Deity Worship at Home Temple: Making small ribbon roses for decoration step by step (Album 24 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Deity worship, even in the simplest form, puts Krishna in the center of one’s home and existence; all activities revolve around the Lord by working for Him, cooking for Him, singing for Him, etc. In this way there is a natural, continuous thought which keeps devotees in constant transcendental connection via His devotional service. Read more ›

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 07/03/14
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

New Vrindaban Gurukuli Reunion 1993

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 07/03/14.

Each week we highlight an earlier era of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

This week’s challenge: There are more than 50 devotees in this photo. How many can you identify?

Extra credit: What’s the celebration?

What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook Page.

Technical stuff: We share a photo Thursday and confirm known details Sunday. Let’s keep it light and have a bit of fun!

Special request: If you have a photo showing New Vrindaban devotees in action, share it with us and we’ll use it in a future posting.

Tuesday, July 1st, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Ottawa, Ontario

Chanting in Freedom

Perhaps for a good square mile or two, around the Parliament Buildings, it becomes like China, very congested.  It’s not normally this way.  It’s the nation’s birthday, and so you have a convergence of people in on the celebration.

For a different spin on walking and chanting, Karuna and I, who are accustomed to switch-backing in the mountainous roads of British Columbia for the last month, now found ourselves in an urban setting weaving through people.  Our destination was a spot near Parliament, an allocated area for our kirtan (chanting) set up.  Each year our boys from Ottawa make it to this cozy outside place at 5 AM to set up a mini stage, awnings, and sound system. 

Slowly, Karuna and I, managed our way to that special site, after meandering through people outside and inside; through the Rideau Shopping Mall, through Sears Department Store and so on.   Through the crowds and through the noise (mostly happy noise), pass the buskers, with their acrobats, fire eating and whatnot, and past the multiple musicians of various genres, we attempted transcendence with our mantras, as we worked our fingers through our mala beads.  It was crazy as we cruised.

Finally, we reached our destination and I ascended the stage for leading the song on this Canada Day:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

People danced as our drums, both mrdanga and djembe, rolled.  It was very fitting.  We were expressing who we are and we were celebrating the freedom to do so.   When I wasn’t chanting, I had an opportunity to meet people.  I met folks from Iran and Iraq (now emigrated).  They are baffled by this freedom. 

May the Source be with you!

9 KM

Monday, June 30th, 2014
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Ottawa, Ontario

The Microphone and Camera


The microphone and camera were right there, in front of me.  The interviewer asked how I made out on the flight from Vancouver.  Serious problems arose from the hydraulics on Air Canada. 

I answered, “Everything was quite calm.  The pilot was updating the passengers in a very reassuring tone.”

Question, “How did you react when you were informed about the mechanical difficulties?”

“It gave me the opportunity to be more meditative, to chant more mantras for protection.”

Question, “What are you doing in Ottawa?”

“I came  to visit to participate in the Canada Day festivities along with the Krishna community here.”

Question, “Is it good to have your feet back on the ground?”

“Yes, I just completed my fourth walk across Canada, and so I’m very much a man of the ground.”

Interviewer, “Thank you very much.”

“Thank you, and enjoy the day to come.”

This night I couldn’t sleep, not until 2 AM.  The reason – I hadn’t walked today.  I wasn’t tired enough.  This night (I found out later) the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) aired the interview on the 11 PM news. 

During my attempt to sleep, I decided to phone Dana, my friend, who has covered over 18,000 km on foot over the Trans Canada Trail.  His spirit is always up, even though he just recovered from a case of Beaver Fever in the hospital.  It was great to share with him, once again, over the phone, the joys of walking. 

I miss the road, and the people.  Don’t let your spirits get you down, ever.  I think of my guru in this regard. 

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Sunday, June 29th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Burnaby, British Columbia
 
Not the End
 
 
It was a few minutes after 4 that I woke up for the last leg of the Fourth walk across Canada.  I woke up Karuna who like a real trooper is habituated to morning trekking.  I let Daruka sleep in for a well-deserved one, considering it's also a less-demanding day with a mere 22 kilometres to go.
 
I was determined to make this a quiet finish as far as a marathon pilgrimage is concerned.  It doesn't require a big hoopla necessarily.  It's a walk for peace afterall - inner peace.  And the walking is only meant to continue.
 
From Akrura's home in Surrey Karuna and I had set out to make a few turns and twists on various streets and a stepping on yet another bridge, the Patulla, to New Westminister and then Burnaby.  Once entering Burnaby the sights and buildings began to be familiar to me as this is where I generally trek when I visit Burnaby.  
 
One way I thought we could celebrate however, in the most wholesome and calm way was just test out some of the wild berries lined along the street along the stretch.  Generally I go for touching the ocean nearest when putting an apparent closure to such a pilgrimage.  The Pacific is but a few clicks (kilometres) away but I vied for taking the final steps to the lotus feet of Krishna deities this time around and the ISKCON temple in the heart of Burnaby.
 
The very final steps was actually a full obeisance (prostration) before the magnanimous avatar of Krishna, Sri Chaitanya, who was a popular mover of legs - a pilgrim himself - in early 16th century India.  My heart did indeed melt momentarily as I glanced at the smiling brass image of the Chaitanya deity.  There is power in the deity.  I could feel it, especially now.
 
As I was peering at the deity a hazy but sublime backdrop of mountain, trees, semi-deserts and prairies super-imposed itself.  "It's all one!" yogis often say.  For me the elements and the elemental source are one.  They are also different.  Creator and creation shine together and also apart.
 
While it's been one big-time adventure once again trekking a great piece of the globe, Canada, I ventured through this land with its multiple eco-systems seeing it in awe and offering it a service.  As I play a small role in massaging the land's hard and soft surfaces I know that mutually my very bottoms (the feet) got a treat.
 
I lost some pounds.  I lost some karma.  From trees we learn tolerance; from wind, creativity; from water, gravity; from the sun and moon, energy and from people, hospitality and kindness.
 
Thank you all donors in cash and in kind.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
22 KM

Saturday, June 28th, 2014
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Surrey, British Columbia
 
Walk, Drive, Dance
 
 
Karuna and I started from Pitt Meadows.  Led in his hand with a Rogers Samsung phone, Karuna had navigated us through pedestrian-friendly streets.  The day began with drizzle from the sky as our walk included a long trek over the Golden Ears Bridge which arches over the Fraser River.  Overcast it has been for one more morning.  The both of us see this as mercy from Krishna.  It's so much easier to trek in conditions that are moderate as we made our way to the home of Akrura in Surrey.
 
Kindness is what spurs you on and Akrura, a world traveller and bhakti-yoga teacher, is always good to me.  For accommodation and now giving our CanWalk team a ride to Ashcroft, he demonstrates his good-heartedness.  The event of the day is the Chariot Festival, a re-enactment of the big-draw celebrations held in Puri, India for centuries.  In fact today, by lunar calendar, the anniversary of this colourful event falls on this very day.
 
Members of the Govardhana School Academy presented this great drama.  And a special highlight for me was the garden-fresh food, prasadam.  It's blessed.  The program also involves a procession, so guess who had the opportunity to put on an extra two kilometres of walking?
 
Anyways, no problem!  These legs are on a roll.  I did have the good fortune to use different leg muscles when it came time to leading the kirtan chant and dance.  It was obvious that some participants were not used to moving (in dance).  Stiffness is a predominant feature of today, but for all those who attempted to thaw and loosen up for dancing, I honour them and respect the great effort.  Effort is always devotional, especially when done for the Absolute, for Jagannath, the Incredible Force.
 
I want to thank Manu for his classical dance piece executed on the rustic stage by the side of a mountain slope overlooking a tranquil lake at Saranagati village.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
16 KM

Friday, June 27th, 2014
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Maple Ridge, British Columbia
 
Monk at Mission
 
 
Highway 7 was gritting our brains – dense traffic, speed, unsafe, noisy.  Any alternative would do.  My assistant, Nitai Priya, here on the west coast, searched on Google maps, to find a quieter more straight and direct route – the Dewdney Trunk Road.
 
Karuna Sindhu and I loved the idea and headed for peace, until the Dewdney itself became uproarious and then merged with highway 7.
 
As was done on the previous day, Daruka, with his well-focused networking abilities, made friends with yoga people and so we had, within hours, company of the nicest group at the Iron Lotus headed by Laura and Josh in the city of Mission.
 
Mission is an interesting place.  As we were told there are a number of people in town dressed as monks.  Some come across as mere beggars and/or could be inwardly challenged in some way.  When I was spotted going down Main Street the question came, “Is he a genuine monk or a fake?”  A philosophical answer to the question can be, “You really don’t know until he opens his mouth.”
 
May the Source be with you!
 
33 KM

Thursday, June 26th, 2014
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Mission, British Columbia
 
With Hope
 
 
Yes, I’d been here before – this route.  Hwy 7 is as usual, beginning from Mission, busier than ever.  From the east side is an impressive tower on top of a mountain with adjoining edifices – a Christian monastery.  And yes, to my right as I go westward, stands a permanent Gurudwar.
 
Of course, you have the common iconic this-century structures that mean a practical ‘much’ to people – Rona (the home centre), Best Western (the hotel), and Superstore (where all exists to take care of grocery needs).
 
As mentioned, traffic is crazy and you appear to be the only person in the world that is walking (and chanting).
 
By evening a backtracking to Hope, by car, was a neat obligation to fulfill.  Kevin, a young yoga teacher, who hails from Thompson, Manitoba, invited us for a presentation at his yoga studio.  A couple of cyclists from Calgary heard about the program and came to hear about our devotional endeavours on the road.  Nicole, from Sunshine Valley, heard of the event and also saw me walking past her house so she put two and two together and came.  Other real nice, good-listener folks came to grace us with their down-home type of presence.
 
I had passed through Hope zillions of times, on foot or via car and acquired an impression of the place only because it’s a major junction leading to many roads.  Tonight we stopped and got happily familiar with some of the citizens through chatting and chanting with them
 
May the Source be with you!
 
33 KM

Listen Up!
→ The Enquirer

Is there anyone in this world who would give up the opportunity to grasp with the hands of his ears the misery-annihilating chalice of nectar full of these Beautiful Tales of the All-Attractive? No one who really knows what is truly valuable could do it. Only an animal would be so stupid.


Mahavishnu Swami was truly amazing this last weekend. Were just back from Glasto…
→ Mahavishnu Swami

Mahavishnu Swami was truly amazing this last weekend. Were just back from Glastonbury Festival!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIrEY-WMZI4&list=UU14VMd3QqNZb10NSE2gVwGA&feature=share


Glastonbury Festival 2014 | We're Completely Crazy!

Going out on the streets Of Glastonbury! harekrishnafestivals.com If the trumpeter Only Known As Sam sees this video PLEASE contact us! We'd love to chat aga... Continue reading →

Creating friendships
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 April 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Lecture at House Program)

KKS_friendshipIn a small temple, with predominately congregational devotees – that means devotees who are maintaining a life outside the temple and who have limited time and energy – I think we should appreciate the time spent together and maintain relationships. Because especially in a congregational gathering, more than ever, we need friendship. You know, it is like if you have a little military army living in a temple and all are on a mission. Even if there is no such friendship, still all are together in the same mission. But when you do not have that kind of driving energy then the only reason to come together is for friendship. So that is a big challenge but I think that is the key.

Like, we are here tonight, at somebody’s house and that is very nice, that is how it should be. If devotees have not been in your house for a while then you must start thinking about it and arrange for them to come. Even if your house is small, it does not matter – squeeze in somehow or other – because bonding is important. So we need to stay close and in an congregational setting, friendship is a big element, if you want to be with people. If you do not really want to be with them then you are not going to be with them. In the temple, whether you want to be together or not, you have to be for mangala aarti. But in a congregation, if you do not want to be together then why would you be? You only go to programs that you want to.

In friendship, you have to conquer people, do something to win them over. You have to do something that touches their heart, and then we have real friendships. Friendship can never be taken for granted and it is not cheap, but that is what we need. I guess, you can say big things about friendship but you can also make it very simple. In one way, a very simple approach is to not give each other a hard time – sort of, make it easy for each other and it counts for everybody, even at home! You know, friendship begins at home, if we just sort of try and make it easy for each other, that would help.

Devotee: Maharaj, does that not defeat the high thinking society ideal?

It depends on what you call easy. I did not mean that we should lose the purity but we should accommodate each other a lot and be sensitive to each other’s needs, that is what I meant. Making it easy for each other means that we should think of everybody’s needs, and not just of our own, then that creates friendship. So we try to think of the needs of others.

 

The largest music festival in the world
→ simple thoughts

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Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Last week the devotees gathered together at the biggest music festival in the world, in an attempt to please Srila Prabhupada.

Prasad was served free to the public from 10am till 10pm, a stage program went on all day and of course the Harinam track through the mud.

Enjoy the two movies,

all glories to the festival devotees,
your servant
Parasuram Das

My Children in Mayapur
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY JAI SITA RANI DEVI DASI

PHOTOS BY JOHN FAHY, JAGANNATH KIRTAN DASA AND OTHER MAYAPUR DEVOTEES

KUALA LUMPUR - June marks the arrivals of Ratha Yatras around the world making it very special, but even more dear to my heart was the return of both my children, Shevaanni Pillai and Gauravani Dasa to Kuala Lumpur after spending two years in Mayapur doing Cambridge A levels and IGCSE levels respectively. I get so many devotees asking me about them that I thought I might as well let you know the frequent questions asked. 

 
What would they do after studying in Mayapur?
Cambridge A and IGCSE levels are recognised worldwide and you can easily place your children in any private Universities. A degree program is available after A level holders, and there are 1 year Foundation courses for IGCSE holders, if you do not want to continue with A levels.
 
What was the cost there?
We spend around RM50K (USD16K) for both the children which include accommodation, flight fare, school and exam fees, clothings, visa etc. Was it too high? No, it was worth every sen. Read on...
 
What have they achieved there?
The Sri Mayapur International School offers an environment where you can have the best of both academic and spiritual studies. My children only took a minimum of 5 academic subjects and focussed the rest of the time on Bhakti Shastri, Mrdanga, Harmonium, Basketball, Pot painting, Drawing, Cooking, Drama, Dancing, Deity dress making, bouquet/garland making, Rangoli making.  They participated in so many festivals there including the ones that are not so famous there such as Panihati Cida where pot painting has been made popular by a school teacher (Amala Caitanya Prabhu), Hatti procession, Candan yatra, Spring festivals etc. My daughter had an award for "Most responsible" and my son got "Ramananda Roy" award for his directing and script writing for the school dramas.
 
I never expected my children to take up Krishna Consciousness so seriously. All I wanted was for them to get a holistic education both spiritually and academically. However, on their own they started chanting 16 rounds and aspiring for their guru. And as an icing on the cake, my 16 year old son got initiated there as well!! It was just amazing. When HH Janananda Maharaj asked me if I had any preference in his initiated name. I told him that it would be nice if he added on something to his existing name "Vinodh". But my son, had something else in mind, he wanted the name "Visvambhara" for some reason or another. Yet Maharaj had the name "Nimai Pandit" in his mind, since my son had a flair in writing scripts for dramas for school performances. So when the priest for the Pancatattva got the japa mala blessed and told Maharaj he prayed that the person who takes on the japa mala should become an ambassador for ISKCON and spread the glories of Krishna Consciousness around the world, Maharaj changed his mind about the name he had in mind and that's how "Gauravani Dasa" was born. 
 
Check this slide show out and you can see the number of activities they participated in during their stay in beautiful Mayapur...
And please do not think too hard, if you have children, pleeease send them to Mayapur to study for at least two years. Give them what you didn't get... something that will keep them deeply rooted in Krishna Consciousness for life, an experience and treasure that they can hold in their hearts forever....You will never regret it.. It will be the best investment you have made in your life.. and the only thing that matters in this lifetime and you are guaranteed a ticket back home, back to Godhead... at least I strongly feel so..
 

New Govardhana Begins Final Stage of Self-Sufficiency Plan
→ ISKCON News

In the picturesque Tweed Valley in New South Wales, Australia, ISKCON’s New Govardhana farm began work on the final stage of its five-part self-sufficiency plan in late May of this year. Once the plan is complete, it won’t immediately render the community fully self-sufficient; however it will set the farm on the path towards gradually reaching that goal.

Ratha Yatra Mayapur 2014 (18 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

Bhakta Jeff (Jeff Wilson): This is the Ratha Yatra Festival in Mayapur 2014. There are many at ISKCON centers around the world every year. A lot of work and planning go into making a major festival like this happen and this years festival in Sri Mayapur Dham was attended by tens of thousands. This video is narated by His Grace Jananivasa das. He tells the story of how the appearance of these Jaganath deities came about and the eternal link they have to the Holy Dham. Read more ›

Ratha Yatra Mayapur 2014
→ ISKCON News

This is the Ratha Yatra Festival in Mayapur 2014. This video is narated by Jananivasa das. He tells the story of how the appearance of these Jaganath deities came about and the eternal link they have to the Holy Dham. A video by bh. Jeff Wilson.

Huge Iskcon Kolkata Ratha Yatra, probably the 2nd largest Rathayatra festival of the world (Album 41 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Iskcon Kolkata Rathayātrā is the 2nd largest Rathayātrā festival of the world. Lord Jagannāth, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra would enthrone three beautifully decorated huge chariots. Thousands of devotees from different parts of the country and from different parts of the world flock in the city of Kolkata, the birth city of Srila Prabhupada to participate in this wonderful festival and immerse themselves in the ocean of love, joy and devotion. It is a blessing to get the chance to pull ropes of the divine chariots. The Lord’s journey would be from the Iskcon temple to Guṇḍicā Temple where the Lord would stay for 9 days. When the chariots pass through the streets of Kolkata throngs of people make a beeline to receive the divine blessings. The Lord of the Universe, Lord Jagannāth being very merciful bestows his mercy upon each and everyone without any discrimination. The cymbals, the mridangas, the trumpets and other musicals instruments would be played out to welcome the Lord. The ever enchanting melody of ‘Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahamantra’ would inundate the atmosphere and the people would joyfully dance to its tune. The grand procession would culminate at the Guṇḍicā Temple where the Lord would stay for 9 days. Read more ›