Camel Caravan Kirtan
→ travelingmonk.com

Srila Prabhupada once said, “Tax your brains how to spread this movement.” So today we loaded our devotees, puppets and musical instruments on carts drawn by camels and did harinam throughout the city of Vadodara, all the while announcing our festival tomorrow night. News of the extravaganza spread quickly and soon all local newspapers and [...]

Camel Caravan Kirtan! (Album 131 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Srila Prabhupada once said, "Tax your brains how to spread this movement." So today we loaded our devotees, puppets and musical instruments on carts drawn by camels and did harinam throughout the city of Vadodara, all the while announcing our festival tomorrow night. News of the extravaganza spread quickly and soon all local newspapers and television stations came out to interview us. Everyone we met on the streets promised to come. If they do, then our 'camel caravan kirtan' will have been a great success! -- Read more ›

Marble from Vietnam
- TOVP.org

The last shipment of pure white marble has arrived from Vietnam.

The standard is incomparable with a pristine finish lacking any dark markings. Girigovardhan Prabhu is supervising the unloading and quality check of the marble. His attention to detail guarantees only a superior product will be accepted.

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Two Years for TS

In the ashram/temple we cut a birthday cake.  It’s been a two year running of Tuesday’s sanga

What to many people is a most boring and dull time of the week, Tuesday afternoon/evening, is actually a real life - my spirit occasion, when the sanga rolls around.  Sanga means soul association.  When people come together for spiritual centric purposes, the topics are about higher consciousness.  The procedure is rather interactive.  There is also kirtan, a chanting done in unison.  The special feature is prasadam, blessed food, and tonight it was a cake to boot. 

Manaksi, a loyal attendee, baked the best cake in the universe, with the main ingredient being pecan flour.  It was nectar for the tummy and the tongue. 

For the ears, I was asked to speak about the importance of sanga, so I made reference to the Bhagavad Gita, 10.9:

“Devotees derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.” – Sri Krishna.

During the session where I asked for comments one fellow said, “I come regularly on Tuesday and it’s such a relief for me.  It’s a nice break from the materialistic world.”

A woman spoke as well, admitting that she was reluctant to participate in the beginning, but when she got the encouragement from family, she attended and had a change of heart.  She likes the community/family feel. 

The coordinator, Indresh, spoke about how attendance has fluctuated over the 100 weeks plus.  Tonight, at the session, there was 25 strong.  Not the largest turn out.  Sometimes due to weather conditions, five or six diehards show up.  Indresh seemed to indicate that Tuesday is special, and the program will go on despite the accordion dynamic of attendance. 

Personally, I enjoy the sanga, social company and a Krishna cake.  I couldn’t enjoy the walk today, some spasm hit my left side, so I spent a portion of the day using my own recipe on physiotherapy, trying to take care. 

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

One Must Make It His Daily Routine
→ Japa Group

"One must make it his daily routine to chant for an hour in the company of saintly Vaisnavas in a sacred, undisturbed place. Taking note of the Vaisnava's devotional attitude and their relish for the Holy name, the neophyte should try to emulate this mood and gradually rid himself of his apathy to chanting. Step by step his mind and attention should become fixed in the Holy name. By constant chanting, the sweetness of the Holy name makes him anxious to taste more of that nectar."

Harinama Cintamani

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ January 31, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

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The great Vedic scholars cannot obtain even a glimpse of the wonderful and splendid transcendental essence of the nectarean ocean o the bliss of pure Krsna consciousness. O brother, now that you have entered the difficult to attain land of Vrndavana which fulfills all desires, why have you allowed yourself to come the spell of petty materialism, and why do you allow yourself to constantly roam about with entering the realm of pure love of Krsna? They who have gone to the farther shore of the Vedas cannot glimpse the wonderful and splendid nectar of the ocean of the Krsna bliss. O, now that you have entered difficult to attain Vrndavana, which fulfills all desires, why do you wander about, charmed by the witch of petty desires?

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-49 Translation.]

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