Planet ISKCON – Page 1083 – Websites from the ISKCON Universe

Friday, April 1st, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Friday, April 1st, 2016
Flacq, Mauritius

The Eye and the Sun

When the sun comes up in Mauritius it can come quite fiercely. I was reminded of something our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had said. “The scriptures say that the sun is an eye of God, so unless Krishna sees first, we cannot see. We have to construct an artificial sun.”

It's true that with the sun we could see the road before us. It lights up the way. Nevertheless it became intense with our 8.2 km trek a la mère, the ocean. It becomes forgiving once you reach the cooling waters and get the full pleasure in its indulgence.

Our walking group had a good read on the pastime of Krishna's eating dirt. Our age range is anywhere from 6 to 60. That last figure is me. I'm 63, OMG. Frailties keep coming up reminding me of where I'm slowly headed. It is walks like this morning's that will help to prolong as far as possible this lovely life in spiritual consciousness.

One other thing that gives me life is the work with the youth. It is night number 3 for our drama preparation that will be held in the local sportsplex. The group that's come forward is really taking it seriously, and being that today was the last day of school, with holidays beginning tomorrow, their spirits couldn't be higher.

The group, which is normally a more studious type, now treated our practice space like a gym. There's more I see of life than of death in the course of the day, and even the gecko that remained motionless for hours doesn't depress me so. I just hope it captured a mantra or so before he left his body.

May the source be with you!

9 km

Kubjā’s “Almost Pure Lust”
→ The Enquirer

QUESTION: I once read somewhere, but I cannot remember where, that Kubja was attracted by Krishna in a selfish way of sensual satisfaction, and still Krishna fulfilled her desire. And then it is said that this intimate contact with Krishna purified her, so that her love later transformed into pure prema, as that of the gopis. Do you perhaps know where is this described?

Her love became like the prema of the gopīs but is actually not on the same level of quality.

In Bhakti Rasamṛta Sindhu, First Division, Second wave, in the section about Rāgātmikās of the Kāmarūpa type, Śrī Rūpa goswami specifies that Kubjā is not a Kāmarūpa Rāgātmikā. Her love is “kāmaprāya” (almost kāmarūpa prema). It has a semblance of the gopī’s love because it is also passionate and sexual (kāmarūpa rāga), but the purity of what Śrī Rūpa calls Krishna-śukhārtha (the intention to make Krishna happy) is not clear enough in her case to qualify her as being similar to the pristinely clear and pure motivations and intentions of the Vraja gopīs.

As such Kubjā doesn’t quite exist within Vṛndāvana with the gopīs, but close by in Mathura with the women of that city.

In describing the divisions of rāgānuga-sādhana, Sri Rupa and Sri Jiva (the commentator) explain that those who aspire for romantic love with too much focus on the external physical details (“sambhoga-icchāmāyī”) actually wind up emulating kāma-prāya persons, like Kubjā. Those who focus primarily on the pure sentiment of selfless love at the core of that sexual passion (“tad-bhāva-icchāmāyī”) are the better examples of kāmānuga-rāgānuga-sādhakas (those who aspire to love Krishna like the gopīs do).

Kubjā was extremely, extremely blessed, but still there is an experience that is higher and more intensely blissful than what she attains. That is the mood of the Vraja gopīs, whose best is Śrī Rādhā.

Vraja Kishor

www.vrajakishor.com

Tagged: gopi-bhava, kubja, Raganuga

Thursday, March 31st, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Thursday, March 31st, 2016
Flacq, Mauritius

Sweet Trails

Kala had it in his plan, for anyone interested from our Bon Acceuil community, to join us in the trails through the nearby sugar cane fields. Well, that did transpire. Thirteen of us made our way along silky smooth soil and then some rocky soil. Even paved trails were hit, but all the same it was sugar cane country, only sometimes interrupted by pineapple.

The walk was lovely, even during the times where we got lost. That wasn't in Kala's plans, though it always contributes to an adventure.

At one point, out of the blue, one of those towering plants moved. It started to jerk and rustle. We couldn't make out the cause. After several moments of stillness from our side, a man emerged with a sickle and a bunch of leaves in hand. His clothes were of a camouflage colour and he had a mesh hood on his head. He spooked us.

He's probably stealing for his cows,” Kala suggested. The man went about his way rather silently despite our obvious presence. Sugar cane attracts wasps which explained the needed hood. Also, the long sleeved shirt and pants explain protection since the leaves can cut through your skin.

The morning jaunt was all about walking and japa meditation. The afternoon afforded us a swim at Belle Mare. The evening drew families from all around to bring their kids, either as volunteers or just to watch how we re-enact the pastimes of Krishna. Yes, indeed we are pulling together the drama, “Krishna is...” The youth are both shy and introverted, but we see the potential in them. They nevertheless come across with a fairly good stage presence.

It's rewarding.

May the source be with you!

5 km

Wednesday, March 30th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Wednesday, March 30th, 2016
Flacq, Mauritius

Cutting Short the Life

Here in Mauritiusthe health department is right on top of things. When you enter the country at customs you show that you’ve filled-out a yellow slip, which you sign to confirm both where you've been recently, and what might be any physical issue for you.

I indicated on my slip that I have no ailments, but given the fact that I was recently in Indiaand Africa, a nice man from the health unit came to follow up at the household I'm staying. A blood sample he did take. No phone call from him would be a good sign.

For my health I took that trek from Flacq and let my host and some other local followers of bhakti lead the way through the town and outskirts, which are mostly sugar cane fields. Admittedly, after a day in the air or in airports, addressing one’s life-span is important.

With the same group, we sat after walking to review a verse from the book, Bhagavatam. While reading a chapter entitled “the passing away of Bhisma,” what captivated us all was some hopeful epiphany, the remark in the verse that Krishna's mere glance at the Kauravas shortened their duration of life. Luckily for the Kaurava army, the bad guys, their life was abbreviated. More days of existence would mean more offences to the public. More offences means more bad karma. Krishna, in the form of the Health Department, decided that a virus had to be eradicated. The Kauravas lost lives, big time, in the war at Kuruksetra.

May the source be with you!

7 km

Tuesday, March 29th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Tuesday, March 29th, 2016
Durban, Johannesburg, Mauritius

On With Two Words

It was a gimmicky line but it made a good point. At the Durban Airport, in the waiting area, Kala and I admired the expansive picture of the first plane to soar in the air with a caption expressing that it didn't take off in seconds, rather, “It took 6 years.”

To get something good in life it takes hard work. In the Bhagavad-gita much reference is given by Krishna to two words used over and over again. They are yoga and yajna. Both words imply discipline. Yoga, in the literal sense, refers to linking or re-connecting to the Divine. It means to be obedient, to co-operate and be a team player-- with the previous teachers, one’s guru, and God. It is a type of surrender where you renounce your independence.

Yajna, in traditional definition, refers to sacrifice, much in the same way that yoga is connecting. Chapter three makes strong statements to this end. “Work for the satisfaction of Vishnu, otherwise work (activity) binds you to this world.”

It is all a matter of how you channel your Karma. We are all born with a certain psychophysical structure and when directed properly, towards a disciplined aim, towards the Absolute, then good results will come.

“Be not attached to the fruits of your labour, but be attached to the duty, the discipline,” Krishnaalso states in chapter three.

Kala and I took the flight to Johannesburgand then on to Mauritius. The flying was smooth, especially if it were compared to when the Wright brothers took their first crack at it.

May the source be with you!

0 km

Monday, March, 28th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Monday, March, 28th, 2016
Durban, South Africa

Looking At the Cooking

Before my morning circle stroll around the temple I decided to pay a visit to the guys doing all the cooking for the big event, “The Chariot Festival.” Beginning at midnight about two to three dozen men fill these pots (40 plus) with broad beans on one side and rice in the other side. Many kilos of grains go in each pot for the cooking, and each pot serves one hundred people. Yesterday the meal prepared was biryani, something South Africans love. Today the alternate preps were on “The Beans,” Anil told me.

I was there to show support to Anil and his comrades as we all stood in the smoky atmosphere. “We ordered these pots from India, but we made a more high-teck burner underneath. With the metal wall around the burning wood it saves a lot of the fuel,” said Anil.

The room where I'm accommodated is on the second story just above the outdoor kitchen. I hear the crackling of the fire during my light sleep. Sometimes a gust of smoke bellows up to make a partial appearance in my room. I also hear the chatting of the cooks below, but it is the chatter of happy chaps. My sleep is slightly interrupted at times, but I really don't mind since it is a small trance of “devotional commotion.”

Such interruptions are too little to be agitated. After all the cooks are doing such a noble thing, cooking night after night for the hundred thousand head count.

Unsung heroes!

May the source be with you!

7 km

Sunday, March 27th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Sunday, March 27th, 2016
Durban, South Africa

The Japa Gang

There is a regular group of us, a non-official japa mob, which takes to circling the temple in the morning. I use the word mob, (maybe gang is more appropriate) to indicate that we are a dangerous lot. Armed with a mantra, we are committed to declaring war on the illusion of our own world. When you bond together, to get down to business, it produces a positive end result.

Sadbhuj, a monk I've known from

Germany

, came to join our walking crew and after an hour of the forward move on two fronts – the physical trekking and the spiritual chanting – he remarked, “this is a good program!”

I'm dying to know the type of birds that fly over us. They are of different breeds from those I am familiar with. I asked the “gang” if anyone has heard a loon before. “No!”

“Well, Google it.”

His cry is the most haunting/mystical sound you'll ever have heard on earth. It's a sound of eeriness, reassurance and calmness all wrapped in one. Check it out! I've never really heard Krishna playing His flute, but I would say that nature is cutting it close when you hear this bird show off.

Many hours were spent, not with the japa mob (that occupied one hour) but with our drama crew working hard to première the play “Mr Puri.” It highlights a monk who’s trekked hundreds of miles. He travelled a lot, and with a heavy load of sandalwood for his worshippable deity Gopal. Our troupe did marvellous. This is a real passion for me – putting together stories in theatrical format, apart from walking and listening to the loon.

May the source be with you!

7 km

Saturday, March 26th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Saturday, March 26th, 2016
Durban

South Africa

It Started With Kreeshan

I met Kreeshan again after six years. We affectionately referred to him as a member of the KKK. Along with 2 other young volunteers from our drama projects, these comrades all had the first letter to their first name as a K, hence the name of the club alleviated to them. Actually, Kreeshan is now no longer a young teen, like when I first met him. He's got to be 30 now. Easily.

Recently returned from Dubai, after the oil industry met with challengers, Kreeshan is back with family and friends.

On the second day of the Chariot Festival, people are coming by the thousands to get involved in sacred sound and food mostly. On an annual basis I'm asked to lead as Dance Master in the Bhakti Cloud Tent. It's magic. Practically at the start of the half hour session, it's a handful of people but by the end the place is rocking.

When in DurbanI usually get the opportunity to walk down sinful lane by checking out fair food. I really mean to say “junk food” but I don't want to be offensive to prasadam, sacred food that’s offered. Chips (French fries) are something I rarely get. I was confessing to Bhakti Chaitanya Swami that I go on a non-health kick when I come. Even though the fries are good for the tongue, they are terrible for the tank.

I was concerned about the exertion of my dear friend Kadama Karana Swami, another monk, who's recovering from cancer surgery. The cancer was exacerbated by a bullet shot he received some years ago in India. He's an inspiration as far as monastics are concerned.

May the source be with you!

7 km

Friday, March 25th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Friday, March 25th, 2016
Durban, South Africa

Under the Sun

Heat! Humidity! Stupidity! That's if you don't address the heat properly. Kala and I decided to declare war on the sun by purchasing these straw-like cowboy hats. People commented “Fashionable”.

Yes, the Chariots Festival, in its 28th year in Durban, had kick-started at 11.30 AM after a speech by monk Bhakti Chaitanya Swami. Afterward a dance troupe performed. Coconuts with camphor cubes aflame the tops were thrown and smashed in front of the leading chariot of Balarama. This is a regular part of the ritual before the pull of rope that mobilizes the chariots as the walk of the leg begins.

Everyone gets to walk. That is the unique thing about this festival. I would say that this 2 12 to 3 kilometre walk is not what people are used to. Participants in the event come in their fancy cars. Furthermore walking at this time of day, under intense sun, is also novel for South Africans. Like all over the world people love cars.

Just as we were about to embark on this walk to pull the chariots, one cream-coloured auto (the make I don't know) slowly plied through the crowd as a service vehicle. It got me reflecting on how it is such an endeavour to secure one of those machines. They are expensive. Convenient? Maybe! Destructive? Yes! In so many ways.

In any event, it was nice to observe the organics of people walking such a long distance (note the sarcasm) and even enjoying it.

May the source be with you!

9 km

Thursday, March, 24th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Thursday, March, 24th, 2016
Durban, South Africa

Togetherness

You are taking a little bit of chance walking anywhere near or in the downtown of Durbanat night, but I was near the weekend, security patrolled, marquis where we had our drama practice. I needed some solo time, a few minutes to chill before Tamohar, my driver, would pick me up to take me back home. He made sure I wouldn’t walk through the seediest part of town. The short strip I did trek was odd. It was not too late, just after 9.30. It’s hard to imagine any foul play when there is no one on the street to do anything.

When Tamohar did eventfully stop for taking me off the street, I asked him, “Would Nelson Mandela be happy with the way things turned out in Africa?”

Tamohar, being a South Africa, gave his honest opinion, “No, he wouldn't be happy. Mandela worked hard for freedom, for a world that would honour fairness.” To take a quote from Mandela himself in this regard, “Another important building block for new democracy is the love and goodwill we show to each other. That is the spirit of Masakhan, of bringing one another together.”

The vision of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, similarly amplified “Togetherness.” Merely through the practice of sankirtan we can achieve a likeness of unity – unity and diversity.

South Africa is a great venue for experiencing the universal motion of singing and dancing for the races of all souls.

May the source be with you!

5km

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016
Durban, South Africa

Improve is the Way to Groove

My usual trek is around the temple. The walkway that borders around is quite perfect except for the guaranteed puddles of water-- residual wet area from the evening's water sprinkler system. Some dodging has to be done.

I really appreciate the coy fish, they’re in the dozens and on a permanent swim. They weren't there last year, floating in the moat which is next to the walkway. Yes indeed there's this pleasant man-made water moat that makes the trek that much more enjoyable. Now, you are not alone. You're on for a stroll and you got these cute creatures next to you.

The installation of the fish is an improvement. What I'm looking for is an improvement to our newly work-in-progress play “Mr Puri.” Today is Gaura Purnima, when the world celebrates the kirtan trail-blazing Sri Chaitanya, born 530 years ago. Practically a contemporary of his is someone by the name of Madhavendra Puri, after which our play is named. I've been struggling a bit with a few scenes, especially one that entails my volunteer boy-and-girl actors trying to put some choreography to clearing the jungle with sickles, picks, and spades. However, a consistent working at something will always pay off.

One third-party person, a woman, came in during practice and made an encouraging remark.

“It's so beautiful seeing these performers celebrating the outdoor working experience. I love the way they are dancing with their jungle tools.”

Confirmation! I guess we are getting somewhere in the endeavour to improve.

May the source be with you!

4 km

Monday, March 21st, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Monday, March 21st, 2016
Mumbai, India to Doha, Durban

Flying

In Pune, 15,000 strong

Before the stage they did strong
All to hear the rights and wrongs
In between the bhakti songs.

Now we find ourselves flying

At points you feel like dying
Either that, or like crying
For only sitting and not lying.

Oh! To be able to walk
It's a dream or cheap talk
In the jet that did rock
But in safety bearing tilak.

My foot would hang in the aisle

Appearing not to be in file
All passengers have a style
Some sitting under a blanket pile.

I would feel the wheel of the cart
With its food and the butter tart
And the wheel of the duty-free mart
At which I did not take part.

The flight seemed to go for ever

An endless flow like Ganges River
The trip was another endeavour
To please the lord, it's maya to sever.

May the source be with you!

0 km

Sunday, March 20th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Sunday, March 20th, 2016
Pune, India

Loving It!

As usual, at this time of the year, each day looks the same. The sun is ever present. When the British came I'm sure it was a breath of fresh air for them.

I have been pacing on the temple's veranda and seeing down below the crows like clockwork, going for their breakfast, pecking at any creepy-crawlies upon the grass. It's at this grassy patch that Corrado had been doing his pacing while dutifully chanting on those beads of his. God bless him! This has been his first trip overseas. He's loving it –

India

being in a devotional atmosphere. It's our last day here.

Mandala, luckily, has had his second visit to this land of Bharat. He's been under the weather the last few days. His throat and stomach are agitated, yet his spirits stay high.

Balaram, an excellent dancer, has been a good sport, attending all functions for Sadhana, and inspiring everyone with his moves during dancing sessions.

An additional person, a cool dude from South Africa, is Nimai. He's also a team player and tagged along with our core “Krishna Is…” group since Mayapur. His trip to Indiaterminates as well.

At the writing of this blog we haven't yet performed our drama, which is slotted for the evening in front of 10,000 students. I'm sure it will be a hit.

I’m relieved that I put in some kilometres today.

May the source be with you!

7 km

Saturday, March 19th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Saturday, March 19th, 2016
Pune, India

Another Ashram

We have a second ashram in Pune, or rather the first. Before the large ashram opened in Katraj, the humble beginnings of Krishna Consciousness were initiated at Pune Camp. That’s where I was driven to at 4AM. In a tight space I was expected to lead the morning kirtans and give the class based on the Bhagavtam, Canto 4. It was later on, that the main leader for the area, Radhe Shyam, expressed what he got out of the talk.

“I liked your bear story, when you were on your walk. Secondly, I liked the point about empathic listening, and lastly the point about getting to the essence of a story and not being logged down by details.” I was honoured to get complements from him.

At the university grounds, Bharati Vidya Pith, our group of volunteer actors did check out three important components to a venue: performance space, sound, and lights. We also took advantage of a technical run-through. Though the lights weren’t quite ready for us, nor the sound, we did have the carpets laid out for us over the stage for the rehearsal. Hence, the foundation was there. It went well. We’ve come a long way from our first get-together with our volunteer group. Apart from our two entertainers from Canada--Balarama and Corrado-- Krishna gave the challenge of sending us computer people with little experience.

When there was a break I was asked how marathon waling is possible.

“Are you thinking about walking India one day?”

My usual answer to this question, which does arise, is, “I wish I could do something about the traffic and the heat, but I know I’ll get fed wherever I go.”

To that I get a laugh and a head waggle.

May the Source be with you!

2 Km

Friday, March 18th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Friday, March 18th, 2016
Pune, India

A Real Person

I was very content, and honoured, to deliver the Bhagavatam message to a large group of monks. Based on the story of Daksha, found in Canto 4, the topic had much to do with daughter and father relations. In this story the father shows weakness of heart and spirit.

I had been requested to talk about some of the walking ventures I’ve experienced. It was met very favourably.

A real highlight for me was reading from the book “My Days with Prabhupada: A Young Monk’s Path to God in the Hare Krishna Movement.” It was given to me by the author, Umapati Swami, when I was in Mayapur. There is lots of nectar in the book.

An excerpt:

I sat on the floor with a few others in the Swami’s office repairing something one

afternoon while the Swami worked at his floor-level desk. Suddenly my hand
slipped and the blade of my screwdriver hit my fingertip. I felt a sharp stinging
pain. Had I cut myself? I looked. It seemed alright at first but suddenly a little
round drop of blood appeared. Better to wrap it with something. I looked up at the
Swami, but he was busy. I shouldn’t disturb him. On the other hand, I might smear
blood on something. “Do you have a piece of cloth?” I asked. The Swami tossed
old typewriter ribbon as he continued to work. I hesitated; an inky ribbon on a cut?
I put it down.

Then the Swami looked over at me. “Oh,” he said, “I didn’t know you had cut

yourself. I’m sorry.”

I shrugged. After all, it was barely more than a scratch. “Oh that’s alright!”

“I’m sorry” said the Swami…

The Swami apologized a few more times. I was seeing another side of the Swami

now. He had many things to take care of-- writing books, teaching disciples,
spreading Krishna Consciousness, yet he was apologizing over a small cut. He was
a real person.

May the Source be with you!

3Km

Thursday, March 17th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Thursday, March 17th, 2016
Pune, India

Everything is a Workout

I’ve been receiving invitations to be driven to a park about three kilometres away. There I can get some walking in. But I declined the offers in favour of staying on the campus where I can pace back and forth at the temple’s veranda. Going through traffic in these hustle/bustle cities in India, even for a short length, is not my cup of tea.

I pace, and a small group paces with me, and we all put in the leg-and-lung power together. The legs do the walking. The lungs do the chanting. For the legs you can call it a subtle work-out. The chanting, on the other hand, is a strenuous one-- one with the mind.

There’s a constant struggle to keep that rascal mind under the thumb. The mind is a slippery little critter. It slithers around in a quiet speed and mode.

In the bhakti-yoga tradition a portion of the day is spent in disciplinary action, in confronting the mind. Exercise such discipline and you’ve got a friend.

Physical work-out did become a component for the day. Right under the deity Balaji is a hall that is reserved for our drama practices. The space has turned into a gymnasium of sorts. From 2pm to 9 pm we carry on with direction and the intellectual side of a script, putting it into practicalities.

The volunteers we have are basically computer people who do very little for their physicality. Our weekend assignment, the play “Krishna Is…,” is starting to take form with the help of stiff-ish, but sincere, volunteers.

May the Source be with you!

5 Km

Wednesday, March 16th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Wednesday, March 16th, 2016
Pune, India

Who Is Central?

I had a few precious moments with Bhakti Caru Swami, a monk who hails from Bengal. Our topic, off the second, was really about damage control. When people go off course, emotionally for instance, how do you cater to the sensitivities of all parties?

A key factor involved in assisting a cool-down is in the principle of empathic listening. This listening goes such a long way in smoothing out relations. To “hear out” someone takes time, but it is time well spent and invested.

Now I have no qualms with monk Bhakti Caru, and I doubt he has anything major against me. We were addressing the common devotees that we serve, devotees who sometimes do not agree with each other. It is a given that human beings are human beings. They will have a collision of concepts. It was a pleasure to listen to the morning class by Bhakti Caru Swami. He reminded us of the sacrifices and care of our guru, Srila Prabhupada. For some years now he has been conducting seminars on the subject of “Prabhupada: The Person, The Guru, The Mentor and Founder of The Hare Krishna Movement.”

When he finished his talk, before the crowd of over one hundred monks, he asked me if I would say a few words. So I did.

“I just wanted to thank Bhakti Caru Maharaja for helping us to see that central to our culture is the person who set the tone and standards of bhakti-yoga for the modern age. If we don’t have this kind of focus then surely we will be divided by the different concepts.”

Basically I voiced, in a non-rehearsed way, the need to fit under one umbrella that can shelter various approaches and viewpoints.

May the Source be with you!

5 Km

Tuesday, March 15th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Tuesday, March 15th, 2016
Pune, India

Discipline in Pune

Two flights and a lengthy ride from Pune Airportbrought us to the gorgeous temple of Radha-Vrndavan and Balaji. I had made a quick visit here two and a half years ago and at that time this six acre plot was rather barren, except for the temple itself and some living quarters for the monks.

Now, you can see the high-rises doing just that, rising high on all sides. We are talking about residential buildings, some of which will take care of living needs of community members.

We were greeted by an eager bunch, as is common at all the places we go to where there is a monastery. In this particular ashram you are a strict practitioner when you join. You are upholding four regulative principles: no meat, fish or eggs, no gambling, no intoxicants and no sexual connections before you join. In the first year of residence as a brahmachari you are in yellow attire. The second stage is that one wear white for five years. The next phase you get diksha or initiation from a guru (spiritual master). At some point you will don saffron coloured clothes.

I would say it is a happy regimentation. The young men seem content with their discipline. The prasadam (food) is good. Another note about strictness is that while our group had been invited to participate in the weekend’s Youth Festival, called “Dhristi,” our drama “Krishna Is…” was to be presented, but not in the full production. One scene where dancers portray Krishna and His female devotees dance in the night, we agreed to leave out of the drama, being too sensitive to the large portion of audience members consisting of students and monks.

There you have it!

May the Source be with you!

3 Km

Monday, March 14th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Monday, March 14th, 2016
Kolkata, India

The Birthplace

I was asked to deliver a class to a group of monks in yet another location. A five-minute walk from the actual birthplace of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, is a second ashram for men. We reflected on the power of prayer as emanating from the sincere heart and lips of saint Prahlad. “Streams of excellent words” are expressed to invoke the attention of the Supreme-- words that are compiled by yogis such as Brahma and the Kumaras, yet it seems that such appeals are not always instantaneously responded to.

Prahlad’s mood was “what effect can my prayers then have coming from the humble quarters like myself?” Even more unworthy, he expressed himself as being born in a family of trouble-makers, therefore how may the Creator give attention to what he had to pray for? Prahlad spoke from a meek platform.

It was with a prayerful mood that the group of us, our Canadian contingent, Ekalavya, and the dozen or more local brahmacharis, gingerly made our way through about three city blocks to arrive at the birthplace. According to Prabhupada’s nephew, Sankarshan, our guru was born in this middle-class home, shaded by a fairly young jackfruit tree. The house, secured by the Iskcon Society, is still intact. This was where he was born in 1896 and where he grew up. Here we sang the guru song called “Guru Vandanam.” I suggested to the monks that perhaps they can look into some tasteful cosmetics to give the place a face-lift.

Visitors to Kolkata mark it as a spiritual pilgrimage to take advantage of.

May the Source be with you!

5 Km

Sunday, March 13th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Sunday, March 13th, 2016
Kolkata, India

Something Special About Victoria Square

When the mission only began, in Kolkata in 1971, Iskcon had secured the current building on Albert Road. The American girls who shared in the launching and pioneering of the mission also stayed at the premises. There was a slight complication when it came to their bathing arrangements. To get to their facility they had to pass through the men’s section, so they found an alternative.

Across the street is Victoria Square Park which is primarily a lake, the women began in the early morning to take their bath there. They observed local women taking advantage of the waters. Thus it became routine to go for the washing and preparing oneself to be clean for morning sadhana, and darshan of the deities of Krishna. That practice terminated when neighbours asked our Calcuttaborn guru, Srila Prabhupada, “Why are your female disciples bathing with the prostitutes?” Of course, our young women were not aware of who their bathing companions were.

It was around this lake (more like a pond) that Mandala and I took to circling on foot in a clock-wise direction. It truly is a good location to stay right there with nature in the fairly-well maintained natural grove that borders the water. People come here for a run, a walk or a work-out. A modest home on the property, houses a family- a man, his wife, two sons (from what we could see), a dog who sits like he’s the king of the place, and a family of ducks.

The British did some awesome things when they developed and designed Kolkata. It was well laid out with parks and ponds, which are just ideal for people to converge. Victoria Square Lakehas been utilized by people for quite some decades. Our guru walked around it. His enthusiastic female students bathed in it. It’s undoubtedly a pilgrimage site.

May the Source be with you!

8 Km

Saturday, March 12th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Saturday, March 12th, 2016
Kolkata, India

Time and Us

It was a liberating day from the standpoint that claustrophobia was ended. Yes, part of the reason for feeling crammed in Kolkata was a lack of pacing space in the Iskcon building. I’m afraid I sent a subtle complaint to one of the higher ups and he responded with speed. He did something about it.

“I need air that moves and space to pace,” which was sent to the ether. I was grateful to be relocated 1 kilometer away. I can walk now. I stayed in the flat provided for a 3 day period.

Space is one thing, time is another. Two musician companions secured for our recording project are chronically late. It was a great opportunity for me to extol the glories of God in the form of time.

“Do not think of the Creator as Gopal, the friend of the cows, as Mukunda, meaning the giver of liberation, or as Janardan, maintainer of all,” I told the 2 young men. Think of Him exclusively as time (a quote from the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 11). This bold statement is made by Krishna and has all the relevance to everyone that hopes to keep appointments clear.

I added, “How can you two succeed in life in this manner? You want to be taken seriously, right?”

Mind you, all was said lovingly, and I hope change will come.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Friday, March 11th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Friday, March 11th, 2016
Kolkata, India

The Right Look At Technology

Mukunda Goswami is author of several books. He is a monk and a fine devotee and human being. He recently came out with the book, “Spirit Matters,” a collection of articles he wrote for the Hindustan Times. I chose to pull out an excerpt from one of his articles pertinent to walking and the reasons for doing so (I can’t take much credit for walking these last few days due to tough circumstances including some illness).

From May 27th, 2003:

Driving Toward Liberation or Hell, Our Choice

Everyday about 3,000 people every day die from auto mishaps. Reckless and drunken driving, speeding, and distraction, greatly exacerbate this unfortunate phenomenon of our times […]

In Bangkok, congestion on roads is so great that many people dress and feed their children on the way to work while riding in their cars […]

Cars, the machines Americans invented and mass produced in the early 20th century replaced horse drawn carriages, but almost immediately they needed new roads. Then exhaust and the resultant air pollution became a problem. Costs to create and purchase devices to limit atmospheric contamination became a problem. Skyrocketing petrol prices became a problem.

Because we’re bedazzled by the speed and privacy cards afford, the sense of power of being in the driver’s seat and all the other benefits to which we’re addicted, these problems seem inconsequential […]

Autos have become a symbol of affluence. Without them, one can more easily transcend the wide spread conditioning that tells us materially privileged circumstances are ends in themselves. Even for holistic health reasons, some car owners now prefer walking, cycling, and public transport. But the Gita, 6.1, also asserts that “One who lights no fire and performs no work is not necessarily a true mystic.” This forecasts action and utilization of technology.

Cars can be meditation chambers or prison cells. We can use them to expand our spirituality or to watch ourselves pile up in hell.

May the Source be with you!

2 km

Thursday, March 10th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Thursday, March 10th, 2016
Kolkata, India

Never Give In Or Up

I like the ashram here, the abode of dozens of young monks. However, the city, Kolkata, is another matter. Like the monster metropoles of the modern world, you have congestion, noise, objects in motion (mainly automobiles) coming from all directions, and it’s also hot and humid. It’s a test for me once I step outside of the ashram. One of the reasons for the few days here was to do a recording in a studio. Going there by taxi along with producer, Eklavya, was easy enough, but I couldn’t imagine trekking it. Once I arrived I felt I was psychologically prepared for being in some kind of sterile room with all noises blocked out. The recording studio was A/C’d, thank God. The musicians to accompany my vocals were Gauranga, on mridanga (drum), and Archavigraha on karatalas, they were fabulous. But my voice left much to be desired. In playing it back I sounded tired and raspy. After doing several bhajans I listened to the work, and I was disappointed.

“Try again,” I had to say to myself. People working at the studio are nice and we always need to look at the bright side of things.

I had, earlier on, trekked around the pond at Albert Road. This space gave me some hope that in the midst of the odds against me, there’s always some light. I thought of the warrior, Arjuna, and how in the middle of explosive war-craft with clashing noises, dust turned up by horses’ hooves, and having death all around him, how he must have felt. Well, he had Krishnaphysically near him as his support. He also has Krishna mystically with him as God in the heart.

There is never a time to give in or give up when you consider that you have a backing.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

Wednesday, March 9th, 2016
→ The Walking Monk

Wednesday, March 9th, 2016
Kolkata, India

Kolkata at Last

So here we are, a four hour drive from Mayapur on National Highway 43, and Kaliyani landed us at the Iskcon Centeron Albert Road. It was years since I was here. I was glad to see a healthy renovation on this old, British-colonial home, now resembling a temple, men’s ashram with guest facility, and restaurant.

At 2:30 PM I was scheduled to give a class to the bramacharis, monks. There are, according to their records, about 70 men living in these quarters. Most of them came around. I suppose the balance were in Mayapur at the kirtan mela. I ended up speaking about the glories of walking: how it was traditional amongst the renounced order, how it becomes a boost to the health, how it is making a green statement, and also how it becomes an excellent way to contact and interact with the public.

The boys, monks, were curious to know of the methodology. “How and where do you sleep at night? What do you eat when on the road? How many kilometres do you put in a day?”

I answered all the questions and then asked for their feedback on the presentation. They seemed rather inspired. I don’t think I’ll catch them organizing a special padayatra festival on foot. However, I was hoping to see if any one of them would cross the road to circumambulate the small lake at Victoria Park.This is the lake that our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had walked around in the ‘70’s.

“Walking does most definitely assist the walker in developing a sense of detachment to the world,” is what I told these young men.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

ISKCON Scarborough – Rama Navami celebrations coming Friday – Special class by HG Rohinipriya das – 15th April 2016‏
→ ISKCON Scarborough

Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

The appearance day of Lord Ramacandra (also known as Rama Navami) falls on Friday 15th April 2016. Devotees of the Lord fast until sunset on this day.

We at ISKCON Scarborough will be celebrating Ram Navami in a grand manner coming Friday. Program starts at 6.45 pm sharp with Tulasi arti.

A special Ram Navami lecture will be given by HG Rohinipriya das prabhu.
A free vegetarian Ekadasi feast will be served after our program.

Rama Navami

Rama Navami is the appearance day of Lord Rama. Navami means nine, Lord Rama appeared on the ninth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra. His name was Ramacandra, Prince of Ayodha.

Lord Ramacandra appeared in the Sun Dynasty, as the son of King Dasharatha, in the line of King Ikshvaku, the first ruler of Earth. Lord Rama was the darling of His father and mother, Queen Kaushalya, as well as the hero of all Ayodhya, the capital of what was then a single world kingdom.

Rama had all the admirable qualities of leadership, even from earliest youth. He possessed all physical strength, beauty, religious wisdom, fame for prowess with weapons, royal wealth, and complete renunciation.

Inseparable from Rama was Lakshmana, His younger brother. Together, the two brothers appeared on Earth to vanquish the almost invincible King Ravana and his host of Rakshasa warriors.

Here is a letter Srila Prabhupada wrote in 1968 describing how one should celebrate Ram Navami:

“So far the Advent Day of Lord Ramacandra, it should be celebrated as Lord Caitanya's Birthday was done. Fasting up to evening, and then take prasadam, and chant Hare Krishna whole day, and be engaged in reading and chanting off and on, chant for some time, then read for some time, then again have Kirtana and so on, throughout the day. If you have not got a Ramayana, then you can read Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam that is all right”.

Biodata of HG Rohinipriya das prabhu:

HG Rohini Priya Das prabhu graduated as a doctor of Medicine from Mumbai university but decided to dedicate his life in the service of Lord Krishna.

Prabhu, is a senior Brahmachari at ISKCON's Sri Radha Gopinath mandir at Chowpatty,Mumbai,India.

He is currently serving as the Vice President at ISKCON Chowpatty in Mumbai.

For the last 25 years he has not only been practising Krishna Consciousness but has been actively distributing the message of Bhagavad Gita to thousands of Engineering , Medical students and other professionals all over India.

He also travels widely to USA, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal and Canada and delivers various classes/ seminars on Krsna Consciousness.

We welcome you, your family and friends to ISKCON Scarborough coming Friday

ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7

Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website:
www.iskconscarborough.com

Tulasi Jala Dan
→ Ramai Swami

Tulasi Jala Dan can be followed for one month during the hot season in the northern hemisphere.

One may hang a pot with a hole in it, fill it with water and drip water over Tulasi and Shaligrama Shila.

As it is hot this time of year it is pleasing for the Shaligrama to receive cool waters dripped upon Him.

In the southern hemisphere be careful not to overwater as we come out of Summer and into Autumn.

Happy Appearance Day!
→ KKSBlog

The conventional understanding of a hero is perhaps that of a Marvel character; one who possesses extraordinary talents and fights evil to save the planet from annihilation. But there are real-life heroes too, whose superpower lies in their ability to influence the lives of others through their actions and dedication. Real-life heroes who sacrifice their own personal comfort day in and day out, to transform others. They labour out of love and passion for what they do. We would like to honour one such hero on the anniversary of his appearance in this world (12 April!

reconnecting and having fun with japa
→ simple thoughts

Hare Krishna
This is a small video which I hope will help those who may find themselves struggling with their japa

I pray it proves useful in making japa more productive and fun, and as always any thoughts please share

yours humbly

A new offering to the Lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada! As a…
→ Dandavats

A new offering to the Lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada!
As a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON, a Mega Youth festival named “Xpression- a festival of gratitude” was organized by ISKCON Kanpur in which around 10.000 youths participated from all over Kanpur & nearby places like Lucknow, Allahabad & Varanasi etc. It had a great impact on youths & many of them carried valuable memorable lessons through the medium of Shadow Dance on Bhagavad Gita, Drama on OMG! Movie which clarified many of their doubts. Along with this youths also enjoyed a reverberating Kirtan by Russian devotees. Everybody was spell bound by talks of HG Devakinandan Prabhuji (Zonal Secretary Kanpur) & HG Gauranga Prabhuji. This event was also very well attended by many big dignitaries such as District Magistrate (DM) of Kanpur, Amish Tripathi (Famous writer), and Income Tax Commissioner Etc. At the end youths were very happy with Krishna Prasad & also a return gift of a book on Srila Prabhupada along with a beautiful Photo frame of Sri Sri Radha Madhav Kanpur. Responses of youths & many other visitors were to have this event next time in a very big mega way with triple the count. The organizational efforts were very well coordinated under the guidance of HG Devakinandan Prabhuji, HG Prem Harinam Prabhuji (Temple president) & HG Radha Ranjan Prabhuji (Vice- President). We are hoping to serve more & more by conducting such events in service of Srila Prabhupada.
Find more photos here: https://goo.gl/W5d6Oo

The transcendentally beautiful ISKCON Ujjain temple (Album with…
→ Dandavats

The transcendentally beautiful ISKCON Ujjain temple (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: These temples, they are just like oasis in the desert for the conditioned souls to quench the thirst of their desire for real happiness. Letter to Ksirodakshayi, January 29, 1973
Find them here: https://goo.gl/38Nkjn

Why did the Kauravas and the Pandavas have to involve the whole world in their mutual fight?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Why did the Kauravas and the Pandavas have to involve the whole world in their mutual fight? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How can we avoid feeling disheartened on hearing exalted levels of devotion?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post How can we avoid feeling disheartened on hearing exalted levels of devotion? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Establishing Rama Rajya Salient Features and Advantages
→ Dandavats

By His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada

So ideal state means the king must be very responsible. There are many instances. Just like Yudhisthira Maharaja, who was a pious king. In Bengali there is a proverb rajar dose raja nasto dose grihastha bhrasta. If the king is not pious, then the whole kingdom is spoiled. Everyone has got this experience. So, the king must be very honest, pious, and religious. Such kings were called rajarsis. Although they were kings, they were great saintly people. . . . If the king is educated nicely in spiritual affairs, if he knows what the purpose of kingdom is, then all citizens automatically become religious, purposeful. And if the king is a rascal, naturally all others will follow, and they will become rascals. – Bhagavad gita 2.32, London, September 2, 1973 A king’s qualification is judged by the temperament of the people in the kingdom. If they are happy in all respects, it is to be understood that the king is honest and is executing his duties rightly. Krishna said that the king in whose kingdom the citizens are happy is very dear to Him. – Krishna Book, Chapter 52 Continue reading "Establishing Rama Rajya Salient Features and Advantages
→ Dandavats"

The Advent, Exile, and Triumph of Lord Ramacandra
→ Dandavats

By Ramacandra das

The incarnations of Godhead are as numerous as the waves of the sea, yet Krsna, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the source of them all. Just as from one original candle we may light many other candles equal in potency, so Krsna expands Himself in many incarnations, each as powerful as Himself. Each incarnation has the same objective in human society namely, to establish the principles of religion and to destroy demonic, irreligious influences. To accomplish this mission, the Lord once appeared as Sri Ramacandra, the ideal God-conscious king. The poet Valmiki tells the full history of Lord Ramacandra in the Ramayana, and the great sage Sukadeva Gosvami summarizes the Ramayana in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. To this day people in India worship Lord Ramacandra in thousands of temples and regard His reign the famous "Rama-rajya" as the model of God-conscious government. Continue reading "The Advent, Exile, and Triumph of Lord Ramacandra
→ Dandavats"

Don’t let your fears block you
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Evening Program at Singapore

Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Don’t let your fears block you appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Abrahamic and impersonalist misconceptions about Krishna’s position
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavatam class at Gauranga Center, Singapore

Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Abrahamic and impersonalist misconceptions about Krishna’s position appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Is the Ramayana relevant today?
→ Dandavats

By Chaitanya Charan das

One of the primary values that it conveys – selfless sacrifice – is especially relevant in our present times that are characterized by obsessive selfishness. Contemporary culture largely glamorizes the “me” paradigm, which impels people to seek their personal gratification without caring about its cost for others. When the same inconsiderate individualism causes us to neglect or manipulate the people around us – our family members, our neighbors and colleagues, then it boomerangs to wound our heart, afflicting it with emotional ruptures and gnawing loneliness. Thus, the “me” paradigm, despite its instinctive appeal to our ego, is disastrously myopic. Continue reading "Is the Ramayana relevant today?
→ Dandavats"