Planet ISKCON

Closer

Winnipeg, Manitoba

I had my eye on a green space off of Portage Avenue where I blazed a trail. Daruka confirmed this would be a good place. It’s called Vimy Ridge Park, this place would do for a kirtan, a chanting session tonight.

After an early jaunt beginning at 2 AM, I wanted to prolong my long stay in Winnipeg with a little party. The best party is sankirtan, outreach chanting, only we will do it on the grass. It was last minute, yet Daruka, Vrinda and I pulled together a spontaneous get together in the evening where casual walkers browse and use valuable time.

We laid out some imitation grass mats imported from Sri Lanka, placed our harmonium mrdanga drum, karatals (and cymbals) and a bowl of fruit on top before plopping ourselves. The ceremony began, people took notice, some stopped for the sound, some to see the exotic instruments and us, and some were charmed by Billy, our Amazon parrot. Our message is, “We are doing kirtan. It’s an ancient system for calming the mind. It has roots in India. Join us if you like.” And some people would because it’s all attractive. Either Vrinda or I take the lead on singing. She ambles her fingers on the harmonium’s keyboard. Daruka keeps the simple ‘ching ching ching’ sound on karatals, and I maintain tempo on drum. We are not professionals, but devotionals, and that’s what really counts in the end.

You have people walk away with fruit, a smile, a friend made and a tad closer to what’s Divine.

28 KM

“For one who has accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Mukunda, or the giver of mukti, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s footprint. param padam, or the place where there are no material miseries, or Vaikuntha, is his goal, not the place where there is danger in every step of life.”

Srimad Bhagavatam (10.14.58)

“…If we are called by God to holiness of life, and if holiness is beyond our natural power to achieve (which it certainly is) then it follows that God himself must give us the light, the strength, and the courage to fulfill the task he requires of us. He will certainly give us the grace we need.”

Thomas Merton, Life and Holiness (New York: Image, 1963) p.16

Filed under: Thomas Merton

As Kaunteya das is growing I am thinking about that statement that no one should became guru, teacher or parent unless he is able to free his subordinate from birth and death. Can somebody who is a kanistha adhikari do that?

The disease process.

Over the years you see many different types of suffering from short disease to long term progressive diseases, but one thing remains true it consumes not only the sufferer but also their family. The conversations revolve around the disease and problems associated so consumed that they become less aware of the suffering of others.

As a devotee and a nurse I often ponder and reflect on this thought, especially when we look at the disease of material suffering, consumed and covered by maya we become blinded by our condition, it consumes us becomes our identity and our conversation points.

As with all disease it comes in many different forms but the end is inevitable, suffering and frustration lashing out at others for the misfortunes felt.

Listening as always to the suffering and frustrations of those suffering they long for a life they never had, a loss of faculty that restricts or stops them enjoying; resentment of what others have I should have this? Many blame God, or use it as a way of denying Gods existence “See if God exists then I would not suffer like this!”

The realization was that I had only one person to blame for suffering here in the material world, ME

I chose to enjoy material nature but not understanding material nature I abuse, this abuse means I suffer, my suffering is unique to me; but like many who are in the disease process the identification focuses solely on this; it becomes normal a part of me in every way. It becomes normalized this is my life.

The cure is their, but unlike material medication that gives a temporary relief, the disease can come back or a new one takes it place; the spiritual cure ends all suffering forever.

It means we have to become completely absorbed in the cure process; embrace it fully no matter what difficulty we may experience. Sadly like many who start treatment we just give up, loose hope loose belief in the cure.

The more I have chanted the more clearly I can see the suffering of others in relation to material identification covered entirely by maya; some have some knowledge but few have full knowledge; study of the Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam gives us that knowledge but do we surrender and act on it?

Like those who’s disease is liked to diet, lifestyle, intoxications and are asked to change for many it is hard, a temporary change but reverting back once we have relieved some suffering; it returns for a change is needed.

To become free from the disease of material suffering we need to surrender and follow the process not just till we get some temporary relief but till we are back in the spiritual world returning home to be with Sri Krishna.

We need to remain determined, focused and take the support of those who are fully surrendered to the process of spiritual rather than material advancement; are you up to the challenge?

Or are you simply absorbed in your material suffering that you view it a normal?

Rathayatra 2013 London

ISKCON Brampton Sunday School will be having picture day on Sunday June 23rd 2013. 

Bring your smiles and finest Vaisnava attire!  (dhoti, kurta, lengha/gopi dress, tilak)

For more information, please contact the Sunday School teachers -sundayschool108@gmail.com

ISKCON Brampton Sunday School will be having picture day on Sunday June 23rd 2013. 

Bring your smiles and finest Vaisnava attire!  (dhoti, kurta, lengha/gopi dress, tilak)

For more information, please contact the Sunday School teachers -sundayschool108@gmail.com

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

We read in the Bhagavad-gita that happiness is a characteristic of a person acting in the mode of goodness. Is this happiness the result of being in the mode of goodness? Or is being happy a way to cultivate the mode of goodness? To put it another way… Does happiness come from success? Or does […]

The post Happiness is a symptom of the mode of goodness… or is it a cause? appeared first on Successful Vaisnavas - Personal Development for Hare Krishnas.

We read in the Bhagavad-gita that happiness is a characteristic of a person acting in the mode of goodness. Is this happiness the result of being in the mode of goodness? Or is being happy a way to cultivate the mode of goodness?

To put it another way…

Does happiness come from success? Or does success come from happiness?

This entertaining and insightful TED Talk gives an interesting and very practical perspective.

Let me know what you think in the comments below.

 

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer)

Are you ready to be free (?)
it doesn’t mean being a tree—
you laugh, but our body is the same—
we’re forced to choose survival,
for the tree, growing to the light
thinking that this is life’s purpose,
and we’re forced to be human
identifying with race, gender, age
mental likes and dislikes—physicality.

If we could only realize our self
the simple truth of spiritual existence
not defending what can’t endure:
our conception of material identity

read more

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer)

Are you ready to be free (?)
it doesn’t mean being a tree—
you laugh, but our body is the same—
we’re forced to choose survival,
for the tree, growing to the light
thinking that this is life’s purpose,
and we’re forced to be human
identifying with race, gender, age
mental likes and dislikes—physicality.

If we could only realize our self
the simple truth of spiritual existence
not defending what can’t endure:
our conception of material identity

read more

Verse 3.31: Those persons who execute their duties according to My injunctions and who follow this teaching faithfully, without envy, become free from the bondage of fruitive actions.

Envy can be such a destructive emotion. In encountering this unwanted feeling in our hearts (after all, who really wants to be envious!) it can sometimes feel as though there's no way to escape it.

Personally, I've always looked upon envy as my enemy until I heard a thought provoking perspective offered by one of my bhakti mentors. Since we tend to feel envious of someone (note: person/s, not things), this yogi suggested that we try focusing on what the person did that provoked this emotion, as opposed to focusing on the individual themselves.

The explanation this incredible bhakti yogi gave was this:

Often we feel envious of others because they possess something or are getting recognition for something that we also want to have or perform.

In this way, envy can actually help us determine what we want! Isn't that amazing? So instead of feeling disheartened, we can actually feel enlivened and inspired.

In my experience, I've noticed that I'm only envious of others when they are doing something that I have an interest in or am attracted to. In fact, more often than not, it's often when I'm interested in something but not doing anything about it that I feel the most envious.

So go ahead and try this out. The next time you feel a veil of green starting to cover your heart and eyes, take a step back and introspect. You might be shocked to discover something more about yourself!

Verse 3.31: Those persons who execute their duties according to My injunctions and who follow this teaching faithfully, without envy, become free from the bondage of fruitive actions.

Envy can be such a destructive emotion. In encountering this unwanted feeling in our hearts (after all, who really wants to be envious!) it can sometimes feel as though there's no way to escape it.

Personally, I've always looked upon envy as my enemy until I heard a thought provoking perspective offered by one of my bhakti mentors. Since we tend to feel envious of someone (note: person/s, not things), this yogi suggested that we try focusing on what the person did that provoked this emotion, as opposed to focusing on the individual themselves.

The explanation this incredible bhakti yogi gave was this:

Often we feel envious of others because they possess something or are getting recognition for something that we also want to have or perform.

In this way, envy can actually help us determine what we want! Isn't that amazing? So instead of feeling disheartened, we can actually feel enlivened and inspired.

In my experience, I've noticed that I'm only envious of others when they are doing something that I have an interest in or am attracted to. In fact, more often than not, it's often when I'm interested in something but not doing anything about it that I feel the most envious.

So go ahead and try this out. The next time you feel a veil of green starting to cover your heart and eyes, take a step back and introspect. You might be shocked to discover something more about yourself!

Leading the chanting on kirtan nights at the Sydney Lotus Room is always enjoyable. Usually, devotees like Tribhuvanesvara, Yasodeva, Braja Kumari and others precede me with their own styles of kirtan and join in when it’s my turn.

I’m always amazed at how enthusiastic the crowd is. They are mainly young local westerners but there are foreign visitors as well. The atmosphere is very relaxed with people sitting on cushions or chairs at the back.

Generally, we start off slowly and build up the tempo and by the end of the night people are clapping, dancing and chanting in great ecstasy.

From Appalachian Power

When the summer heats up, staying cool can be a challenge. While air conditioning provides relief, these units generally use a significant amount of energy. Natural or passive cooling is an environmentally friendly alternative where unwanted heat is reflected, blocked or removed. While new homes can be designed for passive cooling, you can use passive cooling techniques in your current home to live more sustainably and reduce your summer energy costs.

Reflecting heat

Roof. Your roof becomes really hot in the summertime and much of this heat filters into your home. Reflective roof coatings can reduce summer energy use and make your home more comfortable. These products, which can be applied over most existing roofs, block the ultraviolet rays of the sun, extending the life of most roofing materials, and reducing surface temperatures by as much as 80ºF. If you are considering a new roof, make sure to install ENERGY STAR rated cool roof products. ENERGY STAR products can reduce your cooling energy use by 10 to 15 percent.

Windows. Much of the unwanted heat that builds up in your home on hot summer days enters through the windows. Reflective window films deflect up to 97 percent of infrared heat away from the inside of your home, while reducing the fading of furniture, draperies and carpeting.
Blocking heat

Landscaping. Leafy trees planted on the south and west sides of your home will provide cooling shade in summer, blocking heat gain through your roof and windows. A six- to eight-foot tree planted near your home will provide shade for windows during the first year. Depending on the species and the roof, a tree will provide roof shading within 5 to 10 years. Shrubs and ground cover will help shade the ground and pavement around your home. This reduces heat radiation and cools the air before it reaches your walls and windows. For more information, see Landscaping from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Shading devices. Exterior shading devices—awnings, louvers and shutters—block direct sunlight, reducing solar heat gain. Installing awnings on windows with a southern exposure, for example, can reduce solar heat gain as much as 65 percent. Interior shading devices—draperies, blinds or shades—are also effective at blocking solar heat gain.

Removing heat

Natural ventilation. A cool breeze feels great on a hot day, and it is a great way to force warm air out. Open windows during the coolest part of the day or night and seal off your house from the sun and warm air during the hottest part of the day. Ventilated attics greatly reduce accumulated heat, and are up to 30°F cooler than unventilated attics. Properly sized and placed louvers and roof vents help prevent heat buildup and moisture in your attic.

Heat generating sources. Often overlooked is the heat buildup from lights and appliances, such as water heaters, ovens and dryers. Conventional incandescent bulbs give off much of their energy as heat. Replace them with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs); not only are CFLs highly efficient, but they emit 90 percent less heat. Avoid using heat generating appliances during the hottest part of the day, and seal off your laundry and mechanical room from the rest of the house.

While passive cooling methods can provide cost-effective relief from the heat, most homes require some supplemental cooling. Ceiling fans create air circulation in a room to make it feel cooler, reducing the need for air conditioning. A whole-house fan draws cool air into your home through open windows, while pulling hot, indoor air to the attic and exhausting it outside.

Appalachian Power offers great rebates toward the cost of keeping your system in tip-top shape so you’ll stay cool and comfortable and save money, too. Without regular servicing, heat pumps can waste
energy and are likely to break down more frequently.

Did you know that many issues are caused by just dirt and dust? A heat pump system tune-up may include services such as:

Test system starting capabilities and safety controls
Clean and/or replace standard air filters
Tighten electrical connections
Clean condensate drain
Clean condenser coil
Monitor cooling cycle
Inspect evaporator coil
Examine equipment condition area and clearances

Your heat pump worked hard all winter to keep you warm – don’t forget to make sure it’s ready for cooling season. Appalachian Power customers who complete a FREE home energy assessment qualify for these great rebates! Visit http://www.aeprebates.com or call 888.446.7719 for more information and to schedule your home energy assessment.

Filed under: Cows and Environment

One of the things I love about blogging is the fact that you get to connect with all sorts of wonderful people. Case in point - Ms. Vidya Sury. A few months ago I had commented on one of her posts she had written on the Gita....little did I realize then that she would invite me to be a guest blogger!

After some gentle encouragement on her side, it's finally been published! Please feel free to mosey on over to her blog to check out the post: http://vidyasury.com/2013/06/bhagavad-gita-practical-yoga.html#.UcM8QJz-vbc

For all the regular everydaygita reader's out there, you might notice that the post is on a verse in Chapter 6. Please don't fret! We'll get back to continuing Chapter 3 shortly. Also, please feel free to leave comments!

One of the things I love about blogging is the fact that you get to connect with all sorts of wonderful people. Case in point - Ms. Vidya Sury. A few months ago I had commented on one of her posts she had written on the Gita....little did I realize then that she would invite me to be a guest blogger!

After some gentle encouragement on her side, it's finally been published! Please feel free to mosey on over to her blog to check out the post: http://vidyasury.com/2013/06/bhagavad-gita-practical-yoga.html#.UcM8QJz-vbc

For all the regular everydaygita reader's out there, you might notice that the post is on a verse in Chapter 6. Please don't fret! We'll get back to continuing Chapter 3 shortly. Also, please feel free to leave comments!

Hare Krishna Food For All at G8 Summit
by Sakshi Gopal das (ACBSP) UK

It’s summer 2013 and high time for another G8 meeting. Just inside the main gate of this exclusive 300 acre golf course in Hertfordshire a small corner of the estate has been set aside as a press office for the media, courtesy of the highly secretive Bilderberg Group. Whether this is simply a public relations gesture intended to convey a sense of openness and transparency by the hidden powers that be, remains to be seen. It will need more than that to quell the conspiracy theories that abound here among the growing crowd of press and protestors. And it’s a peaceful assembly gathering here today under blue skies and warm sunshine – no placards, seething mobs or incitement to riot. Still, the likes of us are kept a good half mile away from the cosseted elite – the world leaders of high finance and international politics, a select group of whom are meeting across the green fairways for top level discussions behind closed doors. Neither pressman nor outsider is allowed anywhere near. No TV or radio interviewer can get within earshot of their top secret talks. It’s all totally off limits – hence the high security. Because directly or indirectly, the effects of the statutes and policies seeded at these unaccountable meetings will touch most of us for decades, perhaps even generations to come. You can see why they don’t want to be disturbed. And this year’s major three day G8 summit is being hosted here in the UK at a top, five star hotel known as The Grove. The single Regency building sits on its own in the middle of an exclusive golf course on the outskirts of Watford, the whole proceedings taking place within a few miles of Bhaktivedanta Manor.

From past experience, we know this is just the opportunity Hare Krishna Food For All needs to spring into action. Despite the team’s involvement in two Rathayatra festivals this very weekend – sumptuous plates of delicious prasadam for 15,000 at the London festival alone – Parasurama still finds time to cook and personally deliver several big Thermatubs of hot rice and delicious vegetable-rich kitchari every day. There’s an enormous tub of fresh strawberry nectar too – along with fruit, papadams and various breads. The food preparation and transportation to the site is one thing, but the prospect of getting it all past the main gate is something else. Despite the FFA’s eagerness to cook and distribute Krishna prasadam, the intense security here is daunting. The entire Grove estate is surrounded by a police cordon while there’s evidence of armed Swat teams at the entrance and some of the nearby road junctions. Overhead, a no-fly zone is being enforced while a black security helicoper hovers in the distance surveying the countryside for miles around. Approaching the gate it seems more like an airport as we wait in queue and our bags are thoroughly searched. Then a full body scan with metal detectors while two video cameras are kept rolling to record each and every visitor, footage no doubt destined for some digital security archive and face recognition programme. Nevertheless, the police are friendly and very helpful. Two or three uniformed officers help us manhandle the heavy tubs of prasadam the thirty yards down into the field. As they leave to resume their duties at the gate, they add that they’ll be back later to sample some of the curry on offer at our table.

Almost as soon as we’re set up, the queue for prasadam begins. To many here, devotees are already a familiar face. They’ve seen us over the decades doing harinam in the West End of London and surrounding towns and many have tasted Krishna prasadam at innumerable festivals in UK – Virgin Festival, Glastonbury and the Stonehenge solstice celebrations to name but a few. People are expressing their gratitude for the “free hot food” and many drop something in the donation tin in appreciation, saying how delicious it is. A few ask us if there’ll be kirtan, but we explain that will have to be later as there’s just two of us here and we are working flat out to keep the ever growing queue moving. After about three hours and hundreds of plates later there’s nothing left to serve out and the latecomers can only express their disappointment. The books on display have attracted some attention and several fortunate souls have walked away with Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is or a copy of Chant And Be Happy. We hold a simple kirtan for a while by our table at the edge of the field, purifying the already peaceful atmosphere by loudly chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare to the accompaniment of karatels, a single pair of sweet sounding brass hand cymbals. And then the guest speakers step up and begin to address the crowd over the PA system from the tiny stage. They speak from many platforms, identifying various symptoms of the problem – some with heartfelt sincerity, some with humour and some with anger and disdain. Someone even mentions the need to raise ourselves to a higher consciousness. So, there’s something here for everyone. And if truth be told, here in the material world we’re all of us conspirators to one degree or another – until we re-awaken our dormant love for God. Then we hear the next speaker is to be a Member of Parliament, one famous for his outspoken comments and insights into the US 9/11 and UK 7/7 atrocities that led to a massive expansion of armed foreign policy. It’s Michael Meacher MP who, shortly after the 2001 attack on New York’s World Trade Centre, publicly challenged the official explanation of events by laying the blame for the twin towers atrocity on the US military-industrial complex. If his assertions are true, then it would appear the whole thing was carefully planned. There are many who claim there’s enough evidence to support his claims and many who consider him a brave man to speak so openly. I would agree. Here is a man who has read between the lines of political rhetoric and sees the shadows behind the mask of world events, a man who’s bold enough to speak out from the inside in a bid to be heard. The address he gives is insightful and delivered with dignity and poise. Nothing overtly sensationalistic, but forceful nonetheless – and to anyone unaware as to the extent of the international shenanigans in high places, the corrupt goings on that dictate the foreign policies and fiscal conduct of our governments – well – his words might come as something of a shock. Here is a man who may well be receptive to reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, I have long thought to myself. And perhaps here today an opportunity will present itself.

As Michael Meacher closes his talk I make my way towards the cluster of people now gathering to receive him behind the stage. With Bhagavad-gita As It Is in hand I step forward and manage to catch his attention as I thank him for coming out and saying what he did about 9/11. He looks me in the eye, saying “And do you know, to this day I’m still the only one in the whole of Westminster to speak out about it?” I don’t detect any arrogance in his demeanour. He’s making a simple statement of fact. I say he is a brave man as I hand him the book, adding “Sir, this book may interest you. It’s a spiritual treatise spoken over 5,000 years ago that addresses the individual and collective problems we all face today. One chapter very well describes the mindset and selfish intent of those people over there.” And I wave my finger in the direction of The Grove in the distance, a red silhouette on the green skyline, adding “Please accept it as a personal gift.” He thanks me. I’d like to say more, but he’s in a hurry. I turn and head back to our little spot in the field, now hemmed in by the ever growing crowds, numbering well over a thousand. And in the midst of it all I’m praying that somehow Mr. Michael Meacher MP will find time to read Srila Prabhupada’s translation and timeless purports to Lord Krishna’s immortal words. As some verses from Bhagavad-gita come to mind, I open it up at the sixteenth chapter and reflect on the mindset that oppresses the individual, creates havoc in human society and paves the way for hell on earth…

“Those who are demoniac do not know what is to be done and what is not to be done. Neither cleanliness nor proper behavior nor truth is found in them.

“They say that this world is unreal, with no foundation, no God in control. They say it is produced of sex desire and has no cause other than lust.

“Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world.

“Taking shelter of insatiable lust and absorbed in the conceit of pride and false prestige, the demoniac, thus illusioned, are always sworn to unclean work, attracted by the impermanent.

“They believe that to gratify the senses is the prime necessity of human civilization. Thus until the end of life their anxiety is immeasurable. Bound by a network of hundreds of thousands of desires and absorbed in lust and anger, they secure money by illegal means for sense gratification.

“The demoniac person thinks: “So much wealth do I have today, and I will gain more according to my schemes. So much is mine now, and it will increase in the future, more and more. He is my enemy, and I have killed him, and my other enemies will also be killed. I am the lord of everything. I am the enjoyer. I am perfect, powerful and happy. I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is none so powerful and happy as I am. I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give some charity, and thus I shall rejoice.” In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance.

“Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions, they become too strongly attached to sense enjoyment and fall down into hell.” Bhagavad-gita As It Is 16.7-16

Finally, reading Srila Prabhupada’s purport to verse 15, I focused on a paragraph that well describes what we have already glimpsed in the mindset of many of the world’s ruling financial elite…

“The demoniac man knows no limit to his desire to acquire money. That is unlimited. He thinks only of how much assessment he has just now and schemes to engage that stock of wealth further and further. For that reason, he does not hesitate to act in any sinful way and so deals in the black market for illegal gratification. He is enamored by the possessions he has already, such as land, family, house and bank balance, and he is always planning to improve them. He believes in his own strength, and he does not know that whatever he is gaining is due to his past good deeds. He is given an opportunity to accumulate such things, but he has no conception of past causes. He simply thinks that all his mass of wealth is due to his own endeavor. A demoniac person believes in the strength of his personal work, not in the law of karma. According to the law of karma, a man takes his birth in a high family, or becomes rich, or very well educated, or very beautiful because of good work in the past. The demoniac think that all these things are accidental and due to the strength of one’s personal ability. They do not sense any arrangement behind all the varieties of people, beauty and education. Anyone who comes into competition with such a demoniac man is his enemy. There are many demoniac people, and each is enemy to the others. This enmity becomes more and more deep—between persons, then between families, then between societies, and at last between nations. Therefore there is constant strife, war and enmity all over the world.”

* * * * *

I was planning to end here, but today, glancing through a copy of the June-July 2013 issue of Nexus magazine, something caught my eye that is very much in line with the target of the protests glimpsed in this article. It’s a report on a new law designed to criminalize all seeds and plants not registered with government. Only a huge outcry and intense lobbying from some member-state governments and various affected parties has softened its full impact. At least for now. However, it wouldn’t take much for this draconian law to be implemented in its original form and make it very difficult for anyone here in the EU wishing to grow their own food. In the US, if I am not mistaken, a similar and even more far reaching legislation is already in place and perhaps it’s only a matter of an opportune time before it is actually enforced. Read about the EU version for yourself at www.realseeds.co.uk / New EU Seed Law.

Sakshi Gopal das (ACBSP) UK

June 2013

GOALS

GOALS

How to develop deep attachment to the Holy Names and real desire to chant no matter how busy we think we are or what are the circumstances?

GITA COACHING: GITA COACHING FOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENT: Dear Spiritual Receiver and Achiever, Have you read a ton of books, listened to hundreds of audio programs, and taken seminars full of gre...

GITA COACHING: GITA COACHING FOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENT: Dear Spiritual Receiver and Achiever, Have you read a ton of books, listened to hundreds of audio programs, and taken seminars full of gre...

If one takes to Krsna consciousness, in the beginning there will be many disturbances caused by Maya, the material energy of illusion. Maya will test us to see how firmly we are fixed in Krsna consciousness. Because she is also an agent of Krsna, she does not allow anyone the freedom to disturb Krsna. Therefore she tests very rigidly to see whether we have taken to Krsna consciousness to disturb Krsna or are actually serious. That is Maya's business. So in the beginning there will be tests by Maya, and we shall feel so many disturbances while making progress in Krsna consciousness. But if we follow the rules and regulations and chant regularly as prescribed, then we shall remain steady. If we neglect these principles, Maya will capture us immediately. Maya is always ready. We are in the ocean, and at any moment we may be disturbed. Therefore one who is not disturbed at all is called paramahamsa.

- Teachings of Queen Kunti

If one takes to Krsna consciousness, in the beginning there will be many disturbances caused by Maya, the material energy of illusion. Maya will test us to see how firmly we are fixed in Krsna consciousness. Because she is also an agent of Krsna, she does not allow anyone the freedom to disturb Krsna. Therefore she tests very rigidly to see whether we have taken to Krsna consciousness to disturb Krsna or are actually serious. That is Maya's business. So in the beginning there will be tests by Maya, and we shall feel so many disturbances while making progress in Krsna consciousness. But if we follow the rules and regulations and chant regularly as prescribed, then we shall remain steady. If we neglect these principles, Maya will capture us immediately. Maya is always ready. We are in the ocean, and at any moment we may be disturbed. Therefore one who is not disturbed at all is called paramahamsa.

- Teachings of Queen Kunti

This week, we welcome HG Uttama Sloka das to Toronto! He is known for his interactive and stimulating seminars and will be conducting a seminar this coming Monday, June 24th 2013, entitled: "Life Without Conflict".

We've all experienced that feeling of being embroiled in conflict . Whether it is at work, home, school or even at the temple, conflict can be a dangerous and tricky thing that can be significantly affect our Krishna consciousness and spiritual progress.

Join us for this one-day crash course which will give practical tools for dealing with conflict in a spiritually sound way. Learn how to never become upset about anything and how to gain benefit from any seemingly unfortunate situation in life by following in the footsteps of the previous acaryas or teachers.

"Life Without Conflict" Seminar
Monday, June 24th 2013
6:30pm - 8:30pm

**To register, please see below**

About the Speaker:

Uttama Sloka das is a travelling monk who has conducted courses, seminars and programs on bhakti-yoga in over 20 countries on four different continent around the world. He regularly teaches courses on the real-life applications of the Bhagavad-Gita, the ancient spiritual text of the east. Uttama Sloka das has also served in mediation and conflict resolution capacities around the world. He has been practicing the art of mantra meditation and bhakti-yoga for over 20 years.

To register, please fill out the form below:

This week, we welcome HG Uttama Sloka das to Toronto! He is known for his interactive and stimulating seminars and will be conducting a seminar this coming Monday, June 24th 2013, entitled: "Life Without Conflict".

We've all experienced that feeling of being embroiled in conflict . Whether it is at work, home, school or even at the temple, conflict can be a dangerous and tricky thing that can be significantly affect our Krishna consciousness and spiritual progress.

Join us for this one-day crash course which will give practical tools for dealing with conflict in a spiritually sound way. Learn how to never become upset about anything and how to gain benefit from any seemingly unfortunate situation in life by following in the footsteps of the previous acaryas or teachers.

"Life Without Conflict" Seminar
Monday, June 24th 2013
6:30pm - 8:30pm

**To register, please see below**

About the Speaker:

Uttama Sloka das is a travelling monk who has conducted courses, seminars and programs on bhakti-yoga in over 20 countries on four different continent around the world. He regularly teaches courses on the real-life applications of the Bhagavad-Gita, the ancient spiritual text of the east. Uttama Sloka das has also served in mediation and conflict resolution capacities around the world. He has been practicing the art of mantra meditation and bhakti-yoga for over 20 years.

To register, please fill out the form below:

Nrsimha Chaturdashi 2013 – HG Dayal Nitai dasa

It wasn’t that good, nor that bad. It gets a B- as a movie, from a SciFi fan. If you’re not partial to SciFi, this will rank like a D- or F for you.

 

The Bad Stuff:

Tom Cruise gets a C+ from me on the acting, and none of the actors were terribly good either.

Costumes for the “scavs” were terribly corny.

Romance/semi-nude semi-sex scenes inserted as filler to make up for the fact that not a whole lot else in the characters was relate-able.

The picture on the poster was awesome, that scene wasn’t even in the movie. I was bummed on that.

The story had too many holes in it. For example, if the Tet finished off 90% of humanity so easily, why is it just twiddling its thumbs protecting itself from the remaining 10% instead of kicking the crap out of them like it did with everyone else?

Why was it called “Oblivion”???

In a post-apocalypse world, I really want to see a lot more post-apocalyptic stuff. Too much of the movie was set in nondescript deserts, or non-post-apocalyptic settings.

 

The Good Stuff:

There was some post-apocolyptic settings, at least, and they were pretty cool, at least. New York Library was cool.

It was a good plotline to totally switchup the main character’s concept of reality. I liked that. And the way they did it was also pretty cool, in my opinion. That saved the movie.

The visuals on futuristic stuff was eye-candy – but nothing terribly visionary or new.

It’s cool that the alien was some weird undefined computer-type-thing.

The way the story revealed who the main characters really were, that was also pretty well done.

The concept of the soul of the person being composed of their memories is a Buddhist, nihilist approach – and the way the main character could reincarnate (more or less) due to his memories being shared among many bodies, was something interesting to see portrayed on the big screen.

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Bhaktin Mira, in Pringle Bay, South Africa, was initiated by Giriraj Swami by Skype — and given the sweet spiritual name Madhurika dasi.

“Today’s ceremony is especially significant because you [Bhaktin Mira] have waited so long and prepared yourself for so many years before coming to the stage of accepting initiation. And because you have taken it so seriously, we all have taken it extremely seriously. It is a most serious commitment on both sides. The spiritual master takes responsibility for delivering the disciple back to Krishna — to the extent that if the disciple is not completely successful in the present life, the spiritual master will come back again. But there is no reason why you should not be completely successful in the present life. That is our hope and our goal.”

Madhurika dasi’s initiation talk

In this episode I caught up with my old friend and long-time book distributor, Bhrigupati Prabhu as he drove me to the airport in Los Angeles. Bhrigupati Prabhu has been distributing books ever since he joined the Hare Krishna movement in the early 70s and is still going strong after 40 years. During our 20 […]

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