Lombok Island Beach Harinam, Indonesia (Album 44 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

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 ›

New Vrindaban Looking for ECOV General Manager
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ECO-Vrindaban logo

WANTED: MANAGER TO HELP FURTHER DEVELOP SRILA PRABHUPADA’S VISION FOR NEW VRINDABAN

Title: General Manager

Employer: ECO-Vrindaban, a non-profit organization responsible for approximately 700 acres in the New Vrindaban community. ECO-Vrindaban promotes a simple, sustainable lifestyle centered on the care and protection of cows, local food production and the loving service of Lord Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

Duties:

• Oversee current ECOV projects (e.g. cow care, food production, etc.) and their managers.

• Develop proposals for and oversee implementation of future projects (e.g. eco-village)

• Prepare annual operations budget for board approval

• Prepare projects and operations reports for presentation at quarterly board meetings

Requirements:

All potential candidates must be:

• Excited to develop Srila Prabhupada’s vision for self-sufficient farm communities

• Prepared to work closely with the President of ISKCON New Vrindaban

• Willing to relocate to New Vrindaban

The ideal candidate will have:

• Management or leadership experience, particularly with a non-profit

• A history of commitment to eco-friendly living

• A regular practice of individual chanting and participation in temple programs

Compensation: This will be a full-time, salaried position subject to a multi-year contract.

Contact: Navin Shyam Das
navin108@gmail.com

http://www.ecov.com/

 

Sunday, August 31st, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

For Montreal

Montreal, Quebec
 
Before I left for a quick flight to Montreal, I discovered some guy sprawled out on the outdoor stair landing of our ashram. No doubt the fellow had passed out or was fast asleep or something, a result of some intoxication.
 
"You won't be able to stay here," I said as he was blocking the way.
 
Instantaneously he woke up, looked up to notice me and said, "Oh! Buddha!" I had remarked something to Dakshin, a monk visiting from Miami, and who had been standing nearby. The fellow managed to hoist himself to midway and said, "Oh! Another Buddha!"
 
"Yes, well, the two Buddhas are trying to say that you have to move on. Do you mind?"
 
He complied and left, hopefully to seek nirvana.
 
The purpose to my visit to Montreal was to do a talk during a festival in honor of our guru, Srila Prabhupada. I spoke about my personal time with him in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto. About half of the anecdotes had to do with my walking with him and his entourage.
 
Then I learned from the coordinator of the event that in '68, when our guru made his first visit to Montreal to deal with U.S. visa issues, he had walked a good seven to eight kilometres from the Notre Dame Basilica to the ecumenical centre for visiting all religions: "Le Centre Montchanais." This was in June, July and August.
 
Also, he once mentioned he loved majestic flowing rivers which compelled him to walk along the riviere St. Laurent, up to Mont Royal Park.
 
Guess who's going to check out those locations on foot? Yes, to me they are pilgrimage places.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
6 KM

Saturday, August 30th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Dundas, ON
 
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 godbrother, Subha Vilas. There, I delivered a theatrical reading of the Gita along with another spiritual bro, Krsnadas. Yes, it was well received, as was Kalyapani's song of Krsna done to an Irish tune. It was totally sweet!

May the Source be with you!
 
6 KM

Friday, August 29th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Don't You Know, We're Eternal?

Toronto, ON

I pulled out of the closet, my '96 blue backpack with the logo "Cross Canada Walk" sewn on, before I embarked on a Bloor Street trek for two hours. This small pack provides enough space for overnight provisions - a tooth brush, clean set of robes and swimming trunks. My destination was anywhere on Bloor St. until my host from Milton, Aindra by name, would see me from his car and then scoop me up for a ride to his home.
 
I like Bloor St. It's not raunchy like sections of Yonge. Bloor is multi-culturally vibrant. It has a more quaint "downtown" feel. As I was recently reminded from a mundane prospective, Petula Clark's song, "When you are alone and life is making you lonely, you can always go downtown." The transitional community phases from Bloor and Spadina range from Anglos, to Koreans, to Portuguese, to Polish. There are Carribean shops too - "Mom and Pop shops" - along the way. You are not in a crazy concrete jungle when you're on Bloor.
 
Perhaps, the most memorable encounter of today was not on Bloor but earlier in the day when I joined Godbrothers, Dharma and Krishnadas, both who, like myself, are in our 60's. Dharma has suffered from a stroke back in the early 80's. He moves slow and limped during our mini-procession. As we went down Yorkville Ave. with our kirtan, a group of guys were sitting at a patio outside a bar.
 
One white-haired man drinking his liquor and bearing a resemblance to Michael Douglas, shook his head in disgust when he saw us. Now, practically everyone who saw and heard us on the street was either indifferent or favourable in their response. This fellow seemed to discard us, "Aren't you, guys, too old for this?" Inside me, I took offense. Externally, I smiled and said, "Don't you know we are eternal? Have a nice day!" He kind of went blank. 
 
May the Source be with you!
 
12 KM

Part II — The Complete Concept of Divinity
→ The Enquirer

Part II — The Complete Concept of Divinity

Recap: The Original Being is ecstatic love. By nature love wants to express itself and expand, so the the Original Being expands into infinite beings.

How? By ”śakti.”

What is śakti?

Tattva-dīpikā: śakti — kāraṇa-niṣṭhā kāryotpādana yogao dharma viśeṣaḥ — Śakti is the power, within a cause, to generate an effect.

Kāraṇa = cause;

Kārya = effect;

Śakti = the power in the cause which generates the effect (aka. prakṛti)

What is the Original Śakti?

Kāraṇa: The original cause is ecstatic love.

Kārya: The effect it wants to generate is rasa — an experience of ecstasy.

Śakti: How does ecstatic love become experienced as ecstasy?

By expressing itself. Thus the Original Śakti of the Original Cause is expression of love (Another literal meaning of the word “Rādhā”).

Caitanya Caritāmṛta: rādhā — pūrṇa śakti, kṛṣṇa — pūrṇa-śaktimān | dui vastu bheda nāi, śāstra-paramāṇa — Rādhā is the Original Śakti, Krishna is the Original Śaktimān | They are two components of a single unit, according to the opinion of śāstra.

Śakti is not different from the cause, it is an energy within the cause (kāraṇa-niṣṭhā). But it is a distinct part of the cause (viśeṣa).

Rādhā and Krishna are two distinct parts of a single unit.

A Complete Conception of Divinity

Krishna alone is not a complete conception of divinity. A complete conception includes all three aspects: the original cause, the original energy, and the original effect.

The three letters of the mystic syllable ॐ represent these three aspects of complete divinity.

The beloved — Krishna — the original cause — A
With the lover — Rādhā — the original energy — U
Enjoying love — *rasa* — the original effect — M


Our Only Strength Is Chanting
→ Japa Group

"Our only strength is chanting Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. So if we stick to the principle of chanting Hare Krishna Mantra, following the rules and regulations, that will give us strength to work on both sides - namely to enlighten people in Krishna Consciousness and cut down the bad government full of atheistic people."

Letter to Madhudvisa Maharaja
15 September, 1971

ISKCON Scarborough – Radhastami celebrations coming Friday- Sep 5th 2014‏
→ ISKCON Scarborough



Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

The most auspicious appearance of Srimati Radharani will be celebrated this Tuesday, September 2nd 2014. Devotees fast until noon on this day.

We at ISKCON Scarborough will celebrate Radhastami on Friday September 5th 2014. Program starts at 6.30 pm.

Among all the beautiful gopis Srimati Radharani is the best. She is the topmost devotee of Lord Krishna. Srimati Radharani is the Supreme Goddess and the queen of Vrindavana.

Srimati Radharani is expert in all the fine arts and Her transcendental form is like an ocean of nectar. Her splendid bodily luster is like the yellow pigment gorocana, molten gold, or stationary lightning. She wears wonderfully beautiful blue garments and She is decorated with various pearls and flowers.

She is very beautiful and She has long nicely braided hair. She is decorated with a garland of flowers and a beautiful pearl necklace. Her splendid forehead is decorated with the red pigment sindura and with beautiful locks of curling hair. Decorated with blue bangles, Her arms have defeated Cupid's staff with their beauty. Her nose is as beautiful as a sesame flower and it is nicely decorated with a pearl. She is anointed with various perfumes. She is splendidly beautiful.

Srimati Radharani is the ideal maha-bhagvat. As the greatest devotee, She is also the most compassionate. She is unable to bear the suffering of the souls trapped in the material world. The word “aradhaya” (prayers) is derived from “Radha” and means “worshippable”. Similarly the word “aparadha” (offenses) means “against Radha”.

When one performs devotional service, one is pleasing Srimati Radharani and when commits Vaishnava aparadha against Krishna or His devotees, one is offending Radharani.

Srimati Radharani is the guardian, the mentor and the benefactor of all aspiring devotees. When a soul starts to inquire about Krishna, Srimati Radharani is most pleased and takes charge of his devotional advancements. As one makes progress, one continues to invoke the mercy of Srimati Radharani and when She is pleased, Krishna is automatically pleased.

We welcome you and your family to take part in the grand celebrations coming Friday at ISKCON Scarborough


ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7

Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website:
www.iskconscarborough.com

Radhastami Meditations – Part 3
→ KKSBlog

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

srimati radharaniWhat an amazing arrangement the spiritual world is! Akhila rasamrita murti – Krsna, as the complete reservoir of all pleasure or the complete embodiment of rasa, is having that eternal exchange with his devotees, and ultimately all are serving Radha and Krsna. Even those gopis like Candravali or Palika, who are in competition with Srimati Radharani, are actually enhancing the exchange between Radha and Krsna. Their competition is ultimately also an arrangement, just to increase the rasas that are exchanged between Radha and Krsna, to increase the feelings of separation and ultimately, they are also pleased. Although Candravali is really competing with Radharani, when she is defeated, she is pleased because she sees, ‘Radharani has pleased Krsna in a way that even I could not do and therefore that is wonderful!’

When Candravali is in competition with Srimati Radharani, it is not like that kind of deadly competition of the material world where one wants to destroy the competitor – poison her, eliminate her or whatever, in sense that if only the competitor would be out of the way, then everything would be solved! That is the material world but in the spiritual world, the result of the competition is the pleasure of Krsna, and therefore if the competitor is able to please Krsna more, then that is also a great source of pleasure. In this way, when Krsna is more pleased by Srimati Radharani than even by Candravali. All the other competing gopis are pleased to see how Krsna has been satisfied in such an amazing way.

So we can see how Srimati Radharani is the focus of all in the spiritual world. She is ultimately the focus of all the devotees, in all the rasas. Therefore, it is said that in Vrindavan, every rasa has a tinge of madhurya – sweetness of paramour love. Even the trees who are just standing there in santa rasa – neutral relationship, still they also have a tinge of madhurya because they are assisting that madhurya. Everyone is assisting in that relationship between Radha and Krsna.

 

Celebrate the Appearance of Radha Rani with us this Tuesday from 7pm-9pm. Special Discourse**Glories & Pastimes of Srimati Radha Rani**by His Grace Acarya Thakur Dasa.
→ ISKCON Brampton


Radha Rani Grand Feast

When?
Sunday,Sep 2nd,2014
Program starts at 7.00pm

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
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tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye


I offer my respects to Radharani whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krsna.
Special Program
7:00PM – Guru Aarti & Kirtan
7:15PM – Gaura Aarti & Kirtan
7:40PM - Nrsingadeva Prayer
7.45PM – Welcome Announcements
7:50PM – Glories of Srimati Radha Rani
8:10PM - PUSHPABHISEKA CEREMONY TO HONOR SRIMATI RADHA RANI
8:30PM - Sayana Aarti & closing kirtan
9:00PM – Radha Rani Grand Feast

How can I serve on Radhastami
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:
Such as Radha Rani Grand Feast,Maha Pushpabhiseka Ceremony,Radha Rani's Exquisite Sringara for the event,Maha arati etc....
Please contact Krsna smaran Devi Dsi(kavitabalram@yahoo.com)

About Radhastami(Fasting till Noon)
ISKCON Brampton is pleased to invite you, your family & your friends for the celebration of Radhastami. Radhastami is the celebration of the advent of Shrimati Radharani in this world who appeared over five thousand years ago. Lord Krishna is the male aspect of God, the energetic source of the supreme energy, and Shrimati Radharani is the female aspect, of the energy. So when Krishna descends, Shrimati Radharani also descends.

On this day in particular, we appreciate the mercy of Radha in order to get Krishna’s mercy. Radharani is simultaneously the personification of devotion, gratitude and topmost humility for Krishna, as well as the ideal example of what being a devotee means. The word “Radha” comes from the word aradhana (worship), and so Her name indicates that She possesses the topmost method of worship and devotion to Krishna. Devotees keep fast till noon on Radhastami.

Srila Prabhupada on Radhashtami in London in 1973:
“Anyone who comes before Radharani to serve Krishna, she becomes so pleased, “Oh, here is a devotee of Krishna,” She immediately recommends that person, “Krishna, here is a devotee. He is better than me”.
This is Radharani. I may not be a devotee. I may be the most fallen rascal. But if I try to reach Krishna through Radharani, then my business is successful… [On this day], we should offer pushpanjali [flowers] and pray, “Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Krishna. Krishna is yours.” Krishna is not independent. Krishna is Radharani’s property. So you have to approach Krishna through Radharani. Today is an auspicious day. Worship Radharani very nicely and be happy.
 
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!

Kirtan: A New Healing Tool for Veterans?
→ Dandavats.com

When you picture a kirtan enthusiast in your mind’s eye, do you think of a retired American sniper who did three tours in Iraq? What about a former female sergeant who’s struggling with lung injuries, rage, and post-traumatic stress? Some veterans are discovering that kirtan—a call-and-response form of mantra chanting that originated in India—is helping them cope with conditions such as PTSD and re-entry into civilian life. Read more ›