Mukunda and I took to the Beachville Lakeside Trail. For me - a new discovery. We trekked only 5 kilometres but I loved it. Apparently the trail swings north to Yarmouth, a mere 300 kilometres. This is tempting for the future.
Then my most important part of the day fell in the evening at Halifax's charming waterfront. Tons of people were there for the Rib Fest. Can you imagine what a bunch of Hare Krishnas would be doing there? Yes, unmistakably they would be chanting. That's just what we did. Let's say we helped ourselves to a spot on the wooden dock, took the lotus position and chanted away. We were armed with mrdanga drum and cymbals. It wasn't long before Amber, a busker, had shown up with her guitar and her friend, a street entertainer, with djembe. Our entire ensemble was welcomed by the public. The sound was one of enchantment. Joseph took the lead and strummed on Amber's guitar. Brhat stuck to his drum and Amber went to her impromptu voice tones offering a moody background to the chant. Ashley was also there with her and Joseph's several month old baby. Their presence added to the sweetness of the event altogether.
The implications of a Rib Fest is a bit hard to imagine for a group of Krishna people. What would be the karmic implications for eating 'til it would stick to your ribs?' Or are we looking at a certain kind of hell that steak-eaters venture to being involved in - by taking the life of a cow or bull, held sacred as a mother and father from a Vedic perspective?
In one sense, we the chanters feel that when the sacred sound is heard it can karmically turn everything around to the positive.
Sundari’s mom passed away a month ago and so she invited a small group of family and friends for a small memorial service. She and her dad, with origins from Trinidad, and the Hindu family had a clear idea what they wanted from Brhat and I, “Speaking about the soul’s journey and please do some kirtan”.
The circle of family and friends, we discovered, are from everywhere – the U.S., Bosnia, India, a few more places and even Halifax. Quoting from the Gita, I had selected a verse from Chapter 2 beginning with dehino ‘smin yatha dehe. “We are embodied first as a baby, then child, then youth, adult, elderly and finally a new form shapes as a baby again. “The lesson being that the soul perpetuates despite bodily change and therefore emotions need not be extreme.”
It is apparent that a grieving time is necessary. I could see that Sundari was happy at this state to have perhaps a closure to the event in the form of a message and a kirtan.
Kirtan also threw a group into a joyous state when after a four-hours-plus drive to Fredericton, Wade, Brhat and I made it to Mazerolle’s Gallery for a “Tales from Trails” happening. Kirtan is new, if not fresh, for these attendees. It’s not every day that you get to sing ancient mantras and physically move to the pulsating beat of a drum.
Just across the street at city hall locals were clad in lime-coloured T-shirts in anticipation for raising awareness on the dreaded Lyme disease which is prevalent enough in North America. Good for them! I like to think that kirtan raises awareness towards the disease of me-consciousness and how we must get beyond bodily identification. I am spirit that moves from one phase to the next hoping to one day get set free based on clean consciousness.
Scandinavian Bhakti Sangam 2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Compared to the ocean of transcendental bliss that one tastes by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, the pleasure derived from impersonal Brahman realization is like the shallow water in canal.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.97)
See them here: https://goo.gl/hpeZNw
Hare Krishna! Lord Nityananda’s Padukas Return Home
After four months of fund raising for TOVP in America, HG Jananivasa prabhu returned home to Mayapur with the padukas of Lord Nityananda on 12th July. Hundreds of jubilant devotees flocked at Temple’s main gate for receiving them. It was truly a grand reception with multifarious items like garlands, rangolis, flowers and many ghee lamp plates accompanied by kirtana. First all the assembled devotees visited Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi. At the Samadhi gate, they received a second welcome with flowers, ghee lamp plates and rangolis. HG Jananivasa prabhu placed Lord Nityananda’s padukas on Srila Prabhupada’s head. He also garlanded Srila Prabhupada and offered Him a ghee lamp.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18423
After four months of fund raising for TOVP in America, HG Jananivasa prabhu returned home to Mayapur with the padukas of Lord Nityananda on 12th July. Hundreds of jubilant devotees flocked at Temple’s main gate for receiving them.
It was truly a grand reception with multifarious items like garlands, rangolis, flowers and many ghee lamp plates accompanied by kirtana. First all the assembled devotees visited Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi. At the Samadhi gate, they received a second welcome with flowers, ghee lamp plates and rangolis. HG Jananivasa prabhu placed Lord Nityananda’s padukas on Srila Prabhupada’s head. He also garlanded Srila Prabhupada and offered Him a ghee lamp.
After exiting from Samadhi, there was an arati of Lord’s padukas. They then proceeded to the Temple stopping briefly at the TOVP seva office where HG Jananivasa prabhu rang the large bell. He was again garlanded there by many enthusiastic devotees.
There was loud (imagine nearly 10 mrdngas played simultaneously!!) yet melodious kirtana performed by Gurukulis as they entered the Temple Hall. Then there was a rare to see Abhishek and Arati of Lord Nityananda’s padukas in the Panca Tattva hall. The assembled devotees then received the fortune of having Lord Nityananda’s padukas touch their head. On this occasion, HG Jananivasa prabhu distributed some sponsored Srimad Bhagwatam sets to Temple brahmacaris.
HG Braj Vilasa prabhu who had accompanied HG Jananivasa prabhu then spoke about their trip. He especially thanked Hg Ambarisha prabhu and his wife for their support. After him, HG Jananivasa prabhu spoke briefly. Finally, there was distribution of ekadasi prasadam (coconut laddus) to all assembled devotees.
Dublin Rath Yatra 2015
The Rathayatra date for this year has been finalised. Lord Jagannath’s Rathayatra (Festival of Chariots) will happen on Saturday, 29th August 2015, in Dublin. By Lord’s grace, the day coincides with the appearance of Lord Balarama. You all are kindly invited to participate in this great festival in Dublin. We would appreciate if you could help us in spreading the word around, and if you could mention the date on your websites and in the temple.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18420
Sundari’s mom passed away a month ago and so she invited a small group of family and friends for a small memorial service. She and her dad, with origins from Trinidad, and the Hindu family had a clear idea what they wanted from Brihat and I, “Speaking about the soul’s journey and please do some kirtan”.
The circle of family and friends, we discovered, are from everywhere – the U.S., Bosnia, India, a few more places and even Halifax. Quoting from the Gita, I had selected a verse from Chapter 2 beginning with dehino ‘smin yatha dehe. “We are embodied first as a baby, then child, then youth, adult, elderly and finally a new form shapes as a baby again. “The lesson being that the soul perpetuates despite bodily change and therefore emotions need not be extreme.”
It is apparent that a grieving time is necessary. I could see that Sundari was happy at this state to have perhaps a closure to the event in the form of a message and a kirtan.
Kirtan also threw a group into a joyous state when after a four-hours-plus drive to Fredericton, Wade, Brihat and I made it to Mazerolle’s Gallery for a “Tales from Trails” happening. Kirtan is new, if not fresh, for these attendees. It’s not every day that you get to sing ancient mantras and physically move to the pulsating beat of a drum.
Just across the street at city hall locals were clad in lime-coloured T-shirts in anticipation for raising awareness on the dreaded Lyme disease which is prevalent enough in North America. Good for them! I like to think that kirtan raises awareness towards the disease of me-consciousness and how we must get beyond bodily identification. I am spirit that moves from one phase to the next hoping to one day get set free based on clean consciousness.
The latest Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter, including community news for the last two months. It will take about 10 seconds seconds to load. (to view higher quality photos, you can download the file) Main articles include: -BBC’s National Yoga Day at the Manor -London Ratha Yatra -Nepal Earthquake fund-raising Appeal -Krishna Culture Showcase.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/VfC4U8
After four months of fund raising for TOVP in America, HG Jananivasa prabhu returned home to Mayapur with the padukas of Lord Nityananda on 12th July. Hundreds of jubilant devotees flocked at Temple’s main gate for receiving them. It was truly a grand reception with multifarious items like garlands, rangolis, flowers and many ghee […]
Reception of Nityananda’s Padukas at Sri Dham Mayapur, West Bengal (Album with 110 photos)
Beautiful Mayapur devotees receive Lord Nityananda’s Padukas, along with HG Jananivas Prabhu and HG Vraja Vilas Prabhu..
See them here: https://goo.gl/21JICz
Recently, devotees of Vrindavan started a petition asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to control the town’s “modernization”, as they think it is neither suitable to the holy place, nor sustainable. According to many in Vrindavan, modernization has reduced this place to a weekend spot for tourists instead of a sacred place of pilgrimage.
Hare Krishna! Baroda temple forms Committee to steer 50th Anniversary celebrations
Speaking after a meeting of the Committee on 21st June, Chairman, Pushta Krishna Das said, “The 50th Anniversary is an important milestone to celebrate our achievements. As the leaders of the temple are busy organising regular preaching programmes, the congregation devotees have stepped forward to form a Committee that can plan the celebrations through the year. We will involve local devotees to organise a series of exceptional offerings for Srila Prabhupada so that people in Baroda can be educated about what ISKCON has achieved in the last 50 years.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18417
Basughosh Das, President of the Baroda temple said, “We want to encourage the congregation to take an increasing part in the 50th Anniversary celebrations. While the temple management is very involved in guiding and providing support to the Committee, it is the congregation that will actually own the different events and organise them in such a way that we can reach out to a wider audience."
It is only my speculation that the Mainland Linear Trail, as it is referred to, was either a former railway line or a hydro service road. Whatever it is, it is a convenient path taken advantage of by hundreds of walkers in this peripheral area of Halifax – Fairview. Both Brhat and I were quite amazed by the amount of strong scented roses, of all things, lined along the way. That fragrance is not man-made.
It was Theresa, our host in Halifax, who led us to this trail where we met hundreds of trekkers including a group of Bhutanese, all rather committed members, at least in spirit, to the Vaishnava culture, as we are.
It was Joseph Currie (I like to use his last name as a reminder of the Indian prep) who took us to the Blue Apple Wellness Centre downtown. There, an eager group of youthful open-hearts sat in anticipation of hearing about pilgrimage and the life of a monastic. No doubt, mantra meditation was also a draw. Joseph himself is not only a fairly good networker, but is a vocalist, guitarist and an activist. I asked him to take the lead in the end of our chanting session. Krishna has provided him with a number of gifts and talents. Isn’t that true for each and every one of us.
"Don't be tempted to add anything to this task. Keep it simple. Don't even attempt to hear only one mantra at a time, this will push the mind to think of the future, demanding to know we plan to hold it captive. Keep the mind’s task simple and gradually the mind will act simply."
From Japa: Nine Keys from the Siksastakam to Improve Your Japa by Bhurijana dasa
The kirtans were very sweet and prayerful, beautiful melodies drawing everyone to Krsna. My own kirtan got everyone dancing. It was fun!
This picture of Krsna, full of love for this calf, was in my room. It made a perfect backdrop for Giriraja. Govardhana literally means one who increases the number of cows. Yes, we need cow protection everywhere on the planet.
During his recent two week visit to the USA, Kadamba Kanana Swami participated in the twenty-four kirtan festival in New Vrindaban, West Virginia (20-21 June). Here are some photos and video clips from the festival.
During his recent two week visit to the USA, Kadamba Kanana Swami participated in the twenty-four kirtan festival in New Vrindaban, West Virginia (20-21 June). Here are some photos and video clips from the festival.
“Why did I, the most unfortunate fallen soul, not take birth at the time when Sri Gaurachandra inundated the entire world, including the highest mountains, with the flood of love of God? Therefore I was unable to relish those waves of love of God! “Why did I not take birth at that time to serve [...]
Belarus ISKCON Devotees Detained for Offering Religious Literature (3 min video)
By: Olga Glace Forum18.org on July 6, 2015
Three Hare Krishna devotees, Aleksandr Grankin, Aleksei Vlasyuk and Pavel Ivanov, were detained in the streets of Vitebsk on 17 June for sharing their religious views and offering religious literature to passers-by, they complained to Forum 18. The three were detained by Sergei Fadeenkov, the Chief Specialist of Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Department of Religious Affairs and Nationalities.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ALVgea
Harinama in Tel-Aviv, Israel (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In this age human beings only live for sixty or eighty years, and even this small life-span is gradually decreasing. Therefore it is even more imperative for human beings to take to the worship of the lotus feet of the Lord by constantly chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, as recommended by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.67 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/68QINm
HH Bhakti Charu Swami retreat @ New Vrindaban (Album with photos)
It is our pleasure to share with you that ISKCON New Vrindaban, West Verginia organized a Srimad Bhagavatam retreat with a heading “Stories from Srimad Bhagavatam” which was held from July 1 to July 5. The very retreat imparted a rare opportunity to relish ambrosial narration of Srimad Bhagavatam from the lotus mouth of HH Bhakti Charu Swami in the serene atmosphere of New Vrindaban. The retreat began every morning at 8am with Srimad Bhagavatam class and went till 9am as it’s first session. Then in next session was offered from 11am to 1pm consisting of one hour discourse and one hour of question & answer which leaded in the the final session of the day from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The Jagannatha Snana Yatra festival on 4th July in the morning 10am to 11am, added another divine dimension to this wonderful retreat. To add more colour to this retreat, New Vrindaban temple organized a Swan- boat festival in the Kusuma Sarovara which was followed by a thrilling & spectacular fire work display at night. An Initiation ceremony presided by HH Bhakti Charu Swami on 5th of July morning from 10am to 11 am, complimented the retreat to embellish it further. Devotees from different parts of USA enjoyed this very retreat with their spontaneous participations in Managala-Arati, Go Puja, and Goverdhana Parikrama every day without fail. It is said in the Bhagavad Gita that every spiritual festival reaches it’s completion in prasadam (sanctified spiritual food). Following this instruction New Vrindavana Temple offered sumptuous prasadam three times a day to every one’s heart’s content. We thank every one, who took part in this magnificent retreat, from the core of our heart. We feel honoured to serve Srila Prabhupada’s family and look forward to have another opportunity to serve all of you in New Vrindaban Temple in coming future. Hare Krishna .
See them here: https://goo.gl/Kqiq09
Hare Krishna! Treating Women as Mothers
In distributing love of Godhead, Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates did not consider who was a fit candidate and who was not, nor where such distribution should or should not take place. They made no conditions. CC. Adi-lila 7.23 1. In essence, duality means that we forget that we are part and parcel of Krsna. We want to enjoy separately from Him, we want to play the controller. This controlling tendency culminates in sex desire. 2. Man/woman concept is synonymous with material consciousness. 3. Becoming Krsna conscious means rising above duality. We have to become fixed in the consciousness that all are part and parcel of Krsna and for His pleasure-not ours.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18412
Hare Krishna! TOVP Tour Daily Diary: Day 103-108, Four Days in Houston, Texas and The Grand Finale – Seattle, Washington
July 4th and 5th, were the last two days of the North American TOVP Tour, 2015. They were, in fact, record days for our fundraising and visits to devotees homes. During these two days Jananivas prabhu alone visited over 25 devotees’ homes, going from one to the other with the Padukas and Sitari, bringing the blessings of Sri Mayapur Dhama. The crowd of 300+ devotees rose to the occasion, being encouraged to top the charts in pledges. By the end of the program more than $1.2 million was pledged and more expected to come from devotees not present. Even the children from the CHAD Group (Chapter A Day) came forward and combinedly pledged a Silver Gratitude Coin for $11,000. A fitting way to end the TOVP Tour in North America.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18409
Ratha yatra Stockholm 2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devotee, means always engaging in Krishna consciousness by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and by acting for Krishna. Specifically, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra purifies one, and this chanting is therefore recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.59 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/fmrLBc
