UPDATE – Sunday December 22nd **** Sunday Feast program Cancelled due to severe ice storm coming towards Southern Ontario***
→ ISKCON BRAMPTON

Please note that ISKCON Brampton Management has decided to cancel the Sunday Feast Program due to a major ice storm coming towards Southern ontario.

Environment Canada says the storm system may bring up to 30 millimetres of rain to the lower Great Lakes. A freezing rain warning remains in effect for those areas as the temperature could fall below zero overnight.

Environment Canada also warns that the storm system’s effects could result in widespread power outages across Ontario due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines.

Note that the following upcoming event  on Wednesday December 25th will happen as scheduled.

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

Two Words That Really Help
→ Japa Group

Whenever I am chanting and feel my mind wandering there are two words that I use to bring it back to the sound of the Maha mantra...."Just focus!" - I say this loudly in my mind, each and every time my mind starts to wander and it works every time.
Please try this and see if you get the same results....you have to say it with conviction and strength.

Green activists demand complete ban on garbage burning in Vrindavana
→ Dandavats.com

Vrindavan, 21st December, 2013: After the National Green Tribunal ordered to ban the burning of the plastic & rubber in open, the green activists geared up their demand for complete ban of the garbage burning. It causes heart diseases, cancer, asthma, skin diseases and many other diseases, observed by the group of green activist in a workshop jointly organized by Friends of Vrindavan & the Bhaktivedanta Hospice -- Read more ›

Damodara Preaching Programmes in Kuala Lumpur
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY KRIPA SINDHU KRISHNA DASA

More photos here

 

“In the month of Kartika, which is very dear to Sri Hari, one who bathes early in the
morning attains the merit of bathing in all places of pilgrimage. Anybody who offers the
Lord a ghee lamp in the month of Kartika, O brahmana, becomes free from all kinds of
sins, such as killing a brahmana, and he goes to the abode of Lord Hari.”

During the month of Damodara devotees in Kuala Lumpur actively engaged in conducting Harinam, house and school programmes, to spread the mercy of Lord Damodara to as many people as possible. Different programmes were held in many parts of Kuala Lumpur. Devotees went door to door doing harinam asking people to offer a lamp to Lord Damodara. There were also house programmes where in devotees conduct a full programme with Kirtan, class, damodara arati and prasadam.

A Damodara booth was set up in the Deepavali carnival, at Bukit Jalil, from 19th October to 1st November 2013. This was the 7th year, a booth was set up. Three and half booths were rented at the entrance of the premises. This was a very good opportunity to encourage everyone to offer ghee lamps to Lord Damodara and obtain his mercy. A gift pack and halwa prasadam were distributed to guests. Each gift pack contained a picture of Lord Damodara, a pamphlet highlighting the glories of Damodara and the method of worship for Lord Damodara at home along with a Damodarastakam CD, which included pastimes of Lord Krsna and Hare Krsna Mahamantra kirtana.

Every day many stall owners visited the booth and offered lamps to Lord Damodara before they opened their various booths for business. It was indeed a very special experience. Ravilocana and Tatvavit Prabhus, veterans in book distribution, were there every day from morning to night. Various books were distributed at the carnival including a Srimad Bhagavatam set.

“People are very receptive to Srila Prabhupada’s books. I developed good interpersonal skills, communicating with guests. My level of tolerance, patience, and perseverance, improved during these 14 days” says Krishna Chandra Prabhu, who also helped manage the booth.

A total of 4800 lamps were offered during the carnival. Overall, this month, 16,508 lamps and 13,523 prasadams were distributed. A total of 1077 books were distributed at the carnival alone.

Gita-jayanti 2013
→ SivaramaSwami.com

Live broadcast

Participate in the Gita Jayanti Book Sponsoring Marathon

We plan to distribute 3000 Srila Prabhupada’s books with the help of book
sponsors.

You may sponsor the following book-sets with Gitas and other books of Srila
Prabhupada:
1. 8 books (11.000.-Ft / 40E)
2. 11 books (18.000.-Ft / 60E)
3. 5 books with a Caitanya-caritamrta! (26.000.-Ft / 90E)
4. 25 books (51.000.-Ft / 175E)
5. 108 pocket Bhagavad-gita (162.000.-Ft / 545E)
6. 108 hard covered Bhagavad-gita (175.000.-Ft / 590E)

Budapest Temple: 21 Dec, Saturday from 10.30 and from 5pm
Szeged: 22 Dec, Sunday, 10.30

There will be live broadcast of the Gita-jayanti yajna in Budapest on the
21th of December, Saturday at 10.30 am and 5pm Hungarian time.

You are welcome to participate in the reading, the blessings that go with it
and the feast after the yajna. If you wish to attend any of the above
programs or would like to just sponsor books for free distribution or for
any further information please contact Asta Sakhi devi dasi:
tel.: +36 30 600 1459,
e-mail: Asta.Sakhi.SRS@pamho.net

The post Gita-jayanti 2013 appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Thursday, December 19th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Saranagati Village, British Columbia

THE BEST PATH


I couldn’t resist referring to a Metro Newspaper article by Stefan Danis, author of Gobi Runner, regarding the topic of the straight path not always being the fast one.  As a runner in desert areas like the Gobi, Sahara, or Atacama, He learned the hard way that mathematically, the simplest path between two points is not necessarily the straight one.

He details this in his writing based on his experience.  For instance, with sand being soft, when wind picks it up, it causes a major hindrance while running.  He found that if he ran a longer route with a degree off course by being at the advantageous side of a sand dune, where there’s more firm surfaces and rock sediments, he would arrive at the finish line earlier.

Stefan drew an analogy to life’s situation by posing the question, “Have you looked at all the alternative paths to overcome your challenges?”  He added, “Ups and downs, twists and turns are the norm we all know.”  I saw this in my trek with Gosh Thakur yesterday to get to the summit of a local mountain.  We took to the road that was cleared out to make way for an internet tower.  It was clearly a zig zag trail, a straight line approach would be impossible for vehicles and a hard one for walkers.

My stay in Saranagati Village, a Krishna community, has been scheduled with visits to various rustic houses with warm people.   To reach those destination points, I have the choice to trudge through deep snow, through ditches, while dodging bush and sage brush, or take the road.  The safest and quickest route in this case is to follow the snow plowed roads that run more or less on a grid, although less adventurous.  I hate to say it, but maybe it’s the wimps trail.

One of the major lessons I’ve learned from walking through the Prairies, where land can be flat and roads being very straight, is that truckers really crave company because for them a straight line to drive on can be most monotonous.  When I walked that very direct route in the past like the Trans Canada Highway, truckers commonly stopped to offer me a ride in order to deal with what is perceived as a boring run.  Of course, I had to politely decline those offers.  Winding roads are a little more exhilarating and can even get you to your destination faster.

Here in the valley I am lucky because when I go that distance from a home to the temple or to the school, I have two buddies, they happen to come along and make the walk more interesting.  Ganga and Narashingha are two of the local dogs.  The nature of a dog is to accompany you whether you beeline it or move in curves.  God bless the loyal dog!  And thank God for the safe and practical route.

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Little Mouse in the Snow

Saranagati Village, British Columbia

The first living entity I saw today was a spider I saw crawling along the base of a shower stall.  I took extra care to angle the shower head in such a way that he wouldn’t get flushed down the drain.

The second creature for my eyes to meet seemed to be exploring territory.  He was a tiny mouse.  I first detected him after noticing an interesting trail of teeny footprints impressed into the freshly fallen snow.  It was those hypnotic type of snowflakes coming down ever so light against the stark black sky.  With flashlight in hand I kept eyes mainly on the white covered road in front of me.  The little fella, the mouse, was scurrying along and leaving his mark.  I just missed his small bodily frame when stepping along.  I aimed my flashlight directly over the little guy and then got close to him as if to give him the spotlight.  That certainly alerted him.  Perhaps he momentarily liked the attention.  Perhaps he froze from having stage fright.

I let him go on to venture at his whim as he likely was set out to search for food.

“Adios.”

I proceeded on to the location of the temple which is facilitated by an elder, Kulashekhar.  After a shake off of snow, we conducted sadhana  (spiritual practice) together.  In the dim and mystic candlelit room, we sang the Guruvastakam along with other adjoining prayers before I trekked to the Venables Valley School for a second installment of mantras.  This was followed by a devotional theatre workshop conducted by yours truly.  That went down well, including the pizza prepared with love by devotees.

Much later, Gosh Thakur, my friend from Quebec, lead me to the summit of a mountain, the location of the recently installed internet tower.  The sun, at this point, was hidden away when Gosh Thakur and I took the gradual but steady climb up.  It was a heart pounding workout with healthy panting and puffing.  We crossed the footprints of much wildlife – of mice (and not men), deer, coyotes and rabbits.  At the very top, we paused to catch our breath and a great view as we sat restfully atop a log chatting.  The world seemed quite awesome from our stance.  We were high, although we were truly small, like the little mouse.

We will always be small, but carry large and hard driven dreams.  We just want to make sure that our dreams line up with the wishes of the creator.

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Tuesday, December 17th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Surprised and Stranded

Jackass Mountain, British Columbia

It took us by surprise.  Peter and I were coasting along on Highway 1 which from the town of Hope runs parallel to the Fraser River, a vein of beautiful mountainous water, when an officer nabbed us.  According to him we were over the speed limit by 50 KM.

“No way,” we thought.  Peter tried to argue the figures, but the officer had his routine down for this stretch of the highway which is notorious for motorists call a speed trap.  Knowing well the sudden downslope after leaving a tunnel through a mountain, a driver is practically helpless but to gain some speed.  Peter was handed a $368 ticket apart from receiving the news of a 7 day impoundment on the vehicle we were driving.  A tow truck was called by the officer and within minutes our vehicle was hauled to the nearby town, Boston Bar.  To unimpound it after this period costs at least another $200.  We ended up being stranded for hours in the town until someone from the village Saranagati came to our rescue.  That leeway time of waiting, however, did permit Peter and I to explore this town which was formerly a trail during the old pioneer gold rush.  I had trekked through this area two times before, but never throughout the town which is mostly populated by indigenous folks.

If you are ever grounded somewhere like we were, then you make the best of that time.  Avoid groping and meet nature.  We ventured by this vibrant river, the Fraser, explored its banks somewhat.  With its trails and its fur and spruce trees, the aroma of their green needles sends you to heaven, while the wobbly nature of stones and the soft sands under the feet remind you of both the uncertainties and welcoming side of life.

Our ride finally arrived.  Gosh Thakur, my French Canadian friend, came in time to help us reach our evening engagement – kirtan with the youth.  It’s a Tuesday night regular event in the peaceful valley called Venables, an area the devotees of Krishna refer to as Saranagati, the place of ultimate surrender.  By the warm stove of crackling fire wood, young voices chanted “Hare Krishna”, ‘twas nice.

Speaking of names, please take note of the place where our vehicle was towed from, Jackass Mountain.  One thing is, always avoid speeding and this is an unlikely warning for pedestrians though.  Walkers could never be ticketed for speeding.  It’s always the safest mode of transport.

May the Source be with you!

10 KM

Monday, December 16th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

A Pleasure

Burnaby, British Columbia

It’s always a pleasure to sit down and hear something motivationally strong, coming from experience.  My spiritual brother, Kriphanidi, spoke from the Bhagavatam, a text that by regular reading has the effect of shrinking that which is inauspicious in the heart – anger, envy, greed, etc.

Hearing the realizations of others enhances your own realizations.  It’s also a pleasure to push the wheel chair of Padyavali, my godsister, on the ISKCON property, because she can’t do it on her own.  When she, Manu and I, sit to talk or have lunch together as we did today, we have a blast at joking.  It lifts our spirits.  I recall this last summer, during the course of my fourth cross-Canada trek, pushing the chair of a middle aged handicapped native person to Tim Horton’s doughnut shop for a coffee, and then to church.  This happened at a bridge in Winnipeg as he was waiting for someone to come along.  I lost about a half hour of time from my routine walking, but I gained something through service.

It was also a pleasure to serve the guru by sitting in-the-round with administrators of ISKCON.  Although topics can be grave and taxing, the challenges can excite you.  You probe the brain and you tap the heart in search for answers.  By nighttime, I sat in the director’s chair, so to speak, for a new take on Ram’s pastimes.  ‘The Little Big Ramayan’ will be presented on the 29th of this month.  Along with cast and crew, we are starting to shape this production which is in its embryonic stage.  It had me constantly leaping back and forth from chair to stage.  It was a pleasure.

My final pleasure session of the day was a walk after all was done.  It was damp and dark out, but the moon  gave consolation.  Around its fullness were massive rainbow rings; perfectly round concentric circles surrounding it.  Awesome!  Just awesome!  What a pleasure!  What a pleasure!

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 12-08-2013
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ECOV Logo

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 12-08-2013

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban (Earth, Cows, Opportunities & Vrindaban Villages) 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.

Participating Board Members: Anuttama (first half of meeting), Chaitanya Mangala, Madhava Gosh, Navin Shyam, and Ranaka.

Advisors present: Jaya Krsna

1. Garden of Seven Gates (G7G) manager & ECOV responsibility

WHEREAS: In line with its mission, the ECOV Board wishes to actively promote the production and use of food grown locally in New Vrindaban.

RESOLVED: The Board hereby authorizes the creation of a new management position, the Food Production Manager (FPM), whose duties and salary will be determined by ECOV management.

The need for an ECOV President or other general manager to oversee projects and overall operations was also considered. Further discussion will resume after the FPM is found, but it was recognized that the first step is creating a job description.

2. Madhuban grove

WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to continue developing the Madhuban orchard.

RESOLVED: The Board authorizes up to $2,200 for continuing the maintenance of food-producing trees on the Madhuban site in 2014. The Food Production Manager will manage the project once that position is filled. In the interim, Rafael, the proponent of the project, will report to Ranaka and be advised by Madhava Gosh.

3. 2014 operating budget

This will be discussed at the Annual Meeting in January, along with review of the 2013 budget.

4. Bahulaban barn deconstruction

Gosh will follow up with an Amish group to get a quote.

5. Bahulaban utility building temporary repairs

Navin Shyam will contact Gopisa to ensure that this is moving forward.

6. Bahulaban pink building demolition

Completed.

7. Deity flower garden

The $341.40 2013 budget overage will be taken out of the manager’s discretionary fund.

Gosh is currently acting as the Project Manager, with involvement from Vidya dasi.

8. Garden of Seven Gates related grants: Irrigation, greenhouses & pole barn

The Board deferred consideration of the high-tunnel greenhouse and pole barn projects pending the hiring of the FPM. The irrigation project is nearly complete, but more funding has been requested.

WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to maintain good relations in the greater Wheeling community, and to fairly compensate those who work on ECOV projects.

RESOLVED: The Board requests Ranaka to meet with Andy Reed of Apogee Design and authorizes him to offer Andy up to $1,100 for additional unanticipated labor performed on the Garden of Seven Gates irrigation project.

Payment will be contingent, however, on Andy providing the relevant ECOV and/or INV individuals with the following:

• Operator Manual with diagrams;
• Final field instructions;
• A list of spare parts;
• Names and locations of suppliers where we can obtain spare parts and materials required for any future expansion of the project;
• Any other training and/or documentation requested by INV or ECOV during the course of the project.

9. G7G prototype cabin

Varsana Swami will be engaged to do some backfilling. A gutter system also needs to be installed. The budget overage ($227.38 to date) will either be addressed using the management discretionary fund or an augmentation of the project budget itself.

10. Grain storage

Storage bin purchase and set up completed.

11. Valley barn roof repair

Completed.

12. Bulk grain purchasing

INV has begun exploring suppliers for purchases of rice and various beans.

13. Legal research

Completed. There will be a need to further engage our attorney when we hear back from the IRS in regards to the integrated auxiliary application. We anticipate this to be in about a year and will allocate the necessary funds at that time.

14. New Vrindaban Master plan completion

WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to reallocate funds for any project that is not making regular progress.

RESOLVED: The Board hereby returns to the general fund the remaining $5K budget allocated for the completion of a New Vrindaban Master Plan.

It’s a Pizza Party Kind of Day! Join Us for Kirtan and Pizza Tonight!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!


"You can lead a horse to the water but you can't make him drink; you can give a man the wisdom but you can't make him think."

The Friday seminar with His Grace Vaisesika prabhu and Her Grace Nirakula mataji was adorned with such pearls of wisdom, morning to night. Both the morning class as well as the evening seminar on "Finding the Perfect Balance" were phenomenal and very well attended worldwide!

What's on the menu today? Here's the itinerary:

Saturday, December 21st
7:30am to 9:00am - Second session on the Srimad Bhagavatam series, "Preaching is the Essence" (daily, until 24th Dec)

12:00pm - Honouring Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's Disappearance Day

1:00pm to 4:00pm - Downtown Street Sankirtan with Vaisesika Prabhu

6:30pm to 9:00pm - The famous Bhajan Night (a.k.a the pizza party; you don't want to miss this one)

For further information on this ecstatic festival, click here

*** ALL classes and programs to broadcast live at www.mayapur.tv (look for “Toronto” channel under Live Broadcast)

Your heart isn't dancing because it hasn't been there yet!

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-12-21 07:57:00 →

1974 December 21: "I am very anxious to get that building in New York City. I like it very much, so I want you to take it immediately. Now keep the atmosphere very pure by holding regular classes and kirtan, morning and evening arati and ensuring that everyone chants their 16 rounds and follows the regulative principles without fail."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974