Friday, August 7th, 2015
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Friday, August 7th, 2015
Burnaby, British Columbia

Finish It Up

Here's an excerpt which I read at 5 a.m. at "ISKCON of Western Canada" to a group of eager bhaktas, devotees. It's taken from the book "The Perfection of Yoga" by our guru, Srila Prabhupada.

"By virtue of the divine consciousness of his previous life, he automatically becomes attracted to the yogic principles - even without seeking them." (Bg. 6.44). In the material world we have experience that we do not carry our assests from one life to another. I may have millions of dollars in the bank, but as soon as my body is finished it is also finished. At death, the bank balance does not go with me; it remains in the bank to be enjoyed by somebody else. This is not the case with spiritual culture. Even if one enacts a very small amount on the spiritual platform, he takes that with him to his next life, and he picks up again from that point.

When one picks up this knowledge that was interrupted, he should know that he should now finish the balance and complete the yogic process. One should not take the chance of finishing up the process in another birth but should resolve to finish it in this life. We should be determined in this way. "Somehow or other in my last life I did not finish my spiritual cultivation. Now Krishna has given me another opportunity, so let me finish it up in this life."
 
This is a message, bold and beautiful. It's precious!

 
May the Source be with you!

6 km

 

 

 

Thursday, August 6th, 2015
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Thursday, August 6th, 2015
Burnaby, British Columbia

The Kid In You

It was a real pleasant surprise when someone pointed out to Toshan and I the tucked away, hidden trail to the river. I've been coming to this suburb of Vancouver for years for regular visits. On each visit I avoid the Fraser Riveron my walks because there is just too many big highways, roadways, and industrial parks obstructing the way before you get to the riverside.

Toshan is my good friend who accompanied me during the discovery of this walkway. When we were both in our younger years we had travelled as brahmacari monks throughout Ontario, much like the Mormons when they are on their two year mission. We went through a host of adventures together, including getting stuck in a fire on the third floor of a hotel! You can say we go way back. I stayed on in the celibate role and took sannyasa. He has been married twice since those early days and has also established himself in a career with the national forces. (I say this because sometimes people wonder what happens to those who play the monk's role for a while).

There isn't a name to the trail that we could see. (Lack of signage I guess). Clearly there is one lane and in some stretches a paved way. It's like the best kept secret. It follows a creek for a distance and is also edged by black-berry bushes in spots. It's secluded and it also runs along the backside of a few warehouses. It's just under 2 km long.

This new passge-way made my heart leap for joy. I always wanted access to the Fraser without hindrance. Well, the truth is that one obstruction is Marine Way. Other than that we are scott-free. You know, sometimes doing these walks in the exploratory mode brings out the kid in you.

Most important is that here I have a new venue for japa meditation. Others can benefit as well. I'll point out the location gladly.

 
May the Source be with you!

6 km

 

Wednesday, August 5th, 2015
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Wednesday, August 5th, 2015
Toronto, Ontario

What We're Missing

The thing that people really miss out on is the daily opportunity to sing and dance. Just switching on the radio to hear your favourite station while in traffic or being wired up to listen to your chosen genre of sound may pacify or please but it cannot substitute for your own participation - your own use of voice and body.

This became so clear to me when our group of seven (sounds like the impressionist artists) devotees of Krishnamade our way westbound and back on Bloor St. And we were observing the response of people; yeah, they wanna get involved. As we momentarily pass by an eating place, the sound of our kirtan, drums and voice, carries inside. It turns heads and it works facial muscles - exploding smiles. It causes arms to fling in the air and sometimes the whole body gets up and going. I'm sometimes reminded of the old song "Dancing in the Street" by Martha and the Mardellas.

At Christie Pitts Parkwe took to the grass near the hoola-hoopers. A guitarist came over to play. It looked like it made his day and on our return journey back to the ashram, one local woman came our way to stride along with us. When we got near her building, she insisted we choose the other side of the street in order for her to remain with us for as long as possible. We paraded right to her doorstep. Now, our neighbourhood is quite upper-class. It's rare for our neighbours to show such spontaneity.

This is my point, that the buzz that folks need in life on a regular basis, even on a Wednesday evening, can do so much to raise the quality of life. Credit goes to the sound. Not just any but a sound imported from another world. That's why we chant mantras. It does more than excite the ears and the body. It targets the soul.

 
May the Source be with you!

6 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

 

Saturday, August 1st, 2015
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Saturday, August 1st, 2015
Tenerife, Spain

Get the Language Down

There are these teaser clouds, dark and foreboding looking, that suspend themselves and cling on to the mountain tips. I say “teaser” because, while they look as if to deposit some much needed moisture, they end up just hanging there. Eventually they disperse, being blown over by currents of air. At least one feels a protection from the sun.

Many folks are here on vacation. The signs of it are everywhere. Beach towels hang over balcony rails. Eating and partying carry on for some until 7 am. Luggage wheels drag over interlocked tiles making that rattling sound to indicate the coming and going of hotel visitors.

For our little impromtu drama group, we stayed put for hours in the local Hindu Temple rehearsing on their stage. It was tiring but rewarding. We got something accomplished. It poses a challenge to do the directing with my English parlance to Hispanic speaking folks. My Spanish is poor but to accommodate the actors and the audience-to-come we are working with a translated script in the Spanish medium.

For communication, language is so important. So I found it interesting that one of our attendees at our morning beach sadhana is from the neighbouring island La Gomera where a common whistling communication goes on. It is actually a language called Silbo and is designed to send messages from one mountain to the next.

Now all we need to achieve is a good communication with God and that medium is called mantra. Let us do so with a heart.

 
May the Source be with you!

4km

Friday, July 31st 2015,
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Friday, July 31st 2015,
Tenerife, Spain

Roundish Moon

I woke to the gorgeous view of a roundish blue moon reflecting on the Atlantic's still waters. The window from our room at Hotel Playa Real reveals nature's opulence. Though my roommate Hridaya Gauranga from Germanyinformed me that we are in the desert portion of the island Tenerife, there is an obvious richness here. I even allowed myself to get pleasantly lost in the barrage of evening displays- cafés, shops and bars - located on endless pathways by the ocean.

It was my freedom time. The air was cool in the evening. Daytime was too hot and for my own obligatory services (drama practice) during the day, certain needs and people power were lacking. We prefer to work in air conditioned spaces. Yes, things are great here in Tenerifebut a little laid back. It was annoying at times but as usual when practicing for a play we had our laughter times and light times to compensate for any shortcomings.

Patita Pavana, a Spanish-by-birth devotee of Krishna, had invited me for a second time to contribute to his festival on Sunday. Another chariot festival for me.

It was his idea that before we got serious with activity we head for the beach. There we enjoyed sadhana and a swim. Since it is a marked calendar day known as guru-purnima, one's guru (or gurus) are remembered. I spoke from the Gita 4.34. The topic was the relevance of having a guru. Several members of the community came. I mentioned about the good fortune of having a guru in your life. “Every whale in the ocean has a mother and a father but a human on the earth can have mother, father plus a guru and Krishna”

That’s 4 people.

I’m grateful to have the fab four in my life. I wouldn’t exchange it for the world. I don’t believe I could have a better life. As long as I can walk, as long as I can talk, for Krishna’s sake, I’ll be where I want to be.

Now when the moon is full it can have a strong bearing of mental influence on the world but we can just take its appearance as a cue to chant an extra few mantras for protection's sake.

 
May the Source be with you!

9 km

Independence Day Meditation – A Patriotism beyond Patriotism
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Should the Bhagavad-gita be made India’s national book?
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Answer Outline:

Not a matter of anti-secular religious oneupmanship, but of recognition of the Gita’s significant impact on India
1. Historical significance for over a millennium
2. Defining role in India’s independence struggle among both violent and nonviolent freedom fighters
3. Relevant message: renunciation in action, balance of material and spiritual, religious inclusivism, nonsectarian devotion
4. Global appeal and admiration

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ISKCON 50th Anniversary Inauguration Celebration in Kolkata
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On August 13th, ISKCON temples worldwide celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the westward journey of founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who, at the age of 69, left India this day in 1965 to introduce Krishna-consciousness to the West. In Kolkata a grand celebration was held with the participation of devotees from 108 countries, and dignitaries such as the Chief Minister of West Bengal.  

Jahnavi Harrison’s First Album Takes Us On an Introspective Journey
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We’re in a golden age of kirtan albums. The offerings are diverse: In May, Ananda Monet’s Inevitable Time told us the story of the Mahabharat in theatrical, epic style; and Madi’s Bhakti Without Borders stuck in our heads with its catchy pop sensibilities.  Now, Jahnavi Harrison’s Like A River to the Sea (July 24th, Mantralogy) takes us on a journey.

Hare Krishna! Unveiling of Brass Srila Prabhupada Statue…
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Hare Krishna! Unveiling of Brass Srila Prabhupada Statue Jaladuta Journey to USA – Video
Unveiling of Brass Srila Prabhupada Statue Jaladuta Journey to USA in one end and other end Reaching Boston. Narration by Madan Mohan Das. This is gift from Ukraine devotees for Srila Prabhupada’s 50th Jaldutta Anniversary Journey to USA.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19024

Hare Krishna! Bhaktivedanta Players Tour “The Mahabharat” After…
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Hare Krishna! Bhaktivedanta Players Tour “The Mahabharat”
After 30 glorious years of performance, including almost 20 international tours, UK’s Bhaktivedanta Players marked their outstanding contribution to devotional art with a gala performance of The Mahabharata. This was a brand new production conceived and directed by Jaya Krishna das, and acted by a cast of more than 20. With the soundtrack arranged by actor and musician, Kishor Murti das, and new props and costumes, the stage was set for a riveting experience. A 730 strong audience flocked to the Kadwa Patidar Centre in Kenton, UK, for the premier. For over two hours the audience were led by Lord Krishna Himself, in the role of narrator, into an ancient world of warriors and mystic saints.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19021

Shri Kiran Bedi Praising Srila Prabhupada’s Journey to…
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Shri Kiran Bedi Praising Srila Prabhupada’s Journey to USA. Kiran Bedi (born 9 June 1949) is an Indian politician, social activist, former tennis player and a retired police officer. Bedi joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1972, becoming its first woman officer. In 2003, Bedi became the first woman to be appointed the United Nations civilian police adviser. She resigned in 2007, to focus on social activism and writing. Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19018

Hare Krishna! Praghosa Dasa, GBC Chairman’s Glorifying Srila…
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Hare Krishna! Praghosa Dasa, GBC Chairman’s Glorifying Srila Prabhupada’s Journey to USA
Praghosa Das is currently the chairman of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission. He was the commission’s chairman in 2005. Praghosa presently serves as the editor in chief of the Dandavats.com Vaishnava news agency.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19015

Hare Krishna! Tulsi Gabbard’s Message for Srila Prabhupada’s…
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Hare Krishna! Tulsi Gabbard’s Message for Srila Prabhupada’s Journey to USA – video
Tulsi Gabbard (born April 12, 1981) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who has been the United States Representative for Hawaii’s second congressional district since 2013. She is also a Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee. Elected in 2012, she is the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member of the United States Congress, and, along with Tammy Duckworth, one of its first female combat veterans.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19012

Hare Krishna! Journey that gave ISCKON to the world completes 50…
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Hare Krishna! Journey that gave ISCKON to the world completes 50 years
“ISKCON will unveil an intricately carved sculpture of Shrila Prabhupada measuring 2.05 metres made of brass with a granite pedestal at Kidderpor Dock, Kolkata from where he began his Journey to West 50 years ago. Since Bengal was the place from where he left, the main programme will be happening there.” The journey that gave the world International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON) will be completing 50 years on Thursday. Celebrations will take place in all the major ISKCON temples in the city and 400 temples across the world.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19008

Palliative Care, and Spirituality
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So I had an opportunity to do an update on palliative care given the recent controversies over the Liverpool care pathways and the changes in “ do not resuscitate” implementation; these changes are to reassure individuals and family that life limiting illness doesn’t mean your put onto a path that ultimately leads to death.

However the underpinning foundations of palliative and end of life care services remain the same and one of the area’s that we are told to be aware of in care planning is that of spirituality, but even this has changed.

Many years ago when I first covered this subject we talked preliminary about faith and how this can impact on the person’s perceptions and also to be mindful of both faith and cultural requirement’s; given that the surrounding area was mainly Christian and Jewish we looked closely at the needs of these two groups.

So I was interested to see how this area of health care has developed, shocked wouldn’t describe my feelings, spirituality no longer covers faith, it’s family, pets, TV; me and one other member of the group mentioned faith and belief, well this isn’t important unless they mention it came the reply.

My impression at the end of the course was that as a society we are less accepting that this body we are in is limited in time, we will have to die this is the law of nature; and that the importance of faith and acknowledgement of a creator god (krishna) is a sign of weakness rather than a sign of inelegance and strength.

It did however make me return to a discussion I had with a group of health care professional devotees some years ago; the devotee population us ageing, the disciples who served Srila Prabhupada so nicely are getting to that stage were they need to be cared for in such a loving way.

Is it time to look at a small retirement village, residential and nursing provisions, so that both the spiritual and physical body can be cared for in the best way.

After all the original hospitals were actually a part of the monasteries, the monks and nuns would care for the individual taking sanctuary. Society understood that life would end and so it was both body and soul that was cared for, redemption would be sought so that when your time has come to leave you return to Sri Krishn’s loving arms.

After all do I want to enter into a care system who’s main aim is to reinforce the delusion that I am this body?

Hare Krishna! Devotees from 106 countries practice yoga to mark…
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Hare Krishna! Devotees from 106 countries practice yoga to mark ISKCON 50th anniversary
Devotees from 106 countries practised bhakti yoga together at the Kshudiram Anushilan Kendra here, creating a record for “Most Nationalities in a yoga lesson” with the Guinness World Records, while another 105 devotees sang Bengali choir to set the record, ISKCON vice-president V N Das claimed. “Inspired by the fact that in June India created a world record in New Delhi for most number of people participating in a yoga lesson, we today decided to make yoga more popular around the world by creating another record for the Guinness World Records. And today we are happy to say that we have successfully done it,” Das told PTI. The three-day celebrations, which started here today would be observed across the globe along with the ‘Journey to West’ of its founder Acharya A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Shrila Prabhupada.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19005

Hare Krishna! Iskcon celebration held ISKCON (International…
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Hare Krishna! Iskcon celebration held
ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), an organisation engaged in spreading the message of love and camaraderie in the society today celebrated the golden jubilee of its founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada’s journey to the USA where he set up the organisation. Among the dignitaries who were present include West Bengal Bengal governor Keshrinath Tripathy, Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi, to name a few. While eminent danseuse Dona Ganguly and her troupe performed a dance programme, there was also a yoga session, in which representatives from over 109 countries took part.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19002

CC daily 196 – 7.10-14 – The Lord’s external reason for South India tour conceals his inner reason
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Bhagavatam-daily 11.13.32 – The absence of memory is also a memory
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Please join us to welcome His Holiness Bhakti Marg Swami this Sunday — August 16th,2015.
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His Holiness Bhaktimarg Swami :

Over forty years ago it was a youthful quest for life that lead Chatham, Ontario born Bhaktimarga Swami, (formerly John Peter Vis), to adopt an Eastern order of monastic life that landed him in the Hare Krishna movement. Since that time, as a celibate monk, Swami has evolved as an instructor of bhakti-yoga and mantra meditation. His presentation on this subject of life, based on the popular Hindu text, “Bhagavad-gita” is lively, candid and informative.

With a background in fine arts, Swami also developed a passion for the performing arts. Even in the course of his duties as a monk, he expands his portfolio and manages to take an active role in theatrical productions from epics of ancient Indian origin. Casting, scripting, and directing morality theater takes him annually to venues from North America to India and Africa.

Finally, Bhaktimarga Swami achieved a remarkable feat in 1996 when he went the way of a pilgrim and walked on foot cross country from west to east and then back for a return journey from Cape Spear, Newfoundland to Vancouver Island in 2003, going full circle. He likes to share of his unique experiences and fond memories on the road after trekking 16,000 kms. Swami is a consistent feature in “The Longest Road”, a recent National Film Board documentary detailing the history of the people who shaped or were shaped by the Trans Canada Highway, the world’s longest continuous maintained road.

ON GOING EVERY SUNDAY
 
Sunday School

To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com
Call: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.
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.
 

Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a peanut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy