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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Power of Prayer : A Special Three Session Seminar at ISV this Week!

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Dear Friends,

Hope this meets you all well. 

The dominant culture of sense gratification has a major impact on practically everyone's consciousness. It is a fact that avoiding temptations, what to say of steering clear of sinful reactions, can be very difficult when most of us are constantly surrounded by stimuli in the environment which urge us to enjoy life at any cost. Simply attempting to live a moral life places us in the minority. How can we possibly hope to rise above it on our own? 

We can conquer over the influences of materialism only with the help of healthy association, together with the mercy of the Lord. Ultimately, no temptation is greater than Krsna. If we genuinely turn to the Lord, then we will find that the boredom, the frustration, and the setbacks that are aligned with selfishness will dissolve. Simultaneously, we will discover many more opportunities to try to be love-in-action, to attempt to love our brother or sister even more than ourselves. 

With great happiness in our hearts, we welcome you ISKCON of Silicon Valley (ISV) for our classes and events this week!

Wednesday, April 30 - Bhagavad Gita Class

POWER OF PRAYER: SESSION 1

"EXPLORING THE PRAYERS OF PRAHALAD MAHARAJ"

 

Prayer is an essential and fundamental element of every great religion and spiritual path. The Bhakti Yoga texts, in specific, explains prayer as one of the most important process for attaining God's mercy. Simply by learning the method praying, we can invoke the grace and blessings of the Supreme Lord. Srimad Bhagavatam is full of prayers by great personalities who teach us what to pray and how to say.  Join us tomorrow night, as we explore the beautiful prayers of Prahalad Maharaj from 7th canto. We cannot certainly imitate these prayers, but we can study them and enter into the spirit of Prahalad Maharaj's devotion. 

Speaker: H.G. Vaisesika Das

Time: 6.00 – 8.00pm

Discourse will be followed by Sandhya Arati and Prasadam

Saturday, May 3 - Srimad Bhagavatam

POWER OF PRAYER : SESSION II

"ENTERING KIRTAN AND JAPA IN A PRAYERFUL MOOD"

The theme for our seminar this week is in relation to prayer and its role in achieving the goal of Bhakti.  The primary means of deliverance in this age of Kali is chanting of the holy names, and the mahamantra is nothing but a heartfelt prayer to Lord Krsna for being once again engaged in His service. And there is a mood to this prayer. Join us this Saturday morning to learn how to enter Japa and Kirtan in a prayerful mood to attract the attention of Sri Sri Radha & Krishna.

Speaker: H.G Vaisesika Das

7.30 – 10.00am: Brahma Samhita Recitation & Seminar on "Power of Prayer: Session 2 - Entering Kirtan and Japa in a Prayerful Mood"

10.00 am: Guru Puja and Prasadam

Saturday, May 3 : Lil' Krishna Kidz Ramayana Festival @ Santa Clara

We are excited to invite you to the "Ramayana Festival" organized by Lil' Krishna Kidz (A branch of ISV Education)  on Sat. May 3 at Scott Lane Elementary School, Santa Clara. It is a fun-filled festival for both kids and adults including several contests and activities for children, classical dance performance, and a Ram Lila drama.
Admission is free for the event. Everyone is welcome. Please note that there is a small registration fee for the contests.

Event Schedule:

2.45 – 3.15pm Welcome and Registration

3.15 – 3.30pm Invocation Prayers and Bhajan (by students of Lil’ Krishna Kidz)

3.30 – 4.10pm Coloring contest (3-6 yrs) and Lego contest (7-9 yrs)

4.15 – 5.00pm Art contest (7-9 yrs) and Lego contest (10 -12 yrs)

5.00 – 5.30pm Fancy Dress contest (3-6 yrs)

5.30 – 5.40pm  Bharatnatyam dance (by students of School of Indian Dance)

5.45 – 6.15pm Quiz (8-12 yrs)

6.15 – 6.30pm Ramayana Drama

6.30 – 6.40pm Address by Chief Guest

6.40 – 6.55pm Prize Distribution

6.55 – 7.00pm Vote of Thanks

Saturday, May 3 - The Complete Yoga Package

MODULE II: SELF MANAGER

SESSION 5: LIVING A PURPOSEFUL LIFE

6.00 pm - 8.00 pm

Venue: 1965 Latham Street Mountain View CA

Vedas inform us that there are 8,40,000 species of life, and one gains a human form of life after uncountable lives in different species. This human form of life is special because one can understand higher truth with the help of discerning intelligence, transcend birth, disease, old age, and death, and re-awaken our essential spiritual nature. Vedic aphorism states that every living entity is blissful by nature and have an eternal connection with the Supreme Blissful, God. Forgetting this reality, when we try to seek happiness in matter, we fall into trouble and anxieties. Material objects can satisfy the senses of the body, however fundamental need of every living being is to love ant to be loved. Real happiness is a fundamental characteristic of all living, sentient beings and is far above the illusory happiness found in material sensory pleasures..

VEDIC ACADEMY KRISHNA CLASSES :  Parallel Session for Kids which includes Vedic stories, Yoga, Vedic Math, Music Lessons and much more. 

Volunteering Opportunities : thecompleteyoga.com/volunteer
RSVP and more info : thecompleteyoga.com/register
Email : bhakticenter@gmail.com or Call 6507046861 or 4088340612
 

Sunday, May 4 - SUNDAY FEAST

POWER OF PRAYER: SESSION III

"PRAYING FOR THE MERCY OF PREVIOUS ACHARYAS - A CORE OF VAISHNAVA TRADITION"

Join us for our last session of the seminar: "Power of prayer", as our speaker leads us to an important theme and a core of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition : "Praying for the mercy of Previous Acharyas". Vedic texts such as Srimad Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya Caritamrita reveal how the merciful acharyas (saints) and the merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead together help the serious devotee who wants to return home back to Godhead. The acharyas are the reservoirs of natural love and mercy and praying to them will empower and carry us closer to Krsna. 

Speaker: H.G. Vaisesika Das

4.00 – 5.45pm: Presentation on "Power of Prayer: Session 3 -  Praying for the Mercy of Previous Acharyas : A core of Vaishnava Tradition "

6.00pm: Arotik followed by Sandhya Arati and Prasadam

First held in 1966 at the request of Srila Prabhupada (the founder of the Hare Krishna movement), the Sunday Love Feast has evolved as an integrated celebration of Lord Krishna’s pastimes: chanting, hearing spiritual knowledge, dancing, eating and generally sharing the bliss of Lord Krsna’s presence. Since then, this weekly Sunday Love Feast festival is celebrated in all Hare Krishna temples around the world. We extend a warm and hearty welcome to you, your friends and family. Please join us at ISV for this wonderful event every Sunday.

Furthermore, to offer sumptuous prasadam to the devotees is an auspicious activity. If you would like to sponsor a Sunday Feast, to commemorate a special occasion (like birthday or wedding anniversary) or just in general, please write to us at isvconnect@gmail.com. We will offer the bhoga to the Deities and serve prasadam to all the devotees in your name. Donation amount for the Sunday Feast is $301 only.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Harinaam Sankirtan - Public Chanting of the Holy Names in Palo Alto Tomorrow!

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Dear Friends,

Hope this meets you all well.  We are excited to announce that our Harinaam Sankirtan event for this month will be held on Saturday, April 26 at Palo Alto, CA. In today's world which is filled with negative influences, everyone is looking for peace and tranquility. Many are not aware that the pleasure that they are desparately seeking is found right within their heart. To awake the advanced consciousness and to taste happiness, it is important that we focus on the right goal in life and work towards. The Vedic texts proclaim that the treasure of bliss can be experienced by chanting God's name which will pierce through the hard covering of illusion and directly open our hearts to higher taste and experiences. In order to process these sublime experiences, it is important that we engage in chanting the Holy Names of the Lord not only for our benefit but also to experience the joy of sharing this with everyone in the world. 

With great happiness in our hearts, we welcome you to our Harinaam Sankirtan (congregational chanting of the Holy Names) at Palo Alto, CA for the benefit of all. 

Saturday, April 26 - Harinaam Sankirtan @ Palo Alto

Join us for a happy dance party and musical chanting of the Lord's Holy Names at University of Palo Alto this Saturday evening! The Yuga dharma for this Age of Kali is "Nama Sankirtan", the congregational chanting of Lord's names. Harinaam Sankirtan, also known as Nagar Sankirtana, was inaugurated by Lord Caitanya over 500 years ago to publicy chant these names and not only benefit oneself but also give it out freely to others. This chanting of the holy names can unite people as everyone is looking for peace in today's violent world. We welcome you to join us for this wonderful event! 

When: Saturday, April 26 @ 6.59pm (Please come as early as possible)

Where: Palo Alto, University Avenue (220 University Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301)
(The cross street will be either Emerson or Bryant, depending on the best facility available. So if you don’t see devotees at University and Emerson, go east toward Bryant and look there!)

Thursday, April 24, 2014

His Grace Vaisesika prabhu - Live from Denver


Hare Krsna!

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

His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu is in Denver and his lectures will be broadcast.  For details please visit:

http://fanthespark.com


Your Servant,
Shraddha-devi Dasi

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Classes & Events With Our Special Visiting Guests at ISV this Week!

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Dear Friends,

Hope this meets you all well. 

This world is so heavily constricted by the modes of material nature that it is as if we are bound by many ropes and chains. Great teachers come to sever some of these bonds so that we may have a chance to know the truth. Most of us are blissfully aware of the many negative forces that bombard us every day. Saintly persons play a mojor role in removing some of these thick coverings. In making sacrifices for humanity, they allow us to exercise our free will fully  While it is still upto us how we use our free will, these exalted souls create an atmosphere which facilitates a superior freedom of choice. 

It is said in the scriptures, that even a moment of associaiton with such exalted saints will help one attain all success. With great happiness in our hearts, we welcome you ISKCON of Silicon Valley (ISV) for our classes by our visitng Sannyasis (monks). 

WEDNESDAY, April 23 - Bhagavad Gita Class

THE PRAYERS OF PRAHALAD MAHARAJ

Join us for  a wonderful evening of discussion by our special guest, H.H Devamrita Swami, as  he elaborates the prayers of Prahalada in the spirit of developing compassion for all living beings and crossing the cultural divide to help them.

Speaker: H.H Devamrita Swami

Time: 6.00 – 8.00pm

Discourse will be followed by Sandhya Arati and Prasadam

Devamrita Swami is a Vaishnava monk and a teacher of the devotional path of Bhakti Yoga. Born in a devout Christian family in 1950 in New York City, he was very inclined to spirituality from childhood.  Graduating from Yale University in 1972, he developed a deep interest in studying Bhagavad Gita and other literatures written by His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,  which transformed his life. Having accepted Srila Prabhupada as his spiritual master in 1974, he spent years traveling around USA distributing the literatures that so transformed his life. He accepted the renounced order of life in 1982 and came to be known as Devamrita Swami. For over three decades, he has traveled extensively on every continent of the world imparting the teachings of Bhakti to young students and professionals to penetrate the veil of religious belief/religious myth; and advocating spiritually based-economics, sustainability and environmentalism. He has also authored books such as "Searching for Vedic India" and "Perfect Escape".

Friday, April 25 - ISVWood Movie Night

We welcome all of you for the speicla movie ngiht by ISVWOOD this Friday evening!

Venue – ISKCON of Silicon Valley
Date: Friday April 25th at 7:00 pm
7:00 pm - 7:29 pm: Kirtan
 7:29 - 7:59 pm: Jagannath Darshan in Oriya language - (Speaker - Balimardan Das)
 7:59 pm - 8:19 pm: Sandhya Arati
 8:19 pm - 9:19 pm: Prabhupada Movie Night (Ekadasi prasadam served during this time)

SATURDAY, April 26- Srimad Bhagavatam

Brahma's Prayers to Lord Krsna

Our special guest, H.H Bhakti Sundar Goswami Maharaj, will take us this Saturday morning on a wonderful journey through the most wonderful prayers offered by Brahma to Lord Krsna just after the Brahma-Vimohana Lila (stealing of the boys and calves by Brahma) from the tenth canto Srimad Bhagavatam. We welcome you all to join us for this enlivening dicussion!

Speaker: H.H Bhakti Sundar Goswami 

7.30 – 10.00am: Brahma Samhita Recitation & Discourse on "Brahma's Prayers to Lord Krsna"

10.00 am: Guru Puja and Prasadam

His Holiness Bhakti Sundar Goswami was born in Syria. He joined ISKCON in 1974 in Caracas, Venezuela and was initiated personally by Srila Prabhupada in his visit to South America in Feb 1975. In the 80's, he served as temple president in Spain and Venezuela. He has been traveling and preaching for the last 20 years in Latin America, US and Europe. in 2006 he published his book ¨Srila Prabhupada in Venezuela¨ in Spanish and it will be published in English this year if Krishna so desires. At present he serves as an active member of the Latin American RGB as zonal secretary for Central America. 

SUNDAY, APRIL 27 - SUNDAY FEAST

"PEARLS OF BHAGAVATAM"

PART 5: PROCESS OF CREATION & THE CAUSE OF ALL CAUSES

As we are diving deep into the Second Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam in our "Pearls of Bhagavatam" series, this Sunday evening we will hear about the process of this universal creation and the cause behind everything in this material world. Scientists across the world are working hard to find out what has already been described in this great literature. Join us for this very interesting discussion this Sunday at ISV!

Speaker: H.H Bhakti Sundar Goswami

4.00 – 5.45pm: Presentation on "Part 5: Process of Creation & The Cause of All Causes"

6.00pm:  Sandhya Arati and Prasadam

First held in 1966 at the request of Srila Prabhupada (the founder of the Hare Krishna movement), the Sunday Love Feast has evolved as an integrated celebration of Lord Krishna’s pastimes: chanting, hearing spiritual knowledge, dancing, eating and generally sharing the bliss of Lord Krsna’s presence. Since then, this weekly Sunday Love Feast festival is celebrated in all Hare Krishna temples around the world. We extend a warm and hearty welcome to you, your friends and family. Please join us at ISV for this wonderful event every Sunday.

Furthermore, to offer sumptuous prasadam to the devotees is an auspicious activity. If you would like to sponsor a Sunday Feast, to commemorate a special occasion (like birthday or wedding anniversary) or just in general, please write to us at isvconnect@gmail.com. We will offer the bhoga to the Deities and serve prasadam to all the devotees in your name. Donation amount for the Sunday Feast is $301 only.