New Book – IQ, EQ, SQ
→ Tattva - See inside out

Download “IQ, EQ, SQ” by clicking here (right click and "save link as...")

IQ (Intelligence Quotient) tests are famous for assessing logical, mathematical and linguistic skills. We all wish we were in that top bracket of Mensa elite who have an IQ in excess of 140 – unfortunately only 0.5% of the population make it! Developed intelligence empowers one to gather, process and analyse information effectively. The intelligent can think in abstract ways and learn from their experiences. Despite this, history shows that the intelligentsia are not always the most successful, happy and influential people in the world.

Psychologists and neuroscientists are increasingly talking about the need for Emotional Quotient (EQ). Those with high EQ’s are emotionally balanced, able to maintain composure in the chaos of life, and great at relating with people in appropriate and inspiring ways. EQ empowers the successful utilisation of IQ – people act irrationally when volatile emotions hijack their mental state. Thus, EQ measures the human side of life and our interactions with the immediate environment.

While IQ and EQ help us to function in our present situations, SQ (Spiritual Quotient) is all about ‘thinking out of the box.’ People often come to the point where they begin to question life, the universe and everything – who am I, why am I here, what is my purpose, what should I strive for, and what will make me happy? By exercising their SQ an individual can discover deeper meaning, purpose and direction in life. Often, we are busily engaged in chasing things without seriously considering whether they are necessary, fulfilling and really adding value. Our daily endeavours are usually focused on asking the question ‘how,’ but SQ is all about asking the question ‘why.’

We hope this collection of articles will stimulate your SQ and offer some ‘food for thought’ in a world that (consciously or unconsciously) yearns for fresh perspectives and newer paradigms.

Hare Krishna! Diksha Without Tapa: Initiation in Name Only Did…
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Hare Krishna! Diksha Without Tapa: Initiation in Name Only
Did you hear the story of the man who rode up to the gates of our Mayapur, West Bengal, temple to sell ice cream? He had one of those tricycles you see a lot in India—the ones with a refrigerated box on the back. Nothing sells quite like ice cream on a hot day. Only he wasn’t selling ice cream at all. He opened the lid of the icebox, pulled out a hand bell and a bunch of papers, then began ringing the bell and calling out, “Diksha! Diksha!” [“Initiation! Initiation!”] He was selling diksha and, as it happens, was selling it very cheaply: “Diksha doh rupya!” or: “ Diksha, two rupees!”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16593

Hare Krishna! The Glory of Gita Wisdom Einstein, Emerson,…
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Hare Krishna! The Glory of Gita Wisdom
Einstein, Emerson, Thoreau, Huxley, Hesse … I was amazed that this list an intellectual who’s who from recent world history was actually a list of thinkers who had appreciated the Gita. As I had been born and brought up in India, the place where the Gita was spoken millennia ago, I was familiar with it as an ancient Hindu text. I had even memorized some of it for verse recitation contests. But I had no idea that its contents were of interest to the modern mind, much less praised by some of the greatest modern minds. Reading such appreciations of the Gita motivated me to study the text seriously.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16590

100,000 Attend 40th Anniversary of Krishna Balarama Temple An…
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100,000 Attend 40th Anniversary of Krishna Balarama Temple
An incredible 100,000 visitors and devotees from all over the world took part in Krishna Balarama Mandir’s week-long 40th anniversary celebrations from March 23rd to 29th this spring in Vrindavana, India. They included 125 disciples of ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada, some of whom helped build the temple back in the 1970s. The mood of the festival was both epic and sweet, recalling Srila Prabhupada’s ten-year struggle to establish a temple in the sacred village where Lord Krishna grew up, and his victory upon Krishna Balarama Mandir’s grand opening festival in April 1975.
Read more: http://goo.gl/ZJYpwB

The Use and Misuse of Religion Question: Religion is the source…
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The Use and Misuse of Religion
Question: Religion is the source of so much strife in our world, perhaps because of the fact that it is misused. I would like to get your perspective on that. Radhanath Swami: My guru Srila Prabhupada said, “Philosophy without good character is practically useless.” The whole purpose of religion is to help us in transcending the arrogant ego.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/AUN6nN

Rama Navami
→ Ramai Swami

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Lord Ramacandra exemplifies an incarnation of Godhead who descends for the mission of, “paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam”— protecting the devotees and destroying the miscreants.

 
In Bali our five main temples all celebrated Rama Navami, the appearance day of Lord Rama. Radha Madhava Mandir also celebrated the anniversary of the installation of the deities in 2002.
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Kitchen Volunteers Needed for Upcoming Shows
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

After a very cold winter, that special time of the year has arrived. With clear skies, sunshine and warm cool breezes greeting you, spring has arrived!  With the warmer weather comes lots of opportunities to render service to our beautiful Deities, Sri Sri Radha Ksira Chora Gopinatha.

For starters, the Toronto Hare Krishna Temple is participating in two very large conventions and shows where we serve 1000+ plates of prasadam (spiritualized, delicious vegetarian meals) for three days, nonstop.

The first show is The Yoga Show and Conference, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from April 10-12th, 2015 and is just around the corner!  The next show is the Total Health Show, also taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from April 17-19th, 2015.  These two weekends are going to be some of our busier weekends in temple kitchen!

Over the years these shows and expos have been very successful and thousands of people of varying backgrounds come to visit our “Govinda’s” booth to taste sumptuous vegetarian delights!

However, all of this success comes only with team work and hard work.  Over the years, many volunteers have participated in this event in numerous ways. These massive shows require a lot of team work in the kitchen, doing intense but fun loving service. If you are interested in being one of the many volunteers and curious to know more about being part of this wonderful outreach program, please fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you very soon!

You can also feel free to contact Kanaad Prabhu at (647) 299-9903 or by emailing him.

66th Vyasa puja celebration of HH Jaypataka Swami
→ Mayapur.com

66th Vyasa puja celebration of HH Jaypataka Swami Maharaj took place in Sri Mayapur dham from 30th March to 1st April. Many of His disciples came to Mayapur on this occasion. An adhivas ceremony took place on 30th evening to invoke auspiciousness. As is the custom, 24 items were offered to HH Jaypataka Swami Maharaj […]

The post 66th Vyasa puja celebration of HH Jaypataka Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Hare Krishna! Hon. Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga visits…
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Hare Krishna! Hon. Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga visits ISKCON, Sri Lanka for Sri Ramanavami Festival
Chief Minister for Western Province of Sri Lanka Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga participated in this festival and received the blessings from Sri Sri Radha Rajagopal. His presence on that day made the event even more remarkable. The Hon. Minister also visited and inspected the new Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple construction site and was happy that a temple for Lord Vishnu is being constructed. He also told that he will give the necessary assistance from his office towards the new temple construction project.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16587

Morning Class with Devamrita Swami – Apr 11th
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

On Saturday, April 11, 2015, the Toronto Hare Krishna temple will welcome HH Devamrita Swami for a special morning class which will take place from 7:45am to 9:00am.  Devamrita Swami will be giving a special morning class on the topic of: "Bhakti-bhava: The Emotional Dynamics of a Devotee" which will feature topics including:

  • the future for your heart and its longings in bhakti
  • can you train your emotions how to feel?
  • the psychology of insecurity and insufficiency
  • the battle with the envy monster

****Breakfast prasadam will be served afterwards****

About Devamrita Swami
Devamrita Swami took initiation in 1974 from Srila Prabhupada and devoted his life to sharing his guru’s teachings, distributing his books and serving at the BBT. In 1982 Devamrita Swami took sannyas initiation and in 2002 began serving as an initiating spiritual master in ISKCON.

A member of ISKCON’s governing body since 2001 he has occupied the responsible posts of GBC vice chairman and later, chairman. His current regional responsibilities include Australia and New Zealand, as well as South Africa, Brazil and the Gita-nagari Farm Project in Pennsylvania. Beyond those areas of spiritual leadership, he travels far and wide, especially in North America, Europe and India.

Please come and grab this opportunity to hear from Devamrita Swami - a world renowned teacher in the Krishna Consciousness movement.

100,000 Attend 40th Anniversary of Krishna Balarama Temple
→ ISKCON News

100,000 visitors from all over the world took part in Krishna Balarama Mandir’s week-long 40th anniversary celebrations from March 23rd to 29th in Vrindavana, India. The mood of the festival was both epic and sweet, recalling Srila Prabhupada’s ten-year struggle to establish a temple in the sacred village where Lord Krishna grew up, and his victory upon Krishna Balarama Mandir’s grand opening festival in April 1975.

Sita Swayamvar dance drama…….. (Album with…
→ Dandavats.com



Sita Swayamvar dance drama…….. (Album with photos)
This dance drama was performed for Ramnavami by Sri Venunad Kala kendra(odissi dance institute) as an offering for Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir’s 40 aniversary day.We all were blessed to serve the vaishnavas somehow trough our arts and talents.All Glories to Sri Ram!All Glories to Srila Prabhupad and our eternal spiritual family!!!
See them here: http://goo.gl/QDdkTE

40th Jubliee of Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohanas installation Hare…
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40th Jubliee of Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohanas installation
Hare Krsna dear devotees and friends, We would like to cordially invite you to this historic festival to Goloka Dhama. It is a week-end festival with many high lights and many great souls have confirmed their attendances. Among the guests of Honour are: HH Bhakti Bhusana Maharaja HH Sacinandana Maharaja HH Krishna Ksetra Maharaja (only Sunday) HG M. Dina Sharana Devi Dasi (GBC ISKCON Germany, Austria) And many more wonderful and talented devotees
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16584

Preaching program and initiations in Cuba (Album with photos) A…
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Preaching program and initiations in Cuba (Album with photos)
A major conference to an Anglican university, which is full of teachers and students.
The ceremony was held in a land we have near Havana. Names: Adrian Bhakta Dasa = Adikesava Bhakta Dasa Dimas = Devananda Igor = Indradeva Bhakta Dasa Angelina Bhaktin = Ananda Radha Devi Dasi
See them here: http://goo.gl/7E4gsv

Sati begs Shiva to Attend her Father’s Grand Ceremony
→ The Enquirer

This enmity between the father-in-law, Dakṣa, and son-in-law, Śiva, remained constant even after a great deal of time had passed. Meanwhile, Dakṣa became the foremost of all Brahmaṇas and the leader of all the Prajāpatī. He expressed his pride by conducting a Soma ceremony more opulently than even the Veda prescribes. As required, he then prepared to follow up the Soma ceremony with a grand offering to Bṛhaspati – thus exhibiting his ability to execute Vedic rituals at the highest standard.

All the sages of the philosophical Brahmaṇas and divine Devas began assembling to attend that ceremony, along with the ancestral Pitṛ and the Gods. They came in pairs, as husband and wife, beautifully dressed and decorated.

Dakṣa’s daughter, goddess Satī, overheard the sky-creatures gossiping about her father’s great ceremonial festival. Just then, a host of minor divinities passed nearby in their ships, looking beautiful with their impeccable wives all dressed to the hilt with fine necklaces, glittering earrings, and eagerly brilliant eyes.

“Beautiful Lord,” she eagerly said to her husband, the master of ghosts, “Your father-in-law, the Prajāpatī, is about to begin a great ceremonial festival! All the wise Gods are attending. Certainly we are also welcome. Wouldn’t you like to go?”

“Why should we go?” Śiva asked. “What purpose would it serve?”

“My fortunate sisters will surely be there with their husbands,” Satī replied. “I miss them and want to go there to see them again.”

“Certainly, you should go.” Śiva said.

“I want you to come with me,” Satī replied. “Everyone attends as a couple, dressed and decorated very nicely.”

“If you just want to get dressed up,” Śiva suggested humorously, “we can do that right here.”

“No, no,” Satī replied, “I want to see my sisters with their husbands. I want to see my loving aunts and mother. It has been such a long time. I really want to see them again, under the auspicious ceremonial flags raised by great sages.”

Śiva looked at her calmly and carefully.

“You may not understand how I feel,” she said, “because you are an enlightened being without a father and mother. You see everyone and everything in this world as an amazing manifestation of spiritual energy interacting with nature’s three qualities. I am a simple young girl who hasn’t realized such things. Oh Bhava, my heart aches to see my birth-family again, and to visit my old home.”

He continued to look at her, compassionately yet calmly.

“Unborn Lord,” she said, “just look at all these other women beautifully dressed with their lovers and friends, all headed to that great ceremony in ships that look like great, white swans! Oh best of Gods, how could a daughter like me not go to a festival at her father’s house?”

“But he has not invited you.” Śiva reminded her.

“He does not need to,” she explained. “Intimate friends and family, husbands and gurus do not need to be invited to enter one’s house.”

Śiva was still, wisely, unsure.

“Oh Immortal, you are kind and compassionate so please have mercy on my desires. You see everything perfectly and know that I am half of your own self, so please be affectionate towards my requests.”

– Bhāgavatam 4.3.1~14

Vraja Kishor das

www.VrajaKishor.com

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Tagged: Bhagavata Purana, Sati, Shiva, Srimad Bhagavatam

ISKCON Scarborough- Home Worship Seminar – Friday- April 3rd 2015 – Confirmed
→ ISKCON Scarborough



Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

The Home Worship seminar at ISKCON Scarborough is confirmed to take place coming Friday from 7 pm to 9 pm.

There is no re-registration required and all devotees are welcome to attend.

Please pass this message to others who will benefit from knowing the correct way of worship as per the shastras.

There is no fee to attend this seminar, however any donation towards covering prabhu's flight costs will be welcomed and a tax receipt will be given.


ISKCON Scarborough

3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7

Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website:
www.iskconscarborough.com

Realisations Of A Group Member
→ Japa Group

I received a very nice realisation from a Japa Group Subscriber. I will share it with you here.

Most often while we chant we hear other voices of our thoughts. Sometimes these other voices can become overpowering and the voice of chanting can become like background voice.
I found raising one's volume of chanting helps. This is analogous to raising the volume of car music system to tune out traffic noise. I could now relate to the recommendation of the acharyas on how chanting aloud can dispel Maya.

The key is however to become conscious of background voices taking over and to raise the voice of chanting to counteract it.

Thanks
Your servant
Kishorinath Das

Documentary on the spectacular upsurge of visitors to Govardhan…
→ Dandavats.com



Documentary on the spectacular upsurge of visitors to Govardhan Hill
(3 min video)
This is a three-minute trailer to an upcoming feature-length documentary on the spectacular upsurge of visitors to Govardhan Hill, North India. For centuries, steady but modest numbers have kept to the practice of circumambulating the hill, which is regarded as the epicenter of Lord Krishna’s pastimes in ancient India? Today those numbers have suddenly soared to millions. Watching this in-depth presentation may find you joining a crowd of expectant pilgrims on the 21 KM trail around the hill. Be warned.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/7rA2Xb

Harinama in Prague (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada: Muci…
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Harinama in Prague (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Muci haya suci haya yadi krsna bhaje. It is said that even a cobbler or person born in the family of a cobbler can be elevated to the position of a brahmana (suci) if he takes to Krishna consciousness. Any person who is purely Krishna conscious and who engages in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is the purest in the whole universe. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.12.37 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/MMd6NU

Ram Navami @ ISKCON, LUDHIANA Appearance Day of Lord Rama (Ram…
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Ram Navami @ ISKCON, LUDHIANA
Appearance Day of Lord Rama (Ram Navami) was celebrated at ISKCON Temple, Ludhiana with great enthusiasm and devotions. The festival starts at 6PM with ecstatic sankirtan by temple devotees. Very beautiful Phool Bangla was made in the temple. His Grace Narottamanand das, Temple President gave lecture on the past times of Lord RamChandra and said that Sri Ram Navami is dedicated to the memory of Lord Rama and this festival commemorates the birth of Lord Rama who is remembered for his prosperous and righteous reign.There was panchamrit Abhishek (Bathing) of Lord Ramcander by the temple devotees. Chhapan Bhog was offered to Their Lordship. A large number of congregations attend this grand festival. After aarti , full fasting prashadam was distributed to the people.