Bhagavatam-daily 298 – 11.13.31 – Absorption in higher reality counters infatuation with lower reality
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Special class this Friday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada leaving India for the West‏
→ ISKCON Scarborough

Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

The global celebrations for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary will be flagged off by mega-events in India and America that will track Srila Prabhupada’s epic journey on the Jaladuta from Kolkata to Boston in 1965.

On 13th August 1965, Srila Prabhupada left Calcutta aboard the steamship, the Jaladuta, for the USA.

For further information, please visit

http://iskcon50.org/

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada leaving India for the West, we at ISKCON Scarborough will be hearing from HG Subhavilas das on Friday- 14th Aug 2015.

Program starts at 6.45 pm.

We warmly invite and your family to join us on Friday.


ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7

Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website:
www.iskconscarborough.com

Commitment Should Not Waver
→ Japa Group

"Such a basic commitment should not waver, even though one does not feel he is making progress spiritually by his daily chanting. We realize that we have a mountain of dirty things to chip away at, so it is no surprise that a lifetime can go by of steadily chanting and still unwanted things remain in the heart. That is not a reason to abandon the only chance one has for eradicating the dirt."

From Bhajana Kutir #104
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Selflessness
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 July 2015, Gita Nagari, USA, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.8)

KKS_SA_SouthCoast_24Sept2013When our real focus is blocked, we become self-centered, thinking all the time about ourselves – my spiritual life, my advancement, my needs… and this is a problem. The spiritual master is rather the opposite of that. To be a spiritual master, is in one way, a thankless task – it is not as much fun as it looks.

For example – garlands! They are itchy, smelly and work on your sinuses. They are also sweaty and they make stains on your clothes. Oftentimes, they are full of insects that creep down your neck and back, either worms, ants or other varieties of bugs. Then when devotees really get fired up, they hang lots of garlands on someone’s neck, so it gets really heavy. Then there are garlands which are not strung very tight and as they are hanging around your neck, the flowers are going down and then that string cuts into your neck and after a while you are wondering, ”What’s that in my neck!?”  Then you realize, “Okay, it’s the garland!” And that is only garlands, you know! What to speak of all the other things? So, the life of a spiritual master is a life of sacrifices, it is a life of selflessness and it is a life of giving all one’s energy to others – all for the welfare of others.

We are here now, at the very beginning of the disappearance festival of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj and that is exactly what he has showed – tireless selflessness. My connection with Maharaj was maybe the most in South Africa, then in Mayapur over the years and sometimes here in the USA, but I never saw him relaxing actually. I cannot remember that he ever relaxed. From what I saw, he was always on the go, always tirelessly working, working very hard – always. Even earlier as Ghanasyam, he was working very hard – sleeping less, eating less, chanting more and preaching more than anybody else. And when there was a lack of leadership, he was ready to step in and be that energy to inspire others.

So that selflessness is the quality of the spiritual master and that is the one quality that Srila Prabhupada wanted everyone to have because Prabhupada said he wanted all of his disciples to be spiritual masters and that actually translates into becoming selfless.

 

Is this progress? (Pause for Thought)
→ Krishna Dharma

Indian woman on mobile in fieldMy trip to India brought a few surprises. It’s been some years since I was last there and things are changing fast. The cities are still the same bustling mess of teeming madness, much like anywhere else I suppose, but it’s in the outlying rural areas that I was most shocked. In my many visits to India I’ve always headed straight for a small village called Vrindavan, the most sacred place for Hindus where Krishna appeared some 5000 years ago. Last time there I remember taking pleasant rickshaw rides down a sandy road, greeted by welcoming cries from friendly locals as they drove their oxcarts or pedaled their pre-war bicycles with their entire familes somehow perched aboard. Cows and bulls lay peacefully in the centre of the road and barefoot women strolled by with two or three large pots of milk or yogurt balanced perfectly on their heads. On all sides temple bells rang out along with the prayers and chants of hundreds of holy men.

I had naively imagined that this timeless scene would never change. After all, India has withstood many invasions over the centuries, shrugging them off to maintain a lifestyle unchanged for millenia. But now it seems it faces its greatest challenge. The road I remember is now a wide paved affair, with horn-blaring four wheelers constantly jostling the rickshaws. Radios blast out rock music, and mobile phone shops and electrical goods sellers are replacing the tea stands and cloth shops. The holy men have retreated back to some distance, and all in all my attempts to soak in the spiritual mood and meditate on the Lord’s ancient activities proved rather more tricky.

Some might see it as a good thing that countries like India are coming on-line with the latest scientific advances, but I am not so sure. Going there to get away from all that for a while, I have always been uplifted and inspired by the tranquil atmosphere, the peaceful people, the simple lifestyle and above all the profound spirituality in evidence everywhere. It doesn’t appear to me that any of this is being at all enhanced by the rapid embrace of technology. No one seems happier, prices have shot skywards, and life has become generally more difficult for all.

We have our own experience of course. Everything is available to us in abundance, but does it really improve our happiness? John Ruskin said, “every increased possession loads us with new weariness.” Among the happiest people I saw on my pilgrimage where the simple monks who lived by the Ganges banks, possessing nothing but the clothes they wore and a pot for collecting water. Their days are spent in prayer and meditation, seeking union with God by constantly chanting his names.

I don’t think I’m quite ready for that, but I did manage to immerse myself in something like it for a couple of weeks and it certainly made a pleasant change from the high tech life back home.

Sunday, August 9th, 2015
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Sunday, August 9th, 2015
Vancouver, British Columbia

Get Started

It can't get much smoother, operation-wise, when it came to the stage. I became the MC once again at the Chariot Fest at Stanley Park. Artists, whether they be singers, musicians, dancers, or actors, came punctually. It could not have been better.

The procession portion of the event has its usual glitches with sound volume or lack of it which happens when the vocalist gets beyond the range of the speaker situated on the chariot in motion. There is always the accidental jabbing of elbows or incidental people stepping on your shoes. All that stuff can be forgiven. The procession itself is an act of service and of joy.

In fact, when you think about it, service in a devotional context is usually destined to derive joy. You approve every action in a detached mode and are neutrally disposed. Devotional action (bhakti) is incomparable to mundane functioning.

If we make reference to the Bhagavad-gita in the sections on "action", we will appreciate the superiority of devotional actions over all other endeavours.

Chapter 12 is particularly clear for establishing devotion and those actions which are affiliated to the pure path. This segment of the Gita offers concessions for those who stagger on the path of purity. It presents options and offers hope to those who find the bar is too high to reach and therefore such candidates can begin the process on a comfortable level.

This is the compassion of God. There are different gradations of people based on varying realizations so you will find that not all folks will jump into the pool of selflessness. At the same time it's good to get something in motion.

 
May the Source be with you!

8 km

Saturday, August 8th, 2015
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Saturday, August 8th, 2015
Vancouver, British Columbia

Yogendra Came

Yogendra came up with his family from Calgary as weekend pilgrims. On our early morning walk he told me of the Native Studies he'll be taking next month. I brought to his attention the lyrics of a song by Buffy Sainte-Marie, a native of the Cree Nation from Saskatchewan. I mentioned to Yogendra that I was listening to this kind of music just before enlisting myself as a monk. The name of the song is "My Country 'Tis of Thy People You're Dying." It's remarkable to listen to.

"Now that your big eyes have finally opened
Now that you're wondering how must they feel
Meaning them that you've chased across America's movie screens
Now that you're wondering "how can it be real?"
That the ones you've called colourful, noble and proud
In your school propaganda
They starve in their splendour?
You've asked for my comment I simply will render

My country 'tis of thy people you're dying.

Now that the longhouses breed superstition
You force us to send our toddlers away
To your schools where they're taught to despise their traditions.
Forbid them their languages, then further say
That American history really began
When Columbus set sail out of Europe, then stress
That the nation of leeches that conquered this land
Are the biggest and bravest and boldest and best.
And yet where in your history books is the tale
Of the genocide basic to this country's birth,
Of the preachers who lied, how the Bill of Rights failed,
How a nation of patriots returned to their earth?
And where will it tell of the Liberty Bell
As it rang with a thud on a tinsel of mud
And of brave Uncle Sam in Alaskathis year?

My country 'tis of thy people you're dying

Hear how the bargain was made for the West:
With her shivering children in zero degrees,
Blankets for your land, so the treaties attest,
Oh well, blankets for land is a bargain indeed,
And the blankets were those Uncle Sam had collected
From smallpox-diseased dying soldiers that day.
And the tribes were wiped out and the history books censored,
A hundred years of your statesmen have felt it's better this way.
And yet a few of the conquered have somehow survived,
Their blood runs the redder though genes have paled.
From the Grand Canyon's caverns to craven sad hills
The wounded, the losers, the robbed sing their tale.
From Los Angeles Countyto upstate New York
The white nation fattens while others grow lean;
Oh the tricked and evicted they know what I mean.

My country 'tis of thy people you're dying.

The past it just crumbled, the future just threatens;
Our life blood shut up in your chemical tanks.
And now here you come, bill of sale in your hands
And surprise in your eyes that we're lacking in thanks
For the blessings of civilization you've brought us,
The lessons you've taught us, the ruin you've wrought us
Oh see what our trust in America's brought us.

My country 'tis of thy people you're dying.

Now that the pride of the sires receives charity,
Now that we're harmless and safe behind laws,
Now that my life's to be known as your heritage,
Now that even the graves have been robbed,
Now that our own chosen way is a novelty
Hands on our hearts we salute you your victory,
Choke on your blue white and scarlet hypocrisy
Pitying the blindness that you've never seen
That the eagles of war whose wings lent you glory
They were never no more than carrion crows,
Pushed the wrens from their nest, stole their eggs, changed their story;
The mockingbird sings it, it's all that he knows.
"Ah what can I do?" say a powerless few
With a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye
Can't you see that their poverty's profiting you.

My country 'tis of thy people you're dying."

This stuff written and sung by Ms Ste-Marie should be thought about.

 
May the Source be with you!

5 km

 

Tuesday, August 4th, 2015
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2015
Madrid/Toronto

Spain Wrap Up

It was a blessing to once again move through the windy, swervy streets of Madrid in the morning. Now I could actually see much more. What a plus it is to have pedestrian cobblestone streets without the botheration of machines whizzing by every few seconds. I consider it a second blessing for receiving a gift, a pair of sandals, that have the perfect fit. This is something I didn't ask for but something I needed. The former pair of shoes, I now leave behind, was also a gift. Not to be ungrateful but the purchase of footwear to the right size is critical, otherwise the shoes have a negative effect on your physiological self. It's a special pleasure to be on the right trail with the right fitting gear.

At one square that we came to, vehicles restricted, one of our boys wanted to sit and question me on his ashram status. Okay! So he opened up and wanted some advice on whether it was wise to go the full-on brahmacari (monk) way or wait it out. He had been living with a woman some time back.

"Am I ready?" he asked.

Such a question is personal and individual, of course. I generally encourage every young male, or female, to tread the waters of celibacy but more important is bhakti, devotion. Celibacy is a good experience and it prepares one for responsibility on the next level, should one choose to partner-up with someone. I also would like to add a message which I recall I read on a billboard when I walked through Manitobacountry three summers ago. The line, a message for teens especially, was, "Save Sex For Marriage." To me it's an old school value but one that works when applied.

During my flight back to CanadaI had some quality time reading "Love, Medicine and Music, the flip-side of the Sixties - Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll" by Roger Siegel aka Gurudas. I'm lovin' it. Yes, life in the 60s before our guru (Srila Prabhupada) came was very experimental.


May the Source be with you!

5 km

Monday, August 3rd, 2015
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Monday, August 3rd, 2015
Madrid, Spain

Being in Madrid

Mantri Ram is one of the monks stationed at our centre in Madrid. He was kind enough to take myself and two guests from Sweden on a sort of pilgrimage to some significant sights which grab tourists' attention. There is the famous Cathedral, De la Almudena, the Egyptian Templo Debod, the statue of fiction character, Don Quixote, the Plaza Calle Montera and Calle Fuencarral. It was night-time but that was good because that's when all the people are out.

I had taken my japa, chanting a little more seriously than normal and with a notch higher in volume. One of the young women in mini-skirt and heels and lavish make-up - a prostitute - picked up on the mantra as we passed by. She then mimicked what I was doing. I guess she gets some spiritual benefit from that.

I basically felt myself lucky (fortunate) to be trekking through these hot spots. I had completed a two-hour talk to our Iskcon community about the benefits of spirit walking or pilgrimage. Who in the world would know better about such an opportunity than the people of Spain. It is here that the reputed trail of the Camino de Santiago runs through. What I heard from members who were listening to the talk and expressing themselves, that a good number of them walked that Camino.

Shirley Maclane has written about it. And, from what I can remember as I was passing by a movie theatre in Toronto about three years ago, Martin Sheen starred in a film "The Way" all to do with a true story how some people's lives had changed for the better from the walk.

My only other major impression, apart from 'walk' talks, fine buildings and beautiful people in the form of Krishna devotees, was seeing a Cuban family I've known shine in Madrid. Janardan is working on his PhD but he and his wife have plans to move back to their beloved Cuba after he receives his degree. They made him the president of the Iskcon centre here in Madrid.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Sunday, August 2nd, 2015
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Sunday, August 2nd, 2015
Tenerife, Spain

Preparation: Parade

To prepare for any event, for any endeavour, practitioners of bhakti-yoga engage in some sadhana. Essential to seeing that sadhana is done, they look to the earlier morning hours to connect to the Divine What this entails is some mantra meditation, some reflection on guru and God, and some contemplation of words of wisdom.

Our small group of bhaktas (devotees) achieved these sadhana components at the beach for the last full day of our stay in Tenerife. The big event for tonight was the Chariot Fest and the sadhana exists for being psychological prepared. The public would come. And they did, including the mayor and other staff members of the city council at Playa de las Americas.

Devotees were optimistic. So was the crowd. Maybe the public was curious. My own critical mind observed a could-be-better performance of kirtan. The event was late by about an hour. The food, a spiced-flavoured rice, was starting to turn. It was a large endeavour for a virtual handful of people. Our drama, "The Witness" was bumped to the last few minutes of the stage presentation. We finished our drama by 12:30 am. What was left by that time was a meagre attendance.

And had I that one extra day for practice our drama troopers could have worked to a more polished presentation. It's no one's fault. My hat goes off to Patita Pavan and Julan Yatra, two people who organized with all their heart a huge undertaking. And additionally I have to say the chariot and the deities looked stunning.

Finally, the dis-assembly of the chariot was completed by 6 am, about the time of our daily morning beach sadhana which didn't happen. By the time of my rising at 8 am, my mind reverted back to our discussion of the morning before. The qualities of the Supreme are unlimited and I got to thinking that while Divine Intelligence has fathomless traits, the small gods (us) are limited.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

 

Wednesday, July 29th, 2015
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2015
Dublin, Ireland
 
Could Not Relish
 
I could not relish the activity of a walk through the trails of green Irelandtoday. The flight from Toronto, delayed by 3 hours, caused a number of passengers to miss connections. I was one of them. And so, in a way, we were held hostage in the Dublin airport. If pacing could have been done, I would have been happy. But for the sake of making new flight arrangements, I, along with others, stood in a 3 hour plus snail-pace waiting line. This was partly a brain-frying session and partly a patience-exercise. At the counter only one person did all the re-booking and that was done manually. I was wondering why in this technological world that we live in, can’t we now exercise smoother operations. That’s the material world for you.

I was really impressed with a couple in front of me for two reasons. Number one: they were extremely patient. At one enlightened moment the woman decided to dial on the phone the airline that brought us this far. She was then informed that you can just re-book over the phone and get it done in 2 minutes. Because they were just on the verge of being at the counter for assistance, they decided to go for the personal service route. Not for a second did they demonstrate disgust, at least externally, over their 3 hour 40 minute wait.

Number two: the second reason for feeling a connection with the couple had to do with a happy coincidence that, exactly one week ago, the couple spotted our two youth ministry buses parked in their neighbourhood in Winnipeg. I was there. We were preparing for our devotional show just outside the Westminster United Church. The couple spotted our boys on the bus wondering what was going on? So I then explained to the couple the nature of our show. At that venue we conducted bharatanatyamdance, drama, and chanting of mantras. We were attempting to spread some good will and higher consciousness. All this came out after the long wait when we were being shuttled to a Hotel, a stopover, before our new flight timings. And it was a case of “small world”, isn’t it.

We will look out for each other the next time I’m in their neighbourhood.

 
May the Source be with you!

0 km

 

Tuesday, July 28th, 2015
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2015
Toronto, Ontario

Didn’t Miss
 
I missed the whole anticipated frenzy, madness and congestion that the Pan-Am games were predicted to bring to the city. Actually I wasn’t present during the time of the games, I was not in the city at all. And that’s the reason for my missing out. Residents of Toronto who did stay experienced a quiet scenario. Hotel owners, restaurant owners, cab drivers and all those people who normally benefit in their pockets from big events encountered a sleepy time.

Why?

Organizers for the Pan-Am games had a backfire because of their big campaign discouraging locals from driving or just getting in the way. And that was after a 2.5 billion dollar expenditure. This was apparently a big mistake and disappointment. Ticket sales to the games were down. People payed heed to the warning that traffic would be so jammed. The end result was that people stayed away. One person I spoke to said, "the city became a ghost town." Or at least peaceful.

As far as the games were concerned there were lots of wins for America and Canada. They really came out on top. Being a spiritualist of sorts, I’m left to wonder at all of this. That so much energy goes into games; expend the same amount of energy or even a percentage of that time and resources on character development and human skills and then we can see the human race starting to fly. I say this and I’m sure you might agree that the science of virtue building is really lacking.

Sports is not necessarily a bad endeavour but we must find a place for the finer elements in life and seek that kind of WIN.

 
May the Source be with you!

0km

 

Monday, July 27th, 2015
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Monday, July 27th, 2015
Toronto, Ontario

Heatwave/Go to the lake

A heatwave has come and is here to stay for some time according to weather forecasters. To address it, I told Nick, “I want to go to the lake. Do you want to come?”

“Sure! How?” said Nick.

“We can ride the subway together. Take the lead, please. You know your way around better than I. Let’s go to the Beaches and the boardwalk where Shrila Prabhupada (our Guru) walked in ’75.” Nick was excited.

For someone who rarely “rides the rocket" (as people here say about the transit system), I found it rather novel and adventurous. Usually I like to walk to places and forgo paying for the “rocket” but today, well, the Beaches are a distance away. From Yonge Street Subway to Queen Streetstreetcar we went. Then we promenaded to the Beaches and then onto that 2.5 km boardwalk. At the end of the boardwalk we dawned swimming trunks and dipped into what seemed like icy waters. The swim was a 2 minute affair but it was worth it. It did the job. Back home onto sand and into devotional attire.

We then made the return journey to the ashram and all the while chanted on our beads. It always pays off to be out there for some exposure. At one subway stop while waiting for the train a young woman approached me, “Hi, remember me? I am Rakesh Bandhari’s daughter.”

Of course I remembered. Her dad flew in his private plane to the town where I was walking in 1996. Rakesh brought his young daughter with him to take a few steps together through the Victorian settlement of Brockville. That was a nice gesture. I felt so supported on that cool autumn day having these 2 companions with me.

I failed to catch the name of the now grown young female adult. Both of us were caught in the joy of collective reminiscence. It was sweet and it was an opportunity to exchange “Hare Krishna’s”.

Readers, please be out there and wear devotional clothing if possible. People will spot you. It excites the soul and they will come to you and question or comment.

 
May the Source be with you!

6km

Indian tourist visas: e-visa scheme extended to British…
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Indian tourist visas: e-visa scheme extended to British travellers
From August 15, Britons will be one of 113 nationalities who will be able to apply for India’s “e-Tourist visa”, making the process of obtaining correct entry documents cheaper and quicker.
UK passport holders will be able to apply and pay for an online visa using the Indian government’s tourist visa website, removing the need to book an appointment at the outsourced visa processing agency, or make a laborious postal application.
India is finally opening up its e-visa system to UK passport holders, in an attempt to boost tourism
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/jqLTB9

Hare Krishna! Excellent high resolution photo gallery from this…
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Hare Krishna! Excellent high resolution photo gallery from this year’s Ratha-yatra in Los Angeles
If you are feeling the separation from New Dwarka’s Lord Jagannatha’s Ratha-yatra may you relish the sites of the Festival and hear the transcendental sounds of devotees worshiping Their Lordships. (166 photos)
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18973

Journey To America by Dr. Sahadeva Dasa
→ ISKCON News

It was a Friday, August 13, 1965. At 9 in the morning, a lonely, elderly gentleman, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami boards a ship at Calcutta Port sailing to New York. The black cargo ship, small and weathered, was anchored at dockside. Sailors curiously saw the elderly saffron dressed sadhu as he spoke last words to his companion in the taxi and walked determinedly towards the boat. Music and video by Dr. Sahadeva Dasa.

Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival in US – Markine…
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Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival in US – Markine Bhagavata-dharma
50 years back, Srila Prabhupada landed in Boston, USA (September 17th, 1965) Before Srila Prabhupada was our Srila Prabhupada, he was a sannyasi struggling alone, trying desperately to fulfill the desire of his spiritual master to share Krishna Consciousness in the west in the English language. He struggled tremendously to single-handedly write, publish, and distribute his Back to Godhead magazine. He established the League of Devotees in an attempt to begin a worldwide movement in India. However, his attempts were unfruitful; India simply was not accepting the message of Lord Caitanya on the scale that he was imagining.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18969

Hare Krishna! ISKCON Golden Jubilee Event Highlights… This event…
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Hare Krishna! ISKCON Golden Jubilee Event Highlights…
This event is a tribute to His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of ISKCON who embarked on the mission of inundating the world with Indian heritage, love in devotion and happiness through loving service to the divine. He left from Kidderpore dock on the 13th of August, 1965 heading to Boston harbour in United States. He triggered the Hare Krishna Movement that has touched and transformed the hearts and lives of millions of people in 100+ countries around the world. Today ISKCON has: 650 Temples in 100+ countries 100 Rath Yatras Round the Globe 100 Spiritual Books translated to 70+ languages 600,000 plates of prasad meals distributed everyday to poor children round the globe 100+ Ecovillages, Farm Communities, Schools, Hospitals and Vegetarian Restaurants around the world
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18964

Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada’s Journey Song – Video Here is…
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Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada’s Journey Song – Video
Here is our Video offering on the historical occasion of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s departure for America by Jaladuta ship…… This is not only Srila Prabhupada’s journey, this is also your, mine and everybody else’s journey. Imagine if Srila Prabhupada would not have gone on this perilous voyage, where would I, you and many others be today! There is a need for ISKCON members to be aware of this song as this profoundly presents the mood of our beloved founder Acharya. The extraordinary mood of surrender, presented herein, forms the basis of our institution. This might be one of the most underrated songs in ISKCON. Let us try not to loose the connection with our roots. The force of time is overwhelmingly powerful and let it not cover up these beautiful memories. At least once in his/her life time, an ISKCON member needs to put him/herself in Srila Prabhupada’s lotus shoes and see what it means to travel all the way to America, at a ripe old age, in a cargo ship with frail health and only 40 rupees.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18961

Hare Krishna! Do You Want To Know A Secret? Chapter nine of the…
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Hare Krishna! Do You Want To Know A Secret?
Chapter nine of the Bhagavad Gita is referred to as: “The Most Confidential Knowledge” and in the first two verses Lord Krishna tells Arjuna: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you this most confidential knowledge and realization, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence. This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18958

Hare Krishna! On “Society, Friendship and Love” For Srila…
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Hare Krishna! On “Society, Friendship and Love”
For Srila Prabhupada, the term “Society, Friendship and Love,” was used to refer to the primary allurement which keeps us shackled in the material world of illusion and suffering. The following excerpt is indicative of his general usage of the term: Persons who are conditioned in the society, friendship, and love, this is the attraction for material life. “Society, friendship and love,” they think, “divinely bestowed upon man.” But that, it is not divinely bestowed upon man. From spiritual point of view, it is the gift of maya. Society, friendship and love is the gift of maya, illusion. (SB 3.25.23, Lecture, Nov 10 1968)
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18952

The purpose of God
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 May 2015, Melbourne, Australia, BhaktiVvrksha Programme Part 2)

Question: What is the purpose of God? Why has he created all the living beings and the spiritual world?

12July2015_MayapurThe purpose of God is to enjoy the greatest happiness. The greatest happiness is found in loving exchanges. Therefore, the Supreme Lord is engaging in loving relationships with every living being and his purpose is to increase that loving relationship eternally. That is actually the spiritual world.
Here in the material world, our love has turned away from God and our love has turned for ourselves and our possessions – I and mine! This is illusion! So the process of sadhana is purifying us from our greed, our lust, our anger and then it awakens our original love for God. When that is awakened, then we understand that what we are looking for in this world is small pleasure compared to the pleasure that is there in serving the Lord.

Prabhupada’s one step to enter Jaladuta – A giant leap in humanity’s spiritual evolution
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Special Day Meditation Podcast:

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CC daily 194 – 7.7-8 – The call of duty is not a license for insensitivity
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Bhagavatam-daily 297 – 11.13.30 – Wake up from the dream, not within the dream
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ISKCON Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Founder’s Journey West
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Fifty years ago, on August 13, 1965, a lone elderly pilgrim and teacher, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami boarded the cargo ship Jaladuta in Calcutta for the one month sea voyage to New York City. While it was not unusual for immigrants from India to head to the US, what separated Bhaktivedanta Swami was the mission that urged him onward.   

Chanting Is A Privilege
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When I am not able to chant in the morning, my quality usually goes down. When you have less time available, good chanting is a challenge but on the other hand you become more appreciative for good time and a place for nice chanting.
After a busy day, in the late evening when you can just sit down and chant for 20 minutes, you immeadiately feel your mind becoming peaceful and satisfied.
Chanting the Maha-mantra is the greatest blessing - chanting is a privilege.

Muniraja dasa

The Kingdom hall of Krishna consciousness, is standardisation good?
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The other week I had the privilege of driving HH Mahavishnu Swami between Cardiff, Brighton and London it has been a long time since I’ve been able to do this.
During one of the journeys we analysed the reasons people leave ISKCON or withdraw from devotional association, I put forward different arguments and maharaja defeated each one. It came to two factors:
We have lost faith
We have lost love
We have lost faith in Srila Prabhupada writings or the institution Srila Prabhupada set up
We have lost the love needed to follow sincerely the instructions of Srila Prabhupada.
It did however give me the opportunity to reveal my mind based upon experience, we bring into Krishna consciousness baggage it influences our perceptions and understanding.
My fear is that the institution that is ISKCON is starting to feel like the institution of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I’m half expecting to see a sign outside saying “kingdom hall of Krishna Consciousness” quick run away.
You see I was attracted to the devotees because they were quirky, their was a vast difference in personalities and Background’s, we could sit and discuss sections of the Gita the answers were diverse but no one appeared to fall out. ISKCON was a home for everyone I found that somehow or another I fitted in.
Now we have standardisation, for me from one view point it’s a good thing on another it scares the life out of me, I said to a senior Prabhupada disciple that this standardisation means I feel alienated that I no longer have a place in Srila Prabhupada home.
I discussed with HH Mahavishnu Swami the mentor system, in principal I like it, but I have one major concern the impersonal aspect; how can a member on a committee decided I’m unsuitable if they have never sat with me, talked with me or taken prasadam. Somehow by a bit of paperwork they can make this judgement. I can’t help but feel this is unjust, impersonal and against the personal nature of Srila Prabhupada dealings with all those he met. At least even the Jehovah’s witnesses don’t have such an impersonal system came my rant (all part of the discussion on why leave ISKCON just to give context)
You see to be baptised their is a book you have to study, then each of the elders would visit your home and take you through each chapter, yes a personal touch; they would meet discuss and then a conclusion would be given, no forms but a personal discourse.
Srila Prabhupada wanted recommendations from the temple president, but as we know it is not always practical indeed it could be impossible for the temple president to know everyone personally. So yes mentors senior grounded devotees who take time to get to know the person, then once they are satisfied the person is suitable recommend to temple president and then actions taken.
I expanded on this standardisation
I explained that no matter were I went in the world then their are several things I could guarantee
The format in the kingdom hall
Songs sung (only piano music that is authorised no band or other music instruments)
Which book or scriptures would be used, I could even tell you what the answers would be
Yes everyone sings from the same hymn sheet, the same answers to the questions, even the same type of dress, suit and tie or modest dress.
What makes ISKCON so unique is that each centre/temple has a different flavour even integrating cultural vibes, music and dance; variety?
I didn’t even mind if sometimes questions couldn’t be answered for at some stage I’ll meet someone who can, somehow it all works somehow each person can find their place.
My fear is that standardisation will kill what makes ISKCON ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada knew he would have variety so he asked for us to get on with each other and learn how to accommodate each other and in many ways ISKCON has been successfully in this because their is no standardisation but simple principles we all try to follow.
Everyone could find a home even odd ball outsiders like me could feel at home.
My fear is that over standardisation and the impersonal nature of committees who can have great influence on progression in Krishna consciousness of without even once sitting down and getting to know the individual fills me with the greatest fear.
HH Mahavishnu Swami suggested I share this with you all, I simply don’t want ISKCON to loose that sparkle that made me feel so much at home.
But I am also reminded of the conclusion of our discussion that no matter how impossible things way appear or feel if we truly love and have faith in Srila Prabhupada one will never leave the institution he set up

Sunday, August 9th, 2015
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Sunday, August 9th, 2015
Vancouver, British Columbia

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It can't get much smoother, operation-wise, when it came to the stage. I became the MC once again at the Chariot Fest at Stanley Park. Artists, whether they be singers, musicians, dancers, or actors, came punctually. It could not have been better.

The procession portion of the event has its usual glitches with sound volume or lack of it which happens when the vocalist gets beyond the range of the speaker situated on the chariot in motion. There is always the accidental jabbing of elbows or incidental people stepping on your shoes. All that stuff can be forgiven. The procession itself is an act of service and of joy.

In fact, when you think about it, service in a devotional context is usually destined to derive joy. You approve every action in a detached mode and are neutrally disposed. Devotional action (bhakti) is incomparable to mundane functioning.

If we make reference to the Bhagavad-gita in the sections on "action", we will appreciate the superiority of devotional actions over all other endeavours.

Chapter 12 is particularly clear for establishing devotion and those actions which are affiliated to the pure path. This segment of the Gita offers concessions for those who stagger on the path of purity. It presents options and offers hope to those who find the bar is too high to reach and therefore such candidates can begin the process on a comfortable level.

This is the compassion of God. There are different gradations of people based on varying realizations so you will find that not all folks will jump into the pool of selflessness. At the same time it's good to get something in motion.
 

May the Source be with you!

8 km