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.
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.
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.
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/
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 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.”
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.
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"
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.
Question: QA on humility 3 – How can we be humble with those who are exploitative
Answer:
That’s a challenge, no doubt.
If we approach all our interactions with people with a “one size fit all” formula, then it is going to backfire. Krishna also says, “As all surrender to me, I reciprocate accordingly”. We also need to be reciprocal. Reciprocal doesn’t mean that other person is yelling about a small thing, we also start yelling at that person. Here, in this context, being reciprocal means we understand how we can be effective in dealing with particular people.
For example, in the Mahabharata war, we see Bhima is fighting with Duryodhana. Duryodhana has inner animosity and thus he was the cause of the fight. On the other hand, there are Bhishma and Drona who had to fight but their fighting was circumstantial. They were caught in the circumstances by which they had to fight against the Pandavas. They did not have any inner animosity. Externally speaking, Pandavas are fighting with everyone, whoever is in front of them, whoever is challenging them, but the inner disposition with which they are fighting is different. It’s individual.
This might seem a little too subtle or abstract. We need to understand that when dealing with people, our focus should be on getting the service done. Sometimes when we approach a person, he is very cordial. They say there is a problem here and we discuss how it can be resolved and then they resolve it and we are able to get the service done.
On the other hand, there could be somebody else with whom we have some purpose for interacting and they are constantly passing snide comments or just their words are filled with barbs. Now, sometimes if those barbs are just meant to provoke us, we can overlook them and we do what it takes to get the things done.
Sometimes it might be that a person is simply being needlessly provocative, then we speak to them in a way that makes them aware that we also mean business. That doesn’t necessarily mean threatening them or stooping down to their level. The idea is that we need to keep our purpose in focus.
There are many situations when if somebody is exploitative, we need to stand up for ourselves. For example Vidura. Vidura was constantly giving good advice to the Kauravas and they were neglecting his advice. When Pandavas were exiled, they were very angry especially because Kauravas had attempted to disrobe Draupadi. There was an attack of conscience that Dhritarashtra had. Rather, it was actually more of an attack of fear that also had some rumbling of conscience within him. He said, “No, what has happened is terrible. How can I rectify it?” Vidura said, “Only way you can rectify it is call the Pandavas back and give their kingdom to them. Punish Duryodhana for this. Have him removed from all positions of power till he comes back to his senses and stops doing things like these.” This infuriated Dhritarashtra. He said, “You are always partial to the sons of Pandu and you are always against my sons. I have no desire for your presence. You can go wherever you like.” At that time, Vidura left the Kuru kingdom. He went and joined the Pandavas in the forest.
The Pandavas were initially surprised and concerned. Eventually they were happy to have Vidura’s association. All this happened in the evening and night. Next morning, Dhritarashtra had a restless night where he couldn’t sleep and then he felt regretful. “You know, Vidura is my friend. He is my sibling and I want him with me because otherwise I will be completely isolated. There is no one left in my generation. Bhishma is older to me. Duryodhana is younger to me.” So he sent a messenger to call back Vidura.
Dhritarashtra did not exactly, you could say, make a heartfelt apology. He requested Vidura to come back and Vidura came back. Vidura said, “I desire the welfare of both your sons and Pandu’s sons. But naturally, because the Pandavas don’t have a father, so I am concerned about them also.” Anyway, that time Vidura came back. Eventually when the war became inevitable and Duryodhana grievously insulted Vidura and Dhritarashtra remained silent, then Vidura walked away from there. He walked away because he had no desire to fight for the Kauravas against the Pandavas. When they rejected him, he also rejected them.
We see that Vidura was the same person, but he had different approaches. He knew that Duryodhana had a malevolent nature and Dhritarashtra had too much of an accommodating nature towards Duryodhana. Vidura wanted to be around to minimize the damage as much as he could. But once he realized that the war was inevitable and he could do nothing to minimize the damage, he did not want to be a part of the team causing the damage. He walked away. After Dhritarashtra had lost all his hope because all his sons had been killed, then he came back and strongly spoke to Dhritarashtra. He had Dhritarashtra become renounced.
The idea is that we have one purpose, but we can have multiple approaches. Even when somebody is exploitative, if there is a possibility for us to be there and minimize the damage. However, once it becomes clear that we can’t do anything, rather by being here, we are ourselves getting damaged or we are becoming a part of a thing that is causing damage and we can’t do anything to minimize it, then don’t be a part of it. We have one purpose, but may use different strategies based on time, place, and circumstances.
Promotion Launch for the TOVP Celebration of Srila Prabhupada’s 125th Appearance Anniversary Year in 2021.
Janmastami and Vyasa Puja this year marks the launch of the TOVP Management’s announcement to the ISKCON world of our plans for the celebration of the 125th Appearance Anniversary Year of ISKCON Founder/Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. While the specific date of his Vyasa Puja is August 31, 2021, we have arranged two very special events to commemorate and worship the Samstapak Acharya for the next 10,000 years.
“I have given you instruction, it will never stop; it will go on. At least for ten thousand years it will go on.”
Srila Prabhupada, June 21, 1976
First, we are organizing a three-day festival that will include Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day (the adi-guru) on February 25 along with a special in-home, live streamed Prabhupada Installation Program, the official worldwide Opening of the Samadhi of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaja on February 26, and the INSTALLATION OF THE NEW PRABHUPADA MURTI IN THE TOVP on February 27. This installation is of monumental importance as it places Srila Prabhupada in the TOVP to watch over the completion of the project. Six different kinds of abhishekas will be offered and we encourage your support during this Janmastami/Vyasa Puja time. Sponsorship opportunities are immediately available as part of our worldwide combined guru dakshina campaign. Read more at the address below:
February 25 – Nityananda Trayodasi / Worldwide Prabhupada Abhisheka
February 26 – Bhakti Charu Maharaja Samadhi Opening
February 27 – New Prabhupada Murti Installation
Second, for Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja we will be offering him a one-of-a-kind, magnificent, gold-leafed Book of Devotion containing the names of TOVP donors. This offering of the names of donors to Srila Prabhupada on this most sacred occasion will symbolize the incredible support from all his followers worldwide who have helped to make his dream a reality. The book will be an amazing artistic piece, 15″ (38 cm) x 20.5″ (52 cm) in size and 55 lbs (25 kg) in weight. To have your name included in the TOVP Book of Devotion, complete your pledge by December, 2020 (starting Nrsimha Bricks and up), or make and complete a new pledge. Read more at the address below:
We pray that you all have a wonderful Janmastami and Vyasa Puja celebration this year, and we continue to pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva for the continued protection of all devotees worldwide.
Sri Krishna Bhagavan ki jaya!
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Please offer your heartfelt prayers for Vidyananda Das ACBSP and also Syamali Devi Dasi IDS, who are both in the end stages of disease, preparing to leave their material bodies.
Virtual Rathayatras are a great idea. On line Kirtan, classes and videos. The only drawback is a virtual feast, nice photos of paneer subji, samosas, puris, shrikand, burfis is not quite the same as horsing into a real delicious plate of Prasad.
Then all of sudden he stopped, turned to me in a very grave mood, looked deeply into my eyes, and said with his deep voice, “All this will fail if there is no love and trust between the devotees.”
Mayapur Madhava das: I just wanted to report to you all on our Birmingham Rathayatra festival. We had a two day celebration on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July. Lord Jaganatha visited 51 homes over the weekend and gave darshan to 327 people. Lord Jagannatha was greeted with balloons, cards, letters, confetti, kirtana, cakes, bhoga, fresh Manjari's and so much more.
I received an email from Vanamali Pandit, the temple president of Boston. He has invited me to conduct a Zoom presentation for the 49th installation anniversary on July 19th. I have agreed to do it because Prabhupada sent me alone to Boston in 1967 to open a center. I stayed there for several years and watched it grow. I have a soft spot for Boston ISKCON. I will share my memories, including the several visits of Prabhupada to the Boston temple and his installation of the Deities Radha-Gopivallabha. Continue reading "The several visits of S. Prabhupada to the Boston temple and his installation of the Deities Radha-Gopivallabha (video) → Dandavats"
For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of June 2020. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5
Continue reading "NASN June 2020 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter → Dandavats"
Hare Krishna! Please accept our humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
Our 37th month Srimad Bhagavatam Katha (Virtual multimedia class) will continue to cover the pastimes of Maharaj Prthu.
Maharaj Prthu's pastimes can be found in the 4th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam across 11 chapters -SB 4.13 to 4.23 - 450 verses.
This week's Topic: The pastimes of Maharaj Prthu- part 3 - SB 4.19 - 4.20 (80 verses) - King Prthu's One Hundred Horse Sacrifices & Lord Visnu's Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Maharaj Prthu
If you click the above link from your desktop or laptop, you will be able to join directly
If you click this link from your cell phone or IPAD etc, you will have to download the Zoom application (less than a minute to download)
Who is King Prthu
Unlike today's leaders, Maharaja Prthu considered it his primary duty to enlighten the citizens with spiritual knowledge. He knew that any leader who simply exacts taxes from the people, but does not inform them of the mission of human life, is thoroughly condemned.
Benedictions for hearing Maharaj Prthu's pastimes
SB 4.17.6: Pṛthu Mahārāja was a powerful incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa's potencies; consequently, any narration concerning his activities is surely very pleasing to hear, and it produces all good fortune.
SB 4.23.31: Any person who describes the great characteristics of King Pṛthu with faith and determination — whether he reads or hears of them himself or helps others to hear of them — is certain to attain the very planet which Mahārāja Pṛthu attained. In other words, such a person also returns home to the Vaikuṇṭha planets, back to Godhead.
SB 4.23.32: If one hears of the characteristics of Pṛthu Mahārāja and is a brāhmaṇa, he becomes perfectly qualified with brahminical powers; if he is a kṣatriya, he becomes a king of the world; if he is a vaiśya, he becomes a master of other vaiśyas and many animals; and if he is a śūdra, he becomes the topmost devotee.
SB 4.23.33: It does not matter whether one is a man or woman. Anyone who, with great respect, hears this narration of Mahārāja Pṛthu will become the parent of many children if without children, and will become the richest if without money.
SB 4.23.34: Also, one who hears this narration three times will become very reputable if he is not recognized in society, and he will become a great scholar if he is illiterate. In other words, hearing of the narrations of Pṛthu Mahārāja is so auspicious that it drives away all bad luck.
SB 4.23.35: By hearing the narration of Pṛthu Mahārāja, one can become great, increase his duration of life, gain promotion to the heavenly planets and counteract the contaminations of this Age of Kali. In addition, one can promote the causes of religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. Therefore from all sides it is advisable for a materialistic person who is interested in such things to read and hear the narrations of the life and character of Pṛthu Mahārāja.
SB 4.23.36: If a king, who is desirous of attaining victory and ruling power, chants the narration of Pṛthu Mahārāja three times before going forth on his chariot, all subordinate kings will automatically render all kinds of taxes unto him — as they rendered them unto Mahārāja Pṛthu — simply upon his order.
SB 4.23.37: A pure devotee who is executing the different processes of devotional service may be situated in the transcendental position, being completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but even he, while discharging devotional service, must hear, read and induce others to hear about the character and life of Pṛthu Mahārāja.
SB 4.23.38: The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, I have as far as possible spoken the narrations about Pṛthu Mahārāja, which enrich one’s devotional attitude. Whoever takes advantage of these benefits also goes back home, back to Godhead, like Mahārāja Pṛthu.
SB 4.23.39: Whoever, with great reverence and adoration, regularly reads, chants and describes the history of Mahārāja Pṛthu’s activities will certainly increase unflinching faith and attraction for the lotus feet of the Lord. The Lord’s lotus feet are the boat by which one can cross the ocean of nescience.
By Adikeshava Das
By INV Communications
By Satsvarupa Das Goswami
By Kalakantha Dasa
By Mayapur Sasi dasa