Planet ISKCON

Today being Earth Day, I thought of a prayer that resonated with me in my youth: “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord.” (Psalm 24:1–5)

Later, when I met Srila Prabhupada, I came across a verse spoken by the Lord Himself, Krishna, which confirmed and expanded the same principle: “A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.” (Bhagavad-gita 5.29)

How, then, should we deal with the earth and its resources? “Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.” (Isopanisad 1)

Thus one should be happy and satisfied in Krishna (God) consciousness.

Hare Krishna.

243 Ave. Rd., Toronto

The Embassy Film Coming Soon

My assistant with the plays, Dhruv Patel, has begun to submit our short film, “The Embassy,” to film festivals. I am anticipating that there will be takers to this production, which is well acted and overall well-assembled with camera and lighting.

The film is about the dialogue between Krishna and Duryodhan. It is an interesting character study about two persons so diametrically opposed. The play on mind games is fascinating.

The script is rich. Playwright, Bhasa, was committed to a language of class. In his time, centuries ago, all was written in Sanskrit. A smart translation in English was rendered by A.C. Woolner and Lakshman Sarup. As a sample, Krishna, who comes into Duryodhan’s palace, does a quick assessment and explains His purpose:

“At the bidding of Yudhisthira, and from true friendship with Arjuna, I have taken on today the thankless role of envoy to Duryodhan, so overbearing in war and catching at what one has not said.”

The unaccommodating Duryodhan addresses his friend; remarking about Krishna’s entrance:

“Karna, my comrade – Black-hearted Krishna has come here today as an envoy, like a hireling at the Pandava’s behest. Prepare thine ears friend Karna, to hear the words of Yudhisthira, gentle as a woman’s.”

The language is rich and worth viewing. I’m proud of this production. Enjoy the one-minute trailer. The film will be released soon.

May the Source be with you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9EI4azfkBw

 

 

“Do not waste any time, but work always to please Krishna within your heart. He is witnessing everything. He only wants us to constantly remember Him. Is it very difficult?” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 21, 1975) (This post has been viewed 8 times so far)Read More...

  Click below to start the player   Posted by Pancagauda Das on Thursday, April 21, 2022 (This post has been viewed 6 times so far)Read More...

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We had really busy Sunday and Monday. We have teamed up with our friends from another charity Fundacja Historia Vita Tomasz and Przemyslaw who helped us a lot and drove another van with supplies for us and for their charity. Travelling from Lviv to Kharkiv and passing through Kiev took us through some of theRead More...

For most a living hell, for devotees a blissful opportunity to serve Parasuram das We have just returned from our second tour of Ukraine and we must offer our deep appreciation for the devotees living in the Ukraine who are super wonderful, serving Srila Prabhupada under very difficult circumstances Please support them: https://www.shareyour.care/ Some devoteesRead More...

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!

 

“Regarding thinking of Krishna at the time of death. It is stated in Bhagavad gita 8th chapter as follows; abhyasa yoga yuktena/ cetasa nanya gamina/ paramam purusam divyam/ yati parthanucintyan (BG 8.8). He who meditates on the Supreme Personality of Godhead his mind constantly engaged in remembering me, undeviated from the path, He oh ParthaRead More...

by Syamasundara dasa “There is no other alternative in this age.” These events are historic in the annals of Vaisnava history, since the whole town of Surat was situated on the sankirtana platform. Everywhere we went, people chanted with us, and at nighttime they would construct a large planked stage on a street, and thousandsRead More...

Recently, I was distributing at Orange Coast College, and a student came to the table and showed an interest in getting Bhagavad-gita. I explained it to him a little. Then he opened it, to see what he could get out of it. He opened it to text 4.22: “He who is satisfied with gains thatRead More...

In today’s world, many people in both the younger and older generations have individual Facebook accounts. For devotees, this is useful as a platform to preach the glories of harinam sankirtana. I posted on Facebook an excerpt from a lecture by Srila Prabhupada at the University of Nairobi, in 1972, from the book Science ofRead More...

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. 

Ready to Come Back from Goloka. “Regarding your request for your deliverance from the clutches of Maya, please rest assured of being delivered, because we have captured the strong chain of disciplic succession. This chain is coming down from the highest platform, Krishna. Just like a rope comes down the well so that anyone whoRead More...

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!

 

Books and prasadam flying out at Sunset Park last Sat. Glories to the Las Vegas temple team headed by Bhagavat Priya. Source: https://bit.ly/3uVwZeD (This post has been viewed 7 times so far)Read More...

Do you feel the strong urge to do something to help our dear planet and fellow inhabitants? In these dire times, the world is looking for solutions but in the wrong places. The Srimad Bhagavatam provides answers and strength to transform ourselves and create a revolution. It is the panacea. The cure we all need.Read More...

Indradyumna Swami: An actual imprint of the lotus foot of Lord Vishnu has been worshipped in Gaya since Satya Yuga. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu took initiation from Isvara Puri in front of this footprint. As Isvara Puri chanted the 10-syllable Gopal mantra into the right ear of Mahaprabhu, Lord Caitanya experienced His first symptoms of ecstacy.Read More...

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A mother who gave birth to our dear Patri Prabhu arrived Kathmandu today from Ukraine in between this time of war between Russian and Ukraine. Find them here: https://bit.ly/3Euegd5 (This post has been viewed 10 times so far)Read More...

“Always remember Krsna Who is your dearmost friend and always serve Him just to please Him, and He will give you all intelligence how to be a first-class devotee. Just try to learn all about Krsna, chant Hare Krsna, and you will be a great preacher of our Krsna Consciousness movement.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, MarchRead More...

(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.

At a university in Los Angeles, a student with a walker came straight away to my book table and declared, “I know the Bhagavad-gita, and let me tell you this is not a book of rainbows and fairy tales. Arjuna wanted to save the bodies of his family members. He did not know that KrishnaRead More...

It was a little quiet at my book table, so I was reading a verse from the Gita for inspiration. And then I hear someone saying, “Haribol! Haribol!“ I looked up. It was this super-favourable scientist and gentleman named Leo, from China. He met devotees 25 years ago in Shanghai and became a vegetarian. DevoteesRead More...

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“Srimati Radharani is as fully spiritual as Krishna. No one should consider Her to be material. She is definitely not like the conditioned souls, who have mental bodies, gross and subtle, covered by material senses. She is all-spiritual, and both Her body and mind are of the same spiritual embodiment. Because Her body is spiritual,Read More...

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!

 

 

ISKCON RELIEF FOR UKRAINE Week 7 ISKCON Relief – Figures Devotees from Europe and even other parts of the world have tirelessly continued their sincere endeavors to help devotees and refugees from Ukraine to find shelter, care and support. The following figures are for week 7. Food For Life – Prasadam Distribution for Week 7Read More...

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 ]