Planet ISKCON

'Contentment' is one of the niyamas, the set of five personal observances that Patanjali lists in the second chapter of his Yoga-sutras. It's also a state of being that can be very hard to attain. How do we find real contentment? 

  “Therefore, O Arjuna, / Sever the doubts in your heart / With the sword of knowledge. / Armed with yoga, rise up and fight.” (Bhagavad-gita 4.42) The hero of India’s epic Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna, is at a crossroad. He is intelligent, well-intending, and overwhelmed by a dilemma we all might recognize: the apparent incompatibility of worldly responsibilities and other-worldly aspirations. […]

The post The Self at War appeared first on ISKCON News.

How do we embrace pain? How do we overcome what we fear most?

Jay McPherson Green, Toronto

A Rally

At 9:30 am people started to gather at the park behind our temple, just to the north of us. They were mostly neighbours, very respectable folks. And what was their purpose? To conduct a quiet rally, which had everything to do with walking in this area. To the attendees at the park, and to a group of camera people, five of us spoke about the surging rage of traffic on Avenue Road, the busy—and now busier—thoroughfare to the west of our building. Our point was that we want to widen the sidewalks.

The talking points I made were along the lines of “The city can be safer.” This street has become like an episode of “The Fast and Furious.” Motorist have even hit our building. The sidewalks aren’t wide enough. Even in pre-Covid times you would have to leave the sidewalk and go onto the street to make room for another pedestrian. Some motorists take it as a raceway. The noise from their revved up engines is uncalled for. This is primarily a residential area. We need pedestrian friendly sidewalks.

Banners were held up and all were chanting “We need wide sidewalks, NOW!” Just after our speeches there was a solidarity. This coalition amongst neighbours has been building up for three years.

At off-time I did speak with one James Brown, an architect for street improvements. He was talking about not only expanding the sidewalks, but introducing a linear park with bike lanes. Now that would be nice. A little closer to paradise or Vaikuntha (heaven). Getting pedestrian friendly.

May the Source be with you!

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As part of its online Bhakti Wisdom offerings, designed for people who want to dive deeper into their practice, the Bhakti Center in New York City is offering Pathways to Perfection, a 10-part series on the nine processes of devotion.

A video by the GBC SPT. Interview by Gopal Bhatta Das.

Juan Pablo Roldan officer of the Argentine Federal Police, was killed during the performance of his duty. The Hare Krishna Community has received the news with shock and sadness. Bhakta Pablo, as the devotees affectionately called him, was a good devotee of Krishna. He, along with his beautiful family, his wife Carolina and his son […]

The post The Argentine Vaishnava Community Mourns the Tragic Passing of Policeman Bhakta Pablo appeared first on ISKCON News.

Juan Pablo Roldan officer of the Argentine Federal Police, was killed during the performance of his duty. The Hare Krishna Community has received the news with shock and sadness.

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah
[Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.38]

[“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge are automatically revealed.”]

Transcendental knowledge becomes revealed. To whom it becomes revealed? It becomes revealed to such person who has got unflinching love for Krishna and for the spiritual master. Caitanya-caritamrta also says, guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc Madhya 19.151]. [“By the mercy of both Krsna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.”] One can come to the spiritual perfectional stage, or come to the spiritual platform, by the mercy of Krishna and the spiritual master.

This is Vedic version: yasya deve para bhaktih. One who has got unflinching faith. Deve. Deve means the Supreme Lord. Para bhakti: transcendental devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Yatha deve tatha gurau: as he has got unflinching faith in Krishna, similarly he has got unflinching faith in the spiritual master. Tasyaite kathita hy arthah: all the Vedic literature and their purport and their meaning will be revealed to him. Tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante. It becomes revealed. Prakasante mahatmanah.

So, that is the secret—not erudite scholarship. One must be very much sincere. Then Krishna will give you dictation. He is within. Guru-krsna. If I am sincere and if I want to serve the Supreme Lord—the Supreme Lord is within you. He’ll give you direction: “All right. You do this. You do this. You just go to this man, and he’ll give you good counsel.” He’ll give you direction. Therefore, first mercy is of Krishna, and then the spiritual master is considered as the mercy-representation of Krishna. Krishna helps us from within and without. From within He’s helping us as the Supersoul, and from without, He’s helping us as the spiritual master.

So, Krishna is ready to help us in all ways, always, in all perfectional stages, if we are simply sincere. Para bhakti. Yasya deve para bhaktih. If you have got transcendental devotional mood, then everything will come. It does not depend on linguistic advancement or academic . . . Simply we have to develop our transcendental love and devotional service to the Supreme Lord, and then gradually He’ll give me direction. He’ll give me right direction. Everything will be all right.

—Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.11–12, June 10, 1969, New Vrindaban

Just 8 days to go! Welcome Sri Navadvipa dhama at your home and heart! HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami speaks on benefits of performing Navadvipa Parikrama in this Video! Dhamesvara Mahaprabhu is 500 year old deity, personally worshipped in Navadvipa Mandala. Join HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami in Koladvipa to hear this special pastime! Highlights: FREE Registration […]

The post Highlights of Purusottam month Navadvipa Parikrama! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

A video by Hare Krishna TV.

A video by the Kirtaniyas.

A video by I Love Mayapur. (In German language. For English please click on the 'Captions')

For the first time the “Graduate Course on Book Distribution” is available now as a free online course. Two hours of videos, a comprehensive student handbook and lots of resource materials bring this course to life on your home screen. In the current times online courses and online book distribution are especially relevant and this […]

The post New Free Online Course on Book Distribution appeared first on ISKCON News.

This online course is designed for all wishing to deepen their appreciation, skills and knowledge of sankirtan.  

A letter was recently sent to the president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, Visakha dasi, from Her Majesty the Queen of England, via her Private Secretary’s Office. The letter thanked Vishaka for her recent Back To Godhead article about the Queen, entitled, “Royal Duty – Divine Duty” that was published in the July/August edition of BTG.   “It was […]

The post British Queen Elizabeth Grateful for Back To Godhead Article appeared first on ISKCON News.

A letter was recently sent to the president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, Visakha dasi, from Her Majesty the Queen of England, via her Private Secretary's Office.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 1 August 2020, Radhadesh, Belgium, Initiation Ceremony Lecture)

It is the Holy Name of the Lord that awakens our natural love for Krsna. So by hearing and chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra, we will awaken our pure love for Krsna. We have faith, somehow or other, to make this our desire. We have the good fortune that by the association of devotees we got faith because faith is the key to everything.

One time, I was in Mayapur and there was one person that arrived who looked like the twin brother of Salvadore Dali. He had a little pointed beard and a moustache. As soon as I saw him, I thought, “A painter!”, and sure enough, he was a painter. But this painter was not your average painter. I can tell you that because whenever I am in Mayapur, I do a special program of rising very early and chanting a lot of rounds and so on. So I was in that program and sometimes I would be walking around and I would bump into the painter who was also chanting. And then I saw that the painter was chanting the whole day and he was also attending all the aartis, all seven of them. So, I was looking at him day after day. He was just chanting and chanting. I was wondering how many rounds was he was chanting? He was there at every aarti. A few of us would do that.  I was just thinking, “Who is this person? Where does he get the strength? No ordinary person can just do that. No ordinary person can just be there and chant so much.” One day, I walked up to him and asked “Who are you? Are you a demigod?” He said, “maybe.”  A few days later, he gave me a poem that I will repeat as good as I remember.

“I saw that old man in 1967. I saw him with his followers. I saw how much they loved him. I saw how amazingly effulgent he was. So I decided to keep a safe distance.”

Well, it was clear what had happened there. This man kept a distance but it was not safe enough. He was close enough for a spark of faith to awaken within his heart. That spark of faith is actually what carried him. That faith had now matured to a point that the painter was able to chant so many rounds with great determination. He would rise so early (others might say at night since that was not early morning) to attend all the aartis throughout the day, all on the strength of that spark of faith. Each of us have also developed faith. That faith is what has brought us to this point. May that faith grow deeper and deeper!

The article " A spark of faith " was published on KKSBlog.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 1 August 2020, Radhadesh, Belgium, Initiation Ceremony Lecture)

It is the Holy Name of the Lord that awakens our natural love for Krsna. So by hearing and chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra, we will awaken our pure love for Krsna. We have faith, somehow or other, to make this our desire. We have the good fortune that by the association of devotees we got faith because faith is the key to everything.

One time, I was in Mayapur and there was one person that arrived who looked like the twin brother of Salvadore Dali. He had a little pointed beard and a moustache. As soon as I saw him, I thought, “A painter!”, and sure enough, he was a painter. But this painter was not your average painter. I can tell you that because whenever I am in Mayapur, I do a special program of rising very early and chanting a lot of rounds and so on. So I was in that program and sometimes I would be walking around and I would bump into the painter who was also chanting. And then I saw that the painter was chanting the whole day and he was also attending all the aartis, all seven of them. So, I was looking at him day after day. He was just chanting and chanting. I was wondering how many rounds was he was chanting? He was there at every aarti. A few of us would do that.  I was just thinking, “Who is this person? Where does he get the strength? No ordinary person can just do that. No ordinary person can just be there and chant so much.” One day, I walked up to him and asked “Who are you? Are you a demigod?” He said, “maybe.”  A few days later, he gave me a poem that I will repeat as good as I remember.

“I saw that old man in 1967. I saw him with his followers. I saw how much they loved him. I saw how amazingly effulgent he was. So I decided to keep a safe distance.”

Well, it was clear what had happened there. This man kept a distance but it was not safe enough. He was close enough for a spark of faith to awaken within his heart. That spark of faith is actually what carried him. That faith had now matured to a point that the painter was able to chant so many rounds with great determination. He would rise so early (others might say at night since that was not early morning) to attend all the aartis throughout the day, all on the strength of that spark of faith. Each of us have also developed faith. That faith is what has brought us to this point. May that faith grow deeper and deeper!

The article " A spark of faith " was published on KKSBlog.

On September 17 we began the auspicious Purusottama-adhika-masa (extra month), which is considered three times more powerful than Kartik. One year, Srila Prabhupada was in Juhu during Purusottama-adhika-masa, and Dr. C. P. Patel, Srila Prabhupada’s regular companion on his morning walks on Juhu Beach, prevailed upon him to take bath in the sea. In an article published in Back to Godhead, Dr. Patel wrote:

“Every third year an extra month is inserted into the lunar calendar to bring it into line with the solar calendar. As per astronomical calculations, one year sacred Sravana was the month that came twice. The first month of the double month is called purusottama-masa, and devotees of Lord Krishna observe it by fasting, praying, and reading Srimad- Bhagavatam. The last day of this month was somavati-amavasya, a very auspicious occasion. On this day all religious people take a bath in the early morning in the sea, or in a river or sacred lake.

“I proposed that on that auspicious day Srila Prabhupada take a dip in the sea along with me and the others. He agreed at once. We all planned to go to the sea with extra clothes, take a bath, and change. He accompanied us, but just near the edge of the water someone suggested that he not take a bath in the sea, since he had had a coronary episode some time back. So he halted then and there and would not enter the water. He pondered for a while and then suddenly asked me to bring some water in my palm and pour it on his head. He said, ‘That is as good as a bath on this auspicious day.’ Very intelligently, he found the means, and I obliged him. He was pleased. I touched his feet and felt satisfaction at having taken a bath in the sea with him on a very auspicious day.”

By Srila Prabhupada’s grace, I may take a similar bath in the Pacific Ocean before the month’s end.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post The Monk’s Podcast 75 with Shyamananda – How protests can point to a higher consciousness appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Toronto, Ontario

I Met Miles

I was at Queen’s Park, once again, sitting on a park bench facing a monumental statue of King Edward VII on horseback. I was chanting on my beads when a young man with a professional camera sat down on the same bench, which is beautifully curved and can accommodate 20 people or so.

At one point he came over to me.

“Do you mind if I take a few shots of you? I find this subject to be most interesting.” I agreed to his request. “Just pose as you were,” he requested. He went at clicking from so many angles.

“Where are you from?” I asked.

“North York.”

“Are you freelancing?”

“A student at Ryerson. I’m always looking for unique things to shoot. It’s an assignment.” He clarified.

After some moments he had me move off the bench. I sat under an oak tree, then maple. He kept taking pics like crazy. We kept talking over the course of the shoot. I mentioned something about our warm weather and my going to Cherry Beach on some days.

“For the summer I’ve been a lifeguard there,” he said. Small world. We’ve probably seen each other.

I spoke about my pilgrimages across the US and Canada. He was interested.

“And your name?” I asked.

“Miles.”

“Well, you better live up to your name and do some of that cross-country stuff yourself.” I joked.

“I never thought of my name in those terms. Usually people identified Miles Davis the jazz musician.”

“He’s good!” I remarked.

Miles said he would send me some of his photos.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

Toronto, Ontario

Sunday, Sunday

For several hours during the week I am bound by Zoom-style classes on bhakti. Sunday is no exception. The interest and practice of devotion is up on Sunday’s; compared to other days of the week. At least it was what we were witnessing today. To honour government regulations a certain amount of people are permitted to enter the temple. That has been successful for a third Sunday now.

And “Govinda’s,” the eatery, is doing well. People don’t mind paying for a nice meal, which, by the way, has the status of being prasadam, blessed food.

Being that today was a day to fast from grains, occurring every fortnight, the menu was simplified and our primary cook, Dwarkanath, was turning out great preps.

The temperature and overall weather conditions were just right. Call it satvic if you will—very much in the mode of goodness. Sunny with a slight breeze, temperatures in the low to mid-twenties Celsius. Comfortable.

After our usual “staircase kirtan” I tried to go for a one-hour, serious walk. And while I attempted to do so my phone kept ringing. In one sense I don’t mind. If I don’t give attention to people reaching out on Sunday, then a tough backlog starts mounting on Monday.

When the phone rings, and I know it will be a conversation of minutes, I go to the nearest sitting bench, or simply plop myself onto a patch of grass, and do my service of listening.

May the source be with you!

2 km

Toronto, Oakville

At Play, No Walk

There is this sunken area full of trees, green and red, and has a flat surface with grass. Located right next to the Rosedale subway station, it is tucked away and a secret space, which makes for a perfect, private area. We found it ideal as an outdoor drama-practice venue.

This intensely maple-red trees defined our area of work. We scanned this park area and it was clear that here was where we should be. We carried with us no props. However, we found, conveniently, an antique wooden chair. “This is perfect for king Dhrtarastha’s throne,” I suggested. So we began to work, going over the actor’s lines. We auditioned Miles for a part. I also asked Dhruva to come to our practice as he’s great at making short videos for promos.

Each time our cast comes together improvements are made. “Once you get your lines memorized then you have so much more freedom,” expressed actor, Stephen.

Our rehearsal did attract the occasional pedestrian. An English couple, mother and son I presume, sat down to watch for a bit. Our crew remained oblivious to the attention. The story is too captivating.

“Envy is useless,” asserts the king (in the practice). He believed that to be true until his affection for his son, Duryodhana, eclipsed his moral and common sense.

“This story is about greed and ambition and how it eats you alive. In the last scene a sober resolve transpires,” I explained to our visitors.

Our practice then came to a closure in order for me to rush to Oakville for a house program, to chant, read and eat, in the reverse order, actually.

May the Source be with you!

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Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post The Monk’s Podcast 74 with Gopal Hari Prabhu – Does karma address the problem of evil appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

https://us02web.zoom.us/…/ggV8mAIqA-7iUzae-JVsiw

Podcast

Video:

The post The Monk’s Podcast 73 with Shyamananda Prabhu – Does higher education make you atheistic appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Nitai Chaitanya Goswami of Ukraine, Lithuania and Russia is currently in the Intensive Care Unit with Coronavirus. According to reports he is in a serious condition and has lost 75% of his lung capacity. Doctors say the outcome is unpredictable. Nitai Chaitanya Goswami is one of ISKCON Russia’s first sannyasis and seniormost devotees. Devotees around […]

The post Senior Russian Sannyasi Nitai Chaitanya Goswami in ICU with COVID-19 appeared first on ISKCON News.

Nitai Chaitanya Goswami is one of ISKCON Russia’s first sannyasis and seniormost devotees.

It is a humbling experience to sit in a room (or a Zoom call) full of devout Christian scholar-practitioners who have studied and read Vaishnava texts with the same ferocity and sincere devotion as their own. This was my experience as a novice attendee at the annual Vaishnava-Christian Dialogue event held from September 25-26th. More […]

The post Vaishnava Christian Dialogue Annual Event: Unity and Separation with God appeared first on ISKCON News.

More than 30 Christians and Vaishnavas of different ages and backgrounds from across the USA joined an online dialogue to network and enjoy their faith in unity.

Video – Bhagavad Gita 3.35 Our Duties in Kali Yuga 2020-09-27 Ljubljana

The post Video - BG 3.35 Our Duties in Kali Yuga 9/27/2020 first appeared on Prahladananda Swami.

Stratford/Saint Mary’s

Shakespeare Asleep

Jay Gopal, a resident of Stratford in Canada, pointed to the new $100 million theatre that just recently had to close up without ever opening its doors, because Covid-19 muscled its way in. This edifice, along with other live theatre halls in town, have been vacant for months now. “The show must go on!” Doesn’t apply here, and in most other places were thespian talents of a world-class nature are staged. It’s a shame. Shakespeare has been put to sleep.

Jay Gopal drove Karuna and me to Wildwood Conservation Area, where we took advantage of the trails. Aspects of nature to admire at this time of year include blue jays, squirrels, mushrooms and plenty of varied trees. Humans on the trail were countable. It was mostly our group of three, each with meditation beads in our bags, wrapped loosely around our wrists.

We went into town, St. Mary’s, met Gabriel, an avid reader of the book Bhagavatam, and walked the trestle constructed over the Thames. The pathway was formally the Grand Trunk Railway. St. Mary’s is a new place for me.  I’ve never walked it and only know of one couple, Henry and Cindy, who hail from there.

The Quality Inn there is owned by Jay Gopal, who treated us to Indian-style pizza. We are grateful to Jay Gopal’s hospitality and who accompanied us to two families’ households, who are interested to learn of a higher consciousness. We offered a message to these families that, despite the monstrous moves by the virus that everyone has come to know, we must carefully and safely forge ahead with doses of bhakti(devotion).

May the Source be with you!

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Toronto, Ontario

Guru

Here’s a poem about “guru” dedicated to Prabhupada written after a brief walk.

I was sitting in the room

Made a call by way of Zoom

Looked at verse 4:34

What a seeker’s looking for

Why is it so advised

To get vision beyond the eyes

While a passion hungry heart

Yearns for pleasure from the start?

Self-help goes so far

Alone—you’re in a jar

We have a certain limit

Think it over for a minute

To accept a real good guide

Who tells of the other side

You access essential wisdom

Taking you closer to the kingdom

All that you require

Is to approach him and inquire

Learn what it is to serve

It takes so little nerve

Be open to the truth

Hear from his tongue and tooth

Because he’s on the path

You’re in the purest bath

May the Source be with you!

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