The Supreme Destination: Most people think America or the Heavenly Planets is the Supreme Destination.They fail to realize that there is birth, old age, disease, death, and misery in America and the Heavenly Planets. Only life on Goloka Vrindavan is free from the pangs of material life.
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Vrinda Devi’s Sacred Kunda (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Our parikrama party spent almost an entire day at the famous lake of Vrinda Devi, who helps Purnamasi plan Radha and Krsna’s pastimes in Vrindavan each day. ISKCON has developed the area in a very tasteful way, keeping the rural setting and spiritual ambience intact. Hearing and chanting the glories of Vrinda Devi helped us to all become spiritually enriched.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ezFBMr
Source...https://www.facebook.com/indradyumna/videos/10205159246723728/?l=6210676434514782898
By Anand caitanya dasa
ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village (GEV, www.ecovillage.org.in) a 100 acre sustainable farming community and retreat center, based near Mumbai, India received the Aqua Excellence Award for the category of ‘Outstanding Contribution towards cause of Sustainability – Social Sector’ in the IX World Aqua Congress (WAC). The Award Ceremony was conducted during the Inaugural Session of IX World Aqua Congress, Conference on Water & Environment on the 26th & 27th November 2015 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. GEV received this award from Sushri Uma Bharti – Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
Every year the Aqua Foundation groups organizes the World Aqua Congress on a specific theme related to environment and invites abstract of papers from speakers all around the country. The IX world Aqua Congress was centered on the theme of reviving traditional water and environment conservation techniques. GEV’s abstract on the paper “Integrated Water Conservation and Protection Schemes for Rural Location” was accepted for the Conference. Following the award ceremony GEV was invited to present that paper to the various delegates present there. The conference was attended by various corporate heads, Government authorities, university professors, NGOs etc.
The “Aqua Excellence Awards” are the highest awards given by Aqua Foundation to its members, stakeholders and contributors in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the field of water, environment, energy, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, planetary sciences, pollution control and sustainability solutions. Aqua Foundation honors, in each WAC, individual / nominees of corporate members who have made a mark in their respective fields of expertise or have made a significant contribution towards Humanity
Source...http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17258
By Samapriya devi dasi
Small children are completely dependent upon their mother’s care, who is always attentive to their every need, in every way, all the time. Many children of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples were obliged to make a great sacrifice when they were very young.
These children were asked to give up there mother’s constant loving care, for the benefit of the suffering conditioned souls in the world. Their mother’s were soldiers in Lord Caitanya’s army. Some were book distributors on the front lines of a great war against the material energy. Others were part of the intricate network that fueled, supported, and maintained the desire of Srila Prabhupada, to flood the earth with transcendental knowledge in the form of his books. Srila Prabhpada was the orchestrator of the greatest Brihat Mrdanga ever sounded. It’s tumultuous calls awakened the fortunate, to the opportunity of perfecting their lives.
These blessed children have now grown up, passing through severe battles of Maya’s attacks. Many of them have been wounded or permanently scarred. But most of them now walk through life with a treasure rarely possessed by anyone else in this world. Through all their years of painfully growing and trying to understand the unique circumstances their births, a deep love and faith in Srila Prabhupada has blossomed.
In Alachua Florida, a remote place far away from the Sri dhama Mayapur, these beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Srila Prabhupada, performed a yajna for the pleasure of the Lord and the welfare of all living entities. Through the strength of Srila Prabhupada’s love, they bonded together to execute a great sacrifice, “The Festival of the Holy Name’’. As the names of Krsna burst forth into song from the enraptured hearts of the devotees the transcendental sound vibration could be heard up to the heavens.
Thank-you to all who conceived of, organized and participated in this great yajna. You demonstrated to the world the glories of the Sankirtan Movement, by absorbing yourselves fully and using the precious gift you were given. You have made you lives successful by taking full shelter of Srila Prabhupada’s love. Thus, you have made our lives successful. Thank-you our darling children. May you continue to perform the Yuga Dharma with determination, taking nourishment from Srila Prahbupada’s transcendental love, of which you are the rightful heirs. For you have made it clear to the world that Srila Prabhupada is always with you.
Source...http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17278
by Gregory
Vrindavan. Recently, I was thinking and reading about Vrindavan. I thought about how it would be to go to Vrindavan. How does it happen? How would I do it?
To learn, I checked and researched. I found the ISKCON Vrindavan website. I saw Visit Vrindavan and Travel Assistance and read.
The information stated, “The most convenient airport for coming to Vrindavan is Delhi.” So, I searched several websites for flights from Jacksonville, Florida to Delhi, India. The flight times varied: 20 hours, 24 hours, 26 hours, 30 hours. All with two stops.
Then, I learned that the distance from Delhi to Vrindavan is about 165 kilometers. Some methods to travel are train, bus, and taxi. The time for the trip is roughly two to three hours. In Vrindavan, some accommodations listed included guest houses, hotels, and apartments.
When I studied a map of Vrindavan, I noticed the area of Raman Reti. On the mathuravisit.com website, I read, “As the name ‘Raman Reti’ (playing in the sand) suggests, Raman Reti is the place located in Gokul, Mathura where Laddu Gopal (childhood name of Krishna) was believed to play with his friends near the bank of the Yamuna during his childhood. The sand-filled place is very relaxing and is used by sages and saints to perform sadhana of Lord Krishna and do tapasya here.”
Also, on the mathura-vrindavan.com website, I read, “It is also said that Krishna and Radharani would meet here every night before going down to Vrindavana to enjoy their pastimes.”
I remember that the ISKCON of Alachua temple name is “New Raman Reti”. On the www.alachuatemple.com website in the Welcome to New Raman Reti page, I read, “Disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder/acharya of ISKCON, founded New Raman Reti in 1977. It was named after Raman Reti in Vrindavan, India – a place of white sands where Lord Krishna and His brother Balarama performed Their childhood pastimes.”
Then, on the ISKCON Vrindavan website in Vrindavan Highlights, I read, “According to Srila Prabhupada, if one visits a holy place, he should search out the devotees residing there, take lessons from them and try to apply such instruction in practical life. Krishna is always present with His devotees and by their presence any place can become the place of pilgrimage.”
The full truth of the statement rang out to me.
Yes, going to the Alachua temple for aratis, kirtans, feasts, festivals, service to chop vegetables, wash dishes, or serve prasadam, and more can be a pilgrimage every time.
At a distance of about eight miles from my house, I drive, though I consider a bicycle ride or a walk on a day. Also, from my workplace, which is about four miles. All these options could be pilgrimage, regardless of the distance or the method of getting there. I understand that a pilgrimage is based on purpose, the deliberate intention of traveling to the place, which includes the traveling as well as the time and actions while there.
In addition to the Alachua temple and activities, the pilgrimage includes the people, as Srila Prabhupada noted: their greetings, welcomes, talk, association, and participation for prayer and service together. I am enlivened, rejuvenated, and thankful on every occasion.
One special time is when I arrive during the morning japa period. I park my truck on the side of the dark drive, then walk over toward the lights of the temple. Whether walking and chanting around the outside of the temple along the veranda, or inside the temple circumambulating the tulasi, standing, or sitting, the presence of the devotees chanting and the mix and blend of the devotees’ voices chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare is always fulfilling and inspiring.
In addition to visits to the temple, I realize that traveling to my Bhakti Vriksha group meetings at the home of Ramiya dasa prabhu and Ananta dasi mataji is another special pilgrimage repeated every week. Every week, I turn in their drive, park beside the usual trees, step under the night-blooming jasmine at the porch entrance, remove my shoes, enter through the front door, offer obeisances to the deities, and greet the hosts. More often than weekly, I give thanks for Ramiya dasa prabhu and Ananta dasi mataji, and for all in the group for their association, for the privilege to learn, give, receive, share prasadam, and participate in service to each other, all in service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, our Lord Sri Krishna.
It is a new but familiar pilgrimage every visit that I value and cherish.
While I will keep a notion of the possibility of traveling to Vrindavan some day, I understand that my views about what a pilgrimage is have changed and expanded.
Now, I understand and consider my travels in Alachua as pilgrimage in every sense and nuance of the term. And I consider myself as a pilgrim in Alachua seeking and growing when journeying close to home with familiar places and people. I know pilgrimage in Alachua is essential, the essence of me developing as a devotee to our Lord Sri Krishna.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Source...http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17266
In his Upadesamrta, Srila Rupa Goswami describes the six loving exchanges between devotees, two of which are offering and accepting gifts. As the holiday season is coming upon us, when we exchange gifts with our loved ones, we ask that you consider extending your gifts to our students as well.
“Kalpavrksa” is a wish-fulfilling tree, and the devotees are also known to be fulfilling desires. We are hoping for our wishes to come true, with your help. Big or small, every gift counts.
Thank you very much!
Gift Card from Staples
Gift Card from Office Depot
Gift Card from Hobby Lobby
Gift Card from Lakeshore Learning
Gift card from Sam’s Club
Gift card from Michael’s
Gift card from Best Buy
Laptops / Chrome Books
4 Small Wooden Chairs
Printer Paper
Outdoor Wooden Bench
Shoe Shelf
Electric Pencil Sharpener
White dry-erase board
Acrylic Paint
Tempera Paint
Trifold Display Boards
Poster Boards
Amazon Gift card
Construction Paper
You may also give the Gift of Education by becoming a monthly donor.
For questions or more information, please call: 214-886-4763
We wish you and your loved ones Happy Holidays and New Year!
With Gratitude,
TKG Academy staff and students.
Source...http://www.tkgacademy.com/news-updates/wish-fulfilling/
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/
What qualifications should a disciple possess before accepting a guru?
Śraddha – sincere, strong appreciation for what the guru possesses and sincere, strong desire to attain the same.
What are the primary qualifications of the guru?
1. Clear knowledge and realized faith in the philosophy, practice, and ultimate result of Krishna-bhakti.
2. The ability to explain it thoroughly and answer all questions on that subject.
Should I prefer a guru who answers questions but doesn’t seem very transcendental – or a guru who seems very transcendental but doesn’t answer questions very well?
Neither.
Find a guru with transcendental realization and the ability to explain it clearly by answering all questions.
[But… How are you evaluating how “transcendental” someone is? To me it seems that the ability to answer transcendental questions very clearly is a reliable sign that the person deeply understands transcendence, and is therefore “very transcendental.”]
What is the Qualification of a Dīkṣa-guru?
1. Dīkṣa guru grants official acceptance into the linage, so s/he must embody what the lineage values.
2. Conventionally, the dīkṣā guru is the most culturally senior person in the lineage or branch.
What is more important, finding a dīkṣā guru or finding a śikṣā guru?
Finding good instructors is more important because by finding instructors, the initiator soon emerges.
Śikṣā-gurus lead to Dīkṣā-gurus, so they are more primary and important.
The function of instruction (śikṣā) remains more important than the function of initiation (dīkṣā). To make it clear, getting accepted into a university is important, but going to classes and learning is even more important.
The two are related and inseparable, but of the two śikṣā is primary.
The Guru must enlighten the disciple. Does that mean he must already be enlightened?
The guru must have some significant realization of Krishna bhakti – at least a lot more than the new disciple.
Obviously, the more advanced, the better.
Practically, a reliable guru should at least be well situated in niṣṭhā-bhajan(past anartha-nivṛtti). This may not sound glamorously advanced, but in truth it is a lot more advanced that 90% of the devotees you meet anywhere.
Can the guru take a disciple to a realization higher than what he himself has?
If the disciple is extraordinary. Ordinarily, though, a guru would place the disciple in the care of a more advanced guru when the disciple requires it.
Is it possible that a disciple would have more knowledge of the shastra or more devotion than the spiritual master? How? Isn’t it the spiritual master who gives knowledge of shastra and plants the seed of devotion?
The guru-parampara hopes for this. The guru hopes for disciples who can eventually take what they have been given and develop it even further. Otherwise the paramparā only degrades over time.
But the enlightened disciple never makes the mistake of thinking he or she is better than guru. Even if our accomplishments blossom more remarkably than our gurus’, it is only because of guru’s grace. A flower cannot grow without seed, sun, water, and earth.
Mahaprabhu, Viśvanātha and Bhaktivinode are three examples of disciples whose accomplishments far outshone those of their gurus.
What if the guru has relative flaws or makes simple mistakes?
The flaws and mistakes of a guru that are not directly related to his or her practice and realization of bhakti are irrelevant.
Ex: spelling errors, inability to speak Swahili, no knowledge of advanced calculus, etc.
How can a prospective disciple test a prospective guru, since the prospective disciple has little knowledge of śāstra?
It is by Krishna’s mercy, not by our examinations, that we encounter our first genuine guru.
That first pradārśaka guru gives us some genuine initial education that points us towards a source of valid śikṣā. From this source, śikṣā guru develop our knowledge of śāstra much further. Then we become capable of identifing qualified gurus and distinguishing siddhānta from apasiddhānta.
What is the “mercy” of Guru?
The mercy of guru is his or her kīrtan and kathā, for that is the vehicle that plants and waters the seed of bhakti in the soil of our hearts.
How do we attain this mercy?
By earnestly requesting it, evoking it, and then absorbing it.
Humility is the first symptom of knowledge, so if a guru really has knowledge why would he ever accept a superior post, like being a guru?
We serve according to the needs of the people we are serving.
Service is not always executed from an inferior position. I am the servant of my children, for example.
To those with more śraddha, we serve by hearing.
To those with less, we serve by speaking.
To those with similar, we serve by discussing.
On the service it may seem that hearing is humble and speaking is proud – but if the person you are trying to serve needs to hear and wants to hear what you have to say, then speaking is not proud, it is dutiful, and therefore humble. Thus, the position of guru is not intrinsically a proud position.
Sometimes guru is considered a confidential associate of Srimati Radharani. Sometimes he is considered a representation of Nityānada, Balarama, or Krishna himself. How can we understand this?
Guru is the channel for the flow of Krishna’ kṛpā-śakti and kṛpā-śakti flows from different sources, for different purposes.
– Sandhini-śakti flows from Balaram and helps the jīva get an accurate conception of reality (sambandha)
– Samvit-śakti flows from Krishna and helps the jīva interact with transcendental reality (abhidheya)
– Hlādinī-śakti flows from Rādhārānī and allows the jīva to be an instrument for spiritual bliss (prayojana).
All three entities function through the guru-channel.
Sometimes they are described as their manifestations in Gaura-līlā: Nitai, Mahaprabhu, and Gadādhara.
CC 1.1.47 purport says dīkṣā-guru gives sambandha, and that sikṣa-guru gives abhideya. What does this mean?
Dīkṣa establishes the relationship to a family of practitioners. (sambandha)
Sikṣa is guidance on the actual practice. (abhidheya)
Which guru gives prayojana?
The original guru, Rādhā-Krishna.
How should we glorify guru? Unreservedly, or realistically?
The most realistic way is unreservedly – but correctly. “You are Krishna’s channel for kṛpā-śakti.”
Do we declare / request discipleship of a śikṣa guru?
It’s a very good idea to disclose and request confirmation from the śikṣā guru, but it’s not an absolute requirement.
Guru is not for answering mundane questions, but ISKCON culture is such that if I don’t take my mundane concerns to guru I am denounced as being “unauthorized.”
Who cares. Bhakti yoga not a popularity contest.
What do you think about gurus having large numbers of disciples?
Some of the great ṛṣīs and muṇīs like Atreya and Vyāsa have hundreds and thousands of disciples and millions of grand-disciples. Some Gauḍīya gurus also had thousands of disciples (Narottama dT, BSST, SP)
But, it is a practice of Sādhana listed in BRS to avoid trying to become a “big guru” with lots of disciples, tons of buildings and resources, and impressive arrays of knowledge. This is because having lots of disciples easily makes one proud, and has difficult practical ramifications because it consumes so much time and energy.
So – there is nothing “wrong” with having many disciples, but it’s generally better to have only a few.
Should there be more dīkṣā gurus in ISKCON?
Probably not. In most institutions and saṅgas there is only one dīkṣā guru at a time.
Instead of increasing the number of dīkṣā gurus, it would be far better to recognize the greater importance of śikṣā gurus.
What if one’s appreciation for the guru wanes?
Discuss it openly with the guru.
When is “re-initiation” necessary?
1. If you wish to officially leave the community you were accepted into and be officially accepted into another.
2. If the person who gave initiation develops a real, spiritual flaw, and thus ceases to represent the community he or she officially inducted you into.
Some say the second case is not mandatory, but it certainly seems a bad idea to ignore it. If you receive a degree from a university, for example, and the university is later discredited by the government, it doesn’t change what you have learned, but you would still probably want to follow whatever steps necessary to ensure that your diploma is accredited. Similarly, if your dīkṣā guru fails, it seems a really good idea to accept a valid dīkṣā guru again.
In ISKCON, gurus play a managerial role. This seems based on Śrīla Prabhupada’s personal example. Is it wrong?
Śrīla Prabhupāda was a guru and a founder of a completely new institution. Therefore he had two roles: one as a guru, the other as an overseer of management.
A guru is a guru, and a manager is a manager. In unusual circumstances it is possible for one person to be both, as in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s case. But it is not the norm in Vedic culture, which separates managerial and philosophical roles to kṣatrīya and brāhmaṇa, respectively.
Should the GBC be a collective guru?
No. They should manage the practical affairs of the society – seeing that the society has money and can provide adequate shelter, clothing, food & medicine for its members.
They shouldn’t manage the gurus (inc. brahmins and sanyassis). Guru’s should govern themselves, and focus on educating the society.
Is it true that service to guru is everything, and there is little need to hear about Krishna?
This is Kartabhājā-apasiddhānta. Unfortunately it is very pervasive and common. Kartābhāja is the idea that guru is everything and there is little or no need for Krishna. This is false. The truth is that guru is the transparent via-media to Krishna, therefore Krishna is everything and the guru makes that plain and accessible.
What does loyalty to guru mean?
Dedication to comprehending what s/he teaches.
How should I approach other gurus & previous gurus?
Seeking harmony in them.
If there is a serious difference between your guru and his gurus, there is something wrong. Either something is wrong with your guru, or something is wrong with your ability to comprehend.
Similarly, there is something wrong if there is a serious difference between one of your gurus and another.
If something is wrong, like if diska and siksa guru seem to have contradicting instructions, how do I resolve it?
Discuss it openly with your gurus.
Should the disciple consider every siska guru in his life as a manifestation of his diksa guru?
Not exactly – He should consider every guru as a manifestation of Krishna-kṛpā.
Must the dīkṣā guru recommend the śikṣā guru?
It is the other way around, but eventually goes both ways.
The dīkṣā guru emerges naturally from the śikṣā guru, or by their recommendation. Later the dīkṣā guru may also recommend specific śikṣā gurus.
If the siksha guru won’t give diksa, what should we do?
Ask the sikhsa guru what to do.
Is it OK to feel that ones śikṣā guru is more important than one’s dīkṣā-guru?
It is natural that, as time goes on, different subjects become relevant, and thus different teachers become more or less important. Naturally, Krishna’s kṛpā śakti sometimes flows more strongly through one channel, and sometimes through another.
But, always remember that all the gurus are different outlets for the same flow of electricity (krishna-kṛpā-śakti).
If I have many gurus, who do I pray to during guru-pūjā, for example?
When worshipping guru, we should be worshipping Krishna. “This is Krishna’s kṛpā-śakti coming to me through this person / these people.”
How does one awaken bhava and prema for their Guru?
We don’t. Bhāva and prema-bhakti are solely for Śrī Krishna. This is the verdict of Śrī Rūpa Goswāmī.
The relationship to the guru is seva-bhāva, a relationship of joint service to Krishna, initially with the disciple in an apprentice role.
There is a verse in BRS describing how we are related to other devotees at the stage of prema. Śrī Rūpa calls it bhāva-ullasa-rati – affection for other devotees who inspire our own bhāva of Krishna prema. In all cases the prema is for Krishna, and the affection for Krishna’s devotees augments our prema for Krishna.
Who will eventually give me prema?
Prema is the ultimate goal, it is given by the ultimate form of guru – The hlādinī/saṁvit function of Krishna’s kṛpā-śakti. (i.e. Krishna and Rādhā). They give the final infusion of “sunlight” that causes the full blossoming of the seed given by the sandinī function of Krishna’s kṛpā-śakti (i.e. Balarama)
Am I necessarily going to be in the same rasa as my guru?
Gauḍīya gurus realize the highest conception of Vraja-rasa… adi-rasa.
Adi-rasa contains all five sthayi-bhavas.
Thus any fully realized gauḍīya guru can nourish any disciple with any rasa aspiration.
Often a guru will manifest a clear preference for a specific sthayi-bhava, and this will naturally attract disciples desiring the same sthayi-bhava. It is a natural dynamic, not the outcome of a xerox effect.
The xerox effect idea – that guru creates and bestows your relationship with Krishna – is popular in sahajīya apasiddhānta. It is an incomplete version of thegauḍīya siddhānta.
The complete gauḍīya concept is in harmony with the common knowledge that all relationships are “two-way streets.”
Guru gives seed and guides the cultivation.
Disciple is the field/soil and performs the cultivation.
The relationship with Krishna the result of a combination of efforts from both parties – it’s not a carbon copy handed out by a guru.
Is my guru also my guru in the spiritual world?
Guru is Krishna’s shakti, snf Krishna’s shakti is the entire spiritual world, so, in this sense the spiritual world is entirely guru.
In Krishna-līlā you may recognize one specific shakti as the same exact shakti that came through your guru, and much of the role you play in Rādhā Krishna līlā may be conducted with or through that śakti.
Source...https://vicd108.wordpress.com/
The One Stop Solution for Bad Karma (5 min video)
How do you make up for wrong when you know you’ve done it and you feel bad for that?
Speaking from the wisdom of the yoga texts, that which is right is that which furthers your spiritual development and that which is wrong is that which interferes with your spiritual development. Who decides what is right and what is wrong? In terms of rectifying those wrongs we’ve done, it’s practically impossible to deal with all our ‘bad karma’ piece by piece. Rather the conclusion of Bhagavad Gita (the timeless yoga text) tells us that we can make a one stop solution to all the bad karma. Such methodology is the essence of the Bhagavad Gita as it is.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/3lReJe
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ioAbNNo87k&list=PL3mtxwuJqZM2TxXhmcenVXrk55vI3EZn5&index=1
TOVP UK Tour.
Final House Programme - highest Pledge!
Our stars in the highest pledged category for home programmes pledging a total of £60,000 by the assembled devotees tonight. Our final house programme with the highest score! Majority of the devotees are silver patron pledgers pledging £7000 each! The TOVP team would like to thank the hosts Bhavesh Prabhu and Kundalata mataji for a very successful evening and a grande finale of the house programmes.
Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=17245
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 September 2015, Durban, South Africa, BYS Retreat – Lecture at the Goshala)
I was at a university in Johannesburg and there was a girl who said, “I have ten boyfriends and I like them very much. What’s the problem? What’s wrong with sex?” Then everyone said, “Yeah! What is your hangup with sex?”
So I told her, “If you are happy with your ten boyfriends, good for you. But only for you because there is something greater that you can do with your life as a woman and that is to become a mother. When you become a mother something changes. Then it is not only about you anymore, you are no longer the centre of everything but someone else is. You learn to give instead of to take, and that is a greater thing. But if you have ten boyfriends, then the child gets pretty confused about who the father is, so better to have only one boyfriend and ten kids if you want! In that way, you will grow as a person to higher levels.”
There is nothing wrong with sex but sex alone makes everything self-centred… more and more then this one and that one, and then hit and run! But there is more than that to sex!
Source: https://www.kksblog.com/2015/11/whats-wrong-with-sex/
Ereyone assembled expressed their agreement with what the King had said. This put Pṛthu’s mind at ease, and he said, “Ah! All of you have given me a great, kind gift! You accept Hari as the ultimate goal of your efforts, the most important guide, and the supreme proprietor. And, you agree with my advice to carefully and reliably dedicate your own worldly responsibilities to his service.”
The great devotees and philosophers replied, “You are our king, of course we will follow your instructions.”
Pṛthu protested. “No. I do not give you ‘orders.’ No ruler should ever exert his power over philosophers who have fixed their consciousness upon glorifying the Supreme, and are thus enriched with a wealth of perfections such as forgiveness, forbearance, and learning.”
NOTE: Government and management should not extend itself to those who are self-governing and self-managing by dint of their knowledge and good qualities.
“Glorification of the Supreme” — in the opinion of Vyāsa, given in Bhāgavata and Mahābhārata, is to illuminate the supreme by focusing ones consciousness upon him via nāma-saṁkīrtan and bhāgavat-śravan.
The proof of sincere glorification of the supreme is that the glorifier becomes enriced with perfections like forgiveness, forbearance and learning.
The devotees replied, “You are empowered by Hari himself, you can certainly order us.”
Pṛthu refused, “Even Hari, the Original Person, constantly reveres and respects the feet of philosophers. This is why Goddess Lakṣmī constantly stays by his side, and this is why his fame has the power to purify the universe more powerfully than any other force.
NOTE: The most endearing quality of Hari is his humility. He is extremely respectful to philosophers, even though he is the most powerful ruler and authority in existence. This is the most attractive quality of Hari, and is the main thing that makes Lakṣmī fall in love with him.
It is the most purifying aspect of his fame, because it induces others to follow suit and respect the learned spiritual philosophers – and this respect for the devoted philosopher purifies society.
“He is the hidden root of every being, and is completely self-sufficient, but still he is enamored by the learned philosophers and constantly serves them by satiating their needs. Like Lakṣmī, I too greatly admire Hari’s natural humility, and want to emulate it, so I consider myself a servant of the learned, in every way.
NOTE: “If Hari and Lakṣmī are so enamored with philosophers and so attentive to their needs, why are they always so impoverished?”
Hari and Lakṣmī’s service to the brāhmaṇa/philosopher is not to give them things desired by those who have no philosophical depth – money, power, and so on. Rather, they serve the philosophers by “tuṣyati kāmam” – by satiating their needs, quelling their desires, removing their hunger for money and power, by giving them the desired end result (happiness) without the need for these complicated and entangling intermediaries (money, power, etc.)
“Anyone who stays in regular contact with philosophers, serving them humbly, will also soon find their own needs and desires satiated, and their consciousness filled with its own natural, peaceful satisfaction. There is no better way to perform sacrifice than to serve the philosophers.
“Do not use a fire-altar for sacrifices. Use the mouths of the philosophers. A fire has no life, what is the point of feeding it? Feed the mouths of philosophers who are experts in the subject of reality. The Limitless Supreme is far more satisfied by such sacrifice, because he is always concerned for the most civilized philosophers.
NOTE: This is the most practical advice! Philosophers do not have the instincts and time to earn money. Thus their families are needy, and this becomes a terrible distraction to the philosopher. Therefore everyone should give their
energy to feeding the philosophers. We must supply the dedicated philosopher with adequate shelter, clothing, food, and income – then society can progress, because philosophy can flourish. A society is only as good as the quality of its morals, and without sound philosophy that quality is not at all likely to be very high. Therefore donations to the educators and students on spiritual philosophy is the primary moral duty of every non-philosopher.
Unfortunately, this has been forgotten these days, and people prefer to give their money to building buildings, theme parks, hotels, and so on. Better to take care of the family of a person who can be a dedicated philosopher/brahmana.
“Philosophers preserve the spiritual knowledge of the Veda, which is eternal, brilliant, ever-relevant. They realize this knowledge by the auspicious qualities of devotion, forbearance, silence, self-control and extreme concentration. These qualities make the philosophical mind into a mirror, upon which the true import of philosophy manifests clearly, for all to see.
“Oh honorable people,” Pṛthu concluded, “For as long as I live, I will always carry upon my crown the pollen-dust from the lotus-feet of philosophers. This will quickly destroy all my misdeeds and make me fully qualified to truly love Hari. When someone acquires such qualifications – having treasured manners, always feeling grateful, and always learning from superiors – he certainly achieves every goal conceivable, as a consequence.
“May I become satisfying to the philosophers, to the cows, and to the People’s Ultimate Refuge and his devotees.”
NOTE: How do cows come into this?
The cow is the greatest wealth. With cows alone, humanity can produce everything they need. So cows are the most essential animal for providing the basic necessities that philosophers and everyone require.
Source: https://vicd108.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/gods-humility-and-where-to-donate-for-good-karma/
While on a vacation trip to a scenic pilgrimage destination a while back , I was fortunate to witness this intriguing conversation between a couple where the husband would daily whine to his wife that their neighbours were so filthy, so unheigenic as their clothes hanging on the dryer in their balcony were always soiled and unclean. They were always full of dirt. He would use abusive words to address them. On the sixth day, the husband suddenly exclaimed, "Finally good sense has prevailed on my neighbours. Look at how spic and span the clothes are today!". To this, the wife replied, "Dear, all these days it was not the neighbours who were dirty, but today I cleaned our window which wasn't cleaned since several months". From this, we realize that it is not the other person who is at fault but it is the window of our eyes which is soiled, which is imperfect, which is faulty. Before pointing fingers at others, before judging others, we need to look within our ownselves and clean the dust accumulated on our souls.
It is part of our daily staple, when we come across people constructing judgements or passing comments about some third person merely based on their perceptions or hearsay or solely based on outward appearance, speech, mannerisms, behaviour, which is more often than not derogatory and offensive. On close observation, we would fathom that this kind of fault finding behaviour is mostly done sub-consciously in a bid to express our own supremacy over others and exhibit that we are better than someone else. This habit of continual criticism is detrimental for our own mental and physical well-being as it contaminates our consciousness and degrades our thoughts which in turn manifests in inappropriate external behaviour. There are times when based on a downloaded version if a third person, we stereotype people and start focusing only on the bad in them, rather than giving importance to the good qualities. Being in association of such people not only fills our hearts with ill-feelings but leaves a sour taste due to contentions.
On diagnosing our addiction to this chronic disease of fault-finding, we need to immediately take remedial measures to cure this before it spreads, settles deeper into our system and takes control of our hearts and minds.
The five fold process of uprooting the weed of fault finding is as follows:
1. The very first step is focus on the positive traits/ good in others and make a conscious effort to choose not to see the bad. Rather we must magnify their good qualities, appreciate and encourage them.
2. As soon as we acknowledge this, the next step is to be aware of the effects of meditating on others' faults. Being cognizant about the cardinal principle that by associating with the fault of others, it severely affects us and gives shelter to these faults within us.
3. Next step is to uplift others by correcting and rectifying the mistakes. However before getting into this sensitive aspect we need to ask 4 questions - Am I the right person to correct? Do I have the right motive to correct? Do I know the right way to present the corrective feedback? Is this the right time?
4. Leave certain things to God or Krishna, when they are beyond our control. Instead of trying to fix them on our own, we must let God take charge and do the needful, as and when He thinks appropriate.
5. We must learn to tolerate others and understand that no conditioned living entity is perfect, everybody has their weaknesses including us. So we should practice the art of overlooking trivial aspects, become tolerant, humble and respect every soul.
Therefore through mutual understanding, we must comprehend that we all have our shortcomings, idiosyncrasies, meditate on the positive characteristics, express our appreciation, overlook small things and before forming opinions, perceiving others faults and committing offences against others, always conduct the Triple filter test : Is it true or false? Is it good or bad? Is it beneficial or harmful for us? This is the key to overcoming the sore addiction of constant criticism, finding faults and permanently uprooting the roots of expressing this negative vice so that we can live in harmony and eternal peace.
Lecture on By Dint of our Bhajan A Particular form of Krishna Manifest by HG Madhavananda Prabhu on 26 July 2015 at Eger
(Madhavananda Das, joined ISKCON in Los Angeles in 1982. He moved to Bhubaneswar Orissa in 1993 where he has been living since. He was instructed by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj to edit his lectures into publications.)
To Listen and Download - click here
Lecture on Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya Lila 18-08 by HG Suresvar Prabhu on 03 Nov 2015 at ISKCON Mayapur
(His Grace Suresvar Prabhu joined Srila Prabhupada's movement in 1970, serving as a preacher and book distributor across the U.S. He is currently teaching with MIHET in Sridham Mayapur. He is a contributor to Back to Godhead Magazine. )
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Lecture on Grihastha Ashrama in Bhakti-Shifting the focus from Grihastha to Ashrama by HH Chaitanya Charan Prabhu on Oct 2015
(HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu is a celibate spiritual teacher (brahmachari) at ISKCON, Pune. He has done his Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from the Govt College of Engg, Pune. He is a member of ISKCON's topmost intellectual body)
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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.)
To Listen and Download - click here
As long as we think, even mildly, that material situations are important, we are in the trap of deadly illusion. This illusion causes us to mistake the unimportant as important, the inessential as essential, the temporary as permanent. It makes us despair in unfortunate times; it makes us fearful about losing the good ones. It makes us struggle to accumulate more and even to just maintain status quo.
Unfortunately the world situation today forces us to struggle even for basic necessities and securities even if we are unattached to material situations. Gone are the days where one could lead a peaceful spiritual life away from the rigmarole of the general life of the masses. Life has become a struggle for all.
Most seek respite in the shallow entertainment of this world which leads them into denser fogs of illusion. But the wise seek respite in focussing on the essential ingredients of happy living even while the world conspires to allure them away into the sinister fogs of illusion.
Focussing on unchanging universal wisdom principles leads to a peaceful and fulfilled heart. Break the shackles of materialistic life, stop being impressed by material accomplishments.
When the mundane stops interesting you, your journey of joy begins.
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.”
