Srila Prabhupada Shobha Yatra @ LUDHIANA (Album 21photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Srila Prabhupada Shobha Yatra (Glorification Parade) was taken out in the city today. This yatra is taken out two days before the historic annual Rath Yatra of Ludhiana. The distance of about two kilometer was covered with chanting of maha-mantra. Chariot of Srila Prabhupada was decorated beautifully with colorful lights. People on both sides of the road welcomed with flowers and prashadam were also distributed on the way of parade Read more ›

Christmas is. . .Not on Vaishnava Calendar – Lyrics and previews
→ Dandavats.com

It is so inspiring to hear how the devotees came to the Krishna consciousness, especially in the BTG magazine section, "How I Came to the Krishna consciousness." Except for every such story there are many stories you never hear, of "How I Did Not Come to the Krishna Consciousness." They do not publish in the BTG because those persons are not going back to the Godhead. Maybe next life or so Read more ›

Wednesday, December 11th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

That’s Right, Dave!

Burnaby, British Columbia

In the course of a chilly walk this evening, I met Dave by the Chinese convenience store on Marine Drive.  He was cozily bundled up in a parka and hat to cover the ears.  I still could recognize him though.
 
Dave was the guy that drove me to my accommodation after a grueling trek, day 4, of my first cross-Canada walk in ’96.  I targeted and achieved a 47 KM walk that day.  Dave was the guy who drove me in his second hand black Cadillac.  He was unique, observing the asphalt moving under you with the car in motion because of the rust that eroded the floor to create holes.  Dave was the guy who was very fond of his dog, a massive specimen who sat in the back seat.  The next day, Dave was also the guy who gave me a small plastic bag of cayenne pepper to put in my socks, guaranteeing me that it would help pick up speed while walking.  You know, honestly, I bought into it, and poured the stuff inside.  My soles were a little fiery that day.  At least with the mix of rain those white socks turned saffron – my colour.

Dave was also the guy who let me reciprocate with his generosity by teaching him a verse from the Gita.  It goes like this: 

rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṁ
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ
su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam 

It’s funny, after all these years, Dave retained it in his memory banks, so as soon as he saw me, he recited it, right in front of the Chinese boy behind the counter, and he recited it quite well.  I was quite proud of him.  We went for a mutual hug.  I didn’t ask for the English translation.  Even if he knew it, letting the sound linger in Sanskrit was just good enough.  However, I will take the opportunity to present its translation: 

“This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.” 

I thanked Dave for his gestures of the past.  Even his reciting was a gift to the ears.  He let me know that his dog, since then in ’96 passed on, while he had planned to continue going on.

“That’s right, Dave, your soul will.”

May the Source be with you!

8 KM

Join us this Sunday for the association of Her Grace Prema Manjari Devi Dasi
→ ISKCON BRAMPTON

Sunday Love Feast

When?
Sunday, December 15th
Program starts at 11 am

Where?
6 George Street South
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 1P3, Canada

New! Listen
Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog
Sponsor a page in the 2014 Vaisnava calendar
Contact Savyasacin Prabhu for more details:  savyasacin.bms@gmail.com
Bhagavad Gita - 10.25
maharsīnāḿ bhrgur ahaḿ
girām asmy ekam aksaram
yajñānāḿ japa-yajño 'smi
sthāvarānāḿ himālayah

Translation: Of the great sages I am Bhrgu; of vibrations I am the transcendental oḿ. Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa], and of immovable things I am the Himālayas.

The Sunday Feast program consists of arati, kirtan (devotional chanting), philosophical discussion and prasadam.  Please come, get inspired and inspire others through your desire to share Krsna Consciousness!

Program Schedule:
11.00 – 11.15                Tulsi Puja                                           
11.15 - 11.30                  Guru Puja                                            
11:30 – 11:55                Aarti & Kirtan                                      
11.55 - 12.00                Sri Nrsingadev Prayers                        
12.00 – 1:00                 Vedic Discourse by Her Grace Prema Manjari Devi Dasi
1:00 – 1:30                    Closing Kirtan

Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment. 

UPCOMING EVENT:
December 25th - Christmas Celebration at ISKCON BRAMPTON
We are pleased to invite you, your family and friends for the Christmas Party & a Thank you program at ISKCON Brampton. 
  • Program starts at 11:00am
  • Guru Puja, Kirtan, Graduation, Visit from Bhakta Santa and Prasadam (Vegetarian Feast)!
  • REGISTER YOUR CHILD TO ENSURE THEY WILL RECEIVE A GIFT FROM BHAKTA SANTA… please email us at sundayschool108@gmail.com with your child’s name and age by Friday, December 20th.
  • Suggested donation $10/per child

December 31st - New Year's eve candle light kirtan
  • Program starts at 9:00
  • Start the new year in the presence of the Lord and in the association of devotees with a mid night aarti

Jan 1st - New Year's program
  • Special New Year's program with His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami.
  • Program starts from noon including initiation ceremony. 
  • More detailed program will be announced in the future weeks.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy!

Thoroughly Convinced Of The Power
→ Japa Group

"Everyone of you should be thoroughly convinced of the power of the Hare Krsna mantra to protect you in all circumstances and chant accordingly at all times without offense. Then advancement will be swift and you will gradually come to see everything clearly so that you may act for the pleasure of the Lord without uncertainty."

Letter to Damodara
January 10, 1971

Humble Service
→ Seed of Devotion

"One's greatest weaknesses have the potential to become one's greatest strengths." I coined this phrase when I was in a phase of my life when I was deeply struggling with emotional eating. I was experiencing so much mental, emotional, and physical pain; I felt that surely this pain could fuel great realizations to not only uplift myself but the world.

On that note, this morning I was really accepting that in this lifetime I have a perplexed mind. I have struggled with many heavy issues in my mind that deal with my bodily features, weight, or how I have had issues with leaders, men, family, friends. I've been embracing that these perplexities aren't good or bad. When I dovetail these perplexities for Krishna, my condition can actually be sublime. So many powerful realizations come when I surrender to the pain. I grow.

Then, when I share these realizations with others, they can relate with my struggles. Yes, I'm not alone. Then they can experience some hope and strength to overcome and transcend those struggles, too. If I can share my heart and offer this small service, then truly my weaknesses have become my strengths.  
Subscribe

Sunday Feast – Gita Jayanti – The appearance day celebration of Srimad Bhagavad Gita
→ Welcome to the official site of ISKCON Perth

Dear Devotees & Friends,

We would like to invite you all for the Sunday Feast Program on 15 December.

As part of Gita Jayanti celebration we will be having  a special program this Sunday with a children presentation and a special class by HH Bhakti Vinod Swami who will be visiting Perth First time on 15 December till Tuesday 17 December.

SUNDAY FEAST PROGRAM
4.00 pm   Kirtan
4.30 pm   Japa
4.45 pm Tulasi Arati
5.00pm    Special Class On Bhagavad Gita and its application in daily life by HH Bhakti Vinod Swami.
5.30 pm   Japa
5.50 pm   Announcements
6.00 pm Special program by Sunday school chlidren – Sloka recitation and a skit from Bhagavad Gita
6.15 pm   Arati
6.30 pm   Prasadam feast
7.00 pm   Clean up

 

Bhakti Vinod Swami

You can sponsor a Bhagavad Gita on this special occasion
A humble request:
“Drivers, please be aware of children and drive safely on temple grounds.
Parents, please ensure children are supervised at all times. “

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR A FEAST OR HELP IN ANY SERVICE,  PLEASE CONTACT:
Syama Sarana das(0439969002) or
Sitaram Lakshmana das(0422045525)

Attend such a wonderful feast and receive the Lord’s mercy of full spiritual benefits with Kirtan, Aarti and Spiritual Discourse.

Hare Krishna.

The great philosopher Uddhava
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21 November 2012, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Talk)

One maybe, or may not be, a greuddhavaat philosopher like Uddhava. Uddhava was a great devotee from Dwarka and Uddhava was a disciple of Brihaspati who is the spiritual master of the demigods. Uddhava was very, very learned and he was also a great, loving devotee of Krsna but he had a bit of slant towards learning, so he was always philosophizing. Krnsa sent him to Vrndavan and then he realized that he is not a devotee at all. When Uddhava saw Mother Yasoda, when he saw the gopis, he realized. He tried to preach them, “Do you know that Krsna is the Supreme Lord?” 

I mean (laughing), they couldn’t even hear it, “Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Krsna is all pervading.”

“All pervading? No! He’s gone to Mathura! We’re suffering, we’re suffering like anything. Krsna left Vrndavan, you know, he left Vrndavan and you’re telling us that he’s all pervading? When is he coming back? Please, you know, after you’ve finished with all that, that Krsna’s all pervading, do you have any news of Krsna? Tell us something about Krsna. How is he doing? Is he sometimes thinking of this mother?”

Like this, they did not care about jnana (knowledge); they couldn’t care less but Uddhava had a bit of that interest in the opulence of Krsna. So it is interesting. In the beginning, philosophy is very important because it keeps us on the path. Otherwise we go here, we go there, we go everywhere. In this way,

yadā te moha-kalilam
buddhir vyatitarisyati
tadā gantāsi nirvedam
śrotavyasya śrutasya ca (Bhagavad-gita 2.52)

When your intelligence has passed out of the dense forest of delusion, you shall become indifferent to all that has been heard and all that is to be heard. Only Krsna and that stage we want.

 

 

Mayapur Chandra’s Parikrama
→ Mayapur.com

We cannot even begin to describe what a wonderful experience we had on the1st Kartik Navadwipa Mandal Parikrama with the Mayapur Chandra’s.  It was one of the most ecstatic, enlivening experiences we have had. What we really appreciated about the parikrama, was the thoughtfulness of the Mayapur Chandra’s in lovingly facilitating those devotees who are […]

The post Mayapur Chandra’s Parikrama appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Notice for all ISKCON Artists and Entertainers
→ Mayapur.com

 Mayapur, ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) Gaura Purnima Festival Entertainment Feb 16 – March 18, 2014 From February 16 – 20, ISKCON Mayapur will host the ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS). Over 800 temple presidents, GBC members and sanyasis are expected to attend. Following the ILS is the annual Mayapur Gaura Purnima Festival which will run from […]

The post Notice for all ISKCON Artists and Entertainers appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Navadwip Parikrama 2014
→ Mayapur.com

Silver Jubilee Celebration of Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama We are happy to invite devotees from all over the world to come and experience the Silver Jubilee celebration of Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama organized by ISKCON Mayapur. This unique event will take place from 5th to 11th March 2014. Please watch our invitation, because images can say more than thousands words. […]

The post Navadwip Parikrama 2014 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

TEXAS FAITH 114: Did JFK have a greater impact on religion than any modern president?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

The nation and certainly the city of Dallas are coming upon the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. There are many parts of his presidency and death that our paper and others are starting to examine, from the legacy of his foreign policy to his imprint on civil rights to his use of television to communicate.

One area that hasn’t gotten much coverage is John F. Kennedy’s impact on religion in America. Often, we read about how Jimmy Carter and then Ronald Reagan awakened evangelicals and changed the face of religion in America, particularly in politics.

But did JFK have a greater effect than perhaps any modern president on religion in America?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

Yes he did, but how so? He was a young, attractive man with an attractive wife and nice children. He had wealth, fame, power, and presidency. He had many people protecting him and his wellbeing. He worked hard to achieve all this but lost it all in just a second.

This predicament affected the lives of many and some that I know began to inquire if life had more to offer than just wealth, fame, power, family, and comforts. Will these temporary things truly fulfill the heart of an eternal being?

Some wise souls began to ask, "Should I be investing in the temporary, am I am actually eternal?" Likewise, they asked, "If the President could lose all that he had worked for throughout his life in a second then what about me?"

For these rare souls his untimely departure was more profound than the works of his life. -Nityananda Chandra Das

 

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

New Preaching Centre in Sri Lanka
→ Dandavats.com

Last week we had a grand opening of a new Hare Krishna Centre in Batticaloa, Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. With the blessings of the GBCs and support of ISKCON Colombo authorities we had a wonderful two days festival. The lightning board of "Hare Krishna Centre" on the main road has now become a new land mark of the City and a new bus stop's name. Read more ›

Service Opportunity for Festivals Preparation in New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

——Service Opportunity at ISKCON New Vrindaban——–

ISKCON New Vrindaban is looking for enthusiastic team members for our Festivals Dept.

We need friendly, co-operative, hard-working team players right away to come to New Vrindaban to help organize specifically for the well-known and inspiring Festival of Inspiration in May 2014 and the first of two fun Festival of Colors, in April 2014.

Great accommodations and sumptuous prasadam will, of course, be provided, along with honorarium.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Vrindavana Das at:

304 843 1600 ext 129  or  vrindavanadas@gmail.com

From

Vrindavana Das

ISKCON New Vrindaban, Home Of The Palace of Gold

3759 McCrearys Ridge Road, Moundsville, WV 26041

______________________________________________

Phone: 304-843-1600 Ext: 129

Mobile: 001 – 304 – 312 – 3665

vrindavana@newvrindaban.com

______________________________________________

www.festivalofcolors.us

www.palaceofgold.com

A unique live experience!
→ Dandavats.com

I went to a monthly event called Mantra Lounge in Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden. This event usually consists of Kirtan (congregational chanting of sacred mantras), Meditation & a Vegetarian Feast. Last Friday they had Chakrini as special guest, who happens to be my favourite Kirtaneer, and as a bonus they were offering a Vegan Feast (yes, I am a Vegan). To give you an idea about Chakrini, you have to imagine a celestial being having taken birth on this planet to bring joy and enlightment to us lost souls through the most powerful sound vibrations put into melodies for easier digestion Read more ›