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How can we enter into devotional service ?

Devotional service is dependent on the mercy of Krishna and  His devotees.  Unless we surrender to the lotus feet of  a pure devotee, it is not possible to come to the platform of pure devotional service.  By his own efforts a bee cannot taste the honey within a bottle.  The bottle must be opened by a superior.  If the bee simply licks the outside of the bottle, thinking “Now I am tasting honey,” then he is in illusion.  Similarly, no one can enter into

It is advised, therefore, that an intelligent person associate with the great sages and saints who are on the path of salvation. By such association, one can receive instructions which are able to slacken the conditioned souls attachment for matter, and thus the intelligent man gradually gets rid of the illusion of matter and false ego and is promoted to the real life of eternity, knowledge and bliss.

by H.D.G. Srila Prabhupada

This year ISKCON`s World Holy Name Week (WHNW) will take place between September 10th and the 20th, 2011.

The sole purpose of WHNW is to celebrate the Holy Names globally and share this treasure with others. This can be done in many ways, although some suggestions and ideas by World Holy Name committee are given:

1. Nagar Sankirtan - Harinaam processions with WHNW and mahamantra banners.
2. Japathon - Pledges from devotees and congregation to chant extra rounds during this period.
3. 24 hours or

“Krsna says that suhrdam sarva-bhutanam (Bhagavad Gita 5.29) : "I am friend of all living entities," sarva-bhutanam. Not only human society, but animal society, the plant society, the aquatic society, there are so many living entities. Ananta-koti. Sa anantyaya kalpate. The living entities, there is no limit. There are so many quantities. And Krsna says that suhrdam sarva-bhutanam jnatva mam santim rcchati: "When one understands that I, Krsna, is the friend of everyone..." Krsna, when says, sarv

Hare Krishna!

... Prahlada Maharaja tells us this:

sri-prahrada uvaca
sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
iti pumsarpita visnau
bhaktis cen nava-laksana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha
tan manye 'dhitam uttamam

"Prahlada Maharaja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Visnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types

Lalasamayi Prarthana

(from Prarthana)

1

'Gauranga' bolite have pulaka-sarira

'hari hari' bolite nayane ba 'be nira 

2

ara kabe nitai-cander koruna hoibe

samsara-basana mora kabe tuccha ha 'be 

3

For Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja this year, I wish to tell you about his
dear friend and staunch devotee Mr. P. L. Sethi. Much of what I shall
narrate I experienced personally; the rest I heard from Mr. Sethi, except
the description of his last days, which I heard from his family. May this
story inspire you in Srila Prabhupada's service--in Krishna consciousness.

When Srila Prabhupada first came to Bombay with his disciples from America,
Mr. Sethi read a notice about them in the newspaper, which said

Yes, anything that is medically necessary can be taken even on Ekadasi.
This is because the higher principle than to observe Ekadasi 100% strictly is to do whatever it takes to keep body, mind, and everything else fit for service to Krishna.

The scriptural context is explained by Rupa Goswami as follows:

anasaktasya vishayan
yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krishna-sambandhe
yuktam vairagyam ucyate

prapancikataya buddhya
hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumukshubhih parityago
vairagyam phalgu kathyate

"When one is