Sunday, December 25, 2022
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Oakville, Ontario

Looking Back and Ahead

I asked the group at “I Gita” if 2022 was a good year and I received mixed responses. One person responded with an ambivalent tone. Others expressed optimism. I simply asked this as a lead to have the folks think about a New Year’s resolution – practical steps towards sustainable improvement. It’s what many of us think about at this time of year as we flip the calendar.

My presentation tonight was quite impromptu. The organizers of the program, a marvelous couple, Kasyapa and Panchami, wanted something different and left it to me. Well, a beautiful chant by Annapurna had to be a component. I inserted into the program a reading and charade-ing from the story of the bumble-bee and Krishna. That was fun. Vallabha Hari cracked some jokes. I also engaged the groups in a form of Chi Gong; moving to the maha-mantra.

By the time it came to eating, something was prying at me when I had a few seconds to myself. I asked myself – tested myself – with the question, “What are you going to do about taking progressive steps that you are not doing now?” I really haven't come to an answer at the moment, but it is important to me to drive to some conclusion within the next few days.

In all frankness, I believe, as a bhakti yoga practitioner, there is an obligation to enhance and advance improvement. When the question re-visited me, about the year 2022, I’ll admit there were some bright sparkles in the year. The most taxing feature was dissension or bashing over the internet. People could be sweeter with each other.

May the Source be with you!


 

Saturday, December 24, 2022
→ The Walking Monk

Caledon, Ontario

What to Do With Christmas?

Okay! So, it’s Christmas Eve and what might a believer in Krishna do on such a day, a day when Christians celebrate Christs’ birth?

One of our members of the Greater Toronto Area, Vishal, runs a successful family business – a mattress business to be exact. On the strength of the business, the family has channelled much of their energy towards developing a rural farm with Gir cows and bulls; bovine species from India. There are plans for greenhouses for growing plants. They built a lovely home and tonight was the night for a home warming. People came despite winter weather.

We held kirtan chanting sessions. I gave a talk on blessings and so did Vishal’s mum. Food was a big feature. People pitched in with methodology potluck. The mood was sweet.

I did mention about this time not being Jesus’ birth, but for the pagans it’s the birth of the sun and, hence, it was a big celebration. Theologians say Christ was born on January 6th, at least some have taken this position. And St. Nicolas was born December 6th. You have different Christian groups from Eurasia celebrating birthdays at different times. In any event, people have some time off and in our Krishna community, we are engaged in a glorification of the Divine in the form of Lord Krishna.

There is always a good excuse for us to come together.

May the Source be with you!


 

Friday, December 23, 2022
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243 Ave. Rd., Toronto

Don’t You Close Down

Schools are closed. Shops are closed. Businesses are closed. Some roads – shut down. It is not the weekend. It is not Christmas yet. Winter solstice, Gita Jayanti and Hanukkah have been celebrated already, or at least have kick started. The reason for the CLOSED signs being put up is because of the bad weather. Simply that.

However, one place that remains open and is on duty is the fire department. We know that because the sirens were sounded and the fire brigade dashed through the streets and headed for our ashram. I knew that something was up because the fire alarm went off in our building. In the most efficient way red fire engines responded.

I was curious, naturally, and made my way downstairs to check it out. Sure enough, one of the fellows in thick fire-protection regalia found the problem before I got to the scene of the problem. “No fire!” said the fire fighter. “This is an old-school issue here”. He explained that the fire alarm pulley was part open and one of our residents or workers swept by and his shirt got stuck in the device. When trying to set himself free, the alarm went off.

Clearly it was a false alarm. Whew!

I believe false alarms go off all the time. For instance, in the case of the general public always going after sense gratification – the dangling carrot – and when it doesn’t actually come to them, they go into a panic mode. It’s as if the world was to come to an end. And when some patience and austerity is called upon, they freak. The frenzy tactic is really a false alarm. Instead of feeling some deprivation over our stimulation, why not enjoy acceptance of a virtue?

May the Source be with you!


 

Thursday, December 22, 2022
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Burnaby/Vancouver/Toronto

A Friend In the Air

Every once in a while, I meet a real nice person as a passenger on the plane next to me. The timing on the flight between Vancouver and Toronto couldn’t be better for dodging storms. Vancouver got clobbered and there’s more to come. Predictions indicate that storms will hit Toronto, so there was a break of winter chaos and that happened to be my flight time for Air Canada 108. The stress reliever is always mantra power, so that’s what I resorted to. An additional soothe space was in meeting Mike, 23, whose last name was Greek.

A graduate of McMaster U., he is a smart chap who was fascinated, not by the latest action movie on the screen, but in the fabulous sunset which he photographed. He also indulged me in the topic of another of his passions such as the wonder of Egypt’s pyramids. He showed me some data from his screen on mathematical precisions that would indicate extraordinary accuracy in their engineering.

We talked of aliens. Would artificial intelligence, extra-terrestrials or aliens be somewhat involved in these incredible structures? These were our thoughts. I did tell Mike of such possibilities of demigods and celestials who likely participated in man’s early development on this very planet, according to the Vedas.

Our discussion went the way of spiritual concepts as well. “We are not these bodies. We are spirits that change bodies.”

Mike is a good listener. Naturally we talked about walking marathons. It was great to be able to pass the time quickly through meaningful conversation.

May the Source be with you!


 

In Social Attitudes Towards Misconduct and Accountability, Theology Can Help or Hurt
→ ISKCON News

Image Source: Wylly Suhendra I want to share some reflections on the role of scripture (śāstra) and theology in the context of ISKCON’s ongoing efforts towards accountability and justice related to sexual misconduct. The last few years have brought a new wave of attention to sexual misconduct and accountability in ISKCON. While this has been […]

The post In Social Attitudes Towards Misconduct and Accountability, Theology Can Help or Hurt appeared first on ISKCON News.

Japa
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From “Japa: Positive Thinking for Neophytes” in Among Friends, Volume 2 #4 (1994): HH Satsvarupa Das Goswami “Japa is everyone’s favorite topic because all of us hope that by discussing our sadhana, we have a chance to improve. Often when I talk to devotees about chanting, I say the first stage of improvement is to
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Japa
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From “Japa: Positive Thinking for Neophytes” in Among Friends, Volume 2 #4 (1994): HH Satsvarupa Das Goswami “Japa is everyone’s favorite topic because all of us hope that by discussing our sadhana, we have a chance to improve. Often when I talk to devotees about chanting, I say the first stage of improvement is to
Read More...

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami: On Kirtana
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Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami: From “On Kirtana” in Among Friends, Volume 2 #1 (1993): “When I heard the question [how to keep the mind from wandering during kirtana], different phrases came to mind. One was: ‘Hear the wonderful chorus and let it uplift you.’ That chorus is a dimension in kirtana that is not available to
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Vaisnava Compassion in Global Crisis
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By Bhaktin Allegra

What is the appropriate response of a Vaisnava or person of faith during a time of national or global crisis? The examples of great souls and of scripture can help us understand what a Vaisnava response can look like. From a certain perspective, we are always in a time of crisis. In the material world, there is danger at every step. Although the material world is the wonderful creation of the Divine, it is not our home, and our material position is never secure. A large part of spiritual practice is meant to help us realize this, and to seek to connect with the Divine and with one another on a spiritual level. Spiritual practice helps us find equanimity during times of unexpected or unwanted change, because we have placed our faith with our Eternal Friend. Continue reading "Vaisnava Compassion in Global Crisis
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Monthly Media – Dec 2022
→ KKSBlog

Book Marathon and Gita Jayanti – December 2022

The book marathon is an annual event, in which everyone is encouraged to distribute the spiritual knowledge of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Running for a month in the winter, the event started with humble beginnings in 1972 upon noticing that shops stayed open later during the festive season, making the streets of towns and cities bustling places to engage with people and share the secrets of Vedic wisdom.

Gita Jayanti is the auspicious day of the advent of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita. This is the day on which Lord Krishna imparted the essence of Vedic knowledge to Arjuna over 5000 years ago and enlightened him about the ultimate goal of life. If one properly follows the instructions of Bhagavad-Gita, one can be freed from all miseries and anxieties in this life, and one’s next life will be spiritual. Bhagavat-Gita literally means the song of the Supreme Lord, Krishna. It is the most widely known Vedic literature in the world.

Kadamba Kanana Swami was still in Vrindavan in December. Please see the link to his programmes and weekly zoom meetings.

3rd December – Pavan Sarovar, India

https://youtu.be/m1jrbLcYmE0

7th December – Srimad Bhaghavatam 10.27.20 at Krishna Balarama temple, Vrindavan

https://youtu.be/KiUWZUdWcU0

19th December – Seshayasi, India

https://youtu.be/RuA5g21OMww

25th December – Program at Balaram Hall, Vrindavan

https://youtu.be/CeXwcli9Gws

Weekly Zoom Meetings

3rd December

https://youtu.be/ZJBEQuUNOTs

10th December

17th December

https://youtu.be/ma5z75POXUw

24th December

https://youtu.be/MvDhIqK5Aag

31st December

Please stay tuned in and follow Kadamba Kanana Swami’s adventures.

The article " Monthly Media – Dec 2022 " was published on KKSBlog.

Preaching in Hell
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Parasuram das “In this age of Kali the propensity for mercy is almost nil. Consequently there is always fighting and wars between men and nations. Men do not understand that because they unrestrictedly kill so many animals, they also must be slaughtered like animals in big wars. This is very much evident in the Western
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TOVP “WE RUN, YOU WIN” Marathon Medallions
- TOVP.org

The TOVP 2024 Marathon is underway to open Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Wing in October, 2023 and thereafter the TOVP during a three-month-long festival from December, 2024 until Gaura Purnima, March, 2025. One unique sponsorship opportunity are three specially designed Medallions as part of our ‘WE RUN, YOU WIN’ Marathon.

Designed after the Olympics medallion, these beautiful medals celebrate the opening of the Nrsimhadeva Wing and TOVP. Each Medallion represents one of the three foundational principles upon which Prabhupada organized ISKCON.

The next two years are so important and crucial to the opening of the TOVP. Please consider sponsoring one of these unique medallions. It will become an heirloom in your family to show your participation in winning this great, transcendental TOVP Marathon.

Harinama Seva Medallion (Bronze)

Bhagavatam Seva Medallion (Silver)

Archa Vigraha Seva Medallion (Gold)

 

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

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WSN November 2022 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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By Vijaya Das

I hope and pray that everyone has a Krsna conscious new year. In November, in the Large Temple category, Mayapur was way ahead of every temple worldwide, with 173,779 book points, a 43% increase. Our ISKCON world headquarters is leading the way in Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement. In the Medium Temple category, Mexico City had the highest increase, 455%, with 5,715 book points. I distribute a good number of books to Mexicans, as I stay in San Diego, in southern California. They're very nice people, so I can see why the temple Mexico City is doing well. Continue reading "WSN November 2022 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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NASN November 2022 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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By Mayapur Sasi dasa

For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of November 2022. 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 Continue reading "NASN November 2022 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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With Resolute Determination … By Suvarna Radha Devi Dasi
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Instant success is easily sold to us in today’s media via marketing and commercials. Regrettably, the truth is rather different. Success and proficiency cost practice, a lot of effort, and determination. Commitment, determination, and consistency are the keys to success. Excellence in human endeavors can only be achieved by practicing with a determination to succeed.
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