30 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Chanting Hare Krishna, Kali Yuga, Mantra Meditation
Tags: chant and be happy, chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Krishna, Hare Rama, Maha Mantra, mantra meditation
click on image to enlarge
“In the sastra it is said this Kali-yuga is full of faults, so many faults. It is the ocean of faults. But there is a very nice thing, asti hy eko mahan gunah, a very great quality. What is that? Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet [SB 12.3.51]. If you simply chant Hare Krishna mantra, then you become perfect. Is it very difficult? Chant Hare Krishna and you become perfect. But we are so unfortunate, we are not even prepared to chant. This is our position. So you have to make little determination that ‘I shall chant henceforward Hare Krishna mantra.’ Then everything is all right.”
29 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Gallery of Images, Guru das, Photos by Gurudas, Radha Damodar Mandir, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Conversations
Tags: Gurudas, photos by Gurudas, Photos of Srila Prabhupada, photos of Srila Prabhupada at Radha Damodara, Radha Damodara Mandir, Srila Prabhupada
Continuing with our series “Photos by Gurudas” we have some nice pictures of Srila Prabhupada at Radha Damodara Mandir in India.
We have also included the following pictures as full size images as well as in a slidshow format.
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28 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Rama, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bharata, Laksmana, Lord Ramacandra, Maharaja Dasratha, mother Sita, Rama, Ramayana, Ravana kidnapped Sita, Satrughnna, Sita, Srimad Bhagavatam, the Absolute Truth Himself, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, visnu-tattva
In honor of the Appearance day of Lord Ramacandra, we are posting the entire tenth chapter from the ninth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam entitled “The Pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Rāmacandra”.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Canto Nine, Chapter Ten
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17 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, as it is, Banyan tree, bhagavad-gita, material world, reflection of reality, Spiritual world, Vedas, Vedic hymns
We will be away traveling for a short time and will be away from our computer, but we leave you with this nice image and a verse from Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita. Hare Krishna!
…In the Fifteenth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā, the real picture of the material world is given. It is said there:
“The Supreme Lord said: There is a banyan tree which has its roots upward and its branches down, and the Vedic hymns are its leaves. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.” (Bg. 15.1)
Here the material world is described as a tree whose roots are upwards and branches are below. We have experience of a tree whose roots are upward: if one stands on the bank of a river or any reservoir of water, he can see that the trees reflected in the water are upside down. The branches go downward and the roots upward. Similarly, this material world is a reflection of the spiritual world. The material world is but a shadow of reality. In the shadow there is no reality or substantiality, but from the shadow we can understand that there is substance and reality. In the desert there is no water, but the mirage suggests that there is such a thing as water. In the material world there is no water, there is no happiness, but the real water of actual happiness is there in the spiritual world. (from Introduction to the Bhagavad-gita As It Is)
Full Text and Purport to text 15.1 More
14 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead
Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, hippi, hippies, Lust and greed are a disease, protest, reaction, Rejection
The Supreme Proprietor, The Supreme Enjoyer, The Supreme Friend
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine
Unless we understand the father, how can we live as brothers?
This conversation with a journalist took place at the Hare Krsna center in London in 1971.
Srila Prabhupada: I have experienced that in my childhood there were not so many problems in India. But now India is faced with so many problems on account of imitating Western civilization.
Reporter: Not simply because of the increased population?
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13 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Prasadam, Vegetarian Cooking, Vegetarianism
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhpada, BTG, Krishna prasadam, Krsna prasadam, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, non-vegetarian, vegetarian, vegetarian diet
The following excerpt from a letter written by Srila Prabhupada was circulated on Facebook last week, and my wife read it aloud to me. It was very informative in that it explained our position on vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian, and the benefits of eating Krsna prasadam (food offered first to the Lord).
…Regarding propaganda against animal slaughter in BTG. Please do not print any picture showing how a cow is being murdered in our BTG. This will pollute the whole atmosphere. We are not meant for moving anyone’s sentiment against animal slaughter, we are neither Buddhists or Jains, whose main propaganda is against animal slaughter. Even the so-called vegetarians who do not take Krishna prasadam are as much sinful as the non-vegetarians. Our propaganda is different, to make people Krishna Conscious, which automatically makes them sympathetic against any kind of animal slaughter. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam, one living entity subsists on the life of other living entities, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. But we are neither of them. We are not vegetarian nor non-vegetarian. We are transcendental. We are concerned with Krishna Prasadam. Try to popularize Krishna Prasadam as you have already done. People will naturally become vegetarian without any ghastly propaganda.
full letter More
10 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Conversation with Srila Prabhupada
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, Krsna Arjuna, Srila Prabhupada
click on image to enlarge
When Lord Caitanya was traveling in South India…He saw one brāhmaṇa was reading Bhagavad-gītā. And people were joking him, “Oh, Mr. brāhmaṇa, how you are reading Bhagavad-gītā?” Because they were the neighbors, they knew that this brāhmaṇa was illiterate and he was studying Bhagavad-gītā. So they were joking. But the brāhmaṇa did not car. He was taking the book and in his own way he was reading.
Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw this incident, He came to the brāhmaṇa. So He asked the brāhmaṇa, “My dear brāhmaṇa, what you are reading?”
So he could understand “This persons is not joking with me; He is serious.”
So he explained, “My dear sir, I am reading Bhagavad-gītā. Unfortunately, I am illiterate. I do not know even the alphabets.”
“Why you are reading Bhagavad-gītā?”
So he said that, “My spiritual master knows that I am illiterate, but still, he has asked me to read Bhagavad-gītā. What can I do? Therefore I have taken this book. I am seeing simply. I do not know how to read.”
“Oh, that’s all right. You cannot read. But I see that you are crying. How you are crying if you are not reading?”
“Yes, I am crying. Of course, there is cause.”
“What is that?”
“As soon as I take this Bhagavad-gītā, I remember Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is sitting as driver and Arjuna is hearing. I have heard the story. I know something of the instruction but cannot read. So as soon as I take this book, this picture comes before me and I simply think, ‘Oh, how Kṛṣṇa is nice that He has become a charioteer of His devotee. He is so great. Still, He has accepted a menial service of His devotee.’ This gives me so much pleasure that I cry.”
Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced him, “Your Bhagavad-gītā reading is perfect. You have taken the essence.” So this is the thing. If you simply remember Kṛṣṇa is teaching Arjuna and Arjuna is hearing, if you simply remember the picture, that is sufficient. Even if you think that you cannot read. (Bhagavad-gita talks with Srila Prabhupada 11/25/1968)
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07 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Distribution, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Iskcon Bangalore, Madhu Pandit das
Tags: Book Distribution, ISKCON Bangalore, Madhu Pandit Das, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's books
I am always happy to see Srila Prabhupada’s books being distributed. When I saw this book distribution report on facebook, I couldn’t help but post it here. ISKCON Bangalore seems to be doing an outstanding job distributing these transcendental books, and in 5 different languages as well! Very inspiring. Glories to all of Srila Prabhupada’s book distributors. Hare Krishna!
Over 78000 Copies of Gita Distributed During Book Marathon
The book marathon program of ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna temple, Bangalore which commenced on 7th Dec 2014 during the auspicious occasion of Gita Jayanti, went on till 8th Feb 2015 and concluded with a prize distribution ceremony on 15th Feb, 2015.
Book distribution is one of the major activities of ISKCON centers around the world as it was the desire of Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON to spread the teachings of Vedic literature all over the world by distributing his books to the people at large as ordered by his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. In fact, Srila Prabhupada considered it as his life and soul. He instructed, guided and encouraged his disciples to engage in book distribution more and more and that would please him very much.
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07 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Holy Places of Pilgrimage, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, New Vrindavan
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, God consciousness community, krsna consciousness, letter to Kirtananda Swami, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, New Vrindaban, transcendental loving service of the Lord that is the highest perfectional platform, Vrindavan
Prabhupada’s Vision for New Vrindaban: Holy Pilgrimage
Letters by Srila Prabhupada
“Therefore, I may once more request you to try your best to construct New Vrindaban an exact duplicate of Vrindaban, and that will give me the highest pleasure.” – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Kirtanananda, February 18, 1970.
Full Letter More
07 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Hansadutta das, Sivananda das, The Hare Krishna Movement
Tags: Europe Krsna consciousness, hansadutta das, Iskcon, Krishna consciousness, Lord Caitanya's mission, Mahabhrata, sankirtan, Sivananda das, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, temple in Germany, the Hare Krishna Movement in Germany
Sivananda Prabhu
Temple in Germany
Bringing the Holy Name to Germany
by Hamsaduta Dasa
Excerpted from; German ‘Back To Godhead’ Magazine
click on above link to view the original German Back to Godhead Magazines. Great Site!
In August of 1968, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada introduced Krsna consciousness to the European continent. At that time Srila Prabhupada was visiting the Montreal, Canada, branch of his newly founded ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). The leading devotee of the Montreal Center, Sivananda dasa brahmacari, approached Srila Prabhupada and informed him that he had saved a thousand dollars that he had intended to use for his enrollment at London University. As a surrendered soul, Sivananda offered to engage this money directly in the service of his spiritual master. He submitted to Srila Prabhupada that he no longer felt that the best use of the money was to finance his education at the university, but he suggested that he might be allowed to go to Europe to open the way there for Krsna consciousness.
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05 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Siksastakam, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: Appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna, Lord Caitanya, o govinda, Vrndavana
Today marks the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the great apostle of love of God and the father of the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord. In honor of His Appearance we share with you “A Short Sketch of the Life and Teachings of Lord Caitanya”, which Srila Prabhupada has included in the introduction to the Srimad Bhagavatam.
In the modern age Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu preached the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by practical demonstration. It is easier to penetrate into the topics of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam through the medium of Śrī Caitanya’s causeless mercy. Therefore a short sketch of His life and precepts is inserted herein to help the reader understand the real merit of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
It is imperative that one learn the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the person Bhāgavatam. The person Bhāgavatam is one whose very life is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in practice. Since Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Absolute Personality of Godhead, He is both Bhagavān and Bhāgavatam in person and in sound. Therefore His process of approaching the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is practical for all people of the world. It was His wish that the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam be preached in every nook and corner of the world by those who happened to take their birth in India.
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04 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Tags: 108 names of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, appearance day of lord caitanya, Lord Caitanya
श्री गौराङ्ग-अष्टोत्तर-शत-नाम-स्तोत्रं
Śrī Gaurāṅga-Aṣṭottara-Śata-Nāma-Stotraṁ
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT NAMES
OF LORD ŚRĪ CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU
by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya
(1)
नामस्कृत्य प्रवक्ष्यामि देव-देवं जगद्-गुरुम्
नाम्नाम्-अष्टोत्तर-शतं चैतन्यस्य महात्मनाह्
nāmaskṛtya pravakṣyāmi deva-devaṁ jagad-gurum
nāmnām-aṣṭottara-śataṁ caitanyasya mahātmanāh
After offering my respectful obeisances unto the Lord of Lords, Who is the spiritual master of the entire universe, I will now narrate 108 holy names of Lord Chaitanya, the great soul.
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03 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Book Changes, Book Distribution, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Tags: 1974 Edition, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna Store, Original 17 vol. set, Prabhupada News, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Sri Krsna Caitanya
I happened to go to the Prabhupada News site this morning just to see what was new. So glad I did because I discovered that the original Sri Caitanya-caritamrta’s are back in print again! I was overjoyed to see this and share the links with all of you.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Original 17 Volume Set (1974 Edition) available again!
Hare Krishna, we have wonderful news. After 20 years of being out of print Srila Prabhupada’s original 17 Volume Sri Caitanya-caritamrta set is now finally available again at www.KrishnaStore.co.uk
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02 Mar 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Buddha, Cow Protection, Jahnava Nitai das, Vegetarianism
Tags: buddha, Buddhism, cow is revered, cow protection, Jahnava Nitai das, Japan, meat-eating, protectors of the cow, samurai, vegetarian, vegetarianism
The following article I found very interesting. It was circulating on Face book before I saw it on the Sampradaya Sun this morning. It is very informative, and is worth reprinting here.
The Samurai: Protectors of the Cow
by Jahnava Nitai das
Mar 01, 2015 — ORISSA (SUN)
If I were to tell you, that once, no other country, save India, revered the cow as much as Japan, I could understand your disbelief. Today, we think of Japan as a meat-eating culture. However, this image is a product of the last 150 years of American influence. The traditional Japanese culture held the cow as the most sacred animal. What follows next is the true story of among the greatest protectors of the cow – the Samurai.
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