Lecture on Verse 04-Glories of Radha Kunda by HG Prema Manjari Mataji on 19 Oct 2015 at Washington
(HG Prema Manjari mataji joined ISKCON in 1992 during her MBBS days and received her first initiation from HH Radhanath Swami maharaj in 1996. She has set an example for others to follow by wonderfully balancing between her hectic professional life as a radiologist and spiritual life.)
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Henry Ford’s great-grandson was heading for ruin and then had a better idea: spiritual enlightenment. Now, 40 years later, Alfred Ford is spending millions to build a monument in India to the faith that brought him redemption.
Alfred Ford and Michael Glancy tour Europe in 1970.
By Jay Cheshes
Alfred Ford might have been any old corporate road warrior, in his pressed khakis and soft traveling shoes. He had come up from Calcutta, a three-hour drive along dusty roads clogged with mule-drawn carts, arriving in Mayapur, West Bengal, to look in on a big building project rising near a bend in the Ganges River.
In his VIP suite, across from the site, he slipped into a loose-fitting kurta and wraparound dhoti, a strand of beads creeping out from under his Indian shirt. A murmur of song began to rise in the distance. He caught the tune, barely moving his lips. “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare.”
For 40 years Ford has been repeating the mantra just as his guru instructed, 1,728 times daily, counting off under his breath while fingering beads tucked in a cloth bag around his neck. For all that time, Alfred Brush Ford—Motor City royalty, great-grandson of Henry, heir to a comfortable slice of his family’s $1.2 billion in Ford Motor stock—has been quietly living a double life. “I have kind of a split personality,” he says, “with one foot in one world and one in another.”
Srimati Ananda Murti, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada left her body. Trai Das: Hare Krsna I want to inform all the devotees that just a while ago, today, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada her grace Anandamurti devi dasi left this world to continue her service to Srila Prabhupada. In the last year she made a pilgrimage to Mayapur then to the Prabhupada tirthas in the US and showed her love and respect for all the devotees she had contact with here in Italy. She was with her son Narayana das and Vaisnavi dasi. Please chant for them all.
Source...http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17209
November 2015 will be a month remembered in worry and fear for Muslims all over Europe, after the Paris attacks, yet again marked the tensions their religious community faces in Europe and the rest of the world.
Just a week before the attacks, from Oct. 26 – Nov 2nd, youth from all over Europe were building a network of peace and connection at the Religions for Peace Interfaith Youth Conference, in San Gandolfo Italy.
The outcome of the event was simple and hopeful - friendships and knowledge can break any barriers.
ISKCON-London was one of six other religious partners, sending five youth and one facilitator to the training conference entitled “Empowering Youth in Interfaith and Multicultural Peace Action” at the Focolare’s Mariopolis Centre in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
Parabhakti das Villa Vrndavan Temple President leading a seminar about motivations for spiritual practices
The ISKCON delegation was all second generation youth from around London, took part in the seminars and forums in an active way, as well as lead a “moment of peace” for the entire assembly reciting the Mangalam Caranam prayers and the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, as well as held evening Damodarastakam prayers where many youth form other backgrounds took part. More than 50 youth were present, representing 15 EU countries and all major faith backgrounds.
The week-long event was a rigorous schedule including back-to-back seminars such as the “Role of Interfaith Youth in the Building of the Future of Europe: Dialogue with Katarina von Schnurbein European Commission”, and “Training Youth Citizen Reporters”, “Changing Our Way of Thinking-Towards a Holistic Approach for Contributing to Peace.”
However, in between these lofty presentations was where the real learning took place. “How do deal with how people treat you in school?” Why do you think people in your country don’t understand your religion?” were some of the questions and discussions heard as one walked through the hallways and on the dining tables. The youth were setting deep set roots and making connections to the international community in ways that will last a lifetime.
London and Findland participants' adventure in Rome
As Said Touhami, a 21 year-old Sufi Muslim participant from the Netherlands, put it on the Religions for Peace internal Facebook group:
“In Roma [Castel Gandolofo is near Rome] we tasted a peace of Heaven. And if we only can taste a peace of Heaven when we are together. That's only way to create one on earth. With eachothers differences, ambitions and qualities.”
Source...http://iskconnews.org/fighting-ignorance-through-friendship,5232/
Warming up for the December marathon of book distribution!
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Balavanta, 23rd November 1976 “I am very glad to hear how the book distribution is increasing more and more. This is our greatest weapon. The more the books are distributed, the more the ignorance of the age of Kali will be smashed. The world is feeling the weight of this Hare Krsna movement, especially in your country. We have to increase this book distribution work more and more to firmly establish this movement, which is the only hope for the suffering living entities.”
Source...http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17205
We came across a wonderful list of guidelines for married couples, families and anyone trying to build a strong Krsna conscious lifestyle. This list was written by Bhakti Rasamrita Swami, a senior sannyasi (monk) in our Hare Krishna movement.
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 Srila Prabhupada, he decided to dedicate his life for propagating the message of Bhagavad Gita and joined International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). He was initiated by the spiritual name His Grace Devamrita Dasa. Since then he has served in many important projects and has preached the message of Bhagavad gita very widely, especially to the student community. He served as temple president in Mumbai, Belgaum and Vrindavan- which is the spiritual hub of world wide ISKCON temples. He has been preaching in many prestigious educational institutions all over India. In the month of March, 2010, honoring his dedication and devotion, He was awarded the order of Sannyasa (renunciate monk) in ISKCON, with the title Bhakti Rasamrita Swami. In his more than 30 years of dedicated devotional life in ISKCON, he has rendered several important services, preached in many countries of America, Europe and USSR, and continues to do so.
The following are his "20 Guidelines for Married Devotees":
‘My great grandfather Henry Ford would have been very happy with the lifestyle I am leading and the things I believe in.’
He’s a servant of God. A temple builder. Manu Shah meets the Ford who spreads word about the glories of Krishna.
Alfred B Ford during a ceremony to commence the construction of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple in Kolkata.
Alfred B Ford, right, during a ceremony to commence the construction of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple in Kolkata, December 29, 2002. Photograph: Sucheta Das/Reuters
Ambarish Das may not have been born Indian. His soul is Indian though. Before he adopted his new name, he was Alfred Brush Ford. His mother is the daughter of Edsel Ford, Henry Ford’s son. That makes him a fourth-generation Ford from his mother’s side and a part of one of America’s most iconic families.
His father Walter B Ford II, though unrelated, coincidentally shared the same last name as the legendary Fords.
But this Ford has more on his mind than cars.
While studying at Tulane University, he saw The Radha Krsna Temple, an album by George Harrison at the campus record store, which had “two little beautiful people on it.”
He broke down on hearing the record. It touched something deep in him. Thus began his involvement with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
In 1975, he was initiated and given the name Ambarish Das or servant of god.
He married a Bengali girl and has since used his fame and wealth to spread the word of the Hare Krishna movement. He travelled all over the world with his wife, also a devotee, to spread Krishna consciousness because he says “It is a spiritual science not just for Indians, but for everybody around the world.”
Manu Shah caught up with Ford on the sidelines of Houston’s Janmashtami celebrations where he was the chief guest for an event hosted by the Indian-American community and followed up with this two-part interview for Rediff.com on the telephone:
I’m curious. Which car do you drive?
(Laughs heartily) I recently bought a Lincoln MKC. I like that car.
You were born in one of the richest families of America. What was your upbringing like?
Well, of course, I was brought up in a lot of opulence. My parents had a lot of houses around the country and private airplanes. We went on many trips abroad to Europe, so it was a very privileged upbringing.
Was it easy being a Ford and having to live up to the family name?
When I was young that was easy, but then it became a little more problematic as I grew older.
Why?
You don’t know really where you fit in, especially when you have five other cousins who are working to get involved with the company. My brother and I, because we were the sons of the daughter, were in a little different position than my other cousins.
By any standards you had it all. Why were you unhappy?
It wasn’t that I was unhappy. But there was unhappiness around me and people working very hard to accomplish or do things that often didn’t really bring them happiness.
Also, I always had the idea that life is very temporary and that even if you are able to achieve a great deal, you can’t hold onto it for very long.
And these were thoughts that ran through you mind even before you met the guru and acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Srila A C Prabhupada?
I had a lot of questions when I was growing up. When I was young, I used to wonder how big the universe was, what’s on the other side of the sky, who was God, what was He like — those kind of questions and things.
Alfred Brush Ford, second from right, on Juhu beach, Mumbai, with Srila A C Prabhupada in 1975 on his first trip to India.
Do you think your great grandfather Henry Ford would have been happy to see your lifestyle today?
I think so, because he was very interested in spiritual life, in Eastern philosophy.
He believed in reincarnation and was a vegetarian.
So he would have been very happy with the lifestyle I am leading and the things I believe in.
I know from one of the books that was written about him that a Sufi saint also came to Detroit and they discussed reincarnation and other topics.
In the 1960s you became a hippie. What were you seeking in life? Did you find it?
I was looking for meaning in life and hadn’t found it in the faith I grew up in.
I experimented with being a hippie and read several religious systems.
But as soon as I read the Bhagwad Gita by Srila Prabhupada, it was like a bell went off. He said all the things that I was looking for: God is a personality. We have a relationship with God and by restoring that relationship we can go back to the spiritual world.
Alfred Brush Ford becomes Ambarish Das after his initiation in Honolulu in 1975.
How did your involvement with ISKCON begin?
I had an American friend, Atul Ananda, who became a devotee.
When I was living as a recluse in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, he would visit me, bring me books, beads.
I started reading, chanting and cooking vegetarian food. So I was totally into the lifestyle even before I was initiated.
When were you initiated?
In 1974, the devotees in Hawaii asked me to help them purchase a temple in Honolulu.
I purchased the temple there. Whenever Srila Prabhupada would come to Hawaii, he would write to me to come and stay there and I would go.
It was during my third visit that I was initiated and given the name Ambarish Das (servant of God) by Srila Prabhupada. I knew he was my spiritual master even before I took my initiation.
Can you share memories of your first meeting with Srila Prabhupada?
I went to Dallas when he was at the gurukul (residential school where pupils stay with the guru) there. I had been reading his books. When I went into his room I was very awestruck. I offered my obeisance. He was sitting behind his desk and before I got up, he said: ‘So you are Henry Ford’s great grandson.’
I said yes and then he asked me: ‘Where is he now?’
This immediately put me on the spiritual path as I realised that I didn’t know where he was. Also that everything he had achieved, he had to leave behind — all the money, all the fame everything, because everything in the material world is temporary.
How would you define happiness?
You are Indian — you know the concept of ananda — unlimited happiness. Happiness is not something that has a beginning and an end — it is endless.
Some people get happy if they go shopping. Or have a good meal. But how long does the happiness last? It doesn’t last very long.
Happiness cannot come from sensory objects. It comes from self-realisation. It comes from realising who we are, what is our dharma, what are we supposed to be doing, who are we supposed to be serving.
Once we find that and feel comfortable in that position, then we realise that that position cannot end. No one can take it away. There is no fear involved. That is the beginning of happiness because it is not temporary.
Ambarish Das aka Alfred B Ford and Lisa Reuther Dickmeyer bought the mansion on the Detroit river that once belonged to automobile tycoon Lawrence Fisher and converted it into Detroit’s Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center.
What does Krishna mean to you?
Well, he’ the Supreme Personality of Godhead — so he’s supreme. He is the beginning and the end of everything. I am working on my spiritual life so that I can come closer to him. Right now I am in the service mode, where I show my love and dedication through service to him.
But I would like to have Krishna as my friend eventually. I would like to tend cows and eat kachoris (laughs).
How did your family, the social circle, react to you becoming a Krishna devotee?
Well, it was different. This was the 1960s and 1970s, so people were doing different things. There was a great interest in India. I think my parents thought maybe it is a passing fad and that I would snap out of it.
(Laughs) I never did and when I married Sharmila that was a milestone for them. They were very impressed with her, she had a PhD, very well educated, accomplished woman and, of course, they love my children too.
What were the challenges you faced?
Back in the 1960s and 1970s Hare Krishna was considered to be a cult. There were a lot of people who thought it was a crazy thing to do — it wasn’t legitimate, it wasn’t authorised, it was another cult like the Moonies.
People didn’t understand that it is a very ancient religious tradition, based on ancient scriptures like the Bhagwad Gita. You had to constantly explain that to people. That was the challenge: Trying to differentiate us, Hare Krishnas, from the rest of the crazy things that were going on in the 1960s and 1970s.
Ambarish Das/Alfred B Ford’s parents, Edsel and Walter Ford, at the opening of the Detroit ISKCON Temple at the Fisher Mansion in 1983.
Your parents were initially not very happy when you started the Bhaktivedanta centre in a 1920s mansion in Detroit with Elisabeth Reuther (daughter of Detroit labor leader Walter P Reuther) in the 1970s and even threw you out of the house. What changed them?
My grandmother read the article in the papers about the opening of the centre and didn’t seem very upset with it. She talked to my mother and calmed my mother down. After several years, they even came to the temple.
Source: http://m.rediff.com/business/interview/this-ford-has-more-on-his-mind-than-cars/20151126.htm
Raval - The Birth Place of Radharani (8 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Srimati Radharani appeared in Raval and later moved to Varsana when she was a young girl. The beautiful pastoral setting in Raval was a perfect place for our parikrama party to hear and meditate on the transcendental pastimes that took place there 5,000 years ago.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/VbWuUp
Source..https://www.facebook.com/indradyumna/videos/10205142963276652/?l=1246207130260337490
Forget to Remember, the new transformational short film from young Russian director Shaktyavesha Avatar Das, is now available online with English subtitles.
The 36-minute Russian language short won second place at the viewer-voted Moscow film festival “I See God,” which is dedicated to work that explores different understandings of God.
The film tells the story of Danny, a young Russian man who is pursuing a career in music, despite pressure from his father to continue the family business. But when he is attacked after a performance in Moscow, he loses his memory, not even able to remember his own name.
Getting help from Hare Krishna devotees when he stumbles across a Food For Life truck serving out free food, he begins to realize that his tragedy could be a blessing in disguise as he gets to ask deep questions like “Who am I?” and “Where do I come from?” with a blank slate.
Danny ends up going to a kirtan program led by The Voice contestant Pierre Edel (Premamaya Vasudeva Das), who plays himself in a heartfelt and mystical chanting scene.
“Mantra is not a concert, where artists sing for for the public,” Edel says. “It’s when we all sing together for God in essence… and anybody can join, if he really wants to. You don’t have to be a professional singer, or have a beautiful voice, or anything like that. It’s all about sharing the happiness that comes from kirtan and mantra.”
Connecting to the mantra, Danny begins leading kirtan himself, and finds a way to discover peace and meaning while engaging his musical talent.
Like Shaktyavesha Avatar’s previous film Long Lost, Forget to Remember is subtle about its Krishna conscious message, attempting to show the beauty of kirtan without being too preachy.
“I wanted to allow people to naturally evolve along with the film and to come to their own conclusions,” says Shaktyavesha.
And like Long Lost, the new film has an ambiguous ending that allows audiences to decide what direction they think the main character took.
Shaktyavesha Avatar (in checked shirt) directs a scene
All this is absorbing and believable in the hands of a cast that, while relatively new to acting, turn in convincing and professional performances. Evgeniy Kovalenko, who plays Danny, previously appeared in commercials. Svasti Das, who appears as Danny’s father, is an established satirical comedian on Russian television. And Ekaterina Kuzmina, as a Food For Life server who helps Danny on his journey, is a model who is married to popular rock musician Vladimir Kuzmin and recently began to practice Krishna consciousness.
Forget to Remember’s crew is a skilled one too. Writer-director Shaktyavesha Avatar Das – who also received an “I See God” award for Long Lost -- got his Master’s Degree in film production at the Royal Holloway University of London. And Director of Photography Dhira Krishna Das worked at Mayapur-based film studio Kriyate, and co-created the visually stunning Mayapur: Entrance into Eternity.
“Forget to Remember took four months of pre and post-production, including ten days of shooting at locations in Moscow,” says Shaktyavesha Avatar. “Sometimes it was challenging, and seemed like Krishna was sending every possible impediment to purify our hearts. And sometimes there was miracle after miracle as doors opened and things came together like a jigsaw puzzle. For instance, there were many expensive Moscow locations that were just given to us for free, like the Latuk restaurant, China Town club, and concert venue Yotaspace.”
Forget to Remember premiered on June 7th at a concert hall next to ISKCON Moscow, and was offered to presiding Deities Sri Sri Doyal Nitai Saci Suta for their Brahmotsava ceremony. It was also screened at the Sadhu Sanga festival on the Black Sea, which was attended by over 5,000 devotees, and received an enthusiastic response.
Next, Shaktyavesha Avatar is hoping to enter the film into international fim festivals.
“For me, this film is about removing everything that blocks the Holy Name, and just opening your heart to it,” he says. “So, if by Krishna’s will, a person watches it and feels inspired to do more chanting, that would be the biggest reward for us.”
Source..http://iskconnews.org/award-winning-russian-short-asks-the-big-questions,5230/
It’s coming very soon. And ISKCON devotees in 75 countries across six continents are determined to make their guru and Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada proud.
In the UK, an avalanche of major, inspirational events for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary are being planned throughout the year 2016, including some that will be tied into international efforts by all ISKCON temples.
ISKCON 50 reps at the 13 temples across the UK and Ireland have already held several events in 2015 in honor of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the US on the steamship Jaladuta.
They included a “Departing India” festival in which a book of Srila Prabhupada’s Markine Bhagavata Dharma poem written abord the Jaladuta was released; a Bhaktivedanta Players production about Prabhupada’s journey; and a kirtan tour of London’s most famous landmarks on open air double-decker buses with hundreds of devotees.
Devotees attend a national ISKCON 50 convention in Leicester
There was also a national convention in Leicester with International Communications Minister Anuttama Das, and GBC Bhakti Charu Swami, which offered information about plans for the 50th along with media training for devotees.
The official ISKCON 50 celebrations will kick off in January 2016 with an astonishing offering.
“We’re trying to get all 602 of ISKCON’s worldwide temples to read out their book scores from the December book distribution marathon to Srila Prabhupada on the same day,” says UK national coordinator Devaki Dasi. “We don’t yet have an exact date set, but it will be in January.”
After that, on the March bank holiday weekend before Gaura Purnima, second generation devotees at Bhaktivedanta Manor will organize a 50 hour kirtan of 12 hours a day over several days.
On April 23rd, an academic conference will be held at Bath University, which has sent its Hinduism students on annual trips to Bhaktivedanta Manor for the past decade. ISKCON devotees attending will include Bhakti Charu Swami, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies Director Shaunaka Rishi Das, ISKCON Educational Services’ Rasamandala Das, and Professor Kim Knott, author of My Sweet Lord: The Hare Krishna Movement. 300 to 400 people are expected.
Professor Catherine Robinson (in red shirt) with devotees outside Bath University, where ISKCON will attend an academic conference in 2016
On July 13th, the date of ISKCON’s incorporation in New York in 1966 – which will be celebrated simultaneously by ISKCON centers around the world – UK devotees are organizing a prestigious event at either the House of Lords or the House of Commons in Westminster. The event will showcase Prabhupada’s and ISKCON’s achievements, and the plan is to invite some extremely distinguished guests.
“We’re trying to get the Prime Minister,” says Devaki. “That’s our ultimate goal. And it’s not an impossible task here in the UK – just this month, Bhaktivedanta Manor president Srutidharma Prabhu said the prayers at the Prime Minister’s Diwali celebration at Number 10 Downing St.”
Meanwhile renowned ISKCON chef Kurma Das will appear at several events to promote ISKCON’s culinary contributions. Possibilities include an event in London’s O2 Arena for Vegetarian and Vegan Week, which will showcase the Hare Krishnas’ 50 best cuisines for the 50th anniversary. Kurma may also do live demonstrations at Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Janmastami program, which draws 60,000 people.
In October, a massive ticketed event at Wembley Stadium is planned, which is expected to draw 10,000 people. It will feature some of ISKCON’s most prominent speakers, as well as a stunning cultural show including a rasa-lila performance by legendary Bollywood actress, Indian MP and ISKCON member Hema Malini.
Wembley Stadium, where a major ISKCON 50 event will be held
Other events don’t have any date or month assigned to them yet, but are just as exciting. Srila Prabhupada’s garden at Bhaktivedanta Manor, for instance, has been renovated and will receive an official opening. It features rose beds and pathway arches, a pergola and a variety of flowering shrubbery, while stones on either side of the garden will be inscribed with the qualities of the disciple and spiritual master as taught by Srila Prabhupada.
There will also be a screening of Yadubara’s film Acharya at a London cinema hall, and a concert at George Harrison’s garden at the Manor commemorating the Beatle’s relationship with Srila Prabhupada and spiritual contribution the world.
In Scotland, a national retreat will be held for all the devotees at the temple in Lesmahagow. In Wales, devotees are planning to open a new temple. In Manchester, there will be eight hour kirtans every month. And in Ireland, there will be a special “50 Years of Hare Krishna” event.
At London’s Soho St temple, devotees are planning fifty special events for the 50ththroughout the year, including Srila Prabhupada remembrance classes, boat parties down the river Thames, interfaith weeks and kirtan weekends.
Srila Prabhupada's Garden at the Manor, which will be opened in 2016
Other “50 for 50” events that will run throughout the year will include 50 house programs, and a push to inspire devotees to contribute at least 50 hours of devotional service to their local temple, and distribute 50 books in the year – one every week. One of the most exciting such projects is “50 Harinamas in 50 Towns,” with UK devotees heading into a different new town that has never been publicly chanted in every single week.
All ISKCON temples will also be encouraged to “50th-ize” all their Vaishnava festivals throughout the year, as well as to organize participation in public events such as World Vegetarian Week, Multi-faith Week and National Yoga Week, and the ISKCON event World Holy Name Week.
A raft of publication, stationary and merchandise will keep ISKCON’s 50th at the forefront of everyone’s mind through all this, including a commemorative magazine entitled “The Hare Krishnas: Fifty Years On”; an ISKCON 50 calendar; and t-shirts, hoodies and notebooks featuring the ISKCON logo and the tag line “The Joy of Devotion.”
Double-decker bus harinama for the 50th anniversary of Prabhupada's arrival
Devaki hopes that all this will inspire every individual in ISKCON to do whatever they can for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary.
“Sometimes devotees stop me and say, ‘What should I do for the 50th?’” she says. “And I always tell them, ‘Well, what do you want to do for the 50th? What’s going to be your personal contribution to Srila Prabhupada’s movement?’ This is a once in a life time opportunity – so get involved, and don’t miss out!”
Source..http://iskconnews.org/iskcon-50-plans-ramp-up-in-the-uk-worldwide,5231/
By Giriraj Swami
If we are at all aware of how dependent we are on God—for the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and our very ability to eat and drink and breathe, to think and feel and do everything else we do—we will feel grateful and want to reciprocate God’s kindness. We will want to do something for He (or She or They) who has done, and continues to do, so much for us.
We often take things for granted until we lose them. I use my right hand to chant on meditation beads, and one morning I found that I had severe arthritic pain in my hand and could no longer use it for chanting. I had taken the use of my hand for granted, but when I lost its use, I resolved to never take my hand for granted and to always use it in the best way in God’s service.
How can we attempt to return some of God’s favor, some of God’s care—and love—for us? My spiritual master, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, gave one answer:
“Whatever you have got by pious or impious activities, you cannot change. But you can change your position, by Krishna consciousness. That you can change. Other things you cannot change. If you are white, you cannot become black, or if you are black, you cannot become white. That is not possible. But you can become a first-class Krishna conscious person. Whether you are black or white, it doesn’t matter. This is Krishna consciousness. Therefore our endeavor should be how to become Krishna conscious. Other things we cannot change. This is not possible.
tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah
tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham
kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa
I pray that I will dedicate this life and everything I have—everything that God has given me—fully in God’s service, following His pure devotees.
manasa, deho, geho, yo kichu mora
arpilun tuya pade, nanda-kisora
“Mind, body, and home, whatever may be mine, I surrender at Your lotus feet, O youthful son of Nanda [Krishna]!” (Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Saranagati)
Source...http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17189
While there are many ways to frame, or lead into, speaking about the root cause of the problems of the world, or of the country I live in, looking more closely at the concept of selfishness will be helpful. I have often thought that fanaticism is the real enemy of the world, since people’s inability to consider other viewpoints is at the root of most world or local conflicts. To me, fanaticism is a type of selfishness, or the result of a very narrow vision. Both come from bodily identification. My guru, Shrila Prabhupada spoke of selfishness, and extended selfishness. We are all eternal souls, yet we have the power to invest ourselves into matter. So although in the ultimate sense, or spiritually speaking, we have nothing to do with matter, due to false ego, we (the soul or consciousness) become duped or fooled by the illusion of the material world (maya), to think we are a particular body and mind, separate from God, others, and Nature.
Material life is a process of expanding this basic delusion, through the qualifier we give to persons or things by calling them “mine,” which could be called my-ness, or mine-ness (or mind-mess!). When things or persons become mine, it sets up the possibility of conflict with others: my body, gender, race, ethnicity, house, neighborhood, family, possessions, money, religion, sport’s team, community, nation, species, etc. We will think someone crazy who says they are Napoleon, Jesus, or Joan of Arc, but saying we are Joe Smith or Ravindra Gupta, man, woman, or gay, American or Indian, white or black, Christian or Hindu, is no less insane.
Realistically, for most of us to function in this plane we have to acknowledge these conditioned labels and act through them, since their influence upon us is so strong. However, we should note that material designations will frustrate us at some point and certainly at death, when these temporary constructs evaporate like the fog they actually are. To realize peace, purpose, and cooperation in the world, we have to cultivate spiritual knowledge of who we are (consciousness) and our spiritual propensity to serve the Supreme.
Intellectual spiritual knowledge, while a good beginning, isn’t sufficient to really change our conditioned tendency to see in terms of mine and theirs, or friends and enemies. We must have a process for realizing these transcendental truths—which is the only thing that is lasting—and actually make tangible progress. Otherwise, merely trying to deny who we are in this body or covering it up with spiritual theory will be disastrous for our divine life. However well intentioned, without taste for spiritual pursuits and realization, we may give up the endeavor to realize our soul and God in order to follow our material calling, or for merely immediate material happiness.
I am not speaking of just being religious, since many will be quick to point out that religious people have been behind many of the major conflicts and wars in the world. Religion isn’t meant to be an end in itself for itself, but to bring us to the spiritual platform. If it doesn’t, then religion often becomes just another mundane institution, albeit with a religious veneer. Human beings that are religious wear glasses that are tinted with some kind of Godly colorful idea, and thus live according to a teaching or scripture which gives a set of do’s and don’ts’, and tells us what is moral and immoral. Being religious or pious is good, but that isn’t enough to elevate people beyond their selfishness, to universal love. While spiritual knowledge is essential, it is incomplete without being applied practically. By religious or spiritual processes our hearts are meant to grow in love of God and for all creatures, expressed through the wisdom of kindness, understanding, compassion, peace, and giving.
It is true that there are many self-less religious people who help lessen others suffering through giving in charity, and creating hospitals and schools, yet as good as such work is, it is often undertaken to convert others. Most religious people believe that their brand of religion is the only way to God, and others religions, or even other sects or gurus of their religion, are misguided, less than they, or are going to hell. This is a very beginning and neophyte idea of a materialistic religion. Such devout, fanatical religionists, have only a superficial understanding of their own religion, and are generally not educated in religious studies. I have found, for the most part, that theologians or monks in various religions are broadminded and appreciate diversity in religious understanding.
If you noticed, I included identifying with a particular religion in my brief list of bodily identification, or insanity. This doesn’t mean I am against religion, but it tells us that we have to go beyond just a material conception of religion—or merely the formalities of external practices, or type of worship—to arrive at its real purpose, or spiritual essence. As I mentioned, real religion includes spiritual processes for realizing the truth of the teachings. Then as we make spiritual advancement, and decrease our bodily conceptions we become gradually less selfish, and more giving.
In the highest stage we perceive that God is within everyone and everything, a spiritual vision that sees everything is His energy—yet we also realize our eternal personhood in a loving relationship of service. Gaudiya Vaishnava’s put forward the idea that the original, most loving, and accessible aspect of God is Krishna. They conclude this from studying Vedic knowledge, and feel this by their personal realization. At the same time they understand that God has unlimited forms and manifestations, and reciprocates with the type of love his worshipers offer. This means that although there is only one spiritual Source in the Universe, there are unlimited manifestations of the Godhead.
One can be convinced of their particular form of Divinity, yet respectful of the realizations and type of worship of others. Realization of the equality of all souls brings true freedom from selfishness, and the desire to help everyone rise above their material forgetfulness of God. The perfection of spiritual practice goes beyond just not being selfish—as much as we all appreciate that— but takes selflessness to the point of self-forgetfulness in loving service, or Krishna-prema!
Source..http://www.krishna.com/blog/2012/01/5/problem-world%E2%80%94selfishness
By Kumari Kunti Dasi
November 2015 will be a month remembered in worry and fear for Muslims all over Europe, after the Paris attacks, yet again marked the tensions their religious community faces in Europe and the rest of the world.
Just a week before the attacks, from Oct. 26 – Nov 2nd, youth from all over Europe were building a network of peace and connection at the Religions for Peace Interfaith Youth Conference, in San Gandolfo Italy.
The outcome of the event was simple and hopeful – friendships and knowledge can break any barriers.
ISKCON-London was one of six other religious partners, sending five youth and one facilitator to the training conference entitled “Empowering Youth in Interfaith and Multicultural Peace Action” at the Focolare’s Mariopolis Centre in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
The ISKCON delegation was all second generation youth from around London, took part in the seminars and forums in an active way, as well as lead a “moment of peace” for the entire assembly reciting the Mangalam Caranam prayers and the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, as well as held evening Damodarastakam prayers where many youth form other backgrounds took part. More than 50 youth were present, representing 15 EU countries and all major faith backgrounds.
The week-long event was a rigorous schedule including back-to-back seminars such as the “Role of Interfaith Youth in the Building of the Future of Europe: Dialogue with Katarina von Schnurbein European Commission”, and “Training Youth Citizen Reporters”, “Changing Our Way of Thinking-Towards a Holistic Approach for Contributing to Peace.”
However, in between these lofty presentations was where the real learning took place. “How do deal with how people treat you in school?” Why do you think people in your country don’t understand your religion?” were some of the questions and discussions heard as one walked through the hallways and on the dining tables. The youth were setting deep set roots and making connections to the international community in ways that will last a lifetime.
As Said Touhami, a 21 year-old Sufi Muslim participant from the Netherlands, put it on the Religions for Peace internal Facebook group:
“In Roma [Castel Gandolofo is near Rome] we tasted a peace of Heaven. And if we only can taste a peace of Heaven when we are together. That’s only way to create one on earth. With eachothers differences, ambitions and qualities.”
By Kumari Kunti Sherreitt
ISKCON-London Communications
Source..http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17185
Smaranam kirtanam kelih preksanam guhyam asanam (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, SB 6.1.11, 25 July 1971, NY). It is said that hearing about illicit sex; speaking about illicit sex; remembering illicit sex; looking, joking, sitting with a member of the opposite sex in a secluded place; or actually contemplating illicit sexual activity or actually engaging in the act itself – all these eight constitute illicit sex. So, when we promised no illicit sex, it means we have to really like, not just deal only with the externals, but we have to root it out completely – also out of the consciousness – to be safe. And that is not fanaticism; that is not overly strict.
Source...https://www.kksblog.com/2015/11/types-of-illicit-sex/
By popular demand, here is a quick summery of the last Thursday’s discussion at Krishna Lounge.
Unless things are put in perspective, they can not really be understood and thus can not really be discussed. Once I witnessed two people vehemently arguing over the statement, “all you need is love.” One thought the statement was true while the other person insisted that we need other things such as food. The concept, “love,” obviously has to be placed in context so that it could be understood. Thus I found the following excerpt from the New Testament excellent.
“Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness; and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.”
Peter, the speaker of the above quoted statement, was addressing a group of people who were managing to resist materialism, which encouraged and made Peter happy. Thus he invited the people to increase their diligence in the matter of avoiding materialism and further focusing on their spirituality. I think it is beautiful how he put things in perspective and thus qualified the ideas he was promoting. Thus, according to Peter, faith is qualified by moral excellence. In other words, faith in and of it self is neither good or bad – it really depends on whether it is moral or not. Immoral faith, even though arising in a spiritual or religious setting, is not good. Moral means good, and immoral means evil.
He further says that knowledge qualifies moral excellence. In other words, mere conviction about something does not make that thing good or morally excellent. That matter should rather be defined by knowledge.
Those who know the first thing about yoga, know the basic rule that knowledge can not be had without self-control. Self-control does not mean much without patience, and all that should be done for the goal of “godliness.” Godliness without brotherly affection is a weird mutant. And, at the end, this should produce love. Such love is a real thing.
Source...http://www.krishnalounge.com/2015/11/put-it-in-perspective-dude/
Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra on Janmastami 2015
By Madhava Smullen
The 45th annual Janmastami festival at New Vrindaban in the USA this Labor Day Weekend saw more exciting progress made in revealing Lord Krishna’s holy dhama (abode) of Vrindavan there.
The West Virginia village was established in 1968 by ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada, who described it as “non-different from the original Vrindavan” and directed disciples that “the hilly portions may be named as Govardhana” and “If there are lakes, they can be renamed as Shyamakunda and Radhakunda.” He also requested the seven main temples of Vrindavan, India to be constructed in New Vrindaban.
Over the past four years the infrastructure of ISKCON New Vrindaban has seen tremendous improvements. Its Palace Lodge guesthouse, temple residential rooms and office wing have received full upgrades; the temple roof has been replaced; the snack bar has been transformed into a gorgeous full service Govinda’s restaurant; there’s a brand new children’s playground; and Prabhupada’s Palace is also undergoing major restoration work.
Now, a new phase has begun wherein even more of the ‘Vrindavan atmosphere’ Prabhupada envisioned is gradually being revealed. “I always had great hopes for New Vrindaban,” he wrote in 1972. “You may gradually bring that New Vrindaban property to its full potential by stages, and that will please me very much.”
On Friday September 4th, the day before Janmastami, the newly restored bas-relief forms of Jaya and Vijaya, the four-armed gatekeepers of the Lord’s Vaikuntha home, were re-installed on either side of the Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra’s temple entrance with arati and joyous kirtan.
Sculpted by Prabhupada disciples Bhagavatananda and Soma and first unveiled in 1984, their original golden color had faded to such a dull gray that they were rarely noticed. But with the support of a kind donor and the efforts of Rupanuga and Lakshman Ishvara, their skin is now the rich dark blue of Vaikuntha residents, and their clubs, discs, conchshells and crowns are shining gold.
According to community president Jaya Krsna Das, they draw visitors’ attention to the temple, and their divine presence can be clearly felt.
Restoration of the bas-relief forms of Jaya and Vijaya.
On Janmastami day at 10:00am, 150 devotees and pilgrims gathered next to Jaya and Vijaya to head off on a guided Govardhana Parikrama tour – which is held every Saturday and Sunday at New Vrindaban.
On the way they passed an elephant prostrated in obeisance, made in 1986 by Soma and Devaprastha, and repainted last year with pure white tusks and golden tilak.
Elephant in New Vrindaban
They stopped at at Kusum Sarovara, a peaceful sacred lake surrounded by ornate domed chattras which devotees also plan to restore.
Next, they paid their respects to the giant 40-foot tall Gaura Nitai originally sculpted by Soma Das and his crew in 1985. In the days leading up to Janmastami, Damodara Das had repainted Lord Chaitanya’s lotus flower base yellow and Nityananda Prabhu’s blue, and had also freshly repainted the bridge leading up to Them and the fencing around Them.
“We have future plans to completely repaint Gaura Nitai, and possibly erect a cover to protect Them from sun, rain and snow,” says Jaya Krsna.
Sri Sri Gaura Nitai above Kusum Sarovara
Singing the Holy Name, the pilgrims then continued up the hill to Lalita Kund, Gopisvara Mahadeva – the protector of the dhama – and Radha Kund and Shyama Kund, where they sprinkled their heads with the sacred water. At each spot, longtime New Vrindaban resident Varsana Swami narrated the Lord’s divine pastimes enacted there.
Finally, the tour reached Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, the first of the seven temples Srila Prabhupada requested to be built at New Vrindaban. Currently under construction, its unique domed shape truly makes you feel you are in Vrindavan.
Radha Kunda Parikrama
Over the course of the next year, a series of six new dioramas by artist Lakshmana Dasi depicting Lord Krishna’s pastimes will be installed along the parikrama path. Three of these, all ten feet wide and six feet high and containing both painted and 3D elements, were revealed in the temple on Janmastami day.
The first shows Krishna’s close associate Uddhava speaking about the Srimad-Bhagavatam to the Lord’s 16,108 queens at Kusum Sarovara, to console them after the Lord’s departure from this world. In the second, Lord Krishna appears to Madhavendra Puri in a dream the saint had while at Govardhan, directing him where to excavate a long abandoned Deity of Gopalnathji. Finally, the third diorama shows a sweet pastime in which Lord Krishna helps His divine consort Srimati Radharani down from a tree, with the transcendental ulterior motive of taking the dust from Her lotus feet.
Varsana Swami shares Krishna’s pastimes.
“At 7:45 in the evening on Janmastami, we had all of them set up outside and illuminated, while Varsana Swami gave a wonderful talk on all the different lilas,” says Jaya Krsna.
Meanwhile Lakshmana Dasi is also working on dioramas of the cowherd boy Lauta Baba waiting on the Govardhan Parikrama path for Krishna’s return; Radharani and the gopis singing Haridev’s name to invoke Their Lord; and Lord Indra coronating Krishna as Govinda. Each diorama will include a signboard briefly explaining it, with future plans to also include an audio track that visitors will be able to listen to by pushing a button.
Next year there are plans for restoration work on the boat house that’s home to New Vrindaban’s famous Swan Boat. Every weekend in the summer, the Deities are carried in it across the lake, just as in the boat festival at Vrindavan Dhama’s Krishna Balarama Mandir.
And in 2018 – New Vrindaban’s 50th anniversary – devotees have plans to restore the original New Vrindaban farmhouse to reflect how it was while Prabhupada was present, including its temple and a small museum for Srila Prabhupada with pictures taken from his two visits to the house in 1969 and 1976.
After all, it’s his vision that the residents of New Vrindaban are always trying to serve. “We have started New Vrindaban in America and it must be finished in the American way,” he wrote in a letter in August 1970, the year of New Vrindaban’s first Janmastami festival. “In Vrindavan there are so many temples, they say 5,000, or in Vrindavan every home, every cottage, is a temple. As far as possible try to develop New Vrindaban on this standard.”
The temple was packed for Janmastami.
Gradually, the residents of New Vrindaban are striving towards this lofty goal, slowly excavating the dhama. And pilgrims are showing their appreciation. This year, 3,000 people visited New Vrindaban throughout Janmastami day, with 350 gathering for the midnight arati – twice the usual number.
“One devotee visiting from Mumbai told me ‘On Janmastami evening, the Vrindavan mood was really appearing in New Vrindaban,’” Jaya Krsna recalls. “That was the best feedback for me. It’s clear that the dhama is slowly revealing itself more and more, and I am very happy to see that.”
He concludes: “In 1975 Prabhupada wrote ‘I am always praying to Krishna that the New Vrindaban attempt will be more and more successful and ideal for your country.’ So Prabhupada, the pure devotee, prays to Krishna that New Vrindaban develops, and Krishna reciprocates. We are fortunate servants, trying to support Srila Prabhupada’s sincere desire.”
Source...http://www.brijabasispirit.com/2015/10/15/dhama-revealed-as-new-vrindaban-development-continues/
Festival participants throw colors to chanting of the Maha Mantra.
By Madhava Smullen
Since it was introduced in 2012, ISKCON New Vrindaban’s Festival of Colors has dramatically improved public perception of the West Virginia farm community, mended lost relationships with locals and built new ones.
The spiritual rejuvination festival is advertised with thousands of flyers and posters in local shops, restaurants, and universities, billboards in the local towns of Moundsville and Wheeling, social media, and coverage from virtually every local newspaper, TV channel and radio station.
Festival participation has continued to grow each year since its launch, drawing mostly locals from the surrounding tri-state area of West Virgina, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The event has even been renamed “The Ohio-Valley Festival of Colors” to better describe its inclusive approach.
While attendance at this year’s festival on Saturday September 12th was somewhat lower due to inclement weather, it didn’t stop anyone from having a great time.
Vrindavana Dasa being interviewed by reporters from channel 9.
“You could say it was the brightest gloomy day you’ve ever seen,” said the reporter for local channel WTOV9.
From noon to 5pm, festivalgoers danced their hearts out to Ananda Groove and Atma’s mantra rock and hip-hop, sang the Hare Krishna mantra (inscribed on banners on either side of the huge stage) at the top of their lungs, and hurled powdered organic colors into the sky every half hour.
They also participated in a yoga class, took tours of Srila Prabhupada’s Palace and its award-winning rose gardens, purchased many of Prabhupada’s books, browsed clothing stalls and sampled Indian and Western prasadam cuisine.
Plastered with color, everyone’s racial, economic and religious designations fell away, and participants connected with each other as fellow souls. Locals left with broad grins and a great impression of New Vrindaban.
“No politics, just some good food and good music – you can’t beat it,” said one young festivalgoer.
“It’s our first time, and it was absolutely amazing,” another commented. “Everyone just coming together and being nice to everybody. Good vibes everywhere.”
And people get hooked. Many participants, both students and middle-aged men and women with their families, were repeat visitors.
Smiling faces enjoying the festive atmosphere.
“I spoke to a young couple in the temple room who were contemplating the Deities at length,” says Gopaswami Das, a devotee from France who participated. “They had received one of Prabhupada’s books at last year’s Festival, and this time they asked me many questions about Krishna consciousness. Finally they bought a Bhagavad-gita and a japa mala, and left happily chanting the maha-mantra.”
While many local people have seen New Vrindaban as a place to stay away from since its historical challenges in the 1980s, Festival of Colors is turning things around, according to Jaya Krsna, ISKCON New Vrindaban’s president.
“Whenever we go to town and speak with anybody, and they find out we’re from New Vrindaban, their reaction is so positive,” he says. “ They go, ‘Oh, I was there for Festival of Colors, it was so wonderful, I want to come again!’ Recently I was getting a haircut, and the hairdresser said, ‘Oh, you’re from the Palace of Gold? I haven’t been there for 25 years, but my 13-year-old daughter really wants to go for Festival of Colors, are you still doing it?’ ”
And people don’t just come for Festival of Colors itself. The event has taken down fences and misgivings that were up for years and opened locals up to visiting Sri Sri Radha-Vrindabanchandra’s temple and the ISKCON New Vrindaban grounds throughout the year, too.
“Some locals are now coming for our Sunday Feast,” says Jaya Krsna. “One man visiting from Limestone, just ten minutes’ drive from here, said, ‘I haven’t been to New Vrindaban for 35 years, but I’m so happy that I came back.’
While there, people take a tour of the Palace of Gold and the temple, see the Lord, and enjoy New Vrindaban’s unique grounds with its ponds, flowers, peacocks and swans.
“We also give them the core messages of Krishna consciousness – that there is one God, who simply has different names in different religious movements; that you are the soul, not the body; and that you are an eternal servant of God,” says Jaya Krsna.
Outreach beyond New Vrindaban has also received a marked boost, with locals in nearby towns recognizing resident brahmachari Pranatakaruna Das as ‘one of those Festival of Colors people’ and giving him a more receptive audience for his daily street chanting and book distribution.
ISKCON New Vrindaban devotees are also making other efforts to integrate into and serve the local community, open up their village and make connections and relationships with their neighbors. Communications Director Vrindavan Das, for instance, is Vice President of the Marshall County Convention Bureau, which promotes tourism in the area; and New Vrindaban recently hosted the Bureau’s latest tourism meeting with representatives from all the surrounding counties.
Members of the Marshall County Tourist Bureau gather at Govinda’s Restaurant.
In the meantime, Festival of Colors will continue to be one of New Vrindaban’s greatest opportunities to connect with people in the tri-state area, and, despite this year’s weather, organizers expect it to continue to grow – along with the number of locals it inspires to visit New Vrindaban throughout the rest of the year.
We say we welcome constructive criticism. The question is, who decides if the criticism is constructive or not? Not everyone can easily see good in criticism. The mind encourages us to believe that every criticism is negative and as soon as we see it coming the mind prepares for defense. This happens to be the case even if the criticism is truly constructive. Quite often, though, we miss out on learning some great lesson from apparently non-constructive, negative or destructive criticism.
Earlier we posted a brief write-up on the same subject matter and noted that it received a good response from our readers so thought of reproducing it here.
If you’re not very good at taking criticism, you might want to work on this skill. There are a few simple yet very powerful tools. The reason we don’t like our criticism is, it directly hurts one’s false ego. This false ego makes one think that he or she cannot be wrong, cannot be less than others, and even if he or she is at fault, it cannot be pointed out by others, especially in public. How to deal with it?
LinkedIn Image
Here is a great article, with pictures, that analyses different scenarios, and guides one how to tackle criticism. Read the bullet points in the main article for a better understanding.
One interesting thing about criticism is, although it stings in most cases, in most cases it helps too if you want to get truly good at something. Not only will this tips help you improve your interactions with other people, but it will also help you improve yourself and feel better when you have problems.
Read full article How to Accept Criticism (with Pictures) – wikiHow
Have more ideas? Please share with us.
Source...http://mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/criticism-dont-hate-it-deal-with-it/
