By Daamodara Dhananjaya Das

Today, one of the best avenues to reach out, not just to the masses, but also to the upper most class of people, is through the Press or the Print Media (Newspapers) and the Electronic Media (TV News & Entertainment Channels and Radio Channels). Reading newspapers and watching TV News Channels, is now one of the preeminent necessities of life. These days apparently oxygen seems to be of the secondary importance, as compared to the need of the Media. So much so that the preachers too, in order to keep up with the pace, sometimes are forced to surrender to this bewitching incarnation of Mayadevi. Hence, at ISKCON Ahmedabad, somewhere around 2007, we too decided to cultivate our relationship with the Media, so as to spread the Holy Name to each and every dwelling, where Mayadevi has her encroachment through them.

Normally a Press Conference is considered to be the best way, as compared to the advertising agencies, for conveying our message to the Press & Media. But, in order to cultivate a personal relationship and to make sure that they cover our event well, a personal visit to their offices is very important. Back in 2007, His Grace Jashomatinandan Prabhu (ACBSP) (President, ISKCON Ahmedabad), very kindly inspired us to cultivate this relationship and to develop faith in them for our movement. Here is a brief summary of our modus-operandi:

Generally, two senior devotees visit the news agency, approaching the centre head/bureau-chief/chief-editor to begin with, along with a special (VIP) invitation card of the event, a press-note/press-release with point-wise complete description of the event, a good quality prasadam box, a bag full of gifts such as Bhagavad Gita (or any other start-up books by Srila Prabhupada), a packet of incenses, some mementos like something for their office desk, car or their homes, a calendar, a good photo frame of the local Deities (or a painting) and a Maha-garland (as per the post and importance of the person). Even if one just leaves a press-note with the receptionist of any of the media agencies, they are generally bound to publish it. But this won’t help in building a personal relationship. Hence, with all our good intention and sincerity, we invite the chiefs, along with their family and friends, to grace our event. We assure them that they would be well taken care of, when they arrive. Simultaneously, we discuss about their plan to cover our event and the facilities they need to do the same. If they are a TV News Channel, we inspire them for a ‘Live Coverage’ of our event, for which they may require some space to park their OB (Outside Broadcasting) vehicles; in case they aren’t using the modern compact OB kits. After inviting the chiefs, we try to meet other subordinate, but important staff members and invite them too, for our event. Ultimately, in this way, we develop a relationship with many employees in a particular news agency. These bureau chiefs and the reporters keep changing the agencies frequently, looking for higher salaries and recognition. But due to our personal relationship with them, wherever they go, they help us in building newer relations with these agencies. Gradually these relations permeate and percolate to form a family like network with them. As a result, we now have established a direct communication with almost all the employee levels in the world of Press & Media and have added them to our WhatsApp group too, making them even more communicable. WhatsApp broadcast message is much better alternative to a group, which makes them feel comfortable and more personal.

Here is another aspect of how we look after them, when they arrive at our temple, during a festival:

During the events such as Janmastami, we form a team of young, energetic and presentable devotees for welcoming, escorting and assisting the Media and the VIP guests. We place a welcome booth at both the gates of the temple and as soon as they arrive, we welcome them warmly, note down their details, collect their visiting cards, give them an ID badge specially designed for them, escort them to the temple, assist them to secure their positions, assist them to take interviews or bites and inform them about the importance of the festivities and various aspects of the event. Finally, before they leave, we hand over a parting gift pack to them with prasadam and if they wish, we also provide full meal prasadam to them. If the bureau chiefs arrive, the senior devotees welcome and escort them, as for the dignitaries.

The dignitaries, after they hand over their vehicles to our valet parking team, are welcomed at the booth, escorted to the temple, provided with a plate of Aarati to offer to the Deities and if they are very prominent leaders, are requested to perform Abhishekam of Gopalji, led to the Jhulan/Hindola, escorted to the Prasadam area and finally to the main Pandal, where our cultural programs and the guest honouring programs are organized.

The process as such is very simple, but needs a demonstration of genuine care and respect, along with love, which is not at all difficult for the devotees, being anyway trained to be meek & humble and to have a serving attitude always. Hence, if we exhibit our true feelings, abstaining completely from any mock or formal pretention, this intellectual class of people will happily support our prime cause of the deliverance of the fallen conditioned souls.

Here is a brief summary of the result of this outreach process we just experienced, during Janmashtami 2016 festival:

Press – Media agencies which covered the festival:

DD News, Zee News, India TV, ABP News Network, India 24×7 News Channel, Sahara, CN 24 News, Live Gujarat News, ABP Asmita, Z News, ETV, TNI-TV News India, City News, Atulya Gujarat, Sandesh News, ETV News Gujarati, TV9, VTV News, GSTV, Divya Bhaskar, Times of India, Ahmedabad Mirror, Sandesh, DNA, Sambhav, Gujarat Samachar, Rajasthan Patrika, Nirman, GTPL, Vishva Samachar, Gujarat Journalist and many other local news agencies.

The dignitaries who graced the festival this year:

1. Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Nitinbhai Patel

2. Hon. Mayor of AMC (Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation), Shri Gautambhai Shah

3. Hon. Standing Committee Chairman of AMC, Shri Pravinbhai Patel

4. Hon. Mayor of Gandhinagar, Shri Pravinbhai Patel

5. Hon. Chairman of AUDA (Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority), Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel

6. Ex-Mayor of AMC, Shrimati Meenakshiben Patel

7. MLA, Shri Bhusanbhai Bhatt

8. MLA, Shri Kishorebhai Chauhan

9. Director General of Police – Gujarat, Shri P. P. Pandeyji (IPS)

10. Collector of Ahmedabad, Shrimati Avantika Singh Aulakhji (IAS)

11. Convenor of Gujarat, Shri Maheshbhai Kaswala

12. Municipal Corporator, Shri Devangbhai Dani

13. Municipal Corporator, Shrimati Diptiben Amarkotiya

14. Chairman & Managing Director of NIRMA, Padmashri Dr. Karsanbhai Patel

15. President of GCCI (Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry), Shri Bipinbhai Patel

16. Chairman of the Green Environmental Society, Shri Shankarbhai Patel

17. Ex-Chairman of GPCB (Gujarat Pollution Control Board), Shri Kanubhai Mistry

18. Chairman of Shyam Textiles, Shri Hanumanprasad Guptaji

19. Chairman of Honest Group, Shri Vijay Guptaji

20. Chairman of Chiripal Group, Shri Brijmohan Chiripalji

21. Chairman of Nandan Exim-Chiripal Group, Shri Deepak Chiripalji

22. Chairman of Bansal Group, Shri Ashok Bansalji

23. Chairman of Cubit Health Care, Shri Ashok Agarwalji

and many more IAS – IPS officers, government officers, business tycoons and other honoured personalities graced the festival.

For further details please feel free to contact us at:

ISKCON Ahmedabad Core Committee <i-acc@googlegroups.com>

Some more Pictures.

Bhutatma das: I had made friends with a noted religious scholar, Mark Juergensmeyer, one of the professors in the Religious Studies Department at Berkeley University. 
I asked him, “What do you think about having a program with Srila Prabhupada and some of the faculty?” 
Juergensmeyer was enthusiastic and one of the people he invited was Dr. Staal, who had already had scholarly exchanges with Prabhupada about chanting the mahamantra. That exchange was printed as a brochure that we distributed to validate the scholarly nature of our movement. Dr. Staal was already well known to devotees. 
Twenty or twenty-five faculty members plus their wives attended, quite a big turnout for that kind of group. They were interested to meet Prabhupada because of the history behind our movement. We set up a room and put a vyasasana on top of a table, which I think seemed a little pretentious to them—a colorful, big chair with peacocks on it so high up that the base of it was head height for them. Some of them seemed to question the appropriateness of this arrangement. When Prabhupada arrived, I accompanied him to the building saying, “Prabhupada, it’s an old building, but …” He said, “We don’t care, old or new, the building doesn’t matter.” The entrance to the room was from the back—the people were facing the other way. I held the door and Prabhupada walked in, and as everyone turned around I saw their expression. The moment they saw him, such a transcendent figure dressed in saffron that the little subtle edge melted away. Their sense of someone pretentious or pompous was eliminated, and they sensed, “Here is a real saint.” Prabhupada was pleased by the turnout and he smiled and got on the vyasasana very naturally—"Yes, I do belong here, I’m representing Vyasa.“ He spoke not about Radha Krishna but about Vedic and brahminical culture. Pradyumna, Svarupa Damodar and I sat on the side. After the talk one of the professors asked, "You are interested in making people brahmans and bringing the brahminical culture to the West. What about your followers here, are they brahmans?” I wondered what Prabhupada would say because we were not really brahmans. But Prabhupada handled it adeptly. Prabhupada said, “They are trying to become brahmans,” with a tone that said we weren’t struggling vainly but we were going to be successful, we were on the path. It disarmed the challenge and gave us the appropriate status that we were sincere and we were following the correct process, even though we may still be conditioned by the modes of passion and ignorance. Prabhupada also had a little exchange with Dr. Staal. He said, “I see the illustrious Dr. Staal is here.” Of course that flattery made Dr. Staal happy. Every time I saw Prabhupada interact with anyone, the common theme was that Prabhupada was completely in command, not by dint of assertiveness, but because on some level everyone knew he was a bona fide representative of God. Prabhupada never had a trace of lack of confidence. Neither did he have any hubris or pride. Prabhupada had that overwhelming sense of self-confidence that comes when one’s self-realized. Everyone at this scholarly gathering sensed that. After we left the meeting Prabhupada said to me, “This was an important meeting,” because he had met scholars and had established the credibility of our movement. And later one of the scholars told me, “I was a little skeptical in the beginning. I thought, ‘Maybe this will be some kind of elderly Bengali brahman who is caste conscious,’ but after I heard him speak I understood that this person was someone very special.” That comment confirmed what I had perceived that evening. —Bhutatma . . Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint” by Siddhanta das

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31730

Hundreds are expected to attend the upcoming Hare Krishna festival next Friday.
Next week the Hare Krishna festival will be held at the Fairway Hall, in Brook Close, Borehamwood at 7pm with live music, dance and vegetarian food and is open to the public.
ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and local members of the Hare Krishna movement have teamed up to invite the public to the festivities.
Giridhari Das, a Hare Krishna monk who heads the UK festival team, said: “Probably best known from the Glastonbury Music Festival or for singing in the streets of central London, as the Hare Krishna Festival team we tend to appear all over the place. Whether local carnivals, theatres or town halls we like to be with the people.”
The Hare Krishna Movement follows ancient teachings of devotional yoga with roots in the Vedic culture of India, dating back more than 5,000 years.
It became popular in the 1960’s when its message was brought to western countries by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada – an Indian guru, aged 70, who left Vrindavan, India, and set sail for the United States in 1965 with just a few dollars in his pocket.
Within a year of his arrival he set up ISKCON, and today the movement has more than 700 temples and centres worldwide, including 60 farm communities, 50 schools and 90 restaurants.
The Borehamwood festival, and other festivals across the UK this year, is part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Hare Krishna movement.
Bhaktivedanta Manor, in Aldenham, has been a spiritual retreat for thousands ever since it opened in 1973.
Nathan Hartley, who looks after PR & Communications at ISKCON Festivals, said: “Our philosophy is very rich and attractive to many people. In a world that’s becoming increasingly competitive, and has people believing they will only be happy through material gain, we are showing a deeply positive alternative.
"The Krishna Consciousness message is for everyone. A universal, non-sectarian message of love, simple living, service and above all – connecting the self with the original spiritual source, Krishna.”

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31732

It can sometimes be tough being an intellectual in Iskcon. The tendency to keep one foot in the empirical camp and the other in the devotional arena can cause incompatibilities of faith, especially when continuing to grapple with “oddities” like elephant sized mangoes, airborne mountains, talking hyenas and bodily exuded cosmic bubbles.

Almost everything is interesting for an intellectual. How things work, or don’t. Statistics and comparisons, complex and more complicated, beyond comprehension and ridiculously out of bounds, all can pose challenges when faced with the “simplicity” of Krishna consciousness. And more so when fantastic and marvellous Vedic accounts remains fabulously beyond belief.

Does “simple living” dull down our inquiring spirit to the point of unquestioning obedient acceptance of everything taught to us? Will “high thinking” allow us free reign to explore that which confounds the greatest material thinkers?

“Prove that God exists,” Srila Prabhupada would say. This seems the most certain way of engaging a lively intellect. How many sprightly and bouncy intellectual devotees are convinced of this, especially when having to explain in terms of elephants and swans that do inter-planetary travel, and other faith shaking concepts?

The problem is, that one’s intellect can get bogged down worrying about the veracity of such Vedic descriptions so as to cripple the preaching tendency. One’s foot remains cemented in the empirical lure of ignorant wonderment. Faith appears to be an ever more precious commodity. Then one ends up intellectualising and justifying one’s doubts to cover for the lack of Krishna conscious resolve.

One can also speak and write in an intellectual way simply for the sake of being intelligent. This motive is better suited for preaching to scholarly people. If one is systematically teaching academic subjects within our devotee colleges, which should be an intellectual exercise, there is little or no real intellectual development if one parrots everything. If all our students earn their sastric degrees and think alike, then that is a misuse of “high thinking” potential.

Thinking oneself as a learned intellectual and acting improperly with the use of intelligence specifies bodily attachment. Conversely, some of us earn some sastric recognition, and then fail to use it for preaching purposes, or for furthering our mission spread.

Devotees often do not know how to properly engage in Krishna katha, because if we all more or less think alike there is little scope for analysing subjects differently from various angles of vision. This requires authentic and original “high thinking” use of the intellect. Then Krishna katha becomes a joyful devotional experience.

Mature devotees prefer and often express themselves in simple ways. They are not overly impressed by intellectualisation, but are willing to simplify intellectual matters. This behavioural pattern may seem simplistic to some. We have naturally simple devotees and intellectually simple devotees. There is a convenience and beauty in being genuinely simple, without losing one’s intellectual edge.

For instance, Srila Prabhupada often cited the example of the Gopis of Vrndavana as being, “simple village girls.” But he meant it in the sense of using that simplicity for Krishna’s pleasure. Otherwise each and every one of those beautiful Gopis and Manjaris has the intellectual and spiritual capacity to infuse a sincere devotee with the highest possible knowledge and grace attainable.

Were intellectual giants like Srila Jiva Goswami, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and others, not Manjaris themselves? The very simple verse and prose of Srila Narottama Dasa Thakur are renowned not just for their simplicity, but the profundity of siddhantic awareness. Real simplicity then is a natural way of expressing oneself in simple terms, but with profound wisdom behind it. In this way, the “simple living” ethic becomes a very profound concept.

Even Srila Sanatana Goswami’s initial enquiry to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of, “Why am I suffering, and who am I?” is a rarely profound question, for how many people in this world ask the same thing with sincerity?

For our intellectuals who baulk at the simplicity of living and faith, and suspect our range of “high thinking,” it is worthwhile remembering how the simple act of daily chanting Hare Krishna correctly, and purely, is itself an intellectual challenge.

While we are chanting, all that we have been taught, all philosophical concepts, all allowances and prohibitions, all that is required to focus upon the source of our own eternal relationship with Krishna, have to be honed in harmony. This can be a mean intellectual task. But Krishna’s Bhagavad-Gita request for us to surrender our all, including our intellect, will hopefully earn us ease of passage into the “simple living, high thinking” ocean of Bhakti. Of course, mercy is the key.

A wavering intellectual might think, “If you believe that Lord Brahma has four heads, and was born asexually from a lotus flower… then good luck to you.” Being obsessed with the thought that such convictions are forms of naive blind faith, this is itself a display of little trust in the process set by our intellectually simple acaryas.

It requires a leap of faith and trust to acknowledge that the vaisnava quality of simplicity is one that surpasses all bodily intellectual concerns. Such simplicity has the power to penetrate an impure heart and transform one into a lover of God. This fruitful effect is far more relishable than hovering about on the mental platform with a leg stuck in limited empiricism and wild conjecture.

“Please be reasonable,” one may protest. If reason is called for then it is the height of reason to associate with faithful devotees. By mixing with and utilising one’s intellect to properly discuss topics relating to our real devotional welfare, a taste can develop. By doing this one does not compromise intellectual integrity, but rather purifies it in Krishna’s service. This is sublime simplicity.

Ys, Kesava Krsna Dasa – GRS

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=9212

As part of the ISKCON50 program series, Vaishnavas in Hungary organized a two-day national book distribution event, taking place at different locations of the country. The book distribution was coordinated by the two main centers -- the by the ISKCON temple in the capital city Budapest, and the internationally well-known farm community, Nava Vraja-Dhama.

During the two days, 36 participants from the farm sold 619 books, while the 195 devotees on the streets of Budapest distributed 2,650 books. 

Devotees who had never distributed books before, or had not taken part in sankirtana for a long time were also involved. The distributing spots were set up on central squares or locations where the inexperienced participants could work together and encourage each other, while others with more experience took part in the mission by going out in small groups of two or three.

One of Radhanatha Swami’s Indian disciples, Sarodha Dasi visited Hungary right during the Sankirtana Days. Although her knee had been operated shortly before, hearing that devotees were going out for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, she enthusiastically decided to join them for an hour. Eventually she spent the whole day outside encouraging others with her attitude to such extent that at the end of the day she needed helping hands to get her in the car due to her health condition.

One morning devotees received some of Tirupati Balaji’s maha-prasada that was a present from Sivarama Swami. One of the ladies, Prema-keli had a convincing thought for a second that there would be good results by Balaji’s mercy that day. Later, while distributing books, she approached an Indian couple who were very kind and contributed to the endeavor of ISKCON Hungary with a nice donation. They even signed the donor’s sheet where Prema-keli read the name with a great surprise: “Balaji”. 

The two-day program ended with a festival including stories, reports, feast, and a great kirtana in both centers. By distributing Srila Prabhupada’s life-changing books, devotees’ wanted to express their gratitude for Him in a very appropriate way. At the same time, it was a good opportunity to get prepared for the upcoming Srila Prabhupada Marathon in December.

“Once you come to Krishna Consciousness, you actually see how crummy the world really is, how really contaminated things are, how envious people are, and how horrible material life is. You can see that. You do not feel that you yourself can change it, but you feel that whoever gets one of Prabhupada’s books and looks at it will be changed in a spiritual way. There was no question about it. We also felt a big change would come in the world in the future as Krishna Consciousness spread. Prabhupada also said that if people just touch one of these books their lives will change. Our faith was in the books and Srila Prabhupada.” (Prabhupada Book, Chapter 7)

Source:http://iskconnews.org/iskcon50-book-distribution-days-in-hungary,5828/

A new Yoga Pavilion currently being built by ISKCON New Vrindaban’s own devotee construction crew, and aiming to be open next year, is expected to draw a large Western audience.

“We have been highly focused on reaching out to Indians living in the USA,” says temple president Jaya Krsna Das. “But Srila Prabhupada came to preach to Westerners, so we want to now make a major concerted effort to reach them too.”

Yoga, of course, is an interest that both Indian and Western people share. According to a 2012 study by Yoga Journal magazine, more than twenty million people practice yoga in the U.S. And of current non-practitioners, 44.5% of Americans call themselves “aspirational yogis” – people who are interested in trying yoga.

ISKCON around the world has had major success in connecting with yoga practitioners, who already have an interest in spirituality, Eastern philosophy, and kirtan. Many yoga groups visit temples such as Radhadesh in Belgium, Govardhana Eco-Village in India and more, and a sizeable number of yoga practitioners and teachers have become Krishna devotees, finding Bhakti-yoga to be the natural next step in their practice.

ISKCON New Vrindaban’s new Yoga Pavilion aims to be a big draw to this audience. Set on the waterfront at Kusum Sarovara Lake, it’s the perfect serene setting, with swans gliding by, and views of the stunning emerald Appalachian mountains as well as New Vrindaban’s exotic peacocks and local wildlife.

The yoga studio or “Yoga Pavilion” will be a 1,850 square foot space – large enough for fifty people to practice yoga at once. It will be surrounded by three-quarter length sliding glass windows that will let in the light and surrounding nature; have a finished hardwood floor; and be well insulated with electricity and heating so it can be used even in the winter time.

Already, there is a lot of interest from yoga teachers and practitioners around the country, and even from local people who are delighted to hear that yoga will be offered soon near them.

Meanwhile, staff are starting to market by advertising in yoga magazines, spreading the word through contacts at the Astanga Yoga headquarters in Karnataka, South India, and registering as a teacher-training center with the Yoga Alliance.

When it gets underway, the Yoga Pavilion will have several different teachers. First of all, there will be two in-house experienced devotee yoga teachers, who will teach ashtanga yoga classes from a Krishna conscious perspective every day from spring to fall.

“Just like the yoga vacation program at Shivananda yoga, people will come, spend a few days learning yoga, and go,” says one of the teachers, Gaurnatraj Das. “Others will sign up for special study programs like our one-month teacher-training program, which will cover the Bhagavad-gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and Hatha Yoga Pradipika. We will also offer yoga classes to our own community residents and congregation as a healthcare option.”

Secondly, ISKCON New Vrindaban will invite other devotee yoga teachers from around the country to hold their own retreats at New Vrindaban, and will assist them.

And thirdly, outside yoga groups will be invited to use New Vrindaban as a destination for their retreats.

While these groups will have their own curriculums, they will naturally be steeped in Krishna consciousness, staying in the holy dhama of New Vrindaban; eating prasadam; and associating with devotees.

Devotees will also work with them to include kirtans and temple programs in their reteats, along with karma-yoga, or service to the Lord.

As well as retreats held by outside groups, ISKCON New Vrindaban will also hold its own three-night retreats regularly with specialized side-subjects such as vegetarian cooking. And once a year, there will be a four to five night gala retreat, with yoga, ayurveda, acupressure, and other types of alternative healing.

With all this, ISKCON New Vrindaban hopes to double its visitors within the next couple of years, and make better use of its lodge and restaurant facilities during spring, fall, winter and weekdays.

“New Vrindaban has so much potential, and this is one big step towards attracting open-minded Western people from all over America, just as Srila Prabhupada wanted,” says Gaurnatraj. “Eventually, we’d love to build a huge retreat center here and see New Vrindaban become a major center for education.”

Source:http://www.brijabasispirit.com/2016/09/26/new-vrindaban-to-attract-western-visitors-with-new-yoga-pavilion/

Our Yogendra Maharaj is a very powerful preacher and he was giving a lecture in India. At one point, he asked the crowd, “Who is ready to give his life to Krsna.” There was no response. Are YOU ready to give your life to Krsna? (Audience: yes) Some are hesitating. Some are smelling a rat. Are you ready? (Audience: yes) ARE YOU READY? (Audience: loud yes) This Christian thing (laughter), I knew it would get much result, it is amazing.

Anyway, Yogendra Maharaj did something like that and he carried on and then he made the audience offer all their jewellery and their watches and everything. They sent baskets around and people put it all in there. It was a big collection! It was a large program; big pandal program. So he cleaned up. I do not know if it was the Ratha Yatra or the new temple extension but something was covered by this collection. We can try it at a big function.

Then you give it all that and Krsna keeps his neutrality, still neutral. So much we have done already and… Where is Krsna now? I mean, have you seen him yet? Did he give you a darshan? Does he speak to you? Did he appear in your dreams? Some will say, “Yes, yes, yes. He appeared in my dream.” Lucky you! I’ve never had dreams of Krsna, only mundane dreams.

Krsna maintains that neutrality. He is not just going to make himself available. He wants to see that we really come to that point of eagerness where we really want it and where we really say, “Okay, I had enough. I had enough of this material world. It is just enough.” I mean look at it. We try and squeeze some enjoyment out of the material energy and when it does not work. Then we think, “Krsna is the supreme controller! So he is the one who is responsible for all my suffering!” No, he is not because he did not desire it. 

Anyway, what to do? Krsna, he knows that the living being is independent and wants to do these things so what can he do? He can only remain neutral. He cannot force. Say well, “He can, he is the Supreme Lord.” Yes, but then the spiritual world becomes a concentration camp. Force! Gopis with boots and cowherd boys with whips,“Everyone serve, Krsna!” That will not quite make it. It has to be voluntary. So Krsna is neutral because he waiting for us to voluntarily come. It is very important that we understand this. But in his heart, Krsna is not at all neutral. Krsna is seeing, “Oh no, not again! Already in the last birth you did all these things. Not again!”

Source:https://www.kksblog.com/2016/09/surrender-unto-me/

“Although superficially Vrindavan is just a cowherd village, the opulence of Vrindavan far exceeds the opulence of Vaikuntha. But, because the mood of sweeteness (madhurya) prevails, it covers the mood of opulence (aisvarya) even though the opulence of Vrindavan is greater than that of Dwaraka or Vaikuntha. For example, say there is a mixture of 100 gallons of lime juice and 100 pounds of sugar. Then there is another container with 10 gallons of lime juice and 1 pound of sugar. The lime is like the opulence  and the sugar is like the sweetness. Vrindavan is like the 100 gallons of juice which has more opulence than Vaikuntha and yet is still sweeter to the taste than the 10 gallons of lime juice with 1 pound of sugar.”

Source:http://www.girirajswami.com/?p=11429

Vrindavana das’s departure.

In our sadness, we are feeling separation from Vrndavane Das, as Prabhu 67th (AcBsP) who passed away from this mortal world. The transformation took place on Friday (August 19th) on a highly illuminated night, by the light on the waning moon, at 9:45pm…in Tampa, Florida. He was found at just a few foot-steps away from the Temple’s entrance.

He had given up driving in April due to martial differently and was riding his bicycle everywhere! At 9:45pm, I was putting the Deities to rest and a neighbor came over, Urgently!!! Saying “your friend was hit by a car…”.

Literally, directly in front of the temple…he was lying in the street as paramedics were trying to revive him. Blood was spilling from his head. Right away, he was covered by a sheet, his soul had left his body…
The police interviewed the driver lady who hit him. After the car in front of her survived to miss him…
There wasn’t any alcohol or illegal substances involved anyhow…
Vrndavane was apparently trying to cross the street with his bike returning to the temple. But the street is always busy with 30,000 cars a day going 50miles per hour> Weve seen many accidents at this intersection.

Vrndavane joined iskon, NY Henry ST. in 1971 after receiving a B.G from Iadurami Devi. Before, he was a Marine and later became a TU repairman. Born on Aug. 27 1948.

He did every service, cook pujari, pot washer, gardener, but his main service was book distribution in airports and streets in NY, Housston , Atlanta, Denver, Chicago.
He also became a master at candle carving in Atlanta and Denver.
He married Mukunda dasi in the 80s taking care of the children are of who is Maha Mantra. To remind his wife to chant) who is a presently a tourist guide in Harvais with 2 children.

He became Varapratha in 2012 when he cam to tampa, leaving new vrndavan. He attended everymorning Kirtan and class and did any service required as a surrendered devotee we miss his association and wish him success on his journey back to Godhead.

Vivasvan das
President Iskon tampa.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31678

Sutapa das: One of my fellow monks is an extremely prayerful person. He has regular stories of the reciprocation and interaction that comes from conversing with God. Though inspired, I personally find it difficult to pray. It usually feels unnatural and artificial; probably a combination of my impersonal character, hard-heartedness, lack of faith, and general life philosophy of “work hard and be practical.” Someone, however, recently offered me an interesting antidote – “pray for other people” they said. Whether a friend, family member, work colleague, or even a stranger you meet for the first time, just stop for a few moments and sincerely pray for something that will help them in their life. I began to try. Unconventional as it sounded, I could immediately appreciate the power of this approach on many levels:
Personal level – Rather than being critical, judgmental or aloof, we evolve into selfless agents of positive change. Since prayer invokes divine intervention, we are not simply observers of the world, but can make a difference, even to people we have very little physical contact with. In such moments of noble prayer, we rise beyond self-absorption and forget our own difficulties.
Relationship level – Taking the time to deeply contemplate someone’s life transforms our relationship with them. We learn to see beyond the external chaos, appreciating that everyone is a pure soul trying to break free from material entanglement. Prayer helps one to connect with people on a deeper level. 
Social level – When a group of people form, each one sincerely wanting the others to excel, it creates a unique spiritual energy. That unity, fellowship and genuine warmth helps them to achieve their goals and transform the world. Prayer brings people together.
It reminded me of how Swami Prabhupada would sign off his correspondence with “your ever well-wisher.” His prayer was completely selfless; a natural consequence of his incredible compassion and concern for all. Saintly persons are said to feel another’s pain as their own (para dukha dukhi). Just as we spontaneously attend to any ailment in our body, they are spontaneously impelled to relieve the suffering of the general populace. Even if we fall short of that pure stage, we can still institute the process of selfless prayer as a vehicle to developing deeper sensitivity, which is so integral to spiritual advancement. After all, we find ourselves by thinking of others. Try it out this week – take a few quality moments to sincerely pray for the wellbeing of someone else. And if you’re finding it difficult to identify someone, you could always slip in a good word for this struggling soul. :)

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31688

The team of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium is touring Cape Town, South Africa for the purpose of achieving support for the completion of the construction work. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra says, “My dear Lord Krishna, my dear Lord Rama, O energy of the Lord, Hare, kindly engage me in your service.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.69 Purport)

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31690

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra in a message sent on 16th September, praised ISKCON for its ’50 years of glorious achievements and service to humanity’.

He praised ISKCON for the dissemination of what he called the ‘glorious Vedic wisdom including the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam’. The Chief Minister also praised ISKCON’s philanthropic activities and youth preaching programmes.

He concluded his statement by saying: “It is commendable that ISKCON is working with a view to spreading divine Vedic knowledge among the youth.I congratulate ISKCON for taking these social welfare activities, and hope that society will hopefully implement these activities in future also.”

Devendra Fadnavis is the 18th and current Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the state whose capital Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, Fadnavis became the second youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra at 44.

The full text of his message is attached below.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31692

Niranjana Swami: This morning (Wed, 2016-09-14) I received news that one of my early disciples, formerly from Ukraine, Gopana Daksa devi dasi, left this world in Vrndavana at 15:15, yesterday, September 13, 2016. She was a very serious and sincere disciple, who always displayed great determination in her spiritual life since the day I first met her in the early 1990’s. She relocated to Vrndavana many years ago, and for years, every year she would send me the results of her book distribution efforts. She had great faith in the holy name and in distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books.
In April of this year, when I was first informed about Gopana Daksa devi dasi’s declining health, she sent the following message to me through another devotee in Vrndavana:
“When she gets easier, she thinks that she should go on sankirtana, but for her it became difficult to do because it takes a lot of energy and efforts. Therefore Gopana daksha mataji is asking your permission to suspend sankirtana service for the while. Also she asks your blessings for a quick recovery. Please accept her humble obeisances.”
Despite the fact that her hemoglobin count was seriously low, that she had already had several blood transfusions, that she had to spend so much time in the hospital, and that the possibility of having leukemia was lurking in the background while waiting for test results, Gopana Daksha was still asking permission if she could temporarily suspend book distribution. She was that much determined.
For her sincere efforts in devotional service, Krsna blessed her with the opportunity to leave her body in Vrndavana, in full consciousness, calling out Krsna’s name with her final breath. We pray for her smooth journey back home, to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara.
Hare Krsna

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31695

During the questions and answers sessions, I read the following quotes from Caitanya Bhagavata. When I was asked for the references, I said I would post them in a blog. For those who are interested, here they are:

Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya Khanda, Chapter Five

TEXT 140-141

vaisnava-himsara katha se thakuka dure
sahaja jivere ye adhama pida kare

visnu pujiya o ye prajara pida kare
puja o nisphale yaya, ara duhkhe mare

What to speak of being envious of the Vaisnavas, if one causes pain to ordinary living entities he is considered a fallen low-class person. Even after worshiping Lord Visnu, if a person gives trouble to other living entities, his worship becomes fruitless. Such a person suffers unlimited miseries.
If a person is knowingly or unknowingly envious of a Vaisnava who is engaged in the nonduplicitous service of Lord Hari, his degradation is inevitable. Of this there is no doubt. Apart from this, if even persons claiming to be devotees of Visnu are envious of ordinary living entities and give various troubles to them, they are actually far away from devotional service to Visnu and are not fit to be called human beings. Their worship of Visnu becomes the source of misery. Those endowed with an absense of jive-daya, or compassion for other living entities, and yet proudly consider themselves servants of Lord Visnu achieve the threefold miseries rather than the devotional service of the Lord.

Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya Khanda, Chapter 19

207-Text 208
“Everyone please give your thoughts to Me. Please hear the truth I will now say. Anyone who neglects My servant and then worships Me is very lowly and degraded. Such a person cuts Me into pieces. His worship is like fire burning My body.
Text 209
“My holy name, which is a kalpa-vrksa tree, destroys anyone who once blasphemes My servant.
Text 210
“The living entities who live in the numberless universes are all My servants. Therefore any living entity who harms another living entity will perish.
Text 211
“You are more dear to Me than My own body. Anyone who offends You will not be able to bear the fate that waits for him.
Text 212
“If a sannyasi blasphemes an innocent person, the sannyasi will fall down. All his piety will perish.”
Text 213
Raising His arms, fair Lord Caitanya declared to the entire world, “Renouncing criticism of others, everyone please chant Lord Krsna’s name.
Text 214
“I will personally deliver anyone who does not criticize others and who once chants `Krsna!’ That is the truth. It is the truth.”
Text 215
When Lord Caitanya spoke these words, the devotees responded with “Jaya! Jaya! Jaya!”

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31697

It is an odd development of the modern world that being excessively anxious about our children is considered a virtue. We consider ourselves good parents if we make life easy for them, reward them for the smallest achievement, and are anxious for their safety and well being at all times.
There is, however, a hidden message in all of this anxious attention and it’s not good. As a teacher and school principal for 20 years, I saw all kinds of kids and all kinds of parents. For those who had confidence in their child, their child did great. Those who worried, who expressed that worry regularly, who tried to ‘fix’ every challenge the child had – their children had a weak sense of self. The hidden message was clear – “My parents are worried because they think I am not competent, I’m not capable.”
Being a mother is not easy. But it’s not that hard either. It is said that if a child has a self-assured and guiding adult in their life, they will grow up to be self-assured and self-guiding adults. Mothering means being there, but also not being there. It is patience, it is trusting that the child will figure it out, and it is watching from a distance as they do so.
There are many aspects to good mothering, but this one is key. We have to give our children the skills and emotional strength to make it through life by letting them experience and learn through real life. And that means letting them experience their own struggles. If we smother them, if we overly fret and protect, then we extinguish the fire of trust and competence. It’s a fine line, but we need to have the maturity and wisdom to make the call. 
This famous poem can also inspire us be the balanced and stable parents our children need us to be:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
– On Children by Kahlil Gibran

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31713

Each single verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam tastes like transcendental condensed milk of a Surabhi cow mixed with kesar, simply delicious and a nectar most satisfying to even conditioned souls (although it is meant to be tasted by paramhansas – liberated souls).  No wonder that, along with Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam is the specific scripture meant for kali-yuga.

I am sharing another transcendental verse and its nectarean purport by Srila Prabhupada, for the pleasure of devotees, describing causeless mercy of Krishna.

yatha tvam krpaya bhutya
tejasa mahimaujasa
justa isa gunaih sarvais
tato ’si bhagavan prabhuh

O my Lord, because You are endowed with causeless mercy, all opulences, all prowess and all glories, strength and transcendental qualities, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of everyone.

(SB 6.19.5)

This verse, more specifically Srila Prabhupada’s purport, describes how kind is Krishna and how He bestows His causeless mercy on His devotees. Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport (I have taken the liberty to break the purport into short sentences) :

In this verse the words tato ’si bhagavan prabhuh mean “Therefore You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of everyone.”

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is endowed with all six opulences in full, and moreover He is extremely kind to His devotee. Although He is full in Himself, He nonetheless wants all the living entities to surrender unto Him so that they may engage in His service. Thus He becomes satisfied.

Although He is full in Himself, He nonetheless becomes pleased when His devotee offers Him patrampuspam phalam toyam — a leaf, flower, fruit or water — in devotion.

Sometimes the Lord, as the child of mother Yasoda, requests His devotee for some food, as if He were very hungry. Sometimes He tells His devotee in a dream that His temple and His garden are now very old and that He cannot enjoy them very nicely. Thus He requests the devotee to repair them. Sometimes He is buried in the earth, and as if unable to come out Himself, He requests His devotee to rescue Him. Sometimes He requests His devotee to preach His glories all over the world, although He alone is quite competent to perform this task.

Even though the Supreme Personality of Godhead is endowed with all possessions and is self-sufficient,He depends on His devotees.

Therefore the relationship of the Lord with His devotees is extremely confidential. Only the devotee can perceive how the Lord, although full in Himself, depends on His devotee for some particular work. This is explained in Bhagavad-gita (11.33), where the Lord tells Arjuna, nimitta-matrambhava savyasacin: “O Arjuna, merely be an instrument in the fight.” Lord Krishna had the competence to win the Battle of Kuruksetra, but nonetheless He induced His devotee Arjuna to fight and become the cause of victory.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was quite competent enough to spread His name and mission all over the world, but still He depended upon His devotee to do this work.

Considering all these points, the most important aspect of the Supreme Lord’s self-sufficiency is that He depends on His devotees. This is called His causeless mercy.

The devotee who has perceived this causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by realization can understand the master and the servant.

I strongly suggest that we go back to the beginning of the purport and slowly and carefully read it again, chewing it slowly this time, relishing the sweet nectar.

Could we see any practical application while reading the purport? Here is some food for thought

1. Do I feel and behave like a master in my day to day dealings or do I take, and feel, shelter of Krishna in every step?

2. When I daily offer bhoga to Krishna then do I make each offering to please Him? (or is to please my own senses?)

3. Am I surrendered to Krishna (or my spiritual master) and properly engaged in His service. Do I even desire to surrender to Krishna? Can I take some steps to progress in that direction. Rather than endlessly waiting for some future ‘favourable’ circumstances  can I make a small beginning today?

4. Can the Lord depend upon me for any task? Have I purified my consciousness by endeavoring to daily chant offenselessly and by being sincere & serious in my sadhna bhakti.

5.  Do I have even have a desire to become His (or His instrument’s) instrument. If Yes, then do I share my desire with Krishna by daily praying to Him for the same?

6.  Which special devotee Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent : Srila Prabhupada! (phew! this was easy)

7. Do I feel causeless mercy of Lord, and His devotees, on me or am I busy speculating being a victim of family, job, circumstances,……

8. Do I understand, and hence relish & taste, the sweet relationship between Krishna and His devotees or do I read such pastimes merely as stories from which I try to take ‘moral of the story’?

9. And, last but not the least, am I reading, and tasting, and relishing, Bhagavatam daily ? How much time does it take to read one verse, and its purport, daily? Do I get the time to read newspaper (or browse internet) daily?

But I am a conditioned soul?

Srimad-Bhagavatam is so carefully presented that a sincere and serious person can at once enjoy the ripened fruit of Vedic knowledge simply by drinking the nectarean juice through the mouth of Sukadeva Gosvami or his bona fide representative.

(SB 1.1.3p)

All glories to the causeless mercy of Krishna.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31710

Mahavrata Devi Dasi: Maharaja spoke on the need for Nigerians to shun any forms of violence and take to Krishna consciousness. He advised Nigerians to stop the killing of animals so that they can remain peaceful.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=31719