Hare Krishna! WSN April 2015 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
Practically every month, we see Los Angeles in the No. 1 position in the USA. But April was a special month. The LA devotees did 18,404 book points and were the No. 1 temple in the world. And Santiago (Chile) also did huge, with 15,312 book points — a 345% increase — and Santiago is a small temple. I don’t know what came over the devotees, maybe some type of book distribution ecstasy. When Krsna was in Mathura, he met with Sudama, a garland maker. Krsna was looking for him, though usually it is described the other way around: a devotee looks for Krsna
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17563
Hare Krishna! Seven stages of purification and transcendental elevation
Radhanath Swami: Sometimes impersonalists chant the holy name of Krishna. Sometimes people who are too much aspiring for material enjoyment approach the holy name. But Krishna doesn’t properly reveal himself to people who don’t have the proper devotion. So we must be very sincere. It is so simple. Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu have induced us in this way … Chant the holy name of Krishna … Worship Krishna … Hear about Krishna and give this message to others. Krishna is your mother, Krishna is your father. Krishna is your true wealth and your very life and soul.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1872
Hare Krishna! The President of India meets the GCL Competition 2015 winner
Gita Champions League (GCL) is a Bhagavad Gita contest organized by ISKCON Chowpatty for the last four years. This year 2015, the winner of the contest was Ms. Maryam Asif Siddiqui, aged 12 from Mira Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Included are the pictures of The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee’s meeting with Ms. Maryam Asif Siddiqui along with her parents at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 22, 2015
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17558
Building a successful marriage
Last year, the percentage of marriages ending in divorce was over 40%. Many are shocked by this statistic, and indeed, the reality can be ugly. But it is definitely avoidable, often with the help of some simple advice and practical adjustments. Married for over 30 years, and with three children, Kripamoya das brings together some ancient and modern wisdom in this interactive and insightful seminar.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/EsQTSJ
Hare Krishna! The Road Ahead
I think of Lord Krishna’s answer to Brahma prayers: “O Brahma, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that reflection which appears to be in darkness.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.34) What is the relationship of all these things to the Lord, I wonder? Do these people at all believe in His omnipotence? Everything I see is the illusory energy of the Lord.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17555
Hare Krishna! Radhanath Swami Addresses the MIT India Conference
On May 2, 2015 the graduate students of MIT University in Cambridge, Massachusetts hosted one of the largest India conferences in the US. The MIT India conference, in its 11th year, has established itself as an important forum for leaders in industry, academia, and policy to discuss current issues and future innovations in the context of India, in the region and abroad. Radhanath Swami was invited as a distinguished speaker to participate in MIT India conference.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17551
The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Far East • Middle East Division
The FAR EAST • MIDDLE EAST division of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust publishes Srila Prabhupada’s books and other BBT titles in fourteen languages of the Pacific Rim and Middle East for distribution in those regions of the world.
As a new Western preaching initiative, BBT FEME is also developing titles specifically for distribution in the Western world to foreign language speakers living within large ethnic communities, as well as to the many foreign students studying in Western colleges and universities.
Read more: http://goo.gl/wvL8cC
Hare Krishna! Kanai Natashala: Where Sri Chaitanya’s Ecstasy Awakened
Sacinandana Swami: This little-known holy place played a major role in the inauguration of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtana movement.
The devotees suggested to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that He lead them in kirtana, and this is what He did. He started the sankirtana movement, which gave expression to His motto: “Where is Krishna? Where is Krishna?” In Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita (Antya-lila 17.60–61), this mood of Sri Chaitanya is revealed: “Alas! Where is Krishna, the treasure of My life? Where is the lotus-eyed one? Alas! Where is the divine ocean of all transcendental qualities? Alas! Where is the beautiful blackish youth dressed in yellow garments? Alas! Where is the hero of the rasa dance with the milkmaids? Where shall I go? Where can I find You? Please tell me. I shall go there.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17545
The second day of the Sadhu Sanga Retreat in North Carolina (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: On the second day of the Sadhu Sanga Retreat in North Carolina an amazing lineup of kirtaneers took us all to new heights of bliss while chanting the holy names. Radhanath Swami’s morning class touched the hearts of everyone and prasadam throughout the day was simply the best.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/iu6yix
Harinam in Tel Aviv - Friday 05/2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We have seen many philosophical speculators. They simply talk in the meetings and that’s all. And if we examine their private character it is less than ordinary. A person may be a nice speaker but will that help you in your spiritual realization? On the other hand, if you chant Hare Krishna, it will give you immediate results. (Lecture 1968, Los Angeles)
See them here: https://goo.gl/zonbf3
A nice 19 min. video of the Maha Harinama at Venice Beach, Los Angeles, on Saturday. Biggest Harinama of the year, part of the annual Srila Prabhupada Festival!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Ohqyqx
New Vrindaban - Festival of Inspiration (2015) (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 4.71 purport, Vidagdha-Madhava 1.12)
See them here: https://goo.gl/y6LA0O
Padmapani, Anuttama, Hunkara and Prema Rasa at the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx outside of Cairo, Egypt, 1978
Anuttama Prabhu accomplished a lot in helping to establish our flegling center in Cairo, Egypt. A small group of us had arrived there in the fall of 1978 and were initially holed up together in a small room at the Minerva Hotel in downtown Cairo. I was rather young and green at the time, so I was admittedly having some difficulty finding a place for us to live despite going out and searching regularly. Enter Anuttama Prabhu, who magically located a nice flat in the Zamalek district (on Schagaret El Dor Street) which was the best area in town chosen by ex-patriots and foreign embassies alike. Not only that, but Anuttama arranged a wonderful “India Day” program at the American University in Cairo. The student newspaper proclaimed that “The students were so excited about the food that they were sticking their hands into the pots!” It was a huge success. Anuttama Prabhu was also interviewed by the paper and he made a good impression to one and all. This devotee was obviously intelligent and professional without even trying (unlike me). It was a sad day for us when he decided to return to the West, although I certainly didn’t blame him. He had more important service to do for Srila Prabhupada, I’m sure. Wherever he is now, I hope he knows and remembers that he made a wonderful contribution to Srila Prabhupada’s preaching program in the Middle East. All glories to his service!
Please see the following page for a few pictures of the students enjoying prasadam at the “India Day” program arranged by Anuttama Prabhu: http://goo.gl/clKG3x
"We are full of many mundane impressions; so we have to guard ourselves against those ten offences that should not be committed during the chanting of the Name of Hari."
From The Harmonist by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja
After offering his own place, Dhruva’s adored All-Attractive returned to his own abode, riding like a flag atop Garuḍa, as the boy looked on with regrets. Dhruva vows to worship Viṣṇu’s feet had borne fruit and he was now relieved of those difficult strictures, yet he was not very happy as he returned home.
When Vidura heard this from Maitreya he became confused and asked, “In a single lifetime he achieved the extremely rare treasure of affectionately worshipping Hari’s feet in his supreme abode, yet he felt like a person who had not fulfilled his goals. Why was he so dissatisfied with himself? Did he not realize the value of what he had attained?”
Maitreya explained that Dhruva was morose because he thought of the misfortune that awaited his mother’s co-wife. He unhappily felt it was at her expense that the Master of Liberation granted him liberation. He was also morose because Viṣṇu had left, as a result of Dhruva’s ulterior desires. He felt that he would have to endure 36,000 years without Viṣṇu because of his initially revengeful motives towards his co-mother.
“Even the four celibates, Sananda and the others, could not attain in their entire lives what I attained in six months,” the boy thought as he walked towards his father’s palace. “Yet I have left the shade of his feet because my mind wants other things. Oh fie on my selfishness! Just look at my misfortune! I went to the feet of he who can cut down temporary existence, and there I begged for something temporary. I am the greatest fool! Fate would not allow me to accept Nārada’s wise advice to forget my co-mother’s insults. My proud, intolerant thoughts preferred to wallow in their own foulness. Absorbing myself into the dreamlike dooms of the temporary external world, I suffered divisions between my brother and my self, hating him in my heart as if he were my enemy. I begged for useless things, things that are like medicine for dead peole. I underwent extremely difficult austerities and pleased the soul of all souls who cuts people free from temporary existence. Yet I begged for something temporary. I have no good fortune at all! Oh how stupid! I begged for a kingdom. I am like the poor idiot who asks the emperor for a few husks of grain.”
Maitreya concluded by telling Vidura, “My dear, devotees are like you, they only want to taste the pollen from the lotus feet of Mukunda. Outside of this service, they have no personal interest at all. They think of themselves as very wealthy by accepting whatever destiny automatically bestows to them.”
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 March 2015, Stockholm, Sweden, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.1.4-8)
We have to understand that in the spiritual life, we have to rely on knowledge but more so, we rely on mercy and then try to absorb ourselves in love for Krsna. The world is so distracting; the material energy is very distracting. It is like you are very inspired and then you get a cold. You are sick like a dog, you are sniffing, your head is exploding and there is pain everywhere; and now you have to maintain your sense of inspiration.
So gradually, one has to learn through the modes, as the modes are going up and down. Even when the modes are down, we have to stay internally, deeply attached to pleasing Krsna and not just when riding on waves of inspiration, ‘This is so inspiring! It was just amazing!’ Even when it is not amazing, it is still amazing. So there are so many levels to go through. Krsna still puts us through some purification until the very end!
Wellington has two centres – one in the city called the Bhakti Lounge, which is run by disciples of HH Devamrta Maharaja, and the other at Newlands road Newlands.
This temple has been open for more than 20 years and also operates two restaurants, one of which hosts a Saturday afternoon program.
The temple observes regular programs and festivals and is developing Bhakti Vrksa groups as well.
Hare Krishna! My Muslim Brother
Indradyumna Swami: “It was there at the hospital that I met Dr. Nakas,” she continued. “Somehow or other, he had acquired a Bhagavad-gita and would read it to his colleagues before the surgeries. He said it helped him realize the immortality of the soul and gave him strength as he watched people die before his eyes. “I was amazed that a staunch Muslim, who visited his mosque daily, was not only reading Bhagavad-gita but sharing it with others. Most of the Muslim doctors I approached at that time bought Bhagavad-gita because they knew that Dr. Nakas was reading it.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17539
Prabhupada Festival L.A. (Album with photos)
Day 1 of Prabhupada Festival went very well. A lot of devotees showed up as hoped for, and a lot of prasadam was thus distributed. If you couldn’t make it for Saturday, please don’t miss Sunday! For breakfast there will be Kichari, samosas, fruit, tropical drink and more, followed by Srila Prabhupada memories in the temple room, and then so much more throughout the day.
See them here: https://goo.gl/h8sHRA
Sadhu Sanga Retreat in the USA (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: The first day of our Sadhu Sanga Retreat in the USA was beyond everyone’s expectations. Over 1,600 devotees chanted and danced in great ecstasy, grateful for each other’s association.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/iV89FT
Today I felt like a more complete pilgrim after some administrative duties and lessons in the form of a class were delivered, when I trekked a bit of the city. I was actually headed towards my dentist for an early morning tomorrow’s appointment. Yes, I set out a day ahead and prepared myself for a stayover at a devotee’s home, which is midway to my dental destination.
I had the pleasure to stop in at the six kilometre mark at the residence of a much revered person from our Toronto community. It was a much needed visit for myself and this fine person whose devotion to Krishna and devotion to people has been sustained to a high level.
I also found it interesting that before and after that impromptu visit, the interaction was what you might expect from people on a Tuesday afternoon in a large metropolis. Most people are driven to ‘get somewhere’. I’m referring to pedestrians as much as the motorists. Motorists, you just can’t see through the tinted glass. As far as I’m concerned, they are zoned out to the real world of outdoors.
I’m sorry to say that about such car controllers. I don’t envy you guys at all, and so far as pedestrians are concerned, I can see you, and I can try to make eye contact with you, I can say, ‘Hi’ or ‘Hare Krishna’ and feel good about the day and the world, only because you’re out in the open. Unfortunately, most people choose looking at the whizzing traffic and/or maybe standing there all wired up living in an existence that is of the nature of ‘be-not-here-now’. Humans, if I could declare it boldly, we really need to get back to family, farm, and God.
I’ve checked out beaches at off season times, meaning, not in the summer, and so while in this area of central eastern Ontario, we looked at Presquil. Personally, I believe that this is a real gem of a place, for where in the world will you find so much mileage of sandy beach on fresh water. That’s central Canada for you. Having lived and been raised in the Great Lakes region, I find myself to be very fortunate to have been part of this natural treasure.
Presquil Park and beach are located on a bay off of Lake Ontario. According to Ernie, a local resident, it’s an area that juts out into the lake, creating its own unique ecosystem. A small group of us looking for property prospects took a short break to go to Presquil and feel the sand under our feet. Isn’t it grand – the beach, the water, openness. I can hear kids play already in their summer fun. Also, a real plus is fact that the water’s so clean with no salt and no sharks.
While we checked out this tourist attraction with its expansive sandy beach, we actually spent quality time at a farm after a visit to the beach and a resort. Winning a number one award for the most innovative farm in the province of Ontario is owner of a piece of land that grows Kale and then produces a snack out of it. The Kale is soaked in a cashew substance, dried, and then packaged for a large market across North America. Additionally the property has a barn and a yard full of family attractive farm animals.
The couple looking after the animals are Fil and Sukhayanti. Sheep, goats, chickens, cows, and a donkey are amongst community members of this amazing rural lot that make it so appealing. I get a charge out of just holding and petting one of those kids (wee goats) in my arms.
It came to my loathsome but sometime alert brain that in such an environment of land, plants, animals and healthy industrious people such as those young folks working at the small kale chip factory, and when you add the natural spirit of God consciousness, you then have the formula of a full existence. This is along the lines of what our guru, Srila Prabhupada, was talking about. This is the real way to live.
From Montreal, Pradyumna and I detrained at Union Station in Toronto. Once reaching the street level, we patiently waited for the red to turn green at the street light. Two young women were also at the street light ready to do the same. One of the girls, however, started to make a dash and got about one quarter of the way across when the second one called her back. She did pull back.
I felt compelled to jump in with words, “You don’t want to go out there and turn out flat like a pizza, do you?”
The two girls who were quite facially garnished with makeup did start laughing. The red light turned green and the four of us moved ahead with the two young women becoming curious. The one asked, “What’s with the…?” (Clothes, she was referring to.)
“They are robes, I’m a monk, a Krishna monk.”
To that the young woman came back, “What’s a monk?”
“One who leads a simple life…”
And she cut in, saying, “Well, I have a simple life, I’m telling you.” I think she was referring to a meagre bank balance or a tight budget. “Can I be a monk?”
“Yes, you can, but we might call you a nun.”
“Oh, I get it, it’s one name for the men and another for the women.”
I said, “Yes, indeed. Please come and visit us sometime. Here’s my card. There’s a mantra on the other side. If you like, you can try out being a nun for a weekend, stay with us, learn, and love (God).”
Our ride arrived. Pradyumna and I made it to the vehicle and the driver, Keshava. We bid farewell to our newly made friends, the happy cross the street girls.
One young woman in particular wanted the experience of what’s called a mangal arati, a ceremony with chants and images at 4:30 AM. She made the effort, on the will of her desire, she showed up all happy as a guest. She was also keen to go on a morning walk with a bunch of us with destination the nearby botanical gardens, once again. Besides ourselves there was only one human who came to share the space of shanti, calmness. I guess he was out on his own meditation. While sitting on a rock and chanting a quiet mantra(the gayatri), frogs were all around us as they tried to leap across our pathway. Cardinal birds with a fire engine red colour landed on rocks nearby. Who could blame them for being nosy, we are a curious sight – human beings in exotic attire of saris and dhotis, and who are chanting mantras.
By afternoon, we made our way to Saint Catherine’s Street for more pleasure and duty which comes in the form of kirtan. The streets were crowded. We were just under 20 in number. Outnumbered we were by the thousands there and who were on the hot pursuit for maya. Some are tourists, and they, like everyone else, are caught up in the Saturday spirit of freedom in this dominant, plentiful city. Generally you can tell who the tourists are, they have a slightly different air about them, an air of wonder. With our chanting procession, we did our grand finale in front of one of those older, gorgeous cathedrals to be admired. With the rule of time behind us, we were scheduled to be present at the Iskcon Centre on Pie IX Boulevard to honour the lion avatar, Narasingha, a big day on the Vaishnava calendar.
I had received an email that came from a monk friend of mine, Krishna Kshetra Swami. It was the first draft of a script, a conversation between Narasingha and ultimate demon, Hiranyakashipu. Then Yves Prescott, another friend of mine, joined me in the dramatical reading of this very witty script. It gave delight to the ears of the community and added a special flavour to the evening. Everybody likes lions, especially this one.
I trekked through Rosedale on this perfect day. Everyone is out, feeling the same way – enthused. People in their convertibles with the tops down are in ecstasy. Runners hit every piece of pavement with hot feet, and then the cyclists breeze by as if there was no stopping them. Birds also enjoy a kind of freedom that only they know. As for other living entities, it’s a burst or explosion of colour or smell. Signs of spring.
While all seems fine within my purview, in another part of the world, in earthquaked Nepal, people are undergoing an anguish of such incredible magnitude, hard to conceive. Death. Buildings crumbled. Piles of bodies. Homelessness. Family members displaced. People trapped under debris. Injuries. Lack of food and water. Disease. Lack of sleep. Inability to access or assist.
The world is praying for their release. Food supplies and human basics are attempting to make their way to victims. There is lots of confusion. Nothing is easy to remedy or fix. It will take not days, but months before everything normalizes. This is tragic.
What a paradox – my world and the one just described. As bhakti yogis, it is not out of line for us to chant mantras on behalf of victims of this tragedy. We can’t be too insensitive and say, “That’s their karma,” and leave it at that. Let us not be so quick to judge or to pass judgment in such situations. The immediate response to any calamity requires speedy and helpful aid.
The fox was staring at us, but only for seconds. He stood there and then moved. Naturally, he wasn’t going to share with us what was in his mouth. He worked hard to get that squirrel in between his jaws. Poor squirrel wasn’t moving, his life force was gone. He was ready to transfer to a new body, leaving the current one for someone’s breakfast.
Three monks and I spotted more fox in the Botanical Gardens in and around Le Jardin de Chine. It was after dawn and the red hunters with the flowy tails were out on the prowl. For years I’ve heard this amazing creature gekkering, barking, calling, and then doing something called vixen screaming. The fox is so diverse in making sounds, yet this morning, the ones we spotted were absolutely silent.
Noise of the weekend began to drum up as afternoon rolled out. The same team of monks who spotted fox in the morning were now on Saint Catherine’s street to deliver the mantras to the foxy ladies and the foxy people in general (I was one of those monks). “Foxy” as I understand it, and as Jimmy Hendrix used it in his favourite song, refers to sly ad beautiful. Yes, we were noticing that people were milling up and down the street, some for socializing, going for a drink or shopping. Some were dressed to kill, in a way – hunting.
I felt that we were doing our job out there on our favourite activity – harinam sankirtan(chanting in public). The public was really loving it. People joined us in singing and some doing a jig. One fellow, however, gawked at us, stopped for a few seconds to give a good stare, analyzed us, and then went in another direction. He behaved just like the fox with the squirrel.
We had a lovely lunch in Cabbage Town at the home of pujaris (priests). Rupa and Sanatan Goswamis are the proprietors at their haven of a home. It is walkable from our ashram. It’s 18 degrees Celsius, it’s sunny – yes! And so, to and fro, I took to my feet, or rather, they took me.
To reach Cabbage Town, you go through an interesting neighbourhood. Once a heavy drinking area, the now quiet colonial buildings are attracting young professionals. Down Parliament Street you’ll find antique shops and more of the regular convenience and grocery stores, and even one block of Tamil shops which cater to the Sri Lankan community.
I passed by a bus stop cubicle and two obvious alcoholics who sat inside, upon seeing me, got really excited.
“Heeeyyy!” Both simultaneously shouted out the one syllable perfectly, and they were loud. Heads turned to see what was up. They got the thrill of their day.
Nothing related to this mild incident, but minutes later, two young women were walking and conversing, and as they passed by, I heard one say to the other, “What goes around comes around.” Whenever I hear this phrase I clearly see it as an accepted phenomenon. The endorsement of transmigration of the soul, or reincarnation. And as I think about this concept, I look at the different people I pass by. Some look rather disheveled and bent over, and some walk upright, dressed with confidence. We all have our own individual destinies. Our souls all travel with different karma behind us.
After the great lunch and my return to the ashram, I walked through the park, it is directly north of our ashram. It’s newly renovated and on the inscription along the sidewalk there reads an excerpt from a poem by J. McPherson. She was a well known Canadian poet that lived in our neighbourhood. Right close to the maple tree planted in honour of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, reads this stanza:
The world was first a private park Until the angel after dark Scattered afar to wests and easts The lovers and the friendly beasts
