Monthly Archives: April 2014

Kailash Model
- TOVP.org

A new artist has joined the TOVP. Straight from the shores of Australia, Bhakti Vardhana das has made the banks of Mother Ganga his new home. The Art Department quickly deployed him to lend his talents in the construction of the TOVP scale model. His current task is building and painting the kailash and its

The post Kailash Model appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Sunday, April 27th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Coconut Grove, Florida

A Small Band of Us

A small band of us trekked to the ocean, and on our way we passed by a pizza shop which looked to be a 24/7 outfit.  The owner of the shop came out and broke out into a chant when he saw us.  It turns out that he knows one of our boys, a monk who passed away no less than two years ago. 

“I love that guy,” said the pizza man with his hand to his heart. 

“You mean, Siddha Vidya, my god brother monk?”

“Yeah, that’s the guy, that’s his name,” he said.  “I’ll make some pizzas for you guys,” and we declined saying it’s a little early in the morning.  It was 5:30 AM. 

Those of us who walked together knew of this extraordinary soul – Siddha Vidya, who made an impression on so many people with his visits to shop owners.  He made so many friends with all the people he had met.

Now, we continued on through Peacock Park, where hippies frequented, played Frisbee and enjoyed the food and fun that Krishna monks provided in the ‘70’s.  Vishnujana Swami, a most renowned monk of his time, drew the crowds. 

Much later in the day, or let’s say at 1-ish, a second group of us made our way to the docks for a boat ride and swim.   The operator of the boat called “Pearson” with the Shake A Leg establishment, was one of those guys that used to hang out at Peacock Park with the Krishnas in the ‘70’s.  Being sensitive about our needs, he took us to a beach area away from the sex, drugs, and rock and roll scene, bless his heart.  Hence, we played hard in the water.  I still prefer fresh water though.  Jambavan, from Michigan, was with us, and told about his father’s t-shirt, which held a caption in support of the Great Lakes, where there’s fresh water.  The caption read, “No Sharks, No Salt, No Worries”.  When I asked the operator of the boat about sharks in the area, his facetious response was, “Whoever amongst you is a poor swimmer, just keep him near you.”

The evening wrapped up at the ISKCON Centre with Jambavan and I doing a duet on the Gita’s message.  I will also say that the kirtan that preceded it was electrifying.

May the Source be with you!

8 KM

Saturday, April 26th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Coconut Grove, Florida
 
These Trees
 

The three of us, Angelo, Ananda Rupa and I, took to the sidewalk along Main highway.  The name is somewhat misleading, it’s only a two lane expanse of asphalt in the Coconut Grove area, and it runs along the Atlantic Ocean, separated by a lean stretch of land with high end properties and private schools.  Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had strolled here on this very sidewalk under the banyan trees.  Nice place.  “Trees” was the topic of our discussion. In regards to the story of the pracetas, yogis, who had submerged themselves in water, as their venue for meditation.  They came out of the water after an extended time of trance, and noticed that the land they once knew was overgrown by trees.  They then arranged for clearing these forests, and like most projects conducted by man, it was taken to the extreme.  The moon objected to the destruction, to quote, “Soma, the king of the moon and the king of all vegetation, forbade the pracetas (from further destruction) since they, the trees, are the source of food for all.”
 
Trees are so essential for our sustenance in so many ways.  As the day rolled out, the trees at Cocounut Grove at Virginia Street, provided a welcoming shade for our mini Festival of Chariots.  The sun was baking us alive, so we, the participants, took shelter of the coconut trees as the deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, were carried out by priests.  The kirtan resounded and was energetic.  I did tolerate some tone deaf chanting leaders.  There was a glorious comment that came out by a Catholic mother of one of our devotees.  She was told that this drumming and singing was our version of high mass.  She found it quite lively 
 
Our brief procession culminated under the shady mango tree, where dance, song and slide show, were on display on a stage.  Once again, the tree did so much to offer relief to our situation.  God bless our trees. 
 
May the Source be with you!
 
6 KM

Kirtan Mela 2014 Nagara Sankirtana, Tallinn, Estonia (2 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

How does one achieve the highest benefit in all devotional practices by nama-sankirtan? When Krishna sees that someone is helping others by giving them the opportunity to hear the holy name, then Krishna from within and from without lifts the curtain of yogamaya from that person. He thus allows them to see the actual nature of the Deity and to penetrate and realize the deepest imports of the Bhagavata, the path of spontaneous devotion. Read more ›

West Coast Vaishnava Women’s Retreat 2014 (Album 45 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

The 2014 West Coast Vaisnava Women’s Retreat was held April 25-27, 2014, at Radha’s Garden in the San Diego area. The three day event included:

VIP Guest Speaker Narayani devi dasi
VIP Guest Speaker Malati devi dasi
VIP Guest Speaker Sandamini devi dasi
VIP Guest Speaker Vrajalila devi dasi
San Diego Rathayatra parade Read more ›

Debauchery is not devotion – harmonize morality with spirituality
→ The Spiritual Scientist

“[The devotee] feels no apathy or attachment to mundane morality. On the other hand, morality waits like a maidservant to assist spiritual morality in the service of the Lord of Transcendental Love. At the same time we should understand that the character of one culturing spiritual love is never devoid of morality. One hostile to […]

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