Tuesday, September 6, 2022
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Cobourg, Ontario

Getting Out

The women from our Bhakti Academy were squealing (and they don’t mind me using that word to describe it) as soon as the goats showed themselves from behind the pasture fence. It was an expression of ecstasy when both human and animal connected with each other. We were paying a visit to Jai Chaitanya and Rasa’s farm near Grafton. Both men and women alike enjoyed the outing, which included a ride by tractor on a wagon through the fields, petting the cows, eating a great meal over conversation and, of course, feeding the goats.

It was just great — an outdoor event – and we made it spiritual by holding kirtan on that moving wagon. At least the turkey vulture soaring up above really enjoyed, or was curious about all the excitement.

Out of the mega city we were, indeed, and on the return journey back to urban madness we stopped by at Cobourg Beach for more bonding; in a wet way no doubt. I managed to walk an early start for the return. It was my privileged time to connect with the public on the main street. Coincidentally, today was the first day of students going back to school. Some appeared elated. Some looked glum. One chipper fellow yelled out saying, “I love your outfit.” And as I was leaving I met pedestrians of various backgrounds on the street leading to super Highway 401. This gesture of meeting the people is, to me, an essential practice

May the Source be with you!

4 km


 

Monday, September 5, 2022
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243 Avenue Rd., Toronto

Chanting with a Backing

 

It was with great satisfaction that I conducted a Kirtan Standards course along with the Bhakti Academy students. The feedback that I received from this three hour interactive workshop/presentation were words like “informative,” “educational” and “clarification on things.” It was felt that before these students develop some habits regarding Kirtan (chanting) that fall in the realm of divergent, why not get it right in the beginning?

It was the founder-acarya of the movement, Prabhupada, who establish standards for when we are engaged in the culture of chanting. He once said there are two drums, or mridangas. One is the literature that goes far and wide and the other is the incarnation of sound vibration, or God in sound.

The idea behind this kirtancourse is to know the mood, the execution and the preservation of its sanctity. Chanting, after all, is at the heart of the movement. Sharing this treasure with integrity is the mandate of all followers of the ISKCON movement. Somehow or other, we are meant to deliver the goods and those goods are the pure sound of mantra. There is a need.

Have you all heard some of the music of today? Some of it is not very enlightening for sure. It’s time to offer an alternative and that alternative has the backing of sages and saints from ancient times.

 

May the Source be with you!

0 km


 

Sunday, September 4, 2022
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Scarborough/Milton, Ontario

Two Winners

 

The smaller communities we have established in recent years are all doing well in terms of governance, attendance and participation. Financially things are also doing all right. Even during the pandemic, none of our places of education and spiritual wellness suffered in a major way. At least not in “Zone One” of North America, which I am responsible for. This is, by the way, the krpa of God — mercy from the Universe.

Two such centres were on my visiting list today – Scarborough and Milton. Scarborough is a place I love to visit for the warmth of the community. Whenever I attend a function there, usually on a Sunday for delivering a class, I get such a welcome. At the time of prasadam, blessed food, I get treated with a mixed berry juice which exceeds the power of a Booster Juice product. There is also an exceptional soup made by Dhira Nitai, one of the staff. It’s to die for.

Naturally I highlighted the message of reverence to the Goddess, Radharani, and this was repeated in another location, Milton. The group of devotees who manage this place are phenomenal because in just five years they built up a community by meeting regularly in a church basement.  Now they secured the second floor of a new building near downtown. Kudos to this group of devoted folks. It is comprised of mostly younger families that put an emphasis on education for the children. I would say that spiritual wisdom is superior to mundane knowledge, although both are essential.

 

May the Source be with you!

5 km


 

Saturday, September 3, 2022
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Christie Pits, Toronto

Celebrations

 

Rishab and Juhi’s wedding was just about perfect. The two priests, Dharma and Rasaraj, are these two pure saints – humble, honest and attentive to their delivery of Sanskrit mantras. First of all, the program began on time. Friends and relatives were dressed their best. The venue was the temple room, which reserves the middle portion for the rituals, vows and blessings. The outer walls were laid out for the dinner reception with tables and chairs. Juhi, the bride, comes from a Sikh background and Rishab was raised in Krishna Consciousness. As the groom Rishab was handsome and Juhi was decked out like a queen. They looked like the perfect couple.

I delivered the welcome speech and, in ten minutes, tried to make everyone feel at home. I even threw in some Gitaphilosophy along with a couple of jokes. Isn’t that what the reverend is supposed to do? Lift the consciousness of the people?

I am grateful to Ryan for his passionate beat on the drum during the chanting session. He also pitched in, big-time, during the evening’s feast in honor of “The Goddess” – all about Radha, who Prabhupada described as Krishna’s girlfriend. Such a good energy prevailed the temple building and most likely beyond. The windows are open in the summer and sound carries through to the outside street. Pedestrians that walk by are hearing a vibration that is not found on the radio. They are getting a special treat. Jai Radha!

 

May the Source be with you!

6 km


 

Friday, September 2, 2022
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Christie Pits, Toronto

 

The Goddess

 

The Goddess

 

The embodiment of beauty

The spirit of purity

Her complexion resembles gold

While Her senses are controlled

She is calm, composed, collected

To all souls She remains connected

She is the epicenter of radiance

As A flower’s essence is fragrance

She is the master in the cuisine

After Her craft She keeps it all clean

She is a teacher of surrender

Holding no place for a pretender

And those who are morose

To Her just can’t come close

She is the epitome of the feminine

Spontaneous in love, beyond regimen

Loyal to the Prime One

Through Him devotion had begun

She is indeed the Goddess, the Queen

The only way to get to the King

 

Her name is Radha

-          Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk©

 

May the Source be with you!

4 km


 

Thursday, September 1, 2022
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The Annex, Toronto

Reflect on High Character

 

Mitch poked his head in the doorway of the temple room when we were engaged in drama practice. He just had a nutritious meal at Govinda’s Restaurant along with his companion. I haven’t seen Mitch for quite some time (due to covid), when he would bring his philosophy students to hear from us about the Gita. He just retired, doesn’t look 65, in fact he’s energetic and has a youthful zest. His companion, Tyler, will take over the course. Tyler possesses the same kind of enthusiasm as Mitch. I think we will be seeing him again.

Our play, “Demon” is in its preparatory stage, poised for the upcoming MANtra retreat. Female parts are given to the males from our Bhakti Academy group. I’m happy that we have some versatility amongst us.

I received an email from a Mayapur resident that I’m highly missed in India for the thespian presentations I conduct each February. I hear from other sources that the community there is starving for enlightening entertainment. Whatever I have been able to assemble in the way of drama is basically community theater, a mix of amateur/professional/devotional presentation.

Apart from the rich rehearsal, I was blessed to deliver two classes from both the Bhagavatam and BhagavadGita today, covering the subject matters of detachment from the world, equal position in happy and stressful conditions, and cultivation of love as in the tradition of heroes like Arjuna, Draupadi and the very aging Bhisma, etc. It is important to reflect on individuals of high character.

 

May the Source be with you!

3 km


 

Wednesday, August 31, 2022
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Seaton Village, Toronto

The Best Reading Material

 

Of all reading material that comes my way in a natural devotional setting – the Gita, the Bhagavatamand anything else which is a publication of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, I also include the occasional more secular material (even an occasional newspaper) – I confess to my favorite amongst all.

I just love hearing or reading of the past times of Prabhupada. There is a wealth of material out there on the subject of His Divine Grace, the founder and acharya (teacher) of the great bhakti movement of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. I really enjoy all that’s been written about him from different authors such as Mukunda, Shyamasundara, Gurudasa, Yamuna, and there’s Yogeswara – all students of his who spent quality time with him. The one publication that has become a permanent fixture in our Hare Krishna society is Prabhupada Lilamrta by Satsvarupa Goswami.

At noon the head of our Bhakti Academy, Brhat Mrdunga, reads from this great literature while all participants take their lunch. Well, I had the opportunity to read several pages on his early time in New York. All were attentive. All were enjoying.

It’s a sweet little gesture that endears us to Prabhupada. A sample: “Once Prabhupada was talking with Mrs. Ferber about Indian cuisine, and she mentioned that she especially likes samosas. The next time he paid her a visit, he brought a tray of samosas, which she enjoyed.”

 

May the Source be with you!

5 km


 

Tuesday, August 30, 2022
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Christie Pits, Toronto

Priceless Encounters

 

The light winds aroused the spirits of people as I walked on Bloor St., West. It was a struggle at intersections to get my dhoti (lower robes) to behave. But I was having fun with pedestrians.

The first one to approach me was like an elder hippie who came up beside me and said, “Are you on the path of enlightenment?”

“I’m on it,” I said. “It’s truly a work in progress. How about you? Are you taking steps to get there?”

To this he responded, “I’ve taken them.” We reached a red light and he made a sudden about face when our communication ended.

Not but five minutes later came another elderly person, bearded and partially bald, who stopped his bicycle to ask, “What do you think of the world?”

“It’s polarized. We need to step up on our dharma.” He wanted clarification. “I mean to say we need to get back to basics; back to obligation.”

“Even 20, 30 years ago people were not like they are now,” he noticed.

I proceeded Westerly when a smiling, middle-aged woman with a son and a partner halted, “How are you, walking swami?”

“I’m talking to people. They want to see a better world.” Just then a motorcyclist recklessly whizzed by. His music was pumped up to the max and he was actually gyrating with his bike quite precariously.

The woman asked me to bless her son, so I uttered a mantra and placed my right hand on his head.

“I used to hang out with you guys when I was at York U, in my anthropology class. I love it at your temple.”

My last encounter was with a Kolkata man who said from behind me, “Hare Krishna!” I turned around and we shot the breeze for a while.

 

May the Source be with you!

6 km


 

Monday, August 29, 2022
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Forest Hill, Toronto

Taking in a Short Stroll

 

The evenings appear to be the only favorable time for taking that stroll, and even then, you start sweating within ten or even five minutes of movement. It’s the moisture in the air. If someone says humidity brings about humility then I wouldn’t argue the point.

I found that at least there was a breeze where I sat, on a bench on the grounds of the Toronto City Archives. This is the time of year for heat and also dryness. In the night crickets are abound. In wet areas frogs make their presence known. A lovely skunk came nearby. It held up its tail in defense of my presence. I was fortunate not to be hit by any of those spraying creatures. Apparently, the spray released is called “thiol,” something that contains a sulfur/hydrogen bond. I’ve been lucky. The smell can be quite repulsive.

Today was the last day of Vaisesika and Nirakula’s visit. In the class Vaisesika offered some advice or direction for the temple residents to follow. These helpful guidelines are as follows:

1) Look at your ATTITUDE. I live to be corrected. I bear no grudges.

2) Work on INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENT. Even beginning with the smallest commitment, progress can be made

3) CONTROLLING THE TONGUE. Don’t talk behind someone’s back. Also, don’t over eat.

Good concepts and practices!

 

May the Source be with you!

2 km


 

The Book Under My Pillow
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Hare KrishnaBy Mangala Arati Devi Dasi

One morning in the glittering city of Mumbai, India, a small girl, barely seven years old, woke up without knowing that on that day she would make a journey she had been awaiting for many millions of lifetimes. That afternoon, in 1984, she held her grandfather’s hand and walked into the complex of a gorgeous temple. Under a beautiful clear sky, she beheld sprawling gardens and heard strange yet sweet-sounding chants. She walked around the gardens, holding her grandfather’s hand and looking curiously at every passerby. Continue reading "The Book Under My Pillow
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Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival in US – Markine Bhagavata-dharma
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Hare KrishnaBy ISKCON Desire Tree

50 years back, Srila Prabhupada landed in Boston, USA (September 17th, 1965) Before Srila Prabhupada was our Srila Prabhupada, he was a sannyasi struggling alone, trying desperately to fulfill the desire of his spiritual master to share Krishna Consciousness in the west in the English language. He struggled tremendously to single-handedly write, publish, and distribute his Back to Godhead magazine. He established the League of Devotees in an attempt to begin a worldwide movement in India. However, his attempts were unfruitful; India simply was not accepting the message of Lord Caitanya on the scale that he was imagining. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival in US – Markine Bhagavata-dharma
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Celebration of Janmastami festival at many Places in Bangladesh.
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by Srigarbha das Hare Krishna, this year Janmastami festival was celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm in Bangladesh. Thousands of devotees gathered together for a huge extravaganza. Janmastami festival is celebrated as the holy appearance day of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. Srimad Bhagavatam told, Krishna is the only God and all
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Resolving Contentious Issues
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By Krishna Dharma Das

When instructing Yudhisthira, Narada said that in any endeavour, one must start with the end in mind. In our case, it is always the same, to please our Founder Acharya Srila Prabhupada. I am sure all parties in this conflict share this aim and are convinced that their desired outcome would be most pleasing to him. However, I would suggest that the overarching consideration is that we work together harmoniously. As we know, Srila Prabhupada famously said that our love for him will be shown by how well we cooperate. He warned us that in-fighting would “spoil everything”, and he repeatedly asked us to work together under the authority of the GBC as the ultimate arbiters of any managerial matter. Continue reading "Resolving Contentious Issues
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ISKCON Mayapur Presents Pitrupaksha Seva Opportunity!
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Dear devotees, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Mayapur dhama. The period from the full moon of Shukla Paksha Bhadrapada month (10th Sept) to the new moon day (25th Sep) of Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month is called Pitru Paksha. It is recommended in the sastras that […]

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