Thursday, June 2, 2022
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St. Andrews, New Brunswick

Missing the Whales

Ryan and I couldn’t get into Kingsbrae Gardens. We were too early. After looking at and reading a bit about pirates, I thought it would be nice to offset and gain balance from seeing some flowers and llamas that the garden provides. As mentioned before, pirates were a gruesome bunch. And that’s the way Hollywood used to portray them. When I was a kid, pirates were scum and clowns made you happy. Today, pirates are romanticized and clowns are evil. I don’t get it.

With Kingsbrae’s gates closed, we decided to walk along the oceanfront. On the way a smiling resident with a beard (neater than a pirate’s) came out on his veranda to say, “I saw your documentary, ‘The Walking Monk.’ Welcome to town.”

Shortly after that, a woman in a smart car, on her way to Fredericton, pulled over. “Excuse me, but I was curious. Is something spiritual going on in town? I could really use it now. I am in grievance.” So, we spoke.

A portion of our day was occupied with whale watching. My good friend Rob has this business, so the four of our troupe donned these massive space-type suits to embark on a journey over the Bay of Fundy. Actually, it’s too early for whales, but during this ultra-relaxing plying over the water, we got close to eagles, seals, and lighthouses. Nice!

To complete a great day, we logged-in to our regular Thursday Gita Chat (open to all) to discuss Chapter 12, where Krishna outlines what pleases Him in the manner of how we behave. Check out the latter verses. We had a whale of a time.

May the Source be with you!

5 km




 

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
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St. Andrews, New Brunswick

Can’t Get More Peaceful 

 

It can’t get more peaceful than out here. St. Andrews is a coastal town with population of 1,700. “It’s grown,” said Jo Anne Carney, our host, while we were all in her guest house. She and her husband, Rob, run a business as well as the “Tall Ship Whale Watching” outfit at the wharf. I’ve known Rob before I undertook marathon walking. He lived as a monk in the Hare Krishna ashrams of New York and Toronto.

Ryan has become our able chef to the group. He’s putting together some good meals. He’s also a good walking companion. We ventured off to Water St., the tourist’s haven in the mini downtown. People are friendly. There are deer, maybe just as many as people, and they eat the lilacs. A moose came into town the other day. Eagles and wild turkey are making a comeback in the area. You will also see an occasional bear, according to Randy, the skipper who sails the ship that Rob and Jo Anne own.

Our evening was full of fun. Chanting in the guest house – I’m sure it has never seen before – and tales from trails occupied the attention of our gathering, including Susan, from Connecticut. She’s a runner and her mom, Betty, is a walker, so they could relate to the stories with all their glories.

Today I championed eight, that’s 8 or VIII kilometres on foot, and to me that’s just great considering my knee surgery was less than two months back. It’s all Krishna’s mercy.

May the Source be with you!

8 km



 

Tuesday, May 31, 2022
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Moncton, New Brunswick

Treasures

 

There are always treasures that I stumble upon whenever I go for a walk. The treasures I’m referring to are human beings who show some inquisitiveness. This morning, while going for that stroll on Highfield St., I met a nurse by the name of Jocelyn.

“Excuse me, but I don’t mean to bother you, are you a monk?” she asked.

“Well, yes I am.”

“I just spent some time with a monk at a retreat, ‘La Solitude,’ and, now, here I meet another. He’s from Burma.”

I then went on to explain my adapted tradition from India. “I am from the Vaishnava order, better known as Hare Krishna. We concentrate on mantra meditation.

Jocelyn took my number and the mantracard. I wished her the best and asked her to contact me for any devotional service.

The other obvious treasure for me today was seeing Ryan, our travelling companion, make amends with his brother Matt. Both of them are young, talented, etc., but they had issues with each other for years. Somehow or other Ryan (and Matt, a resident of Moncton) smoothed out their rocky relationship. They saw the higher cause and the benefit in putting differences to the side. Perhaps the presence of maturity, like that from Mahadeva, Anna Purna, myself and their very own mother, helped to create a moderating effect. Perhaps, also, the sharing of sacred sound helped. Matt pulled out his drum at Ryan’s request and out of that Matt sounded his song, addressing the earth, followed up by our rendering of “Radha Madhava,” a treasure of a song by luminary Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

May the Source be with you!

3 km


 

Monday, May 30, 2022
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Saint John, New Brunswick

By the Sea, by the Sea

 

We arrived at Irving Nature Park to meet up with Nakula, a devotee who’s very active on podcasting, with interviews from people who present the other side of perspectives; whether social, political, or spiritual. This park is complete with conifers, sweet-smelling trees, deer, squirrels, crows, and more “petit” creatures that fly. A side trail by the wayside, called Bayside, is a salt marsh with a boardwalk. Very invigorating it is. At the boardwalk’s end, Nakula and our foursome troupe took the liberty to just lay down, look at the sky and absorb the great oceanside dynamic before proceeding to a seven-kilometre hike.

At noon, we were present for our kirtanwith djembe and tambourine. That excited the students from the nearby high schools. They’ve got some good dancers out there. Corporate passersby are less fluid.

At 4 pm I received a call from TheCasket newspaper for a lengthy and fruitful interview. The media is taking interest in my life of walking, along with my book “The Saffron Path.”

A podcast with Nakula, always enthusiastic, brought out the best because of his questions on how Krishna Consciousness has socially contributed to the world. My answers delivered points on what our guru, Prabhupada, brought to the table – Eastern thought, clear self-identity, non-violence, plant-based eating habits, bhakti-yoga, reincarnation – a cutting edge of the mainstream culture.

At the home of Nakula’s parents, we rolled out a sangha, a chanting session, including a great eat of prasadamwith our favorite New Brunswick dish – fiddleheads once again.

May the Source be with you!

7 km






 

Absorbed in Thought of Krishna
→ Dandavats

After the mind is completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can enter the planet known as Goloka Vṛndāvana. To enter the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one has to understand Kṛṣṇa. The process of understanding Kṛṣṇa is devotional service. After understanding Kṛṣṇa as He is, one can become eligible to enter Kṛṣṇaloka andRead More...
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Class for ISV Sunday school kids & Youth – Session 2 by H.G. Radheshyam Das | 2022-06-05 | ISV
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Hearing and chanting Krishna’s name, instruction, and pastimes is the mainstay of devotional service. Please join us here for spiritual rejuvenation. Source: Class for ISV Sunday school kids & Youth – Session 2 by H.G. Radheshyam Das | 2022-06-05 | ISV (This post has been viewed 10 times so far)Read More...
(This post has been viewed 10 times so far)

The Mars Chronicles – with Michael Cremo
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In this multi-episode discussion, Joshua Reid and David Whitehead (dwtruthwarrior) continue their journey exploring space, Mars and everything under the suns. One of the prominent themes introduced in Forbidden Archeology is the phenomenon of “knowledge filtration.” This is the process by which scientists & others routinely accept evidence that supports their preconceptions & theories whileRead More...
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What You Can Do on World Environment Day
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On June 5, people from all over the world are expected to come together to celebrate World Environment Day, cleaning up beaches, planting trees, and marching in an effort to save a planet that experts fear is on the verge of extinction. Two days after the Stockholm+50 international gathering, the event will be remembered both […]

The post What You Can Do on World Environment Day appeared first on ISKCON News.

ISKCON Gurugram Invited to Speak at Delhi University
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Rambhadra Das, President of ISKCON Gurugram was invited to speak at the “Faculty Development Program” at Ambedkar University Delhi. The University, though only in the 15th year of its establishment, is already one of the top-ranked in India. Making in the top 150 ranked Universities in such a short span. It is renowned for its […]

The post ISKCON Gurugram Invited to Speak at Delhi University appeared first on ISKCON News.

Easter Festival Graces New Zealand’s Garden City
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For a number of years, ISKCON Christchurch in Te Waipounamu (New Zealand’s South Island) has held a combined padayatra (a walking journey) and boat festival. There are two small rivers running through the city, the Avon and Heathcote, that pass by beautiful forested gardens as well as the prominent urban centre, which is always an […]

The post Easter Festival Graces New Zealand’s Garden City appeared first on ISKCON News.

The Transcendental Qualities of Srimati Radharani
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Srimati Radharani has twenty-five transcendental qualities. Her transcendental qualities are as follows: 1. She is sweetness personified 2. She is a fresh young girl 3. Her eyes are always moving 4. She is always brightly smiling 5. She possesses all auspicious marks on her body 6. She can agitate Krishna by the flavor of HerRead More...
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Sadhu Sanga 2022 Kirtans
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From: Lotus Eyes Films   Sadhu Sanga Retreat was celebrated after a two-year break due to the pandemic. The festival took place in Spanish Fork, Utah on the gorgeous property of the Sri Sri Radha Krsna temple built by Charu Dās and Vaibhavi Dasi. Thousands of devotees were in attendance. Many world-famous Kirtaniyas performed. The […]

The post Sadhu Sanga 2022 Kirtans appeared first on ISKCON News.

The potency is penance only (video)
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Translation I create this cosmos by such penance, I maintain it by the same energy, and I withdraw it all by the same energy. Therefore the potency is penance only. Purport In executing penance, one must be determined to return home, back to Godhead, and must decide to undergo all types of tribulations for thatRead More...
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The living entities in the material world can never have any happiness (video)
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Translation O Father, O Lord, O Personality of Godhead, the living entities in the material world can never have any happiness because they are overwhelmed by the three kinds of miseries. Therefore they take shelter of the shade of Your lotus feet, which are full of knowledge, and we also thus take shelter of them.Read More...
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Sadhu Sanga 2022 Kirtan Videos (Playlist)
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Kalpesh Patel: Below is a link to some of the ecstatic, melodious, joyful and soul stirring Hare Krishna Kirtan that was captured during the Sadhu Sanga 2022 Kirtan retreat in Spanish Fork, UT. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKKaC0m0HIfPWE-EpxMk0aQGe0-jreza0 The following Kirtaniyas are featured: Indradyumna Swami Kadamba Kanana Swami Sacinandana Swami BB Govinda Swami Vaisesika Dasa Bada Hari Prabhu MadhavaRead More...
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Gangamata Goswamini Appearance
→ Ramai Swami

From her childhood Princess Sachi devi, the daughter of King Naresh Narayana of Bengal, showed unalloyed devotion to Lord Sri Krishna. She even refused to marry on account of her genuine attachment to Krishna. After her father’s demise she ruled the kingdom. But she soon renounced it to find a bona fide spiritual master.

    Princess Sachi devi met Sri Haridasa Pandit, a leading guru in Vrndavana, and began performing devout bhajana to Govindaji. Although she became frail from undereating, she would always sleep on the Yamuna’s sandy bank, and rise before sunrise to clean Govindaji’s temple. Daily she would hear Bhagavata-katha, see Govindaji’s arotika, circumambulate Radha-Syamasundara’s lila sthanas (pastime places) such as Vamisivata, Seva Kunja, Nidhu vana, Rasa Sthali.

    Receiving encouragement from Sri Haridasa Pandit, Sachi devi completely dropped her false ego, put on rags, and went house-to-house in Vraja begging alms. The Vrajavasis were astonished by her severe renunciation. Taking her guru’s sugges­tion, she went to Radha-kunda to associate with Sri Laksmipriya devi dasi, a dear disciple of Sri Haridasa.

    Following Thakura Haridasa’s perfect example, Laksmipriya devi daily chanted 300,000 names (192 rounds) of Krishna. Everyday the two ladies would circumambulate Govardhana Hill and worship Krishna.

    On her guru’s order, Sachi devi went to the home of Sarvab-hauma Bhattacarya in Jagannatha Puri. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and most of Lord Gauranga-sundara’s eternal associates had al­ready returned to Goloka Vrndavana. Sachi devi restored Sarvabhauma’s house, and established first-class worship of Sri Shyama Raya, a Deity given to her by a Jaipur brahmana. Everyday she lectured on Srimad Bhagavatam. Her classes became popular attracting eager listeners from miles around. Many people, including brahmanas and King Mukunda Deva, took in­itiation from Sachi devi.

    In Sri Navadvipa Dhama Parikrama, Sripad B.V. Narayana Maharaja explains how Sachi devi got the name “Gangamata.”

    “On the day of Ganga Sagara Mela, Sachi devi, who was resid­ing in Jagannatha Puri, desired to bathe in the Ganges. That night the Ganges flowed from the lotus feet of Lord Jagannatha and came to Sachi’s ashrama. Entering Ganga Devi’s waters, Sachi floated to the lotus feet of Jagannatha Swami inside the temple.

    “After unlocking the doors the next morning the pujaris were surprised to find her inside the temple. Thinking she was a thief, they immeditately put Sachi devi in jail. Seeing this mistake, Lord Jagannatha appeared simultaneously in a dream to both the Puri King and the head pujari. The Lord ordered them to release Sachi devi dasi and take initiation from her. From then on she became famous as Gangamata Gosvamini.”

Baby Krishna is tenderness personified
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Baby Krishna is tenderness personified The natural fragrance of Krishna’s body smelled just like musk. After the ladies bathed Krishna in sweet ambrosia, He looked cleansed and beautiful. Then they smeared His body with fragrant sandalwood pulp. The presiding deity of the house sent a campaka flower resembling the flame of a lamp into theRead More...
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