Call Each Other Gopi?
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Hare KrishnaBy Khonika Gope-Kumar

Though since childhood, I was used to being called “gopi” by my classmates and coworkers as my surname had been “Gope”, however, that never made me uncomfortable. I knew those karmi people did not have any clue what they were referring to. But my devotee girlfriends surely know what they are talking about. Or do they? To my surprise, I found out that it has become quite common among young ladies in ISKCON to call each other gopi, even call each other Srimati Radharani! I was in a dilemma. Is it offensive or trivial to call another devotee girl gopi? At first, I thought, may be it is not as bad as I am thinking. Since “without the help of the gopis, one cannot enter into these pastimes. Only one who worships the Lord in the ecstasy of the gopis, following in their footsteps, can engage in the service of S'ri S'ri Radha-Krishnain the bushes of Vrindavana. Only then can one understand the conjugal love between Radha and Krishna. There is no other procedure for understanding." CC Madhya 8.204-205 Continue reading "Call Each Other Gopi?
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Gita 10.31 – The power of powerful weapons and warriors points to Krishna
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast


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Multi-user editing alert
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Has this ever happened to you? You are merrily editing your SilverStripe website, working on a large update to one of your pages. You finish your update, hit “save & publish” and walk away, thinking you did a great job. Then your boss phones and asks why the update isn’t live yet. At this point you are confused, thinking: “I could have sworn I hit that ‘save & publish’ button.” You log in to the CMS and your update is gone!

After much investigating, it turns out your co-worker Edith Concurrent was editing pages at the same time that you were, and she corrected a minor typo on the same page that you were working on, overwriting your changes.

How do you prevent that kind of thing happening? Well, now there is a solution. I've created a new SilverStripe module: Install the Multi-User Editing Alert module!

Once installed, you will see blue dots in the page tree showing you who is editing at the same time that you are. If you see a red dot that is a conflict where multiple people are on the same page. It’s up to you to use your favourite communication tool to talk to your colleague and discuss who should be editing and saving changes.

As simple as that.

 

 

The module works by pinging the server every few seconds with the page that you are currently editing. It also downloads the location of every other content editor in the same API call. To prevent the ping taxing server resources, I’ve made it run in under 150ms. Indeed, most of that time is SilverStripe overhead, the code itself runs in just 12ms.

How does it work so quickly, you ask? It doesn’t use a database—that’s how. It uses the SS_Cache on the local filesystem, or DynamicDB, if you are running on SilverStripe Platform, to save the current state of all editors.

Note: there are still database queries to verify your logged-in state, so can’t run entirely without accessing the database, unfortunately. Also, running a flush clears all the state, if something were to go horribly wrong with the module.

The view of who is editing where updates dynamically as people move around, so you don’t need to refresh the page to see an updated view. Also, all the parties involved in an editing conflict see the alert, if there is a conflict.

You can control the ping frequency with the SilverStripe config system. So, if you have thousands of people editing your site concurrently, then perhaps increase the length of time between each ping to prevent your server crashing. Also, if you are the only person editing at a given point in time, the default ping frequency goes from 3 seconds to 24 seconds to save some server resources. Though again, you can easily adjust these values to anything you like.

If someone logs out, or their browser crashes, the module removes them from the editing alert after 70 seconds of not hearing from them. Naturally, you can modify this timeout period using the config system.

Final extra bonus: the blue and red dots are SVG files that look beautiful zoomed-in on a retina display.

The multiuser-editing-alert module merely alerts you to other’s presence, it doesn’t lock anyone out of editing. If you want to lock users out from editing concurrently, then you can install the Edit Lock module instead. 

Or even install both at the same time, as the two modules play nicely together.

Multi-user editing alert
→ Home

Has this ever happened to you? You are merrily editing your SilverStripe website, working on a large update to one of your pages. You finish your update, hit “save & publish” and walk away, thinking you did a great job. Then your boss phones and asks why the update isn’t live yet. At this point you are confused, thinking: “I could have sworn I hit that ‘save & publish’ button.” You log in to the CMS and your update is gone!

After much investigating, it turns out your co-worker Edith Concurrent was editing pages at the same time that you were, and she corrected a minor typo on the same page that you were working on, overwriting your changes.

How do you prevent that kind of thing happening? Well, now there is a solution. I've created a new SilverStripe module: Install the Multi-User Editing Alert module!

Once installed, you will see blue dots in the page tree showing you who is editing at the same time that you are. If you see a red dot that is a conflict where multiple people are on the same page. It’s up to you to use your favourite communication tool to talk to your colleague and discuss who should be editing and saving changes.

As simple as that.

 

 

The module works by pinging the server every few seconds with the page that you are currently editing. It also downloads the location of every other content editor in the same API call. To prevent the ping taxing server resources, I’ve made it run in under 150ms. Indeed, most of that time is SilverStripe overhead, the code itself runs in just 12ms.

How does it work so quickly, you ask? It doesn’t use a database—that’s how. It uses the SS_Cache on the local filesystem, or DynamicDB, if you are running on SilverStripe Platform, to save the current state of all editors.

Note: there are still database queries to verify your logged-in state, so can’t run entirely without accessing the database, unfortunately. Also, running a flush clears all the state, if something were to go horribly wrong with the module.

The view of who is editing where updates dynamically as people move around, so you don’t need to refresh the page to see an updated view. Also, all the parties involved in an editing conflict see the alert, if there is a conflict.

You can control the ping frequency with the SilverStripe config system. So, if you have thousands of people editing your site concurrently, then perhaps increase the length of time between each ping to prevent your server crashing. Also, if you are the only person editing at a given point in time, the default ping frequency goes from 3 seconds to 24 seconds to save some server resources. Though again, you can easily adjust these values to anything you like.

If someone logs out, or their browser crashes, the module removes them from the editing alert after 70 seconds of not hearing from them. Naturally, you can modify this timeout period using the config system.

Final extra bonus: the blue and red dots are SVG files that look beautiful zoomed-in on a retina display.

The multiuser-editing-alert module merely alerts you to other’s presence, it doesn’t lock anyone out of editing. If you want to lock users out from editing concurrently, then you can install the Edit Lock module instead. 

Or even install both at the same time, as the two modules play nicely together.

To serve Krsna out of love
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27 March 2016, Durban, South Africa, Ratha Yatra Lecture)

CZ_SummerCamp (13)

It is not desirable to worship out of fear… out of fear of the Lord or out of fear of reactions that may come. To be God-fearing is not advertised as a great ideal in our Krsna consciousness movement. Rather our aim is to serve Krsna out of love – to appreciate how Krsna is kind, how Krsna is merciful and how Krsna cares about all living beings. Not only are we concerned with our own little lives but we are concerned with the welfare of the world as a whole so let us see if we can contribute something to that. We remain connected to the greater plan of the Supreme Lord – we live a life of devotion, and we also care for the welfare of all other living beings so that they may also come to devotional service. 

Freewill of a Molecule
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By Vrndavanlila Devi Dasi

The tussle between “freewill” and “destiny” has been primordial. Bhagavad-gita explains the wonderful attributes of the soul besides the minuteness of soul. It is just one ten-thousandth part of the upper portion of the hair point in size.* The minute "freewill" of this super-micro soul has created so much of furore that there are 14 planetary systems and countless universes, and further sub- and sub to sub-systems to place everybody according to their "freewill"! So wonderful is freewill! This differentiating factor from non-living beings can make a heaven of hell or hell of heaven. It is therefore important that we learn to exercise it judiciously. It is because of this we are separated from the Lord. Though we are suffering because of misuse of freewill and are sentenced to serve our prison term in the bhuloka. At the same time bhuloka is also karmabhoomi, where we have the possibility of decision making (thus freewill) and accordingly designing the future body and destiny. Continue reading "Freewill of a Molecule
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A Book for a Body Builder
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A Book for a Body Builder.
Vijaya Dasa: I was distributing books at a university when I motioned for a student to come to my table. He came over, and I began explaining some of Krsna’s teachings in the Bhagavad-gita. He didn’t show much interest. From his bulging muscles, I could tell he lifted weights and worked out a lot. I said, “It’s good that you’re taking care of your body, but did you know that while we’re talking right now your body is dying? Every second you’re getting closer to death, and in a relatively short time your body will be dead. But you, the soul, will never die.”


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Conscious co-operator
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Hare KrishnaBy Giriraj Das

Here is the text from ‘Krishna’ Book, chapter 4, where, having being warned by Durga Devi that the child who will kill Kamsa has already taken birth, Kamsa is now repenting and is also trying to justify all his past sinful actions, putting them behind the bars, killing their children, etc., as will of providence. In these lines lie some very enlightening lessons for an aspiring devotee like my own self. “My dear sister Devaki-, you are so gentle and kind. Please excuse me—don’t be aggrieved by the death of your children, which I have caused. Actually this was not done by me, because all these are predestined activities. One has to act according to the predestined plan, even unwillingly. People misunderstand that with the end of the body the self dies, or they think that one can kill another living entity. All these misconceptions oblige one to accept the conditions of material existence. In other words, as long as one is not firmly convinced of the eternality of the soul, one is subjected to the tribulation of being killer and killed. My dear sister Devaki- and brother-in-law Vasudeva, kindly excuse the atrocities I have committed against you. I am very poor-hearted, and you are so great-hearted, so take compassion upon me and excuse me.” Continue reading "Conscious co-operator
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Gita 10.30 – God manifests as the godly among the ungodly
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast


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ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 06/26/2016
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ECO-Vrindaban New Vrindaban

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 06/26/2016

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

Participating Directors: Anuttama, Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Ranaka and Sri Tulasi Manjari

Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna, Navin Shyam, Radha-Krishna, Vraja

Participating Managers: Mukunda, Nitaicandra

Recording Secretary: Jamuna Jivani

1. Village Association Liaison

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to support the development of a “local self-governing village” in New Vrindaban.

RESOLVED: The Board approves up to $5K to help pay for the cost of hiring a part time Village Association Liaison for one year, under the following terms:

  • INV also commits a matching amount, up to $5K, in order to meet the full $10K request
  • ECO-V receives a report after six months
  • After one year, the pilot program will be reviewed
  • Moving into the second year, the Village Association would be expected to contribute to the Liaison’s salary, up to one third of the total

2. Mukunda’s Monthly Report

Mukunda has reported on the previous month’s projects:

  • Mukunda worked with a crew to clean up the Community Garden and other areas used for Kulimela
  • He has almost finished rebuilding the fence along the edge of the Community Garden that INV took down during construction of the new apartments

3. Nitaicandra’s Monthly Report

Nitaicandra reported on the previous month’s projects:

  • Ox yokes have arrived. Caitanya Bhagavat and Nitaicandra have been working with Hari and Priya for about a week, and they have responded well, even after a long layoff, which Nitaicandra explained is due to the excellent training they previously received.
  • Strawberries have been planted
  • Vegetable starts have been planted out (tomatoes, peppers, okra, kerala, eggplant, and marigolds)
  • Seeds have been directly planted (carrots, beets, radish, squash, beans, herbs, greens, cucumbers, salads, sunflowers, melons and amaranth)
  • Cover crop has been a success so far: cooling the soil, attracting beneficials, discouraging pests, and outgrowing weeds.
  • Heavy mulching has minimized weeding and held moisture during the long dry spells that we have recently experienced.
  • Covering our young fruit trees with netting has protected them from the cicadas
  • Some of our young trees are fruiting for the first time (apple, cherry, peach)
  • Went on an educational paw paw tour with Soma prabhu
  • Regular staff meetings have been going well
  • Electric deer fence is not yet active

Anticipated projects for the upcoming month:

  • An increase in flower production is anticipated and documentation will begin.
  • Berry season is here. We will be collecting cultivated and wild types soon.
  • Preparing and planting our large beds for our grain nursery. This year our grain production is for collecting seed for future use.
  • Our other ox teams will resume their training in the next few weeks.

4. Internal Funding Request: $12K for Two Mowers

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to invest in equipment to support its ongoing farming-related projects.

RESOLVED: The Board approves up to $12K for the purchase of a brush hog and lawn mower.

5. Kulimela 2016 Review

Chaitanya Mangala expressed appreciation for the hard work the ECO-V staff contributed to help make it a successful event. The ECO-V members present at the meeting shared their impressions and feedback regarding the event. All thought it was overwhelmingly positive and agreed that New Vrindaban, and particularly INV, was showcased in a way that was well received by festival participants. The organizers reported they are finalizing the financial reports and once ready will provide those to INV & ECO-V as previously promised.

6. Regular ECO-V Staff Meetings

Mukunda reported that staff meetings began approximately one month ago on alternating Fridays from 10:30-11:30 am.  These meetings have been well-attended and are helping to create a more positive culture, as well as provide added support and improved communications between the individuals involved.

The illusion of enjoyment
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The illusion of enjoyment
Bhakti Charu Swami: “How is our existence in the material nature? Very beautiful, very wonderful. [laughter] Full of promises and full of excitement, full of opportunities. But that is the influence of the Lord’s illusory potency. We are suffering, but we consider this suffering condition to be joyful. The reality is this material existence is full of suffering. And the thing is, the more we try to enjoy, the more we end up suffering. Therefore, saintly people in the past, they used to voluntarily accept austerities, difficulties. Enjoyment leads to suffering, so now you reverse the process: voluntary acceptance of suffering will lead to enjoyment. But that is not actually the cure for the suffering condition. The suffering condition is threefold. What are the threefold miseries? Adhyatmika, adhidaivika and adhibhautika.

Iskcon of Silicon Valley: Harinam Sankirtan 07.23.16 (Album with…
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Iskcon of Silicon Valley: Harinam Sankirtan 07.23.16 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on one’s having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness one attracts the attention of Krishna. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 4.71 purport)
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ISKCON Navi Mumbai, India Commemorates 50 Glorious Years of ISKCON Incorporation
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Hare KrishnaBy Dr. Bhakta Chetan Hazare

In a humble attempt to glorify Srila Prabhupada and the ISKCON movement on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee, ISKCON, Navi Mumbai with the auspicious blessings of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja and encouraging direction of the temple President, HG Sura Das Prabhu celebrated a week long festival. The festival was graced by the keen presence of HH Amiya Vilas Swami Maharaja. Wholeheartedly detailing and serving under the guidance of the HG Vaishnavanghri Sevak Prabhu (the Director of Bhaktivedanta College of Vedic Education, Navi Mumbai), the devotees of Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji celebrated a seven day long festival making the atmosphere spiritually surcharging. Continue reading "ISKCON Navi Mumbai, India Commemorates 50 Glorious Years of ISKCON Incorporation
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Thursday, July 21st, 2016
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Thursday, July 21st, 2016
Newton, Iowa

Cold Water Please!

Ice water and Gatorade were coming my way all day.  It was a response by the public to the radio, newspaper, and facebook articles which were being circulated.

Rajasuya and I took to a pretty, shaded, residential street and, as we did so, we encountered Wally, Diana, and grandson, Braden.  Diana’s sister had just passed away.  She asked for my prayers and I was happy to oblige.  Diana kept replenishing our cups with ice water.  We all got quite comfortable being in each other’s company in their front yard.  We even broke out into song with George Harrison’s, “My Sweet Lord,” Simon and Garfunkel’s, “Slow Down,” as well as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, “Happy Trails.”  Braden, who’s about eight, didn’t have a clue about these songs from the 50’s and the 60’s.

Our meeting went from grave feelings to happy ones.  That’s just what the walking does, even in the midst of steaming heat and fatigue.

Were we ever relieved to enter the cooling AC’d Newton Library.  The weather was unforgiving at times, as we reached high noon.  Some of the water donated to us was taken as head-shower fluid.  At 107 degrees Fahrenheit, who wouldn’t employ H2O in that format? I’ve even found the umbrella as a shield to be effective as the heat rose.

I imagine the desire for water rose in just about everyone in the State of Iowa.  This is all relative to the need within the season.  Had we been in frigid conditions, the element of fire would be most desirable.  Needs change in relation to the body.

In connection to the soul, there is a constant contentment.

May the Source be with you!

20 miles.

Wednesday, July 20th, 2016
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Wednesday, July 20th, 2016
Grinnell, Iowa

His Eyes

His eye was fully open but the other was closed, and just as the closed eye-lid began to open, the open eye began to move in a slow blink.

This was pretty much how I viewed the full moon and its counterpart, the sun, as these heavenly bodies presented themselves in the early morning sky.  It was purely magical, and while I had the moon before me in the westerly sky, the sun naturally arose behind me.  I was being looked at by God, one eye at a time.

This dynamic occurred yesterday and repeated itself again today.  Yet today, the sun began to be in a relentless mode as the hours moved on.  Water in the air (humidity) was thick in suspension.  It was taxing and dehydrating.

Relief arrived  merely with the visitation of people.  Rajasuya and Mandala came to join me on Hwy. 6.  Then Dan Hayes appeared from the Iowa County Market Newspaper.  A fellow by the name of Rich, a local organic farmer, stopped out of interest.  I was also whisked away to KGRN radio with Chris Johnson as the interviewer. 

Back on the road again, and a woman from nowhere delivered lemonade.  A second one, Lisa, pulled over to hand out some refreshments—ice water and fruit.

“I’ve been following you on the internet.  I drove around knowing you were in town,” said Lisa.  She is very much the big-hearted type of person and it was a pleasure meeting her at the last step of the day’s walk.

These were all lovely people whose paths I crossed today, and it alleviated the physical strain felt initially.

What really stuck in my mind were Dan’s questions. “What prompted you to do this walk? Does it have anything to do with the current political situation?  Isis and so forth?”

“Much to do with it,” I said, and went on to explain that the message from our scripture, the  Bhagavad-gita, is much about taking firm stands when gentleness is taken advantage of.

This is a big topic in and of itself.

May the Source be with you!

19 miles

Tuesday, July 19th, 2016
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2016
Deep River, Iowa

Walk More, Rush Less

Two papers in the local area, “The Journal Tribune” and “The Pioneer Republican,” carried the story with the above title, by Melinda Wichmann:

“We’re designed for walking but we’re not doing enough of it.”

That is the message Bhaktimarga Swami wants to share as he walks from New York, N.Y. to San Francisco, Calif.

“The Walking Monk,” as he is called, passed through Williamsburg, Tuesday morning, July 12, during his travels.  He left Iowa City before the sun rose that morning and walked along the IWV Road, arriving in Williamsburg about 10 a.m.

The purpose of his cross-country trek is two-fold: first, to encourage people to slow down the pace of their existence, to become more introspective, and to find their spirituality, and second, to celebrate the 50thanniversary of the Hare Krishna movement.

Bhaktimarga is breaking his journey into three parts.  Last year, he walked from New York to Butler, Pa.  This year, he resumed walking in Butler and hopes to complete the middle portion of his journey in mid-Nebraska by August.  He plans to reach San Francisco next year.

Long-distance walking is nothing new.  Canadian-born, he has walked across his home country, four times, as well as  Ireland, Israel and a number of other foreign countries.  He averages about 20 miles a day, logging mostly morning hours to beat the summer heat.  He believes walking enables people to find their spirituality, slow down and become a little more introspective, rather than rushing through the day in a frantic hurry.  No one walks anywhere anymore, he said, they all drive. “We are consumed by the automobile and as a species, it is making us very hard and cold.”  Walking provides a way to connect with one another as well as oneself.

“This part of the country already has a slower pace of life,” he said, by comparison with larger cities and urban areas.  When he told friends he was going to walk across the United States, their reaction was a little skewed, based on American television shows.

“But everyone has a gun there,” his friends told him.

“Clearly, that is not true,” he said.

“The reception has been great,” he says, with the people he passes offering friendly waves or stopping to talk to him.

He is enjoying his trek across the heartland, especially the spacious fields and pastures.

“You have an opulence of space here,” he said.

For more information, visit thewalkingmonk.org.

May the Source be with you!


20 miles

Monday, July 18th, 2016
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Monday, July 18th, 2016
Williamsburg, Iowa

1100 Kilometres

We did 1100 kilometres of driving to make it back to the spot where we left off last week.  My walking mission is met with many interruptions; happy ones, of course.  It was a six-day leave of absence from the trail.

Now on our way, before entering the States and in particular the state of Michigan, my driver, for the next four days of companionship, is Rajasuya from Brampton, Canada. Also with us are Mandala, an assistant to replace Uttamanada.  They are in for a treat.  I wanted to bring them down memory lane.  Off the major 401 Highway, we veered onto the Tecumseh Parkway.  This was the road I roamed to go back and forth to elementary school;  a humble, red-brick school house that enrolled rural kids, accommodating eight grades, and with only one teacher.

That’s a miracle in itself!

When you see this structure, boarded-up, and closed down since the sixties, it’s remarkable it is still standing.  The size leads you to believe that this 25 x 30 ft. place could not possibly hold the group of us.  Eight grades in one room!  One teacher!  Imagine that!

We thrived in this type of environment.  The older kids looked after the younger ones.  We lined up outside for drinking water from the pump.  We had little or practically no facility for sports.  Somehow we were happy in this minimalistic life-style.  I won’t forget the wooden desks with holes for the ink jars.  You used pencils in the younger grades.  The use of ink was for the older kids.  Yes, the simplicity was the thing.

May the Source be with you!

0 miles

Sunday, July 17th, 2016
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Sunday, July 17th, 2016
Toronto, Ontario

Some of What Happened

A couple flew in from Hawaii to attend the Chariot fest and I was given the honour to award them diksha(initiation) into the Vaishnavatradition.  Three couples also took second or brahminicalinitiation.  The new initiates are Guru das, an attorney, and his fantastic wife, Amala.

The ritual, which had quite the appeal for the public (as it was held outdoors on Centre Island), was colourful, and was positioned in front of the mystical temple under a marquis.

On the second day of the festival, like the first, I was scheduled to conduct an aerobics class to the sound of drum and mantra.  Held at the youth tent called the Bhakti Cloud, within no time, volunteers who wanted to loosen-up and shake-it-out filled the space.

For my own record, I thought to document  the one hour talk which I gave at the Govardhan Farm tent.  The topic was “Spiritual Ecology and the Age of Machinery.”  As you might imagine, I underscored the culture of “Hands On” and expressed the superiority of manually working with soil and animals, over the use of machines.

We certainly need to have a hard look at what is favourable for mankind and the environment.  The future is in our hands, especially when we plan and act in the present for an improved world which is based on the balance of the physical and the spiritual.

A last point to raise on the outcome of the fest, is that it was record-breaking for spiritual book sales, devotional items, and food.  Also, there were splendid presentations made on the stage.

May the Source be with you!

2 km

Saturday July 16th 2016
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Saturday July 16th 2016
Toronto, Ontario

Happy Faces

While last week's Montreal Chariot Fest was drenched with the pouring of cats and dogs (strange saying), the event in Toronto enjoyed perfect weather today. I cannot make any remarks relating to Karmain this regard.  Who's to say who deserves what, right?  Whatever comes to you that is seemingly bad does not always need to be met with an "it's my karma" attitude.  The wind blows as it may.  Accept it and adjust your sails. 

What's important is how you cope with or handle a challenge.  That is the real test of the devotee. 

But what of the event today on Yonge St. and Centre Island, in Toronto? 

I saw happy faces with loud singing, and bodies moving at a good clip, southbound on Yonge St. for a 4 to 5 kilometre stretch to the Waterfront.  Three 50 foot chariots were hand-pulled by ropes, and onlookers viewed with awe, this unique, exotic, and ancient Festival.  It is a re-enactment of a ride that Lord Krishna once took millennia ago, and it is enlivening to those who get involved, and even those who choose to just watch.

Procession is part one of the program.  A carnival of sorts is part two, held on Centre Island in Lake Ontario.  The procession covers 5 kilometres.  The return is the same, so I managed to double the distance while taking time to reflect on the day's joy of devotion.  This pensive time was at the darkening hour--dusk.  "Yes, joy comes from within," I thought, as I was noticing the party-goings-on, on the street that I walked. 

May the Source be with you!

12 km

Friday, July 15th, 2016
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Friday, July 15th, 2016
Toronto, Ontario

Move and Not Move

The day constituted more of a sit-down than stand-up or walkabout one.

It was the normal 12 hour kirtan program preceding the next day's Chariot procession, which became a highlight for those of us living in the area and those who had come from far and wide.

As is usual, I had the Good Fortune to kick-start the chanting event by leading the chanting while all others responded. A half-hour time slot allows for little time to build a crescendo of sound and energy, which would inspire dancing.  We normally start slow and easy with the mantra and the support of mrdangadrum, harmonium, and kartals (hand symbols).

My body is habituated to a good walk each day, but today, at least in the morning, I was confined to the "lotus" sitting position.  It was only in the evening, when B.B. Govinda Swami took the lead, singing and gradually building up the tempo, that quite a number of us took to the flight of our feet and moved about in some devotional style of dance.

Yes it was sweet, this use of the voice and other body parts.  For me, I came to moving as if in a walk-dance, and so it fulfilled my passion for trekking and dancing. Indeed in my high school years at the dances, I used to show off a trifle with whatever skills I could conjure up.  If I was in my teens now, I'm not sure I could muster up and execute the dance steps of the contemporary approach. 

The event, the 12-hour kirtan was sublime.

May the Source be with you!

2 km

Thursday July 14th, 2016
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Thursday July 14th, 2016
Toronto, Ontario

Some Reflections

I got fairly busy--much to do with the weekend Fest, The Festival of Chariots, perhaps the largest in North America.  So little time for walking.  I did, however, compile some thoughts on the art:

#1) Walking through the countryside at normal speed allows you the time and space to absorb all that's around you.  It enhances appreciation for nature, people, and the Creator.

#2) Rain came down for hours and I was holding up the umbrella while trekking.  After some point, I gave up on the umbrella and just let the rain and wind do what they wanted. Instead of resisting, I chose to accept and free myself from those elements.  You can get to a point where you realize, "I'm not this body.  I'm actually a spirit--a spirit in motion."

#3) I enjoy walking and I enjoy the mantrameditation, but I will admit I'm not ecstatic about either at this point.  It's not a major stimulation or adrenaline rush, but I do see and feel the power they wield and how they wear away at the mind, which channels the ego.

#4) Regarding pain or fatigue: It's better to have a physical ache or pain with a peaceful mind, than have a pampered life style with an agitated mind.

#5) God created us with half of our body made of legs, so I believe in using them for Him.  I find there is no better or more personal way to meet people than with the low-tech, highly organic approach of using the legs.  The legs were made for walking, and the mouth for speaking about the absolute.  Perfect combination!

May the Source be with you!

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Wednesday, July 13th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Wednesday, July 13th, 2016
Detroit/Brampton

What the Gazette Said

In yesterday's "Iowa Gazette" under the "Faith and Values" section, we have an article.

"Canadian monk walks across U.S. to spread the message of simple living" by Madison Arnold:

On Monday morning, a driver called the police after spotting Bhaktimarga Swami, dressed in his traditional orange garments, as he walked along the highway.  The man thought the monk was an escaped convict.

And more than once, people, spotting him coming from a distance, mistake him at first for an orange traffic cone, Bhaktimarga said.

Bhaktimarga Swami, a monk from Ontario, Canada, is walking from New York City to San Francisco, mostly along the Lincoln Highway, in an effort to encourage people to embrace a lifestyle of "simple living and high thinking."  He stopped Monday in Iowa City.

"I'm trying to say, ‘You know, folks, let's slow-down a little bit.  Let's take a little time to connect with the world around us,’ the Swami said.  ‘My message is universal.  It's non-denominational and, it's trying to encourage people to realize their inner potential.’”

Walking out in the open is a very public way to deliver this message and as he believes cars are a sign of consumer culture, he wants to reject that mentality.   Swami said spiritual, long walks are a tradition dating back to the origins of Buddhism and beyond.  He also has completed walks across Ireland and Israel, and four across Canada.  His goal is to travel about 20 miles per day and he usually camps at night, unless a temple or resident offers him a place to stay indoors.  People generally interact with him, especially after they learn what he's doing, Bhaktimarga said.  The Swami said he expects to walk another month before taking a break and finishing the final leg of his walk next year.

May the Source be with you!

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OK, Really, What are the Vedas?
→ The Enquirer

The Veda is the beginningless information self-manifest by reality itself. It was to the first entity, Brahmā, that Viṣṇu first revealed full access to it. Brahmā then verbalized it to his initial children. Those children, especially the Seven Sages (Sāpta Ṛṣi) codified his words into specific mantra, thus creating the original Yajur Veda.

Over time, the meaning of these mantra became garbled and confusing, even to Brahmā.

Vyāsa repairs this by editing. His edit creates four divisions pertaining to four aspects of sacrifice, and a fifth division for the important contextual information underlying the sacrifices. These divisions are elaborated upon  over a long span of time by scholars under Vyāsa’s instruction and guidance. (Vyāsa is superhuman, although even without this, his influence and representatives could have overseen the further development of the five divisions.)

The elaboration resulted in enormous volumes of Vedic text nearly impossible for a single human to study in a single lifetime. Also, the elaboration resulted in many diverse viewpoints, difficult to reconcile. Seeing this as a shortcoming, Vyāsa set out to harmonize all the diversity, while also shrinking the enormity of the Veda into a single book of mystical codes: the Brahma-sūtra.

Upon completion, he found the codes to be too mysterious, so he set out to illustrate them using vivid and colorful stories related to Krishna and great historical personalities. This resulted in the epic Mahābhārata.

Upon completion he remained dissatisfied, for the ultimate esoteric essence of the Veda was not yet perfectly clear, even when reconciled and condensed into the Brahma-sūtra and illustrated by the Mahābhārata. Vyāsa then took the foremost Purāṇa, named Bhāgavata, and revised it in light of Brahma-sūtra and Mahābhārata. Thus he created Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the ultimate fruit of the Vedic tree, and became fully satisfied that he had restored, and perhaps even improved, the original exposition of the Veda.

This is the answer to one of the homework questions in the second session of an online course called, “The Role of Sacred Text in Gauḍīya Bhakti.”

– Vraja Kishor

www.vrajakishor.com


Tagged: Sastra, shastra, Veda, Vedas, Vedic, Vedic Scripture

Gopal Bhatta Goswami
→ Ramai Swami

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Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami (the son of a Vyenkata Bhatta, a Sri Vaisnava brahmana) appeared in Sri Rangam, South India. Lord Caitanya once stayed four months in his home, and con­verted the family to Gaudiya Vaisnavism. A mere boy at this time, Gopala personally served the Lord.

Gopala Bhatta came to Vrndavana and became a dear friend of Sri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis. He did bhajana in Vrndavana for forty-five years, mostly at Radha-kunda.

On pilgrimage he obtained twelve Salagrama silas. Later, the Damodara sila manifested Himself as the beautiful Radha Ramana Deity. Since 1542, Radha Ramana has been worshiped with pure devotion following precise sastric rituals.

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Merciful to all
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27 March 2016, Durban, South Africa, Ratha Yatra Lecture)

Question: Does Krsna only favour pure devotees?

Srila-Prabhupada-on-morning-walk-in-Vrindavan

And everyone else, Krsna just lets them rot? [laughter] That sounds a bit extreme doesn’t it? Rather, I found that even long before coming to Krsna consciousness, Krsna was also in my life. It wasn’t that it just started from the day that I joined the Hare Krsna movement that suddenly Krsna became active. Krsna was there before and he was doing all kinds of things. 

I have told many stories about this. One story is that I had a dog by the name of Krsna. That was mercy. That was a blessing in my life. In the beginning of my Krsna consciousness journey, I had my difficult moments and I tried to leave several times. Once I had left the temple and I went to the movies. I went to this movie and then suddenly in the movie, there were devotees. [laughter] I mean give me a break! But something was wrong, the tilak was wrong, there was no leaf on the nose. I said, “But what is this? This is not real, this is imitation!” Next thing, those fake devotees went into a bar and then some girls sat on their laps and they said, “It is good to have a drink after a hard day’s work!” I was so angry at seeing that.

But meanwhile, it saved me. Even then I could see Krsna was there and Krsna somehow or other interfered in my attempt to turn away from him. Somehow, he made an arrangement that while I was trying to turn away from him, he was there again. So we should know that Krsna is there in the life of everyone.

He is doing two things. He is upadrsta, a witness, but he is also anumanta, the one who gives anumiti – permission. As anumanta Krsna sometimes gives permission and sometimes he does not but still, Krsna is there actively in the lives of everyone to an extent. But when it comes to a pure devotee then Krsna is very close and very intimate, just like how Prabhupada found that he was totally relying on Krsna and Krsna was there, helping him in every possible way. It happened like that!

Prabhupada used to say, “If I want to know what Krsna wants, I just ask him.” Prabhupada had that capacity to just ask Krsna. One professor was accusing Prabhupada of being dogmatic and Prabhupada said, “Why is he so dogmatically saying that Krsna is not God when he has not seen him?” So Prabhupada was seeing Krsna directly. He could relate to Krsna at every moment as he so desired. Krsna was so accessible. That is what happens with the pure devotee, this is on another level. Krsna sometimes interferes in the life of even conditioned souls. Krsna takes mercy on anyone and everyone.

Do We Care? – Australia’s First Home for Cow Protection
→ ISKCON News

In the 21st century more and more emphasis is being placed on the protection of animals, the reduction of violence towards animals, changes in the consumption of animals as food for humanity and the understanding that animals are sentient beings possessing feelings and emotions. In fact the rights of our animal brothers and sisters are being discussed and debated within society as never before. A new booklet is an offering written by Mukunda Goswami and Mandira Mani Dasi and an important contribution to this worldwide change of consciousness toward animals.