Planet ISKCON

The goal for this year's Live to Give campaign, also known as the Prabhupada Marathon, is to distribute 2.2 million copies of Bhagavad Gita globally, from September 21st to January 7th. 

AN INSTITUTION WITH SOCIAL CONSCIENCE

We have been reaching out to the poor and needy in West Bengal since 2013 to make sure that they don’t go to sleep on an empty stomach. We feed half a million people annually, completely free of cost. A wholesome meal comprised of Dal (bean soup), Chawal (rice) and Sabzi (seasonal vegetables) served up to their hearts’ content fills them with a sense of both gratitude and fulfilment.

A state-of-the-art kitchen facility boasting all modern kitchen amenities such as automated dishwashers, captive boiler plant, vegetable cutting machines, cold storage facility to preserve raw materials for longer periods, and a grand dining hall that can accommodate 330+ people at a time, makes us a high-quality, hygienic facility in the region of West Bengal.

On average we serve about 1350 meals every day in four distribution sessions regardless of caste, creed, race, gender or belief, as well as evening snacks to all the visitors. To make it a well-managed regimen, free coupons are distributed in the morning and meals are served in the afternoon. For the snack distribution, we keep a simple approach of first-come, first-served, and attempt to ensure that everyone standing in the queue receives the snacks. The state of art facility is extremely spacious, and the food is prepared to the highest health standards.

During the pandemic period we are also reaching out to many COVID patients and their families and serve them highly nutritious food to ensure that food related anxieties don’t contribute to higher mortality rates and more infection.

To date, since 2013, we have served over 4 million meals in this region, and we want to expand and feed many more!

PARTNER WITH US

We seek assistance of institutions who have welfare at their heart as priority and who have the financial wherewithal to help us. Such partner institutions are stakeholders with us, and they are our partners in this noble cause. As the famous social scientist Maslow states, we need to first ensure that people are not hungry, only then can we hope that they will pay attention to higher aspects of human life.

DONATE

Our Food distribution program is highly appreciated by local people and tourists. Please join us to ensure that no one should ever go hungry. Please contribute by your voluntary services or money contribution. Thank you!

Click HERE for more information.

 

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This is the anniversary commemorating the day that Srimad Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Sri Krishna to His dear-most devotee Arjuna.

It was spoken at the place now known as Jyotisar Tirtha amid the waring families of the Kurus and the Pandavas at Kurukshetra. If one wishes one can still go and visit that place and see the monument erected there with Krishna as Parthasarati (the chariot driver) and Arjuna the warrior on their chariot.

It is claimed by the ashram, which maintains the shrine, that the tree next to Them is a continuum growth of the original tree witness that was there at the actual day of speaking.

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Celebrating 5 Anniversaries in 1 Festival

The TOVP Team is pleased to announce the upcoming, all-auspicious Radha Madhava Golden Jubilee Festival from March 2 – 5, 2022. This will be a festival to beat all festivals, commemorating the anniversary of five important years in the history of ISKCON.

• 50th Anniversary of Chota Radha Madhava’s Installation
• 50th Anniversary of the ISKCON Mayapur Gaur Purnima Festival
• 50th Anniversary of Prabhupada Laying the TOVP Cornerstone
• 50th Anniversary of Jananivas Prabhu as Mayapur Head Pujari
• 100th Anniversary of Prabhupada Receiving Bhaktisiddhanta’s Order

These four days will be packed with ecstatic activities for all present (and viewable live on Mayapur TV), including kirtans, talks by senior devotees and leaders, dramas, dances, and a truly amazing abhisheka ceremony that will include ten types of abhishekas for Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Madhava.

Additionally, you can now take advantage of this unique and historic opportunity by sponsoring these abhishekas, as well as our newest Seva Opportunity to commemorate Srila Prabhupada’s receiving the order to preach from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati 100 years ago. Through the Paschatya Desha Tarine Campaign, offering a choice from three beautifully designed 3.5” large medallions with an accompanying ribbon, you can honor and show your gratitude to Srila Prabhupada for his gifts of Harinama, the Bhagavatam and Radha Krishna worship to the world.

The launch of this festival campaign is starting on the auspicious Moksada Ekadasi and Gita Jayanti, December 14. Take advantage of this special day to sponsor an Abhisheka or Medallion.

Visit the Radha Madhava Golden Jubilee page on the TOVP website and sponsor an abhisheka or Medallion TODAY!

 

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Moksada Ekadasi, observed on the 11th day of Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase of the moon) during the lunar month of Margashirsha, is a very special Ekadasi in two regards: it is the all-auspicious day on which Lord Sri Krishna spoke the Srimad Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra at the place now known as Jyotisha tirtha, and anyone who gifts a Bhagavad Gita away to a deserving person on this day is bestowed profuse blessings by Sri Krishna Bhagavan.

Below is the ancient history of this most powerful Ekadasi that frees one from all sins, spoken by Sri Krishna to Yudhisthira Maharaja.

This year on the auspicious Moksada Ekadasi / Gita Jayanti day, the TOVP Team is pleased to announce the launch to promote the Radha Madhava Golden Jubilee Festival from March 2 – 5, 2022. This is a 4-day festival commemorating the conjunction of 5 major anniversaries in 2022, all in one grand festival in Sridham Mayapur. To find out more, please visit the Radha Madhava Golden Jubilee Festival page on the TOVP website.

  NOTE: Moksada Ekadasi is observed on Tuesday, December 14 worldwide. Please refer to your local calendar through www.gopal.home.sk/gcal

The Glories of Moksada Ekadasi

From Brahmanda Purana

Yudhishthira Maharaj said, “O Vishnu, master of all, O delight of the three worlds, O Lord of the entire Universe, O creator of the world, O oldest personality, O best of all beings, I offer my most respectful obeisances unto You. O Lord of lords, for the benefit of all living entities, kindly answer some questions that I have. What is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha (November-December) and removes all sins? How does one observe it properly, and which Deity is worshipped on that holiest of days?
O my Lord please explain this to me in full.”

Lord Sri Krishna replied, “O dear Yudhishthira, your enquiry is very auspicious in itself and will bring you fame. Just as I previously explained to you about the dearest Utpanna Maha-Dwadasi , which occurs during the dark part of the month of Margashirsha, which is the day when Ekadasi-devi appeared from My body to kill the demon Mura, and which benefits everything animate and inanimate in the three worlds, so I shall now relate to you regarding this Ekadasi that occurs during the light part of the month of Margashirsha.

“This Ekadasi is famous as Moksada because it purifies the faithful devotee of all sinful reactions and bestows liberation upon him. The worshipable Deity of this all auspicious day is Lord Damodara. With full attention one should worship Him with incense, a ghee lamp, fragrant flowers, and Tulsi manjaris (buds).

“O best of saintly kings, please listen as I narrate to you the ancient and auspicious history of this wonderful Ekadasi. Simply by hearing this history one can attain the merit earned by performing a horse sacrifice. By the influence of this merit, one’s forefathers, mothers, sons, and other relatives who have gone to hell can turn around and go to the heavenly kingdom. For this reason alone, O king, you should listen with rapt attention to this narration.

“There once was a beautiful city named Champaka-nagar, which was decorated with devoted Vaishnavas. There the best of saintly kings, Maharaj Vaikhanasa, ruled over his subjects as if they were his very own dear sons and daughters.
The brahmins in that capital city were all expert in four kinds of Vedic knowledge.
The king, while ruling properly, had a dream one night in which his father was seen to be suffering the pangs of hellish torture in one of the hellish planets ruled over by the Yamaraj. The king was overwhelmed with compassion for his father and shed tears. The next morning, Maharaj Vaikhanasa described what he had seen in his dream to his council of twice born learned brahmins.

” ‘ O brahmanas,’ the king addressed them, ‘in a dream last night I saw my father suffering on a hellish planet. He was crying out in anguish, “O son, please deliver me from the torment of this hellish condition !” “Now I have no peace in my mind, and even this beautiful kingdom has become unbearable to me.
Not even my horses, elephants, and chariots, nor the vast wealth in my treasury that formerly brought so much pleasure, give me any happiness. Everything, O best of the brahmins, even my own wife and sons, have become a source of unhappiness since I beheld my father suffering the tortures of that hellish condition.

“ ‘Where can I go, and what can I do, O brahmins, to alleviate this misery? My body is burning with fear and sorrow! Please tell me what kind of charity, what mode of fasting, what austerity, or what deep meditation, and to which Deity must I perform service to deliver my father from that agony and bestow liberation upon my forefathers? O best among the brahmins, what is the use of one’s being a powerful son if one’s father must suffer on a hellish planet? Truly, such a son’s life is utterly useless, to him and to his forefathers.’

” The twice born brahmins replied, ‘O king, in the mountainous forest not far from here is the ashram where a great saint Parvat Muni resides. Please go to him, for he is tri-kala-jna (he knows the past, the present, and the future of everything) and can surely help you in your gaining relief from your misery.’

“Upon hearing this advise, the distressed king immediately set out on a journey to the ashram of the famous sage Parvat Muni. The ashram was indeed very big and housed many learned sages expert in chanting the sacred hymns of the four Vedas (Rg, Yajur, Sama, and Arthava). Approaching the holy ashram, the king beheld Parvat Muni seated among the assembly of sages, adorned with hundreds of tilaks (from all the authorized sampradayas) like another Brahma or Vyas.

“Maharaj Vaikhanasa offered his humble obeisances to the muni, bowing his head and then prostrating his entire body before him. After the king had seated himself among the assembly Parvat Muni asked him about the welfare of the seven limbs of his extensive kingdom (his ministers, his treasury, his military forces, his allies, the brahmins, the sacrificial offerings performed, and the needs of his subjects). The muni also asked him if his kingdom was free of troubles, and whether everyone was peaceful, happy and satisfied.

“To these inquiries the king replied, ‘By your mercy, O glorious and great sage, all seven limbs of my kingdom are doing very well. Yet there is a problem that has recently arisen, and to solve it I have come to you, O brahmana, for your expert help and guidance.’

“Then Parvata Muni, the best of all sages, closed his eyes and meditated on the king’s past, present and future. After a few moments he opened his eyes and said, ‘Your father is suffering the results of committing a great sin, and I have discovered what it is. In his previous life he quarreled with his wife and forcibly enjoyed her sexually during her menstrual period. She tried to protest and resist his advances and even yelled out, “Someone please save me! Please, O husband, do not interrupt my monthly period in this way!” Still he did not stop or leave her alone. It is on account of this grievous sin that your father now has fallen into such a hellish condition of suffering.’

“King Vaikhanasa then said, ‘O greatest among sages, by what process of fasting or charity may I liberate my dear father from such a condition? Please tell me how I can relieve and remove the burden of his sinful reactions, which are a great obstacle to his progress toward ultimate liberation.’

“Parvata Muni replied, ‘During the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha there occurs an Ekadasi called Moksada. If you observe this sacred Ekadasi strictly, with a full fast, and give directly to your suffering father the merit you thus attain, he will be freed from his pain and instantly liberated.’

“Hearing this, Maharaj Vaikhanasa profusely thanked the great sage and then returned to his palace to perform his vrata. O Yudhishthira, when the light part of the month of Margashirsha at last arrived, Maharaj Vaikhanasa faithfully waited for the Ekadasi tithi to arrive. He then perfectly and with full faith observed the Ekadasi fast with his wife, children, and other relatives. He dutifully gave the merit from this fast to his father, and as he made the offering, beautiful flower petals showered down from the devas who peered out from behind the clouds in the sky.
The king’s father was then praised by the messengers of the demigods and escorted to the celestial region.

“As he passed his son, while traversing the lower, middle and higher planets, the father said to the king, ‘My dear son, all auspiciousness unto you!’ At last he reached the heavenly realm from where he realized his newly acquired merit, began to perform devotional service to Krishna or Vishnu, and in due course returned back to home, back to Godhead.

“O son of Pandu, whosoever strictly observes the sacred Moksada Ekadasi, following the established rules and regulations, achieves full and perfect liberation after death. There is no better fasting day than this Ekadasi of the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha, O Yudhishthira, for it is a crystal-clear and sinless day.
Whoever faithfully observes this Ekadasi fast, which is like cintamani (a gem that yields all desires), obtains special merit that is very hard to calculate, for this day can elevate one from hellish life to the heavenly planets. For one who observes Ekadasi for his own spiritual benefit, this elevates one to go back to Godhead, never to return to this material world.”

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Margashirsha-shukla Ekadasi or Moksada Ekadasi, from the Brahmanda Purana.

This article has been used courtesy of ISKCON Desire Tree

 

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Achyutananda Prabhu says that according to proper kirtan principles, we should always begin with Srila Prabhupada’s pranama-mantras. He said that he noticed several kirtan leaders not doing this or not knowing kirtan etiquette.

A Russian devotee, Purnamasi devi dasi, told the story of when she was imprisoned by the KGB for practicing and preaching Krishna consciousness in the Soviet Union.

While she was in jail, she would encourage other prisoners to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The authorities tried to stop her in many ways, including threatening to kill her, but nothing worked. Finally they did something unusual: they brought a real witch to the prison to stop Purnamasi and deprogram her.

The witch arrived with her assistant and KGB officers. They tied Purnamasi to a chair, and the witch and her assistant started hexing, doing passes, and chanting spells, with their eyes rolled in trance. They were trying to infuse a dark creature into Purnamasi’s body. She could sense it, and all around became covered with fog. Realizing that she was coming under their control, she started chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, but this did not stop it; the creature was going inside.

As Purnamasi began to lose consciousness, she chanted the Narasimha mantra out loud, but even that did not stop the creature. Finally, she started chanting Srila Prabhupada’s pranama-mantra and right away the witch came out of her trance and stopped all her activities. She told the KGB officers, “I’m leaving,” but they didn’t let her go; they ordered her to finish her job. The witch insisted, “No, I am leaving; I will not go on any longer!” “Why?” the KGB officers asked. “What happened?” She told them, “You simply do not see, but I see: there is a very strict old man standing over there wagging his finger at me. I cannot do anything against him.” This old man was Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON.

(This account is attributed to Aradhana dasa.)

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2 December 2021, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.23.27)

All the abilities and gifts we have, come from the Supreme Lord. He gives and He takes – that is the nature of material existence. Sometimes, we do not get anything at all, that happens. We miss out! Everybody gets it, but we might not. That means we are chosen by Krsna for some higher purpose. Everyone gets sense gratification and we do not get it – this means Krsna wants something higher for us, He wants something more for us! Krsna does not want us to forget about Him and simply enjoy the material energy. We must have done something pious previously, and so, this is a blessing! Now, we must look for that deeper meaning in life and look for satisfaction within instead of without. And who is it within us? It is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in our hearts. So we can appreciate this.

Everything is going on by the will of the Lord – He is the director, He is the cause of all causes within the entire universe. So it takes time to remember this because we came to the material world with a desire to enjoy independently from Krsna. Then, we gradually became entangled by this material energy. Since time immemorial, for so many births, we have been in this material world and as a result, we have become bound by this material energy with whom we have had intimate relations. We have had endless attachments with this material energy, which remain with us because although life after life we take birth again and again, the mind travels with the soul. So it is not just the soul that travels from body to body, but it is also the mind. And in that mind, all the impressions of previous lives are stored – including the attachments (positive and negative).

The article " We are the chosen ones! " was published on KKSBlog.

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.

Source: BBT/ Bhaktivedanta Book Trust 

 

Listen to Hugh Jackman reflect on the moment of death as described in the Bhagavad Gita.

 

source: ISKCON Bangalore

In Episode 2 of the Parikrama, we will visit the birthplace of Srimati #Radharani.

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.

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.

Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!


Date: 12th Dec 2021
Day: Sunday
Time: 11 am to 12 noon
Topic: Sri Krishna’s Vraja Lila
Speaker: HG Adi Gadadhar Das


Link to join the class from your desktop or laptop:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9150790510?pwd=Wk5GYXVRMkJmdk84MzZJRXBKYUgwUT09




HG Adi Gadadhar Das

Adi Gadadhar Das was introduced to Krishna consciousness by Gaur Gopal Prabhu and Gaurānga Prabhu in August 1998 at the age of 18 years while studying at Grant Medical college and JJ Hospital, Mumbai. He completed the Bhakti shastri course taught by Caitanya Charan Prabhu. He received first and second initiation from HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj. He currently serves as the congregation director for ISKCON Atlanta. He is a physician and completed his medical training at Emory university. He serves as a Geriatric Hospitalist and lives in Atlanta with his wife Radhabhava Devi and two children Gopal and Maithili.


ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,

Scarborough, Ontario,
Canada, M1V4C7
Website: www.iskconscarborough.org
Email:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com
scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com

Signs of Life: A Semantic Critique of Evolutionary Theory

By Ashish Dalela (Rsiraja Das)

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

 
BUY ON AMAZON  

  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 […]

The post Russian Hare Krishnas Win Case in European Court of Human Rights appeared first on ISKCON News.

                                                   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 […]

The post My Return to the TOVP appeared first on ISKCON News.

Podcast:

Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

We have two very auspicious events happening on the same day coming Tuesday- 14th Dec 2021
- Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita(Gita Jayanti)
- Moksada Ekadasi

One of the Vrata(vow) undertaken during Ekadasi is to read the Holy scriptures.

What can be more glorious on this Moksada Ekadasi than reading Bhagavad Gita on the very day that marks the 5158th appearance day anniversary.

We at ISKCON Scarborough will be celebrating Gita Jayanti in a grand manner on Tuesday-14th Dec 2021 by reading all the 700 English verses starting at 6.00 PM sharp!

At all times, the COVID-19 protocols will be strictly followed including the verification of the proof of vaccination at the entrance.

As you are aware, we can only accommodate 10 devotees due to the prevailing COVID-19 protocols.

Please send an email to ghanshamboodhoo@gmail.com or text 416 508 1693 or to dwaraka.devi@hotmail.com or text 416 899 1733 before 13th Dec 2021(Monday) to secure your spot.


Please include the following:
Name of the devotee who will be coming =
Your mobile number for us to confirm your spot =

ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough, Ontario,
Canada, M1V4C7
Website: www.iskconscarborough.org
Email:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com
scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com

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 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.

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