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ISKCON Connection Newsletter, Issue 28, September 22, 2019
 
Prabhupada Nectar
Never expect any good from the so called society, friendship and love. Only Krishna is the genuine friend of all living beings and it is He only who can give us all benediction

Correspondence

1967 Correspondence

670422 - Letter to Ballabhi written from New York:

April 22, 1967 My Dear Ballabhi,

Please accept my blessings. I thank you for your letter of the 18th instant and I have noted the contents with so much pleasure. I know that you poor girl have been frustrated by the so called society and you deeply needed the shelter of Krishna Consciousness. Krishna kindly sent you to me and I have tried to give you whatever I had in my possession. Please go on chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna as you are doing now and this very chanting will give you all peace and prosperity both in this life and the next. Never expect any good from the so called society, friendship and love. Only Krishna is the genuine friend of all living beings and it is He only who can give us all benediction. The more you advance in Krishna Consciousness chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna the more you become spiritually advanced and happy in all respects.

The separation which you are feeling on account of my physical absence is good sign. The more you feel such separation the more you will be situated in Krishna Consciousness. Lord Caitanya felt this separation and His process of approaching Krishna is the feeling of separation. However I shall return to San Francisco as soon as possible. How is Nandarani and her husband Dayananda __ not hear from them since I have come back to New York.

Herewith please find some notes for Sriman Subala das and his wife Krishna Devi.

 

 

 

 

 

ISKCON News

Courtesy of iskconnews.org

Alone with Krsna Retreat Organized in the Month of Kartika
Alone with Krsna Retreat Organized in the Month of Kartika

Devotees are invited to step away from the digital noise and find solace at the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education’s (VIHE) retreat, “Alone with Krsna: Together with Krsna’s devotees,” to be held November 24-27, 2023, at the Govardhana Retreat Center in Jatipura, Govardhana.

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Devotee Couple Killed in Ukraine, Suspect in Custody
Devotee Couple Killed in Ukraine, Suspect in Custody

ISKCON News is sad to report the deaths of two devotees, Sanatana Goswami Dasa and his wife Kalavati Devi Dasi, disciples of HH Partha Sarathi Das Goswami, who were shot and killed by a Russian soldier in the village of Nechaevo near Oleshek.

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UK PM Congratulates Bhaktivedanta Manor on its 50th Anniversary During Diwali Celebration
UK PM Congratulates Bhaktivedanta Manor on its 50th Anniversary During Diwali Celebration

British Prime Minister Mr Rishi Sunak celebrated Diwali in his home at 10 Downing Street, along with his wife Akshata and dozens of invited guests. ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor’s temple president Visakha Dasi attended the event along with Sachi-Kishore Das and Krishna Sanjay Das, members of the Manor’s communication team.

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Devotees Hold Tucson’s First Ratha Yatra in the City’s Largest Annual Parade
Devotees Hold Tucson’s First Ratha Yatra in the City’s Largest Annual Parade

Known for its creative and successful outreach efforts, ISKCON Tucson integrated its first Ratha Yatra event into the city’s 34th annual All Souls’ Procession on Nov. 5, 2023. 

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Devotee-Owned Travel Agency Connects Community Support with Commerce
Devotee-Owned Travel Agency Connects Community Support with Commerce

Within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a question often arises for the devotee—how does one balance family life with dedicated service to the movement? Gaura Narayana Das stands as a testament to transcending this challenge. A former brahmachari, he has seamlessly transitioned into the roles of a family man and a pioneering business owner. His brainchild, Fly Sacred, represents not only a travel agency but also a bridge connecting spirituality, commerce, and community support within the ISKCON sphere.

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New ISKCON Center in Minneapolis Welcomes Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai Deities
New ISKCON Center in Minneapolis Welcomes Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai Deities

This summer, a new ISKCON Bhakti Yoga Center opened in a strategic location near the University of Minnesota, and they reached a significant milestone on October 28th by welcoming a set of stunning Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai deities to their community.

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Utah Devotee Speaks to Prestigious State Org on Philosophy and Prasadam; Temple Tour Followed
Utah Devotee Speaks to Prestigious State Org on Philosophy and Prasadam; Temple Tour Followed

On November 1st, one of the leaders of the Salt Lake City Krishna Temple, Sundari Priya Devi Dasi, spoke to a group of about 30 authors (many of whom are professors at Utah universities) on the topic of “Nourishing Your Soul through Conscious Eating.” 

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BRC in Kolkata Embarks on Extensive Renovation to Preserve Vaiṣṇava Heritage
BRC in Kolkata Embarks on Extensive Renovation to Preserve Vaiṣṇava Heritage

Over a decade ago, Kolkata, the birthplace of Śrīla Prabhupāda, witnessed the founding of the Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) by H.G. Hari Śauri Prabhu and H.G. Praṇava Prabhu. Inaugurated in 2009 by H.H. Jayapatākā Mahārāja and H.H. Bhakti Cāru Mahārāja, the BRC has since blossomed into a thriving research center and guest house, serving as a significant destination for the global academic and Vaiṣṇava community.

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The Sanga Initiative Hosts Jagattarini Devi Dasi for a Deep Dive into Damodara Lila
The Sanga Initiative Hosts Jagattarini Devi Dasi for a Deep Dive into Damodara Lila

The Sanga Initiative (TSI), a grassroots effort led by young devotees to provide sanga and spiritual formation through in-person and online events, aims to create “a network of young devotees that support and empower each other to become leaders for the next and future generations of ISKCON.” One of their latest efforts is the Kartik Immersion online sanga.

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“Mayapur Clean & Green” Partners with Schools to Plant & Protect Trees in Mayapur
“Mayapur Clean & Green” Partners with Schools to Plant & Protect Trees in Mayapur

“Mayapur Clean & Green” is taking initiatives to plant new trees and protect the ones in the holy Dham. The team, headed by Murari Mohini Devi Dasi, has successfully collaborated with local educational institutions with the requisite space.

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Dandavats

Courtesy of dandavats.com

On Friendship
On Friendship

By Sesa Das

Friendship is a necessary part of our personhood, in both our material and spiritual being. The ancient Sanskrit text Hitopadesa ("Beneficial Advice") speaks extensively on friendship in simple story form which incorporates maxims, worldly wisdom, and practical advice. In the first book of the Hitopadesa, Mitralabha (“Gaining Friends”), the qualities of a true friend are listed as purity, generosity, chivalry, being composed in happiness and distress, politeness, affection, and truthfulness.

...Read More

Wonderful Krsna
Wonderful Krsna

By Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

Krsna is wonderful, amazing inconceivably so but we have not touched on the most mysterious and inconceivable of all His qualities: His ability to express love. He is powerful, He is wise, He is strong and famous, but His inclination to love all living beings, and His expression of that love in a variety of ways, is His most attractive feature. And even more attractive than that is His special love for His devotees. Therefore, a devotee, while recognizing Krsna's mastership over his or her life, does not ever forget this greatest glory of Krsna's love. I recently...

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Motivation in Krishna Consciousness
Motivation in Krishna Consciousness

By Rashi Singh

Somehow, it happens that our motivation in Krishna consciousness may falter. Usually that faltering comes in the form of lacking the desire to do some practical service, associate with devotees, or develop our spiritual practices, such as improving the quality or quantity of our chanting or of our reading of Srila Prabhupada's books. Whenever this happens to me or a friend, I realize the urgency and fragility of devotional service and the importance of remaining inspired...

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Returning Home to Freedom
Returning Home to Freedom

By Vraja Vihari Dasa

"What's it like to go back home to Krishna?" wondered ten-year-old Kiran at the weekly gathering for children from our congregation. I responded by speaking about Goloka Vrindavana, our real home, where we aspire to go after our tenure in this world. "The spiritual world of Goloka is free from all school exams and home assignments," I told the kids. "It's all fun, day and night—no interruption in play!" "Wow!" Kiran replied. "But," he probed, "since we've been away for so long, will Kris...

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Timings of the Four Yugas: The Shastric Evidence
Timings of the Four Yugas: The Shastric Evidence

By Sri Nandanandana dasa

When describing the length of the yugas or ages, and which yuga we are in and how far along we are in it, there is sometimes confusion about how to calculate them. Some people think we are already in the next Satya-yuga, known as the Golden Age. The problem is when the yugas are figured only according to the years in earth’s time, in which case any calculations will never be accurate. They are described in the Vedic literature according to the celestial year...

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Diksha Without Tapa: Initiation in Name Only
Diksha Without Tapa: Initiation in Name Only

By Kripamoya Dasa

Did you hear the story of the man who rode up to the gates of our Mayapur, West Bengal, temple to sell ice cream? He had one of those tricycles you see a lot in India—the ones with a refrigerated box on the back. Nothing sells quite like ice cream on a hot day. Only he wasn’t selling ice cream at all. He opened the lid of the icebox, pulled out a hand bell and a bunch of papers, then began ringing the bell and calling out, “Diksha! Diksha!” [“Initiation! Initiation!”] He was selling d...

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What’s Wrong with Our Politicians – Three Examples of Perfect Leadership
What’s Wrong with Our Politicians – Three Examples of Perfect Leadership

By Rama vigraha Dasa

To say that most politicians are incompetent, and in many cases downright dishonest, isn’t very controversial. We’ve all read about their blunders, their tricks, and their schemes. So the aim of this article is not to give proof of their failure to bring about world peace and prosperity; it is rather to show that the root cause of their incompetence is selfish materialism, and that the remedy is the re- spiritualization of society through the worldwide propagation of Krishna consciousness...

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Chant (at least) One More Round: Increasing our attachment to the Holy Name
Chant (at least) One More Round: Increasing our attachment to the Holy Name

By Hector Rosario, PhD

Now, you may ask, but Srila Prabhupada instructed us to only chant 16 rounds. Why should we change that standard? Actually, we are not asking to change the institutional standard from 16 to 64 rounds. Our suggestion is simply that, on an individual basis, devotees should consider increasing their minimum daily vow of 16 to a higher number of rounds.

...

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Citing the Lord’s Version
Citing the Lord’s Version

By His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada

"Brahma, it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation what remains will also be I, the Personality of Godhead." There is no other cause of all causes than the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari. One should be attached to the root of everything rather than bewildered by the branches and leaves.

...

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Stimulation For Ecstatic Love Part 51 - Auspicious Signs On Krsna’s Chest
Stimulation For Ecstatic Love Part 51 - Auspicious Signs On Krsna’s Chest


Indradyumna Swami
10 November 2023

 Watch Now

 

 

 

 


TOVP News

Courtesy of tovp.org

TOVP Presents – Miracle in the Making: A Video by Ambarisa Das (Alfred Ford), Great-grandson of Henry Ford
TOVP Presents – Miracle in the Making: A Video by Ambarisa Das (Alfred Ford), Great-grandson of Henry Ford

Miracle in the Making is an awe-inspiring video shot by His Grace Prananatha Das depicting the rise of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) in Mayapur, West Bengal, India – Future Wonder of the World – and the opening of its Nrsimhadeva Hall, the largest Nrsimhadeva Temple in the world, from February 29 – March 2, 2024.

 Read More

TOVP Presents – Arrival of Nrsimhadeva in Mayapur: The Journey from Fear to Shelter
TOVP Presents – Arrival of Nrsimhadeva in Mayapur: The Journey from Fear to Shelter

The drama, Arrival of Nrsimhadeva in Mayapur: The Journey from Fear to Shelter, is a play performed by ISKCON Pune devotees, based on the amazing and miraculous story of the making and arrival of the Prahlad-Nrsimhadeva deities in ISKCON Mayapur. The video of the drama is a production of Radha Kunjabihari Media Services.

 Read More

Join the New TOVP WhatsApp Channel
Join the New TOVP WhatsApp Channel

A new feature on WhatsApp is channels, and the TOVP has created our own channel as another option for receiving news and updates about our progress. Click the link below to join today!

 Read More

TOVP & VEDIC SCIENCE CHANNEL PRESENT -- UFO's, Aliens, and Their Vedic Parallels (San Diego 9/92)
TOVP & VEDIC SCIENCE CHANNEL PRESENT -- UFO's, Aliens, and Their Vedic Parallels (San Diego 9/92)

Presented by Dr. Richard L. Thompson (Sadaputa Dasa)

The large body of UFO evidence accumulated over generations and across continents is rejected out-of-hand as superstition by most mainstream scientists. But the extraordinary similarity of many close encounter reports with the Vedic hierarchy of mystic beings gives Sadaputa Dasa (Dr. Richard L. Thompson) pause. Perhaps in western culture we are being educated and conditioned to a particular world view which shuts the door to higher levels of reality.

 Listen Now

 

 

Srila Prabhupada: 
founderacharya.com, vanipedia.org

The official ISKCON website: iskcon.org,

Find your nearest temple: centres.iskcon.org

ISKCON leadership: gbc.iskcon.org

Education such ar Bhakti-shastri, Bhaktivaibhava etc: Mayapur Institute, Bhaktivedanta Theological Seminary, Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education, Bhaktivedanta College Europe

Events: events.iskcon.org,

News: iskconnews.org, dandavats.com,

BBT books: bbt.org, krishna.com, vanisource.org, vedabase.com, bbtmedia.com

World Sankirtan Newsletter: wsnl.net/wsnhome.htm

Temple of Vedic Planetarium: tovp.org

Deity Worship and courses: deityworship.com, Mayapur Academy 

Inspiration & Sadhana: mayapur.tv, iskcondesiretree.com

Vaishnava Calendars: 
ISKCON GBC Vaishnava Calendar Comitee, GCAL (Gaurabda Calendar, a program for calculation of the calendar for vaisnavas, according Gaudiya-Vaisnava tradition.)
krishnadays.com, 

These dates and timings are for Sri Mayapur Dhama. Find timings for your location at the Vaishnava Calendar links.

November 13, 2023 (Monday)
Dipa dana, Dipavali, (Kali Puja)

November 14, 2023 (Tuesday)
Bali Daityaraja Puja
Go Puja. Go Krda. Govardhana Puja.
Sri Rasikananda — Appearance

November 15, 2023 (Wednesday)
Sri Vasudeva Ghosh — Disappearance

November 17, 2023 (Friday)
(Fast till noon)
Srila Prabhupada — Disappearance

November 20, 2023 (Monday)
Gopastami, Gosthastami
Sri Dhananjaya Pandita — Disappearance
Sri Gadadhara Dasa Gosvami — Disappearance
Sri Srinivasa Acarya — Disappearance

Address: ISKCON GBC Office
P.O. Sri Mayapur, Nadia, WB 741313, India

Email: office@iskconconnection.org

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