Monthly Archives: April 2014

Srila Prabhupada Tributes book: Deadline, April 15
→ Jayadvaita Swami

The deadline for Srila Prabhupada Tributes — the open Vyasa-puja book — is fast approaching. All devotees initiated by Srila Prabhupada are welcome to write an offering. No exceptions. Here are the submission guidelines. Here’s where to send your offering: sptributes@gmail.com. Here’s your deadline: April 15. Everyone who sends an offering will receive a free […]

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Monday, April 7th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Owen Sound, Ontario
Just Before Ram

It was the eve before Ramnaumi, the birthday of Sri Ram, that I arrived at this small city of natural beauty all around.  Along with Rajneesh and family, we ventured to this Georgian Bay area to meet acquaintances, one of whom shared foot travel with me.
Garuda, is now 66, and was with me in British Columbia on walk number 3 when we encountered a grizzly bear and got close to being breakfast. That’s a story unto itself, and one I don’t personally mind reliving.  Anything that impels one to slide into a prayerful mood, isn’t necessarily a bad experience, however adventurous. 
There’s only a 5 year difference between Garuda and I (I’m the younger one).  He’s always been an active man, but is feeling the aches and pains of aging as of late.  Always enthusiastic for chanting, we found heand his clan, with two younger generations, were absorbed in doing just that.  His three sons are rock musicians.  In reality, for them, kirtan is where it’s at.  Another area where we share a passion is in trekking sections of the country’s oldest foot path, the Bruce Trail, which runs along Owen Sound’s escarpment. 
Our union with Garuda’s clan at the home of hosts Rajesh and Alka, was a warm up for the coming day’s Ramnaumi.  We did so through kirtan chanting, feasting, of course, and reading of memories of our guru, Srila Prabhupada.  We especially were hearing of his morning strolls by the Pacific.  He would go at a pace that was hard to keep up.  In this regard, he was always ahead of the game in comparison to his students, in practically every category of activity that you could imagine. 
It is a Vedic colloquial term to follow in the dust of a holy person’s lotus footsteps. 
May the Source be with you!
6 KM

Sunday, April 6th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario
Towards Personalism
A college student came to see me for agreed upon meeting at venue, the streets.  It became a question and answer session on foot on this most sattvicday.  The sky was clear and bright, airwas fresh, there was hardly a breeze. 
I can say for myself, I felt the same forecast within.  I think my friend from Whitby, Ontario, the college student, was of a similar state.  I could tell by the questions and the way he was receiving and digesting my responses.  He was curious about the long walks I’ve done.  To that, I explained that light and long travel aid in the process of detachment. 
“Is that like nirvana?” he asked.  I was relieved to know that the phrase wasn’t just a name to him for a hot rock band, but that it means something quite different. 
“Nirvana is a word found in the Bhagavad Gita, and it’s a term very much clutched onto by the Buddhists.”  I explained that we are referring to a state of mind beyond the mundane, beyond the hankering and lamentation of this world.  Although nirvana may not be complete so far as total spiritual fulfillment is concerned, within popular Hinduism the equivalent tonirvana would be moksha.  For Krishna conscious pursuers, the state of completion anticipated is union with the Divine in personal service.  It is a highly personalistic approach to life. 
The student and I agreed to meet again and to have more parlance while walking. 
Equally enjoyable to walking and talking through the quiet residential Rosedale neighbourhood, was the evening kirtan which followed right after a successful run of the drama, “Little Big Ramayan”.  The incredibly hyped kirtan with pulsing drum beats and high strung voices took a strong personal involvement, and many people were there participating.  And it was my arm that reached out to bystanders of the kirtan, pulling the eager and shy ones into the dancing circle. 
One teenager that I pulled in stood there very flushed red, shrugged his shoulders up and down, as if declaring, “I don’t know how to dance!”
“Relax,” I said, “you’ve already got unique style.”
May the Source be with you!
6  KM

Śikṣāṣṭakam Will Become Revealed In Your Heart.
Bhakti Charu Swami

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS Founder-Ācārya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda The following Radhadesh Retreat lecture on Śikṣāṣṭakam Lectures – Part 2 – Radhadesh Retreat Day 5 was given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami in Radhadesh, Belgium, July 2011. Hare Kṛṣṇa Kīrtana and Jaya Rādhā Mādhava kīrtana Gaur Premānande Hari Hari bol. namo(…)

10 Part Founder-Acarya Seminar
→ The Hare Krishna Movement

Join us for a special 10 part seminar on His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Founder Acharya of ISKCON. Presented by Srila Prabhupada’s dear disciple: H.G. Suresvara Prabhu Suresvara Prabhu has been presenting this in-depth seminar all over the world. He will be sharing his very thorough research and insightful realization on Srila […]

Renovations for Radha-Syama’s abode in Hungary (Album 36 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

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Sivarama Maharaja said that if we invite Radhe-Syama for ten thousand years then it means we accept the responsibility to maintain Them for ten thousand years. It is like a contract which is the prime responsibility of Radhe-Syama’s every devotee. Read more ›

Sri Ram Navami Maha Abhishek in ISKCON-Delhi: 08-04-2014 (Album 34 photos)
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Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir (Hindi: श्री श्री राधा पर्थसरथि मन्दिर ) or generally called as ISKCON Delhi temple is a famous Vaishnav temple of Lord Krishna and Radharani in the form of Radha Parthasarathi, Opened in 1998, it is located at Hare Krishna Hills, in the East of Kailash area of New Delhi, India. Read more ›

Just now coming…
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.8) Srila Prabhupada stated that spiritual life means surrender – there is no question of spiritual life without surrendering. He said, “Just like in the darkness you cannot find the sun. You can go looking in the darkness… Where is the sun? It must be somewhere? But […]

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-04-08 18:32:00 →

1966 April 8:
“Chaturthi. Today the whole day and night also I stayed at Mr. Paul&’s loft. Saw Elsy to enquire about the Library of Congress card. No very encouraging. Evening there was meeting. Seven boys & girls attended. Contribution $5.00 and some fruits also. Expenditure – Bus fare .30.”
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

New Vrindaban Grows Through Care and Communication
→ New Vrindaban

New Vrindaban Grows Through Care and Communication

by Madhava Smullen

Since moving back to New Vrindaban three years ago, Lilasuka Dasi has used her people skills to inspire residents to care for each other and communicate positively with one another. This, she feels, is the key to the community’s recent attempt at rebuilding and growth.

Originally from Toronto, Lilasuka first lived in the rural West Virginia community between 1980 and 2000, teaching at the day school there.

She then relocated to Pittsburgh until New Vrindaban president Jaya Krishna Das, who calls her “the mother of New Vrindaban,” invited her back to head up the communications department.

From the way she talks about the community, it’s clear that Lilasuka loves New Vrindaban deeply. And that makes her ideal for the job.

“I know the ins and outs of New Vrindaban, and am friends with just about everyone, because I lived here for so long,” she says. “It’s ideal for a deep spiritual life, and is full of interesting people. I just like people, so I like studying them and figuring out how to work with them.”

Initially, the goal of Lilasuka’s department was to establish communications amongst a variety of external groups like the media, the local municipal departments, and the academic community.

And she does nurture a relationship with some, like the Marshall County Tourist Board, whose website advertises New Vrindaban’s festivals and lists Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold as one of the top six tourist attractions in the county.

But her first priority, she felt, was to focus on internal communications amongst New Vrindaban devotees and nearby ISKCON communities.

“A lot of people didn’t know what was going on in New Vrindaban — even those who lived here!” she says. “Now many devotees tell me that they are glad to see the regular updates about what’s happening.”

Hanuman’s Success by Radhanath Swami (8 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

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“Yes, the nine devotional process and how, by each process, one becomes perfect, just like Pariksit Maharaja, simply hearing, and Sukadeva Gosvami, simply chanting, reciting Bhagavatam. So both of them got salvation. Laksmi, she is simply pada-sevanam, giving massage to the lotus feet of the Lord. Arjuna simply made friendship with Krsna. Hanuman simply worked as a hard servant. He doesn’t know what He is… “Lord Ramacandra wants it.” Then it is done. Jump over. He does not know any philosophy. He has got bodily strength, so whatever Ramacandra says, he’ll do. He was asked to bring that medicine for Laksmana. He did not know where to find it. “Take this whole mountain.” (laughter) He was not intelligent. “Fight! We have to fight with Ravana. Then block his whole city by throwing stones and trees and dirt.” Everything became blocked. They could not move. So in one side he is born of animal life, he had no higher intelligence, but his staunch desire, that “I shall serve Lord Ramacandra…” By that… Only this desire made him perfect.” Read more ›