Websites from the ISKCON Universe
In the past three to four years, ISKCON in Tampa, Florida has seen considerable growth in both the devotee congregation and in efforts to reach out to the local community, although the city – the third most populated in Florida – does not yet have its own temple.
One of the biggest book distributors in East Africa, Dwarka Vasini Devi Dasi, along with her teams Vaishnavi Sanga and Krsna Kids Sena, distributes about eighty percent of ISKCON Nairobi’s total during the December Prabhupada marathon every year.
This book challenges the fundamental ideas in the Neo-Darwinian theory of evolution from the perspective of mathematics, physics, computing, game theory, and non-linear dynamics.
It argues that the key ideas underlying evolution—random mutation and natural selection—are based on notions about matter, causality, space-time, and lawfulness, which were supposed true in Darwin’s time, but have been unseated through 20th century developments in physics, mathematics, computing, game theory, and complex system theory. Evolution, however, continues in a relative time-warp, disregarding these developments, which, if considered, would alter our view of evolution. The book illustrates why natural selection and random mutation are logically inconsistent together. Separately, they are incomplete to account for biological complexity. In other words, the theory of evolution is either inconsistent or incomplete.
Author: Ashish Dalela (Rsiraja Das)
Published: May 16, 2015
Book/File size: 6175 KB / 278 pages
Formats: Kindle, Paperback
Residents of India will have to search for this book on www.amazon.in
View other books by By Ashish Dalela (Rsiraja Das) and other authors at the TOVP Book Marketplace.
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Devotees dancing in the streets of Russia The Hare Krishna devotees in Russia are growing in […]
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ISKCON Tampa’s first Rathayatra organized by the congregation In the past three to four years, ISKCON in Tampa, Florida has seen considerable growth in both the devotee congregation and in […]
The post ISKCON Thrives in Tampa, Florida’s Third-Most Populous City appeared first on ISKCON News.
Dwarka Vasini Devi Dasi delivers Prabhupada’s books to Kamiti maximum security prison, Nairobi, 2014 One of the biggest book distributors in East Africa, Dwarka Vasini Devi Dasi, along with her teams Vaishnavi Sanga and Krsna Kids Sena, distributes about eighty percent of ISKCON Nairobi’s total […]
The post Dwarka Vasini Devi Dasi: Called to Serve appeared first on ISKCON News.
Dear Friends, Yesterday, after more than four months of absence, I finally returned to Sridham Mayapur. Burning with impatience this morning I went to the construction site of the TOVP, accompanied by our Construction Manager, His Grace Premavatar Gauranga prabhu, who showed me the various directions in which work is now underway. We bowed to […]
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With Immense pleasure, we cordially invite you, your family, and friends for the Grand Inauguration of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir in Khargone, Madya Pradesh (Central India) February 19-20th, 2022. By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we are celebrating the Pran Pratishtha for Sri Sri Radha Gopinathji, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Srila Prabhupada. The schedule […]
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Listen to Hugh Jackman reflect on the moment of death as described in the Bhagavad Gita.
The post #WorldGitaDay Hugh Jackman on Bhagavad Gita appeared first on ISKCON News.
In Episode 2 of the Parikrama, we will visit the birthplace of Srimati #Radharani.
The post Vrindavan web series | Raval- Episode 2 appeared first on ISKCON News.
In Episode 2 of the Parikrama, we will visit the birthplace of Srimati #Radharani.
The post Vrindavan web series | Raval- Episode 2 appeared first on ISKCON News.
Podcast:
I don't know how long it will take for one of us to be selected to champion the course of preaching in the grand style that Bali Prabhu did. It's not just about having the financial resources but more about being empowered to do it on such a scale. Please kindly stay with me as I walk you through my memory lane of this great soul, philanthropist, musician, businessman, and the greatest Preacher in Africa who majored in Harinam Sankirtan and Book distribution like no one else.
Giriraj Swami: Today is Odana-sasthi, the date on which Lord Jagannatha is given a winter shawl. One year, when Lord Chaitanya and His associates celebrated this festival in Puri, Pundarika Vidyanidhi, who is Vrsabhanu Maharaja, Srimati Radharani’s father, in krsna-lila, received some special mercy. His experience is instructive for us all.Read More...Today is O
dana-sasthi, the date on which Lord Jagannatha is given a winter shawl. One year when Lord Chaitanya and His associates celebrated this festival in Puri, Pundarika Vidyanidhi, who is Vrsabhanu Maharaja, Srimati Radharani’s father, in krsna-lila, received some special mercy. His experience is instructive for us all.
Srila Prabhupada explains, “At the beginning of winter, there is a ceremony known as the Odana-sasthi. This ceremony indicates that from that day forward, a winter covering should be given to Lord Jagannatha. That covering is directly purchased from a weaver. According to the arcana-marga, a cloth should first be washed to remove all the starch, and then it can be used to cover the Lord. Pundarika Vidyanidhi saw that the priest neglected to wash the cloth before covering Lord Jagannatha. Since he wanted to find some fault in the devotees, he became indignant.” (Cc Madhya 16.78 purport)
And Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 16.78–81) describes the event: “Pundarika Vidyanidhi initiated Gadadhara Pandita for the second time, and on the day of Odana-sasthi Pundarika Vidyanidhi saw the festival. (78) When Pundarika Vidyanidhi saw that Lord Jagannatha was given a starched garment, he became a little hateful. In this way his mind was polluted. (79) That night the brothers Lord Jagannatha and Balarama came to Pundarika Vidyanidhi and, smiling, began to slap him. (80) Although his cheeks were swollen from the slapping, Pundarika Vidyanidhi was very happy within. This incident has been elaborately described by Thakura Vrndavana dasa. (81)”
From this incident we can learn that the Lord does not tolerate offenses against His servants, even from an advanced devotee, and that He chastises a devotee who commits such an offense even within the mind. We can also learn that a pure devotee accepts such chastisement from the Lord with great happiness, as a manifestation of the Lord’s mercy, of His love and care for His devotees—both for those who may commit such an offense and for those who may be objects of such an offense. He thanks the Lord for rectifying him and preventing him from committing further offenses, and he feels great jubilation within his heart.
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
Bali Maharaja Dasa, (1965-2021) I don’t know how long it […]
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Burnaby, British Columbia
Exam Preparation
At UBC a group of fifty to sixty young, Indian students came together for a Hindu collaboration, which included mostly devotional songs. It was indoors, Diwali-like in atmosphere, and timed just before exams. Iskcon was invited, which became my inclusion. Someone from our Burnaby community, by the name of Visudha Sattva, scheduled kirtanchanting sessions at our temple. He sang and then had me slotted in for a turn.
Clearly, I could see our own boys, who are great drummers, getting into the groove. Respectfully, those who weren’t so familiar with our usual ISKCON style, listened but weren’t sure just when to respond and join in. when it came my turn, I just asked everyone to stand up (get out of sitar-playing sit-down mode) and readied everyone for some movement. I thought that’s what everyone needed – some mobility. I asked the boys to tap and get the rhythm going on the drums as I gave instructions how to step and move.
All went well. Then the next step was to incorporate the mantra and things began to gel. Everyone was activated. Voices could be heard through those mesh-like masks. All were playing and moving forward and back in a modified hokey-pokey style. It was fun. It was engaging. It was a sweat. It was liked. My stiff knees liked it.
From there an appetite was built up and everyone indulged in blessed food; Krishna prasadam. Good luck on all the exams, participants.
May the Source be with you!
3 km
Vancouver, British Columbia
Sorry to See You Go
Jaya Govinda, Deepak, and I did some serious walking on 1st and 2nd Ave. near the Science Centre, just to see if the park sites and nearby streets could be a possible new area for next year’s Chariot Fest. We will make proposals to the City Council. The situation is that the former route, along English bay at Sunset and Third Beach, will no longer be available for our parade and, hence, a new pathway has to be chalked out.
It was also a nice walk along Stanley Park. I was really taken by the crane habitat, with multiple nests atop massive trees.
A portion of today I spent pulling together a poem to honour a deceased friend and devotee, Sura, from L.A.
Sorry to See You Go
Sura, we are sorry to see you go
If we had our way, we’d say “absolutely no!”
But providence has other plans
It’s really all in Krishna’s hands
You come from the temple town of Chicago
Eventually you entered a life of bravado
When you met devotees, caring and gentle
Shaping a life somewhat monumental
It was the books that stole your heart
Which indicates you had a sincere smart
You dedicated yourself to the incredible mission
Picking up fully on Prabhupada’s vision
Bhakti became your complete backbone
And jovial you were anytime on the phone
When book orders came in you were happy
And bills being paid – a blissful chappy
We won’t forget that raspy, sweet bhajan voice
Where stage and studio become your choice
Sura, you are definitely a true inspiration
You leave us deep in fond adoration
May the Source be with you!
13 km
Burnaby, British Columbia
Santa Behind Plexiglass
He’s loved by the young ones. Benevolently, he works hard to please the kids at this time of year; operating in the North Pole in great preparation for the snow season. His beard, if big and white, like his snowy surroundings. The red outfit stands out. He’s chubby, jolly, and upbeat. He’s kind to all and keeps, as companions, a slew of reindeer that render him a great service. Without them he couldn’t get around. Affectionately he’s known as Santa Claus.
Historically, Santa was morphed out of St. Nicholas, a kindly charitable man of a religious demeanour. He was born in turkey, it is believed, in 270 AD, and it was the company Coca-Cola that helped shape the current image of the jolly old fellow. Santa, a reconstruction of the pious St. Nicholas, can be found in shopping centres behind plexiglass, thanks to Covid-19 safety restrictions. These days you can’t be too sure who is carrying the virus. It’s certainly not a nice gift to exchange, ever.
I was reflecting on how I was very disenchanted 49 years ago at the time – Christmas – when the mercenary mood of Christmas had become, for me, a turn-off and led me to a search for Krishna. I met Krishna monks and was relieved to hear from them that Jesus, or Christ, was kind, compassionate, caring, and stood for peace. They embraced the teachings of Jesus and believed more in his purity than the so-called magic of Christmas. My strong opinion holds that the Grinch did steal Christmas. Now, let’s see if his heart gets big.
May the Source be with you!
3 km
Hare Krishna, Greetings from Sri Mayapur Dham, Kindly accept our humble obeisnaces. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Tomorrow, 9th of December marks the auspicious day of Odana Sasthi, from this day onwards Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Maharani are offered new winter clothes to wear. We are happy to announce the special opportunity that accompany […]
The post Odana Sasthi – Lord Jagannatha In Winter Wear appeared first on Mayapur.com.
By Atma Tattva dasa Bhattacarya: ‘Swamiji, I want to tell you something. In Vrindavan temple, they are having your deity on the altar. And all kinds of people are coming and praying to it, and offering flowers to it, and you are still living. According to Pancaratra, when the Acarya is living, if he puts his deity on the altar, then all the sufferings people are having come to his body through the deity. So you please tell your disciples to worship your deity only after you leave your body.’
He was speaking as if he was giving some information to Prabhupada, which Prabhupada did not note.
Prabhupada: ‘I know. I came here to take their suffering.’ Continue reading "I came here to take their suffering
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Sri Navadvipa-Dham Mahatmya by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur represents the revelation of the glories of the Holy Places of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s birth and early life’s pastimes in Navadvipa, equating the entire Navadvipa mandala to Vrindaban. Its nine islands represent the nine processes of devotional service.
This edition, translated by His Holiness Bhanu Swami and prepared by Sriman Pundarika Vidyanidhi dasa, and published by the TOVP several years ago, is presented in the original three sections: Parikrama Khanda, Pramana Khanda and Navadvipa Bhava Taranga. The reader will be taken on an amazing tour with Jiva Goswami through the nine islands of the Holy Dham by Sri Nityananda Prabhu, hear the glories of the Dham from many scriptures, and invited to taste the ecstatic waves of Navadvipa.
The TOVP is pleased to announce the availability of this publication as a flipbook in the Flipbook Collection of our website. This special service allows you to read, download, share and bookmark the book, amongst other things. Please take advantage of this offering to enrich your bhakti, and share it with others.
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Prabhupada — the transcendentalist who integrated the best of the traditionalist, the existentialist and the utopianist
Traditionalists live for the past, existentialists live for the present, utopianists live for the future. Religious teachers are often presumed to be traditionalists, but Prabhupada was a transcendentalist: he lived for the supreme transcendental reality, Krishna. And in his service to Krishna, he drew the best from the past, focused on the best in the present and aspired for the best in the future. Let’s see how.
Transcendentalist beyond traditionalist
Traditionalists believe that the past was the reservoir of everything good and that turning back the clock is the only way to human flourishing. They spend much of their time, emotion, energy and intelligence in lamenting how dreadful the present is and in nostalgically reminiscing how wonderful the past was.
Prabhupada certainly held that we had much to learn from the past. In our contemporary infatuation with progress, we have cut ourselves off from the past’s treasure trove of enriching wisdom. Therefore, Prabhupada presented and represented the wisdom that had been prevalent in India in the past. But he didn’t consider that wisdom as belonging to the past; it was timeless and transcendental, having its source in the supreme transcendental reality, Krishna. Because he knew that the timeless is timely at all times, he didn’t feel the need to center his outreach efforts on turning back the clock.
Recognizing that many of the religious rituals and cultural customs of the past couldn’t be replicated in the present, he downplayed those mores of the past. Steering clear of a naive idolization of the past, Prabhupada judiciously selected from the past those things which would help people today to come closer to Krishna. He engaged his students in spiritual practices that were doable and transformational for them. In a similar spirit of not fighting unnecessarily against the flow of history, he didn’t insist on rejecting the many facilities provided by modernity, especially by modern technology. In fact, he went far beyond acknowledging the utility and even necessity of technology for daily living in today’s world; he even encouraged the use of technology for sharing spiritual wisdom more efficiently and extensively.
Striking an even grander note in that same vein, he envisioned his movement as a global synthesis of the East and the West. Speaking metaphorically, he talked about how two people — one blind and one lame — can help each other. The lame man can show the way to the blind man and the blind man can carry the lame man, and thus both can reach their destination. Unpacking the metaphor, he asserted that India was like the lame man and the West was like the blind man. The two needed to work together for raising human consciousness and promoting the world’s welfare. How is this metaphor relevant to our discussion on transcendental vis-a-vis traditional? Because through the metaphor, Prabhupada conveys that India today needs to join forces with the West, not change itself to the India of some idyllic past.
Why did Prabhupada compare the West to a blind man? Because of its obsession with materialism and its alienation from its spiritual foundations. Was this comparison a self-congratulatory put-down of the West? No. He was not the first person to make such an assessment; many others, including several Western thinkers, have voiced similar sentiments. For example, Martin Luther King Jr stated, “Our technological power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
Why did Prabhupada compare India to a lame man? Because subjugation by foreign rulers for nearly a millennia had stripped India off most of its phenomenal past prosperity. How can India’s spiritual resources work in conjunction with the West’s material resources? If modern resources such as technology were used to spread spiritual values and if Western people, whom the rest of the world including India often imitated, started prioritizing spiritual values, the whole world would become much more ready to give spirituality its due place in their lives. And the consequent rising of human consciousness with its increased selflessness and service attitude would address at the root many of the world’s most trenchant problems.
Another example of Prabhupada’s emphasis on the transcendental rather than just the traditional is his strong opposition of the discriminatory caste system, wherein caste was determined by birth. He declared this system to be a latter-day corruption of varnashrama, an ancient system of social organization based on innate human psychophysical orientations. In his many talks and writings, he unapologetically explained the rationale for varnashrama, thus demonstrating how the baby could be cherished while throwing away the dirty bath water.
Prabhupada’s teachings were firmly grounded in tradition, or more precisely, in traditional commentaries on wisdom-texts from the Vedic canon. Simultaneously, he wrote extensive commentaries that explained the transcendental import and contemporary relevance of those texts. In the over seventy books that emerged from his teachings, he presented not just Vedic wisdom, but the best of Vedic wisdom: that is, those aspects of Vedic wisdom that were centered on the supreme spiritual reality, Krishna, and on the principle of universal spiritual love, bhakti.
Another key differentiator between Prabhupada and a traditionalist was his de-emphasizing ritual puritanism, while simultaneously emphasizing spiritual purity. Puritanism often centers on parading one’s own purity according to certain predefined cultural or moral standards, while simultaneously demeaning or even demonizing those who lack that purity. Such puritanism often made India’s religious elite and masses look down on people who were deemed lower caste or outcaste. In heart-warming contrast, Prabhupada saw the spiritual potential of everyone, irrespective of their status in terms of ritual purity. Stressing that everyone is a part of Krishna (Bhagavad-gita 15.07) and has Krishna present in them (Bhagavad-gita 15.15), he sought to fan the spark of spiritual interest in whoever he encountered. His spiritually inclusive approach enabled him to do something remarkable: connect with young people from the American counterculture in the 1960s, people who had come to reject most of the norms that defined mainstream Western society. He warmly welcomed such young people, cordially discussed philosophy with them and affectionately served them sanctified food (prasad). He even washed their plates after they left — something usually unthinkable for caste-conscious brahmins who wouldn’t even break bread with those considered impure.
While Prabhupada firmly avoided puritanism, he did convey that spiritual purity was vital for developing a personal relationship with all-pure Krishna. Though he wanted his committed students to adopt habits of self-regulation that would foster purity, he never made those who couldn’t or wouldn’t follow such habits feel guilty or dirty or unwanted. He focused on the spark of the Divine in everyone, not on the contaminations around that spark. Consequently, those who came in his presence often felt unconditionally loved by him. And he attracted toward bhakti spirituality thousands, even millions, from various backgrounds all over the world.
Additionally, with regard to some areas where Prabhupada might have seemed a regressive traditionalist, he has turned out to be a presciently futuristic. For example, among the many spiritual teachers that went from India to the West, he was among the rare few who emphasized living off the land and a vegetarian diet. Describing how Krishna lived in the pastoral paradise of Vrindavana and how devotees have for millennia lived close to nature, he encouraged his students to establish eco-friendly farm communities. Calls similar to his for living in harmony with nature are now being echoed and amplified by the widespread environmental movement which has recognized the dire necessity for humans to shift toward more sustainable ways of living.
Also, Prabhupada was among the Western pioneers in sharing the art of vegetarian cooking. Through his culinary expertise, he demonstrated how vegetarianism was far more relishable than an austere sentence to live on vegetables. Today, that trend toward vegetarianism has, with some variations, burgeoned into the huge veganism movement.
Transcendentalist beyond existentialist
“Live in the present” is a common existential saying that has gained widespread currency in today’s mainstream culture. It has merit in an important sense: being attentive to things happening in the present is far better than lamenting about the bad things that happened in the past or worrying about the bad things that may happen in the future. And Prabhupada was existentialist in that sense. For example, when he traveled to America at the age of sixty-nine for the purpose of sharing spiritual wisdom, he focused on the present. He seized whatever opportunity he got, however slim it might seem to a logical mind. And he responded enthusiastically to whoever showed interest, however unlikely that person might seem as a potential candidate for bhakti spirituality. He didn’t become discouraged by thinking about the past, wherein nearly all of his efforts to share bhakti had received at best an underwhelming response. Neither did he become paranoid by thinking about the future, contemplating all the dangers that might befall a lone, elderly teacher in a foreign land. Only because he paid meticulous attention to even the smallest of openings that came his way was he able to spread his movement, initially slowly and then dramatically rapidly.
Though Prabhupada lived in the present, he did not live for the present. In fact, living for the present can be a recipe for distress, especially for those whose present is bleak. Consider a patient suffering from a prolonged and painful disease. The only way they can get the inspiration to endure and survive is by living for a future when their health will be better. They need to live in the present in the sense that they need to take their treatment attentively, but to tell them to live for the present is to sentence them to unmitigated misery, maybe even unbearable misery.
Unlike such patients who somehow endure their present, Prabhupada wasn’t somehow enduring his present filled with anonymity waiting for a future of fame. Those who met him in the Lower East Side, New York, when he was still an unknown swami noticed immediately how he radiated a simple, sublime joy. He was satisfied speaking about Krishna to anyone who came to meet him or hear from him. And for the many who couldn’t or wouldn’t come, he was kindly writing books explaining the message of Krishna. Undoubtedly, he wanted more people to hear Krishna’s message and be benefited from it — that’s why he had traveled, at great personal risk, thousands of miles seeking an interested audience. Still, his happiness wasn’t dependent on the spread of his message; he was content in his service to Krishna. Those who met him during those days narrate how he seemed to be rooted in some unflappable reality far beyond the noisy, busy streets of New York.
Despite Prabhupada’s pragmatic focus on the present, he was certainly not an existentialist in the philosophical sense of the word. Existentialist philosophers posit that our existence in a hostile universe is ultimately unexplainable. Therefore, they disregard philosophical explanations about the nature of reality and concern themselves only with doing the best in the present. In radical opposition to such an unphilosophical approach to life, Prabhupada stressed that the faculty for philosophical inquiry differentiates humans from other life-forms. In the light of his teachings, a philosophy such as existentialism that downplays or denies the importance of philosophy is not a philosophy at all; it is better called a “foolosophy,” the sophistry of fools.
Drawing from the vast library of ancient Indian wisdom-texts, he articulated a coherent philosophy that infused the lives of millions with meaning, purpose and joy. He wove together diverse concepts such as the immortality of the soul, the universality of reincarnation, the pervasiveness of cosmic accountability in the form of karma, the accessibility of a personal all-attractive divinity and the inalienable potential of the heart for everlasting love. And in the resulting philosophical mosaic, he emphasized how love and service, centered on Krishna, could help us all make ourselves better and our world better. Simultaneously, we would be preparing our consciousness for elevation toward a better place, in fact the best place in our post-mortem existence.
Though he was deeply philosophical in his teachings, he cautioned his students against getting lost in a philosophical maze. When he was asked, “What do you think of Buddhism?” he sensed that the questioner was asking from a platform of idle intellectualism. Rather than getting into the intricacy of any philosophy, he counter-questioned, “Do you follow Buddha?” When the surprised questioner replied, “Er … No.” Prabhupada emphatically declared, “Follow Buddha; follow Jesus; follow Krishna; follow someone. Don’t just talk.” His point was that mere academic comparison of various schools of thought wouldn’t provide any substantial spiritual insight; only by adopting a path through appropriate lifestyle change could one realize the validity and suitability of any path for them.
Transcendentalist beyond utopianist
Utopianists believe that the future holds the answer to all problems. They usually subscribe to some ideology or methodology, which they hold will bring in utopia in this world. Nowadays, the most influential utopianists are champions of technology; they claim and proclaim that technological advancement will provide the key to a secure and happy future.
It’s difficult to see Prabhupada as a utopianist — he often quoted the Gita (08.15) to declare that life will always remain tough in this world; distress can never be eliminated from it. He also quoted the Bhagavatam: the present cosmic age is a dark age (Kali-yuga) characterized by human decline. Yet such statements didn’t make him gloomy, lethargic or pessimistic.
Far from it, Prabhupada often exhibited a defining feature of a utopianist: a positive, hope-filled vision of the future. Based on a holistic understanding of the Vedic texts, he knew that though the cosmic cycle might be presently on a downturn, humans always have the potential to evolve spiritually. And the activation of that potential is often aided by divine compassion. During times of spiritual emergency such as the present, Krishna becomes more merciful and makes himself more accessible than the past through comparatively easier means such as the chanting of the holy names.
Considering himself a humble instrument in the hands of his spiritual master and Krishna, Prabhupada tirelessly played his part in what he saw as a cosmic rescue plan. And he felt confident about the materialization of a divine prediction: the holy names of Krishna will be chanted in every town and village of the world. With such a vision of his mission, he was always optimistic about the future. While he was still an unknown swami, he would sometimes declare: There are temples all over the world and they are filled with hundreds of devotees. Time alone is separating us from them.
And his confident optimism was well-founded. In little more than a decade, he had spoken at thousands of places in fourteen speaking tours that circumnavigated the world. He had founded a vibrant global movement that had 108 centers across the world. And he had inspired millions toward higher consciousness, greater meaning and deeper fulfillment. He assured his students that they all could be instruments for ushering in a golden sub-age within this dark iron age, provided they maintained spiritual integrity and vibrancy. By the time he departed from the world, he had bequeathed his students in specific and the world at large a rich and resourceful spiritual legacy that could raise human consciousness for generations, centuries, even millennia.
The essence-seeker (sara-grahi)
Through his life and teachings, Prabhupada demonstrated how to be a paramahamsa (the supreme swan). Just as the swan is said to have the ability to take the milk out of a combination of milk and water, he focused on the spiritual essence from all three phases of time: past, present and future. Through his personal example, he demonstrated the truth of one of the key verses of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.7.7): by hearing about Krishna, our devotional attraction to him awakens, thereby freeing us from the illusions characteristic of the three phases of time — lamentation about the past, illusion about the present and fear about the future.
Podcast:
Podcast:
By Jaganmohini Devi Dasi(On December 9th, 2021 (Odan Shasti), disciples and servants of H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami will be celebrating his 84th vyasa all over the world. On this occasion we are pleased to share below excerpts from his lecture’s question/answer session. The excerpts from chapter ‘Prayers’ are adapted from the book “Sripada in Switzerland – Lectures, conversations and instructions of His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami in Switzerland published by BI, Kolkata.) Continue reading "We Are Talking About Genuine Authority
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Burnaby, British Columbia
Getting Around
I’m getting around now, being in B.C. Travels recently have taken me east, west, and north. Just to be on the safe side, I’m keeping it domestic for now.
Anyway, it’s great to be back after two years of being away. I have met Manu, Jaya Govinda, Radhika, Mathura Lila, and so many more. There is a younger chap here, Satya Mohan, whom I’ve been talking about the clean up on the grounds and how that is pleasing to God, the Guru, the neighbours, and each other. I won’t get into details here but we just need to step up sattva-guna, the mode of conscientiousness or thoughtfulness.
The climate here is fairly mild, but grey and wet this time of year. I reminded Radhika, who hails from the same Dutch ancestry (although I was born Canadian), that our ancestors understood this climate. Whatever the weather, whether the weather, wherever we’re together we can be very clever, let’s get to serving the Chief. Nothing can hold us back from making the endeavour.
For a section of today, I ventured over to the flat lowland of Chinese and Punjabi farms, just south of our Burnaby property. This is my solitude space when I come here and it is to walk. I shared it with my doctor friend, Sunil, and also with my new and young friend, Satya.
“I didn’t know this was here,” both of them said.
“You must explore, my comrades. Know what’s around. Give the device a break and touch magic.”
May the Source be with you!
Burnaby, British Columbia
Getting Around
I’m getting around now, being in B.C. Travels recently have taken me east, west, and north. Just to be on the safe side, I’m keeping it domestic for now.
Anyway, it’s great to be back after two years of being away. I have met Manu, Jaya Govinda, Radhika, Mathura Lila, and so many more. There is a younger chap here, Satya Mohan, whom I’ve been talking about the clean up on the grounds and how that is pleasing to God, the Guru, the neighbours, and each other. I won’t get into details here but we just need to step up sattva-guna, the mode of conscientiousness or thoughtfulness.
The climate here is fairly mild, but grey and wet this time of year. I reminded Radhika, who hails from the same Dutch ancestry (although I was born Canadian), that our ancestors understood this climate. Whatever the weather, whether the weather, wherever we’re together we can be very clever, let’s get to serving the Chief. Nothing can hold us back from making the endeavour.
For a section of today, I ventured over to the flat lowland of Chinese and Punjabi farms, just south of our Burnaby property. This is my solitude space when I come here and it is to walk. I shared it with my doctor friend, Sunil, and also with my new and young friend, Satya.
“I didn’t know this was here,” both of them said.
“You must explore, my comrades. Know what’s around. Give the device a break and touch magic.”
May the Source be with you!
Toronto/Vancouver
Moving to Places
I left our ashram in Toronto for the airport feeling good. David has pruned the bushes in the front yard and Cameron really took to the elbow-grease-work of cleaning the resident washrooms. These areas needed some TLC (tender loving care or Teachings of Lord Chaitanya).
Karuna Sindhu drove me to the airport – thanks to him. Frankly, I would love to walk the stretch but, as in most cities, airports and runways are far-reaching, distance-wise. I’m anticipating daily walks while in Vancouver. Fortunately, the flooding and mudslides are on the interior. Strange karma this world comes up with. All summer long the area of British Columbia encountered an incredible dry spell with forest fires to boot. Now, rains are in excess.
Over the five-hour plane ride my legs hankered to move. I’ve got some of those standard exercises down for ankle and foot mobility. It really does go to show that stationary, or sedentary positions are not for us humans to be in for too long, unless of course, you are in a yogic asana regimen, and it doesn’t go for too long.
Chanting japa did occupy most of my time. It was all relatively comfortable except for my passenger next to me who inadvertently monopolized the full arm-rest the whole time. What can be done? As expressed in yesterday’s blog entry, patience is the thing. If a couple want to have a child it goes with a 9-month waiting period.
May the Source be with you!
Toronto, Ontario
Proper Perception
From the purport of text 11.7.8 from the Bhagavatam, we read, “When a woman loves a man, she is most eager to see him, and she daily sees him dressed in different clothes. Actually, the woman is interested not in the clothes, but in the man. Similarly, within every material object is the Supreme Personlity of Godhead; therefore, one who has developed love of God is constantly seeing the Lord everywhere, and not just the superficial material objects that cover the Lord.”
Nice example on “proper perception.” See the spirit behind everything. See the God factor in all things. This is practically the single point to grasp from the Bhagavat teachings; the awareness of spiritual presence.
One more thing I wanted to convey involved my endeavour to get back to Toronto by flying from Sudbury. I learned and saw a virtue in others. My departure for Toronto was a bit frustrating. It was Sunday night, and the scheduled time for flying got changed. It was delayed. No problem. Everyone goes through that. Then the flight was delayed again. “Mechanical difficulty,” they said. Well, I’ve heard that one before. The final delay was messaged. The plane arrives for our pick up. Somehow the aircraft is working. During this whole time no passengers expressed any grumpiness. I was amazed. Finally, we boarded and sat there for a while until it was announced that the flight was cancelled.
Again, nothing was said, not even a swear word or a gentleman’s remark like, “that’s unfortunate.” Meanwhile motel arrangements were made. That process took a while, in addition to rebooking. Not a word. How heroic all that was? I was proud to be a human.
May the Source be with you!
By Goloka Devi Dasi Having been appointed just a matter of weeks ago, one of the first meetings the new Ambassador for Ireland, Mr. Akhilesh Mishra, wanted to arrange was with ISKCON! A very nice, knowledgeable and humble man we spent about 40 minutes discussing Sanskrit (which he has studied and his father was a professor of), Vedic culture and the achievements of Srila Prabhupada. Before leaving we presented him with the complete edition of the Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta. Somehow that seemed hugely appropriate given it was during the Prabhupada marathon. We look forward to his next three years as Ambassador here as he was super clear that he wants to support, in whatever way he can, ISKCON's mission here in Ireland
Continue reading "Meeting with the new India Ambassador for Ireland
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2 December 2021, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.23.27)
It is the constitutional position of the living entity to be a servant of Krsna. Therefore, this means that we are always in a relationship with Krsna. Service is our natural position. If we are not serving Krsna, then we are serving others – family, profession, society at large, animals, plants and so on – in so many ways, we are serving other living entities. Therefore, serving is our nature. But ultimately, everything finds its origin in Krsna and everything is only a spark of Krsna’s splendour. So, we turn to Krsna because behind everything, there lies Krsna. Ultimately, every miracle we see in life is because of Krsna. And there are many miracles in our daily lives – the way the sun is rising, the way children come into this world and so on. Even though this is part of daily life, it is still miraculous! This is because this is all the opulence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. People write all kinds of poetry about this because they are all wonderful and miraculous manifestations of the mercy of the Lord!
The article " Miracles come from Krsna " was published on KKSBlog.
| The following account is from Srila Prabhupada’s disciple Bhaktisiddhanta Dasa. |
 Srila Prabhupada appeared to Prthuputra Swami, the first French sannyasi, just before Prthuputra died. Maharaja had done a lot of service for Srila Prabhupada’s preaching mission. But after Srila Prabhupada’s physical demise, Prthuputra left Krishna consciousness. He broke the regulative principle and went back to the sinful lifestyle he had led before. Nevertheless, he never criticized ISKCON or Krishna consciousness.
Some years later Prthuputra contracted AIDS. As the disease progressed, he ended up in hospital, and as it progressed further, he was hooked onto the machines which kept him alive. During his last, he was in coma. As he was about to die, doctors gathered around his bed and tried to estimate how many days—if not hours—he had left. As they discussed his condition, all of a sudden Prthuputra opened his eyes, sat up in his bed, and looked towards the door. “Prabhupada, you came,” he said. Then he laid back on his bed, closed his eyes, and died. Doctors later told this story to the devotees. |
From the beginning of November until the 19th you hopefully all had the opportunity to share or hear Krishna’s wonderful stories and to discover new places in Vrindavan by rewatching the parikrama videos on KKSBlog website. Even though kartik month is over, now is still a great time to remember and serve Krishna. The more we can relish His glories, the more we can feel His presence.
Kadamba Kanana Swami, after spending time in New York City and New Jersey, came back to Europe to start his winter tour. However, before flying to Europe, he attended an evening home program in New Jersey, USA. Please see the link to the program below:
New Jersey, USA, evening program
https://www.facebook.com/anand.joshi.37/videos/4388525974579647
Kadamba Kanana Swami’s European tour started from Ljubljana where he gave a class on Srimad Bhagavatam. Please see the link below.
SB. 8.9.25 in Ljubljana
https://www.facebook.com/joannahellas.beta/videos/1006414449935582/
His second destination in Europe was the Simhachalam temple in Germany where he spent a full week there. He lectured on Srimad Bhagavatam, celebrated Diwali (the festival of lights), Govardhan Puja, and Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day. Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut, is a festival in which devotees worship Govardhan Hill and prepare and offer a large variety of vegetarian food to Krishna as a mark of gratitude. That is the time when we can hear about the story of Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill to provide the villagers of Vrindavan shelter from torrential rains. Please see the links to these classes and programs below.
5th November – SB.10.25.19
https://youtu.be/H-hG6C-nSpQ
5th November – Govardhan Puja
https://youtu.be/CKhCacZiVfg
8th November – Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day evening lecture
https://youtu.be/Hxwuyily_cY
12th November – SB.3.23.30
https://youtu.be/fJr2DKy1u-U
After Simhachalam Kadamba Kanana Swami decided to drive to Goloka Dhama in Germany, where he gave classes on Caitanya Caritamrita and Srimad Bhagavatam. See the links to these classes below.
14th November – CC. Adi 5 71
https://youtu.be/EwwxKHM8B70
23rd November – SB.6.2.39
https://m.facebook.com/GolokaDhama/videos/hh-kadamba-kanana-swami-speaks-
on-sb-6239/6492994737438331/
24th November – SB.6.2.40
https://www.facebook.com/GolokaDhama/videos/238873751645356/
25th November – SB.6.2.41
https://www.facebook.com/GolokaDhama/videos/879814652653871/
26th November – SB.6.2.42
https://www.facebook.com/GolokaDhama/videos/301538521839366/
5th November – Sri Govardhan Puja
https://youtu.be/Owqe21mBhjA
12th November – Remembering Wonderful Krishna
https://youtu.be/DZougzeUW7w
19 th November – Last Day of Kartika
https://youtu.be/e-C_6ZzNXTY
26 th November – Following the Vaishnava Calendar
https://youtu.be/DAheulGAm8Y
Let’s keep following Kadamba Kanana Swami’s journey in Europe and start preparing for the book marathon month, so we can all spread Krishna consciousness all over the world.
The article " Monthly Media – Nov 2021 " was published on KKSBlog.
“Everybody is looking for Krishna. Some don`t realize that they are, but they are. Krishna is GOD, the Source of all that exists, the Cause of all that is, was or ever will be. As God is unlimited, He has many names, Allah, Buddha, Jehovah, Rama: all are Krishna, all are ONE.” – George Harrison […]
The post George Harrison 20th Anniversary held at Bhaktivedanta Manor appeared first on ISKCON News.