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ISKCON Connection Newsletter, Issue 28, September 22, 2019
 
Prabhupada Nectar
The spirit soul is equal in either a man or woman. One who is actually engaged in the service of Krishna, there is no such distinction as man or woman

Lectures

Festival Lectures

760204 - Letter to Aditya written from Mayapur:

February 04, 1976

Bombay

My dear Aditya,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 28th January, 1976.

The spirit soul is equal in either a man or woman. One who is actually engaged in the service of Krishna, there is no such distinction as man or woman. In the Bhagavad-gita, 6th Chapter, 1st Verse it is stated anasritah karma-phalam karijam karma karoti yah/ sa sannyasi ca yogi ca na niragnir na cakriyah (BG 6.1). Anyone acting for Krishna, he is a sannyasi or sannyasini. It is also stated: striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te'pi yanti param gatim. So spiritually everyone is equal. But materially a woman cannot be given Sannyasa. But you should not be bothered because you are serving on the spiritual platform.

I hope this meets you well.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/tkg

 

 

 

 

 

ISKCON News

Courtesy of iskconnews.org

“Career Dharma, The Natural Art of Work” Book Review
“Career Dharma, The Natural Art of Work” Book Review

What you were born to do is no longer a mystery. Career Dharma, The Natural Art of Work, by Urmila Devi Dasi (Dr. Edith Best) and Dr. Ruchira S. Datta, is here to help you discover that. The English word natural comes from the Latin term “naturalis,” which means birth, or in Middle English, it denotes the physical power of a person. What is your superpower? What is your dharma?

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Relaunch of the Namarasa Podcast Premieres Today
Relaunch of the Namarasa Podcast Premieres Today

Namarasa Das is back after a one-year hiatus with a new season of in-person interviews. In 2018, Namarasa started “The Late Morning Program with Namarasa” podcast, which quickly gained in popularity because of its engaging host, wide variety of guests, and willingness to talk about a broad range of topics, including “hot button” issues. The return is good news for the thousands of devotee listeners who were missing the podcast during the break. 

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Popular 2024 Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat Opens Registration January 7th
Popular 2024 Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat Opens Registration January 7th

The Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat 2024 is scheduled to take place on Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-27, 2024) at the Frisco Conference Center in Dallas, Texas. We have reserved all available accommodations for our group in the Embassy Suites hotel attached to the conference center as well as in most nearby hotels that are just within walking distance. The furthest offsite hotel is only about half a mile away. So, no driving is required from any offsite hotels for most devotees.

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Devotees Celebrate 15-Year Tradition of Chanting Millions of God’s Names for Utah Residents
Devotees Celebrate 15-Year Tradition of Chanting Millions of God’s Names for Utah Residents

Devotees and guests at the two ISKCON temples in Spanish Fork and Salt Lake City, Utah, participated in their annual January 1st Japathon. The yearly event, which began in Utah in 2009, was inspired by Ananta Rupa Dasa, then president of the ISKCON Boise, Idaho Temple, which has held the event for over 25 years. The intention of the Utah devotees is that the blessings of the Holy Names be applied to the state’s residents by chanting at least one of Krishna’s names for each of the one million households in the Beehive state. 

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Hoofprint Media, an Expanding Multimedia Company, Serving Devotee Projects Worldwide
Hoofprint Media, an Expanding Multimedia Company, Serving Devotee Projects Worldwide

Hoofprint Media is a family-owned and operated multimedia design company based in the United States, specializing in web design, graphic design, photography, and film. Over the years, Hoofprint Media has significantly contributed to the impact and success of ISKCON temples, devotional projects, and devotee-operated businesses worldwide. What sets Hoofprint Media apart is its unwavering commitment to excellence. Their team of skilled designers and developers is dedicated to employing top-notch tools and equipment to elevate their expertise and provide enhanced services to their clients. Bhismadeva Dasa, the founder, has offered us interesting insights into his background and the inspiration behind establishing this remarkable initiative. 

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Bhagavata Mahavidyalaya Europe-Simhachalam has Completed Their First Academic Year, Looks to Expand Team
Bhagavata Mahavidyalaya Europe-Simhachalam has Completed Their First Academic Year, Looks to Expand Team

Back in May 2023, ISKCON News profiled ISKCON Bhagavata Mahavidyalaya’s groundbreaking move to spread the teachings of Srimad Bhagavatam and advance Vedic education by launching a new educational program in collaboration with the Simhachalam community. They also launched a mobile app and website which both offer a user-friendly interface that allows individuals to easily create an account and access a range of courses.

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Thoughts for the New Year
Thoughts for the New Year

We are entering the New Year, 2024, and on such occasions, we take stock of what and how we did in the previous year and what we want to do in the next. Studies have shown, and probably many of us have experienced, that most New Year’s resolutions are broken during the first week. Still, more are broken in the first month, and almost all are broken within the first three months.

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New Year’s Resolutions: Four Principles for Greater Self-Transformation
New Year’s Resolutions: Four Principles for Greater Self-Transformation

Globally, the world is celebrating the end of a calendar year. Though different religious traditions may follow other calendars, we can still take spiritual advantage of these moments of transition.

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Coming of Age #11 – The Magic Show Called Life
Coming of Age #11 – The Magic Show Called Life

In the ISKCON family within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, when we speak about the material illusory energy or maya, we generally frame it negatively. Yet, since the Supreme is all good, how can “maya” be bad?  After all, this earthly realm is a gift from God to guide and encourage all his beloved individual souls to ultimately return to His loving embrace.

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December Statement from the Center of the Communities for Krishna Consciousness in Ukraine
December Statement from the Center of the Communities for Krishna Consciousness in Ukraine

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Ukraine is an ancient monotheistic religious tradition based on the Vedic scriptures and numbering tens of millions of followers in India and around the world. In 1965, the Society’s founder-acarya, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, transplanted this ancient religious tradition to Western soil.

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Dandavats

Courtesy of dandavats.com

Stories told by Srila Prabhupada
Stories told by Srila Prabhupada

By Suhotra Swami

Sometimes devotees they find themselves in some situation, which they think is hopeless. They are struggling, struggling, struggling and they seem to make no progress and then they start to think: “Oh, what is the use.” And then they wonder they just give everything up, give up Krishna consciousness, go back home to mama, what’s the use. Once there were two frogs who by accident fell into a pot of milk. So after struggling to keep afloat for some time one frog gave up hope: “Oh, it’s useless.” And just drowned down and was dead. But the other frog was more dete...

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Deep Ecology and Vedic Culture
Deep Ecology and Vedic Culture

By Dayananda das

Today, most Vaishnavas make efforts to lead a theo-centric life. They struggle to remember that they are souls who are equal to the plants and animals, and that they are not their bodies, with the associated desires to exploit and kill the Lord’s nature. They try to remember that the universal soul or Supreme Soul is their friend who is in their hearts and who with love beckons them to turn away from violence and exploitation. Recent Vaishnava sages, like Prabhupad...

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Culture of Sharing
Culture of Sharing

By Adiguru dasa

In Krishna Consciousness we hear many viewpoints about spreading the movement of Lord Caitanya. In reality there is not one fixed way to attract a conditioned living entity. A conditioned living entity who has achieved a rare benediction of having a human body has a unique existence and is driven by a unique desire and a unique fear. Preaching strategies differ from person to person and community to community. We need to understand the culture of a place and a counter-culture. The identification of culture and counter-culture help us to identify a right preaching approach. ...

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Devotees and opulence
Devotees and opulence

By Giriraj dasa

My dear King, Bali Maharaj donated all his possessions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vämanadeva, but one should certainly not conclude that he achieved his great worldly opulence in bila-svarga as a result of his charitable disposition. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the source of life for all living entities, lives within everyone as the friendly Supersoul, and under His direction a living entity enjoys or suffers in the material world. Greatly appreciating the transcendental...

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A Look at Vedic Environmentalism
A Look at Vedic Environmentalism

By Sri Nandanandana dasa

The environment means nature, and whose nature is it? It is God's nature. Did anyone else create it? Did anyone else put it all together so that it operates the way it does? In fact, humanity is still trying to figure out all the intricacies of its functionality.

...

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Love Conquers All
Love Conquers All

By Radhanath Swami

“The Latin poet Virgil, has written, ‘Love conquers all’. The second part of what he wrote, in many ways is instrumental. He said, ‘Love conquers all, so let us all be conquered by love’. This is the principle of bhakti. The first and great commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind and soul, and the natural consequence of that is that you will love your neighbor as yourself. And according to the Bhagavad-gita you will see every living being as your neighbor.” “But that a...

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Srila Prabhupada’s Faith in the Holy Name
Srila Prabhupada’s Faith in the Holy Name

By Giriraj Swami

Srila Prabhupada had a godbrother named Akinchana Krishnadasa Babaji, whom Prabhupada said was a paramahamsa, a liberated soul. Babaji Maharaja approached another godbrother of Prabhupada’s, who had been sent by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to England to preach but who didn’t really have much effect and then came back to India, and said to him, “You went to the West, and Swami Maharaja [Srila Prabhupada] went to the West. You presented the teachings of Lord Chaitanya, and Swami Maharaja presented the teachings of Lord Chaitanya. You introduced the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, ...

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Thoughts for the New Year
Thoughts for the New Year

By Radhanath Swami

Sri Prahlada Maharaja, a five-year-old child, spoke eloquent philosophy, but he was a simple boy who had simple conclusions. He looked around at the whole world, and he looked at his father, Hiranyakasipu, who was a really complicated person [laughter]. His father was a brahmana and the son of a rsi, and yet he was really confused. Prahlada said that when we lose reference to the focus of the goal of life, then every time we try to solve a problem, our solution becomes a bigger problem than the original problem. And isn't that what is happening in the world? We want more convenienc...

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The Culture of Distraction
The Culture of Distraction

By Nagaraja Dasa

Controlling one’s mind is the purpose of yoga, and Krishna consciousness is the yoga of bhakti, or service to Krishna with love. As with any type of yoga, practicing bhakti-yoga in an atmosphere where we’re deluged with information can be tough. The digital age seems to control us, as yesterday’s inventions become today’s necessities. When I compare my childhood to that of kids today, I wonder how they can concentrate on anything, their minds so easily disappearing into a virtual world that’s becoming more and more like the bricks a...

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Stimulation For Ecstatic Love Part 59 - The DesireTrees Of Vraja
Stimulation For Ecstatic Love Part 59 - The DesireTrees Of Vraja


Indradyumna Swami Maharaja
Jan 5, 2024


 Watch Now

 

 

 


TOVP News

Courtesy of tovp.org

Share the TOVP Nrsimha Wing Opening Promotional Flyer
Share the TOVP Nrsimha Wing Opening Promotional Flyer

History is about to take place once again at the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) with the three-day opening celebration of the Nrsimha Wing from February 29 – March 2.

 Read More

TOVP Exclusive Nrsimha Wing Opening Sponsorships
TOVP Exclusive Nrsimha Wing Opening Sponsorships

The TOVP Nrsimha Wing opening committee is pleased to announce the following exclusive sponsorships, only available for this historic event. This is truly a once-in-lifetime opportunity to directly sponsor elements of the Nrsimha Wing and altar, and attract the Lord’s attention to your service.

 Read More

Saphala Ekadasi and the TOVP, 2024
Saphala Ekadasi and the TOVP, 2024

Saphala Ekadashi is one of the most pious and favorable fasting days. It takes place in the ‘Pausha’ month during the Krishna Paksha on the 11th day (waning phase of the Moon). The Saphala Ekadashi is also well known as ‘Pausha Krishna Ekadashi’ which usually falls in the months of January or December as per the Gregorian calendar.

 Read More

A lecture by Dr. Richard L. Thompson (Sadaputa Dasa)
A lecture by Dr. Richard L. Thompson (Sadaputa Dasa)

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.6-8
San Diego, California, March 2, 1986

 In this lecture, Thompson considers an age-old question during a class presentation on a verse about the birth of Lord Krishna: If the Supreme Absolute is all-pervasive and eternal, how can He appear in a particular time and place? Thompson proposes that questioning standard conceptions of time and space can help shed light on this question.

 Listen to Audio

 

 

 

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.

January 7, 2024 (Sunday)
Fasting for Saphala Ekadasi
Sri Devananda Pandita -- Disappearance

January 8, 2024 (Monday)
Break fast 07:13 - 10:54 (Local Mayapur Time)

January 9, 2024 (Tuesday)
Sri Mahesa Pandita -- Disappearance
Sri Uddharana Datta Thakura -- Disappearance

January 12, 2024 (Friday)
Sri Locana Dasa Thakura -- Appearance

January 14, 2024 (Sunday)
Srila Jiva Gosvami -- Disappearance
Sri Jagadisa Pandita -- Disappearance

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

Email: office@iskconconnection.org

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