Planet ISKCON

The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is currently looking for full-time 3d Generalists for the Creative Services Department of the TOVP Exhibits.

3D GENERALIST

• Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process using computer animation or modeling programs.
• Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion. Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.
• Prepare production storyboards.
• Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
• Draw detailed or technical illustrations.
• Design concepts for decoration, exhibition, or commercial purposes.
• Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows.

Educational Qualification:

• Bachelors in Media Arts and Animation.
• 3d Animation & Visual Effects.

Required Skills:

• Proven artistic ability across multiple CG disciplines including modeling, texturing, lighting, shading / look development, or compositing.
• Strong communicator that requires minimal guidance.
• Lead creation of outstanding artwork within a shot, using various software programs.
• Maintain or exceed a consistent level of productivity while meeting deadlines and producing high quality work.
• Attend weekly meetings and participate in creative problem solving.

Professional / Technical Skills:

The below qualification was mentioned in previous advertisement in mayapur.com

• Fluent in Photoshop.
• Fluent in Cinema 4D, 3dsmax, or Maya.
• Fluent in Redshift, or Octane render solutions.
• Fluent in Zbrush.
• Knowledge of Substance Painter, Designer, and Alchemist a plus.
• Knowledge of scripting a plus.

Involvement:

Full Time/part time

Maintenance:

Generous compensation (by Indian standards)

How to Apply?

Send your Curriculum Vitae (CV) by email. Along with your resume, please send a link to a digital portfolio showcasing your past body of work.

For details of services and compensation packages offered please have interested parties contact hrtovpe@gmail.com

Podcast

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The post Journaling for Inner Growth appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Initiation of Narottama Vilasa dasa

11/05/20 Narottama Vilasa dasa Initiation (Right click to download)

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17.

“This verse indirectly confirms the greater importance of utilizing the human form of life to realize our lost relationship with the Supreme Lord by acceleration of devotional service. Time and tide wait for no man. So the time indicated by the sunrise and the sunset will be uselessly wasted if such time is not properly utilized for realizing identification of spiritual values. Even a fraction of the duration of life wasted cannot be compensated by any amount of gold. Human life is simply awarded to a living entity (jiva) so that he can realize his spiritual identity and his permanent source of happiness. A living being, especially the human being, is seeking happiness because happiness is the natural situation of the living entity. But he is vainly seeking happiness in the material atmosphere.” —SB 2.3.17 purport.

Opening the Door to Perfection (Right click to download)

In 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Manasi-Ganga, where Krsna performed his famous boat pastime with Srimati Radharani. It is also here that Caitanya Mahaprabhu took a bath and then visited the Harideva Mandir, before starting His Govardhana Parikrama. Check out a transcription of Maharaja’s lecture below, along with a few photos, at Harideva Mandir and Manasi-Ganga during Parikrama 2018.

Lord Caitanya danced before this Deity in the greatest ecstasy and everyone was amazed. Of course, this place looks very different now. Back then, it was an ancient temple with the Deity of Harideva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Caitanya came to Vrndavana and His experience was different from our experience. He was coming home. When Lord Caitanya was in the material world, He naturally and internally resided in Vrndavana, but when He came to the holy dhama, His ecstasies increased many-fold. It was sometimes beyond control. When Lord Caitanya came to Vrndavana, He embraced every tree like an old friend. When He saw the Yamuna, He just jumped in and He did not see any reason to get out. Why would you? It was the perfection of life. He just stayed underwater, and His servant had to pull Him out.

When they crossed the Yamuna, the boat rocked dangerously because Lord Caitanya was dancing on that boat. At that time, the Yamuna was much bigger than today because there was no dam. In those days, all the water flowed freely, so the Yamuna was a big river and ships would sail by. Crossing the river was a substantial trip and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu just could not contain His ecstasy. For that reason, His servants eventually decided, “Okay, let us take Him out of Vrndavana because His ecstasy is beyond control and something is going to get out of hand. Something will go wrong!”

In Harideva Mandir, the local people had just never seen anything like Him. They’d never seen anyone displaying such ecstasy of love of God. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu roamed around the holy dhama of Vrndavana and we are following in His footsteps. We do not experience the same ecstasy, but we follow in His footsteps and we remember His attitude towards Vrndavana. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw Govardhana, He embraced a large rock and cried tears of ecstasy. He went into the fields and found two ponds near Arista-grama, which He identified as Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda. So let us go in this temple right now and take whatever dust Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has left. Let us get the mercy of the Lord by collecting lots of dust. That dust is important. We might also get a little more taste in our devotional service. Collect that dust and put in on our head and we can also offer something as our seva.

This lake is Manasi-Ganga and everyone knows that Manasi-Ganga is about the boat pastime of Krsna. We all know that Krsna acted as the boatman and hid His flute while He carried gopis across it. On the way, the weather turned bad. He is the Supreme Lord and could easily change the weather. A storm came and the boat became really unstable. The gopis were afraid and Krsna said, “Oh, I am hungry now. I cannot go any further. I am weak and I must eat something.” Krsna got many many milk sweets but having eaten too much, He could not row now. Ultimately, He brought Srimati Radharani to a point of despair where She took shelter of Him personally. We have seen many paintings of this particular pastime.

It is said that one should begin the Govardhana parikrama from this temple because that is what Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did. Nowadays, some start from Radha-kunda, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started here. In addition to the Deity, this place is very important because it is connected to Mahaprabhu. That is why I said, “Collect the dust, collect the dust, collect the dust!”

The article " eParikrama 2020 Day 5 – Manasi-Ganga " was published on KKSBlog.

The following incident, described in Watering the Seed, took place exactly forty-five years ago.

Almost every morning in Bombay Srila Prabhupada used to walk on Juhu Beach. One morning I was feeling especially wretched and miserable. Although so many other devotees were present, Srila Prabhupada began to speak as if he were addressing me personally.

He quoted a Sanskrit verse and said there are two words—a-natha and sa-natha. Natha means “master,” so a-natha means “without master” and sa-natha means “with master.” The whole goal of life is to become sa-natha, “with master.”

In the morning on Juhu Beach many gentlemen used to walk their dogs. Srila Prabhupada pointed to a fat and fit gentleman walking with an equally fat and fit dog. The man was walking briskly and confidently with his dog on his leash, and the dog was walking equally briskly and confidently with his master by his side. Srila Prabhupada commented that every dog wants a good master. If the dog has a good master he is happy. He holds his head high; he wags his tail. He knows that his master will maintain and protect him, so he has no anxiety.

But the street dog—“The poor fellow has no master. Therefore he is always suffering.” Srila Prabhupada then pointed to some stray dogs. “They have no master. They do not know where they will sleep, how they will get food. Other dogs bark at them; children throw stones at them. They are always in anxiety.”

Srila Prabhupada stopped walking. He planted his cane firmly in the sand of Juhu Beach. Although I stood behind many of the devotees who moved close around him, with his eyes laden with love and compassion he looked in my eyes. “So we should be sanatha, protected, not anatha—orphan. We should have our master and be exclusively devoted to him. Then we will feel confident in his protection and always be happy.”

Quoting the verse again, Srila Prabhupada explained each Sanskrit word. Mano-ratha: the chariot of the mind. Mental concoction is driving us here, there, here, there. We have no peace. But when we have our perfect master to serve, we become peaceful, prasanta, and jubilant: “I have got my master. I have no cares and anxiety.” This is the ideal of life, to become sanatha-jivitam, living with hope that “I have got my master who will give me protection.”

I knew that Srila Prabhupada was speaking directly to me, addressing my present need in Krishna consciousness. Without my even asking or saying anything, he knew my heart and gave the perfect solution through his instructions. Thus he exemplified the verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.7.36):

anuvratanam sisyanam
  putranam ca dvijottama
anaprsrstam api bruyur
  guravo dina-vatsalah

 “Those who are spiritual masters are very kind to the needy. They are always kind to their followers, disciples, and sons, and without being asked by them, the spiritual master describes all that is knowledge.”

Thereafter, I always tried to remember and follow the instructions Srila Prabhupada gave me on Juhu Beach.

Although I had caught some of the words from the verse and Srila Prabhupada’s explanation, I very much wanted to find the verse—but could not. Then several years later I came across the same verse quoted in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta:

bhavantam evanucaran nirantarah
  prasanta-nihsesa-mano-rathantarah
kadaham aikantika-nitya-kinkarah
  praharsayisyami sanatha-jivitam

“By serving You constantly, one is freed from all material desires and is completely pacified. When shall I engage as Your permanent eternal servant and always feel joyful to have such a fitting master?” (Cc Madhya 1.206)

Reading the purport, I found the same instructions Srila Prabhupada had given on Juhu Beach: “Just as a dog or servant is very satisfied to get a competent, perfect master, or as a child is completely satisfied to possess a competent father, so the living entity is satisfied by completely engaging in the service of the Supreme Lord. He thereby knows that he has a competent master to save him from all kinds of danger.”

I realized that Srila Prabhupada is so perfect that he always spoke on the basis of scripture. At the same time, because of his tremendous compassion and humanity, he could say just the right thing in the right way to deeply touch the heart of the listener.

Now whenever I walk on Juhu Beach and see the different types of dogs—those with masters and those without—I remember Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and pray that I will always remain Srila Prabhupada’s dog.

—Giriraj Swami

Appearing as the son of a king, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura (Shri Thakura Mahasaya) showed all the bodily symptoms of a mahapurusha (an exalted divine person). He had long arms, a deep navel, golden-complexioh, beautiful eyes shaped like the  lotus petals.

In school, he was a sruti dhara (able to memorise whatever he hears). Although he quickly mastered Sanskrit and the Vedas, he hankered to serve Krishna. He was a lifelong brahmachari. By the mercy of the Holy Name Gaura-Nitai, Narottama became detached, left his opulent family, and ran to Vrindavana. He took diksha from Shri Lokanatha Goswami and siksha in Gaudiya philosophy from Shri Jiva Goswami.

When he arrived in Navadwipa-dhama all the devotees asked him about the health and activities of the Goswamis in Vrindavana. Then he went to see the devotees and Shri Chaitanya’s pastime spots in Shantipura, Shri Khanda, Kanthak Nagar, Ekachakra, and Kheturi Gram.

In Kheturi, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura arranged the famous Kheturi Mahotsava. This was the first “Gaura-Purnima” festival to honor the divine appearance day of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. During the festival six Deities were installed: Shri Gauranga Deva, Shri Vallabhi Kanta, Shri Vraja Mohana, Shri Krishna, Shri Radha Kanta, Shri Radha Ramana.     

Narottama Dasa Thakura wrote many devotional songs about the spiritual master, the devotees, devotional service, the six Goswamis, Gaura-Nityananda and Radha-Krishna. Although composed with sweet melodies in simple Bengali language, Narottama Dasa’s songs give shastric siddhanta and devotional inspiration.

Srila Prabhupada often sang these bhajans, considering them non-different from Vedic sastra and quoted them in his Bhagavatam lectures. Prarthana and Prema-bhakti-chandrika are Narottama’s most famous works.

Narottama Dasa serves Shrimati Radhika as Chamaka-manjari. His samadhi is in Radha Gokulananda’s Temple courtyard. 

Last several months we have made great headway into the drawings and details of the Ceiling Designs – the unifying factor of that huge volume of space. With its intricately carved details in a marriage of varied materials, it creates an interesting artistic narrative. Inside this aesthetic shelter are nestled innumerable services. Blending the art and technicalities together has been the mantra.

Click here to see it in your browser or download a copy to your desktop for offline reading.

In 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Moti-kunda in Nandagaon, where Krsna performed his pastime of planting pearls in the ground and watering them with cow milk to sprout vines of pearls. Check out Maharaja’s full lecture below, along with a few photos, at Moti-kunda during Parikrama 2018.

In Moti-kunda, there is mercy. Without mercy, how can we chant? We have to look for mercy so that we can chant. It is the only way. We have to beg for mercy wherever we can! We have this metaphor of growing pearls and using it in relation to initiation. At the time of initiation, we receive pearls from our spiritual master. We should plant these pearls and water them with devotional service. Then these pearls will sprout, produce bushes, and many more pearls will come from them. That is the way it works. It is very important that initiation is taken in that spirit; initiation means that one must make offerings. It does not mean that we just take. It means that we must give! Yes, treasures were received; pearls were received but bring the milk of devotional service. Bring the milk of all your pranair arthair dhiya vaca; your hard labour, your intelligence, your words, your wealth. Bring it all in service because that is how we are watering the pearls of initiation – by devotional service. And then it will become wonderful!

However, if we take the pearls and plant them but do not water them, our initiation vows will become dry. We will be initiated but we will still struggle with our mind, struggle with our senses, because we are not fulfilled. When the heart is not fulfilled by devotional service, then we try to fill the emptiness with temporary enjoyment. It is only when the heart is filled with deep absorption in service and where there is so much service, that there is no room for anything else. As we grow the pearls we received, we will get more pearls, and as we keep making offerings in devotional service, our spiritual wealth will increase to the point where there is no room for material desires. Then we can actually attain fulfilment. So this is the purpose of initiation.

The article " eParikrama 2020 Day 4 – Moti-kunda " was published on KKSBlog.

For those who may not be familiar, here is a link to Dhanurdhara’s 2006 ISKCON resignation letter. (I also included it as a photo at the bottom of this post.)

I share this to remind devotees what Dhanurdhara claimed he intended to do.

We can compare his public statement with what he’s actually been doing since 2006.

Here are two key sentences from Dhanurdhara’s 2006 letter:

• “I plan to live a simple, repentant life, where I hope my presence will not disturb others, taking shelter of the holy name and my godbrothers.”
• “I will continue to seek and help those I have offended, which is my most crucial work for this movement.”

Sounds honorable. Right?

Is that what he did? In a word: NO.

What then, we may ask, has he been up to instead?

In 2020, here is how Dhanurdhara described his activities on his Facebook page:

“Dhanurdhara Swami spends half of the year in India where he focuses on bhajana, studying, writing and taking people on pilgrimage of holy places. The other half of the year Maharaja is in the West where he spends his time traveling and speaking about bhakti-yoga.”

From what we’ve observed, that description is pretty accurate. In India he leads groups on parikramas around Vrindavan and in the US he recruits new followers. Which, up until January 2019, was done mostly through the Bhakti Center in NYC.

Under most circumstances that would sound like a fantastic program.

Except, when you consider it in context of three relevant things:

1. Dhanurdhara voluntarily left ISKCON in 2006 so he wouldn’t be subject to the 2007 GBC Resolution barring anyone determined responsible for serious maltreatment of children from any leadership position in ISKCON, including initiating guru.
2. When Dhanurdhara left ISKCON, he announced to the world he was going to “live a simple, repentant life,” where his presence “will not disturb others,” and to “continue to seek and help those I’ve offended,” which he claimed to be “my most crucial work for this movement.”
3. In 2020, Dhanurdhara quietly petitioned the GBC to be allowed back in ISKCON, after neither abiding by the GBC resolutions (point 1), nor focusing on his most important work for Srila Prabhupada’s Society (point 2).

Bottom line: If, over the years since he formally left ISKCON in 2006, Dhanurdhara had actually carried out those self-proclaimed noble intentions, we might very well have a different outcome from what’s been outlined above.

In 2017 and 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Raval, the birthplace of Srimati Radharani. Here, Maharaja delves deep into the mood, features and qualities of Radharani for us to meditate upon. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtans and lectures below, along with a few photos, at Raval during Parikrama 2017 and Parikrama 2018.

If one asks about the origin of love of Krsna, the answer is that the origin is in Srimati Radharani alone. Who is the most dear friend of Krsna? The answer again is Srimati Radharani alone. No one else. Since all the transcendental qualities are manifested in Srimati Radharani, She alone is able to fulfill all the desires of Krsna. No one else. Even Satyabhama, one of the queens of Sri Krsna, desires the fortunate position and excellent qualities of Srimati Radharani. All the gopis learn the art of dressing from Srimati Radharani, and even the goddess of fortune, Laksmi, and the wife of Lord Siva, Parvati, desire Her beauty and qualities. Indeed, Arundhati, the celebrated chaste wife of Vasistha, also wants to imitate the chastity and religious principles of Srimati Radharani. Even Lord Krsna Himself cannot reach the limit of the transcendental qualities of Srimati Radharani. How then can an insignificant living entity count them?

In ornamenting Radharani’s body are the twenty kinds of ecstatic symptoms beginning with kila-kincita. Her transcendental qualities constitute the flower garland hanging in fullness over Her body. Srila Prabhupada explains that it is not possible to explain properly in English what kila-kincita actually means. He says, “First, in connection with the body, there are bhava (ecstasy), hava (gestures) and hela (negligence). Then, in relation to the self, there are sobha (beauty), kanti (lustre), dipti (brilliance), madhurya (sweetness), pragalbhata (impudence), audarya (magnanimity) and dhairya (patience). Finally, in relation to nature, there are lila (pastimes), vilasa (enjoyment), vicchitti (breaking off) and vibhrama (puzzlement). Srimati Radharani’s flower garland consists of Her qualities and is divided into mental, verbal and bodily parts. Her attitude of forgiveness and mercy is all mental. Her talks, which are very pleasing to the ear, are verbal. The bodily qualities are age, beauty, lustre and grace.”

As you can see, we are sitting under two trees grown together – not just one tree. These trees represent Radha and Krsna – one is dark and one is white. Such trees are quite common in Vrndavana. So here, we see Radha and Krsna represented by these trees. By the mercy of Lord Caitanya, we can approach all these places. Whatever we are lacking, He will make up. Whatever is difficult becomes easy by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and whatever is easy, becomes difficult without the mercy of Mahaprabhu. It is by His mercy that we are doing whatever we are doing. We can approach such exalted pastime places by the mercy of Mahaprabhu, sri-krsna-caitanya radha-krsna nahe anya, who is none other than Radha and Krsna combined.

The article " eParikrama 2020 Day 3 – Raval " was published on KKSBlog.

In 2017 and 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Madhuvana, specifically at Dhruva-tila, where a young Dhruva Maharaja endured great austerities in his quest to find the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtans and lectures below, along with a few photos, at Dhruva-tila in Madhuvana during Parikrama 2017 and Parikrama 2018.

When Dhruva Maharaja desired to sit on his father’s lap, where his step-brother Uttama was already seated, his step-mother held him back and said, “No! You cannot sit on the lap of the king. You should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be able to take birth from my womb in your next life, then you can sit on your father’s lap.” Dhruva Maharaja’s birth-mother, Suniti Devi, then says to Dhruva, “Your step-mother gave you a very good instruction because she told you to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Follow that instruction!” When Dhruva Maharaja asks where the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be found, his mother says, “I have heard from the sages that the Supreme Lord can be found in the forest.” Dhruva Maharaja then encounters Narada Muni, and Narada Muni gives Dhruva transcendental instructions, “My dear Dhruva, all these things are taking place in the temporary world. Whatever happens in this material world is not really important because it relates to the body and to temporary conditions. One should just detach oneself and not worry!” Dhruva Maharaja responded, “Your instructions are absolutely true, but they do not resonate in my heart.” Narada Muni then advises Dhruva Maharaja to make a clay deity of the Supreme Lord and worship Him. He continues that in this way, Dhruva Maharaja should control his mind and senses through the astanga yoga process and chant the mantra om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Narada Muni then instructed Dhruva Maharaja to go to the forest called Madhuvana, where we are now.

Dhruva Maharaja performed his sadhana and through his astanya yoga, he endured great austerities and controlled his breathing. At one point, Dhruva Maharaja stopped breathing altogether and the whole universe started to choke. Indra then approached the Supreme Lord and it was then that the Supreme Lord appeared to Dhruva Maharaja. Here, in the central altar at Dhruva-tila, we see the deity of Lord Narayana, Lord Visnu, who appeared before Dhruva Maharaja.

It is interesting that Dhruva Maharaja has an anger issue. Despite Narada Muni’s advice, he could not give it up in his youth. Later, Dhruva Maharaja got the darsana of the Supreme Lord, who told him that all his desires would be fulfilled. Dhruva said, “No, my Lord, my desires are already fulfilled because I have the darsana of You! What more could I desire? Your darsana is the most desirable boon. All my desires are now fulfilled! I wanted a kingdom greater than my family lineage. I wanted broken pieces of glass but now I got a jewel.” So as soon as Dhruva Maharaja got the darsana of the Lord, everything he had been desiring from the Lord previously, transformed at that point. It all looked insignificant.

We should also understand that we are going to spend a whole life and maybe more than one life, doing devotional service. In that devotional service, we struggle. In that struggle, we are trying to get benefit, sukrti, which goes into our eternal spiritual bank balance. At the end of our life, what do we have to show? Only the credit in our spiritual bank balance. We come to the gates of the spiritual world and say, “Look at this!” And they go, “That is not enough. It is not going to do it.” But then when we say, “I have something else. I have the blessings of my spiritual master”, that is a much greater wealth. All the wealth we can accrue from a whole lifetime of service is insignificant compared to the blessings of our spiritual master. It is the blessings that are the principal factor and not only from our spiritual master but from the entire sampradaya. One should approach through the lineage and through the Vaisnavas and therefore one has to become soft. We have to admit at one point that all the Vaisnavas become good, except for one, ourself.

So here in Dhruva-tila, our meditation is to try to come to that transcendental platform of simply being a servant and appreciating and glorifying all the Vaisnavas. In that way, we go forward as Dhruva Maharaja did, faithfully following the process. In this age of Kali, everyone is extremely independent and no wants to align himself. We all have a spiritual master but to fully embrace his spirit is extremely difficult. It is difficult in this age to have that humility. In Srila Prabhupada, we see this incredible humility where he does not put himself but his spiritual master in the foreground. So, looking at Dhruva Maharaja and seeing his lack of alignment, we see our own lack of alignment. We pray that we can embrace the desires of our spiritual master, not only externally but wholeheartedly, and make the spiritual master’s desires our own.

The article " eParikrama 2020 Day 2 – Madhuvana " was published on KKSBlog.

“All my desires to work as an engineer seem to have dwindled by seeing your lotus face in New Vrindavan. I am enjoying the nectar of devotion more and more every day. I have been going on sankirtan every day for an average of six to eight hours, sometimes even fifteen ever since I have been in this temple. I love to go out on sankirtan and distribute your books and Krishna is rewarding me with unexpected pleasure.” (Letter from Yasomatinandana das to Srila Prabhupada, 1973)

Remembering Yasomatinandana prabhu (Right click to download)

October 31st, 2020 This is an emergency health update of HH Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami Maharaja. Maharaja was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital, New Delhi for a critical surgery recently. Dr. HG Krishna Priya Pr who has been constantly coordinating with the Doctors has sent in this update. The nerve blockage near the spine […]

The post Emergency health update of HH Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami Maharaja appeared first on ISKCON News.

This is an emergency health update of HH Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami Maharaja. Maharaja was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital, New Delhi for a critical surgery recently. Dr. HG Krishna Priya Pr who has been constantly coordinating with the Doctors has sent in this update.

Toronto, Ontario

Good Men

Three years ago, when I was completing my US walk, I had a companion with me, one of my devotional buddies—Anuttama Das, from DC. He took time out from his busy schedule to stick around with me for a good four days. We were in California approaching San Francisco and we talked and walked considerably. One topic that came up was about men.

Men? Yes, men! Well, what about them? They are half the population and they are in a position to make or break the world. I’m speaking about humans, of course. Men are good at both. However, what Anuttama and I were in conversation about was starting a men’s retreat, where men can talk about how to be more effective in contributing positive elements to society. We wanted to address how to achieve and bring out the best attributes of a man. Hence the MANtra retreat was born. We are now in our third year. This year it goes virtual. While writing out today’s blog I thought to include some of the qualities of a good man. This is simply mylist:

1) Honest

2) Faithful

3) Intelligent

4) Straightforward 

5) Clean

6) Active

7) Attentive

8) Resourceful

9) Humorous

10) Kind

May the Source be with you!

0 km

York, Toronto

Away From the Machine

I went for another shiatsu session with my yogi friend, Devananda, a.k.a. Marc Handelman, and it was a job well done. From there I had a great opportunity to walk back to the ashram via the Cedarvale ravine. Trekking in these ravines changes hearts.

Why?

Well, one reason I can think of is that you are removed from cars. These nice ravines, which are like tight green valleys, restrict the automobile. In that natural setting you are in a sattvic environment, which allows you to feel safe. I believe that if you are faced with dealing with traffic, and are having to cross the road with care, it just adds to anxiety. Those cars are monsters, and admittedly so, they are the necessary evils of our world.

It is most unusual but, when I did have to leave the ravine, a female motorist stopped as I was crossing, rolled down her window, stuck out her head and said, “Now you have a real good down!” Her smile was humongous. Maybe the kindness came out because the sun was shining. The good gesture practically contradicts what I was going to say about heartless people behind the wheel.

As a general observation, when you’re in the green away from the machine, the neighbourliness comes out in the individuals. I’ve made my point.

Walking south on Spadina and downing the steps at Casa Loma, the castle, offered a decent view for a pedestrian.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Toronto, Ontario

Thematic Parallel

These evenings, when not shooting footage for “Rolling the Dice” I’m enwrapped in compiling either one of two books. The Saffron Road is a publication that I’m hoping to have materialized soon. It’s an account of my walking ventures and I’m currently in the proofreading stage. Krishna in the Maple Leaf is also a work in progress, capturing the early pioneer years of the Hare Krishna’s in Canada.

In both books I’m running into a thematic parallel—gratitude. I’m very passionate about expressing thanks to those who deserve the sentiment. To clarify, I read a second time through about my travels on foot and I realized an inadequacy in The Saffron Road—I’m not featuring all my helpers and supporters enough.

“The epilogue can include that,” is being suggested. I’ll concur with that. It seems to be going in that direction anyway.

The point of appreciation is what I perceive to be a highlight in the Maple Leaf book too. Acknowledgment is as good as saying “Thanks!”

Appreciation must be a key factor in making life work for people in general. I won’t be happy even in the course of a day if I don’t recognize the effort made by someone. I don’t do it enough, in fact.

In these times of the Corona-virus, where people are incrementally becoming more fearful, suspicious and mistrusting, it is critical to express love.

May the source be with you!

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In 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Radha-kunda, which is described as the topmost place in the universe! We begin our eParikrama this year by revisiting this significant place and casting our mind to the meditations instilled in us by Maharaj. Check out Maharaj’s full kirtan and lecture below, along with a few photos, at Radha-kunda during Parikrama 2018.

We can remember that this is the place where Aristasura was killed. We recall that Radharani and the gopis said to Krsna, “Oh, You are a killer of a bull! Now You are contaminated, and therefore, we can no longer associate with You. You will first have to go on a long pilgrimage to all the holy places. When You do so, You can become purified from the great sin that You have committed and then we can associate with You.” Krsna thought that this was a complication. He made a hole in the ground with His foot and immediately water appeared. The gopis protested, “This is not right! You have to go to all the holy places!” At that moment, all the holy places personified and all the deities of the various rivers and sacred lakes appeared and they all entered into Krsna’s kunda. Krsna took His bath and afterwards He said, “Well, I am so sorry, my dear gopis. Actually, I have tried to please you, therefore, I bathed in all of the holy places. Yet, let us consider this, Aristasura was not a bull at all. He was a demon who took the form of a bull. You have been protecting this demon and therefore you are contaminated. I cannot associate with you any longer. What to do? It is not possible!” The gopis asked, “What do we do?” Krsna replied, “You have to take a bath in all the holy places.” So then, the gopis cleared the ground, broke their bangles and dug a hole. And that was to become Radha-kunda! They made a human chain from Manasi-ganga and with buckets, they filled this kunda. Eventually, all the deities of the holy waters came to Radharani and begged, “Please accept our service!” And then, they entered into Her kunda, and because She is so soft-hearted and filled with love, She could not refuse their service. So this is the story of how Radha-kunda came into existence in this world. Of course, we cannot say that it came into existence, because it is actually eternal. Radha-kunda is always present. Sometimes it is manifested and sometimes it is not manifested to the eye, but the fact is that Radha-kunda is always present!

Srila Prabhupada describes the importance of Radha-kunda. We come here to get a glimpse of that eternal reality. We are on this parikrama to glimpse the spiritual world. That is what we do in Vrndavana. We do not immediately forget who we are. What have we brought in our hand luggage to Vrndavana? What is still in our consciousness, our material conditioning? But at least externally, we can still be respectful and in a mood to receive mercy. We are trying to understand what is going on in the spiritual world and how everyone simply assists Radha and Krsna. There are thousands of gopis in these garden surroundings. They set up groves with beautiful seating arrangements, rows of trees and plants of different colours and everything is decorated. There are delicious foodstuffs, all for the pleasure of Radha and Krsna, to bring Them together. We appreciate that this is where Radha and Krsna’s most intimate pastimes take place. These kundas are manifestations of Themselves, therefore we understand that this is the most topmost place in the universe.

The article " eParikrama 2020 Day 1 – Radha-kunda " was published on KKSBlog.

Kartika, also known as the month of Damodara, is a month for deepening one’s love for Krishna. It is considered by devotees of Krishna to be the holiest month of the year. During this month, devotees make extra vows, perform extra spiritual activities, and generally worship Krishna in His form as a young boy, Damodara, who was once bound at the waist by His mother, Yashoda, as a punishment for His mischievous childhood pastimes.

Kartika is the best, the purest of purifiers, and most glorious of all months. Kartika month is particularly dear to Lord Sri Krsna. This month is full of bhakta vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest, will yield huge results. The effect of performing a Kartika Vrata lasts for one hundred lifetimes, whereas ordinary vratas only last for one lifetime!

As Krsna says in Bhagavad-Gita that He is the month of Nov-Dev, similarly, Srimati Radhika is the holy month of Kartika, which precedes His month. Rupa Gosvami and others refer to Radharani as the Kartika-devata or Kartika Devi, in other words, Radhika is the goddess or presiding Deity of the Kartika Vrata.

Toronto, Ontario

Balarama’s Back

Balarama’s brother was a back passenger in a car wherein a serious accident occurred, leaving the driver in a coma and his brother with 11 broken ribs. So Balarama is a bit shaken up, and it’s been the reason for some detainment in his showing up for our drama practices.

When I heard about the accident my thought was “Here we go again with the automobile being a culprit.”

Despite the circumstances, Balarama, who is rather a good performer when it comes to acting and dancing, showed up today to play his role. He plays the part of the virtuous Vidura. He is the character who set things straight. Where there is diversion and deviation Vidura, according to the accounts given about his personality, will be there to say something regarding such matters. The Mahabharataand Srimad Bhagavatam are two texts that deliver his quality of righteousness.

There is a passion in him and one of the actions he takes up is walking as a pilgrim. He treks extensively from temple to temple and does so on pilgrim’s trails and along sacred rivers, of which there are many in India.

Vidura is a character that I used to play. In the early 90s I traveled with a troup in India, as we were hosted to venues. One such place was in Ahmedabad, where the recently departed Jasomatinandana hosted us. We were a three-man troupe and we presented the entire story of the Mahabharata. There is a scene in the production where the actor portraying King Yudhisthira observes ill omens of the dark Kali Yuga. It is depicted a soliloquy. He is speaking and addressing the audience when a batch of real live bats came into the auditorium flying all around. All the spectators were astonished wondering how the production brought out such genius props right on cue.

May the Source be with you!

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Toronto, Ontario

Urdhva Mulam

We worked at it until we got it right. Before I took to a nighttime walk, our film crew went on a marathon, from 11 AM to 9 PM, just to knock down scene 1. It was a filming session that included a 20 minute crash course by Francis on how to use the fancy equipment—lights and cameras.

Covid-19 is forcing change. In our case we are learning how to adjust from physical, in-person, performance to virtual. Goodbye stage! Hello screen! At least for now.

Our story is a slice from the epic, “Mahabharata.” A segment that is seething with greed and envy. Sound familiar? In fact, most people I know hold firm belief to the dynamic that someone’s making money out of the current lockdown. Many are questioning the particular response and approach to the current pandemic. Nevertheless, one has to carry on with caution and care in order to avoid tragedy.

In general this material world draws souls smitten by the greed factor. In the Bhagavad-Gitathis world that we live in is compared to a tree that confuses the living entity. It stands in some grandeur, but also complexity. The poor soul is encouraged to become disentangled from this complicated tree.

Incidentally I would like to take a moment to honour the departure of a dear godbrother, Jasomatinandana, of Gujarat, India. He was ill for some time and then the virus came to put a clear end to his life on earth. I believe he came detatched and released himself from the clutches of the energy tree known as urdhva-mulam. My deepest regrets to losing his company.

May the Source be with you!

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Brampton, Ontario

Ladhoo Exchange

I hadn’t met Juhi’s parents before and I was honoured to participate in her pre-engagement program. Nice folks she has, from Punjab originally.

Her fiancé is Rishab, whom I’ve known since he was a kid. His parents, Rajasuya and Surabhi, of South Indian descent, are sishyas, or students of mine. At their home two families came together, and I, for an impromptu engagement. There were no engagement rings, but two pieces of ladhoo, sweet-balls made of chickpea flour, were exchanged lovingly between the two love birds.

Juhi and Rishab were high school sweethearts. They accepted my blessings as a couple, as far as I could tell. They listened to my message about being loyal once the knot is tied in marriage. I suggested to them to stay on the trail of dharma, righteousness.

“Keep Krishna in the centre,” I recommended. “Don’t let differences create a gap. Rather, honour such complementary dynamics.”

I do wish them the best and that their relationship grows just like Rajasuya and Surabhi’s backyard garden has. Mature and ripe beans, tomatoes and kale are abound in the back.

Our meal was like a shepherd’s pie minus meat. “Veggie squares,” is what Seema called it. It was other-worldly and the squash soup was to die for. The food was enough to cause a nap on our return to the ashram, but before that pleasant doze, while Rishab was behind the wheel, Juhi was curious about my entrance into monkhood. I usually appreciate the question.

No walking today but stretching the legs became a reality.

May the source be with you!

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As you are aware, Damodar masa is here, and it is around this time of the year that His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami Maharaj leads his annual Kartik Parikrama in and around Braj. This year, however, due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parikrama will not proceed in person. And as you are likely aware, Maharaj has recently tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently resting in Simhachalam, Germany. But this will not take away from the spirit of Kartik at all, as Maharaj has previously said, “one can travel on foot, by car, by train or plane, or one can travel with the speed of mind, so let us go to Vrndavana together and come closer to Krsna!”

So this year, KKSBlog invites you all to attend an eParikrama (1 Nov 2020 – 30 Nov 2020), where we will revisit significant places from Krsna’s pastimes as attended during previous Parikramas. Delve yourself into Maharaj’s blissful kirtans and lectures, reminisce from the photos and videos shared and meditate daily on the holy dhama during this incredibly auspicious month.

Continue to check this space on KKSBlog and the Media Kadamba Kanana Swami Facebook Page for your daily inspiration!

Hare Krsna!

The article " eParikrama 2020 here on KKSBlog! " was published on KKSBlog.

  Shyama Sakhi Devi Dasi (Shivani Agarwal, PhD Biotechnology, MSc Biochemistry) She is a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois (UIC), Chicago, Illinois. * * *  277 days ago, none of us had heard of coronavirus and everything we did was not shrouded with the specter of […]

The post A Devotee-Researcher’s Perspective on COVID-19: Cures and Cautions appeared first on ISKCON News.

The lives of our devotees are too precious, and we must not adapt to any relaxed approaches to this serious health risk.

Gregory is one of 13 cardinals in the new class Francis announced Sunday, a promotion that comes as he is trying to rebuild trust in an archdiocese rocked by sexual abuse cases.

It is unique that Gopal Bhatta das (initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1971) currently in no position of formal leadership or management within ISKCON but he contributes with an independence that is considered by many to give a fresh perspective. He is the chairperson of the Strategic Planning Team (SPT) that was activated in 2006 and he has created vitality and drive among the team members that are supporting the GBC’s future. A video by the GBC SPT.

The retreat will take a look at challenges and opportunities through different stages of life from a Krishna conscious perspective, covering topics like fatherhood, marriage, brahmachari life, examples of healthy masculinity, and many other topics.

A video by Siddhantha Das.

A German family of 4 moves to Mayapur, West Bengal, India, and regularly and candidly report about their daily life.