Jambavan Caves at Ranavav
Is “Sri Lanka” the Lanka of the Ramayana?
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By Shyamasundara Dasa: For hundreds, perhaps thousands of years the island that is currently known as “Sri Lanka” has traditionally been identified as the “Lanka” of the Ramayana. But is this really the case? Does the Ramayana support this tradition? April 9. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa…
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April 9. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: The Bowery Loft.
94 Bowery was a narrow, four-storey building. It had long ago been painted grey and bore the usual facing of a massive, black fire escape. A well-worn black double door, its glass panels reinforced with chicken wire, opened on to the street. The sign above the door read: “A.I.R. 3rd and 4th”, indicating that artists in residence occupied those floors. Harvey Cohen’s loft on the top floor of 94 Bowery was an open space, almost 100 feet long (from west to east) and twenty-five feet wide. It received a good amount of sunlight on the east, the Bowery side, and it also had windows at the west end, as well as a skylight. The exposed rafters of the ceiling were twelve feet above the floor.
Harvey Cohen had used the loft as an art studio and racks for paintings still lined the walls. A kitchen and shower were partitioned off in the northwest corner and a room divider stood about fifteen feet in the Bowery side windows. This divider did not run from wall to wall, but was open at both ends and was several feet short of the ceiling.
It was behind this partition that Prabhupada had his personal living area. A bed and a few chairs stood near the window and Prabhupada’s typewriter sat on his metal trunk next to a small table that held his stacks of Bhagavatam manuscripts. His dhotis hung drying on a clothesline.
On the other side of the partition was a dais, about ten feet wide and five feet deep, on which Prabhupada sat during his kirtanas and lectures. The dais faced west toward the loft’s large open space – open, that is, except for a couple of rugs and an old-fashioned, solid wood table, and, on an easel, Harvey’s painting of Lord Caitanya dancing with His associates.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=7
ISKCON 50 Meditations: April 9, 2016
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The Bowery Loft
20,000 Students at Largest Youth Festival in the History of ISKCON
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ISKCON 50th Anniversary Festival at 26 Second Avenue
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Tuesday, April 5th, 2016
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Tuesday, April 5th, 2016
Flacq , Mauritius
Last Stroll in Flacq
It had rained briefly overnight. The air was moist and the sun was trying to burn through as it was on its morning rise, but the clouds were somewhat stubborn, doing their upstaging.
Dinanath knows the town, Flacq, like the back of his hand, as the expression goes. I don't know if I’ve ever studied the back of my hand. The lay-out of the place does not resemble a grid or square line on a graph. The streets wind like a creeks. It is Dinanath who leads us to walk along the road-side.
I'm in front of our single -file. We walk and chant with our japa beads. I offer a hand-gestured wave to oncoming traffic. Those motorists and cyclists do, indeed reciprocate, most of the time.
We, our pedestrian crew, are in kurtas, and dhotis, and that doesn't threaten or intimidate anyone, except for perhaps someone of another religious sect. People here are predominantly Hindu.
I was reflecting on the previous night's moving kirtan, through the streets of Camp de Masque. The count of chanters was over three hundred and fifty people, all followers of Krishna . In such a quiet town nothing goes on, but for a few stray dogs barking, and now here we were. All in all, enthusiasm shone through from the chanters and the on lookers, from their front-doors and verandas. It all appears to be so colourful for us and them. I will admit, though, that we did not merge. The villagers were watching and listening while we carried on with our mantra that gives us life.
In the evening I left to go back to Canada
May the source be with you!
9 km
Monday, April 4th, 2016
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Monday, April 4th, 2016
Petrin , Mauritius
A National Park Trail
Wild guavas, green parrots, and traveller’s tree, a cousin to the Bird of Paradise, are some of the features of Black River National Park Mauritius
“Ooups! I did spot a small creature running across the trail,” I told Kala, the organizer of the walk.
The trek was great as a form of a community-builder. Bonding is so important to put in the classification of a human need, and so I'm grateful that each time I come to this isle of Mauritius
When a community is institutionally based there's often a routine of activities that may restrict the friendly flow of communication. Things sometimes get formal, when it's imperative to be able to loosen and laugh.
Our trek through endemic, indigenous, and invasive plants, over red, volcanic soil, included crossing three creeks as well as movement along the edge of a major reservoir.
I asked about swimming, but the reply was a speculation on eels being in its waters, so you can forget that idea.
We culminated the walk with a picnic. On the menu were ekadasi dishes. We relished this non-grain day which occurs every fortnight.
May the source be with you!
13 km
Sunday, April 3rd, 2016
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Sunday, April 3rd, 2016
Flacq , Mauritius
Being Out
When Krishna was a child He was close to the animals, plants, the hills and low-land, the forest, and clear fields. He was very much for the out-of-doors, perhaps making a strong endorsement towards this kind of life.
He was given responsibility at the earlier phase of His life. Call it chores if you want. He, amongst His buddies, herded cows. There was lots of time for carefreeness. He had space to run in, and a home to love in. Nanda and Yasoda were foster parents. The parents of His birth were held in prison and in hiding for quite the time.
Aindra, Dinanath, Kala, and I walked through the sugar cane fields again. We reflected on our own lives as being rather rural. In this way we shared a commonality amongst ourselves and even with Krishna Himself.
On this great day I spoke to a full capacity group on 3 occasions. The first venue called for speaking about being a serious member of the Krishna family, Iskcon, and how good behaviour meant a lot. Our talk was aimed, more so, to the four new initiates – four women; Saguna, Nama Chintamani, Divya Jnana Shakti, and Anasuya. Also, two men and another female received 2nd initiation. The latter were Dinanatha, Vadevyasa and Damayanti.
My second talk was to the Bon Acceuil community, where I took the opportunity to share details of last fall's Boston – Butler
Finally, at the home of my host, Amar, one hundred guests came to hear of Krishna as a youngster addressing a serpent, formally a demigod. Here again, we shared the notion that clean activities with people in nature was the way to put balance in life.
May the source be with you!
7 km
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016
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Saturday, April 2nd, 2016
Flacq , Mauritius
When the Breeze of Bhakti Blows
It can become difficult to breath in between sugar cane fields. It was such a relief to come upon a harvested, cleared-away crop, where the wind could breeze through. It also helped being on and elevated part of the land. A cool ventilation became our reality when this morning’s group reached the highest plateau. Ahhh! So nice!
The group – twenty members of the Vedic Cultural Centre in Flacq – invited us to their guru puja, the ceremony to honour the guru, Srila Prabhupada. That was followed by a class I was asked to give on the subject of “the rarity of devotion.” It's an intriguing topic and one that receives apparent contradictions. The Vedic literatures claim that bhakti (devotion) is hard to come by. Still we hear statements in the Gita where Krishna expresses that many, many people have become purified by knowledge of the Absolute.
One thing I can say for certain is that there was no shortage of devotion in the performance of our youth group this evening. Those “stiff, ironing-board” volunteers I spoke of earlier (no derogatory intent there) really loosened up in the drama “Krishna Is...” They excelled.
My purpose in devoting so much time to the youth wherever I go is to infuse in them a bhakti experience as well as to empower them as team-playing, future leaders.
It's an attempt at succession planning.
May the source be with you!
5 km
Friday, April 1st, 2016
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Friday, April 1st, 2016
Flacq , Mauritius
The Eye and the Sun
When the sun comes up in Mauritius 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
WAITING FOR ETERNITY WE FORGET TO LIVE TODAY and HEALING FROM OUR PAST TO LET OUR LIGHT SHINE
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[ A note written a week later from publishing this: I find it fascinating to understand why certain blogs are favored over others. It remains a mystery to me. I think that sometimes I am misunderstood as favoring a casual approach to bhakti. I am not. I am promoting pure devotional service, being fully engaged in our bhakti practices, and aspiring for the highest stages of prema. However, speaking from my long experience and observation of others, I am stressing that devotees shouldn't neglect or repress their physical/emotional requirements in the name of spiritual advancement. I have seen too many devotees leave on account of this extreme position.
Thus when I write, I also speak with a certain caution, that although we should stretch ourselves, we should be careful not to break, or go beyond our limits, and his requires considerable maturity--and sometimes we may even attract a certain disease, to force us to slow down and also do our personal inner work. As I mentioned in other blogs, giving and receiving must go on simultaneously, or we will often "burn out." I just want to be very clear and I hope you will think about why I write as I do.]
WAITING FOR ETERNITY WE FORGET TO LIVE TODAY: When I was a new devotee I often reflected that within a few years that special flower airplane would take me back to Godhead, and so I had no worries. Ten years later I realized my thinking was wishful and I had to deal with living in the world. Gaudiya Vaishnavism, or living with a consciousness or remembrance of Krishna, isn’t life denying but life affirming. In the beginning we may be overly anxious to get out of the material world to the extent that aren't able to be present and aware of our life lessons and what is required for the long haul of a life time of service.
For those who came to this path of bhakti in great distress, having bottomed out materially, our personal necessities take a while to embrace because we are able to put them on hold to facilitate our spiritual practices, and then we may continue to be more more comfortable denying, than facing, them. In such a condition we relish hearing how bad the material world is, which confirms that we aren’t crazy for experiencing our distress, frustration, or depression in what appears to be a pointless, miserable world. However, there are two side to sharing our spiritual lives--one is the shortcomings of material life, and two, the bliss of devotional service and chanting the holy name. Both are important and have to be embraced in a balanced, mature way, depending on our stage of life.
Guidance from Guru and Gauranga
Giriraj Swami
Recently I have been dealing with some difficult situations, and although I am familiar with what Srila Prabhupada and our scriptures and previous acaryas have said about such cases, I still wasn’t sure if my present approach was actually in line with Srila Prabhupada’s will and I wanted some confirmation. In this mood, I began listening to a talk Srila Prabhupada gave about Lord Chaitanya’s meeting with the Mayavadi sannyasis in Varanasi—not a likely place, I thought, to find an answer to my question. But soon enough I got an answer:
“ei-mate tan-sabara ksami’ aparadha
sabakare krsna-nama karila prasada
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu excused all these offenders. Anyone who is godless, he is offender. So when they chanted Krishna Krishna and accepted the Vedanta philosophy according to the explanation of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He excused them. That is the significance of Lord Chaitanya. He is very merciful. He excuses. Without excuse, how He can deliver the fallen souls of this age? Their condition is very precarious. Their duration of life is very small and they are not very intelligent, very slow to understand the importance of spiritual life. . . . So there is no other alternative than to excuse them. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu excused them.” (Talk on Cc Adi 7.149–171, March 18, 1967, San Francisco)
In all my time with Srila Prabhupada, I never heard him say, “Haribol!” and I presumed he had reservations about it. But in this early lecture, he spoke about “Haribol” in a most charming and endearing way:
“bahu tuli’ prabhu bale—bala hari hari
hari-dhvani kare loka svarga-martya bhari’
So, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s special feature, as you see in the picture, He would simply raise His hands and ask anybody to chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. And people will, in the crowd, they will also respond to Lord Chaitanya. So in this way, at Benares He was enjoying.
bahu tuli’ prabhu bale—bala hari hari
hari-dhvani kare loka svarga-martya bhari’
And the sound of ‘Hare Krishna, Haribol,’ . . . There are two slogans. One, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. And another, short, is Haribol, Haribol. You can practice also that. Haribol.”
A devotee responded, “Haribol.”
Prabhupada continued, “Yes. Haribol. That is a shortcut of Hare Krishna. Yes. Haribol. Haribol means ‘the sound of Hari, or the Lord.’ Haribol. So whenever there was some greeting, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to answer, raising His hands, ‘Haribol.’ ”
Such is Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada’s mercy.
Hare Krishna.
Haribol.
Yours in their service,
Giriraj Swami
The Forbidden City
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With the hope of introducing my festival program in modern day communist China we spent yesterday morning learning about the country by visiting the capitol, Beijing. In the afternoon we toured the famous “Forbidden City” in central Beijing. Constructed from 1406 to 1420 the Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace that served as the [...]
Photos from Jan. 16, 2016
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Not Always Rosy!
Bhaktimarga Swami: I had met Jaya Vijay at a…
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Not Always Rosy!
Bhaktimarga Swami: I had met Jaya Vijay at a festival in the Berkley area some years ago and had marvelled at his working efforts. He was a padayatra (pilgrim) leader for 10 years from 1986 to 1996. He is indeed inspiring. I wanted to include him in this blog about the purifying nature of walking. An article appeared in the recent issue of Padayatra Worldwide:
“When you watch a Padayatra India slideshow everything seems rosy, but in fact, it was very difficult. Walking the highways in India is no place for a lady or gentleman. Some of the truck drivers are very rough – sometimes they go off the road or hit the oxen. We got malaria and dysentery. When the devotees get ill, it’s difficult to recover and keep moving at the same time. They have to stay on the tractor. They don’t have a private room. Maybe once or twice a month we might get a private room. Usually we stayed in open schools, where there was no privacy at all. People watched you when you took your bath or passed stool. Sadhu means “open book” – it is another definition of a sadhu – there is nothing to hide. You have to learn to sit down on your mat and be in your own mental world and do your own thing. Sometimes it’s hard to do it because you’re tired and you have people looking at you, laughing at you, joking about you. It’s a place to learn tolerance; it is not a joke. I have seen many devotees blow it or hit each other, not out of contempt but because they’d just had enough. I have seen lots of sannyasis go crazy with the kids. It is very difficult. Some devotees got injured. There were broken wrists and ankles, one devotee was hit by a truck, and another from Finland died when he fell under the tractor in South India. Sometimes we present the rosy side of padayatra, but to pick the roses there are many thorns, and sometimes you get pricked. It’s not a piece of cake. In the long run it’s very purifying – the most purifying program in our whole ISKCON society.”
(The Most Purifying Programs, by Jaya Vijaya dasa, Padayatra Newsletter, 2016)
Thursday, March 31st, 2016
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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
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Wednesday, March 30th, 2016
Flacq , Mauritius
Cutting Short the Life
Here in Mauritius
I indicated on my slip that I have no ailments, but given the fact that I was recently in India and 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
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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
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,” Krishna also states in chapter three.
Kala and I took the flight to Johannesburg and then on to Mauritius
May the source be with you!
0 km
Monday, March, 28th, 2016
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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
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
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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
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
Become eager for mercy!
Kadamba Kanana Swami: In the beginning…
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Become eager for mercy!
Kadamba Kanana Swami: In the beginning of our spiritual life, we come with lots of enthusiasm. Then, after some time, we lose that initial fire and we come into a realm of struggling with all the high standards of Krsna consciousness. We do not feel the same inspiration that we had in the beginning. Then, what do we do? At that point, what can we do?
Srila Prabhupada explains that one must chant in a mood of a helpless child. So, when we become helpless, when we realize, ‘Actually, I am not a great devotee, I am struggling, it is not easy! It is very challenging, maybe too challenging!’ Then, all we have left is to look for mercy, as much mercy as possible, because it is mercy that can change us. On our own strength, we are lacking, we do not have the determination and conviction to just act on the level of pure devotion even after hearing all the good instructions. Then, all that is left for us to do is to look for as much mercy as possible. Because, through that mercy, we will change and we will get a desire!
It is not difficult to be a pure devotee if we would want to be, the problem is that we do not want to be. We are holding onto our material conditioning and therefore we do not get nourishment from devotional service. But, by mercy, we can go beyond! Therefore, with time, as we are realizing more and more how much we are falling short in being pure devotees, more and more, we become eager for mercy. That mercy is available in so many ways: in service, in hearing from the vaisnavas, in prasadam, in giving donations – in so many opportunities and so many forms. One has to be eager to look for it, to take it and to look for opportunities.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/qFGIkO
Devotee Author Aims Bhagavatam-Inspired Novel at Western…
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Devotee Author Aims Bhagavatam-Inspired Novel at Western Audience.
With his first novel, “The Yoga Zapper,” ISKCON devotee Hari Mohan Das (Mohan Ashtakala) has blended exciting fantasy storytelling with themes from the Srimad-Bhagavatam, including the prophesied appearance of Kalki Avatar at the end of Kali Yuga. He hopes to entertain and educate a diverse Western audience with this potent mix, published by mid-sized Canadian publisher Books We Love. Mohan has all the requisite background for a mystical novel like this. As a child, he grew up in North India against the backdrop of the Himalayas. “My uncle was an officer with the Indian Forestry Service, and we lived close to the jungle,” he says. “I remember hearing tigers at night, and I had a pet deer. I had so many adventures! So a lot of the descriptions and authentic feel of India in my novel come from those experiences.” Mohan later moved to Canada with his parents, and as an adult joined ISKCON, receiving initiation as a brahmana priest from Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Swami. He has studied Vaishnava scriptures and their stories in depth, and presented at interfaith and diversity conferences at various churches and schools.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Zw8Eoy
Saturday, March 26th, 2016
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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
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 Durban
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
May the source be with you!
7 km
Friday, March 25th, 2016
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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
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
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Thursday, March, 24th, 2016
Durban , South Africa
South Africa
Togetherness
You are taking a little bit of chance walking anywhere near or in the downtown of Durban
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
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.
May the source be with you!
5km
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016
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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
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Monday, March 21st, 2016
Mumbai , India to Doha , Durban
All to hear the rights and wrongs
In between the bhakti songs.
Either that, or like crying
For only sitting and not lying.
In the jet that did rock
But in safety bearing tilak.
All passengers have a style
Some sitting under a blanket pile.
And the wheel of the duty-free mart
At which I did not take part.
Ganges River
The trip was another endeavour
To please the lord, it's maya to sever.
Flying
In Pune, 15,000 strong
Before the stage they did strongAll to hear the rights and wrongs
In between the bhakti songs.
Now we find ourselves flying
At points you feel like dyingEither that, or like crying
For only sitting and not lying.
Oh! To be able to walk
It's a dream or cheap talkIn the jet that did rock
But in safety bearing tilak.
My foot would hang in the aisle
Appearing not to be in fileAll passengers have a style
Some sitting under a blanket pile.
I would feel the wheel of the cart
With its food and the butter tartAnd 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 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
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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
Mandala, luckily, has had his second visit to this land of Bharat
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 Krishna Is…” group since Mayapur. His trip to India
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
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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--
When there was a break I was asked how marathon waling is possible.
“Are you thinking about walking India
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
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Friday, March 18th, 2016
Pune , India
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.”
spreading Krishna Consciousness, yet he was apologizing over a small cut. He was
a real person.
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
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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
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
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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
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
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Tuesday, March 15th, 2016
Pune , India
Discipline in Pune
Two flights and a lengthy ride from Pune Airport
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
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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
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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
Across the street is Victoria Square Park Krishna . That practice terminated when neighbours asked our Calcutta
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 Lake
May the Source be with you!
8 Km
Sri Narasimha Caturdasi Festival 2016 Invitation
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ISKCON Mayapur welcomes worldwide devotees to join us on the joyous occasion of celebrating the appearance day of Sri Narasimhadeva, Sri Narasimha Caturdasi festival 2016. This year, the festival falls on 20th May. A three days festivities including Narahari Nama Kirtan, adhivas, Maha abhisheka and Sri Narasimha Katha are planned for this year’s festival. […]
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Near Death Experiences – Where science points to spirituality
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Talk at the University of Singapore
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Daily Darshan: April 8th, 2016
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When we are sinful, does Krishna still protect us?
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