The Gold Coast is a coastal city in southeastern Queensland on the east coast of Australia. The city is 94 km south of the state capital Brisbane. -- Read more ›
O, look at Vrindavana, so beautiful with many blissful, splendid groves of kalpa-vriksha trees, with many parrots and other birds intoxicated by singing Vedic hymns glorifying Krishna, with many deers so pleasing to Krishna, with splendid transcendental lakes, ponds and streams, all filled with water sweet as nectar, and with mountains of valuable jewels.
[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-45 Translation.]
Nature can be very punishable, so it seems at times, with such severe weather being what it is. Have we done anything wrong?
An emphatic “yes” would be the appropriate answer. Let’s be honest.
Someone or something is a witness to our actions, making a subliminal registry. Karma is then released in time, good or bad, positive or negative. It can come charging like some lanced gladiator, or softly land like a gentle angel floating in.
During the freeze dynamic of the outdoors, the morning at the ashram had begun. Two of our monks were comfortably nestled next to the old timed radiator. They were in the lotus position. A third one was on a chair nearby, being that he suffered from a stroke years ago. His mantra chanting doesn’t sound so articulate while he fingers through his meditative beads. For the other two, their sound is clear in the delivery of the mantra meditation. I can see that out of respect for the more senior and disabled monk, that they accept his awkward but sincere verbal output.
Sitting cross the cozy meditative zone we’ve created for ourselves was me, and like the other three, we are all dealing with our stormy minds. In this regard the outdoor winter madness, and the mental barrage within, are one. Only the mantra, once concentrated upon, will permit a sense of aloofness from any mental blizzard.
Snowflakes galore descended for the bulk of the day in winters persistence. Fortunately, it did not deter people from coming to our Sunday Open House. Then I personally enjoyed the slide presentation by my spiritual sister, Praharana, it was most enlivening seeing from the presentation that some of our monks in Burma are receiving as donations, neglected temples. These older structures are now being adopted.
The feast was amazing at the Open House, and we had a rousing kirtan to follow, which lasted until 9 PM.
New laden snow made a walk attractive, and so Durjoy, a young Bangladesh devotee who comes around, joined me in this last activity of the day. We both vowed that it would be a japa (chanting) walk. With our winter parka pockets as beadbags, we clutched our right hands tightly onto our beads while addressing the stormy minds within.
"We are asking him to do something he can’t do — give up all distraction. Rather than ask for the impossible, ask him to add something. We tell newcomers they don’t have to change their lives, but just add chanting. This is similar advice....you are already chanting, so please remember to bring the mind back."
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Leicester, United Kingdom, Pandava Sena Program)
We think that the purpose of life is to enjoy this world because we think that this word is a wonderful playground and we are all meant to have a wonderful time. But this material world is not the place to enjoy.
Heard of Mr Bean? There is an episode when Mr Bean arrives at a hotel, checks-in at the desk and then they take him up to the room. When he is alone up there, from his suitcase he pulls out a drilling machine and starts drilling holes in the wall, everywhere. He puts screws in them, then he pulls out of his suitcase paintings and he hangs the paintings on the wall. Next, he has a flower vase with plastic flowers and he puts out that one. Finally, he puts up the sign: Home Sweet Home, on the wall.
Then he wants to use the bathroom and he realizes that he does not have an attached bathroom. So he checks it out in the corridor and, yes, the bathroom is right next to his room. He has a score blade which he puts on the drill and he cuts out a door somehow or other. He locks the bathroom from the inside and now everything is okay! He puts on his sleeping hat, takes his teddy bear and is ready to go to bed…
This is ridiculous! He is treating a hotel room as if it is a permanent place, as if he lives there! It’s ridiculous and we are doing the same thing – we are treating this temporary world which is just a transit lounge, like a permanent place!
——————————–
“The idea is to help people and spread Krishna consciousness. It happens quite often that you can have a more exclusive group of students whose training is more intensive, or you can have a more inclusive group whose education is more mixed. Both have advantages and disadvantages. But the main thing is the purity of the teachers and the staff. In either case, that is important.” On Education
1970 January 27 : "When I think of Radha-Krishna, I think of first the Radha-Govinda Vigraha of Mullicks Thakurabati. From my very childhood I am devoted to that same Deity. Your ambition to have a place like Mullicks Thakurabati is also my ambition." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1970 January 27 : "Just like a tree when overladen with fruits becomes humble and lower down; similarly, a great soul in Krishna Consciousness becomes humbler than the grass and bowed down like the fruitful trees." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1971 January 27 : "To open 108 branches of our society all over the world has been my desire and it is actually happening. Yes, you have my blessings always. You are very sincere boy." Prabhupada Letters :: 1971
In the material existence we find so many species of life—animals, insects, men, and so on. All are arranged by the superior power. They are not accidental.
Indradyumna Swami: As soon as our bus arrived in the sacred abode of Dwarka the other day we all jumped out and began harinam through the town. Chanting and dancing for hours we finally ended up in front of the 5,000 year-old Rukmini Dwarkadish Temple. As we continued kirtan many of the brahman priests came outside to watch. At one point the main priest invited us to chant inside the temple compound. Due to security measures no instruments are allowed to be brought inside the temple, but he made an exception for us. “In my lifetime it has not happened,” he said. “But you ISKCON people - your kirtan is special.” -- Read more ›
Please help the UK Festival tour program raise money for a new van. The current one is around 30 years old and often breaking down and has lots of leaks and rust... It is now time to request help from all the kind people to help us raise money for buyi... Continue reading →
When we come to festivals and give our heart to the festival, listen with a desire to advance, apply the knowledge the speaker has spoken in our lives, chant from the heart and dance in kirtan we make a quantum leap in our devotional lives.
1973 January 27: "Krsna is unlimited, and His devotees' service should also be unlimited. I am glad you wish to increase your service still further." Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
1973 January 27 : "Gurukula is our most important project. I have already given instruction on how the teaching should be conducted there. Try to make it the model educational institution in the world." Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
1975 January 27: "I am very much depressed by the recent incidences. It is now evident that some of our top men are very much ambitious and there have been so many fall-downs." Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
1975 January 27: "Under the circumstances, I have asked him to come to me. I shall try to rectify the mistakes and as previously arranged, as GBC he can act as my secretary for at least one month in a year." Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
Our morning group read an excerpt from the book Bhagavatam, 8.2.32, on the theme of the dangerous world we live in. The subject is a boost for the walking culture, at least that’s the way I read into it.
“At every step, at every moment, there is danger. In modern civilization, one thinks that if he has a nice home and a nice car, his life is perfect. In the western countries, especially in America, it is very nice to possess a good car, but as soon as one is on the road, there is danger, because at any moment, an accident will take place, and one will be killed. The record actually shows that so many people die in such accidents. Therefore, if we actually think this material world is a very happy place, this is our ignorance. Real knowledge is that this material world is full of danger.”
This excerpt resonates very well with me because the safer mode of life – walking, is a sermon that I love to preach.
After attending and being the guest speaker at “An Evening of Bhakti” held at the ashram (and I must say that the program was highly successful), I went for my daily downtime. I trekked west on Bloor Street and beyond the iconic store, Honest Ed’s, which turns into Little Korea. As usual, these stretches of sidewalks are vibrant with people. The draw is the mom and pop shops, cafes, the odd theatre, book stores and vintage shops.
I was reminded of the old Petula Clark song, “Downtown”, and how lively and lovely a peopled street can be. It’s very engaging watching everyone and peering at trinkets and window displays. You feel safe, most definitely, until you come to a juncture where cars zip by from every which way. Not safe! Not safe!
Mind you, the message from the Bhagavatam alludes to danger at any point, time and place, because ultimately, what security do you have? Whether you are behind a wheel, or under a wheel, the material world is a dangerous place.
How do I know I have chanted good rounds? One of the best indicators for me is when I finish my rounds, I want to keep chanting because I am getting such a nice taste.
If I am relieved to put my bead bag down after my last round, that's an indicator that my chanting is not being done properly. Good chanting always produces a taste to chant more. Prabhupada said sixteen rounds is the minimum; constant chanting is the goal.
May Vrindavana, filled with a host of pure spiritual virtues, and glorified by the greatest sages and philosophers, with her wonderful power and mercy transform sinful animals like me into servants of her feet.
Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-44 Translation]
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, June 2011, Stockholm, Sweden, Lecture)
I think that the only thing that can really bond us together is friendship. Just common acceptance of Krsna as the Supreme Lord will bring us together from time to time – we will come together at the temple and festivals – but friendship will take us so much further. Because it is in friendship, real friendship, that we are going to stimulate each other so much more than by just being colleagues!
I have often given this example of how we can be together like colleagues. We are all devotees of Krsna and we are all colleagues. We are all devotees in the same temple, we are all colleagues. We are all chanting Hare Krsna, we are all colleagues. We are all dancing in the kirtan party as colleagues. But when there is no friendship, it is not enough.
If there is friendship, then friendship is different. Friendship is like a family spirit. When your colleague is not performing well, it disturbs your work, and you say, “Get it together! You know, they’ll throw you out of here one of these days if you don’t get it together.”
That is what you say to a colleague but to a family member, you say, “When in the world are you ever going to get it together? But we can’t throw you out because you’re part of the family.”
That is different. That is friendship and in that friendship there is trust. We know we are going to be accepted. We don’t have to have a masquerade where everyone acts out to be a pure devotee in a Hare Krsna community. We can just be more honest. If there is friendship, we can just be who we are and still be accepted. In that way, we can get some real human support which is what we need!
Vedic Discourses at the ISKCON Brampton Vedic Education and Learning Center. The discourse, a main part of the Sunday program, consists of a speaker basing their talk on popular Vedic scriptures such as the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam or Chaitanya Charitamrita.
Appealing to everyone, from the most experienced of Bhakti-yoga practitioners to a new-comer who has come for the first time, the class focuses on the practical application of Vedic philosophy in our lives. This may range from how we can become more determined and focused individuals, to how we can help our fellow loved ones. Soaked with the time-tested knowledge of the Vedas, these discourses will stimulate your intelligence and give you food for thought. Below are audio recording from these lectures:
Initiation Lecture By His Holiness Bhakti Marg Swami
The Gold Coast is a coastal city in southeastern Queensland on the east coast of Australia. The city is 94 km south of the state capital Brisbane. -- Read more › 
Trancendental chanting for the pleausure of Bhagavan Shri Krishna in beautiful Radhadesh Iskcon Castle-Temple in Belgium -- Read more › 
We think that the purpose of life is to enjoy this world because we think that this word is a wonderful playground and we are all meant to have a wonderful time. But this material world is not the place to enjoy.
Indradyumna Swami: As soon as our bus arrived in the sacred abode of Dwarka the other day we all jumped out and began harinam through the town. Chanting and dancing for hours we finally ended up in front of the 5,000 year-old Rukmini Dwarkadish Temple. As we continued kirtan many of the brahman priests came outside to watch. At one point the main priest invited us to chant inside the temple compound. Due to security measures no instruments are allowed to be brought inside the temple, but he made an exception for us. “In my lifetime it has not happened,” he said. “But you ISKCON people - your kirtan is special.” -- Read more › 
Initiations in Iskcon Delhi -- Read more › 
With Jayadeva prabhu leading the kirtan. -- Read more › 
Sri Harinam Sankirtan Yajna Ki Jaya! -- Read more › 
I think that the only thing that can really bond us together is friendship. Just common acceptance of Krsna as the Supreme Lord will bring us together from time to time – we will come together at the temple and festivals – but friendship will take us so much further. Because it is in friendship, real friendship, that we are going to stimulate each other so much more than by just being colleagues!
Vedic Discourses at the ISKCON Brampton Vedic Education and Learning Center.