London Devotees Lift People’s Spirit on Halloween Night
→ ISKCON News

ISKCON deevotees in London have been going out to do public harinamas every day for decades. The biggest party has traditionally been the Saturday night harinamas. The procession starts in front of the Govinda's Restaurant, then goes around in the theater and party district and the famous Chinatown. On Halloween night, Saturday, October 31st, devotees gave the public something to really lift their spirits!

Faithless
→ ISKCON News

Someone recently referred to me as a 'man of faith'. I detected the condescending tone in his speech. It was, I’m pretty sure, a subtle put-down. Faith is often frowned upon in today’s society – savvy people consider it unscientific, sentimental, primitive and a sign of weakness.

Affection based on service
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.8)

spmaverygdpro1One should never think that we possess anything in this world, not even our children. Our children are independent from us. They are living beings with their own destiny who are placed under our care for sometime, that is all. It is not that they are part of us, “Something of me lives in my child.” That is illusion.

Genetically, it can be proven, fine! But genes have nothing to do with our identity, absolutely nothing; they are simply part of our bodies. The soul is not determined by genetic clumps in any way. The soul is completely aloof and therefore, why single out one living entity over another and get very affectionate towards one particular living entity and not affectionate towards another.

Maybe if it is based on devotional service that we feel particularly affectionate towards one living being because that living being is very much eager to serve Krsna then that criteria is right. That is when we are free from illusion otherwise we are bound by all kinds of different affections in this world and we are in illusion, we are in maya!

 

November 6. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
→ Dandavats.com



November 6. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Prabhupada, having obtained an extension on his Visa, stayed on. America seemed so opulent, yet many things were difficult to tolerate. The sirens and bells from fire engines and police seemed like they would crack his heart. Sometimes at night he would hear a person being attacked and crying for help. From his first days in the City, he had noted that the smell of dog stool was everywhere. And although it was such a rich city, he could rarely find a mango to purchase, and if he did, it was very expensive and usually had no taste. From his room he would sometimes hear the horns of ocean liners, and he would dream that some day he would sail around the world with a sankirtana party, preaching in the major cities of the world.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490

Photos from Kartik 2015 at Bhaktivedanta Manor (Album with HR…
→ Dandavats.com



Photos from Kartik 2015 at Bhaktivedanta Manor (Album with HR photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Pure devotees chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and simply by hearing this chanting from a purified transcendental person, one is purified of all sinful activities, no matter how lowborn or fallen one may be. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.126 Purport)
Find them here: http://goo.gl/NtJaaS

The Glories of Sri Radha Kund – by TKG Academy! (4 min…
→ Dandavats.com



The Glories of Sri Radha Kund – by TKG Academy! (4 min video)
Gopi Gita Schomaker: They did it! TKG Academy Middle and Upper Elementary students have memorized the oh-so-very-long and beautiful verses from the Nectar of Instruction, Sri Upadeshamrita. Prayers in glorification of Sri Radha Kund. Happy Radha Kunda’s Appearance Day, everyone!
Watch it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=21221

Who Knows What a Pediatrician Is?
→ TKG Academy

When you are used to working with children, it shows! Dr. Devika Rao, MD. is a Pediatric Pulmonologist (as well as a mother), and being around young children comes naturally to her.  She came very well prepared for her visit with our Preschool and Lower Elementary classes. She was equipped with an inhaler, an airway clearance “Vest”, a model of the lungs, an otoscope and an ophthalmoscope,  a doctor gown and a young patient’s gown. She introduced herself, explaining why she chose to be a pediatrician and the path she took in obtaining her education and experience. She then taught the students the role and location of the lungs, as well as possible complications and their implications. She demonstrated the use of the various tools she brought and gave out decorated disposable face-masks to each student. She also brought along some relevant books and her important message for staying healthy was: wash your hands thoroughly and frequently! How long? As long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” :)  The visit was concluded with stickers for all the “patients”.

Thank you, Dr. Devika Rao for sharing your knowledge and friendliness!

Faithless
→ Tattva - See inside out

Someone recently referred to me as a 'man of faith'. I detected the condescending tone in his speech. It was, I’m pretty sure, a subtle put-down. Faith is often frowned upon in today’s society – savvy people consider it unscientific, sentimental, primitive and a sign of weakness. Believe in what you see, they say, and take charge of fortune by shaping life on your own abilities and strength. It’s a psychological approach developing from reductionist science, which aims to explain everything in mechanistic, empirical and routine terms. It’s quite apt that the net result of ‘reductionism’ is to severely limit and impair our experience of life.

Faith is, without doubt, the most beautiful, extraordinary and empowering quality in existence! Without it, the world would be dull, dull, dull – life would be restricted to the boundaries of our own logic and rationale. Pretty limited indeed. People say faith doesn’t make sense, but that’s exactly why it makes miracles. Someone believed there was something beyond “the odds.” Someone knew there was a power and inspiration more profound than his own. Someone had the humility and wisdom to tap into a higher source of strength. Time and time again, we see how faith opens doors to the unknown.

This placement of faith is indeed a part of our natural psychology. In cultured societies it actually grows organically. Unfortunately, regular exploitation and abuse of faith has promoted scepticism and suspicion as the orders of the day. To live by your own judgement and discrimination is seen as safe and secure. Yet even that is a farce, since everyone, regardless of their ontological worldview, is impelled to put faith in something lest we're rendered entirely dysfunctional. Thus, the great saint Visvanatha Cakravarti states adau sraddha – “in the beginning there must be faith.” Faith is the foundation of our spiritual life, and the Sanskrit word for it literally means “to put your heart into something.” As we deepen our faith and endeavour with heartfelt conviction, an ordinary life morphs into a transcendental drama of magic and miracles. Gradually, we begin to realise how much we've limited ourselves over the years! It’s actually incredible how one can be so close and yet so far, simply because we couldn’t take a small leap of… faith.

Is Classroom Studying of Srila Prabhupada’s Books the only way?
→ simple thoughts

Share

Its always interesting to see how word’s are interpreted or understood depending on either the individual’s or societies perspective of the word. And for those who are interested in the history of words will not how the meaning of some words have changed over the years, even in my short 40+ years there is a number of words who’s meaning has drastically changed.

However one word that has been on my mind over the past few months is STUDY and more to the point what does it mean to study?

It’s interesting that Srila Prabhupada spoke about his book’s and how a number should be studied, the interpretation of this is class room academia based study, with assignments and testing; once finished a nice certificate and a credibility above those who haven’t done or completed the course.

Is this real study?

Srila Prabhupada’s books are the basis for self realization, and although guidance is needed is this emphasis on academia making it a bit like a university/college degree; we learn enough to qualify and then mostly forgotten after hanging the picture of our achievement’s on the wall.

Now I can be perfectly frank here in my blog, as it’s a personal space not a definitive insight into ISKCON but I’ve learnt more not by attending classes or doing some online course, indeed personally speaking this is the best way to get me to permanently leave RUN AWAY.

No what has been most effective is when I’ve done personal study, when I read all of Srila Prabhupada’s purport’s on initiation and guru/disciple relationship; when I’ve been asked a question that has got me searching for an answer, and most importantly when giving class no matter what the setting is [schools, community groups or at the temple].

For me it allows time to really explore the subject, look at it from many angles and then see how best to present the amazing wealth of knowledge. Most importantly it has also been more personal when faced with personal problems and the exploration of Srila Prabhupada’s words to gain insight and the answer.

It’s also been of benefit to speak to devotee’s with years of practice in bhakti for further insight, this has also proved more valuable; were would I be without these amazing soul’s who know me enough to give the best advice and direction.

For me personally it’s not about if this or that course is completed.

For me it’s has it made a change, has it moved from head knowledge to heart knowledge, this for me personally is more important.

To study Srila Prabhupada’s books it’s not about ticking a box or filling out a questionnaire, ow I see they have understood; anyone who have done a university/college course learns quickly the art of studying and pleasing the tutor. But real study comes when the individual is totally inspired by the subject matter.

It reminded me of a television show MasterMind, the contestant’s are initially quizzed on a subject matter they have chosen, it’s a subject close to the person’s heart; their knowledge is not empirical class learnt but motivated by a love of the subject. I found this always fascinating. The second was a general knowledge section.

The motivation was love, love of the subject.
For me study of Srila Prabhupada’s books is not empirical class room, question answer assignment, but a study of personal exploration learning how each question and situation faced by myself and others is simply answered; this makes it more heart than head knowledge.

Like a university/college course most of the knowledge is lost, as it was simply head knowledge to complete the course and get a good score.

But upon leaving the student learns the most as they enter into the field.

Srila Prabhupada’s books can only be understood through service, so all courses should be service based; the individual finding their place in bhakti devotional service. Then the greatest learning is their.

But modern day interpretation of study is just based on mind knowledge, as long as the form is filled out nicely then that’s all that matters.

My fear is this; emphasis on academia above all else will eventually lead to the end of the diversity of individual’s we see in ISKCON, our strength has been the diversity of people; and not everyone are classroom/IT study based academics but moved by Srila Prabhupada’s words are amazing devotees. But not having a qualification may mean as we have seen in many fields these individual’s will be sidelined of devalued becoming second rate.

Their is more than one way to study, so why make it one way, remains the question in my mind.

Karttika in Vrindavana (video) Lokanath Swami Leading…
→ Dandavats.com



Karttika in Vrindavana (video)
Lokanath Swami Leading Damodarastakam at Iskcon Vrindavan
To the supreme controller, who possesses an eternal form of blissful knowledge, whose glistening earrings swing to and fro, who manifested Himself in Gokula, who stole the butter that the gopis kept hanging from the rafters of their storerooms and who then quickly jumped up and ran in retreat in fear of Mother Yasoda but was ultimately caught - to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/kOHTqr

Govardhana Puja Festival – November 12, 2015
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

On Thursday, November 12, 2015 Toronto's Hare Krishna Temple will be celebrating Govardhan Puja!

Also referred to as Annakuta, Govardhana Puja is a special festival which marks the time when the inhabitants of Vrindavan (Lord Krishna’s abode on Earth) held a harvest festival in honour of King Indra, the demigod who provided the rains essential for the harvest. One day, however, Lord Krishna wanted to teach Indra a lesson. He convinced the inhabitants of Vrindavan to honour Govardhana Hill instead, whose fertile soil provided the grass upon which the cows and bulls grazed, and to honour the cows and bulls who provided milk and ploughed the lands.

Outraged, Indra retaliated with terrifying thunderstorms. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, calmly lifted Govardhana Hill with the little finger of his left hand. For seven days and seven nights the Lord held up Govardhana Hill, providing a giant umbrella to shelter the inhabitants of Vrindavan from the torrential rain.

Govardhan Puja celebrations at the Hare Krishna temple have always been popular and this year's festival will once again feature a grand "Govardhana Hill" made entirely of sweets in the middle of the temple room! Please join us for festivities from 6:00pm to 9:00pm on Thursday, November 12, 2015 to celebrate this wonderful festival!

We hope to see you and your family at the Hare Krishna temple for this spectacular festival!

Update on Mukunda Goswami’s Health
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

Update on Mukunda Goswami's Recovery
(from ISKCON News)

November 4, 2015 - Mukunda Goswami is making a slow but steady recovery from the surgeries.

While in ICU he was looked after 24/7 by a team of doctors and nurses to make sure that his vital functions were properly restored. Their particular concern was Maharaja’s lungs (risk of a pneumonia) from extended confinement to bed due to the hip fracture as well as possible clotting. Therefore the day after the hip surgery physiotherapists started gently but forcefully encouraging Maharaja to sit up and then to put weight on his legs and walk with the support of a frame. This was (and still is) very painful and difficult for Maharaja, but is paramount for his recovery.

On November 2 Mukunda Maharaja was shifted from ICU to back to a single room in the (Acute) Coronary Care Unit (CCU), where his operating cardio surgeon, orthopaedic surgeon and medical team daily check on him. Mukunda Maharaja’s medical condition is improving, although he still is in a lot of pain, aggravated by the need to sit up in a chair for his lungs rather than lie down in bed. He sticks to his regimen of regular deep breathing, arm, chest and leg exercises. Today's examination revealed less crepitation in his lungs as compared to Monday. As a doctor joked, “you have to dance for us before we can let you go”, and Mukunda Goswami, assisted by his servants, is determined to dance.

Maharaja has increased his food and liquid intake, much to the relief of the doctors and devotees, as another concern with Maharaja’s post-operative condition was his undernourishment, low Hb, low protein and anaemia. Krsna-kirtana Das, his wife Malini Dasi (who both have a lot of hospital experience) and a few other devotees prepare prasadam according to Maharaja’s dietary needs & taste, which Krsna-kirtana personally serves (or sometimes lovingly administers) to Maharaja every morning and noon. This includes hot milk, fruit, high-protein whey drinks, homemade nut & wholegrain bread, as well as mung-dhal soup for lunch. On several occasions Mukunda Maharaja remarked to the nurses that “Hare Krishna food is much better than the hospital food”, to which they cannot help but agree.

Whenever he can, Mukunda Maharaja is chanting japa on his clicker and listens to Srimad Bhagavatam read out to him by attending devotees and we also read The New Govardhana ‘Conch Newsletter’ cover to cover for him. He also showed keen interest in Shyamasundara Prabhu’s newly published book “Chasing Rhinos with the Swami”, remarking in jest that this might not be the most politically correct title for the environment-conscious Australians.

If he maintains the same recovery pace, in a few days or so Mukunda Maharaja will be shifted to a rehabilitation facility at Murwillumbah Hospital near New Govardhan farm and, if his rehabilitation is successful, he will discharged and home in a couple of weeks after that.

In the meantime, devotees are preparing his rooms at the farm for his special needs. Yesterday the tiled floor in his bedroom, bathroom and study, on which the fateful slip almost two weeks ago occurred, was treated by floor grip specialists to make it safer to walk on. Plans are to construct a ramp to the bedroom for Maharaja's easier access, arrange for a medical bed and chair, hand rails, replace all his socks with non-slip ones with rubberized soles, and install an alarm system which would allow Maharaja to call for assistance around the clock. Mukunda Goswami’s disciples express their deepest gratitude to the devotees around the world who offered their financial assistance for making these necessary arrangements for Maharaja’s residence.

Hare Krishna! Thinking Big Pays Off! Mukunda Goswami: In 1981…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Thinking Big Pays Off!
Mukunda Goswami: In 1981 devotees posed for a photograph that appeared in a publication called The Wonderful World of Hare Krishna in Australia. A sankirtana party of approximately 40 devotees clearly showed the Sydney Opera House in the background. The Opera House has become a worldwide symbol for what Donald Horne in his 1964 book called The Lucky Country. On Saturday, 20 August 2016 devotees of ISKCON will perform sankirtana inside this iconic structure. Srila Prabhupada’s singular fault, according to Srila Prabhupada himself, was that he couldn’t “think small”. Staging a Hare Krishna event inside the Sydney Opera House is an example of “thinking big”, and the credit goes to Damodara Pandit dasa of the New Govardhana community of Australia, who for nearly three months negotiated with Opera House personnel to obtain this venue.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=21201

ISKCON Malaysia: Hare Krishna. We regret to inform that HG Radha…
→ Dandavats.com



ISKCON Malaysia: Hare Krishna. We regret to inform that HG Radha Madhava Prabhu a disciple of HH Jayapataka Swami just left his body at his home in Teluk Intan this morning at 7.30AM. HG was the Regional Council Chairman of the ISKCON Perak Council, a Trustee of ISKCON Malaysia and also director of ISKCON Malaysia farms. We offer our deepest condolences to his family members and bearing in mind he has left on this auspicious Damodara month. HG was very instrumental in the success of many preaching programmes around the country especially congregational preaching programmes. We pray that he attains the shelter of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna.

South Korean Kirtan Tour Soothes the Seoul! A video currently…
→ Dandavats.com



South Korean Kirtan Tour Soothes the Seoul!
A video currently making the rounds on social media shows well-known U.S. kirtan chanters Gaura Vani and Ananta Govinda dancing out of a conference room into the hallway at the Korea Yoga Conference in South Korea. They’re followed by two lines of smiling Koreans, who are holding their arms up in the air, swaying with the Swami step, and sweetly chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. “Korean people are very hardworking, very modern, and tend to be very stressed out,” says Gaura Vani, who toured South Korea’s capital city of Seoul from October 6th to 20th this fall. “So with kirtan, we tried to help them open up more and live less in the head, and more in the heart. And they were very receptive.”
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/9eHBSp

Monday, November 2nd, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Monday, November 2nd, 2015
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania


I Met Ben



I met Ben, a cyclist who worked for TESCORP in Zambia.  He stopped cycling for a bit just to talk to me.  He was curious about my clothes and, interestingly enough, he was familiar with the Bhagavad Gita, the most widely read philosophical classical text from India.

I was also fortunate to meet Charles at the West Susquehanna River.  He was also nice  Kind of a relic of a hippie, I would say.  He had read the book, ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ and was very much impressed.

“It was insightful”, he said.

But he expressed some disagreement with the worship aspect of the yoga culture.  He also said that he was not entirely excited about the worship practices of the local Buddhists in town.  He also denied the personality of God and simply wanted to settle with the universe.

“So you appreciate the universe, right?” I asked.

He agreed.

“Just appreciation alone is a form of worship in the mind.  It doesn’t require any special instrument to make use of it,” I expressed.

Charles certainly affirmed that he was an admirer of George Harrison and his music. We parted on great terms.

Two women, both with the same name, Christie, pulled over.  They recognized us from reading the article in the ‘Altoona Mirror’.  They were thrilled.

Amanda from the Patriot News came to meet us and take some photos on the bridge over the Susquehanna.  She was very creative with her camera and she was a beautiful and inquisitive person.

Lunch was at Nam Dev’s, a prominent member of our community in Harrisburg.  There, I met two of his employees who have become quite intrigued with the bhakti (devotional) approach to life.

Tre’von was a real hero.  He stuck by me practically every step of the way.  The temperature reached over the 60 degree Fahrenheit mark.  We both acknowledged that the power from above, Krishna, was with us, giving us His mercy on the walk.

May the Source be with you!

24 miles / 38 km

Saturday, October 31st, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Saturday, October 31st, 2015
Port Royal, Pennsylvania

Got To The Farm


Pandu, a father of six from the local area, decided to try to trek for a few hours.  We were all bundled up to address the 28 degree Farenheit temperature.  Moving upwards on an ascending road caused us to sweat to pieces and before long took off as many clothes as we had put on. 
Pandu covered a good 15 miles with us, which included a walk through one of those iconic east coast covered bridges.  Then, we all came to another milestone for this walk, the place called Gita Nagari Yoga Farm, a rural haven.  Here we were greeted by earnest kirtan performers, the young, old, and the strong.  Among them was Nandi, a young man from New Zealand and a tender to the bulls.  He brought along a massive one, a brown Swiss breed, to be part of the greeting. 
Our greeters followed our walking troupe all the way to the country-style temple of Radha Damodar.  It became a lively spiritual procession.  The bull also came along and even performed a dance step to the best of his ability. 
Also, since yesterday, we gained some unique company in the form of a cat who tagged along by our side for two miles.  Who the owner might be, we had no clue, so we allowed him to join the crew.  He became our fifth team player.  This predominantly black cat was sweet and lovable.  He would hardly make a sound.  That evening we were determined to leave him at the farm but in the morning as we were packing and setting ourselves up for the day’s trek, he requested us in his own way to be ‘one of the boys’.  We even gave him a name, Raj, which means ‘king’.  Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your relative outlook, during a segment of our stepping along on this quiet back road, his majesty got distracted, left us, and was not to be seen again.  He’s entitled to his own adventures, after all, he is the king. 
Two women from the Gita Nagari community joined us for the last leg of our walk.  One of the ladies narrated her story, that when she was young she had contemplated suicide. At one point she was preparing herself to jump from a high elevation.  Now, she had been following Buddhism and she had heard that Buddha was an incarnation of Krishna.  At that critical moment, she made a plea to Krishna within herself calling for help.  She decided against giving up, sought some followers of Krishna, stayed with them, and never left. 
Good girl!  Stick with it and don’t follow the path of Raj, the cat. 
May the Source be with you!
21 miles / 33 km

Sunday, November 1st, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Sunday, November 1st, 2015
Alinda, Pennsylvania  


Pain and Pleasure



Our walking party of three did more like sneaking along the highway.  It wasn’t exactly like riding on the back of the celestial serpent Vasuki.  Rather, it was quite an endeavour going through the mountainous area.  I would give credit to the engineers and construction crew who laid the asphalt that was good and recent.  Was there a shoulder to the road?  Hardly!  After an hour of puffing and panting, the road finally leveled off.  The traffic picked up eventually after the long Sunday morning slumber that followed Halloween adventures from the night before.

Each and everyone of us, the walkers, is encountering some pain.  Tre’von has an issue with his back and his right knee, Mandala has a muscle spasm in his right ankle, and Vivasvan, although not walking too much being our support driver, talks about an aggravating tick that he has burrowed into his thigh.  As for myself, well, I’m breaking in a new pair of shoes and there are some issues with my hamstring.  The shoes are good but it takes some time to adjust to them.  This evening a doctor and congregant from our community in Harrisburg will be diagnosing us and offering recommendations.

At one point in the walk, I grew fatigued and decided to go for a nap by the side of the road.  Tre’von was with me and was watching over me.  Sure enough, a concerned motorist pulled over. 

“What’s going on?”

We must admit, we looked a little bit odd on the Pennsylvania landscape.  Here you have this dude with dreads, Tre’von, and myself in complete orange in a horizontal position.  Anyway, the motorist went away somewhat satisfied by Trevon’s brief explanation.

By 2:30 pm, we left from Sherman Creek, the location for our final steps of the day.  Vivasvan picked us up and drove us to Harrisburg where the local Vaishnava community has recently acquired a church.  I spoke on verses 51-53 from chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita regarding the ways to seek self-realization.  No doubt, the ego is the major obstacle and that we addressed.

I was really impressed by the enthusiastic dancing one man performed during the kirtan.  Overall, I perceived a happy bunch here.

May the Source be with you!

20 miles/ 32 km

Thursday, October 29th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Thursday, October 29th, 2015
Mapleton, Pennsylvania

Mapleton By The Sand Mill


I had just trudged through thorny brush, gone up and down a steep ridge, through a low creek, over some train tracks, and finally on to a road which lead me to a porch of someone by the name of Jim.  It was here that I asked Jim, “Where am I?”  And Jim, rather delighted to be asked by a man in orange, responded, “You’re on Callowhill Street.”  Out came his mother, his senior by 17 years (both are rather elderly), to join us.  She was very startled to see me.  She went back inside the house and then returned with the ‘Daily News’.  “You’re on the front page.”
I had challenged the off-the-route trail to rediscover an old one, one that included a quaint iron bridge over the highway.  After a few warm moments with Jim and his mom, she asked me about my origin. 
“Ontario,” I said, which was followed with a remark,
“Toronto!  The Blue Jays!  They beat my New York Yankees.”  I admitted to not following baseball.  In any case, I admit that a game of any sort brings people together. 
Vivasvan, Mandala, and I, accepted an invitation from Daniel Hugh at the end of the day’s trek.  His place happened to be only two doors away from Jim’s in the small town of Mapleton.  Daniel works for correctional services.   We chatted at his home and sipped on apple cider.  Funny, but it was the first day since beginning this trek from Boston that I could not find an apple tree.  So here we were, sipping on apple cider.  Daniel also just got married.  Congratulations! 
The other major encounter with a human soul was with Dane who had just come up from down the river where he caught an 18 inch bass.  Another congratulations.  “Do take my card and enjoy the mantra on the reverse side.”  I left him leaving with what I consider a gift.  There are a few items that sustain me on this walk – my team members, my legs, my guru, and the mantra.  Once in a while, I get a chance to snatch an apple off a tree.

May the Source be with you!

21 miles / 33 km

Friday, October 30th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Friday, October 30th, 2015
Blacklog Valley, PA


Police Again



A man in a pick-up truck was passing by where Vivasvan was parked.  He rolled down his windows and warned him, “I’ll give you a heads up. The police are back there and they caught some prisoners”.

Vivasvan was wondering if this was the same scenario repeating itself again - The Walking Monk, wearing orange, has been mistaken for an escaped convict.

Sure enough, that was the case.  The police had received complaints from some suspicious people.  Two officers came to the place where Tre’von, Mandala and I were trekking.  I asked one officer if they could please notify all the police stations across the state of Pennsylvania about what we are doing so that we could avoid these kind of encounters in the future.

“I’m rather harmless”, I said facetiously.

“Of course you are”, expressed the officer, a little embarrassed.

The second officer volunteered to say, “Well, it is Halloween time but things still happen.  A few years ago we got a report that someone saw a hand sticking out of a car trunk.  We thought it was a prank but when we investigated it, it happened to be an actual body”.

What he was saying is that these things do occur; it is not simply that people watch too many horror movies.

Today I was also involved in a presentation at the religious department of Juniata College with Professor Susan Prill.  I was asked to speak about Krishna consciousness and ecology.  I quoted the first verse from the text, Sri Isopanisad:

“Everything animate or inanimate in this world is owned and controlled by the Supreme Lord.  Every living being is entitled to his or her individual quota and should not accept more than necessary, knowing well to whom everything belongs”.

One interesting thing that Professor Prill pulled out for us was an 18th-century, page-by-page, handmade, calligraphic presentation of the Bhagavata Purana with Sanskrit script and one-of-a-kind paintings.  We were somewhat wowed by that.

As far as the students were concerned, the response was very satisfying.  Some of the students insisted that they wanted to do some walking, and we happily received their company. Professor Prill also joined us.  She is very cool and she is also a vegetarian.

May the Source be with you!

21 miles / 33 km

Wednesday, October 28th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Wednesday, October 28th, 2015
Williamsburg, Pennsylvania


For Mukunda



Today’s walk is dedicated to a monk who I adore very much.  Mukunda Goswami is his name.  He is currently in intensive care in the hospital in Australia struggling for his life.  I believe he is 73.

To tackle this day, which I held in honour of this great soul, I approached it (and the heavy rain) as a kind of sacrifice.  Along with Tre’von and our new team player Mandala, we took out our best water-resistant attire.  I even surrendered to wearing trousers and a plastic rain shell for practicality.  It wasn’t easy move through the unstoppable waters coming from the sky.  The liquid fell from above and didn’t let up until the last hour of my walking when I was alone.  Frankly, I felt that the three of us were like men at sea.

When my two companions pulled off the road to put a warm meal together (compliments to Paul for offering the use of his kitchen in his Bed & Breakfast), I ventured through the Lower Trail along the Juniata River.  Not a soul could be seen.  The rain seems to intimidate many creatures, except for some happy plants that I could see along the way.  The river’s waters rushed forward in a way that was inspiring but I just couldn’t keep to the pace of the flowing H2O.  Despite all efforts to stay dry, wetness still came through.  What to do?  You just have to accept it as an austerity.  And again, I’m doing this for Mukunda.

While water was very much the main feature of the day, the mantra emanating from the lips penetrated through all the predominating fluids.  Motorists somehow seemed to figure out that my walking had something to do with Russ O’Reilly’s article in the ‘Altoona Mirror’ as well as a broadcast on a local radio station.  The message was, “If you see a monk and believe in honouring our teachers, then give a honk.”  And that they did.

May the Source be with you!

19 miles 31 km

Mahabharata: The Condensed Version Available on Amazon as Free Download
→ ISKCON News

Torchlight Publishing is happy to announce the release today of a new e-book of the condensed version of the great epic, The Mahabharata by the world renown author Krishna Dharma. Mahabharata: The condensed version of the world’s greatest epic, is now available on Amazon.com. As part of the release promotions, the book is free for 3 days from November 6 - 8 inclusive.

When Bhagavatam talks about karma as a cause, shouldnt we see karma causally?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Both Yamaraja in Suyajna pastime and Kamsa while consoling Vasudeva-Devaki talk about karmic causality.
Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post When Bhagavatam talks about karma as a cause, shouldnt we see karma causally? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

If someone’s child has cancer should we not offer charity to avoid interfering with karma?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post If someone’s child has cancer should we not offer charity to avoid interfering with karma? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Does the guru literally come back lifetime after lifetime till the disciple is delivered?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast


Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Does the guru literally come back lifetime after lifetime till the disciple is delivered? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.