Travel Journal#9.17: Dublin, Philly, and North Florida
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 9, No. 17
By Krishna-kripa das
(September 2013, part one)
Dublin, Philly, and North Florida
(Sent from Gainesville, Florida, on September 25, 2013)

Where I Went and What I Did

I went to Ratha-yatra in Dublin and did harinama there the next day. Then I flew to Orlando, stopping at Philly to visit Fern, my niece, and Haryasva Prabhu at his Govinda’s vegetarian restaurant, very briefly as my flight was delayed. Then I spent time chanting in North Florida, in the cities of Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville, which culminated in the Jacksonville Beach Ratha-yatra. Especially in Jacksonville, lots of students participated in our chanting, and that made me very happy. In the midst of all that I saw the bathing ceremony for small Radha Shyamasundara on Radhastami in Alachua.


I share insights from Srila Prabhupada’s books, an excerpt from a poem bySatsvarupa Dasa Goswami, notes on lectures by senior devotees speaking at Krishna House and New Raman Reti, notes on a great class by young lady from a devotee family, and a couple of devotional observations.

Thanks to Amrita Keli dd for taking the picture which includes me at the Krishna Club Radhastami program.

A very special thanks to Praghosa Prabhu for kindly donating to support my outreach work in the UK and to Dhruva Prabhu (Kishor Dongre) for loaning me the money to buy a round trip ticket from Dublin to Orlando.

To see the approximately 150 pictures which I did not include in this blog, click on the link below:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103872792410945983719/TravelJournal917?authkey=Gv1sRgCOTswPOvs-DkDw

Itinerary

September 25–26: Gainesville
September 27–30: Columbus, Ohio
October 1–November 24: Union Square harinama, New York City
November 25: Tampa
November 26–February 19, 2014: Gainesville [except with 5 days / month in Tallahassee, one day per month in Tampa]
February 20: Orlando, Philadelphia
February 21: Dublin
February 25–April 20, 2014: Mayapur

Dublin Ratha-yatra

Earlier in the summer, when I saw the Dublin Ratha-yatra date of September 1, I was thinking it was just another Ratha-yatra I would miss out on, but I was wrong. 


Somehow or other I found a flight from Dublin to Orlando that was $150 cheaper than those from London. Thus it was cheaper for me to fly from Dublin, even considering the $50 it takes to go between England and Ireland.

The weather was surprisingly good in Dublin. In other words, it was not raining. Lots of people watched, smiled, and photographed the procession of Lord Jagannatha and His brother and sister, being pulled by His devotees, along with lively singing and dancing.


Photo © 2013 Sebastian Rutkowski (sebrut@ymail.com).

The sound system had serious problems, although the devotees had spent 500 euros on a professional system. One year in Paris, they spent 4000 euros on a professional sound system that also failed.

In the middle of procession, I told Bhakti Vikasa Swami I liked this quote by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura from the biography he had written: “Srinama-sankirtana[The congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord] is the best sadhana [spiritual practice]. If other sadhanashelp us in Krishna-sankirtana, then they deserve to be called sadhana; otherwise they are simply impediments to sadhana.Sri-Krishna-nama-sankirtanais the emperor of sadhanas.It is the only infallible sadhanacapable of bringing us to siddhi [perfection].” I said it was the most powerful glorification of the congregational chanting of the holy name that I had ever heard. In response he taught me one verse: sadhya sadhana tattva ye kichu sakala/ harinama-sankirtane milibe sakala— “[Lord Caitanya said to Tapan Mishra:] ‘Everything is accomplished by the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord, including the goal of life (sadhya) and the means for its attainment (sadhana).’” (Sri Caitanya Bhagavata,Adi 14.143)


One young lady was very ambitiously taking photos during the Ratha-yatra, and I asked if she was with the Hare Krishnas or with the press. She explained that she was doing a report on minority religions in Ireland and happened to learn of the Ratha-yatra. What a wonderful coincidence! Later she interviewed different devotees including Bhakti Vikasa Swami, who gave her some maha-prasadam from Lord Jagannatha. When she interviewed me I told her about the festival on our Hare Krishna island for Radhastami that was coming up in a week and a half, in case she wanted another colorful Krishna festival to photograph.

The Ratha-yatra proceeded on a road frequented by tour buses thus giving many visitors to Dublin a chance to see the Jagannatha procession, hear the kirtana, and take photos.


A little devotee girl had her own little Ratha-yatra cart in the parade.


At the end of the parade, Lord Jagannatha was carried to the park.


There He, and His brother, Baladeva, and sister Subhadra also got to see the stage show.


At the stage show in the park, there were the usual mix of devotional music and Indian dances. There was a nice feast for the public, but just a single vegetable preparation for the devotees that was suitable for Ekadasi, and unfortunately it ran out before some people got it. 

Manu Prabhu did a lively kirtana at the end.


Lots of devotees played instruments and danced on the stage.


In the audience, a Slovakian couple and a few devotees danced.


So did some girls from France and Spain.


Even some of the kids got into it.


The Slovakian couple was fortunate to get a personal interview with Bhakti Vikasa Swami, and the girl got his garland. 


They were interested to hear when I told them I was chanting in their capital of Bratislava for three hours a day for three days last month, and that we have a daily chanting program there now.

The girls from France and Spain were working in Cork and came to Dublin for the weekend. They were very happy to hear when I told them that we have vegetarian food after our programs in Dublin, and they indicated they might drop by our program on a future weekend visit to Dublin. 

For some really professional photos of the Dublin Ratha-yatra, visit this website: http://rathayatra.ie/photo-video-gallery/dublin-2013 

Dublin Harinama

On Monday, we chanted for two and a half hours in Dublin on the big street half a block from the temple. One girl was sitting down on the steps of a shop and smiling as she watched the harinama party. I came up to her and gave her an invitation, and she asked if I had any books. I had two books, and she already had one of them but she bought the other one for a donation of 1.63 euros. She continued sitting there listening and looking at the book she got and showing it to her boyfriend until we left. An Indian student we met on the same harinamaand invited to the Gitaclass actually came to the class that very evening. Now that doesn’t happen every day! After the class he told me how he wanted to do good for society but was worried about having no time for his spiritual life. I told him in that case he should do something for the spiritual good of society. “Have a Bhagavad-gita class at your college, and you will benefit society and your soul in one act.” He appeared to be a serious person, and I hope he takes my advice seriously, or at least corresponds with me about other spiritual alternatives.

I was happy to connect with my friendsin Dublin who love kirtanaand look forward to seeing them when I return in February enroute to India, for the Mayapur kirtana-mela.

Philly

I booked my flight with a four and a half hour layover in Philly so I could go with my niece Fern to my friend’s, Haryasva Prabhu’s, Hare Krishna restaurant, Govinda’s. Initially I thought the plan would work well when I found they did all the U.S. Customs in Dublin so there would be no wait in Philadelphia, but I was wrong. The people showed up so late to the airport in Dublin that with the delays in security and customs, the plane left an hour and fifteen minutes late. I was surprised that they chose to facilitate the people who arrived at the airport late rather than those of us who made it on time. Thus I just had fifteen minutes to spend with Fern and Haryasva at Govinda’s. I hope I have better luck during my stopover in the other direction in February.

Back Home to Gainesville

I was happy to return to Gainesville, and its Krishna House, Krishna Lunch, and all my old friends. I remembered some of the many positive features of my life there:

Enthusiastic singers chanting on the campus. 


This semester managed by Ananta Prabhu, who is playing harmonium in the video clip below, is in charge of the program.  






Chanting at the Farmers Market.






And people who love to sing the evening arati song.




I noticed on bulletin board the Krishna House Rules:






The devotees are very friendly at Krishna House, and took pleasure in celebrating the birthday of Rasaraj Prabhu, who has been around longer than many of its residents.



Rasaraj Prabhu also took pleasure in serving the prasadam cake he received.


Tallahassee Harinamas

This may well have been my favorite visit to Tallahassee, and as usual, it began with First Friday. First Friday was great as about fifteen devotees from Gainesville came up to chant at the Railroad Square Art Park while Daru Brahma Prabhu served prasadam. The lively kirtana of the devotees prompted inquiries, dancing, and photography. At one point the kirtana left the scene of the prasadam serve out as the had rain dampened business, and they circled around the whole area attracting a lot of additional dancers.



It turned out one of Daru’s workers quit at the last minute, and Sundari Gopi dd and Alexandra helped him with the serving out. During First Friday one young man came up to me and thanked me for introducing him to Krishna Lunch when I was on campus during the previous spring semester.



I made vegan oatmeal cookies from the recipe on the back of the oatmeal container, substituting vegetable oil for vegetable shortening, substituting 1½ tablespoons of either soy milk or water for each egg, substituting soy milk or water for the milk in equal amounts, and eliminating the chocolate chips. I had been wanting to be able make cookies that were soft, and I found that this recipe worked remarkably well. In fact, Daru offered to give me $10 for a batch for 30 cookies.

The next day we chanted at Wakulla Springs Park for the first time. It was a swimming excursion, and I was the only one chanting in the beginning. I chanted my sweetest tune and played the harmonium softly, so that we would not be seen as a disturbance and be stopped. Then Dvijamani Prabhu, a brahmacari book distributor joined me, and also sang a very sweet and melodious tune. As devotees finished swimming and had lunch they joined the chanting party.



As the day wore on, more people came to bathe at the springs. We saw several park rangers but none stopped our chanting. One group of several girls went by, half doing some dance steps to the music. Later another group of girls went by and one of them was very animated and smiling, and she asked, “What is this? What is this?” although her friends were completely indifferent to the chanting party.

A guy came up and danced with us.

Dvijamani Prabhu talked to him.





Then a friend of his also came up.


Then a couple of girls also came.



A boy who comes to Krishna Lunch in Tallahassee a couple times a week sat on a towel near the kirtana party for some time.


And very little girl enjoyed moving her arms to the music.


The devotees said that one girl even tried to chant along.

I had made cookies to distribute on harinama, and Sundari Gopi made cookies for the Gainesville devotees, and we distributed both to the people who were attracted by the chanting. To those who were most attracted we gave the pamplet, “On Chanting Hare Krishna,” and we easily distributed the four we brought out, and could have done five. We chanted with the portable harmonium as we walked back to the parking lot. Since we were leaving, no attempt was made to stop us.

We chanted in the parking lot as well.


We chanted two hours and forty-five minutes altogether, and I felt very victorious as lots of people heard the holy name, took prasadam, spiritual food, and some even literature. I was worried that we would stopped after just a few minutes, but Wakulla Springs Park turned out to be a great harinama location.

When we stopped for gas while returning to the temple, we saw some Christian bumper art with a great message:



On Sunday, I chanted at Lake Ella for two and a half hours. I invited one friend to come, and he invited two of his friends to come. Although he did not come himself, his friends did. One included a lady, perhaps in her thirties, who described herself as an ex-hippie, and who had sung with us six months before, when she played the djembe and bought Bhagavad-gita.

I chanted on the campus of Florida State University on Monday with a book table and vegan oatmeal cookies to distribute. 

One guy named Sam, who had graduated recently, told how he loved the Krishna Lunch when he was going to school. Both days he came by my table, and while I talked with him, he encouraged people to take the cookies and invitations to the lunch program.


A guy named Alan did not know we had Krishna Lunch at Florida State. He had gone to Krishna Lunch at University of Florida and remembered Daru from there. Thus he was doubly surprised. Surprised we had Krishna Lunch at FSU, and surprised that Daru, who he knew from Gainesville in the mid-1990s, was in charge of it!



One day a girl walked by with a beautifully theistic T-shirt, and I asked to take her picture.



I noticed another student also wearing the same shirt, and I wonder if there is some Christian group promoting it.

Both days I chanted on the campus I found more vegans and vegetarians than I expected to and about 70% of them were unaware of the Krishna Lunch, so I felt I played a role in connecting people with Krishna prasadam during my Tallahassee visit.

Monday evening I attended Garuda Prabhu’s free yoga classes. He has the people chant Nitai Gaura as they do the sitting postures, and they said it so sweetly and innocently that I complimented them afterward. I distributed oatmeal cookie pieces to the nineteen people present. On Tuesday when I chanted on the campus, I met four of the people I had seen at Garuda’s place the night before. They were happy to get more of the cookies.
One of them was friends with the son of a devotee from the Alachua community.

Both days on the campus I collected emails of people interested in Bhagavad-gita classes, mantra meditation, and vegetarian cooking classes.

On Tuesday one boy named Mike came for the Bhagavad-gita class, bringing two friends, one named Darrin and a girl whose name I forgot. I demonstrated to the girl the karatala beat and then clapped my hands to that beat for five minutes, while I sang the popular Prabhupada tune, until she got the beat. Then I continued singing with the harmonium. I showed the Mike the open and closed sounds you can make on each end of the mrdanga drum, and told him to do a big boom on the third karatala beat. Darrin, who was not playing instruments, I told to lead the response, and the others could follow the best they could considering they were also learning the instruments. We chanted for twenty minutes, and I was just amazed how they learned to play the instruments in time and to sing the mantra which they had never sung before, all in such a short period. That experience revealed to me Srila Prabhupada’s genius in singing a simple tune anyone could follow in order to encourage people to chant. The students all stayed for the whole class and for iced tea and cake afterward. Mike, who is majoring in psychology, was fascinated with the empirical studies of Sabom and Stevenson on near-death experiences and past life memories, and he wrote down their names so he could research them.

Jacksonville Harinamas and Krishna Club Program

On Wednesday, many devotees chanted together on the green at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. There were the three devotee ladies who are helping with the
Krishna Club, the student who is the president of the club, one boy who lived at Krishna House in Gainesville, three traveling book distributors, and myself, so it was very dynamic.



Despite spending the whole morning and early afternoon celebrating Radhastami in Alachua, we still chanted in Jacksonville almost an hour and a half, with Ekendra and Tulasi Priya, who kindly arranged that I could stay for the midday kirtana and feast in Alachua, and also chant in Jacksonville.

Our Krishna Club program on Radhastami was attended by over 40 students. Even the new room we were using was barely big enough. Tulasirani Dasi talked about Radharani and selfless love. Tulasi Priya Dasi sang a really lively tune and most everyone sang along. Many of them danced. 



Amrita Keli dd put a video of it on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10104096048148491&set=vb.2040949&type=2&theater, which is better than the copy below I put on YouTube:



Tulasirani and Hladini Dasi made tasty and sufficientprasadam for all. The students were so fired up a group of them started their own kirtana after the prasadam. 




Such enthusiasm was beautiful to see! All the devotees who are involved with the club are youthful, enthusiastic, and friendly, and people are easily attracted.

On Friday, we chanted five hours at the University of North Florida and at one point four students joined us, one playing guitar and another didgeridoo. I asked the students if anyone remembered a Hare Krishna tune that they wanted to chant, and they recalled the tune from the previous evening’s Krishna Club meeting that Tulasi Priya had sung beautifully, and they all sang along, with two of the new students leading some of the time. Thanks to Jessica Starr for taking the video of it:



At one point I taught Jessica the chords to the Prabhupada melody, so she could play the harmonium. Ian assisted in pumping the instrument so she could focus on the chords. Youssef played excellently on the guitar, and Dorian played the karatalas. I played the drum, except when I took the picture below:



Hladini Dasi was always talking to students and inviting them to our Krishna programs.





I love the University of North Florida because the students are willing to sit down on the blanket and sing with us. I think during the whole afternoon nine different students joined us, including two who had never been to our Krishna club meetings. Those two told us they would definitely go to the Ratha-yatra on Jacksonville Beach the next day.

Jacksonville Beach Ratha-yatra

It was the first time I have been to Jacksonville Beach Ratha-yatra in many years. Now the Festival of India, with many of its exhibits on different spiritual activities sets up there by the Seawalk Pavillion near the beach. The weather was hot, and there was a lot of sun, so there were lots of people at the beach to encounter Lord Jagannatha’s mercy in the form of His vision, the chanting of His devotees, and the food that was offered to Him.

Some beach girls helped unload the Festival of India truck, including the musical instruments.



Devotees pulled the cart past sleeping beach goers.


The procession attracted the attention of many, like these below.


One couple had a great time dancing in the chanting party in front of the cart.


Some sportsmen enjoyed pulling the cart.


A guy prominently wearing a Christian cross did too.


And some girls also got into it.


My friend Pracarananda got my award for the most colorful shirt.


One couple followed the whole parade and took prasadam afterward. They had not encountered Hare Krishna before, but had a wonderful time at the festival.

Toward the end, a group of young people enjoyed dancing with the devotees in an impromptu kirtana led by Damodar Prasad Prabhu.



One young man named Dakota, with his arms raised on the left of the picture below, who had met the Dvijamani Prabhu on book distribution earlier in the week, came back with the devotees to Krishna House and stayed for five days.



Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

from The Nectar of Instruction, verse 5, purport:

“When a person realizes himself to be an eternal servitor of Krishna, he loses interest in everything but Krishna's service. Always thinking of Krishna, devising means by which to spread the holy name of Krishna, he understands that his only business is in spreading the Krishna consciousness movement all over the world. Such a person is to be recognized as an uttama-adhikari, and his association should be immediately accepted according to the six processes (dadati pratigrihnati, etc.).”

The Nectar of Instruction, 6, purport:

“According to the statements of Srila Rupa Gosvami in this verse, an American gosvami and a gosvami in a family of acaryas are nondifferent. On the other hand, a devotee who has attained the title of gosvami but is not born of a brahmana father or of a gosvami in the family of Nityananda or Advaita Prabhu should not be artificially puffed up by thinking that he has become a gosvami. He should always remember that as soon as he becomes materially puffed up, he immediately falls down. This Krishna consciousness movement is a transcendental science, and there is no room for jealousy. This movement is meant for the paramahamsas who are completely free from all jealousy (paramam nirmatsaranam). One should not be jealous, whether he is born in a family of gosvamis
or has the title of gosvami awarded to him. As soon as anyone becomes envious, he falls from the platform of paramahamsa.”

An empowered person who is actually engaged in the confidential service of the Lord should not be treated as an ordinary human being, for it is stated that unless one is empowered by Krishna, one cannot spread the Krishna consciousness movement all over the world. When one thus criticizes a pure devotee, he commits an offense (vaishnava-aparadha) that is very obstructive and dangerous for those who desire to advance in Krishna consciousness. A person cannot derive any spiritual benefit when he offends the lotus feet of a Vaishnava. Everyone should therefore be very careful not to be jealous of an empowered Vaishnava, or a suddha-vaishnava. It is also an offense to consider an empowered Vaishnava an object of disciplinary action. It is offensive to try to give him advice or to correct him. One can distinguish between a neophyte Vaishnava and an advanced Vaishnava by their activities. The advanced Vaishnava is always situated as the spiritual master, and the neophyte is always considered his disciple. The spiritual master must not be subjected to the advice of a disciple, nor should a spiritual master be obliged to take instructions from those who are not his disciples. This is the sum and substance of Srila Rupa Gosvami’s advice in the sixth verse.”

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.16.26, purport:

“When Angira had first come to visit King Citraketu, he did not bring Narada with him. However, after the death of Citraketu’s son, Angira brought Narada to instruct King Citraketu about bhakti-yoga.The difference was that in the beginning Citraketu was not in a temperament of renunciation, but after the death of his son, when he was overwhelmed by his great plight, he was awakened to the platform of renunciation by instructions regarding the falsity of this material world and material possessions. It is only at this stage that bhakti-yoga can be instructed. As long as one is attached to material enjoyment, bhakti-yoga cannot be understood.”

“The Krishna consciousness movement is progressing successfully in the Western countries at the present moment because the youth in the West have reached the stage of vairagya,or renunciation. They are practically disgusted with material pleasure from material sources, and this has resulted in a population of hippies throughout the Western countries. Now if these young people are instructed about bhakti-yoga,Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the instructions will certainly be effective.”

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.16.34, purport:

“The Lord and the devotees both conquer. The Lord is conquered by the devotees, and the devotees are conquered by the Lord. Because of being conquered by one another, they both derive transcendental bliss from their relationship. The highest perfection of this mutual conquering is exhibited by Krishna and the gopis.The gopis conquered Krishna, and Krishna conquered the gopis.Thus whenever Krishna played His flute, He conquered the minds of the gopis, and without seeing the gopisKrishna could not be happy.”

“Pure devotees are described as sama-mati, which means that they never deviate from devotional service under any circumstances. It is not that devotees worship the Supreme Lord only when happy; they worship Him even when in distress. Happiness and distress do not hamper the process of devotional service. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam says that devotional service is ahaituky apratihata, unmotivated and uninterrupted. When a devotee offers devotional service to the Lord without any motive (anyabhilasita-sunyam[Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu1.1.11], his service cannot be hampered by any material condition (apratihata). Thus a devotee who offers service in all conditions of life can conquer the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita 8.214, purport:

“Srimati Radharani and the gopisare not interested in their personal happiness derived from association with Krishna. Rather, they become happy by seeing one another associate with Krishna. In this way their dealings are further nourished by love of Godhead, and seeing this, Krishna is very pleased.”

from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita 8.215, purport:

“The lusty affairs of the gopisactually constitute the topmost love of Godhead because the gopisnever act for their own personal satisfaction. They are simply pleased by engaging other gopisin the service of the Lord. The gopisderive more transcendental pleasure from indirectly engaging other gopis in the service of Krishna than from engaging in His service themselves. That is the difference between material lust and love of Godhead. Lust applies to the material world, and love of Godhead applies only to Krishna.”

from The Nectar of Instruction, verse 7, purport:

“There are ten basic offenses, and if the devotee avoids these, he can glimpse the next stage, which is situated between offensive chanting and pure chanting. When one attains the pure stage, he is immediately liberated. This is called bhava-mahadavagni- nirvapanam. As soon as one is liberated from the blazing fire of material existence, he can relish the taste of transcendental life.”

“We are sending sankirtanaparties all over the world, and they are experiencing that even in the remotest part of the world, where there is no knowledge of Krishna, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra attracts thousands of men to our camp. In some areas, people begin to imitate the devotees by shaving their heads and chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, only a few days after hearing the mantra. This may be imitative, but imitation of a good thing is desired. Some imitators gradually become interested in being initiated by the spiritual master and offer themselves for initiation.”

from The Nectar of Instruction, verse 8, purport:

“At first, remembrance of Krishna may be interrupted at intervals, but later remembrance proceeds uninterrupted. When remembrance is uninterrupted, it becomes concentrated and is called meditation. When meditation expands and becomes constant, it is called anusmriti.By uninterrupted and unceasing anusmritione enters the stage of samadhi,or spiritual trance. After smarana-dasaor samadhi has fully developed, the soul comes to understand his original constitutional position. At that time he can perfectly and clearly understand his eternal relationship with Krishna. That is called sampatti-dasa,the perfection of life.”

from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya 8.246, purport:

In the Itihasa-samuccaya,Narada tells Pundarika: “After many, many births, when a person realizes that he is the eternal servant of Vasudeva, he can deliver all the worlds.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

from Vihara Bhavan, “Poem for September 13”:

“The
harinama process
is the easiest, fastest
and surest way
to attain love of God.”

Akuti Devi:

In our quest for the meaning of life we are blessed to have abundant guidance from the Vedic literature.

We are part of God, and as part of Him, we are meant to please Him, the whole. We are asking, “I am part of You. Please accept me back.”

We in this world are conditioned. Krishna has set the conditions, and one of them is that we must suffer.

Most of the people at the Ratha-yatra festival who I asked, “After this life, do you want to come back?” said “No, I want out of here.”

Although the mind is subtle, sometimes it seems really heavy.

Desiring freedom from mental disturbance people take shelter of intoxication, but that just increases their demonic qualities and saps their ambition for spiritual life.

We have to have a maha-cleanup [grand cleanup] of our mind. If we help each other clean our minds, very quickly we can be successful.

Krishna compares the steady mind to a lamp in a windless place. Thus we should go to a windless place. If you know you are going to be distracted by going to a place, then don’t go there.

Srila Prabhupada has created such a nice regulated program so we always know what to do. We just have to do it.

Prayer is helpful.

If people see that you are satisfied, they may become inclined to inquire why.

comment by Premananda Gaura: I know friend in Argentina that used to do flips through train cars and come out the other side. Once when he was about to do it, his girlfriend had a bad feeling and discouraged him, but he disregarded it and did four flips, getting so close to the train wheel that it brushed him, and landing with his face in a book that was on the ground. He put the book in his coat pocket, and his mother found it when she was cleaning the coat. She glanced at the book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and was impressed, and she encouraged him to read it. He and his whole family ended up becoming devotees.

comment by Dharmaraja Prabhu: Parjanya Maharaja told me how he became a devotee. The devotees came by his hotel with their Gita distribution program. He took one and read a few pages and fell asleep with the Gita on his chest. Some thieves came and stabbed him, but the knife went into the book on his chest instead of his body. Parjanya Maharaja awoke, and the thieves ran away. He decided that Krishna was protecting him, and so he became a devotee.

Batu Gopal Prabhu:

The living entity is designed from the bottom up for relationship with Krishna and is stimulated more and more by Krishna’s attractive qualities to serve Him. Therefore activities without Krishna in the center are superfluous, they don’t touch the self, and the soul derives no real benefit from them.

We do not have to worry about creating a relationship with Krishna. The relationship is already there.

We are insignificant in relationship with Krishna and thus what can we do to insult Him? Even if He was easily angered by nature, which He is not, we are too insignificant to disturb Him.

Krishna knows how to deal with anyone and everyone. Take Duryodhana, for example, how does Krishna deal with him? He expands as Lord Balarama and teaches him how to fight with a club.

We are here in this world not so much because of dealing with the Lord improperly as much as because of dealing with the Lord’s devotees improperly. Just as a teacher separates a student that is a troublemaker from the other students, so the Lord keeps the souls that cause trouble to others in the material world.

Sometimes we are discouraged because of our bad conditioning and may wonder how we can possibly go back to Godhead. But on the other hand, considering the unlimited mercy of Lord Caitanya and His representatives, we might think “How can we not go back to Godhead?”

We are not about to understand God anymore than an ant will understand a human being. It is not like two ants will say about a human being, “if we can just get him in the lab we will be able to understand him.”

We should be hesitant to criticize the actions of God because they are beyond our understanding.

Srila Prabhupada said that if we have a problem with another devotee, we should consider it is our fault. We might consider that “this devotee will be back in the spiritual world in a moment, who am I to criticize him?”

All those people who have taken prasadam at University of Florida for so many years, they are devotees. Lord Caitanya has their names.

Whatever your capacity, spread Krishna consciousness. You may not be able to spread it throughout a whole country, but you may be able to spread it throughout a household.

from a conversation at the end of class:

The female devotees told Batu Gopala Prabhu, “Thank you for lending us your daughter, Syamala Kishori.”
He replied, “It looks like you are returning her in an improved form. That is the nature of devotee association. Just like a brahmana leaves a place cleaner than he found it.”

Sesa Prabhu:

We may acknowledge our mistakes, feel bad about our mistakes, and ask for forgiveness for our mistakes, but are we serious enough to embrace the process that will free us from our conditioned nature which is characterized by four defects including the tendency to commit mistakes?

Although we commit mistakes, we are subject to illusion, and we have imperfect senses, we have built a whole civilization based on our imperfect knowledge. This is cheating.

The illusion is neither good or bad, it depends on how we react to it.

comment by Baladeva Prabhu: Illusion plays an important role in this material world because we could not enjoy in this world unless we were illusioned.

An illusion can used as an educational tool.

comment by Samkalpa: It is best in our outreach work that we present the alternative to illusion in addition to exposing the illusion.

Another illusion is to think that others may suffer but not I will not.

We cannot benefit a sleeping man by entering into his nightmare but by waking him up.

Although some people claim to be God, one who acknowledges his inevitable defects will not make such a claim.

from a Radhastami lecture:

I found some valuable material from “Srila Prabhpada’s Presentation of Radhastami,” by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami.

Still after forty years it is still an austerity to fast all day on Janmastami. Srila Prabhupada described that Krishna is strong and hard and while Radhatani soft and kind and thus on Her appearance day we only have to half the day.

She is interested in the welfare of all, and therefore, we pray to Her for Her mercy.

The easiest way is to glorify Radharani is to chant Hare Krishna.

Prabhupada was reserved in speaking about Her relationship with Krishna. Why?

Because we are neophyte. When we see the Radha embracing Krishna we assume it like an ordinary girl embracing a boy.

Because we might become sahajiyas who think they can understand Radha and Krishna affairs easily although materially attached.

Prabhupada described that Krishna is so great everyone wants to love Him, but Radha is so great that this very Krishna wants to love Her.

That Srila Prabhupada chanted “Jaya Radha Madhava” before every single class is an indication of his great love and affection for Srimate Radharani.

comments by Radha Jivan Prabhu:

I spent the last ten years in Varsana on Radhastami, but seeing the elaborate decoration of the altar and devotion for the Radha Shyamasundara deities present here in Alacha at New Raman Reti, I do not feel the slightest separation from Varsana.

Although Krishna is famed for lifting Govardhan Hill, the girl friends of Radharani say the reason he had the strength to do to so was that Radharani was standing before Him the whole time, and by gazing at Her, He got the strength to lift the hill.

Another opinion is the the Absolute Truth is one, but Radha and Krishna have separated themselves to enjoy pastimes. When together, the left half is Radha and the right half is Krishna, and thus because Krishna was lifting the hill with His left hand, that it was actually Radharani lifting the hill.

comment by Sesa Prabhu:

I heard in a lecture by Radhanatha Swami another explanation. That because Krishna was eating the food cooked by Srimati Radharani He acquired the necessary strength to lift the Govardhan Hill.

Radhika Nagara Prabhu:

Bharata’s problem was not that he rescued the deer or had affection for the deer, but that he had such “inordinate affection” for the deer that he would interrupt his worship to look after the deer.

There are many lessons to learn from this pastime. One is that we should not do our devotional service alone, with no one to help us if we get distracted. No matter what, we have to keep in the association of the devotees.

comment by Sundara Gopi dd: Maya is our friend because she helps us come closer to Krishna in her own way.

comment by Kalakantha Prabhu: Srila Prabhupada said regarding uncleanliness, “If the devotees can not clean up after themselves, they should go home to their mothers.”

In his purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.11 you can see how accurately Srila Prabhupada judged the world situation, although he was living in Radha Damodar temple and had not come to the west yet.

If someone is saying good things about ourselves, we hear with rapt attention. With such attention we should about Krishna from the Bhagavatam.

Srila Prabhupada said that simply by reading the Bhagavatam you will be happy.

Rohini Kumar Prabhu:

The Nectar of Instruction, verse 3, is the most powerful, important, and practical verse you will encounter. By remembering and following it, you will be assured of success in spiritual life: “There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles (such as hearing, chanting and remembering Krishna, etc.), (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous acaryas (spiritual authorities who teach by example). These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.”

In chanting, choosing a favorable situation. Then offer the vibration to Krishna with attention and love.

Bhurijana Prabhu advises, “Just accept the fact that you have nothing else to do but to chant the holy name of the Lord.”

The mind is like a middle school cafeteria.

If we are not always enthusiastic in Krishna’s service, we should talk to somebody about it.

We have tried living as if we were the body or as if we were the mind. Now let’s try to live as souls.

Krishna is so portable!

Syamala Kisori dd:

There are many cartoons about ego because it is humorous to see the extent that we are absorbed in our conception of our greatness:


By Frank Cotham, cartoonist for The New Yorker since 1993.

“Sign at bookstore: ‘The author and his ego will be here at 2 p.m.’”

We are small and vulnerable and can be easily swayed by the false ego unless we are in the association of devotees, like one stick can easy be snapped by itself but not so in a bundle of them.

It is amazing to me that although the false ego is subtle and the soul is so powerful, the false ego has such a great influence on it.

Srila Prabhupada told Sacinandana Swami when he asked why Krishna created maya, “Krishna did not create maya, you created maya.” Hearing such a strong response, he knew he had met his spiritual master.

The false ego is like tinted glasses that make the dark and cold material world seem attractive.

When I was ten or eleven and learning the mrdanga, sometimes I would be in the kirtana and be thinking I was playing really well, and then I would mess up, and that made me realize the false ego interrupts your service to Krishna.

The false ego makes us think that the material world is our home and that we are comfortable here, and thus it blocks our spiritual inquiry.

Our true ego is that we are servants of Krishna.

Balarama is very efficient at killing the demons. He does it usually in just one blow. Thus we should pray to Lord Balarama to smash our false ego.

comment by Jaya Dhjava Prabhu [After experiencing the morning program at Krishna House]: I feel like joining ISKCON again.

Tulasi Priya dd:

from a car conversation:

To me thinking oneself lower than the straw on the street means to not even be concerned if someone steps on you or if they don’t. It is insignificant.

Krishna-kripa das:

reflection on the devotional dress discussion:

“Lord Krishna does not emphasize external things like dress in Bhagavad-gita.When Arjuna asks about the external features of the liberated soul, ‘How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?’ (Bg. 2.54) Krishna replies by disregarding these external considerations and instead describing the internal meditation of the transcendentalist, ‘O Partha, when a man gives up all varieties of desire for sense gratification, which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind, thus purified, finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness.’ (Bg 2.55)” Thus as far as I can understand, a liberated soul can dress as he likes.

-----

ya nisa sarva-bhutanam
tasyam jagarti samyami
yasyam jagrati bhutani
sa nisa pasyato muneh

“What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.” (Bg. 2.69)

“The sage feels transcendental pleasure in the gradual advancement of spiritual culture, whereas the man in materialistic activities, being asleep to self-realization, dreams of varieties of sense pleasure, feeling sometimes happy and sometimes distressed in his sleeping condition.” (excerpt from Bg. 2.69, purport)

Appreciation for ISKCON devotees
→ ISKCON Scarborough

Hare Krishna!


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

ISKCON devotees enthusiastically cooked & distributed delicious prasadam as well as performed ecstatic kirtan during the Āzhwārs Uthsavam at Richmond Hill Hindu Temple on September 22, 2013.

The contribution of ISKCON devotees was well appreciated by everyone who participated in this wonderful festival.

The link to the video of the Kirtan can be seen in the email below

With best wishes from,

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


Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website:
www.iskconscarborough.com



Hare Krishna!

As in the past years, Krishna Devotees of ISKCON Toronto & Scarborough temples, participated in large numbers during the annual Āzhwārs Uthsavam at Richmond Hill Hindu Temple on September 22, 2013. They also prepared very delicious Prasad for all the devotees present in the temple. The special event during the Thirukkalyānam was the recitation of Keertans by children of ISKCON. In a short time of 15 minutes, they became the cynosure of all eyes and ears. The assembled devotees joined them in the Keertans and enjoyed calling out the divine names. May Lord Krishnā bless them with good health, wealth, pious attitude and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

We have put up a video of their performance at our Temple Website at www.TheHinduTemple.ca. Photo albums as well some more videos are being prepared and they will also appear in our Website before the end of the week.

If you wish to provide a direct link to the Keertans in your Blog, the link is:

http://thehindutemple.ca/images/videos2013.htm


O​n behalf of Richmond Hill Hindu Temple and Dr. & Mrs. Ranganath​a​n, I thank all members of ISKCON for their dedication and continued support to Azhwars Uthsavam every year and look forward to having them with us in the com​i​ng years.​

​With Pranāms,​

Balu Srinivasan

WebmasterRichmond Hill Hindu Temple, Canada​

Giriraj Swami’s Vyasa-puja, September 21, Houston
Giriraj Swami

09.21.13_16.Vyasa-puja_HoustonThe Vyasa-puja celebration started around 9:30AM and ended around 5PM. To begin, Giriraj Swami was greeted at the sannyasa quarters by a kirtan party, which escorted him to the temple. There Giriraj Swami offered a gift to the Deities, garlanded Srila Prabhupada and Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, and then honored his godbrothers Giridhari Swami Maharaj, Rtadhvaja Swami Maharaj, Kesava Bharati Dasa Goswami Maharaj, and Cakri Prabhu and his godsister Mother Jaladosha. The program continued with his footbathing ceremony, and then we welcomed the guestes to the ceremony. Kesava Bharati Maharaj spoke first, followed by Giridhari Maharaj, Rtadhvaja Maharaj, Chakri Prabhu, and Mother Jaladosha, then senior disciples of Tamal Krishna Maharaj, and then other devotees. The offerings continued late into the afternoon. After the offerings, Guru Maharaj gave his Vyasa-puja address, and the festivities in the temple room concluded with puspanjali and arati. Then Maharaj walked with his godbrothers to Gauranga Hall for the cake-cutting, accompanied by all the devotees with kirtan. Several childern showered flowers on Giriraj Swami and his godbrothers from the balcony as he walked into the hall. Then he cut his birthday cake amidst ecstatic kirtan and dancing. He then honored prasada with his godbrothers. The devotees prepared an elaborate Mexican feast for the celebration. — Anish Pillai

1237052_10151721413429615_1850039561_n1378110_10151721412229615_1201327550_n09.21.13_03.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_01.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_02.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_13.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_11.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_09.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_10.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_12.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_08.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_05.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_07.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_06.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_15.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_17.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_19.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_20.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_21.Vyasa-puja_Houston09.21.13_22.Vyasa-puja_Houston
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
01. Kesava Bharati Dasa Goswami
02. Giridhari Swami
03. Rtadhvaja Swami
04. Cakri dasa
05. Jaladosha dasi
06. Sarvabhauma dasa
07. Chandravali dasi
08. Janak Maharaja dasa
09. Guru Bhakti dasi
10. Rasikendra dasa
11. Chaitanya dasa
12. Rasasundari dasi
13. Visnupriya dasi
14. Sikhi Mahiti dasa
15. Vinod Bihari dasa
16. Maha Hari dasa
17. Bharat dasa
18. Toti Escolin
19. Patita Pavana dasa
20. Dharma dasa
21. David Garvin
22. Ravi Jadhaw
23. Kalindi dasi
24. Ganesh pillai
25. Ananda Lila dasi
26. Jaya Sri Radhe dasi
27. Advaita dasa
28. Manasi Ganga dasi
29. Karunamayi dasi
30. Amarendra dasa
31. Bhaktin Sreya Bhattaru
32. Bhaktin Radha Channa 
33. Nitai Charan dasa
34. Bhaktin Indulekha
35. Bhaktin Nitai Lila
36. Dinanatha dasa
37. Saranga Thakura dasa
38. Kalpataru dasi
39. Sankarshan dasa
40. Nawal Sharma
41. Padadhuli dasi
42. Bhakti Bhava dasi
43. Advaita Acharya dasa
44. Acyuta Govinda dasa
45. Caitanya Lila dasa
46. Gopal Ramamurthy
47. Kunjesvari dasi
48. Mohini Patel
49. Giriraj Swami

Chant Chant Chant
→ Japa Group

It's the only way we can go back home to Godhead....as much as we don't want to chant and on occassion loathe this essential practise.

Srila Prabhupada has told us to chant 16 attentive rounds and follow the 4 regulative principles and thereby guaranteed this is enough for us to join Krsna again in the spiritual world.

Overcoming laziness
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 September 2013, Durban, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.38)

lazy catThere is a part in us that does not want to surrender. That is the lazy part; it is a fight with the mind. Laziness is an affliction of the modes of ignorance and one has to fight the mode of ignorance by acting according to a proper standard. Out of laziness, when something is not a hundred percent clean then we may say, “I’ll clean it tomorrow.” But no, it must be done now!

So, by determination, one has to try and conquer this laziness. For laziness, there is no easy cure. A lazy man, because he is lazy, does not want to take the cure himself. He thinks, “Isn’t there a cure; something easy where I don’t have to do anything and I can just get rid of my laziness.”

No! Actually, one has to work to overcome laziness. That is the only solution, by doing something. Therefore we must take responsibility in devotional service because it forces a lazy person not to be lazy. Sometimes, they say that I was in charge of the samadhi construction in Mayapur and did all that. To be honest, I didn’t want to do it but they told me to do it! I still didn’t want to do it but I did it and when I was doing it, I was thinking, “I don’t want to do this.” But what to do, I was forced to do it. So, taking responsibility helps to overcome our laziness and our independent mind that doesn’t want to surrender.

 

Glory of Srimati Radharani
→ Servant of the Servant

Krishna attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts Krishna. The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Radharani. Krishna is called Madana Mohana, which means He is so attractive that He can defeat the attraction of thousands of Cupids. But Radharani is still more attractive, for (because) She can attract Krishna. Therefore devotees call Her Madana Mohana Mohini, the attractor of the attractor of Cupid.

- Srila Prabhupada in the Nectar of Devotion

09.30 – We may fall down, but we don’t have to fall away
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Falling down means that due to our past conditionings or present circumstances, we succumb to temptation.

In contrast, falling away means that we give up devotional service and go away from Krishna.

Falling down is something akin to a child’s falling while learning to walk. It’s undesirable, but it’s often unavoidable – that’s just the way learning usually happens.

Nothing can make us fall away except ourselves. Temptations can make us fall down but not fall away. Why not? Because temptations don’t keep us in their grip all the time. They come, they make us fall, and then their madness subsides.

What we do at this point is critical. If we keep contemplating on the temptation, we may become agitated for another round of indulgence. Or we may become discouraged and not even try to take shelter of Krishna, thereby making ourselves vulnerable to future temptations and the resulting falls. Either way, contemplation on the temptation causes falling down to degenerate into falling away.

That’s why no matter how badly we fall, as soon as we regain our spiritual senses, we need to contemplate on Krishna. He is not a wrathful God who will despise us for our fall. That conception of Krishna comes from our misinformed imagination, not from scripture. The Bhagavad-gita (09.30) reveals his enduring love: he considers as saintly even those devotees who act abominably if they persevere in devotional service.

If we give up devotional service, Krishna won’t consider us saintly, but he will still love us. We can never do anything that can make Krishna stop loving us.

By meditating on Krishna’s unfailing love, we can gain strength to rise quickly whenever we fall. Gradually we will learn to march on without falling. And finally we will attain his abode, beyond all falls.

***

09.30 - Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.

 

A Virtual tour to the ISKCON Alachua Hare Krishna temple grounds, gardens and buildings (34 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

We are each born with specific gifts, work that comes naturally to us and that we do well. The perfection of engaging these gifts, according to scriptural injunctions, is for the pleasure of Krishna. This not only pleases Krishna, the Supreme Personality, but is also the means for achieving our own personal happiness Read more ›

A Visit to the “Mystical” Bhaktivedanta Academy Gurukula in Mayapur (150 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Bhaktivedanta Academy Gurukula's mission is to provide a facility for the Academy's members to study, practice, and disseminate the teachings of Srimad Bhagavatam, along with corollary studies of the standard works of the Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas and the branches of Vedic philosophy, culture, and science in the context of Srimad Bhagavatam and Srila Prabhupada’s teachings Read more ›

Sunday, September 22nd, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Let’s See

Edmonton, Alberta

Well, I’ve been there before – at the cut-off point.  Cold turkey is a term when you abruptly axe yourself from an addiction, if that’s possible.

The addiction referred to is walking.  This leg of the walk, the 4th, saw me through the southern part of Manitoba and then southern Saskatchewan and then well into southern Alberta.  You can easily get psychologically affected.  A doctor said withdrawal symptoms could arise when you marathon and then suddenly come to a halt.  Let’s see what happens.

Daruka and I headed north for two speaking engagements in Edmonton.  As we moved along on Highway 2 towards our destination, I had a hard look at the feet while in the passenger’s seat.  We’re looking at healthy, relaxed calves, but at feet, have had some challenges.  Cracks on the heels, dead warts skin at the toes’ ends, and some slight inflammation on the tiny toes are all symptomatic of some hard walking.  What true warrior wouldn’t have some scars. Fortunately the knee joints aren’t the least bit agitated.

The other day Daruka and I met Tyrell, a chap from Saint Albert near Edmonton.  His grandparents apparently walked the country coast to coast.  They are missionaries.  I would love to make a connection with them, share some of the road experiences, let’s see.

As we plied along at a good clip in Daruka’s Grand Prix, I had another look at a map of Alberta and then peered outside the window to view the towns we passed by in correspondence to the map.  I could see that this Highway 2 which runs north/south has an ample quantity of towns and villages, places that are off the beaten path.  My heart did not exactly palpitate, but a cloud of dreams did suddenly pop into my presence.  “What if?” I thought, “Just what if I tread the path of north/south, even if east/west roads don’t juncture here?”  The thought did excite. Generally the direction taken to accomplish the goal of walking the entire country is latitudinally, at least for Canada, but that means that you miss umpteen, if not hundreds of places that are on the longitudinal grid.

In the future strategizing of trekking the whole stretch of Canada, what about trying to cover every town and village?  Let’s see.

Dream away, Swami.

0 KM

The Walking Monk 2013-09-25 03:08:00
→ The Walking Monk

 BMS addresses Eastend, SK seniors
 BMS addresses Eastend, SK seniors
  Shaunavon, SK Library kirtan
 Interview with Penny at Shaunavon, SK radio station
 Weyburn, SK radio station interview
Relaxing near Estevan, SK Dam at end of day
 Viceroy, SK grain elevator
 Butterfly
 Bison in Southwest Manitoba
 Visiting Lynn and friends in Pangman, SK
 Brenda and Victoria from Eastend walk with us past Saskatchewan/ Alberta border
 Walking past one of the many grain fields of Saskatchewan
 
I think this hay bale would look better over there
 Namaste with paramedics on the highway
 
  Behold the mighty grain
  Daruka and Billie beside replica of Plesiosaur found near Ponteix, SK
 a break by a hay bale
 
 Bhaktimarga Swami, Daruka and Billie + hay bale
 
 Hari Nama with Calgary devotees
  Eastend locals offer fresh produce
 Bow Island, Alberta interview
 
 
Morning dove at sunrise
 
Gathering at Brenda's Yoga Studio in Eastend, SK
  Southeast Manitoba forest
 
  Chocolate Peak, Eastend, SK
 Enjoying milkshake with DQ owner's son Nahal and Ravi in Medicine Hat, Alberta
 
BMS, Daruka and Billie with Consul, SK mayor Linda Brown

 BMS, Daruka and Billie at Saskatchewan/ Manitoba border

  BMS at Saskatchewan/ Manitoba border
 Leaving Manitoba

 Hare Davidson
 Monk train
 Laughing it up with Gainesborough, SK locals
Ron's house in Robsart, SK
 Craig and Layla from Maple Creek Newspaper

 
BMS, Daruka and Billie with principal of Assiniboia, SK school
  BMS and principal of LaFleche school

  With reporter and police officer in Taber, Alberta on last day of this leg of the walk.


  Falcon in flight

 Heritage village in southwest Saskatchewan
 Rushing River, Ontario

  A motorist pulls over to chat
 Oil rigs which are scattered throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan

 Grain sunrise
 Feeding a bear in Emo, Ontario

  Estevan, SK newspaper photographer
 Showing a reporter japa beads at 'The Soul Hideout in Estevan, SK

  Walking down  a lonely street; Sasha's 'Satya Yoga Studio' in Swift Current, SK
  In the bank vault of Sasha's yoga studio in Maple Creek, SK...."Aaaauuuuummmmm."


One Is Blessed
→ Japa Group

"Strictly speaking, when chanting the names of the Pañca-tattva, one should fully offer his obeisances: śrī-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. By such chanting one is blessed with the competency to chant the Hare Krsna mahā-mantra without offense. When chanting the Hare Krsna mahā-mantra, one should also chant it fully: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare."

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrta Ādi 7.168

TEXAS FAITH 110: Has college football become too violent for the faithful?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

Let’s take a break from the weariness of finding the right strategy for the Mideast and deal with sports. Namely, football.

I confess that I have — again — grown to love college football. I enjoy going to TCU games with my 10-year old son, who loves to run the field before the game and root loudly for the Horned Frogs. In fact, it is hard getting him out of a TCU T-shirt these days.

I enjoy the game because it is fast, exciting and strategic. It also is just fun watching the bands and streamers and frivolity. And, being a fan, I like to see my team(s) do well. (As a graduate of the University of Texas who grew up attending TCU games, I spread my cheering around each weekend!)

But as I watch these games, and see players carted off the field, I often inwardly wince. Am I participating in some kind of modern lions-and-Christians blood-lust? And I am doing this at someone else’s expense? The NFL just settled with retired football players to the tune of $750 million over the concussions some of them received. For some players, they have been life-altering concussions.

Related to all this, I felt sick when I picked up our paper and read that CBS Sports was putting a “Johnny Cam” to cover every move of A&M’s Johnny Manziel in his game against Alabama. The guy is a showboat, but he is still only a kid.

So, are we reaching the point where rooting for college football teams is too much? In this Christianity Today essay, Owen Strachan raises the penetrating question: Should Christian fans step away from such a physically devastating, violent sport?

I would broaden his question to ask this question:

Should people of faith who love college football step away from such a physically devastating, violent sport?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

As time progresses we invent more and more ways to waste time. Spiritual life is not meant to be belief on the backburner but rather something that actually satisfies. A satisfied soul is not interested in wasting time in material activities.

Why is time important?

Because that which you hold dear to your heart will decided where you go after death. If you are invested in the temporary, you will take birth again in this temporary world. So one should use this valuable form of human life to seek and experience the eternal by developing a loving relationship with God. Hare Krishna.

of life: People misidentify the self/soul with this temporary ever changing material body, this is called ignorance.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

07.29 – Don’t reduce the spiritual to the practical; let the spiritual expand the practical
→ The Spiritual Scientist

“That’s not practical.” We may thus dismiss forms of spirituality that require commitment like devotional service. We usually consider as practical that which requires little commitment and makes us feel good fast.

Little do we realize that our demand for instant spirituality is like a chronically sick person’s demand for instant cure. Just as opportunist doctors fleece such patients by giving painkillers, so do opportunist spiritualist teachers by giving pop spirituality. Just as authentic doctors insist on commitment to the necessary treatment, so do authentic spiritual teachers insist on commitment to devotional service.

Narrow preconceptions of what is practical can be self-destructive. After all, sickness itself isn’t practical. It doesn’t politely accommodate itself within our practical plans. When sickness comes, especially serious sickness, we have to revise our conception of the practical and make time for the treatment. Else we become sicker, suffer terribly and die.

Gita wisdom indicates that we all are spiritually sick. We are eternal beings infected with the disease of materialism that subjects us to the sufferings of old age, disease and death – lifetime after lifetime. Our devotion to the practical can’t save us from these miseries. Only our devotion to the transcendental can save us, as the Bhagavad-gita (07.29) indicates.

That’s why we need to expand our definition of the practical to include the spiritual and make time to practice devotional service. Learning to love Krishna thus helps us discipline our stray desires, focus our mind and sharpen our intelligence. This enables us to do things earlier considered impractical, just as the recovery of health enables a sick person to do things earlier considered impractical. And ultimately redefinition of the practical to include the spiritual elevates us to Krishna’s world of love, where the spiritual becomes eternally, ecstatically practical.

***

07.29 - Intelligent persons who are endeavoring for liberation from old age and death take refuge in Me in devotional service. They are actually Brahman because they entirely know everything about transcendental activities.

 

Sangam at Prabhupada’s Palace in New Vrindaban Thurs Sept. 26 2013
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

 

SP GIVING CLASS

We are celebrating Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the U.S.A this Thursday Sept. 26 in Srila Prabhupada’s pushpa Samadhi (aka Srila Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold). Please come if you can. Our guest speakers will be Balabhadra, Jayasri and Samkirtan Prabhus.

5:45 p.m.            Bhajan

6:00 p.m.            Reading – Markine Bhagavat Dharma

6:10 p.m.            Realizations shared by guest speakers

6:45 p.m.            Sharing from assembled devotees

7:00 p.m.            Arotika for Srila Prabhupada

7:30 p.m.            Prasadam

Your servant

Krpamaya das

Understand the plan of the Lord
→ The Spiritual Scientist

There is a specific plan being carried out in this material world. What is this plan? This cosmic manifestation is a chance for the conditioned souls to go back to Godhead, back to home. As long as they have the domineering mentality which makes them try to lord it over material nature, they are conditioned. But anyone who can understand the plan of the Supreme Lord and cultivate Krsna consciousness is most intelligent.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is 11.33 purport

 

Returning to the spiritual world
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 10 July 2013, Serbian Summer Camp, Fruska Gouranga, Seminar Part 2)

krsna and gopakumarWhen a living being leaves the spiritual world, it is not that you were in the pastimes with Krsna then you went to the material world. Let’s say you were cowherd boy and suddenly there is one cowherd boy less! Then one day, you are back to Godhead and suddenly, there is again another cowherd boy running, “Somebody came back to Godhead!” It is not described like that.

Sanatana Goswami describes that Gopa Kumar comes back to this land and in this land everyone is absent minded. Gopa Kumar asks, “Where am I?” No one answers. Everyone is sort of looking in one direction, even the branches of the trees are pointing in that same direction, the birds are all looking in that same direction. That is the direction in which Krsna left that morning to go to the forest and all those remaining behind are looking in that direction, waiting for the evening, for the sign of that cloud of the dust coming in the sky. Before that cloud of dust, one can already hear the flute but it’s just the wind blowing into the bamboos in the forest that makes the sound of the flute. The dust is just created by some wind. It is not Krsna yet, it’s too early! So, everyone is waiting for the whole day and he sees that. So, finally when Krsna comes back from the forest and sees Gopa Kumar who in his spiritual body is known as Sarupa, he says, “Sarupa!!” Krsna sees him and faints.

And gopas who see this ask, “Who is he? Is he an agent of Kamsa?” And they are ready to get heavy. Balarama says, “No, no, no. He is actually an old friend of Krsna. Krsna is very happy to see him.” Balaram takes Sarupa by the hand and tells him, “Chant into Krsna’s ear.”

MERCIFUL GOVINDASarupa chants into Krsna’s ear and Krsna comes back to his senses, he embraces Sarup says, “Come! You take prasadam with me!” And they go to take prasadam in the house of Nanda Maharaj who is already waiting. Radharani has cooked all these delicious sweets and actually, it turns out that Sarupa is a family member. He is related to Srimati Radharani, in the family of Sridham. Sarupa is sitting next to Krsna, then some sweets are placed on Krsna’s plate and Krsna tastes them and makes a face; horrible! Everyone is shocked, what is this? Yasoda is looking at Radharani, “What did you do? What did you make here? Are you poisoning my child?”

Krsna says, “These are inedible!” He takes the sweets and throws them on Sarupa’s plate and says, “Here, you taste them since it is your family that has produced them.” And Sarupa tastes the greatest nectar, he has not tasted such nectar ever, amazing!

So in this way he returns back to Godhead; he is not just suddenly back. No, Krsna welcomes him back personally. It is a very personal thing, going back to Godhead. It is also very personal thing when we leave; it hurts Krsna very much. So like this, yes indeed, the relationship is very personal.

 

Not to miss programs this weekend at ISKCON Scarborough
→ ISKCON Scarborough

Hare Krishna!

Please accept our humble obeisances!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

We are extremely pleased to invite you to our special weekend programs at ISKCON Scarborough.


Friday - 27th Sep 2013

HG Ananda Caitanya das will be delivering a special lecture at ISKCON Scarborough. Program starts at 6.45 pm with Tulasi arti.


Saturday – 28th Sep 2013

* HG Ananda Caitanya das will be joining us at the live weekly Bhagavad Gita radio program at the Geethavaani radio station from 10 am to 11 am.

* HG Jagannath Misra das will be delivering a special Srimad Bhagavatam class at 7pm


Sunday – 29th Sep 2013

A special appreciation feast will be served to all the devotees who made the 1st annual Jagannath Cultural festival on Sep 7th 2013 a grand success.

We would like to thank all the devotees from the bottom of our heart and are humbly inviting you to join us on this special day.

We humbly request you to invite your friends, relatives and family members who assisted in making this event memorable.

Program starts at 10.30 am and will include live performance of Bharata Natyam, instrumental music & kirtans.


Bio data of HG Ananda Caitanya das prabhu:

HG Ananda Caitanya das joined ISKCON in 1979

* From 1984-89 prabhu printed and distributed Srila Prabhupada books underground in Russian language

* From 1989-1990 he served as the temple president in the first temple in former USSR, Kaunas city

* From 1991-1998 he served as the regional secretary for Volga and west Siberia regions, Russia

* From 1994-1998 he had served as the Deputy GBC

* Since 1998 prabhu has been preaching in Germany, Switzerland , South Africa and in Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia &Lithuania.



With best wishes from,

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

Email Address:

iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website:

www.iskconscarborough.com

A colorful and joyful wedding In Yalta amongst Vaishnavas (98 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

The vivaha-samskara (wedding rite) offers an excellent opportunity to spiritualize thoughts, emotions, and commitments that accompany being united with one's chosen partner. A Vaishnava wedding (a wedding of devotees of Krishna) is not only a colorful, joyful ceremony but also a source of devotional inspiration for years to come. When difficulties arise in the relationship, we may ask ourselves, "How did I get into this situation? Why did I marry this person?" Then the mind will go back to the wedding day and automatically remember Lord Krishna, His devotees, and His loving service. Read more ›