Lecture on Thematic Essence of Chaitanya Charitamrita by HG Charuchandra Prabhu on 18 Jan 2015
(His Grace Charuchandra Prabhu is a disciple of HH Gopal Krishna Swami. He is a Biomedical Scientist by profession and is based out of Washington, DC, USA. By the order of his Guru Maharaja, he has been conducting such courses based on Srila Prabhupada's books on Vedic scriptures for more than 12 years now. )
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An appeal from Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education
Shri Vrindavan Dham
Dear devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Shrila Prabhupada.
The Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE) was established to
fulfill Srila Prabhupada's desire for an educational institute in
Vrindavana. Located on the ISKCON Goshala land in Ramana Reti, the
VIHE provides an ideal facility and atmosphere conducive for serious
sadhana, deep study, development of devotional qualities, association
with senior devotees and training in practical skills relevant to
management and preaching. The VIHE is conducting a four-level
systematic study of Srila Prabhupada's books envisioned by Srila
Prabhupada, i.e. Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhava, Bhakti-vedanta and
Bhakti-sarvabhauma (to begin soon). Beside that, we yearly organize a
number of courses and retreats to help devotees from around the world
to strengthen devotional life and enhance their preaching with an
unforgettable experience of kirtan and Krishna katha in the Holy
Dhama.
The VIHE functions as a brahminical entity. Although we do request
students to contribute to the administrative cost of running the
courses, we depend on well-wishers for most of our expenses. We would
like to request your support in taking the VIHE a little forward. It
has been a few years now that we have been struggling to operate from
our current setup, which has simply become too small. Our activities
have been expanding. Last year we were unable to admit all the
devotees who applied for the Bhakti Shastri course because they would
not have fit in the classroom. For Bhakti Vaibhava has also been
steadily increasing; we have plenty of requests for the Hindi Bhakti
Shastri, which we are only able to facilitate once every two or three
years, and we have recently started a Sanskrit grammar course.
Applications for the 2015 semesters have already started to come in
and we would like to be able to respond adequately. Besides the
shortage of classroom space we are also tight with office and storage
space, and the accommodation of teachers is often problematic.
While we would like to develop the institute as a new full-fledged
project, complete with 7 classrooms, a comprehensive library, staff
and student quarters, temple hall, kitchen, expended offices and
gardens, - at this stage however we have decided to only take a small
leap forward and set our determination on constructing new rooms atop
the present building. Our plan is for two additional classrooms, two
rooms with attached bath for teachers, one office and a staircase
below which storage space will be accommodated. The work will also
include renovation of the washrooms and sewage system.
Please give some support toward this important educational endeavor.
We are in need of contributions in order to accommodate more and more
devotees eager to study Srila Prabhupada’s books. It is our hope that
we will be able to gather sufficient funds quickly so the classrooms
may be ready in time for the new academic year. We would be very
grateful for and encouraged by your assistance.
To send your donations, please contact Damodarashtaka dasa:
damodar.vihe@gmail.com
To see the photos of the present VIHE construction work, please go to
https://picasaweb.google.com/108723086666292087250/2015VIHERenovationConstruction
I hope this meets you well and in blissful spirit.
Your servant
Prashanta Devi Dasi.
Director, VIHE.
Madhumangala Prabhu has passed on. He distributed books from the time he joined in South Africa, about twenty years ago.
He was one of the most personal book distributors I ever met. It was common for him to embrace the people who took books from him. He was a jolly devotee with a million-dollar smile.
One thing I tell people who ask whether we are distributing something religious, came from Madhumangala.
He would respond, “This is not religious. Religion tells you what to do. This knowledge tells you who you are, and then you decide for yourself what to do.”
People like that and take books.
He traveled all over Africa distributing Prabhupada's books. He went to places where many devotees would not think of going to distribute. He was adventurous.
He had so many amazing stories, and he was compiling a book about them. I assume that it will come out posthumously. Many of his book distribution stories are on the BDN.
One of his amazing stories comes to mind. He was on his way back to the temple after book distribution and stopped at a street light. He turned to his right and saw a group of young men in the back of a truck.
He said to one of them, “I have these great books on yoga and meditation and how to achieve pleasure within. Would you like to check this out?”
One said, “Yes, that sounds interesting.”
There wasn't much traffic so the vehicles just stayed there while Madhumangala showed the books to the man. By now they were outside of their vehicles, and he was explaining the books.
The man ended up taking books and giving a nice donation, and then Madhu gave him one of his hugs. This gives you an idea of how spontaneous and fearless he was.
The good news is that he passed away at the Sri Sri Radha-Radhanatha temple in Durban early in the morning, just before the brahma-muhurta, while hearing a recording of Srila Prabhupada chanting Hare Krsna.
For the last couple of weeks his health had deteriorated primarily because of heart issues.
The sad news is we won't see his smiling face anymore, and we won't have his friendly association; fewer people in Africa will receive Srila Prabhupada's books. He was much loved by those who knew him.
REMEMBERING LILA SHAKTI Devi Dasi
By Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami (formerly Makhanlal das)
Another great soul has left this world to join Srila Prabhupada in nitya lila, that is my
God sister, Lila Shakti Devi Dasi. In "modern ISKCON" she is known hardly at all by
"newer devotees". However, there was a time in the history of ISKCON decades ago
when she was world famous as one of the world's top distributors of Srila Prabhupada's
books. I knew her very well in her "hey-days", or "golden years" of fame as a book
distributor, for we were both living in Los Angeles, California, USA in those days. She
was a Los Angeles book distributor, helping to make world history when Srila
Prabhupada was so pleased by the hundreds of thousands or more books being sold,
especially by the Los Angeles temple. In those days, L.A. was the world "king" of
Prabhupada's book distribution, rivaled by none, and she was a great general in that
army! It was in that era that Srila Prabhupada gave his famous order to the devotees
"double it", even though the numbers of books sold were already huge in number,
absolutely phenomenal—the greatest in the history of ISKCON. Lila shakti did her level
best to help Srila Prabhupada's dream come true, although t was "mission impossible";
still, hundreds of devotees were working twelve hour days to try to have Srila
Prabhupada's order and his dream fulfilled.
Although famous in those days, Lila Shakti was never puffed up—simply unconditionally
dedicated to Srila Prabhupada's desires. She was a self-sacrificing, humble devotee with
many good qualities. She underwent many years of severe tapasya distributing books
for Srila Prabhupada. It was tough being shouted at by demons in the airport "Get a
job!" It was very hard to hear so many of hundreds of people say. "I'm not
interested!"and walk away as swiftly as they could. Yet, she did not become
discouraged, though there were certainly very rough and not so productive days. That
was part of the service; yet just when things were looking hopeless, due to constant
prayer, Krishna would send a sincere soul, or two or four, who appreciated the books
and could sense the value by the distributor's total dedication. Of course, Lila shakti
knew the art of how to sell books under very unfavorable, tough conditions. In effect,
she and the other top book distributors were professionally expert at sales. They knew
what to say and what to do to change the mind of even a seasoned demon! Sometimes
the distributors would approach the CEO of a multibillion dollar corporation. Quite
often, the CEO would complement the devotee: "You're good! I want to hire you for my
company!", but I never heard that any book distributor took up those lucrative (big
wealth-producing, high salaried) job offers. They selflessly remained faithful to Srila
Prabhupada's mission. Lila shakti was certainly amongst such dedicated devotees,
tolerating all material set-backs on a daily basis. They fearlessly approached everyone,
without care for their social status, high or low, famous or unknown.
There is no doubt that during her book distribution "career", Lila shakti approached
many celebrities—movie stars, famous musicians, etc, and often they would walk away
with several of Srila Prabhupada's books! Over the years, more or less, she wore out her
body in that service without consideration of the back pain, body aches, and all the
other negatives that came with that extremely difficult service. The book bags alone
might weigh 30 pounds (13 kg) or more—a real physical strain, but she and all the other
leading distributors tolerated it.
With time, Lila Shakti was forced to retire from book distribution, no doubt for physical
reasons. I haven't seen her for many decades, but apparently she retired in Carpentaria,
California, a pleasant citrus-orchard area just south of Santa Barbara and about 1 1/2
hour drive from Los Angeles. She must have been living with her wonderful parents,
Sam and Rose Forkash, who were / are 16 roundchanting, initiated devotees. Sam may
have passed away, but in 2013 Rose had her 93rd birthday celebration, which was
attended by Giriraj Swami, who also is headquartered in that most pleasant area near
the ocean. Sam and Rose headed up and pioneered the Los Angeles "Folk" (Friends of
Lord Krishna) program for many years, one of the first congregational preaching
outreach efforts in the US. They also guided the "Meals on Wheels" program which
delivered fresh, hot Krishna Prasadam to the elderly; So we see that lila Shakti's whole
family were and are (whoever is surviving) great souls.
Dina Bandu prabhu wrote that he was "sad" upon hearing of Lila Shakti's departure from
this (miserable) material world. However, I have to declare what a fortunate soul she is
to be re-united with Srila Prabhupada and his ever-growing family in Goloka Vrindavan.
Srila Prabhupada told us "There will be another ISKCON in the spiritual world". This
certainly did not refer to an institution, but rather to an eternal spiritual family. We are
all part of Srila Prabhupada's family and will all join with him in Goloka, even those who
never physically met him but follow his instructions carefully, unless they want name,
fame, power, sex, money, opulence, etc, in which case they may go to the heavenly
planets (Swarga Loka).
In a famous letter that Srila Prabhupada wrote to Jayananda prabhu after his departure
from this world, he declared "If you had any material desires, then perhaps you went to
the heavenly planets, but I don't think so!" Similarly, I fully agree with Dina Bandu
prabhu that Srila Prabhupada personally came and escorted Lila shakti to Vraj! Why
not? There are multiple, witnessed reports of Srila Prabhupada personally comng to
take much less qualified or dedicated persons than Lila Shakti D.D!
There is a true story told by Jananivas prabhu, head pujari in Mayapur, about an elderly
lady whose health was failing; so her devotee family took her to Vrindavan for full, Vraja
Dham parikram, knowing that she was going to leave her body soon. For some reason,
they then returned her to Mumbai instead of keeping her in Vrindavan. The woman
then left her body in Mumbai. Her sister came up from South India to join in observing a
memorial service. She went to the temple with the family and saw Srila Prabhupada
sitting on the Vyasasagn. She loudly exclaimed, "I SAW THAT MAN! He appeared to me
in a dream and said "Don't worry about your sister. She is under MY protection now!"
Yes, this is indeed a true story! This being the case we can certainly understand that Lila
Shakti is now with Srila Prabhupada in Vraj beyond all doubt, regardless of what his
swarup (spiritual body) may be! There is no need even to pray for her, because Srila
Prabhupad is (present tense) taking care of everything, just as he promised his sincere
disciples at the time of initiation.
So there is another ISKCON in the spiritual world, with Srila Prabhupada in the center of
the fully transcendental, fully liberated family. Lila Shakti has gone to join Brahmananda,
Bhakti Tirtha Swami, our God brother Sridhar Swami, Swarup Damodara Maharaj, Tamal
Krishna Goswami, Mula Prakriti D.D. (another pioneer book distributor) as well as so
many other less famous Prabhupada initiates. They are all in nitya lila beyond doubt,
while we still suffer in material bodies in this world of birth, death, old age, and disease.
We should all sing "Ye analo prema dana", for we are left behind; but our time is coming
soon. Almost all the Prabhupada disciples are over sixty years old now, having joined
ISKCON in our early twenties. My body is 69 years old. For all readers, please take note
that there is a great urgent need to support the GBC's fledgling retirement village plan in
Mayapur, for while the sannyasis and brahmachris can find a home in Mayapur Senior
Brahmachari Ashram, the elderly Vaishnavis have no place to take shelter, even though
they spent the best years of their life, with their own "blood" building this movement!
There are "unsung" heroes and heroines like Maithili D.D. who chained herself to the
Juhu deity shed (no temple yet) when the police came to destroy the make-shift deity
room. She fearlessly declared, "You will have to kill me first!" The police had to back off!
Yet last I heard, she was still in Southern California trying to make a living on her own in
her elderly years. In America, unlike India, there is rarely family to fall back on. Most
Western disciples gave up everything for Srila Prabhupada, cutting all family ties. In their
youth, they spent their best years assisting Srila Prabhupada when they should have
been developing career, by material standards. They sacrificed everything for
Prabhupada, but now they are mostly forgotten, out to pasture to die on their own, now
old with no shelter. It is absolutely essential that ISKCON provide this shelter without
delay, for they cannot create it themselves. The planned Mayapur retirement village is
much needed, but there should be at least 1,000 apartments, for the parents in India
who have donated their only son to ISKCON should also be able to retire there in a
devotional life. The current plan for retirement apartments, I fear, is far too small.
California GBC member Badri Narayan Maharaja is apparently in charge of this project,
so everyone reading should give their full support. Not all are as fortunate as Lila shakti
to have a "happy ending" to their story; rather, many are left with a brutal struggle for
existence in old age, and action must be taken to support them, especially the elderly
single Vaishnavis, some of whom are still struggling to earn a living while competing
with the youth that employers prefer to hire. This is truly sad, not leaving the wretched
material world, but struggling in old age without support from anyone.
Remembering lila Shakti, please help assist the elderly devotees. This will help
strengthen the legacy for the Prabhupada disciples in their final years.
Respectfully submitted,
Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami
Maharaj/Prabhu, as you must be knowing that we are celebrating this
year"50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada going to west on Jaladuta" on 13th
August in "Netaji Indoor Stadium" in Kolkata the birth city of Srila
Prabhupada. Around 15,000 people will be coming from
all over the world for this grand festival.
The event shall be graced by many senior leaders of ISKCON, delegates and
celebrities from various sections of society.
The highlight of the event is a 15-20 min program entitled: "He built a home
in which the whole world can
live" or "The real United Nations" .
Since Srila Prabhupada United the whole world, we are planning that at least
one devotee each from each country will participate in a special Harinam
procession with his/her country flag. Till now we have got confirmation from
devotees of around 70 countries. but still over 100 countries are left out
where as per our information Srila Prabhupad's mercy has reached. Please
come down to Kolkata to thank Srila Prabhupada, who 50 years back took
tremendous hardship to board the Jaladuta to deliver the whole world. Please
see the attached sheet where list of country from where we have not got any
devotees name who will be participating. If you find the name of your
country in the list kindly email us immediately. Time is very short.
Already, around 70 countries devotees have been finalized to come for this
program.
We are also trying to record this event in "Guinness Book of World Record".
For this we need your help. I am sending you the list of countries which is
still remaining. If you know anyone from these countries and they are
willing to come for this grand festival to glorify Srila Prabhupada all over
the world by making this event most successful, please let us know. Or,
anyone who can help us in this regard. For any clarifications please call me
on +91 94343506434 or write a mail on bps@pamho.net or ujjvala2009@gmail.com
As we have very few days left, kindly contact us soon.
Your humble servant
Bhakti Purusottama Swami
www.bpswami.com
www.mayapur.com
www.navadvipaparikrama.com
www.puriparikrama.com
www.iskcontribalcare.com
+91 9434506434
Following is the list of countries from where no devotees have informed us
about their participation:
Name
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belgium
Cyprus
Estonia
Georgia
Greece
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Romania
San Marino
Spain
Vatican City
Following is the list of GBC with countries for your reference
Bhakti Bhrnga Govinda Swami
Iraq
Lebanon
Syria
Kyrgyzstan
Tadjikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Bhakti Caitanya Swami
Angola
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Swaziland
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Estonia
Bhakti Purusottama Swami
North Korea
South Korea
Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Bhutan
Jordan
Yemen
Bhakti-bhusana Swami
Paraguay
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Panama
Belize
Costa Rica
Nicaragua
Bhaktivaibhava Swami
Mongolia
Albania
Macedonia
Romania
Bhanu Swami
Brunei
Maldives
Bir Krishna Das Goswami
Kosovo
Serbia and Montenegro
Caitanya Chandra Charan Das
Georgia (CIS)
Kyrgyzstan
Tadjikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Taiwan
Dina Sharana Devi Dasi
Austria
Liechtenstein
Gopal Krishna Goswami
Botswana
Burundi
Rwanda
Tanzania
Uganda
Azerbaijan
Guru Prasad Swami
Mexico
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Panama
Belize
Nicaragua
Trinidad & Tobago
Hari Vilas Das
Algeria
Burkina Faso
Chad
Djibouti
Egypt
Ethiopia
Gambia
Libya
Mali
Mauritania
Morocco
Niger
Senegal
Somalia
Sudan
Tunisia
Armenia
Afghanistan
Iran
Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Hridaya Caitanya Das
Andorra
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Jayapataka Swami
Comoros
Seychelles
Jordan
Yemen
Brunei
Maldives
Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Bolivia
Kavicandra Swami
Cambodia
Laos
Vietnam
Benin
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Congo
Congo - Kinshasa
Gabon
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Liberia
Rio Muni
Sierra Leone
Togo
Thailand
Madhu Sevita Das
Cyprus
Greece
Malta
San Marino
Belgium
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Praghosa Das
Iceland
Ramai Swami
Micronesia
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Ravindra Svarupa Das
Austria
Liechtenstein
Sivarama Swami
Turkey
Romania
Tamohara Das
Georgia (US)
Virabahu Das
Surinam
Bhakti Sundar Goswami
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Panama
Jagajivana Das
Bolivia
Paratma Nistha Tridandi Goswami Das
Trinidad & Tobago
Surinam
(Text PAMHO:27749540) -
*By Shastra-krit das*
Friday evening 7 pm, Santa Monica Promenade
Harinam was going on full-swing and I was approaching people with books who
were standing near the chanting.
I approached this friendly-looking man in his late 30’s. I put the Gita in
his hand and told him that I’m showing books on mediation to all the nice
people on the Promenade this evening.
He was polite and calm and with a smile asked if the book I’m trying to
give him is in my language (he could tell I’m from Indian background, so he
probably meant Hindi). I said no, originally it was written in Sanskrit but
now it’s been translated by this great master, word for word into English.
I showed him the photo of Srila Prabhupada from the back cover.
After I explained a bit about the Gita, I could tell he was very attracted.
He told me he loves Gandhi, Indian food, culture, Bollywood etc. Many
Arabic-speakers who have taken Arabic books from me have said the same
thing about loving Indian culture.
Then he says “Oh well if this book is in your language or English it’s the
same to me” (meaning he can’t understand either). I asked him what he means
because his English is very good, and he said “just so-so."
Paramatma then gave me intelligence that he speaks Arabic. I always carry a
Gita and a few small Arabic books in my hand, but I had just finished
distributing the last Arabic book that I was holding to another nice
gentleman from Saudi Arabia. So I asked him “Can you read Arabic?” he
replied with a smile “Of course I can that’s my language."
So I reached into my book box and pulled out a Perfection of Yoga in Arabic
and handed it to him. His eyes went wide and he was in a total shock that I
had a book on ancient yoga teachings of India in his own beloved Arabic.
What i have observed is that these Middle Eastern people are very attached
to their birth language, and they respect it and are very proud of it. They
text in Arabic on their smartphones, and have their phone key pads in
Arabic. So they are really amazed and actually deeply grateful to see that
we have translated our books into their own Arabic for them. I mean no one
ever gives them anything in Arabic! So they can’t believe it, and I wind up
selling up to a few dozen of the Arabic books each and every day. It’s so
easy and fun to do that I think I am getting kind of addicted to this very
special gift of bliss.
Everyone should be tasting this!
So it was with excitement and enthusiasm that he read the title of the
cover, “Kamala Yoga” (Perfection of Yoga), opened the book and read a
paragraph really fast out loud, read the back of the book and then asked
how much do you want for the book. So I thought I will just give him this
Arabic Perfection of Yoga since he said he can’t read English, but by now
he insisted on keeping the Gita as well. He pulled out a wad of money and
gave me a $20, and just then I noticed someone was standing close by with a
video camera recording us.
So we thanked each other profusely and he started walking away. As he was
leaving, so many Middle Eastern men and women were taking photos of him and
talking selfies with him. So I thought to myself what’s going on here? So I
approached him again, and he acknowledged me and came towards me from the
midst of all these fans.
I asked him “Are you famous”? He says “Yes I’m an actor and director from
Syria and my name is Kosai Khauli, please pray for me.” I later discovered
that he is one of the most highly-acclaimed and loved actors in the Middle
Eastern world.
I humbly requested, “Can I please take a photo of you holding the books
that you just got from me?”
He replied, “Oh now you want me to pose with your books? Well now that it’s
commercial you’ll have to pay me, at least give my money back” and then he
broke out laughing and then we both had a hearty laugh. We took a photo
together of him holding the historical Srila Prabhupada’s book in Arabic.
Through the hard work and strong desire of Satyanarayana Prabhu and the BBT
Far East/Middle East, we now have these beautiful Prabhupada books in
Arabic. They can be seen at www.bbtfeme.com , and for the reasons I
described above they are actually really fun and easy to distribute. But
although this is true, as Vaisesika Prabhu says we have to get the books
first and only then we will be able to distribute them. So I think everyone
should taste this bliss and stock up on these special books asap! And I beg
all the vaishnavas to pray that Kosai reads them fully and helps us to
distribute them amongst the other Arabic-speaking celebrities. Their fans
will surely follow in their footsteps as did some of Kosai’s fans that
blissful evening on the Promenade!
In Vrindavan in 2014 we inaugurated the Gratitude Coin program to help fund the TOVP project.
Our first presentation was at Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day festival during Kartik. At that time Jayasri mataji and Pratapana prabhu from Sydney, Australia pledged two Platinum coins, a total of $500,000, in the service of the TOVP construction. With so many other services and responsibilities they have taken up in their local temple, they have come forward to serve this International project and the world headquarters of ISKCON. Their seva is exemplary and motivates all of us to also make a big sacrifice and serve Srila Prabhupada by making a pledge to build this temple.
By Deena Bandhu Das:
I am very sad to inform you that just two hours ago a very dear Godsister, Lilashakti Linda Forkash, left this world. She was one of the biggest book distributors the world has known. So devoted and compassionate in wanting to connect the fallen souls with Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. I know that Srila Prabhupada will take her in his embrace and lead her to Lotus Feet of her Lordships Radha Shyamsundar. Please join us in prayer for her!
Lecture on Trying to Understand transcendence from a Conditioned State by Sivarama Swami on 13 June 2015 at Torrence
(Sivarama Swami was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1949. In 1956, during the failed Hungarian revolution, he emigrated with his family to Canada.)
To Listen and Download - click here
Lecture on Vairagya Vidya ka Vastavik Arth by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami on 29 Mar 2015 at Bhopal
(His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami appeared in this world in 1957 in England. He joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in London in 1975 and was initiated in that year with the name Ilapati dasa by ISKCON’s founder-acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.)
To Listen and Download - click here
Lecture on Sri Krishna Svayam Bhagwan hai by HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami on 05 Mar 2015 at ISKCON Belgaum
(His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrita Swami completed his B.E. from M.S University Baroda, MBA from Bombay University & worked for some time in a multinational Bank. Inspired by the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder acharya of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness.)
To Listen and Download - click here
Dear devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Another well-known title, On the Way to Krishna, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is now in ebook form and available at bbtmedia.com in all flavors.
On the Way to Krsna is based on lectures Srila Prabhupada gave, mostly on the 7th chapter of the Bhagavad-gita, in New York in the fall of 1966. These were still his early days in the United States, and he addresses a quintessential part of what we think of as the American dream: the right to pursue happiness. Of course, the desire for happiness is not an American phenomenon but intrinsic to the human condition.
Without knowing what real happiness is, Srila Prabhupada says, happiness is impossible to achieve. In this small book, Srila Prabhupada discusses how happiness is found beyond the temporary, and illumines Lord Krishna's definition of happiness as it is presented in the pages of the Bhagavad-gita.
An excellent small book for preaching.
Get it now at:
http://bbtmedia.com/en/ebook/en-owk
Join us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/BBTmedia/765537146807795
Hare Krishna,
BBTmedia.com
Muted tones of sandstone will be used at the foot of the temple as a symbol of strength, shouldering the weight of the temple. The subtle beauty of the Sandstone will wrap the base of the temple all around, inspiring a contemplative mood in the pilgrims as they view the beautiful carvings along the parikrama. The intricate jali will serve as lungs breathing air for the ground floor.
Currently, work is ongoing at a manufacturing unit in Jaipur, aiming to begin installation on site by August. Buddharam Stone Industries in Jaipur, Rajasthan is one of the foremost carvers available in India, following traditional methodologies, and very meticulous work practices. Vilasini devi dasi (Head Architect) and Anupama Shah (Team Lead – Architects) visited their factory to review the work in progress on Sunday, 14 June 2015 and were very much satisfied with their remarkable work.
9 WAYS OF DEVOTION, 9 LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION - Pledge Your Support for the TOVP Today!
With the announcement by the GBC Chairman, Praghosa das, of 2015 as the Year of the TOVP, and the coming of ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary in 2016, along with the overwhelming success of the current North American TOVP Tour, a new and effective fundraising plan has been devised to collect the required funds for its completion. This is the Pledge Program whereby you can make a pledge from one of 9 different donor options and pay it off over the course of 3, 5, or even 7 years, leading up to the Grand Opening in 2022. Anyone can participate and make a substantial pledge, paying it off in small monthly amounts. Go to the TOVP website page below and find out how you can participate:
Lecture on Glories and Pastimes of Vaishnava Acharyas by Prabodhananda Sarasvati Swami on 04 May 2015 at ISKCON Juhu
To Listen and Download - click here
By Shastra-krit das
Friday evening 7 pm, Santa Monica Promenade
Harinam was going on full-swing and I was approaching people with books who were standing near the chanting.
I approached this friendly-looking man in his late 30’s. I put the Gita in his hand and told him that I’m showing books on mediation to all the nice people on the Promenade this evening.
He was polite and calm and with a smile asked if the book I’m trying to give him is in my language (he could tell I’m from Indian background, so he probably meant Hindi). I said no, originally it was written in Sanskrit but now it’s been translated by this great master, word for word into English. I showed him the photo of Srila Prabhupada from the back cover.
After I explained a bit about the Gita, i could tell he was very attracted. He told me he loves Gandhi, Indian food, culture, Bollywood etc. Many Arabic-speakers who have taken Arabic books from me have said the same thing about loving Indian culture.
Then he says “Oh well if this book is in your language or English it’s the same to me” (meaning he can’t understand either). I asked him what he means because his English is very good, and he said “just so-so”.
Paramatma then gave me intelligence that he speaks Arabic. I always carry a Gita and a few small Arabic books in my hand, but I had just finished distributing the last Arabic book that I was holding to another nice gentleman from Saudi Arabia. So I asked him “Can you read Arabic”? he replied with a smile “Of course i can that’s my language”.
So i reached into my book box and pulled out a Perfection of Yoga in Arabic and handed it to him. His eyes went wide and he was in a total shock that I had a book on ancient yoga teachings of India in his own beloved Arabic.
What i have observed is that these Middle Eastern people are very attached to their birth language, and they respect it and are very proud of it. They text in Arabic on their smartphones, and have their phone key pads in Arabic. So they are really amazed and actually deeply grateful to see that we have translated our books into their own Arabic for them. I mean no one ever gives them anything in Arabic! So they can’t believe it, and I wind up selling up to a few dozen of the Arabic books each and every day. It’s so easy and fun to do that I think I am getting kind of addicted to this very special gift of bliss.
Everyone should be tasting this!
So it was with excitement and enthusiasm that he read the title of the cover, “Kamala Yoga” (Perfection of Yoga), opened the book and read a paragraph really fast out loud, read the back of the book and then asked how much do you want for the book. So i thought I will just give him this Arabic Perfection of Yoga since he said he can’t read English, but by now he insisted on keeping the Gita as well. He pulled out a wad of money and gave me a $20, and just then I noticed someone was standing close by with a video camera recording us.
So we thanked each other profusely and he started walking away. As he was leaving, so many Middle Eastern men and women were taking photos of him and talking selfies with him. So I thought to myself what’s going on here? So i approached him again, and he acknowledged me and came towards me from the midst of all these fans.
I asked him “Are you famous”? He says “Yes I’m an actor and director from Syria and my name is Kosai Khauli, please pray for me.” I later discovered that he is one of the most highly-acclaimed and loved actors in the Middle Eastern world.
I humbly requested, “Can I please take a photo of you holding the books that you just got from me?”
He replied, “Oh now you want me to pose with your books? Well now that it’s commercial you’ll have to pay me, at least give my money back” and then he broke out laughing and then we both had a hearty laugh. We took a photo together of him holding the historical Srila Prabhupada’s book in Arabic.
Through the hard work and strong desire of Satyanarayana Prabhu and the BBT Far East/Middle East, we now have these beautiful Prabhupada books in Arabic. They can be seen at www.bbtfeme.com , and for the reasons I described above they are actually really fun and easy to distribute. But although this is true, as Vaisesika Prabhu says we first have to have the books and only then we will be able to distribute them. So I think everyone should taste this bliss and stock up on these special books asap! And I beg all the vaishnavas to pray that Kosai reads them fully and helps us to distribute them amongst the other Arabic-speaking celebrities. The fans will surely follow in their footsteps as did some of Kosai’s fans that blissful evening on the Promenade!
