Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami.
From Kasidhama, Raghunatha Bhatta traveled on foot to Puri-dhama. When he arrived in Puri, he went straight to the place of Sriman Mahaprabhu and offered his respects at the Lord’s lotus feet. At that time, the Lord embr…

The Head and Heart.
Sri Hanumatpresaka Swami: Many writers on yoga, mysticism describe this non-striving state of consciousness as the highest level of experience, but from this Vedic model we can see that it is high, but realistically it is not even …

New Vrajadhama, Hungary, Rama Vijaya Festival (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: There may be so many impediments for a person who is chanting Hare Krishna. Nonetheless, tolerating all these impediments, one should continue to chant so that at the end of one’s life one can have the full benefit of Krishna consciousness. Bhagavad-Gita 8.5 Purport.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/OM4R2N

Rama Vijaya Festival & Picnic 2016
Festival at Mission Bay, San Diego, CA October 8, 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The easiest way to control the mind, as suggested by Lord Caitanya, is chanting “Hare Krishna,” the great mantra for deliverance, in all humility. Bhagavad-Gita, 6.34 Purport.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EV1E3b

An interview with Candramauli Swami
How did you become a devotee?
I met devotees in place called Denver, Colorado in 1972 and I officially joined the temple in New Vrindavan in March of 1973, which was about 9 months later. Searching, looking for something spiritual. I had been involved in many social and political issues, prior to my joining the HK movement. I suppose? social and political interests or evangelistic spirit lead me to eastern religion and through yoga, reincarnation, vegetarianism I somehow came in contact with people who knew Hare Krishna people and I ended up on one SF in Denver. Somehow or other I came to the temple, liked it but wasn’t thinking of joining. I became interested in philosophy and asked questions. Then in the beginning of 1973 I went back to east coast of America and decide to visit the temple in New York City and then I started regularly go to the SF. And from there I really became attracted to the philosophy, life style, to the devotees. Two things really attracted me: devotees, philosophy and, especially devotees. I saw people were really genuinely happy. I was inspired to take that association and then found out what is their philosophy, their lifestyle. I had been practicing few things on my own, but nothing really serious. I asked questions, read the books, and finally I decided to give it a try. I met some devotees who were visiting New Vrindavan and they invited me to come to visit. I was inspired by the rural atmosphere so in March 1973 I decided to stay.

How long did you stay there? You were serving there as a cook and pujari?

My first service was to take the milk from the cows (I wasn’t milking them. They would give me the milk) and I would separate cream from the milk. And then from the butter I would make cream, like mother Yasodha. Gopi lila. My first service was to churn butter. I used a little milk can, stick, and round thick disc with holes … I would make butter for the Lord. And also distribute the milk to different places where they needed it. That went on for a few months. On Radhastami, September 1973 I got initiated.

Was Prabhupada present there?

Prabhupada came in April 1974 and he gave initiations but I didn’t see much of Srila Prabhupada that time. I attended one of his classes but that was it.

How was for you meeting Srila Prabhupada for the first time?

In New Vrindavan we have an area for sitting outside and he was there surrounded by devotees. He was looking and he looked at me for about … I guess it was like a long second … I was just picked up by enthusiasm. Of course we heard about Prabhupada, we were reading his books, so we were inspired. There was always news where was Prabhupada, what he was doing. That news would come as often a possible and everyone would listen. So we learn about Prabhupada mostly by hearing about him. When I first saw him it was a nice experience but it was really quick. And I sat at one class but I was always in the background, I was never up front.

Was it difficult for you to maintain the relationship with him although you didn’t have so much personal association?

Yes, it was but I was inspired to read his books and through his books and hearing about his activities. … The community leader Kirtananda was very close to Prabhupada, one of his first disciples. So he was all the time talking about Prabhupada, glorifying him. So we learnt a lot about Prabhupada through him. My relationship was mostly with Kirtananda Swami, he was SP’s representative. When you have personal contact you have a tendency to develop strong relationship with that person, so that was more strong even from my relationship with SP although SP was my spiritual master.

One time you said that those devotees who had personal association were attached to this physical association.

Some of them. There is philosophical precept that is explained in Srimad Bhagavatam that real attachment to the spiritual master is through the instructions. Personal association brings about attachment but unless one thought that association goes with the instructions, then if association is not there then what is the association. Instructions remain prominent as our association. Those who were attached to his body then when SP’s body was gone they also were gone. Prabhupada’s presence was very powerful impact to people’s lives. You can see that even today. When spiritual master leaves, others leave or they become more serious because they are attached to the personal form. Spiritual master many times leaves in order to get rid off the nonsense people and to inspire those who are serious to go on a higher level. Because those who are serious once when spiritual master leaves they go deeper to relationship. For the other ones they haven’t really imbibed the instructions into the heart therefore they have a hard time and many they just go. It is a phenomenon of that relationship, it’s historical, not only with Srila Prabhupada but with any spiritual master. There are always those who are attached to the form and those who are attached to instructions.

How did your spiritual life changed since you officially became initiating spiritual master?

It has become a bigger headache. (Laugh) It is like having children. I was always doing it in unofficial way but now it is like there is more of a requirement to do it. I like to do it. I always have done it as a service anyway. When formalization came it was nothing different but now it’s like you have to really become more determined to help that person. Even if they don’t want help. When it is unofficially if they don’t want help you can also back off and there is nothing lost. But if people are falling away you have to go after and try to bring them back. It becomes more active on the part of the guru.

You have deity of Laksmi Narasimha and Jagantaha, also Gaura Nitai …

I have them in Chicago. I also have Prahlada Nrsimhadev.

Who is taking care for them?

One devotee in Chicago, Murari Caitanya Prabhu. He has many deities himself.

How did Lord Nrsimhadeva come to you?

I remember I had another Lord Narasimhadev. I gave it to someone to take care because I was traveling a lot. I don’t remember how this deity came. It’s a mystery. Well it’s not a mystery I just don’t remember. (Laugh) Somehow my memory is blocked on that area. I remember for other deities but for this deity I don’t.

How did you get Prahlada Nrsimhadev?

That is a nice story. When I first saw that deity in German farm I was really attracted to that deity. And then in Croatia, at the camp I saw a deity. I really wanted to have my own. I heard that there was one devotee who was actually making that deity. I made some inquiry to try to get it. That was the first time that I was on this camp, it was in 2002. I couldn’t at all somehow or rather reach him. Some devotees tried for me because I wanted to have this deity but nothing happened. Then one day when I was in Spain I was invited to someone’s house. Over lunch we were talking and I told a story how I wanted to have a deity like that. One man who was there came to me the next day with a box. With a big smile on his face he said: I have a gift for you. And I though what is this I have a lot of stuff to carry. When I opened it up it was Prahlada Nrsimhadev. It was his deity which he put to rest.

Are you maybe attached to some particular form of the Lord?

I like all the forms. I like Balarama. One day devotees from Chicago congregation asked me to give a talk to the kids (ranging from 6 to 14). They said you speak on Krishna forms. I spoke a little bit and asked all the kids what are their favorite forms and at the end they also asked me. And I said Balarama. He is the original spiritual master; he serves the Lord in different ways, he is the actual God who gives service and accepts service. He gives service in the form of expanding himself in the form of the spiritual world. Spiritual world is Balarama, all the planets of the spiritual world are Balarama, Balarama expands and finally becomes Maha Visnu, who expands in ultimately material manifestation of the creation. Maha Visnu, Garbodaksayi Visnu, Balarama is very interesting person. Lord Nityananda and Lord Balarama is the same person. Same person, two different forms. If we want mercy we have to approach him. Gaura Nitai. Krisna Balarama.

You were also actively involved in the preaching program Prison Ministry. Can you say something about that?

There was one devotee, SP’s disciple named Candrashekara. He was requested by SP to preach to people in (…….) and he didn’t do until 1989. He begun 12 years after SP left, by correspondence. He was writing to so many people. He was also putting out some newsletter by ISKCON Prison Ministry so I became inspired. And also before I met Candrasekara there was one devotee who was put into jail (1986/7) and I started to visit him and send him books. He was preaching there and distributing books and I was sending him all kinds of books. Finally I would visit him with other devotees. He was in prison just outside of New Vrindavan, West Virginia prison. After some time I got inspired by that and one thing led to another – I started writning to some prisoners. And when I came in contact with Candrasekara it really started off. In the early days 1986-91 I was actually visiting people in prisons, in 1996/7 I started to write letters more. Now I do both. We also have a newsletter coming out from Chicago written by one ex-inmate. I am involved with that. Prabhupada wanted this kind of preaching, in 1952 he did program in one prison, place called Tihar jail. That was the place where Gandhi was put into prison. Prabhupada was doing this preaching and he also requested from us. It didn’t really get off the ground until lately. Now we have newsletter, devotees in different places of America who are writing to prisoners and sending books. Syama dasi, she does so much, sends tapes, books, videos … she lives out side. Candrasekara write at least 20 handwritten letters a day. I was doing that for years and I still do. Majority of my postal correspondence is at least 95 % with inmate. We also have a program from New Vrindavana where …….. kesh Prabhu and he also sends tests to inmate to learn. I also do Bhagavad Gita test. As far as making devotees is very difficult because when they get out they go to their material life again. But we have good success. One person just came out last year that time and he joined Chicago temple – he is doing newsletter. But when they are in prison they chant and read SP books. In 2002 we did Vyasa puja book for SP – offering from prisoners. You wouldn’t believe their writings. They never met Prabhupada except maybe one or two who were devotees when they were put into jail. 99 % of them never met Prabhupada and they became devotees in jail. Bir Krishna Maharaja has got the most disciples that are inmate – at least 3.

How can we maintain good sadhana and quality sadhu-sanga?

They go together. Sadhu sanga is done in relationship to sadhana. Real sadhu sanga comes by way of sadhana, not separate. When we perform hearing and chanting together with devotees, attend the morning program we attend the real sadhu sanga. Whatever else is necessary becomes easier when we have this hearing and chanting together. Hearing and chanting, sadhana is the basis of all out spiritual advancement. Prabhupada has written: Attend mangala arotik, chant 16 rounds, and hear Srimad Bhagavatm class. If we don’t do this we will become lack, we will fall down. In many letters he states like this. For those who live outside they also have to have some type of sadhana: they must chant, worship their deities and also associate with devotees. It’s a fact when you go for the morning program your Krishna Consciousness becomes strong, if you don’t go it becomes weak. We need that. It’s our life, our spiritual nourishment.

If you live in temple …. There is no quality sadhu sanga…

We should find other times to associate. We associate through service – that is there. We associate at festivals and preaching programs. We can get so much wrapped up in service that it seems that we are not associating. But actually if you are absorbed in service you are actually associating with everybody because that is the real association. But we must also have sadhana type of service (?), just being there and discussing. Prabhupada talks about devotees should get together and discuss the philosophy. You can also do that separately, you can have classes during the day.,.. bodya…….. (Sanskrit) to discuss the different angles of philosophical teachings in my books. That way we become more fixed and more inspired to continue in our devotional life. Association is not simply coming together and maintaining the building.

Tomorrow Radhanath Maharaja is coming. As far as I know you are friends since small …

Well he joined New Vrindavan 1972 , I joined 1973. At that time we had bramacari asram. So we started KC at the same time. Our services were connected. In bramacari asrama he was pujari and I was the cook for a few years. That meant when other devotees were gone, in the building Prabhupada’s palace there was just myself, Maharaja and one other person. We were taking lunch together. But we hardly saw each other – he was fully engaged in deity worship and me also.

I heard that even before as children you actually lived in the same street?

No, I was born on the east coast, he was born in Chicago. That is nice but it is not true. What rumors get around? (laugh) Somehow or other things always get changed. Even Prabhupada said: ‘’Some say Prabhupada said but Prabhupada didn’t say.’’ There are a lot of Prabhupada things that Prabhupada didin’t say. It is just the way the mind is, it likes to recreate into a new way.

What would be your most important message for Slovenia devotees? And also how do you feel here?

Try to develop real, genuine vaishnava relationships, see each other more important than yourself and serve the other devotees in that mood and Krishna will take care of you. If we develop real friendships with devotees that mean that our KC is nice. Friendship means we have to give up our false ego which is hard. We should be concerned about other devotees and not only about our spiritual development. It’s not that temple president is the only one who is concerned about everyone and everyone else are concerned about themselves. That is not the idea. Devotees are concerned about each other because we are all for the same thing, we all try to develop our relationship with Krishna. When we help each other we help ourselves. There must be genuine vaishnava relationships based on spiritual principles not anything different. Devotee relationships go very deep because Krishna consciousness is deep. There should be genuine concern and care for each devotee. If some devotees have trouble it’s not that he/she is in maya. Why not help them to get out of maya?

Children and Pets
Urmila Devi Dasi: A BOY AND HIS DOG, at least in America, is a symbol of friendship and of healthy psychological development. Srila Prabhupada, however, said that keeping pet dogs is a symptom of how the world has lost Vedic culture. People sometimes say that giving children pets to love helps children develop universal love. But we can easily see that it doesn’t work. Children love their dogs, cats, hamsters, and lizards, yes, but they eat cows, fish, sheep, and chickens. Some children on farms even learn to arrange for the slaughter of animals they pampered as pets. Both pampering and slaughtering stem from a desire to please oneself, or, more accurately, from a desire to please the senses and mind with which one falsely identifies. So teaching a child to love a pet because the pet is cute or loyal or cuddly simply binds the child to valuing bodily pleasure instead of spiritual pleasure. Couldn’t a child being trained in Krsna consciousness keep a pet without becoming materially entangled?

Soweto Ratha Yatra, Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One should invite people, chant…Read More…

Giving Up Ravan Mentality (Audio-lecture)
On the occasion of Vijay Dasmi, HH Bhakti Charu Swami gave a wonderful class on Givin…Read More…

Sri Madhvacharya Appearance Day.
Today is the appearance day of Sri Madhvacharya. Madhvacharya (acarya means “one who teaches by his life”) lived in thirteenth-century India and appeared in the Brahma-Madhva – Gaudiya-Vaisnava-Sampr…

Science amidst bhakti – rasabhasa or rasa access? (Album with photos)
Chaitanya Charan Das: In India, I usually speak on topics related to science & spirituality at colleges and youth centers, practically never in temples.
During this trip to America, I am increasingly appreciating that speaking to Indians in America is substantially different from speaking to Indians in India. Indians in America are among the most materially intelligent Indians who have passed through rigorous competition with flying colours in order to make it to America.

Charuhasa prabhu ACBSP incapacitated after a heart attack.
Charuhasa das joined Srila Prabhupada’s movement in the early pioneering days as a successful talented musician. Later he became a great painter at Srila Prabhupada’s request.
Previous to that he had not held a paint brush, but Prabhupada had empowered him. Caruhasa das painted many paintings in the Krishna conscious books and at temples over the years.
He continued his service, in multifarious ways. Over the years he has produced radio shows and television shows, and courted many celebrities and introduced them to Krishna consciousness.
He is a friend, and vibrant preacher, father to two children;
Recently he suffered a heart attack and became incapacitated.
His two friends Manvantara, and Vrindavan das, stand by him
in this trying time of need.

Harinama in Kharkov, Russia (25 min video)
Kharkov – city of amazing devotees. Here every Vaishnava considers it an honor to ta…Read More…

Harinama in Indonesia (3 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: The holy name of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent; therefore when a…Read More…

Harinama in Hollywood, Los Angeles (7 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: There may be so many impediments for a person who is chanting Hare Krishna. Nonetheless, tolerating all these impediments, one should continue to chant so that at the end of one’s life one can have the full benefit of Krishna consciousness. Bhagavad-Gita 8.5 Purport.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/DaPURv

Dussehra… Rama Vijayotsava celebration by students of Mayapur (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Simply propagate this chanting, dancing, feasting and following the regulative principles. These are the four pillars of our success. Letter to Krishna das, December 25, 1969.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/W8rBIl

TKG Academy – Expansion Banquet (Album with photos)
Radha Kalachandji Temple in Dallas. The Tamal Krishna Goswami Academy expa…Read More…

London Saturday Night Harinama Sankirtan 08/10/2016 (Album with photos)
Bhakta David: Yesterday, Sunday the 9th October 2016, m…Read More…

New ISKCON Temple emerges after catastrophic earthquake destroyed the old one and the Deities in Christchurch, New Zealand (Album w…Read More…

One of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of ISKCON, Bangladesh.
Bhaktivedanta National Competition, 2016
By Krishna Gopal Dasa

As a part of celebrations going throughout the whole world to glorify the Golden Jubilee of the foundation of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), ISKCON Bangladesh has recently organized “Bhaktivedanta National Students Competition- 2016” . More than 10,000 students from different parts of the whole country took part in this competition. This competition took nearly five months for its completion and was held in four levels – zonal level, district level, divisional level and finally national level. All the participants were divided into two classes – students from standard two to standard five were in the junior class and students from standard six to standard ten were in the senior class. Subjects of competition were Verse recitation from Gita, coloring & drawing transcendental picture, vedic story telling, bhajan, speech in selected topic & acting in Vedic dress. All participating students received different devotional gifts. In the final round, the winners (1 st , 2 nd & 3 rd position holders) of all subjects were rewarded with special crests & Bhaktivedanta Scholarships. One student from each class was announced as “All-rounder” for their extraordinary performances and were rewarded Champion crests and Bhaktivedanta Scholarships. The final round was organized by Jagrata Chatra Samaj (School Preaching Department) on 23 rd September in which more than 500 students participated from different districts of the country. The prize giving ceremony was held on 24 th September at Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. ISKCON GBC and director of this whole competition HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami along with many members of the national management committee of ISKCON Bangladesh were present at the ceremony. The presence of honorable minister Mr. Narayan Chandra Chanda and several famous
cultural personalities added a different dimension in the ceremony. Valuable speeches from the guests and spectacular cultural functions made the whole program more enjoyable. The successful completion of this whole competition would not be possible without the hearty participation, cooperation and help of students, guardians, volunteers and other devotees.

Happy Harinam in Mexico City (5 min video)
Mexico is the country where the people participate more easily and spontaneously in …Read More…

Tel Aviv Harinam in the evening (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The demigods are pleased when sacrifices are performed, …Read More…

Future saints (Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future)
Srila Prabhupada: Whenever there is unwanted population these three things will naturally, by nature’s course, appear- famine, pestilence, and war- and the population will be finished. There was some unwanted population at that time also for which Krishna arranged the war. If we want very good population, very good generation, then we have to follow the principles of Bhagavad-gita. New York, May 30, 1966.

When does “food” become “prasadam?”
Sivarama Swami: The phenomenon of something changing from material to spiritual is an extraordinary one, but it is something we as devotees are involved in daily—often several times a day. It happens when prasadam (unoffered food) becoming prasadam, or food sanctified by the Lord.

Prasada: The Power of Sacred Food.
On the spiritual path those that are most inclined to lead a peaceful existence that respects the value of all life often adopts the vegetarian lifestyle. It is in accordance with the yogic principle of ahimsa, which…

Radha Kunda Seva: September 2016 Photos and Updates (Album with photos)
The sun is shining again and temperatures have cooled …Read More…

New Sydney Temple Project (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: The fourth Sydney Temple fundraising dinner for the year was attend…Read More…

Krsna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.**
Brahma-samhita, Chapter Five, 1st verse, Translated by Kusakrat…

Prabhupada, “You can also see God in six months if you simply become this sincere and determined.”
Narada Muni: I was selling books from a book cart at the 1971 Ratha-yatra when I asked someone to take my place for a minute so I could run to see Srila Prabhupada on the Ratha-yatra cart before it left.
When I saw him, I felt that Srila Prabhupada looked at me, and everybody probably felt the same thing.

Discover the Hidden Gems and Secrets of Srimad Bhagavatam (video)
By HG Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu. Recorded at ISKCON of Silicon …Read More…

Puskar das: In 1956, I moved from one area of Brooklyn (near the temple) to the Benson Hurst area, where I entered fifth grade. Peter Viggiani (a.k.a. Kusakratha) was in my class for the next two years. He also attended the same junior high as I, and…

Vishoka Dasa: Kusakratha Prabhu’s life is an inspiration to the devotees of Lord Krishna. I first saw him in the San Francisco temple, where he was staying for a short time, just coming from the NY temple.
He was sensitive to the cold weather,…

Prabhupada pilgrimage places on America’s eastern and western coast (Album with photos)
Chaitanya Charan Das: Prabhupada’s quarters at the New Dwarka temple in Los Angeles are the place where Prabhupada spent the maximum time outside India. During my last year’s US visit, seeing the Matchless Gift center on the Lower East Side in New York had been the most poignant Prabhupada pilgrimage for me. This year, seeing Prabhupada’s quarters in the LA temple was a similarly poignant moment. It’s symbolically significant that these two memorable places exist on the two coasts of America – the eastern and the western. They remind us that Srila Prabhupada, during his manifest presence, spread Krishna consciousness so vigorously all over America, starting from its Eastern coast, where it all began at the Matchless Gift storefront, to its Western coast, where the LA center became the model temple for exemplary deity worship.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9lMyTl

After Howrah now a Durga Puja Pandal in Durgapur, West Bengal resembling the architecture of Temple of Vedic PlanetariumRead More…

The Beginning of My Journey.
Stevie Rojas:
I have always been attracted to religion and spirituality. I grew up as a Catholic, because it is the dominant religion in my country (Philippines), but when I became a teenager, I began exploring differen…

Rare and beautiful photo of Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada taught:
nama-cintamaṇe krsna
caitanya-rasa-vigraha
purnna suddha nitya mukta-
bhinnatman karunnamaya
TRANSLATION
1) O Lord whose holy name is a cintamani jewel! O All-attracti…

Devotees from ISKCON Auckland, NZ, distribute the Holy Name, Srila Prabhupada’s books and …serious prasadam! The perfect program!(Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “If one only chants, with some slight faith, the holy names of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, then very quickly he is cleansed of all offences. Thus as soon as he chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, he feels the ecstasy of love for God.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.31)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/J2uIQj

Video from devotees chanting in Tel Aviv, Israel, goes viral and gets more than 1 million 300 thousand views (6 min video)
Sril…Read More…

Diplomats and Academics Show Support for ISKCON at European 50th Anniversary Event.
During Europe’s main official event celebrating ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary and Srila Prabhupada’s achievements, diplomats, academics and religious and human rights advocates showed their support for an increasingly respected Hare Krishna Movement.
The European event follows similarly prestigious 50th anniversary celebrations around the world, including one attended by former UK Prime Minister David Cameron at Bhaktivedanta Manor; a Washington D.C. gala celebration attended by US congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard; and a mega event in Kolkata with West Bengal Governor Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi.
Around 200 people attended the European event at the prestigious Bozar Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels on Tuesday September 27th.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/o7Sxuk

Devotees chant Hare Krishna at the Italian parliament in Rome for the 50th anniversary of ISKCON (8 min video)
Srila Prabhupada…Read More…

The Walking Monk Comes to Whitehorse.
Finding peace and making friends one step at a time.
Selene Vakharia: I am on the phone with Bhaktimarga Swami, a 63-year-old monk in Toronto. We are talking about the visit to Whitehorse he has planned for late September.
Better known as The Walking Monk, at 63 he has already walked across Canada four times, as well as across the United States, Ireland, Israel, Fiji Islands, Mauritius, Trinidad and Guyana.
He walks as a way to meditate and to slow down. He uses mantras – repetitive phrases with spiritual meaning – when he walks, to instill introspection and mindfulness into his treks.
During his cross-country walks, he often walks eight hours and 33 km a day. One day along the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, he walked over 90 km.
“When you’re walking, you take some time,” says Bhaktimarga Swami. “It’s introspective walking, meaning you do some meditation when walking.”
Bhaktimarga Swami believes in the power of walking for health and for community. He sees walking as an act that takes us away from our technological devices and puts us into contact with our neighbours.
He refers to his long walking expeditions as “friend-raising” for their ability to introduce him to new people. The marathon walks are a traditional monastic practice that is about inspiring and being inspired by those who come into your path. Like everything that Bhaktimarga Swami does, the walks are meant to “share the joy of life and that’s what you want to give out.”
“What makes walking so nice,” he says, “is you’re doing something physically while also doing something on the spiritual side.”
Through the relationships built with others and through the physical benefits, Bhaktimarga Swami finds that the walks keep him in prime condition to take care of and serve others.
“Many issues are overcome by walking because you allow the time to process thoughts, plans and dreams. Introspective or mindful trekking is like therapy.”
In 1973, at the age of 21, he joined the monastic lifestyle. Bhaktimarga Swami always had a spiritual inclination. He visited an ashram in Montreal, settled at one in Toronto, and found the whole lifestyle came easily and naturally. The whole practice for him “ignited that spark from previous existence.”
Bhaktimarga Swami is a practitioner of Bhakti Yoga – a spiritual practice focused on the cultivation of love and devotion. Within Bhakti Yoga, everything is done in devotion and in gratitude – everything is done from the heart, says Bhaktimarga Swami. He extends this practice to his walking, to daily life, and even to the work he is currently doing on a friend’s tomato farm.
“Whatever you’re doing,” he says, “when you redirect it, channel it more, whatever you’re doing is an offering to the divine… it changes your mindset. You begin to appreciate your work.”
He dubs this mindset an “attitude of gratitude” and credits it with bringing joy into the everyday, no matter what it brings his way – chores, work, and even walking.
Having had a longstanding desire to visit the North, Bhaktimarga Swami says he is excited to visit and walk in Whitehorse. He is looking forward to meeting the community and sharing his experiences and lessons on meditative walking. While in town, he will be leading workshops and the mantra meditation at the free weekly Sunday kirtan and vegetarian feast at the United Church, on the end of Main Street in downtown Whitehorse.
Source: https://goo.gl/zwHmpY