We are just under two weeks away from the 41st annual Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra)! A few gentle reminders from our hospitality team:
We are looking for volunteers to host out-of-town guests for the weekend. Please contact Radha Bhakti devi dasi if you have some room to spare!
Kitchen help is required during the week of the festival! If you can spare some time for cut up throughout the week of the festival, please contact Radha Bhakti devi dasi
If you are looking for a hotel, our partner hotel is providing festival-goers with a discounted rate! But book now - discounts are only valid until the 5th of July. The Comfort Inn can be reached at 416.924.1222
We are just under two weeks away from the 41st annual Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra)! A few gentle reminders from our hospitality team:
We are looking for volunteers to host out-of-town guests for the weekend. Please contact Radha Bhakti devi dasi if you have some room to spare!
Kitchen help is required during the week of the festival! If you can spare some time for cut up throughout the week of the festival, please contact Radha Bhakti devi dasi
If you are looking for a hotel, our partner hotel is providing festival-goers with a discounted rate! But book now - discounts are only valid until the 5th of July. The Comfort Inn can be reached at 416.924.1222
"The Gosvamis, especially Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, strictly followed all the regulative principles. The first regulative principle is that one must chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra loudly enough so that he can hear himself, and one must vow to chant a fixed number of rounds."
"The Gosvamis, especially Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, strictly followed all the regulative principles. The first regulative principle is that one must chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra loudly enough so that he can hear himself, and one must vow to chant a fixed number of rounds."
Interview at Stonehenge! http://youtu.be/W6Drsndu0dEThe Science of Parasociology at Stonehenge 2013www.youtube.comNicolas Riddihough is a world wide researcher into the science of Parasociology which he introduces to us with clarity and insightfulness.... Continue reading →
I seem to live on the road. Today it was via a coachline called Greyhound en route to Montreal with a stopover in Ottawa. I like the front seat so even with transfer I managed to be up front and to get on with bus drivers on both legs on the trip.
Each driver was passionate about his work. They were both cut from the same piece of cloth; determined to get passengers to their destination in a safe and respectful environment.
“ Respect? “ as Aretha Franklin would sing it. Well there was one passenger who just didn't get it. That passenger, with cell phone in hand, had a volume of voice that clearly indicated she felt she was the only person on the planet. There were at least three of us, including the driver, who had an eye-rolling session, annoyed by the woman's self-centeredness. It was not just the loudness but the length of the conversation that got under our skin.
Enough was enough and the bus driver grabbed for the hand-held PA system, “ Attention ladies and gentlemen... “He went on with his message about RESPECT and so we were finally relieved until two hours later when session 2 began.
Some people just don't get it. Some folks have a passion for driving (as expressed before) but to the point of driving you crazy. Anyways, a mutual amiable communication became established with the coach driver and I over the ladies ignorance in addition for our passion for travel, and my version of it – pilgrimage. When not in conversation I would read, or chant softly with my beads as an aid or look out the window savouring the day when I can once again trek Highway 7 and be that pilgrim. How I relished that time, ten years ago, even the adventure and chivalry of defending myself of nasty deer flies. In the end, all was rewarding, all was gratifying.
Disembarking the bus and thanking the second driver of the day I left for the last moments on foot to reach, contemplating and appreciating the responsible work of the person who drives. Come to think of it, it's Krishna who amongst other duties, takes the reigns of the horse and demonstrates an expertise behind the wheel, so to speak.
I seem to live on the road. Today it was via a coachline called Greyhound en route to Montreal with a stopover in Ottawa. I like the front seat so even with transfer I managed to be up front and to get on with bus drivers on both legs on the trip.
Each driver was passionate about his work. They were both cut from the same piece of cloth; determined to get passengers to their destination in a safe and respectful environment.
“ Respect? “ as Aretha Franklin would sing it. Well there was one passenger who just didn't get it. That passenger, with cell phone in hand, had a volume of voice that clearly indicated she felt she was the only person on the planet. There were at least three of us, including the driver, who had an eye-rolling session, annoyed by the woman's self-centeredness. It was not just the loudness but the length of the conversation that got under our skin.
Enough was enough and the bus driver grabbed for the hand-held PA system, “ Attention ladies and gentlemen... “He went on with his message about RESPECT and so we were finally relieved until two hours later when session 2 began.
Some people just don't get it. Some folks have a passion for driving (as expressed before) but to the point of driving you crazy. Anyways, a mutual amiable communication became established with the coach driver and I over the ladies ignorance in addition for our passion for travel, and my version of it – pilgrimage. When not in conversation I would read, or chant softly with my beads as an aid or look out the window savouring the day when I can once again trek Highway 7 and be that pilgrim. How I relished that time, ten years ago, even the adventure and chivalry of defending myself of nasty deer flies. In the end, all was rewarding, all was gratifying.
Disembarking the bus and thanking the second driver of the day I left for the last moments on foot to reach, contemplating and appreciating the responsible work of the person who drives. Come to think of it, it's Krishna who amongst other duties, takes the reigns of the horse and demonstrates an expertise behind the wheel, so to speak.
The Warped Tour is a music circuit of “ transy dancy ” type that moves around North America. There are the faithful fans of the tour that follow wherever the bands play. It's a culture and a chunk of that culture are the Hare Krishnas. How so? Madhukari is the name of a Krishna monk who comes up from the States not to hear the concert but to distribute books on higher consciousness. He, with four other brahmacharis travel the circuit and came to town for an overnight stay at the concert before moving on to Buffalo. Followers of the Grateful Dead circuit were known as the Dead Hoods but you would never call these boys the Warped Heads because they are absolutely straight in their aim and mission.
I was sitting down at an appreciation dinner for the former council members of our temple operations when Madhu walked in. He and his team are also praiseworthy for their austere lifestyle, travelling about with no real fixed address, no girlfriends, no restaurants, no meat, fish or eggs, no drugs or drinks. Sound blend?
Not a chance! These guys are dead serious and they are loving life. They have picked up on the essence of monkism. Shining examples of renunciation. They resort to being celibate as much as they understood what it means to “ celebrate “.
The Warped Tour is a music circuit of “ transy dancy ” type that moves around North America. There are the faithful fans of the tour that follow wherever the bands play. It's a culture and a chunk of that culture are the Hare Krishnas. How so? Madhukari is the name of a Krishna monk who comes up from the States not to hear the concert but to distribute books on higher consciousness. He, with four other brahmacharis travel the circuit and came to town for an overnight stay at the concert before moving on to Buffalo. Followers of the Grateful Dead circuit were known as the Dead Hoods but you would never call these boys the Warped Heads because they are absolutely straight in their aim and mission.
I was sitting down at an appreciation dinner for the former council members of our temple operations when Madhu walked in. He and his team are also praiseworthy for their austere lifestyle, travelling about with no real fixed address, no girlfriends, no restaurants, no meat, fish or eggs, no drugs or drinks. Sound blend?
Not a chance! These guys are dead serious and they are loving life. They have picked up on the essence of monkism. Shining examples of renunciation. They resort to being celibate as much as they understood what it means to “ celebrate “.
Yesterday I went to the Rathayatra in Harrisburg, PA, with my son Caitanya, and it was my first time in kirtan with devotees since three years ago. It was a good time, and I was able to connect a little with a few devotees. Later, at night my legs were sore from dancing.
Also, I’ve been keeping up with sixteen rounds a day again since more than two weeks ago.
It’s a little bizarre after having thought I would never do this again. Imagine trying to serve Krishna for fifteen years but feeling oneself a failure, rejected. So I quit, thinking Krishna either won’t accept me or was an hallucination or dream.
Asking anyone, I think I could find a lot more agreement with the latter than with the first there. I therefore tried to forget Krishna, and went and became part of the atheist community. I began following the big atheist speakers and identifying with what they were saying. I remember finding videos of Christopher Hitchens arguing anti-religion, listening to them for several hours one day and thinking he was really great. The next days news indicated he died that day, perhaps while I was watching, and it made me think of Krishna. I noticed the atheist community argued against the Abrahamic religions but apparently didn’t know Bhagavad-gita As It Is. So I thought I should present it to them. I don’t know if I convinced anyone else to try it, I guess not, but I convinced myself.
Unfortunately it seems to mean that despite giving what I felt was my best effort to serve Krishna for fifteen years, He was not impressed and let me leave His service to commit spiritual suicide, eventually rescuing me a little but somehow still leaving me too captivated by Maya, with a material conception of life, as if Krishna consciousness were some kind of chore that I am unfit to accomplish.
This upcoming Sunday, we will be surely be recovering from an amazing pre-festival launch at Yonge-Sundas Square. However, there won't be much time to catch our breath! This upcoming Sunday Feast will be a special "Kirtan Sunday Feast" with Madhava and Dravida Prabhus!
The kirtan-filled evening will be a special treat and you won't want to miss it! The tentaitve schedule is as follows:
5:00pm to 6:00pm - Opening Kirtan 6:00pm to 7:00pm - Kirtan with Madhava Prabhu 7:00pm to 7:30pm - Presentation with Dravida Prabhu 7:30pm to 8:00pm - Vegetarian Feast (Prasadam) 8:00pm to 10:00pm - Kirtan with Madhava
This will be Madhava's first time attending one of our Sunday Feasts, so please plan on staying back late! The kirtan will go well into the night! Hare Krsna!
This upcoming Sunday, we will be surely be recovering from an amazing pre-festival launch at Yonge-Sundas Square. However, there won't be much time to catch our breath! This upcoming Sunday Feast will be a special "Kirtan Sunday Feast" with Madhava and Dravida Prabhus!
The kirtan-filled evening will be a special treat and you won't want to miss it! The tentaitve schedule is as follows:
5:00pm to 6:00pm - Opening Kirtan 6:00pm to 7:00pm - Kirtan with Madhava Prabhu 7:00pm to 7:30pm - Presentation with Dravida Prabhu 7:30pm to 8:00pm - Vegetarian Feast (Prasadam) 8:00pm to 10:00pm - Kirtan with Madhava
This will be Madhava's first time attending one of our Sunday Feasts, so please plan on staying back late! The kirtan will go well into the night! Hare Krsna!
"You want to walk with Radhanath Swami and me to the Union Square Park harinam?" Dhanurdhara Swami asked me. We were conversing in a hallway of the Bhakti Center in New York City.
"Why, sure!" I replied.
"Let me just go ask him, and I'll get back to you. We'll leave soon, so just stick around,"
I nodded.
I had just flown in from India that very morning after being gone from America for almost an entire year. I kid you not when I say that tears stung my eyes when I walked through the corridors of Newark Airport. I was on American "soil"! I felt unabashedly patriotic.
Today was also the day that I had officially moved into the Bhakti Center - to give this Center and this city a whirl in service for awhile, see how things go.
A half an hour later, Dhanurdhara Swami ushered me to join him and Radhanath Swami, but the time was running late so we hailed a cab. As usual, I felt nervous to be around my spiritual master, who is such a huge guiding force in my life. The two swamis got into the back and I got into the front. How surreal, I thought. I'm riding in a cab with such eminent personalities.
When we got out of the cab at Union Square Park, I could hear the distant thrum of the mridanga drum and the soft 'ting' of the karatalas. We were getting closer to the harinam.
I circled around to join the two dignified Swamis in their flowing orange robes. Radhanath Swami caught my eye. A mysterious smile lit up his face and he intoned, "Bhakti lata, today I officially give to you New York City."
My eyes widened. "Really?" That sounded pretty important, but I was puzzled. "What does that mean?"
"In time, everything will be revealed," he replied enigmatically.
I knit my eyebrows. I turned to Dhanurdhara Swami, "Maharaj, what does that mean, that Radhanath Swami has officially given to me New York City?"
"Ah, this is called Prabhudatta Desha,"
"Prabhupada Desha?" I said, trying to clarify.
"No, Prabhudatta, with a 't.' Prabhudatta Desha,"
"Prabhudatta Desha," I said carefully. The three of us were now walking abreast, weaving through crowds, approaching the harinam.
"Yes," Dhanurdhara Swami said, "This means 'the place of residence that the guru gives to you as your main place of service,'"
I was stunned. I looked over to Radhanath Swami. He grinned. "I told you that everything would soon be revealed."
A week later and I am realizing that his words will take a lifetime to be revealed.
"You want to walk with Radhanath Swami and me to the Union Square Park harinam?" Dhanurdhara Swami asked me. We were conversing in a hallway of the Bhakti Center in New York City.
"Why, sure!" I replied.
"Let me just go ask him, and I'll get back to you. We'll leave soon, so just stick around,"
I nodded.
I had just flown in from India that very morning after being gone from America for almost an entire year. I kid you not when I say that tears stung my eyes when I walked through the corridors of Newark Airport. I was on American "soil"! I felt unabashedly patriotic.
Today was also the day that I had officially moved into the Bhakti Center - to give this Center and this city a whirl in service for awhile, see how things go.
A half an hour later, Dhanurdhara Swami ushered me to join him and Radhanath Swami, but the time was running late so we hailed a cab. As usual, I felt nervous to be around my spiritual master, who is such a huge guiding force in my life. The two swamis got into the back and I got into the front. How surreal, I thought. I'm riding in a cab with such eminent personalities.
When we got out of the cab at Union Square Park, I could hear the distant thrum of the mridanga drum and the soft 'ting' of the karatalas. We were getting closer to the harinam.
I circled around to join the two dignified Swamis in their flowing orange robes. Radhanath Swami caught my eye. A mysterious smile lit up his face and he intoned, "Bhakti lata, today I officially give to you New York City."
My eyes widened. "Really?" That sounded pretty important, but I was puzzled. "What does that mean?"
"In time, everything will be revealed," he replied enigmatically.
I knit my eyebrows. I turned to Dhanurdhara Swami, "Maharaj, what does that mean, that Radhanath Swami has officially given to me New York City?"
"Ah, this is called Prabhudatta Desha,"
"Prabhupada Desha?" I said, trying to clarify.
"No, Prabhudatta, with a 't.' Prabhudatta Desha,"
"Prabhudatta Desha," I said carefully. The three of us were now walking abreast, weaving through crowds, approaching the harinam.
"Yes," Dhanurdhara Swami said, "This means 'the place of residence that the guru gives to you as your main place of service,'"
I was stunned. I looked over to Radhanath Swami. He grinned. "I told you that everything would soon be revealed."
A week later and I am realizing that his words will take a lifetime to be revealed.
In July, Madreya Prabhu from New Govardhana, organised a Bonfire and Kirtan night at the school hall . The activities kick started at 4.pm with stalls that featured arts and crafts, shadow puppets, yoga classes and Indian dance lessons.
There were a couple of fresh organic fruit and vegetable stalls and Krsnagana set up an outside prasadam tent. Inside, Danesvara was in charge of the Krsna art gallery, as well as serving prasadam that consisted of samosas, pizza, donuts and natural juices.
At 7.pm the gurukula students chanted sanskrit invocation mantras that were well received by the audience of more than 400 guests. At 7.30pm Janardhan from Brisbane led wonderful bhajans to the accompaniment of harmonium, mrdanga and other instruments.
The evening ended with kirtan by the Lore of Gravity Bhajan Band that had the crowded chanting and dancing in ecstasy.
