Dallas Plans 50 Hours of Kirtan for ISKCON’s 50th. For the past…
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Dallas Plans 50 Hours of Kirtan for ISKCON’s 50th.
For the past seven years, Sri Sri Radha-Kalachandji Mandir in Dallas has rung in the new year with an epic multi-hour community kirtan organized by second-generation devotees. From twelve hours in its first year, it has grown to twenty-four hours, and even featured a thirty-six-hour marathon for its fifth anniversary. This New Year’s Eve, the community is going above and beyond with fifty hours of kirtan in celebration of both the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the US in 2015, and the 50th anniversary of ISKCON’s incorporation in 2016.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/9VBMrh

Little Conch: ‘Breaking News: Shootings and explosions in Paris’…
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Little Conch: ‘Breaking News: Shootings and explosions in Paris’
Last night as I laid my head to the pillow, a red notification popped up on my phone. ‘Breaking News: Shootings and explosions in Paris’, it announced. The disaster had just happened, mere minutes earlier. There was very little information, just a handful of facts and speculations. I closed my eyes with a sigh and a prayer. Earlier that evening at home we had sat around a live stream from Wembley Stadium of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dazzling welcome reception to the UK. There was a sparkling stream of dancers, a full symphonic orchestra, giant rangolis in national colours, and much general hoo-ha. Modi spoke from the podium on India’s bright future, painting a vision of a country energised by solar power and high speed trains.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/1PZzml

November 14. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. One of…
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November 14. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
One of my favorite lines from the poems that Prabhupada wrote is, “Make me dance, make me dance, O Lord make me dance as You like.” Prabhupada declared himself a puppet in the hands of Krishna, and he asked Krishna to please fulfill the actual meaning of the name Bhaktivedanta. That poem wasn’t written as the musings of a reclusive scholar, it was written on board the Jaladuta, a freighter with one Indian-style passenger cabin. The one passenger, Bhaktivedanta Swami, had no money, yet he was striking out for America. The poem was written by a preacher, who although fearless, appeared to be momentarily overcome by his first sight of an American city. Even Lord Krishna hesitated when He faced the Aghasura demon. Srila Prabhupada didn’t hesitate in his purpose or waver in his determination, but he realized and admitted his helpless situation to Krishna, his friend.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490

Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day
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By Giriraj Swami

After starting his mission in New York and San Francisco, Srila Prabhupada suffered a stroke, and after all efforts to recover in America had failed, he decided to return to India to recoup his health. Before his departure, he visited the San Francisco temple. No one had expected him, in his condition, to speak, but he asked for the microphone. He spoke about his mission, how under the order of his spiritual master he had brought Lord Caitanya’s movement to America and how Krsna had kindly sent so many sincere souls. He told the devotees, “I have a few children in India from my family days, but you are my real children. Now I am going to India for a little while.” One of Srila Prabhupada’s early disciples from San Francisco suddenly entered the room. The devotees knew that he wanted to leave Krsna consciousness, that he hadn’t taken his initiation vows seriously, and that he wanted to move on—he didn’t want a spiritual master any more. The other devotees tried to discourage him, but he had persisted. Now they were incredulous: how could he do such a thing on the night before Swamiji’s departure? Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day
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Krishnas on Campus
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By Ash Elder

Many students search for ways to connect with God on campus and the UNF Hare Krishnas do it through sung prayer and meditation. Sura, a club member was singing the Hare Krishna mantra, a 16 word mantra composed of three Sanskrit names of the Supreme Being; “Hare,” “Krishna,” and “Rama.” The mantra is chanted in order to create vibrations which connect the consciousness with God.

Prabhupada
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, August 2016, Goloka-dhama, Germany, Lecture)

SP_smiling

Prabhupada was real, Prabhupada was genuine, Prabhupada loved Krsna, Prabhupada saw Krsna and because Prabhupada said God is blue, He is blue! It is as simple as that! Therefore Prabhupada is the living proof of Krsna consciousness, that it all works. Prabhupada is not only our inspiration, not only the source of our faith but Prabhupada is also our anchor. Whenever we have a doubt, Prabhupada is the anchor, our saving grace as we are riding on the waves of our individual nature. He is the safe ground to which we always return. We trust him for the person he was, for his teachings and we know that in his teachings we will find our answers; we find the basis of our Krsna consciousness. This is where we return, to the safe connection with Krsna. We meet him in everything he left – we meet him in his devotees, we meet him in his books, we meet him in his instructions and so on.

Guru and Disciple: Hundreds of copies already sold
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blue books

So I published my book in August, just a modest run of 500 copies. They’ve almost all gone. Thank you to all those who showed me support and bought one. And congratulations to you if you bought one as a gift for a friend.

Just to stimulate discussion, and to perhaps interest you, dear reader, in buying one before they all go, here are the Contents pages. You’ll see I have not flinched in discussing some controversial topics, chiefly because there’s a readership for those types of subjects. The Guru & Disciple Book is available on Amazon – now at a reduced rate – in both UK and USA.

Contents

Part One: Putting first things first

  1. You are Here – Why our home-made map of life may require updating.
  2. Five Tales – Classic tales from the Upanishads suggest that a change of perspective may be necessary before spiritual life can begin.
  3. Understanding the Vedas – There are two classical ways of gathering knowledge; only one is good enough for spiritual transmission between the guru and the disciple.
  4. What are the Vedas? – A look at the numerous components of a vast library of wisdom.
  5. The Vedas and other religions – Ultimate reality is one, perceived differently only due to the different consciousness of the seers.
  6. Discussing and understanding the Sources – Original texts, commentaries and mystical revelation. How to avoid fuzzy thinking.
  7. Postmodern Views – Postmodernism affects everything – even the guru-disciple relationship.
  8. The Necessity of accepting a Guru – Why other ways of gaining higher knowledge are incomplete.

Part Two: The ancient culture of learning

  1. A is for Acarya – The meaning of the word and the ancient culture of how acaryas lived and taught.
  2. Siksha, Diksha, and Semantic Drift – More meanings of words and how they’ve gradually changed.
  3. Diksha – The history of giving mantras; what happens at the diksha ceremony; and what has changed in a thousand years.
  4. Qualities of the Guru and the Disciple – A classical description from the Nyasa Vimsati, the lifetime experience of the mediaeval Vaishnava saint, Vedanta Deshika.
  5. What does a guru teach? – Guru means ‘teacher,’ but what is he supposed to teach you, and how often? How do you know if he is teaching you correctly? How do you know if you are a good student?
  6. Teaching techniques of the gurus – Gurus employ a diverse range of time-tested techniques in order to help their disciples on their spiritual journey.
  7. The Reprehensible Delusions of Guruship – Four ways the guru should not think about himself – or his disciple. Wisdom from the ancient sage, Pillai Lokacarya.
  8. Where can you find a guru? – Lord Krishna told Arjuna to ‘approach’ a guru. But where can you find one? Here is what Krishna said years later, as recorded in the eleventh canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam.
  9. Within You, Without You – How God manifests as the guru, both inside and out.
  10. Little Ants on a Leaping Lion – Who is more important for the disciple – the physically manifest guru or the historical acarya? The discussion continues after 900 years.
  11. The Parampara Family Tree – How the best fruit is gently carried down through the branches of the tree.
  12. A Very Different Diksha – Misconceptions and movements. How the grandfathers of contemporary Vaishnavism tackled ‘mission drift.’

Part Three: Creating and sustaining community

  1. The Guru spreads his Arms – His ashrams, sanghas, missions and movements.
  2. Not Everybody likes Organisations – Why we don’t like ‘organised religion,’ and prefer small groups to big ones.
  3. Sustainability and Governance – Why hierarchy and ‘due diligence’ are essential – even in spiritual movements.
  4. Are you Church or Chapel? – Religious groups constantly divide and splinter, but by keeping a tradition spiritually dynamic, we can avoid the temptation of separation.

Part Four: Shades of saffron

  1. Sannyasa Dharma – Ancient rules for a renunciate and the ten vows he must make.
  2. Sannyasa – the Real and the False – Real sannyasa is internal, and goes beyond the wearing of saffron robes. So why was it important for Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur?
  3. Undercurrents – The Gaudiya Mission was enormously successful, yet beneath the surface there were already swirling currents.
  4. White Skin, Orange Cloth – The many challenges in setting up a western sannyasa order from 1967 to 1977.
  5. Saffron Cardinals – An order of renunciates as ecclesiastics, and the phenomenon of ‘clergy burnout.’
  6. Reflections and Reforms – Sannyasis who became gurus share their private thoughts.

Part Five: Gurus, scandals and issues

  1. Why would anyone be a guru? – Discussing why, and how, the decision is made to accept disciples.
  2. Gurus of the Future – Srila Prabhupada speaks clearly on how he wants his disciples to become gurus after him.
  3. The July 9th Letter – In the 1980s certain members of ISKCON raised this one letter to the level of a religious text.
  4. So what went wrong? – The turbulent years after the passing of the founder-acarya threatened to wrench his movement apart. What mistakes were made?
  5. Stepping into their father’s shoes – Some of the complications of being a young guru in an even younger spiritual movement.
  6. Diksha Lite – In a bid to attract followers, some gurus offer initiation without training.
  7. Diksha and Drugs – In the name of ‘compassion,’ some gurus try to have disciples without discipline.
  8. Guru and Disciple in Therapy – In which we subject the guru-disciple relationship to an hour on the therapist’s couch.
  9. When the Wise become Weak – It does happen, sadly, so what should be our response? How can it be avoided?
  10. Loyal Disciple…or a mouse? – The guru repeats what he’s heard or loses his power.
  11. Leaving a Guru – Can you ever leave? What are the legitimate reasons?

Part Six: Becoming a disciple today

  1. Steps towards the Big Step – Spiritual life is a journey of a thousand steps. Where is initiation on that journey, and how do we prepare for it?
  2. Are you ready for a guru? – What should you look for within yourself before initiation? What doubts and myths about the guru have to be dissolved first?
  3. Serious to find a guru – Srila Prabhupada and his own guru write on how to find one.
  4. Testing the guru – No-one should blindly accept a guru. The candidate is first meant to test the guru. But how, exactly, and for how long?
  5. The Path to Initiation – How to become initiated in ISKCON today. Stages in the procedure and the support you’ll need to have in place.

 

 

 


Join us this Sunday, 15th of November 2015 to celebrate disapperance day of Srila Prabhupada – Vedic Discourse by His Grace Gaura Das prabhu
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Disapperance of Srila Prabhupada :
Although Srila Prabhupada is no longer physically with us, on the spiritual platform he is very much present. He is present in his deity form, in his books and through his instructions. His mercy is available to all those who seek it.
Srila Prabhupada departed from this world on November 14, 1977 in Vrindavan, India. One would not usually celebrate the disappearance day of a person, especially one so loved and revered as Srila Prabhupada. However, the departure of a pure Vaishnava gives cause for jubilation because he returns to his eternal service at Krishna's lotus feet in Goloka Vrindavan, the spiritual world.
As Srila Prabhupada explains, the appearance and disappearance of the Lord and his pure representatives from this world is a cause for celebration. While there is no need to lament the disappearance of the Lord's pure nitya-siddha representative, at the same time the devotees feel great pangs of separation due to the manifest physical absence of His Divine Grace.

Special Festivities(**Extended Program**)
 
10.45 - 11.00      Tulsi Puja                                           
11.00 - 11.15      Guru Puja Pushpanjali To Srila Prabhupada                                          11:30 - 11:55      Aarti & Kirtan                                      
11.55 - 12.00      Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers                  
12.00 -   1:00      Special discourse & Song dedication
  1:00 –  1:40      Damodarashtakam/Closing Kirtan
  1.40 _  2.00      Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast


COMING UP AHEAD

Fasting For Utthana Ekadasi

Fasting.....................on Sun Nov 22nd,2015
Breakfast................. on Mon Nov 23rd,2015 b/w 7.21am-10.29am
Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.
English audio glorification of all Ekadasis is available here 
 
Kartik Festival(Oct 28-Nov 25)
Kartik (Damodar) Month is the best, the purest of purifiers, and most glorious of all months. Kartika month is particularly dear to Lord Sri Krishna. Any devotional service, even the smallest, performed in this month will yield immense results. The effect of performing Kartika Vrata lasts for one hundred lifetimes.
 Kartika or the festival of offering lamps to Lord Krishna glorifying Lord Krishna’s pastime of being bound with ropes by Mother Yashoda.
“In Kartika month, after bathing in the morning, one should worship Lord Damodara. At night, one should light brilliant lamps filled with either ghee or sesame-seed oil, and place them in these places – in the Lord’s temple, around the base of tulasi plants, and in the sky. During the month of Kartika, one should eat only vegetarian foodstuffs and the Lords prasad remnants. There should be incessant harinama-kirtana and smarana. The sole activity to be done during the observance of Damodara-vrata is the worship of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara.”   -Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur                                                                                                              
                                                                                                             If you'd like to host Damodar Arati at your place,please contact below:
Kamala Gopi Mataji(Mississauga ),Nimai Nitai Pr(Etobicoke),Prema Gaurangi Mataji(Milton),Vidhyanidhi Pr(Brampton)

 

ONGOING EVERY SUNDAY
 

Sunday School

To register,contact usEmail:sundayschool108@gmail.comCall:647.893.9363
The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. School
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).

Gift Shop
Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your visit. It offers textiles, jewellery, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.
 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy

Gujarat Chief Minister Visits ISKCON Ahmedabad on Govardhan Puja Day
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By Haresh Govinda Das

As every year this time also ISKCON Ahmedabad celebrated Govardhan Puja in a very fabulous way. All the devotees enterprisingly fabricated the replica of Govardhan in the temple. Govardhan Hill was adorned with various kinds of fruits, dry fruits and many other preparations like different kinds of sabjis, sweet items, rice, etc. Gujarat Chief Minister Smt. Anandiben Patel also honored this festival and took the blessings of Giriraj. Honorable Chief Minister was welcomed by Temple President H G Jashomatinandan Pr. Along with Chief Minister, Ahmedabad Mayor Smt. Minaxiben Patel also took the blessings of Giriraj. Honorable Chief Minister offered Garland and Aarti to Their Lordship Sri Sri Radha Govindji and Sri Srinathji. H G Jashomatinandan Pr. Offered Srila Prabhupada Books and photo frame of Sri Sri Radha Govindji to Honorable Chief Minister and Mayor.

Tuesday, November 10th, 2015
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Tuesday, November 10th, 2015
Manhattan, New York

The Finish Line…The Tree

We had yet to complete New Jersey before hopping on to a ferry for Manhattan, taking us towards our final destination for this walk.

Two more players entered our trekking arena; a local person, Bhakta Avatara, and Jake from Michigan.  Seven of us took boldly to the streets despite it being overcast with light rain.  Through Newark downtown we went.  And then we came upon bridges with walkways - rarely used. They take you over the river before reaching Jersey City.  Before we came to the posh and clean waterfront with new high-rises, we traveled through areas of human embarrassment - trash, rejected objects of food, coffee containers… We walked by a massive auto grave yard catching a glimpse of the symptoms of Kali Yuga, the age of forgotten values.

In Manhattan, the world of cultural power catches the attention.  We came upon an extraordinary memorial in honour of Irish settlers who took the long journey to the US in response to devastating famine.  Not far from there, just two blocks away, we observed another monument.  This one was to honour the departed souls of 9/11.  It was a huge square-ish run of water trailing down a dark deep well.  Very impactful.

Another one of those tiny miracles occurred when I was stopped in the street by another friend, Sudha Jiva.  He came at the point when the rain came more profusely.  Conveniently, we took shelter of his vehicle nearby where we could talk.

“Much work needs to be done”, we both concluded in regard to promoting spiritual renaissance, one that encourages us back to the land and simple living.

A kirtan chanting party was set for our last leg of the 950-mile walk in honour of our teachers (and specifically our guru Srila Prabhupada).  It began at Union Square and proceeded to Tompkins Square Park to its central point, the elm tree.  It was under this tree that our divine teacher inspired his first followers to engage in the prime function for the people of this age - celebration of sacred sound.  There was a small gathering that came to honour our humble event of walking from Boston to Butler and to New York.  I’m grateful that Abhiram, my spiritual friend, came to join us.  Not all of us hugged that very special tree but we all circumambulated it offering it the reverence and credit that it deserves.

I had the good fortune to speak about the glories of bhakti-yoga and our recent walk to a gathering at the nearby Bhakti Center.  I hope that I successfully took them out to the trail in an imaginary way through the woods and along the crazy highways to capture even for a moment the glory of introspective walking.

Although this walk is now completed, I will continue with more trekking and we’ll update you with more tales. Thank you all for following us.

May the Source be with you!

17 miles / 27 km

Launch of Lokanath Swami’s Vraja-mandala Darsana at Govardhan…
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Launch of Lokanath Swami’s Vraja-mandala Darsana at Govardhan Eco-village.
During the recently held midterm GBC meetings and on the inauguration of the Twelve forests of Vrindavan, HH Radhanath Swami also Lokanath Swami’s Vraja-mandala book with the following: Lokanath Maharaja, Haribol!! Lokanath Swami Maharaja has been going for decades taking hundreds and hundreds and thousands of devotees on Vraja mandala Parikrama and he has compiled this book with all the information that he has researched and all the realisations that he has and all the enthusiasm is incredible and all the devotees had been with him. And now here I, we, have Vraja-mandala Darsana, a thirty days Parikrama series. Haribol!! I don’t have to ask you to purchase a book. I don’t think you could resist. We all thank you Lokanath Swami Maharaja . Thank you for your wonderful encouragement here at Govardhan Eco-village. Then Maharaja gave a tour of the Vrindavan project to the assembled devotees.

The Most Sacred Path! (10 min video) Indradyumna Swami: The…
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The Most Sacred Path! (10 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: The parikrama marg, the path around Vrindavan, has been traversed by pilgrims daily for thousands of years. The 10 kilometer walk takes 3 hours. Unlimited spiritual benefit is incurred by walking around Vrindavan’s thousands of temples, samadhis, sacred cows and people. This is especially true during the month of Kartika, when one’s devotional practices are enhanced a thousand times over.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ANg533

Biggest Ratha Yatra In Mathura! In keeping with Srila…
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Biggest Ratha Yatra In Mathura!
In keeping with Srila Prabhupada’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations, ISKCON Vrindavan’s namahatta department is organizing the biggest RathaYyatra in 20 years in Lord Krishna’s birthplace, Mathura.
A host of dignitaries, sadus and international devotees are expected to be pulling the Lord of the universe with His Brother Lord Balarama and Sister Lady Subhadra in to His birthplace.
His Grace Radha Shyamsundar, head of ISKCON Vrindavan Namahatta Department said: “ This is truly a momentous occasion for ISKCON in Vrindavan. We are delighted to say that we had the full cooperation of the authorities concerned. Top class arrangements have been made to welcome Their Lordships to Mathura. The cultural programs will certainly melt the hearts of our guests. Best prasadam arrangements have been made. We invite everyone to come and participate in glorification of our founder-acharya, Srila Prabhupada.
DATE: 16 NOVEMBER 2015
TIME: 09:00AM
ROUTE: KEDARNATH DHAM, MASANI CHAURAHA
Read more: https://goo.gl/y0NTSJ

Cancer Diagnosis and The Seeds of Change
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Author: 
Karnamrita Das

Immune cells attacking cancer cell photo Cancer cell attacked by immune cells_zpskabbpq2m.jpg
It is often difficult to keep secrets, especially about one’s health, so after due consideration (so you don’t hear this second or third hand) I am publically sharing that after preliminary tests, secondary cancer has been discovered in a swollen lymph node in my neck. There is at least one more test in conventional medicine that could be performed—a PET or full body scan—to try to find the primary cancer. Unfortunately, I have found that just mentioning the word cancer freaks everyone out, as if this is a death sentence. However, this is not necessarily so. There are many alternative treatments with a high success rate—much better than the conventional radiation and Chemo. Although many who are reading this don’t know me personally, this could be your story just as easily, or it may already be, since in the USA, cancer strikes 1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women in their lifetime. In 2015, there will be an estimated 1,658,370 new cancer cases diagnosed and 589,430 cancer deaths in the US.

I don’t like to give anyone any pain or discomfort by telling them this news, but I bring it up as an educational experience for all of us and to document my travels through what may be a long journey of recovery. There is much to learn about what cancer is, what it means when it grows in the body, and what the best way to treat it is. We have found this the following site very helpful in our both our education about cancer and quest for the best treatment. http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/

At the same time, I do appreciate all the loving I am getting from my friends and families! I get the most amazing hugs and those looks of disbelief like I might disappear at any moment. If only we could all appreciate one another like this all the time!

read more

November 13. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. In…
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November 13. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
In 1965, Srila Prabhupada had no Movement to manage. He was relatively free to work on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, but he had other things that took up his time. Every morning he had to take a long walk from the yoga studio room on 72nd Street to Dr. Mishra’s apartment on Riverside Drive where he cooked his lunch. He also was involved in trying to buy a building as a temple and writing many thoughtful letters to India seeking support. He also washed his own clothes daily and sometimes spoke to a few young men who would come to his room and had to instruct them in Krishna consciousness. Today’s meditation describes how throughout his career Prabhupada had to sacrifice time in writing his books to execute other activities in his mission.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490

Dynamic Expanding Bliss: The Hare Krsna Mantra
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By Urmila Devi Dasi

WE CROSS Oxford Street with five mrdanga drums, two loud and deep African drums, karatala cymbals, an accordion, and an electric guitar. Back To Godhead - The Hare Krsna MantraOur chanting party consists of over a hundred members, from so many countries and ethnic backgrounds that the diversity is startling. There are men in dhotis, in suits, and in jeans, women in saris, colorful dresses, and subdued business clothes. We race or dance down the street, singing as fast as we run, churning up waves of spiritual joy. The lead singer wears a wireless microphone on his head, and one member of the group carries a loudspeaker in a backpack. The electric-guitar player has his own speaker. So many devotees respond to the lead singer's chanting that all the words of the great mantra for deliverance Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare distinctly echo through the London streets.

Monday, November 9th, 2015
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Monday, November 9th, 2015
Newark, New Jersey

Another One

A new pilgrim came on board today.  Esa is a 24-year-old guy from Chile and is an employee of Govinda's veggie restaurant.  Here we have another real trooper.  He was the first one to rise and he also kept steady for the entire 24-mile trek on foot.

We all felt a rush of excitement as it is one of the last two days on this 950-mile journey of introspective walking.  It’s almost too hard to believe that this project is coming to an end.  The nature of trekking each day is that you just carry on without cessation.  Fortunately or not, we have to turn our attention to other devotional commitments and issues before dreaming and planning for the next circle.

The four of us trekked through Morristown, Madison, Chatham, and a whole string of boroughs and towns.  In Newark, our expectation to meet more pedestrians became a reality.  

I met Miss Kat.  “That is, with a K”, as she put it.  

She is a very outgoing type of person. 

“I’ve never met a monk before.  I have only seen them in the movies”, she said.

I also met a large-framed man.  When I asked him how he was doing, he expressed how he was happy to have a bed and home.  This is taken for granted by most of us, to have a home, shelter, food, family, and safety.

The little miracle of the day came when our small group came to a junction on Road 16.  We left the town of Madison going east-bound until we came to a complex roadway system.  We were uncertain how to move forward.  We sat against the ramp when suddenly I saw my dear friend, who I know from Canada, drive up.

He rolled down his car window, “What are you doing here Maharaj?”

Nilamani, who used to live in Toronto, was on his way back from work when he spotted us.  The funny thing is that he was on my mind all morning.  I knew that he lived somewhere in New Jersey now but I was uncertain where exactly.  As I mentioned before, walking on the road attracts a lot of attention and causes surprising interactions.

“Come to our house and have a break”, Nilamani said.

And we obliged.

In the evening we went to chant at Union Square in Manhattan.  It was outstanding to see how many people came forward to offer a small light to the image of Krishna and His mother, Yasoda, which was placed upon a small table, after being welcomed to do so as we chanted away.

May the Source be with you!

24 miles/ 39 km

Sunday, November 8th, 2015
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Sunday, November 8th, 2015
Washington Township, New Jersey

Something New

We were going along the trail off Road 513 when Tre'von, Mandala and I saw a couple dozen folks coming our way in the opposite lane of the road.  It was clear to us that they were one group.  Were they protesting?  As they came close to us, we could see that each of them, the participants, had some meditative beads in their hands.  In many ways they resembled us.

It was my monk’s instinct to talk to a male person near the end.  The female participants initially appeared a bit militant or at least reserved.  I admit, it surprised me to see so many pedestrians at the same time.

The team that was sharing the road with us was a catholic group from a local parish.  We started talking and exchanging our values.  I was glad to hear one of the persons say, "We all believe in the same God".

The experience was so novel.  Never in my years of marathon walking did I randomly encounter a group of people in prayer or meditation, walking!  In India it is quite common to see folks on pilgrimage walking around Govardhan Hill or people on the route to famous Tirupati, and, of course,  walkers on the famous Camino in Spain.  You would expect pilgrims in these places but here in New Jersey?  It was fascinating to see.  I guess you could say that our two groups, the catholic group with the rosaries and we devotees of Lord Krishna with our japa beads, were inspiring each other.

After a sunny morning and an early afternoon of walking, which included trekking over brittle leaves through the woods, our crew drove to Philadelphia to the ISKCON center where I spoke about transcendence from the Bhagavad Gita, verse 14.26.

Let’s get genuinely transcendental.

May the Source be with you!

22 miles / 35 km