“Blossoming of Vedic Life in Rural Hungary”- Art Exhibition Opens in Budapest, Hungary
→ ISKCON News

On September 18th a special art exhibition opened at the Cultural Center of the Indian Embassy in Budapest, Hungary. The “Blossoming of Vedic Life in Rural Hungary” exhibition displays over 40 original drawings from ISKCON-guru and author Sivarama Swami’s new book the Nava Vraja Mahima, a monumental work in glorification of New Vraja Dhama (or Krishna-valley), a rural Vaishnava community in Hungary.

Mantra Lounge (3 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

If you’d like a dose of soothing meditation and kirtan to start the weekend, join us for Mantra Lounge. In the intimate setting of Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden, we meet twice a month to sing together. Each session is led by a different kirtan artist and often features guided meditation, beautiful musicians and visuals. Read more ›

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

North York, Ontario

Watch Where You Sit


Everyone was very careful where to plop their buttocks.  Those Canada geese do a fairly good job at leaving their droppings on the campus grass. 

York University was the venue near what everyone calls, ‘The Fountain’.  Some students, some monks and I received full approval via the Krishna Club to help ourselves to the green grass for chanting, drumming and schmoozing.  One of our monks, Hayagriva, took his bag of bhakti books around trying to interest students in the sublime philosophical outlook of bhakti¸devotion.  There were takers.

There were also takers to our kirtan.  One young Ethiopian student sat with us, with care, on the grass, soaking in the sound.  Many other students very indifferently walked by and some even nonchalantly helped themselves to the grass, with prudence, to sit or lie down near us.  I believe that in their own way they were expressing interest in our sound. 

I particularly enjoyed when some students, two guys and a gal, came armed with djembes and one dundun.  This thumping lent itself to our musical efforts.  It’s always great to have back up to the sound of  Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Our drive home was crazy.  There was so much traffic and construction, all in preparation for next year’s PanAm games.  You have to watch the traffic like you do the geese dung.  Frankly, I would rather come face to face with organic bird mush over oncoming metal monsters in the form of cars. 

May the Source be with you!  Watch where you drive, sit, stand, walk, run and lie down.

6 KM

Monday, September 22nd, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Loss Versus Gain


Officially for a day or so now, it’s fall.  The temperature dip proves it.  Nevertheless, Karuna, Wade and I, took to the ravine.  Colours are starting to show like only autumn can do.  You’ve got red sumac, blue chicory, orange touch-me-nots, black choke cherries, purple asters, goldenrod, and all kinds of greens.

Our First Nations people for thousands of years enjoyed this colour festival within nature’s pharmacy – the forest.  Medicinal properties were known to them, and also, to some degree, the European settlers.  Are we as enlightened today?  No.  We must be honest and claim ignorance.  Furthermore then, are we forest wise?  Are we able to survive?  No. 

Our indigenous people were gurus when it came to knowing how to survive in natural surroundings.

Wade hastened to say, “But it’s almost too late.  Some Native elders may have the wisdom, but once they go…”  Fortunately some of that wisdom is recorded.  I guess you could say that such classic concern regarding lessons on life, which get lost, are a reality.  In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna gives mention of the science of the self being buried in time.  It was then necessary to reestablish this ancient science.  This was then taught by Krishna, Himself, to Arjuna, in order that humankind would benefit. 

Lost wisdom is the greatest loss.  Wisdom revived is the greatest triumph. 

On the topic of the ultimate science we may ask, “Do I have a good grip on my own identity?  Who am I after all?  What is my real purpose in being in this world?  Do I just live to die?”  Explore the answers and gain some freedom.

May the Source be with you!

8 KM








Brijbasi Children Organize Shoba Yatra For Holy Name Week (Album 143 photos)
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Over fifty children from Varaha Ghat and Goghat organised a maha harinam and shobha yatra in glorification of the holy names this past Sunday. Brajabasi Roti and Subji sponsored the festival with the Namahatta Department of our Krishna Balaram Temple. Under the able leadership of His Grace Radheshyam Sundar Das, who lead the harinam, the children danced and sang in ecstasy. This was the temple's first outreach program with the local residents. The parents of some of the children also attended the program and were enthralled and repeatedly asked to have it every Sunday. Our visiting guest Rasa Vilasini DD from Brazil loved the kids so much that the next day she sponsored soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste for them all. And our Zaritsa Mataji, from America on holiday with her children, also sponsored some clothing for them. Her son's were playing the mrdanga. The brijbasi girls in their sari's and gopi dots had the visitors in our temple mesmerized by their beauty. After the procession they were treated to a sumptuous feast cooked in our temple devotee kitchen. We are planning to have bhakti vrksha programs for the children in the future. The preaching program started in these area's nine months ago by devotees living in the area. Read more ›

Spiritual Leadership Course in Mayapura
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“Spiritual Leadership: Being a Guru in ISKCON” seminar wiill be offered once in 2015, at Mayapura from February 22-25. Per ISKCON Law this Seminar is mandatory for devotees who take up the service of diksha guru and for sannyasa candidates. The GBC also “highly recommends” it for siksa gurus, senior managers and other ISKCON leaders.

Spiritual Short “Long Lost” Hits the Film Festival Circuit
→ ISKCON News

 “Long Lost,” a new 25-minute short film about a young man encountering Krishna consciousness as he searches for answers in life, is being well-received at film festivals and other events internationally. In August at the Russian film festival “I See God,” which features different film-makers’ interpretations of how they perceive the Almighty, Long Lost was chosen for third place out of 65 shorts by the audience themselves.

Long Lost – Trailer
→ ISKCON News

'Long Lost' explores the anxieties, the hope, the questions that arise within us all including, 'what is love? - as in, REAL love?' This film is attempts to encourage others to also delve deep within. Watch Long Lost and share Tim's ordinary night out and the extraordinary (re) connection. Directed by Shaktyavesa Avatara Das. 

One Of ISKCON’s Finest! (Album 81 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: The rural community of New Vraja Dhama in Hungary, with 207 devotees and 50 cows, is Sivarama Swami's offering of love to his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. Over two decades of selfless hard work by the Hungarian devotees has produced one of the finest projects in ISKCON. The presiding deities, Radha Syamasundara, are worshipped with one of the highest standards I have seen in our movement. Read more ›

Harinama in Israel (Album 121 photos)
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If a devotee once utters the holy name of the Lord, or if it penetrates his mind or enters his ear, which is the channel of aural reception, that holy name will certainly deliver him from material bondage, whether vibrated properly or improperly, with correct or incorrect grammar, or properly joined or vibrated in separate parts. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.60) Read more ›

Varnasrama Training Courses
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Dear Devotees, The daiva varnasrama ministry, promoting rural development in INDIA, in association with Mayapur Institute, are conducting various courses during the next few months, the details are below, For registration you can write at Ram.lakshman.brs@pamho.net or visit our website www.iskconvarnasrama.com Varnasrama Training Courses 2014-15 Course 1 –  Cow Care Management – By Dr. Sreekumar 13th […]

The post Varnasrama Training Courses appeared first on Mayapur.com.

New York City Union Station Harinam (Album 22 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

This has been on my Bucket List for a long time and it wasn't disappointing. 24/7, 365 days a year, six hours a day, rain, snow or shine, Rama Raya prabhu has a wonderful group of sweet and sincere devotees and friends that are totally absorbed in this blissful service. It was very enlivening for and old crudgeon as my self to be in the association of these very serious and sweet young devotees. It was also ecstatic having Vishnujana, Harinamananda and Gaura Karuna from the World Samkirtan Party there during my visit. If in NY do yourself a big favor and sit in and be captivated. Read more ›

How to Become Free from a “Ghost-like” Existence, September 20, Phoenix, Arizona
Giriraj Swami

phoenixGiriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23.

“Srimati Radharani is a tenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme whole, resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly feminine nature. Therefore, the mercy of Radharani is available very readily to the sincere devotees, and once She recommends such a devotee to Lord Krsna, the Lord at once accepts the devotee’s admittance into His association. The conclusion is, therefore, that one should be more serious about seeking the mercy of the devotee than that of the Lord directly, and by one’s doing so (by the good will of the devotee) the natural attraction for the service of the Lord will be revived.”

—SB 2.3.23 Purport

How to Become Free, SB 2.3.23

Comemmorating Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival in America, September 20, Scottsdale, Arizona
Giriraj Swami

srila-prabhupada-jaladuta-1Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.4.18.

“Anyone from any part of the world who becomes well conversant in the science of Krsna becomes a pure devotee and a spiritual master for the general mass of people and may reclaim them by purification of heart. Though a person be even the most sinful man, he can at once be purified by systematic contact with a pure Vaisnava. A Vaisnava, therefore, can accept a bona fide disciple from any part of the world without any consideration of caste and creed and promote him by regulative principles to the status of a pure Vaisnava who is transcendental to brahminical culture.”

—SB 2.4.18 purport

Comemmorating Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival, SB 2.4.18

Special TOVP Presentation – October 5, 2014
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

In Sri Dham Mayapur, the largest temple in the world is presently being erected, the Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – Temple of the Vedic Planetarium or “TOVP” for short.

Our Founder Acharya, Srila Prabhupada stated, “Now you all together make this Vedic Planetarium very nice, so that people will come and see. From the description in the Srimad Bhagavatam you prepare this Vedic Planetarium. My idea is to attract people of the whole world to Mayapur” Thus this project is a fulfillment of Srila Prabhupada’s wish and devotees from all over the world are coming together to help in the construction of what has been dubbed the “temple for the next millennium”.

Earlier this year, the TOVP Canada team was formed in order to have a coordinated effort to participate and collect funds for selected key elements of the TOVP project. Our initial collections from Canada will go towards the purchase of a “lightning arrester system” which will protect the temple and in particular the central dome from lightning strikes.

The inaugural event for TOVP Canada is a special visit of H.G. Radha Jivana Prabhu on the weekend of October 4th and 5th with a special discourse at ISKCON Toronto’s Sunday Feast on October 5th.

Radha Jivana Prabhu comes from a well established Vaishnava family in Rajasthan. He was educated in Doon School and graduated from St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, after which he joined ISKCON in Shri Dham Mayapur in 1978. He served as the Vice President of Calcutta temple, director of BBT in Mayapur and a member of the administrative council in India.  After serving in Mayapur for 14 years he shifted to Alachua, Florida, a large devotee community in America. Over the last two decades he has become a successful businessman who also provides employment for numerous devotees.

Radha Jivana Prabhu is a dedicated disciple of H.H. Tamal Krishna Goswami and actively supports a preaching center in Guanzao China. He has been a major donor in the construction of ISKCON Dwaraka, Rajkot as well as projects in Mayapur. Currently he is active in building the beautiful Las Vegas ISKCON temple.

During the last decade, Radha Jivana Prabhu has been involved in the protection of Brajdham Vrindavan where he was actively engaged in fighting the mining of the sacred hills of Braj where Krishna’s past times took place. After a great deal of effort he succeeded by convincing the government to declare the hills of Braj as protected forest land. He also financed and organized residents of Braj to perform Harinam kirtan in their villages every morning and in this way was able to influence thousands of villagers in and around Braj to participate in Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtan movement.

For the last few years Radha Jivana Prabhu has headed a team of devotees to undertake the challenging service of persuading the government to clean the Yamuna River by organizing major public demonstrations throughout Braj. Last year he even marched to Delhi with fifty thousand people to highlight the plight of Yamuna River.

Most recently he has been asked by the GBC to take up the challenging work of raising $50 million in funds for the construction of the TOVP and is coming to present this “Once in a Millennium” opportunity to devotees in the Greater Toronto Area.