Announcement – Niranjana Swami’s Visit to Toronto Indefinitely Postponed
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

We don't like being the bearer of bad news, however the Toronto Hare Krishna Temple would like to let all of our devotees know that, unfortunately, HH Niranjana Swami's visit to Toronto, which was scheduled for Dec 16-17, 2014 has been indefinitely postponed.

Maharaj will not be travelling to Canada as he had been expecting.  We apologize for any confusion and hope that our Toronto Hare Krishna community will be able to host Niranjana Swami sometime in the future.  Please note that the "Nama Yajna" program, which was scheduled to be held on Tuesday, December 17th, is now cancelled.  Hare Krishna!

VIHE Holy Name Retreat, Evening Talk and Kirtan, November 23, Varsana, Vraja Mandala
Giriraj Swami

11.23.13_05.Evening.Vdvn—————————————-
“In order to have the strength to engage in devotional service, we need to engage seriously in chanting and hearing about Krishna. That is why we are here—to deepen our relationship with the holy name, which means Krishna. There are technical elements—our posture, our pronunciation, our mind, our heart. But when that chanting and hearing reaches a certain point, one will feel a natural sense of compassion, and that compassion will be manifest in the endeavor to bring others to Krishna, to bring others to Vrindavan. Having had the opportunity to be with Srila Prabhupada personally, I know that he felt separation from Vrindavan. Once, I was with him in his room in Los Angeles, and after a few meetings he leaned back on the bolsters of his asana and quoted Narottama dasa Thakura’s verse, visaya chadiya kabe suddha ha’be mana, kabe hama herabo sri-vrndavana—’When will I give up material sense objects? When will my mind become purified? When will I be able to behold Vrindavan?’ Then Srila Prabhupada added, perhaps for me to hear, ‘Of course, it is not visaya, material; it is Krishna’s service. But still, I wish to be freed. I am hankering for Vrindavan.’ So it was not a small sacrifice for Srila Prabhupada to leave Vrindavan. And it is because of his sacrifice that we are here.” ——————————————————————————————————————
11.23.13_01.Evening.Vdvn11.23.13_02.Evening.Vdvn11.23.13_03.Evening.Vdvn11.23.13_04.Evening.Vdvn——————————————————————————–
Talk by Giriraj Swami
Kirtan by Sacinandana Swami

Our Govinda’s Restaurant Featured on Some Toronto Websites! Yippee!!!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

As many devotees in our Toronto Hare Krishna community know, our temple restaurant, Govinda's, has been going through a dynamic overhaul over the last few years.  The ambiance and atmosphere in the hall has been transformed, careful thought is now being put into our menus, and the public is responding by coming in great numbers!

We recently came upon two websites which featured Govinda's in their reviews of vegetarian restaurants in the city!  Check it out!

Blog - Toronto On A Shoestring - Occasionally, I will be sharing some group-buying deals with you which I think are really worth the money. I am particularly busy this week which is the reason I have already posted two for you already. :)  I purchased this one a few weeks ago because I am a foodie and am always seeking out inexpensive quality food deals. Govinda’s is already inexpensive without this deal and I planned on going anyway but glad I waited. Now I can eat there for even cheaper! [Click Here to Read More]

Huffington Post - Best Vegetarian Restaurants Toronto - If you're someone who often orders salads in restaurants, you're also probably someone who gets frustrated about the fact that they cost more than many entrees. And if you're a vegetarian, that only ups the anger factor — after all, shouldn't you be reaping some financial benefits for sticking to plant-based foods? [Click Here to Read More]

A Neat Video Depicting Reincarnation
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

We stumbled upon a unique video online that uses stop motion animation to dramatically depict reincarnation.  The ancient teachings of Krsna consciousness (bhakti-yoga) provide insights about reincarnation and they offer us an opportunity to understand our material circumstances more deeply, and those teachings answer questions that might otherwise yield no suitable answers  Check out this neat video below!

The Use and Uselessness of Varṇāśrama
→ The Enquirer

Please read generously. This is just a blog post, not an article or an essay or a book.

My angle on the question of the relevance of Varṇāśrama to bhakti is that there are two things: pure bhakti and mixed bhakti. For one, Varnāśrama is quite irrelevant, for the other Varnāśrama is quite relevant.

Pure Bhakti – Where Varṇāśrama is Useless

Pure bhakti is completely independent and unstoppable (“ahaituky apratihata“), it doesn’t rely on anything for facilitation or help, etc. – i.e. you don’t have to be healthy, or happy, or wealthy, or wise, or this or that or the other thing before you can completely dive into pure bhakti. It is immediately acessable, and nothing is an obstacle to it.

Pure bhakti is accomplished by it’s own internal parts:

  1. Primarily by Śrī-nāma-saṁkīrtana, supported by:
  2. bhāgavatārtha-svada (tasting the purports of Bhāgavatam),
  3. sajātiyāśaya-snigdha śrī bhāgavata-bhakta-saṅga (becoming close with devotees of the Beautiful All-Attractive who are similar to us, able to shelter us, and affectionate – not for “social development” but for Hari-Kīrtana and Hari-Kathā),
  4. śrī murty anghri-sevane pritaḥ (affectionately doing humble service for the beautiful deity), and
  5. śrī mathurā-maṇḍala sthiti (situating oneself within the circle of beautiful Mathurā).

If one has faith (śraddhā) in pure bhakti – in other words if one is substantially convinced that pure bhakti is the real immediate and essential objective of life – then one won’t find a need to “psycho-physically situate themselves properly” or have a proper social life, etc. etc. One will merely feel the need to engage in Hari Nāma Saṁkīrtana with the support of the four practices mentioned above. Nothing else will seem important, and full satisfaction on all levels, physical, mental, social, intellectual, and spiritual will come directly from the Holy Name.

Mixed Bhakti – Where Varṇāśrama might be Usefull

If one doesn’t have faith in pure bhakti (kevala bhakti-śraddha) then one should weep incessantly. That’s the most useful endeavor.

The tears should inspire one to find someone else who does have such faith. We should try to associate with that person in such a way that their faith Pure Bhakti rubs off on us.

Meanwhile, since we still keep some roots of faith in temporary things we will unavoidably feel all sorts of lackings, deficiencies, and hungers, from the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual realms and will wish for a different world, where varṇāśrama was established and everyone was psycho-physically healthy and happy.

But then such worlds do exist, and that will probably be our destination if we care too much about nursing our mixed faith in bhakti (miśra bhakti śraddha). That’s why miśra bhakti leads to higher “planets” within the material world.

What is “faith in mixed bhakti”? It’s the idea that “bhakti is important but other things are important too.”

“Social development is important, physical health is important, emotional health is important, education is important, and bhakti is important too.” That’s a phrase from the miśra-bhakti handbook. In the kevala bhakti phrasebook there’s this phrase “to hell with everything else, where is the beautiful Son of Nanda, the source of all physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual bliss!?!?!?!?”
As far as I can tell this assessment of the relative use and uselessness of Varṇāśrama is extremely similar to the conclusion of Śrī Rūpa Goswāmī in Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu 1.2.246-263 (http://www.dicara.com/Members/vic/BRS/1-2-245.htm#246)


Move To The Clearing Stage
→ Japa Group

"...in my Japa I tried to focus in on what I am doing, because of all the regulative principles, the most important principle given to us was to chant sixteen rounds of Japa. And I have been immersed for so many years in the offensive stage of chanting that just last year, when I was reflecting on what I wanted to change most in my spiritual life for this year, it was to try very hard to move to the clearing stage of
chanting the holy name."

Yamuna devi dasi
Prabhupada Memories 2001

God and the demigods
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.2-7)

Even though we do not look for austerity, we do not spend the whole day trying to avoid austerity. We must take some austerity – that is bhakti yoga and we use our time, as much as possible, in devotional service. Therefore this chapter that we are reading from, continues quickly. We do all these verses (about demigods) today, in one shot and then tomorrow, we can go to the next verse which is about devotional service, which is the topic of this chapter. That is what we want to talk about and not about demigod worship – it is a waste of time.

anglesWe may get so many questions, “But my great-grandfather was worshipping such-and-such a deity. It’s in my family. It’s our tradition and what is the problem if we do a little puja on the side!?”

The point is that we divide our faith; that is the issue! Wherever you worship, you begin to put some faith there. We should reserve our faith only for Krsna, therefore we are worshipping only Krsna and not the demigods.

Like I said yesterday, we sometimes think that we will worship some demigod for small things because we don’t want to bother Krsna for these  things. No, the truth is that we are then putting our faith partially in Krsna and partially in the demigods. That is how it happened in the past. Many Vishu temples have turned into demigod temples. So, it is not wise. Why would we divide our faith!? It is difficult enough for us; we are by nature already weak in this age therefore it is not wise to divide our faith.

“But how can we give this up? Is it not an offense?”

No, because Srimad Bhagavatam says: devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam, na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan, sravatmana yah saranam saranyam, gato mukundam parihrtya kartam (SB 11.5.41). It says that one is relieved from all duties to the devas (demigods), rsi (sages), parents and forefathers if one takes up the service of Mukunda. All these other duties are automatically fulfilled. By serving Krsna, the demigods are more satisfied than by any other offering. It is the most satisfying offering to them because they are devotees of Krsna.

Krsna-skyThis idea that we are afraid, if we don’t worship the demigods then we don’t know what will happen – the demigods will get angry! No, then we are in ignorance; we do not understand. Bhagavatam has already stated to us. I can give a crude example.

Someone was serving me by bringing breakfast everyday. Then they stopped that and started to go out everyday, to distribute books, which is what Srila Prabhupada wanted. You think I’ll be upset! No! What will I say, “Go all, go everybody and distribute books. I’ll get my own breakfast!” It is more pleasing if you serve Prabhupada than if you serve me! It is a crude example but that is the mood of the demigods.

 

 

 

An Incredibly Inspiring Video, Showcasing Indradyumna Swami’s Polish Festivals
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

Headed by HH Indradyumna Swami, the "Festival of India" has a long standing tradition of being a dynamic, travelling tour that visits cities across the Baltic Sea Coast for the last ten years.  With incredible stage programs, yoga classes, philosophy and more, the festival presents a tapestry of spiritual culture to the country of Poland.  At the helm of this incredible tour is Indradyumna Swami who is an incredible, spiritual force!  Check out this inspiring video of the festival in action!


Tips On Writing – The Prologue
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das



I begin Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest with three quick prologues. What the heck is a prologue for anyway? And three? What’s with that?

After the book’s introduction, your story begins. But before (pro - Greek) the story gets underway (lego – the telling) , do you want to drop in a prologue? The prologue might provide clues as to the theme of the book  or set up the mood or describe events that happen before the main story begins,  to anticipate the underlying conflict of the story or might introduce one of the main characters in an offbeat way. And that’s why I have three.

Prologues do those things and more.  Basically, the prologue sets up the mood.  (check the first sentence of my first prologue).  A prologue could even be like the coming attractions and poise questions and situations to titillate the reader,  or it could  provide a predicament which is then totally dropped, only to surface again much later in the book. You have to figure out if your book warrants a prologue and how to use it to your best advantage.  To see my prologues go to www.Mahabharata-Project.com to the Sample page.

Actually, you would do me a great favor if you went to the site, even if you were there before. In four months, if you googled Mahabharata, my site has jumped from page 15 to page 3. Now it’s been hovering between pages 2 and 3 for the last month. I’m trying to boast it to page ONE on google.   I thank you for your help.

Ys, Sankirtana das
www.Mahabharata-Project.com    



Vaishnava marriage in Vrindavana (Album 129 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

There are many purificatory processes for advancing a human being to spiritual life. The marriage ceremony, for example, is considered to be one of these sacrifices. It is called vivaha-yajna. . . . The Lord says here that any sacrifice that is meant for human welfare should never be given up. Vivaha-yajna, the marriage ceremony, is meant to regulate the human mind so that it may become peaceful for spiritual advancement. (Bg. 18.5, purport) Marriage based on the principles of religious life is therefore current in all civilized human society because that is the way for restricted sex life. This restricted, unattached sex life is also a kind of yajïa because the restricted householder sacrifices his general tendency toward sense gratification for higher, transcendental life. (Bg. 4.26, purport) Read more ›

Monday, December 2nd, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Six Plus Six

Toronto, Ontario

The morning was overcast.  Monday morning.  “Aggh,” many will say.

I was dashing to the passport office for the renewal of this handy document.  It brought me into the corporate sector of the city, or at least to the edge of it on Victoria Street.  All seems robotic, all seems straight and square, and there’s the gloomy looking faces, my God.

Anyways, business got done.  I’ll pick up a ten year valid passport on Thursday morning.  I trekked back home by way of Church Street through the gay community for a change, and before that through Ryerson Campus where students are abuzz.  Then I ventured through the platinum strip of Bloor and Bay in Yorkville.  Places that are all dolled up for Christmas.  I also passed through the Eaton Centre, the giant mall, where there are massive lit up reindeer.  Over the speakers you could hear, “Oh Holy Night,” that classic.  When the lyrics came out, “Oh night divine… When Christ was born…” my objectionable mind questioned, “Yeah, but Christ wasn’t born on December 25th.  Christmas was slapped on to the pagan holiday at Winter Solstice, a clever and imposing move to save souls.

I left the mall and made the journey back to the ashram to make a total of six kilometres.  A golden opportunity arose for one more trek in the evening to give us another six kilometres.

Ken, a friend from Australia (we say ‘Oz’) wanted a quiet Monday evening experience on foot.  Ken, who works for the Red Cross worldwide and drops in occasionally, does all kinds of charity work and also finds himself tending to cows in India’s goshala (cow shelters) and helps the expanding school in Vrindavan.  While trekking, he asked a question after admitting he enjoys being single and is also not necessarily interested in being in a stationary place as in living as a monk in a monastery.  He sometimes feels the pressure though, “They joke, ‘why don’t you settle down and get married?’ While others say, ‘be a brahmachari’.”  He asks further, “Is it wrong to work and carry on?”  Here was a sincere soul asking a sincere question.

“Not at all,” I counselled, “you’re a natural nomad, keep your hair and keep Krishna.  Monastic life isn’t for everyone.  You’re doing good.”  Anyways, Monday night seemed less gloomy.

May the Great Source be with you!

12 KM

Is there any actual difference between Brahman Paramatma and Bhagavan, or is it just a matter of perception?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Divyangi Lalita M

I was with the understanding that Brahman and Paramatma are limited and can only exhibit sat and sat-cit features respectively. From the lecture, I understood that they are the same absolute truth and there is difference only in the way it is perceived by the practitioner, can you please explain further.

Answer Podcast

If madhurya rasa is taught in other traditions, then what is unique about the Gaudiya tradition?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Divyangi Lalita M

I was under the impression that only Gaudiya Siddhanta teaches madhurya rasa, but I was recently corrected by a devotee stating that Andal from the Sri sampradaya was situated in madhurya rasa. Can you please explain on what basis we can convince new devotees about the supremacy and unique position of Gaudiya Siddhanta?

Answer Podcast

Is love of God available to followers of non-Vedic systems?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Priya Aiyar M

Is love of God available to followers of non-vedic system who don't recognise Krishna to be the Supreme Lord but worship God as Buddha, Prophet Mohammed, or Jesus Christ. In other words, there is a vast difference between Vedic literature and non-vedic literature. So how do the followers of religions other than sanatana dharma come to the right conclusion of God and attain love of God? In their own system can they attain love of God?

Answer Podcast

 

First! GOLOKA FEST at the Luzhniki stadium!
→ Dandavats.com

The first festival of Vedic culture Goloka Fest invites you to Luzhniki Stadium on "Friendship" with loved ones and welcome guests ES Bhakti Vijnana Goswami Maharaj, EM Aditi Dukhahoy Ave, EM Krishna Leela, etc. and of course the ES Bhakti Ananta Krishna Goswami Maharaj. This GOLOKA FEST will open to you the secrets of spiritual deeds of Krishna, which you can see firsthand in the performance of a laser show, and to hear from the man truly knows them. This is an incredible and breathtaking story of how Krishna, playing the role of an ordinary child raised left thumb huge mountain Govardhana. Read more ›