Planet ISKCON

Toronto, Ontario

Just Yesterday


It was just yesterday that I submitted my yearly written words of appreciation to our guru, Srila Prabhupada, on his birth anniversary.  They are found in the form of a poem just below.  It was today that I trekked along the path that he took in June of ’76 along Taylor Creek, right here in Toronto. 

There are many moods projected about you,
Reflected in pics, so many, not few.
They are diverse colours of a true saint
That are captured by camera or brush with paint.
 
Moods of gravity, solidity, and weight
The serious look that defines the great. 
Moods of lightness, moments of humour,
Of laughter, jokes, and human candour. 
 
My favourite photos are of your smile, 
They inspire and push for the extra mile,
They lure and lock in an eager soul
Who’s on a search for the ultimate goal. 
 
You say, “The face is the index of the mind”.
The exterior can determine the kind. 
Dare I judge the face of your Divine Grace. 
Yet I presume purity rests at that place. 
 
You profile as a master, scholar, or king,
A general, a warrior, the spirit of Narasingh.
Paradoxically, you’ve shown your ability
To portray a servant in all humility.
 
There are images of you in reverent prayer. 
Those are the stills not really so rare –
Images of concern for us as we go
On a hobble or a crawl and move so slow.
 
I like the pics when  you enjoyed the play.
It was in New York at the end of one day.
Krishna eloped with a grand princess,
Rukmini, being the damsel in distress.
 
It was drama that brought you some delight
As actor princes put up a good fight.
Your viewing the play is precious indeed,
An impression that waters the bhakti seed.
 
There are action shots of your teaching and talking –
Action shots of reading and walking.
They are signatures, brands, trademarks –
Images that pull us out of the dark.
 
Grateful are we for those generous poses
That strike the heart like petals of roses.
One frozen moment of your deep contemplation
Leaves us with a piece for worthy conversation.
 
The Source is with you!
 
12 KM

Toronto, Ontario

It Is Custom


It is a custom, with me, anyway, to do this japa chanting walk in the dark after the fasting and feasting of Janmastami.  At 1:45 AM we went.  Churnley, Mohit  and I took to a blackened evening through the trees.  Churnley’s cell phone lit up some of the trail which edges along dry tree areas as well as cat-tailed wetlands in the lower Don River system. 

At one corner, we received some vision power from the moon’s casting, and there we caught a wave of wild flower scent that allowed our minds to travel to the drama we had just enacted before a full house at our temple.  Based on the pages of the book, Bhagavatam, the description of the eve of Krishna’s birth was one of total shanty (peace).  Planets were prominent.  All that was aromatic was present.  All that indicated prosperity, such as rivers full of flowing waters, breezes favourable, and stars apparent, were enhanced.  Whatever I had narrated from the script of “Blue Mystic” was delineating such details, at least in spirit, and was now duplicated in the very atmosphere we were moving through.  What a special day (evening, rather). 

Sleep was evident after a full day of activity and being on an empty stomach.  And now our full bellies were waddling down a trail for a two hour people-less stretch.  I told the two companions before the trek, the rule of this customary walk is “No talking.  Only chant.”  We are honouring our guru, Srila Prabhupada, because as of 12 midnight we celebrate his birthday – that’s festive day number two.  What can you do but continue the joy. 

May the Source be with you!

12 KM

Toronto, Ontario

His Birthday


It’s Krishna’s birthday.  On such occasions you often end up doing something that’s enjoyable.  Along with a dozen community members here, we chose to walk somewhat of an obstacle course just after our morning arati (early morning meditations).

Not all of this group were so highly prepared foot wear wise, because the trek was truly spontaneous for them.  We are also looking at participants that are mostly car bound suburbanites.  They were, however, troopers, excited by our chosen forest setting trail. 

“This trail will remind you of Vrindavan,” I said at the outset, “Krishna’s upbringing turf.”  We then blazed that trail at David Balfour Park, and then the Brickworks where I did my training for long distance walking. 

My pace was slower than usual just to accommodate the crew.  We went down a wiggly trail and let these troopers know that even in the heart of a fair sized city like Toronto, one can derive from it a peaceful greenery. 

Legs were sore (not mine), but smiles were preserved.  “That’s the spirit!”  I told the group.  “Now, we are going to enjoy a packed day of festivities.”  I also reminded them that it’s a full day fast.  Each one of these participants passed the test and had not passed out.  They achieved happy tolerance.  I gave a talk in the evening to a full house on the significance of Janmastami, the birth anniversary of Krishna.  Sitting in front of me was one of the participants, a woman who happened to slip and fall on the moist boardwalk segment of the walk.  She smiled away, though, like anything while I was talking, jubilant like one of Krishna’s peacocks. 

May the Source be with you!

8 KM

A brand new professionally-shot documentary about the construction of ISKCON’s flagship temple, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, West Bengal has just been released, as the initial burst of progress settles to a slower yet steady pace.The documentary is the second in a multi-part series focuses on the community behind the ambitious project.

The 10th Annual Festival of the Chariots & Ratha Yatra Parade, an Indian multi-cultural extravaganza, will take place on the beach & at the Seawalk Pavillion, Seawalk Plaza Beach Blvd. & Ocean Front South in Jacksonville Beach from 3:30 to 9 PM.

Vyasa-puja is an annual celebration by devotees of Krishna to offer homage to their guru, or spiritual teacher. Each year, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust publishes a limited number of copies of a Vyasa-puja book—a collection of homages to Srila Prabhupada from devotees and temples all over the world.

After Sri Balarama Jayanti, Sri Krsna Janmashtami festival & Srila Prabhupada's appearance day were clebrated by Iskcon Munich congregation with a great merry and happiness. More than 200 devotees attended the festival and experienced the transcendental mercy of Sri Sri Radha Gaura Krsna & Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. The program included bhajan/kirtan, lecture about Sri Krsna's pastimes, maha-abhishek, children dance, theatre, quiz competition, swinging ceremony, midnight maha-arati with new outfit darshan & prasadam offering. For Srila Prabhupada's appearance day, our congregation was blessed with two senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada. Both HG Prithu Prabhu and HG Nikhilananda Prabhu are the direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada and shared various pastimes, experiences and realizations with their master Srila Prabhupada. Later pushpanjali was offered with prasadam cooked by Madana Sundari Mji. Everyone worked very hard to present both the festivals with beautiful Lordships, nice decorated altar, tasty prasadam, friendly service & good cooperation. We hope for similar cooperation in near future too. Thank you & Krsna blessings! Read more ›

Kirtan is a sure way to transcend the mundane preoccupations of the mind and enjoy the bliss of Divine.

Please visit TOVP.org and donate to help build The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Ahmed, who is the principal of a municipal school, believes that religion does not teach hatred or rivalry, instead it promotes love and fraternity.

This is the story of two dear friends of mine, two wonderful souls who united together in the presence of their love ones at Bhaktivedanta Manor. The Manor is a beautiful Radha-Krishna temple just north of London and is my of my most favourite, familiar and visited wedding venues. Sita was a wonderful bride from Birmingham whilst Sundar-Madhava travelled from Nottingham to wed his soulmate. However, despite both of them being from the Midlands, because of Sundar-Madhava’s many years spent as a residential monk at this beautiful temple, they chose Bhaktivedanta Manor as their venue for their beautiful wedding ceremony. Read more ›

The post August 21st, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The Hare Krishna maha-mantra gives liberation and at the same time offers shelter at the lotus feet of Krishna. If one takes shelter at the lotus feet of Krishna after liberation, he develops his dormant ecstatic love for Krishna. That is the highest perfection of life. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.257 Purport) Read more ›

“The stories of the Ramayan and the Mahabharat cannot be termed a-historical just because there is not enough archaeological hard evidence."

Sadhana, arcana, and seva.

The post A summary of our The last lecture in the series following the Community services istagosti appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Too much obsession with oneself and with the material world makes people mad. It is not an allegorical statement but it’s a hard core fact. People actually become mad.

13-08-2014 SB 1.9.26 Bhishmadev’s Instructions on Varnashram Dharma, ISKCON Durban, South Africa.mp3

If the surface of the globe is overflooded with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, the people of the world will be very, very happy. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.10 Purport) Read more ›

O King, by the passing of time, land and other material possessions are purified; by bathing, the body is purified; and by being cleansed, unclean things are purified. By purificatory ceremonies, birth is purified; by austerity, the senses are purified; and by worship and charity offered to the brahmanas, material possessions are purified. By satisfaction, the mind is purified; and by self-realization, or Krishna consciousness, the soul is purified. Read more ›

Sukadeva Gosvami said: Nanda Maharaja was naturally very magnanimous, and when Lord Sri Krishna appeared as his son, he was overwhelmed by jubilation. Therefore, after bathing and purifying himself and dressing himself properly, he invited brahmanas who knew how to recite Vedic mantras. After having these qualified brahmanas recite auspicious Vedic hymns, he arranged to have the Vedic birth ceremony celebrated for his newborn child according to the rules and regulations, and he also arranged for worship of the demigods and forefathers. Read more ›

Woodstock 2014 – Harinam – Indradyumna Swami

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 08/21/14.

As a variation on a theme, the past few weeks we’ve  focused on the same era.

This week’s challenge: In addition to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, there are four devotees in the photo. At least two are recognizable. Can you identify them?

What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the Brijabasi Spirit Website.

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

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

1967 August 21: "Yesterday on the birthday of Lord Krishna I made him sannyasi and the moment he was being offered sannyasa there was some ceremony of Janmastami in the temple, and hundreds of men and women congratulated the young sannyasi. Somebody remarked he looked like Lord Caitanya."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1968 August 21: "There are so many cheap gurus and cheap disciples, without any substantial knowledge, manufacturing new sampradayas, with all service activities stopped, and all spiritual progress choked up. Don't be allured by cheap disciples."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 August 21: "The first thing, I warn you, do not try to initiate. You are not in a proper position now to initiate anyone. Don't be allured by such maya. I am training you all but do not be in a hurry."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 August 21: "Last night we celebrated Janmastami festival very gorgeously. Today they will observe Vyasa Puja. Please pray to Krishna that he may give me the necessary strength to discharge the duty entrusted me by my Spiritual Master."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 August 21: "I see the acharya shall be entitled to nominate in writing his successive acharya. But we do not find any record where our Srila Prabhupada nominated any acharya after Him. Different persons have interpreted on this point, and now every one of our Godbrothers are acting as acharya."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 August 21: "You are now elected as one of the Commissioners of the GBC, so you have got great responsibility. In the disciplic succession of Lord Caitanya, if we simply abide by the order of the Acarya in disciplic succession, then things are made very easy."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 August 21: "If the higher section says yes, it is a nice movement, we will progress very quickly. It takes a little time to convince the higher section of society. Still, that is our business because unless the higher section understands this movement, we will make progress slowly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1975 August 21: "You do not know this? One of the GBC articles says it. Big GBC man and it is not detected? You are all mudhas, what can I do? Anyway it is better to remain a mudha before your Spiritual Master."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 May 2014, Prague, Czech Republic, Bhagavad-gita 7.20)

Question: We have those other material desires and still we should engage in devotional service with determination. Can you specify more elaborately what does this point it mean, that we should engage with determination?

It means that even when we have material desires, we do not act upon them. Even when there is pride, we are not going to feed that pride. We are trying to act humble. Even when there is anger, we try to control it. Even when there is greed and atyahara, the desire to have many things that we do not really need, we try to control the senses and not buy so many unnecessary things. In this way, we just follow the path of bhakti. It is stated in the purport here:

tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta purusham param (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.10)

It actually says that whether you have material desires or you do not have material desires, engage with great determination in the process of pure devotional service. So, having material desires, engage in pure devotional service, follow the pure process of devotional service with great energy, then everything will come and all the material desires will go away.

Or, I have my other more simple example. If you have material desires, get an empty cardboard box and put all your material desires in there. Then write with the big marker, “My material desires. Do not touch!” Put a rope around the box and put the box on the shelf. Then, get really busy in devotional service. Of course, sometimes you are going to look at your box, “My material desires,” but you are still very busy.

Then one day, one day, when you are not so busy with service, the mind says, “Today, I’m going to play with my material desires…” You take the box off the shelf. You open it up and like, “Who took all the material desires!? Half are gone! I mean, this box was full. Now it is only half-full! Who took all these material desires!?” Who do you think took all these material desires? Have you not heard… that Krsna is a thief? So Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita:

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ (Bhagavad-gita 18.66)

Just surrender unto me. Abandon all varieties of activity, just do my activities and I will deliver you from all the reactions of your sinful activities. What are these reactions of these sinful activities? Material desires. Krsna will deliver us from them. Like that, like that.

 

 

It is only the exceptional mercy of Lord Caitanya and His representative, Srila Prabhupada, that we can be all delivered and go back home, back to Godhead.

The post TOVP Janmastami Appeal appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Sri Sri Panca Tattva on the local news! Read more ›

Dear Srila Prabhupada

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories unto your divine Lotus Feet.

Every year on this day of your auspicious appearance, devotees around the world meditate and thank you for the sacrifice you performed for the sake of the lost souls seeking pleasure in this world. If you did not take the pains to travel to the West, preach tirelessly, write volumes of books, build temples, conduct festivals, and give personal instructions to your disciples, today, we would not have the luxury of a global Vaishnava community who are connected with one another either in person or virtually – Thank you very much!

I am happy that I am still chanting, reading and doing some service trying to please you. When I got introduced to Krishna Consciousness, I was doubtful if this is just a phase in my life. I was doubtful if my attachment to you and your words was simply a passing cloud. After all these years, I am happy that I am still chanting implying that perhaps it is not a phase and perhaps it may be something substantial. Having said that, I am still in a phase in my Krishna Consciousness where I ebb and flow with the highs and lows of my life. It is my desire that I am steady in my Krishna consciousness regardless of these high and low points. I submit unto you please accept my services though it may be of idiosyncratic nature.

Pride and anger are two pillars leading to the nether worlds. As long as one harbors such feelings it is not possible to understand sublime truths. In Chaitanya Charitamrta (Adi 1.55), you say that “The development of submissiveness is the cause of proportionate spiritual realization, by which one can ultimately meet the Supreme Lord in person, as a man meets another man face to face”. Living in a place where devotee association is few and far between can promote independence and not submissiveness. Independence is a breeding ground for pride leading to anger. Dear Prabhupada, please always guide me from within and through your books to tolerate the urges of my mind which I sometimes feel is my worst enemy. In the past year, there were many incidences which I could have averted despite outside provocation but because of inherent pride, I became angry and engaged in combative behavior. This, you have said, is on the bodily platform. Going forward, I pray unto you to give me the strength to overcome this elephant like disease of competitive pride and anger.

In the past year, I have tried my best in my capacity to share the word of Krishna to others. I have tried my best to be more introspective with respect to my own sadhana. Going forward, given my limitations, I want to continue to share and introspect. By giving I receive. I hope you were pleased with whatever little sharing and introspection I did in the past year. Please bless me in my attempt to share and introspect more as I get older.

I cannot say this enough and perhaps I will say this till the sun burns out. Without you and your divine instructions, I would be like a ship without a rudder lost in the vast ocean with timingila like fishes ready to gobble me up. It was by your mercy, and blessings I was able to steer this lost ship in a direction where there is hope and freedom. Hope towards an ageless life and freedom from the miseries of life. It does not stop there- you have given us a road map where beyond hope and freedom, we reach the shores of service and bliss – service towards the Supreme Being who is blackish blue in complexion like the rain cloud with lotus like eyes, reddish lips and curly hair. By serving Him unconditionally, one regains His original position of blissful self. What more can we ask for?

Thank you Prabhupada for not only picking me up from the quagmire of this world but also teaching me to clean my act and march towards that Supreme Being. For this I am forever indebted. A debt I can never pay back!

On this divine appearance day of yours, please accept my prostrated dandavats at your divine lotus feet.

Your servant aspiring to be insignificant
Ananda Jagannath Das

Hare Krishna

Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devotee, means always engaging in Krishna consciousness by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and by acting for Krishna. Specifically, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra purifies one, and this chanting is therefore recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.59 Purport) Read more ›

If the surface of the globe is overflooded with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, the people of the world will be very, very happy. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.10 Purport) Read more ›