Japa Is The Cornerstone
→ Japa Group

Japa is the cornerstone of our sadhana, it supports the rest of our spiritual life, much like a cornerstone is the strong part of the building that the rest of the house is built upon.
If the cornerstone is solid and strong, then the rest of the house will be the same....so with your Japa, if it is strong and solid, then the rest of our spiritual life will be the same.

Saturday, August 16th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk


Brampton, Ontario

Real Strength


“I am the strength of the strong.”

This statement from the Gita bears relevance when we appreciate its reference to the Creator.  Strength comes in many shapes and forms. 

Nick and I were walking southbound on Yonge Street.  At the juncture of Gerard, we met a group of young folks from Niagara Falls who’d been drinking something more powerful than Gatorade.  They were partying.  The men in the group were obvious body builders.  They wore their muscle t-shirts to flaunt what they had – huge biceps. 

Upon seeing Nick and I in our devotional attire, the group from Niagara took a keen interest.  The most talkative of the group admitted their weakness, “We were up all night partying.”  Now being 6:15 AM, they acknowledged our strength with our early rising.  The group of them had question after question about how we see life.  As Nick put it after we part it, “They were very genuine and eager to learn.”  I had concluded in my mind, “I wouldn’t mind having body guards like them if I was in a dangerous setting somewhere.”

Hours passed, then hours were spent at the ISKCON Brampton Centre conducting a Kirtan Standard Seminar.  The subject of rules, policies and ecstasies regarding kirtan, chanting sessions, had been a very sought after workshop which helps to strengthen and reinforce the chanting that these participants engage in.  Its purpose is to make one’s self strong beyond physical strength.  Coping with life’s challenges is, after all, an incredible strength. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Friday, August 15th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk


Toronto, Ontario

On The Knees


I had been away from my home base for quite a good amount of time this summer.  My walking for the day was quite exclusively in the premises at 243 Avenue Road. I kept to the interior of the building and paced back and forth, more specifically in the temple hall.  For my entire chanting meditation, I chose to stay out of the cooler climate.  Had it become a hot, balmy day, as it often is in the summer, I would have made the escape. 

While in the shelter of the building which I love, I noticed the need for a cleaning – surfaces, shelves, floors.  The edifice is frequented by many peole and maintenance attention lags behind.  I did the necessary, I donned sweat pants and kept to the traditional kurta shirt.  I was inspired by monks of the past who boldly went at it. 

The favourite is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who orchestrated a healthy competition for collecting dirt and dirt affiliates in the Gundica Temple.  He positioned Himself against an entire group of followers and ended up the winner in comparing heaps of refuse. 

I rather liked going at the scrubbing of the floor and food areas right on the knees.  The after effect of cleaning is perhaps the best, there’s no better feeling.  When cleaning a place, particularly a sacred space, and getting at all the corners, it’s like cleaning the corners of your heart.  It’s highly therapeutic.  Try it out. 

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Thursday, August 14th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk


Brampton, Ontario

Bring It On

Bike trails are yet to be developed in a big way in this sprawling new place called Brampton.  I did a little personal checking up on trails for hiking in the Sandalwood Parkway area where I was staying overnight.  In these burbs you do find man made ponds, some have pathways which circle around them.  In the Dixie Road area there are some sidewalks chalked out along creeks and mini ravines.  At least some effort is being made to satisfy the pedestrian. 

I admit to getting judgmental about a place.  I consider that a settlement that has ample walking and cycling trails is first class.  It was also interesting to note that in Brampton, you can observe many members, seniors, of the Sikh community that do much walking.  Good for them.

After my dental appointment I trekked north on Dixie Road.  I passed by a prominent Baptist Church.  There at one wing of the building, a sign reads, “Integration Office”.  I thought, “Why doesn’t our temple have something like that?”  This would be a perfect service to assist newcomers into the community.  I imagine that even without a budget, all that is truly required to usher people into a new crowd is some time, attention and warmth – elements that are often absent in our crazy modern world. 

In general, I would like to say let’s bring on kindness. 

May the Source be with you!

10 KM

Wednesday, August 13th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk


Toronto, Ontario

When and if Gas Runs Out


Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, responded to the oil embargo going on in ’74.  His remark then was that the problem could easily be solved if people stopped using the automobile.  He suggested travel would be by foot, horse, or bullock cart. 

To take his actual quote, “In human society, the normal way to travel is by foot, horse, bullock cart, camel, or elephant.  Those modes of transport have been around since time immemorial.   Only in Kali Yuga do we have motor cars, and this motor car society will not last very long.  When the petrol dries up, what use are your motor cars?”

This statement may be considered as somewhat relative since other alternative means have developed more recently for fueling the car.  There’s electrical power, solar, and other choices.  However, we may ponder the principle and agree that such a radical adjustment, if it were to be implemented, then efficiency would be sacrificed for health, safety, peacefulness and neighbourliness.  The social condition would certainly change. 

I doubt that a switch to a saner speed and mode of travel would happen tomorrow.  Total collapse of the present car culture would be the catalyst to ignite a sweeter and slower pace of living.  Are we dreaming? 

Personally, I would love for the dogsled to come back into the picture and take a prominent role in transportation.   Again, wishful thinking.  My confession is that today I did not walk, but I also did not use a car. 

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Tuesday, August 12th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario


Good Thoughts for Robin


When going through the security screening at the Vancouver Airport, a monitor was reporting the news of the death of comedian, Robin Williams.  That’s sad.  He made a lot of people laugh.  God produced a very talented man in him.

When getting fetched at the Toronto Airport, greeter, Rajneesh, informed me how Mr. Williams gave up his own life due to depression.  That’s also sad.  It’s like the proverbial symptom of the sad clown.

It is well understood that life is tough and that there are hard circumstances to bear.  Many of us live a dual world with heaviness in the heart while we show a bright face.  To Robin we offer our respects and wish him a good chance in the next life.

News of this sudden departure caught my attention once again momentarily in the course of a cooling evening walk.  It brought my thoughts to the mode of prayer.  When I was just recently in Vancouver I was approached by someone who admitted to having a rocky marriage with a spouse.  The person asked that I please put prayers out for the relationship’s salvation.

Reassuringly I said, “Of course I will.”  Thinking of Robin’s going reminded me of prayer being important.  It usually means sending good vibes out there and a call for help.  It throws you into a wholesome dependency.  Now, just because I play a spiritual role doesn’t mean I’m the only one to enlist in this practice of prayers.  It’s for everyone.

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

As developing internal conviction takes time, isn’t it better to be stimulated in our devotion by external inspiration?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Satyam P

Question based on this Gita-daily article: Why do our resolutions crash between takeoff and landing?

When you say that we have to be convinced, prji dont you think it is a long process which might take a long time to happen and our flight might not even start to take-off if we are waiting for the day our convictions will get internalized. On the contrary the external stimuli viz. talks, anecdotes, etc. do offer a hasty flight but at least we begin. So prji what should be a right balance of externalization and internalization

Answer Podcast

When the number of breaths of a soul in a body are fixed, how can a purpose-driven attitude increase longevity?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

This question is based on this statement from the article "After the laughter":

"He reports how the inmates who couldn’t find any meaning or purpose to their sufferings succumbed much earlier than their biological capacity to endure. In contrast, those who could find meaning and purpose were able to survive much longer and eventually emerged stronger through their harrowing experiences."

Answer Podcast

Навеки ваш слуга
→ Traveling Monk

Глава 3

Дорогой Шрила Прабхупада!

Пожалуйста, примите мои смиреннейшие поклоны в пыли ваших лотосных стоп.

Снова стою перед вами по случаю вашей благоприятной Вьяса-пуджи, ежегодного празднования вашего явления в этот мир. Каждый год я пользуюсь этой возможностью, чтобы размышлять о великой милости, которой вы наградили меня – о служении вашей миссии. Я очень счастлив быть частичкой вашего замечательного наследия по осуществлению пророчества Господа Чайтаньи о том, что Его святые имена будут слышны в каждом городе и деревне этой планеты. Могу отчитаться, что без сомнений, это происходит в Польше, и в том числе благодаря фестивальной программе, которую мы поддерживаем более 20 лет.

Проповедь, начало которой вы положили почти 50 лет назад, продолжает расти и расширяться – вопреки стремительному развитию Кали-юги, которое отражают зловещие заголовки и фото ежедневных газет во всем мире. Уже одно это – доказательство того благословения, которое вы получили от своего гуру махараджа, Шрилы Бхактисиддханты Сарасвати Тхакура. Однажды, когда некоторые ваши духовные братья-санньяси выражали ему недовольство из-за того что он уделяет вам, в то время домохозяину, слишком много внимания, он отрезал: “Не жалуйтесь. В конечном счете, он все сделает!” Так все и вышло.

Никто не смеет оспорить ваши успехи в становлении сознания Кришны по всему миру: ваши книги, основанные вами фермы, представленная вами система гурукулы, учрежденный вами научный подход к проповеди сознания Кришны, – этот список можно продолжать и продолжать. Но в моих глазах не менее удивительно то, что вы смогли освободить меня. До того как встретить вас, я был совершенно захвачен всей той отвратительной деятельностью, которая отличает эту страшную эпоху. Как-то отец, отчитывая меня, сказал: “Сынок, ты никуда не годен! Тебе не место в обществе. Меня трясет при мысли о том, что из тебя получится!” Шрила Прабхупада, его слова были правдой: в материальной жизни мне не было места. Но приняв приют ваших лотосных стоп, я вознесся до высочайшего трансцендентного положения вашего смиренного слуги, положения, к которому, явно, стремятся даже полубоги.

йатха канчанатам йати
камшйам раса видханатах
татха дикша видханена
двиджатвам джаяте нринам

“Как колокольный металл, будучи смешанным с ртутью посредством алхимического процесса, становится золотом, так и прошедший надлежащее обучение и посвящение у истинного духовного учителя немедля становится брахманом”.

[Санатана Госвами, Хари-бхакти-виласа, 2.12]

Мне предстоит долгий путь по обретению совершенства, но я уверен: служа вам, я смогу достичь высшего предназначения. Семена этого служения были посажены в мое сердце, когда вы приняли меня в ученики в письме от 10 декабря 1971 года к президенту моего храма. В нем вы упомянули то особое служение, которое в итоге я и принял как свою жизнь и душу. Вы написали:

“Я очень рад принять этих кандидатов своими инициированными учениками, и имена их будут: Brian Tibbitts – Indradyumna Das, Ilene Tibbitts – Krpamayi Dasi и Heidi Paeva – Hrisakti Dasi. Они все очень хорошие юноши и девушки, и я благодарен им за проявление преданности и зависимости от гуру, которые они высказали мне в письмах… Полностью одобряю приложенную тобой брошюру, я очень доволен твоим планом проведения фестивалей в колледжах штата. От Рупануги я получил описание грандиозного фестиваля, который он планирует для Центрального парка*. Его предложение очень хорошее, и я хочу, чтобы множество таких фестивалей проводилось во всех маленьких и крупных городах. Постоянно благодарю Кришну, что каким-то образом я получил много таких замечательных парней, как вы, помогающих мне на этом пути”.

Это из-за фестивалей, которые я помогал организовывать, у меня появилась глубочайшая связь с вами, Шрила Прабхупада. Я все время молюсь о том, чтобы эти фестивали радовали вас, ведь каждый год сотни тысяч людей соприкасаются на них с сознанием Кришны. Этим я надеюсь достичь цели чистого преданного служения Господу. Шрила Прабходананда Сарасвати ясно дал нам понять, насколько пробуждение чистой любви к Богу переплетено со служением миссии самкиртаны:

йатха йатха гаура-падаравинде
виндета бхактим крита пунйа расих
татха татхотсарпати хридй акасмат
радха-падамбходжа-судхамбху-расих

“До какой степени мы предаемся служению Господу Чайтанье, в той
обретаем и качества для служения лотосным стопам Радхарани во Врадже”.

(Чайтанья-чандрамрита, 88)

С каждым годом смысл этого стиха становится мне все яснее. Всякий раз, когда я усердно стараюсь распространять сознание Кришны, в сердце моем пробуждается сильное желание поехать во Вриндаван. И наоборот, после пребывания в дхаме в сердце рождается равное по силе желание распространять всюду славу святых имен. Я уверен, что однажды стану достаточно квалифицированным, чтобы понять желания самых глубин вашего сердца и служить им. Мне надо только сохранять вам верность и продолжать делиться своей удачей с другими.

парам гопйам апи снигдхе
шишйе вачйам ити шрутих
тач чруйатам маха бхага
голока махимадхуна

“Сказано Ведами: верному шишйе открывай сокровенные тайны.
Вот потому, о удачливый, теперь слушай о славе Голоки”.

[Брихад-Бхагаватамрита, часть 2, глава 1, текст 6]

Шрила Прабхупада, я очень счастлив, служа вам. У меня нет ни тени сомнений, страхов или иллюзий насчет моего положения вашего слуги. Ради вас я готов на все. Если бы вы приказали мне отправиться с проповедью в ад – я бы запрыгнул в первый же поезд, несущийся в геенну огненную, и по пути радостно пел бы святые имена. Если бы вы сказали мне проповедовать на небесах – я бы отправился в небесную обитель, не заботясь ни о чем, кроме служения вашему приказу. Все потому, что за долгие годы служения вам в этом мире я уже повидал и рай, и ад и сделал вывод: нет иного убежища, кроме ваших лотосных стоп.

Недавно мне приснился сон. Вы сидели в окружении нескольких моих старших духовных братьев, там были Тамал Кришна Госвами, Гирирадж Свами, Радханатх Свами, Вайшешика Прабху и другие. Я наблюдал за происходящим в отдалении. И вот вы улыбнулись и говорите им: “Итак, вы все возвращаетесь обратно к Богу”. Я опешил от вашей милости, и тут же захотел, чтобы и мне выпала такая удача.

Тут Гирирадж Свами меня заметил и будучи таким хорошим другом, показывает вам на меня. “Шрила Прабхупада, – говорит, – а вот там Индрадьюмна Свами сидит. Он тоже может пойти с нами?” Вы повернулись ко мне и говорите с улыбкой: “Да, он хороший парень. Он тоже может пойти”.

Конечно, то был лишь сон. И все же, как-то вы сказали, что хотя сны – это иллюзия, но “сны о духовном учителе очень хороши”. Шрила Прабхупада, я не знаю случая, когда слова ваши оказались бы неверны. Это одна из причин того, почему я твердо верю в вас, и почему мое желание помогать вам в миссии крепнет день ото дня. Однажды вы написали мне, что чувствуете, что ваш духовный учитель “всегда приглядывает за вами и защищает вас”. Пожалуйста, и вы также всегда присматривайте за мной и защищайте, ведь я помогаю вам с вашим служением в этом мире. В подходящий момент, когда сочтете нужным, пожалуйста, даруйте мне вечное служение вам в трансцендентной обители.

Навеки ваш слуга,
Индрадьюмна Свами

____________________

* в Нью-Йорке – прим. перев.

Janmastami in ISKCON New Govardhana – Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari, Australia (Album 120 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

The Tenth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam describes the events leading up to and including Krishna's appearance on earth. Srila Prabhupada encouraged his disciples to read about Krishna's pastimes in the Bhagavatam, cook a feast for Krishna's pleasure, and chant Hare Krishna all day and into the night each year on Janmashtami. Read more ›

Sri Krishna Janmasthami in New Vrajamandala, Spain (Album 49 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Lord Krishna's pastime of janma, birth, occurred on the ashtami, eighth day of the waning moon in the lunar month of Hrishikesh. Janmashtami is one of the world's biggest spiritual festivals, and is observed by followers of many faiths. For Krishna devotees, Janmashtami is a day of non-stop chanting, cooking, worship of Krishna in His Deity form, and fasting until midnight, when a grand feast is served. Read more ›

The devotees from the Festival of India in Poland enchant their audience with the Usha and Aniruddha story (Album 76 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

This is a story from the Srimad Bhagavatam narrated in summary here. The Asura king Bana was the great grandson of Prahlada, the child devotee most dear to Lord Krishna. Through penance and prayers offered to Lord Shiva, he secured a boon that the great god himself would personally guard his city of Sonitapura. Banasura was an arrogant king and had a thousand arms which he was very proud of. But this is not quite his story. It’s his daughter’s…. Usha, the daughter of Banasura, was a beautiful princess. One night she had a dream in which she saw a very handsome, young man. It was love at first sight for them and they spent many happy hours in each other’s company. But like all good things, dreams too come to an end. And Usha woke up to find that all that passed was nothing but a dream. Read more ›

Janmastami 2014 at Iskcon Los Angeles – New Dvaraka (Album 37 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Janmashtami commemorates the earthly appearance of Krishna, who is described in India’s sacred writings as God Himself. One of the biggest religious festivals in the world, it is celebrated by nine hundred and thirty million people around the world–and two million in the US alone. To devotees, it’s Christmas and New Year’s in one, a day of deep spiritual renewal and celebration that effectively finishes an old year and begins a fresh one. Read more ›

People pray to God; the Vrajavasis pray for God (Meditation on Nandotsava)
→ The Spiritual Scientist

A search for God or for the ultimate truth underlying existence has characterized thinking people in various traditions all over the world. Among various conceptions of God that have been revealed, the conception of Krishna is special. One aspect of his specialty is the specialty of his devotees, especially the devotees of Vrindavan, the Vrajavasis.

This claim to specialty is not a matter of subjective sectarian superiority, but objective theological reality. After all, how many other traditions feature devotees praying for God, as do the Vrajavasis, instead of the normative praying to God?

The idea of praying for God sounds startlingly counterintuitive and raises several questions such as “Why would the object of prayer become its subject?” and “Even if someone were to pray for God, whom would they pray to for him?”

Praying for others is itself an act of selflessness, but praying for God is the act of ultimate selflessness.

To grasp the answers, we need to understand a fundamental truth about God in his manifestation as Krishna. In his highest abode, the pastoral paradise of Vrindavana, Krishna delights not in the display of godhood, but in the play of love. To intensify the love between him and his most intimate devotees, he conceals from them his godhood so that they can love him for his personality and not for his position. Due to Krishna’s concealment of his divinity, the Vrajavasis don’t think of him as a person to pray to, but as a person to love. And they love him with every beat of their heart and every breath of their body.

When we love someone, we naturally want the best for our loved ones and do everything we can to arrange for that best. And because we are finite and can’t provide them everything ourselves, we tap the power of prayer to invoke a power far greater than ours: the supreme power of God. We pray to God to protect and bless our loved ones.

Praying for others is itself an act of selflessness, but praying for God is the act of ultimate selflessness. For it features approaching God for God’s sake alone. Such is the supreme selflessness of the Vrajavasis who pray for Krishna’s welfare. The Vrajavasis are not naïve cowherds who don’t know the supreme position of Krishna and so pray for him instead of to him. No, they have the highest philosophical knowledge and the loftiest spiritual realizations, as is evident in their occasional philosophical discourses. But such jnana and vijnana is overshadowed in the sky of their consciousness by their prema. Just as the stars are present in the sky even in daytime but are not visible due to the brightness of the sun, similarly jnana-vijnana is present in their consciousness but is relegated to the background by the intensity of their prema.

Whom do the Vrajavasis pray to?

To Lord Vishnu whom they consider the Supreme Being and to whom Nanda Maharaja, the father of Krishna, is ardently devoted.

Significantly, what the Vrajavasis are unconscious of is Krishna’s divinity, not divinity itself. They are obviously not atheists – they are the topmost theists. They reside conceptually in the worldview revealed in the Vedic texts wherein Vishnu is the Supreme Being. So, when Krishna miraculously dodges dangers and downs demons, the Vrajavasis think of such astonishing happenings as evidences not of his divinity, but of the potency of their devotion, specifically Nanda Maharaja’s devotion, to Vishnu. They believe that Vishnu responding to their prayers has empowered Krishna to do those marvelous deeds. Feeling indebted to Vishnu for answering their prayers, they intensify their devotion to him. But more importantly, feeling overwhelmingly relieved and delighted that their beloved has returned unscathed from the jaws of death, their love for him increases manifold, thus relegating even devotion to Vishnu to the background so as to undistractedly relish the sweetness of Krishna’s proximity.

Rupa Goswami, a sixteenth century bhakti theologian, explains that even among the various revelations of God within the Vedic tradition, Krishna holds a special place due to four distinctive qualities: rupa-madhuri (enchantingly sweet form), lila-madhuri (entrancingly sweet pastimes), venu-madhuri (enthrallingly sweet flute-play) and bhakta-madhuri (endearingly sweet devotees). Bhakta-madhuri is exemplified in the Vrajavasis who play with him and pray for him? Where else in the world, nay in the universe, nay in the entire material existence, nay in all of existence – material and spiritual, can we find love so selfless, so intimate, so sweet?

A heartfelt appreciation for Nanda Maharaja’s exalted devotion underlies this extraordinary eulogy to him.

shrutim apare smritim itare

bhaaratam anye bhajantu bhava-bhitaah

aham iha nandam vande

yasyalinde param brahma

"Let others, fearing material existence, worship the Vedas, the Vedic supplementary Puranas and the Mahabharata, but I shall worship Nanda Mahäräja, in whose courtyard the Supreme Brahman is crawling."

- Raghupati Upadhyaya, Padyavali 126

(Nandotsava: Nanda-utsava, festival of Nanda Maharaj; the day after Janmashtami when Nanda Maharaja celebrated Krishna’s birth.)

Just Hear Formula
→ Japa Group


"I've chanted over twelve rounds so far. My mind is not sharply focused on the yugala-mantra or on the simple “just hear” for­mula. But I am accumulating rounds at a decent pace and hope I won’t forget to say my full sixteen as I might have done yes­terday. The chief agent smiled to see me walking with a limp this morning."

From Bhajan Kutir #470
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

BBT books in Arabic and other languages for distribution worldwide
→ Dandavats.com

We have great news about printing Srila Prabhupada’s books. For the first time, the BBT's Far East/Middle East division has printed Arabic books. Srila Prabhupada once said, “Anyone who preaches in any way in the Muslim world, I take the dust of their feet on my head!” Preaching in Muslim countries can be risky, and that is why Prabhupada said this. But now we find Muslims all over the world, and the book distributors are discovering that they are actually enthusiastically reaching out for the books. Many of them read only Arabic, or even if they read another language, nothing beats their native language, which they always ask for. Read more ›

Sri Krishna janmashtami @ New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

New Vrindaban Krishna Janmastami

Sri Krishna Janmashtami is the appearance anniversary of Krishna, the Supreme Person. He’s not “born” like we are—He comes and goes as He likes—but He appears here to please His devotees, rid the earth of evildoers, and give the rest of us something worthwhile to talk about.
His pastime of janma, birth, occurred on the ashtami, eighth day of the waning moon in the lunar month of Hrishikesh. Janmashtami is one of the world’s biggest spiritual festivals, and is observed by followers of many faiths. For Krishna devotees, Janmashtami is a day of non-stop chanting, cooking, worship of Krishna in His Deity form, and fasting until midnight, when a grand feast is served.Janmashtami Schedule :

Saturday Aug 16th 2014
5:00 am Mangala Arati
5:45 am Japa session-Introduction class
7:00 am Milking the cows (at the Goshala)
7:30 am Sringar Darshan
7:40 am Guru Puja
8:00 am Srimad Bhagavatam Class by Gaurnatraj Das
10:00 am Govardhana Parikrama
12:30 pm Rajbhoga Arati Kirtan by Parampara pr
1:00 pm Bhagavad-Gita class Parampara pr
1:30 pm Lunch Prasadam
4:30 pm Sudarshana Maha Yajna
5:30 pm Sankalpa For Kalash Donors
6:00 pm Go-Puja in the Cow Barn
6:30 pm Janmastami Katha by Sankirtan prabhu
7:00 pm Gaura Arati and Narasimha Arati Parampara Pr
7:45 pm Introduction to Kalash Abishek
8:00 pm Kalash Abishek
10:30 pm Swan Boat festival

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Sunday Aug 17th 2014
5:00 am Mangala Arati
5:45 am Japa session-Introduction class
7:00 am Milking the cows (at the Goshala)
7:30 am Sringar Darshan
7:40 am Guru Puja
8:00 am Srimad Bhagavatam Class
10:00 am Govardhana Parikrama
1:00 pm Rajbhoga Arati Kirtan
1:30 pm Bhagavad-Gita class By Parampara pr
2:00 pm Lunch
4:30 pm Sudarshana Maha Yajna
5:30 pm Sankalpa For Kalash Donors
6:00 pm Go-Puja in the Cow Barn
6:30 pm Janmastami Katha by Sankirtan prabhu
7:00 pm Gaura Arati and Narasimha Arati Parampara Pr
7:45 pm Introduction to Kalash Abishek
8:00 pm Kalash Abishek
10:45 pm Hare Krishna Rap by Michael and Trevor
11:10 pm Skit
11:25 pm Sankirtan prabhu – Janmastami Katha
11:55 pm Kirtan starts
12:00 pm Midnight Kirtan by Parampara pr
12:30 pm Prasadam for all

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Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day – August 18, 2014 – Fasting till noon

10:30 Bhajan
11:00 am Offerings by Prabhupada disciples and other devotees
12:00 pm Bhoga offering to Srila Prabhupada
12:10 pm Puspanjali
12:20 pm Artika to Srila Prabhupada Followed by Artika on the main altar and kirtan
1:30 pm Feast

Srila Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold :

5:30 pm Bhajan
6:00 pm Offerings by devotees
7:00 pm Artika
7:30 pm Bhajan
8:00 pm Light prasadam

 

The Home Stretch
→ travelingmonk.com

We are on the home stretch of our summer festival tour here in Poland with just 10 days left to go. One can only marvel at the sincerity of these devotees who have kept up such an intense pace for almost two months now. In appreciation for their services Lord Caitanya is giving them a [...]

Krishna: The Original Avatar
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Hundreds of millions of adherents of the Hindu faith will gather together, around the world, in temples and homes, to celebrate the advent of God on Earth. This festival of the birth of Krishna is known in Hinduism as Janmastami. According to the popular understanding, Krishna took birth in the town of Mathura, located in Northern India, 91 miles South of New Delhi, approximately 5,000 years ago. This year, the celebration will take place on Sunday, August 17. Read more ›

Harinama in Moscow 16 Aug 2014 Arbat St (Album 44 photos)
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Chanting gradually diminishes the propensity to sin and simultaneously purifies the consciousness. As the inclination to commit sinful activities vanishes, taste for the holy name appears, though a faint residue of previous sinful activity still lingers on in the consciousness. The receeding sinful reactions leave an odor of sinful habit (papa gandha), but the chanter's contact with the name engenders a strength of willpower and a purity of mind that overcomes this clinging smell of sin. Read more ›