Scientists Sign Declaration That Animals Have Conscious Awareness; Just Like Humans
→ Dandavats.com

Reporter: How do you know that the animal has a soul? Srila Prabhupada: You can know, also. Here is the scientific proof... the animal is eating, you are eating; the animal is sleeping, you are sleeping; the animal is defending, you are defending; the animal is having sex, you are having sex; the animals have children, you have children; they have a living place, you have a living place. If the animal's body is cut, there is blood; if your body is cut, there is blood. So, all these similarities are there. Now, why do you deny this one similarity, the presence of the soul? Read more ›

Don’t let jugglery of names bewilder you
→ The Spiritual Scientist

The whole material creation is a jugglery of names only; in fact, it is nothing but a bewildering creation of matter like earth, water and fire. The buildings, furniture, cars, bungalows, mills, factories, industries, peace, war or even the highest perfection of material science, namely atomic energy and electronics, are all simply bewildering names of material elements with their concomitant reactions of the three modes.

- Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.3 purport

Wednesday, November 20th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Good Letter

Toronto, Ontario

I was reluctant to read stacks of personal letters (you know, messages on paper) that were left on my desk, or rather, given to me by the person whom they were addressed to. His name is Steve Mann, otherwise known as Satyavrata. He had left these letters which were written over a period by a well wisher, Kirtanananda, who was the son of a minister and later took to the practice of bhakti yoga. He had become controversial and had written these letters when in prison. But, to his credit, he wrote some insightful literature much to do with the comparative thought between Christianity and spirituality from the east.

In an effort to reach out to one in need, Kirtanananda wrote the following letter to his friend. I thought it worth sharing and after reading it and after a walk through Rosedale:

“Thank you for your recent letter, 15th March, 1998.

So far as Lord Jesus is concerned, His mission is the same as all the other representatives of Godhead; namely, to remind us that we are all children of the one Almighty Father, and that He wants us to come Home, Back to Godhead! Again, don’t worry about some ‘final dissolution’ of the material world’. Material nature is also eternal, although any particular manifestation is temporary. The sacrifice Christ made is the same sacrifice demanded of all of us, ‘die before you die’, ‘die to live’. Unless we die to the ‘old man’, the false ego self, we cannot live to the ‘new man’, the real self that is part and parcel of the One, Krishna.

My instruction to you is the same instruction Prabhupada gave, ‘Chant and be happy’. Surrendering to Krishna means to stop worrying about your future and leave everything in His hands. Trust Him completely, He is your Father. He loves you perfectly and completely. He knows what is BEST for you. He is able to accomplish it and has the will to do it. Just trust Him!

Perhaps you should pray the serenity prayer, Lord, grant me the serenity (intelligence) to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

Also, the second part of Saint Francis’s prayer gives the secret of that sacrifice I mentioned, ‘Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love, for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we born to Eternal Life.’

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Report from the front line — helping the victims of Typhoon Haiyan
→ Dandavats.com

We are very thankful to Food for Life Global and their many donors and supporters for giving us this chance to be engaged in this noble service. Sometimes while distributing our prasadam, we also sing the holy names to the people here and that gladdens their hearts…Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare Read more ›

So Enchanting!
→ travelingmonk.com

The deities of Radha-vallabha in downtown Vrindavan are amongst my favorites. Krsna’s dark eyes are so enchanting! Popular amongst the Vraja-vasis, the old temple is not so well known amongst ISKCON devotees. Srimati Radharani is present as Her crown to the left of Vallabha, like at the more famous Radha Raman temple.

Wandering Around Mathura
→ travelingmonk.com

Yesterday I wandered around Mathura alone. To my delight, I found many old temples and interesting people – just like in nearby Vrindavan. The glories of the holy dhamas never cease to amaze me. “By speaking the name ‘Mathura’ one attains the same result as chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna. By hearing the [...]

For the fanatics
→ KKS Blog

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

KKS_CZ_2011Fanaticism means that we have a conviction that is without knowledge and realization. It is a conviction that is born out of other motives. We want to be advanced and recognized because of ulterior motives. In fanaticism, the motive is not Krsna’s pleasure; the motive is our pleasure – name, fame, glory and recognition; all these things are at the root of fanaticism.

Krsna consciousness is meant to be natural but purified naturalness. So, we must learn; we need knowledge and we need to adjust our life according to knowledge. The first point is adau guru-padashraya; first accept the guru-principle, not first accept a spiritual master! First accept the guru-principle that you are dependent on the directions of teachers. Do not doctor yourself.

 

 

Christmas Book Marathon Is Nearly Here
→ simple thoughts

Share

So after the joy of Kartika, and holding the second community Diwali then having one of the busiest visits to the Manor the past week has been relatively quiet a time to ponder and reflect.

December is looming and speaking to most of my clients and their relatives they are gearing up for Christmas, presents and food to buy for what should be one of the main Christian celebrations but unlike Kartika and Diwali were there is at least an understanding of the need to visit the temple few see the need to visit the church; each midnight mass I attend there is fewer and fewer in the puws whilst the temple appeared to be much more fuller this year.

So the month gives us a remarkable opportunity to reawaken the spirit soul to love of God (love of Krishna); Yes how much do we love Srila Prabhupada, how much do we desire to relieve others material suffering?

It’s the Christmas Book Marathon.

And before you get the excuse book out, it is not a temple devotee only activity but anyone’s and everyone’s young and old; even if it’s one small booklet or may be we can make it a gift for a loved one; these books are for sharing.

Weekend Warriors will always make you welcome, senior devotees will welcome you with open arms, Srila Prabhupada will beam the biggest smile, Sri Krishna will reciprocate; you will have the greatest joy.

Bring the love of Krishna into Christmas and remind the world of the real spiritual joy Jesus talked about.