Deepavali Damodara 2014 – Official Launch At Sjmkl, Malaysia (Album 175 photos)
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The Deepavali Damodara Festival had always been one of the highly anticipated festival by devotees of Sri Jagannatha Mandir KL each year and this time around, this festival’s grand launch was held at Kandiah Hall, Brickfields Kuala Lumpur. A popular local political figure, Dato Dr J. Loga Bala Mohan, Deputy Minister of Federal Territories was invited to grace the launch of Deepavali Damodara Festival. The launch took place on 6th October 2014, before the commencement of Damodara Masa. Read more ›

Absorbing the mercy at the site of Radha and Krsna’s eternal pastimes (Album 201 photos)
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Indradyumna Swami: Sringara-vat is just off the parikrama marg, not far from Kesi Ghat. It is a site of Radha and Krsna's eternal pastimes and the 1st place that Lord Nityananda visited when He came to Vrindavan. Our parikrama party, now numbering close to 400 devotees, absorbed the mercy of Srngara -vat with many hours of kirtan and Krsna katha. Every day on our Kartika parikrama is divinely special. Read more ›

Sri Damodarastakam
Krishna Dharma

1)
namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukhalad dhavamanam
paramrstam atyantato drutya gopya

I bow down to Damodara, the form of full joy,
eternity and wisdom, within Vrindavan.
Whose shining earrings swung as he so swiftly ran
from mother Yashoda who caught that naughty boy.

(2)
rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrjantam
karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram
muhuh svasa-kampa-trirekhanka-kantha-
sthita-graivam damodaram bhakti-baddham

Captured by Yashoda, crying repeatedly,
he rubs his reddish eyes with his trembling hands.
On his conchlike neck his necklace shakes as he pants.
I bow down to Damodara, bound but by bhakti

(3)
itidrk sva-lilabhir ananda-kunde
sva-ghosam nimajjantam akhyapayantam
tadiyesita-jnesu bhaktair jitatvam
punah prematas tam satavrtti vande

Thus bathing Gokula in a great lake of bliss;
he shows love defeats him, devoid of reverence.
Conquered only by those in complete confidence,
I offer him unlimited loving praises.

(4)
varam deva moksam na moksavadhim va
na canyam vrne ‘ham varesad apiha
idam te vapur natha gopala-balam
sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih

I beg not from you Lord, who can grant any boon,
even liberation or life in your abode.
Let memories of Gopala be ever bestowed,
for what other favour offers such great fortune?

(5)
idam te mukhambhojam atyanta-nilair
vrtam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais ca gopya
muhus cumbitam bimba-raktadharam me
manasy avirastam alam laksa-labhaih

Your dark, crimson hued curls encircle your face,
lovely like a lotus, with lips of ruby red;
kissed by Yashoda; within my mind be seated.
A billion other boons could not grant such grace

(6)
namo deva damodarananta visno
prasida prabho duhkha-jalabdhi-magnam
krpa-drsti-vrstyati-dinam batanu
grhanesa mam ajnam edhy aksi-drsyah

O Damodara, Ananta, O almighty Vishnu,
I fall down prostrate, pray be pleased upon me.
Blinded and sinking in a sea of misery,
grace me with your glance that I shall ever see you.

(7)
kuveratmajau baddha-murtyaiva yadvat
tvaya mocitau bhakti-bhajau krtau ca
tatha prema-bhaktim svakam me prayaccha
na mokse graho me ‘sti damodareha

Dear Damodara, the sons of Kuvera you saved,
while a baby, by breaking the trees they became.
As you granted them prema, pray grant me the same,
I want not salvation, your love alone I crave.

(8)
namas te ‘stu damne sphurad-dipti-dhamne
tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne
namo radhikayai tvadiya-priyayai
namo ‘nanta-lilaya devaya tubhyam

I bow down to the bright rope that binds your belly,
within which the cosmos is completely contained.
To your beloved Radha I bow yet again,
and to you the hero who plays wonderfully.

Srila Prabhupada’s books donated to the State library in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
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Six Gita, including Darma, Prabhupada, Hare Krishna Challenge, Life comes from Life, and other books was donated to the State library in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. While, 3 Gita and other Prabhupada books making total of 26 books in all was donated to the Unesco World Book Festival 2014, festival to the Organizers. It was donated by Iskcon Nanda Gram, led by Mother Mahavrata Devi and Bhakta Eli. Read more ›

Delhi government embarks on ambitious project to rejuvenate river Yamuna
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has embarked on an ambitious project to rejuvenate the Yamuna with an aim to rid the river of pollutants, stop discharge of all sorts of effluents into it and making its river-front beautiful as well as environment friendly. The "Rejuvenation of River Yamuna" project is being implemented by the Delhi government with assistance from the Centre and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Read more ›

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Scarborough, Ontario
 
Recently
 
Recently a friend pointed out that actor / political head Arnold Schwarzenegger was quoted in a men’s fitness magazine as attributing his success to the meditation he’s done.  Perhaps there’s a trend among politicians. 
 
We’ve also heard of former Prime Minister of the U.K., Tony Blair, speaking of the need for spiritual values being in people’s lives.  Also the current head of India, Prime Minister Modi is generously delivering Bhagavad-gitas to world leaders as he meets them and speaking of the virtues of yoga at the 69th session of the United Nations.  President Barack Obama had carried a small brass deity of Hanuman as a good luck charm.  Is Mr. Obama going Vedic?
 
Closer to home, the very controversial mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, made a diplomatic utterance of “Hare Krishna” at our Festival of Chariots this last summer on Centre Island in Toronto. 
 
And I’m sure there are more examples of our leaders taking or talking of a spiritual edge.  It’s about time.  Of course, speaking and doing from the heart is always better than the motive of seeking votes.  Let’s give the benefit of the doubt.  Integrity lies in everyone, even if it’s in the deepest recesses of the heart.
 
Personally I’m looking forward to the day when a political leader will say, “Walk, Chant, Love.”  “Love” implying for the Absolute. 
 
May the Source be with you!
 
5 KM

Tuesday, October 7th, 2014
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Bracebridge, Ontario
 
Usually
 
Usually when people speak of a Patel, a common name in Gujurat, you refer to one who's quite familiar with the personality, Sri Krishna.  It comes natural for someone from the Gujurat state in western India to have reverence towards Nataji, or Krishna.
 
It was fortunate for the family from Hamilton and I to be hosted by the two Patel brothers and their families and to be accomodated in a Patel Motel.
 
Jaya Gopal (Patel) led us on an autumn trail, a stretch of the Trans Canada Trail.  The gods were with us providing sunshine, moderate temperatures in the mid-teens (Celsius) and with a pleasant breeze.  Waterfalls and rapids were by our side at Saugeen Pines surcharging an oxygenized air.
 
We trampled on colours of scattered fallen leaves which was almost painful to see by dint of utter brilliance.  The sun drew extended shafts of light through hard and soft wood trees.  It was like lasers coming at us as we strolled and dodged some puddles and muddy patches along the way.  We were in heaven.
 
But one man was in Mars.  Upon our returning from this late morning trek, the motel (Riverside Inn) was being under repair while undergoing its remodeling.  Vladmir had been on the roof shovelling off caked-on years of BS (bird stool) while a second worker, on a ladder opening the ceiling, introduced himself as hailing from Mars, or so he declared.  Steve could easily be my age.  When seeing my attire he got curious and expressed his doubts about life, the world and God.  The remark about Mars was a joke.  He was jovial enough, judging by his well-groomed hair, self-worth was important.  Not in a challenging or accusatory tone he expressed why wars are started by religions?  This is classic inquiry.
 
To respond I offered, "In truth we need to be more of a realized or experienced spiritualist then a religionist.  There's a gulf of difference."
 
He couldn't agree more.  Personal surrender of your lusts, angers and greed is tantamount.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
8 KM

Monday, October 6th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Duntroon, Ontario
 
Actually
 
Actually my day today did not provide for me any wonder of walking, other than a short jaunt, a measly 2 kilometer trek through posh and tree-blessed Rosedale neighbourhood with peer, Kalyapani.  That was just before a car trip bound north.  During the short and sweet trek it was serene and lightly a drizzle graced our heads.  October 6th swallowed me up on three triumphant visitations to people of inspiration.
 
Firstly, a family from North Hamilton, Vrajadhama, wife Nityananda and young 20 month old Arjuna, picked me up for a visit to Rami Bleckt, author of a number of books on happiness, self-realization.  He is a good acquaintance with Dr. David Frawley, a foremost Ayurveda doctor.  Rami, himself a doctor/astrologer, impressed us with insight at his home in Duntroon, a small village north of Toronto.
 
He looked at me before even looking at my palm and relayed what he consider my physical internal challenges.  He gave remedies, an adjustment in diet and a colon cleansing.  With Vrajadhama he looked at his past through astrological calculation and offered advice on the most favourable vocation for him - farming.
 
The topic of food had also occupied our conversations as it did one hundred kilometers east, near Sutton Ontario.  There we visited Jai, Rasa, and their four kids at their farm where two milking cows provide the family with the great miracle of food.  Significant here, apart from the devotion to Krishna that the family imbibes in, is their commitment to cow and bull protection.  Ahimsa is the term we most aptly use here.  It means nonviolence imposed - no slaughter.  We indulged in the beautiful and boiled liquid religiosity.  And in the good company of a model family.
 
Another one hundred plus kilometers north took us to Bracebridge at Riverside Inn, owned and operated by a Patel clan.  Bhakti (devotion) oozes out of this family in behaviour and sadhana practice.  A little more of this group tomorrow.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
2 (embarrassing) KM.

Sunday, October 5th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Moving Bodies


Well, we had a bit of a problem this morning at the ashram.  It had something to do with bodily contortions, moans and groans and twitching eyes.  The woman, a visitor, who exhibited these unique features, was asked to be less distractive because she persisted and refused tone down advice we gave her. 

To her credit, she wore meditation beads and chanted on them.  Even some of her physical stretches demonstrated remarkable ability.  It’s just that the psychological diversions and the various moanings began to become non-condusive to our devotional atmosphere, and most unfortunately, the authorities had to be called in to deal with this incommunicable individual.  I was impressed by the cautious way and their handling of the situation.  From the depths of our hearts, we wish the lady well. 

The evening continued to be a time of bodily movement.  After the beautiful and tasty birthday cake that I received (and yes, the supportive community did sing “Hare Krishna to you…”  instead of the usual “Happy Birthday to you…”), an enthusiastic group headed to Queen Street for some stimulative dancing.  It was the annual Nuit Blance, an evening of artistic expression in the downtown.  Our kirtan with its drumming got people gyrating and coming up with all kinds of interesting and creative moves. 

Being a celebratory day in honour of this humble servant, I was pleased to receive words of gratitude at our temple ashram, but it was equally as exciting to co-lead the kirtan with Ajamil and watch the various happy contortions of people’s physical frames.  At some intervals of the chanting sessions, people came up one by one to the mic to recite the maha mantra. 

All this ecstasy took place in front of the stately Old City Hall.  When the tower’s massive clock struck midnight, from there I walked with friends from Michigan back to the ashram.  In the course of the walk as we trailed through, or struggled through crowds which numbered at 1 million strong, a meagre realization came about.  There has to be as many different ways of walking as there are people.  Body movement has no limit it seems.

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Friday, October 3rd, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

North York, Ontario

No Sugar Please

The gentleman was oncoming on foot southbound on Bathurst, likely on his way to a local synagogue. He was in black except for a white shirt and he bore the standard small Jewish skull cap called a kippa or yarmulke.  He carried a book, a holy one, and I surmised that within minutes by sundown Yom Keppur would start.

Most of all he wore a smile as he got close to me and then had a question.  "So it's Buddhist, Hindu...?"

"Krishna,” I said, "Hare Krishna, Hindu connected".

“Yes, I'm an architectural landscapist.  I did the temple on the west end (of Toronto), the Swami Narayan temple.”  I was impressed with his open-ness and warmth.  He even complimented the colour of my attire, "I'm just in black."

He pointed to the building where he was going to meet and read with the boys, "Most of them are old hippies,” he remarked.  We had more exchange.  I think he will remember me as 'the walking man' while I will remember him as 'the friendly Jew'.

My sister lives just off of Bathurst where so many folks of the Torah live.  She had invited me along with another sister to get together and have a birthday cake for me, a bowl of cut melon really - with grapes in the center.  It beats a cake with all that sugar in it.

I relayed my encountered with Mr. Friendly to Connie and Pauline, my sisters, I guess to let them know that walls dont need to be between faiths.  That lead to a discussion about cultures of meagre tolerance and of fear and hate.

Anyways, let's not go too deep there, it's my birthday.  We were also careful not to talk about Rob Ford, the mayor.  Okay!

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Saturday, October 4th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Moving Bodies


Well, we had a bit of a problem this morning at the ashram.  It had something to do with bodily contortions, moans and groans and twitching eyes.  The woman, a visitor, who exhibited these unique features, was asked to be less distractive because she persisted and refused tone down advice we gave her. 

To her credit, she wore meditation beads and chanted on them.  Even some of her physical stretches demonstrated remarkable ability.  It’s just that the psychological diversions and the various moanings began to become non-condusive to our devotional atmosphere, and most unfortunately, the authorities had to be called in to deal with this incommunicable individual.  I was impressed by the cautious way and their handling of the situation.  From the depths of our hearts, we wish the lady well. 

The evening continued to be a time of bodily movement.  After the beautiful and tasty birthday cake that I received (and yes, the supportive community did sing “Hare Krishna to you…”  instead of the usual “Happy Birthday to you…”), an enthusiastic group headed to Queen Street for some stimulative dancing.  It was the annual Nuit Blance, an evening of artistic expression in the downtown.  Our kirtan with its drumming got people gyrating and coming up with all kinds of interesting and creative moves. 

Being a celebratory day in honour of this humble servant, I was pleased to receive words of gratitude at our temple ashram, but it was equally as exciting to co-lead the kirtan with Ajamil and watch the various happy contortions of people’s physical frames.  At some intervals of the chanting sessions, people came up one by one to the mic to recite the maha mantra. 

All this ecstasy took place in front of the stately Old City Hall.  When the tower’s massive clock struck midnight, from there I walked with friends from Michigan back to the ashram.  In the course of the walk as we trailed through, or struggled through crowds which numbered at 1 million strong, a meagre realization came about.  There has to be as many different ways of walking as there are people.  Body movement has no limit it seems.

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

A season of optimism
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 01 August 2014, Swiss Retreat, Switzerland, Candramrta and Candradoya Nataka Seminar)

Caitanya Candramrta, Chapter 10

( 111) Now that Lord Caitanya, His heart filled with mercy, has descended to this world, those living entities who had formerly never practised yoga, meditated, chanted mantras, performed austerities, followed various Vedic restrictions, studied the Vedas, performed spiritual activities, or refrained from sins, have become able to easily plunder the crest jewel of all goals of life.

(114) In every home there is a tumult of hari-sankirtana. On every body are tears, hairs standing erect, and other symptoms of ecstasy. In every heart is the most exalted and sweet spiritual path that leads far from the path of the four Vedas. All this has appeared now that Lord Gaura has descended to this world.

(115) The whole world is now suddenly flooded by the nectar waters of the ocean of pure love for Krsna. Now there is suddenly a great wonder of symptoms of ecstatic love never seen or heard of before. All this has suddenly appeared now that Lord Krsna has descended in a form as splendid as gold.

Lord-Caitanya-and-Lord-Nityananda-Dancing

 

We may not see it as described in these verses. We may not see that the entire world is now flooded with love of God, but it is, because everyone has been touched by it. Who has not heard the Holy Name? Who has not been touched by this movement?

Every small service will lead to more service, which will lead to still greater service.  The influence of kali is gone. Material desires are meaningless. Don’t worry.

“How do I conquer my material desires?”

Don’t conquer them! You will never conquer them!

“Then what will we do?”

Chant, dance, take prasad, glorify Krsna and these material desires will drown. They will just be pushed to the background of our mind because in the foreground is sankirtan.

“Can we change our nature?”

This will be hard.

“Will we ever become completely saintly and never think of anything sinful?”

Who cares about such things? Chant! Glorify Krsna! Fill our life with devotional service – more and more – more service, more Krsna! Bring Krsna everywhere and then, all other things will go, and one day we will be singing in love.

It is already happening. It is already taking over. It has already begun – Krsna everywhere! The entire world is being flooded. We are very optimistic that success will be attained.

 

Braja Mandala Padayatra (Album 90 photos)
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Joined Parasuram prabhu and a wonderful group of devotees for this wonderful service. Pilrimage, Prasadam distribution and book distribution. We follow along with the large Parikrama group but venture off the beaten paths into the small villages. Parasuram has been doing this for 27 years and it's really amazing. The villagers are so happy to see us and become very enthusiastic, especially for the Krishna pastimes movies that we show at sundown. It's not for the faint of heart. Quite austere but very rewarding. Giving to the residents of the Holy Dhama is is truly heart warming... Read more ›

New transcriptions uploaded
→ The Spiritual Scientist

If we concede that scripture doesn’t contain literal report of conversations then where will the erosion of scriptural authority end?

How does karma yoga mature into ashtanga yoga?

Does ashtanga yoga always start from jnana yoga?

How does the nishkama karma yogi attain knowledge and liberation? Through the same path or by adopting another yoga?

Why are Einstein’s and Prabhupada’s metaphors about blind man-lame man contradictory?

Is science based on rational faith and religion on irrational faith?

How can we overcome the tendency to take the association of devotees for granted?

Does religion require faith from start to end whereas science requires faith only occasionally?