Thoughts On The New Year
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


The older you get the faster time goes. When I was a kid, it was different. I remember sitting in my third grade class watching the clock. It was just after one o’clock and school let out at three. I thought that was an awfully long time to wait. And the summer breaks seemed joyously forever. The whole summer was mine. No morning rush to school. No home work. No anxiety ridden tests. Just my time! And who could even think about high school graduation? That was eons away.

And suddenly I found myself graduating from college. And soon after, getting married. And next came kids. Still, age 40 seemed long away. And when I reached 40, 50 was like being old. But when I got to 50 it wasn’t so bad at all. I recalibrated 60 as old. Now I’m way past 60, and 70 doesn’t seem so bad.

One year uncreasingly tumbles into the next. Soon decades and centuries become insignificant. Millenniums are but a drop in eternal time. Events, generations, and history itself unfolds like some bizarre, fast forward film. We are powerless to stop it. Our health and fortunes and all we hold dear can evaporate in an instant. And I am reminded of the story of the ‘hairy sage.’

There once was a sage who lived by the banks of the Ganges River. He spent much of his time in meditation and he understood the difference between that which is ‘sat’ (eternal) and that which is ‘asat’ (temporary). He had been destined to live until all the hairs on his chest fell off. He is described as a ‘hairy’ sage. The thing is - only a single hair fell off during a day of Brahma (which is millions upon millions of years). So this sage was going to live for an awfully long time. One day he was asked, “Why don’t you build yourself a nice home?” The sage replied, “Why should I bother? I’m only here temporarily.”

Visit www.Mahabharata-Project.com for reviews and info about my new book Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest.

Message of Jesus Christ – New Year Resolution
→ Servant of the Servant

In the Book of Mathews (22.37) in the New Testament, there is a story where Jesus was asked the question "what is the greatest commandment of all"? To this Jesus said “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments".  Jesus also preached the concept of repentance.

So in a nutshell, Jesus's main message was

  1. To repent for one's sins (in other words one should not live a materialistic sinful way of life anymore especially after repentance)
  2. To love God and love one's neighbor (in other words one should live a God centric way of life)
When Jesus was posed the question of which is the greatest commandment, he could very well have said that following him is the way of life and who so ever do not will perish in hell. Instead, however, he directs our attention to the Almighty God in heaven. Modern church, however, does not preach love of God and neighbor as the core principle of Christianity. Anyways, that is for another post.

The Srimad Bhagavata Purana which is the essence of all Vedic scriptures teaches the same principle - to Love God (SB 1.2.6). The entire Bhagavata purana was written simply to stress on this one essential and eternal truth. 

The central message of Jesus (barring all modern day corrupted teachings of the church) is the same as the central message of Bhagavata Purana. One who is without duplicity and fault finding tendency will see the central theme of both Jesus and Sukadev Goswami. And if we are sincere in our quest for a higher truth, then we also regardless of religious designation, should pursue this one principle of Love of God. 

Of course, this is not easy because today we love everything but God. We love our selves, our past & present lives, our family, friends, house, country, sports, philanthropy, social status, economic status etc etc and seek pride in them. If we want to learn to love God, then we have to transform our love from all that to God. 

God appears in many forms with many names according to time and place. So for Christians loving God can mean loving Jesus, for Muslims it can be Allah, for Jews it can be Moses and for us it can be Krishna, Rama etc

Perhaps this can be our New Year's resolution - to try to bring God more into the different aspects of our life, learn to be more grateful to Him and make an attempt in loving Him!!

Hare Krishna


Commercialization or Love
→ simple thoughts

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It’s been nice to take part in a little way in this years Christmas Marathon; a few wonderful souls took a book, many appreciated the book and some just enjoyed having a chat.

It reminds me of one of my guru maharaja’s classes when we discussed book distribution he reminded us of how important each conversation is and how even if they don’t take a book; keeping it friendly and positive may mean next time they may just take one. You never know you may have made then curious enough but may never see the final results, that’s book distribution for you.

Most people were stressing or rushing to purchase presents for the festive period, their was an interesting theme that recurred I don’t believe in Christmas but you know you can’t not do it. Conditioned to spend, spend, spend to get that ultimate gift for a loved one.

Odd that a festival to celebrate an extraordinary life that of God’s son Jesus Christ; Yes Jesus didn’t claim to be God (shock horror!); we see that the church has had a slow and steady decline apart from those more charismatic churches. On Christmas Day you would expect them to be full but on this most sacred of day the one person who is central is forgotten; where’s my gift, where’s the food, where’s the TV guide anything good on today?

It should serve as a warning that we should not neglect our own sacred festival’s to Sri Krishna; we distribute books but do we read them?; we have the festival’s dates but do we go out of duty or out of love?

Christmas is kept alive on the whole by commercial endeavours the retailers have to much to loose in it’s demise; few celebrate because of their love of Jesus visiting the church on Christmas day and singing songs and offering gifts to God’s Son.

It occurred to me our motivation is not duty (I have too) but out of love.

The Christmas book marathon is an act of love a gift of true knowledge that was given to use now we can give it to others.
Our festival’s are an act of love, singing and dancing, fasting and speaking about the glories of Sri Krishna and his pastimes.
We need to keep that purity, that sincerity, that love of Sri Krishna, Guru and the devotees burning bright.

May it not be commercialized to the point were the only attractive bright lights is that of the outlet villages and superstores.

I sat pondering that given our main festival’s the biggest complaint is not how long the wait at the checkout; but how long the wait is for darshan of their Lordship’s; all glories to those who make such a pilgrimage.

Hare Krishna

New Vrindaban’s Monthly Joint Boards’ Meeting Minutes – 12/19/13
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ISKCONlogo

ECOV Logo

Monthly Meeting Minutes of the Boards of Directors for ISKCON New Vrindaban & ECOV - 12/19/13

ISKCON New Vrindaban (INV) Vision Statement: Founded in 1968, Srila Prabhupada boldly envisions New Vrindaban as a sacred place known worldwide for Cow Protection, Self-Sufficiency, Holy Pilgrimage, Spiritual Education, and, above all, Loving Krishna.

ECO-Vrindaban Mission Statement: ECOV is dedicated to cow protection, sustainable agriculture, self-sufficiency and simple living — all centered around loving service to Sri Krishna, as envisioned by the ISKCON New Vrindaban Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Present INV:  Jaya Krsna, Gopisa, Dayavira, Jamuna, Chaitanya Mangala, Tamohara & Ranaka.

Present ECOV: Madhava Gosh, Ranaka, Chaitanya Mangala & Anuttama.

Recording Secretary: Laxmi Honest.

1. INV Appointed Auxiliary Board Member for ECOV

As had been previously discussed at the INV board meeting, it was agreed that Ranaka will be the INV representative on the ECOV board starting January 1st, 2014.

2. Snyder Gas Well Update

Gopisa reported that Chevron made payments they claim are now up to date.  Based on his preliminary research he thinks their assertion is reasonable, though he will continue to do more investigating. Chevron has until March of 2014 to report totals from 2013.

3. Dates for 2014 Semi-Annual Joint Board Meeting

It was agreed that the next semi-annual board meetings will be held March 21 & 22.

4. ECOV Food Production

Madhava Gosh reported that ECOV is working on this.  A spreadsheet was created detailing Jebbia’s prices to give an idea of what INV might pay for produce grown locally.

The service opportunity announcement for a garden manager has been edited and posted on the Brijabasi Spirit.  Jaya Krsna will ask Lilasuka to post it on Dandavats and other ISKCON related websites as well.

A Wild, Far-Out Idea
→ Seed of Devotion

From my journal, November 1st, 2001 (I was 14)

I just got this way cool, WILD, FAR-OUT, FANTASTIC totally unbelievable idea.

It's a literary magazine that's Krishna Conscious and you get kids from all over the world to write in it... all talking of Krishna consciousness. It would be a sister publication of Back to Godhead, and they would help out with the publishing, reality-checks, lay-out, etc.

And then there would be ambassador "kids" from each country! Of course, the kids would have to be over 15 or 16, but there would be ambassadors from the major countries, and in America, even states! We would print it in several languages and there would be a summit meeting every year or so.

SO COOL!

I just invented a career for myself.

Karmi (worldly) adults would see how philosophical even a teen can be, devotee kids would get interested in Krishna Consciousness again, and regular devotees would pay attention to what we're saying.

I would get to travel around the world to all the temples, meet new people, and preach!

Hmmm... I just had a very funny feeling about that previous sentence... like it wasn't "good". It wasn't a good feeling.

Anyway, I've got to start soon! With my life goal, you see.

HARIBOL!!

P.S. I know why I felt funny: I was being selfish!

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Carry Me
→ Seed of Devotion

Exactly one year ago, I was in the holy land of Mayapur in India. I was snuggled in my bed, and while my roommate was sleeping, I was reading the Bhagavad Gita by flashlight.

I write this now in a dark car in Hawaii, waiting to go inside a temple for a ceremony. The light shines from my phone a bit like a flashlight.

It's strange to realize that two moments in time are so far apart yet so close. So much has transpired since that night long ago in India - images of the past year seem to whirl through my mind. Images of India, New York, Brazil, now Hawaii. Moments of dancing in kirtan, waiting in airports, listening to my spiritual master speak, weeping beside a river, gazing up at the golden forms of Pancha Tattva, laughing until my sides ache with my mother, whispering confessions of my heart to Sri Radha Murlidhara.

So much has happened, so much. I am humbled by the way the river of life carries me to my next destination. I am learning to stop fighting the current. Go with the flow.

So here's to the next year filled with many adventures of soul. May I stay in the river and may these waters carry me to unchartered shores of love.
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ISKCON Scarborough – Grand new year’s eve celebrations tomorrow!‏
→ ISKCON Scarborough



Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!


Hare Krishna!

Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

We will usher in the year 2014 in a glorious manner tomorrow with a non stop 3 hour kirtan from 9 pm to 12 am at ISKCON Scarborough.

The program for 31st Dec 2013:

7 pm to 8 pm - Grand free vegetarian feast
8 pm to 9 pm - review of special events that took place at ISKCON Scarborough in 2013
9 pm to 12 am - Ecstatic Kirtan by Radha Murari group, HG Dhiranitai das, HG Paripurna das and others devotees
12 am to 12.30 am - Grand new year Arti
12.30 am to 12.45 am - Distribution of Spiritual gifts

We welcome you, your family and friends to our special new year's eve program tomorrow- Tuesday - 31st December 2013.

With best wishes from,

ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7

Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website:
www.iskconscarborough.com

The Ultimate Dance
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Question: Spirituality should be silent and sober like in meditation. When devotees sing loudly and dance vigorously, how can such a noisy activity be considered spiritual?

Answer: Sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna to the accompaniment of music and dance, is actually meditation in its most profound, potent and practical form. Let’s see how.

The purpose of meditation is to connect with and experience spiritual reality. Silent meditation, as done through breathing exercises and yogic postures, tries to achieve this by negating the material, by deactivating the body and the mind. But since we're habituated to physical and mental activity, wouldn't it be easier and more natural if somehow the body and the mind could be used to raise ourselves to spiritual levels of consciousness? That is precisely what sankirtana does. Engaging the body in graceful dance for the pleasure of the Lord, and the mind in prayerful contemplation on the sound of His holy names—especially the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare—quickly and efficaciously transports our consciousness to the joyful realm of divine love.

            Sankirtana acts like spiritual-music therapy to heal the soul in the current Iron Age, Kali-yuga. Just as a stone burdens the person carrying it, negative thoughts and emotions burden most people in the present age. Sankirtana floods the heart with positive, uplifting emotions like love, faith and joy and flushes away negative, burdensome emotions like hatred, anxiety and sorrow.

            Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who appeared some five hundred years ago, revived and popularized sankirtana all over India. Lord Chaitanya displayed divine dance so enchantingly that His golden complexion, graceful gait, and intense devotional emotions charmed everyone—from aristocrats like the king of Orissa down to crime-hardened rogues.

            Indeed, Shri Chaitanya's dance charmed even the Muslim emperor Akbar, who lived half a century later: "Hail Thee, O Chaitanya, the victor of my heart.... O my heart's Lord, how can I express the love I have for Thee? Shah Akbar craves a drop from the sea of Thy love and piety." (Quoted by D. C. Sen in Chaitanya and His Age)

            These verses composed by a Muslim emperor in glorification of one who is commonly considered a Hindu saint illustrate the universal appeal of this dancing meditation.

            As a spiritual master in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's line, Shrila Prabhupada, through his ISKCON, popularized the divine dance of sankirtana in our times. Chanting and dancing devotees are now a familiar sight in major cities all over the world. Given that dance, an exuberant physical activity, and meditation, an introspective spiritual activity, intersect in sankirtana, it can well be called the ultimate dance.

Is offering the heart to Krishna easier and more fulfilling than offering the head?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Kiran P

I always find easier and effective to control the head or mind through the heart, otherwise mind is very turbulent and chaotic and needs our heart and will power to control it, orelse i get lost somewhere. Heart is easy to control and more within one’s control and more satisfying to control too.

Answer Podcast

How can an aspiring devotee-precher put one’s heart in a career that increases people’s illusions?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Aditya Kumar Jha

I’ve been reading your gita daily articles since last two months and they are inspiring me a lot. I’m connected with ISKCON, East Kailash, New Delhi. I’m currently in final year of my engineering in ECE course. Prabhuji! my point is sometimes i feel like i’m very much closer to Krishna and at other times due to my surrounding i feel frustrated and doubtful of myself. I want to prepare myself as an extensive preacher and i want to know in what way should i make a balance between my sadhana and studies? I’m studying Embedded Systems and preparing myself for this field to join a private company but then i feel as an engineer the products which we make are all based on concept of creating unnecessary wants in the market. How can i then devote my time and brain in studying these things while knowing that i’m also a part of the group who are running away from the reality and forcing people to think that technology is the only thing which can make you happy?

Answer Podcast