Saturday, October 26th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk


Nice Touch

Tel Aviv, Israel

My main host in Israel is a bright 25 year old Russian-born Bala Krishna. As we made the drive to Tel Aviv for a walk, a swim and Kirtan with others he showed me a hard copy of an interesting graph. It was an EEG, electroencephalogram, of two people, quite avid practitioners of bhakti yoga and how the brain waves showed a beautiful solid reading of an exceptionally controlled mind when they chanted gayatri mantras.

It was an experiment conducted as part of academic research showing unseen ability to control brain-wave patterns. The whole world is becoming intrigued with the practice if meditation and how it brings about a positive sense of focus in people's lives. If science gets behind this ancient technique for making life tolerable then it will be rendering a great service, don't you think?

Since my last visit to Israel two years ago when I actually completed walking the country I see the efforts to improve the quality of life at least by the beachfront, the Mediterranean shoreline. A bicycle path, with north and south lanes, has been introduced with a bike rental system as you see in world-class cities. But what else can provide an enhanced way of being?

The kirtan that was lead by one other Russian devotee on harmonium with speakers and an entourage had many people spontaneously dancing and putting their effort out to take a crack at mantra meditation. The people here have a sense of rhythm and this was clearly demonstrated by passersby, tourists and such, who didn't just end up passing by but who stayed for a stretch to join in the fun. A lot of happy faces erupted as folks entered this domain.

The two young guys in particular remained with our male circle of dancers as they kept a simple but creative step for a good long while. Our female-formed circle also attracted women who stumbled upon a very festive side of a Saturday Night Fever. The more delicately demonstrated impressive hand moves.

I'm not sure what a graph would look like if all kirtan participants, including dancers and onlookers, were hooked up to a brain-wave machine. Judging by the joy on the faces I think that alone to be a good gauge. From what I gather the city of Tel Aviv is gracious to allow for this outdoor kirtan to go on for many years. This party of mantra chanters puts a nice touch to the the social landscape of the Mediterranean Sea side.

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

ISKCON Scarborough – Special class by HG Krsnadasa Kaviraja Prabhu tomorrow
→ ISKCON Scarborough

Hare Krishna!

Please accept our humble obeisances!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

We are very pleased to inform you that HG Krsnadasa Kaviraja prabhu will be giving a special class at ISKCON Scarborough tomorrow- Friday - Nov 1st 2013.

Prabhu was initiated by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada in 1974 and has since been serving in the mission of Srila Prabhupada.

Program starts at 6.45 pm

We will also be celebrating Diwali, Damodar Lila and Swathi Natchatra in a grand manner on Sunday Oct 3rd 2013. Program starts at 10.30 am.

We welcome you and your family to ISKCON Scarborough for our programs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday where we can all offer the ghee lamp and sing Damodarastam for the pleasure of Lord Damodara.


With best wishes from,

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

Email Address:

iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website: 

www.iskconscarborough.com

Vicious
→ Load Film in Subdued Light

Camera: Polaroid Automatic 100 Film: Fuji FP-100C (reclaimed negative)

Camera: Polaroid Automatic 100
Film: Fuji FP-100C (reclaimed negative)

It’s a shame that the geodesic dome never fully caught on. Sure, they’re ridiculously impractical, wasteful, prone to leaks, and prohibitively expensive, but they look great and isn’t that worth it? Well, maybe not. But seeing one in an otherwise natural environment gives me the juxtaposition I adore.

No reason not to throw in a few old buses to obscure the time when the shot was taken. Makes me want to watch Laser Floyd.

–

Flickr.


Protection of the cow
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 7 November 2010, Vrndavana, India, Govardhan Puja Lecture)

The cow and the bull are described by Srila Prabhupada as being totally harmless creatures. Everything about them is auspicious.

cows in vrndavanThey are supportive for the environment and in this way; with cow protection, we find all the good that is required. The cows provide milk –  she is one of the seven mothers along with the mother by birth, the wife of the brahmanas, the wife of the king, the wife of the guru, the nurse, the earth… The cow is one of our mothers and as such, we depend on the cows for our existence and the cows depend on us for protection. Cows don’t do well in maintaining themselves independently. They are domestic animals; they are meant to be protected by human beings. There is a natural relationship between the two. That relationship is also there in the spiritual world and the entire culture in Goloka Vrndavana is built on that culture.

 

 

 

Bridgend Second Community Diwali Celebrations
→ simple thoughts

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When I first met my Guru Maharajah he gave me a challenge to use my work as a way of sharing love of Krishna so it was with some great delight to hold the second Diwali celebration; with the help of Bridgend People’s First who arranged the hall.

It was also a great delight that one of the wonderful devotees who go to Bhaktivadant Manor Mena Mataji offered to make a wonderful cake based on the theme of the Ramayana: their was a cake with Mother Sita on it, one with Ravana on it and one with Lord Rama, Laxman and Hanuman. The attention to detail also included the stones with Ram written on them.

Mother Sita On a Cake of Her Own

Lord Rama Lazman Hanuman Ready to do battle against Ravana

Ravana Ready to do battle with his ten heads showing

The amazing scene based on the Ramayana Story

Over 40 people attended, it was a delight to see how many got involved and also offered a small light to Sri Krishna for those who didn’t feel too confident offered a small flower, danced for the deities and enjoyed the small but humble feast of prasadma put on.

The small community hall filled ready for the start of the celebrations

Flowers and confetti was thrown to make the place nice for Lord Rama’s return

Vijay Prabhu lead a small kirtan whilst we had a small arati performed which always mesmerizing which was something I was unable to do last year given the logistics of presenting Krishna Consciousness on my own; so the help this year was really appreciated and I ow a big debt of gratitude to these two wonderful devotees.

The cake also made it easier to tell the story of how Lord Rama returned back to Lanka following his exile.

In the end we discussed with the co-ordinator of Bridgend People’s First next years Diwali celebration’s and the need to hold it in a bigger hall so that more community groups can be invited and join in; it was also wonderful that so many of people enjoyed their taste of Krishna Consciousness; indeed to be invited to some more school’s and community groups is wonderful.

I would encourage anyone and everyone to hold a small Diwali Celebration for their local community especially during the month of Kartika it is the sweetest feeling ever.

See within to seek without; seek without to see within
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Ads, promos, billboards fill us with ideas of what all we need. Some of these things may be our actual needs, but many are simply superfluous trinkets that we mistake as our needs due to the outer propaganda blitz.

To seek without intelligently, we need to see within diligently. Seeing within means to contemplate our cherished values and our deepest aspirations. To see within more clearly, time-honored wisdom texts like the Bhagavad-gita serve as inner torchlights.

Gita wisdom helps us understand our true identity as souls and our eternal life of love in relationship with the all-attractive Supreme Being, Krishna. And it helps distinguish our core self and its central concerns from outer persuasions that have lodged themselves in our mind and are unscrupulously masquerading as “needs.” Once we make this distinction, we get two benefits: relief from pursuing un-necessities, and release for pursuing necessities. Thus by seeing within, we learn what to seek without. This is demonstrated in the setting of the Bhagavad-gita wherein Arjuna while being on the verge of fighting a history-defining war faced an emotional breakdown. Krishna through the Gita’s message helped him to see within, and thereby understand how and why to act without.

Significantly, the flow of insights is bi-directional. By seeking without, we learn to see within. When we strive to achieve something externally, the ensuing struggle tests our inner muscles, our grit and determination. More importantly, it helps us recognize the compatibility or incompatibility of our outer actions with our inner aspirations, thereby showing us the room for course corrections.

We often crave and slave for the things that the world glamorizes. But gaining those things often turns our to be an anti-climax – they give a short-lived titillation followed by a prolonged, in fact permanent, letdown. Most people try to get rid of this emptiness by seeking something else glamorized by the world. But astute people recognize this emptiness as a prompt for soul-searching, for enriching themselves with a clearer understanding of who they are and what will make them happy.

Moreover, our inner values are tested and toughened when we try to live them in the outer world. That’s why the Gita urged Arjuna not to renounce world, but to utilize it in the service of God and all living beings. By doing our outer responsibilities in a mood of service to the Supreme, we become enriched with epiphanies, as the Bhagavad-gita (9.2) indicates. Thus by seeking without, we learn to see within better.

This symbiosis of our inner and outer worlds is the key to a meaningful and joyful life.

Rivers and Ropes
→ OppositeRule

Last night I was thinking of the mantras of the Veda appearing like a lotus around Krishna and  in my mind saw the Vedas just like rivers of attractive transcendental sounds. I’ve never heard anything like that before, afaik.

So for little while I was thinking the Vedas are like beautifully assembled waves flowing through time. Then a few seconds later in the podcast I was hearing, HH Bhakti Vikas Swami says “The Vedas are like rivers,” and begins talking more about the Vedas being like rivers.

I suppose these rivers are also the ropes I’ve heard are given for me to climb out of the well of ignorance. These ropes I have been climbing for a very long time in different ways, but I cannot again see the origin of the rope.

Maybe I can somehow catch Krishna with these ropes, but I am afraid Krishna won’t come near because He knows I would try that.

I have heard Krishna is Damodara and can be bound by ropes of love, but how can I find these ropes? Where can I get the ropes that will catch and bind Krishna?

Are the Vedas those ropes? I don’t think so. They are very fine, but Krishna is so much finer, and I am fairly sure He isn’t very fond of anything coarse.

The fabric of love for catching Krishna must be so soft that Krishna wants to get wrapped in it. Any such ropes must be the most precious objects in the world.

Friday, October 25th 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Getting to Know You
 
Tel Aviv, Israel
 
From the ashram in Aeriel on Hadekel Street, two of the monks residing here took me on a trail that looped around the edge of the town. It was 5:30 AM and Adan was being sung from a minaret of the local mosque. One of the monks chose to be in civilian attire for reasons that he didn't want to deal with authorities. The other one was bolder and stuck to devotional attire. I didn't think there was too much to worry about.
 
I was becoming familiar with the customary greeting in "Hebrew". Of course, there's Shalom. Also boker tov was the expression I got to know. We were not alone on the stroll. There were warm greeters. One man however, with a lips cap on his head just didn't take too well to our presence. I was trying to get "biker to my tongue, grappling for this new term to send off. I found a big smile had to suffice. A condescending glance that went from my head to toe was how he reciprocated.
 
I got to know the area a bit, including the university grounds. Cats frequent the streets. Bala Krishna, one of the monks, told me that the students feed these stray feline creatures, which explains the numbers. Jasmine, fig and olive shrub and trees are recognizable to me. It's a wonderful world.
 
Twelve hours later and we drove ourselves to near the central bus station in Tel Aviv. I'm just a stranger here but I find an absolute "no no" that our Krishna devotees are partaking in. There's nothing wrong with them chanting. In fact, I'm keen to be a part of it. It's the location and formation that got me concerned. As a rule of thumb I would never have a chanting party cause people to have to walk around and walk on the sidewalk and especially outside a busy department store. Sure enough, security came out because our group was just too much "in the face" of the place and so they reacted. Mind you the singing and drumming was supremely lively but we were in one spot for too long, too loud and creating worse than a bottle-neck situation. We had to move on. I hope to learn from our mistakes.
 
A ten minute walk and we were set for an evening sanga at a community hall. It was a predominant Russian community that came to hear about the Science of the Self, to sing, eat and enjoy each others' company. Bala Krishna translated my message and I was gratified to hear the audience was gratified. It's all the mercy of guru.
 
May the source be with you!
 
7 KM

Celebrate Diwali , Damodar Lila and Swathi Natchatra at ISKCON Scarborough coming Sunday!‏
→ ISKCON Scarborough



Hare Krishna!

Please accept our humble obeisances!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

Coming Sunday - November 3rd 2013, three special events are taking place on the same day:

Diwali(Dipavali):
King Dashrath ruled the rich and prosperous city of Ayodhya. He had three wives and Kaikayi was his favourite. She saved his life in a war at a very crucial time. Dashrath granted her two favours for saving his life.

Dashrath had four sons. Rama, the oldest, was everybody's favourite. He was married to the beautiful and devoted Sita. Just before Ram's coronation, Kaikayi reminded Dashrath of her two favours. She told him to crown Bharat as king and to banish Ram to the jungle for fourteen years. Her wishes were granted.

The old king Dashrath later died of a broken heart. After a few years in the forest, Sita was lured by the demon king Ravana. Rama, with the help of a monkey general, Hanuman, rescued Sita and defeated Ravana. After fourteen years in exile Ram and Sita and returned to Ayodhya.

It is in Their honour that "Diwali" is celebrated. "Diwali" signifies the victory of good over evil.

Anniversary of Damodar Lila:

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, quoting from the Vaisnava-tosani of Srila Sanatana Gosvami, says that the incident of Krsna's breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by mother Yasoda took place on the Diwali day or Dipavali Day or Dipa-malika.

Swathi Natchatra celebration:

Special Abhishek to Lord Narasimhadev will be performed on this day.

Kartik month continues...
As we are entering the 3rd week of the month of Kartik, ISKCON Scarborough devotees are continuing to go to various homes to sing Sri Damodarastakam and perform arti .The Holiest month of Kartik continues until November 17th 2013.Please contact Dhirnithai prabhu (647-292-5358) or Radha Govind Hari prabhu(416-858-5573) to book an evening. The remaining available slots are getting filled up fast!

We warmly welcome you, your family, relatives and friends to take part in offering Ghee lamp to Lord Damodar during our programs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.


With best wishes from,

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

Email Address: 

iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website: 

www.iskconscarborough.com


Invitation to a New Vrindaban Community Dialog – Sunday, November 10th!
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ISKCONlogo

ECOV Logo

Event: Community Dialog

Date: Sunday, November 10th, 2013

Time: 3 to 5 pm, following the Sunday Temple Program

Place: Under the Lodge

Dear Brijabasis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

As you may be aware, the board members of ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-Vrindaban will gather for a bi-annual face to face joint boards’ meeting the weekend of November 8th through the 10th, 2013.

On behalf of the board members, I humbly invite all New Vrindaban residents and well-wishers for a Community Dialog.

Our continuing theme: “How can we better serve you?”

Additional topics include:

Furthering Srila Prabhupada’s five primary instructions for New Vrindaban.

Increasing communication, cooperation, transparency and trust in our ongoing “Improving Community Spirit” efforts.

Sharing highlights from the board members’ discussions.

We would also like to hear your suggestions. Please take this opportunity to express your cares and concerns, ask questions and engage in an open conversation.

We appreciate your participation and look forward to seeing you!

Hare Krishna.

Your servant,

Jaya Krsna dasa

ISKCON New Vrindaban Community President