ISKCON Desire Tree's Posts (18339)
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The living being's constitutional position is one of serving a superior. He is obliged to serve by force the dictates of illusory material energy in different phases of sense gratification. And in serving the senses he is never tired. Even though he may be tired, the illusory energy perpetually forces him to do so without being satisfied. There is no end to such sense gratificatory business, and the conditioned soul becomes entangled in such servitude without hope of release. The release is only effected by association with pure devotees. By such association one is gradually promoted to his transcendental consciousness. Thus he can know that his eternal position is to render service unto the Lord and not to the perverted senses in the capacity of lust, anger, desire to become the master of everything and everyone, etc.
Material society, friendship and love are all different phases of lust. Home, country, family, society, wealth and all sorts of corollaries are all causes of bondage in the material world, where the threefold miseries of life are concomitant factors.
By associating with pure devotees and by hearing them submissively, attachment for material enjoyment becomes slackened, and attraction for hearing about the transcendental activities of the Lord becomes prominent. Once they are, they will go on progressively without stoppage, like the eternal time. It is said that Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is so transcendentally attractive that even those who are self-satisfied by self-realization and are factually liberated from all material bondage also become devotees of the Lord. Under these circumstances it is easily understood what must have been the position of the Pandavas, who were constant companions of the Lord. They could not even think of separation from Lord Krishna, since the attraction was more intense for them because of continuous personal contact. Therefore the secret of overcoming sense gratification is dovetailing the senses towards the Lord. His remembrance by His form, quality, name, fame, pastimes, etc., is also attractive for the pure devotee, so much so that he forgets all forms, quality, name, fame and activities of the mundane world, and due to his mature association with pure devotees he is not out of contact with the Lord for a moment.
As revealed by the Lord in 'Bhagavad-Gita As It Is', the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be known in His real nature by dint of pure devotional service only. Thus, only the great devotees of the Lord who are able to clear the mind of all material dust by rigid devotional service can experience the Lord as He is.
'Jitendriya' means one who has full control over the senses. The senses are active parts of the body, and their activities cannot be stopped. The artificial means of the yogic processes to make the senses inactive has proved to be abject failure, even in the case of great yogis like VIshvamitra Muni. VIshvamitra Muni controlled the senses by yogic trance, but when he happened to meet Menaka (a heavenly society woman), he became a victim of sex, and the artificial way of controlling the senses failed.
But in the case of a pure devotee, the senses are not at all artificially stopped from doing anything, but they are given different good engagements. When the senses are engaged in more attractive activities, there is no chance of their being attracted by any inferior engagements.
In the Bhagavad-Gita it is propounded that the senses can be controlled only by better engagements. Devotional service necessitates purifying the senses or engaging them in the activities of devotional service. Devotional service is not inaction. Anything done in the service of the Lord becomes at once purified of its material nature. The material conception is due to ignorance only. There is nothing beyond Vasudeva. The Vasudeva conception gradually develops in the heart of the learned after a prolonged acceleration of the receptive organs. But the process ends in the knowledge of accepting Vasudeva as all in all.
In the case of devotional service, this very same method is accepted from the very beginning, and by the grace of the Lord all factual knowledge becomes revealed in the heart of a devotee due to dictation by the Lord, the Divine power from within. Therefore controlling the senses by devotional service is the only and easiest means to achieve the highest perfection of life.
Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 09, Chapter 23, Text 22 by HH Bhakti Prabhava Swami at Bhaktivedanta Manor on 07 Sep 2015
(Sesa Dasa was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1974 while he was traveling as a member of the initial Bhaktivedanta Book Trust library party. Sesa Dasa has a portfolio of two ministries: Minister of Educational Development and Minister of Justice, under which ISKCON Resolve works.)
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Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 03 Chapter 13 Text 49 by HH Vedavyasa Priya Swami on 16 Sep 2015 at ISKCON Melbourne
(HH Vedavyasapriya Swami Maharaja was born in an Audichya Sahasra Brahmin family on 1st August 1944.Within a week of arrival in the USA, he had association of the disciples of His Divine Grace, Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada.)
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Lecture on Radhastami by HG Pankajanghri Prabhu on 21 Sep 2015 at ISKCON Mayapur
(His Grace Pankajanghri Prabhu has served in Sri Dham Mayapur since 1971. He and his twin brother, Jananivasa Prabhu, have become world famous as the exemplary “pujari brothers”.)
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Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto - 10, Chapter - 74, Text - 35,38 by HH Chaitanya Charan Prabhu at ISKCON Alachua
(HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu is a celibate spiritual teacher (brahmachari) at ISKCON, Pune. He has done his Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from the Govt College of Engg, Pune. He is a member of ISKCON's topmost intellectual body)
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On September 8th, in New Delhi, HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj’s disciples held his Vyasapuja celebration. This years celebrations were held with a special message. With folded hands Maharaj requested his disciples to come together in support of the construction of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. Maharaj emphasized how magnificent and glorious this new temple in Sri Mayapur would be.
During the program a letter written in 1969 from Srila Prabhupada to HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj was read out loud. In the letter Srila Prabhupada requested Maharaj to consider building a temple for Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Sri Dham Mayapur.
HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj especially invited Lord Nityananda’s padukas and the TOVP fundraising team for the occasion. Maharaj generously offered the fundraising team a prime time slot to make their presentation.
Due to the mercy of their spiritual master, HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj’s disciples enthusiastically made commitments to support the construction of the TOVP. More than 700 devotees made pledges that day, totaling more than 2.5 million dollars.
The willingness of Maharaj to open his doors to the TOVP fundraising team, despite the fact that he has five major temple projects of his own to complete, encouraged everyone present.
The leaders of ISKCON have shown great appreciation for the effort Maharaj has made to assist the TOVP Project. For this act of devotion to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Srila Prabhupada, we congratulate and offer him our heartfelt gratitude.
Hare Krishna,
TOVP Fundraising Team
The devotees in Surat, India celebrated 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in USA, along with the Vyasapuja of HH Bhakti Charu Maharaj. However the main theme of this convention was to encourage devotees to participate in construction of the TOVP.
With folded hands HH Bhakti Charu Maharaj gave a presentation on the TOVP project in front of thousands of his disciples whom had come from all over India and different parts of the world. He explained that the desire of Srila Prabhupada was to build a wonderful temple for Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and for the satisfaction of our Vaishnava acharayas.
Radha Jivan Prabhu also made presentations for two consecutive days to more than one thousand assembled devotees. The TOVP fundraising team received more than four hundred pledges for contributions, reaching a total of 1.5 million dollars or ten crore in Rupees.
We give our congratulations to H.H.Bhakti Charu Maharaj, and all his disciples, for their great performance and commitment to Sridham Mayapur.</p
The standard of material education is sense gratification, but the highest standard of spiritual education is knowledge of the science of The Supreme Lord. Srimad Bhagavatam (4.29.49) states: “That work which pleases the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the highest work, and that science or knowledge which places one in full Krishna consciousness is the highest knowledge.”
Similarly, Prahlada Maharaja, while instructing his childhood friends at school, stated that hearing of the Lord, chanting about Him, remembering Him, worshiping Him, praying to Him, serving Him, making friends with Him and offering everything to Him constitute the highest spiritual knowledge.
Therefore, the highest standard of education is spiritual knowledge of the science of the Supreme Controller, Enjoyer and Owner - Lord Krishna, deep understanding and practical implementation of the bonafide way of leading exemplary lives in Krishna Consciousness.
There are many worshipable objects. For example, the impersonalists worship the brahmajyoti, but by such worship one becomes bereft of life’s symptoms and becomes just like a tree or other nonmoving living entity. Those who worship the so-called void also attain such results. Those who are after material enjoyment (bhukti) worship the demigods and achieve their planets and thus enjoy material happiness.
Here a fundamental question arises that those who are after material happiness and those who are after liberation from material bondage - “Where do they ultimately go?” The answers are clearly given in our Scriptures that those who aspire for liberation ultimately turn into trees, and that the others attain the heavenly planets, where they enjoy material happiness.
Therefore, the transcendental couple, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, is the ultimate object of worship.
Those who have no taste for Krishna consciousness or spiritual life are just like crows who take pleasure in eating the bitter nimba fruit. It is the poetic cuckoo that eats the buds of the mango tree.
The unfortunate transcendentalists simply speculate on dry philosophy, whereas the transcendentalists who are in love with Radha and Krishna are just like cuckoos enjoying the buds of the mango tree of love of Godhead. Thus those who are devotees of Radha and Krishna are most fortunate. The bitter nimba fruit is not at all edible; it is simply full of dry speculation and is fit only for crowlike philosophers. Mango buds, however, are very relishable, and those in the devotional service of Radha and Krishna enjoy them.
Therefore, the transcendental couple, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, is the ultimate object of worship.
Sunday Feast-Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day by Laxmimoni Mataji on 06 Sep 2015 ISKCON Alachua
(HG Laxmimoni Dasi was initiated by Srila Prabhuada in 1969 while attending the State University of New York at Buffalo. She received a B.A. in psychology after getting an "A" for her senior sociology project: "Life in a Krishna Temple.")
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Lecture on Devotional Life by HG Sesa Prabhu at ISKCON Alachua on 13 Sep 2015
(Sesa Dasa was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1974 while he was traveling as a member of the initial Bhaktivedanta Book Trust library party. Sesa Dasa has a portfolio of two ministries: Minister of Educational Development and Minister of Justice, under which ISKCON Resolve works.)
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Lecture On Importance of Austerity in Spiritual Life by HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami on 06 July 2015 at ISKCON Melbourne
(HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami completed his B.E. from M.S University Baroda, MBA from Bombay University & worked for some time in a multinational Bank. He was initiated by the spiritual name His Grace Devamrita Dasa.)
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Lecture on Srimad Bhagavtam Canto 12, Chapter 03, Text 51 by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami on 14 Jul 2015 at Slovekia
( HH Kadamba Kanana Swami joined ISKCON in 1978 in Amsterdam. Until 1984 he managed projects in Vrindavana. From 1985 through 1990 he coordinated the construction of Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi in Mayapur.)
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Gour Govinda Swami - Radhastami new today Download
Gour Govinda Swami - Radha Prema Makes Krishna Mad Download
By Mina Sharma
‘Today is the 38th day of our journey and we reached New York Port at 12/30 p.m. about three hours later than the scheduled time.’ Srila Prabhupada, Sunday 19th September 1965
In 1922 Kolkata, a young A.C. Bhaktivedanta SwamiPrabhupada met his spiritual master for the first time. In that meeting he received the instruction to go to the west and teach the message of Krishna. He took the instruction to heart as he later told his followers:
‘Because I have been ordered by my superior, my spiritual master: “Whatever you have learned, you should go to the Western countries, and you must distribute this knowledge.” So in spite of all my difficulties, all my inconveniences, I am here.Because I am obligated by duty’.
At Bhaktivedanta Manor celebrations continued for a second day now commemorating Srila Prabhupada’sarrival in New York City, fifty years ago. Devotees were awed by the special decoration and flowers onPrabhupada’s altar bringing to life the theme of his arrival. Also carrying the theme was a magnificent cake, which was offered with love and devotion.
The Bhaktivedanta Players inspired the crowd by performing ‘Ticket to the West’, a play aboutPrabhupada’s treacherous voyage across two great oceans to America.
There was also a special viewing of part of the much-anticipated ‘Acarya’ a film about Prabhupada to be released next year. The morning concluded with a talk by His Holiness Prahladananda Maharaj about the early days of the Hare Krishna Movement.
Establishing a worldwide society of temples, nowreaching over six hundred, with over 75 thousand initiates and a huge public following, was somethingPrabhupada considered on his arrival to be ‘impossible’. Having faith in the instructions of his spiritual master he thought best he would give it a ‘try’. He then taught us all that ‘impossible’ is a word in a fools dictionary.
Temple President, Sruti Dharma Das offered a final prayer of gratitude: ‘Thank you Srila Prabhupada, your journey continues in the lives and hearts of millions as your movement continues to expand all over the world’.
By Mina Sharma
‘Today is the 38th day of our journey and we reached New York Port at 12/30 p.m. about three hours later than the scheduled time.’ Srila Prabhupada, Sunday 19th September 1965
In 1922 Kolkata, a young A.C. Bhaktivedanta SwamiPrabhupada met his spiritual master for the first time. In that meeting he received the instruction to go to the west and teach the message of Krishna. He took the instruction to heart as he later told his followers:
‘Because I have been ordered by my superior, my spiritual master: “Whatever you have learned, you should go to the Western countries, and you must distribute this knowledge.” So in spite of all my difficulties, all my inconveniences, I am here.Because I am obligated by duty’.
At Bhaktivedanta Manor celebrations continued for a second day now commemorating Srila Prabhupada’sarrival in New York City, fifty years ago. Devotees were awed by the special decoration and flowers onPrabhupada’s altar bringing to life the theme of his arrival. Also carrying the theme was a magnificent cake, which was offered with love and devotion.
The Bhaktivedanta Players inspired the crowd by performing ‘Ticket to the West’, a play aboutPrabhupada’s treacherous voyage across two great oceans to America.
There was also a special viewing of part of the much-anticipated ‘Acarya’ a film about Prabhupada to be released next year. The morning concluded with a talk by His Holiness Prahladananda Maharaj about the early days of the Hare Krishna Movement.
Establishing a worldwide society of temples, nowreaching over six hundred, with over 75 thousand initiates and a huge public following, was somethingPrabhupada considered on his arrival to be ‘impossible’. Having faith in the instructions of his spiritual master he thought best he would give it a ‘try’. He then taught us all that ‘impossible’ is a word in a fools dictionary.
Temple President, Sruti Dharma Das offered a final prayer of gratitude: ‘Thank you Srila Prabhupada, your journey continues in the lives and hearts of millions as your movement continues to expand all over the world’.
By Antony Brennan
In Australia the Gold Coast Bhakti Centre celebrated the 50th anniversary of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in New York City, USA, on the 19th of September, 1965, by organising a Ratha Yatra as part of the Toowoomba Flower Festival in South East Queensland .
The Toowoomba Flower Festival attracts more than 70,000 people, who line the streets of the city, along a four kilometre route, to view a street parade. The parade is widely reported on news and variety shows around Australia.
During the festival tens of thousands of people get to hear the Mahamantra being chanted nd they get to take the darsan of their Lordships Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra.
The devotees covered the Ratha Yatra in flowers to meet the theme of the flower festival and everyone enthusiastically engaged with the endless thousands of people who came to see the parade.
As an added bonus the Rath cart, celebrating the arrival of Srila Prabhuapada in New York on his mission to spread Krishna consciousness int the west, took out a first prize at the Toowoomba festival.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna school, Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula, has gone from failing several NAPLAN categories to performing above the national average in all of them.
By Samantha Turnbull
Hare Krishna devotees established the Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula school in 1980 at Eungella on the outskirts of Murwillumbah in northern New South Wales, Australia.
The school began with a handful of students but has grown to more than 70.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula hasn’t performed well in National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing since the test’s introduction in 2008, failing several categories up until three years ago.
However, the introduction of new teaching programs has resulted in students outperforming others across the nation in this year’s tests.
Students performed above the national average in all categories in the compulsory literacy and numeracy exams.
The school also performed above the average achieved by other Australian independent schools, with an 84 per cent increase in average score growth.
Principal Victor Machevsky said Hare Krishna community attitudes to education had slowly changed since the school was established.
“Throughout the developing history of the school, the devotees have seen the need for children to continue developing the values of the Hare Krishna movement, but at the same time to become competent and confident members of broader society,” he said.
“That’s where we are at the moment, bringing in research-based approaches to literacy and numeracy learning.”
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2015/09/14/4312277.htm
