Lecture on Material Body by HG Sankarsana Prabhu on 30 Aug 2014 at Timisoara

(In obedience to Srila Prabhupada, Sankarshan Das Adhikari has fully taken up the banner of pure devotional service to the Supreme Godhead, and made it his life's mission to spread the Krishna consciousness science as far and wide as possible throughout the world.)

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Lecture on Basic Philosophy of ISKCON by HH Lokanath Swami on 10 July 2014 at ISKCON Pandharpur

(Born in Aravade, a small village Maharashtra, Indian, he went to Mumbai for studying. In the year 1971, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was touring India with his foreign disciples and had organized a pandal program in Mumbai.)

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Dear Prabhus,

It was a nice, sunny, and beautiful spring day. People were busy in their own fun plans. Some people were with their groups getting ready to enter in a restaurant for lunch and others were waiting outside for their friends to arrive. Some were enjoying the sunny lounge of bars and restaurants. The whole area was filled with the smell of roasted meat and garlic etc. After struggling for about an hour in the downtown area of Boise, Idaho, USA with not much success, we decided to visit the parking lot of a store. After parking our car, we started looking for opportunities. My son, Aja Govinda being very active and enthusiastic immediately started asking people without caring for the result. He would meet one after the other showing Bhagavad Gita and making the presentation on the photo plates given in the middle. He talked to tens of people with mixed results.

On the other hand, I was watching him doing his book distribution. Long back, Hrdyananda Maharaj visited Boise with his secretary Daruka Prabhu. I told Daruka prabhu that we generally visit to the homes of members of the Indian community and offer them Maha-Prasada and books. Daruka Prabhu said it is good but you should go out and distribute books on streets because that is the only way you learn to become humble and learn quickly to surrender to Krishna. At that time I was very much afraid of confronting contaminated, inimical, and demoniac people on sankirtana.

After taking a deep breath and thus gathering all my remaining energy and enthusiasm I decided to try to become instrument in the sankirtana movement of Srila Prabhupada. I was praying, "O! Lord Nityananda, it looks outwardly that I am distributing these books but actually You are the One who has already decided who is going to get Your causeless mercy. I am very happy and fortunate that You allowed me to try to be a tool in Your plans.

As I entered the parking lot I saw a cart full of wines and different types of meat. Behind the cart I saw a very tall, handsome, and strong looking cowboy. He was getting closer to his expensive BMW to put the stuff into the trunk. As I looked at him he said, "what’s up"? I told him I have some books to share with him on living a natural life based on the land and cows. He said, "thanks a lot for saying that, I live a life which is fully based on the land and cows. I grow grains on land and feed it to the cows to make money by selling beef. This is how I make my livelihood".

I told him that we are vegetarian and like cows. When we feed non-veg to cows they got mad cow disease and when we feed ourselves with non-veg we also get altzimer disease (like mad cow). We lose our memory because our brains become like a sponge. We should drink milk, which is brain food and avoid meat. Cow is already transforming her blood in to milk and giving all the nutrition to brain and body. Why kill her?

He said, "but I see no difference in killing a plant and killing an animal for food".

I said, "yes it is true, but we do not kill plants. They give us their fruit willingly as per nature’s arrangement like, cow gives us milk like our mother. I showed him Higher Taste and read the page on hidden cost of meat.

He stayed unfazed and said, "but I live on beef farming. I understand all your arguments based on environmental degradation, erosion, health, protein, pollution, mad cow, and hidden cost of meat etc. But what would I do if I give it up. How can I make my livelihood"?

I told him, "sell grains and milk. Don’t spend money on wine and tobacco. You will not die without these unnecessary things. Rather you will die early after consuming this unnecessary stuff. I pleaded him to look at the other side of the coin too. Consider this way of natural living. Please take one of these books". Then, I gave up and fell silent. I felt all my energy was consumed in just one person in a half-hour. But I thought at least he listened to the message of Lord Nityananda and chanted the Mahamantra once on my request.

He opened his car’s door and sat down on the driver’s seat and his legs hanging out.

I said, "just take this higher taste book give me even 50 cents, or even take it for free if you do not want to pay but please read this book it could change your life. I prayed to Lord Nityananda. “O! Lord Nityananda, I am here doing my best while asking this person and now you decide weather this man deserves your causeless mercy or not. You are famous for delivering Jagai and Madai. Give Your mercy to this Mrgrari and show him the path towards You by changing his heart.

He looked up and tried to see my eyes but failed due to the huge cowboy hat. Then he took off his hat and said, "I do not know what to say to you as you have defeated all my arguments. I will not take a single book but one copy of all the books you have"!

It took me about 20 seconds to recover from the ecstasy, which I could not hide from him. Then he asked me many more questions as we exchange cards. I told him that I have a PhD in environmental Engineering and I deal with the environmental issues causing so many incurable diseases. He left me with the promise to invite me to his ranch to speak to his fellow farmers.

After this, I got new enthusiasm and energy and I felt like I have become a 16 year old boy like Aja Govinda. O! Lord Nityananda, now I know why these book-distributors roam the streets of the whole world, this is how they maintain their energy and enthusiasm.

Yours Servant,
Sri Hari Dasa

Kolkata Dham Darshan, Visit the the holy places related to Srila Prabhupada

Dear Devotees,
We, at ISKCON Kolkata, take immense pleasure and feel divinely blessed to inform all the devotees that we have started Ahhay Charan Tours and Travels services in this sacred birth city of Srila Prabhupada. Our aim is to serve all the visiting vaisnavas in taking a spiritually refreshing tour of the numerous spots in Kolkata that are forever sanctified by the divine touch of His Divine Grace. This presents us all with an opportunity to instil ourselves with sweet memories of Srila  Prabhupada pastimes at those very places where they factually happened and there by fill our lives with supremely purifying glorification of our dear most master Srila Prabhupada.

The details of services offered by  Abhay Charan Tours and Travels are outlined below:

1) Kolkata Dham Darshan:
Kolkata, being the city where SrilaPrabhupada appeared and lived for a large part of his life, is replete with innumerable places associated with Srila Prabhupada's pastimes. The list includes:

a) Srila  Prabhupad's birth place: The same jackfruit tree under which Srila Prabhupada took birth is still there.

b) Motilal Seal Schhol: Prabhupada did his schooling here.

c) Scottish Church College: Srila Prabhupada studied in this college.

d) Radha Govinda Mandir: Srila Prabhupada used to visit this temple regularly in his childhood.

e) Khidderpore Dock: Srila Prabhupada departed for America in Jaladuta ship from here.

f) Ultadanga Junction Road: Srila Prabhupada met Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur for the first time etc. (The list is very long!!!).

We are offering the facility to organize guided tours to these holy sites for visiting devotees. Devotees wishing to avail of our services in this regard can contact us via mail at  avdas@iskconkolkata.com. We request devotees to inform us well in advance to help us serve them our best. We suggest that Devotees, while going to Mayapur, can take opportunity to derive transcendental benefits of visiting these holy places.

Besides this, Nearby Kolkata, There are several places associated with of pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and  Nityananda Prabhu; such as Panihati (The famous dahichida festival took place here), Khardaha (House of Nityananda Pr) etc.. If devotees wish, we can assist them to visit these places as well.

2) Car and Bus Rental services:  We have also started car and bus rental services from Kolkata for various places like Mayapur, Panihati, Ganga sagar and other holy places in and around Kolkata and devotees may take advantage of this facility as well.

We would request all the devotees to kindly spread the word around so that countless souls may come and bathe their consciousness in the spiritually surcharged places which are imbued with the holy dust of Srila Prabhupada's Lotus Feet

Looking forward for  opportunities to serve all the devotees  with all our heart and soul for the pleasure of Hari, Guru and Vaishnavas and glorifying Srila  Prabhupada  throughout the world.

Your Servants,
Abhay Charan Tours and Travels Team,
ISKCON Kolkata.
Join Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Kolkatadhamyatra

Download our power point presentation: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rr09eo7ev9tpbt6/kolkata%20dham%20yatra.ppsx?dl=0

Lecture on Bhagavat Sakshatkar ka Arth kya hai by HG Shikshashtakam Prabhu

(HG Shikshastakam Prabhu has served Indian Air Force for 7 years. During his tenure he was selected as a fighter pilot and also represented Indian Air Force in National Tennis Championship. He is serving ISKCON since 1998 as a fulltime preacher. Being expert at scientific explanation of the Vedic Culture and by his profound knowledge)

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Lecture on By following the order of the Spiritual Master by HH Sivarama Swami on 17 Dec 2014 at New Vraja Dham

(Sivarama Swami was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1949. His family immigrated to Canada where some years later in 1970 he first came in contact with Srila Prabhupada's teachings, via his transcendental books.)

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Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 09 The decision of inaction reflects desperation to Learn by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu in Dec 2014

(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, the Shastric Advisory Council, which offers scriptural advise to the GBC)

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Lecture on The Glories of Rama Ekadashi by HG Jagadhananda Caitanya Prabhu at ISKCON Perambalur

(HG Jagadhananda Caitanya Prabhu was born on 12th January 1979 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, He is Automobile Engineer was working with MRF Tyers until 2002. He is introduced to Krishna Consciousness in 2002 He is very much attracted to Krishna Consciousness so he decided to Join Coimbatore ISKCON )

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Once there lived a king who was very fond of conquering other countries. So he went on fighting one war after another, and was just busy building a big empire. Once when he was on his way back home after a war he saw a old sage dressed in rags, sitting by the street side and meditating. Seeing him in rags the king thought, "This old man is very poor and does not have even proper clothes to protect him from cold. Let me gift him my shawl". Thinking in this manner, the king approached the sage and gifted him his shawl. The sage thanked the king for his kind gesture, but refused to accept the gift.  The sage said, "O king, there is someone more poorer than me in your kingdom and may be you consider giving this gift to him. By mercy of Lord, I have everything which is needed for me and so I don't want your shawl".  The king was very surprised and he asked the sage as to who was that poor man. The sage replied, "O king, you are the poorest man in this kingdom. Because, I see that even though you had captured so many kingdom, still your thirst for war has not quenched. You don't feel satisfied with what you have and you keep on wasting your valuable time in wars." Hearing the sage's words, the king realized that indeed since the sage had taken shelter of Holy Names, and had the wealth of satisfaction, the sage was far more richer than him. He thanked the sage for his valuable advice and from that day onwards, the king took shelter of Holy Names, stopped unnecessary wars, executed his prescribed duties to the best of his ability.  In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 11.19.43-44, Lord Krishna instructs Uddhava that 

gunaadhyo hyaadhya ucyate
daridro yastv asantushtah

"My dear friend Uddhava, one who is enriched with good qualities is actually said to be rich, and one who is unsatisfied in life is actually poor."

Indeed satisfaction is the greatest wealth. We must be completely satisfied with whatever Krishna gives us and avoid unnecessary hankerings. That is the secret of peaceful and blissful life.

*ONE YEAR INTENSIVE SANSKRIT COURSE*

*FIRST SEMESTER*

*December 29, 2014 to May 7, 2015*

The course covers the most important sutras of the Sri Harinamamrita Vyakarana,

SrilaJiva Gosvami's complete Sanskrit grammar, a work that contains around 3200 sutras or grammatical rules. Out of these, we shall cover the 800 most essential ones. By the end of the course students will be able to directly read and understand the Sanskrit verses and commentaries on Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam, along with several other writings of Vaishnava acharyas. The course is divided into two semesters.

The first semester, which will last for five-months, covers the first two chapters of the Sri Harinamamrita Vyakarana: sandhi and nama prakaranas. The second semester covers the next three chapters: akhyata, karaka andkridanta prakaranas. By the end of the first semester students will begin learning how to read the Sanskrit commentaries of Shrimad Bhagavatam.

The course will be conducted by Sriman Vinit Shelar, one of the teachers from the now defunct BBT Sanskrit school founded by His Grace Gopiparanadhana Prabhu.

The course is meant for serious Sanskrit students. It requires regular study and practice, including the memorization of the sutras.Prospective candidates need not have any previous knowledge of the Sanskrit language.

Other requirements include chanting 16 rounds of the Hare KrsnaMaha-mantra daily, following of the 4 regulative principles, brahminical tendencies, volunteer service, knowledge of English and a recommendation from a senior devotee who knows the candidate well.

For further enquiries please call Sri Vinit Shelar on 08126277275 or write to vinitluvsgopal@gmail.com. To register please contact Damodarashtak Das at damodar.vihe@gmail.com or call 07895101709

your aspiring servant,
Damodarashtak das

Lecture on Although we are not qualified to Serve Krishna by HH Sivarama Swami on 19 Dec 2014 at Budapest

(Sivarama Swami was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1949. His family immigrated to Canada where some years later in 1970 he first came in contact with Srila Prabhupada's teachings, via his transcendental books.)

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Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 04 Chapter 15 Text 05 by HH Nava Yogendra Swami on 20 Dec 2014 at ISKCON Vrindavan

(A naishtik Brahmachari left home at a very young age of 9 yrs to become Sadhu and lived in jungles. Returned home and again left at the age of 17 years and lived at Shri Vrindavana dham. Became the disciple of His Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the year 1974.)

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Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 65 Purification makes external intelligence internal by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu in Dec 2014

(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, the Shastric Advisory Council, which offers scriptural advise to the GBC)

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Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14 Text 26 Going Beyond the Modes by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami on 25 Nov 2014 at Tamil Nadu

(His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami appeared in this world in 1957 in England. He joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in London in 1975 and was initiated in that year with the name Ilapati dasa by ISKCON’s founder-acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.)

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Lecture on Ekadashi-Srila Prabhupada Katha by HH Lokanath Swami on 20 Aug 2014 at Noida

(Born in Aravade, a small village Maharashtra, Indian, he went to Mumbai for studying. In the year 1971, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was touring India with his foreign disciples and had organized a pandal program in Mumbai.)

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Lecture on Although we are not qualified to Serve Krishna by HH Sivarama Swami on 18 Dec 2014 at Budapest

(Sivarama Swami was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1949. His family immigrated to Canada where some years later in 1970 he first came in contact with Srila Prabhupada's teachings, via his transcendental books.)

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Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11 Chapter 24 Text 15 Why do bad things happen to good people by HH Indradyumna Swami on 20 April 1990 at Melbourne

(Indradyumna Swami is a disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a Sannyasi traveling preacher, and a guru or spiritual teacher in the Chaitanya Vaishnava tradition.)

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Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 55 Rejection of mental desires and satisfaction in the self define the self realized by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu in Dec 2014

(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, the Shastric Advisory Council.)

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Lecture on Disappearance of Jayadeva Goswami and Lochan Das Thakur by HH Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami on 15 Jan 2012 at Punjabi Baugh

(Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami was initiated by His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in October 1968, about two months before HH Jayapataka Swami, awarding him the name “Makhanlal das”.)

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