Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto - 06, Chapter - 01, Text - 21, The Life of Ajamila 01 by HH Indradyumna Swami on 26 Aug 2015
(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 The Lord adjusts his plans to accomodate his devotees by HH Chaitanya Charan Prabhu
(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 You only stop scratching because it starts to bleed by HH Devamrita Swami on 06 June 2015 at ISKCON Chowpatty
(Devamrita Swami was born on October 16, 1950 in New York City. At the age of seventeen, he received a scholarship to Yale University and graduated in 1972. Upon graduation Devamrita Swami began to study the literary works of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.)
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Lecture on Janmastami Festival by HH Lokanath Swami on 10 Sep 2015 at ISKCON Noida
(Lokanath Swami 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.Intrigued, maharaj attended the whole Hare Krsna Festival and heard from Srila Prabhupada.)
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Keys to Understanding the Bhagavad Gita
August 25, 2015 by Hari-kirtana
PARADOXICAL ETHICS OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA
Last month, I was invited to give a pair of talks about the Bhagavad Gita at ISKCON of DC in Potomac, Maryland. The video below is a combination of the audio recording of my second talk and the Powerpoint slides I used as visual references for it.
A longer explanatory note than last time: The most conspicuous challenge to understanding the ethics of the Gita is the fact that Krishna urges Arjuna to wage war against his family members in spite of Arjuna’s reluctance to do so. We would like to think that Krishna, as the ‘Supreme Ethicist’, would support Arjuna’s antipathy towards warfare but Krishna does precisely the opposite. The ‘ethics of God’ and the delicate subject of whether or not there is such a thing as ethical violence is one worthy of a comprehensive examination far beyond the 45-minutes the forum in which I was speaking allows. Since the talk was so short it should come as no surprise that, as time was expiring, I made a comment that was not accompanied by sufficient context in order to ensure a proper understanding of my intention. I will take this opportunity to provide the missing context:
In response to a question at the tail end of this talk I equated the beheading of “infidels” by ISIS executioners to President Obama’s use of drones to kill al-qaeda operatives. My objective in this comparison was to illustrate their shared characteristics relative to the Gita’s ethical imperatives and to make a categorical distinction between righteous and unrighteous warfare; the difference between good versus evil as opposed to evil versus evil.
For someone who identifies as an American, my example may not have the ring of one-to-one correspondence: America versus ISIS seems like a clear case of good versus evil. Of course, those who sympathize with ISIS will view America as evil; which one is which depends on your affiliation. However much good and evil may seem absolute from the position of our respective world views, good and evil are, objectively speaking, relative concepts insofar as the dualities of the material world are concerned.
The specific point of this example is that both the execution of un-armed non-combatants and the execution of combatants from a remote location (in a manner that is known to result in non-combatant casualties) are acts of cowardice. The chivalrous nature of the Gita’s ethics as they apply to the warrior class demands that the king lead his soldiers into battle and that non-combatants are safely removed from the fighting. This is in stark contrast to a leader who sits safely behind a desk thousands of miles away from the battlefield while someone else pushes buttons of destruction on their behalf or a soldier who executes a defenseless non-combatant rather than taking responsibility for the non-combatants protection, as is required according to the Gita’s rules of warfare.
This cowardly aspect of modern warfare does not in any way diminish the valor of soldiers who fight in defense of the defenseless. Nor does it mean there is no such thing as a just war. In the case of America’s military initiatives, I was making the point that, under the western social order, the military acts on behalf of corporate and business interests, not on behalf of righteousness. Historically, “America’s interests”, a favorite term of foreign policy, means America’s business interests; we ‘defend’ the presumption of America’s unfettered prerogative to consume a disproportionate quantity of the world’s resources. If that means we have to covertly topple another country’s democratically elected government or overtly attack a nation under false pretenses in order to perpetuate our domination of the global economy, so be it. That the advocates of such policies never seem to learn from the adverse consequences of their policies, however self-evident those consequences may be, is testimony to their ignorance: they are intelligent men whose knowledge is stolen by illusion.
History has shown us that evil people do not think of themselves as being evil. And when evil forces face off against another group of evil forces, all you end up with is an amplification of evil, much to the chagrin and disappointment of those who earnestly join the military under the illusion that truth and justice are synonymous with the American way. For an eloquent description of an American soldier’s realization of the discrepancy between chivalrous ideals and sinister reality, click here.
A final note: ISKCON of DC is the local center of gravity for the spiritual community known as the Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya, the lineage of devotional yoga with which I am directly affiliated by initiation. As such, you may occasionally hear me speak inclusively, using the word ‘we’ to refer to myself as a member of the community to which I’m speaking, when I refer to a particular philosophical position or angle of vision shared by the Vaisnava community.
I hope you enjoy the talk and look forward to your comments and questions. – Hkd
Source: http://hari-kirtana.com/keys-to-understanding-the-bhagavad-gita-2#more-1947
By Romapada Das International Coordinator ISKCON 50th Anniversary Celebrations
Mobile:+91 (0) 997 993 3880
Email: romapada@iskcon50.org
Skype: ramesh.kallidai
Web: www.iskcon50.org
PAMHO: romapada.GKG@pamho.net
The Global Office for ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary invites applications for the following two volunteer positions:
Role 1: ISKCON 50 Webmaster
Role:
The ISKCON 50 Webmaster will completely own our website (www.iskcon50.org) by providing regular updates, maintenance and support. Duties include:
● Uploading latest stories and announcements on the Home page and other relevant pages
● Searching for ISKCON 50 stories on the web and other ISKCON sites and providing links from the ISKCON 50 website
● Maintaining and updating our resources section including all downloadable files
● Maintaining and uploading a photo and video archive/library
● Removing outdated information and keeping the website up-to-date with ‘current’ information
● Maintaining a calendar of all ISKCON 50 events worldwide by collecting information and uploading it on the website
● Identifying new functionalities or features of the website as we move forward
● Working closely with our Technical Support team to add new functionalities or features
● Maintaining a contact database, and sending regular updates to our subscriber list and other distribution lists
● Producing a bi-monthly newsletter with content provided by our editorial team
Qualifications and Experience:
Preferably a graduate who has experience in creating or maintaining websites, and has used content management software
Past experience in creating and maintaining websites must be demonstrated with a proven track-record in using WordPress
Knowledge of HTML would be an advantage, but not necessary
Working Hours:
Four to six hours a week
How to apply:
The ISKCON 50 Webmaster will report to the International Coordinator for ISKCON 50 and will work under the guidance of the International Executive Committee.
Candidates can send a copy of their CV and a short note on why they feel they will fit this role to:info@iskcon50.org
Role 2: Social Media Manager
Role
Creating a social media strategy for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary and executing the strategy so that the 50th anniversary becomes a major presence on social networking sites with active interaction and participation from our target audience. Duties include:
Managing Social Media marketing campaigns and day-to-day activities including:
Curate relevant content to reach ISKCON 50’s target audience
Create, curate, and manage all published content (images, video and written)
Monitor, listen and respond to users in a “Social” way while cultivating leads and followers
Conduct online advocacy and open streams for cross-promotions
Develop and expand community and/or blogger outreach efforts
Oversee design (ie: Facebook Timeline cover, profile pic, thumbnails, ads, landing pages, Twitter profile, Instagram, Youtube channels and blog)
Design, create and manage promotions and Social ad campaigns
Compile report for management showing results (ROI)
Become an advocate for ISKCON 50 in Social Media spaces, engaging in dialogues and answering questions where appropriate
Capture online reviews, ratings and trends
Use online tools to capture qualitative and quantitative data for revising ISKCON 50’s social media plans
Produce monthly reports on how effective ISKCON 50’s social media has been, and the extent of our outreach by using relevant metrics
Qualifications and experience
● A graduate with a proven track record in social media marketing. An academic qualification in social media marketing will be an advantage, but not necessary.
● Demonstrates creativity and documented immersion in Social Media. (Give links to profiles as examples).
● Be proficient in content marketing theory and application. Experience sourcing and managing content development and publishing.
● Has in-depth knowledge and understanding of Social Media platforms, their respective participants (Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Google+Local, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest etc.) and how each platform can be deployed in different scenarios.
● Maintains excellent writing and language skills.
● Has a working knowledge of the blogging ecosystem relevant to ISKCON 50
● Displays ability to effectively communicate information and ideas in written and video format.
● Exceeds at building and maintaining sales relationships, online and off.
● Maintains a working knowledge of principles of SEO including keyword research. Highly knowledgeable in the principles of “Search and Social”.
● Possesses functional knowledge and/or personal experience with WordPress.
● Demonstrates winning Social Customer Service techniques. Possesses great ability to identify potential negative or crisis situation and apply conflict resolution principles to mitigate issues.
● Has a big picture understanding of how blog and social media content fit into search rankings and how our content will operate in the 50th anniversary marketing funnel.
● Conceptualises and creates eye-catching images for our social media and blog posts. While it is not necessary to have advanced Photoshop skills, a good eye for design and the ability to source and edit images is a must-have. The candidate needs to demonstrate ‘graphic-thinking’ rather than skills for graphic design.
Working Hours:
Six to ten hours a week
How to apply:
The Social Media Manager will report to the International Coordinator for ISKCON 50 and will work under the guidance of the International Executive Committee.
Candidates can send a copy of their CV and a short note on why they feel they will fit this role to:info@iskcon50.org
evam janam nipatitam prabhavahikupekamabhikamam anu yah prapatan prasangatkrtvatmasat surarsina bhagavan grhitahso ‘ham katham nu visrje tava bhrtya-sevam
Lecture on Unclaimed Property by HG Charu Prabhu on Sep 2015
(Charu Das was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1970. He has been President, variously, of the Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Berkeley (USA) temples. He served on the BBT library party in 1976, received Bhakti Shastra in 1979, and was Life Membership Director in Los Angeles for 10 years in the 1980's.)
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Lecture on Spirituality and Personality Development by HG Vishwarup Prabhu on 10 Mar 2015 at Manchester
(HG Vishwarup Prabhu delivered professional and spiritual discourses to medical professionals in UK and USA in 2007-2008.)
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Lecture on Srila Prabhupada Lila by HG Jananivas Prabhu 02 Sep 2015 at ISKCON Mayapur
(HG Jananivas Prabhu, the head pujari of Mayapur and the most senior and respected pujari in ISKCON. On order of Srila Prabhupada, he shifted to Mayapur and took up the seva of being a pujari.)
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Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10, Chapter 73, Text 01 - 06 by HG Sesa Prabhu at ISKCON Alachua on 01 Sep 2015
(Sesa Dasa was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1974 while he was traveling as a member of the initial Bhaktivedanta Book Trust library party. Sesa Dasa has a portfolio of two ministries: Minister of Educational Development and Minister of Justice, under which ISKCON Resolve works.)
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Climate change is a “pressing” global challenge and the poor people are ‘most adversely’ affected by it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said and suggested a shift of the discourse on the issue from ‘climate change to climate justice.’
“In my view, the most adversely affected by climate change are the poor and the downtrodden. When a natural disaster strikes, they are hit the hardest. When there are floods, they are rendered homeless. During a quake, their homes are destroyed.
"Pumpkin seeds is been a traditional medicine for prostate cancer in many countries."
Pumpkin seeds are truly a gift of nature. Nuts and seeds makes healthy and balanced diet. Pumpkin seeds are said to be dietary powerhouses as it contain good amounts of essential minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium.
Pumpkin seed has the power to alter disease processes in the body, by containing plant compounds such as phytosterols and various antioxidants which reduce blood cholesterol level, enhance immunity, and decrease the risk of certain cancers.
Pumpkin Seeds Cure Cancer
Bright red color of pumkin is show the presence of beta-carotene which is a powerful immune stimulant that activates the immune system. Studies Shown beta-carotene give power our body to fight cancer, it also preventing DNA damage, or produce enzymes that remove the substance that are responsible for cancer.
Pumpkin seeds is been a traditional medicine for prostate cancer in many countries. The elements in pumpkin seeds that help in preventing prostate cancer development are the phytosterols , the mineral zinc and the essential fatty acids. (i)
Read more: http://blogs.naturalnews.com/pumpkin-seeds-kill-cancer-cells-fight-diabetes-improve-eye-sight/
"Your sleep position can influence your health, help in keeping your skin look young, and improve your digestive health."
Everyone knows that sleep is very important for maintaining a good physical and mental health. However, the duration of your sleep is just as important as the way in which you sleep. Your sleep position can influence your health, help in keeping your skin look young, and improve your digestive health.
Furthermore, sleeping on the left side of your body can even save your life. If you are currently sleeping in another position, keep reading to find out why you should start sleeping on your left side right now.
There are several sleeping positions – your front, your back, your left side, and your right side – and they all affect your health. Sleeping on the back can be particularly dangerous for people with sleep apnea or asthma, because it can cause breathing difficulties.
Sleeping on the right side is likely to worsen digestion problems, whereas sleeping on the left side may improve digestive symptoms.
Read more: http://www.healthylifetricks.com/this-is-why-you-should-be-sleeping-on-your-left-side/
"Today, modern science is backing up what ancient Indians have known for centuries—that turmeric, and curcumin in particular, has many astounding uses."
Curcumin is derived from turmeric, the former being what gives the popular spice its bright orange-yellow color. Turmeric has been used for thousands of years, primarily in India, where it is a mainstay of Ayurveda, the traditional system of Indian medicine. Today, modern science is backing up what ancient Indians have known for centuries—that turmeric, and curcumin in particular, has many astounding uses.
Curcumin is also known as “poor man’s saffron,” since it is widely used in place of the expensive spice to add color and flavor to foods. Curcumin can be found in drinks, baked goods, sauces, rice dishes, preserved meats and other goods. In some cases, it is also used to provide yellow coloring to butter and margarine, which would otherwise be white.
Curcumin is widely available in supplement form, and it’s become very popular for its powerful antioxidant capacity. Studies have found curcumin to be highly effective at protecting the body’s cells against oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
Read more: http://blogs.naturalnews.com/many-astounding-ways-use-curcumin/
Bhadra Rupa Das plays his De La Calle Quena flute in concert in Japan
Award-winning flutist Bhadra Rupa Das has been invited to perform a concert of Gaudiya Vaishnava songs, along with a presentation on Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, to 10,000 people at a shrine in Takayama, Japan.
Bhadra Rupa, alias Luis De La Calle, is signed to Sony World Music, has performed at theaters around the world, and is a member of the US, British, and Japanese national flute associations. At his music academy in Geneva, Switzerland, he teaches students how to play devotional songs by Vaishnava composers like Narottama Das Thakur.
He is particularly well-known as a performer in Japan, where he has been touring since signing his first contract with JVC World Sound at age fourteen.
His upcoming concert there, to be held in early November 2016, will be attended by thousands of spiritualists, politicians, diplomats, and artists.
Bhadra Rupa will begin with several of his own devotional compositions fusing Inca, Indian, classical and jazz styles on his De La Calle Quena Flute, which he invented to combine the best of the European tranverse and Inca bamboo flutes. He will be accompanied by a national Japanese symphony orchestra.
The shrine where Bhadra Rupa will perform Gaudiya Vaishnava songs
“I’ll then perform several Bengali Gaudiya Vaishnava songs in glorification of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada,” he says. “I’ll use my introductions to each song as a chance to talk about these key Vaishnava personalities, and to explain philosophical themes from the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita.”
Bhadra Rupa will also take the opportunity to tell the history of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his Sankirtana movement, and explain the purificatory power of the Hare Krishna mantra. In honor of ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, he’ll finish by telling the story of Srila Prabhupada’s brave journey to America at age 70, his struggle to establish ISKCON in New York in 1966, and its subsequent success in spreading all over the world.
Before that, next month Sony Music will arrange for Bhadra to teach bamboo flute workshops to young people affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
“I’ll teach them using the rhythmic system of South Indian Carnatic music, yet replacing the usual onomatopoeic sounds with the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and different names of the Lord like Gauranga, Nityananda, Govinda and Shyamasundar,” he says.
Kaulini Devi
Kaulini Devi Dasi, a much-loved disciple of Srila Prabhupada known for her simplicity, surrender and purity, and for her many years of dedicated service at Gita Nagari, passed away on September 3rd. She was 69.
Born and raised in Northern California, her life changed when she received Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita in 1972 while on a trip to Mexico. Upon her return, her husband Kenneth Beck – who later became Keshava Bharati Swami -- had also gotten one of Prabhupada’s books.
Kaulini followed him to ISKCON, joining the San Francisco temple that same year. She received initiation from Srila Prabhupada in 1973.
In 1976, she moved to the Gita Nagari farm community in Pennsylvania. From there, she headed up a women’s sankirtana party, traveling around the U.S. in a motorhome and distributing books.
Kaulini (in green sari) and her son Rama with Srila Prabhupada
Later, Kaulini began cooking for the deities and devotees at Gita Nagari, which she continued to do for thirty years. Always surrendered to whatever needed doing, she also cared for the farm’s many cows, served as the head pujari (priest), and, when many devotees left Gita Nagari in the mid 1980s, even took on the post of temple president.
“She was like the mother of the community,” says her longtime friend Kaisori Dasi.
In the late 2000s, after Kaulini suffered a health crisis brought on by cancer and other ailments, Sacisuta Das and his wife Keli-lalita Dasi bought her a house next door to theirs in upstate New York and lovingly cared for her for many years. She also stayed with her son Rama in Sacramento, California.
Kaulini returned to Gita Nagari to pass away. For one week, devotees streamed in to see her, sing kirtan, and as per her wishes read to her about Srila Prabhupada. They also brought Sri Sri Radha Damodar to see her.
Kaulini at the memorial service Tamal Krishna Goswami in 2003
“It was a magical darsana, and I could see that she was deeply touched by Their care and mercy,” says Kaisori, who helped Kaulini through chemotherapy and was with her in her final days.
On Wednesday September 2nd, devotees from all over the country chanted for hours with Kaulini. Then, at 2:20am on Thursday September 3rd, while her old Gita Nagari friends led by Visakha Devi sang a quiet no-instruments kirtan, she departed.
“She completely opened her heart in faith, and to the devotees,” says Kaisori. “It was like watching someone step out away from fear and pain and uncertainty. She just surrendered. It was beautiful.”
Kaulini leaves behind her son Rama, two grandchildren, and many sisters and brothers in ISKCON whose lives she touched.
“She was sweet, pure, simple-hearted, friendly, very Krishna conscious, and always serving,” Kaisori says. “It’s rare I saw her idle. She was an uncomplicated person. She was non-envious. She cared for the devotees. And she loved Prabhupada. I will miss her, but at the same time, she was such a pure soul that I don’t mourn her. Her destination is glorious.”
A design for the entrance of the new temple
Just one week after the grand opening of an 18,000-square-foot temple in Plainfield, New Jersey, comes the news that a Bhumi Puja ceremony will be held to break the ground for another new ISKCON temple in Parsippany on September 26th.
Brahmana priests headed by Amara Das from Germany will carry out the elaborate fire ceremony on the 3.2 acre site at 170-180 Troy Road, which was acquired back in 2008 for $1.9 million.
Over five hundred congregation members and devotees are expected to attend, including ISKCON Deity Worship Minister Jayananda Das, and150 donors who will play an important role in the ceremony.
A 3d model of the planned new temple
The event will begin at 8:00am with a procession around the land carrying small deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai. A deity of Ananta-Sesa will be installed in the ground, followed by kirtan, sanctified vegetarian food, and an inspirational speech by fundraiser Radha Jivan Das.
The new temple will be replacing the current one in Towaco, a 100-plus-year-old protected historical building that is beyond renovation and is now too small for the growing congregation.
It’s been a long journey. “It took us seven years just to get the permit to build the new temple,” says Namarasa Das, a brahmana-initiated young community member whose Indian immigrant parents have served at ISKCON of New Jersey since he was two.
Sita Rama Lakshman Hanuman at ISKCON of New Jersey
The first phase of the new temple in Parsippany – 15 minutes’ drive from Towaco – is expected to be open by summer 2017, and will include a 4,000 square-foot prayer hall. The current presiding deities of ISKCON in Towaco -- Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sita Rama Lakshman Hanuman, and Gopal Nathji, will be worshipped there.
When completed, the temple will also feature a dining hall, offices, classrooms, kitchens, and residences for priests. It will serve a congregation of about 100 families like Namarasa’s.
“We have a lot of Bhakti Vriksha groups in Parsippany, and we’re constantly getting new people who start chanting, following the devotional process, and serving at the temple,” says Namarasa. “So this new temple will facilitate our growing congregation.”
Chanting at the Pushpa Abhishek festival in ISKCON of New Jersey
Parsippany’s new project joins ISKCON of Central New Jersey, ISKCON Brooklyn, and the Bhakti Center in Manhattan to make four temples in the New York/New Jersey area.
“I think it’s wonderful that we’re having more and more temples,” Namarasa says. “I think it’s needed for the heavily populated tri-state area, and especially for New Jersey, which is the most densely populated state in the country!”
For more information please visit http://www.iskconparsippany.org/
