Monthly Archives: March 2014

Sunday, March 16th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Ottawa, Ontario
Fast to Feast
Savyasacin had gone to his godfather’s for the evening while I was accommodated in the apartment right next to our Ottawa ashram / restaurant.  There was not to be any eating today.  Govinda’s restaurant is closed on Sunday.  And besides, we are looking at a fast today in honour of Sri Chaitanya’s birthday. 
Who is Chaitanya? 
As I had outlined to the people in the packed place, he is the avatar of the current era (yuga)  who introduced kirtan to the world in a very extraordinary way.  He is credited for bringing the magicalpreoccupation of chanting yoga to the modern world.  As guest speaker, I expressed to the crowd the obligation we all have in offering him our gratitude.  I also spoke about his encounter with the two nefarious characters, Jagai and Madhai, notorious outlaws who struck fear in the hearts of all humble townsfolk in Bengal’s Nadia district in very early 16thcentury.  There was a serious scuffle which involved these two characters and his close associate, Nityananda, but the outcome was a miraculous conversion from heathens to saints for the lives of these two murders, Jagai and Madhai.
Chaitanya was on regular pilgrimage.  His prominent walks were from as far north as Vrindavan in the Delhi area down to the southernmost section of India.  He particularly loved the pilgrimage site on the eastern shore at a place called Puri and spent much of his last 18 years there.  Walking played a big part in his life, as a renunciate, it was a veritable practice. 
Oh yes, and our fast was also followed by a feast.  Scrumptious!
May the Source be with you!
5 KM

Saturday, March 15th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Norwood / Ottawa
Two Stops
Savyasacin and I were headed for the city of Ottawa, not by foot, no, that would take two weeks.  We were scheduled to a satsang(gathering of spirits) in an Ottawa suburb for the evening.  We drove, and through another storm, in another day of the winter that refuses to end.
A stopover in Norwood, midway to Ottawa, was really cool, as was our visit to the capitol city.  At the home of Kirtan, mother of 12 great kids, we had lunch, and talks with members of the neighbouring kirtan group.
Now I don’t intend to be redundant with the word, kirtan, but the person’s actual name is Kirtan, which means, a singing or a praise of the absolute.  It just happens to be the name awarded to her by her guru.
The group, from Peterborough, were curious about my passion for walking.  The door of glowing opportunity then arose for me to highlight pilgrimage as a positive outlet for people, as an ancient therapeutic practice, and as a search for answers to otherworldly quests.  I had passed through this town here in 2003, took to some trekking on the nearby Trans Canada Trail, and found myself under constant attack by horse and deer flies.  The only relief was a submerging into the waters of a local lake. 
Speaking of submersion, our little kirtan group did enter into the chanting of the maha mantra, after which we sunk teeth into muffins and chips and guacamole dip.  A great group of chanters and munchers we are. 
Savyasacin and I really look forward to being with the group in the not so distant future.  All hail to Kirtan, the person!  All hail to kirtan, the chanting! 
May the Source be with you!
3 KM

Pleasure seekers
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 December 2013, Mayapur, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 5.9.3) Faith is based on desire. The living being is by nature is pleasure seeking, ānandamayo ’vasāne, according to the Vedanta Sutra. So, wherever we think that happiness is found that is where we will direct our faith. If we think it is in money then all […]

Prelude to Gaura Purnima, Part 2, March 16, ISKCON Silicon Valley, Mountain View, California
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami and Vaisesika Dasa continued reading and discussing Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. “One thought about rapturous hearing. I have had the experience that when someone is talking to me in a room where many conversations are going on and somebody nearby is having a conversation that I really want or need to hear, and the person talking […]

Huge Harinama, parade in London for the advent of Lord Chaitanya and our new year (5 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

Gaurapurnima is the celebration of the advent in 1486 of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of Krishna, who spread the chanting of Hare Krishna throughout India.

In more recent times, by disciplic succession, the chanting was brought to the west by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the early 60’s!

Today its being chanted and will be chanted in every town and village throughout the entire world to give relief to the jaundice like condition of limted sense inebriation.

Chant
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
and your life will be sublime!

17th March 2014 Read more ›

Kirtan Forever! – with Madhava Prabhu
→ The Hare Krishna Movement

HG Madhava Prabhu will be visiting Auckland from Tuesday the 1st to Monday the 7th of April. Confirmed Schedule Below is his kirtan schedule from Friday to Sunday. More events between Tuesday and Thursday to be confirmed and announced here soon. Friday 4th – Harinama, Queen St starting 5.30pm Saturday 5th – Picnic and Kirtan […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 03-09-2014
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 03-09-2014 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes a simple, sustainable lifestyle centered on the care and protection of cows, local food production and the loving service of Lord Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Members of the ECOV Board of Directors: Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Madhava Gosh, […]