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"Planet ISKCON" - 51 new articles

  1. Kurma dasa, AU: Who Cut the Cheese?
  2. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Upcoming Visitors
  3. H.H. Sivarama Swami
  4. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Surprise!!!
  5. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Srimad Bhagavatam Canto Three Chapter Twenty Five Text Twelve
  6. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Svarupa Sakti Mataji
  7. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
  8. Japa Group: Japa Workshop #2 of 6
  9. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Forgive the sinner -- how many times?
  10. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: January 1st & 2nd, 2011
  11. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  12. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  13. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  14. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  15. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
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  24. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
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  27. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  28. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  29. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  30. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  31. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  32. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  33. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  34. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  35. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  36. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Prabhupada Festival a Smashing Success!
  37. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Oh, What a Way to Usher in 2011!!!
  38. Caitanya Mangala, CA, USA: Kulimela Australia: Live Webcast from the Bhajan Kutir!
  39. Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: An Auspicious Start to the New Year with Invigorating Distribution and Prabhupada's mercy
  40. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: TO ENLIGHTEN PEOPLE
  41. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
  42. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, January 2nd, 2011
  43. Mayapur Academy, Mayapur, IN: Student’s diary 3: Mandakini (Bhn.)
  44. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, January 1st, 2011
  45. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Akincana dasa asks
  46. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Kirtan for Book Distribution festival, Jan 2nd
  47. Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Momentaufnahme - Snapshots
  48. Japa Group: High Standard Of Service
  49. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Lord Jagannatha's Come-Back...
  50. Gouranga TV: Festiwal Indii
  51. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: 30 years of bliss and fairy tale!
  52. More Recent Articles
  53. Search Planet ISKCON
  54. Prior Mailing Archive

Kurma dasa, AU: Who Cut the Cheese?

supercheese:

New York Times November 6, 2010 "... [I]n a series of confidential agreements approved by agriculture secretaries in both the Bush and Obama administrations, Dairy Management has worked with restaurants to expand their menus with cheese-laden products."

Okay, just a story of heavy-handed excess? No, it's way darker than it seems...(read the article below the movie clip).

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Upcoming Visitors

visitors

Please be informed that the Melbourne Temple will be hosting 4 mahatmas during the month of January:

* Vijaya Dasa: 5th -10th
* Devamrita Swami: 13th - 20th
* Prabhavisnu Swami: 21st - 25th
* Prahladananda Swami: 27th Jan - 5th Feb

Ananta koti vaisnava vrinda ki, Jaya!

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H.H. Sivarama Swami

Bhakti-devi dasi: Have you ever seen Krsna?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Bhakti-devi dasi: You have?
Prabhupada: Daily. Every moment.

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Surprise!!!

AniAr

Yesterday evening the members of our congregation organised a little surprise party for the Temple President and the First Lady, in commemoration of their 30th wedding anniversary.

It was a sleepy Aniruddha Prabhu and a perplexed Acintya Mataji who opened the door of their home to approximately 20 grinning devotees.

The celebrated couple took us on a walk down memory lane and many pastimes were shared that were unheard of before.
There is no replay for those who missed it, sorry!

But...there is a slideshow of the intimate gathering, with rare shots:
2 of the most prominent managers of our society in a very relaxed mood.

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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Srimad Bhagavatam Canto Three Chapter Twenty Five Text Twelve

THE FOLLOWING IS A CLASS GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CHARU SWAMI ON SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM THIRD CANTO CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE TEXT TWELVE, THE GLORIES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE Transcription : Ranga Radhika Dasi Editing : Ramananda Raya Dasa Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Maitreya uvaca iti sva-matur niravadyam ipsitam [...]

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Svarupa Sakti Mataji

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.28.34-35 - Develop relationship with Krsna by hearing about Him.

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

04/01/11
Their Lordships are vibrantly celebrating spring on the altar!

The dense fuschia, encircled by a myriad of colours, against the opal blue backdrop conveys the happy festival of 'holi'.

The darsana of the Deities never fails to saturate our senses with exhilaration.

Here's the slideshow; it will enrapture your full attention.

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Japa Group: Japa Workshop #2 of 6

In this second episode of the Japa Workshop series, different participants share new realizations about their relationship with the Holy Name.

Also, Mahatma dasa and Badahari dasa continue with processes and principles to reinforce and inspire further advancement in our japa practice.


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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Forgive the sinner -- how many times?

Christ said to forgive the sinner “seven times seventy” times, but Srila Prabhupada has said, “Aren’t you ashamed to go back and say, ‘Forgive me,’ over and over? This is simply taking advantage of the Lord’s mercy. It’s showbottle, that’s all. You sin once, I forgive. You sin twice, I forgive. You sin three times, I don’t forgive. Punishment must be there for rectification, otherwise rascals will keep on sinning.”

>From Vrindaban Days by Hayagriva Dasa

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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: January 1st & 2nd, 2011

January 1st, 2011: Srila Prabhupada Festival

Mangal Arati, Jan 1st: First Darshan of 2011

Sunday, January 2nd, 2011

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 January 3: "I am the only one in India who is openly criticizing, not only demigod worship and impersonalism, but everything that falls short of complete surrender to Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 January 3: "This we must declare boldly to the whole world. My Guru Maharaja never compromised in His preaching, nor shall I - nor should any of my students."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 January 3: "So with full faith in Krishna and Spiritual Master, push on this work with full force. We have got a great mission to fulfill, and these books and magazines are the torchbearers of Truth which can save the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 January 3: "Let any man see our devotees working so hard for Krishna, then let anyone say that they are not better than many millions of so-called yogis and transcendentalists, that is my challenge."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 January 3 : "Just go on preaching His message. Remain always without anxiety for destination and comfortable situations, always relying only on the mercy of Krishna for your plan."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 January 3 : "You are trying your best especially even though the weather is cold you are emphasizing Sankirtana book distribution. So that is very important and that is why we are opening Centers."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 January 3 : "Keep strong by following the spiritual practices as I have taught them and do not unnecessarily add anything; otherwise, everything will automatically degrade."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 January 3 : "Swami has left our camp. He has his own plans. He has violated our rules and regulations and thus fallen down from the spiritual platform. Under these circumstances, please do not act under his advice."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 January 2: "Forty years before when two of my eldest God-brothers came to London with this mission they simply devoted their time in lecturing in some renowned public place and inviting some leading politician to preside over the meeting."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 January 2: "When I began my preaching work in New York I never followed this policy of lecturing amongst stereotyped politicians or society elites. If I had, I think I would have gone back to India without any success."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 January 2: "By the grace of my Guru Maharaja and Krishna, this policy of Sankirtana, Prasadam and Srimad-Bhagavatam has become successful in the practical field. Please follow this transcendental policy with heart and soul."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 January 2 : "In the spiritual world the center is one. If you draw innumerable circles they will not overlap. Similarly, whoever is rendering service, there is never competition or maliciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 January 2 : "Krishna Consciousness means practical living, not something utopian, idealistic or vague. We simply do the needful, whatever pleases Krishna most, that's all. That you will learn by studying our books."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 January 2 : "Krsna Consciousness movement rests upon the words of Krsna, so if people can read for themselves what Krsna is saying, then they shall understand. Otherwise it will be very difficult to convince them."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 January 2 : "So many big big lawyers, doctors, government ministers, professional men are there. So make many, many life members amongst this class of men, that will be your great contribution."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 January 2 : "When I was alone in India I introduced my books in so many libraries and schools. The American Library of Congress took 18 copies. If you try you will get also an order for 18 copies of all our books."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 January 2 : "An initiated disciple although he has respect for the Christian Bible, nevertheless must understand the Bhagavad-gita and must apply all study there and not spend time unnecessarily with other literatures."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 January 2 : "We should have a little common sense in all activities. Deity worship or lecturing in the colleges is just as important as book distribution. Not that we should do one thing at the sacrifice of another."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 January 1 : "If you keep to the standard of pure spiritual life as I have humbly instructed you there is no doubt that this Sankirtana Movement will overtake all the earth and all opposing parties will be cracked down to nothing."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 January 1 : "I wish that it be noted down in history that this Krishna Consciousness Movement was responsible for saving the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 January 1 : "Krishna will bless you a million times over for doing this work. I am so much grateful to you. By distributing my books profusely you are giving me great encouragement to translate."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 January 1: "Where will I go at the time of death if I am thinking of my spiritual master? You will go to Him. Whatever we are thinking about at the time of death - we shall attain to that nature without fail."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 January 1 : "I am asking you to take new heart and try to cooperate with each other. If we have to constantly move until we find the situation where there is no personal difficulty then we may never get down to our real work."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 January 1 : "You are my dear and beloved son and because you are carrying out my instructions exactly as I have taught you, Krsna will be very pleased with you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 January 1 : "You can make ISKCON FOOD RELIEF cards. But the money collected using this card must be sent to India where we are actually feeding people. We should not do anything which will create a bad impression or make us unpopular."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Prabhupada Festival a Smashing Success!

The annual Prabhupada festival took place during the evening of January 1st and it brought dance, drama and devotees to the temple as hundreds gathered to start the year off on the right foot. With wonderful kirtan, a special arati (offering) to Srila Prabhupada, and a comedic drama, it was a packed evening of festivities. The highlight of the evening was an initiation ceremony which everyone in attendance got a chance to be a part of!

Spiritualists of the Hare Krishna tradition can take spiritual vows by fire and formally take guidance from a spiritual master. It is customary to also receive a spiritual name at this time as well. A warm congratulations goes to Hari Lila devi dasi (Becky) on her initiation! All in all, it was an amazing evening that got 2011 started on the right note! Click the collage below to expand the pictures!

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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Oh, What a Way to Usher in 2011!!!

Imagine gathering a bunch of your friends together, assembling giant drums and other instruments and attending a party with 35,000 people! That's exactly what took place as a huge mob of devotees gathered at the Hare Krishna temple on New Year's Eve and then headed to City Hall to join the tens of thousands of revelers, celebrating the new year. It was a raucous atmosphere as the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra filled the air! As expected, the crowd loved it and the kirtan went well into the night and we eventually "kirtan-ed" our way back to the temple by 2:30am where hot tea and french fries awaited us! Check out the pics below!

Click this collage to expand!

We also stumbled upon a video uploaded by a passerby:

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Caitanya Mangala, CA, USA: Kulimela Australia: Live Webcast from the Bhajan Kutir!

The time for Kulimela Australia is finally here!

The latest report from Nitai Durr, one of the main organizers:

“The weather is perfect, no issues with floods, forecast is great and the schedule is JAM-PACKED with Entertainment, Activities, Sports, PRASADAM & KIRTAN!”

Festival Dates: Monday, January 3rd thru Sunday January 9th 2011.

If weather and internet connection permits, there will be daily LIVE webcasts from the Bhajan Kutir and evening entertainment throughout the course of the week long festival! CLICK HERE for a connection to the broadcast via Ustream.

Kirtan is scheduled to start 9 am and go to 7 pm, local time in Brisbane, Australia. This converts, for example, to 6 pm through 4 am EST USA. In London this will be 11 pm to 9 am. To convert the time difference to your location, CLICK HERE.

Stay tuned for more details and schedules.

Thanks to Sitapati prabhu and crew for working to make this happen.


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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: An Auspicious Start to the New Year with Invigorating Distribution and Prabhupada's mercy

We were fortunate to be able to start 2011 off on the right foot by distributing Srila Prabhupada's books during the morning of January 1st. The quick "numbers" are 131 books and over $800 in Laxmi with most popular titles totally sold out including English  Bhagavad Gitas and Krishna books. But Prabhupada's mercy and how Krishna makes all  necessary arrangments is the real story, so keep reading below...
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Govinda das (to my left) provided great association and service
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Left to Right. Vandita Mataji, Dr. Geeta & Kishori (Indresh's wife)
When we got there there was a bit of a hiccup to get permissions from the Hindu Temple but after giving a few Bhagavad Gitas this was sorted out. Vandita Mataji found the new temple trustee and made the arrangments. They were telling us to move the tables to not block the hallway and she was rather enthusiastically asking for more tables. Successful book distrubtion outings are always a group effort and enthusiastic youth like her are always an assett.

We did not have much manpower. I had arranged for my sister to help but she had to take over morning deity changing  duties to Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar and was not feeling well...so we were short staffed. On top of that it was raining and we needed to unload the books and set the tables up. As soon as I entered the hall I spotted a Indian ISKCON devotee, namely Govinda das in front of Balaji deity. A few minutes later he passed me and asked what we were doing there. I told him about the planned book distribution and without hesitation or even so much as a request, he served along side in book distribution. Krishna arranged...manpower issue resolved.

The second special story of the day came from a friend of ours, Geeta. She is a successful dental surgeon in Toronto. We sent her to the temple in the past and it was not her "cup of tea" and did not get the desired "customer service" experience in her initial visits. Anyhow, on a couple of occasions we have given her books. Initially the Higher Taste as a cookbook and recently a Bhagavad Gita. After giving Geeta the Gita, she inquired about our reasoning and after a bit of preaching, she told us she wanted to come out the next time to distribute with us. I did not take it seriously but when we saw her on New Year's Eve at another event for the kids, I mentioned our plans for the next day and she insisted on coming along. On New Year's morning we were too busy setting up and distributing and did not get a chance to call her....but there she was on the phone wanting to join us. As it turned out Vandita Mataji needed to drop her mom off back home and like a coordinated shift change Geeta showed up to assist. Her new ISKCON experience was in distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and after distributing about a dozen books and being attracted in this Krishna Conscious service she could not resist picking up books for herself. She took $40 of Laxmi out and asked me to help her pick out good reads....which of course they all are!

So this is how Krishna provides and the magic of Prabhupada's mercy which he has so merciful allowed us to distribute on his behalf.

At these Hindu temples I am always pleasantly suprised with the youth. They WANT the books and are genuinely interested to the point of sometimes pleading with their parents to get books. They WANT answers which are logical and based on scripture. It also surprises me how some parents find it difficult to whip out $10 to quench some of this thirst, perhaps the same $10 being easily spent at McDonald's or some other frivolous sense gratification. The youngsters might be following the ritualistic behaviour of their parents but in this day and age they need answers and logic to work through the maze of hodge podge Hinduism. Without this well presented and preserved Vedic knowledge the younger generation will simply think it is a lot of mumbo jumbo. So when this scenario plays out, then we need to be "pushy" to get Srila Prabhupada's books in their hands, even if this means joining the kids pleas to his/her parents.

So this was a nice start to the new year and we can only thank Srila Prabhupada for his mercy and using us as his insignificant instruments to spread the glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

your insignficant servants...
dasanudas,
Indresh & Kishori
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: TO ENLIGHTEN PEOPLE

... the human intelligence is meant for understanding the spiritual identity and the goal of life and act accordingly.

That is Krsna consciousness movement.

It is an educational movement to enlighten the people from gross ignorance to the highest enlightenment of spiritual understanding.

- Prabhupada Interview with Newsday Newspaper -- July 14, 1976, New York

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL

Just like externally, behavior makes internal inclinations.

If you associate with some bad company, the internally also you develop bad propensities.

And if you associate with good company, then internally you develop good propensities.

So internally, externally, they are interrelated.

By external behavior we influence our internal energy.

And by internal atmosphere we get the external body.

- Prabhupada Interview with Newsday Newspaper -- July 14, 1976, New York

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, January 2nd, 2011

The Year Of Love?

Scarborough, Ontario

Could 2011 be the Year of Love? Let's try! Skeptics and cynics will say 'no' to anything, but for the spiritualist there will always be optimism. For them there will be an attempt at seeking and creating loving exchanges. But let's not be green behind the ears. There is no excuse for naivety regarding this material world.

The Bhagavad-gita cries out its ancient wisdom, "dukhalayam asasvatam'. There is misery in this world. Just consider the agony of being trapped in a mine for 69 days like those heroes in Chile this past year. Against all odds, ecstasy of knowing survivors were living off of hope of seeing their loved ones. Love does keep people alive. Love does make the world go 'round.

Love is powerful. People have declared wars over its passion and have fought in defense to protect those they love. It's just awfully shameful that love clashes as one camp will be totally malicious towards another out of love for kith and kin. If love could be extended beyond the tribal attitude to include the whole universal family we would be in better shape. This might sound idealistic but when love can work beyond the inside of a box then earth has a chance.

In a message delivered to a crowd at the ISKCON Centre, the topic was just that, about the cliche term 'love' which is really a type of lust. Love becomes perverted or self-centered as lust.

I like the definition of the word love coming from one of the great ksatriyas (warriors) of the epic, "Mahabharat". King Bhuma says, "Love means reposing one's affection completely upon one person."

In a devotional context this love which is pure and distinct from the lust of this world, this relationship with its natural reciprocation is in connecting to the Supreme Divine.

The bottom line is that love is a craving that everyone is seeking to fulfill. It's up to each individual to find what is meaningful in this regard. May 2011 be prosperous in the Divine love-making department.

2.5 KM

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Mayapur Academy, Mayapur, IN: Student’s diary 3: Mandakini (Bhn.)

Three weeks ago, I finished up my dressing assessment… and yes, I passed! I had been ill for most of the practice days but thought it better to have a go at the test then not at all. Kurma Caitanya Prabhu was very strict at grading my final dress; fair, but strict. He is tremendously serious when it comes to pleasing their Lordships and expects others to be the same. I agree fully in that attitude; however I might have been a little sour about it if I had not passed.

Jananivas prabhu and Pankajanghri prabhu recently came in one morning and the class got to take darshan of them and their wisdom. They both took turns expressing how instrumental being a pujari is to Lord Krsna and the Iskcon movement. They both have such pure intentions for the devotees, and really urged devoting all of ones life in the service of the Lord. They make me smile every time I am in their presence.

I also finished another segment: cooking! And guess what? I am even worse at cooking than I am at making turbans! I set two towels on fire (one pictured here), and burnt myself with scalding ghee. To tell you the whole truth; I don’t know how to cook. I barely know how to boil water – and this is NOT an exaggeration. I made my first pot of rice while the class looked on in amazement at my lack of cooking skills. Our teacher, Damodar Pandit Prabhu, was noticeably patient with us (especially me) and really helped to keep a light mood when things got stressful. My assessment time came too quickly and I still had no confidence in my abilities. I needed to make two subjees, rice, chutney, dahl, chapatis, salad, a sweet and a drink. The day before my test, my father and I cooked the whole meal at home so I could practice; it turned out delicious and I went in the next day confident that I could please the Lord and His devotees with my meal. Everyone who tried my dishes loved them and now I have a new hobby: making chapitis! I am surprisingly good at getting them to puff.

The class has now started the new segment on Samskaras. Although only the prabhus get to do the fire sacrifices, us matajis can listen to theory classes. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami came is and explained that Samskaras are basically impressions. As devotees, we all need to be constantly conscious of our actions and thoughts. This way, there is no room to develop non-transcendental impressions on ourselves or others we bring into the world. I wish I could witness fire sacrifices with the prabhus… maybe in another lifetime.

 

On another note, the Mayapur Academy is now making its own incense! Jananivas Prabhu personally showed the staff how to make it and some of my classmates and I got to partake. I don’t know if any of you have ever tried to roll incense, but it is harder than it seems. There is a black-like goo that goes on the stick first to make the fragrance powder stay on it. Trying to make the goo a uniformed thickness is like trying to shoot the eye of a fish while looking into a pot of water… ok not that hard, but similar I bet. Then the fragrance is carefully rolled on and the stick is set to dry. We really had a blast trying to figure it all out and bonded along the way! …Check out the photos!


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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, January 1st, 2011

A Start for 2011

Toronto Ontario

As is common in much of the world, the New Year is received to the sound of popping open the cork of a bottle of booze. Here is the alternative. Chant a mantra and pump into the atmosphere a sound that infuses good fortune.

Guyanese born Vrindavan das had the idea to start off the New Year with a bang of the maha mantra. He arranged a twelve hour chanting session. On a shift basis family and friends took part in the lead and response procedure.

I had the pleasure to be inside the circle of chanters in the living room and our Halifax monks were there to form a lively kirtan group. from there I made my way to my sister for a family reunion. Siblings from various parts of Ontario emerged for a New Year's meal at a table of tolerance for a mix of veggies, grains, and bird. Out of our lot one third of us are firm vegetarians

As the day wore on the number of people around me increased. At the downtown temple/ashram, (and my residence) hundreds of people ushered in cheers of a hopeful 2011. Young Bhaktin Becky from Cleveland received her new name Hari Lila.

Why the name "Hari?" It has something to do with her love for George Harrison. George asked our guru about committing to an ashram (style of life). The things that our guru suggested to George was that hair shaving was not necessary for him, that his music making with devotional lyrics was a benevolent service to the world and that his name need not change since his surname Harrison implies being the son of Hari (God).

On January 4th 1973 thirty eight years ago, our guru Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to George indicating that he "was making good spiritual progress"...Its not by accident that you are coming gradually to the right point" He quoted Krishna in the Gita 7. 19 "After many births and deaths he who is actually wise surrender unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is."

I took the opportunity to read an excerpt from the lengthy letter reading also the closing " I know you are very intelligent boy, and I like you very much. You are better than my own son" My message to Hari Lila was to grow fond of Krishna as much as she is of George. In this way the fortune is enhanced.

5KM

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Akincana dasa asks

Very often I hear the term “by Krishna’s arrangement”. Can this term be used in every aspect as it seems to be, for example it may be that it is said for a devotee arriving late for an appointment, and many other similar situations? But then is not everything we do by Krishna’s arrangement?

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Kirtan for Book Distribution festival, Jan 2nd

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Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Momentaufnahme - Snapshots

MOMENTAUFNAHME. Trailer from Michael Stoeger on Vimeo.

See full video here

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Japa Group: High Standard Of Service


Hare Krsna dear devotees, I hope you have come to this new year with lots of faith in the holy names of the Lord, especially convinced that we can be freed from all our material desires simply by chanting with pure hearts.

I have noticed when I cook something to the Deities that when I engage my heart, my senses and become focused in what I want to present to the Lord as a service, it always has a perfect result. The preparation is delicious for everyone and maybe this is a sign that the Lord has appreciated my dedication to serve Him properly. The same way when we chant, our chanting must be focused and heart felt and expecting only to serve the Lord by calling out His names.

May Krsna bless us all this year with accurate intelligence to serve Him with high standard and precious love.

your servant,

Aruna devi
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Lord Jagannatha's Come-Back...

Jbs

Dear Devotees,

Lord Jagannatha and His entourage will be back on the altar this coming Saturday after 2 weeks of convalescence.

We will be holding a "Welcome-Back" party for Their Lordships
and if you are short of ideas for gifts,
you can contact Bhakti Mataji on 0422 537 754.

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Gouranga TV: Festiwal Indii

Festiwal Indii

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: 30 years of bliss and fairy tale!

ArAni
Indeed one of the most exemplary couples of our ISKCON world, if not of the world at large, Acintya Rupa Mataji and Aniruddha Prabhu celebrate their 30 years of marriage today.

On behalf of all the congregational and temple devotees we would like to sincerely thank them for relentlessly and heartily playing the role of our spiritual mother and father.



"Dear Acintya Rupa Mataji and Aniruddha Prabhu,
Thank you for setting such a great example and maintaining such a high standard.

Srila Prabhupada must be smiling upon you from Goloka, applauding your sense of duty and sacrifice.

Surely the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha Ballabha, must be showering Their renewed mercy upon your blessed couple for many more fruitful years in Their service.

We feel very fortunate to have you as our caring parents and well-wishers.

With love,
Your children at the Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir."

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