Wednesday, March 4th, 2015
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Vrindavan, India

Again In Vrindavan

The drive is not long to Vrindavan, just about 2 hours from Noida. Before conducting a theatre arts workshop, I thought that we, as planned, could slip in 2 days for some purification in Vrindavan, land of Krishna.

We made it, just in time for darshan (viewing of the deities) and class by monk Badri Narayan Swami. He was warming up the crowd with his message on Sri Chaitanya for tomorrow would be the birth anniversary. Even more significant, this year marks the 500th anniversary of His walking to this most holy place. In His years of activity as a renunciate He did extensive foot travel throughout the sub-continent of India. He was a real live pilgrim and with a message to share. In the shastras, ancient texts, His coming to the world was prophesied. "He would come as an avatar armed with peaceful weapons, introducing the system of sankirtan, interactive chanting." (From the Bhagavatam)

Standard pilgrims from Delhi and other surrounding areas are well aware of the celebratory Krishna. Not all know of Sri Chaitanya's contribution to the world and how He made Vrindavan a major place of executing bhakti, devotion.

In a quiet moment when I was sitting at a bench at what is called the MVT grounds, a young man from Delhi who works in organizing a call centre asked a question, "What's this all about?"

"Sit down", was my invitation to Vaibhav who came to Vrindavan for the first time to learn about what is the buzz that everyone's talking about when they come to the land of Krishna. Between myself and those traveling with him we spent quite some time bringing him into the power of Krishna, the mantra and Sri Chaitanya.

May the source be with you!

3 KM

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015
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Noida, India
 
In The Corporate City
 
On the road. At the airport. In the air. On the wheels again. That's how our day looked before the afternoon catch-up rest in Noida. Our group of mine got excited about doing something spiritual by the end of the day. Kirtan was the way to sum up a grueling day in the downtown.
 
My idea of a city's downtown is bright lights, pedestrians, shops and cafes. All of the above exist, except for pedestrians. Everyone's got a car but for the beggars. Alas a vast range demographics from India find their way to Noida! There we were just outside of McDonald's (yes, they can be found here) and with loud speakers we bellowed out the Name of the Greatest. Shop owners came a bit intrigued seeing a bunch of white and brown youthful (I'm the exception) zealots putting out the mantra. Our procession had to be shared on the road. Sidewalks are practically in the avyakta stage which means unmanifest, at least at most shops. It's interesting! By the time we returned to the Noida ISKCON temple, we noticed the large banner strapped above and across the front entrance. "Vande Arts Presents Drama Workshops" reads the banner with an image of myself in a playful mood at the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada while on my second cross country trek. So that's why we're here. At the request of one monk, Lokanath Swami, I have come back since the year's opening of this gorgeous temple. "Do some theatre! " he happily demanded.
 
May the source be with you!

3 KM

Monday, March 2nd, 2015
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Mayapur, India 
 
The Seed Giving Doctor
 

I got to know Uddhava from a former visit to Tirupati in South India. He comes daily to my room offering me a method of seed therapy. In addressing slow weakening knees (I'm 62), the kind soul, a doctor, applies methi seeds, or what we know as fenugreek, to my middle toes. By simply lining in row a group of those organically golden seeds and then pressing a strip of tape to them he then winds them around that delicate toe on each foot. 

For a second application he has been using on the middle finger, taped seeds of rice kernels to each hand. The reason for this approach is to take the challenge on varicose veins developing on both legs. My mother was taxed by varicose veins and from what I recall she felt pain and did numerous things to deal with it. The one that I recall was to see her wrapping gauze around her legs. She had large and long purple/blue veins looking the shape of lightning rods. Although what I have are nowhere as acute as in her case, still, like Uddhava says "it's good to be preventative" and hence, he's helping me out. 

The physical challenges that tax us all have to do simply because we are in a physical body which has no permanent vitality. 

"Walking is good for everything, but maybe not too much", said Uddhava.

"Is he talking about me, about my marathon?"  Then I'm sure to be so surrendered to the hinting of Uddhava, who's also 62. I'm grateful that he's helping me out with what he calls an ancient technique. Thank you and goodbye, Uddhava, we're off to leave for Kolkata and a flight to Delhi. 

May the source be with you! 

6 KM

Bhagavatam-daily 148 – 11.09.23 – Don’t see the spiritual world merely as a geographical neighbor of the material world
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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

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Join us for Sunday Love Feast – March 15th, 2015 from 11:00am to 2:00pm — Hear and associate with His Grace Acarya Thakur Dasa for this Sunday’s vedic discourse.
→ ISKCON Brampton


Sunday Love Feast for All

When?

Sunday,March 15,2015
Program starts at 11 am

Where?

6 George Street South
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 1P3, Canada
Park underground(free) @ City Hall
Phone:416-648-3312

New! Listen

Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog
Make a Donation
Srimad Bhagavatam 3.23.56
neha yat karma dharmāya
na virāgāya kalpate
na tīrtha-pada-sevāyai
jīvann api mṛto hi sah
Translation
Anyone whose work is not meant to elevate him to religious life, anyone whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to renunciation, and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be considered dead, although he is breathing.


11.00- 11.15      Tulsi Puja                                           
11.15 - 11.30     Guru Puja                                            
11:30 –11:55     Aarti & Kirtan                                      
11.55 - 12.00    Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers                  
12.00 – 1:00     Vedic discourse
  1:00 –  1:30      Closing Kirtan
  1.30 _  2.00     Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast
 

COMING UP AHEAD

Papamocani
Fasting.....................on Mon March 16,2015
Breakfast.................on Tue March 17,2015 b/w 7.26am-11.26am


Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.


Ramanavami
Celebration in March(We'll keep you updated for the date & Timings)

rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan
nānāvatāram akarod bhuvaneṣu kintu
kṛṣṇaḥ svayaṁ samabhavat paramaḥ pumān yo
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who manifested Himself personally as Kṛṣṇa and the different avatāras in the world in the forms of Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, Vāmana, etc., as His subjective portions.( Bs 5.39)
*For Volunteering please do contact Radha Gopinath Das radhagopinathdas@hotmail.com.

*For sponsorships/financing the event do contact Amogha lila Dasa
alokearora@hotmail.com.
**Details of the program will be posted when we come closer to the event**
 
Nectar of Instruction Course
Starting first Saturday(April 4th) of April 2015,9am-12pm
For more details contact:His grace Vaishnava Dasa
via email- vaishnavadas@me.com
or call at- 905.790.9972

Originally written in Sanskrit by Srila Rupa Goswami, the greatest spiritual genius of medieval India. Now translated and explained by Srila Prabhupada, "The Nectar of Instruction" is the key to enlightenment for all seekers on the path of spiritual perfection.

Home Deity Worship-2 hour Seminar
will be conducted at ISKCON Brampton on 5th April by The North American Deity worship minister His Grace Jayananda das.

This Seminar will be open to devotees who are in all levels - newcomers, 1st initiated devotees and 2nd initiated devotees.
Contact:
For registration,timings and further details please contact our local head Pujari His Grace Vidyanidhi Krishna Dasa  via email- vikas27801@yahoo.com
 
ON GOING EVERY SUNDAY

Sunday School

To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com
Call:647.893.9363

The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).

Gift Shop

Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your visit. It offers textiles, jewellery, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.
 

Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy

Eager to help!?
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 April 2009, Durban, South Africa, Lecture)

KKS_harmoniumOnce, at a program in Johannesburg, as I came out of the car, the devotees were very eager to help me get out of the car and someone was very eager to close the door… but my hand was still inside and my hand got caught in the door – four fingers were caught in the door!

I do not know which was worse – the pain of the hand being caught between the door or the pain in my mind, thinking that four fingers were gone and I will have to go through life from now on, missing four fingers from my hand!

Anyway, at the same time, I called out, “Open the door!!!” which they did and as my hand came out, it was perfectly alright! Suddenly, I realized, “All glories to the car designers!”  What foresight! They planned for it by the putting the rubber-belt in there! Believe it or not, I even played harmonium that evening although a little slower than usual!

Bhagavatam-daily 148 – 11.09.23 – Don’t see the spiritual world merely as a geographical neighbor of the material world
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

Download by "right-click and save content"

The harinam and program Wednesday March 11, 2015 in Prague…
→ Dandavats.com



The harinam and program Wednesday March 11, 2015 in Prague (Album 31 photos)
For many years harinams – the color joyous procession of devotees singing the holy name of Krishna accompanied by harmonium, mridangas and karatalas – are inseparable from Prague. This singing represents the yuga-dharma for this age. We go regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 PM from Obecni dům on Republic Square. If you would like to join, you are cordially invited. “Sankirtana brings grace of Krishna’s holy names to the spiritually inert mass of people and indeed to all living beings who do not otherwise have the opportunity or inclination to Krishna consciousness. This public chanting purifies the contaminated atmosphere of the Kali Yuga. Everyone who will participate, will be dear to Lord Chaitanya.”
See them here: http://goo.gl/WNbE04

Mother Malati’s Magical Memories (16 min video) Mother Malati…
→ Dandavats.com



Mother Malati’s Magical Memories (16 min video)
Mother Malati blessed the TKG Academy students with her stories of Srila Prabhupada with her daugher Sarasvati. Take a look below to hear about gulabjamuns, airplane rides, and Srila Prabhupada’s immense love. The students were spellbound! Having Srila Prabhupada’s devout disciples bring the magic of Krishna consciousness directly to the students is certainly a great privilege that we treasure at the TKG Academy.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/cO7hjP

Hare Krishna! Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple at…
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Hare Krishna! Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple at Trivandrum
Sri Ananta Padmanabha temple is one of the most prominent temples of India. It is considered as one of the 108 Vaishnava temples (divya sthanam), one of the seven moksha sthalas and one of the six Narayana sthalas. Lord Balarama, Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple. The Temple is located inside the East Fort in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16066

Haryana CM Khattar shows the way; bans cow slaughter in…
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Haryana CM Khattar shows the way; bans cow slaughter in state!
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has the potential to emerge as an important political leader who is not hesitant to stand up for Hindu interests.
Khattar’s state government is set to ban the sale of beef and cow slaughter in Haryana, which will become a crime chargeable under the same section that deals with murder.
After Maharashtra, Haryana government will introduce a bill in the Budget session to ban beef and cow slaughter in the state. Punishment under Section 302 which amounts to murder, will be slapped for cow slaughter and possession of beef will also be included as crime.
Haryana Agriculture Minister Om Parkash Dhankar had on March 8 said that the state is set to introduce a bill for “protection and upkeep” of cows in the session.
In the proposed ‘Govansh Sanrakashan and Gau Samvardhan (Cow Protection and Cow Conservation and Development) Bill’ efforts will be made to ban cow slaughter and for conservation and better care of indigenous cattle, he said. Dhankar also said adding that sale of packaged beef has been banned in the state.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/IiykMP

TKG Academy Newsletter for Spring 2015! TKG in TKG Academy…
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TKG Academy Newsletter for Spring 2015!
TKG in TKG Academy stands for His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami. He was a dynamic, influential and powerful guru, winning the hearts and minds of all he met. It was his personal instructions and guidance that have formed the existing academic and spiritual standards of TKG Academy. He invested a considerable amount of time training and instructing the teachers, perfecting the curriculum, and creating a nurturing community where the school and its families can thrive.
Dear friends, take a look at what we have accomplished! Your support makes all this possible. Thank you.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/NMlJiu

Hare Krishna! Meet Narayana & Laura Meyer, TKG Academy’s…
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Hare Krishna! Meet Narayana & Laura Meyer, TKG Academy’s regular supporters
Let me introduce Narayana and Laura Meyer. We wish to recognize them as the Donor Spotlight for this month and express our gratitude for their support over the past year. In addition to their regular monthly donation, they gave $1,500 to TKG Academy over the New Year holiday. Narayana is the son of Kalachandji Dham’s Mathuranatha Prabhu and Mother Lila. He grew up in the Dallas Hare Krishna community. Along with his brother Janardan, he attended TKG Academy throughout his entire education – from preschool to high school. Narayana and Laura have recently moved back to Dallas.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16063

GBC Leadership College, Questions and Answers, Govardhan…
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GBC Leadership College, Questions and Answers, Govardhan Eco-Village, Wada, Maharashtra
Radhanath Swami: “Getting things done is important. But the spirit and the unity of the community is what will give substance to what you get done. We can build a temple, but people are not going to be Krishna conscious beyond a certain level just due to the temple. They are going to be Krishna conscious by the quality of the association they get when they come to the temple. In one purport Srila Prabhupada writes that the purpose of developing all these temples is to give people the opportunity to associate with devotees. And the quality of their association with devotees is what is going to be important. In Mayapur, with the Temple of Vedic Planetarium, there are going to be millions of people coming from all over the world to see the temple and experience the atmosphere of Mayapur. But what is really going to open their hearts to receive the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the quality of the association of devotees they get when they come.”
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/JflkcU

Hare Krishna! Two Muslim Classmates Meet as Krsna…
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Hare Krishna! Two Muslim Classmates Meet as Krsna Devotees
“Dissipating Lord Caitanya’s message in Kazakhstan is challenging. The devotees faced hurdles as in 2007, when envy and anger overcame the local governors who destroyed houses at the farm where the devotees lived and wanted to destroy the temple as well. Under the Lord’s protection, diplomacy and wisdom of Srila Gurudeva and other leaders and the support of devotees worldwide, Krsna consciousness is thriving in Kazakhstan. There is a big summer tent for festivals, goshala (cow farm), a wonderful lake revered as the local Radha-kund and a beautiful garden with apple trees and flowers.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16060

Food for Life
→ Ramai Swami

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After an absence of more than fifteen years, Hare Krsna Food For Life has reopened in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.

Raktak das said that only after few months the word has got out and now they get about 60 people a day and it is steadily increasing.
 The hours are between 11.30am and 4 pm.
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