namahatta.org - Congregational Development Ministry

[I received the following message this morning, which means it's already too late for some of the nectar; but those of you who can't attend any temple or community function tomorrow and after might want to look into this:]

Hare Krishna Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

As you perhaps know, today's (21 August) evening lecture will be given by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja at the Seattle temple (VCC), starting from 7.30pm. It is our humble attempt to broadcast the lectures (both voice and video) to the devotees who stay outside Seattle or cannot make it to the temple.

Please join us for this enlivening session via Live Meeting:

After the filming of the opening of Radharani's Bakery's new shop, Kripamoya Prabhu quietly mentioned that it may appear on the net soon.

Well, after much thought I have decided not to post it!

HA!

For all who want to see the opening of the shop it's available here:

[Watch Video]

And for a short tour of the facilities you can do here:

[Watch Video]

I hope as always that these clips meet the needs of the devotee's

ISKCON aims to bring the holy name to every town and village, and this program is helpful in fulfilling this vision. If properly implemented, there will be massive harinama sankirtana festivals across the planet every year, generating a tremendous amount of media interest and coverage. Every year, devotees around the world will share their ideas on spreading and glorifying the holy name, resulting in an increased focus on the chanting of the holy names.

This year, World Holy Name Week will be observed from 13–21 September; this nine day period includes the following auspicious tithis:

• Saturday, 13 September: Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day
• Sunday, 14 September: Srila Haridas Thakura's Disappearance Day
• Monday, 15 September: Acceptance of sannyasa by Srila Prabhupada (also: Sri Visvarupa Mahotsava; beginning of the third month of Caturmasya, fasting from milk)
• Sunday, 21 September: Srila Prabhupada's arrival in the USA

Please celebrate World Holy Name Week on as many of these days as possible. Some Suggestions:

by Anuttama das

On June 20, 2008, Paramount Pictures releases The Love Guru nationwide. The film tells the story of Guru Pitka (Mike Myers), a westerner raised at an Indian ashram, who grows up to be a high-profile and eccentric holy man come west.

While the level of humor contained in the film is crass, the comedy has drawn significant attention even before its official opening—both pro and con—and from Hindu-Americans concerned that it violates appropriate boundaries in dealing with a religious subject.

On behalf of the North American chapters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a Vaishnava, or devotional Hindu organization with an ethnically diverse membership, we understand that many Hindus are concerned that the film may mock their faith. At the same time, having seen the film in its entirety, we find it to be a typical satire that does not intend to hurt religious sentiments.

This week there has been a tremendous amount of media coverage of the cow-killing at the temple. The story appeared in newspapers, radio, television, and online as far away as Australia. But now its old news.

Its now been just over a week since Gangotri, a cow at our temple, was needlessly killed while the community members were at prayer—and that's a long, long, time ago in media terms.

I'm writing at the end of a long day. I arrived at the temple for the 7.00 am darshan this morning, and immediately went to work completing the final details of a Powerpoint presentation on "2008: The Year of the Congregation." Next year is thus designated so that we'll all put more effort into developing strategies for 'Learning, Guidance and Organisation' for our growing congregation in London and the South.

The senior managers of the temple took everything needed for long-term growth in this important area and formed a strategic planning document for it. Well, at least we completed the Vision, Mission Statements and the Key Result Areas. Our KRAs came to eight in number, so we labelled that the 'eight petals' of our lotus and head-hunted qualified devotees for those areas.

Included in this online-book:

I went into London at 6.00 am to give the morning class at our Soho street temple. I was invited for the 38th anniversary of the installation of Radha Londonishvara, the presiding Deities there. After class we posed for a group photograph outside the temple.

Returning to the Manor, I learned that various Hindu organisations had put out their own press releases, and that BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme will be featuring the story tomorrow after 7.00 am.

This morning began with a breakfast interview on BBC Asian Network Radio with Srutidharma Das, the vice president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, and Tim Wass the RSPCA man responsible for yesterday’s killing.

It continued with CNN News filming at the Manor and the examination of this mornings national press. Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Mail, all featured good pieces and used photos of Gangotri.

Many phone calls kept coming, including one from London Newsquest which serves all the local newspapers in the metropolitan area. The interviewer was extremely interested and sympathetic.

On the political front, Barry Gardiner was able to ask questions in the Commons last night, saying that an ‘outrage has been done to the Hindus in this country’ and Harriet Harman replied on behalf of Defra minister Hilary Benn, in Bali for the UN Climate Summit, that she understood the depth of feeling on this issue and that a reply would be forthcoming.

You can watch last night’s television news about the incident here, and read today’s press-release below:

A piece written last night by author and broadcaster Krishna Dharma Das

When the RSPCA decided yesterday to ignore the protestations of her devotee carers and "put down" the ailing Gangotri, a thirteen year-old cow living at Bhaktivedanta Manorthey were moved by compassionate considerations. Their spokesperson said, "We do understand and respect religious beliefs but at the heart of our organisation is the belief that animals should not suffer." In their view the pain she felt from "infected sores" was such that the only answer was to kill her by lethal injection, which they duly administered as the horrified devotees looked on.

Though is claimed to be compassion, killing as a response to suffering is not something readily countenanced when it comes to humans. In Britain at least euthanasia is a crime, even if the suffering person desires his or her own death. Even in cases where the suffering is acute or there is terminal illness, killing is not allowed. Care will be administered to give the patient the best possible quality of life till death naturally occurs.

In an act that will shock Britain’s Hindu community, a veterinary surgeon escorted by three police officers this morning secretly killed a cow at the largest temple in Britain while worshippers were at prayer.

The cow, named Gangotri, a thirteen year-old Belgian Blue and Jersey cross, and much loved by the community, was killed at 9.00 am at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in Hertfordshire. Police restrained monks who were in attendance of the sick cow, and the head farmer was kept talking while inside the barn a lethal injection was given.

Cows are sacred to Hindus, and the killing of a cow is considered to be an outrageous act. The killing of a cow at a temple amounts to religious sacrilege of the worst kind.

Dear Maharajas, Prabhus and Matajis,

Hare Krsna. Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prbhupada.

ISKCON Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, launched the Damodara Month Festival at the Kuala Lumpur "Deepavali Carnival" at Central Station on 26 October, 2007.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Kayveas, and HH Bhanu Maharaj launched the festival in front of some 1,500 people.

ISKCON Kuala Lumpur reported that already more than 6,000 guests have offered ghee lamps at our Damodara lamp booth, set up at the carnival. All other centres in Malaysia also take advantage of the auspicious Damodara month by increasing the number of home programs.

For a short video please follow this link:

• videos.thestar.com.my/default.aspx?vid=573

Your servant, Simhesvara dasa

[You can see last years festival report here.
This article ends here.]

Another casualty in the "war on terror": the US Bureau of Prisons got some experts to compile a list of religious books that will be allowed in prison libraries. Neither the list of experts nor the list of books have been published yet, but prison chaplains are already busy sorting out unwanted literature across the country's jails.

The stated reason is that prisons should avoid becoming recruiting grounds for militant Islamic and other religious groups. To not allow inflammatory books calling for jihad against the infidels makes sense, of course, but to remove everything but 150 or so books that have been vetted by some obscure experts is a different thing altogether.

“It’s swatting a fly with a sledgehammer,” said Mark Earley, president of Prison Fellowship, a Christian group. “There’s no need to get rid of literally hundreds of thousands of books that are fine simply because you have a problem with an isolated book or piece of literature that presents extremism.”

Several prisoners have filed class-action lawsuits, claiming the bureau’s actions violate their rights to the free exercise of religion as guaranteed by the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. I don't know about these lawsuits' chances to succeed in the present political climate, and neither do I know if Srila Prabhupada's books are included in the list of sanctioned literatures. If not, we (the IPM) should make some urgent endeavors in this direction.

your servant, phanisvara das

(Read on for a blog-article by Rory Litwin,
LibraryJuicePress.com)

Hi, and welcome! I'm Sita-pati das, maintainer of Planet ISKCON.

Planet ISKCON is the uncensored voice of the ISKCON community online.

It's an hourly-updated snapshot of the RSS feeds of ISKCON members worldwide.

The mission is to increase momentum in fulfilling the purposes of ISKCON through information sharing.

In order to be included a blog should talk about what the author is doing as well as what they are thinking.

I have been asked by the Executive Committee of the North American GBC and Temple Presidents to write you concerning issues raised by various web posting in response to a draft of proposed new bylaws for North American ISKCON temples. This draft had been circulated and discussed among us during our last meeting, held in January in Dallas. Soon after, the text somehow passed into general circulation, and a number of web postings sprang up to raise a general alarm.

Dear Devotees, Hare Krishna!

Here are the details for the upcoming Vaishnava retreat in the Midlands. Last year it was very well attended and an enjoyable weekend with some excellent talks and kirtans.

Yours with all best wishes, Kripamoya Das

[You find schedule and prices for the retreat & accomodation inside.]

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The GBC will be available for all ISKCON devotees by scheduling an Open Door Day. The Open Door day will be in Sri Mayapura Dhama during the Annual GBC Meetings on Tuesday, February 13th from 10.00am until 12.15pm in the GBC room on the top of the Conch building.

Mortal Remains put to Rest

Members of ISKCON carrying the mortal remains of the blast victims. (E-Pao)

E-Pao, August 17:

Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, Aug 17: Out of the four persons killed in the bomb blast at ISKCON complex yesterday, three were cremated at the ISKCON crematorium near BIM Higher Secondary School.

The three victims cremated at ISKCON crematorium were Bir Kumar from Khagempalli Huidrom Leikai, Wangkhem Anil of Sangaiprou Mamang Leikai and Angom Blondin of Lalambung Takhellambam Leikai.

MEDIA RELEASE - ISKCON COMMUNICATIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 16, 2006

Foto from Vaishnava Blog Feeds

Manipur, India – A Krishna temple operated by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was thevictim of a bomb blast at approximately 7:00 pm India time on Wednesday,August 16th. Over a thousand worshippers were celebrating Janmastami, the most sacred observance of the year for devotees of Krishna, at a temple in the state of Manipur, in the northeast region of India. Unknown assailants threw a hand grenade into a crowd of people sitting under a large tent outside of the temple, watching a religious dance performance depicting Lord Krishna’s pastimes.

A second grenade, which did not go off, was found an hour later in the most crowded area of the temple, near an altar bearing sacred images of Krishna.

By Vyswambhara das

Leonard Cohen attended the festivities of the Rathayatra Festival in Montreal. World-class Canadian writer, artist, philosopher, poet, singer, songwriter, arranger, composer, producer and film maker Cohen has special resonance for many devotees.

Ratha-yatra London, 2004

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Here is a list of engagements for just some of our sanyasis - travelling monks and teachers - who are visiting for the London Rathayatra Festival period. This list has been contributed by a number of disciples and is being sent out in response to requests for greater advance notification of visiting speakers.

My internet connection works only at times, and for more than a week I couldn't get connected at all. I'm not sure, therefore, if I'm aware of the latest developments in the Kazakhstan-crisis. To me it seems, though, as if protests by Indian media and officials, ISKCON devotees, and Hindu-organizations all over the world are causing the central government of Kazakhstan to keep the local administration in Almaty in check – for the time being.

Kazakh authorities are known for their intolerance towards religious and cultural minorities; the human-rights organization forum18 documents many instances of persecution of minorities, including several articles about the ISKCON-property near Almaty, on their web site.

In order to gain recognition and trade-concessions from western countries the government of Kazakhstan likes to present itself as accommodating and liberal towards minorities, but the local administrations seem to be more influenced by communal interest groups and material greed.

In this situation it is very important, in my opinion, to maintain or better increase the public pressure we were able to generate, to continue to keep the local administration of Almaty in check, and finally arrive at a permanent solution for The Palace of the Soul.

In this article you'll find the latest updates from HH BB Govinda Maharaja and ISKCON Communications Director Anuttama das, suggestions how to support the campaign, reports of activities by Hungarian and Malaysian devotees, and a whole resource-kit with sample-letters and post- and email-addresses of Kazakh authorities.

FESTIVAL OF INDIA 2007

3rd Annual Festival of the Chariots

April 7th 2007, Panama

Fotos from last year's Festival

Respected Maharajas/Prabhus

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. On the behalf of ISKCON Panama we humbly request you to accept our invitation to kindly attend Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra as an honorable Special guest on Saturday, 7th April 2007 to honor the ceremony.

Hare Krishna!

That special time of the year has already come and we will soon celebrate, once again, the historical festival of Jagannath Ratha Yatra 2006.

Traditionally, each year in Puri (India), millions of people gather to pull the Rath (Chariot) for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha and dance with great joy. ISKCON has since 1967 carried that ancient festival to all corners of the world and all major cities. It is therefore our pleasure to inform you about the Jagannath Ratha Yatra which will take place on Saturday, 7th April, 2007 in Panama City.

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.,

We have already informed you of the difficult situation with the farm community of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Kazakhstan. The government is endeavouring to evict the devotees from the land lawfully purchased in 1999, as well as their houses and ashramas which accomodate more than 60 devotees.

This persecution started in October 2004 but now the situation reached its critical point.

Yesterday, April 24, 2006 at 10 p.m. the legal executive (court officer) delivered a notification to the members of the community that today, on April 25, at 11 a.m. their ashramas and cottages will be demolished according to the decision of the court.

We ask you to help us in this difficult situation to stop the execution of the unlawful decision of the court regarding the demolition of the ashramas and eviction of the devotees from their homes.

Under the direction of HH BB Govinda Maharaja, GBC for central Asia, the Volga region of Russia, countries of the Middle East and Mauritius, ISKCON is developing a multi-dimensional cultural center on a 50-hectar farm, 40 km from the center of Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan.

This is the only ISKCON farm community in the whole CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, ex-USSR, more or less), and since the project began in 1999, it has already become a home for more than 120 members from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and Russia.

Since 2004 there have been many attempts from the government of Kazakhstan, which has repeatedly been criticised for it's treatment of religious minorities by international human-rights organisations, to evict ISKCON from this property – without paying compensation, of course.