With the rising and setting of sun / Time slowly slipping away / The touch of cool water as if speaking / Do you feel okay my friend?

  Lord Caitanya walks with a few close associates. It’s medieval India Lush green fields flank the path; a countryside scene of peace and harmony with nature. Idyllic. The occasional farmer on bullock cart marvels at the beauty and bearing of this young, golden-complexioned renunciant. The followers of the Lord enjoy His company and expectantly […]

The post Vaisnavism Disrupted – It Happened Already; Won’t It Happen Again? appeared first on ISKCON News.

The discomfort ISKCON faces due to the pandemic - individual and community-wise - is hardly comparable to the oppressions and torments of the past.

And he just said in a fixed tone, "Are those the books of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada?" It took me a couple of seconds to register and process what I had just heard. It caught me off guard, and so my usual distributor mind just didn't kick in.

The Annex, Toronto

Friend Making

“What do you think about this scamdemic?” asked the cyclist who stopped upon seeing me.

Before I was to say something as a response I knew I was going to dialogue with a radical-thinker, who has his own views on Covid-19. I wanted to make sure to make a friend. That was the most important thing on my mind. After all I’m making some inroads toward pal-making on Bloor Street, mostly because of the fact that it’s the street I frequent as of late.

And so, for the dialogue, and my response:

“We are a culture that is majorly reactive. We are not proactive. There is a virus and we have welcomed it but we are not confident enough to refuse its entry, merely by the fact that we are poor to build up immunity. We eat the wrong things. It started off by brutality toward animals. When will we stop this insanity?”

The young fellow—well, younger than me—introduced himself as David. From his father’s side, he is Mohawk. He invited me to the virtual Pow Wow hosted by the six nations near Brantford, on the Grand River. I believe I made a friend but only after some back and forth.

I also made friends with a security guard who stands outside the liquor store. That transpired only after a second nod of “Hello!” The first one occurred on my walk westward. Then I returned to see him again.

I always thought it interesting, seeing customers lined-up with masks on for protection, however, they are quick to drink something that’s so toxic.

May the source be with you!

6 km

Orillia, Ontario

Opportunities

To complement walking, swimming is one of those activities on the top of the list. A most pleasant person from Stratford, Jaya Gopal, picked me up from the big city to bring me to Lake Couchiching, one of three clean and tame lakes in the Orillia area. Now that was super sweet, however, the real purpose of the day was to partake in Orillia’s first Ratha Yatra festival. Done in downscale-style, the deities of Jagannath were set in the backseat of a van, and then driven to dozens of recipients, mostly young families with a background from Gujarat, who were very enthusiastic in this endeavor. They reciprocated, not only by waiting in their front yards for the deities to arrive, but were prepared with fruit, sweets, pooja trays with ghee lamps, cash donations and big smiles.

The driving about went on for hours and it was so exhilarating to see the response. Our final visit was to the home of a Patel Motel, where delicious Gujarati preps were consumed by the organizers, Nimai Nitai, Jaya Gopal, Vyasacharya, and my humble self, your servant.

It came to mind, amidst the process of meeting all these people, with mostly younger children, that how imperative it is that we set up educational facilities and not miss a generation of great potentials. Their parents can also benefit tremendously from Sunday school opportunities, worship and lessons from the Bhagavad-gita. 

I managed to get some trekking in, which was done in the darkness, as our drivers were finishing up their late night meal.

May the source be with you!

4 km

Christie Pits, Toronto

Individuals

Before I took my walk today I was sitting, and across from me was our senior-most monk who resides in our ashram. His name is Dakshin, a native of London, Ontario, and he became committed to bhakti, devotion, back in 1974 when he joined in Vancouver.

He’s a jolly and dutiful type of person and in the temple portion of our building he does two poojas(rituals) per day and also functions as our security for three hours. He can look mean with his stick and bears a grave persona, however, deep down he’s like a teddy bear.

That’s Dakshin.

Once I started my evening walk,av I paced a few steps along Avenue Road, and then I bumped into Vrindavan, a guy in his twenties who had grasped to his side his cherished skateboard. His mother is Canadian and his father is a Texan. I’ve known him for a while. Nice fellow.

“Any injuries?” I asked, referring to his skateboarding. He then proceeded to speak about some of those challenges and in doing so he decided he would detour his steps just to chat with me. It was a good chat!

At Christie Pits I met with Vishal, at the centre of the park, and we talked about varnashram—about the ancient social structure that Sri Krishna established for humankind.  Krishna identifies four different types of people, based on their nature and behavioural tendencies. I explained to Vishal about the visionaries and spiritual guides (brahmins), the protectors (kshatriyas), the producers (vaishyas), and the supporters (shudras). While we were discussing at a park bench we met Maryem Tollar, a well-known singer.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Christie Pitts, Toronto

Breezes

Most days, on which I embark on my evening trek, I have a destination in mind to go either east, west, north or south. Sometimes I have no pre-arrangement so I let the wind talk to me. If the air currents go north/south, I’ll take that. If the breezes are more active east/west that’s where I feel I am being guided. Not since the summer of ‘77 has there been such an extended heat wave.

Martha Reeve and the Vandellas had a hit song on the charts. “Heat Wave” expressed in its lyrics a love-fever that one person feels for another. Whether you’re hot within or hot externally heat is heat.

Fortunately, a nice rain shower came during the afternoon to lower temperatures. This encouraged me to do just a little more than travel lightly, considering that the more you carry, the more you sweat. I decided on this evening to clutch onto some kheerin cups and go west, where the breeze was less, and make a delivery of the fine desert to a seniour godsister, Subuddhi. Well, she was grateful. I carried on and stationed myself at a bench overlooking the green depression called the Pitts—as in Christie Pitts. Actually, I felt the greatest breezes while at intersections. And up at the top of the Pitts, I caught the most favourable one.

I got on the phone. “Hello, Kasyapa, how is the new registration going for a Krishna centre in Oakville?”

I made another call. “So Vishal, how did the Tulsi seeds I gave you work?”

“They turned into powder. Too old,” said Vishal.

At one point I did not call anyone. I just sat there and took in Krishna in the form of the nicest breeze.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

Christie Pitts, Toronto

Meeting Michael

I never met Michael before but he seemed to know us. Just to make sure he had the right group in mind, he asked, “Hare Krishna?”

“Yes indeed,” I responded.

Then Michael, a man about fifty years old, proceeded to speak about a deity of Krishna which was moving His eyes—a deity owned by a Hindu friend of his. He inquired about our philosophy: “Is this pantheism?” simply because I had mentioned about seeing divinity in all things.

“Yes, brahman is everywhere, however, there exists a Supreme Brahman, God, from whom all things emanate,” I explained.

We could have spoken for hours but my legs are not necessarily ready for just standing still for too long, and besides that, it was getting late. It certainly makes my day (or night) when I see inquisitiveness in someone. My contentment comes from seeing someone again around the same location for a second discussion. So after terminating my talk with Michael, I anticipated another repeat meeting. That would be nice.

Michael was one to not honour social-distancing according to the rules, so I had to step back a couple of feet. Speaking of being cautious about Covid-19, we have a deity of Krishna in the form of a lion who protects His devotees from adversity. His name is Narasingha, an actual half-man, half-lion incarnation.

When I return to my residence, at the temple, after these walks, I feel the presence of this protective deity who has been set up near our morning speaker’s chair. He is a brass deity and He projects a power of safety.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

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Ocean of Mercy (feat. Nadiya Mani) · Bada Haridas · Nadiya Mani. Read article abou the new single: https://iskconnews.org/nadiya-mani-and-bada-haridas-dedicate-new-song-to-bhakti-charu-swami,7441/

First and second-generation kirtaniyas have created a new song dedicated to beloved ISKCON guru Bhakti Charu Swami, who passed away on July 4th.  Second-generation devotee Nadiya Mani sings lead vocals and Prabhupada disciple Bada Haridas backing vocals on the epic nine-and-a-half-minute standalone single Ocean of Mercy, which was released on Friday July 17th to iTunes, […]

The post Nadiya Mani and Bada Haridas Dedicate New Song to Bhakti Charu Swami appeared first on ISKCON News.

The deeply moving, soul-stirring track presents the prayer Sri Gurvastakam by Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur in a unique style that combines elements of classical, New Age and meditation music. It has been described by Bada Haridas’ wife Kosarupa Dasi as “pure meditation.”

A video by the Bhaktivedanta Academy, Mayapur.

Vamsidasa was born as Bhairab Chandra in the year 1859 in the village of Majitpur in current Bangladesh. He was the oldest of the seven children of Sanatana Mallabrahma and Srimati Sarvasundari. As the son of a poor fisherman, he lived a hard and austere life, mostly occupied with his family business of catching and selling fish.

However on the way back he would stop at a Gaura-Nitai temple and relish the association of Narottama Dasa Babaji, a devotee who stayed at the temple. From him Vamsidasa learned many bhajans of Narottama Dasa Thakura and developed a great attraction for Caitanaya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu.

His parents, worried by his growing attraction to spirituality married him. However soon after this Vamsidasa left his wife and his six months old son and became a renunciant. He took initiation from Narottama Dasa Babaji, who gave him the name Vamsidasa.

Even though Vamsidasa had lived a hard life as a youth, as a babaji he became extremely austere. He was always dressed in one simple loincloth and nothing more. He rarely attempted to procure any food and would often go without eating, sometimes for several days. It was common for him to abstain from both food and water for a day or two.

He took very little care of his health, and would bathe in freezing water even when he was sick. Despite all this Vamsidasa looked vibrant and healthy. He was over six feet tall and was constantly traveling. Even at the age of eighty he walked so fast that many of his younger associates could not keep up with him. Much like the Gosvamis of Vrindavana he survived solely on spiritual energy.

Vamsidasa had three sets of Deities that he carried along with him. He had a small Bala-Gopala (Krsna in the form of a child) that he was extremely attached to. He also had six inches metal Deities of Radha-Govinda and larger three feet wooden Deities of Gaura-Nitai. He always carried his Deities with him and would continuously talk to Them.

His mood of worship was that of an affectionate parent. He would talk to Gopala lovingly, sometimes angrily and sometimes pleadingly. He rarely spoke to any one but his Deities. In his unending conversation with the Deities he would often stop as if to listen and then continue talking. Even if people would come to ask him questions, he would reply to the Deities, referring to himself in the third person (as Vamsidasa).

On March 17th 1944 Vamsidasa returned to his home town of Majitpur. He did not actually enter the town as it is traditional for renunciants not to return to their former family. He lived there for some time and finally on Caturthi, July 23, 1944, Srila Vamsidasa Babaji Maharaja concluded his earthly pastimes and resumed his service to Lord Krsna in Goloka.

Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies: The story of an online student who liked the courses so much that she is sponsoring others to do them.
JULY 23 2020
Earlier this year, one of our online alumni offered to sponsor students from India to take our courses.

She wrote:

Dear Lal
I am now on the Gita course again and have become very impressed by the standard of the courses over the years. I would therefore like to donate for courses to be taken by Indian residents who can’t otherwise afford them.
She has very kindly agreed to do this for a second time and so we were able to offer courses to 17 students at no charge. As can be imagined these were taken up very quickly and we are happy to welcome these students to our community.

The only condition was that the applicant is an Indian resident who is unable to afford the fees.

The donor has asked to remain anonymous but we would like to thank her for her generosity in making good education accessible.

The Monk's Podcast with Anuttama Prabhu

The Monk's Podcast with Madhavananda Prabhu

The Monk's Podcast with Vedasara Prabhu

The Monk's Podcast with Garuda Prabhu

Srimad Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.13) declares that devotees of the Lord even though situated in the material world are actually under the spiritual energy of the Lord and therefore not subject to material laws. Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 1.1.15) further extols the glories of pure devotees of the Lord and states in a verse that such great devotees of the Lord can ‘at once’ sanctify anyone who comes in contact with them whereas the river Ganga purifies after repeated contact. What a great benediction it is therefore for anyone to behold such a personality whom merely by seeing one becomes purified and even gains the privilege of performing devotional service thus making his birth in this material life worthwhile!

Vamsidasa Babaji was a siddha-mahatma in the disciplic succession of Sri Narottama Thakura. The name of his diksa-guru was Harilal Vrajavasi and the name of his vesa-guru was Ramananda Vrajavasi. But it was difficult to know that he was siddha, because he lived far away from the world in a solitary place on the bank of Ganga near Baral Ghata in Navadvipa, as if he was renounced by the world, as an idiotic and worthless destitute. But the fact is that it is not the world that had renounced him, but he, who had renounced the world as worthless. He hardly had any worldly possessions. His only possessions were an old kaupina, karanga and kantha. Once Sripada Haridasa Gosvami asked him why he did not wear bahirvasa. He replied, “I live only with ka, which means kaupina, karanga and kantha. I have nothing to do with ba”, which means bahirvasa or outer garment. Continue reading "Srila Vamsidasa Babaji
→ Dandavats"

Srimad Bhagavatam class by HG Jananivasa Das in Sri Mayapur Dham

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The post QA on humility 4 – Social media requires self-promotion, spiritual growth requires humility – how to reconcile? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Since everything in this material world is temporary, loss is an experience we all must go through. Rambhoru Devi encouraged participants to look at the different losses they have undergone throughout their lives and create a “timeline of loss.” With the help of a “feelings chart,” she guided us in understanding the emotions connected with those losses and exploring how certain feelings such as fear hold us back in various ways. Continue reading "Transformative Self-care Workshop in New Vrindaban
→ Dandavats"

The lady replied, "My son was at a thrift store and got the first two volumes. He read them and liked them. Then I read them, and my daughter read them and liked them. Now we're all vegetarians and chanting Hare Krsna. We live in Maine, out in the middle of nowhere. Please send us two copies of the one-volume Krsna book. And we hope to get the Srimad Bhagavatam set."

Popular American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond’s encounter with the devotees.
FAMILY WEEKLY: I understand you did considerable delving into religious tracts while you were working on the “Seagull” score.
NEIL DIAMOND: That’s right. By chance a Hare Krishna kid came knocking on my door about then, wanting to give me literature and such. I invited him in. We talked for a while, and I asked him to read the script and tell me what he thought of it, had him make notes on it. I wound up working with him about six weeks—put him up in an apartment, rented him a car—until I reached the point where I had to work alone on it. He wanted me to go off with him to India and sit in a cave. I said that sounded great and I’d love to, but now I had to write this thing. I gave him a plane ticket, and he went while I settled down to pull it all together.

Acyuta Priya Prabhu is a major leader in the Ukranian Yatra and he is very sucessful with community development.

Caturatma Dasa - The Power of Association Tuesday July 21 2020

Answer Podcast

Video:

Transcription

Question: QA on humility 3 – How can we be humble with those who are exploitative