vicāra karite citte pābe camatkāra (Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 8.15)
Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami is saying that the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is just amazing, and the more one tries to logically understand it, the more amazing it is. I like to call this verse, the open invitation to the Caitanya Caritamrta. I see this verse as an important verse because it shows us the proper attitude by which we are meant to look at the life of Lord Caitanya. We are looking at his mercy and that is what we are trying to uncover, more and more.
paśu pākhī jhure, pāṣāṇa vidare (Song: Parama Karuna by Locana Das Thakura)
It is said that the animals (paśu), the birds (pākhī), will chant, and the stones (pāṣāṇa vidare) will melt in the chanting of the holy names. Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur said that even when a bird chants the holy names of the Lord, that bird will go back to Godhead. So, although Prabhupada told us, ‘No parrot-like chanting,’ still, the parrots get the mercy when they chant!
On May 24th and 25th, the Hare Krishna Centre is participating in Doors Open Toronto. Annually, over 150 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural and social significance open their doors to the public for a city-wide celebration. While Toronto's Hare Krishna Temple is open, free of charge, to the public year-round, Doors Open presents an opportunity for the public to learn about the architectural and historical story of our amazing building!
Guided Tours will take place from 10am-5pm on Saturday May 24th and Sunday May 25th. Guided tours of the building highlight the architectural, historical and spiritual history of the building. There are also visual displays of media news clippings and interesting publications related to the building. There will also be a book lounge and free refreshments provided to the visiting public!
Additionally, the regular Sunday programme (Sunday Feast) is open to the public 6:00-8:30pm, including a Free Vegetarian feast served at 7:30pm. For more information, please visit the official Doors Open website by clicking here. We hope to see you this weekend!
Yesterday in London on my birthday, I visited the Radha Krsna Temple on Soho Street to get the blessings of Sri Sri Radha London Iswara, who were installed in the early years of the movement by Srila Prabhupada. I first saw Them in 1972. I asked for Their mercy to continue with my service to [...]
Our Toronto Hare Krishna community is always excited to welcome HG Vaisesika das and HG Nirakula devi dasi to our community! Amidst the whirlwind of programs that are typically held during their visits, the Saturday evening is always reserved for a "bhajan night", an evening of musical chants with HG Vaisesika das!
Priya Rupa devi dasi, a member of our community captured this unique "panoramic" perspective of the evening! Feel free to submit your own photos of the temple or our community in action and we will post them on our website. Click the image below for a zoomed in version!
Graduation Ceremony was held in the temple room on May 21st. Led by bhajans by the students, each child recieved a Certificate of Merit, displaying key Vaishnava qualities they possessed. How sweet it was to hear the teachers glorify these young boys and girls, noting their achievements in the class.
At the end, His Grace Nityananda Prabhu and His Holiness Rtadhvaja Swami spoke words of blessings.
With Green Living City the innovator Broekbakema (Rotterdam, the Netherlands) states that intensifying the existing city can only be accomplished by building it vertically instead of the common breadth expansion of cities. The Green Living City is literally developed in the vertical direction by stacking a mix of functions, including the public space.
1966 May 21: "Dwitiya. In the afternoon there was Sanskrit class. The attendance was ten, the collection was $4.00. One boy paid for the books (partly) $6.00. At 5/30 P.M. we started for Ananda Ashram. In the evening there was Keertan at Ashram. It was nice as usual. There was dance of Balirama." Prabhupada Journal :: 1966
Anasuya was so happy to get out of the barn and onto the pasture. She ran, jumped and kicked her heels in joy. The winter was long and harsh and the warm temperatures and green grass were like heaven. She may be a little hesitant when meeting new people but not very much and charmed some students from Hanover College when they came for a visit to the ISCOWP farm. She also is kind as we learned when we put Gourangi in the Old Cow Shelter that Anasuya and Indraneela were using. Anasuya stuck close as Gourangi passed away. Healthy and pretty (who would have known by the way she looked when she was rescued), Anasusya is living the good life at the ISCOWP farm as a protected cow. See Anasuya when she first came to the ISCOWP Farm.
1967 May 21: "It is clear the young people of this country are very much eager to have spiritual enlightenment and as such this sankirtan movement is just suitable. Let us convince them this movement - very simple and universal - is the only means for spiritual realization." Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
1967 May 21: "This movement is universal. Let the leaders be open minded and not biased by any sectarian thoughts. Convince them to accept this common formula, chanting Hare Krishna, dancing, hearing Bhagavad-gita directly from the representative of Krishna, and eating Krishna Prasada." Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
1967 May 21: "Convince them this Krishna Consciousness movement is the approved method for reviving God consciousness and the only remedy for human society's diseased condition. Let the leaders take this movement seriously. If they patiently hear me I am sure they will be convinced as you have been." Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
1970 May 21: "We begin Srimad Bhagavatam by offering obeisances to the Supreme Truth, Satyam Param Dhimahi. So those who are strictly following the Bhagavat line they are living in Satya Yuga. And our Temples are a replica of Vaikuntha, so live there peacefully, chant the regular beads, and follow the regulative principles." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1972 May 21: "You just try your best to serve Krishna and if any perplexing circumstances arise, just pray to Krishna to give you strength. These bodily relationships are only temporary. Our real relationship is with Krishna. Try to cultivate that." Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
1972 May 21: "Even a few of these words if propagated widely can have a tremendous effect on millions of people. So my Guru Maharaja used to say these literatures are the Brhat Mrdanga - the big mrdanga which can be heard from a long distance. Therefore above all it is our duty to print these words for the benefit of all mankind." Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
We bid farewell to our Thunder Bay host, Dr. Jani, and took a great drive up Highway 11. With time zone change we gained an hour and it allowed for me to do some sporadic walking, for instance, when Michael would gas up, or just wanted to use his camera to capture the aesthetics of nature, I could then trail blaze.
It’s clearly beaver country out here, and at one of our breaks, being tempted, I dared to walk the edge of a beaver dam which would access fairly close to the beavers’ lodge, their home. With grass grown over the dam’s edge, I thought it would be an easy effort. But no, I was wrong; the train was just too uneven and slippery with Crocs as my footwear. I wasn’t going to run the risk of getting plunged. And being alone, and waters at temperatures just above freezing, I opted to turn back. Smartness and cowardice be married to each other.
After hopping into the SUV with Michael and Karuna, we drove on and sighted deer, and also a pregnant porcupine. Michael said it was. I don’t know how you can tell. Our destination was reached, the home of Andrew, a resident of Saint Frances, and at a lovely rustic home overlooking the wonder of lake land. His friends came, they were curious about long distance walking, and perhaps, more so, coming face to face with monkism for the first time. When Michael invited folks from town he discovered that there were misconceptions, “A monk is going to give a talk? they thought monks don’t talk.”
I sure did talk though, especially Theresa from the West End Weekly. She rolled out her questions for an interview before I even got to a more formal-to-casual talk to the people that came.
A real highlight today was being reunited with Daruka from Winnipeg, and of course, his female Amazon parrot, Billie. She still doesn’t like me. She’ll always be dedicated to her one partner, Daruka. Anyways, as a monk you don’t fuss over any one person. You are always partnered or married to the Divine and the mission.
1972 May 21: "I shall be very glad to attend your Janmastami and I am pleased that you have consented to give me the 50% of your profits on that night. But I will have no objection if you consider giving me 100%." Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
“A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the flashes of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is really qualified to educate the disciples all over the world”
“The Nectar of Instruction” (Upadeshamrita) Verse 1
The Vedic Rishis (the wise’ seers’ of the Vedas) were not only mystic poets, they were experts of the deep knowledge of the mind; these sages widely observed and experimented all the psychic functions of the human being. The rishis could clearly see that the so-called spontaneousness of the human being with the ordinary level of consciousness is just a satisfaction of the conditionings, imposed by one's mind; therefore, in an ultimate analysis, it is the exact opposite of a free, healthy and spontaneous attitude. In order to make free decisions without being affected by conditionings and attachments, a person has to conquer the six urges mentioned above.
Only then a progressive realization of the Self will take place, so that the individual will be able to reach the pure feeling of Love for God. In order to overcome obstacles and to achieve high levels of awareness, one should proceed with a harmonious transformation of personality, along with well pondered choices. Such choices are the result of wisely coordinated and constant efforts, so as to allow the passage from human understanding of things to the spiritual awareness and protection, until a complete development of the most elevated qualities of the Soul.
If we learn to re-direct passionate egoistic feelings and emotions towards spiritual goals, they will enhance a propensity to inner evolution and will lead to a supreme bliss of Bhakti and Love in freedom.
Here are recordings of lectures given by Kadamba Kanana Swami during his recent visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor and the final class in Radhadesh prior to going to the UK.
The devotees from IskconSarajevoare continuing with prasadam distribution. Many devotees are taking days off their jobs or coming to serve prasadam with their small children. For the whole week we will be distributing cooked prasadam meals (lunch and dinner) near Sarajevo, where people have lost their homes due to landsliding. Donations are coming from all around Europe, so we will expand our distribution and keep you posted with our reports. Please keep donating, helping, praying! Thank you!
Our team has contacted the Federal TV, which tomorrow will follow the devotees during the distribution of prasadam. Like every day, we start cooking from 6 pm, departure from the temple in 12h. Read more ›
Bhaktivedanta Manor Photo Compilation 2014 Read more › 
Here are recordings of lectures given by Kadamba Kanana Swami during his recent visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor and the final class in Radhadesh prior to going to the UK.
The devotees from IskconSarajevoare continuing with prasadam distribution. Many devotees are taking days off their jobs or coming to serve prasadam with their small children. For the whole week we will be distributing cooked prasadam meals (lunch and dinner) near Sarajevo, where people have lost their homes due to landsliding. Donations are coming from all around Europe, so we will expand our distribution and keep you posted with our reports. Please keep donating, helping, praying! Thank you!
Our team has contacted the Federal TV, which tomorrow will follow the devotees during the distribution of prasadam. Like every day, we start cooking from 6 pm, departure from the temple in 12h. Read more ›