Planet ISKCON

Scarborough Bluffs, Toronto

 

By the Bluffs

 

It was our determination to go somewhere where the wind is your friend and the water motion hits rhythmic notes when it meets the beach. Paramahamsa brought me to the Bluffs, where the cliffs are so impressive and everything about the space is therapeutic.

 

After a healthy fresh rain, the beach’s sand was just the right content of wetness for making sandcastles, or crocodiles. Our purpose, however, was to chill, strictly in Krishna’s service. At the picnic table of our choice, we sat down to go for a reading of Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto Ten, on the subject of Krishna’s revealing His Universal Form — a great past time.

 

I think the world of Paramahamsa and his reading contributed to the afternoon’s pleasantness. His style of reading is digital-like and I did have to correct him in his tendency to skip the adjective “the” but other than that the reading was fine and rendered with bhakti.

 

At one point he pulled out some fruit for our light consumption. One of the items was jack-fruit, looking yellowy-good, and tasting divine. Seagulls hover around where fish are food, at the lakeside, along with small remnants left by humans. My seagull friends relished this fruit, which often is used as a subjee, a vegetable, in Indian cooking.

 

The visit to the Bluffs exposed us to sound, sun, clouds, wind, grass and trees; all gorgeous articles for a meditation. Behind the wonder of it all is Krishna.

 

May the Source be with you!

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Devotees from the Bhakti Centre on the Gold Coast organised a Jagannatha Rathayatra at Broadwater Parkland in Southport. The location was great and many devotees from Brisbane, New Govardhana and the Gold Coast attended.

The first event was the parade itself that went through the park, which is a popular family destination. Everyone was ecstatically chanting and dancing in front of Their Lordships, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. Later, there were events on the stage, along with prasadam and book stalls.

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Srila Prabhupada incorporated ISKCON on July 13, 1966, in New York City, which corresponds to today on the Vaishnava calendar. The following conversation indicates some of the significance of Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON:

Bhavananda: In Svarup Ganj there’s one big astrologer. So, he saw your photograph, and he said, “This is the face of the most powerful spiritual personality on the planet.”

Prabhupada: [laughs] Hare Krishna.

Brahmananda: Then what else?

Bhavananda: Then he said that “I can tell from his face that he can make a house in which the whole world can live peacefully.”

Devotees: Jaya Prabhupada!

Prabhupada: At least I desire so.

(Morning Walk, July 1, 1975, Denver)

 

Here are some excerpts from the certificate of incorporation:

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, INC.

(Pursuant to the Religious Corporation Law of the State of New York)

We, the undersigned, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the Religious Corporation Law of the State of New York, do hereby make, subscribe and acknowledge this certificate as follows:

FIRST: The name of the corporation shall be INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, INC.

SECOND: The purposes for which the corporation is organized are:

(a) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

(b) To propagate a consciousness of Krishna as it is revealed in the Bhagawat Gita and Srimad Bhagawatam.

(c) To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, and thus to develop the idea, within the members, and humanity, at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).

(d), To teach and encourage the Samkirtan movement congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

(e) To erect for the members, and for society at large, a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna.

(f) To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.

(g) With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings. . . .

IN WITNESS WHEREOF we have made, subscribed, and acknowledged this certificate of incorporation this 13th day of July, 1966.

[signed:] A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Carol Bekar, Raymond Marais

 

“Природа сандалового дерева на этой планете такова, что он очень хорошо охлаждает среди прочих охлаждающих. Более, чем сандаловое дерево, охлаждает луна, а более сандалового дерева и луны охлаждает общение с садху.”

[источник неизвестен]

чанданам шиталам локе

чанданадапи чандрамах

чандра-чанданайор мадхйе

шитала садху сангатих

 

___________________

“On this planet, the intrinsic nature of sandalwood is that it’s very cooling amongst other refrigerants. More cooling than sandalwood is the moon and even more cooling than sandalwood and the moon is the association of a sadhu.”

[ source unknown ]

candanam sitalam loke
candanadapi candramah
cañdra-candanayor madhye
sitala sadhu sangatih

 

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Today is Srila Lokanatha dasa Gosvami’s disappearance day. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter 18, states,

TEXT 48

tabe rupa gosani saba nija-gana lana
eka-masa darasana kaila mathuraya rahiya

TRANSLATION

Srila Rupa Gosvami and his associates stayed in Mathura for one month and saw the Gopala Deity.

TEXT 49

sange gopala-bhatta, dasa-raghunatha
raghunatha-bhatta-gosani, ara lokanatha

TRANSLATION

When Rupa Gosvami stayed at Mathura, he was accompanied by Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami and Lokanatha dasa Gosvami.

PURPORT

Sri Lokanatha Gosvami was a personal associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and a great devotee of the Lord. He was a resident of a village named Talakhadi in the district of Yasohara (Jessore), in Bengal. Previously he lived in Kancadapada. His father’s name was Padmanabha, and his only sibling was a younger brother named Pragalbha. Following the orders of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Lokanatha went to Vrndavana to live. He established a temple named Gokulananda. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura selected Lokanatha dasa Gosvami to be his spiritual master, and Narottama dasa Thakura was his only disciple. Because Lokanatha dasa Gosvami did not want his name mentioned in the Caitanya-caritamrta, we do not often see it in this celebrated book. On the E.B.R. Railroad, the Yasohara station is located in Bangladesh. From the railway station one has to go by bus to the village of Sonakhali and from there to Khejura. From there one has to walk or, during the rainy season, go by boat to the village of Talakhadi. In this village there are still descendants of Lokanatha Gosvami’s younger brother.

COMMENT

The purport to text 52 states, “In the Bhakti-ratnakara (Sixth Wave), there is a list of many of the chief devotees who accompanied Srila Rupa Gosvami. . . . ‘The following Vaisnavas were present with Srila Rupa Gosvami: the merciful Gopala Bhatta Gosvami; Bhugarbha Gosvami; Sri Lokanatha dasa Gosvami, a reservoir of good qualities . . .’ ”

Srila Prabhupada, discussing the song Sri-guru-vandana by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, commented, “Lokanatha lokera jivana. Narottama dasa Thakura’s guru’s name was Lokanatha Gosvami. You have seen, those who have gone to Vrndavana, there is Lokanatha Gosvami’s tomb.” And he took his disciples to Lokanatha Gosvami’s samadhi on parikrama.

On this auspicious occasion, we pray to Lokanatha Gosvami with the words of his disciple, Narottama dasa Thakura:

sri-guru karuna-sindhu, adhama janara bandhu,
            lokanath lokera jivana
ha ha prabhu koro doya, deho more pada-chaya,
            ebe jasa ghusuk tribhuvana

“O spiritual master, ocean of mercy and friend of the fallen souls, you are the teacher of everyone and the life of all people. O master! Be merciful unto me and give me the shade of your lotus feet. May your glories now be proclaimed throughout the three worlds.”

And:

ha ha prabhu lokanatha, rakha pada-dvandve
kripa-drishthye chaha yadi haiya anande

 mano-vancha siddhi habe hana purna trishna
hethaya chaitanya mile setha radha-krishna

tumi na karile daya ke karibe ara
manera vasana purna kara ei bara

 ei tini samsare mora ara keho nai
kripa kari nija pada-tale deha thani

 sri radha-krishna-lila-guna gana ratri dine
narottama vancha purna nahe tuwa vine

“O Lokanatha, O Gurudeva! If you are pleased with me, please keep me in the shelter of your lotus feet and cast your merciful glance upon me. By your mercy I can find the perfection of inner fulfillment. And by your mercy I can someday meet Sri Chaitanya and Radha-Krishna. If you are not merciful to me, then what shall I do? Please, just once, fulfill my heart’s desire. In the three worlds of birth and death no one is more in need of your mercy. Please give me your mercy and give me a place at your lotus feet. Day and night I sing the qualities and pastimes of Radha and Krishna. Still, the inner aspirations of Narottama for the service of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu can be realized only through your grace, O Lokanatha Gosvami Prabhu.”

srimad-radha-vinodaika-
  seva-sampat-samanvitam
padmanabhatmajam srimal-
  lokanatha prabhum bhaje

“I worship Sri Lokanatha Prabhu, the son of Sri Padmanabha, who possessed a great wealth of devotion to Sri Sri Radha-Vinoda and always engaged in Their service.”

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

 

Yesterday we went to Syama-dhak, near Govardhan Hill, where Radha and Krsna had many sweet pastimes. The forested area was a beautiful lush green from the monsoon rains that are showering down on Vrindavan now. Even the lakes and streams were bright green from a particular algae that grows in them this time of year! And most relishable was the association of a 98-year-old sadhu who shared with us his realizations on the importance of chanting the holy names of Krsna. I couldn’t stop taking photos of his different moods in Krsna consciousness! Vrindavan is such a wonderful place!

 

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Source: Vaishnavi Ministry NA

Bond of Love Interview Series: Nirmala Devi and Rangavati Devi

These Interviews are simultaneously broadcast on: Youtube and Facebook. 

ISKCON unites with an Indian agriculture university (DBSKKV) to bring about agricultural reforms and change patterns of farming in Maharashtra. 

A tasty drink tastes even more when you are finishing it. It is the last drop that gives the feeling of being relished, enjoyed, along with the trace of sadness of it being over too soon. The urge to taste and enjoy is the game we get entangled in. Similar was the situation I got […]

The post The Last Drop appeared first on ISKCON News.

A tasty drink tastes even more when you are finishing it. It is the last drop that gives the feeling of being relished, enjoyed, along with the trace of sadness of it being over too soon. The urge to taste and enjoy is the game we get entangled in. Similar was the situation I got stuck in, after tasting the last drop of lassi, a drink relished in India during summers. Suddenly what flashed in my mind were numerous paintings of baby Sri Krishna attempting to take out makkhan (butter) from an earthen pot.

ISKCON Punjabi Bagh has planned year-long celebrations to mark the momentous event.

Devotees who live in less populated areas of Eastern Canada hold weekly in-home programs where they gather to chant the holy names, listen to lectures, and honor prasadam. In this area of Canada, they call themselves ISKCON Maritimes, which comprise of centers in Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  On […]

The post Rathayatra Festivals Continue to Expand in Atlantic Canada appeared first on ISKCON News.

Devotees who live in less populated areas of Eastern Canada hold weekly in-home programs where they gather to chant the holy names, listen to lectures, and honor prasadam. In this area of Canada, they call themselves ISKCON Maritimes, which comprise of centers in Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

On Saturday August 21^st, devotees from the ISKCON Auckland congregation in New Zealand will hold Harinama Sankirtana in multiple suburbs around Auckland, as well as on the city’s main thoroughfare Queen Street in celebration.

To celebrate the 125^th birth anniversary of ISKCON Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON New Vrindaban in West Virginia is set to hold the Prabhupada 125 Tournament from Friday September 24^th to Sunday September 26^th.

Following a global edition in April/May, the 18-hour Online Devotee Care Course, subtitled “Embedding Care in Krishna Conscious Communities,” will be offered specifically for devotees in North American timezones starting September 18th. The ISKCON GBC Devotee Care Committee, an initiative of the GBC Strategic Planning Team, was officially mandated in 2017 and supported by GBC […]

The post Online Devotee Care Course Aims to Embed Care in Krishna Conscious Communities appeared first on ISKCON News.

Following a global edition in April/May, the 18-hour Online Devotee Care Course, subtitled “Embedding Care in Krishna Conscious Communities,” will be offered specifically for devotees in North American timezones starting September 18^th.

Evergreen Bricksworks, Toronto

 

All Good Stuff

 

We have such a great philosophy. I am not this body. I am spirit soul. I am here to serve. All good stuff.

 

When this body receives pain, the pain is eased because you tell yourself, “That is not me. It may be connected to me but it is notme.” I have to convince myself of this reality from time to time. One of those times is now. Weaning off painkillers and accepting some uneasiness. That’s the way to go through the healing of my left leg.

 

It was so generous of my friend, Paramahamsa, to drive me to the Brickworks; that little piece of heaven I’ve written about before. The ponds are appealing, the multiple species of trees, the goldfish, the turtles and beavers.

 

A young couple, just married, were getting their pictures taken by a professional photographer. It’s a common place for newlyweds. I told this couple, as we were leaving the place, with me on crutches, “You guys look good!” As in western style, the groom was in dark duds and she wore a white gown.

 

That’s something I didn’t do in this life — get married. It was never meant for me. I married a mission when I was 20.

 

“I’ll be 70 next year.” I tell the next generation, “Prepare to take over and become captain of the ship.”

 

Being at the brickworks gave me a change of scenery, some fresh breeze and a chance to walk with my four legs, two of which are not mine (crutches). In fact, all four are not me.

 

May the Source be with you!

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Hare Krishna dear devotees! Please accept our humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada! ISKCON Mayapur TV – Hindi is organizing special Krishna Lila Katha in the forthcoming weekends to set the stage for the upcoming Janmashtami festival. Schedule is as follows: Aug 15: Radha Gopinath Prabhu (6pm) Aug 21: Amogh Lila Prabhu (8pm) Aug […]

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243 Avenue Rd., Toronto

 

Results Will Come

 

“You’re one of the top five,” said the therapist at Toronto West General Hospital.

 

“Meaning?” I asked.

 

“Of the five years I’ve looked at knee replacement patients you’re in the top five for recovery.”

 

Well, that certainly made me feel good. I had mentioned I’m a monk, a walking one, and I wore down my cartilage. The reaction to the marathon walks I’ve done astounded the physiotherapist, as did the Vietnamese doctor and a local assistant from Canada. Yes, I had three guys look at the leg and give me new exercises to work on.

 

The left leg looks improved, the normal colour has returned. Swelling has gone down. And most definitely the knee is bending much better. For such improvement you listen to what your doctor says, follow directions and be a real live patient.

 

Spiritual life is like that. You admit to weakness, apply the process of healing and be patient for the results. So, in devotional life you gain sadhana, practices, sangh, which means keeping positive company and apply sastra, study of scriptures. When you have these three items in your life you’re good to go, provided it is all approached with sincere feeling.

 

Chanting, also, is a major factor in developing the heart towards a sensitivity that Krishna can accommodate. Chanting is a calling out for attention and love. It’s what we always need.

 

May the Source be with you!

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243 Avenue Rd., Toronto

 

Moments of Liberation

 

The items of bhakti that I’m missing these days leave me in a mood of separation. Although healing, my replaced knee is still restricting my movements. Tomorrow I get the chance to feel a quaint notion of liberation by going down the stairs, with crutches, of course, for a trip to the Toronto West General for Physio. I did manage to make my way along the balcony, which opens up to the temple room. It was noon-time and I found myself sitting and leading a kirtan before the deities of Krishna.

 

From the elevation point the acoustics are just perfect. One level below me, one of the monks, Karuna Sindhu, was following to my lead on the harmonium. Though vastly distanced from each other, the sound came out so well. I began singing with pranam mantras to Prabhupada, our guru, then more praise to guru, then a mantra expressing five features of God and, finally, THE mantra, the great one addressing two features of the absolute as Divine She and Divine He; Radha and Krishna.

 

In general, I feel like I’m in a lockdown keeping the right leg raised for most of the day and at periods held down by a device for ice pack freezing, however, it is part of a healing process and I must learn my patience.

 

A year ago I was free as a bird and, along with another one of our priests, Ananda, we married Cameron and Katie in the forest. It is their first anniversary. We all felt free and non-restricted.

 

May the Source be with you!

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243 Avenue Rd., Toronto

 

WLL

 

A whole lotta love came my way today. I gave one of those Zoom classes on the topic of gossip — once again. Giving me the opportunity to speak about an adversary to spiritual life translates into giving me some love. I enjoy delivering talks that I hope will deepen peoples Krishna Consciousness. Thanks Amanda, from Scarborough, for asking. From Brampton came a couple, Bhagavat and Krishna Smaran, who delivered veggie burgers along with baked French-fries, and Satya brought cooked and spiced beans grown in her garden. That’s love!

 

I can go on.

 

July 25^th is a date I always remember because I have a brother and sister who, by providence sat together in my mother’s tummy for nine months. Yes, indeed this set of twins, Paul and Pauline, had a birthday today. Every time that us siblings honour the day of our hatching, we celebrate by talking, praising and joking via zoom.

 

I took a few minutes to reciprocate my love with them by just saying what I think of them. Paul is steady, loyal; a real family man, and is jovial and optimistic. Pauline is a sweetheart, a beautiful woman and like a lotus; something you can admire and want to protect.

 

So far, the hour that we were online we were praising and sending a lot of kisses through our phones because, as siblings, we really do love each other. That is what Krishna teaches — love.

 

May the Source be with you!

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243 Avenue Rd., Toronto

 

Leading to the Latte

 

Since the early hours of the day, they were forecasting a rain storm and I was encouraging the boys, including those who came to ‘Monk for a Weekend’, to get out there before the raging rains came. Well, they made it to High Park, to be more specific, for chanting.

 

Nick, who lives in that area of town, warned “It’s getting real dark here.” The clouds are thick. So luckily the team made it and, for the most part, evaded the rains that came later.

 

I was the jealous one. I’m just not fit enough to get around. However, I can say with pride that by the end of the day, the fourth day since surgery, I can walk and without the crutches. Of course, I can’t get too overconfident. But it was Madhava and Gabriel, who were watching me making my rounds about the circular decaffeinated coffee table, crutch free, hooray! Hare!

 

It was something to celebrate, which we did, with some adaptogenic elixir; a powdery turmeric ashwagandha mixed into almond milk. Lovely! Madhava kindly went to the store to acquire the almond substance and the intake of that extraordinary latte, Indian superfood, marks the end of his day. Mine was to linger on until I got tired.

 

The final real appearance of a serious rain happened quite late and it helped to soothe a wild mind. Summer rains can be magical as long as they have a way to drain and do not flood the earth. In doing the day’s inventory I can say I had lots of visitors on a one-to-one basis. “All good, man”, someone from Jamaica may say. I slept and woke up to the sight of wet streets.

 

May the Source be with you!

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