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Who is a Vaishnava?

Posted by Rasananda Das on May 2, 2010 at 12:30pm

We might, however, wish to limit the stricter definition of Vaishnava to those who pursue the path of suddha-bhakti, not knowingly mixing their theology with karma and jnana.

The following definitions of a Vaishnava are given by Sri Jiva Gosvami in his Bhakti-sandarbha:

The original verse (Anuccheda 202) is as follows:

ete hi vaiSNavAH santo mahattvena san-mAtratvena ca vibhidya nirdiSTAH | san-mAtra-bhede tAratamyaM cAtra yad aviviktaM tad-bhakti-bheda-nirUpaNe purato vivecanIyam | anye tu sva-

Vedic cosmology - planetarium

Posted by Rasananda Das on May 2, 2010 at 11:30am

Within and beyond time and space: Tour the transcendental world, the material world and find the way back

This is a simplified way to understand the wanderings of a spirit soul within samsara, the cycle of birth and death. It shows the basic facts
needed to understand this world and the life in it and helps to learn
about the different ways of life leading to elevation or degradation.
With this information you can be more in control of your life, in harmony
with the universe and its laws:

"We c

The Seven Secrets of Highly Successful Book Distributors– H.G Vaisesika Prabhu

Posted by ISKCON desire tree on May 2, 2010 at 9:46am

1. Cultivate your desire
• "Where there's a will there's way"
• associate with devotees who have strong faith in and desire for book distribution
• your ability will grow to meet your strong desire
• nothing will change until you do

2. Practice
• cultivate discipline (From L. Discipulus — "learner") Definition — "Conscious control over lifestyle"
• "failure is the pillar of success"
• practice makes perfect
• emulate successful book distributors

3. Read mindfully
• learn to capture and absorb what you read

Guru vs teacher: HH Bhakt Caru Swami

Posted by ISKCON desire tree on May 2, 2010 at 9:42am

Guru vs Teacher

A teacher takes responsibility of your growth

A Guru makes you responsible for your growth

A teacher gives you things you do not have and require

A Guru takes away things you have and do not require

A teacher answers your questions

A Guru questions your answers

A teacher helps you get out of the maze

A Guru destroys the maze

A teacher requires obedience and discipline from the pupil

A Guru requires trust and humility from the pupil

A teacher clothes you and prepares you for the o

PROOF OF REINCARNATION

Posted by ISKCON desire tree on May 2, 2010 at 9:30am

PROOF OF REINCARNATION

Question: Is there any proof for reincarnation?

Answer: Before we can understand the proof for reincarnation, we need to
understand how reincarnation takes place. The Bhagavad-gita explains that
our current existence is three-dimensional: physical (related with the gross
material body that we can see and touch), mental (related with the subtle
material body centered on the mind) and spiritual (related with the soul).
At the time of death, the soul, along with the subtle body, goe

Devaki mataji visits Nepal

Posted by ISKCON desire tree on May 2, 2010 at 9:30am

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By Devaki Mataji

Alakananda mataji and myself arrived in Kathmandu on the 28th of March - it
was a relief to come to a cooler climate. This year it had been
exceptionally hot in India and Bangladesh, and Nepal being the Himalayan
country is always refreshingly cool around this time of the year.....

We spent time associating with the devotees in SB classes, evening programs
with Prabhupada Katha, and the weekly Saturday program in both the city
center and also at Budhanilkanta temple.
And we had a nice h

H.G. Durgama Prabhu speaks on S.B. 4.2.34 - from Mayapur

Posted by ISKCON desire tree on May 1, 2010 at 5:54pm

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.2.34

te 'pi viśva-sṛjaḥ satraḿ
sahasra-parivatsarān
saḿvidhāya maheṣvāsa
yatrejya ṛṣabho hariḥ

SYNONYMS:
te — those; api — even; viśva-sṛjaḥ — progenitors of the universal population; satram — the sacrifice; sahasra — one thousand; parivatsarān — years; saḿvidhāya — performing; maheṣvāsa — O Vidura; yatra — in which; ijyaḥ — to be worshiped; ṛṣabhaḥ — the presiding Deity of all demigods; hariḥ — Hari.

TRANSLATION:
The sage Maitreya continued: O Vidura, all the progen

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara)

Posted by geeta kakkar on May 1, 2010 at 2:31pm

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - The appearance of Radha-kunda & Syama-kunda

View with Radha Kund on the left and Shyama Kund on the right.

Sri Krsna killed Aristasura during the day. That same night, He met with Srimati Radhika and His other beloveds. He was very eager to embrace Srimati Radhika, but as soon as He reached out to do so, She jokingly stepped back and said " Today, you have killed a bull, which belongs to the cow family. You have therefore committed the sin of killing a

Srila Prabhupada exclusive Lecture on BG-1.1

Posted by Rasananda Das on May 1, 2010 at 1:56pm

"The Material World Means Politics, Jealousy, Diplomacy, Envy"

73/07/07 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.1

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

dhrtarastra uvaca
dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre
samaveta yuyutsavah
mamakah pandavas caiva
kim akurvata sanjaya[Bg. 1.1]

Prabhupada: (during chanting of sloka) Now, in your leisure hour you will try to repeat and get by heart some of the slokas. That will be very nice. Go on.

Pradyumna: (after synonyms) "Translation: Dhrtarastra said: O Sanjaya, after assembling in the place

The New Age misconception of samsara

Posted by Rasananda Das on May 1, 2010 at 1:53pm

Many New Age followers uphold an idea that there is no degradation to the lower species from the human form of life and "all paths are the same". They think that if one acts wrongly he will be at worst born few times as a human being and then he will continue to beelevated. They think that the only purpose of this life is to get rid of one'shangups and gain some experience, and ultimately to become God, the commondesire of all pseudo spiritualists. (One group with partially Christianbackground b

H.G. Acintya Caitanya speaks on S.B. 4.2.33 - from Mayapur

Posted by ISKCON desire tree on April 30, 2010 at 8:18pm

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.2.33

maitreya uvāca
tasyaivaḿ vadataḥ śāpaḿ
bhṛgoḥ sa bhagavān bhavaḥ
niścakrāma tataḥ kiñcid
vimanā iva sānugaḥ

SYNONYMS:
maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said; tasya — of him; evam — thus; vadataḥ — being spoken; śāpam — curse; bhṛgoḥ — of Bhṛgu; saḥ — he; bhagavān — the possessor of all opulences; bhavaḥ — Lord Śiva; niścakrāma — went; tataḥ — from there; kiñcit — somewhat; vimanāḥ — morose; iva — as; sa-anugaḥ — followed by his disciples.

TRANSLATION:
The sage Maitreya

Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi

Posted by geeta kakkar on April 30, 2010 at 5:00pm

Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati's

Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi

(The Nectar Moon of Sri Radha's Sweetness)

1. Turning far away from my kinsmen and from millions of worldly opulences, and not desiring to do anything to attain anything material, I meditate on the dust of Sri Radha's feet, dust that brings a monsoon of wonderful happiness.

2. When will restless-eyed Sri Radha, who during the daytime again and again sighs "O dark one", "O most handsome", "O charming one", "O You who are more graceful and han

The Divine, Eternal Promises of the Lord - By Bhranti Devi Dasi

Posted by cindrella on April 30, 2010 at 3:46pm

In the summer of the year 2000, something happened that would drastically change the lives of my family and me. It would also test our faith in Krishna and make us view life with a new awareness—an awareness of death.

We were traveling across America when, in the open country of Wyoming, the back tire on our minivan shredded and flew off. The car went out of control and after flipping over several times, landed upside down.

One of my sons, Keshava Kumara, sustained a head injury that would take hi

Story of Lord Krishna

Posted by geeta kakkar on April 30, 2010 at 3:43pm

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

Deliverance of the Yamala-arjuna Trees

1. Mother Yasoda binds Lord Krsna to the wooden mortar with a rope because of His naughty activities. While mother Yasoda was very busy with household affairs, the Supreme Lord, Krsna, observed twin trees known as yamala-arjuna, which in a former millennium had been the demigod sons of Kuvera.

2. In their former birth, these two sons, known as Nalakuvara and Manigriva, were extremely opulent an

DYING FEARLESSLY

Posted by cindrella on April 30, 2010 at 2:51pm

A man who treats the joys and sorrows of life alike is one who knows no fear even at the time of death. If pleasure is a part of life, then death is equally a reality too. How well a man has understood this truth is seen in how he faces death. A man shows through his attitude to death the sort of man he is. If we can accept joy, why not face death also clamly?

Those who are constantly worrying about something or thinking whether others might deprive them of something can never know such an easy d

ROBBER GETS MOKSHA

Posted by cindrella on April 30, 2010 at 2:30pm

The story is told of a devout person, called Pundarika, who perfomed all the rites prescribed in the Vedas, but was unable to get moksha. He asked Sage Narada what was the reason for this.

The sage replied that without seeking a perceptor he would not be able to get moksha. Only after Narada taught him the Ashtakshara mantra, did Pandurika get moksha. This shows that we must have an Acharya, without whose help we cannot get moksha, even if we live according to the scriptures and are devout.

But th

H.G. Jananivas Prabhu speaks on S.B. 4.2.32 - From Mayapur

Posted by ISKCON desire tree on April 29, 2010 at 5:15pm

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.2.32

tad brahma paramaḿ śuddhaḿ
satāḿ vartma sanātanam
vigarhya yāta pāṣaṇḍaḿ
daivaḿ vo yatra bhūta-rāṭ

SYNONYMS:
tat — that; brahma — Veda; paramam — supreme; śuddham — pure; satām — of the saintly persons; vartma — path; sanātanam — eternal; vigarhya — blaspheming; yāta — should go; pāṣaṇḍam — to atheism; daivam — deity; vaḥ — your; yatra — where; bhūta-rāṭ — the lord of the bhūtas.

TRANSLATION:
By blaspheming the principles of the Vedas, which are the pure and suprem

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Srila Prabhupada's Loving Followers

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on April 29, 2010 at 2:05pm

Srila Prabhupada's Loving Followers

Srila Prabhupada was sometimes quite frank about his followers. "I am engaging fools, rascals, anyone to spread Krsna consciousness."Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, Volume 6, p.1954 "We have to select men from the worst class. Those who were finished, tenth class."Once, Prabhupada compared himself to Lord Rama, who had crossed the ocean to bring Laxmi from the hands of the demons to Bharata. "And," Prabhupada said, "just as Lord Rama had an army of monkeys to help H

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Srimad-Bhagavatam - Canto 2 Chapter 4 Text 5

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on April 29, 2010 at 2:04pm

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Canto 2 Chapter 4 Text 5
rajovaca
samicinam vaco brahman
sarva-jnasya tavanagha
tamo visiryate mahyam
hareh kathayatah katham

raja uvaca -- the King said; samicinam -- perfectly right; vacah -- speeches; brahman -- O learned brahmana; sarva-jnasya -- one who knows all; tava -- your; anagha -- without any contamination; tamah -- the darkness of ignorance; visiryate -- gradually disappearing; mahyam -- unto me; hareh -- of the Lord; kathayatah -- as you are speaking; katham -- topics

North India Trip Advice

Posted by Patrick on April 29, 2010 at 12:30am

dear Devoteesthank you for your messagesmy trip will be in the last week of septembermy idea is to go to Mayapur 5 days , then Vrindavan 5 daysthen to Rishikesh areawho do I contact in that area for advice...where to stay in Rishikeshand also perhaps another one or two day visits from Rishikesh to see holy sites and mountain placesmany thanxBhakta PatrickCape Town

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All Posts (34909)

Who is a Vaishnava?

Vedic cosmology - planetarium

The Seven Secrets of Highly Successful Book Distributors– H.G Vaisesika Prabhu

Guru vs teacher: HH Bhakt Caru Swami

PROOF OF REINCARNATION

Devaki mataji visits Nepal

H.G. Durgama Prabhu speaks on S.B. 4.2.34 - from Mayapur

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara)

Srila Prabhupada exclusive Lecture on BG-1.1

The New Age misconception of samsara

H.G. Acintya Caitanya speaks on S.B. 4.2.33 - from Mayapur

Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi

The Divine, Eternal Promises of the Lord - By Bhranti Devi Dasi

Story of Lord Krishna

DYING FEARLESSLY

ROBBER GETS MOKSHA

H.G. Jananivas Prabhu speaks on S.B. 4.2.32 - From Mayapur

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Srila Prabhupada's Loving Followers

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Canto 2 Chapter 4 Text 5

North India Trip Advice

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