Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Sri Govinda Ghosh, an intimate associate of Lord Caitanya, was known for his sweet kirtans at the annual Jagannatha Puri Ratha- yatra festival. Lord Caitanya would at once begin to dance whenever Govinda Ghosh would sing. Govinda Ghosh and his brothers Vasudeva and Madhava are eternal associates of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda Prabhu. He […]
The post Sri Govinda Ghosh — Disappearance 8th April 2021 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Over the last three years the TOVP Fundraising Department headed by Braja Vilasa prabhu has successfully organized the #GivingTOVP 11 Day Matching Fundraiser online campaign. This has been our largest fundraising event to date which includes the auspicious days of Akshaya Tritiya and Nrsimha Caturdasi.
This year, the 125th Appearance Anniversary Year of Srila Prabhupada, we have decided to switch gears and focus this 11-day event on welcoming His Divine Grace to the TOVP at his October murti installation and giving him a Guru dakshina of $1 million for the ongoing construction of the project, which he will now personally oversee. To do this we will be providing devotees with the most unique, once-in-a-lifetime seva opportunity to give back to our eternal master and ISKCON Founder/Acharya by offering him one of five kinds of abhishekas. Ambarisa prabhu will be matching $150,000 of the donations received.
From May 14 (Akshaya Tritiya) – May 25 (Nrsimha Caturdasi) our online donation portals will be humming with transcendental activity as devotees worldwide sponsor abhishekas to participate in this most historic milestone event. Srila Prabhupada’s presence in the TOVP will most certainly empower us all to fulfill his order and complete this magnificent temple for his and our purva acharyas’ pleasure, and the glory of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabu.
“I have named this temple Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, the Rising Moon of Mayapur. Now make it rise, bigger and bigger until it becomes the full moon. And this moonshine will be spread all over the world. All over India they will come to see. From all over the world they will come.”
Srila Prabhupada
This is the first of several promotional articles to remind all ISKCON devotees, whether man, woman or child, to take advantage of this wonderful seva opportunity, even if they have already given to the TOVP.
Find out the details about the abhisheka opportunities.
Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Follow: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
View at 360°: www.tovp360.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://m.tovp.org/whatsapp
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Srimad Bhagavatam class given by HH Devamrita Swami at ISKCON New Govardhana TempleRead More...
By Iskcon Vaishnavi MinistryHonouring Srila Prabhupada's beloved sister. Commemoration of the anniversary of Pishima's disappearance. Srila Prabhupada’s daughters ANANGA MANJARI Devi Dasi & SRUTIRUPA Devi Dasi, who both had personal association of Pishima, share never before heard pastimes. “Pishima embodied true devotion and deep wisdom. Our blessed time together transformed me into a more authentic person and Vaishnavi. I am forever grateful.” ~ Ananga Manjari Devi Dasi (ACBSP) Continue reading "Remembering Pishima: An Exalted Vaishnavi (video)
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By ISKCON Sannyasa MinistryAnyone who has no other interest but to dedicate his life to the service of the Lord is actually a sannyasi. Such a person always thinks of himself as an eternal servant, dependent on the supreme will of the Lord. As such, whatever he does, he does it for the benefit of the Lord. Whatever action he performs, he performs it as a service to the Lord. (Bhagavad-gita 9.28 Purport) Continue reading "Sannyasa Ministry Newsletter – January-March 2021
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By ISKCON of DC In this time of social upheaval, how do we build bridges across differences? How do we inspire a shift in mindset on an individual, organizational, and global level? A dialogue facilitated by Gauravani Das with Sastivar Das (ACBSP) and devotees from the Urban Center in Washington D.C. (IFAST) - Madhavacharya Das, Ekavira Das, and Jagannatha Pandit Das. Continue reading "We need each other (video)
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Room at 243, Toronto
Another Positive
One other member of our ashram tested Covid positive. Dakshin is in his early 70’s. Generally, he’s strong as a bull in some respects. I don’t have a way to really communicate with him, with both of us separated in different locations of the building. Furthermore, neither does he have a phone nor does he wish to have one. I guess we’ll be praying for each other.
To be very frank I’m feeling quite alright. Staying positive in attitude goes a long way toward overcoming this problem. A godsister of mine, Yasomati, originally from Canada and now in Mayapura, India, also taken by the virus, wrote yesterday, “Sorry to hear you also joined the positive family. This virus responds well to positive attitude, lots of rest, proper hydration and nourishment.”
Thank you, Yasomati.
What further lifted my spirits today was getting on board with a group to discuss a future senior’s home. There is a great need to address the aging population among us. Secondly, I Zoomed with our Vancouver chapter to converse over the new temple project. It’s progressive!
Finally, the evening saw to another Zoom call with an Oakville team — discussions on food from chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita. It was an appetizer of a conversation. The way to go is eating food that’s blessed, food that’s organic, local, sourced from heirloom seeds etc.
May the Source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
I’m Covid+ But Positive
The results came back from the University Health Network (UHN), a collaboration of one’s health records, and I’ve tested COVID-19 positive. Therefore, another 10-day quarantine is required for me. This is a minor austerity. I’m confined to quarters consisting of three rooms, including a bathroom, bedroom and a meeting/living room facility. I look outside a fair size arched window and can see the neighborhood as I slightly envy those who can walk about, literally. The whole province is on a lockdown anyway, so I’m not the only one. A real plus is that I’m in the place of our guru.
I have my various medicines, including ayurvedic pills. I’m doing whatever I can to build immunity. My regimen also involves some yoga stretches.
The one thing that really lifted my spirits today was to read from the Chaitanya Bhagavat on the glories of Haridas; a former Muslim who converted to Vaishnava mantra meditation.
To top that reading was a virtual class with a Peruvian group on the topic of “Spiritual Activism on the Trails.” Indeed, this presentation, which was translated, enthused my day as I went down memory lane on the road and I felt, in the delivery of my words, that I was actually there. It was a perceptible experience, recalling the encounters on the road with shared travelers in the wildlife. Such encounters were there as non-accidental incidents.
May the source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
My Turn
This was my turn — a test for COVID-19 at an assessment center. Bathurst and Bloor was the location. The queue was there but it moved fast. Once you get into a cubicle you are swabbed in each nostril and then you’re good to go.
That “going” was like ecstasy because it meant that after eight days, I actually had a chance to be outdoors. I arrived by taxi, however, I had the pleasure to walk back to the ashram. It’s only a 4 km walk and it’s a route through Kensington Village. Hey, I’m glad to see graffiti being stripped off the public washroom.
Before the end of the summer, I am cynically sure that paint spray strips will manifest again on the washroom facility. You can see I’m not a fan of defacing buildings; unless done with finesse.
It was chilly, a bit, but literally being on my feet, I chose the sunny side of the street when applicable. The university was quiet and so was Chinatown. I kept my mask firmly on. The mask does shield from the occasional biting breeze that whips around the corner.
In one hour, I made it back. Out of habit I compare time and my pace. It’s not a race, just observation of movement in time and space.
The results of Covid testing will be back within a day, so they say.
May the Source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
To Get a Call
It’s nice to get a call, like the following, once in a while (it’s paraphrased).
“Hi! I just wanted to introduce myself. I am Jorge. I live up north, have a family, work at a factory. Right now, as we’re talking, I am walking my two dogs on a forest trail that I frequent almost every day. I have a mother who is a devout Christian and, as I grew up, I would accompany her to services; so I appreciate the tradition very much.
“It was a friend of mine who introduced me to the Bhagavad-Gita. I’m reading it and I love it. I’m also doing some chanting, which gives me peace.
“I’m calling because I realize I need direction and explanation. I’d like to move forward in my spiritual life. My wife is agnostic and my kids are addicted to video games, so I’m a bit on my own with the spiritual journey.”
From that detailed introduction a friend was made and we agreed to set up a time for regular weekly Gita study sessions. From my perspective that is what I am set up for in my life — to give encouragement to people based on the ethics of the Gita; the Song of God.
Today is a day where, just around the corner, Easter weekend takes place. It is a time when 2.5 billion people on the planet may reflect on the teachings of spirituality in the form of Christianity. However, it’s really a time when all people of the earth can dig deep into their spiritual life, regardless of who they call their savior.
May the Source be with you!
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In a few days Vaishnavas worldwide will be celebrating the appearance of Lord Rama (Rama Navami), celebrated as the Lord’s avatar Who exemplified the life of a perfect King and human being. His glorious pastimes are a variety of transcendental pleasure and pain, and everything in-between, all meant to absorb us in His thought, and the lessons they teach. Ultimately, those who are His devotees will reach His abode in the spiritual sky where they can engage in these pastimes eternally in full bliss and knowledge.
Lord Krishna comes specifically to exhibit multifarious pleasure pastimes as the cowherd of Vraja, lover of the gopis, protector of His devotees, and many other varieties of lila. By doing so He attracts our hearts to Him by His sweetness and brings a vision of His divine abode into this material world to enhance our remembrance of Him.
The avatar of Lord Caitanya has some significant differences. In this form the Lord appears with three main purposes and hides His true identity, thus being called the chana (hidden) avatar. Through teaching by His own example how to be a devotee He spreads the yuga dharma of Harinama sankirtana, distributes love of God (prema) freely to all, and also fulfills His deepest longing as the Supreme Enjoyer to experience the ultimate bliss, maha bhava, that Sri Radha tastes in her love for Him.
These three most important avatars amazingly appear simultaneously in the unique form of Sadbhuja, the six-armed form of the Lord Who holds in His hands the bow and arrow, flute and stick, and danda and water pot respectively. This clearly emphasizes the transcendental superiority of these three forms of the Lord Who, while unique in Their own ways, are one in this divine Sadbhuja form.
Satyaraja Dasa, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, author and BTG Associate Editor has quoted the following from Radhe Govinda Dasa in a BTG article about the Sadbhuja form:
“Rama is the supreme in terms of formality, or rules and regulations, allowing us to reach the concept of God Almighty. Now, Krishna is the Lord of play (lila), or the Supreme Who manifests beautiful pastimes for the pleasure of His devotees. And Mahaprabhu gives us divine love (prema) in an unprecedented way. Together, these three aspects of Godhead are seen in sad-bhuja-murti, a very special manifestation of the Supreme.”
The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, being a manifestation of Lord Caitanya’s mission, is spreading the glories of this Sadbhuja murti, and therefore the glories of Lord Rama as well. Thus, on the auspicious appearance day of Lord Rama if you feel inclined to support the TOVP, please visit the TOVP website at www.tovp.org.
Hare Krishna.
By Lilasuka dasi Every temple, project and school in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is required to have a trained and active Child Protection Team (CPT). CPT's have two main functions - to help prevent and to respond to child abuse concerns in local ISKCON communities. CPT’s have the special focus of helping local management implement policies that enhance safety, including screening those in positions of trust; awareness training for adults and children; and responding to concerns of child maltreatment. CPT members receive basic training from and work in tandem with the Child Protection Office (CPO). Continue reading "The First National Child Protection Team Member Conference Online
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Srila Prabhupada's 125th Celebrations; Using a ready-made template for Gaura Purnima Media Release
Srimad Bhagavatam class by HG Rama Raya Prabhu in ISKCON NYC
By Krishna Ragini Devi dasi The ancient Greek philosopher Plato described in his myth of the cave (also known as "The allegory of the cave") the human condition by picturing human beings in a dark cave with one single light coming through the entrance to the cave. Just that the people inside don't look at that light: they are chained to the walls of the cave, face to the walls. All they see are the shadows reflected on those walls. They can not even see themselves but as their own shadow on the wall. This goes on up to a moment in time when their natural intelligence makes them question if this is all? Is this shadow all that is? Continue reading "The illusion of reality
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Dear Devotees it is to inform you that HG Pankajanghri Prabhu (ACBSP) tested positive for COVID-19 today. Please pray for his earliest recovery.
“It was the fall of 1984, and our party had been distributing books at the State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida, all day. We parked our van in a Days Inn parking lot for the night. Our party of five brahmacaris was fast asleep in the van when we heard aloud voice over a megaphone: ‘All right in there! Come out slowly with your hands raised!’ I looked out the window and was shocked to see the van surrounded by twelve police cars and about thirty officers with their guns drawn!
This class on Srimad Bhagavatam 9.3.22 is given by Narayani Devi Dasi (ACBSP) on Sunday, April 4th, 2021 at Bhakti Center.
By Chandan Yatra Das Shabari was a tribal lady and had unflinching devotion for Lord Rama. She took the shelter of great sage Matanga Rsi as her spiritual master. During the last days of sage Matanga, Shabari served him with great attention and care. Pleased by her service, Matanga Rsi blessed her that one day certainly Lord Rama along with His bother Laxmana will come to meet her. Having undeterred faith in the words of her spiritual master, every day, Shabari collected Ber (berries) from nearby forest in great anticipation that Lord Rama will come to meet her Continue reading "Shabari – A great devotee of Lord Rama
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This class on Srimad Bhagavatam 9.3.21 is given by Kripamoya Das (ACBSP) on Saturday, April 3rd, 2021 at Bhakti Center.
His Grace Vijaya Prabhu gives class on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, starting from the verse 2.42-43. [March 27, 2021]
Who is qualified for spiritual life? Only brāhmaṇas? Or sannyāsīs, or human beings, scholars, or Indians!? – Whether one is a man or a woman, householder or a renunciant, Indian or an American, aristocratic or underprivileged, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, child or an elder, human being or an animal, everyone is a child of God and is spiritual. Therefore, to love God and serve God is the innate characteristic (dharma) of every living being
Celebrating the holy appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
By His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami PrabhupadaThe different groups of atheist thinkers have different kinds of plans in the brain and they are exhibited in different patterns of godlessness. One set of atheistic nation thinks on it in a different way and all of them clash at a point of overlapping circles caused by the 'Daiva' way. This is so because none of these thoughts of different groups is beyond the range of direct perception of the material sense without any spiritual knowledge. Therefore the quality of such different thought is always the same but the varieties are presented in multi-colourful attraction for the foolish mass of people. We have already discussed this point at length in our article 'All Compact in Thought'. The mass of people are themselves blind to see everything in their true perspective and they are now made to follow similar blind leaders under various political arrangement. They are made to follow either of the above multi-colourful ideals sure to be failure in the long run and therefore they are made to hope against hope in a practical way. Continue reading "Hope Against Hope
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His Grace Dayananda Prabhu leads discussion on Bhagavad-gita, chapter 1, verse 30 on May 23, 2020.
His Grace Puskar Prabhu gives class on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, starting from the verse 2.28.
A strategy of preaching is the just giving, initially, then, after trust is developed, people will listen
asyaartho vivrtas tair yah sa sankshipyaa vilikhyate bhakta-rupo gaurachandro yato ‘sau nandanandanah bhakta-swarupo nityanando vraje yah sri-halayudhah bhaktaavatara acaryo ‘dvaito yah sri-sadaasivah bhaktaakhyaah srinivaasaadyaa yatas te bhakta-rupinah bhakta-shaktir dvi jaagranyah sri-gadaadhara-panditah “I shall now summarily explain the meaning of these words. In this Pancha-tattwa, the bhakta-rupa (form of a devotee) is Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who […]
The post Appearance of Sri Srivasa Pandita 4th April 2021! appeared first on Mayapur.com.
The annual Gaura Purnima Festival is the most exciting event of the year at Mayapur. Sri Mayapur is the transcendental appearance place of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Prabhupada desired all devotees to come to Mayapur at least once in a year as far as possible, to get charged with the unlimited mercy of Mahaprabhu, and Gaura Purnima is the best time to do this.
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Room at 243, Toronto
Dates
I’m going on close to one week since starting my two-week quarantine. It’s relatively an easy one to tackle. For members I also want to acknowledge that this year marks 125 years since the birth of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Celebrations have begun to recognize his great efforts and contributions to this world.
As expressed in words in a recent letter to me the other day, referring to Prabhupada as “the one who I believed radically changed American society in ways that are still not recognized.” Cutting-edge Guruis the term sometimes used to describe his great work in making cultural changes to the world.
Also, about this year, is it was twenty-five years ago that I started my first marathon walk; an 8000 km trek from West Coast to East Coast Canada. This was in honour of our guru’s centenary. It was also a unique political situation for Canada. In 1995 we almost lost our largest province, Quebec; they wanted to be separated. Partially my walk was to celebrate a victory towards keeping it together as a nation. The votes were close.
It was in early April that I began that walk, which has become such a big part of me.
Also, I wanted to mention that something sweet came in the mail, The Hare Krishna Iskcon Legacy Crossword Puzzle Book, by Aaron Jay. It’s excellent. It includes Ray Cappo, Pauly Styrene, Boy George, George Harrison, Radhanatha Swami and Bhaktimarga Swami. For copies contact Pronmatyas@hotmail.com.
May the Source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
Changes
One of my dear friends from the area, Mr. Prasher, gave me good news. In India, Vrindavan and Varanasi, two sacred places in the state of Uttar Pradesh, are going back to old ways. Restrictions on animal slaughter and, according to him, liquor sales are now implemented. Good news indeed.
Now, how far such restrictions are enforced is another matter. India is traditionally the land of dharma, meaning a place of high principles, but with a thousand years of invasion, influences are such that it has been hard to maintain its ancient values. It has been going in reverse in certain practices, however, the above mentioned news is superb and I pray that the return to old values will stay.
I cannot help to think of how our guru, Prabhupada, left India for a spell, to see if some Westerners might adapt to bhakti and to see to the protection of animals from slaughter. He was quite firm that his students abstain from liquor, drugs, casual sex, smoking, meat eating, etc. Who will not admit that these habits are demoralizing?
Anyway, I’m happy for those select areas of India. Perhaps a contagion can influence more places to do the same? We are to understand that we live in a kind of dark age (Kali), which is often defined as quarrelsome and hypocritical. It is a fact that we could never turn things around completely to realize a paradise on earth but with a strong will and the matching strong push, there is every reason to believe we can come closer to Vaikuntha principals; some semblance of the spiritual realm.
May the Source be with you!
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Srivasa Pandit represents the marginal living entity (tatastha jiva). The devotees headed by Srivasa are described as Lord Chaitanya’s smaller limbs (His face, eyes, hands, disc, other weapons) They all took part in Sri Gaurasundara’s pastimes. With them Lord Gauranga spread the sankirtana movement. Srivasa Pandit is Narada Muni.
Malini, the wife of Srivasa, was a constant friend of Sachi Devi. She served Nimai as a nurse. When Lord Vishvambhara appeared, the hearts of all the devotees were filled with parental affection (vatsalya bhava). Gaurachandra loved Malini and Srivasa as a second mother and father.
Within Srivasa Angan Lord Gauranga-sundara showed His divine form to all His eternal associates. The house of Srivasa Pandit served as the headquarters of Gauranga’s Sankirtana Movement. The daily Bhagavatam classes, nightly kirtans, and many confidential Vraja pastimes of Lord Gaura Raya occured here.
Room at 243, Toronto
Gaura Hari
Not the best weather for walking. It’s rather damp. The rain came periodically. Drizzle. Regardless, I’m not getting a piece of that action. I’m inside but I can view it so well. The trees are happy, I’m sure. The wind guides them in yoga stretches. Yes, they are definitely budding artists.
Inside our temple (I’m in a corner of the building) there is much joy because of the day that is today. It’s a fast day to honour everyone’s favourite monk, Sri Chaitanya. While I’m restricted from participating in chanting sessions and giving classes in person, due to my quarantine, I amZooming it. Today was Winnipeg and Toronto. Yesterday was Montreal. The theme for these talks deals with the revolution of consciousness. It is a kind of purging that one can experience on this day in particular. The revolution was inaugurated by Chaitanya.
My heart melted several times when our monk residents took to the harmonium, drum and tambourine. Not everyone knows the single hand cymbal’s beat yet. One of the monka, Dharmaprana, suffered from a stroke in the 80’s and can’t sing most songs. But he certainly brings with him an enthusiasm to the floor. All in the spirit of Chaitanya.
At this time of year Vaishnava yogis often sing, “Gaura, Gaura, Gaura Hari.” “Gaura” refers to the Golden One (Chaitanya), and “Hari” refers to God, literally meaning, “He who takes away all inauspicious obstacles on the path.”
May the Source be with you!
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Room at 243, Toronto
Colour
I want to wish everyone a happy Gaura Purnima for tomorrow, and may the magic of that day wear on. It is the birthday of Sri Chaitanya, great philosopher, pragmatist and idealist; the Supreme in many ways. His coming to the world is found in texts such as The Bhagavatam. My whole day, in lock-down, is not really stressful at all. I have the chance to read, write and of course continue my encouragement calls, as well as dwell on Chaitanya.
After a good sleep, I woke to see my first cardinal of the year. According to native tradition, good luck comes to one who sees such a bird, which is said to have a connection with the sun. The female cardinal is not as brilliant in red as the male counterpart, nevertheless I find it auspicious. In the Vedic context there is a similar type of belief. If you see a beautiful bird of coloured plums, in flight or crossing your path, expect a great day.
Though I am off limits from the out-of-doors I was able to spot and watch my cardinal from outside my window. Perched on the hydro line, she looked gorgeous. Then a small sparrow came and shared the cable. Seems like they weren’t really getting on. Birds are so territorial. I learned that from observation on my walks. What I didn’t know is that birds have good colour vision, better than us humans. While they can be merged in a tree, through camouflage, they can see us easier than we can see them. It’s all so fascinating.
As far as colour goes, on the day of Chaitanya, we reflect on His kind mercy and perhaps His colour, which was golden, interestingly enough.
May the source be with you!
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243 Avenue Rd., Toronto
Restrictions in a Moving Movement
My area of movement is restricted. Walking around outside is taboo for the time being. My one meal a day is placed outside the door of my quarters. I pack my laundry into a garbage bag and leave it outside that same door. Mail is slipped under my door. If I need to communicate at all with a resident monk, I will call them on the phone. In the case of Cameron, we talked through the glass door and innovated some measure of sign language.
This is the way it will be for a few days and I have psychologically accepted it.
The long-awaited rain came, along with grey skies. Dampness. Chills. Not the best condition for a sick dog like me.
Sick? Well, there is a strong feeling and I don’t know how to describe it. Rest. Bathing. Zooming continues. These give me life.
I’ll miss the kirtan sessions for tomorrow. I’m not allowed to be in the close proximity of other chanters. So, I asked, “Dwarkanatha, can you lead the singing and drum away. Karuna Sindhu, can you play the harmonium? Don’t forget to smile, both of you!”
This Sunday we approach Gaura Purnima, the birthday of the monk Chaitanya. He set the tone for happy spiritual expression. Although the harmonium originated in Germany in the 19th century, and it keeps the player seated on the ground, one should be of a lifted spirit nevertheless.
I’ll miss more opportunities but gain others by way of virtual presentation. Do me a favour, smile; a long stretch for Chaitanya.
May the Source be with you!
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