ISKCON Desire Tree's Posts (20040)

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Puṣya Abhiṣeka is not merely a festival of flowers; it is a festival of love, born from the tender desire of the gopīs to lovingly care for and decorate their beloved Krishna. In Vṛndāvana, Krishna was never seen as the Supreme Lord alone—He was the darling of the gopīs, a playful child, a mischievous boy, lovingly handled, dressed, and adored by those whose hearts existed only for His pleasure.

It is said that Krishna was just like a toy in the hands of the gopīs. Overflowing with affection, they once decided, “Let us decorate Krishna beautifully—again and again—so that He may feel our love.” From this simple yet profound desire arose the pastime of Puṣya Abhiṣeka, where Krishna is decorated profusely with flowers, ornaments, and garments, followed by joyous celebration so that all may behold His beauty.

In Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, this festival has become one of the most majestic and heart-touching celebrations of the year—and fittingly, it is the very first grand festival that welcomes the new year. It sets the tone for the months to come: devotion first, beauty in service, and love at the center.

On this auspicious Pūrṇimā day, Their Lordships were entirely draped and garlanded in flower petals of every variety—not merely wearing flower dresses, but embodying a labor of pure love. Each petal was placed by devoted hands, each garland strung with care, patience, and prayer. The result was not just beauty, but devotion made visible.

The day began even before the sun rose, with kathā and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja, who spoke on the profound pastime of Devahūti and Kardama Muni—touching upon marriage in devotional life, service in the dhāma, and the deeper purpose of relationships when centered around Krishna. These reflections prepared the hearts of devotees to enter the festival mood with depth and sincerity.

As the day unfolded, devotees were blessed to behold Their Lordships adorned in magnificent white flower dresses, intricately designed with countless delicate petals arranged with care and devotion. Each detail reflected the loving effort of the devotees, and in the midst of this radiant floral setting, Śrī Mādhava shone brilliantly like a black jewel, His beauty standing out strikingly against the pristine white flowers, leaving everyone deeply absorbed in the sweetness of the darśana.

Then, at 7:00 PM, the festival reached its crescendo. The temple resounded with melodious kīrtans as ārati was offered to the Divine Couple. In that moment, it felt as though time stood still. The atmosphere was saturated with devotion, music, fragrance, and joy—transporting everyone present into what felt like a glimpse of the spiritual world.

What makes Puṣya Abhiṣeka in Mayapur especially extraordinary is that not only Chota Rādhā Mādhava receive this flower bath, but the full-sized Deities—Śrī Rādhā Mādhava, Śrī Pañca-tattva, Śrī Prahlāda Nṛsiṁhadeva, and Śrīla Prabhupāda—are all bathed in flowers. And just as importantly, every devotee present is bathed in mercy.

The celebrations continue late into the night, with hearts overflowing, faces glowing, and spirits uplifted. One leaves not tired, but fulfilled—carrying the fragrance of flowers and devotion within.

As the festival gently concludes, it leaves behind something lasting: a mood for the entire year. Puṣya Abhiṣeka opens the door to a series of divine celebrations—Vasanta Pañcamī, Śrī Advaita Ācārya’s Appearance, Śrī Nityānanda Trayodaśī, and the grand Gaura Pūrṇimā festivities—all following one after another, like beads strung on the garland of devotion.

Until next year, Puṣya Abhiṣeka reminds us of a simple truth taught by the gopīs themselves:
Krishna is conquered not by opulence, but by love—and love is best expressed through heartfelt service.

Source: https://www.mayapur.com/en/blog/puya-abhieka-in-mayapur-a-festival-draped-in-love

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Bhakti Spurts by Bhaktimarga Swami

31053316478?profile=RESIZE_400xEvery human being — correction — every entity, big or small, is looking for something exciting. It’s the tiniest thing that can stimulate and push you through the day.

I’ll give my example for this very day. I was walking with two people in a park. It was the shortest walk (and I’m embarrassed to say I took a few steps being busy). To our surprise, a beautiful fox strutted across the park. It was before dusk. It was on a hunt, and it was bee-lining its way to some sort of prey. It depends on which culture you talk to, An ill omen or a good omen? I would like to think it was auspicious in the sense that a fox represents focus, agility, intelligence, cleverness.

Anyways, I was thrilled. The fox is a soul incarnated in a gorgeous body.

Another item that gave me a buzz was participating in an abhishek, a sacred bathing for a deity. In this case, it was a brass deity of Narasingha in the home. He is beautiful. The standard items for bathing were pure milk, pure yogurt, juices, honey, water, etc. While I was pouring those substances I felt a kind of a heart leap. I was elated.

I was similarly touched in the evening by something a guest said.

“You are the one that got me into this (bhakti)!”

“I am the guilty one?”

“Yes,” said the guest.

Certainly, I felt responsible happily over this credible testimony. The guest expressed gratitude. Naturally, my heart was jumping in ecstasy.

Source: https://www.thewalkingmonk.net/post/bhakti-sports

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31053308275?profile=RESIZE_400xSrila Narottama dasa Thakura has sung: “daya koro sri acarya prabhu srinivasa, ramacandra sanga mage narottama dasa—O Srinivasa acarya Prabhu, kindly have mercy upon me; Narottama dasa always prays for the association of  Ramacandra Kaviraja.”

Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja was one of the internal associates of Narottama Thakura. The two of them were practically inseparable. Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja had obtained the full mercy and blessings of Srinivasa acarya. Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja’s father’s name was Ciranjiva Sena—his mother’s name was Sri Sunanda.  

At first Sri Ciranjiva Sen lived in Kumara Nagara. After he married the daughter of the poet Sri Damodara Kavi, he moved to the village of Sri Khanda. Ciranjiva Sen was a Mahabhagavata, a topmost devotee of the Lord. The devotees of Sri Khanda, headed by Narahari Sarakara Thakura all had great affection and respect for Ciranjiva. 

One day, Ramacandra Kaviraja was on the road to Yajigrama, on his way home from his wedding. At that time, Srinivasa acarya was passing on the road, accompanied by his followers.

Later, Shrinivasa Acharaya was in Yajigrama at his own house, where many devotees had gathered to hear him lecture on Shrimad-Bhagavatam. At that time, passing by the house of Shrinivasa Acharya was Ramachandra Kaviraja the son of Chiranjiva Sen (one of Mahaprabhu’s eternal associates).  He had just been married, and he and his new bride were on their way back from the wedding. 

From a long way off, Shrinivasa Acharya saw Ramachandra Kaviraja, and Ramachandra Kaviraja also saw Shrinvasa Acharya from a distance. Upon seeing each other from a distance a deep mood of friendship arose within the hearts of those two eternally perfect devotees of Shri Gauranga. 

After seeing each other they were eager to meet one another.  Shrinivasa Acharya inquired about Ramachandra Kaviraja from the local people.  They told him that he was a great pandita named Ramacandra—a learned poet and expert doctor from a family of doctors and scholars. Hear all this, Srinivasa acarya smiled, for he was greatly pleased. 

Ramachandra Kaviraja had heard about Shrinivasa Acharya and was eager to have his darsana.  In this way, he finally went to the house of  Srinivasa acarya along with his new bride and were introduced by some of the local people.  The day passed quickly in discussion of Hari-katha. They spent the night where they had been staying since coming to Yajigrama, at a brahmana’s house near the home of Shrinvasa Acharaya, and the following morning went to Shrinivasa Acharya and fell before his feet offering prostrated obeisances. 

The Acharya bade Ramachandra Kaviraja to get up from the ground, and heartily embraced him saying, “Life after life you have been my friend.  Providence has brought us together again today by arranging our meeting.” Both of them felt great happiness as a result of their having met.  

Seeing that Ramchandra had an acute and  deeply learned transcendental intelligence, Shrinivasa was very happy.  He began to make him hear the Goswami scriptures. Ramacandra’s pure behavior  which was always in accordance with the scriptures very much pleased Srinivasa acarya, and after a few days the Acharya initiated him in the divine Radha-Krishna mantra.

Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja delivered many sinners and nonbelievers to a life of auspiciousness as a result of his mercy. At the festival in Kheturi-grama, he was one of the leaders. On the order of Narottama dasa Thakura and Srinivasa acarya he went to Vrndavana. 

When he arrived there, he found that almost all the Goswamis had passed away. When he found that so many great souls had passed away, his heart was deeply pained.  

After some days in Vrndavana, feeling the pain of separation in this way, while deeply meditating upon the lotus feet of Sri Radha and Govinda, he entered into their eternal Vrndavana pastimes.  His disappearance day is on the third day of the dark moon in the month of Pausa.

Source: https://ramaiswami.com/ramacandra-kaviraja-disappearance/

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We are pleased to provide the free online TOVP 2026 calendar as a viewable, downloadable and shareable flipbook. This year’s theme is, The TOVP Story 1971-2025, From Kutir to Mandir.

Monthly images showcase the progress of the TOVP from its initial inspiration by Srila Prabhupada into the heart of H.G. Ambarisa prabhu in 1976 to the recent Grand Opening of the A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Legacy Museum in February 2025. In 2026, we will reach another milestone with the Grand Opening of the TOVP Yajna Shala in the TOVP Gardens on February 11. You can read more about that HERE.

The journey to the manifestation of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium continues as we approach the temple Grand Opening, a three-month celebration beginning on Srila Prabhupada’s 50th Disappearance Anniversary on November 1, 2027, followed by three months of celebrations while our beloved Mayapur deities are relocated into Their new home.

We are pleased to provide the free online TOVP 2026 calendar as a viewable, downloadable and shareable flipbook. This year’s theme is, The TOVP Story

TOVP 2026 Calendar Now Available Online – Temple of the Vedic Planetarium

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By Radha Mohan Das


At the Gurukula Hare Krishna Primary School, children receive a holistic, Krishna conscious education that nurtures their individual talents and guides them toward engaging those gifts in the loving service of Lord Krishna. Alongside academic learning, great importance is placed on cultural training, helping students grow in confidence, creativity, and devotion to the Supreme Lord.

An expression of this training was recently seen when many Gurukula pupils participated in the New Year’s Eve programme at Bhaktivedanta Manor. The children had the auspicious opportunity to open the evening by melodiously singing Worship Hari, the English rendition of the well-known Vaiṣṇava bhajan Bhaja hu re mana, setting a devotional mood for the programme that followed.

This was followed by the Manor’s Got Talent show, which featured a variety of performances by both children and adults. Gurukula students are trained in singing, dancing, music, and drama as offerings to Krishna, and their performances beautifully reflected this mood of service. The acts included comedy, a Bharatanatyam dance depicting Krishna’s divine pastimes, a Hindi song glorifying Lord Rama (from the 1963 film Luv Kush), Rubik’s Cube magic, and a live band performance.

Remarkably, despite competing alongside adults and secondary-school students, the top two finalists were Gurukula pupils. Dhriti and Nanda Priya presented a graceful Bharatanatyam dance illustrating various pastimes of Lord Krishna, while a group of Year 6 boys formed a band called Mahaprabhu’s Mission. They wrote and performed an original rap glorifying Śrīla Prabhupāda and the mission of spreading the holy name throughout the world.

The judges were highly impressed by the children’s talent, confidence, and devotional spirit—a sentiment shared by many guests in attendance. Such programmes vividly demonstrate how, through proper guidance and spiritual culture, children can joyfully develop their abilities in Krishna’s service and become bright representatives of our Vaiṣṇava tradition

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116976

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31052920681?profile=RESIZE_710xBy Radha Mohan Das

The School of Bhakti department hosted a wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration in the Haveli, bringing many people together in a warm and devotional atmosphere. The event provided a meaningful and uplifting way for devotees to welcome the New Year in style. Attendees came from a wide range of backgrounds, including people of different faiths and cultures, adding to the inclusive spirit of the evening.

The Haveli kīrtan hall was filled to capacity as the programme opened with a charming play performed by the Junior Bhaktivedanta Players, Sanatan Goswami and the Touchstone. The young performers captivated the audience with their enthusiasm and engaging storytelling, conveying uplifting spiritual messages and receiving heartfelt appreciation from everyone present.

The celebration continued with a lively community talent show, where both children and adults had the opportunity to showcase their abilities. This segment featured a rich variety of performances, including cultural presentations, poetry, magic, Bharatanatyam dance, stand-up comedy, and even rap. Throughout the programme, judges, participants, and audience members alike encouraged and supported one another, creating a joyful and supportive atmosphere.

The evening concluded with an ecstatic kīrtan led by Radhika Dās and his team, which continued well past midnight. United in chanting, devotees joyfully welcomed the New Year together, filling the Haveli with the sound of the Holy Names. It was a memorable and uplifting celebration, offering the community a beautiful opportunity to begin the year feeling connected, inspired, and together.

 

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By SyamaMohini Devi Dasi  

From November 25 to December 10, 2025, the ISKCON Vaishnavi Ministry held its annual “Safe Families, Strong Communities” campaign. We now reflect on the activities undertaken, the support received, and the spirit of compassion and unity that emerged throughout this period. 

During these campaigns, we regularly hear from individuals, particularly Vaishnavis, who find comfort, encouragement, or the confidence to speak about challenges within their homes or communities. Many expressed their appreciation for the guidance shared through our YouTube channel, and this year was no exception. We are deeply grateful for every message received and for those who courageously shared their experiences related to digital or other forms of harm. Your voices remind us why this service is so vital.

This initiative seeks to raise awareness about behaviors and conditions that undermine family well-being and community harmony. While anyone may experience hardship or harm, evidence shows that women and girls are often affected at higher rates. Our vision is universal: homes rooted in respect, care, and spiritual consciousness, where every family member feels safe and valued.

Vaishnavis from around the world joined and supported the campaign in a variety of meaningful ways, including hosting special awareness programs, offering dedicated classes and discussions, sharing important information within their communities, creating displays, and amplifying the message through social media and personal outreach. Their collective efforts significantly broadened the reach and impact of this initiative.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/safe-families-stronger-communities-campaign-reflections-on-the-16-days-of-activism/

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ISKCON Communications Europe just released the new ISKCON Communications Journal (ICJ) in a bookmarked, digital format. Click here to access the 2025 ICJ. Readers can also download a .pdf version here.

Mahaprabhu Dasa, the Director of ISKCON Communications Europe, said, “The 2025 ISKCON Communications Journal is the fifth volume to be published since the journal’s revival in 2021. Each successive volume has reaffirmed the journal’s role as a thoughtful forum for intellectual, spiritual, and institutional reflection about ISKCON and the wider Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition. As in previous volumes, this one reflects the journal’s commitment to reasoned analysis, scholarly rigor, and openness to diverse perspectives, while constructively addressing difficult questions and examining ISKCON’s teachings and practices with honesty and care.”

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Source: https://iskconnews.org/explore-the-new-2025-iskcon-communications-journal-now-online/

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Meeting Dr Ali Hayder by Gurusakti Dasi

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“We are not preaching to Christian or Hindu or Muslim. We are preaching to human being. Every living being, his duty is to understand God.”
–Srila Prabhupada

Today in Leeds, Dr Ali Hayder approached me, and we had a beautiful discussion. He conveyed that he has read the Ramayan and holds deep love for Lord Rama. He shared how he sees common values between Lord Rama & Imam Husayn, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. For him, studying religion through these shared principles truly inspires him.

He said that although he is a Muslim, he has always believed that wisdom is never owned by one tradition. He had read a digital version of the Bhagavad Gita and spoke about how the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna felt like a universal message meant for every human being.

What resonated with him most was the call to dharma, to take responsibility, to stand in our values and to act with clarity even when life becomes difficult. He expressed that this was not about religion but about learning. Dr Ali has found his dharma in being a Digital Marketing Consultant, lecturing students at Leeds University and studying religions and the common values they share.

He explained that in Islam, they are taught to seek knowledge even if it means travelling across oceans. So he believes that studying the Bhagavad Gita is simply an extension of that belief, through which he hopes to understand different perspectives, learn from different stories, and allow the wisdom to shape how we live & behave.

He said every tradition carries something meaningful, and limiting ourselves only narrows our growth. We all share the same struggles, the same questions and the same search for purpose and that this shared journey is the real beauty of diversity.

I was so humbled by our conversation, witnessing the sincerity of Dr Ali’s search for truth and his passion to share knowledge with others.

Srila Prabhupada arranges meetings far beyond anything we can imagine. When hearts are open, Krishna sends his wisdom through any path, any culture and any soul willing to receive it.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116834

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The main theme of the class is the extraordinary compassion, humanity, and inclusiveness of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada. Through many traditional narratives, the speaker illustrates how Lord Chaitanya welcomed everyone regardless of caste, race, background, or past sins. Examples include the deliverance of Jagai and Madhai, the healing of the leper Vasudeva, the loving protection of Haridas Thakur during persecution, the acceptance of Sanatana and Rupa Goswami despite social rejection, the mercy shown to animals (including a dog chanting Hare Krishna), and the guidance given to Raghunatha Dasa Goswami.

The speaker emphasizes that Lord Chaitanya’s mission was to freely distribute love of God through chanting the holy names, breaking down social and religious barriers. This mood is presented as the model for devotees today: to be broad-minded, non-judgmental, and deeply compassionate, both toward the wider world and within the devotee community itself.

The second half of the talk focuses on Srila Prabhupada as the modern embodiment of this compassion. Stories highlight his personal austerity, his willingness to endure hardship to spread Krishna consciousness worldwide, and his boundless love for people regardless of their faults or backgrounds. Prabhupada is portrayed as someone who saw the soul in everyone and who emphasized staying connected to Krishna consciousness over external labels or failures.

In the concluding reflections and questions, the speaker urges devotees to enter the new year with renewed commitment to kindness, humility, and mutual support, avoiding criticism of other devotees and actively caring for one another. True devotion, the speaker stresses, is shown not just through external practice, but through love, forgiveness, and compassionate behavior that reflects the heart of Lord Chaitanya’s mission.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116956

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Translation
The mind is like an impetuous horse that even persons who have regulated their senses and breath cannot control. Those in this world who try to tame the uncontrolled mind, but who abandon the feet of their spiritual master, encounter hundreds of obstacles in their cultivation of various distressful practices. O unborn Lord, they are like merchants on a boat in the ocean who have failed to employ a helmsman.
Purport
To become qualified to attain love of Godhead, the mature fruit of liberation, one must first subdue the rebellious material mind. Though difficult, this can be achieved when a person replaces his addictions to sense gratification with a taste for the higher pleasures of spiritual life. But only by the favor of the representative of Godhead, the spiritual master, can one gain this higher taste.
The spiritual master opens the eyes of the disciple to the wonders of the transcendental realm, as indicated in the Gāyatrī prayers by the seed mantra of divine knowledge, aiṁ.
The Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (1.2.12) states:
tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet
samit-pāṇiḥ śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham
“To understand these things properly, one must humbly approach, with firewood in hand, a spiritual master who is learned in the Vedas and firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth.” And the Kaṭha Upaniṣad (2.9) declares:
naiṣā tarkeṇa matir āpaneyā
proktānyenaiva su-jñānāya preṣṭha
“This realization, my dear boy, cannot be acquired by logic. It must be spoken by an exceptionally qualified spiritual master to a knowledgeable disciple.”
Non-Vaiṣṇavas often disregard the importance of surrendering to a spiritual master who stands in an authorized line of disciplic succession. Relying instead on their own abilities, proud yogīs and jñānīs exhibit their apparent success to impress the world, but their glory is but temporary:
yuñjānānām abhaktānāṁ
prāṇāyāmādibhir manaḥ
akṣīṇa-vāsanaṁ rājan
dṛśyate punar utthitam
“The minds of nondevotees who engage in such practices as prāṇāyāma are not fully cleansed of material desires. Thus, O King, material desires are again seen to arise in their minds.” (Bhāg. 10.51.60)
On the other hand a humble, steadfast devotee of Lord Viṣṇu and of the Vaiṣṇavas is assured of easy victory over the stubborn mind. He need not concern himself with performing the eightfold system of yoga or taking other such measures to keep his mind steady. Sarvaṁ caitad gurau bhaktyā puruṣo hy añjasā jayet: “A person can easily obtain all these goals simply by being devoted to his spiritual master.” Otherwise, a nondevotee may conquer his senses and vital air and still fail to tame his mind, which will continue to run wild like an unbroken horse. He will suffer unending anxiety over the troublesome execution of various spiritual practices, and in the end he will remain just as lost in the vast material ocean as he ever was. The analogy given here is very appropriate: A group of merchants who hastily enter upon a sea voyage with expectations of great profit, but who fail to hire a competent helmsman for their boat, will simply experience great difficulty.
The Bhāgavatam declares the importance of the bona fide spiritual master in many places such as this verse from the Eleventh Canto (20.17):
nṛ-deham ādyam su-labhaṁ su-durlabhaṁ
plavaṁ su-kalpaṁ guru-karṇa-dhāram
mayānukūlena nabhasvateritaṁ
pumān bhavābdhiṁ na taret sa ātma-hā
“The human body, which can award all benefit in life is automatically obtained by the laws of nature, although it is a very rare achievement. This human body can be compared to a perfectly constructed boat having the spiritual master as the captain and the instructions of the Personality of Godhead as favorable winds impelling it on its course. Considering all these advantages, a human being who does not utilize his human life to cross the ocean of material existence must be considered the killer of his own soul.” Therefore the first business of one who takes human life seriously is to find out a spiritual master who can guide him in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī prays:
yadā parānanda-guro bhavat-pade
padaṁ mano me bhagaval labheta
tadā nirastākhila-sādhana-śramaḥ
śrayeya saukhyaṁ bhavataḥ kṛpātaḥ
“O transcendentally blissful guru, when my mind finally achieves a place at your lotus feet, all the tiresome labor of my spiritual practices will be finished, and by your mercy I will experience the greatest happiness.”

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116960

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By Radha Mohan Das

The Bhaktivedanta Players concluded their 40th anniversary year on a powerful and joyful note with a spectacular production of The Lion King – Simha Rāja, presented with a thoughtful Kṛṣṇa conscious twist. This grand finale marked not only the end of a celebratory year, but also four decades of devotional drama, service, and outreach.

The production was staged across three sold-out performances at the Sri Kṛṣṇa Haveli, Bhaktivedanta Manor, featuring a vibrant cast of adults and children working together in the mood of service and family devotion. Each show was packed with eager audiences, reflecting the strong affection the congregation holds for the Bhaktivedanta Players.

The drama delighted all ages, offering lively songs, humour, and family entertainment, while also weaving in meaningful life lessons—some of them deeply spiritual. Through relatable characters and engaging storytelling, the audience was gently reminded of timeless values such as responsibility, humility, courage, and remembrance of one’s true identity.

Feedback from viewers was overwhelmingly positive:

“It was a phenomenal experience.”
“Bhaktivedanta Players at its best.”
“A real rollercoaster of emotional journey.”
“The Bhaktivedanta Players’ pantomimes always outdo themselves.”
One travelling devotee from the United States remarked,
“Bhaktivedanta Manor is so fortunate to have plays like The Lion King.”

Indeed, everyone went home on a high note, grateful for an evening of spiritually nourishing entertainment.

Highlights from 2025 for the Bhaktivedanta Players:

The Lion King finale crowned an eventful year for the Bhaktivedanta Players. Other notable highlights in 2025 included:

A grand drama celebration in May
A touring production in Mauritius
An outreach Diwali performance of the Rāmāyaṇa
As the curtain closes on the 40th anniversary year, the Bhaktivedanta Players continue to demonstrate how drama can be a powerful medium for preaching, outreach, and devotional inspiration.

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31050474662?profile=RESIZE_584x *Humble Prayer Request*
Dear Vaishnavas,
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
We humbly request all devotees to *offer their sincere prayers* for *His Grace Hari Sauri Prabhu, a senior disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda and His long-standing personal servant*.
Hari Sauri Prabhu is currently *undergoing a heart surgery*, and at this crucial time, we request everyone to kindly pray to *Their Lordships Śrī Śrī Radha Kṛṣṇa, Lord Narasimha and Śrīla Prabhupāda* for his successful surgery, swift recovery, and continued good health.
May the Lord protect His dear devotee and allow him to continue inspiring generations with his service and memories of Srila Prabhupada.

 *Your prayers will be deeply appreciated.*
In service,
*On behalf of Team MVT*
 Hare Kṛṣṇa 

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116945

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The Museum of Sacred Art Foundation (MOSA) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)* have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote Indian Art across seven European countries from 2026 to 2028. The agreement was formalized on December 27, 2025, at the newly renovated Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center in Paris.

The MOU was signed by Mahaprabhu Dasa, Director of MOSA, and K. Nandini Singla, Director General of the ICCR under India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The signing ceremony was witnessed by His Excellency Mr. Sanjeev Singla, Ambassador of India to France, underscoring the cultural and diplomatic significance of the partnership.

Reflecting on the importance of the agreement, Mahaprabhu Dasa said, “This is a very important step in the development of MOSA, to be able to have the support of the Indian government to promote Indian art throughout Europe. We hope to bring the message of India’s spiritual heritage through the visual arts.”

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/mosa-and-iccr-sign-landmark-mou-to-promote-indian-sacred-art-across-europe/

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The Religion News Association (RNA) has released its annual Top 10 Religion Stories of 2025, highlighting a year in which faith, politics, and global affairs collided in dramatic and often unsettling ways—from the historic election of Pope Leo XIV as the first U.S.-born pontiff to the far-reaching impact of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on religious communities. Voted on by religion journalists across the United States, the list offers a snapshot of how belief and public life intersected at pivotal moments at home and abroad; readers can explore the full rankings, analysis, and context in the complete article below.

To read the full article, click here.

Source: https://iskconnews.org/rna-announces-top-10-religion-stories-of-2025/

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13381728081?profile=RESIZE_192XWe are entering the New Year, and on such occasions we take stock of what and how we did in the previous year and what we want to do in the next. Studies have shown, and probably many of us have experienced, that most New Year’s resolutions are broken during the first week. Still more are broken in the first month, and almost all are broken within the first three months.

Why does this happen, and what can we do? We are creatures of habit. We have developed certain habits over however many years—perhaps lifetimes—and to change our habits requires sincere desire and determined effort. One study showed that when a person is trying to develop a new habit, he has to consistently, diligently, strive to adhere to the new practice for at least thirty days. After thirty days, he is able to follow more easily but can be derailed by stress or changes in his life. After ninety days, it becomes just as easy to follow the new habit as not, and after a year, it is easier to follow the new habit than not.

So, what new habits do we want to develop in the next year? That depends on our goals. When I visited Pune some years ago, the Malhotra brothers arranged a program for me in the main hall, and at the end of the talk the general in charge of the Southern Command of the Indian Army asked an important question: “What is the aim for which we are born—what is the aim of our life? It certainly could not be to amass some wealth and ultimately die, or to make a building and then die, or to marry and procreate and then die. For our minor activities in life, we have the aims set first, before we get going to achieve them. When we train our people in the army, whatever they have to do, we first tell them what the aim is. And once they are clear what the aim is, then we decide what means to adopt to achieve it. And invariably we don’t go wrong. Now here it is—to my mind, my whole life is going to waste; I am still not very clear what is the aim of my life. Would you kindly enlighten us about the aim of life so that thereafter we can be very, very clear as to what we have got to do to achieve that aim?”

Srila Sanatana Gosvami asked the same question of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:

“ ‘ke ami’, ‘kene amaya jare tapa-traya’
iha nahi jani—kemane hita haya

“ ‘sadhya’-‘sadhana’-tattva puchite na jani
krpa kari’ saba tattva kaha ta’ apani”

“Who am I? Why do the threefold miseries always give me trouble? If I do not know this, how can I be benefited? Actually I do not know how to inquire about the goal of life and the process for obtaining it. Being merciful upon me, please explain all these truths.” (Cc Madhya 20.102–103) He said, “In ordinary dealings people consider me to be a learned scholar (pandit), but I am so learned I do not even know who I am. So please tell me who I am and what is the goal of life.” And Lord Chaitanya replied, “By constitution you are an eternal servant of Krishna—jivera ‘svarupa’ haya—krsnera ‘nitya-dasa’—and the goal of life is to be reinstated in your constitutional position as His loving servant.”

If someone understands that he is not the body, that he is the soul within the body, and that his real relationship is not with the body or things related to the body but that, as he is a spiritual soul, his real relationship is with the Supreme Soul, then he can adopt the methods that are suitable for reviving his eternal relationship with the Supreme Soul, Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada formed the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to give people this knowledge: We are not the body but the soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Soul. Our real relationship is with Him, and our duty and goal in life is to revive our eternal loving relationship with Him, with God, Krishna. The whole process of sadhana-bhakti is to help us to awaken that eternal love for God.

nitya-siddha krsna-prema ‘sadhya’ kabhu naya
sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya

“Pure love for Krsna is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens.” (Cc Madhya 22.107) That love is eternally there within the heart, just as fire is within a match. You just have to strike the match and the fire will come out. Similarly, we just have to strike the heart by chanting and hearing about Krishna and that love will come out.

The main process is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. We are in a Hare Krishna temple. We are part of the Hare Krishna movement, and we are known as Hare Krishna people. We are meant to chant Hare Krishna. And by our chanting Hare Krishna, the mirror of our minds can be cleansed (ceto-darpana-marjanam), the blazing fire of material existence extinguished (bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam), and ultimately our dormant love for Krishna awakened. Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam.

But there is also the matter of the quality of the chanting. Queen Kunti prays to Lord Krishna,

janmaisvarya-sruta-sribhir
  edhamana-madah puman
naivarhaty abhidhatum vai
  tvam akincana-gocaram

“Your Lordship can easily be approached, but only by those who are materially exhausted. One who is on the path of [material] progress, trying to improve himself with respectable parentage, great opulence, high education, and bodily beauty, cannot approach You with sincere feeling.” (SB 1.8.26) People on the path of material advancement want good birth (janma), material opulence (aisvarya), material learning (sruta), and physical beauty (sribhih). They cannot approach the Lord with feeling. And when we chant the holy name, we are trying to approach the Lord. The holy name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are the same.

nama cintamanih krsnas
  caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
  ’bhinnatvan nama-naminoh

“The holy name of Krsna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krsna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krsna’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krsna Himself. Since Krsna’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krsna’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krsna and Krsna Himself are identical.” (Padma Purana, Cc Madhya 17.133)

Commenting on Kunti’s prayer, Srila Prabhupada cites scripture, that by uttering the holy name of the Lord even once, one can destroy the reactions to more sins than one is able to commit. “Such is the power of uttering the holy name of the Lord. There is not the least exaggeration in this statement. Actually, the Lord’s holy name has such powerful potency.” We are all suffering because of sinful reactions. If we were freed from sinful reactions, we would no longer have to suffer. As Prabhupada explains, however, “there is a quality to such utterances also. It depends on the quality of feeling. A helpless man can feelingly utter the holy name of the Lord, whereas a man who utters the same holy name in great material satisfaction cannot be so sincere.” Lord Krishna is akincana-gocaram, easily approached by those who are akincana, who have no material possessions.

Now, these statements may give rise to some questions. This word akincana means “without material possessions,” or “without a sense of false proprietorship.” Of course, there should be no duplicity in the matter, but this principle allows us, for example, to have an opulent temple. We may have a beautiful property, but as long as we remember, “This is Krishna’s property. This is Srila Prabhupada’s property. It is not my property; I am here only to serve them and use this property in their service,” we can be free from false proprietorship, false prestige, and false designations. And in that mood we can chant the holy name with feeling, approach Krishna with feeling. Otherwise, there is a subtle rivalry going on between us and Krishna. We come into the material world out of envy of Krishna. In effect, we want to take His position. We want to be the proprietor and controller and enjoyer (isvaro ’ham aham bhogi), which is actually Krishna’s position. While chanting Krishna’s name, we may be thinking, “Why should I be chanting Krishna’s name? People should be chanting my name—‘Giriraj Maharaja ki jaya!’ ” That is our sorry plight. We don’t want Krishna to be the center; we want to be the center. So, we chant the holy name with ourselves in the foreground and the holy name in the background. That is our tendency as conditioned souls.

The proper process is to chant with attention. We let go of all those thoughts about ourselves—“I” and “me” and “mine”—and focus on the holy name, on Krishna. Those other thoughts are irrelevant. They may come up, but we don’t pay them heed. We just focus our attention on Krishna, on the sound of Krishna’s holy name. And when we do that, we can actually feel His presence. We can appreciate that the holy name is Krishna Himself reciprocating with our sincere desires to serve Him.

This practice requires effort. We are habituated to think that we are the center of existence and that everything revolves around us. We see everything in terms of ourselves, not in terms of Krishna. But our habits can change. There is a saying that up to the age of twenty, you think that people are looking at you and like you, from the age of twenty to forty that they are looking at you and don’t like you, and then, after the age of forty, that they aren’t even looking at you or thinking of you. So, we have to reform this habit of thinking that we’re the center, always thinking about ourselves and that everyone else is thinking about us, too. We must know that Krishna is the center.

Once, when I was chanting my rounds at the beach in Carpinteria, I was sitting alone, chanting with attention—making a serious effort to be attentive—somehow thinking of different people who were close to me, and feeling how much they were suffering. I was actually feeling their pain. As I continued chanting, that sense of feeling for others expanded to people who weren’t so close to me, and then to the people on the beach, whom I didn’t even know. There weren’t many, but there were a few people surfing. And I was really feeling their suffering. Srila Prabhupada had joked that the surfers were actually “sufferers,” but I was actually feeling their suffering.

Then the feeling went beyond the human beings. There were pelicans at the beach. They fly very high and then suddenly zoom down and crash into the water. I understood that they were hovering high in the sky looking for prey and that when they saw some potential food they came straight down and crashed into the water. Ordinarily I would think, “Oh, how picturesque—flying so high and then diving into the ocean.” But now I was feeling, “They are in anxiety. They are hungry. They need food and are searching: ‘Where is food? Where is food?’ And when they see something and dive straight down and crash into the water, although they are birds, still, coming from that height at that velocity and crashing into the water is bound to be a shock to their system. And they don’t know whether they will actually get that fish or not. And whatever happens, after they come down, they go up and start the same process all over again. They are never satisfied—‘Now we can just relax.’ ” I was thinking, “What a life, full of anxiety, full of pain!”—and feeling it.

And the dolphins and the sandpipers and the seagulls—the same thing. I was feeling so much suffering on all sides. It was as if the illusion of material happiness and charm had been lifted, and this whole beautiful panorama became a horrible scene of intense suffering, which I was feeling. And I was just chanting, chanting, chanting. Then a little ladybug landed on my hand. Growing up, I thought that ladybugs were auspicious and cute. But this time I looked at the ladybug and thought, “This ladybug is suffering”—and, again, feeling it. Looking at the ladybug, I thought, “I don’t think I can take much more of this. I am feeling too much suffering; I am going to have a breakdown.” I wanted to help these creatures. I was feeling their suffering and desiring to help them, but it was getting to be too much.

Then I had the type of breakthrough that one gets when one chants with attention, with an effort to chant with attention. Suddenly I felt as if Krishna were speaking to me, revealing something to me. I got the intuition, or inspiration, in my heart that Krishna loves these creatures more than I do, more than I can even imagine. He loves them so much that He accompanies them as the Supersoul in whatever species of life they enter. And not only does He love them more than I can ever imagine, but He can actually do something to help them. I may feel for them and want to help them, but what is my capacity to help them? I may not even understand what’s troubling them. Parents sometimes experience that their baby is crying and they want to help but don’t know what the baby wants. They may think the baby is hungry, but the baby may be troubled by something completely different. Or even if they do understand what is causing the suffering, they may be unable to relieve it.

So, I was thinking, “Not only does Krishna love them, but He can actually do something to help them.” And then I came to the bottom of it. The problem was that I was trying to take the position of Krishna. In the Bhagavad-gita (5.29) Lord Krishna says,

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
  sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
  jnatva mam santim rcchati

“A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.”

When one recognizes that Krishna is the enjoyer, Krishna is the proprietor, Krishna is the best friend, one attains peace. I thought of what Srila Prabhupada often said, so simple yet profound—that your best friend is not he or she who poses as your best friend but he or she who tells you that Krishna is your best friend. Suddenly this whole problem of how to help these suffering souls became very easy. I didn’t have to help them personally; I just had to direct them to Krishna, who could really help them. And it was such a relief.

So, this is our mission: to serve Krishna. And serving Krishna means doing what Krishna wants, and Krishna wants that we should bring other souls to Him. As He says at the end of the Bhagavad-gita (18.69), His dearmost servant is he who preaches the message of the Gita. Na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah/ bhavita na ca me tasmad anyah priyataro bhuvi: “There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also said, yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa: “Wherever you go, whomever you meet, just present the message of Krishna.” And that is something any of us can do. It is actually very easy. Any of us can do it.

When devotees, myself among them, first came to Bombay, two of Prabhupada’s early disciples, Shyamasundar and Malati, had a small daughter, Sarasvati, who used to approach respectable gentlemen who visited our center. Although only three or four years old, she would approach them and say, “Do you know who is Krishna?” And then she would answer, “Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Srila Prabhupada commented, “That is preaching. She is repeating what she has heard from authorities, and even if she doesn’t have full realization, what she is saying is perfect, because she has heard it from authorities—Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” So, any of us can preach. We can simply repeat what we have heard from authorities—“Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” “Chant Hare Krishna and your life will be sublime.” “Come to the Hare Krishna temple.” And that will please Krishna.

When I noted devotees here on book distribution, in December, I could feel the enthusiasm to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. I thought, Srila Prabhupada is pleased. They have the spirit to distribute his books. The books are as potent and effective now as ever. So many people I meet—when I ask them how they came to Krishna consciousness, it goes back to a book. They got a book. The formula that Srila Prabhupada gave us over forty years ago still works. By giving them Prabhupada’s books, we are giving them Krishna and Prabhupada, the message of Krishna through Prabhupada, and that is enough to awaken their sense of Krishna consciousness and begin them on the path. Many of us are here because of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

So, we should try to develop the habit of putting Krishna in the center, putting the holy name in the center, putting Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada and their mission in the center, and that will make all the difference. Our spouse can be there, our children can be there, our house can be there, our work can be there—everything can be there—but with Krishna in the center, everything will be beautiful and peaceful. And as long as we persist in habits that may have been with us for many lifetimes—thinking that we are the center, we are the lords, we are the enjoyers, we are the proprietors—there will be so many problems, and in the end whatever we have will be taken away from us anyway.

So, it is most auspicious that we are beginning the New Year in the association of devotees. My request is that we use this coming year, and this valuable human form of life, for their proper purpose, in Krishna consciousness, and that in this endeavor we help and support one another. We can’t do it alone. And I pray that I can always remain in the association of such wonderful devotees, because I am sure that in this association, hearing their instructions, I will be nudged along on the right path, back home, back to Godhead.

Hare Krishna.

[Adapted from a talk by Giriraj Swami, January 2, 2010, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England]

Source: https://girirajswami.com/blog/thoughts-for-the-new-year-6

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The Sydney New Year’s Eve celebration in various places around the city is viewed by millions. The biggest crowds always come to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House area, where it is packed from the early afternoon. There are two fireworks displays, one at 9.00pm and the other at midnight.

The Harinama devotees come to the earlier event because the later one is too difficult to navigate because of the huge crowd. As usual, the devotees were ecstatically chanting, dancing and waving to the crowd and some also joined to dance with them.

Source: https://ramaiswami.com/sydney-new-years-eve-harinama-4/

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8368840282?profile=RESIZE_400xPocket Meditations.
As we settle into the rhythm of the New Year here are some pocket meditations to carry with us every day. These small reminders can bring quality to our lives and thus help us feel more alive. As the Joseph Campbell quote goes – “I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.”
For those practicing bhakti, that means being alive to our relationship with Krishna and others. It’s all about relationship. Nothing mystical in these meditations, but things that can surely, when applied to the practice of bhakti, bring us to mystical experiences.
Always Try to do Things Better
Life becomes interesting when we are aware of what or who we are working with and are asking ourselves how can I do this better, how can I be better. This doesn’t have to be all the time but enough of the time so that we don’t live in a lull – with a sense of comfort, thinking we are all cool or a sense of despair that things can’t be change, can’t improve.

Our life is ours to live and when we serve, when we do things for Krishna, be particularly attentive to quality. And to where our mind is at. These are good places to start when reflecting on how to do things better.

Don’t be Lazy

In a verse in the Srimad Bhagavatam, this tendency to be lazy is grouped with a few other qualities. “O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.” SB 1.2.12

We all have it and we should be careful. Where do I cut corners? Where do I give in? Where do I not hold strong because I am too lazy?

Commitments to vows, honoring time and managing it well, protecting what’s important and knowing your own bio rhythms can help keep laziness in its corner. Being lazy about our daily meditation on Krishna’s names is like trying to light a fire with wet wood. Not happening – and neither will any tangible and visceral spiritual growth and experience.

Watch our Words

This meditation is a reminder to do two things – watch how we speak to others and watch how we speak about others. Both can make or break relationships. In the word “namaste”, the well known Sanskrit greeting, is the understanding that we are honoring the Lord in the heart of the other person. We should remember that for the rest of the conversation too!

As bhakti yoga practitioners try to move away from harsh, critical, put-down, defensive and proving ourselves ‘right’ talk. We should watch our words, our tone, and practice kind, loving, trust-giving, and empowering talk. Listen more, don’t over react and don’t take things too personally. I know (personal experience) that this is easy to say and not so easy to do. And remembering that the mind and heart feast on words, spoken and unspoken, we can still make the choice as this Native American story shares:

A tribal elder tells his grandson that inside each of us there are 2 wolves doing battle. One wolf is growling with envy, greed, sorrow, anger, resentment, and arrogance. The other wolf is growling with love, joy, kindness, empathy, compassion, humility, and peace. The grandson asks, “Which wolf will win the fight?” And the elder responds, “Whichever one we feed.”

The practice of bhakti yoga, connecting with Krishna through mantra, study, and service, brings these pocket meditations to life. And the practice of these meditations strengthen our bhakti. It’s a win/win, so keep them close and apply them often.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=35231

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By Janananda Gosvami

Hey that’s not what Prabhupada said. You’ve got it the wrong way round. He said ” resolution, then revolution, then dissolution—no solution!

What do you mean revolution? Another ISKCON reform, a changing of the guards, change the structure of the management, get rid of the tyrants at the top, throw out the guru system, bring in the uttama bhagavata, a philosophical revelation. Aha! An unveiling of the hidden mysteries of ISKCON history, the latest solve the problems technique. The real truth. A social upheaval. What’s he talking about?

I guess some think these are the solutions and would like to make resolutions about it. I ain’t got much of a brain for all the unending speculations and even sincere endeavours flying around, even though like others I get caught up in them only too often. I’m all for a revolution but rather one of conscious transformation.

Mahaprabhu certainly started a revolution, but it was one of transformation by spreading the Holy names. Prabhupada also was a revolutionary to the max.

Dear Sri Dhruva (Secretary to Sri R. D. Birla)
You will understand from the informations that this Krishna Consciousness movement is a major revolutionary renaissance specifically delineating social and religious conception of life based on authorized Vedic culture.

20 August, 1974
Dear Swami Jara Kumar,
In this age the spiritual revolution was recommended by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He demonstrated that the Yuga Dharma for this age is the Sankirtan – chanting of the holy names. If we want the degraded mass of people to be elevated, we must stop their sinful activity. To stop sinful activity one must purify the mind and the best process for purifying the mass mind is the chanting of the maha mantra Hare Krishna. This can be done in public where everyone has a chance to hear and be purified.
We experience that people are becoming more friendly and helping our movement in America simply because we are performing this sankirtana yajna. I hope you can understand this. This movement is authorized and confirmed by great acaryas as well as the sastras and also by Lord Caitanya Himself Who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, non different from Krishna.

Hawaii Jan 18th 1974 SB 1.16.22
So if you make a revolution of this sankirtana movement, everyone chanting and dancing, the government will be changed immediately. So push this movement.

A Revolution? The solution. Let’s make a resolution!
So what’s your solution? A simple formula. What did Srila Prabhupada himself follow on with in Mayapura in 76. What did Srila Prabhupada request as medicine in his last days. “Amala Harinama, amiya bilasa”.
Add the chanting of Hare Krishna more and more to our lives. Okay here’s the suggestion. Let’s go beyond the mechanical process of minimizing the chanting – 16 rounds finished. Thank god. Kirtan – maybe a few minutes a day. Harinama Sankirtan – forget it. Chant while I work – no way. In the bathroom, the car …. UUUh. No more – I did my bit this morning.
Come on that’s to simplistic. Agreed many practical mthings have to be dealt with intelligently. However Mahaprabhu has made the process simple in this age. Chant Hare Krishna. All of our activities should lead to our awaken of our attraction for chanting.

“But I’ve been chanting for 30 years and where am I?”. “Perhaps we have become a bit lethargic in our approach. It’s good that we are keeping the flame going but to cook the preparation we have to turn the temperature up. Prabhupada gave a lecture – trying to cook from 300 miles away. If we want to go forward maybe we have to go forward. We want change. Let’s make change

Chant more and more. The revolution starts at home – transform ourselves. Expose ourselves more and more to the Holy names. “The only reform required is to change our perception of the world by exposing ourselves to the transcendental holy names of the lord.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.

Here’s the resolution – CHANT MORE. We don’t have to stop what we are doing even – just add the chanting.

“Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on one’s having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness one attracts the attention of Krsna. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. Therefore if one becomes very humble and meek, he can easily attain the lotus feet of Krsna in this age of Kali. That is the fulfilment of all great sacrifices, penances and austerities because when one achieves ecstatic love of Godhead, he attains the complete perfection of life. Therefore whatever one does in executing devotional service must be accompanied with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.”
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 4.70-71

If people are simply induced to chant Hare Krsna mantra . . . Just see. Even a child, he is taking part. It is natural . . . they are dancing and chanting. So this movement is so important.
Somehow or other if you can engage them in chanting and dancing, the whole world will be united. (Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture, Bombay, December 27, 1974]

19 September, 1969
My Dear Tamala Krishna,
You write to say that you do not know what is my desire, but my desire is an open secret. I simply want all over the Western countries people may take this simple formula of chanting, dancing and eating Krishna Prasadam, and being happy. I am simply surprised that they should not accept this simple formula and be happy themselves. My only desire is that all people become happy and prosperous in Krishna Consciousness.

Hrdayananda Maharaja: “We don’t know how we can increase our desire for chanting.”
Prabhupada: “By performing sankirtana. Just like if a man drinks, and if he drinks and drinks, then he becomes a drunkard.” The example amused the audience, and they broke into laughter. “Drink more and more and you become a drunkard,” Prabhupada continued. “Similarly, chant more and more and you become-perfect chanter.”

“The Krsna consciousness movement has started performing sankirtana yajna in different places, and it has been experienced that wherever sankirtana yajna is performed, many thousands of people gather and take part in it. Imperceptible auspiciousness achieved in this connection should be continued all over the world. The members of the Krsna consciousness movement should perform sankirtana-yajnas one after another, so much that all the people of the world will either jokingly or seriously chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and thus they will derive the benefit of cleansing the heart. The holy name of the Lord (harer nama) is so powerful that whether it is chanted jokingly or seriously the effect of vibrating this transcendental sound will be equally distributed. [Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.10, purport]

Okay I’m getting a bit carried away, but to be carried away in the waves of Nama Sankirtan is not such a bad thing.

Oh I almost forgot another part of the revolution. Another resolution, perhaps another solution. Think about it. Put more effort into coming together for the morning programme with the devotees and dance and chant together, chant japa together, hear class together, honour prasadam together..Oh! and go for Harinama sankirtan on the street with the sankirtan party.
United we stand…

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=4790

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