May | 2020 | The Hare Krishna Movement

George Harrison Interview 1982

30 May 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in George Harrison, Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Hare Krishna Movement, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, The Beatles Tags: closet yogi, George Harrison, Gurudas, John Lennon, Krishna, Krishna consciousness, Mukunda, plainclothes devotee, Srila Prabhupada, Syamasundara

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In the following conversation, taped at George’s home in England on September 4, 1982, George reveals some memorable experiences he has had chanting Hare Krishna and describes in detail his deep personal realizations about the chanting. He reveals what factors led him to produce “The Hare Krishna Mantra” record, “My Sweet Lord,” and the LPs All Things Must Pass and Living in the Material World, which were all influenced to a great extent by the Hare Krishna chanting and philosophy. He speaks lovingly and openly about his association with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya (spiritual master) of the Hare Krishna movement. In the following interview George speaks frankly about his personal philosophy regarding the Hare Krishna movement, music, yoga, reincarnation, karma, the soul, God, and Christianity. The conversation concludes with his fond remembrances of a visit to the birthplace of Lord Krishna in Vrndavana, India, home of the Hare Krishna mantra, and with George discussing some of his celebrity friends’ involvement with the mantra now heard and chanted around the world.

British Writer Pens The Best Description Of Trump I’ve Read

25 May 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Divine and Demoniac Natures, Donald Trump, Qualities of a Devotee Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, as it is, Bhagavad-gita, british, British writer, Divine and Demoniac Natures, Donald Trump, Nate White, troll

Although I don’t normally do political posts from this page, we are living in difficult times, in the midst of a modern viral pandemic, and we see that our political leader has no transcendental vision and does not know what is actually beneficial for human society.

British Writer Pens The Best Description Of Trump I’ve Read
by Nate White

“Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?” Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England wrote the following response:

A few things spring to mind. Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem. For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed. So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing – not once, ever. I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility – for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman. But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is – his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

The Passing Away of Bhismadeva

21 May 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, B. G. Sharma Art, Bhismadeva, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Arjuna, Battlefield of Kuruksetra, Bhismadeva, Krishna, salvation, Sri Krsna, Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, ultimate destination

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…The dealings of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Bhīṣmadeva on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra are interesting because the activities of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared to be partial to Arjuna and at enmity with Bhīṣmadeva; but factually all this was especially meant to show special favor to Bhīṣmadeva, a great devotee of the Lord. The astounding feature of such dealings is that a devotee can please the Lord by playing the part of an enemy.

Srimad Bhagavatam
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
First Canto, Chapter 9, Text 38

The Passing Away of Bhismadeva

Prasadam: Krsna’s Mercy

20 May 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Devotee's, Uncategorized Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, devotional service, Krishna prasadam, krsna-prasada, prasada, vegetarian cookbook, vegetarian cooking, Visakha devi dasi

This is one of my favorite Back to Godhead Magazine covers. Always liked this picture of Krishna and the cow heard boys taking lunch. Cooking and offering nicely prepared vegetarian meals to the Lord, has always been one of my favorite devotional practices. I love to cook, and enjoy eating the remains. The following is an article that was published in Back to Godhead Magazine way back in 1974 by Visakha devi dasi.

The Life of Jayananda Prabhu

06 May 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Jayananda Thakur, Kalakantha dasa Tags: A Day in the Life of Jayananda Thakur, Jayananda, Jayananda and Srila Prabhupada, Jim Kohr, Kalakantha dasa, Srila Prabhupada

Yesterday was the disappearance day of Jayananda das Thakur. Jayananda was a very dear friend of mine and the closest thing I ever had to a brother in this life. He took me under his wing and nourished my Krishna Consciousness. I am eternally indebted to him for instilling in me a service attitude, and love for Srila Prabhupada. We honor the disappearance day of this extraordinary personality Jayananda das Thakur with the folowing post.

The Life of Jayananda Prabhu
by Kalakantha dasa

After the disappearance of Jayananda Das on May 1, 1977, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada instructed devotees all over the world to commemorate the event every year as they would any great Vaishnava’s disappearance day.

Therefore we respectfully submit these pages to all devotees and friends of ISKCON as a means to remember and understand more about Jayananda’s devotional service. Of course, we will see how he joined ISKCON and how he left this mortal world. More importantly, we shall see the astounding qualities possessed by a true devotee, a sincere disciple and genuine servant of Srila Prabhupada.

Om Namo Bhagavate Narasimhaya

06 May 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna is the Source of All Incarnations, Lord Nrsimhadeva Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, appearance day of lord nrsimhdeva, Lord Nrsimha, Pralada Maharaja, Pralada-Nrsimha, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam

In honor of the appearance day of Lord Nrsimha, we are posting a beautiful verse and purport from the Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.8 glorifying the Lord and his devotees.

Om Namo Bhagavate Narasimhaya

oṁ namo bhagavate narasiṁhāya namas tejas-tejase āvir-āvirbhava
vajra-nakha vajra-daṁṣṭra karmāśayān randhaya randhaya tamo grasa
grasa oṁ svāhā; abhayam abhayam ātmani bhūyiṣṭhā oṁ kṣraum

TRANSLATION

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly vanquish our demonlike desires for fruitive activity in this material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance so that by Your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence in this material world.

Appearance Day of Lord Nrsimha

06 May 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Five Prayers to Lord Nrsimha, Prayers & Verses Tags: appearance day of lord nrsimhdeva, Krsna, Lord Nrsimha, Nrsimha deva, prayers to lord nrsimha, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

Today we honor the Appearance of Lord Nrsimha with a full day fast followed by an evening feast. To to help remember Lord Nrsimha we are posting “Five Prayers to Lord Nrsimha” written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written five beautiful prayers in “Sri Navadvipa Bhava Taranga” for receiving the mercy of Lord Narasimha. These prayers are certainly assurance to all sincere devotees that the worship of Lord Nrsimha is purely in the line of aspiring love and devotion to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. Those prayers are as follows:

Five Prayers to Lord Nrsimha
by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

e dusta hrdaye kama adi ripu chaya
kutinati pratisthasa sathya sada raya
hrdaya-sodhana ara krsnera vasana
nrsimha-carane mora ei to’ kamana

Within my sinful heart the six enemies headed by lust perpetually reside, as well as duplicity, the desire for fame, plus sheer cunning. At the lotus feet of Lord Narasimha, I hope that He will mercifully purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Lord Krsna.

kandiya nrsimha-pade magibo kakhana
nirapade navadvipe jugala-bhajana
bhaya bhaya paya yan’ra darsane se hari
prasanna hoibo kabe more daya kari

Weeping, I will beg at the lotus-feet of Lord Narasimha for the benediction of worshipping Radha and Krsna in Navadvipa, perfectly safe and free from all difficulties. When will this Lord Hari, Whose terrible form strikes fear into fear itself, ever become pleased and show me His mercy?

The Divine and Demoniac Natures

03 May 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Divine and Demoniac Natures, Donald Trump Tags: anger, Arrogance, conceit, Demoniac, demoniac nature, harshness, ignorance, pride

The Divine and Demoniac Natures

We are in the middle of a pandemic that is killing thousands of people worldwide.

Here in America we have a president that instead of acting in a sympathetic, compassionate way towards the sufferings of others, is instead criticizing and blaming others. This is not a good quality for a leader who should be taking responsibility for the safety and welfare of his citizens. All his self glorification, and his attack on others, in this time of turmoil, I find very disturbing and reminiscent of the description given in the 16th chapter of the Bhagavad-gita entitled “The Divine and Demon Natures”

Arrogance, pride, anger, conceit, harshness and ignorance—these qualities belong to those of demonic nature… (Bg. 4.16)

Those who are demoniac do not know what is to be done and what is not to be done. Neither cleanliness nor proper behavior nor truth is found in them. (Bg. 7.16)

The demoniac person thinks: “So much wealth do I have today, and I will gain more according to my schemes. So much is mine now, and it will increase in the future, more and more. He is my enemy, and I have killed him; and my other enemy will also be killed. I am the lord of everything, I am the enjoyer, I am perfect, powerful and happy. I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is none so powerful and happy as I am. I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give some charity, and thus I shall rejoice.” In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance. (Bg. 13-15.16)

Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world. ( Bg. 9.16)

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