With the announcement by the GBC Chairman, Praghosa das, of 2015 as the Year of the TOVP, and the coming of ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary in 2016, along with the overwhelming success of the current North American TOVP Tour, a new and effective fundraising plan has been devised to collect the required funds for its completion.
This is the Pledge Program whereby you can make a pledge from one of 9 different donor options and pay it off over the course of 3, 5, or even 7 years, leading up to the Grand Opening in 2022. Anyone can participate and make a substantial pledge, paying it off in small monthly amounts. Go to the TOVP website page below and find out how you can participate:
In Vrindavan in 2014 we inaugurated the Gratitude Coin program to help fund the TOVP project.
Our first presentation was at Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day festival during Kartik. At that time Jayasri mataji and Pratapana prabhu from Sydney, Australia pledged two Platinum coins, a total of $500,000, in the service of the TOVP construction. With so many other services and responsibilities they have taken up in their local temple, they have come forward to serve this International project and the world headquarters of ISKCON. Their seva is exemplary and motivates all of us to also make a big sacrifice and serve Srila Prabhupada by making a pledge to build this temple.
Dear Devotees, Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. 2015 is a very special year as it marks 50 years since Srila Prabhupada embarked on his historic journey from India to the US. Srila Prabhupada travelled very simply on a freight ship with just 40 rupees, a little cereal and […]
The Gooderham Building, St Lawrence Market and St James Church are some historic landmarks for the city. People are attracted to these edifices. And apart from my own softness for viewing great architecture, we are doubly drawn to the people that go to these structures.
We were chanting in those areas near Front St and I was astounded how many people offer us pranams (folded hands) and how many folks greet us with a smile and a "namaste" or "Hare Krishna." This tells me that people are adjusting, looking east and coming to the point of acceptance.
If we were to trace back history, surely we would capture a link between the east and west and how, for millennia, the west has gained profound influence from the east. Fortunately there exists no Great Wall of China and so there is exchange. India has always kept the door open. It always was inviting to the world, giving of itself. And now we are out here delivering to the hands of the public our brochures promoting spiritual India through the Festival of India. I believe we leave people with the impression that we are a cultural movement and are not a religion.
From our perspective the whole district is very dry until sacred sound comes through even as people are having drinks. At one point in our procession Johnny Cash's words came to my thoughts. "Walk The Line":
Hitesh frequents our temple ashram and this evening just before a small group of us headed for Bloor West for a chanting party, he handed me a piece of the Guru Granth Sahib. He had visited a Gurudwar over the weekend, was happy to note a translation on the wall and wanted to share it with me.
From Ang: 693 - 694
First of all, the lotuses bloomed in the woods; from them, all the swan-souls came into being. Know that, through Krishna, the Lord, Har, Har, the dance of creation dances.
1)First of all, there was only the Primal Being. From that Primal Being, Maya was produced. All that is, is His. In this Garden of the Lord, we all dance, like water in the pots of the Persian wheel.
2)Pause/Women and men both dance. There is no other then the Lord. Don't dispute this, and don't doubt this. The Lord says, "This creation and I are one and the same."
3)Like the pots on the Persian wheel, sometimes the world is high, and sometimes it is low. Wandering and roaming around I have come at last to Your Door. "Who are you?" "I am Naam Daya, Sir." Oh Lord, please save me from Maya, the cause of death.
The words above are inspiring and like others found in the Sikh traditional text, it confirms the link between the Vedas of India and the teachings of the Sikh's founder, Guru Nanak.
It was just after lunch that a small kirtan party led by your humble servant made our way to the waterfront. By water I'm referring to Lake Ontario and like other major cities in North America, Toronto is trying to follow on a spruced up water-edged world. Along Queen's Quay where we did roam and chant, we also picked up on the fact that the city is working at a frenzy to get ready for the PAN-AM games. Finishing touches are being done to road and pathways.
You see a combination of water, sand, concrete, green space with umbrellas and what someone would describe as Muskoka chairs under those shades. It truly is a hot spot, well, supposed to be a 'cool' spot, as in temperature and as in a tourist draw.
Our timing was a little off though. After lunch everyone's back in the office. Night-time would be more desirable for foot-traffic but we were there to explore and to survey the area. Prospects look good.
Anyway all was said and done. People were perked up to see and hear us. Flyers were distributed to inform all about July's Festival of Chariots/India in the midst of the Pan Am Games. I got my exercise in, but not to a full satisfactory level. I went to phase 2, down the ravine, at dusk.
Solitude is what I needed, after all - some down-time. Recent rains I was unaware of, created a slide effect. Nothing like the scene from 'Woodstock.' Just a lone monk moving down a trail adds to a long list of trekking.
Nothing to report about walking. Heat and humidity is very uninviting for the outdoors. Yes, even at night I thought, "Just for exercise-sake and then having a good sleep why not go to Key Biscayne Beach and swim until we tire out?" The brahmacari monks whom I suggested this to for a venture after our Sunday program, were very game to the idea.
But then Garga Muni, the local astrologer, mentioned that sharks appear in shallow water at dusk. We changed our minds on the concept. Then lo and behold we hear in the news that a 12 year old girl lost her arm, a result of a shark attack in a North Carolina beach. Within the hour, a teenage boy was mauled by a shark in the same area. May these young people be protected from further harm.
Although a different beach, it is still the same coastline. The two brahmacaris and I could have been victims. Fortunately for us, at that time, we were in the safe domain of a temple immersed in chatting and then chanting. Yes, the kirtan was bursting with energy and participants were soaked in salt water (their own), being engrossed in passionate dance.
Tamohara and I shared our devotional message to the community after the chant. Our thrust was one of gratitude to the stalwart followers. We announced our new steward to the temple. Our temple president now is a Venezuelan-born, 66 years old, sannyasimonk. He had gone through the process of marriage, raised three daughters and now as traditional procedure would have it, has taken steps to the renounced life. We wish him well with his new assignment.
We had our share of stepping on sea urchins. I probably did more walking through water today than moving on the ground surface. Sea urchins were everywhere and once again, crocs came in most handy. For those of us who ventured barefoot the prickly entities became a bit of a nuisance.
At Key-Biscayne, where the Atlantic waters are indeed fine in temperature, our group of Krishna devotees from Miami (monks and lay members), enjoyed the cooling effect of a swim. We were boating and then anchored near a sandbar by Craig who runs it like a friendly business. His captain and two young staff members really got a charge out of our kirtan on the way to the destination and on its return. They not only enjoyed but sang and attempted a jig.
Just so that readers of the blog know that, as a monk, I'm not totally in maya, or illusion, and steering away from devotional functions, the swim was a way of approaching devotee care. Seeing to bonding and attention to some healthy but clean physical activities is essential for spiritual upkeep. Secondly, the mere joy of it all, set everyone ready and prepared for our evening kirtan in the public at Miami Beach's streets.
That event and experience became memorable. The last time I came here was at Halloween night when a group of us Krishna monks came to do what we are known for - kirtan. I think it was the time of day, when dark, that it just became too "risqué” for our innocent eyes. I made a commitment then, "Never again!" Yes, indeed for favourable devotional service you must always pick and choose.
At meetings held in a downtown Miami office, we did discuss that which is relevant to any institution, organization, business, or even a relationship.Authors James Collins, and Jerry Porras, wrote about the coined expression, “The tyranny of OR, and the genius of AND”.For opportunity, for inclusiveness, for success, one should embrace the latter concept.
This type of thinking of considering many possibilities and keeping various doors open was something utilized by our guru, Srila Prabhupada.This same concept of the novel writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald, can also be considered when he said, “The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.”
When I talked to Tamohara, my good friend who was in the room during the time of this discussion, it brought to mind the principal of Sri Chaitanya who highlighted unity in diversity, which in Sanskrit terms, reads as follows:
Achintya bheda bheda tattva
As a westerner, I was brought up firmly believing in black and white vision, or the all or nothing viewpoint.It was a breath of fresh air to run into a culture with roots from the east, Krishna Consciousness, that has embedded into it the concept of holding varying ideas in place and not running into confusion.
There’s also the sun and sunshine analogy.Two different components exist, and yet the energy is basically the same.We can also draw the example of the constitution of water, and how it applies to the ocean and a mere drop of water.They are one, but different.
By the way, regarding the sun, when I strolled a stretch of the edge of Coconut Grove, I really did feel like I was becoming one with the sun.I was roasting.
The story of Dvidvida gorilla is a charmer for young and old and everyone else in between.After that regular trek that I take from Ananta’s house to the Alachua temple, I lead my last kirtan and class in the area before departing for Orlando.When time came for class, the episode of the infamous gorilla came, as in sequence to our morning Bhagavatam discussion.
Dvidvida is both a nuisance and troublemaker.As light as the story sometimes sounds, it can also remind us of the more serious nature of the inner demon that is said to distract us from the path of devotional service.He is horrendous in his habits.He pollutes sacrificial structures with his urine and feces.He carries off with his powerful arms, men and women, concealing them in hidden away caves, and also makes gross approaches towards simple village women.The hairy ape is obnoxious.Finally, he challenges the brother of Krishna, Balaram, when he meets his match and is swiftly done away with.
We may ask for strength and call on Balaram with the hope to subdue the monster within.When we chant, “Rama”, it refers to Balaram in anticipation that agitation within will be replaced by the desire to serve.
Part two of today had us end up at Abhimanyu Arjuna’s home for a sangha.Here, families came with children and certainly, they remained focused on a less culprit story.They became enchanted (and so did their accompanying parents) by the tale of Krishna and Sudhama.As boyhood schoolmates, they shared some good times together.With the passage of time, and years of separation, they reunited in a cordial and endearing recollection of childhood pastimes.It is not a bad idea for all of us to recall our days of innocence, especially after we dwell on some of our own selfish follies.It can be very humbling and therapeutic.
Yesterday we enjoyed the fresh water of one of the many springs in Florida. Today, we had a good look and a good bite at blueberries.
At the outskirt of a town, Worthington Springs, I found myself at an organic farm for blue-berries, a pick-your-own farming enterprise. They were not like the low-lying wild blue-berries I’m accustomed to in the Canadian shield, but like small trees and bearing a slight tart taste.
A torrential rainstorm terminated our picking, but I felt, while it lasted, that a community spirit was well in shape. Everyone in the orchard was a devotee of Krishna by some circumstance. yes, this is a popular place for devotees who are known to pick, freeze and pull batches out of the freezer for periodical pie-making or the cooking of semolina halava garnished with the beauts. For one, the experience brought me back to the days of adolescence when picking feverishly at cherries in the month of June in Canada.
Morning also involved a trip to Gainesville, the Krishna House where I conducted a class in the Bhagavatam. Evening was an intriguing challenge. I was asked to conduct a session with kids. What age was coming? I wasn’t sure what age group? Somehow someone had trust in me. So, I walked into the temple in Alachua and there were no less than thirty kids sat, waiting for my entrance and ready for some stimulation.
I did my best. The kirtan at the end somehow came of as less zoo-like considering the incredible age-range from 3 to 12. My dear Lord, thanks for the challenge.
Florida boasts to having over a thousand springs, rivers of cooling clear waters, through the state. Ichetucknee Springs State Park was the destination of a few of us who enjoy tubing, snorkeling or just plain swimming on one of such springs. This particular spring with its limestone bottom, reeds growing from its bed and the home of the turtles, snakes and in some seasons manatees, flows at a comfortable speed. One of the boys has spot wild boars on a previous visit.
It was Aravind that I renounced my orange tube to for the joy of swimming most of the distance. What a treat this was! It was rather a great obstacle course at times dodging fallen trees or holding onto a log that appeared to lost and now gained a purpose. It becomes a perfect anchor for catching a few moments of breath.
My day in its completion felt like a flowing stream with delivering a class from Canto 10 of the Bhagavatam on the subject of the company that shapes you. In the evening I was slotted to facilitate a “Nine Devotions Workshop”. All went well, this workshop included. My analysis on this one, though, is that the participation was on the high side. Beyond the figure 30, it becomes a trite unmanageable.
Its purpose is to bring the members of the group closer to each other, hence creating a more cohesive community overall. There is a tendency amongst us to become a bit too formalized when we step in a spiritual domain such as the temple. The mood can often be one of an institutional mode.
It is always good to remember what are the natural traits of a stripped-down spirit soul. We are eternal. We are cognitive. We are joyful.
Dundas Square in Toronto’s answer to Times Square. At that very spot, the juncture of Yonge and Dundas, a promo festival to the upcoming Chariot Festival, was held today. I went from stall to stall schmoozing before joining the beautiful kirtan that task place. there was also a mock exotic temple erected for the public to experience. Face-painting, henna, food (prasadam), clothes and other wares were on for sale. There were a lot of curious browsers and eager participants.
One artist there who had this fantastic work in progress, oil on canvas, was a rendering of the face of Krishna collaged with the elements. He rather liked the location for the event. A fairly newcomer to Canada and who hails from Cuba, he was surprised to know about Dundas Square. “Twenty years ago this did not exist,” I explained. “It was a block of buildings for retail. i have a brother-in-law who owned a jewelry store on this block. The city decided some time ago that a public space was needed to break the monotonous feature of the highrises.”
That was a smart decision although in my opinion there could have been some green at the scene. A huge stage is a permanent fixture. There is seating and water-fountains geyser up in the air from time to time. It is a far way from the descriptions you read about regarding the gorgeous city in Dwarka during Krishna’s time but it was an honest effort on the part of the conscientious city council.
I want to congratulate the team of Keshav, Rukmini and others who worked hard to assemble this little Krishna Conscious market-place on behalf of the Ratha Yatra. Job well done!
God knows that I want to put in a little time on a pedometer every day. Frankly I’m not using one but perhaps I should start. If walking long corridors like I did today in Atlanta’s Airport (a stopover) then a device would show some distance on foot. At this point I’m reluctant to count such steps as adding to collective walking for the day. Generally I like to count what I do outside because it is more the full experience.
Since that is the case I can register no kilometres or miles for that matter. I can only think, or dream, of having put on the distance. Being up in the air twice today in order to to reach Gainesville Airport lends itself to dreaming. You are above the the clouds.
Ananta Sesa and Vaishnavi, my hosts in their home, gave only the best meal starting with a salad of greens and sprouts. It would have been great to have walked it off but in truth I’m not a fan for walking through afternoon blazes, the heat of summer Florida.
Nighttime was a preoccupation of in the home of my stay when godbrothers/sisters, and perhaps two generations below came to chant, eat and talk. We talked of our spiritual brother Brahmananda, who passed away yesterday in India. In the 60’s he was the heart of Iskcon, the Hare Krishna Movement. He was one of the first takers to the mission of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, in New York where it all started fifty years ago. One person in the room described him as a transcendental teddy bear. He was large in his build and was soft in the heart. He will be missed.
Today I received a very nice message from a Japa Group subscriber.
Dear Rasa Prabhu,
Thanks for your email the other day (well, all of them for that matter), the one where you shared your reasons for starting the Japa group. Since December I haven't been chanting sixteen rounds but I'm still in contact with the glories of the holy name because of your daily emails.
I don't know how many people are subscribed to you but I've always been a fan. Since Monday this week I've been chanting four rounds...certainly thanks to all the contact I have with devotees, which is considerably less than I've had, but still notably as potent as anything spiritual.
I hope and trust you have the strength to keep your service and am thankful for it.
It is 4 a.m and -7C outside. "Should I wear a jacket? Welllllll its muci, I have to go on the altar, it is just a short distance..... I can brave the cold". Knock on Madhavi's door, make sure she is awake and run out the back door all the way to the temple. Barely entering, I hear the conchshell blow. I run inside....out of breath offer obeisances and ......Swish! The curtains open......
With the darkness outside, the only source of light being Krishna's effulgence from the altar I stand before them mesmerized....the slow karatals start..... And slowly "samsara dava....nalalidha loka......" Radharani with her simple veil..her simple nosering...simply divine..... Jagannath ever smiling.....nothing alters his smile.......you are so merciful, you let me hug you everyday on the altar when I dressed you! Where are you? And oh my nitaicandra and gauracandra.....so merciful your gaze......
Will I ever experience this mangala arati again? When will I get to hug you Jagannath?
Hare Krishna! NASN May 2015 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of May. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17995
Five years ago I became a vegetarian for health and compassion reason. “I want to hug them, not eat them.” is how I feel. But before I go any further, I’m not here to try and convince you to become on or to judge/alienate any carnivore readers out there. (I live with one!)
While in West Virginia, I got to spend some time up-close and personal with these gentle giants, and learn about the local cow sanctuary, ECO-V. I wholeheartedly support animal rights, and I am happy to share some good work being done on behalf of these beautiful creatures.
According to the website, ECOV (Earth Cows Opportunities and Villages) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to cow protection, local production of food, sustainable housing, alternative energy production and energy conservation. Cow protection includes not sending cows to slaughterhouses and letting them live out their lives until a natural death.
Regardless of dietary preference or philosophy, I think we can all agree that factory-farming slaughterhouses are just the worst.The West Virginia location is the first of many small villages ECO-V wants to build around an agrarian, spiritual lifestyle based on the mission of plain living, high thinking, and close connections to Mother Earth in a sustainable way.We took a walking tour of the barns and pastures, and since we had two kids with us, we mainly visited the oldie ‘slowie’ cows. They were just straight up chilling, living out the rest of their days in peace. They were all so gentle! The bulls are kept behind closed gates for everyone’s safety, but the cows have more freedom to roam around.
The idea is really neat, but there is a lot of room for improvement and a lot of work to be done. ECO-V accepts financial donations but the nonprofit also invites folks who want to help spend weekends or vacations helping out, hand-on. That’s the difference-maker, right there. Not just for the organization, but also for those volunteering.
Their work with cows is year-round, but there are numerous other projects in the works from March until December. From planting trees and maintaining them, to building fences, garden spaces and low impact construction projects, there are plenty of nature-related activities for volunteers.
Have you ever gotten your hand dirty with soil?
Helped build or care for something?
Hare Krishna! Free Book Layout And Designing Service For Srila Prabhupada’s Disciples
To preserve and perpetuate Srila Prabhupada’s legacy, we are offering free layout and designing services to any SP disciple who would like to pen his/her memoirs. This is a selfless service and we seek no reward, not even layout credits. We are trained professionals who are fulltime engaged in ISKCON services and not in any designing business. All you have to do is to unearth those beautiful memories and pen them down. Rest we will take care. You will get a world class book interior and title cover of your choice.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17991
The walking monk becomes a waiting monk but for a good cause!
Bhaktimarga Swami: Alas, there was Nick, inside the boutique, making a $400 sale of BBT books. Someone had taken interest in the complete volume set of our guru’s books. The purchase would surely nurture the soul for the one reading page after page of revelations by Srila Prabhupada to do with the Absolute Truth.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/h69SwR
Sydney Sunday Program (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami : Sunday afternoons at North Sydney temple are always packed out with enthusiastic devotees and guests coming from 5pm right through to 9pm. There is a Sunday school for the kids and prasadam is served continuously. Sometimes there are two lectures – one before arati and one after.
See them here: http://goo.gl/HBPf92
Rathayatra in Vilnius (Album with photos)
That’s the letter shared Vaishnavi dd Mataji: - My mom accidentally saw Rathayatra in Vilnius and there wrote: “I congratulate you on the holiday of Krishna. Today saw your nice celebrated in the heart of the city. I was like enchantment, an hour watched even wanted dance with them. One girl said that this festival is celebrated every year. it was very beautiful! And then in the park, I even cried, I do not know that I was so fascinated. ”
This is such an unusual festival we had yesterday. Jay Jagannath !!!
See them here: https://goo.gl/KQuanh
Hare Krishna! World Yoga Day: Let’s Go Beyond Political and Physical Posturing and Is Yoga Hindu?
Massive preparations are under way in India to celebrate the first International Day of Yoga on Sunday – even as an unsavoury row has broken out over whether practising the ancient discipline makes one a Hindu, writes the BBC’s Geeta Pandey in Delhi. “The numbers are mindboggling, we expect tens of millions to participate,” Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is a huge yoga enthusiast and according to reports practices it daily, will be in attendance
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17987
Hare Krishna! 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada Jaladuta Yatra, KolkataAlready, devotees from around 60 countries have been finalized to come for this program. We are providing them free accommodation and prasadam. Also, conveyances within their stay in Kolkata. Within India we can try for their train tickets. But we will not able to provide their flight tickets. So, we are looking for foreigner devotees who can be available in India during festival period. But, if someone wants to come from their own country, we request them to make their own arrangements.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17984
Hare Krishna! High Definition Videos of your temple required for Golden Jubilee celebration
On 13th August 2015 we are celebrating Golden Jubilee of Srila Prabhupada’s Voyage to America. On that occasion we are planning to show a video portraying Srila Prabhupada’s achievement . Humbly request all devotees to send a 2 minutes High Definition Video footage (best as per your discretion) of your temple community, Deities, activities, Rathayatra, food for life, farm community (devotees ploughing, milking etc.), devotees children playing, dancing, singing etc.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17981
Hare Krishna! A memorial for Srimad Bhakti Prema Prabhu
We are on the search for any and all of His Grace Bhakti Prema Prabhu’s (Premji Gopal Kerai) lectures. If anyone has any videos, audio or photos of Sriman Bhakti Prema Prabhu it would be greatly appreciated
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17977
