A Fixed Number Of Rounds
→ Japa Group

"The Gosvamis, especially Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, strictly followed all the regulative principles. The first regulative principle is that one must chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra loudly enough so that he can hear himself, and one must vow to chant a fixed number of rounds."

Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 11.24

Sunday, August 30th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Sunday, August 30th, 2015
Plainfield, New Jersey

Rushed

I was rushed to the temple prior to the crack of dawn for the mangal arati, the first chanting session of the day. I was given the invite to lead the chant on this very first arati since the new Krishna deity was installed. It was an honour. Before arriving, I figured that it might be a meagre attendance, being that it was 4:30 AM and everyone was tired from the festivities of the day and night before.

Much to my surprise, we had a full capacity attendance. This goes to show the serious nature to which the community takes to soul activity. It’s a solid investment into life’s journey.

It was three hours later that my dear godbrother, Jayadwaita Swami, shared a message on the significance of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, and his coming 50 years ago to western soil to bring a new way of looking at the world, through a spiritual lens of course, for people’s consideration. It was not that the western populace was spiritually bankrupt but maybe it was time to look at a different angle of spirituality.

There are different approaches, correct?

To my chagrin I once more found no time to go on a promenade of sorts. We have all been on a marathon. So instead of walking I found at one point it was necessary for me to catch up on a much missed rest by a quiet corner of one of the festival tents. I assembled a makeshift bed with 7 chairs. It worked wonders.

Finally it was time to fly back to Canada.

The passenger sitting next to me was a 30 year old Russell, a typical Canadian who’s into sports, has the occasional beer, and experiences his own form of adventure. Recently he and buddies rafted some of the wildest white waters the country offers near James Bay. He also told me he was thrilled about a book he read, “Dharma Bums”, and so we connected on various levels.

“Come by to our Govinda’s, it’s a great eating place.” I personally think he’ll take up the offer when we can share with each other more about travel dynamics in the wild.


May the Source be with you!

0 km

 

Saturday, August 29th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk


Saturday, August 29th, 2015
Plainfield, New Jersey

Showers on the Day

Danudhar Swami and I haven’t met in years but he heard about my anticipated walk retracing the steps of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, 50 years ago. He wished me well. He asked me what shoes I preferred to wear on my pilgrimages. I told him I like to wear air, meaning that I use footwear that allows you to breathe. In the midst of the crowd that came for the celebrations of the Krishna deity installation, I also met an elderly female devotee who walks with a cane. She does so very meticulously and slowly. She deliberately takes those regular strolls being inspired by the walking I’ve done. “I read about you doing those long walks and it always encourages me.”

Now that was great to hear.

It was early while I was bound for the temple complex where much chanting went on and multiple rituals were in progress, executed both by old friends and members of our second generation Hare Krishna community. I had trekked along North Randolphville to Williams Street, then New Market Road, and finally Vail Streetwhich becomes West 7th Street.

And then back.

After a full day of spiritual output, I traced back the steps from the early morning. It was only on my return trip that I spotted the toy train shop which looks like many of the other buildings but is obscured from the night darkness.

I also have to say something about the performance of our drama, Blue Mystic. Our actors pulled off a good show. Co-operative activity makes all things happen. It was hard labour piecing it together, therefore, it was a good reason for the wind down walk in the night time.

Blessings were showered on the day by the mercy of guru.
 

May the Source be with you!

12 km

 

Friday, August 28th, 2015
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Friday, August 28th, 2015
Plainfield, New Jersey

In Plainfield

It just so happened that not an inch did I walk but flying took place. That doesn’t count, however, even though miles were put in going from Toronto to Newark.

Viratrupa was there at Newark Airportto greet Balaram and myself. Our purpose in coming here was to attend the installation of the deities of Radha and Krishna in what I was told was a former Baptist church, now converted into a Krishnatemple. To please the crowds, (devotees have come from all around) I was asked to present a drama of the organizer’s choice, Blue Mystic.

I was happy to see the actors I selected turn up. There were two from Montreal, one from Michigan, one from North Carolina, two from Toronto, and some local extras, all volunteers. So as far as travel is concerned, the practice we put in allowed for a beautiful fatigue to compensate for the lack of trekking.

“Blue Mystic” takes one to ancient times and to Northern India where Krishna’s life is described up to the point of conquering evil in the form of Emperor Kamsa. For many of the onlookers who came upon our rehearsal, it became a transporting of place and time.

By 9 PM our practice concluded with three yummy meals wedged in through the day (we are spoiled). Viratrupa drove me to his lovely home and showed me directions how I could walk the return journey on foot the next morning. We passed by Walgreen’s and then turned a corner by the old model train shop. That pokes at something nostalgic. Where do you find such a shop where they sell electric trains? Just like where do you find an old drive-in movie anymore? Or where do you find an old sundae shop with swivelling chairs and old time ice cream? They are few and far between but they do exist.

More relevant is where do you find bhakti, devotion? Answer, somewhere within the inner recesses of the heart.
 

May the Source be with you!

0 km

 

The holy names are the only solace
→ Servant of the Servant

This world is a miserable place, the Holy Name and pure devotees are our only shelter.


 


vancha-kalpatarubhyash cha
kripa-sindhubhya eva cha
patitanam pavanebhyo
vaishnavebhyo namo namaha

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees and can fulfill the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

Hare Krishna

Thursday, August 27th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Thursday, August 27th, 2015
Owen Sound, Ontario
 
Outing at Owen
 
Two families and I made the two hour trip to Owen Sound for yet another outing. There we met the three generational Hanna clan and two generational Kaliyavadiya clan. Just outside Owen Sound is a small hamlet called Springmount. On the way you pass by one of the last of Canada’s drive-in movies which were popular in the fifties and sixties and then arrive at a park at JonesFalls, one of numerous waterfalls found on the Niagara escarpment. The temperature just wasn’t strong enough to justify a swim today. We settled for a walk on the Bruce Trail which has offshoot trails indicated by the paint strip found on the bark of trees. One colour was red, the other was white. We were captivated by some twisty and windy cedar trees as well as some ancient maple growth.
 
I failed to mention our Nepalese companion, Suman, who heard that mushrooms were in abundance. He came prepared with his sizeable canvass bag meant for foraging for four different kinds of mushrooms.
 
“What are you going to do with this?” I asked as he made good with the harvest.
 
Cook it and eat it,” he said plainly. The man was in ecstasy and upon discovering a mushroom would make this unique form of a howl, something that kind of comes along with the territory when you’re trekking through the woods. Alex also had a knack for howling, which was okay because he was taking the lead and he would help us stay on track.
 
We capped off our day, much after the walk was finished, with a chant converging in one home. We handed our honourary flower garland to Samantha, a local yoga teacher from the area. She’s in love with kirtanand plays a role in networking with others in kirtan admitting that it is the ultimate yoga practice.
 
The meal that followed was prepared by Alka and it was to die for. Of course, it was animal free but also gluten free. We found the dishes scrumptious. Our program was dedicated to young Priyam who, in four days, will set off to university for his first year. Congratulations!
 
 
May the Source be with you!
 
9 km

Wednesday, August 26th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk


Wednesday, August 26th, 2015
Markham, Ontario

Accommodate the Mantra

I had been carrying with me a wedding invitation card for some days. I was in anticipation of being present at a fine Sri Lankan style event uniting one of the boys I’ve known and guided during his youth to a young woman from Madison, Wisconsin. Finally, fruition hit. The day had come and that was today. The temple on Finch Avenue played host to the marriage of Cowsigan and Apilasha. It took me a while to get his name down, Cowsigan. I would verbalize it and struggle with it for years. We had a shortened version for his name, Kausik. Now, seeing the actual name in black and white and on the invite card, it comes easier.

At the event, I was offered to speak to the crowd to give a message of blessings to the couple. I was introduced as the one who does marathon walks – pilgrimage. It was a golden opportunity to insert kirtan. The musicians present there were poised to play as I introduced the maha mantra to the crowd. When I say “introduced”, I’m rather serious about it. This crowd is accustomed to uttering mantras to Ganesh, Kartikeya, Sai Baba but the maha mantra, I’m sure it’s rarely touched in this mandir(temple).

Here is the immortal spiritual sound of the maha mantra:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

I saw truly happy faces emerge from the execution of chanting this great mantra (our guru, Srila Prabhupada, considered that any ritual was complete when this mantra was included). I could see Cowsigan was joyous upon having that kirtan tossed into the colourful rites of his marriage. Oh, and I gave him a big hug after the chant. We have this word, purnam, in Sanskrit, it means ‘complete’. Whatever is your endeavour, simply accommodate the mantra and make everything complete.
 

May the Source be with you!

7 km

 

ISKCON Kurukshetra Temple Corner Stone Ceremony
→ ISKCON News

SKCON’s founder-acharya Srila Prabhupada had a keen desire that a temple of Lord Krishna and his devotee Arjuna come up in the holy land of Kurukshetra where the message of Bhagavad Gita was spoken 5,000 years ago. The future temple would be shaped as a chariot and would cover an area of 6 acres. Among other functions, the temple would house facilities for Bhagavad Gita studies, food distribution, and a goshala for cow protection.

TOVP – Cinematic Aerial Footage, Mayapur Sep 2015
- TOVP.org

The most cinematic aerial footage of TOVP shot by Prananatha Das (Paul Tuffery) in September of 2015 in Mayapur, India.

The main dome of the TOVP is now complete in regard to the installation of the panels. This short clip gives a birds eye view of TOVP on Janmastami day, 2015.

The post TOVP – Cinematic Aerial Footage, Mayapur Sep 2015 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Hare Krishna! Curing Depression with Spirituality Sri…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Curing Depression with Spirituality
Sri Nandanandana dasa: In spite of what a person who is suffering depression may think, it is actually very easy to overcome depression from a spiritual point of view. It is not at all as difficult as one imagines. And this is a major issue, since it is all a matter of perspective or point of view, which is based on the mental disposition. This attitude and perspective is what must be changed. Mind has the mysterious power of magnifying a problem and making it appear formidable and bigger than it is. Do not listen to the promptings of the mind. Reject them ruthlessly and throw them out. Although spirituality may not be able to cure all forms of depression completely, it will certainly help. In many cases, developing oneself spiritually can lay the groundwork so that if you are depressed, you may change your view which may allow you to rise above a depressed state of mind. In other cases, it can lift you right out of any depression or despair that you may feel.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2633

Hare Krishna! Putting An End to Courtesy Japa Mahatma Das:…
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Hare Krishna! Putting An End to Courtesy Japa
Mahatma Das: “Nish, nish, ram, ram, nish, nish, ram, ram.” Prabhupada once imitated how we sometimes chant without focus, without concentration, without proper pronunciation – how we chant when we don’t feel like chanting. You know the mood behind this chanting; “I have to chant but I’d rather be doing something else.” And in our minds we are thinking, “I can’t wait to get these rounds out of the way.” We all do this. And it can get pretty bad. I know devotees who chant rounds while watching football games on TV. Prabhupada explained that this type of chanting is more or less useless because it will not produce the desired result, love of Krsna. To even call this chanting is a stretch. It is closer to a ritual. But Prabhupada acknowledged the value in the ritual by saying that although this kind of chanting is not very productive, at least those who are chanting this way are keeping their vow to chant.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2639

Prabhupada Samadhi Online Seva Launch
→ Mayapur.com

On the occasion of Vyasa Puja of Srila Prabhupada, Mayapur Online Services is happy to announce the launch of Prabhupada Samadhi Online Seva. Now, devotees worldwide can offer their personal sevas to Srila Prabhuapada in his samadhi at Mayapur. Nrsimhadev puja will be performed for all donors. All donors with Indian address will also receive […]

The post Prabhupada Samadhi Online Seva Launch appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Hare Krishna! Sh. Arvind Kejrival ( Delhi CM) Visited Iskcon…
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Hare Krishna! Sh. Arvind Kejrival ( Delhi CM) Visited Iskcon Rohini On Janmashtami
The leaders of rulling party (CM ARVIND KEJRIWAL) and opposition party (VIJENDER GUPTA) took shelter of Lord KRISHNA under at iskcon temple rohini in Delhi The grand festival took place on janmashtami 5th Sept both the leaders took darshan performed aarti and did Abhishek of the Lord. CM came along with his wife and his father and several MLA’s of aap party was also present. In photo the temple president (iskcon rohini) HG KESHAV MURARI DAS is describing Krishna katha and performed acstatic kirtan.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19629

How to Practice the Art of Forgiveness We can master the art of…
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How to Practice the Art of Forgiveness
We can master the art of forgiveness when we religiously practice and learn to maintain the consciousness of compassion, to pray as a well-wisher of everyone and to view every situation as an opportunity to sincerely take shelter of the mercy of the Lord through remembering him and chanting his holy names. To achieve inner peace we must change ourselves. And simply by sincerely chanting the holy names, we transcend all of the negative forces in this world and attain the supreme everlasting peace of Krishna consciousness.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19624

When Srila Prab­hu­pada Teaches
→ Japa Group

I like to remem­ber Srila Prabhupada’s empha­sis on the impor­tance of chant­ing Hare Krishna mantra. When Srila Prab­hu­pada teaches that the top­most stage of God real­iza­tion can be attained sim­ply by chant­ing the holy names, we are pleased and con­vinced. Even though I can’t take up the chant­ing prop­erly, still it is a solace and inspi­ra­tion to hear Prab­hu­pada tell us about it.

From Viraha Bhavan #169
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Krishna Janmastami
→ Ramai Swami

images-1IMG_1476images

Krsna is the embodiment of love and affection. He sees the good qualities of a living entity, overlooking the bad. Even if someone is in a lowly position Krsna is so kind that He can raise him to the topmost position, even up to Krsnaloka.

The anniversary of Lord Krsna’s appearance, Krsna Janmastami, is observed all over the world and particularly in ISKCON temples.
The Bhakti Centre on the Gold Coast celebrated Janmastami on Saturday and Brisbane temple on Sunday. Devotees and guests at both places felt great satisfaction and bliss participating in the many activities throughout the day and night.
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Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-puja Pack All of the…
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Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-puja Pack
All of the followers of Srila Prabhupada for generations to come adhere to the guidance, association and serve the mission of His Divine Grace, while deepening one’s individual connection and relationship with and recognizing him as the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON and our primary Siksa Guru for all time. This booklet through its various elements will guide the devotees worldwide as to how to make proper arrangements for this ceremony in order to establish Srila Prabhupada’s supreme position in ISKCON as the Acharya
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19618

Hare Krishna! O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your…
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Hare Krishna! O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands!
Giriraj Swami: Today is Srila Prabhupada’s divine appearance day. Here is my offering to him: In Los Angeles in 1968, on the disappearance day of your guru maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, you explained your commission: “Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja … underwent very severe penances for starting this worldwide movement. That was his mission. In 1896, Bhaktivinoda Thakura wanted to introduce this Krsna consciousness movement by sending the book Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, His Life and Precepts. Fortunately, that year was my birth year, and by Krsna’s arrangement, we came in contact… . Who knew that I would come to his protection? Who knew that I would come to America? Who knew that you American boys would come to me? These are all Krsna’s arrangement. We cannot understand how things are taking place.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19615