Pushed On Like A Soldier
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I then pushed on like a soldier with a bullet wound, and I have completed all my 16 rounds. Despite my physical difficulty, I kept my mind fixed on the Names and simply persisted. There are days like this when you have no recourse but to go on chanting and remain sober.

From Bhajan Kutir #5
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Towards Vrindavan
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Today I leave for Vrindavan to begin preparations for our Kartika parikrama. Over 300 devotees have registered. I am very happy to be going home, but something in my heart tells me I belong back on the front lines preaching Krsna consciousness to those less fortunate than me. I am missing Mongolia. I felt very [...]

Hare Krishna! From the Beatles to Elvis Presley, these musical…
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Hare Krishna! From the Beatles to Elvis Presley, these musical devotees have brushed with fame: meet the Hare Krishnas of Hong Kong
A full page story featuring an article on the Hong Kong ISKCON temple, along with an interview with His Holiness Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Swami was recently published in the South China Morning Post, a renowned English newspaper in Hong Kong, After a two week tour of China performing kirtan in a number of public events Govinda Swami’s last stop was the city of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong temple organized 3 public kirtans programs for Maharaja and his kirtan group, all of which received a very favorable response. The reporter herself attended the kirtan event held in the Hong Kong temple and it was at that event that she received news for her story.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20448

Hare Krishna! Avoiding the 10 offences Srila Prabhupada: A…
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Hare Krishna! Avoiding the 10 offences
Srila Prabhupada: A serious student of Samkirtan can get rid of all the above offences if he desires so, knowing well the different forms of offences and by refraining from them by all possible precautions. This can however be done without difficulty by continuous chanting of the Name of the Lord and for such constant reciter of the transcendental name of the Lord, there is no room for committing such offences.
In conclusion we may add that without culture nothing can be made to perfection. The culture of the science of Samkirtan is Sree Krishna Himself, both being non-different. In mundane matters only the means and the end are different from one another. But in the transcendence the means and the end are non-different. In preparatory stage only, for chanting the Name of the Lord, there is every chance for committing the above offences but for the reason of that we must not be disheartened at the least. We should always remember that both the preparatory stage and the perfection stage of Samkirtan is nothing but Samkirtan. The difference of these two stages are realisation and non-realisation only.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2984

Hare Krishna! The Need for Struggling Together to Help Each…
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Hare Krishna! The Need for Struggling Together to Help Each Other
Niranjana Swami: I wanted to express my convictions today, not based upon my position as an “authority”, but from a personal and open-hearted viewpoint of someone who has had many years of experience in ISKCON. If you see any validity to these years of experience, then maybe when I open my heart to you, it may influence you, in some small way, to understand why I feel that this counselor system is important. I am not here in the capacity of the GBC for Moscow. I’ve come to realize that hammering from the GBC doesn’t open anyone’s heart. Frankly, I’m tired of hammering, and therefore I put away my hammer many years ago. If I ever use a hammer again, it will be only to hit a nail. I am not going to hammer on your heads to accept this system, although I may try to open up a few minds, and hopefully some hearts as well. Just before I came here, I was thinking that if I opened my heart first, it might have some influence. I’m therefore just going to express to you why I personally feel it’s important to have this counselor system.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1869

Carrying the mercy
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 September 2015, Randburg, South Africa, Youth Group Bhajans)

LCBy the mercy of the holy name, we are here. The holy name is being carried by devotees. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, there is a description of how the Ganga is entering into the universe – as Vamanadeva cracks the shell of the universe, a drop of the causal ocean enters into the universe. That drop is falling down towards the middle planetary systems where we are residing.

Then the demigods come with kumbas, pots, in which they carry the Ganga in the same direction the Ganga was already going and they bring the Ganga down. I mean, exactly in the same direction the Ganga was flowing but now they are carrying it down. Then, Ganga comes to planet earth. On planet earth, Ganga is known by many; during kumba-melas as many as twenty million people take bath in the Ganga. Then, Ganga goes down further and comes to the lower planetary systems known as Bhogavati. In the Bhogavati, nobody knows about the Ganga but somehow or other, by accident people take their bath in the Ganga or get benefit unknowingly.

So, why are the demigods carrying the Ganga? Because the demigods understand that the Ganga is liquid mercy and if they carry this mercy, then they get more mercy because they partake in distributing it. So not only do we get the credit for receiving mercy, we also get credit for giving it. Therefore, the demigods brought their pots, caught the Ganga, carried the Ganga to planet earth where many were eager to bathe in the Ganga.

So we can compare the sankirtan movement to the centre of the Ganges and we can see that the sankirtan movement is spreading. It is spreading everywhere simply by being carried by the devotees. The acaryas carried this holy name and brought it to so many places. Somehow, they made this holy name the tool by which they changed the world. So, still now, it is possible to carry the name. One who carries the name gets the most mercy. Then there are those who are bathing in the name and they are also receiving the mercy. Then, there are the neighbours who do not know what is going on but they also take their bath in the ocean of nectar of the holy name without even knowing what is going on. So, in this way, let us be carriers of the holy name. That will be the most wonderful.

Hare Krishna! The Unknown History of Big Book…
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Hare Krishna! The Unknown History of Big Book Distribution.
Mahatma Das: (The following is an excerpt from an unfinished book about my life in Krsna consciousness. It details the history of how big book distribution began in Iskcon, a history which has not been chronicled in any Iskcon publications. The scene takes place in Vancouver, Cananda, November of 1971.) At this time in Iskcon (1971) big book distribution had not yet begun. We only distributed Back to Godhead magazines (BTG’s) on the street. We usually got donation of 25cents per magazine. If we were lucky, we might occasionally get a really big donation of 50 cents. We thought it was difficult to get that much money from most people so we didn’t usually ask for it. I have never been one to be happy with the status quo (sometimes that gets me into trouble) and I began thinking that we should try to distribute Krsna Books which had just recently been published. That was such a big way of thinking at the time that it was hard for any of us to take it seriously, myself included, since the Krsna Books sold for $8 and we were cautious about asking for mere 50 cents. Yet on one Canadian holiday in which everyone stayed home, we decided to go door to door.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2288

Three last wishes! Alexander, the great Greek king, after…
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Three last wishes! Alexander, the great Greek king, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He called his generals and said, “I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail.” With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king’s last wishes. “My first desire is that,” said Alexander, “My physicians alone must carry my coffin.” After a pause, he continued, “Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury.” The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute’s rest and continued. “My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin.” Alexander’s favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. “O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes.” At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: “I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learned. I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted. The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell people that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth. And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world.” With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last.

Councillors approve plans for new venue at Hare Krishna temple…
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Councillors approve plans for new venue at Hare Krishna temple in Aldenham
Plans to build a new venue on Green Belt land at the Hare Krishna temple site in Aldenham has been approved by councillors. Bhaktivedanta Manor, in Hilfield Lane, submitted a planning application to Hertsmere Borough Council to build a two-storey “Haveli”. The proposal was submitted following the council’s adoption of a planning brief in 2012, which sets out the manor’s plans for the next 15 years. The “Haveli” building will be approximately 2,000sq m.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/IqqTWH

Hare Krishna! Lust blinds love liberates Bilvamangala Thakura…
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Hare Krishna! Lust blinds love liberates
Bilvamangala Thakura was a wealthy south Indian Brahmin and belonged to a cultured family. But he got attracted to a prostitute named Cintamani. The attraction soon became attachment. And as it happens when we get attached to worldly enjoyment we lose our intelligence and subsequently our dignity. The fire of lust was so intense that he was not at all moved when his father died; in fact standing near the pyre of his father he was engrossed in the thought of Cintamani. The body of his dead father did not bring tears to his eyes but his eyes were eager to see the physical beauty of the lady.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20436

Acid Test
→ Tattva - See inside out

Sometimes I pause for thought – “what is motivating my spiritual journey?” The fact that one continues on with a seeming enthusiasm, year after year, may not tell the full story. When we receive appreciation, respect, encouragement and a plethora of impending opportunity, it’s somewhat easy to carry on with a gusto and drive. There is, after all, an immediate sense of achievement, value and purpose. The defining moments, however, often occur when that reciprocation is not so forthcoming. That’s the acid test to measure the sum and substance of our spirituality. In those difficult times we witness where we are actually drawing our enthusiasm from. Is the driving force a genuine spiritual connection or more based upon material gratification? What happens when all the results are taken away?

Periodically, we'll all be confronted with situations where people are oblivious to our sacrifices, unappreciative of our endeavours, and seemingly unimpressed with our contributions. People may even misunderstand our purpose and cuttingly criticise us. Swami Prabhupada talked about a period of his life where he was "crying alone in the wilderness." Few who heard, even less who genuinely appreciated, and scarcely anyone who actually helped. He nevertheless continued on with no loss of enthusiasm. In such testing times, the level of our spiritual purity is exhibited and developed. One must be fixed in the consciousness that there is divine appreciation for our sincere endeavours, even if the individuals around us aren't so forthcoming. When Mother Teresa scribed her poem entitled "Do it Anyway," she concluded with a poignant reminder - "in the final analysis its between you and God, it was never between you and them anyway."

Thus, in the rollercoaster journey of life, the ‘good times’ and ‘bad times’ all have their part to play. Whatever encouragement we receive is being willed by providence because it’s the ‘need of the day’ in our spiritual journey. Those times of stability, prosperity and recognition, should be utilised for spiritual immersion so we can build up assets of inspiration, gratitude, strength and unbreakable faith. And when the acid test comes, when we’re stripped of that encouraging support, crying alone in the wilderness, then we exercise the internal muscles by practicing resilience, humility, patience and tolerance. The test will expose us, educate us and hopefully inspire us. It’s a learning curve and I’m trying to remain alert – surprise tests are always around the corner.

Bhaktimarga Swami’s Walk Featured on ISKCON News
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Bhaktimarga Swami has been on a walk through the United States of America, as part of our international movement's honouring Srila Prabhupada's arriving in America 50 years ago!  Check out the article below!

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The Walking Monk Retraces Prabhupada’s Journey
By: Madhava Smullen ISKCON News on Oct. 7, 2015

Bhaktimarga Swami has become famous as “The Walking Monk” from his treks on foot four times across his native Canada, as well as across Ireland, Israel, Fiji, Mauritius, Guyana and Trinidad. On each walk, he shares his message of reconnecting to a simple, natural, and God-conscious life with the media and locals along the way.

The Swami’s current walk, however, may mean the most to him on a personal level. Dubbed “Walking for our Teachers,” its theme is to honor all teachers in a broad sense—but in a more specific sense, Bhaktimarga’s own guru.

“Personally, we’re walking to honor ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya Srila Prabhupada, who was at the cutting edge of animal rights, vegetarianism, going back to the land, and of course spiritual enlightment,” he says. “People know the Hare Krishnas, but they don’t know about the person behind it all. So I feel it’s our mandate now to let people know who Prabhupada was.”

Bhaktimarga Swami’s walk began on September 20th at Boston’s Commonwealth Pier, where Srila Prabhupada first reached the U.S. on the steamship Jaladuta in 1965.  [Read More]

Cows Have Started to Arrive at Govardhana Farms
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

As many of our regular congregation members know, two young devotees from our community - Fil and Sukhayanti devi dasi - have started Govardhana Farms!  Aside from their organic vegetable program, wherein organic produce was sold to our devotee community this past summer, they are actively working on starting their cow protection program.

The first cows have arrived to Govardhana Farms and there are some very nice videos that we're sure you would love to see.  Check them out below.

Also, don't forget!  The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple has sponsored a cow (set to arrive to the farm very soon) which will be saved from slaughter and we are asking you to help us name the cow!



University Program
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The Mahendradatta University is one of the many universities in Denpasar and some of our devotees teach there.

I was invited me to give a lecture on the relevance of Bhagavad-gita in the modern age. Kishora das, from Radha Madhava temple, opened with a talk on the importance of varnasrama and protecting cows.
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Don’t Miss This Opportunity
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"But here is a tongue given by God. You can utilize it for chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Don’t miss this opportunity. That chewing facility, tasting facility, you’ll get even in cat’s life, dog’s life. But this chanting facility you’ll not get. This is in this life, human form of life. So don't misuse it. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa regularly and be happy."

Initiation Lecture,
December 26, 1969 - Boston

When many spiritual paths say they are the best, how to choose our path?
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Answer Podcast:


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Preserving tradition means fulfilling the purpose of the tradition
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Class at New Jersey
Lecture Podcast:


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