24 Dec 2014 – Appearance Day of Sri Jagadisa Pandita
24 Dec 2014 – Disappearance Day of Sri Jiva Goswami
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Something Positive
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For the past several months Hong Kong has been disrupted with massive street protests challenging some key government policies. Regularly tens of thousands of people have come out venting their anger and frustration by blocking important streets and avenues. On a few occasions the protests turned violent. Last week the police forcibly cleared the streets [...]
HG Nityananda Chandra Prabhu / BG 18.76 – Sunday Feast
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Gita 02.72 – Nirvana may be extinction, but brahma-nirvana is not
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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
Gita 02.71 – Peace comes not by relocation, but by renunciation
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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
Gita 02.70 – Be filled with higher purpose to transcend lower desires
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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
Gita 02.69 – Be special above the ordinary, not among the ordinary
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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
HG Nityananda Prabhu / Nectar of Devotion / Class – 20
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Hold On To Your Beads!
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From Art Of Chanting Hare Krsna
by Mahanidhi Swami
Service and more service
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, October 2014, Mayapur, India, Siksastakam Seminar: Verses 1&2, Part 1)
It was here in Mayapur, quite some years back, that once I chanted sixty-four rounds. It was probably a festival day and it was not easy because there were devotees everywhere who wanted to talk to me so I was avoiding everybody quite a bit – when I saw a devotee, I quickly went in another direction. Okay, I made it; sixty-four rounds got done!
Then, there used to be a reception in the Long Building, 111. I walked through the reception after my sixty-four rounds, and I saw a newspaper and my tendency was to go read the newspaper! And I go like, “What’s this? I just chanted sixty-four rounds and the first thing I want to do is to read the newspaper!”
Because to chant those sixty-four rounds was so much stress for my mind, for all those hours I had basically fixed the mind on chanting that afterward, I felt like relaxing and reading a newspaper or something. So, it is not so simple to just chant and chant deeply out of love for Krsna, that is very exalted but at least, by chanting in a regular way, we get some grip on the forest fire (of material desires) and we can contain it. It is still burning… it is not put out yet… day and night, it is still burning in the heart… all these desires are still there burning, blazing and still pushing… but we keep them contained with boundaries around them. Just like a forest fire, sometimes they clear areas around the fire and dig trenches so there is no fuel to go further and it stops there and continues to burn.
So, this is how we build trenches around our ashram. Even varnashram – finding a service that can absorb us. For many of us, it has been service that has been the saving grace over the years. Yes, chanting our rounds was there – a minimum of sixteen and most of the time that is what is was, just a minimum, and ashram and so on… but then the service. If one has a lot of service, that service forces us to sacrifice our personal desires.
Real meaning of diksha
→ Servant of the Servant
The process of attaining transcendental knowledge is called initiation. We should know that the Supreme Lord is the transcendental Absolute Truth, we are His eternal servants, and we have no duty other than to serve Him. Knowing this is actual initiation. The absence of understanding is ignorance. At present, there is a controversy about the word “Initiation.” People proudly claim that they have taken initiation from a bona fide spiritual master, but how can they maintain material attachment even after taking initiation ? How can they desire to make advancement in material life ? If they don’t learn about their relationship with the Lord, independent and proud people uselessly brag about their initiations. Rather than treating their spiritual master as if he were as good as God, they treat him as their disciple, fit to be their order-supplier. Considering the guru an ordinary mortal being, these persons become offenders at his lotus feet.
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur - Page No.262 and 263 of the book ‘Amritha Vani’
Gita 18.40 – The universality of the malady underscores the necessity of the remedy
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Holy Name Meditation Podcast:
Daily-Bhagavatam 66 – 11.07.56 – Counter temptation by intelligence, vigilance and diligence
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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
Two-Day Mridanga Course – Jan 17-18, 2015 -REGISTRATION CLOSED
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple is very excited to announce that we will be hosting a special two-day mridanga course for anyone and everyone - all ages and mridanga playing levels welcome! The course will be taking place on January 17-18, 2015 from 10:00am to 5:00pm on each day.
The course will be taught by Devala Prabhu, a young, second-generation Hare Krishna youth from Alachua Florida who is a masterful mridanga player. He will be facilitating the two-day course at the temple and everyone is invited.
Course Details:
UPDATE - REGISTRATIONS ARE CLOSED - COURSE IS FULL!
Dates - Saturday, January 17th to Sunday, January 18, 2015
Timings - 10:00am to 5:00pm (both days)
Fee - $70 for both days (lunch included)
Registration - Registration is mandatory and payment must be made before the course date (registration form at the bottom of this post)
Other Notes - please let us know if you will be bringing your own drum or if you need one
Contact - please see poster below for contact information
HG Nityananda Prabhu / CC Madhya 7: The Lord Begins His Tour of South India
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Bhaktin Cath becomes Chitra Devi Dasi! (Album 32 photos)
Srila…
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Bhaktin Cath becomes Chitra Devi Dasi! (Album 32 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: For a devotee, liberation is no problem at all. The impersonalists undergo severe penances and austerities to attain mukti, but the bhakta, simply by engaging himself in the bhakti process, especially in chanting Hare Krishna, immediately develops control over the tongue by engaging it in chanting, and accepting the remnants of foodstuff offered to the Personality of Godhead. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 3.25.33 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/3zvqlM
The following transcriptions have been uploaded.
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If Draupadi was dishonored due to her past karma, why did the Pandavas have to take revenge?
Can grihasthas who want to preach make preaching as their source of livelihood?
How can we stay in the mode of goodness?
How can we understand which mode we are in?
Should we preach to make people ISKCON devotees or to make them better human beings?
Chanting with Stevie Wonder, Dec 2014 (Album 4 photos)
Stevie…
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Chanting with Stevie Wonder, Dec 2014 (Album 4 photos)
Stevie Wonder again invited devotees to participate in his Christmas concert at the Forum. After chanting the Hare Krishna mantra during the Pastime Paradise song we were ready to leave but he sent word that he wanted us to stay for the finale, so we did.
See them here: http://goo.gl/KjxIX6
“Valmiki Ramayana” Book Release at Iskcon Shri Jagannath Mandir,…
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"Valmiki Ramayana" Book Release at Iskcon Shri Jagannath Mandir, Seshadripuram, Bangalore (Album 53 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One who hears the transcendental sound vibration of the holy name of the Lord, Hare Krishna, also improves in health. We have actually seen that many brahmacaris and grhastas connected with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness have improved in health, and a luster has come to their faces. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 3.21.45-47 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/5aj8YY
When Lord Nityananda is pleased, he will tell us how and when to enter Krsna’s Vrndavana-lila
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The post When Lord Nityananda is pleased, he will tell us how and when to enter Krsna’s Vrndavana-lila appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
23 Dec 2014 – Appearance Day of Sri Locana Dasa Thakura
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Ox Barn Renovation Progress at New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
by Vyasasan das
Ox Barn at Bahulaban. Renovations progressing nicely.
A long view of ox barn in progress.
Back in August of this year, I began the overwhelming task of rebuilding the barn at New Vrindaban, West Virginia. As you will be able to see from the following pictures, the neglected barn was sadly in a state of disrepair and dilapidation. The building had been completely abandoned and neglected for over twenty years, and was filled with unspeakable garbage and debris. You could say it was a hazard and an eyesore. Actually the building was scheduled to be torn down…but then a remarkable thing happened. Male bulls started being born here at New Vrindaban. One after another, ten in a row, male bulls were appearing and the oxen program was born.
It was decided at one of the cow meetings that we should have an oxen program, and that teams of oxen should be trained up. It was all very exciting and devotees became enlivened by the prospect of an oxen program. There had been some talk in the past about doing something along these lines, but suddenly with new male cows being born one after another it was time for action.
Varsana Maharaja, asked me one day, if I would take a walk over to the old barn at Bahulaban, and have a look at the building with him. I gladly agreed, and together we looked at the existing structure, and both agreed it looked very good. The barn was built with rough sawn oak timbers, and planking, and it did in fact look very good. Of course there was a lot that needed to be removed, but the basic core was very solid and structurely very sound. So I began to draw up some plans for renovation to present to the New Vrindaban Board to see about getting some financing approved.
Srila Prabhupada and Krsna must have wanted this Oxen Program for New Vrindaban, because there were no obstacles in getting the project underway. So I quickly put a crew together and began the demolition and clean-up.
The Existing Building Before Renovation
The Clean Up
I would like to thank all the persons who helped in the clean up of the building. It was very nasty, dusty, dangerous, laborious work. It took over a month of demolition and clean-up before any actual construction even begun. Those I would especially like to thank are; Varsana Maharaja and Davada Prabhu for the heavy machinery operation. To the crew of dedicated workers, who shoveled and raked and swept up over 17 dump truck loads of garbage and debris, they are; Kevin, Tamala, Okey, and Josh. To Shyam Gopal Prabhu for joining the team for the re-construction, and adding to the spiritual flavor, and a special thanks to Pipalada Prabhu for doing such a nice job in finding a burial home for all this debris.
New Construction
The improvements to the barn include, city water, 200 amp electrical service, new roof and siding, two decks and staircases, hay manger for feeding up to 16 cows or oxen, 5 individual stalls, tact area, machinery and ox cart storage area, and the entire 2nd floor which can later be developed for resident quarters.
For me personally, the most rewarding aspect of the project has been seeing the young oxen move into their new home before the onset of cold weather. The barn no longer smells of dust and debris, but rather the sweet smell of hay and manure is beginning to permeate the new space. Through the hard work, and dedication of the many who labored, a new home for the New Vrindaban Oxen Project has been created.
P.S. If anyone is wondering what I will do after the Building is completed…I would like to start construction on an Ox Cart in my shop this winter. Hare Krishna!
“May cows stay in front of me; may cows stay behind me; may cows stay on both sides of me. May I always reside in the midst of cows.” —Hari Bhakti Vilas 16.252
Srila Prabhupada visiting the cows and calves at the Bahulaban barn, June 1976.
Chart of the Veda
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Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-12-21 01:06:00 →
1974 December 20: "So far others, unfortunately they cannot give any faultless message. Nobody is greater than Bhagavan, Krsna. If we take Krsna's message we will be benefited - otherwise not."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-12-21 01:04:00 →
1974 December 20: "When one associates with one who is in illusion or who is mislead, naturally he will also become influenced by that illusion. So we must pray to Krsna to protect us from such bad association."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
We Should Not Minimize Hearing
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From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
When less is more
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 June 2012, Czech Republic, Caitanya Caritamrta Adi lila 7.83)
Simple devotees are the ones who become advanced. Srila Prabhupada said that Krsna consciousness is so simple that one might just miss it. That is a very nice point because we have to become very simple by giving up our false ego and giving up our false identification. False ego is what we add to our identity, something which is external. Gradually all these things become part of us, “I am that. I am my body, my possessions, my diploma. I am not an ordinary person, I am actually very educated…” We identify with external things in this world and then add them to our glory. It is said that one must give up all material designation, only then can one become free of contamination.
New Gokula
→ Ramai Swami
New Gokula farm looks very beautiful due to the amount of rain that has fallen recently. The cows are happy and devotees are growing vegetables and cultivating gardens.
Also, the new preaching centre in Newcastle, the Bhakti Tree, is nearing completion. A lot of renovation has gone into making a commercial kitchen and nice program area.
HG Daru Krsna Prabhu / SB 10.74.18
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Daily-Bhagavatam 65 – 11.07.55 – Don’t expect the future to be a continuation of the comfortable present
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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
Join us with your family & friends for this Sunday, December 21th,2014 from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Hear and associate with Her Grace Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi
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Sunday Love Feast | ||||||||||||||||||
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Putrada
Bhakta Santa is coming to town
New Year's Eve
Indian Classical Dance Classes
Gita 18.62 – Let every mantra offer our heart’s surrender to Krishna
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Holy Name Meditation Podcast:
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Have a look at where Radha Syama are now
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Wednesday, December 17th, 2014
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Saranagati Village, BC
You Canʼt Miss the Mist
Some of the mist was tucked between mountains. Some had escaped and softly drifted into higher heights. For the most part the sun was the king today as it gazed over a silent world of green snow. I had just completed giving a class at the elementary school on my recollections of Yamuna devi, a saintly woman who had resided in this valley.
She passed away three years ago today.
Phoebe the dog accompanied me on my trek through the valley as I visited households. When it came to the team of goats that Francis herds, Phoebe, in her efforts to get to know them, would slowly nose her way towards them. Once she would get real close, she wasnʼt sure, and sheʼd jolt backwards. Goats have these marble-like eyes, almost transparent. Youʼre not quite feeling they actually are looking at you. Phoebe would just freak each time the dozen or so spooky-eyed creatures came in close proximity.
Eventually Phoebe abandoned me once I visited Sarvaʼs house. As Sarva and I chatted about this medic work he does up north, we could see Phoebe outside taking the last of Sarvaʼs brick of ice cream, which was in the perfect fridge lain on the snow. A good at that and Phoebe decided itʼs time to go, while Sarva thought nothing of losing his dessert.
My day wound up at Yamunaʼs house. Now uninhabited, this straw-bale built home, was the cozy gathering for the release of her biography by thirty-eight year partner, Dinatarini. Yamuna had a full life, so the book reveals, according to Kartamasa the presenter. A slide show highlighting the pictorial contents of this smart-looking publication became the charmed promotion of the text.
I remember Yamuna as the major anchor, the pure stabilizing factor for the devotees in the valley. Her experience and seniority, along with Dina, gave the place a family feel. Her presence, which still exists, along with the students of the Govardhana Academy as well as the group in between make Saranagati a very “whole” community.
May the source be with you!
5 KM
You Canʼt Miss the Mist
Some of the mist was tucked between mountains. Some had escaped and softly drifted into higher heights. For the most part the sun was the king today as it gazed over a silent world of green snow. I had just completed giving a class at the elementary school on my recollections of Yamuna devi, a saintly woman who had resided in this valley.
She passed away three years ago today.
Phoebe the dog accompanied me on my trek through the valley as I visited households. When it came to the team of goats that Francis herds, Phoebe, in her efforts to get to know them, would slowly nose her way towards them. Once she would get real close, she wasnʼt sure, and sheʼd jolt backwards. Goats have these marble-like eyes, almost transparent. Youʼre not quite feeling they actually are looking at you. Phoebe would just freak each time the dozen or so spooky-eyed creatures came in close proximity.
Eventually Phoebe abandoned me once I visited Sarvaʼs house. As Sarva and I chatted about this medic work he does up north, we could see Phoebe outside taking the last of Sarvaʼs brick of ice cream, which was in the perfect fridge lain on the snow. A good at that and Phoebe decided itʼs time to go, while Sarva thought nothing of losing his dessert.
My day wound up at Yamunaʼs house. Now uninhabited, this straw-bale built home, was the cozy gathering for the release of her biography by thirty-eight year partner, Dinatarini. Yamuna had a full life, so the book reveals, according to Kartamasa the presenter. A slide show highlighting the pictorial contents of this smart-looking publication became the charmed promotion of the text.
I remember Yamuna as the major anchor, the pure stabilizing factor for the devotees in the valley. Her experience and seniority, along with Dina, gave the place a family feel. Her presence, which still exists, along with the students of the Govardhana Academy as well as the group in between make Saranagati a very “whole” community.
May the source be with you!
5 KM
Tuesday, December 16th, 2014
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Saranagati Village, BC
Let me Stretch
I am back in mountain air, dry and clean. While my greeters / drivers, couple Manu das and Satarupa dasi, drove me from the city of Kamloops to Venables Valley, we stopped for motor oil. Their young 8 year old, Nikunja Bihari, and I, took the road for a short stretch. Why wait for the purchase? Let me stretch. I have gone through three airports before I met this family, just sitting around. Let’s take advantage of the opportunity.
Nikunja and I extended our little game, I spy with my little eye, something that is...RED. This was engaging as much as the walk. What I admired about today was the light sprinkle of snow cast over the barren mountains. Yes, I spy with my little eye, the beauty of nature. Once reaching the valley, and the village of Saranagati, Manu and I added a trek towards his new work-in-progress home, built solidly of Douglas fir. This area of greater green is graced with mostly coniferous trees. I was happy to hear the pine beetle was less of an issue. They appear to operate in cycles. Their ravaging of pine and spruce has drastically decreased. Then, at a dear friends, Kripanidhi’s home, the community converged for a Krishna Conscious group’s usual, some chanting, followed by a discussion on the Gita’s verse; param drstva nivartate, about the higher taste in sound.
May the source be with you!
5 KM
Monday, December 15th, 2014
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Edmonton, Alberta
Improve
Sudama Gopa is one of the two local pujaris at the Radha Govinda Cultural Centre, and he was kind enough to drive me at opening hours, 5:30 am to the rec centre. I learned later that is was the same time as the morning arati, the ceremony to honor Krishna. We both missed that event but, as usual, my walking, this time again at an indoor track, would prove to be spiritual nevertheless.
As long as chanting or divine contemplation takes place as legs move forward, you have got a spiritual program. Moving at a good clip, Sudama stuck right next to me, then he slowly ended up following behind. Then he just disappeared. Eventually he reappeared. Adventure got the better of him (or perhaps my pacing was too high gear). He made his way to one of the numerous gadgets you can use to “workout”. Anyways, all was done in an effort to trim down and reshape flesh. In the evening we had a session to fine-tune our approach to precious kirtan. The effort here is in tweaking the ancient practice of devotional music. It was really just a warm-up to a future more evolved presentation that I will make. What I find here in Edmonton is that our community is wanting and willing to know how to improve their lives through improving kirtan.
May the source be with you!
7 KM
Gita 02.68 – Be a soul-deliverer, not a soul-killer
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Gita verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
Please keep Nassasira Prabhu in your prayers.
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Please keep Nassasira Prabhu in your prayers.Timeline PhotosToday my Gurumaharaja sent me a message to say that my dear Godbrother Nasasira Livingstone from Mbarara in Uganda, a blissful gausevak who had started a project to protect the Ankole cattle i... Continue reading
Gita 02.67 – Be swept by the wind of spiritual desire, not material desire
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Gita verse-by-verse Study Podcast: