Won’t thinking only about our relationship with Krishna make us insensitive in other relationships?
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Harinama in Biisk 10/04/16 Barnaul, Russia (Album with…
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Harinama in Biisk 10/04/16 Barnaul, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This Krishna consciousness movement insists that everyone take to this path by adopting the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The preachers of Krishna consciousness go from door to door to inform people how they can be relieved from the miserable conditions of material life. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.14.39 Purport)
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The Perfection of Consciousness
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Hare KrishnaBy Karandhara Dasa

From this, we can understand that consciousness merely reflects the experience of whatever it is directed towards, just as the space capsule reflects information from wherever it is directed. If you walk into a store, you can purchase whatever you like some ice cream, some fruit, or some milk. You make the choice. And according to whatever you select, you will have a certain taste experience. Similarly, in our lives and with our consciousness, we can be aware and have experience of whatever we choose. And the highest choice, that experience or taste which is the most perfect, the absolute and supreme, is Krsna, or God, and it is not abstract or impersonal. It is not some obscure conception. Krsna is never impersonal. He is a person, transcendental and complete. The Vedas, and especially the Srimad-Bhagavatam (science of God), give us all this personal information about Krsna. Krsna's qualities, form and attributes are described extensively in a simple and pure manner. Anyone can understand, and the result of exposing ourselves to this experience will be the perfection of our lives, God consciousness. Continue reading "The Perfection of Consciousness
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Mother Earth: Holder and Giver of Wealth
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Hare KrishnaBy Vishakha Devi Dasi

Srila Prabhupada writes, "Whatever is taken from the earth—either from the mines, from the surface of the globe, or from the atmosphere—should always be considered the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and should be used for Yajna, Lord Vishnu. As soon as the process of yajna [sacrifice] is stopped, the earth will withhold all productions—vegetables, trees, plants, fruits, flowers, other agricultural products, and minerals. Continue reading "Mother Earth: Holder and Giver of Wealth
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Money, Krishna, and Us
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Hare KrishnaBy Vishakha Devi Dasi

How we value, acquire, use, and relate to money reflects our inner state of being. Krishna determines how much money each of us receives. It may appear accidental that one person is born into wealth and another into poverty, or that one person goes from rags to riches and another doesn't, but Krishna's law of karma destines these things. Srila Prabhupada says, "Everyone is thinking, 'If I become greedy, I shall get more.' That is not possible. You cannot get a farthing more than what you are destined." (Lecture, October 3, 1973) And he writes, "It is not possible that simply by endeavors to accumulate more money a person will be able to do so, otherwise almost everyone would be on the same level of wealth. In reality everyone is earning and acquiring according to his predestined karma." Continue reading "Money, Krishna, and Us
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The Three Month Padayatra Ready To Take Off In Russia! Narada…
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The Three Month Padayatra Ready To Take Off In Russia!
Narada Dasa: In one month we’re going to start a 3 month Padayatra in Russia. Even though we now have a serious economical crisis in the country, we are ready to do whatever is takes to make this Russian Padayatra a very good offering for Lokanatha Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure.
We now have more than 27 padayatris from all over Russia, and one great kirtaniya, Mukti Datta Prabhu, will also join us. We’re planning to travel around 50 cities and villages doing harinama sankirtana, and to also have a bullock cart for some time, but for all that we do need some laksmi. In order to take care of all these padayatris, to organize transportation, pay for petrol, and so on, we need a total $ 5177. It’s an average of less than $ 60 a day, which is not much at all considering the number of devotees and the duration of the padayatra.
During the padayatra we are planning to raise donations by book distribution, and thus hope to cover around $ 2000. So far I raised $ 200 in Russia, which means we still need to raise $ 2977, more than half of the total amount needed.
We are humbly appealing to all of you to please make a generous donation for this project meant to glorify ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada.
In a recent interview about Padayatra Russia, Lokanath Swami quoted a Newsweek cover stating that Hare Krishna is the fastest growing religion in the former Soviet Union, with around 100 000 devotees. He commented that we have to let the Russian people know that the Hare Krishna devotees are very good people, friendly people working very hard for everyone’s welfare.
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Fast Friends (Album with photos) Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday…
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Fast Friends (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we visited the famous Llama Temple in downtown Beijing. While there we met with several of the resident Buddhist monks and discussed philosophy and the similarities of our lifestyles. Later, the senior monk saw me praying to Lord Buddha at the main alter and inquired why I was doing so. I explained that we accept Lord Buddha as one of the 10 incarnations of Lord Krishna and that I was praying to Lord Buddha to develop compassion. The monk appreciated that very much and we became fast friends. In the afternoon we visited a memorial to Confucius.
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April 12. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. Satsvarupa…
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April 12. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: David Allen.
Prabhupada wrote to his friends in India, describing his relationship with his new roommate in the Bowery loft, David Allen.
He was attending the class at 72nd Street along with others, and when I experienced this theft case in my room, he invited me to his residence. So I am with him and training him. He has good prospect because he has already given up all bad habits. In this country, illicit connection with women, smoking, drinking and eating of meats are common affairs. But by my request he has given up 90% of his old habits, and he is chanting Maha-mantra regularly. So I am giving him the chance and I think he is improving. Tomorrow I have arranged for some prasadam distribution, and he has gone to purchase some things from the market.
When David first came to the Bowery, he appeared like a clean-cut college student. He was twenty-one, six feet tall, blue-eyed, handsome and intelligent looking. Most of his new friends in New York were older and considered him a kid. David’s family lived in East Lansing, Michigan, and his mother was paying $100.00 monthly to sublease the loft. Although he did not have much experience, he had read that a new realm of mind expansion was available through psychedelic drugs, and he was heading fast into the hazardous world of LSD. His meeting with the Swami came at a time of radical change and profoundly affected his life.
David: It was a really good relationship I had with the Swami, but I was overwhelmed by the tremendous energy of being that close to him. It spurred my consciousness very fast. Even my dreams at night would be so vivid of Krishna consciousness. I was often sleeping when the Swami was up, because he was up late in the night working on his translations. That is possibly where a lot of the consciousness in dreams just flowed in, because a lot of that deep relationship. It also had to do with studying Sanskrit. There was a lot of immediate impact with the language. The language seemed to have a strong mystical quality, the way he translated it word-for-word.
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Friday, April 8th, 2016
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Friday, April 8th, 2016
Toronto, Ontario

On and Off the Sidewalk

Someone got sick on the street.  I did not see it in full action, just the after-effects.  I had to, like others, tip-toe around the rejected contents of someone’s stomach.   Actually, there were three pools of it, each coloured differently, all lying in the same vicinity on the sidewalk downtown.  I figure it was three different people.  It’s not the kind of stuff anybody wants to analyze.  What I can say, though, it was somewhere in the pizzeria district, and I imagine that there was some hard beverage in the mix.

One good thing about the cold, as in Canada, is that it paralyzes the stench.

One chiropractic clinic along the way of my walk had a catchy phrase affixed to its window.  It reads, “The six most dangerous words – I thought it would go away.”

How true this phrase is about so many things.  We live in a circle of denial.  The ego says, “No, I’m not old” even when I am.  “Yes, I’m beautiful.”  “Yes I’m good.”  “No, my drinking isn’t so bad.”  “Yes, I have a temper, but it doesn’t affect so many people, majorly.”  And so on.

The phrase in that window had me thinking as I walked on. 

“Hey, I like your garb!” shouted a fellow, who I assume had a few drinks.  Sounds like he was partial to my robes.  You see, it was night-time and I was finding that the urban energy had many interesting things to offer.  When I returned back to the ashram, I read a verse from the Gita which was riveting in some ways.  From Chapter 6, Verse 9:

“A person is considered still further advanced when he regards honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral mediators, the envious, friends and enemies, the pious and the sinners, all with an equal mind.”

I adore this statement by Sri Krishna.  It discourages judgmentalism.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Thursday, April 7th, 2016
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Thursday, April 7th, 2016
Toronto, Ontario

Two Conversations

Yesterday I had been at the line up for seeing Customs when coming back into Canada, and just as there were about 5 people in the cue before me, the young fellow behind me, tall and Afro background, asked,

“Are you a monk?”

“Yes!”

“What do you have to do to be one?”

“There are some disciplines to follow, but they can be a lot of fun.”

“Sounds okay, but in my case there’s things I’d like to do before I get strict with myself.”

I responded with a, “Why not consider being a monk before getting worldly?  That way you’ll regulate the pleasures of life and not get so extreme with it all.  It’s best to put the horse before the cart.”

The Customs officer demanded my attention, so the conversation ended with the chap, but on smiling, appreciative terms.

That’s about the only walking I can report on for the day.

Another great conversation, short and sweet, occurred today between Mary and I, while I was sitting in Govinda’s, a dining facility situated within our temple/ashram.  People know that our building was a former church.  Mary came for a take-out at Govinda’s, but it was not her first visit to the building.

“I used to go to Sunday school in this building.  My parents got married here.”

“Oh, when?”

“They got married in ’52.”

“That’s remarkable.” 

And indeed we found it both astounding that she had gone full circle as far as a visit is concerned.  I hope she comes back again.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Wednesday, April 6th, 2016
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Wednesday, April 6th, 2016
Dubai/Toronto

In the End/Good Landing

Goodbye to Mauritius, it’s been absolutely delicious.  A final visit to the beach which was a jewel crowned place for my stay.  Now, I’ve been well on my way by air and catching up on things.  For instance, I’m nearing completion on reading the book, “Guru and Disciple Book” by author, Kripamoya Das.  A sentence struck my fancy, “Srila Prabhupada (our guru), once told a follower that the disciple should have a relationship of ‘good friends’ with a guru, but the job of the guru was to occasionally remind the disciple, ‘Who is the disciple and who is the guru’.  I’m also catching up on mundane news. There’s a lot said by Donald Trump, and there’s a lot said about Donald Trump, but this is not news.

More from the extreme extremists, Isis:  they have recently sent a five minute video proclaiming London, Berlin, and Rome, as prime targets after the murderous attacks on Paris and Brussels.  The speaker in the video is quoted saying, “Nations of the cross, this message is for you.  Your options are few.  Either join Islam, or pay tribute, or face the war.”

That is chilling to hear.

Conclusion on the mundane stuff is that we are in a world of turmoil, threat, and terror.  Can anybody calm down out there?  How about some pranayam, breathing, so that we can ease up?  What about some asanas, stretch poses?  Maybe we can reach beyond the impossible.  There’s also chanting that is there to ease and to please.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

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, where two dozen of us indulged in its naturalness.  On our trek on one particular loop we enjoyed some incredible vistas.  Noticeably, no mosquitoes were present.  That's a victory.  But, you know, I do miss a moose or a bear sighting.  Here in Mauritius you get little wild life, on grand scale.

“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 Mauritiussome event like this happens.

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 Krishnafamily, 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 – NYC walk.  This was to encourage outside activities. 

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 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”
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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
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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 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
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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, 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
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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, 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
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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, 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
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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, 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
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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, 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
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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
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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

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
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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 – Indiabeing 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
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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--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
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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
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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, 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
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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 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
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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
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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.  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