BERKELEY, Calif. – An Indian American couple has pledged $4.6 million to establish a Hindu Studies program at the new Center for Dharma Studies in Berkeley, Calif., which was launched Dec. 5.

The Center for Dharma Studies, which will be housed in the Graduate Theological Union near the UC Berkeley campus, is the first of its kind in North America, Prof. Purushottama Bilimoria, assistant director and senior lecturer at the Center, told India-West.

San Francisco, Calif., Bay Area couple Dr. Ajay and Mira Shingal have pledged to create an endowment fund that will create the Mira and AjayShingalCenter for Dharma Studies. The GTU offers a certificate, M.A., and Ph.D. concentrations in Hindu Studies. Seminars in the program examine Hindu theology, classical and modern Hindu literature, Indian philosophy and ethics, Hindu arts, yoga and other facets of the religion.

Ajay Shingal – a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur – said in a press statement announcing the endowment: “I have two kids, they don’t go to the temple without us. I truly believe if we want these temples to survive, our kids have to be very grounded in their religion through education.”

“To me the biggest contribution one can make is the gift of education; I truly believe that the institution we are forming at GTU will be transformative in its impact,” said Shingal, who serves on the Board of Trustees of the Dharma Civilization Foundation.

Mira Shingal – an entrepreneur in the fashion, financial services and hospitality industries – said: “From childhood I have studied Hinduism; have read scriptures; I have been immersed in it; and I appreciate the beauty of this wonderful world of thought and philosophy.”

“In the Hindu community we have not understood the importance of academically studying the faith that we belong to, and producing scholars who are also practitioners who understand the depth and meaning of this great and wonderful legacy that we have. We have not understood the need for accredited scholars that can speak about Hinduism with authority in this country,” she said.

GTU president Dr. Riess Potterveld said: “As you think globally, and culturally, it is clear: here is a massive India with its ancient traditions. How could you study religion and not have them at the table.”

“This gift from Mira and Ajay Shingal enables the Graduate Theological Union to expand the representation of the world’s great religious traditions at this consortium and create a robust and singular place for scholars, students, and the public to engage one another to build deep mutual understanding and promote the common good,” said Potterveld.

Applauding the historic gift, Shiva Bajpai, a renowned historian and president of the Dharma Civilization Foundation, observed: “Our philosophy is ‘the concord, rather than the clash, of civilizations. The GTU is a perfect place for promoting this.”

“We invite the Indo-American community to get engaged with this historic vision and contribute towards its fulfillment,” said Bajpai.

Kalyan Viswanathan, executive vice president of the Dharma Civilization Foundation, who spearheaded the endowment, said: “It is my hope that this gift is a beginning, and that many more members of the wealthy Indian community will follow and make the Center for Dharma studies at GTU a great place for the creation of a community of scholar-practitioners, from many Dharma traditions.”

Source: http://goo.gl/VTnVJM

Gift a Van. Get the mercy of a million books!
Please help us to buy 2 new sankirtan vans and to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books in Germany.
Dear Devotees and Friends, approaching ISKCON’s 50th anniversary in 2016, we have one very special goal in mind: distributing ONE MILLION Shrila Prabhupada’s books from Simhachalam, our Prahlada Laksmi Narasimhadeva’s temple in Germany. And you could easily be part of it! Simhachalam temple is not only well known for the first Narasimha deity installed in the West, but also for its amazing distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Since 1987 till November this year devotees have distributed around 918 000 books from Simhachalam temple!
For two years now our book distribution is on the rise. In 2014 our three sankirtan teams distributed almost 50,000 books! Also the number of our book distributors is increasing now. 
Unfortunately two of our three vans were not willing to be part of Prabhupada’s mission any longer and broke down several times during this year. Some of our book distributors had to spent more time repairing the engines than being active in the book distribution.
Read the entire article here: https://goo.gl/wahoIn

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17741

By HH Sivarama Swami

Krsi goraksya vanijya. Krsi means ploughing or agriculture and goraksya, cow protection. These are the staples of society, this is what people live on. All living entities subsist on grains. So the ksatriyas may direct and instruct people, the brahmanas may perform their yajnas, but if they don’t eat then giving shelter or instruction is not going to work.

That eating is therefore the most essential aspect of life and this is why the vaisyas and their assistants, the sudras, are so integral that the other castes think that they are the most important people, because it is actually they who are feeding. Of course the vaisyas think that the brahmanas are the most important because they are taking the result of their work and offering it back to the Lord.

Srila Prabhupada said that this very common type of exchange was there but the responsibility of this goraksya, is it the duty of just some people? Some very very exclusive people? Is it the responsibility of all vaisyas, or is it for all grhastas or all devotees?

My proposition is that it is everyone’s responsibility. Just like everyone’s responsibility is chanting Hare Krishna, watering Tulasi devi, reading Bhagavatam. Similarly part of our common dharma is to protect cows. This is something that you see ingrained in communities like Bhaktivedanta Manor, where they have to limit the amount of cows they receive as gifts, and be very careful about the type of food that is offered to the cows, because to a greater or lesser degree all the devotees see the protection of cows as their dharma.

It is everyone’s dharma: the cow is our mother, she gives us milk while all over the rest of the world cows are being butchered, slaughtered, abused, and taken advantage of. Vaisnavas must take it as their responsibility to protect cows. Now, how do you protect cows? Does that mean that you have a cow on your balcony in downtown Singapore? No, that type of cow protection is actually cow abuse. You cannot just keep your own cow.

Cows only give milk if they have calves, which means you have to constantly have calves, which means you have to have a herd, and that is a full time business. So how is it that individuals should protect cows? They should in some way or another be connected to ISKCON’s herds. Srila Prabhupada established cow protection for instance in New Vrindavan, Gita Nagari, or as we have done here in Hungary at New Vraja-dhama. These herds are not the sole responsibility or duty of the local devotees in those places, they are the responsibility of the devotees and congregation of the local country. It is their responsibility to contribute to the cow protection, to donate towards the maintenance of the cow, to come and do some cow seva, and when they come to the temple they should bring some bhoga for the cows, to find out what items are needed by the cowherds. And the cow herds.

Cow protection is everyone’s business, it is everyone’s responsibility. This is being written down as varnasrama dharma. If one does not contribute or participate directly in cow protection then he should know that he is neglecting his dharma, he is neglecting his dharma. In other words he is adharmic.

This is in my view the greater picture of what varnasrama means. Varnasrama doesn’t mean that we simply philosophise about a way of life, but what are the duties of varnas and asramas, what are the duties that are common for all Vaisnavas, for all humans. And one of them is the protection of cows, just like chanting Hare Krsna is a common responsibility as mentioned earlier.

So, similairly, cow protection is a common responsibility for everyone. It doesn’t necessarily always occur to us, and even when it does, it’s difficult to get devotees interested. More difficult than getting devotees to do sankirtan, more difficult than getting someone to cook in the kitchen or be temple president, is to get devotees to be cowherds. To make devotees work with the cows, bulls, and oxen and to make that their life, it is very difficult for devotees to do this. “I am an educated person, I have this diploma and you want me to take care of cows? You want me to do that thing that God does? You want me to do that activity that is going on in the spiritual world?”

And that is what is going on the spiritual world. That is what is going on where we are going–at least where I want to go is where there is only gopas and gopis. The whole social identity is based on go, on cows. There are milkmaids and there are cowherd men. And if we are not willing to be milkmaids and cowherd men here in the material world, if this service is beyond us and we cannot forsee how we are going to dedicate our lives to working with the cows, then were are we going? Then you had better look for somewhere other than Braja. Then you had better go to Dwaraka or Vaikuntha, where that is not a compulsory, integral part of life.

Because in the spiritual world, in Goloka Vrindavan, Krishna goes out every day to tend cows. And yet it is so difficult to get devotees to be cowherders, to see that this is a respectable future, and to stick with that service. Because once again, cow protection is something that we talk about as being against the principles of slaughtering the animals. We don’t believe in slaughtering the cow, we don’t believe in eating the meat of the cow, cows should be properly protected. But, when it comes to properly protecting the cows, are we willing to do it? Are we actually willing to dedicate our lives to taking care of cows? Or are we willing to participate and support the protection of cows?

Therefore, we should ask: “What am I doing for protecting my mother? What am I doing to sustain cow protection in my zone? It is my responsibility, my duty as a Vaisnava. Am I performing my dharmic duty?”

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17739

Source: https://soundcloud.com/premasindhu/hh-prahladananda-swami-cc-madhya-1054

Drip drops of rain pattered on my windshield. I careened around corners, twisting the steering wheel through the mountain road, lost in thought. Music blasted from the speakers and every so often I tapped my thigh in rhythm. 

Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 03, Chapter 15, Text 44-45 by HG Vijaya Prabhu on 11 Dec 2015 at ISKCON Melbourne

To Listen and Download - click here

Prabhupada: Yes. Three kinds of happinesses, bhoga, tyaga, and bhakti, seva. Bhoga tyaga seva. The karmis, they are after bhoga, sense enjoyment. And the jnanis, they are after another side of negation of sense enjoyment. When one is fed up with sense enjoyment... Just like in your country, the young boys, they are practically fed up with the way of sense enjoyment as their fathers and grandfathers had done. So in the name of tyaga, renunciation, they have taken another kind of sense enjoyment -- intoxication, unrestricted sex. So this is also another sense enjoyment. Bhoga and tyaga. Real enjoyment is devotion. There is a very practical example. Just like if you get all of a sudden a certain amount of money, say, one hundred rupees note lying on the street, if you get... Or lying here. So if you take it, your conscience will beat, because that does not belong to you. You have picked up. You'll always think, "Oh, I am taking somebody's money. Whose money it was? I'm doing some sinful." In this way, your mind will disturb. So that is the taking. And similarly, if you don't take, if you leave it there, then you'll also be disturbed. You'll think, "Somebody has left this money here. So I did not collect it. Somebody will collect it, and he'll take it away. This is not nice." The best thing is that you pick it up and, if you deliver to the person who has lost the money or who has left that money. Three things. The one thing is bhoga, if you take yourself. And if you don't take, that is tyaga. And if you pick it up and deliver to the right person, that is devotion.

Source: http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.in/2015/12/three-kinds-of-happinesses.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/krsna+(Krishna-Bhakti+Yoga)

In appreciation of the service rendered by his disciples, Srila Prabhupada once said that his guru maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, had sent them to help him in his preaching mission.

One disciple spoke up and said, “But Srila Prabhupada how could that be? We were so sinful before we met you.”

Srila Prabhupada replied, “That is superficial. As soon as you heard the chanting of Hare Krsna you all came running!”

Source:http://www.travelingmonk.com/34203/service-rendered

The European Sankirtan Festival in Simhachalam, Germany will take place from Wednesday, 30 December to Sunday, 03 January. This festival recognizes and honours the effort of those devotees who participated in book distribution during the month of December from all over Central Europe. We are happy to announce that Kadamba Kanana Swami will be attending as well on 30 and 31 December! Be part of this wonderful event of enlivening kirtans, seminars and sadhusanga. See the following newsletter for more information.

Moksada Ekadasi This Moksada Ekadasi occures in the waxing moon in the month of November/December. The glories of this Ekadasi is described in Brahmanda Purana in the conversation between Lord Krishna and Maharaj Yudhistira.

Once Yudhistira asked Lord Krishna, my dear Krishna what is the name of the Ekadasi that occures during the waxing moon in the month of Novembeer/December? Also please explain to me in details about the procedure for observing this Ekadasi. ?

Lord Krishna Said, o best of the King! This Ekadasi distroys all once sinful reactions. If one worships the supreme lord with tulasi manjari on this day, the lord becomes extremely pleased. By observing this ekadasi one achieves the result of performing Bajpeya sacrifice.

There was a King named Vaikanasa lived and ruled in the city of Champaka. The King was very affectionate towards the citizen. Many qualified brahmanas who were well versed in vedic knowledge lived in his Kingdom. Oneday the King had a dream that his father was fallen in the hell and was suffering unlimited meseries there. On seeing this the King became struck with wonder. The next day the King disclosed the topics of his dream in the essembly of learned brahamins. He also informed them that his father has requested to delilver him from the helish condition. Ever since the King had this dream he became restless. And he did not feel any happiness or interest in rulling his kingdom. He even dealt with his family members indifferently. He thought the life, kingdom, oppulance, power and influence of a son is completly useless if his father is suffering in the hell. That is why the king pathetically appealed to all the learned brahmins, please tell me the way by which I can deliver my father from the clatches of hell.

On hearing his appeal the brahmins said - O King the ashram of Parvata Muni is situated very near from here. He is the knower of past, present and future. You please relate the topics of your dream to him.

After hearing their suggestion King Vaikanasa arrived at the ashram of Paravata Muni accompanied by the brahmins and his subjects. When Parvata Muni inquired about the well being of his Kingdom King Vaikanasa Said, O my lord, we are all very well by your mercy; but inspite of possessing the kingdom and all appulances I am in a great difficulty. In fact a doubt has arrisen in my mind and in order to remove that I have come to y our lotus feet.

After hearing the whole incident from the King Parvata Muni sat down in deep meditation. After a while he gotup from his meditation and said to the King - 'My dear King your father was very lusty in his previous life hence he has degraded himself in this condition. Now you oall should observe the vow of Ekadasi which occures during the waxing moon in the month of November/December for the deliverence of your father and donate the accumulated piety to him. Then by the influence of that peity your father will be relieved from the clutches of hellish life. After hearing these words from Parvat Muni king returned to his palace surrounded by his entourage.

Thereafter in due course of time the king with his wife, children and servants duly observed this Ekadasi which occures during the waxing moon in the month of November/December and dedicated all its piety to his suffering father. By the influence of this piety the father attained the heavenly planet and blessed his son very much.

O King, one who properly follows this Moksada Ekadasi certainly relieved from all sinful reactions. ==========================================================================

The Advent of Bhagavad Gita This is the annirversary day commemorating the day that Srimad Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Sri Krishna to His dearmost devotee Arjuna at the place now known as Jyotisar Tirtha amid the waring families of the Kurus and the Pandavas at Kurukshetra. If one wishes one can still go and visit that place and see the monument erected there with Krishna as Parthasarati (the chariot driver) and Arjuna the warrior on their chariot. It is claimed by the ashram who maintain the shrine that the tree that is next to Them is a continum growth of the original tree witness that was there at the actual day of speaking.

Traditionally devotees come to Kurukshetra (Dharmakshetra) and recite Bhagavad Gita from early morning until the next morning, perform arati to Bhagavad Gita and to Krishna and Arjuna upon the chariot, offer lamps 'deep daan' at Brahma Sarovar, shloka recitals, shobha yatras and seminars on the significance of the Gita today.

Devotees who cannot get to Jyotisar Tirtha remember the blessed event by reciting Bhagavad Gita, performing Bhagavad Gita ahuti of each verse or selected chapters into the sacred fire, and discussing the subject matter of Bhagavad Gita in the association of devotees. Distribution of Bhagavad Gitas' on this day is also a very auspicious activity to perform.

Remembering the Scene:

The Pandavas army took the western side of the battlefield of Kurukshetra. They were facing the east. Their army was stationed near a lake. A white royal umbrella was seen in the Kauravas army. The soldiers started warning up at the thought of the battle ahead. Blowing of conches raised a great tumult and beating of drums and many other instruments were sounded to announce the readiness for the war. Excitement was building up.

The warriors of both the sides met and settled the rules of the war. Only equals will fight in personal duels. Those who surrender, there lives will be spared, No charioteer, animal, or servants who were not soldiers were to be attacked. These and some other rules that were usual in a Dharma-Yuddha or a righteous war were finalised and both the sides agreed to abide by them.

On the eve of the war, sage Vyasa visited the palace of Dhritarastra, who was his son, now the terrible days are in store. All your sons and the kings will be killed soon. This is settled by fate. It is ordained so, do not be sorry. I shall grant you your eyesight so that you may witness the war. Dhritarastra was shaken by the stark words of the sage. He said, ‘My lord, I have been blind all my life. I do not want to see my sons dying in the battlefield. If someone can give me an account of the war as it unfolds, I shall be happy. Vyasa said, Sanjaya would get the power to see everything that happens in the war. He will be able to see during the day as well as in the night. He shall be even able to know the thoughts of the persons engaged in the war. He shall not be tired or exhausted. The omens are all against the Kauravas." Saying this the great sage departed.

(After this the entire account of the war is as related by Sanjaya to the blind king Dhritarastra)

Duryodhana was busy arranging his troops in a battle array. He told Dussashan, ‘take care to protect our grandsire, Bhishma. All the chariots and warriors should be placed in such a position to Bhishma. He alone is capable of destroying the entire army of the Pandavas led by Dhristadhyumna. We should pay special attentions to kill Shikhandi. He could be a source of danger to Bhishma.

Then (one Akshauhini of Army comprises of 21870 chariots, 21870 elephants, 65610 horses and 109350 men.) akshauhinis of the Kauravas army was arranged in Vyuha (battle array) and one akshauhini was under the direct control of Bhishma. Bhishma chariot was white-silver coloured, it was driven by white horses and his flag was golden, bearing his personal insignia. The Sun was rising in a golden dawn. Bhishma spoke to his soldiers, "Today is a very auspicious day. The gates of heavens are open to all the Kshatriyas who will be fortunate to die in the battle. It is not beckoning of a Kshatriya to die in bed or of sickness. Battlefield is the only glorious place to die. Without thinking about tomorrow do your best to win the war. Karna was the only warrior who had not joined the war. Bhishma chief body guard was Ashwathama, who was supported by seven more warriors. Salya and Bhurishrava were among them. Duryodhana’s banner was proudly fixed a top his chariot.

Looking at the vast army of the Kauravas, Yudhisthira said to Arjuna. Their army is so huge. They have eleven akshauhinis against them we have only seven. How best can be arrange our army in battle formation. Bhishma is quite formidable. Arjuna said, that he would arrange the army in a ‘Vyuha’ named ‘Vajra’. This was the favourite arrangement of lord Indra. Dhristadhyumna was in the centre of the army. Bhima, Yudhisthira, protected him and Arjuna supported Shikhandi. The most prominent banner in the Pandava side was that of Arjuna, having lord Hanumana himself on it, driven by Krishna, having white horses. All those who knew the reality, saluted Krishna. Krishna said to Arjuna, ‘See the army of the Kauravas, led by your old grandsire. The lion among the Kaurava heroes, is your first victim.

courtesy BBT Int.

This is the anniversary day commemorating the day that Srimad Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Sri Krishna to His dearmost devotee Arjuna at the place now known as Jyotisar Tirtha amid the waring families of the Kurus and the Pandavas at Kurukshetra. If one wishes one can still go and visit that place and see the monument erected there with Krishna as Parthasarati (the chariot driver) and Arjuna the warrior on their chariot. It is claimed by the ashram who maintain the shrine that the tree that is next to Them is a continum growth of the original tree witness that was there at the actual day of speaking.

Traditionally devotees come to Kurukshetra (Dharmakshetra) and recite Bhagavad Gita from early morning until the next morning, perform arati to Bhagavad Gita and to Krishna and Arjuna upon the chariot, offer lamps 'deep daan' at Brahma Sarovar, shloka recitals, shobha yatras and seminars on the significance of the Gita today.

Devotees who cannot get to Jyotisar Tirtha remember the blessed event by reciting Bhagavad Gita, performing Bhagavad Gita ahuti of each verse or selected chapters into the sacred fire, and discussing the subject matter of Bhagavad Gita in the association of devotees. Distribution of Bhagavad Gitas' on this day is also a very auspicious activity to perform.

What is the Bhagavad Gita?

The Bhagavad Gita(BG) was spoken by Sri Krishna to His friend and disciple, Arjuna at the beginning of the epic war, Mahabharata. BG provides the concise conclusion of the millions of verses in all the Vedic scriptures. In just eighteen chapters containing seven hundred verse, Sri Krishna answers all questions about the duty of the living entity. In glorifying the BG, Lord Shiva says in the Gita Mahatmya (Padma Purana) that it is sufficient to lead one to liberation.

How should one read the BG? The BG should be studied in the same mood as it was heard by Arjuna. Sri Krishna declares that He is revealing this most confidential knowledge to Arjuna because is not envious and He is a friend. So one must read and understand the BG in the mood of at least theoretically accepting the position of Krishna as God. This knowledge is never revealed to one who reads it in a challenging and speculative mood.

Owing to the universal message in the BG, many people take to it instinctively. Unfortunately its importance has also given rise to many people speculating and misinterpreting it. In order to protect the trusting people from this kind of cheating, Sri Krishna stresses the importance of Paramapara (disciplic succession) and Guru (spiritual master) in receiving the knowledge of the BG.

Who should read the BG? The BG is often referred to as the "Handbook for humanity". Never in the BG has Sri Krishna restricted the scope of the BG to Hindus or Indians. It is completely non-denominational, meant for any one inquiring about his reason for existence. Indeed many people following Christianity or Islam get a much better perspective of their own religion after reading the BG and are able t o follow their religions with greater conviction.

What is Purpose of the BG? The BG was spoken to guide the conditioned soul on the path of the spiritual advancement. It is presented as principle and details. The dominating principle of the BG is to develop God consciousness. In the details, Sri Krishna explains three primary ways of doing this and then further expands on these paths. He then relates them to each other and brings forth the single most effective path for returning back to God

What are the three paths? These paths are explained as yoga. The Sanskrit word "yoga" means connecting to the absolute, and it is in this context that the word yoga is used in the BG.

The three paths given by Sri Krishna are Karma yoga, Jnana yoga and Bhakti yoga. The first six chapters primarily discuss Karma yoga, liberation by performing prescribed activities. The last six chapters primarily talk about Jnana yoga, liberation by worshipping the Lord through one's intelligence. Ensconced between these two "protective" covers, like a pearl in the oyster, in the middle six chapters, Krishna reveals the most confidential of all knowledge, Bhakti yoga, the path of pure, unalloyed devotional service. He declares this to be the highest, the easiest and the fastest path to Him, and for one who is fortunate to embark on it, the binding illusions of Maya are dispelled in no time.

What is Karma yoga? A person situated in Karma yoga executes one's prescribed duties. These duties are as prescribed by the Varnashrama system created By Krishna through the Vedas. According to one's ability and inclination, a person may acquires a particular varna. He may become a Brahaman (teacher, guide), Ksatriya (administrator, warrior), Vaishya (merchant, farmer) or Sudra (worker). According to his situation he lives in one of the four ashrams: Brahamacari (student), Grahastha (married), Vanaprastha (retired) and Sannyasa (detached). The eight fold Varnashram system is created to allow one to be aware of his prescribed duties and execute them properly. It is important to note here is that the BG stresses that a varna is acquired by one's ability and inclination, never by birth. So in the BG, there is no support of the "caste-system" prevalent in India. The Varnashram system appears naturally in all societies over the world.

Performing prescribed duties will earn a person much pious credit, but it will also continue to bind him to the material world. So Karma can be "sakarma" (done in anticipation of enjoying its fruits) or "nishkarma" (detached from the results). In both cases a person is attached to performing the activity. However, when a person performs activities only for the pleasure of the Lord, he has reached the stage of Bhakti. For instance Sadhna (japa, arati, kirtan) are activities performed with no material motives, simply to glorify or remember the Lord. Thus Karma yoga can be used to elevate one self to the position of Bhakti yoga by first performing prescribed activities, then renouncing the fruits of the activities to Krishna and finally by renouncing the activity in itself to Krishna.

What is Bhakti yoga? The path of devotion is described as the most confidential path back to Godhead. It is described as the "elevator" approach to Krishna as opposed to all the other "staircase" paths. The essence of the Bhakti yoga is summarized by Sri Krishna in Chapter 9, Verse 34, as follows: "Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me."

This verse, often considered to be the summary verse of the entire BG, contains the essence of the existence of a spirit soul. In the material world, trapped in the illusory sense of identifying with the body and its extensions, a spirit soul remains forever bewildered by the duality of existence. However by simply surrendering to Krishna, understanding Him to be the original, primeval cause of all causes and thus worshipping Him without any desires of material benefit, one can easily go back to Him.

Bhakti yoga does not mean inactivity. Indeed a bhakta is most active, for he sees all his activities now in relation to the Supreme. But he is detached from the activity and the fruits of the activity, neither happy in success nor distressed in failure, understanding that all this is ultimately for Krishna and coming from Him only.

What is Jnana yoga? In the Jnana section Krishna elaborates about the five factors of existence: Isavara (God), Jivatma (Soul), Kala (Time), Karma (actions) and Prakriti (Nature). He explains that while Kala, Prakriti, Jiva and Isavara are eternal, Karama is not. As long as one is involved in fruitive activities, the cycle of Karma, performed in one of the three modes of material Nature (goodness, passion, ignorance) is binding. For every action, good or bad, there is a reaction. This cycle can only be broken by performing devotional service, since that does not have any reactions, good or bad. In this stage the person transcends the material plane of existence and enters into the spiritual realm.

When Krishna explains the path of spiritual advancement by knowledge, Arjuna gets confused between the Karma (action) and Jnana (inaction). Krishna explains that one must strive for activities performed in knowledge of Him, which will ultimately lead to Bhakti. Philosophy without faith is speculation, and faith without philosophy is rituals. The two must complement each other. Thus, Krishna once again stresses that the ultimate goal of all transcendentalists is Him. They may reach Him directly by Bhakti or first reach Bhakti through Karma or Jnana.

Why has Krishna given alternatives? A confusing aspect of the BG is the fact that while acknowledging the superiority of Bhakti yoga. Krishna spends considerable time talking about Jnana and Karma yoga. He even speaks briefly about the eight fold astanga yoga process followed by the mystics. For many people this is very confusing if not apparently contradictory.

In reality. Krishna is offering some thing for every one according to their levels of advancement and inclination. As God, He does not interfere with the free will of a living entity. But as the most compassionate well wisher He wants every one to leave this material world of misery and return to the original spiritual abode.

So, for a person attracted to action, there is Karma yoga. For the intellectual there is Jnana yoga. For the mystic there is astanga yoga. The BG meets the person at the level they are in and gradually elevates them to the platform where they become qualified to execute Bhakti yoga, pure devotional service. A very few fortunate souls, by the causeless mercy of Krishna and His devotees, are able to take directly to Bhakti, and for them the way back to Godhead is quick and easy.

Conclusion We hope that these points address your interests and motivate you to read the Bhagavad Gita As It Is.

compiled by HG JT caran prabhu

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisnaces, All gloris to Srila Prabhupad. 

By blessings of H.H,Lokanath Maharaj and all vaishnavas.. we have activated PANDHARPUR PARIKRAMA which used to be done in ancient times by devotees.There was ancient tradition of doing dham Parikrama , Holy Bath in river chiandrabhaga and taking divine Darshan of Lord Vitthal- Rikminiji. 

Many great saints and acharyas like Ramanujacharya, Madhavacharya, Nimbarkacharya,..Saint Tukaram, Namdev, Dyaneshwar..etc would do this parikrama and visit holy places around, take bath and take darshan of Lord Vitthla which is noone but Lord Krishna. This year 2016 is our third year of Pandharpur dham Parikrama. 

As Gaudiya Vaishnav Sampradaya we have great connecetion to Pandharpur dham. 

1) Lord chaitanya's elder Brother Lord Vishvarupa who became Sanyasi and chose this place as his Kshetriya Sanyas, stayed here and ended his pasttimes here. 

2) Lord Nityananda stayed here for long time and got initiated by his spiritual Master Laxmiteertha ji. 

3)Lord Chaitanya came to pandharpur to take darshan of Lord Vitthla and also in search of his elder brother Vishwarup swami. He stayed here for 11 days and during his stay he would take holy bath in river Chandrabhaga and dance ecstatically whenever he takes darshan of Lord. Please find attached files for schedule and details of Parikrama. This year Parikrama is commenced on 15.16,17 and 18 february 2016 15 feb is Bhishmashtami 16 feb is Navami 17 feb is dashami (the day when Chaitanya mahaprabhu initiated saint Tukaram) 18 feb is Jaya Eakadashi (Maagh Wari which is one of crowded Ekadashi of Pandharpur) 18 th february is Jaya Ekadashi (magh waari) which is one of biggest eakadashi festival at Pandharpur. Thousands of Dindis( Big sankirtan group) from all over march by walking with ecstatic sankirtan for Pandharpur to take holy bath in river and take darshan of Lord. So if you remain this day in Pandharpur dham you will see everywhere vibrant atmosphere because of constant chanting of name of Lord. 

We request all of you to please spread awareness of this Parikrama to your respective centers and tell all devotees to participate and expireince SPIRITUAL BLISS of Sridham Pandharpur. 

Thank you,
Your servant 
Brajprem Das.

Pls write to 
pandharpurparikrama@gmail.com for registration 

and for more details visit... 
www.iskconpandharpur.com ;
www.pandharpurdham.org

In this recent time we have been concentrating on the interior and exterior finishing work on the TOVP. A lot of progress was made just in the past weeks.

GRC Workshop

Sadbhuja Prabhu congratulating Savya Sachi Prabhu on the opening of the GRC Workshop. All machinery, materials and devotees have moved to the new location, equipped with a gantry crane, office and big storage area, the GRC workshop is officially moving at full speed.

 

Sandstone

With no time to wait, the sandstone has arrived from Rajastan and already we have begun applying the Jali windows. This Pink Sandstone will frame the windows of the 2 base floors of the Planetarium and Nrshimha Dev wings.

 

Art work

Indra, the king of Suwarga Loka and the Demigods, bows down to the fierce form of Lord Nrshimha Dev. This murti will appear in the left wing of the temple, over-looking the Nrshimha Dev altar. In this pastime, as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam 7th canto, other demigods will be present offering their respects to the Lord. Led by Bhaskara Prabhu, the art team is creating the 7 feet (2.1 M) tall murtis in Ganga mud and straw. Once a model is created, the casting progress will commence to make the murtis. Next they will be colourfully painted.

 

Blue Marble

Bolivian blue marble is a very prestigious marble, only an expert can select a good batch. Sadbhuja Prabhu had to travel to Bolivia to pick the best quality marble. This splendid blue marble will be used for the altars of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Panchatattva and Guru Parampara. This is our last purchase of the Blue Marble from Bolivia.

ISKCON Outreach is an initiative of GBC Strategic Planning Team. It is resource for all ISKCON leaders and members to learn the successful techniques of outreach adapted by different centers and members all around the world. In these video-interviews Iskcon leaders and devotees are sharing their outreach programs and realizations about how to present the science of Krishna consciousness in today’s society.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17676