Imagine a day full of games, laughter, delicious prasadam, chance to make new friends and especially, NO PARENTS! ISKCON Toronto is providing just that and more for the younger members of our community with the 7th Annual Gopinath's Kids Camp!
This year, the 7th Annual Gopinath's Kids Camp will be held on Saturday, August 24th from 8:30am-6:00pm, strictly for kids aged 4-12 years. The purpose of this one-day camp is to provide an opportunity to ignite the spiritual spark in our children while doing fun and interactive activities that they enjoy. In addition to outdoor games, some of the primary activities being planned for the day are a Mega Scavenger Hunt, fun cooking classes, learning how to play different musical instruments, sumptuous prasadam and many fond memories.
All this and much more for registration fees of only $25! You can register at the temple or use our online form by clicking here(last day to register is August 23rd). For further information, please don't hesitate to email us at info@torontokrishna.com.
I landed in Regina. My marathon support man, Daruka, and the lovely, vivacious Billie, the blue front amazon parrot were there to see me in anticipation to re-start the prairie portion of a 4th walk across Canada.
It took a three hour drive to reach the Manitoba/ Saskatchewan border and the extension to Manitoba's Hwy 3, now turned to Hwy 18.
It didn't take long for the thrill of walking and recieving greetings to begin. Firstly, a fellow, a chef actually, and looking like one of those jolly types, pulled over. Other motorists followed thereafter.
When I reached Gainesborough, Daruka had already "worked the town" so to speak. He went around asking for information from locals. He even ventured up one of those old abandoned grain elevators.
Outside the Riverside Hotel several employees who Daruka had met, came out to meet a monk, their first perhaps. Employees from the grocery store also came to "check it out."
"What's the walk about?"
"To promote walking culture and all that goes along with it- therapy, inner peace, health both physical and mental," I responded.
Darren was amongst the group. He didn't ask questions. He loves to talk and not to stop. . He was gracious enough to trek my last kilometer with me and even to help Daruka set up the tent at the Carievale Campground, and all the while his conversation went one way. Daruka and I didn't mind. somehow or other you end up loving the guy as he inserts humour into the picture.
Yes, Humour, it's one of the greatest gifts ever that comes to us and makes a world that would otherwise be bland and stale.
Before a flight, I love to walk. I took to some of the streets in San Jose alongside the commuter train. It was early- too early for any pedestrians. Only a cat was a stir. And then another one. Hunting could be good. Cats don’t herd but these two seemed to be on the prowl together.
Then a flight to Denver before Vancouver, would be my wing travel for today. A young seminarian boarded. Here he was all in black except for the exposed white collar. He sat right behind me. I was curious.
“Where are you stationed?”
“Minnesota. I’m a seminary there but on my way to Virginia.”
“I’m rather surprised. You don’t see many young men joining the mission these days. Am I right about that?”
“Where I’m learning, the seminary is growing.”
I felt compelled to congratulate him. “Well it’s great to see young guys like yourself doing God’s work. God bless!”
“God bless!”
We had parted ways.
In Vancouver I was picked up by Hadai Pandit, a Swiss-born devotee, excited about his Brahminical initiation. A fire ceremony for the occasion was set up outdoors off of Marine Drive at the ISKCON Center. This is the second initiation one formally takes. The first one ushers a candidate into the order of Krishna Consciousness. The second one welcomes one to the privilege of the more intense work for God.
For the ritual I decided to balance the modest event, held on the grass, by speaking from 4.35 of the Gita. At initiation #1 you capture the essence of 4.34 wherein you take lessons and guidance from the guru and render personal service to the guru. The following verse sends the message that you assimilate the philosophy. It’s a kind of maturation.
As the verse indicates, “Now that you’ve absorbed the message, understand that all things are in Him and that they are His.” This ends my detour from the southern Prairie Highway. I’m itchin’ to get my feet back on the road.- Highway 18.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 June 2013, Vrindavan, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.34) Ultimately, the mercy of Mahaprabhu is what we are hoping for but only after we have given it our everything - not before and not while lying on our back saying, “Can someone bring the grapes? Oh gosh, I really hope for the mercy of Mahaprabhu.”
Not exactly like that but instead, after we have given it our everything and we have reached our limits by trying hard. When we reached our limit that is when we start hoping, that is when our prayers begin.
If you pray before that then what is the meaning of your prayer? If you have not reached your limits (of endeavour) and you pray already, then how would you feel when someone is says, “Aaahh, please help me to get up from bed!”
“Oh, do it yourself,” we may say. How do you think Krsna feels if we do not make any endeavour ourselves. When we have tried everything to conquer the unconquerable Krsna then yes, miracles can happen by mercy.
"Practice to chant the Hare Krsna mantra. Do not chant like the parrot who may learn to utter “Hare Krsna,” but when grabbed at the throat cries, “Caw caw!” Prabhupada said practice so that when death comes you will chant Hare Krsna."
The Supreme Personality of Godhead expanded Himself into many for His ever-increasing spiritual bliss, and the living entities are parts and parcels of this spiritual bliss. They also have partial independence, but by misuse of their independence, when the service attitude is transformed into the propensity for sense enjoyment, they come under the sway of lust. This material creation is created by the Lord to give facility to the conditioned souls to fulfill these lustful propensities, and when completely baffled by prolonged lustful activities, the living entities begin to inquire about their real position.
Dear Maharajs/Prabhus,
please accept my humble obeisances,
all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Amsterdam Rathayatra took place last Sunday.
There must be a few movies about this Rathayatra, this movie is put together from a Prasad distribution angle, sorry about the funky sound track in advance.
Movie put together by Achinta Rupa Prabhu,
your servant Parasuram Das
Dvijapriya dasi: Last Saturday evening we headed for Dam Square in central Amsterdam. Dhananjaya prabhu led us into the huge crowds and then Parividha prabhu in his inimitable way had many in the audience chanting and dancing ecstatically, I've never seen anyone who connects with the crowd so wonderfully. Many invitations were passed out for the Rathayatra on Sunday. Read more ›
“It doesn't matter, either Hindu religion or Christian religion or Mohammedan religion, anything you like. But we have to test. Just like a student who has passed M.A. examination. Nobody inquires, "From which college you have passed your examination? You have passed M.A. examination? That's all right." And we are concerned, whether you are graduate, postgraduate. That's all. Nobody inquires, "From which college, from which country, from which religion, you have passed your M.A. examination?" No. Similarly, nobody should inquire, "To which religion you belong?" One must see whether he has learned this art, how to love God. That's all. That is religion”
Excerpt From: His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Devotee: I read somewhere in your writings that in order to understand the confidential affairs of Radha and Krsna one must serve the gopis who are servants of the gopis, and I assumed that you were a servant of the gopis. Is that correct? Or... How do I serve the servants of the gopis?
Prabhupada: Gopis, they are not conditioned souls. They are liberated spirits. So first of all you have to come out from this conditioned life. Then the question of serving gopi will come. Don't be at the present moment, very eager to serve gopi. Just try to get out of your conditional life. Then time will come when you'll be able to serve gopi. In this conditional stage we cannot serve anything. Krsna is performing it (everything?). But Krsna gives us opportunities to accept service in this arca-marga. Just like we keep the Deity of Krsna, offer prasada under regulation, under principle. So we have to make advance in this way, this chanting, hearing, and worshiping in the temple, arati, offering prasada. In this way, as we make advance, then automatically Krsna will reveal to you and you'll understand your position, how you have to... Gopis means who are always, constantly engaged in the service of the Lord. So that eternal relationship will be revealed. So we have to wait for that. Immediately we cannot imitate serving gopis. That's a good idea that you shall serve gopi, but it will take time. Not immediately. Immediately we have to follow the rules and regulations and routine work. Yes.
Lord Balarama - The Original Bhakta-Avatara. Lord Balarama's Appearance day lecture deliverd by Gour Govinda Swami on the 21st of September 1994 in Barcelona, Spain. Read more ›
Harinam and sight seeing in the most beautiful city of Budapest. We visited the most impressive temples of Budapest and in Krishna Valley. Vijay Gauranga and Doyal Nitai as well as Radhe Syam stole our hearts.:) Read more ›
Indradyumna Swami: Kalasamvara prabhu, a senior Prabhupada disciple from New Zealand and a very good friend of mine, joined our summer festival tour here in Poland for 3 weeks. He didn't miss a single harinam or festival and won the hearts of all the devotees with his friendly nature. Read more ›
BGIS got another reason for celebration. Vishal Sachdeva the present 12th grade student have secured AIR - 08 rank in ICE (Institute of Creative Excellence) auditions, 2013 out of 751 participants. He will study Acting Philosophy after 10+2 in ICE. Read more ›
Harinam in the most beautiful city of Europe: Prague & Sunday feast at the farm with the most warm and loving people. We're hitting past midpoint of the tour...and there are still so many more adventures to come. Read more ›
Imagine a day full of games, laughter, delicious prasadam, chance to make new friends and especially, NO PARENTS! ISKCON Toronto is providing just that and more for the younger members of our community with the 7th Annual Gopinath's Kids Camp!
Dvijapriya dasi: Last Saturday evening we headed for Dam Square in central Amsterdam. Dhananjaya prabhu led us into the huge crowds and then Parividha prabhu in his inimitable way had many in the audience chanting and dancing ecstatically, I've never seen anyone who connects with the crowd so wonderfully. Many invitations were passed out for the Rathayatra on Sunday. 
Devotee: I read somewhere in your writings that in order to understand the confidential affairs of Radha and Krsna one must serve the gopis who are servants of the gopis, and I assumed that you were a servant of the gopis. Is that correct? Or... How do I serve the servants of the gopis?
Lord Balarama - The Original Bhakta-Avatara. Lord Balarama's Appearance day lecture deliverd by Gour Govinda Swami on the 21st of September 1994 in Barcelona, Spain. 
177 photos: VIHE Vrindavan's Ter Kadamba Program 
Harinam and sight seeing in the most beautiful city of Budapest. We visited the most impressive temples of Budapest and in Krishna Valley. Vijay Gauranga and Doyal Nitai as well as Radhe Syam stole our hearts.:) 
Indradyumna Swami: Kalasamvara prabhu, a senior Prabhupada disciple from New Zealand and a very good friend of mine, joined our summer festival tour here in Poland for 3 weeks. He didn't miss a single harinam or festival and won the hearts of all the devotees with his friendly nature. 
BGIS got another reason for celebration. Vishal Sachdeva the present 12th grade student have secured AIR - 08 rank in ICE (Institute of Creative Excellence) auditions, 2013 out of 751 participants. He will study Acting Philosophy after 10+2 in ICE. 
Harinam in the most beautiful city of Europe: Prague & Sunday feast at the farm with the most warm and loving people. We're hitting past midpoint of the tour...and there are still so many more adventures to come.