What is “Spirit”
→ The Enquirer

“Spirit is an entity with no beginning. It is the true self. Its core-essence is sentience, consciousness, which it uses to illuminate itself to itself. It is the true essence of all that exists. It has no intrinsic relationship with matter, and cannot be adequately contained within the limited qualities of insentient matter.”

अनादिरात्मा परुषो निर्गुणः प्रकृतेः परः ।
प्रत्यग्धामा स्वयंज्योतिर् विश्वं येन समन्वितम् ।।

anādir ātmā puruṣo nirguṇaḥ prakṛteḥ paraḥ
pratyag-dhāmā svayaṁ-jyotir viśvaṁ yena samanvitam

– Śrī Kapila, from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.26.3


Tagged: Consciousness, Soul, spirit, Spirituality

I’m trying my best
→ Japa Group

"My head is clear. I’m hearing the syllables of the mantra and praying to Krishna in desperation. Please Lord, help me to chant Your Hare Krishna mantra it is so important to me now and I want to keep the right count. I’m trying my best."

From Bhajan Kutir #304
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Join us for our Special Sun Feast(11am-2.00pm). Hear and associate with His Grace Sankarshan Dasa Adhikari for this Sunday’s special vedic discourse.
→ ISKCON Brampton



Sunday Love Feast for All

When?

Sunday,Jan 11th,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 2.3.17
ayur harati vai pumsam
udyann astam ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-ksano nita
uttama-sloka-vartaya


Translation
Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.
 

Program Schedule
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

Hari Naam Diksha Ceremony 
This Sun Jan 11th 2015 at 12pm

Please feel free to  join us for Hari Naam Diksha Ceremony taking place at ISKCON Brampton on Jan 11th 2015  by His Grace Sankarshan Dasa Adhikari during our Sunday Feast.

COMING UP AHEAD
 
Sat-tila
Fasting.....................on Fri Jan 16th,2015
Breakfast.................on Sat Jan 17th,2015 b/w 7.47am-10.54am


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.

Appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu
 Celebration on Sun Feb 1st 2015 @ 11am

Nityananda Prabhu appeared in the village of Ekachakra, in West Bengal, India, around 1474. In the Caitanya Caritamrita and other scriptures He is declared to be the avatar of Lord Balarama, the direct expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.

*For Volunteering please do contact Radha Gopinath Dasradhagopinathdas@hotmail.com.
*For financing the event do contact Aloke Prabhu at the front desk.

 
**Details of the program will be posted when we come closer to the event**
 
ON GOING EVERY SUNDAY
Indian Classical Dance Classes
For more info please do contact Syamesvari Devi Dasi at the temple or write tosyamesvaridasi@yahoo.com.
The dance is performed mainly with the theme of Infinite love of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

 
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).
 
 
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 happ

Bhagavatam-daily 85 – SB 11.08.01 – Why struggle to increase the pleasure that is unchangeably finite?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
Download by "right-click and save content"

Cartoonists and Islamists – Iconoclasts both
→ The Vaishnava Voice

UtrechtIconoclasm

Smashed religious imagery in Utrecht

Iconoclast:

1. A person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, as being based on error or superstition.
2. A breaker or destroyer of images, especially those set up for religious veneration.

Today, the former head man at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Giles Frazer, writes in the Guardian that both the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists and the Islamists shared a common conception that false gods and man-made religions and objects of veneration have to be smashed.

 


Conversions
→ Servant of the Servant

We hear so much about people converting from one religion to another. Srila Prabhupada in his introduction to the Bhagavad Gita says that conversion of faith is material where as the dharma of all living entities is eternal. In other words, even if a person converts, still his dharma remains constant and eternal.

If a person is seeking God to serve God, then there is no need to convert from one religion to another.But if a person is seeking happiness (material or spiritual) in God, then such a person will convert. To serve God with no motive and no break in time is the ultimate dharma for mankind. Such selfless and timeless service can be conducted under any religious banner be it Christianity, Islam, Judaism or Krishna.

Most often than not, the institutional form of religions do not teach such selfless service to God, but however, propagate self-preservation and self-happiness in the name of God as the ultimate goal of life. Because there is lot of customer base for self-preservation and happiness in this world, institutionalized religions are competing with each other using mundane tactics to pull these customers to their institutions. This competitive pulling of customers from one religion to another is called conversion. Such conversions have no real basis in true dharma. It is an illusion!

Real dharma for all living beings is to serve God without any ulterior motive and without any break in time. One can do this in any setting any where!

Hare Krishna

Prabhupada’s Books Sold Through Russian Bookstore Chain Moscow…
→ Dandavats.com



Prabhupada’s Books Sold Through Russian Bookstore Chain
Moscow Vaisnavas have prepared a gift for all the Russian readers. Now A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s books are available in one of the leading bookstore chains in the country. All BBT books can be bought in 204 stores of the chain in 80 Russian cities.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/t9x9Vd

Malaysian Ratha Yatra 2015 (Album 197 photos) The first ever…
→ Dandavats.com



Malaysian Ratha Yatra 2015 (Album 197 photos)
The first ever “Festival of India” organized by Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON Malaysia National Head Quarters in Little India, Brickfields. The festival included Jagannatha’s “mercy ride” on the chariot along with Lord Baladeva & Subhadra Devi, dance, traditional music, and lot of kirtan. Prasadam was distributed to more than 3000 people and needless to say the festival attracted a big crowd.
See them here: http://goo.gl/r77NbL

Behind The Scenes: ACHARYA (Album 31 photos) Welcome to the…
→ Dandavats.com



Behind The Scenes: ACHARYA (Album 31 photos)
Welcome to the exclusive behind the scenes shoot of ACHARYA. A team of young professionals from around the world embarked in October 2014 to film and re-create the world of Srila Prabhupada’s childhood and life from Kolkata, to Mayapur and all the way to Krishna’s birthplace in the mystical land of Vrindavan. Stay tuned for more updates…
See them here: http://goo.gl/C00ETd

Dec 2014 Book Distribution Marathon in Iskcon Maraimalai Nagar…
→ Dandavats.com



Dec 2014 Book Distribution Marathon in Iskcon Maraimalai Nagar (Album 8 photos)
The first ever book distribution marathon by the ISKCON Maraimalai Nagar yatra. Here is our humble offering for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. Total books distributed:
3836 Maha Big Books, 499 Big books, 6 Medium Books, 652 Small Books, and 3315 Back to Godhead magazines !!!
We thank all the 50 devotees who so enthusiastically participated in this most pleasing service to His Divine Grace. We pray Srila Prabhupada and all the Vaishnavas are pleased with our effort. Please bless us that we may do much much more in the service of Lord Caitanya.
Srila Prabhupada transcendental book distribution ki jaya!!
See them here: http://goo.gl/pdWPzO

Kirtan Fest in Nova Gokula, Brazil (Album 125 photos) Srila…
→ Dandavats.com



Kirtan Fest in Nova Gokula, Brazil (Album 125 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The demigods are pleased when sacrifices are performed, just as prison officers are satisfied when the prisoners are turned into obedient subjects. Lord Caitanya, however, has recommended only one yajna, or sacrifice, called the sankirtana-yajna, the chanting of Hare Krishna, in which everyone can take part. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.6.20 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/JWLz0S

Donation of Iskcon books to a popular library in Lagos (Album 8…
→ Dandavats.com



Donation of Iskcon books to a popular library in Lagos (Album 8 photos)
Iskcon devotees yesterday January 7,2015. donated different titles of Srila Prabhupada’s literatures to a famous library in Lagos, known as,”National Troupe library,” at National Theatre Lagos. A female librarian who received the spiritual books was enthusiastic to say, “I have read one of your literature before and it talk of ‘Duties’ she said.” I got the book from a class mate some years back though, the book was taken by a friend of her. But, “It really inspired my thought patterns, she said”! One devotee ask if she could still identify the book,she said Yes! It was Srila Prabhupada Bhagavad Gita as it is. Srila Prabhupada Ki jaya!
See them here: http://goo.gl/KhN2YD

A visit to the ancient Vedic Temple of “Handsome…
→ Dandavats.com



A visit to the ancient Vedic Temple of “Handsome Kesava” which took 103 years to construct (Album 186 amazing photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The town of Belfur, in the southern state of Karnataka in India, is set on the banks of the Yagachi river. It was chosen as the capitol of the Hoysala dynasty which ruled much of South India between the 11th and 14th centuries. The saintly kings of the Hoysala dynasty were great patrons of art and architecture during their 300 years of rule. The main temple in Belfur took 103 years to construct. The presiding Visnu deity is called Chenna Kesava, which means “the handsome Kesava.” It took us many hours to explore the entire ornate complex, with it’s many structures, described by local people as, “heaven on earth.” During our visit the citizens held a festival in honor of “handsome Kesava” that included a large parade. It was wonderful to see that after 1,000 years the deity is still loved and worshipped so nicely by the people.
See them here: http://goo.gl/ZmpBzu

Harinam Ruci in Auckland!
→ The Hare Krishna Movement

Legendary Harinam Ruci Group visiting Auckland from 15th till 29th of January Harinams, evening programs with ecstatic kirtans and delicious prasadam. Taste the nectar of the sweet Holy Name with these wonderful devotees. Bring a festival into your life and make your holidays much sweeter and even more delightful. Friday 16th January – Suburb Harinam […]

Divine arrangement
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2013, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi Lila 9.46)

kadamba_treeNot only are we taking shelter of Krsna, but we also let Krsna lead our way. Krsna has placed us in a particular position

karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa

jantur dehopapattaye

We are not only taking birth by our karma, but also by divine arrangement. Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa – it is also by the arrangement of Krsna that we find ourselves in a particular situation. And a certain amount of acceptance of our destiny is required.

Well, you know, this is what came my way, and I’ll just roll with it. I will not get into too much of anxiety about my condition of life. I don’t need to turn everything upside down to try and make some sort of arrangement by which I will get a better life.”

All that energy should not go towards the material arrangement. All that energy should go towards our service for Krsna. In so far as our material arrangement is concerned, we accept what comes naturally, what comes …karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa .. by karma and by divine arrangement.

We see that the tree is a symbol of acceptance and we must also accept our destiny. A tree has no choice – it cannot run away. We also must accept, must be tolerant and generous

 

 

The First New Year’s Bhakti Retreat at New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

by Lilasuka dasi

New Vrindaban’s 1st New Year’s Bhakti Retreat from Wed. evening Dec. 31, 2014 to Sun. Jan. 4, 2015 was lively and family friendly. Devotees came in from many places outside West Virginia. His Grace Gopal Hari Prabhu came from Boise, ID. Several families from Detroit, MI mandir also came to participate. His Grace Jambavan das and his wife, Samvit dasi, and their 8 children came along with some others from the Detroit crew. There were also 12 devotees from Columbus, OH.

Young and older children keeping busy.

Young and older children keeping busy.

Both resident Brijabasis and the guests eagerly participated in all aspects of the weekend, from leading kirtans to making garlands. Attendance for this 1st Bhakti Retreat was low, but there were many high points. The children enthusiastically and expertly (sometimes spontaneously) lead kirtans throughout the weekend. New Vrindaban’s own Gauranatraj Prabhu gave an uplifting Srimad Bhagavatam class early on Friday morning. His Holiness Varsana Maharaj mesmerized and enlivened everyone with his Gaura katha late on Saturday morning. Gopal Hari Prabhu (Boise) led a soothing bhajan on New Year’s Eve and at other times, and gave a very nice Srimad Bhagavatam class on Saturday morning. He also led a couple of workshops on “Ethics in the Mahbharata”. Jambavan Prabhu gave a nice Srimad Bhagavatam class on Sunday morning. New Vrindaban’s Sankirtan Prabhu also presented his special “Voyage to the West: Why & How the Hare Krishna Movement Came to America” in preparation for 2015, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Journey to America.

Gopal Hari Prabhu (Boise) gives class Saturday.

Gopal Hari Prabhu (Boise) gives class Saturday.

Jagannatha Kirtan Prabhu led a wonderful kirtan and Malati Prabhu’s Prabhupada Katha session was very popular. Radha devi (NV) and Sundari (Pgh) prepared sumptuous prasadam for everyone throughout the retreat.

Sumptuous Prasad

Sumptuous Prasad

Many who participated in the New Vrindaban Bhakti Retreat assured us that they will come back to next year’s Retreat and bring their friends. They commented that this was the best way imaginable to bring in a new year – by associating intimately with the Lord’s devotees in the beautiful Radha Vrindaban Chandra Mandir, and by hearing Krsna katha to their heart’s content.

Making flower garlands during Varsana M's class

Making flower garlands during Varsana M’s class

Varsana M giving class

Varsana M giving class