jueves, 25 de agosto de 2011

ISKCON News.com: Meet Me At Govinda`s! - A Funny Harinama Video








PLANET ISKCON

 
----- Original Message -----
From: FeedBlitz
To: 
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 9:08 AM
Subject: Planet ISKCON - 43 new articles

Your email updates, powered by FeedBlitz


Here are the latest updates for 

 

"Planet ISKCON" - 43 new articles


  1. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Sunday 24 July 2011--Krishna Consciousness Means Deathlessness--and--Krishna Disappeared Due to His Karma?
  2. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: DEAR FRIENDS,
  3. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW ...
  4. Australian News: The mellows of longing in seperation – from prasadam
  5. Japa Group: The 10 Offenses Pt.3
  6. Australian News: Balarama Mridanga Around the world
  7. Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Re: Get a job!
  8. Sutapa das, BV Manor, UK: Ambassador of Goodwill
  9. Book Distribution News: Re: Get a job!
  10. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: This Movement has got very great potency
  11. Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Intercontinental or Inter-galactic journey ?
  12. Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Won-Durr Boiz in Poland (Part 6) – Magic in Mielno
  13. Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: The journey continues
  14. Bhakti Lata, Alachua, USA: A Moment of Rapture
  15. Kurma dasa, AU: Cooking for God
  16. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  17. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  18. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  19. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  20. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  21. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  22. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  23. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  24. ISKCON News.com: Prabhupada on Wikipedia Front Page Again
  25. ISKCON News.com: Slovenia’s “Eco Caravan” Celebrates Tenth Jubilee
  26. ISKCON News.com: ISKCON Food Relief’s New State-of-the-Art Kitchen to Feed 65,000 Children
  27. ISKCON News.com: The Mood of Monsoon: Rainy Season in Vrindavana
  28. ISKCON News.com: Mediterranean Festival Tour Boldly Takes the Holy Name Where No Harinama Has Gone Before
  29. ISKCON News.com: The First Semester in Bhakti School in Brazil
  30. Japa Group: Avoiding Distraction
  31. H.H. Sivarama Swami: “Norway youth camp attack kills 84?
  32. ISKCON News.com: Nominations for ISKCON Europe Excellence Awards in 2011
  33. Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Sense Grat Uninterrupted - Ugra Karmanah
  34. Mukunda Charan das, SA: From ISKCON Mayapur To Calcutta, March 2001
  35. Dandavats.com: Remembering Tribhuvanath Prabhu
  36. Dandavats.com: World Holy Name Festival 2011 September 10th -20th
  37. Australian News: The Lotus feet of Lord Krishna
  38. Gouranga TV: RATHA YATRA 2011 BOLOGNA (Italy)
  39. Australian News: Janmastami is coming
  40. ISKCON News.com: Hindu Advocacy Group Updates Landmark Report On Caste-Based Discrimination In India
  41. ISKCON News.com: Thousands Celebrate the Rath Yatra at Houston`s India House
  42. ISKCON News.com: Meet Me At Govinda`s! - A Funny Harinama Video
  43. Australian News: Meet me at Govindas – The video
  44. More Recent Articles
  45. Search Planet ISKCON
  46. Prior Mailing Archive

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Sunday 24 July 2011--Krishna Consciousness Means Deathlessness--and--Krishna Disappeared Due to His Karma?

A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Sunday 24 July 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. Today's Thought: Krishna Consciousness Means Deathlessness Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA At every moment in this world of dangers we are on the verge of death. Death can come at any moment, even when we least expect it. So we must be always prepared for life's ultimate test by always being fully surrendered to Krishna with all of our thoughts, words, and deeds. In this way, if we are always absorbed in Krishna consciousness, we will be impervious to death. In other words, death will never be able to touch us. We will be deathless. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabhupada Bestows Deathlessness San Francisco Ratha Yatra Festival http://www.backtohome.com/images/Prabhupada/sp_at_ratha_yatra.jpg Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Krishna Disappeared Due to His Karma? Respected Sir, I am an insignificant individual and can not dare to question your answer regarding the disappearance of Lord Krishna. But to clarify my doubt I am asking you for proper guidance. Was it under the law of karma that Krishna disappeared from this world? A.S.T. Answer: Krishna Does Not Have Any Karma Krishna is the Supreme Controller. Therefore everything is acting under His direction. He is thus not under the law of karma. 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 Sankarshan Das Adhikari on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SDASITE 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

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: DEAR FRIENDS,


Things are heating up across the globe, but here in Buenos Aires it's rather cool! I hope you're staying cool while chanting Hare Krsna mantra.

Even though it's summertime, this doesn't mean you should slow down the pursuit of your worthy goals.

We're halfway through 2011, and if you haven't made significant progress toward your goals, it might be time for you to focus on strengthening your determination.

High achievers are incredibly persistent, and what fuels them is a relentless determination to achieve their goals, no matter what it takes.

To reach our goals, we must have the inner fire to overcome obstacles, believe in our Krsna conscious dreams (even when it seems that no one supports us), and be willing to sacrifice some short-term pleasures for long-term success.

This quote from Gandhi pretty much sums it up ...

"Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph: a beginning, a struggle and a victory"

Ready to succeed no matter what? Enjoy the articles on this Gita Coaching blog and over 10 hours of Gita Coaching Courses Worldwide to help YOU cultivate an attitude of relentless determination!

Just like hundreds of others who've been through this Gita Coaching process, I believe you'll discover the focus, enthusiasm, resolve and desire to pursue the spiritual life you want.

ys
Akrura dasa

 
Email to a friend

 

List Building for Bloggers: Proven email stategies that build your audience, increase engagement and grow your income. Launch pricing available thru May 23, 2011.

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW ...


What Would Your Future Look Like if You Spent Some Days Reinventing Your Life?

If you’re looking for a new level of success and achievement in your life… whether it be in your physical, financial, mental, emotional, or spiritual life… Gita Coaching can help you get from where you are to where you want to be!

For more than 10 years, Gita Coaching has been serving temple devotees, congregational devotees, ISKCON leaders, and many other devotees (of all ages, cultures and backgrounds) in how to be happier, more successful and more fulfilled in their lives.

We have helped hundreds of devotees excel beyond their self-imposed limits… succeed after various losses and misfortunes… move beyond dysfunctional relationships and emotionally unhealthy behaviors and create the life and results they desire - and we can do the same for you!

Please take a minute for this quick Quiz:

Do you have a higher, better place you intend to be in your life?

Are there accomplishments left in your life that you’re still aiming for?

Do you want a more dynamic spiritual life?

Could your relationships be deeper, more rewarding, and more meaningful?

Would you like to have the new lifestyle, travel, weekends and high quality time?

You're Invited to Try Gita Coaching!

If you know there’s more out there for you, if you’re ready to wake up every day to a life that inspires and exhilarates you, we invite you to try Gita Coaching!

With the Help of the Gita Coaching and the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, You Can Be, Do, and Have Much More!

During the Gita Coaching process you can:

Take conscious effort to create results. You’re already creating everything in your life, but you’re doing it unconsciously, and the results may be random or chaotic. It’s time to be more conscious.

Discover your life’s purpose so everything you do feels meaningful and worthwhile.

Generate concrete plans that carry the power to change your life.

Free yourself from life-long blocks, crippling emotions and beliefs that hold you back.

Get a clear vision of yourself making a difference in the world. This will actually help you attract the personal prosperity you seek.

Learn how and when to ask for what you want.

Use resources you already have to manifest / realize / get what you want.

With Gita Coaching, you can be changed from the inside-out - emerging with a new mindset, new success skills and a clear path of where you’re going - and how to get there.

 
Email to a friend

 

Australian News: The mellows of longing in seperation – from prasadam

The things you find on Facebook, My Friend Suren posted this which I believe reveals the depth of his devotion.

Feeling seperation from prashadum.

“When I’m hungry I feel seperation from Prashadum. While taking Prashadum too I feel seperation from prashadum, thinking”it will be over soon,” and when were eventualy finished I feel seperation having been seperated until the next time. When will I see you again, when will we share precious moments?” (Suren Vallabhjee)

Share this story your way:PrintFacebookTwitterGoogle BookmarksStumbleUponYahoo! Buzzdel.icio.usDiggLiveMySpacePDF

 
Email to a friend

 

Japa Group: The 10 Offenses Pt.3


To disobey the orders of the spiritual master or to consider him an ordinary person.

  • Explicit instructions must be followed.
  • Under certain circumstances the spiritual master may deliver advice or suggestions but leave it up to the disciple to choose what to do.
  • This offence includes having a material conception of the guru or envying him
How to counter-act the offence: Humbly approach the guru, offer obeisances, and ask forgiveness.
 
Email to a friend

 

Australian News: Balarama Mridanga Around the world

The things you find on Facebook. My Facebook friend “Balarama Mridanga” has this photo gallery of Balarama Mrdangas being used all over the world

Srila Prabhupada said, “It takes so much work to make one of these drums. And our men throw them down like pots. So go to the west. Use your western technology. Make a drum that they cannot break. And put a strong strap on it. The day will come when there will be big, big sankirtan in the streets. And the people will want drums. And we will give them drums.” (Told by Ishan dasa, creator of the Balarama Mridanga)


From Balaram Mridangas around the world., posted by Balaram Mridanga on 9/17/2010 (200 items)



















































Generated by Facebook Photo Fetcher


Share this story your way:PrintFacebookTwitterGoogle BookmarksStumbleUponYahoo! Buzzdel.icio.usDiggLiveMySpacePDF

 
Email to a friend

 

Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Re: Get a job!

Hare Krishna. Very blissful. Thanks for posting. I have often thought when hearing this "Get a job." We do have a job. Trying to save you---and it is not easy.

Your servant, Badrinarayan dasa

> > > Paramesvara Prabhu is a young Slovakian devotee who, despite his intense > work schedule centered around his business, still occasionally finds > time to go on sankirtan. Once a lady on the street rebuked him with a > typical argument: "Why are you begging here? Get a job instead." He > smiled at her and handed her his business card, saying, "My dear lady, > in my factory I have 130 employees. I can hire you too if you want." > Shocked, the women couldn't say a word.

 
Email to a friend

 

Sutapa das, BV Manor, UK: Ambassador of Goodwill

Life in this world is very calculative. Before we give something we calculate what we’ll get back. Before we take a risk we calculate what we could lose. Before we invest in a relationship we calculate what benefits it will bring us. Before we extend ourselves for someone else we calculate how worthy they are of our help. While such an approach seems sensible in a world where efficiency, effectiveness and practicality are the buzzwords, in the realms of spirituality it falls short. The spiritualist has the quality of magnanimity – ‘big hearted.’ As an ambassador of goodwill, the spiritualist is always looking for opportunities to benefit even the ‘undeserving’ souls. The great saint Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur prayed for the boon that he would “always desire the greatest good for even his worst enemy.”

Saintly persons like Srila Prabhupada were incredibly practical people. They formed institutions to broadcast the spiritual message; they dealt with finance, government laws, resolved conflicts and mediated relationships. Interestingly however, they never became calculative ‘managers’ who just made the evenhanded decisions based on what was fair and reasonable. Since their consciousness was always firmly anchored in the spiritual world, they carried the greatest asset possible - the overflowing spirit of goodwill. Here is a nice poem from Mother Teresa as a further reflection on this point:

Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may cheat you;
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

 
Email to a friend

 

Book Distribution News: Re: Get a job!

Hare Krishna. Very blissful. Thanks for posting. I have often thought when hearing this "Get a job." We do have a job. Trying to save you---and it is not easy.

Your servant, Badrinarayan dasa

> > > Paramesvara Prabhu is a young Slovakian devotee who, despite his intense > work schedule centered around his business, still occasionally finds > time to go on sankirtan. Once a lady on the street rebuked him with a > typical argument: "Why are you begging here? Get a job instead." He > smiled at her and handed her his business card, saying, "My dear lady, > in my factory I have 130 employees. I can hire you too if you want." > Shocked, the women couldn't say a word.

 
Email to a friend

 

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: This Movement has got very great potency

(For the anniversary, 24 July 2011, of the incorporation of ISKCON in New York)

By the benediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and my Guru Maharaj this Movement has got very great potency for rectifying the troubled situation of the whole world. Let us work to the best of our capacity to fulfill this mission of the Lord and surely that will be the best for all concerned.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Hayagriva, 4 January, 1971

 
Email to a friend

 

Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Intercontinental or Inter-galactic journey ?

I was really struggling to stand at University campus, there was no one and those who would stop were too busy. I even picked my bag; started walking towards the street car determined to find a place with more people but somehow could not get myself to leave the spot I was told to be at. So I decided to stay on and pray Krishna to send someone to engage me. That’s when I saw a thin young boy with a woollen hat - it was so hot and I could not believe anyone could walk alive with anything woollen. We started to talk and he was a travelling kid, born in Belgium and based out of Germany who had come to Toronto to discover himself a bit. I started to inquire about his family and asked him if his parents were happy. We started to talk about the Chant and be happy and he agreed to take a book. He did not have much money but he gave me what he did. He was leaving Toronto next morning and I invited him to spend his last evening in Toronto at Bhakti Lounge. He had a few places to visit but he said he would come over in the evening. I did not have much hope but to my great surprise he did turn up at Bhakti Lounge. He participated in the discussion and when we chanted Japa in the end, I asked him to describe his experience and he said ‘it was like waking up from a dream’. He was so much in awe and it was clearly visible – he kept describing how he felt like he was just waking up. Then he loved the dinner and just did not want to leave. He was only 20 years old and he told me when he was back home, he was not inspired to do anything as he could not figure out who he was and what was the purpose of his life. Moved by his sincerity, I showed him the Bhagavad gita, wherein I showed him the picture of reincarnation. He was so drawn by it and expressed how it resonated with him. He gave some more donation and took the gita and mantra beads. I requested him to chant japa daily but I do not know if he will. He just did not want to leave from the door and was the last one to leave – I could see that he was ready to cry and didn’t want to leave. Please lets pray that he meets devotees again in his journey. He was describing to me his travels around the world and I wanted to make him realise the lifetimes and different bodies he has travelled through, just to reach these transcendental books.

 
Email to a friend

 

Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Won-Durr Boiz in Poland (Part 6) – Magic in Mielno

[The Won-Durr Boiz diary series is based on four ex-gurukuli brothers (surname: Durr) coming together for the first time to share Krsna consciousness with the outside world.  Madhavendra Puri (the author and middle elder) has been waiting in Radhadesh (Belgium) for his brothers to arrive.  Nitai Canda (the eldest) and Rupa Gosvami (the youngest) arrive first, and Bhisma Deva (the middle younger) is scheduled to come half way through.  Their adventure takes them through Belgium, Germany and Poland, for rathayatras, festival tours and kirtana events.  These diaries aim to bring inspiration and joy to the readers, and hopefully encourage others to entangle themselves in Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtana movement – whether for the spiritual benefits or simply for the fun.]

 

 

Friday 8th, July 2011.

We caught an early bus on the Friday.  Mielno was a different experience this year.  We were grouped up with loud, obnoxious fairs and the streets were pumping with mobile, projectile club advertisements.  I walked the streets, softly mumbling my japa, watching the chaos of skimpy clothing, drunkards and cheap trinkets.  I was in one of those reflective moods, where you can see it all for what it is, where you have some deep sense of compassion, and, at the same time, where you consider your chanting to be the only really important thing in that moment.  All the sounds seemed to blur out under the mantra besides the seemingly innocent buzzing of a tattoo needle from across the street

I returned to the festival, which seemed like a great refuge.  It was like we were in the midst of a mad ocean, on a fleet of lifeboats.  The stage was like our ship and the sounds of the performances were our beacon for calling all the lost souls.  The kirtanas at the end of the show had that much more significance in my mind in Mielno this year, and the young people were jumping amongst the devotees gave a satisfying inner joy.

 

 

Saturday 9th, July 2011.

In the morning, I was asked to help out in the restaurant kitchen division.  Not all the devotees for this year’s tour had arrived so we were needed for the larger demand of the Mielno crowds.  I was rolling samosa dough, similar to my service last year (kneading samosa dough).  It was a comical experience but it was nice to see all the devotees determined to go an extra mile to put on the festival.

My morning’s Bhagavatam reading was on Ambarisa Maharaja and Durvasa Muni.  Durvasa Muni cursed Ambarisa Maharaja very severely for some minor infringement.  Visnu was not pleased with this, thus the Sudarsana Chakra began flying towards Durvasa Muni.  Durvasa Muni fled all over the universe, seeking protection from the universal heads, even Visnu Himself, but he could only find shelter at the feet of Ambarisa Maharaja.  I took note that Sudarsana was protecting the devotees of the Lord from all sorts of onslaughts, so much more applicable in the intense atmosphere that was brewing on the streets of Mielno.

It was Dylan’s birthday that day so we decided to make a fuss of it.  She was receiving gifts all day, in the cooking tent, and was being shouted ice-creams and treats everywhere she went.  At one point, just after the cooking tent was filled with the sounds of birthday songs, one man had come by.  He had been in one of the cooking demos the night before and just seemed to be a genuine soul.  He burst into the tent and gave Dylan a whole box of caramel nut chocolates (vegetarian and all), just because he heard the birthday sounds.  It was a touching thing, to see someone so willing to be sharing and caring, simply out of their own spontaneous kindness and warm heartedness.

We finished the day by taking Dylan to a local theme park.  We had so much fun in the midst of it all that we nearly missed the bus on the way home.  Nitai had to wait outside the bus as we sprinted back in haste, just so that they didn’t leave without us.

 

 

Sunday 10th, July 2011.

We had a different bus that day to the festival, which had a real authentic school bus sense to its interior (i.e. ole school).  The festival was another big success.  People rolled on down the pavement and into our extravaganza, all throughout the evening.  We were all enthusiastic and exhausted by the time we jumped back on the bus.  It was a cold day but we heated up the night with some pasta, made by the youngest and oldest Durr boys (Rupa and Nitai).  We celebrated another week of successful festivals on the Baltic Sea Coast.

 

Read original post: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com]

 

 

 

Subscribe: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/subscribe]

 

 

 


 
Email to a friend

 

Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: The journey continues


I was at University of Toronto and it being a Friday afternoon, there were hardly any people to be seen. With great difficulty I stopped a biker at the signal and he started to explore the world of Srila Prabhupada's books. He looked promising and I was hopeful he would get a book but another lady on a bike passed us and then stopped a little ahead of us saying aloud - what do you have there, I also want one. She looked completely crazy and was acting like it too. I kind a shouted back asking her to wait a few minutes and thought she would leave. Meanwhile a few minutes later as this guy was saying he had no money, this lady rode up to us on her bike. She started to tell him about Zen Buddhism and how she would practice it all the time. She explained she practiced Zen Buddhism and that meant she did not use the breaks on her bike and it moved automatically, now I was convinced she was crazy and started to try and cut myself away from the conversation. As I was doing that she suddenly turned around and started to describe 'I am telling you I know all this. I have seen these books (she said looking at Srila Prabhupada) and I have seen it in 1969.' She started to explain how LA is one of the busiest places in the world where no one has time for anyone or anything but there in 1969 she had seen devotees in the middle of the street - glowing with an aura and she knew they were the real thing. She kept repeating you Hare Krishna are the real thing.
I took the opportunity to ask a small donation for the book she was holding and she opened her mouth and asked me how many teeth I saw there. I saw only 2 teeth and told her that - she said she did not have money to fix her teeth so how can she pay for the book. I asked her to give me what she had and she pulled out 2 dollars from her bag. Then as if her intelligence returned for a few minutes and she started to recite the entire maha-mantra and I repeated it with her. I asked her to read it and she explained to me that she was going senile and was losing her mind. She told me she knew now she was not going to have her mind for long, she has lost the chance. I was holding back tears as I was thinking of what would it have been if she had followed devotees in 1969 – now she was here like an uncared for animal and still Lord Chaitanya was trying to get her back.

The most successful Sankirtana affairs are going on here in Los Angeles. It is actually wonderful in comparison to others. They are also thinking of opening a branch in Laguna Beach, and I have encouraged this idea. Personally, I also still maintain the idea of a world Sankirtana Party, but such things at the present moment are a dream only. But one day maybe it may come out successful.
> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Hamsaduta — Los Angeles 26 June, 1969

 
Email to a friend

 

Bhakti Lata, Alachua, USA: A Moment of Rapture

December 11th, 2010

After more than 7 or 8 excruciating hours in the taxi from Delhi, the road sign finally came at around midnight: 



How does one have a highway sign for the holy land of Vrindavan? Vrindavan is not so much a geographic location as a place of the heart. So every time I see that sign, I never cease to shake my head in wonder.

Then we passed the magnificent Krishna Balaram temple, whose white marble spires seemed to glow against the black silk of the night sky. All was quiet. We turned down the tiny alley which leads to the MVT guesthouse and the taxi rumbled to a stop.

We all let out huge sighs, as if exhaling the 24 hours of travel in our blood.

I remember how long ago, I once envisioned that when I would finally enter Vrindavan for the first time, I would get out of the car and roll in the dust, weeping. That's the traditional vision of someone who has longed to visit the holy land and has finally arrived.

But when I came to Vrindavan for the first time two years ago, I was overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle and repulsed by all the noise and pollution. I thought, rolling on the ground is definitely reserved for the saints.

But tonight was quiet. When I stepped out of the taxi, I felt overcome by a spontaneous desire. I slipped off my shoes and knelt right there on the cobblestone ground. The cold of the stones seeped through my clothes and pressed against my fingers and forehead. I savored the chill. I breathed in deep - I could smell the rich scent of cow dung and dust and smoke in the ground.

I didn't want to get up. I just wanted to keep kneeling and keep breathing in the scent of Vrindavan.

***

Related Posts:
Mystic Moment: I sit upon the stone ledge in the temple of Radha Raman. The sun slants through the courtyard and holds my face...
Refuge: It was my last night in Vrindavan, and I wound my way through the bustling temple grounds to the rooms of Srila Prabhupad. When I entered, I felt washed with that clean scent of home; wherever Srila Prabhupad resides is where my heart finds refuge...
 
Email to a friend

 

Kurma dasa, AU: Cooking for God

Here's a archived blog from 2008, before the Hare Krishna Temple in Christchurch was severely damaged in February's earthquake.

divine offerings: Kurma Cookery Course, Belgium 2006

Melissa from Christchurch, New Zealand writes:

"Dear Kurma I was at the temple the other day and the samosas were amazing. What goes into them to make them taste so amazing? Could it be the bhakti, or love and all the ingredients?

My reply:

"Hello Melissa, yes, you are right. The ingredients have to be just right for any recipe to taste good; but you are correct in your conclusion that if the food (in this case those temple samosas) is prepared with Bhakti (love), then it will have an extra-special flavour that cannot be ascribed to any of the physical ingredients.

The consciousness of the cook permeates the food he/she prepares. By way of example: many can recall the delight of eating Mother's or Grandmother's cooking, which always tasted special. If they cooked with devotion or love for their family, it was the love that made things taste just that much more flavoursome.

So imagine if one can cook for God, and offer it to him with devotion. Of course God does not hunger for our cooking. But He enjoys our love and reciprocates by pervading the food with a special addictive taste. The food becomes a blessed sacrament, and eating that food pervades one's consciousness with divinity.

The art of cooking for God has been perfected in Temples for millenia. The beauty of the process is that it can be even performed at home. Even cooking can be yoga. There are no impediments, and the results are truly spectacular. This is Bhakti Yoga, or connecting with God via loving service."

 
Email to a friend

 

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 July 22: "I am sorry to learn that your health is not very good. The best thing is that you rest for some time until you are feeling stronger. There is no question of indexing in your present condition. When your health has improved we shall talk of work for you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

 
Email to a friend

 

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 July 23: "These plays are not meant for ordinary people. They are not meant for public showing unless they are very nicely done. The audience must give grave attention. If they laugh, then that is a great offense."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

 
Email to a friend

 

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 July 22: "Lord Caitanya never played before ordinary men. Only before devotees. So plays of Krishna Lila should be avoided, unless it is very gravely performed. Some instructive stories from Bhagavatam may be played before the general public."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

 
Email to a friend

 

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 July 22: "So far mixing with society, we can do it. That is all right. How a preacher can stop? The whole world is nondevotee. But to mix intimately is not good. Simply for jobs sake, we cannot. So that should be avoided."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

 
Email to a friend

 

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 July 23 : "This is not my responsibility. Henceforth my students must take the responsibility for their own householder life, take all risk for supporting wife and home, but utilize it to make spiritual progress - that is the real thing."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
Email to a friend

 

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 July 23 : "It is not necessary that we always wear the robes, but we should always keep sikha and tilok. Somehow or other distribute books and if you can impress people a little to chant then it does not matter about your dress."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

 
Email to a friend

 

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 July 23 : "You are setting a very good example in that you yourself are going with the travelling party. The commander must be in front in the fight, not that he sit back behind the lines."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

 
Email to a friend

 

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 July 23: "You have done a great service, and I am very pleased. Your proposal for travelling and distributing books all over India is very good. Krishna will bless you. Take books and sell and spend for your expenses."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
Email to a friend

 

ISKCON News.com: Prabhupada on Wikipedia Front Page Again

By Editor for ISKCON News on 23 Jul 2011

On July 17th, 2011, the Wikipedia`s front page featured an article about Srila Prabhupada appearance at San Francisco`s Mantra Rock Dance event in 1967. On January 29th, 2011, already millions had the chance to see the poster and read the blurb of the famous performance, however, this time it was a full, featured article, with many details in it.


 
Email to a friend

 

ISKCON News.com: Slovenia’s “Eco Caravan” Celebrates Tenth Jubilee

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News on 23 Jul 2011

Over sixty devotees from sixteen different countries participated in the 10th Jubilee Slovenian Padayatra festival, also known as Eco Caravan, from June 28th to July 15th this summer.


 
Email to a friend

 

ISKCON News.com: ISKCON Food Relief’s New State-of-the-Art Kitchen to Feed 65,000 Children

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News on 23 Jul 2011

The program is part of the Government of India’s Midday Meal Scheme, which aims to give poor children from slum and tribal areas better nutrition, improve their school attendance, and reduce the drop-out rate.


 
Email to a friend

 

ISKCON News.com: The Mood of Monsoon: Rainy Season in Vrindavana


by Syam Gopal and Vijaya Radhika.



ISKCON News.com: The Mood of Monsoon: Rainy Season in Vrindavana by Syam Gopal and Vijaya Radhika



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.
 
Email to a friend

 

ISKCON News.com: Mediterranean Festival Tour Boldly Takes the Holy Name Where No Harinama Has Gone Before

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News on 23 Jul 2011

Twenty devotees from all over Europe as well as the USA and Mexico have departed from the ISKCON temple in Karlovac, Croatia on July 15th for a great spiritual adventure: the eighth Mediterranean Traveling Festival of India. The uniqueness of the tour is to hold harinamas in cities and even countries where the Holy Name has never been publicly chanted before.


 
Email to a friend

 

ISKCON News.com: The First Semester in Bhakti School in Brazil

By Prana Natha Das for ISKCON News on 23 Jul 2011

The newly established Bhakti School in Franco da Rocha, near Sao Paulo, Brazil, has just finished its first semester. It is a government approved day school for children from 5 to 15 of age. It has 55 students.


 
Email to a friend

 

Japa Group: Avoiding Distraction


Hare Krsna dear devotees. Today on the Japa Room we talked about the the different manners of avoiding distraction, here follows the quote from Harinama Cintamani.

The devotee should make it a regular practice to spend a
little time alone in a quiet place and concentrate deeply on the
holy name. He should utter and hear the name distinctly. It is
impossible for the jiva to singlehandedly avoid and overcome the
illusion of distraction. By the mercy of the Lord, however, this
is accomplished with ease. Therefore it is essential to
prayerfully beg for the Lord's grace with great humility, for this
is the only means to salvation from this offense.
Harinama Cintamani

your servant,

Aruna devi
 
Email to a friend

 

H.H. Sivarama Swami: “Norway youth camp attack kills 84″

Another headline emphasizing how important it is that we preach to people that they are not this body.

 
Email to a friend

 

ISKCON News.com: Nominations for ISKCON Europe Excellence Awards in 2011

By Dinadayal Das on 23 Jul 2011

ISKCON`s European Governing Commission would like to call nominations for the third ISKCON Europe Excellence Awards for the year 2011. These awards are to recognize and encourage such exemplary devotees.


 
Email to a friend

 

Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Sense Grat Uninterrupted - Ugra Karmanah


It was the hottest day in Toronto in recent history and there was an extreme heat alert with emergency cooling centers setup through the city. With humid-ex it was supposed to be feeling like late 40s. I spent the evening thinking whether to step out or not and even if I do perhaps everyone else will be inside and streets will be empty. So I debated all night but finally next morning by the grace of Lord Chaitanya I did step out. As I walked I was negotiating with my mind 1 hour – 2 hour no more than that – ok 3 hours, perhaps not. While I engaged in this haggling business I reached Ryerson University campus and started to show books to people. Then gradually it started to dawn upon me that the workers were still doing their construction business, cops still going out, men and women still engaged in enticing one another, clenching hands even on a sweaty day, layers of make up even through the sweat, people running to their jobs- sense gratification and the efforts to maximize it were going on uninterrupted. I noticed the zealous endeavors of people to serve their senses are not deterred by anything but my desire to serve Krishna’s senses was so easily swayed by a little news flash – having got a reality check I started to talk more to people.

BG 16.9: ugra-karmāṇaḥ — engaged in painful activities
Purport excerpt: They try to enjoy this material world to the utmost limit and therefore always engage in inventing something for sense gratification. Such materialistic inventions are considered to be advancement of human civilization, but the result is that people grow more and more violent and more and more cruel, cruel to animals and cruel to other human beings. They have no idea how to behave toward one another.


Nobody really wanted to talk to me and I didn’t know what to do to try and help the situation. This is when I met a young engineer (just graduated) and he was standing with his girlfriend (language student at Ryerson) and I started to show him Srila Prabhupada books. That’s when I noticed he looked familiar and I asked if I knew him and to my greatest surprise he said ‘you are Arti, I met you at Finch in the winter’ and I remembered he got a Bhagavad gita. He had tried to read it a little but he remembered the conversation so this time I showed a book to his girlfriend. She remembered having looked at the book he had got months ago and browsing through it.She appreciated the content and gave a small donation for Bhakti yoga. Thanks to prior association to Srila Prabhupada’s books these people were receptive to transcendental knowledge in such times.

 
Email to a friend

 

Mukunda Charan das, SA: From ISKCON Mayapur To Calcutta, March 2001

ISKCON Mayapur, 19 March 2001

I made friends with Gulap Kali today.  Gulap is a female elephant, and her stable is near Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi.  Gulap was orphaned when the Ganga flooded, and adopted by the devotees of ISKCON Mayapur.  She has been engaged in the service of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava ever since.  She has the good fortune of carrying Radha-Madhava on her head during the Elephant Procession around the Temple Compound every Saturday night.  I have been told that she was once in a kirtan procession at the Yoga Pitha (next door to ISKCON Mayapur) and tears were streaming down her eyes as she danced with the devotees in ecstasy.  I called out to her – ‘Gulap’ – but she was a little shy.  Her minder allowed me to stroke the top of  her trunk.  And she acceded.

I bathed in Ganga around noon.  I visited the Jagannath Temple down the road from our Temple.  I took darsan of Jagannath-Baladeva-Subhadra and bought some maha-prasada at the little gift shop next to the Temple.  I also purchased a hand-woven dhoti at the hand-loom behind the Temple.

20 March 2001 – Taking the train from Navadvipa Station to Howrah Station

My train to Howrah Station was delayed by 3 hours at Navadvipa Station.  Padmanabh and I visited the ISKCON Preaching Centre at Lake Avenue, Calcutta.  We were directed to an ISKCON Guest House called Geeta Bhavan (‘Gita House’).  Geeta Bhavan had been donated to ISKCON by a wealthy Calcutta businessman.  We were hungry so we left our bags in the room, hailed a cab and combed the streets of Calcutta looking for the Govinda’s Restaurant.

 
Email to a friend

 

Dandavats.com: Remembering Tribhuvanath Prabhu

By Payonidhi das

I just want to share some of my dealings with him. When I first met Tribhuvanath Prabhu was at the airport of Dublin in 1993, I had been asked by HH Sivarama Swami to go and help the bookdistribution in Ireland

Archivo del blog