In a recent interview with the GBC Strategic Planning Team, Sesa Prabhu, my father, spoke about ksatriya training. I found the letter that was referred to in the interview which he wrote to Jagadish Maharaj on the topic in 1983. Being an educator myself, I found this a relevant subject to today’s world in ISKCON and want to put it forth for publication on Dandavats. Continue reading "Ksatriya Training
→ Dandavats"

This is an extract from a class on Srimad Bhagavatam recorded on the 11th of July 1993 in London, UK. Gour Govinda Swami sings these prayers before every Srimad Bhagavatam class and here he gives a nice explanation of what they mean and why he sings them.

Podcast

Video:

The post The Monk’s Podcast 38 with Shyamananda Prabhu – Terrorism – Why, What to do? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Ajita invited Bhanu Maharaja, Vasusrestha, Ganga and I to the opening of the new Govindas restaurant at Kingscliff NSW. New Govardhan already has another two restaurants, one at Burleigh and the other at Coolangatta.

The new restaurant is in a beautiful location right in the main street just opposite the beach. The layout, decor and kitchen is fantastic and the menu is the same as the other two restaurants, which, of course, is delicious and sumptuous.

Become a TOVP Ambassador and share this post.

Please join us for this next TOVP TALKS ZOOM webinar with His Holiness Lokanath Maharaja speaking about the importance of recognizing and following the Yuga Dharma, Harer Nama. ZOOM registration information is below. The broadcast will also be streamed live on the TOVP Facebook Page: TOVP Facebook Page.

Zoom Registration Information:

TOVP TALKS Webinar – August 11

Time: 7:30pm IST/10:00am US EST/3:00pm UK
Speaker: His Holiness Lokanath Swami
Topic: Harer Nama – No Other Way, No Other Way, No Other Way!
ZOOM Registration: https://m.tovp.org/lokanathmaharaja

Program Description

The chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord is the Yuga Dharma according to scripture, previous acharyas, and the Lord Himself as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And the TOVP will play a very important role in the spreading of the Holy Names. ISKCON’s own Kirtan Samrat, King of Kirtan, His Holiness Lokanath Maharaja, will speak on this authorized process of spiritual realization, and why the yajna for the Kali-yuga is only the chanting of the Holy Names above all other spiritual processes.

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Find us on: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
View us 360° at: www.tovp360.org
App at: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts at: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed at: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

Online Srimad Bhagavatam class by HG Bramatirtha Prabhu for the devotees of the Krishna House, Gainesville

How to Fight Virtual Collective Rukmini Prabhu and Anuttama Prabhu

Sadbhuja Das: Hare Krishna, We have finally completed Nanda and Sunanda, our two Vaikunthadutas. Now we only have two more demigods remaining, which is Indra and Manu. All this wonderful work is done by the talented Ambhoda Devi Dasi, we are very thankful and blessed to have her on our team!

My dear Daruka, do not be unhappy because of the destruction of the Yadu dynasty, or the disappearance of Lord Balarama. Become patient and fixed in actual knowledge. These calamities are simply an illusory show, fabricated by My internal potency. There is no need to become agitated because of these so-called catastrophes. Continue reading "Dealing With the Loss of One’s Spiritual Master
→ Dandavats"

In each weekly five-minute episode, Nityananda Chandra speaks on a verse from the Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam or a story from the Puranas or Mahabharata. He also incorporates personal anecdotes to make his philosophical points more relatable.

At New Vrindaban, Mother Earth is manifesting an exceptional radiance this year. We see it in our high tunnel greenhouses where the bountiful production of vegetables is unsurpassed.

Podcast

Video:

The post The Monk’s Podcast 37 with Hari Parshad Prabhu – Intellectual diversity in scriptural understanding appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Cabbagetown, Toronto

Wet Walk

Our very, very good cook, Dwarkanath, has got a very, very good grip on things. Of course, he must have a firm hold on the pots and pans he uses, and the ingredients; water, produce and spices all require careful and firm handling. Two nights ago he did a big favour of massaging my legs. My delicate knees were worked on with slightly more force than required. It left me moving on a limp. However, I was not cursing him, he’s too precious.

Aisvarya and I sauntered along to Cabbagetown, east of downtown, where residents are abound. With humidity top notch, we sweat along our way, and for me, a trite limp, made it tough. On our return I suggested to Aisvarya that he get us a cab. It’s a first for me. No, that’s not usually something I do. As a teen, working in the tobacco fields for hours, I became trained up. I learned to be solid.

In any event Cabbagetown really is one of those ‘very best’ residential areas in Canada. There’s a certain charm. Houses are tight and majestic. They are hugged by trees. For the eyes, it’s nice. The neighbourhood is a mix of young families and retirees.

It was such a sweet, full day with some people’s resolve in-the-making. To top it off was this walk, an actual reward for the day, despite some discomfort.

When the sweaty stepping was over the Beck’s taxi driver came. I rolled down the window and the best breeze entered in. We stopped at 243 Avenue Road, my home. I opened the door, went to the basement, which is all poised for a renovation, and came to Karuna Sindhu. I then plopped down on the chair next to him, punctuating a period at the end of the sentence of the day.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

“Ordinarily, the spiritual master, husband, father, mother or superior relative accepts worship from an inferior relative, but here Rsabhadeva forbids this. First the father, spiritual master or husband must be able to release the dependent from repeated birth and death. If he cannot do this, he plunges himself into the ocean of reproachment for his unlawful activities. Everyone should be very responsible and take charge of his dependents just as a spiritual master takes charge of his disciple or a father takes charge of his son. All these responsibilities cannot be discharged honestly unless one can save the dependent from repeated birth and death.” —Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.18 purport Continue reading "Success in Grihastha Ashrama
→ Dandavats"

Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s Jhulan Yatra Festival Starts in 2 Days in Sri Dhama Mayapur on July 30th, 2020

Podcast

Video:

The post The Monk’s Podcast 36 with Anuttama Prabhu – How to engage with the world? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Giriraj Swami and Rtadhvaja Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.18

“Ordinarily, the spiritual master, husband, father, mother or superior relative accepts worship from an inferior relative, but here Rsabhadeva forbids this. First the father, spiritual master or husband must be able to release the dependent from repeated birth and death. If he cannot do this, he plunges himself into the ocean of reproachment for his unlawful activities. Everyone should be very responsible and take charge of his dependents just as a spiritual master takes charge of his disciple or a father takes charge of his son. All these responsibilities cannot be discharged honestly unless one can save the dependent from repeated birth and death. Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.18 purport

Success in the Grihasta Ashram (Right click to download)

Oakville, Toronto

Getting Around

I took great delight in one of those live stream MS Teams presentations with GEL, which stands for “Gita Ethics Learning,” an educational program to encourage a more holistic lifestyle. The lessons are for the young, however, this morning’s call took more the form of a town hall meeting, with students and their parents.

I spoke about my being raised in the countryside, on a small farm, and what that involved. “The animals were all around us.” The Q&A session went well, much to do with parents exploring how to motivate their kids towards higher values and states of consciousness.

My second half of the day entailed a visit to “I Gita”, a studio facility for yoga. And last, but not least, some participation in Brampton’s chariot festival. Due to the lockdown, once again, this annual event was downscaled dramatically, but with safety in mind—adjustments were made. The community is happy, they have missed the temple.

In fact the calls are increasing. The need for socializing in a pure environment is on the rise. Calls are very frequent from those wanting a piece of action with Krishna. The time will come for all of us to celebrate that event when the doors open. Most people are predicting we will be in the pandemic for many months to come.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

It's just a piece of coal, but it undergoes an intense pressure and transforms into a diamond.

Forest Hill, Toronto

Themes

We managed to sustain an evening mini-concert on our temple’s entrance steps. Three extra people joined us — Georgia from Mexico (her first time here) and two guys, both with the name, Victor.  The sarod and djembe were captivating.

For today, rather tonight, we set out walking in the Casa Loma area, entering a lush ravine, residential area and then the famous castle itself. It was definitely a leisurely walk, which included a peek at the castle’s old stables and examining flora and fauna.  As the night set in, certain creatures came out – skunks, raccoons, fox, and bunnies. People too.

Two young women asked about us. They saw my orange. “Our theme today is fertility,” said one of the women. “My backyard suddenly sprouted all these mushrooms and I was told it means the soil is fertile. Then we have been seeing all these rabbits, which also represent fertility.”

We found that interesting.

“What is your theme?” Asked the same woman, a question directed more to me.

“Community — belonging,” I said.  That met with some kind of approval. After all, the three from our group (one of the Victor’s had to dash off on his motorcycle) were truly relishing our discoveries while seeing signs of optimism. Good omens.

Whenever you meet anyone these days the Covid-19 topic comes up. It’s devouring us as a theme. If so, see the good in that as well. Do not slump into darkness.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Dundas, Toronto

Green Wedding

We had merely walked a few metres down-hill, and then came to this lush section of a Carolina forest, on the Jon White Trail. This was the location of a sweet marriage between Cameron and Katie. What a spot! Wild raspberries everywhere. Congratulations!

Cameron had decided that I marry him as I am a registered solemniser of weddings in the province. I consented to his wishes. He has been a Gita student of mine for some time. Usually on Thursday afternoons we have a weekly one hour call and comb through the mysteries of the Gita, chapter by chapter, however, today was different. He chose today to tie the knot.

Ananda, from Scarborough, drove Krishna Chandra and me to this heavenly sphere, at the conservation spot. He also conducted the ceremony, basically. The three of us chanted mantras,to invoke a good future for the couple, and executed a mini fire-ceremony. There was an exchange of garlands and rings. We were succinct in all that had to be said. I quoted from chapter 6 of the Gita, about yoga, which, by the way, refers to union.

Refreshments followed, oh yes, at the couple’s Hamilton address. Very nice!

We then had to rush to Toronto, after some chatting, to make it in time for a Zoom call with devotees in Florida. On the call were bhakti yogis who engaged themselves in hearing from chapter 2 of the Gita, information, not overload, however, under applied by most of us. One epiphany that came out of the discussion was, “from tolerance, truth is revealed and from truth, tolerance is born.”

May the source be with you!

0 km

Sunday Feast - HG Danakeli devi dasi - The Best Use of a Bad Bargain

Srila Prabhupada: One who hears the transcendental sound vibration of the holy name of the Lord, Hare Krishna, also improves in health. We have actually seen that many brahmacaris and grhastas connected with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness have improved in health, and a luster has come to their faces. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 3.21.45-47 Purport)

The Monk's Podcast with Krishna Kshetra Swami

Srila Prabhupada recounts: "So Calcutta became devastated. All people practically left Calcutta. Daily hundreds and hundreds of people were dying. I was one year old or one and a half year old. I have seen what was happening, but there was plague epidemic. That I did not know. I, later on, I heard from my parents.

Sadbhuja Das: Here is a little update on the situation with the Ganga. Last time we took pictures of the water levels was last Monday, and as you can see the level of the water has gone up but not that much.

TOVP talks is a bi-weekly webinar hosted by His Grace Braja Vilasa das from Sridhama Mayapur – unveling the Vision of the Paramapara. In this series, HH Jayapataka Swami spoke on ToVP: Sri Caitanya’s desire fulfilled. TOVP: A fullfilment of the desire of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu HIS HOLINESS JAYAPATAKA SWAMI LIVE ON TOVP TALKS WEBINARJuly […]

The post TOVP: A Fulfillment of Desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Speaking on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.41, on June 7, 1976, in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada explained the following verse from the Padma Purana:

arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhir
visnor va vaisnavanam kali-mala-mathane pada-tirthe ’mbu-buddhih
sri-visnor namni mantre sakala-kalusa-he sabda-samanya-buddhir
visnau sarvesvarese tad-itara-sama-dhir yasya va naraki sah

“One who thinks the Deity in the temple to be made of wood or stone, who thinks of the spiritual master in the disciplic succession as an ordinary man, who thinks the Vaisnava in the Acyuta-gotra to belong to a certain caste or creed, or who thinks of caranamrta or Ganges water as ordinary water is taken to be a resident of hell.”

These were his comments:

 Arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih naraki. Forbidden—never think of the vigrahah, the form of the Lord, as stone or wood; gurusu nara-matir, or the spiritual master as ordinary human being; vaisnave jati-buddhih, or the Vaishnava, who has become a devotee, as belonging to some caste or nation. No. He doesn’t belong to anything. Never think that he’s American Vaishnava, he’s Indian Vaishnava, he’s brahman Vaishnava, he’s kshatriya. No. This is jati-buddhih, classification. A Vaishnava does not belong to any jati. He belongs to Krishna, krsna dasa. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa. [“The living entity’s constitutional position is to be an eternal servant of Krishna.”] (Cc Madhya 20.108)

Therefore practically you can see the members of Krishna consciousness: some of them are Indians, some of them are Europeans, some of them are Englishmen, some of them are black, some of them are white, some of them are brahmans, some of them are Hindus—but they do not think anymore that “I belong to this category.” No. Otherwise they could not work together. Every one of them is completely aware that “We are all Krishna’s servants.”

Similarly, the guru is not an ordinary human being. Gurusu nara-matir. Guru is not ordinary human being. Ordinary human being cannot preach Krishna consciousness. That is not possible. Krsna-sakti vina nahe krsna nama pracara. [“The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Krsna. Unless empowered by Krsna, one cannot propagate the sankirtana movement.”] (Cc Antya 7.11) So anyone who is preaching, he cannot be considered an ordinary human being. Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained, Why not ordinary being? Even though his son is calling him “father,” or his relatives are taking him as ordinary, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that still he is not an ordinary human being. Why? Because he is preaching Krishna consciousness. So, vaisnave jati-buddhih, gurusu nara-matir.

TOVP – The Desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Fulfilled

No one can speak with more conviction and authority on the subject of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium than His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja.

In this interview Maharaja will explain both the practical reasons and preaching vision Srila Prabhupada had for the project, and the sublime, esoteric roots of the TOVP going back to Lord Nityananda and our acharyas. Join us for this remarkable journey into the transcendental realm of Mahaprabhu’s mission and how it is manifesting in the world today.

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Find us on: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
View us 360° at: www.tovp360.org
App at: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts at: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed at: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.6.

etavan sankhya-yogabhyam
sva-dharma-parinisthaya
janma-labha? parah pumsam
ante narayana-smrtih

“The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.” Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.6.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.6 (Right click to download)

An internship program has been launched to help build a website and carry out important research for the still under-development project “ISKCON at the United Nations.” After applying and going through a rigorous approval process, The Office of Communications for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) received ECOSOC status with the UN in 2016, the highest level at which an NGO can be associated with the UN. Continue reading "Internship Program Launched to Help Develop ISKCON at the UN
→ Dandavats"

Srimad Bhagavatam class by HH Badrinarayan Swami in San Diego, Ca