Planet ISKCON

The choice males who can supply monetary convenience is consistent amongst many females. When the obstacles have already been broken, and belief was established, there isn’t a reason for virtually every Thai women to think twice or second imagine relationship a foreigner. The qualities of Thailänder girls are very useful for plenty of males to on.

• Active small guys bring girls such as a magnet.
• Look after her convenience, well-being, and good atmosphere.
• SweetSingles isn’t just a Snail mail Order New bride Service.
• Standing is a vital part of the Thailänder tradition which is the reason Thai women are typically extra reserved and gained’t always be down for a few public tv show of affection.

Dating thought of one of them, be satisfied her superstitious character and don’t criticize her. Your sweetheart believes that such selections have to be permitted to develop and ripe in a natural way.

Thai Dating In The Usa

Dating Tale may be a quickly growing service with increasingly fresh profiles currently being registered custom logo daily. There are several kinds of Thai women and the good types will tend to attend right up until after marital life for any sexual relationship. This additionally relates to ladies just how have been hitched before. Whilst the can bend the principles be aware that if you do not marry them they may carry some rule of disgrace in other folks eyes and so attempt to end up being respectful.

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Should you would possibly become fortunate sufficient to experience a Thailand other half, she is going to flip your life suitable miracle. Even though this isn’t a Thai particular thing this kind of behavior occurs more commonly with International men and Asian girls. The origin getting the male father figure having a even more domineering parent style because space of this community. Not a ‘my little princess’ parenting style that has become common in the Western world. Of course social class has the one thing to do with that since shedding a family-size meal priced is a whole lot worse than simply reducing a romantic fascination. In practice, My spouse and i find that people that find themselves many suspicious of others are the ones that are doing the suspicious products themselves.

Many married females cannot leave their particular impolite partners as a women who had a great unsuccessful marriage is considered to be sad. That’s why aged attention-grabbing cuties want to hold away from this example simply by meeting thaiwomen.org/best-japanese-dating-sites/ a reliable, kind, and loving partner overseas. The ability to face a few issues overseas, they discover residing somewhere else is best than staying in Thailand.

I know the 1 / 2 abt simply keeping arms in public places. Thanks quite definitely for all of the recommendation, as i have downed head over heels in love with an adequately educated Thailänder Girl who i’m going out to meet relating to the finish of your week. Within the opposite side, I do accept you Steve on a large number of factors, and submission all other Thais who published in right here, to reexamine why you will find “not proper” women and males. After her mum supposedly went to bangkok, i got actually suspicious and thought she could be with another guy. Thank you Dorrie for superb comments about this issue. I actually am at this point residing in Bangkok and think your don´t and dos´s are very helpful for me, to be a outcome of I reverence and are anxious about Thai tradition. And every day i still get the biggest smile and taken good care off.

Elizabeth. g upon our third date this lady said your sweetheart was going to visit Thailand in a couple of months as well as she or he asked me if i can be part of her! Since we am operating within the entertainment trade, your woman requested myself in between basically used to be capable of getting low-cost concert tickets! For the purpose of our second date your lover already wished to visit a Spa weekend with me! Throughout the 1, some month i just ve found her, i simply could never read her. She was never asking to my feelings and usually she really was a chilly identify although your lover always wanted to be friend. The complete household may additionally always be deemed to experience an essential function in terms of the relationship.

There can even be a “Lists” tab, which usually incorporates user profiles that have visited you, tested interest in you, or favorited you, and in addition these which you have visited, established interest in, or favorited. To end up, select your ideal match’s age range and placement. Profiles are reasonably sparse, with not a great deal else to talk about aside from what was completed throughout the signup method.

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During the morning puja, or worship, the Deity or a salagrama is bathed in pure ghee. Srila Prabhupada once explained the festival this way: “Krishna was just a toy in the hands of the Gopis, so one day the Gopis decided that we shall decorate Him.

Pusya abhisheka means a ceremony to decorate the deity profusely with flowers, ornaments, cloths. After there should be lavish feasting and a procession through the streets, so that all the citizens should see how beautiful Krishna appears.

Hare Krishna!

Please accept our humble obeisances!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

Date:16th Jan 2022

Day: Sunday

Time: 11 am to 12 noon

Speaker: HG Rohinipriya das

Link to join the class from your desktop or laptop:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9150790510?pwd=Wk5GYXVRMkJmdk84MzZJRXBKYUgwUT09

HG Rohinipriya das

His Grace Rohinipriya Prabhu is a BACHELOR in MEDICINE & a BACHELOR in SURGERY (M.B.B.S) from BYRAMJEE JEEJEEBHOY GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE AND SASSOON GENERAL HOSPITALS (B.J.M.C), PUNE, INDIA. In the early 90s, he came in contact with ISKCON and consequently, joined the ISKCON Pune temple as a fulltime brahmacari. In 1995, he moved to ISKCON Chowpatty, Mumbai, India. He served as the Director of ISKCON YOUTH FORUM (IYF), ISKCON Chowpatty for many years. Then, he served as a Temple Management Committee(TMC) Member at ISKCON Chowpatty. He also served as a Member of the Committee for Spiritual Vision(CSV) at ISKCON Chowpatty. From 1996, he started travelling to Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, in addition to his services in Mumbai. He fills the lives of people with the joy of Krishna Consciousness, by his practical, mesmerising, scriptural discourses. He also counsels & guides many people, specially, the youth. He currently serves as the General Manager at ISKCON Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. Under his able guidance ISKCON Aurangabad is a dynamic and flourishing offering & tribute to Srila Prabhupada’s legacy and glory.

He visits North America regularly, especially, the USA & Canada and shares the message of the Bhagavad Gita & the Srimad Bhagavatam. He, also, travels worldwide for serving the people of all denominations. He has been actively distributing the message of the Bhagavad Gita to 1000s of Engineering & Medical students and other professionals all over India. He is an inspiration to many professionals & youth all over the world. He presents the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita & the Shrimad Bhagavatam in a very attractive, eloquent and practical manner.

ISKCON Scarborough

3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,

Scarborough, Ontario,

Canada, M1V4C7

Website: www.iskconscarborough.org

Email:

iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com

Podcast:

Podcast:

Today is “Makara Sankranti” which is celebrated when the Sun begins the northward journey, marking the beginning of the “uttaraayaNa puNyakaalam”. Sun enters the sign of “Makara”, (Capricorn) from Cancer currently. (This is also called equinox when the day and nights are the same). Starting from this day, the duration of day starts to increase […]

The post Markar Sankranti January 14th 2022 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Published in: Michael Cremo (2010) The Forbidden Archeologist, Bhaktivedanta Book Publishing, Los Angeles, pp. 215—219. Originally published in Atlantis Rising magazine in 2008.

My main interest is archeological evidence for extreme human antiquity. But I am also interested in other questions. One of them is the history of the Vedic culture in India. By Vedic culture, I mean the culture based on the Vedas, the original Sanskrit books of knowledge, and the books derived from them. The current opinion among mainstream scholars is that Vedic culture came into the Indian subcontinent around 3,500 years ago, from the northwest. But the traditional opinion among followers of Vedic culture is that it has always been present in the Indian subcontinent. In this article, I want to consider some archeological evidence that favors the latter point of view. It appears that ancient urban centers in the India subcontinent, which are more than 3,500 years old, show signs they were designed according to a Vedic system of architecture called vastu.

One of the earliest mentions of this system of architecture is found in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, which according to the text itself was composed about five thousand years ago in India (modern secular scholars give it an age of three thousand years). Vastu can be used in the construction in individual structures, but it is also used for urban design. A main element of vastu is the concept of the vastu purusha, the personal form of vastu. There are various accounts of the origin of the vastu purusha. One goes like this:  At the beginning of creation, there was an asura (demon) who opposed the demigods. The demigods led by Brahma pushed the demon down onto the earth’s surface, and the demigods took their places on his form to hold him there. Brahma named the demon vastu purusha. Offering the vastu purusha a kind of redemption, Brahma ordained that anyone building any kind of residence would have to pacify him with sacrifice and worship.

The form of the vastu purusha is depicted graphically in the vastu purusha mandala. The mandala, or diagram, is square. The square form represents the divine order whereas the circle represents unordered material reality. The purusha is depicted as a male, lying  face down. The head occupies the northeast part of the mandala, and the feet are in the southwest. The right knee and right elbow meet in the southeast corner. The left knee and left elbow meet in the northwest corner. The form of the vastu purusha is thus contorted to fit in the confines of the square. The main square of the mandala is divided into 64 (8 x 8) or 81 (9 x 9) squares. Each square is inhabited by a demigod, each one taking its place on the form of the body of the vastu purusha.

Vastu and City Design

The first step in the construction of a new town is to level the ground. After the site is leveled, the vastu purusha mandala is drawn upon it, and this forms the basis for the design. A very common form of this mandala is the square. Many Indian cities, like Jaipur, show signs of vastu design.

Over the past century, many ancient towns have been excavated in India, dating to four or five thousand years ago. The most famous of them are in the Indus Valley region (now part of Pakistan), including Mohenjo Dharo and Harappa. The latter site is generally used by scholars for the whole culture that produced these towns (the Harappan). Scholars have different opinions about the exact nature of the culture. Some say the culture was Vedic, the culture of the majority of Indians today. Others say that the culture was not Vedic, and that the people of Vedic culture entered India in much later times, no earlier than about 3,500 years ago. One problem is that the script of the Harappan culture has not been deciphered to the satisfaction of all scholars. Some have proposed Vedic decipherments and others have proposed non-Vedic decipherments. While this matter continues to be debated (I myself support a Vedic decipherment in principle), it may be useful to look for archeological evidence about the nature of the culture. In the spring of 2008, I went to India to investigate the design of the “Harappan” city of Lothal in Gujarat, India, which dates to the 3^rd millennium BCE, to determine whether or not the design conforms to vastu principles. The answer to this question has implications for our understanding of the people who built Lothal. If the city was designed according to vastu principles, that would signify it is likely the people were part of the Vedic culture.

At Lothal, I looked at the site and the site plan for Period A, which goes back as far as 4,400 years ago, supposedly 1,000 years before people of Vedic culture entered India. The plan shows that Lothal was laid out in square form, with sides oriented to the  cardinal directions. This corresponds to one of the standard vastu grids. According to vastu principles, an ideal site for a town is higher in the west and south than in the north and east. At Lothal, there is a definite elevation in the south, sloping down to the north and east.  Experts in vastu say that houses facing the cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) are good, while those facing the corner points are exposed to evil influences. At Lothal, all the buildings face the main directions. Roads are oriented north to south, and east to west, another feature of vastu town design. According to vastu texts, waste water should drain to the north or east. I found that the main water drainage system at Lothal, in the area of the citadel,  did drain to the east, as also noted in the site report.

According to vastu principles, the four social classes (workers, merchants, rulers, and priests) should occupy the western, southern, eastern, and northern sides of a town respectively.  Workshops are found primarily on the western side of Lothal. The southeastern corner, Lothal’s center of trade, is occupied by a structure identified as a warehouse. The site plan shows the acropolis, identified as the residence of the town’s rulers (kshatriyas), extending from the central part of the site to the site’s eastern side. In the middle of the northern boundary of Lothal is a structure identified as a public fire altar, which would likely have been attended by priests (brahmanas). So the structures identified with the four classes seem to be located in the appropriate directions. The principal deity of the northern side of the vastu purusha mandala is Soma, the moon, and the quarter over which the moon rules is known as the “quarter of men.” The Lower Town of Lothal, which includes most of the residences, is in the northern half of the site, whereas the southern half of the town is occupied by the warehouse trade area, acropolis government area, and the workshop areas.

The Lothal site plan shows a cemetery outside the northwestern boundary wall, and S. R. Rao, the archeologist who excavated the site, said that the number of skeletons found there is quite small for a town the size of Lothal. He estimated the population at fifteen thousand. So he considered it likely that cremation was the most common form of dealing with dead bodies. The deity of the northwest corner of the 81-square vastu purusha mandala is Roga, disease; just below Roga is Papayakshman, consumption; and just below Papayakshman is Shosha, emaciation. A possibility that deserves consideration is that the northwest cemetery burials could represent cases of special burial for persons who suffered from diseases considered particularly inauspicious.  Such persons might have been judged not fit for cremation. Based on the vastu purusha mandala, one might venture an archeological prediction, namely that a cremation ground might be found outside the southwest corner of the Lothal settlement walls, near the bank of the now dry river that once ran there. The southern side of the vastu purusha mandala is ruled by Yama, the lord of death. The southwest corner specifically is occupied by Pitarah, the lord of the ancestors, or Nirritih, the lord of dying, exiting from life. This would make sense because the river flowed from north to south, and typically in Hindu towns, the riverside cremation grounds are usually located so that the river carries contaminated water away from the inhabited areas of the town.

Conclusion

In examining Lothal, a Harappan city in India, we see that it is laid out in a manner consistent with vastu principles. This city is from the 3^rd millennium BCE. Vastu, which is mentioned in the Mahabharata, is considered a part of Vedic culture. So this would indicate that the city was part of the Vedic culture.  It also suggests that the Mahabharata may be traced back to the same period of time.

Pictured below are some images of the first model of the TOVP, made under Srila Prabhupada’s personal guidance and direction in 1971. Later, he changed the design to include a dome that resembled the US Capitol Building dome in Washington, D.C.. Below is Bhavananda’s recollection of this first showing of the TOVP model by ISKCON’s original fundraiser, Srila Prabhupada, as he unveiled the model before a group of potential donors.

“The photos are circa November, 1971 in the temple room of the Alberta Rd. ISKCON temple in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata). Prabhupada was initiating a few devotees. Everything was very simple at that time. The model being displayed is the Mayapur project.

In August of the same year at the Bury Place temple in London, Prabhupada would meet with Ranchor, Nara Narayan and myself every morning and he would describe what and how the temple should look, and Ranchor would do the drawings which Prabhupada would look at. When we all arrived in Calcutta a few months later via Nairobi, Mombasa and Bombay, Prabhupada had the model made and displayed in the temple room for fundraising.

The model had four guesthouses at the rear of the land of which the present Lotus building was the first, and the temple filled the balance of the ISKCON land with the entrance from Bhaktisiddhanta Road. Of course, things have changed somewhat, but height and grandeur have remained. Prabhupada’s main desire for a “big dome” has always been the main feature of the temple.”

Some of Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions for the TOVP Architecture:

Prabhupada: We are just attempting a big planetarium in Mayapur. We have asked government to acquire land, 350 acres. That is negotiation going on. We shall give a Vedic planetarium.
George Harrison: Is that the one you were talking about? With all the…
Prabhupada: In the Fifth Canto.
Gurudasa: The planetarium will be 350 feet high and show the cosmology of the spiritual world.
Prabhupada: The construction will be like your Washington Capitol, like that.
George Harrison: A big dome.
Prabhupada: Yes. Estimated eight crores of rupees.

Room Conversation — July 26, 1976, London

We must have a nice center at Mayapur because we are expecting there students from all over the world. Plans of the temple have already been made and you should have received them by now. The buildings should be exactly in the same pattern. The size may be changed according to the engineering technology. I have shown in London the Westminster Abbey to Syamasundara, Bhavananda and Nara Narayana. Perhaps you have also seen it. I want the inside just like the Westminster Abbey. You will understand from the plans what is my desire in this connection.

Letter to Tamala Krishna — September 16, 1971, Mombasa, Kenya

Prabhupada: I wanted both of you to take various detailed photographs of that Capitol.
Yadubara: The Capitol Building. For what purpose, Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: We shall have picture, planetarium in Mayapur.

Room Conversation — July 6, 1976, Washington, D.C.

To view the entire collection of photos, go to the First TOVP Model page on the TOVP website.

243 Ave. Rd., Toronto

Jaya!

The family of four came from Welland. Dad is Abhiram, Mum is Nikunja and their two boys are Gauranga, who’s four-years-old, and Nimai, a few months. The family recently moved to Canada from Connecticut and they are playing a role in the management of our Niagara Falls branch. They had come at noon for the young one’s consuming of his first grains in what’s called kheer.

Tradition holds that it is a priest who serves the preparation of milk and rice. That was me, and while Dad held young Nimai in his arms, I spooned in three conservative mouthfuls of the good stuff. Boy, did he like it.

I was really appreciating the loving exchange between the family members. Four-year-old Gauranga is very much loving his sibling. Gauranga also participated in Vidya observance; a learning challenge. He wrote on his paper pad his name while his crawling brother made for a similar challenge as to what his vocational destiny would be. It was a simple reach for the choice of either a pile of coins or the book, Bhagavatam. The kheer-nourished toddler grabbed for the book. That brought on all the “jayas” from the family and myself. “Jaya” is a phrase that means “victory.”

This exercise or little ritual can indicate a child’s inclination. I have sat through these types of ceremonies and from time to time a baby might choose to grab for the coins, which could indicate a child’s business sense. On such occasions, we will also hear people shout, “Jaya!”

May the Source be with you!

Yorkville, Toronto

It Was 2 am

It was 2 a.m. I could not sleep well so I decided to hit the pavement, or rather the side-walk. I opened the loading door as my exit from the temple/ashram where I live and there lie a man in prostrations, in other words, head and stomach down. I don’t know how long he lay there but as soon as I swung open the door he noticed me and offered an apology saying, “I’m coming back from work and I just wanted to get the Lord’s mercy.”

“Fine!” I said, “But you did shock me.”

“I’m sorry.” He went right back to his obeisance while I went to commence walking. I thought that perhaps there is something genuine to what he was doing. The ground he lay on was cold. It was minus seven Celsius at the time. Some people value tapasya, austerity.

It was indeed a chilly morning. The sky, being clear for the most part, accommodated whitish clouds pushed from the north. I could detect some biting currents coming from the west. Cardboard scrap was being tossed about and the north/south bus on Yonge was covered with dirt-salt film. Winter can bring on a gloomy aspect at times.

The day, however, was one of warmth and satisfaction. I consider that so having delivered five classes on bhakti, the first and last were in person and the in-between were live-streamed. For me, it is always gratifying to share wisdom and when questions flow from the listeners I know I’ve made a tiny impact.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

U of T, Toronto

Getting Around, Looking

While I strolled through some of the U of T campus, I also included meandering through swanky Yorkville, a dodgy strip of Yonge St., the platinum strip on Bloor, and a section of historic Annex. I observed the flow of pedestrians during the course. I was surprised by the turnout of shoppers. January sales is the draw. Despite covid restrictions, many folks are not deterred; despite the weather conditions being not the friendliest. Temperatures have been down, but the sun has been up offering a burst of optimism.

One really good thing about winter is the traffic is slower. Rough sounding engines so prevalent in the summer are somewhat muffled by snow during the lull in people’s passions. It’s much more peaceful. I was never for those barracudas on wheels. Fearsome they are. And I never could understand why tickets aren’t issued to those on Harley Davidsons. Why is it that they can get away roaring through the summer and no one else can? I guess they’re tough guys and gals and police are reluctant to mess with them.

My morning was calm. Our small crew of monks and two guests tuned into the beautiful words of the Bhagavatam, Canto Eleven, where a monk talks about his twenty-four gurus within nature. On top of the list is the mountain noted for its charitable disposition of offering water from snow. That pristine H₂0 is the most generous of gifts. Mountains do give.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

The second most popular mela after Kumbha Mela is the Ganga Sagar Mela. It is India’s biggest fair held in Sagardwip, West Bengal and witnesses a large number of people pouring in. 

Celebrated with great vigour and enthusiasm, the festival has a cultural and spiritual significance where pilgrims dip themselves in the holy waters of the Ganga to purify their souls. Held during the winter, the Mela is an annual gathering of pilgrims which sees a number of rituals, lit lamps and chanting in and around Sagardwip.

Ganga is regarded as the holiest river, which originates in Gangotri and marks the end of her journey in Sagardwip where it merges with the Bay of Bengal. If one bathes in the Ganga here, he/she would be cleansed of all his/her sins. 

The story of Ganga-sagar can be found in the epic Mahabharata. Unwilling to let King Sagar reap the benefits of an Asvamedha Yajna, Indra stole the sacrificial horse and hid it near the ashrama of sage Kapila. The king sent his 60,000 sons in search of the horse.

They found the horse but mistook Lord Kapila for the thief and hurled abuse and attacked Him. The sage’s wrath turned them into ashes. Many years later, Prince Bhagiratha wanted to atone the sins of his forefathers and underwent penance at Gokarna (Karnataka). 

Then he persuaded Ganga to flow to earth from heaven. After many trials, the river goddess flowed across the ashes and the souls of the dead princes were liberated. It is said that the goddess returned to her heavenly abode but left behind her river avatar. 

Apparently, it is on the day of Makar Sankranti that the river flowed into the sea at the ashram of sage Kapila. Hence a dip in the river on that day absolves one of all sins and prevents re-birth.

Garuda Das Kavirāja is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Christopher Newport University, Virginia and Director of Studies in Religion. He is also Distinguished Research and Teaching Faculty at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. He lectures around the world on his translation of the Bhagavad Gītā, on the philosophy of Yoga, as well as on the teachings of the Krishna Bhakti traditionRead More...

On the most auspicious occasion of the Welcome Ceremony of Srila Prabhupada’s new murti to the TOVP on October 13 and 14, 2021, the first ISKCON organized Vaishnava Acharyas Sampradaya Samelan (Summit) took place online, inspired by TOVP Director of Development His Grace Braja Vilasa das, and organized by His Grace Gauranga das.

Acharyas and other representatives from all four Vaishnava sampradayas participated in this historic event to discuss the state of Vaishnavism in the world today, and how it can impact struggling humanity at this important time of need.

It is our deepest hope that such discussions can continue and that the leaders of all Vaishnava panthas can work together to spread the philosophy and practice of devotion to Vishnu/Krishna to every soul on the Earth.

Om Tat Sat

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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243 Ave. Rd., Toronto

Two Walkers Made It

I learned about a couple that survived a 4-month walk from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide. In 2017, I crossed the Divide in Colorado and it was at that location that a journalist caught up with me and said, “You’re on the highest point at this watershed. If you pee here, half of the fluid will go to the Atlantic and the other will flow to the Pacific.”

In any event, the American couple trekking this heroic trail exercised true social distancing with their backpacking. Their names? Tim Beissinger and Renee Miller. Tim said he lost 42 pounds after the completion of the hike, which passes through Yellowstone National and Glacier National Parks, as well as the Rocky Mountains.

From my experience, long walks do help to reduce extra blubber and if you chant a lot along the way you also decrease some karma.

It’s interesting how Tim and Renee arranged their meals. Much of the area they trekked was desert, so how did they manage? Well, they dehydrated 100 homemade meals and mailed them out to the various towns they planned to pass on their hike. That was smart.

Overall, their feat (on their feet) motivated a lot of folks to increase their walking. Personally, I believe that a trek undertaken like theirs is an inspiration. Walks like these encourage introspection and we can use a lot of that type of therapy in this day and age. You take a break from this crazy world. Let’s get sane through walking introspectively.

May the Source be with you!

2 km

243 Ave. Rd., Toronto

Krishna Revealed in Cleveland

A 1500-year-old image of Krishna is being restored in the Cleveland Museum of Art. PBS has released the recent story about the deity of Krishna from Cambodia that made its way to Cleveland in the ‘70s when work began to put broken pieces together. Basically, His head and torso are in pretty good shape. In fact, it is this handsome image that portrays His lifting of the Govardhana Hill. Twenty-first century technology is being applied and giving Krishna a look and stance that He deserves. Credit goes to the museum faculty that appear to be putting heart and soul into the project. After five decades, when the piece (or pieces) first arrived, finally museum lovers are going to love this gorgeous statue.

In 2016, when I walked through Cleveland, I did come upon one of its fine museums (but not the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame). My support person, Gopal Keller, who was taking an online arts course, arranged for us to go through the museum. It really is a world class collection. The local newspaper came by for an interview of my U.S.A. walk. A rep took a photo of myself trekking by in front of the building. That photo was named the “top pic” for the week and also made it to the Chicago Tribune. The public likes the visage of a monk, even in a modern-day setting, by a classy edifice. Of course, you’re not going to find a monk always in a midst of trees. We get around.

It is interesting that in the life of Krishna, He found Himself in both rural and urban settings, although He never carried the profile of a mendicant. That was to come in His incarnation as Chaitanya.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

243 Ave. Rd., Toronto

A Short Statement

Compiled by Srila Prabhupada, the following is a statement on the philosophy of Krishna

Consciousness:

1)       By sincerely cultivating a bona fide spiritual science, we can be free from anxiety and come to a state of pure, unending, blissful consciousness in this lifetime.

2)       We are not our bodies, but eternal spirit souls, parts and parcels of God (Krishna). As such, we are brothers, and Krishna is ultimately our common father.

3)       Krishna is the eternal, all-knowing, omnipresent, all powerful, and all attractive Personality of Godhead. He is the seed-giving father of all living beings, and He is the sustaining energy of the entire cosmic creation.

4)       The Absolute \Truth is contained in all the great scriptures of the world. However, the oldest known revealed scripture in existence are the Vedic literature, most notably, the Bhagavad-gita, which is the literal record of God’s actual words.

5)       We should learn the Vedic knowledge from a genuine spiritual master, one who has no selfish motives and whose mind is firmly fixed on Krishna.

6)       Before we eat, we should offer to the Lord the food that sustains us. Then, Krishna becomes the offering and purifies us.

7)       We should perform all our actions as offerings to Krishna and do nothing for our own sense gratification.

8)     The recommended means for achieving the mature stage of love of God in this age of Kali, or quarrel, is to chant the holy names of the Lord. The easiest method for most people is to chant the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

May the Source be with you!

2km

The Annex, Toronto

Under Some Pressure

I was just about to take a mid-morning nap (I’d been up since 2 am) when I received a call.

“No one is cooking the raj-bhogaoffering. It has to be ready in one hour.”

“Alright, I’ll see what I can do. There must be some mix-up on the communication side,” I remarked.

So, I dashed to the kitchen after being informed of what needs to be cooked. There was so little time but I don’t mind pressure, especially in the kitchen. It’s always been one of my favorite locations, production-wise. Sticking to recipes is fun and there’s always a little wiggle space for creativity. I love it. I began to cleanse and chop my chosen veggies, and started cooking. While that was on the go, I began to assemble and knead the dough for chapatis (flat bread) and then whip together a batter out of chickpea flour for broccoli pakoras.

In the middle of all this, the actual cooks showed up and from there, like a team, we worked together and performed a miracle. The food preparations were rendered for the Krishna deity, resident monks, and for our Govinda’s Restaurant. The outcome was great, even though today was the last day for indoor dining before the lockdown is in effect for three weeks.

Stomachs were pleased, including mine, which warranted an evening walk through the Annex while chanting a low-volume mantra.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

243 Ave. Rd., Toronto

Prime Target

One of my friends is an activist type. I guess we all may have one or two, or more, of those as our friends. Currently that means anti-mask/anti-vax. I consider such persons to be entitled to their opinion. A strong consideration, however, is that we are sharing space and we must be prudent in our dealings with each other in a highly toxic environment; both subtly and physically. Viruses are real and deadly.

In general, the atmosphere these days is so intense, regardless of which side of the fence you sit on; for or against the vaccination. One area of deliberation is, “Can we stay as friends and not allow this psychological warfare, of sorts, to tear us apart?” All situations, both social and/or political are temporary and are relative fixations. The optional way to view such circumstances is the spiritual component. I believe that is what’s missing.

I didn’t get to walking much today, but for an embarrassing one kilometre, and that was to purchase two orchids for the ashram as a powerful pick-me-up, visually, during the dead of winter. I felt justified in doing so. During that rare trip to the florists, I contemplated on today’s Gita verse, 2.41. “Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many branched.”

The verse emphasizes life’s spiritual purpose. Let us not get so worked up that our prime target of believing and loving the Supreme gets pushed to the side.

May the Source be with you!

1 km

Brampton, Ontario

Silver Balloon

I want to congratulate the six new initiates who received their diksha and their new names. They are a smiling group. Optimists.

Ashok Kumar Srivastava’s new name is Arya Das.

Pratima Shrivastava’s new name is Pranaya Dasi.

Anurag Shrivastava’s new name is Ananda Gaura Das.

Ritu Shrivastava’s new name is Rajeshwari Dasi.

Vihar Joshi’s new name is Vishnu Tattva Das.

Neha Joshi’s new name is Narmada Dasi.

My nighttime walk was interesting. I often go to Queen’s Park, and bypass the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum). Near the museum, a silver balloon appeared out of nowhere. It seemed to greet me, but being light and frivolous in the wind, it wasn’t about to stay with me. It was bouncy, buoyant and beautiful. Let’s call it “Jumping Jack Flash” (like the song from the Stones). I thought of it as a lost soul checking out the scene. In its wanderlust, it daringly bounced, or attempted to cross Avenue Road’s six lanes.

It only got so far and then retreated back to me after getting to about the fifth lane. I was expecting one of the motorists to pop it with its tires, make it explode, but that didn’t happen. Jack Flash and Walking Monk were meant to meet, but briefly. I am prone to walk while this soul is bent on bouncing, floating, and, eventually, deflating.

He has his journey. I have mine. “Nice meeting you!”

May the Source be with you!

5 km

It seems that this horrible Covid disease is attacking quite a number of our devotees again. We sincerely hope you are all taking precautions to prevent falling ill. There is the old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", and particularly under these circumstances this is very much true. Continue reading "Message from the GBC Executive Committee
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Hare Krishna!

Please accept our humble obeisances!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

Date: 9th Jan 2022

Day: Sunday

Time: 11 am to 12 noon

Topic: "The journey of Khatvanga and Kakudmi"

Link to join the class from your desktop or laptop:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9150790510?pwd=Wk5GYXVRMkJmdk84MzZJRXBKYUgwUT09

ISKCON Scarborough

3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,

Scarborough, Ontario,

Canada, M1V4C7

Website: www.iskconscarborough.org

Email:

iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com