Positive Thinking 21 – Go DEEP – Desire Envision Endeavor Pray
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Bhagavatam study 10 – 1.3.1-8 – The Lord manifests as the Purusha and other avataras
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Saturday, December 12th, 2015
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Saturday, December 12th, 2015
Vancouver, British Columbia

Very Scary Ferry

I bid my farewells to my brother, Paul, as we puddle dodged along Elk Lake’s shoreline, close to Highway 17, en route to Schwartz Baywhere you catch the ferry for the mainland.

Yes, the ferry. It was, today, a very scary ferry as it was pulling out of the harbor. I preferred to remain on the lowest deck possible where traffic was parked. While seated in the car of Jaya Govinda, I could see the automobiles and vans shake around me due to gusts of wind. Waves were crashing at the ferry’s walls, and anybody that happened to be walking along the side of the deck was practically swept off their feet due to the swift gale. On the PA system it was announced at one point to all the passengers aboard the ferry, “Try to remain in your seats, and if you must move, then hold on to the handrails.” And the announcements went on, “In case of an emergency…”

Thoughts were definitely milling through my mind along the lines of: “What if this is the time that I am to leave my body, and it will come through drowning? Will I be mentally prepared? I better put it to practice now – HARE KRISHNA.”

Well, all went fine in the end. The two brahmachari monks that came to join me along with Jaya, were all survivors thanks to the responsible sailing of the ferry operators.

Thanks, guys!

I was keen to attend a program called, “Enchanted”. By good fortune and nothing else, we made it to our destination through an ongoing storm to the district of the infamous 'Main and Hastings', and to a warehouse by a dark alley door, inscribed on it, “KarmaTeachers”. There we did chant, dance, and some went into what seemed like a trance in the psychedelically lit room full of kirtan enthusiasts.

We went wild, but we felt safe.

Here’s a quote from Einstein, “A ship is always safe at shore, but that is not what it’s built for.”


May the Source be with you!

7 km

 

Harinama around Sigatoka Temple, Fiji (Album with photos) Srila…
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Harinama around Sigatoka Temple, Fiji (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: No one in this life can chant the holy name of the Lord unless he has passed all lower stages, such as performing the Vedic ritualistic sacrifices, studying the Vedas and practicing good behavior like that of the Aryans. All this must first have been done. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.33.7 Purport)
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Friday, December 11th, 2015
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Friday, December 11th, 2015
Victoria, British Columbia

About That

My host, Adosha, took me on foot to Swan Lake to circle it. It’s more like the size of a pond, but it was pleasant to be by nature. A second stroll for the day was down a piece of the Trans Canada Trail, which is a foot path that is 17,000 km long. Here we allotted only 4 km at best. It was some panoramic scenery worth remembering. Just a little bit north of Victoria, we took to the trail where you find a former wooden trestle railway bridge. En route we saw some cute signage on someone’s adjoining property that read: ‘No trespassing. My dog’s got a gun, and he hasn’t taken his medication.’

This is cougar/bear/elk country. The type of place I consider a gorgeous chunk of Canadian landscape. It was actually my brother Paul and his good wife, Joyce, who brought me here to show me this incredible landscape. The scent of coniferous trees is a pervasive feature of the area. Outside of seeing a heron with his wide wing span, we saw no other aspect of wildlife, but that’s alright, who needs to tangle with a bear or a cougar right now?

There’s a program we needed to conduct tonight and it was held at Adosha’s place in the Victoriaarea. It had been a struggle to keep a continuous sangha going in Victoria for some time now. Perhaps we were given another chance to initiate a regular program for establishing a higher consciousness. I would say that our discussions were inspirational and they centered around the value of the human body, which at least I identified as having two purposes:


1) The human body is meant for walking.

2) It is meant for spirituality.


May the Source be with you!

9 km

 

Thursday, December 10th, 2015
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Thursday, December 10th, 2015
Toronto/Victoria

Tidbits from Two Coasts

While seated in Govinda’s dining room, I had with me at lunch, Mandala, and a guest from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Her name is Jan Peters. She’s a dear friend and is very helpful for lining up programs and speaking engagements in Canada’s far east coast. Our quaint meeting then was held with the intent to have a great meal, and secondly, to discuss the when, where, and how our next trip to St. John’s will look like.

When? Definitely, I’m set for a visit there in January however, which day is yet to be determined, and the purpose will be to establish, at least in practice, pilgrimage. The person behind the inauguration of the East Coast Trail is Robert, and he will be there to take a group of us on a mild-to-rugged walk. The theme will be to honor dear ones who have passed away. In any event, the notion of pilgrimage has some people interested, as opposed to just walking a trail for the sake of a workout. I’m very much anticipating this.

At 8 PM I flew off on a five hour journey to the far west coast, to Vancouver Island, to do much of the same; as usual, to attempt to raise the consciousness in a humble way. A program was planned at Adosha’s apartment. I arrived at the Victoria Airport late at night. As a favour for Adosha, Jed came to pick me up. Jed told me a little bit about his life’s challenges, and as a monk, you can expect this kind of thing coming from people, and it’s just fine. I asked him his last name, to which he responded, “Bachman”.

“Wait a minute, I know that Randy Bachman from The Guess Who rock bank has lived out here on the west coast for some time. Any relation?”

“Yeah, he’s my grandfather,” said Jed.

“Really?” And then we went on to talk about the small world in which we live, and how Randy was a no drugs, no alcohol type of rocker, and also how Randy and I had both been featured in the same documentary, ‘The Longest Road’, a National Film Board NFB production.

Anyways, good news from both coasts.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Harinama at Coolangatta (Coolangatta is the southernmost suburb…
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Harinama at Coolangatta (Coolangatta is the southernmost suburb of City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) - 13 December 2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Aryans. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.33.7 Purport)
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The Greatest Gift
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Upon realizing that this was George’s first contact with devotees, and that George had had been reading and chanting on his own for two years, it became obvious that Krishna had brought the devotees to meet George. 

Sri Alarnath Temple at Brahmagiri
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Avanti Brahmana Strory
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This is story of avanti Brahmana. Avanti is a place. This Brahmana he was a Businessman. A miser. greedy, angry man, all his family against him. He would spend any money but not give anything to anybody, so making more money. So gradually thief, and different time he lose money, lost everything, no friends, no properties. And he became really renounce by forest. He started to understand how every to much money and worrying about it is very bad. Because of wealth fifteen unwanted thing come. Thievery, violence, pride, lying, deception, lust, anger, feverishness, disagreement, hatred, distrust, conflict, attachment to women, gambling and intoxication. So he understood that the lord was pleased with him because he detached.

TKG Academy – Parent Volunteer Spotlight
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Krishna Priya grew up as a Hare Krsna devotee in the ISKCON New Vrindaban farm community in West Virginia. Her parents were initiated by Srila Prabhupada and are both very talented and artistic.

I first met Krishna Priya in 2003, while she was studying for her B.A. in English and later her M.Ed. in Secondary English Education at the University of Florida in Gainesville. We were roommates, sharing the old trailer at the Vaisnava Academy for Girls, from which she has graduated a few years prior. Krishna Priya was immersed in her studies and eventually became a very competent and successful teacher.

She went on to marry Navin Shyam Prabhu and together they moved to California, where she was a Fellow of the Institute on the Teaching of Composition and Literature at the University of California, Irvine. She has instructional experience in various contexts, including teaching Language Arts to middle school students at St. Norbert Parish School (a Catholic school in Anaheim, California) and teaching multiple subjects to upper elementary students at Bhaktivedanta Academy (a Hare Krishna Montessori school in Alachua, Florida).

We felt very fortunate when in the summer of 2014 Krishna Priya and her family, which then included her three and a half year old daughter Varada Lila, decided to move to Dallas. Krishna Priya, although pregnant at that time with her second daughter, Kairava Chandrika, immediately began sharing her great talent with us at TKG Academy. She frequented our Preschool class, teaching the young students about Deity Worship and the pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Most recently, she volunteered to teach Public Speaking to the Upper Elementary class. Leaving her young baby at home with her husband, every Tuesday she comes to teach the students the various aspects involving the skill of delivering a speech and making presentations. Krishna Priya brings her vast knowledge and experience, along with natural talent for teaching at an energetic, engaging pace. We are happy and grateful to have her volunteer at our school and look forward for a time when she can take up a more prominent role in our teaching staff.

Rasa Purnima, 2015
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Written by Rukmini dd

An earthquake hit Sri Dhama Mayapur on Wednesday, November 25th, lasting approximately 90 minutes with tremors for at least half an hour before. Some call it kirtan, but I beg to differ. It was an earthquake! After navigating through the Damodarastakam on the last day of Kartika in front Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Kadamba Kanana Swami launched into kirtan that shook the layers of our conditioning, split through the modes of nature and revealed a core of beauty found in the holy name. Fortunately, on a material level, the only thing that cracked was some of our voices, including Maharaj’s. Between cups of tea and lozenges, he kept the vibrations escalating. Devotees were flying across the temple room floor in spontaneous dance. Maharaj kept his fingers on the harmonium whilst fiercely pushing the mrdanga players beyond their limits with his eyes and maintaining the beat of the whompers with the nod of his head. After always hearing of him endlessly trying to escape management, I realized he manages the kirtan too. The devotion in each mantra was tangible. Many could not go to sleep that night.

rasa_purnima_2015Despite the late night, Maharaj strode to mangal arati like clockwork the next day, as he always does in the Holy Dhama. It was Rasa Purnima and Maharaj was due to speak from the Bhagavatam. He approached the subject with much reservation. In the action of taking that step first in our spiritual life, both our feet are in the material world. Then we lift one leg and try to place it on the spiritual platform but all our weight rests in the material world. Slowly we shift the weight onto the “spiritual leg” and finally when there is no weight on the “material leg” it rises above the material platform. He emphasized that one with two feet planted in the material world may only hear of the pastimes of the gopis and intellectually try to accept them but how would we ever truly understand them? He spoke of the purity of the gopis actions and how their incredible beauty was a reflection of their internal consciousness.

Later that day, we all gathered at the Vaishnava Academy to prepare for the Rasa Purima luncheon which was held in honour of all disciples of Srila Prabhupada on behalf of Srila Jayadvaita Swami. With his incredibly hectic schedule of meetings for the Mayapur Master Plan and simultaneously teaching the Nectar of Devotion course, Kadamba Kanana Swami left the organisation of the program in the capable hands of Ter Kadamba Prabhu, Tulasi Prabhu and Saci devi Mataji. It was a blissful flurry of activity transforming the rooftop into something out of the Caitanya Caritamrta. As each vaishnava entered, they were garlanded, offered sandalwood and coaxed to allow us to bathe their feet. It was heart-warming to see them appreciating and remembering Srila Prabhupada in each other’s company.  Over clay cups of tea and freshly clipped coconuts, many bonds were deepened.

Straight out of Bhakti Sastri class, Maharaj rushed to the luncheon. It was humbling to see him immediately accept a junior role in front of the guests and he focused on every detail in order to serve them properly. Banana leaves were laid out on the veranda in traditional style and soon prep after prep followed according to the Vedic science. As each guest, left Maharaj personally offered then a decorative clay plate of goodies and a donation. At the end, we rejoiced over all the maha-prasadam.

It was a rare, purifying and instructive festival. How long will these servants of Prabhupada walk the earth?  What’s more purifying that the water that has bathed of the feet of the vaisnavas? How important is it that we serve and maintain strong relationships of friendship between one another?

Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2015
Toronto, Ontario

Always Acting

An afternoon stroll was really more like a roll, and had Mandala and I moving through Bloor, Chinatown, Spadina, and U of T districts. Mandala was the one taking greater note of people’s response to seeing a monk (me) in a city that sees almost anything and everything.

In front of a church a man standing there did an exaggerated pranams (folding of hands) upon seeing us. Two guys were cycling along, and one says, “Hi Shaolin monk.” A kid about 6 walking with classmates opened his mouth as wide as Krishna when revealing the universal form, upon seeing me.

These were some responses that permitted Mandala and I to respond. This is the basic principle behind acting. Acting means reacting. Reacting never really stops. There’s always a drama.

Mandala and I were actually rushing to get back to a planned rehearsal at the ashram, a reaction to a tight time-frame. We got back only to find out that the rehearsal was cancelled. Somebody just couldn’t make it. That produced a reaction in us. So you see, everyone is either acting or reacting. Also, everyone has an audience, whether it be those intimately next to you, or just God in the heart, Paramatma, being there. There’s either the sun, moon, or both always witnessing you; if not, the gods of nature, the devatas. “The world is a stage,” Shakespeare informed us.

When I try to recruit someone for a part in a drama, sometimes the response to stage fright is, “I can’t act.” My answer is, “But you already are acting, everyone is always acting (reacting).”

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Tuesday, December 8th, 2015
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2015
Toronto, Ontario

7:14

7:14. The figure popped up twice this morning. This is the verse from the Gita, and it appeared in my reading to the resident monks, quoted within a purport of Chapter 3. Then again when delivering the class based on Canto 9 of the book Bhagavatam, 7:14 showed up again in the verse’s explanation. “7:14 has something to say to our group,” I thought.

What does 7:14 say? Here’s the translation:

“This divine energy of mine consisting of the three modes of material nature is difficult to overcome, but those who have surrendered to Me can easily cross beyond it."

The energy referred to is the energy we are steeped into. It is nature. We use it. It gives us sustenance and happiness. It also kills us in the form of death. It entangles and implicates us in ways that we can find no ‘out’.

“It is hard to overcome,” states Krishna. However, the second part of the verse offers hope. “Through surrender, through transcending, you can overcome.” “It is difficult, but it is possible,” is what is implied. 7:14, then, is a verse that tells us to never give up.

I had spent several hours in the ashram office today planning and booking for the next 2 months of travel. Valuable time was also given to the rehearsing of our drama, “Krishna Is”, in preparation for our “Bhakti Mela” to be held on December 28th at a theatre in Brampton. After hours of expending time indoors I decided to go for real air and get some walking in. I admit it was difficult to get moving initially, but I was thinking about 7:14, about surrendering and getting beyond.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

 

Monday, December 7th, 2015
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Monday, December 7th, 2015
Brampton, Ontario

Best Gift

December is a great month for gift giving. May I recommend a gift of a book – Bhagavad Gita As It Is by His Divine Grace, AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It’s not just a book, but a classic dialogue, classic, meaning ‘for all times’. It is a communication between the soul and God, and how the soul feels weak at times and needs encouragement from God.

God (Krishna) speaks directly to the soul (Arjuna) about responsibility (dharma),and how eventually liberation (nirvana, moksha), or a freedom from ongoing troubles, can be achieved. Ultimately the message is about surrender. Surrender is equated to love. It refers to the ultimate sacrifice, to let go, let God.

The soul sacrifices because essentially it belongs to God whose disposition is the Supreme Soul. In fact, all souls belong to the One Supreme Soul. Once the souls reach that sublime destination, there is full satisfaction. It is hoped that all souls will reach this ultimate position, a position of devotional service. Service (seva) is what the soul’s function, in essence is; it is always joyfully executed.

That’s why the dialogue of the Gita is relevant and worth the time. It is the gift of wisdom.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

 

Sunday, December 6th, 2015
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Sunday, December 6th, 2015
Toronto, Ontario

Shoes or No?

Praveen, Mandala, and I took a short stop at the Bata Shoe Museum on Bloor during our walk. I would like to think that there’s some connection between shoes and walking, so we stopped. I was relaying to the other two how I had been inside before to view the displays. There are these stacks that were worn by Elton John. I also remember on display, the personal shoes of Glenn Gould, the renowned pianist. I was most intrigued by a pair of chappals used by an Indian Maharaja, a king. Each time his foot came down with his heel pressing to the shoe, a device inside shot out perfume.

Walkers need shoes, or so we’re told. It was about ten years ago that I was just one block away from the museum on Bloor when I was chanting. A young chap on bare feet got on my case for wearing shoes. He was part of a growing movement that goes shoeless. I suppose he felt, since I’m a monastic, I should show by example what renunciation is really all about.

That was nice of him to suggest that. I do hope his calluses are what he wants them to be, tough and hard. Personally, I would subscribe to such a radical fashion, but perhaps in a place where temperatures are more mild, and where there’s natural dirt everywhere, free of sharp objects, broken glass, and pavement. I felt that when he told me I should be the example, that I need to pay attention to a directive from our guru that he did not like his students to be without footwear. Yes, he (Srila Prabhupada) was a teacher who never cared for what may be perceived as a hippy look.

When doing pilgrimage in Vrindavan, India, on the trek around Govardhan Hill, it is the preferred approach, you go barefoot. In fact, it’s generally regarded as an offense to sport shoes on the feet on such sacred ground.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

 

Saturday, December 5th, 2015
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Saturday, December 5th, 2015
Brampton, Ontario

7 Kilometers Won’t Kill

My stay in Cubahad been rewarding. Within my one week there, my legs got fixed up. It was Umesh, who travelled with us, that did the massage healing. He treated my legs as though they were roti dough. He kneaded them back into shape.

That, among other things, allowed me to reflect on the Cuba trip as a success. Now that I am back at home base, more repair (or let’s say ‘preparation’) had to be executed. I went to the dentist for a filling on my wisdom tooth (lower right). Upon arrival to the clinic, and after having a hard look at the tooth, it was determined that it would be better to take it out. The job was done, hence, I’m about 2 grams lighter.

This is all mechanical work of course, you can call it ‘care’ for the machinery, and this is done in order to function on a longer and more effective basis. It’s looking after yourself; clearly a part of the bhakti system. In order to care for others, you must invest in care for yourself. Care for the self doesn’t mean to be excessive or to go overboard, it means to give the right amount.

As Sri Krishna informs us in the Gita, Chapter 6, Verse 16:

“There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much, or eats too little, sleeps too much, or does not sleep enough.”

Then Verse 17 reads:

“He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation, and work, can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.”

The message is to be temperate, or moderate, in what one does.

I have to remind myself that extreme walking is not moderate, and I’ve done that. Therefore, I’ve been having leg issues, from trekking through those hills in Pennsylvania. Thank you, Umesh, for fixing them. The 7 kilometres of today won’t kill me.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

 

Friday, December 4th, 2015
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Friday, December 4th, 2015
Varadero, Cuba/ Toronto, Ontario

Last Glance

Hayagriva and I took a last glance at the ocean’s beach. The air was still, there was hardly a ripple on the water’s surface. Barely, you could see a dividing line between ocean and sky at sunrise. A touch of magic, really.

Off we went to the airport, and a three hour flight to Toronto. I was contemplating about Cuba and "what would a walk entail," from Havana to Santiago, a distance just shy of 900 km. The only thing that would hold me back from such an endeavour is time, plus the apprehension I feel about diesel fuel spewing out of people’s exhausts. It’s rather nasty.

Also, while in flight, I contemplated the various options people have as to how to see their God. Let’s look at it from a Vedic perspective. Up above the cloud-line the sun is visible, and its brilliance is cast throughout. This vision, of sun rays in particular, is sometimes compared to the brahma jyoti, the ‘light’ that people call God.

As we made our descent through poofy clouds, when land below becomes visible, with its patterns on its surface, this may be compared to the localized God (getting close), called paramatma. Finally, when one lands, one sees all things very close up. You see the field, the trees, the plains, the people. This can be compared to seeing God in detail.

These three aspects of the Divine are known as Brahman (the joyous light), paramatma (God in the heart and in the atom), and bhagavan (God in full, with all human-like, personal traits). You can appreciate God in any of these forms.

May the Source be with you.
 
6 km

 

Thursday, December 3rd, 2015
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Thursday, December 3rd, 2015
Varadero, Cuba

Relaxer

It was a relaxer of a day for Hayagriva, Nanda, Umesh, and myself at the resort. I took advantage of the opportunity to catch up on reading, writing, and overseeing Hayagriva typing what I guess you could say are “reports” on my recent walk in the States. It’s always good to do this kind of inventory of thought; recalling what achievements were made on pilgrimage. It’s easy to forget the joys of it all, and the challenges. It’s necessary to write it all down and then share it with those who will benefit from it. Then it’s time for planning the next walk.

I did pull out a map to look at what it means to tackle the road in May of next year. The starting point at New York City, en route to San Francisco, should be an exciting time. I’m anticipating it with adventure and therapy.

I also received a strong recommendation from a Spanish monk of our order, Yadunandana Swami, to explore the famous Camino de Santiago for the following year, in 2017. Perhaps I’ll cover a short distance of the long stretch.

My reasons for the treks are multiple. One of the things that drives me is to get out, meet people, and take some interest in their spiritual life. I was reminded of how important this is.

At a buffet at Memories resort, where we checked in six days before, I met this lady who was eager to know. I believe she was Canadian.

“Oh! And what do you represent? Is it Rajneesh?” she asked.

“No! It’s Hare Krishna!”

“Oh yes! I used to see you guys in Indiaall the time. My, you were so outgoing then.”

I believe she was referring to the 70’s or 80’s. I would hope that we could still be known for our extroversion and for our good deeds.

May the Source be with you
 
0 km

 

Wednesday, December 2nd 2015
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Wednesday, December 2nd 2015
Cienfuegos, Cuba

Cubans

Cienfuegos is a gem of a town; well, with 150,000 residents, it’s hardly a town. It has a great commons area with gorgeous colonial buildings around it. There’s a car-free promenade and the main street, that does carry traffic, has this broad boulevard with trees and benches. The place is located by a bay off the Atlantic and so it lends to a serenity along with tourist dynamic.

Like anywhere on the island of Cuba, the fumes from exhaust emitted from any form of transport is unforgivable. The people? I love them. They are warm-hearted, simple, and sociable. They like walking but perhaps they don’t always have a choice. Money is hard to come by. Food is rationed. People look good, as well-built creatures. Their clothes are tight; not always what a monk cares to look at. Their hair and attire are up to the mark of the latest fashion, from what I could tell.

Are they swimmers? I don’t know. The group of devotees following us from town to town were divided in their willingness to join Hayagriva and myself into the salty waters. Perhaps it is because of the jellyfish. Yes, Hayagriva got stung by one. Umesh Patel, bold as he is, took it as a mission to capture and hold them in his palm and toss them away. He was also daring with urchins and did the same with them.

It was near the beach that an arranged indoor program, at a public venue, failed to materialize. The key to open the door was lost but we sufficed with the use of Melia Parkacross the street. It turned out in our favor. People had easier access to our message and mantra. Some came with intent, others were park-browsers and some heard our kirtan from their balconies. That’s what formed an audience. I spoke. Hayagriva translated. I played the drum.

May the source be with you!

6 km

 

DOUBLE PARTIALLY GOOD NEWS/ THE CHINESE FARMER/ BEYOND ORDINARY GRATITUDE
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Author: 
Karnamrita Das

photo DSCN0469_zpssw1u3fx5.jpg

DOUBLE PARTIALLY GOOD NEWS AND THE CHINESE FARMER: First, after examining the PET full body scan, the only cancer that was revealed as the source of the secondary tumor in my neck was in the area of my nasal passage, called the nasopharynx. This is rare in the Western countries, but is mainly seen in Asia.. So it is a localized cancer that appears to not have metastasized to other places in the body. This is very good. However, even from Western treatment protocols it difficult to treat since it is a slow growing cancer. A 60% success rate isn't very inspiring or is anything to do with Chemo or radiation.

The second piece of good news, is that the tumor in my neck has shrunk to less that half its size, and is noticeably smaller after my lying on a type of mat that the gives of far-infrared and negative ions. However, for the last 2 weeks it has now stopped any noticeable change. I will continue everything else I am doing, and schedule at least one session lying on this mat for some time, in addition to other practices I do. I will keep you posted, and also monitor my progress and consult with my Ayurvedic doctor after I visit a cancer clinic in Mexico... I am not planning on celebrating with ice cream and cake any time soon--if ever--and remain diligent in doing everything I can for prevention and care.

If I continue to improve, the main credit is to all those devotees who have been praying for me. Prayer is powerful and everyone is benefited by it. Thank you all! Thanks you all! Thank you all so much! Now I have to endeavor to give back to all of you.

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Pujari Course
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For the pleasure of their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Pancatattva, Prahlad Nrisimha Dev, Srila Prabhupada and for all the readers Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha happily informs that, for the first time there was a Training class arranged by Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha on ‘Bhoga offering and Aroti performance’ for one day (2 times class) on 6th […]

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Become budhah first!
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Many eastern traditions of the world talk about enlightenment as the goal of human life. They call it in different names - moksha, nirvana, mukti, kaivalya, budhah etc. Of course, the Judeo-christian traditions do not focus on enlightenment but only on salvation. Unfortunately without enlightenment one cannot get salvation. Hence today there is so much fighting in the name of religion (all religions) because people sidestep enlightenment to salvation and each religion claims their way is the “only” way to salvation. This attitude of monopoly of self-righteous salvation through their own professed faith is a symptom of non-enlightenment, in other words, the very opposite of enlightenment. To put it differently, non-enlightenment is ignorance or avidya.

When we stop seeking knowledge from this world, saintly people, and scriptures of the world and fail to traverse the path of enlightenment, then all our religious, social, philanthropical, political etc activities will be tainted with avidya which will be the cause of our misery. When one reaches the platform of enlightenment (Budhah), then one will see the universality of beings and creation. This is the first step towards understanding anything transcendental. But to get there, one must first come to the deep realization, “I thought I knew, but actually I do not know anything that is beneficial for me, please enlighten me”. Once this realization deeply dawns within the horizon of our heart, we must approach someone who is enlightened and enquire submissively.

Personally, having been exposed to many of the eastern traditions that focus on enlightenment, I find this common criteria towards enlightenment among all traditions – to come to the realization of our own avidya, humbling ourselves before an enlightened soul, inquiring from him and serving him thus paving our way for becoming a Budhah or enlightened soul. 

Hare Krishna

Taking Christ out of Christmas
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Although I have been travelling around England recently, I’ve been following the ongoing dispute about the Church of England’s attempt to promote prayer by commissioning a 54-second film – a cinema advertisement, so to speak, for The Lord’s Prayer. The  was designed to be shown before the new Star Wars film. At the last minute the cinema chain stopped the film from being shown – even though it had been approved by the relevant advertising body. It gave as a reason that it ‘might be offensive to some people.’

I despair at the state my country has got itself into. Just coming up to Christmas, who on earth would find a short piece about Christian prayer ‘offensive?’ It might be better to show the ad and then let those who are so offended reveal themselves.

Yesterday I was in Leicester, and right opposite the back door of our temple is the Town Hall. The imposing brick building has the very largest, flashing, green neon **Merry Christmas** sign I have ever seen. Leicester has, as many will know, the largest population of Hindus in the country, outside London. As far as I know, not one Hindu has ever begrudged this overt celebration of Christmas. Hinduism is a broad and diverse collection of religious strands, and is inclusive, appreciating all attempts to serve and know God.

Those who recognise that the same God is being worshipped, despite the differences in names used by the worshippers, will acknowledge  and appreciate the paths of everyone, giving them freedom to express their deepest feelings of faith. And those who recognise the importance of religion, generally, in preserving morality and order in society, will welcome the range of human emotions that comes along with worship, particular the celebration of festivals. It is very sad that we seem to have taken the wrong turn in our understanding of freedom of religion and expression.

To make these cinematic religious matters slightly more complex, the short film Sanjay’s Superteam, by Toy Story makers Pixar, is now being shown in some cinemas just before their new film The Good Dinosaur. The short film features, in cartoon forms, Lord Vishnu, Hanuman and Durga. While I’m delighted that the names and forms of the deities are being broadcast, I am troubled that we seem to be relentlessly diminishing the religion that has been the foundation of much good in this country. The problem is that intolerance toward Christianity in the name of preserving the peace will be followed by more intolerant behaviour in the future.

It is understandable that people look for new forms of religious expression as they tire of old forms. The path of Bhakti seems to be attracting the attention of seekers everywhere. Krishna is mentioned by the bad character in the trailer for another superhero movie: X-Men Apocalypse. The anti-hero introduces himself by saying: “I have been called many things over many lifetimes, Rama, Krishna, Yahweh…”

There may be many more occasions where Bhakti makes an appearance in popular culture. Certainly, there is a great variety of rich culture to be mined in the search for new forms of spiritual expression. I do feel, however, that religion itself must be protected, so that even the concepts preserved by those faiths do not disappear from our conversations. That would be a sad world. Merry Christmas.