Planet ISKCON

 

Huntsville, Ontario

Nature is a Knock Out

Nature is a knock-out. That is easy to see in the more northern regions. I mean to say there is this gorgeousness about Mother Nature from whatever angle you look, but everyone has their preferences, geographically. During my walks, I was truly taken by the desert beauty of Utah, the mountainous power of B.C., the ruggedness of rocky Newfoundland, the green tones of Ireland, and the exotic wonder of beachy Mauritius. But there’s something special about the Muskoka cottage country.

Karuna, Madhava and I drove north to this place of shanti(peace), not just to gawk at the goodness, but to sit down with a group of serious followers of bhaktiand speak about a project that can be of benefit.

We grouped with a bunch of “expansion enthusiasts” to look at a model that could really work, involving prasadam (blessed food) and kirtan (sacred sound). We have been excited about the project for months; there’s so much detail that I can’t reveal right now. We all feel we are meeting the approval of our guru,

Prabhupada. Afterall, blessings are always important in the matter of start-up on something dreamy, sublime, and practical — all at the same time.

To celebrate the initial phase of the project we had great food with lichee juice. And to address driver and passenger fatigue, the three of us were introduced to Kirby Beach off Lake Muskoka where we had a much-needed swim.

“You know,” I said to Karuna, “Krishna’s kind to give us water wonder in our part of the world.”

It’s so true. All this sweet water makes it a paradise.

 

May the Source be with you!

 

 

Yorkville, Toronto

 

Merci Beaucoup!

 

It’s a long day for sun endurance. Yes, we are approaching summer solstice. I enjoyed the bench and stretched my neck back to just catch some rain drops the size of tiny ants. The nostrils couldn’t help the perfumes projected from trees surrounding me. And there were people all around. I’ve never seen picnicking on the scale it is these days. 

There’s so much to be grateful for. That is the way I’m viewing the chanting I’m doing. The japa technique is soft and I like to say with it “Thank you again and again.”

“For what?” someone will say.

And the answer will be, “Thank you dear Krishna, for the gift of life and the privilege to take to the process of devotional service.” At least, speaking for myself, my life was saved from the materialistic approach. I was contemplating on this on my walk today. Where would I be if I did not stumble upon those great souls who plucked me out of the pop culture?I am forever grateful to them and my guru, Prabhupada.

When I reflect to just four years ago, I was trekking on the road in the U.S., making a big move across that vast land from Boston to San Francisco, and all the great experiences in between. It was indeed a positive jolt for my bhakti with all the great people, the great scenery, and, to some extent, the austerity. Thank you, Lord.

 

May the source be with you!

4km

 

Ramsden Park, Toronto

 

Chris, Then Keith

 

It’s not always that easy to find someone in the park who comes over to talk to me about personalities from “The Mahabharat”. Chris was lying on the grass and on his side reading a book borrowed from the library — a book authored by Gopi Krishna. We do meet each other from time to time.

Our conversation bore topics of sadhana, kundaliniand the reverential warrior Bhisma, best of the bhakti-yogis. Chris and I can talk-up spirituality. It’s rare to meet someone like that.

 

Then I met Keith, who also lives in the neighbourhood. He was walking his dog, rather running it.

His canine has a lot of energy.

“He’s a rescue dog. He was traumatized when I got him,” he said.

“It appears you’re looking after him. Kindness and tenderness are relatable to practically all creatures. I was raised on a farm. My dad would go to the stockyard, listen to the bidders and purchase a milk cow. Some of those cows were jittery from mistreatment by former owners. My dad was good with them. He showed them love by brushing them, keeping them clean. They would calm right down.”

 

Keith concurred with my story. He was curious and asked about our temple. He’d been to Govinda’s in Ottawa in the past. Loves the food. Keith asked if I lived in the nearby temple.

 

“Yes, we have space for twelve to fifteen residents and a guest family room. We’re undergoing renos right now. It’s a good time, during Covid. Here’s my card. I’m Swami, if I can be of any help.”

 

May the source be with you!

 

243 Avenue Rd, Toronto

 

The Change and the Changeless

 

Last year my brother, Jerry, popped by to drop off vintage photographs of our biological family.

They came in two cardboard boxes with one of them labelled “Brownies,” which my sisters were members of. Likely that box contained Brownies chocolate bars or cookies, which were fundraisers for the organization. That one box, still kicking around with old pics in it, has been around for 55 years. The box itself is vintage.

 

In any event, I’m copying some of these photos for posterity’s sake and I’m happy to share some of these with you all. At least I get a chance to view a changing body exhibit of myself, which is a revelation.

 

In the Bhagavad-gita, 2.13, Krishna presents the famous message about the soul’s transmigration. “As the embodied soul continually passes in this body from childhood, to youth, to old age, the soul similarly moves to another body at the time of death.”

 

Most important to grasp is the attachment to this verse. “A self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.” The message is clearly to not get frazzled about physical changes. The soul is the observer of change but does not change itself.

 

The thing about “us” is that we require to change our attitude from a self-centered one to one of broad wholesomeness.

 

May the source be with you!

 

Beginning with my first book, “Six Causes”, I have been describing a paradigm of creation that stems from conscious creativity. In this paradigm, the self goes missing in the self, and when this “absence” is created, then creativity occurs to overcome this absence by expanding the self into works of creativity. E.g. in human creativity, the person who desires to know himself expands into products such as art, music, literature, poetry, and science. All those things that expand out of the self, were previously in the self. And once those things have expanded, they are used to define the creator, author, musician, artist, or scientist. The work of an artist is not the artist, but art is used to define the artist. By externalizing himself as art, the artist knows himself. The artist is transcendent to the work of art and yet immanent in the art.

But readers often ask: “Where did you get this idea from?” They are generally looking for a reference from the Puranas, Upanishads, etc. but this idea is not directly found in these texts, although its implications (e.g., that the creator is transcendent and immanent) are described.

This idea is a core aspect of the Six Systems of Philosophy. For example, in the Vedanta Sutra, the creation is said to be the Lord’s abhivyakti which means “expressing the self”. Similarly, in Nyaya and Vaisheshika, the doctrine of “absence” that leads to a “presence” (abhava and bhava) is discussed extensively. Here, I will reproduce a few verses from the Sankhya Sutras to illustrate the same idea.

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“О Бхима! Благо от посещения всех тиртх и раздачи всевозможных пожертвований достигается просто следованием этому Нирджала экадаши. Более того, результат поста в течение всех экадаши в течение всего года достигается сразу, если соблюдать пост в один этот экадаши.”

( Экадаши-махатмйам, “Брахманда-пурана” )

 

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” O Bhīma! The combined piety of visiting all tīrthas and giving all sorts of charity is attained at once by following this Nirjalā Ekādaśī. Moreover, the result of fasting on all the Ekādaśīs in the entire year is attained at once if one fasts on this one Ekādaśī.

( Ekādaśī-māhātmyam, Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa )

 

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Ekadasi is one of the regular celebrations in the Vaishnava calendar. It is observed eleven days after the full moon and eleven days after the new moon of every month. Even in the thirteenth, or leap, month, called adhika-masa, or purusottama-masa, which comes every three years, during which no other festivals are celebrated, Ekadasi is observed. Ekadasi is known as the day of Lord Hari and is said to be the mother of devotion. Keeping the fast on Ekadasi is one of the sixty-four items of devotional service listed in Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. In fact, it is one of the first ten.

The Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada’s summary study of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, states, “In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana it is said that one who observes fasting on Ekadasi day is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities and advances in pious life. The basic principle is not just to fast, but to increase one’s faith and love for Govinda, or Krsna. The real reason for observing fasting on Ekadasi is to minimize the demands of the body and to engage our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing similar service. The best thing to do on fasting days is to remember the pastimes of Govinda and to hear His holy name constantly.”

Later in The Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada cites the observance of Ekadasi as a stimulus (uddipana) for ecstatic love: “Some things which give impetus or stimulation to ecstatic love of Krsna are His transcendental qualities, His uncommon activities, His smiling features, His apparel and garlands, His flute, His buffalo horn, His leg bells, His conchshell, His footprints, His places of pastimes (such as Vrndavana), His favorite plant (tulasi), His devotee and the periodical occasions for remembering Him. One such occasion for remembrance is Ekadasi, which comes twice a month on the eleventh day of the moon, both waning and waxing. On that day all the devotees remain fasting throughout the night and continuously chant the glories of the Lord.”

The importance of the Ekadasi fast is also seen in the history of King Ambarisa and the sage Durvasa. Maharaja Ambarisa had observed the fast without even drinking water up until the appointed time to break the fast, called the Ekadasi-parana. Durvasa Muni was to have returned before the time of the parana, and because he was playing the part of a brahman and Ambarisa Maharaja the part of a kshatriya, proper etiquette dictated that Durvasa break the fast first. However, because Durvasa did not come in time, Ambarisa was in a dilemma. If he did not break the fast in time, the whole observance would be spoiled. At the same time, if he did not wait for Durvasa, he would be guilty of an offense, because the etiquette demanded that he wait for the sage to break the fast first. King Ambarisa consulted his advisors, but none could resolve his problem. Finally, the king himself determined the solution: he would take water. Taking water would break the fast and at the same time not break it.

So, Ekadasi is an important observance. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally observed Ekadasi, and He ordered all of His followers to do the same. And of all the Ekadasis, Pandava-nirjala Ekadasi, Bhima Ekadasi, is the most special.

The story behind this special Ekadasi is recounted in the Brahma Vivarta Purana. Five thousand years ago, during the time of the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s elder brother Bhima admitted that he had great difficulty fasting. (In those days everyone would fast completely from all food and water.) So the Vedic authority Vyasadeva gave Bhima permission to observe the full fast (nirjala, “without water”) only once a year, in the early summer, and to derive the same benefit as if he had observed all the other twenty-three Ekadasis. Thus, devotees who are unable to properly observe Ekadasi during the year, or who by chance happen to miss an Ekadasi, can get the benefit of fully observing all the Ekadasis if they properly observe the Pandava-nirjala Ekadasi. Strictly observed, the fast begins before sunset the evening before Ekadasi and continues until the parana, about the time of sunrise, the morning after Ekadasi. Many devotees try to chant at least sixty-four rounds on Ekadasi, especially the Bhima Ekadasi.

Once, when we were with Srila Prabhupada in Amritsar, Yamuna-devi read to him from the newly published Nectar of Devotion: “One such occasion for remembrance is Ekadasi, which comes twice a month on the eleventh day of the moon, both waning and waxing. On that day all the devotees remain fasting throughout the night and continuously chant the glories of the Lord.” Then she asked, “Should we also observe Ekadasi like that?”

“No,” Prabhupada replied. “We have too much service to do for Krishna.”

Still, Srila Prabhupada said, “Ekadasi is most auspicious. And chanting is more effective.” And to a disciple who asked, “Should we chant twenty-five rounds on Ekadasi?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Why only twenty-five rounds? You should chant as many as possible.”

So, the basic observance of Ekadasi, as prescribed by Srila Prabhupada, is to refrain from eating grains and beans and to chant as many rounds as possible. Although most devotees in ISKCON do not perform nirjala on every Ekadasi, many do on Pandava-nirjala Ekadasi. They also try to chant at least sixty-four rounds. And by the mercy of Ekadasi, they make great spiritual advancement: they are blessed by spiritual strength and realization and so continue their service to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission with renewed vigor—enthusiasm and inspiration.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Former GBC Chairman Ramai Swami has suffered a heart attack and was briefly hospitalized. According to current GBC Chairman, Bhakti Caitanya Swami, Ramai Swami underwent a surgical procedure to have a stent placed in his heart, and "He should be out of the hospital tomorrow or the day after." Ramai Swami, who is based in Australia, was GBC Chairman during the 2020-2021 sessions.

Srila Prabhupada expressed his appreciation for his father in his dedication to his book Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: “To My Father, Gour Mohan De (1849-1930)—A pure devotee of Krsna, who raised me as a Krsna conscious child from the beginning of my life. In my boyhood ages he instructed me how to play the mrdanga. He gave me Radha-Krsna vigraha to worship, and he gave me Jagannatha ratha to duly observe the festival as my childhood play. He was kind to me, and I imbibed from him the ideas later on solidified by my spiritual master, the eternal father.”

As devotees, we try to encourage and facilitate our children’s Krishna consciousness, as Prabhupada’s father did with him—an effort that is solidified when our children find their eternal spiritual masters.

Later, Srila Prabhupada wrote one of his disciples, “You have accepted me as father, so I have also accepted you as my dear and real son. Relationship of father and son on spiritual platform is real and eternal; on the material platform such relationship is ephemeral and temporary. Although I cannot give you anything as father, still I can pray to Krishna for your more and more advancement in Krishna consciousness. Your sincerity and service mood will always help you in advancing your genuine cause.”

We are indebted to all our fathers, biological and preceptorial. To those still with us, we wish you Happy Father’s Day. To those who have left us, we love you and miss you, and we shall try to act in such a way as will please you—and Krishna, the Supreme Father.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

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From her childhood Princess Sachi devi, the daughter of King Naresh Narayana of Bengal, showed unalloyed devotion to Lord Sri Krishna. She even refused to marry on account of her genuine attachment to Krishna. After her father’s demise she ruled the kingdom. But she soon renounced it to find a bona fide spiritual master.

Princess Sachi devi met Sri Haridasa Pandit, a leading guru in Vrndavana, and began performing devout bhajana to Govindaji. Although she became frail from undereating, she would always sleep on the Yamuna’s sandy bank, and rise before sunrise to clean Govindaji’s temple. Daily she would hear Bhagavata-katha, see Govindaji’s arotika, circumambulate Radha-Syamasundara’s lila sthanas (pastime places) such as Vamisivata, Seva Kunja, Nidhu vana, Rasa Sthali.

On her guru’s order, Sachi devi went to the home of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya in Jagannatha Puri. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and most of Lord Gauranga-sundara’s eternal associates had al­ready returned to Goloka Vrndavana. Sachi devi restored Sarvabhauma’s house, and established first-class worship of Sri Shyama Raya, a Deity given to her by a Jaipur brahmana. Everyday she lectured on Srimad Bhagavatam. Her classes became popular attracting eager listeners from miles around. Many people, including brahmanas and King Mukunda Deva, took in­itiation from Sachi devi.

“On the day of Ganga Sagara Mela, Sachi devi, who was resid­ing in Jagannatha Puri, desired to bathe in the Ganges. That night the Ganges flowed from the lotus feet of Lord Jagannatha and came to Sachi’s ashrama. Entering Ganga Devi’s waters, Sachi floated to the lotus feet of Jagannatha Swami inside the temple.

”After unlocking the doors the next morning the pujaris were surprised to find her inside the temple. Thinking she was a thief, they immeditately put Sachi devi in jail. Seeing this mistake, Lord Jagannatha appeared simultaneously in a dream to both the Puri King and the head pujari. The Lord ordered them to release Sachi devi dasi and take initiation from her. From then on she became famous as Gangamata Gosvamini.”

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  Those of us who live on the east coast of the US are nearing the end of the cicada season. They are curious creatures who teach us a few helpful things for our spiritual  1. Life is Short: although cicadas keep themselves underground for 17 years, when they emerge it’s just a month or […]

The post 3 Lessons from Cicadas appeared first on ISKCON News.

Those of us who live on the east coast of the US are nearing the end of the cicada season. They are curious creatures who teach us a few helpful things for our spiritual practice

ISKCON Gurugram was awarded a Certificate of Commitment by the World Book of Records (WBR) to recognize the exceptional services offered by the devotees at ISKCON Gurugram in serving the needy during the Covid pandemic. The award was received by Rambhadra Das, President – ISKCON Gurugram. Rambhadra Das stated that “I dedicate this award to […]

The post World Book of Record honours ISKCON Gurugram with Certificate of Commitment appeared first on ISKCON News.

ISKCON Gurugram was awarded a Certificate of Commitment by the World Book of Records (WBR) to recognize the exceptional services offered by the devotees at ISKCON Gurugram in serving the needy during the Covid pandemic. The award was received by Rambhadra Das, President – ISKCON Gurugram. Rambhadra Das stated that “I dedicate this award to the global ISKCON family, my mentor HH Gopal Krishna Goswami, and Vivo India, Rapido, IOCL, GAIL, PTC and Sudhir Generators and all others who supported and volunteered with us”.

This year, as we celebrate the 125th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s appearance in 1896, an excellent way to become absorbed in the pastimes and teachings of the ISKCON Founder-Acharya is the latest, fifth volume of Memories: Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint. The series all began back in 1991 when Siddhanta Das, the devotee behind the […]

The post Fifth Prabhupada Memories Book Packed With Inspirational and Educational Anecdotes appeared first on ISKCON News.

Covering twenty videos in the Memories series, the fifth book runs 520 pages, and contains over 700 anecdotes from 109 disciples.

A new 37-minute documentary entitled “Seeking Shelter: The Life & Legacy of Bhakti Charu Swami” is set to premiere on ISKCON News and Youtube on July 24th, as part of the global celebration on the beloved ISKCON guru’s disappearance day. “The pandemic has claimed millions of lives — ordinary humans, celebrities and saintly people alike […]

The post Award-Winning Bhakti Charu Swami Documentary to Premiere on July 24th appeared first on ISKCON News.

A new 37-minute documentary entitled “Seeking Shelter: The Life & Legacy of Bhakti Charu Swami” is set to premiere on ISKCON News and Youtube on July 24^th, as part of the global celebration on the beloved ISKCON guru’s disappearance day.

Healthy snack company Pure Bliss Organics, run by owners and co-founders Jaya Govardhana Das and Haridas Thakur Das since 2005, had been selling its granola, energy bars and gourmet nut mixes to hundreds of stores all over the U.S., both as packaged products and as bulk foods. When Covid hit in early 2020, however, many […]

The post Pure Bliss Organics Expands, Looks to Hire More Devotee Staff appeared first on ISKCON News.

Healthy snack company Pure Bliss Organics has had a 75% increase in sales, and plans to expand as well as to hire eight new devotee staff. The company creates its own grain free and sugar free granolas, bars and snack bites, and makes products for other companies.

The prasadam distribution team, Food For All (with bases around the UK) just received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the greatest award possible for a charity in the U.K.  For the next 5 years, the Queen’s Logo will appear on their websites, letterheads, vans, and centres. They will receive trophies from the Queen’s Lord […]

The post Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Given to Food For All Charity in the UK appeared first on ISKCON News.

Food For All has been awarded the Queen's Award for voluntary service, the highest award in charity service. 

Dear Patrons / Bhaktas, Jaya Jagannath! All glories to Srila Prabhupada.  The Lord of Universe, Lord Jagannath, the most Merciful Lord, once again bestows His Unlimited Mercy – A Rare Opportunity to bathe the Lordships personally and celebrate  a grand Snana Yatra! At Simantadvipa, in the holy abode of Rajapur dhama, abhinna Sri Ksetra dhama […]

The post Lord Jagannatha Snana Yatra Festival Sevas-June 24th appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Обитель красоты.

Оно уносит непристойность Кали и очищает чистое.

Пища странника, желающего освобождения, 

что сразу же ведет в высшую обитель.

Источник речи лучших из поэтов.

И жизнь святых, и семя древа Дхармы.

Пусть это имя Кришны дарует благо.

(Падьявали, 19)

 

 

It is the abode of all that is beautiful.
It erodes the dirt of Kali
and purifies the pure.
For the wayfarer desiring liberation
it is his food, which, so it is said,
will lead him promptly to the supreme abode.
It is the only place where the speech
of the best poets rests.
It is the life of the saints,
and the seed of the Dharma tree.
May Krsna’s name grant you prosperity.

(Padyavali, 19)

 

By Mahatma Dasa

The Brahma-vaivarta Purana describes a beautiful story of a brahmana in South India who wanted to offer sweet rice (khir) to his Deities but couldn’t afford the ingredients. So he decided to offer the sweet mentally. In deep meditation, he collected all the ingredients and cooked it. After the preparation was ready, he wanted to cool it down before he offered it to Krishna. After a while he touched his finger to see if the sweet rice had cooled down. It was still hot, and to his surprise his finger was burnt by the sweet rice! Because of his devotion in preparing and testing the khir, even though only in his mind, the Lord happily accepted the offering and soon brought him to Vaikuntha, His eternal abode. Continue reading "Failing to Succeed
→ Dandavats"

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Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana was born in the early part of the 18th century (1720-1790) in a village near Remuna, Balasore District of Orissa. Even though he was the son of a ‘vaishya’ (farmer), in his youth he received a very thorough education in ‘Sanskrit’, rhetoric, logic and Vaishnava scripture. He accepted ‘sannyasa’ into the ‘Madhwa-sampradaya’ at a very young age, and stayed at Jagannatha Puri. He became a renowned scholar and travelled around India to all the holy places.

It was to the surprise of everyone that Baladeva was converted to be a Gaudiya Vaisnava by Radha Damodara Deva Goswami, who first explained the philosophy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in accordance with the tenants of Vedanta Sutra and Srimad Bhagavatam, then initiated him as his formal disciple. Under his direction he studied Jiva Goswami’s Sat-Sandarbha, and he quickly became prominent in all intellectual circles.

After Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura finished his pastimes in this world, Sri Baladeva Vidyabhushana became the next ‘acarya’ of the ‘Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya’. At the end of Radha Damodar Deva’s Vedanta Shyamantaka Sri Baladeva Vidyabhushana acknowledges his spiritual master thusly: “I have been sent here to Vrindavan by one ‘brahmana guru’, Sri Radha-Damodara Deva, to present a composition named Vedanta Shyamantaka, composed by his mercy for the pleasure of Srimati Radharani.”

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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: 18th July 2021

Day: Sunday

Time: 11 am to 12 noon

Speaker: HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Swami

Link to join the class:

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

HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Swami

HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagar Swami is a Gaudiya Vaishnava sannyasi in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He is a disciple of His Holiness Indradyumna Swami, who is a disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON. Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Swami joined ISKCON in Moscow, Russia. Maharaj speaks English and Russian.

https://brsswami.com/en

ISKCON Scarborough

3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,

Scarborough, Ontario,

Canada, M1V4C7

Website: www.iskconscarborough.org

Email:

iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com