The world’s happiest event is just around the corner! On Sat. Sept. 14 2013, the Palace of Gold will host its 2nd annual Festival of Colors. Come and join the fun with hundreds of other lively color-throwing participants. The festival is an exuberant gathering of people united in the desire to celebrate life, where everyone is invited to join in!
Festivities include eight hours of continuous music and jamming, with hourly color throwings. Last year one guest appreciated that “those people at the Festival of Colors sure know how to throw a party!”
The event is perfect for all ages, as witnessed by one father, who confirmed, “My family and I had a great time, and look forward to coming back year after year to ‘celebrate life’ in this special way.”
So mark the date – Saturday, September 14th, 2013 – and invite your friends to come ‘Color your life and throw your worries to the wind!’
The Appearance Anniversary of Lord Balarama falls on Wednesday August the 21st.
Lord Balarama is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master.Therefore His appearance as the son of Rohini and Vasudeva is celebrated by devotees with great jubilation.
In Chaitanya-lila, Lord Balarama appears as Lord Nityananda, the bestower of mercy to even the most fallen conditioned soul.
Our schedule will be: 4.30pm Arati & Kirtan 5.00pm Class 6.00pm Feast 7.00pm Gaura Arati
Heart attack. Recession. Earthquake. All of us have our fears. Fears that check even choke our energy, making things far more difficult than they need to be.
How do we deal with fear?
Some people increase their wealth or power, hoping that one day they will become so big that no fear will intimidate them. Sadly however, that day never comes. No matter how big they become, their bigness is derived from, even dependent upon, external possessions and positions that they can never fully control. So in a tragic paradox, the bigger they become, the bigger their anxieties become.
To become fear-free, Gita wisdom urges us to become aware of a presence that dwarfs fear – the supreme presence of Krishna.
The Bhagavad-gita (16.01) states that fearlessness is the first characteristic of the godly. This fearlessness is a direct result of their godliness or God consciousness. Krishna presides as the supreme reality in a blissful arena beyond the fear-filled arena of matter. He is bigger than everything – even the biggest problem that life presents. And he makes available his supreme intelligence and grace to all those who seek it by becoming conscious of their eternal loving relationship with him.
By prayerful daily meditation and regular scriptural study, we too can tune our consciousness to become aware of the divine presence of Krishna within and without. This doesn't cause problems to disappear, but it takes away the power of problems send us on flights of nightmarish fantasy. Our emotions instead of being agitated by the problem’s presence become reassured by awareness of Krishna’s presence. Thus we become free to tackle the situation intelligently and productively.
Thus, even while living in a fearful world with a fear-prone, we can live fearlessly.
***
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Fearlessness; purification of one’s existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity – these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.
I took to walking the scenic route near the university grounds in Regina around Lake Wascana before the ride to Saskatoon to Regina. Quite pleasant.
What is even more pleasant is spending the time with our travelling team, what a great bunch of guys. Here we are, an actual travelling road show, going from city to city doing our gigs. Each member is self driven. The mood is “We are part of a mission. We like that our guru, Srila Prabhupada, is pleased with our efforts.” Time is tight. Distances of travel are lengthy. Each new venue has its own glory and challenges. We do foul up sometimes. A mrdanga drum got lost in the previous place, oops! The person playing Krishna’s role has no pants to wear, they also got left behind. These are minor screw ups, believe it or not, they will be rectified. Upon hitting such surprises we are a group that becomes concerned and then innovates a change and solution. Our technical sound guy at Broadway Theatre is Jack, a lovely fellow, an old hippie with beard and all (that’s Broadway in Saskatoon by the way).
It’s day number 2 with my emcee duty. I’m rather liking it. It was a proud moment for me to introduce Chief of Police for Saskatoon, Clive Weighill, to the stage for a message. That took care of our ksatriya (warrior) guest. Then I called on Father David from the Holy Family Church to represent the local brahmin sector, a loveable person he is.
I hope they don’t mind me saying this but, by the ending of the show at kirtan time, officer Weighill along with his wife danced up something wonderful along with the rest of the audience. Father David also took in the dance moves in the narrow space between the stage and the seating. Jack also swirled around on his feet joining the crowd. The event could not have been much better participatory wise. I thank the Great Power under the prairie sky for the occasion of a topmost celebration.
I took to walking the scenic route near the university grounds in Regina around Lake Wascana before the ride to Saskatoon to Regina. Quite pleasant.
What is even more pleasant is spending the time with our travelling team, what a great bunch of guys. Here we are, an actual travelling road show, going from city to city doing our gigs. Each member is self driven. The mood is “We are part of a mission. We like that our guru, Srila Prabhupada, is pleased with our efforts.” Time is tight. Distances of travel are lengthy. Each new venue has its own glory and challenges. We do foul up sometimes. A mrdanga drum got lost in the previous place, oops! The person playing Krishna’s role has no pants to wear, they also got left behind. These are minor screw ups, believe it or not, they will be rectified. Upon hitting such surprises we are a group that becomes concerned and then innovates a change and solution. Our technical sound guy at Broadway Theatre is Jack, a lovely fellow, an old hippie with beard and all (that’s Broadway in Saskatoon by the way).
It’s day number 2 with my emcee duty. I’m rather liking it. It was a proud moment for me to introduce Chief of Police for Saskatoon, Clive Weighill, to the stage for a message. That took care of our ksatriya (warrior) guest. Then I called on Father David from the Holy Family Church to represent the local brahmin sector, a loveable person he is.
I hope they don’t mind me saying this but, by the ending of the show at kirtan time, officer Weighill along with his wife danced up something wonderful along with the rest of the audience. Father David also took in the dance moves in the narrow space between the stage and the seating. Jack also swirled around on his feet joining the crowd. The event could not have been much better participatory wise. I thank the Great Power under the prairie sky for the occasion of a topmost celebration.
Last Chance The last chance to hear from Devamrita swami this visit will be this Sunday 18th August at 5pm. So make it a date. As a world traveller & international author, Devamrita swami is the kind of person to hear from if you really want to gain wisdom & strength to pursue “out of the box” goals [...]
"Somewhere it is said that if you do not accept Gaura-Nitai you are a demon. And something more I think. Like you are going to hell. I do not remember , but very heavy.
How to understand? There are four sampradayas and going to Vaikuntha is also good.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2013, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi Lila 9.46)
Not only are we taking shelter of Krsna, but we also let Krsna lead our way. Krsna has placed us in a particular position
karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa
jantur dehopapattaye
We are not only taking birth by our karma, but also by divine arrangement. Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa – it is also by the arrangement of Krsna that we find ourselves in a particular situation. And a certain amount of acceptance of our destiny is required.
“Well, you know, this is what came my way, and I’ll just roll with it. I will not get into too much of anxiety about my condition of life. I don’t need to turn everything upside down to try and make some sort of arrangement by which I will get a better life.”
All that energy should not go towards the material arrangement. All that energy should go towards our service for Krsna. In so far as our material arrangement is concerned, we accept what comes naturally, what comes …karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa .. by karma and by divine arrangement.
We see that the tree is a symbol of acceptance and we must also accept our destiny. A tree has no choice – it cannot run away. We also must accept, must be tolerant and generous
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2013, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi Lila 9.46)
Not only are we taking shelter of Krsna, but we also let Krsna lead our way. Krsna has placed us in a particular position
karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa
jantur dehopapattaye
We are not only taking birth by our karma, but also by divine arrangement. Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa – it is also by the arrangement of Krsna that we find ourselves in a particular situation. And a certain amount of acceptance of our destiny is required.
“Well, you know, this is what came my way, and I’ll just roll with it. I will not get into too much of anxiety about my condition of life. I don’t need to turn everything upside down to try and make some sort of arrangement by which I will get a better life.”
All that energy should not go towards the material arrangement. All that energy should go towards our service for Krsna. In so far as our material arrangement is concerned, we accept what comes naturally, what comes …karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa .. by karma and by divine arrangement.
We see that the tree is a symbol of acceptance and we must also accept our destiny. A tree has no choice – it cannot run away. We also must accept, must be tolerant and generous
From His kingdom the Personality of Godhead sends His bona fide servants to propagate this message by which one can return to Godhead, and sometimes the Lord comes Himself to do this work. Since all living beings are His beloved sons, His parts and parcels, God is more sorry than we ourselves to see the sufferings we are constantly undergoing in this material condition.
So if one quits his body Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, he certainly reaches one of the spiritual planets, according to the mode of his practice. The devotees of Kṛṣṇa enter the Kṛṣṇa planet, Goloka Vṛndāvana.
So if one quits his body Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, he certainly reaches one of the spiritual planets, according to the mode of his practice. The devotees of Kṛṣṇa enter the Kṛṣṇa planet, Goloka Vṛndāvana.
In 1969 I bought the Radha Krishna record and a year later a book from a devotee in London. In 1973 I got a job in the British Museum and started going to Bury Place regularly for lunch. This was the original London temple before Soho St. My boyfriend and I went to stay at Bhaktivedanta Manor in November 1973. By wonderful arrangement Srila Prabhupada was there. I remember the first morning he came in, as the Govinda prayers started playing, the curtains opened and we all bowed down in front of the Deities with him. It was so overwhelming that I cried. We attended his morning lectures, gave him flowers and went to the airport with him when he had to leave and sat by his feet chanting.
Soon after that we moved to Lancaster and for a year distributed books and had Sunday programmes. We stayed with Ranchor Das Prabhu in Manchester a couple of times, and Rebatinandana Swami and several devotees stayed with us for a few days. In late 1974 I became the first English girl to become a life member and had a meeting with Srila Prabhupada in his room at the Manor with other life members.
Moving back to Essex, I met then married Martin in 1979. We had three children (Ross, Joseph and Lauren) and run a small farm together. We couldn’t get to the temple much for the next few years till my eldest son Ross learnt to drive and was able to take us to the Manor regularly, which we still do. We have made many dear friends there, and appreciate their precious association. We also go to Soho Street temple when we can, and also have lovely friends there. The devotees at both temples have always made us most welcome and inspire us to progress in Krishna Consciousness.
I joined the Mayapur TV online Morning Program in November 2007 and have hardly missed a day since and really consider it an important part of our lives. Ross, Lauren and my two grandchildren (Mia and Samuel) also attend the programs. Lauren and I log in at 4:30am so have 4 hours association with devotees each day which has helped our spiritual progress greatly. The relationships we have developed with the devotees who come online regularly are deep, loving and also great fun! It is a life-line for people like us who are far from the temples.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all the devotees!
Lauren
My two brothers and I grew up learning about Krishna and going to the Manor occasionally. My mother had been going there since 1973 but we couldn’t get there often. Her friend Jagatam and her son Nimai came to visit us and I loved being with them.
It wasn’t till my older brother Ross began to drive and take us there every other week and for festivals that I really got to learn more and make lots of friends and now I love going there more than anything.
Mum and I go on the Morning Programme each day from 4:30 am till the end of class at 8:30 and that is the most important time of the day for us.
Hari bol!
Left to right starting from the back: Joseph, Martin, Ross, Sam, Julia, Mia, Lauren.
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If you wish to contribute your story, please try to limit it to 2 pages as Julia and others have done. Thanks. Ed.
Please see the letter below from Govardhan devi dasi, Prabhupad disciple, about this new weekly group starting Saturday 13th April!
If you live in or near York and would like to do some service, please print, cut into four and distribute this leaflet, to counters in and around York.
Hare Krishna!
ISKCON Yorkshire has a new branch of Nama Hatta opening in York at the Quaker Meeting House, Friargate, York City Centre.
We’ll meet from 6 to 8pm every Saturday, after doing some Harinam in town each week.
Our first meeting is on Saturday 13th April, and on that day the Harinam will be headed up by His Holiness Dayananda Swami, meeting at 2.30pm in the Castle Car Park.
We hope to see many visitors and guest speakers – you will all be given a very warm welcome!
Nottingham, 1st April 2013. A bunch of fools? No, a team of devotees and non-devotees run around like ants – sweeping, mopping, screwing tables together, and putting final licks of paint… you get the picture! In the background, leaflets are being distributed, Govinda’s is appearing on websites, word is getting around.
The decor’s gorgeous – clean, relaxing colours, Govinda pic on the left wall, a lovely one in front of the kitchen of Srila Prabhupada cooking. Other pics, banners – it’s all very tasteful.
2nd April, late morning: a few more finishing touches and hey presto, in walk the first two customers, Glenis and Mick. They laugh as someone asks if it’s ok to put them on the Internet and tuck in happily to plates piled high with prasadum from the all-you-can eat buffet. They’ve been walking by every day, waiting for Govinda’s to open.
Local vegans are on Cloud Nine: there was nowhere much for them to go, now look at all the vegan options! And Salendria, Prabhupad disciple and Head Cook, is happy to pop out of the kitchen and explain to those on special diets, in fact anyone who asks, what the ingredients are.
Trade is really good on day one and climbs daily. The friendly little team seem as happy as the customers and, a few days later, so are the Nama Hatta devotees, comparing notes and realising that Govinda’s has provided everyone with plenty of service this week.
Please see Govinda’s Nottingham Facebook site for pics and up-to-date information and comments.
A young student from Toronto, Darshan, a young monk, Maha Mantra, and I headed north on Albert Street after a night rest and a flight that took us westbound. As we walked, we were spotted by several people and one of which pulled over her car intrigued by the novelty of devotee attire.
This one woman in particular, perhaps in her late 60s came out of her car and approached us, “I just wanted to ask, are you Hare Krishnas?”
“Yes, we are,” I replied. She just lit up and came back with:
“I remember seeing you in the 60s, you were into love and peace.”
“Well, we still are,” I said delighted by her thought. She then added a last statement, a suggestion.
“You know, you should walk more so that people can see you.”
“I’m really trying to do that ma’am, every day.” As I said this she made her way to her car and as she was going in that direction she no longer appeared like a 60 year old + person, but was a teen in her reminiscence. My two walking companions were rather stunned by the response of the public just because we were out there in Vaishnava attire.
Later this evening the same two companions would not be recognized by those motorists that saw us. Maha Mantra would be found in a tight, full bodied morphed burgundy suit, and Darshan would be covered in a rich blue hue body paint portraying Krishna; both on stage at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum for a Gita: Concise performance. In the lobby after the rendition was done, I had several people remark about my direction on the play, “You should do more of this,” and I came back with a, “Yes, most definitely we will.”
I want to thank Regina’s mayor for attending the program.
A young student from Toronto, Darshan, a young monk, Maha Mantra, and I headed north on Albert Street after a night rest and a flight that took us westbound. As we walked, we were spotted by several people and one of which pulled over her car intrigued by the novelty of devotee attire.
This one woman in particular, perhaps in her late 60s came out of her car and approached us, “I just wanted to ask, are you Hare Krishnas?”
“Yes, we are,” I replied. She just lit up and came back with:
“I remember seeing you in the 60s, you were into love and peace.”
“Well, we still are,” I said delighted by her thought. She then added a last statement, a suggestion.
“You know, you should walk more so that people can see you.”
“I’m really trying to do that ma’am, every day.” As I said this she made her way to her car and as she was going in that direction she no longer appeared like a 60 year old + person, but was a teen in her reminiscence. My two walking companions were rather stunned by the response of the public just because we were out there in Vaishnava attire.
Later this evening the same two companions would not be recognized by those motorists that saw us. Maha Mantra would be found in a tight, full bodied morphed burgundy suit, and Darshan would be covered in a rich blue hue body paint portraying Krishna; both on stage at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum for a Gita: Concise performance. In the lobby after the rendition was done, I had several people remark about my direction on the play, “You should do more of this,” and I came back with a, “Yes, most definitely we will.”
I want to thank Regina’s mayor for attending the program.
Thunder Bay is an amalgamation of two once very prosperous cities Fort Arthur and Fort William. It was a prominent pulp and paper center and also a major port which funneled harvested grains being shipped east from their source, the expansive prairies.
Like all things in this world there is change and one geologist in this area told me of abundant gold deposits in the area just waiting to reminded, “It becomes an environmental issue in addition to the current price of gold,” he said. I guess that’s the reason for the delay.
I trekked along Simpson Street, an artery which early morning commuters take. Judging by the amount of closed stores, you can see that this section of town had seen better days. This is a drug dealing quarter I’ve come to know. These kinds of conditions stir up an uneasiness inside of me. It’s painful to know that people are in pain, struggling in a dark world. I wish that sometimes we could spin the clock back in time when morality was up, when the family was stronger, and a community was there to hold a person together.
A light rain showered on the area of Simpson Street, almost as if to cleanse what needed to be cleansed. That rain coupled with my meagre effort at chanting as soft as the rain, left me hopeful.
After the trek I sat under a cedar tree to read the latest Journal of Vaishnava Studies. Blessings came my way when a bird perched above unintentionally I’m sure, released a generous amount of dropping to hit the head, shoulder and thigh. It was an interesting way to punctuate the day.
Thunder Bay is an amalgamation of two once very prosperous cities Fort Arthur and Fort William. It was a prominent pulp and paper center and also a major port which funneled harvested grains being shipped east from their source, the expansive prairies.
Like all things in this world there is change and one geologist in this area told me of abundant gold deposits in the area just waiting to reminded, “It becomes an environmental issue in addition to the current price of gold,” he said. I guess that’s the reason for the delay.
I trekked along Simpson Street, an artery which early morning commuters take. Judging by the amount of closed stores, you can see that this section of town had seen better days. This is a drug dealing quarter I’ve come to know. These kinds of conditions stir up an uneasiness inside of me. It’s painful to know that people are in pain, struggling in a dark world. I wish that sometimes we could spin the clock back in time when morality was up, when the family was stronger, and a community was there to hold a person together.
A light rain showered on the area of Simpson Street, almost as if to cleanse what needed to be cleansed. That rain coupled with my meagre effort at chanting as soft as the rain, left me hopeful.
After the trek I sat under a cedar tree to read the latest Journal of Vaishnava Studies. Blessings came my way when a bird perched above unintentionally I’m sure, released a generous amount of dropping to hit the head, shoulder and thigh. It was an interesting way to punctuate the day.
KUALA LUMPUR - Led kirtan for the first time ever during Aindra prabhu's tribute yesterday in Sri Jagannatha Mandir, Kuala Lumpur :) Thank you Aindra prabhu, for giving us the incredible oppurtunity to relish in such awesome kirtans and for a wonderful experience like no other ! You're truly such an inspiration, and you'll always live on in your beautiful and amazing self-composed melodies of the Holy Name. All due to the mercy of studying in Mayapur.
Nrsimha Caturdasi in Mayapur - My blood-splattering partner-in-crime ! Had a blast working with the M-Yes crew for the Nrsimha Vijaya drama ! It was so fun being a demon/cliff/snake/guard lol. Oh and of course the highlight of it all, getting my mouth ripped apart by Nrsimhadev while vomitting blood and tumbling off stage to my death
Visit by mum during Gaura Purnima 2013 - My mother and I share a very close and initimate relationshop. Other than the obvious mother daughter relationship, we also tend to treat each other like best friends. We share and exchange personal stories and experiences about our lives with one another. She also helps me face my problems and give me good advice. She has been my pillar of strength and support through the ups and downs of my life. As a mum, she knows her duties of instilling moral values in me and always make sure I practice them. My mum always says that respect is earned when you learn to respect others and I think that is the basis of our relationship..
Acted as Krishna for Sri Mayapur International School's Open Day
1967 July 21: "When you come to India, you must pack nicely and bring my trunk and also the tape recorder and finally the big Royal typewriter. I shall let you know my arrival news from India. Hope this will find you all right." Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
1969 July 21: "Unless a man is Krishna Conscious, his external advancement of knowledge has no value. So your present engagement is very nice; neither I think you can be better educated in the universities. A person who is in Krishna Consciousness is the topmost educated man." Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
1969 July 21: "In a Krishna Conscious marriage the basic principle is to serve Krishna nicely and to help the partner advance in spiritual life. Husband and wife are true benefactors for one another and there is no question of any serious conflicts or separation." Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
1969 July 21: "The hippy philosophy is nice in that they are disgusted with materialistic life. Therefore they want to renounce. Unfortunately, they have no good leader, neither they have information that there is another beautiful life in Krishna Consciousness." Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
1970 July 21: "Early next year some forty of my students will visit Vaisnava temples in India and perform kirtana there. They are observing all the regulative principles and Vaisnava sadacara. People of India as well as the priestly order should receive them properly." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1971 July 21: "Yes, it is encouraging news that he is favorably inclined toward giving us land in Raman Reti. Another nice news is that all of you women are going out daily for preaching. Very good. Continue it whole heartedly." Prabhupada Letters :: 1971
