Sunday, September 14th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Mix and Mingle

There are many things I loathe about city life.  Yet there are many things I love about urban stuff.  Within a downtown you can get about and acquire almost all of your cultural and physical needs.

I trekked to our urban easy-to-get-to “Bhakti Lounge” to give a class on anarthas and what to do about “unwanted elements” that stand in the way of spiritual progress.  The discussion that followed after my delivery of some words on the topic “was relevant to us,” so one person commented.  After all, who is perfect?  We all have demons inside.

On my return walk back  to the ashram, an anxious runner, bespeckled and bandana’d whizzed by. “Bhaktimarga!” he shouted when he approached.  Only when he got physically close could I recognize this school teacher friend of mine.  “I’ll come and visit you sometime!” It’s only been about five years since I had seen Mitch.

Mitch’s quick encounter exposed me to an anartha (again, an unwanted element).  This time, it was guilt.  Mind you guilt is positive when it compels you to improve.  Yes, I feel guilty every year when I hear promotion of the annual and popular “Terry Fox Run” which I’m sure Mitch was headed towards. 

Why do I feel this guilt, is because I’m not participating.  Had I participated it would be my opportunity to mingle with folks outside my own community and at the same time not become worldly.  I did take part at the “Terry Fox Run” two Septembers ago in the town of Fort Frances when I had trekked through on the Cross Canada walk #4. I walked and did not run (you are allowed to do so).  And after that walk, Daruka, my support guy, and his parrot, Billy and I went for that luncheon at the church to mingle with co-trekkers and runners.  It was sweet!

Doing marathon walks or runs provides the option to go solo or multiples.  It’s a good idea to mix and mingle in the process and break out of your shell once in a while.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Saturday, September 13th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Maple, Ontario

Uptown to Sheppard

It’s 12 degrees Celsius, partly cloudy.  It was truly perfect for a trek.  I left for uptown Yonge Street which was north en route to Maple, Ontario.  The intent was to cut 10 KM off of a ride that would take me to this destination, a residence for a Saturday night satsang (gathering).

So I gained from these two hours of freedom walking on a street of shops and pedestrians, young, old, and everything in between.  One sandwich sign gave me a buzz.  It was outside a tearoom and it read, “Warming up is our special tea.” Gimmicky? Yes!

I passed St. Clair Avenue, Eglinton, Lawrence, York Mills, 401 Highway, and then finally, Sheppard Avenue, where Yadunandan, the host of tonight’s satsang picked me up.  Here’s a man who’s dedicated to sharing.  He and his wife, Hemavati, regularly make packets of offered food to go to the public.  They had invited families, friends, and neighbours to have an evening of devotion.  They told of a swami (me) coming to their home, that he would speak.

I did speak, by first reading from “Krishna”, a book by our guru, Srila Prabhupada.  I tried as best as possible to make my talk, after the short reading, newcomer-friendly.  These first-timers to Krishna Consciousness appeared to be sipping the tea, warming up to the message of the Personalitea of Godhead.

It was a quaint evening topped by excellent prasadam including a favourite of mine “Gauranga potatoes”.  I had achieved out of the day a great walk and a warm gathering of good people.  What more could you want?

May the Source be with you!

10 KM

Friday, September 12th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Shuffling Through Yorkville


For two good hours, we were out to greet the greeters of the movie stars.  To my knowledge, there are several key locations in the city where celebrities and their fans go during the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Yorkville region is one of them.  It’s a mere four blocks from our ashram, which is convenient. 

What’s great about the time frame for this event is that it coincides with ISKCON’s established “Holy Name Week”.  We thought the title “Holy Name” sounded too Catholic.  Nothing intended against the Catholic faith, but the term, we felt, doesn’t reflect our culture, so we settled for calling it “Maha Mantra Week”. 

Here we were chanting in some kind of moving order through the streets in the Yorkville area.  It was not a march, not even a walk, maybe a kind of shuffle.  The fellow in front of me in our two abreast shuffle, was playing the mrdanga drum, and while playing and moving forward, he was pivoting or bending at the waist in a manner I’ve seen pandas (priests) do in Puri, India, at the big Ratha Yatra festivals.  It was kind of a cool move.

In any event, about 20 of us or so were perking up the people with our music and our mantra.  People in their fine evening attire were lighting up at our presence.  It was the look of, “Hey, I haven’t seen you guys for a while; we’re happy to see you again.”  Some folks would break into a jig and girate to a beat of a drum.  I believe that some good, clean body moves can make you feel a lot better than having a swig or two of whisky. 

Our message is, “Come on and join in on the fun.  This mantra, ‘Hare Krishna’, and swaying to it, is very powerful.”

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Thursday, September 11th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Could Have Done More


On hindsight, I felt I could and should have done more.  I may have assessed things wrongly, but here’s my brief story.

As I was walking eastbound on Bloor Street near Castle Frank, I got close to the place where you overlook a street below.  The subway line also speeds by underneath.  I’m on a bridge and as I was trekking this section, a young oriental fellow who was leaning against the edge looking down at the traffic below, he was about of student age, looked particularly unhappy.  He was just staring, and it struck me, “Is he contemplating…  suicide?”  No!  There was this blank stare coming from him, it was very focused.  And as I passed by, I looked at him, hoping to catch his attention.  I cleared my throat and said, “Hello!  Hare!”  He turned his head toward me, but looked emotionless.  I felt a jolt of fear and concern simultaneously.  I realized that I was running late, time wise, for a lunch engagement, a rather important one.  I just kept walking.  I looked back to see that he was looking down again.  It was an eerie feeling seeing this. 

Was this cold look of his a mere urban syndrome, where you don’t bother reciprocating with people?  Or was he just depressed?  Was this soul really struggling and needing help?  Dumfounded me could have done more and reached out, and let the bok choy – baked potato lunch just wait a little longer. 

I felt guilty walking on and showing too minor a helping hand.  Good wishes was my only consolation for now, because I know sending good vibes goes a long way. 

Will I be given an opportunity to be tried again?  Probably so.  The world is full of troubled people, and less, though, of people who care.

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Widows in Vrindavana should be rehabilitated in their native states: Hema Malini
→ Dandavats.com

“The widows who migrate to Vrindavan should be rehabilitated in their native states. There are temples and pilgrimage places in their native states too. The state governments should build widow shelter homes in their respective states,” said Hema Malini, the Member of Parliament from Mathura. She wondered, “When the temples and other religious places are already there in those states, then why do they migrate here?” She was visiting some of the widow shelter homes in Vrindavan. She said that she will talk to the Chief Minister of West Bengal about facilitating the widows in their native state. A large number of widows come from there and Bihar to stay in Vrindavan. Read more ›

A Letter to a Sincere Departed Disciple from Her Guru Maharaj
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY BHAKTI CAITANYA SWAMI

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Dandavats.com

My dear Radhe Syama devi dasi,

Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

You have left us, but we feel your presence spiritually. You were a wonderful example of a sincere devotee who is dealing with the responsibilities of household life in this world.

I remember when I first met you, on one of my first visits to Singapore around 20 years ago. Your husband, Gauracandra prabhu, was an active devotee in the ISKCON temple at the time, and was very enthusiastic about Krishna consciousness. We met, and immediately developed a nice relationship.

He took me to your flat, and I met you, and stayed with your family. At the time you were not so convinced about Krishna consciousness, but as we discussed over a short period of time you became convinced and then took up the active practice of devotional service.

From the time you seriously got into it you immediately became an exemplary devotee. I remember on so many occasions you appealing to me to get Gauracandra and your son Ashvin to become more serious in their spiritual lives. Practically every time I would come you had a list of concerns about their practices in Krishna consciousness, and you expressed them to me strongly.

It was clear that your heart had become completely focused in your spiritual life, and I was so impressed to see the wonderful transformation that had taken place in your life.

I think I first became aware of your health challenges when we were on parikrama in India some years ago. Gauracandra prabhu informed me that it was difficult for you to walk or climb stairs because of your heart condition. I was surprised as you seemed as fit as anyone else, but little did I know then that it was a serious health problem which would bring us to the situation we find ourselves in today.

However, despite your health you continued in a fully dedicated way in your devotional service. You did Deity worship in the Kuala Lumpur ISKCON temple, and regularly cooked for the Jagannatha Deities there. You also became a counsellor for younger female devotees.

Then you returned to Singapore when your health situation worsened, but you continued being nicely focused spiritually here also. You performed the Damodar programme with the Sindhi community on a number of occasions, and would regularly tell me how you were concerned that the Sindhis somehow become more involved in their spiritual heritage. You also remained concerned about how your mother and siblings were doing in Krishna consciousness.

Like this your heart was always full of selfless concern for the spiritual lives of everyone, and you maintained this to the end.

I remember, the day before yesterday, when we were able to have our last proper communication, I said to you that when you go to Krishna you must put in a good word with Him for us who are left behind in this world. Although up to that point in our exchange you had not expressed much emotionally, other than feelings of pain because of your physical condition, when I asked you to speak to Krishna on our behalf when you meet Him, you smiled broadly. It was really wonderful to see.

So now you have gone to Him, and we are left behind, missing you. However we will meet again for certain in Goloka Vrndavana, in the Kingdom of God. I am sure of that. We will all be together eternally in the company of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna in the spiritual world.

Thank you for the wonderful association you gave me. Thank you for the wonderful cooking you did for me. Thank you for your dedication to the practice of Krishna consciousness. I will never forget these things.

And, finally, please don’t forget the request. Please put in a good word for us left here in this material world. Please tell Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani that we are trying our best to serve Them, and that we want to come and join you before too long.

Hoping this meets you well.

Your ever well-wisher,

Bhakti Caitanya Swami

Sankirtana Yajna in Moldova (Album 165 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Moldova is a beautiful landlocked country with 3.5 million people in Eastern Europe. It is boardered by Romania and Ukraine. ISKCON has two temples there with 300 hundred active devotees. During my visit I participated in several television shows, numerous newspaper interviews, 2 very large public programs, harinams and a meeting with a number of distinquished personalities. I enjoyed the preaching so much that I plan to take my entire festival progam to Moldova next year! [ Photos by Indradyumna Swami and Mahavan das ] Read more ›

A letter to a sincere departed disciple from her Guru Maharaj
→ Dandavats.com

Dear devotees, Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. A very dear disciple of mine from Singapore, Radhe Syama devi dasi, passed away last night. I wrote her the following letter this morning, which is going to be read out at the funeral today. She was a very sincere and dedicated soul. Please pray to Srimati Radharani and Lord Krishna for her. Hoping this meets you well. Your servant, Bhakti Caitanya Swami Read more ›

Materialist Creed – Bridge Preaching (5 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

Hamsaduta: I once heard that when some devotees wanted to buy a church in America you suggested that they should keep the altar and next put Radha-Krsna and give simultaneous lecture from Bible and from Bhagavad-gita. I was thinking that in Shree Lanka, if it would be all right to have a deity of Lord Buddha and speak simultaneously on the Dharmapatha(?) and also Bhagavad-gita, showing how Bhagavad-gita is beyond the stage of nirvana. Is that a good idea, Prabhupada, or not? Prabhupada: Good idea, provided you can present properly. Read more ›

Consumerism from a yoga perspective (9 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

Why are people caught up in consumerism? Devamrita Swami, an internationally travelling monk, teacher and author explains what yoga psychology has to say on this hot topic. Special thanks to Julian Coutada for making the intro animation. Thanks to the lead actors Rebecca Sim, Rachel Eton and Katja Romanski as well as extra actor Danna Alvarez and Atom Smasher for his GoPro camera. Filmed and produced by Bhakti Lounge, Wellington, New Zealand. www.bhaktilounge.org.nz Read more ›

A Spiritual Solution to Religious and Racial Violence
→ Dandavats.com

Equally ludicrous is the idea of people hating and killing each other because of race or ethnicity. The only thing we gain from this kind of violence is more anger, pain, and suffering. Nobody wins and it's nothing more than a battle of egos where one group needs to feel better than the other. The Bhagavad Gita suggests that we look at each other's bodies as the clothing that covers the soul. Souls in this world are clothed in a variety of colors - black, brown, white, and yellow. Would a sensible person hate another person's clothing and harm that individual simply because of the clothing he or she was wearing? This is essentially what we are doing when we bring harm to another simply because of their skin color, place of birth, or the religion they practice. Read more ›

Vyasapuja and Srila Prabhupada remembrance.
→ Ramai Swami

imagesimagesimages

HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja travels all over the world giving wonderful classes, leading blissful kirtan and serving the vaisnava community. He is very attentive to keeping in touch with as many devotees as possible.

Every year, his disciples celebrate his Vyasapuja day, but because he is extremely devoted to his guru maharaja, Srila Prabhupada, he insists that on the same day there is a special commemoration of our Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
This year his disciples invited me to attend this function at Sydney temple, in the evening.
images-1images

Meet TOVP donors: Guru Gauranga Das & Family
→ Dandavats.com

Srila Prabhupada created ISKCON to facilitate the rehabilitation of all misguided souls toward the lotus feet of Krishna. The implementation of World peace through God conscious lies squarely on the shoulders of the representatives of Lord Chaitanya which includes all of us. The urgency of this cause has been loudly articulated in the clear and powerful instructions of the greatest Titan of devotion – Srila Prabhupada. One of the most important instructions he gave, was that all of us – the global community of Vaisnavas, must cooperate to build this great temple. As individuals making up this harmonious body of ISKCON, it is our filial duty to Srila Prabhupada to cooperate in this mammoth task. There is no greater opportunity, there is no better time, and there is no better project to support generously with all your heart. Make your contribution to the TOVP an evocation of your love for Srila Prabhupada, the parampara and Panchatattva. Read more ›

Live on Purpose
→ Seed of Devotion


I read the above sign on the train when I sat down. The message registered as barely a blip, like all other advertising in New York City. Then I opened my book and began to read; the train picked up speed, heading to the next stop.

Suddenly, two uniformed police officers strode through the train, guided by an older man. I looked up from my book. The man pointed at a backpack that was on the ground right across from me.

"Is this anyone's bag?" The officer's voice rang out in the train.

Everyone fell quiet, shaking their heads. The women who were sitting on the seat nearby the abandoned backpack scooted away.

The officers looked around, confirming that no one owned the bag. I watched the scene unfold, my heart pounding a bit. It's true, the bag had just been sitting there. It was some cutesy backpack, a leopard print I believe. But the two officers surrounded it now, their energy taut like wires. Definitely not cutesy now.

I resisted the urge to scramble away, walk away, run away. But what could I do? I was on this moving train. In those few moments when the officers examined the bag, I had this realization that maybe there was a bomb in there, about to explode at any moment.

There was nothing I could do about it. Although I experienced fear, I also experienced this eerie calm, that somehow if this is my fate, it is what it is.

When the train slowed to a stop, one officer stepped out of the train and the other cautiously unzipped the bag, as if touching a wild tiger. I could feel all the passengers watching, holding their breaths.

The officer unzipped the bag with one final tug.

Sneakers.

Everyone let out a collective breath. The officer carried the bag out of the train, joining her comrade. Then the train boarded more passengers and we moved on.

It was not a laughing matter about this leopard-print backpack - after all, there have been numerous incidents of such episodes that involved an abandoned bag which were deadly.

There is a verse in the scripture Srimad Bhagavatam that describes how in this material world there is danger at every step. I had no idea that when I got onto the train that day that maybe that day was my last. I am sure that anyone who has ever been involved in a lethal terrorist attack, or a plane accident, or even a car accident had no idea that that day was the last day of their lives.

Sometimes it takes danger or an accident to stop living on accident and start living on purpose. Every day, may I and may we live on purpose.

And may the owner of that bag and those sneakers get her stuff back. It was a cute bag. 
Subscribe

Donor Bio – Guru Gauranga Das & Family
- TOVP.org

My family and I are currently based in Durban South Africa, we also have a home in Orlando Florida. I met ISKCON devotees in the early ‘80s and joined ISKCON at Soho Street London in the winter of 1984. I first visited Mayapura in 1988 and fell in love with the wholesome atmosphere of Vaishnava association and the dedication of the devotees living there.

Soon after my marriage in Mauritius to my wife Sucitra dd in 1991, we both relocated to Mayapura dhama and lived there until 1997. Our oldest daughter Champakalata dd was born in Mayapura on the ground floor of the conch building in one of the rooms adjacent to the diety kitchen and only feet away from Radha Madhava. Doing simple service as a pujari and gurukula teacher my family and I felt very happy and content with our life there. In 1998 we relocated to America and started a prasadam business so we could support ISKCON projects. Very soon after relocating we realized how much we missed Mayapura and how important the Mayapura project is.

Srila Prabhupada wanted all of his followers to visit Mayapura at least once a year to become spiritually surcharged. Srila Prabhupada’s vision and endeavour to create the Mayapura project reveals how massively important it is to the spreading of Krishna consciousness worldwide. The waves of service and devotion that emanate from Mayapura gain momentum with the coming and going of the global Vaishnava community. These transcendental waves will increase as the glory and fame of Mayapura increases. The challenge of embedding the existence of Mayapura into the minds of all human beings can gain a great leap of victory by the construction of this monumental temple of devotion and will signal an era of global Vedic revival.

We understand from the predictions in our scriptures that the construction of this temple will be a milestone on the road to a global renaissance in spirituality. The funding and building of the Mayapura TOVP by people of diverse ethnic, economic and geographic backgrounds, is a catalyst that will trigger a massive unleashing of the flood of bhakti, set to loosen the foundation of Kali’s grip on this World.

Srila Prabhupada created ISKCON to facilitate the rehabilitation of all misguided souls toward the lotus feet of Krishna. The implementation of World peace through God conscious lies squarely on the shoulders of the representatives of Lord Chaitanya which includes all of us. The urgency of this cause has been loudly articulated in the clear and powerful instructions of the greatest Titan of devotion – Srila Prabhupada. One of the most important instructions he gave, was that all of us – the global community of Vaisnavas, must cooperate to build this great temple.

As individuals making up this harmonious body of ISKCON, it is our filial duty to Srila Prabhupada to cooperate in this mammoth task. There is no greater opportunity, there is no better time, and there is no better project to support generously with all your heart. Make your contribution to the TOVP an evocation of your love for Srila Prabhupada, the parampara and Panchatattva.

Your servants,

Guru Gauranga das, Sucitra dasi, Kamalata dd, Lalita dd

 

Guru-Gauranga-family

The post Donor Bio – Guru Gauranga Das & Family appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Boston Hemp Fest Harinama (Album 43 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Muci haya suci haya yadi krsna bhaje. It is said that even a cobbler or person born in the family of a cobbler can be elevated to the position of a brahmana (suci) if he takes to Krishna consciousness. Any person who is purely Krishna conscious and who engages in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is the purest in the whole universe. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.12.37 Purport) Read more ›