Monthly Archives: January 2015

The TOVP World Tour 2015-2016
- TOVP.org

A special TOVP World Tour is now being organized, carrying with it Lord Nityananda Prabhu from The Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir in the form of His divine shoes, accompanied by His Holiness Bhakti Purushottama Swami, His Grace Jananivas prabhu, His Grace Radha Jivan prabhu, and His Grace Vraja Vilas prabhu.

The post The TOVP World Tour 2015-2016 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

That is Krsna!
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 October 2014, Sydney, Australia, Sunday Feast Lecture) Who can understand Krsna? Who can understand that there is a personality behind all these unlimited energies? Who can understand that there is not only one universe, but that there are many universes and that all these universes are emanating from the Supreme Lord? […]

Sunday, January 18th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Brampton/Toronto, Ontario

What Is Family

ISKCON Brampton was a tad more quiet than usual according to one of the members.  Though their turn out of 80 people was low due to pilgrimages to India and the absenteeism of some of the youth on drum lessons, I thought the attendance was quite fair. 

It is Sunday, after all, and it’s a day that families are available for spiritual charge-up.  Hey, I’m proud to say that there are a lot of families, good family folks that form the major body of attendees at this midday gathering. 

I brought pilgrim, Manu, with me and he gave the talk citing many references to the family unit.  It got me thinking.  There’s one way we might describe the word family, it is a group of souls that share biological karma together.  Then, let me try something else, it is a network of souls that have the opportunity to serve each other over and over again.  I thought further on, a family could be viewed as a group of beings who can evolve or devolve together. 

We’ve heard of family feuds such as in the case of the Pandavas vs. the Kauravas, as found in the epic, The Mahabharat.  It’s sad, but all blood relations don’t always get along.  Evidently, genuine spiritual discharge has proven to help in damage control.  Somehow we need to see beyond the bodily platform and come to appreciate that as spirits, we belong to a one universal family. 

I was glad to catch a glimpse of this concept being put into practice.  A young drum teacher, Devala, by name, came to our ISKCON Toronto branch, where youths from Brampton and other areas took some lessons from him.   Devala created an atmosphere of family just with the thump of the mrdanga drum.  With his 30+ students, a powerful heartbeat of drums made you want to march, if not dance into the world of synchronicity. 

It was great!

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

The film about Krishna consciousness was the winner of the…
→ Dandavats.com

The film about Krishna consciousness was the winner of the Moscow Film Festival
At the prestigious Moscow Film Festival took third place film about Krishna consciousness . “Long-lost” – twenty-five minute short about a young man in search of Truth meets Krishna consciousness.
The film became popular in the Russian Film Festival and other international festivals. The Russian Film Festival in Moscow “I see God”, the audience gave the film “long lost” the third place of the 65-year-submitted pictures. In all the movies of their authors have tried to convey his understanding of God.
“Long-lost” was also approved by the London Film Academy. October 31 he demonstrated at the British Film Institute, along with other short films. The film is dedicated to the proposed for display at the prestigious American Film Festival in Utah. And if it approves of the jury, then from January 22 to February 1, 2015 the film will be shown at the festival.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/MWUQG5

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**UPDATED: Extended Program** Nityananda Trayodasi – Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

One of the sweetest festivals of the year Nityananda Trayodasi (appearance day) will fall on Sunday, February 1st! A warm invitation goes out to you and your family to join us as we celebrate the advent (appearance) of Lord Nityananda.

Lord Nityananda (also known as Nityananda Prabhu, Nitai, Nityananda Balarama) appeared hundreds of years ago as Lord Chaitanya’s principal associate for spreading the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. He is considered an incarnation of Lord Balarama.

This festival is a special one for ISKCON Toronto and often features very sweet, intimate and spiritually-soaked festivities! This year, we will begin with a 6 Hour Kirtan, starting at 12pm. Come join us as we celebrate Lord Nityananda through non-stop melodious kirtan, which will lead us straight to our Sunday Feast program that will feature a class as well as wonderful treat from our Sunday FunSkool!

Please join us!

Schedule (subject to change):
12:00pm – 6:00pm: 6 Hour Kirtan (schedule and details will be up shortly)
6:00pm – 6:30pm: Arati and Kirtan
6:30pm – 6:35pm: Welcome and Announcements
6:35pm – 7:20pm: Class
7:20pm – 7:45pm: Presentation by Sunday FunSkool
7:45pm – 8:30pm: Kirtan and Arati at 8:00pm
8:30pm: Vegetarian Feast


Home Program, January 21, Nigdi, Pune
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17 during a program at the home of Gopal Acharya dasa. “We heard the wonderful descriptions of Mukhara mataji, how she had awakened to her eternal identity and her eternal service to Radha and Krishna. We all can experience the same result if we follow the same method with […]

Community Town Hall – Sun, Feb 22, 2015 – *** TO BE LIVE BROADCASTED ***
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

UPDATE – The Town Hall will be broadcast live right here on the Toronto Hare Krishna Temple website.  Please log in at 4pm on Sunday in case you are unable to join us in person!

We are very excited to announce that ISKCON Toronto will be hosting our next Town Hall on Sunday, February 22, 2015 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm in Govinda’s Dining Hall.  This Town Hall will present an opportunity for our vibrant Hare Krishna community to come forward and engage in a productive, two-way dialogue about our Hare Krishna temple and community at large.

The Town Hall will begin with a small presentation from the ISKCON Toronto Temple Council, highlighting the successes, challenges and financial developments over the last several months.  After this, we will open up the dialogue to our entire community to share their thoughts, dreams, concerns and suggestions about how we can continue to grow our temple and community.

Please accept this as a warm invitation for you to come and attend our Town Hall.  We continue to host these Town Halls every three months in an attempt to increase the communication between the temple management and our dear congregation.

If you are unable to make it to the Town Hall, but would like to share some ideas, suggestions or feedback, please feel free to fill out our form by clicking here or email us at templecouncil@torontokrishna.com.  You can also visit the Temple Council’s website at templecouncil.torontokrishna.com.

We hope to see you on Sunday, February 22nd – please feel free to pass along this warm invitation to your devotee friends!  Hare Krishna!

Sincerely,
The ISKCON Toronto Temple Council
templecouncil@torontokrishna.com
www.torontokrishna.com

Rules and Regulations
→ The Enquirer

Śrī Kapila Deva gives a wonderful summary of the most important rules (yama) and regulations (niyama) in Śrī Bhāgavata Mahā-purāṇa (3.28.2~5). These are exactly compatible, by the way, with Patāñjalī’s presentation of the same. Fulfill your responsibilities to the best of your ability, and don’t try to adopt someone else’s lifestyle. Everyone in the world … Continue reading Rules and Regulations

Memorial Service for Mukhara devi dasi, January 20, Nigdi, Pune
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Bhagavad-gita 12.6-7 and other devotees shared memories and realizations. ye tu sarvani karmani mayi sannyasya mat-parah ananyenaiva yogena mam dhyayanta upasate tesham aham samuddharta mrityu-samsara-sagarat bhavami na cirat partha mayy avesita-cetasam TRANSLATION But those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and being devoted to Me […]

Preach everywhere
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Lecture) There is always mercy to give to people, at work also. Some people are such good preachers, it is amazing. Just like in London, there is this Chinese lady and she sometimes comes to see me off at the airport and then she starts […]