Monthly Archives: March 2014

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ March 8, 2014
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Let us worship the Person more splendid than a blue lotus and sweeter than the nectar handsomeness of all other forms of Godhead, who wanders in a forest filled with nectar from Radha’s feet. [Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-84 Translation.] Please click here for more photos

Stop Your Other Activities
→ Japa Group

“Stop your other activities, sit down, meditate. So when we sit and meditate, we should not do anything else. You sit tight and hear and chant, hear and chant — for only two hours a day. Until you become offenseless in your chanting, you can’t progress to a higher stage or to the higher taste. We have to go from offensive to offenseless, and go on chanting Hare Krsna.”

From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Gowswami

Woman’s Day ( View on Krishna Conscious Woman)
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

The most advanced devotees in the Gaudiya Vaishnava teachings are the gopis, or simple village girls, of Vrindavan. Also, Jahnavi Devi, the wife of Nityananda Prabhu, took the role of an acharya, or teacher, after her husband left this world. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam we see many great women devotees, such as Queen Kunti, Draupadi, Mother Yashoda, Devahuti, the wives of the yajnicbrahmanas, the naga-patnis or […]

Too slow and steady?
→ KKSBlog

 (Kadamba Kanana Swami, 28 December 2013, Mayapur, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 5.10.24) One small anecdote comes to mind about Srila Prabhupada. It was late in the evening and Srila Prabhupada sat down to do translation work, at eleven o’ clock at night. So he invited a devotee, a brahmacāri to come and sit with him. He said, “Come […]

Encounters with Readers: Life’s Final Exam Book Launch, March 2, New Dvaraka, Los Angeles
Giriraj Swami

I would like to share with you some incidents from today’s distribution of Life’s Final Exam at ISKCON Los Angeles. Giriraj Swami, my guru maharaja, had graced a weekend festival at New Dvaraka, celebrating the disappearance of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja on Saturday and Maha Siva-ratri on Sunday. His new book, Life’s Final Exam: Death […]

The Passing of Abhyarci devi dasi (Album 5 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Niranjana Swami: Yesterday, March 7, 2014, you left this world surrounded by so many loving devotees, loudly chanting Krsna’s names. As I was standing next to you, chanting and simultaneously hearing the kirtan, chanted so loudly and with such great fervor, I was reflecting on the letter you wrote to me early last year.

Among the many beautiful thoughts you shared with me in that letter, you mentioned a conversation you had with a devoteee in Kolkata, the same day you were diagnosed with cancer. Although this devotee knew nothing yet about the diagnosis (because other than yourself and your husband, nobody else was told what the doctors had said) he asked you the following question:

“Where were you born?”

In your letter, you wrote that you replied, “Oh, it is small place near Herson. No one knows it. I was born there, but it is not important. What is important is where I’ll die, I hope not at the place where I was born. I hope I’ll die in Mayapur.” Read more ›

Please hear from Her Grace Jayarasesvari Devi Dasi about"The mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu" this Sunday
→ ISKCON BRAMPTON

Sunday Love Feast

When?
Sunday, March 9th
Program starts at 11 am

Where?
6 George Street South
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 1P3, Canada
Phone:416-648-3312

New! Listen
Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog
Make a Donation
 Bhagavad-gita As It Is 4.6

ajo ‘pi sann avyayatma
bhutanam isvaro ‘pi san
prakrtim svam adhisthaya
sambhavamy atma-mayaya

TRANSLATION

Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.
Program Schedule: 
11.00- 11.15      Tulsi Puja                                          
11.15 – 11.30     Guru Puja                                           
11:30 –11:55     Aarti & Kirtan                                      
11.55 – 12.00    Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers                 
12.00 – 1:00     Vedic Discourse 
  1:00 –  1:30      Closing Kirtan
 

COMING UP AHEAD
Amalaki Ekadasi
Fasting on Wed March 12th,2014
Dvadasi/Breakfasti on Thu March 13th,2014 b/w 7.33-8.04(am)
every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.

Fasting till moonrise
Mangala arati Program @ 5.00 am
Evening program @ 7.00 pm
[Regular Sunday Feast,11am-2pm, is moved at this time due to Gaura Purnima Celebrations]
                                                                  
Maha Clean-up for Gaura Purnima
We humbly request all devotees to stay behind and help with the temple cleaning in preparation for Gaura Purnima this Sunday after prasadam.
You can be helpful in so many different ways with this festival if you’d like,  please do ask Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi how.

Offerings for Mahaprabhu on Gaura Purnima

You are invited to bring vegetarian offerings sweet or salty (no onion, garlic, eggs, vinegar)  for Lord Caitanya.[In brand new aluminium one or two serving sized container]
  1. Nothing store-bought. Must be fresh and homemade.
  2. No tasting or sampling. Lord must be the first one to taste your offerings.(Please contact Vidyanidhi Prabhu)

Sponsor Kalash for Maha-Abhiseka

If you’d like to participate in the Maha Abhiseka Ceremoney of Lord Caitanya,you may sign up for  Kalash[108 $]for a family.
Note:we’ve limited no of Kalash,so first come first serve.
To sponsor/finance this festival,please contact Krsna smaran Devi Dasi in person or via[kavitabalram@yahoo.com]

 (We’ll keep you updated for more details of this festival coming up shortly)

ON GOING EVERY SATURDAY        
Bhagavad-Gita Classes
Join Bhagavad Gita Course with His Grace Vaisnava Dasa from 9.00am-12.00pm and get certified from Bhaktivedanta College at the completion of this course towards Bhakti Sastri Degree. To register please contact Vaisnava Dasa Prabhu in person or via email[vaishnavadas@icloud.com]

ON GOING EVERY SUNDAY

Govinda’s Natural Foods Snack Bar
Govinda’s has always been a giver of love and friendliness, food with a home cooked feel, Check out this Sunday your own Govinda’s Snack Bar at ISKCON Brampton for dine in or take out. This snackbar definitely has the best selection of cruelty-free eats with a bang for your buck.
Nutrition Help & Diet Tips
Mother Rashmi Ahuja is offering free one to one consultations and development of Individualized Nutrition Plans on Sundays between 1:30 – 3pm. Please contact (416)569-6373 or (905)488-7272 to book an appointment.
Sunday School
The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).

 

Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy!

The Residents of Radha Kunda (Album 76 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

“Even if I have the opportunity to bath in the ocean of pure love of Krsna, and even if I have the pure devotees of the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead as my associates, I will not consent to live for even for a single moment in any sacred place other than Vrajabhumi. Even if the residents of Vraja appear to be ordinary, and even if they fill my ears with useless gossip, I pray that I may remain amongst them, eternally residing here in Vraja.” [ Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami ] Read more ›

First Prabhupada Sangam in 2014, Saturday, March 22nd
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Hare Krishna Prabhus, As many of you know in 2013 we had eight sat sanga programs at Srila Prabhupada’s Palace. During these gatherings devotees shared memories and realizations about Srila Prabhupada and the positive moments in New Vrindaban’s history. The schedule for our first sat-sanga of the year at the Palace is as follows: Saturday, […]

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ March 7, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

I worship two splendors who are more handsome than millions of Rati-Kamadevas, who have stolen the glory of millions of Laksmi-Narayanas, whose forms are effulgent as gold and sapphires, and who enjoy pastimes in the forest of Vrndavana. [Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-83 Translation.] Please click here […]

From contemplation to action
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 September 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.36) When we engage in pious activities, the result is that our consciousness becomes pious and then our thoughts and our actions become pious. When we engage in purifying activities then gradually the result is that our consciousness changes, obviously. It is said, aprārabdha-phalaṁ pāpaṁ […]

A visit in Rajapur Sri Jagannath Mandir (Album 18 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Five hundred years ago, at the time of Lord Chaitanya, there lived a very wonderful devotee named Jagadish Ganguli. His residence was in a small village near Mayapur. Although he was advanced in age, every year he would go on the 900 kilometer journey to Jagannath Puri on foot to associate with his master Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, take darshan of his beloved Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi, and participate in the all-auspicious Ratha-yatra festival.

One day, less than a month before his scheduled departure for Puri, Jagadish’s plans were foiled. He was stricken with a terrible disease that left him completely blind. Because he was optimistic by nature, this did not dampen his desire to make the yearly padayatra to Puri. He would no longer be able to see the divine, all-merciful forms of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Jagannatha, that was for sure. But still he could relish the sound of sweet kirtana and discourses given by exalted Vaishnavas. Read more ›

Sunday, March 2nd, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapur, India
Remind Yourself
Today was the first day of some illness.  Nothing major.  Some tummy problems.  I hear some residents of India call it “the Delhi belly”
Like anything in the mundane world it is just temporary.  This is the consolation.  By mid-day, operations were back to normal.
I have written before how tough it is to move from one building to the next without being greeted by admirers of monks.  In Indian culture people adore their swamis, even if you are not born in this mother land.  At least in this Mayapur setting where the Vaishnav culture is in full swing, anyone wearing that saffron with the pleat-free-in-the-back dhoti and perhaps carry that staff (danda) – regardless of your skin colour – will attract attention.
The usual routine is that when a pilgrim spots a sannyasi he/she may halt walking, slip out of the shoes and offer dandavats (where you flatten yourself on the ground or bow with head to ground), all out of reverence.  Some pilgrims while cycling will stop and do the same.
Personally I feel these gestures, sincere as they are, are a little bit overkill.  They are whole-heartedly executed but at least from my side there is an inconvenience when crowds require a flow of movement.  It is one of several austerities that a monastic person has to undertake.  You can’t avoid the celebrity stature.
The question is, “How do you deal with all the attention and not let it all go to your head?”  What comes to mind is the early morning conscientious internal effort made to remind yourself that, “I am a tiny spark of life with a dimension of one ten-thousandth the tip of a hair.  There are trillions of such sparks existing in the world and I am just one of them.  I am small.  I am humble.”  Sometimes a little illness is the best reminder.
May the Source be with you!
4 KM

Gaura Purnima: Sun March 16
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

5:00 AM                 Mangal Arati 5:30 AM                 NRSIMHA PRAYERS 5:45 AM                 TULASI PRAYERS 6:00 AM                 JAPA 7:30 AM                 GURU PUJA 8:00 AM                 GREETING THE DEITIES IN THEIR NEW    GAURA PURNIMA OUTFIT 8:20 AM                 SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM CLASS […]