Tuesday, March 11th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

A Stirring Inside

As winter begins its exit, dreams of outdoor opportunities open up.  Even a monk is no exception to this phenomenon.  After an hour or two of being occupied in a freshly painted office, it was necessary to burst out of our ashram building and let air do its magic.  I almost sprinted on Yonge Street with enthusiasm excited about the spring in the air. 

One of my students had earlier on reported seeing one of those bright red male cardinals (the bird and nothing to do with the Vatican).  This was a sure sign of spring.  As I walked along, one street guitarist between songs expressed his joy, “It’s a great day to be alive!”  Couldn’t agree more. 

In the Yorkville area a woman saw me and simply said, “Hello.”  She acted on spontaneity when she noticed I was doing my work in progress, chanting softly on my meditative beads.  She said, “Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt.”

“No, it’s quite alright, you did nothing wrong.  Enjoy this day.”

“I am.” 

When I returned to the ashram and made my way down the corridor to the office of fresh paint, I glanced at a copy of one of those summer adventure ‘zines’ called “Wilderness Tours” left in the desk tray.  The overall message of the publication was ringing out, “Get outside!”  The publications highlights more boating adventure as opposed to walking, but I like some of the quotes used regarding life and nature and how to get the most out of them. 

From Rich Ridgeway, “Life is either a daring pursuit or nothing at all.”  “The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask.”

From comedian Danny Kaye, “Life is a blank canvass, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can.”

From Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “Teach your children well… and feed them on your dreams.”

From Eleanor Roosevelt, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience of the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.”

From William Butler Yeats, “I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore… I hear it in the deep heart’s core.”

From Rudyard Kipling, “Something hidden.  Go and find it.  Go look behind the ranges.  Lost and waiting for you, go!”

When spring springs, urges to do more stir up inside.  Go out then and find yourself and find God. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Harinam at Santa Rosa, Pasig and San Pablo, Philippines, with Giridhari Swami (Album 104 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

All Glories to the Harinam Sankirtan of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Harinam is the congregational street chanting of the holy names of Krishna or God, if anyone is interested in performing the Yuga Dharma Harinam Sankirtan, is cordially invited to join with us and assist in this effort to please His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Your cooperation in any way will please the Lord as this was the desire of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to spread his name in every town and village. Harinam Sankirtan ki!!! Jaya!!! Read more ›

Golden 6-Hour Kirtan – This Saturday!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

As you may already know, we are celebrating quite the festival this Golden Weekend and it all starts off with a non-stop 6-Hour Kirtan on Saturday, March 15, 2014! The kirtan will kick off right at 3:00pm and end with a grand finale at 9:00pm, including prasadam (vegetarian feast).

Please come and join us as we begin to celebrate the appearance of Lord Chaitanya this weekend!

Schedule (subject to change):

3:00pm - 3:30pm: Mayapurchandra das
3:30pm - 4:00pm: Kunti
4:00pm - 4:45pm: Radha Murari Kirtan Band
4:45pm - 5:00pm: Gopinath Kids Camp Children
5:00pm - 5:30pm: Darshan
5:30pm - 6:00pm: Nipun
6:00pm - 6:30pm: Hitesh
6:30pm - 7:15pm: Sukhayanti devi dasi
7:15pm - 8:00pm: Radha-mohan das
8:00pm - 9:00pm: Dhira Grahi das

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 03/13/14
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

NV TBT 03-13-14

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 03/13/14.

Each week we highlight an earlier era of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

This week’s challenge: In the photo, there are approximately 20 devotees whose faces are recognizable. How many can you identify?

Extra Credit: What are the names of the elephant and her caretaker?

Post your guesses on the “who, what, when & where” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook Page.

Technical stuff: We share the 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.

Where Does the Source of Bliss Find Bliss?
→ The Enquirer

The opening verse of Śrī Govinda Līlāmṛta is exquisite

śrī govindaṁ vrajānandaṁ sandohahānanda mandiram.
vande vṛndāvanānandaṁ śrī-rādha-saṅganānanditam.

Beautiful Govinda,

The bliss of Vraja-village
The home of the most astonishingly thick bliss
The bliss of Vṛndāvana forest
Who finds bliss in the company of Śrī Rādhā.
…I celebrate you.

- Vraja Kishor


New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ March 12, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

01

I have fallen into the blind well of household-life, and I am being devoured by the black snakes of lust and other faults. O abode of Vrndavana, when will you take me out of this well and acting as a mother, give me shelter on your lap?

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-88 Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

Meaning Of The Names PT.7
→ Japa Group


Hare

hrtavan gokule tisthann-aristam pusta-pungavam
sri haris tam rasad uccai rayatiti hara mata

While in Gokula, Sri Hari (Krsna) killed the demon known as Aristasura. During that time, Radha cried out to Him with great feeling and by doing so, She stole His mind. She is thus known as Hara.

Srila Jiva Goswami

International Womens Day, food for all
→ simple thoughts

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International Women’s Day 8th March 2014

This is an annual event we take part in every year. We are asked to distribute prasad in three locations in central London and organise a ladies Harinam party for the procession down Oxford street and ending in a rally in Trafalgar Square. Lalita Saki Dasi was our main preacher on the day. Everybody loves prasad and everyone needs liberating.

Then in the evening the Kirtan party again liberates one and all. The singer is Doya Dasi with her child Nadia.

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A disciple of Swami Narayana said to Srila Prabhupada. “My spiritual master said to avoid women and never go where there are women”. Srila Prabhupada laughed and said ” that’s impossible,there are women everywhere”. Then coming back to the temple and watching two women devotees bow down to him, he said,” by associating with these women,you will be purified”.(Madhavanda)

Hitler for matajis from Food For All on Vimeo.

Feeding the Poor; Raising awareness
→ simple thoughts

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Dear Devotees,
PamHo AgtSp,

Just keeping you up to date with our projects.

We had a busy weekend with the International Women’s Day event, then on Monday we had a fund raising gig with Pete Doherty in Camden Town, the video is of our devotee Jennie on stage:

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Tuesday we had Tribhuvanth’s festival team holding a festival in Essex and this Thursday we are off to Ireland for a prasad distribution event called “feed the 5,000″.

Your servant
Parasuram Das

Many questions, one answer!
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 December 2013, Mayapur, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 5.9.3)

There are many ‘how to’ questions in Krsna consciousness, “How to be humble? How to be determined. How to keep a balance? How to do all these things?’”

DSC_0321The only answer to that is to become independently thoughtful; Krsna consciousness is never just about blind following, “Maharaj, please give me an instruction that I can apply in all places and all times?’”

I can give you one, “Always chant Hare Krsna!” That is the only one I know and in all other matters, you have to take instructions and use the intelligence on how to apply it.

“Should we all become like Jada Bharata?” I think Mayapur will become total chaos if we were all to walk out of this class and start to act like Jada Bharata! Maybe, we take something of the spirit of Jada Bharata. So how to follow Jada Bharata? The answer is: with intelligence.

“How to follow instructions, of when to say yes and when to say no?” Judge every situation by itself. Analyze the situation and see if it is favourable for Krsna. If you are not sure, ask advice of somebody you trust and in that, way we stumble along in spiritual life:

‘durgame pathi me ’ndhasya
skhalat-pāda-gater muhuḥ
sva-kṛpā-yaṣṭi-dānena
santaḥ santv avalambanam,’ (CC Antya-lila 1.2)

My path is very difficult. My feet are slipping again and again but by the stick of the mercy of the devotees, I can stay on the path. So, when we are not sure ask someone for advise!

Home Again
→ travelingmonk.com

Pictured here is the Temple of Vedic Planatarium, under construction. Before entering Sridham Mayapura we visited the sacred home of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, from where he had a vision of a magnificent temple appearing one day in the future just across the Jalangi river. By Srila Prabhupada’s strong desire that temple is now beginning to [...]

A severed hand may appear like a hand but it has no Potency
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Because we do not know that there is a complete arrangement in nature for our maintenance, we make efforts to utilize the resources of nature to create a so-called complete life of sense enjoyment. Because the living entity cannot enjoy the life of the senses without being dovetailed with the Complete Whole, the misleading life of sense enjoyment is illusion. The hand of a body is a complete unit only as long as it is attached to the complete body. When the hand is severed from the body, it may appear like a hand, but it actually has none of the potencies of a hand. Similarly, living beings are part and parcel of the Complete Whole, and if they are severed from the Complete Whole, the illusory representation of completeness cannot fully satisfy them.

- Srila Prabhupada, Sri Isopanishad > Iso Invocation

Three New Baby Calves Born at New Vrindaban Goshalla
→ New Vrindaban

Calves are very special living entities, and they have their own personalities, just like people do!

Last Friday, March 7, 2014, mother cow Anjali had a baby boy calf, who was named Amani. He was very strong right from birth, and there were absolutely no problems.  He began nursing immediately and was quite sociable, after standing up and moving around the calf pen near his mother.

Then, on Monday March 10, mother cow Lakshmi had her own little baby boy calf, who hasn’t been named as of yet.  Different than young Amani, Lakshmi’s young bull is shy and had to be shown how to drink milk from his mother.

Then another surprise! That night, Monday March 10, at 7:00 PM, bull #3 was born! After several failed attempts, he finally stood up.  We think that because he is tall and lanky, with long legs, that it was harder for him to walk.  But now he’s jumping around the goshalla calf pen, along with the other two baby bulls.

We wish the three new baby bulls and their matas all the best, for a great life serving Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra.  Hare Krsna!

A visit to the sacred home of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur (Album 42 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Pictured here is the Temple of the Vedic Planatarium, under construction. Before entering Sridham Mayapura we visited the sacred home of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, from where he had a vision of a magnificent temple appearing one day in the future just across the Jalangi river. By Srila Prabhupada's strong desire that temple is now beginning to manifest as the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. We also visited Nrsimha-pali, where Lord Nrsimha took bath on His way back to Vaikuntha, after killing the demon Hiranyakasipu. Purified of heart and in a mood of humility we finally arrived in ISKCON's Mayapura Candrodaya Mandir. Good to be home again! Read more ›

sacrifice…is the key to happiness?
→ everyday gita

Verse 4.31: O best of the Kuru dynasty, without sacrifice one can never live happily on this planet or in this life: what then of the next?

It's been awhile since I've written my last post and I'd like to extend my apologies to everydaygita's regular readers. Although it wasn't intentional, this break from writing has filled with me more experiences of seeing the Gita in action. That said, you would think that I would be bubbling over with words and that the greatest challenge I would be facing right now is to stop myself from writing a 10 page essay!

Instead, I'm finding it hard to shake off the cobwebs that form whenever I stop writing and quite confronting to stare at the blinking courser which seems to be taunting me to come up with the right words.

At this moment, I can totally relate with the subject of sacrifice!

Writing on the Gita always brings me a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness. As opposed to just reading some words, appreciating them for a few minutes and then forgetting about them, writing compels me to personalize and internalize the Gita's teachings. In short, it forces me to use my intelligence!

All of us discover new connections and experience new realizations frequently. But if you're anything like me, it's easy to forget them if they are not written down immediately. The process of capturing those feelings and emotions in an articulate manner leaves a lasting effect.

But to get there requires sacrifice. For me, it's the sacrifice of reading the Gita, introspecting on the meaning, praying for realizations, and setting aside time to journal them here.

It's a pretty simple yet apt analogy for illustrating how sacrifice is required to achieve happiness. For those who long for eternal happiness, the same formula holds true - it too requires sacrifice, and as the bhakti yoga texts explain, requires that we understand a couple of things:

1. The happiness that we experience when we are live in the mind-set of "I am this body" is temporary. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just not ever-lasting.

2. To experience ever-lasting happiness, we have to realize that we are the soul and not this body. That comes by associating with those persons who have already realized this (i.e. advanced bhakti yogis) and engaging in the practice of mantra meditation which helps us to re-connect with our souls.

3. Eternal happiness requires that we sacrifice temporary happiness. But just like writing, the process is not painful. It may a bit uncomfortable when we begin, but as it becomes more consistent, the process itself is blissful.

So whether you are looking for happiness in certain aspects of your life or are looking for the ultimate, everlasting kind, just remember one thing. The process of sacrificing may seem uncomfortable or even painful at first, but give it some time. You may be surprised to realize that sacrifice itself can be blissful.

Festival in Colchester, University of Essex – 11 March 2014 (Album 35 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

This was our first hall festival of the year and was very successful! We planned for 150 people to come, but around 230+ guests came! There were a few hiccups such as audio issues and the dancer being late from stuck in traffic! The feast at the end was very delicious! We apologise to those who could get seating but next time we will try to book the hall next door with 300 seats. Read more ›