International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) performed Sri Radha Krishna Chandra Srimandira Srivigraha Pratisthotsavam, and inaugurated the Vedic Cultural Centre in the city of Guntur from March 21 to 23 Read more ›
1966 March 26: "Sasthi. Today when I came back from Dr. Mishra's apartment at 1 pm. I saw my window on the door broken and entering the door I saw my tape recorder, typewriter, and books-bag stolen. A separate note is written in this connection. At 2 pm. someone came to to take me to Ashram and I went there. The whole thing was up set. Purchased one bottle Sour Salt .30. No income." Prabhupada Letters :: 1966
1968 March 26: "I understand he has been induced to be initiated by him and this foolish boy has accepted his inducement. This isn't very happy news and in the future, we shall be very cautious about them." Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1968 March 26: "In future don't be misled by unauthorized persons. Such ceremony is socio-religious convention and isn't approved by us. I am very glad you are repentant. This attitude improves one in progressing on the path of devotional service." Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1968 March 26: "The best thing is to remain in the midst of pure devotees. So long we are engaged in devotional service with proper guidance certainly we are always in transcendental position, and transcendental position is unlimited, it doesn't matter whether you are in Vrindaban or America. So long we have not completely freed our material attachment, even Vrindaban residence can become uncongenial." Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1969 March 26: "In the beginning we thought that we were losing a nice place but now I can understand Krishna's desire was to give us a still better place, and so we have now got it. So it is not the place alone which is responsible for beautifying the temple; it is the devotees who are actually beautifying the temple. So kindly try to maintain the present atmosphere, and try to improve it more and more, that is my request." Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
1970 March 26: "I am so engladdened that at your University meeting hundreds were singing and dancing. I take it for granted that you are one of the selected devotees of Lord Caitanya. From within your heart He has inspired you to go to such a distant place just to satisfy Krsna. This is a great transcendental adventure." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1970 March 26: "Just try to convince the younger section. Krishna Consciousness is not dry. It is complete. Simply we have to administer this idea to the people in general very magnificently. The program is already there, and it is very simple. I wish that you establish at least ten centers there. That is my desire." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1974 March 26: "The devotees are giving everything they have for giving others a chance to come and worship at an authorized Radha Krishna temple. Our main purpose for keeping a large temple is to give a chance to as many people as possible to take to Krishna Consciousness." Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram is one of the most prominent ashrams in Rishikesh, India, on the bank of the Ganges river, at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains. Yogirishi Vishvketu ji and Chetana Panwar, the founders of the ashram, invited Radhanath Swami for a satsang program on the evening of 5th March, 2014. More than two hundred spiritual seekers and yogis who had been visiting Rishikesh converged at the ashram to attend Radhanath Swami’s discourse and kirtans. Read more ›
Sri Sri Radha Giridhari temple was opened on 18th January 2004. The Deities (Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Radha Giridhari, and Their Lordships Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra) had previously been installed by the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Read more ›
Aang, the air bender, a popular character from the animation series, is the latest person that I remind someone of. On the list is Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Forrest Gump, Martial Artist Grasshopper, Buddha, and actor Kevin Spacey – all people I’m supposed to either resemble or give a reminder towards. Whether I’m on one of those marathon walks or at a venue for a presentation, people don’t hold back from addressing someone that is relatable. These remarks can be flattering or facetious. I must admit, that in fact, I’m just an ordinary person, a simple monk who is a Prabhupada man. I belong to my guru and I’ve set out for his mission which is to share the consciousness of Krishna. My portfolio in this regard is teaching the science of bhakti yoga. Every day of my life, the compelling obligation is to share some lesson with someone.
An opportunity in White City came when three young men volunteered to join me on the local trail system. Our step was cautious, moving over intermittent snow, ice and general bareness. On one trail, deer droppings marked the way. We found the owners, the herd, who gave a good long curious stare. We returned the stare, but they outdid us. We were not prepared to stay there forever. As we began to move, so did they.
So the choice of trails was there, to go the way of snow and deer, or to take the path of relative dryness. In life, we all have a choice to tread either of two paths. One is called “nvritimarga”, the road of spirituality. The other marga(path) is “pravritti”, the trail of self indulgence. Take your pick.
Education is a cornerstone of society and for our Hare Krishna community at large. Many parents are interested in providing meaningful, spiritual knowledge to their children to ensure they have a nourishing childhood. Further, there has been a keen interest among the GTA community in exploring various options for Krishna Conscious education for our children, ranging from home-schooling, home-schooling co-op, a devotional day care and even a full-fledged school.
While some parents have been already researching these topics independently, we felt that it would be valuable to come together and share our ideas and experience as a group. With this intention, the ISKCON Toronto Education Team is organizing an Open House entitled, "Bringing Krishna Conscious Education to Toronto" on Saturday, April 19, 2014 from 10:00am - 12:00pm to discuss these very options. Our hope is that together, we can come up with some exciting opportunities for Krishna Conscious education in and for our community.
Open House Details: Bringing Krishna Conscious Education to Toronto Date and Time: Saturday, April 19, 2014; 10:00am - 12:00pm Venue: ISKCON Toronto, Green Room
Lunch Prasadam (vegetarian meal) will be served after the event.
To RSVP for this event, please click here to register. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at kids@torontokrishna.com .
(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player is needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer; if you are using Google Chrome it will automatically play, so to not listen, mute your speakers.)
[Originally published on March 3, 2014--since we are now in the process of selling our house and letting go of more things this blog's theme is very appropriate]This morning, after rising, folding up my sleeping bag, and taking care of some natural necessities, I read some of Shri Chaitanya’s lila in Chaitanya Bhagavat. Such a nectar book of spiritual delight! Regular reading of scripture is one of my benchmarks for a successful day. I read about Lord Chaitanya’s (so-called) “birth,” heralded by the resounding chanting of the holy names, which was the custom during a lunar eclipse; how child Chaitanya, or Nimai, would cry and only stop when the ladies chanted the holy name; how mischievous he was as he grew older; how two thieves tried to take him away to steal his ornaments only to find themselves back in front of Nimai’s house; and how Nimai revealed his divinity to a visiting Vaishnava holy man staying with his family. These are very sweet lilas (pastimes), full of deep meaning, and providing me a great way to begin my day!
I have had continual interruptions, or necessary duties, in my regular attempt to write. Writing is a joy for me, but also a discipline; even though I find the effort relishable, setting priorities is required to make it happen—as we must, in the accomplishment of any valuable goal. Those who are devotees of a particular manifestation of God, or who have a spiritual orientation, will see the value of hearing about the activities of the Lord or great saints, and yet they are often understandably less interested in sharing about their own lives. However, everyone’s life is full of important lessons and inspiring events. We only need the right attitude to see this played out as we generally see what we are looking for. This is one of the reasons I write about my life—to show that even a regular person who is trying to live a devotional life has much of value to share. “Ordinary” or “extraordinary” are labels from a state of mind. We notice what we value, so what is going on in your life, right in front of you, that may be trying to get your attention?
I have a good method on how to focus - it requires a spot to stare at and to not move your gaze from that place. It requires great determination, but when you see the effects and feel the benefits of total focus on the sound of the Maha mantra, it's all worth while.
Please try this and see for yourself - no matter what your mind tells you or the urges of the eyes to roam and wander, keep them firmly fixed there and just hear!
When, having cut the chains of feigned affection and, not seeing the slightest trace in my heart of the arrow loved by the learned followers of the Vedic path, will I overcome with excitement, take shelter of Vrndavana?
[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-98 Translation.]
Kadamba Kanana Swami visited Sydney from 6-13 March. You may read about his visit by clicking here. Audio recordings from the various programs are presented below.
Various factors hindered regular updates of Kadamba Kanana Swami’s travels but we are happy to catch up now. On 5 March, Maharaj left India and travelled down-under to Sydney, Australia. Here is a report written by Smitakrsna dd.
So, in modern times, we have what people call “the buzz words”! We have our favourite words; I don’t know whether I should mention any (laughter); may be not, it gets too touchy. But someone stated that the person who has had the greatest influence on this age was apparently Sigmund Freud – on the surface, it is certainly so. We are living in the age of psychology and now, all the terms that we are using are also psychological, like “sharing”. I was somewhere and there was a whole debate,
“You can’t say preaching, no! It’s not for this age, you don’t say it. It is all sharing now.”
Of course, Srila Prabhupada said “PREACHING’’ and definitely didn’t say “sharing’’ although he was very kindly sharing many things with us…
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, July 2003, Caitanya Chandrodaya Nataka Part 2)
It was with the word “PREACHING” in mind that Kadamba Kanana Swami flew to Australia. First he visited Govinda Valley, a beautiful retreat venue located south of Sydney, where he inspired the resident devotees with his association and Krsna katha.
On Saturday, 8 March, Maharaj then travelled to Sydney Temple where the first program he did was at a hall. In his lecture, he mentioned that even though we were meeting at a hall, we were spending our time glorifying Krsna and that is the way a devotee lives. The audience consisted of many new-comers as well as devotees who came along with their friends; and they had many questions to ask. Maharaj encouraged everyone to walk the path of truth by following the rules and regulations.
On the next day, Maharaj gave the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class at the temple and thereafter left for a programme at the house of a prominent devotee. The highlight of the programme was Maharaj narrating in Hindi the story of a sadhu and a mouse to explain punar mūṣiko bhava, meaning that we become small like a mouse again and again, when pride kicks us. Sunday concluded with more glorification of Krsna at the Sunday Feast lecture at Sydney Temple.
Kadamba Kanana Swami spent Monday in a recording studio with the Bhakti Yogis of Sydney to record his upcoming cd titled “Heart & Soul – 2014”. The cd will be made available digitally on KKS Blog. The writer of this report requests all our readers to keep their ears open for a complete new experience of beats and amazing tracks that were recorded at the Cronulla studio.
It is said that whoever sees or hears the madness of Lord Caitanya uproots the disease of repeated birth and death. While madness for others is a disease, the madness of kirtan of Kadamba Kanana Swami removes the influence of passion & ignorance of the conditioned soul and brings him or her to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.
On Wednesday, 12 March, devotees gathered for a Kirtan Night that was organised by the temple. Maharaj inaugurated the program by explaining that in kirtan we are singing & making an offering, and at the same time, Krsna is revealing himself to us – so two things are happening at once. Everyone then absorbed themselves in the best form of glorification of Krsna in the way of chanting. Kadamba Kanana Swami then requested Sri Prahlad to lead kirtan and absorbed himself fully in the nectar of the transcendental holy name.
Thereafter, Maharaj left Sydney for Melbourne to inspire devotees and to attend the Gaura Purnima festival.
During his stay at Melbourne temple, Maharaj gave many Srimad Bhagavatam classes. The devotees went out on a harinam parade in the inner-city of Melbourne, to distribute the mercy of Lord Caitanya on His appearance day. The auspicious day ended with more kirtan by Maharaj during the abhishek ceremony of the all magnanimous Lord Caitanya.
Brisbane was the third city of Australia that got soaked with the mercy of Kadamba Kanana Swami, who travelled from Melbourne just to be there on time for the Sunday Feast lecture. Maharaj enthused devotees with his wonderful classes and kirtan. On Friday, Maharaj departs Australia for South Africa.
Here are photos from some of the programs. If you cannot view the slide-show below, then please visit flickr.
One of the most amazing Gaura Aratis with Mahavishnu Swami!!Mahavishnu Swami Energetic Gaura Arati - Almviks Gard Sweden 12 July 2013 | Scandinavian Tour 2013Mahavishnu Swami sings Gaura Arati at the Alviks Gard temple in Sweden on the 12th of July 2013. Continue reading →
Gaura Purnima Play by the kids in Laguna Beach, CA. Radha and Krishna come to life in this beautiful play. Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movement is excellently portrayed by the children. Even Srila Prabhupada's book distribution is vividly enacted.
This is a two camera shoot in Hi Definition with decent audio. Please share. We need more plays like these. Super inspiring! Read more ›
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) performed Sri Radha Krishna Chandra Srimandira Srivigraha Pratisthotsavam, and inaugurated the Vedic Cultural Centre in the city of Guntur from March 21 to 23 Read more › 
Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram is one of the most prominent ashrams in Rishikesh, India, on the bank of the Ganges river, at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains. Yogirishi Vishvketu ji and Chetana Panwar, the founders of the ashram, invited Radhanath Swami for a satsang program on the evening of 5th March, 2014. More than two hundred spiritual seekers and yogis who had been visiting Rishikesh converged at the ashram to attend Radhanath Swami’s discourse and kirtans. 
Sri Sri Radha Giridhari temple was opened on 18th January 2004. The Deities (Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Radha Giridhari, and Their Lordships Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra) had previously been installed by the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 
Gaura Purnima Play by the kids in Laguna Beach, CA. Radha and Krishna come to life in this beautiful play. Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movement is excellently portrayed by the children. Even Srila Prabhupada's book distribution is vividly enacted.
This is a two camera shoot in Hi Definition with decent audio. Please share. We need more plays like these. Super inspiring!