ISKCON Joins the World in Mourning the Death of Nelson Mandela
→ New Vrindaban

December 6, 2013

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) joins the world in mourning and paying tribute to the foremost human rights icon of current times, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. We offer our condolences to the Mandela family and to the entire South African nation.

In 1990 at the age of 72, after 27 years of being imprisoned by the apartheid government, he reached out to his oppressors and chartered a peaceful transformation to democracy in a country where the minority was gripped with fear for what the future might hold.  As a result of the forgiveness that he displayed and kindness that he extended, followers of the African National Congress (ANC) which he led, heeded his call for peace and reconciliation to prevail amongst all the people of South Africa.  From the impoverished townships to sport fields to religious communities to parliament, Madiba (as he affectionately became known) worked his own special Madiba magic across the nation.

ISKCON was privileged to have Mr. Mandela visit their temple in Chatsworth, South Africa, in 1992 and discuss the teachings of the ancient scripture, Bhagavad-Gita, over a meal at their Govinda’s restaurant.  During this visit Mr. Mandela with dignity but humility bowed before ISKCON Founder Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and then asked "How did he do it?", meaning how did Srila Prabhupada spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. A discussion ensued about how Srila Prabhupada gave Krishna consciousness to all nationalities and types of people, without discrimination, and Mr. Mandela was deeply struck by this, and was very appreciative of Srila Prabhupada. He also very much appreciated the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita which emphasises the equality of all living beings; as children of God we all deserve to share in God’s gifts and to be treated with respect and dignity.

After becoming the country’s first democratically elected President in 1994, President Mandela,  once again visited the Hare Krishna temple.  It was from this venue that he addressed the 10,000  strong Hindu community, as well as the nation, on the occasion of Diwali, the Festival of Lights and New Year.  Diwali celebrates the return of the famed Lord Rama from fourteen years of exile and his coronation as King of Ayodhya.  The community recognised the significant similarities between Lord Rama’s struggle and His ultimate victory and that of President Mandela.

President Mandela gave particular attention to respecting the multitude of different languages, cultures and spiritual beliefs that prevailed throughout what became known as a “rainbow nation.”  And, the new Constitution ensured the rights of all South Africans to freedom of expression and religious freedom.

Based on this inspiration, in 1997, ISKCON’s Food For Life project planned and hosted the “Festival for the Children of the Rainbow Nation” with President Mandela as its Guest of Honour.  The event saw 50 000 school children with their teachers gather at Kings Park Soccer stadium. After delivering the key note address, President Mandela extended his stay at the event and spent more than five hours watching the various children’s performances.  He encouraged the children to excel in school, take advantage of the rights afforded to them, and instructed them to appreciate that the generations before them had fought for their freedom. The Mercury Newspaper reported that he stated this was “the happiest day” of his life.

Mr. Mandela was much more than a champion of human rights, State President or Nobel Peace Prize recipient.  He touched the lives of every single South African and made them feel safe and genuinely cared for. He was indeed the father of the nation, in the true sense of the term, genuinely striving for a better future for all his people.  He was a leader, teacher and example for the whole world. He is, and will continue to be, a symbol of hope, faith and forbearance.

May the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna bless this great soul.

Released by the International Society for Krishna Consiousness (ISKCON)

Ministry of Communications

Champakalata Dasi, Durban South Africa  (Champakalata@pamho.net)

Nanda Kishor Das, Johannesburg, South Africa (info@iskconza.com , +27 824992498)

ISKCON Scarborough – Gita Jayanti celebrations on Friday and Radha Murari Kirtan on Saturday!‏
→ ISKCON Scarborough

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

We have 2 very auspicious events happening on the same day coming Thursday- 12th December 2013

- Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita(Gita Jayanti)
- Moksada Ekadasi

We at ISKCON Scarborough will be celebrating Gita Jayanti in a grand manner on Friday 13th December 2013 by reading the 700 Sanskrit verses starting at 6.30 PM sharp!

On the auspicious occasion, we welcome you, your family and friends to join us at ISKCON Scarborough to recite all the 700 Sanskrit Bhagavad-Gita verses and to partake the blessing of Sri Sri Radha Gopi Vallabha

Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita(Gita Jayanti)

It was on this day over 5000 years ago, that Sanjaya narrated to King Dhritarashtra the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra at the place now known as Jyotisha tirtha, and thus made the glorious teachings of the Lord available to the people of the world, for all time.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita shows a way to rise above the world of duality and the pairs of opposites, and to acquire eternal bliss and immortality. It is a gospel of action. It teaches the rigid performance of one's duty in society, and a life of active struggle, keeping the inner being untouched by outer surroundings, and renouncing the fruits of actions as offerings unto the Lord.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita is a source of power and wisdom. It strengthens us when you are weak, and inspires us when you feel dejected and feeble. It teaches us how to resist unrighteousness and follow the path of virtue and righteousness.

The teachings of the Gita are broad, sublime and universal. They do not belong to any particular cult, sect, creed, age, place or country. They are meant for all. They are within the reach of all. The Gita has a message for the solace, peace, freedom, salvation and perfection of all human beings.

Anyone who gifts a Bhagavad-Gita to a deserving person on this day is bestowed profuse blessings by Lord Krsna.

Radha Murari will be performing at the Hindu Sabha Temple on Saturday – December 14th 2013:

We are very happy to inform you that our ISKCON Scarborough youth group – Radha Murari will be performing at the Hindu Sabha Mandir (Brampton) coming Saturday from 4 pm to 5 pm.

We invite all the congregation members to come to Hindu Sabha temple this Saturday to take part in the 7 hour Kirtan starting from 1 pm to 8 pm.

Wonderful Kirtan groups like Gaura Sakthi and our own Radha Murari will be performing electrifying Kirtan on this day.

Further details about the 7 hour Kirtan on Saturday:

Event: 7 hour Kirtan from 1 pm to 8 pm
Date: December 14th 2013- Saturday
Radha Murari’s Kirtan timing: 4 pm to 5 pm
Location:
HINDU SABHA TEMPLE
9225 THE GORE ROAD
BRAMPTON, ONTARIO L6S 5Y8
Phone: 905-794-4638
Website: http://www.hindusabha.com/events.php
Email: info@hindusabha.com


With best wishes from,

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


Email Address:





iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

Express your Convictions for Krishna – Passionately. Don’t be a fence-sitter!
→ The Enquirer

“When we don’t hear about the heroism of the Hero, the holes of our ears might as well be snake holes. When we do not sing about the One Worth Singing About, we might as well have the tongues of frogs. When our head does not bow to the Liberator, it is nothing but a heavy burden, even if it is decorated with a silken crown. When our hands do not serve Hari, they might as well be the hands of a corpse, uselessly decorated with glittering golden bracelets. When we do not look upon the forms of Viṣṇu, our eyes might as well be the eyes of a peacock feather. When our legs do not move us to Hari’s sacred places, our legs might as well be the roots of trees? If we mortals never touch the dust from the feet of blessed devotees, we might as well be dead! If we do not smell the scent of Tulasī from the beautiful feet of Viṣṇu, what is the use of breathing? We might as well be a breathing corpse.”

Sūta was speechless with delight to hear Śaunaka so boldly declare such strong devotional sentiments. “Worst of all,” Śaunaka continued, “If we pronounce Hari’s name but our heart does not melt into emotions like tears and goosebumps, what is the use of our heart? Is it really a heart or is it a chunk of iron?”

Ugrashravas_narrating_Mahābhārata_before_the_sages_gathered_in_Naimisha_Forest


Sunday, December 8th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Ghostly Kids

Burnaby, British Columbia

There’s this boarded up school house that I trek by on my walks in the Burnaby area.  There’s always something heart sinking when I see an image like that.  If you put school bullying to the side and rewind in your mind what the school yard may have looked like in recess or lunch hour, what would you see?  In particularly in a suburban school that ran for at least three decades?

You would likely see, and hear, a bunch of energetic and electrifying bodies out there.  Future hopefuls, future influentials – leaders and followers.  Yes, you would see kids playing.  Doesn’t bring out the parental instincts?  Even in a monk’s world, you can’t help feeling an urge of protectiveness.  You are left in question, will the kids achieve?  Will they make it in a world that has become so harsh and selfish?

These are some of my mental thoughts while going by an abandoned school.  What to speak of a school yard that is real, with real kids, alive and teaming with energy.

I did manage to speak to the security guard on site.

“So, you’re walking?” he asked me.

“Yes, I do a bit of that,” I said.  And then we got to talking about his keeping vandalism at bay.  The young folks who usually commit to pranks and property damage are often times those who didn’t do so well in school.  They may very well be the ones who got too neglected at home.  Even sometimes a good kid gets caught up in the wrong crowd.  The security guy spoke more about the homeless who are potential squatters, the other reason for his being there.  He told me that he’s on a four hour shift then someone else comes in to take over.  With dumpsters in front of the building, it looked more to me like the beginnings of a demolition, and then a follow up coming new subdivision.  Please!  In any event, there’s some readiness for a change.

In spiritual life you endeavour towards an overhaul – within, and there’s always a need to become a child again – innocent and full of wonder, back at playing (in kirtan), perhaps after years of work and stuffy offices or contending with challenging conditions at a construction site.

Life is not easy in a non devotional setting.  That’s why I feel even for the security guard who talked but who couldn’t get into devotional parlance.  We ended on a good note and I kept walking.

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Saturday, December 7th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

An Argentine Article
 
Toronto, Ontario
 
The following is an article that appeared in the Argentine Magazine, "El Clarin", by Luis Aubelle.  Translation by Ananda Buddhi.
 
“I Wanted To Go Out For A Walk”
 
In Buenos Aires for a visit, The Walking Monk tells how long walks can lead to the Divine. He is back from a journey of over 5,000 miles during which he walked from the East coast to the West coast of Canada.
 
“I felt I was under the influence of rahu – in Vedic astrology, a particularly gloomy planet, full of rage. At first, I sought refuge in an ashram, a large community of monks in Canada, and from observing this religious order and following their ways, my need to live another way, to find my spiritual horizon, was born,” recollects Bhaktimarga Swami, “The Walking Monk”, the walking Hare Krishna monk who arrived in Buenos Aires after completing his fourth journey walking across Canada, over 5,000 miles from East to West.
 
“Why walk? The very same monks gave me the idea. They would take long hikes on dirt roads to purify themselves, to meet people, and to grow closer to others. But there was a second motive: 1996 was speeding by, and it was the 100th anniversary of the birth of my teacher, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who had been born in Calcutta, India, on September 1st, 1896.
 
Bhaktivedanta Swami passed away in November of 1977, and I wanted to remember him by offering him my heart and my feet, that is the reason for the walking. It was an enriching experience which gave me the opportunity to grow closer to the Divine. To suffer the consequences of being exposed to snow, to cold, then to heat and mosquitos, I began to practice detachment from worldly affairs. Besides, I thought my trips would be a good example for the people. Imagine a monk impervious to the fury of the elements, tirelessly crossing the Canadian landscape.”
 
Bhaktimarga Swami, John Peter Vis, his original name, was born on October 5th, 1952 near Toronto, Canada. He met monks on the campus of the university where he was studying Fine Arts, they put him in contact with the one who would be his teacher, Swami Prabhupada, founder of the Hare Krishna movement, and of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), and most important, translator of classic works such as the Bhagavad-Gita.
 
Bhaktimarga followed the footsteps of his teacher and is in actuality, a leader in the movement. Also, an instructor of bhakti yoga and interactive dance, and a kirtan leader, or yogic singing. He is world renowned as author and director of theatrical morality plays within his community.
 
How do you see the world today?
 
“I see a polarized world. On one side, anguish; confused people, struggling with apparently unresolvable issues in their lives. An uncertain horizon where the family unit has been severed, and the moral values that guided life have been lost. A great internal growing void is created as a consequence, and many try to fill it with alcohol, drugs, or other forms of escape without avail. But on the other side, I see many persons that are widening their spiritual horizons. Folks who seek and find the light and that is really exciting! United States author, Mark Twain, who had been in India, used to say that East was East and West was West. And that never the two would meet, but I believe he was wrong.”
 
What is your idea?
 
“I think that both cultures can learn from each other. To recapture that deep and liberating concept that says that I am not this body. That I am my soul, the spirit that is inside my body. When the recovery of these principles is achieved, we are ready to obtain deeper and long lasting relations. To obtain peace, solidarity, the joy of living. To discover superior levels where obstacles can be resolved to begin anew. The wise men of India have, for many centuries, concluded that in order to remedy social ills, people had to find places to gather, to converse, dance, sing, and also exchange food prepared with love.”
 
What exercise can a common man do to draw one close to the Divine?
 
“I walk 7 to 8 hours on a daily basis, but this is an extreme. The truth behind walking is to use it as a means to seek the Divine. We begin our journey by looking all around us trying to discover the sacred in everything we meet on our path. Then, bit by bit, the landscape transforms, time seems to stand still, and slowly we begin to construct a world whose main protagonist is the Divine,” concludes The Walking Monk.
 
Geniuses, giants, and Aladdin’s lamp…
 
Mark Twain visited India between January and April of 1896. The following are a few of his remarks written in his diary of the journey: “India, land of dreams and of romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendor and of rags, of palaces and huts, of hunger, pestilence, of geniuses, giants, and Aladdin’s lamp. Of tigers and elephants, of the cobra and the jungle. The country with hundreds of countries and hundreds of languages, of thousands of religions and of two million gods. Cradle of the human race, birthplace of human language, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great grandmother of tradition…”
 
May the Source be with you!
 
6 KM

The most important person
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 8 September 2013, Lenasia, South Africa, Sunday Feast Lecture)

We have temples where we can associate of devotees and get new inspiration because after all, this is a movement. Srila Bhakisiddhanta said, “It’s not an addendum in life.” It is not that Krsna consciousness is something we add on. “You know, I really feel that Krsna consciousness takes an important part in my life.” No, if we think like that then it’s an add on. That is not good enough.

Krsna consciousness is our life. There’s nothing else. There’s nothing else. That’s all there is. Therefore Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said, “Krsna consciousness is not an addendum in life.” It is a total revolution. Complete, total change. It is meant to touch every aspect of life and become the priority.

Therefore, I sometimes say that when you look your beloved in the eyes, you can say, “Darling, you are the most important person in my life… after Krsna.”

That is kind of how it is. Everything else comes after Krsna. We can try that and if you can’t make it, if you can’t say that from the heart, then you are in maya (laughter)! Just think about it. So that means we have to gradually cultivate our Krsna consciousness more and more until we get there, to that stage where vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti.

bahūnāḿ janmanām ante
jñānavān māḿ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ (Bhagavad-gita 7.19)

A great soul is very rare, is one who after many, many births comes to that stage where he is says, Vasudeva, Krsna is everything.

Krishna-Balaram

 

Being Sober
→ travelingmonk.com

Srila Prabhupada always appeared very blissful and joyful but he was never frivolous. Every once in a while he used humour in his lectures but he was always sober. Preaching is a serious business, to convince people about futility of material life and awaken their love of Godhead.

Srila Prabhupada on New Vrindaban: 7 Temples, Starting a Trust Fund & Earning Income from the Land
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Srila Prabhupada reading at the original New Vrindaban farmhouse, 1969.

Srila Prabhupada reading outside the original New Vrindaban farmhouse, Spring 1969.

A Letter From Srila Prabhupada About New Vrindaban: 7 Temples, Starting a Trust Fund & Earning Income from the Land.

October 27, 1972

My dear Kirtanananda,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 19, 1972, and I have noted the contents with care.

Now we are in Radha-Damodara Temple staying, and the programme of speaking morning and evening in the courtyard is going on very nicely. It is the same peaceful atmosphere as your New Vrindaban, and just as in New Vrindaban everyone present is devotee. Actually, everywhere wherever Krishna is being glorified, that is Vrindaban.

Regarding your questions, try to  finish the temples in New Vrindaban as quickly as possible using whatever materials you have. Later on they can be improved more and more and eventually they will be the first-class opulent temples in the world.

So far starting a trust fund, yes, that is very good idea, so that the deities may never be neglected. The thing is, there must be continuous income, so if there is income from land that is all right. In Los Angeles we are getting income from rents from two apartment houses because there is always certain income.

As for bathing the deities in milk from time to time, that is not required. The smarta or caste brahmanas, they think if someone inattentively touches deity it becomes impure, so they bathe. But that is not needed by us, only when they are installed.

Regarding the cook-book, that is a nice proposal to divide into two parts. There is no harm if devotees have invented recipes, so long they are strictly vegetarian, no garlic, no onions, like that.

Upon your recommendation I am happy to accept Sudhakari dasi for second initiation. Now you hold a fire yagna, give her copy of gayatri mantra and teach her to count on the finger divisions. You may play the tape of me reciting gayatri mantra into her right ear. The ceremony should be held in the company of devotees only.

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sda

One Last Round
→ Japa Group

You have been given 10 minutes before you have to leave your body...you have enough time to chant 1 round before leaving...how good would that last round be? How much concentration and attention would you invest in that last round?
When I started my Japa...this meditation stayed with me and it helped me greatly with quality chanting and concentration on the Holy Name. I was able to chant some very nice rounds as a result.

The lazy mind!
→ KKSBlog

www.hdnicewallpapers.com(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2008, South Africa, Ratha Yatra Lecture)

We have to always be strict with our lazy mind because our mind says, “Well, you know, you can’t be fanatic!” which translates to, “Oh well, let’s just be lazy,” actually.

So the tendency to be a little lazy about standards and rules is very strong in all of us and we should never think that that will not happen.

How can we best offer prayers from the Bhagavatam?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Please give some details  regarding prayers offered  by different exalted devotees in srimad bhagavatam, can we choose any particular prayer and recite everyday as part of our sadhana if it is so, how much importance should we give/in what way we should understand  the  translation of the slokas  while we recite as a daily routine.

Answer Podcast

Harinama and Prasadam distribution in Mayapur (Album 42 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Often called "Food For Life," Prasadam is food that has been cooked by love and devotion by devotees of Krishna and offered to Krishna. After Krishna has enjoyed the meal the remnants become "Prasadam." Hare Krishna devotees distribute this prasdam to the general public with the understanding that when they eat prasadam they become purified of all material contamination and become qualified to develop love for God, Krishna Read more ›