Toronto, Ontario

Make Light!


I know some people who visit our ashram and who have challenges in life with imbalance. Whether on medication or not, I advise them to get more physical for their well-being. Such people do seek advice. They sometimes anticipate some spiritual counsel and surely I will deliver.  At the same time I will suggest physical accomplishments – the use of head to toe, the swaying of legs and swinging of arms. In short, the ancient art of walking works.

It is also in walking that one reaches a creative optimum. There are things you see, smell and wander over in the course of movement that helps to bring out the most in an individual.

Sometimes I meet folks who carry extra karma (lbs.-wise) and surely I will tactfully recommend walking. For the slim and trip, I’ll do the same – advise them that their obligation is to stay inspirational to others. “Please remember though, you are not the body. You are the spirit.”

For the youthful, anything to get them for free time from gadgets. “Walking beats all,” I say. To the elderly, well, in his seventies our guru, Srila Prabhupada went on his daily treks. That, along with daily massage boosted longevity. In his own words he said of an emergency doctor, “That was good advice.”

Anyways, what do you expect a “walking monk” to say to an audience of readers? The monk part is about chanting and healing oneself with the subtle flab that hangs around inside you.

“Karma is a heavy thing,” a friend said when he encountered life’s bumps. I agreed with him and said, “Let’s make it light!”

May the Source be with you!

9 KM

Sunday Love Feast

When? Sunday,Aug 31st,2014 Program starts at 11 am Where? 6 George Street South Brampton, Ontario L6Y 1P3, Canada Park underground(free) @ City Hall Phone:416-648-3312 New! Listen Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog Make a Donation

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.1.32 katamo 'pi na venah syat pancanam purusam prati tasmat kenapy upayena manah krsne nivesayet TRANSLATION Somehow or other, one must consider the form of Krsna very seriously. Then, by one of the five different processes mentioned above, one can return home, back to Godhead. Atheists like King Vena, however, being unable to think of Krsna's form in any of these five ways, cannot attain salvation. Therefore, one must somehow think of Krsna, whether in a friendly way or inimically.   Program Schedule 11.00- 11.15      Tulsi Puja                                            11.15 - 11.30     Guru Puja                                             11:30 –11:55     Aarti & Kirtan                                       11.55 - 12.00    Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers                   12.00 – 1:00     Vedic Discourse    1:00 –  1:30      Closing Kirtan   About His Grace Kala Prabhu 1972    Kala das joined ISKcon in Montreal. 1972.    He met Srila Prabhupad in New York. 1972.    He was accepted as disciple of Srila Prabhupad. 1973.    He became a Treasurer and Vice President at Vancouver temple. 1975.    He became Vice President  at ISKcon Seattle. 1976.    He went to Mayapur to build a house for Srila Prabhupada. 1977.    He became Temple President  at St Louis Mo USA. 1978.    He became Co President of  Murari Sevak Farm in Tennessee. 1980.    He became  vice president at Chaitanya College England. 1981.    He opened preaching centre in Cape Town South Africa. 1982.    He became Temple President at Cato Ridge South Africa near Durban. 1983.    He became Regional Secretary at ISKcon Mauritius. 1984.    He started the very first Padayatra outside of India in Mauritius. 1985.    He returned to Canada to raise his 4 children with wife Yasomati Devi Dasi. 1991.    He became Guest House Manager at Mayapur. 1992.    He started, with his wife, first Day school for boys and girls in Mayapur. 1995.    He became Regional Secretary for Eastern Canada and temple president at Toronto Temple. 1992-2001 He continued involvement with education in Mayapur India. 2011.    Wife Yasomati started Kirtan Mela Mayapur. At present ...he is supporting Kirtan Mela Mayapur and preaching in Cambodia.   COMING UP AHEAD   Radhastami(Appearance of Radha Rani) **Fasting till noon** Celebration on Sep 2nd @ 7.00pm We all eagerly anticipate the annual exciting all day festival to celebrate Sri Radhastami, the appearance anniversary of Srimati Radharani, the supreme Goddess of Fortune and Devotion on Tuesday,September 2nd. Everybody — from our children to our respected elders, serious practitioners to first time visitors — can be part of this festival and use the opportunity to render direct service to Srimati Radharani on this day. We have organized to following activities for you: Bhoga offerings: You can bake or prepare some nice preparations for Srimati Radharani. Minimum requirement is all preparations are home made, not tasted and offered in NEW alluminium containers. Flower Offerings: Srimati Radharani loves flowers. You can get a bouquet or fresh flowers for Srimati Radharani. You an also sponsor the flowers for that day at the front desk. New Outfits: Sri Sri Radha Giridhari would be giving darshan on this special day in Their new outfits. You can sponsor their new outfits at the front desk. Written Messages to Radharani: Everyone is encouraged to write a a poem, prayer, or letter to Srimati Radharani. Birthday cards/letters/messages will be offered to Her lotus feet. You can send Her your birthday card to the temple. Gift Offerings: Just as we take a gift when attending a birthday celebration, you can also bring gift for Srimati Radharani. You may consult the Deity department heads for what gifts could be brought. Radharani's kitchen:  Radharani's kitchen is always in use and is always in need of new appliances and new cuttleries. You may contact the kitchen department to see how you can help. For Volunteering: please contact Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi(premagaurangi.jps@hotmail.com) For Sponsoring the event: Please contact Krsna smaran Devi Dsi(kavitabalram@yahoo.com) **Details of the program will be posted shortly** Parsva Ekadasi Fasting.....................on Sep 5th,2014 Breakfast................. on Sep 6th,2014 b/w 6.46am-8.37am Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra. Bhagavad Gita Classes(New Session) Starting on Sep 6th,2014 Course fees: $125.00 per Student and  $75.00 for family members of Student(Prasadam and study material included).Mone is payable to ISKCON Brampton....tax receipts will be provided. Join our new session of  Bhagavad Gita Course with His Grace Vaisnava Dasa from 8.45am-12.00pm and get certified from Bhaktivedanta College at the completion of this course towards Bhakti Sastri Degree.The course duration is approximately 10 weeks.To register please contact Vaisnava Dasa Prabhu in person or via email[vaishnavadas@icloud.com] ON GOING EVERY SUNDAY ISKCON Brampton Yoga and Wellness Empower your mind and strengthen your body as you move through a series of meaningful poses.Mother Rashmi Ahuja will be conducting Yoga Classes every Sunday from 10am-11am before our Sunday Feast Program at ISKCON Brampton.These classes will be focussed on promoting our physical and mental well being.(Please bring your yoga mat) Please Register here: Email:rashmis.yoga@facebook.com  Facebook page:Yoga and Satvic Nutrition with Rashmi Contacts:416.569.6373 or 905.488.7272 Nutrition Help & Diet Tips Mother Rashmi Ahuja is offering free one to one consultations and development of Individualized Nutrition Plans on Sundays between 1:30 - 3pm. Please contact (416)569-6373 or (905)488-7272 to book an appointment. Sunday School To register,contact us Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com Call:647.893.9363 The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).   Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Chant and Be happy!

In a recent discussion about Japa this question came up....it was in relation to the wandering mind and if we should think of anything and if so, what should that be?

One suggestion by Sacinandana Swami was to meditate on the meaning of the mantra "Oh Lord, Oh energy of the Lord, please engage me in your devotional service" - his point was that if the mind is going to think of something it's better to think about the meaning of the mantra.

For me personally I try to focus on the sound vibration so the mind has no chance of wandering....of course this comes and goes and is dynamic.
By determination and persistance the mind will actually surrender and naturally focus on the sound without us having to be consciously aware of it...until then it's a battle...but a battle that can be won.

This year, after many years, the devotees from Cairns, headed by Adi Kesava Das and Syamarupa Devi Dasi, arranged to have a Rathayatra in the Spring Festival Parade.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 September 2011, Berlin, Germany, Radhastami, Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi Lila 142-145)

I like the comparison of the love of Srimati Radharani to a mirror which reflects the qualities of Krsna – as she discovers more and more qualities of Krsna, her love is just responding to those qualities. In this way, the love of Srimati Radharani is eternally growing. This explains the nature of love in the spiritual world and how one is increasing in one’s devotional service and one’s devotional experience eternally. Krsna becomes captured by this love which increases his experience of love; so that exchange eternally continues.

The topmost relationship in the spiritual world is parakiya rasa, which is a forbidden relationship of paramours. Not the conjugal love within marriage but forbidden relationship of paramours – those stolen moments are considered to be the topmost. Gopis cannot openly associate with Krsna – that is not possible because it is socially not acceptable that they mix with Krsna. Many are married, others are young girls under the authority of their parents – how can they openly mix with the young boy in the village? It is not possible. Therefore, in the relationship between Radha and Krsna it is not possible that they openly meet, as there are many obstacles. Some stolen moments are there which are very precious for that reason. There is great eagerness to finally have the opportunity to meet Krsna; that is usually very difficult.

When Srimati Radharani encounters Krsna, she is overwhelmed. It is described that when Radha sees Krsna in public that she cannot help but smile, but she is hiding that smile. So her smile is practically not visible, it is slightly there, by the corner of her lips, but Krsna notices that smile and therefore he also starts mildly smiling, also controlling his smile. Srimati Radharani notices that Krsna is seeing that she started smiling and therefore she begins to smile more. Krsna notices that she has noticed that he had noticed that she was smiling and therefore Krsna begins to smile more. Then she notices that Krsna has just noticed that she had noticed that he was noticing that she was smiling… and in this way, they go on with noticing until in the end, they cannot control the smiling anymore! So in this way, there is the intimate exchange but at the same time, it is covered by the separation. The essence of parakiya rasa is separation. The mood between Radha and Krsna is always one of separation with some stolen moments of coming together and then again increased separation. This is the basic theme of that topmost love.

I find very interesting this image of the love of Srimati Radharani being a mirror reflecting the qualities of Krsna and then eternally discovering more qualities because it shows how one eternally makes spiritual advancement – there is no limit to it! It is very profound and it does not just apply to only Srimati Radharani, it applies to all devotees – especially to all the eternal associates of the Lord and even to us! We are also discovering little-by-little, more and more, about the nature of Krsna and the qualities of Krsna. Maybe, at this stage, our love is not very developed but some attraction is there – it is unavoidable even! One of meaning of the word Bhagavan, as told by Srila Jiva Gosvami, means, ‘Krsna is irresistible, you have to worship him!’ So this is the situation – there is no question of not coming to the point of loving Krsna! 

We are starting a Hashtags Campaign! Please include the Hashtag below in as many of your social network posts as possible. #WorldHolyNameWeek Please anyone and everyone from GBCs to ABCs, use the following Hashtags in your posts on all social media like Facebook, twitter, etc. Here is an explanation about hashtags courtesy of Bhaktin Shruti: To use a hashtag all you have to do is make a post (it can be any kind of post, such as text, pictures, videos, links, etc.) on any social media website that supports hashtags and then include the appropriate hashtag(s). Usually people put a hashtag at the end of a post when possible. For example, if I post a photo of myself at a japathon, I could include the caption "At the japathon today. So excited! #WorldHolyNameWeek"when I post the photo. A hashtag campaign is simply a campaign to get as many people as possible to use a particular hashtags, with the hope that a particular hashtag will become popular and will catch a lot of attention, thus promoting the brand name or event or whatever it is that the marketers want to promote. It's a very commonly used strategy nowadays, in the age of social media. Read more ›

H.H. Bhakti Purusottama Swami visited Detroit for three glorious days and flooded the congregation with very sweet narrations of many pastimes of Srimati Radharani in anticipation of Radhastami. His visits to Detroit are always memorable but this visit will stand out as one of the best. The three classes brought everyone to a greater appreciation of Srimati Radharani and fueled the congregation with great enthusiasm to celebrate Radhastami in the best way. Read more ›

By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, we gradually develop our eternal relationship with the Supreme Person and thus attain the perfection called svarupa-siddhi. We should take advantage of this benediction and go back home, back to Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.3.37 Purport ) Read more ›

Even if one is sinful and cannot give up sinful life immediately, if he chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra with devotion and faith he will certainly be freed from all sinful activities, and his life will be successful. Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. This is the blessing of Lord Ramachandra, who has appeared in this age of Kali as Lord Gaurasundara. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 9.10.51 Purport) Read more ›

"Although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 12.3.51 Purport) Read more ›

The Harinama Sankirtana accompanied by the beautifully decorated palanquin of Their Lordships Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda organized by Sri Jagannatha Mandir Kuala Lumpur (SJMKL), this time around headed to Kampung Tasik Tambahan in city of Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. The event was held on 23rd August 2014 and was led by HG Sadananda Prabhu and Sriman Subra Prabhu with approximately 50 devotees participating in it. Read more ›

(English/Russian) Moscow lectures.

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In the photo on the left you can see how ISKCON Mayapur looked in 1979. A big field of vegetables in front of the main gate was all that was there at that time. Now you can see the beautiful Temple of the Vedic Planetarium quickly rising, with the fourth ring of the main dome coming up.

The post Old and New Mayapur appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

15-08-2014 The Culture of Bhagavad Gita, Scottburgh, South Africa.mp3

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Outline:

Dhritarshatra never accepted the limitation caused by his congenital blindness. Hurt people hurt people. Just by being in a position we imagine that we have the qualification for it.

It requires courage to aim for the impossible and it requires courage to admit that something is impossible. Don't be so resentful about the door that is closed as to miss the other doors that are open - and open specially for you.

Choose carefully what pleasure we enjoy vicariously eg cricket - vicarious enjoyment through triple misidentification

Only two verses nearly identically repeated in the Gita: 9.34-18.65 and 3.35-18.47: do para-dharma and stick to apara-dharma

Our svabhava limits us and also directs us

Brahmana-diksha indicates change of guna, not necessarily of karma eg. Businessperson does business in sattva-guna or intellectuals do word jugglery in ignorance to perpetuate ignorance

Don't mistake dissatisfaction caused by material incompatibility to be ineffectiveness of bhakti

Bhakti is not just about surrendering to Krishna's instructions, but also about taking initiative on Krishna's behalf

 

ISKCON Kolkata Sringar Darshan Arti 19th August 2014

Answer Podcast

From Subhash P

In the example of monozygotic twins You have quoted if one is of cruel nature and one is of loving nature does this mean the soul of one has a cruel personality. Isn’t the cruelty due to Ajnana obscuring the pure soul as in chapter 5.

Answer Podcast

1968 August 30 : "By the Grace of Krishna, I have got now eight branches in USA and Canada. Next, I am going to Europe and shall open branches in London, Amsterdam, Munich, and Sweden, and that is my program."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 August 30: "One who has taken up seriously to preach this message in the world, he is considered as doing well. You have written to say that your temple is doing well, but I think your temple is doing well because you are doing well."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 August 30: "When I initiated you, I accepted you on that very moment as my daughter. So you are eternally my daughter and I am your father. There is no doubt about it. So, spiritually there is no question of separation."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 August 30: "Everyone should treat Godbrothers as Prabhu and nobody should try to claim any extra honor on account of an official position. Why he says his authority overrides yours. Everyone is working under my authority."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 August 30 : "A sannyasi has got four stages: kuticak, bahudaka, parivrajaka and paramahamsa. Paramahamsa is Spiritual Master. Let him work on the bahudaka stage for now and collect money from outsiders, not insiders.
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1973 August 30 : "There is no question of giving anything up. Your talents can be utilized for Krsna and in due course of time how this is so Krsna will reveal to you more and more. Do not be worried, be jolly in the service of the Lord."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 August 30: "Indirectly they have denied to sell to us the convent. Never mind. Find out another property. That ten men have just joined us is our real success."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 August 30: "I have been told there are enough barren lands lying unused in Allahabad District. If you could kindly give over these lands to us for developing into self sufficient communities involving local peoples that would be a great benefit."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot com

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Rasa Rasika dasa

“The fortunate town of Navadvipa remains on the earth. The seashore remains. The city of Jagannatha Puri remains. The holy names of Krsna remain. But Alas! Alas! I do not see anywhere the same kind of festivals of pure love for Lord Hari. O Lord Caitanya, O ocean of mercy, will I ever see your [...]

Those who are advanced and highly qualified and are interested in the essence of life know the good qualities of Kali-yuga. Such people worship the age of Kali because in this age, simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can advance in spiritual knowledge and thus attain life's goal. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 11.5.36) Read more ›

The post August 29th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

In this age, hearing is more important than thinking, because one's thinking may be disturbed by mental agitation, but if one concentrates on hearing, he will be forced to associate with the sound vibration of Krishna. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.24.35) Read more ›

This is a view of the TOVP from Nabadvip Ghat. We can see how wonderful and immense the TOVP looks from a greater distance.

In this photo we have captured a beautiful monsoon cloudy day. Also you can see the fourth ring of the main dome coming up. One can imagine how beautiful the TOVP will look with the main dome fully completed.

The post View from a Distance appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

All glories to the chanting of Hare Krishna mantra or Krishna sankirtana movement. All glories. All victory. How it is victory, all victory? If you chant this Hare Krishna mantra, then the dirty things which have accumulated in your heart due to material contamination will be cleared off. (Purport to Siksastakam) Read more ›

The post A request to all well-wishers of Radha-kunda dd to generate the most loving atmosphere for her departure and heed the wise counsel of her carers appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.