Planet ISKCON

Hare Krishna Kirtan by H G Chaitanya Das at ISKCON Juhu on 19 August 2014

Gopal’s Garden Home School Co-op End-of-the-Year Party

By Lilasuka dasi

“Why did Krsna ask, ‘Which Brahma?’”

This question came from a puzzled Lord Brahma, played by nine year old Josh Fintel, during the dramatic reading of Sankirtan das’s play Which Brahma? at the end of the year school party for Gopal’s Garden June 11, 2014.

 

The students at Gopal’s Garden Home School Co-op ended another school year with some very fine presentations. The recited their five favorite Bhagavad Gita verses by heart; then they each read their favorite story out of many stories that they themselves had written throughout the school year, and finally, they performed the dramatic reading Which Brahma?.

Their audience, made up of parents, teachers and interested residents of NV, were delighted at the entertainment, and impressed at the level of education of the kids.

Veteran teacher, Ruci dasi, acknowledged each and every one of her students for his or her individual strengths and interests.

“If you have any questions about killer whales, just ask Josh – he did a lot of research and is expert in the subject! He’ll be ten years old in a few weeks.”

“The nine year old twins, Ram and Shyam, are both such willing and eager helpers. This party wouldn’t have come together if they hadn’t come down early to clean and vacuum in here.”

“Brinda, who is now 11 years old, is a poet. She’s an artist and a writer. She’s amazingly talented, as are all the kids!”

“Seven year old Jacob could hardly speak English when he first came to the school, and now he’s got an amazing grasp of both reading AND writing in English. He’s curious about everything around him and Jacob loves to learn.

“Jacob’s older sister, 12 year old Shemaella, is a thoughtful and caring girl who is also a creative artist. She brings a lot of sensitivity to her art and writing.”

We took the opportunity to interview Brinda, who is going to 7^th grade next year.

“This school has a very good environment. It’s spiritual, plus the work is more individualized than in public school. We have a one on one relationship with the teacher, which is great. I mean, it’s not that everyone has to do the same lesson, that’s easy for some and very hard for others. The level of the lessons are just perfect for you.

Like, last year I had a spelling program, and if you don’t finish it in one year it’s ok, you just finish it next year. Or, if you can finish it before the year is up, that’s ok too. You go at your own pace. My older sister Visakha, who used to go to this school, was saying that this kind of teaching is good for all students, no matter what level you’re at. She says that she learned more when she was here than when she spent this last year in public school.”

Brnda doesn’t feel she’s missing anything by not going to public school.

At Krishna's Funskool we've had a busy summer! Many fun activities, outdoor events, a 3-day kids camp,
dramas, workshops and parties too. Please check out our Summer Newsletter by clicking here for the highlights of these activities.

Please note that our new session for the Weekly Sunday Classes starts on Sunday, September 7th. We encourage you to pre-register your children so that we can prepare sufficient course material for all students.

Further, at ISKCON Toronto we are exploring various options for providing faith-based education to our community. Please take this 2-minute survey to give your opinion on setting up a Vedic faith-based pre-school/school for children in the GTA in the near future. We deeply value your time and input and consider it very crucial for the success of this project.

We thank you for your ongoing support and pray for your continued blessings as we start our new session and many other exciting projects.

Krishna FunSkool Team
Spiritual Values through Interactive Learning
416.844.2937

1968 September 7: "Please try to establish a center there at any cost. Somehow or other if you can simply maintain an apartment and sit down there and chant Hare Krishna. I do not want immediately a very large storefront. I simply want that a center may immediately be started. Perform kirtana there and that will be our success."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 September 7: "On Vyasa Puja day we had a very nice ceremony in the temple and two German brahmacaris, one English brahmacari and one German householder couple were initiated into this Krishna Consciousness Movement. Tomorrow we shall be going to London where we will be staying at the estate of John Lennon."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1972 September 7: "Krishna is within everyone and He becomes revealed in proportion to our sincere service. Let us work very diligently for Krishna all over the world, and our advancement will depend on our sincerity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Five thousand devotees came for the installation of Panca Tattva deities on the first day of the Russian Yatra festival in Anapa. After presiding over the festival the deities will be worshipped in the temple in Krasnodar. Their installation is another milestone in the amazing history of the Russian yatra. It has all come about [...]

1972 September 7: "Our movement is Krishna. The Krishna Consciousness Movement is nondifferent from Krishna. These yogis, swamis, mayavadis, scientists, philosophers, political leaders, all are insignificant glowworms. If we preach in right earnestness, then all these insignificant glowworms and frogs will have no more importance and we will come out victorious all over the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1974 September 7: "The BBT collection should be spent 50% for publishing and 50% for construction of temples. As soon as there is an excess of money it should be utilized here. Not a single farthing should be invested in any business enterprise. Formally it was so done without my sanction. So be careful."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 September 7: "When I was there I was very, very hopeful. The people are very intelligent. Get them to take this movement seriously. They are prepared to accept the real truth. Print more and more of my books and profusely distribute."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 September 7: "All our men have volunteered good service, so the background is good will. So everything should be done on the basis of good will. You say you will be tactful and respectful in your dealings. That should be the motto of all GBC secretaries. Be tolerant."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 September 7: "In Bhagavad-gita we find no instruction except devotional service. We are teaching people to become 1st class yogis in Krishna consciousness. One who always thinks of Krishna is the 1st class yogi. Regarding the Professor's remarks, we cannot accept the interpretation of an outsider."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

". . .when you chant Krsna, Hare Krsna, actually the fact is Krsna is dancing on your tongue by sound vibration. Krsna is not away."

Srila Prabhupada
Bhagavad-gita 4.20-24 Lecture

Spam e-mail
Earlier on this year I had a small clash of perspective on this my blog I was a little perplexed given that the article that had rattled them most ended in a question to which me being me simply felt they could have replied to.
However they did make a small notation which I’ve been pondering on “remember others read and what you say could influence or even put them off krishna consciousness or ISKCON” Now although I have strong views in certain areas it has made me ponder and think before each post.
Recently though I’ve been hit by what many of would see as being spam but on the whole sinister, unfactual and offensive however the last one I felt needed a response
The first questioned the parampara
Then Bhaktivinoda Thakur
The last was picking up on when Srila Prabhupada talked about his own marriage and the system of finding a life partner, it’s undertones and assumptions was shocking inaccurate but more so was it’s conclusion.
Let’s face it when Srila Prabhupada talked about the age people got married this was seen as the social norm but at no stage did Srila Prabhupada say this was the ages and that we should follow it precisely, it was a conversation and contextually accurate.
However the individual stated two unfactual and offensive notations
1) Srila Prabhupada was a phedophile
2) Due to this ISKCON is a haven for phedophile’s
My first notation and response:
Indeed the British introduced in 1860 setting the age at 10 years in 1891 it was raised to 12 years but not the age of marriage and was only considered rape if under 10 years of age, in 1949 this was raised to 15 and then again in 1982 to 16 years of age being raised to 18 in 2012
To apply the current age of consent to Srila Prabhupada indeed anyone from that era is unfair and in itself illegal as no law should be applied retrospectively
Indeed using the persons logic that simply means that my own ancestors seeings that in 1576 the age of consent was 10 years of age, 1875 raised to 13 years of age and in the 1920 to the current age of 16 years; so does that make our grandparents who were married at this age phedophile’s?
Thus applying simple logic anyone by association must also be like minded
My second notation and response:
Yes ISKCON has had problems with some individuals who have harboured and acted on their desires for young children (and unlike Srila Prabhupada had sexual relations with legally underage children)
This does not mean its a pandemic and practiced by most or all of the society as the individual suggested
Yes as a society and this was also reflected in the wider society outside of ISKCON a period of denial which meant more people were abused however this was the case in most organisation at the time.
ISKCON however has put in place a robust no tolerance reporting system, applying the legal age of consent and laws of the land; I am not nieve to believe that this will mean their will no longer any cases of phedophile but more importantly lessons have been learnt and once alerted full assistance and support will be given to the victim and justice in the law courts persuid
And that we see practically within ISKCON many loving and caring families whom make this society one that is special and an honour to be a part of.
Spam e-mail and the internet can be a medium for false information or false accusations
Some will believe and yes disinformation can indeed cause problem’s
But for me this disinformation can if the person is willing to listen and entre into dialogue
However I feel this person would not actually enter into a discussion or look retrospectively at the laws at the time and will continue in his pursuit of passing on misinformation.
It also reminded me of the need for checking and rechecking before publishing anything or allowing a dialogue for open discussion with a view that maybe yours rather than the person reading viewpoint has to change.

...where great sages (from previous lives) meet each other again :-) Read more ›

Toronto, Ontario

Flashes in the Night


At long last the summer has come as we usually know it – hot and somewhat humid.  Sunlight hours are not the most conducive for hiking up and down streets.  You wait until nighttime when it cools down or take to early morning strolls. 

The city is teeming with energy.  Very close to our ashram, movie lovers are filling the streets for TIFF, the Toronto International Film Festival.  It’s a big one. 

It would be so nice, had there been the same passion for spirituality.  I believe the film industry and media in general, has done a fairly good job at downplaying the soul searching culture.  I say this sarcastically.  Exposing faulty habits by spiritual leaders has become a preoccupation.  There is some validity to this, however.  Our own guru would take the time to express what he felt about bogus people in the dress of religious garb and status.  People we sometimes refer to as ‘bhogi yogis’. 

At the same time, reporting should be balanced and highlight benefits of personal discipline and expression of humility.  We generally hear about the bad apples, but why not talk more about the good apples.  Yes, the balance of presentation is weak. 

We glamourize the night life of people in fancy dress, people we call ‘stars’.  They drive around in limos and take to parties.  They often enough detour fans with their sensuous lifestyles and rocky relationships.  They are not always the best role models.  It’s really a lot of tinsel flashing in the night.  What society needs is a boost of wholesome direction. 

May the Source be with you!

10 KM

Montreal, Quebec

Original Goddess


My embarrassing low tally for walking kilometres today was not fueled by a seemingly discouraging encounter I had on Saint Catherine’s, but by being busy in devotional service.  Also stacked on top of that was the hot and humid nature of the out of doors.  I was a tad bit intimidated, I’d say, during the sunny hours.  Then came the festival to honour Krishna’s eternal consort, Radha.  The day is called Radhastami.  She was born on this day. 

The Early Morning Encounter
 
At approximately 4 AM, I trekked with japa beads in hand while going west on Saint Catherine’s, when a  prostitute on a street corner made a proposal.  Naturally, I declined and told her that I have my goddess, Radha, whom I’m off to worship.  The lady was persistent and continued to walk by my side until about 2 blocks when we came about a second lady of the street.  Just to get her off my back, I suggested the two women get to know each other and make friends.  The suggestion did not sit well with either.  I picked up speed and left the two to mumble whatever they were saying the French medium, which I couldn’t well understand.  I turned a corner and paced back to our Montreal ashram into a more civilized atmosphere.  Frankly, I had enough with goddesses for the day, except for the Supreme One, who was honoured in style, in Her murtii form in the morning, noon and night.  I had the pleasure to speak twice today on the subject on the supreme balance to Krishna, and to highlight the great compassion She (Radha) has for souls who are struggling in this world.

May the Source be with you!

2 KM

Montreal, Quebec

Good Place and People


About 30 of us pilgrims walked, almost waltzed, down Prince Arthur in the McGill University area.  We stopped in front of one residence, by Sumir’s arrangement.  He functions as the coordinator of our chanting party today.  I objected to singing and drumming in front of someone’s home at 11 AM on Labour Day. 

“I know this is the building that Prabhupada (our guru) stayed for the summer in ’68, but I have some apprehension about us being in someone’s face.  Maybe people are still sleeping, it’s a holiday.”

Sumir assured me that it’s okay.  The front door to the handsome looking home opened, there, appeared a smiling woman.  She waved us in, so a small contingent of three entered and stepped in.  There we met the family that was expecting us.  Sumir explained to me, “It’s always on Labour Day that we do this.”

We met Matt, the lady’s husband, a cello player and teacher at McGill.  They are the home owners.  He’s also good friends with John McLaughlin of the Maha Vishnu Orchestra.  He asked us which year was it that our guru met John Lennon and company.  It was from the downstairs quarters that our guru lived here, and then spent time training six of his students in harmonium, mrdanga (drum), karatalas,  and voice, before dispatching them to England when they met the Beatles. 

“It was in around ’69,” I suggested to Matt. 

In any event, it was great to be in that spot.  The couple mentioned that they’ve been to the other three duplicates of their home which are all in an attached row, but, to quote them, “But no place has the same good vibes as this home.”  It was implied that a very special person had been living here. 

So after our visit, we continued the walk with kirtan on the grounds of McGill.  The security, lead by three people, approached our man in the front and inquired.  I guess the grounds do not permit assemblies of different kinds.  When they saw how harmless we were, and that we were ‘just passing through’, they let us off the hook.  They were taken by the good vibes.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Dundas, Ontario

There is One Thing

 

There is one thing I would like to declare, unofficially; that those Johnny-on-the-spot outdoor toilets are perfect self-realization cubicles. 

I personally stepped into one of those purely to make a change into my swimming trunks for water exploration. In the cubicle next to me a woman entered saying, "Gross!", horrified at the contents. That's why I say, "A step into one of those units and you've got reality staring you in the face." It's the lump-sum of human bodily constituency. It's eye opening while the nostrils and mouth stay tightly shut. 

The place of activity for the day was Spencer's Gorge, near Dundas, Ontario, which became a real hot spot for family and community fun. I spent the morning, and part afternoon, with our Brampton community; bonding, tracking, learning, chanting and having a picnic. It was a bhakti blast. The water experience took some bravado.

Every person that came to this outdoor haven circumvented barriers to reach the base of Spencer's Gorge/Webster's Falls. Vrajadham from Hamilton was our guide. He took us to what seem like Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth". The notable place of ecstasy was right under the falls, a strong penetrating continuous shower. Going behind the constant pour was another "looking behind-the-scenes" experience. It was unobnoxious compared to the toilets.

The anatomy of this day was ending in Richmond Hill at the home of a god-brother, Subha Vilas. There, I delivered a theatrical reading of the Gita along with another spiritual bro, Krishna Das. Yes, it was well received, as was Kalyapani's song of Krishna done to an Irish tune. It was totally sweet!

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Toronto, Ontario


Don't You Know, We're Eternal?

By Candrasekhara das and Iksvaku das. Filmed and edited by Sajal Biswas Read more ›

The post September 6th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The post Initiation ceremony for now known as Madhava-dayita dd and Harirani dd appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Devamrta Swami gives the Radhastami festival lecture appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The chanting of the holy name of Krishna expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 20.12) Read more ›

Auspicious opening for the Goswami Academy. Sri Sri Radha Giridhari visits the school during Radhashtami festival. From Iskcon of Houston. 2014 Read more ›

BY GAURAVANI DASA

KUALA LUMPUR - World Holy Name Week: Day 2

"O Lord! Be merciful and appear on my tongue in Your holy name; dance there constantly, O Lord! I fall at Your lotus feet and beg You. You may keep me in this world or take me to Your abode, as You please, but whatever You do with me, feed me the divine nectar of Your names. You have descended into this world to distribute the Holy Name, so kindly also consider me one of those You intended to bless. I am the most lowly, whereas You are committed to the uplift of the lowest; this is our eternal relationship, O Savior of the fallen! On the strength of this unbreakable connection between us, O Lord, I beg You to shower me with the nectar of the Holy Name." - Uttered by Haridas Thakur, Harinama Cintamani 11.53-57

If you are steady either in success or failure, that is called yoga. Don't mind for the success or failure. Do act on behalf of the Supreme Lord. And if you are steady in that position, then your working in spiritual platform is successful. New York, April 1, 1966. Read more ›

by Jai Sita Rani Devi Dasi World Holy Name Week 2014

BY GAURAVANI DASA

KUALA LUMPUR - 12 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Lord Vamana and Vamana Dvadasi:

1. He is known by many names, the most common ones being Vamana (the little dwarf), Trivikrama (he who has taken three steps, the giant form), and Upendra (Indra's younger brother);

2. In every planetary system the denizens worship a particular Visnu-tattva as their sole Lord (Plaksadvipa, Surya-Narayana; Maha-purusa, Brahmaloka; Yajna-purusa, Maharloka, et cetera) and in the heavenly planets, the demigods worship Lord Visnu in His plenary portion: the four-armed Vamana;

3. When Indra and the demigods leave Svargaloka temporarily to battle the asuras, Vamana stays behind and protects the Heavens by flying around on the back of Garuda, and pierces demons with His trident;

4. When Vamana took His second step, He pierced a hole through the subtle coverings that surround our universe, and Ganga and Yamuna flowed into our universe through that hole that Vamana made with His toe;

5. Srila Prabhupada had said that to honor festivals such as Rama Navami and Vamana Dvadasi, the devotees could dress up and worship a small boy as the particular avatar. In Mayapur, every year on Vamana Dvadasi a young gurukuli from the Bhaktivedanta Academy is chosen to 'be' Vamana for the day. A foot washing ceremony is performed, followed by elaborate offerings of bhoga (he gets to eat whatever he wants!), arati, pushpanjali, and distribution of his maha-prasad.

6. Bali Maharaj is a mahajana, and represents atma-nivedanam, the act of surrendering fully to the Lord, one of the angas of bhakti. 

7. Bali Maharaj also become Indra in the next manvantara;

8. Vamana did not kill Bali Maharaj, because He had promised Prahlad Maharaj (Bali Maharaj's grandfather) as Lord Nrsimhadeva that He would not kill anyone in his family lineage, before or after his time; 

9. Vamana eternally resides on His personal planet in Vaikuntha, and as the door-guard to Bali Maharaj's kingdom in the lower planetary systems, as well.

10. Once Ravana tried to force himself into Bali Maharaj's kingdom. Vamana kicked Ravana with his toe and sent him flying 10,000 yojanas away.

11. When Vamana pushed Bali Maharaj down to Sutalaloka, Bali Maharaj received special permission from the Lord to visit his kingdom on earth once a year, the day of Onam. 

12. That day is today.

Here in Houston we have 10 Indian Bhakti-vriksha groups and 3 Western Bhakti-vriksha groups. We call the Western groups - "Simple Living High Thinking" gatherings so that it is easy for common people to relate to. Read more ›

If the state government were to announce today that anyone who has lived in India for six months will get one million gold coins as a gift, how many of us will not accept such an offer by none other than the government itself? None, provided all of us are smart. Why? First because it is a gift and secondly, it is offered by the state government, a body we can trust in. My question is, do we really trust in God? Do we also not trust the Vedas and Puranas? If we can trust God and if we can trust the Vedas and Puranas, then we ought to also trust what is written in there, in full. Offers and assurances given by such scriptures are not imaginary although they may appear to be fantastic to our miserly intelligence. While reading Sri Navadvipa Dham mahatmaya, we hear the following from Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. Read more ›

May the glorification of the transcendental name, form, qualities and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect us from the influence of bad planets, meteors, envious human beings, serpents, scorpions, and animals, like tigers and wolves. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.8.27) Read more ›

Students at the University of Central Florida participate in the world's oldest cultural festival. Read more ›

Indradyumna Swami: Five thousand devotees came for the installation of Panca Tattva deities on the first day of the Russian Yatra festival in Anapa. After presiding over the festival the deities will be worshipped in the temple in Krasnodar. Their installation is another milestone in the amazing history of the Russian yatra. It has all come about by the strong desire of Srila Prabhupada who visited Moscow in 1971 Read more ›

1 September ’14 Sringar Darshan at ISKCON Juhu