336. The map and the journey
→ 9 Days, 8 Nights

Came across this short video of a man in Australia who tracked his mother back in India after he lost his real family after having fallen asleep as a small boy in a train. While watching the video, these thoughts flashed across my mind:

1. One has to be prepared to put in their heart and hard work if they want to achieve something
2. We must all take up a journey to find what we have really lost in life – spirituality
3. The Lord is also waiting for us anxiously and patiently for us to come back and knock at His door.
4. One must have the right tools in life to achieve the right destination – spiritual teacher and devotee friends are what we actually need.

In all cases, the endeavor has to be ours while the mercy awaits us.


335. Google executive Ray Kurzweil’s plan to live forever | News.com.au
→ 9 Days, 8 Nights

Google executive Ray Kurzweil’s plan to live forever | News.com.au.

Came across this article on a news website where a top exec and the head of his company’s engineering division is planning to live forever by relying on 150 vitamins/day, regular body check-ups and reliance on future scientific developments. He seems convinced about his planning. The link above takes you to the actual news report.

What does Srila Prabhupada have to say?

Nobody wants to die. Everyone knows that “I shall die.” But if there is immediately some danger, fire, immediately you go away from this room. Why? I do not wish to die. I do not wish to die. Although I know I must have to die. Still, why do I go away? I know that… “Oh, let there be fire. I have to die today or tomorrow. Let me die.” No. I do not wish to die. Therefore I go away. This is  psychology. So everyone wants to live forever. That’s a fact. So if you want to live forever, then you have to take to Krishna consciousness. So Krishna consciousness is so important and nice. Everyone wants to live. So actually, if you want to live, then you take to Krishna consciousness. This verse confirms it. Ayur harati vai pumsam udyann astam ca yann asau. The sun is rising early in the morning. As it is rising, gradually it is taking your life. That’s all. That is the business. But if you want to defeat the sun… Sun is very powerful. It is very difficult to fight. But you can fight with the sun. How? Simply by reading Krishna-katha, the words of Krishna. Uttama-sloka-vartaya. Vartaya. Uttama-sloka, Krishna. So this is the simple process. You don’t waste your time by talking nonsense.

Lectures, June 13, 1972, Los Angeles    


The Auspicious Month of Damodara (Kartik)
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!


The lunar month known as Damodara/Kartik falls between October 19th and November 17th. This month is celebrated as an opportunity to dive deeper in our spirituality. This month is described as especially dear to Krishna and sincere spiritualists keep it sacred through acts of devotion and vows of austerity aimed at increasing their spiritual strength and allowing them to draw closer to Krishna.

It was during Kartik that Lord Krishna allowed Himself to be bound with ropes by His mother, Yashoda. Out of loving anger at her transcendentally naughty child, she tied him (dama) around the abdomen (udara) with ropes. Thus the month of Kartik is also known as the month of Damodara, “He who was bound around the abdomen”.

Several festivals also fall within this auspicious month including Diwali on November 3rd and Govardhan Puja on November 4th. Please stay tuned to www.torontokrishna.com for more information about Kartik celebrations at Toronto’s Hare Krishna Temple!

Additionally, Kartik is observed by offering lamps and chanting a special prayer to Lord Damodara known as the  Damodarastakam (Click HERE). The Padma Purana, an ancient text, assures:
“Even a person addicted to all sins and averse to all pious deeds who somehow offers a lamp during Kartik becomes purified. Of this there is no doubt.”
During the month of Kartik, every day at 7am and 8pm at ISKCON Toronto we will offer ghee lamps and chant the Damodarastakam prayers *no lamp offerings on Sunday evenings.

As a special initiative for this holy month of Damodara, devotees from ISKCON Toronto will host Damodara Programs in the homes of our congregation members to spread the glories of the Lord. Please contact Program Coordinator, Satyabhama devi dasi for more information or to book a program.

This special month also presents several sponsorship Opportunities:

Diwali – Sunday, November 3rd
Deity Garlands: $351
Govardhan Puja – Monday, November 4th
Deity Garlands: $351

Kartik Deepa Dana
"If somebody burns a lamp in the temple of Lord Shri Hari even for a short time (in the month of Kartik), then whatever sins, he has acquired for millions of  kalpas (one kalpa equals 1000 yugas) are all destroyed."
Sponsor Daily Lamp Offerings to Lord Damodara $51
Diwali Deepa Dana $108

Please contact Satyabhama devi dasi for sponsorship enquiries.

Happy Kartik!

When Krsna smiles
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 13 September 2013, Durban, South Africa, Initiation Lecture)

Transcribed by Radhadyuti dd 

krsnas_eyesIn the Caitanya Caritamrta, it is stated that if one commits the ten offences then one is delaying the result of the holy name or delays serving the holy name and ISKCON is a movement dedicated to serving the holy name.

The chanting of the holy name is not a mechanical process. Rather, it is attracting Krsna and attracting the mercy of Krsna and when offences are committed in the chanting of the holy name then Krsna withdraws himself. So when Krsna withdraws himself from the name then the mercy of the name is no longer present in the same way, depending on the seriousness of the offence.

The first offence is maybe the most important of all - to blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives to preaching the glories of the holy name. Devotees are filled with mercy because devotees are carrying Krsna’s grace. Krsna is pleased. Krsna is pleased with the service that the devotees have rendered. It is said in the Krsna Book that Krsna is known as Acutya, which means he is infallible and he never fails to notice the smallest service rendered. So when devotees have dedicated themselves to pleasing Krsna so much, he reciprocates and therefore Krsna smiles upon his devotee.

So how can one criticize that devotee!? It hurts Krsna directly, therefore Krsna cannot tolerate that his devotees are being blasphemed or criticized. So we should be careful of even minor criticism of devotees. It may not uproot our bhakti creeper but it may destroy our taste in devotional service. Whereas major offences to vaisnavas are known as the mad-elephant-offence as that can uproot our devotional creeper.

Let us always be positive and glorify the vaisnavas and in that way, automatically, offences are avoided.

 

 

The Lake Of The Mind
→ Japa Group


"During the japa session, as the mind howls, don't give up the chanting. However bad the mind's demands, don't give in; let's keep chanting till we complete our daily quota. The lake of the mind will eventually settle down. But be rest assured, tomorrow as you sit for another japa session, the mind will once again agitate. Again the solution is the same; do not react."

Radhanatha Swami

The Kirtan Killer
→ simple thoughts

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Well I guess it’s nice to be noticed, we all want to be noticed right?
We want our fame and glory to be spread amongst the three worlds for all to hear right?
Sat amongst the amazing devotees I was faced with what deep down I already knew, no not fame or glory but infamy: “So I guess you know what nick name some devotees have for you? The Kirtan Killer”
Yes! What ever you do don’t ask me to lead unless it’s a strategic plan in getting people to leave, the words cut, Yes! as the saying goes the truth hurts indeed as I returned home looking at the instruments their I found myself unable to pick one up and play, indeed as we enter kartika it is proving a struggle.
Meditating on the comments allows the mind to play tricks, well if they were even a little caring then at least one of the critics should have the told me to my face; then given their musical talents offered to help, that’s what devotees do right?
I was missing the point, this was a lesson not in what others should be doing for me but how I firstly can learn humility but also take the experience and look at how personally I deal with others.
The disease is that we find fault, criticise even at times put people down, these are not becoming qualities, but also do we actually take the time to talk and listen to the person and then see if we could actually help.
Sat in the temple room since the comments I have been filled with dread, please don’t ask me to sing; and on several occasions sadly I have turned down the request that I sing the Nrsingadeva Prays for fear of offending those expert musicians forgetting that to be asked is unique and that those sincere will see the determined devotion.
Yes another lesson practical indeed to see the determined devotion even if the results may not be perfect; this way is we are looking not at quality but sincerity would we criticise?
Or more to the point would I criticise?
In many ways through the hurt of the truthful words comes an opportunity to learn more about myself and how I deal with others; and I guess this is Krishna Consciousness for you it peels away the many layers and reveals to us who we really are in order for us to learn.
But I am glad also of Krishna’s provision as next week will be the second community Diwali and this year their has been a kind offer to play for me although they don’t know it get they will be leading; for preaching things should be done nicely.
And I guess they could have been more cutting and added my total lack of being able to read sanskrit but that’s a whole different topic.
And for now all glories to those devotees who have not left when I’ve lead kirtan indeed who with great smiles joined in, now that’s a truly remarkable compassionate set of devotees

Sunday’s festival. October 20, 2013, New Navadvipa Mandir, Iskcon Kiev, the capital and the largest city of Ukraine (Album 25 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Kiev congregation of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness – the largest community of followers of Hare Krishna in Ukraine. Due to the active and coordinated activities of the community in Kiev was built and is currently expanding the greatest temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in the post-Soviet countries are constantly being published regularly print – newspaper "House of Prabhupada" , operates the largest branch of the charity 'Food for Life "in Ukraine , and everyone can go to study Vedic Sciences in Kiev Theological Academy of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Read more ›

Saturday, October 19th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Saturday Night Sounds
 
Juhu Beach, India
 
What does Juhu Beach look like on Saturday night?  It's pretty much what you'd expect.  In the commerce and residential areas it is busy with crazy traffic and people milling about.  Passions are high.  Ambitions and anticipations are also.  What fun can I have?  Let's try a new restaurant.  Let's hope to spring upon a new relationship; let's build upon the old ones.
 
And the beach itself from the stretch of fish town (smell it - uhh!) to the end of a lamp-post section it's people catching some air off the Arabian Sea.  There's gatherings, Hindu rituals, and vendors flogging their nic-nac wares.
 
One thing that's intriguing for beach-comers on this Saturday night is a bunch of hot, sweaty young men in some kind of moving formation, holding placards and just making a lot of noise.  But wait their is the thud of drums - djembe and Bengali drums.  There's sounds of protest, so it seems.  Yes, in fact, protests against maya, the illusions all about.
 
That group, in friendly opposition, is us.  Well, I'm not young.  Let's make a disclaimer there, but the actual kirtan that we are taking on our feet over the surface of the sand is making me young.  I had at one moment winced at the thought of getting old.  You see, it's been a topic of discussion to some degree.  My excuse for being on the beach with the other devotees and not sitting in on the last sessions of meetings with my peers at mid-term AGM was to lead this chanting.  In one session the topic of resigning or retiring from managerial positions for a number of us took place.  Yes, succession planning is topical.
 
It's good that you can't say that for kirtan, chanting that you can never retire from.  It's about the only thing going on that is a fountain of youth.
 
Our gig on the beach drew in greater crowds.  It seems that people are drawn to hot, sweaty something-or-other going on and as excitement peaked with our drums and our lungs I saw the opportunity to physically pull potential dancers into our circle.  It worked.
 
Such was my second visit to the sands of Juhu for the day and such was my finale for walking before being treated by an excellent massage therapist, Rasik Shyam.  It lifted my spirits when he said I'm in good shape.  That's humbling to hear.  It's all by the mercy of guru and God.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
9 KM

Mumbai Meeting
→ Ramai Swami

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Tamohara Prabhu, the current GBC Chairman, who holds a PhD in psychology,  inaugurated the GBC strategic planning meeting at Radha Rasabihari temple in Juhu Beach Mumbai. Other than the GBC members, there were 60  leading devotees from all over the world who attended this year’s conference.

A dedicated team of facilitators, headed by Gopal Bhatta Prabhu, organised the event and steered everyone through 5 days of enlivening discussions. There were at least 10 – 15 subcommittees talking about subjects such as devotee  care, preaching strategies, Prabhupada’s position, leadership succession, management systems and Iskcon Constitution.

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Serving with love and trust
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 September 2013, Johannesburg, South Africa, Home Program)

SP_airportIf we do not have any trust in devotees to guide us, inevitably we will do our own thing. But then how will we proceed? That is why there is a structure. It is not that the guru-disciple relationship is left up to us as individuals; there is an etiquette. So that etiquette tells us certain things which must be done and that sort of limits our independence. So when we do not trust then the etiquette will make up for it.

If we cannot serve with love and trust then at least, we have to serve with more reverence, which is part of respect and that is part of the etiquette. But eventually, we become indebted because our spiritual master will make arrangements for us to improve our life and bring us to increase our Krsna consciousness. When that happens then we become indebted. So then gradually, this etiquette changes into trust.

 

 

Kartik meditations – Part I
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 October 2011, Melbourne, Australia, Home Program)

deep dan_vrndavan_2013During this month of Damodar, there is a chance of making special advancement. Those who go to Vrindavan during the month of Kartik are very fortunate. It is said that in Vrindavan during Kartik, one can make many times more advancement than under normal conditions – a thousand times more. Therefore, being in Vrindavan for Kartik is very, very special. But not all of us have the opportunity and the time to leave everything and just go to Vrindavan but at least one can go there in consciousness!

Sometimes the acaryas, like Jiva Gosvami in the Sandarbhas, are pointing out that Vrindavan, or rather Mathura, is not a place; it is a state of consciousness. So, the consciousness of Mathura or Vrindavan is what really transports us there. Therefore, we can also invoke that atmosphere wherever we are and in that way one can reside in Vrindavan, by remembering Vrindavan. Because remembrance on the spiritual platform is as good as being there – we simply remember the spiritual world. So, it is a month to meditate on Krsna.

 

 

 

Sarat Purnima and the First Night of Karttika, October 18, Santa Barbara
Giriraj Swami

10.18.13_01.SB 10.18.13_02.SB——————————–
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.32, verses 16 to 22.

” ‘But the reason I do not immediately reciprocate the affection of living beings even when they worship Me, O gopis, is that I want to intensify their loving devotion. They then become like a poor man who has gained some wealth and then lost it, and who thus becomes so anxious about it that he can think of nothing else’ (SB 10.32.20). It happens: We get something with great difficulty and then we lose it and become obsessed with the loss. Or we may take something for granted, and when we lose it we appreciate what we had.

“Then Krishna says, ’My dear girls, understanding that simply for My sake you had rejected the authority of worldly opinion, of the Vedas, and of your relatives, I acted as I did only to increase your attachment to Me. Even when I removed Myself from your sight by suddenly disappearing, I never stopped loving you. Therefore, My beloved gopis, please do not harbor any bad feelings toward Me, your beloved’ (SB 10.32.21). Here Krishna is saying that it is not true that He did not reciprocate their love. He did, in such a way as to increase their attachment for Him. He was reciprocating—because the gopis‘, or any pure devotee’s, only desire is to love and serve Krishna and to increase their love for Him and their service to Him. And so by removing Himself from them He was reciprocating with their hearts’ deepest, innermost desire—to increase their love for Him.”

Sarat Purnima and the First Night of Karttika

Friday, October 18th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Just Seeing Old Friends
 
Juhu Beach, India
 
Just over four decades ago when American Krishna monks first set foot in Mumbai (then Bombay) it struck local people with curiosity and some with fear.  The sector of the public that was suspicious considered the Americans members of the CIA.  A popular Bollywood movie came out that lumped the Krishna devotees in with hippies.  People were singing a song from the film Dum Maro Dum which refers to smoking pot.  Devanand was the name of the director of the film and had agreed to meet some of our members to which time he apologized.
 
Eventually a gorgeous temple at Juhu was built and it became so popular.  This is where I'm staying.  On an average day thousands of pilgrims come to the temple.  Grandiose events such as Krishna's birthday take place.  Large scale marriages have this location as their venue.  Bollywood stars come for darshan - deity viewing.  Now, when you walk the beach, as I have been doing, in the same area, where establishing the temple took help from the public and lawyers after serious police harassment, we see a change in spirit.  To and from the beach early morning walkers greet me with a gracious, not even Namaste, but a "Hare Krishna!"
 
My colleagues (sannyasis and peers) and I were treated at the Bhaktivedanta Mission School, newly located a ten minute drive (my guess a 5 or 6 km walk) from the popular Juhu Temple.  Nine hundred students greeted us with mantras.  Well behaved and orderly, the students - mostly boys - demonstrated the spirit of enthusiasm just to see us older western guys.  When on our tour of this seven-story structure, we had been taken to the roof where you find a basket-ball court.  Of course, some of us were shooting balls testing our skills at the hoop - and scoring.
 
By evening I had dinner with a fairly well-known actress, Madhuri Bhatia, who appeared in feature films and daytime TV.  She had come to help us in Toronto when she resided there with our devotional dramas.  She brought a friend, also an actress, for a delicious meal at Govinda's.  I was accompanied by my assistant, Karuna Sindhu.  That made it two monks with two ladies, a little odd, but I see it all as family.
 
Occasionally one of my peers did walk through the restaurant noticing my company.  I just gave them a casual smile letting them know that I'm not doing anything non-conventional.  "Just seeing old friends.  That's all!"
 
May the Source be with you!
 
6 KM

Thursday, October 17th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Service In The Wet
 
Juhu Beach, India
 
It is unseasonably wet.  Rains have been coming to add onto the already humid atmosphere.  It makes it interesting.  This means that when taking your sand-bound steps either on the nearby beach or a flat-floor pacing in the ISKCON corridor floor #2 you perspire real easy.  After a shower it takes time for your brahmin's thread that's flung around the neck and across the torso to dry, much after you've donned a set of fresh and pressed clothing.
 
The service attitude here at the ISKCON Centre is phenomenal.  Your needs are met.  If you order a pomegranate juice it will be delivered, freshly-squeezed from local sources in a jiff.  But as a routine you don't order anything except for medicinal purposes, before the morning sadhana is over; the last portion of it being a class on a lesson from the book Bhagavatam.  Today's discourse came from Prahladananda Swami, who heads up the Sannyasa Ministry, the department that looks at eligible candidates for the renounced order.
 
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" he recited over the mic in a sarcastic tone.  Prahladananda pokes fun at the ego.  Who will deny that the ego needs a few kicks everyday?
 
For kicks I later ask Prahladananda if he could reference the nursery rhyme.  He frankly admitted he couldn't remember.  After talking with our Latino peer, Jaga Jivan, he confirmed the source - Snow White.  You see, we're getting older being in our 60's.
 
A major chunk of the day was occupied in discussing art of the last five hundred years in the Vaishnav tradition.
 
Vasudev from France and I reviewed essays on the subject.  We observed that the pushtimarga movement inspired by pundit Vallabhacharya and son Vithal had influenced art in a profound way in the early 16th century.  Ornamental back drops and paintings to murtis, or deities gave a flavour of other-worldliness.  Scholars who have written on the subject of Vaishnav art may take note of the 'realism' that was amplified by followers of the founder of the Krishna Consciousness movement.
 
Vasudev, who's a film-maker, and I spent a solid three hours in our little 'art universe' until it was time to retire.  At the time I did so my brahmacari assistant, Karuna Sindhu, let in four massagers (if I said massage therapists it would have professional connotations).  Why four?  Four limbs, I guess.  They applied a pleasant Ayurveda oil which made me moist.  They managed to get themselves wet in the toil and the joy of service.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
6 KM

Director General of Indian Council Cultural Relationships visits Museum Of Sacred Art – Radhadesh – Belgium (Album 12 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

The development of a ‘museum of sacred art’ in Radhadesh was inspired by the many original art pieces already on display in the Château de Petite Somme. These paintings, although expressing themes described in ancient Vaishnava texts, were painted in the style of classical realism. The idea of the museum was to create a dedicated space where visitors could experience and learn the cultural roots of Vaishnava art and its connection to the broader world of Hindu philosophy. Read more ›