bhakti-sastri exam in Vrindavan.

From 1999 to 2000 he took up studies at Oxford University and become involved in the Oxford Center for Hindu Studies while completing a ‘Master of Studies’ degree in the ‘Study of Religion.” In 2003 he completed his doctoral study in Gaudiya-Vaisnava Theology at Oxford University.

‘Attending Krishna’s Image: Caitanya Vaisnava Murti-seva as Devotional Truth’ is a remarkable book published by Routledge, developed from the doctoral dissertation that Krsna Ksetra Prabhu submitted to the University of Oxford.

In year 2006 he taught courses in the religion department ay University of Florida, and he continues (since 2002) to teach at Bhaktivedanta College in Radhadesh, Belgium.

7th -9th of December – class 7:30pm-9pm

10th of December 7:45am- 9am 
11th-16th of December 7:30pm-9pm 
17th of December 7:45am-9am 
18th of December 7:30pm-9pm

Regular Morning Srimad Bhagavatam Class 7:45am-9am 
11th of December 
18th of December

Iskcon temple, north sydney 
180 Falcon St 
North Sydney

Share this story your way:PrintPrintFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterGoogle BookmarksGoogle BookmarksStumbleUponStumbleUponYahoo! BuzzYahoo! Buzzdel.icio.usdel.icio.usDiggDiggLiveLiveMySpaceMySpacePDFPDF 

 
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New Vrndavan, USA: Wanted: Ox Teamster – New Vrindaban USA

• Experience with cows preferred but not necessary (training provided by International Society for Cow Protection ISCOWP)

• Familiar with and practicing Vaisnava behavior and principles. 
• Motivated, Competent, Mature, Balanced, Self-Starter

Duties Include:

• Working with Oxen 
• Transporting milk from barn to temple kitchen (serve as substitute milker) 
• Hauling 
• Forestry (logging, firewood, fence posts — working with chainsaw) 
• Field Work (hauling, plowing, harvesting, etc.) 
• Interacting with pilgrims and interns 
• Teaching about Oxen 
• Basic animal husbandry

References required.

Compensation Package: Salary & Accommodations

Current US legal residents given preference

Will work with ECOV, a New Vrindaban corporation dedicated to cow protection

Email Madhava Gosh at:

gourdmad at mountain.net

 
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Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Minister’s Son

A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him to his study and said to him, “I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study your bible a little and get your hair cut and we’ll talk about it.”

After about a month the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They again went to the father’s study where his father said, “Son, I’ve been real proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you’ve studied your bible diligently, but you didn’t get your hair cut!”

The young man waited a moment and replied, “You know Dad, I’ve been thinking about that. You know, Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair….”

To which his father replied….”Yes, and they WALKED everywhere they went!”


Filed under: Jokes        
 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1965 November 8: "Srila Prabhupada had a strong desire to open our preaching centres in the Western countries and both Bon Maharaja and Goswami Maharaja were deputed for this purpose without any tangible result."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1965

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1965 November 8: "I have no ambition for becoming the proprietor of any Matha or Mandir but I want working facilities. I am working day and night for my Bhagavatam publication and I need centres in the Western countries."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1965

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1965 November 8: "Every camp of our god brothers should supply a man good for this purpose and they must agree to work under my direction. Then you will see how our beloved Srila Prabhupada will be satisfied on all of us."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1965

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 November 8: "There are 42,000 students in your university, and if 5% of them purchase our Gita, then we can sell at least 2,000 copies there. So I hope you will try for this and it will be both propaganda as well as income."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 November 8: "Here I am working in Bombay to establish one Krishna Consciousness Headquarters for India. So if Krishna desires, we will have a temple here."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 November 8: "He has done much service. He cannot be removed whimsically. The local members must agree for him to be removed by you, according to the Direction of Management."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 November 8: "We haven't got to invent something by our fertile brain for preaching. Study my books and reproduce the purports in your own language. Everything is there. Instruct your temple presidents to preach like this."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 November 8: "So any one of them cannot help me in this way of book writing because they are unfortunate in the matter of preaching work. They are simply trying to infiltrate our society to do something harmful. So please do not have any correspondence with them and do not do anything without consulting me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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ISKCON News.com: Syam: A Beautiful Song by Gaurangi Dasi


One of the most beautiful prayers and songs ever composed and sung.


If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.
 
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ISKCON News.com: "Convergence of Science and Spirituality" Conference in Delhi

By Rishi Narada Das for ISKCON News on 8 Nov 2011

The two-day conference was hosted at the premises of the Sri Venkateswara College in South Campus of Delhi University on 5th and 6th of November, 2011. The initiative for the conference was taken by the Institute for Science and Spirituality (ISS), the scientific study wing of ISKCON Delhi.


 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Monday, November 7th, 2011

How Things Fall 

Toronto, Ontario 

I trekked with Praveen down my favourite path east of Mount Pleasant Road along with the Brickworks and through the Rosedale residential area. Being autumn, leaves make a sail downward. Some make a longer journey than others, coming from more lofty positions. All hardwoods participate in this discharge, sending varying designs of leaves in a straight descent or a twirl. The landing is a soft one and makes hardly a sound. I am reminded of the eternal debate of the soul's fall to this material world. Did the soul fall from a spiritual planet or a spirutal sky? Did the soul even fall in the first place or was it automatically a component of existence? There are various allegiances to these philosophical theories about the soul's origins, but one thing is for sure, our consciousness is low and usually in the gutter. We should seek eleveation, a raising of our consciousness. It is generally implied that one should look within and ultimately go upward. By practice in devotion to Krishna it "brings one into spiriutal life even while one is within the jurisdiction of matter for it is an arousing of spirutal existence by practice in the material world," as Srila Prabhupada puts it. 

I have another imagery I would like to share about things falling in relation to a spontaneous occurrence. It was unrehearsed. Nursing students arrived from George Brown college. I delivered a presentation about life as a monk. I engaged the students in listening, chanting and even involving them in a ritual. After they arrived we gave each a handful of flower petals to hold. After reciting mantras we asked them to trow them at the footprints of our guru's murti (statue). Now that they were trained up by the time the presentation was completed, the students were handed another batch of some petals. 

I asked Kathryn, their teacher, to come forward (she didn't know it was coming to her). After reciting mantras we flung those petals in the air and in her direction. She was surprised and on behalf of the students she was honoured. 

It was a little gimmick that worked and contributed to making 'their visit very rich; said Kathryn herself. 

7 Km

 
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Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: An interfaith discussion

Submitted by : Yogendra das 

I was distributing books at Dundas Square a few days ago, when I stopped one young man on vacation from Germany. I showed him a copy of Beyond Birth and Death, and said a little something to garner his interest. I wasn't sure if what I was saying would keep him for very long. In the middle my speaking, an elderly man distributing free copies of the Quran walked over from the corner and tried to hand him some books on Islam. Here is how we sometimes receive an opportunity to analyse our crisis management skills: 

The Islamic representative encouraged the German to take his books, saying "You should research all religions." Rather than getting angry at his unscheduled behaviour, a second option presented itself: try and sympathize with where this older man is coming from; having a desire to share spiritual and cultural values for the benefit of others is purifying for any heart. Then came the reply from the German side, "No thanks, I am fine with this one [referring to Prabhupada's book]." Rather than becoming proud of having won the bout of the books, a second option presented itself: quickly try and use whatever compassion you have to minimize the rejection that this person could be feeling; I prayed for a swift end to any agitation he might have suffered." When the dejection hit the elderly man, the German boy gave me 10 Euros and walked away. I turned away from the elderly man, silently trying not to acknowledge his defeat. I had a few moments to reflect on how often I have tried to go out on a limb to present Krishna consciousness to someone and have received a big lump on the head in return. 

At that time Joseph walked right up to me. He introduced himself as someone who has visited our temple on 243 Avenue Rd in Toronto. He was eager to purchase a few books. I was curious about how funny the flow of interactions on book distribution can sometimes be. As he was explaining his interest, he let his true intention slip out. He had come as an ambassador for the Islamic man. Joseph told me that the Islamic man asked him to approach me; according to Joseph, the Islamic man wanted to know what exactly we were all about. Rather than be cold about the situation, a second option presented itself: go over yourself and bring the book to him yourself, and make him your friend. He took a Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, on Joseph's donation. I walked away with some books on Islam. It was a cultural exchange and a successful, real-time interfaith dialogue.

 
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Japa Group: 4 New Japa eBooks


There are 4 new Japa eBooks available on the Japa Group website. Please visit the eBook page here and take advantage of these valuable writings.
 
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Dandavats.com: New online & wholesale devotee print company

Bhaktabob: Pamho AGtSP please find attatched press release regarding new online shop selling Printed clohting & books set up & run by devotees Hare Krishna

 
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Australian News: Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha, Sydney, Australia – a Darsan Gallery

These wonderful photo’s of Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha in Sydney Australia are from the Facebook album of my friend Rohi Doll.

look carefully you might be bowled over.


“Just when you think,’ He doesn’t get any more beautiful than this,Krishna does,His beauty unlimited and ever increasing.”

From RADHA KRISHNA, posted by Rohi Doll on 6/24/2011 (169 items)

Generated by Facebook Photo Fetcher 


Share this story your way:PrintPrintFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterGoogle BookmarksGoogle BookmarksStumbleUponStumbleUponYahoo! BuzzYahoo! Buzzdel.icio.usdel.icio.usDiggDiggLiveLiveMySpaceMySpacePDFPDF 

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Haladhara dasa, Krsnadasa, Anonymous and Balarama dasa asks questions

About Krsna’s ages in Goloka, devotees’ having a holiday, update on the Hungarian church law and protecting brahmacaris.

 
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ISKCON Desire Tree: Vaishnava Calender - Sri Bhugrabha Goswami - Disappearance, Sri Kasisvara pandit - Disappearance



Dandavats.com: Krishna in the Heart of Europe

ISKCON Czech Republic: There is always great need to spread devotion to Lord Sri Krsna outside of India, because there is a great scarcity of it in the West

 
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H.H. Devamrita Swami: Looks Are Deceiving

How many births must we pass before a dramatic fundamental hits home? The essence of maya is deception. Can we really accept that? Troubled by our mind, harassed by our senses, we allow the illusory energy to dupe us.

 

Here's the common scenario:

 

"I'm so tired of battling my mind's agitation. Maybe if I just surrender somewhat to the dictations, the reaction won't be so bad.

"When I peer out at the world through my senses, though I know I'm probably seeing topsy turvy, still, the dedicated slaves of the material energy—those folks completely in maya—seem more peaceful.

"They don't have to fight the agitations; they've surrendered, in blissful ignorance. Even though I have access to superior knowledge, I wonder how long can I resist."

 

Don't judge a book by its cover, or a car by its color. Turn the pages of material existence, lift up its hood, the bonnet—you'll find a pathetic mess.

For a bhakti practitioner, agitations stand out in high contrast, as a black spot does on a white cloth, or a black cloud in a clear blue sky. Therefore they can seem so intimidating to a spiritual practitioner.

 

For those unfortunate souls lost in the illusory energy, however, the whole of life—all of the cloth, all of the sky—is a 100% agitation. You see, any semblance of peace is at best uneasy, tenuous, and laced with anxiety.

 

In other words, there are no lasting, significant patches of blue to break up the thick covering of storm clouds covering the entire sky.

 

"Both the lowest of fools and he who is transcendental to all intelligence enjoy happiness, whereas persons between them suffer the material pangs." (S. bhag. 3.7.17)

 

Read the purport yourself, and benefit.


 
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Gouranga TV: Indradyumna Swami. Ekaterinburg – Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.41. 2006.09.20.


Indradyumna Swami. Ekaterinburg - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.41. 2006.09.20.


Subido por NaradaRishiDas el 24/10/2011
10.10.05am.

Fuente: Indradyumna Swami. Ekaterinburg - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.41. 2006.09.20.

 
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Tuesday 8 November 2011--Open the Flood Gates of Nectar--and--Holy Trinity in Vedic Terms

A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Tuesday 8 November 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: Open the Flood Gates of Nectar uploaded from Sri Vrindavan Dhama, India The pure devotee of the Lord has an ocean of unlimited nectar within his heart. When we humbly approach him to inquire and hear submissively he will mercifully open the flood gates and drown us in an unlimited flood of that sweet nectar. We had that experience with our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. When he would speak the entire spiritual world would be opened to us. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabhupada Opens the Flood Gates of Mercy Tompkins Square Park--New York City--1966 http://www.backtohome.com/images/Prabhupada/sp1966.jpg Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Holy Trinity in Vedic Terms A student in our Bhagavad-gita class asked if Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan are the Holy Trinity as described in the Holy Bible. If not, is there any equivalent in Vedic science to the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost? Noah Answer: Krishna, Spiritual Master, and Paramatma The Christian holy trinity is God the father, God the son, and God the holy spirit. In Vedic terms these can be understood in this way: Krishna is God the father. The spiritual master is God the son. And the Supersoul or Paramatma within the heart is the holy ghost or holy spirit. 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: {contact_address

 
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