Unity in Diversity
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By Visakha Dasi

When dissimilar individuals or concepts are harmonised, it’s called ‘unity in diversity.’ Such unity isn’t based on mere tolerance of psychological, personal, or ideological differences but is based on an understanding that differences are natural and can enrich us. Discovering how we’re united despite our differences can make us more fulfilled, broader devotees of Krishna. This sort of unity doesn’t mean uniformity and this sort of diversity doesn’t mean fragmentation. In Srila Prabhupada words, “In the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. Continue reading "Unity in Diversity
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Unity in Diversity
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Image: ISKCON Dallas, 2019 (ISKCON News Archives)   We would especially like to hear from you about Unity in Diversity in terms of your experiences and understanding of Srila Prabhupada. Perhaps how you heard him talk about this, or how he put it into practice.    Srila Prabhupada Evokes Unity in Diversity When dissimilar individuals […]

The post Unity in Diversity appeared first on ISKCON News.

UPDATED: Ukraine Update with Niranjana Swami 2022-11-05
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On November 5th, 2022 a one-hour special conversation with Niranjana Swami, ISKCON Governing Body Commissioner, took place to learn about the current status of Hare Krishna devotees in Ukraine, the challenges they face, and how we can help. Maharaj shared many of the stories and the plight of the Ukrainian devotees. The situation in Ukraine […]

The post UPDATED: Ukraine Update with Niranjana Swami 2022-11-05 appeared first on ISKCON News.

Wednesday, November 02, 2022
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Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto

Looking After Each Other

At our weekly leaders meeting we always open up with a reading over Zoom. Today, it was my turn to read. I chose a passage from a letter our guru, Prabhupada, wrote in 1974 to his student/disciple, Sukadev, regarding devotee care. This is the heart of the letter, dated April 5th:

“First of all, there is no question of a devotee being ostracized because he has become ill, nor do I think this is being widely practiced. Who has been ostracized? One of the symptoms of a devotee is that he is kind, so if our Godbrother becomes ill, it is our duty to help him get the proper medicine and treatment so that he can recover. Recently, our Giriraja became chronically ill in India and had to return to the U.S. for proper medical treatment. There, in our Los Angeles center, he was given his own room, and was able to recuperate comfortably, and now he has returned to his full duties in Bombay… So, there is no question of ill treating our Godbrothers simply because they are sick, nor should you allow such neglect to go on. So long we have this material body there will be sickness, but we have to remain on the transcendental platform nevertheless.” The letter does go on and I read it through to its entirety, but here I’ve kept to the essential point about looking out for each other.

On this day, I could see through the temple/ashram affairs that each resident was more or less looking out for each other and for newcomers as well. When our group went for chanting in the park everyone did so while being kind. Cecilia heard our chanting from the distance and wanted to be part of it. She gravitated to us, sat down, joined and was looked after.

May the Source be with you!


 

Tuesday, November 01, 2022
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Hidden Valley Park, Burlington

Hidden Valley

There are these hidden treasures that commuters on major highways are unaware of, as their routine command, they remain on routes of monotony. I’m referring to those tucked away pieces of paradise; waterways that cut through the terrain to reach their final destination, after a twisty journey, to massive Lake Ontario.

Myself and our group of Bhakti Academy met in Burlington, population 206,000, with Jagannatha Misra, president of ISKCON in that city, and then made our way to Hidden Valley Park along Grindstone Creek for our outing for the day. Five minutes of walking into that wooded area and we met a young man working for the parks system who was trying to get some blueprints to behave in the tossing breeze.

“Do you need some help holding those down?” I asked.

“No thanks”, said the smiling chap.

“Are you doing some work on the creek?” indicating that the city may be using some tax dollars to protect our green and natural spaces. Personally, I always feel protected when I see governments use some finance for this cause.

“Yes,” replied the worker. “We are endeavoring to check erosion and that sort of thing.”

“Good luck! Hare Krishna!”

As we moved further on, we felt the creek’s presence until we came to a lengthy boardwalk, which allowed nature lovers to transcend the swamps. The trip was all so fine. It is easy to reflect on Krishna in such sublime surroundings. We were soaking up all such great features of nature and also connecting with people (trail blazing freaks) who are just like us.

May the Source be with you!

6km




 

Monday, October 31, 2022
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Christie Pits, Toronto

The Actual Key

It’s good to be gone. It’s good to be home. In truth all places are home because wherever you make yourself comfortable in devotional service that is home. That’s easy to say because I move about mainly in a free world. What if I were stuck in a place of war like Ukraine, or in a region where there is little tolerance of our belief? What if I resided in a country of poverty, hard to get a proper meal? In such places my sadhana could easily suffer.

The actual key to a constant bhaktipractice that is likely less to shake up our endeavours is through good sangha, association. The success of our devotional activities depends on this. It is critical in the beginning stages, as well as in our developing stages and to the end.

Personally, I would not have survived if it wasn’t for five monks (brahmacharis) who took interest in my devotional life when I was an art student. And up to the present I have my amigos whom I keep in touch with.

I ventured off for a much-needed walk in a drizzly, warm evening blessed by the residents of my living quarters. I passed by people dressed in costume while on their Halloween trick-or-treat ventures. To some pedestrians I’m sure I was mistaken for being part of the masquerade. After a trek I came back being blessed again by that incredible ongoing presence of devotees. It was late – 10:30pm – but I felt sheltered when just one of those honey-roasted saints was there to greet me upon my return.

May the Source be with you!

6km


 

Sunday, October 30, 2022
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Winnipeg, Manitoba

Last Day in Winni

Winnipeg has so few hills, but since I arrived, I have been contemplating and shaping up a poem about a hill, Govardhana, which is held sacred in India, attracting people from all over the globe. The poem:

 

The Living Hill

 

The god of rain, Indra, became extremely irate

Pride is often the big part of his game

With thunder, clouds and lightning so great

He exerts this power to maintain fame

 

What incited him so was a talkative child

Who put his village on a paradigm shift

Instead of a day to honour a god so wild

The boy proposed a new direction, creating the rift

 

The boy was opposed to the poor watering this god does

That rivers, lakes, oceans already have a supply

That he’s off target which should cause one to pause

“Better to honour the green hill nearby

 

We benefit from its many grasses and plants

Food for our animals and food for us

To the hill, cows and brahmans we give thanks

With a feast and a fest with so little fuss”

 

The villagers agreed to this new concept

But the god of rain was vengeful indeed

In response to the boy’s challenging precept

Indra released his weapons with speed

 

The downpour of rain was very devastating

It came down like cold, wet pillars of pain

The cries for help were unhesitating

The boy acted swiftly with ease and no strain

 

Placing his hands at the base of the hill

And working his way under the heavy mound

He lifted it with the valour of a hero’s thrill

While under its shelter came souls from all around

 

The deluge of water lasted seven long days

Amazed and saved were inhabitants of the town

Who were spared of shameful Indra’s craze

As the boy’s incredible feat put his pride down

 

All was restored to normal for a day in the life

A jealous god was humbled, all were happy too

As well as the living hill that became so light

By the strength of the boy, Krishna, of a dark hue

 

Our story hails from five millenia past

When Krishna was offered a deserved arm massage

The volume of miracles continues to last

By Govardhan hill, which is not a mirage

-          Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk©

 

May the Source be with you!

6km



 

Saturday, October 29, 2022
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Winnipeg, Manitoba

Manitoba Mice and Men

It is that time of the year when leaves are descending, but geese are ascending and soaring to the south in their V formation. Ah, yes, V for Vishnu. Thanks for the reminder, guys. Your honking sound is well noticed by those of us making the trails in King’s Park. What splendour there is in all we see, including a woodpecker who allowed me to come so close. The Assiniboine River is humble as it is low; a notable message we are able to take in as a component to the natural splendour of God.

Much happened this day, which included a tour by Shrey at the campus of UOM.  The boys are looking at prospects for festival facilities. I also had the opportunity to see Carolin, who, years ago, had sewn a set of clothes for me out of comfortable hemp. She specializes in baking breads from ancient grains, most notably delicious scones. And while chatting with her and sharing some of my poetry, I met an old friend on his skateboard in the back of the Millennial Library. He’s half indigenous and half east Indian. He offered me a small piece of moose hide signifying a commitment to honour, respect and protect women and children and work together with other men and boys to end violence in that direction. I wore that symbol as part of a campaign for the remainder of the day (and will do so for the coming days). Indeed, questions were lodged about that piece of square fabric at our Govardhan feast.

As in my last visit to Winnipeg, I met Phil, a bhakti enthusiast and friend from forty-five years ago.  His son, Kyle, a law student, is so bright. He told me he acted as Lennie from “Of Mice and Men”. Here’s a message again, or a question: Are you a mouse or a man?

May the Source be with you!

5km





 

Friday, October 28, 2022
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Winnipeg, Manitoba

Grave Mood

I’ve been catching up with old friends, getting acquainted with new people, and with trees and with rivers both of the latter being old. Trees and waterways have been around for centuries. Rivers, for instance, change their course; somewhat like the Red and the Assiniboine. The water level is rather low. Like in many North American cities, there is a homeless factor in Winnipeg. Temporary tarp structures are the houses lined up along the city rivers for a good number of people. I never saw that dynamic in my childhood, but it is common enough now in urban developments.

When it comes to the bhakticulture in Winnipeg, I think it leads the way for establishing a program for international students in the realm of devotion. I’m impressed and I’ve spent some time with those students all of whom are rather serious about some form of sadhana, which includes chanting and organizing events of a spiritual nature.

Naturally, I spoke to the students Abhi, Kaushal, Arpan, Subham and Guru Gauranga about the good fortune they are reaping and that the credit goes to our guru, Prabhupada. We were setting the tone towards appreciation of Prabhupada on this anniversary of his passing.

We carried the same grave mood at Vrnda’s when Greg, a music teacher, Daniel, another music preceptor, Emily, a yoga teacher and Justin, just retired from the army, all heard something great about Prabhupada, who changed so many lives.

May the Source be with you!

9km



 

Thursday, October 27, 2022
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St. Vital, Manitoba

Student Homes

I spent the day visiting Krishna Bhakti students at their homes. It is inspiring to see their love and commitment to Krishna, their work, their school and their parents. I also had the pleasure to walk along Red River at St. Vital Park. Lots of geese in the pond. Since arriving in Manitoba all households that I visit, they conduct a beautiful ceremony to honour Damodara (Krishna) with ghee lamps.

We were at the dawn of our guru’s anniversary of his passing. My poem, in his honour, follows. Prabhupada ki, jaya! 

 

Reflect Reflect

 

Reflect, reflect on His Divine Grace

Mirror the values he’s put into place

Set into practice what he’s left us

Deliberate on his love, then discuss

Evermore is this our obligation

Of commitment and unbroken dedication

May we shine in his powerful glow

Like the formation of crystal soft snow

Clean and clear directions he’s given

Moving us until we’re self-driven

Let us act with the same heart

With the same vision and make it our art

-          Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk©

 

May the Source be with you!

4km


 

Wednesday, October 26, 2022
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Winnipeg, Manitoba

Busy in the Air

Last Sunday when I flew out to North Ontario, sitting next to me across the aisle was a man, possibly in his thirties, who had his sketchbook out. For that hour-and-a-half I watched from the corner of my eye seeing this guy whipping out page after page of just gorgeous designs coming out of his drawing pen. I envied him on two counts; one is that he was so damn good at what he was doing because each sketch carried a different theme; two is that he was just keeping himself busy, engaged in something productive. It was inspiring.

Now today, enroute to Winnipeg, across the way in the aisle next to me was an elderly man. He was bespeckled and had a plaid shirt and suspenders were holding up his jeans. He had that all-time farmer’s look. Well, he was busying himself at a crossword puzzle. At the top corner of the left hand page was the name “Tom Selleck,” and I was charmed that he was going about his work using his brain.

To my right was a woman who insisted on coughing practically the whole time. She was busy, for sure, with her Kleenex tissues.

I was committed from the start of the flight to work on my poetry. It had dawned on me that I write something about the recent celebration honouring Krishna’s lifting Govardhan Hill. What a unique story it is! I wanted to tell the story, get it to rhyme and add it to my repertoire.

I finally landed after, once again, an hour-and-a-half flight, and was driven to Lorette, Manitoba, to stay at Tarun’s home. I couldn’t resist taking a photo of the sun setting behind the trees.

May the Source be with you!


 

Tuesday, October 25, 2022
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Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Fall Get Together

If you live in the state of bhakti, or devotion, then every day is special but if you follow tradition in bhakti, then it’s special special. By the Vedic calendar Krishna is remembered this day and it also has something to do with a famous hill called Govardhan. You can catch some of us saying, “Happy Giri Govardhan” and celebrating this time with food, especially sweets.

I, for one, I am not big on the sweets. In fact, since I’ve been in Thunder Bay I’ve stuck to my boiled asparagus and wraps with hummus and fresh veggies. For the crowd that showed up at the center to celebrate, members of the community volunteer to cook. Usually when it comes to numbers the men do the quantitative but it is nice to see a collective effort in the preparing and packaging of a wholesome meal. There are students and working folks with their kids that came. When I spoke with attendees on the Bhagavatam in my hand, I was actually surprised that one of the food items served in the original feast five millennia ago was a prep called supa, which is a vegetable broth. In other words, “soup.”

No doubt the talk also contained philosophical content, and we didn’t only indulge in food in word or consumption. The festivity involved an arati, or offering, with lamps, song and dance. One of the members, Rajini Agarwal, won in the election the previous day as city council at large and came to expressed gratitude over the mic. Also, the mayor, who was set to come, Ken Boshcoff, didn’t quite make it but has attended our event previously with enthusiasm. Oh, and fireworks, outdoors, concluded the fest.

May the source be with you!

4 km


 

Monday, October 24, 2022
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Thunder Bay, Ontario

Fragmented Trail

I must admit that I get quite excited when I see the signage for “The Great Trail,” which flows like a ribbon throughout Canada for a length of over 20,000 km. Well, that trail runs right next to the Vedic Cultural Center, where I’m staying. My challenge is putting the dots together in terms of finding how the trail stays connected. I have just completed doing the book launch at the Mary Black Library where I told Prem that I will find my way back to the center with the hope that I could see the continuity of this path. Well, I succeeded! It’s not easy to link all the pieces together. There just isn’t enough signage.

I met Noland on the way, a young curious guy. “I don’t see monks around here very much. It’s a pleasure.” We shook hands. He mentioned that he’s trying to stay out of trouble.

“So, you mean you have been in trouble before?”

Nolan admitted to that. I invited him to our Diwali program tonight, for a spiritual experience and some blessed food. He said he would try to oblige. It turned out that he didn’t come. You can’t always get your hopes up too high, however, a fair number of people did come and I was also fortunate to keep up the biweekly Zoom call with our Gita Chat, in communication with our west coast devotees. It’s always a pleasure. As I mentioned to Nolan, “Life is great in the fast lane of spiritual life. I stepped into a monastery/ashram fifty years ago to become a monk. I never left that vocation but only put in a few walks here and there!”

May the Source be with you!

6 km


 

Sunday, October 23, 2022
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Thunder Bay, Ontario

Up North

I came down the ramp from a pleasant flight after a tense long lineup at the Toronto airport, to arrive at a signage indicating “Small city, big opportunities.” The place is Thunder Bay with a population of 108,000 and is unique in Canada because, as a walker across this vast country, all roads and trails appear to channel through this place. Being situated at the head-point of massive Lake Superior, it can make that claim as a fairly remote northern destination.

Prem Kishor, who has successfully landed a marvelous project; Vedic Cultural Center (ISKCON), in the city, picked me up to prepare for a presentation at their Sunday program. Prem’s wife, Suniti, is 50% of the powerhouse behind the project, which is not only a place for mantras and worship but the building houses Fairway Physiotherapy, making it a wellness center for cancer patients and yoga students. Imagine that, you have all this wellness/goodness under one roof.

I met Brian, 75, who remembers me from 1973, when I first joined ISKCON and became a monk in Toronto. I also met Myles, born in the north, from Wawa, and having a knack as a horticulturist, who brings flowers for Krishna for every visit. There is also Gaurav and a host of his friends, either international students from India or settled down employees from India, some of them are here to stay in the city of opportunities.

Seeing that most of these regulars at the Sunday feast are young, bright and energetic I engaged them in bhaktisong-and-dance after a talk on the fundamentals of the Bhagavad-Gita; the dialogue that enriches lives.

May the Source be with you!

0 km



 

Saturday, October 22, 2022
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Stouffville/Brampton

With the Leaves

Today was the day for mingling and service together with our congregates in the greater Toronto area and it was most rewarding and fun. The first occasion of devotional joy took place at the home of Kishor Mani for an eight-hour chanting session, which wasn’t consistent but interrupted, intentionally, by eating and also by some poetry reading by myself.

Kishor’s son, Arnav, who’s just a young guy, is a chess champ, taking him all over the world for chess championships, was kind to me by leading me to some trails in Ballantrae County nearby the house. The ambience of those autumn colors made me think of the lyrics of Nat King Cole’s song, “the falling leaves depicted by the window / the autumn leaves of red and gold.” Like most of his songs that I grew up with, it carries a romantic edge, so, as a bhakti yogi, I translate such nuances of love as the love for Krishna.

One other way to view the falling leaves is to parallel this dynamic to the souls that fall from grace from the spiritual realm, looking to an adventure with maya, illusion. One other consideration on this analogy is that when one disconnects from the trunk and branches of a tree, one dries up. However, once the leaves have fallen, over the months, they provide excellent compost for the tree to be nourished by. In other words, we are never useless even when we make the iconic fall. One can always serve.

My last visit for the day was at Prashant’s home. Twenty years ago I engaged him in a drama. He and his brother were my actors. It was great to reconnect.

May the Source be with you!

3 km


 

Friday, October 21, 2022
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City Archives, Toronto

Bathing in the Sun

We were bathing in the sun, sitting in a circle under a maple tree. How perfect does that sound? Moreover we were singing with drum, hand symbols, tambourine and at her Majesty’s park, called Queen’s Park, when a young man with the brightest smile exceeded all this positivity. He waved his hand. So did we. We were just about to pack up and terminate the kirtan chanting. That means gathering the musical instruments, our yoga mats and ourselves but meeting Mr. Optimist dragged out that process.

“How’s it going?” asked Brhat, our Bhakti Academy coordinator.

“Greet!” replied the young man.

“Where are you from?” I asked.

“From Detroit but I work here (Toronto).”

Then I began to say, “Motortown.” He loved it when I said that. “Your city has a chance to spring back and be the beacon of the world, like it once was.”

“Yeah, through urban farming. And a lot of artists are moving back into the once inner city.” Naturally I was reflecting on how that was our guru’s dream. Prabhupada was for self sufficiency, such as growing your own food.

Meeting our new-made friend, whose name I shamefully forgot, made our day. He went away with a Gita, which Kunti handed to him and, of course, an invitation to our temple ashramand restaurant.

Our chanting under the tree wasn’t particularly strong today, I felt, but connecting with Mr. Optimist lifted our spirits like anything. After all, the foundation of life is happiness through service.

From the tree I paid a visit to the city archives to research any foundational floor plans and pics of our historic temple building. I discovered stuff.

May the source be with you!

6 km


 

Thursday, October 20, 2022
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243 Avenue Rd., Toronto

Moving Without Legs

I can’t report anything about foot travel today. It just didn’t happen. I can, however, say something about psychic travel for the hours on this October 20th. Apart from a fun dance and chant session our ashram-ites enjoyed in terms of body movement, I was also party to some mobility, subtle as it may have been, with human soul, mind or spirit this was a reading and discussion from the Gita. In this regard to our guru, Prabhupada, can best explaine from his illuminating purports from verse 13.22. I’ll let him do the speaking from these excerpts to do with travel through reincarnation:

“… the living entity is transmigrating from one body to another just as one changes dress. This change of dress is due to his attachment to material existence… Under the influence of material desire, the entity is born sometimes as a demigod, sometimes as a man, sometimes as a beast, as a bird, as a worm, as an aquatic, as a saintly man, as a bug.” (Oh my!)

Here’s more:

“How he is put into such different bodies is explained here. It is due to association with the different modes of nature.”

He then says, “One has to rise… above.”

I just thought it interesting that Prabhupada reiterates the point about how “want” proceeds our travel throughout this statement, “material consciousness will oblige one to transfer from one body to another because one has material desires since time immemorial.”

My conclusion is that desire is a powerful force. It brings you to places.

May the Source be with you!

0 km


 

Wednesday, October 19, 2022
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Mississauga, Ontario

Bad News

News came today of a young monk (brahmachari) Jai Nitai, being hit by a two-wheeler and dying, while on his return from the holy place Radha Kund, near Vrindavan, India. Condolences to his family and friends. Blessings and prayers to his soul. Here, once again, we hear of a tragedy that most likely could have been avoided. I am assuming that the two-wheeler, as what was reported, was the culprit, or rather its driver – a motor bike no doubt.

I am not a fan of anything fast paced and mechanical. They kill people prematurely.

In the spirit of walking, I asked Sai to stop the car after a warm chanting session at Sevananda’s home, in order for me to walk the remainder of the stretch back to the ashram. At location Ellington and Allen everything begins with a great trail called Cedarvale. It was 9:45 PM, dark and a drizzle pervaded but I felt safe in solitude with trees on either side of me. For the entire hour not one human soul crossed my path, although I wouldn’t have minded seeing someone with legs as their engine. It was just me and the mantra, with my japabeads as my companion. The distance was 5 km from the starting point to the ashramand that was accomplished in one hour, making my pace the same as when I began my marathon walks back in the mid ’90s. It’s merely a milestone for me.

Today I also heard from Adam, from Alaska, who interviewed me back in mid August for radio.

May the Source be with you!

5 km


 

Tuesday, October 18, 2022
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Rouge River, Toronto

Gems

Rouge National Urban Park is a real gem located in the east end of the city of Toronto. To my understanding it is one of the largest green spaces in a major city in North America. Recently there have been bear sightings in the area. Unfortunately (or fortunately) our group from the Bhakti Academy didn’t see any, although I did take home a tick crawling on my dhoti (lower robe).

This might be the last of our outings for the group this season before late autumn chills set in. For today the scenery is spectacular with the color so intense this autumn. Walking, as in taking a forest bath, is one of the best things you can do for physical and mental well-being. I believe it offers a nice balance to life and I encourage all bhakti yogis to take time in rural urban areas. Most people live in cities and so it is a great treasure to have nearby these national wonders like wild parks.

The walk, which was not long, was just great and so was my evening. The Zoom discussion from the Gita, verse 3.36 and 37, addressed the force that most affects us. Arjuna asked Krishna about the force that compels us to do wrongful things when our intent is essentially good. Krishna’s answer is that desire, which comes in various forms, is born of passion and then leads to ignorance. This is what slows down human progress. On Tuesday night, like all the Zoom groups I’ve plugged into, it was a joyous experience for me as always. They keep me on my toes, my working toes. The Zoom groups are precious stones.

May the Source be with you!

4 km


 

Monday, October 17, 2022
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Huntsville, Ontario

Charging Up Yourself

Our visiting monk (swami) from Belgium is Bhakta Prabhava Swami, and he was emphasizing at one portion of the Bhagavatam class the importance of sadhu sangha, which means to be in the right company. We all do find ourselves in the situation of the person next to you at work, school or recreation to be not always the best association, therefore downtime is needed through some moments of solitude. A second approach would be to reach out to the acquaintances that you have known to excite and enthuse you.

If I am feeling a little low in the eagerness department I will physically go, or give a call to my favorite optimist. To some degree my role as a monk or swami is to provide reassurance to others. It seems everyone needs support. So today I tried my best to offer that in four different locations.

Huntsville is two and a half hours north of Toronto and we have begun our project there on its main street. Two old movie theatres are being converted into a Govinda’s Restaurant, a temple and some residences. The generous benefactor, Lajpat and sons were there to get some of my encouragement. A number of us behind the project were there to enthuse the work contractor and his coworkers. What a group they are! What a positive attitude!

Bracebridge was a stopover place, which is in the heart of cottage country. Here we have the Patel clan, all committed to Krishna. Then Barrie and Orillia have devotees, also whom we went to see to offer a sense of spiritual encouragement. One of the families runs a convenience store and they were just thrilled that a monk would come to their shop, “To bless the place” as they put it.

May the Source be with you!

2 km


 

WSN September 2022 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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By Vijaya Das

September was a huge month for book distribution. Among the Large Temples, Chowpatti increased 988%, with 61,586 book points, but this was not even close to Mayapur, which was in first place with an astounding 316,250 book points. In second place, Juhu had another amazing month, with 126,777 book points. What a great month for all three large temples! Among the Medium Temples, Sydney-North had an unusually big month, with a 141% increase and 12,047 book points. London also did huge, with 8,602 book points, a 195% increase. Dallas was not far behind London, with 8,366 book points, an increase of 683% (the devotees in the Lone Star state are getting serious). Among the Small Temples Atlanta Krsna Life is really alive in book distribution, with 30,883 book points. In India, Rajkot had the biggest increase, 999%, with 18,013 book points. The leading Maha-Small temple, Porto Alegre, with 967 book points, is keeping book distribution alive in Brazil. Continue reading "WSN September 2022 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji Disappearance
→ Ramai Swami

Paramahamsa Srila Gaura Kisora Das Babaji Maharaj was born into a Vaisya family on the banks of the Padma River in Bagayana village in Faridpur district in what is now Bangladesh.

The names of his parents are unknown. His given name was Vamsi Das. He was born sometime in the middle of the nineteenth century. He is important to us because he was the diksha guru of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada.

Vamsi Das’s parents had him married at an early age according to the custom of the time, but always remained detached from householder life. His main interest was always worshiping the Lord. When his wife died, he left home and went to Vrindavan where he took the paramahamsa-vesa from Bhagavata Das Babaji (a disciple of Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj) and took the name Gaura Kisora Das Babaji.

After being initiated into the Babaji order, Gaura Kisora Das spent thirty years in Vraja engaged in intense religious practice. He also travelled outside of the Vraja area, visiting northern India and Bengal. While in the East, he met many of the leading Vaishnavas of Bengal and Orissa, such as Svarupa Das Babaji of Puri, Bhagavan Das Babaji of Kalna and Chaitanya Das Babaji of Kuliya.

In 1893, when the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was inaugurated at the Sri Mayapur Yoga Pith, Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj ordered him to stay in Nabadwip. This is where Gaura Kisora remained for the rest of his life. He saw all the residents of Nabadwip with transcendental eyes, considering them to be divine beings. He thus accepted madhukari from them, cooking everything in a rejected clay bowl. It is said that sometimes he would subsist on nothing but Ganges water and mud. 

In 1898 AD, Gaura Kisora Das Babaji Maharaj met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur for the first time at Svananda-sukhad-kunja in Godrumadvipa. Saraswati Thakur was enchanted by Babaji Maharaj’s heartfelt emotional kirtan. He wrote the kirtan down and later taught it to his own disciples. The song describes Raghunath Das Goswami’s ecstatic separation from Radha.

In January 1900, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur took initiation from Gaura Kisora Das Babaji on the instructions of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur. Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati was Babaji Maharaj’s only disciple. Babaji Maharaj was an anchorite who had sworn not to take any disciples, but he was forced to change his decision when he saw Saraswati Thakur’s determination and devotion.

Babaji Maharaj was an expert judge of character and had highly-developed foresight and clairvoyance, often foretelling events in the distant future.

On the 30th of Karttik in 1322 (Bengali ’ 1915 AD), Paramahamsa Srila Gaura Kisora Das Babaji entered the eternal pastimes of the Lord. At the time, he was residing at Ranira Dharma-sala in Kuliya. When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur received the news of his disappearance, he was overcome with feelings of separation from his guru and immediately hurried to the site of his departure.

On the first day of Agrahayan in Kuliya’s Nutana Cara, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur performed the samadhi rites for Srila Gaura Kisora Das Babaji according to Vaishnava Smrti injunctions.

During the Ganges floods one season, the samadhi temple was washed into the river. On the 5th of Bhadra, 1339 Bengali (1932 AD) Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur retrieved some of his remains from the Ganges bed and took them to the Chaitanya Math where he established a samadhi temple on the banks of Radha Kunda.

The site was consecrated on the 2nd of Asvina, 1339 and in the course of time, a small temple housing a murti of Gaura Kisora Das Babaji was constructed there. The murti’s nitya-seva has continued ever since.

Srila Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji’s Disappearance Day
Giriraj Swami

Today is the disappearance day of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was a great devotee—a maha-bhagavata. He was a disciple of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and was very renounced. Earlier, he lived for many years in Vrindavan, roaming the twelve forests, chanting the holy names of Krishna, begging alms, and sleeping under trees. Later, after Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered Lord Chaitanya’s birthplace in Mayapur, Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, the siksa-guru of Bhaktivinoda Thakura and parama-guru of Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, instructed Gaurakisora to move to Navadvipa-dhama.

There Gaurakisora resided on the banks of the Ganges and practiced devotional service with intense devotion and renunciation. Because materialistic men would come and disturb him with their desires for mundane blessings (asirvada), the babaji began to stay by a municipal lavatory, where the filth and obnoxious smells would discourage unwanted visitors. There he would chant in peace—in ecstasy. He would beg alms and cook in discarded clay pots, or eat parched rice with green chilies, or just ingest Ganges mud. Sometimes he would collect the discarded cloth from the crematorium, wash it in Ganges water, and use it to cover himself. His only desire was to be absorbed in the mellow of the holy name—in Krishna consciousness.

Gaurakisora was a siksa disciple and intimate friend of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. The Thakura arranged a bhajana-kutira for him on the same property as his own house in Godruma-dvipa. When the time came for Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to take diksa, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura advised him to approach Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was the father of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and his first instructor in the spiritual science, but the etiquette was that one would not take diksa from one’s biological father. So Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura sent him to Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was highly literate. By the age of seven, he had memorized the entire Bhagavad-gita and could even explain its verses. He had a photographic memory, and in school he read all the books in the library. Just by reading them once, he could remember every word, and so the library purchased new books just for him. By the age of twenty-five, he had written numerous articles and published one book, Surya-siddhanta, for which he was awarded the title Siddhanta Sarasvati. So, he was highly educated and literate, and Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja was hardly educated or literate at all.

The first time Siddhanta Sarasvati approached Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, the babaji refused to accept him. He didn’t directly say no, but he said, “I will ask Mahaprabhu.” When Siddhanta Sarasvati returned and told his father what had happened, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura encouraged him to persevere: “You must go back and beg him with all humility and earnestness to accept you.” So, he went back, but Gaurakisora dasa Babaji again refused, saying, “Oh, I forgot to ask Mahaprabhu. I am so sorry.” When Siddhanta Sarasvati returned home, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was most upset. He knew that Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was a pure devotee, a maha-bhagavata, and he urged Siddhanta Sarasvati to persist. He again instructed his son to beg Gaurakisora for his mercy, and he added, “If you fail this time, don’t bother to come back home.”

So, Siddhanta Sarasvati left the house and went to the Ganges. He felt so hopeless, he thought he might as well just drown himself in the river. Just then, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja appeared; he knew what was in his future disciple’s heart. Siddhanta Sarasvati just threw himself at Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji’s lotus feet in abject humility and complete surrender. Finally, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji accepted him. Siddhanta Sarasvati had shown that he was free from any tinge of false pride for being so learned and literate when his guru was uneducated.

Srila Prabhupada remarked that Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was illiterate and could not even sign his name, yet he became the spiritual master of Sarasvati Thakura, the best scholar of his time. And thus he proved the statement of the Vedas:

yasya deve para bhaktir
  yatha-deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
  prakasante mahatmanah

“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)

Although Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was hardly educated or literate, learned scholars and public servants would approach him with their questions on Srimad-Bhagavatam and other shastras, and with his realized knowledge he would answer their questions to their full satisfaction. Sometimes devotees would read various scriptures for him and he would comment on them from his deep spiritual realization.

Still, out of his great humility Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja refused to accept any disciples; Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura proved to be the only exception.

Gaurakisora dasa Babaji enjoined Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati never to go to Calcutta, which he considered “a bastion of Kali-yuga.” So Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati remained in Mayapur. In 1905 he took a vow to chant the Hare Krishna mantra a billion times. Residing in a grass hut near the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya, he chanted the Hare Krishna mantra day and night. He cooked rice once a day in an earthen pot (or just parched the rice in the sun) and ate nothing more. He slept on the ground, and when the rainwater leaked through his grass ceiling, he sat beneath an umbrella, chanting. Locked in a small room, he chanted japa day and night, day after day, month after month, year after year. Finally, when he had completed his quota, he felt that he was ready to come out and preach. And to preach he went to Calcutta.

In a talk at the Ardha-kumbha-mela in Allahabad, Srila Prabhupada raised the point that Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji had instructed Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati never to go to Calcutta but that everyone knows he went to Calcutta. So, Srila Prabhupada questioned whether Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had disobeyed the orders of his spiritual master. “No!” Srila Prabhupada declared. “He was never in Calcutta; he was always in Vaikuntha!”

We pray to Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji:

namo gaura-kisoraya
  saksad-vairagya-murtaye
vipralambha-rasambodhe
  padambhujaya te namah

He is saksad-vairagya-murtaye, the personification of renunciation (vairagya); and vipralambha-rasambodhe, always merged in the ocean of the mellow of separation from Krishna (vipralambha-rasa). Padambhujaya te namah: “I offer my respectful obeisances unto his lotus feet.”

That was the mood of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja: he was always merged in that nectarean ocean of devotion in separation, and he had no care for his body or for anything material—just hari-nama.

He wrote a beautiful song that is completely in the mood of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. It is said that of the Six Gosvamis, Raghunatha dasa was the most attached to the service of Srimati Radharani—that he had the most intense desire to serve Srimati Radharani—and Gaurakisora dasa Babaji wrote a beautiful song in that mood. He begins with a refrain: kotai go premamayi, radhe radhe, radhe radhe—“Where is Radha, so full of love? Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe!” Then he proceeds to express the mood of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami in separation from Radharani, desiring and aspiring for Her service.

When Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja left this world, there was some dispute over what would happen to his body. His samadhi, of course, would become an important place of pilgrimage, and some of the heads of the local Vaishnava centers saw this as an opportunity to raise money—for their mathas and even for their own sense gratification. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati ran to the site, but when he arrived, some of the local babajis objected: “You are not a sannyasi; how can you give samadhi to such an exalted and renounced personality?” But Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati responded forcefully: “I am the only disciple of Babaji Maharaja, and although I have not accepted sannyasa, I am a celibate brahmachari, not secretly addicted to abominable habits or involved with illicit activities. Who among you can say that in the last year he had no sex or illicit contact with a woman? Please step forward.” Everyone was silent. Then he challenged, “Who has refrained for the last six months?” Everyone was silent. Next, “For the last three months?” Again, silence. “For the last one month?” Silence. “The last three days?” Still silence. They had been exposed and humbled. Not one of the babajis was fit to even touch the transcendental form of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, and one by one they walked away.

But even then there remained some question about how to handle the body, which was still lying on the ground. Out of his great humility, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja had instructed that when he departed, his body should be dragged through the streets of Navadvipa so that it would be bathed in the dust from the feet of the Vaishnavas who had walked the holy ground of the dhama. So some of the townspeople proposed to take the body and drag it through the streets of Navadvipa. Such fools! Such rascals! But Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura stopped them. “Although we are fools and offenders,” he said, “still we can try to understand the true meaning of Babaji Maharaja’s humble request. After the departure of Thakura Haridasa, Lord Chaitanya Himself took the spiritually blissful body of the Thakura on His lap and danced. Following the divine example of Mahaprabhu, let us also bear Babaji Maharaja’s blissful body on our own heads.”

So, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati took charge of the body and placed it in samadhi on the western side of the Ganges, across from Mayapur. In time, the course of the Ganges changed and its waters threatened the area of the samadhi. So Srila Bhaktisiddhanta brought the samadhi to Mayapur, to his matha. There he had created a replica of Vrindavan, with tamala trees and kadamba trees, with Syama-kunda and Radha-kunda, and with a small Govardhana Hill made of govardhana-silas. Most appropriately, he placed the new samadhi by the side of Radha-kunda, and that is where the transcendental remains of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji still rest today. One can go there and pray to him and feel his presence and get his mercy.

Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja is an ocean of mercy (all pure Vaishnavas are). I pray that he will help me to chant the holy name, to chant with taste. When I prayed to him earlier—and this may just be my speculation—I imagined that he said, “You must give up your offenses.” Then I was thinking, “What offenses? What offenses?” And then I imagined that he answered, “You must chant with attention.”

Of course, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura does state that inattentive chanting is the root of all other offenses and that, conversely, attentive chanting will destroy all the other offenses. “But how do I do that?” I asked. And the answer came: “You must try. You just have to make the effort.” And I suppose that is always the process—that we make our honest effort and depend on the mercy of the acharyas and Krishna.

In my case, however, my chanting sometimes becomes such a routine that I do not even make the effort to hear every word or every mantra. I just do it. I just go through the motions. So, I guess that is my challenge, my special order—to chant with attention.

Devotees often raise the question of chanting with quality. When on a morning walk a disciple asked Srila Prabhupada, “How can we chant with quality?” His Divine Grace replied, “The quality will come. For now, just chant as a matter of duty; chant your sixteen rounds. When the quality comes, there will be no force. You will have taste, and spontaneously you will desire, ‘Why sixteen rounds? Why not sixteen thousand rounds?’ Rupa Gosvami desired, ‘How shall I chant with one tongue and hear with two ears? Had I billions of tongues and trillions of ears, then I could enjoy it.’ ”

Srila Prabhupada said that quality means asakti, attachment, and that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu showed that quality: “Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me: ‘Oh, I do not see Govinda. The whole world is vacant.’ Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me. This is quality.” When one feels viraha-bhava, when one feels separation from Radha and Krishna, one is chanting with quality.

 Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji is an ocean of mercy, and we pray for his grace.

Hare Krishna.

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji’s disappearance day, November 22, 2004, Dallas]