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243 Ave. Rd., Toronto
Precious Piece
I was forwarded a photo, one I’d not seen before, a precious piece, of a seed planter making his way on foot along Manhattan’s lower east side on Second Avenue. For sure it’s a vintage shot and takes you back to the mid-sixties – judging by the elaborate build of automobiles at the time. Included in the pic is a Mobil gas station. You can catch the corner of a building with crude magic marker writing by the window, promoting kirtan.
The seed planter is none other than His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, known in those days affectionately as Swamiji. It appears he’s on his way to the storefront, at 26 Second Ave., where he holds three functions per week. Either that, or he’s enroute to his apartment, located basically just behind that store that would fill up with people of the beat and hip generation.
Those were optimistic days. Swamiji was in his early seventies but he appears youthful, harbouring many dreams and plans for a renewed world; one that could use some cultural adjustments. Bhakti was just on the horizon. Frustrated youth were searching for a re-definition of life. Despite western prosperity, not all things were going right. Not all was stable. Afterall, this world we live in is always on display of its insecurities.
America encountered its first debt in 1790 from the Revolutionary War. Since then, the debt has been fueled over the centuries by more war and economical recessions. At the time of the ’60s, faith was also on the wane. There was a need for a new way of approaching life. Hence, by divine arrangement, the seed planter came with the seedlings of bhakti.
May the Source be with you!
Dear ISKCON Educators of North America, We at the Ministry of Education NA know firsthand the amazing hard work you have been undertaking, serving the most delicate and most important members of our ISKCON society – the children and youth. Join 99 other registered participants for our first-ever online Bhakti Educators conference. We are eager […]
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“By performance of yajña, the conditioned souls gradually become Krishna conscious and become godly in all respects. In the Age of Kali, the sankirtana-yajña (the chanting of the names of God) is recommended by the Vedic scriptures, and this transcendental system was introduced by Lord Caitanya for the deliverance of all men in this age. Sankirtana-yajña and Krishna consciousness go well together. Lord Krishna in His devotional form (as Lord Caitanya) is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32) as follows, with special reference to the sankirtana-yajña:
krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajñaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah
“In this Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajña.” Other yajñas prescribed in the Vedic literatures are not easy to perform in this Age of Kali, but the sankirtana-yajña is easy and sublime for all purposes, as recommended in Bhagavad-gita also (9.14).” (Gita 3.10 purport)
Living happily and achieving liberation (Right click to download)
Shri Abhirama Gopal Thakura was also known as Shri Rama Das. He was a great Devotee of Lord Nityananda. On the order of Shri Nityananda Prabhu, he became a great acharya and preacher of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
He was a very influential personality, and atheists and blasphemers were very much afraid of him. Empowered by Shri Nityananda Prabhu, he was always in ecstasy and was kind to all fallen souls. It is said that if he offered obeisances to any stone other than a shalagram-shila, it would immediately burst into pieces.
According to Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika (12) in Krishna-lila he was Shridama, one of the 12 prominent boy cowherd friends of Shri Krishna. He was Nityananda’s dear most devotee. Abhiram Gopal’s wife’s name was Shri Malini devi.
Shri Abhirama Thakura had a bullwhip that was imbued with divine power. Its name was “Jayamangal.” Whoever was struck with this whip became filled with Krishna prema. One day Shrinivasa Acharya went to take darshan of Abhiram Gopala. At that time, Abhiram Gopal touched him three times with Jayamangal.
The Thakur’s good wife, Malini, cried out, “My Lord! Do not touch him again. Calm yourself. Shrinivas is only a boy. If you touch him again he will lose consciousness.” As a result of coming in contact with the whip of Abhirama Thakura, Shrinivasa Acharya became filled with Shri Krishna prema.
Etobicoke, Toronto
Who Is Crazy?
Our very happy venture to Stratford came to a closure. My companions, Vallabha and Gabriel, and I arrived at the home of a sweet Ukrainian couple and their family. More chanting and feasting were featured here in the cozy setting with friends around. The group meets regularly.
The talking portion of the program was my responsibility and today’s topic was, “Who Is Crazy?” The theme here could sound like a loaded question but frankly the term ended up being the topic of an essay by our guru, Srila Prabhupada, decades ago. Most of us are familiar with the phrase.
Sometimes our orthodox followers of Vaishnava culture are considered “crazy” due to our radical rejection of common, pop-culture. The public has, at least in our North American past, labelled us as a dangerous cult because we do not follow society’s “norms.” We were judged as evil, due to our rejection of meat-eating, gambling, intoxication and casual sex policies.
So, I explained to our group in the home of Igor, that I personally was targeted for being crazy at age twenty, when I walked away from a promising career in the arts. I had one month to compete my first year in college when I abandoned it for the life of a monk. Now, that might be considered crazy since I was doing well in the program, but I had to go with my heart. The thing that made the most sense to me was the powerful message of the Bhagavat, which was related to one’s true identity. “I am not the body. I am spirit. I am meant to search and to serve.” That made total sense, compelling me to do the sanest thing I ever did in my life.
Monkism isn’t for everyone. However, it was a perfect fit for me. As for the question, “Who is crazy?” It is a relative question.
May the Source be with you!
Stratford, Ontario
Another Easter Day
People with a Christian background hold this weekend as sacred. With our group from Brampton, we are keeping all events as fun and spiritual. In fact, at a Q and A session, a woman asked how I got involved in Krishna Consciousness, and so I tried capturing my past and admitting that Jesus had a lot to do with my finding Krishna. They are from the same family; in a spiritual sense.
This morning a wild bunny hopped along and stopped at my window. Not scared at all to see a moving monster (me), the rabbit just stood there adjusting his nose and then nibbling some grass. I thought it was interesting that rabbits have somewhat made their mark on the Easter weekend. However, I fail to see the connection between the obedient son of the Heavenly Father and a bunny rabbit.
We also engaged in meaningful kirtantoday, led by Mahadeva and Annapurna. The young boys here all learn mrdangadrum and they did come forward to blend in so well. In fact, there were games set up for the kids and, for the adults, a presentation was made on “cooking without fire.” To be honest, much of the Easter weekend for us bhakti yogiswas about chanting, ritual, and food.
Meanwhile, I continue with my physio therapies for a decent recovery. My medical support team is so helpful. It is hard for me to continue without their guidance. What they give, as well as being in the company of such a vibrant group from Brampton, all contributes to healing.
May the Source be with you!
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 5 September 2021, Goloka Dhama, Germany, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.18)
We are just having fun, that is what life is all about. We do not suffer and if there is any suffering, then we make sure that there is maximum care. Someone may have one leg, but that is okay because we can give that person an electronic one. If someone has lost both legs, then no problem, we will give them two electronic legs. The point is that we attempt to turn everything in this material world into enjoyment. I mean, I would rather not lose my legs if I get to choose. Electronic legs are not the same. But you can still run on your electronic legs. So now that may sound like, “Well you know, it is nice that we are caring for people when they are suffering.” That is okay. Caring should be there, but at the same time, we are clearly trying to minimise the reality at every step. The reality is that we are suffering in the material world. So we have to go to the source of it and the source is karma. Karma means the reactions to our action. Therefore, when we change our actions, then eventually karma will also change.
The article " Minimising the reality " was published on KKSBlog.
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Stratford, Ontario
To Shakespeare’s Town
Before the two-hour trip to Shakespeare’s town, my family doctor, Dr. Juta, kindly took the time to come down and remove the operation’s steel staples from the knee. The first pull from the bottom staple triggered an incredible tingling sensation. From thereafter the rest were a cinch.
The doctor’s recommendation to Gabriel, our driver, was “take a break in the middle of the drive. Give Maharaja (me) a chance to stretch.” And so, we did. We veered off in New Hamburg and went for a walk at the Oak Grove Cheese Factory, by Nith River.
The wind was strong. There will always be some God present in one’s daily affairs.
Interestingly, Shakespeare does reference Roman or Greek gods from time to time and does make mention of the singular (Christian) God. In his famous Romeo and Juliet, he speaks of the word “love,” naturally, and the word “hate” also gets kicked around. “Here’s much to do with love but more with hate;” “my only love sprung from my only hate.”
Regardless, our group did not intend to see a Shakespeare drama in Stratford. Krishna devotees from Brampton arrived, as we did, at Quality Inn to engage in kirtan, prasada, and a game of charades. People speak of a sixth wave of Covid, but the mood these days is to not stay away. On expensive petrol, people are prepared to drive somewhere and fun-it-up for this long Easter weekend.
May the Source be with you!
243 Ave. Rd., Toronto
Some Milestones
My right knee is healing well, so I put it to the test. It was approaching midnight. I was restless and, in a way, to execute some physio therapy, I thought to go down two flights of stairs and look around to the last round of renovations being completed. I’m personally excited about having those renos done. I’m counting the days when we cut the ribbon for this new training area called “Bhakti Academy.”
I descended the stairs with my ice pack on the bad knee, the left one. I looked around and can express how good it’s all going to be. Here was my chance to undo the ice-pack and place it in the ice compartment of the basement fridge.
The clock was about to strike the turn of a new day and I thought, “Let me get back to my telephone station to click for Amazon our entry of the new book, “The Saffron Road,” which highlights the events of my walking culture. Click! There we go! Submitted for publication.
Meanwhile, Gayatri, from Montreal, was trying to reach me by phone. I picked up. She addresses me as “Maharaj” and asked if she could apply her Reiki method. “Which knee is it?”
“I’ll take care of it!” she said assertively, even though she’s a six-hour drive away. Hopefully her treatment will make a difference.
One more milestone/achievement for the day is the wrapping up of a short film promotion for “The Embassy.” It will require submitting to film festivals.
May the Source be with you!
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10221364216437843&set=a.3707173840886
I have arrived in Sridam Mayapur for a one-week visit.
śrī-pada-kamala-sudhā-rasa-pāne
śrī-vigraha-guṇa-gaṇa kari gāne
śrī-mukha-vacana-śravaṇa-anuṣaṅgī
anubhavi kata bhela prema-taraṅgī
By drinking the nectarean honey of the lotus feet of Sri Gaura, by singing the glories of Sri Gaura’s deity, by listening to the instructions of Sri Gaura, and by associating with devotees who follow his instructions, so many fortunate individuals experienced the joyous waves of Prema.
re mana! kāhe karasi anutāpe
pahuṁka pratāpa-mantra karu jāpe
O mind! Why do you keep burning repeatedly in the fire of worldliness? Simply keep chanting the mantra of your dear Lord.
yo kichu vicāri mano-rathe caḍabi
pahuṁka caraṇa-yuga sārathi karabi
Think carefully about the ultimate aim of your life and then climb on the chariot of the [purified] mind. Make the feet of Lord Gaura your charioteer.
ratha-rohana karu prāṇa-turaṅga
āśā-pāśa jori naha bhaṅga
Engage your five life-airs (prāṇa, apāna, udāna, vayāna and samāna) as the five horses driving this chariot. Let āśā, the hope of attaining the Lord, be the strong rope controlling these horses so that the chariot may never break down.
līlā-jaladhi tīre calu dhāī
prema-taraṅge aṅga avagāī
Using this chariot, go quickly towards the shore of the unlimited ocean of the Lord’s loving pastimes. Having reached there, bathe thoroughly in the waves of this ocean of Prema.
rasa-taraṅgī saṅgī hari-dāse
rati-maṇi deī puraba abhilāṣe
In this ocean, you will swim along with other servants of Hari who are delighting in the waves of bhakti-rasa. These servants of Hari will fetch you the rare jewel of Prema from the depths of this ocean and will thus fulfill your most cherished desire.
so rasa-jaladhi mājhe maṇi-geha
tahiṁ rahu gori suśyāmera deha
In the middle of that ocean of bhakti-rasa is a house decorated with precious jewels in which brilliant complexioned Radha and dark-complexioned Syam reside.
sārathi leī milāyaba tāya
govinda-dāsa gaura-guṇa gāya
The charioteer, Lord Gaura’s lotus feet, will help you meet these two, Radha and Shyam. It is for this reason that Govinda Das sings the glories of Gaura.
[ The Chariot of the Mind,
By the medieval poet, Govinda Dasa
from Vaiṣṇava-padāvalī, fourth edition ]
Week 14, June 8th, 2022 ISKCON Relief – Figures Devotees from Europe, as well as other parts of the world, have tirelessly continued their sincere endeavour to help devotees from Ukraine to find shelter, care, and support. The following figures are for week 14 of this devotee care/relief effort. ISKCON Relief – Food Distribution, Week […]
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