Nearly 1,000 ISKCON leaders from around the world for the second ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) in Mayapur
→ Dandavats.com

The event was created by ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) to provide leaders with a forum where they could share best practices and learn from each other. Each day of the ILS will begin early at 4:30am with the full traditional ISKCON morning worship program, and then breakfast. This will be followed by an hour-long plenary session, which all attendees will gather at. The session’s focus will be different each day, but the topic will always be one of universal interest. Read more ›

Floyd Coffield 1904-1996
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

NV TBT 02-06-14

Advaita and Madri shared the photo and detailed story below:

Follow up on a Throwback Thursday’s picture of two young boys with oxen. Photo supplied by Judy Logsden, Floyd’s daughter.

A few weeks after arriving in New Vrndavan at the end of 1973 I was incorporated into what was then referred to as the “plough department.” Although most of the work with the horses at that time was being done by Kasyapa Das (Varsana Swami) the department was headed up by Paramananda Das.
At that time there were three teams of horses. Tom and John a beautiful team of young Belgians that Kasyapa drove, Prince and Molly a team of white horses which I was trained on and drove, and Ranchor and Saivya which were primarily a back up team.

In the next year Manonatha Das and Garga Rsi also drove the horses for brief spells. My brother in law Kholaveca Sridhar Das, was a frequent helper to all the various horse drivers. Madhava Ghosh worked closely with all aspects of the “plough department.”

Across the road from Bahulaban in a very small house just past the “new barn,” lived Floyd Coffield. At that time I believe Floyd would have been in his late sixties or seventies. Floyd Coffield was the person that sold the Bahulaban property to the community and then continued to live there in its shadow.

When I was learning about the horses on more than one occasion Paramananda Das took me out to meet with different local farmers that he had developed a rapport with. Sometimes it was in regard to buying equipment and sometimes just to learn from them. Both Paramananda Das and Kasyapa Das had not only talked very highly about Floyd Coffield and his knowledge of farming and specifically the horses but both took me over to meet with him and ask him questions at different times.

Floyd was always very generous not only with his time but also generous of spirit. It must not have been easy for an elderly man from West Virginia to understand and accept a bunch of young westerners living the lifestyle that we did but you would never have known it by how Floyd treated us.

When Floyd turned ninety years old which must now be almost twenty years ago we had just tried to start a “New Vrindavan Residents Association.” One of the first and only things we ever did before disbanding was to purchase a gift certificate of one hundred dollars to present to Floyd for his birthday. Looking back now it is something that we did for a neighbor that I think we could all be proud of. I wish we could have done more not only for Floyd but for other good neighbors such as the Bardalls.

Floyd’s daughter Judy still lives across the road and has remained a good friend to many members of the community. She presented me with the picture of Floyd and his brother and their team of oxen outside of the building which would become the temple of Sri Sri Radha Vrndavan Candra more than five decades later. I would dare to say that the picture shows two of the earliest cowherd boys of New Vrindaban dhama.

Pure nectar!
→ travelingmonk.com

Srila Prabhupada visited Surat, Gujarat with 25 western disciples in December, 1970. He spent 14 days giving lectures in various places throughout the city. Today in an old house here in Surat, I found an album of 30 black and white photos taken during his visit that have never been seen before. Here is one [...]

Wednesday, February 12th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Noida, India                 
 
What Needs Doing                  
 
One journalist, G.S. Tripathi writes, "The second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is a primary source of eternal knowledge. Bewildered by the challenges before him,  Arjuna seeks Krishna’s intervention in removing his ignorance and leading him on the path of righteousness.  In response, Krishna talks about the immortality of the soul, knowledge of eternity and the transient, supremacy of action bereft of desire for it fruits and the necessity of being equipoised under the spell of the duality's of life." 
 
While so many reverential and celebratory activities are going on with the opening of a new temple, and this eventful day of saint/avatar Nityananda, our drama troupe is focused for our evening performance of  "Gita:  Concise".  I had the privilege to partake in the ancient abhishek rights for installing murtis (beautiful images of Krishna).  The balance of the time, however, was with the guys in our troupe who committed to the full eighteen chapters presented in a nut shell. 
 
While introducing the drama to a crowd of hundreds, I confessed to giving not much time to the puja, or the rituals. My puja has been to the members of the troupe, who are my deities, in a sense. 

Mukunda, who is a new fellow for me to work with and who plays the role of Arjuna, told me between practices, "I'm really getting absorbed in the part and trying to comprehend my characters dilemma".  Maha Mantra, who has got the dance steps down in the production, is like the pillar of knowledge of props and costumes and just how to "rhythm it”  on the stage.  Fil had manifested as the details person.  Goura is the dependable person Krishna, and Kish is my co-voiceover person.  Manoj is perfectly cast a Ganesh.  We have all become inter dependent in the endeavor, learning from Krishna's message that a warrior-type focus is necessary in the discharge of duty. 

While our Aussie sound man, Damodara Pundit, Kish and I are on the side-lines to do our job. Our stage boys wowed the crowd when finally our turn came for a marvelous cultural show. 

Pulling a production together in India at an outdoor pandal (marquee) program isn't often an easy task.  Only if you “focus focus focus " are you likely to succeed at anything.  Still, the Gita teaches, "Do not be attached to the fruit of the work, but to paying attention to the execution of what needs doing."
 
May the Source be with you!
 
3 KM

Tuesday, February 11th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Noida, India 
 
Dusty Street  
         
 
While I had a chance, I went for a stroll on a dusty street and made friends with a cow.  I made enemies with dogs.  I tried to follow the old and wise directive, "Let sleeping dogs lie”.  I was trying to do just that, but one of the mutts was awoken by my foot steps, and that was it. They blasted out their barking.
 
I also tried to connect with a pedestrian youth by saying, "Hare Krishna!" as it's common enough in India, but he remained resolute in his purpose.  He noticed me for sure, but he had been plugged in with a white i-pod, so I didn't matter. 
 
I did befriend a Chaukidhar, a security person with uniform and stick, near someone’s lot.
 
You will sometimes succeed in friend making, other times not. 
 
The big news in India is about a tigress out in the wilderness who claimed her eighth human victim in a rural area. The last one was a 78 year old man where remains were found by locals. "Gruesome!"  “Sad karma!" were my thoughts.
 
I was chanting japa during this time of the short stroll and mentally addressing or taking note of all the interactions both repelling and attracting which were all very real. Then a moment of truth gripped me in the course of the walk, in the course of the chant – “I have so much cleaning to do."  Nothing in this was to do with laundry but only to do with the internal cleanse.  It hit me like a ton of bricks. 
 
There is all kinds of trash within all of us that needs nullification. The individual endeavour to "clean house",  so to speak,  the human obligation.  I can’t fault a pack of dogs for barking or a hungry tiger on the prowl, or even judge a youth for being in his own little world.  Even when petting the cow at the flabby neck her response wasn't 100% courteous.  I have got my own inebriety to work on.
 
So, absorb myself in the mantra as best I can and carry on. 
 
May the Source be with you!
 
3 KM

Monday, February 10th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Noida, India           
 
Temperature Getting Us Close         
 
At this time of year in India,  at least in this more northern region, everyone gets bitten. Not by dogs. Not by mosquitoes. By a chill.
 
In the soon to be inaugurated temple in Noida, all those present are wrapped  up in or under dhotis or saris with long johns, coats, chadars, toques and hoodies. There is no central heating so you live off the warmth of your own body heat.
 
Us Canadians, that is Maha Mantra, Fil and I, have a better immunity to winterism. Thank God! The other members of our theater troop for instance our two guys from Florida, Kish and Mukunda are a little more sensitive to the nippiness.  Finally, Godruma Goura from Pennsylvania can handle it alright.  Actually he could probably pass for a polar bear in terms of relishing the coolness. 
 
Apparently we have been all accommodated for our practices of drama, "Gita: Concise" , in a tight and relatively warm space.  The room is approximately a 12X12 space, ridiculously small.
 
I'm not really complaining.  I told the crew, "For starters, this space is and needs to be like an incubator.  In this snug area as actors we can develop the abhinaya facial expressions, the actual emotional side.”  As the director I get the opportunity to see more close up projected feelings.  Once we get that down then we move to a more spacious facility which permits more unrestricted physical movement. 
 
Busy we are with drama preparations for the opening night of the inauguration.  I see less chance for walking with time restraints and also lack of pedestrian friendly walkways.  Maybe we are in the wrong part of town where our guest rooms are located, but up to this point, it’s a hard place to figure out, although on some kind of grid system. The settlement of the city of Noida is a progressive, expansive place.  Too much of a car city for me.  As a redeemer though, I’ll give the place a 8.5 out of 10 for the people being so nice.  To be truly introspective though,  I have a ways to go to match that kindness I can be cold at heart.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
3 KM

Sunday, February 9th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Vrindavan, India 
 
Janardan                    
 
 
Janardan is from the Philippines and joined the ashram in Toronto to become a monk in the 80's. Most recently he became a swami. People address him honourifically, as tradition has it, he is now a "Maharaj". It takes a bit for me to get use to this title.  We are proud of him.  I have worked for years together with him.  I was the president managing the Toronto temple while he was a great support and assistant. That changed when in ‘96 when I went for a long walk across Canada. He took over the presidency and is now a major coordinator in our international centre in the town that Krishna was raised in.
 
Janardan Maharaj, or Swam, said, "We are going to take advantage of your short stay here. Please lead some kirtans and give a class on Bhagavatam".  I complied in the mood, "If it helps you.”
 
It was last evening that I was already engaged in a presentation. The school academy for boys had me lead them in the chant and dance, and to say a few words that would inspire. Naturally, I dipped into the topics of pilgrimage. It looked like the hundred and more students had a bhakti blast. 
 
To follow up on the presentation, a young man who heard my talk came to me and asked my opinion about a personal project. He told me that a Sharma fellow from Delhi  has done all the research on the travels on Rama, which includes three hundred or more locations of where He did His wonders, and covers fifteen hundred kilometers.
 
"I would like to take that route. I have a passion for walking.  What do you think?" he asked.
 
How should I not encourage someone like this?  I suggested for him to team up with a friend and to share his realizations with others, encouraging them into higher consciousness.  I hope he succeeds.
 
This morning I delivered the class from the Bhagavatam, highlighting the life of luminary foot traveler, Ramanujacharya who propounded the philosophy of  “Visishtadwaita” and did much to define the personal aspect of the Divine.
 
 May the Source be with you!
 
2 KM

Friday, February 7th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

 Noida, India

Spiritual But Not Religious


Here we are in India, the land of dharma. Maha Mantra, the monk from Toronto, and I are joined by Fil and Mukunda, readying ourselves in Nodia, New Delhi's arm or suburb for the two hour trip to Vrindavan.

Lokanath Swami, our host from Maharastra has for years headed up a ministry for padayatra, which means, "festival on foot”. He has successfully seen to a pilgrimage involving a group of walkers, and a pair of oxen pulling murtis of Chaitanya and Nityananda, the 16th century revolutionaries promoting mantra culture. This endeavor has circled India several times.

Lokanath Swami, is physically a monk with a youthful demeanor, however, numerically he is in ascendancy to the point where he's looking for a padayatra successor. While he was showing me around the new construction in progress, Noida’s temple, which is already looking gorgeous, He asked if I could take the lead on the ministry. This is not the first time he's asking me. I’m touched that he has the confidence in me, but being a head for the creative arts team called VANDE, was the reason for the decline of the offer.

Our hour long time together in viewing the new facility in Noida, while having parlance on padayatra, made it clear that we are both engrossed in growing and expanding a more Vedic world throughout, not only constructing of temples (that’s his department), but through the humble act of walking. "Vedantic" is the word used by Phillip Goldberg, author of an article, in the time of India of yesterday, on America's view on religion. I browsed through the paper as we drove on the Yamuna Express en route to Vrindavan, and happy to note the expressway is well maintained. In the article, research by Gallup Harris and Pear discovered a trend in the U.S. It appears the reality is that "Many religions can lead to eternal life.” But common also is the notion that many people prefer to be in the category of "spiritual but not religious” (SBNR).

I found it interesting when he said every reputable analyst says that access to India's spiritual teachings has been a central factor.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Sunday, February 9th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Vrindavan, India 
 
Janardan                    
 
 
Janardan is from the Philippines and joined the ashram in Toronto to become a monk in the 80's. Most recently he became a swami. People address him honourifically, as tradition has it, he is now a "Maharaj". It takes a bit for me to get use to this title.  We are proud of him.  I have worked for years together with him.  I was the president managing the Toronto temple while he was a great support and assistant. That changed when in ‘96 when I went for a long walk across Canada. He took over the presidency and is now a major coordinator in our international centre in the town that Krishna was raised in.
 
Janardan Maharaj, or Swam, said, "We are going to take advantage of your short stay here. Please lead some kirtans and give a class on Bhagavatam".  I complied in the mood, "If it helps you.”
 
It was last evening that I was already engaged in a presentation. The school academy for boys had me lead them in the chant and dance, and to say a few words that would inspire. Naturally, I dipped into the topics of pilgrimage. It looked like the hundred and more students had a bhakti blast. 
 
To follow up on the presentation, a young man who heard my talk came to me and asked my opinion about a personal project. He told me that a Sharma fellow from Delhi  has done all the research on the travels on Rama, which includes three hundred or more locations of where He did His wonders, and covers fifteen hundred kilometers.
 
"I would like to take that route. I have a passion for walking.  What do you think?" he asked.
 
How should I not encourage someone like this?  I suggested for him to team up with a friend and to share his realizations with others, encouraging them into higher consciousness.  I hope he succeeds.
 
This morning I delivered the class from the Bhagavatam, highlighting the life of luminary foot traveler, Ramanujacharya who propounded the philosophy of  “Visishtadwaita” and did much to define the personal aspect of the Divine.
 
 May the Source be with you!
 
2 KM

Nityananda-trayodasi Evening, February 12, San Diego
Giriraj Swami

02.12.14_SanDiegoIt is the same message: “Chant Krishna’s name, worship Krishna, accept Krishna as your life and soul.” But the people Srila Prabhupada was approaching did not even know who Krishna was. The people Lord Nityananda approached in Navadvipa to chant Krishna’s name, worship Him, and accept Him as their life and soul knew who Krishna was; they knew what Nityananda Prabhu was saying. But in America and Europe, nobody knew who Krishna was. So that simple request had to be explained in detail, and thus Srila Prabhupada wrote so many books to explain Krishna and His name and His service. It was the same message that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Lord Nityananda to deliver to everyone, whether pious or sinful, but in an expanded form, because the people Srila Prabhupada was approaching had no idea who Krishna was or what the significance of His holy name was or how to worship Him. Srila Prabhupada had to explain the message, but the essential message was the same.

Nityananda-trayodasi Evening

New Vrindaban Daily darsan February 13, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

01

I pray that I may engage in the service of the moving and non-moving residents of Vrndavana. What are Brahma and the other demigods in comparison to them? The residents of Vrndavana are more glorious. They are very dear to Vraja’s king. Their forms are eternal, spiritual and full of nectar. Their glories are limitless. They are the root that sprouts into the bliss of the Upanisads.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-61 Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

For Each And Every Bead
→ Japa Group

If Japa is attentive and concentrated, then when we read the philosophy we will be able to concentrate and immerse ourselves in the meaning of Krsna's knowledge.
If we listen to class, we will be attentive and able to absorb....when we perform some service for Krsna, we will be able to chant His Holy names and think of the Lord more easily.
Japa affects all the other aspects of sadhana and service so we need to give our chanting the best possible effort and love we can for each and every bead.

The bigger picture
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2011, Melbourne, Australia, Lecture)

chessWhen we look at all the devastation in the world, all the pain and suffering, then we think, “It’s too much! It is! It really is!”

The only way to rise above it is to look at the bigger reality – how there is eternity and how these temporary ups and downs are not so important. We should ascend this temporary reality. We should not allow ourselves to become so involved in this reality. So again and again, we have to remind ourselves that through our embodiment, we are inclined to become involved in this temporary reality. It is difficult! We cannot see the whole picture. We are like a small piece on a chess board – all we see is our own square. We don’t see the whole board.

But we have to always remember, “No, no! It’s part of a bigger plan and Krsna is simply purifying the living beings and bringing them back to him.” The living being is going through this cycle of birth and death, and when he gets a chance to express independent desire, it will be taken away. In this way, slowly the living being is being cured from this particular conditioning so that he can return to Krsna, in the eternal spiritual world. Once he is there, it is like he has been away only for a moment. Only for a moment! All this time in the material world… only a moment in eternity! So we have to practise again and again to see the bigger picture!

Free Speech
→ Tattva - See inside out

We live in an overcommunicated world. Good etiquette insists we reply to all text messages within 10 minutes, be mindful of the mountain of emails building up in our inbox, and unfailingly return all ‘missed calls’ on our phones. Don’t forget to regularly post something witty on Facebook, follow your best friends on twitter and utilise all the free airtime minutes on your contract! It is, after all, good to talk. But what is the net result of this web of exchange? Does it bring a greater sense of relationship and community? Is it a case of more connected, but further apart?

Silence, it’s said, is the art of conversation. We often struggle with a quiet moment. When it does arise, most will instinctively grab their phone in a drastic attempt to engage their mind. To see someone sitting and doing absolutely nothing is rare! Even more unusual is to be with another person and not say anything. It feels awkward and uneasy. Yet silence is imperative – it forces us to understand, assimilate, reflect and think deeply about what is actually going on. Often times, however, in order to frantically fill those redundant moments we often end up generating substandard content to share with the world: meaningless, speculative and shoddy communication.

Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely room for chitchat, niceties, and light-hearted exchange between humans. It would be unnatural to jump to the other extreme of strictly regulating our every word. The Bhagavad-gita, however, offers the over-arching model to guide speech. Words, Krishna recommends, should be truthful, pleasing and beneficial. How much of our written and verbal communication would make it through this filter? Along with freedom of speech, it may be worthwhile to remind people of their longstanding right to freedom of thought.

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something” (Plato)